MANILA, Philippines - Senator Loren Legarda this week urged the anti-cyber crime units of the government to shut down the website thepinoytube.com for providing an unrestricted access to pornographic materials of Filipino women and children.
Legarda said that a complaint from a concerned citizen alerted her office about the website serving as a repository of lewd materials similar to boybastos.com.
The senator had caused the closing down of boybastos.com, whom she described as “by far, the filthiest Internet site we’ve come across."
Like boybastos.com, access to thepinoytube.com, especially by minors, should be stopped by the government, Legarda said.
The lawmaker asked the cyber crime divisions of the National Bureau of Investigation and the police, as well as the Inter-Agency Against Trafficking in Persons Act to find ways to close down thepinoytube.com.
IACT is the agency tasked to enforce the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and other laws against the prostitution, white slavery and sexual exploitation of women and children.
While thepinoytube.com requires those who wish to access its pornographic materials to register first and attest to being an adult, Legarda said even minors can easily register and become a member of the website.
Legarda said cybersex operators are behind the proliferation of lewd websites to lure those who become addicted to pornography towards their linked paid services.
“The degradation and corruption of women and children by cyber vultures have prompted me to author Senate Bill 1375, a proposed Anti-Computer Pornography Act," said Legarda.
“The passage of this bill into law is, therefore, an urgent matter because we have to protect our children from indecent and immoral materials," she said.
If passed into law, the bill would make it illegal for any computer facility and Internet website operator to transmit, offer or attempt to send any communication that contains indecent material to a person under 18 years of age.
Under Legarda’s bill, “indecent materials" would refer to “obscene literature or indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts, or shows, whether live or in film."
They include materials that glorify criminals or condone crimes; serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market of violence, lust or pornography; offend any race or religion; tend to abet traffic in and use of illicit drugs; and are contrary to law, public order, morals, good customs, established policies, lawful order, decrees and edicts.
Legarda said that even traditional fronts of prostitution, like massage parlors, have become technology savvy in engaging in the oldest profession in the world. She explained that such establishments are now running websites where their prospective customers can look and avail of the services of the “models" online.
“They can choose and pay online and then go to the high-class prostitution dens for the deed. Clearly, our laws and law enforcers must be continuously updated on how to combat crimes as they evolve," she said.
An internet check showed that boybastos.com remains close though those accessing its domain name are linked to the blog site of the operator of the boybastos.com website.
A concerned citizen emailed the office of Senator Legarda to complain that thepinoytube.com is hosting all kinds of pornographic materials, including those victimizing minors.
“Madam senator, I want to bring to your attention a website I stumbled upon, showing sex videos of Filipino kids obviously catering to pedophiles," wrote the complainant in the vernacular.
“I was alarmed and scandalized by what I saw at thepinoytube.com, including a lewd video of a girl who was even in primary school uniforms. I am hoping that you will be able to have this website closed down." - Pinoypress.net
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
RP elected vice chair of UN disarmament body
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines was elected vice chairman of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC), the Philippine Mission to the United Nations reported Monday.
Philippine ambassador to the UN Hilario Davide Jr said the Philippines was elected by acclamation last March 18 during the organizational meeting of the Commission.
"The election of the Philippines to the Vice Chairmanship of this important UN body highlights the confidence that the global community places in the country's leadership on the crucial and timely issue of disarmament," Davide said in a statement posted Monday night on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
Also, Davide said the disarmament expert of the Philippine Mission, Third Secretary Raphael Hermoso, has been designated to sit as vice chair during the 2008 UNDC Session from April 7 to 24 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Davide said the election comes nine years after the Philippines last occupied the position of vice chairman of the Commission, a subsidiary of the UN General Assembly that makes recommendations on issues related to disarmament.
He said the Philippines as vice chairman will help steer discussions and provide guidance for member states to reach consensus on issues such as nuclear and conventional weapons and on their reduction and/or destruction.
Other countries elected to official positions for the 2008 UNDC meeting include the Netherlands as chair and Benin, Cameroon, France, Peru and Uzbekistan as vice chairmen.
The UNDC was reestablished at the First Special Session of die General Assembly devoted to Disarmament in 1978 to succeed the earlier Disarmament Commission, which ceased to convene after 1965.
It is made up of all 192 member states of the United Nations and holds its substantive yearly sessions in New York for three weeks.
Since it was reestablished, the Disarmament Commission has dealt with disarmament related questions, namely nuclear and conventional, and submitted guidelines on confidence-building measures and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security and objective information on military.
Philippine ambassador to the UN Hilario Davide Jr said the Philippines was elected by acclamation last March 18 during the organizational meeting of the Commission.
"The election of the Philippines to the Vice Chairmanship of this important UN body highlights the confidence that the global community places in the country's leadership on the crucial and timely issue of disarmament," Davide said in a statement posted Monday night on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
Also, Davide said the disarmament expert of the Philippine Mission, Third Secretary Raphael Hermoso, has been designated to sit as vice chair during the 2008 UNDC Session from April 7 to 24 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Davide said the election comes nine years after the Philippines last occupied the position of vice chairman of the Commission, a subsidiary of the UN General Assembly that makes recommendations on issues related to disarmament.
He said the Philippines as vice chairman will help steer discussions and provide guidance for member states to reach consensus on issues such as nuclear and conventional weapons and on their reduction and/or destruction.
Other countries elected to official positions for the 2008 UNDC meeting include the Netherlands as chair and Benin, Cameroon, France, Peru and Uzbekistan as vice chairmen.
The UNDC was reestablished at the First Special Session of die General Assembly devoted to Disarmament in 1978 to succeed the earlier Disarmament Commission, which ceased to convene after 1965.
It is made up of all 192 member states of the United Nations and holds its substantive yearly sessions in New York for three weeks.
Since it was reestablished, the Disarmament Commission has dealt with disarmament related questions, namely nuclear and conventional, and submitted guidelines on confidence-building measures and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security and objective information on military.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Selling sex in Sweden is legal, but buying isn't
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Selling sex is not illegal in Sweden, but buying is — a radical approach to prostitution that faced ridicule when it was introduced nine years ago.
Now, while Americans are preoccupied with the downfall of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer in a prostitution scandal, some countries are considering emulating the Swedish model, which prosecutes the client but views the prostitute as an exploited victim.
Officials say the changed approach has reduced the demand for prostitutes and reshaped attitudes toward the sex trade.
"We don't have a problem with prostitutes. We have a problem with men who buy sex," said Kajsa Wahlberg, of the human trafficking unit at Sweden's national police board.
She said foreign law enforcement officials and politicians are coming to Sweden in droves to learn more about its 1999 law.
On Friday, Wahlberg was meeting with police officials from the Netherlands, where prostitution is legal but where authorities have closed some brothels in a crackdown on organized crime in Amsterdam's red light district.
In January, a high-level British delegation came to study the Swedish approach as Britain reviews its own prostitution laws, which prohibit soliciting and loitering for sex, but not buying sex.
Norway's government plans to propose a Swedish-style prostitution law after Easter.
Under Sweden's so-called "Sex Purchase Law," paying for sex is punished by fines or up to six months in prison, plus the humiliation of public exposure. A handful of Swedish judges have been caught up in prostitution scandals, including a Supreme Court justice who was fined in 2005 after admitting to paying for sex with a young man.
Pimps and brothel keepers are also prosecuted, but not prostitutes, because they are viewed as victims, treated as commodities in the sex trade.
While authorities judge the new system a success, critics question whether it has really reduced prostitution or merely pushed it off the streets into more isolated and dangerous surroundings. Wahlberg concedes that accurate statistics are hard to obtain, but estimates the number of prostitutes in Sweden dropped 40 percent from 2,500 in 1998 to 1,500 in 2003.
She says police know from eavesdropping on human trafficking rings that Sweden is considered bad business because of its tough stance.
"They are calculating profits, costs and marketing and the risk of getting caught," Wahlberg said. "We're trying to create a bad market for these activities."
Conscious of the international interest, Sweden's government is planning a thorough review of the effects of the law, expected to be ready next year.
Petra Ostergren, a writer who has studied prostitution for a decade, does not think it has worked well.
"Sex purchases have not decreased, many young women sell sex temporarily over the Internet to fund university studies," she said.
A 46-year-old escort who is a vocal opponent of the law said it had left prostitutes more vulnerable to violence. "If a sex worker seeks to establish contact with a client on the street, and police are waiting around the corner, she's going to jump into the car without making a security assessment," she said.
The mother of two, known to the public by the pseudonym Isabella Lund, said authorities never consulted sex workers on the change.
The Swedish law took effect at a time when many European countries were moving in another direction. Neighboring Denmark, for example, decriminalized prostitution in 1999 after quietly tolerating it for two decades.
Most European countries prohibit pimping and running brothels, but tolerate prostitution and penalize neither prostitutes nor clients. Brothels are legal in Holland and Germany provided they have business licenses.
Marianne Eriksson said she was ridiculed by fellow lawmakers when she first proposed the change in the European Parliament in 1997.
"To them it was the most absurd thing they ever heard. Many of them roared with laughter," recalled Eriksson, who has since left Europe's elected multinational legislature to chair the Stockholm branch of the opposition Left Party.
Today, she said, she feels the Swedish model has "a very strong response" in other European countries, even if many of them ultimately decide against adopting it.
The view of prostitution as a legacy of a societal order that subordinates women to men is universally accepted among major political parties in gender-conscious Sweden.
The urge to set things right led Claes Borgstrom, Sweden's equality ombudsman, to propose that the country boycott the 2006 soccer World Cup in Germany, because of an expected surge in prostitution during the monthlong tournament. The idea was immediately rejected by the Swedish soccer federation. to view chika
Now, while Americans are preoccupied with the downfall of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer in a prostitution scandal, some countries are considering emulating the Swedish model, which prosecutes the client but views the prostitute as an exploited victim.
Officials say the changed approach has reduced the demand for prostitutes and reshaped attitudes toward the sex trade.
"We don't have a problem with prostitutes. We have a problem with men who buy sex," said Kajsa Wahlberg, of the human trafficking unit at Sweden's national police board.
She said foreign law enforcement officials and politicians are coming to Sweden in droves to learn more about its 1999 law.
On Friday, Wahlberg was meeting with police officials from the Netherlands, where prostitution is legal but where authorities have closed some brothels in a crackdown on organized crime in Amsterdam's red light district.
In January, a high-level British delegation came to study the Swedish approach as Britain reviews its own prostitution laws, which prohibit soliciting and loitering for sex, but not buying sex.
Norway's government plans to propose a Swedish-style prostitution law after Easter.
Under Sweden's so-called "Sex Purchase Law," paying for sex is punished by fines or up to six months in prison, plus the humiliation of public exposure. A handful of Swedish judges have been caught up in prostitution scandals, including a Supreme Court justice who was fined in 2005 after admitting to paying for sex with a young man.
Pimps and brothel keepers are also prosecuted, but not prostitutes, because they are viewed as victims, treated as commodities in the sex trade.
While authorities judge the new system a success, critics question whether it has really reduced prostitution or merely pushed it off the streets into more isolated and dangerous surroundings. Wahlberg concedes that accurate statistics are hard to obtain, but estimates the number of prostitutes in Sweden dropped 40 percent from 2,500 in 1998 to 1,500 in 2003.
She says police know from eavesdropping on human trafficking rings that Sweden is considered bad business because of its tough stance.
"They are calculating profits, costs and marketing and the risk of getting caught," Wahlberg said. "We're trying to create a bad market for these activities."
Conscious of the international interest, Sweden's government is planning a thorough review of the effects of the law, expected to be ready next year.
Petra Ostergren, a writer who has studied prostitution for a decade, does not think it has worked well.
"Sex purchases have not decreased, many young women sell sex temporarily over the Internet to fund university studies," she said.
A 46-year-old escort who is a vocal opponent of the law said it had left prostitutes more vulnerable to violence. "If a sex worker seeks to establish contact with a client on the street, and police are waiting around the corner, she's going to jump into the car without making a security assessment," she said.
The mother of two, known to the public by the pseudonym Isabella Lund, said authorities never consulted sex workers on the change.
The Swedish law took effect at a time when many European countries were moving in another direction. Neighboring Denmark, for example, decriminalized prostitution in 1999 after quietly tolerating it for two decades.
Most European countries prohibit pimping and running brothels, but tolerate prostitution and penalize neither prostitutes nor clients. Brothels are legal in Holland and Germany provided they have business licenses.
Marianne Eriksson said she was ridiculed by fellow lawmakers when she first proposed the change in the European Parliament in 1997.
"To them it was the most absurd thing they ever heard. Many of them roared with laughter," recalled Eriksson, who has since left Europe's elected multinational legislature to chair the Stockholm branch of the opposition Left Party.
Today, she said, she feels the Swedish model has "a very strong response" in other European countries, even if many of them ultimately decide against adopting it.
The view of prostitution as a legacy of a societal order that subordinates women to men is universally accepted among major political parties in gender-conscious Sweden.
The urge to set things right led Claes Borgstrom, Sweden's equality ombudsman, to propose that the country boycott the 2006 soccer World Cup in Germany, because of an expected surge in prostitution during the monthlong tournament. The idea was immediately rejected by the Swedish soccer federation. to view chika
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Thousands of Catholics attend first mass at Qatari church
Agence France-Presse
DOHA - Thousands of Christians took part on Saturday in the first mass at Qatar's only church, opened this week despite threats from Islamists.
Vatican envoy Cardinal Ivan Dias presided over the eucharist attended by around 15,000 worshippers at Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic church in Doha, thanking "God and Qatar for this great gift."
The church, which has no bells or crosses on its exterior, opened on Friday ahead of western Christianity's celebration of Easter, which this year falls on March 23. It is the first of five to be constructed in the gas-rich Gulf state.
From early morning, Catholics began arriving at the church, which accommodates around 5,000. Big screens were erected in the grounds to allow the overflow to follow the mass, celebrated during the consecration of the building.
The mass was conducted in English, but prayers were also said in Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog, Spanish and French in honour of the many nationalities that would be worshipping in the church.
Dozens of police were deployed around the church, which cost some 20 million dollars (13 million euros), and female officers searched the handbags of women worshippers.
Western embassies, particularly from the United States and Britain warned nationals living in Qatar to be extra vigilant after an Islamic militants on the Internet made threats linked to the opening of the church.
The US embassy on Thursday released a warning that the new church might be targeted.
"Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons and target both official and private interests. Examples of such targets include ... the new Christian Church complex in Doha," it said.
Worshippers said they were not concerned by the threats and were delighted to attend the "historic day."
"It is a day without precedent. I am very happy. The threats were made but I didn't pay them much attention. I trust the country's authorities," Filipino Catholic Shato Mawude told AFP.
Fellow Filipino Ariel Almyede added: "We are believers and we are not afraid ... This church is a sign of a possible dialogue between the different faiths."
Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah added: "The church sends a positive message to the world.
"It is a strong message that will help Islam. At the moment we are enjoying the construction of mosques and Islamic centers in the West, so we must be fair" towards Christians in the region and allow them places of worship.
Qatar is a close ally of Washington and hosts the command headquarters for US forces in the Middle East.
Eventually, the Catholic church will be joined by others to be built by the Anglicans, the Coptic, Greek and Syrian Orthodox and India's Mar Thoma church.
Most Gulf Arab states have long allowed Christians to worship in churches. Saudi Arabia, which adheres to a rigorous doctrine of Islam known as Wahhabism and is home to Islam's holiest sites, bans all non-Muslim religious rituals and materials.
But the papal nuncio in the Gulf, Archbishop Paul-Munjed al-Hashem, said on the sidelines of the mass that talks had begun with Saudi Arabia to convince it to become the final Gulf Arab state to allow the building of churches.
He said "discussions are underway with Saudi Arabia to allow the construction of churches in the kingdom," adding that "we cannot forecast the outcome."
"There are around three or four million Christians in Saudi Arabia, and we hope they will have churches" in which to worship, he said.
He also expressed hope in the eventual establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Saudi Arabia and Oman, saying he expected an announcement soon on ties with Muscat
DOHA - Thousands of Christians took part on Saturday in the first mass at Qatar's only church, opened this week despite threats from Islamists.
Vatican envoy Cardinal Ivan Dias presided over the eucharist attended by around 15,000 worshippers at Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic church in Doha, thanking "God and Qatar for this great gift."
The church, which has no bells or crosses on its exterior, opened on Friday ahead of western Christianity's celebration of Easter, which this year falls on March 23. It is the first of five to be constructed in the gas-rich Gulf state.
From early morning, Catholics began arriving at the church, which accommodates around 5,000. Big screens were erected in the grounds to allow the overflow to follow the mass, celebrated during the consecration of the building.
The mass was conducted in English, but prayers were also said in Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog, Spanish and French in honour of the many nationalities that would be worshipping in the church.
Dozens of police were deployed around the church, which cost some 20 million dollars (13 million euros), and female officers searched the handbags of women worshippers.
Western embassies, particularly from the United States and Britain warned nationals living in Qatar to be extra vigilant after an Islamic militants on the Internet made threats linked to the opening of the church.
The US embassy on Thursday released a warning that the new church might be targeted.
"Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons and target both official and private interests. Examples of such targets include ... the new Christian Church complex in Doha," it said.
Worshippers said they were not concerned by the threats and were delighted to attend the "historic day."
"It is a day without precedent. I am very happy. The threats were made but I didn't pay them much attention. I trust the country's authorities," Filipino Catholic Shato Mawude told AFP.
Fellow Filipino Ariel Almyede added: "We are believers and we are not afraid ... This church is a sign of a possible dialogue between the different faiths."
Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah added: "The church sends a positive message to the world.
"It is a strong message that will help Islam. At the moment we are enjoying the construction of mosques and Islamic centers in the West, so we must be fair" towards Christians in the region and allow them places of worship.
Qatar is a close ally of Washington and hosts the command headquarters for US forces in the Middle East.
Eventually, the Catholic church will be joined by others to be built by the Anglicans, the Coptic, Greek and Syrian Orthodox and India's Mar Thoma church.
Most Gulf Arab states have long allowed Christians to worship in churches. Saudi Arabia, which adheres to a rigorous doctrine of Islam known as Wahhabism and is home to Islam's holiest sites, bans all non-Muslim religious rituals and materials.
But the papal nuncio in the Gulf, Archbishop Paul-Munjed al-Hashem, said on the sidelines of the mass that talks had begun with Saudi Arabia to convince it to become the final Gulf Arab state to allow the building of churches.
He said "discussions are underway with Saudi Arabia to allow the construction of churches in the kingdom," adding that "we cannot forecast the outcome."
"There are around three or four million Christians in Saudi Arabia, and we hope they will have churches" in which to worship, he said.
He also expressed hope in the eventual establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Saudi Arabia and Oman, saying he expected an announcement soon on ties with Muscat
A truly sporting treasure
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – There is no doubting the popularity of Manny Pacquiao at the world stage! No exaggeration that he is considered as the best pound-for-pound fighter nowadays. He brings a package of excitement to every bout that he fights.
But what caught my attention even during his third and final bout with Erik Morales is his calm demeanor.
Dati-rati si Manny ay halos lamunin ang kalaban sa gigil kahit na hindi pa sila sumasampa sa ring. Pero ngayon iba na ang tindig ni Manny. Naging malumanay sa pagdadala ng kanyang sarili lalo na pag malapit na ang laban.
For his upcoming fight with Jorge Solis, Manny is the consummate diplomat. Offering a smile and a firm handshake to an overwhelmed Solis, who at this point is just happy to get a shot at sharing the stage with today's most exciting fighter. (Manny even posed for a picture with Jorge and his brothers right after their press con at the Alamodome.)
I say this comes from a newfound confidence which is the result of all the hard work that has brought him this far in his boxing career.
The only thing that we could hope for is that he doesn't become overly confident with his status as the world's best fighter.
Militant group calls off rallies during Pacquiao title fight
MANILA, Philippines - Militant organizations did not schedule any protest action for Sunday to get a chance to watch the fight of Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao against Mexican pug Juan Manuel Marquez.
“No major protests are scheduled tomorrow as we join the Filipino people in wishing Manny Pacquiao the best in his fight against Marquez," Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes told GMANews.TV in a text message Saturday.
However, he assured that his group would pursue its “unfinished business" with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after Pacquiao’s fight.
Reyes said that in the “return bout" against Arroyo, Bayan expects a “political knockout" victory regardless of the number of rounds the fight might take.
The Pacquiao-Marquez fight will be held at Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on March 15 (March 16 in the Philippines).
The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it expects another zero-crime-rate day in the country as with past Panquiao fights.
On Thursday said authorities anticipate most Filipinos to be hooked to their television sets during the duration of Pacquiao's title bout versus Marquez.
"Just like in the past fights of Manny Pacquiao, we expect again a tremendous decrease in the crime volume this Sunday, or even to the extent of anticipating a zero-crime rate during the period of the fight," said Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome in a news briefing at Camp Crame Thursday.
"This goes to show that we Filipinos are really in support of a countryman who will again show the true form of a Filipino boxer," he added.
But Bartolome assured the public that despite this anticipated low crime incidence, the PNP will not let down its guard, especially against criminals who might also take advantage of the situation.
“No major protests are scheduled tomorrow as we join the Filipino people in wishing Manny Pacquiao the best in his fight against Marquez," Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes told GMANews.TV in a text message Saturday.
However, he assured that his group would pursue its “unfinished business" with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after Pacquiao’s fight.
Reyes said that in the “return bout" against Arroyo, Bayan expects a “political knockout" victory regardless of the number of rounds the fight might take.
The Pacquiao-Marquez fight will be held at Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on March 15 (March 16 in the Philippines).
The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it expects another zero-crime-rate day in the country as with past Panquiao fights.
On Thursday said authorities anticipate most Filipinos to be hooked to their television sets during the duration of Pacquiao's title bout versus Marquez.
"Just like in the past fights of Manny Pacquiao, we expect again a tremendous decrease in the crime volume this Sunday, or even to the extent of anticipating a zero-crime rate during the period of the fight," said Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome in a news briefing at Camp Crame Thursday.
"This goes to show that we Filipinos are really in support of a countryman who will again show the true form of a Filipino boxer," he added.
But Bartolome assured the public that despite this anticipated low crime incidence, the PNP will not let down its guard, especially against criminals who might also take advantage of the situation.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Italian archbishop reaches out to flock ... on YouTube
Agence France-Presse
ROME - An Italian archbishop has become an unexpected Internet star by answering questions from his flock each week on YouTube, getting more than 65,000 hits each time, the Milan diocese said Thursday.
Archbishop Dionigi Tettamanzi has used the season of Lent to post videos on the site of up to ten minutes at a time, answering theological dilemmas.
"The first video, put on line four weeks ago, was viewed more than 65,000 times, mainly by Italian Internet surfers but also in Austria and Spain," Tettamanzi's spokesman said.
The questions they have been asking mainly concern baptism, the diocese's theme for the Lent season leading up to Easter, Father Davide Milani said, adding that so far Cardinal Tettamanzi had received nearly 400 questions so far.
"Why are the baptized considered children of God? Aren't we all God's children?" one question read.
Another asked: "Did baptism exist during Jesus' time?"
Milani said the northern Italian diocese chose to launch the initiative on YouTube, "a generalist and secular site, so that a wide public could benefit from the religious teachings of Monsignor Tettamanzi."
The spokesman said the initiative had been "very favorably" received by the Italian Catholic Church, especially priests in the Milan diocese.
The videos, lasting nearly 10 minutes, have been put on line every Friday.
The last in the series will be posted this Friday ahead of Holy Week preceding Easter, which falls on March 23.
For Christians, Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and prayer before Easter, the most important date in the liturgical year marking Christ's resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion.
ROME - An Italian archbishop has become an unexpected Internet star by answering questions from his flock each week on YouTube, getting more than 65,000 hits each time, the Milan diocese said Thursday.
Archbishop Dionigi Tettamanzi has used the season of Lent to post videos on the site of up to ten minutes at a time, answering theological dilemmas.
"The first video, put on line four weeks ago, was viewed more than 65,000 times, mainly by Italian Internet surfers but also in Austria and Spain," Tettamanzi's spokesman said.
The questions they have been asking mainly concern baptism, the diocese's theme for the Lent season leading up to Easter, Father Davide Milani said, adding that so far Cardinal Tettamanzi had received nearly 400 questions so far.
"Why are the baptized considered children of God? Aren't we all God's children?" one question read.
Another asked: "Did baptism exist during Jesus' time?"
Milani said the northern Italian diocese chose to launch the initiative on YouTube, "a generalist and secular site, so that a wide public could benefit from the religious teachings of Monsignor Tettamanzi."
The spokesman said the initiative had been "very favorably" received by the Italian Catholic Church, especially priests in the Milan diocese.
The videos, lasting nearly 10 minutes, have been put on line every Friday.
The last in the series will be posted this Friday ahead of Holy Week preceding Easter, which falls on March 23.
For Christians, Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and prayer before Easter, the most important date in the liturgical year marking Christ's resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Reyes is local ZTE ‘facilitator’; Abalos was helping - witness
Article posted March 11, 2008 - 11:49 AM
(Updated 12:20 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - ZTE witness Leo San Miguel on Tuesday pointed to Ruben Reyes as the "facilitator" of the national broadband network project deal for China's ZTE Corp.
At the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the controversial $329.48-million NBN project, San Miguel - who denied direct knowledge on alleged kickbacks and commissions taken by several individuals from the project - said Reyes' group was ZTE's local contact for the NBN project.
"That's Mr. Ruben Reyes. He's supposed to do the job. Mr Ruben Reyes is the one that introduced me to ZTE through Gen. (Quirino) dela Torre," San Miguel said, adding that the Senate should not expect too much from his testimony since he dealt mostly on technical aspects of the project.
"My view on this whole thing is, in any business transaction, you need a Filipino group to help you and that's Ruben Reyes' group," he added.
Abalos
While he confirmed that resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos was talking with ZTE officials for the project, San Miguel said he does not know if Abalos was "brokering" the deal for the Chinese firm.
"Abalos... has been talking to ZTE as far as the information I'm getting," San Miguel said. When pressed if Abalos was brokering the NBN deal for ZTE, he said: "In that sense, I don't know but he (Abalos) has been helping."
In his testimony, San Miguel said it was "standard" that those helping ZTE get the deal would get commissions.
"Commissions are standard. If someone helps them sell, they will get commissions... (But) the commissions are discussed among themselves," San Miguel said.
"I am not aware of any kickbacks, 'lagayan'," he added.
Senator Francis Pangilinan explored this statement, asking San Miguel on the identity of those whom he said could be discussing about commissions. When further asked, San Miguel said that if somebody would get commissions from the project, it would be Reyes and "possibly" Abalos. - GMANews.TV
(Updated 12:20 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - ZTE witness Leo San Miguel on Tuesday pointed to Ruben Reyes as the "facilitator" of the national broadband network project deal for China's ZTE Corp.
At the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the controversial $329.48-million NBN project, San Miguel - who denied direct knowledge on alleged kickbacks and commissions taken by several individuals from the project - said Reyes' group was ZTE's local contact for the NBN project.
"That's Mr. Ruben Reyes. He's supposed to do the job. Mr Ruben Reyes is the one that introduced me to ZTE through Gen. (Quirino) dela Torre," San Miguel said, adding that the Senate should not expect too much from his testimony since he dealt mostly on technical aspects of the project.
"My view on this whole thing is, in any business transaction, you need a Filipino group to help you and that's Ruben Reyes' group," he added.
Abalos
While he confirmed that resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos was talking with ZTE officials for the project, San Miguel said he does not know if Abalos was "brokering" the deal for the Chinese firm.
"Abalos... has been talking to ZTE as far as the information I'm getting," San Miguel said. When pressed if Abalos was brokering the NBN deal for ZTE, he said: "In that sense, I don't know but he (Abalos) has been helping."
In his testimony, San Miguel said it was "standard" that those helping ZTE get the deal would get commissions.
"Commissions are standard. If someone helps them sell, they will get commissions... (But) the commissions are discussed among themselves," San Miguel said.
"I am not aware of any kickbacks, 'lagayan'," he added.
Senator Francis Pangilinan explored this statement, asking San Miguel on the identity of those whom he said could be discussing about commissions. When further asked, San Miguel said that if somebody would get commissions from the project, it would be Reyes and "possibly" Abalos. - GMANews.TV
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Oil prices steady at mid-$104 after surge to record high
Article posted March 06, 2008 - 12:32 PM
SINGAPORE - Oil prices steadied Thursday after rising to a trading record near $105 a barrel after a surprising drop in US crude oil supplies.
Also supporting oil prices were OPEC's decision to hold its output steady, an escalating crisis involving three oil-producing South American nations, and as the US dollar sank to another record low against the euro.
"The primary factor causing the surge in oil prices is the surprising drawdown in crude inventories, which caused traders to really react quite dramatically," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.
Most analysts had expected the US Energy Department's Energy Information Administration to report oil stocks rose last week for the eighth straight time. Instead, the stocks fell 3.1 million barrels.
In Vienna, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said Wednesday it would hold production levels steady, at least for now. OPEC ministers cited falling demand in announcing their decision to hold production steady.
The EIA report and OPEC announcement fed a new frenzy of investing in oil futures, which have risen to new inflation-adjusted records this week as the falling dollar drew investors to the market.
Light, sweet crude for April delivery slipped 12 cents to $104.40 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Singapore.
The contract jumped $5 to settle at a record $104.52 a barrel on Wednesday and later rose to $104.95 in post-settlement electronic trading.
Earlier this week, oil prices broke the previous inflation-adjusted price record of $103.76, set in 1980 during the Iran hostage crisis.
"Five dollars is an incredible gain," Shum said. "The overall oil market fundamentals are supportive of strong oil prices but not at this level, above $100. I would expect some profit taking to put a temporary halt to this rather large surge in pricing."
Analysts noted that US oil inventories are at historic highs despite last week's decline in crude supplies. Meanwhile, demand for gasoline is falling, and several forecasters have cut their oil demand growth predictions for this year.
Other aspects of the EIA's inventory report were roughly in line with expectations. Gasoline supplies grew by 1.7 million barrels last week, more than the 900,000 barrels analysts expected, and are at record levels.
"The traders focus on the crude oil drawdown but they did not pay as much attention to the continuing build in gasoline inventories," Shum said. "Gasoline inventories are way above the five year historical average. It's an indication of a demand slowdown in the US."
On the other hand, inventories of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, fell by 2.4 million barrels, more than the expected 1.9 million barrel decline. Distillates stocks as of Feb. 29 were nearly 10 million barrels less than they were at the end of January.
Traders also worried about the escalating of tensions between oil producing countries in Latin America. Colombia's weekend attack on leftist rebels hiding in Ecuadorean territory has sparked a growing crisis as Venezuela moved tanks and soldiers to the Colombian border Wednesday. Ecuador said Monday it had sent 3,200 soldiers to its border with Colombia.
In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures fell 0.39 cent to $2.9392 a gallon (3.8 liters) while gasoline prices were a tad lower at $2.642 a gallon. Natural gas futures added 5.5 cents to $9.796 per 1,000 cubic feet.
In London, Brent crude fell 22 cents to $101.42 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. - AP
SINGAPORE - Oil prices steadied Thursday after rising to a trading record near $105 a barrel after a surprising drop in US crude oil supplies.
Also supporting oil prices were OPEC's decision to hold its output steady, an escalating crisis involving three oil-producing South American nations, and as the US dollar sank to another record low against the euro.
"The primary factor causing the surge in oil prices is the surprising drawdown in crude inventories, which caused traders to really react quite dramatically," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.
Most analysts had expected the US Energy Department's Energy Information Administration to report oil stocks rose last week for the eighth straight time. Instead, the stocks fell 3.1 million barrels.
In Vienna, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said Wednesday it would hold production levels steady, at least for now. OPEC ministers cited falling demand in announcing their decision to hold production steady.
The EIA report and OPEC announcement fed a new frenzy of investing in oil futures, which have risen to new inflation-adjusted records this week as the falling dollar drew investors to the market.
Light, sweet crude for April delivery slipped 12 cents to $104.40 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Singapore.
The contract jumped $5 to settle at a record $104.52 a barrel on Wednesday and later rose to $104.95 in post-settlement electronic trading.
Earlier this week, oil prices broke the previous inflation-adjusted price record of $103.76, set in 1980 during the Iran hostage crisis.
"Five dollars is an incredible gain," Shum said. "The overall oil market fundamentals are supportive of strong oil prices but not at this level, above $100. I would expect some profit taking to put a temporary halt to this rather large surge in pricing."
Analysts noted that US oil inventories are at historic highs despite last week's decline in crude supplies. Meanwhile, demand for gasoline is falling, and several forecasters have cut their oil demand growth predictions for this year.
Other aspects of the EIA's inventory report were roughly in line with expectations. Gasoline supplies grew by 1.7 million barrels last week, more than the 900,000 barrels analysts expected, and are at record levels.
"The traders focus on the crude oil drawdown but they did not pay as much attention to the continuing build in gasoline inventories," Shum said. "Gasoline inventories are way above the five year historical average. It's an indication of a demand slowdown in the US."
On the other hand, inventories of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, fell by 2.4 million barrels, more than the expected 1.9 million barrel decline. Distillates stocks as of Feb. 29 were nearly 10 million barrels less than they were at the end of January.
Traders also worried about the escalating of tensions between oil producing countries in Latin America. Colombia's weekend attack on leftist rebels hiding in Ecuadorean territory has sparked a growing crisis as Venezuela moved tanks and soldiers to the Colombian border Wednesday. Ecuador said Monday it had sent 3,200 soldiers to its border with Colombia.
In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures fell 0.39 cent to $2.9392 a gallon (3.8 liters) while gasoline prices were a tad lower at $2.642 a gallon. Natural gas futures added 5.5 cents to $9.796 per 1,000 cubic feet.
In London, Brent crude fell 22 cents to $101.42 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. - AP
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Former cabinet members write second demand letter to President Arroyo
They warn they will join calls for GMA’s resignation if she doesn’t heed their call for action
By Carmela Fonbuena
Former cabinet members, dating back to President Marcos’s administration, who earlier called on incumbent officials to resign, met on Saturday to draft another letter to demand from President Arroyo “very specific actions” in relation to the ongoing controversy on the botched broadband deal with Chinese company ZTE Corp.
Based on a draft copy obtained by Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, the group—also known as La Salle 60—has two priority demands.
First, they will echo calls by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for President Arroyo to withdraw Executive Order 464 to allow former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) secretary Romulo Neri to testify in the Senate.
Second, they will demand the release of NEDA documents on the broadband deal, including the minutes of meetings on the deal.
They will not call for the resignation of President Arroyo, but some of them warn that it will be the option left if she won’t heed their demands. It is the other government officials implicated in the controversy that they might ask to resign.
“If there will be no meaningful and satisfactory response from her… the call for resignation is most likely our next step,” said former education secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, a member of the Hyatt 10, which bolted the Arroyo administration in 2005 at the height of the ‘Hello, Garci’ controversy. “Once there is a [united] call for resignation, things will move faster,” he said.
The group earned its name, La Salle 60, because of the original 60 signatories in the first demand letter calling on Cabinet officials to resign. It was announced in La Salle Greenhills in February, following a mass for Senate key witness Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada, who sought refuge in the school. The group has since grown to about 90.
Continuous pressure
This week, several activities have been lined up to continue the pressure on President Arroyo. Members of the Leftist group Gabriela will hold a protest rally in Ayala Avenue today to call for President Arroyo’s resignation and mark the International Women’s Month.
Another protest is scheduled on March 8.
La Salle 60’s press conference tomorrow (Tuesday) will coincide with the Office of the Ombudsman’s second public hearing on the botched broadband deal. The Senate will continue its investigation, too.
We learned that several businessmen will present a paper “questioning” Malacanang’s reporting on the economic growth. They will disprove the administration’s claim that all this political noise is going to slow down the economy.
A former Cabinet member who was briefed on the report shared to abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak findings by economic analysts that the economy will only get better “if we deal with the crisis soon.”
After Friday’s “Interfaith Rally”—the biggest showing the anti-GMA forces have mustered so far—the groups vow that they will intensify calls for truth on the broadband deal to come out. “It cannot be business as usual [for President Arroyo],” said former peace adviser Teresita “Ging” Deles. She said the political situation will only intensify.
No to martial law, charter change
Although the Cabinet members agree that it unlikely that President Arroyo will bow down to calls for her resignation, Deles said they have to continue with the protest actions.
“It’s not just that we’re angry with the[national broadband deal] We have to assert our power now. If we don’t’ do [these protests], she might not get out of there in 2010,’ Deles said.
Discussions in the meetings by the former cabinet officials have gone to the worst case scenarios. They have discussed the possibility of President Arroyo’s declaration of another State of Emergency or Martial Law, or the possibility of reviving Charter Change.
“We will not allow her,” Deles said. “The more we do things, something will happen. Something has got to give.”
Bishops, E.O. 464
Several bishops have declared similar warnings yesterday. Dagupan City Archbishop Oscar Cruz was quoted by abs-cbnNEWS.com as saying that “the CBCP’s position can be changed anytime especially if members see that nothing’s happening. Members are not naïve and they can call for another extraordinary meeting and make a stronger statement.”
(After a 10-hour emergency meeting last week, the CBCP fell short of calling for President Arroyo’s resignation. It disappointed several civil society groups.)
Malacanang deferred the decision on whether or not to scrap E.O. 464. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that they want to ensure certain “safeguards” for Cabinet officials who will attend the Senate hearing. The Palace legal team is expected to hold dialogues with the CBCP this week.
By Carmela Fonbuena
Former cabinet members, dating back to President Marcos’s administration, who earlier called on incumbent officials to resign, met on Saturday to draft another letter to demand from President Arroyo “very specific actions” in relation to the ongoing controversy on the botched broadband deal with Chinese company ZTE Corp.
Based on a draft copy obtained by Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, the group—also known as La Salle 60—has two priority demands.
First, they will echo calls by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for President Arroyo to withdraw Executive Order 464 to allow former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) secretary Romulo Neri to testify in the Senate.
Second, they will demand the release of NEDA documents on the broadband deal, including the minutes of meetings on the deal.
They will not call for the resignation of President Arroyo, but some of them warn that it will be the option left if she won’t heed their demands. It is the other government officials implicated in the controversy that they might ask to resign.
“If there will be no meaningful and satisfactory response from her… the call for resignation is most likely our next step,” said former education secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, a member of the Hyatt 10, which bolted the Arroyo administration in 2005 at the height of the ‘Hello, Garci’ controversy. “Once there is a [united] call for resignation, things will move faster,” he said.
The group earned its name, La Salle 60, because of the original 60 signatories in the first demand letter calling on Cabinet officials to resign. It was announced in La Salle Greenhills in February, following a mass for Senate key witness Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada, who sought refuge in the school. The group has since grown to about 90.
Continuous pressure
This week, several activities have been lined up to continue the pressure on President Arroyo. Members of the Leftist group Gabriela will hold a protest rally in Ayala Avenue today to call for President Arroyo’s resignation and mark the International Women’s Month.
Another protest is scheduled on March 8.
La Salle 60’s press conference tomorrow (Tuesday) will coincide with the Office of the Ombudsman’s second public hearing on the botched broadband deal. The Senate will continue its investigation, too.
We learned that several businessmen will present a paper “questioning” Malacanang’s reporting on the economic growth. They will disprove the administration’s claim that all this political noise is going to slow down the economy.
A former Cabinet member who was briefed on the report shared to abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak findings by economic analysts that the economy will only get better “if we deal with the crisis soon.”
After Friday’s “Interfaith Rally”—the biggest showing the anti-GMA forces have mustered so far—the groups vow that they will intensify calls for truth on the broadband deal to come out. “It cannot be business as usual [for President Arroyo],” said former peace adviser Teresita “Ging” Deles. She said the political situation will only intensify.
No to martial law, charter change
Although the Cabinet members agree that it unlikely that President Arroyo will bow down to calls for her resignation, Deles said they have to continue with the protest actions.
“It’s not just that we’re angry with the[national broadband deal] We have to assert our power now. If we don’t’ do [these protests], she might not get out of there in 2010,’ Deles said.
Discussions in the meetings by the former cabinet officials have gone to the worst case scenarios. They have discussed the possibility of President Arroyo’s declaration of another State of Emergency or Martial Law, or the possibility of reviving Charter Change.
“We will not allow her,” Deles said. “The more we do things, something will happen. Something has got to give.”
Bishops, E.O. 464
Several bishops have declared similar warnings yesterday. Dagupan City Archbishop Oscar Cruz was quoted by abs-cbnNEWS.com as saying that “the CBCP’s position can be changed anytime especially if members see that nothing’s happening. Members are not naïve and they can call for another extraordinary meeting and make a stronger statement.”
(After a 10-hour emergency meeting last week, the CBCP fell short of calling for President Arroyo’s resignation. It disappointed several civil society groups.)
Malacanang deferred the decision on whether or not to scrap E.O. 464. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that they want to ensure certain “safeguards” for Cabinet officials who will attend the Senate hearing. The Palace legal team is expected to hold dialogues with the CBCP this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
