PH has good laws, weak will vs. disasters

The Philippines has good laws on disaster risk reduction but weak local governance tends to render these useless, the United Nations said.
 
A new UN report released Thursday found that poor urban governance led to ineffective building codes and land use planning at the local level.

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Philippine economy grows 6.6% in 2012

The Philippines said Thursday its economy grew by a better-than-expected 6.6 percent last year as confidence rose in President Benigno Aquino's efforts to fight corruption and alleviate poverty.

A final-quarter expansion of 6.8 percent boosted the full-year figure, the government said, cementing the country's status as one of the best performing in Asia and raising expectations of stronger growth in 2013.

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Enrile says he won't resign irrevocably

With only three session days left, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday said he will not be resigning from his post amid issues on how the chamber uses its funds.

"Why should I resign irrevocably? I have not done anything wrong," Enrile told reporters in an interview.

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PH Still Blacklisted By HK

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine government on Tuesday expressed dismay over the decision of the Hong Kong government to retain the Philippines on its tourist destination blacklist.

"We are obviously disappointed over this decision," Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said yesterday.

He, however, said the Philippine government will push more efforts to get out of the blacklist.

"We will persevere in our effort to restore relations," Jimenez said.

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PNoy Back from Switzerland; PH to Host WEF 2014

MANILA, Philippines --- President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived on Sunday afternoon from his successful first attendance in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland and announced that the Philippines will be preparing to host the global competitiveness summit in 2014.

Aquino arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 after

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Filipino consumers more brand loyal than global peers

• grow more than government forecasts this year and pick up over the next two years, …more 

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - An estimated 80 per cent of Net-savvy Filipino consumers would buy new products from familiar brands rather than switch to a new brand, according to a study recently released by market research firm Nielsen.

The trend reveals a higher level of brand loyalty among locals compared to the global trend which shows 60 per cent of consumers around the world with Internet access prefer to buy new products from familiar brands.

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Celtics beat Heat but lose Rondo for season

Kevin Garnett scored 24 points to lead Boston over Miami 100-98 in two overtimes Sunday but the joy of ending a six-game losing skid was dimmed by the loss of Rajon Rondo for the season.

The Celtics announced during the game that star point guard Rondo, voted by fans as an Eastern Conference starter in the NBA All-Star Game, will miss the remainder of the season with a torn right knee ligament.

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Mayweather looks to fight Guerrero next

Unbeaten fighter Floyd Mayweather likely will return to the ring after a one-year layoff on May 4 in Las Vegas against fellow American Robert Guerrero, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The card would also feature Mexico's undefeated Saul "Cinnamon" Alvarez, who many expect will face Mayweather later this year if both are triumphant in May.

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Google Philippines office is now open for business

Search giant Google has set up a local office in the Philippines, a move seen to "change" PH's internet landscape.

Manuel L. Quezon III, Undersecretary for Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning, who represented President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III at the company's launch said he is optimistic that Google Philippines' presence would lead to innovations.

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Floods hit Davao

Vehicles are submerged in floodwaters as members of the Philippine National Red Cross rescue residents in Davao, southern Philippines January 20, 2013 in this picture provided by the Philippine National Red Cross. Heavy rains caused riverbanks to burst, causing floods in seven provinces in the Davao region and Soccsksargen, the national disaster agency reported. Some 84,000 people have been affected, with 33,000 of them staying in 50 evacuation centres. Picture taken January 20, 2013. REUTERS/Junice Gancero/Philippine National Red Cross/Handout (PHILIPPINES - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

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Psy allows Filipino politicians to campaign 'Gangnam Style'

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Across the country, Filipinos will hear more of "Gangnam Style," the phenomenal hit of Korean rapper PSY, with the start of the election campaign for the midterm elections.

The song that has garnered more than 1 billion hits on YouTube is emerging as the favourite campaign song of candidates.

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Philippine politician slain as election season starts

A mayor of a remote Philippine town was shot dead in a Manila hotel car park, authorities said Wednesday, in one of the first salvos of the country's traditionally bloody election campaign season.

Political rivalry is strongly suspected as the motive of the attack on Tuesday night that killed Erlinda Domingo and wounded her bodyguard, Commission on Election spokesman James Jimenez told AFP.

"Police are looking at it as election-related. Remember we are already in the campaign period. At the turn of the year everyone was already on edge," Jimenez said.

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West PH sea dispute brought before UN

No longer content with waiting for a negotiated solution with China, the government has elevated the West Philippine Sea dispute before a United Nations arbitrator.

"[T]he Philippines has taken the step of bringing China before an Arbitral Tribunal under Article 287 and Annex VII of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Tuesday.This, as he noted that the Philippines "has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement" of the territorial spat.

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Posters of ‘epal’ politicians ordered removed

The days of “epal” politicians may soon be over; at least that’s what the Commission on Elections rule on campaigning says.

Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Monday “anti-epal” provisions are in place to clear the streets of posters and materials bearing the names of politicians in public places.

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3 killed, 2 missing in Mindanao in wake of rain brought by cold front

At least three people were killed while two are missing in the wake of rain brought by the tail-end of a cold front in Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday.

In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the tail-end of a cold front affected mainly Northern Mindanao, adding most of the casualties were from Misamis Occidental.

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A dream come true for Filipino K-Pop fans

Thousands of Filipino fans showed their love for K-Pop when they flocked to the Mall of Asia grounds on Saturday, Jan. 19, for the Dream K-Pop Fantasy Concert.

Idol groups Girls’ Generation, Infinite, EXO (EXO K and EXO M), U-Kiss, Tasty and Tahiti wowed Manila as they performed their biggest hits before their Filipino fans.

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Chinese ‘occupation’ of Bajo de Masinloc could reduce PH territorial waters by 38 percent

The Philippines is at a loss over China’s declaration its ships will stay permanently in Bajo de Masinloc, a declaration some experts say could lead to the Philippines losing 38 percent of its territorial waters.

Bajo de Masinloc, a triangular-shaped coral reef formation that has several rocks encircling a lagoon, is located 124 nautical miles west of Masinloc town in Zambales in the northwestern part of the Philippines.

“The shoal is under virtual occupation by China,” said former foreign undersecretary and former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja.

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No stopping Manila Bay reclamation

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) under the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rejected the demand of fisher folk that it recall its approval of land reclamation projects in Manila Bay, a militant group said yesterday.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said its demand that the EMB recall the environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) it had issued for land reclamation projects in Manila Bay had been denied.

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Atimonan incident definitely not a shootout — De Lima

Not even Justice Secretary Leila de Lima believes that the bloodbath in Atimonan, Quezon, last January 6 that left 13 people dead was a shootout.

De Lima arrived at the conclusion after personally visiting the crime site and hearing from witnesses on Thursday.

"[It was] anything but a shootout... Not a shootout, definitely," said De Lima in a report on GMA News TV's “Balitanghali.”

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Tropang Texters complete sweep, make 'histo-three'

Simply put, Talk ‘N Text was just too good, too strong and too classy for Rain or Shine.

Smelling blood, the Tropang Texters immediately went for the kill then unleashed a perfect finishing kick on the demoralized Elasto Painters, hacking out a methodical 105-82 victory Wednesday night for a third straight PBA Philippine Cup title before an electric Smart-Araneta Coliseum crowd.

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Dengue is fastest-spreading tropical disease, WHO says

GENEVA (Reuters) - Dengue is the world's fastest-spreading tropical disease and represents a "pandemic threat", infecting an estimated 50 million people across all continents, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

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Eric Kelly, Pinoy OFW MMA Fighter, guns for ONE FC Title

The best way to know more about Eric "The Natural" Kelly is to first determine what he is not.

Firstly, he is not a Filipino-American. I wasn't the first one to be thrown off by that very Irish-American sounding last name.

Kelly tells me his father's surname was really Kili, but that it was changed to Kelly upon the suggestion of one of his Dad's teachers.

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Confusion, uncertainty over Pacquiao’s planned April return

The plan of eight division champion Manny Pacquiao to return to the ring in April following his crushing 6^th round knockout at the hands of Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last December 8 has been marked by confusion and uncertainty.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum appeared somewhat peeved over reports that others in Team Pacquiao were basically trying to arrange a Pacquiao fight on their own initiative without granting the lead role to his recognized promoter, even as Arum’s stepson and Top Rank president Todd duBeof was in Macau and Singapore exploring the possibilities of a Pacquiao fight in April.

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Man's body found at LRT station

Police have started investigating the death of a man whose body was found at the rooftop of a station of the Light Rail Transit in Manila Tuesday morning.

The body was found near the power rectifier of the northbound part of the LRT-1 station at Pedro Gil Street, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

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Amid protests, SC starts tackling legality of Cybercrime Law

Amid protests outside the Supreme Court, the first ever oral argument to be led by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 started, with petitioners insisting the law violated the constitutional rights of the public.

The argument was opened by petitioner and Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona III who branded the law as a "Cyberdracula... with fangs that instill fear in the hearts of people."

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'Hacktivists' deface Philippine govt websites over cyber law

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Several government websites, including that of the National Food Authority (NFA), were defaced early yesterday the "hacktivist" group Anonymous Philippines, drawing attention to the cybercrime law.

The hacking took place a day before the Supreme Court holds oral arguments on the CyberCrime Prevention Act of 2012, or Republic Act No. 10175, which Anonymous Philippines said threatened freedom of expression.

The law became controversial because it criminalises online libel, among other things, angering journalists who have been campaigning for the decriminalisation of libel.

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Magnitude-5 quake hits Guimaras, aftershocks expected

A magnitude-5 quake hit the Guimaras area Sunday night even as state seismologists warned of possible aftershocks.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake was recorded at 9:08 p.m. and was tectonic in origin.

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Nokia has already sold 4.4 million Windows phones

Sales figures reveal that there is a place for Microsoft in the smartphone market after all.

A few days after Microsoft CEO gate-crashed the opening keynote speech of the International Consumer Electronics Show to proclaim that Windows Phone 8 is performing well, an unscheduled financial update by Nokia, Microsoft's biggest smartphone partner and maker of the smartphone operating system's flagship handset confirms that phones are flying off the shelf.

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Four of five Pinoys have no Internet at home

The Philippines may boast of being the social networking hub, but nearly four out of five Pinoy adults still have no Internet access at home, results of a new poll showed.

A total of 79 percent of Filipinos reported being offline at home, U.S.-based pollster Gallup found in a survey of 1,000 adults in each of 148 countries globally.

The report put the Philippines among the 100 countries where less than a majority of respondents answered yes when asked the question "Does your home have access to the Internet?"

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Pacquiao eyeing two possible foes

Manny Pacquiao's much-awaited comeback fight in April is starting to take shape.

Two possible opponents have been named and the fight could either take place April 13 or the week after.

As of the moment, former World Boxing Association welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko of Ukraine and undefeated Jessie Vargas of the US are being eyed to serve as foes for Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

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Philippines' export performance best in Asia

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Philippine merchandise exports topped those of other Asian countries in the first 11 months of 2012, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said yesterday.

But private economists believe a strong rebound in outbound shipments may still be a long way off.

Merchandise exports earnings in November grew 5.5 per cent to US$3.551 billion, from the $3.366 billion seen the previous year. This brought year-to-date exports to $48.026 billion-7 per cent up from the $44.898 billion recorded in the same period of 2011, the National Statistics Office said.

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Americans, South Korean dead in Philippine fire

Three American men and a South Korean were among seven people who died on Friday when a fire razed a hotel in a red-light district near a former US naval base in the Philippines, authorities said.

The fire occurred before dawn at the budget Dryden hotel in Olongapo, a port city about three hours' drive north of Manila, police said.

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Marian Rivera's sexy ‘pasabog’ for the New Year

It was the New Year, it was a special issue, she wanted something new to offer fans.

Whatever the reason—and all of the above were valid—Marian Rivera finally agreed to grace the cover of the January 2013 issue of FHM Magazine.

It would be a first for both Marian and FHM, which first named the Kapuso actress the Sexiest Woman in the World in 2008.

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Philippine president rejects gun ban calls

Philippine President Benigno Aquino insisted on Wednesday that civilians had the right to carry guns for self-defence, after a series of deadly shootings prompted calls for a total firearms ban.

"'Total gun ban' would be a nice headline, but a knee-jerk reaction. It's not in my nature to humour people. We should look for means to really solve the issue," Aquino told reporters.

Some politicians, media groups and influential Catholic church leaders have led calls for stricter gun laws, or an outright ban on civilians owning them, after a series of shootings starting on New Year's Eve left 23 people dead.

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Search launched for first Filipino astronaut

After making significant contributions to the field of space exploration, the Philippines may now finally make its mark on space itself: a private company has announced an undertaking to select and train the first ever Filipino astronaut.

Axe is teaming with American space travel agency Space Expedition Corp. (Space XC) in a global project to send civilians to space.

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Pacquiao, Marquez tune-up bouts bared

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are being poised to share the spotlight anew on April 20.

Not against each other but against separate opponents.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told the Bulletin on Wednesday that Pacquaio has already indicated his desire to return to the ring in April following the sixth-round knockout to Marquez last year in Las Vegas.

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Faith In Black Nazarene: Devotion Or Fanaticism?

MANILA, Philippines --- Today, millions of devotees will once again endure and overcome long hours of risks and discomfort just to be able to take part in, perhaps, the longest religious procession in Philippine culture.

Putting at stake even their most precious lives, these flocks of faithful do not mind the ordeal in exchange for their commitment to take the centuries-old wooden image of the Black Nazarene from an overnight vigil at the Quirino Grandstand back to its humble abode at the Minor Basilica in Quiapo, Manila.

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At Black Nazarene Mass, Cardinal Tagle takes subtle dig at RH law

At the Black Nazarene Mass on Wednesday, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle took a subtle dig at the Reproductive Health (RH) law as he lamented that funds that could be allocated to feed and educate people will be used to "kill" life instead.

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Apple tailoring cheaper iPhone model: reports

Reports echoing online Tuesday fueled speculation that Apple is tailoring a low-price version of the iPhone for China and other emerging markets.

DigiTimes.com, which specializes in news about the supply side of the technology industry, cited unnamed sources as saying an iPhone model made with less expensive parts would be rolled out in the second half of this year.

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Enrile: Cash gifts were 'lambing' not bribe

He did play Santa Claus and he is standing by his "naughty list," Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said, adding that any amount he had "given" senators are not bribes.

This, as Enrile admitted that he authorized the release of P1.6-million additional funds to 18 senators before Christmas and only P250,000 to four others.

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Kim and Maja's strained friendship

“I’m happy for them. Wala naman pong masama, pareho naman silang single at maging masaya na lang tayo para sa kanilang dalawa. Nakakalungkot lang kasi yung friendship, nasayang. Yeah, yung friendship,” Kim Chiu finally broke her silence about reports that former boyfriend Gerald Anderson and close friend Maja Salvador are dating.“I said bakit kailangan pang magpaalam eh wala na ako kay Gerald, wala na talaga. Kaya medyo naano lang ako na ang daming nagtatanong sa akin about Gerald. Bakit? Ang tagal na (na wala na kami),” told reporters at the press conference of book two of “Ina, Kapatid, Anak” at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on Tuesday, January 8.

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Global tech industry uneven as mobile surges

The global tech industry has become a tale of two sectors, with mobile devices surging at the expense of older electronics that are struggling, a forecast showed.

A survey presented ahead of the International Consumer Electronics Show, the biggest trade show of its kind, projects modest growth of four percent for the industry expected to generate 2013 sales of $1.1 trillion.

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Pinoys working, living abroad still growing

It may be more fun in the Philippines but recent data show that every four Filipinos in the labor force correspond to one Filipino who works or lives abroad.

A total of 10.46 million Pinoys are in 217 foreign countries and territories as of 2011, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas said in its latest "Stock Estimate of Filipinos Overseas."

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Brillante Mendoza Calls Out The Industry For Its ‘Pretensions’

When Cannes award-winning director Brillante Mendoza told his "Thy Womb" lead star Nora Aunor that it would be a difficult shoot long before the production even began, he knew at the back of his mind - especially when a slot in the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opened for them - that it would be just as hard to change people's minds even when it comes to watching movies. More so, effecting change in an industry seemingly not ready to do so.

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2013 Philippine Cup Finals: Five things to expect

The PBA Philippine Cup Finals will start on Wednesday, 09 January, with the matchup featuring the two-time defending champion Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters and the rising Rain or Shine Elastopainters. TNT has been atop the standings all throughout the conference and was rightfully expected to be in the Finals. Rain or Shine got better and better as the conference went on, and seems to be at peak form just as the title is up for grabs.

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Giant squid filmed in Pacific depths: Japan scientists

Scientists and broadcasters said Monday they have captured footage of an elusive giant squid roaming the depths of the Pacific Ocean, showing it in its natural habitat for the first time ever.

Japan's National Science Museum succeeded in filming the deep-sea creature at a depth of more than half a kilometre (a third of a mile) after teaming up with Japanese public broadcaster NHK and the US Discovery Channel.

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'Auring' makes landfall over south Palawan, may exit PAR by Friday

Tropical Storm Auring (Sonamu) made landfall over the southern tip of Palawan early Friday, and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as early as Friday noon, state weather forecasters said.

PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier said Auring maintained its strength as it made landfall, and may bring heavy to intense rain.

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Miss Tourism Int’l Rizzini Alexis Gomez Bares Next Steps

MANILA, Philippines--Newly crowned Miss Tourism International Rizzini Alexis Gomez has not expressed interest in entering show business but would rather continue her studies by taking up Law.

The 22-year-old Cebuana who bested 54 other candidates in the tilt held early this week in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is already a Registered Nurse.

In an interview with "24 Oras," Gomez expressed her happiness over the support she got from her kababayans in Malaysia during the pageant.

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Travellers out of Philippine airport in 25 minutes flat: official

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - It has been branded over and over as one of the world's worst airports. But the Philippines' Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) has a little known advantage that even top-rated airports in the West don't offer. And a local tourism official hopes to spread the word around-and abroad.

According to Assistant Tourism Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr., it takes only 25 minutes for passengers arriving at Naia to complete the airport process-from disembarkation to clearing immigration and customs to getting a cab or meeting welcomers outside the airport.

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Philippines anger at logging ban murder

The Philippine government has voiced outrage at "ruthless" illegal loggers intent on defying a nationwide ban on destroying forests, following the New Year's Day murder of an environment officer.

Two unidentified men armed with M-16 rifles shot environment department officer Alfredo Almueda in the head as he waited at a forest checkpoint to intercept a truck carrying logs on Tuesday, the government said in a statement.

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Philippines 'sin tax' introduced, dampens New Year fun

A "sin tax" on cigarettes and alcohol dampened the New Year party spirit when it was introduced in the Philippines, as part of a government bid to boost finances.

Many stores started selling tobacco and drink at inflated prices before midnight, ahead of the official implementation of the tax hikes on January 1, hitting party goers in the pocket.

Tax on cigarettes will gradually be raised to 30 pesos ($0.72) per pack by 2017, roughly doubling the current price to around 52 pesos.

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Goodbye netbooks: Asus and Acer to cease production

Netbooks, the small, low-cost mobile PCs that Steve Jobs famously ridiculed as he unveiled the first iPad back in 2010, are officially no more. The two remaining manufacturers, Asus and Acer have both issued statements claiming that the end of 2012 also marks the end of production for the once much-hyped mini-laptops.

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Donaire named Fighter Of The Year by Ring Magazine

Days after being cited as ESPN's and Sports Illustrated (online edition) top boxer for 2012, Donaire was selected by Ring magazine as Fighter of the Year.

As Pacquiao took a nosedive, Donaire's star sparkled like no other as the Filipino-American puncher string up four major victories, capped by his smashing one-punch third-round knockout of Jorge Arce of Mexico in Houston two weeks before the end of the year.

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Boy killed, over 400 hurt in Philippine revelry

Celebratory gunfire killed a four-year-old boy and more than 400 others were injured by powerful firecrackers in typically rowdy New Year celebrations in the Philippines, according to officials.

A bullet hit the boy in the back as he was playing outside his home in Manila's suburban Mandaluyong district, said the city's police chief Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina.

He said police are trying to trace the gun owner but admitted it may take time in a country where unlicensed firearms are widespread.

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