A Repost From Andreo Calonzo Of GMA News.TV

Jinggoy, Kris feel backlash of Hong Kong outrage

GMANews.TV - Saturday, August 28

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Even well-known personalities, including the sister of President Benigno Aquino III and the son of former president Joseph Estrada, had a taste of the growing backlash of outrage in the wake of Monday’s bloody hostage-taking in Manila, which left eight Hong Kong tourists and the Filipino hostage-taker dead. Senator Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada said his passport was thrown at him by an immigration officer upon his arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport on Friday. According to Estrada, the immigration officer was apparently incensed when he saw on the passport that the arriving visitor was a Filipino. Estrada however said that he chose to shrug off the incident since he understood the grief Hong Kong residents felt after the bloody incident four days ago.

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On August 23, dismissed police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. After an 11-hour hostage drama, nine people died— the hostage-taker and eight Hong Kong tourists. (See: Hostage crisis ends in bloody carnage; 8 hostages dead) A Hong Kong-based human rights group earlier voiced concerns over reports that some Filipinos in the special Chinese region are already encountering signs of hostility after last Monday’s hostage tragedy. (See: Filipinos in HK feeling brunt of hostage crisis) Kris, too Presidential sister Kris Aquino-Yap said that she too experienced being shouted down by relatives of the survivors when she visited them last Tuesday. “Her name was Lee. Siya talaga ‘yung 25 to 30 minutes, dire-diretso niya akong (kinakausap). Minsan pasigaw. Pero okay lang," Kris said in an interview aired over GMA News' “24 Oras." (Her name was Lee. It was she who, for 25 to 30 minutes, talked to me non-stop. Sometimes she was shouting. But it’s okay.)

Relating the incident later to her brother, President Aquino, Kris described how she felt humbled. “Noy, alam mo, nanliit na talaga ako doon ng husto. It takes a lot of courage na humarap ka sa mga biktima," she said. (Noy, you know, I really felt so small at that point. It takes a lot of courage for you to face the victims.)

Like Senator Estrada, the President’s sister said too that she chose to just remain silent during the incident since she understood how the victim’s relative felt.

This page requires a higher version browser The Philippine government earlier appealed to the people of Hong Kong not to blame Filipinos residing in the territory for the deaths, since they are also “in grief" over the incident. (See: Palace appeal: Don't take it out on Pinoys in HK) An editorial in the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong daily, also reminded its readers that Filipinos in the Chinese territory are the “wrong targets" of resentment over Monday’s incident. (See: Hatred toward Filipinos ‘smacks of racism’ — HK daily)

The three other sisters of President Aquino — Maria Elena “Ballsy" Cruz, Aurora Corazon “Pinky" Abellada and Victoria Eliza “Viel" Dee — meanwhile offered prayers and offered flowers on Friday at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, where the ill-fated tourist bus was held hostage.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV

Reposted From Andreo Calonzo Of GMA News.TV

A Repost From Manila Bulletin

Claudine threatens to haul Angelica to court

Manila Bulletin - Thursday, August 26

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No amount of apology will pacify Claudine Barretto, who plans to sue actress Angelica Panganiban for allegedly spreading rumors about her. The 31-year old actress said so in a tab report, adding that she will file either a libel or slander case against Angelica, who allegedly told people that she [Claudine] is having an extra-marital affair with actor Derek Ramsay's best friend. In previous interviews, Claudine neither confirmed nor denied the rumored rift between her and Angelica, whom she allegedly tweeted on Twitter. Before, Claudine went only as far to admit that she got "hurt" by what happened between them. However, in an article published by a local daily on Aug. 26, Claudine said the situation has gotten "out of hand," and that the rumors Angelica allegedly spread have caused her fights with husband Raymart Santiago. Claudine added that Angelica spun the yarn "because she fought with my Ate," pertaining to the word war between Angelica and Gretchen Barretto a few months back. Later, Angelica apologized to Gretchen and since then they have become each other's "new friend." Claudine believes Angelica could've-should've-done the same to her but she didn't. "Angelica never reached out to me. She felt no remorse... she denied that she ever said it (rumor). But a number of friends are willing to testify in court that she did. I'm not going into this unprepared." Claudine added that Derek has apologized to her and Raymart on Angelica's behalf. She didn't accept it, though, because "Derek wasn't the traitor." Claudine enumerated the numerous instances that proved her support and love for Angelica. "My family trusted and welcomed [her] into our home. I myself have known Angelica since she was 9. I took care of her [when she started out in the biz]. She was there when Raymart and I got married. She was there when Sabina and Santino (Claudine and Raymart's kids) were christened. We invited her to our birthday celebrations," she related. 'Prepare for war' Meanwhile, Star Magic head Johnny Manahan told PEP in a text message that they are ready to face Claudine's lawsuit. "Go Ahead. Sue, Claudine. Make our Day! Para Bellum," he said. ("Para bellum" is part of the Latin adage "si vis pacem, para bellum" which means "If you wish for peace, prepare for war.") Angelica has kept mum on the issue, save for some tweets she posted, thanking all her supporters. "salamat sa inyong lahat. pakiusap lang,wag na po magtweet sa mga friends ko para wag ng madamay ang iba. salamat sa paniniwala.goodnight," read her first tweet on the matter on August 25. She added: "susundin ko lang ang sinasabi sakin ng mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan ko. goodnight everyone." "d ko inisip na ganito suportang makukuha ko. salamat talaga! susubukan ko na matulog :)" Claudine and Angelica are said to have had an almost "close encounter" last weekend in Davao, where they held respective shows. Although Claudine and Angelica are said to have stayed in the same hotel, their handlers reportedly made sure the two did not cross paths. "Nakalabas naman kami ng buhay sa hotel.. Nag promise ako.. Mananahimik lang ako... Salamat Lord.. Life is beautiful!!" posted Angelica on Aug. 22 in seeming reference to the "close encounter."

Reposted From Manila Bulletin

A Repost From AFP

Hong Kong orders autopsies for Manila hijack victims

AFP - Friday, August 27

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A family grieves at the airport in Hong Kong over the coffin of a victim of the Manila hostage crisis. Hong Kong may launch an official inquiry into the Manila bus hijacking after the city's coroner ordered autopsies for all eight victims of the bloody standoff, its security chief said.

Slideshow: Faces of Asia PH

HONG KONG (AFP) - – Hong Kong may launch an official inquiry into the Manila bus hijacking after the city's coroner ordered autopsies for all eight victims of the bloody standoff, its security chief said Thursday.

Ambrose Lee said post-mortem examinations were ordered amid questions over whether the slain Hong Kong tourists were killed by bullets fired by the hostage-taker or police during their bungled rescue operation on Monday.

"The coroner ordered that an autopsy be done -- we'll have our own autopsies," Hong Kong's secretary for security told lawmakers at a specially convened meeting.

"The coroner will then decide whether a death inquiry will be held."

Autopsies conducted in the Philippines on five of the victims showed they died from gunshots mostly to the head and neck, while Philippine police carried out ballistic tests to determine if commandos fired any of the fatal bullets.

Hong Kong lawmakers Thursday debated a proposed motion demanding that the Philippine government apologise and pay compensation to the victims' families, amid fury in the southern Chinese city at the way the crisis was handled.

Earlier, Lee said: "We will urge the Philippine authorities to conduct a thorough, just and transparent investigation and we want the report to be ready as soon as possible".

Reports said a high-level Filipino delegation would brief the Chinese government on Thursday before heading to Hong Kong, but officials in Beijing, Manila and Hong Kong said the timing of the visit was yet to be determined.

Hong Kong observed a mournful silence Thursday morning, after the victims' bodies were returned home.

The city held three minutes of silence with flags lowered to half-mast at a special ceremony overseen by chief executive Donald Tsang and a large crowd of black-clad people on the harbour waterfront.

A tearful woman at the ceremony said she wanted to take care of two children aged 15 and 12 whose parents were killed in the day-long hostage siege after an ex-policeman boarded their tourist bus.

"My heart hurts. I hope the pain they feel will fade soon. I am willing to be the mother of the two orphans," the woman, who did not identify herself, told the Cable News broadcaster.

Hong Kong leader Tsang said: "We can't help but ask why human nature is so ugly? In the eyes of the gunman, apart from his personal interests, had he thought about others?"

Staff from travel agency Hong Thai lowered their heads to mourn Masa Tse, the 31-year-old tour guide who was praised for alerting his Hong Kong office to the hijacking by cellphone from the back of the tour bus. Related article:Bus blunders latest black mark against Philippine police

Emotions are running high in Hong Kong over blunders by Philippine police in the chaotic climax to Monday's events, when the disgraced former policeman held a group of Hong Kong tourists hostage for 12 hours.

The victims were aged from 14 to 58.

Internet sites such as Facebook are awash with public anger against the Philippine authorities.

There are as many as 200,000 Filipinos living in Hong Kong, the vast majority of them working as maids, and union leaders have reported reprisals against the community by Hong Kong employers incensed at the hijacking.

The bodies of the eight killed -- including Ken Leung and his two daughters -- were on Wednesday night flown back to Hong Kong, with bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace" at a poignant airport ceremony.

Leung's wife Amy Ng stayed behind as their 18-year-old son Jason fights for his life in intensive care with serious head injuries. Both returned to Hong Kong on a medical charter flight Thursday evening, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The tragedy unfolded live on television, allowing viewers around the world to watch as ill-prepared police commandos failed in attempts to storm the bus before the tourists, and the gunman, died in a hail of bullets.

Philippine authorities have suspended four police officers and one is on leave as an investigation proceeds into key mistakes made in the protracted standoff.

Reposted From AFP

A Repost From GMA News.TV

Hatred toward Filipinos ‘smacks of racism’ — HK daily

GMANews.TV - Thursday, August 26

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A newspaper in Hong Kong on Wednesday sought to ease the reported resentment felt by Chinese nationals toward Filipinos in light of the deadly hostage crisis in Manila that left eight tourists from China’s special administrative region dead.

In its editorial Wednesday, the South China Morning Post said Filipinos are the “wrong targets" of the collective anger although it described the police force that handled Monday’s hostage situation as “incompetent."

“The actions of a unit of police commandos were not [the Filipinos’] doing. Tarring them with the same brush of incompetence isn’t right," the editorial read, adding that venting anger toward Filipinos “smacks of racism."

The editorial also scored the Hong Kong government’s response to the tragedy after placing the Philippines on its travel blacklist. “It has issued its highest travel alert for those thinking of going to the Philippines. Based on a single isolated incident, it has determined that a severe threat exists and that all travel should be avoided," it said.

This page requires a higher version browser The editorial explained that the only other countries on the alert list – Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia and Thailand – are ranked two levels lower, with travelers advised to “exercise caution." The Security Bureau of Hong Kong issued a travel warning on Monday, discouraging all travel to the Philippines by its citizens. Just an hour after the hostage-taking ended, the Philippines’ status was changed by Hong Kong from an “amber alert warning" to a “black alert warning," indicating severe threats to the country’s security. “Travel bans are for safety, not political retribution," the SCMP editorial stated. It likewise faulted protesters in Hong Kong who rallied outside the Philippine Consulate General there for the “abuse" hurled against Philippine President Benigno Aquino III in blog postings and placards. The editorial cited a placard that read “Cold-blooded Aquino – Go to hell." “Statements like this are not rational or reasonable. All they do is stir needless hatred," it said. The newspaper, which has a daily circulation of over 100,000, urged Chinese nationals not to place blame for the hostage drama to Filipinos, which it described as “innocent bystanders" to the tragedy. “The 150,000 Filipinos who live among us in Hong Kong and the untold millions in the Philippines who rely on our business and tourism dollars cannot provide what we want to know. They are as much innocent bystanders to the tragedy as we are and deserve to be treated as such," the editorial said. - KBK, GMANews.TV

Reposted From GMA News.TV

Too Bad Venus Raj Lost In The Miss Universe Pageant

Too bad, Maria Venus Raj of the Philippines lost in the just concluded Miss Universe beauty pageant held in Las Vegas, USA. She earned a fifth place finish that was a big letdown for all Pinoys watching live at Mandalay Resort and the millions more watching in the Philippines and the four corners of the world where they were working. Miss Mexico beat her for the crown as Venus was let down by her lackadaisical answer to a simple question posed to her. Our mere consolation was that she entered the top five together with Miss Jamaica, Miss Ukraine, Miss Australia and the eventual winner, Miss Mexico. After the sordid hostage taking incident in Manila where 9 people died, all Pinoys were hoping that Miss Raj could have been our saving grace. Well, back to the drawing boards.


Coronation Nights of Miss Universe 2010

A Repost From Manila Bulletin

Court grants James Yap right to visit Baby James

Manila Bulletin - Friday, August 20

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A Makati City court granted Friday the request of basketball player James Yap, estranged husband of celebrity and TV host Kris Aquino, to visit their three-year-old son Baby James.

Lawyer Lorna Kapunan said the court allowed his client to be with his son on Wednesdays at 2-8 p.m. where James could bring his son to watch the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games; and overnight stay from Friday to Saturday.

The estranged couple attended the three-hour closed-door hearing at the sala of Judge Cristina J. Sulit, Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) after several months of not seeing each other.

Both Yap and Aquino were accompanied by their lawyers. Also seen after the hearing was Ballsy Cruz, Aquino's elder sister.

Kapunan described the settlement of the couple as amicable while they try to resolve the details of Yap's visitation rights over their child.

"The resolution took time because the judge talked with them together and separately a number of times," said Kapunan.

Another hearing was set this month to discuss Aquino's petition to nullify her marriage with Yap.

After the hearing, Aquino issued a brief statement, saying, "We entered into a compromised agreement." She refused to elaborate.

"Our utmost priority is the welfare of our son. We will do everything to make sure that this would not be a traumatic experience for him (Baby James)," she stressed.

Reposted From Manila Bulletin