“Communist Crucifix” on Pope: Its not an offense

Pope Francis has ended speculation on what he really thinks of the “communist crucifix” given to him by Bolivian president Evo Morales. Aboard the plane going to Rome, Pope Francis told journalists that he was not offended by it, adding he understood why it was made. The Pope said he looks at it from the designer’s point of view and thinks of it as protest art.

In an interview with America Magazine, Father Xavier Albo said Father Espinal played an important role in toppling a military dictatorship and bringing democracy to Bolivia. Father Albo, also a Jesuit priest, worked and shared a room with Espinal in the 1970s.

The cross, showing a crucified Christ attached to a hammer and sickle, was designed by Father Luis Espinal, a Jesuit priest killed by the Bolivian paramilitary in 1980.

Father Albo narrated that it was their hunger strike in 1977 that became the tipping point against the rule of the military government. Joined by several female miners, the two Jesuit priests started their strike on December 27 and quickly inspired thousands of people. Shortly thereafter, national elections commenced.

According to Father Albo, the paramilitary underestimated Father Espinal’s influence when they killed him. During his burial, more than 70,000 Bolivians came to mourn Father Espinal’s death.

In the same article, Rev. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the crucifix was designed by Father Espinal to signify dialogue and commitment to freedom and progress for Bolivia.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Father Albo said Father Espinal designed the cross with a hammer and sickle with an intent to create a dialogue between the Church and Marxism and more importantly, for the Church to be in constant communication with the peasants and miners.

Upon his arrival at the country, Pope Francis prayed at the site where Father Espinal’s body was found

Read More

Maria Ozawa say sorry to Kris Aquino

Reacting to the satirical story about her supposedly being engaged in a war of words with Kris Aquino over the latter’sbrother, Japanese adult actress Maria Ozawa said she wants to apologize to the local TV host for it.

Ozawa’s statement followed Aquino’s own disclaimer; denying she said anything bad about the former as claimed by satirical website Manila Link.

“I was surprised. I don’t know who said it first, but everybody was making a big deal out of it,” Rappler quoted her as saying over the weekend. “So if I have the chance to speak to her one day, I’ll apologize.”

According to the site, Aquino earlier reportedly expressed her displeasure over the prospect of Ozawa dating her brother President Benigno Aquino III by tellingtheir correspondent “How many men have used her? Keep my brother out of this.”

Two days later, Manila Link issued another satirical piece with Ozawa’s supposed response to Aquino’s question: “Not as many as you.”

Following her return from Hong Kong with her sons, Aquino said she never gave out an interview because she was overseas and didn’t even know about Ozawa.

She also condemned the website; saying they should leave her name out of their publicity stunts.

Dating PNoy was a Joke

In a separate interview with UNO Magazine, Ozawa said she meant for her earlier remark of dating the president to be a joke.

“It was a joke. I’m sorry about making people making it so serious and it became news. I’m sorry.”

Likewise she also denied replying to Kris’s disparaging question.

“I never had that interview. I was wondering who made that story up and why they would do such a thing to make it look like we’re fighting,” she said. “I was surprised. Why would people do that? I’m sorry for everybody.”

Read More

Lea Salonga, Vice Ganda speak up on lip-synching performers

MANILA, Philippines – Comedian Vice Ganda and Broadway icon Lea Salonga reacted to the issue about performers who are lip-syncing during shows and getting albums despite not being “real” singers.

Philippine Entertainment Portal  reported that in Vice’s phone-patch interview with MJ Felipe of DZMM, the “Gandang Gabi Vice” and “It’s Showtime” host said it is not right to hate people just because you don’t like the system.

Vice is referring to singer Rhap Salazar who said he hates performers who are lip-syncing on TV shows and those who are getting albums even if they can’t really sing.

The comedian, who admitted his fans continue to buy his albums despite the fact that he is not actually a singer, added that everybody deserves a chance to fulfill their dreams. As long as they are not breaking any law, they can do whatever they want.

Vice believes that performers like him can help revitalize the Philippine music industry.

“The Voice of the Philippines” coach Lea Salonga also shared her thoughts on the issue.

She admitted she also lip-syncs during some of her performances.

“It doesn’t mean naman na hindi ako ang kumakanta and given my track record, I think people know that I can sing. Minsan nagkakasakit din, talagang wala kang magagawa,” she said. (It doesn’t mean that I’m not the one singing. Given my track record, I think people know that I can sing. Its just that sometimes, I also get sick and I can’t do anything about it.

“Miss Saigon’s” original Kim admitted that she understands why non-legitimate singers are given opportunities to have music albums.

“It’s a competitive marketplace”, she said.

In order for a performer to be successful, Lea said there has to be something that would make the fans shell out their money to buy the albums.

She said: “You have to be great, you have to have something that sells.”

Read More

New train tour of North Korea will show country’s unseen corners

Trips to North Korea have been confined to one area only: Pyongyang, the region’s capital. However, just recently, a Beijing-based tour company specializing in North Korea tours is now going to give travelers a chance to explore beyond the over-exposed capital.

Koryo Tours, the Beijing-based tour agency, is offering an 11-day train tour that runs from Pyongyang and includes other stops such as Mt. Myohyang, Chongjin, Hamhung and the coastal city of Wonsan.

The train tour is entitled, “Eastern Adventure by Rail” and is said to be the agency’s second journey-by-rail within the country.

“But this year’s tour will include more unseen places,” Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, told CNN in an interview.

He told Huffington Post in an email that the tour will enable tourists to “see parts of the country formerly invisible to foreign eyes.”

According to Koryo Tours, Mt.Myohang is called the Mountain of Mysterious Fragrance. Aside from the breathtaking scenery that surrounds it, the air in the mountain is so fresh that they said you won’t ever get a hangover, no matter how much you drink.

Meanwhile, Chongjin is an industrial city that specializes in steelwork and is located on the northeast side.

“You can smell it across half of the city,” Cockerell said.

“Pyongyang has been developing in recent years, with lots of shiny new buildings [being built]. Chongjin plans to do the same too, but it hasn’t so it’s more like what lots of tourists would expect Pyongyang, or North Korea, to be like,” Cockerell added.

For many years now, rides have been allowed between Pyongyang and Beijing on the international train service. However, this will only be the second time that they will allow travel within the country by rail.

The trips will most likely occur during the day except for one overnight train ride for approximately 13 hours from Chongjin to Wonsan towards the end of the tour.

“The journey will be taken on a 1970s vintage diesel locomotive. It’s a very reliable train. There is a dining car and there are beds in the passenger car, too,” Cockerell explained.

It is general public knowledge for tourists that tourism in North Korea is extremely controlled. The rail tours is going to be open to citizens of all nationalities, except South Koreans. The tour costs about $3,200. Participants are also required to be with a tour guide at all times, especially when exploring. Photos also cannot be taken freely.

Read More

Bongbong on PH rejection of China’s talk offer: We should not be snobbish

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Bongbong Marcos believes the Philippine government shouldn’t have rejected China’s offer of a one-on-one dialogue to resolve the raging maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos said the ‘snobbish’ attitude with which the Philippines dismissed the offer would ultimately backfire as it will further incense China to take a hardline stance in the territorial row. The senator added China has opened the door for a peaceful resolution but the Philippines shut it down.

“The Chinese said let’s talk and we snubbed them. It’s like the Philippine government itself is encouraging China to take and maintain an unbending stance on the issue,” Marcos said.

The lawmaker was referring to an earlier remark from Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua who said the best way to end the territorial conflict between the two countries is to ‘sit down and talk’.

“Our door for bilateral consultation and negotiation is still open and will be open forever,” Zhao was quoted as saying.

However, Malacanang Palace rejected Zhao’s offer believing the best option is a multilateral approach involving other nation-claimants; and for all parties to follow the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and adopt legally-binding rules.

But Marcos said there is no harm in accepting China’s invitation to talk as it would not mean we will accede to whatever they would demand.

“So talk, and tell them: we are not happy with what you are doing and we do not agree with what you are doing. But the next thing you say is: how do we fix this?” said Senator Marcos who is the vice chairman of the Foreign Relations committee.

Marcos reiterated that negotiation at the table remains the best chance to face China in such issue where war is definitely not an option, and arbitration refused to be recognized by the communist country.

He also raised the possibility of using backchannels, like Filipino businessmen talking to their Chinese counterparts, to help in easing the tension. With the Philippines snubbing China, in this case, would only serve to antagonize the latter and, perhaps, worsen the already deteriorating diplomatic row, he added.

“We should not be snobbish. I can’t see any reason at all why we are not talking to China. On the contrary, there are more than enough obvious reasons why we should talk to superpower China,” he said.

In the end, according to Marcos, the government should be thinking about the national interest and what is good for the country.

Read More

Who urges government all over the world to raise tobacco taxes to beat smoking

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently suggested that governments around the world should increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products primarily to save lives and generate funds for stronger health services.

In an article published on GMA News, the WHO calculated that one person allegedly succumbs from tobacco-related disease every six seconds. This, it said translates to about 6 million people deaths a year.

Moreover, the number is even forecast to rise to more than 8 million people a year by 2030 unless strong and strategic drives are implemented to control the so-called, “tobacco epidemic.”

In a report entitled “The Global Tobacco Epidemic 2015,” the United Nations health agency said that only few governments make full use of tobacco taxes to dissuade people from smoking or help them to cut down and quit.

Further, it recommends that at least 75 percent of the price of a pack of cigarettes should be taxed.

The WHO disclosed that there are a billion smokers worldwide, but many countries have extremely low tobacco tax rates while some have no special tobacco taxes at all.

Raising taxes on tobacco products, according to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, is one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to reduce consumption of the killer products as it also generate substantial revenue at the same time.

As stipulated on the WHO report, Chan urged all governments to look at the evidence and “adopt one of the best win-win policy options available for health.”

Based on studies, tobacco is considered one of the four main risk factors behind non-communicable diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular and lung diseases and diabetes.

In 2012 these non-communicable diseases apparently killed about 16 million people under the age of 70, with more than 80 percent of the mortality rate coming from poor or middle-income countries.

Douglas Bettcher, a WHO expert on the prevention of non-communicable diseases, likewise said that higher tobacco taxes have been proven as an effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption and help people to quit smoking.

He disclosed that evidence from countries such as China and France shows higher tobacco product prices linked to increased taxes lead to declines in smoking prevalence and tobacco-related harm.

Meanwhile, the WHO noted that since 2008, when 22 countries had tobacco tax that accounted for more than 75 percent of the price of a packet of cigarettes, only 11 more countries have allegedly taken action to increase taxes to appropriate levels.

Read More

Johnny Depp surprise patients at pediatric hospital, came as Captain Jack Sparrow

On July 7, the Oscar-nominated and award winning actor Johnny Depp visited the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane, Australia. Dressed as his character in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Depp arrived as Captain Jack Sparrow and was accompanied by fellow actor Stephen Graham who was also in his costume as Scrum.

Juiced TV, a weekly program made by the hospital’s young patients, covered the event. In the video footage posted on Youtube, Depp not only entertained the children but also gave away gold coins and took the time to take pictures and converse with them. During the duration of his visit, Depp was in full Jack Sparrow mode, much to the delight of the patients.

In an interview with Australia’s ABC News, Rachel Bennet, mother of 7-year-old Max, said they were having dinner when they were told that Jack Sparrow was in the hospital. The mother and son immediately went to where the actor was and waited outside of the room. It was Depp who came to them and had a chat with Max, deliberately misspelling the child’s name.

According to the Facebook page of the Children Hospital Foundation, the pirates’ surprise three-hour visit made a significant difference for the sick kids confined at the hospital as well as to their families that accompanied them.

The hospital visit was done during a break in the filming of the next installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Men Tell No Tales in Queensland, Australia. The film is scheduled to be released on July 2017.

In the past, Depp has visited other hospitals, also dressed as the beloved pirate captain. Two years after his daughter, Lily Rose, suffered kidney failure in 2007 due to E.coli food poisoning, Depp visited the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and donated £1 million.

According to an E Online report made in 2013, Depp carries his Jack Sparrow costume all the time because there might be kiddie hospitals that he can visit.

Read More

‘100-peso project’ to help disabled man goes viral

A young woman called out to kind hearts on social media to help her raise funds by just donating a hundred-peso to help a disabled person she randomly saw on the streets.

Kinah Villanueva earlier posted on her Facebook account the photo and story of Kuya Mulong, a person with disability who, despite his condition, tries to sell snacks on the streets of Bicutan in order to live.

In her post, Kinah shared that she noticed a frail and hunchbacked man selling wafer sticks and bread while she was walking along General Santos Avenue in Bictuan.

She offered to buy from him and asked him how much. The man did not respond but gestured a number five. Kinah figured out that it was for five pesos and that Kuya Mulong was mute.

She took time to get to know him. And although he communicated merely with his hands, Kinah was left in awe.

According to an earlier article by When in Manila, Kinah’s post quickly went viral with about 20,000 likes and over 16,000 shares as of press time.

People online expressed their admiration for both Kinah and Kuya Mulong.

One user commented, “Thanks for sharing… And thank God for u Kinah, spending time and really paying attention to whom u see and meet. God bless u for what u did! Praying  to God is the man’s help and refuge!!”

While another shared his own encounter with the old man saying, “Napakabait nyan nkita ko binigyan sya ng pagkain at hinati nya yung binigay sa kanya at binigay nya dun sa batang namamalimos na lumapit sa kanya. Nung nahati na may dumating ulit na isa pang pulubi. Wla na syang mahahati kya binigyan nya nlng ng kendi na tinda nya” (He’s kind, I saw someone gave him food and he shared with a homeless kid. When another beggar came, he gave the kid some candies).

The huge attention drawn by her post inspired Kinah to start the 100-Peso Project. The project asks for just a hundred-peso donation from people who want to help the disabled yet hardworking man. The project has a Facebook group where interested people exchange ideas on how to make it successful.

Those who have some extra hundred pesos are welcome to give their donations up to July 31. According to Kinah’s Facebook post, they can send it to Shekinah Rose M. Villanueva at Far East Broadcasting Company Studio, 46th Floor, Once Corporate Center Building, Julia Vargas St. cor. Meralco Avenue, Brgy. San Antonio, Ortigas Pasig City. She may also be reached through her personal mobile at 09255376161 or at 6543322.

Read More

Binay's provincial sortie is no pre-poll campaigning, says Ilagan

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay has been on string of successive visits to the province recently, but his spokesperson denied it has anything to do with early campaigning.

 Binay has visited three provinces this month, less than two weeks after quitting his Cabinet posts in June. On July 5, he went to Ormoc to give ‘personal’ cash assistance to the families of the victims of MB Kim Nirvana.

 On the same day, he also visited Biliran province until the next day to distribute wheelchairs and medical equipment and supplies. Then on Tuesday, July 7, he went directly to Pangasinan, one of the vote-rich provinces in Luzon, with several officials from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Lakas Party.

 Despite speculations of pre-election campaigning, Binay’s spokesperson Mon Ilagan said the vice president’s visits were part of his official function.

  

“Mayroon siyang  soiree  doon at mga  dialogue  sa mga  women’s group  at  of course,  mayroon siyang mga programang gagawin doon at pagpapaliwanag sa mga  issue,” Ilagan told  Inquirer adding that Binay will stay in Pangasinan for three days, but did not elaborate the ‘issues’ the vice president will be explaining about.

 (He has some soiree there including dialogues with the women’s group, and of course he has some programs and will explain about issues.)

 Ilagan also shared that Binay’s visits to several towns in Panagsinan were well-received by local officials, expressing optimism to expand further United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) network across the country.

 While denying the sortie is not linked to Binay’s political strategy, Ilagan noted it will be just the start of a continuing consultation with people. He added Binay is expected to visit Bicol region next where he will be meeting with farmers.

 VP Binay was accompanied by Lakas co-chairman Danilo Suarez and NPC stalwart Mark Cojuangco in his Pangasinan visit.

 Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, was also in Sorsogon province last Friday to distribute patrol jeeps to some municipalities. He was met by local officials but Gov. Raul Lee, a member of UNA, was not around to welcome him.

 Both Binay and Roxas have noticeably been busy visiting provinces separately throughout the country. While Binay has declared his intention to run as president in 2016, his arch-nemesis Roxas remains mum about his future political plan.

 The two is expected to renew their rivalry next election; but this time, both are eyeing the Malacanang seat.

Read More

DOJ ser to resolve Veloso’ recruiters case before Ramadan ends.

The Department of Justice announced that the case of Veloso’s recruiters will soon be resolved before the end of the Ramadan.

The GMA News shared on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, that the preliminary investigation done on the case of ;Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, the two alleged illegal recruiters of OFW Mary Jane Veloso, had been submitted to the chief of the National Prosecution Service, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

The news was told by the Prosecutor General himself as he relayed it to the reporters.

According to him, Susan Azarcon, the assistant state prosecutor, was the one who conducted the preliminary investigation and whatever findings she had on the charges of illegal trafficking, and the estafa case against the the two suspects, is undergoing a review.

Assuring the progress of the case, Arellano said, “We are now reviewing the resolution, and we will release it probably within this week.”

The Veloso family appealed to the DOJ to finally resolve the complaints against the suspects because of the fear that Mary Jane Veloso might be included among the list of convicts who will be executed should Indonesia schedule another one after the end of Ramadan.

Apparently, their lawyer informed them that it is an Indonesian government custom to make announcements involving their inmates after Ramadan.

The observance of Ramadan ;started on June 18, 2015 and ;will end on July 17, 2015.

Sharing their family’s sentiments, Maritess Veloso said, ;“Ipu-push namin sa Department of Justice na madaliin na ang kaso kasi nag-aalala kami na itong pagkatapos ng Ramadan, maga-announce na ang Indonesia ng mga bibitayin uli. Ayaw naman namin mapasama si Mary Jane doon.”

 (We are going to push for the DOJ’s  ;fast resolution of the case because we are worried that after the Ramadan, Indonesia will announce there will be another execution. We don’t want Mary Jane to be one of them.)

Worried about her sister, Maritess, who attended a Thanksgiving Mass at the Ermita Church in Manila to commemorate the second month after Mary Jane’s temporary reprieve, ;continued, “Kapag hindi nila minadali ito, kapag nag-announce sila, baka kasama na si Mary Jane doon.”

 (If they will not hasten it, If they announce (Indonesia), Mary Jane might be one of them.)

Fearing that the Indonesian attorney general might grow impatient over the slow resolution of the cases filed against the suspects, Maritess added,  ;“Kahit sabihin natin matapang at buo ang loob niya, siyempre gusto pa rin niyang makauwi. So kahit papaano, kahit sino lumagay sa katayuan niya may takot na mararamdaman. Siguro nagwo-worry siya na baka mainip [ang Indonesian government].

 (Even if we say she is brave and courageous, of course she hopes to come home. Whoever it is who will be in her situation of course one will feel afraid.  ;Maybe she is worried that the Indonesian government might be impatient.);

Read More

Sam Smith makes great come back at Montreux jazz festival

The much-awaited recovery of award-winning British soul singer, Sam Smith, took place at the recent jazz festival at the famous Montreux stage as he delivered a magical performance.

After recovering from the surgery on his vocal cords, Smith opened with his bestselling song, “I’m Not The Only” and followed with his other chart-topping hits from 2014 including “Leave Your Lover,” Restart” and “Not In That Way.” All hits came from his debut studio album, “In The Lonely Hour.”

“Wow, this is amazing to me for many reasons, I get to play a jazz festival which is historic. I saw Claude Nobs’ house yesterday and got to see all the history that has happened over more than 40 years, all of my idols,” the 23-year-old said in an interview with Reuters.

The Swiss Nobs founded the popular festival in 1966. The event brought together musical legends like Miles Davis, Prince and Aretha Franklin to the shores of Lake Geneva.

Smith made a name for himself from his heartbreaking songs. Even as a newcomer, he already bagged four Grammy awards in February including the much coveted record of the year and song of the year award for his song “Stay With Me.” He was also awarded best new artist.

“The most painful kind of love is unrequited love, it only felt natural to write about it,” he said before he performed “Lay Me Down” and “My Funny Valentine.”

Smith had to cancel the remainder of his Australia tour due to a hemorrhage on his vocal cords. He apologized profusely to fans but said he had to choose to follow the doctor’s orders.

“Three months ago I had surgery on my vocal cords. To be able to do a gig in a tiny venue is incredible, I prefer this to anything,” he told the crowd at the Montreux Jazz Lab. Fans paid 92 Swiss francs ($97) to stand for the sold-out concert.

“I’ll be back next year,” he promised.

Smith performed high notes in songs like “Nirvana” with five musicians and three vocalists.

Before he sang his single, “Money On My Mind,”he explained: “This is the only song not on the album about love. A lot of people are making music for the wrong reason. Believe me there are people out there who only make music for money. This one person pissed me off so much I wrote the song.”

“I find him very likeable. It hasn’t gone to his head. You could tell that after his operation a few months ago he had great pleasure being on the stage,” Alessandra Ruggiero, a 26-year-old Swiss, said.

Read More