December 9, 2008 Major Newscast

Pacquiao spends birthday in RP, Christmas in the US

Boxing champ Manny Pacman Pacquiao is set to return to the country on Wednesday where he will celebrate his 30th birthday on December 17.  However, Pacquiao will be revisiting the United States with his children Jimuel, Mike, and Princess on the 23rd. Pacquiao's family will be spending Christmas in the US to return to his wife Jinkee, who is set to give birth to their fourth child by the end of the year.

Pacquiao surprised de la Hoya gave up

Just before the ninth round started, Manny Pacquiao saw Oscar de la Hoya walk across from his corner toward him. Pacquiao got up on his feet and was ready to begin the next round when what transpired after stunned him.

Pacman savors place in history

The guy on the other line was David Diaz, whose WBC lightweight championship Manny Pacquiao authoritatively snatched away IN early June.  "Sabi niya sa akin [He told me], 'Who are you, you're unbelievable, you're too fast,'" Pacquiao said, recounting their conversation. "Sabi niya pa [He added], 'Are you human?'"

De la Hoya calls Pacquiao 'the best fighter in the world'

There was no question about who Oscar de la Hoya thought deserved to take his throne as boxing's best. It was the same guy who virtually sent him to retirement.

GenSan readies welcome for Pacman

With the latest conquest of their favorite son, residents of General Santos City have started preparations for a grand welcome for Filipino boxing champ Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao.

Solon: Pacquiao eyes QC House seat

Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is giving politics another shot in 2010, but this time it will reportedly for the congressional seat of Quezon City's second district, incumbent Representative Mary Ann Susano said Monday.

Pacquiao gagawing peace envoy

Matapos ang mata  gum pay na laban ni Peo ple's Champ Manny "Pac man" Pacquiao, isinulong kahapon ni Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri na gawin itong Mindanao peace envoy.

LTFRB guidelines on fare rollback

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is calling jeepney transport groups and the petitioners of the fare rollback to a dialogue tomorrow to discuss the temporary fare guidelines.  However, since the LTFRB board of directors approved only a 10-centavo reduction in every succeeding kilometer, Bernardes said that the 50 centavos may be reduced further to 25 centavos.

Oil jumps 6% after 4-year low

Oil leapt 6.0 percent to over $43, reversing a share of last week's near-record decline as Saudi Arabia cut January oil supplies a bit more deeply for a few Asian refiners.

Chicken demand falls

Demand for chicken has failed to increase during the holidays despite a government-imposed price ceiling.  Approximately eight million kilos of frozen chicken are waiting to be sold. The inventory is a million more kilos than last year's inventory of seven million.  Farmgate prices of chicken fell to P55 a kilo last month but it climbed to P73 in December.

DA upgrades abattoirs nationwide

In line with its goal of transforming the Philippines into a major producer and exporter of meat and meat products, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is helping abattoirs nationwide to upgrade their facilities to meet national standards.

Hotel construction halted after cave-in

Acting Cebu City mayor Michael Rama yesterday ordered to suspend the construction of a building at the corner of Escario St. and Juana Osmeña Ext. after the portion of the road collapsed due allegedly to lack of foundation support.

Power situation in Cebu critical

The Cebu power problem is for real. Napocor says the power supply shortage situation of the island continues to be critical and is expected to worsen if no power plants will be put up and if people will continue to oppose the construction of new ones.

HS students use candles, lamps

STUDENTS of Bankal National High School now hold night classes in rooms lighted only by candles and kerosene lamps.  That, even as they were allegedly made to contribute P10 each to help the school settle its debt with the Mactan Electric Cooperative (Meco) despite Lapu-Lapu City Hall's commitment to pay the power bills of all public schools.

Bill to reclassify Bantayan towns

The committee on rules of the House of Representatives has approved the draft bill that seeks to reclassify three municipalities in Bantayan Island from their protected areas status to being alienable and disposable lands.

Georgia Osmeña will run if.

The youngest sister of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted that she is open to the possibility of running for mayor in the next elections, because of several concerns that her brother's administration has failed to address.  "Ang roads daghang potholes and I wish Cebu was cleaner," Georgia said.  She also envisioned of having a public park for the city where children can play and not on the streets where it is dangerous for them.  Gipadayag ni Konsehal Richard "Ritchie" Osmeña nga dili siya musuporta sa iyang iyaan nga si Georgia Osmeña kun kini magpapili pagka-mayor sa dakbayan sa 2010 elections.

Ronald not acceptable to Tomas

Former South District Councilor Ronald Cuenco is not an acceptable replacement for his father Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who is now on his third and last term as congressman, said Cebu City Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña.

Brgy clerk of Linao nabbed for masiao

After three-day surveillance, a barangay clerk of Linao, Talisay City was arrested by policemen last Thursday evening after he was caught in the act of tallying "masiao", an illegal numbers game.

E-Card sa City Hall palpak

Gihulagway sa pipila ka regular nga mga empleyado sa Cebu City Hall nga palpak ang ilang bag-o nga Electronic kon E-Card.  Ang E-Card maoy gihulip sa karaang mga ATM Card sa mga kawani sa City Hall aron kini dili na maprenda ngadto sa mga tigpatanto.  Kini tungod kay ang E-Card maoy Identification (ID) Card sa mga empleyado ug maoy gamiton pagtamla sa ilang daily time record.

Mga kabus miyembro sa PhilHealth

Gipadayag ni Mayor Jonas Cortes ang tinguha niyang   ipasakop sa Philhealth Insurance ang kaliboan ka mga kabus sa kabarangayan sa dakbayan sa Mandaue.

Bugas nasakmit imbentaryohon

Gibantayan pag-ayo sa mga tinugyanan sa Bureau of Customs (BOC) ang mga nasakmit nilang sinakong bugas sulod sa 11 ka mga container van aron dili kini mangawagtang.

PRC suspends 12 engineers

THE licenses of 12 mechanical engineers, officials of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME-Cebu Chapter) in 2004, were suspended for three months by the PRC without due process for allegedly expelling a prominent lifetime member.  Suspended are mechanical engineers Edwin R. Torillo, Jermine B. Jayag, Ludwig P. Amandoron, Benjamin K. Sanchez, Randy K. Salazar, Mariano Francis Xavier A. Hanoy, Rosalito Judah V. Eboa, Ferminiano E. Dapitan, Richard Banzuela, Reynaldo S. Pelayo and Ronald M. Galindo.

Mananagat lumos patay

Nagpabiling wala pa mailhi ang mananagat nga gituohang nalumos samtang nanagat sa kadagatan sa barangay Daanlungsod, lungsod sa Medillen kagahapon sa alas 7:00 sa buntag.

Floods displace thousands in Samar

Heavy rains during the weekend caused flooding in several towns in Eastern and Northern Samar, killing one resident and displacing thousands of families.

Lacson: Palace may have availed of P131B from AFMA

Malacañang may have availed of up to P131 billion in potential "pork barrel" funds from a modernization fund that had accumulated since 2002, opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson disclosed.

Peace talks with MILF likely to resume 

The stalled peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is likely to resume before Christmas if the GRP panel is officially completed on or before December 15, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr said Monday.

MILF ceasefire negotiator slain

A member of the ceasefire committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was among those killed in an encounter with government forces in the southern Philippine province of Basilan.

Basilan mayor:  7 kidnapped freed

A local official of Basilan province has confirmed that the seven kidnapped Zamboanga workers have been freed past nine o'clock Monday night.

Misuari allowed to leave for Saudi

Former Moro National Liberation Front chair Nur Misuari was allowed by the Makati Regional Trial Court to go on a month's leave for Saudi Arabia to visit the king and attend a family reunion.

Arroyo to leave for Qatar Dec 13

President Arroyo will leave for Qatar on Dec. 13 and is expected to be back on Dec. 15.  The President would fly to Middle East to meet the leaders of Qatar to ask for their support in case the world suffers from another fuel crisis.

Killings down, harassment raps up

As the world prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Leila De Lima on Monday said they have noticed a new trend in the attacks on people critical of the government.

Kids ask Arroyo to free parents

Children of political prisoners on Monday marked Political Prisoners" Day and called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to order the release of their parents in time for the Christmas holidays.

JBC disqualifies 3 bets, SolGen

Citing various reasons, the Judicial and Bar Council on Monday disqualified three candidates for a Supreme Court (SC) post to be vacated in January 2009.  Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said Solicitor Agnes Devanadera and former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag were excluded from the JBC's shortlist because they have pending cases. Lawyer Rodolfo Robles was disqualified because he exceeded the age limit of 65.

Bill on 'psychological incapacity'

A bill seeking to better define psychological incapacity so that it would not be used as a convenient excuse for marital breakups in annulment cases has been filed at the House of Representatives.  Under his bill, Rep. Narciso Santiago III said incapacity "must be identified as a psychological illness to be proven medically or clinically."  "Its indicators include, among others, excessive and promiscuous sexual hunger, refusal to dwell with the other spouse, manifestations of socio-pathic anomalies like sadism or repeated infliction of physical violence, and laziness. In case of doubt, the bill mandates the court to resolve the case in favor of the existence of the marriage," he said.

8,000 Canada visas issued to Filipinos

Canada has issued as of November this year 8,000 visas to Filipinos, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said.

9.4M Filipinos think they're poor--SWS

Around 9.4 million Filipinos, or 52 percent consider themselves poor in the third quarter of this year, down seven percentage points from 59 percent in the previous quarter.

GSIS offers more than 1,000 homes for members, non-members

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Monday announced that it is offering more than 1,000 pre-owned house and lots located in key cities and municipalities across the country for both GSIS members and non-members.

House starts late for lack of quorum

Monday's session of the House started an hour and a half late for lack of a quorum.

Peso strengthens to 48.60

The peso strengthened against the dollar yesterday, supported by dollar remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sent in time for the Christmas season.

Petron expects at least P1.5-B losses

Petron Corp., the country's largest oil refiner and retailer expects a full year net loss ranging between P1.5 and P2 billion as the drastic drop in international crude oil prices hit its bottomline.

San Miguel buys Petron, gets telco

San Miguel Corp., Southeast Asia"s largest food and beverage company, went on a buying spree on Monday, acquiring a substantial stake in Petron Corp. and announcing a telecommunications venture with a Qatari company.

MegaLotto, SuperLotto prizes not won

No one got the lucky combination of Monday's 6/45 MegaLotto draw which currently offers a P94,047,042.60 jackpot prize.  Last Sunday, nobody won SuperLotto's P141,000,000 pot.  SuperLotto hit its biggest pot last March when it pegged at P249,005,120.40. It was won by a Luzon bettor with the winning combination 1-15-29-32-46-47.

Pakistan arrests Mumbai plotter

Security forces overran a militant camp on the outskirts of Pakistani Kashmir's main city and seized an alleged mastermind of the attacks that shook India's financial capital last month.

Thousands dying in Zimbabwe

Thousands of Zimbabweans are dying, uncounted and out of sight in a silent emergency as hospitals shut, clinics run out of drugs and most cannot afford private medical care, health groups say.

Shaina talks about sister Vina

Young actress Shaina Magdayao finally broke her silence and shared the real status of her affair with actor John Prats.  In an interview, Magdayao said that she's exclusively dating Prats. She said that she prefers not to say anything about her affair with Prats for the simple reason that she's not rushing things and she's just being careful.

Book on Rudy Fernandez launched

Marie Fernandez has written a book in memory of his brother, the late actor Rudy Daboy Fernandez, so that the young generation will learn the importance of a life worth living.

LT denies exploiting Daboy's legacy

Lorna Tolentino dismissed rumors that she is using the name of her husband, Rudy Fernandez, to promote various projects such as a photo exhibit, movie, album and many others.

DOJ absolves Nida Blanca aide

The Justice Department has absolved Elena dela Paz of involvement in the Nida Blanca murder.

Kamikazee guitarist arrested in Dubai

Led Zeppelin Tuyay, the guitarist of Pinoy rock band, Kamikazee, was arrested in Dubai International Airport after authorities found suspected residue of marijuana in his luggage shortly after the band's arrival in Dubai Friday, December 5.

Gary V in Qatar concert sans passport

Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano is back in the country and clarified reports that he was arrested in Qatar airport last Friday, November 28.  The singer said that his faith-stretching experience started when he entered the plane in Dubai for Qatar.  He said that because he was really tired from his concert in Dubai he fell asleep. And while asleep, he dropped his passport.

Osang plays Piolo's ma in 'Manila'

Former sexy star Rosanna Roces is making a comeback of sorts in the new independent movie Manila, which is a tribute to Ishamel Bernal's Manila By Night and Lino Brocka's Jaguar.  In the movie, Roces will be playing the mother of Piolo Pascual. Also included in the movie are stars Jon Avila, John Lapus Marissa Delgado, William Martinez, Iza Calzado and Angelica Panganiban.

Echo, Tin-Tin gear up for big reunion

Fresh from the success of their latest Maalaala Mo Kaya project, former onscreen couple Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales are set to ignite TV screens once again as they reunite for another reunion project in 2009.

Streisand, President Bush kiss

Singer Barbra Streisand got an awkward kiss on the cheek from the president, and yes, she gave him a smooch back.  The singer and actress was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, along with actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.  The hug and kiss between Bush and Babs — who has previously said Bush's election wins in 2000 and 2004 were stolen — was replayed later on video at a Kennedy Center gala. The crowd couldn't help but laugh.

Madonna wedding photos 'private'

A British court ruled Monday in favor of pop superstar Madonna, who is seeking £5 million ($7.4 million, €5.7 million) over the publication of private photos of her wedding to her ex-husband.

Zsa Zsa Gabor  - "A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he's finished."