... taken from DFA: 9231 Filipinos already out of Libya – ABS CBN News

Happy 51st Birthday President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – We celebrate on Tuesday the 51st Birth Anniversary of the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines – His Excellency, …
PNoy won't follow GMA's 'revolving door' policy in AFPABS CBN News

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... taken from Happy 51st Birthday President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III – Manila Bulletin

This article titled “Shine a spotlight on journalist killings” was written by Trisha Andres, for guardian.co.uk on Tuesday 14th September 2010 15.00 UTC

In 2009, 110 journalists and media staff were killed – a staggering 40% increase from the previous year. A report published on 12 September by the International Press Institute (IPI) suggests the numbers are unlikely to go down significantly – with 52 journalists already killed in the first eight months of 2010, only four fewer than the same period last year.

When the western press reports on news-media casualties, our imaginations often take us to far-flung lethal conflict zones where war correspondents are always in imminent danger. But out of more than a 100 media deaths in 2009, only three were war correspondents. The majority are local reporters covering news and conducting investigations on their own turf – some during peacetime, most in times of conflict.

While such atrocities might appear in headlines in British and US papers, often it’ll be when a local person is involved. And of course, that’s only logical. As Rodney Pinder, director of the International News Safety Institute (Insi) writes in “Shame the nations where journalists are killed”: “Readers relate best and want to know most about someone of our own town, country, region.”

But as he argues, the world is more globalised. Indeed, the plight of journalists exists outside of transnational borders and so should the coverage of their deaths, if not to put the world to rights then to send out a message to perpetrators that their crimes will not be kept under wraps. The international community hasn’t been slow to respond. In 2006 the UN security council passed resolution 1738, which sought to promote the protection of journalists reporting from the frontline and the investigation into attacks on the press. However, journalists continue to be deliberately attacked, with 90% of cases left unresolved or simply forgotten.

If international resolutions and safety and risk-awareness training aren’t enough, what else can we do to protect journalists?

Mexico, Russia and the Philippines all have a deeply disturbing culture of impunity – where perpetrators often get away with their crimes.

Mexico, regarded as the most dangerous country for journalists this year by the IPI, has seen an estimated 30 media workers killed since December 2006 when President Felipe Calderón declared war on drug cartels. Their deaths hardly get investigated. Killers are very rarely prosecuted, breeding an environment of impunity where justice is never served. Mexico is the most dangerous country for news media in the western hemisphere. Afraid for their own lives, journalists have been forced to renege on their duties – quitting their jobs, moving to another country or censoring their work.

In Russia, where five journalists died last year, three men on trial for assisting the human rights journalist Anna Politkovskaya‘s killer were acquitted in February 2009, prompting international outrage and frustration at the government’s inability to properly investigate the case.

Meanwhile, the worst single act of violence against the press in journalism history occurred in the Philippines last November, when 57 people – including 32 journalists – were massacred by gunmen in the lawless province of Maguindanao. The trial of the alleged perpetrators only began this month.

Sheila Coronel, founder of the Philippine Centre for Investigative Journalism and a professor of journalism at Columbia University in New York, says:

“The Philippines’ legal system is broken. It’s severely challenged by this case. The worries about the case dragging on are real. But, there has been public attention and outrage and a recent change of government. There is a lot of concern expressed by local groups and a lot of monitoring by human rights groups. It’s going to be a long and complex process – but there’s hope.”

Political inaction, prevarication and the consequent culture of impunity mire noble efforts by international journalist associations and NGOs to keep journalists safe. Still, much has been done to mitigate the risks. Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says, “The IFJ works closely with the Insi, providing information and organising safety training for journalists [in need around the world]. We also provide humanitarian aid to the victims of violence. But all of this is in response to a deeply troubling culture of impunity. That can only be eradicated by political action.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, IPI and myriad other global networks and NGOs are dedicated to safeguarding press freedom and providing assistance to journalists in an emergency, when travelling on assignment or when covering the news.

But are the international community’s proactive efforts enough? The Insi’s Rodney Pinder believes that nations with abysmal impunity records should feature more on the global news agenda. “We need to draw world attention to those countries and those incidents, raise concerns over them and learn the lessons so they are not repeated.”

Safety training and risk awareness are valuable proactive measures to keep security in check, but more reactive measures like promoting global media awareness and political will and action help ensure that journalists can do their jobs – whether on the frontline or on home soil – in an environment of safety, not of impunity.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

Published via the Guardian News Feed plugin for WordPress.

... taken from Shine a spotlight on journalist killings

Earth Dance Manila 2010

Manila, Philippines – Earth Dance 2010, a Global Dance Festival for Peace celebrated in more than 500 locations in 80 countries, was held at Bantayog ng mga Bayani Memorial Center on September 18 and 19, 2010, 3:00 in the afternoon. Now in its 3rd year, Earth Dance Manila has become a successful event that brings back the primacy of art, music and dance and reconnects all the people to our land, to our ancient culture and to our true identity as Maharlikans.

The proper event started with an invocation of the four elements (the air, fire, earth and water) by a group of Babylans, the Tribu Majicka Eclectica. It was followed by prayers, rituals, and ceremonies from different spiritual paths for peace and healing of the Earth and the human community. After the community dance, the program proceeded with art, music and dance presentations performed by well known artists and Indie bands like Joey Ayala, Kate Toralba, Nyko, Maca, Kadangyan, Amado Brothers and so many more.

Earth Dance 2010 ended with Global Prayer for Peace at around 3:00 in the morning. This significant moment happened in different parts of the world at the same time. Conducted by Giezel, an Inka representative from Peru, all the people gathered together in a circle to offer prayers for peace and healing of the world.

For more information about Earth Dance 2010, feel free to visit www.earthdancemanila.com.

... taken from Earth Dance Manila 2010

When riding a waveboard, don;t forget to wear your helmet (even if your a professional). Just relax, take a deep breath and go. Remember, just focus on your direction and maintain the balance on your foot. It’s easy to ride and less accident because you can just flip it down when you feel to fall.

Waveboard can be a hobby or be an exercise equipment. Yes, Exercise equipment, it can move all of your body when your riding a waveboard and because of that it can burn your fat down.

... taken from wave mania

Gulf Air flight GF 154 from Bahrain landed in Manila at around 11.18 am with more than a hundred passengers on board and was parked at Bay 14 of the airport when cleaners found the baby.

Jemon Deita, an aircraft cleaner, said that after the passengers disembarked, the cleaners were allowed to enter the plane and he even took out a black garbage bag from the toilet’s trashcan.

“I was amazed why all of a sudden my black plastic bag became heavy to carry despite some used tissue paper coming from the lavatory trash can only,” Deita said, quoted by The Philippine Star.

He immediately brought down the plastic bag onto the tarmac without knowing that there was a baby inside.

Tristan Dimaano, a security guard of Philippine Airport Ground Services (PAGS) who was at the tarmac when the plastic bag was left by airport cleaners, noticed that there were bloodstains in the trash and saw a baby wrapped with tissue paper.

Dimaano immediately called the attention of Gulf Air official Noel Franco about the newborn baby that they thought was already dead.

The two immediately brought the baby to the NAIA ramp clinic without knowing the infant’s situation, the daily said.

Doctors Caridad Nuas, Ma. Theresa Azores, Solomon Umandap and midwife Mannet Gatchalian immediately attended to the baby and after a thorough examination they declared the boy in “good condition.”

They named the boy George Francis after the code used for Gulf Air airplanes, GF.

The baby, weighing 3 kilos or more than six pounds, was turned over to Ma Lanie Tabios, from the Department of Social Workers and Development (DSWD).

The child was later taken to the Reception and Study Center for children in Quezon City on Sunday afternoon.

Airport police from the intelligence and investigation division said the mother of the baby could be a returning Filipino overseas worker who wanted to hide her baby from her relatives in the country.

Pictures taken by airport photographers showed the baby swathed in a towel while doctors warmed him up under a light bulb.

Airport officials said efforts to locate his parents would be left to social welfare officials.

Officials from Gulf Air office in Manila were not immediately available, according to the newspaper.

... taken from A healthy newborn boy found inside Gulf Air trashcan at Manila Airport

John Lorne McDonald’s would-be bride, Nanqueen Romero, 31, also sustained multiple wounds after being attacked by her Filipino lover, police said in a statement.

McDonald organised a party at Romero’s home to ask for her hand in marriage, police said, but it was not clear if she had told him about her Filipino boyfriend, Anselmo Locastales, who turned up and attacked the couple.

Locastales is on the run, police said. The British Embassy could not be reached Sunday and no personal details about McDonald were immediately available.

... taken from Filipino stabbed soon to be husband of his girlfriend to death

[iframe http://www.gmanews.tv/evideo/62358/off-duty-cop-foils-robbery-involving-p500000-in-binondo 480 400]

Despite being outnumbered, Police officer 2 Jomel Caronan, of Parañaque City-Police Community Precinct 7, was able to wound Nolito Garaes and arrested Larion Milan, 29.

The MPD identified the messenger as Santiago Dangan, 50, of Savory Restaurant.

The third suspect, whom police identified as a certain Noel Jimenez, was able to escape from the incident.

Reports reaching the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters showed that the botched heist took place a few meters away from the restaurant at Plaza Cervantes in Binondo Manila, at 10:30 a.m.

Dangan was reportedly walking towards PBCom Bank to deposit the earnings of the restaurant worth P500,000 when the three suspected robbers went toward him and held him at gunpoint before declaring the heist.

One of the suspects was about to shoot Dangan after taking the money from him but the victim was able to slip past the robbers and run aimlessly while shouting for help.

Caronan, who was passing by the area and was on his way to work, happened to hear the plea of Dangan and he immediately came to the victim’s aid.

The police officer reportedly shot it out with the three suspects and, despite being outnumbered, successfully hit Garaes on the body and arrest Milan.

The third suspect, however, was able to escape the pursuing Caronan on-board a plate-less motorcycle.

Reports said that Garaes is now being treated at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center while Milan is now detained at the MPD-Station 11.

Authorities are set to file robbery charges against the two arrested robbers.

You might think whatever you want about the PNP, but this cop did very well. Do you think he deserves to be promoted?

... taken from The Manila policeman who avoids a robbery while he is off duty

The day will be the inauguration of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as the new President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Under the Constitution, outgoing President Arroyo and other elected officials in government will relinquish their respective offices on the noon of June 30.

Palace officials will make the formal announcement today regarding the details of the declaration, the report added.

... taken from Noynoy starts with extra holiday on June 30

The Dubai Court of First Instance jailed the 29-year-old Filipino legal accountant after Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad convicted him of breaching the Filipina’s modesty and molesting her.

When the accused, R.P., appeared in Courtroom Four earlier this month, he apologized for using his iPhone’s camera to breach the modesty of the 28-year-old woman.

Prosecutors accused R.P. of molesting 28-year-old M.I. and taking indecent images of her while she was undressed and using the bathroom.

“Yes I am guilty your honor… I apologize for what happened,” contended the accused when he defended himself in court.

According to the arraignment sheet, prosecutors said the defendant breached the woman’s privacy and modesty and molested her by taking pictures of her with his iPhone.

Prosecution records said 28-year-old M.I. spotted the camera lens focused towards her while she was on the toilet seat.

“My sister had warned me the earlier day that she had discovered a camera lens placed inside a skirt and focused towards the inside of the bathroom,” claimed M.I. in her prosecution statement.

Spotted

“My sister asked me to be careful because she thought that maybe a woman had forgotten her mobile phone in the skirt. But when I sat on the toilet seat, immediately I spotted a small rug [hung on the door's hangers] which had a small hole and the lens was focused towards me,” she said.

“The iPhone was knitted to the back of the rug and covered with a cloth… I discovered a 31-minute video recording. Immediately we informed the police and handed them the phone.”

Pronouncing yesterday’s judgment, Presiding Judge Abdul Jawad said the accused will be deported after the completion of his imprisonment.

The primary judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days.

... taken from Filipino jailed in Dubai for taking pictures with his iPhone

Radio dzBB reported Tuesday that Manila Police District Station 11 head Superintendent Rogelio Rosales said the laboratory, which he described as “small-scale,” had started operating only two weeks ago.

The MPD Station 11, armed with a search warrant, raided the laboratory at an apartment located at the corner of Aguilar Street and C.M. Recto Avenue Monday night.

Police also arrested two foreigners linked to the laboratory, initially identified as Hong Kong national Lee Hyong Wee and Taiwanese Kwo Won Sing.

A separate report on dzXL radio said the arrest of the two last Saturday led to Monday night’s raid.

Found in the apartment’s second floor were a half-kilo of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth some P1 million along with chemicals used to make the drug, the dzXL report said.

... taken from Shabu factory busted in Manila

... taken from SmartBro

After two days of no AC, mosquito bites, and sleepless nights, the electricity is now back! We officially got it this afternoon. As for the owner of the unit which burned down, I don’t have any news about them. I just heard something about them paying the fire investigators to dismiss the investigation of the cause of the fire. Pretty lame, right? If that is true, then it’s really sad. How money can ‘cover up’ anything, how it can put people’s lives at stake.

Now everything’s back to normal. I just hope people would be more responsible. We are careful of our actions, but all of that would go to waste if the people around you are not. Let’s be responsible. Let’s not make this world a place worse than it already is.

... taken from Fire in Gaisano Tower

I love to taking pictures from the streets every time I have some time or after my shift at work. It’s been my routine to walk with my camera hanging around my neck. I love to take a picture of the people who’s almost forgot by our system that we have. As I walked towards the jeepney loading area I saw this Motorbike “Park” on the other side of the Pedestrian lane… Wow, Is that Amazing? Come to think about it‘s a Cops bike… Are they allowed to do that?  And here is the thing… They saw this one motorist front tire touched the part of the pedestrian lane and they’d talked to the guy and asked for its license… Wow, Amazing… Okay that guy made some mistake but how about you, parking your bike on the center Island across to the pedestrian lane? Do you have brains? Part of our taxes goes to your pay cheque.

... taken from Parking Lot?

What about the “green professor“, you might ask. I can pretty much guess the first thing that came into your mind when you first glanced at this entry’s title. And so here’s what I am going to tell you–I did not mean a malicious professor. What I meant was a professor who is a lover of nature. She really sees to it that nothing goes to waste. She is pro-Earth. Pro-recycling. Pro-reusing. Pro-reducing. Everything & anything that can be done to save the world. She requires us to use SCRATCH PAPERS during quizzes, seat works,  home works, everything. Isn’t she wonderful? She’s been doing this for 2-3 years now, if I’m not mistaken.

I find her so admirable because with this kind of practice, we could actually help in saving Mother Earth. She handles probably more than 10 classes. Imagine how much paper is saved!

I hope this practice goes on and on until the next generations. It is such an inspiring habit. I guess if Mother Nature could talk, she’d say, “Thank you.”

Let us help in saving the world with little acts of kindness. Kindness towards nature, animals and people. We don’t really know it, but these acts can go a very long way.

Hopeless as it may seem, I still see hope for the Philippines. I still see hope for the world.

... taken from The Green UST Professor

Some of the firecrackers available in the market

Driving Away Bad Luck

The use of firecrackers to usher in the new year is believed to drive away bad luck and bad spirits. This belief stemmed from a superstition that loud noises are hated by bad spirits, hence making them go away. Firecrackers, being the best source of noise, are the best tools in sending bad spirits away.

Firecrackers in the Philippines are either made locally, mainly form the town of Bocaue in the province of Bulacan, or imported from China. Firecrackers that are available in the market vary in size, shape, and power. The most powerful and destructive firecrackers available in the market are aptly named as “Bin Laden” and “Goodbye Philippines.”

As of the latest count, three persons died and about 800 people were injured due to firecrackers. It is expected that these numbers will still rise because there are still remaining stocks of firecrackers being sold by street vendors.

Piccolo Leads the Way

The Piccolo is the firecracker that caused the most numbers of injuries during the New Year’s Day celebration. Piccolo is shaped like and is ignited like a matchstick. Supposedly, this firecracker is safe enough to be held even while it is exploding. However, lack of quality control and the prevalence of fake Piccolos rendered the firecracker harmful.

A box of twenty pieces of Piccolo cost about 10 to 20 pesos, making it affordable to children. The children have the highest incidence of being injured by Piccolo.

The Department of Health (DOH)  is seeking the total ban on the sale and use of Piccolo in the country.

... taken from Deadly Firecrackers Welcomed 2010

Efren started doing this when he was just 16 years old after seeing how bad the situation was for poor kids in Cavite. Coming from a poor family too, at an early age he got to know fear of the gangs who would recruit young kids to be part of their violent group. With the thought that he wanted to give other kids a better life and chance for a brighter future, he and his friends started doing their project. They loaded a pushcart with books, notebooks and other stuff and then proceeded to give lessons on arithmetic, reading, writing and English.

He hopes to further expand his project to cater to more and more poor kids who need help so that they will not be drawn to gangs and violence. “I always tell my volunteers that you are the change that you dream and I am the change that I dream. And collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”

Mabuhay Ka Efren! Congratulations!

Grabbed Photo From: Barriosiete.com

... taken from A Milestone: Filipino Wins The Top Spot in CNN’s Heroes!

As per Taguig Vice Mayor George Elias, “Encore” will be a new bar that caters to jazz music, film screenings, Sunday bazaars, ballroom sessions and stand-up comedy acts. The bar was allowed to open after it submitted an entirely new and more wholesome concept and finally approved by the City Mayor. Before, Embassy was the scene of Manila elite’s hangout place and now it will become a more wholesome establishment. Embassy Super Club though will be relocated somewhere outside the city.

Representatives from Embassy said that they will also impose stricter security measures to prevent disorderly conduct as well as reduce the capacity of the said bar to minimize dangerous incidents and prevent illegal activities too. Goodbye extreme clubbing for the moment, hello more wholesome nights!

Of course, the opening of Embassy Super Club’s new location is something to watch out for!

... taken from The Erstwhile Embassy Bar’s Rebirth

Venue: A-Venue along Makati Avenue, Metro Manila

Time: 10PM onwards

Attire: Halloween Costume!

For ticket and VIP Tables Call: 6327762 – 6348238

Poster Credits: Bigfishmanila.com

... taken from Big Fish “Cream” Halloween Ball Happening Tonight!

There was also supposed to be a grand reception at the Araneta center with a budget of about 3M Pesos but the couple cancelled that and instead gave away the budgeted 3M for victims of “Ondoy” which I think is a selfless act and it would have just been appropriate  I think in view of the recent happenings to our country. Congratulations to Senator Mar and Korina! May you enjoy happily married couple bliss!

For related stories: Check out GMA News and ABS CBN News

Photo Credits: Weddingsatwork.com

... taken from Mar Roxas And Korina Sanchez Wedding Happening Today!