a-teamtaiwan

2010-11-13T16:28:00.000-08:00

Mexican fans also going for Pacquiao
Roy Luarca

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—Mexican boxing fans either hate or love Manny Pacquiao. Very few don’t care.

This was evident Tuesday when they outnumbered and outscreamed the Filipinos during Pacquiao’s press workout at the Longhorn Exhibit Hall E of the Gaylord Texan Hotel here.

Though many of them came primarily to watch their compatriot and Pacquiao foe Antonio Margarito, who worked out at the same makeshift ring an hour earlier, majority stayed behind to watch the pound-for-pound king give a sample of what he can do to the former two-time world champion today at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
And they never left.

As a result, the crowd and the media tripled in size when Pacquiao started his training routine under the guidance of chief trainer Freddie Roach, conditioning expert Alex Ariza and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez.

Occasionally chanting “Manny, Manny,” the crowd even urged the media to “Let Manny go,” as members of the press held Pacquiao captive for more than 20 minutes at the edge of the ring after the workout.

Afer the two-hour workout, that included banging the heavy and the double-end bag, they waited to either get his autograph or take his pictures.

Margarito also showed his drawing power when about 200 fans showed up for his workout with trainer Robert Garcia.

Still donning a sweatsuit, despite Garcia’s pronouncement that he weighed an exact 150 lb Tuesday morning, Margarito did his exercises, skipped ropes, shadow boxed and worked with the mitts hour in a one-hour routine.
Fernandez monitored Margarito’s workout and was hardly impressed.

“We’re smaller, but we definitely have the edge,” Fernandez said. “Soon, they will know that Manny never runs from a fight.” inquirer.net

2010-11-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao: Razor-sharp or too light?

Recah Trinidad

MANNY PACQUIAO missed his target poundage in yesterday’s weigh-in but the world’s pound-for-pound boxing king readily shrugged off the discrepancy in his mega bout against Antonio Margarito, who was perfect on the scales.
Pacquiao, trumpeted to check in at 148 pounds, was only 144.6 during the official weight check.
Margarito, who would have been fined heavily had he exceeded the catch weight, hit it on the dot—150 lb—in one try.
As could be expected, Pacquiao fans hereabouts were both mystified and worried over the weigh-in results.
His unusual smallness, many Pacman devotees fear, could leave him a willing victim of his bigger, taller foe who has vowed to push and bully the Filipino boxing superstar.
Pacquiao, however, assured he would be extra sharp and speedy in today’s fight with the burly Mexican three-time world champion.
“He is a hundred percent, he did what he needed to be, as fast as can be,” trainer Freddie Roach informed Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times who also said Pacquiao can be expected to rely on the “speed of lightness.”
However, there were those who felt Pacquiao might have overworked himself.
“He got caught in the excitement of the fight that he failed to stick to his normal four or five meals a day,” explained Pacquiao close-in aide Michael Koncz.
Another reliable Team Pacquiao insider said the Pacman really poured it on in the remaining days in order to gain sufficient stamina, so hard that he readily burned out everything he would eat.
Here at home, lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud, respected boxing expert and founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, said Pacquiao’s lightness was a little unusual.
“But I still expect him to prevail with his superior skills and speed, not to mention his tested warrior’s heart,” Salud told the Inquirer.
Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, trusted sports medicine expert, said Pacquiao should find no problem rehydrating.
“It’s a bit unusual but he and his handlers know what’s best for him,” Canlas said.
Meanwhile, not a few among those who had put a bet on a Pacquiao knockout win started having second thoughts upon learning of yesterday’s weigh-in results in Texas.
There were two prevailing local contentions as we went to press:
Pacquiao could either be razor-sharp, or too light for today’s monumental bout.
source: inquirer.net

2010-11-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

Pacman's biggest test
By Abac Cordero

DALLAS – Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, firmly established as one of the greatest boxers of all time, reaches out for another place in history against a fighter trying to redeem an image once tarnished and wrapped in controversy.

Pacquiao, long considered as the most exciting fighter to come out of his generation whose exploits could range with those of the sport’s past heroes, goes for the vacant WBC super welterweight crown against Mexican Antonio Margarito – probably the Filipino’s biggest and toughest challenge in a long and storied career.

Six months after a big win in the political arena, the Filipino icon returns to the boxing ring Saturday (Sunday noon in Manila) to shoot for a record eighth championship in as many weight divisions.

Last May, during the Philippine national elections, Pacquiao made history by beating a heavyweight opponent and becoming the first boxer to be elected to Congress.

When he climbs the ring at the Cowboys Stadium before an expected crowd of 60,000, he’ll be chasing history once more.

On the other corner of the ring will be Margarito – taller, bigger and supposedly stronger than all of Pacquiao’s previous opponents.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” said Pacquiao.

After the official weigh-in at the East end zone of the $1.2-billion football stadium, Pacquiao liked his chances even more, hinting that Margarito may have killed himself making weight.

“I’m happy coming in at 144.6 (lbs) and Margarito did not look good,” he said of his opponent, who came in at exactly 150 lbs, looking gaunt and weak he had to put his arm on his trainer getting off the stage.

Pacquiao is the only boxer with seven world titles in seven different weight classes, almost unbelievably moving up as champion in the flyweight, super-bantam, featherweight, super-feather, lightweight, light-welter and welterweight divisions.

He won his last four crowns in his last six fights, with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Only Marquez managed to last the distance, the three others suffered knockouts early, midway and late in the fight.

A victory over Margarito, almost five inches taller, and with a 73-inch wingspan as compared to Pacquiao’s 67, would cement the Filipino boxer’s status as the greatest of his era, and to some the greatest of all time.

Wise money says it’s Manny

Despite his shortness in height and reach, the 31-year-old Pacquiao, just a shade under 5-foot-7, is the overwhelming favorite in this cold November showdown.

On the eve of the fight, while it was 11 degrees outside, he was at -500, and Margarito down at +350.

he Filipino southpaw, who has floored opponents bigger than he is, was at -650 in the betting stations a month ago, meaning you need $650 just to win a hundred bucks. Even at -500, it’s no longer nice or wise to place a bet.

Pacquiao, according to Bob Arum of Top Rank, is guaranteed $15 million for this one, and when everything comes in, the boxing icon from the province of Sarangani can earn as much as $20 million.

Margarito will get the smaller share of $3 million guaranteed. Still, it is the biggest purse in his entire career. He’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain, knowing that a victory will put him back on top of his division.

Pacquiao trained for seven weeks for this bout, starting off in Manila then Baguio then at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. But all the distractions around him can easily take another week off in his training program.

The last two weeks in LA, however, were the hardest of all, and Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said it was enough to bring the reigning pound-for-pound champion to where he is right now, at his usual best.

The last few days at the gym it was pretty clear that Pacquiao’s speed, both with his hands and feet, is there.

Margarito, on the other hand, trained longer and harder, but may have had great difficulty making the 150-lb catchweight for the 154-lb division.

With the Mexican struggling to make weight, Pacquiao should be the stronger boxer on top of the ring.

Friday evening, as usual, Pacquiao took in a big number of visitors at his suite at the Gaylord Texan Hotel here. Saturday morning, he’d take a short walk, hear mass, and stay in until his call time at around seven in the evening.

Once he walks out of his dressing room, the Filipino champion will face a huge crowd like he’d never seen before – even more than the 51,000 that came to see his fight against Clottey – and greater expectations.

The fight, to be preceded by 10 others, including those featuring Filipinos Dennis Laurente, Richie Mepranum and Juan Martin Elorde, grandson of the legendary Filipino champion, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.

The entire Filipino nation of over 90 million will stand behind Pacquiao as he battles Margarito, each one of them hoping and praying for another victory by Pacquiao, now being hailed as a possible future president.

Pacquiao has a ring record of 51 wins, three losses, two draws and 38 knockouts. He hasn’t lost a fight over the last five years, since that cold, bloody night of March 19, 2005 when he fell to Erik Morales in a 130-lb contest that went the distance.

Margarito, just months older than Pacquiao, has a ring record of 38 wins with six losses, a no-contest and 27 knockouts. He was knocked out by Shane Mosley in January last year, and just minutes to the fight he was caught with illegal hand wraps.

The native of Tijuana, actually a stablemate of Pacquiao’s at Top Rank, served a long suspension, and only managed to return to the ring in May this year, with a 10-round picnic against Roberto Garcia in Mexico.

But all that is water under the bridge now.

After this one, granting that he wins, Pacquiao can start weighing his options. He can either retire and focus on politics, chase the elusive fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., or face someone else in May.

“It’s his call,” Arum was quoted as saying the other day.

But that’s getting ahead of this fight, the biggest ever for Pacquiao.

Source: philstar.com

2010-11-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

"Tornado" Margarito says he'll blow Pacman away
by: Ed Tolentino
Much like his nickname “Tornado,” Mexican Antonio Margarito loves to huff, puff and blow away his opponents with vicious haymakers. Since turning professional in 1994, Margarito has compiled a record of 38-6 with 27 knockouts. Margarito’s 60 knockout percentage underlines his search and destroy persona in the ring. The former two-time world welterweight champion comes to the ring offering little science in his style, preferring to rumble regardless of the consequences.

Margarito’s devil-may-care approach in the ring actually mirrors his personal life. “When you live in a border town [Tijuana], everything is always a little tougher,” said Margarito. “Everything in life is a little tougher. You have to work hard for everything you get. I think it shows in everything, especially in boxing.”

One of five children (three sisters, two brothers), Antonio Margarito Montiel was born on March 18, 1978 in Torrance, California but grew up in Tijuana. To provide food on the table, Margarito’s father sold mattresses. As a toddler, Margarito played soccer and basketball, but started developing an interest in boxing at age 8, after his father brought him to several fights.

“My father was a big boxing fan, and he took me to the fights” said Margarito. “That’s how I became interested in boxing. I started soon after that. I had 21 amateur fights, with a record of 18 wins and 3 losses.”

Margarito turned professional in January 1994, scoring a four-round decision win over Jose Trujillo. He won his first five fights before suffering his first loss in October 1994 by way of a decision loss to Victor Loyoza.
Margarito fought his first 10 fights in Tijuana before relocating to California, USA to pursue his fistic dreams. “My father doesn’t have the papers to cross the border,” said Margarito. “He has never seen me fight in person.”

Life away from Mexico was struggle early on for Margarito. He remembers one fight where he climbed the ring shortly after being informed that his brother had been murdered. As if things cannot get any worse, Margarito, owing to his size (5’11”) and fearsome punching power, was avoided like a disease by the champions in the welterweight division.

Margarito did not win a world title until March 2002, when he stopped Antonio Diaz in 10 rounds for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. Margarito lost the belt on points to Paul Williams in July 2007. Unperturbed, he became a champion again in April 2008, stopping Kermit Cintron with a debilitating body shot in the sixth round for the International Boxing Federation welter plum. Margarito added the World Boxing Association welterweight title to his collection in July 2008, when he knocked out Miguel Cotto in 11 rounds.

Just when it seemed his career was finally taking off, Margarito hit a huge roadblock in January 2009, when the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) discovered that he had tried to use tampered gloves before his title defense against American Shane Mosley. Margarito’s hands were rewrapped, but he lost his focus and was stopped in nine rounds by Mosley. Shortly after the fight, the CSAC suspended Margarito and revoked his boxing license.

Margarito’s career hit rock bottom. Banned from fighting in the US, he resurfaced on May 8 in Mexico, scoring a lackluster decision over Roberto Garcia.

Margarito was drifting into oblivion when promoter Bob Arum sought his services. When the proposed showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao fell through, Margarito emerged as a substitute foe for the Filipino. Margarito immediately sought his reinstatement in the US, but the CSAC denied his application for a boxing license. Surprisingly, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ignored the CSAC’s ruling and issued the required boxing license to Margarito.

Margarito is heading to the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas looking at the fight with Pacquiao as his ticket to redemption. Margarito is a heavy underdog, but the Mexican couldn’t care less. As Margarito puts it, he has been through hell to be intimidated by the PacMan. Margarito has his eyes fixed on winning the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight title. For the record, it will be Margarito’s second attempt to win the 154-pound crown. In September 2004, Margarito lost by technical decision to Daniel Santos in a battle for the WBO super welterweight crown. The fight was stopped in the 10th round because of a deep cut in Margarito’s right eye. Santos was ahead on points at the time of the technical stoppage and was declared the winner.

“I’m still very hungry. I’ve always wanted to be a WBC champion. Pacquiao’s a great fighter. I expect a tough fight but I’m going to win this fight,” quipped the Tijuana Tornado.

Source: manilatimes.net

2010-11-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

Filipino Champ 5-1 favorite to beat Margarito
By: By Roy Luarca

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—Manny Pacquiao takes another bold step toward sports
immortality when he tangles with Antonio Margarito for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight crown on Saturday night (this morning in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington City.

The 31-year-old representative of Sarangani province and holder of a record seven world crowns in as many divisions will make history as the first nationally elected official to compete in a boxing championship
as soon as he trades punches with the taller and bigger boxer from Mexico.

The Philippines’ pride, despite yielding 4 1/2 inches in height, 6 inches in reach and more than 10 pounds in weight by fight night, is an overwhelming 5-1 favorite to trounce Margarito and remain the world’s pound-for-pound king.

From Yokohama, Japan, where he is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, President Benigno Aquino on Saturday said Filipinos continued to hope and to expect that Pacquiao would “bring honor” to the motherland.

“And I would like to let him know that I am among those praying for his victory,” the President said in Filipino.

Prayers will be particularly strong in the Cebu Archdiocese, where the episcopal vicar, Msgr. Esteban Binghay, has included in his Saturday and Sunday-morning Masses a prayer for Pacquiao.

“Manny’s victory will also be our victory,” Binghay said on Saturday.

Invader

The Filipino champion started as a puny 106-pounder in 1995 and went on to capture the WBC flyweight (112 lbs), International Boxing Federation super bantamweight (122), Ring featherweight (126), WBC super featherweight (130), WBC lightweight (135), International Boxing Organization junior welterweight (140) and World Boxing Organization welterweight (147) titles.

Now he is invading the 154-lbs territory, where, at 5 feet and 6 1/2 inches, he is deemed a pygmy, and at 144.6 lbs during weigh-in, severely malnourished.

So as not to sacrifice his speed and whirlwind attacks, Pacquiao will not bulk up too much and will enter the ring no heavier than 149 lbs.

The 5’11” Margarito weighed in at exactly 150 lbs—the catch weight agreed upon—but will rehydrate to over 160 lbs for the 12-round bout to be beamed all over the globe by HBO pay-per-view (PPV).

As usual, Pacquiao is not focusing on personal glory and is dedicating the fight to his country and the 96 million countrymen rooting for him back home.

Deadly with both hands

The Fighter of the Decade, who holds a 51-win, three-loss, two-draw slate spiked by 38 knockouts, is gunning for his 13th straight victory since losing to Mexican Erik Morales in 2005, when he was basically a heavy-hitting lefty.

Under the guidance of four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, Pacquiao has become deadly with both hands, exacting vengeance over Morales twice, and opponents that included Hall-of-Fame-bound Mexicans like Oscar de La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao drew 50,994 fans to the Cowboys Stadium when he fought and beat Ghanaian Joshua Clottey last March 13.

Top Rank founder and promoter Bob Arum expects Pacquiao—with some help from the Latino fans of Margarito, who is seeking redemption after serving a yearlong ban for using a hand-wrap containing a hardening substance in a losing effort against Shane Mosley early in 2009—to draw an even bigger crowd.

Pacquiao has been guaranteed $15,000,000, which stands to increase significantly if the bout exceeds the 700,000 PPV hits posted by the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

8 or less

Roach has predicted a knockout victory for his prized ward in “eight rounds or less,” and hinted that a first-round knockout was a possibility.

Not to be outdone, Margarito’s trainer Robert Garcia predicted that Pacquiao would fall in 11 rounds.

While Pacquiao has refused to guarantee a knockout, Margarito (38-6 with 27 KOs) has said he would beat the Filipino and salvage Mexican pride.

Three other Filipinos, led by Juan Martin “Bai” Elorde, grandson of the late great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Dennis Laurente and Richie Mepranum will figure in the undercard of the 90-round card.

Elorde will fight Angel Rodriguez in a four-round super featherweight bout; Laurente, Rashad Holloway in an eight-round super lightweight encounter; and Mepranum, Anthony Villareal in an eight-round flyweight tussle.

Zyrene Parsad will sing the Philippine anthem.

Not even on TV

President Aquino will not be able to watch the Pacquiao-Margarito fight because of his “full schedule,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said in Yokohama.

On the last day of the Apec summit today, Mr. Aquino and other Apec leaders are to attend a last leaders’ retreat and a luncheon before they issue a joint declaration to cap the three-day conference.

Carandang said some Cabinet officials in the President’s delegation might watch the fight on cable TV and invite Filipinos in Yokohama to join them.

Malacañang said Mr. Aquino was to speak before the other Apec leaders at around the time of the Pacquiao-Margarito bout.

“It depends on his schedule but what I see is that he has engagements at that time,” Abigail Valte, the President’s deputy spokesperson, said over radio dzRB when asked about the probability that Mr. Aquino would miss Pacquiao’s first fight under his administration.

“We are united with our fellow Filipinos in rooting and praying for Manny to beat Margarito and bring more honor to our country,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said in a statement issued Saturday.

Faith

Pacquiao’s colleagues in the House of Representatives are confident that he will win because of his “strong faith in God.”

“His strength, months of training and belief in the Filipino spirit of dependence on God will lead him to victory,” said House Deputy Speaker Ma. Isabelle Climaco.

Rep. Simeon Datumanong said Pacquiao was fully prepared for the fight—“physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”

Said Rep. Roilo Golez, a boxer in his younger days at the Philippine Navy: “I believe that with Pacquiao’s speed, punching power, stamina and ability to deliver nonstop, vicious combinations, he will KO Margarito in six rounds or less. That’s assuming Margarito doesn’t run like (Miguel) Cotto or cover up like (Joshua) Clottey.” With reports from Norman Bordadora and Michael Lim Ubac in Manila; Christine O. Avendaño in Yokohama, Japan; Jhunnex Napallacan and Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas

Source: inquirer.net

Paquiao vs. Margarito : How boxing experts see this fight,

2010-11-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Most boxing fans would love to see the fleet-footed Manny Pacquiao win against Mexican “giant” Antonio Margarito. But how would he do it? Does he really have the right tools to beat the Tijuana Tornado?

Here’s how boxing experts think how the fight would go in the modern-day David and Goliath clash.

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Manny, with that speed and his punching power and his ring smarts against a much slower opponent, at some point, you know, gets the job done.

Kevin Cunningham, trainer of boxing champ Devon Alexander
Manny Pacquiao has too much hand speed. I mean, he has superior hand speed and good foot movement. I think that he will outbox the bigger Antonio Margarito and that he will win a 12-round decision.

Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
This one could be tough for Pac-Man. He just might hit the bigger Margarito until he can't hit him anymore, and then fade in the late rounds. Nonetheless, Pacquiao should win on points. Manny's a fighter with limitations, not a miracle-worker, so don't expect fireworks this time.

Thomas Hauser, SecondsOut Boxing News
Margarito is a big strong guy. He takes a pretty good punch, he hits hard and Manny is going to have to walk through some difficult territory in this fight.

Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
This fight comes down to one thing: Speed. Manny Pacquiao has it and Antonio Margarito does not. Margarito is tough, he hits hard and he's expert at putting on pressure. If Margarito is somehow able to corner Pacquiao or pin him on the ropes, it would be a very different fight, but trainer Freddie Roach will never allow that to happen.

Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com
In a fight that will be much more competitive than most believe, I think that Manny Pacquiao wins by decision over Antonio Margarito. But that he will have to work all 36 minutes to do so.

Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
Manny Pacquiao should stop Antonio Margarito by the 10th round. Despite training camp concerns, and the fact that he is facing a height and weight disadvantage, Pacquiao's speed should overwhelm the slower former champion from Mexico, who will struggle to find the seven-division champ.

Lou DiBella, veteran boxing promoter
As much as it truly pains me to say this - because I don't think Margarito deserves this situation - I make him a very live underdog. His whole life will change if he wins, economically, physically he's much bigger and I've long concluded that Pacquiao will eventually lose to someone much bigger. With the personal appearances, TV shows and everything, I wonder if he is as fit and 100 per cent hungry as he usually is. That said, Pacquiao by a close decision but it would be no surprise if Margarito pulled an upset.

Joe Santoliquito, Ring Magazine
The Pac-Man is boxing today. There's been no fighter this decade that's been as consistently great as Manny Pacquiao. I would put Floyd Mayweather in there, if he fought more often. It doesn't matter how big or strong you are, if you're in there with Manny, chances are you're going down. As for Antonio Margarito, there's a lot of obvious questions about him: Was it the "real Margarito" we saw against Miguel Cotto? Or was the "real Margarito" the cheat who was demolished by Shane Mosley? We'll find out in this fight. I can't see Pacquiao losing. He's at an unbeatable stage of his career.

Tim Smith, New York Daily News
I was a little concerned about the height and weight differential for Manny Pacquiao, and it still may be a problem. But I think that he has the boxing skills, if he decides to use them, to overcome any disadvantage in these areas. Antonio Margarito didn't look that great in his last two fights against Shane Mosley and Roberto Garcia, so there will be considerable rust. Margarito will fight and put himself in harms way, and Pacquiao will take advantage of that. Pacquiao TKO 10.

Joe Gallagher, trainer of UK boxing champ John Murray
Margarito to win. He won't get anything off the judges and he'll have to do it like he did Miguel Cotto, but he will win.

Source: abs-cbnNews.com

2010-10-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

INIWAN SA ERE

Naghimutok ang dalawa sa 12 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) na dinakip noong nakaraang Biyernes bunsod ng pagdalo sa idinaos na Katolikong misa sa Saudi Arabia dahil tumanggi diumano ang Philippine Embassy na pirmahan ang kafala, o written guarantee para sila’y mapalaya.
Magugunita na ang 12 OFWs ay dinakip ng mga tauhan ng Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice at dinala sa police station sa Rawdah district.
“There were assurances that the Philippine Embassy would sign a kafala for us, but it never came,” paghahayag ng isa sa dalawang OFWs na nagtatrabaho bilang engineer sa isang local company sa Saudi.
Napilitan na lamang umano silang umasa kani-kanilang employer para mapalaya at bandang alas-tres ng madaling-araw noong Sabado, Oktubre 2 ay ibinalik na ng pulisya ang kanilang iqama (resident/work permit).Ayon pa sa Pinoy engineer, Sabado na ng hapon siya pinalaya habang ang kababayan niyang doktor na kasama rin sa nahuli ay pinakawalan na kinagabihan.

“The embassy’s refusal to sign a kafala for us is not a good sign for OFWs. It means that we cannot depend on our embassy for total help and protection if needed,” ayon pa sa Pinoy engineer. source:abante

2010-10-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

Walang Pinoy na nasawi

Walang Pinoy na nasawi o nasaktan sa lindol na yumanig sa Joetsu region sa Niigata Prefecture sa Japan nitong Linggo ng umaga, Oktubre 3, ayon sa ipinarating na impormasyon ng Philippine Embassy sa Tokyo sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) kahapon.
“According to Japanese civil authorities in charge of foreign nationals, no Filipino national was reported killed or injured in the quake,” pahayag ng RP Embassy.
Hindi rin umano naglabas ng anumang tsunami warning ang Japanese civil authorities sa mga baybayin ng mga naapektuhang rehiyon.
Gayunpaman, nanatiling nakaalerto ang kinauukulan para sa mga aftershock.
Naitala ang lakas ng lindol sa 4.7 magnitude sa Richter scale at yumanig bandang alas-9:26 ng umaga (Japan time). source: abante

Tonight I Wanna Cry by: Ryan Toledo

2010-10-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

directed by: Tiki

2010-10-04T03:59:00.000-07:00

Fraternity offers reward for info on attackers

MANILA, Philippines—A fraternity based at Ateneo Law School has put up a P200,000 reward for information that will lead to the identification of those behind the grenade attack on the last day of bar examinations on Sept. 26, which left 47 wounded.

The Fraternal Order of Utopia Sunday condemned “in the strongest terms the irresponsible act of the perpetrators” outside De La Salle University, venue of the bar exams.

“Utopia hopes that those responsible for this unforgivable crime will soon be apprehended and brought to justice. Utopia commits its all-out support to the on-going investigation being conducted by the Supreme Court,” Utopia said in a statement.

The blast occurred during the traditional revelry on Taft Avenue called “salubong” to greet the law graduates who had just finished the grueling exams. Two of the 47 injured lost their limbs.

The Manila Police District (MPD) has yet to name a suspect in the blast, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Supreme Court have each started a parallel probe.

Rey Nathaniel C. Ifurung, a Utopia member, said no one from his fraternity had been wounded in the blast, but its members were very concerned over the gruesome violence.

“We were also in that tambayan (meeting place) for the salubong. It could very well have been us who got hurt,” he said in a phone interview.

Ifurung said Utopia decided to put up the P200,000 reward during its recent homecoming, and that the members would chip in to cover the amount. He said the police had already been informed about the reward offer.

The Supreme Court welcomed the Utopia initiative, saying efforts to bring those behind the blast “to the bar of justice should be a concerted effort.”

“With this offer, it is hoped that we can put a closure to this mishap at the soonest possible time,” Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said in a text message.

The fraternity includes Chief Justice Renato Corona and Associate Justices Roberto Abad and Arturo Brion, Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. and six other justices of the appellate court.

“While none of our members were involved in the incident, we felt that it’s our responsibility as lawyers to help the victims whose aspirations of becoming lawyers may have been affected by this,” said Antonio Bernardo, Utopia’s alumni president.

Marquez said that the probe body headed by Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. would look into the reasons behind the attack, including fraternity war, involvement of those implicated in last year’s massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao and destabilization moves against the Aquino administration.

The inquiry will be closed to the public. A media briefing will be conducted after each session. Corona has directed the panel to submit its findings on Oct. 15.

Marquez said the panel met on Friday to go over some documents and watch the video footage taken by the court’s security division.

Villarama has directed the MPD, NBI and the high court’s security office to submit a copy of the latest report of their investigation to the committee.

At least five witnesses are expected to show up on Monday at the start of the court inquiry, Marquez said Sunday.

“Some of the witnesses are law students and barristers who were there in the area where the explosion occurred,” he said. “Most of them had already given their statements to the law enforcement agencies investigating this. They will just be asked for details.”

In Cebu City, classmates and friends of Jed Carlo Lazaga at the University of San Jose Recoletos, scheduled a nationwide prayer vigil Monday night. They said Lazaga had been falsely implicated in the bombing. With a report from Nestor P. Burgos Jr. and Chito A. Aragon, Inquirer Visayas

2010-10-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Large-scale trafficking of Pinoy workers to US busted

MANILA, Philippines—A syndicate involved in large-scale human trafficking of Filipino workers to the United States has been busted, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said Thursday.

Baldoz said charges against ZDrive Inc., a Laguna-based private employment agency, and US Opportunities, an employment services company owned by a certain Mike Lombardi, are already being prepared.

The labor chief identified the 18 victims as Rodolfo Andrade, Ferdinand Antigo, Dennis Belda, Peter Cabusao, Jhoanne Davocol, Eduardo Deytiquez, Lheniehl Florida , Jimmy Hinayo, Theodore Jastillana III, Orlando Lavarnez, Enrico Edmundo Lising, Michael Angelo Maghirang, Jason Magundayao, Wilfredo Mislang, Imie Ramos, Henry Sejera, Regie Tesoro, and Roberto Verzo Jr.

“According to our investigation, the victims were illegally trafficked to the United States and were forced to endure sub-human and sub-standard conditions of work,” she said.

According to the victims, after ZDrive recruited them sometime in 2009, they arrived in the US in winter. In the unfamiliar environment, they were compelled to work in a forest farm under subhuman conditions and forced to sleep in trailers without water and electricity.

Worse, they were allegedly subjected to threats and intimidation, made to rake and bail pine leaves in the dead of winter, and forced to plant 1,800 pine tree seedlings a day on measly, subhuman wages equivalent to $40a week. According to the US Department of Labor, the federal minimum wage for covered non-exempt employees is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009, consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Many states also enforce their minimum wage laws.
Eventually, they found the courage to escape but in good faith, got in touch with ZDrive.

However, instead of helping them, ZDrive instructed them to work in various hotels and entertainment facilities where they were paid below the minimum wage and their wages subjected to illegal deductions.

ZDrive had recruited the unsuspecting victims, who were unwittingly made to pay large fees in exchange for the promise of lucrative employment as food and beverage servers in the United States. During the processing of their applications, however, they were compelled to pay for various requirements such as medical fees, visa application fees, and placement fees. When their passports, with the approved visas, were delivered to ZDrive, allegedly through a certain Julius Bana and a certain Robert Refugio, the agency explained that the total costs they would be shouldering amount to P250,000, which are way beyond the normal legal requirements for OFWs.

Furthermore, ZDrive allegedly demanded that the victims pay the difference between the P250,000 and the expenses already incurred for visa and other fees, so that if a victim had already expended P50,000, he or she would still be required to pay the additional P200,000 to ZDrive. For those who did not have the means to raise the required fees, ZDrive allegedly referred them for loans to their partner lending companies identified as the AsiaLink Finance Corp. and the PJH Lending Corp., for which they were required corresponding collateral such as real estate properties.

Complicating the victims’ sad plight, these companies reportedly resorted to criminally suing the victims-complainants for violation of Batas Pambansa 22, threatening them with foreclosure of the mortgages constituted over the real properties they offered as collaterals for the loans they incurred in exchange for non-existent jobs promised in the US.

Baldoz pledged the complete support of her office so that the victims and their families may get justice.
The syndicates were neutralized after the victims complained to the US Department of Homeland Security. The victims were assisted by US attorney Ellaine Carr, who is affiliated with Catholic charities, and is assisting the victims in the US on a pro bono basis. inquirer.net

2010-10-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Padre Damaso' protester freed on bail

MANILA - Controversial tour guide Carlos Celdran was freed on bail Friday but could face even more sanctions after disrupting Mass at the Manila Cathedral Thursday to protest the Catholic Church's stance against contraceptives.

Celdran walked free from the Manila Police District Station 5 in Ermita at 4:30 p.m. after posting P6,000 bail before the sala of executive judge Sara Almalin of Metropolitan Trial Court branch 15.

The tour guide was arrested and charged with violating Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code after raising a ruckus during Thursday's ecumenical service at the Manila Cathedral.

Police said Celdran, wearing a dark suit and top hat, started shouting and held up the placard with the word "Damaso" in the the middle of a homily.

"Damaso" refers to Father Damaso, an abusive priest who is a character in Jose Rizal’s novel "Noli Me Tangere."

Celdran has apologized for the manner of his protest but not the content of his message.

"I don't blame anybody for what happened. Wala akong sinisisi. Pinaninindigan ko yung ginawa ko. Wala akong regrets. No regrets at all," he told radio dzMM.

Celdran, a much sought-after tour guide in Intramuros, said he made the demonstration to protest the Catholic Church's position against contraceptives.

"I am a Catholic and born Catholic. Marami Catholic sa Pilipinas who are very disappointed with the position of the church because it is anti-women's rights, anti-gay rights and anti-human rights especially when it comes to reproductive health. Ngayong nasa kulungan ako, we can see na anti-freedom of speech din sila," he said.

"Nakakatakot ang precedent na ito, na they have the power to put people in prison like the time of Jose Rizal. If you protest against the church and the bishops, you get hauled to jail. It sends a very scary message to Filipinos when priests can put you in jail," he said.

In response, the clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila issued a statement condemning Celdran's action and urged the Intramuros administration to make him account for his actions. The clergy consists of 238 priests assigned to 85 parishes, 2 chapels, 3 shrines, and hospitals and schools.

The statement said Celdran "willfully and with premeditation executed his protest inside the Manila Cathedral the church of the Archbishop and the seat of the Archdiocese of the Manila. The church is the Mother Church in the Archdiocese and is the central place for worship of the entire flock of the Archdiocese. This is the church where the past Archbishops of Manila are buried (in its crypt). This is where the Cathedra (seat) and the seal (coat of arms) of the Archbishop of Manila are displayed to symbolize his office, an appointment that comes directly from the Holy See."

The clergy said Celdran showed blatant disrespect for Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and the bishops and priests and representatives of other religions present during the worship service.

It said the tour guide "disrupted the religious proceedings which included reading from the Sacred Scriptures, and preened in front of the altar with his offensive poster. Unstopped (because no one was prepared for such brazen action) he repeatedly pointed his poster towards the religious leaders and at the sacred altar, and at one time even shouted. When he was being peaceably led out of the Cathedral he shouted invectives."

"These actions cannot by any means be considered within the purview of freedom of expression. Instead they were malicious acts directed towards a Faith, a Religion that was represented by its leaders and the faithful gathered. It was desecrating a consecrated place, as every Catholic church or chapel is consecrated by sacred rites. His right to protest in this manner ended after he entered the doors of the Manila Cathedral," the clergy said.

It added that Celdran also showed disrespect to national hero Jose Rizal "by assuming the hero’s looks to perpetuate his shameful deed."

"We demand that the Intramuros Administration make him account for his actions since Mr. Celdran is a tour guide who operates within its confines. We pray for him that he may receive enlightenment and have remorse for what he has done," it added. abs-cbn news

2010-09-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

US orders pullout of 5,000 Pinoys in Afghanistan

The US government has ordered another pullout of foreign workers, including Filipinos, whose countries have implemented a deployment ban in the war-torn country.

In a copy of the September 17 memorandum obtained by GMANews.TV, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) ordered its contractors to remove third country nationals (TCN) from US military and other facilities in Afghanistan whose domestic laws prohibit their citizens from working there.

In an interview, an official of the Philippine Embassy in Pakistan, which has jurisdiction over Afghanistan, confirmed that Filipinos will be among the foreign workers who will have to be repatriated.

The official, who refused to be named, added about 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be affected by the memorandum.

The Embassy official, however, refused to further comment on the matter, saying the departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Labor and Employment will have the final say.

“We will just implement whatever they tell us to do," the official said.

DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya could not be reached as of posting time.

Repatriation of OFWs

The repatriation of TCNs, including Filipinos, may be made upon the termination of the workers’ contracts, or upon dismissal.

“Contractors in violation of third country laws should immediately make plans to repatriate these individuals," the memorandum stated as signed by Brig. Gen. Camille Nichols, commanding general of the US CENTCOM.

Letter to Aquino

Filipinos in Afghanistan, however, have written President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino, asking that the ban be lifted and that they be allowed to stay in that country.

In their letter, Catherine Sobrevega, representative of the Filipino workers in Afghanistan, said the order will affect some 5,000 OFWs, including those from international non-governmental organizations, aid agencies, and multinational corporations.

In the petition, Sobrevega cited other reasons to lift the ban:
# Filipinos have to endure not seeing their families for longer periods of time because the ban prevents them from returning to the Philippines on vacation;

# The ban affects the image of the Filipino workers in Afghanistan;

# The ban gives airport authorities opportunities to extort money from workers returning to Afghanistan because carrying Afghanistan entry permits makes them easy prey for immigration personnel;

# The current ban is unfair to Filipino workers there, citing that in other countries like Somalia, no ban has been imposed even though Filipino seamen are being held hostage by Somali pirates;

# Employers have adopted strict security measures for foreign workers’ housing and transportation.

Government records

Government records show that there are about 1,800 Filipinos living in Afghanistan as of 2008.

Based on Philippine Overseas Employment Administration records, only four Filipino workers were deployed in the country in 2009. The nature of these Filipinos’ work is unclear.

Pullout in Iraq

The US CENTCOM has earlier similarly ordered the pullout in Iraq of foreign workers coming from countries that have banned travel to and deployment of workers in the country.

The DFA, however, has allowed Filipino workers deployed in US military facilities to remain in Iraq until they finish their contracts, but said that the total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers there remains in light of the volatile situation. – GMANews.TV

2010-09-29T01:20:00.000-07:00

DOLE gears up for expanded OFW protection; issues rules implementing R. A. 10022
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies with overseas Filipino workers-related mandates, yesterday issued the rules and regulations covering the implementation of Republic Act No. 10022, shifting up to a higher gear the government of President Benigno S. Aquino III toward the protection of the welfare and interest of eight million overseas Filipino workers.
R. A. 10022 is officially tited the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, As Amended, Further Improving the Standard of Protection and Promotion of the Welfare of Migrant Workers, Their Families and Overseas Filipinos in Distress, and For Other Purposes.

The implementing rules and regulations, published yesterday in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Manila Times will take effect 15 days after.
“The implementation of R. A. 10022 is a challenge that puts the DOLE at an even bigger forefront of OFW social protection,” said Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who had brushed aside comments that OFWs had been “forgotten” when President Aquino did not mention them in his State of the Nation Address last Monday.

“This is the government’s answer to those comments,” she said, noting that with R.A. 10022, the groundwork has been laid for the expanded protection of the country’s “modern-day heroes” in pursuit of the President’s 22-point agenda for labor and employment.

Baldoz emphasized that 11 of the 22 items in the agenda are OFW-related and that the 11 agenda items are for the protection of OFWs and for enhancing their competitiveness.
The rules and regulations spell out in details the salient protective measures of the new law, among which are:

   1. Emphasis on stronger bilateral and multilateral relations with receiving countries for protection. Interpreting provision of free skills and livelihood programs as expanding free access to such programs;
   2. Criteria for host countries (guaranteeing protection), subject to concurrence to “take positive and concrete measures” to protect the rights of migrant workers; and clarifying a three-step process that involves a) DFA certifications on compliance by host countries; b) POEA resolution allowing deployment to complying host countries; and c) POEA processing of workers’ documents to countries identified in POEA resolutions.
   3. Inclusion of amendments to prohibited acts that may constitute illegal recruitment by licensed and unlicensed agencies, as well as other prohibited acts, such as loans, decking practice in OFW medical examinations; and recruitment by suspended agencies;
   4. Anti-illegal recruitment programs that include institutionalizing the role of LGUs; added capability of POEA lawyers; prosecution; and operation and surveillance to apprehend illegal recruiters;
   5. Money claims. Inclusion of voluntary arbitration;
   6. Repatriation and mechanism for repatriation. Responsibility for repatriation with principal/employer and licensed recruitment agency; 48-hour notice rule and 15-day period for countries with exit visa requirements; provisions on repatriation of underage workers and asserting penalties and liabilities for recruiters who recruit underage migrant workers;
   7. Overseas Filipino Resource Centers will now have additional required personnel, such as psychologists, etc. and be under direct POLO supervision;
   8. Institutionalizing the National Reintegration Center for OFWs;
   9. Protection from abusive medical clinics;
10. Ensuring the use of the legal assistance fund for foreign lawyers and attorneys’ fees and for filing of cases against erring or abusive employers;
11. Compulsory insurance to cover agency-hired workers for accidental death, natural death, permanent total disablement, repatriation costs, subsistence allowance benefit, money claims, compassionate visit, medical evaluation, and medical repatriation.

“With the publication of the implementing rules and regulations, I now direct the family of agencies under the DOLE that have OFW-related mandates to craft their own internal rules and regulations for the smooth operationalization and implementation of the provisions of the law,” Baldoz said.

source:DOLE

AUO A-TEAM LIGA NG BASKETBALL 2009

2010-09-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

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2010-09-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

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AUO family day september 25, 2010 at Mala Bay
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2010-09-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

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2010-09-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

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2010-09-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

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2010-09-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

September 18, 2010

A-TEAM DoTA boys together w/ Dorm Coordinators

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