PAGASA: Rain over parts of Mindanao, 36-degree Celsius likely over NCR

 News
Apr 182013
 
PAGASA: Rain over parts of Mindanao, 36-degree Celsius likely over NCR

Satellite Image as of 7:30 a.m., 17 April 2013. | Weather Central Rain caused by the trough of a low-pressure area may fall over parts of Mindanao on Friday, while Metro Manila braces for another hot day with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Chris Perez said there is no sign of any weather disturbance or potential cyclone that may enter the Philippines in the next 24 hours. “Sa Metro Manila at natitirang bahagi ng ating bansa, mainit at maalinsangan na panahon pa rin aasahan natin,” Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the forecast temperature for Metro Manila for Friday is between 24 and 36 degrees Celsius. PAGASA’s extended weather outlook indicated a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius for Metro Manila also on Saturday. Tuguegarao, Angeles and Olongapo Cities may have a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Friday outlook PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the trough of a low-pressure area is affecting southern Mindanao while the ridge of a high-pressure area is extending across Luzon. “Davao region, ARMM, SOCCSKSARGEN and the provinces of Agusan and Surigao del Sur will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it said. It added light to moderate winds from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east over Mindanao. The coastal waters Read More …

Lifting of PH air ban in Europe seen

 News
Apr 182013
 
Lifting of PH air ban in Europe seen

By Tarra Quismundo Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:10 am | Friday, April 19th, 2013 EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux: We are on a very positive curve. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Negotiations for the lifting of Europe’s blanket air ban against Philippine carriers are “on a very positive curve” as the European Union wants the issue resolved soon in hopes of bolstering trade and tourism with the Philippines, according to the EU ambassador here. The resumption of the European flights of Philippine carriers is of mutual interest as it would facilitate greater business and people-to-people exchanges between the EU and the Philippines, EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said Thursday. “I think really we are on a very positive curve. I mean the first major achievement was the lifting of the safety concern by Icao (International Civil Aviation Organization) earlier this year,” Ledoux told reporters. “I think what is important is that a very important dialogue has been reestablished,” he said. Two days previously, transport officials from the European Commission met in Brussels with representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific to discuss the remedies that the Philippine side has implemented to bring airline safety measures at par with EU standards. The Philippines passed the Icao’s safety audit in February, ending three years of being listed among the countries deemed of “significant safety concern” by the international aviation regulator. The negative Icao assessment prompted the EU to ban Philippine carriers from flying to Europe in 2010.

HK rejects massacre widow’s plea for protection

 News
Apr 182013
 
HK rejects massacre widow’s plea for protection

By Leila B. Salaverria Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:08 am | Friday, April 19th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has rejected a bid for protection made by Myrna Reblando, widow of one of the journalists slain in the Maguindanao massacre, saying it did not believe she would be tortured should she return to the Philippines. Reblando fled to Hong Kong in 2011 with her daughter, claiming inadequate security to protect her back home. She also criticized the slow grind of justice in the Philippines. Mother and daughter had asked the Hong Kong Immigration Department to allow them to stay in the Special Administrative Region while awaiting the result of their pending application for asylum with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They said they faced torture if they returned to the Philippines. The Hong Kong government is prohibited from returning to their country of origin persons claiming risk of torture and other threats to their lives, according to Danilo Reyes, acting deputy director of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Facing deportation But with the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s rejection of Reblando’s torture claim, she and her daughter faced deportation to the Philippines, Reyes said. He said Reblando would appeal the ruling. In her torture claim, Reblando detailed several incidents she said highlighted the dangers she and her daughter faced should they return to the Philippines, including certain death after the Ampatuans reportedly offered her P3 million to stop talking about the case or, should she refuse the money, Read More …

Doomed Filipino in Saudi Arabia gets reprieve

 News
Apr 182013
 
Doomed Filipino in Saudi Arabia gets reprieve

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:06 am | Friday, April 19th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino construction worker in death row in Saudi Arabia for murder has been given a few more months to pay the 4 million riyals (about P44 million) blood money to the family of his landlord whom he killed in 2009, Malacañang said Thursday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Joselito Zapanta was given until Nov. 3 this year to pay the blood money to the family of his victim, quoting the Department of Foreign Affairs. “This extension [of the deadline from March 12 to Nov. 3] allows the Zapanta family more time to raise the funds required by the victim’s heirs,” Lacierda said. Malacañang thanked Saudi King Abdullah and the Saudi government for interceding on Zapanta’s behalf following requests from President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay. In March, Abdullah ordered the deferment of the execution of prisoners with death sentences in the Arab country, including Zapanta. TJ A. Burgonio

Skyline College Students to stage “Pilipino Cultural Night”

 News
Apr 182013
 
Skyline College Students to stage “Pilipino Cultural Night”

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 5:04 am | Friday, April 19th, 2013 SAN BRUNO, California–Filipino-American students will celebrate Filipino heritage and the Fil-Am experience by staging Skyline College Kababayan Program’s 8th annual Pilipino Cultural Night. This year’s production, “Layunin,” will be performed on Thursday, May 2 and Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in Skyline College’s Main Theatre on 3300 College Drive, San Bruno. Doors will be open one hour before show time. Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN), a student­run event open to the community, celebrates the Filipino­American experience, showcasing traditional dances and music from the Philippines as well as elements of the Filipino American culture. Students of English 104: “Applied English Skills for Cultural Production” wrote, directed, produced and advertised the show. Acted. They sing, dance and serve as stage/technical crew. They were also responsible for prop/set design and the overall stage construction. This year’s action­packed story of love, war and family, “Layunin,” takes place in ancient times, when Palau’an is the land of life. It’s the home of many grand tribes who live in unity and harmony. But peace is then disrupted by a possessed datu from the Palawano tribe and his desire to rule all of Palau’an. When all hope seems lost after many bloody battles and merciless conquest, Agbayani, a young Palawano warrior, testifies and does all he can to bring back the long lost peace to Palau’an, even if he has to clash with his father, the datu. Students in the Kababayan Program and the Filipino Student Union, Read More …

Filipino movies make waves in SF Bay Area theaters

 News
Apr 182013
 
Filipino movies make waves in SF Bay Area theaters

By Alex Drechsler INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 3:49 am | Friday, April 19th, 2013 MILPITAS, California—Filipinos thronged the April 12 opening-day of Star Cinema and Viva Film’s newest movie, “It Takes a Man and a Woman,” starring Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz. On opening day, the romantic film was shown in largest theater, which holds more than 400 seats. By the time previews started, the room was filled to capacity. Huge crowds surrounded the Century 20 Great Mall Theaters in Milpitas, the high demand to see the film resulting in nine showings scheduled per day during its screening course. While it takes a man like John Lloyd (playing Miggy), and a woman like Sarah, to fill up the theaters and create a major buzz in the Fil-Am community, Filipino films have generally gained popularity these past several years. In fact, mainstream theaters have been contacting Filipino companies to screen Tagalog films in their theaters. Currently, some 30 theaters in the San Francisco Bay Area show Filipino movies. To be sure, the massive crowd and line that extended out of the theater in Milpitas consisted mostly of loyal fans of Geronimo and Cruz. But something deeper is also at work. You can take the immigrant out of the Philippines, but not the Filipino from the immigrant. “Through the films brought to America, viewers are able to keep in touch with the actors and actresses, both newly rising and already established,” says Melissa Sokukawa. “We might not all stay updated with the Read More …

PNoy one of Time's '100 Most Influential People'

 News
Apr 182013
 
PNoy one of Time's '100 Most Influential People'

(Updated 12:17 a.m., 19 April 2013) Time magazine has included Philippine President Benigno Aquino III in its list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”. Aquino and 22 other personalities including Pope Francis and U.S. President Barack Obama were among 23 “leaders” in the list. Others in the list were divided into categories such as artists, icons, titans, and pioneers. “In a country of nicknames, Filipinos proudly call their President PNoy — a pun on the word they use for themselves: Pinoy. For his courage, however, he really should have the pet name the family gave his eldest sister Maria Elena: Ballsy,” Time news director Howard Chua-Eoan wrote in describing Aquino. Chua-Eoan said Aquino inherited the legacy of his late father former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and received a boost from sympathy over the death of his mother former President Corazon Aquino. But he said Aquino “quickly began making his own name” and pushed through the Reproductive Health law. The Time article even credited Aquino for “[becoming] the face of the regional confrontation with Beijing over its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea.” “It is a brave stance, the long-term consequences still unknown,” said Time. Meanwhile, Aquino, upon being told of the Time article, credited the country for his inclusion in the list: “Ito po ay dahil sa inyong lahat.” The Presidential Communications Operations Office called attention to the Time story Thursday night. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda added this was the first time Aquino appeared Read More …

PHL authorities confident in safety of fertilizer plants, shops

 News
Apr 182013
 
PHL authorities confident in safety of fertilizer plants, shops

Over 100 hurt in Texas fertilizer plant explosions. A wrecked vehicle is seen near the burning remains of a fertilizer plant after an explosion in the facility in the town of West, near Waco, Texas early Thursday, April 18. The deadly explosion ripped through the fertilizer plant late on Wednesday, injuring more than 100 people, leveling dozens of homes and damaging other buildings including a school and nursing home, authorities said. Reuters/Mike Stone Following a deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in the US, the Philippines’ Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) on Thursday assured the public that stringent regulations govern the operations of fertilizer shops and plants in the country. Also, according to a report aired on GMA 7’s “24 Oras”, the FPA noted distributors, processors, importers, exporters and plant operations of fertilizer and pesticide companies are currently under going inspections. The government agency also provided photos of those inspection visits to prove that they were made. The explosion and subequent fire at the West Fertilizer Co. plant located in Texas on Thursday (PHL time) took at least 15 lives and hurt more than 160 others as it razed the facility and nearby establishments. Since 2002, the FPA noted, the use of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate had been banned in the country. Besides as a component for making fertilizer for fruit-bearing trees, the chemicals could also be used to make improvised explosives. “Ang napagkasunduan as per resolution, banning the importation of ammonium nitrate,” Gabino Barlin, FPA executive director, said Read More …

Coast Guard: 568 more Pinoys return from Sabah

 News
Apr 182013
 
Coast Guard: 568 more Pinoys return from Sabah

At least 568 more Filipinos have returned to the Philippines from Sabah aboard three vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday. In an article posted on its website Thursday afternoon, the Coast Guard said the 568 were from Sandakan town in Sabah, and were assisted by Philippine officials. Assisting them were teams from the Coast Guard Jolo station, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Marines. The first group of 256 arrived aboard the wooden-hulled passenger vessel ML Nur-ena, owned and operated by Hadjili Raja, arrived in Hadju Warid Pier in Patikul, Sulu. A second group of 249 arrived aboard the wooden-hulled cargo vessel ML Billy the Kid, owned and operated by HJA Habibiya Albani at Tanjung Pier in Jolo, Sulu. Meanwhile, the passenger/cargo vessel, M/V Liliflora, owned and operated by Magnolia Shipping Corp., arrived at Jolo Pier with 63 aboard. “Upon arrival at the respective piers, the returnees’ disembarkation were assisted by the personnel and representatives of [Coast Guard] Jolo, DSWD, PNP and the Philippine Marines,” the Coast Guard said. It said the Filipinos were then brought to the RPMA Terminal for medical examination, documentation, feeding and other necessities. Several Filipinos in Sabah had fled their homes in recent weeks due to the clashes between followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian security forces. Malaysian forces had conducted offensives against Kiram’s followers since March 5, following deadly clashes on March 1 and 2 that ended a three-week standoff. — BM, Read More …

In Panatag, PHL fishermen engage Chinese authorities in cat-and-mouse game

 News
Apr 182013
 
In Panatag, PHL fishermen engage Chinese authorities in cat-and-mouse game

As the government awaits developments in its case against China in connection with Beijing’s alleged excessive claim over the South China Sea, a fishing town in the province of Zambales has been feeling the brunt of the territorial dispute. According to Mayor Desiree Edora of Masinloc town, the local fishermen’s livelihoods have been “paralyzed” as a result of the continued presence of Chinese ships at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a disputed area. “Actually naga-attempt silang pumunta kaya lang itinataboy sila ng mga Chinese,” Edora said in a recent interview. “Marami na nakapaikot na mga malalaking barko. So itong mga fisherman na ito, ano naman ang kakayahan nila para lumapit nga e nakaharap sa kanila, baril. So ang ginawa nila, umalis na lang sila.” Mario Forones, a local fisherman, said ever since the standoff at the Panatag Shoal a year ago, he and his companions have to do their fishing in small boats to avoid detection by Chinese vessels. “Parang nakaw-nakaw na lang sir ang pagpupunta dun. ‘Yung bangka kong malaki lalayo, tapos yung maliliit na bangka na ganyan, [na] hindi gaanong pansinin, yan ang nangingisda doon,” he said. Edora said they have received complaints that local fishermen were being driven away by Chinese ships stationed at the Panatag Shoal’s lagoon entrance — an allegation that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) denied as early as last year. In May last year, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) declared a fishing ban around Panatag Shoal, located about 124 nautical Read More …

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