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2012-11-06T09:35:00.001-08:00

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iPad 3: Everything we (might) know

2012-03-07T02:52:00.001-08:00

The iPad 3 is set to arrive on Wednesday, March 7. Here's everything we expect to see from Apple's newest tablet.

iPad3

Apple’s iPad 3 (or iPad HD, perhaps?) will make its world debut on Wednesday, March 7. Interestingly, there’s an underlying assumption in the tech news world that, this time, the rumors surrounding Apple’s latest creation have it at least mostly right. That said, quite a bit of new information has percolated to the surface since we first published this rumor roundup on February 10. Below, we’ve updated all the sections with the most recent believable details about the iPad 3 (or whatever it’s called).

Display: High-resolution Retina

It’s all but certain that the iPad 3 will have a better screen than the iPad or iPad 2. Most rumors point to a Retina display, similar to what’s found on the iPhone 4/4S. The iPad 3 version will reportedly have a 2048×1024 resolution, twice that of the iPad 2′s screen. This rumor is corroborated by a recently leaked photo of what is allegedly the rear shell of the iPad 3, which includes space for a larger battery to power a more energy-hungry screen (more on this leak later).

Apple needs to make this upgrade to stay ahead of the increasing variety of Android tablets that offer better-looking displays — or so the theory goes. While this upgrade seems like a no-brainer, many expected the same with the iPad 2 last year. And, obviously, that didn’t happen.

In addition, many speculate that Apple will release a smaller, 7-inch version to go along with the new 9.7-inch model. This rumor has been floating around since last year, and has stuck around due to the popularity of Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire. But if you ask us, this ain’t gonna happen. And it shouldn’t. If anything, Apple should shoot for something in the 8.9-inch range, which we’ve found to be an ideal size for tablets. But if you’re placing bets, put your money on one 9.7-inch model with a Retina display.

Update: Ars Technica reports that it recently received traffic from 365 iPads with a 2048×1536 resolution, which provides good evidence to the high-res speculation.

Design: Nearly identical to iPad 2

Surprisingly little has been said about what the next iPad will look like. But if the aforementioned rear shell is real, then iPad 3 will almost certainly have a design that’s nearly identical to iPad 2. Also, an Apple employee tells The New York Times that the next iPad is “essentially the same size and shape as the iPad 2.” Sure, there may be a tweak or two, but don’t expect the iPad 3 to stray far from its predecessors design-wise.

Update: New pictures and video shot by MICGadget corroborate the iPad 2-like design theory. The differences are almost non-existent.

Hardware: Faster A6 processor

Consensus says the iPad 3 will run the new A6 processor, which will be significantly faster than the A5 CPU found in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, and use less power, which would help in the battery life department. What’s currently up in the air — rumor-wise, anyway — is whether the fabled A6 will be dual-core or quad-core. Evidence found in the beta version of iOS 5.1 in early January supports the quad-core theory. But sources tell Joshua Topolsky at The Verge that the A6 is definitely dual-core, like the A5.

In the end, the dual-core/quad-core factor is irrelevant to most users, who couldn’t care less how many cores the A6 has. If it’s faster than the iPad 2, that’s all that matters.

A faster graphics processor is also expected (and, we think, likely). And some believe Apple will finally up the RAM count above the current 512MB threshold it’s sat on for the past two years. An increase in RAM seems to make sense, but Apple has never been one to change things just because competing devices list bigger numbers under their specs. If 512MB works, that’s where it will stay.

Update: Recent chatter at MacRumors indicates that the name of the processor will be A5X, not A6.

Cameras: HD front cam, 8-megapixel rear cam

One of the best reasons to buy the iPhone 4S is its fantastic 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. And it seems increasingly likely that Apple will upgrade this lens in the iPad 3. The leaked rear shell photo shows a larger spot for the rear camera, which means an upgrade is likely (if that case is real, of course). In addition, iLounge reports that the new Apple tablet will feature a high-definition front-facing camera for FaceTime HD video chat, similar to what’s found on new Macs. This would definitely be a welcome upgrade, as tablets are far better for video chat than smartphones, and the iPad 2′s front camera is undewhelming, at best. We hope it comes true.

Update: Nothing much new on this front.

OS: iOS 5.1

It’s essentially guaranteed that the iPad 3 will come loaded with iOS 5.1, beta versions of which have been available to developers for some time. So far, the upgrade to iOS 5 offers nothing much new. But seeing as the developer version of iOS has gone virtually unchanged over the past several versions, which would suggest it’s ready to go public, some speculate that Apple has a secret big feature in store for the release of the iPad 3. Whatever could that be?…

Update: In the same report that revealed the probable iPad 3 screen resolution, Ars also reports that the curious iPads in their analytics also used “iOS 6.” Considering that iOS 5 launched relatively recently, it still seems likely that the next iPad will ship with iOS 5.1.

Siri: Yes

Yep, Siri, the AI virtual assistant that makes the iPhone 4S so dang nifty. The presence of Siri in iPad 3 would explain why iOS 5.1 hasn’t yet been released to the public. And at this point, nobody is questioning whether the next Apple tablet will sport this feature.

Update: Little new talk about Siri, so the feature still seems likely.

Network: 4G LTE

A variety of reports suggest that Apple plans to make its first 4G LTE-enabled device the iPad 3. According to an unnamed source who spoke with Bloomberg in January, Apple has decided to debut LTE on the iPad — rather than the iPhone — because the iPad’s larger battery could better handle the energy needed by the faster LTE networks. Given the poor battery performance of the current stable of LTE smartphones, this theory makes perfect sense. Also, now that both Verizon and AT&T offer 4G in a wide variety of networks, the demand for LTE has reached a tipping point. That said, it would be slightly unusual for the iPad, not the iPhone, to be Apple’s first LTE device. But that’s not enough to knock it out of the realm of possibility.

Vice Ganda renews contract with ABS-CBN

2011-12-12T23:14:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Comedian actor Vice Ganda remains a Kapamilya as he signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN on Monday.

Present during the signing were Vice Ganda's new manager, Deo Endrinal, and ABS-CBN executives including president Charo Santos Concio.

"Exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. Two years pa akong makakasama niyo araw-araw sa ABS-CBN," Vice Ganda said after inking the contract.

Vice Ganda said he will continue to host ABS-CBN's "Showtime" and "Gandang Gabi Vice," adding that he will have another show.

"Siyempre, 'Showtime' pa rin. And they are planning to give me another show after 'Gandang Gabi Vice,'" he said.

"Medyo [matatapos na] kasi [ang 'Gandang Gabi Vice'], parang they want to make it seasonal. Mamahinga siya pero babalik, para maiwasan ang sawa factor," he added.

New tattoo

In the interview, Vice Ganda also shared the story behind the new three-star tattoo on his neck.

The comedian had his first star tattoo on his left wrist.

"Ang daming nagsunud-sunod na (blessings), 'yung 'Gandang Gabi Vice' tapos 'yung movie, ang dami. So sabi ko, gusto ko ulit ng star. Noon ko pa gustong magpalagay kaso walang okasyon na pagla-launch-an ko. So tamang tama, grand finals ng 'Showtime' noong Sabado so pinalagay ko siya ng Thursday night," he said.

Vice Ganda added that he had his newest tattoo with showbiz friends Ryan Bang and Jon Avila.

Adelle named top artist of the year; breaks record history

2011-12-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES - British singer Adele made Billboard history on Friday when she became the first female singer to be named top artist, have the top album, "21," and score the top single, "Rolling in the Deep," all in one year.

The 23-year-old chanteuse was followed in the top artist group by No. 2 Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga in that order, while Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars rounded out the top ten.

"I think one of the things that sets me apart from other artists who have had the same kind of success is that my life isn't speculated about" by the media, Adele said in an interview with Billboard.

Tye Comer, editor of Billboard.com, attributed Adele's success to her being a "breath of fresh air" in a market saturated with pop artists cut from a "certain cloth," like Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

"Her success is really inspiring because it shows that there is still room in the music industry for an artist to make it with true, raw talent," Comer told Reuters.

"It's not necessarily always about the outrageous outfits or flashy videos, but an amazing voice coupled with the right song still has the ability to turn the ears of millions of people and keep them interested," he said.

Adele's smash hit album "21," which was described by Billboard's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd as a "break-up requiem," was written in the aftermath of the singer's failed relationship, and it features underlying themes of love, heartache and moving forward.

"I'm incredibly private but I'm also incredibly honest, and I think that creates a kind of 'meet in the middle' respectable ground," said the singer.

The singer's rousing soul and blues-fused single "Rolling in the Deep," which was named the No. 1 song, beat pop and dance tracks like LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," Katy Perry's "Firework" and "E.T." featuring Kanye West, as well as Pitbull's "Give Me Everything."

Adele, who earned six Grammy nominations last week, was also named top female, while rapper Lil Wayne was awarded top male and Wiz Khalifa was the best new artist.

Dec. 26, Jan. 2 not holidays

2011-12-08T23:20:00.000-08:00

The two successive Mondays right after Christmas and New Year’s Day – Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 – are not holidays.

These days do not fall under the list of holidays for 2011 in Proclamation 84 issued by President Aquino in December 2010.

The remaining regular holidays for the year are Dec. 25 (Christmas) and Dec. 30 (Rizal Day). Dec. 31 (last day of the year) is a special non-working holiday while Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day) is traditionally a regular holiday.

“The presidential proclamation is the one we’re observing so if that date falls on a particular day, it will fall on that particular day,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

The administration no longer practices the so-called “holiday economics” implemented by the Arroyo administration in which holidays are moved to the nearest Mondays.

The law also mandates the provision of holiday pay to workers required to render service during regular and special holidays.

Those who report for work on holidays shall receive double their daily income for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work rendered in excess of eight hours.

If the holiday falls on the rest day of the worker but he is required to work, he shall receive 230 percent for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work in excess of eight hours.

Workers who opt not to report for work during regular holidays are also entitled to receive their daily basic pay.

The Department of Labor and Employment also directed all employers to grant the mandated 13th month pay to their employees before Christmas to enable them to buy necessities while prices are still low.

The National Wage Productivity Commission said most workers are supposed to receive higher 13th month pay compared to last year because the wage increases granted by the wage boards should be integrated into the computation of the 13th month pay.

Expect rains until Sunday: PAGASA

2011-12-08T21:03:00.001-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Pack an umbrella because it's going to be a rainy weekend, weather bureau PAGASA said Friday.

PAGASA officer-in-charge and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Metro Manila, Bicol and some parts of Visayas will experience more rains due to the convergence of the northeast monsoon (amihan) and easterlies, or the winds coming from the Pacific Ocean.

Yumul said the weather system will produce light but continuous downpours over Metro Manila until Sunday.

Meanwhile, Northern Luzon, which includes the areas of Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Quezon Province and Aurora, will also experience heavy rains brought about by the northeast monsoon.

Yumul said it is up to the Philippine National Police if they will still decide to transport former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by helicopter even in bad weather.

PAGASA expects weather to improve in Metro Manila by Monday.

Yumul did not attribute the low pressure area (LPA) spotted 330 kilometers of Puerto Princesa, Palawan to the Metro Manila rains. He said this weather disturbance is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Friday noon.

Yumul said the western section of the Philippines is experiencing rains because of the La Niña phenomenon.

He noted this section of the country should be dry during this period of the year. - ABS-CBNnews.com

Twilight's Kristen Stewart tops bankable actors list

2011-12-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

The Forbes magazine 'Best Actors for the Buck' calculates actors' wages against their movies' box-office return investment.

Twilight actress Kristen Stewart is number 1.

Her films earn $55.83 ( £35.79) for every $1 (0.64p) she is paid.

The most recent film, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, has been at the top of the box office for three weeks.

Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson is number 3 on the Forbes list. The actor is also famous for roles in films like Water for Elephants and Remember Me.

His films earn $39.43 (25.27) for every $1 (0.64p) he's paid.

Anne Hathaway sits in between the Twilight stars at number 2.

For every $1 (0.64p) she's paid, her films, including Alice in Wonderland, earn back $45.67 (£29.27).

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is number 4. For every $1 he's paid, his films earn back $34.24 (£21.95).

Transformers star Shia LaBeouf is number 5. His films earn back $29.40 (£18.85) for every $1 (0.64p) he makes.

Also in the top 10 are Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes star Robert Downey Jr. who earns $18.74 (£12.01) for every $1.

Matt Damon earns $15.83 (£10.15) for every $1, Cate Blanchett earns $15.17 (£9.72) for every $1.

Meryl Streep $13.54 (£8.68) for every $1 (0.64p) and Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp $12.48 (£8.00) for every $1.

Afternoon Classes in NCR suspended due to heavy rains: DepED

2011-12-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday announced the suspension of afternoon classes in all levels in the National Capital Region (NCR) due to bad weather.

DepEd NCR Director Elena Ruiz said that classes in all pre-school, elementary and high school (private and public) have been suspended due to predicted heavy rains this afternoon.

College classes are not covered by the DepEd order.

Last full lunar eclipse for 3 years this weekend - visible in Australia and parts of Asia

2011-12-08T03:22:00.000-08:00

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — The last total lunar eclipse of the year is Saturday. And there won't be another one for three years.

Viewers in the western half of the United States will have the best views Saturday well before dawn. The farther west the better.

The scene from the Pacific — Australia and parts of Asia — will be prime. The action will be unfolding there Saturday night, local time.

This is the second total lunar eclipse this year, when the entire moon is in Earth's darkest shadow and will appear red. The first was in June. That's it now until 2014. Until then, stargazers will have to settle for partial eclipses.

US bill threatens Pinoy call center jobs

2011-12-08T03:19:00.000-08:00

A newly proposed law in the United States is threatening call center jobs in the Philippines and other countries by withdrawing incentives from American firms that outsource their operations.

Introduced by New York 1st District Rep. Tim Bishop, the proposed US Call Center and Consumer Protection Act seeks “to bar corporations that sent US call center jobs overseas from receiving federal grants and loans,” the solon said in a statement Wednesday (US time).

The bill, which was co-sponsored by Reps. Dave McKinley, Mike Michaud, and Gene Green, also “requires overseas call center employees to disclose their location to US consumers and gives customers the right to be transferred to a US-based call center upon request.”

“It’s common sense that we should not be rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas while millions of qualified Americans are looking for work,” Bishop said. “Taxpayer dollars should only be used to incentivize good corporate citizens who create American jobs.”

In an interview with reporters, Bishop called outsourcing “one of the scourges of our economy,” according to “The Huffington Post.” “We can’t prohibit it, but we can certainly discourage it,” Bishop reportedly said.

GMA News Online is still trying to reach Philippine authorities for comment as of this posting.

No. 1 call center hub

The Philippines will likely bear the brunt of the proposed law as the country has surpassed India as the world’s number one call center hub, according to a recent report on “The New York Times.”

“It helps that Filipinos learn American English in the first grade, eat hamburgers, follow the NBA and watch the TV show ‘Friends’ long before they enter a call center,” said the report by Indian correspondent Vikas Bajaj.

A large number of young Filipinos troop to call centers right after graduation due to lack other job opportunities, among other things.

Some observers, however, have criticized the business process outsourcing industry Philippines for supposedly stagnating the minds of its youth.

Ramon Magsaysay awardee Harish Hande — an Indian national — has warned the Philippines against a call center culture that produces “glorified secretaries” who have become pessimistic about their future.

Another Filipino convicted with drug trafficking charges executed in China

2011-12-08T03:14:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Filipino man convicted on drug trafficking charges was executed in China on Thursday despite an appeal for clemency from President Benigno Aquino III on humanitarian grounds, Philippine officials said.

Hours before he was put to death, the 35-year-old man, who was not identified, was allowed to meet briefly with his two siblings and two cousins who traveled to southern Guangxi province, Vice President Jejomar Binay told reporters.

The man was then led to a courtroom where the sentence was read and whisked away to the death chamber, located in Liuzhou, about two hours away from the prison, where he was given a lethal injection, he said.

"The subject was very calm, but his family was crying," Binay said. "At 12:30 (p.m.) our countryman was executed."

The man was arrested in 2008 at Guilin International Airport while trying to smuggle 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) of heroin from Malaysia. Smuggling more than 1.76 ounces (50 grams) of heroin or other drugs is punishable by death in China.

Although China went ahead with the execution despite Aquino's appeal for clemency, government officials have said they respect China's judicial system and that the execution would not hurt bilateral relations.

Overlapping territorial claims over potentially gas-rich islands in the South China Sea have strained ties between the Philippines and China.

China is the world's biggest executioner, according to Amnesty International. The Philippines and Cambodia are Southeast Asia's only nations to have abolished the death penalty.

In March, China executed three Filipino workers also convicted of smuggling heroin despite last-minute appeals and political concessions by Philippine leaders. The Philippine government said it was able to prove that a drug syndicate had taken advantage of the Filipinos.

The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Jose Gutierrez Jr., said earlier that authorities were hunting for the recruiter of the executed drug mule, who is suspected to be a member of an African drug trafficking syndicate. He said the man convicted in China had previously engaged in drug trafficking and was paid $4,000 to $6,000 for every smuggling operation.

On the streets, reaction was mixed.

"On the one hand, if he really did it and is deserving of that punishment, then this is all right," said construction worker Edwin Cruzado. "But if a person is innocent, that is very sad."

He said that poverty is no excuse for a crime. "But their punishment in China is a bit harsh," Cruzado added.

The plight of millions of Filipino living overseas, most of them contractual workers, is an emotional issue in the country.

Foreign relations are anchored on a policy to ensure safety and welfare for workers, who often find themselves in conflict zones and countries with starkly different cultures. About 10 percent of the country's 94 million people work abroad to escape widespread poverty and unemployment at home.

Rhian Ramos: Mo Twister threatened to destroy me

2011-12-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Actress-host Rhian Ramos has finally broken her silence on the controversies surrounding her relationship with former flame, Mo Twister.

In a TV interview, Ramos said she was only 16 when she first met the controversial radio jock. Mo Twister (Mohan Gumatay in real life) was 29 at the time.

Ramos said Gumatay was nice, smart and funny, all traits that made it easy for her to love him.

"He gave me a lot of attention. I was very flattered. He would often say on his radio show that I'm his crush, stuff like that, so I was really flattered and I like him," Ramos said.

However, she said a lot of people including her own mother warned her about getting involved with Mo because of his age and his bad reputation with women.

"Hindi ako nakinig eh because I just really like him and I guess I was being blind. I don't know. You learn your lesson after naman," Ramos said.

She said Gumatay completely changed when they became an item. She said: "I came to know him in a completely different way. It's like he was a really different person."

She said she had tried to break off their relationship several times but Mo always threatened to destroy her reputation.

"Every time that I would try to break up, he would get really mad or he would threaten me. I think the most painful time was when he outright told me that 'I promise to take everything you love away from you.' Yun ba yung love? Tatakutin ka ng tao? Ite-threaten ka, sisirain ka? Para ano? Para sa kanya ka lang," she said.

Abortion?

In the interview, Ramos also gave a comment on Gumatay's video diary, which said she allegedly had an abortion done in Singapore last July. Ramos said she only learned about the video via Twitter.

"I was very shocked and very hurt. I could not believe what I was seeing. I could not believe that he would say all those things about me and make a video saying things like that about me," Ramos said.

Ramos said she regrets trying to fix her relationship with Gumatay in the hopes that everything will turn ok.

"I loved him very much and I thought I was doing the right thing. I was just, I don't know I was blind. I didn't know, I didn't know any better. I was so young when I met him, I just fell in love and I just wanted to stick by him," she said.

No more showbiz projects for now

She said she has also decided to take a break from showbiz to forget the controversial issue.

"For now I just asked if I could rest for a little bit. I've just needed sometime away to spend with my family," Ramos said.

Asked what she has learned from the controversy, Ramos said she learned to listen to her family's advice.

"I should have listened to my parents, I should have listened to my family. The reason why your family knows what's best for you is because they love you unconditionally," she said.

Vic Sotto is dating co-host Pauline Luna

2011-12-07T03:48:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran comedian Vic Sotto is dating a new girl and it is none other than actress Pauleen Luna.

A report by Philippine Star columnist Ricky Lo said the two are now officially an item, according to a source close to them. Sotto is 57 while Luna is 23.

"Yes, they are 'officially an item as confirmed to Funfare by somebody close to them, that’s why you must have noticed some very subtle sweetness in the way they treat each other on Eat, Bulaga," the report said.

The report said Luna has officially replaced Vic's ex-girlfriend Pia Guanio as the new "first lady" of the show. Guanio recently married Steve Mago.

DJ Mo asks apology to Rhian and GMA network over video upload

2011-12-07T00:19:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Radio DJ Mo Twister (Mohan Gumatay in real life) on Sunday apologized to ex-girlfriend Rhian Ramos and her home network GMA-7, following his video diary that leaked online.

In a statement aired over "Showbiz Rampa" on 103.5 WOW FM, Gumatay told Ramos he is sorry "that our rollercoaster relationship ended the way it did."

"There was much more going on than people know. But I love you. I always have," he said.

Gumatay also gave this message to GMA-7: "I would like to apologize to the network for putting them in a bad light. This decision to have an abortion was not something the network instructed us to do... I understand that and I am sorry if the words on my 'video diary' depicted otherwise."

A report from ABS-CBN’s “E-Live” on Saturday said that GMA-7 is set to file appropriate charges against Gumatay "for malicious and false imputations against the network."

A leaked video diary that went viral last week showed Gumatay in tears, saying that he and Ramos will "get rid of of our baby" due to pressure from her family and GMA-7.

Not mad at Rhian

Gumatay said he is "in disarray," "ashamed" and "disappointed" because of "the loss of our child."

"It was something I never wanted to happen. It went against my every value and until this very day, it makes me break down in tears, something I have never moved on from. I don't think any parent can," he said.

"Of course it was done with utmost regret and I still wonder if I did all that I can to prevent it from happening. I thought I did, but I ultimately sided with the decision of my girlfriend, because I was put against a wall, to a point where I had to choose between the safety of the person that I love and the life of our child," he added.

Gumatay made it clear, however, that he is not mad at Ramos.

"I do not blame Rhian for our actions even though it was no one else's choice. The pressure on her was too great.

"Am I upset at her? No. However, I do feel sad about the opinions of the people who are closest to her. You see, I am pro-life. I know we all have a different stance about this sensitive topic, but I am and have always been such."

Gumatay added that he still loves Ramos "very much."

"We had to lie to the public about our ongoing relationship and I understood why. I would never want to hurt her and I tried my best to protect her when rumors of past abortions would surface. I aggressively pursued bloggers and other people who had info of past incidents and told them to be quiet," he said.

Rhian's camp erased his video?

Gumatay said he made the video "as a memento of this tragic event," adding that Ramos knew all about it.

"Rhian knew about all of this. To a point where months ago, when they thought a lawyer was needed to aid in our breakup, that I was asked to surrender all of this 'proof' to them for it to be destroyed," he said.

"I naturally gave in to their request, because for the second time, I chose my girlfriend over the memory of our child. I specifically asked them to not destroy it, to please return it to me 50 years from now, when all this showbiz priorities and 'branding' wouldn't mean so much anymore."

The radio DJ said, however, that Ramos' camp erased the video.

"Along with my files, they took my computer and erased it in front of me. This was all documented by her legal staff," he said.

"I know that the copies in my laptop were not the only ones destroyed. In a brown envelope, I handed these files to the family and begged them to salvage them. My laptop may have been compromised. I really don't know.

"There will be rumors for a long time, I am aware of that. But it will not hurt as much as the memory of what truly happened -- we lost our child and I have not moved on from it."

A promise made

After apologizing to Ramos and to GMA-7, Gumatay said he does not have a message for the general public.

But he did make a promise.

"I will never, ever agree to take the life of a child again. It doesn't matter if it isn't my body or my choice. I will not be put against the wall again. I should have stood my ground, fought harder, delayed it longer, encouraged more people to talk her out of it," he said.

"I regret it there. I regret it all," he added.

Rhian's camp seeks protection

Meanwhile, Ramos' camp is set to file for a temporary protection order in Muntinlupa City on Monday.

In an interview on Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lorna Kapunan, who acts as Ramos' counsel, said Gumatay violated Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

Kapunan claimed that Gumatay made threats against Ramos through e-mail and social networking sites.

"Even if made on social networking sites, these acts (threats) constitute psychological and emotional violence," Kapunan was quoted as saying.

"He's 34; she's 21. He was manipulative," she added.

Mo seeking professional help

Meanwhile, radio DJ Mojo Javier (or Mojo Jojo) told "The Buzz" on Sunday that Gumatay has been seeking professional help because of the problems he's going through.

“Weekly therapy sessions si Mohan. I guess that was one of the ways, na he’s trying to seek help, or try to fix, or how to deal with 'yung problems niya,” he said.

Javier added that Gumatay has been getting sick more often, probably because of too much stress.

“He’s not doing so well dito talaga. You will see na 'yung health niya, he’s been sick a lot lately. Most people get sick dahil sa stress di ba?” he said.

Angel and Phil happy being together

2011-12-06T23:54:00.000-08:00

Angel Locsin admits she and Phil Younghusband are happy together even if they refuse to put a label on their relationship.

Angel, who has just been included in the cast of ABS-CBN’s sitcom “Todo Max,” looked happy and vibrant when she faced the press last December 6 at the ABS-CBN compound. This is the first time she’s doing comedy. And it’s far different from the drama and action roles she usually gets.

The 26-year-old actress shared that she’s happy for the blessings and projects she always gets.

Is Phil is the reason for her happiness?

“Marami namang factors. Pero yung nagbibigay kilig at happiness, si Phil,” Angel says, smiling.

Angel admits she never thought they would be as close as they are now.

Love in a hopeless place

“Sabi ko sa kanya nung una ayaw ko syang i-meet kasi parang hindi pa ko ready for dating or entering in a relationship. Parang ‘We found love in a hopeless place,’” Angel relates, quoting Rihanna’s song.

Even if they are always seen dating, Angel and Phil have been consistent in saying they are special to each other. But neither of them has confirmed the status of their relationship.

“Kami ni Phil, pumasok sya sa buhay ko sa time na ayaw ko na ng commitment, ayaw ko na ng relationship. Tapos, nagtry sya mag-ask although hindi pa kami pareho ng gusto. Ngayon, hindi lang namin napapagusapan. Parang ganun,” she explains.

Angel says their situation works for both of them. She also understands that some people don’t buy their “not-yet-a-couple” status.

“Wala naman akong nakikitang masama, kung yun ang mas nagwo-work sa amin. Marami nga dyan kasal na pero madami naming problema. Hindi lang siguro naiintindihan ng mga tao pero masaya kami,” she says.

Can she the happiness she feels with Phil?

“Parang high school lang, parang ganun. Kung naexperience mo yung kilig nung high school, parang ganun, hindi nawawala,” Angel shares.

Angel and Phil are busy with their respective careers, but they always cheer and support each other. Angel always watches the Azkal’s major games, while Phil always goes with Angel in special functions.

“Kung merong humahanga sa’yo, nag-aalaga sa’yo, inspired ka to do better at happy ka lang,” she relates.

First comedy

She is just as happy about her new sitcom. Angel shares that she never thought she would be doing a comedy after ten years in showbiz.

“Naisip ko na never akong mabibigyan ng chance kasi hindi ko pa napapasok ang ganitong genre. Pero masaya ako habang ginagawa ko ito. Kahit nung guest pa lang ako,” Angel explains.

Angel plays the role of Isbale Padausdos, the girlfriend of Justin (Vhong Navarro’s character). She was originally a guest in the first two episodes but was offered to become a mainstay.

“Nung una naghesitate ako, pero nung nakita ko kung gaano sila kasaya, gusto kong maging part nito,” she says.

How is her role different from her previous characters?

“Iba yung timing, iba yung energy. Sa drama kasi tamlayay-tamlayan school of acting ko. Dito dapat lagging mataas ang energy mo,” Angel replies.

Robin Padilla and Pokwang also star in “Todo Max”, which airs every Saturday after “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

Sarah Geronimo signs another contract with Kapamilya Network

2011-12-06T02:29:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Two-time Box Office Queen Sarah Geronimo signed a contract with ABS-CBN on Tuesday, putting an end to rumors that she will transfer to another network.

Geronimo was accompanied by her mother during the contract signing.

"Happy. Very happy kasi gusto pa rin nila ako mag-stay sa Kapamilya network. Masarap po sa pakiramdam iyon. Sabi ko nga, hangga't gusto nila ako dito, nandito ako," she said.

Aside from renewing her contract with ABS-CBN, the other thing that makes Geronimo happy is the success of her latest movie with Gerald Anderson, "Won't Last A Day Without You."

The movie earned P20 million during its first day of showing.

"Of course, I'm very very happy. Vocal naman ako before mag-showing ang pelikula na pressured kaming lahat, pero grabe talaga 'yung kaba ko... Sana patuloy pa rin ang suporta nila sa pelikula. Sana marami pa kaming ma-inspire, mapakilig," Geronimo said.

Mo Twister crying on you tube video spreads on the net

2011-12-02T03:06:00.000-08:00

Even though Mo Twister is out of the country, a you tube video of him seen crying spreads like virus on the internet. Rumors surfaced before that Rhian get rid of thier child in Singapore in the mid of 2010.

Here is the link of the video(uploaded by PrettyJenny55) as well as the overall transcript since the audio is not that clear.

"ITS 28TH OF JULY 2010, FIRST TIME IM DOING THIS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY. UM, MAYBE ONE DAY YOU'LL WATCH THIS. JUST TO REMEMBER HOW HORRIBLE OF A DAY IT IS. YOURE IN SINGAPORE, YOU'VE BEEN CRYING ALL EVENING BECAUSE TOMORROW MORNING, YOU AND RHIAN WILL GO TO THE HOSPITAL HERE AND GET RID OUR BABY. IT DOESN'T MATTER NAMAN WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS WAS HER CHOICE. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'LL KEEP THIS AS A SOUVENIR, BUT THIS IS THE TEST. (WHISPER) THIS IS WRONG. THIS IS THE HARDEST THING (CRYING) THIS IS THE HARDEST THING YOU'VE GONE THROUGH BEFORE AND YOU'VE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE TO BLAME OUR JOBS FOR THIS? THIS INDUSTRY THAT JUDGES YOU FOR THESE THINGS. THIS BUSINESS HAS MADE HER BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LIFE OF OUR OWN CHILD BECAUSE NO ONE WILL FORGIVE HER FOR THIS. THAT THIS JOB WILL RUIN HER, SO WE AGREED THAT WE'D COME HERE AND GET IT DONE. BECAUSE YOU LOVE HER AND YOU JUST WANT HER TO BE OKAY. ITS NOT LIKE RHIAN IS HAVING AN EASY TIME WITH THIS TOO. ITS HARD ON ALL OF US. SHE SAID ONE DAY WE WILL SEE THIS AGAIN. AND MAYBE OUR JOBS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND MORE ACCEPTING ABOUT IT. ONE DAY YOU'LL LOOK AT THIS VIDEO, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU WILL STILL BE TOGETHER AND IT WILL STILL HURT. IT WILL STILL HURT LIKE HELL. (CRYING). YOU'LL BE SORRY FOR THIS YOUR WHOLE LIFE. I'LL BE SORRY FOR THIS MY WHOLE LIFE. IM SORRY FOR THE BAD CHOICE WE ARE ABOUT TO MAKE. ITS HARD FOR BOTH OF US. NOBODY WANTS TO DO THIS. I KNOW OTHER CELEBRITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCEED AFTER THIS PROBLEM, IF IT IS EVEN A PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PROBLEM. BUT YOU KNOW, HER PARENTS ARE TOUGH ON HER. HER STATION, HER CHANNEL, HER MANAGER IS SO TOUGH ON HER THAT IT HAS MADE HER FEEL THAT HAVING THIS BABY, IS JUST NO OTHER OPTION. I KNOW RHIAN IS YOUNG. MAYBE ONE DAY WHEN WE'RE OLDER, WHEN SHE IS OLDER, THAT WE WONT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. I DON'T BLAME HER. THE PRESSURE ON HER IS SO GREAT. THAT I KNOW SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAS NO CHOICE. SO THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT RHIAN. ITS NOT. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO BE YOU IN HERE, IN THIS SITUATION. ITS JULY 28, 2010 AND IM SITTING INSIDE THE HOTEL. THE RITZ-CALRTON IS SINGAPORE AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING ALL NIGHT ABOUT THIS. IM DOING MY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP YOU SAFE. AND ALL THIS FIGHTING IS TAKING A TOLL ON US. I WISH WE COULD HAVE THIS CHILD. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. THIS JOB IS SO DIFFICULT. ITS SO DIFFICULT. IM SO SORRY. I'LL BE SORRY FOREVER. AGAIN, ONE DAY YOU'LL WATCH THIS. MAYBE WHEN YOURE AN OLD MAN. YOU'LL REMEMBER HOW DIFFICULT TODAY WAS. AND I HOPE YOU WATCH THIS AND I HOPE BY THAT TIME I'LL BE MARRIED AND I'LL HAVE A FAMILY THAT I CAN TRY TO MAKE IT UP TO. YOURE GOING TO DO SOMETHING REALLY WRONG TODAY. IM SORRY FOR THAT. THIS IS BUSINESS IS SO SO HARD. THIS BUSINESS IS SO HARD ON ITS EMPLOYEES. I GUESS ALL BUSINESSES ARE. I DON'T KNOW. ITS OUR FAULT I KNOW. WE CANT REALLY BLAME OUR JOBS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE DID IT. BUT UM, I UNDERSTAND."

It seems that Rhian Ramos' name is being dragged in this controversy, let's wait from Rhian's camp on how she will be able to react on Mo's biggest revelation.

Plan your 2012 vacations; holiday list out

2011-12-01T18:21:00.001-08:00

Pinoys will see an additional holiday in 2012 with the inclusion of Chinese New Year in the country's 2012 holiday list.

Under Proclamation 295 issued by Malacanang late Thursday, January 23 (Chinese New Year), which falls on a Monday, has been declared special non-working holiday.

"The joint celebration is a manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people," President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, himself of Chinese heritage, said in the proclamation.

In 2012, there are six long weekends.

Complete list of 2012 Holidays:

A. Regular holidays:
New Year’s Day January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday, April 5
Good Friday, April 6
Araw ng Kagitingan April 9 (Monday)

Labor Day May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day August 27 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day December 30 (Sunday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Chinese New Year, January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day, August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints Day, November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special (non-working) day November 2 (Friday)
Last Day of the Year December 31 (Monday)
C. Special Holiday (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary
February 25 (Saturday)

Under the Department of Labor and Employment pay rules, if an employee is not working on regular holidays, he or she is still entitled to 100 percent of his or her regular daily rate, “provided he or she was present, or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.”

Meanwhile, if an employee works on a regular holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she is entitled to 200 percent of the daily rate for the first eight hours and an additional 30 percent for additional hours.

On special non-working days, the following shall apply:

"a. If the day is unworked, the "no work, no pay" principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day even if the day is unworked.

b. If worked, the employee shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent on the first eight hours of work. In excess of eight hours, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.

c. If the day falls on the employee's rest day and is worked, he/she shall be paid an additional 50 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent on the first eight hours of work. In excess of eight hours, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate."

Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson's 2nd movie earned P20 Million Pesos on its first day

2011-12-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Manila, Philippines - The unbeatable new tandem of Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson proved its love team once again on their 2nd movie, Won't Last A Day Without You. The movie earned a raking 20 Million on its opening day.

According to Star Cinema's Advertising and Promotions Manager Mico del Rosario on his tweet, "Happy December! And happy sasa-gege! We made P20M yesterday for #Won'tLastADayWithoutYou! Congrats! 2nd day today, nood na! :)".

Given a "B" grade by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) and "General Patronage (GP)" rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), "Won't Last A Day Without You" is the latest Star Cinema-Viva Films collaboration and stars Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson - their second team-up on the big screen. The romance-comedy film is directed by Raz dela Torre.

This is the synopsis of the movie according to wikipedia:

George Harrison Apostol/DJ Heidee (Sarah Geronimo) won an award being the top radio personality because of her good advices she is offering to people.

Andrew (Gerald Anderson)'s girlfriend, Melissa is having love problems because of her boyfriend's character of being a womanizer. So she decided to discuss it on a live broadcast with DJ Heidee.

DJ Heidee advices Melissa to break up with Andrew as she is finding it hopeless. Hearing this, Andrew rushes to the radio building where DJ Heidee is and warned that he is filing a case against her for what she had done.

To make up for it, George helps Andrew in apologizing to Melissa, and does everything to make everything all right. One day, George decided to talk with Melissa to know what she dislike about Andrew. Much to Andrew's surprise, Melissa has a very long list of attitudes she dislike about him, which is listed by George.

To improve himself, he decided to make George his mentor and pleaded her to teach him everything to be a good lover. But George's career started to crumble when she realizes that she is in love with Andrew and Andrew feeling the same for her, a start of the relationship between a DJ and her caller.

KC: I'm NOT the one Piolo needs in his life

2011-11-27T22:34:00.000-08:00

After weeks of speculation about the real status of their relationship, KC Concepcion finally admitted that her one-year relationship with Piolo Pascual has ended.

Prior to KC’s admission of their breakup in “The Buzz” on Sunday, November 27, KC and Piolo kept mum about their status and downplayed speculations about a break-up, saying that they were “okay.”

But in her one-on-one interview with TV host Boy Abunda, KC tearfully nodded when asked if she and Piolo have broken up even as she refused to give specific reasons for it.

No details

“May mga hinahanap ako na napakabasic lang na hanapin ng isang babae sa isang boyfriend, sa isang lalake. Ayoko nang pumunta na sa details kasi ayaw kong siraan sya,” KC said.

An emotional KC revealed she accepted and did everything to make their relationship work since they officially became a couple last October 2010. She also accepted Piolo’s son Iñigo and tried to understand her then boyfriend’s personality.

“Let’s just say na lahat talaga kaya ko, tinanggap ko ang anak niya. Kahit may mga times na hindi ko siya maintindihan, tinanggap ko kasi sinasabi sa akin ng mga kaibigan namin na personality niya yun,” she stated.

KC admitted she is partly to blame for the failure of their relationship because she gave too much of herself and fought for love.

“Pag may mga bagay na hindi ako sangayon na dapat ginagawa sa isang babae, tinatanggap ko kasi naniniwala ako na isa syang mabait na tao. May mga bagay na hindi ko na kayang tanggapin. Kasalanan ko rin naman sa sarili ko yun kase ginusto ko naman ito,” KC pointed out.

It was love

Despite the problems, KC said she really believes Piolo also loved her. But she refused to answer if there was a third-party involved.

KC admitted that as a girlfriend, she may not be the one Piolo needs in his life.

“Pero, masakit man sabihin, siguro nag-fail din ako dahil hindi ako yung kailangan niya sa buhay niya. Or hindi ako yung hinahanap niya sa buhay niya. And hindi, hindi ko mabigay sa kanya yung kailangan niya,” KC declared.

KC admitted that she’s going through a painful experience.

Angry and hurt

Is she angry?

“Ngayon ko po narealize na, opo,” KC replied.

She also related how surprised she was upon seeing herself go through so much pain and hatred to the point that she would just suddenly cry. And while she was having a hard time in their relationship, KC revealed that she couldn’t understand how Piolo can just talk lightly about their relationship during interviews.

“Nagugulat din ako kasi first time ko rin na parang napapamura na rin ako. Hindi naman ako ganoon, and bigla na lang akong maiiyak kasi hindi pala ako okay. And then siya [Piolo], natatawa lang siya kapag nakikita kong ini-interview siya. Idadaan lang niya sa joke. Sa tingin ko, ‘Bakit ikaw ganyan, tapos ako ganito?’” KC wondered aloud.

She said that she felt alone in their trying times. Telling her mother Sharon Cuneta and grandmother Elaine Cuneta about the status of their relationship was also a concern.

“Kasi kapag sinabi kong hindi na, magtatanong siya, 'Bakit?' Anong isasagot ko sa kanya? Anong isasagot ko sa lola ko na mahal na mahal siya? Hindi ko masabi kasi, e, hindi ko talaga masabi sa kahit na sinong tao kung anong nangyari. Hindi ko talaga puwedeng sabihin,” KC said.

Eighth chance

Boy also asked KC if Piolo asked for forgiveness and for another chance. KC replied that she gave Piolo many chances to redeem himself, but not everything can be solved in a romantic way.

“Pagdating ng eighth chance, parang na-realize ko, hindi lahat ng problema, nadadaan sa kilig. Hindi lahat ng problema nadadaan sa tawa, hindi lahat nadadaan sa kilig. Kasi ang galing-galing niyang magpakilig,” KC admitted.

What did she learn from the relationship?

“Magtira ka para sa sarili mo, at ang tiwalang ibibigay mo sa taong mamahalin mo, dapat alagaan ng taong mahal mo,” KC answered.

Click here for more information.

Ram's text messages unveils dispute over family's allowance

2011-11-17T05:33:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Text messages in the cellphone of murder victim Ramgen Revilla reveal a rift among the Magsaysay siblings over the allowances given by family patriarch and former senator Ramon Revilla Sr.

Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran, Parañaque police chief, said forensic investigators from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) found several text messages in Ramgen's cell phone.

The text messages were sent from October 22-27 before Ramgen was murdered on October 28 inside their home in Parañaque.

One text message Ramgen sent on October 26 was for his sister, Maria Ragelyn Gail, 20 years old.

The text read: "Bigay niyo naman allowance ko sobra naman kayo... sinira niyo na nga ako kay daddy tas ganyan pa.. sobra naman uan ga." Ga is Gail's nickname.

Gail's response read: "Kaya naman binawasan ni Daddy yung allowance kasi galit na galit kay Mommy. Dapat sakto talaga yung allowance. 200k dapat allowance niyo pa rin pero dahil sa galit ni Daddy kay Mommy, ginawa niya 150k."

Ramgen sent the following answer: "Salamat. Pls lang wag naman sana manira kay Daddy. Pati yung sobrang past na sinakal kita pati yun ginamit para magalit si Daddy sa akin."

"Malaki na tayo, magkaayos na dapat. Hindi maganda puro away. Nag-text ako kay Mara kanina na sana maayos na lahat ay magkabati-bati na tayo." Mara is Maria Ramona, Ramgen's sister and one of the suspects in his murder.

One of Ramgen's text messages revealed that his mother, Genelyn Magsaysay, failed to pay the electric bill despite getting the money for it.

"Nagbigay ako kay Mommy nung money for Meralco before. siya yung hindi nakabayad," the message read.

One text sent on October 27, a day before the murder, revealed that the rift among the siblings was over the sale of Ramon Joseph's Mitsubishi Strada for P800,000 or below its market value.

Ramon Joseph or RJ is one of the principal suspects in Ramgen's murder.

In his text, Ramgen wrote: "Alam ko san nag-umpisa ito, sa Strada ni Joseph. Wag na kayo mag maang-maangan pa. Sinabi ko kasi sobra mura ng benta."

Ronaldo Angcajas, Ramgen's personal assistant, earlier revealed that Ramgen and RJ had a falling-out after Ramgen told their father about the sale of RJ's car.

The police's anti-transnational and cybercrime division said they used a cellphone forensic machine to get the text messages from Ramgen's phone. The CIDG said the machine will allow them to preserve all of Ramgen's text messages.

Bautista said a transcript of all of Ramgen's text messages will be submitted to the court.

For more information, click here.

Canadian producer David Foster marries a Dutch model

2011-11-17T04:42:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—More than 30 celebrity guests witnessed the private wedding of 16-time Grammy-winning producer and songwriter David Foster to interior designer and former Ford model Yolanda Hadid, in civil rites held last week at the Beverly Hills estate of media mogul Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl.

Details of the wedding were provided to the Philippine Daily Inquirer by Grace Mendoza, Philippine manager of international Filipino pop star Charice, whom Foster took under his wing upon the recommendation of Oprah Winfrey.

David Foster and Yolanda Hadid

The ceremony officially opened with one of Foster’s wards, 11-year-old “America’s Got Talent” second-placer Jackie Evancho, performing “Pie Jesu.” Andrea Bocelli sang “The Prayer” as the finale number.

Guests were also treated to several other performances during dinner by Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, Peter Cetera, Babyface, Kenny G, The Canadian Tenors and Neil Sedaka. Later in the evening, Foster played the piano while Avril Lavigne and Kate Hudson did back up vocals to the Eric Clapton hit “Change the World.”

The 62-year-old Foster, who has previously been married and divorced three times, reportedly told his new bride: “You aren’t the first woman I’ve ever loved — that distinction goes to my mother — but you will for sure be the last woman I ever love.”

The bride’s “blush-colored beaded gown” was made by Los Angeles-based Filipino fashion designer Monique Lhuillier.

The wedding guests included Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, Muhammad Ali, Heidi Klum, Rob Lowe, Bo Derek, Suzanne Sommers, John Corbett, Dr. Phil and Robin, former Canadian Prime Minister Mr. and Mrs. Brian Mulroney, Steve Wynn, Wolfgang Puck, James Brolin, Gayle King, Wayne Gretzky, Diane Warren, Chris Botti, Eric Benét, Carol Bayer Sager, Brian Grazer, Sandy Gallin, Lara Fabian and Larry Ellison.

For more news and information, click here.

Arroyo's travel to Singapore postponed for a day

2011-11-17T03:34:00.000-08:00

A physically weakened Gloria Arroyo has delayed a trip abroad for treatment, according to the ex-Philippine leader's aides, prolonging a stand-off that has also set the government against the judiciary.

Instead of flying to Singapore on Thursday as earlier planned, the hospitalised former leader now hopes her condition will improve so she can leave Friday, her spokeswoman Elena Bautista Horn said.

"If she's well by today we will fly out tomorrow," Horn told AFP.

The 64-year-old has engaged the government in a test of wills since Tuesday, when she attempted to defy a travel ban imposed by her arch-rival, President Benigno Aquino, who wants to put her on trial for graft and election fraud.

Arroyo was stopped from flying to Singapore after she was dramatically escorted Tuesday into Manila airport in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace to support her spine that she says is weakened due to a rare bone disease.

The Philippine government insisted Wednesday she must stay in the country to face a graft probe, defying the Supreme Court, which ruled she was free to seek medical care abroad.

Arroyo's lawyer Raul Lambino told reporters that the former president had called off her trip due to her health, adding that she was "weak", had unstable blood pressure and was hooked up to an intravenous tube.

He said Arroyo's poor health might be due to the incident at the airport where she was mobbed by airport personnel and the press while in her wheelchair as she tried to leave.

But Lambino said that Arroyo was still determined to depart even if her health might be threatened by the strain of another potential airport confrontation.

"She would even risk her own life. She would go (to the airport) and ask to leave. This is non-negotiable. If she would not exercise her rights, that would mean submission to this evil that has been bestowed on us," he said.

Arroyo's first attempt to leave Tuesday had come hours after the Supreme Court overturned a travel ban that the Aquino administration put in place last week as it prepared to charge her with vote rigging and corruption.

Arroyo ruled the country for more than nine years, and was elected to the lower house of the Philippine parliament after her term ended last year.

The Supreme Court, the country's highest tribunal, is to hold a special hearing Friday to address the Aquino government's move to defy its ruling on the Arroyo case, court spokesman Midas Marquez said.

The defiance has sparked warnings by the court that those barring Arroyo risked being cited for contempt, punishable by up to six months in prison.

The justices would also discuss the government's separate plea to recall the court ruling, Marquez said over ABS-CBN television.

Lambino expressed confidence the Supreme Court would uphold its earlier decision but said Arroyo would not necessarily wait for the court ruling before attempting to depart again.

The political stand-off forced Aquino to delay his trip to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Bali, Indonesia, his spokesman Ricky Carandang told reporters there on Wednesday.

Aquino left Manila for the summit early Thursday, a day later than planned, but Carandang had to stand in for his boss at the traditional group photograph of ASEAN leaders at the start of the summit, an AFP photographer said.

Nursing student jumps to death in mall

2011-11-17T02:36:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – A 22-year-old female nursing student died after jumping off the 3rd floor of a shopping mall in Iloilo City Tuesday morning.

Police said the victim, identified as Vina Marie del Rosario, entered the mall alone at around 9 a.m. and immediately headed to the 3rd floor.

Mall employees attempted to stop the victim from jumping but failed.

Investigations showed that the victim, a graduating nursing student, had problems with her thesis.

The mall’s management will also undergo investigation by police to determine if there was a lapse on their part.

'Twilight' fever hits London for UK premiere

2011-11-16T23:12:00.000-08:00

LONDON (AP) — London fans are in the grip of "Twilight" fever ahead of the U.K. premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

But so-called Twihards hoping for a glimpse of Kristen Stewart, who plays the love-besotted teen Bella Swan, will be disappointed.

Instead they will get to see Robert Pattinson, the British actor who stars as her vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen, Taylor Lautner, who as werewolf Jacob Black is her best friend and director Bill Condon before the screening at the Westfield shopping center in Stratford City.

The first "Twilight" movie was released in 2008. This fourth film finally sees Bella marry her vampire boyfriend.

The film opens in the U.K. on Friday.