Rescued Filipina kidnap victim set to be repatriated to PH

 News
Jun 022014
 
Rescued Filipina kidnap victim set to be repatriated to PH

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 4:11 pm | Monday, June 2nd, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—The rescued Filipina kidnap victim in Malaysia is now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and is set to be repatriated. “The rescued Filipina kidnap victim was turned over to the Embassy early Sunday night and she is now under care and custody of Embassy in Kuala Lumpur,” Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose told reporters Monday. “Preparations are on the way for her repatriation back to the Philippines,” he said. Mercy Dayawan, 40, an employee of a resort in Sabah, Malaysia, was kidnapped by armed gunmen along with one Chinese tourist last April 2, 2014. They were rescued May 30, 2014, by police authorities. Jose said that there were suspicions Dayawan was involved in the case, “but she has been cleared of any involvement in the case by the Malaysian police.” “Based on statements by the Malaysian authorities, there was no ransom paid,” he said. The bandit group Abu Sayyaf is suspected to be behind the kidnapping. RELATED STORIES Malaysia to turnover to PH rescued Filipina Chinese, Filipino kidnapped in Malaysia rescued DFA identifies kidnapped Filipina in Malaysia Follow Us Other Stories: DFA mum on taking action vs racist Hong Kong textbook Japan hits back at China after Abe remarks spark row Recruitment agency suspended for issuing different visas to worker ‘Yolanda’ recovery gets Canada boost Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to Read More …

DFA mum on taking action vs racist Hong Kong textbook

 News
Jun 022014
 
DFA mum on taking action vs racist Hong Kong textbook

Department of Foreign Affairs building INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is mum on taking action against the reported school textbook in Hong Kong that depicts Filipinos as domestic helpers. When asked by reporters whether the DFA would file a request to have the textbook changed, DFA spokesperson Charles Jose would not give any comments. Instead, he just cited the growing demand for Filipinos anywhere in the world. “In this age of globalization, Filipinos are everywhere,” Jose said. “They are needed and welcome in where they can contribute,” he said. The text book showed a sketch of a dark-skinned woman saying, “I am Filipino. I am a domestic helper in Hong Kong.” Other sketches in the text book showed a white man saying, “I am British. I am an English teacher,” a light-skinned woman saying, “I am Japanese. I have a sushi restaurant in Hong Kong,” and a dark-skinned boy saying, “I am Indian. I study in an international school.” Blogger Tom Grundy, who published a photo of the text book in his blog Hongwrong.com, said “In case you were wondering about your destiny in Hong Kong, a primary school textbook is here to enlighten you with this fun ‘fill-in-the-blank’ task [titled] ‘racial harmony’!” At least 1.4 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were deployed in 2012, around 970,000 of whom were rehired workers while 458,000 were new hires, according to records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Hong Kong is the fourth most Read More …

DoubleDragon signs deal to develop mixed-use complex near MOA

 General
Jun 022014
 
DoubleDragon signs deal to develop mixed-use complex near MOA

By Doris C. DumlaoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:59 pm | Monday, June 2nd, 2014 Screengrab from doubledragon.com.ph MANILA, Philippines—Property developer DoubleDragon Properties Corp. has signed a joint venture deal to develop a 4.75-hectare property near the Mall of Asia complex into “The Meridian Park,” a themed complex of buildings for office, commercial and serviced apartments. The first phase of the project is called “Double Dragon Cyber Campus,” which will have a total of 90,200 square meters of floor area to be leased out to business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and will also have a commercial arcade on the ground floor. This first phase will generate about 12,000 new jobs, according to DoubleDragon in its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday. For “The Meridian Park,” DoubleDragon signed a joint venture deal with Carto Meridian Development Corp. DoubleDragon will own 70 percent of the joint venture. Once the development is completed, “The Meridian Park” will have about 334,000 square meters of total floor area and generate over P1.6 billion in annual rental revenues to the joint venture company. DoubleDragon said it would like to make this development “one of the most iconic and prominent landmarks” in the area. The project will rise at the corner of EDSA Extension and Macapagal Avenue. DoubleDragon aims to launch the masterplan and start construction of the first phase of this new project by the last quarter of this year and complete it by 2020, the same year during which it aims to join the ranks of Read More …

Japan hits back at China after Abe remarks spark row

 News
Jun 022014
 
Japan hits back at China after Abe remarks spark row

Agence France-Presse 3:44 pm | Monday, June 2nd, 2014 TOKYO — Japan on Monday hit back at China’s denouncement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech at a regional security forum, firing the latest salvo in an ongoing tit-for-tat row. On Sunday, Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the general staff of the People’s Liberation Army, told the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore that the comments made by Abe and US Defense secretary Chuck Hagel at the conference were “unacceptable”. But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo: “We believe the Chinese senior official made claims based on mistake of facts and defamed our country.” Suga said the Japanese delegation in Singapore immediately made a “strong protest” against the remarks to the Chinese side. On Friday, Abe had opened the forum by urging countries to respect the rule of law — an apparent reference to what rivals consider aggressive Chinese behavior over disputed areas in the South China Sea and East China Sea. Hagel on Saturday warned China against “destabilizing actions” in the South China Sea and listed a number of alleged infractions, including against the Philippines and Vietnam, the two most vocal critics of Beijing’s claims. A furious Wang accused the two of coordinating their remarks and encouraging each other to attack China. In response to the US and Japanese remarks, Wang said in an address to the forum: “The Chinese delegation… have this feeling that the speeches of Mr Abe and Mr Hagel are a provocative action Read More …

Recruitment agency suspended for issuing different visas to worker

 News
Jun 022014
 
Recruitment agency suspended for issuing different visas to worker

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 1:17 pm | Monday, June 2nd, 2014 MANILA, Philippines – A recruitment agency was suspended by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for giving two different visas to a worker bound for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “POEA officers prevented the worker from leaving the country when she presented two different visas for pre-departure verification at the Labor Assistance Center at NAIA Terminal 2,” POEA said in a statement posted on its website. The recruitment agency, identified as Chanceteam International Services, Inc., gave the worker a “sales staff” and “servant” visa POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said in the statement that the worker admitted she will be going to Dubai, UAE to work as a domestic helper but a representative from the agency instructed her to show the “sales staff” visa when she arrives at the airport but to present the “servant” visa to her employer. “The worker narrated that when she reported to the recruitment agency the day following her failed departure, the agent instructed her to tell the POEA officers that the ‘servant’ visa was obtained on her behalf by her cousin in Dubai but she absentmindedly brought it to the airport,” the statement said. Cacdac said Chanceteam has committed serious violations relative to the recruitment and placement of the OFW, including misrepresentation and falsification of travel documents, and its continued operation will lead to further violation and exploitation of the workers it recruits. RELATED STORIES POEA suspends 3 recruitment agencies 4 recruitment agencies suspended over Saudi Read More …

Peso sinks midday Monday

 Economy
Jun 012014
 
Peso sinks midday Monday

MANILA, Philippines – The peso dropped against the dollar midday Monday, settling at 43.871 from the previous day’s 43.76. Total volume transacted at the Philippine Dealing System amounted to $364.4 million in the morning, lower than the $470 million posted the same period on Friday. The peso opened the week at 43.8.

Vitangcol’s resignation not enough – commuters

 Entertainment
Jun 012014
 
Vitangcol’s resignation not enough – commuters

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) plans to implement an automated ticketing system by 2015 to make fare collection more organized and stop freeloading passengers from taking advantage of the present system in place. Above photo shows MRT passengers who are more likely to have paid their fares prior to boarding the train. MANILA (Mabuhay) – Commuters said removing Metro Rail Transit 3 General Manager Al Vitangcol III is not enough, adding he should be punished for the alleged large-scale corruption and mismanagement in the MRT system. “Vitangcol should also be held accountable for failing to solve the train system’s major problems. The priority he gave to the MRT’s contract with big capitalists for the train system’s maintenance has made every train ride a hell for us commuters. He allowed the hellish reign of private contractors over the MRT’s maintenance instead of pushing for decisive government intervention,” said the Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (Riles) Network. The group fears the firing of Vitangcol was to protect him of any accountability in the alleged extortion attempt of Czech firm Inekon for the supply of MRT coaches. Vitangcol was sacked on the heels of new allegations that he awarded a maintenance contract to a relative in 2012. On Monday, The Philippine Star reported that Vitangcol, in his capacity as MRT general manager, awarded a P517 million maintenance contract to a joint venture of PH Trams and CB&T in October 2012. Arturo Soriano, the uncle of Vitangcol’s wife, is one of six incorporator-directors of PH Read More …

Zanjoe plays another gay role in new movie

 Entertainment
Jun 012014
 
Zanjoe plays another gay role in new movie

Zanjoe Marudo (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Actor Zanjoe Marudo is not afraid of being typecast in gay roles and is even thrilled to be playing another challenging role in an upcoming Star Cinema movie. Marudo revealed he will be part of the Wenn Deramas-directed horror flick titled “Maria Leonora Teresa,” where he will play a gay teacher. “Kahit naman gumanap na ako ng character na medyo binabae, para sa akin, bago pa rin itong character ni Julio kasi unang una, hindi niya pinapakita kasi isa siyang teacher. Ipinanganak lang talaga siyang ganun. Seryoso siya, drama siya. Hindi tulad ng ibang ginagawa ko, comedy kasi ‘yun kapag gumaganap akong gay,” he said. Marudo’s last project with Star Cinema was “Bromance: My Brother’s Romance” where he was seen portraying two characters: a “macho” man and a cross-dressing gay. “Challenge talaga. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano ko gagawin. Magsu-shooting na ako bukas. So hihingi ako ng tulong kay direk kung paano namin sisimulan yung character ni Julio,” he said. Also featuring Iza Calzado and Jodi Sta. Maria, “Maria Leonora Teresa” is slated to be released in theaters this year. (MNS)

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