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Country Fast Facts:Philippines
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel Quezon was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition.
In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On July 4, 1946, the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. The 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon Aquino as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability and economic development.
Fidel Ramos was elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the U.S. closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph Estrada was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in January 2001 after Estrada's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. Macapagal-Arroyo was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004.
The Philippine Government faces threats from three terrorist groups on the U.S. Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list, but in 2006 and 2007 scored some major successes in capturing or killing key wanted terrorists. Decades of Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines have led to a peace accord with one group and an ongoing cease-fire and peace talks with another. The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-Americ... more -
A loving midwife in the Philippines helps the poor give birth to their children.
Agnes is a midwife who trained in LA but who now has her own practice in the Philippines. Her clinic is under her house and she helps the poor who cannot afford to pay to have their child in a hospital.We witness a baby being born and the loving midwife who helps bring that child into the world. Agnes is a midwife who trained in LA but who now has her own practice in the Philippines. Her clinic is under her house and she helps ... more
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100 Hawksbill turtles die in latest Filipino poaching incident
Foreign poaching of Philippines marine life has flared up as an issue again following the discovery of more than 100 dead Hawksbill turtles aboard a Vietnamese fishing vessel apprehended near Malampaya.
The fishing boat’s 13-man crew flooded their vessel as a Filipino gunboat approached them near the country’s main gas field, around 80km off the coast of Palawan Island in the South China Sea. A total of 101 Hawksbill turtles were found drowned in the vessel’s cargo hold.Â
Resting sea turtles, which grow up to a metre in length and can weigh as much as 80kg, can remain submerged for up to two hours but stressed individuals must resurface every few minutes.
“Again and again, foreign nationals have encroached upon Philippine waters to plunder our nation’s dwindling marine resources,” said WWF Project Manager RJ de la Calzada. “It disheartens us to find the animals we work so hard to conserve slaughtered on a wholesale basis.”
Distinguished from other sea turtles by a hooked beak and heavily-serrated carapace, the Hawksbill has for millennia been hunted for food and tortoiseshell, a material used as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman times to fashion jewellery, combs and brushes.Â
The Hawksbill turtle is protected under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits all international trade. It is also now classified by the IUCN as Critically Endangered, the highest risk rating for a living animal. Under Philippine and international law it is illegal to capture and kill sea turtles and to trade in turtle by-products.
The 13 Vietnamese poachers are just the latest in a long line to have intruded upon Philippine waters, violating both local and international laws. Last year over 200 Green turtles were retrieved in the Sulu Sea and two years ago 359 CITES-protected Napoleon or Humphead Wrasse were seized. Foreign poaching of Philippines marine life has flared up as an issue again following the discovery of more than 100 dead Hawksbill tu... more -
MILF Kills 7 Phillipine Soldiers
No, no, not _that_ kind of milf, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front kind:
MANILA (Reuters) - Muslim separatists killed at least seven Philippine soldiers and wounded a dozen more in an ambush on Sunday on the troubled southern island of Mindanao, the military said.
The attack came four days after government troops halted a fierce offensive against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in another part of Mindanao and is the latest outbreak of violence since a territorial deal with the MILF was halted by the Supreme Court earlier this month.
The military said the soldiers, traveling in a convoy, were on their way to deliver troop salaries to a remote detachment when they were ambushed by around 100 MILF rebels, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machineguns.
"Our troops were taken by complete surprise," Colonel Reynaldo Ardo, an army brigade commander in Lanao del Sur province, told reporters.
"Our boys were never given a chance to fight back. After 10 minutes of heavy gunfire, the rebels withdrew to a nearby wooded area. We're sending additional forces to punish the rebels. We can't allow this to happen."
Four regular soldiers and three part-time troopers were killed in the first volley of machinegun fire. A dozen other troopers were wounded as they sought cover behind the wrecked trucks and van.
Last week, air force planes bombed MILF positions for four straight days, triggering an exodus of around 160,000 people in seven towns in North Cotabato. Manila had accused the guerrillas of occupying Catholic farms in the area.
Analysts have said both sides were flexing their military muscles after the Supreme Court's temporary halting of the territorial deal marked another setback in long-running talks to end a separatist conflict that has killed over 120,000 people.
Legal experts expect the court will rule that the agreement, which gives a future government of an expanded Muslim homeland wide political and economic powers, is unconstitutional.
A spike in violence is expected following such a ruling but an all-out war is not considered likely as neither side has the resources to deliver a knockout blow. No, no, not _that_ kind of milf, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front kind: ... more -
Disaster Feared as 130,000 Flee Fighting in Southern Philippines
Violence flared last week after the country's Supreme Court decided to suspend plans for an extended Muslim homeland in the south, prompting some Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels to take control of mainly Christian villages in North Cotabato province, a poor farming region in Mindanao, Agence France-Presse reported. . .
The 12,000-strong MILF has waged a 30-year guerrilla campaign for a separate Islamic state in the south of the largely Christian Philippines.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council said 129,819 people have been displaced from 42 villages in North Cotabato. The refugees are being housed in 43 government evacuation centers in the province in the southern island of Mindanao, said Glenn Raboza, an NDCC executive officer, according to AFP. The government was providing water, sanitation and food. Violence flared last week after the country's Supreme Court decided to suspend plans for an extended Muslim homeland in the south... more -
One of the known survivors of ferry crash reaches dry land after 5 hour swim
For five hours, Jessie Buot swam through mountainous seas and torrential rain, until he reached dry land. He was the one of the fortunate ones. Most of the 862 passengers and crew aboard a ferry that capsized in a typhoon in the central Philippines are believed to have perished.
Philippine Navy divers rapped on the hull of the stricken ship, the MV Princess of Stars, yesterday but received no response. Meanwhile, bodies, including those of a man and a woman who had tied themselves together, washed ashore on nearby islands, along with life jackets and children's shoes.
Mr Buot is one of only 38 people known to have survived when the ferry sank near Sibuyan Island, after running into the path of typhoon Fengshen. "I tried to be brave, because I knew if I had succumbed to my fears, I would have died," he said.
Mr Buot, 24, who works on a mango farm, jumped off the ship when it began to capsize. "I held on to my life vest very tight so I wouldn't lose it, and I did not try to swim with others because I was afraid they might cling to me and we might all drown," he said.
One group of 28 passengers and crew washed ashore after drifting at sea for more than 24 hours, wearing life jackets. The coastguard was yesterday checking a report that another group of people – some dead, some alive – had been spotted in the water.
But for most of the distraught relatives waiting at a passenger terminal in the central city of Cebu, where the Princess of Stars was supposed to dock, the outlook appeared bleak. They included Laarni Condrilla, whose mother, father and two brothers were all on board the ship. Ms Condrilla, 26, was called by her mother as the ferry started to sink. She asked her daughter to pray for her. Then the line went dead.
If the death toll is as high as feared, it will be the worst maritime disaster in the Philippines for more than 20 years. But for many local people, the events are depressingly familiar. The country has a history of tragedies involving ferries, the main form of transport for impoverished Filipinos travelling between the archipelago's 7,100 islands.
The country is struck by about 20 typhoons a year, and grief-stricken relatives were yesterday asking why the Princess of Stars was allowed to set sail from Manila on a 20-hour voyage, with Fengshen already forecast. It seems, though, that the 24,000-tonne vessel was expected to skirt the storm and was deemed large enough to stay afloat in its periphery. Then the typhoon changed course.
The shipping company, Sulpicio Lines, has been involved in four disasters at sea, including a collision between a ferry and an oil tanker in 1987 which killed more than 4,000 people.
The rescue operation was being hampered by continuing poor weather, with pounding seas stalling efforts by Navy divers to drill into the ship's hull. The head of the coastguard, Vice-Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, said: "We're not ruling out that somebody there is alive."
Reynato Lanoria, a janitor on the ship, was on the top deck when a crew member ordered passengers to put on life jackets. Half an hour later, the ferry began tilting so fast that children and elderly people fell over on the rain-slicked deck.
Gretchen Labadia received a text message from her husband as the ship began to sink. "Don't worry, I'm safe," he wrote. "I'll text you tomorrow.''
(copied from the Independent website) For five hours, Jessie Buot swam through mountainous seas and torrential rain, until he reached dry land. He was the one of the fortun... more -
Philippines: 700 missing after ferry capsizes
Only three survivors have been found after a ferry with more than 700 people onboard capsized near the central Philippine island of Sibuyan.
The boat capsized before a rescue vessel could reach it. Four bodies have been found floating in the waters.
The crew of the MV Princess of Stars reported Saturday that it ran aground after its engine failed during its regular run between Manila and Cebu City.
Radio contact with the ship was lost Saturday afternoon, and rough seas stirred up by Typhoon Fengshen have slowed efforts to reach the ferry. The typhoon made landfall in the eastern Philippines early Saturday. Only three survivors have been found after a ferry with more than 700 people onboard capsized near the central Philippine island of Si... more -
On the plane, Oops we forgot baby!
"We think that's what happened," Mah said of a scenario similar to the 1990 movie Home Alone, where an eight-year-old is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas.
As the family flew toward Winnipeg on an Air Canada plane, a security guard in Vancouver airport found the boy, Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah said. "We think that's what happened," Mah said of a scenario similar to the 1990 movie Home Alone, where an eight-year-old i... more -
Butterflying - PeacePATH Foundation - In Memory of Crizell Valencia, 6, in Phillip...
By Kelly Hayes-Raitt | February 25th, 2008 |
“She wanted to fly so high, she could see all the people on earth,” Dina Valencia says of her daughter. Six-year-old Crizel died eight years ago today from leukemia likely caused by the toxic wastes the US left behind when it formally closed Clark Air Base.
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Crizel leaves behind a portfolio of vibrant drawings of psychedelic butterflies, floating hearts, lush flowers and dancing vegetables. Her mother thumbs through a scrapbook of Crizel’s artwork, proudly showing off her daughter’s colorful spirit.
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She also leaves behind a year of painful memories for one frantic mother and a legacy of media interviews as the face of the impact of American military presence in the Philippines.
Clark was under US military control for 88 years until the Philippine Senate voted to close all 22 American bases on August 21, 1991. As we handed Clark over to the Philippine government that November, families from the surrounding communities who had been displaced by the recent eruption of Mount Pinatubo were relocated to the base’s old “motor pool,” where military vehicles had been brought for repair…and where toxic wastes had been dumped for years. Twenty-five million gallons of petroleum, oil, lubricants and other stuff were stored here, over time releasing PCBs, TCEs, mercury, pesticides, asbestos, far in excess of what our government’s environmental standard would allow in an American community. Toxics seeped into water, saturated the soil and scattered via dust particles.
During the next 14 years, 20,000 impoverished families, displaced from the volcano disaster, would live on this toxic land, would drink from the contaminated wells, and would breathe the poisoned air.
The entire base, the size of Singapore, is likely contaminated. Two rivers flow downhill, plaguing additional generations.....
Click link for more on this heartbreaking story of mothers and loss due to military activities.
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From TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com for Memorial Day in remembrance of little Crizill Valencia and all victims worldwide of toxic pollution, including American and other soldiers, from military actions who are an unacceptable collateral damage of waging war. By Kelly Hayes-Raitt | February 25th, 2008 | ... more -
Filipino dancing prisoners putting on monthly live show
That's right, those incarcerated Filipinos who became famous for dancing, in unison, to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' have turned their hands (and feet) to performing a live show for visitors.
They shot to fame after dancing to MJ's 'Thriller' as part of their exercise regime, which was uploaded to Youtube, where it has had over 15 million views.
On the back of their success on youtube, the inmates are now said to be performing a monthly show which is open to visitors on the last Saturday of every month. The new routine includes Queen's "Radio Ga Ga" and a new routine of the Bonnie Tyler song "I Need a Hero" which involves inmates holding portraits of iconic figures such as the Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II and Mahatma Ghandi.
Following the two hour 'spectacle' visitors can meet up with the prisoners, have their photos taken together or even grab up some souvenir-esque prison merchandise. That's right, those incarcerated Filipinos who became famous for dancing, in unison, to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller... more -
Chopped Up Filipina Found in Coin Locker in Tokyo
This news story is making the rounds in the English media in Japan:
The chopped up body of a Filipina woman was found inside a locker in a Tokyo train station last week.
A Japanese man, Hiroshi Nozaki, who was arrested for a second time on similar charges, allegedly used a washing machine to wash the body parts before transporting them to a local train station.
Nozaki was arrested by police after trying to commit suicide on a street in a Tokyo suburb by slitting his wrist. It was at this point that police found a note and a key which led them to a locker where they found the female body parts.
The victim was reportedly cut into more than 10 pieces that were put into plastic bags inside a suitcase in a locker.
Her head has not yet been found.
Read the article for more info! This news story is making the rounds in the English media in Japan: ... more -
Manila Bans Christmas Carol Singers
Manila authorities have banned Christmas carol singers from the streets for safety reasons and warned Sunday they would round up any who flouted the new rule. Manila authorities have banned Christmas carol singers from the streets for safety reasons and warned Sunday they would round up any w... more
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Journey Pick New Lead Singer From YouTube
Journey needed a new singer but guitarist Neal Schon wasn't finding what he was looking for anywhere he looked. So he got on YouTube and discovered Arnel Pineda from the Philippines. Arnel is a lifelong Journey fan and it took some convincing from Neal over YouTube messaging that this wasn't a hoax and his life dream was in fact materializing. Eventually he believed it, flew to the states and is now the new front man for his favorite band in the world.
This is actually very similar to the plot of 2001's "Rock Star" with Mark Wahlberg. Hopefully Arnel can handle the fame and avoid the lifestyle choices that did in Chris 'Izzy' Cole.
Here is Arnel doing "Faithfully." Journey needed a new singer but guitarist Neal Schon wasn't finding what he was looking for anywhere he looked. So he got on YouT... more -
Bombing at Philippine House of Representatives, Two killed, One a Congressman
Congressman Wahab Akbar and his driver were killed when a bomb exploded next to his car.
There is speculation that Abu Sayaf may have had a role in this attack, as Akbar had been the governor of the island that the fundamentalist group operates from. Congressman Wahab Akbar and his driver were killed when a bomb exploded next to his car. ... more
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Phillipines
