Filipinos urged to leave Sudan

 News
Dec 232013
 
Filipinos urged to leave Sudan

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 9:18 am | Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 In this handout image provided by the United Nations Mission South Sudan, taken on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, civilians arrive at the UNMISS compound adjacent to Juba International Airport to take refuge.  AP MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines on Monday initiated the voluntary evacuation of Filipinos in South Sudan and barred all travel and deployment of workers amid the worsening civil strife in the central African state. This, after Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario raised Crisis Alert Level 3 for the 95 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there and sent a Rapid Response Team to help in the repatriation process. The level is the third highest in the country’s four-tier emergency alert system for Filipinos abroad. “Under Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation), Filipinos in South Sudan are enjoined to seek repatriation assistance from the personnel of our embassy in Kenya, or the Rapid Response Team which will depart tonight,” Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said in a statement yesterday. “Our citizens are also advised to defer travel to South Sudan regardless of purpose,” Hernandez said, adding that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will also initiate a total ban on OFW deployment under the alert level. The DFA spokesperson said 23 of the 95 Filipinos in South Sudan have travelled to Kenya, while 15 have fled to Uganda as the South Sudanese government had lost control of its oil-producing capital of Bentiu to rebels intent Read More …

‘Simbang Gabi’ bridges generations in San Fernando Valley

 News
Dec 232013
 
‘Simbang Gabi’ bridges generations in San Fernando Valley

Simbang gabi coordinator Ruby Minosa with the choir. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Lawrence Ochoa SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, California—Many Filipino expatriates bring with them cherished Christmas memories from home by celebrating  “Simbang Gabi” in this area of Los Angeles County that is home to tens of thousands of Filipinos. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles bolstered this important commemoration by supporting local parishes as they simultaneously hold Simbang Gabi Mass every day from December 15 throughout Los Angeles County. Now, even non-Filipinos are embracing the tradition. The event is a nine-day religious rite focused on the Filipino tradition of celebrating the birth of Christ in a colorful display of native costumes, Christmas songs in churches and the display of the symbol of hope and faith for many—the Christmas lantern or “parol.” There were already nearly 30,000 Filipinos residing in the San Fernando Valley even ten years ago, so one is assured of a “Simbang Gabi” any day of the week leading to Christmas.  Some Masses are held at break of dawn in some parishes and in others, the evening after work.  Mass is often followed by a complimentary feast of sumptuous Filipino food. Reminder of heritage “Simbang Gabi allows me to understand my roots and traditions as a Filipino,” said Jonathan Soriano, a second generation Filipino and musical director of the St. Jane Frances de Chantal church. “It allows me to prepare to commemorate the birth of Christ  in the way my relatives of generations have done before me; how my parents celebrated Simbang Gabi back Read More …

'Record high' 11 percent of Visayas expect bleak Christmas – SWS

 News
Dec 232013
 
'Record high' 11 percent of Visayas expect bleak Christmas – SWS

Given the major natural disasters in late 2013, 11 percent of Visayas residents expect a bleak Christmas this year, according to a new poll by Social Weather Stations. “In Visayas, the expectation of a happy Christmas declined to a new record-low 57 percent in 2013 as the expectation of a sad Christmas reached record-high 11 percent,” the SWS said in its poll. Last Oct. 15, a magnitude-7.2 quake devastated Central Visayas, while super typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas last Nov. 8. The SWS noted the expectation of a happy Christmas in Visayas declined by nine points, from 66 percent in 2012 to 57 percent in 2013. Before to 2013, SWS said the lowest recorded expectation of a happy Christmas was 60 percent, in 2006. “Conversely, the expectation of a sad Christmas in Visayas increased by four points, from 7 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2013,” the pollster said. The survey was taken from Dec. 11-16. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 1,550 adults, with sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±4% for Visayas, and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao. National numbers Nationwide, the SWS said slightly more than three out of five Filipinos (62 percent) still expect a happy Christmas. The 62-percent figure was a slight decline from the 64 percent in the fourth quarters of 2011 and 2012. Also, nine percent of Filipinos expect a sad Christmas this year, while 28 percent expect it to be neither happy nor sad. “The expectation of Read More …

Nine-year-old, latest victim of illegal 'piccolo' firecracker

 News
Dec 232013
 
Nine-year-old, latest victim of illegal 'piccolo' firecracker

The inevitable rise in the number of firecracker-related casualties during the Christmas-New Year holidays has started, with the Health Department recording a nine-year-old boy as the latest injured. Jeric Paul Suarez from Tondo, Manila, was the seventh victim of the firecracker known as “piccolo” since December 21, according to DOH records. “Hindi na po [ako magpapaputok]. Delikado,” Suarez said timidly in a report on GMA 7’s “24 Oras”. The DOH has so far recorded 13 cases of firecracker-related injuries, an increase from the nine cases recorded in the same period last year. Also, according to the DOH’s records, 27 percent of all firecracker-related injuries in 2012 came from piccolos. Despite its dangerous record, it remains popular being the firecracker of choice in the face of a general decrease in the use of fireworks in the country. Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag hopes that the recent spate of natural disasters – typhoon Yolanda, the Cebu-Bohol earthquake – will discourage people from spending on fireworks. “Dahil dun sa sunod-sunod na unos natin, maraming nagsabi na parang toned down ang pag-celebrate natin ng pasko. Subalit nagkaroon ng parang turning point nitong weekend. Sumigla ang pamimili ng mga tao,” said a dismayed Tayag. The undersecretary is thus fully supportive of Davao City’s anti-fireworks policy, which bans both legal and illegal fireworks. “Mga ilegal katulad ng piccolo, fly-by-night, ‘di maganda ang kaledad, malamang sa hindi, disgrasya resulta niyan,” said Tayag. — Rie Takumi/DVM, GMA News

Pre-New Year bash at Riverbanks Center

 General
Dec 232013
 
Pre-New Year bash at Riverbanks Center

MANILA, Philippines – As year 2013 ends, Marikenians as well as people from their neighboring cities and communities will have the opportunity to celebrate the New Year earlier at Riverbanks Center with a free concert and fireworks display. The tradition of holding an annual year-end concert and fireworks display at Riverbanks continues and will be held on the evening of December 30 at the amphitheater. This year, Chicser, MYMP, and Nyoy Volante will rock the night as people await the grand fireworks display. The show will start at 7 p.m. and the fireworks display will begin at exactly 9 p.m. To enjoy the show, come as early as you can to get good parking space and have a perfect view of the concert and the fireworks. Or drop by the mall and the Shopalooza Bazaar to do your last-minute shopping chores at Riverbanks Center as the biggest outlet center in the city extends its mall hours until 11 p.m. 

‘Challenging year for tourism’

 General
Dec 232013
 
‘Challenging year for tourism’

TWO calamities derailed what was shaping up to be a very promising year for Cebu tourism. For tourism stakeholders, 2013 is a “challenging year” for the industry. Tourism advocate Jonathan Jay Aldeguer said this year had all the makings of a banner year for travel in the country until the twin disasters hit the Visayas region in the fourth quarter. Aldeguer said the year started out “very promising” with both international and domestic players taking “aggressive” moves to stimulate travel to and within the Philippines. Target figures, he said, were on track and these even exceeded domestic travel goals. But the recent calamities in Visayas, where tourism is strongest, slowed down travel to these areas. “The year 2013 was showing a lot of promise, even more than 2012, up until the multiple disasters that struck the Visayas,” said Aldeguer, who is president and chief executive officer of The Islands Group. ‘Big blow’ to sector Cenelyn Manguilimotan, president of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRRAC), shared Aldeguer’s evaluation, saying that the performance of the sector “could have been better” if only the twin calamities did not happen. Manguilimotan pointed out that Cebu recorded a lot of tourism activities in the first three quarters, up until the beginning of October. After the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, hotels and other establishments started to feel the impact with cancellations and postponements of bookings, travel and events. The cancellations continued after super typhoon Yolanda, international codename Haiyan. “The recent earthquake and typhoon Read More …

Richard Yap Stars in Duty Free Philippines' Christmas TVC

 Economy
Dec 232013
 
Richard Yap Stars in Duty Free Philippines' Christmas TVC

2013 saw Richard Yap get catapulted into daytime stardom via his hit telenovela Be Careful With My Heart, where he stars with Jodi Sta. Maria or “Maya,” giving everyone who’s at home every morning or those who catch their love story online reasons to giggle and be “kilig.” The popular actor, however, breaks away from the stern and no-nonsense persona of “Sir Chief” and adapts some broadway moves to grace Duty Free Philippines’ latest Christmas campaign. Entitled “Show,” the Christmas TVC production also features the new generation of Maneuvers and Hotlegs, both of which being undeniable forces in the country’s dance industry from then till now. Veteran theater actress Shiela Valderrama, who recently alternated with Monique Wilson to play Anna Leonowens in the hit theater show “The King and I,” and Jake Macapagal from the critically acclaimed, British-produced film “Metro Manila” also lent their talents in giving the TVC the celebratory and festive feel that the legacy of Duty Free Philippines warranted. Since the late 1980s, Duty Free Philippines has been serving the nation’s Balikbayans with goods that are available for purchase tax-free, ranging from chocolates, liquor and wines, fragrances, watches to gadgets and groceries. This year, their tagline “Ito ang Christmas Pasalubong” greatly represents Duty Free’s top-of-mind prestige in eliciting excitement and anticipation from the entire families of returning Overseas Filipinos for the promise of a shopping trip at the flagship Fiestamall in Paranaque City. Carlo Ledesma, popular for his direction of the feature film “The Tunnel Movie” directed Read More …

Phl stocks rise amid positive US outlook

 General
Dec 232013
 
Phl stocks rise amid positive US outlook

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine stock market inched higher today following the positive outlook on the US economy. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 0.34 percent or 19.75 points to 5,854.88, while the broader all-share index rose by 0.09 percent or 3.07 percent or 3,592.96. Trading volume reached 658 million shares worth P5.26 billion ($118.45 million) with 86 stocks declining, and 69 advancing, and 34 were unchanged. Of the six counters, only the holding firm and the services sector bucked the trend. “Attempts to move higher were felt as some investors laud the latest revision in US gross domestic product at 4.1 percent,” 2TradeAsia.com said. The 4.1 percent was the fastest since 2011 and mostly came from stronger consumer spending. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The positive news initially kicked the Philippine equities to as high as 5,885.94 or almost a 50-point-gain but sellers were quick to cap any rally. “With the shortened trading week however plus Christmas break, some seized on rises to pocket gains while waiting for other catalysts to support sentiment,” the online brokerage said. 2TradeAsia.com advises investors to trade within range as immediate support is seen at 5,800, while resistance is set between 5,850 to 5,870. Stocks in the 30-company index closed mixed. Among those sold down were Ayala Land, Inc., SM Investments Corp., and heavyweight Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

Palace confident Customs chief can increase collections, counter corruption

 News
Dec 232013
 
Palace confident Customs chief can increase collections, counter corruption

Will “Sunny” be the best disinfectant for a Customs bureau with a reputation for shadowy figures and shady deals? The Palace said Monday it is confident newly-appointed Customs Commissioner John “Sunny” Sevilla can improve revenue collections amid reported corruption at the Customs bureau. “We know for a fact that there is corruption in the Bureau of Customs. That has never been hidden from public view,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a press briefing at Malacañang. “That’s why he (Sevilla) is instituting a lot of mechanisms to make sure that the corruption in BOC would be minimized, if not, hopefully eliminated from that.” “It’s a tall order for Commissioner Sevilla but we are certain that, given the new set of deputy commissioners and a new set of leadership through Commissioner Sevilla, we will see some improvements in the Customs collection,” he noted. A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday revealed the code names of three “big-time traders” who purportedly operate in the bureau. They were identified in the report as “Big Mama,” “Ma’am T,” and “Mr. T.” The report also said corruption has led to missed Customs collection targets. A former high-ranking Customs official confirmed these code names. “Alam ng lahat ‘yan. That’s common knowledge. Kilalang-kilala [na sila] na nagtatransact [sa BOC],” the former Customs official, who refused to be named, told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Monday. “Malakas ang loob ng mga nasa baba kasi mayroong higher than the commissioner kung meron mang Read More …

Jake Cuenca to try out for Azkals

 Entertainment
Dec 222013
 
Jake Cuenca to try out for Azkals

Jake Cuenca (MNS photo) Actor Jake Cuenca wants to pursue his dream of becoming a football player. Cuenca said he plans to try out for the Philippine national football team, also known as the Azkals. “’Yung Jake Cuenca kasi para sa mga tao, usually bad boy, maangas. Pero ang hindi nila alam, susubok ako na maging professional football player next year. Susubok ako mag-Azkals,” he said. “Bukod doon, mama’s boy ako. Mahilig din ako magluto pero mas mahilig akong mag-football,” he added. Currently, Cuenca is busy taping for ABS-CBN’s hit series “Maria Mercedes” with Jessy Mendiola. He is also promoting his film, “When The Love Is Gone,” with Alice Dixon, Gabby Concepcion, Andi Eigenmann and Cristine Reyes. In 2011, Cuenca expressed his interest in joining the Philippine football team. (MNS)

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