Honest Janitress Gets Cash Reward
MANILA, Philippines – The honest janitress who returned a plastic pouch full of foreign currency left behind at the Customs area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport late last month received a cash reward for her good deed from a group of Filipino-Chinese philanthropists.
Jennifer Doroga, 32, contractual janitress of the Manila International Airport Authority received, the R50,000 cash reward from Manny Dy, honorary president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations Foundation Inc.
Dy turned over the award to Doroga at the Board Room of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the presence of MIAA Assistant General Manager MGen Vicente Guerzon (ret.) and NAIA Terminal Manager Dante Basanta. Read more…
Kobe leads Lakers past Thunder in 99-96 thriller
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 18: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot against Nazr Mohammed #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three.
They’re better off slowing down the game – or even better yet, standing still at the free throw line.
That’s what the Lakers did to near perfection in Game 3 on Friday night, and that’s why they’re still standing in a series with an opponent who can run circles around them.
Bryant made 18 free throws without a miss, scored 14 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers rallied late for a 99-96 victory, cutting the Thunder’s second-round series lead to 2-1.
Metta World Peace swiped the ball from Kevin Durant and hit two free throws with 12.9 seconds left for the third-seeded Lakers, who shook off the memory of their late collapse in Game 2 with a steady comeback from a late five-point deficit. Bryant’s effort at the line set a franchise playoff record, and the Lakers needed every free throw.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers’ Matt Barnes, left, during the first half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball playoffs.
”If it’s an up-and-down game, we don’t have a shot,” said Bryant, who surpassed Gail Goodrich’s 1972 team record of 17 free throws without a miss. ”We’ve got to just slow down the game. Play our pace, play our tempo, and we’ll give ourselves a great opportunity.” Read more…
MANILA, Philippines – An appointee of President Benigno Aquino III has sponsored Wednesday’s Octave Novena mass at the Supreme Court.
Manny Pacquiao Banned From Hollywood Mall
Written by: Ben Maller
Manny Pacquiao won’t be shopping with the stars ever again, as the homophobic boxing superstar has been banned from Hollywood’s ultimate entertainment destination.
Training in Los Angeles for his upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley, Pacquiao was scheduled to sit down for an interview Wednesday with “Extra” host Mario Lopez at the Grove, LA’s legendary shopping mall where celebrities and tourists mingle in overpriced shops, restaurants and movie theaters. But that interview won’t take place now, at least not at the outdoor mall. Read more…
Could China’s sanctions choke us?
By: Cielito F. Habito, Philippine Daily Inquirer
One hundred fifty container loads of Philippine bananas are being left to rot in the Chinese ports of Dalian, Shanghai and Xingang, according to reports that came over the weekend. Our own government officials have been quick to play down any link between the holding of the banana shipments and the ongoing tension at the Panatag Shoal. But even if there wasn’t such a link before, who would believe there wouldn’t be one now?
Smith is in Europe doing press for his new film, “Men in Black 3,” and watched Sunday’s final with his wife, Jada. After the match, Smith spoke to the crowd in surprisingly good Spanish, then brought out a framed costume from the movie as a gift to Federer.
Sure, Roger Federer won his 20th Masters 1000 title with his 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Tomas Berdych at the Madrid Open. And, yes, it was his 45th win in his last 48 matches, gave him seven titles in his last 10 events, made him the first player to ever win at least 10 championships on each major surface and earned him that bizarre Ion Tiriac trophy. This doesn’t even mention that he moved past Rafael Nadal to regain the No. 2 spot in the ATP rankings, made a huge dent in Novak Djokovic’s lead for the No. 1 ranking and came out on top in a week that was defined by childish whining and threats from the former top two. But all of that pales in comparison to receiving a framed “Men in Black” suit from Will Smith.
Serena Williams dominated the women’s final earlier Sunday, defeating world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, 6-1, 6-3. The American hasn’t lost on clay all year, but that will bring little consolation since Will Smith didn’t bring her anything from “Bad Boys 2.”
Rotary Club launches ‘Adopt a Coral’ in Nasugbu
Ruby Banares delivers a message at Metro Club during a joint meeting with RCM Nielsen and other clubs
The Rotary Club of Makati Urdaneta has recently launched an ambitious artificial reefs project to restore corals and the marine environments in the Nasugbu, Batangas area.
Mayor Tony Barcelon assisting DGE Sue Sta. Maria and PE Joyce Hufton present coral reef block ‘donation’ to the local PNP divers for submersion in the Lake Nasugbu.
Billed as “Adopt a Coral,” the club has enlisted the support of other Rotary clubs in District 3830 and government agencies to co-sponsor the project to build a Rotary Coral Reef Garden which aims to protect and enhance marine life in the lake. A secondary objective of the undertaking was to help enhance the public image of Rotary through the placement of multiple ‘Rotary reefs’ under the seabed which will eventually, over a period of one year, form a giant coral reef made up of rotary coral blocks made from cement.
DG Sue delivers a speech
It is hoped that giant reef will become a tourist attraction not only for seasoned divers but also snorkelers and regular swimmers in the area. Organizers and sponsors are looking forward to registering the Rotary Coral Reef Garden in the Guinness Book of World of Record as the biggest artificial reef in the world.
Rotarians Gil Turgo of RC Paranaque Lakan-bini and RCM Urdaneta Joyce Hufton, with Governor-Elect Sue Sta. Maria, assisting PNP divers in the lowering of the Coral Reef. Both PE Gil and PE Joyce are dive instructors.
Joining the Rotarians at the launch were Nasugbu town Mayor Tony Barcelon, Battalion PNP Commander Col. Omega Jireh Fidel, PNP Chief of Police Lt. Col. R. Mercado, PNP Divers, coastal barangay captains, Chief of MENRO Mildred Sanchez, Chief of Agri and Fisheries Dori Agapay, and Bantay Dagat Group of 20. Read more…
Lakers outlast Nuggets 96-87 in thrilling Game 7
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 12: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in front of Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter.
A few minutes later, the truth was as undeniable as that 7-foot Spaniard. Although the Nuggets drove them to the brink of playoff collapse, the Los Angeles Lakers still have the tenacity to win on the biggest nights of the postseason.
Even when Kobe Bryant doesn’t lead them.
Gasol had 23 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots, Metta World Peace scored 15 points in his return from a seven-game suspension, and the Lakers outlasted Denver for a thrilling 96-87 victory Saturday night to win their first-round series.
Steve Blake scored a playoff career-high 19 points and Bryant had a quiet 17 points and eight assists against regular double-teams for the Lakers, who blew a 16-point lead in the second half before surviving a finale with wild momentum swings and furious physical play.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace (15) goes up for a dunk as Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, left, watches during the first half of Game 7.
With Gasol leading the Lakers’ emotional effort – exemplified by those five offensive rebounds on a single, unbelievable tip play with 7:10 left – the Lakers narrowly avoided becoming the ninth team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead.
”We were aggressive,” Gasol said. ”We attacked the paint better. We pounded the boards as hard as we could, every single time. … Our backs against the wall also had something to do with it.” Read more…
Assemblyman Mike Gatto Bill Would Require Disclosure and Transparency from Those Who Lobby County Assessors
SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) has amended Assembly Bill 404 to require those who lobby County Assessors to adhere to the same lobbying rules as those who lobby County Boards of Supervisors. This simple requirement would result in disclosure, to the media and public, of who is paying so-called “tax agents” to obtain what are, in some cases, multi-million-dollar windfalls for their clients through favorable treatment by Assessors. It would also, in many cases, prevent tax agents from making campaign contributions to Assessors, who then hear the tax agents’ clients’ cases.
“It is unwise policy to allow these so-called ‘tax-agents’ to lobby assessors in the backrooms of government with no disclosure,” said Gatto. “We should treat those who lobby County Assessors the same as those who lobby County Supervisors, requiring a modicum of disclosure and setting certain ground rules on what is and is not acceptable conduct.” Read more…
Local leaders hail newly launched news program dedicated to Filipinos in Canada
TFC’s Balitang Canada’s East and West Coasts’ launches. (LEFT) Members of the press and community leaders in Toronto watch the teaser of Balitang Canada; (RIGHT) TFC Canada Team poses with British Columbia Correspondents, from left, Rizza Flores, Marco Amoranto, Rosary Escano, Marieton Pacheco, Rowena Papasin, Elizabeth Reymundo, Israel Cando, Mario Marasigan, Cecile and Hector Docto. (ABS-CBN Canada)
Toronto, Canada, May 9, 2012- In separate press conferences held recently in Toronto and Vancouver, TFC Canada formally launched,Balitang Canada, making it the fourth news program produced by TFC in-region. It follows in the footsteps of TFC’s international news family that includes Balitang America (on which Balitang Canada started as a weekly segment before spinning off as a standalone weekly news program), Balitang Middle East and Balitang Europe.
“Balitang Canada is part of TFC’s continuing service to the fast-growing Filipino community all over Canada,” said TFC Canada Managing Director Marco Amoranto. “It aims to provide them with timely and relevant news and features. This new program will also help Filipinos connect with fellow kababayans in other provinces and with family and friends back in the Philippines. Our news program aligns with TFC’s commitment to serve the Filipinos wherever they may be. Providing news that is meaningful to them is a strong component of that commitment.”
Balitang Canada host Marieton Pacheco joined the community launch and presented the program’s new segments that includeImmigration 101, Pasyalan sa Canada, and Kamustahan, among others.
“No one knows the Filipinos more than Filipinos themselves,” said ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez. “The global Filipino community will continue to reach for information and outlets that address their unique interests. As they do so, TFC being in the service of the Filipino worldwide, will provide as many overseas Filipinos as possible not only relevant content through news and entertainment, but also access to these on various platforms. The launch of Balitang Canada is a concrete manifestation of this mission.”
COMMUNITY REACTION
Meanwhile, local leaders from the Filipino community in Canada expressed their support for Balitang Canada.
From Eastern Canada, Francis Rementilla of Gawad Kalinga Canada finds a commonality between the news program and his organization. ”Balitang Canada aims to unite the Filipino communities in Canada with news and information within Canada and the Philippines. Gawad Kalinga Canada shares the same vision of a united citizenry with love for country and for the poor in an unwavering goal to leave no one behind (walang iwanan).” Read more…
