In his Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis asked the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for the victims of the ferry sinking in the waters off Cebu. “I would like to ask for prayers for the victims of the ferry sinking in the Philippines. Also for their families—so much sorrow,” he said in Italian. The Pope on Saturday sent a telegram of condolence to Cebu Archbishop and outgoing Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Jose Palma. Last Friday’s collision of the passenger vessel MV Saint Thomas Aquinas 1 of 2GO Shipping with the cargo ship MV Sulpicio Express 7 of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. resulted in the former’s sinking and has so far claimed 56 lives. — with a report from Reuters/BM, GMA News
By Julliane De JesusINQUIRER.net 10:07 am | Monday, August 19th, 2013 Dr. L. Masae Kawamura, former president of the North American Region of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, told reporters in press forum on Aug. 15, 2013, about the rising statistics of Filipino patients suffering from TB who are migrating to the United States. She said large proportion of tuberculosis patients in the US are Asians, most of them Filipinos. MANILA, Philippines—A large proportion of tuberculosis patients in the US are Asians, most of them Filipinos, a San-Francisco based medical expert has disclosed. Dr. L. Masae Kawamura, former president of the North American Region of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, told reporters last week about the rising statistics of Filipino patients suffering from TB who are migrating to the United States. She said Thursday in a press forum that TB is an “outcome of poor public health.” She appealed to the local government and health offices to prioritize early TB screening and bolster treatment in the country. “The Philippines exports more tuberculosis patients than import at this point… TB is a disease of poverty and migration, and urbanization [because] people are moving from the rural countryside to the big cities like Manila,” said Kawamura. Ranking second in Asia, the Philippines recorded high TB mortality rate next to Cambodia based on the World Health Organization (WHO) tuberculosis report. Among tuberculosis-afflicted persons, 59 percent came from Asia, the report said. Kawamura said that tuberculosis can be Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – United States-based Pangea Motors, LLC (Pangea) is bringing to the Philippines a fully electric public utility vehicle (PUV) next month. Pangea has teamed up with local investors to create an international partnership called Global Electric Transportation with a Philippine franchise named GET Philippines Inc. to carry out its plan. “GET has an exclusive arrangement with Pangea for the supply and distribution of the public utility vehicle called the Comet,” Pangea said in a statement. Pangea said that unlike its competitors, its vehicles are designed to be fully electric from the beginning instead of modifying gas vehicles or golf carts. The vehicle uses lithium iron phosphate batteries that are enclosed in a watertight casing and consists of less than 300 parts instead of the usual 4,000 parts of a typical diesel-run engine, which translates to cost-efficient manufacturing and minimal maintenance, Pangea said. To penetrate the Philippine market, the GET team has painstakingly studied different angles of the Philippine transport system to ensure that all members of the community benefit from this endeavor. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “GET Philippines has conceived cashless fare payment and centralized fleet management systems, designated infrastructure, customer service support and adaptable financial models to support the needs of all the stakeholders involved,” Pangea said. The first vehicle is expected to arrive in the Philippines by mid-September. It will be making its public appearance soon after, the company said. It is set to serve passengers on its first route by Read More …
MANILA, Aug 14 (Mabuhay) — Malacanang makes available online infographic materials and articles about former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in line with the observance of his 30th Death Anniversary, a Palace official said on Wednesday. “August 21, 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.’s return to the Philippines and his […]
THE COUNTRY will enter into air service talks with Japan next month as the Philippines eyes more Japanese tourists.
MALAYSIA AND PHILIPPINES – RICH HERITAGE & NATURAL BEAUTY Experience Malaysia and the Philippines in a five-night trip to each country’s iconic scenery and natural wonders. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, enjoy a tour that includes the National Monument, Independence Square (the heart of downtown Kuala Lumpur surrounded by impressive historical buildings), and a drive around […]
TANAUAN CITY, Batangas, Aug 12 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the Brother Industries Ltd. for expanding its business in the Philippines that spurred the growth of the manufacturing sector and created quality employment opportunities for the Filipino people. During the inauguration of the new factory of Brother Industries Philippines at the First […]
Skin savers: (clockwise from left) Murad Skin Perfecting Primer, Time Release Retinol Concentrate, Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture and Vitamin C series are available at Rustan’s. MANILA, Philippines -Murad was one of the earliest proponents of vitamin C and its myriad benefits. One of the pioneers of cosmeceuticals in the late ’80s, he then pioneered nutriceuticals in the mid-’90s, never following beauty trends but setting his own. He was the first to use ingredients like goji berries, pomegranate and durian extract in his formulas (they source durian from the Philippines, by the way). Here are five current products I can’t live without: • Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture – This super moisturizer not only locks in hydration for eight hours, it also tones skin and has a velvety-rich yet lightweight texture. • Advanced Active Radiance Serum – Murad’s Active Radiance series is the ultimate answer to blah skin. This improves brightness, clarity and radiance by 60 percent in less than a week! • Intensive-C Radiance Peel – I take a moment of “me time” once a week to relax and let this tingly peel smooth and enhance the luminosity of my skin. • Time Release Retinol Concentrate for Deep Wrinkles – I love the long, beaklike applicator, which really lets you get in there and spackle your frown lines, visibly reducing them by 45 percent in six weeks. • Skin Perfecting Primer – This high-tech primer adapts to your skin tone and offers a host of other benefits, shrinking pore size, evening out texture, Read More …

By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 8:12 pm | Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–Local recruitment agencies are looking to deploy some 3,000 workers for electronic factories to Taiwan, nearly a week after the Taiwanese government lifted its hiring freeze on Filipino workers. Angelo Tong, president of Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan, said Taiwan is in need of some 3,000 workers for electronic factories that did not hire workers from other countries and instead patiently waited for Filipinos, their preferred choice of workers, for the highly-skilled positions in their companies. In a statement, Tong admitted that a few companies had to get Vietnamese workers for those positions that needed to be filled since OFWs, whose work contracts were up for extension or renewal, had to return home to wait for developments following tensions the past three months over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman. “With the issue now behind, we are very optimistic that these workers will be recalled by their companies to their previous positions,” he said. Last week, Taiwan lifted a freeze on the hiring of Filipino workers, after the Philippines relayed its apology to the family of the fisherman killed in an encounter with Philippine Coast Guard personnel in disputed waters last May 9. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s office in Manila on Tuesday posted online the guidelines for prospective Filipino job seekers. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office said this applies to work permit applications of blue-collar workers, including first-time applications, substitutes and re-hiring. TECO said Read More …

By Maila AgerINQUIRER.net 5:35 pm | Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on Tuesday lauded Taiwan’s decision to lift sanctions it earlier imposed against the Philippines, saying this would pave the way for the resumption of bilateral ties on trade, investments, and hiring of overseas Filipino workers. “This resumption of productive relations between the two governments definitely results to mutual benefits. It is especially a very positive development for our OFWs,” Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, said in a statement. The reported lifting of sanctions came after the National Bureau of Investigation recommended the filing of charges against Coast Guard personnel involved in the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in an encounter last May 9. The Philippines through Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amadeo Perez Jr. also issued an apology to the family of 65-year old fisherman Hung Shih Cheng who was killed during the encounter. Estrada pointed out information showing that Taiwan is among the top destinations of OFWs and is host to some 80,000 to 100,000 Filipino workers. Statistics also showed that the deployment of workers in Taiwan is estimated at 40,000 every year. He then urged Philippine officials, particularly the MECO, to beef up steps aimed at further strengthening and normalizing the two governments’ relations. Tension rose, he noted, during the three months that the issue was being addressed and investigated, and actual incidents of harassment against Filipinos in Taiwan Read More …