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Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Philippine Church Accusing Chris Brown Faces its own Legal Troubles over Alleged Abductions
In this photo taken July 23, 2015, the central temple of the Iglesia Ni Cristo or Church of Christ is seen in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. A politically influential and secretive Christian church that's involved in a legal dispute with American R&B singer Chris Brown has been caught in a rising tide of its own legal troubles. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A politically influential and secretive Christian church involved in a legal dispute with American R&B singer Chris Brown has been caught in a rising tide of its own troubles, including allegations of abductions and misuse of funds.
The Philippine government on Friday opened an investigation into allegations that the advisory Council of Iglesia ni Cristo, or Church of Christ, was responsible for abducting ministers critical of church leaders and financial abuse. The announcement by the Justice Department caps months of swirling rumors about corruption and internal feuds in the church, which has been controlled by the founder's family for two generations.
Brown gave a concert in Manila this week but was delayed from leaving because of a fraud complaint filed by a corporation run by the church. It claims it had paid Brown and a promoter $1 million in advance for a New Year's Eve concert at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena, which he canceled without paying the money back. Brown was allowed to leave Manila late Friday after obtaining clearance.
The church's troubles are apparently unrelated to its tiff with Brown, but could be far more damaging to its reputation by exposing the depth of internal squabbles in the 101-year-old movement. It is also likely to unmask the strong grip it has on its 2.3 million members.
The feud within the close-knit church became public this week when the mother and a brother of the group's head, Eduardo Manalo, were expelled after they sought help from other members in a YouTube message, saying they were in danger and that several ministers had gone missing.
The brother, Felix Nathaniel Manalo, spoke out on Thursday against what he said were various anomalies in the church's operations, saying funds "are being used up in all sorts of projects which we don't even need."
One of the projects, he said, was the Philippine Arena, claimed to be the world's biggest indoor stadium where Brown was to have performed last New Year's Eve and where the 100th anniversary of the movement was celebrated last year.
"We have been threatened by the Council ... because they say we are opposing the leader," he said. "We love our brother, but the problem is those around him."
Another mysterious expense by the church, which was not mentioned by Felix Nathaniel, was its purchase of the U.S. ghost town of Scenic, South Dakota, for less than $800,000, the same year that construction of the arena began. The church has not disclosed its plan for the abandoned town.
Isaias Samson, a minister and former editor-in-chief of the Iglesia newspaper, told reporters that he, his wife and son were held under "house arrest" by armed guards allegedly on orders of the church Council for a week before they escaped early Thursday.
"It is very difficult to talk about things that we know will damage the Iglesia because of the actions of some people," he said, adding that about 10 ministers have been abducted.
With the controversy building up, the Justice Department announced it has opened an investigation.
The government cannot intervene in Iglesia's squabbles but abductions are crimes that the National Bureau of Investigation will probe, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters.
The church believes that Jesus is the son of God, but it does not believe in the Holy Trinity as do Roman Catholics — the predominant religion in the Southeast Asian nation. Iglesia commands political influence because its members vote as a bloc in national elections, making them highly sought after by politicians, especially presidential aspirants.
The movement's founder, Felix Manalo, broke away from the Catholic Church and is regarded by his followers as a prophet. He died in 1963, and was succeeded by his son, Erano Manalo, until his death in 2009, when another Manalo son took over as "executive minister."
Garbage Problem in The Philippines
The problem is not new and everywhere in the Philippines:
CdeO garbage woes may drive investors away
By
Going the extra mile for public service
(Comval SP Member Uy’s journey to Brgy. Manurigao, New Bataan)
By Fe F. Maestre
New Bataan, Compostela Valley – Sans a chopper or any convenient mode of transportation, Senior Board Member (BM) Tyron Uy choose to brave the long, bumpy and difficult road going to one of the far-flung barangays in New Bataan. Intermittently hiking uphill and downhill for several hours then riding on a single motor, the young legislator wanted to personally experience and see for himself the needs and situation of the tribal villagers.
“I'm not an outdoor climber, not a seasoned backpacker and definitely not the bravest man in town but because of public service, there are some things that I am willing to risk for the benefit of my constituents...I chose what's in my heart and be able to feel and experience the life of our people way beyond our comfort zones,” Uy said.
Manurigao, a predominantly Mandaya tribe, is 36 kilometres away from the main town Cabinuangan of New Bataan or about a 5-hour travel by single motorcycle. This only mode of transportation is also modified with its wheels wrapped in drive chains to help it have more traction on the sandy and gravelly road, it also has a motor trail.
Motor drivers are also a league of their own as they expertly traverse through winding and sometimes treacherous road with the fare ranging from P500-P1,000 each plus a P10/kilo fee for the goods they bring with them.
Aside from the road condition, BM Uy, who heads the Committee on Health and Social Services, also took note of their health concerns.
“It is very hard for the people there who have health issues as they have to travel long distances. What’s more during emergency cases as they might not be able to get to the hospital quickly,” he said.
To date, initial road development plans were already put in place by the local government while work is in progress to answer the need on road access in the area. Meanwhile, after his trip to Manurigao and discussing the town’s issues and concerns, the provincial government commits to conduct medical outreach on September or within the year through the Health Office (PHO).
Welcome sight
Arriving at past 2 in the afternoon of July 14, BM Uy, DepEd-Comval Education Supervisor Ruben Reponte, and the rest of the team were met warmly by the townsfolk. Indeed, a welcome sight among the villagers who seldom meet and see visitors due to the remoteness of the place.
“Di masukod ang among kalipay sa pag-abot nila labi na nga nagselebrar mi sa ika-9th Araw ng Manurigao tungod kay daghan ang misaksi sa among mabulukong selebrasyon,” said Barangay Captain Marcos Lino.
Most especially, he took note of the time and effort exerted by BM Uy’s group just to be with his people and hear their concerns. In fact, the young legislator is the first provincial elected official who ever set foot on this quaint town.
BM Uy, who is also the Education and Information Technology chairman, also commented on the lack of a public high school in the barangay as an aftermath of Typhoon Pablo and, again, has already raised the concern to the Department of Education-Comval.
“We target to re-open (HS) on August this year creating an integrated school for elementary and high school in Manurigao,” Reponte said.
Cultural immersion and nature beckons
And yet despite the difficult road travel, one can’t help but be amazed by the lush greenery and wide mountain range of New Bataan. It is a blissful respite as, along the way, they’re greeted with wild flora, fresh spring water and a picturesque view of nature’s bounty. The fresh air, already crisp and cold, at a height reaching more than 1,500 above sea level (ASL).
And topping it all is the barangay’s pride---the Malumagpak falls. It is about a two-hour trek from Manurigao passing Sitios Tuwali and Biyangungan and has three cascading waterfalls. Each waterfall reaches so high that it will dwarf a person standing below it.
It was also an immersion for the group as they experience Mandaya’s culture and way of life. Their brand of hospitality showing as they tasted the locally produced wine “biya-is,” which is made of wild ginger they call “pangla” and food cooked in bamboo or “lyurot.” All the while, they are entertained with the sweet, haunting music emanating from a flute-like instrument they call “Tuwali.”
“Mao ni ang ginapatugtug sa mga Mandaya kung gikapoy siya gikan sa trabaho, o sa kalaay...kung naa siya sa kaguul ug ingon man sa kalipay o kun naa siya’y gipahinungdan sama sa usa ka babaye,” Teacher Shen, who is an elementary school teacher, explained.
All in all, it was an unforgettable and significant experience for BM Uy as he thanked the people of Manurigao and those who went with him including Councillor Geraldford Balbin and the rest of the group.
“The best part of our journey? It’s the people. Their smiling faces really captivated our hearts and brought us hope--a hope for a better future,” he ended. (Fe F. Maestre/IDS Comval)
"TINDOG COMVAL! WALANG IWANAN!"
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Saturday, July 18, 2015
The FHM Philippines Grind 2015 Gallery
By Mary Rose A. Hogaza
After a year of waiting, we finally flew back to the country's premier party beach to host an unforgettable #LaBoracay banger—replete with booze, babes, sun and sand.
The FHM Boracay Grind party was held at Club Paraw last May 1, and it was a night headlined by ear-busting EDM tunes, overflowing drinks from Tanduay, and your favorite FHM girls!
We wish we could take all that awesomeness back in Manila, but nah, all we were able to bring back are these wonderful, wonderful photos. So, if you weren’t able to join us that night, we have here a recap of what happened that fateful summer night!
Check out more:
Former Maguindanao Governor Ampatuan, 74, Died
Andal Ampatuan Sr., patriarch of the Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao and one of the principal accused in the deaths of 58 people in 2009 in the worst case of election-related violence in Philippine history, died on Friday, July 17.
Andal Ampatuan Sr., in this file photo, is wheeled out of Pasay Regional Trial Court after an electoral sabotage hearing in 2012. He pleaded not guilty to the charges he has been accused of together with ex-Pres. Gloria Arroyo, ex-Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos, and election supervisor Lintang Bedol. Danny Pata
Ampatuan, former governor of Maguindanao province, was vice mayor of Maganoy town — now called Shariff Aguak — before the People Power revolution of 1986.
Malacañang appointed him acting mayor of the town after the revolution.
Journalist Ellen Tordesillas wrote shortly after the 2009 massacre that "from then on, Andal Sr. never looked back." In the 1988 elections, Andal Sr. was elected as mayor and, Tordesillas writes, "was also charged for the murder of his poll rival, Surab Abutasil."
From 1988 to 1998, the Ampatuan patriarch served as mayor before running, and winning as governor of Maguindanao province. In the meantime, other members of the clan ran for, and were elected to, various local posts.
It was in 2001, after another event on EDSA ended the administration of another president, that Ampatuan and his clan further solidified their hold on the province.
According to a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism report published in 2008, the clan managed to do so by maintaining a huge armed group and by maintaining close ties with Malacañang.
"To some political analysts, it is easy to explain why the Ampatuans command solid hold on Maguindanao: The clan enjoys close ties with the Palace in faraway Manila, simply because the clan has managed to deliver the votes for administration candidates," PCIJ reported then.
Citing a report by the Center for People Empowerment in Governance, the PCIJ report said the Ampatuans helped then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "ensure her influence over the whole of Mindanao."
With around 200 armed men in its civilian volunteer organization — private armed groups authorized by executive order — the clan also "support[ed] the internal security requirement of the capitol or the municipio" while also discouraging dissent and opposition, the report said.
That opposition included the Mangudadatu clan, former political allies of the Ampatuans, who decided to field Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in the 2010 gubernatorial elections.
On November 23, 2009, a convoy carrying journalists, lawyers, and relatives — including Vice Mayor Mangudadatu's wife and his sister — headed to the Commission on Elections office in Shariff Aguak to formalize his candidacy for governor.
The convoy did not reach town.
Andal Sr., sons Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr. and Zaldy, and more than 100 others have since been charged with murder in connection with the massacre, where 58 people, including more than 30 journalists, were killed.
He had also been charged with electoral sabotage for allegedly manipulating elections for the Arroyo administration.
Arroyo allegedly instructed him over the phone to deliver a 12-0 victory for senatorial bets of the administration in the 2007 elections.
His co-accused included former President Arroyo and former poll chairman Benjamin Abalos. —KG, GMA News
Thursday, July 16, 2015
FHM Philippines 100 Sexiest 2015: The Victory Party
By Neps Firmalan
Photography by Ryan Ong, Jonathan de Jesus, Mark Jesalva
After serving you the first-ever FHM BroCon, we continued the sexiest of our country's traditions and gave those who were invited back to the SMX Convention Center a fitting encore to the manliest event of the year: The 2015 FHM 100 Sexiest Victory Party!
Unlike that annoying friend of yours who brags about the many awesome thing he's seen in his life, we won't spout about how much we "wished you were also there." The fact is, we couldn't possibly accommodate everyone. However, that doesn't mean we CAN'T SHARE THE GOOD TIMES WITH EVERYONE!
More is here: www.FHM.com.ph
Concrete Road Brings Hope to Badjau Fisherfolk in Tawi-Tawi
(philstar.com)
A Badjau seaside village in Bongao, capital of Tawi-Tawi, now linked to the municipal center with a concrete feeder road (right) built by the public works department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. John Unson
COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Badjau fisherfolks and seaweed growers in the southern coast of Bongao town in Tawi-Tawi now have a concrete road connecting their village of stilt houses to the mainland.
Ethnic Badjaus in Barangay Simandagit could hardly bring their daily catch of assorted fishes, crabs and lobsters to the town market during the rainy days before the 1-kilometer road was built for them by the executive department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The road project was a joint initiative of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the autonomous region and the District Engineering Office in Tawi-Tawi, a component province of ARMM.
“We in the regional government are contented with the quality of the road built there by our engineers in the province,” engineer Don Loong, regional secretary of DPWH-ARMM said Tuesday.
Loong, accompanied local officials, inspected last week the newly-built road, constructed as part of the ARMM administration’s confidence-building measures meant to build cordiality with Tawi-Tawi’s Badjau sectors.
Loong said the concrete road was built over what used to be a muddy stretch of a pathway connecting the seaside village to the center of Barangay Simandagit, where there are public transportations that can bring passengers to the town proper.
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