Remains of 7 Filipinos killed in Yemen arriving Tuesday

 News
Dec 162013
 
Remains of 7 Filipinos killed in Yemen arriving Tuesday

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 8:43 pm | Monday, December 16th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — The bodies of the seven Filipinos killed in the bombing of Yemen’s defense ministry complex early this month will arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said four of them are expected to arrive 6:50 a.m. via Emirates Airlines flight EK 336 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Meanwhile, the three others will arrive at the Clark International Airport at 3:55 p.m. on board Emirates Airlines flight EK 338. The remains arriving in Clark are those of Marivic Corilla Badenas and Aurora Gormate, both of Mariveles town in Bataan province, and Marianne Coronel David of the village of Betis in Guagua town in Pampanga province, said a source at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who asked not to be named for not having been assigned to speak to reporters. “Yemeni President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in his meeting with Undersecretary Jesus Yabes, expressed regret for the tragedy that befell our kababayans and conveyed his sincerest condolences to the families of the victims,” Hernandez said. He added that Hadi had ordered the conferment of a duty medal to one of the fatalities, Dr. Ruben Valenzuela, to be received by his family. The families of those killed, in what is believed to be a terrorist attack, will receive compensation equivalent to the victim’s one year salary. Of the people injured during the bomb blast, 27 were Filipino workers. They will Read More …

US, Manila ink pact to repair ash-covered cemetery

 News
Dec 162013
 
US, Manila ink pact to repair ash-covered cemetery

Associated Press 7:55 pm | Monday, December 16th, 2013 AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Philippine officials signed an agreement Monday for Washington to restore a cemetery north of Manila where the graves of thousands of American service members and dependents have been covered in ash since Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption. The accord calls for the American Battle Monuments Commission to repair and maintain the Clark Veterans Cemetery for at least 10 years. President Barack Obama had earlier signed a law to finance the Philippine-owned cemetery’s upkeep. The U.S. Air Force hastily abandoned Clark Air Base, where the cemetery is located, after Mount Pinatubo’s eruption. In 1994, American veterans were shocked to find the 7-hectare (17-acre) cemetery covered in ash and weeds with half of its old steel fence looted. They cleaned up the graves but have since struggled to maintain the cemetery through volunteer work and donations. Although the cemetery looks tidier today, it is still covered by about a foot (30 centimeters) of ash, partially burying tombstones and obscuring names, dates and epitaphs. American veterans, who have been campaigning to prod the U.S. government to take charge of the cemetery’s repair and maintenance, welcomed the agreement, which was signed by U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Arnel Casanova, president of Manila’s Bases Conversion and Development Authority, “This brings to a close a three-year campaign effort to get the U.S. cemetery to be remembered,” said former Navy Capt. Dennis Wright, who saw action in Vietnam and is now Read More …

No parade and review at this year's AFP anniversary due to Yolanda

 News
Dec 162013
 
No parade and review at this year's AFP anniversary due to Yolanda

The military will have a “toned down” anniversary celebration this year to sympathize with the thousands of victims of super typhoon Yolanda. “The expenses that will be saved out of this will be dedicated to the continuing HADR,” said Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), referring to the military’s ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in areas hit by the typhoon. Tutaan said the celebration is being “toned down to sympathize with the victims of the recent calamity.” The program for the AFP’s 78th foundation anniversary will be held on Friday, a day ahead of the actual anniversary. President Benigno Aquino III, the military’s commander in chief, will be the guest of honor. Tutaan said the military is foregoing with the traditional parade and review, which includes the fly-by of military aircraft. “We want to save as much as possible so that we can dedicate it for our continuing HADR activities,” he said. In a separate interview, AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said there will be usual arrival honors for the President, singing of the national anthem, invocation, awarding of soldiers who excelled in their field, welcome remarks from AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and a message from Aquino. He said the President will also inspect newly-delivered helicopters. The three AW 109 helicopters, intended for the use of the Philippine Navy, are part of the five aircraft acquired from an Anglo-Italian firm for P1.33 billion. — KBK, GMA News

CHRISTMAS DESTINATIONS ON A BUDGET

 News
Dec 122013
 
CHRISTMAS DESTINATIONS ON A BUDGET

The perfect Christmas gift is always a nice vacation with family and friends. Since we also have to give dozens of godchildren gifts, we sometimes lack the funds to travel to expensive places. So here’s a list of the more affordable places to visit for the long Christmas to New Year break. READ FULL STORY

China retaliates, accuses Japan of stirring up trouble in sea row

 News
Dec 122013
 
China retaliates, accuses Japan of stirring up trouble in sea row

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 7:04 pm | Thursday, December 12th, 2013 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei PHOTO FROM CHINA-EMBASSY.ORG MANILA, Philippines – It’s now China’s turn to point a finger at Japan saying that it was the one stirring up trouble in the East China Sea and that it has “ulterior political motives” in making a big issue out of the Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). “The one who stirs up troubles and changes the status quo on the Diaoyu (Senkaku) islands and in the East China Sea is no other than Japan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said in a press conference in China Wednesday, the transcript of which was posted on its website. “Japan makes irresponsible accusation of China’s normal maritime and air activities and hypes up ‘China threat’ since it has ulterior political motives,” he said. The Diaoyu or Sankaku Islands are several disputed islands in the East China Sea being claimed by China but currently under the control of Japan. China’s recently established ADIZ covers the airspace above the disputed islands. Japan and the United States (US) previously criticized China for the ADIZ saying that it unilaterally changes the status quo in the East China Sea. Japan, US, and South Korea defied the ADIZ by sending airplanes into the zone and not identifying themselves with China. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a previous statement that the ADIZ “increases tensions in the region and create risks of an incident.” Lei reiterated that China Read More …

PMA-Hawaii gears up for mission to Yolanda victims

 News
Dec 122013
 
PMA-Hawaii gears up for mission to Yolanda victims

The Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii (PMAH) is gearing up for a medical and humanitarian mission to the typhoon-devastated Visayan region of the Philippines from December 13-23. A total of 40 volunteers will join the mission, including 20 physicians, medical and physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, medical students and other paramedical personnel. Every volunteer will pay for his or her own travel, lodging, food and other expenses. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO “This is the first mission from Hawaii to help the Typhoon Yolanda survivors,” says mission chair Dr. Sonido, who has been involved in at least 20 missions of mercy over the past 30 years as a volunteer physician. He will be assisted by co-chair Dr. Russell Kelly, who is the current president of the Ohana Medical Missions—the missionary arm of the PMAH. The team will be based in Cebu but plans to go to areas most devastated by the typhoon. Organizers are expecting to serve up to 25,000 Yolanda survivors over a five-day period. Mission volunteers will bring over $500,000 worth of medications and supplies such as EKG machines, stethoscopes, and blood pressure and blood sugar monitors. Most of the items were donated by physicians, pharmaceutical companies, local drug stores and mainland medical companies. Mission co-chair Dr. Kelly says volunteers are anticipating a very challenging mission. “We expect horrible conditions in the Visayas because it is in a state of emergency and people are expecting a lot of help,” he says. “We are planning to deliver aid to as many survivors as Read More …

Medical aid worth $1.5 M airlifted to Yolanda victims

 News
Dec 122013
 
Medical aid worth $1.5 M airlifted to Yolanda victims

Logistics giant UPS, the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), the ABS-CBN Foundation, the Harmony for Peace Foundation, Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) and other community groups recently joined hands to provide critical medical supplies to victims of hurricane Haiyan (typhoon Yolanda). New York Consul General Mario P. De Leon, Jr. and Deputy ConGen Zaldy Patron extolled the business-nonprofit partnership on November 26 at the CMMB Distribution Center in Long Island City as $1.5 million worth of antibiotics, anti-diarrheal and wound care products, gloves, face masks, bandages, splints, saline solutions and other hospital supplies were loaded onto a UPS truck for air transport via UPS. In a joint statement by Ramon Villongco, Chairman of the Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board and overall project facilitator, and PIDCI President Fe Martinez, the shipment “was the first time that critical humanitarian aid of this scale was airlifted to the Philippines instead of being sent as ocean cargo, which takes much longer in transit while victims’ survival hangs in the balance.” Witnessing the CMMB-UPS medical airlift, from left: Ramon Villongco, Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board; Libby Carroll, Office of the Nassau County Executive; Deputy ConGen Zaldy Patron; Fe Martinez, PIDCI President; Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr.; Chris Peck, UPS HR Vice President; Johnny Rustia, AARP Asian Community Ambassador; Darnelle Bernier, CMMB Director; Marlon Nufable, MCN Global CEO; and Tomoko Torii, the Harmony for Peace Foundation’s Executive Director. United Parcel Service Regional Representatives Chris Peck, UPS Vice President of Human Resources and Read More …

Chino Roque 1st Pinoy Astronaut to travel into space

 News
Dec 122013
 
Chino Roque 1st Pinoy Astronaut to travel into space

Chino Roque [via Zeibiz] Chino Roque is the first Filipino Astronaut to travel into space next year! The 22-year-old psychology graduate from De La Salle Manila, bested two other Filipinos — Evan Ray Datuin and Ramil Santos — in the Axe Apollo Space Academy Competition. On-board with XCOR Lync space plane, Chino Roque will travel together with 21 individuals from 60 countries for a 30-minute trip to space in 2014. “Right now I’m very happy that a lot of people have been showing me their love and support. I feel so blessed and grateful to all of them,” Roque said in an interview. The legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin declared Roque the first Filipino astronaut during awarding ceremonies at the Kennedy Space Center. Roque will join 24 other winners who will fly to space in a Space Expedition Corp. shuttle. According to space science website Space.com, winners of the AXE promo are expected to ride the XCOR Aerospace Lynx space plane, a shuttle designed for sub-orbital flight. Space Expedition Corp. plans to launch commercial flights to the edge of space by 2015, a separate Space.com post said. The post Chino Roque 1st Pinoy Astronaut to travel into space appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: Discovery Shores scoops major Travel + Leisure Awards Two young Pinoy executives compete in ‘The Apprentice Asia’ Young Pinoy Math Wizards win Gold in Bulgaria competition Megan Young wins Miss World, Philippines 1st ever

Roxas insists Tacloban relief was not politicized, offers lie detector test

 News
Dec 102013
 
Roxas insists Tacloban relief was not politicized, offers lie detector test

Mar hits back at Romualdez. DILG Secretary Mar Roxas II reads a transcript of a meeting with Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez during a press conference in Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, December 10. He was belying Romualdez’s claim that Tacloban city received little to no help from the national government in the aftermath of Yolanda, and that Roxas tried to play politics with him. Asti Flores Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said he was willing to take a lie detector test to prove he did not bring up clan politics with Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda. “Ang importante dito ang katotohanan,” said a visibly irate Roxas in a “24 Oras” report Tuesday.   On Monday, a teary-eyed Romualdez said in post-disaster assessment at the Senate that Roxas supposedly asked him in a meeting to cede control of the city to the DILG. The secretary also brought up clan politics during discussion, instead of immediately sending aid to the city. “Secretary Roxas said we should legalize everything… You have to remember: we have to be very careful because you are a Romualdez and the president is an Aquino,” Romualdez quoted Roxas. This did not sit well with Roxas, who clarified that he merely brought up the Romualdez-Aquino clan to avoid politicizing the disaster. “Ang ibig sabihin dun, kami ang national government. Dapat maingat kasi Romualdez siya. Baka mapulitika ito. Iniiwasan natin ang politika kaya nga [nagtataka] ako na bakit niya pinupulitika ngayon ito. Read More …

Zambo siege was carried out by ‘misguided’ factions in MNLF – AFP official

 News
Dec 102013
 
Zambo siege was carried out by ‘misguided’ factions in MNLF – AFP official

A military spokesman said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is “not against” the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in general since the attack on Zamboanga City in September was carried out not by the whole group but by “misguided” factions led by the group’s founding chairman Nur Misuari. “We have a final peace agreement already with the MNLF and we are not against the MNLF… What happened in Zamboanga [was done by] factions of the MNLF, that they used violence to advance their goals which, to us, is unacceptable,” said AFP information chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala on Tuesday. “We believe that the MNLF still abides by the final peace agreement and that what happened in Zamboanga [was done] only [by] those misguided by Nur Misuari,” he added. Misuari and some of his men are wanted for the attack, which left over 200 people dead, most of them MNLF fighters. Although not physically present during the attack, Misuari allegedly ordered the siege as he accused the government of disregarding them in the peace negotiations it is conducting with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The rebels claimed last year’s signing of a Bangsamoro Framework Agreement between the government and the MILF sidelined the peace agreement the government signed with the MNLF in 1996. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/BM, GMA News

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