Photo #1
Inauguration of RP’s first cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility
A laboratory technician (lower photo) works inside a high technology laboratory of the first cold blood processing and cryopreservation facility of the Cordlife, Asia- Pacificís largest network of private cord blood banks recently at the UP Ayaland Techno Hub. Top photo(from... [Read more...]
Photo #2
PGMA at Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting at PICC
SPECIAL NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seated with (from left) Dr. William Vendley of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, Mahmoud Hamdi Zarzouk of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, and His Excellency... [Read more...]
Photo #3
PGMA poses for a group photo opportunity with the delegates attending the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting
SPECIAL NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo poses for a group photo opportunity with the delegates attending the opening ceremonies of the Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and... [Read more...]
Photo #4
PGMA addresses the delegates attending the opening ceremonies of the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting
SPECIAL NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo addresses the delegates attending the opening ceremonies of the Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development Wednesday (March 17)... [Read more...]
Photo #5
PGMA checks her notes as she joins the delegates attending the opening ceremonies of the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting
SPECIAL NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo checks her notes as she joins the delegates attending the opening ceremonies of the Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development... [Read more...]
2010 Campaign Trail
700,000 double registrants alarm Legarda
MANILA, March 18 – Senator Loren Legarda described on Thursday as alarming the recent revelation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that around 700,000 voters in its national list were double registrants.
Edu presses for free, compulsory immunization plan for kids
MANILA, March 17 — Amid the reported outbreak of summer-borne diseases, Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice presidential candidate Eduardo "Edu" Manzano on Wednesday urged the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to quickly draw up a free, compulsory immunization program for the children of contributing members.
Roxas bats for moratorium on agriculture fees to help farmers affected by El Nino
MANILA, Mar 17 — Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas urged government to impose a moratorium on irrigation fees to help small farmers affected by the wrath of El Nino.
National
Villar wants reduction of mortality rate of mothers, newborns
MANILA, March 18 — Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manny Villar stressed on Thursday the need to reduce the number of mothers dying of childbirth and newborns who die within the first 48 hours of birth by focusing on the continuing education of health professionals and workers on proper prenatal and essential newborn care.
Dulmatin’s death good for SEA’s anti-terror drive, refocuses RP-Indon porous border program, says Indonesian FM
MANILA, March 17 —- Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto G. Romulo on Wednesday afternoon held bilateral meetings with the delegations of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and six individual member-States of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) that included NAM’s three founding countries.
Egyptian minister lauds RP’s commitment to international peace and security
MANILA, March 17 –- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) commended the Philippines for its commitment to promote international peace and security with the hosting of the first Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development.
Foreign
Indonesian religious leaders divided on Obama's planned visit
By Eliswan Azly
JAKARTA, March 18 – Indonesian religious leaders are divided in their views about US President Barrack Obama's upcoming visit to Indonesia later this month as can be seen from their statements.
Indonesia to hold conference on climate change
DEPOK, March 18 — State University of Indonesia in cooperation with the Association of Pacific Rim University-World Institute (APRU-AWI) plans to hold an international conference on climate change, its spokesman, Vishnu Juwono, said.
U.S. Nuclear Posture Review delayed again
WASHINGTON, March 18 — The U.S. Department of Defense said Wednesday that the long-delayed Nuclear Posture Review is nearly completed, and would be sent to Congress within a month, putting it off past the middle or late March deadline.
Sports & Entertainment
Clottey apologizes to his countrymen
By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, March 17 –- Ghana’s Joshua Clottey has apologized to his countrymen for his dismal performance against world’s best pound-for-pound Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round bout unanimously won by the Filipino boxing superstar last Sunday.
Golf: Lascuna, 4 others set pace in ICTSI Sherwood
MANILA, March 17 — Tony Lascuna and Jay Bayron survived the ordeal that befell fancied Elmer Salvador and Juvic Pagunsan in brutal conditions in the afternoon flight, salvaging identical one-under par 71s and forcing a five-way logjam for the lead at the start of the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Golf Classic at the Sherwood Golf and Country Club in Trece Martirez, Cavite Wednesday.
Olympic broadcaster CTV changes plan to air live closing ceremonies of Winter Paralympics
VANCOUVER, March 17 — CTV, the official Canadian broadcaster of the ongoing Vancouver Winter Paralympics, has changed its broadcast schedule by announcing that it would air closing ceremonies live nationally.
Opinions
Red alert for loss of butterflies in Europe
BRUSSELS, March 17 — An alarm has been raised by European Red List to take urgent action for threatened butterflies, beetles and dragonflies in Europe.
UN report criticizes Russia for improper environment assessment for Olympics projects
UNITED NATIONS, March 17 — The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) criticized Russia on Tuesday for improper practices in assessing the environmental impact of construction projects for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
U.S. NOAA warns of big floods in Midwest
WASHINGTON, March 17 — Major flooding has begun and is forecast to continue through spring in parts of the Midwest and the South and East are also more susceptible to flooding as an El Nino influenced winter left the area soggier than usual, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Tuesday.
Travel & Tourism
CEB offers Jakarta seats at 40% less, Cebu-Clark at P499
By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, March 17 — Cebu Pacific (CEB) highlights its Jakarta flights for business and leisure travelers with a 40 percent discount off its lowest year-round fares.
International Rinjani Mountain Climbing jn July 2010
MATARAM, Indonesia, March 17 – The International Rinjani Mountain Climbing event in Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is scheduled in July 2010, with more foreign mountain climbers taking part.
Macao's visitor arrivals in package tours up 9.7 pct in January
MACAO, March 17 — Macao's visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 9.7 percent year-on-year to 458,920 in January, according to the figures released Tuesday by the city's Statistics and Census Bureau.
Provincial
Manhunt on vs suspects in North Cotabato massacre
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, March 18 – Police have launched a province-wide manhunt against gunmen who massacred a family of three in a remote village in North Cotabato Wednesday night.
Bishops: No to financial contributions from politicians
COTABATO CITY, March 18 – Three influential Catholic Bishops in the country have vowed not to accept nor receive donations from politicians who are seeking elective positions in the May 10 elections.
NVizcaya bishop praises PGMA for her governance
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, March 18 -– Bishop Ramon Villena of the diocese of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces praised President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her gallantry in leading the country through her governance during her visit here Tuesday.
Business
Indonesia's economy to grow 5.5 pct in first semester 2010 : economist
JAKARTA, March 18 – Indonesia's economic growth in the first semester of 2010 is estimated to reach 5.5 percent, driven by the consumption sector, an economist said.
Canadian stocks closer higher
TORONTO, March 18 — Canadian stocks made slight gains as commodities prices nudged higher and the loonie moved closer to parity with the U.S. dollar. The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed 11.26 points, or 0.09 percent higher at 12,100.66 on Wednesday.
U.S. stocks extend gains on continued low rate cheer
NEW YORK, March 18 — U.S. stocks extended gains on Wednesday on continued cheers over the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates at historic lows to safeguard the economic recovery.
Agri-Business
Nueva Ecija 'untouched' by El Nino, says agri exec
CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 17 — The province of Nueva Ecija is virtually unaffected by the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon despite being identified as one of the so-called "vulnerable areas" with the Department of Agriculture (DA) expecting a bumper harvest this dry cropping season.
Organic farming, inter-cropping cushion impact of drought in Cordillera areas
By Aurelio A. Galacgac
BAGUIO CITY, March 17 – Organic farming, inter-cropping and use of planting calendars helped in the sustenance of agricultural production of Benguet and other Cordillera areas even with the adverse effects of past typhoons and the ongoing prolonged drought.
Tobacco farmers association against Muhammadiyah's no-smoking edict
JEMBER, Indonesia, March 17 — The Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI) opposes Muhammadiyah`s non-smoking edict issued last Tuesday (March 9), a source said.
Features
The 'gold' one finds in the soul of Tagum, Davao del Norte (Feature)
By Aurelio A. Pena
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, March 17 – It’s only about 45 minutes by aircon bus on well-paved highway to the north, but I never had the chance to walk the streets of Tagum, during the last 47 years since I packed up and left this little dusty Davao del Norte town right after getting out of high school at UM Tagum High.
(Feature) Ramon Magsaysay, ‘My Guy’, lives on in my memory
DAVAO CIIY, March 17 -– March 17, 1957: A gloomy day in the Philippines I cannot forget.
(Feature) MEDA Law: Mindanao’s El Dorado
DAVAO CITY, March 17 — Mindanaoans have long been in search for that government policy that will make the island realize its potential as the proverbial land of promise, only to be disappointed as each Presidential aspirant promises Mindanao the moon only to win and complete each term leaving the island still destitute and drained of its resources.
Health & Lifestyle
114,891 inoculated against A(H1N1) flu in Macao
MACAO, March 18 — A total of 114,891 people in Macao have been inoculated with the A(H1N1) vaccines so far, according to the figures released Wednesday by Macao's Health Bureau.
HK to keep 2.75 mln doses A(H1N1) influenza vaccine in stock
HONG KONG, March 18 — The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has no plan to donate or sell 2. 75 million doses of A(H1N1) influenza vaccine it has in stock, the local health authorities said Wednesday.
First RP Stem Cell bank launched By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, March 17 — Cordlife, Asia Pacific's largest network of private cord banks, recently launched the Philippines' first and only cord blood processing and cyropreservation facility at the Techportal of UP Ayaland Techno Hub, Diliman, along Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.