Lim accepts loss, acknowledges Erap as the next Manila Mayor

 

 

 

Incumbent Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim acknowledged his rival, Mayoral-elect Joseph Estrada and has accepted his loss to which he considers as early retirement from politics.

 

In an ABS-CBN News report,  the outgoing mayor issued a statement “We respect and acknowledge the said proclamation and wish them all the best!”

“We would like to thank our relatives, friends and the Manileños for their support, trust and confidence in us. Thank you and god bless us all.”

 

Lim garnered 308,544 votes, 35,449 votes short to Erap’s 343,993.

 

Nothing is permanent in politics, who knows there would come a time that the former friends will be back as allies again.

 

Photo: Yahoo News

 



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Kris Aquino, Manny Pangilinan, Felipe Gozon among top taxpayers of 2011

Showbiz personality Kris Aquino, PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, and GMA Network CEO and chairman Felipe Gozon are among the top taxpayers in 2011, according to the list of top individual taxpayers in 2011 released by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The list includes familiar names from businesses and entertainment industry, as well as not-so-familiar names.

Surprisingly, the Philippines' richest man (according to Forbes magazine), mall tycoon Henry Sy, was not even in the top 10. Sy ranked 15th on the BIR list with P16.58 million income tax.

Aquino paid nearly P50 million in income taxes according to the list, with Pangilinan in the fourth with almost P26 million. Gozon ranked 10th with P19.59 million.

Here are the top 20 taxpayers of 2011. For the full list, you may view the PDF file posted in ABS-CBN News.

1. Kris Aquino (celebrity) - P49,871,657.37
2. Gregory Reichow (Sunpower Philippines) - 38,196,685.00
3. Lauro Baja Jr. - P34,257,368.88
4. Manuel V. Pangilinan (PLDT, Metro Pacific) - P25,992,131.86
5. Aurelio Montinola III (BPI) - P24,472,645.10
6. Gerardo Ablaza (Manila Water)- P22,645,262.00
7. Philippe Lhuillier (Cebuana Lhuillier) - 21,645,000.00
8. Victor Angeles - P21,202,815.34
9. Roberto Panlilio P19,613,943.97
10. Felipe Gozon (GMA Network) - P19,587,983.60
11. Vincent Nguyen - P18,593,063.34
12. Jean Henri Lhuillier - P18,439,656.00
13. Jospeh Mitchell Gault - P17,987,312.29
14. Estelito Mendoza - (lawyer) P 17,637,964.00
15. Henry Sy, Sr. - (SM group) P16,582,952.00
16. Orland Vea - (Smart Communications)- P16,248,921.88
17. Agnieszka Romanczuk P16,062,048.76
18. Anthonie Jansen P14,851,304.45
19. Marvic "Vic" Sotto (TV host, actor) - P14,728,940.14
20. Ray Espinosa (Mediaquest) - P14,483,402.44 

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Michelle Obama calls herself 'single mother'

US First Lady Michelle Obama is under the wire in an interview with CBS News where she calls herself a "single mother". This caught the attention of netizens in and out of United States causing speculations that there is something on with her relationship with US President Barack Obama.

But for us here in News Bits Online, the sudden flub of the US First Lady may be because of the president having to deal with things aside from their family makes her work double time with her 2 kids.

What do you think about this video?

[Video: CBS News/Youtube]

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No work, no pay policy for solons pushed

Senatorial candidates have expressed a "no work, no pay" policy for lawmakers who fail to show up for work, including imposing fines for their absences.

During the "Paninindigan" forum of GMA News, Team PNoy senatorial candidates Bam Aquino said being a member of the Senate is serious responsibility, and its members were expected at the minimum, to attend hearings and sessions.

He said failure to meet this most basic requirement must entail penalties, such as fines that become higher as the absences worsen.

He added the issue boiled down to leadership and governance, and appealed to people to vote those who were ready to work and were dedicated to their jobs.

Another senatorial candidate, independent Teddy Casiño, said imposition of fines would bring the people's attention to the problem of absenteeism.

Meanwhile, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Richard Gordon said it would be better to "shame" these lawmakers for their delinquency. He said voters should not choose candidates that would not give their all to their sworn duties.

Gordon added that the real problem was the inability of people to distinguish between "showbiz-politics" type candidates and candidates promoting "substance-based" politics.

"That's the reason for all the absences," he said. "People don't get quality legislation because they elect poor-quality people based on popularity."

[With report and photo from Inquirer]

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Viral Photo: Will you eat at this restaurant if you are a Filipino?

 

View full news story here  

Beijing Restaurant in the Forbidden City is now the center of online fury with the sign "This shop does not receive the Japanese, the Philippines, the Vietnamese and the dog" which is considered to be China's way against Vietnamese and Philippines who both have a stand against island disputes. 

Will you still eat at this restaurant if you are a Filipino in China?

[Photo: AFP] 

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Suspension of Classes February 22, 2013

The following local government units (LGUs) and schools announced suspension of classes on Friday, February 22, 2013, due to the heavy rains and bad weather that looms the country.

LGUs

• Manila - all public schools, elementary to college (city-owned schools only)
• Parañaque - all levels, public and private
• Quezon City - pre-school to high school
• Taytay, Rizal - elementary, public and private
• Pasay - pre-school to high school, public and private

Schools

• Arellano University (main campus) - all levels
• St. Scholastica's College Manila
• University of Sto. Tomas
• Lyceum of the Philippines
• Miriam College
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
• Adamson University
• San Beda College
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sta. Mesa
• St. Paul University Manila
• San Sebastian College - all levels
• St. Paul Quezon City (grade school and high school)
• Philippine College of Criminology
• University of the East (Manila, Caloocan)

Cancelled flights

• 5J-529/530 MNL/USU/MNL
• 5J-920 MPH/MNL
• 5J-892/893/894 MPH/MNL/MPH/MNL
  
• 5J-383/384 MNL/CGY/MNL

The rains are due to the northeast monsoon affecting Luzon, state weather bureau PAGASA said. Moderate to heavy rainfall was observed over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales, and most likely to continue for the next 3 hours.

[Via Reyn's Room]

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Dinagyang Festival on Live Stream

Check out the live streaming of the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo below.

The Dinagyang is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog In Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan.

The festical is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.

Ten tribes will be competing Sunday to win the P175,000 grand prize. The 1st runner-up will receive P150,000; 2nd runner-up P125,000; 3rd runner-up P100,000 and the 4th runner-up will bring home P75,000.

[Words: Reyn's Room/Live Stream: GMANews]

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Full Text: Sen. Enrile's Privilege Speech on January 21, 2013 (Transcript)

“Mr. President, my colleagues in the Senate:

The personal conflict between me and four members of this Chamber has triggered a venomous, malevolent and sustained campaign against me. This was spurred by my decision to grant them only P600,000 each as additional MOOE last November and to hold the release of the additional MOOE granted to the other Senators, except to my own office, last month.

The persistent attacks of my adversaries, whether they be my loud and bitter critics, or those lurking in the shadows for lack of courage to come out in the open, abetted by some elements in the media, have successfully poisoned the minds of the public.

The criticisms are based on outright lies, distorted information and deliberately misleading phrases such as "cash gifts", "Christmas bonuses", and worst of all, "bribes"- all at the expense of taxpayers' money.

With the way my foes have so cleverly crafted this disinformation campaign, I cannot blame the public for their sentiments and outrage over what they have been made to believe as an unconscionable and immoral use of public funds. The people have the right to demand from all of us an accounting of every single centavo of taxpayers' money entrusted to us. No one is immune or exempt from scrutiny in the way the public funds are spent.

The press is free indeed, and a free press is a powerful tool for public accountability. Unfortunately, those who are merely masquerading as "responsible journalists" are also free to choose what they want the public to know and to believe and what facts to ignore. In fact, my enemies and critics in the press, one of them known for their tag line "balanced news, fearless views", have enjoyed the freedom to carry on their own crusade- that is, to make sure that Enrile shall forever be known and remembered as a liar, a traitor, a thief, and a villain.

In their passionate desire to destroy me, my enemies and critics have not only dragged the reputation of my other colleagues, wildly accusing them of taking bribes and pocketing the people's money. They have succeeded as well in placing this very institution, the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, under a dark cloud of doubt and suspicion as a house of thieves.

Senator Lacson has questioned the moral right and integrity of my most cantankerous critic. Her audacity in calling her colleagues my "cohorts" and painting them as crooks is indeed mind-boggling. When it was her turn to be challenged regarding her own integrity and to be called "a hypocrite par excellence", it seems was enough to pose a danger to her own health and whatever remains of her equanimity and sanity.

Actually, Sen. Pia Cayetano's office kept following up with my office and the Senate budget office about the release of her additional MOOE last December. When she and the three others found out that I had not authorized the release of any further additional MOOE to them, Senator Santiago started whining. She even cited the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

Later on, she and her group branded as immoral, illegal, unconstitutional, unconscionable, and a "bribe" what she earlier claimed she and the three others were entitled to. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Antonio Trillanes who are both in the minority, swiftly followed with their own attacks and accusations. Sen. Pia Cayetano who was following up her additional MOOE was conspicuously silent.

What would they have done if the funds were given to them? Would they have whined and complained? Or, as Senator Santiago herself suggested could be done - Would they have pocketed it instead of using it appropriately for the operation expenses of their own offices? She goes on to say that senators take a percentage of their PDAF. I wonder...is she speaking from her own experience or field of expertise?

I never bribed anyone to gain support for myself, much less with the money of the people. I did not enter into any unholy deals or plots to assume this position of leadership twice, or to cling to it like a leech hungry for its perquisites. The very thought that this position is for sale repulses me. But apparently, Senator Santiago thinks everything and everyone here has a price tag.

In all my almost 89 years, I have gone through and endured many challenges and some of the worst adversities in life, countless acts of betrayal and ingratitude, and the most vicious and virulent attacks on my character in my 46 years in politics and public service. This wave of systematic demolition is really nothing new.

I can defend myself on my own. I have fought many battles alone, at times abandoned and betrayed by many. As I said in my book, I have won some and lost some. Such is the life I have lived.

I have incurred the bitter resentment and anger of many people along my way, and they are determined to pursue their crusade and carry their seething hatred against me to their graves. I know and I understand why.

But the Senate need not and should not suffer the venom which is aimed solely at me.

A leader who serves solely by virtue of the trust of his peers and who is worthy to be called as such must be sensitive to events that not only mar his integrity and moral rectitude, but tends to destroy the integrity of the institution he leads.

A leader must not play blind and deaf when the institution he serves and its members are unfairly and unduly dragged into the mud with him, thus tending to impair the confidence of those who invested that mantle of leadership upon him.

The honor of this chamber must be spared from the rapacity and the sly, cunning and ruinous machinations of some people among us who only have their political ambition and self-interest in mind.

One Senator is so desperate that he has repeatedly and shamelessly invoked and sought Malacañang's involvement and intervention just to get enough support to oust me. He continues to make a mockery of the Senate as an independent institution.

Of threats and coup rumors, we have had enough. I am way too old to be threatened by anyone, least of all by cowards and hypocrites.

I therefore move that the position of Senate President be declared vacant.

I ask that my motion be immediately put to a vote to pave the way for Madam Miriam Defensor Santiago, Senator Antonio Trillanes, any of the Cayetano siblings, or anyone else here who may share the same sentiments against my leadership and who may be secretly interested in this job the chance to be nominated and to seek the majority's support to be elected as the new leader of the Senate.

Whether or not I continue to have the trust and support of my colleagues in leading this Chamber is a matter that lies purely in their hands to decide. As I have said earlier, I serve at the pleasure of the majority of my colleagues. I claim no vested right to this high position. No one has.

And whether I was in the minority or the majority all the years that I have been here, I have tried my best to serve and to perform my role with equal dedication to my duty as a Senator of the Republic.

Let us not allow ourselves to be further derailed and distracted. Replacing me does not have to take so much effort, planning or plotting. This seems to be the pre-occupation of some people in this Chamber and a constant fodder for the rumor mill, and it is such a waste of time and energy.

Let us settle this matter once and for all, and let us not tarry so that in the very few remaining days we still have left, we can get on with the business of urgent legislation. Time is of the essence and we owe it to the people to perform our duty.

With that, Mr. President, I reiterate my motion to declare the position of Senate President vacant.”

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City hall employee arrested for uploading sex photo of ex-GF on Facebook

An employee of the Manila City Hall was arrested after his former girlfriend filed charges for uploading their sex photo to the Internet.

20-year-old "Nicole" said she didn't know how to explain to her parents the scandal after his ex-boyfriend, named Fritz Floirendo, uploaded their photo while having sex on Facebook, that's why she decided to file charges against him.

Nicole said Floirendo started to threaten him about the photo after a fight with her friend.

Sampaloc Police have nabbed the suspect, but he denied he was the one who uploaded the photo on Facebook.

He also said Nicole has an access to his account.

Police have recovered the suspect's cellphone which contains the scandalous photos, but the sex video which Nicole asked to delete was not there.

Update: Floirendo's Facebook account has been deactivated, however, his Multiply account remains up as of this posting.

[via DZMM; photos: Wikipedia, Multiply]

 

 

Posted with permission from Reyn's Room (http://reynthology.blogspot.com)

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Chieffy of the Azkals, Apl De Ap banner TOYM 2012

 

 

Allan "apl.de.ap" Pineda and Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong of the Philippine Azkals banner the seven personalities honored in The Outstanding Young Men of 2012.

 

Chieffy, a pure-blooded Filipino member of the Azkals was honored for his vital contribution to sports while Pineda was honored for Contemporary Music.

 

The other 2012 TOYM awardees are:

• Democratic Independent Workers’ Association (DIWA) Partylist Representive Emmeline Aglipay for Public Service
• Warren Baticados for Veterinary Medicine
• Abelardo David for Community Occupational Rehabilitation
• Ivan Anthony Henares for Heritage Conservation
• Rodrigo “Jiggy” Manicad, Jr. for Broadcast Journalism

It was no less than the President, Benigno Aquino who lead the ceremonies Wednesday.

TOYM is one of the country's prestigious recognitions to individuals who are in 18 to 40 years old showing their dedication to their fields for the development of the society

 



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October 2012 Civil Service Exam Paper & Pencil Test Top 10 Passers

The sucessful examinees in the October 2012 Career Service Exam - Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) who garnered the ten highest places in the national level prof. and sub-prof. exams are the following:

PROFESSIONAL:

1 05 228049 PELAEZ, MARK ANTHONY B 87.85
2 06 253974 CORDOVA, JUSTIN ALICK M 87.39
3 13 460934 PORNILLOS, MA CRISTINA D 87.29
4 10 377830 ADARNE, GRACE JUDE B 87.02
5 06 255735 HULLEZA, VENICE MARIE B 86.90
6 13 462427 CONSTANTINO, KAR LYLE A 86.85
7 05 228067 CORNEJO, ED MARI CEDRIC C 86.79
8 13 469924 ELIGADO, ANGELICA ANNE C 86.65
9 08 312736 GELERA, OLIVER GERARD M 86.63
10 13 473879 ALMANZOR, IAN DERRICK W 86.56

SUBPROFESSIONAL:

1 13 862182 BIYO, GERARDO R 90.65
2 13 861291 PABILANE, ALMA L 89.63
3 12 840937 SEVILLA, ARVIN E 89.25
4 09 780299 ETIONG, HAZEL ANN P 89.02
5 13 861593 DE JESUS, MIRAQUEL G 88.94
6 04 668654 MAYO, ARNIE JAMES C 88.82
7 14 900105 REYES, BJORN RONWALD L 88.72
8 13 860066 DOMINGUEZ, CLARENCE G 88.71
9 13 862244 SANTOS, MARY ANDRIELLE C 88.59
10 13 861936 TEMBREVILLA, JUSTIN LAWRENCE J 88.12

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Suspension of Classes due to the Feast of Black Nazarene

Classes in several schools in Manila will be suspended on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

• Manila Science High School
• Araullo High School
• Geronimo Santiago Elementary School
• V. Mapa High School
• Manila High School
• Ramon Avancena High School
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
• Universidad De Manila

Manila Mayor Fred Lim reiterated that it is upon the discretion of private schools (colleges and universities) if they are going to suspend classes on the said date.

Universities that suspended classes as announced on different platforms

• Far Eastern University
• University of Santo Tomas
• San Beda College
• Adamson University
• Colegio De San Juan De Letran
• Mapua Institute of Technology (but not officework)
• University of the East - Manila

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December 2012 Dental Technologist Exam Results

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Thursday that 15 out of 26 passed the Dental Technologist Licensure Examination given in December 2012.

The results were released in six (6) working days after the last day of examination. 

Roll of Successful Examinees in the 
DENTAL TECHNOLOGIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION 
Held on DECEMBER 18, 2012 & FF. DAYS
Released on JANUARY 3, 2013

Seq. No. N a m e 
1 ALIPIO, PRECIOUSMARIE SENSANO 
2 BOLAÑO, REJEAN MAPILI 
3 COTARA, GLIZEL RANGEL 
4 GRAYDA, MICHAEL ANGELO ANTONINO 
5 GUTIERREZ, MARK ANTHONY CUNANAN 
6 LUGO, QUEENCY MAE ESTEBAN 
7 LUNOD, JOEL VILLAFUERTE 
8 MARCOS, CRISTINEJOY REYES 
9 MORATALLA, DIANAARCEGA 
10 QUEBADA, RIZA LINDA IBANEZ 
11 SAN ROQUE, ARMANLOUIS RAMIREZ 
12 SANTIAGO, NARDO NEMESIO 
13 SO, FRANCIS SIA
14 TOLENTINO, ALLANRESURRECCION 
15 VELUZ, MARK GERALD ESTANGCO 
NOTHING FOLLOWS----------

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List of Philippine Holidays for 2013

The Malacañang Palace on last September 1 announced, through Proclamation No. 459, s. 2012, the list of regular holidays, special (non-working) days, and special holiday (for all schols) for the year 2013.

President Benigno Aquino III signed the Proclamation last August 16.

The regular holidays include:

New Year's Day Maundy Thursday Good Friday Araw ng Kagitingan	January 1 (Tuesday) March 28 March 29 April 9 (Tuesday)
Labor Day Independence Day National Heroes Day Bonifacio Day Christmas Day Rizal Day	May 1 (Wednesday) June 12 (Wednesday) August 26 (Last Monday of August) November 30 (Saturday) December 25 (Wednesday) December 30 (Monday)

The special non-working days include:

Black Saturday Ninoy Aquino Day All Saints Day Additional special (non-working) days - Last Day of the Year

March 30 August 21 (Wednesday) November 1 (Friday) November 2 (Saturday) December 24 (Tuesday) December 31 (Tuesday)

February 25 is declared a special holiday for all schools in commemoration of the EDSA People Power anniversary.

"The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall," the proclamation said.

The implementing guidelines shall be promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the proclamation added.

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Broken-hearted student commits suicide

A student in Iloilo City committed suicide after her boyfriend broke up with her, said a report from ABS-CBN News.

The victim was identified as Chenny Tetosora, third year high school student of Oton National High School. The report said she drowned after jumping off a bridge into the Iloilo river at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

Her body was found 30 minutes after search and retrieval operations.

Tetosora's friends said she had been drinking before the incident because she was depressed after hey boyfriend of one week broke up with her.

They however refused to give details on the reason of the breakup.

[Photo: Wikipedia]
[as seen on: http://reynthology.blogspot.com/2012/12/brokenhearted-high-school-student.html] 

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2013 National Holidays

Here are the 2013 Declared Holidays. Marked your calendars:

Regular holidays

• New Year’s Day: January 1 (Tuesday)
• Maundy Thursday: March 28
• Good Friday: March 29
• Araw ng Kagitingan: April 9 (Tuesday)
• Labor Day: May 1 (Wednesday)
• Independence Day: June 12 (Wednesday)
• National Heroes Day: August 26 (Last Monday of August)
• Bonifacio Day: November 30 (Saturday)
• Christmas Day: December 25 (Wednesday)
• Rizal Day: December 30 (Monday)

Special (non-working) days

• Black Saturday: March 30
• Ninoy Aquino Day: August 21 (Wednesday)
• All Saints Day: November 1 (Friday)

Additional special (non-working) days

• December 24 (Tuesday)
• December 31 (Tuesday)

Special holiday (for all schools)

• EDSA Revolution Anniversary: February 25 (Monday)

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The 24th Supreme Court Chief Justice, Ma. Lourdes Punzalan Aranal - Sereno

Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Aranal Sereno is the First Woman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and would serve an 18-year term as the mandatory age of retirement for Chief Justices is 70.

She was the first Aquino appointee in the High Court last August 13, 2010

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Minimum jeepney fare back to P8 starting May 15

Starting tomorrow, May 15, 2012, Tuesday, the minimum fare in jeepneys will be back to P8.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a recall order on the P0.50 provisional increase that was implemented since March.


LTFRB board member Atty. Manuel Iway said it was included in the order that the provisional increase will be recalled if the price of diesel reaches P45 or lower. Gasoline prices are now at the P54/liter range, while diesel prices are around P44/liter.


Oil companies has implemented bigtime rollbacks starting Monday.


Aside from the recall order, LTFRB has also junked the P2 fare increase petition of other transport groups because of the continuing decrease in prices of oil products.


Meanwhile in Visayas, the minimum fare will be P7.50 for the first four kilometers.


LTFRB has warned jeepney drivers to follow the fare adjustement, else will be fined of the following:

• First offense - P2,000 with 15 days suspension
• Second offense - P3,000 with 60 days suspension
• Third offense - P5,000 with cancellation of franchise or revoking of driver's license.

Photo: Rjblaze93, TravelPod

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