Celebrities Care for Typhoon Yolanda Victims

 

Guess who showed his soft side on Sunday? None other than the tough guy himself, boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather, Jr!

 

On his official Twitter account, Mayweather wrote “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the Philippines” and included a link to a CNN article on the super typhoon Yolanda’s death toll. This is newsy as every Filipino can recall how this boxing icon has taken potshots at Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao too many times in the past. Being a hero in the country, Filipinos have taken these jabs offensively.

 

But Mayweather wasn’t the only international sports icon to send out his thoughts to Yolanda victims. In fact, he wasn’t the first as Miami Heat’s superstar player Dwyane Wade took to Facebook his thoughts for his Asian fans just before Yolanda hit Leyte. His message read: “stay safe as Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda’s international code name) approaches. You are in my thoughts and prayers!” A similar message was also posted on his account in August for the victims of Typhoon Maring.

 

Wade’s half-Filipino coach, Erik Spoelstra, also offered a message of support and was published on NBA’s official website. His message read: “On behalf of the Miami HEAT organization, we would like to extend our condolences to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. We value the many fans that we have over there, and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”

 

Menchu DeLuna Sanchez, Obama-Cited Hero Comes Home

The name Menchu de Luna Sanchez rings a bell? You are right, she is the Filipina nurse that US President Obama paid tribute to on his most recent State of the Union Address. Sanchez saved at least 20 babies when superstorm Sandy ravaged and knocked off the electricity in New Jersey and New York, including the New York University Langone Medical Center where she is working. This endangered the lives of the babies but Sanchez still managed to bring all of them in safety. Now, that’s heroic.

 

It is the kind of deed that is worthy of a hero’s welcome, isn’t it? And she received just that at her home in Catanauan, Quezon plus the much coveted Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan (QMK) award, the highest award that the provincial government gives to its outstanding natives. It was awarded to her by no less than the honorable Quezon Gov. David C. Suarez who said that he actually didn’t know Sanchez personally but upon witnessing her deed and Obama’s address, he immediately thought that she is the best person to receive the award this year.

 

Menchu de Luna Sanchez was born and raised in Catanauan, Quezon. She received her nursing degree from the Mary Chiles Hospital in Sampaloc, Manila and her bachelor’s at the Makati Medical Center School of Nursing. She went to work for 10 years in Saudi Arabia before she was able to transfer to the United State where her 19 years old daughter Michelle and 20 years old son Jude are currently studying. 

 

28 Houses, 30 Autos for Napoles

While all of us sweat for our take of the day, Janet Lim Napoles has more than what an entire village would need! And though it is not bad to have 28 houses and 30 luxurious automobiles, it seems that Napoles is “dirty”. An alleged 400+ bank accounts also surfaced during Senator Mirriam Santiago and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s probes. 

 

Teen Choice Awards Winners

I’ve missed the Tony’s this year, as well as the Teens Choice Awards night but I did manage to get the list of the winners–thanks to the award site! Here it is:

Choice Music Group: One Direction

Choice Summer Tour: One Direction

Choice Single by a Group: “Live While We’re Young,” One Direction

Choice Love Song: “Little Things,” One Direction

Choice Movie Actress – Comedy: Rebel Wilson, “Pitch Perfect”

Choice Movie Actor – Comedy: Skylar Astin, “Pitch Perfect”

Choice Movie – Comedy: “Pitch Perfect”

Choice Movie Villain: Adam DeVine, “Pitch Perfect”

Choice Breakup Song: “Come and Get It,” Selena Gomez

Choice Music Star – Female: Selena Gomez

Choice Hottie – Female: Selena Gomez

Choice TV Show, Drama: “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice Summer TV Show: “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice Summer TV Star – Actress: Lucy Hale, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice Summer TV Star – Actor: Keegan Allen, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV Actor – Drama: Ian Harding, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV Actress – Drama: Troian Bellisario, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice TV Villain: Janel Parrish, “Pretty Little Liars”

Choice Athlete – Female: Gabby Douglas

Acuvue Inspire Award: Nick Jonas

Choice TV Show – Comedy: “Glee”

Choice TV Scene Stealer – Male: Chord Overstreet, “Glee”

Choice TV Breakout Star: Blake Jenner, “Glee”

Choice TV Actress – Comedy: Lea Michele, “Glee”

Choice Movie Actor – Drama: Logan Lerman, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”

Choice Movie – Drama: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”

Choice Female Artist: Demi Lovato

Choice Single – Female Artist: “Heart Attack,” Demi Lovato

Ultimate Choice Award: Ashton Kutcher

Choice TV Actor – Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Ian Somerhalder, “The Vampire Diaries”

Choice TV Actor – Comedy: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Choice TV Actress – Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Nina Dobrev, “The Vampire Diaries”

Choice Rock Group: Paramore

Choice Summer Song: “We Can’t Stop,” Miley Cyrus

Candie’s Fashion Trendsetter Award: Miley Cyrus

Choice TV Scene Stealer – Female: Miley Cyrus, “Two and a Half Men”

Choice Breakout Group: Emblem3

Choice Summer Music Star: Bruno Mars

Choice R&B Artist: Bruno Mars

Choice TV Actor – Action: LL Cool J, “NCIS: Los Angeles”

Choice Music Breakout Artist: Ed Sheeran

Choice TV Personality – Female: Demi Lovato, “The X Factor”

Choice Summer Movie Star – Female: Sandra Bullock, “The Heat”Choice Movie Chemistry: Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, “The Heat”

Oh! And I heard Ashton Kutcher gave a very good advice to teens during his speech, plus Lea Michele dedicated hers to Cory Monteith. Lovely!

 

Vietnamese Father & Son Chose to Live in the Forest Since 1972

Father and Son Who Survived the Viet War 40 yrs ago

Father and son who fled during the Vietnamese war 40 years ago have been coaxed from their hut deep in the forest. In the photo, Ho Van Lang, now 42, is wearing loincloth made from tree barks. The father, 82 years old Ho Van Thanh, then a communist soldier is already frail and has to be carried in a hammock. Thanh ran and took his then 2 years old boy after an American bombing transpired in central Quang Ngai province back in 1972, where he also witnessed the death of his mother and two other children.

In 2004, Thanh’s younger son already taken the pair back to the village but they cannot adapt and choose to fled back to their forest home. There, they would forage and plant corn. The younger son will then visit annually to bring their necessities. But locals started spotting the pair up and reported them back to the authorities.

Local official Hoang Anh Ngoc told the media that “The son is afraid of the crowds. He will not talk to strangers… but he talks inside their family.” The official also assured that the government is also to spend $2,300 to build the men home and facilitate Thanh’s medical condition.

 

Filipino Flash No More

Photo from Yahoo!

Nonito Donaire lost the fight to Guillermo Rodondeaux. Story to follow

 

 

Ariella Arida is Ms Philippines Universe 2013!

Photo from Yahoo!

UP grad Ariella Arida bags the title that every Filipina wants–the Bb. Pilipinas Universe! Update to follow

 

 

No to ‘revolutionary taxes’ —Chamber of Mines

The New People’s Army cries “Save the Environment”, but Chamber of Mines of the Philippines alleges extortion after three mining firms in Surigao Del Norte were attacked. The incident left several dead security guards, burned buildings, destroyed mining equipment, and sinking barges.

 

In a statement, the Chamber called on to its member to stand firm against extortion.

 

“As a reiteration of our adherence to the principles of responsible mining and good governance, we wish to underscore that our member-companies will never succumb to pressures of whatever form to pay the rebels’ so-called ‘revolutionary taxes.” This is what the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines is quoted saying.

 

 “Even as we ask the Aquino Administration to provide protection for investments in minerals developments – a major component of the Medium-Term Development Plan – we are heartened by the assurances of President Benigno C. Aquino III, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, that the perpetrators of the recent attack will be brought to justice,” the Chamber added.

 

“We also ask the Palawan anti-mining movement to refrain from spreading half-truths and outright lies in its shotgun approach to stop minerals development not only in Palawan but, effectively, in the whole country as well.”

 

Binay: Cha-cha Beyond Economic Provisions

Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed his concerns regarding the Charter Change, more known as Cha-Cha, in an interview during the Pabahay Caravan in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. He was quoted saying “While the assurance was made that the amendments will focus only on economic provisions, there is still the chance that it will go beyond it.” Clearly, the second leader of the republic does not believe that the initiative is simply to promote the country’s competitiveness when it comes to economy as House leaders insisted.

 

He also said that amending the Constitution is not the priority of the President, and “This is purely a congressional initiative,” he added.

 

Still, the House of Representatives’ committee on constitutional amendments scheduled an October 11 resolution seeking revision of the Constitution’s economic provisions. The Senate and the House of Representatives also agreed last week to deliberate and vote separately on Charter change.

 

Other proposed reforms are expanding foreign investor roles in the exploration, development and exploration, development and utilization of natural resources, allowing foreign ownership of industrial and commercial lands, liberalization of the practice of profession in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, allowing foreign investment in tertiary education and the extension of the 25 years plus 25 years land lease agreement.

 

Senator Estrada Wants Subic Shipyard Tragedy Full probe

In an interview with Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who is also the chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment, says that “The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) should conduct a thorough investigation on the “tragedy” at the Keppel Shipyard in Subic, Zambales where at least six workers were killed and many others were injured after a huge, tons-heavy steel platform in the area collapsed.”

 

“We must leave no stone unturned in examining all the circumstances behind this horrible incident as well as all the factors that might have contributed to it, and in ultimately determining if there was any lapse in the overall ensuring of safety measures in the said workplace,” the senator added.

 

“This, even though there are claims that Keppel has been given high marks in safety checks done by authorities especially the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and that the company is said to be taking full responsibility for the incident and is already investigating this through its safety department.”

 

“I am calling on DoLE to conduct its own, thorough investigation of this Keppel incident, come up with a detailed report of it at the soonest time possible and ensure that all the victims will be completely attended to,” as the senator expressed his sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who died in the tragic accident.

 

 

The Subic Shipyard is an elevated platform that bridged the workers to a 22,650-ton container ship they are repairing at the drydock of Subic Shipyard and Engineering Inc., which is an enterprise managed by Keppel Shipyard Limited in the special economic zone of Barangay Cawag.

 

Singapore-based Keppel is a legit ship repair and conversion, shipbuilding and offshore engineering firm.

 

It should be remembered that another Subic shipyard was into the same tragedy in 2009, the Korean Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC). In the inspection, a lot of lapses in and direct violations of safety measures were discovered.