historicans

Amizth

Two workers died while two others suffered injuries following a landslide in a quarry site Monday noon in Davao City.

Edgar Selana and Jayson Tagalog expired before reaching a hospital. Two other unidentified workers are being treated in a hospital.

Truck driver Nomi Lusinas said the accident happened around 12:15 p.m. while they were about to have lunch.

Pumunta dito 'yung anak at asawa nang backhoe operator, sa pagdating nila doon talaga gumuho ang lupa. Natabunan 'yung mga kargador pati na 'yung anak ng operator, apat sila lahat na natabunan, dalawa on the spot patay, Lusinas said in the local dialect.

Lusinas and Voltair Adoracion reportedly escaped from the accident.

Officials said the upper portion of the quarry site located in Barangay Langub Ma-a crashed down on the victims.

Authorities said the site's management will be the subject of an investigation to determine why it let a truck park near the boulders that were about to be quarried.

Ymmugr

WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman has described Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao as the "best boxer in the world."
In a report posted on Philboxing.com, Sulaiman said following the Filipinos masterful performance during his showdown with David Diaz: "to me Manny Pacquiao showed himself to be the best boxer of any division in the world today."
It was Sulaiman who handed the green and gold WBC lightweight championship belt to the newly crowned champion after his ninth round demolition of Diaz last Sunday.
The WBC president who had predicted Pacquiao would win said "I've never seen him so perfect in throwing all of his punches. He was so intelligent to come in at exactly the right moment, completely dominating his rival with a speed which was the same when he was a featherweight. Manny is the best of the best."
Sulaiman said that like Pacquiao thought so, the fight should have been stopped by referee Vic Drackulich by the end of the sixth round.
He, however, gave Diaz credit for his courage and fighting spirit. "What a fighter," Sulaiman said, "My God he has a big heart, as very few possess."
On Pacquiao-Marquez III
Sulaiman, meanwhile, scoffed at a possible third fight between former super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao.
Pacquiao won the 130-pound division title from the Mexican in a close split decision win last March 15.
Sulaiman downplayed the possibility of a Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy stating that "Marquez decided to go to the minor leagues and fight for a different title."
He was referring to Marquez' title fight against WBO lightweight champion Joel Casamayor scheduled for September 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pnlozm

Police have arrested two gang members who allegedly clubbed to death a 15-year-old in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite last week.

The Police Provincial Office identified the arrested suspects as Frederick Latoja and Jason Jardin. Police said the suspects are members of a gang in Cavite province.

The police said the suspects were arrested for the murder of John Edrick Cachuela of General Mariano Alvarez on June 6.

Cachuela was with his friends when the two suspects and other gang members attacked them. The gang members allegedly clubbed Cachuela to death.

Police said some of the gang's members had been involved in the killing of a chief executive in Sta. Rosa town in neighboring Laguna province.

Qayvdb

TORONTO - Got 48 hours to explore Toronto during the city's annual star-studded film festival?

Reuters correspondents use their local knowledge to help visitors scope out the hottest hangouts for a lavish weekend of wining, dining, shopping and celebrity-spotting.

FRIDAY

6 p.m. - Get dolled up and decked out for pre-dinner martinis at the Avenue bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto's posh Yorkville district, which is celeb-central during the film festival.

7:30 p.m. - Walk a few steps to the Hazelton Hotel and have dinner at chef Mark McEwan's latest restaurant One , which opened during last year's festival.

See and be seen on the lush 80-seat patio and feast on lobster spoons, foie gras with apricots and chocolate, and BBQ rib ravioli. Also try a vintage port digestif or the chef's signature Marky Mark gin and tonic cocktail.

10 p.m. - Have a nightcap at The Roof Lounge on the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt hotel where you're almost guaranteed to see Canadian and Hollywood A-listers in town. Sip on rich pinot noir in front of the fireplace or step out on the terrace for a view of the CN Tower, the signature structure on Toronto's skyline.

SATURDAY

9 a.m. - Head to the TIFF box office at the Manulife Center to purchase tickets for a gala screening of one of the 312 international features and shorts playing during the 10-day film festival. The box office opens at 7 a.m.

10 a.m. - Go shopping in the ritzy Bloor-Yorkville neighborhood, dubbed the Mink Mile -- Toronto's closest equivalent to L.A.'s Rodeo Drive or Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Be sure to check out Hazelton Lanes shopping centre and Canada's one-and-only luxury department store chain Holt Renfrew and its World Design Lab to find avant-garde local designers.

1 p.m.- Nibble on a light lunch of bison tartar and watermelon marinated in sparkling wine at the iconic yellow-painted Sassafraz , a favorite film festival haunt, which was destroyed by a fire 18 months ago but has since been renovated to its former bright and airy glory.

3 p.m. - Stroll over to the Royal Ontario Museum and don't miss the famous Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition which features a newly launched dinosaur exhibit and its star attraction, a 25-metre long Barosaurus named Gordo, the largest dinosaur ever to go on permanent display in Canada.

If you have time after the ROM, head across the street to the Gardiner Museum of ceramic art , one of Toronto's best examples of modernist architecture.

Both museums also house restaurants and hot spots C5 and Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner .

6 p.m. - Dine at another no-expense-spared foodie favorite, Greg Couillard's Spice Room, to indulge in cuisine such as African Berber lamb and Indian tandoori shrimp.

9 p.m. - After dinner, arrive at the Visa Screening Room at the Elgin Theatre in time for a red-carpet gala premiere or a film at another venue depending on availability.

12 a.m. - Hail a cab back to Yorkville for drinks and dancing till the wee hours at Amber and show off your moves on the dance floor of the all-white lounge.

SUNDAY

10 a.m. - Depart the film festival hub and explore Queen Street West to see Toronto's edgier side. It's worth the long walk between University and Beaconsfield Avenues to take in the hundreds of funky fashion boutiques, craft, textile and interior design stores and antique shops, as well as the landmark MuchMusic headquarters and Gladstone Hotel .

1 p.m. - Stop for brunch on the rooftop patio of the stylishly revamped Drake Hotel, with custom designed rooms by local artists, fine dining restaurant, cafe, bar and basement dance club. Feast on a quirky menu of fried chicken with herb waffles and chili-cheese fries with fried eggs and freshly squeezed juices.

3 p.m. - Spend the rest of the day walking around The Distillery , Toronto's recently revitalized historical district, which boasts the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America. Sample exotic chocolates at the SOMA Chocolatemaker , browse the local art galleries and make your last stop at the acclaimed Mill Street Brewery and sample their selection of handcrafted drafts.

Ymmugr

Reuters
The Philippines paid around $1,136 per ton for 323,875 tons it bought at a tender last week, according to documents from the National Food Authority on Thursday.
The government bought 288,875 tons of 25 percent brokens at an average price of $1,135.8 per ton, cost and freight, according to the documents. It also bought 35,000 tons of five percent brokens at an average price of $1,139.11, the documents showed.

Izldyr

Agence France Presse

BAGHDAD - Iraq has dismissed 1,300 troops for failing in their duties during a crackdown on gunmen in Basra, an official said Sunday, as the government vowed to flush Shiite militias out of their Baghdad bastion.

The sackings come after hundreds of Iraqi troops and police are reported to have either deserted or joined the other side during a government offensive against Shiite militias that began March 25.

"Those people did not do their duties in Basra and Kut," interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf said referring to army offensives in the southern and central cities.

"There were many complaints against them. They were part of these operations but they did not perform the duties they were supposed to," he told AFP by telephone from Basra.

The raids which mainly targeted areas controlled by Mahdi Army militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr sparked fighting which spread to Kut, Baghdad and other Shiite areas of Iraq.

Some 700 people were killed in the fighting before Sadr pulled his militiamen off the streets on March 30 in return for an agreement by the government to halt random raids.

Battles resumed in renewed fury in Sadr City, a Mahdi Army stronghold, on April 6 when Iraqi and US forces moved tanks and armored vehicles onto the streets and began taking on militias.

Around 90 people have died in Sadr City and other Baghdad Shiite enclaves since then and although there was a lull in the fighting on Sunday, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said there would be no let-up in security force operations.

"We will continue until we secure Sadr City. We will not come out, we will not give up until the people of Sadr City have a normal life," Dabbagh told AFP.

" will do what they have to do to secure the area. I can't tell you how many days or how many months but they will not come out until they have secured Sadr City."

The township is still under partial curfew and residents reported sporadic gunfire on Sunday, although the heavy battles of the past few days have eased.

Dabbagh told a news conference that the security forces were not specifically targeting the Mahdi Army in its nationwide crackdown on militiamen.

"The government doesn't send its forces after any political bloc," he said. "Anyone who is carrying a weapon illegally will be prosecuted. It is not dependent on their political persuasion, whether they be in the Sadrist trend or any other bloc."

But the Sadrists accused the government of using the security forces to weaken the movement ahead of provincial elections due in October.

"This statement shows the government is persisting in carrying out its political agenda before the elections by using the security forces for party political purposes," Sadr spokesman Salah al-Obeidi told AFP in the shrine city of Najaf.

US military spokesman Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll told the joint news conference that those being targeted are "individuals who illegally carry weapons and launch attacks on law-abiding citizens and security forces."

Driscoll said that operations against "illegally armed gangs, extortion groups and other criminals" are continuing in Basra.

"Although there is still much work to be done, Basra is beginning to return to normal life," he said.

US air strikes in east Baghdad, meanwhile, killed two people and set homes ablaze, injuring three civilians and two American soldiers, the US military said on Sunday.

Saturday's air strike targeted a group of people planting roadside bombs in the mainly Shiite neighborhood of New Baghdad, which adjoins Sadr City, a military statement said.

One Hellfire missile killed two "criminals" planting a roadside bomb but a second missile "overshot its intended target" and struck a US armored vehicle, sparking a fire which spread to nearby houses and injured the five.

Tensions between the Mahdi Army and the security forces have been further inflamed by the killing of senior Sadr aide Riyad al-Nuri after Friday prayers in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.

Mdyykn

By ROEL PAREÑO The Philippine Star ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Scenic spots has replaced what used to be sights of flaunting guns, that meet people and unwanted visitors in this island known before as ground of the brutal group Abu Sayyaf. The unattended Rizal Park in the central district of this c

By ROEL PAREÑO

The Philippine Star

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Scenic spots has replaced what used to be sights of flaunting guns, that meet people and unwanted visitors in this island known before as ground of the brutal group Abu Sayyaf.

The unattended Rizal Park in the central district of this city had come alive with promenaders changing the sights of patrolling soldiers as waters shot up some 15 meters high above from the fountains to the comfort of students and civilians sitting under the canopies.

This ease continued with the implementation of the total gun ban in the city, a 360-degree contrast to the culture of many borne by the previous threats of the Abu Sayyaf, political rivalry and feuding clans.

Mayor Cherry Santos-Akbar said the gun ban which has not been implemented in the previous administrations ruled by men until her leadership entered a memorandum of agree­ment with the police and marines following a resolution of the local council.

Considering the peace and order situation in the city is not stable, I want the people to have a peaceful sleep, Santos-Akbar said.

She said the Isabela City Defense Force has also been activated to help in the enforcement of security.

Although there has been no official record on the loose firearms, Santos-Akbar said many unlicensed guns proliferate in the island province.

Lbxspk

President Arroyo showed up at a barangay fiesta in Pampanga province Saturday apparently dismissing rumors she was struck with an illness.
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez also belied reports that President Arroyo cancelled her appointments on Saturday reportedly because of a stomach upset she suffered Friday.
Golez said he received a text message from the President informing him that she would be in Lubao town in Pampanga at noontime for a fiesta invitation.
Upon arriving at her hometown with the rest of her family the President was all smiles as she waved and shook hands with her kabalens and local officials showing no signs of any illness.
She was even reported to have been able to eat the food of mostly Kapampangan dishes that was prepared.
No special agenda was set for the president's visit.
A closed-door meeting with local officials was held however which included the president's son, Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Juan Miguel Mikey Arroyo, Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Eduardo Gonzales and provincial board members led by Vice Governor Joseller Yeng Guiao, some municipal mayors and some staunch supporters of the president in the province.
Lilia Pineda, defeated 2007 gubernatorial candidate and former Pampanga board member and Lubao mayor was also present when President Arroyo arrived at the town fiesta.
Pampanga Gov. Among Ed Panlilio was not present.
The President did not speak to the media after the meeting but Pampanga officials present said they were happy to announce the president's plan to start more projects in the province and the benefits they would be getting should the Constitution be amended.
Marami nang dapat palitan sa Konstitusyon natin at mas maganda na hahaba pa ang termino niya tayo din naman ang makikinabang, Masantol mayor Peter Flores, speaking in Kapampangan, told media.

Marami siyang na-raise na pondo para sa probinsya, masaya ang lahat, nadatnan niyang buo ang mga opisyal na nandito… suportado siya, Pineda added. With a report from Myline Valencia, ABS-CBN Pampanga

Xjohlu

WASHINGTON D.C. - Like many in the nation, Filipino-Americans are dismayed by the way the US presidential campaign is going. They want the Democratic and Republican candidates to stop talking about lipsticks and pigs, and begin talking about serious issues like immigration reform. Believe you me, were going to be bringing it up to both parties, declared Rozita Lee, vice chair of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations and an influential ward leader in Nevada politics. This is something important to Filipinos, its important to Hispanics, its important to all the ethnic groups in America, she tells ABS-CBNs Balitang America. We will be writing letters, we will be making phone calls and bringing it to their attention, that they really should be talking about it and we need to know each one of them feels about it because that will be very influential as to who we will vote for, Lee stressed. Lawyer Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission, said that while none of the top candidates have talked at length in the stump about how they plan to address the immigration problem, most of them have taken a stand in the Senate. There are three main issues in this campaign, he tells Balitang America, and these are the economy, the war in Iraq and immigration. Immigration a silent campaign issue Ang posisyon ni McCain at Obama halos pareho yan. Ang pagkakaiba lang si McCain naka-focus siya sa border security dahil sa conservative elements sa party nila. Gusto niya i-humanize ang approach sa immigration system at i-address ang undocumented immigrants pero naka-focus siya sa border security, Valera explained. Kay Obama, malinaw sa kanya ang distinction ng national security and immigration. Nandoon pa rin yong border pero malinaw kay Obama na malabas out of the shadows ang 12 million undocumented immigrants basta magbayad ng fees, taxes, learn English at kasama rin doon sa proseso, he added. Dr. Lupo Carlota, national chairman of Memphis-based National Asian-American Republican Coalition, suggested that immigration is a veritable political minefield this campaign season. The issue of immigration is very difficult, he told Balitang America. There is a question of legality, who is illegal immigrant, who is not illegal immigrant. But it goes beyond that. More important are the humanitarian and compassionate issues that need to be addressed. The position of Sen. McCain is known publicly, he told Balitang America. He has repeatedly stated his position, which is one of openness and takes note of the humanitarian concerns. But McCains position has since hardened, mainly because of internal party pressure. During the Republican debates in California last January, the Arizona solon backed off from his earlier position supporting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Valera, whos handled immigration cases, noted the same is happening with Obama and the Democrats. He disclosed an informal survey, asking ethnic Asians and Latinos what they were looking for in a reformed immigration policy. Mas lenient yong kay Obama kasi mas liberal siya in terms of immigration. Ang tingin ko doon – product kasi siya ng mixed marriage with an immigrant. Father niya is from Kenya kaya minsan ang call niya goes to being progressive, liberal pero siyempre ngayon sumesentro siya kasi Democrats are being criticized na baka amnesty na yan he explained. The Palin question For Valera, the vice presidential race begs a closer watch for immigration watchers. He said Sen. Joe Biden has the best platform for immigrants. He is the most progressive. Sa border, for example, kinakabit niya yon because of drug trafficking not immigration. Sa kanya malinaw na ang immigrants, and America as a nation of immigrants, hindi criminal ang mga ito. They come here for economic reasons, he explained. Dapat i-legalize ang mga ito. Sinasabi niya nga sa mga town hall speeches niya, wala naman senador o kongresista na hindi immigrant ang lahi. Sa apat, siya ang may pinaka-powerful na message. But he is more worried about the Republican vice presidential bet, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin – only because unlike the three other actors, she is an unknown variable. Si Palin walang posisyon. Ang pinakamahirap niyan kapag naging presidente kasi ang posisyon niya na narinig ko at nakita ko sa research ay yong posisyon niya noong 2000 presidential elections, yong kay Pat Buchanan, he averred. Patrick Buchanan is a popular broadcaster , commentator, columnist, politician and champion of the conservative Right. He was senior adviser to three Republican presidents, from Richard Nixon to Ronald Reagan. He ran in 2000 under the Reform Party. Valera portrayed Buchanan as isa sa pinaka-anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic presidential candidates. He said as vice president, Palin could be called upon to break a stalemate in the bicameral Congress, where tackling a comprehensive immigration reform bill is expected to face a tight contest.

Despite their well-known positions on immigration, observers say its important that the candidates debate their plans in public. Only then can they be held accountable for their promises and positions after theyve stepped into the White House, whoever they may be.

Ymmugr

By DAVID SANTOS
ABS-CBN Zamboanga

ISABELA CITY - At least a dozen students were admitted to the Basilan Community Hospital here Monday afternoon after they fell off a truck while on their way home in Lantawan town.

The victims, all students of the Concepcion National High School, said they were on their way home after attending classes when they decided to hitch a ride on a passing cargo truck in Barangay Matarling.

A report filed by the Isabela City Police Station identified the truck's driver as Saher Lahaman, 36.

The report showed that the truck, with plate number XLZ-454 and being used to carry
dried copra, was on its way to the town of Maluso.

Those admitted to the hospital were Albasir Kandiling, 13, Rhudzni Sadidol, 14,
Reynalin Kandiling, 14, Rohelmina Duyani, 14, Marjon Enohara, 14, Alsuhud Mama, 15, Sadidul Anisa, 16, Aimalyn Amisara, 16, Raymond Mendoza, 17, Musaddikan, 17, Landasan Naing, 17 and Allan Agustin, 36.

The victims sustained bruises and contusions on their faces and different parts of their bodies.

Mendoza said the truck, which did not have any cargo at that time, was crammed with nearly 60 students.

Police quoted the truck's driver as saying that while he was negotiating a steep curve in Barangay Matarling, one of the panel walls of the vehicle's cargo bed collapsed, causing some of the students to fall off.

The students said that they are grateful to the truck's yet unidentified owner for shouldering their medical expenses, despite the fact that they insisted on hitching a ride on the vehicle.

Ulybja

By RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

Jennifer Rosales and her World Cup winning partner Dorothy Delasin faltered badly in the final round of the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championships in Rogers, Arkansas and occupied the last two slots at the end of the event.

Rosales ruined whatever chances she had of finishing higher in the leaderboard when she had a horrendous six shots on what the course manual said was a good medium length par 3 , third hole. Although Rosales had two birdies on the 7th and 11th holes sandwiched by a bogey on the 8th, she couldn't recover and was only good enough for 73rd spot behind a three-day total of 217.

Rosales finished 16 strokes behind winner Seon Hwa Lee of South Korea, who made a birdie on the final hole to win by one stroke over Jane Park and Meena Lee. The 22-year-old winner posted a 15-under-par 201 with rounds of 64, 69 and 68.

Heavy rains and lighting caused delays in first and second round play. Lee said later it was “a really tough day." "The weather was really hard and everything was really hard. But I really felt good about my game.”

Meanwhile, Delasin, who barely made the cut ,finished last at No. 76 with a three-day total of 221.

Rosales won $3,222 or about P146,643 while Delasin took home $3,140 or the equivalent of P142,911.

Nxzlfx

Reuters

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp said on Sunday it has proposed an alternative deal to Yahoo Inc, rather than a full acquisition, in a move that could save the web pioneer from fighting a proxy battle with financier Carl Icahn.

"Microsoft is considering and has raised with Yahoo an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo," the company said in a statement without clarifying what that alternative might be.

Microsoft emphasized it was not proposing to make a new bid to buy all of Yahoo "but reserves the right to reconsider that alternative" depending on discussions with Yahoo, shareholders of Yahoo or Microsoft, or other third parties.

A source familiar with Microsoft's thinking said Yahoo was responsive to Microsoft's latest proposal but emphasized that discussions between the two companies may not result in a deal.

The New York Times reported that Microsoft and Yahoo may form a partnership or joint venture for search-related advertising to take on Google Inc, which dominates the search market with a share significantly larger than a combined Yahoo and Microsoft.

For its part, Yahoo continues to talk with Google Inc about a search advertising partnership and a deal could come as early as this week, a source familiar with the talks said on Thursday.

The statement from Microsoft comes on the heels of a proxy campaign launched on Thursday by Icahn to replace Yahoo's board with directors who would reopen talks with Microsoft, saying Yahoo had acted irrationally in refusing the giant software company's $47.5 billion bid.

Microsoft walked away from its pursuit of Yahoo two weeks ago after three months of negotiations when Yahoo's board rejected Microsoft's sweetened offer of $33 a share, saying the company was worth at least $37 a share.

Meanwhile, Microsoft and Icahn have not held discussions about Yahoo, said another source close to the company. A spokesman for Yahoo declined to comment and Icahn could not be reached for comment.

Kim Caughey, a senior analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group, said the market will probably send Yahoo shares higher while pushing down Microsoft shares when the market opens on Monday.

Caughey said a joint venture or minority investment with Yahoo could cause confusion about who was in charge.

"Microsoft walking away from Yahoo was a total head fake," said Caughey. "Microsoft is a terrible poker player if it thought people were going to believe that the deal was dead."

Enkylr

FUNFARE By RICARDO LO So after more than 3,500 performances in 14 years as The Engineer in the long-running Cameron Mackintosh megahit musical Miss Saigon, is Leo Tavarro Valdez finally calling it quits?
So after more than 3,500 performances in 14 years as The Engineer in the long-running Cameron Mackintosh megahit musical Miss Saigon, is Leo Tavarro Valdez finally calling it quits?
Still bald and beautiful, a new welcome twist he has added to The Engineer , Leo flew in Wednesday from Australia after completing a year-long tour of the musical which brought him and company to Melbourne .
"I was so exhausted that I decided to spend a 10-day vacation in Sydney," Leo told Funfare in an exclusive interview Friday. "I was so homesick, really homesick."
Leo carries with him the Engineer persona anywhere, whether in Asia or in Europe. After all, The Engineer has become second skin to him since he started playing it first in London , then in Australia , back to London , Asia , United Kingdom , also in UK and back to Australia .
After so many performances, has Leo begun to, well, "sleepwalk" through the role?
"Actually," said Leo, "before each tour, we would rehearse first. Every time is like the first time."
During each launch, however, while his co-stars would sing an excerpt from the musical, all that Leo was required to do was introduce himself, thus: "Hi, Im Leo Tavarro Valdez. I play the role of The Engineer. I played this role for more than 3,500 times in so many countries all over the world."
"I had a most wonderful time on this tour," added Leo who came for a quick visit last year to bury his mother in his native Bacolod. "The cast was an amazing group of fine performing artists and the nicest people around, which was maybe another reason why I never got tired of doing the show because of the family atmosphere in the company. Also, I thank Cameron for inviting me again and making sure I was looked after extremely well in the Australian touring company.
"Having said that, no matter how beautiful those Australian cities and how wonderfully the Australian audiences were and how the critics received me, the feeling still gets better and better every time I finished a Saigon stint, and I know that I am back with friends and loved ones in this amazing country of ours. Its always nice to be back home."
While here , Leo plans to take a much-needed rest even if he will agree to accept "corporate" projects. Hes also thinking of traveling to the US and Europe �” "Strictly vacation."
So after playing The Engineer for more than 3,500 times in 14 years, is he finally calling it quits?
Leo broke into a wide smile.
"No. Nag-i-enjoy pa ako!"
How soon will he resume stepping into the shoes of The Engineer?
"It depends on when I get another call from Cameron."
Another Al Chu show coming soon
Tito Al of Anaheim, California, relays this news to Funfare.
ABC Entertainment is mounting a show for the Viva Hot Babes on May 10 , May 17 , May 18 and May 24 . Marissa Entertainment and Magic Wand are line-producing the show billed Viva Hot Babes in the Flesh.
Tito Al has presented a number of hit concerts in the US under the banner of his ABC Entertainment, the last of which was topbilled by Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Christian Bautista and Mark Bautista.
This is the first time for the Viva Hot Babes to perform in the US Mainland. Their previous show was in Hawaii. Guest artist is Wendell Ramos who will be stripped to the bone at the finale of VHB in the Flesh. Wendell has the body to flaunt �” flawless complexion and all �” and hes also a fine actor, an Urian awardee no less.
Five Viva Hot Babes are joining the show produced by Tito Al: Maui Taylor, Katya Santos, Jennifer Lee, Gwen Garci and Desiree del Valle.
Left behind are Ella V , Andrea del Rosario and Jen Rosendahl .
Tito Al said that tickets are selling fast. The prices are very affordable. "Besides," he joked, "maraming maniakis dito."
Joining the group are Viva executive June Torrejon and Douglas Quijano, Wendells manager.
What is Tito Als next project?
Hes planning to present the three Visayan divas �” Pilita Corrales, Dulce and Sheryn Regis, with Mark Bautista as guest artist. Its tentatively set for October, some kind of a birthday presentation as Tito Al was born on Oct. 12 in Leyte. Hes a true Waray noted for his hospitality and generosity in California and Tacloban City. Tito Al owns three care-giving homes in California and plans to put up one in Las Vegas where he recently bought a house.
Briefly noted
• After all the speculations and the "false alarms" , Richard Gutierrez Friday finally renewed his contract with GMA. His action-adventure starrer Kamandag ended Friday night. He will be seen next in Asero, to be shot in Dubai, with new GMA contract artist as his leading lady. Like Richard, Heart is managed by his mom Annabelle Rama .
• Set to premiere Saturday night on ABS-CBN is Mar Ravelos Kapitan Boom, with Pinoy Big Brother graduate Jon Avila in the title role. With his beautiful body, Jon is perfect for the flying super-character. Among his co-stars are Mariana del Rio , Maja Salvador, Gloria Sevilla, Bembol Roco, Thou Reyes, William Lorenzo and Jay-R Siaboc as Kapitan Booms alter-ego.
• Reacting to Funfares item on the death of Lou Salvador Jr., a.k.a. The James Dean of the Philippines, Lous half-brother Ramon Salvador said that their father, the original Master Showman Lou Salvador "Van Ludor" Sr., sired 102 children with 48 women. The eldest child was the late director Leroy Salvador and the youngest was the late Teresa Salvador . "I am the 100th child and Phillip is the 101st," said Ramon.

Szeurg

Malaca�±ang directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to pursue a diplomatic solution to the hijacking of French cruise ship Le Ponand in the Gulf of Aden Tuesday.

Deputy spokesman Anthony Golez said the president has been notified of the incident and the families of the kidnapped Filipino seamen have in turn been notified, ABS-CBN reported.

The DFA told Golez the Philippine government, through the embassy in Paris, is coordinating with the French government for the release and safe return of the Filipino crewmen.

"The safe return of the Filipinos must be of paramount importance," the President reportedly said.

The six Filipinos are part of the Le Ponands crew of 30. Five of them are male and one is female.

No hostages aside from the crew were held as the ship was en route to Alexandria, Egypt to pick up passengers.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos asked that the identity of the six crewmembers be withheld.

Agence France-Presse reported last April 4 that the French luxury cruise ship Le Ponand was taken hostage even before they could pick up their passengers. However, the AFP report said the crew was composed of 22 French nationals and around 10 Ukrainians.

A company spokesman said it was doing everything it could in consultation with the French government to ensure "the security of the hostages and bring about a speedy end to this crisis."

Company priority �“ safety of the hostages

The spokesman said a family liaison group has been set up by the company, adding that its "absolute priority is to support the families and respect their privacy in this difficult moment."

But French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Sunday that "the matter could last a long time" and he did not rule out the payment of a ransom to secure the release of the crew.

French Defense Minister Herve Morin said there could be no military intervention unless the safety of the crew could be guaranteed.

The 32-cabin yacht Ponand lay anchored off Puntland in Somalia Monday. Puntland is relatively peaceful and has proclaimed autonomy from the rest of the conflict-wracked country.

Anchored off Puntland

Bile Mohamoud Ali, an advisor to Puntland's president, had said the hijackers were heading to Haradere port, a pirate haven some 500 kilometers north of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

However, naval Captain Christophe Prazuck of French military command later said the ship remained moored in waters near Garacad on the eastern Somali coast.

"Since and its arrival off this village, the situation remains unchanged and calm," Prazuck said.

A senior Puntland government official did say residents had been urged to fend off attempts by the pirates to come on shore and that two civilians were killed Sunday in clashes with the hijackers as they attempted to dock.

Boost naval security

The International Maritime Bureau called on the international community to boost security on the northern Somali coast.

The IMB's Malaysia-based Piracy Reporting Center said anti-piracy activities, including patrols by coalition warships, had suppressed incidents on Somalia's east coast, but pirates had now headed north to the highly strategic Gulf of Aden.

"The UN Security Council or someone must take some form of action to stop these pirates from attacking innocent seafarers," its manager, Noel Choong, told AFP.

"There are a lot of tankers carrying vulnerable cargo, and we are worried about an environmental disaster if there's any attack on chemical or crude oil tankers," he added.

Somalia, which lies at the mouth of the Red Sea on a major trade route between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal, has not had a functioning government since the 1991 ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

In Paris, a defense source said troops from the gendarmerie's elite counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit were sent to Djibouti where they will remain until further orders.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was due to host family members of the crew at the Elysee Monday afternoon.

The ship's owners, CMA CGM, stated that the crew were being "well treated".

"We know that members of the Ponand crew are on board and well treated," said a spokesman. "All we know is that they are in good spirits, that they are safe and well," he added. With reports from Nadia Trinidad, Apples Jalandoni and Agence France-Presse

Enkylr

Reuters
LOS ANGELES - Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the call girl at the center of the Elliot Spitzer sex scandal, watched the potential earnings from her new-found fame drop by $1 million on Tuesday as old nude videos of her emerged.
Adult DVD distributor "Girls Gone Wild" discovered videos of a semi-nude Dupre, now 22, in its archives and plans to sell them on its Web site, a company spokesman said.
"Girls Gone Wild" had offered to pay Dupre $1 million to pose nude in a magazine it plans to launch but, after discovering the old footage, the company withdrew its offer.
Last week, Spitzer resigned as governor of New York after news surfaced he had paid for a sexual encounter in Washington, D.C. The New York Times revealed that Dupre was the prostitute he had hired.
A "Girls Gone Wild" video crew met Dupre in Miami in 2003 and she stayed with them for a week shooting videos, the spokesman said.

Sdlkoz

THE GAME OF MY LIFE By BILL VELASCO Game Four of the NBA Finals Friday was another indelible page etched into the history books. What the Los Angeles Lakers almost did to the Boston Celtics in Game Two, the Celts did to them on their home floor. It was an absolute classic.
The Philippine Star
Game Four of the NBA Finals Friday was another indelible page etched into the history books. What the Los Angeles Lakers almost did to the Boston Celtics in Game Two, the Celts did to them on their home floor. It was an absolute classic.
With the fever pitch surrounding the historic series, many older fans are conjuring memories of great championship teams and players of the past. If we were to put together the greatest of all time, what would these line-ups look like, and how would they inevitably fare against each other? Lets begin with the Boston Celtics greatest players of all time .
10. Tiny Archibald. This was a rather complicated choice, since Archibald joined the Celtics late in the day, at the downswing of his career. He did, however, win a title in the 1980-81 season, alongside a young turk named Larry Bird. Archibald became the first and only player to lead the NBA in scoring and assists before playing for Boston, and, like Pete Maravich, became a Celtic more as a support player, but was great, nonetheless.
9.Dave Cowens. Tough call here. I had a hard time choosing between Cowens and Robert Parish. But Cowens gets the nod because of the sheer intensity with which he played the game. The 6-9 left-hander played 10 of his 11 NBA seasons with the Celtics, holding his own against the giants of his time, including Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He led the Celtics to two titles and also earned one MVP from his peers. When you hear the expression "I would run through a wall for a loose ball," that was Dave Cowens.
8. Kevin McHale. I seriously couldnt put McHale ahead of some of the Celtics from the 1960s but he was definitely the toughest match-up of his day. With long arms and a variety of moves, he carried the Celtics on the rare time when Bird was not really performing, or incapacitated. McHale won with Bird and couldnt win without him, but was a unique talent, one of the few of his day who could truly play in the low post. But I couldnt put him any higher, because, even at the end of his career, Bird, his own teammate, felt that he could have been even better.
7. Sam Jones. The bank is open. An automatic two points, off the glass. Jones was a class act on the fastbreak, and worked tirelessly around the basket. When you talk of Bill Russell starting the fastbreaks and Cousy running them in the early days, Jones was finishing them. And winning.
6. Kevin Garnett. An outstanding all-around talent who has had the misfortune of mediocre teammates or mediocre coaching. Garnett only became a Celtic this year, and thats not his fault. But thats also the reason why I cant place him any higher. If he wins a ring, he just might crack my top five. But that would be difficult, if you read on.
5. Dennis Johnson. When Larry Bird calls you the greatest teammate hes ever had, that means something. Johnson, who died of a heart attack in February, 2007 at the age of 52, was a six-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team, and won titles with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986, relentlessly hounding Magic Johnson when the Lakers and Celtics would meet. WhenBird famously stole Isiah Thomas inbound pass with five ticks left in Game Five of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Johnson was the one streaking to the basket for the winning lay-up. He was always in the right place, at the right time: in your face.
4. John Havlicek. He would have started on any other team in the NBA, and defined the sixth man for generations to come. Havlicek never tired, and with his phenomenal resting heart rate of 48, would run you into the ground in the fourth quarter as hard as he would in the first. Many sportswriters would have Hondo start on their all-time Celtic teams, and why not? For me, one more significant note is that Havlicek was a youngster in the Auerbach-Russell dynasty, and played his last season in Birds rookie year. Just like a sixth man, he bridged the gap perfectly.
3. Bob Cousy. Underrated, unknown, pioneering. The typical Celtic, and to think Red Auerbach didnt want the flashy Holy Cross kid he picked out of a hat. Cooz dazzled fans and was still fundamentally sound. He had a nose for the ball, and would find a way to get you the ball, or get to the hole. He and Russell were the bookends of the Celtic fastbreak. He was quick, smart, and ahead of his time. He had an arsenal that people underrestimated, from running hooks to no-look passes and changes of pace he knew when to use.
2. Larry Bird. Very few players define their sport for a generation, and Bird and Magic did just that. Coming out of the dark ages when the NBA was considered too black and drug-infested in the late 1970s, Bird brought a shot in the arm, and a will that overpowered. He refused to lose, even when he was tired, in pain, had a broken finger or bad back. He called himself out �“ and his team �“ when they played poorly. And people said he was slow, white and couldnt jump. But he was consistently in the top 10 in scoring and rebounds, and sometimes assists. He would tell you what he was going to do to beat you, and yet you couldnt stop him anyway. Probably has the greatest mental toughness of any player of his era.
1. Bill Russell. I personlly dont think anyone will ever displace Russ as the greatest Celtic player of all time. He defined Celtic basketball from that generation onward. Eleven championship rings, including the historic eight in a row. Countless changed shots, immeasaurable intimidation, among other milestones. Just when the Lakers seemed on the brink of a championship breakthrough, Auerbach makes Russell the first African-American player-coach in NBA history, and he responds by promptly delivering another title to Boston. And we havent even begun to talk about his defense, not only blocking shots, but keeping the ball in play to spark the trademark Celtic fastbreak. Tragically, the league did not keep track of blocked shots in Russells first years, so we will never fully be able to measure the bearded lions greatness on that end of the floor.
Who do you think should make this list?
On Monday, we G.L.O.A.T. with the Greatest Lakers Of All Time.

Pnlozm

More tourists are expected to visit Boracay this year as the Kalibo Airport opens its doors to new international flights from Taiwan and mainland China.
The Kalibo Airport in Aklan province is one of the gateways to Boracay, the country's top beach destination.
Taipei-based Mandarin Airlines has launched its first direct flight to Kalibo Saturday to give Taiwanese tourists easier access to Boracay, which is an ideal vacation spot for Taiwanese because of its proximity.

"With fuel prices soaring these days, the air ticket prices are higher to Japan, Korea, North America, and Europe. Southeast Asia is thus a very good choice for passengers who want a very reasonable price," said Mandarin Airlines' Richard Ma.
"The Philippines is a very good choice. Thailand is also competitive, but we believe that service attitude, service standards of Filipinos are very good," he said.
The next six consecutive flights of Mandarin Airlines are fully booked.
The airline will fly twice a week to Kalibo, which becomes its fourth destination in the country.
Taiwan visitors comprise the third biggest number of tourists in the Philippines, after Koreans and Americans.
According to Mandarin Airlines officials, they plan to increase their flights but limitations of the Kalibo airport had to be considered.
Local officials assured though that improvements in Kalibo Airport are now under way to make it adhere to international standards.
"The first phase is to expand the Kalibo terminal. The next phase in 2009 is lengthening of runway, because the present runway is 2,100 meters, which is quite tiny. International standards require 2,500 meters. Next year, the project is to extend the runway to another 400 meters to the sea," said Aklan Rep. Joeben Miraflores.
"Initially, we were a little bit surprised by this tiny airport. We were afraid that we will not have enough space here because we have 160 passengers. But with the help of airport officials, we did very good," Ma said.
An estimated P1 billion is needed for the upgrade of the airport.
Although the completion may take at least two years or more, more international airlines are expected to fly to Kalibo in the coming months, one of which is the Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines.
Around half a million tourists visited Boracay in 2007, and the local government expects this figure to double this year since the island's visitors have already reached seven hundred thousand for just the first four months of the year. -- Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News

Mdyykn

Agence France-Presse
AUCKLAND - An estimated 10,000 people took part in a rally in pouring rain in Auckland on Saturday to protest against violence against Asians in the city.
Police said the demonstration stretched about 2.5 kilometers through the streets of south Auckland where three people of Asian descent have been killed in the past month.
The march was organized by the Asian Anti-Crime group and included people carrying coffins and placards with pictures of those killed.
Others carried New Zealand flags and signs calling for tougher sentencing and zero tolerance for crime.
Liquor store owner Navtej Singh was shot and killed during a robbery at his shop on June 7, a week later 80-year-old Yan Ping Yang died after being attacked by an intruder in her home.
Joanne Wang, 39, died in hospital in late June after being knocked down by a stolen vehicle in a shopping mall car park after her handbag was snatched.

Amizth

Suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group figured in a gunbattle with members of the Philippine Marines during turnover ceremonies for a road project in Tipo-tipo, Basilan Thursday afternoon.

Col. Rustico Guerrero of the 1st Marine Brigade said the skirmish took place along the main road of Barangay Baguindan.

Guerrero said the bandits tried to disrupt the ceremonies for the turnover of the project conducted by the National Development Support Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Guerrero said no government casualties were reported. One Abu Sayyaf suspect was wounded, Guerrero said, citing reports from the field.

Some 20 families in the area reportedly fled their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Gczfxh

The Commission on Elections is optimistic of a high voter turnout in Mondays elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . The agency's chairman said that all systems are go and not even a major natural calamity such as an earthquake could stop the polls from taking place.

The agency also said that part of the credit goes to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's , which agreed to pull out from some occupied villages in three towns in North Cotabato. The pullout prevented an escalation of violence with government troops.

We would like to congratulate the MILF for the gesture of leaving these areas they occupied and that would really ease the tension and contribute to the heavy turnout of voters, said COMELEC Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, who is in charge of Sulu province.

The COMELEC is targeting a voters' turnout of 40 to 50 percent out of 1.5 million registered voters in the ARMM.

COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo, meanwhile, said a spillover of violence may only affect a few towns in Maguindanao.

But according to him, not even an earthquake can stop the elections.

Wala na. Maski lumindol pa. Hindi naman mapipigilan because that's the mandate of the law! So walang makakapigil diyan kundi batas din, Melo said.

The COMELEC said the novelty of an automated polls will also contribute to a high turnout., like the direct recording electronic machines to be used in Maguindanao.

People are very curious this small machine on how it works, said Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, the official in charge for Basilan province.

The machines have been sealed, ready to be used for Monday's polls. The COMELEC is urging voters to go out and vote, if only to test a more modern way of voting.

Noong araw bagong bukas ang Odeon daming nagpuntang tao doon, bakit? They were curious about the escalator. Now why don't they go there and look at the machines and use them? Melo said.

Accessibility, security threats

One usual problem the COMELEC faces is the accessibility to far-flung precincts and the transportation of the shaded ballots to the tally centers.

We are coordinating with the military because they have the proper vehicles to be used in the transportation, said Commissioner Leonardo Leonida, officer-in-charge for Shariff Kabunsuan.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is closely monitoring the proliferation of loose firearms, armed groups, kidnap for ransom operations and tribal clashes, considered as the most common incidents during election period in the area.

No law was able to stop the ARMM elections. This time, looming violence is threatening the security of Monday's polls. In the end, it is the voters of the ARMM who will determine the success of the elections. With a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News