Sun.Star Blogs and Specials

Pacquiao agrees to fight Bradley in June

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:55:11 +0000

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao agreed to defend his WBO welterweight title against unbeaten American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ESPN.com said Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz confirmed the report after talking with Top Rank chief Bob Arum and Pacquiao himself. (more)

Arroyo camp to contest arrest warrant

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:35:43 +0000

The camp of arrested former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo said it would start filing appeals against the arrest warrant when courts reopen Monday.

Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer of Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel, said he will petition the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday to suspend the arrest warrant and other legal effects of the preliminary investigation jointly conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). (More)

Mayweather beats Pacquiao in pound-for-pound ratings

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:24:55 +0000

Manny Pacquiao escaped with a majority decision win against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on Sunday (Philippine time) but that “controversial” victory cost the Filipino ring icon his pound-for-pound ranking.

Pacquiao is still in the top spot of the Ring Magazine’s ranking, but came second to undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ratings of sports websites ESPN and Sports Illustrated (SI). (More)

Low pressure area to bring heavy rains in Visayas

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:21:01 +0000

State weather forecasters are keeping a close eye on a brewing tropical cyclone in the Pacific Ocean that is expected to hit Surigao on Tuesday before crossing the islands of Visayas.

But this early, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul ruled out the possibility that it will develop into tropical depression “Sendong” given the low pressure area’s proximity to land. (More)

A floral ode to the Sto. Niño

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:11:55 +0000

RED and yellow are the colors of the Santo Niño: He was clothed in those colors when Magellan brought Him to Cebu in 1521, who also brought with him the banner of the House of the Hapsburgs, also colored red and yellow with a two- headed eagle as its symbol, adopted by then Mayor Florentino Solon as the official symbol of the Sinulog Foundation in 1981. Now there is a Sinulog flower, the celosia, whose original colors are red and yellow.

At the “Halad sa Sto. Niño Flower” launching late last month, former Cebu city councilor Franklin Seno explained that celosia is popularly known in Holland as “Cupid’s Arrow” or “Flaming Love” for it comes from the Greek word kelos meaning “burned aflame.” (More)

Typhoon “Pedring” damaged 1 bridge in Ifugao

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:51:03 +0000

Supporters and relatives who attended and who wanted to attend the burial rites of Representative Baguilat’s father were also stranded at both ends of the bridge.

Crew of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ifugao First District Engineer Office (DEO) headed by District Engineer Eugene M. Batalao, with the assistance and supervision of Maintenance Chief Engineer Andres B. Dango, immediately closed traffic as of 12: 45 p.m. of September 27.

Batalao immediately reported the calamity incident to the DPWH regional office and coordinated with the Ifugao Provincial Government for quick response.

The DPWH, though, is working on the alternative way for the commuters to cross over. Motorists with light vehicles going to Nueva Vizcaya can pass via Ibulao-Kiangan-Munggayang-Cudog road as an alternative route. (More)

Floyd turns down $65M to fight Manny

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:25:09 +0000

A MUCH-awaited super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. won’t happen anytime soon as the 34-year-old African-American superstar once again turned down a hefty offer of $65 million to face the pound-for-pound king.

“I’m an optimist, and I always felt that they’d eventually fight. At this point, I really feel that they’d never fight,” Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told ABS-CBN. “As recently as this week, people from Singapore offered Mayweather $65 million to fight

Manny Pacquiao and he turned it down.” (more)

Transportation department well supported: Malacañang

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:05:03 +0000

MANILA — Reports indicating that Transportation Secretary Jose “Ping” De Jesus left the President’s Cabinet due to lack of support from Malacañang is completely false and unfair, a Palace aide said Saturday.

“That is not true. It is very clear that Secretary De Jesus wants to go back to the private sector so let’s not put color into it and think of any other reason because he said it himself. He made it clear that he does not have a rift with the Aquino family and the President,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run dzRB radio.

She said President Benigno Aquino III has always been supportive, especially because DOTC is one of the key agencies that are part in implementing the public-private partnership projects of the government.

“So it’s not fair to say that the DOTC did not have the support of the President,” she added. (more)

Senate archives impeach complaint vs Gutierrez

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:00:33 +0000

The House resolution, impeaching former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, was referred to the archives Monday morning.

At its first legislative session after the recess, the Senate voted in plenary to refer Gutierrez’s impeachment case to the archives after her resignation on April 29 made a trial unnecessary.

Gutierrez tendered her resignation to President Benigno Aquino III, 10 days before the supposed Senate trial on impeachment case filed against her.

The resignation of Gutierrez, an appointee of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, took effect last May 6.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said the House committee on justice had already written the Senate saying the resignation made Gutierrez’s impeachment moot.

Sotto said the Senate had to dispose of the impeachment resolution “to allow the Senate to focus on more urgent and vital legislation.”

Earlier, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said impeachment proceedings may no longer push through following Gutierrez’s resignation. (more)

Chedeng intensifies further

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:50:55 +0000

MANILA — Typhoon Chedeng intensified further late Wednesday night as it moved northwest and may make landfall Friday afternoon over Aurora and Isabela provinces.

In its 11 p.m. Wednesday bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Chedeng was at 310 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.

It said Chedeng (international codename: Songda) packed maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 185 kph and moving northwest at 15 kph.

Public storm signal no. 2 has been raised over the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, and Samar provinces.

Meanwhile, public storm signal no. 1 has been hoisted over Marinduque, Masbate, Burias and Ticao islands, Quezon including Polilio Island and Aurora, Northern Leyte, and Biliran Island.

Robert Sawi, Pagasa acting weather division chief, said Chedeng is expected to make landfall near the vicinity of Aurora and Isabela around 2 p.m. Friday.

Pagasa’s forecast is now consistent with international weather agencies, which believed that Chedeng will only graze some parts of Northern Luzon.

In its 11:40 a.m. update, the Japanese Meteorological Agency projected Chedeng to reach the east of Luzon by Thursday, east of Northeast Luzon by Friday, and east of Extreme Northern Luzon by Saturday. (more)