News & Current Events

Change has come: Philippine crime rate down by 31%
August 24, 2016

Change has come: Philippine crime rate down by 31%

On the second day of the senate hearing regarding the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK), Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa reported the number of crimes in July 2016, which was significantly lower compared to last year.   CRIME RATE IN PH LOWERED. (Photo grabbed from Rappler)   According to Dela Rosa, there was a “very significant decrease” in rape incidents and a “downward trend” in crimes such as murder, homicide, homicide, robbery, theft, car theft, motor theft, and physical injuries. 11, 800 crimes were tallied in July 2016 compared to that of July 2015 that recorded 17,105, as seen in a video of the press conference from CNN […]
#DindoPH: Typhoon enters PAR but will not make landfall
August 24, 2016

#DindoPH: Typhoon enters PAR but will not make landfall

A typhoon known internationally as “Lionrock” just entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is now known as typhoon “Dindo.”   TYPHOON DINDO WAS LAST seen 1,200 East Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. (Satellite image from Dost_pagasa Facebook page)   A severe weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at 1 p.m. today said that Dindo will have maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. Dindo will not make landfall as it is expected to stay within the same area, roughly 1,200 km East Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It is expected to move South Southwest […]
World’s largest pearl? 34kg giant pearl found in Palawan
August 24, 2016

World’s largest pearl? 34kg giant pearl found in Palawan

The world’s largest natural giant pearl may have just been found in Palawan if the Puerto Princesa Tourism Office gets it certified as the biggest in the world.   PERLAS NG PUERTO. Dubbed by the Puerto Princesa as “Perlas ng Puerto” (Pearl of Puerto), could this really be the largest natural giant pearl in the world? (Photo by Aileen Amurao via her Facebook account)   Dubbed by the tourism office as “Perlas ng Puerto,” the giant clam shell-shaped pearl weighs in at a staggering 34 kilograms. According to City Tourism Officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao, the pearl was owned by a relative and was considered a “lucky charm.” Her relative, a […]
New World Manila Bay bartender, to represent PH in IBA-World Cocktail Championship
August 30, 2016

New World Manila Bay bartender, to represent PH in IBA-World Cocktail Championship

To represent the Philippines in the World Cocktail Championship 2016, three-time medalist and New World Manila Bay Hotel’s bartender Jessie Ray Clasicas will again be competing for the International Bartenders Association (IBA)-World Cocktail Championship on October 16 to 21, at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, in Japan.   JESSIE RAY CLASICAS. (Photo grabbed from bartending.lv)   Clasicas, who has already been awarded as a three-time world medalist, will be showcasing his expertise when it comes to the art of bartending as he will be having Mozart Vodka for the main ingredient in the competition. According to Travelife’s report, “his inspiration behind the cocktail was a mix of flavors that will bring […]
Baby girl born on a Cebu Pacific flight, awarded 1-M travel reward points
August 23, 2016

Baby girl born on a Cebu Pacific flight, awarded 1-M travel reward points

Last August 19 (Sunday), a Filipina gave birth to a healthy baby girl while onboard a Cebu Pacific plane flight from Dubai to Manila.   (Photo from Missy Umandal Facebook via Inquirer.net)   With the help of Cebu Pacific’s cabin crew and two other flight passengers who happened to be registered nurses, a baby girl named Haven, born 32 weeks premature, was successfully delivered about four hours after a Cebu Pacific plane left Dubai. Since this is the first time that such an “extraordinary” event happened in Cebu Pacific’s 20 years in operation, the baby was awarded 1 million GetGo points with no expiration and are transferable under the carrier’s […]
Selected Filipino films to compete in Film Festival in Europe
August 22, 2016

Selected Filipino films to compete in Film Festival in Europe

The Filipino film industry is continuously excelling in the world stage as six films from the Philippines are competing in various categories at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema Berlin in Germany from October 22 to 29.   IADYA MO KAMI. (Photo grabbed from showbizninjaph.blogspot.com)   Sourced from Inquirer’s report, part of the films included to premier in the film fest is Iadya Mo Kami (Deliver Us), vying for four trophies in the Foreign Language film section for best lead actor (Allen Dizon), supporting actor (Eddie Garcia), director (Mel Chionglo), and foreign language feature film. It is also competing for top honors in a film festival in Italy on […]
PH to Withdraw from UN: Is it possible?
August 24, 2016

PH to Withdraw from UN: Is it possible?

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte strikes again in his early morning press conference held yesterday, August 21, at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Depot in Davao City: he asked the United Nations (UN) to remove the Philippines from the organization.   (Photo of Pres. Duterte from Presidential Communications Operations Office; UN Logo grabbed from Wikimedia Commons)   He started by saying that the government already had numbers on how many lives the drug trade has affected versus the number of bodies the war on drugs has taken. He also criticized the UN by asking where they were during the country’s worst times. “When were you here the last […]
Curtains drawn as Rio Olympics comes to an end
August 22, 2016

Curtains drawn as Rio Olympics comes to an end

The biggest international sporting event in the world ends its 31st season as Olympics 2016 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil concludes the two-week long event on August 21.   HEROES OF THE GAMES. Olympic athletes walk during the Closing ceremony of Olympics 2016 in Rio. (Photo grabbed from npr.org)   The three-hour concluding ceremony showcased Brazilian culture through a colorful event as thousands of fans and competing athletes ended the game by a street carnival parade. Highlights include human formation of iconic Rio landmarks such as the Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, Brazilian model Izabel Goulart leading a parade of women and dancers joined by a sound track […]
From #Rio2016 to #Tokyo2020: the Olympic hand-off to end all Olympic hand-offs (to date)
August 22, 2016

From #Rio2016 to #Tokyo2020: the Olympic hand-off to end all Olympic hand-offs (to date)

The 2016 Rio Olympics have finally come to a close. The US tallied the most gold medals in the tournament, with Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, and Simone Biles leading the way; Usain Bolt immortalized himself with his third straight 100-meter gold medal, and the Philippines gets its first taste of Olympic hardware 20 years after it won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Also read: Curtains drawn as Rio Olympics comes to an end These were good highlights, but none would probably compare to what Japan just pulled off during the closing ceremonies.   YES, YOUR EYES ARE NOT DECEIVING YOU. That is Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a […]
Mega Harbor port Project, set to be implemented in Davao City
August 22, 2016

Mega Harbor port Project, set to be implemented in Davao City

In a press release by the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the P39-billion Mega Harbor Project in Davao City is set to be implemented towards creating a “Global Mindanao.”   MEGA HARBOR PORT PROJECT. (Photo by MAO Signing | Jeshleo Carungay, grabbed from magmanews.com)   This mega harbor port development project, which is to be put into operation in Davao City, aims to enable Davao to bloom as the capital of East Asia Growth Area (EAGA). Also, according to Mega Harbour Chairman Reghis M. Romero II, this project can help the entire Philippines to take advantage of this strategic location in Southeast Asia. Based on the description of the project, this […]
PH receives first coastguard vessel from Japan
August 19, 2016

PH receives first coastguard vessel from Japan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received the first of 10 new multi-role response vessels from Japan on Thursday (August 18).   JAPAN GIVES VESSELS TO PH. (Photo grabbed from inquirer.net)   This first vessel was named Tubbataha, a 44-meter vessel which was named after PCG lighthouse situated at the Tubbataha Marine National Park in Palawan. The other vessels to come until 2018 will also be named after the PCG lighthouses, and these will be deployed in Manila, La Union, and Puerto Princesa. According to an Inquirer report, PCG said that the vessel will be used for “search-and-rescue, law enforcement, and transport purposes.” These ships were built in Japan and supported […]
Filipino Restaurant Bad Saint named as Top 2 Best New Dining Place in US
August 18, 2016

Filipino Restaurant Bad Saint named as Top 2 Best New Dining Place in US

A Washington-based Filipino restaurant named Bad Saint made it to America’s Best New Restaurants 2016 List by the Bon Appétit magazine.   BAD SAINT. This Filipino restaurant makes it to the top list of America’s Nest New Restaurants in 2016. (Photo by Farrah Skeiky via Bad Saint’s Facebook account.)   Owned by Genevieve Cunanan and Nick Pimentel, together with their Filipino-American chef Tom Cunanan, the best of Filipino food has already made waves in the United States, thanks to Bad Saint. Andrew Knowlton, editor of the renowned American food magazine Bon Appétit, praised the restaurant dishes Ukoy, “a mix of freshwater shrimp fritter, sweet potato, and cilantro” and Adobong Dilaw, […]
Section of NAIA Expressway to open in September
August 17, 2016

Section of NAIA Expressway to open in September

Motorists bound for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may soon find a bit of reprieve as a section of the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX) is set to open this September.   A GLIMPSE OF WHAT MIGHT BE. This is how NAIAX would look like once it’s completed. Image grabbed from mapio.net   In a statement released last August 15, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said, “We are in the process of doing safety checks. With the help of DOTC, we are confident that the public would soon be able to access a key phase of the NAIA Expressway Project within the first 100 days of […]
Makati rerouting done for Skyway Stage 3 construction
August 17, 2016

Makati rerouting done for Skyway Stage 3 construction

Traffic woes will get worse for motorists going to Makati as rerouting schemes will be in effect for the construction of Skyway Stage 3 project (SS3) along Buendia flyover.   EXPECT HEAVIER TRAFFIC. SS3 construction activities have begun and will affect traffic along Osmeña Highway, especially around the Buendia flyover. Screen capture from Dmitri Valencia YouTube channel   San Miguel Corporation-led Citra, the contractor for the SS3 started installing beams along Osmeña highway and will continue construction activities for 3 months. All northbound motorists coming from Skyway are encouraged to use the Magallanes and Don Bosco off-ramps to go to Makati City. On the other hand, the Osmeña service road […]
Rare tornado whizzed past Manila streets
August 17, 2016

Rare tornado whizzed past Manila streets

Last Sunday (August 14), videos of a tornado formed in the port area in Manila suddenly went viral on different social media sites, causing panic and great alarm within the general public. The tornado was reported to have lasted for only about 15 minutes, but it already caused so much damage to houses and establishments near the location. As per reports from the Philippine Star, the tornado was stirred up slowly by strong winds coming in from across Manila Bay that started in Intramuros, and traveled throughout Central Post Office where it dissolved completely. The Philippines has been experiencing heavy downpour for almost a week before the tornado happened. Some […]
Proposed P3.35-T ‘budget for change’ in 2017 submitted to PH Congress
August 16, 2016

Proposed P3.35-T ‘budget for change’ in 2017 submitted to PH Congress

Monday proved to be another step towards change as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted its proposed national budget of P3.35 trillion for 2017, which is an 11.6% increase from the 2016 budget and the highest proposed budget from any administration to date.   BUDGET FOR REAL CHANGE. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno hands over the 2017 proposed national budget to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. (Photo by Jhel Ballesteros)   The proposed budget was submitted August 15 to Philippine Congress by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and was received by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez along with other members of Congress. Among those that received the lion’s share of the budget […]
Japan funds $2.4-B railway for Manila
August 15, 2016

Japan funds $2.4-B railway for Manila

Removing UV Express shuttles and taking away provincial buses is just one way the government is trying to decongest Metro Manila. They are also using railways to further remove vehicles from the road.   LRT1, LRT2, AND MRT3 might soon be joined by a younger yet bigger sibling in Manila. LRT and MRT photos used in collage grabbed from Wikipedia   Japan announced on Friday, August 12 that they would be funding a $2.4 billion (almost P112 trillion) railway project that should help ease the congestion in Metro Manila. Reports say that the 38-kilometer elevated commuter line would connect Metro Manila and Bulacan. This will help not only by decongesting […]
New PH passports to be released starting today
August 15, 2016

New PH passports to be released starting today

Filipinos who want to travel overseas and are applying for their passports will be the first recipients of the “all-new high-security passport” released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) beginning today, August 15.    A NEW LOOK. The new passports will not only have a revamped look but also have security features that will make them virtually fraud-proof. Photos grabbed from PCO Facebook page.   Dubbed by a travel site as the world’s most secure passport, the new look includes designs that showcase the country’s different regions. Intaglio printing is used for these new passports, similar to what they use when printing money. Other security features include using optical variable […]
Goodbye to EDSA traffic? Metro Manila Council bans provincial buses from EDSA
August 15, 2016

Goodbye to EDSA traffic? Metro Manila Council bans provincial buses from EDSA

Just over two weeks after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) banned UV Express shuttles from traversing EDSA, another set of PUVs have just been banned from using it.   THIS MAY SOON BE a thing of the past once the MMC resolution takes effect. Photo by Ramon FVelasquez, grabbed from Wikimedia Commons.   In a report from the Manila Bulletin, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved a resolution last August 12 banning provincial buses from using EDSA. Provincial bus terminals will likewise be removed from the major thoroughfare in an effort to decongest the worsening traffic the National Capital Region (NCR) faces every day. The move is […]
‘Pamilya Ordinaryo’ tops Cinemalaya 2016
August 15, 2016

‘Pamilya Ordinaryo’ tops Cinemalaya 2016

For this year’s Break the Surface themed Cinemalaya Film Festival, Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Pamilya Ordinaryo bagged the most number of awards at the recently held Awards Night on August 14 (Sunday) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater.   Best Film ‘Pamilya Ordinaryo’ director Eduardo Roy, Jr. (holding a trophy) with the cast of the film. (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)   Lauded for its “strong sense of realism and the mix of narrative and the use of real CCTV footages,” Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Pamilya Ordinaryo has undoubtedly produced a successful film which has made them bag five major awards such as the Best Film, Best Direction, Best […]