100 Philippine villagers evacuated after landslide Nov 22, 2008
Landslides are common in the area, about 580 miles (930 kilometers) southeast of Manila. -AP. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Landslide in Philippines kills 5 Nov 21, 2008
MANILA, Philippines - Officials in the southern Philippines say a mudslide triggered by days of heavy rain has buried houses, killing at least five people including children and leaving several others missing. Rescuer Johannes Fortaleza says a mother and her two children were among the dead pulled out Friday from the mountainside village of Upper Ulip in Compostela Valley province's Monkayo township. (MSNBC -- International)
Filipino militants open fire on GIs Nov 21, 2008
MANILA, Philippines - American troops traveling in a Philippine army convoy came under fire earlier this week from suspected Muslim militants, officials said on Thursday. No casualties were reported. (MSNBC -- International)
FEC Reports on Appointment of Dr. Walter Brown as CEO of FEP Nov 21, 2008
(FEP) has announced the appointment of Manila based Dr. Walter Brown as their new Chief Executive Officer ... "14 November 2008 Forum Energy Plc ("Forum Energy" or the "Company") Appointment of Chief Executive Officer Forum Energy is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Walter William Brown as Chief Executive Officer of the Company with immediate effect. Dr. Brown takes over from Alan Henderson, who has been acting Chief Executive Officer since June 2008 and who will continue in his role... (PR Newswire)
Philippine landslide kills 6, at least 1 missing Nov 21, 2008
MANILA, Philippines A mother and her three children were among the six people killed after a mudslide triggered by days of heavy rain buried houses in a southern Philippine gold mining town, officials said Friday ... Landslides are common in the area, which is believed to sit atop a rich gold deposit, about 580 miles (930 kilometers) southeast of Manila. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Philippine Stock Index Tumbles 4.1 Percent Nov 21, 2008
MANILA, Philippines November 21, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press FONT SIZE. Philippine shares tumbled for the second straight session Friday as a broad sell-off by foreign investors dragged down local heavyweights. (ABC News -- Wire)
Asian markets reverse course to edge higher Nov 21, 2008
"The risk of an export-led economy is that when the unthinkable happens and three of the major importing economies tank, you will go with them," said Marshall Mays, a director and fund manager at Emerging Alpha Advisors Ltd., which is based in Hong Kong and Manila. But some money managers were encouraged that Asian stocks were not sliding Friday in line with American stocks' performance overnight. (International Herald Tribune)
Arroyo leaves for APEC summit Nov 21, 2008
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Lima, Peru Friday afternoon for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, with a vow to focus the attention of rich nations to the poor. "This afternoon, we leave for the APEC leader's meeting in Peru. We are optimistic as we leave about our future and the hope, optimism, and resilience of the Filipino people, because we are revitalized by what we see here," Arroyo said in a speech before her departure, as she... (Inquirer.net)
Typhoid outbreak hits Philippines Nov 21, 2008
The outbreak was caused by contaminated water from a stream in Quezon Province, north-west of Manila. Equipment and teams of doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians are now on their way to the province to help contain the disease. (ABC Online)
US says American troops attacked in Philippines Nov 20, 2008
MANILA, Philippines American troops traveling in a Philippine army convoy came under fire this week from suspected Muslim militants on southern Jolo island but there were no casualties, the U.S. Embassy reported Thursday. Philippine marines and police said the convoy of military vehicles was on its way to inspect an infrastructure project in Indanan town Tuesday when six militants from the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group opened fire. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Suspected tainted water downs 109 in Philippines Nov 20, 2008
MANILA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- One hundred and nine people have been downed in the Philippines by tyhoid fever after drinking allegedly contaminated water, Philippine health authority announced Wednesday. Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the National Epidemiology Center under the Health Ministry, told reporters that medical staff have been sent to three villages in Quezon province in western Luzon island to determine the cause of the wide-spread epidemic that might have started in late October. (Xinhuanet, China)
Global markets extend rout on recession fears Nov 20, 2008
A Filipino trader massages his head as he takes a break during morning trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Thursday Nov. 20, 2008. Philippine shares plummeted in step with regional and U.S. markets as the country's central bank pondered whether to cut interest rates to boost the economy. (Erie Times-News, PA)
AFP to assist typhoid victims in Quezon Nov 20, 2008
Updated: 4:53 PM, November 20, 2008. SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews. (GMA news.tv)
Hell and high waterfor Filipino seamen Nov 18, 2008
She wrote for the Business Mirror in Manila, Gulf News Manila Bureau, The Associated Press and GMA7 online. She was a Yuchengco media fellow at the University of San Francisco where she conducted research on undocumented Filipino migrants in 2007. (Asia Times Online)
Qantas Jets Collide at Australian Airport Nov 18, 2008
None of the 365 people aboard was injured and the pilot safely made an emergency landing in Manila in the Philippines ... The jet was repaired in Manila and only returned to Australia last week, a spokesman said, on the company's usual condition of anonymity. (Fox News)
Press Release: Statement of an IMF Staff Mission at the Conclusion of the 2008 Article IV Discussions with the Philippines Nov 18, 2008
The following statement was issued today in Manila after the conclusion of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission to the Philippines for the 2008 Article IV Consultation. "An IMF mission visited Manila during November 5-14, 2008 to hold the 2008 Article IV Consultation discussions with the authorities. The findings will be relayed to the IMF's Executive Board in early 2009 but a preliminary assessment is as follows: "As the global economy reels from the biggest financial shock since... (IMF News)
Maoist rebels ask Philippines to stop offensive Nov 17, 2008
MANILA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Communist guerrillas in the Philippines demanded on Monday that the military halts an offensive in a mining area in the south in exchange for talks on freeing a captured lieutenant, but the army rejected the call ... Torres said the rebels were using the captive officer as a propaganda tool as well as a bargaining chip to force Manila to resume peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front in Norway. (AlertNet)
Indonesia quake kills at least 2, tears down houses Nov 17, 2008
(Additional reporting by Harry Suhartono in Jakarta and Raju Gopalakrishnan and Manny Mogato in Manila; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani). news is provided by. (AlertNet)
Indonesia Lifts Tsunami Warning After Sulawesi Quake Nov 17, 2008
(Reporting by Telly Nathalia, Additional reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan in Manila; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Janet Lawrence). REUTERS NEWS SERVICE. (Planet Ark, United States)
WTO probes Thai barriers to foreign cigarettes Nov 17, 2008
Manila alleged in its complaint earlier this year that its cigarette exporters were being unfairly targeted by Thailand's customs rules. The Philippines said Monday that it has "continuously" worked with Thailand to reach an out-of-court agreement, but to no avail. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Gunmen free aid worker held in Philippine south Nov 16, 2008
MANILA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Gunmen in the southern Philippines have freed a Filipina aid worker held captive for about two months near a Muslim rebel stronghold, officials said on Saturday. Major-General Ben Dolorfino said they were informed that Millet Mendoza, who worked for a local non-governmental organisation helping poor Muslim communities, was freed late on Friday to a local official on Basilan island. (AlertNet)
Suharto buried in state funeral Nov 16, 2008
P. Romero, Manila, Philippines. But for political opponents, his death meant a missed opportunity to put him on trial. (Yahoo News -- Indonesia)
Philippines will not lift ban on workers in Iraq Nov 15, 2008
MANILA, Philippines The Philippines has no immediate plan to lift a ban on its citizens working in Iraq, the labor secretary said Saturday after a plea from an Iraqi diplomat for more foreign laborers to help with the war-torn country's reconstruction. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said there would be no deployment of Filipino workers pending an assessment of the security situation in Iraq. (Honolulu Advertiser)
* Islamic nations urge Manila, rebels to resume peace talks Nov 14, 2008
Islamic nations urge Manila, rebels to resume peace talks. AP, MANILA Friday, Nov 14, 2008, Page 5. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Hawaiian president and CEO's vision keeps the airline aloft Nov 14, 2008
What happens a lot is, when I talk about having the kernel of an idea, we can have an idea that says we need to diversify our business away from interisland and trans-Pacific, selecting Sydney first and Manila second, having an idea why Manila should work versus other cities these are decision that get made based on the work that other people do, the ideas they have, he said. So the notion that the best way of solving problems and meeting objectives is a collaborative approach is something I... (Pacific Business News, HI)
Elmo Floyd Johnson Nov 14, 2008
When Sandy retired from West Coast Bank, they went to the Philippines two different years for three months each, helping the W.W. coordinators staying in Manila ... Memorial contributions can be made to The Church of the Nazarene in Newport or the Church of the Nazarene in Albany for needy students attending the seminary in Manila, Philippines. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
BPO industry expects 40% growth Nov 13, 2008
MANILA: Business outsourcing may not be the most glamorous industry in the world but it is one of the few bright lights amid the doom and gloom of the global financial crisis. The two countries which have benefited the most from outsourcing, India and the Philippines, expect to see some initial pain from the financial turmoil but the industry is confident it will ride out the storm. (India Times)
Philippines' Ayala Corp. Earnings Down 43 Percent Nov 13, 2008
MANILA, Philippines November 12, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press FONT SIZE ... Manila Water Co. registered a 13 percent growth in net earnings as operating efficiencies continued to improve, the company said. (ABC News -- Wire)
Daughter makes lifes work of prisoners epic poem (108) Nov 13, 2008
Worthingtons accounts werent mere abstractions to Lipe, who as a young teenager had moved to Manila with her family ... However, by the time the veterinarian and his family docked in Manila, armed forces had already begun mandatory civilian evacuations ... Having received a field promotion only four days before the fall of Bataan, Worthington would stand for some time as the highest ranking officer in Manilas notorious Bilibid Prison where he continued his narrative. (Boerne Star, TX)
A girl like Rihanna Nov 11, 2008
Disturbia, which we just played a while ago, is still doing strong here in Manila just like all your other songs ... MT: You know, we ll get to see that live in Manila on Nov. 16 during your and Chris concert ... R: Okay, it s going to be a massive amount of people because I know everyone in Manila is coming. (Philippine Star)
* World News Quick Take Nov 11, 2008
The firefight erupted in the town of Wao in Lanao del Sur Province, 810km south of Manila, after intelligence reports warned of a possible attack by up to 200 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. Colonel Nicanor Dolojan, an army brigade commander, said government troops launched clearing operations against MILF rebels who were threatening to attack military installations and municipalities of Wao and nearby Bumbaran. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Gunmen kill labour leader in Philippine south Nov 11, 2008
MANILA, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Masked gunmen in the Philippines shot and killed a left-wing labour leader in what a rights group said on Tuesday was the latest extrajudicial killing in the country. Rolando Antolihao, a labour leader at a banana plantation in Davao del Norte on the southern Mindanao island, was shot seven times on Monday night, said Kelly Delgado, secretary-general of "Karapatan", the Filipino term for rights. (AlertNet)
Philippine army says kills 10 rebels in the south Nov 11, 2008
MANILA, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Philippine troops killed at least 10 Muslim rebels in six hours of intense fighting in the troubled south of the country, officials said on Tuesday, citing radio intercepts. Army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr said 15 rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were also wounded in the clash on Monday in mountains near Wao town in the Mindanao region. (AlertNet)
Saluting a veteran: Tom Landess Nov 11, 2008
When Landess was three days out of Manila, the war ended. Landess got to come home in December of 1945. (Winchester News-Gazette, IN)
The night Oprah wept Nov 10, 2008
Corporate Watch By Amelia H.C. Ylagan. Fence Sitter By A. R. Samson. (BusinessWorld Online)
Miss Philippines wins Miss Earth 2008 pageant Nov 10, 2008
Miss Philippines Karla Henry reacts after she won the Miss Earth 2008 beauty pageant in Angeles City of Pampanga, north of Manila, the Philippines, November 9, 2008. Eight-five beauties from all over the world attended the contest and Miss Philippines Karla Henry won the title of Miss Earth. (Xinhuanet, China)
* Capsized ferry left Philippine port without permission Nov 8, 2008
ACCIDENTS COMMON: Dona Paz, which sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killed more than 4,341 people in the worlds worst peacetime sea disaster AP, MANILA Saturday, Nov 08, 2008, Page 5. A passenger boat that capsized during a storm, drowning 11 people just 200m offshore, left a port in the central Philippines without clearance, the coast guard said yesterday. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
11 dead after storm sinks Philippine boat that left port without clearance Nov 7, 2008
MANILA, Philippines A passenger boat that capsized during a storm, drowning 11 people just 200 yards offshore, left a port in the central Philippines without clearance, the coast guard said Friday. Half an hour into a short journey Thursday afternoon, the engine failed, then strong winds and high waves caused the boat to break up and overturn, within the sight of its destination at Bagongon islet, the coast guard said in a statement. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Freak storm hits ferry, 42 die Nov 6, 2008
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine investigators on Wednesday detained the captain of a crowded ferry that overturned in freak weather, drowning 42 passengers, on suspicion of operating the vessel illegally. Some 100 people were rescued and eight were missing after the wooden-hulled Don Dexter Cathlyn was battered by winds and waves Tuesday shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island for nearby Sorsogon province, officials said. (MSNBC -- International)
Friendster Supports Google DevFest and OpenSocial Developer Application Contest in Southeast Asia Nov 6, 2008
1 Social Network in Asia Participates in Four-Country OpenSocial Developer Tour SAN FRANCISCO and MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendster, Inc., a top-20 global website based on traffic and the #1 social network in Asia*, today announced that it's supporting developers throughout Southeast Asia by its participation in the Google DevFest tour and OpenSocial developer application contest in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Friendster's support of DevFest and... (PR Newswire)
Fraport Cuts Outlook for Frankfurt Airport Passengers for a Second Time Nov 6, 2008
9 million euros from Germany's government in August for investment guarantees related the 2004 seizure by Philippine authorities of an unfinished terminal at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport that a Fraport joint venture was building ... Fraport said 2008 net profit, excluding the Manila payments will decline compared with last year's 214 million euros, reiterating previous statements. (Bloomberg -- Germany)
Philippine Stock Index Sinks 3.2 Percent Nov 6, 2008
MANILA, Philippines November 6, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press FONT SIZE. Philippine shares sank Thursday, tracking a drop on Wall Street and on markets around the region, as investors worried about how U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will address the country's economic woes. (ABC News -- Wire)
Filipinos, weary of poll fraud, awed by U.S. vote Nov 6, 2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The drama and glitter of the U.S. elections had many Filipinos enthralled. What left them envious was how fast and orderly the process went. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Gunmen holding us: Australians Nov 6, 2008
Welcome to The Sydney Morning Herald. Paul BibbyNovember 7, 2008. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Asian Central Banks to Slash Rates to Fight Global Slump, Swap Trades Show Nov 5, 2008
4 percent in October, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg ahead of a government announcement at 9 a.m. in Manila. The consumer price index in Taiwan rose 1. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
San Miguel May Compete With Northstar to Buy 35% Stake in Bumi Resources Nov 5, 2008
The Manila-based maker of San Miguel beer may release more information on its bid in five days, Ang said. When there's fire, there's fire sale,'' said , head of research at PCCI Securities Brokers Corp. in Manila ... San Miguel said it also plans to buy a 27 percent stake in Manila Electric Co.. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
Philippines' remittancelifeline frays Nov 5, 2008
MANILA - Hefty remittances from overseas Filipino workers have in the past rescued the Philippine economy from domestic and international economic and financial turbulence ... Arroyo told a Manila business conference last month that her government "will continue to identify and develop new market niches" and is ready to redeploy workers who lose their jobs domestically to other emerging labor markets ... He was a sub-editor for the business section of The Manila Times and writes for Asean... (Asia Times Online)
Filipino in the kitchen Nov 5, 2008
Students cooking vegetables during a class at a culinary school in Manila. In 2000, there was just one culinary school in the Philippines. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Nannies Worse Off Than Hedge-Fund Guys in Rout Nov 5, 2008
We will need, should there be a recession in the U.S., a massive skills upgrading and retooling service,'' Arroyo said at a conference in Manila ... Policy makers in Manila downplay the risks ... Their overall impact on the economy is arguably much larger given the multiplier effect on consumption spending,'' says , head of research at ATR-Kim Eng Securities Inc. in Manila. (Bloomberg -- Columnists)
40 die as Philippine ferry overturns; captain held Nov 5, 2008
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A sudden monsoon squall overturned a crowded inter-island ferry in the Philippines, drowning at least 40 people, and the coast guard said Wednesday that the captain and owner may face charges for sailing without permit. Seventy-six people were rescued and taken to two hospitals after the Don Dexter Cathlyn was battered by winds and waves shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island for nearby Sorsogon province on Tuesday, said Maj. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
Forty-two dead, nine missing following Philippine ferry accident Nov 5, 2008
MANILA (AFP) - The death toll from a ferry accident in the central Philippines rose to 42 Wednesday with nine people still missing, officials said. The wooden inter-island ferry overturned Tuesday when it was hit by a freak whirlwind just 20 minutes after leaving port, where weather conditions were described as calm and clear. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Philippine ferry sinking kills 39 Nov 5, 2008
The inter-island ferry carrying more than 100 commuters overturned in strong winds off the island of Masbate, south-east of the capital, Manila. Officials say 76 people have been rescued, and a search is under way between Masbate and Luzon islands. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Philippines' PLDT 9-Month Profit Drops 2 Percent Nov 4, 2008
MANILA, Philippines November 4, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press FONT SIZE. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the country's largest telecommunications group, said Tuesday its net profit in the first nine months fell 2 percent from a year earlier because of the weakening local currency. (ABC News -- Wire)
Dozens killed in ferry accident Nov 4, 2008
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - A ferry accident in the Philippines has claimed at least 40 lives. The vessel packed with commuters overturned after being hit by sudden monsoon winds and waves southeast of Manila. (KOLD.com, AZ)
Forty die as ferry sinks in Philippines Nov 4, 2008
An inter-island ferry packed with commuters overturned while being buffeted by sudden monsoon winds and waves south-east of Manila, killing at least 40 people, officials said ... Masbate provincial police chief Reuben Sindac told Manila radio station DZBB that the ferry had been sailing in relatively clear weather. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Bataan survivor never forgot Nov 3, 2008
At the end of that year, the Japanese landed in Manila, and Shrum became a prisoner of war, forced to march for six days and more than 60 miles, in what is now known as the Bataan Death March. Japanese forces herded 75,000 Allied captives -- about 12,000 of them GIs -- along pocked, bombed-out roads. (News & Observer)
Citra Marga to build $195m turnpike in the Philippines Nov 3, 2008
The project, known as Metro Manila Skyway, is the company's second project in the Philippines. CMNP will build a toll road connecting Bicutan to Alabang with a total length of 6. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Business)
* Bomb misfires, wounds rebels and young girl Nov 1, 2008
An initial investigation showed the fire might have been started by exposure of white phosporous charges that created sparks, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said in Manila. Sabotage is not apparent, he said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
High hopes for RI basketball squad despite little training Nov 1, 2008
The event was not featured at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila, the Philippines, in 2005. And the Indonesian squad failed to compete at the SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, last year because the Indonesian Sports Council imposed stricter performance standards to screen the contingent. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Sports)
A look at financial developments around the world Nov 1, 2008
MANILA, Philippines Philippine shares soared for the third day as lower U.S. interest rates boosted investors' appetite for bargain stocks. The Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 86. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
For US Voters Abroad, The Global Is Truly Local Nov 1, 2008
AP writers Shawna Ohm in Jerusalem; Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank; Gregory Katz in London; William Peacock in Berlin; Maria Gallucci in Mexico City; Oliver Teves in Manila, Philippines; Shino Yuasa in Tokyo; and Douglas Birch in Moscow contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. (CBS News -- World)
Millions remember Philippine dead Nov 1, 2008
MANILA (AFP) - Millions across the Catholic Philippines trooped to cemeteries Saturday to honor their dead on All Saints' Day. In Manila's North Cemetery, the capital's biggest, police were in full force to prevent violence, confiscating alcoholic beverages and dozens of knives and other weapons ... "It's a tradition. We need to respect our loved ones who passed away," said Carmel Angeles, in her late 60s, as she sat under an umbrella beside the plot of her late husband, ex-Manila police... (Yahoo! Asia News)
Jet lands safely after pilot suffers stroke Oct 31, 2008
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines says one of its pilots suffered a mild stroke just minutes before reaching his destination but was able to hand over control of the aircraft to his co-pilot who landed it safely. Airline Vice President Rolando Estabillo says the incident Wednesday happened on a flight to central Bacolod city. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Philippine stock index soars 4.6% Oct 31, 2008
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine shares soared for the third day Friday as a cut in key U.S. interest rates boosted investors' appetite for bargain stocks. The Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 86. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
UPDATE 2-Manila c.bank says Fed cut gives monetary policy leeway Oct 30, 2008
MANILA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The Philippines has greater leeway in setting its monetary and fiscal policies after the Federal Reserve's latest rate cut, the central bank said on Thurday, but economists do not expect authorities to cut rates immediately. A weak peso and an inflation rate still at double-digit levels would make it difficult for monetary authorities to ease policy rates soon, even as they try to shield the economy from the ravages of the global financial crisis. (Forbes)
