PCSO: Lone bettor wins P53.988M in Megalotto 6/45 draw

 News
Jun 282013
 
PCSO: Lone bettor wins P53.988M in Megalotto 6/45 draw

A lone lotto bettor became P54.988 million richer after hitting the jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Megalotto 6/45 draw Friday night. The PCSO said the bettor got the correct combination of 20-19-42-18-32-01 to win the night’s jackpot worth P53,987,876. But as in the past, the PCSO is not likely to make public the winner’s name, for security reasons. On Thursday night, a lone winner bagged the P33.917-million jackpot of the PCSO’s Lotto 6/42 draw. Last June 6, two lotto bettors got the winning combination of 22-13-05-19-25-10 to win the Lotto 6/42 jackpot worth P39,462,944. On June 4, a lone lotto bettor became P90.996 million richer after hitting the jackpot in the PCSO Superlotto 6/49 draw. Last April 30, two lucky bettors shared P95,932,278 after getting the combination to the Superlotto 6/49 draw jackpot. But the biggest lotto prize in recent history was still in November 2010, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million for getting the winning combination 11-16-42-47-31-37.  —  ELR, GMA News

Chinese research base starts ops in disputed area of South China Sea

 News
Jun 282013
 
Chinese research base starts ops in disputed area of South China Sea

China’s Hainan province has established a maritime fishery resource breeding and research base in a disputed area of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). A report on China’s Xinhua news agency said the facility was established in sea waters of the Zhongsha Islands, which China claims includes Scarborough Shoal. Li Xiangmin, director of the Hainan provincial aquaculture research institute, said the base is located in the Manbu Ansha area, a submerged shoal in the Zhongsha Islands. It covers a sea area of 625 hectares, he said. China earlier said the Zhongsha Islands include Scarborough Shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Island but which the Philippines calls Bajo de Masinloc. Xinhua said the new base is the “first approved scientific program since Sansha City was officially established in July 2012.” Li said aquaculture researchers will put into the sea for research some 20,000 grouper fry, 20,000 spats of pearl oysters, 20,000 spats of pteria penguin, a genus of winged oyster, and 20,000 pieces of red seaweeds eucheuma. Researchers will also conduct field investigation and scientific research activities on the weather, hydrological and topographic conditions, maritime species, submarine grassland and coral reefs in Manbu Ansha in the next three days. Sansha The Xinhua report said Sansha, which has 1,000 residents, was set up to administer some 2.6 million square kilometers of islands, coastal areas and territorial seas. But the Philippines claimed Filipinos had settled in the islands where Sansha stands as early as 1978. “Yung ating local government matagal na, Read More …

Palace defends access plan

 News
Jun 282013
 
Palace defends access plan

US troops’ use of PH bases to be temporary By TJ Burgonio, Nikko Dizon and Norman BordadoraPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:51 am | Saturday, June 29th, 2013 Malacañang on Friday defended a plan to give the United States, Japan and other allies access to military bases in the Philippines, saying the country was free to do anything within its territory. But the plan, which coincides with the United States’ “pivot” to Asia, a strategy that would see 60 percent of America’s warships shifting to the region by the end of the decade, has yet to be approved by President Benigno Aquino III, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. Several senators acknowledged that the Philippines needs the assistance the United States and other allies can bring by their presence in the country, but they said the proposed access agreements under the plan would need Senate approval. The Senate voted to expel US military bases from the Philippines in 1991, but ratified the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in 1999 to allow US forces access to the country through joint exercises with Philippine forces. No longer visiting Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the 12 senators who voted to expel the US military bases, said the VFA allowed only a temporary stay of US forces in the country. “They cannot establish any military base in the Philippines,” Enrile said. “Temporary or whatever term they use, no military bases. If it assumes a certain degree of permanence or stability, then it’s no longer visiting forces,” Read More …

US temporary access to PH military bases might violate Constitution

 News
Jun 282013
 
US temporary access to PH military bases might violate Constitution

SENATORS SAY By Maila AgerINQUIRER.net 1:50 pm | Friday, June 28th, 2013 Sen. Gregorio Honasan and Sen. Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER file photo MANILA, Philippines—Two senators  have raised  an  alarm over  the  Philippines’ plan to  allow the  United States and other allies  “temporary access” to  its military bases, one saying  it might be a violation of the Constitution. “Technically, I think it may be a violation of the Constitution,” Senator Gringo Honasan said in a text message on  Friday. “But if our national interest and  security are at stake, we have limited choices because we are still a developing country at the mercy of and dependent on powers like the US and China,” he said. Honasan said the  “temporary access” might be  a violation of the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits foreign military bases in the country. Despite this,  the senator  said he would back  the plan if  only  to stop  China  from “bullying” the  Philippines on  the issue of the West  Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “For practical purposes, our national security is an urgent matter given the fact that China is not moving away. It’s only with the US that China could be cowed,” Honasan said in Filipino in a phone interview. Senator Panfilo Lacson said  the Department  of National Defense should exercise prudence  by consulting first the Senate. “There is a wide gray of area of interpreting the planned move of allowing temporary access to our military bases by the US and other allies. Having  said that, the DND Read More …

UN Council backs machine guns for Golan peacekeepers

 News
Jun 282013
 
UN Council backs machine guns for Golan peacekeepers

Agence France-Presse 1:17 pm | Friday, June 28th, 2013 An Israeli army Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) maneuvers during a military exercise near the northern border with Syria on June 25, 2013 in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. INQUIRER file photo UNITED NATIONS—The UN Security Council on Thursday backed UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights carrying machine guns, as fallout from the Syria war increases in the ceasefire zone. The council passed a resolution to extend the mandate of the force, where the Philippines has the biggest contingent, until the end of the year. It also called on Syrian government and opposition fighters to stay out of the zone where peacekeepers monitor a three-decade-old ceasefire between Syria and Israel. The 15-member council strongly condemned three abductions of UN peacekeepers in the Golan since March and expressed “grave concern” at violations of the 1974 ceasefire accord. Members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) were kidnapped by different opposition groups between March and May. Two peacekeepers have been wounded in shelling as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces attack rebels in the ceasefire zone. The council stressed the “need to enhance the safety and security” of peacekeepers, and endorsed UN leader Ban Ki-moon’s changes to the mission’s operations to “enhance the self-defense capabilities of UNDOF.” The council resolution did not set out the measures. But UN officials and diplomats say that UNDOF peacekeepers, who traditionally only carry very light arms, will get machine guns, extra body armor and 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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