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PH elementary schools win 16 medals in Bulgaria math fest

News

Jul 072013

PH elementary schools win 16 medals in Bulgaria math fest

By Jerry E. EsplanadaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:21 pm | Sunday, July 7th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — With a 16-medal haul, the Philippine elementary mathematics team topped the primary division in the just-ended 2013 Bulgaria International Math Competition (BIMC), held June 30 to July 4 in the Black Sea city of Burgas. The good news was relayed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday by Dr. Simon Chua, president of the non-government Mathematics Trainers’ Guild of the Philippines (MTG) and head of the Philippine delegation to the 29-country contest. The young Filipino math wizards, mostly students from Metro Manila private schools, bagged three gold, four silver, four bronze and five merit medals in the annual competition. The teams from Vietnam and Thailand placed second and third overall. In an e-mail, Chua also said that the Philippine high school team bagged a total of 14 medals, but failed to land in the Top 3, where the teams from Japan, Hong Kong and China emerged as champions. The Filipino medalists in the elementary level were: (Gold) Jinger Chong from St. Jude Catholic School; Shaquille Wyan Que from Grace Christian College; and Vicente Raphael Chan from Zamboanga Chong Hua High School. (Silver) Stefan Marcus Ang from St. Jude Catholic School, Steven John Wang from UNO High School, Jose Ignacio Locsin from St. John Institute in Bacolod City, and Tiffany Mae Ong from Immaculate Conception Academy; (Bronze) Luke Matthew Bernardo from Philadelphia High School, Adam Christopher Chan from Grace Christian College, Ryan Mark Shao from Read More …

PH aviation officials await US probe on Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco

News

Jul 072013

PH aviation officials await US probe on Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco

By Miguel R. CamusPhilippine Daily Inquirer 2:37 pm | Sunday, July 7th, 2013 This aerial photo shows the wreckage of the Asiana Flight 214 airplane after it crashed at the San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Saturday, July 6, 2013. AP MANILA, Philippines — Philippine air safety officials are awaiting official investigation results of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States after an Asiana Airlines flight carrying 291 passengers from South Korea crashed upon landing at San Francisco International Airport on July 6 ( San Francisco time), a top official said. Two deaths have so far been reported by US media outlets. In the meantime, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) deputy director-general John Andrews said Asiana Airlines could continue flights to the Philippines. The South Korea-based carrier flies to the country through hubs in Manila, Clark and Cebu, according to its website. Andrews said that if the aircraft, a US-made Boeing 777, was found to be the cause, it could have negative implications for the manufacturer and airlines operating these aircraft, which include flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. “Of course we will wait for the NTSB report if and when it can be completed,” Andrews, a former Philippine Air Force pilot, said in a text message. “Only two areas to be looked at: man or machine. It should not be difficult as the CVR [ cockpit voice recorder] and FDR [ flight data recorder] have been retrieved,” he added. “If machine is the cause Read More …

UP Alumni SF offers first-ever Filipino cultural summer day camp

News

Jul 012013

UP Alumni SF offers first-ever Filipino cultural summer day camp

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 7:00 am | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—The first-ever Filipino Cultural Summer Day Camp is being offered by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco at the Bessie Carmichael Middle School on July 8-19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children 10-18 years old can learn about Philippine history, geography, arts and conversational Tagalog. The summer camp will be for 10 days , plus a field trip on Saturday, July 13, and the graduation on Saturday, July 20. Reduced registration fees are available for those who qualify. Organizations, friends and family members are requested to spread the word. For details and to register, registration forms can also be downloaded from www.upaasf.org. you may also contact: Cecile Ascalon, camp coordinator at cgascalon@gmail.com or call her at 650-201-4913, or Letty Quizon, program chair, at lettyquizon@gmail.com (408-455-4137). Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Culture , day camp , geography , history , summer camp , Tagalog lessons Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Lilia de Lima, PEZA’s Powerhouse

News

Jul 012013

The Brew By Esther Misa Chavez 6:46 am | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima at trade briefing in San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO—To doubting Thomases out there—the news is true. Numbers do not lie. The Philippines IS Asia’s rising tiger. A number of global credit rating agencies have upgraded the Philippine’s rank to BBB- (Investment Grade). The New York Times calls the Philippines the “Newest Bright Spot in Asia.” Lilia B. de Lima said as much to a group of businessmen and community leaders at a breakfast briefing held at Dentons Law Offices on Market Street. The director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and undersecretary of Trade and Industry led the briefing, themed “Business and Investment Opportunities in Philippine Economic Zones as gateways to the 600 Million Strong South East Asian Market” hosted by CalAsia. Joining her was Arlen Chou, president and COO of Rucker & Kolls Inc., an American firm that has been running a full operation in one of the PEZA facilities the past six years. Chou confirmed that his business is thriving inside PEZA. Rucker & Kolls is the original patent holder of the probe card and a leader in providing reliable testing of complicated testing requirements. Leaving no doubt among the attendees that PEZA is indeed the “gateway to the Asean market in a leading global emerging economy,” Dr. de Lima said that of the 86 percent total commodity and service exports from the Philippines, 76 percent comes from Read More …

Adobo’s stealth conquest of US tastebuds

General

Jul 012013

Adobo’s stealth conquest of US tastebuds

By Amy BesaINQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 6:39 am | Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 If you’re one of those Filipinos who constantly ask why Filipino food has not made it anywhere in the world, perhaps you missed the boat. People can be so blind to their theories and beliefs that they’re likely to miss all the signs that Filipino flavors have slowly crept onto the American table, starting from the moment Filipinos set foot on American soil as farm workers and slaved to put vegetables and fruits on the table of every American home in the past century. Even today, I field so many questions from documentary filmmakers, students, diners and so forth asking why Filipino food is invisible in the United States. Instead of looking at the cup half full or empty, how about looking at a plate filled with adobo? Adobo is our signature dish and the most prominently featured dish in our cuisine. Adobo is the darling of the American media, and not by accident. It’s because enough restaurants make adobo that enough editors, food writers and diners have taken notice of this. When we first opened Purple Yam in 2009, the New York Times, New York Sunday Times Magazine and Time Out New York (along with a number of cable TV shows) featured our adobo. Even Martha Stewart on her February 2006 show on Presidents’ Week had Chef Romy Dorotan showing her viewers his secret to making a good adobo. And the secret is coconut milk. Last year, Read More …

Jersey City Marks 23rd Phil-Am Friendship Day

News

Jun 272013

Jersey City Marks 23rd Phil-Am Friendship Day

By Joyce Andes-DavidINQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 7:58 am | Friday, June 28th, 2013 (L to R) Edwin Solano (Pafcom overall chairman), Senator Barbara Buono, Jersey City Mayor-Elect Steven Fulop (Honorary Grand Marshal), Cora Reyes (Grand Marshal), and Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr. (Honorary Grand Marshal) PHOTO BY ARMAN DAVID OF AJ JERSEY CITY, New Jersey—Filipinos celebrated “Philippine-American Friendship Day” for the 23rd time on June 23 at Lincoln Park in this city with a large concentration of Filipino residents. The annual celebration organized by the Philippine American Friendship Committee Inc. (Pafcom) has become an institution eagerly awaited each June by local officials and residents of Jersey City. Masskara Dancers, NY Edition PHOTO BY JUNEL CORALES PHOTO BY OGIE BAGTAS The opening ceremonies and flag salutes to both the American and Filipino flags commenced around 11a.m. Then, the ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off the parade along West Side and Claremont Avenues. The streets were flooded with cheerful spectators awaiting the parade of different groups, organizations, decorative floats, and diverse cultural performances. The grand finale float was of GMA Pinoy TV with Filipino Actress Glaiza de Castro. The celebration continued at Lincoln Park where the festivities included a cultural-show, live entertainment, games, activities for all ages, various merchandise and food vendors. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers Read More …

Mental health workers strike for safety in Long Beach

News

Jun 272013

Mental health workers strike for safety in Long Beach

By Hiyasmin QuijanoINQUIRER.net US Bureau 6:35 am | Friday, June 28th, 2013 Workers at La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California, are demanding better protection from assaults by patients. PHOTO BY HIYASMIN QUIJANO LONG BEACH, California—Nearly 200 workers of La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in North Long Beach, including several Filipinos, went on strike, demanding workplace safety and better pay. Striking employees want management to implement several safety measures, including hiring an onsite security guard and a Plexiglas barrier around the nursing station. They are members of the Service Employers’ International Union–United Healthcare Workers West. Workers allege that patient assaults on them have led to more than 200 calls to the police from the facility in a three-year period. According to the union, these consisted of 70 assault, 45 follow-ups, 24 suicidal, 44 medical, 3 rape, 4 illegal drugs and 31 escape calls to the Long Beach Police Department. “We want improvements in the safety of the patient and also the staff,” states Neilanie Bensana, a Filipina licensed vocational nurse who says she has been assaulted by a female client a few times. In recovery “Many admitted to the facility are not ready for the recovery phase of their mental illness,” Bensana adds, “which leads to client-to-client assault, patient-to-patient assault, visitor assault, escaping from the facility and running around the community.” She says management should reinforce the gates, put a clear barrier around the nursing station “so that patients don’t throw objects at us” and give Read More …

ABS-CBN Int’l launches Lifestyle Network with star-studded bash

News

Jun 272013

ABS-CBN Int’l launches Lifestyle Network with star-studded bash

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 6:30 am | Friday, June 28th, 2013 Collage: Benny Uy; Sthanlee Mirador & John Salangsang; Bradford Adkins & Richard Lao LOS ANGELES–A dazzling tableau of high fashion, gourmet food, fine wines, elegantly attired celebrities, VIP guests and flashing cameras marked the launch party of ABS-CBN International’s Lifestyle Network at the Legendary Park Plaza Hotel, host to Hollywood’s elite in the 1920s. Time Warner Cable carries Lifestyle Network in Los Angeles, San Diego and Hawaii. A panoramic scan of the courtyard and red carpet showed many familiar faces among the 500 invited guests. Social media were inundated with real time image uploads of on-goings and lots of kudos. Among the celebrities spotted were Apl.de.ap of Black-Eyed Peas; vintage intelligence extraordinaire Doris Raymond; designers Alan del Rosario, Carlyn Calloway and Alexis Phifer; Fritz Friedman of Sony Pictures; Kaya Jones of the Pussycat Dolls; TV host and model Vanessa Minnillo; celebrity stylist Kyle Blackmon, Also seen were chef Cecilia de Castro, head of the Academy of Culinary Education in Los Angeles who has worked with Wolfgang Puck and restaurateur Patrick Terrail; Filipino local stars including actor-director Bernardo Bernardo, legendary pop-jazz singers Louie Reyes and Joannie Feliciano of ABS-CBN Foundation International, former Adobo Nation co-host and commercial model Jaja Bolivar, news anchors Maria Quiban and Bob de Castro of Fox11. Cher Calvin of KTLA5 hosted the fashion show that featured the designs of celebrated Filipino designers Jay Nicolas Sario of Project Runway and Alexis Monsanto, founder of West Hollywood-based fashion design Read More …

DOLE expands probe of sex-for-flight scandal

News

Jun 272013

DOLE expands probe of sex-for-flight scandal

By Tarra Quismundo, Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:17 am | Friday, June 28th, 2013 Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz: Probe beyond sex-for-repatriation allegations. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The fact-finding team created by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to look into the alleged sex-for-flight scheme at several Philippine diplomatic outposts in the Middle East is expanding its investigation to cover other irregularities reported in Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (Polo) in the region. Lawyer Leah Fortuna, probe team leader, said they had a big job ahead of them after Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz instructed them not to limit their investigation to the sex-for-repatriation allegations. “We will look into several other issues reported to us, including irregularities in operational policy matters,” Fortuna told reporters. Bottom line: Reforms “The bottom line is, at the end of the process, whether somebody will be charged or not, whether the allegations are true or not, there should be reforms,” she said. Reports had surfaced that some distressed OFWs staying at the welfare centers or halfway houses awaiting repatriation were being made to do part-time jobs, like working as waiters in hotels, apparently by some labor officers. But other labor officials explained that OFWs at the centers were not allowed to take part-time jobs because this exposed them to risks and they were not covered by employment contracts. As of Thursday, the DOLE fact-finding team was preparing to depart for the Middle East on Saturday to gather more testimonial and documentary evidence. The three-member team would Read More …

PH, Japan defense chiefs welcome deepening ties

News

Jun 272013

PH, Japan defense chiefs welcome deepening ties

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:08 am | Friday, June 28th, 2013 Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera reviews a guard of honor during a welcome ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday June 27, 2013. In a joint news conference with Philippine counterpart Voltaire Gazmin, Onodera said Japan supports the peaceful resolution of the current row between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). AP PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and Japan on Thursday welcomed the deepening of their “strategic partnership” for defense, particularly in maritime affairs, amid their territorial disputes with an increasingly aggressive China. Without mentioning China, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera vowed their governments would work together to protect their territories in accordance with the rule of law. The meeting between Gazmin and Onodera was the first between the defense chiefs of the Philippines and Japan in nearly a decade. The two defense chiefs also discussed the United States’ rebalancing of its forces to the Asia-Pacific region. Rotational deployment “We did not talk about any individual or specific equipment of United States forces, but we agreed that Japan and the Philippines will work together to make this rebalance a reality,” Onodera said. He added that he learned from Gazmin that the Philippines was “making efforts to further increase the rotational deployment of the United States forces and I have also heard that the Philippine side is now discussing with the United States (its) presence Read More …

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