Despite deadline, Royal Army to stay put in Sabah, Sulu sultan says

 News
Feb 222013
 
Despite deadline, Royal Army to stay put in Sabah, Sulu sultan says

Sultan of Sulu says Sabah followers will not fire weapons. At the Blue Mosque in Taguig City on Friday, Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III (center) said his followers in the Malaysian state of Sabah will not fire their weapons in asserting their reclaim of Sabah. He said he will insist on talks between the sultanate and the Malaysian government at a neutral country. Also in photo are Al Tillah, former governor of Tawi-Tawi (left) and Hadji Hamilian (right), mosque administrator. Danny Pata Despite the 48-hour deadline set by Malaysian authorities, Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III on Friday said his Royal Army, some of whom are reportedly armed, will be staying put in Sabah and will even build a house in northern Borneo.   In her report aired on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, Sherrie Ann Torres said Kiram appeared to be irritated when asked to comment on the supposed deadline.  “Puno na ako ng ultimatum… that ultimatum kako na wala naman,” Kiram said in the television report. Kiram also said it was the Philippine government which gave the 48-hour deadline, and not the Malaysian government. On Thursday, President Benigno Aquino III criticized the Filipinos who went to Sabah to stake a territorial claim, warning their actions could lead to conflict. Build a house   In the same television report, Torres said the Royal Army plans to build a house in northern Borneo, where it has been holed up for about two weeks now. “Hindi na raw aalis doon sina Rajah Read More …

Comelec sends illegal poster notices to 2 Senate bets, 6 party-list groups

 News
Feb 222013
 
Comelec sends illegal poster notices to 2 Senate bets, 6 party-list groups

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sent notices to two senatorial candidates and six party-list organizations found to have illegal campaign posters. At a press conference on Friday, lawyer Esmeralda Amora-Ladra, head of the Comelec law department, said they sent notices to administration senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros and independent candidate Edward Hagedorn. The notice for Hontiveros, who was found to have illegal campaign posters in Dumaguete City in Negros Occidental, was received on February 20 while the notice for Hagedorn, who allegedly has an illegal poster in Osmeña Highway in Manila, was received on February 21. In a text message to GMA News Online, Hontiveros said her team on the ground is in the process of locating the poster and verifying that it has been posted improperly. “This is complicated by the fact that the specific location of the poster was not indicated in the Comelec notice. Rest assured that once it has been located, it will be removed without delay,” she said. Nardz Villafranca, Hagedorn’s acting campaign manager, said they “will comply by the order of the Comelec to remove immediately the campaign material.” “I already ordered sa mga tao na tanggalin na yung material,” he told GMA News in a phone interview. Villafranca said he had already talked with their lawyer and that they “will send letter of explanation with compliance to the law department of the Comelec.” Party-list groups Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) party-list received three notices on February 19 and 20 for their illegal campaign posters Read More …

Report: 6 PHL ships deployed to prevent spillover of Sabah standoff

 News
Feb 222013
 
Report: 6 PHL ships deployed to prevent spillover of Sabah standoff

At least six Philippine Navy ships have been deployed to the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi area to prevent a possible spillover of the standoff between a group of armed Filipinos and Malaysian authorities in Sabah. The ships are patrolling the waters of Tawi-Tawi, which is near Tandau village where the group involved in the standoff has been staying since Feb. 9, according to a report Friday on Malaysia’s The Star online. Malaysian security forces had cordoned off the area where the group is staying but is awaiting efforts to resolve the standoff peacefully. Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic was quoted in the report as saying the vessels have no instructions to evacuate the group led by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. “We are hoping that this will be resolved peacefully. If they are retreating, we are not there to help them because we need instructions if they can be picked up,” The Star online quoted Fabic as saying. The standoff in the eastern state of Sabah has threatened to spark tension between thePhilippines and Malaysia, whose ties have been periodically frayed by security and migration problems along their sea border, a Reuters report said, citing security analysts. Security analysts had warned that the historic peace deal signed by the Philippine government and Moro rebels last October to end 40 years of conflict in the Philippine south risked stirring instability by alienating powerful clan leaders. Jamalul Kiram III, 74, a former sultan of Sulu in Read More …

In commemoration of the 27th ANNIVERSARY OF EDSA REVOLUTION

 Entertainment
Feb 212013
 
In commemoration of the 27th ANNIVERSARY OF EDSA REVOLUTION

  Yellow Revolution during February 22–25, 1986(photo by Roberto Verzo)   THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL In cooperation with THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (OFGG) Invite the Public to a Holy Mass to be celebrated by Fr. Manny Gacad, MJ: When: Monday, 25 February 2013, 7:00 p.m. Where: St. Kevin Church, 4072 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004 Let Us Unite in Prayers and Re-Live the Spirit of EDSA People Power of 1986!       

President Aquino says reforms are in place to address concerns of water sector that will revitalize country’s agricultural and energy sectors

 Entertainment
Feb 212013
 
President Aquino says reforms are in place to address concerns of water sector that will revitalize country’s agricultural and energy sectors

Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II(Photo courtesy of www.iloilotoday.com) IlOILO CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III said that various reforms are already in place to effectively address all the issues and concerns of the water sector as part of the administration’s efforts to revitalize the country’s agriculture and energy sectors. In his speech during the ceremonial ground-breaking of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II held at the Iloilo Provincial Building along Bonifacio Drive on Thursday, the Chief Executive assured that the government continues to implement various programs to achieve the government’s goal of rice self-sufficiency by year 2013. He said the JRMP project in Iloilo province will boost the country’s agriculture sector. “Oras na matapos ang proyekto, apatnapu’t tatlong porsyento ng lupang agraryo dito sa Iloilo ang magkakaroon ng irigasyon. Ibig-sabihin, inaasahan natin na dodoble ang maaaning bigas sa rehiyon, at aangat nang tatlumpung porsyento ang produksyon pati na ng tubo. Ilan lamang po ito sa positibong ambag ng Jalaur River Project sa ating sektor ng agrikultura,” the President said. The P11.21 billion project will also boost the energy and trade sectors. “Malinaw po, kung ang layunin natin ay ang pangalagaan ang interes at kinabukasan ng ating mamamayan, dapat lamang na karugtong nito ang paninigurong may maayos na mekanismo’t malinaw na istratehiya para sa sistemang patubig ng ating bansa,” the President stressed. The JRMP project will also augment the supply of good quality and potable water for domestic and industrial consumption in the nearby municipalities, including Iloilo Read More …

Irish Culture in ‘The Rhythm of Dance’ and Faith of the Church in ‘Fides Ecclesiae’

 Entertainment
Feb 212013
 
Irish Culture in ‘The Rhythm of Dance’ and Faith of the Church in ‘Fides Ecclesiae’

by Myrna Aquitania Kateri Calungsod This weekend was truly uplifting for me not only did I find myself immersed on Irish culture when we watched “The Rhythm of Dance,” last Saturday night but also overwhelmed by the outstanding performance of the cast and crew of “Fides Ecclesiae” the following day on Sunday evening. On Saturday, after dinner at Mimi’s Cafe, we went to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts and watched “The Rhythm of Dance.” “The Rhythm of Dance,” was a variety show which featured Irish tapdancing, singing performances by the three Irish tenors plus a showcase of traditional Irish background music played through the use of various musical instruments such as: the harp, fiddle, bodhran, pochette and guitar. Irish tapdancing is a theatrical show, much like Michael Flatly’s “Riverdance” which I have also seen sometime back. This consists of Irish stepdancing techniques shown by the rhythm of leg movements. Body and arms are also kept stationary and the dancers tap their shoes while hititng the floors, which emanates the sounds of percussive instruments. Musical instruments used such as the Celtic harp produces romantic music which has been an important symbol of Irish nationalism since the 10th century. The Irish fiddle on the other hand, is identical to the violin and is played differently in wide varying regional styles. The pochette or kit violin is a stringed musical instrument named as such due to its “pocket” size and the Bodhran is an Irish drum which symbolizes the heartbeat of Irish music. Traditional Irish music Read More …

Bar exam results out before Holy Week — SC

 Entertainment
Feb 212013
 
Bar exam results out before Holy Week — SC

(Supreme Court of the Philippines) MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – The much-awaited results of the October 2012 Bar Exams will be released before the Holy Week in March. This was announced by the Supreme Court Public Information Office in a text message to reporters on Tuesday. “As per Justice Martin Villarama, chair of the 2012 Bar exams, barring unforseen circumstances, results will be out before Holy Week,” said the SC PIO. More than 5,000 law school graduates took the Bar exams during the four Saturdays of October at the University of Santo Tomas along España Boulevard in Manila. The number of examinees last October was lower than in 2011, in which 6,200 law school graduates took the exam. It was the second time that the exams was held at UST, where security had been tightened since the grenade attack during the Bar exams in 2010 when it was still held at the De La Salle University along Taft Avenue. (MNS)

Diether Ocampo likes offbeat roles

 Entertainment
Feb 212013
 
Diether Ocampo likes offbeat roles

Diether Ocampo (MNS Photo) MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) — Actor Diether Ocampo doesn’t mind playing offbeat roles. Ocampo said he even find such characters more interesting. “It’s more interesting to play mga off-beat roles. Ako naniniwala kung ano ang nasa loob mo na maganda na kapag napalabas mo (ok),” Ocampo said. Ocampo is now busy with his upcoming series “Apoy Sa Dagat” with Angelica Panganiban and Piolo Pascual. In the series, Ocampo plays Anton, who becomes involved in the love story between the characters of Angelica Panganiban and Piolo Pascual. (MNS)

Forum focuses on ‘Doing business amidst new threats’

 Economy
Feb 212013
 
Forum focuses on ‘Doing business amidst new threats’

MANILA, Philippines – Business, government and institutions face increasing threats to their survival and competitiveness. The challenge lies in the increasing frequency and severity of cyber attacks, natural hazards, market uncertainties driven by geo-political risks, identity thefts and counterfeit crimes. In this year’s 8th PROTECT conference series on “Doing Business Amidst New Threats”, leading practitioners will present best practices and the latest advances on risk management, ICT advances to solve crimes, disaster preparedness, business continuity and technologies to fight identity thefts and counterfeit cases. A round table discussion will analyze the impact on security in Asia of developments in other parts of the world.  In another session, future global critical concerns to the next century is the subject of a panel discussion among experts in the fields of food supply, energy sources, health issues and regional/global political dynamics. The PROTECT series is the largest and longest-running conference with specialized exhibit on security, risk and emergency management in the Philippines. Launched in 2005 with the Anti-Terrorism Council in response to the New York 9-11 terrorist attack, the PROTECT series has, over the years devoted added attention to risks arising from increasing natural disasters, pandemics, ICT developments and the changing face of terrorism This annual conference is attended by CEOs and senior executives of government and private companies and organizations responsible for guiding their institutions navigate the changing powerful forces of economics, technology, culture, and politics. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The conference, to be held on April Read More …

GMA-7 spending P75 M in Mindanao

 Economy
Feb 212013
 
GMA-7 spending P75 M in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – Broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. is spending P75 million to further expand its presence in Northern Mindanao with the establishment of an originating station in Cagayan de Oro. GMA chairman and chief executive officer Felipe L. Gozon said in a statement that the company has so far established three originating stations in just eight months as part of efforts to beef up its presence in the provinces particularly in Mindanao. “We are also exploring the possibility of constructing another TV relay facility to further expand the reach of GMA Northern Mindanao,” Gozon said. He said the company is spending at least P75 million for its GMA Northern Mindanao expansion efforts that covers Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Occidental, Camiguin, parts of Southern Bohol, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Compostella Valley, North and South Catabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Norte and Sur, Surigao del Norte and Sur, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte The amount covers the investment for GMA Northern Mindanao’s state of the art studio, technical operation center, satellite multi-link microwave system and electronic news gathering equipment. Just last month, GMA completed the conglomeration of three TV relay facilities of its local channels namely: TV-5 Ozamiz, TV-4 Dipolog and TV-3 Pagadian with its Cagayan De Oro originating station enabling the rebroadcast of the Northern Mindanao programs to the areas that are presently reached by the relay stations. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 This brought the coverage of GMA Read More …

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