ILOILO CITY, Philippines - A publisher and editor of an Iloilo-based newspaper was attacked by an unidentified assailant Wednesday evening, just outside the newspaper's office.
Western Visayas Daily Guardian publisher-editor Lemuel Fernandez was about leave the newspaper office in Iloilo City's Molo district when a lone attacker hit him in the back of the head with a blunt object.
A witness, Allan Francis Angelo, said he witnessed the attack at the office's parking area. He said the attacker was a man clad in shorts and white shirt. The attacker fled the area immediately after the attack.
Fernandez suffered a cut from the blow and was immediately rushed to the Iloilo Saint Paul's Hospital.
Police say it has yet to identify the suspect and the motive for the attack. (report from Stanley Palisada, ABS-CBN News)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
4 dead, 14 hurt in bus explosion along EDSA
MANILA, Philippines (7th UPDATE) – Four people were killed and 14 others were injured in an explosion that ripped through a passenger bus along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Makati City on Tuesday afternoon.
Director Nicanor Bartolome, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said that the fatalities include 3 males and a female passenger of Newman Goldliner bus with plate number TXJ 710.
In a radio dzMM report, 4 of the 14 injured victims were identified as Lino Antonio, Victoriano Jeffrey, Anabelle Gozon and Mary Grace Borondia.
Bartolome said the injured victims include 9 females and 5 males. The victims were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati and St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.
Bartolome declined to name the fatalities since they have not informed their next of kin.
The bus was at the north-bound loading bay of EDSA corner Buendia when it was hit by a strong explosion at around 2 p.m..
Bartolome said he has organized a special investigation task force to look into the bus explosion. He added that the city government has also formed a crisis management committee.
He said investigators are now reviewing footage of closed-circuit television cameras installed along EDSA.
Bartolome said investigators have yet to determine what type of explosive material was used. He said the police's immediate concern is to swiftly gather evidence, including parts of the bomb and parts of the bus' body, so they can remove the bus from EDSA.
He said the bus will be moved to the Southern Police District headquarters for further forensic investigation.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said earlier, based on initial briefing given to him by the police, there is a strong indication that the explosion was caused by a bomb.
Binay said that when he arrived at the scene, he saw blood and some body parts inside the bus. He said he also saw a severely injured man through the big hole created by the blast on the passenger bus.
The mayor said a man and a woman were initially killed by the blast.
Bartolome said the explosive device was planted under a seat on the 6th row of the bus' right side.
"Gitnang-gitna ito eh. Sa ilalim siya malamang inilagay," he said.
He said the location of the explosion indicates that the people who planted the bomb wanted a lot of people hurt.
Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed a huge hole created by the explosion on the right side of the bus. Windows on the left side of the bus and its windshield were also damaged.
Metro on full alert
He said police investigators are interviewing the surviving passengers, as well as the driver and conductor of the bus.
Police closed the affected north-bound lane of EDSA-Buendia. The Ayala flyover going to Cubao area was also closed. Other parts of EDSA remained open.
Bartolome announced over government-owned radio station Radyo ng Bayan that he has placed all police units in Metro Manila on full alert.
He said he has ordered all vital government installations around Metro Manila and public places secured by cops.
“We would like to ensure that all our policemen will be available and that vital installations will be properly secured,” he said.
He added: “We encourage everyone to go on with their normal schedules. The PNP [Philippine National Police], the government, the local government in Makati, and other law enforcement agencies will continue to get to the bottom of this incident.”
Smell of gunpowder
In an interview with reporters at the Makati City Police Station, bus driver Maximo Peligro said he smelled gunpowder right after the blast.
"Kung normal na explosion yun, walang amoy na pulibura (If it was a normal explosion, there would be no smell of gunpowder)," Peligro said.
Peligro said it was impossible that mechanical failure caused the explosion since the bus was well-maintained. "If it wasn't well maintained, we would have kept it in the garage," he said.
He also dismissed possibilities that the attack on the bus was done by enemies of the bus company's owner.
"Pentecostal kami. Nagde-debosyon kami (We are members of Pentecostal church. We have devotions [before we leave the terminal]," he said.
He said Newman Goldliner bus is owned by pastors of the Pentecostal Mission Church of Christ.
Many passengers got off before blast
Based on an ABS-CBN News interview with the bus driver, 25-year-old Michael Haralde, there were at least 30 passengers on the bus when the blast happened.
According to Haralde, the bus came from Baclaran in Parañaque City and was bound for SM mall in Fairview, Quezon City.
Haralde said they had 20 passengers when they left Baclaran, and it became almost full when they stopped at a loading bay in Evangelista area in Pasay City.
Almost half of the passengers disembarked at EDSA Ayala.
The driver and the conductor said the explosion happened before they reached Buendia corner EDSA.
They said they could not immediately recall the passengers who may have planted the bus. They said 7 people entered the bus at Taft area and 2 of them got off before they reached Buendia.
Haralde was injured on both of his legs by the blast, while bus conductor Peligro escaped the incident unscathed.
The bus driver also told reporters that some of the passengers were injured because they all panicked after the explosion.
He said that the bus' windshield was not damaged by the explosion. He said he kicked open the windshield, and majority of the surviving passengers exited the bus through it. (reports from Pinky Webb, ANC; Dexter Ganibe and Charlie Mendoza, radio dzMM and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News)
Director Nicanor Bartolome, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said that the fatalities include 3 males and a female passenger of Newman Goldliner bus with plate number TXJ 710.
In a radio dzMM report, 4 of the 14 injured victims were identified as Lino Antonio, Victoriano Jeffrey, Anabelle Gozon and Mary Grace Borondia.
Bartolome said the injured victims include 9 females and 5 males. The victims were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati and St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.
Bartolome declined to name the fatalities since they have not informed their next of kin.
The bus was at the north-bound loading bay of EDSA corner Buendia when it was hit by a strong explosion at around 2 p.m..
Bartolome said he has organized a special investigation task force to look into the bus explosion. He added that the city government has also formed a crisis management committee.
He said investigators are now reviewing footage of closed-circuit television cameras installed along EDSA.
Bartolome said investigators have yet to determine what type of explosive material was used. He said the police's immediate concern is to swiftly gather evidence, including parts of the bomb and parts of the bus' body, so they can remove the bus from EDSA.
He said the bus will be moved to the Southern Police District headquarters for further forensic investigation.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said earlier, based on initial briefing given to him by the police, there is a strong indication that the explosion was caused by a bomb.
Binay said that when he arrived at the scene, he saw blood and some body parts inside the bus. He said he also saw a severely injured man through the big hole created by the blast on the passenger bus.
The mayor said a man and a woman were initially killed by the blast.
Bartolome said the explosive device was planted under a seat on the 6th row of the bus' right side.
"Gitnang-gitna ito eh. Sa ilalim siya malamang inilagay," he said.
He said the location of the explosion indicates that the people who planted the bomb wanted a lot of people hurt.
Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed a huge hole created by the explosion on the right side of the bus. Windows on the left side of the bus and its windshield were also damaged.
Metro on full alert
He said police investigators are interviewing the surviving passengers, as well as the driver and conductor of the bus.
Police closed the affected north-bound lane of EDSA-Buendia. The Ayala flyover going to Cubao area was also closed. Other parts of EDSA remained open.
Bartolome announced over government-owned radio station Radyo ng Bayan that he has placed all police units in Metro Manila on full alert.
He said he has ordered all vital government installations around Metro Manila and public places secured by cops.
“We would like to ensure that all our policemen will be available and that vital installations will be properly secured,” he said.
He added: “We encourage everyone to go on with their normal schedules. The PNP [Philippine National Police], the government, the local government in Makati, and other law enforcement agencies will continue to get to the bottom of this incident.”
Smell of gunpowder
In an interview with reporters at the Makati City Police Station, bus driver Maximo Peligro said he smelled gunpowder right after the blast.
"Kung normal na explosion yun, walang amoy na pulibura (If it was a normal explosion, there would be no smell of gunpowder)," Peligro said.
Peligro said it was impossible that mechanical failure caused the explosion since the bus was well-maintained. "If it wasn't well maintained, we would have kept it in the garage," he said.
He also dismissed possibilities that the attack on the bus was done by enemies of the bus company's owner.
"Pentecostal kami. Nagde-debosyon kami (We are members of Pentecostal church. We have devotions [before we leave the terminal]," he said.
He said Newman Goldliner bus is owned by pastors of the Pentecostal Mission Church of Christ.
Many passengers got off before blast
Based on an ABS-CBN News interview with the bus driver, 25-year-old Michael Haralde, there were at least 30 passengers on the bus when the blast happened.
According to Haralde, the bus came from Baclaran in Parañaque City and was bound for SM mall in Fairview, Quezon City.
Haralde said they had 20 passengers when they left Baclaran, and it became almost full when they stopped at a loading bay in Evangelista area in Pasay City.
Almost half of the passengers disembarked at EDSA Ayala.
The driver and the conductor said the explosion happened before they reached Buendia corner EDSA.
They said they could not immediately recall the passengers who may have planted the bus. They said 7 people entered the bus at Taft area and 2 of them got off before they reached Buendia.
Haralde was injured on both of his legs by the blast, while bus conductor Peligro escaped the incident unscathed.
The bus driver also told reporters that some of the passengers were injured because they all panicked after the explosion.
He said that the bus' windshield was not damaged by the explosion. He said he kicked open the windshield, and majority of the surviving passengers exited the bus through it. (reports from Pinky Webb, ANC; Dexter Ganibe and Charlie Mendoza, radio dzMM and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News)
Sarah seeks Kimeralds' support for her team-up with Gerald
MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson have already started shooting for their first film together but she still feels nervous about their team-up.
“May konting kaba," she admitted on "The Buzz," Jan. 23. "Ipinagdadasal ko na lang na sana matanggap nila na ito ay trabaho lang.”
Sarah was referring to the Kimerald fans, who have threatened Gerald in the past that they won't support him if he is paired with anyone but Kim Chiu.
The pop star has been reported to have received hate mails from fans following the announcement of her team-up with Gerald.
Coming from two successful blockbuster movies with John Lloyd Cruz (“A Very Special Love” and “You Changed My Life”), Sarah feels pressured by the comparison that her team-up with Gerald will make.
“Siyempre lahat kami kinakabahan dahil successful ‘yung previous movies [namin ni Gerald] at may comparison. Pero hindi naman namin ma-e-enjoy ito kung iisipin ang pressure,” added Sarah.
Meanwhile, Gerald dispels comparison between Kim Chiu and Sarah Geronimo. “They’re very good on what they do. Si Sarah napakabait at tahimik lang din,” he said.
Gerald expressed his gratitude to Kimeralds even though his team up with Kim needs to rest for awhile. “Salamat talaga sa Kimerald [fans] na nandiyan pa rin kahit di kami magkasama [ni Kim].”
Serving as third wheel to the new team up is Matteo Guidicelli, who incidentally was rumored to have wooed Sarah. (report from Jecelyn V. Macahindog, Manila Bulletin)
“May konting kaba," she admitted on "The Buzz," Jan. 23. "Ipinagdadasal ko na lang na sana matanggap nila na ito ay trabaho lang.”
Sarah was referring to the Kimerald fans, who have threatened Gerald in the past that they won't support him if he is paired with anyone but Kim Chiu.
The pop star has been reported to have received hate mails from fans following the announcement of her team-up with Gerald.
Coming from two successful blockbuster movies with John Lloyd Cruz (“A Very Special Love” and “You Changed My Life”), Sarah feels pressured by the comparison that her team-up with Gerald will make.
“Siyempre lahat kami kinakabahan dahil successful ‘yung previous movies [namin ni Gerald] at may comparison. Pero hindi naman namin ma-e-enjoy ito kung iisipin ang pressure,” added Sarah.
Meanwhile, Gerald dispels comparison between Kim Chiu and Sarah Geronimo. “They’re very good on what they do. Si Sarah napakabait at tahimik lang din,” he said.
Gerald expressed his gratitude to Kimeralds even though his team up with Kim needs to rest for awhile. “Salamat talaga sa Kimerald [fans] na nandiyan pa rin kahit di kami magkasama [ni Kim].”
Serving as third wheel to the new team up is Matteo Guidicelli, who incidentally was rumored to have wooed Sarah. (report from Jecelyn V. Macahindog, Manila Bulletin)
Google awards $100 million to Eric Schmidt
NEW YORK (AP) – Google Inc. has awarded $100 million worth of equity to Eric Schmidt, who is stepping aside as CEO but will stay with the company as executive chairman.
Google said in a regulatory filing on Monday the stock and stock options will be granted on Feb. 2 and will vest over four years.
The magnitude of the award is "unusual" for an executive who is transitioning out of the CEO role — and may even be unusual for sitting CEOs, said David Wise, senior principal at management consulting firm Hay Group. But given Schmidt's success, "the board clearly wants to retain his guidance for the next four years."
"It's a signal to shareholders that he'll continue to steer the boat," Wise added.
Schmidt, 55, is being replaced as Google's CEO by co-founder Larry Page. Both men, along with Google's other co-founder Sergey Brin, have limited their salaries to $1 for years. But the three are Google's controlling shareholders and Schmidt's net worth is about $5.45 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
Page, 37, takes over the CEO role in April. Schmidt summed up seismic shift at Google's helm in a Twitter post last week that said, "Day-to-day adult supervision no longer needed!"
Schmidt has led Google since 2001, three years before the company went public in August 2004. Since then, Google's shares have grown more than sixfold, at one point surpassing $700. Google's market capitalization is now about $196 billion. Though it faces a formidable crop of young new rivals, notably Facebook, Google so far has managed to stay on top of the online advertising food chain, relying mainly on its search prowess but flexing its muscles in other areas too.
Schmidt, Brin and Page had led Google through the past decade as a ruling triumvirate. With the changes, Schmidt will serve an adviser to Page and a liaison for Google's business partners and government officials, the latter an important role as Google faces growing regulatory scrutiny in the US and Europe.
Page will lead product development and technology strategy and run Google's day-to-day operations. Brin, meanwhile, will work on strategic projects with an emphasis on new products.
Schmidt held about 9.2 million of Google's shares as of Dec. 31, 2010, according to a separate filing from last week. This amounts to about 2.9 percent of Google's outstanding shares and about 9.6 percent of the voting power. He plans to sell about 534,000 Class A shares as part of a pre-arranged trading plan. If he does, he will then hold about 9.1 percent of Google's voting power, the company said.
Shares of Google slid $3.51 to $608.32 in afternoon trading. (report from Philstar.com)
Google said in a regulatory filing on Monday the stock and stock options will be granted on Feb. 2 and will vest over four years.
The magnitude of the award is "unusual" for an executive who is transitioning out of the CEO role — and may even be unusual for sitting CEOs, said David Wise, senior principal at management consulting firm Hay Group. But given Schmidt's success, "the board clearly wants to retain his guidance for the next four years."
"It's a signal to shareholders that he'll continue to steer the boat," Wise added.
Schmidt, 55, is being replaced as Google's CEO by co-founder Larry Page. Both men, along with Google's other co-founder Sergey Brin, have limited their salaries to $1 for years. But the three are Google's controlling shareholders and Schmidt's net worth is about $5.45 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
Page, 37, takes over the CEO role in April. Schmidt summed up seismic shift at Google's helm in a Twitter post last week that said, "Day-to-day adult supervision no longer needed!"
Schmidt has led Google since 2001, three years before the company went public in August 2004. Since then, Google's shares have grown more than sixfold, at one point surpassing $700. Google's market capitalization is now about $196 billion. Though it faces a formidable crop of young new rivals, notably Facebook, Google so far has managed to stay on top of the online advertising food chain, relying mainly on its search prowess but flexing its muscles in other areas too.
Schmidt, Brin and Page had led Google through the past decade as a ruling triumvirate. With the changes, Schmidt will serve an adviser to Page and a liaison for Google's business partners and government officials, the latter an important role as Google faces growing regulatory scrutiny in the US and Europe.
Page will lead product development and technology strategy and run Google's day-to-day operations. Brin, meanwhile, will work on strategic projects with an emphasis on new products.
Schmidt held about 9.2 million of Google's shares as of Dec. 31, 2010, according to a separate filing from last week. This amounts to about 2.9 percent of Google's outstanding shares and about 9.6 percent of the voting power. He plans to sell about 534,000 Class A shares as part of a pre-arranged trading plan. If he does, he will then hold about 9.1 percent of Google's voting power, the company said.
Shares of Google slid $3.51 to $608.32 in afternoon trading. (report from Philstar.com)
'Twilight,' 'Airbender' lead Razzies with 9 nominations
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Vampires, werewolves and airbenders lead the pack at the Razzies, an Academy Awards spoof that hands out prizes for the year's worst films.
The blockbuster supernatural tale "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" and the action fantasy "The Last Airbender" tied for the most nominations Monday with nine each, including worst picture.
Also nominated for worst picture are Jennifer Aniston's action comedy "The Bounty Hunter," Sarah Jessica Parker's romantic romp "Sex and the City 2" and the "Twilight" parody "Vampires Suck."
"Twilight" star Kristen Stewart had a worst-actress nomination for her role as a teen caught in a love triangle involving her vampire boyfriend (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf pal (Taylor Lautner). Pattinson and Lautner both were nominated for worst actor.
Razzies founder John Wilson said that though "Vampires Suck" was a "Twilight" spoof, "Eclipse" actually was funnier to watch.
"I know people who are into 'Twilight' who take it totally seriously and they're very vociferous," Wilson said. "Those of us who are not 'Twi-hards', we don't get it. I don't actually know any teenage girls who have had to make the choice between a werewolf and a vampire."
"The Last Airbender" was adapted from the animated TV series about a young hero with the power to reunite feuding nations of people who can control air, water, fire and earth. "Last Airbender" filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan received Razzie nominations for worst director and screenplay.
"All of this gobbledygook language about airbenders and fire benders and water benders," Wilson said. "You feel like you're on a bender watching the movie. It's completely illogical."
The Razzies lineup was announced a day before Oscar nominations come out. Razzie winners, chosen by the group's roughly 600 voters, will be announced Feb. 26, the night before the Oscars.
Three Oscar-winning divas are among nominees for worst supporting actress — Cher for the song-and-dance tale "Burlesque," Liza Minnelli for "Sex and the City 2" and Barbra Streisand for the comedy sequel "Little Fockers."
Jackson Rathbone had a supporting-actor nomination for roles in both "The Last Airbender" and "Eclipse." Dev Patel and Nicola Peltz also had supporting nominations for "Last Airbender."
The entire casts of "Eclipse" and "Last Airbender" were among nominees for worst screen couple or ensemble.
"Last Airbender" also was chosen for worst eye-gouging misuse of 3-D, a special category to mark Hollywood's current craze for shooting in three dimensions or converting 2-D movies to 3-D. The other 3-D nominees are "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," "Clash of the Titans," "The Nutcracker in 3-D" and "Saw 3D."
Along with worst-actress contenders Stewart and Aniston, the four "gal pals" in "Sex and the City 2" — Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — shared a nomination. Also up for worst-actress are Miley Cyrus for the teen drama "The Last Song" and Megan Fox for the action flop "Jonah Hex."
Cyrus' father, Billy Ray Cyrus, had a supporting-actor nomination for "The Spy Next Door."
Joining Pattinson and Lautner in the worst-actor category are Jack Black for the fantasy comedy "Gulliver's Travels," Gerard Butler for "The Bounty Hunter" and Ashton Kutcher for the action comedy "Killers" and the romance "Valentine's Day." (report from Philstar.com)
The blockbuster supernatural tale "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" and the action fantasy "The Last Airbender" tied for the most nominations Monday with nine each, including worst picture.
Also nominated for worst picture are Jennifer Aniston's action comedy "The Bounty Hunter," Sarah Jessica Parker's romantic romp "Sex and the City 2" and the "Twilight" parody "Vampires Suck."
"Twilight" star Kristen Stewart had a worst-actress nomination for her role as a teen caught in a love triangle involving her vampire boyfriend (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf pal (Taylor Lautner). Pattinson and Lautner both were nominated for worst actor.
Razzies founder John Wilson said that though "Vampires Suck" was a "Twilight" spoof, "Eclipse" actually was funnier to watch.
"I know people who are into 'Twilight' who take it totally seriously and they're very vociferous," Wilson said. "Those of us who are not 'Twi-hards', we don't get it. I don't actually know any teenage girls who have had to make the choice between a werewolf and a vampire."
"The Last Airbender" was adapted from the animated TV series about a young hero with the power to reunite feuding nations of people who can control air, water, fire and earth. "Last Airbender" filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan received Razzie nominations for worst director and screenplay.
"All of this gobbledygook language about airbenders and fire benders and water benders," Wilson said. "You feel like you're on a bender watching the movie. It's completely illogical."
The Razzies lineup was announced a day before Oscar nominations come out. Razzie winners, chosen by the group's roughly 600 voters, will be announced Feb. 26, the night before the Oscars.
Three Oscar-winning divas are among nominees for worst supporting actress — Cher for the song-and-dance tale "Burlesque," Liza Minnelli for "Sex and the City 2" and Barbra Streisand for the comedy sequel "Little Fockers."
Jackson Rathbone had a supporting-actor nomination for roles in both "The Last Airbender" and "Eclipse." Dev Patel and Nicola Peltz also had supporting nominations for "Last Airbender."
The entire casts of "Eclipse" and "Last Airbender" were among nominees for worst screen couple or ensemble.
"Last Airbender" also was chosen for worst eye-gouging misuse of 3-D, a special category to mark Hollywood's current craze for shooting in three dimensions or converting 2-D movies to 3-D. The other 3-D nominees are "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," "Clash of the Titans," "The Nutcracker in 3-D" and "Saw 3D."
Along with worst-actress contenders Stewart and Aniston, the four "gal pals" in "Sex and the City 2" — Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — shared a nomination. Also up for worst-actress are Miley Cyrus for the teen drama "The Last Song" and Megan Fox for the action flop "Jonah Hex."
Cyrus' father, Billy Ray Cyrus, had a supporting-actor nomination for "The Spy Next Door."
Joining Pattinson and Lautner in the worst-actor category are Jack Black for the fantasy comedy "Gulliver's Travels," Gerard Butler for "The Bounty Hunter" and Ashton Kutcher for the action comedy "Killers" and the romance "Valentine's Day." (report from Philstar.com)
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