Cristine Reyes not ready yet for a new love

 General
Nov 232013
 
Cristine Reyes not ready yet for a new love

AFTER breaking up with hunk actor Derek Ramsey, actress Cristine Reyes is keen to take some time off and focus her attention in her blossoming career. In a recent interview with the newest “Honesto” cast member, the 24-year-old actress revealed that she has matured over the years and learned a lot about love. Said she could now prioritize and control one thing over the other. “Before kasi love? Go! Hindi ko na iniisip kahit pangarap ko ito. Pero na realized ko nung nagtagal na baka magsisi ako pagdating ng araw,” she said. “Hindi ako ready kasi hindi ko na nga mahati yung time ko para sa lahat tapos mag commit pa ako sa isang tao. Kahit alam ko na gusto ko siya, mahirap.” “Andito na ako sa time na minsan lang ito darating sa buhay ko, itong trabaho. Ang tagal ko itong inantay kaya mas iniisip ko muna kung ano ang dapat kong priority kahit yung puso ko gusto ay ituloy,” she added. Although her past relationships ended in heartbreaks, the actress clarified that she is still friends with her former boyfriends. Cristine revealed that she almost rekindled the romance with Dennis Trillo back in January but the relationship didn’t push through. Her communication line with Rayver Cruz is also open and they text each other almost every day. When it comes to Derek, she said they are “back to normal” and “best of friends” again after ending their month-long affair. “After ng break-up, nag hang out pa kami. Actually Read More …

US military scales down aid efforts in Philippines

 News
Nov 232013
 
US military scales down aid efforts in Philippines

MANILA – The US military has began scaling back its emergency relief operations in the Philippines as work shifts to recovery and rehabilitation in typhoon-hit areas, a US aid agency official said on Saturday. Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the most powerful storm to make landfall this year, struck the central Philippines on Nov. 8, killing more than 5,200 people, displacing 4.4 million and destroying an estimated P12 billion worth of crops and infrastructure. The US Navy has pulled out its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, but still has ten C-130 aircraft delivering relief supplies. Last week, the United States had 50 ships and aircraft in the disaster zone. Jeremy Konyndyk, director for Foreign Disaster Assistance at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said the US military had started to reduce its presence to allow civilian aid agencies to step up efforts. “What we have seen, particularly over the past week, is now civilian and private-sector commercial capacity has started coming back up again and that is taking the burden off of the military actors,” Konyndyk told Reuters in an interview. “You don’t want the military playing that role in the long run, they are an interim bridging capacity there, but in the long run, that really needs to be civilian role.” Konyndyk said there had been significant progress in meeting people’s basic needs as more roads and ports opened in the worst-hit Leyte and Samar islands. “Food has been distributed to 3 million people, shelter kits have been Read More …

Five flights to Caticlan cancelled due to bad weather – DOTC

 News
Nov 232013
 
Five flights to Caticlan cancelled due to bad weather – DOTC

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines Express have cancelled a total of five flights to Caticlan, Aklan Saturday due to bad weather,  the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said. On Twitter, DOTC stated that Cebu Pacific flights 5J-897 and 5J-895 (Manila to Caticlan), 5J-896 5J-898 (Caticlan to Manila) have been cancelled. Philippine Airlines Express, meanwhile, has cancelled flight  2P-046 bound from Caticlan to Manila.  PAGASA earlier said a low pressure area (LPA) will bring moderate to heavy rain over the central and southern parts of the Philippines. The weather bureau’s 5 a.m. forecast said Palawan, Visayas and the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, northern Mindanao and CARAGA will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the LPA. In a statement, Cebu Pacific said passengers affected by the flight cancellation may rebook their flights for travel within 30 days from original departure date. They may also opt for a refund without incurring any penalties. – Xianne Arcangel / KDM, GMA News 

ICRC ship arrives, to give aid to folk in Yolanda-hit Samar

 News
Nov 232013
 
ICRC ship arrives, to give aid to folk in Yolanda-hit Samar

(Updated 5:46 p.m.) TACLOBAN CITY – More aid arrived Saturday for residents affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), this time from a vessel of the International Committee of the Red Cross bearing food and health care facilities. ICRC spokesperson Atishay Abbhi said the vessel—whose equipment is for Samar—carried basic health care facilities including a surgical unit and water tank, as well as 20 tons of food. “We are providing relief, health care and we are trying to restore water supply in the areas of Eastern and Southern Samar,” Abbhi said, noting there are already around 60 ICRC personnel including engineers, health experts and a team providing essential household items. He said the ICRC teams are working with counterparts in the Philippine Red Cross. Abbhi said the vessel has a surgical unit heading for Samar, as well as materials for restoring water service to Basey also in Samar. “We have a team proceeding to Basey to help restore thw water networks,” he said. Meanwhile, another ICRC vessel is carrying a basic health care unit for Balangiga. Teams have already provided food items to 54,000 people in Salcedo and Guiuan in Samar, he added. Guiuan was the area where Yolanda first made landfall last Nov. 8. Yolanda left at least 5,000 dead in its wake after ravaging parts of Visayas and Southern Luzon. — VC, GMA News

ICRC ship arrives, to give aid to folk in Yolanda-hit Leyte, Samar

 News
Nov 232013
 
ICRC ship arrives, to give aid to folk in Yolanda-hit Leyte, Samar

TACLOBAN CITY – More aid arrived Saturday for residents affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), this time from a vessel of the International Committee of the Red Cross bearing food and health care facilities. ICRC spokesperson Atishay Abbhi said the vessel—much of whose equipment is for residents in the Samar area—carried basic health care facilities including a surgical unit and water tank, as well as 20 tons of food. “We initially focused on immediate relief. Now our next step is health,” Abbhi said, noting the vessel is carrying teams of engineers, health experts and even forensic experts to help manage the remains of fatalities. He said the ICRC teams will be working with counterparts in the Philippine Red Cross. Abbhi said the vessel has a surgical unit heading for Samar, as well as materials for restoring water service to Basey also in Samar. “We have a team proceeding to Balangiga to help restore thw water networks,” he said. Personnel from the vessel will also Teams will also bring food items to Salcedo and Guiuan in Samar, he added. Guiuan was the area where Yolanda first made landfall last Nov. 8. Yolanda left at least 5,000 dead in its wake after ravaging parts of Visayas and Southern Luzon. — VC, GMA News

Yolanda death toll feared to hit 7,000

 News
Nov 232013
 
Yolanda death toll feared to hit 7,000

TACLOBAN — The number of people dead or missing after one of the world’s strongest typhoons struck the Philippines climbed towards 7,000 on Saturday, as the United Nations warned much more needed to be done to help desperate survivors. The government’s confirmed death toll rose to 5,235, with another 1,613 people still missing more than two weeks after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) destroyed entire towns across a long stretch of islands in the central Philippines. Yolanda now rivals a 1976 tsunami on the southern island of Mindanao as the deadliest recorded natural disaster to strike the Philippines, which endures a never-ending battle against typhoons, earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions. The typhoon has triggered a giant, international aid effort, with dozens of countries and relief organizations rushing to deliver food, water and health services to more than four million people who lost their homes. However UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, after visiting the disaster zones, warned the world was still not responding fast enough. “Much more needs to be done. Food, clean water and shelter remain the top priorities,” Amos said as a UN appeal for funds was raised from $301 million to $348 million. Amos said huge numbers of people were still exposed to bad weather in the nine provinces ravaged by the storm, as she warned particularly of the dangers for babies, children and mothers. “I am very concerned that some 1.5 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition and close to 800,000 pregnant and nursing mothers need Read More …

CBCP: Yolanda, Magnitude-7.2 quake tests of faith

 News
Nov 232013
 
CBCP: Yolanda, Magnitude-7.2 quake tests of faith

The twin calamities that struck the country in the last two months may be considered severe tests of faith for Filipinos, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Saturday. But the CBCP, in a pastoral statement signed by outgoing president and Cebu archbishop Jose Palma, said Filipinos should also learn the lessons from the Oct. 15 magnitude-7.2 quake in Central Visayas and Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). “Indeed the twin calamities have tested severely our faith. Yet, even now, we believe we shall emerge from their situations with more awareness of the pattern of nature and hopefully learn its lessons,” Palma said. “By strengthening the systems and institutions that mitigate the effects of these forces of nature, we can avoid the recurrence of the present tragedy,” he added. The statement came on the eve of the Solemnity of Christ the King on Sunday. Several were killed when the Oct. 15 quake struck Central Visayas while more than 5,000 were left dead in the wake of Yolanda, which battered Visayas and Southern Luzon. Palma said no words can describe the sorrow that many in Bohol, Cebu, Leyte and Samar have suffered. “The calamities have tested our spirit as a community,” he said. Exercising faith However, he said that with the Year of Faith coming to a close, “we have been called upon to exercise our faith by putting our trust in the Lord and reaching out to help each other.” “Once again we treasure the precious gift of faith. It will Read More …

REQUIEM FOR A WELTERWEIGHT

 News
Nov 222013
 
REQUIEM FOR A WELTERWEIGHT

After eight frustrating years, four controversial fights, 42 contentiously scored rounds, with over 500 punches landed from more than 1,800 thrown, after two grueling hours of opportunity under the spotlight, on Dec. 8, 2012, Juan Manuel Marquez finally landed the punch of a lifetime against Manny Pacquiao. READ FULL STORY

Japan extends $500k rice in emergency aid for Yolanda victims

 General
Nov 222013
 
Japan extends $500k rice in emergency aid for Yolanda victims

Japan is extending additional emergency assistance to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) with rice worth some $500,000. The Japanese Embassy in Manila said the Japanese government approved the delivery of the emergency rice using Japan’s contribution to the ASEAN Plus Three Rice Reserve (APTERR). “APTERR is a regional cooperation established in 2004 to ensure food security in an emergency caused by temporary and large scale calamities. Japan has funded so far $6.64 million in total since the start of APTERR,” the embassy said. It said this will be the second assistance to the Philippines using the framework of APTERR. Yolanda tore through Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving more than 5,000 dead as of Friday evening. The Japanese embassy cited the friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines, and the “dire needs” of the affected people for the emergency rice assistance. It also said past emergency assistance for the Philippines through APTERR included rice assistance worth $200,000 for the victims of typhoon Pablo in 2012. Japan earlier sent Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team and Japan’s Self-Defense Force Units for victims of Yolanda. It also provided: – Emergency grant aid worth $30 million– Emergency relief goods worth $600,000– Assistance through Japanese NGOs (JPF) worth $1.5 million– Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) of Asian Development Bank (ADB) worth $20 million — LBG, GMA News

GAAF to hold Gospel Musicfest for victims of Haiyan

 Entertainment
Nov 222013
 
GAAF to hold Gospel Musicfest for victims of Haiyan

The Guardian Angels of America Foundation (GAAF) responds to the call for HELP in Tacloban and Bohol by holding the 1st Fil-Am Gospel Music Festival and Fair on November 23, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive Torrance, CA. 90503. The Gospel Festival and Fair is being presented in cooperation with Forex Cargo International, Fil-Am TV 31.3, and Mabuhay Manor. The event is GAAF’s “thanksgiving tribute to our Creator,” according to its founder and president, Loi Herrera. Proceeds will be used to help the victims of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines. The whole-day event will feature worship music, on-stage live bands performances, food, snacks, desserts and drinks, gift bazaar, religious arts and jewelries, every hour indoor concert, exhibits and merchandise displays, kids face painting, balloon twisting, and magic show by well known “The Magic of Arnel.” Tickets cost $20 each (concert and admission to fair). 50% discount will be given to those who will bring at least $5 worth of donations: corned beef, spam, sausage, general medicine supplies & over the counter medicines, hygiene kits, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, baby formulas, wipes, unexpired cookies, crackers, instant coffee, energy bars, flashlights, airbeds, blankets, pillows, towels, mosquito repellant & power generator (no clothing). The concert will feature songwriter and recording artist Steve Kuban and local Filipino-American gospel performers. Steve Kuban is a musician, recording artist, worship leader and teacher who dedicated his life to help people experience God’s presence through worship music. He composes and records Christian songs that bring healing, deliverance and victory in the name Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries