US air power on display at Balikatan war games

 News
May 152014
 
US air power on display at Balikatan war games

Live fire drills cap PHL-US Balikatan . A Huey helicopter prepares to drop off troops while Philippine Marines take up positions during a live fire assault simulation drill on the last day of the annual Balikatan military exercise at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday, May 15. In the simulation, US aircraft dropped bombs while Marines dodged artillery fire. The exercise took place weeks after the allies signed a defense deal against a backdrop of tensions between China and its neighbors. AFP CROW VALLEY – US aircraft dropped bombs and marines tore forward under artillery fire in war games in Tarlac on Thursday, weeks after the allies signed a defense deal against a backdrop of flaring Chinese tensions with its neighbors. The live rounds made a dull thud and kicked up dust as they rained down on a dry riverbed at the start of the hour-long maneuvers, involving about 100 American and 200 Filipino Marines. “We’re training to take over a key enemy position,” US Marines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jay de la Rosa told AFP from a nearby ridge observation point, as F/A-18 and A-10 aircraft unloaded their payloads. Artillery shells also poured down from nearby hilltops before V-22 Osprey aircraft and conventional military helicopters made paratroop drops of marines on the simulated battlefield, later joined by colleagues aboard armoured vehicles. “It’s a maritime security scenario,” Filipino Navy Captain Annaleah Cazcarro said. “We don’t have a target country,” she emphasized. Thursday’s maneuvers came at the end of 10 days Read More …

DOLE lists 6 guidelines for employers of domestic helpers

 News
May 152014
 
DOLE lists 6 guidelines for employers of domestic helpers

Give them an on-the-job orientation, provide them with protective equipment – and allow them to maintain their own social circles. These were among the guidelines the Department of Labor and Employment issued Thursday for employers of domestic helpers through a department advisory. In Department Advisory No. 1 series of 2014, the DOLE enumerated measures to ensure the occupational safety and health (OSH) of the “kasambahay,” including: – Conduct of on-the-job orientation of kasambahay– Provision of personal protective equipment based on the nature of the job, such as gloves, face masks, and aprons– Ensuring fire protective equipment and other materials such as fire extinguishers, wet blanket, sand, and water are readily available– Provision of humane sleeping arrangements, adequate food, safe drinking water, and access to sanitary facilities– Availability of first-aid medicines in case of illnesses and injuries sustained during service without loss of benefits– Ensure that kasambahay will not work under hazardous conditions that will endanger her health and safety. On the other hand, the DOLE mentioned 14 subtopics for OSH tips for the helpers, including: – General household safety tips– Kitchen safety tips– Fire safety tips– Earthquake safety tips– Typhoon and flood safety tips– Proper scheduling of tasks to provide rest– Handling and disposal of garbage– Household security– Safety tips in conducting errands– Safety orientation during crisis– Safety consideration in baby-sitting– Tips in handling pets– Safety tips in gardening– Use of PPE (personal protective equipment). The DOLE also urged employers to address social issues that may affect the health of Read More …

116th PH Independence Day fest in NYC set on June 1

 News
May 152014
 
116th PH Independence Day fest in NYC set on June 1

• Longest PH Independence Day parade outside the Philippines • Miss World, OPM stars, other celebrities at the celebration • Street fair, floats, stage show, grand ball Miss World Megan Young (Photo by Rolan Gutierrez) NEW YORK, New York — It’s all systems go for the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade, the 116th celebration, featuring an all-day street fair and cultural festival stretching from 38th Street to 23rd Street and Madison Avenue, on Sunday, June 1, from 11:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The festivity is highlighted by the largest Philippine Independence Day parade outside the Philippines, hosted by the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), a nonprofit organization, which is celebrating its silver anniversary this year. Among the stars of the celebration are: First Filipina Miss World Megan Young, who with PIDCI raised funds for the victims of super typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines; Original Philippine Music (OPM) icons Kuh Ledesma, Cecile Azarcon, Edlyn Peregrina and Ogie Alcasid; First Filipina Carnaval Queen in Brazil Bessie Badilla; Grand Marshals Drs. Emilio and Felicisima Quines—both longtime medical mission volunteers. Nearly 200 Filipino American-related nonprofit and for profit organizations, are participating. Leading the daylong celebrations are AARP’s Asian American and Pacific Islander arm and My Shelter Foundation, which promotes solar bottle bulbs called “Liter of Light.” Attendance is likely to peak at 100,000 people, mostly Filipinos and Filipino Americans from the New York Tri-State area, Pennsylvania, California, Canada and the Philippines. Riding the many festive floats are PIDCI’s Goodwill Ambassadors 2014 Mrs. Kalayaan Read More …

‘We weren't even in Congress then’: Lawmakers deny involvement in PDAF scam

 News
May 152014
 
‘We weren't even in Congress then’: Lawmakers deny involvement in PDAF scam

Three members of the House of Representatives named in a list of lawmakers allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam have denied dealing with supposed mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas said his inclusion in a list of legislators who allegedly received kickbacks for allocating portions of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus non-government organizations linked to Napoles was “outrageous” and “makes no sense at all.” “To begin with, I am the only pure first-termer among the 69 incumbent and former members of the House of Representatives ostensibly in the list. This is my first term ever as a congressman. I was not even a congressman yet between the time Janet Napoles and her gang of thieves were plundering public funds, until they were finally caught,” he said in a statement. Gullas said his constituents never had the chance to benefit from his PDAF allocation because the Supreme Court blocked the release of the funds – more commonly known as “pork barrel” – in September 2013, a few months after the scam was first reported by the media. Members of Congress assumed their posts on July 1. The lawmaker said his inclusion in the list that former senator Panfilo Lacson submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee this week must be part of a strategy by “culpable” parties who stand to gain from public confusion from the existence of different lists. Another version of Napoles’ list is currently with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. “I can Read More …

Luy, other whistleblowers seek immunity after Napoles asks to turn state witness

 News
May 152014
 
Luy, other whistleblowers seek immunity after Napoles asks to turn state witness

The whistleblowers in the pork barrel scam now also want immunity after businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles – initially tagged as the scam mastermind – applied to turn state witness, a report on GMA’s “24 Oras” said Thursday. Benhur Luy, one of the first to testify at Senate hearings on the scam, said it worried him when Napoles reportedly sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking to become a state witness. Luy said they should also be given immunity from suit in addition to their inclusion in the government’s witness protection program. Lawyer Stephen Cascolan, counsel for some of the pork barrel scam whistleblowers, also said that his clients are worried for their safety after the case is resolved. “Ang basic question na lagi nilang sinasabi sa akin: ‘Saan ba kami pupulutin after all these years na lumalaban tayo kung wala kaming immunity?’,” Cascolan said. Luy and the other whistleblowers were excluded from the cases filed by the Department of Justice in connection with the pork barrel scam in exchange for their testimonies and other evidence. But Cascolan pointed out that the immunity granted to them should be in more concrete terms. “Ang trial nito ay ilang taon. Kung magbago ng president, ng secretary (of Justice) o ng ombudsman, irerespeto rin ba yung usapan?” Cascolan said. “Mas maganda po sana na may kontrata na meron silang immunity from suit para kung sino man yung kaharap nila, buo ang loob nilang lumaban,” he added. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed Read More …

Meat-Free Favorites : Strawberry Cupcakes

 Entertainment
May 152014
 
Meat-Free Favorites : Strawberry Cupcakes

By Elena Johnson Here’s a delicious cupcake recipe perfect for spring! These sweet treats are loaded with fresh strawberries and the cake itself is so full of flavor that you can even serve them without frosting. Since many brands of readymade frosting are vegan, I bought pink strawberry frosting at the grocery store to give this batch of cupcakes a festive touch. Strawberry Cupcakes Strawberry Cupcakes Makes 18 cupcakes 2 cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup sugar 1 ¼ tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. salt ½ cup soy milk ¼ cup canola oil 1 Tbsp. white vinegar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups finely chopped strawberries 18 strawberry slices, for garnish Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together soy milk, canola oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Mix in chopped strawberries. Add wet ingredients to dry. Mix gently until incorporated. Batter will be thick. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners or spray tins with oil. Fill each cup halfway with batter. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting. After frosting, top each cupcake with 1 strawberry slice. About the Author Elena Johnson Elena Johnson is a second-generation Filipino American living in Baltimore, MD. As a vegan chef and caterer she has been reinventing her family’s recipes and sharing them with friends, relatives, and those interested in vegetarian cooking. Elena is also the Special Projects Manager at Read More …

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