Maniolas

By Tarra Quismundo |Philippine Daily Inquirer 10:07 pm | Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—Should transgender Jeffrey/Jennifer Laude be referred to as “he” or a “she”? The Philippine Daily Inquirer refers to Laude, who was killed by a US Marine in Olongapo City last Saturday, as “she,” following The Associated Press stylebook, which recommends respect for the “pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.” Laude’s case has revived the question: Can a man legally become a woman and vice versa? For the Supreme Court, only in extremely rare circumstances, when nature itself blurs the lines between the sexes. The Supreme Court has confronted the question of sex change or gender reassignment twice over the last decade, a time of mounting calls for greater legal recognition of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community across the globe. On the one hand, the court allowed a woman stricken with a rare congenital condition to become a full-fledged man. Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude. ALLAN MACATUNO / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON On the other, the court rejected the request of a man to be legally recognized as a woman, saying surgical sex alteration may not be used as legal grounds to change his sex. In a landmark ruling on Sept. 12, 2008, Jennifer Cagandahan legally became Jeff. “The current state of Philippine statutes apparently compels that a person be classified either as Read More …

MANILA, Philippines—An official of the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is appealing to Pope Francis to spend more time with the people affected by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) during his visit to the Philippines in 2015. “The intention of the Pope in coming here is really to meet the survivors of the disaster. If he really wants to do that, then I think one day is not enough,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive director of the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA). “I’m just wondering why he would be spending only one day there (Leyte) and the rest of his stay will be spent in Manila. I hope…whoever was making the itinerary for his visit, they let him spend more time with the victims,” he added, stressing that he was only voicing out the sentiments of the affected residents eager to see the pope. Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO Pope Francis, who is scheduled to visit the Philippines from January 15 to 19, has expressed a wish to meet with survivors of “Yolanda,” the strongest typhoon to ever hit land, devastating Tacloban and much of Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013. The Vatican is expected to announce his complete itinerary by the end of the year. Archbishop John Du of Palo earlier said that based on the present schedule, the Holy Father would visit Leyte on Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. He also said that only Manila Read More …

By Maila Ager |INQUIRER.net 3:54 pm | Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 Jeffrey Laude, also known as Jennifer. FACEBOOK PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Two senators pushed anew on Tuesday for a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as they condemned the killing of a Filipino transgender allegedly by a US Marine in Olongapo City. “The VFA should be reviewed especially on the aspect of crime prevention,” Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, an opposition member, said in a text message to reporters on Tuesday. “Yes, kinukendena ko. No matter who is guilty. Kawawa naman yung tao. No one deserves to die that way,” Sotto added, referring to 26-year-old victim, Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude. Laude was killed last Saturday allegedly by the suspect identified as Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton. The suspect is said to be part of the US Marine Corps 2nd Battalion 9th Marines assigned at the West Pace Express. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to revisit and propose amendments to the VFA. “The police and prosecutors should act fast lest the prescriptive period be breached,” Escudero said in another text message, referring to the one-year period provided for in the VFA, IN which the Philippines should complete judicial proceedings against any US personnel. “In the meantime, as before, I call on and urge the DFA to revisit and seek the amendment of the VFA regarding (its) lopsided criminal jurisdiction provision,” he said. Senator Loren Legarda also condemned Laude’s killing, saying “justice must be served soon.” RELATED STORIES Protesters storm US embassy, demand junking Read More …

By Niña P. Calleja |Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:18 am | Saturday, October 11th, 2014 BALI, Indonesia—President Benigno Aquino III championed checks and balances in a working democracy, even if running a government without it is tempting as it can get things done faster, in a speech he delivered on Friday before the 7th Bali Democracy Forum. Mr. Aquino contrasted democratic governments with authoritarian regimes, which, he noted, had victimized his own family. “It can be said [that] in a totalitarian regime, things get done faster, whether they are right or wrong, precisely because there are no checks and balances in place. Very often, the consent and support of the governed are neither sought nor attained. Naturally, such a regime, one divorced from the desires of its people, will have weak foundations,” he told an audience of foreign ministers and vice ministers from 51 participant countries and 68 international observers. Aquino joined three other heads of state—outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Timor-Leste’s Xanana Gusmao and Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah—in the two-day forum held at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) here from Oct. 10 to 11. The President cochaired the forum with Yudhoyono, who is stepping down as Indonesia’s president in 10 days. The annual event functions as a platform for national leaders to exchange views on democracy and its development in their respective countries. It is aimed at fostering dialogue-based cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region through experience and best practices in democracy. President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE Read More …

Agence France-Presse 7:12 pm | Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 PARIS — Preventing infection by the Ebola virus entails simple but rigorously-observed methods of barrier protection and monitoring for signs of ill-health, say experts. These are recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Be alert for symptoms Symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite and in some cases bleeding. “Transmission is through direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person, or exposure to objects such as needles that have been contaminated with infected secretions,” said Stephan Monroe, deputy director of the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. “Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear.” The incubation period for Ebola — meaning the time lapse between infection and the onset of symptoms — is up to 21 days. Avoid contact with body fluids The Ebola virus can be spread though mucus, semen, saliva, vomit, stool or blood but is not considered transmissible through airborne droplets, as flu can be, through sneezes and coughs. Statistics show that most people who become infected with Ebola are those who live with and care for people who have the disease, which explains why health workers are especially vulnerable. Caregivers in contact with Ebola patients wear a long-sleeved gown, mask, goggles and gloves. The CDC also recommends routine hand-washing before and after contact with any patient who has a fever, as well Read More …