US Embassy closed January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 News
Jan 162014
 
US Embassy closed January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 11:29 am | Friday, January 17th, 2014 US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The United States (US) Embassy announced Friday that it will be closed on January 20 for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an official American holiday. “The Embassy of the United States in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Monday, January 20, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” it said in a statement. “The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), who is remembered in the United States on the third Monday of January each year, is perhaps best known as America’s chief spokesman for nonviolent activism as a result of his leadership role in the U.S. civil rights movement,” the Embassy said. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his role in fighting racial inequality in the US through nonviolent means. He is most known for his speech “I Have a Dream” which he delivered before thousands of American demonstrators at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. One of the most famous lines of his speech went: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” “In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation into law making King’s birthday a federal holiday,” the Embassy said. King was born January 15, 1929. “In Read More …

Friends raising money to ship body of Filipina nurse slain by husband

 News
Jan 162014
 
Friends raising money to ship body of Filipina nurse slain by husband

By Bert EljeraINQUIRER.net US Bureau 8:29 am | Friday, January 17th, 2014 Slain victim Daisy Casanta Dahan PHOTO FROM ELIZABETH FISHER’S FACEBOOK PAGE LAS VEGAS—Friends are scrambling to raise money to send home to the Philippines the body of a Filipina nurse slain a week ago by her husband in a horrific killing in their Las Vegas home. Elizabeth Fisher, a friend of the victim, Daisy Casanta Dahan, posted a message on her Facebook page on Wednesday asking for donations to send the slain woman’s body to her home in Bohol. “I am again asking all my friends, family and co-workers to please, please help us raise money so we can send Daisy’s remains to her family in the Philippines,” Fisher posted on her page. “Another devastating news we just received today—Daisy’s grandmother in the Philippines just passed away today. This is hard for the family back in the Philippines.” Fisher asked donations be sent to: WELLS FARGO ACCT.# 8686883912 This developed as the arraignment for the suspected killer, Richard Magdayo Dahan, the victim’s 40-year-old husband, was postponed for Thursday. Dahan is being held without bail on a first-degree murder charge in the Friday killing of his 28-year-old wife. He appeared confused Wednesday, and Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis delayed his initial appearance to Thursday to obtain a Tagalog language interpreter. The victim’s friends were upset at the postponement. Fisher said that Richard Dahan’s request for a Tagalog interpreter was a ploy because he “speaks fluent English.” Read More …

Austrian’s death in Davao del Sur raises questions for cops

 News
Jan 162014
 
Austrian’s death in Davao del Sur raises questions for cops

By Orlando B. DinoyInquirer Mindanao 8:18 am | Friday, January 17th, 2014 BANSALAN, Philippines—Police authorities said they have decided to investigate further the death of an Austrian national to determine if it was indeed suicide as it appeared to be. The body of Ernesto Rossi, 45, of Bregenz City in Austria, was found hanging on a chain by his Filipino wife inside their house in Sitio (subvillage) Bolhoon in Barangay (village) Buenavista here around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 14. Senior Insp. Jeffrey Latayada, the town police chief, said Rossi’s wife, Teresa, had told police she and her relatives rushed Rossi to the Centeno Medical Hospital here. But Latayada said Teresa told police Rossi died at 5:25 p.m. while being treated at the medical facility. “We are trying to determine if there was no foul play,” he said. 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: Davao del Sur , Death , death investigation , Ernesto Rossi , Foreign Nationals , Philippines – Regions , Police , suicide 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: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. Read More …

PH gov’t mourns passing of Ariel Sharon

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Jan 112014
 
PH gov’t mourns passing of Ariel Sharon

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 12:42 pm | Sunday, January 12th, 2014 In this Wednesday Feb. 7, 2001 file photo, Ariel Sharon, then Israel’s Prime Minister-elect, looks up as he touches Judaism holiest site, the Western Wall, in Jerusalem. The son of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says his father has died on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. The 85-year-old Sharon had been in a coma since a debilitating stroke eight years ago. His son Gilad Sharon said: “He has gone. He went when he decided to go.” AP MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday expressed sympathies on the death of former Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. “The Philippines joins the government and people of Israel in mourning the passage of their former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon,” DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a text message to media. Sharon died on Saturday at the age of 85 at a hospital near Tel Aviv. He was in a coma since suffering a massive stroke in 2006. “He was a bold and vigorous leader in war and in peace. May his important contributions in the quest for peace be long remembered,” Hernandez said. The former prime minister was a controversial leader, both loved and hated by people. His “ruthless methods” as a political and military leader earned him the moniker “The Bulldozer.” RELATED STORIES: Ex-Israel premier Sharon dead Major events in the life of Ariel Sharon Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for Read More …

Indians who married for visas nabbed

 News
Jan 112014
 
Indians who married for visas nabbed

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:09 am | Sunday, January 12th, 2014 Bureau of Immigration building. Photo from Bureau of Immmigration website MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned Indian nationals against entering into fraudulent marriages to acquire permanent residence in the Philippines. Immigration Commissioner Siegfried Mison said the bureau summoned several Indians after discovering that their marriages to Filipinos had been arranged to evade immigration restrictions. Mison said the bureau discovered that the marital status of Indian nationals supposedly married to Filipinos were not reflected on their passports. As of December, 70,216 Indian nationals were recorded in the country, most of them engaged in money lending. This number is higher than the 60,415 in 2012. Based on BI records, four Indians have been arrested for falsifying their applications for a five-year temporary resident visa (TRV) by submitting fraudulent documents. “We discovered the suspects resorted to fake marriages and used it as a ploy to acquire residence visas,” he said. Annotations in the passports of Indian applicants should reflect the name of their Filipino spouses to avoid fraudulent TRV applications. “This measure is aimed at protecting our people from exploitation by schemers,” said Mison, adding that failure to comply with the requirements would mean cancellation of the TRV. Tina G. Santos RELATED STORIES: By October 2015, immigration officials to accept only e-Passports Immigration relief for Fil-Ams sought   Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step Read More …

Praises keep coming for honest Filipino cabbie

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Jan 102014
 
Praises keep coming for honest Filipino cabbie

By Bert EljeraINQUIRER.net US Bureau 5:09 am | Saturday, January 11th, 2014 Nev. Senator Harry Reid’s letter to Filipino-American cab driver Gerardo Gamboa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Bert Eljera LAS VEGAS – Accolades continue to pour in for Gerardo Gamboa, the Filipino-American cab driver who found and returned $300,000 in cash left behind by a passenger in his taxi. The latest praises came from Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Sen. Harry Reid, the U.S. Majority leader, who both hailed the Filipino-American for his honesty and as example to the community. Sandoval praised Gamboa in a personal letter to the taxi driver, saying his honesty should be emulated. Reid, who is particularly close to the burgeoning Filipino-American in Nevada, said in returning the money, which he could easily keep for himself, Gamboa showed a “positive example in the community.” “Your action was a wonderful demonstration of citizenship and integrity, and the impact of your story in our community is admired and appreciated,” Sen. Reid said in a Dec. 27 letter to Gamboa. Gamboa became an Internet sensation when his story went public on Dec. 25, and was readily picked up by the international press, particularly in the Phlippines. The 54-year old Gamboa, a 13-year cab driver in Las Vegas, chose to return the $300,000 cash left behind by a professional poker player, who had asked to remain anonymous, even though he provided Gamboa a $10,000 reward. Gamboa, who is from Mabalacat, Pampanga and Silay City, said the money was tempting, for a split second, Read More …

Fil-Am young professionals launch scholarship

 News
Jan 092014
 
Fil-Am young professionals launch scholarship

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 9:01 am | Friday, January 10th, 2014 San francisco—The Young Filipino Professionals Association (YFPA) will kick off its first scholarship program for promising young Filipino students who aspire for college degrees, on the evening of Jan. 18 at the historic I-Hotel Manilatown Center. The organization is celebrating 11 years of “fostering professional connections, ideas and expertise to support and engage Filipino professionals in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.” The theme for this year’s celebration is “Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders.” The keynote speaker for the celebration will be Filipino entrepreneur and engineer Dado Banatao, who has been dubbed the “Filipino version of Steve Jobs” because of his trailblazing science and technology work in the early years of Silicon Valley. The versatile Allan Manalo will be the emcee. He wears many hats in the field of entertainment as a Filipino writer, producer, director and stand-up comic. There will be performances by Kulintronica, which blends the traditional, ancestral sounds of the Filipino instrument kulintang with the urban beats of Electronica. Ro Birco, a multi-instrumentalist who will be accompanying on the piano, will also showcase his traditional kundiman singing skills. Also performing is the group, immaj, a talented R&B/pop vocal trio. Kristian Kabuay, artist, educator and entrepreneur, will also have Baybayin (Philippine Script) live art demonstrations. Regina Finuliar, YFPA President, states, “The night will be special because attendees will not only be supporting YFPA and our initiatives, everyone there that night will be raising funds to help those students who Read More …

UNICEF hopes resumption of classes will bring normalcy to ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

 News
Jan 072014
 
UNICEF hopes resumption of classes will bring normalcy to ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

By Bong LozadaINQUIRER.net 9:03 pm | Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 In this aerial photo taken on 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 MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations Children’s Fund hopes the resumption of classes in areas affected by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international codename: Haiyan) will be a spring board to speed up rehabilitation, a statement said. UNICEF together with international organizations Save the Children and INTERSOS supported the Back to Learning campaign of the Department of Education and Department of Social Welfare and Development that saw the re-opening of schools on Monday. “UNICEF’s objective is to ensure that children affected by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ return to quality learning as quickly as possible,” said Angela Kearney, officer-in-charge of UNICEF Philippines. According to the UN arm, schools have become safe havens for both teachers and children and once school started, the daily routine has helped restore a sense of normalcy. “It’s our hope that children returning to school and day care centers will have a sense of routine and have a safe place during the day to be with friends where they can continue to learn and enjoy safe play,” said Dr. Luisa Yu, DepEd Director for Region VIII. UNICEF hopes that once the children are back in school, parents will have more time to rebuild their livelihood. As of January 6, the Read More …

Global disasters killed more, cost less in 2013

 News
Jan 072014
 
Global disasters killed more, cost less in 2013

Associated Press 7:45 pm | Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 In this Dec. 20, 2013 photo, a restaurant of Joseph Bonavitacola is filled with local villagers in Tacloban, Philippines. The Italian businessman, who has lived in the city for 20 years with his Filipino wife, reopened the place less than three weeks after Typhoon Haiyan devastated about 4,000 businesses. Only about 5 percent have reopened, officials say. AP BERLIN — The German insurance company Munich Re says some 20,000 people died in natural disasters last year, about twice as many as in 2012. Most of the deaths resulted from Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda in Manila) that hit the Philippines, Vietnam and China in November with a loss of almost 6,100 lives. This was followed by floods in India that killed about 5,500 people in June. Munich Re’s annual disasters report released Tuesday found that the economic cost of natural catastrophes was lower last year. Some 880 events cost about $125 billion, with insured losses of $31 billion. This compares with costs of $173 billion and insured losses of $65 billion in 2012. The costliest natural disasters were summer hailstorms in Germany, floods in Central Europe, and storms and tornadoes in the United States. RELATED STORIES: Philippines launches $8.17B Haiyan rebuilding plan Barack and Michelle Obama send sympathies to Yolanda victims In typhoon’s wake, Christmas infused with tragedy 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 Read More …

Suspect arrested in SF Chinese consulate arson attack

 News
Jan 062014
 
Suspect arrested in SF Chinese consulate arson attack

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 7:09 am | Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 SAN FRANCISCO—A Chinese national residing in Daly City has surrendered to authorities to face charges for starting a fire that damaged the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on New Year’s Day. Yan Feng, 39, allegedly told FBI agents in an interview after his arrest that he had been hearing voices in Chinese, according to court documents. An FBI spokesman said that there was no indication the fire was motivated by terrorism, politics or civil rights concerns. Details of the interview were contained in an affidavit submitted by FBI agent Michael Eldridge with a criminal complaint filed by US prosecutors in federal court in San Francisco on Monday. Feng was charged in the complaint with two counts of maliciously damaging property by means of fire and willfully damaging property belonging to or occupied by a foreign government. Feng surrendered to authorities on Friday. The fire at the consulate, located at 1450 Laguna St., occurred around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. The building was damaged but no one was injured. Eldridge said in the affidavit that Feng called Daly City police on Friday and “identified himself as the individual who ‘made the fire’ in front of” what Feng called the Chinese Embassy in San Francisco. Daly City police went to Feng’s address and arrested him, the agent said. The two charges filed against Feng each carry a possible sentence of up to five years in prison if he is convicted. The consulate issued a Read More …

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