The Manila Times back issues from September 2008:
8 killed, 32 injured in Mindanao bus bombing
Sep 02, 2008; ... A homemade bomb explosion ripped through a commuter bus on Monday, killing at least eight people in the southern Philippines, where security forces are battling Moro rebels, officials said. Officials said the bombing targeted the bus owned by Metro Shuttle in Digos City in Davao del Sur ...
Australian-led consortium to drill Palawan oil well in two years
Sep 02, 2008; ... The consortium led by an Australia-based firm announced on Monday that it is set to conduct drilling activities in the service contract (SC) area covering the Marantao field off the west coast of Palawan within the next two years. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Trans ...
Driven music:Taken By Cars perpetratesaural abduction
Sep 02, 2008; ... While people are still blogging madly and raving about Taken By Cars' independently released (albeit distributed by major label Warner Philippines) debut album Endings of a New Kind, their sights are set on the future. True to their name, band manager Mike Shih (who serves as guru and ...
ERC completes interim open access rules
Sep 02, 2008; ... THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has completed the draft rules on an interim open access scheme in the power sector that would allow end-users to choose where they source their electricity. Under the rules, the proposed interim open access would only be effective until state-run ...
Galoc oil eyes production this month after delays
Sep 02, 2008; ... The Galoc Production Co. (GPC), operator of the Galoc field, announced the completion of repair works on the latter's facilities that were damaged by recent typhoons, which would pave the way for the long-delayed production of first oil this month. In a statement, GPC said that the ...
BPOs advise LGUs to ensure transparency, efficiency
Sep 02, 2008; ... IN a bid to attract investors, the Business Processing Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) advised local governments (LGUs) to come up with policies that will promote transparency and efficiency, which are the most critical issues facing the industry.Oscar Sañez, BPAP ...
Cell phone portability shelved: Plan allows switTCHERS to retain MOBILE number
Sep 02, 2008; ... THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said the plan to allow cell phone users to retain their numbers even if they shift to separate network providers may no longer push through, citing the huge expense involved. Edgardo Cabarrios, NTC chief for common carriers authorization, ...
Credit card use, auto loans dip in March
Sep 02, 2008; ... CREDIT card receivables as well as auto loans dipped in March in line with weaker consumer spending due to higher prices of oil and other commodities, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Monday. In a statement, the BSP said banks' card receivables slipped 0.6 percent to P115.4 ...
Critical MILF caucus on peace talks flops:Military readies major attack
Sep 02, 2008; ... ZAMBOANGA CITY: Muslim rebels failed to reach an agreement on their next move regarding stalled peace talks with the government. The rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held a caucus over the weekend about the suspended negotiations but fell short of arriving at a ...
JdV: Lakas-Kampi merger doomed to fail
Sep 02, 2008; ... FORMER House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said Monday the planned merger between Lakas- Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi is just a dream and would not prosper. De Venecia, the Lakas president emeritus, told House reporters that he is now ...
HEAD TRIP:sub>>The much-anticipated Eraserheads reunion show was great while it lasted
Sep 02, 2008; ... The trip down memory lane may have been unexpectedly brief, but it was a journey well worth the wait.The Eraserheads-arguably the greatest Filipino band of this or any other generation-defied numerous obstacles on Saturday night to perform together again for the first time in over ...
M-16 magazines of US troops made by Pinoys
Sep 02, 2008; ... In this age of advanced technology and nonstop modernization, it may come as a surprise that a local company is a supplier of the world's most powerful armed forces. Maxistar Enterprises Inc., which started as a subcontractor for the manufacture of M-16 rifles and aluminum magazines for ...
Government taps ADB loan for energy-efficient lamps
Sep 02, 2008; ... THE Philippines sought loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to procure millions of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) that will be distributed to lifeline customers to reduce peak power demand. The Manila-based lender said in a document that the country is seeking a ...
Group denies RP has 400,000 surplus nurses
Sep 02, 2008 ... THE recruitment sector on Monday refuted the claim of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) that the country has thousands of surplus nurses that can be deployed abroad. PRC Commissioner Ruth Padilla recently claimed the country has a surplus of about 400,000 nurses, which is ...
Media rights violated at Pen-CHR
Sep 02, 2008; ... Philippine police officers who crushed a right-wing military revolt in 2007 could face criminal charges for detaining journalists covering it, the head of the government's human-rights commission said on Monday. The commission, in a 20-page resolution, ruled that the brief detention of ...
Mitsubishi to increase price of Lancer
Sep 02, 2008; ... THE Philippine unit of Mitsubishi will raise the price of its Japanese-made Lancer model this month, an official confirmed last week. According to Froilan Dytianquin, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. assistant vice president for marketing services, the carmaker would increase the ...
Manila, US deny Marine convoy included American soldiers:Four Marines are killed and 10 wounded in the weekend attack
Sep 02, 2008; ... ZAMBOANGA CITY: The military on Monday denied that a marine convoy included American soldiers when suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Sulu attacked it over the weekend. Four Filipino marines were killed and 10 more wounded in the weekend attack near a military base in the village of Bonbon ...
New CHED chairman vows reforms
Sep 02, 2008 ... Newly appointed Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Angeles on Monday formally took office by leading a simple flag ceremony at the agency's recently inaugurated building at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Angeles, in his acceptance ...
Peso slides to 46 against the US dollar
Sep 02, 2008; ... The peso closed weaker on Monday on the back of market expectation that oil prices will climb due to Hurricane Gustav in the US, continued risk aversion and a stronger US dollar, traders said.At the Philippine Dealing System (PDS), the peso closed at P46.20 in Monday from P45.925 on ...
Quedancor 'lends' money to 'needy' people in power
Sep 02, 2008; ... (Editor's note: The first explained how the Quedancor Swine Program was a scam, not so different from the multi-billion fertilizer fund scam that allegedly funneled money intended for farmers to the administration's campaign kitty in 2004.) Second of three parts The Quedan and ...
Short-term interest rates fall
Sep 02, 2008; ... INTEREST rates on short-term government debt papers declined Monday after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced that financial instruments would be subject to the final withholding tax. Earlier, the BSP ruled that lenders' overnight borrowings with the central bank, also ...
Royal Bank of Scotland establishes RP presence
Sep 02, 2008; ... THE Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) has rebranded ABN AMRO Bank into Royal Bank of Scotland (Philippines), as the lender expands its franchise in transaction services and investment banking. In a statement, John McCormick, Global Banking and Markets chief executive for RBS in Asia ...
Senators slam pay hike for high public officials
Sep 02, 2008; ... Senators Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson and Juan Miguel Zubiri favored Monday the proposed increase in the pay of ordinary government workers. Escudero and Lacson, however, slammed the "illegal and immoral" plan to almost double the pay of congressmen, senators, Cabinet members, the vice ...
SSS allots bonus for pensioners
Sep 02, 2008; ... STATE-RUN Social Security System said it has rewarded pensioners with a bonus this month, in line with the pension fund's anniversary. In a statement, Romulo Neri, SSS president and chief executive said the board approved a P675.61-million allotment for the one-time anniversary bonus ...
Thrift lenders' bad loan ratio improves
Sep 02, 2008; ... BAD loans of thrift banks fell in April, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Monday.In a statement, the BSP said the industry's bad loan ratio declined to 6.48 percent from 6.67 percent in March this year and 7.30 percent in April last year.For 37 months, thrift ...
Toxic gas leak at Petron refinery kills one
Sep 02, 2008 ... A gas leak at a Petron Corp. oil refinery north of Manila killed one person and left another in critical condition in hospital, police said on Monday. A company spokesman said the "localized accident" occurred at the Petron refinery in the Bataan peninsula at the mouth of Manila Bay, ...
Sulpicio fleet allowed to sail only with cargo
Sep 02, 2008 ... THE entire fleet of Sulpicio Lines Inc. has been allowed to sail by theMaritime Industry Authority. This was confirmed on Monday by Transportation Undersecretary for Maritime Operations and Task Force MV Princess of the Stars Chief Ma. Elena Bautista. However, Bautista was ...
Women trafficked to Singapore lured into prostitution
Sep 02, 2008 ... Three weeks after having her appendix removed last year, Filipina bar girl Camille was forced by her pimp back to work as a prostitute in Singapore. Penniless and deeply in debt in a foreign land, 24-year-old Camille, not her real name, had no choice. She says she had sex with ...
Insurers' tax order stays
Sep 06, 2008; ... THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Friday that it will no longer review for the third time a controversial order imposing new taxes on insurers. Commissioner Lilian Hefti said the agency's Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 30-2008 is final and ready for implementation. ...
Interest rates to rise further-HSBC
Sep 06, 2008; ... HONG Kong and Shanghai Bangking Corp. (HSBC) said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) had it all wrong about when inflation would peak. In a briefing, Arnulfo Veloso, HSBC Philippines treasurer, said inflation would plateau at 12 percent and end this year at the high single-digit ...
Krispy Kreme on a roll in Philippines
Sep 06, 2008; ... Krispy Kreme donuts in the country are on a roll as expectations in the company are high that the newly opened "drive-thru" branch and the upcoming holiday season will further boost sales. "Krispy Kreme Philippines has really good sales so far, both in volume and profit," said its ...
Lim hits councilors on slaughterhouse issue
Sep 06, 2008; ... Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila criticized Friday the City Council for denouncing his order on the takeover of the Vitas slaughterhouse from the family of Councilor Dennis Alcoreza. "For as long as I am the mayor of this city, I will not tolerate abusive public servants, dishonest ...
Metro Pacific shelves biofuel venture
Sep 06, 2008; ... THE Philippine unit of Hong Kong listed First Pacific Co. Ltd. has decided to shelve its planned venture into biofuels. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) said it has canceled its partnership with Basic Energy Corp. (BEC) and Basic ...
Oil price cuts lift small players' sales
Sep 06, 2008; ... SMALL oil companies said they are reaping dividends from recent price cuts on fuel products. Officials of Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. and Eastern Petroleum Corp. said Friday that both firms are "experiencing high sales" in majority of their retail stations across the country in ...
Gunman kills TESDA official in Zamboanga
Sep 06, 2008; ... ZAMBOANGA CITY: An unidentified gunman shot dead Friday a senior official of the state-run Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Zamboanga City. Village officials identified the victim as Arnold Pimentel, the administrator of the regional TESDA training center ...
Filipino dies in Dubai crash; sailors fare better in Malaysia
Sep 06, 2008; ... A FILIPINO along with six others were killed in helicopter crash on an oil rig some 40 miles off Dubai on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported Friday. The Foreign Affairs department named the Filipino victim as Diosdado Buhangin, a native of Southern Leyte. The ...
Women pose for a noble cause
Sep 06, 2008; ... They say a picture is worth a thousand words, photos do more than just capture and showcase the beauty or story behind the image. Photos also have the power to draw emotions and inspire us to take positive action. This adage was once again proven true by the Camera Club of the ...
Group prods MILF to keep fighting, as rebels hold back
Sep 06, 2008; ... ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Moro Resistance and Liberation Organization (MRLO) on Friday urged other Muslim rebels to continue their armed struggle for independence after Manila recently scrapped a territorial deal and launched a massive offensive during Ramadan. The MRLO, which is also ...
Inflation hits 17-year high: August rate at 12.5%, growth targets in peril
Sep 06, 2008; ... Inflation surged to 12.5 percent in August, a 17-year high, the government said Friday, warning that the rise could impact economic growth targets for this year. The National Statistics Office also revised upward the inflation rate in July to 12.3 percent from 12.2 percent. ...
Filipinos on fixed incomes vulnerable
Sep 06, 2008; ... An item that cost P100 last year would cost P112.50 today-as inflation posted a 17-year high in August. Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, explained the website Investopedia.com, saying that consumers' purchasing power weakens as ...
GIR dips as gold loses shine
Sep 06, 2008; ... THE country's dollar reserves fell slightly last month as the value of local gold holdings slipped in line with recent weakness in the price of the precious metal, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Friday. In a statement, the BSP said the country's gross international reserves ...
Verzosa endorsed as next police chief
Sep 06, 2008; ... The National Police Commission has formally endorsed Jesus Verzosa, the Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director general for administration, to President Gloria Arroyo to succeed outgoing National police chief Director Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. An insider in Camp Crame confirmed to ...
Govt doubles bounty for wanted MILF leaders: Senior rebel leaders say reward for the capture of Kato and Macapaar will only make things worse
Sep 06, 2008; ... ZAMBOANGA CITY: The government on Friday has doubled its rewards for the capture of two notorious leaders of the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is negotiating peace with Manila. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said they have raised the bounties to P20 million ...
US Navy ship locates C-130 wreckage
Sep 06, 2008; ... THE wreckage of the C-130 cargo plane that crashed in the waters off Samal Island on August 25 was located Thursday night, the military said Friday. According to Philippine Navy spokesman Edgard Arevalo, the wreckage was found at about 1.3 nautical miles east of Bukana village in Davao ...
Alaminos spearheads 'Go Organic' campaign
Sep 06, 2008; ... NON-governmental organizations and the local government of Alaminos have joined forces to help promote organic farming in the country as one of the solutions to the current food crisis happening worldwide. In a news forum over the weekend Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City, one of ...
FEATURE: New technique can trace criminal's fingerprints
Sep 06, 2008; ... Scientists from Britain have developed a technique that would allow police to lift prints from bullets even if it has been wiped down by a criminal. In an article at newsdaily.com, the technique was used to reopen three cold cases, including a double murder case in the United States ....
Cash transfer to abate hunger-FAO
Sep 06, 2008; ... The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Friday urged the Philippine government to institutionalize cash transfer to poor and vulnerable sectors to mitigate hunger and alleviate poverty in the country. Dr. Saifullah Syed, the senior policy officer of FAO, ...
25 'inferior' nursing schools operating
Sep 06, 2008; ... Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Julito Vitriolo revealed Friday that 25 "non-performing" nursing schools remain operational despite the recommendation of the agency's technical committee for their immediate closure. In an interview, Vitriolo said despite the ...
Cordillera turns back on autonomy
Sep 06, 2008 ... AS the drumbeat for an enlarged Autonomous Muslim Region or a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity grows louder in Mindanao, the Lumad people have begun to press Malacañang for self-rule. Other minorities in Mindanao, and the Visayas are eyeing self-determination, spurred by the demands of the Moro ...
Court decision on executive privilege draws cheers, jeers
Sep 06, 2008; ... The Supreme Court decision favoring executive privilege on the $330-million broadband deal is "a dark portent of things to come," Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said Friday. "The Supreme Court ruling is a big step backward for our efforts to uphold transparency and accountability in ...
Pacquio denies he will run against incumbent South Cotabato representative
Sep 06, 2008; ... GENERAL SANTOS CITY: The official spokesman of World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao said on Friday that allegations of a comeback fight between him and incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio in 2010 is misleading. Earlier, media reports, and text messages that went ...
Seven ages of the leader (Part 1)
Sep 06, 2008 ... Intriguing is The Seven Ages of the Leader by Warren Bennis. In this intuitive article, Prof. Bennis, founding chairman of the University of Southern California's Leadership Institute, reflects on his own leadership journey from a young lieutenant in the infantry in World War II, as president ...
Palace seeks termination of Senate broadband probe
Sep 06, 2008; ... Malacañang told the Senate to close its probe on the controversial national broadband network deal after the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri cannot divulge his conversation with the president on the project. "It is time for the ...
Rep. Arroyo focuses on mitigating disasters
Sep 06, 2008; ... CLARK FREEPORT: Presidential son Rep. Mikey Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District) has intensified disaster mitigating efforts and measures for the heavily flood-prone towns in his district. In an exclusive television interview over Action Central Luzon Special Edition with Sonny Lopez aired ...
Tuna investors open P200M shipyard in Gen. Santos
Sep 07, 2008 ... GENERAL SANTOS CITY: With the province's source of pride, the tuna industry, being hugely affected by the rising cost of fuel and other fishing equipments in the country, a consortium of fishing tycoons have inaugurated a multimillion worth shipyard here to open the 2-day 10th Tuna Congress ....
THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE, the largest eagle in the world.: philippine biodiversity amazingly rich, alarmingly endangered
Sep 07, 2008 ... THE GOLDEN-CROWNED FLYING FOX, the heaviest fruit bat in the world. THE SINARAPAN, the smallest food fish in the world. Haribon Foundation is a pioneer in biodiversity conservation in the country. Its 34 years of existence has led to many trailblazing approaches to ...
The glories of the PSC heads recounted
Sep 07, 2008; ... PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez may be the dirtiest man in custom-made barong these days. After yet another forgettable showing of Filipino athletes in the Olympics, Ramirez became the favorite target of mudslingers in the local sports community. ...
UP professors cited by bank foundation
Sep 07, 2008 ... Two professors from two campuses of the University of the Philippines were recently named outstanding educators in higher education by the Metrobank Foundation. Dr. Irma Makalinao of the Manila campus and Dr. Virginia Cuevas of the Los Banos campus were among the ten winners of the 2008 ...
World's best surfers set sights on Siargao
Sep 07, 2008; ... AUSTRALIAN Wade Goodall will try to defend his title in the 2008 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational Surfing Championships this month at Siargao Island.The $20,000 event organized by leading surf apparel brand Billabong will be participated in by 49 of the world's best tube-riding ...
Petron Grand Prix resumes
Sep 07, 2008 ... THE country's top race drivers vie for honors in the resumption of the Petron Grand Prix Series on Sunday at the Subic International Raceway inside the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales. They will compete in rounds nine and 10 of the Petron Blaze Super Saloon Championship and Petron ...
Pinoy environmental documentaries compete in 10th Eco-Etno-Folk Romania
Sep 07, 2008 ... Bodong Pactul de Pace / Peace Pact, an environmental and cultural documentary from advocacy filmmaker Seymour Barros Sanchez, and Bunker 0: Sumirib Plus, a documentary on the Guimaras oil spill by Jan Philippe "JP" Carpio, will compete at the 10th International Festival Eco-Etno-Folk Film from ...
So heads cast in PGMA Cup
Sep 07, 2008 ... ALL eyes will be on Grandmaster Wesley So when the third President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup international chess championship comes off the wraps Sunday at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City. So, the country's highest-rated Filipino player in history, will make his initial ...
PSC chief admits RP sports is sick, needs Sports Institute
Sep 07, 2008; ... PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez accepts the bitter reality that Philippine sports is sick. He acknowledges the country's need to embark on a long-term program for sports development, citing the revitalization of the Philippine Sports Institute as the ...
Subsidiary purchases more shares in Anscor
Sep 06, 2008; ... ANSCOR Consolidated Corp., a fully owned subsidiary of A. Soriano Corp., bought more shares of its parent company. In a disclosure to the Philippines Stock Exchange, Anscor Consolidated said it purchased 65,000 shares of Anscor at the average price of P2.90 per share. To date, ...
22 students face criminal charges for hazing
Sep 06, 2008; ... SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija: Some 22 colleges students are now facing criminal charges for allegedly beating four neophytes during the initiation rites for Delta Phi Omicron fraternity two months ago. The charges were filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Nueva ...