Samar Scandal

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that former three-termer Samar Gov.
Milagrosa Tee Tan is a natural-born Filipino citizen and qualified to
sit as a representative of the Second District of Samar province at
the House of Representatives.

In an en banc ruling, the SC dismissed a petition filed by one
Wilfredo Estorninos questioning Tan's citizenship and assailing a
House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) decision in favor
of the lawmaker.

The SC said that HRET did not err when it declared that Tan is a
natural-born Filipino citizen.

"After a careful examination of the records, the court resolves to
dismiss the petition for failure to show that the HRET committed grave
abuse of discretion amounting to lack or in excess of jurisdiction in
finding that the respondent is a natural-born citizen, and therefore,
qualified to sit as a member of the House of Representatives," the SC
ruling signed by Clerk of Court Atty. Enriqueta Vidal said.

The SC said that HRET "correctly applied the doctrine in the case of
Co v. Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives, where the
court held that it was unnecessary for respondent Jose Ong, Jr. to
formally or in writing elect Philippine citizenship when he came of
age because he was already a Filipino citizen, his mother being a
natural-born citizen and his father having been naturalized when Jose,
Jr. was still a minor."

Similarly, the SC said, it was no longer necessary for Tan to execute
a sworn statement choosing Philippine citizenship upon reaching the
age of majority as required by Commonwealth Act No. 625.

It will be recalled that the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
declared Tan disqualified to run due to a question on her citizenship
in 2010 arising from two separate petitions for disqualification filed
before the Comelec by Carlo Gabon and Oscar Garcia.

The two petitioners alleged that Tan is a naturalized, not
natural-born Filipino citizen.

"No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he
is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines," Article VI, Section 6
of the 1987 Constitution says.

However, a separate HRET ruling said that Tan does possess the legal
qualifications to run for a seat in Congress.

Records showed that Tan's mother was a natural-born Filipino citizen
and her father was a Chinese national.

Tan, who now lives in Catbalogan City, the hometown of her late
husband Ric, was born in Palompon, Leyte.

Tan was suspended for 90 days in April 2008 arising from graft charges
filed against her for the alleged mishandling of government's calamity
funds.

How to Become a Millionaire in Bohol Philippines

All is set for the grand draw of Alturas, Plaza Marcela, and Island
City Mall "Instant Milyonaryo, Cash Papremyo" 2010 Raffle Promo, this
coming Sunday, January 9, 4 PM, at the Island City Mall Activity
Center.

One lucky customer will win P1 million cash and becomes an instant
millionaire, while five other winners will get P50,000 each. The grand
draw will be conducted under the supervision of a representative from
the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI).
Alturas PR/Marketing Manager, Loy M. Palapos, said the promo ended
last Friday, December 31; however, customers can still drop their
coupons this week until the countdown on the grand draw on Sunday.
Drop boxes and tambiolo are still open in the four stores of Alturas
Supermarket, Plaza Marcela, Island City Mall and Alturas-Talibon,
including Kris-Lyn Shop n' Dine.

Mr. Palapos added there is still one last monthly draw on Friday,
January 7, where one winner will receive P100,000, while ten other
winners will be given P10,000 each. Party band CenterStage will
perform before the draw.

The Alturas, Plaza Marcela, and Island City Mall "Instant Milyonaryo,
Cash Papremyo" 2010 Raffle Promo started last April 4, 2010, and is
considered as the biggest cash bonanza promo ever.

Christmas Greetings in Various Philippine Languages

by Dr Jose Abueva

Ata - Maroyan na Pasko woy kaopia-an ng Bag-ong Tuig kaniyo't langon mga sulod

Bicolano - Maugmang Capascuhan asin Masaganang Ba-gong Taon

Blaan - Pye duh di kaut Kristo klu munt ug Felemi Fali!

Cebuano - Malipayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig!

Dibabawon - Marayaw na Pasko aw Bag-ong Tui g kaniyo tibo na mga soon

Gaddang - Mangamgam Bawa a dawun sikua diaw amin

Hiligaynon - Malipayon nga paskua & Malipayon Nga Bag-ong tuig

Hungduan - Maphon au nitungawan. Apo Dios Kituwen baron di toon

Ibanag - Mapalupaguiya nga Pascua

Ilocano - Naimbag a Pascua ken Naragsac nga Baro nga Tawen!

Mandobo - Mepiya Pagasaulog sa pagka-otawni Jesus aw maontong kaling Omay!

Mangyan - Mayad paq Pasko kag

Mansaka - Madyaw na Pasko aw malipayong Bag-ong Tuig kamayo, mga lumon

Moro - Nidli pred naborete nano

Pampango - Malugud Pascu at saca Masayang Bayung Banua!

Pangasinan - Maabig ya pasko & Maliket ya balon taon

Sambal - Maligayang Pasko at Masayang Ba-yon Taon!

Subanen - Piak Pasko Pu Piag Bago Tawn

Surigaonon - Malipayon na pasko sanan bag-on tuig!

Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon

Tala Andig - Maayad ha pasko daw bag-ong tuig

Waray-Waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tuig!

Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley Live

By Eddie G. Alinea

World Boxing Organization welterweight belt-owner Manny Pacquiao and
trainer Freddie Roach will finally meet today, four days after the
Hall of Fame corner man set foot in Manila, to map out how their
training camp will go.

Where and when the meeting will be Roach wouldn't say, except to tell
this writer the 147-pound champ and himself talk on the phone Thursday
night with Pacquiao telling him they will see each other today.

Pacquiao is currently with his family – wife Jinkee and chlidren – in
General Santos City where they spend the Holy Week.

Unless plans have been altered, Pacquiao originally set April 16 as
the day he will go to Baguio City to pitch camp at the Pines City, the
place where his team conducted his initial preparations in his recent
four fights because of the high-altitude training the country's summer
capital offers.

Meanwhile, Roach and the team of Amir Khan, the former World Boxing
Association and International Boxing Federation junior-welterweight
titleholder, who arrived in Manila two weeks ago, will have to go to
Baguio sometime next week.

Khan and conditioning trainer Alex Ariza arrive together in
preparation for his coming rematch with Lamont Peterson aimed at
winning back the 140-pound plum the latter took from him last
December.

"My wish is to get to Baguio as soon as possible, start preparing as
soon as possible and get Manny in shape as soon as possible," Roach
told this writer Thursday after doing the mitts with Khan at the
Planet Jupiter Gym in Makati City.

"I want Manny to win by a knockout and that's what we will be
preparing for. How to win by KO," he said, obviously to erase the
stigma of the eight-division champ's close and unimpressive victory
over arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez in Act III of their trilogy last
May.

Asked if Pacquiao's turning to be a preacher might lessen his killer's
instinct, Roach retorted: "I don't think so. Manny is a pro and he
knows how to deal with his being a preacher and a boxer."

The trainer said he doesn't see any problem getting Pacquiao into
shape notwithstanding the four months of inactivity since his last
fight.

"Manny I'm sure, will be hungry to train, so his long inactivity won't
pose as a problem," he said, adding he also sees very minor
distractions unlike those in the previous training camp. "That
four-month outside of the ring is a blessing in disguise because he
had a good rest."

"Well, now that he is a self-proclaimed changed man, I see no more of
the distractions that mark our previous preparations," he said with a
smile in his face. "Except basketball, of course, because outside of
boxing, that's his world."

Roach also said that there will be no major changes in the training
regimen as he will not be deviating from the 'winning formula' that
spelled success before. "It ain't broken, so why fix it."

Roach said Bradley is a tough physical fighter who uses his elbows and
head, but added he'll prepare Pacquiao for that.

Boxing in Resorts World in Manila

The continued success of the "Pinoy Pride" boxing series has prompted
Cebu-based ALA Promotions to aim for bigger and better boxing events,
starting with its next boxing show that features the world title
defense of World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion
Donnie Nietes.

"The national TV rating for the last AJ Banal fight was very
impressive and to think it was held in Cebu and not Manila. We believe
that we need to put together bigger fights as the public is expecting
the best fights from Pinoy Pride," ALA Promotions president Michel
Aldeguer said.

The latest episode of "Pinoy Pride" is the much-anticipated first
world title defense of Nietes, which is now scheduled on June 2 at
either the Resorts World or Araneta Coliseum in Manila.

ALA Promotions is finalizing the mammoth fight card and Nietes's
opponent, who will be a boxer in the top 15 of the WBO 108-lb.
division.

"More world title fights and we would try to bring named opponents
that fight fans are familiar with. It may not be easy and would cost
much, but we owe it to the public for making Pinoy Pride what it is
now, and we know the public will be expecting more from ALA Promotions
and ABS-CBN," Aldeguer said.

"We are looking into that direction of promoting more world titles
fights in the Philippines," he said.

Nietes, the only current world champion from ALA Promotions, last
fought for over five months ago.

The 29-year-old Murcia, a Negros Occidental native, defeated Mexican
Ramon Garcia by unanimous decision in his home province to capture his
second division crown.

Classic Church in Cebu Needs Restoration

Two centuries-old churches in Cebu are undergoing restoration
following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu and Negros
Oriental last February, church heritage officials said.

The Sta. Catalina de Alejandria Parish in Inayagan in Barangay
Valadolid, Carcar City is under going restoration work, but more coral
stones have fallen from its façade since the quake, said Msgr. Carlito
Pono of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Church Heritage.

The church was originally established as the convent of the La
Visitacion de la Nuestra Señora on June 21, 1599, according to the
book "Balaanong Bahandi" (Sacred Treasure of the Archdiocese of Cebu).

The apex of the pediment is topped with a cross and below it is a
mechanical clock with its gears still intact after all these years.

"We are restoring the original stones to its original place, which
became damp due to the water that flows from their sandayong (water
through) and flowed to the crack in the clock and in turn flowed down
to the stones in the column," said Pono.

"The heritage commission and the committee on sacred art were there
already. We were called by the parish priest to check the damage," he
said.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Tayasan in Negros Oriental at 11:49
a.m. last Feb. 6. There was no major damage and no deaths were
reported in Cebu Province, but geologists have observed ground
movements, including sink-holes and landslides.

A church that has suffered more structural damage is the San Francisco
de Asis Parish in Dumanjug town. The church was made into a parish in
1854.

The present church was started by Fr. Doroteo Godinez in 1854, using
coral stone and hardwood.

The most important feature of the church is the emblem of the Habsburg
royalty, the double-headed eagle that signifies that the King of Spain
contributed a large amount for its construction.

Fr. Brian Brigoli, Church heritage commission vice chairman, said the
quake displaced the coral stones at the belfry.

"But this was also aggravated by the newly installed dome, which is
made of solid cement. The original dome was made of light materials.
The weight of the new dome was too much for the belfry," he said.