A year later, Congress still undecided on who should be sent to JBC

 News
Jun 202013
 
A year later, Congress still undecided on who should be sent to JBC

Congress has yet to decide on who between Sen. Francis Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. would represent the legislative branch in the Judicial and Bar Council. The impasse remains almost one year after the Supreme Court has ruled with finality that only one representative, and not two as traditionally observed, should represent Congress in the JBC. Neither Tupaz nor Escudero showed up during Thursday’s JBC interviews of candidates for the vacant presiding justice post at the Sandiganbayan. “They have not resolved with definitiveness as to who will represent. Kasi in accordance with the SC decision which has become final and executory, there will only be one who should represent Congress,” said lawyer Jose Mejia, JBC regular member for the academe. Mejia, however, added that he received information that Tupas and Escudero are already “working it out… to resolve the matter sooner or later.” Asked if the JBC could intervene in deciding who should represent Congress, Mejia said: “It would have to be between them. They should decide themselves.” Mejia said that as a result of the SC ruling, the required majority votes for a candidate to qualify on a JBC shortlist went down from five to four. Mejia said even without a Congress representative, the JBC can still proceed with voting, so long as there is a quorum and the members can muster a majority of four votes. The Supreme Court in July 17 last year sided with a petition by former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez, who questioned Read More …

UN sends out call for $47-M aid for Mindanao rehab in 2013

 News
Jun 202013
 
UN sends out call for $47-M aid for Mindanao rehab in 2013

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:42 pm | Thursday, June 20th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations’ humanitarian agency called for immediate international response to the prevailing needs in Mindanao provinces devastated by Typhoon “Pablo” and decades of conflict, estimating that the region would have to raise $47 million (roughly P2 billion) for shelter and livelihood needs in 2013 alone. Top officials of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also bared on Thursday that it has started downsizing its operations on the ground in typhoon-hit parts of Mindanao as operations shifted from immediate relief to long-term rehabilitation. The $47 million is part of a $91-million call for aid under the agency’s revised humanitarian action plan for Central and Western Mindanao as of this month, according to David Carden, head of OCHA Philippines. “This revised plan will help us to meet the ongoing needs of those affected by Pablo, particularly in the areas of shelter, because people need shelter and livelihood,” Carden said in a press conference on Thursday. “The requirements are still there in the areas of shelter, education, socio-psychological rehabilitation. A lot of people who lost relatives, friends, they are recovering now and I’d say we don’t have much time… We have to move rather quickly,” Rashid Khalikov, Geneva-based UNOCHA director who led a high-level visit of aid officials and international donors to Maguindanao this week. Carden said the revised call for aid aimed to “meet the humanitarian and protection needs of 530,000 affected Read More …

Rep. Bello: I have evidence of embassy sex racket

 News
Jun 202013
 
Rep. Bello: I have evidence of embassy sex racket

By Christian V. EsguerraPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:35 pm | Thursday, June 20th, 2013 Representative Walden Bello MANILA, Philippines—Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello threatened on Thursday to reveal more damaging evidence against overseas welfare officer Mario Antonio if he would insist on his “brazen lie” that illegal recruiters had made up the “sex-for-flight” scandal. “We don’t want to preempt the investigation, but if he continues with his brazen lies, we’re going to make more of his misdeeds public,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone following a meeting with Assistant Labor Secretary Rebecca Chato at the House of Representatives. Bello also called for a parallel investigation independent of the one promised by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment. He said his informants from both agencies were more willing to talk in a Malacañang-initiated inquiry. “They’ll feel safer and more confident in an independent investigation initiated by the Palace,” he said. In the meeting with Chato, Bello said, he asked that DOLE expand its investigation to cover Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Bello earlier alleged that female overseas Filipino workers were being sexually exploited by some Philippine labor officers in Kuwait, Damascus in Syria, and Amman in Jordan. Antonio denied the allegation, saying it might have been floated by illegal recruiters who wanted him out. The response incensed Bello, who said his information had come from “mid- to high-level” officers of both the DFA and DOLE. “What he is saying, that’s a brazen lie,” he said. Also tagged Read More …

Philippines, US to hold naval exercises near disputed reef

 News
Jun 202013
 
Philippines, US to hold naval exercises near disputed reef

Agance France-Presse 3:11 pm | Thursday, June 20th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – The United States and the Philippines are to hold joint naval maneuvers in the South China Sea next week between the main island of Luzon and a reef claimed by both China and Manila, the Filipino navy said Thursday. The exercises taking place from June 27 to July 2 by the two allies are to be held about 108 kilometers (67 miles) east of Scarborough Shoal, navy spokesman Lieutenant-Commander Gregory Fabic told AFP. Chinese government vessels are still believed to be patrolling the waters around the shoal after a lengthy stand-off last year with the Philippines, which ended with a Filipino retreat. “This was planned way back in 2010. Whatever happened since then was purely coincidental,” Fabic said when asked if holding the exercises there this year were a way for the Philippines to reassert its sovereignty over the shoal. The maneuvers would be held over 12,347 square kilometers (4,767 square miles) of waters, he added. Chinese embassy spokesmen in Manila could not be reached for comment Thursday. Beijing claims it has sovereign rights over nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters far away from its main landmass and approaching the coasts of Southeast Asian countries. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim parts of the sea, and the area has for decades been regarded as a potential trigger for major military conflict in the region. Since last month the Philippine navy has also Read More …

Thought comes to the archbishop

 News
Jun 202013
 
Thought comes to the archbishop

Outtakes By Rene Ciria-Cruz 2:11 pm | Thursday, June 20th, 2013 Can a brother marry his sister? “Yes,” according to retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, as long as he’s gay and she’s a lesbian. “Hold it, hold it right there! That’s not what the good archbishop said!” As you can see, I’m being rudely interrupted, by no less than Dr. Teologio Macadios of the Pandacan Theological Seminary. “Archbishop Cruz said ‘yes,’ gays can marry, so long as it’s with the opposite sex. It’s okay for a gay man to marry a lesbian woman—because the anatomy to consummate a union for procreation is there.” I stand corrected. Apologies all around. That’s indeed what the archbishop–the judicial vicar of the august Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines–may have declared at the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal last week. He even confessed, “I ask this question to myself and I have thought about it for a long time, and the answer is ‘yes.’” Still, it’s good to know that a brother can now marry his sister, so long as they’re both homosexuals and belong to different religious orders. “Wait! Hold it there again! Priests can’t marry nuns, stupid!” Even if they’re gays and have the anatomies for conception? “Yes, because of their vows of celibacy, you idiot.” I apologize for being thoroughly confused. But one other thing. If the Church says it’s okay for gay men to marry gay women, then isn’t it easier for them to split up later compared with, say, heterosexual couples. Read More …

LCF introduces mobile application for CSR Expo

 News
Jun 192013
 
LCF introduces mobile application for CSR Expo

MANILA, Philippines – A mobile application for the League of Corporate Foundations’ Corporate Social Responsibility Expo (LCF CSR Expo) has been made available for Android and iOS, according to organizers. Delegates now can keep track of the agenda, manage their schedules, and network with fellow delegates. “The mobile app is a useful and easy-to-access guide for people who want to have important details at their fingertips,” said Augusto Carpio III, LCF chairman. The mobile app offers a variety of features that will keep delegates informed of various expo activities. With just a click, users can access information about the event, speakers, and panelists. Users can also learn more about the expo’s exhibitors, partner organizations, and news related to CSR. The LCF is a network of over 70 operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations that promotes and enhances the strategic practice of CSR among its members and the larger business community toward sustained national development. The 12th LCF CSR Expo will highlight inclusive growth as key to economic growth, with the theme “Isang Bansa, Isang Bukas, Sabay sa Pag-unlad.” The app provides green tips, easy Twitter access for real-time updates, and news feeds on CSR from here and around the world. Besides accessibility, it is also a good alternative to paper. The LCF CSR Expo is organized annually as a green event. By being mindful of how resources are used for the conference and exhibition, LCF aims to enrich the entire expo experience. The app can be downloaded for free Read More …

BI to launch 6-month tourist visa next week

 News
Jun 182013
 
BI to launch 6-month tourist visa next week

By Jocelyn R. UyPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:51 am | Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Foreign visitors who want to extend their vacation in the Philippines may now do so without the usual hassles. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Tuesday that foreigners who would like to stay longer in the country, could avail of a six-month, long-stay tourist visa from the agency. The program is set to be formally launched next week, according to the BI. In a statement, Immigration Commissioner also announced that the bureau would introduce the new visa sticker to replace the wet stamp it was using to implement extensions of stay on the passports of foreign tourists. The Long Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) project was launched to draw more international travelers into the country by giving them the privilege to prolong their stay in the country without the need to frequently visit the BI office to process their documents. Currently, the bureau allows foreign tourists a maximum stay of two months in the country each time they apply for visa extensions. “Through this long-stay visa, we [also] expect lesser crowding in our offices due to the decreased volume of visa extension applicants,” stated David. On the other hand, the new visa sticker will help the bureau prevent the proliferation of fake visa extension stamps, which have victimized many foreigners, added the BI chief, who noted that the new sticker would have security and tracking features that Read More …

Filipinos celebrate Philippine Independence Day at SF’s Union Square

 News
Jun 182013
 
Filipinos celebrate Philippine Independence Day at SF’s Union Square

By Armando ChavezINQUIRER.net US Bureau 5:00 am | Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 Moreau high school dancers in Union Square, San Francisco. https://www.facebook.com/KalayaanSF SAN FRANCISCO—What a way to celebrate the 115th year of Philippine independence—Filipinos transformed San Francisco’s landmark Union Square into a Philippine town plaza for a day last June 15. Where there were usually art shows and buskers, was now filled with food booths vending lumpia, adobo, pansit, mango tarts, and other Filipino delicacies. There was a fashion show featuring haute couture as interpreted by Filipino designers. Of course, there can be no Filipino celebration without music and dancing, particularly folk dancing. This year, some of the performances were done, not on the stage, but on the plaza level, giving it the look and feel of having impromptu street performers amidst the crowd. The martial arts group Eskabo Daan gave a demonstration of the uniquely Filipino martial arts form that it practices and espouses, which bears some similarity to arnis de mano. The grand finale was a special show by Apl.de.Ap, who had the crowd—many of whom came just for his performance—dancing, singing, jumping and clapping to his beat and screaming with joy at being able to enjoy this rare performance by a true world celebrity. Apl.de.ap keeps crowd dancing and cheering. https://www.facebook.com/KalayaanSF Apl.de.Ap used the entire stage as his dance floor, going from one side to the other in half-skip, half-dance as the rapt audience of little girls, dads and grandmothers and every age group in between sang Read More …

Fil-Am group marks 40 years of service and activism

 News
Jun 182013
 
Fil-Am group marks 40 years of service and activism

By Rose PaquetteINQUIRER.net US Bureau 4:57 am | Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 Filipino Advocates for Justice executive director Lillian Galedo (center). OAKLAND, California–Forty years. That’s how long the Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJJ, a multiservice civil rights organization, has been serving the more vulnerable in the Filipino community in the San Francisco Bay Area’s “East Bay.” Celebrating its 40th anniversary on June 20, FAJ has helped build a labor/community coalition to prevent the loss of jobs and services for the Filipino Americans in Northern California. It has stood up to unjust laws and discriminatory practices, developed leaders and organized the community on major social issues. Its headquarters is in Oakland, with another office in Union City. FAJ’s 40th Anniversary “social justice honorees” are  Assembly member Rob Bonta,  Asian Health Services, Carlos Villa (posthumously), Mari Rose Taruc and Honorata Nono, a caregiver. “Nono is an organizer and strategist for worker empowerment,” says FAJ organizer Fiona Cruz.  Over the last four years, FAJ has worked with some 70 Filipino homecare workers in the East Bay, San Mateo, and Fresno. “I never wanted to be a leader,” said Nono. “I didn’t go past fourth grade and didn’t think I can lead. Now I’m doing so many things I never thought I could do. She’s active in PAWIS (People’s Association of Workers and Immigrants), which was initially formed to protect the jobs of airport screeners in the wake of the September 11 attacks.  Today it focuses on organizing and supporting home care workers. Humble beginnings   One Read More …

China Sea row discussed in US officials’ call on DND

 News
Jun 182013
 
China Sea row discussed in US officials’ call on DND

Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:19 am | Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 Secretary of the Navy Mabus is honored by Philippine military members after a meeting with the Philippine Defense Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin. Mabus discussed Tuesday regional security issues during the meeting. US NAVY PHOTO/MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS ARIF PATANI MANILA, Philippines—US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus discussed Tuesday regional security issues in a meeting with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “The representatives from the two departments discussed security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, modernization efforts, and the US’s commitment to provide humanitarian assistance in times of disasters/calamities,” the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement. “Secretary Mabus further intimated the critical nature of the Philippines for the US rebalance in the Asia-Pacific,” the statement said. Also in the meeting at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo were Navy Flag Office in Command Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, and Defense Undersecretaries Honorio Azcueta and Pio Batino. Thomas described Mabus’ visit as a “mutually beneficial and important trip.” He said one of the issues discussed was the situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). He noted that Mabus’ trip came on the heels of the trip to the Philippines by Adm. Samuel Locklear III, commander of the US Pacific Command. “We have sent many high-level officials here in the last few years to Read More …

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