Actor Rudy Fernandez Has Cancer

ACTRESS Lorna Tolentino reveals that her family is effectively coping and reaching each other for support amid the serious ailment that has stricken her husband, action star Rudy Fernandez.

Rudy is currently battling ampullary cancer and is currently undergoing a series of chemotherapy sessions here and abroad.

“Sa likod ng aming pag-iisip, siyempre ganoon pero iniiwasan naming yon. Ginagawa naming normal ang lahat ng mga bagay. Parang hindi naming iniisip na may sakit si Rudy kundi siguro iniiwasan naming yon para lalong maging mabuti yung pagharap naming sa future,” Lorna tells GMA-7’s Startalk, a showbiz talk show she co-hosts.

“Bawa’t araw, bawa’t oras, bawa’t minuto lalo naming pinapakita sa isa’t isa yung pagmamahal namin,” she added.

Lorna said Rudy is currently under the knife to have a portacatheter inserted. “Para siyang may pacemaker para hindi masyadong masakit sa mga veins niya yung chemo na ginagawa sa kanya,” Lorna said.

The multi-award winning actress also said Rudy is taking the ailment positively and in high spirits.

“Rudy is so positive about everything. So kahit na medyo nanghihina siya pagka-after ng chemo niya for a while lang yon. Nilalabanan niya yon. Kasi masyadong depressing siguro kung talagang i-nenega (negative) mo pa yung emotions.”

Amid all the trials, she said she noticed a stark change in their kids and even Rudy’s son with actress-politician Alma Moreno, Mark Anthony Fernandez.

“Ngayon talagang mas siguro iniinform nila kami sa bawat nangyayari sa kanila. Si Mark parating tumatawag sa papa niya at kinakausap. Siguro yung pagpapahalaga sa oras sa bawat isa’t isa yun ang mas binibigyan namin ng attention ngayon,” Lorna said. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Two Philippine Ladies Shine in Bangkok

Regina de Guzman of the Philippines registered a sensational victory at the 17th Thailand Ladies Amateur Open yesterday after shooting a final round of one under71 at the President Country Club layout.

Overnight leader Dottie Ardina, also from the Philippines, who was strongly favoured to do well, fell away with a four over-par 76 and slipped to the eighth spot. (The Bangkok Post)

BPI Opens Web Portal for OFWs

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has opened a web portal dedicated to the Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFWs) to help them gain access to the banking services of major commercial banks catering to their needs.

The portal is available at the BSP’s main webpage (www.bsp.gov.ph) and can be directly accessed at www.bsp.gov.ph/about/advocacies_ofw.asp. (GMA 7)

Too Crowded?

Dubai: Residents in Dubai are complaining about a shortage of public transport buses especially during weekends.

Long queues of passengers at bus stops speak volumes as users sometimes wait for more than an hour to get on a bus, especially on Fridays.

"The situation has become worse even during weekdays but it is a nightmare to get a bus on Fridays," said Charandas Mohan, who regularly uses public buses.

"There are fewer buses and more passengers on Fridays. Areas such as Deira and Bur Dubai become crowded on Fridays because thousands of labourers from labour camps come to these areas to spend the weekend," he said.

Sometimes there are queues of up to 100 to 150 passengers in Deira.

A Gulf News reporter visited different bus stops on Friday and tried to get a bus from Baniyas Square in Deira but in vain. A lack of buses and more passengers also encourage illegal taxi drivers in the area. (www.gulfnews.com)

Note: Today there are 250,000 Filipinos in Dubai. The city's population is just a million. At least five hundred Filipinos arrive in Dubai Airport everyday.

Retired Colonel Has Breast Cancer

Men can get breast cancer, too.

Research shows that 99 percent of the time, women are affected with breast cancer and the remaining 1 percent are men.

“I am one of those in the 1 percent,” said 59-year-old Romeo Licyayo, a retired senior superintendent (colonel in the military) of the Philippine National Police.

Family members were shocked that Licyayo decided to go public. Fellow police officers here could only imagine how he must have suffered, having kept his cancer secret all this time. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

First Disinfestation Technology

Bananas imported into New Zealand from the Philippines will soon be treated, before shipping, with a system kinder on the environment thanks to technology developed by Crop & Food Research and BOC for Dole Asia.

The disinfestation technology developed in New Zealand will be introduced by Dole to its operations around the world.

Steve Barton, NZ Manager for Dole Asia, says by September, bananas on sale in New Zealand, and elsewhere in Asia, will have been treated with this new technology.

“Commercial-scale trials of the new technology, to rid the bananas of tropical pests, have been successful,” he says. “As soon as the company making the equipment, to deliver the treatment to the bananas, can supply us we can introduce the technology.”

Dole plans to introduce the technology first in the Philippines, where bananas for New Zealand are sourced, then roll it out around the world... full story here

Thai Oil Giant Expands Operations in RP

PTT Philippines Corp. (PTTPC) will expand its retail network in the Philippines by another 10 to 20 gas stations, a top company official said.

In a media briefing here, PTT executive vice president for commercial and international marketing Artasith Pothiapinyanvisuth said the company would spend about P8 million to construct one retail gas station, depending on the size of the facility.

But he said they are not yet at liberty to identify the proposed locations for the stations but hinted that they would be situated in major cities in Luzon and the Visayas.

The company will also be putting up a mega-station along the Clark expressway, he added.

PTT is considering the Philippines as one of its focus areas in terms of investments in Southeast Asia.

Earlier, PTT Philippines president and CEO Siripong Phoungpaka assured the Philippine government that the Thai oil giant would continue the expansion of its retail network in 2007 as part of its optimism on the prospects of the country’s oil industry. (ABS-CBN News)

A Changed Perspective

Anne Arnold visited the Philippines as part of a cultural exchange program, but returned home to Fort Wright with a different outlook on life... full story here

$600 Million More For The Philippines

The World Bank has said it expects to increase its lending to the Philippines to around $600 million per year over the next few years, amid improvement in the country's fiscal position.

"If we go back two to three years ago, the bank's assistance had fallen to between $100 million and $200 million a year," World Bank Regional Vice President James Adams told reporters at the signing of a new loan agreement between the bank and the government.

"This year we expect to be able to provide in total over $600 million in support to the government," he said.

The Philippines government's improved fiscal health has allowed it greater ability to provide the required matching funds for World Bank loans.

The government is currently seeking to lower its reliance on commercial foreign borrowing and shifting toward more domestic bond issuance and cheaper loans from multinational lenders like the World Bank.

Adams also said that for the first time in eight years, the bank is extending a development loan of $250 million to the Philippines.

The international lender's Philippines country director, Joachim von Amsberg, said the $600 million commitment will cover the fiscal year starting in July. He said the loans will finance 10 priority infrastructure projects. (www.nasdaq.com)

23 Million Filipinos Threatened By Elephantiasis

Experts observe that the newly introduced larvae then lodge into the lymph vessels and lymph glands of the victim, and develop into adult male and female worms. There, they reproduce into millions of mirofilariae, which then circulate in the bloodstream, ready to wreak havoc on the victim’s body and ready to find another mosquito host to perpetuate the infectious cycle.

Based on a study by the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health, there are an estimated 645,232 cases of elephantiasis in the Philippines, causing about $4.4 million in annual losses due to lost work days and decreased productivity.

Information about Elephantiasis can be read here

Consequence of Unfair Treatment

A U.S. study says racial or ethnic group discrimination can lead to an increase in drug or alcohol abuse.

Data from 2,217 Filipino-Americans interviewed in 1998-1999 show that those who reported unfair treatment were more likely to use prescription and illicit drugs, and to be alcohol dependent.

The report in the American Journal of Public Health said prior studies have linked discrimination with illnesses and stressors that can lead to drug or alcohol misuse.

The findings "suggest that we need an aggressive and comprehensive policy that reduces racial and other types of discrimination in order to promote health and well being," the study's authors said. (moldova.org)

CNN International's Newest Presenter: Half-Filipina

She presents the Screening Room, she's a classically-trained musician and she's got a passion for stargazing. Just who is Myleene Klass?

1. Myleene is CNN International's newest presenter, hosting a monthly film show called "The Screening Room."

2. Myleene was born in Norfolk, England to a Filipino/Chinese mother, Magdalena and an Austrian/English father, Oscar...(cnn.com) ...more about Myleene here

In Canada: A Filipino Eatery Gets Attention

DJ Melot had been working as a Royal Bank accountant for a quarter century when she decided to strike out on her own.But transforming an old Joey's Only location into a seafood-Filipino restaurant raised some eyebrows.

"My mom said 'what are you doing? You can't even cook,' " said the Philippines native. So she hired someone else who could -- Ronald Aguilar -- and got down to work, opening the doors of her tidy, little eatery in Calgary last November.

It's retained some of the familiar Joey's feel -- nautical nick-nacks, a luminous aquarium and fish and chips dishes. But Mizue and I were more intrigued by the Philippines fare --the adobos and stir fries and oxtails... (The Calgary Sun) ...full story here

In Singapore: 140 Singaporean Dollars a Month?

A 27-year-old Overseas Filipino Worker from Singapore asked the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and reported the alleged abuses she suffered during her ten-month stay in the said country where she claimed earning only 140 Singaporean dollars.

Rapunzel Sanoria Omandam, 27, married, a resident of barangay Samlog Lungsod in the town of Lupon Davao Oriental was accompanied by her older sister when she went to the police and reported that she was duped by an illegal recruiter back in Davao last year.

Omandam told the police that she was recruited by a barangay midwife of barangay Cocanon in their hometown identified as Marilyn Gogo who bragged about her sister who is working in Singapore as a domestic helper who can help her find an employer because she is directly connected to an agency based in Singapore.

She was promised to collect 320 Singaporean dollars per month minus the payment of the travel and document expenses the agency that would only take six months to pay as salary deductions. (The Philippine Star)

Philippine-made Fertilizer Exported To Brazil

Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. will export P962 million worth of phosphate fertilizer to Brazil in the next two months, a company official said.

The shipment to Brazil will be about 20 percent of the company’s total exports this year, said Dennis Mate, executive vice president of Philphos. “Penetrating the Latin market is a big step because this is the first time that we’ll be exporting outside Asia, and we’re the only company in the Philippines to do so,” Mate told the Inquirer. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Parents Love The Hostage Artist

Parents have pledged support for a gunman who took a busload of pre-school children hostage in the Philippine capital, Manila.

Armando Ducat said he took the action to draw attention to the impoverished conditions in which the children lived.

Prosecutors have filed charges of abduction and illegal possession of firearms against Ducat, and an accomplice Cesar Carbonell. But without the support of parents a case could be difficult to build... (BBC International News) ...full story here

In Negros Oriental: Imported Goons?

The police in Negros Oriental are verifying reports that some politicians or political candidates are “importing hired goons” from other parts of the country.

This, even as congressional candidate Olive Paras vehemently denied accusations that she and her camp had enlisted the help of “goons” who accompanied her in her sorties in the first district. (The Manila Times)

In Malta: Filipinos Fined For Smuggling Cigarettes

Three Philippine nationals were given a suspended sentence and fined after they admitted to importing cigarettes without paying relative duty and excise on them.

Vicente Redito Caracuel, 49, Redentor Cawas Dones, 29 and Adrian Cabal Caminos, 27, all from the Philippines, pleaded guilty to possessing and illegally importing different amounts of cigarettes on Tuesday, upon exiting from the gates at the Malta Freeport Terminal.

They were also charged with hiding the cigarettes in their cabins on board MV Caecilia Schulte, with the intent to defraud the government...(The Malta Independent Online) ...full story here

$1 Billion Nickel Plant in the Philippines

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co, Japan`s largest nickel producer, agreed with Manila-based Taganito Mining Corp. to conduct a joint study on building a $1 billion nickel smelting plant in the Philippines.

Sumitomo Metal Mining would set up a joint venture in 2008 to build a plant with annual production capacity of 30,000 t of nickel, if the study results are favourable, the company said in a statement to the Tokyo Stock Exchange ...(mining-journal.com) ...full story here

Rescued In Cook Strait

A rescue helicopter crew plucked an injured Filipino sailor from a ship passing through Cook Strait this afternoon. A piece of flying metal injured the crewman when a grinding machine broke down on board the bulk carrier, which is traveling between Australia and Brazil.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter staff say the 28-year-old suffered a cut to the abdomen. They winched him off the ship 8km from Wellington's South Coast and flew him to the city's hospital in a stable condition. (http://www.tv3.co.nz)

In Brunei: Two Filipinos Were Arrested

Six foreign nationals were apprehended in an operation conducted by the Law Enforcement Section, Depaituient of Immigration and National Registration. During the raid, five special passes were issued. The six people that were held comprised one male and one female Indonesian, two Filipinos and two male Bangladeshis.

Meanwhile, there is also a case at the deportation unit where a Filipino national is under investigation as her immigration pass has reportedly expired. (bruneidirect.com)

In Bahrain: "I Am Surviving"

"I AM surviving." Three words which say so much from Filipina Pamela Belardo, who survived, but lost her husband in the Al Dana dhow disaster. The young widow is still coming to terms with the reality that she will spend the rest of her life without her husband, Norman.

Soon after the incident, 27-year-old Ms Belardo suffered a new tragedy, miscarrying what was to be their first and only child... (Gulf Daily News) ...full story here

Where Are The "Intellectual Giants"?

Administration Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has bemoaned the lack of “intellectual giants” among the present crop of candidates running for the Senate.

“Sadly, among the candidates, there are no honor graduates from the University of the Philippines College of Law, which used to be a hallmark of the Senate in the past,” she said. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

We Never Loved Spain (Anyway)

"It’s an interesting phenomenon since there are so many strong influences in the region — the Muslims that dominate Indonesia and the Chinese who are the dominant regional economic power — that haven’t captured the culture of the Philippines as much as American culture has. And, even though Spain ruled the Philippines for 300 years or so, the people don’t seem to look toward Spain or Europe for anything..." full story here

"Spain No Longer Loves The Philippines"

"My green Philippine passport has taken me to many places but, like most Filipinos, I have not been spared instances of humiliation just to get a visa stamped on its page.

My encounter with an official in the Embassy of Spain in South Korea was the most harrowing. Spain, our former mother country, the country that gave us the name Philippines after its king who died of syphilis, apparently lost no love for us." ...full story here

In England: A British-Filipina Model and Actress

"Leilani Dowding is a British (born January 30, 1980 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England) model and actress. Starting out as a page 3 girl for The Sun, Leilani Dowding has appeared in many magazines and TV shows. Leilani is half Filipina and half white..." more pictures here

In Japan: A Commentary

As a Filipino, I was lucky to have come from Canada with a Canadian Passport and Canadian Citizenship. I have met many Filipinos in Japan and they aren’t all as lucky as English Teachers. They work in bars and nightclubs and they can’t always stear clear of the bad elements. Most of them don’t get paid nearly twice as much as teachers. Almost all of them send half their earnings to the Philippines to their families back home...full story here

It's Final: Manny Pacquiao Is Arroyo's Candidate

Boxer Manny Pacquiao officially filed his certificate of candidacy in absentia 1:40 p.m. yesterday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. Pacquiao’s legal and financial adviser, Franklin Gacal Jr., signed the documents through the special power of attorney the famous boxer had executed before flying to the United States to train for his next fight. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

In Saipan: Filipinos On Fund-Raising

Under this program, funds are made available to help finance the education of children of former overseas contract workers in the Northern Mariana Islands who had gone back to the Philippines with their parents because the latter have lost their jobs for reasons ranging from incapacitation to old age, among others... (Saipan Tribune) ...full story here

In Hawaii: The First Filipino In The House of Representatives

State flags will fly at half-staff today in honor of former Rep. Peter Aduja, who died on Feb. 19, and tomorrow to honor singer and Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Linda Dela Cruz, who died on March 15. Aduja, a native of Ilocos Sur Province in the Philippines, became the first Filipino in Hawai'i to be elected to the Territorial House of Representatives, where he represented Hilo as a Republican for one two-year term. Funeral services for Aduja will be held today on O'ahu...(The Honolulu Advertiser) ...full story here

In San Francisco: Poeta

Again, I really was overjoyed that Allyson straight up asked me to teach her how to teach Poeta, precisely because I have gotten so disillusioned by Filipino American educators telling me that however "important" is this book to/for Filipino Americans to read and to know, how hard it would be to teach Poeta, and then they just don't appear to try. An underestimation of their own students, and also, in my opinion, and more pointedly, an underestimation of their own abilities as educators...full story here

In Sulu: ...Down The Beach From Terrorists

A few yards from the detachment's temporary home in a mansion surrounded by blast barriers and coconut palms, white-flecked waves pound on a powdery sand shore, and the long sweep of a perfect honeymooners' beach runs into the distance toward jungle-covered mountains... (San Francisco Chronicle) ...full story here

"Exploration at Filipino Oil Licences"

Vital agreed to adjust their farm in to earn 10% (was 30%) in each exploration permit, paying their share of the Filipino partner carry and contribution of a total of US$200,000 in carry towards seismic (reduced from US$600,000). Plus paying 13.75% of each of the first wells in each permit (was 41.25%)... (oilvoice.com) ...full details here

At Home In South Africa

Perez, who is a professional volunteer, said he liked South Africa “very much” and that people were friendly, but he needed to become streetwise... full story here

"The Racist War On Immigrants"

The law scarcely changed for 162 years until the 1870 15th amendment loosened it enough to include blacks by 1875, no longer slaves but hardly free and in 1940 gave Latin Americans the same right. After the war in 1945 it extended it further to Filipinos and Asian Indians. (The Palestine Chronicle) ...full story here

45.5 Million Filipino Voters (More than Canada's Population)

Exactly 45,559,559 Filipinos are registered to vote, half a million of them overseas, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has said. Election commissioner Resurreccion Borra said the final tally of registered voters in the country is 45,055,599. There are, on the other hand, 504,000 overseas voters. (asianjournal.com)

In Subic: South Korean Firm To Build Condo

Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation (HHIC)-Philippines, owner and operator of one of the biggest shipbuilding facilities in the Asia-Pacific region, is set to infuse P37.4 million (US$776,000) to construct a condominium hotel here. (Yahoo News) ...full story here

"No Regrets"

"No, I don't regret anything," he said. "The children's wishes were fulfilled, all 145 children can now go to school all the way up to college. - Amando "Jun" Ducat, The Hostage Actor (Al Jazeera) ...full story here

In Kuwait: Filipina Commits Suicide

A 22-year-old Filipino maid is said to have recently ended her life by hanging herself to death inside her sponsor's home in Salwa, reports Al-Anba daily. During interrogation at a police station, the victim's Lebanese sponsor reportedly told police the maid wanted to return to her country but he refused to let her go until he finds a replacement. When the sponsor found her hanging from a ceiling fan, he called the police. However, the Al-Rai daily gave a different version of the incident. The daily quoting a reliable source said the maid ended her life after learning her husband was planning to marry another woman. (Arab Times)

Philippine Economy: Highest-ranked

THE Philippines and Singapore have emerged as the highest-ranked Asian economies on an index of countries with the most "super growth" companies, a Grant Thornton survey yesterday said. The Philippines ranked eighth on the 2007 Super Growth index, a marked jump from 23rd in 2006...(The Brunei Times) ...full story here

In Canada: Artist Longs For Home

Every time Romeo "Romi" Mananquil holds his brush and starts painting scenes and images of the Philippine countryside on canvas, the yearning for home pinches his heart.

There was never a time when the image of his homeland was erased from his mind, even if he left it over 20 years ago when his artist's career was flourishing...(asianjournal.com) ...full story here

'Skinny' Earns A Place Of Honor

In another early springtime 65 years go, an unprecedented military tragedy was about to play out its sad end for American and Filipino soldiers fighting against the World War II Japanese invasion of the Philippine Islands...(FayObserver.com) ...full story here

Fil-Am Engineers Award Scholarships

A group of Filipino-American engineers recently turned over a one-time scholarship grant to six intelligent but poor Filipino students who are taking up engineering courses from selected colleges and universities in the Philippines. Together with the Ayala Foundation USA, the Association of Filipino-American Engineers in Washington (AFEW) selected this year’s scholars who received the grant that helped augment their expenses while doing thesis or research projects as requirement for graduation.

The scholars were Tristan Jed Roque, BS Computer Science student from the University of the Philippines Diliman; Rizalino de Guia Panganiban, a BS Electronics and Communications Engineering student from FEATI University; Emenar Ramento, a BS Electrical Engineering student at the University of Santo Tomas; Jerome Famadico taking up BS Civil Engineering from Adamson University; Jody Ann Lunasin, BS Electronics and Communications Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology and John Collantes, BS Electrical Engineering at the Manuel L. Quezon University. (ayalafoundation.org)

Generic Drugs vs Branded Medicine

Would you believe that while 60 percent of Americans buy generic drugs and medicine when they get sick, more than 90 percent of Filipinos who get ill prefer the more expensive branded drugs and medicine?

Read this and weep: The poor majority who cannot afford drugs prefer not to buy any medicine when they get sick. As a result, the World Health Organization claims that fewer than 30 percent of Filipinos have access to medicine.

The reasons for these are multiple and difficult to imagine in a country which exports doctors and nurses.

One reason is that there’s a dearth of information and education about the difference between generic drugs and branded medicine. Actually, there’s none. It is really just because Filipinos have been used to be taking branded medicine all these years, as a result of the deluge of advertisements by the well-funded multinationals in the pharmaceutical industry which continue to hold the country hostage. (Emil Jurado, Manila Standard Today)

"Employer of the Year"

CONVERGYS Corporation has been named "Employer of the Year." The recognition came during the International Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards-Manila 2007 event held in the Philippines. Convergys Corporation, the world's largest provider of outsourced customer care, started operations in the Philippines in 2003 with an 800 person workforce in one location. Today, Convergys employs over 10,000 people across eight locations across the country. (SunStar Manila)

"Closer To Wall Street"

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- ETelecare Global Solutions may be based far afield in the Philippines, but its roots are much closer to Wall Street as the business-process outsourcing firm priced its initial public offering for trading yesterday...ETelecare Global derives about 91% of its revenue from American Express, AOL, Cingular Wireless, Dell, Intuit, Sprint Nextel and Vonage... (marketwatch.com) ...full story here

The First Filipino To Qualify To Beijing Olympics

Swimmer Miguel Molina became the first Filipino to make it to the Beijing Olympics next year.The 23-year-old Filipino swimming sensation secured an Olympic berth Wednesday by surpassing the Olympic qualifying standard in the men's 200-meter individual medley during the World Championships being held in Melbourne, Australia. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

HIV / AIDS From Overseas Workers Alarming

AIDS is ravaging the large overseas work force of the Philippines, posing a long-term threat to one of Manila's key sources of foreign exchange, the health department said. Thirty-five percent of all documented cases of HIV carriers are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including 42 percent of the newly reported cases in 2006, according to new data released by the department. The government estimates there were some 11,200 HIV carriers in the Philippines as of December 2005.

"It is a must that we act now because OFWs are regarded as modern-day heroes and are major contributors to the country's gross domestic product and economic stability in general," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque. He said there were limited services to educate and support families of overseas Filipino workers who return home suffering from the virus that causes AIDS. (Yahoo News, AFP)

OFW Families Now Considered Middle-Class

Nearly four in five Philippine families that benefit from money remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now middle- and high-income families, which suggests that more funds may be flowing toward saving and investment than toward consumption, the International Monetary Fund said. The linkage between OFW remittances and investments in the Philippines remains weak, but that may change in the future, the IMF said in a March 2007 country report. “In the Philippines, the investment ratio has steadily declined since the Asian crisis, thus it is clear that the increase in remittances has not increased investment thus far,” the report said.

In 1991, it said, nearly 60 percent of families in the Philippines that considered their main income source as coming from abroad came from the bottom two quartiles (referring to four equal groups into which a population can be divided) based on income distribution. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

In Cebu: Rural Bank Robbed

Two men, with no masks but armed with .45 caliber pistols, entered the Rural Bank of Bacong in Barangay Pakigne, Minglanilla and announced a holdup. The robbers did not hurt the seven people inside the bank— four employees, including manager Romeo Bernil and company guard Jefferson Alivio, Bernil’s six-year-old son and two aircon technicians. (SunStar Cebu)

In Cagayan de Oro: Two Int'l Companies Coming

MAYOR Vicente Emano said two international companies will be opening their branches here in Cagayan de Oro. He said the Han Jin D and B Company and the Trevis International Corp. this week presented to him their proposals to open satellite offices here. The former is a well drilling specialist which implements water system projects while the latter is engaged in manufacturing environmentally friendly products related to solid waste management, sanitation and cleansing. (SunStar Cagayan de Oro)

In Cebu: PC Manufacturer Opens

AFTER catering to small and medium enterprises, an international computer manufacturer launched in Cebu yesterday a new line of products for the consumer market. “The consumer market is an important and fast-growing segment of the personal computer (PC) market in the Philippines. According to IDC, the consumer market contributed to one-third of the total PC market value in 2006,” Lenovo Philippines country general manager Vicky Agorrilla said. (SunStar Cebu)

Long Before the Bastard Spaniards Came

The Chinese came to the Philippines long before this archipelago was called Philippines. Many Filipinos have Chinese blood in their veins. You could be one of them. (Catanduanes Tribune) ...full details here

Pay Your Debts

"Filipinos value close family ties and friendship, so If you obtain your loans from friends or family members and you end up not paying them, your relationship would be strained and they would probably would not want to see you again. That would be devastating for both parties." (pinoyfranchising.blogspot.com)

The Enrique Iglesias The Filipinos Never Knew

"Many people, including myself, had no idea that Enrique Iglesias’ mother is a Filipino (Filipina) born in Manila, Philippines. His father is the famous Julio Iglesias." (untwistedvortex.com)

In Texas: They Want To Become Filipinos (Again)

More than 50 Filipino-Americans in the lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas have enlisted with Koalisyon Balik Pinoy(KBP) to lobby with the Philippine Consulate based in Los Angeles, California to hold an information campaign to encourage more Filipinos who are US citizens to reacquire their Filipino citizenships and to send personnel to process their applications in the City of McAllen. (GMA 7)

Philippine Mangoes U.S.-Bound

The first batch of Philippine mangoes produced outside of Guimaras Island in the Visayas left the Philippines Wednesday for export to the United States, specifically Guam and Hawaii.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the sending off ceremony in line with a U.S. Federal Register ruling dated December 18 allowing Philippine mangoes grown anywhere in the country except Palawan to be initially exported to Hawaii and Guam in addition to those being raised in Guimaras, which are already allowed in the entire U.S. mainland. (All Headline News)

In Angola: Dead Filipinos Identified

Two of three Filipinos who perished when two United Nations aircraft were shot down over Angola eight years ago have been identified, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations has reported. Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, identified the two Filipinos as Ramon Dumlao and Bernabe Vicarme, both crewmembers of one of the two UN C-130 transport aircraft that went down in Angola during the height of that country’s civil war. (Philippine News Online)

In New York: Domestic Helper Found Dead

(Flashback) - Felisa “Fely” Sales Garcia, a middle-aged migrant worker from Barangay Dacanlao, Calaca, Batangas, was found dead Wednesday, March 14, in her Bronx residence where she rented a room. Garcia worked as a domestic worker, taking care of an elderly couple in the Bronx. (philippine news online)

Europe + Filipino = Europino

What do you get when you cross the European way of life with the familiar that is Filipino? You get Europino—experiencing Europe right here in the Philippines!

The Candy girls trooped to Two Serendra this afternoon to sample the yummy treats at the Europino Food Festival. Jennie was the most excited one among all of us. Haha! Before we headed out to the different booths, we were served lunch in Thai at Silk... full details here

In New Jersey: Filipino Art, Music, and Dance

On Saturday April 7, 2007 in Princeton, NJ, WEB OF COMPASSION presents DIWA NG UGNAYAN (Essence of Connections), a day long celebration of Filipino art, music, and dance presented as a fund raiser for the victims of devastating typhoons in the Philippines. Admission tickets of $50.00/person ($40.00 for seniors/students) $10.00 (7-12 years old) and free under 7, entitles individuals to raffles for paintings. Light refreshments will be provided. (prweb.com)

China's Largest Nickel Producer Eyes Palawan

Gansu Province-based Jinchuan Nickel Group, China's largest nickel producer, will conduct a due diligence assessment on a nickel mine in the Philippine province of Palawan, for possible joint exploration with MacroAsia Corporation, a MacroAsia Corporation official told Interfax yesterday. (China Business News)

One Million Filipinos Every Year

Everyday, there are over 3,000 Filipinos who migrate from the Philippines. They will migrate to more than 186 different countries, including the U.S. Of the almost one million who migrate every year, three out of four of them are women. Filipino overseas worker remitted more than $12.5 billion dollars in 2006, keeping the Philippine economy afloat and sustaining the families directly affected by the economic, political and social crisis. (Philippine News)

In Chicago: Filipino Fishing Net Recognized

Lakefront smelting opens Sunday. Prospects for smelt look as poor as other recent years, making the nylon nets known as ''Filipino nets'' doubly important. (Chicago Sun-Times) ...full story here

"Where Were The Avocados Coming From?"

Determined to find the source – and to thank the donor – she walked around her neighborhood one Saturday morning looking to see who had a tree. She found only one. It belonged to the Filipino family up the street. (The Christian Science Monitor) ...full story here

Coca-Cola To Stay In The Philippines

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed Wednesday the decision of US softdrink giant Coca-Cola Company to stay and expand its operations in the Philippines after it gained full ownership of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. Coca-Cola Company has bought from San Miguel Corporation (SMC) its 65 per cent stake in local bottlers for US$590 million. (Asia Pulse, Yahoo Finance News)

In Sabah, Malaysia: 12,000 Filipinos Working

Legally, a Malaysian executive said, there are about 212,000 Indonesians working in the various plantations and factories throughout Sabah and about 18,000 Filipinos working mostly in the construction and service sectors. (Daily Express, Sabah, Malaysia)

In Dubai: Filipina Puts Baby Inside A Plastic Bag

Dubai: The UAE's culture, values and ethics as well as Sharia law protect the country against a rise in the crime of mothers killing their newborns, said a senior official. The crime is considered alien to UAE society, said assistant chief prosecutor Ahmad Al Hammadi of Dubai's Public Prosecution Department yesterday.

The issue surfaced at the public prosecution when it charged a Filipina with attempting to kill her illegitimate newborn girl by putting her in a plastic bag and dumping her in the garbage.

Police heard the mother, identified as M.K., put her illegitimate newborn in a sealed plastic bag which she placed inside a bin near a driving institute where she was being trained. Al Hammadi said the prosecution had asked the court to implement the stiffest punishment applicable for such a crime against the mother. A court hearing will be held soon. (gulfnews.com)

In Korea: Filipinos Are Welcome To Work

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Bacolod has started a manpower pooling for Negrenses and Bacoleños who wanted to work in Korea. "There's no limit yet on how many will be registered until Dole National Office in Manila will order the stoppage of manpower pooling in Bacolod," the DOLE said. (Sun Star Bacolod)

Brunei Air Force Praises Phil. Air Force General

(Wednesday, March 28) - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to award the Royal Brunei Air Force Honorary Pilot Wing to the Commanding General, Philippine Air Force in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the bilateral ties between Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAirF). (bruneidirect.com) ...full story here

In Manila: Hostage Crisis

(Wednesday, March 28) Up to three men armed with grenades and handguns commandeered a bus and took 32 children and two teachers hostage in the Philippine capital Wednesday, police said. A crack police team surrounded the bus which was stopped outside Manila city hall. The children were apparently on a field trip... full story here

JoeMa Accused of Mass Murder

(Wednesday, March 28) - Jose Maria Sison, the exiled leader of the Philippines Communist party – who has strong support in Canada’s Filipino migrant worker community – has been accused of mass murder to purge his military wing of spies. The charges come in the wake of Sison being criticized for posting pictures of himself on his Web site, singing and dancing with actress Ara Mina, who was in a revealing, low-cut dress... (The Asian Pacific Post) ...full details here

$5 Million For A Malaysian Terrorist in RP

(Wednesday, March 28) - The United States has posted a five-million dollar reward for the capture of a Malaysian terror suspect wanted for several bombings in the Philippines, the State Department said Tuesday. "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has authorized a new reward of up to five million dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Zulkifli bin Hir (a.k.a. Marwan)," the State Department said in a statement. Zulkifli, described as "a terrorist believed to be involved in multiple deadly bomb attacks in the Philippines," has also been added to the US most-wanted list.

He joins the United States' public enemy number one, Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of the Al-Qaeda network, who has a 25-million dollar bounty on his head. Zulkifli is believed to have been in hiding in the Philippines since August 2003 where he is involved in making bombs with the Abu Sayyaf group, which is linked to Al-Qaeda. (Yahoo, AFP)

Filipino Journalist: The Best in Asia

(Wednesday, March 28) - Yet it still came as a surprise to Gutierrez that the story was chosen as the winning newspaper article of the Asia Human Rights press awards organized by Amnesty International and the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong last March 26. Gutierrez bested over 400 media entries from across the region, including those from the prestigious Time magazine, International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal and South China Morning Post...(The Philippine Star) ...full story here

Excellent in IT Education: Only 9 RP Schools

(Wednesday, March 28) - Over a hundred applied, but only nine colleges and universities qualified for official recognition as centers of excellence in information technology education. The roster includes not only institutions already known for academic excellence – the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Los Baños and Cebu as well as Ateneo de Manila University and De la Salle University – but also lesser known schools including the Asia Pacific College in Parañaque, Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga, Cebu Institute of Technology and University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City...(The Philippine Star) ...full story here

In Legazpi City: Shabu Big Fish Caught

(Wednesday, March 28) - Elements of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police have arrested a woman suspected to be one of the biggest suppliers of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" in Albay in a buy-bust operation. Lawyer Tomas Enrile, the NBI Legazpi district officer, said Teresita "Tita Mameng" Cruz, 55, was arrested Monday inside her house in Doña Maria Subdivision in Barangay (village) Tagas, Daraga, after receiving P1,500 from an NBI agent who posed as a shabu buyer. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Cory Alarmed Over Activists' Killings

(Wednesday, March 28) - Former President Corazon C. Aquino yesterday said that extrajudicial killings in the country allegedly done by security forces were a "cause for alarm" and that the Filipino people have the right to know what the Arroyo administration is doing to address the problem.

"The extrajudicial killings were a cause for alarm. The people would want to know what is being done to address the issue," said Aquino in an interview with the media after speaking at the Forum Series on Governance, International Politics, and Development at the University of Makati in Makati City the other night. (The Manila Bulletin)

"Unless I Whipped Her Like A Dog"

(Wednesday, March 28) - Most Americans have never been to a Muslim Library, so as a public service, I have sent Marga, my Filipina servant, to a typical Muslim Library and asked her to write down the titles and some descriptive text of the most popular Islamic books. Although Marga is very obedient, she previously worked for a Saudi and so she would not do exactly as I requested unless I whipped her like a dog. I tried to explain to her that since I was not a Muslim there was no need for her to wait to be beaten before complying with any of my requests... full details here

U.S. Ambassador Visited Jolo, Sulu

(Wednesday, March 28, update) - U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney visited the strife-torn island of Jolo in southern Philippines and inaugurated a cooperative store previously bombed by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group. Kenney, accompanied by senior US and Philippine military officials, also handed various office equipment and livelihood programs to the locals, said Major Eugene Batara, a spokesman for the Philippine military’s Western Mindanao Command. “The visit of U.S. Ambassador Kenney is successful and there are so many people who welcomed and greeted her. They are happy about the visit. She handed various office equipment and unveiled a livelihood programs for the locals,” Batara told the Mindanao Examiner. (The Mindanao Examiner)

12 Most Outstanding Filipino Muslims: Search

(Wednesday, March 28) - TO PROMOTE the importance of peace and unity nationwide, the Sultan Moh'd Amin Baab Torres Foundation is spearheading a national search for the 12 most outstanding Filipino Muslims. The national search is anchored upon the notion that the government, in the exercise of its fiduciary authority over a state, is expected to ensure equal protection and recognition of its citizenry, regardless of affiliation, race, creed and color. (SunStar Baguio)

Phil-Made Ampalaya Tablet To Cure Diabetes

(Wednesday, March 28) - Ampalaya tablets will soon be out in the market as a cure for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pascual Laboratories Inc. has secured the license to manufacture, distribute and market a new Ampalaya (bitter gourd) tablet as an anti-diabetic medicine developed by the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP). (GMA 7)

In Kota Kinabalu: Filipino Bribed Malaysian Cop

(Tuesday, March 27) - A Filipino watch peddler who offered a RM5,000 bribe to a policeman as an incentive not to arrest him for having drugs, was jailed one year by the Sessions Court here Monday. Heropiri Harun, 53, pleaded guilty before Judge Ismail Brahim to trying to bribe Sub-Inspector Japri Bakul @ Henry at 11.50am on June 3, last year outside a house at Jalan Nountun in Inanam. He admitted offering the money to the policeman as an inducement to the latter to release him or not to arrest him for having two packets of syabu weighing 50.5gm... (The Daily Express, East Malaysia) ...full story here

In US: Filipino Nurses Still The Favorite Despite Scandal

(Tuesday, March 27) - Despite the controversies arising from the leakage-tainted June 2006 nursing licensure exam and the walkout of 10 nurses in New York in April last year, American recruiters still prefer to hire nurses from the Philippines for employment in medical and home care facilities in the United States.

In fact, some 450 licensed Filipino nurses are just awaiting the release of their work or immigrant visas for deployment to the US, according to Francis Luyun, chief executive officer of Sentosa Recruitment Agency.

The agency is the local counterpart of the New York-based SentosaCare that brought the 10 nurses who are facing charges of conspiracy and child endangerment for abandoning their work at the Avalon Gardens Rehabilitation Care Center in Smithtown that cares for physically disabled children. (GMA 7)

In New York: Save Filipino Nurses

(Tuesday, March 27) - Michael Defensor, a senatorial candidate of the administration’s Team Unity (TU) in the May 2007 mid-term elections, only has to admit that last year when he was still President Arroyo’s chief of staff, he told Labor officials to go easy on their investigation of accusations of mistreatment by Filipino nurses against a New York-based agency that had recruited them only for these nurses to later face criminal charges from their American employers... (The Daily Tribune) ...full story here

In New Mexico: Death March

(Tuesday, March 27) - About 1,800 New Mexicans were among thousands of American and Filipino soldiers who surrendered to the Japanese in April 1942 on Bataan Peninsula. They were marched for days in extreme heat with little food or water... (koat.com) ...full story here

Frankie On The Way To British Open

(Tuesday, March 27) - Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza bids for one of the top-four spots that will secure a British Open berth when he competes in Asia's international final qualifying event this week. The 47-year-old Minoza leads a 73-man field at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Tuesday and Wednesday with memories of the 1998 Open still fresh in his mind. (Yahoo News)

OFWs: Biggest Market Segment Today

(Tuesday, March 27) - The biggest and most lucrative market in the Philippines is not inside the country but abroad. It is the 10 million overseas Filipino workers deployed in over 40 countries... (The Manila Times) ...full story here

In Kuwait: Filipina Forced Into Prostitution

(Tuesday, March 27) - Police have rescued a Filipino maid who was allegedly kidnapped, held captive inside an apartment in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and forced into prostitution, reports Al-Rai daily. A police source said securitymen raided the apartment after receiving a complaint from a representative of the Philippines Embassy in Kuwait. Police are looking for the pimps who are said to have escaped from the apartment sensing the arrival of police. (Arab Times)

In Mindanao: Country's Number 1 Coffee Producer

(Tuesday, March 27) - The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking aggressive moves to keep Mindanao as the country's top producer of coffee. nriqueto Natividad, DA cluster officer for Mindanao, said contrary to common beliefs that coffee is produced in Batangas, Cavite or Bulacan, Sultan Kudarat is the Philippines' largest coffee producer. He said Mindanao's annual coffee production is over 60 per cent of the country's total output... (Yahoo, Asia Pulse) ...full story here

In ARMM: U.S. Behind A Philippine Election?

(Tuesday, March 27) - A highly anticipated gubernatorial election in the southern Philippines' insurgency-prone Sulu province set for mid-May is being viewed as a rare democratic referendum on the US-led "war on terror" in Southeast Asia. The polls will pit US-linked incumbent Governor Ben Loong against a prominent rebel leader, Nur Misuari, founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), an insurgent group created in the early 1970s with the aim of establishing an independent ethnic Moro state from minority Muslim areas in the region... (Asian Times) ...full story here

In U.S.A.: A Gathering of Filipino Women

(Tuesday, March 27) - It was only fitting then that a group of Filipina women, some familiar with one another, some strangers, were brought together during a no-host lunch last March 17 in commemoration of ‘Women’s History Month.’ Linda Maria Nietes, owner of the 23-year-old Philippine Expressions Bookshop, a mail order bookshop “dedicated to Filipino Americans in search of their roots” in Rancho Palos Verdes organized the event...(Asian Journal) ...full story here

In Misamis: Law Student Murdered

(Tuesday, March 27) - Condemning the “senseless and barbaric" abduction-murder of a fourth year law student, Misamis Oriental governor Oscar Moreno and Cagayan de Oro City mayor Vicente Emano pushed for a full-blown investigation into the case. Sun-Star Cagayan de Oro reported Tuesday that Emano was deeply saddened by the killing of Xavier University (XU) College of Law fourth year student Tamtam Edpan. Edpan was found dead at a remote area in Barangay Sigayan, Taraka, Lanao del Sur last Saturday in what authorities believe was a carnapping case. (GMA 7)

Seamen Should Be Lectured Before Departure

(Tuesday, March 27) - A member of the House of Representatives has proposed that outgoing Filipino seamen be required to undergo a pre-departure orientation seminar on the perils of being involved in drug smuggling and other illegal activities at sea. Rep. Judy Syjuco of Iloilo said the increasing number of Filipino seafarers getting arrested and charged for cocaine possession or smuggling in the United States and other countries has become alarming. (GMA 7)

In Manila: 70,000 Vials of Oral Polio Vaccine Wasted

(Tuesday, March 27) - A Philippine health official was relieved from the post due to her inaction that resulted in the waste of 70,000 vials of oral polio vaccine (OPV) that were bought with a World Bank loan, local media reported on Tuesday. Carolina Herradura, director of the Department of Health's Procurement and Logistics Service, has been dismissed from service for failing to use more than the OPV worth 6.5 million pesos (some 135,420 U.S. dollars), the DZMM radio quoted Presidential Anti- Graft Commission chairwoman Constancia de Guzman as saying. (People's Daily Online (English), China)

Philippine Economy To Grow 5.4% in 2007

(Tuesday, March 27)- The Philippine economy is likely to grow 5.4 percent this year, lower than the government's forecast of 6.1 percent, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday, warning that modest growth was unlikely to reduce unemployment. The country's fiscal deficit has narrowed significantly due to a rise in the value-added tax rate, while robust remittances from millions of overseas workers, low interest rates and higher government expenditure will keep the economy on the growth track, the ADB said. (Yahoo Finance, AP)

In Spain: Being A True Filipino

(Tuesday, March 27) - Conchitina Sevilla-Bernardo, wife of our Philippine Ambassador to Spain Lani Bernardo, wrote a book entitled Being Truly Filipino: Expressions of an Identity, recounting her experiences as the wife of the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain. The book embodies what being a Filipino truly is, even while Conchitina strikes a balance between the acceptable norms of the country they were in with that which is distinctly Filipino... (ABS-CBN) ...full story here

In U.S.A.: Jollibee To Open New Outlets

(Tuesday, March 27) - Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. is spending $2 million to open five stores in Las Vegas and California this year, a company official said. The Las Vegas outlet will open on April 22 and one in Vallejo in northern California will open later, Tommy King, Jollibee country head for the US, told the Inquirer. The other outlets will be in northern and southern California, King said. With the five additions, the Jollibee chain in the US to have a total of 16 outlets. (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)

ADB: Philippines Should Invest In Infrastructure

(Tuesday, March 27) - The fast-growing business process outsourcing sector has put the Philippines back on investors' radar screens, but the country can only achieve higher economic growth if it expands industries and starts investing in infrastructure, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday. "The Philippines has to learn how to walk on two legs," ADB economist Jesus Felipe told a briefing to release the bank's Asian Development Outlook 2007, referring to the need for the country to build a strong industrial base to support the economy...(www.nasdaq.com) ...full story here

In Manila: GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Helping Indigent Filipinos

(Tuesday, March 27) GlaxoSmithKline Foundation (Phils.), Inc. has strengthened its advocacy campaign on preventive health care among indigent members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by producing a set of health education materials to the city and municipal health centers in Metro Manila. (Therapeutics Daily)

In Davao: Japanese Arrested

(Tuesday, March 27, update) - Joint operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested an overstaying Japanese national who, for more than two years now, has been wanted in his own country for theft. BI regional alien control officer Benjamin Lao identified the suspect as Yoshimi Hori alias Tamaki, 58, with no known address in Japan.(balita.org)

In Thailand: Cooperation Against Terrorism

(Tuesday, March 27) - Thailand and the Philippines have agreed to intensify bilateral and regional efforts to counter separatism, extremism and terrorism, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said yesterday. Mr Nitya met his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, at the fourth meeting of the Philippines-Thailand Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation... (The Bangkok Post) ... full story here

In L.A.: Best Teen Chef Pinoy

(Tuesday, March 27) - Prince Anthony Dela Cruz, a student of John Marshall High School in Los Angeles impressed the judges at The Art Institutes' Best Teen Chef 2007 Local Competition held Saturday at The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles... (Asian Journal) ...full story here

Island Acquisition

(Tuesday, March 27) - Asia Properties, Inc. (Pink Sheets:ASPZ) announced today it has targeted a major island acquisition in the Philippines islands. Asia Properties CEO, Daniel McKinney said, "I have been spending most of my time in the Philippines since early last year examining beach sites, retaining lawyers and conducting due diligence. We have now targeted several world-class island sites and have been negotiating with the current owners since mid 2006... (Prime NewsWire) ... full story here

In Italy: The Passion of Tomas Concepcion

(Tuesday, March 27) - On a frenzied January afternoon in 1969, Jan Palach was walking around Wenceslas Square in Prague with a single-minded task. Upon reaching the ramp of the National Museum, at around 4 p.m., he poured gasoline all over his body and set himself on fire... (Asian Journal) ...full story here

In Texas: Hundreds of Filipino Teachers Get Break

(Tuesday, March 27) - Judge Kathleen Cardone of the United States District Court of Western District of Texas declared a “mistrial” of the case after learning from two of the 12 jurors that they read about the case in El Paso Times, a daily newspaper. A juror reading about a case will be prejudging the case... (Asian Journal) ...full story here

In Dubai: Registered Filipino Voters

(Tuesday, March 27) - DUBAI Registered Filipino voters are advised to check the certified list of registered voters at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai, before the elections. They are also urged to vote early to avoid hassle during the election month starting from April 14... (The Emirates Evening Post) ...full details here

In Los Angeles: Fil-Am Kids Learning Tagalog

(Tuesday, March 27) - Sitting in one of the 70B of Introductory Filipino/Tagalog class at UCLA, group-by-group Filipino American students went in front of the class shy and reluctant to speak a language they’ve known all their life- Tagalog. Each group speaks with a stutter, an apprehension, regularly mispronouncing words like a broken tape player while trying to read a Tagalog passage from their textbook, singing a song or performing a skit...(Asian Journal) ...full story here

In All Islands: The Power of "Sachet"

(Monday, March 26) - THE FILIPINOS' success in using the "sachet" method to market almost everything--from vinegar and rice to mobile phone load--can also be used to spread the use of computers in the country, according to a local entrepreneur. RFM Corp. president Jose Concepcion III, who is also presidential consultant on entrepreneurship, said using the sachet method to provide more Filipinos with access to computers should not be any different from how that marketing strategy worked to propel the success of neighborhood sari-sari (convenience) stores... (Asian Journal) ...full story here

In California: Sanctuary For Troubled Filipino Youths

(Monday, March 26) - Life in general can be a challenge for many Filipino youths, who often turn to drugs, alcohol and gangs for comfort, said Ahmed Animo, 18, of Daly City. That's why he hopes the new Liwanag Kultural Center for Filipino youth in the community will help change this trend. According to the 2000 census, 35,297 Filipinos live in Daly City — 34 percent of its population. (San Mateo County Times) ...full story here

In Iraq: Filipino Workers Exploited

(Monday, March 26) - Many Filipinos have fallen to promises of lucrative jobs in the Persian Gulf and ended up being exploited and tricked into working in war-torn Iraq, according to the International Organization for Migration. The workers are taken against their knowledge to Iraq, often by rogue recruiters, while others are falsely lured by promises of high-paying jobs, IOM spokesman Jean-Philippine Chauzy said when interviewed last weekend on Voice of America. (GMA 7)

In Manila: John Regala Arrested

(Monday, March 26) - Character actor John Regala along with two others were picked up by operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) in a drug operation over the weekend. However, the 39-year-old Regala and his companion, 42-year-old Antonio Flores, were released Monday morning after an order for their release was issued. (GMA 7)

In Masbate: Ambush Kills Mayor's Leader

(Monday, March 26) - Political tension in Masbate province continued to rise as a local political leader was killed and three other people wounded in an an ambus on Sunday night. Radio dzRH reported Monday that unidentified armed men shot dead Rene Alcala, a local political leader of Marvie Espinosa-Bravo, who is seeking a mayoralty seat in San Fernando town. (GMA 7)

In Malaysia: Inexpensive Phone Rates for Filipinos

(Monday, March 26) - Filipinos in Malaysia can now enjoy the benefits of cheaper phone rates to their loved ones in the Philippines. This after the Ayala-owned Globe Telecom, Inc. entered into a joint venture with Malaysia’s telecommunications service provider Maxis... (GMA 7) ...full story here

In All Islands: Be Positive

(Monday, March 26) - Malacañang told Filipinos not to be too negative and to congratulate themselves in their achievements once in a while. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in his weekly column, said among the country's achievements that Filipinos should be proud of are the stronger peso, reduced budget deficit and public debt and increased foreign investments. (SunStar Manila)

Friendster and the May 2007 Elections

(Monday, March 26) - ...which brings us neatly to Friendster and the May 2007 election. While in our part of the world Roberto is pitching Friendster’s fan profiles—a new service that, in his words, “gives people a chance to promote themselves.” In other words a cyber forum for celebrities, musicians, authors, bands and, yes, even politicians, to freely get across their message, self-serving or otherwise... (Manila Times) ...full story here

In Lanao del Norte: 1,300 kgs of Crabs Cooked

(Monday, March 26, Lala, Lanao del Norte) - This town, considered the crab capital of the province, served 1.3 tons of cooked crabs to residents and visitors during the municipal charter day on Thursday.Municipal agriculture officer Ronniel Baroy said crab growers in the town’s coastal areas contributed the crabs, which were used to build the “Alimango (Crab) mountain.” (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

In All Islands: Unaware of Party-list System

(Monday, March 26) - Many adults in the Philippines are not fully acquainted with their electoral regulations, according to a poll by Pulse Asia. Fifty-one per cent of respondents are unaware of the existing party-list system for the election to the House of Representatives... (Angus Reid Global Monitor) ...full story here