No commitment to lay off political amendments in Charter change process – Buhay partylist rep

 General
Sep 112014
 
No commitment to lay off political amendments in Charter change process – Buhay partylist rep

The Visayan Bloc threw its support to economic chacha during the forum at Ugnayan sa Batasan. (from left) are Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Trenas; Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo B. Benitez; Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Nava and Eastern Samar Ben Evardone on Tuesday (September 09, 2014) at Batasan Hills in Quezon City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A partylist lawmaker on Tuesday warned that amendments to the political provisions in the Constitution could be inserted in the resolution on economic charter change being currently debated at the House of Representatives. Buhay partylist Representative Lito Atienza said that Davao Representative Mylene Garcia Albano, chairperson of the committee on constitutional amendments, could not commit that political provisions would not be touched in case Congress approves the resolution amending the Constitution. “I am extremely shocked that Congresswoman Albano would refuse to commit on such a crucial issue when even Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Majority Floor Leader Boyet Gonzales have repeatedly assured us and the nation that only economic provisions would be tackled for amendments,” Atienza said. Atienza said that during the interpellation, he asked Albano if her committee would entertain initiatives to amend the political provisions of the Constitution. Albano replied that if anyone files a resolution or a bill, then her committee should tackle it and report it to the plenary and have it voted by the House members, adding that if the majority wants it, then the chamber will approve it. “Knowing the propensity of the House to railroad certain measures then Read More …

Syria Al-Qaeda affiliate says will free UN troops

 News
Sep 112014
 
Syria Al-Qaeda affiliate says will free UN troops

Agence France-Presse 6:25 pm | Thursday, September 11th, 2014 An image grab taken from a video released by Al-Manara Al-Baydaa, the official media arm of Al-Nusra Front, and uploaded on YouTube on September 10, 2014 allegedly shows a man said to be Al-Nusra Front’s second in command Sami Al-Oraidi speaking to the camera at an unknown location. AFP BEIRUT—Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front has said it will free 45 Fijian UN peacekeepers who it kidnapped after the capture of a border crossing with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In a video released late Wednesday through its media wing, the group said it had consulted religious leaders and they had advised “that we should release these prisoners”. Al-Nusra had originally demanded various terms for the release of the peacekeepers, including the delivery of aid to areas besieged by the Syrian government, the release of prisoners and the group’s removal from a UN terror blacklist. A Fijian peacekeeper, who did not identify himself, also spoke in the footage, confirming that the group had pledged to free the soldiers. “It is Tuesday, the ninth of September, I would like to mention to you that it is a very happy day,” the peacekeeper says in English. “We have been informed that we will be released soon and we are all very happy to be going home.” The peacekeeper adds that the troops “are all safe and alive” and thanks Al-Nusra “for keeping us safe and keeping us alive.” “I would like to assure you that Read More …

Asia arms up to counter growing Chinese might

 News
Sep 112014
 
Asia arms up to counter growing Chinese might

Associated Press 6:06 pm | Thursday, September 11th, 2014 In this May 24, 2014 photo, China’s Harbin (112) guided missile destroyer, left, and DDG-139 Ningbo Sovremenny class Type-956EM destroyer, right, take part in a week-long China-Russia “Joint Sea-2014″ navy exercise at the East China Sea off Shanghai, China. Several Asian nations are arming up, their wary eyes fixed squarely on one country: a resurgent China that’s boldly asserting its territorial claims all along the East Asian coast. The scramble to spend more defense dollars comes amid spats with China over contested reefs and waters. Other Asian countries such as India and South Korea are quickly modernizing their forces, although their disputes with China have stayed largely at the diplomatic level. AP Asian countries now account for about half of the world’s arms imports. China’s goal is to dislodge the US as the dominant power in the Pacific, says a geopolitical analyst Compared to Vietnam and Japan, the Philippines is lagging behind. BEIJING— Vietnam has nearly doubled its military spending, Japan is requesting its biggest-ever defense budget and the Philippines is rushing to piece together a viable navy. Several Asian nations are arming up, their wary eyes fixed squarely on one country: a resurgent China that’s boldly asserting its territorial claims all along the East Asian coast. The scramble to spend more defense dollars comes amid spats with China over contested reefs and waters. Other Asian countries such as India and South Korea are quickly modernizing their forces, although their disputes Read More …

60 maps debunk China’s ‘historical claim’ on South China Sea

 News
Sep 112014
 
60 maps debunk China’s ‘historical claim’ on South China Sea

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 5:46 pm | Thursday, September 11th, 2014 SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio shows an ancient map that depicts the Scarborough Shoal as part of the Philippines to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. MATIKAS SANTOS/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines – An exhibit of 60 ancient maps presented Thursday showed that China has never had “historical ownership” of Scarborough Shoal, one of the many maritime features in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The maps were published based on the previous lecture of Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio debunking China’s claims of “indisputable sovereignty” over the entire South China Sea. “This exhibit provides a compelling argument against China’s ‘indisputable claim’ on the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in his opening remarks. He said that the maps corroborate the fact that Scarborough, also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag shoal, has never been a part of Chinese territory and has always been part of the Philippines. Carpio said in his keynote speech that he hopes these maps, the oldest of which date back to 1136 under China’s Nan Song Dynasty, would show to the world the true historical facts of the disputes in the South China Sea. All maps, whether published by China or other countries, consistently show that China’s southernmost province in Hainan island does not claim any other maritime features, such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough. Maps showing the Read More …

PNP slams acquittal of 3 Chinese drug suspects

 News
Sep 112014
 
PNP slams acquittal of 3 Chinese drug suspects

By Julliane Love de Jesus |I‎NQUIRER.net 4:49 pm | Thursday, September 11th, 2014 INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The anti-illegal drugs unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) condemned the decision of an Angeles City, Pampanga court acquitting three accused Chinese drug ring members, saying the ruling was “flimsy and whimsical.” ‎Judge Omar Viola, of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court, ordered the acquittal of Yang Pei Zi, Yang Liang Zao, and Yang Hong Liang, all from Fujian, China, who were caught operating a shabu  (metamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory in 2008. The suspected drug manufacturers allegedly operated the drug den on Ohio Street, Villason Subdivision in Barangay (village) Anunas in Angeles City. The PNP anti-illegal drugs special operations task force (PNP AIDSOTF) said they were “disappointed and disgusted” with the court’s order, adding it was a “big blow” on  government’s drive to curb illegal drugs use‎. PNP AIDSOTF’s spokesperson Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia Jr. said the ruling  cited the absence of a representative from the court, the Court Sheriff, during the police’s search in 2008. However, Merdegia said Judge Viola’s decision was “flimsy and whimsical.” “The three Chinese nationals were hardcore members of a big drug syndicate operating in the Southeast Asia and the Philippines. The acquittal is a big blow on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs,” he said. In January, Merdegia recalled that an informant, who was the same person who tipped off the drug den’s location to the police, disclosed that the Chinese syndicate ‎was working on the release Read More …

Int’l community hails submission of Bangsamoro bill to Congress

 News
Sep 102014
 
Int’l community hails submission of Bangsamoro bill to Congress

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 11:48 am | Thursday, September 11th, 2014 President Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (center) applaud as peace panel chairs Miriam Coronel-Ferrer of the Philippine government and Mohagher Iqbal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front exchange copies of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that they signed on Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Malacañang. LYN RILLON MANILA, Philippines – The international community hailed the submission of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) draft by President Benigno Aquino III to Congress, calling it an important step towards peace and development in Mindanao. “This is a critical milestone in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), and a crucial achievement in ensuring lasting peace and sustainable development in Mindanao and in the wider Philippines,” the United Nations (UN) in the Philippines said in a statement following the formal turnover ceremony in Malacanang. The World Bank Group commended the Government of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Bangsamoro Transition Commission for their joint efforts in crafting the draft law. “This is a crucial step in the road map to achieving peace and development in Mindanao,” it said. Australia and Canada also hailed the submission to Congress of the BBL, saying they will continue to support the government’s efforts to bring peace to the region that has seen decades of conflict from separatist rebel groups. “The pending substantive debates on the bill are important steps in the process aimed at achieving lasting peace and long-term prosperity in Mindanao. Together with the international community, Canada remains Read More …

Food firm opens plant in Bukidnon

 General
Sep 102014
 
Food firm opens plant in Bukidnon

A LEADING meat processor in northern Mindanao recently opened its plant to produce more quality and bigger, in volume, products to supply the need of consumers in the island. In its grand plant opening in Barangay Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Slers Industry Inc.(SII), the maker of the famous ham, and other breakfast meat products, said that with many other brands of processed food flooding the market in the country, it opted to supply only the Mindanao consumers, a business decision that the company said makes more sense. Mercedes Pelaez-Mejia, SII managing director, said that they want their products sold in Mindanao rather than compete in the Luzon and Visayas markets where it is more capital-extensive. The new SII plant, at present, processes five tons of pork a day, producing ham, tocino, logganisa, bacon, sausage and pastrami, a beef by-product. Slers employs about 150 workers at present. The Pelaez family started the business in 1969 when their mother Fely sold her homemade ham to neighbors at P1 a kilo in Camp Philips, Bukidnon, where her husband Raul worked with Del Monte Philippines.It was by word of mouth that Fely Pelaez’s ham was known to customers coming from different parts of the country. Orders are received anytime of the year, but most especially at the start of the yuletide season. Mejia said the brand name Slers came about when the Pelaez siblings started expanding the ham business in 2006 and produced other meat products. Slers stands for the names of the Pelaez Read More …

Say ‘Om’ for authentic north Indian fare

 Entertainment
Sep 102014
 
Say ‘Om’ for authentic north Indian fare

Om Lifestyle + Cafe owners Suman  Gogna and her daughter Anjie Photos by BOY SANTOS MANILA, Philippines – Mention authentic Indian food and you’ll get divided diners who will hunt for different restaurants that serve Indian cuisine from the southern or northern regions or other states. Curry, dal, and tandoori chicken are Indian foods, all right, but there’s really so much more because each state in India has its own regional cuisines: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bengal. And even the states have subcategories: coastal Maharashtrian, inland Maharashtrian, and Muslim-inspired, according to Indian food connoisseurs.     But for Suman Gogna, a New Delhi native who has been living in the Philippines for 30 years, no matter where the origin of the Indian food is, it becomes unmistakably Indian once you’ve tasted its rich and strong flavors.   “Although each state in India does have its own uniqueness that defines their cooking, there is still that overall similarity such that when one tastes the food, they can say that it is distinctly Indian,” Suman said. “The use of strong flavors and spices, for instance, is something that resonates through all of Indian cooking.” Suman has added a small cafe to her existing lifestyle boutique. The result is Om Lifestyle + Café in Greenhills, where she serves and cooks authentic north Indian fare. “I learned how to cook these dishes from my grandmother in New Delhi,” she said. Suman runs the café/lifestyle store with her daughter Anjie. She explained that a distinct characteristic of northern Indian cuisine is Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries