Liberal Party 2013 Possible Senatorial Candidates

The Liberal Party (LP) is now finalizing its list of candidates for the 2013 senatorial elections.

Image Courtesy of ABS CBN

In an interview with radio dzMM, LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. said the line-up may include re-electionist senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Also included is Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, “who has been supportive and consistently in touch” with President Benigno Aquino III,” he said.

LP, which is headed by Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas, will also try to form a coalition with the Nacionalista Party, which includes Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

“It’s a natural alliance that can be developed," Abad said.

Other possible candidates for the LP, according to Abad, are:

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima;
Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon;
Customs Deputy Commissioner Danny Lim;
former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros;

Presidential Adviser on Environmental Concerns Neric Acosta;
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva;
House Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada;
House prosecution spokesman Sonny Angara.

Hontiveros placed 13th in the 2010 senatorial elections. It was her first time to run for the Senate.

Escudero and Koko Pimentel are in the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the new political coalition of Vice-President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

Source:  abs-cbnnews.com

Arroyos, Abalos plead not guilty

Former President and now Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband, Jose Miguel, and former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., pleaded not guilty to graft charges filed against them over the botched National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with Chinese telecommunications firm, ZTE Corp.

The 3 accused were arraigned before Judge Gregory Ong of the anti-graft court’s fourth division at 8:30 a.m.

The former president likewise entered a not guilty plea to a charge of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier declared the cancelled NBN deal overpriced, and anti-graft prosecutors filed the charges against the Arroyos and her co-accused last December.

Former Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, who is a co-accused in the case, did not attend the arraignment as he has yet to recover from a stroke at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

Mendoza’s lawyer, Atty. Alexander Poblador, asked the court to move his client’s arraignment to May 14.

The court agreed not to require Arroyo and Abalos to attend the pre-trial conference on June 4.

Arroyo and Abalos are currently detained for allegedly participating in the rigging of the 2007 senatorial elections.

Herpes zoster

Arroyo's lawyer, Laurence Arroyo, said the former president was diagnosed with shingles (herpes zoster) but still insisted to attend the arraignment today.

"She was diagnosed with shingles, which is something akin to chickenpox. She was advised by her doctors not to attend the arraignment but she insisted...She wanted to face squarely the charges against her and get the trial going," Arroyo told Mornings@ANC.

He added: "Her doctors told us it is because of her weak immune system that she developed this illness, which is a bit infectious."

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.

The lawyer said Mrs. Arroyo will need to stay longer at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to recover from the illness as well as problems with her spine.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Robinsons Galleria Robbery March 29

Suspected riding-in-tandem robbers conducted a daring daylight robbery inside Robinsons Galleria Mall in Ortigas Thursday morning, killing a security guard and injuring 6 others.

Robinsons Land corporate PR manager Roseann Coscolluela-Villegas said the mall was still closed when 2 suspects "forcibly entered the mall" before 10 am and went to the mall’s first level to rob Security Bank roving tellers who were delivering money.

"At least 2 armed men tried to rob the roving tellers of Security Bank in Quezon City at around 10 a.m. today. Police authorities responded to the alarm, which is part of the mall security setup, within 15 minutes," an official statement from Robinsons Land said.

Villegas said 2 security guards were injured during a shootout between the suspects and mall security. One of the guards, identified as Rodrigo Villa, later died while receiving treatment at Medical City in Pasig.

The other guard was Roderick Reloso. He remains in critical condition at the said hospital.

Two Security Bank tellers, Vincent Mangatura and Lea del Mundo, were injured after the suspects threw a grenade at them. Three mall goers -- Paul Adrian, Johanssen Dionisia and Rabe Jeremy -- were also injured.

The robbers fled onboard a motorcycle, carrying an undetermined amount of cash.

The spokeswoman said the mall was closed for a few hours after the incident and has since reopened to the public.

Security lapse

Quezon City police district chief Mario dela Vega said the Security Bank roving tellers had already made an initial delivery at the Sanry money changer branch near the EDSA side of the mall.

"The amount was received and then on their way back to the second branch near Ortigas, they passed through the mall and along the way they were fired upon. Nagputukan na kaagad," he said.

He said the suspects threw 2 grenades, only 1 of which exploded inside the mall. He said the second grenade’s pin was already removed when the police discovered it.

Dela Vega said they will investigate a possible security lapse that allowed the robbers to enter the mall.

"Ang basic question - paano nakapasok? We will start from there. We will talk with the security officer of Robinsons. I also asked them to gather all the security so we could identify the exact lapse," he said.

Authorities are also studying the mall's CCTV footage.

Mall management insists there was no lapse in security.

"They entered the mall forcibly, and they were carrying guns!" said Rose Anne Villegas, public relations official of Robinsons Land Corp.

Security Bank, meanwhile, posted the following statement about the incident.

"We deplore this lawless act of violence but at this point, our primary concern is the well being of our employee and the innocent bystanders. We are fully cooperating with police authorities in their investigation and will support all their efforts to bring to justice those responsible for this blatant criminality at the soonest possible time," the bank said.

Eyewitness accounts

A witness, identified only as "Raymart", said he was eating at Chowking Restaurant when the suspects wearing yellow green uniforms went inside the mall Thursday morning and started shooting at guards near the Robinsons Bank.

"Hindi siya normal na putukan. Medyo nagtagal. Malapit lang sa shopping area yung putukan," he told Mornings@ANC.

“Nagstart ang putukan hindi sa labas, sa loob talaga,” he added.

He said he dropped to the floor when he heard rapid gunfire. He said the shooting lasted a long time, followed by an explosion.

“I don’t know how [the robbers] got in the mall. They were already inside the mall when the shooting started,” he said.

He said people hid inside the fast food kitchen for 30-45 minutes. He said they were only allowed to leave the kitchen after they were given the all-clear.

"Nagdeklara ng holdap, kitang-kitang binaril ang isa sa mga guard," another witness said.

One victim, Lea del Mundo, said they suddenly heard an explosion.

One of her companions was hit on the leg.

DZMM correspondent Arnell Ozaeta said a pistol magazine was also found at the crime scene.

The explosion and gunfire caused panic as people fled the area. All stores inside the mall were closed and people prevented from entering for several hours.

The Metro Manila Development Authority posted an advisory in its Twitter account, warning motorists of heavy traffic near the Galleria entrance on the northbound lane of EDSA. 

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Earth Hour 2012 Philippines

One of the largest environmental awareness events held annually, Earth Hour is set to take place on March 31, 2012.

The global event, which aims to increase knowledge and perception about climate change calls for turning off lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. following local time zones on Saturday. Earth Hour 2012 necessitates people to unite and protect the planet.

Filipinos are encouraged to turn off non-essential lights on the said time and date for more than 1 hour. The Philippines has been a top Earth Hour participating country since 2009.

Earth hour kicked off in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and was organized by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

Arroyo Posts Bail In ZTE Contract Case

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo posted bail Friday before the Sandiganbayan for the three criminal offenses she faces in connection with the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal.

Mrs. Arroyo posted the P70,000 bail through her lawyer Laurence Arroyo, 11 days after the graft court's Fourth division issued an arrest warrant for her, her husband Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., and former Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza over alleged kickbacks from the Chinese firm Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) for the approval of the contract.

Arroyo approved the deal which was later cancelled amid public furor and a congressional inquiry.

The court had granted Mrs. Arroyo's request to accomplish her bail application from her detention quarters at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

She is awaiting trial for electoral fraud in another case before a Pasay City court.

The minute resolution, signed by Associate Justices Jose Hernandez, Ma. Cristina Cornejo and Gregory Ong, division chair, directed Arroyo to post bail within five days.

The court took cognizance of the prosecution's manifestation favoring the former president's request to accomplish her bail application from Veterans to speed up the process, lessen risk and for "humanitarian reasons."

Joffre Gil Zapata, clerk of court, said court personnel, might drive out to the hospital to fingerprint and photograph Arroyo and administer the signing of the bail.

"We are still awaiting a directive from the justices. If the order [to go to Veterans] is not issued anytime today, most likely we will do the process on Monday," Zapata said.

The former president has been indicted for violating sections 3(g) and 3(i) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-graft law) for having "unusual interest" in the contract.

She was also separately charged with violation of section 7(d) of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees for playing golf and having lunch with ZTE officials in the company's head office in China.

Mike Arroyo and Mendoza had each posted bail of P30,000 for the graft charges relating to the same contract.

On Wednesday night, members of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives visited Arroyo and gave her an early present for her 65th birthday on April 5.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said he and his colleagues wanted to boost Arroyo's spirits before the House goes on Lenten break starting today until May 6.

Suarez said Arroyo seemed to have lost weight and aged, and was looking frail.

Arroyo continues to suffer from a spine ailment, which had partially immobilized her and caused her hospitalization.

"She is still complaining of the pain in her spine in spite of a slight improvement in her spinal column, Suarez said.

House Deputy Minority Leader Ma. Milagros Magsaysay said Aquino's nurse told her that the former president and now Pampanga representative "has been feeling discomfort. She is complaining of back pains all over."

Mrs. Arroyo underwent three surgeries last year due to her problematic spine.

Katrina Halili is Pregnant

Actress Katrina Halili is three months pregnant. She confirmed in an interview with columnist Ricky Lo for Startalk TX aired on GMA-7's 24 Oras on Friday, March 24 2012.

Image Courtesy of iGMA.tv

The father of Katrina's unborn child is R&B singer Kris Lawrence.

Here is the exclusive interview video of Ricky Lo courtesy of YouTube and GMA:







Last week, there are blind items about the actress pregnancy. "Tinago ko muna sa sarili ko. Mga weeks pa bago ko sabihin sa Mama ko," Katrina said.

Katrina is currently on the GMA Show's  My Beloved together with Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

Pulse Asia Survey: Top 2013 Senatorial Candidates

The latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia from February 26 to March 9, 2012 revealed the frontrunners in the 2013 Philippine Senatorial elections.

Image Courtesy of Pulse Asia

1. Loren Legarda – 58.5%
2. Francis “Chiz” Escudero – 52.7%
3. Mar Roxas – 41.8%
4. Alan Peter Cayetano 41.6%
5. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. – 38.2%
6. Noli de Castro – 34.6%
7. Antonio Trillanes IV – 33.7%
8. Gregorio Honasan – 32.1%
9. Jose Victor Ejercito – 31.3%
10. Koko Pimentel – 29%
11. Ted Failon – 26.9%
12. Leila de Lima – 26.6%
13. Rodolfo Biazon – 22.5%
14. Juan Miguel Zubiri – 22.4%
15. Ana “Jamby” Madrigal – 21.8%
16. Michael Defensor – 21.5%
17. Kris Aquino – 20.7%
18. Richard Gordon – 20.3%
19. Willie Revillame – 20.2%
20. Juan Edgardo Angara – 18.1%
21. Sharon Cuneta – 17.0%
22. Grace Poe – 12.7%
23. Gilbert Teodoro – 11.8%
24. Mike Enriquez – 11.0%
25. Richard Gomez – 10.8%
26. Eduardo Manzano – 8.9%

Pulse Asia used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.

Philippine Football Federation (PFF) lodges formal complaint with GMA-7 against Arnold Clavio and co-hosts

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has lodged a formal complaint with GMA-7 against Arnold Clavio and others in relation to the hot topic right now, the statement made against the Philippine Azkals.

The complaint was in a form of a letter addressed to GMA Network President and COO Gilbuerto R. Duavit, Jr.

The full text of the letter is posted below:

14 March 2012
GMA NETWORK, INC.
GMA Network Center
EDSA corner Timog Avenue
Quezon City
Attention: Mr. GILBERTO R. DUAVIT, JR.
President & COO

Re: RACIST, LIBELOUS & DISCRIMINATORY STATEMENTS OF GMA-7 TV HOST
ARNOLD CLAVIO IN YOUR NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS TV PROGRAM
“UNANG HIRIT” ON 13 MARCH 2012

Gentlemen:

The PHILIPPINE FOOTBALL FEDERATION (PFF) would like to lodge a formal complaint with your organization for the racist, discriminatory, libelous and malicious statements of your Program Host, ARNOLD CLAVIO and his other co-hosts, during the nationwide broadcast of your News & Public Affairs Program “Unang Hirit” last 13 March 2012.

After reading a news report on the Philippines vs. India match (March 11, 2012), the Philippines vs. Tajikistan match scheduled on March 13, 2012, and a news report on how the members of the Philippine National Football Team (Men’s) focus on their scheduled games despite the sexual harassment complaint filed by CRISTINA RAMOS against Philippine team players LEXTON MOY and ANGEL GUIRADO, the following statements, among others, were uttered by your host ARNOLD CLAVIO, thus:

Host Rhea Santos – “Kailangan masampulan eh…”

Host Arnold Clavio – “Kaya talagang ano na. Aral na sa inyo yan, ang yayabang nyo akala nyo. Porke’t dinadagsa kayo ng mga fans, ang gugugwapo nyo eh.”

“Parang God’s gift to women”

“Alam mo lahat.. lahat nang… nakuwento nga ni Cristina at nang dalawa nyang kasama. Lahat ginawa para ipaalam na may babaeng papasok sa locker, ilang katok nga sila eh. Eh malapit na yung match eh. Kailangan ma-check na yung dalawang koponan. Eh nauna yung Philippine team bago yung Malaysian… na team.

“Ngayon nag-sorry para sa isa daw nilang kasamahan. Saan ka nakakita ng Azkal na may suso? Wala naman akong…. anong cup B? Maybe a cup B sa isang kasama?

“Palusot na lang…”

“Sana nag-sorry, sorry na lang talaga, di ba? Parang…”

“Hindi ko kayo ka-kultura. Kasi wala dito (pointing to his chest)…. at wala dito (pointing to his head)…”

“Hindi naman kayo Pilipino. Nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi. Hindi kayo dito lumaki”…

“Mahirap yun….. Insensitive.”

“Para maging aral.”

“Congratulations. Kasi hiwalay naman ito sa ginagawa nilang pakikipaglaban. So, good luck din sa inyong susunod na laban para mapunta kayo sa Final 4 ha. Na bihira pong marating nang Pilipinas sa matagal na panahon.”

“Alam naman nila yung mga sexcapades nila sa isa’t isa eh, di ba? Sino ba nag-penicillin.. Alam naman nila yun.”

“Akala siguro lahat sila gusto silang matikman siguro… makasama…Diyos ko.”

Your TV Host ARNOLD CLAVIO’s declarations that the members of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team “are not Filipinos” and “are only pretending to be Filipinos” are not only libelous and defamatory to the good name and reputation of the PFF and the Filipino players comprising the Men’s National Team now playing with their hearts for “flag and country” at the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu, Nepal. They are also verbal statements of a racist nature and constitute malicious, contemptuous, discriminatory and denigratory remarks concerning race and origin that offend the dignity of the Filipino players and Filipinos who are similarly situated.

ARNOLD CLAVIO has made those scathing and offensive remarks with reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of his statements. In association football, only citizens of the country can be a member of the Representative “A” Team of the country, i.e., its National Team. In making his scurrilous statements, CLAVIO made it appear that PFF has selected persons who are not Filipino citizens to be members of and play for the Philippine National Team. This subjects all Philippine National Teams (not only the Men’s National Team) to doubts by international organizations, spectators and opposing national teams as to the Filipino citizenship, and therefore eligibility, of the Philippine team players. It also puts the name and reputation of the Philippines and the PFF in disrepute. CLAVIO obviously does not know (and neither he nor your program staff did not care to check) that only Filipinos can play in the Philippine National Football Team. Indeed, weeks prior to any international tournament a country has to submit to the organizer a list of its National Team players with proof of their citizenship or nationality (e.g. passports).

The members of the Philippine National Team now playing in Nepal at the AFC Challenge Cup are Filipinos just like your Unang Hirit hosts Arnold Clavio, Rhea Santos, Connie Sison and Lyn Ching-Pascual. Some of the current members of the Philippine Men’s Football Team have either a Filipina mother or a Filipino father, thus qualifying them to be natural-born Filipino citizens. One can notice the obvious discomfort of even CLAVIO’s co-host Lyn Ching-Pascual when he confidently uttered the words “Hindi naman kayo Pilipino. Nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi….”

ARNOLD CLAVIO also discriminates against the Philippine national team players who, for one reason or another, grew up or partly grew up outside the Philippines when he uttered the words “Hindi kayo dito lumaki”. This constitutes disparaging and demeaning remarks against Filipino children of Filipinos who are compelled by circumstances to work and live abroad with their children. His bias against Filipinos who grew up abroad is utterly shocking and is not expected to be blurted out by a TV host of your respected and reputable organization. Many Filipinos, including our own President Benigno S. Aquino, partly grew up abroad by force of circumstances. Are they less Filipino than those who grew up entirely in the Philippines?

ARNOLD CLAVIO is also guilty of sexist remarks and sex-related innuendo leveled against the Philippine National Team players when he uttered the words “Alam naman nila yung mga sexcapades nila sa isa’t isa eh, di ba? Sino ba nag-penicillin… Alam naman nila yun.”…..“ Akala siguro lahat sila gusto silang matikman siguro… makasama…Diyos ko.” Added to that statement was host Rhea Santos’ statement that “[y]ung mga babae…kasi porke guwapo… sikat… minsan halos itapon na nila yung mga sarili doon sa mga lalaki” that operate to demean and disparage Filipino women, in general, and the Filipino women supporters of the Philippine Men’s National Team. It must be noted that your Unang Hirit program caters to all age groups.

After uttering the above-stated libelous, racist and discriminatory remarks, and after obviously reading an idiot board or reminder from somebody (not covered by the camera), ARNOLD CLAVIO, congratulated the team and wished them luck during their next game so they could qualify for the semifinals of the Challenge Cup, a situation which CLAVIO himself admitted is seldom attained ‘”by the Philippines”. Nonetheless, the unquantifiable damage and injury to the PFF and the Philippine Men’s National Football Team has already been inflicted by the scurrilous and discriminatory words emanating from your TV host ARNOLD CLAVIO.

As you are aware, the matter of sexual harassment complaint by Cristina Ramos against Philippine players Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado is now pending before the PFF Disciplinary Committee which has primary jurisdiction over the complaint. While your organization may report news concerning the matter, we and the public expect that no racist, discriminatory, sexist, or disparaging remarks that offend the dignity of persons or organizations or maliciously defame persons or organizations are made by your hosts and reporters.

We thus lodge this complaint and protest with GMA NETWORK, INC. and demand that, (i) your organization impose, after requisite proceedings, the appropriate sanction on your TV host ARNOLD CLAVIO; (ii) your organization and/or ARNOLD CLAVIO rectify, among others, his discriminatory, racist and libelous assertions that members of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team are not Filipinos and are only pretending to be Filipinos; and, (iii) your organization and/or ARNOLD CLAVIO issue a written apology to the PFF and the Philippine Men’s National Football Team which should also be forthwith read and given prominence in your News & Public Affairs TV program, “Unang Hirit”.

We are thankful that in one way or another, your organization has helped in the promotion of football in the Philippines. We all know that encouraging the Filipino youth to engage in sports in general or play football in particular contributes to nation-building. We however strongly protest the previously cited statements of your Unang Hirit Hosts ARNOLD CLAVIO and RHEA SANTOS.
Very truly yours,
MARIANO V. ARANETA., JR.
President
EDWIN B. GASTANES
PFF Legal Counsel

Arnold Clavio criticized for his alleged racist remark against the Azkals

GMA News anchor Arnold Clavio has recently become a subject of criticisms after his ‘racist’ remarks on the Philippine national football team Azkals. He remarked in a segment in Unang Hirit, a GMA morning program where he serves as a reporter, that the Azkals members, Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado, deserved it right referring to the recent sexual harassment case filed by match commissioner Cristina Ramos.

In his comment, he said “Sana nag sorry, sorry na lang talaga ‘di ba.. na ‘di ko kayo ka-kultura.. kasi wala dito’t wala dito (pointing to the chest and head), ‘di naman kayo Pilipino e, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi, hindi kayo dito lumaki. Mahirap ‘yun. Insensitive”

Netizens react to this issue, stating that it is mere crab mentality. Others say that the comments were racist, foul and harsh remarks, which is not of a responsible journalist.

The irony of it was he said insensitive and yet he didn’t consider the feelings of the other members of the Azkals when he said “di naman kayo Pilipino e, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi.”

After this issue, GMA-7 broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio has issued an official statement after drawing flak for his alleged racist statement about the Philippine Azkals.

The statement reads:

Mga igan, nakakalungkot na may negatibong reaksyon ang naging pahayag ko tungkol sa Philippine Azkals kaugnay ng sexual harassment complaint ni Ms. Cristy Ramos. Wala po akong ganoong intensyon. Ang isyu po rito ay sexual harassment at kung may nagamit man po akong mga salita na hindi angkop, nagpapakumbaba po ako at humihingi ng pang-unawa. Dun naman po sa mga kasama kong nanindigan laban sa sexual harassment, maraming salamat po. Seryoso pong isyu ito na dapat bantayan.

-Arnold Clavio

February 25 is declared Special Holiday

February 25, 2012 is declared by Malacañang as a Special Holiday for all schools, both public and private, in the Philippines to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution with the theme “Edsa 26: Anong Taya Mo Para Sa Pilipinas Natin?”.


The announcement was made in November 2011 via President Noynoy Aquino’s Proclamation No. 295 – Declaring The Regular Holidays, Special (Non-Working) Days, And Special Holiday (For All Schools) For The Year 2012.

It is still going to be a regular working day for employees since it is not a special non-working day, so they have to go to work on this day.

Al Galang’s alleged letter to Vicki Belo relased by Hayden Kho

Hayden Kho Jr. posted in his Twitter account the alleged letter written by Al Galang to Dr. Vicki Belo. And this letter goes viral around the net now.

The letter was dated October 16, 2011 and it reads as follows:

“Baby,

My handwriting might be hard for your eyes to digest, but know I mean every word. I’ll only be gone for two weeks, but that feels like such a long time now because you’ve become such an important part of my life. In ways, it’s starting to revolve around you and I love that.

I’ll miss you, but know that I’m right there with you, all the time. I’ll call you often ok? Save up the hugs and kisses for when I get back.

Isn’t this special?
AG”

So who is Al Galang and what’s his role in Vicki Belo’s life?

28-year-old Aljarreau “Al” Galang is Vicki Belo’s Bikram yoga instructor and a close friend of Belo’s family. He reportedly won 2nd runner-up in the 2007 Mossimo Bikini Summit. He took up Political Science and Art History at the University of California-Los Angeles and graduated in 2004.

He is also a DJ at MAX FM 103.5 and was linked to TV host Sam Oh.

Just recently, he is being tagged as the third party or “the other man” in the failed relationship of Hayden and Vicki.

Two Giant Crocodiles caught in Palawan

Two giant saltwater crocodiles, caught in a river in Bgy. Rio Tuba in Bataraza, Palawan are transferred on Tuesday night to the custody of the Palawan Crocodile Farm and Conservatory in Puerto Princesa. Farm officials named the 16-foot male crocodile as Valentino and the 11-foot female as Valentina on the occasion of Valentine's Day.

Courtesy of ABS-CBNNews.com

PhilHealth CARES – Jobs for Registered Nurses (RN) in the Philippines

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth is hiring and looking for Registered Nurses (RN) in the Philippines for their PhilHealth CARES (Customer Assistance, Relations and Empowerment Staff) Program.

RN’s must have the following preferred skills and competencies:

Communication Skills – Excellent communication skills, oral and written. Ability to listen actively to customer concerns.

Personality – Customer-focused, passionate about results and patient when dealing with customer concerns. Resourceful, familiar with PhilHealth services, programs and regulations.

Software/Application Skills – Well-versed in MS Office applications. Experienced in using online application systems using wireless communication devices.

To apply, e-mail your resume/cv to hrmdd.admin@philhealth.gov.ph and put “PhilHealth CARES Application” in the Subject field of your e-mail.

Unfortunately, the application for the said program ended yesterday, February 14. Further inquiries may be referred to PhilHealth’s Call Center at (02) 441-7442.

Pacquiao vs Bradley on June 9

It's Confirmed! Pacquiao vs Bradley will be on June 9, 2012. The confirmation was made by Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz early Tuesday morning.

Image Courtesy of badlefthook.com

Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against unbeaten American puncher Tim Bradley on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao and Bradley last fought in November last year at the MGM Grand where the Filipino beat Juan Manuel Marquez and Bradley stopped Joel Casamayor in the undercard.

Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) and Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) will meet at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO pay-per-view.

Watch Pacquiao vs Bradley on June 9

Negros Earthquake Latest Update and Photos

The death toll in Negros Oriental from Monday’s magnitude-6.9 earthquake continued to rise, with the military reporting 48 fatalities Tuesday noon and at least 92 more missing.

Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the Army's 302nd Brigade, said 60 houses with 42 persons were reportedly buried in Barangay Solongon, La Libertad town, and another 29 houses with 30 persons in Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City.

Here are some of the Negros Earthquake Photos taken from Facebook.

Army soldiers used picks, shovels and chainsaws in a race against time to rescue at least 71 people buried in landslides that covered 80 houses in two barangays (villages) in Guihulngan City and the adjacent La Libertad town, both in Negros Oriental.

President Benigno Aquino III will visit Dumaguete City, one of the areas affected by the temblor, on Wednesday, his 52nd birthday, Malacañang announced.

“(The President) will inspect damaged areas and meet with our countrymen affected by the calamity, as well as with the government workers who are providing much needed relief operations on the ground,” his spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, said.

The number of victims of Monday’s 6.9-magnitude earthquake could still go up as some 90 houses were buried in Barangay Solinggon in La Libertad and in Sitio (sub-village) Moog, Barangay Planas in Guihulngan City. Eighty others were injured.

At least 45 people were confirmed dead—28 in Guihulngan, 10 in La Libertad, three in Jimalalud town, two in Tayasan town and two in Bindoy town, officials said.

In Moog, 29 houses were buried 6 meters (20 feet) deep when a portion of the mountain fell over the mountainside neighborhood during the temblor.

Priscilla Meirelles gives birth to a baby girl

February 6, Monday, at 12:29 AM, Brazilian beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles gives birth to a healthy baby girl with his husband John Estrada.

Last Saturday, February 4, at the finale episode of the now-defunct Happy Yipee Yehey, Estrada shared that his wife, Meirelles, was brought to the hospital because they thought that she will deliver the child then. But she did not give birth until Monday, 12:29 AM.

Estrada himself confirmed the delivery of their baby girl through a text message. They named the baby girl Samantha Anechkam who wieghed 6.13 lbs. Estrada proudly said that the baby is very pretty and looked exactly like her beauty queen mother.

In the same text message, Estrada said that his wife is doing fine and is very happy for the blessing they’ve received.

2012 PBA Commissioner's Cup

The 2012 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup is the second conference of the 2011–12 PBA season. The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 10. The tournament is an import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team and with no height limit.

Image courtesy of PBA

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference:

Single-round robin eliminations; 9 games per team; Teams are then seeded by basis on win-loss records. Ties are broken among points differences of the tied teams.
The top two teams after the elimination round will automatically advance to the semifinals.
The next four teams will play in a best of three quarterfinals series for the two last berths in the semifinals. Matchups are:
QF1: #3 team vs. #6 team
QF2: #4 team vs. #5 team
The winners of the quarterfinals will challenge the top two teams in a best-of-five semifinals series. Matchups are:
SF1: #1 vs. QF2
SF2: #2 vs. QF1
The winners in the semifinals advance to the best of seven Finals.

2012 PBA Commissioner's Cup Imports:

• Air21 Express - Marcus Douthit
• Alaska Aces - Matt Saryas
• B-Meg Llamados - Denzel Bowles
• Barako Bull Energy - DerMarr Johnson
• Barangay Ginebra Kings - Chris Alexander
• Meralco Bolts - Jelani McCoy
• Petron Blaze Boosters - Nick Fazekas
• Powerade Tigers - Dwayne Jones
• Rain or Shine Elasto Painters - Jake Voskuhl
• Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters - Omar Samhan

Watch 2012 PBA Commissioner's Cup Live on AKTV IBC 13

No Cellphone signal in Quiapo due to Black Nazarene Itim na Nazareno Feast

Devotees of the Itim na Nazareno will not be able to use their cellphones in Quiapo as the Philippine government has ordered the telecommunications companies (Smart-Sun and Globe) to shut off signals amid terrorist threats.

Cellphones may be used as a triggering device for explosives. President Noynoy Aquino earlier revealed that they have received information about a possible bombing during the procession and they are not taking the threats lightly.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicanor Bartolome said that they have deployed 8,000 police personnel for the Black Nazarene 2012.

Follow #nazareno2012 on Twitter for Latest News Updates on the Feast of Black Nazarene

PNoy endorsing Mar for president in 2016?

President Benigno Aquino III asked his party mates in the Liberal Party (LP) to "help" his defeated running mate former Senator Mar Roxas in 2016.

The President's statement, made on Wednesday night at a gathering in Malacañang, was seen as a subtle endorsement of a possible bid by Roxas in the next presidential elections.

"Sana tulungan niyo ang katabi ko para sa 2016 (I hope you help the one next to me in 2016)," said the president, who was beside Roxas during the LP fellowship.

Earlier on Wednesday, Roxas retained the presidency of the Liberal Party.

Aquino also justified his decision to tap Roxas as "troubleshooter."

Party sources said the President has long promised to back a Roxas presidential bid to repay his earlier "sacrifice" of foregoing his own presidential ambitions to give way to Aquino.

Gun ban to continue, checkpoints to stay until after polls—PNP

The ban against firearms will continue and checkpoints will remain as the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections resumed Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced in a press briefing at the national police headquarters.

The police force is "under strict instructions to remain in their posts...until after all election activities had been completed," said Police Deputy Director General Benjamin Belarmino, Task Force Hope "Bravo" commander.

At least 671 gun ban violators have been arrested and 558 weapons confiscated during the election period, Belarmino said, adding that the ban will continue until November 10.

"Elections are being held in 2,183 areas where elections had been postponed yesterday [Monday]," Belarmino said.

Belarmino said the 78 election-related incidents (ERIs) recorded by the National Election Monitoring and Action Center (NEMAC) from September 25 until Monday, October 25, was higher than the 70 incidents recorded in the same period in 2007.

The task force commander said that out of the 78 ERIs, only 20% happened in election hotspots that were identified by the police.