Philippines seized ₱900-M or $19 Million USD worth of Illegal Drugs in Northern Philippines' close access to Taiwan - China

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Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa, Anti-Illegal Drugs Group head Senior Superintendent Albert Ferro and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña present 180 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride during a press conference at Camp Crame yesterday. The packs of shabu, which have an estimated street value of P900 million, were seized at a resort in Cagayan on Sunday. BOY SANTOS

 

₱900-M shabu seized, 19 suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines - Law enforcers seized close to ₱1 billion worth of shabu, while at least 18 suspected drug dealers and users were killed and around 800 surrendered since Saturday as the war on drugs continued.

The police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) unearthed P900 million worth of shabu from an abandoned house in Barangay Culao, Claveria, Cagayan last Sunday. 
Law enforcers reported finding 180 ziplocked pouches, each containing one kilo of shabu with an estimated value of P5 million per kilo for a total of P900 million.

These were buried in a knee-deep hole at the property owned by a certain Rene Dimaya, PDEA Region 2 director Derrick Carreon told The STAR.

Julius Pascua, chairman of Barangay Culao, said Dimaya had abandoned the house a year ago. 
The discovery of the drugs in the property was tipped off to authorities following the arrest of four people in a drug sting at a resort hotel last month.

In Parang town in Maguindanao, the military and the police seized ₱1.5 million worth of shabu from six drug traffickers arrested on Sunday.

Suspects Majeed Baulo, Isidro Villaries Jr., Datukon Dalao, Palpah Baulum, Nestor Mariga and Abdullah Ladukah are now detained at the Parang Municipal Police office.

The suspects were cornered in their hideout in Barangay Nituan in Parang by the municipal police and soldiers from the Army's 37th Infantry Battalion.

Investigators found in their lair ₱1.5 million worth of shabu, guns and ammunition. The Parang Municipal Police will separately charge them on Tuesday with violation of the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Act and illegal possession of firearms.

More drug suspects killed

In Bulacan, seven armed suspects were killed and one was arrested in five anti-drug operations in the province over the weekend.

Three suspects were neutralized in Meycauayan City and one each in the municipalities of Pandi, Calumpit, Obando and Doña Remedios Trinidad.

Bulacan acting police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr. identified the slain suspects as Bobby Lanoto of Meycauayan City; Randy Rusiano of Valenzuela City; Eric Tolentino, Ronnie Medina and Koji Harada of Obando; and Alfred Allan Abella of Doña Remedios Trinidad.

One slain suspect remained unidentified as of yesterday.

Pampanga's "top 9" drug pusher was also killed, while eight drug pushers were arrested in police operations. The slain suspect was Raffy Francisco of Sto. Domingo, Cabanatuan City.

Two big-time drug dealers in Pikit town, North Cotabato were also killed over the weekend.

Akmad Pananguilon of Barangay Inug-ug died from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained when he and his brother, Emran, engaged in a gunfight with a team from the PDEA that came to their house to arrest them.

Emran Pananguilon surrendered to PDEA agents when he sensed that anti-drug operatives were also ready to neutralize him.

Insp. Sindatu Karim, chief of the Pikit municipal police, said the Pananguilons opened fire first on the PDEA agents, provoking an encounter.

In Pasig City, two suspected drug pushers, Roberto Amorosa and a certain Pogie, were killed in separate buy-bust operations. They sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body.

Hundreds surrendered, arrested

Meanwhile, at least 482 drug users and peddlers in Eastern Visayas surrendered as the Philippine National Police (PNP) intensified the anti-illegal drug campaign.  

There are at least 3,523 drug personalities listed under the drug watch list of the police and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council in the region.

As of July 3, at least 273 house visitation, or 11.13 percent of the 2,916 personalities targeted for Oplan Tok/Hang of the PNP, were conducted. – Cecille Suerte Felipe Ricky Bautista, John Unson, Mike Frialde, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Non Alquitran, Lalaine Jimenea, Gerry Lee Gorit, Lino Cruz, Ric Sapnu, Eva Visperas, Francis Elevado, Roel Pareño  - philSTAR

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President Duterte in First 5 days killed 30 Dug Dealers - Seized $19M USD 40Lbs Drugs Near Taiwan - China Boundary

Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte on his 5^th day of office. Photo: The Daily Caller

President 'Duterte Harry' Of The Philippines KILLS 30 Drug Dealers In First 5 Days In Office

During his campaign, the new president of the Philippines promised that fighting drugs would be bloody and dirty. After less than a week in office, President Rodrigo Duterte has already killed 30 drug dealers, sacked three police officials, and accused two other retired cops of corruption.

"Duterte Harry," as he has been called in the Filipino press, accused the 5 cops of protecting drug syndicates from within the police force. Their crimes were tantamount to treason, Duterte said in a speech Monday.

Police also say they've killed 30 suspected drug dealers since Duterte took office last Thursday. More than 100 alleged criminals have been killed since Duterte won the election May 9.

Five drug dealers were killed over the weekend in a raid of a methamphetamine ring not far from the presidential palace in Manila.

Widely penned as the "Trump of the Philippines," Duterte is also called "The Punisher" for his tough talk during the presidential campaign this spring. He has not backed down from his harsh rhetoric but he understands that his stance on crime strikes many as extreme.

"I know there are those who do not agree with my methods of fighting criminality," Duterte said in his inaugural address."I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality, the sale and use of illegal drugs and corruption. In response let me say this: I have seen how corruption bled the government of funds. I have seen how illegal drugs destroy individuals and ruin families' relationships," Duterte said.

Duterte, "the Dark Knight of Davao," promised to wipe out drug crime within six months, even if he has to kill criminals and fatten the fishes of Manila bay with their bodies.

Hundreds of drug users from across the Philippines have surrendered to police for rehabilitation, according to the Philippine Star.

Philippine Police Seize $19 Million Worth of Drugs

180 KG (400 Lbs) Drugs Worth ‎₱900 Million Peso / $19 Million USD seized in Northern Philippines easy access from Taiwan and China. Photo: Philstar

Philippine police have seized about 180 kilograms (400 pounds) of high-grade methamphetamine worth 900 million pesos ($19.2 million), officials said Monday, in a major haul for the government of new President Rodrigo Duterte, who has promised to wipe out crime and corruption within six months.

National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said police and drug enforcement agents seized the methamphetamine hydrochloride, known locally as shabu, in 180 plastic bags on Sunday in an abandoned farm in northern Cagayan province's Claveria town following a tip from an informant.

Authorities are investigating whether it was smuggled into the Philippines by a foreign syndicate or was manufactured locally, officials said.

"We know that there in the north, in the Cagayan area, which is the nearest point going to China and Taiwan, the shabu coming from abroad is docked there," dela Rosa said.

He also said more than 100 armed drug dealers have been killed in gunbattles with police since last month and thousands of drug users have surrendered to authorities during the intensified anti-drug campaign. The drug users will undergo mandatory drug treatment.

Nine policemen from different regional offices who tested positive for illegal drugs in mandatory tests last Friday will face criminal and administrative charges, he added.  – The Daily Caller / ABC News

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Can Philippines Correct the Independence day to July 4, Just changed to June 12 worth $73M ??

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Filipino Marines raise their country’s flag for Independence Day on June 12, 2012. For the first decade and a half after World War II, the country actually celebrated its independence on July 4.

By Becky Little

The Surprising Connection Between the Philippines and the Fourth of July

Seventy years ago, the Philippines won independence on the famous American holiday.

The United States isn't the only country to ever celebrate independence on July 4. In the mid-20th century, people in the Philippines also marked July 4 as the day that they broke away from a colonizing nation. But in this case, that colonizing nation was the United States.

It’s no coincidence that the Philippines shared an independence day with its former colonizer. But this overlap was short-lived. When the Philippines changed the date of its Independence Day holiday in 1962, it marked yet another step away from a long history of western interference.

Independence, Kind of

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Philippines was a colony in the Spanish Empire. In 1896, the islands attempted to break free in what’s called the Philippine Revolution, or Tagalog War. When the Spanish-American War began in 1898, some Filipinos saw an opportunity to ally with the Americans against their imperial rulers.

The Americans encouraged this alliance, and led the Filipinos to believe that they had no desire to colonize the country once it was free from Spain, says Vicente L. Rafael, professor of history and Southeast Asian studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. This culminated with a Filipino declaration of independence on June 12 of that year. An American officer was even among the signees.

The United States’ disregard for that declaration was made plain a few months later. After Spain surrendered, the 1898 Treaty of Paris gave the Philippines to the U.S. But Filipinos fought this handover, and rose up in the Philippine-American War in 1899.

The year in which that war ended depends on who you talk to, says Rafael. Although fighting continued until the 1910s, President Teddy Roosevelt declared a “victory” over the Philippines in 1902.

July 4, 1902, to be exact.

“That’s the irony,” Rafael says. “The Fourth of July is supposed to be a declaration of independence. But for Roosevelt in 1902, the Fourth of July was a declaration of conquest.”

Independence Day(s)

The Philippines continued to push for its independence; and in the mid-1930s, the United States began a transition toward sovereignty. The day the country was planned to become independent? July 4, 1945. That’s right—the Philippines would be freed on the same day that it was conquered.

World War II threw a wrench into the plan. The Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1942, and independence was delayed until July 4, 1946.

But the Philippines only celebrated July 4 as its Independence Day until 1962. That year, President Diosdado Macapagal changed the country’s official Independence Day to June 12, to mark the day that the Philippines had declared independence from Spain in 1898.

Why did Macapagal dump the fourth? Well, there are a few probable reasons.

It was pretty callous of the United States to “give” its former colony the same Independence Day as itself, especially since that was also the day that the U.S. conquered it. Rising Filipino nationalism in the 1960s could have also influenced Macapagal’s decision to reject the date.

Rafael thinks there was also something else in play.

“It was his way of registering his unhappiness with the U.S. Congress, which had turned down a $73 million aid package to the Philippines,” writes Rafael in an essay he shared with National Geographic. “Though he had also claimed to be bringing Philippine independence out of the shadow of its former colonial master, Macapagal’s decision to change the date was also a piece of political brinkmanship.”

When Macapagal threw out the paternalistically bestowed July 4, he replaced it with a day that represented the Philippines’ rejection of the Spanish Empire. But by the 1960s, it’s not clear that that date still held any real significance for everyday citizens.

Friends With Political Benefits

At the time that Macapagal did away with July 4, the June 12 declaration of independence from Spain wasn’t something that many Filipinos were familiar with. Indeed, Rafael thinks that there is still some ambivalence toward the day because the country remained a colony for decades after. Born and raised in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Rafael recalls that Independence Day is celebrated on a small scale.

“It’s not like this huge orgy of self-congratulation, which is what you get in the United States,” he says.

Augusto Espiritu, associate professor of history and Asian-American studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, also doesn’t recall Independence Day being a huge deal as a child in Manila.

“What’s interesting though is that when I came to this country, in Los Angeles especially, June 12 was celebrated quite a bit” by Filipino immigrants, he says. (It’s not unusual to see this in immigrant communities: St. Patrick’s Day didn’t become the large celebration that it is today until Irish immigrants began to hold parades in America.)

But what became of July 4 in the Philippines? Since 1962, it’s been known as Philippine-American Friendship Day—a non-holiday that, according to Rafael, is basically only celebrated at the U.S. Embassy.

Internationally, July 4 is mainly only celebrated by Americans. And even some Americans argue that Juneteenth, which commemorates the June 19, 1865, abolition of slavery in Texas, should be celebrated in addition to or instead of the Fourth of July.

To date, the most successful globalization of America’s Independence Day is, and will likely remain, the one in the movies. – National Geographic

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MyWeps App - Peppermint surges on Philippines license 90,000 Agents

Peppermint surges on Philippines licence

Shares in mobile banking, payments and remittance technology company Peppermint Innovation rose by more than 30% on the ASX yesterday, after receiving a remittance licence from the Central Bank of the Philippines for its MyWeps application. MyWeps is a mobile payments and remittances application developed and powered by Peppermint in the Philippines.

The MyWeps app is now available on Google Play initially to the 1Bro Global agent network, which consists of up to 90,000 agents and 40 business centres across the Philippines, prior to other agent networks, co-operatives and similar organisations identified as suitable proponents of the platform. It launched commercially on Google Play on April 1 and to now 1,000 super agents have downloaded the app.

CEO Chris Kain said: The remittance licence application for the MyWeps app to be used by a large mobile agent network unattached to a bricks and mortar network is the first such licence application to be made to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines BSP), which stated that the MyWeps app is the first of its kind in the Philippines market and that it would promote financial inclusion which is their focus.

Peppermint is now considered as one of the countrys financial inclusion partners by the BSP, and has been invited to join their regular national strategy for financial inclusion tactical plan meetings with the private sector.

These meetings are spear-headed by the BSP governor and chairman of the monetary board and the key officers of the committee which reports on the progress of the BSP in terms of regulatory measures and support on the national strategy on financial inclusion. A key focus of the NSFI is providing financial services to the unbanked.

Having opened at 1.2c and after reaching an intraday high of 2.2c, shares in Peppermint Innovation closed at 1.7c yesterday. Some 23,227,141 shares, worth $434,752, were traded in the day. – News.com.au

Originally published as Peppermint surges on Philippines licence

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Philippines' New President Shakes up the South China Sea

New administration veers away from allied position on China’s nine-dash line

In his first cabinet meeting after taking his oath as president on June 30, Rodrigo Duterte slid into his most comfortable mode: rambling on about ways to cut red tape for the poor, setting up a 24-hour hotline for complaints that would directly come to his attention.

But Duterte was upstaged by his foreign secretary, Perfect Yasay Jr., when it came to foreign policy, an issue that might soon change geopolitics in the region and is being closely watched by the littoral nations of the South China Sea as well as the United States and the wester powers.

In 12 days, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is expected to hand down a decision on a case the Philippines lodged in January of 2013 against China, which has claimed most of the South China Sea within its so-called nine-dash line. International legal experts expect the ruling to be favorable to the Philippines.  If the Philippines wins it would send ripples across the world, with China having refused to participate in the suit and saying it would reject the ruling.

Duterte said dealing with the issue should be done with a “soft landing” because it would put the country in an “awkward position” with a giant that is China. “God knows I don’t want to declare any fighting with anybody,” he said.

He then urged Yasay to speak, flicking his wrist to check the time, perhaps unmindful that in the next few minutes the man he chose to be the country’s top diplomat was about to spill an unsettling stream of consciousness on live broadcast to a nation that has felt helpless about external defense.

In words that gave away leverage over a case that has been painstakingly undertaken by the previous administration on a diplomatic front, Yasay said he was “averse” to suggestions of taking a strong stand against China. His briefings with foreign diplomats “especially those who are concerned about ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security … would like for us to make stronger statements” if the ruling would come to the side of the Philippines.

“I told them in no unmistakable terms that the first thing we will do is to study its implications and ramifications,” he said, seated among cabinet members at a long table under sparkling chandeliers in the presidential palace. No one stopped him from carrying on, not even the president. He spoke as if the subject at hand has not been scrutinized many times over, and hinted that winning may not even be a problem. 

He said the international community’s concern is “simply keeping that disputed area free for navigation” – words that imply he may not have had a closer look at the map, where the country stands as an archipelago smack in the middle of the action. “They’re doing this to pursue their own interests including America which is both economic and military.” He did not say where the Philippine national interest lay.

And just as he had said enough, he then pursued a slightly indifferent tone towards the United States – again without naming it – an ally for decades and with whom the Philippines signed an agreement that was approved by the Philippine Supreme Court for wider defense capability. The claims made before the international court, he said, “[do] not kick into play the mutual defense agreement, but the bottom line is, what will happen if the decision is in our favor?

‘What if in the face of these circumstances China will dig in and put us to a test? They will disallow again our fishermen to fish in Scarborough Shoal.”

At which point the broadcast went dead. It stopped like a curtain falling. President Duterte’s inauguration is supposed to start the unorthodox changes he has promised to end crime and corruption. In the case of the South China Sea, he said once in his campaign that he would get on a jet ski and plant a Philippine flag there.

He later suggested holding bilateral talks with China with whom relations have been frozen since it took control of Scarborough Shoal, which is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone off the northeast of Luzon, in April 2012. The case filed by the Philippines in the aftermath has angered China, which called former President Benigno Aquino’s government a troublemaker.

President Duterte has projected an image of a maverick, although his stand on China appears to consider options that some analysts suggest would renew ties in exchange for monetary gains the country needs to build infrastructure. There had been talk of building a railway from the island of Mindanao, where President Duterte was mayor of Davao City for decades, to the capital in the main island of Luzon.

The other school of thought, as Aquino chose, prefers the international courtroom as the battlefield for rule of law. Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, who leads a personal crusade on the weight of the arbitration, was keen on the outcome because the Philippines didn’t have what it takes to fight China’s military might. He predicted an “intergenerational war,” saying there will be no world policeman that would throw China out even if the Philippines wins. “We just have to be creative about it.” – Asia Sentinel

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Pantawid Gutom Cash Transfer in the Philippines Lauded by World Bank as world's best

Conditional cash transfer beneficiaries PHOTO FROM BLOGS.ADB.ORG

PH cash transfer program among world’s best–World Bank

The World Bank gave the country’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program high marks, saying it was one of the “largest and best-targeted social safety net programs in the world.”

Ruslan Yemstov, World Bank’s leading economist on social protection and labor, presented on Wednesday the results of the bank’s “The State of Social Safety Nets 2015” report which showed that 82 percent of the benefits of the Philippines’ CCT program went to the bottom 40 percent of the population and noted that it was “way superior” to previous social programs.

“The poor and vulnerable in the Philippines benefit from what is today one of the largest and best-targeted social safety net programs in the world,” said Yemstov, who led the team that prepared the WB report, said.

Protecting families

Social safety net programs include cash and in-kind transfers to poor households with the goal of protecting families from the impact of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other crises; ensuring that children grow up healthy, well-fed and stay in school; empowering women and girls, and creating jobs.

According to the World Bank report, more than 1.9 billion people in 136 low- and middle-income countries benefit from social safety net programs.

Across the world, CCT programs account for over 50 percent of social safety net programs, and are being implemented in 64 countries—a dramatic increase from two countries in 1997.

The report also noted that CCT had positive spillover effects on the local economy of target communities. Every dollar transferred to beneficiaries generates income ranging from $1.34 to $2.52 in local communities (“multiplier effects”).

Cash transfers boost school enrollment and attendance, increase live births in safer facilities, improve prenatal and postnatal care, promote regular growth monitoring of children during critically important early ages, and enhance food security, the report said.

In the Philippines, almost 4.5 million households are enrolled in the CCT, or Pantawid Pamilya program, from only 360,000 households in 2008.

“CCT grants account for an average of 11 percent of the income of the poorest recipient households,” noted World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi.

Keep kids healthy and in school

Evaluation studies, according to Konishi, also show that CCT in the Philippines is delivering on its objectives: keeping poor children healthy and in school.

The program increased prenatal and postnatal care by 10 percentage points and increased the delivery of babies in health facilities by skilled health professionals by 20 percentage points. Children benefited by receiving higher intake of vitamin A and iron supplementation by around 12 percentage points and by increased weight monitoring visits to health facilities by 18 percentage points.

Aleksandra Posarac, program leader of the World Bank in Manila, said the Philippines has developed a system “way superior” to previous ones.

She lauded the government’s information management system, called Listahanan,” that identifies who and where the poor are in the country.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, whose agency is the lead implementor of the social safety net program, said the data base, “in a way, makes it corruption-proof.” - INQUIRER

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2015 FIBA Asia: Gilas Pilipinas rebounds, mauls Hong Kong for first win by 51

Jayson Castro (William) led the Philippines with 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists. - Photo from FIBA File

A frustrated Gilas Pilipinas bares its teeth and bites down hard on Hong Kong for a strong recovery from a tough loss in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship

Gilas dusts off loss, mauls Hong Kong by 51

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A different Gilas Pilipinas showed up on Thursday morning, September 24 than had been on display the day before. And they sent quite a strong message to the rest of the competition.

The 2013 FIBA Asia silver medalists vented out their frustrations from an embarrassing opening day defeat to Palestine as the 69th ranked Hong Kong was the unfortunate victim of a 101-50 decimation in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship at the Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium in Changsha, China.

Jayson Castro, or Jayson William in international play, showed why he is considered Asia's top point guard, exploding for 21 points, 5 rebounds, two assists. He also was 5-of-6 from three-point land. The speedy Castro was firing on all cylinders as he provided not only offensive ammunition but also stability and leadership in orchestrating Gilas' sets.

Andray Blatche followed up his 21-point outing vs Palestine with a 17-point, 8-rebound performance, while Dondon Hontiveros, after going one-of-6 from downtown in the previous game, found his shooting touch and went 4-of-6 from long range against Hong Kong for 14 points to go with 8 rebounds.

Terrence Romeo added 11 points on 3-of-11 triples to go with 5 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Ranidel De Ocampo chipped 10 points and 7 rebounds.

The Philippine national men's basketball team, ranked 31 in the world by FIBA, bared its teeth and bit down hard on Hong Kong from the get-go as they raced to a 20-2 lead out of the gates thanks to Castro's taking over early on.

TAKEOVER. Jayson Castro, known internationally as Jayson William, stabilizes, leads, and orchestrates Gilas Pilipinas on both ends of the floor from start to finish as the Philippines makes mince meat of Hong Kong. Photo from FIBA

And although Hong Kong, which easily dispatched Kuwait on opening day, found their stride late in the first period, and were backed by the small crowd at the venue, the Philippines refused to be slayed once again and outscored their foes 23-7 in the second period to take a 51-22 halftime lead they would never relent.

The statement game continued in the third even as cheers echoed through the arena for every made Hong Kong shot as Gilas entered the fourth period armed with an 83-38 advantage.

The Philippines' defense was sticky. They clogged the paint and made sure they had active hands and feet all throughout. Unlike the first game, Gilas found the mark from the outside with a 41.2% 3-point shooting clip as opposed to 23% versus Palestine.

After the horrible loss to Palestine, head coach Tab Baldwin dared his players to do more.

"I got nothing for rebounds. That's on you," he said after explaining some adjustments for the Hong Kong game, as shown on a TV5 report.

"If we have to discuss that issue again then I won't be interested in putting my hand in the circle again with you guys. And you guys shouldn't be interested in that too. Fair enough?"

Watch the Video of 2015 FIBA Asia Championship: Gilas Pilipinas vs Hong Kong

"Let's have integrity. Let's do what Filipino basketball players have been doing for years – let's play with puso (heart)," he added.

The team, clearly disappointed during that huddle in practice, responded nicely as they out-rebounded Hong Kong, 62-38. The Palestinians had the edge a day before, 53-58.

Gilas also remembered to move the ball around again and look for the open man as they registered 16 assists, compared to just 8 against Palestine.

They were much more aggressive, too, being smarter with their shot selection. Instead of mostly chucking three-pointers barely 24 hours earlier, Gilas took it strong to the hoop and went 17-of-28 from the line. While that free throw shooting still needs work, they limited Hong Kong to just 5-of-8 from the stripe.

Turnovers were also decreased from 15 to 10.

Siu Win Chang and Duncan Reid led Hongkong with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Gilas will round up Group B play with Kuwait on Friday, September 25. The team has no room for a loss through to the second round after dropping the Palestine game. – Rappler.com

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Armed Forces united & published a manifesto AGAINST BBL Bangsamoro - Shocks President Aquino!

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Controversial ₱700-million Iloilo Convention Center opens for APEC Summit

PNoy opens Iloilo Convention Center

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III led on Monday the inauguration of the controversial ₱700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

Aquino opened the state-of-the-art convention facility located on a 1.7-hectare lot in Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The ICC became controversial last year after former provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada Jr. alleged that the structure was overpriced and implicated Senate President Franklin Drilon, an Ilonggo.

Mejorada accused Drilon of conspiring with a supposedly favored contractor to rig the bidding of the project.

Mejorada alleged that W.V. Coscoluella and Associates, which designed the building, was awarded a contract without a public bidding and that construction was overpriced by ₱488 million.

President Aquino at the inauguration of the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City. Official Gazette PH

Drilon was charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman in October 2014, but the charge was dismissed for lack of merit.

Two stories high with a floor area of 11,832 square meters, the ICC can accommodate over 3,000 guests. It will be used as one of the venues for some high-level ministerial meetings of this year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

The construction of the ICC began in 2013 and was based on a design inspired by Iloilo's Dinagyang and Paraw festivals.

Aquino also joined the ceremonial launch of the Iloilo Business Park and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. - Louis Bacani @philSTAR

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VIDEO: Pinay X Factor favorites 4th Power grew up in poverty before shooting to stardom got standing Ovation

The group impressed the judges. image: mirror.co.uk

X Factor favorites 4th Power grew up in poverty before shooting to stardom, their mum reveals

The girl group sparked outrage last week as it was revealed they were professionals, but they have come a long way from their childhood

X Factor favorites 4th Power grew up in poverty before reaching stardom, their mum has revealed.

Filipino sisters Almira, 27, Celena, 19, Mylene, 23, and Irene, 25, wept with joy on the opening show after getting a standing ovation from the new judging panel of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.

Some viewers were livid when the Sunday People last week revealed they were seasoned professionals.

But life has not always been so good. The girls grew up in a poor neighborhood in the city of Santiago with two more siblings, their junk dealer dad Dominador and mum Erlindo.

Revealing the family's struggle, Erlindo said: "We moved from place to place to find a better life. Poverty forced my husband to buy and sell bottles and newspapers in a pushcart.

"I sold Tupperware, beauty products and fashionwear. With our hard work, we sent our five daughters and our son to school."

She revealed how they got their first break by finishing second in a family singing contest while wearing homemade kit.

The group appeared on This Morning

The sisters raised travel money by singing at an arena between cock fights and went on to perform at birthdays, weddings and concerts to help pay for school tuition.

A string of international competitions followed.

The band had told X Factor producers about their extensive experience before being invited to perform for the judges.- Read more at Mirror.co.uk

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Piolo Pascual back on the cover of Esquire

Piolo Pascual @ Esquire. image: Coconuts Manila

This time, Piolo Pascual gets his solo Esquire cover.

Unlike his usual glossy appearances in other magazines, Kapamilya idol Piolo Pascual sported a gritty, understated look on the September issue cover of Esquire. The cap Piolo was wearing is actually owned dby photographer Geric Cruz, who shot the cover.

In a Facebook post, Esquire said Papa P will be sharing his thoughts on fatherhood, fame, and his role in Lav Diaz's movie Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis.

Of all his experiences on cam, Piolo told Esquire that playing Simoun, who is based in Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, is one of his most challenging roles to date.

Esquire last had Piolo on the cover in 2013, when he was promoting the film, On The Job. At that time, he shared the cover with co-stars Gerald Anderson and Joel Torre.

"I think I’ve come to the point in my life where I can say, 'I think I’ve done enough.' I’ve done more than enough. But if God is going to take me some place else, I won’t mind. But for now, damn, man... never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d get this far," Piolo said.

The September 2013 issue will also be giving readers an inside look at the set of the film, as well as Lav's directing style.

With the theme "Say You Want A Revolution"  (a line from Revolution of The Beatles, yes?), Esquire also touches on poems from writer and poet Pete Lacaba and a love story from the Martial Law era.

More of Papa P coming through:

Piolo Pascual @ Esquire. image: Coconuts Manila

Piolo Pascual @ Esquire. image: Coconuts Manila

Read more at Coconuts Manila

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Alex Castro's Penis groped at Cospomolitan Bash 2015 Showdown

Alex Castro's dick groped by an anonymous fans during his Cosmopolitan Bash 2015 stage ramp - image: grabbed from PEP Youtube channel

Alex Castro's "jun-jun" groped at #CosmoCarnival 2015

As posted at Philippine Entertainment Portal or PEP, Isang mahiwagang "nilalang" ang tila sinuwerte dahil nahawakan nito ang "jun-jun" ng Kapamilya actor/performer na si Alex Castro sa Cosmo Carnival 2015 na ginanap noong September 5, sa SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds sa Pasay City, Philippines.

Na-spot-an ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang pangyayari na makikita sa video na ito simula sa 0:35:

Or, tingnan nyo na lang yung pangatlong photo sa gallery sa sa baba.

Alex Castro - image source: pep.ph

Alex Castro - image source: pep.ph

Alex Castro's penis groped by a mysterious fans - image source: pep.ph

Alex Castro - image source: pep.ph

Sa huli, tila na-enjoy pa rin naman ni Alex ang Cosmo Bash ngunit nag-iwan siya ng mensahe sa mahiwagang "nilalang" sa kanyang Instagram account.

Sabi ni Alex: "Salamat sa #cosmopolitan at sa lahat na nanood. Dun sa nanghawak bonus na sayo yan! Wag ka na maghuhugas ng kamay. #cosmopolitancarnival2015"

Read more at Philippine Entertainment Portal

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Gilas Pilipinas whips Chinese Taipei-B, finishes 2nd in Jones Cup

image: Inquirer

TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas, as expected, rampaged past Chinese Taipei B, 96-67, and secured first runner-up honors at the close of the 2015 Jones Cup invitational basketball tournament at the Xinchuang Gymnasium here Sunday (September 6, 2015).

The Nationals pulled away early and preserved a commanding lead to the finish to end up with a 6-2 win-loss record, a game behind Iran at 7-1.

Gilas Pilipinas pulled off earlier wins over Taipei A (77-69), Spartak-Primorye of Russia (85-71), Japan (75-60), the Wellington Saints of New Zealand (92-88) and USA Select-Overtake (78-74), and suffered losses against South Korea (70-82) and Iran (65-74).

Ahead of the Gilas-Taipei B tiff, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan prodded the Nationals to finish strong, thanking them for the patriotism they stirred on their proud showing here.

“Best of luck Gilas on your last game. Team has generated a lot of goodwill here,” Pangilinan posted on his Twitter account @iamMVP.

“I’m surprised myself at the level of keen interest, and support, as well as a strong sense of patriotism you guys have stirred,” he also said. “Let’s finish strong today; make this country stand taller and prouder. Cheers. Puso!”

The Nationals obliged, capping a performance that coach Tab Baldwin considered “a big step for FIBA Asia.”

“With all the circumstances, I’m pleased with the second-place finish. It’s respectable,” said Baldwin. “It’s not really want you want, but we take the most of it. And there are many positives.”

“Like Iran, Japan and korea, we came here to get better for FIBA Asia. It’s a very difficult format playing eight games in eight days. I think there were positives out of that, but we suffered fatigue and injuries. Importantly, we’ll take the positives from our Jones Cup experience,” he added.

Without a doubt, the Nationals got improvements in so many aspects, putting some of these in display in their lopsided win over Taipei B.

Gary David took his turn to lead the way with a game-high 22 points spiked by two three-pointers while Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo and Moala Tautuaa contributed double-digit outputs as the Nationals rolled past the young Taiwanese squad for a fifth podium finish here in the last 11 years.

Tautuaa and Calvin Abueva delivered 12 and eight points, respectively, playing their eighth game in eight days here. The two were the only Gilas players who played here without a day’s rest.

Abueva finally got a rest after hurting his back on a bad fall six minutes and 17 seconds into the game.

Subbing for Abueva, Troy Rosario nailed the two gift shots as Gilas seized the lead at 22-21 before eventually pulling away en route to the win and the second-place finish coming after Gilas II’s title run here in 2012.

It’s Team Phl’s eighth podium finish overall in the Jones Cup after four title conquests and three third-place finishes.

Iran recaptured the Jones Cup crown with a 7-1 record, its lone defeat coming at the hands of the Americans when the Iranians rested 7-foot-2 behemoth Hamed Haddadi.

Haddadi threw his weight against the Filipinos, but Baldwin can count on Andray Blatche to match up with the Iranian giant on their rematch in FIBA Asia.

The 6-foot-10 NBA veteran was to arrive here Sunday night and is to rejoin Gilas in practice in Manila starting Wednesday.

Blatche and the entire pool will have three practice days before plunging back into action in the MVP Cup on Friday to Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (SB)

The scores:

Gilas 96 – David 22, Castro 15, Tautuaa 12, De Ocampo 10, Abueva 8, Intal 7, Ramos 7, Thoss 6, Rosario 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Norwood 0, Taulava 0.

Taipei B 67 – Chien 18, Hsiao 14, Lin 9, Lee 9, Huang 8, Lee 3, Liu2, Lin CW 2, Chen 2, Chou 0, Cheng 0, Chien 0.

Quarterscores: 24-21, 50-32, 82-52, 96-67 - INQUIRER

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Was Julie Anne once the 'Yaya Dub' in Alden's life?

(Right) Julie Anne San Jose: The blessings are pouring. (Left) Alden Richards, rumored to have been Julie Anne’s first (secret?) boyfriend. - image: philSTAR

Because the AlDub tandem of Alden Richards and Yaya Dub/Maine Mendoza is the most popular today, not just here but around the world (in Filipino communities reached by GMA Pinoy TV), the name Julie Anne San Jose is brought up as having been a “Yaya Dub” in Alden’s life once upon a time (although she and Alden would keep mum if reminded about it).

I guess if asked about it, Julie Anne would simply blush as an answer. Same with Alden. Why their romance didn’t progress (didn’t it, secretly?) remains a little mystery up to now.

Both are happy where they are, Alden as the current Crush ng Bayan, Pambansang Dimples and Pambansang Bae rolled into one, and Julie Anne in GMA shows Buena Familia, Sunday PINASaya and Pepito Manaloto. Currently in New York (with Dingdong Dantes, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Christian Bautista and Betong Sumaya) for the 10th-anniversary celebration (yesterday) of GMA Pinoy TV, Julie Anne was recently named the newest celebrity advocate of World Vision. The music video of her latest single titled Not Impressed will be released anytime now.

Funfare let Julie Anne play the “If I Were” game.

• If I were an animal, I would be... A bird. I want to fly.

• If I were a song, I would be... Who You Love. Just because...Hahahaha!

• If I were a place, I would be... Outer space. Space-walking would be cool.

• If I were a tree, I would be... Cherry Blossoms. I wish to take it home.

• If I were a flower, I would be... A rose. I find it really lovely.

• If I were a food, I would be... Pizza. I’d never ever give up pizza.

• If I were a movie, I would be… A Marvel movie. I’m always fond of any Marvel movie.

• If I were a car, I would be... Lamborghini. That car’s sexy.

• If I were a part of the house, I would be... The music room, my comfort zone.

• If I were a hero, I would be... Superman. He’s a classic.

• If I were a cartoon character, I would be... Spongebob. He’s so cute and soft.

• If I were a book, I would be... The Mortal Instruments series. I’m addicted to it.

• If I were a Hollywood actor/actress, I would be... Johnny Depp. He can portray and slay any role.

• If I were a subject (Math, English, etc.), I would be... Science. I love science.

• If I were a president, I would be... Abraham Lincoln. He’s appointed to be the best leader of all time.

• If I were a perfume, I would be…Burberry. It has a sweet scent.

• If I were a musical instrument, I would be... A piano. It’s very soulful and can touch many hearts.

• If I were a drink, I would be… Water. It’s the major constituent of the fluids of organisms.

• If I were a country, I would be... Japan. I’ve never been there and I heard so many good things about that country.

• If I were a fictional character, I would be... Santa Claus. I also wanna ride on his flying sleigh with the reindeer.

• If I were a music icon, I would be... Beyoncé. Ultimate performer.

• If I were a luxury brand, I would be... Hermes. It’s a beautiful brand.

• If I were a sport, I would be... Firing. Guns are cool (if properly used).

• If I were a dessert, I would be… A cake. All-time favorite.

• If I were a season, I would be... Spring. Not that hot, not that cold. - philSTAR

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German Technology unveiled new "inkless" printing instant digital camera

Print your photo instantly without using any ink! Its German technology image: Polaroid

Polaroid Snap: their new “inkless” instant digital camera

Berlin – Polaroid announced at the IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany, its new Snap instant digital camera. The pocket-size device delivers the simplicity and instantaneity by which the brand is known for and it is available at a very reasonable price. But was is most appealing about the $99 digital camera is that it uses ink-free Zero Ink Printing technology developed by ZINK.

The Polaroid Snap contains a 10MP digital instant camera with an incorporated printer that uses ZINK Zero Ink Printing technology. Its 2.8 lens is a fixed focal length, meaning there is no zoom. It doesn’t have a screen, but instead has a pop-up optical viewfinder on top. Additionally to having a photo booth mode, which takes six pictures in 10 seconds with or without the classic Polaroid photo border, users will also be able to set a 10-second timer.

Moreover, consumers can instantly print full 2×3-inch images automatically when the picture is taken. Due to its fast printing abilities, users will be able to shoot new images while the device is printing.

The new addition to the Polaroid family also features a MicroSD up to a 32GB capacity to save images for later uploading them to a computer, cloud service or share in any social media.

Design

The Polaroid Snap minimalist design features a look that incorporates classic elements of the Polaroid legacy, such as the iconic Polaroid Color Spectrum. The resulting design involved the efforts from Ammunition, a design firm that was also behind the creation of the Polaroid Zip, Polaroid Cube and Polaroid Cube+.

Furthermore, the digital camera will be available in black, white and vintage Polaroid.

The Polaroid Snap instant digital camera uses the groundbreaking ink-free Zero Ink Printing technology developed by ZINK. The essential element of the revolutionary technology is the patented ZINK Paper, which is an advance material embedded with cyan, yellow and magenta dye crystals including a securing polymer overcoat.

Before printing, the dye crystals are colorless so the ZINK Paper looks like a regular photo paper. But when printing, the device uses heat to activate and colorize the crystals, resulting in a full colored picture. Additionally, the ZINK Paper is adhesive backed so the photo can be used as a sticker. - Polaroid / Pulse Headlines

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New Apple battery so powerful that your phone could last weeks

'Fuel cell': The new tech could end the misery of short battery life for millions - image: mirror.co.uk

Apple patent envisions fuel cell battery that could power a smartphone for weeks

Quick, what's your No. 1 qualm about smartphones? Chances are, you said "battery life." Most smartphones today, even high-end ones, barely last a day of heavy use.

Apple is looking to fix that problem with a new patent, filed in March and published Sept. 3, that describes a "fuel cell system for a portable computing device."

The patent envisions a system consisting of a fuel cell, which converts fuel to electrical power, an interface to the portable computing device (e.g. smartphone) and a controller that monitors the state of the fuel cell and controls it.

An image from an Apple patent filing, describing a fuel cell system for powering portable computing devices - image: Freepatentsonline

As far as patent applications go, this one seems pretty broad; for example, it mentions many possible fuel sources, ranging from lithium hydride and water mix to liquid hydrogen.

The patent posits that a hydrogen fuel cell could "enable continued operation of portable electronic devices for days or even weeks without refueling" (wouldn't that be dreamy), but also immediately mentions that it's "extremely challenging" to design portable, cost-effective hydrogen fuel cell systems.

As always, a patent filing does not mean we'll soon (or ever) see a product using the technology. A duo of very similar patents, also filed by Apple, were published in 2011, and they definitely haven't resulted in any real world products yet. At least the new filing shows Apple is still interested in the technology, rekindling hopes of a fuel cell iPhone in the future. - Mashable

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