Philippines sovereign rising star says credit watchdog

Asia News Network - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

International credit watchdog Standard & Poor's described the Philippines as the first "sovereign rising star" of 2013 for becoming the first country to convince investors that it is a safe haven for investments. In a report titled "The Philippines is the First Sovereign Rising Star of 2013," S&P said the country was the first this year to emerge from a ...

Jingoistic press not helping Ma Ying-jeou during Philippine row

Asia News Network - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Remember the Maine Incident of 1898? The USS Maine sank off Havana after an explosion and two crew members were killed. An anti-Spanish press enflamed American public opinion to a war-fevered pitch. Congress clamored for action. President William McKinley reluctantly succumbed and asked Congress to declare war. Congress did, of course. The Spanish-American War was brief, and the US acquired the ...

Naked Filipino Lady Charged In Court For Causing Nuisance

BruDirect - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Filipino lady was charged in court for causing public nuisance yesterday whilst she was held at RIPAS Hospital over her seemingly unfit ...

Philippines approves three new wind farms

MENAFN - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

(MENAFN - Arab News) The Philippines has approved three wind farm projects that will generate 208 megawatts, enough to power more than 40,000 middle-class homes, an energy official said. The wind projects will be the first to benefit from an incentive scheme which aims to ensure half the country's energy comes from renewable sources by 2030, compared with about 39 percent currently, the ...

Philippines says to finish probe on shooting Taiwan fishermen soon

Global Times - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

The Philippine National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) is close to finishing its investigations on a Taiwan fisherman shot dead by Philippine coast guards, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday.Except for the physical examination of the fishing vessel, the NBI has already completed its probe on the case, said Aquino in a chance interview after the 115th anniversary celebration of ...

PAGASA Rain over parts of Luzon not an early start of rainy season

GMA News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

PAGASA forecaster Rene Paciente said the rain on Metro Manila and nearby provinces is still from "isolated thunderstorms," radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported. A separate report on "24 Oras" said they expect the rainy season to start in the end of May or early June. It also quoted PAGASA as saying rainfall is likely to be normal this year, as there is no El Niño or ...

Gov’t urged to fend off Luzon’s looming power problems

Inquirer Business - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Some of the largest investment hubs in Luzon--including the Subic Bay Freeport Zone--may incur massive financial losses, the same as that suffered by Mindanao-based businesses, if the government were to fail in taking decisive steps to meet rising power demand in these areas. According to freeport zone locator and Eastern Petroleum chair Fernando Martinez, demand for electricity in Subic and ...

Filipino ultramarathon man Cesar Guarin is running the world

The National - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Cesar Guarin, seen here in Abu Dhabi recently, plans to be the first Filipino global runner, covering 42,000km across 47 countries. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The ...

Filipino Muslim rebels take tentative steps towards governance

IRIN - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

MILF-backed candidates release doves on the campaign trail to symbolize peace MANILA, 21 May 2013 (IRIN) - The oppressive summer heat bore down on this impoverished southern Philippine town on Mindanao Island as thousands gathered to hear a "proxy candidate" of the country's largest Muslim rebel force address the crowd on the eve of recently concluded mid-term elections. In the ...

CHED allows more than 300 colleges universities to hike tuition

GMA News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

More than 300 private colleges and universities nationwide will increase their tuition this coming school year by about 8 percent, a report on GMA News' "24 Oras" said Tuesday.According to the report, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved the application of 343 private colleges and universities for tuition increases."Out of 451 application, 343 institutions ...

Philippines protests Chinese warship’s presence

Inquirer Global Nation - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Members of the Philippine Navy SEALS display their gear during a ceremony celebrating the 115th anniversary of the Philippine navy at Fort San Felipe, Cavite city southwest of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The Philippine government is planning to spend $1.8 billion dollars to modernize the Philippine navy with acquisition of additional ships and anti-submarine helicopters. AP ...

Brillantes wont budge following groups call for his resignation

GMA News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

If he were to resign as Chairman of the Commission on Elections, it would not be because a group called for him to do so, Sixto Brillantes Jr. said ...

Brillantes Some CF cards seem to have been tampered with

GMA News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Some compact flash (CF) cards used in the recently concluded elections had been deliberately destroyed and tampered with presumably to delay transmission of results, poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. admitted Tuesday."Kung ako ayaw ko lumabas 'yung results ng isang PCOS [machine], sisirain ko 'yung CF card para walang mai-transmit," Brillantes said.The CF cards store the ...

Catholic Church takes on reproductive rights in Philippines risks further alienation

Global Post - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

And for the 1.2 billion adherents to the faith worldwide, it is a decisive moment. The faithful are looking to a new pope to bring a time of healing - and better governance - to a church tarnished by scandal and deeply ...

No Filipino injuries deaths reported in Oklahoma tornado

Inquirer Global Nation - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

A truck lays damaged in a field near the Moore Medical Center, background, after a tornado moves through Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. AP MANILA, Philippines — No Filipino was reported hurt so far in the deadly tornado that ripped through the US Midwest, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday. "The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago reported that so ...

Philippines boosts military by $A1.8bn

The Courier Mail - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

PHILIPPINE President Benigno Aquino has announced a $A1.84 billion military upgrade to help defend his country's maritime territory against "bullies", amid an ever-worsening dispute with China. The announcement came on the same day that the Philippines filed a protest with China over the "illegal and provocative" presence of a Chinese warship and two other vessels at a ...

Philippine Navy awaits delivery of 5 helicopters

Inquirer - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

CAVITE CITY, Philippines– The Philippine Navy is looking forward to the delivery of five Navy helicopters, three of which are due to arrive in December. ';We arealso [waiting for] the acquisition of naval helicopters. The initial batch will be arriving by December of this year,'; Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Louis Alano told reporters in an ambush interview at the ...

Ateneo profs 60-30-10 poll results pattern gets Comelecs attention

GMA News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Although he had dismissed it as mere "trending," Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they would look into the supposed 60-30-10 pattern of election results that was bared by a math professor at the Ateneo de Manila University."Pinapaaral ko sa aming mga tao kung totoo ‘yan, although, initially parang may ganun naging pattern," Brillantes ...

Volvo Philippines launches luxury 5-door 5-seater hatchback

Inquirer Business - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

The All-New Volvo V40, a modern expressive car, with characteristics from larger Volvos wrapped in a sleek, compact package, is now in the Philippines. This 5-door, 5-seater luxury hatchback combines trendsetting design with class-leading driving ...