The Philippine Headlines - October 22, 2007

Posted by Balitang Pinoy at 8:43 AM

World religious leaders kick off peace summit

NAPLES, Italy -- Leaders of the world's main religions kicked off an annual inter-faith peace summit here Sunday with calls for a global organization uniting their faiths.

Raikkonen crowned F1 world champion

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 Formula One drivers world championship here Sunday for Ferrari when he produced a flawless run to victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie househunting in Europe

MADRID -- Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are looking for a house in Europe so that their four children and future offspring can have a "broad vision of the world," the actor said in an interview published Sunday.

Olympic course awes world’s top triathletes

CHANGPING, CHINA -- A grayish hue dominated the skyline.
Yet the Olympic fever remained in the air as the world’s top triathletes gathered in the suburban Changping district, 40 kilometers north of downtown Beijing in China.

Stars not spared as fires rage in Malibu

LOS ANGELES -- A fast-burning wildfire ripped through the exclusive seaside town of Malibu Sunday, forcing authorities to order evacuations of a string of multimillion dollar homes belonging to some of Hollywood's top stars.

Homework, exams stress Chinese pupils

BEIJING -- China is to reform school curriculum to ease the burden put on children by pushy teachers and parents eager to see them succeed in an increasingly competitive society, a vice education minister said.

Beyonce concert cancelled after Turkish rebel attack

ISTANBUL -- Istanbul's Fenerbahce sports club Sunday said it had cancelled centenary festivities due next week, including a concert by pop diva Beyonce, after the deaths of 12 soldiers in an ambush by Kurdish rebels.

First Malaysian in space returns to Earth

MOSCOW -- Two Russian cosmonauts and the first Malaysian in space returned to Earth on Sunday in an unusually abrupt and off-target manner after leaving the orbiting the International Space Station, Russian mission control said.

Darchinyan puts away Catubay

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino Federico Catubay put up a gallant stand before Australia-based Armenian Vic Darchinyan put him away with a 12th-round technical knockout Saturday night in their International Boxing Organization super flyweight title fight at the Auburn RSL Club in Sydney.

NBI agents seize 18 computers with fake software in Pasig

MANILA, Philippines -- More than P5 million worth of computers which were using pirated software have been seized by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Pasig City.

No SK poll in youth-less Kalayaan Island

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- Kalayaan Island, located in the Spratlys in the South China Sea, has two candidates for barangay captain of its only village, Pag-Asa.

4,000 cops to be deployed for Eastern Visayas polls

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police will deploy about 4,000 policemen in Eastern Visayas for the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council, SK) elections next week.

Hour-long blaze hits Glorietta 4 restaurant

MANILA, Philippines -- For the second time in a week, the owners of the Glorietta mall in Makati City shut its gates and evacuated customers after a small fire broke out in the kitchen of a seafood restaurant on the second floor of Glorietta 4. Fortunately, no one was reported hurt.

Vote-buy raps fly, gimmicks abound

MANILA, Philippines -- While the enthusiasm generated by the national elections in May has died down, candidates for the Oct. 29 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council, SK) elections have been trying to perk up the electorate by using time-tested campaign gimmicks.

‘Read along’ in mall draws biggest crowd

MANILA, Philippines -- For 11 Saturdays, the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) has invited celebrities and role models to read stories to children of all ages in a quiet nook in its Makati office.

Manila mayor Lim to mall owners: Step up security

MANILA, Philippines -- Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim Sunday appealed to mall owners to step up their security measures by providing additional personnel or equipment to ensure the safety of their customers.

Acts of heroism rise from the rubble

On a day of tragedy and grief, there was hope -- and heroism. Oct. 19 will be remembered for its terror and uncertainty, but for those who lived through it, the kindness of strangers shone through the rubble, the clouds of dusty air, the streams of walking wounded and the pile of corpses.

Wrestlers, archers keep QC bets afloat

MANILA, Philippines -- Quezon City scooped up 10 gold medals in wrestling and added five more in archery to keep its grip of the overall lead Sunday in the National Capital Region qualifying leg of the Philippine Olympic Festival at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Banks launch reform drive in wake of credit crisis

WASHINGTON--The world's top banking lobby on Sunday accepted responsibility for the US subprime lending crisis and launched a broad reform program designed to mend cracks in ailing credit markets.

Japan to give $10M to new fund to save forests

WASHINGTON--Japan said on Sunday it is ready to contribute $10 million to a new fund being developed by the World Bank to protect and replant forests.

Genes, not just hormones, make sexes behave differently

PARIS--Differences between males and females in behavior are usually chalked up to sex-specific hormones, but a study released Sunday shows that genes play a critical role too.

Gunmen seize seven from Nigerian oilfield

LAGOS--Heavily armed gunmen in speedboats kidnapped seven workers, including three foreigners, from an offshore Nigerian oilfield in a major setback to peace in the Niger Delta.

Delhi deputy mayor dies after monkey attack

NEW DELHI--The deputy mayor of the Indian capital died on Sunday from a fatal fall he suffered after being attacked by a horde of wild monkeys, doctors said.

Benazir Bhutto vows to continue public appearances

KARACHI, Pakistan--Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto made her first public outing Sunday since a deadly bomb attack on her homecoming convoy, visiting hospitalized victims and vowing that the assassination attempt would not prevent her from meeting the people.

3 projects get BOI incentives

MANILA, Philippines--THE BOARD OF INVESTMENTS last week approved the granting of tax breaks and other incentives to P1.3 billion worth of projects related to mass housing, development of a tourism facility and the export of banana products.

Asian markets seen weaker after US slide

HONG KONG - Asian stocks look set to fall on Monday after those listed on Wall Street slumped 3.6 percent following a tumble in U.S. shares as nerves about the U.S. housing market hurt sentiment.

Philippine electronics exporters want cheaper labor, power

Philippine electronics manufacturers called on Friday for changes in the country's power tariffs and in wage laws to help its exports remain competitive as the peso strengthens.

The 'other face' of Sentosa: Pursuing a slice of American dream

WASHINGTON D.C. They say they are the face of the Sentosa controversy, Filipino nurses in quest for their own little piece of the "American dream" in downstate New York.

ABC reaches out to Fil-Ams, to hire Pinoy scriptwriters

Angel of the dump walks barefoot to save Filipino kids

Agence France Presse 

MANILA - Jane Walker picks her way barefoot through stinking black mud at Manila's Smokey Mountain dumpsite, an apparition among the myriad garbage collectors she wants to rescue from their wretched poverty. 

"Why are you not in our school today?" she asks a malnourished child with a gaunt frame and bloodshot eyes. 

"I told you I would be looking for my students, you should come even if you are late," she gently scolds the child, before giving him a tight embrace.

Magnolia surges ahead in PBA

Dondon Hontiveros scored back-to-back jumpers right after being accidentally hit by Espino, and the Beverage Masters upended the Realtors, 101-96, for a second straight win in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

Pacman, foes do their 'homework'

Manny Pacquiao is in no hurry choosing his next opponent, saying the decision might come in December when he's done with his studies and a new movie he's about to make.

QC pins down 16 more golds, nears crown

Quezon City raked in 16 gold medals in wrestling, archery, muay Thai and basketball Sunday to close in on the overall championship in the National Capital Region qualifying leg of the second Philippine Olympic Festival at the Rizal Sports Complex.

Nat'l coach says RP 5 on right track

Still smarting from the Philippines' failure to advance beyond the eliminations in the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tokushima last July, national basketball coach Chot Reyes said Sunday the fall only strengthens his resolve to restore the country's reputation as an Asian power.

Police, military unite vs terror attacks

The bloody mall blast that claimed 11 lives and injured scores of shoppers in Makati City prompted authorities to strengthen further its forces by harnessing anti-terrorism skills and implementing tightened security operations.

(GMA7) Death toll in blast rises to 11; probers doubt bomb theory

The death toll from the Glorietta 2 mall explosion in Makati rose to 11 on Sunday as investigators cast doubts...

(GMA7) C-4 bomb component used in Glorietta blast - PNP chemist

Traces of a main component of the powerful C-4 military grade plastic explosive were found at Glorietta mall in...

Cable Operators Up in Arms Against Smart

Even without clear regulatory rules, Smart wants to introduce mobile TV

JDV Writes �Dear Gloria� Letter; Is this Divorce or Mere Positioning?

Is Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. divorcing from President Arroyo or merely sending her a message that she should not...

3 Retired Justices Probe Payola Scandal in SC

The Supreme Court has created a committee composed of three retired Supreme Court (SC) justices to look into reports that...

Three kids killed in Philippines grenade blast

Three children were killed in a grenade blast triggered by a quarrel over a cockfight in a southern Philippine city, a police report said Sunday.

Philippine mall bombing toll rises to 11

The death toll in the bombing of an upscale shopping mall in the Philippine capital rose to 11 Sunday as authorities checked reports that an Al Qaeda-linked group was behind the attack, officials said.

Gov't aims for recovery of Marcos loot in Singapore

GOVERNMENT is eyeing to recover the US$25 million alleged ill-gotten wealth stashed in an escrow account at the Singapore branch of the German bank, West Landesbank AG, acting Justice Secretary Agnes ...

RP, US mull holding Balikatan exercises in Sulu

VISITING Forces Agreement (VFA) Commission chairman Edilberto Adan said the Philippine and US forces are eyeing Sulu, a bailiwick of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, as a possible site for next year's ...

Ong's removal as Sandigabayan justice sought anew at SC

AFTER being barred taking up a post at the Supreme Court (SC), another suit was filed seeking the removal of Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong from the anti-graft court for his failure to pr...

Ermita off to NY to discuss RP rights situation with UN

Close this MANILA, Philippines--PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has dispatched a team to New York led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to discuss with United Nations officials the coun...

Mangrove conservation paying off--DENR

MANILA, Philippines--There's new evidence that the country's mangrove cover has slowly grown to nearly 60 percent of its original state in the 1900s. Satellite pictures from the National Mapping and ...

Labor dep't launches new program assisting displaced workers

MANILA, Philippines--The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set up quick reaction teams (QRTs) in its national and regional offices to provide help to displaced workers under an expanded as...

Marine officer in coup plot rushed to hospital

MARINE Colonel Ariel Querubin, tagged in last year's alleged power grab, was rushed to the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City Sunday due to chills and high fever.Ma. Flor Querubin, wife of the deta...

Opposition solon says he's 'more sympathetic' to De Venecia

Close this MANILA, Philippines--In the event of a full-blown confrontation with President Macapagal-Arroyo, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. might find the most unlikely of allies: opposition cong...

'Her life was just starting'--pa of daughter slain in blast

Close this MANILA, Philippines--For a few precious minutes, Julian Marcos stood at the wreckage of the Glorietta 2 mall, in front of a single yellow candle, thinking of his daughter and of wh...

3 friends together in life, death

Close this MANILA, Philippines--Jee Ann de Gracia, 25, normally brought home-cooked food whenever she had lunch at her office near the Glorietta 2 in Makati City. On Fridays, she and two of ...

Calls to Rajah Solaiman diverted to Rep. Biazon's cell phone

Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa was surprised when he got calls on his cell phone from reporters on Sunday inquiring if they could talk to Sheik Omar of the Rajah Solaiman Revolutionary Movement...

Death toll from Glorietta 2 mall explosion goes up to 11

The toll from a deadly bomb blast in a Manila shopping mall has risen to 11 after another body was found in rubble at the ravaged building and an injured man died in hospital, officials said Sunda...

Kin of Glorietta victims ask Arroyo for justice, not cash

MANILA, Philippines--The father of one of those killed in last Friday's blast at the Glorietta mall in Makati City, has blamed the government for the death of his son and said he was not hopeful that ...

Abolish Palace antigraft body

By Jomar Canlas, Reporter The Palace Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), the agency tasked by the President to investigate alleged bribery of government officials who visited Malaca ang, is actually...

Women Consider Abortion An Escape

EDITOR'S NOTE: The first part revealed how abortion is becoming an accepted practice among women with unwanted pregnancies, and the "backdoor" and medical procedures available.

Calls to 'Sheik Omar' diverted to mobiles of oppositionists

MANILA, Philippines--Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon cried foul on Sunday after being dragged in the bombing of the Glorietta shopping mall that killed 11 people and wounded more than 100 in Makati City...

Filipino-American doctor convicted of murder--reports

Dr. Noel Chua, a Filipino-American doctor, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to "life plus five years," reports have said. The website, firstcoastnews.com,

Investigators not discounting accident in Glorietta blast

MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) Was the Glorietta explosion last Friday a terrorist attack or an accident? This is the question police hope to solve as they finally descended into the basement of the G...

List of dead and injured in Glorietta blast

MANILA, Philippines --(UPDATE 4) The following is an updated list of those who were killed and injured during an exposion 1:30 p.m. Friday at Glorietta Mall in Makati. Authorities have issued a corre...

Group's claim it's behind Glorietta blast not validated--AFP

Close this FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City--Military intelligence has not validated reports that the extremist Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) was behind the bomb attack at a shopping mall in Makat...

Teflon Arroyo to whom nothing sticks

Close this MANILA, Philippines--Within minutes of Friday's deadly bomb blast in a Manila shopping mall the text messages started circulating in this SMS-obsessed Southeast Asian nation. In a...

Sulu eyed for RP-US war games next year

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City--The Philippines and the United States are eyeing the island province of Sulu, a hotbed of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, and several other areas in Mindanao and Luzon for...

Resume normal activity, Makati mayor urges

MANILA, Philippines--After Friday's deadly explosion in the Glorietta 2 mall, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay called on all corporations and business establishments to resume their operations on Monda...

Defense chief urges PMA cadets to respect human rights

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City--Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has asked cadet officers of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to "uphold" human rights as the military establishment continues t...

Querubin brought to hospital

MANILA, Philippines--Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, one of 28 officers facing court martial over the alleged coup plot in February 2006, was brought to a military hospital on Sunday morning after suff...

Grenade blast kills three children in southern Philippine city

Manila - Three children were killed in a grenade blast triggered by a quarrel over a cockfight in a southern Philippine city, a police report said Sunday. Six people were also wounded in the explosion...

Fire in bombed Manila mall causes panic

MANILA (Reuters) - A small fire broke out on Sunday in a mall in the Philippine capital where a bomb exploded last week. The fire caused panic, but there were no immediate reports of injuries, witness...

Philippines shocked by bombing attack, Arroyo orders wider security meeting

The Philippines has been shocked by the deadly bombing attack Friday on a highly popular shopping mall in a showcase financial hub in Metro Manila and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Saturday called...

Glorietta blast toll climbs to 11; victim dies in hospital

MANILA, Philippines--The death toll from Friday's Glorietta 2 mall explosion is now at 11, after one of the victims in critical condition died before dawn Sunday. Makati Councilor Junjun Binay identi...

Angel of the dump walks barefoot to save children

MANILA, Philippines--Jane Walker picks her way barefoot through stinking black mud at Manila's Smokey Mountain dumpsite, an apparition among the myriad garbage collectors she wants to rescue from thei...

Death toll from Manila bomb blast rises to 10

MANILA : The death toll from a powerful bomb blast in a Manila shopping mall rose to 10 after another dead body was found in the rubble of the ravaged building, an official said Sunday. The body of 23...

Caller Claims Militant Group Behind Deadly Manila Blast

Al Jacinto, Arab News MANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY, 21 October 2007 - A group allied with the Abu Sayyaf and the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah has claimed responsibility yesterday for Friday's dea...

Bomb caused mall blast in Philippines that killed nine

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Officials in the Philippines say it was a bomb made out of high-grade explosives that blew up in a mall in Manila yesterday. At least nine people were killed and more than ...

Puno directs police to interview Trillanes

LOCAL Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Saturday directed police authorities to interview Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on his statement pointing Armed Forces Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as th...

High-grade bomb, terrorists blamed for mall blast in Manila's financial district that killed 9

MANILA, Philippines – A bomb made from high-grade explosives – and likely set off by terrorists – caused the blast that killed at least nine people and wounded more than 100 at a mal...

Death toll hits 10 as body found in Glorietta blast site

Close this MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) The death toll in Friday's Glorietta 2 explosion has reached 10, with one of the missing persons recovered near the elevator. Makati City councilor J...

Security meet set next week

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has called for a full National Security Council meeting next week to discuss measures on how to beef up security in the wake of the Glorietta m...

'Confessions' of an abortionist

The documentary, SONDA: buhay.bata. aborsyon, done by a group of University of Santo Tomas (UST) nursing students presents a first-hand account of the lives of an abortionist and an abortionee.

Counselor's tale of saving an abortion survivor

Not all abortion attempts are successful, whether induced or direct. Most instances point to cases where the abortion pill did not work especially when the baby is over four months old. Myrna Sanc...

Australia advises against travel to RP

MANILA, Philippines -- Australia on Saturday re-issued its advisory to its citizens not to travel to the Philippines following the bomb explosion in the Glorietta mall in Makati City. In its website,

Bishops against 'cafeteria methods' of family planning

Unnatural methods of family planning, the CBCP said, is a form of abortion, which, it added, is against the Church's teachings and advocacy of the formation of core values and education on the n...

House Bill 3773-Anti-life legislation

The CBCP refers to House Bill 3773, the Integrated Reproductive Health and Population Reduction Bill. Church-backed organizations, such as Pro-Life and Couples for Christ, could not agree more w...

Glorietta bombing a bid for funding by al-Qaeda -- analyst

MANILA, Philippines -- A political, security, and military affairs analyst on Saturday tied the Glorietta bombing to an alleged attempt by local extremists to obtain recognition and funding from the a...

Blast may be fund-raiser for terror groups

MANILA, Philippines -- National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on Saturday said that the bombing at the Glorietta mall may have been executed by terrorists so that they could obtain funding from b...

Glorietta blast originated from basement -- bomb experts

MANILA, Philippines -- The deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 in Makati City originated from the basement, the Philippine Bomb Data Center said Saturday. And while Chief Inspector Reynold Rosero said th...

Arroyo calls for unity in face of mall blast

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rallied Filipinos anew to be united and to continue working hard amid developments that pose fresh threats to the country's economic takeoff. ...

No verified Islamic group's claim to blast, says Razon

MANILA, Philippines -- There is no verified claim of responsibility for the Glorietta 2 explosion from the Rajah Sulaiman Movement, Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon said Satur...

Bishops denounce bombing; ask prayers for country's crises

MANILA, Philippines -- The country's Catholic bishops condemned Friday's bomb explosion in Glorietta 2 in Makati and asked the Catholic faithful to join them in prayer for the problems besetting the c...

MILF offers help in deadly blast probe

MANILA, Philippines -- Muslim separatist rebels in the Philippines on Saturday offered their help in tracking down those behind a shopping mall bombing that killed nine and injured 113 in Manila. The...

Fuel prices go up for 5th time in 5 weeks

MANILA, Philippines -- As world oil prices hit a record $90 a barrel, local oil firms on Saturday jacked up pump prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene by 50 centavos a liter and liquefied petroleum...

Terrorism suspected as bomb kills 8 at Manila mall

-- A blast in an upscale Manila shopping center killed at least eight people and wounded about 130 Friday in what the country's national security chief said was a militant attack. "This is definite...

Makati blast a 'terror act,' military says

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon said the bomb attack at a shopping mall in the country's financial district was a "terror...

Filipino official hints Abu Sayyaf terror group behind Makati mall blast

The bombing attack which killed at least nine people and injured more than 100 in Makati, the financial center of the Philippines, could be staged by the Abu Sayyaf terrorists, said a senior Filipino ...

Glorietta mall complex reopens, except for damaged portion

MANILA, Philippines--A day after a deadly blast in the Glorietta 2 mall, that killed nine people and left over a hundred injured, the rest of the sprawling Ayala retail complex in Makati City resumed ...

Trillanes faces probe for linking gov't to Glorietta blast

MANILA, Philippines -- Authorities said they would question Senator Antonio Trillanes IV over his statements that linked the government to Friday's deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City....

Authorities mull reward for info on Glorietta blast

MANILA, Philippines --(UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Saturday authorities are considering the possibility of offering reward money to those who can provide information pinpointing tho...

Glorietta blast traced to storeroom; no exact cause yet

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Police have yet to identify the exact cause of Friday's explosion in the Glorietta 2 mall in the Makati financial district, National Capital Region police chief General...

Eight Killed in Bombing of Manila Mall

MANILA, 20 October 2007 - Eight people were killed and 100 injured when a huge bomb ripped through a shopping mall in the Philippine capital's financial district yesterday, police said. Panicked shopp...

Filipino Muslim Leader Killed in Ambush

Al Jacinto, Arab News ZAMBOANGA CITY, 20 October 2007 - Unidentified gunmen ambushed yesterday Muslim politician and his driver in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, police said.Jamasali Abdura...

Microchip Tech opens R&D hub in Philippines

Close this MANILA, Philippines -- Microchip Technology Inc., the US-based microcontroller and analogue semiconductor manufacturer, has opened its global research and development (R&D) hub in ...

IMF hikes Philippine investment growth forecasts

MANILA, Philippines -- The International Monetary Fund expects a stronger pickup in momentum of investments in the Philippines this year and 2008 but also expects slower export growth, given a weakeni...

Beltran family concedes road mishap an accident

MANILA, Philippines - All's well that ends well. Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran has already opted for an out-of court settlement with the driver of the sports utility vehicle that rammed his car Tues...

De Venecia urged to leave House speakership

AN INDEPENDENT lawmaker on Friday asked House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to lead by example on his call for moral revolution aimed at eradicating the alleged corruption in the Arroyo government by vo...

Actor faces tax evasion case

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is prepared to file on Monday a multimillion-peso tax evasion case against actor Richard Gomez before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) for failure to file his income tax ...

Estrada confident of reversal of plunder verdict

FORMER President Joseph Estrada on Friday expressed confidence that the Sandiganbayan Special Division will back away from its September 12 guilty verdict and come up with a new ruling acquitting him ...

29 held for gun ban violation

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-nine persons have been arrested in less than a month in Quezon City for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban now in force for the coming barangay and Sa...

Pasay probes 'overpayment' to 3 contractors

MANILA, Philippines - Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad has ordered a probe into the alleged P1-million overpayment to three private contractors during the term of former mayor Allan Panaligan. In ...

79 Glorietta blast victims still in hospital -- Red Cross

View interactive map and photos of Glorietta blast MANILA, Philippines -- Seventy-nine victims of a powerful blast in Glorietta Mall have remained confined in Makati hospitals, a Philippine National ...

Return Palace cash handouts

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -- Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado urged fellow governors and the lawmakers who said they received cash gifts during a meeting in Malaca ang to return the money. Aumentado...

Catholic bishops call on Philippines' Arroyo to quit

MANILA – Three Philippine Roman Catholic bishops called on Friday for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down, saying she had lost the moral authority to lead the country amid a string of...

RP's first solar car aces pre-race test

DARWIN, Australia -- The Philippines' first solar-powered car, Sinag, hurdled Friday the "scrutineering" or qualifying test conducted by the 20th World Solar Challenge (WSC) organizing committee. Sin...

Resignation Arroyo's only honorable way out

If memory serves, the situation now is comparable to weeks preceding Marcos' declaration of martial law on Sept. 11, 1972. I was a reporter for a radio-TV news network then. My fellow field reporters...

Soldiers to get combat pay hike

MANILA, Philippines -- The government pledged Friday to come through with a promised pay increase for combat troops fighting Communist and Muslim insurgencies, defusing a potential rift within the mil...

Shouting, jeering mar court-martial

MANILA, Philippines -- The spectacle of the accused shouting and jeering at a military court forced the suspension of Friday's hearing in the court-martial of 28 Marine and Army scout rangers being tr...

Explosion kills 8 in Glorietta

Makati City Councilor JunJun Binay said the explosion left an eight-meter wide crater on the ground floor and blew a hole through the roof on the second floor.

COA report does not show fund misuse

On Thursday, Sen. Mar Roxas said in a statement that a Commission on Audit (COA) report revealed that the Office of the President failed to settle cash advances worth P615 million made to office...

Lakas-Kampi coalition intact, Palace insists

Malaca ang said Friday that there is no infighting within the ruling Lakas-Kampi coalition and that its allies have not broken up into factions.

Oil near $90 a barrel in Asian trade

SINGAPORE: Oil was close to $90 a barrel in Asia Friday on fears Iraqi crude exports will be disrupted if Turkey attacks Kurdish rebels across the border, traders said.

Search and rescue operations at mall end

MANILA, Philippines -- Authorities declared search and rescue operations for more victims under the rubble of the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City over, with the unaffected sections of the mall to resu...

Police, military on red alert after bombing

POLICE and military forces in Metro Manila have been placed on their highest alert level status on Friday following an explosion in a Makati shopping mall, authorities said.

President asks public to be calm, vigilant

President Gloria Arroyo warned her political enemies not to exploit the crisis gripping her government, which was punctuated by a blast that rocked the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City on Friday.

US, UK embassies express sympathy for blast victims

MANILA, Philippines -- The embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom expressed sympathy for the victims of the early Friday afternoon explosion at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City. At ...

'Don't use blast for political gain'

MANILA, Philippines -- Malaca ang on Friday appealed to its critics not to use the apparent bomb attack on Makati City's Glorietta Mall for political gain even as it assured the incident was not cause...

Cops to secure Quezon City malls in wake of Makati blast

MANILA, Philippines -- Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula ordered Friday the deployment of more personnel to the different malls and commercial center...

Senator Honasan says coup 'last thing' RP needs

MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, linked to several coup attempts since the mid-1980s, said a military uprising is the "last thing" the country needs. At the same time, Honasa...

RP tech dreams tied to education

THE DREAM of the Philippines hosting another Silicon Valley will
remain far-fetched unless the country focuses on a most basic issue --
education.

Incubator firm sets up shop in Leyte town

TACLOBAN CITY -- A technology business incubator (TBI)
that can accommodate six fledgling technology-related ventures has
opened at the Leyte Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park
in Palo town, Leyte.

Web site tweaks could be new niche for RP

AFTER CALL CENTERS and medical transcription, the Philippines could
become an outsourcing destination for another information technology
(IT) service.

Networking Web site for idea exchange launched

AFTER THREE YEARS of conceptualization, the European
Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) yesterday launched
OneFilipino.Net in partnership with Ayala Foundation and EON The
Stakeholders Firm, in order to provide an avenue for Filipino
professionals -- experts in various fields -- to network and exchange
ideas.

Apple to open new iPhones to outside software makers

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple revealed plans Wednesday to open
iPhones to computer programs made by outsiders in a move that could
quiet complaints that its lock on the devices' workings is overzealous.

Spending on computer tech in '07 to top a trillion dollars

SAN FRANCISCO -- Spending on computer technology will top
a trillion dollars this year as the industry grows increasingly vital to
national economies worldwide, according to a study by the technology
market intelligence firm IDC released yesterday.

Yahoo profit dips despite reorganization

SAN FRANCISCO -- Yahoo reported yesterday that its
third-quarter profits dipped despite a rise in revenues and a nearly
completed corporate reorganization.

Businesses move to address human capital challenge

KEY BUSINESS groups are moving to generate and maintain
human capital needed by industries and services, with the European
Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) having launched its Human
Capital Club and teaming up with Ayala Foundation and EON The
Stakeholders Firm in launching today OneFilipino.Net.

Apple to unleash Leopard operating system on Oct. 26

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple announced yesterday that its new
Leopard operating system will debut in stores on Oct. 26, four months
later than originally planned due to a shift of resources for the iPhone
launch.

Taiwan's Acer unit completes merger with US' Gateway

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's leading computer vendor Acer, Inc said
yesterday its wholly owned subsidiary, Galaxy Acquisition Corp, has
completed the process of merging with Gateway, Inc. of the US.

RP positioned as choice outsourcing expansion site as India 'heats up'

CEBU CITY -- Continued confidence in the quality of
Filipino business process outsourcing (BPO) workers, despite persistent
reports of eroding English proficiency, has convinced TeleTech Customer
Care Management (Philippines), Inc. to open its eighth delivery center
in the Philippines.

Teleperformance set to open 2,500-seat call center facility

TELEPERFORMANCE, one of the leading providers of
outsourced contact center services will be opening its newest call
center facility on Oct.19.

Microsoft drops antitrust appeal in South Korea

SEOUL -- US software giant Microsoft has dropped its appeal against an
antitrust ruling in South Korea after losing a similar case in Europe, court
officials said yesterday.

Study raises notion of 'printing' tissue

CHICAGO -- The inkjet printer may appear to be an unlikely
solution to the organ donor shortage problem, but it might not be as
far-fetched as it sounds.

Incredible shrinking memory drives new IT

PARIS -- Over the past decade, hard drives have shrunk to the size of postage stamps while their storage capacity has improved fifty-fold, a feat that can be traced to two men who won the 2007 Nobel Prize for Physics last Tuesday.

MP3 players challenge iPod

NEW YORK -- When Marybeth Miller decided she wanted a digital player to carry around music from her massive collection, she had one important rule: no iPod.

Yahoo! Hack Day

I was invited to attend Yahoo!�s Philippine "Hack Day" last Wednesday, along with some reps from the media and the academe.

Mobile phone frenzy bubbles in booming Vietnam telco mart

Between now and 2012,
Vietnamese authorities expect
the penetration rate for fixed
lines and mobile phones to
rise from 35% to 60%.

BEA Systems rejects $6.68-B bid from Oracle

SAN FRANCISCO -- Number two global software maker Oracle
said Friday it had bid $6.68 billion for BEA Systems, an offer that was
swiftly rejected by the rival business software group as too low.

Does your organization need Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 platforms like Facebook and YouTube are taking the Internet by
storm. New software tools, social behaviors, approaches to content
creation and business models are changing the way we think about
information, collaboration and intellectual property.�Use of Web 2.0
platforms for the serious business of work is referred to as
Enterprise 2.0.

Japan lures software experts

FILIPINO SOFTWARE engineers are expected to benefit from
Japan's growing demand for offshore information and communication
technology services, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in
a statement yesterday.

Contact center net income up

EXPANSION of business volume and sound overhead management
pushed call center ePerformax International, Inc.'s first semester net
income by 9.04% to P111.95 million from P102.67 million in the same
period last year, the company said.

Headline: Crisis contained but risks remain

WASHINGTON — Central banks may have done a good job in containing the impact of recent financial market turbulence but risks remain and monetary authorities need to stay alert, the policy-guiding body of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday said.

Corporate News: Power producer gets corporate regulator's nod to hike capital

SN ABOITIZ Power-Magat, Inc. secured the nod of the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase its capital stock to P1.05 billion from P20,000 to infuse additional capital into the company.

Banking & Finance: ICC sides with RCBC in Bankard case

A THREE-MEMBER ARBITRATION COURT of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has sided with RCBC Capital Corp. in a dispute arising from its purchase of Bankard, Inc. from Equitable PCI Bank in 2000.

Stock Market: Makati bombing may spook stock investors

THE LOCAL equity market is expected to correct itself this week on the back of Wall Street's decline and security concerns on the domestic front.

The Economy: Exporters step up pressure on gov't

EXPORTERS HAVE EXPRESSED alarm anew over the continued appreciation of the peso, claiming the trend is likely to cause more and more small companies to close shop unless the government intervenes.

The Nation: Justice to PCGG: Illegally acquired wealth retrieval highest priority

RUSHING to beat a decision by the Singapore high court on the acquisition of the remaining Marcos loot, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has ordered the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to make the retrieval a top priority.

IT Matters: RP tech dreams tied to education

THE DREAM of the Philippines hosting another Silicon Valley will remain far-fetched unless the country focuses on a most basic issue — education.

Three kids killed in Philippines grenade blast

Three children were killed in a grenade blast triggered by a quarrel over a cockfight in a southern Philippine city, a police report said Sunday.

Philippine mall bombing toll rises to 11

No SK poll in youth-less Kalayaan Island

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- Kalayaan Island, located in the Spratlys in the South China Sea, has two candidates for barangay captain of its only village, Pag-Asa. The island-town has a land area of less ...

Smuggled vehicles, clothes seized in Cebu

CEBU CITY -- The Bureau of Customs in Cebu uncovered P7 million worth of smuggled vehicles and used clothing valued at P8 million in container vans coming from Korea. Customs Commissioner Napoleon Mo...

DepEd execs question COA report on textbooks

PALO, LEYTE -- A government audit finding that textbooks worth P27.7 million were rotting in the stock rooms of school divisions in Eastern Visayas has placed education regional officials in a state o...

Thai powers Ateneo past UST spikers

MANILA, Philippines -- Ateneo de Manila University, never considered a serious contender in past stagings of the Shakey's V-League women's volleyball tournament, is now officially a threat after repul...

Megadike eyed in lahar-affected Sorsogon town

IROSIN, SORSOGON -- Government officials are considering a megadike to solve the recurring threat of lahar and mudflow that had ravaged at least five villages here. The idea sprang from a conference ...

Bombing takes heat off cash gift scandal

View interactive map and photos of Glorietta blast MANILA, Philippines -- The bombing at the Glorietta shopping mall on Friday, killing at least 11 people, has launched the country into the vicious ...

Acts of heroism rise from the rubble

MANILA, Philippines -- On a day of tragedy and grief, there was hope -- and heroism. Oct. 19 will be remembered for its terror and uncertainty, but for those who lived through it, the kindness of str...

Her life was not even starting yet, says pa

View interactive map and photos of Glorietta blast MANILA, Philippines -- For a few precious minutes, Julian Marcos stood at the wreckage of the Glorietta 2 mall, in front of a single yellow candle,...

Magnolia nips SLR, ties for top spot

MANILA, Philippines -- After being knocked down by a wayward elbow, Magnolia's Dondon Hontiveros did what he does best and knocked out Sta. Lucia Realty in the stretch. Hontiveros canned two crucial ...

Alcano falls at final hurdle, winds up 2nd

MANILA, Philippines -- Ronnie Alcano missed a chance to make pool history Saturday. Shane Van Boening took the measure of the dual world champion Alcano for the second time in as many days, 13-10, an...

Amid travel advisories, Palace orders briefings for diplomats

Following a string of travel advisories over the Glorietta 2 explosion that killed 11 people, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to "calm" the internationa...

Alcano chases historic crown

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino Ronato Alcano stayed on course for a historic achievement in the 32nd US Open at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, late Friday. Unshaken by a l...

Ermita flies to New York for UN human rights meet

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita flew to New York Sunday night to meet with officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Malacañang said. Ermita, chairman of the Pre...

Ermita off to NY to discuss RP rights situation with UN

Close this MANILA, Philippines--PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has dispatched a team to New York led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to discuss with United Nations officials the coun...

Mangrove conservation paying off--DENR

Purefoods outclasses Talk 'N Text

GAMES TODAY (Araneta Coliseum) 4:05 p.m.-Magnolia vs Sta. Lucia Realty 6:30 p.m.-Alaska vs Air21 MANILA, Philippines -- Purefoods brought its winning form in the pre-season up to the Smart-PBA Philip...

Labor dep't launches new program assisting displaced workers

Opposition solon says he's 'more sympathetic' to De Venecia

Close this MANILA, Philippines--In the event of a full-blown confrontation with President Macapagal-Arroyo, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. might find the most unlikely of allies: opposition cong...

'Her life was just starting'--pa of daughter slain in blast

Close this MANILA, Philippines--For a few precious minutes, Julian Marcos stood at the wreckage of the Glorietta 2 mall, in front of a single yellow candle, thinking of his daughter and of wh...

3 friends together in life, death

Close this MANILA, Philippines--Jee Ann de Gracia, 25, normally brought home-cooked food whenever she had lunch at her office near the Glorietta 2 in Makati City. On Fridays, she and two of ...

Death toll in blast rises to 11; probers doubt bomb theory

The death toll from the Glorietta 2 mall explosion in Makati rose to 11 on Sunday as investigators cast doubts on earlier statements that the blast was caused by a bomb. Director General Avelino Ra...

Nene wants Scotland Yard to probe Glorietta blast

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the explosion at Glorietta 2 mall by enlisting the services of investigators of proven track record f...

Gov"t eyes $25-M Marcos deposit in Singapore

The government is eyeing the recovery of some $25 million alleged Marcos ill-gotten wealth stashed in an escrow account at the Singapore branch of the German bank, West Landesbank AG, Acting Justice S...

Kin of Glorietta victims ask Arroyo for justice, not cash

Calls to 'Sheik Omar' diverted to mobiles of oppositionists

2 suspected robbers wounded in shootout with QC cops

Two suspected robbers were shot and wounded early Sunday evening after allegedly engaging police in a shootout in Quezon City, radio dzBB reported. Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula, Quezon ...

New plea seeks Justice Ong's ouster from Sandiganbayan

A suit had barred him from sitting as justice of the Supreme Court, but another suit has been filed seeking the removal of Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong from the anti-graft court. The...

Filipino-American doctor convicted of murder--reports

Dr. Noel Chua, a Filipino-American doctor, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to "life plus five years," reports have said. The website, firstcoastnews.com,

Filipinos in Bahrain warned against 'shabu' use, trafficking

Close this MANILA, Philippines--Bahrain has launched a crackdown against users and traffickers of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as meth, speed, or shabu, resulting in the arrest o...

Investigators not discounting accident in Glorietta blast

List of dead and injured in Glorietta blast

Group's claim it's behind Glorietta blast not validated--AFP

Close this FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City--Military intelligence has not validated reports that the extremist Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) was behind the bomb attack at a shopping mall in Makat...

Teflon Arroyo to whom nothing sticks

Close this MANILA, Philippines--Within minutes of Friday's deadly bomb blast in a Manila shopping mall the text messages started circulating in this SMS-obsessed Southeast Asian nation. In a...

Fever-stricken Querubin rushed to hospital

Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the alleged leaders of last year's attempt to grab power, was rushed to a military hospital due to high fever and chilling, his wife and his lawyer said Sunday. ...

KMU claims office under surveillance

Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) accused the military over the weekend of placing under surveillance its Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE). It said the office has been shadowed ...

350 kg of tainted chicken meat seized in Pasay - report

Pasay City officials seized 350 kilograms of "hot" chicken meat near the city market, radio dzBB reported on Sunday. The report said the city police Criminal Investigation Division intercepted the ...

Fire hits Glorietta 4 resto in Makati, no casualty reported

(Updated 1:33 p.m.) Fire broke out at a restaurant inside Glorietta 4 shopping mall in Ayala Center, Makati City, radio dzBB reported past noon Sunday. Mall employees, who were told to vacate the a...

Resume normal activity, Makati mayor urges

Defense chief urges PMA cadets to respect human rights

Sulu eyed for RP-US war games next year

Grenade blast kills three children in southern Philippine city

Fire hits construction site at Luneta park in Manila - report

A fire hit a construction site for an ocean park project at the back of Quirino Grandstand at Luneta Park in Manila Sunday afternoon, radio station dzBB reported. The report quoted the Manila Fire ...

Village, SK poll bets ignore Comelec guidelines

SunStar: Like in previous polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines are ignored as barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates try to catch their constituents' eye through their po...

First guts Glorietta 4 restaurant in Makati City

Glorietta 2 mall blast victim dies in hospital, toll now at 11

A person who was seriously injured at the Glorietta 2 mall blast has died at the Ospital ng Makati, bringing to 11 the total fatalities from Friday's explosion, radio dzBB reported Sunday. The ...

Philippines shocked by bombing attack, Arroyo orders wider security meeting

Coast Guard tightens watch over RORO routes after blast

The Philippine Coast Guard has tightened its watch over sea lanes used by roll-on-roll-off (RORO) vessels to prevent the possible smuggling of bombs and explosives by terrorists, Lt. Senior Grade Arma...

142 firearms seized amid gun ban for village polls

The authorities have seized at least 142 firearms after three weeks of enforcing the Commission on Elections (Comelec)'s gun ban in time for the Oct. 29 village and youth council elections. Sr. Ins...

Bounty for Glorietta blast suspects to be raised to P4M

The reward for information leading to the perpetrators of Friday's deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 in Makati City will be raised to P4 million. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Gen. ...

Angel of the dump walks barefoot to save children

Red Cross stops search as crew cleans up Glorietta mess

The Philippine National Red Cross on Sunday stopped its search and retrieval efforts at Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City, which exploded Friday afternoon and claimed the lives of 10 people and injured ...

Pregnant Filipina dies in Jeddah airport rush - report

A pregnant Filipino woman reportedly died Thursday night due to chaotic conditions at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Online news site,

Abu Sayyaf no longer a threat, says Army

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- The Western Command declared Thursday the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is no longer a threat in Palawan following the breakup of a 6-man cell last September that repo...

RP cagebelles' battle cry

MANILA, Philippines -- It wasn't all hard work and pressure for the ladies' basketball team in Phuket, Thailand. There were light moments too. And it wasn't all basketball too. There was also a beaut...

Thai superstar makes Shakey's debut today

GAMES TODAY (The Arena) 3 p.m.-UST vs Ateneo 5 p.m.-FEU vs Lyceum MANILA, Philippines -- A Thai who is touted to be the best among her compatriots who have strutted their wares here will make her muc...

Tausug artist reaches out to Muslim, Christian faiths

Low-key But Tawasil wants to be low-key. "I prefer that my works speak, hoping that my canvas and my emotions will touch people," he says. Among his pieces at the Ateneo exhibit is a painting of th...

Pucay rules Asean Tour second leg

LIPA CITY -- Displaying a killer's instinct he promised, Mars Pucay attacked at every chance and left Orlan Sumcad in his wake to handily win the Asean Tour's second leg with a closing four-under-par ...

Thais foil RP women, capture Seaba title

MANILA, Philippines -- A vengeful Thailand team ended Philippines-Cebuana Lhuillier's magical run with a 66-49 rout Saturday night, ruling the Southeast Asia Basketball (Seaba) Championships at the Sa...

Filipinos Reeling From Rising Rice Prices

Gloria Esguerra Melencio, Arab News MANILA, 21 October 2007 - Prices of staple rice have been increasing in the past four months while peso exchange rate continuously decrease as it is pegged at 44 pe...

US Marines promise no more rape during war games in Luzon

CLARK FREEPORT -- Members of the United States Marine Corps joining the ongoing military exercises with Philippine troops are "very aware" of the case of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith who was convicted ...

Terror alert up in Visayas, Mindanao

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Police and military units in Central Mindanao were placed in the highest state of alert because of terrorist threats, a ranking police official said Saturday. Chief Insp. Leo Ajero,...

UST, Letran alumni up for beatification

MANILA, Philippines -- In the biggest beatification ever in history, Pope Benedict XVI will beatify on Oct. 28, a total of 498 martyrs of the communist persecutions during the Spanish Civil War in the...

Back to normal at the malls the morning after

Structurally sound Ayala said a team of independent structural engineers from Aromin and Sy Associates inspected the site of the explosion Friday and yesterday morning and gave ALI the go-signal to o...

'Terror group' claims blast

MANILA, Philippines -- The military yesterday said the bomb attack on the country's premier financial district was a "terrorist act" regardless of who carried it out. The military statement followed ...

PhilHealth says it's healthy

MANILA, Philippines -- Amid calls to investigate its funds, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has maintained that it is financially sound and can still pay for its members' medical bills. In a bri...

Torture claims mar beatification of martyr

MANILA, Philippines -- The scheduled beatification of a Spanish Augustinian friar who died as a martyr during the Spanish Civil War has stirred a minor controversy due to allegations of torture when h...

DOH turns to Congress on baby milk

MANILA, Philippines -- After winning only a partial victory in the Supreme Court, the Department of Health is turning to Congress to advance its campaign to promote breastfeeding as a better alternati...

Bishops, Islamic leaders condemn Makati attack

MANILA, Philippines -- The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday condemned the bomb attack in Glorietta 2 and asked the faithful to join the group in prayer for the problems besetti...

Cha-cha must come with leadership reform -- JDV

MANILA, Philippines -- Leadership reforms have to come hand in hand with constitutional change, said House Speaker Jose de Venecia in the wake of President Macapagal-Arroyo's move to revive Charter ch...

Teodoro stresses unity in military

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- Amid fresh rumors of destabilization in military ranks, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., on Saturday exhorted the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet Corps to...

Security tightened in all ports

MANILA, Philippines -- All ports of entry in the country have been placed under heightened alert following a powerful explosion that killed nine people at a mall in Makati City. Bureau of Immigration...

UK warns citizens on travel to RP

MANILA, Philippines -- The United Kingdom has cautioned its citizens about traveling to the Philippines in the wake of the Glorietta 2 mall bombing last Friday, advising them that there was "a high th...

Pucay, Sumcad zoom into lead

LIPA CITY, Philippines--With overnight leader Artemio Murakami nursing a fever, Mars Pucay and Orlan Sumcad fired under-par cards Friday and zoomed to the top of the leaderboard heading into the final...

Bomb caused mall blast in Philippines that killed nine

Terror group owns up to Glorietta 2 explosion

A terrorist organization, said to be composed of Christians who converted to Islam, on Saturday said it was responsible for Friday afternoon's explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City, which k...

Tragedy struck on a typical Pinoy weekend at the mall

Friday was a typical weekend. Employees were in a rush to go home. Others wanted to unwind inside an air-conditioned mall after a weeklong work. However, tragedy was lurking. Pain from death and injur...

"You can"t always live in fear" - loyal Glorietta mallers

Filipino and foreign loyal shoppers of Glorietta appeared to have recovered from the shock of the Friday blast that rocked the Glorietta 2 shopping complex in Makati City, which killed nine people and...

Death toll hits 10 as body found in Glorietta blast site

Close this MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) The death toll in Friday's Glorietta 2 explosion has reached 10, with one of the missing persons recovered near the elevator. Makati City councilor J...

Security meet set next week

Experts in a bind over use of bomb in Glorietta blast - report

Was it a bomb or not? As investigators scour through pieces of evidence on Friday's bloody blast that killed 10, and injured 113, explosive experts remain in a bind on whether bomb caused the explosio...

Blast hits Iligan; Gonzales warns of 'a bigger attack'

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on Saturday said the deadly blast at Glorietta 2 mall appeared to be "a sample" as he warned of more attacks in key cities in the country. Hours after Go...

Glorietta bombing a bid for funding by al-Qaeda -- analyst

Blast may be fund-raiser for terror groups

Groups defy Arroyo"s call vs speculation on Glorietta blast

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's call to avoid speculating on the Glorietta 2 deadly blast has fallen on deaf ears - at least to two groups critical of the administration. The Migrante Internati...

No verified Islamic group's claim to blast, says Razon

Fuel prices go up for 5th time in 5 weeks

Regular people heroes in Glorietta blast -- Councilor Binay

MANILA, Philippines -- Regular people faced the challenge of the aftermath of the bomb blast in Glorietta, instantly transforming into heroes, Makati City councilor Junjun Binay said Saturday. "Sa mga...

Bishops denounce bombing; ask prayers for country's crises

Arroyo calls for unity in face of mall blast

MILF offers help in deadly blast probe

Red Cross says 4 still missing after Glorietta blast - report

The Philippine National Red Cross said authorities are still looking for four persons reported missing after Friday afternoon's bloody explosion at the Glorietta shopping mall in Makati City, whic...

Abu Sayyaf leader in Basilan denies link to Glorietta blast

A self-proclaimed commander of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Saturday disowned Friday's bloody explosion at the Glorietta shopping mall in Ayala Center, Makati City, which so far claim...

Makati blast a 'terror act,' military says

Filipino official hints Abu Sayyaf terror group behind Makati mall blast

Glorietta blast prompts tighter security in other metro malls

Friday's deadly blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City prompted authorities to tighten security in other malls in Metro Manila, and also in the city's transit systems. QTV on Saturday reporte...

Ayalas vow to help victims of Glorietta blast

Friends and relatives of the victims of Friday's bloody explosion at the Glorietta mall in Ayala Center, Makati Citya attended a mass on Saturday, with the Ayala family vowing to help the families of ...

Oil firms impose price hike on fuel, LPG

Oil firms imposed a new round of price increases in various fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products over the weekend. QTV-11 television reported that the price hikes included a 50-centavo-p...

Arroyo seeks Church help over blast amid "Gloria resign" call

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday ordered authorities to link up with Church leaders in tracking down the perpetrators of Friday's explosion at the Glorietta mall in Makati City, which cla...

Jos� Ibay with a little help from his friends

MANILA, Philippines - A commercial photographer first, Jos� Ibay seriously turned into painting only in the last few years.

Bach in the hands of young keyboard artists

MANILA, Philippines - Can young pianists ages 7-12 do justice to the Baroque period exemplified by Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer who died nearly 275 years ago?

Art and martyrdom

MANILA, Philippines - “Santo Sebastian” is a unique group exhibition focused on one subject matter: the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, said to have been killed during the anti-Christian persecutions by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the third century.

Farley Del Rosario’s welcome impostors

MANILA, Philippines - It is fitting that Farley del Rosario has chosen to depict his own version of 14th-century Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck’s “The Betrothal of the Arnolfini,” which has been much studied mathematically for its spatial inaccuracy.

The sound of Wilwayco

MANILA, Philippines - Edwin Wilwayco’s music-inspired abstraction assumes a lively but hardly light-hearted tenor in “Scherzo,” a suite of oil works that will be displayed at Serendra in Taguig starting tonight and in Singapore next month.

Of masks and real life

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — “Club Majica at Orange” is this year’s Majica Masskara—the Negrense artists’ own contribution to the famous annual Masskara festival, which draws crowds and drowning life’s tragedies albeit for a moment.

Museo ng Maynila exhibit

MANILA, Philippines - While restoration of the Army and Navy Club is in progress, Museo ng Maynila will open its doors. Its galleries on the ground floor are now open to the public.

And what a ball it was!

MANILA, Philippines – So many events, so little time! October has been a most auspicious month for charity balls, anniversary parties and events of every sort.

She wants out of her marriage

MANILA, Philippines -Dear Emily, My husband and I have been married for 20 years and we have teenage children. He was my boyfriend in high school.

Coffee-table books on Ilocos Norte, La Naval

MANILA, Philippines - It took 14 years, but Kannawidan Foundation, Inc. finally put out a coffee-table book on the people, culture and history of Ilocos Norte.

Specialty shops at LRI

MANILA, Philippines―In 1979, Pynky Magsino was only in her teens when she borrowed money from her dad to buy a collector’s shop located at the Baguio Market. The shop has since evolved into the Pnky Collection, where Magsino markets a fusion of the old and the new.

Therapy from the ocean

MANILA, Philippines―Who says only the rich can afford the benefits of a spa luxury treatment? Fact is, everyone can avail of free therapy by soaking in Mother Nature’s best pool―the ocean. Ocean therapy is wonderful! It can rejuvenate, heal, nourish and detoxify our bodies.

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