Laguna facility helps people with chronic mental illness, substance-related disorders

 News
Jul 102013
 
Laguna facility helps people with chronic mental illness, substance-related disorders

Rudin Gonzales Jr., founder of the One Algon Place Foundation Inc. MANILA, Philippines – Hope springs eternal for beautiful minds and loving hearts. These are the inspiring words of steel trader Rudin Gonzales Jr., who founded a facility dubbed “The Academy of Hope” for patients suffering from chronic mental illness and substance-related disorders, dismissed as “hopeless” by their families and communities. With prayers and determination, Gonzales, his wife Annie, and their three children conceptualized the facility as part of their long-cherished aspiration to help people, especially drug dependents, alcoholics and co-dependents. Located at 0633 Barangay Mamatid in Cabuyao City, Laguna (tel. no. 584-4301), the sprawling home-like facility was established by the One Algon Place Foundation Inc. (TOAPFI or Algon) in early 2004. The word Algon was taken from the middle name and surname of the foundation’s chairman, ALmendral and GONzales, respectively. It used to be a fishpond owned by the Gonzales family who later converted the one-hectare private family resort into the Academy of Hope for Filipinos with mental illness. And for the Gonzales family, this was the start of a dream that became a reality. Humble beginnings Homepage ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Gonzales came from a poor family. His mother was a teacher, and his father an accountant. Bullied as a kid, the future steel trader concentrated on his studies and excelled academically, graduating from Ateneo de Manila University; he also studied at San Jose Seminary. Being the fourth child in a brood of 10, Gonzales pursued Read More …

PAGASA: Huaning maintains strength, west-northwest course

 News
Jul 102013
 
PAGASA: Huaning maintains strength, west-northwest course

TS Soulik as of 5pm, 9July2013. As of Tuesday afternoon, tropical storm Soulik was located some 1,570km east of Basco, Batanes. It is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday morning, and will be locally codenamed Huaning. GMA News Typhoon Huaning (Soulik) maintained its strength as it continued to move west-northwest Wednesday night, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA, in its 11 p.m. advisory, said Batanes in extreme northern Luzon remained under Storm Signal No. 1. As of 10 p.m., PAGASA said Huaning was estimated to be 1,030 km east of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It was moving west-northwest at 20 kph and would be 640 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes Thursday evening. By Friday evening, it is expected to be 390 km north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. By Saturday evening it is forecast to be 600 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. PAGASA said Huaning may bring rainfall of 10 to 25 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 800-km diameter. PAGASA warned fishermen, especially those using small seacraft, not to venture to the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon due to big waves generated by Huaning. — DVM, GMA News

Bettor wins P23.715M in Megalotto 6/45 draw

 News
Jul 102013
 
Bettor wins P23.715M in Megalotto 6/45 draw

A lone bettor won P23.715 million in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Megalotto 6/45 draw Wednesday night. The PCSO said the bettor got the winning combination of 41-09-45-03-21-17 to win the night’s prize. The PCSO did not identify the winner. On the other hand, no one got the combination of 25-35-30-44-24-18 that would have won Tuesday night’s Grand Lotto jackpot of P30 million. On Tuesday night, a lone bettor got the combination of 29-39-11-15-07-21 to bag the Lotto 6/42 prize worth P17,093,184. Last July 1, a lone lotto bettor became P178.849 million richer after hitting the jackpot of the PCSO Grand Lotto draw. The biggest lotto prize ever won was in the November 2010 draw, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million for getting the winning combination 11-16-42-47-31-37. — DVM, GMA News

Fire bureau: BGC unit owners required to do self-inspection of condos

 News
Jul 102013
 
Fire bureau: BGC unit owners required to do self-inspection of condos

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is now requiring homeowners in Bonifacio Global City to conduct their own inspection of their units following the explosion at the Two Serendra condominium on May 3. The bureau will start giving out a “self-safety assessment and evaluation” checklist for the tenants to complete starting Wednesday, BFP officer-in-charge Carlito Romero said. “Safety is a shared responsibility and interest… We’re on the same boat. This is a consultation, so we welcome comments,” Romero said in a statement. An interagency task force determined that a gas leak caused the explosion, which claimed the lives of four persons, including three whose vehicle was crushed by a wall that was ripped off the unit. The unit’s tenant, Angelito San Juan, succumbed to burns on July 4. The owners should submit their accomplished checklists to their building administrators, the fire bureau said. “Take advantage of this period, after which we will issue directives with or without comments,” Romero said. Unit owners and building administrators have until July 19 to comment on the checklists, and have from July 20 to 26 to accomplish them, Romero said. After an inspection and a directive to be issued in August, the BFP will inspect the units in BGC every three months, said Taguig city administrator Joel Montrales in the statement. “For this to work, we need 100-percent compliance,” he added. The Department of Interior and Local Government is expected to release the final report on the blast in two weeks’ time. Foreign experts Read More …

Court orders arrest of ex-CAAP exec over graft

 News
Jul 102013
 
Court orders arrest of ex-CAAP exec over graft

A former Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) official is facing arrest in connection with the graft cases filed against him. This was after the Sandiganbayan First Division ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant against Daniel A. Dimagiba, former deputy director for operations of CAAP, after finding probable cause to proceed with his trial on two counts of graft. “After personally perusing the Information and evaluating the resolution of the prosecutor, the evidence in support thereof and the records of the preliminary investigation attached thereto, it appears that sufficient ground exist for the finding of probable cause. Wherefore, let a warrant of arrest be issued against accused Daniel A. Dimagiba,” the anti-graft court said. The order was issued less than a month after the Office of the Ombudsman charged Dimagiba for allegedly pressuring two CAAP flight operations inspectors to give passing grades to two flight school students who failed the Pilot Proficiency Flight Check. Dimagiba was also implicated in an alleged unlawful issuance of an operating permit to an airline in 2008. The Sandiganbayan also issued a hold departure order has also been issued against Dimagiba, directing the Bureau of Immigration to prevent him from leaving the country unless with a court-issued clearance. Dimagiba has already asked the court to suspend the proceedings against him to give him a chance to file a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman. The charges, filed June 24, stemmed from the complaint filed by former CAAP director general Ruben Ciron. Graft investigators also found Read More …

PAGASA: Signal 1 over Batanes; Huaning effects expected starting Thursday

 News
Jul 102013
 
PAGASA: Signal 1 over Batanes; Huaning effects expected starting Thursday

Typhoon Soulik enters PAR, codenamed Huaning. Tropical Storm Soulik, visible as a white circular cloud formation in the upper righthand portion of this image, passed into the Philippine Area of Responsibility at around 10am (PHT) on July 10. It has been given the local codename, Huaning. GMA News The Batanes islands were placed under Storm Signal No. 1 Wednesday afternoon as Typhoon Huaning (Soulik) continued moving toward Northern Luzon, state weather forecasters said. But PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said their models indicate Huaning may still not make itself felt until at least Thursday or Friday. “Hindi tatama sa Pilipinas ang bagyong si Huaning,” Loiz said in an interview on dzBB radio. Loiz said their models indicate Huaning may eventually head for Taiwan, though it may enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over parts of the Philippines. The typhoon is still likely to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by early Saturday, he added. “Ang pag-ulan sa habagat maaring Friday afternoon or Saturday,” he said. Advisory In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Huaning was estimated at 1,150 km east of Itbayat, Batanes as of 4 p.m. According to PAGASA, Huaning packed maximum winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 20 kph. By Thursday afternoon, it is expected to be 720 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. By Friday afternoon it is expected to be 380 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. On Saturday afternoon, it is expected to Read More …

Palace doubts NSCB report on growing income inequality

 News
Jul 102013
 
Palace doubts NSCB report on growing income inequality

Malacañang on Wednesday expressed doubts on a report by National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showing growing inequality between the rich and the poor in the Philippines in terms of income. At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda maintained that “real growth” is being experienced by Filipinos in the low income level. “I’m not sure if that [report] is correct. There has been a growth even in the lowest levels and if you notice the growth, for instance, there’s a growth of eight percent in the lowest level,” he said. Lacierda was reacting to an NSCB study that revealed that Filipinos from the high-income class enjoyed a 10.4-percent growth in income in 2011, while those in the low-income group only experienced an 8.2-percent growth. Lacierda pointed out that these figures are still above the 3.2-percent inflation rate, which means that growth is being experienced in all levels of society in the Philippines. He added that the Aquino administration is determined to achieve inclusive growth before Aquino’s term ends in 2016. “From the very start of our administration, we have said that we are going to bat for inclusive growth and it’s not gonna happen overnight.  We are continuously doing and making sure that no one would be left behind,” Lacierda said. Last April, the NSCB reported that poverty incidence in the country during the first half of 2012 was at 27.9 percent, which was almost the same rate six years ago. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

Businesswoman's illegal detention case pits NBI vs. DOJ

 News
Jul 102013
 
Businesswoman's illegal detention case pits NBI vs. DOJ

A case of a businesswoman accused of illegally detaining a possible witness in a government anomaly has pitted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against the agency that supervises it, the Department of Justice (DOJ). This was after the NBI asked the DOJ to reverse its decision clearing Janet Lim-Napoles, who is linked to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, for the alleged illegal detention of Benhur Luy, a probable witness in the case. In a 16-page motion for reconsideration he personally filed with the DOJ, NBI director Nonnatus Rojas questioned why the prosecutors gave more weight on a supposed letter from Luy to his parents saying that he was not taken against his will. “The letter is not a document which was made under oath. Assuming that the letter should be made admissible, the same does not bear any exculpatory nature as to relieve the respondents of their guilt for the felony of serious illegal detention nor is it fatal to the complaint against them,” Rojas argued. But in its resolution, the DOJ said that contrary to Luy’s family’s claim in their complaint, the victim’s letter did not say he was being taken against his will. The NBI has charged Napoles and her brother Reynaldo Lim for the alleged illegal detention of Luy, lead employee of JLN Group of Companies, which has been linked to several anomalies involving government projects. “The categorical statements made by Benhur should therefore prevail over the bare assertions of respondents… Without a doubt, the respondents Read More …

OCD in 7 regions on alert as 'Soulik' nears PHL; Coast Guard warns fishermen

 News
Jul 092013
 
OCD in 7 regions on alert as 'Soulik' nears PHL; Coast Guard warns fishermen

Tropical Storm Soulik forecast track as of 8Jul2013. The Weather Central forecast track for Soulik as of 8am Monday shows that the tropical storm may enter the northeastern corner of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday. GMA News As Typhoon Soulik continued to approach the Philippines Wednesday morning, officials of the Office of Civil Defense in seven regions, including Metro Manila, were instructed to adopt the needed precautions. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had the OCD prepare for the possibility of heavy rain from Soulik, which would be codenamed “Huaning” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR). OCD regional units placed under alert included Metro Manila, Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa, radio dzBB reported. PAGASA earlier said Soulik had intensified into a typhoon and continues to gain strength while approaching Northern Luzon, and may enhance the southwest monsoon. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard placed its units in Northern Luzon on alert, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said the units in Northern Luzon are to go around coastal areas and dissuade fishermen from going out to sea at this time. PAGASA said Soulik is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility as early as 10 a.m. Wednesday. — LBG, GMA News

PAGASA: Typhoon Soulik may enter PAR before noon, landfall not discounted

 News
Jul 092013
 
PAGASA: Typhoon Soulik may enter PAR before noon, landfall not discounted

Tropical Storm Soulik forecast track as of 8Jul2013. The Weather Central forecast track for Soulik as of 8am Monday shows that the tropical storm may enter the northeastern corner of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday. GMA News Typhoon Soulik intensified further as it moved closer toward Batanes in extreme northern Luzon, and may enter the Philippine area of responsibility before noon Wednesday, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran also said Soulik, to be codenamed Huaning once it is inside the PAR, also slightly changed course and is now moving west-northwest. “Babantayan natin kung sakali, baka sumubsob [sa kalupaan] dahil may lumalakas na high-pressure area na nakatuntong sa kanya kaya nahirapan siya mag-northward,” Duran said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said their models indicate the possibility of Soulik – now with an 800 km diameter – making landfall over the Batanes area in extreme northern Luzon. Duran said their models also indicate Soulik may enter the Philippine area of responsibility between 10 and 11 a.m. While he said Soulik is not likely to affect Metro Manila, it may make itself felt by enhancing the southwest monsoon. “Expect natin kung magtuloy-tuloy si Soulik, by tomorrow afternoon maranasan natin ang pag-ulan,” he said. He added Soulik is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by early Saturday. As of 4 a.m., PAGASA said Soulik was estimated at 1,365 km east of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries