‘Yolanda’ among top 2013 stories – AP poll

 News
Dec 222013
 
‘Yolanda’ among top 2013 stories – AP poll

In this aerial photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, and released by the Philippine Air Force, a ferry boat is seen washed inland from a massive storm surge caused by Typhoon Haiyan, in the city of Tacloban, central Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO NEW YORK – The devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in the Philippines last November  8 was among the top  news stories of 2013, according to The Associated Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors. The glitch-plagued rollout of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul topped the survey, followed by the Boston Marathon bombing and the dramatic papal changeover at the Vatican. The saga of “Obamacare” — as the Affordable Care Act is widely known — received 45 first-place votes out of the 144 ballots cast for the top 10 stories. The marathon bombing received 29 first-place votes and the papal transition 21. Other strong contenders were the bitter partisan conflict in Congress and the leaks about National Security Agency surveillance by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden. Last year, the top story was the massacre of 26 children and staff at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. That result came after a rare decision by the AP to re-conduct the voting; the initial round of balloting had ended Dec. 13, a day before the Newtown shooting, with the 2012 election at the top. The first AP top-stories poll was conducted in 1936, when editors chose the abdication of Britain’s King Edward VIII. Here Read More …

Concepcion Industrial posts 14.7% hike in net income

 Economy
Dec 202013
 
Concepcion Industrial posts 14.7% hike in net income

MANILA, Philippines – Homegrown appliance maker Concepcion Industrial Corp. (CIC) posted a healthy earnings growth in January to September due to strong sales in all business segments. The supplier of integrated cooling and refrigeration solutions is positioned to ride on the country’s strong economic growth moving forward, the company said in a disclosure. Net income in the nine-month period climbed 14.7 percent to P607.8 million while net sales jumped 15.4 percent to P5.6 billion. “Year-on-year profit growth was seen across all segments of the business led by airconditioning and commercial refrigeration,” CIC said. “The strong performance was driven primarily by an accelerated expansion in the airconditioning part of the business with growth at 21.5-percent year-on-year,” it added. Last month, the appliance maker debuted in the local bourse as the eighth and last firm to go public this year. CIC raised P1.949 billion through an initial public offering. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 CIC CEO Raul Joseph Concepcion said the country’s leading supplier of integrated and refrigeration solutions in positioned to participate in the Philippines’ economic growth story. In the nine-month period, the Philippine economy picked up 7.4 percent, above the government’s target of six-to seven-percent growth for the entire year. “CIC continues to find ways to improve its profitability by focusing on key sales strengths and efficient, world-class business practices,” said CIC CFO Victoria Betita. Last month, CIC subsidiary Concepcion-Carrier Airconditioning Co. signed a deal with Midea Electric Trading (Singapore) Co., Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary Read More …

Melco secures P15B in fresh capital

 Economy
Dec 202013
 
Melco secures P15B in fresh capital

MANILA, Philippines – The local unit of Macau-based casino giant Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. has secured P15 billion in fresh capital from the sale of corporate notes. Proceeds from the company’s second fundraising this year will bankroll the completion of its $1.3-billion integrated casino project. In a regulatory filing, listed Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. said its subsidiary MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corp. priced its senior notes offered to limited investors through a private placement. “The notes offering consists of P15-billion ($340-million) aggregate principal amount of five-percent senior notes due 2019,” Melco Philippines said. “MCE Leisure intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for capital expenditure, refinancing of debt and general corporate purpose,” it added. Nineteen primary institutional lenders joined the private offering, Melco Philippines said, adding that the corporate notes will be issued in January next year subject to customary closing conditions. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 It is the second fundraising program of Melco Philippines this year. In April, the company secured $377 million through a share sale that was more than six times oversubscribed by 140 investors. The $1.3-billion City of Dreams Manila will start commercial operations in July next year with 365 gaming tables, 1,680 slot machines and 1,680 electronic table games. Previously, the casino planned to offer only 242 gaming tables and 1,450 electronic gaming machines. Melco Crown is banking on attracting its wide network of Asian high rollers for its first project outside Macau. The casino owner and operator Read More …

Miss Philippines is Miss International 2013

 Entertainment
Dec 192013
 
Miss Philippines is Miss International 2013

Miss Philippines’ Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International 2013 The Philippines’ Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International 2013 on Tuesday, adding to the string of victories of fellow beauty queens in the country. The four-hour finals night of the 53rd Miss International pageant was held at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall in Tokyo, Japan, gathering over 60 candidates from around the world. Placing second to Santiago is Netherland’s Nathalie den Dekker, followed by New Zealand’s Casey Radley. Completing the Top 5 were Colombia’s Cindy Aguilar and Hungary’s Brigitta Otvos. For the final round, the remaining five contestants each gave a 30-second speech on the subject, “What I will do if I am crowned Miss International.” “The whole world saw how my country suffered,” Santiago said, referring to the devastation caused by super typhoon “Yolanda” in parts of central Philippines. “One by one, other countries helped. I would like to thank who helped my country in our darkest hours. You have opened my heart and eyes on what we can do to help each other.” “If I become Miss International, I would uphold international camaraderie. I will work to sustain the spirit of sympathy and spirit of hope. As long as we work together, there is hope.” One of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the Philippines, and said to be the most powerful typhoon to ever make landfall, “Yolanda” killed at least 6,000 and injured over 27,000 after it hit central Philippines on November 8. At least 3.4 million Read More …

PNoy mulls oversight body on PHL compliance with global anti-corruption treaty

 News
Dec 192013
 
PNoy mulls oversight body on PHL compliance with global anti-corruption treaty

In one of the biggest gatherings of government heads in the country, President Benigno Aquino III said he is considering setting up an oversight committee that will monitor the country’s compliance with international anti-corruption efforts. Aquino made the announcement during the first State Conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation and Review on Thursday. UNCAC is an international anti-corruption treaty ratified, accepted, approved and acceded by 168 countries, including the Philippines. Since signing the convention in 2003, the Philippines has crafted a five-year 21-point Anti-Corruption Action Plan. “I was listening earlier to the [idea of] setting up of an oversight committee on our compliance, and if they [officials] are willing to again have additional duties, in addition to IAAGCC [Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council], I am more than willing to endorse that idea,” Aquino said.  “Hopefully you will never tire of accepting more assignments than what you originally thought you would receive,” he added.  Efforts against corruption During Thursday’s event, Aquino trumpeted the accomplishments of his administration in the fight against corruption. “Go anywhere in the country and you will have seen the changes of what we can do now versus what we couldn’t even imagine just a few years ago, and this is just the beginning. As the song by Michel Legrand said, ‘Watch what happens’,” he said. He specifically cited the filing of cases “against a former president who is now under hospital arrest;” the removal from office of “a Chief Justice who chose to lie Read More …

AFP chief: Reds should declare ceasefire ‘forever’  

 News
Dec 192013
 
AFP chief: Reds should declare ceasefire ‘forever’  

A six-day truce announced by the Communist Party of the Philippines is too short, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday, adding the communist rebels should declare a ceasefire “forever.” “Napakaiksi naman ng dineclare nila, nag-declare pa sila. (Kung) gusto nila, forever wala nang putukan e, di ba yun ang gusto natin,” AFP Chief of Staff Lieutanant General Emmanuel Bautista told reporters Thursday. The CCP on Wednesday declared two three-day ceasefires to mark the holidays as well as its founding anniversary. The truce will be from 12:00 a.m. on December 24 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26, and another from 12:00 a.m. on December 31 to 11:59 p.m. on January 2, 2014. The CPP will celebrate its 45th founding anniversary on December 26. “Bakit hindi sila mag-declare ng mahaba, forever. Sana, kung magde-declare sila, pang-matagalan na, para yung ating mga kababayan hindi na magdusa sa armed struggle, masyadong matagal na tayong nagdurusa dyan,” Bautista said. The government has yet to announce a ceasefire of its own but Bautista said the AFP will comply with whatever truce the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process will set. “Depende sa OPAPP, wala kaming problema. Depende sa OPAPP kung gaano kahaba yung ide-declare na SOMO (suspension of military operations). Whatever is the order, we will follow,” he said. Peace talks between the government and the CPP-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front have been stalled since April this year. — Amita Legaspi/JDS, GMA News

Aquino calls for mechanism to combat Climate Change in wake of ‘Yolanda’

 Entertainment
Dec 182013
 
Aquino calls for mechanism to combat Climate Change in wake of ‘Yolanda’

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday (December 15) from Tokyo, Japan where the Chief Executive attended the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit. (MNS photo) TOKYO, Japan (Mabuhay) – To avoid a repeat of the devastation brought by super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday called for an international mechanism to combat climate change. Speaking at the session of the ASEAN Japan Commemorative Summit here, the President said the consequences of global climate change do not discriminate between economic powerhouses and developing states. “It is incumbent upon all of us, especially for the countries that have the capacity to contribute significantly in combating climate change, to come up with an equitable mechanism that every nation, every corporation and every individual will adhere to. I have personally witnessed the degree of devastation brought by Haiyan. And it is my belief that we all have a crucial role to play in ensuring my nation or any nation for this matter does not once more suffer through a tragedy of this scale,” he said. Yolanda tore through the Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving more than 6,000 dead in its wake. While President Aquino thanked the ASEAN and Japan leaders for the help they extended to those affected, he also lamented less industrial nations such as the Philippines “bear a disproportionate amount of suffering from the effects of climate change.” “As we all know, our respective nations cannot be caught in Read More …

US sending $25M in new typhoon aid to Philippines

 News
Dec 172013
 
US sending $25M in new typhoon aid to Philippines

US committed to helping PHL in security – Kerry. US Secretary of State John Kerry answers questions during a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario after their bilateral meeting in Pasay City on Tuesday, December 17. Kerry, in the country for a two-day visit, said the US is committed to helping the Philippines address its most pressing security challenges. Danny Pata TACLOBAN — The United States is providing nearly $25 million in additional humanitarian aid to help the Philippines deal with the enormous devastation and deaths wrought by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last month, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday after touring the worst-hit region. Kerry flew to central Tacloban City, where he was overwhelmed by the vast landscape of wrecked villages that he saw. He visited a food-distribution center run by USAID and government welfare officers, talked with officials and consoled survivors. “This is a devastation unlike anything that I have ever seen at this scale,” Kerry said at a temporary USAID headquarters in Tacloban. “It is really quite stunning,” he said. “It looks like a war zone and to many people it is.” The new food aid, shelter materials, water and other supplies he announced for typhoon-lashed families bring the total US assistance package to $86 million to one of its closest Asian allies. One of the most ferocious typhoons to hit on record, Yolanda left more than 6,000 people dead and nearly 1,800 others missing. It damaged or swept away more than 1.1 million Read More …

Cemeteries showcase close PHL-US ties – Kerry

 News
Dec 172013
 
Cemeteries showcase close PHL-US ties – Kerry

US committed to helping PHL in security – Kerry. US Secretary of State John Kerry answers questions during a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario after their bilateral meeting in Pasay City on Tuesday, December 17. Kerry, in the country for a two-day visit, said the US is committed to helping the Philippines address its most pressing security challenges. Danny Pata US Secretary of State John Kerry laid a wreath Tuesday at a cemetery for US and Filipino war dead, and said it symbolized the countries’ close ties.  Kerry, a Vietnam war veteran, said he was “honored” to lay the wreath at the American Cemetery in a Manila suburb, which contains the remains of over 16,600 Americans and 570 Filipinos who died fighting the Japanese during World War II. “That is the largest cemetery in which Americans are buried from World War II. It is a remarkable place and it is a humbling tribute to the links between us in our struggle for freedom,” he said during a two-day visit to the Philippines. Kerry also cited a newly signed agreement under which the two countries will cooperate to upgrade and maintain a run-down veterans’ cemetery at the former US Clark airbase north of the capital. Under the agreement, the United States will provide five million dollars to rehabilitate the Clark Veterans’ Cemetery, which holds the remains of about 8,600 Filipinos and Americans who died fighting under the US flag from the turn of the century to Read More …

UN leader Ban coming to get firsthand view of Tacloban

 News
Dec 162013
 
UN leader Ban coming to get firsthand view of Tacloban

Agence France-Presse 3:47 am | Tuesday, December 17th, 2013 UN leader Ban Ki-moon will go to the typhoon-stricken Philippines city of Tacloban this week to highlight the growing number of weather disasters. AP PHOTO/THE UNITED NATIONS, MARK GARTEN UNITED NATIONS—UN leader Ban Ki-moon will go to the typhoon-stricken Philippines city of Tacloban this week to highlight the growing number of weather disasters. “2013 was another year of extreme weather—as we saw most recently with Typhoon Haiyan. On Thursday, I will depart for Manila and Tacloban for a firsthand assessment of the aftermath,” Ban said Monday as he announced the visit. The UN secretary general is to arrive in Manila on Friday for talks with government leaders and will go to Tacloban on Saturday, UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said. “He will visit affected communities in Tacloban,” Kaneko said. The UN leader will leave the Philippines on Sunday. The Philippines government says that more than 6,000 people died in the Nov. 8 typhoon—one of the strongest storms ever recorded—which badly hit Tacloban and surrounding regions. Almost 1,800 people are still missing. Ban said that he is organizing a major summit on climate change for Sept. 23 next year, just ahead of the UN General Assembly. RELATED STORIES: Citing Philippines, UN chief urges action at climate talks Philippine typhoon warning to man, says UN chief UN to launch major aid appeal for battered Philippines Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free Read More …

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