Calif. care facility that employs Pinoys slapped with $1.6M citation for wage theft

 News
May 092013
 
Calif. care facility that employs Pinoys slapped with $1.6M citation for wage theft

By Rose Paquette INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau 5:02 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO–The California Labor Commissioner has issued a citation amounting to over $1.6 million in labor law violations–including unpaid minimum wage and overtime–to Bedford Care Group, Inc., an assisted living provider with six facilities in Fresno and Clovis, California that employs many Filipinos. Immigrant workers sought help from the Asian Law Caucus, a Workers’ Rights law firmcivil rights organization based in San Francisco, and Filipino Advocates For Justice (FAJ) in Oakland, who then assisted the complainants to file a formal complaint before the California Labor Commissioner. Upon uncovering the violations, Labor Commissioner Julia A. Su, ordered the Bedford Care Group, Inc.,  to pay $1,398,890 in unpaid overtime, $17,025 in unpaid minimum wage, and $95,053 in meal and rest period premiums to 11 current and former caregivers. The Bedford Care Group, Inc. was also fined $114,500 in penalties. The citations were issued after the Labor Commissioner’s Office interviewed and completed an audit for the 11 caregivers from November 2011 to April 2013 to determine the amount of unpaid wages owed. Labor Commissioner Su told PRnewswire online, “These live-in employees were on call and often required to work 24 hours a day and were not paid for all hours worked.  This is wage theft, and we will do everything in our power to ensure workers are paid all the wages they have earned.”             Saying she feels confident with their numbers and the case is strong, Szeto said the Read More …

2 Chinese spy ships sighted off PH-held shoal

 News
May 092013
 
2 Chinese spy ships sighted off PH-held shoal

By Redempto D. Anda Inquirer Southern Luzon 3:19 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The Western Command is monitoring the presence of two Chinese military surveillance vessels that were reported to have been stationary since Tuesday afternoon near the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the disputed Spratly’s region. The two Chinese vessels were identified by other defense sources, who asked not to be identified, as “maritime surveillance vessels.” The vessels were reported to be some six nautical miles west of Ayungin Shoal since Tuesday afternoon. According to the source, the information about the Chinese presence “has been relayed to proper authorities,” including Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Wescom spokesperson Lt. Cherry Tindog confirmed that the regional military command has received reports about the Chinese vessels but declined to issue additional information concerning the reported intrusion. Ayungin Shoal, also known internationally as Second Thomas Reef, is one of the reef formations within the six islands where Philippine troops are present and is considered by the country as part of the municipality of Kalayaan. It is closest to Mischief Reef, which until 1995 was occupied by the Philippines until the Chinese built a fortification on it.

Angara honored by Japan

 News
May 092013
 
Angara honored by Japan

By Cathy C. Yamsuan Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:54 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 Sen. Edgardo Angara INQUIRER FILE PHOTO Outgoing Sen. Edgardo J. Angara was conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by Emperor Akihito in Tokyo on Thursday, making him the third Filipino to be given what is said to be the highest distinction given by the Japanese government to an individual. Previous Filipino recipients of the award were the late Carlos P. Romulo, former foreign secretary and president of the United Nations General Assembly; and Alfonso T. Yuchengco, the country’s former ambassador to Japan. Other known personalities who received the distinction were former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, former United Nations Children’s Fund executive director Carol Bellamy, former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, the late US Sen. Daniel Inouye and former Brookings Institution president Michael H. Armacost. The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said Angara was given the recognition for his valuable contributions to “promoting friendly relations and developing economic cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.” Simple rites The award was given in simple rites witnessed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the senator’s wife, Gloria, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The embassy noted that the Order of the Rising Sun was created in April 1875 to recognize individuals with “distinguished achievements in international relations, the promotion of Japanese culture, the preservation of the environment and advances in development and various fields.” It is awarded in seven classes, with the Read More …

Taiwan ‘strongly’ protests to Philippines over fisherman’s death

 News
May 092013
 
Taiwan ‘strongly’ protests to Philippines over fisherman’s death

Agence France-Presse 1:41 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 TAIPEI—Taiwan demanded compensation from the Philippines Thursday over the killing of a crew member of a Taiwanese fishing trawler that allegedly came under fire from a Philippine government boat. The Guang Ta Hsin 28 fishing vessel carrying four crew—three Taiwanese and one Indonesian—was fired on early Thursday some 164 nautical miles off the southernmost tip of the island, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said. The incident killed 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng and badly damaged the vessel, prompting Taiwan’s coastguard to dispatch a ship to its rescue, the ministry said. “We strongly protest and condemn that a Philippine government boat attacked our fishing boat and demand the Philippines formally apologize, apprehend the murderer and compensate,” it said in a statement. The ministry did not specify what type of a government boat it was, while Taiwan’s coastguard said it was trying to verify some reports claiming that it was a Philippine navy vessel. Taiwan has ruled itself since 1949, but China still considers the island part of its territory. The Philippines, like most countries, officially recognizes China over Taiwan but maintains trade ties with the island. 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: Taiwan-Philippines-crime-fishing Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates Read More …

Aussie survived Mayon explosion, Bali bombing

 News
May 092013
 
Aussie survived Mayon explosion, Bali bombing

By Joanna Los BañosInquirer Southern Luzon 12:07 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 A shoe is separated from two bodies, believed to be those of German nationals, found near the crater of Mayon Volcano in Albay province. Mayon Volcano rumbled to life on Tuesday, spewing room-size rocks and ashes. AP LEGAZPI CITY—“I will be able to help you,” Jerome Berin, 23, of Malilipot, Albay, told his father Romeo, 54, in their last phone conversation on April 28. “I asked him ‘what?’ and he replied ‘secret,’ and just told me he had a job,” recalled Romeo, who later realized Jerome might have been talking about his job as a tour guide to save for his wedding on June 15. “That’s how he is, always teasing,” Romeo recalled of his son, the fourth of his five children who was killed in Tuesday’s eruption of Mayon Volcano, along with four foreign climbers. An Australian, Ewan Marshall, and his girlfriend, Michelle Abad, were among 16 climbers and local guides who were rescued. The two were reported Thursday in the Australian media to be heading to Boracay to continue their holiday. Marshall, who was a survivor of the Bali bombing in 2002, said he and his companion were halfway to the base camp when they heard a massive explosion. “We’re lucky,” he said. “I just feel sorry for those that weren’t. Two to three hours later, we would have been in the same situation.” Romeo Berin, a driver in Manila, last saw his son in Read More …

PH-China defense talks help ease sea dispute tension – DND

 News
May 062013
 
PH-China defense talks help ease sea dispute tension – DND

By Frances Mangosing Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:22 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Notwithstanding territorial disputes, Philippines and China discussed “evolving regional security situation” and bilateral defense relations among others in its talks recently. “This year’s talks enabled the two sides to exchange views on the evolving regional security situation to include maritime security,” the Department of National Defense said in a statement Monday. It said the dialogue also “served as a platform for the Philippines and China to share perspectives on the regional security architecture to include regional multilateral institutions and relations between regional powers such as that between the US and China.” The dialogue, held last April 27, is the fourth Defense Talks since 2005 and is hosted alternately, with China as country host for this year. Among the activities of the Philippine delegation in China include a visit to National Defense University (NDU),where the Philippines has been sending officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. At present it has sent two AFP officers. “Both the Philippines and China acknowledged that the dialogue is indicative of their respective thrusts to continue cultivating good relations notwithstanding divergence of position on certain issues. The talks are in accordance with the declaration of President Aquino and former Chinese President Hu Jintao to have 2012-2013 as the Years of Friendly Exchange for the Philippines and China,” the statement added. The two countries also had the opportunity to review their bilateral defense relations and explore mechanisms “to further promote Read More …

Japanese robbed of P33,000 in valuables by fake talent scout

 News
May 062013
 

By Julie M. Aurelio Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:04 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — A Japanese national who wanted to try a modelling career ended up getting duped by a man who pretended to be a talent manager and carted away her personal belongings and cash. Shum Honda, 21, pointed to a certain Danny Francisco as the fake manager who got her black bag containing a Samsung tablet worth P20,000, a Samsung phone worth P6,000 and P7,000 cash. Senior Police Officer 4 George Villanueva, the case investigator, said the victim went to the Kamuning police station to complain about the theft, which happened at a restaurant along Timog Avenue in Barangay (village) Sacred Heart at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The victim first met the suspect as she was walking along Edsa in Mandaluyong City. The man was able to convince the girl to try a modelling career. Honda was enticed to go with the suspect to a restaurant near GMA 7, where the girl was told to try on some outfits to demonstrate her modelling skills. The girl went to the restroom to change her clothes, leaving behind her belongings which the suspect carted away. Villanueva theorized that the Japanese was duped by a skillful con artist who had victimized other people.

Gov’t hints at ‘rift’ in CPP could be affecting peace talks

 News
May 062013
 
Gov’t hints at ‘rift’ in CPP could be affecting peace talks

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 1:54 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The government on Monday hinted at a rift within the so-called “reaffirmist faction” of the Communist Party of the Philippines that could be influencing the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels. Presidential peace adviser Secretary Teresita Deles: Now for the difficult part. INQUIRER file photo Presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles said the government peace panel’s recent consultations with communities affected by the decades-long insurgency have raised one important question: is the government even talking to the right people? “Who are we talking to? Are they the right people? That was the advice to us, that we should examine that question,” Deles said at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum. CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni are heading the negotiating panel of the CPP and its political arm, the National Democratic Front and armed group, the New People People’s Army. Government chief negotiator Alex Padilla said that according to the government’s intelligence sources, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, members of the CPP’s Central Committee, are now the ones “in-charge.” Padilla said that one indication that Sison may no longer have control over the CPP’s people on the ground was when the latter reneged on the documents that he himself presented during the “special track” on the talks that was proposed by the CPP-NDF-NPA panel itself. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, Read More …

Filipino bride, 4 others killed in California limousine fire

 News
May 052013
 
Filipino bride, 4 others killed in California limousine fire

Agence France-Presse 7:15 am | Monday, May 6th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO—A woman and four members of her bridal shower burned to death in a horrific accident, when their rented limousine caught fire en route to a party in California celebrating her wedding, US media reported Sunday. The limo driver and four women managed to escape the burning vehicle, but the bride and four of her friends perished in the blaze, news reports said. “We don’t know what caused the accident yet,” California Highway Patrol Officer James Evans told The San Francisco Chronicle. “It wasn’t a traffic collision, we do know that, but we are still investigating.” The Chronicle reported that the woman for whom the bridal shower was thrown had recently married and had planned to return to her native Philippines for another ceremony next month. But for unknown reasons, the party-bound vehicle—which was en route to a wedding shower in nearby Foster City—burst into flames on the San Mateo Bridge, just south of San Francisco. The dead women, all in their 30s and 40s, included newlywed Neriza Fojas, 31, of Fresno, according to the Chronicle, which quoted the deceased woman’s sister. 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: Accident , Fire , Philippines , US Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Read More …

Q1 foreign tourist arrivals up

 News
May 052013
 
Q1 foreign tourist arrivals up

By Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:10 am | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—There were 1.27 million foreign tourists who visited the country during the first quarter of the year, setting the pace for the government to reach the 5.5 million mark for 2013, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The first-quarter visitor arrivals marked a 10.76-percent growth from the 1.15 million visitors recorded during the same period last year. “This marks the second time that foreign tourist arrivals breached the one-million mark in the first quarter,” the DOT said on Sunday. Records showed that Korea remained the leading visitor market, capturing 25.83 percent of the total inbound traffic, followed by the United States, with 186,064, or 14.63 percent, of the overall visitor volume. At least 114,269 visitors from Japan have been recorded from January to March, accounting for 8.99 percent of the total market share, while arrivals from China have reached 98,242. Rounding up the top five visitor markets for the first quarter is Taiwan, with 53,867 tourists. The country also enjoyed significant number of visitors from the following countries: Australia, 53,679; Singapore, 41,524; Canada, 38,486; Hong Kong, 36,005; United Kingdom, 32,475; Malaysia, 27,212; and Germany, 22,491. “Month after month, we bear witness to a steady upward performance and new record highs. This only means that the efforts of the department and its partners are bearing fruit,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. “To achieve our 2013 target of 5.5 million and 2016 target of 10 Read More …

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