Maynilad sets world record as ‘largest pipe drum

ensemble’ 
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:14:00 02/02/2011

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos have another reason to be
proud as the country’s own Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
(Maynilad) made world history by setting a new Guinness
World Records™ feat last January 31.
In a gathering of more than 2,000 guests, Maynilad
employees rocked the SMX Convention Center by using
water pipes to play out a rhythm of beats in unison, which
earned them the record of “Largest Pipe Drum Ensemble”.
London-based Guinness World Records™ adjudicator
Kimberley Dennis witnessed the event.
The record-setting victory was among the highlights of
Maynilad’s 2011 Customer Service Rally graced by the
company’s Board of Directors headed by Maynilad
Chairman Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan and Board Member
Mr. Jorge A. Consunji, together with Maynilad’s top leaders
led by Mr. Ricky P. Vargas, President and Mr. Herbert M.
Consunji, Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Vargas
congratulated and encouraged everyone to continue to move
together as one team as they bring safe, reliable, and
affordable water to Filipino families. “We can do all of
these if we have the correct mindset,” Vargas said. “We
have to continue to put our customers first.”
According to Mr. Chris Lichauco, Head of Business
Operations, the Guinness record that Maynilad has set was
symbolic of how everyone’s participation, hard work, and
dedication are key in achieving a common goal. “The last
three years has been all about breaking records for
Maynilad. This year is the most ambitious yet,” Lichauco
added, as he shared the company’s various plans to further
improve its services, such as infrastructure, service area
expansion and customer service, among other. Special guest
and famed motivator Bo Sanchez also shared a few moving
words that both inspired and delighted Maynilad employees
while celebrity Ryan Agoncillo fired up the crowd with his
hosting skills.
The event was conceptualized and organized with help from
Y&R Philippines, Inc. (Y&R Phils.), a through-the-line
agency that counts events management among its various
services. “We are truly honored to have been part of this
momentous occasion,” says Y&R Phils. COO Mary
Buenaventura.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is owned and managed by
DMCI-MPIC Water Company, Inc. (DMWCI), a joint
venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corporation
(MPIC) and DMCI Holdings Inc. (DMCIHI).
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) provides water
and wastewater services to the cities of Manila (all but
portions of San Andres & Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of
San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional,
Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the
Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west
of South Super Hi-way), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las
Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon, all in
Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus,
Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in the Cavite province.

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Quake shakes buildings in

Metro Manila 
Agence France Presse
First Posted 10:38:00 02/22/2011

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) An off-shore earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 shook buildings in Metro
Manila Tuesday, seismologists said, although there was no damage and no tsunami warning.

The moderate tremor struck at 10:10 a.m. in the ocean 66 kilometers (41 miles) southwest of Manila at a depth of 137
kilometres, the US Geological Survey reported.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which uses a different formula from the USGS,
placed the magnitude at 4.7 and reported no damage.

"It was felt in Metro Manila at intensity four. Even the Phivolcs building shook," government seismologist Danny
Tacadino was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying. 

It hit at an intermediate depth of 117 kilometers, said Phivolcs.

"It had to travel more than 100 kilometers upwards and, when it reached ground, the energy was not that strong," said
Phivolcs director Renato Solidum.

The tectonic quake was felt at Intensity IV in Manila and Dasmariñas, Cavite; Intensity III in Quezon City, Pasay
City and Pasig City; Intensity II in Looc, Lubang, Occidental Mindoro; and Intensity I in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Also listen to the report of Radyo Inquirer, DZIQ 990 AM.

With reports from Radyo Inquirer and Kristine Alave, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Binay returns after obtaining stay of Filipinos’

execution
By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 20:21:00 02/19/2011
MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay to postpone the executions, originally scheduled
returned home Saturday night after a climactic 36- Monday and Tuesday, indefinitely.
hour visit to China that bought time and ultimately
gave hope to three Filipinos facing execution there.
Binay arrived on board Philippine Airlines flight PR
307 that landed at the Ninoy Aquino International
The vice president's last-ditch appeal to Chinese
Airport at 8 p.m.
officials in Beijing, including its supreme court chief
justice, was seen as instrumental to China's decision
In a statement he issued earlier in the day, he said it
was the "government's obligation to assist all
Filipinos, regardless of their legal circumstances."
Binay also extended his thanks to "millions of
Filipinos who offered their prayers for our
kababayan(compatriots)," and asked that "we
continue to pray for them and their families."
Before leaving, he said he wished "a good thing will
happen" out of his trip. "I carry with me the prayers of
the Filipino people that clemency could be granted on
humanitarian grounds," Binay said.
After the meetings, China's Supreme Court informed
the Philippines of its decision to postpone the
execution "within the scope of Chinese law."

As of Saturday, it was still unclear to Philippine
officials how long the postponement of the executions
would take or if commutation of the death sentence
was a possibility.
On Friday morning, Binay departed for Beijing on an
uncertain mission to appeal to China for clemency in
behalf of the Filipino convicts. He said he did not
question China's imposition of the death penalty but
hoped the authorities could commute the sentence on
humanitarian grounds, believing the Filipino convicts
to be mere victims of international drug syndicates.
In a statement placed under embargo until Binay's
return, outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto
Romulo said: "I welcome the postponement of the
execution of the three Filipino nationals within the
scope of Chinese law."
"I join President Benigno S. Aquino in thanking the
Chinese Government for receiving Vice President
Jejomar C. Binay. The President's decision in sending
Vice President Binay to China was timely," he said.

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PH apologizes over deportees row—Taiwan

Agence France Presse
First Posted 11:21:00 02/19/2011

TAIPEI – The Philippines has apologized after a row over deporting 14 Taiwanese to China and
launched an investigation into this incident, Taiwan's foreign ministry said Saturday. 

"I apologize for this unfortunate incident," Amadeo R. Perez, chairman of Manila Economic and
Cultural Office (Meco), was quoted as saying in a ministry statement after meeting Foreign Minister
Timothy Yang in Taipei on Friday.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has ordered an investigation into the incident and has named
former senator Manuel Araneta Roxas II as a special envoy to Taiwan to patch-up ties, the statement
said.
Like most countries, the Philippines formally recognizes only the Beijing government, while the
Meco handles economic and cultural ties with Taiwan.
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, although Beijing
views the island as a breakaway province and vows to take it back, by force if necessary.
The Taiwanese were arrested and deported along with 10 Chinese suspects earlier this month after
they allegedly swindled $20 million in an international scam targeting mainland Chinese.

Taiwan expressed fury, insisting that they should have been sent back to face justice on the island
instead and warned Manila that the incident has dealt a serious blow to bilateral ties.

Taipei has raised the screening period for Filipino workers to the maximum four months and
threatened to bar them from entry after the row.

There are about 72,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan, sending hundreds of millions of dollars a year
back to the Philippines.

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OFW remittances surpass 8% growth

target 
February 17, 2011 13:09:00
Agence France Presse

MANILA, Philippines—The remittances sent home by overseas Filipinos workers went up by

8.2 percent to hit a new record of $18.8 billion last year due to the strong demand for skilled
Filipino workers and the expansion of overseas remittance centers, the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) said Thursday.

Remittances from sea-based and land-based workers rose by 11.9 percent and 7.2 percent,
respectively, said BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr.

For December alone, remittances grew by 8.1 percent, registering its highest level at US$1.7
billion.

The stable flow of remittances continued to provide strong support to domestic demand, with
the remittance level for the year accounting for close to 10 percent of the country’s Gross
Domestic Product.
As of end-December 2010, commercial banks’ established tie-ups, remittance centers,
correspondent banks and branches/representative offices abroad expanded to 4,581 from
3,730 at end- December 2009.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported that for
January, 16.9 percent (or 7,822) of the total approved job orders of 46,238 were processed.

These processed job orders comprised mainly of service, production, and professional,
technical and related job categories needed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates,
Kuwait, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

For the period January-December 2010, the major sources of remittances were the United
States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Singapore,
Italy, Germany and Norway.

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Azkals start training in Baguio

Cedelf P. Tupas
First Posted 12:40:23 22/02/2011
MANILA---The National men’s football team opened
training camp for the second leg of its AFC Challenge
Cup duel with Mongolia in Baguio City yesterday with
the coaching staff led by German mentor Hans Michael
Weiss putting emphasis on sharpening the squad’s
finishing in front of goal which was left wanting in
previous matches.  The Azkals will play a tune-up match on Wednesday
Azkals team manager Dan Palami said, aside from
getting the players used to the cold weather, the training
patterns in preparation for the Mongolia game on March
15 will also focused on improving the squad’s
attack. Weiss had rued the missed chances of scoring
more in the 2-0 first leg victory in Bacolod two weeks
ago with the Azkals, for all their possession, failing to
add to their advantage as Ian Araneta hit the post twice
and several others missed a host of opportunities in front
of the goal.
Palami said the Azkals won’t be just protecting their lead
in the second leg which will be played in abject wintry
conditions despite being set at 1 p.m., the hottest time of
the day in Ulan Bator. “If we can score more, then we
will do it,” said Palami. “Definitely, we will not just
defend against them.”
against a select group of players based in Baguio.
Another tune-up match is scheduled Saturday. 
The Azkals aren’t complete yet in Baguio with several
foreign-based players, including goalkeeper Neil
Etheridge, Rob Gier, Ray Jonsson, Filipino-Danish
standouts Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara, still with
their clubs in Europe. 
Brothers Phil and James Younghusband are already with
the squad in Baguio, along with skipper Aly Borromeo
and regular starters Anton del Rosario, Chieffy
Caligdong and Araneta. Caligdong and Phil
Younghusband scored the goals against Mongolia. Jason
de Jong, the Netherlands-born midfielder, is still in Philippine Football Federation president Mariano
Indonesia trying out for teams in the Indonesian Super “Nonong” Araneta said he will request the JFA to also
League. Contrary to earlier reports, the 20-year-old De schedule a tune-up match for the Azkals, who rose to
Jong, a defensive midfielder, has not signed up with prominence with their semifinal finish in the AFF
Sriwijaya FC, after failing to impress Bulgarian coach Suzuki Cup last year.
Ivan Kolev. The Inquirer tried but failed to contact De
Jong, who will also undergo a trial with another ISL
club, Persiba Balikpapan, according to Indonesian
football website, bolaindo.com. The Azkals are also
scheduled to undergo a one-week camp at the Japan
Football Association training facility in Fukushima,
before they go to Mongolia for the second leg of the
qualifying series.

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Mt. Bulusan ashfall reaches Masbate 

By Rey M. Nasol, Mar S. Arguelles, Joey Gois
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 19:44:00 02/21/2011

SORSOGON CITY—At least 2,000 people living
around Mount Bulusan fled their homes as the volcano
spewed ash and thick smoke for 19 minutes over three
towns on Monday.
The latest ash explosion, recorded at 9:12 a.m., was three
kilometers high and accompanied by rumbling heard up
to 10 km away in Juban town, said Eduardo Laguerta,
resident volcanologist of
the PhilippineInstitute of Volcanology and Seismology (
Phivolcs) in Sorsogon.
visibility was zero in practically all affected areas up to
Monday noon, Laguerta said. The Phivolcs has
maintained alert level 1 in Bulusan, but it may raise the
warning status if conditions worsen, Laguerta
said.Monday’s explosion was the
highest ash columnrecorded since November 6, 2010,
when the volcano spewed ash and steam, he said.
The Phivolcs described the source of the activity as
“hydrothermal and shallow,” indicating that steam-
driven pressure was building up at the volcano’s vent.

Ashfall spread to as far as 30 km away in Masbate, Wet towels

Laguerta said.
Residents of Juban, Irosin and Bulan left their houses on
board military trucks sent by the Army’s 49th Infantry
Battalion.
Classes suspended
Classes in all levels were suspended in the three towns,
with most of the schools used as evacuationcenters for
affected families. With the thick smoke and ashfall,
Local officials of the affected areas did away with
waiting for face masks to be distributed and instead
called on radio stations to tell residents to use wet towels
to avoid inhaling dust particles, according to information
gathered from soldiers on the ground by the Army’s 9th
Infantry Division spokesperson, Maj. Harold Cabunoc.
Thirty-eight students from Irosin and Bulan were
reported to have suffered suffocation due to the thick
ashfall and smoke, Cabunoc said.
He said responding soldiers also received reports of of vehicles, establishment and houses in Masbate City
power outages in the affected areas, aside from proper at about 9:45 a.m., said Ernie Delgado, Philippine
intermittent communication signals and contaminated Information Agency information center manager in the
sources of potable water. island-province.

Traces of moderate ashfalls were observed on Ticao The Masbate City Health Office immediately distributed
Island in Masbate, while light ashfall was noted on top green surgical masks to residents, Delgado said.

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