INFLATION, as experienced by low-income families, slowed in the first quarter of 2015 as fuel, light and water costs dropped further and food remained cheap, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
Apr 302015
Apr 302015
THE 420-MEGAWATT (MW) expansion of the Pagbilao coal-fired power plant in Quezon is scheduled to be operational by late 2017, data from the Energy department showed.
Apr 302015
DAVAO CITY — Sea and air links between Mindanao and Palawan are being pushed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as a component of the strategy to strengthen the Philippine’s network within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP) sub-region.
Apr 302015
Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will square off today with undefeated American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr in the welterweight world title unification bout expected to break boxing records. The much anticipated fight between two of the best boxers in this generation will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. At 38 years old, Mayweather is two years older than Pacquiao. Hundreds of Filipinos are expected to watch the fight in the arena to give support to the “fighting pride” of the Philippines. Both Pacquiao and Mayweather are expected to earn more than $100 million each, excluding proceeds from pay-per-view sales. This is Pacquiao’s biggest payday since he started his boxing career at the age of 16 years old. Ticket prices for the 16, 800 seats at the MGM Grand Garden ranges from $1,500 to $10,000. All tickets for the super mega fight have reportedly been sold out. Millions of Filipinos all over the world are expected to watch this fight on their television, hoping that “pacman” will emerge victorious. Many boxing experts are saying that “Pacman” have a very slim chance of winning against the lightning quick “moneyweather.” Mayweather is known as a defensive expert inside the ring with his shoulder roll and straight jabs that have thrown off and confused his opponents. Pacquiao, on the other hand, is noted for his quickness and high volume punches. Just like millions of Filipinos, I am rooting for Pacquiao to win, hopefully either by knockout or technical Read More …
Apr 302015
President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Tuesday (April 28) from his successful participation in the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Southeast Asian leaders waited for only “less than a minute” for President Benigno Aquino III to join them for their group photo at the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia, Malacañang said Wednesday. “He [Aquino] was just delayed getting into the hall. He came from the rest room,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message. The Palace official issued this statement after Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong posted a photo on his Facebook account poking fun at Aquino, who was late for the ASEAN leaders’ group photo. “Waiting to take the traditional leaders’ photo, but someone’s missing. #guesswho :),” Lee captioned a photograph of ASEAN leaders while waiting for Aquino. The photograph was met with criticism by some netizens, who berated Aquino for his tardiness. Earlier this year, Aquino, who returned to the country from the ASEAN Summit on Tuesday, also drew flak online for arriving late during the necrological service for slain police commandos during the January 25 Mamasapano operation.(MNS)
Apr 302015
— President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Tuesday (April 28) from his successful participation in the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A leftist group on Wednesday said President Aquino should not take credit for the reprieve given to Mary Jane Veloso. In a statement, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said: “BS Aquino has no moral authority to claim this victory as his. We maintain that the inept leadership of BS Aquino has put Mary Jane’s life on the line. The time to account has come, Mr. President.” She noted the Philippine government did not do enough to prevent Veloso and many more like her from leaving the country. Malacanang said the surrender of Maria Kristina Sergio, Veloso’s alleged recruiter, was instrumental in Indonesia’s decision to temporarily spare the Filipina from facing the firing squad at dawn on Wednesday. No less than Indonesia’s Attorney General confirmed that Veloso was spared after President Aquino made an appeal that Veloso be used as a witness in the impending case against her recruiter Maria Kristina P. Sergio, also known as Mary Christine Gulles Pasadilla. “There was a request from the Philippine president regarding the perpetrator who’s suspected of committing human trafficking and surrendered in the Philippines. Mary Jane is needed for her testimony,” Tony Spontana, the spokesman for Indonesia’s Attorney General, said in a text message to media. Communications Secretary Read More …
Apr 302015
This initiative of the Apl.de.ap Foundation International diagnoses, treats and prevents lifelong blindness among pre-term infants suffering from retinopathy of prematurity Apl.de.ap suffers from an eye ailment and he is considered legally blind. The Campaign for Filipino Children is the Foundation’s first health initiative and it is in line with the Foundation’s education priority because of its emphasis on training doctors and creating local capacity in the medical community in the Philippines to address the eye ailment called retinopathy of prematurity. (Los Angeles, Calif.) They were a small band of laymen bound by a holy brotherhood in arms to protect and defend Christians making the pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Their courage was eventually recognized and they were given for their headquarters, a building on Temple Mount, the site of the former Temple of King Solomon. They became known as the Knights of the Temple or Knights Templar. Today, the Knights Templar is a Masonic, Christian-oriented, fraternal organization. Although it claims no direct historical connection, the Knights Templar is based on the ancient organization that was founded in the 12th century. Their courage and goodwill are now demonstrated in different ways than the ancient Templars: through the power of their philanthropic involvements, including support of Masonic-related youth groups and their long-standing interest to assist people who are in danger of losing their eyesight through the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. Apl.de.apApl.de.ap Foundation InternationalLos Angeles, CA It is this shared commitment to preserve people’s ability and power to see the world around Read More …
Apr 302015
Activists react after it was announced that the execution was delayed for death row prisoner Mary Jane Veloso, during a vigil outside Indonesian embassy in Makati, Philippines April 29, 2015. The execution of a Filipina drug convict by an Indonesian firing squad was delayed at the last minute after one of her recruiters surrendered to police in the Philippines, the attorney general’s spokesman said on Wednesday.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Filipina migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso has been taken away from the execution island in Indonesia after being granted reprieve by the Indonesian government, The Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. The 30-year-old Veloso was spared from execution by a firing squad early Wednesday, after President Benigno Aquino III made a last-minute appeal to the Indonesian government to turn the Filipina convicted on drug charges into a witness. Indonesian and Philippine officials struggled to deal with the emotion-laden situation up to the final hours, prompting Aquino to take up the matter to Widodo at sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit where they took up much bigger regional concerns like the South China Sea territorial disputes. “The President has undertaken all avenues including diplomatic and legal means to do what he can for Mary Jane as it is the President’s belief that every human life is invaluable,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told journalists at a hastily called press conference before noon Wednesday. “The last minute in stay had been granted and as we conveyed this morning, we are all Read More …
Apr 302015
— Supporters of Mary Jane Veloso holding a vigil at the Indonesian embassy in Makati rejoice after hearing the reprieve given the death row inmate on Wednesday. Indonesia carried out the execution of 8 other drug convicts but spared Veloso at the last minute.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Mary Jane Veloso has been spared from execution by the Indonesian government. People holding a vigil outside the Indonesian embassy in Manila cheered and clapped on hearing the news. The other eight drug convicts scheduled for execution, including two Australians, four Nigerians, a Brazilian, and an Indonesian were not spared. Veloso’s husband Michael thanked Indonesian President Joko Widodo for granting the stay of execution. “Talagang may himala po palang dumating sa anak ko,” added Veloso’s mother Celia. “We are relieved that the execution of Mary Jane Veloso was not carried out tonight,” said Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose early Wednesday in a briefing. “The Lord has answered our prayers.” Jose declined to comment further when pressed for details. Veloso’s lawyer Edre Olalia told dzBB that the execution was suspended because a complaint has been filed in the Philippines against those responsible for her plight. Malacañang on Wednesday expressed gratitude towards the Indonesian government led by Widodo for sparing Veloso from execution. “The Philippine government thanks President Widodo and the Indonesian government for giving due consideration to President Aquino’s appeal that Mary Jane Veloso be given a reprieve,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement. Vice President Jejomar Binay Read More …
Apr 302015
Senator Chiz Escudero, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, delivers a privilege speech on the 2014 General Appropriations Bill, Tuesday morning. According to Escudero, the 2014 budget proposal, which includes funds for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction programs and projects in the amount of P70 billion, will also include specific funding for the rehabilitation of the Visayas on top of the existing calamity fund to be sourced from items which can be postponed in the 2014 national budget. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Francis Escudero on Wednesday said the Philippines should lead the campaign for the abolition of death penalty as a punishment even as the government exhausts all means to commute the sentence on Mary Jane Veloso. “Una, ituloy ang pagsulong ng legal na proseso hanggang ma-commute o pardon si Mary Jane. Pangalawa, pangunahan at isulong ng ating bansa sa international community ang pag-alis na ng death penalty bilang kaparusahan sa anumang krimen,” he said. He also said Veloso’s plight should serve as a lesson to other Filipinos seeking jobs abroad to be vigilant. Go after alleged recruiter Other senators, on the other hand, urged the government to go after the alleged recruiter of Veloso, who was sentenced to death due to drug smuggling in Indonesia, to make permanent the reprieve granted to her. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the government should fast-track and prioritize the cases against the illegal recruiter and see if the claim of Veloso that she was just set up is true. Read More …