Only in the Philippines!

Seven out of 10 Filipinos consider themselves poor, an increase of more than four percent from the last survey, according to the October poll conducted by research organization Ibon Foundation that was released on Thursday.

Read more On "More Filipinos rate themselves poor!"!

MANILA, Philippines - After five years together, a two-day postponement (from Oct. 25 to 27), two-life altering events (a political decision and a super typhoon), Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez walk down the aisle of the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City today before some 2,000 guests in what has long been touted as the “Wedding of the Year.”
Undated photos show Sen. Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez as toddlers: ‘Whatever happens in the future, it is Korina who is with me and we’ll go through it together.

Read more On "Mar, Korina exchange 'I do's' today!"!

Read more On "Joseph Estrada rdeclares his intntion to run as President: "This is my last performance"!"!

Read more On "SPED Seminars this November 2009!"!

Fr. Michael Sinnott, 78, Irish, was reportedly walking inside the mission compound in Pagadian Cityafter dinner and when three of the convent’s employees were about to close the gate, a man pushed the gate and said he wanted to talk to the priest.

Witnesses said three or four other men immediately entered and took the missionary to a vehicle. The vehicle was later found torched in the city’s coastal area by local authorities.


As of the press time there was no ransom demanded yet, but this is another kidnap for ransom case, just like any kidnapping that involving a foreigner.

“Father Sinnott is a good man. We don’t know why he was kidnapped. He lived almost all his life in Mindanao.

He is weak and old, but still active in many interfaith forums,” said one of the priest's friends who declined to be identified.

“They cannot do anything because the men were armed. They pleaded, but the men still took Father Michael. We are praying for his safety,” she said.

The motive for the kidnapping remained unknown and no group has claimed responsibility.

Sinnott, of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, was ordained in 1954 and following studies in Rome was assigned to Mindanao in 1957.

He served in Mindanao until 1966 and was then assigned to the theology staff in Dalgan Park, Navan in Ireland. He returned to Philippines in 1976 where he has served in a variety of pastoral and administrative roles.

Since 1998 he has been involved with “The Center and School for Special Children” which he established.

Read more On "Another Priest Kidnapped"!

The peso strengthened to its strongest level in nine months, breaking the P47-$1 level again and closing at its high of P46.70 against the dollar yesterday.

Yesterday’s close was the strongest since Jan. 9, when the unit closed at P46.45.


A trader from a foreign bank said the government’s announcement of another bond issue this year also pushed the peso up, even as it took the market by surprise. The new bond issue was reported to help finance the rehabilitation spending in the wake of storm Ondoy.

The peso may also have been helped by improved fundamentals, with the government’s plan to sell assets this quarter helping to put the budget-deficit target “back on track,” Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said.
Read more On "Philippine Peso strengthens to P46-$1!"!

THE Philippines retained its 105th ranking among 182 countries in a development report released yesterday, placing it in the medium development bracket with a human development index of 0.751 based on 2007 data.

That was slightly higher than its index of 0.747 in a previous report, but below the average of 0.770 for East Asia and the Pacific, according to the Human Development Report 2009 prepared by the United Nations Development Program.

The human development index looks beyond the gross domestic product to a broader definition of well-being. It provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrollment in education), and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power or income).


Norway topped the list with an index value of 0.971, followed closely by Australia. Iceland, which topped the list in 2008, was relegated to third spot. An index value closer to 1.0 means better quality of human development.

At the bottom of the list was Niger, with an index value of only 0.340, followed by Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Mali.

“Between 1980 and 2007 the Philippines’ [index] rose by 0.53 percent annually from 0.652 to 0.751 today. [Index] scores in all regions have increased progressively over the years, although all have experienced periods of slower growth or even reversals,” the UNDP said.

“This year’s [index], which refers to 2007, highlights the very large gaps in well-being and life chances that continue to divide our increasingly interconnected world.”

The report says that despite progress in many areas over the past 25 years, the disparities in people’s well-being in rich and poor countries continue to be unacceptably wide.

“Migration can be a force for good, contributing significantly to human development,” UNDP administrator Helen Clark said.

“But to realize its benefits, there needs to be a supportive policy environment as this report suggests.”
Source:Roderick T. dela Cruz, MmanilaStandardToday.com Read more On "Philippines keeps its ranking!"!

After the onslaught of typhoon "Ondoy" that devastated many lives in the Metro Manila area, a new super typhoon is again coming this way in the Philippines. Most people who are affected by the last typhoon that submerged parts of Metro Manila has not yet recovered from their losses are now facing another super typhoon "Pepeng"(Parma)which is estimated to hit grounds tomorrow wich brings stron winds and hopefully not much rain as the previous typhoon.

Pepeng is the 16th weather disturbance that hit the Philippines this year. The country has not yet recovered from the devastation caused by tropical storm "Ondoy (Ketsana)," which claimed at least 277 lives and damaged close to P5 billion worth of infrastructure and agricultural crops.

A category 5, the highest tropical cyclone level, based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale that packs minimum sustained winds of 250 kph.

Meanwhile, Pagasa weather forecaster Mario Palafox said a tropical depression (international codename "Melor") which is following Pepeng is still outside Philippine territory and is unlikely to enhance the typhoon.

We just hope that this time it will not bring as much rain as the previous typhoon and people are more prepared for this one to arrive. Read more On "Super Typhoon Coming!"!