PHL, Malaysia to hold naval drills | News | GMA News Online News Entertainment Home Artist Center Community International Radio Films Records Kapuso Foundation Corporate
Aug 222015
Aug 222015
Palace welcomes APEC delegates for 3rd Senior Officials’ meeting in Cebu | News | GMA News Online News Entertainment Home Artist Center Community International Radio Films Records Kapuso Foundation Corporate
Aug 212015
INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau By: Hiyasmin Quijano, August 22nd, 2015 02:37 AM The newest batch of Filipino Cultural School graduates in Bellflower, California. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BELLFLOWER, California – A bevy of youngsters graduated from the Filipino Cultural School 2015 summer program to the cheers of supportive parents and community members. A language and history skit, as well as musical and dance marked the graduation ceremony held Saturday morning, August 15 at the St. Bernard Parish Hall on Beach Street in Bellflower. Community supporters included Community Educational Centers, Inc., Leelin Bakery and Café, Philippine Independence Day Foundation of Carson, Fil Horizon, Seafood City Supermarket, Filipino Community of Carson, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, Engineering Print, World Finance Group, Jun Cruz, Christina Rosel, Edwin Evangelista, Dinglasan Family and Hunt Family. “This program is standing strong thanks to the dedication of the past and present FCS community, including students, parents, volunteers and alumni,” said an FCS board statement. “Anyone who has been involved with FCS at some point in their life has played such a significant role in this program that this achievement truly deserves to be honored and recognized.” “It feels really nice seeing all the students in traditional Filipino costumes and their whole families joining us for the celebration,” states FCS Co-President Paolo Roca. The cultural school is dedicated to “engaging and educating students about the importance of the Filipino culture.” “Seeing another batch of FCS graduates finish the summer program is a testament to how the Fil-Am community needs and wants Read More …
Aug 212015
By: Luis Francia, August 22nd, 2015 02:37 AM NEW YORK CITY— Last month, I spent a little more than a week in the Visayas. I wanted to see what Tacloban was like in the year and a half after super-typhoon Yolanda ravaged it mercilessly, and how Bohol was dealing with the devastation—complete in some instances—of historic Spanish-era churches due to an earthquake a month before Yolanda. Most signs of devastation that rendered the capital of Leyte a series of apocalyptic scenes are long gone, though my taxi driver from the airport reminded me of what it must have been like, when he recounted matter-of-factly five deaths in his family, including his mother and two nieces. Life goes on, as it must, and Taclobanons don’t lie around, bewailing the (mis)fortunes of their city. They put their heads down and go about the daily business of working or studying or whatever it is they need to do or accomplish to get from one day to the next. Still, an air of forlornness and decrepitude pervades the city. It’s easy of course to paint the mayor, Alfredo Romualdez—nephew of octogenarian and former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos—as your traditional trapo, with more than sufficient evidence to justify doing so, but that is too easy a game. Enough slings and arrows have been hurled his way, and it’s a sure bet more will follow. The good citizens, and not just in Tacloban but I daresay in other towns and cities across the archipelago, know Read More …
Aug 212015
By: Boying Pimentel, August 22nd, 2015 02:36 AM I’m not a religious person, though I used to be. I spent 12 years in Catholic schools, was a regular altar boy at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish School in Cubao (now the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral) and was even a member of the Future Priests Club at our church. I still celebrate the rituals and traditions. But there was a time when I didn’t feel any connection to the church. Or to spirituality and faith. Or to God. Gradually, this changed. As I’ve grown older, reached middle age, I’ve found myself more drawn to questions of spirituality and faith. Like many Catholics, I’m excited about the arrival of a more enlightened, open-minded Pope But the search for a spiritual life has taken me beyond the world of Catholicism and Christianity. This journey began about 15 years ago. Knowing that I had become curious about meditation, a friend gave me a Xeroxed copy of an article “Precision, Gentleness and Letting Go,” by an American Buddhist nun named Pema Chodron. Before then, I had viewed meditation as a way to use your mind to go to some mysterious, sublime place, transcending earthly concerns. As those of you who practice know, it’s the opposite. It’s about being present, about embracing every thought and emotion, good or bad, painful or uplifting, experiencing and touching and feeling these emotions and then letting them go. I ended up wearing out the photocopied article before deciding to buy the book Read More …
Aug 202015
Philippine Daily Inquirer August 21st, 2015 06:08 AM Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Thanatip Upatising. Photo from Thai embassy website Thailand’s ambassador to the Philippines said the government’s advisory to Filipino citizens to avoid certain areas of his country’s capital city was “understandable” following the recent bomb attack on Bangkok that killed 20 people and injured scores of others. “That’s understandable to me,” Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Thanatip Upatising told reporters during the foundation day reception of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday afternoon. Earlier that day, the DFA issued a travel advisory placing Thailand under alert level 1 or precautionary status following the bombing at the popular Erawan Shrine in the heart of Bangkok on Monday night. Filipinos were particularly advised to avoid at least 10 areas such as the Rajaprasong intersection, Patumwan intersection, Silom road, Khao San road, Narathiwat intersection, Victory monument, Tuk Chai intersection, Benjasiri Park, Soi Thong Lor and Sukhumvit Road. Alert level 1 is issued when there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability and external threat in a host country, the DFA said. “The Philippine Embassy is ready to extend assistance, if necessary, to the estimated 15,000 Filipinos in Thailand,” the foreign office added.–Niña P. Calleja Latest Tax cheats, gov’t execs face 700 cases PNP recalls Zamboanga City force after clash with Marines Longer breast-feeding term, support for mothers urged DFA extends passports’ life Recommended Filipino with drug history nabbed in Disneyland for Read More …
Aug 202015
Philippine Daily Inquirer August 21st, 2015 05:30 AM Facing a mounting passport backlog, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday reiterated that passport holders needing to renew their travel document may opt to have the validity of their passports extended, a service which is being offered free of charge until the end of the year. In an advisory on Thursday, the DFA said the free extension would be for one to two years and available to applicants for passport renewal both here and abroad. The applications for extension will be processed and released within the same day, it said. The offer will be available only until the end of this year, the DFA said. The DFA last week admitted having received complaints over the growing backlog in passport processing, which as of last week had risen to 42,230 passports. Apart from the old system having become obsolete, the DFA cited technical difficulties due to preparations for the transfer of the passport printing facilities.–Niña Calleja Latest Maja: Coco is ‘boyfriend material’ Vets, indies brave new world of paid TV Cute dissection of present-day narcissism Filipino with drug history nabbed in Disneyland for carrying gun Recommended Filipino with drug history nabbed in Disneyland for carrying gun Comparing Dr. Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino Fil-Am beauty, poise, talent showcased in Bb. Pilipinas USA ‘15 Lawsuits over Pacquiao-Mayweather fight head to Calif. court Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with Read More …
Aug 202015
Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Tina G. Santos, August 21st, 2015 05:28 AM Over 160,000 registered overseas voters will not be able to participate in next year’s polls after the Commission on Elections ordered their deactivation from the voters’ list. “For purposes of the May 9, 2016, elections, after updating the voting history of each and every registered overseas voter, there were 163,019 who failed to vote in 2010 and 2013,” according to Comelec Resolution No. 9983, promulgated on Aug. 18. Republic Act No. 10590 provides that the resident election registration boards shall deactivate and remove the registration records of any person who did not vote in two consecutive national elections. The Comelec explained in the resolution that maintaining the registration records of those who failed to vote in two successive elections in the National Registry of Overseas Voters and in the Certified List of Overseas Voters would have an adverse impact on election preparations, budgetary estimations and voter turnout. “It would also affect the accuracy of having real numbers in the registration count for purposes of data collection for future reference,” it added. Latest Thai envoy OK with PH warning DFA extends passports’ life Comelec drops overseas voters Maja: Coco is ‘boyfriend material’ Recommended Filipino with drug history nabbed in Disneyland for carrying gun Comparing Dr. Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino Fil-Am beauty, poise, talent showcased in Bb. Pilipinas USA ‘15 Lawsuits over Pacquiao-Mayweather fight head to Calif. court Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve Read More …
Aug 202015
Associated Press August 21st, 2015 02:02 AM Percival Aguilar Agoncillo ANAHEIM, California — Anaheim police say an armed man, Percival Aguilar Agoncillo, 44, was arrested last month in the Esplanade area between Disneyland and California Adventure, after park security found him with a loaded gun and additional ammunition. Agoncillo was nabbed shortly after 9 p.m. on July 9, booked, then released on $20,000 bail. However, he was rearrested in Northern, when a post-arrest background check found that the San Francisco resident was on probation in San Mateo County for carrying a loaded gun. After learning of Agoncillo’s arrest in Orange County, San Mateo County probation decided to search his residence on July 12. Agents found methamphetamine and a loaded Colt .45 in the kitchen, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe said Wednesday, August 19. San Mateo prosecutors charged Agoncillo with felony possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of drugs while in posession of firearms and possession of ammunition. He also is charged with two misdemeanors of being under the influence of drugs and possessing a small amount of meth. He remains in custody in San Mateo County in lieu of $150,000 bail. An arraignment for the Orange County charges is set for August 27. Like us on Facebook Latest LeBron James dazzles ‘unbelievable’ fans in 2nd Manila trip Asian shares slump on China worries, oil falls NBA star Ricky Rubio arrives in Manila PH universities tapped to support local startup industry Recommended Comparing Dr. Jose Rizal and Read More …
Aug 192015
Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Jodee Agoncillo, August 20th, 2015 08:02 AM DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman receives the US$300,000 donation from Nigeria for the victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda. JODEE AGONCILLO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER Amid the United Nations’ criticisms regarding the government’s slow rehabilitation process for victims hit by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), help from other countries are still pouring in. On Wednesday, the Federal Government of Nigeria turned over to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman US$300,000 and construction materials for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda. In 2013, Haiyan, the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines, killed more than 6,300 people and displaced 4.1 million. Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines Buba Tekune has said their government believes the assistance would make necessary impact in the area even after two years the onslaught of Yolanda. “The significance of this gift should not be narrowed down as financial and material gift but rather be viewed from the premise of the desire of the Nigerian government and people to build long lasting bonds with the Philippines. I hope the donation would go a long way to support the commendable rehabilitation efforts of the Philippine government in the affected area.” The donations will be used to buy huge power tanks to serve as water source for people in Tacloban, and start relocating around 1,000 families from bunk houses to permanent resettlement areas. As of the latest report, around 2,000 families are in transitional shelters and bunk houses, according to Soliman, who Read More …