Joshua Zamora and Jopay Paguia see the hand of God in their heartwarming, true-to-life romantic comedy.
Jul 022014
Jul 022014
By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 3:15 pm | Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised crisis alert level 2 in several countries in the West African region due to the Ebola virus outbreak. Crisis alert level 2 has been raised in Guinea where there are 800 Filipinos, Sierra Leone (1,799 Filipinos), Liberia (632 Filipinos, particularly United Nations peace keepers), DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a press conference Wednesday. Only Filipinos who have existing contracts in those countries will be allowed to go back while all newly hired workers will no longer be deployed, he said. RELATED STORIES Sierra Leone defends its record on Ebola outbreak West Africa’s Ebola death toll rises to 337 Follow Us Other Stories: New York police asks public for leads on fatal assault on Filipino man China media slam Japan’s move to expand military role South Korean, 20 others hurt as bus falls into ravine Singapore urged: Shut down ‘slave auction’ Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Short URL: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/?p=107458 Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 Read More …
Jul 022014
A street memorial in Woodside, Queens, New York for assault victim Roberto Martirez. DNA FILE PHOTO • Still no arrests in the killing of Roberto Martirez in Queens, New York • NYPD rules out hate crime • Some Filipinos skeptical of link to World Cup revelry NEW YORK — More than a week since 56-year-old Roberto Martirez was fatally attacked outside a restaurant in Queens, NY, police appear to have made little progress in the search for the suspect seen in a grainy image captured in surveillance footage. (Previous reports misspelled his surname as “Martines.”) While the investigation is ongoing, no arrests have been made and no one has come forward to give police new leads, prompting New York City Police Department to seek help from the public and collaborate with the Philippine Consulate. Police Officer Sophia Mason, responding to an INQUIRER.net e-mail inquiry on Monday afternoon, said that the “Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of an individual wanted for questioning.” The authorities have returned to the crime scene this week and posted flyers around Woodside, a neighborhood with a significant Filipino immigrant population, offering a $2,000 reward for information that may lead to the arrest of an individual responsible for the assault on Martirez, a chauffeur who lived a few blocks from the restaurant. According to initial police reports, the suspect was described as a “Hispanic male, early to mid-20s, with facial hair,” and was last seen on the security camera wearing Read More …
Jul 022014
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives for a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. AP BEIJING — China’s state-run media launched a broadside Wednesday against Japan’s move to loosen the bonds on its powerful military, casting it as a threat to Asian security. The harsh criticism came one day after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his cabinet had formally endorsed a reinterpretation of a constitutional clause banning the use of armed force except in very narrowly-defined circumstances. “The Japanese government is eager to break through the post-war system,” wrote the ruling Communist Party’s flagship People’s Daily newspaper in an editorial penned under the name “Zhong Sheng,” a homophone for “Voice of China.” It called the Abe government’s move “a dangerous signal, as well as a wake-up call.” In a commentary late Tuesday, China’s official Xinhua news agency challenged Tokyo with a question: “Is China on your military agenda?” “Japan has a history of making sneaky attacks, as it did in launching wars with China, Russia and the United States in the recent 100 years,” Xinhua wrote. “Now, Japan, with greater freedom to use military force, is making the world more worried.” China, home to the world’s largest military, far outnumbers rival Japan in manpower, ships, aircraft and defense spending. China’s official defense budget last year came to $119.5 billion, while according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance 2014 report, released in February, Japan’s total was $51 billion. Tokyo and Beijing Read More …
Jul 012014
THE NATIONAL Government’s outstanding debt grew 5% year on year as of May as both domestic and foreign components of liabilities increased, the Bureau of the Treasury yesterday said.
Jul 012014
REPRESENTATIVES of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and 33 airlines yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement to integrate the P550 international passenger service charge (IPSC) — known also as terminal fee — to airline tickets, which will be implemented this October.
Jul 012014
MANILA, Philippines–The Akbayan party-list group has denounced what it called a “modern-day slave auction” in Singapore in which maids, including Filipinos, are displayed and marketed at a shopping mall in the city state. AFP FILE PHOTO The group Tuesday called on the Singapore government to crack down on the “display and marketing of migrant workers” at the Bukit Timah Shopping Center. The practice is dehumanizing and degrading for migrant workers who are being treated like “ordinary commodities,” said Walden Bello, the Akbayan member in the House of Representatives. Citing a report by the Al Jazeera TV network, Akbayan said migrants from the Philippines, Indonesia and Burma (Myanmar) working in “maid agencies” were being made to sit beneath signs identifying them as “Homekeeper” or “Budget Maid.” Prospective employers may choose from “super-promo” and “special discount rates,” in which Filipinos are tagged as “smarter,” Indonesians as “less bright,” and Burmese workers as “sweet-natured and compliant.” “The workers are also made to simulate real-life housework, like taking care of the elderly or children,” the group said. Investigation Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday called for an investigation into the Al Jazeera report. “Practices such as this have already been consigned to history, to the age of colonialism when people were simply abducted and shipped thousands of miles from their homes to work as slaves,” Bello said. “It is shocking that this still happens in modern times and in Singapore no less, one of the most developed countries in the world,” he said. Akbayan Read More …
Jul 012014
By Ana Maria Villanueva-Lykes IN A 2013 survey by Global Attitudes Project of Pew Research Center in Washington, Pinoys were reported to have a favorable view of the United States. The survey shows little love for the Land of Opportunity around the world except in the hearts of Pinoys. In fact, about 85% of us are reported to love America and everything it stands for. Only 81 % of Americans had a favorable image of their own country. What is it about Joe that Filipinos so adore? His tall striking demeanor? Could it be his hypnotic blue eyes that are so different from ours? Is it his commanding voice or the way he drawls and enunciates the word “apple”, making it sound like the sweetest fruit on earth? Perhaps it’s the jingling of coins in his pocket, sweet music that promises a better life? It’s that and a lot more. Let us count the ways. 1. Meet Joe – our description of beauty – tall, light skin, Greek nose, blue eyes, sophisticated. He is the complete opposite of our Aeta ancestry – short, dark, pudgy nosed, and behind the times. 2. When times are hard, who do we turn to? Joe. Or perhaps the most appropriate question is “where”. According to a report by the Migration Policy Institute in 2010, there are over 1.7 million Filipino immigrants in the US, making the Pinoy population in the States the second largest immigrant group after the Mexicans. The smell of green currency Read More …
Jul 012014
Dramatic reading of “A Kiss from Loleng,” from left to right: Dody Garcia as Rizal, Lydia de la Cruz as Loleng, Leon Palad as Silverio. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO SAN FRANCISCO, California –Jose Rizal’s 153rd birth anniversary was the occasion for celebration of the Philippine national hero’s “personable side” when the Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Filipino history and culture, staged a reading of a story attributed him. “A Kiss from the Philippines,” published on July 15, 1890 in the La Solidaridad by the pseudonymous Taga-Ilog, became “A Kiss from Loleng” in the reading performed by Dody Garcia playing the role of Rizal, Leon Palad depicting Rizal’s friend Silverio, and Lydia de la Cruz, Philippine Folklife’s museum operation and development chair, playing Loleng (Leonor Rivera). Dr. Penelope V. Flores, PhD. provided the material. “A Kiss from Loleng” is a romantic reminiscence of the evening Rizal bid farewell to his sweetheart Leonor Rivera (Loleng). It starts with Rizal meeting his friend Silverio at the train station in Atocha Mediodia in Spain, who is bringing him news from the Philippines and, of course, from Loleng. Rizal’s memories of Loleng are filled with love and affection and thoughts of what happened on the last evening he spent with her in the Philippines. Rizal tried to get a kiss from her, promised everything he could possibly think of, but to his dismay never got the kiss. Silverio has brought him a rose from Loleng, which she had for Read More …
Jul 012014
INQUIRER.net US Bureau 6:07 am | Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 Gen. Iriberri with Dep. Chief of Mission Penaranda. PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PHOTOS/TSGT DICK OLIVA & MAJALYA FERNANDO Gen. Iriberri placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery WASHINGTON, DC — Commanding General of the Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, paid a courtesy call at the Philippine Embassy, where Deputy Chief of Mission Ariel Penaranda and other Embassy officials received him. General Iriberri is in the United States upon the invitation of US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno. After the visit to the Embassy, Iriberri placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 30. PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PHOTOS/TSGT DICK OLIVA & MAJALYA FERNANDO Follow Us Other Stories: Singapore urged: Shut down ‘slave auction’ A ‘kiss’ for Rizal’s 153 birth anniversary Fil-Am girl band steadily shaping its immij Filipino in LA faces life for killing his wife Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Short URL: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/?p=107418 Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Read More …