Jeepney-style Popemobile for Pope Francis visit

 News
Jan 122015
 
Jeepney-style Popemobile for Pope Francis visit

Pope Francis [via Papal Visit to the Philippines] The Pinoy jeepney has been converted into the first jeepney popemobile, the motor vehicle to be used by Pope Francis when the Vatican City leader visits the Philippines this January. The pope is known to forego luxury cars and is known to prefer and take public transport. The Filipino people’s offering to its state and apostolic visitor is in this line of preferences. The Manila road and cultural icon is itself a converted United States military transport turned into a public utility vehicle which can carry as much as 20 passengers. The newest popemobile converted its passenger side into a platform to allow the public a clear view of the Roman Catholic Church head as the papal ride moves along the designated papal public route. Although this version is painted white in stark contrast to its standard colours, the jeepney popemobile remains unmistakably a jeepney with its front long bumper and steel “bull bar”, the side stainless steel strips, and the rear checkered plates. The popemobile [via Twitter] The hood, roof and sides carry the papal coat of arms, the eight-pointed star emblem of the Society of Jesus symbolizing the Virgin Mary, and a spikenard symbol of St. Joseph. The jeepney popemobile’s sides are flanked by the papal insignia and a glass cross sculpted by artist Ramon Orlina. The passenger entrance remains at the rear, with the step that can be folded and unfurled with a red carpet. There are only three Read More …

Aquino calls for ‘bayanihan’ to ensure security in papal visit

 News
Jan 122015
 
Aquino calls for ‘bayanihan’ to ensure security in papal visit

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Anticipating the surge of people during Pope Francis’ visit this week, President Benigno Aquino III appealed to Filipinos to practice “bayanihan” to ensure the safety of the pontiff. “Walang duda na sa malaking pagtitipon tulad nito, posible ang gulo maski walang banta ng terorismo at lalo na kung may planong magpasimula ng gulo,” Aquino said in a statement sent to media. “Nagbabadya ang peligro na magdadala ng pinsala sa napakaraming lalahok.” (No doubt that in a large gathering like this, trouble is inevitable even without the threat of terrorism and especially if there is someone who is planning to initiate it. Danger, which may threaten the participants, is looming.) The President said that the public should instead exercise unity and the concept of bayanihan. “Malinaw na napakalaki ng hamong dala ng pagbisitang ito ni Pope Fhrancis sa ating bansa. Nakataya rito ang kaligtasan niya, ng napakaraming dadalo sa kanyang mga gawain at magaabang sa kanya,” he explained. (It’s clear that Pope Francis’ visit to the country is a large challenge for us. His safety and the safety of those who will attend his events will rely on this.) Aquino warned that the honor of the country will be at stake in case something happens to the pope. “Do we want the history of the Philippines to be marred by tragedy related to the Holy Father?” he asked in Filipino. He pointed out that in 1995, when the World Youth Day Read More …

Policemen advised not to take selfie in papal visit

 General
Jan 122015
 
Policemen advised not to take selfie in papal visit

popular Archbishop invites Filipinos to fiesta with Pope Francis Why can’t the Church forgive Celdran? Lagman accepts Brilliantes dare to bare PCOS failings Resist the absolutist Alaska comes back again to stun San Miguel in Game 3 Comprehensive tax reform pushed Metro Pacific hatching P17B Cebu toll bridge project Suspected Sinaloa drug cartel member nabbed in Makati; P12-M worth of cocaine seized videos Jamie Rivera talks about her ‘best’ song: We Are All God’s Children Inquirer Conversation with Archbishop Soc Villegas Jinggoy Estrada laments ‘trial by publicity’ Tagle talks about Pope’s visit on Inquirer Conversations Church has forgiven tourist guide Celdran—Tagle INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–Mission first before selfie. The Philippine National Police (PNP) discouraged its forces to take a “selfie” while they are detailed in places that will be visited by Pope Francis from January 15 to 19. Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesperson, asked all 25,000 policemen who will be deployed to stick to their jobs and not brag about their involvement in the activity.In a press briefing on Monday, Mayor told his fellow cops: “Be professional. You took a selfie but did you perform your duty?”Even with photos of themselves in the areas of their deployment or with Pope Francis himself, he said policemen’s selfies might be taken out of context. “Our intention should be aligned with the purpose. Policemen are not there to take pictures of themselves. Maiiba ang context natin,” he said. “(Their mindset should be) even though I have no selfie, I will be proud Read More …

KC, Paulo exchange ‘I love you’s’ but mum on romance

 General
Jan 122015
 
KC, Paulo exchange ‘I love you’s’ but mum on romance

KC CONCEPCION and Paulo Avelino admitted that they already exchanged “I love you’s” but remain silent on the real status of their relationship. Appearing on “Gandang Gabi Vice” on Sunday, Paulo said that he already told KC of his real feelings. “Mahal ko naman talaga si Kristina. Nasabi ko na sa kanya,” he said. KC confirmed Paulo’s statement and revealed her reply to him. “Hindi ako ma-‘I love you’. Nagsabi lang ako na ‘wa-vu’ tapos naiinis siya kasi hindi I love you.” When television host Vice Ganda pressed on their real status, KC and Paulo said that what they have now is something special. KC said things had been unclear between them, especially when she went to New York to study for months. “Yung totoo kasi diyan, walang date pero may dating. May time na parang, ‘Ano ba talaga ito?’ Umalis pa ako ng four months, nagpunta pa ako [ng US] noong January hanggang April. Pag-uwi ko, hindi namin sure kung itutuloy ba namin nang super todo or kung nage-enjoy lang kami sa company ng isa’t isa,” she said. She added that there was a time when they don’t communicate and they even unfollowed each other on Instagram. “Pagkatapos noon, may time na nag-uusap na kami ulit, na parang he was always there. Noong nagkasakit ang lola ko, nandoon siya. Nandoon siya sa mga important moments,” KC said. But the two clarified that all is well now. When Vice asked Paulo if KC is the one he likes to marry, Read More …

Pope’s trip to Sri Lanka and Philippines: 5 things to know

 General
Jan 122015
 
Pope's trip to Sri Lanka and Philippines: 5 things to know

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis embarks on his second Asian pilgrimage this week, visiting Sri Lanka and the Philippines exactly 20 years after St. John Paul II’s record-making visit to two countries with wildly disparate Catholic populations. Francis will make headlines of his own, drawing millions of faithful in the Philippines and treading uncharted political waters following Sri Lanka’s remarkable electoral upset last week. New Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who capitalized on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s unpopularity among the island nation’s ethnic and religious minorities, will be on hand to welcome Francis when he arrives in the capital, Colombo, on Tuesday. Francis will be bringing a message of reconciliation between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority and interfaith harmony after Sri Lanka’s quarter-century civil war ended in 2009 with the army’s violent crushing of the Tamil Tiger rebels. It isn’t known whether Francis will weigh in on Sri Lanka’s refusal to cooperate with a U.N. investigation into alleged war crimes in the final stages of the war. A 2011 U.N. report said up to 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians may have been killed during the offensive, and accused both sides of committing serious human rights violations. Here are five things to look for during Francis’ trip, split between two days in Sri Lanka and three in the Philippines: ___ TAMIL TRAVELS Significantly, Francis will travel to the Tamil region of northern Sri Lanka to pray at a Christian shrine and meet with Tamil faithful. The Our Lady of Madhu Read More …

VP Binay satisfaction rating drops to record low in Q4 2014 – SWS

 News
Jan 112015
 
VP Binay satisfaction rating drops to record low in Q4 2014 – SWS

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s net satisfaction rating fell to a record-low in the fourth quarter of 2014, a new Social Weather Stations poll found. Binay’s net satisfaction rating fell to a +44 (65 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) from a +52 (70 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied) in September. This was a downgrade from a “very good” in the third quarter to a “good” in December. The Vice President’s previous record low was a “very good” +57 in the third quarter of 2010. Binay has been accused of profiting from the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, and for secretly owning a 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas. The SWS poll was taken from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 among 1,000 adults nationwide. It has sampling error margins of ±2% for national percentages; ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao; and ±3% for the Visayas. SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “very good”; +30 to +49 “good”; +10 to +29 “moderate”; +9 to -9 “neutral”; -10 to -29 “poor”; -30 to -49 “bad”; -50 to -69 “very bad”; and -70 and below “execrable.” The poll results were published on the Business World website. Government officials Despite the drop in Binay’s satisfaction rating, the Vice President sill managed a better score than those of Senate President Franklin Drilon, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.  Drilon and Belmonte also saw a drop in their satisfaction ratings Read More …

PNP, govt agencies start ‘expanded’ dry runs for papal visit

 News
Jan 112015
 
PNP, govt agencies start ‘expanded’ dry runs for papal visit

For the next three days, the Philippine National Police and other government agencies will hold more dry runs of their responses to various scenarios that may occur during Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. The PNP went on full alert for the papal visit on Monday, canceling and all leaves and with police officers expected to be at their posts at any time, radio dzBB reported. “Ang PNP at ibang ahensyang kasama [sa seguridad] ay 100 percent ready… May ginagawang mobilization ng personnel natin actually from other regions para mag augment sa NCR,” PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said. Among this augmentation force are police officers from the Ilocos region, who arrived Sunday and are billeted at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Also, starting Monday, senior PNP officials will hold daily walk-through inspections of venues which the pope will visit. An inspection was held on Sunday at the Mall of Asia area in Pasay City, where the pope is scheduled to meet with families. Pope Francis will be in the Philippines from Jan. 15 to Jan. 19. He is scheduled to visit Metro Manila and Leyte. Pope Francis will be visiting Metro Manila and Leyt efrom Jan. 15 to Jan. 19. — Joel Locsin/DVM, GMA News

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