MikeLigalig.com

Lab-as Isda Para Kilaw

heheh. dalang mahay diay to.

Miriam is obnoxious, disgusting during the impeachment trial. Abi niya siya ray naay utok. Murag kinsa kung mangasaba sa mga senador, prosecution, witnesses, etc.

By Janice M. Cave

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro is optimistic that the introduction of the K (Kindergarten) + 12 basic education program starting school year 2012-2013 is one of the solutions to improve the country's ailing education system.

In an interview with reporters during a school visit at Ilugin Elementary School in Pasig City on Monday, Luistro said the K+12 program is a work in progress.

He told critics that it will take years to see the fruits of the program and encouraged them to look at the new curriculum and compare its "big" difference with the old one.

Critics have claimed that the program was hastily prepared and teachers still lack the training for the program.

"There is learning as you do the experience... Our curriculum modules will be refined by the teachers themselves, sila ang gagawa ng innovation para kapag ni-roll out na ito ay galing sa kanila mismo at hindi galing sa amin," Luistro said.

"Inumpisahan na natin ang pag-repaso ng curriculum at makikita ninyo na may malaking pagkakaiba sa pagtuturo sa Kinder, Grade 1 at Grade 7," he added.

He also reiterated that the additional two years in high school will begin in 2016 and not this school year.

The K plus 12 program extends the total number of years of basic education to 12 years instead of 10. Kindergarten is the base, followed by elementary (Grades 1 to 6), junior high school (Grades 7 to 10), and senior high school (Grades 11 and 12).

The Deped also said students under the K+12 program have better chances of gaining employment since they will be equipped with adequate skills after finishing junior high school.

Grade I teachers of various private schools in Iloilo City are currently being trained for the implementation of the K+12 as they too are enjoined to adopt the program.

Division of City Schools assistant superintendent, Dr. Ma. Luz de Los Reyes, said that the K+12 rolled out this school year in basic education curriculum (BEC) as mandated by the Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum 31, series of 2012.

The memorandum, also encouraged private schools to enhance their curriculum by embracing the K+12 program. Private schools can design their curriculum to also fit the needs of their students.

The K-12 started with the Universal Kindergarten in school year 2011-2012. Starting this school year, the new curriculum for Grade I and Grade 7 takes effect.

The assistant superintendent said that simultaneous with the K+12 was the adoption of the multi-lingual mother tongue-based, where pupils were being taught on their first language for better understanding.

De Los Reyes said that Filipino and English were being treated as separate subjects. All subject areas will be taught in their mother tongue until the second grading period while English will be introduced during the third grading period.

Meantime, Grade I teachers from public schools are up for another training on June 19-22 for the preparation of their instructional materials. K+12 program is now being implemented in all public schools in the city.

She said that they looked forward that their teachers have a complete understanding of the program since they already underwent necessary trainings prior to the start of the school year.

“There are problems but are manageable. Our teachers are excited and eager of the new program,” she said.

She added that teachers have been provided with lesson plans, teaching guide, guide curriculum and other materials for the program.

Meanwhile, first day of classes opened smoothly in Iloilo City amid the drizzle that was experienced early morning Monday.

School heads and supervisors have been instructed to accept late enrollees until Friday, according to de Los Reyes, although in their monitoring they haven’t received feedback on late registrants.

Starting this June, DepEd will use Tagalog as medium of instruction in schools. Yes, teaching mathematics, science, english using Tagalog.

One teacher commented about this policy: "Palpak man kaayo ni nga balaod. They want us Bisaya to use Tagalog as medium of instruction to teach Science but the exams will be written in English."

LOS ANGELES, California, June 3 (PNA via PLDT) -- Filipino WBO welterweight kingpin Manny Pacquiao shows sparring mate Ruslan Provodnikov (left) what stuff he is made of during Saturday's sparring session at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California. Pacquiao is defending his WBO welterweight crown against undefeated American challenger Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas. (PNA photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea)
scs/WRA/rsm

Manny Pacquiao's Sparring Session at Wild Card Gym

whoever invented this PR campaign for corporate profit is brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_9fQEqZCWs#
A Video That Brings Tears to Millions of Filipinos

Cebu Pacific Promo Fare 2012

by Bohol Chronicle

Calape, Bohol - Police say a 15-year old girl was shot dead on Wednesday night in Sitio Tipkan, barangay San Isidro, Calape.

According to police reports, the teenage girl identified as Noreen Huraño, 15, was brushing her teeth at the back of their house at around 9:30 p.m. when a still unidentified assailant shot her with a 45-caliber round that hit the base of her ear.

The girl died on the spot as police remain clueless on the identity of her attacker as no witnesses have surfaced.

SPO1 Fausto Isao Jr. told Station dyRD on Thursday that based on their investigation, the teenage victim had no known enemies and was described by relatives as a soft-spoken girl.

Police suspect that the girl is a victim of mistaken identity by the armed assailant however they assured to dig deeper into the shooting incident.

we had an officemate. she drank coke/softdrinks every day. her kidney was damaged. she died at 32.

Nike vs Adidas
What's your favorite?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT1Uo747aqY#ws
Manny Pacquiao at Jimmy Kimmel Show Before Bradley Fight

Happy Filipino Kids

common sight of american women.

there are so many pervert westerners in thailand. let's hope wala gi-snatch sya. okay lang ug gitaban sa uyab.

Avengers ng Ina Mo

The Avengers at NAIA Airport

The Avengers at the Corona Impeachment Trial

by PDI

A 25-year-old Filipino tourist has been missing in Thailand since April 30, her relatives reported.

Kristine Enriquez Salvador was with a relative when she travelled to Thailand from the Philippines on April 27 for a pleasure visit.

The two went to Phuket, a known tourist destination for its beach resorts. Salvador was reportedly last seen at Jungceylon Shopping Mall in Patong, Phuket at 4 p.m. on April 30 but failed to show up with the relative. She was reported missing at the Phuket Police Station and at the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok.

As of this posting the whereabouts of Salvador remained unknown.
Vice-Consul Badajos said that both Thai and the Philippine immigration authorities have already been informed about the case.

The Filipino Community in Thailand is also alerted on her disappearance. The embassy and her family are calling for any information on Salvador. Any information on Salvador can be sent to bangkokpe@gmail.com or call +66899265954

NAILHAN na ang usa ka babaye nga miambak sa tulay sa Marcos, siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro sa miaging adlaw.

Subay sa report sa Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) giila ang biktima nga si Carmen Mohofurog, 48, lumad sa Barangay San Miguel, Iligan City.

Nasayran, nakuha sa mga otoridad sa patayng lawas sa biktma ang gamay nga notebooknga listahan sa mga numero sa iyang pamilya hinungdan nakontak gilayon kini sa mga otoridad.

Nasuta usab sa otopsiya nga walay foul play ang kamatayon sa biktima ug posibleng ang mga bun-og nga naangkon sa lawas ang iyang pagkahagba sa mga bato.

Gituohan nga problema sa pamilya ug panagbulag nila sa iyang bana ang hinungdan sa paghikog sa biktima. Jover Cedrome, Brigada News

GIKULATA matod pa sa  iyang kapuyo’ng tomboy ang usa ka babaye sa
Barangay 35, siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro, pasado alas 8:00 sa buntag, gahapon.

Nagpakitabang sa Bulua Police Station 2 (PS7) ang biktima nga giilang si alyas Grace, (tinuod pangalang gipugngan), 21, kinsa nakaangkon og mga bun-og sa nagkadaiyang parti sa lawas.

Sa inisyal nga imbestigasyon sa kapolisan, gi-asoy sa biktima tungod lang kuno sa sobrang pangabubho sa maong suspek nga giilang si alyas Flor, 28, lumad sa Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, nahimo niini ang pagpangulata ngadto kaniya. - Brigada News, Noel B. Registos

MIREKLAMO sa kapolisan ang usa ka dalaga human kini giakusahang guest relation officer (GRO) sa Barangay 34, siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro, alas 10:30 sa miaging gabii.

Giila sa kapolisan ang biktima nga si alyas Rose, 18, molupyo sa nasampit nga lugar kinsa gipakaulawan matod pa sa iyang silingan nga si alyas Elvira, minyo, hamtong ang edad.

Sa inisyal nga imbestigasyon sa mga otoridad, gi-asoy sa biktima nga kalit lang kuno siya gisulong sa ilang panimalay ug nagsinggit-singgit kini sa walay igong rason.

ANGOL ang 53-anyos nga bana human makaangkon og dakong samad sa ulo human gipokpok og martilyo sa kaugalingong asawa atol sa ilang panaglalis sa Barangay Consolacion, siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro, pasado alas 12:00 sa kadlawon, gahapon.

Giila sa mga otoridad ang biktima nga si Susanto Ajero, minyo samtang ang suspek mao ang iyang misis nga si Marife.

Sa inisyal nga imbestigasyon, grabe kuno ang away sa magtiayon nga gisaksihan pa sa ilang mga anak.

Nasayran kanonay lamang kuno sila mag-away sa personal nga mga rason.  Kasamtangang nagpaalim sa balay tambalanan ang biktima.

NATIGBASAN sa iyang asawa ang 56-anyos nga bana sa Tulay Semento, Agora, Barangay Lapasan, siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro, pasado alas 2:00 sa kadlawon sa miaging adlaw.

Sa imbestigasyon sa mga otoridad, giila ang biktima nga si Celestino Valiente,  minyo sa samang dapit, kinsa nagpabilin pa sa balay tambalanan human matigbasan sa ulo nga bahin.

Nasayran, grabe matod pa ang panaglalis sa magtiayon hangtod wala magdahom ang bana nga kalit lang mikuha og sundang ang asawa niini nga maoy gitigbas ngadto kaniya.

Diha-diha gihatod sa anak nga lalaki ang biktima ngadto sa balay tambalanan, samtang giimbestigahan sa mga otoridad ang kaso. - Brigada News

GI-OPERAHAN sa mga doktor sa India ang 12-anyos nga lalaki ug nakuha matod pa sa iyang baga ang usa ka buhi nga isda.

Natulon ni Anil Barela ang siyam ka pulgadas nga isda samtang nagduwa uban sa iyang mga higala sa Khargone district sa Madhya Pradesh state.

Dihang natulon kuno sa bata ang buhi nga isda midiritso kini sa walang bahin sa iyang baga.

Hangtod naglisud na sa pagginhawa ang bata ug gumikan makuyaw na ang iyang gihambin gipailawom kini sa x-ray ug gi-oxygen.

Diha-diha nakahukom ang mga doktor nga operahan ang bata ug milungtad pa sa 45 minutos ang operasyon niini.

The Dictator: A Movie

absolute gender discrimination. calling Gabriela.

importante gyud unta nga adunay counselling centers kining atong mga baryo. ang tambag makalamdag sa nangitngitan nga huna-huna.

Mug shot of Floyd Mayweather Jr Before Thrown to Jail in Vegas


this is mayweather's room in the next 87 days.
photo courtesy of tmz.com

Bran, by just looking at the physical appearance of the person, how would you know that a person has AIDS?

by pna

Central Visayas registered 6.8 million people in the latest census.

Cebu continues to have the biggest population among the four provinces, at 4.16 million based on the 2010 census results released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) 7.

The regional population, as of May 1, 2010, increased by 1,093,227 from the previous census results in 2000.

But the annual population growth rate (PGR) in the region for 2000 to 2010 was recorded at 1.77 percent, while in the period 1990 to 2000, the annual growth rate was higher at 2.19 percent,” said Engr. Ariel Florendo, NSO 7 officer-in-charge, in a press statement.

President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation 362 last March 30, 2012, declaring as official the results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing.

That survey showed Negros Oriental with the second largest population in the region at 1,286,666; Bohol Province, 1,255,128; and Siquijor, 91,066.

Only three cities in Cebu host about 37 percent of the island’s total population.

These are Cebu City, with 866,171; Mandaue City 331,320; and Lapu-Lapu, 350,467.

Together with these three highly-urbanized cities’ population, Cebu would have the most number of people among the country’s provinces.

The NSO conducts the census every 10 years.

Among the component cities in Cebu, the City of Naga recorded a population growth rate 2.7 percent from May 1990 (60,425) to May 2000 (80,189), and 2.39 percent from May 2000 (80,189) to May 2010 (101,571).

Bogo City registered a population growth of 2.26 percent from May 1990 (51,083) to May 2000 (63,869), and 0.91 percent from May 2000 (63.869) to May 2010 (69,911).

Carcar City had a population growth of 2.33 percent from May 1990 (70,841) to May 2000 (89,199) to May 2010 (107,323).

Talisay City reported the fastest population at 4.22 percent from May 1990 (97,955) to May 2000 (148,110), then at 3.09 percent from May 2000 (148,110) to May 2010 (200,772).

i really believe in water therapy. pharma companies don't want you to know that water is life, and can cure medicine.

drink water and buko juice. softdrinks will only kill you in the long run.

By Priam F. Nepomuceno

Operatives of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) on Thursday arrested a construction worker in connection with the gun slaying of Carl Vinson Apura, son of Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura, last Sunday.

Suspect Jay Boy Lauron, 28, a resident of Barangay Carreta, Cebu City, was nabbed in Barangay Tri Onion, Catigbian, Bohol.

CPPO head Chief Insp. Teodulfo Manatad III said the Lauron tried to flee after spotting arresting lawmen, but but was quickly cornered after a brief chase Thursday afternoon

Lauron owned to the killing of the younger Apura but said that he did not know the victim was the mayor's son.

He also claimed that he was at dance floor in Barangay Valladolid with friends when Apura challenged him to a gun duel for no apparent reason.

Fearing that he would be killed, the suspect alleged that he immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim once.

Lauron also said he was under the influence of liquor during the commission of crime.

maulaw man sab ta ani ning balitaa. basin makaingon ang mga taga-cebu nga tulisan ning mga bol-anon.

hehehe. o di ba kaha ang pamelete nahurot sa pahilis sa gikaon sa fiesta. naa diay mga GRO anang lapu-lapu, bay hubz? mura man ug suweto ka.

more to come. just an opening salvo. america owes trillions of dollars with china.

posible sab. o di kaha ang ijang pamelete pabalik sa bohol didto gihapit sa eskina sa dalan junquera.

kapin usa ka libo ang natulis, unya P790 na nakuha ug balik. basin gibilin ang kuwang isip plete sa taxi nga P240.

pero makaduda pud ning tawhana. namukong nalang siya sa barko. kung pamyesta lang iyang gianhi sa cebu, ngano nga nagdala man sya ug kutsilyo?

ug moadto ka sa lugar, common sense naman gyud nga mag-andam ka ug pamelete pabalik.

basin kaha pud maoy iyang gianhi sa cebu ang pagpanulis ug taxi, dili ang pamelete.

bran, most lakes in china are so polluted already due to the rise of its factories.

doesn't look like a frog. it looks like a toy.

by pna

Provincial Jail Warden Reynan Torreon recently confirmed his relief from duty last May 18, a day after three inmates bolted the Bohol District Jail. He is now on floating status at the Regional Office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Cebu.

Senior Inspector Richard Laure replaced Torreon as the new provincial jail warden.

Torreon was the first to go after the governor hinted during the weekly radio program, Kita ug ang Gobernador, last Friday that heads will roll following the escape of three inmates on Thursday last week that was attributed to the guards’ remiss in their duties.

SGO4 Christopher Gablines identified the three escapees as Exequiel Aniscal, 50, of Barangay San Vicente, Maribojoc; Brian Ceniza, 23, of Barangay Napo, Inabanga; and Mario Llaya, 23, of Barangay Tambuan, Carmen.

Aniscal is facing charges of robbery with homicide, while Ceniza is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms, murder, carnapping and highway robbery; and Llaya is facing charges of robbery with intimidation of person.

Ceniza and Llaya were later killed in a shootout early evening on May 22 when they resisted arrest.

The footage from the CCTV camera showed that the three, oblivious to everyone in the compound, left the busy crowd rehearsing for the graduation of the alternative learning program at around 2 p.m. Thursday which was also the schedule for visiting hours.

They went to the sentinel area at Gate 6 and disarmed four jail officers after poking a gun at Jail Officer 1 Jose Jomar Torreon and took his .45 caliber service firearm. They then headed to Gate 2 and took the 9-mm service firearm of Senior Jail Officer 3 Menard Bompat.

They immediately fled on a getaway vehicle parked outside the jail with the key in it already.

Torreon, who was in Cebu City during the incident, said the jail officer monitoring the CCTV camera could have sounded the alarm to warn the jail guards at post 2 and post 1 after Aniscal’s group disarmed the four jail officers at the sentinel area at Gate 6.

Torreon suspects that some jail guards are involved in sneaking in the .45-caliber pistol that Aniscal used.

buhi pa kaha ta ana when it happens? another scientist's illusion?

June 2, 2012 Philippine Weather Update - Another province was placed under storm warning signal No. 1 as tropical storm "Ambo" intensified further as it moved toward Aurora province on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Lenny Ruiz, weather forecaster, said that as of 4 a.m. Saturday, "Ambo" (international name: Mawar) was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 220 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora (16.1°N, 124.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Ruiz said that storm signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Polillo Island, Aurora and Isabela and is now raised over the Northern Luzon province of Cagayan.

“Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

It warned fishing boats and other small sea craft against venturing out into the eastern seaboard of Luzon and the Visayas.

Although "Ambo" is not expected to make landfall, strong rains are expected across the country in the next few days as the storm will affect the southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat,” Ruiz added.

Weathermen said that "Ambo," the first tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in 2012, is expected to exit on Monday.

PAGASA said that some 15 to 25 millimeters of rainfall per hour (heavy) is expected within the 500-km. diameter of the storm and also enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Central and Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

According to PAGASA, "Ambo" is forecast to move north-northwest at 13 kph and expected to be 240 kms. east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Sunday morning.

By Monday morning, it is expected to be 360 kms. northeast of Basco, Batanes, and 680 kms. northeast of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday morning.

In its advisory, PAGASA said that Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Polilio Island, Aurora, Isabela and Cagayan will experience rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

The rest of Central and Southern Luzon will have occasional to frequent rains while Visayas and the rest of Northern Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough, PAGASA said.

June 2012 Cebu Pacific Promo

The Apple Invasion Into Buddhist Temples

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCS3EfE7UCs#
Lami Kaha ni Kilawon? Giant Piranha

Jewelry for Pawnshop

Biggest Event in Philippine History

by pna

The country’ 6.4 percent GDP rebound in the first quarter of 2012 ranks so far as the best among the 10-member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and second only to China in Asia.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, a renowned economic adviser to Philippine Presidents, said the country’s recent significant bounce following a slackened performance in the past four quarters, was powered by the Aquino Administration’s renewed economic strategies and its more serious approach on reforms to regain government integrity.

Quoting reports from the National Statistics Coordination Board published May 31, Salceda said the growth was driven among others by public construction at 62.2 percent, net exports, OFW remittances at +4 percent, and household spending.

Salceda said the country has four significant accomplishments for the first quarter of 2012. First, is that the growth was well above the market’s consensus forecast of 4.8 percent; and second, the Philippines registered the highest GDP advance among Asean and other neighboring countries except China.

The third significant development was that the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics showed net jobs creation of 1.1 million proving the growth to be more inclusive than prior growth episodes. This should lead to a reduction in the stubborn poverty incidence which plagued previous administrations, the economist governor added.

Fourthly, the growth of 6.4 percent is sustainable as it is based on the continued strong inflows of remittances due to socio-cultural competitiveness of Filipino workforce in world labor markets, rising inbound tourist receipts based on a focused innovative tourism marketing and investment-driven expansion in destinations and access combined with low and sustained inflation environment underpinning household consumption, he added.

Salceda noted that on the supply side, the economy was driven by an agricultural turnaround of +2.4 percent after two quarters of decline. Industry slowed down to 2.2 percent from 3.3 percent. Manufacturing growth was robust at +5.7 percent, but was offset by -11 percent mining decline, and services recovered to 2.6 percent from 1.3 percent.

by pna

By Jelly F. Musico

The historic impeachment trial that resulted in the conviction of former Chief Justice Renato Corona would ‘greatly improve’ confidence in the country’s business as well as political system, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Edgardo Angara said on Friday.

”Impeachment done responsibly, I think, helps the confidence of businessmen and should help the economy. Remember, half of the battle in the economy is really perception rather than reality. So I’m hoping that this helps add to the perception that we have a stable economy,” Cayetano, Senate minority leader, said.

For his part, Angara said the business communities and organizations expect the Philippines’ credit rating to be officially upgraded following the successful conduct of the impeachment trial by the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

”I think it’s quite positive to the extent that they’re saying that our credit rating may even be officially upgraded by rating agencies. Our credibility may have gotten up as a result from what happened in this hall,” Angara said in a recent Senate media forum.

Cayetano believes that, after the impeachment trial, the businessmen will appreciate that the legal system in the country still works well; that transparency and accountability will fight corruption; and, that the impeachment court ended without harming the banking system.

”The confidence in our business system and political system will greatly improve. Like in Latin America before, coup was being used to replace their president, but when they discovered impeachment, they have stability,” Cayetano said.

Angara said the significant message that the Senate proved to the Filipino people and to the international community was that it is capable of dispensing justice.

”The significant message was that first, we are capable of dispensing justice to the mighty as well as to the less powerful and that we are willing to wield that gavel evenly, fairly and quickly,” Angara explained.

Angara believes that most of the Filipino people who monitored the nationally-televised impeachment trial for 44 days will appreciate better the function of the Senate as one of the country’s three branches of government.

”That is the message that I think we delivered to the people and as you can see I think even the stature of the Senate and the leadership are at a record high,” he said.

Most of the senator-judges cited in their explanation of votes that justice should be dispensed fairly as seven of them cited the case of a court interpreter, Delsa Flores, from Davao who was removed from government service 15 years ago for failure to declare her stall in a market in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.

The 20 senator-judges who rendered guilty verdict said Corona committed culpable violation of the Constitution when he never declared his US$ 2.4 million dollar accounts and P80 million in commingled funds with relatives in his SALN.

”I think that is good to strengthen our institutions because there has been continuous erosion of the credibility of institutions of government, pillars of justice and such in our society that overall we are almost looked at as an outcast and a laggard,” Angara said.

With the conviction of the country’s highest magistrate, Angara said the public has now improved awareness about the importance of SALN, especially for the government officials and employees.

”I think this a turning point because the media impact of that is that even the Supreme Court justices have opened their SALN to the public and I think that is a good example of the practical effect of this decision. We’ve seen that even lesser officials will be asked of their SALN,” Angara said.

As a result of Corona’s conviction, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who presided the impeachment trial, has been commended by his colleagues and outside the Senate.

Last Wednesday, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada delivered a privilege speech, commending the 88-year-old Enrile for a job well done despite his age.

by pna

President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama during his three-day working visit to the United States to discuss various issues of mutual interest that would further strengthen the Philippines’ strategic partnership with its long-standing western ally.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Patricia Ann Paez said during a pre-departure briefing on Friday at Malacañang that this particular visit of President Aquino from June 6 to 8 reflects the heightened engagement between the Philippines and the United States.

The President will be received by President Obama at the White House Oval Office in Washington, D.C. on June 8 where they are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, including the country's close strategic, economic, and people-to-people ties with the U.S.

Paez said the two leaders will also touch on the Philippines’ cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as the U.S. refocuses its attention in the area characterized by economic dynamism as well as the fresh challenges.

“President Aquino’s visit to Washington, D.C. reflects the heightened engagements between our two countries. This is evidenced by the upward trajectory of high-level engagements that include our first bilateral strategic dialogue in Manila in January 2011 and the second bilateral strategic dialogue in Washington, D.C. in January 2012," said Paez.

There were also visits of four top-level congressional delegations in 2011 and 2012,” she explained.

Paez added that the first-ever two-plus-two meeting between the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the two countries was held last April in Washington, D.C. The Philippines is also the country coordinator for the ASEAN-US dialogue partnership.

Paez said President Obama has also expressed interest in being updated about President Aquino’s vision for the Philippines and his development agenda specifically to promote inclusive growth, create equal opportunities for all, and foster good governance.

She said the Oval Office meeting between the two presidents is already their fourth in a span of two years. Their first meeting was held in September 2010 during the ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting in New York.

This was followed by another meeting at the launching of the Open Government Partnership in September 2011 also in New York. Their last meeting was on November 18, 2011 during the ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting held in Bali, Indonesia.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, will be hosting a luncheon in honor of President Aquino and his delegation with some 200 guests. The President will also meet with the top leaders of the U.S. Senate at a reception hosted by Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye.

Senator Inouye has been described by Paez as the “champion of Philippine interest" in the U.S. Congress who has manifested steadfast support for the Philippines as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Apart from meeting the top U.S. government officials, President Aquino is also expected to speak with some business leaders and investors while in Washington, D.C. In addition, Paez said, the President will also grace the launching of the US-Philippine Society that aims to provide information on the Philippines to U.S. policy makers. It will convey to the Philippine government objective feedbacks on perceptions in the U.S. regarding the country, and undertake partnership programs with NGOs and other institutions to increase public exposure of Philippine issues.

President Aquino will also be granting interviews with the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima is not bothered by the drop of the Philippines’ competitive ratings given the big leap of the domestic economy in the first quarter of 2012.

The Philippines is now on the 43rd, from 41st, out of 59 countries rated by IMD World Competitive Yearbook.

The decline was attributed to the below-target growth in 2011 at 3.9 percent against the 5.5-6.5 percent target growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), and the drop in export.

“I’m not really as concerned because knowing what we know right now of the first quarter, which is 6.4 (percent), we’re confident that we have made the necessary adjustment on the government side to continue with the expenditure program of the government,” Purisima told reporters in a briefing Friday.

In the first four months this year, revenues rose by 11.4 percent to P514.24 billion and expenditures by 12.1 percent to P517.13 billion. Budget gap as of last April totalled to P2.9 billion, a turn-around from the P61 million surplus same period last year but way below the P109.34 billion programmed for the first half this year.

And because of the improvement in revenue collection of the government, Purisima said the administration has “enough fiscal space in the budget to support these expenditures.”

Meanwhile, the Finance chief said the IMD World Competitive Yearbook has noted the improvement in the government’s efficiency in public finance and on institutional framework, thus, he stressed that one “cannot just look at this rating just on the two-notch deterioration but to really look at various factors.”

He pointed out that “if you isolate the growth issue they probably would have improved our ranking.”

“If we continue to focus on the agenda of the President then we’ll ultimately get to the upper quartile, which is our ultimate objective,” he added.

June 1 (PNA) -- Tropical depression “Ambo” intensified into a storm on Friday afternoon and as a result, at least six areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 1, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Robert Sawi, officer-in-charge of the weather division of PAGASA, said that as of 4 p.m. Friday, "Ambo" (international name: Mawar) was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 190 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (15.1°N, 125.5°E) with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center. It is forecast to move north-northwest at 15 kph.

"Ambo" is expected to affect the Bicol region and Northern Luzon and to enhance the southwest monsoon or "hanging habagat," bringing rains over the entire country, Sawi said.

PAGASA said that Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Polilio Island, Aurora, and Isabela have been placed under Storm Signal No. 1.

Tropical storm "Ambo" is the country's first tropical cyclone for this year

PAGASA defines a tropical depression as a weak low-pressure disturbance with maximum wind speed of up to 63 kph. On the other hand, a tropical storm is defined as a moderate tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 64 to 118 kph.

Sawi said tropical storm "Ambo" will bring heavy rains of 15 to 25 millimeters per hour within its 500-km. radius.

He added that "Ambo" may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as early as Monday.

"Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said.

Fishermen along the country’s eastern seaboard were likewise warned against sailing due to rough sea conditions.

According to PAGASA, "Ambo" is forecast to be 220 kms. east-southeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Saturday afternoon.

By Sunday afternoon, it is expected to be 280 kms. east- northeast of Basco, Batanes; and 640 kms. northeast of Basco, Batanes by Monday afternoon.

I've never taken aspirin. Medicines made of pharma companies have no place in my heart. I always go for fresh fruits and vegetables plus exercise.

Senator-Judge Francis Pangilinan questions Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona about his dollar and peso accounts and statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) during Day 42 of the impeachment trial on Friday (May 25, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. (PNA photos by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

by Associated Press
New York

Want to super-size that soda? Sorry, but in New York City you could be out of luck.

In his latest effort to fight obesity in this era of Big Gulps and triple bacon cheeseburgers, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing an unprecedented ban on large servings of soda and other sugary drinks at restaurants, delis, sports arenas and movie theaters.

Drinks would be limited to 16 ounces, which is considered a small serving at many fast-food joints.

It is the first time an American city has directly attempted to limit soda portion sizes, and the soft-drink industry and others bitterly accused the three-term mayor of creating a "nanny state" and robbing New Yorkers of the right to decide for themselves.

A lady doctor checks the heart condition of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona during a break on Day 42 of the impeachment trial of the chief magistrate on Friday (May 25, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. Corona was rushed to The Medical City in Pasig City on Tuesday night after complaining of shortness of breath, cold sweats and dizziness following his three-hour testimony on Day 40 of the impeachment trial. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
scs/jme

Mrs. Cristina Corona (in red), wife of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, links arms with the children of her late uncle, Jose Maria Basa III, following the reconciliation between the Corona and Basa families during the 42nd day of the impeachment trial of the chief magistrate on Friday (May 25, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. The reconciliation ended a bitter feud between the two families over inherited properties. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
scs/jme

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona (left) reconciles with the children of the late Jose Maria Basa III, uncle of his wife Cristina, on Day 42 of the impeachment trial of the chief magistrate on Friday (May 25, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. The reconciliation ended a bitter feud between the Corona and Basa families over inherited properties. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

Atty. Elenita P. Ugay (left, upper photo) of the Civil Service Commission Legal Service Division-Cordillera Administrative Region, lectures on "Gender Disparity in the Government Service: Myth or Truth" during the News and Information Bureau (NIB) 2012 Gender and Development Workshop II from May 24-26 at San Fabian PTA Beach Resort, Barangay Bolasi, San Fabian, Pangasinan. The workshop is themed "Empowering Women Through Media." Upper right photo shows some of the 50 NIB employee-participants of the workshop. In lower photo, NIB Director Brando F. Merrera hands over a certificate of appreciation to Atty. Ugay after her lecture. (PNA photo by Luisito L. Iglesia)

Senator-Judge Allan Peter Cayetano gestures to stress a point while questioning Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona (right) about his dollar accounts during Day 42 of the impeachment trial of the chief magistrate on Friday (May 25, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. (PNA photos by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona arrives with his wife Cristina at the Senate in Pasay City to resume his testimony on Day 42 of his impeachment trial on Friday (May 25, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
scs/jme 

Daughters of the late Jose Ma. Basa, Francisca (2nd from right) and Ana (2nd from left) tearfully belie the statements made by Chief Justice Renato Corona regarding the alleged squabbles within the Basa-Guidote family during a press briefing Wednesday (May 23, 2012) at the Senate building in Pasay City. Supporting them are other members of the clan. (PNA photo by Gil S. Calinga)

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from right) listens intently as Sister Concordia Pingoy, Superior General of the Handmaids of Christ the King or ACR Sisters in Tagum City, explains the health benefits of mangosteen rind which her congregation processes into capsules (inset). Mangosteen rind contains antioxidants, particularly xanthones, that are said to cure a wide range of illnesses, allergies and skin disorders, and strengthen the body’s immune system. The DA has provided the group with a hammermill and a food grade dryer to further increase their production, currently at 100,000 capsules a month, which they sell at P3 each. Also shown in photo are two ACR Sisters and Tagum City Coordinator Arturo Mañigo Jr. (PNA Photo Courtesy of DA Information Service)

By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press â€" 2 hours ago   

Someone inside an artsy Seattle cafe where a gunman opened fire threw stools at the assailant during a shooting rampage police described as "callous, horrific and cold," a move that allowed others to run to safety.

Ian Lee Stawicki was armed with two .45-caliber handguns and began shooting Wednesday morning at Cafe Racer, killing four people. Police said he fled and later killed a female motorist, taking off with her SUV.

Stawicki later killed himself as police closed in.

Police said more people could have been injured or even killed at the cafe were it not for the actions of the man, whom they identified only as "Lawrence." They did not say whether he was a patron or an employee.

"The hero picked up a stool and threw it at the suspect. Hit him. Picked up another stool, as the suspect is shooting and now pointing (a gun) at him and hits him with another stool," Assistant Chief Jim Pugel said.

"During that time, two or possibly three, people made their escape," he said, adding, "He saved three lives."

In an interview with authorities posted on the Police Department's online 'blotter,' the man said the shooting started right after Stawicki was politely told he was not welcome at the cafe.

Lawrence told police he picked up the stool and threw it, legs first, as the shots rang out.

"My brother died in the World Trade Center," he said. "I promised myself" if something like this happened, "I would never hide under a table."

Senator-Judges Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Joker Arroyo explains their votes against the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Tuesday (May 29, 2012) at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City. (PNA photos by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

By JEFF LATZKE AP Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY June 1, 2012 (AP)


The streak is over. The series may only be beginning.

Kevin Durant scored 22 points, Thabo Sefolosha set playoff career-bests with 19 points and six steals, and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped San Antonio's 20-game winning streak by beating the Spurs 102-82 in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday night.

Oklahoma City closed its series deficit to 2-1 and will host Game 4 on Saturday night.

"We never thought these guys had an advantage over us even though we had lost a few," Durant said. "It was just good that we took it to 2-1. We didn't want to go down 0-3."

Sefolosha threw a wrench in the Spurs' well-oiled offense at the start, getting four steals in the first 3 minutes. The Spurs ended up committing a postseason-worst 21 turnovers and scoring their least points all season.

San Antonio had been averaging 109.4 points during its month-and-a-half winning streak and had been held to double digits only twice.

A group of men and women are busy making different sizes of the Philippine flag, the country's most important national symbol, at the Atlas Super Flags Store on Rizal Ave. in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The firm, owned by Lu Tan Gatue, has been making flags since 1910 and is one of the few flag manufacturers in the country accredited by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The peak season for the Philippine flags is from May to June of every year in connection with the celebration of National Flag Day and Independence Day. (PNA photo by Oliver F. Marquez)
scs/ron

Magic 20 of Filipino Senators Who Voted Guilty Verdict

20 senator-judges find Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty of betrayal of public trust and committing culpable violation of the Constitution on Tuesday during the impeachment trial at the Senate. In photos are Presiding Senator-Judges Juan Ponce Enrile, Eduardo Angara, Franklin Drilon, Pia Cayetano, Allan Peter Cayetano, Francis 'Chiz' Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Serge Osmena, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Martin 'KoKo' Pimentel, Ralph Recto, Bong Revilla, Tito Sotto, Antonio Trillanes IV and Manny Villar. (PNA photos by Jess M. Escaros Jr./Gil S. Calinga)
dct/LDV/jme/gsc

by pna

The business sector is expecting the Philippines’ credit rating to improve a notch higher due to the successful handling of the recently-concluded impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Philippine Senate, according to Senator Edgardo Angara on Thursday.

In a Senate media forum, Angara revealed that business communities and organizations such as chambers and employers groups have expressed optimism as a result of the 20-3 guilty verdict on Corona.

”I think it’s quite positive to the extent that they’re saying that our credit rating may even be officially upgraded by rating agencies. Our credibility may have gotten up as a result from what happened in this hall,” Angara said.

For him, Angara said the significant message sent to the Filipino people by the Senate was that it is capable of dispensing justice though the impeachment trial has been described as quasi-judicial and quasi-political exercise.

”The significant message was first, we are capable of dispensing justice to the mighty as well as to the less powerful that we are willing to wield that gavel evenly, fairly and quickly,” Angara explained.

Angara believed that most of the Filipino people who monitored the nationally-televised impeachment trial for 44 days looked forward that justice be dispensed fairly and quickly.

”That is the message that I think we delivered to the people and as you can see I think even the stature of the Senate and the leadership are at a record high,” Angara said.

Most of the senator-judges cited in their explanation of votes that justice should be dispensed fairly as seven of them mentioned a court interpreter, Delsa Flores, from Davao who was removed from government 15 years ago for failure to declare her stall in a market in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.

The 20 senator-judges who rendered guilty verdict said Corona also committed culpable violation of the Constitution when he never declared his US$ 2.4 million dollar accounts and P80 million in commingled funds with relatives in his SALN.

”I think that is good to strengthen our institutions because there had been continuous erosions of the credibility of institutions of government, pillars of justice and such in our society that overall we are almost looked at as an outcast and a laggard,” Angara said.

With the conviction of the country’s highest magistrate, Angara said the public has now improved awareness about the importance of SALN, especially for the government officials and employees.

”I think this is a turning point because the media impact of that is that even the Supreme Court has opened their SALN to the public and I think that is a good example of the practical effect of this decision. We’ve seen that even lesser officials will be asked of their SALN,” Angara said.

As a result of Corona’s conviction, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who presided the impeachment trial, received commendations both from his colleagues and outside the Senate.

Last Wednesday, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada delivered a privilege speech, commending the 88-year-old Enrile for a job well done despite his age.

by pna

The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

The better than expected economic growth was due to sustained private sector confidence and accelerated government spending.

There were healthy increases in the services sector, complemented by growth in exports and increases in household consumption expenditures.

The first quarter GDP figure validates the optimistic outlook of the President and his economic team.

It is the highest first quarter GDP growth in a non-election year since 2006; the second highest in Asia; and the highest growth rate in the entire ASEAN region for this period.

We are confident that the positive trajectory of our GDP growth will be sustained in the latter quarters of this year, which have traditionally demonstrated more robust and dynamic economic performance.

Moreover, this affirmation of our country’s steady advance toward inclusive growth comes on the heels of Moody’s Investors Service upgrade of our credit outlook to positive from stable. All indications point to the global economy’s continued confidence in the Philippines, as well as to a more optimistic outlook within the country.

The hard work continues, on the firm foundations of these recent achievements. As the Aquino administration has been resolute in carrying out its agenda of reform and in institutionalizing good governance, it will continue to be equally steadfast in translating our economy’s gains into employment opportunities, programs geared toward poverty alleviation, and the systemic improvement of the way of life of Filipinos.

by pna

Seven persons were killed while three others were injured critically after a 10-wheeler truck loaded with Falcata logs rammed into houses and a store along the national highway in Barangay 4, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Thursday afternoon.

Reports said the truck was running at a medium speed when the accident occurred near the Davao Central Warehouse Store in San Francisco, one of the biggest towns in Agusan del Sur.

San Francisco Police Chief Inspector Floriano Ravelo said those who died in the mishap were Faustino Doce, 62, owner of the store; Samuel Arayan, 31, security guard of the Davao Central Warehouse-San Francisco branch; Danilo Suan, 55, of Barangay Alegria, also in San Francisco; and four others whose names were not immediately available.

Doce died on the spot while Arayan and Suan were pronounced dead at D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

Police said the number of dead in the incident rose to seven after four of those initially injured critically and brought first to D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital died in the other hospitals in Butuan and Davao cities where they were transferred.

Ravelo said they did not have the names of those who died in the hospitals where they were brought as they relied on the reports from their relatives.

By Scott Stewart

A small improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at a Salvation Army distribution center in Phoenix, Ariz., on the afternoon of May 24. Two Salvation Army employees discovered the explosive device, which was concealed inside a yellow, hand-held 6-volt flashlight, as they were sorting through a box of donated items. The IED exploded when one of the employees picked up the flashlight and attempted to turn it on. The blast was not very powerful, and the two employees suffered only minor injuries.

This was the third incident in the Greater Phoenix area in recent weeks involving an IED concealed in a flashlight. Two explosive devices very similar to the May 24 IED exploded May 13 and May 14 in Glendale, Ariz., a city in the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Both devices were abandoned in public places. In the May 13 incident, a woman discovered a yellow, hand-held 6-volt flashlight next to a tree outside a Glendale business. When the woman picked up the flashlight and attempted to turn it on, it exploded, causing minor scratches and bruises to her face and hands. It also inflicted minor wounds to a woman beside her. The next day, a man found an identical flashlight in a ditch where he was working in another part of Glendale. He was lightly injured when the flashlight exploded as he attempted to turn it on.

So far, the explosive devices have failed to cause significant injury or death, but they do seem to indicate that there is a serial bombmaker operating in the Phoenix area. While it is not yet clear what the bombmaker's motives are, past cases of serial bombers suggest that the publicity he has received and the fear he has invoked will likely influence him to continue manufacturing explosive devices until he is captured. (Based on earlier cases involving serial bombers, it is also safe to assume that the culprit in the Phoenix area is a man.) The bombmaker's method of concealing his explosive devices may also change after gaining publicity for this wave of attacks. Finally, there is a chance that the destructive effect of the bombmaker's devices will increase as he becomes more proficient at building IEDs.

favorite actress ra ba nako ni si zhang ziyi. if this were true, pagkamahal ba pud diay sa pipila ka gutlo nga kahigwaos.

Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol
FIRST SEMESTER, 2012-2013

Incoming Freshmen
May 2 - June 23, 2012

4th Year/ 5th Year/ Transferees
May 23 - May 24, 2012

3rd Year/ Transferees
May 25 - May 26, 2012

2nd Year/ Transferees
May 28 - May 29, 2012

1st Year/ Transferees
May 30 - May 31, 2012

Late Enrollees
June 1 - June 23, 2012

Graduate School
May 9 - June 23, 2012

Classes Start:
June 13, 2012

maybe same here at VDT-ALC in Tagbilaran City. Each section is limited to 22 to 25 students. All classrooms are fully airconditioned. Nursery to Grade 2 Classrooms have their own CRs. Naa na pud Computer Subject ang Grade 1.

One year sa Grade 1 is P26,000, exclusive of books and other fees.

Archbishop Reyes Avenue,  Cebu,  6000  Philippines
‎1 800 1 114 2079 (Philippines Toll Free) +64-9985-3513 (From abroad)

Quest Hotel Cebu in Cebu City, Philippines

basin naay corona nga modagan ug senador. mahilig ra ba ning mga bakya crowd nga mobutar ug infamous.

HNU May 2012 CPA Board Exam Passers

1. Alima, Emma D., CPA - Sagbayan, Bohol
2. Alvarado, Joanna Marie C., CPA - Ubay, Bohol
3. Babano, Pearl April C., CPA - Lila, Bohol
4. Bag-ao, Earl Ryann D., CPA - Batuan, Bohol
5. Bernil, Don A., CPA - Duero, Bohol
6. Campeciño, Niña Joy C., CPA - Tagbilaran City
7. Carbon, Famila G., CPA - Corella, Bohol
8. Cuadra, Jarepel Hope Y., CPA - Tagbilaran City
9. Dungog, Maximo H. Jr., CPA - Trinidad, Bohol
10. Jagutin, Bill Glenn P., CPA - Batuan, Bohol
11. Makiling, Jimson S., CPA - Alburquerque, Bohol
12. Marfe, Joan Stefanie C., CPA - Sevilla, Bohol
13. Molina, Joanna Lexan P., CPA - Loon, Bohol
14. Ocon, Joseph T., CPA - Cortes, Bohol
15. Samson, Christine May S., CPA - Valencia, Bohol
16. Tagasling, Teofilo L. Jr.,CPA - Dimiao, Bohol
17. Tubaon, Abigail S., CPA - Baclayon, Bohol

First-takers Passing Percentage: 83%

Passing Percentage: HNU: 63% | National: 37%

by Neal H. Cruz
PDI

The senator-judges of the impeachment court are to render their decision on the guilt or innocence of Chief Justice Renato Corona as this is being written, and I don’t see how anyone of them, including Senators Joker Arroyo and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, can acquit him unless the senator-judge is thoroughly biased, deaf and blind, gullible, or stupid.

One of the accusations against Corona is that he did not include all his assets in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. Well, he himself admitted that he did not include $2.4 million and P80 million in bank deposits in his SALNs as required by the Constitution, though he made some feeble excuses for not doing so. Mere “palusot,” in the words of Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas.

Perhaps realizing that their client has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the defense lawyers have shifted tactics. Now they are saying that if Corona is found guilty, his crime is not an impeachable offense and that he should not be booted out of the Supreme Court but given a much lighter penalty.

A defense lawyer, Eduardo de los Angeles, went so far as to suggest that assuming that Corona’s noninclusion of his dollar deposits in his SALNs was not “justified,” he should be penalized not with impeachment but only with “a fine not exceeding P5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.” That’s the equivalent of a slap on the wrist.

He forgot that the same Supreme Court of which Corona is the Chief, dismissed an employee for not including in her SALNs a market stall that she owned. A market stall is a far cry from the P80 million and $2.4 million that Corona did not include in his SALNs. Is there one law for ordinary employees and another for Supreme Court justices?

Corona clearly violated the Constitution by not including all his assets in his SALNs as the Constitution mandates. The punishment for violation of the Constitution by officials like the Chief Justice is impeachment. And impeachment means removal from office. Now the defense panel wants the impeachment court to punish him with a slap on the wrist.

unsa kahay mabuhat ni Dra. Belo ani?

high-tech ba ang mga facility aning holy redeemer school of cabuyao, laguna?

by Floyd Whaley
New York Times

MANILA â€" The chief justice of the Philippine Supreme Court, Renato C. Corona, was removed from office on Tuesday after it was disclosed during an impeachment trial that he failed to declare $2.4 million in foreign currency deposits.

In a country where high-ranking public officials are often removed through street protests, and no one had ever been successfully impeached and convicted, the verdict was seen as a victory for the political maturity of the Philippines.

Chief Justice Corona was impeached in December by the House of Representatives and was convicted Tuesday by the Senate acting as an impeachment court. He was accused of biased decisions and hiding assets.

“If your client cannot explain, I cannot abstain,” said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, upon voting to convict. “If you did not disclose, we have to depose. If you are not fit, you cannot sit as the C.J. of our Supreme Court.”

Corona Is Guilty

Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu

by PNA

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who sit as presiding officer of the impeachment court of Chief Justice Renato Corona, has found the chief magistrate guilty of deliberately excluding his substantial assets from his sworn statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.

Enrile explained this in his vote to convict Corona on Tuesday, completing a 20-3 verdict of the Senate impeachment court.

”And so, with full trust that the Almighty will see us through the aftermath of this chapter in our nation’s history, I vote to hold the Chief Justice, Renato C. Corona, GUILTY as charged under Article II, Par. 2.3, and that his deliberate act of excluding substantial assets from his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth constitutes a culpable violation of the Constitution,” Enrile said after his lengthy explanation of his verdict.

Here is the complete text of Enrile’s explanation:

”In the entire course of this impeachment trial, I have faced many difficult challenges to my own and the Court’s collective wisdom, our sense of justice and fairness, the delicate balancing act we must perform to ensure that we do not stray from the strictures of the Constitution, the law and our rules.

”This trial began and unfolded against the backdrop of a highly charged and emotional atmosphere, acrimonious debate in and outside the confines of this Court, and a deep political fissure which threatened the stability of our democratic institutions.

”But the impact of the many events that transpired since December 12 last year to this very day, taken altogether, cannot compare to the sense of heaviness that I feel at this very moment.

”The culmination of this national drama is at hand, and the time has come for me to render judgment on the person before whom I took my Oath of Office as a Senator of the Republic…no less than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Renato C. Corona.

”The Respondent Chief Justice and his family understandably feel deeply hurt, pained and aggrieved.

”As a lawyer, I must confess that I was personally frustrated by the loose and hasty crafting and preparation that characterized the presentation of the charges contained in the Articles of Impeachment. It seemed that the case was being built up only after the charges were actually filed. The repeated recourse to this Court’s compulsory processes to obtain evidence which normally should have formed the factual basis of the charges in the first place further burdened and, at times, taxed the patience of this Court.

”We have witnessed with disdain the indiscriminate, deliberate and illegal machinations of some parties who have been less than forthright with this Court in presenting dubiously procured and misleading documents which were spread to the media obviously to influence this Court’s and the public’s opinion.

”The letter of the Administrator of the Land Registration Authority which contained, as an attachment, a list of 45 properties supposedly owned by the Respondent Chief Justice, was fed to the media even before we could begin the actual trial of this case.

”Even before the Hon. Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio Morales, was called to testify before this Court, her letter to the Chief Justice requiring him to explain in 72 hours an alleged aggregate amount of US$ 10 Million in several dollar accounts was leaked to the media right before the resumption of this trial last May 7.

”We have sternly cautioned against unethical and unprofessional conduct, the penchant to engage in trial by publicity, to use the media to disseminate and advance so called “information” or “evidence”, to provoke and disrespect this Court and its members, and to irresponsibly hurl disparaging insinuations and accusations.

”We have tried to impress upon everyone who may be similarly motivated and inclined to test our will that this Court means serious business and would not succumb to nor allow such underhanded tactics and gimmickry to deter us from our task.

”Prudence and justice dictate that in determining the guilt or innocence of the Chief Justice, we must try our best to confine ourselves to the pieces of testimonial and documentary evidence that have been presented to this Court, to pass upon their relevance, and to measure and weigh their value in the light of the charges before us.

”After all the accusations levelled against the Chief Justice -- eight ( charges in all comprising the Articles of Impeachment -- the Prosecution chose to present evidence only on three Articles (Articles II, III and VII), and abruptly rested its case.

”I have always believed that of these three, the case for the Prosecution and the Defense will rise or fall on Article II, which is the subject of this vote.

”This Court, at one point, had extensive discussions and differences of opinion, to be sure, regarding the charge contained in Paragraph 2.4 of Article II that the Chief Justice was “suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits”.

”We ruled to disallow the introduction of evidence in support of Par. 2.4 which, to this day, I strongly maintain was an invalid charge, it being based on mere “suspicion”, on so-called “reports”, rather than on factual allegations.

”The Defense and the Chief Justice himself somehow revived this issue of the nature of his assets by introducing evidence to prove that his income and assets were legitimate, and by testimony to show how he and his wife had saved and invested these savings in foreign currency over so many decades.

”I wish to reiterate, for the record, that the Chief Justice does not stand accused of having amassed any ill-gotten wealth before this Impeachment Court.

”Paragraph 2.2 of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment accuses the Respondent Chief Justice of failing to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth as required by the Constitution.

”I submit that the Chief Justice had justifiable and legal grounds to rely on the Supreme Court’s procedural and policy guidelines governing such disclosures as embodied in a Resolution promulgated way back in 1989 when the Respondent was not yet a Member of the Supreme Court.

”Under the said guidelines, the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, who is the repository of the SALN’s submitted by all the Members of the Supreme Court, may furnish copies of the SALN’s in his or her custody to any person upon request, and upon showing that there is a legitimate reason for the same.

”The Constitution, in Article XI, Sec. 17, states that “in the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices, and offices of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law”.

”R.A. 6713, known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, recognizes the public’s right to information on the assets, liabilities, net worth, financial and business interests of public servants. But it likewise declares it unlawful for any person “to obtain or use the same for purposes contrary to morals or public policy or for any commercial purpose other than by news and communications media for dissemination to the general public”.

”Whether the said guidelines violate the letter and spirit of R.A. 6713 and the principle of public accountability is not for this Court to pass upon. I grant that the Chief Justice believed in good faith that after periodically filing his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court were sufficient to allow the Clerk of Court to comply with the Constitution and the law.

”We cannot ignore the fact that the failure or refusal, particularly of public officials in high government positions, to provide the public or the media with copies of the SALN’s, continues to be a raging issue to this day. In fact, some, if not most of the members of the Prosecution panel itself, the Members of the Supreme Court, members of Congress and other high officials of the government have been challenged by media organizations to make their SALN’s available to the public and to the media.

”Paragraph 2.3 of Article II further accuses the Respondent Chief Justice, based on “reports”, of not including some properties in his declaration of his assets, liabilities, and net worth, in violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

”The Prosecution, based on the list it procured from the LRA, claims that the Chief Justice owned and failed to fully disclose in his SALN 45 real estate assets. Based on the evidence, I am convinced that the Defense has presented credible evidence to refute this charge and to explain the exclusion in the Respondent Chief Justice’s SALN’s of certain properties which have either been sold or legally transferred, properties which are actually owned by his children and/or third parties, and properties which were never owned by the Respondent in the first place.

”I am likewise convinced that the Defense has sufficiently established that there was no ill intention on the part of the Respondent to understate or misrepresent the value of his real properties.

”Proceeding now to the most significant charge involving the non-disclosure of the Respondent Chief Justice’s cash assets, the Ombudsman, at the instance of the Defense, testified with a presentation of a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), showing 82 bank accounts allegedly belonging to the Respondent.

”She further testified that based on her analysis of the report, aided by the Commission on Audit, the Chief Justice had cash assets in the examined bank accounts of anywhere from US$ 10 Million to US$ 12 Million.

Even if we grant the existence of these 82 accounts, the amount of deposits corresponding to each of these could not just easily, fairly or logically be summed up to arrive at exactly how much cash assets or deposits, in actuality and in totality, the Respondent Chief Justice had or has at any given point in time.

”Hence, the Ombudsman’s reference to a “transactional balance” of about US$ 12 Million should not mislead this Court in its appreciation of the facts.

”Regrettably, both the Prosecution and the Defense panels decided not to present the concerned bank officers or the AMLC to ascertain the veracity of the data allegedly provided by the AMLC to the Office of the Ombudsman, despite the Respondent’s submission to this Court of a written waiver to cause the opening of all his bank accounts.

”Laudable as this belated act on the part of the Respondent Chief Justice may be, it would have served him better if he had just presented bank documents as evidence to either confirm or refute the documents showing his bank transactions as presented by the Ombudsman.

”It has not escaped this Presiding Officer that initially, last May 22nd to be exact, before he walked out of the halls of this Court, the Chief Justice signed the said waiver in open court but made the release of the same conditional, that is, after all the 188 signatories to the Articles of Impeachment and Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon have signed a similar waiver. It was only during the hearing last May 25 that the Chief Justice decided to submit the waiver to the Court without any conditions.

”Moreover, even as the Chief Justice had full access to his own bank accounts and all the opportunity to introduce evidence to disprove the data, findings and analysis presented by the Ombudsman or the report of the AMLC, the Defense did not introduce any such evidence.

”As it is, the Impeachment Court could only rely on the documents supplied by the Ombudsman which show the Respondent’s bank transactions but which do not show the actual bank balances of Respondent’s bank accounts.

”Instead, the Defense presented the Chief Justice himself as its last witness and pleaded for the Court’s permission to allow the Respondent to deliver an “opening statement”.

”This Court, out of courtesy to the Chief Justice, decided to extend its understanding and to exercise liberality in granting the request.

”The long narration, where the Chief Justice touched on a wide range of issues, assertions of facts, accusations, opinions and personal sentiments, which the Respondent said he found necessary to narrate in order to clear his and his family’s name, was later adopted by the Defense as the direct testimony of the Respondent. The Prosecution, on the other hand, waived its right to cross-examine the Chief Justice, provided the Defense would not conduct any further direct examination.

”Nevertheless, the Respondent Chief Justice testified and admitted, in answer to questions from a member of this Court, that he had around P80 Million in 3 Peso accounts and US$ 2.4 Million in 4 US Dollar accounts, but that he had purposely not declared these assets for 2 reasons: (1) That his Peso accounts represented “co-mingled funds”, and (2) That he was not required to report or declare his foreign currency deposits in his SALN because they were absolutely confidential under R.A. 6426.

”I disagree on both counts.

”If, indeed, any of the Respondent’s cash deposits were co-mingled with the funds belonging to other parties such as the Basa Guidote Enterprises, Inc. (BGEI) or his children, the Respondent was still duty bound to declare these deposits in his SALN, they being admittedly under his name.

”The evidence is devoid of any indication that the Chief Justice was holding these funds in trust for or that they were actually beneficially owned by anyone other than himself or his wife.

”Assuming that any part of such deposits in truth belonged to third parties, the Respondent could have indicated such third-party funds as corresponding liabilities in his SALN. That would have reflected his real net worth.

”With all due respect, I believe that the Respondent Chief Justice’s reliance on the absolute confidentiality accorded to foreign currency deposits under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6426 is grossly misplaced.

”The Constitution, in Article XI, Sec. 17, provides that “A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities and net worth. x x x ”

”Are we now to say that this Constitutional command is limited to a public official’s assets or deposits in local currency? If so, would we not be saying, in effect, that the Constitution allows something less than a full, honest and complete disclosure?

”It bears noting that the prescribed form of the SALN quite simply requires public officers and employees to declare their assets, real and personal, the latter to include cash and bank deposits, bonds, etc. It does not require the public officer or employee to indicate whether or not he or she has foreign currency notes or deposits. Neither does it require details such as account numbers, account names, bank identity nor any branch address. All that it requires is a declaration of the total amount of the funds deposited in any bank account or accounts maintained by the public official or employee concerned.

”Surely, the Chief Justice knows the equivalent value in local currency of his foreign currency deposits to be able to declare the same as part of his assets, especially since the aggregate amount of these foreign currency deposits, by his own account, amounts to US.4 Million.

”The non-disclosure of these deposits, in both local and foreign currency, would naturally result in a corresponding distortion of the Chief Justice’s real net worth.

”Consistent with the position taken by this Court in the case filed by the Philippine Savings Bank before the Supreme Court last February, pursuant to which the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order, I maintain that the Constitutional principle of public accountability overrides the absolute confidentiality of foreign currency deposits.

”The provisions of R.A. 6426 cannot be interpreted as an exception to the unequivocal command and tenor of Article XI, Sec. 17, of the 1987 Constitution, and I regret that the Highest Magistrate of the land, no less, would think otherwise.

”Section 8 of R.A. 6426 provides that except with the written permission of the depositor, “in no instance shall foreign currency deposits be examined, inquired or looked into by any person, government official, bureau or office whether judicial or administrative or legislative or any other entity whether public or private.”

”The so-called conflict of laws between R.A. Nos. 6713 and 6426 is more illusory than real. Section 8 of R.A. No. 6426 merely prohibits the examination, inquiry or looking into a foreign currency deposit account by an entity or person other than the depositor himself. But there is nothing in R.A. No. 6426 which prohibits the depositor from making a declaration on his own of such foreign currency funds, especially in this case where the Constitution mandates the depositor who is a public officer to declare all assets under oath.

”Some have raised the question: Why should the Chief Justice be held accountable for an offense which many, if not most others in Government are guilty of, perhaps even more than he is? They say that hardly anyone declares his true net worth anyway.

”Here lies what many have posited as a moral dilemma. I believe it is our duty to resolve this “dilemma” in favor of upholding the law and sound public policy. If we were to agree with the Respondent that he was correct in not disclosing the value of his foreign currency deposits because they are absolutely confidential, can we ever expect any SALN to be filed by public officials from hereon to be more accurate and true than they are today?

”I am not oblivious to the possible political repercussions of the final verdict we are called upon to render today. I am deeply concerned that the people may just so easily ignore, forget, if not completely miss out, the hard lessons we all must learn from this episode, instead of grow and mature as citizens of a democratic nation.

”Those whose intentions and motivations may be farthest from the lofty ideals of truth and justice are wont to feast upon this man’s downfall should this Court render a guilty verdict.

”I am equally aware of the tremendous pressure weighing heavily upon all the members of this Court as we had to come to a decision on this case, one way or the other.

”But to render a just verdict according to my best lights and my own conscience is a sacred duty that I have sworn to perform.

”As one who has been through many personal upheavals through all of my 88 years, I, too, have been judged, often unfairly and harshly. But I have constantly held that those who face the judgment of imperfect and fallible mortals like us have recourse to the judgment of history, and, ultimately, of God.

”And so, with full trust that the Almighty will see us through the aftermath of this chapter in our nation’s history, I vote to hold the Chief Justice, Renato C. Corona, GUILTY as charged under Article II, Par. 2.3, and that his deliberate act of excluding substantial assets from his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth constitutes a culpable violation of the Constitution.”

By Lilybeth G. Ison

A total of 20 senator-judges on Tuesday found Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona "guilty" under Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment filed against him by the House of Representatives.

Those who gave the "guilty" verdict were Senators Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmena III, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Martin Pimentel III, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Jr., Vicente C. Sotto III, Antonio Trillanes IV, Manuel Villar and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

On the other hand, the three senators who voted to acquit the chief justice were Senators Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In giving a "guilty" verdict, Angara said the documents produced by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the impeachment proceedings were official records of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said it is the chief justice's moral duty to protect the Constitution and not himself.

For his part, Estrada said that numbers are irrelevant. What is important, he said, is that these assets are correctly declared in the SALN of the chief justice.

Estrada said he was not convinced. "Corona is a learned man of the law."

Honasan said what is clear is that there is now doubt in the ability for the chief justice to assume the highest magistrate of the land.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan said his vote to convict the chief justice is a vote to end abuses in government.

The decision of the Senate, sitting as the impeachment court, is final and for immediate executory.

by Philippine News Agency

Here's how the senator-judges voted (20-3) on Tuesday to convict Chief Justice Renato C. Corona on Article 2 of the impeachment case filed against him by the House of Representatives:

For conviction

Edgardo J. Angara

Allan Peter S. Cayetano

Pia S. Cayetano

Franklin D. Drilon

Francis G. Escudero

Jinggoy E. Estrada

Teofisto D. Guingona III

Gregorio B. Honasan II

Panfilo M. Lacson

Manuel M. Lapid

Loren B. Legarda

Sergio R. Osmena III

Francis N. Pangilinan

Aquilino Pimentel III

Ralph G. Recto

Ramon Revilla Jr.

Vicente C. Sotto III

Antonio F. Trillanes IV

Manuel B. Villar

Juan Ponce Enrile

For acquittal

Joke T. Aroyo

Miriam Defensor Santiago

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

by PNA

Senator-judge Pia Cayetano has joined his brother and fellow senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano in casting their guilty votes on Chief Justice Renato Corona who found guilty in the Article II which covers the non-disclosure of statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.

Here how she explained her vote:

”Today, we face a difficult task of deciding whether the man who holds the highest position in the Supreme Court has committed acts tantamount to betrayal of public trust that would warrant his removal from office. It is all the more difficult for me because I took my oath before this man.

”If this were a purely legal process, my legal training would require that much of the evidence presented is disregarded due to irregularities in obtaining the same. But this is not a purely legal process. The framers of the Constitution did not set the Quantum of evidence nor the burden of proof required to convict. Much was left to the individual conscience and collective wisdom of the Senate.

”Further, impeachment cases are heard by senator judges with different professional backgrounds of the 23 senator-judges, less than half of us are lawyers. Thus, I was challenged and admittedly burdened by the need to balance my legal training as a lawyer and my calling as a public servant, particularly a senator-judge.

”The Chief Justice states that the requirement in the Constitution to declare ones assets liabilities, and net worth, is “AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW”. He then cites RA 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act (FCDA), as that law which states dollar deposits are absolutely confidential, thus providing him with a shield. But is that the law in point? I submit it is not. It is RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which, among others, requires the submission of a Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) and provides for the details thereof. It requires stating all kinds of assets including cash on hand and in banks. There are no exceptions. To allow the contrary view would be setting a deadly precedent. It would allow any official to hide his assets behind the cloak of the FCDA. Does that make sense? It does not, both from a legal point of view and from a lay person’s view. Bakit pwedeng itago ang pera sa dollar? Makatarungan ba ‘yun?

”RA 6426 on the secrecy of foreign currency deposit is not an exception. In fact, it is easy to reconcile it with RA 6713. A government official should declare his assets and liabilities. But no one can examine the bank accounts without his written consent.

”The defense then posits the view that misdeclaration in the SALN is minor and therefore not an impeachable offense compared to other impeachable offenses like bribery and treason.

”As a lawyer, to me, minor inaccuracies in the SALN, such as parking lots or a unit whose ownership is under contention, would not amount to betrayal of public trust. In fact corrections are allowed under the law. But, the failure to declare 2.4 million dollars and some P80 Million pesos is not minor. In decided cases, the Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal from service of public officials and employees for failure to delare a sari-sari store, two motor vehicles, and for non-declarationof several assets such as real properties and bank deposits (Rabe vs. Delsa Flores, Ombudsman vs. Nieto Racho, Flores vs. Montemayor)

”I also have difficulty accepting the defense on comingled funds. The fact of comingling, I can accept that but the huge amount involved leaves too much doubt in my mind.

”In our interpretation of the law, we who hold a position of public trust, must choose the interpretation that will uphold pubic interest over private interest. Regardless of whether malice or an intent to suppress the truth was present, we must remember that Public office is a public trust. Once that trust is gone, we must step down to preserve the integrity of the position we hold. ‘Pag wala na ang tiwala ng taong bayan dapat bumaba sa puwesto ang isang opisyal para mapangalagaan ang posisyon na ‘yon.

”Lastly, we need to remember that we can only mature as a democracy if we can learn from this experience.

”From the start, I questioned breaches in procedural law and ethical conduct of various participants in the impeachment process -- The trial by publicity and the irresponsible hurtling of bloated unverified figures of assets, among others. My fervent hope is that in the future, the pursuit of justice is conducted in a more responsible manner, lest our children are left with the impression that those accused of wrongdoing can be persecuted without respecting their rights.

”The other lesson must go beyond the Chief Justice. It is the call for transparency. I echo that call. Those of us who sit as judges, those who acted as prosecutors and all those in public service should not hide behind our titles. We must come clean and give meaning to the constitutional requirement that we declare all our assets.

”Mr. President, on the accusation made in Article 2, I find the respondent GUILTY.”

by Philippine Daily Inquirer

Only three voted to acquit Corona and they were Senators Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr.

Reasons:
Joker Arroyo - relative of Gloria Arroyo
Miriam - Never Mind
Marcos - Has lots of pending cases before the Supreme Court regarding ill-gotten wealth.

by PDI

Aside from Enrile, the 19 senators who convicted Corona were the following:

Senator Edgardo Angara
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
Senator Pia Cayetano
Senator Franklin Drilon
Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Senator Teofisto Guingona III
Senator Gregorio Honasan II
Senator Panfilo Lacson
Senator Manuel Lapid
Senator Loren Legarda
Senator Sergio Osmeña III
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
Senator Ralph Recto
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
Senate Manuel Villa

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