In Sarangani: Live Fish Kills Boy

(Saturday, March 24 a.m.) - A 15-year-old boy died of choking after swallowing a live fish. Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the fatality as a certain Johnny Talino, who was dead on arrival at the hospital with a live fish stuck in his throat.

Witnesses told police that Talino was in a gathering with friends and made a dare that he’d swallow a fish alive. He then jokingly opened his mouth and lifted a live fish just above his gaping jaw. The fish, however, slipped from his hand and plunged into his open mouth, and then straight into this throat where it blocked his air passageway. (pinoyspy.com)

In Mindanao: 4.4 Earthquake

(Saturday, March 24) - An earthquake with magnitude 4.4 occurred near General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines at 18:06:01.80 UTC on Mar 23, 2007. (This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.) USGS M2.5+ Earthquake CAP Alerts - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

In Boracay: Lesbian Kiss

(Saturday, March 24 a.m.) - According to the pinoyspy website, this actress was caught kissing with her female companion. The picture can be seen in pinoyspy website. click here

In New York: Nurses Were Fooled

(Saturday, March 24, updated) - A group of Filipino nurses and their lawyer involved in the Sentosa case faced a New York court (Friday in Manila) for charges yet to be specified by prosecutors, abs-cbnNEWS.com learned. The group included Elmer Jacinto, Juliet Anilao, Harriet Avila, Mark dela Cruz, Claudine Gamiao, Jennifer Lampa, Rizza Maulion, James Millena, Ma. Theresa Ramos, Ranier Sichon and their lawyer, Felix Vinluan.

The nurses were among the 26 who filed a protest and charges in Manila and New York against the Sentosa Ltd. employment agency for allegedly recruiting them to work as nurses. The complainants said that instead of working as nurses, Sentosa employed them as clerks and nursing aides in a retirement home. (ABS-CBN)

In Bataan: Cockpit Worker's Daughter No. 1 in NCAE

(Saturday, March 24, a.m.) - A daughter of a poor family graduating in a private high school in Bataan, topped the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) conducted on January 17 by the Department of Education among 1.3 million students nationwide.

Mary Kristine "Cates" Quicho, 15, fourth year student at the Jose Rizal Institute in Orion, could not control her tears when informed Wednesday of the good news that she was the topnotcher in the NCAE with a score of 99 percent.

Students mostly from the provinces took the top five slots. The second to fifth placers were: Francis Ramon B. Torres from the Theresian School of Cavite, Hermelina N. Florida of Digos City National High School, Renz M. Jader of the Ateneo de Manila University and Charlyjoy C. Navarez of San Nicolas Academy in Surigao del Norte. (The Philippine Star) ...to read more of today's stories, click 'older posts'

In Indonesia: Soap From Davao Sold Like Hotcake

(Saturday, March 24 a.m.) - After a trial run of selling papaya soap like hotcake in Bitung, Indonesia, the Mindanao processed product will have another shipment by April this year. Sarangani provincial director Engr. Nenita Barroso of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the product is saleable mostly among Indonesian women. “Being conscious of their looks make beauty products top seller in the area,” she said. (The Philippine News Agency)

In Mindanao: Saudi to Import Chicken

(Saturday, March 24 a.m.) - CHICKEN importers in Saudi Arabia are interested in importing chicken from Mindanao, a report from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Southern Mindanao said.

According to the report, Distributors and importers of chicken in the same country mull importing chicken for as long as the price and quality are acceptable and food safety requirements, particularly Halal certification, are met. DTI said efforts should be made to lower the cost of local chicken to make it more competitive. The buying price of chicken now in Saudi Arabia is pegged at 15 Saudi Riyals. (SunStar Davao)

In Singapore: 20% of Visitors are Filipinos

(Saturday, March 24, a.m.) - MORE Filipinos are becoming interested in Singapore as a popular travel destination, said an official from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Rocson Chang, STB area director for Philippines and Brunei, said Filipinos are among Singapore’s target visitors as well as longest staying nationals. (SunStar Cebu)

In Butuan City: Surrender of an NPA Leader

(Saturday, March 24, 5a.m.) - A New People’s Army (NPA) commander abandoned his mountain lair and voluntarily surrendered to police operatives in Barangay Lucac, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

A sketchy report received by Chief Supt. Antonio D. Nanas, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao PRO 13, identified the alleged rebel commander as “Commander Janjan,” who is said to be a squad leader of ABE Squad 1 of Front Committee 19 (Hammer) of the CPP-NPA-Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee. (The Manila Times)

In GenSan: Apology from ABS-CBN Reporter

(Saturday, March 24, 5a.m.) - A lady reporter of ABS-CBN’s local TV Patrol who broke the story on the “no hero’s welcome” for boxing champion Manny Pacquiao had to retract her story on air.

“I would just like to apologize for my story on the ‘no hero’s welcome’ for Manny Pacquiao,” Beverly Anne Santos, said without batting an eyelash. “It was all a misunderstanding. I’m really sorry.” (The Manila Times)