A Repost From AFP

Facebook sued for $1 billion over Intifada page

AFP News – Sat, Apr 2, 2011 7:58 AM PHT

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  Facebook and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, pictured here in 2010, have been hit with …

Facebook and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg have been hit with a lawsuit seeking more than $1 billion in damages over a page on the social network which called for a "Third Intifada" against Israel.

Facebook this week shut down the "Third Intifada" page, which had almost 500,000 fans, but the lawsuit filed in a court here claims that the social network showed "negligence" by not quickly responding to appeals to remove the page.

Besides awarding damages, the complaint calls on the court to bar Facebook "from allowing the Facebook page titled 'Third Palestinian Intifada,' and other related and similar sites, which advocate violence and death to Jews."

The suit, a copy of which was obtained by technology blog TechCrunch, was filed in DC Superior Court by Larry Klayman, who describes himself in the complaint as "an American citizen of Jewish origin" who is "active in matters concerning the security of Israel and all people."

Klayman also identifies himself as the founder of Freedom Watch, whose website describes it as a political advocacy group dedicated to protecting privacy, free speech and other rights and "our national sovereignty against the incompetent, terrorist state-controlled United Nations."

Facebook dismissed the case as "without merit" and said it would fight.

"While we haven't been served with a complaint, we believe the case is without merit and we will fight it vigorously," a Facebook spokesman said.

Facebook shut down the page on Tuesday, several days after Israeli Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein sent a letter to Zuckerberg urging him to remove it.

Facebook said the page was initially tolerated because it "began as a call for peaceful protest" but direct calls for violence began appearing and the page was removed for violating Facebook's policies.

Reposted From AFP

A Repost From ANN (Asian News Network)

N. Korean dictator Kim becomes popular drink's model

By Kang Yoon-seung in Seoul/The Korea Herald | ANN – Fri, Apr 1, 2011 5:20 PM PHT

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Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - Although Kim Jong-il is the most influential and even scary figure in North Korea, he is treated as a hilarious icon outside of the hermit kingdom.

A new Sprite advertisement which features a dictator clearly modeled after Kim is popular among Chinese websites.

Produced in Israel, the advertisement depicts the dictator dancing wildly after taking a sip of the drink. It starts with a very familiar scene, like those occasionally shown on major news broadcasts all over the world; the march of people's army at a city that looks just like Pyongyang.

Then, a soldier carefully brings the leader a bottle of soda. The crowd watches him carefully in silence until he shouts "Can you feel it?" Suddenly, everyone starts to dance, and the military march turns into a party.

Click this link to watch the Sprite ad on YouTube.

Kim has been a favorite sources of jokes or parodies internationally. He was also introduced as "Super Kim," in a video--based on the Super Mario series of games--criticizing the North Korean government.

Reposted From ANN (Asian News Network)

A Repost From SPOT

Ferdinand Marcos' Australian daughter claims she was axed from reality show after revealing her father's identity

SPOT – Thu, Mar 31, 2011 11:03 AM PHT

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(SPOT.ph) Ferdinand Marcos' Australian daughter Analisa Hegyesi, 40, has claimed that she was axed from the Australian home makeover reality show The Renovators after she told the producers her father's identity last week, reports PEP.ph.

The interior designer told The Telegraph that she made it to the final cut after months of auditioning only to be removed after revealing her father was Marcos. "The thing is that I've had to juggle my business and clients to make time for the show after I was asked to audition and then chosen from hundreds of people around Australia."

She added, "I was chosen on my own merits but then I was dropped due to aspects of my private life which I will not discuss... I was told there was a fear, too, attention would be paid to me and not the show and other contestants."

The Telegraph cited an insider at the production company Shine Australia who said the staff thought it was harsh and unfair to axe Hegyesi for the "the sins of her father." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Channel 10, which will air The Renovators, said Hegyesi's removal was routine and that they have not finalized the cast.

Hegyesi was born to former Sydney swimwear and Playboy model Evelin Hegyesi, who was involved with Marcos in the 1970s, when the late strongman already had three children with wife Imelda. The model was 19 when she met Marcos, according to PEP.ph.

In 2004, Hegyesi and her mother were accused of having ties to Marcos' secret bank accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein that supposedly contained ill-gotten wealth, reports PEP.ph.

Reposted From SPOT

A Repost From Jason Gutierrez of AFP News

Despair as China executes three Filipinos

By Jason Gutierrez | AFP News – Wed, Mar 30, 2011 1:11 PM PHT

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Chinese authorities executed three Filipino drug mules on Wednesday, triggering condemnation in the Catholic Philippines and despair for relatives who witnessed their final moments.

"I just want to inform you that our three compatriots have been executed," Vice President Jejomar Binay announced over local radio, although there being no public announcement from the Chinese government.

"It is a sad day for all of us. Until the last moment, we did everything we could to save the three."

The three -- Ramon Credo, 42, Sally Villanueva, 32, and Elizabeth Batain, 38 -- were arrested separately in China in 2008 for smuggling heroin and sentenced to death.

The Philippine government had made repeated appeals in recent months to spare the lives of the trio, including by sending Binay to Beijing on a mission to have their sentences commuted to life in jail.

But the Chinese government insisted there would be no favours for the trio, and that their cases would be dealt with according to domestic laws.

The three were allowed to meet their relatives for an hour before they were put to death through lethal injection, in what turned out to be devastatingly emotional encounters.

"She was crying, she was partly incoherent. She had a lot of things to say," said Jason Ordinario, a brother of Villanueva who along with another sister and their parents met her as the final verdict was read in a court in Xiamen city.

"She asked us to take care of her children and make sure they can finish studies," he told DZBB radio from China.

Villanueva's relatives said she did not know that she was due to be executed on Wednesday, and was surprised to see her family there.

"I was the first one to see her, we locked eyes and we both cried. She said what are you doing here, why are you all crying, am I going to die," younger sister Mylene said on DZBB.

"She tried to console us. She said, it's okay. I have accepted my fate. I will be your angel and watch over you."

Villaneuva's children, aged 12 and nine, were not able to see or talk with their mother before she was killed. They did not travel to China and local authorities would not allow mobile phones into the meeting room.

Amnesty International as well as the influential Roman Catholic church swiftly condemned the executions, and accused the Philippine President Benigno Aquino's government of not doing enough to save the three.

"We strongly condemn the executions of the three Filipinos," Amnesty's Philippine representative, Aurora Parong, told AFP.

"The Philippines should have taken a stronger action, and it is now its moral duty to lead a campaign against death penalty in Asia."

Roman Catholic bishops asked the public to pray for the eternal repose of the three.

"We had knocked on the doors of heaven to pray for what turned out to be an impossible wish," Edwin Corros, executive secretary of church's commission for the pastoral care of migrants, told AFP.

"We call on China to abolish death penalty. We believe no one has the right to take a human life."

The Philippine government insisted it did all it could to save the lives of the three.

It argued the trio, who are among 227 Filipinos jailed in China for drug offences, were from poor families and had been duped by international crime syndicates into becoming drug couriers.

Aside from his visit to Beijing, Binay sent a letter this week to Chinese President Hu Jintao in a last-ditch appeal.

In December, the Philippines also skipped the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo for jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in a move Aquino said was aimed at saving condemned Filipinos in China.

Reposted From Jason Gutierrez of AFP News

A Repost From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

FIRST READ ON PEP: Kim Chiu reveals she has a "secret" crush

PEP – Tue, Mar 29, 2011 10:34 PM PHT

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  FIRST READ ON PEP: Kim Chiu reveals she has a "secret" crush

"It's super light. Parang happy feeling and parang wala namang problema. I'm so very happy ngayon," says Kim Chiu about the current state of her life.

Light was the key word at the launch of her latest endorsement Olay Natural White earlier today, March 29, at the activity area of SM Makati.

And when the topic shifted to her love life, she quipped, "Sobrang light. Light na sa lahat ng light," in between giggles.

Then, turning a bit serious, the 20-year-old celebrity said she's fine with the way things are. "Kahit walang love life, happy naman ako kasi mahal ko naman yung trabaho ko, yung pamilya ko, and yung pangarap ko."

But zero love life doesn't equate to no boys at all. In fact, the chinita beauty is presently being linked to not one but four guys.

There's Simon Atkins, who tweeted his intention to meet Kim just before Valentine's Day. (CLICK HERE to read story.)

"Friends pa rin," was the latest update.

But more than a month after the Green Archer's Twitter post became the talk of the town, the two haven't met. "Hindi ko pa siya nakikita actually hanggang ngayon," Kim revealed nonchalantly.

They talk, but not on a regular basis: "Hindi naman po lagi...minsan lang."

Did he already ask her out?

"Ako? Hindi pa! Hindi pa bilang busy naman. Kung magmi-meet naman, magmi-meet talaga. Kung hindi, hindi, wala."

What if he invites her to a date?

Giggling in a childlike manner, she answered, "E, di hanapin niya ako."

Renz Fernandez's name was mentioned. He was the Star Magic talent's screen partner in the last episode of You Song presents Kim, and openly admired Kim's beauty and patience.

In his most recent interview, he was quoted as saying, "Madalas ko nga makalimutan yung mga linya ko dahil sa sobrang ganda niya." (CLICK HERE to read story.)

Kim's candid reaction, "May ganun?"

The first winner of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 1 added, "Si Renz, okay naman siya katrabaho, e. Kahit first time niya yung pag-a-acting sa Your Song, uhm, para namang gusto niya talagang umarte. Kung magwo-workshop pa siya, mas gagaling pa siya kasi may acting na siya, e. Konting push pa, gagaling pa siya, siyempre daddy niya si Rudy Fernandez, si Lorna Tolentino mommy niya, so, why not?"

Does she see it as a promising romance?

"Hindi ko alam... Naku, huwag muna!" she exclaimed. "Pero ano...Pero friends muna kami, and hindi pa naman kami masyadong nag-uusap o masyadong nagkakakilala and everything."

How about Enchong Dee?

"Hindi!" was her quick retort. "Kami ni Enchong, super friends naman kami. And pag hindi kami nagkikita, nagkakausap kami ng mga nangyayari sa buhay namin, ganun lang, Simpleng bagay lang."

Lastly, the name of her ex-boyfriend Gerald Anderson was brought up. She smiled while relating that they talk from time to time.

"Minsan, nag-uusap. Minsan nagkikita pero hindi lang everyday. Hindi lang parati," was the status of Kim's friendship with her former reel-and-real love.

THE THINGS THAT MAKE HER HAPPY. Speaking of Gerald, she said she's "masaya" for the success of the former's Catch Me...I'm in Love movie with Sarah Geronimo.

In a tone that sounded sincere, she told the reporters, "Nakaka-proud para kay Gerald and siyempre kay Sarah na successful yung movie nila, sinuportahan ng mga tao...And given naman yun...Gerald-Sarah, blockbuster naman talaga and yung story nila, maganda din so ayun."

When asked about the plans for their love team's comeback, she simply said, "Wala pa po."

Another cause of her happiness these days is her recent achievement: Graduating from high school.

She beamed, "Masaya ako at natapos ko yung buong high school ko. E, I'm so very proud na na-accomplish ko yun. Siyempre, ang education, habang buhay mong iti-treasure 'yan, e. Parang habang buhay mong ipagmamalaki kung graduate ka, nakapagtapos ka, so, importante talaga."

And she went on encouraging the youths not to neglect their studies:

"Sa lahat na gustong grumaduate din and gustong mag-aral, may paraan naman pag gusto, pag hindi [ay] hindi. Ganun lang naman yun, e. Pero yun, sayang naman yung diploma, and yun, kahit papa'no may maipagmamalaki ako higit sa pag-aartista..."

Pursuing college is not yet part of her plans, Kim shook her head, "Hindi ko pa po alam, e..."

That's the same answer she gave when asked about her upcoming movie project. Her supposed film with Piolo Pascual was shelved. According to her, "May iba siyang movie na gagawin, so wala pa..."

But if she will have her way, who among the Kapamilya actors would she choose as her leading man?

Kim's response: "Uhm, hindi ko pa alam, e. Hindi naman ako namimili ng mga katrabaho basta lang maganda yung kuwento and maganda yung pagkakabuo ng story, bakit naman hindi?"

Lastly, "what makes you happy?

Her eyes lit up as she said, "Pag nalaman kong maraming nagmamahal sa akin, nagmamalasakit sa 'kin, masaya na ako dun."

At present, there's love aplenty from "mga kaibigan ko, mga pamilya ko..." And nothing serious yet as far as the boys' department is concerned.

But giggling for the third time, she admitted to having a crush, "Meron, siyempre!!!"

And who is her crush?

She playfully replied, "Secret, akin na lang yun."

Reposted From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

A Repost From Gerry Plaza of OMG! Philippines News Blog

DSWD protests ‘Willing Willie’ over dancing 6-year-old

By Gerry Plaza | omg! Philippines News Blog – 14 hours ago

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(UPDATE 5) Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman wrote on Monday, March 28, a letter of protest to TV5 management, headed by its chairman Manny Pangilinan, over another controversy involving "Willing Willie" host Willie Revillame.

Soliman had appealed to the network not to allow children to endure ridicule and embarrassment on national television after its early evening program allowed a six-year-old boy named Jan-Jan Estrada to perform dance moves akin to male erotic dancing. During the routine, Jan-Jan was crying amid laughs from the audience and strikingly from Revillame himself.

In an e-mail to Yahoo! OMG! Philippines, Soliman said: "I will write a letter of protest to Channel 5 (and) to Mr. Manny Pangilinan regarding the case and we should all write him and demand that children should not be part of the show. They should not be used as instrument for enjoyment and to be laughed at. I will send the communication today."

At one point during Jan-Jan's performance, Revillame said: "Umiiyak pa yan…Ngayon pa sa hirap ng buhay ng tao…si Jan Jan siyempre sasayaw bilang macho dancer sa edad na yan para sa kanyang mahal na pamilya…pinahanga mo ako Jan Jan."

"Lumuluha yan…parang sa pelikulang 'Burlesk Queen'…umiiyak na ganoon…ginagawa para sa pamilya. Masama ang loob pero kailangan kong gawin para sa mahal sa buhay," he added.

The show's spinner then repeated the song the child had danced to five times after, apparently forcing the sobbing child to repeat his "macho dancing," even in his final appearance on a rising platform on stage.

DSWD statement

A few hours after her e-mail, Soliman sent the protest letter to TV5 which was addressed to Pangilinan. In this regard, the DSWD sent Yahoo! OMG! Philippines its official statement:

"The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) condemns the emotional abuse and humiliation bestowed on a six-year-old child contestant, during the March 12, 2011 episode of the Willing Willie show aired on TV5.

The sequence shows the boy gyrating in a distasteful manner with the audience, including the host (Willie Revillame), manifesting no evidence of concern or alarm for the child. This incident is clearly a violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and a blatant manifestation of child abuse. The term “child abuse” includes the following acts: “psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment,” and “any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human being.”

Putting pressure on children to do acts such as mimicking adult sexy dances, in exchange for a certain amount of money, and at the expense of being laughed at and ridiculed by hundreds of people, clearly traumatizes the child. This is a clear form of child abuse and will not be tolerated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Department has already communicated to ABC Development Communication Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan asking that children should not be allowed to appear in TV shows like Willing Willie, especially those capitalizing on poverty as a source of immediate entertainment. In the formal communication with Mr. Pangilinan, the Department has also rebuked the insensitive actions and remarks of Mr. Revillame.

On a final note, the Department is also conducting its own investigation on the said incident and if warranted under the circumstances, legal action will be taken against the TV 5 management and other concerned parties in violation of RA 7610. The necessary counseling will also be awarded to the child and his parents, to prevent further trauma and abuse due to the media hype brought about by this saddening incident."

MTRCB action

For its part, the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has begun to act on complaints regarding the "Willing Willie" episode. In a brief published on its website, the MTRCB said, "The Board received numerous complaints about the 12 March 2011 episode of “Willing Willie” aired over Kapatid Network TV5 where a six-year old boy contestant was shown to be gyrating and impersonating the body movements of a macho dancer.

In accordance with the Board’s duty to enforce the Constitutional mandate that the State shall defend the rights of children from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development, the Board has referred the matter to the Hearing and Adjudication Committee for appropriate disposition.

The Board further emphasizes that whenever children are featured in television programs, producers are mandated to observe legal standards stipulated in R.A. 7160 to avoid “psychological abuse xxx cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment” and “any act by deeds and words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child.”

Meanwhile, TV5 Head of Creative and TV Entertainment Perci Intalan told Yahoo! OMG! Philippines that the network and "Willing Willie" producer Wil Productions are aware of the issue and the comments of the public regarding the matter and are currently in discussions on appropriate action.

Reposted From Gerry Plaza of OMG! Philippine News Blog

A Repost From Jesse Edep of GMA News

PHL business leaders favor Ombudsman impeachment

JESSE EDEP, GMA News

03/27/2011 | 11:24 AM

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The impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will boost investor confidence in the Philippines, the Makati Business Club said over the weekend, noting that the democratic system in the country is truly working.

"The impeachment cases of the Ombudsman will eventually bring back the confidence of businessmen in the country... and the justice system," said Ramon del Rosario, chairman of the group which consists of the country's business leaders.

He said the Ombudsman will have her chance to defend herself at the Senate and the people will no longer be groping in the dark.

On March 21, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Gutierrez. By May, the Senate will start hearing the cases against her.

Gutierrez has repeatedly denied the charges against her. She said "dark politics" ruled the House of Representatives when the lawmakers voted to impeach her.

“From the start, I received no fair treatment from the House Justice Committee, more so from its chairman, Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr., whose father is facing a graft charge filed by my office with the Sandiganbayan. He himself is being investigated for some allegations of corruption," Gutierrez said at a press briefing a day after the House voted for her impeachment.

Justice without delay

Critical of Gutierrez, the business club is supporting the House justice committee's report calling for the impeachment.

"The Filipino people will be able to exact accountability from a public official who has long frustrated the people's desire for justice and unapologetically held on to her position despite her office's indefensibly poor track record in prosecuting corrupt public officials," the group said.

Del Rosario said the group is calling on the Senate to dispense justice without delay.

"The ball is now in the Senate’s court. We believe in the strength of the evidence pointing to the Ombudsman’s betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution," he said.

"All we ask is that the honorable members of the Senate conduct the impeachment trial without undue delay, and that the greater interest of the Filipino people and the restoration of their trust in our justice system remain uppermost in the minds of our senators as they consider the merits of the cases against the Ombudsman," he continued.

Meanwhile, Donald Dee, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the group will eagerly follow the impeachment proceedings of Gutierrez. "We will just wait where the proceedings at the Senate will head to," he said.

As the impeachment cases against the Ombudsman are already in the Senate, Dee said "constitutional process in the country is certainly working."

"Following constitutional process and democratic system are important to businessmen. It gives them confidence to do business in the Philippines," he added.

Edgardo Lacson, president of Employers Confederation of the Philippines, also said the group respects the decision of the Lower House.

The employers’ association takes no sides on the impeachment of Gutierrez, he clarified, saying “what is important is that the Philippine democracy is successfully working."

Merci should defend herself

“Let the impeachment process unfold. Let Merci prove her innocence. We will see how her telenovela becomes educational and instructive [to] people," Lacson added.

“Matagal na siyang laman ng diyario at telebisyon (It has been a while since she’s in the newspapers and television). It is high time to defend herself," Jesus Arranza, president of Federation of Philippine Industries.

Having her go through the impeachment process is a “good exercise" rather than people judge her wrongly, Arranza also said.

Gutierrez is accused of sitting on several corruption cases against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, including the ZTE-NBN, the Euro Generals, and the and fertilizer fund scam.

Mrs. Arroyo’s husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and Gutierrez were batch-mates at the Ateneo Law School. — VS/KBK, GMA News

Reposted From Jesse Edep of GMA News