January 2014 – Page 24

QC boy hurt by firecracker dies; revelry-related injuries exceeds 1,000

Jan 072014

Christian Jay Comedor, 10 years old, of Baesa in Quezon City, was rushed by her mother, Julie, on New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2013) at the Quezon City General Hospital for injuries caused by the infamous piccolo firecracker. It is a belief in the mostly Catholic nation that making noise to welcome the New Year drives evil spirits away and ushers in good luck. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A 12-year-old boy who was rendered brain-dead after suffering a head injury from a firecracker explosion has died, but will “live on” after his family decided to donate his organs, the Department of Health said Monday. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag also said the number of revelry-related injuries to welcome 2014 breached the 1,000 mark mainly due to piccolo. “12-year-old boy dies but ‘lives’ as [his] family donates his kidneys; [DOH Secretary Enrique] Ona condoles with and praises [his] family for this act of heroism and kindness,” Tayag said on his Twitter account. Tayag also said this year’s revelry-related injuries has passed the 1,000 mark “because many revelers used the illegal, imported piccolo.” As of 6 a.m. of Jan. 5, he said there were at least 1,018 revelry-related injuries, including 997 from setting off or handling consumer fireworks, two from ingesting fireworks, and 19 from stray bullets. Of the 997 fireworks-related injuries, he said 376 or 38 percent were from the piccolo. In the same period in 2012, he said, there were 931 revelry-related injuries, including 904 from fireworks, Read More …

Sharon Cuneta has had enough, leaves Twitter

Entertainment

Jan 072014

Sharon Cuneta has had enough, leaves Twitter

Sharon Cuneta (MNS Photo) Sharon Cuneta has had enough of the “obscene, painful words” she has been receiving on Twitter, saying she has decided to leave the micro-blogging site. Early this week, the 47-year-old actress posted a series of tweets directed at those “hiding behind anonymity, enjoying a very false sense of power” and asked her followers to understand her decision to take a break. “I know you’ll understand if I do not use Twitter for some time and just go back to living my happy life with those who truly love me and who deserve my love,” she said. Cuneta noted her achievements in showbiz, saying she doesn’t deserve the kind of ridicule she gets from some netizens. “How easily people forget that I once maybe made them, or their mom, or someone they love, happy. The awards, the box-office queen trophies, the top-rating shows and #1 singles and albums. How easily they forget. “I hope they remember more than any contribution I have made to my beloved industry the way I lived my life, raised my daughter with only the help of my parents and friends, how good of a daughter I have been. And how much I loved my public. Maybe they’ll even remember how very much they loved me,” she said. Cuneta has already taken a break from Twitter last September, citing the need to rest from all the “meanness of people, the intrigues and questions.” The earlier decision came after Cuneta drew flak for congratulating Read More …

Universal health care for Filipino citizens pushed

Entertainment

Jan 072014

Universal health care for Filipino citizens pushed

Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada delivers his message during the launching of the Orange Health Card project at the City Hall on Friday (Jan. 3, 2014). The card entitles the holder to free admission to any government hospital in Manila. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to institutionalize a universal health care for all Filipino citizens 18 years old and above. Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City), author of House Bill 2312, the funds shall be sourced from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). “To better harness the people’s future role in society, Filipinos should enjoy the entitlement of a universal health care,” Castelo said. He said the funds intended for charity by profit-generating public establishments of Pagcor and PCSO can be utilized for the needed money for the universal health care program for Filipinos. Castelo also said the Pagcor and PCSO generate so much proceeds for government to the tune of billions of pesos annually. He said the government is already funding some government hospitals but most of these are located in urban centers.(MNS)

CAN BANKRUPTCY STOP A FORECLOSURE?

Entertainment

Jan 072014

Atty. Paul Allen There has been several articles in the press recently, that suggests we are about to experience a new wave of foreclosures this spring. Banks usually, try to avoid dumping their entire foreclosure portfolio at once, to prevent prices dropping so low, that it encourages even more people to default. Who wants to service a mortgage on a property that is significantly upside down? Personally, I think we are in a longer real estate recession than many realize. A few years ago, many home buyers took advantage of low start rates, hoping their property would appreciate faster than the rise in adjustable loan rates. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen for those on the tail end of the real estate boom. Many of them, unable to qualify for the new HARP2 refinancing, choose to let their properties foreclose, rather than service loans higher than the home is worth. So what happens when you stop paying your mortgage? After a few months in arrears, the mortgage lender starts a foreclosure process. Foreclosure is a legal procedure that involves mortgaged properties. If a homeowner defaults on his or her mortgage, by either failing to make mortgage payments or failing to follow other terms of the mortgage document, foreclosure may be the result. Usually there is a forced sale of the property at public auction; The home owner loses title, and in most cases, it is the mortgage lender who takes possession. The lender will subsequently lists the property for sale through a Read More …

Invest in your Family

General

Jan 072014

As we start the year with high hopes, I wish to discuss the importance of investing in our respective families. Invest time, effort, money and do so in a deliberate way, the way we do with our corporate affairs. Corporate matters are dealt with in black and white rules, clear expectations and assessments because this is the efficient way. It eliminates, or at least significantly reduces, misunderstandings. However, oftentimes when we deal with family affairs we are not as deliberate or clear about our expectations. A lot of Filipinos are not comfortable with this concept of using clear and corporate-like practices for the family. A relative once expressed her discomfort on our requests for RSVP for family parties because she found it “too corporate” and very much the opposite of how they used to hold parties wherein you invite a couple and the couple was free to either not show up or show up with the barangay! The problem with not using corporate efficiencies in dealing with our family affairs (way beyond RSVPs) is that when expectations are not stated clearly, they will most likely be unmet. When they are not met, we either go ballistics with our frustration or just allow them to pass, “Pagbigyan mo na, anak/magulang/kapatid mo naman yan. Pamilya yan, huwag nang magkwentahan.” And this cycle goes on and on until the little irritations become a big family issue, something that could have been avoided if only expectations were set out clear at the start. Lifestyle Read More …

A cool Baguio holiday

Entertainment

Jan 072014

Sisons’ greetings: Marianna Reyes, Kathy Sison, Patxi Punsalan, Triccie Sison, Trisha Punsalan, Camille and Mandy Reyes It has been our family tradition to go to Baguio right after celebrating Christmas in Manila. Well, it seems there were about 800,000 visitors who also chose to go up the mountains for the holiday season. Despite the irritatingly long car ride that was caused by a number of one-way roadworks along provincial highways and bridges (paging the Department of Public Works and Highways, which failed to anticipate the terrible holiday traffic as well as the perennial road repairs), it was made worthwhile when we reached the Baguio Country Club after almost eight long hours of mostly bumper-to-bumper gridlock. Luckily, we had a wide circle of fellow Baguio lovers who braved the terrible road conditions with us — among them were family friends who shared wonderful memories of the summers of their youth, while others were new acquaintances with a common appreciation for this city that was established in 1900 by the Americans. It is currently the number-one destination for local tourists with its semi-temperate weather and scenic mountainous terrain. In a luncheon given by well-liked couple Lani and Conchitina Bernardo, we sat beside Stella Marquez-Araneta, who was being congratulated for her current crop of 2013 Bb. Pilipinas lovelies who won impressive top honors for our country: Mutya Datul, Bea Rose Santiago and Angeli Dione Gomez for Miss Supranational, Miss International and Miss Tourism International, respectively. When questioned on how to spot a winner, Stella remarked that beauty and Read More …

2014 California laws: Blessings for employees and immigrants

Entertainment

Jan 072014

2014 California laws: Blessings for employees and immigrants

by : Rey Andres EDITH Z. DI VOLUNTEERS TO CELEBRATE A MILESTONE: Friends and family joined Edith Zambrano-Dimaculangan (CEO of Books ‘En More) and her husband Manny, celebrate her 50th birthday by volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank last Dec. 28 and fulfilling her passion to fight hunger in the community. The kind-hearted business entrepreneur is shown third at the 2nd row, left, kneeling, with her fellow volunteers. Californians woke up January 1st greeted by new laws many see as a bundle of blessings and protections for “vulnerable low income workers, immigrants who are in the country illegally, domestic care givers and farm workers.” Also benefitting from new laws are transgender students, same sex couples, women seeking abortions, the homeless, prison inmates who committed crimes as juveniles and celebrities with young children. Gov. Jerry Brown signed 805 bills into law in 2013 and said no to 96 others. The Democratic leaders of both the Assembly and the Senate had in mind the protection of the workers who are reeling from recession. The labor front has considered the year 2013 as a banner year for workers with the benefits of the laws being felt immediately and has established California as a “national leader in protecting the rights of workers.” The Republicans saw the new laws in a different perspective claiming they “will harm California’s business climate.” In a dramatic and far-reaching move, minimum wage workers will be paid $9 starting July pushing the base of the two-dollar –an-hour boost Read More …

UNICEF hopes resumption of classes will bring normalcy to ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

News

Jan 072014

UNICEF hopes resumption of classes will bring normalcy to ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

By Bong LozadaINQUIRER.net 9:03 pm | Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 In this aerial photo taken on Nov. 9, 2013, and released by the Philippine Air Force, a ferry boat is seen washed inland from a massive storm surge caused by Typhoon Haiyan, in the city of Tacloban, central Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations Children’s Fund hopes the resumption of classes in areas affected by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international codename: Haiyan) will be a spring board to speed up rehabilitation, a statement said. UNICEF together with international organizations Save the Children and INTERSOS supported the Back to Learning campaign of the Department of Education and Department of Social Welfare and Development that saw the re-opening of schools on Monday. “UNICEF’s objective is to ensure that children affected by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ return to quality learning as quickly as possible,” said Angela Kearney, officer-in-charge of UNICEF Philippines. According to the UN arm, schools have become safe havens for both teachers and children and once school started, the daily routine has helped restore a sense of normalcy. “It’s our hope that children returning to school and day care centers will have a sense of routine and have a safe place during the day to be with friends where they can continue to learn and enjoy safe play,” said Dr. Luisa Yu, DepEd Director for Region VIII. UNICEF hopes that once the children are back in school, parents will have more time to rebuild their livelihood. As of January 6, the Read More …

ILO: More job creation program needed in Yolanda-hit areas

News

Jan 072014

ILO: More job creation program needed in Yolanda-hit areas

TANAUAN, LEYTE Supertyphoon “Yolanda” survivors in this town wait for the distribution of food items from a helicopter in this photo taken two days after Yolanda struck. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOHN CHUA MANILA, Philippines—The International Labor Organization has launched a program aimed at providing emergency employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities in areas devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda. “Since ‘Yolanda’ (international name Haiyan) struck on 8 November, the ILO supported the Department of Labor and Employment in creating over 20,000 jobs under the emergency employment program,” said Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director of the ILO Country Office in the Philippines. Johnson said that his organization has reached out to 100,000 people during the initial phase of the rebuilding efforts in 2013. “But more needs to be done to provide access to safe and decent work that includes ensuring minimum wages, sound occupational safety, skills development and social protection in line with national laws,” Johnson said. Aside from guaranteed social security and health insurance, the ILO has equipped its workers with masks, hats, gloves, boots and long sleeved shirts to minimize the risk of disease and injury. Of the estimated 5.9 million jobs lost or suspended due to “Yolanda,” the ILO estimated that 2.6 million were in vulnerable employment and living near the poverty line even before the typhoon. Plea for decent jobs Workers in vulnerable forms of employment, mostly drivers and operators in Tacloban, called for the prioritization of decent jobs after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” nearly took out the sense of normalcy in the Read More …

Global disasters killed more, cost less in 2013

News

Jan 072014

Global disasters killed more, cost less in 2013

Associated Press 7:45 pm | Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 In this Dec. 20, 2013 photo, a restaurant of Joseph Bonavitacola is filled with local villagers in Tacloban, Philippines. The Italian businessman, who has lived in the city for 20 years with his Filipino wife, reopened the place less than three weeks after Typhoon Haiyan devastated about 4,000 businesses. Only about 5 percent have reopened, officials say. AP BERLIN — The German insurance company Munich Re says some 20,000 people died in natural disasters last year, about twice as many as in 2012. Most of the deaths resulted from Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda in Manila) that hit the Philippines, Vietnam and China in November with a loss of almost 6,100 lives. This was followed by floods in India that killed about 5,500 people in June. Munich Re’s annual disasters report released Tuesday found that the economic cost of natural catastrophes was lower last year. Some 880 events cost about $125 billion, with insured losses of $31 billion. This compares with costs of $173 billion and insured losses of $65 billion in 2012. The costliest natural disasters were summer hailstorms in Germany, floods in Central Europe, and storms and tornadoes in the United States. RELATED STORIES: Philippines launches $8.17B Haiyan rebuilding plan Barack and Michelle Obama send sympathies to Yolanda victims In typhoon’s wake, Christmas infused with tragedy Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get Read More …

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