January 8, 2009 Major News Stories

DOLE: Aid for OFWs also for locals

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday reiterated that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the global economic crisis can avail of livelihood assistance or find another job locally or abroad under its contingency plan.

2,500 OFWs lose Taiwan jobs

At least 2,500 Filipino workers have lost their jobs in Taiwan amid a global economic slowdown, and more are expected to be sent home in the coming months, an official said Wednesday.

Pinoys bewail NZ's new hiring rules

Because of New Zealand"s new rules for hiring overseas-trained nurses, former Filipino dentist Ruby Lat is now stuck as a health care assistant at a hospital, earning 16 NZ dollars or more than P440 an hour despite being a nurse who could be earning NZ$25 or almost P700 an hour.

RP vulnerable to fall in remittances

The Philippines is vulnerable to a financial shock if cash remittances by masses of Filipinos working abroad dry up due to the global crisis, investment analyst group Moody's warned on Wednesday.

NFA rice purchase highest since '79

The grains agency National Food Authority (NFA) bought from local farmers 650,000 metric tons of "palay" — rice before milling — last year, the highest recorded in 29 years.

MCWD assures Cordova, Lapu of water 

THE MCWD board ordered the management to sign a "bridge contract" with Mactan Rock Industries to make sure there is continuous water supply in Mactan Island.

CITRASCO files opposition to receipts

Although LTFRB has started the gradual implementation of the meter receipt scheme for 33,000 taxi units all over the country, Cebu-based City Integrated Transport Services and Cooperative is expected to file its opposition before the end of the week.

DOE hits 97% village electrification

The Department of Energy expects to complete its village electrification program within the year, following its achievement of a 97.13-percent energization level of the more than 41,000 villages.

10 long holidays in 2009

AS LAST month's long holiday began, President Arroyo signed a proclamation that declared at least 10 long holidays in 2009.  The three-day weekend before the Easter break is the first long holiday of the year. Instead of April 9, the Araw ng Kagitingan holiday was moved to the nearest Monday, April 6. As usual, there will be no work from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, or from April 9 to 12 this year.  Under Proclamation 1699, this year's regular holidays include Labor Day, May 1 (Friday); Independence Day, June 12 (Friday); National Heroes Day, Aug. 31 (Monday); Bonifacio Day, Nov. 30 (Monday); Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (Friday); and Rizal Day, Dec. 30 (Wednesday).  The following are special non-working days for 2009: Ninoy Aquino Day, Aug. 21 (Friday); All Saints' Day, Nov. 1 (Sunday) and All Souls' Day, Nov. 2 (Monday); Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (Thursday); and New Year's Eve, Dec. 31 (Thursday).

10M for Sinulog prizes, financial aid

Three resolutions granting the urgent release of a total of P10 million for Sinulog 2009 prizes and financial assistance were approved by the Cebu City Council yesterday.

Sinulog rerouting tomorrow, Saturday

Vehicular traffic will be rerouted in line with the Sinulog celebration that will officially open tomorrow, Friday at the Fuente Osmeña Circle.

Contractor fails to finish BanTal flyover 

CONSTRUCTION of the Banilad flyover, which includes expanding and concreting the side roads, has gone beyond the contracted period of 300 days.

Citom asks City to stop night market

CITING the heavy traffic caused by the night market in downtown Cebu City, traffic managers want the night bazaar in Colon St. stopped.

Roxas blames Arroyo for justice blues

An opposition senator on Wednesday blamed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for a "screwed-up justice system that strongly favors the rich and the powerful."

Arroyo gets "F" grade as Edsa 2 nears

As the eighth anniversary of her rise to power nears, President Arroyo received a "failing" grade from a senior Catholic bishop, who urged her to drop any plan to remain in office after 2010.

Gordon slams AMLC, OSG on Bolante 

Officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Office of the Solicitor General have a lot of explaining to do for allowing to lapse the freeze order on 32 back accounts linked to former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Jocjoc Bolante, Sen. Richard Gordon said.

PNP to clear 'Euro Generals' 

Former police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz can heave a sigh next week when the Philippine National Police (PNP) receives the 105,000 euros confiscated from him by Russian authorities last year.

DND reviews troops in other agencies

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday there is a need to review the policy allowing military personnel to be deployed to civilian agencies in the wake of the involvement of a Marine officer in the drug bribery scandal surrounding the "Alabang Boys" case.

Marcelino 'principled,' 'incorruptible'

The Marine officer who blew the whistle on the alleged bribery attempt in the "Alabang Boys" case is a silent and committed worker, a principled man, and one of the few incorruptible officers in the military, superiors and a classmate from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said.

Cammayo returns to army HQ

A new set of uniform was all that First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo asked for upon his return to the army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio Tuesday night after being held in captivity by communist guerillas for almost two months.

Blast rocks INC compound in Minda

Suspected Muslim separatist rebels tossed a hand grenade into a church compound in the southern Philippines Wednesday, causing damage but no injuries.

Cotabato hit by 2nd grenade attack

A hand grenade exploded in Kabacan, North Cotabato Wednesday afternoon, the second such attack in two days, the town police chief said.

Land behind MILF attacks in Kudarat

A land dispute triggered the "invasion" by about 100 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels of two villages in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat earlier this week, the military said Wednesday.

Pinay in drug ring nabbed in Malaysia

Thirteen people, including a Filipino woman, were arrested in Malaysia for their alleged involvement in an international narcotics syndicate that smuggled heroin from Pakistan.

Thailand's ASEAN summit venue

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the venue for a regional summit next month had been moved from Bangkok to a seaside town, Hua Hin, partly due to possible anti-government protests.

Israel to halt Gaza ops to allow aid

The Israeli military says it will briefly halt its operations in Gaza during the day to allow in humanitarian aid and fuel.

Russia stops all gas supply to Europe 

Russia shut off all gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine on Wednesday — leaving more than a dozen countries scrambling to cope during a winter cold snap. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed the move and urged that international observers be brought into the energy dispute.

Oil dips to $36 ahead of EIA inventory 

Energy prices edged lower across the board Wednesday in advance of a government report that's expected to show U.S. crude oil reserves rose by 1.5 million barrels last week.

Ireland probes Catholic sex abuse

The Irish government has ordered a new investigation into how a Roman Catholic bishop mishandled complaints against sexually abusive priests in his diocese.

Obama has lunch with 4 presidents

President-elect Barack Obama hailed a rare Oval Office gathering of all U.S. presidents as an extraordinary event on Wednesday as the current occupant, President George W. Bush, reminded his predecessors and successor that the office "transcends the individual."

Slovenia's president cuts own pay 

Slovenia's president, Danilo Turk, has decided to cut foreign trips, treat his guests more modestly and accept a lower wage to set an example for his Alpine nation during the global financial crisis.

Roach: Manny will stop Hatton

Freddie Roach drew his old, reliable gun early by predicting that Manny Pacquiao will stop Ricky Hatton in the later rounds of their scheduled match on May 2 in Las Vegas.

Sta. Lucia crushes Rain or Shine

JOSEPH YEO scored 26 points and Sta. Lucia played near-flawless basketball from start to finish to beat Gabe Norwood (in photo) and Rain or Shine, 101-84, and take Game One of the quarterfinals in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday.

Nadal, Federer reach quarterfinals

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Roger Federer won in straight sets to advanced to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open on Wednesday.

Assunta denies break up with Jules

Actress Assunta de Rossi denied that she had broken up with husband former Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma, adding that they just celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary last month.

Edu not bowing out of the 'Game'

Edu Manzano couldn't be more emphatic in denying the rumor that he resigned from the ABS-CBN show "Pilipinas, Game KNB?" over the holidays.

Piolo, Angel paired on big screen

And finally, after their successful small-screen team-up in the ABS-CBN soap Lobo, Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin are reunited, this time on the big screen in Star Cinema's romance-drama Love Me Again, directed by Rory B. Quintos.

MMFF best actors did not expect win

Anne Curtis was sure the Best Actress Award in the recent 34th Metro Manila Film Festival would go to Dawn Zulueta. Or Maricel Laxa. Or Ai-Ai de las Alas. Anyone but herself.

HK to restore Bruce Lee's old home

The Hong Kong government has agreed to preserve a former home of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee and turn it into a tourist attraction.

Daughter honors mom with rap song

The teenage daughter of slain Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto has found an unusual way to honor her late mother - by placing a rap song on the video Web site YouTube.

DiCaprio, Eastwood are film winners

The world economy is in dire straits, but you sure wouldn't know it from the red carpet at the 20th-annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala. The actresses were dripping with jewels, actors donned high fashion, and logos of jeweler Cartier and automaker Mercedes-Benz loomed large behind all as they posed for photographers.

Douglas William Jerrold  - "The only athletic sport I ever mastered was backgammon."