Aquino leaves today for China visit 艾奎諾今日啟程前往中國訪問

PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. C. Aquino III leaves today for a five-day visit to China even as the Palace has yet to disclose the complete details of the trip a day before his departure.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail D. Valte yesterday only confirmed the time of the departure but left hanging other details such as the business delegation who will tag along, exact schedule and budget for the trip.

"The President is leaving at six in the evening [today]," Ms. Valte told reporters via phone, but admitted, "I’m still waiting for the documents from OES (Office of the Executive Secretary) on the China trip."

As advised earlier by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aquino will stay for three nights and two days in Beijing, and spend one day each in Shanghai and Xiamen. He departs for Manila on Sept. 3.

Ms. Valte gave a partial list of the presidential entourage, including spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Undersecretary Manuel L. Quezon III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II, Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, and Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras.

The Palace aide, however, said she did not have "the final number" nor could she cite any names, of the accompanying business delegation.

The business delegation will be participating in three fora that the President will keynote: the Philippines-China Economic and Trade Forum in Beijing, a high-level forum in Shanghai to be attended by Yangtze River Delta government officials and business enterprises, and the Philippine-Fujian Business Conference in Xiamen, which will be attended by businessmen based in Fujian and Xiamen.

In an interview at the weekend, Mr. Lacierda described the business delegation to China as being the largest to date, about 250- to 300-strong to include prominent Filipino-Chinese individuals.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Mr. Aquino is expected to renew ties with the Chinese government, including issues on security, a Chinese official said.

The visit comes at a period of friction between Manila and Beijing over a dispute in the South China Sea, renamed by the Philippine government as West Philippine Sea.

Foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement China is ready to work with the Philippines to promote strategic cooperation.

"Facts proved that the sound and stable development of China-Philippines relations is in the long-term and fundamental interest of the two countries and peoples, and is conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity," Mr. Ma said.

He said the two sides will sign several deals covering cooperation in trade, culture and media.

"The Chinese government always attaches importance to the good-neighborly relationship of cooperation with the Philippines, our neighbor and a member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," Mr. Ma said.

Earlier, Philippine officials and their Chinese counterparts held a meeting in Beijing that discussed bilateral economic cooperation preparatory to Mr. Aquino’s visit.

Typhoon Nanmadol kills at least seven in the Philippines 南瑪都颱風襲菲 至少7人死亡

At least seven people were killed whenTyphoon Nanmadol struck the northern Philippines, before the storm moved on toward Taiwan.

Among those killed were two small children buried in a landslide in the northern mountain city of Baguio.

According to CNN, the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council released a statement saying that the children and five other people were killed in separate incidents,10 people were injured and six remain missing. More than 57,000 people were forced to leave their homes.

A civil defense official told the BBC that winds and rain had caused flooding and landslides, and that 20 major roads were blocked and several bridges were collapsing.

Another official, Emilia Tadeo, told AFP that Nanmadol was the strongest storm to hit the country this year. Tadeo predicted that the casualty numbers will rise.

"After the rains have subsided, that is only when we find the additional casualties and damages, when the local responders submit them to us," he said.

According to AFP, an average of 20 storms and typhoons hit the Philippines annually. This past July, storms left at least 70 people dead.

2011 TAIPEI CITY MODEL MIGRANT WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS REGISTER AND BE RECOGNIZED!!!

OBJECTIVE: To affirm the value and contribution of the migrant workers to the society and encourage employers in enhancing their relationship with the workers.  To select the model employees and employers to be a pattern for other employers.

THIS YEAR THE TAIPEI CITY GOVERNMENT WILL AWARD RECOGNITION FOR 5 MODEL MIGRANT WORKERS AND 5 EMPLOYERS IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

QUALIFICATIONS:

(1)Migrant Workers and Employers working/residing in TAIPEI CITY

(2)Must have arrived and worked in Taipei City before October 1st, 2010

The Migrant workers and Employers good performance and relationship are well recognized by the workers themselves and the community.

Active content:

(1)To select 5 model worker: Performance of foreign workers(40%)、Active learning(20%)、Character integrity(20%)、Optimistic to help others(20%)

(2)To select 5 model employers: Kindly tolerance(40%)、Respect for human rights(20%)、Education instruction(20%)、Harmony between labor-capital relations (20%)

(3)The report of outstanding achievements of migrant workers and employers: Interview the awarded migrant workers, employers, agents and other related parties and present it as a story to the public with the cooperation of mass media.

WHO CAN NOMINATE:

1.)     The Company

2.)     The Employer And Employee

3.)     The Church

4.)     Friends

5.)     Community Group

6.)     Migrant Workers Organizations

7.)     Industrial Unions

8.)     Country Representative Offices

9.)     Recruitment Agencies

Their nomination must state clearly and briefly what made their candidates MODEL MIGRANT WORKERS and EMPLOYERS.（If possible please use mandarin.）

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION FOR NOMINATION: 30 September, 2011

The award will be presented by: Taipei City government (18 December , 2011)

PRIZES: NT$3,500 Cash for each Model Migrant Worker Winner

NT$3,500 Cash for each Model Employer Winner.

YOU MAY SEND YOUR NOMINATION TO:

Taipei City Foreign Laborers’ Cultural Center

5F, NO 21, SECTION 1, DI-HUA STREET, TAIPEI CITY 10343

FOR MORE DETAILS AND APPLICATION FORMS, PLEASE CONTACT :

PHONE:02-25551271  FAX:02-25551342       http://www.bola.taipei.gov.tw  、  http://www.mwcc.org.tw

報名表：報名表可來電索取或由臺北市政府勞工局網站下載。信封請註明參加「優秀外勞暨優秀雇主選拔活動」)。收件地址：103    臺北市大同區迪化街1段21號5樓       臺北市政府外籍勞工文化中心 收

Philippine Airlines lays off ground staff 不堪虧損 菲航大裁員

MANILA - Loss making national carrier Philippine Airlines said on Thursday it had sent termination notices to about 2,600 ground staff whose jobs will be outsourced.

Airline president Jaime Bautista said the workers were told their jobs would officially cease on September 30, but promised severance pay.

"The spinoff/outsourcing is a painful but necessary decision to ensure PAL's viability and long-term survival," Bautista said in a statement.

"We assure affected workers that they will all receive their separation pay and other benefits that are at par, if not better, than industry standards." The outsourcing plan, which is being contested in court by the workers' union, was backed by President Benigno Aquino in March.

It gave PAL a free hand to contract out its in-flight catering, airport services and call centre reservations to other companies, to cut its long-terms costs.

The flag carrier said early this month it suffered a net loss of $10.6 million (S$12.8) for the three months to June.

The airline had posted a $31.6 million profit in the same period last year, on the way to $72.5 million profit in the 12 months to March, which was a turnaround from a $14.4 million loss in its previous fiscal year.

Police now better equipped vs hostage situations — Palace 對抗綁架事件 菲警方添購裝備

Three days before the first anniversary of the Manila hostage tragedy that left eight foreign tourists dead and put to question the Philippine police’s capability to handle hostage situations, Malacañang ensured that something like that will never happen again.

On Sunday, deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the police, especially the Special Action Force (SAF), are now better prepared and equipped to handle crisis situations.

“Last week, we saw the training and simulation of the SAF. It would be hard for that (Aug. 23 hostage crisis) to happen again. We have taken steps to ensure that their capability and equipment are enough to avoid such things happening again," she said.

She added that additional policemen have been fielded in special areas to handle the security and complaints of tourists.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., for his part, said government has formed the Crisis Action Force (CAF) in the aftermath of the hostage incident and has invested P169.9 million to provide the special police unit with new weapons, equipment and vehicles to help it deal with similar situations in the future.

Ochoa said the CAF personnel are graduates of specialized training courses. He said SWAT personnel have received additional training courses, while a pool of negotiators that have undergone training here and overseas on hostage and crisis management has been formed.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has also produced three handbooks on hostage crisis management – the Hostage Negotiation Handbook, PNP Critical Incident Management Action Flow Chart and Checklist Handbook, and PNP-National Operations Center Incident Management and Monitoring Handbook – to guide all members of the police force.

On Aug. 23 last year, a dismissed policeman, Rolando Mendoza, took a busload of Hong Kong tourists hostage near the historic Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Failed negotiations between Mendoza and the police resulted in the deaths of eight hostages, all at the hands of Mendoza, who was killed by responding policemen. The standoff lasted for 11 hours.

The Manila hostage tragedy was considered as the first major crisis that rocked the then barely two-month-old administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

On Sunday, Valte said it is not known if President Aquino will have any schedule related to the first anniversary of the tragedy, although Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who headed the fact-finding committee that investigated the incident, is supposed to meet the families of the victims to update them on what the Philippine government has done following the tragedy. This include filing administrative charges against personalities involved in the negotiations. - KBK, GMA News

Pinoy Binugbog, Ninakawan Sa Riot Sa London 倫敦暴動 1菲律賓人受傷

Nasugatan ang isang Pinoy na pinagnakawan din ng mga rioters sa Birmingham, United Kingdom, ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) kahapon.

  Ayon kay DFA Spokesman Raul Hernandez, nagtamo ng sugat sa mukha ang hindi na pinangalanang Pinoy.

“Nabugbog siya ng grupo ng rioters...ito naman ay ok na siya, he is recovering, he is an outpatient case. Hindi naman malala. Ang nangyari ay ninakawan siya ng kanyang cellphone at relo at dinala rin sa ospital para sa check-up. He was able to come out after some treatment,” pahayag pa ng tagapagsalita ng DFA.

Naipagbigay-alam na rin sa mga kamag-anak sa Pilipinas ng nasaktang Pinoy ang insidente.

  “Ang abiso natin para sa ating mga mamamayan sa Filipino community sa London ay dapat na ma­ging maingat sila at iwasang magpunta sa mga lugar na nangyayari ang riot at umiwas din sa mga business at shopping center, ‘yung tinatawag na high streets, kasi doon nangyayari ang mga looting at nakawan. Ang ating embahada ay mayroon na ring contingency plan at nakahanda ang ating embassy na tumulong sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” giit pa ng DFA official.

Sa mga kamag-anakan naman sa Pilipinas na nais mabatid ang kondisyon ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na nasa London ay maaaring tumawag sa PHL embassy hotline sa 00447802790695.

Japanese-Filipino woman to meet Japanese father after 66 years 日裔菲女尋父66年終團聚

MANILA (Kyodo) -- A Japanese-Filipino woman said Wednesday she will meet her Japanese father in Okinawa on Friday for the first time in 66 years.

"I am immensely happy that I will see my father again," Pacita Okuma, 69, told reporters at a news conference one day before flying to Japan.

Okuma will be reunited with her 95-year-old father, Manzo Okuma, at Izena Island near Okinawa, according to the Philippine Nikkei-Jin Legal Support Center, a nonprofit group that is organizing the reunion.

Okuma, who lives in Negros Occidental province in the central Philippines, was separated from her father when she was almost 3 years old because he was repatriated to Japan at the end of World War II along with other members of the Imperial Japanese Army, said Norihiro Inomata of the center.

The older Okuma was among many Japanese immigrants in the Philippines before the war. He was engaged in the fisheries sector in Negros Occidental until he married Pacita's mother. The couple had two children. During the war, he joined the Japanese Army.

"I really want to see my father because I miss him so much. It has been many years already. I could not even recall his face any more," an emotional, teary-eyed Okuma told Kyodo News in an interview.

Okuma will be flying to Japan along with six other Filipinos of Japanese descent who will be meeting their Japanese relatives.

While in Japan, all seven will make personal appearances at the Tokyo Family Court as part of their petition to acquire Japanese citizenship.

The center, together with the Nippon Foundation, has been supporting second-generation Japanese left in the Philippines whose Japanese fathers are not identified.

It has successfully helped 63 individuals gain Japanese citizenship.

"Even if they wanted to live with their fathers, they had no choice because it was wartime, the circumstances did not permit it. And, aside from being stateless, they grew up being discriminated against, they have to hide their identities," Inomata said.

Economically, getting recognized as Japanese citizens will also benefit them because it will allow their children to work in Japan, said Inomata.

DOJ to place GMA under watch list 前總統艾若育被限制出境

MANILA- The Department of Justice (DOJ) will place former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under the immigration watch list, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

De Lima said the order will be issued anytime this week.

She explained that the order was put on hold "for humanitarian reasons," as Arroyo recently underwent a surgical operation for a pinched nerve.

De Lima said the former President is currently facing several graft and plunder complaints for alleged anomalies under her nearly 10-year administration.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense.

De Lima also said the DOJ has the authority to have people placed under the immigration watch list. Those on the list cannot leave the country without permission from the DOJ.

"That should be within the powers and prerogative of DOJ because we investigate and prosecute and lalo na, you know, sa bagal ng wheels of justice sa court, kung wala kami ganiyan, almost always natatakasan tayo," she said.

"One consideration for issuance of watch list order is the possible flight risk, being a possible flight risk of the subject, that's why I issued against (former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio) Garcillano because he had a history of hiding," the DOJ chief added.

She also cited the case involving the former President's husband, Mike Arroyo. "Because there is a formal request from the Senate, lalo na when he was named in the hearing last Tuesday," de Lima explained.

"Nandiyan na iyan, sinusunod ko lang. That should be within the powers and prerogative of DOJ because we investigate and prosecute and lalo na you know sa bagal ng wheels of justice sa court, kung wala kami ganyan almost always natatakasan tayo."

"Watch list order is just a watch list order. If wala ka intensyon to evade the law, hindi ka dapat na matakot ... because all you have to do is go through the prescribed administrative procedure of getting clearance from the DOJ by convincing us of the legitimacy of the travel," said De Lima.

'Trial by publicity'

The former President's legal spokesman lashed out at the Aquino administration for the looming watch list order.

"We've heard about such plan of Malacañang a long time ago in order to put the Arroyos in a shameful situation and in a bad light for public consumption," Atty. Raul Lambino said Monday.

"It is part of the Aquino administration's overall production carnival to keep the trial and conviction by publicity against the Arroyo," he claimed.

"It's another political stunt to cover the incompetence and dismal performance of Malacañang and to divert public attention from closely scrutinizing the more massive anomalies committed by close associates of PNoy," he added.- Reports from Ina Reformina and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Binay: Marcos family agrees to bury former president in Ilocos Norte 菲副總統：馬可仕將葬於家鄉

By Cristina Arzadon

LAOAG CITY, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay said the Marcos family has agreed to have the remains of strongman Ferdinand Marcos buried in his home province of Ilocos Norte.

Binay issued the statement in a press conference Tuesday in the presence of Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, the strongman’s widow, who joined the vice president in a forum launching the government’s housing caravan in the Ilocos region.

“The [Marcos] family has already agreed that Ilocos Norte is the burial place. The issue of a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani has become moot and academic,” he said.

Imelda, who was seated beside Binay, was silent when he issued the statement on Marcos’ burial.

Binay was tasked by President Benigno Aquino III to recommend the best way to resolve the issue of Marcos’ burial.

Marcos’ relatives and supporters insisted on a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani while other groups opposed the move, saying Marcos, who ruled the country for 20 years, did not deserve the honor.

Marcos was ousted by a civilian-backed military uprising in 1986 and died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. His body was flown back to the country in 1993 and has since been preserved in a glass case inside a temperature-controlled mausoleum in the family’s compound in Batac City.

Binay said an official statement on Marcos’ burial will be released soon.

The official itinerary of Binay, who is also guest during the celebrations honoring the late Governor Roque Ablan Sr. in the province on Tuesday, did not include a visit to Marcos’ remains in Batac.

Anti-’No Permit, No Exam’ Bill, Ipinasa Ng Kongreso 議會通過考試免付費法案

By Pinoy Weekly staff

  Ipinasa ng House of Representatives sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang Anti-”No Permit, No Exam” Bill, o panukalang batas na naglalayong ipagbawal sa mga pribadong eskuwelahan ang pagpigil sa mga estudyante na kumuha ng exam kapag may hindi pa nababayarang utang.

  “Magandang balita ito para sa mga magulang at estudyante. Ngayon pa lamang, mapipilitan na ang mga eskuwelahan na itigil ang polisiyang ‘no permit, no exam,’” ayon kay Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino, isa sa mga pangunahing nagtulak ng panukalang batas.

  Kailangan na lamang maipasa ng Senado ang sarili nitong bersiyon ng panukalang batas na ngayo’y nasa ikalawang pagbasa, at pagkatapos ay mapirmahan ng pangulo.

“Ang malaking tagumpay na ito sa kampanyang anti-‘no permit, no exam’ ay nakamit dahil sa pagkakaisa ng mga magulang at mag-aaral, at sa mabilis na akisyon ng Kongreso,” ayon pa kay Palatino.

  Talamak ang pagpigil sa mga estudyanteng kumuha ng exam kapag may utang pa sa eskuwelahan, na nagdudulot ng kanilang pagbagsak sa klase at labis na kahihiyan. Sa kabila ito ng Section 99 Article 20 ng Manual of Private Schools na nagbabawal sa nasabing polisiya.

  Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, magmumulta ng hanggang P50,000 ang mga eskuwelahang mahuhuling nagpapatupad ng “no permit, no exam.” 

OFWs, gusto mo ba ng sariling negosyo? 移工們，你們想創業嗎？

MANILA – Ito ang good news para sa mga OFWs! Nag-aalok ngayon ng magandang negosyo ang Department of Energy (DOE) sa lahat ng mga overseas Filipino workers na nais magkaroon ng sariling gasoline station o kaya ay LPG sa bansa.

Sa ilalim ng Gasoline Station Lending and Financial Assistance Program ng DOE ay maaari ng makapag-loan ang sinumang OFW ng hanggang P10 milyon o 80% ng kabuuang halaga ng negosyo.

At ang maganda pa sa naturang programa ay 20% lamang ng kabuuang negosyo o kapital, kasama na lupa ng pagtatayuan ng gasolinahan ay maaring gawin equity contribution ng OFW. 

May fixed annual interest rate lamang na 6% ang nasabing pautang at maaaring bayaran ng hanggang 10 taon at ang unang bayad ng OFW ay magsisimula 6 buwan matapos na ma-release ang loan o pautang.

Sinabi naman ni Congressman Arnel Ty, ng party-list Petroleum Gas Marketer Association (LPG/MA), na open rin ang naturang programa sa mga kooperatiba at non-government organizations.

 “Itinatag sa pamamagitan ng Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law, ang programa ay nilalayong forcefully drive free at makatarungang tingian  sa competition in the fuel markets,”ani Ty, na miyembro rin ng Energy Committee sa kongreso.

Ang mga pautang ay maaaring gamitin upang bumuo ng isang site bilang gasoline outlet o auto LPG station, pagbili at install ng mga kinakailangang pasilidad at kagamitan, at pagbayad hanggang sa 2 milyong halaga ng mga natapos na mga ptoduktong petrolyo bilang paunang imbentaryo,” dagdag pa ni ty.

At bago masimulan ang negosyo ay bibigyan rin ang mga interesadong magkaroon ng gasoline station sa DOE management at skills training program para sa maayos at mahusay na pagpapatakbo ng naturang negosyo.

Ang mga may-ari o kinatawan ng mga korporasyon, mga samahan, kooperatiba, asosasyon, NGO, joint ventures, consortia, single proprietorship at katulad ng mga partido ay apat ding kumpletuhin ang parehas na pamamahala at mga kasanayan sa programa ng pagsasanay upang maging kuwalipikado para sa mga pautang,” wika pa ng kongresista.

Reklamo ng mga OFW vs Pinoy welfare officer sa Jordan, dapat daw maging leksiyon 菲駐約旦官員辱罵移工 輿論要求懲處

MANILA – Umaasa si Senador Manny Villar na mabilis na aaksyunan ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang reklamo ng limang overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) laban sa umano’y abusadong Filipino welfare officer na nakabase sa Amman, Jordan.

Ang pahayag ay ginawa ni Villar matapos niyang makausap ang limang OFWs at marinig ang reklamo ng mga ito laban kay Welfare Officer Carmelita Mag-uyon.

Isinumbong nina Raquel Aragon, Lolita Wadia, Noraida Guiamilil, Jhona Mortel at Genevieve Quibedo kay Villar ang paninigaw umano sa kanila ni Mag-uyon sa tuwing ay nagtatanong tungkol sa kanilang kaso at sitwasyon.

Sa kabila ng kanilang reklamo na nakatatanggap sila ng pagmamalupit sa kanilang amo, pinapayuhan pa umano sila ni Mag-uyon na bumalik sa kanilang trabaho.

Sinabi ng senador na dapat magsilbing leksiyon sa pamahalaan ang karanasan ng limang OFWs na umano’y hindi nakakuha ng inaasahang suporta kay Mag-uyon at nakatikim pa ng masakit na salita.

Payo ni Villar, dapat piliing mabuti ang mga opisyal na itinatalagang humarap sa mga magigipit na OFWs sa iba’t ibang bansa.

Giit niya, ang mga itinatalagang welfare officer ay kailangang mahaba ang pasensiya, sanay makipag-ugnayan at tunay na may malasakit sa kapwa Filipino.

Katuwang ang Blas F. Ople Policy Center na pinamumunuan ni dating Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople, inatasan ni Villar ang kanyang mga abogado na tulungan ang mga OFWs kaugnay sa isinampang reklamo laban kay Mag-uyon.

“Ang limang babaeng ito ay nagpunta sa Bahay Kalinga ng ating embahada sa Jordan dahil sila ay mga biktima ng pang-aabuso at pagmamaltrato ng kanilang mga amo. Sa halip na tulungan, nakatikim pa sila ng dagdag na verbal abuse mula sa isang welfare officer na Pinoy pa man din," pagkadismaya ni Villar.

Sinabi naman ni Ople na may lulutang pang mga OFW mula sa Jordan at magsasampa rin ng reklamo laban kay Mag-uyon.

Una rito, tiniyak ni Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Carmelita Dimzon, na magsasagawa sila ng kaukulang imbestigasyon tungkol sa reklamo laban kay Mag-uyon.

$50,000 pinag-iipunan ni Nora Aunor para sa operasyon sa U.S 諾拉奧諾在美重建聲帶 手術費五萬美金

Hangad umano ni Superstar Nora Aunor na makaipon ng $50,000 para sa kinakailangang operasyon sa kanyang vocal chords.

Kung maaalala, tatlong buwan lamang mananatili sa Pilipinas si Nora dahil desidido raw itong muling maisaayos ang kanyang boses sa pamamagitan ng isang operasyon sa labas ng bansa.

Sinasabing naapektuhan ang vocal chords ng singer/actress kasunod ng kanyang huling operasyon sa abroad.

Kasabay nito, itinanggi ni "Ate Guy" na P7 million ang kanyang talent fee sa Kapatid network subalit ayaw ding sabihin kung magkano.

Samantala, bakas pa rin sa mukha ng Superstar ang kasiyahan matapos makita ang mga guwapong apo nito.

Aniya, "mama guy" ang tawag sa kanya ng mga ito dahil ayaw niyang magpatawag ng "lola."

Nabatid na nagkita-kita na kamakalawa si Aunor at ang mga anak niyang sina Ian, Lotlot, Matet, Kenneth, at Kiko sa isang five-star hotel sa Ortigas.

Aquino, MILF leader hold secret talks in Tokyo hotel 菲總統赴日密會叛軍領袖

  President Benigno Aquino III left the country unannounced on Thursday night to hold unprecedented talks with a Muslim rebel leader in Japan.

  Mr. Aquino met for two hours with Murad Ebrahim, chair of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in a hotel near the Narita airport in Tokyo on Thursday evening, the first time a Philippine president has met face-to-face with a leader of the rebel group since on-and-off peace talks started 14 years ago.

  They discussed ways to push the peace process forward, said Teresita Quintos-Deles, the presidential peace adviser, who was with Mr. Aquino in Tokyo.

  An official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not directly involved in the talks said the meeting was meant to give the peace talks "a shot in the arm" and show support from the "highest level."

  The President's late mother, President Corazon Aquino, had met with the head of the main Muslim insurgency, Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front, in Sulu in 1986 to talk peace. The meeting paved the way for the resumption of peace talks that had collapsed during the Marcos dictatorship.

'Grand gesture'

  Mr. Aquino had sought the meeting, which had been in the works since late June, Marvic Leonen, the head of the government peace panel, told a press conference shortly after the President and his party arrived from Japan Friday.

  Leonen said Mr. Aquino and Murad agreed to "fast-track" the negotiations and that the implementation of any agreement has to happen during the term of Mr. Aquino, who has made the resolution of the Muslim and communist insurgencies a high priority of his administration.

  "The meeting was cordial but consisted of a frank and candid exchange of their views about the frames of the continuing peace talks and some possible approaches that the parties can take to bring about a peaceful settlement," Leonen said.

  He said the President had presented "a pragmatic and principled view" on how the talks could move forward and the MILF head also presented "a principled and certain pragmatic realities in terms of the negotiations and in terms of our country."

  Leonen refused to give details of the meeting as doing so would be like negotiating before the public in the media. He said, however, that the meeting did not supplant formal negotiations.

  "There was no secret deal made at the meeting," he stressed.

  The MILF called Mr. Aquino's effort a "grand gesture" that gave "a tremendous boost to the peace process."

  Ghadzali Jaafar, the MILF political affairs chief, said it was "a fruitful meeting."

No longer separatist

  Leonen brushed aside concerns about the propriety of the President meeting with a rebel leader which could be construed as an official recognition of the MILF's separatist aims, declaring that the MILF was no longer a separatist group.

  "They are no longer a secessionist group because their proposal does not include independence anymore. They are not asking to be a separate state. And therefore the implications that you are probably imagining, pardon me, are no longer there," Leonen said.

  "The MILF has met with businessmen in Makati and civil society and they say that their agenda is no longer to separate from the Republic of the Philippines. Their proposal is that they be considered Filipino citizens but with Bangsamoro national identity," he said.

  He said there was "no international law or domestic law implication of the government meeting with a group that it wants seriously to have peace with."

Anywhere in the world

  "Besides, in the history of the entire world, heads of states do go on vacation in other countries. And they do unofficial visits. And that is not considered an acknowledgement of anything. The President took an unofficial trip to Japan and met with a Filipino there, a group of Filipinos there," he added.

  Asked why the meeting had to be in Japan, Leonen said: "The President will meet any Filipino anywhere in the world, in the planet, especially if he is serious enough to talk about an agenda, which is important to the country."

  "It could not be held while there is media outside because this is the first historic meeting between the President and the chair of the MILF. (Imagine) what would have happened if they did not end up in a cordial manner, which they did," Leonen said.

Int'l contact group

  "The meeting was very cordial. I was in the room. I was the note-taker and I saw there was a certain chemistry between the chair of the MILF and the President," Leonen added.

  He said Japan was chosen for security reasons and because it is the closest member of the International Contact Group, a grouping of nations that is attempting to promote trust between the two sides. The other members are Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Britain.

  He said the MILF wanted the meeting to take place in one of the contact group countries.

Leonen said Mr. Aquino arrived in Tokyo at 6 p.m. on Thursday night and the meeting started at 8:30 p.m. He left Tokyo for home at 10 a.m. Friday.

  The trip was left out of the Palace media advisory of the President's schedule for Thursday. Its advisory that day only included "private meetings" with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and the budget and management and finance departments.

  The media was also advised of a "staff meeting" at 4 p.m.

  Mr. Aquino's party consisted of Deles, Leonen, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia and presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

  Murad was joined by some members of the rebel group's central committee, members of its negotiating panel and some "base commanders."

  Leonen said the next formal meeting between the government and the MILF peace panels would be from August 22 to August 24.

Propriety

  The President's meeting with the MILF rebel chief drew reactions, both positive and negative, from both sides of the political divide.

  Even one of the President's closest allies, Senator Francis Escudero, found reason to question the propriety of the President secretly meeting with Murad.

  "I think the President may have been ill-advised to meet personally as he (Murad) is not even his counterpart. And it might not be a good tactic in the negotiations," he said.

  He said Deles should "protect the President from such things."

  "She should just do her job and give her President deniability with respect to this early stage of the negotiations," Escudero said.

  House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman on Friday said that Mr. Aquino broke his own promise of full transparency and took unnecessary risks without any tangible gains in meeting with the MILF leader.

  "The country is not the personal fiefdom of President Aquino. Any presidential move which has a bearing on national interest and national security must be transparent and discussed with the Cabinet and the National Security Council. The President's secret trip to Japan to meet MILF leaders violates his avowed policy on transparency," said Lagman in a phone interview.

  Lagman questioned the urgency or necessity of having the President himself meet with Murad.

Unnecessary risks

  "Can't the President send an emissary instead of he himself going? There is more than meets the eye in the President's excursion. He has much explaining to do. Such as what has he achieved, what are the commitments?" said Lagman.

  Lagman said the President also took unnecessary risks in his meeting the MILF leaders. "If something happened to him there, what would happen to our country? He is the President, that should be foremost in his mind," he said.

  But House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said: "If it will lead to real and lasting peace, I fully support P-Noy."

  Senator Francis Pangilinan welcomed the move as "an out-of-the-box solution" that showed the President was willing to step out of his comfort zone to ensure that peace is achieved.

  Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, said "pass muna" to mean no comment for now.

Act of treason

  A diplomat who asked not to be named said what the President did was "an act of treason."

  "A President is not supposed to go on secret missions. A head of state can never be the equal of a rebel leader, but he probably does not know that. He should be meeting with someone on his level," the diplomat said.

  She said the Department of Foreign Affairs was left completely out of the loop.

  "I hear that the peace panel was the one that recommended it. What was their agenda? Did they just shake hands? A goodwill [meeting]?" she said.

Cory Aquino Anniversary Chocolate 緬懷艾奎諾夫人 紀念巧克力熱賣

How to capture the personality of Corazon C. Aquino in, of all mediums, chocolate?

By stripping the concoction of all frivolity and allowing the simplicity of flavors to shine through in a modest bar of pure, sweet delight.

This is how Raul Matias, the chocolatier who created the limited-edition commemorative chocolate bar to mark the late President’s second death anniversary tomorrow, describes his latest gourmet chocolate creation.

That it took a lot of doing goes without saying.

After all, Matias, the man behind the Machiavelli Chocolatier gourmet chocolate brand, is not known for liking things simple. This is the man who marries lemongrass and muscovado sugar in dark chocolate truffles, who spices up his white chocolate ganache with jasmine tea, and to whom texture means adding crunchy bacon bits to a smooth chocolate bar.

There’s an audacity to Matias’ taste, an invitation to adventure in his flavors.

Tempering his sensibility

Creating a Cory chocolate, therefore, called for tempering his sensibility.

“If Cory is Cory, then I’m Kris!” he says with a laugh, referring to Aquino’s flamboyant youngest daughter.

It took Matias three months to develop the final product, a cashew gianduja enrobed in dark chocolate. Gianduja is a mixture of ground nut paste and chocolate.

“It’s a caramel-like filling mixed with dark chocolate. I chose it over white because I didn’t want it to be too sweet,” he explains.

“The ground cashew paste is like peanut butter in consistency,” he says.

He used cashews from Antipolo because they’re sweeter than imported varieties. He also  wanted to keep it local “to communicate Cory’s simplicity.”

Cashew is known to have been Aquino’s favorite nut variety.

Deedee Siytangco, the late Aquino’s spokesperson and friend, was interviewed by Matias’ marketing team. She told them the late President liked cashew, mangoes and white chocolate.

Eurasian fusion

Matias’ Machiavelli line of chocolates is described as Eurasian fusion, a marriage of European chocolate and Asian flavors. Its offerings include Yema de Manila, inspired by leche flan; Mung Bean Bon Bon, after the hopia; Coconut Screw, or buko pandan in chocolate truffle form; Batangas Star, which uses the province’s kape barako; guava paste in Guava-Asia; Purple Yam Yum, milk chocolate with ube filling; Mango Lait, mango puree in milk chocolate; and Lychee Noir, dark chocolate bon bon with Thai lychee.

The chocolate boutique is named after the Italian political theorist and statesman Niccolò Machiavelli. “If Niccolò Machiavelli enraged the senses through his writings,” it says in its website, “Machiavelli Chocolatier will surely evoke the same sensations with its masterpieces.”

This is only the fourth time that Matias has created a candy bar after a person.

500 pieces only

“Each time people ask me which Filipino I’m most proud of, Cory Aquino is always my answer,” he explains.

“It’s never been Charice or Lea Salonga or anyone else. So three months ago, I decided to create something in time for her death anniversary,” he says.

The Cory Aquino chocolate bar comes swathed in gold foil underneath a yellow paper wrapper bearing an image of the late President. The 25-gram bars will sell for P150 each in the Machiavelli shops at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La branches throughout August. Only 500 pieces will be made.

A returned immigrant

Asked if he planned on donating part of the proceeds from the sales to charity, Matias said he hadn’t thought about it but might now look up an organization that supports colon cancer patients. Aquino died of colon cancer.

Matias, 46, wasn’t always a gourmet chocolatier. Ironically, he left the Philippines when Aquino was president to work as a physical therapist in the United States.    

Planning for his retirement, he trained to become a master chocolatier in Canada and France.

Zubiri resigns amid poll fraud scandal 捍衛清白 參議員朱比瑞請辭

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri announced his resignation from his post on Wednesday, saying he and his family were deeply hurt by fraud allegation and trial by publicity being waged by his rival, lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who lost against him for the 12th slot in the 2007 senatorial elections.

“Without admitting any fault and with my vehement denial of the alleged electoral fraud hurled against me, I am submitting my resignation as a duly elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines in the election for which I am falsely accused without mercy and compassion,” Zubiri said in a privilege speech, a copy of which was obtained in advance by INQUIRER.net.

“I am resigning, not because I am exhausted from the demands of my calling as a legislator. Hindi po ako napagod sa paglilingkod sa inyo [I never got tired of being of service to you],” he said.

“I am resigning, not because I wish to evade the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Handa ko pong tanggapin ang anumang hatol mula sa nasabing hukuman [I am ready to accept any verdict from the said tribubal].”

“Rather, I am resigning because of these unfounded accusations against me and these issues has systematically divided our nation and has casted doubts in our electoral system which has affected not only myself, this Institution but the public as well,” the senator added.

Zubiri said he would be doing an “injustice” to his fellowmen and the institution if he would continue working “half-heartedly and without full concentration and devotion.”

He said he directed his lawyers to make proper and immediate representation before the Senate Electoral Tribunal about his resignation to expedite the process and allow the tribunal to come up with a decision at the soonest possible time.

Zubiri was elected in the May 2007 elections after getting over 11 million votes. His term should have ended in 2013.

But Pimentel, son of former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., filed an election protest before the SET alleging fraud in some areas in Mindanao.

The case has been pending in the tribunal until recently, various personalities came out and claimed irregularities and cheating during the 2007 elections.

“My rival took advantage of this political situation. He and his supporters are now asking for my resignation as a duly elected Senator, despite the pendency of his election protest at the Senate Electoral Tribunal,” Zubiri said.

“My political detractors began calling me ugly names and dragging the name of my family in entirety. In other words, Mr. President, the trial by publicity has begun. The trial at the Senate Electoral Tribunal where this issue could have been properly ventilated and resolved has been practically set aside,” he lamented.

Zubiri reiterated that he did not cheat and that he did not talk to anyone to cheat for him.

“I am not the only one who feels the hurt because of the personal attacks against me and my family,” he said.

“I could feel how my wife has had sleepless nights, my father, my mother, who has undergone two major brain operations and is now constantly suffering physically and emotionally, together with my siblings who have been hurt and affected by such unfounded and baseless accusations.”

“Kung ako lamang ang nakadarama ng masasakit na batikos at akusasyon, ay maaring makayanan ko pang dalhin [If I were the only one who could feel the attacks and accusations, I could have endured them],” he further said.

Word War Sa Pagitan Nina Sen. Tito Sotto At Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Umiinit 大選弊案 兩參議員交相指控

  Nabuhay na naman ang word war nina Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III at asawa ng pamangkin niyang si Sharon Cuneta na si senador Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan kaugnay ng sinasabing dayaan noong 2004 presidential elections

  Ito’y sa gitna nang naglalabasang ebidensiya sa sinasabing dayaan na nangyari noong 2004 presidential elections.

Tahasang sinisi ni Sotto si Pangilinan at iba pa nitong mga kasama sa canvassing board noong 2004 presidential elections dahil sa kanilang pagtangging pabuksan kahit isa lamang sa mga ballot box na naglalaman ng hinihinalang pekeng election returns.

  Sinabi ni Sotto na natutuwa siya dahil naglalabasan na ngayon ang mga ebidensiya pero nalulungkot din siya dahil hindi kaagad lumutang ang mga may nalalaman sa dayaan.

  Si Sotto ang tumayong campaign manager ng namayapang si Fernando Poe Jr.

16 Pinay Patungong Sabah, Pinigilan Sa Tawi-Tawi 菲16女赴大馬打工 於塔威塔威島被攔阻

Mahigit sa isang dosenang kababaihan na patungo sana sa Sabah, Malaysia upang magtrabaho ang naharang ng mga awtoridad sa lalawigan ng Tawi-Tawi matapos silang ma-recruit mula sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Mindanao.

Pinangakuan umano ang 16 na kababaihan ng magandang trabaho sa Sabah, ngunit naagapan naman ng pulisya ang mga ito sa bayan ng Bongao bago pa man makaalis. 

Sa isang maliit na hotel natagpuan ng pulisya ang mga ito, ngunit hindi naman nadakip ang recruiter ng mga biktima. Hindi naman sinabi ng pulisya kung magkano ang naibayad ng bawat isa kapalit ng pangakong trabaho sa Sabah, na halos 4 na oras lamang ang layo kung speedboat ang gamit sa pagpasok doon mula sa Bongao. 

Wala rin mga papeles ang mga hinihinalang biktima ng human trafficking at nabatid na sa mga social networking sites umano nila nakilala ang kanilang recruiter. Galing pa umano sa Zamboanga City, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Tarlac, Maguindanao, Cotabato at Pagadian ang mga babae na may edad 18 hanggang 40.

Dumating umano ang mga kababaihan sakay ng barko mula Zamboanga City nitong Hulyo 30 at hinihintay ang kanilang contact na siyang magdadala sa grupo sa Sabah, ngunit natimbrihan naman agad ito ng pulisya at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) kung kaya’t agad na kumilos upang mailigtas ang grupo.

Pino-proseso na ng DSWD ang kanilang pagbalik sa mga lugar na pinanggalingan. 

Pinoy Team Nagwagi Sa China Math Contest 中國華盃數學競賽 菲學生表現優異

Anim na mga estudyanteng Pinoy ang nagwagi sa Hua Luogeng Golden Cup Youth Math Invitational Competition sa Huizhou City sa Guangdong province sa China.

Panibagong karangalan na naman ang dala ng Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines at tulad rin ng mga nakaraang international competition ay palaging wagi ang naturang kuponan nito.

Sinabi ni Dr. Simon Chua, ang presidente ng Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, na nakuha ni Adrian Reginald Sy, Grade 6 student, ang kaisa-isang silver medal. 

Bronze medals naman ang napanalunan nina Kelsey Lim Tiong Soon, Grade 6; John Angel Aranas, first year; James Daniel Cordon, first year; John Thomas Chuatak, first year, at si Matthew Ryan Tan, first year.

Nabatid na 600 mga estudyante – mula China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia at ng Pilipinas - ang lumahok sa naturang Hua Luogeng Golden Cup contest.

Sa 12 estudyanteng Pinoy na lumahok sa competition ay 6 sa mga ito ang nagwagi, ayon pa kay Chua. 

Pacquiao Pinakamayamang Kongresista 巴喬成為最富有國會議員

  Si boxing champion at Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao ay may net worth na mahigit P1 bilyon at siya ngayon ang pinakamayamang congressman.

Si Pacquiao na nabalitang isa sa world’s highest paid athletes ay may net worth na P1.134 billion, batay sa 2010 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) na isinumite ng mga miyembro ng Kamara de Representantes.

 Si Pacquiao ay walang pagkaka- utang at may real properties na nagkakahalaga ng P397,933,000 at personal at iba pang ari-arian na nagkakahalaga ng P736,300,000.

 Si Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano naman ang pinakamahirap na kongresista na may net worth na P75,711.57. Siya ay walang pagkaka-utang at wala ring real properties.

 Ang pumangalawa naman na pinakamayang kongresista ay si Negros Occidental third District Rep. Albee Benitez na may net worth na P624,827,943.

Si dating First Lady at ngayon ay Ilocos Norte Second District Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos ay pumangatlo na may net worth na P623,600,000. Si Marcos ay walang pagkakautang at may real properties na P620,000,000 at personal at iba pang ari-arian na P3,600,000.

 Si Negros Occidental First District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, asawa ng artistang si Asunta de Rossi, ang pang-apat na pinakamayamang congressman na may net worth na P555,069,000.

 Ang pamangkin ni Mrs. Marcos na si Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez ay panglima na may net worth na P475,611,941.59. Apat na miyembro ng pamilya Ar royo ay kasama rin sa pinakamayan sa mga kongresista. Si dating Pangulo at ngayon ay Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay pang 17 na nagdeklara ng kanyang net worth na P140.2 milyon.

 Ang kanyang bayaw na si Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, ay pang 18 na P137.9 milyon.

 Ang mga anak naman ni Mrs. Ar- royo na si Ang Galing Pinoy party- list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo ay pang 27 na may net worth na P95.5 milyon at Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo ay pang 35 na may net worth na P87.2 milyon.

 Si dating Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) director-general at ngayon ay Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco ay pang anim na may net worth na P294, 602,481.

 Si House Speaker at Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte ay pang 7 na may net worth na P283,291,016.78.

 Si Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, anak ni Senator Manny Villar at dating Rep. Cynthia Villar, ay pang 12 na may net worth na P156,194,279.

  Si Sen. Villar ang dating pinakamayamang congressman bago siya naging senador.

Ang model at television host na si Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, asawa ng aktor na si Richard Gomez, ay pang 15 na may ari-ariang nagkakahalaga ng P148,356,925.23.

  Si aktres at Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, asawa ni aktor at Sen. Bong Revilla, ay may net worth na P125,753,230.95.