Quality graduates help boost tourism: Boncato

A TOP official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) commended various schools in Davao Region for continuously producing quality graduates who are relevant to the tourism sector.

DOT-Davao chief Arturo Boncato said these schools also play an important role in boosting the region's tourism industry.

Hermes Club revived with new hotel partner

BARELY 10 years after it became inactive, Hermes Club has been revived, but with a different host hotel.

Efren Elbanbuena, chief of Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Davao and the club's Zeus (president), said the reinstitution of the club was sought to address the need for wider source of information in Davao Region.

101-year-old mom in Rosales honored

THE SM City Rosales management on Saturday paid tribute to the oldest mother in Rosales, Pangasinan.

SM honored 101-year-old Lucresia Tiletile-Tamin, who is still strong at her age, with family and friends led by her eldest son Arcadio.

Food chain service crew killed

MOTORCYCLE-riding gunmen shot and killed a fast food chain service crew Friday night in the village of Tetuan, east of Zamboanga City, the police reported.

The victim was identified as Francisco Gonzales, 24. He died on the spot after one of the gunmen shot him in the head.

Police apprehend 'colorum' vehicles

THE Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) traffic division apprehended seven public utility jeepneys (PUJs) when it launched Friday a campaign against "colorum" PUJs in Zamboanga City.

ZCPO Director Edwin de Ocampo said the PUJs were apprehended for operating without franchise and other violations.

Tanker rummages Sarangani reef

KORONADAL CITY -- A tanker vessel rummaged a reef in Kiamba town, Sarangani on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stationed in General Santos City said.

Noel Ramos, PCG seaman II, identified the ship as M/T Prosperity. He, however, did not give further details as they are still waiting for the report of the investigating team.

Tropical Storm Bebeng kills 6

MANILA (Updated 4:23 p.m.) -- Six people were confirmed dead after Tropical Storm Bebeng made landfall around 10 a.m. Sunday over Catanduanes province, radio reports said.

Three of the fatalities were identified as Maribel Reulan, 19; Princess Ruelan, 8; and Marco Sanchez, 7, all residents of Sitio Ikogan, Barangay Luluasan, Balatan, Camarines Sur. They were asleep when the landslide hit their house, said a Bombo Radyo report.

Stars grace Pacquiao-Mosley fight

MANILA (Updated 3:54 p.m.) -- Local and international celebrities were among the 16,412 spectators who watched the fight of Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley on Sunday (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Among the local celebrities who flew to Las Vegas to witness the big fight were Senator Bong Revilla and wife Congresswoman Lani Mercado, Vicky Belo, Hayden Kho, Atom Henares, Quark Henares, Raymund Gutierrez, former Manila mayor Lito Atienza and Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.

Lightning hits plane at Manila airport; 9 hurt

MANILA (Updated 2:52 p.m.) -- Lightning has struck a Philippine Airlines plane parked at Manila's international airport during a thunderstorm on Saturday.

Nine people who took cover under the plane from the downpour suffered slight burns.

Pacquiao streak continues

CEBU CITY (3rd Update) -- Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao completely outclassed Shane Mosley over 12 rounds Saturday (Sunday Manila time) to score his 14th consecutive triumph and retain his WBO welterweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, who started the fight slow, sent Mosley down the canvas with a quick, sharp left to the head and continued piling up the rounds to chalk up his 54th victory in 59 outings against three losses and two draws.

Islamic militants admit alliance with leftist group

DAVAO CITY – The leadership of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told some 50 Bangsamoro leaders about its political alliance with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

The Bangsamoro leaders were gathered at the Islamic Center of the University of the Philippines compound in Quezon City.

Private grief, public support in Cebu vice guv’s funeral

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- After a five-hour funeral rite and procession that started in Lahug, Cebu City, with brief stopovers at his radio station, Capitol and a mass in Redemptorist church, Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. was laid to rest Saturday afternoon.

Bebeng threatens Bicol Region

MANILA – The weather bureau has warned residents living in landslide prone areas and mountain slopes against possible flashfloods and landslides as tropical depression Bebeng intensified into a storm Saturday.

Coastal area dwellers were also warned of possible storm surges as Typhoon Bebeng threatens Bicol Region.

Fight’s likely to KO crime

POLICE don’t expect criminals to rest while millions watch Manny Pacquiao fight the American boxer Shane Mosley today.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., officer-in-charge of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said Cebu Province will not enjoy a zero crime rate, although crime incidence dropped in previous Pacquiao fights.

Cebu City’s IOU

PRO-POOR Pharmacy wants the Cebu City Government to release P2.23 million as payment for medicines it supplied to beneficiaries of the City’s medical program.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said Pro-Poor wrote a letter and sent a representative to his office, asking for the release of the amount.

Lapu-Lapu withholds aid to Eruf

THE Lapu-Lapu City Council has deferred the approval of the annual P4-million financial assistance to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf).

The council received reports that the medical and rescue group has been charging patients who use its ambulance.

Former victims help prevent trafficking

WHEN Carol was younger, she used to wear tube tops. Now, she’s wearing a black shirt.

Nicole used to dance in public in her underwear, but she ditched that for a black shirt, a pair of shorts and sandals.

Vendors ordered to heed advisory on Maggi items

CEBU City Market Administrator Raquel Bohol-Arce yesterday instructed all market cooperative and association leaders to return Maggi Rich Mami Noodles Beef and Chicken Flavors to distributors.

The Food and Drug Administration released an advisory asking the public to immediately return the products to Nestle Philippines, the manufacturer, after some of these were found with traces of salmonella.

Bogo gas station robbed; house in Malingin strafed

A MAN yesterday robbed a gas station along the national road in Barangay Taytayan, Bogo City, Cebu, while its security guard was fast asleep.

Pumpboy Demar Maitom of Madel-Petron Gasoline Station told investigators the man arrived on board a motorcycle around 3 a.m.

Metro Cebu air safe but waters not

WHILE the air in Metro Cebu is still “safe and breathable,” many rivers in the metropolis are highly polluted and seawaters even in tourist spots have traces of coliform bacteria.

Out of three independent cities, six component cities and 44 towns in Cebu, 73 local governments units (LGUs) continue to operate open dumpsites and 49 LGUs still use controlled dumpsites, in violation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

DOE considers water, biomass as RE sources

ENERGY Secretary Jose Rene Almendras assured the government opts for renewable sources of energy, but while these are still expensive, the country should continue investing in cheaper energy sources like water.

“The problem (about renewable sources of energy) is there is a cost to it. And already when you have a very high electricity bill, you do not want to add to the cost especially to all the consumers,” he said in a recent press conference in Cebu City.

Labor official faces bribery charges

CHARGES of direct bribery and misconduct were filed yesterday against the labor department official entrapped for allegedly soliciting and accepting money from a businessman.

Assistant Ombudsman-Visayas Virginia Santiago approved the recommendation of Graft Prosecutor Maria Regina Fernandez and filed the cases before the regional and municipal trial courts. She recommended bail at P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Support for RH Bill is best gift for moms, says pro-choice leader

THE support of Congress and the Catholic Church for the Reproductive Health (RH) bill is the best Mother’s Day gift they can give, a pro-choice advocate said.

Belinda Allere, chair of the Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League, said the State has a duty to ensure that every mother knows how to take care of her reproductive health.

Day care kids to get free hot meals anew

ALL children enrolled in the 49,531 day care centers nationwide this June will enjoy 120 daily hot meals from the Supplementary Feeding Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In coordination with the local government units, the program will use locally available food materials based on the cycle menu of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Pacquiao shoots for 14th win in a row

CEBU CITY -- A victory by Philippine national boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is again expected on Saturday (Sunday morning Manila time) when he takes on Shane Mosley in a fight some sports analysts deem a "mismatched" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Filipino boxer/politician is a shoo-in favorite to retain his WBO welterweight title going into the event dubbed by critics as "the best on the planet vs a fading champion," putting into consideration all that Pacquiao has achieved in his boxing career against the aging Mosley's diminishing talent.

Cebuana lawyer to screen ombudsman hopefuls

MALACAÑANG announced Saturday the replacement of a Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) member who died in a road accident last March as the body jumpstarted the process of selecting the country’s new ombudsman.

President Benigno Aquino III appointed lawyer Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, who will represent the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in the eight-member panel vice Conrado Castro, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Lawmakers cautioned on watching Pacquiao-Mosley fight in Las Vegas

CONGRESSMEN who will attend the boxing match of Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley on May 7 in Las Vegas will be missing the resumption of plenary sessions.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate will resume their committee hearings and plenary sessions on May 9.

Supermarket group: Low noodles supply unlikely      

NESTLE Philippines’ decision to recall some of its beef and chicken-flavored noodles from stores should not dampen consumer confidence as a retailers group assured a steady supply of the said commodity.

Steven Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, advised customers to stay abreast with the developments while asking them not to shun other brands of noodles.

Palace clarifies Binay’s new appointment

A MALACAÑANG official on Saturday maintained that Vice President Jejomar Binay’s new task of haunting down illegal recruiters will help in advancing the welfare of millions of migrant Filipino workers.

Lawmaker welcomes no increase in US troops

A HOUSE leader welcomed the decision of the United States government of not expanding its military presence in the country through the putting up of bases.

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III said the presence of US camps in the country is strongly opposed as this does not improve ties between the Philippines and the US.