besguerra

Quarantine over for Liberia OFWs

News

Jan 062015

popular Free ‘Abadilla 5’ during Pope’s visit, Aquino urged Jihadist ‘eager for fame’ accidentally reveals Syria location on Twitter–report Pope Francis: Around PH without leaving Luneta altar Hanjin books $5B in sales in 5 years Turnoff from ‘Fun in PH’ reprised Grieving family haunted by AirAsia victim’s final birthday wish Chris Brown talent fee fully paid: ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’ AirAsia Flight QZ8501: Remains of stewardess Khairunisa in coffin 004 videos Bilibid inmates’ kin file human rights complaint against De Lima S. Korea hopes North is sincere with offer to improve relations How Portugal’s big waves are boosting the economy Devotees pin hopes on Black Nazarene Golden Globe menu unveiled CEBU CITY, Philippines—The two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who returned to the Philippines but failed to declare that their port of origin was an Ebola-stricken African country, had been cleared to go home after they had been put in quarantine. The two OFWs were allowed to leave the quarantine area on Jan. 5. Dr. Dino Caing, regional spokesman of the Department of Health in Central Visayas on Ebola prevention, said the two, both accountants, had been issued medical clearance.–Carmel Loise Matus, Inquirer Visayas Tags: Ebola Libera Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) quarantine Visayas Related Stories: Australia investigates ‘paedophile’ father in Thai baby scandal Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner Read More …

Cardinal, archbishop to hold papal visit fora

News

Jan 062015

Cardinal, archbishop to hold papal visit fora

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, archbishop of Manila. FILE PHOTOS MANILA, Philippines–Despite their busier-than-usual schedules, the two Philippine bishops hosting the apostolic visit of Pope Francis are taking questions—literally. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, archbishop of Manila, and Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), are taking part in separate Inquirer Conversations in the run-up to the papal visit, as part of the Catholic Church’s continuing initiative to prepare the faithful for a historic religious event. The Conversations, to be conducted with Opinion columnists of the Inquirer and Inquirer publisher Raul Pangalangan, are open to the public and all media. The Pope is visiting the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19. Questions from audience The two prelates are expected to field questions about the significance of the visit, the state of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and the Pope’s preferential option for the poor. A portion of each forum will feature questions from the audience. In line with the official theme of the papal visit, the Conversations have been given related titles. “A Church of Mercy”—the Conversation with Cardinal Tagle—will be held at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila, on Saturday, Jan. 10. “A People of Compassion”—the forum with Archbishop Villegas—will be at the University of Santo Tomas on Monday, Jan. 12. Both fora will start at 8:30 a.m. Mercy, compassion Tagle and Villegas are among the five Read More …

SMC readies P360B investment plan

General

Jan 062015

San Miguel president Ramon S. Ang. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LEO M. SABANGAN II THE GLOBAL economic environment would make 2015 a challenging year for Philippine companies, which could also face headwinds from the specter of a property bubble on the local front, San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang warned yesterday. Despite this, the country’s biggest conglomerate—with some P1.6 trillion worth of assets in its portfolio—plans to accelerate its investment plan over the next three years even as other business groups take their foot off the gas pedal while waiting for clearer signals ahead of next year’s presidential elections. “Over the next two or three years, our combined capital expenditures will reach about P360 billion across the entire group,” Ang said during an annual interview where he sets out San Miguel group’s strategy. He hinted at expansion plans in new lines of business, but declined to reveal them, saying that rivals and competitors were closely watching San Miguel’s moves. Ang said, however, that all existing business units would see additional investments to help them grow and widen their market footprint locally and overseas. “We will carry on with our expansion plans in all sectors, from our oil refineries, gas stations, the petrochemical business, power generation, infrastructure, mining and our traditional businesses like food, beer, our hard liquor business, and our packaging business,” he said. On top of San Miguel’s list is an aggressive expansion program for Petron Malaysia, which will see the third-largest petroleum firm in Read More …

DOTC keen on privatizing Naia operations by 2016

General

Jan 052015

DOTC keen on privatizing Naia operations by 2016

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Transportation and Communications wants to move forward with the privatization of operations and maintenance of the busy Ninoy Aquino International Airport before President Aquino steps down in 2016. Transportation secretary Joseph Abaya said the project could be up for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee within the first half of 2015. The move was in line with the broader thrust of the current administration to privatize the operations of certain services, like railways, ports and airports. It earlier auctioned a P17.5-billion contract to expand and operate the Mactan Cebu International Airport and the DOTC is in the process of bidding out six smaller provincial airports. Abaya had said the O&M contract of Naia, the country’s busiest airport, having handled over 32 million passengers last year, could be auctioned under a public-private partnership structure. It was not immediately clear if the Naia project would include planned expansion activities, including a fifth passenger terminal building that Abaya said the DOTC was currently studying. The planned Naia O&M contract also comes ahead of a new international gateway being studied by the government in Sangley Point, Cavite. That project, however, is not expected to be completed before 2025, if pursued, Abaya said. The new Sangley airport is estimated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to have a development cost of P435.9 billion. It is deemed crucial in meeting the capital region’s passenger demand, seen to more than triple to 101.4 million in 2040 from Read More …

Fil-Am teen blooms in US Rose parade

News

Jan 022015

Fil-Am Rose Gabrielle Current, 17, blooms along the route of the traditional Rose Bowl Parade during the 126th Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California, viewed by millions around the world. NIMFA RUEDA PASADENA—Wearing the Rose Princess crown, a Filipino-American teenager waved to hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the route of the spectacular 126th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day. “I’m very proud to represent the Filipino-American community,” said Gabrielle Current, one of the seven young women selected to serve as ambassadors for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl events viewed by tens of millions around the world. Current, 17, was selected from nearly a thousand young women who competed for a spot in the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. “It feels amazing to be a part of this magnificent event,” she told the Inquirer. The parade featured marching bands, equestrians and flower-covered floats highlighting historic figures, celebrities and popular culture around the theme “Inspiring Stories.” ‘Unbroken’ A riderless horse represented grand marshal Louis Zamperini, a World War II hero and former Olympian, who died in July. Zamperini is the subject of a best-selling book and the movie “Unbroken,” directed by Angelina Jolie and now in theaters. Cast members from “The Love Boat” rode on a Princess Cruises float, one of 39 that paraded down the 5.5-mile route on Colorado Boulevard. After the parade, Current and the rest of the Royal Court were presented at the Rose Bowl, where more than 90,000 watched the Read More …

Justice ‘one step closer’ for abused Filipina

General

Dec 312014

Justice ‘one step closer’ for abused Filipina

popular Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera’s kin arrive at church for ‘royal wedding’ 6 bodies retrieved in AirAsia crash Air travelers at Naia advised to rebook or cancel flights during Pope Francis’ visit Outstanding cops to get as much as P30,000 performance-based bonus Filipino chess prodigy making waves in Vegas tourney; So keeps lead Old peso bills going out of circulation With voice of reason, BSP hopes to avert property crash Senator Binay hoping for a better year for family, Filipinos videos Chris Brown a no-show 2 Bocaue fireworks stores shut down for violations 40th MMFF Awards Night 2014 MMFF New Wave PM leads remembrance ceremony marking 10th anniversary of tsunami PROOF OF ABUSE: Nenita showing a photograph of her taken at the hospital after she was rescued by policemen. (The Star Online-Asia News Network) MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Malaysia on Wednesday said a Filipino domestic helper was “one step closer” to attaining justice after her employer admitted in court that she had hit her. “The admission of guilt by Nenita Elcamel’s employer brings her one step closer to attaining justice for the physical and mental abuse she suffered,” the embassy in Kuala Lumpur said. Because of this action by her Malaysian employer, the embassy headed by Ambassador Eduardo Malaya was optimistic Elcamel would be awarded “full compensatory damages.” “There is no justification for the infliction of cruelty and violence against a fellow human being irrespective of status or line of work,” the embassy said in a statement. It said Read More …

PH posted P6.8B in budget surplus in November

General

Dec 292014

PH posted P6.8B in budget surplus in November

The government posted a surplus in November as the decline in spending outpaced the slight drop in revenue collection during the month, the Department of Finance yesterday said. According to the DOF, a surplus of P6.8 billion was registered in November, 582 percent higher than the P1 billion posted in the same month last year. Even as revenue collection slipped by 4 percent to P158.2 billion in November from P165 billion last year, expenditures slid by a bigger 8 percent to P151.4 billion from P164 billion a year ago. November’s surplus exceeded the P6.008 billion programmed for the month. In January to November period, revenues maintained double-digit growth, posting an 11-percent rise in collections to P1.736 trillion from P1.566 trillion a year ago. Government expenditures, meanwhile, registered a mere 5 percent increase in the first 11 months to P1.762 trillion from P1.677 trillion last year. The end-November deficit stood at P26.8 billion, 76-percent lower than the P111.5 billion registered between January and November 2013. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO The deficit as of end-November was way below the program of P238.294 billion for the 11-month period, reflecting anemic government spending on infrastructure and public services despite robust revenue collection. For Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, the lower deficit was nonetheless a good thing. “With the recent Moody’s credit ratings upgrade, as well as improved scores in the Millennium Challenge Corp. scorecard leading to our eligibility for a second compact, one thing is clear: the Philippines is in a Read More …

PNP releases Pemberton mugshot

News

Dec 202014

popular Pasay City cops sue Aiko Melendez’s drunk gun-toting ex, pal Beermen drown Texters, takes game one in semis series 4 cops charged over summary killings Employer of OFW killed by lion charged Pemberton submits to court custody, seeks reduction of murder rap to homicide Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy Estrada holiday furlough Gov’t seeks bidders for P781-M Bicol airport contract Jollibee Foods Corp. to operate Dunkin’ Donuts network in China videos Simbang Gabi at the Gesu (Day 6) Simbang Gabi at the Gesu (Day 5 – Dec. 19, 2014) 8 children killed in home in northern Australia Hack attack vs Sony Pictures spurs call for more North Korea sanctions Laude family wants Pemberton in local jail during trial MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Olongapo City released Saturday the mugshots of Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. Pemberton was charged with murder for allegedly killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer “Laude in Subic on Oct. 11. The United States government has denied the request for custody of the Philippines as Pemberton remained detained at a detention facility jointly managed by Philippine and US governments inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police RELATED STORIES Pemberton submits to court custody, seeks reduction of murder rap to homicide Security tightened in Olongapo as court, PNP await Pemberton’s arrest Tags: Death Features Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude Read More …

Life on streets is difficult, but free, says anthropologist

News

Dec 202014

Life on streets is difficult, but free, says anthropologist

AFP file PHOTO/Jay DIRECTO Though many would look down on the homeless, for those living on the streets this way of life may be difficult but it comes with a kind of freedom, Thammasat University anthropologist Boonlert Visetprecha said. Boonlert spent a while living with and learning from homeless people in Bangkok as part of his fieldwork several years ago, and then he spent 15 months – from January 2013 – living on the streets in Manila as part of his doctoral dissertation in anthropology for the University of Wisconsin. There are about 3,000 homeless people in Bangkok but as many as 100,000 in Manila, Boonlert said in his presentation at Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of political science yesterday. The event was organized by the university’s Master of Arts in International Studies Program. While factors like slashed social welfare and state housing or beautification of urban areas pushing rental rates beyond the reach of the poor result in people becoming homeless in developed countries, in developing nations it is factors like underemployment, broken homes, weak social welfare and a rising jobless rate. He said that while 7 per cent of the population in the Philippines are unemployed, as many as 20 percent are underemployed. With absurdly low wages – which could be less than Bt100 per day for uneducated people over the age of 40 – people find it difficult to cover their daily expenses and end up becoming homeless in Manila, Boonlert said. Former convicts also find it difficult to Read More …

DFA looks into China plan to build maritime observation network

News

Dec 202014

DFA looks into China plan to build maritime observation network

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – China is planning to construct an observation network by 2020 to protect its maritime interests and promote disaster risk reduction, a foreign publication reported. As China and other Asian countries face territorial disputes, China Daily on Friday said a guideline on the observation network was recently released by the State Oceanic Administration. The observation network initiative includes the building of radar stations, tsunami warning observation stations, and satellite operations. An official from the Disaster Prevention and Reduction Department, Chen Zhi, said their government plans to bolster its lagging offshore observation capacity, specifically its maritime observation methods, infrastructure and technical support. With concerns that the observation network will further heighten tension in the region, the Philippine government said its Department of Foreign Affairs is already studying the matter. “Our policy is we do not want to escalate tensions in the area, and so we have asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to look into it,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview. “They will be the ones responsible in discussing this matter or issue any statement to that effect,” he added. China has been strengthening is maritime capacity for the past years as it attempts to reinforce its claim on various parts of South China Sea. The Philippines is currently pursuing an arbitration case against China before the United Nations. China Daily said offshore disasters have resulted in economic losses (costing at least $2.6 billion) and casualties for China. Read More …

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