UN leads observance of World Oceans Day

 News
Jun 072013
 
UN leads observance of World Oceans Day

By DJ YapPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:59 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The United Nations leads the observance today of World Oceans Day, which seeks to remind the public about how crucial the oceans are for humankind’s survival. This year’s theme is: “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!” “All stakeholders must be involved in the rehabilitation of the Philippine seas,” said Dr. Perry Aliño of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute at a press briefing called by Greenpeace. “We need to strengthen our existing social and ecological networks. Government mechanisms must be set up, with concrete solutions such as increasing the number and effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas,” he added. According to the Greenpeace report “Oceans in the Balance,” the world is fast destroying marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests and is “extracting more and more fish from the sea than it can sustainably provide.” Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Greenpeace , Philippine oceans , United Nations , World Oceans Day Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

NBI, Taiwanese probers to swap evidence

 News
Jun 072013
 
NBI, Taiwanese probers to swap evidence

By Nancy C. CarvajalPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:23 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng’s boat, the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, is checked by Taiwanese officers after arriving at Liuqiu port in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Taiwanese boat owner Steven Liao said the damage to the Guang Ta Hsin 28 costs around NT$8 million (P11 million). AP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it would not be able to complete its report on the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman last month or proceed with the filing of charges against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel involved until a counterpart Taiwanese team of investigators sends them a set of authenticated documents from the latter’s own probe of the incident. Virgilio Mendez, the NBI deputy director for regional services, told a press conference on Friday that the agency has ended its discussions with the Taiwanese probers after holding a series of meetings. “Discussions were terminated this afternoon and we agreed on some issues like exchange and clarification of evidence collected,” Mendez said. He described the meetings as “cordial and at the same time passionate”. But Mendez said the NBI report on its investigation cannot be finished until their Taiwanese counterparts send to the Manila Economic Cultural Office (Meco), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taipei, the results of their own investigation, complete with authenticated and translated documents constituting their evidence. Mendez said they requested for an “official English translation Read More …

Nonprofit honors 8 as SF’s ‘Distinguished Citizens’

 News
Jun 072013
 
Nonprofit honors 8 as SF’s ‘Distinguished Citizens’

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 3:55 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 Facebook Photo SAN FRANCISCO–A nonprofit community service center selected eight Filipino Americans, including California State Assembly member Rob Bonta, as San Francisco Bay Area’s “Distinguished Citizens” for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields. San Francisco nonprofit West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service is honoring eight outstanding Filipino Americans in a benefit luncheon and auction on June 22, Saturday at the Hotel Intercontinental on Howard St., San Francisco. West Bay’s board of directors and officers selected the honorees to serve as role models and mentors to Filipino youth in underserved communities. The awardees will be paired with, and mentor eight outstanding students from West Bay’s afterschool program. The awardees are as follows:
 Public Affairs-Rob Bonta, California State Assembly member, representing the 18th District
; Corporate Leadership-Ezra Garrett, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, vice president for community affairs; 
Community Service-Marily Mondejar, president, Filipino Women’s Network
; Medicine-Dr. Carmelo Roco, MD internal medicine, private practitioner; 
Education -Jeffrey Burgos, principal, Roof Top Elementary School
; Innovation-Ralph Colet, chief Engineer, Colet Special Vehicle Design; 
Entrepreneurship-Rod Mercado, president and CEO, Financial Rescue LLC
; Philanthropy-Angie Louie, owner, Hana Zen Japanese Grill and Sushi Bar
. The event is presented by Clearchannel Outdoor together with Hotel Intercontinental San Francisco, and supported by Financial Rescue LLC, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds will benefit West Bay’s Academic Enrichment and Mentorship Program, which provides afterschool help to students from K-12 in underserved communities. Tickets are at Read More …

Spotlight on PH in Burma forum

 News
Jun 062013
 
Spotlight on PH in Burma forum

By Cynthia D. Balana, Doris C. DumlaoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:18 am | Friday, June 7th, 2013 President Benigno Aquino III AP FILE PHOTO NAYPYITAW, Burma—Two Southeast Asian countries are thrust into the limelight at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) East Asia—the host country Burma (Myanmar) for coming out of decades of economic and political isolation and the Philippines, once a laggard but now an investment-grade country and Asia’s fastest-growing economy. President Aquino will speak Friday in a plenary session at Myanmar International Convention Centre, sharing the spotlight with Burmese President U Thein Sein during the closing ceremonies of the three-day WEF East Asia Summit, which gathered 900 delegates from 55 countries. The two heads of state will be interviewed by WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab about their perspectives on regional transformation. This year’s summit has put a lot of focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) ahead of its targeted integration into a single market by 2015. Prior to the plenary session, Aquino will speak in an informal interactive luncheon hosted by Ayala Corp. before a more intimate gathering of 200-300 people. “The East Asia Summit serves as an excellent regional follow-up to Davos,” Ayala chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said, referring to Aquino’s WEF debut in Switzerland last January. Despite the gains in Davos, Zobel de Ayala said more work was needed to encourage foreign investment in the country. “President Aquino’s participation in Myanmar keeps the momentum going with the global Read More …

Salamin: A Filipino in America holds up a mirror

 News
Jun 062013
 
Salamin: A Filipino in America holds up a mirror

Kuwento By Benjamin Pimentel 7:08 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO – In his wonderful essay collection, “Pinoy in America,’ Lorenzo Paran III pondered the typical dilemma of the expatriate Filipino. “No one can live in two places,” Third, as Paran is known to friends, writes. “It wouldn’t be living. To truly live, you must be rooted in the land. A virtual life doesn’t count. It’s not a life if you can log out.” It’s been three years since Third wrote that and the explosive growth of social media has certainly made it possible for many more Filipino expats to try to hang on to life in the Philippines through cyberspace. Salamin editor Third Paran with Ruben Nepales who is featured in the magazine’s first issue. PHOTO/RICK GAVINO Still, Third makes a strong case for rootedness which he reaffirms this month with the launch of a new magazine. It’s called Salamin, or mirror, and it seeks to reflect the Filipino story in America. Salamin is a print publication. You don’t need to be logged in to check it out. Does it make sense to put out a print magazine at a time when print media is dying? Third works for a print news publication in southern California, so he knows the challenge he has taken on. But Salamin, he says, is not going to be yet another outlet for breaking, real-time news. You can get that from many other places on the Web. Instead, the mirror Third is Read More …

Filipino peacekeeper wounded in Golan Heights incident

 News
Jun 062013
 
Filipino peacekeeper wounded in Golan Heights incident

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 7:05 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 Israeli soldiers stand on top of a Merkava tank stationed in the Israeli annexed Golan Heights near the border with Syria on May 26, 2013. A former commander of UN peacekeeping troops in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights has warned that the entire force would be in jeopardy if Austria withdraws. Austria — which provides the largest number of troops to the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) on the Golan — has threatened to withdraw its troops over concerns for their safety if the EU lifts an embargo on supplying arms to the Syrian opposition. AFP PHOTO/JALAA MAREY MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino peacekeeper of the United Nations was wounded when he was hit by “a wayward indirect fire” at Camp Ziouni in ceasefire line Golan Heights on Thursday, the military said. The incident happened at 7:45 a.m. (local time), or 1:45 p.m. Philippine time. Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, Public Affairs Office chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the soldier, whom he declined to identify, is a member of the Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights. He was hit by shrapnel just above his right ankle. He is now being treated by medics inside a shelter and is in “stable and good condition.” The incident happened during a firefight between Syrian government and rebel forces, some three to four kilometers from Camp Ziouni. Camp Ziouni is the logistics base of the United Nations Disengagement Observers Force where the different Read More …

2 US submarines docking in Subic for refuelling

 News
Jun 062013
 
2 US submarines docking in Subic for refuelling

By Frances Mangosing 6:03 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Two US Navy vessels are docking in Subic Bay this weekend for routine port calls, the US Embassy said Thursday. The US Navy submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) will be in Subic Bay on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8, respectively, to refuel and receive supplies. The L.Y. Spear-class USS Frank Cable, which was commissioned in 1980, is nearly 200 meters long and has a crew of 1,500. The Frank Cable serves as the US 7th Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform.  It is homeported in Guam. Commissioned in 1991, the USS Asheville is a Los Angeles-class submarine that is 91 meters long, and has a top speed of 32 knots underwater. It is homeported in San Diego, California. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Features , Global Nation , Subic , US military , US submarines , VFA Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

NBI arrests 6 Taiwanese suspects on credit card fraud

 News
Jun 062013
 
NBI arrests 6 Taiwanese suspects on credit card fraud

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 4:24 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 Nonnatus Caesar Rojas MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation arrested six Taiwanese nationals allegedly involved in credit card fraud. In a report submitted to NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas on Thursday, arrested by members of the NBI Cybercrime Division are Cheng-Yen Yu, 25; Chih-Cheng Chang, 35; Chia-Hung Hung, 26; Sen-Yuan Wu, 24; Chun-Kai Tsou, 25 and Wen-Hao Wu, 26, all with address at Unit 4D, Regency Park Townhomes (Summit Residence), J. Abad Santos Hi-Way corner E. Aguinaldo Street, Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga. The six have already been slapped with a complaint for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access, Devices, Regulation Act of 1998 before the Pampanga Prosecutors Office. Chih-Cheng Chang, on the other hand is also facing an additional complaint for Corruption of Public Officials for attempting to bribe the NBI operatives. Seized by the NBI-CCD team from the suspects were the P500,000 cash used in trying to bribe the operatives, counterfeit automated teller machine (ATM) cards and counterfeit credit cards, electronic gadgets used in illegal duplication of credit cards and ATM cards, and documents. The NBI arrested the six last June 4 after a series of surveillance operations. Found in the Taiwanese nationals’ possession were several electronic gadgets, devices, ATM cards, credit cards, and documents with Chinese characters which were being used and intended to be used in the  illegal activities of duplication, unauthorized use/access of credit cards/ATM cards. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Read More …

NBI, Taiwan probers meet anew to discuss Balintang Channel shooting

 News
Jun 062013
 
NBI, Taiwan probers meet anew to discuss Balintang Channel shooting

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 1:27 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 Taiwanese investigators use a rubber boat in Manila’s South Harbor to inspect the hull of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship involved in the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman in the Balintang Channel earlier this month. The Taiwanese are here while NBI investigators are in Taiwan to make a parallel investigation. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and a team of investigators from Taiwan will meet Thursday to talk about their findings on the shooting incident in Balintang Channel last May 9 that led to the death of a Taiwanese fisherman. NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas confirmed that the Taiwanese probers arrived in the country Thursday morning to sit down with their counterparts with the NBI. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima earlier said it was the Taiwanese probers who requested the meeting. Both the Philippine and Taiwanese governments are investigating the May 9 shooting by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel of 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng. The PCG personnel have maintained that Shih-Cheng was accidentally shot at, after the Taiwanese fishing vessel refused to heed their warning shots. The meeting will not resort to any “cross-checking” of findings, De Lima added. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in Read More …

Filipinos hold ‘hala bira’ Independence Day Fete in NYC

 News
Jun 062013
 
Filipinos hold ‘hala bira’ Independence Day Fete in NYC

By Elton LugayINQUIRER.net US Bureau 1:17 pm | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 Iloilo’s dinagyang dancers strut their stuff. Photo by Elton Lugay NEW YORK—The city was having one of those hot and humid Sundays when the air was at its driest and the heat of the sun was punishing, unless you were in a park under a shady elm tree waiting for the big Philippine Independence Day parade. Marian Rivera and Sen. Bong Revilla greet throng. Photo by Elton Lugay Schoolteacher Catherine Ranili from Brooklyn didn’t mind the heat at all last Sunday, June 2. She was on Madison Avenue to watch her idol Sharon Cuneta perform live for what seemed to be the largest Philippine Independence Day celebration ever, with a crowd that at times grew to more than 80,000. “I grew up with her songs,” she told the INQUIRER.net. Cuneta of TV 5 was among the showbiz celebrities that graced the event and gave it luster. With her were Aga Muhlach and Derek Ramsay. Wearing a black suit, the Megastar was all sweat as she sang Rey Valera’s “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.” Senator Bong Revilla of GMA Pinoy TV performed the same song after TV 5’s segment. The three networks shared one stage and had their show one at a time. Thousands cheered as Cuneta kicked off the parade’s four-hour musical program. She apologized for causing the parade’s delay, saying her limo was snarled in traffic as they headed to the assembly area. Marian Rivera and Read More …

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