4 ASEAN countries summit for unity against China set December 12

Philippines Calls 4-Party Meeting on Sea Disputes

The Philippines and three other Southeast Asian countries will meet next month to discuss territorial claims in the South China Sea as well as the role of China, which declares the entire area as its own, the country's top diplomat said Wednesday.

There is no specific agenda yet for the Dec. 12 meeting in Manila with Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said.

The vice-ministerial level meeting goes against Beijing's approach of trying to settle the conflicts bilaterally, and is a step outside the confines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes all four countries as well as several others close to China.

"What we are trying to do here is we are trying to demonstrate that we can endeavor to discuss (the territorial conflict) ... and we are willing to do this either within ASEAN or outside of ASEAN," del Rosario said.

The 10-member bloc concluded its annual summit on Monday without reaching any consensus on the maritime disputes.

China claims the entire South China Sea region, including the Spratly Islands, which are believed to sit atop rich oil and gas deposits and straddle one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

The four countries claim parts of the region. China and Vietnam fought a brief naval battle in the 1980s in the Spratlys.

Manila's claims include the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground west of its main island of Luzon. Chinese and Filipino ships were locked in a tense standoff at the shoal earlier this year after the Philippine navy accosted Chinese fishermen there.

"We view the situation in the South China Sea as being a threat to the stability and security in the region ... we believe this is not a bilateral issue, it is not even a regional issue. It is an international issue," del Rosario said.

AP

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Philippine - Asia’s largest Independent Christian Church rallies –helped 10,000 New Yorkers

Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) helped 10,000 New Yorkers and neighbors victim of Hurricane Sandy 

Philippines-Based Megachurch Rallies in Times Square for Superstorm Sandy Relief

Donations and Outreach Benefit NYC Homeless, First Responders, and Hospitals

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- In the devastating wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) hosted an International Aid for Humanity event in New York City on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

The Philippines-based church's charitable arm, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, made a total donation of $150,000 to the New York City Police Foundation, the FDNY Foundation, Bellevue Hospital Center and Coney Island Hospital – all of which were adversely affected by the huge storm.

The event was attended by noted local and international dignitaries and an estimated 3,000 volunteers from the Church. The volunteers also handed out "goodwill bags" containing survival essentials to the homeless and others in need.

"We chose to host Tuesday's event in Times Square, one of the most visible places in the world, in hopes that it would help boost morale, give people hope, and remind everyone of the importance of helping their fellow man – which is something that is fundamental to our faith," explained Dr. Sergie P. Santos, III, spokesman for the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation.

The International Aid for Humanity event on Nov. 20 was attended by the following dignitaries:

• Office of the Mayor – Commissioner Fatima Shama and Maria Cruz Lee, Department of Immigrant Affairs
• New York City Police Foundation – Susan Birnbaum, President; Gregg Roberts, Executive Director; Judith Dynia, Program Director
• FDNY Foundation – Jean O'Shay, President; Susan Wipper, Director
• New York Health and Hospitals Corporation – Joe Schick and Tamiru Mammo
• Philippine Mission to the United Nations – Ambassador Libran Cabactulan
• Philippine Consulate General in New York – Ambassador Mario DeLeon; Theresa Dizon-deVega, Deputy Consul General; Felipe Carino, Consul
• New York Neighborhood Coalition for the Homeless – Prema Mennon

"It's important to note that this event has been part of our ongoing efforts and we will continue and even expand our outreach work in areas affected by the storm throughout the New York metropolitan region," added Dr. Santos.

Prior to this event, the Church has conducted six different relief missions throughout New York and New Jersey during the past 10 days. In doing so, it has assisted more than 10,000 local residents in neighborhoods ravaged by the storm.

Those interested in volunteering to participate in future relief efforts should visit the Iglesia ni Cristo Web site for more information: incmedia.org.

About Iglesia ni Cristo:

The Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippine Local term for Church of Christ) is a Christian religious organization registered in the Philippines on July 27, 1914. The Church has since grown into thousands of congregations in more than 100 countries across six continents. It is the largest religious organization originating from the Philippines, and the largest independent Christian Church in Asia. The Church's North American headquarters is in Burlingame, CA, overseeing its more than 200 congregations throughout the United States. Twelve of those congregations are located in New York and New Jersey, including five in the New York metropolitan area. Its charitable arm, registered as a non-profit in the United States and several other countries, is the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, Inc.

SOURCE

Iglesia ni Cristo, PR Newswire 

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