THE first Sunday of the year was bloody in Batangas as seven persons perished in a three-vehicle pile-up – all members of one clan.
The tragic accident almost wiped out the Festejo clan. Francisco, Zosimo, Joy, Elizardo, Laurence, and Jermel died on the spot while Maricris Festejo died at the Batangas Regional Hospital. Four other Festejos were injured – Frank Ace, Marilyn, Anabel and Aron.
The victims had just come from vacation in Batangas and were on their way home when tragedy struck.
Police said a Gasat passenger bus going to Batangas City tried to overtake a car along the Star tollways in Barangay Sabang at 1:15 p.m. and smashed into the Festejos’ passenger jeepney coming from the opposite direction. Another vehicle, a Nissan Exalta with plate number SFB-447, was hit by the bus.
The bus driver was arrested and detained. He will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious injuries and damage to property, police said.
The names of the other victims are still being established, said Batangas police office director Senior Supt. Alberto Supapo.
The tragic accident almost wiped out the Festejo clan. Francisco, Zosimo, Joy, Elizardo, Laurence, and Jermel died on the spot while Maricris Festejo died at the Batangas Regional Hospital. Four other Festejos were injured – Frank Ace, Marilyn, Anabel and Aron.
The victims had just come from vacation in Batangas and were on their way home when tragedy struck.
Police said a Gasat passenger bus going to Batangas City tried to overtake a car along the Star tollways in Barangay Sabang at 1:15 p.m. and smashed into the Festejos’ passenger jeepney coming from the opposite direction. Another vehicle, a Nissan Exalta with plate number SFB-447, was hit by the bus.
The bus driver was arrested and detained. He will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious injuries and damage to property, police said.
The names of the other victims are still being established, said Batangas police office director Senior Supt. Alberto Supapo.
The unforgiving Albania viciously pummeled Japanese foe Aya Shinmoto, 16-1, in the women’s under-51 kg class to set up a clash with the favored hometown bet Ren Cancan, who plodded to a workmanlike 11-7 conquest of Indian world champion Mary Kom Hmangte.
The three-star general was credited for his role in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections as head of Task Force HOPE.
Apart from Belarmino, the President promoted to the rank of Director (equivalent to a 2-star general in the Armed Forces) Danilo Q. Abarzosa, Director for Human Resources and Doctrines Development; Rolando R. Anonuevo, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Southern Luzon; Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management; Jaime D. Calungsud, Jr. of the Directorate for Plans; and Lani-o R. Nerez of the Directorate for Research and Development.
Click HERE for Pacquiao-Margarito Picture Gallery
Credit also goes to Freddie Roach. Now I understand the 'flaw' he was talking about. Antonio Margarito prepared his mind and body. He even showed it off during the official weigh-in and people started to doubt if Manny Pacquiao could beat the bigger and strong Antonio Margarito.
Except, when fight time came, Manny Pacquiao disregarded going after the body and instead followed Freddie Roach's strategy to go after the 'flaw.' Antonio Margarito failed to protect his face and he paid the price terribly. Round after round, Manny Pacquiao systematically pounded Antonio Margarito's face 'til all he could see were blurry punches striking from every angle. The once smiling and proud face promptly disappeared.
With that, Freddie Roach said he’s moving forward and concentrating on the big fight at hand between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.
Margarito, his trainer Robert Garcia and upcoming Brandon Rios, who is fighting in the undercard, had earlier extended their sincere apology to Roach, whose Parkinson’s disease was the subject of their mockery caught in a video posted on the internet by FanHouse.com. a few weeks ago (scroll down for the video clip).
“I was mad, but now I am not,” admitted Roach, who was personally reached by Garcia over the phone to say his piece on the controversy. “Robert seemed to be really sincere in what he said to me this morning on the phone, so I accepted his apology.”
Margarito and Rios were both repentant during the undercard press conference Thursday at the Gaylord Texan Hotel here, where the 32-year-old Mexican was not really part of the proceedings.
“I want you to know I would never make fun of Freddie Roach or anyone with that disease,” said Pacquiao’s opponent, stressing even someone in his family has Parkinson’s disease. “If he really wants an apology, I have no problem with that because I know I’m not laughing at his disease. I can look him straight in the eyes and tell him….`I’m not laughing at you. I respect you.’”
Added Rios, “I take responsibility for what I did. I’m man about it. It was wrong and I’m sorry.”
The gentleman that he is, Roach said he’s putting the incident behind him now, although admitting he didn’t sleep well the night before and had to double his medicine intake for his disease.
“I would shake (Margarito’s) hand to end this. I think they realize what they did was maybe a little bit too much, they went overboard,” he added.
“Let’s just move on with the fight now,” said Roach, who said he extended Garcia the best of luck for this weekend’s bout.
Apparently, Roach predicted Margarito was going down in eight. It's now down to three. Yeah Right! Apology accepted.
Just a few days after Mount Bulusan erupted, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), closely monitoring the status of Mayon and Taal Volcano, have issued a warning the two volcanoes could erupt following a slight rise in the low frequency volcanic quakes.
Jimmy Sonsioco, Science research specialist of Phivolcs said, "Recentely, there have been up to 20 earthquakes being recorded in Taal and Mayon compared to normal volcanic quakes that range from zero to four" (may mga pagkakataon na umaabot sa 20 lindol ang naitatala sa Taal at Mayon na mas mataas kumpara sa zero hanggang apat na normal volcanic quake).
Phivolcs are also monitoring three of the other 23 active volcanoes in the Philipines; Mount Hibok-hibok in Camiguin Island, Mount Pinatubo and Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental.
In a statement from the office of presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, "Throughout his professional career, Mr. Quizon has brought entertainment to millions while upholding high standards in his profession. He has also characterized his other causes, even political advocacies, with good natured decency and respect for all,"
Among Dolphy’s citations for the Golden Heart award is the Dolphy Aid Para sa Pinoy Foundation, which gives scholarships to deserving children of overseas Filipino workers.
Despite Rodolphy "Dolphy" Quizon actively endorsing Sen. Manny Villar Jr. in the May 10 presidential polls, President Noynoy Aquino himself will be bestowing the Grand Collar (Maringal na Kuwintas) of the Order of the Golden Heart on the Philippines' King of Comedy.
“This conferment is in recognition of the life achievements of Mr. Quizon, both in terms of his show business career, where his comedy has brought joy to millions, but just as importantly, his well-known philanthropy and encouragement of charitable and good causes as well," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
It looks like Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon wants to imitate Mount Merapi in Indonesia. Let's hope not.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Mount Bulusan, which has been quiet for some time, emitted a light grayish steam and ash column early Saturday morning.
The ash ejection was reflected as an explosion type earthquake lasting 57 seconds. Seismic records before the event showed four volcanic earthquakes
Officials raised the Alert level from 0 to 1 (abnormal) because Mount Bulusan's current activity may indicate hydrothermal disturbance underneath the volcano which may lead to more steam and ash ejections.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and its Foreign Services Posts (FSPs) will now begin to use the International Organization Standardization (ISO) initials PH or PHL in accordance with DFA Department Order No. 16-10.
This is line with the Philippine membership with the ISO, as well as to avoid the ambiguity and confusion with the use of the initials RP.
"The long standing use of the initials RP is not in accordance with ISO codes, leading to ambiguous initials that can also refer to other countries," the DFA explained in a statement released on Thursday.
Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon said he received the money from prime suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. to set up the police checkpoint that stopped the convoy of a rival politician in the southern province of Maguindanao November 23 last year.
The convoy carried relatives of Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu who were going to file his candidacy to run against Ampatuan Jr. for provincial governor.
"Do you know who our enemies are? Are you capable of killing them?" Diongon quoted Ampatuan as saying.
He recalled answering "yes,” but said he only did so out of fear.
He said Ampatuan paid him P15,000 (about US$350) for the job, adding that he saw at least three other police officials receive pay-offs as well.
When the convoy, carrying Mangudadatu's wife and other relatives, their lawyers and 32 journalists arrived, Diongon said his men stopped their vehicles, allowing Ampatuan and his gunmen to take the passengers away.
Other witnesses in the trial have said that Ampatuan and his armed followers forced 57 people out of their vehicles, beat them up despite pleas for mercy before taking them to a hilly area where they were gunned down.
One witness, a former servant of the clan, said the Ampatuan family planned the massacre days in advance.
Diongon said he saw Ampatuan poking a gun at the passengers and hitting them but he did not say he witnessed the actual shooting.
The policeman was testifying for the prosecution in the trial of Ampatuan Jr. and several of his relatives and bodyguards as well as for several policemen accused of helping in the massacre.
Apart from Ampatuan Jr., his father and namesake, three brothers and an uncle as well as police officers loyal to the clan and members of the family's private army are among 196 people accused in the crime.
Police on Tuesday said 119 of the accused remained at large.
The Ampatuans ruled Maguindanao for over a decade under the patronage of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who had used the clan as a proxy force against Muslim separatist rebels.
But popular disgust at the massacre forced her to cut her ties to the clan.
Prosecutors have voiced fears that the trial could last for months in the country's notoriously slow court system.
The 24-year-old singer was personally handpicked by Pacquiao to sing "Lupang Hinirang" after he heard her perform in an Investor's night in Sarangani. Zyrene Parsad vows that she will give the song justice. "I'm going to sing it in 55 seconds. I'm going to sing it right, not on my own interpretation, because I respect the composer of the song." she said.
Commissioner Lucenito N. Tagle said in a telephone interview yesterday that 34,495 out of the 42,035 (82%) have chosen new officials who will have a term of three years.
Elections were successfully held yesterday in 168 barangays, Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento said in a text message.
"Except for the municipality of Datu Unsay in Maguindanao, all went well," he said.
Close to 75% or 37.5 million out of the estimated 50 million registered voters have participated in the village polls that were conducted from Monday to Wednesday, Mr. Tagle said.
"Voter turnout was high this year)," he added, but noted that Comelec is still finalizing figures.
Polls in 2,460 villages nationwide were moved to Tuesday and yesterday due to late delivery of election materials.
The delay prompted Comelec to create a body that will investigate the suspension of elections.
The committee is given 15 working days to finish its investigation, Mr. Tagle said.
It will probe those who were directly involved in the printing and delivery of election materials.
Elections in three municipalities in Isabela province and two barangays in Paniqui, in Tarlac province, have been postponed due to severe damage caused by typhoon Juan (international name: Megi) early last week.
Polls have yet to be scheduled by Comelec in these areas.
[Philippine Daily Inquirer] The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta said that from the information they got as of Wednesday morning, no Filipinos were affected by the tsunami and a 7.7-magnitude earthquake which struck off the coast of Sumatra Tuesday.
In a dispatch to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, the embassy said it continues to coordinate with local authorities in the affected areas, as well as the Filipino community in Indonesia, and stands ready to provide assistance, if needed.
Sumatra, the sixth-largest island in the world, has a population of about 50 million.
The embassy added that Filipinos mostly reside in the Jakarta metropolitan region and in the main island of Java. Most of them work as engineers, managers, supervisors and teachers, among other occupations.
Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo has also directed the DFA to prepare for a possible humanitarian team to assist in rescue and rehabilitation efforts in Indonesia.
Romulo issued the directive from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he is accompanying President Aquino on a state visit to Vietnam and attendance at the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
A 10-meter-high tsunami struck Sumatra and its surrounding islands after the strong earthquake. More than 100 people have been reported dead and 500 still missing, as rescue teams work double time to reach the islands and assist affected villagers.
Hundreds of wooden and bamboo homes were washed away on the island of Pagai, with water flooding crops and roads up to 550 meters inland. In Muntei Baru, a village on Silabu island, 80 percent of the houses were badly damaged.
Those and other islets hit were part of the Mentawai island chain, a popular and laidback surfing spot 280 kilometers from Sumatra.