my blogs today is...

Cutting down TV time doesn't help kids lose weight-study

2011-07-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

Trying to help children lose weight by cutting back on the time they spend in front of a TV or video game doesn't have much of an impact, according to a Canadian study.

Interventions designed to reduce overall screen time, including individual and family counseling, automatic monitoring of screen time and classroom curricula, have all been largely unsuccessful, wrote Catherine Birken of the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in Toronto.

For the study, which appeared in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Birken and her colleagues reviewed 13 large studies involving more than 3,000 children.

The methods the studies tested were unable to help the children lose weight or watch less TV, she said.

"Obesity is a complex problem that is probably not going to be solved by one particular intervention in one particular setting," she told Reuters Health.

"That doesn't mean it can't be solved."

Experts for decades have worried about the impact on young viewers of the violence and sexual content in some TV programs, movies and video games, but another issue is that children watch TV or playing video games instead of playing outside.

According to the report, one in four children in the United States watches an average of four hours of TV every day.

The study did find that some interventions succeeded with very young children, when preschool-aged children had their screen time cut by nearly four hours per week on average.

"It's certainly possible to teach parents to reduce screen time in young children," Birken said.

Other medical professionals said the results did not surprise them.

"Food is a very rewarding event to everyone. To children, so is screen time," said Robert Klesges at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, who did not work on the study.

"So it doesn't surprise me too much that interventions aimed at reducing two things children love struggle."

He noted that the interventions lasted from one to 24 months and were quite variable, which may explain why they were ineffective overall.

"I think very often, they're comparing apples and oranges. I think it's premature to conclude that interventions aimed at (weight) and screen time are ineffective," he added.

Parents can help by turning off the television during meals and "strongly encourage" children to take part in activities or structured sports that will have them exercising for hours.

But success, no matter what method is chosen, may not be easy, Birken said.

PAGASA: Neptune visible on July 12

2011-07-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

When it completes its first orbit around the Sun since its discovery nearly 165 years ago, Neptune will be visible to stargazers in the Philippines this Tuesday.

But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said stargazers will need binoculars or a telescope to see Neptune at about 1 a.m. of July 12.

“At 1:00 a.m. (of July 12), Neptune and Uranus will be glowing at magnitude +7.8 and +5.8. They will be located 53 and 31 degrees above the east-southeast horizon, and will lie among the stars of the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer and Pisces, the Fish, respectively," acting administrator Nathaniel Servando said.

The view will be among the treats awaiting Filipino stargazers for July, weather permitting.

Servando noted that by July 12, Neptune will have completed its first orbit of the Sun since its discovery by German astronomer Johann Galle, on September 23, 1846.

At 2:00 a.m., Jupiter will be easily located at the eastern horizon, shining brilliantly at magnitude -2.3 and will be found among the background stars of the constellation Aries, the Ram.

“Through a modest-size telescope, major atmospheric features such as the two dark equatorial belts will be seen," Servando said.

Also, Jupiter’s four bright moons can be seen as they constantly change their positions as they circle the planet at different rates.

“Innermost Io moves fastest, orbiting the planet once every 1.77 days. Europa, which is in orbital resonance with Io, orbits twice that period (3.55 days), while Ganymede orbits twice Europa’s period (7.15 days). Callisto, the outermost moon, takes 16.7 days to orbit Jupiter," Servando said.

Meanwhile, Venus will appear low in the east northeastern horizon before sunrise in the early part of July.

It will then disappear from the sky view on the second week of the month until late September.

Mars will be observable throughout the month on the east northeastern horizon before sunrise. It will be glowing at magnitude +1.6 and will be located among the background stars of the constellation Taurus, the Bull.

In the evening sky, Saturn and Mercury will be observable in the western horizon before sunset throughout the month.

They will be shining at magnitude +0.9 and +0.3 and will lie among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin and Cancer, the Crab, respectively.

With a telescope, one can see Saturn’s disk measure at 17 seconds of an arc across, while the ring systems spans at 39 seconds of an arc across.

“Saturn rings will be inclined at 8 degrees by mid July as viewed to our line of sight. Saturn’s biggest and brightest moon, Titan will also be seen through any telescope. The 8th magnitude satellite orbits Saturn once every 16 days," Servando said.

Summer Triangle

Servando said the famous Summer Triangle of the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair of the constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus, respectively, will be above the eastern horizon.

He also said the bowls of the Big and Small Dipper in Ursa Major and Minor stand high above the northern horizon with the body of the constellation Draco, the Dragon, winding between them.

Also, a horseshoe-shaped grouping of stars of the constellation Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, lies on the north-south meridian with the head of Draco below it.

Scorpio is positioned above the east-south eastern horizon, while the constellations of Centaurus, the Centaur and Crux, the Southern Cross are just above the south direction after sunset.

Meteor shower

Servando said the Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower will be best observed from July 28 to 31. Its peak date will be before midnight and onward on July 30.

“The showers are part of a complex of radiants in Aquarius, Capricornus and Piscis Austrinus, all of which combine with sporadic and early Perseid activity to provide a nice display of meteors," he said.

Servando said the stream normally produces about five to 10 meteors per hour, with overall activity of about 15 meteors per hour under good sky conditions.

Arum: Pacquiao camp OKs random testing

2011-07-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing promoter Bob Arum said the camp of Manny Pacquiao has agreed to random drug testing for the superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. to push through.

Arum said in an ESPN report that the Filipino boxing superstar agreed to random testing as long as it will be done by a neutral organization.

"We have agreed in the Pacquiao camp to unlimited random testing done by a responsible, neutral organization," Arum said. "We don't believe USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) is a neutral organization.”

Arum said they can arrange for an Olympic organization to handle the random drug testing.

He added that the drug tests will be supervised by an athletic commission respective of the state where the fight will take place.

"I don't think anybody's test is as vigorous as the test administered by the Olympic Organization,” said Arum.

Mayweather earlier said that he will only agree to a superfight against Pacquiao if the latter undergoes USADA random drug testing.

“If Mayweather says he's agreeable to us, then we can have the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight next year," said Arum.

Pacquiao is already scheduled for a third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12.

Mayweather, on the other hand, will clash against Victor Ortiz on September 17.

Boxing observers believe Mayweather chose to fight the lefthanded Ortiz to prepare himself against Pacquiao, who is also a southpaw.

Facebook launches video chat with Skype

2011-07-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Facebook will add Skype video chat to its pages, aiming to spice up the appeal of the world's No. 1 Internet social networking service while fending off increased competition from Google.

The agreement, announced by Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg at the company's Palo Alto, California, headquarters on Wednesday, deepens the company's cooperation with Microsoft Corp, which is in the process of buying Skype to build up its web presence.

Zuckerberg said Facebook has hit a record 750 million users. The new service, rolling out from Wednesday, could be a huge boost for Skype, which currently has about 145 million regular users.

The partnership comes as competition heats up in the Internet market, with Facebook and Google, as well as fast-growing companies such as Groupon and Twitter, vying for billions of dollars in online advertising revenue.

By incorporating free video chat directly into its service, Facebook will give its members another reason to use the site more often and for longer periods of time, said Gartner analyst Ray Valdes.

"They need to continue to keep their users engaged and coming back everyday," he said of Facebook.

Facebook's Skype service, initially limited to one-to-one video chat, will be free. Financial details of the deal, if any, were not disclosed.

Tony Bates, Skype's chief executive, said Wednesday's deal with Facebook is only the start of a potentially lucrative partnership.

"For us, this makes a lot of business sense," said Bates at the Palo Alto event. "We get huge reach. In the future we're talking about potentially also having Skype paid products available within the web format we saw here today."

In a phone interview later on Wednesday, Neil Stevens, the general manager of Skype's consumer business, said the company was planning on introducing a for-pay service that would allow users on Facebook to place calls to landline and mobile phones.

Stevens said he could not provide a timeframe for when such a service might be available, and said details about whether the service would work with Facebook's so-called Credits currency had yet to be worked out.

Hitting back at Google

Facebook, which also unveiled a group messaging function, adding to its existing one-to-one text chat, is returning fire from Google, which last week turned up the competitive heat by introducing a social networking service dubbed Google+.

While many of Google+'s social networking features are similar to those already available on Facebook, Google is generating interest with its videoconferencing function, which allows up to 10 people on the service to participate in a video call.

Zuckerberg hinted that video chat for multiple people could eventually be available on Facebook. But he said that most video chats today occur between two people.

"We think this is awesome because we're using the best technology that's out there for doing video chat with the best social infrastructure that's out there to create some really cool new scenarios," said Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg said Wednesday's announcements were the first of several to come in what he described as "launching season 2011."

Facebook's new video offering could benefit Microsoft, which owns 1.6 percent of Facebook and announced its $8.5 billion purchase of Skype in May.

The world's largest software company is investing heavily to muscle in on Google's turf with its Bing search engine, and is hoping Skype -- which it is buying for about 10 times its annual sales -- will help it broaden its portfolio of Web-based properties.

"Clearly you will see more usage (of Skype)," said Sid Parakh, analyst, at McAdams Wright Ragen. "It makes Skype stickier in the consumer mind. That will help Microsoft as it starts to integrate Skype into its products."

Skype, which was founded in 2003, allows people to make Internet phone calls and video calls at no charge and has also developed premium services.

Microsoft shares rose 0.9 percent to $26.26 on Nasdaq, while Google's rose 0.87 percent to $536.64.

Fans, stars and Hollywood mourn end of Harry Potter magic

2011-07-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

LONDON - Film farewells don't get much bigger than Harry Potter, and thousands of fans prepared on Thursday to say goodbye to their beloved boy wizard at the world premiere of the final movie in the record-breaking series.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" is the eighth instalment -- and first in 3D -- of a franchise that has generated more public excitement and media hype than any other in living memory.

For Hollywood studio Warner Bros it has been a magic pot of gold, with the seven films released so far grossing $6.4 billion in ticket sales and billions more from DVDs and merchandise.

For a generation of Potter fans, the movies have extended the wizarding world created by British author J.K. Rowling in her seven-book saga which began in 1997 and concluded in 2007.

More than 400 million copies have been sold around the globe, making Rowling the first author billionaire and providing a huge support base upon which the films built.

"We've grown up in the Harry Potter generation -- I read the first book when I was five so now it's weird that it's coming to an end ... like the end of childhood," said Rhys, an 18-year-old who braved the rain in London's Trafalgar Square.

Die-hard fans, some in full regalia from the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, have camped out since Monday to catch a glimpse of the stars as they walk the red carpet at the official world premiere.

The young actors, cast in their roles aged between nine and 11, said they too were struggling to get to grips with the post-Potter world, despite being A-list stars with huge personal fortunes.

"After we finished (filming) a year ago now I have felt a little bit lost without it, really, and not really knowing what to do with myself," said 22-year-old Rupert Grint, who plays Potter's main sidekick Ron Weasley.

"It's been such a constant part of my life and to suddenly have that come down to this one film, it is quite sad and I'm really genuinely going to miss it and miss everyone."

Death and destruction

Consistent with the gradual trend towards darker content as the franchise progressed, Deathly Hallows - Part 2 climaxes with an intense battle between good and evil fought at Hogwarts.

Buildings are flattened, wizards and witches die and Harry steels himself for the final showdown with his evil nemesis Lord Voldemort, played by a snake-like Ralph Fiennes who called his character a "high definition villain".

Daniel Radcliffe, 21, who has played Harry Potter throughout the last decade, was enthusiastic about the conclusion.

"I think of it as being light years ahead of any of the other films in the series," he told a London news conference on Wednesday via videolink from New York where he is appearing in a Broadway production.

"In terms of quality this is the best film we've ever made, so I'm thrilled that we're going out on this positive note."

Whether critics agree remains to be seen, with most reviews coming out after the premiere.

The Daily Telegraph, however, featured an article by Philip Womack which described Deathly Hallows - Part 2 as "monumental cinema, awash with gorgeous tones, and carrying an ultimate message that will resonate with every viewer, young or old: there is darkness in all of us, but we can overcome it."

The movie opens in some territories on July 13, and in the key British and U.S. markets on July 15.

Rowling has said she has no intention of writing another Potter novel, and David Yates, director of the last four Potter movies, told the news conference that he believed the film cycle had closed for good.

Rowling's wizarding world will not disappear altogether, however.

She recently unveiled Pottermore, a website allowing fans to interact with the characters and storylines, and will finally retail the stories as ebooks exclusively on the site.

Philippine Azkals crush Sri Lanka

2011-07-03T03:03:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines -- The Azkals made history by becoming the first Philippine team to advance in the second round of FIFA World Cup.

The Filipinos defeated Sri Lanka, 4-0, (5-1 on aggregate) much to the delight of thousands of local football fans who endured the rain just to witness the match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Azkals winger Chieffy Caligdong scored the first goal in the 18th minute to put the Philippine ahead.

He found the back of the net with a strike that caromed off the left post.

Another goal by Azkals striker Phil Younghusband in the 42nd minute made it 2-0 in favor of the Philippines.

The Filipino-British footballer evaded 2 defenders and the Sri Lankan goalkeeper to increase the Azkals' lead.

An assistant match official initially ruled out Younghusband's goal because an alleged foul.

However, the senior referee overruled the sideline official, saying that the Azkal's contact with a Sri Lankan defender was only minimal.

It was Angel Guirado’s turn to score in the second half.

The Filipino-Spaniard scored the country’s third goal in the 50th minute after receiving a through ball from James Younghusband.

Guirado beat the Sri Lankans' offside trap and rounded the goalkeeper to tap the ball in.

Phil scored the fourth goal through a penalty kick in the 56th minute after Stephan Schrock was brought down by a Sri Lankan defender inside the box.

Attacking intent

The Philippines launched attacks right at the kick off as the Sri Lankans struggled under the pouring rain.

Guirado and Phil fired long-range shots that troubled the opposing goalkeeper before Caligdong scored the opening goal.

Schrock was physical against the Brave Reds and was slapped a yellow card in the match.

He was also given a yellow card in the first leg, which means that he will be barred from playing in the Azkals' next game.

Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo was also called for his 2nd yellow card in the qualifier. He is also barred from playing in the next match.

The Filipinos will take on Kuwait in the second round of the qualifiers.

Kuwait have scouted the Philippines for 2 consecutive matches, according to the Azkals media officer Rick Olivares.

Maria Aragon performs before Prince William, Kate

2011-07-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Maria Aragon, the 10-year-old Filipino-Canadian singer who was discovered by Lady Gaga, performed before the British Royal Couple Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Aragon sang her own rendition of Canada’s national anthem “O Canada” in front of thousands of people as part of the Canada Day celebration.

The ceremony was held on Parliament Hill in the country’s capital city, Ottawa.

Aragon rose to fame after Lady Gaga posted in her official Twitter account a video link of the former’s own cover of the song “Born This Way.”

For only over a week, the video became viral in YouTube and it gained millions of views.

This paved the way for Aragon to reach her dreams.

After that, Aragon had a duet with Lady Gaga in the latter’s concert in Toronto.

She also appeared in popular American shows including “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and “Good Morning America.”

Even Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Aragon in her residence in Winnipeg only because he personally wanted to meet the young singer.

790 pass Pharmacist Licensure Exam; UP grad tops list

2011-06-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

A total of 790 out of 1,472 examiners passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination given in the cities of Manila, Baguio and Cebu this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Wednesday.
The top 10 examinees were:

1. Richard Raymund Reyes Ragasa of UP Manila, 92.20

2. Danice Romagne Villavicencio Leaño of UP Manila, 91.63

3. Jemmerson Valle Avila of Centro Escolar University-Manila, 91.05

4. Ian Theodore Genesera Cabaluna of UP Manila and Vladimir Menor Guillermo of Saint Louis University, 90.95
5. Kimberly Anne Macaraeg Andres of UP Manila, 90.92

6. Ma Nikka Angela Dobles Dela Cruz of UST, 90.72

7. Monica Ting Gutierrez of UST, 90.42

8. Jill Marie Gabatino Arabia of Saint Louis University, 90.38

9. Jasmine Ong Wong of UST, 90.25

10. Kevin Jace Alfaro Miranda of UST, 90.15

The PRC said registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on July 11, 2011 but not later than July 22, 2011.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the said examination as well as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held on August 1, 2011, at 1 p.m. at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - A

1 ABALLE, KENNETH VERGEL TECSON
 2 ABALOS, RONNEL JHEANE ONOFRE MENDOZA
 3 ABASOLO, ESTEMARIE DAVID
 4 ABATAYO, AUDI LOU ABAO
 5 ABDUL BARY, AHMED MOHAMMAD MAHMOUD
 6 ABELLA, SOFIA THERESE SALVADOR
 7 ABERION, JOVIE MARIE OVILLE
 8 ABUAN, CHESTER LLADIMIR IBAÑEZ
 9 ABUAN, ESTEPHANIE ROSE MISSION
 10 ACDAL, KRISTEL CHERISSE POBLETE
 11 ACEDERA, KYLIE AQUINO
 12 ACHURRA, MICHAEL VITUG
 13 ACUÑA, LUVIMEN RICO
 14 ADDURU, MARY GLENN SIRIBAN
 15 ADUANA, IDDA MAY MARIANO
 16 ADVIENTO, KRISTINE ANNE RABANG
 17 AGANDA, JEAN ALEXIS CUA
 18 AGAPITO, VANESSA HERMOGENO
 19 AGRIPA, GHIA MARIE GUIVELONDO
 20 AGUILAR, SHEILA REDUTA
 21 AGUILAR, VINCENT TITO ALERTA
 22 AGUSTIN, EMMABEL YOSORES
 23 AJERO, REINA IVY RABELAS
 24 ALABA, ERROL LOUIE CHING
 25 ALBANO, FLORENCE WANIA
 26 ALCALA, CARLO BARNACHEA
 27 ALCAZAR, MARIE CRIS BRIONES
 28 ALEGRO, MISCHELLE ORTIZ
 29 ALEJANDRO, DAVID CHARLES BALAUAG
 30 ALIBUDBUD, MIRAGRACE RAYMUNDO
 31 ALICABA, MARY CLAIRE FABRO
 32 ALIGNO, MICHAEL BRYAN JOHN CALAGUIO
 33 ALMAREZ, GIEZELLE ANN PAJEMNA
 34 ALMAZAN, CYNDRILL TAN
 35 ALMAZORA, MARA JEAN STA MARIA
 36 ALOMIA, JAN ERICK ISAGON
 37 ALSAYBAR, KEVEE PLANA
 38 ALVAREZ, MARY JOY TIANGCO
 39 AMAN, FERDINAND PAULO MARIANO
 40 AMANCIO, IVORY DIANE CALUMBA
 41 AMISTAD, CYRE MARIE PAQUIBOT
 42 AMPIS, DONALD RONQUILLO
 43 ANCHETA, AMICEL JEANINE DANGASE
 44 ANDRADE, DANIEL MARTIN LLANES
 45 ANDRES, KIMBERLY ANNE MACARAEG
 46 ANG, EPHRAIM LUIZ DE GUZMAN
 47 ANG, JACQUELINE SANTALOJA
 48 ANG, KENNETH SY
 49 ANGELES, MARY ROSE SORIANO
 50 ANNIBAN, JULIANN GAWEC 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 51 ANTONIO, EDMARIE JANINE GALLORA
 52 ANTONIO, IRA GRACE CABRAL
 53 ANZALDO, AVIE ROSE DE PADUA
 54 APOLINARIO, MARIE FAITH DEL ROSARIO
 55 APOSTOL, CARYN GAY TABLIAGO
 56 APOSTOL, MARY ROSE WEE
 57 AQUINO, ANDREA ROSARIO
 58 AQUINO, LOVELY JOY NABONG
 59 AQUINO, MARELLA LISE GINES
 60 ARABIA, JILL MARIE GABATINO
 61 ARALAR, KLAIRE ANTONETTE INALDO
 62 ARANA, GEORGEMAR JR VILLANUEVA
 63 ARANAS, ROXETTE LOURAINE REGALADO
 64 ARAPOC, DARIGANE SAGARINO
 65 ARAÑEZ, CIELO ARCEO
 66 ARCE, FLORENCIO JR VILLESTER
 67 ARDIVILLA, GAZEL MYRRH PULMONES
 68 ARENAS, ALLAN RONALD RODRIGUEZ
 69 ARENAS, JUSTINE MARIE LAYUG
 70 AREVALO, ANNA LOUISE JAO
 71 ASCAÑO, BRIDGET ROTILLES
 72 ASUNCION, MICHELLE MARASIGAN
 73 ATIENZA, DYANE VITERBO
 74 ATILLO, NYLRAM SUAREZ
 75 ATON, RUBY FAITH ARINGAY
 76 AVERIA, MARIA JASELLE FORNESTE
 77 AVILA, JEMMERSON VALLE
 78 AYAN, MEILYNNE SHALOM ATEAN
 79 AYSON, SHARLENE SUZETTE MICUA
 80 AZADA, IVY NICOLE BULAONG
 81 AZUCENA, JUSTINE ROSSABELLE VILLAMOR

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - B

 82 BACALZO, DAN LESTER PUSE
 83 BALAGBIS, SHARINA MANUEL
 84 BALAO, SHERRY ANNE TUMARU
 85 BALIDOY, SHAILER BANDOQUILLO
 86 BALILI, ERNIELITO INOJALES
 87 BALILI, VINESSA INOJALES
 88 BALINGCASAG, METHUSELLA MAE REQUINA
 89 BALINGIT, APRIL KEITH BAUTISTA
 90 BALLARES, CLARIZA BEJAR
 91 BALOTRO, ANTHONY JOSE MARI BACERDO
 92 BALUYOT, ARIANA ANNE POBRE
 93 BANAG, ODAMAY 
 94 BANDIOLA, TERESA MAY BANGAOIL
 95 BANGGIACAN, DAWN JADO
 96 BARRIENTOS, MHARICA GALVEZ
 97 BARTOLOME, JEWEL VIENNE PARAGAS
 98 BASA, BARBARA YCES TOLENTINO
 99 BASSAM MUFID AKAYALI, JUDAH GERALDINE DOMINGO
 100 BASTO, HAIDEE PASCUA 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 101 BATAAN, IRISH AGBUYA
 102 BATINGOLO, ASMA DIRO
 103 BATTUNG, MA KRYSTALYN YOMA
 104 BATTUNG, ROGELYN UY
 105 BAUTISTA, BEA KATRINA FERNANDEZ
 106 BAUTISTA, JOANNA MARIE SANCHEZ
 107 BAUTISTA, LEA RETOYA
 108 BAUTISTA, PRINCESS LOU CANILAO
 109 BAWALAN, JENNIFER BUGAYONG
 110 BAYNO, MA GLENNA IRAG
 111 BAYON, ANGELIQUE LOVE PELERA
 112 BAYOT, MA PATRICIA BEATRICE KARMELLA CRISENO
 113 BELMONTE, GRACHELLE GRAGEDA
 114 BERNABE, CYBELE GAEA URBAN
 115 BERNABE, KARA DIANIL GARCIA
 116 BERNAL, MARICE RAMOS
 117 BERNALES, PRECIOUS FAITH VALLEJOS
 118 BERNARDO, EUNICE AGUILAR
 119 BETCO, JESSICA MAUREEN ARQUIZA
 120 BINOS, NIKKIY LOU SORIANO
 121 BIO, RALPH RAYMAN BORLAGDATAN
 122 BISMONTE, PATRICIA AUDREY BOLALIN
 123 BIÑAS, ANGELDYN BARRAMEDA
 124 BOC, JOHN CLYDE BLANCO
 125 BOGNOT, MARIA CONCEPCION SAYLO
 126 BOLAÑOS, ALVIN CAMATA
 127 BONIFACIO, SHANE MOLINO
 128 BONILLA, MARY ANN DIOQUINO
 129 BOOK, FLOIDETT ROTONE
 130 BORGONIA, KRISTI GABUMPA
 131 BOSSHARD, MARGRIT ANNE CELEDONIO
 132 BRIZUELA, KAREN MAE MENDOZA
 133 BRUAN, ANNA MAY VILLAVERDE
 134 BRUNO, DIVINE GRACE MANALIGOD
 135 BUBAN, ROSALIE MAY TAN
 136 BUENA, CHARMAINE JOIE SALCEDO
 137 BUENAFLOR, MICHAEL SANDER CANARIA
 138 BUENO, KING GEORGE TABAJEN
 139 BUGAYONG, JENNYBELLE ALCANTARA
 140 BUHAT, DARLENE MAE DELA CRUZ
 141 BUSA, AIDA MARAE TAN
 142 BUSTARDE, MA JOANNA DE GUZMAN

 143 CAADLAWON, JOSIEPHINE BATO
 144 CABALLES, ANGELA BONDAD
 145 CABALUNA, IAN THEODORE GENESERA
 146 CABATAN, CRISTETA MENDOZA
 147 CABAÑERO, THERESE ANN SAPANTA
 148 CABELLON, PRINCESS DIANNE LOPEZ
 149 CABERTO, MARY JUNE VALEROS
 150 CABRERA, JAKE SALVACION 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 151 CABRERA, KATHERINE ANNE ARUCAN
 152 CABUHAT, MARK ROMMEL GALVEZ
 153 CABULONG, BRENALYN BORELA
 154 CAC, CHRISTINE CLAIRE PANGANIBAN
 155 CADIZ, ALEENA STA CLARA
 156 CAGUIA, LYCCA MAI CRUZ
 157 CALALANG, NICUDEMUS CATAMA
 158 CALALANG, PATRICK CARLO MALLARI
 159 CALLANTA, STEPHANIE GARCIA
 160 CALPO, RALPH KENNY ROGER PANGANIBAN
 161 CALUGAY, ADONIS JR QUIRANTE
 162 CALUSTRE, JAN MIKO ALFAFARA
 163 CAMACHO, CHRISTIAN CARL BUTIC
 164 CAMACHO, HAZEL INDRINAL
 165 CAMAYA, NIKKO MOISES
 166 CAMBE, STEVE MARLO MILLARES
 167 CAMIÑA, JESSICA REI NICOLAS
 168 CANGCO, PAUL JOHN MANICDAO
 169 CANTON, ROMMEL LATAP
 170 CANUTO, LILY COMISING
 171 CAPERIÑA, EUNICE ADELINE CAPARROS
 172 CAPISTRANO, JENNIFER KATE SORIANO
 173 CAPUNITAN, CLARIZZA ISABELA BASA
 174 CARBON, JESSE MARGARETTE MARIANO
 175 CARDENAS, NATHALIE DIANE ANGELIANO
 176 CARIAGA, GENEROUS SUNSHINE DELA CRUZ
 177 CARIÑO, ARLENE RAY CASTRO
 178 CARLOS, CAROL ALBERTO
 179 CARREON, LAURIE MOREEN ADAOAG
 180 CASIDING, LEANE MARIE HERUELA
 181 CASTAÑEDA, DENISE MILLARE
 182 CASTILLO, AGATHA CHRISTIE TAPEL
 183 CASTILLO, MIRIAM DEL ROSARIO
 184 CASTILO, WILLIAM ANDREW UY
 185 CASTRO, RHEA AUSTRIA
 186 CATCHILLAR, MELISSA PANINGBATAN
 187 CAYANAN, CARLIE GOZUM
 188 CAYANAN, RYAN MARCELO
 189 CAÑA, ADELLE RAE CAMPOMANES
 190 CAÑETE, RENAN CRESMUNDO
 191 CELINO, KAREN SALARZON
 192 CERVANTES, JUNABETH BAYUBAY
 193 CHAN, EILEEN MAE UY
 194 CHAN, JAN RICHARD ESPINO
 195 CHING, DENIECE JUSTINNE CUSTODIO
 196 CHIU, CATHERINE APLASCA
 197 CHIU, RANEE AIKO MACARANAS
 198 CHOA, JEHANNE TIU
 199 CHUA, BEVERLY LAGUNA
 200 CHUA, SHERYCKA KRYSCHELL CORTEZ 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 201 CHUA YAP, JILL CHOY
 202 CHUMACERA, ERNEST VICTOR YAO
 203 CLIMACO, EDGINIA LAYUG
 204 CO, RUTH EMILY TAN
 205 CONCEPCION, PHOEBE RACHEL MANAHAN
 206 CONCEPCION, SHARMAINE STACY SALONGA
 207 CONTRERAS, CLAIRE FLORENTINA YU
 208 CORPUZ, HONEYLEE TOLEDO
 209 CORPUZ, JOHN MICHAEL NATIVIDAD
 210 CORPUZ, MARLYN CASTILLO
 211 COSAIN, SITTIENIHAYA IBRA
 212 COSTES, MARGARET ANNE LALICON
 213 COYOCA, MELANIE DIAZ
 214 CREUS, RONALD JAYVEE TOLENTINO
 215 CRUZ, ALLANA MARIE MENDOZA
 216 CRUZ, DEBORAH SARAH MARI
 217 CRUZ, JOEL JASON MERCADO
 218 CRUZ, JOEL JONATHAN MERCADO
 219 CRUZ, JOHN ALDRIN VITE
 220 CU, JAMIL MAXIMILLIEN TAN
 221 CUANSO, CHERYLL PANTALEON
 222 CUBERO, RENZ ORPILLA
 223 CUDIAMAT, MARIA KRISTINA INDUCIL
 224 CUNANAN, MONICA CORINNE CORTEZ
 225 CUSI, LAURENCE PAUL SALCEDO
 226 CUSTODIO, BEVERLY EVANGELISTA
 227 CUÑADO, LIDDA NAYONA

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - D

 228 DACUMOS, KENNETH GREGORY ISAGAN
 229 DALIT, MA LOVELLA ANNE PAYUPAY
 230 DALUPANG, DANICA PAULA PASCUAL
 231 DAMASCO, BARBRA WILLMA SORIANO
 232 DAVID, CARLA JOY GORECHO
 233 DAVID, CARTHY OFALIN GOMEZ
 234 DE ALBAN, MA CAROLINE ANNE MASIGAN
 235 DE AUSEN, DARYLL ROLDAN
 236 DE GUZMAN, EVANGELINE GRACE PAGUIRIGAN
 237 DE GUZMAN, MARIA CARMELLE MANINGAS
 238 DE GUZMAN, NICHOLE ANDREA CLAUDIO
 239 DE JESUS, MARIA BERNADETTE JOSE
 240 DE JESUS, MONICA JOY VELASQUEZ
 241 DE LEON, KIMBERLY PANGAN
 242 DE TORRES, IVAN ALBERT CANTUBA
 243 DEAÑO, SIGRID BAES
 244 DEFENSOR, CHERRY COSIDO
 245 DEL MUNDO, CLARENCE PAGSUYOIN
 246 DEL ROSARIO, MARIE CHARLEEN NAVARRO
 247 DELA CERNA, JENNIFER ALABA
 248 DELA CRUZ, CHARLES KENNETH FERNANDO
 249 DELA CRUZ, DONNA MAE PULIDO
 250 DELA CRUZ, HAZEL JANE MALLAPRE 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

Seq. No. N a m e
 
 251 DELA CRUZ, JULIUS BILLIE MARCELO
 252 DELA CRUZ, KEVIN CHRISTIAN 
 253 DELA CRUZ, MA NIKKA ANGELA DOBLES
 254 DELA CRUZ, MADELINE JANE JACOBE
 255 DELA CRUZ, MARIELLE CATINDIG
 256 DELA CRUZ, ROSELLE SANQUE
 257 DELA CRUZ, SHERYLYN BORDON
 258 DELA CRUZ, VERONICA FIGUEROA
 259 DELA FUENTE, MICHELLE ANGELA RELUCIO
 260 DELA PEÑA, ANNA MAY AGUSTIN
 261 DELA VEGA, CARMELA GECALE
 262 DELAVIN, STEVE AVELLANA
 263 DELIMA, MARIA AYESHA BURBOS
 264 DELMO, CHRIS ANGELINE CATINDIG
 265 DELOS SANTOS, SHARMEN SAMERA
 266 DESCALLAR, JOHN CARLO CASTAÑEDA
 267 DIAZ, ROMIELHYNE ZENAROSA
 268 DIMAANO, BABY VALENTINE ROSAS
 269 DIRECTO, PRINCESS MAE CRUZ
 270 DIZON, CAMILLE ARESTA
 271 DIZON, FABRIENNE ANNE PITACIO
 272 DIZON, JUDIE CAROL SUN
 273 DIZON, LANNIE LHYN AYSON
 274 DOMINGO, HAZELINE RODOLFO
 275 DOMINGO, JERIMAE BALINGOG
 276 DONEZA, DIN DAE TAGRA
 277 DONGUEZ, LESLEY DIANNE SAOI
 278 DUCOYAN, JOSEPHINE MAGLINTE

279 EBIO, AMY LEA AREVALO

 280 ECLIPSE, MARIA CHRISTINA MARTINEZ
 281 EDAS, CYNTHIA LAGASI
 282 EDIC, JOAN BUGTONG
 283 ELLE, MA QUEENEY ISIANG
 284 ELLORDA, JULFA ESTOESTA
 285 EMBOLTORIO, JODOLL BORJA
 286 ENCABO, MIRIAM EGOC
 287 ENRIQUEZ, CIARA IZA MANDIGMA
 288 ENRIQUEZ, KATRINA MARI DE GUZMAN
 289 ENRIQUEZ, PATRICIA COREEN INOCENTES
 290 EREJE, ERMINDA ZAMORA
 291 ERLANO, CLEO ROSE SAWAC
 292 ESCOTE, RAYMOND DELGADO
 293 ESCRITOR, MARYCHIELLE AQUINO
 294 ESGUERRA, SAMUEL JOSE III FABIAÑA
 295 ESMERIS, VICTOR MARCO HUALDA
 296 ESPAÑO, DIVINE MALALIS
 297 ESPEÑA, NEIL PATRICIA TOLEDO
 298 ESPINOZA, SHERWIN ANNE DULAY
 299 ESQUIVEL, AIZA MARIE SALONGA
 300 ESTABAYA, ARRA ESPEDIDO 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

Seq. No. N a m e
 
 301 ESTRADA, JATHNEIL AIGAN GUADALUPE
 302 ESTRELLA, MARYROSE FATIMA CRUZ
 303 EVANGELISTA, FERNAND SAMSON
 304 EVANGELISTA, WINNIE BALDOZA

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - F

 305 FABELLA, ADRIANE KENNETH SEÑO
 306 FABREGAR, TWINKLE DUDOY
 307 FADEROG, SUNRISE CAMPILLOS
 308 FAJARDO, JEROME MANABAT
 309 FELICIANO, ENRIQUE GISELLE RODRIGUEZ
 310 FERNANDEZ, ILUMINADA LEONORA SARMIENTO
 311 FERNANDO, CHARISSE MONICA MANTARING
 312 FLORES, ELEANOR ROSELL
 313 FLORES, REY EVAN ANITO
 314 FRANCISCO, CLAUDINE ANTONETTE ERMITA
 315 FRANCISCO, MARICRIS CARLOS
 316 FRANCO, KLARISSE AGUSTIN
 317 FRIAS, CASELYN SARMIENTO

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - G

 318 GABA, JENNIFER JOVEN
 319 GABAY, ANGELIE JOY SANTOS
 320 GABRIEL, JANINA MAYELLA CALUMA
 321 GALANG, CARLA JOY VILLAFUERTE
 322 GALANG, ERIKA LOREN POLICARPIO
 323 GALANG, JOYCE GUEVARRA
 324 GALANG, KRISHA ALELI PATAWARAN
 325 GALANG, NIÑA KATHLEEN PEREZ
 326 GALIMA, CAROLYN TAPAOAN
 327 GALLARDO, RAMON LEONARD AGUILA
 328 GALLARDO, SHARLENE ZYRA TORRES
 329 GAMIDO, JALYN LUCERO
 330 GANNABAN, KATRINA ALINDAYU
 331 GANOB, TESSA RUTH FLORES
 332 GANTE, KRISTINE MAE FERNANDEZ
 333 GARCES, GERARD GILBERT SAYSAY
 334 GARCIA, CHERRY DEL ROSARIO
 335 GARCIA, DIANNE ESGUERRA
 336 GARCIA, GELINE LOUISE TRINIDAD
 337 GARCIA, JOSE EDUARDO CRUZ
 338 GARCIA, JOSEPH SANDOVAL
 339 GARCIA, MARA AZALEA LOLARGA
 340 GARCIA, ROSE MADELAINE ESLAVA
 341 GARIN, MARIA ROSELLE SORIANO
 342 GARVIDA, JULIENNE LISSETTE LIMON
 343 GATMAITAN, MA ANNA FERNANDEZ
 344 GATPO, MADELANE HATE
 345 GATUS, KARREN FONSECA
 346 GAVIÑO, CLAIRE ANNE LEE
 347 GENUINO, ANNE JULIENNE MARCELO
 348 GEPITULAN, HAZEL SUICO
 349 GERVACIO, CLARA MAY CUALES
 350 GILAPAY, WILHEM JACK RODRIGUEZ 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 351 GO, JOSEPHINE CAROLINE VALINO
 352 GO, SHAYNE JANELLE RUBIO
 353 GOCHANGCO, MARIE ANGELA MASCUÑANA
 354 GODOY, ARIANE JOY FAJUTAGANA
 355 GOMEZ, LUCKY TAMONDONG
 356 GOMEZ, TRACY CANLAS
 357 GONZALES, CRIS ANN TORRES
 358 GONZALES, DIANE KEITH TORRES
 359 GONZALES, GRECEL APRIL MARCOS
 360 GONZALES, HARLAN SHANE TORIBIO
 361 GONZALES, MA STELLA NUQUE
 362 GONZALES, REGINE CAMILLE VILLANUEVA
 363 GONZALEZ, MARIA CAMILLE BURGOS
 364 GOTAMCO, MARK LAWRENCE LAZARO
 365 GOZUM, BRYAN CANLAS
 366 GUBALLA, BRIAN MARTIN MALONZO
 367 GUILLERMO, VLADIMIR MENOR
 368 GUMOLDA, NARISA MAGANNON
 369 GUTIERREZ, MONICA TING

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - H

 370 HAO, CRISANGELIQUE JAVATE
 371 HERNANDEZ, DONNA NEZA PANTE
 372 HERRERA, KATHLEEN KATE VILLARAMA
 373 HIPOLITO, CYRUAL ZINGAPAN
 374 HOSOKAWA, KIMIO BALDONADO
 375 HUGO, KEVIN CABE
 376 HUI, NICOLE PATRICIA ANG

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - I

377 ICATLO, MARIA DANIELLE OLAN
 378 IDAGO, CARLA FARNESYL FUNDALES
 379 IGLESIAS, RAFA JIREH OCAMPO
 380 IGNACIO, GLAIZA BUGNOT
 381 IGNACIO, JAZEL ELAINE EROLON
 382 IGOT, KRYSTELA REA TAGHOY
 383 ILANO, GERONE POLINTAN
 384 INDON, GELSA JOYCE CONTRERAS

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - J

385 JANOHAN, NARY LOU RECAÑA
 386 JAO, JOANNA MARI SY
 387 JAVIER, CHANE JONIEL LEUSEN
 388 JAVIER, EZEKIEL CUARIO
 389 JAVILLO, KRYSTELLE CHARISSE DOMAOAN
 390 JERESANO, RIZZA MANIQUIZ
 391 JERUTA, KATHERINE MARTIN
 392 JIMENEZ, PAUL BALLARES
 393 JOSE, KRISTINE ZOE GOMEZ
 394 JUAN, JOESIEN ESBERTO
 395 JUANILLO, JOHN ISRAEL MEREN

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - K

 396 KAUR, NARINDER DITONA
 397 KENG SENG, CARYN AUDREY KWEK CHI
 398 KING, EMMANUEL JR REYES
 399 KING, HECKLER MARILAO
 400 KOMORI, TAKASHI OTANES

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - L

 401 LABAY, PATRICK ERNIE GO
 402 LACHENAL, KATHLEEN LORAINE DY
 403 LACHICA, ELISERY MAY MONCANO
 404 LACSON, RONABELLE ANNE DELA PAZ
 405 LACWASAN, ROCILLE MAY DE LEON
 406 LADIA, MICHELLE MANADAY
 407 LADRA, CHARISS ANNE ANDRADA
 408 LAGAZO, CHRISTINE MARIE CALDERON
 409 LAGO, GERALDINE CAYABYAB
 410 LAGTO, EUNICE WEE
 411 LALUZ, RIEDEL JAY ASI
 412 LAMUG, JOYCE BENZON
 413 LANDRITO, JEROME RAY NOPRADA
 414 LANGCAY, KRISTINE SIAN
 415 LAO, ANNIKA QUEENIE NG
 416 LAO, GWEN HAZLETT PAULIN
 417 LAO, NICOLE MAE DOMINGO
 418 LAPINIG, ROSE CHARISSE SERINO
 419 LAPUZ, SHIER JOYCE RODRIGUEZ
 420 LARA, MARIA CRISELDA BAJAO
 421 LASIAN, CLARISSE ANILA
 422 LATI, PATRICIA MARIE JARIÑO
 423 LAYAG, JAN LAWRENCE BARUT
 424 LAYNES, RAISA ISABEL REYES
 425 LAZARO, MARIA FATIMA ADORACION MORTERA
 426 LEAÑO, DANICE ROMAGNE VILLAVICENCIO
 427 LEE, JANINE KRIS DAVID
 428 LEE, JOHN CARLO HECHANOVA
 429 LEE, NATASHA YSABEL CLEOFE
 430 LEGASPI, LOUIE FERNAND DABU
 431 LEONG, ALVIN BOAZ YANG
 432 LEONIDAS, ANGELIQUE MULDONG
 433 LETI, FE MARIE LACASANDILE
 434 LEYVA, DEBORAH ANN MALLARI
 435 LIM, JAQUELINE ANNE AGNI
 436 LIM, JONATHAN CUA
 437 LIM, MARY GRACE PE
 438 LIM, RUBY CLARINDA KAW
 439 LIM, VINCE ANGELO ELA
 440 LIMYUEN, CHRISTABELLE CANDICE MAXINE GOTAUCO
 441 LIONGSON, FIDES ANTONETTE PAULIN
 442 LITONJUA, CHRIS ALYSSA DE LEON
 443 LIWANAG, CAMILLE ELEAZAR
 444 LIWANAG, CINDY TUMABCAO
 445 LLEDO, SANTI RAPHAEL BAUTISTA
 446 LOJO, PRIMA CHRISTIA CASCALLA
 447 LOPEZ, RHEA CARINA TAOK
 448 LOPOS, RUBBIE ANN INCOGNITO
 449 LORENZO, ANGELIE JOY DUNGO
 450 LOYOLA, MANILOU SOMORAY 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 451 LOYOLA, MARIA LOURMIE OCHEA
 452 LOYOLA, PAULA MAE VALDEZ
 453 LOZAÑES, GRAZIELLA ANNE 
 454 LUGOD, CATE SEBLOS
 455 LUMABAD, MA CRISTY GERUBIN
 456 LUMACANG, ELEANOR LARAN
 457 LUMINARIAS, MERRYCHIL RELAMPAGOS
 458 LUNA, MONICA DIMACULANGAN
 459 LUY, KHRISLYN MARIE ALGABRE

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - M

 460 MAALA, GUIA ROXAN MONTA
 461 MABANAG, RAFFY JOHN MONTAÑO
 462 MACADANGDANG, RIZZA MAE DULAY
 463 MACAHILIG, AVA JOY FULGENCIO
 464 MACASPAC, NEIL CHRISTOPHER SANTOS
 465 MACUTAY, KRISSANDREA MARTINEZ
 466 MAGAT, PATRICIA DIANNE MATEO
 467 MAGDAY, MARICAR VILLOTA
 468 MAGLANQUE, WINSLY SANTOS
 469 MAGNO, MADONNA QUILIZA
 470 MAGSINO, KAYDEE MONTEMAYOR
 471 MAGSISI, SHIELO MAYAGMA
 472 MAGUNDAYAO, MA CHRISTINE JOY AGUILAR
 473 MAHINAY, MICAH AMOYLEN
 474 MAKABALI, HARVY ANNE TANGLAO
 475 MALABANAN, AVON BLESSING DELA ROSA
 476 MALAPITAN, MARIDEL NAVARRO
 477 MALICDEM, DONABEL SIAPNO
 478 MALLARI, CORINA MARIE GONZALES
 479 MALLARI, PAMELA ANN MAE TISADO
 480 MANALASTAS, LIRA MAE ABAÑO
 481 MANALO, ELYZA JERICKA LINGAT
 482 MANALO, MARIZ TONI LUDOVICE
 483 MANALO, NIKKI MENDOZA
 484 MANAOIS, ARIANNE DIONEDA
 485 MANGULABNAN, MADEL ASTOR
 486 MANILA, MARY GRACE MUMAR
 487 MANINGAT, MARIA EDA INFANTE
 488 MANLOSA, MA BERNADETTE ROBLES
 489 MANUEL, AERON PAUL GARCIA
 490 MANUEL, CHRISTIAN REY AQUINO
 491 MANUEL, MARY ANN ZAPANTA
 492 MANZANA, REINALYN RECIO
 493 MANZANO, JASPER REBANO
 494 MANZANO, KENNETH RAMDOLF MACALINO
 495 MARAVILLA, CATHERINE VELASQUEZ
 496 MARCELINO, PATRICK TEOPACO
 497 MARCOS, MARK KENNETH RAGA
 498 MARMITA, MITCHELL MARK BABULA
 499 MARQUEZ, DION RAILON LOCEO
 500 MARQUEZ, RACHELLE ANNE MIRANDA 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 501 MARTINEZ, FE CHERRYL FRANCISCO
 502 MARTINEZ, LORIMER JR ZAMAYLA
 503 MARTINEZ, MICHELLE DEL MUNDO
 504 MASIDING, SHARONIZA DIANALAN
 505 MASIGAN, MARIA CLARIZZA LACADEN
 506 MATA, FRANCISCO CASIO ARADO
 507 MATIAS, JOHN PAOLO EMPEÑO
 508 MATIC, CAMILLE NICDAO
 509 MEJICA, MYSA JADE JAO
 510 MEJIDA, MARISSA CONTRERAS
 511 MENDOZA, ANGELICA MARIE GONZALES
 512 MENDOZA, DIANA ROSE JOVES
 513 MENDOZA, KRYSTALLAINE PALOMO
 514 MENDOZA, SHEENA CALLANTA
 515 MENDOZA, VAVI MAE VANGUARDIA
 516 MERCADER, MONICA JUDE
 517 MERCADO, MICAELA ANNE TUMANENG
 518 MERCADO, REGINE ANNE GONZAL
 519 MERCADO, SHERLYN ROSE MERCADO
 520 MERESTELA, MA KENNIE GAE ZOLETA
 521 MESINA, JESSICA THERESE TINIO
 522 MICUBO, GLADYS LEIGH MIÑOZA
 523 MILAD, VERONICA BONAJOS
 524 MIRANDA, JANE FERN ABOROT
 525 MIRANDA, KEVIN JACE ALFARO
 526 MISLANG, MARICRIS NOVILLA
 527 MONTON, REYGIN INSO
 528 MORALES, MARIANNE ALBERT CACHO
 529 MOSQUEDA, JAHAZIEL JAKE VILLARIN
 530 MURILLO, NICO SEJERA

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - N

 531 NAPUTO, MARIA CRISTINA JAVINES
 532 NAQUILA, SUZETTE CATHERINE BUSTALIÑO
 533 NARES, VIVIAN MARIE GRACE SONZA
 534 NAVARRO, MILAGROS LUPANGO
 535 NAÑADIEGO, MONICA ANNE YONZON
 536 NICART, NICOLETTE RAE QUINTUA
 537 NICOLAS, MARNILETH SAMANIEGO
 538 NOCHE, ROMIELYN NONES
 539 NUFABLE, IARAH XEIL FUNTANARES

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - O

540 OCAMPO, HANNAH LEI BACANI
 541 OCAMPO, KATHERINE SUPAN
 542 OLIVEROS, JULIENE MENDOZA
 543 OLOROSO, MARY DIANNE VILLADOLID
 544 OMAGING, FRANCY BANDISA
 545 ONG, ABEGAIL GRACE SOTERO
 546 ONG, DOREEN GISELE TEH
 547 ONG, MA CRISTINA SALAZAR
 548 ONG, PIERRE ELDRIDGE LIM
 549 OPSIMA, GRACIELLE JOY ROJO
 550 ORDINARIO, MINERVA GALUTEN 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011 
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 551 ORIÑO, JOANA ROSE SEMIFRANIA
 552 OSTING, MADONA RAPACON

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - P

 553 PABLO, MARJANE PANINGBATAN
 554 PADEL, GRACIELLA LIJAUCO
 555 PADULLA, JHENEVIVE YVONE TAN
 556 PAGDILAO, LILINETTE AGLUBA
 557 PAGKALIWANGAN, DYAN BERBER
 558 PALISOC, KAREN KAY DE JESUS
 559 PALOMO, MAOLIN HOPE BATANGAN
 560 PALPAG, JAMIE UYAMI
 561 PANCRUDO, KIMBERLY ISABEL LOPEZ
 562 PANGILINAN, CARLA TOBIAS
 563 PANGILINAN, JHAR PALMEDA
 564 PANGILINAN, MARIE ANNIE SYL ROBLES
 565 PANTANGCO, GERIZZE GERLYN ESTARDO
 566 PAREDES, GELLIE CHRISTEL PEREZ
 567 PASAMONTE, SIGFRED CALICA
 568 PASCUAL, JONACEL KATE CANDELARIO
 569 PASCUAL, LORRAINE CHUA
 570 PASCUAL, RONNIE JR TALAVERA
 571 PASIG, JANINE AURREIN REYNO
 572 PASION, MARIA CONCEPCION BENDAÑA
 573 PASION, TINAVIDA LUZ DAQUIOAG
 574 PASTORAL, MARION JOSEPH ALMARIA
 575 PAULINO, ANGELICA CRUZ
 576 PAYLAGO, HAZEL LYNNE MAY ICALLA
 577 PAYURAN, CHARM MARCIANO
 578 PENEYRA, JONADEL JESSIE CAMPOS
 579 PEREA, ANNE MARIE HERRERA
 580 PEREZ, JOHN PAUL SANTOS
 581 PERJES, ANGELUZ GARAY
 582 PEÑAFLOR, DIANA MENDENILLA
 583 PIAÑAR, MARIA ANNA TANATO
 584 PINGOL, YZABELE RENEE DALORE
 585 PINSON, GIOVANNI DAYRIT
 586 PITOGO, GRECHELLE LUNA CORTEZANO
 587 POBRE, CHARLES PATRICK YU
 588 PONCIANO, BENELYN FERMANO
 589 PONCIANO, KATHLEEN CRUZ
 590 PRILE, JOHN HENRY JAVIER
 591 PRINCESA, JOSE ANTONIO PAGATPATAN
 592 PRINCIPE, NICOLLE ANNE IBALE
 593 PUNO, BEGILA CLAIRE CUBITA
 594 PUNO, MINERVA JIMENEZ

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - Q

 595 QUIAMBAO, ROY ANTONIO SAMSON
 596 QUINGA, RHEA ANN LOY

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - R

597 RABANG, CHRISTEEL KAYE COSTALES
 598 RABO, MARIA JOILYN SIY
 599 RAGASA, RICHARD RAYMUND REYES
 600 RAMOS, CARMEL LALOGO 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 601 RAMOS, GRACEL JAN HINOGUIN
 602 RAMOS, JAMES REYMAR CAAMIC
 603 RAMOS, ROSEN EDWARD AQUINO
 604 RAMOS, ROSETTE ANN BAUTISTA
 605 RAMOS, YVES LAUREN PENULIAR
 606 RAVELO, JONPATRICIA FULGENCIO
 607 RAYMUNDO, PAOLO DOMINIC RAYMUNDO
 608 RAZON, KATHLEENE MAE BAGANG
 609 RECTO, JUAN PAOLO DONES
 610 RECUENCO, ALEX JR LIM
 611 REFREA, MA KRISTINA ALDAMA
 612 REMO, MA ANGELICA BATICULON
 613 RESCOBER, ANGELI ANN SARDEA
 614 REY, REYSON JOHN CRUZ
 615 REYES, ANA TERESA GIRON
 616 REYES, GIELAINE SANTIAGO
 617 REYES, RAYMOND GARCIA
 618 REYES, VANESSA LABOG
 619 RICABLANCA, ALINDAHAW OBOSA
 620 RIMANDO, MEASY FAITH GUIAMAS
 621 RIVERA, CHANDRA FE GUHIT
 622 RIVERA, HERSHEY BASILIO
 623 RIVERA, JILEINE ERNESTIN CLAUD
 624 RIVERA, KC MARIE CINCO
 625 RIVERA, VALERIE ARIANE CHING
 626 RODRIGUEZ, ROJEAN BIANCA CRUZ
 627 ROMANO, NADINE ELIZABETH VILLARIBA
 628 ROMERO, DANNIELLE JOY LESCANO
 629 ROMERO, JOSEPH NEIL REGIO
 630 RONDILLA, DANA DELINE ROGADO
 631 RONE, APRIL LYN 
 632 ROQUE, ROSEMARIE ROBLES
 633 ROSADIÑO, MARY ROSE 
 634 ROSARIO, ZENON LAURENCE PAGATPATAN
 635 RUBIO, PRINCES JANE DOMINGO

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - S

636 SABAC, RHESTE ICAO
 637 SALANGSANG, LOURDES INFANTE
 638 SALAZAR, EUNICE DEL PARTO
 639 SALAZAR, PREXEE ANN BAUZON
 640 SALITAMOS, LOWELL MYRON AMADOR
 641 SALLIM, NURFAIDA LUY
 642 SALVAME, ERYLL ONGTAO
 643 SALVATUS, ZYRA BHEL RETEZ
 644 SAMBRANO, IWWY CHAN
 645 SAN JOSE, EUNICA FAYE LEGASPI
 646 SAN PEDRO, ARMIE RICA MANUEL
 647 SANGOY, JEWEL EDUARDO
 648 SANTIAGO, ARVIN NARCISO
 649 SANTIAGO, JEFFREY GREGORIO
 650 SANTIAGO, MA CRYSTAL AGUILAR 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011 
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

Seq. No. N a m e
 
 651 SANTIAGO, MARIA ANDREA GUINTO
 652 SANTOS, ALYANNA LUCIA MARRIE BANNING
 653 SANTOS, CHARMAINE ANNE BASA
 654 SANTOS, JEAN CARLA CABRADILLA
 655 SANTOS, SARAH JANE SARTHOU
 656 SANTOS, SHARISSE DEOGRACIAS
 657 SANTOS, SHEEBA LYNN QUIANE
 658 SAPPARI, EMILYN JULI
 659 SARATAO, CESNA MENDOZA
 660 SARMIENTO, TRISHA TAN
 661 SARSAGAT, JENI GRACE DIANE DOLOR
 662 SAZON, MICAH ANGILEI DIZON
 663 SEBASTIAN, JASMINE DAGURO
 664 SECTEL, SYLVIA ALFREDO
 665 SEE, GERARD LEE LO
 666 SEE, TIFFANY JADE CHAN
 667 SEMBRANO, REGINALD JAMES NETHERCOTT
 668 SERRANO, MA CYRILE CUEBILLAS
 669 SERRANO, TRACY CHRISTIE EVARISTO
 670 SIA, JULIAN ARNEL PAULO ZORILLA
 671 SIASOCO, IVY JOY IGNACIO
 672 SINDOL, JAN JUSTIN MONTEMAYOR
 673 SINIO, CATHERINE JOY LOPEZ
 674 SIO, CHERRIE JOY CASTILLO
 675 SO, MICHELLE ANGELICA DANTES
 676 SOLAIMAN, SITTIE FAYHA TAMPUGAO
 677 SOLEVILLA, NICOLE ALLEN GARROVILLAS
 678 SOLIMAN, JANE DE GUZMAN
 679 SORIANO, LUCILLE PANGANIBAN
 680 SORIANO, SHIELA SICORSICON
 681 SOTTO, MIKE GERARD MOLINA
 682 STA CLARA, MA SUZETTE ROBLEDO
 683 STA CRUZ, JINKY CASTRO
 684 SUANGCO, MARLON TAN
 685 SUAREZ, JOHN ANTHONY ESTRELLA
 686 SUARING, MARY CHRISTINE GO
 687 SUPNET, JAY ANGELO DE LAS ALAS
 688 SURETA, LORIEALL ANN CUENTO
 689 SY, JANE MICHELLE PADRONES
 690 SY, KRISTINE DOMALANTA

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - T

691 TABIANO, JAMEROSS BORNILLO
 692 TABING, AILLU GABRIEL
 693 TABIOS, ANGELI MECENAS
 694 TABIRAO, RODJANNE TALYON
 695 TAGO, SALHANI MALIC
 696 TAHIL, FAIZA ABDURAKMAN
 697 TAJANLANGIT, MADELEINE CLARE VILLANUEVA
 698 TALAMAYAN, ERIKA XANDRA NITURA
 699 TAMAYO, MERISSA BITANCUR
 700 TAN, HOPE ALESSANDRA FUENTEBELLA 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

 Seq. No. N a m e
 
 701 TAN, JARED DOMINIC VERGARA
 702 TAN, JOANNE LIM
 703 TAN, JOVINA CHIEN VELACSE
 704 TAN, JUN JEFFERSON CARREON
 705 TAN, MICHELLE KIM GO
 706 TAN, PAUL NICHOLAS CASANOVA
 707 TAN, RUDOLPH LIM
 708 TAPAOAN, SHERYLL MAUREEN DAGUIO
 709 TAPITAN, RODOLFO MARAYAG
 710 TATUNAY, EDENA GRACE CAOILE
 711 TEODORO, DENICE DOMINGO
 712 TIAM, APRIL JUSTINE MARIE PALUGOD
 713 TIBAY, FRANCIS DALE 
 714 TIBUS, MII ANNE BUTIC
 715 TIMOTEO, GELLICA SHANE MALLARI
 716 TING, JOANA MARIE ONG
 717 TIONGSON, ANA CARMELLA CUNANAN
 718 TIU, ANGELICA MAE AGOO
 719 TIZON, JOAHRA FABIAN
 720 TOBONGBANUA, JENNIFER MENDOZA
 721 TOLANG, AILYN VENAH GAJOL
 722 TOMADO, MC CASSEY SELOTERIO
 723 TOMAS, REVEFAITH BALORAN
 724 TORRALBA, REMELYN JUNIO
 725 TORRELLA, MAY ANN LORENZO
 726 TORRES, NIÑA MONICA MACTAL
 727 TRESVALLES, JHON DAVE RODOLFO
 728 TRIA, MONETTE THERESE LUMABAS
 729 TRINIDAD, LOUISE KIM TEJADA
 730 TUBAL, MONICA ANNE CANTERA
 731 TUGADE, MINERVA LIM
 732 TULINAO, CATRINA MAE SAJONAS
 733 TUMBAGA, KARIZA GUERRERO
 734 TUNGPALAN, KRISTEL DAOWAG
 735 TURREDA, DONNA PERPETUA OTOMAN
 736 TY, FRANCIS ADRIAN GO

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - U

 737 UG, ALVIN ADRIAN CONCEPCION
 738 UGOT, JAMIERAH BAGTAS
 739 UMALI, JENELYN MIYAHIRA
 740 UMIPIG, JOSEPHINE PASCUA
 741 URBANO, RALPH GABRIEL LIMUCO
 742 UY, EVERICH ARCINAS
 743 UY, PHILENE CHIU

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - V

 744 VALDESANCHO, CLARISSA NACIS
 745 VALENCERINA, JOHANNA USON
 746 VALENCIA, IRIS TONI DUMLAO
 747 VALENZUELA, EDWIN ROY AYROSO
 748 VALENZUELA, MARICAR GUTIERREZ
 749 VALIENTE, JENNIFER LINDSAY OLIVAN
 750 VALLE, MARY ANN CABIDOG 
  Roll of Successful Examinees in the
 PHARMACIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION
 Held on JUNE 27 & 28, 2011  
 Released on JUNE 29, 2011

Seq. No. N a m e
 
 751 VALMORIA, ELANIE QUIRANTE
 752 VELOS, RHEA BARILI
 753 VENGCO, JERMAINE MIRANDILLA
 754 VENTURA, QUEENY ANNE CATACUTAN
 755 VERGARA, ALEXANDRA ACABODILLO
 756 VICENTE, ANA LIZA SATURINAS
 757 VICENTE, ELAINE MAE COLOSAGA
 758 VIEGAS, JHENGER ANN SALOMON
 759 VIEGAS, JOHN HITLER SALOMON
 760 VIGILIA, VINCENT JOHN MARC SANTIAGO
 761 VILLA, THERESA ALINSOD
 762 VILLACERAN, MARGERIE TRISHKA OLA
 763 VILLACORTE, RALPH NICKSON ROSAL
 764 VILLAFLOR, RUBY ANNE MAE SORIANO
 765 VILLANIA, MARIA KARINA AGU
 766 VILLANUEVA, ABIGAIL REYES
 767 VILLANUEVA, DARLYN JOY RODASTE
 768 VILLANUEVA, MARIO LUIS ENCARNACION
 769 VILLANUEVA, MARK HALL
 770 VILLASIS, KATRINA JANNYEA SABALZA
 771 VILLENA, FRANCIS ARNIE SEVILLA
 772 VIRAY, KARMINA VIANCA ALO

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - W

 773 WONG, JASMINE ONG

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - Y

 774 YADAO, MARIA ANGELICA LIRAZAN
 775 YANG, KIMBERLY ANN LUZ
 776 YEN, REGINA RABANG
 777 YMANA, JAN CORPUZ
 778 YOUNG, CHIQUI POSTRERO
 779 YOUNG, REGENELLE RAÑOLA
 780 YU, BRIANNA BERNICE LO
 781 YU, EMAREE SHAYNE MORANTE
 782 YU, MARIA ELIZABETH SARMIENTO
 783 YUEKEY, MITCHELLE LUCAS
 784 YUMUL, CARLA PAMINTUAN

(Seq. No. - Name) - Surname starts with letter - Z

785 ZABALA, MA CLEOFE SOMERA
 786 ZACATE, RHEA BERNADETTE JATULAN
 787 ZAFE, ZEIS CHRISTINE RODULFO
 788 ZAMUDIO, JESHARELL BOYON
 789 ZAPATA, JOSE MIGUEL CUEVAS
 790 ZENAL, WAFFAH BASHER

Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team files bankruptcy

2011-06-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, blaming Major League Baseball for rejecting a television deal that would have given the storied baseball team an urgent injection of cash.

The filing marks a dramatic attempt by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who is embroiled in a bitter divorce from his ex-wife Jamie, to prevent the league and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig from seizing the team, which McCourt bought in 2004.

In a court filing, the team said it had been "on the verge of running out of cash" but that the Chapter 11 filing will allow it to meet payroll, sign players, pay vendors and continue playing baseball.

"It is becoming rather clear and likely inevitable that Frank McCourt will end up selling part or all of the franchise," said David Carter, a sports business professor at the University of Southern California. "I have to believe the back-and-forth between him and Major League Baseball leaves them where they won't be able to coexist much longer."

Selig responded to the bankruptcy filing with a statement blaming the Dodgers' financial woes on McCourt's excessive debt and his diversion of club assets to address personal needs.

"My goal from the outset has been to ensure that the Dodgers are being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future for their millions of fans," the commissioner said.

"The ideas and proposals that I have been asked to consider have not been consistent with the best interests of Baseball. The action taken today by Mr. McCourt does nothing but inflict further harm to this historic franchise."

On June 20, the league vetoed the Dodgers' proposed $3 billion, 17-year television contract with News Corp's Fox Broadcasting Co, saying it ran contrary to the best interests of the team, the game and fans.

The deal promised an upfront payment to the Dodgers of $385 million, but Selig has criticized the proposed use of part of that money to fund McCourt's divorce.

McCourt has said the payment was crucial to the team's health. According to a court filing, the Dodgers need to pay or set aside more than $28 million for payroll by July 1.

"We brought the commissioner a media rights deal that would have solved the cash flow challenge I presented to him a year ago," McCourt said in a statement. "Yet he's turned his back on the Dodgers, treated us differently, and forced us to the point we find ourselves in today."

Forbes magazine in March ranked the Dodgers as baseball's third-most valuable team, worth $800 million. That is more than twice what McCourt paid, and trails only the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, it said.

No World Series since 1988

Monday's filing punctuates a stunning fall for one of baseball's marquee teams, whose roots date to 1884 when it played in New York as the Brooklyn Atlantics.

The team became the Dodgers permanently in 1932, and broke Major League Baseball's racial barrier when Jackie Robinson began playing in 1947. It began playing in Los Angeles in 1958 and has called Dodger Stadium home since 1962.

This year, the team has a 35-44 record and has seen home attendance decline sharply. The Dodgers have won six World Series championships, but none since 1988.

A call to the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was not returned.

Baseball took over day-to-day control of the Dodgers in April amid worries about team finances, and security concerns that followed a brutal Opening Day beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in the Dodger Stadium parking lot.

"The filing preserves the status quo," said Jack Williams, a professor at Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta who specializes in sports law. "Major League Baseball will have a major, if not the predominant, voice in the ultimate ownership structure for the team."

Monday's filing comes less than a year after the Texas Rangers baseball team emerged from bankruptcy, owned by a group that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.

Another marquee franchise, the New York Mets, is also overloaded with debt, and its owners, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, face a $1 billion lawsuit by the trustee seeking money for victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

The owners are in talks to sell part of that team to hedge fund manager David Einhorn for $200 million.

Other teams to file for bankruptcy in recent years include the Buffalo Sabres and Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League.

Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones are creditors

The Dodgers arranged a $150 million, one-year financing from lenders led by affiliates of JPMorgan Chase & Co's Highbridge Capital Management LLC, so the team can operate normally while in bankruptcy, court records show.

According to a court filing, the variable interest rate on the loan would be at least 10 percent, and the team could draw $60 million immediately and $90 million later.

The Dodgers' filing in the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware shows between $500 million and $1 billion of assets and between $100 million and $500 million of liabilities.

Four other related entities also filed for protection from creditors, including one that owns Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers said the team's largest unsecured creditors include former outfielders Manny Ramirez and Andruw Jones, who are owed $21 million and $11.1 million, respectively.

Ramirez retired in April rather than accept a 100-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, after serving a 50-game suspension in 2009. Jones plays for the New York Yankees.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon scheduled a one-day trial in August to decide whether the Dodgers belong to Frank McCourt, or whether the McCourts should split the team.

The McCourts' lawyers on June 17 said the pair had resolved all issues in their divorce except for the Dodgers' ownership.

Bankruptcy could give Frank McCourt "an exit strategy," said Carter, the USC professor.

"The Dodgers have historically been one of the greatest brands in sports," he said. "Buyers may view this as a chance to buy in with the knowledge they can rehabilitate the brand, rebuild the fan base, and add to its value over time."

The case is In re: Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, No. 11-12010.

Yao's retirement would not hurt NBA in China: exec

2011-06-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

BEIJING, - The possible retirement of star NBA centre Yao Ming will not diminish the league's booming popularity in the world's most populous nation, the NBA's top executive in China has said.

Yao's contract with the Houston Rockets expires on June 30, and while the team have said they would like to have him back if he is healthy, Yao has hinted that he will retire if his injured ankle does not heal.

"I don't see (Yao's) uncertainty is having a negative impact. In fact, I think it has generated a whole lot of interest," the newly-appointed CEO of NBA China, David Shoemaker, said in comments carried by the China Daily on Tuesday.

"Yao has done amazing things to grow interest in the NBA in China. With the help of charismatic role models like him, the NBA has already built a strong foundation. I am very confident of maintaining the momentum upwards."

Ever since embarking on his NBA journey in 2002, Yao has become a mainstay of China's sporting media with nearly every game played by the Rockets broadcast live nationwide or on local networks.

Yao’s status as China’s most popular athlete and a star with global appeal has also led to lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Pepsi, McDonald's and China Telecom.

Yao played only five games last season and underwent surgery in January for a stress fracture in his left ankle, the latest in a series of injury setbacks that have dogged him in recent seasons.

With the perennial All-Star only playing a limited role, the Rockets have missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

Strong quake strikes off Indonesia's Papua island

2011-06-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA - A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Papua on Sunday, the United States Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The epicenter of the quake was 161 km (100 miles) off Enarotali at a depth of 36 km (22 miles).

"We have not received immediate reports of damage," Wandono, head of early quake and tsunami warning system at Indonesia's meteorological and geophysics agency, told Reuters.

Indonesia lies in the "Pacific Ring of Fire" and is prone to earthquakes.

Marcelito Pomoy is PGT 2's grand winner

2011-06-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Marcelito Pomoy was proclaimed grand winner of ABS-CBN’s “Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) Season 2,” the country’s biggest nationwide talent reality show, on Sunday.

Marcelito Pomoy beat 13 other grand finalists after garnering 19.56% text votes. He took home a whopping P2 million in cash prize.
Happy Feet and Freestylers were the 2 other grand finalists who comprised PGT’s top 3. They got 18.32% and 9.46% text votes, respectively.
On Saturday night, the 14 grand finalists performed death-defying acts and spectacular numbers at the Araneta Coliseum, an episode that became a trending topic on Twitter not only in the Philippines but the whole world.
“Nakaka-proud noong nakita namin sila to where they are right now, pinatunayan nila sa lahat na they were so deserving to perform in Araneta Coliseum and to be part of ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’ grand finals,” judge Kris Aquino said.
The 2 other judges of the show are actress Ai-Ai delas Alas and Freddie Garcia.

Congressmen warn against 'tuko' over-hunting

2011-06-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – A gecko-hunting frenzy that is sweeping many of the rural counties in the Philippines is worrying some congressmen.

Several congressmen are now calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to look into the massive and indiscriminate trading of geckos, known in the Philippines as "tuko."

Geckos are a species of lizard that belongs to the Gekkonidae family and found in warm climates throughout the world.

In a press statement, Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said that the Internet and some buy-and-sell magazines were flooded with classified ads on gecko trading. Some ads claim to be from agents of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sarmiento added that in some of the ads offer to pay as much as P3-million for a single live gecko weighing 400 grams and up.

Because of this, gecko-hunting has become a nationwide fad, although there have been no reports of anyone becoming a millionaire for selling geckos.

Sarmiento warned that the gecko-hunting fad may push the animal into extinction, causing irreversible effects on the environment.

Geckos are known to feed on insects such as mosquitoes and flies.

The ads from WHO claim that geckos have potent medicinal properties and are being bought by pharmaceutical companies who are developing medicines for cancer and even AIDS.

"Whether or not these ads are authentic or not, this indiscriminate poaching of geckos have very serious and long-term implications on our ecosystem. Our tukos are a key element in balancing our ecosystem," Sarmiento said.

Ang Kasangga Rep. Teodorico Haresco said that geckos are nature’s most effective weapon against insect overpopulation. He added that their extinction would certainly offset the country’s biodiversity.

"There is a need for DENR to look into this gecko-hunting frenzy," Haresco said. He added that the department should look into the claims regarding the animal’s alleged medicinal properties.

"The DENR should now move to save the tuko from annihilation," Haresco added.

He said that no pharmaceutical firm or scientific research organization has confirmed the medicinal value of the tuko.

Haresco said that the tuko is not part of the endangered species list, but he is pushing for the DENR to classify them among the "Other Threatened Species" because of the recent hunting frenzy.

Angel Locsin, Taylor Swift top Google PH search

2011-06-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Angel Locsin and singer Taylor Swift were the most searched personalities in Google among netizens in the Philippines for the period of June 17 to 23, according to the search engine giant.

Locsin emerged as top newsmaker after it was reported that she will do a project with Piolo Pascual, her co-star in the defunct TV series "Lobo". She will also be in "Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie."

News about Swift's purchase of a Beverly Hills estate for $3.5 million intrigued netizens. Swift was in the country recently for a soldout concert in Manila.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, also became a newsmaker for the week as her letter to Wimbledon officials reportedly had spelling mistakes.

Other celebrities such as Lady Gaga, "Gossip Girl"'s Blake Lively, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars, also landed on the top 10 newsmakers, as did Sarah Geronimo and Dwyane Wade of Miami Heat.

Here is the list of the fastest rising newsmakers for the week of June 17-23, as shared by Google PH:

1. Angel Locsin
2. Taylor Swift
3. Kate Middleton
4. Lady Gaga
5. Sarah Geronimo
6. Blake Lively
7. Justin Bieber
8. Bruno Mars
9. Kim Hyun Joong
10. Dwyane Wade

Top news

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami created a Google Doodle of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, which attracted the attention of Pinoy netizens, such that it became the fastest rising news for June 17-23.

This was followed by "scarlet fever", which the Department of Health said the Philippines does not have, and "transgender" as Pinoy netizens read about the United Nations' recent endorsement of their rights as well as that of gays and lesbians.

Sports continued to be of interest to Pinoys as they searched for news about Wimbledon.

And here's the list of the fastest rising news for June 17 to 23, from Google PH:

1. Summer solstice
2. Scarlet fever
3. Transgender
4. Wimbledon
5. Green Lantern
6. Game of thrones
7. Tuko for sale
8. Singapore Airlines
9. RH Bill
10. Transformers 3

2011 NBA Draft

2011-06-25T02:15:00.000-07:00

1.Kyrie Irving

2.Derrick Williams

3.Enes Kanter

4.Tristan Thompson

5.Jonas Valanciunas

6.Jan Vesely

7.Bismack Biyombo

8.Brandon Knight

9.Kemba Walker

10.Jimmer Fredette

11.Klay Thompson

12.Alec Burks

13.Markieff Morris

14.Marcus Morris

15.Kawhi Leonard

16.Nikola Vucevic

17.Iman Shumpert

18.Chris Singleton

19.Tobias Harris

20.Donatas Motiejunas

21.Nolan Smith

22.Kenneth Faried

23.Nikola Mirotic

24.Reggie Jackson

25.Marshon Brooks

26.Jordan Hamilton

27.JaJuan Johnson

28.Norris Cole

29.Cory Joseph

30.Jimmy Butler

NBA stars vs Smart-Gilas in the works

2011-06-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Smart-Gilas Pilipinas routed Indonesia, 94-54, on Friday’s Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Championship.

It was the Nationals’ second-straight win since beating Malaysia on Thursday.

The victory assured Gilas a slot in the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics..

Gilas will wrap their eliminations campaign in SEABA against Singapore on Saturday.

The top 2 teams to come out of the eliminations will dispute the SEABA title.

Floods hit Metro Manila

2011-06-23T05:09:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Some parts of Metro Manila were flooded due to non-stop rains Thursday, causing heavy traffic.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported waist-deep floods in Quezon City, specifically along Maria Clara St., Araneta Avenue and N.S. Amoranto St. due to the overflowing of Talayan Creek.

Honorio Lopez Blvd., from Tondo Hospital to S. De Jesus St., was submerged in 12 inches of flood due to high tide and rainshowers.

Imelda Ave. in Pasig was submerged in 19 inches.

MMDA advised motorists to avoid Northbound EDSA as gutter-deep flooding at P. Tuazon tunnel caused traffic to come to a standstill.

Flood control units have been dispatched to the area, MMDA said.

Gutter-deep flooding was also seen in Maceda, España in Manila.

As of 6 p.m., no flooding was reported along C-5 road.

According to MMDA, traffic along EDSA-Roxas northbound is moderate, while southbound is moderate.

In EDSA-Orense, northbound (Ayala to Cubao) is having slow traffic, while southbound (Timog-Ortigas) is moderate.

In EDSA-Connecticut, both lanes are having moderate to heavy traffic, while Commonwealth-PHILCOA has clear roads. There are no reports of flooding along these areas.

Azkals up close: Misagh Bahadoran

2011-06-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – For Azkals striker Misagh Bahadoran, school was his key to get into football.

The 24-year-old Filipino-Iranian said he had to prioritize his studies before he could get his father's permission to join the national team.

"They invited me to join the Philippine football team but because my fist priority was my school and college, my dad did not allow me to go," said Bahadoran.

With years of hard work in school, he earned his college degree and was finally allowed to join the Azkals.

"I just graduated as a dentist from the Centro Escolar University," said a beaming Bahadoran. "He (his father) then allowed me to play football."

Bahadoran maintained a good relationship with football ever since he was a boy.

"My brother was a very good football player. I used to play football with him so I've loved football back when I was 5, 6 years old," he said.

Now that he fulfilled his father's wishes, he's glad to fulfill his own.
"My parents are happy with what I'm doing," he said.

Personal information

Name: Misagh Medina Bahadoran
Age: 24
Birthday: January 10, 1987Birthplace: Mabalacat, Pampanga
Position in the Azkals team: Left/ Right wing
Start of football career: He's been playing since he was 7

Where's your mother/father from?My mom is Kapampangan. She's a Filipino and my dad is Iranian.

What leagues have you played in?I played for Kaya FC, after that I went to Global FC. I'm also a national futsal player since 2006 and I was 2-time top scorer of Southeast Asia. We also qualified in AFC in Japan.
What made you decide to join the team?I wanted to try Philippine football team which before was not Azkals in 2007. They invited me to join the Philippine football team but because my fist priority was my school and college, my dad did not allow me to go. But I just graduated as a dentist from the Centro Escolar University. He then allowed me to play football. They invited me, Dan Palami, manager of Global FC, same manager of the Azkals.
What's your pet peeve? What's the thing that you hate the most?When my dad or my parents keep on asking me 'Where are you? What are you doing? Why are you late?' I hate that.
What's the best thing you like about football?The thing I really love about football is the challenge and the winning because when we win, I really love it. People are screaming and my parents are happy with what I'm doing.

Henry Sy tops Philippines' 40 richest: Forbes

2011-06-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Eighty-six-year-old mall magnate Henry Sy remains the richest man in the Philippines while port operator Enrique Razon Jr. joined the elite billionaires' list this year, according to the annual listing conducted by Forbes Magazine.

The annual listing said the country's 40 richest men are now worth a collective $34 billion, up from last year's $22.8 billion. Forbes said a 27% uptick in the stock exchange's composite index lifted the fortunes of the country’s richest to an all time high.

It said there are now 11 billionaires in the Philippines this year, compared to only 5 last year. Forbes compiles the list based on information from individuals, stock exchanges, public documents and analysts as well as estimates of the privately held assets of the businessmen. The minimum net worth to make the list this year increased to $85 million, up from $50 million previously.

For the fourth year in a row, Sy remained the Philippines' richest man with a net worth of $7.2 billion, up from $5 billion last year. Forbes said shares in SM Investments, the Sy family's largest asset, is up nearly 40%. Sy's listed property developer Belle Corp. is expected to open its first casino in Manila in 2012.

Second on the list is tycoon Lucio Tan with an estimated $2.8 billion in assets, up from $2.1 billion in 2010. The 77-year-old tycoon owns a bevy of businesses which include Fortune Tobacco, Asia Brewery, and Hong-Kong based Eton Properties.

Third on the list is JG Summit founder John Gokongwei Jr. The 83-year-old is worth $2.4 billion, up from his net worth last year of $1.5 billion.

Fourth on the list is Alliance Global Group's Andrew Tan with an estimated net worth of $2 billion from last year's $1.2 billion.

Fifth on the list is 90-year-old construction manage David Consunji, who has an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion from last year's $715 million.

"He moved into top 5 as shares of his DMCI Holdings more than doubled in past year. Value of Semirara Mining nearly tripled," Forbes said.

Below is the Philippines billionaires list:

1. Henry Sy    $7.2 billion
2. Lucio Tan    $2.8 billion
3. John Gokongwei Jr.    $2.4 billion
4. Andrew Tan        $2 billion
5. David Consunji     $1.9 billion
6. Jaime Zobel de Ayala    $1.7 billion
7. Enrique Razon Jr.     $1.6 billion
8. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.    $1.4 billion
9. Roberto Ongpin    $1.3 billion
10. George Ty        $1.1 billion
11. Tony Tan Caktiong    $1 billion

ICTSI's Razon now a billionaire

Forbes said the biggest gainer in percentage terms is former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, whose fortune soared more than fourfold to $1.3 billion. Forbes said most of that gain was thanks to an increase in his stake in listed miner Atok-Big Wedge, "though Ongpin says the company’s stock price overinflates its value."

Another newly minted billionaire is port operator Enrique Razon Jr., who saw his net worth jump to $1.6 billion from $975 million last year. His International Container Terminal Service (ICTSI) has bought controlling stakes in two terminal ports, one in India's Tamil Nadu and one in Croatia. His private company, Bloomberry, also put $350 million into a hotel complex in Manila's Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City.

Mang Inasal founder joins PH's richest

Forbes, meanwhile, listed 4 newcomers to the richest list. They are: Jose Antonio, founder of high-end property developer Century Properties; Jacinto Ng Sr., founder of biscuit maker Rebisco; and 34-year-old Edgar Sia II, founder of Mang Inasal

Mang Inasal is now the country's third largest fastfood chain, after Jollibee and Chowking. Last year, Jollibee purchased a 70% stake of Mang Inasal for $68 million, catapulting Sia's net worth to $85 million. He is ranked 40th in the Forbes list of richest Filipinos, and is the youngest in the list.

Four from 2010 list didn’t make the cut, including Lourdes Montinola, whose family owns 41% of Far Eastern University; and Jesus Tambunting, who controls Planters Development Bank. Forbes said their gains couldn’t match the stellar performance of others on the list.

The remaining names in the Philippines' 40 richest list are as follows:

12. Inigo and Mercedes Zobel     $980 million
13. Emilio Yap            $930 million
14. Andrew Gotianun        $795 million
15. Jon Ramon Aboitiz        $760 million
16. Beatrice Campos        $685 million
17. Manuel Villar             $620 million
18. Vivian Que Azcona        $555 million
19. Robert Coyiuto Jr.        $400 million
20. Mariano Tan            $375 million
21. Alfonso Yuchengco        $370 million
22. Enrique Aboitiz        $310 million
23. Oscar Lopez            $280 million
24. Jose Antonio            $245 million
25. Eric Recto            $200 million
26. Gilberto Duavit        $190 million
27. Menardo Jimenez         $185 million
28. Alfredo Ramos        $180 million
29. Betty Ang             $165 million
30. Felipe Gozon            $163 million
31. Tomas Alcantara        $160 million
32. Benjamin Romualdez        $155 million
33. Wilfred Uytengsu Jr.        $150 million
34. Manuel Zamora Jr.         $145 million
35. Jacinto Ng Sr.        $115 million
36. Frederick Dy            $110 million
37. Luis Virata             $100 million
38. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr.    $95 million
39. Eugenio Lopez III        $90 million
40. Edgar Sia II            $85 million.

Obama declares beginning of end of Afghan war

2011-06-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama Wednesday ordered all 33,000 US surge troops home from Afghanistan by next summer and declared the beginning of the end of the war, vowing to turn to nation building at home.

In a watershed moment for American foreign policy, Obama also significantly curtailed US war aims, saying Washington would no longer try to build a "perfect" Afghanistan from a nation traumatized by its blood soaked history.

"Tonight, we take comfort in knowing that the tide of war is receding," Obama said in 13-minute primetime speech at a time of rising fatigue over costly foreign wars among Americans ground down by deep economic insecurity.

"Even as there will be dark days ahead in Afghanistan, the light of a secure peace can be seen in the distance. These long wars will come to a responsible end," Obama said.

The president argued US forces had made large strides towards the objectives of the troop surge strategy he ordered in December 2009 by reversing Taliban momentum, crushing Al-Qaeda and training new Afghan forces.

But he ultimately rejected appeals from the Pentagon for a slower drawdown to safeguard gains against the Taliban and his decision will be seen as a political defeat for talismanic war General David Petraeus.

The president said he would, as promised, begin the US withdrawal this July and that 10,000 of the more than 30,000 troops he committed to the escalation of the conflict would be home this year.

A further 23,000 surge troops will be withdrawn by next summer, and more yet-to-be announced drawdowns will continue, until Afghan forces assume security responsibility in 2014.

"This is the beginning -- but not the end -- of our effort to wind down this war," Obama said.

However, despite Obama's stirring words, it is possible Taliban forces will be emboldened by signs of an accelerated US exit from the conflict where insurgents are notorious for waiting out their enemies.

More than 1,600 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the US invasion after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The US death toll already this year stands at 187.

Despite Pentagon appeals for a more modest drawdown, Defense Secretary Robert Gates quickly said he supported the plan.

"It provides our commanders with enough resources, time and, perhaps most importantly, flexibility to bring the surge to a successful conclusion," the outgoing Pentagon chief said in a statement.

The president's speech came as domestic questions mount over the purpose of the Afghan war, following the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by Navy SEALs last month, and as Washington backs fragile Afghan reconciliation talks with the Taliban.

But despite the drawdowns, there will still be more than 65,000 troops in Afghanistan when Obama asks Americans to give him a second term in November 2012.

Turning to Al-Qaeda, Obama said documents seized from bin Laden's compound in Pakistan showed the organization was under "enormous strain."

"Bin Laden expressed concern that Al-Qaeda has been unable to effectively replace senior terrorists that have been killed, and that Al-Qaeda has failed in its effort to portray America as a nation at war with Islam -- thereby draining more widespread support," he said.

One official said the US operation against Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan tribal regions had "exceeded our expectations," saying 20 of the group's top 30 leaders, had been killed in the last year.

With US ties with uneasy anti-terror ally Pakistan still raw after the bin Laden raid, Obama also warned he would insist Islamabad keep its commitments to fight the "cancer" of violent extremism.

Obama's plans drew a mixed reaction across the political spectrum.

Hawkish Republican Senator John McCain said Obama was taking an "unnecessary risk" and noted Petraeus and Gates had recommended a slower withdrawal.

Democratic Senator Carl Levin, had led calls for a faster troop withdrawal, but said Obama's drawdown timetable represented a "positive development."

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney however suggested Obama's motivation was political.

"We all want our troops to come home as soon as possible, but we shouldn't adhere to an arbitrary timetable on the withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan," Romney said.

"This decision should not be based on politics or economics."

Obama also placed the Afghan mission in the context of his wider foreign policy and war strategy, arguing he has drawn down 100,000 troops from Iraq and will oversee the full withdrawal by the end of this year.

He announced a NATO summit to review progress on Afghanistan will take place in Chicago in May 2012, alongside the G8 summit of industrialized nations.

His strategy got an early endorsement from British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said pressure could still be applied to the Taliban despite troop cutbacks.

Obama still wonders about his absent father

2011-06-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama, whose Kenyan father left his family when the future US president was 2 years old, said on Saturday he still thinks about how things would have worked out had his dad been there.

"I felt his absence. And I wonder what my life would have been like had he been a greater presence," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address a day before Father's Day in the United States.

The president said that being a father was "sometimes my hardest, but always my most rewarding job," and called on other fathers to make spending time with their kids a priority even when times are tough.

"And life is tough for a lot of Americans today. More and more kids grow up without a father figure. Others miss a father who's away serving his country in uniform. And even for those dads who are present in their children's lives, the recession has taken a harsh toll," he said.

Obama described a set of incentives by his administration on the website Fatherhood.gov to help fathers find fun things to do with their children and to connect better with them.

He also said every father needed to take responsibility "to do right by our kids."

"All of us can encourage our children to turn off the video games and pick up a book. All of us can pack a healthy lunch for our son, or go outside and play ball with our daughter. And all of us can teach our children the difference between right and wrong, and show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated," he said.

Obama discussed his father extensively in his 1995 memoir, "Dreams from My Father," which was republished after his political profile rose in 2004. His father died in 1982 in a car crash in Nairobi.

Acknowledging his political career had meant he was often away from home, putting more of the parenting burden on his wife, Michelle, Obama said he had tried to seize the most from the time he gets with his two daughters.

He also stressed he and Michelle had worked to install a sense of responsibility in the girls at their famous Washington address. "Malia and Sasha may live in the White House these days, but Michelle and I still make sure they finish their schoolwork, do their chores and walk the dog," he said.

UN nuclear report shows Japan safety shortcomings

2011-06-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

VIENNA — Japanese nuclear regulators failed to review and approve steps taken after 2002 to protect against tsunamis at the Fukushima plant and these proved insufficient to prevent the tidal wave disaster three months ago, a UN report showed.

A detailed assessment by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency — the first outside review of Japan's nuclear crisis — suggested several shortcomings both before and after a tidal wave crippled the power station three months ago.

But it also praised the way workers on the ground dealt with the situation at Fukushima Daiichi after the massive earthquake and huge tsunami devastated its reactors on March 11, triggering the world's worst nuclear catastrophe in a quarter of a century.

Given the extreme circumstances it is doubtful "that any better solutions than the ones actually chosen could have been realistically implemented," said the 160-page report, prepared for a ministerial nuclear safety meeting in Vienna next week.

A three-page summary was issued at the end of the 18-member team's May 24-June 2 inspector mission to Japan. It said the country underestimated the threat from tsunamis to the Fukushima plant and urged sweeping changes to its regulatory system.

Japanese authorities have been criticized for failing to plan for a tsunami that would surge over the 5.7-meter or 19-ft wall at the nuclear power station in the country's northeast, despite warnings that such a risk was looming.

The wave that crashed into the complex after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake was about 14 meters or 46 feet high.

In another setback to efforts to restore control over the quake-stricken plant, a rise in radiation halted the clean-up of radioactive water at Fukushima on Saturday only hours after it got under way.

The full IAEA report said there had been "insufficient defense-in-depth provisions" for tsunami hazards, even though they had been considered in the design and siting of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., or Tepco.

Decision delays

Extra protective steps were taken as a result of an evaluation after 2002 — the projected tsunami height was increased — but they were insufficient "to cope with the high tsunami run-up values and all associated hazardous phenomena".

"Moreover, those additional protective measures were not reviewed and approved by the regulatory authority," said the report. It added: "Severe accident management provisions were not adequate to cope with multiple plant failures."

The document, obtained by Reuters, was submitted to IAEA member states on Friday but has not yet been made public.

At the June 20-24 IAEA-hosted meeting, some 150 nations will begin charting a strategy on boosting global nuclear safety, but differences on how much international action is needed may hamper follow-up efforts, diplomats say.

Japan's crisis has prompted a rethink of energy policy around the world, underlined by Germany's decision to shut down all its reactors by 2022 and an Italian vote to ban nuclear power for decades.

Three reactors at the Japanese complex went into meltdown when power and cooling functions failed, causing radiation leakage and forcing the evacuation of some 80,000 people.

Japanese officials have come under fire for their handling of the emergency and the authorities have admitted that lax standards and poor oversight contributed to the accident.

In 2007, the IAEA was ignored when it called on Japan to create a more powerful and independent nuclear regulator, and the report underlined the need for greater regulatory control.

"An updating of regulatory requirements and guidelines should be performed reflecting the experience and data obtained during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami," it said.

Japan has a well organized emergency preparedness and response system but "complicated structures and organizations can result in delays in urgent decision making," it added.

The report also listed wider lessons for improving nuclear safety worldwide and help avert any repeat of the disaster, saying reactors should be built so that they can withstand rare and "complex combinations" of external threats.

Water hyacinths aggravating Cotabato City flood problem

2011-06-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Cotabato City and other provinces in southern Philippines are experiencing its worst flooding in years, but authorities are not blaming it on the usual trash-filled drainages or poor flood-control projects. They are blaming it instead on water hyacinths.

“This is the worst flooding we had in years. Hindi na nawawala ‘yung baha. Konting ulan, babaha. Hindi na makadaan ‘yung tubig papunta sa dagat dahil sa water hyacinths kaya dumadaloy papunta sa mga komunidad," said Myrna Jo Henry, information officer of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Henry said the piling up of these seemingly innocuous aquatic plants at the Rio Grande de Mindanao — the country’s second largest river system — threatens to submerge parts of Cotabato City in six-foot deep floodwaters.

She said the continued accumulation of water hyacinths has forced local officials in Cotabato City and other nearby areas to deploy a backhoe and 300 soldiers to declog the river.

The problem, however, seems to persist since water hyacinths from upstream areas such as Maguindanao and Bukidnon flow downstream to catch basin areas like Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat.

“Ang advise kahapon tingnan na ang surrounding areas para hindi na umabot dito ang water hyacinths. Kung hindi mapipigilan ito, hindi huhupa ang baha," Henry said.

Henry said she herself has become one of the almost 60,000 individuals affected by the flooding caused by the water hyacinths. “Naging swimming pool na ang bahay namin. Hindi na kami makauwi roon. Bakwit (evacuee) na rin ako," she said.

The National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday night pegged the number of persons affected by the flooding in nine Mindanao provinces to more than 600,000. About 12,000 of these individuals have been forced to leave their homes due to the steady rise of floodwaters.

‘Pests’

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) considers water hyacinths (scientific name: Eichhornia crassipes Mart Solms) as “pests."

Typical in polluted rivers, these aquatic plants feed upon pollutants and are in full bloom when a body of water is polluted.

These types of plants multiply rapidly and their seeds can remain dormant under water for two decades.

Water hyacinths are distinguished from water lilies by their lavender flowers with yellow spots. Water lilies usually have white flowers which grow on top of circular or oval leaves.

ARMM officials have encouraged residents in flooded areas to use water hyacinths to make bags, baskets and decorative items to help declog the river.

MMDA: Integrated bus terminal ready by October

2011-06-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila could have an integrated terminal for provincial buses by October this year.

Speaking on ANC's "The Rundown," Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Tina Velasco said they have identified 2 out of 4 sites as earlier stops for the provincial bus terminals, and are holding consultation and dialogues with stakeholders and the private sector for possible investments to finance the project.

The MMDA is eyeing an 11-hectare lot beside North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) near Balintawak as the integrated terminal for North Luzon-bound buses.

"We we're trying to work on an October groundbreaking. Ambitious as it sounds, well try to make it and work backward and try to make sure all the work can be done including having more stakeholders in the picture," Velasco said. "It will be a private sector-led initiative but with the help of government, involvement in regulation and consistent alignment of policies."

The MMDA envisions the terminal to be connected with the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT), and eventually with the NLEx-SLEx connection.

"The big factor is the national transport plan of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has to be linked with other Private-Public Partnership projects," Velasco said, citing good plans like NLEX SLEX connector and the NAIA Expressway 3 which are already underway.

She said the project counts in the long-term goal of removing all buses from EDSA when the infrastructure is ready for it.

"For as long as our MRT and other railway facilities are ready, that's the next step but it has to be done very carefully. There has to be a process that goes with that."

"We have to craft it well to make sure we get the buy-in of our commuters. In the end and that comes with consultations with the experts in the beginning, and then validating with consumers."

The MMDA wants to have the Metro Manila-Provincial Integrated Bus Axis System (MMPBAS) that would help decongest Metro Manila's streets and eliminate "colorum" buses.

The integrated terminal for provincial buses is envisioned to be a world-class facility comparable to airports around the world.

"We'd like to make it appealing. It's going to be a stand alone destination for some. It's not a stopover. We want it to be centralized ticketing, air-conditioned even the park-and-ride concept. Where people from Pampanga can just park their cars and go to Makati. We want to minimize traffic but to make sure there's convenience that's attached to it," Velasco noted.

The National Council for Commuter Protection, however, expressed reservations on the plan.

"If you put them outside the metro area, there is a requirement for mobility: you have to have an intercity bus circuit and you have to have an intracity bus circuit. Are we ready for that?" asked the group's president, Elvira Medina.

While centralizing bus terminals is part of the urban fringe development, Medina said the project should also take safety, comfort, and economy into account.

"This is part of an international program. This has been proven to be effective in other parts of the world and the only concern of commuters is how its going to be implemented in our country."

The Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines earlier said authorities should first consider the project's impact on travel time and fares for commuters.

Medina noted that they have held several dialogues with former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando but adds commuters they have yet to be consulted on the current plan.

"Many of the policy makers don't see who the commuters are. To them we are invisible. To them the commuters have become too common."

Velasco said given the domino effect of traffic from bus terminals, the integrated bus terminal plan would solve close to 60% of the volume of buses on EDSA.

"Just for the bus count alone we will be able to solve close to 60% of volume right away. There's a whole lot of delay and the domino effect reaches all the way to the other end of edsa on the other side... We've not tackled holy week, shopping season, so there's a lot of anarchy."

Velasco said there have been extensive studies done since the 1990s in anticipation of the increased urbanization of Metro Manila. None of the studies' proposals has ever pushed through.

"We have 7,368 buses provincial buses plying Metro Manila competing for very limited roads in EDSA and national roads and secondary roads... 85 bus terminals sporadically spread throughout Metro Manila," she said.

Remains of 2 Pinoy fishermen brought home

2011-06-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – The remains of 2 Filipino fishermen who died after their ship sank due to a gas explosion have been brought home to their families in Isabela.

Rodolfo Sadular and Elmer Corpuz were among the 4 Filipinos who died when their ship, F/V Lai Ching, exploded and sank in the Atlantic Ocean last April 28.

“Masama ang loob namin sa nangyari,” said Felizardo Corpuz, Elmer’s father. “Darating sana siya sa June para magpakasal.”

Leonardo Estilon, a survivor of the incident, said that if Rodolfo and Elmer had been quickly brought to a hospital, the 2 men may have survived.

According to Estilon, the ship was on its way to Taiwan after more than 3 months of fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, when a gas explosion occurred in the ship’s engine room.

Of the ship’s 37 crew members, 10 died, including the ship’s engineer.

Corpuz, Sadular, and Estilon left the Philippines on January 2009. Despite only having tourist visas, the 3 men worked as fishermen in Taiwan.