BABALA: Ang mga sumusunod ay pawang kuru-kuro lamang. Matutong umilag upang hindi tamaan at kung sakaling tamaan, huwag umaray.
Ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag ay hindi lang para sa media, para ito sa bawat mamamayan.
Natatandaan ko pa na may isang portion sa Wowowee noon sa ABS-CBN kung saan inii-spoof ni Pokwang si Mommy Dionesia, ang dakilang ina ni Manny Pacquiao.
Marami ang mga nasaktang kaibigan ni Mommy D sa Gensan sa panggagaya sa kanya noon ni Pokwang.
Hindi nga naman nakatutuwa ang pagbuka-buka ng legs ng komedyana habang alsa-alsa ito sa ere ng mga lalaking dancers. Masagwa itong tingnan sa mommy ni Pacquiao.
Pero ni minsan ay hindi nagsalita si Pacquiao sa publiko at hindi rin nito kinondena ang show ni Willie Revillame.
Sa halip, ayon sa impormasyon, tinawagan mismo ni Pacquiao si Pokwang at gayundin si Revillame para pakiusapan na kung maaari ay tigilan na ito o alisin na ang naturang portion sa show.
Maganda ang approach ni Pacquiao kung kaya’t naunawaan agad ng mga ito ang damdamin ng Pinoy ring icon.
Wala nga namang karekla-reklamo si Pacquiao kapag ini-spoof siya ni Pooh at ng iba pang mga komedyante sa mga comedy bars.
Kahit pa nga katawa-tawa siya sa mga manonood at halatang sagarang nilalait, tinatawanan na lang ito ng Pambansang Kamao.
Ngunit, iba na kapag ang pamilya at ina mo na ang nasasaktan at niyuyurakan. Kaya, hindi ito natiis ni Pacquiao.
Pinatigil agad ni Willie ang portion na iyon sa kanyang show na ngayo’y nasa GMA-7 na [Wowowin].
Mula noon, hindi na natin napanood si Pokwang na ginagawang katatawanan ang dakilang ina ni Pacquiao.
Nararapat lang na gawing patas ng ABS-CBN ang treatment sa isyu laban kay Pacquiao na ngayo’y bina-bash ng LGBT community, kahit pa nasa poder nito sina Boy Abunda at Vice Ganda.
Ito’y dahil bukod sa nasa industriya sila ng pamamahayag, alam ng naturang TV network na pinakikinabangan at pinagkakakitaan nila si Pacquiao sa pamamagitan ng pang-ii-spoof ni Pooh sa Pambansang Kamao sa Banana Split.
Talagang masakit ang katotohanan. Hindi ba’t dahil sa pagsasabi ng totoo at pagsisiwalat ng batas ng Dios ay napako sa krus si Kristo at pinatay ang kanyang mga apostol? #mannypacquiao#pacmom#pacman#lgbt
MANILA — Floyd Mayweather and several foreign athletes have sounded off on the latest controversy that has hit embattled boxing star and senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, who is gunning for a Senate seat in May, is under fire for describing couples in same-sex relationships as worse than animals.
The Filipino sportsman has since apologized for his statement, which drew strong condemnation from gay rights advocates, but maintained that he remains opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga nasaktan dahil sa aking pagkumpara ng tao sa hayop,” he said in a video posted on Facebook on late Tuesday.
“[Pero] hindi po nagbabago ang aking desisyon na against po ako sa same-sex marriage at iyan po ang paniniwala ko,” he stressed.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., who beat Pacquiao via unanimous decision last year, disagreed with his rival’s views.
“I feel like we should stay positive and we should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. To each his own,” the now retired boxing champion said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
“I don’t have nothing against anyone,” he said.
But other athletes were not as kind.
Retired NBA player Jason Collins, who used to play for the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets, gave a more blunt response to Pacquiao’s statements.
Collins, the first openly gay athlete in the NBA, said the former world champion should never hold public office.
“I lost all respect for you. Bigoted people like you (& yes you are one) should never hold an office in politics,” Collins said through his Twitter account.
Football stars Joey Barton and Lianne Sanderson also didn’t appreciate Pacquiao’s remarks.
Barton, who has made 240 appearances in the Premier League, openly supports gay rights.
“Pacquiao is a huge global star who transcended his sport. He is politically motivated to help less privileged people,” said Barton. “[But] his comments are absurd and show a lack of intellect. Someone in his position should keep his ignorant bigotry private. His source of knowledge?”
Sanderson, who plays for Apollon Limassol on loan from Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League, is engaged to her teammate Joanna Lohman.
“People are entitled to their opinions but @mannypacquiao you just lost a few fans, I would say. Its a disgrace what you said. #ignorant,” said Sanderson. – ABS CBN News
By: Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Reuters, Interaksyon MECCA — A recent surge in cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a sometimes deadly virus, in Saudi Arabia has ebbed in the run-up to Islam’s annual haj pilgrimage, Health Minister Khaled al-Falih said on Thursday.
As pilgrims poured into Mecca from around the world, the Health Ministry said it had confirmed two more cases of the disease in Riyadh on Thursday, but the number of cases has declined since last month, Falih said.
Most medical staffers touring hospitals and medical centers around Mecca on Wednesday covered their noses and mouths with masks, as did traffic policemen and army personnel deployed to secure the flow of busses carrying pilgrims into the holy city.
“With the help of God and then with the measures taken by the ministry of health we hope to prevent the virus from getting to the pilgrims,” said Falih in a news conference.
So far around 1.2 million Muslims have arrived in the kingdom for haj.
In past years it has drawn up to 3 million pilgrims, but authorities have limited numbers in the past two years because of construction work around the Grand Mosque.
Saudi Arabia has banned the slaughter of camels around the holy cities during the pilgrimage. The animals have been found to carry the virus and scientists say they are the most likely source of primary infections of people.
Seven people in the city of Medina who have been infected by MERS have been moved to Riyadh as a precaution to avoid any spread of the disease near the pilgrimage sites, Falih said.
“The spread has begun to shrink and we are optimistic the days of spreading are gone and are behind us,” said Falih.
The kingdom has mobilized 25,000 medical staff from different cities into Mecca for the haj season.
Longest reigning Filipino World Champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and five-division World Champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will highlight the double main event of ALA Boxing Promotion’s “Pinoy Pride 30”. Expected to take place this coming March 28 “Pinoy Pride 30, D-Day”, also features undefeated super bantamweight IBF Intercontinental champion Prince Albert Pagara. The three Filipino fighters vowed to give fans an exciting night of non-stop action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines.
Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (34-1-4, 20 KOs), who at the age of 20 started his career as a professional boxer is now the longest reigning Filipino Champion surpassing the record held by Filipino Boxing Hall of Famer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. Elorde reigned in the junior lightweight division for seven years and three months in the 1960’s while Nietes still holds his WBO title at 105 pounds since 2007. Come March 28, Nietes will make his next title defense against Mexican challenger Gilberto Parra (19-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked no. 13. Nietes fights to extend his legacy in the WBO world light flyweight division by keeping the winning streak as long as he can.
It’s not over yet! That’s what Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (33-3, 21 KOs) wants the world to know. Coming from a devastating loss to WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters, the Filipino Flash is back and returns to his home country to fight at 122 pounds. His loss to the Jamaican power puncher prompted him to go back a division weight lower where he once ruled before losing to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux. Vying for super bantamweight weight championship title, Donaire will face Brazillian William Prado (22-4-1, 15 KOs). Nonito earned 2012 Fighter of the Year Award and has won world titles at 112, 118, 122 and 12 pounds as well as interim belt at 115 pounds. Although he grew up in the United states, he shares the same hometown with Filipino boxing icon and Fighter of the Decade Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in General Santos City, south of the Philippines. This will be his fourth time to fight in his native land Philippines and for the first time since 2009. Asked whether he is thinking about retirement in the near future, he said a loss to this fight might prompt him to hang his gloves for good and that there is no reason to go on with his career if he can’t even keep up with this level of a fight. However, report says, an impressive win would possibly secure him a ticket to a title fight in Macau, China in July where he will be the main event as promised by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
A fight also to be considered a highlight will be exhibited by the reigning International Boxing Federation Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara against Mexico’s Rodolfo Hernandez (26-5-1, 24 KOs). Prince Albert Pagara (22-0-0 15 KO), a crowd favorite, is a hardhitting boxer from ALA stable who is currently the no. 1 fighter in the Philippines for the super bantamweight division and is quickly rising up in status in the international boxing scene. He is one of the sparring mates of Nonito Donaire during the latter’s two-week training at the ALA Gym in Cebu in preparation for the March 28 match. According to Donaire, Albert Pagara hits hard and fights well as a sparring mate and with the impressive skills, is set for a promising career ahead of him. Meantime, Rodolfo Hernandez is no easy prey with 24 out of 26 wins coming by way of knockout. This is certainly a kind of fight that will put boxing fans at the edge of their seats.
One defends legacy, one fights for redemption, and one strives to be the next star. “D-Day” initiates On March 28, Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines.
Undercard fights feature Ryo Akaho of Japan vs Prosper Ankrah of Ghana and AJ “Bazooka” Banal of Philippines vs Junior Bajawa of Indonesia.
Pinoy Pride 30 is promoted by ALA Boxing Promotions, the Philippines’ premier boxing outfit.
“Come Monday, we’re going to work,” stated two-division former world champion Zab Judah, who confirmed that he’ll be reporting to training camp to spar with undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather as he prepares for his upcoming May 2 mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao. Although Judah hasn’t fought since December of 2013, the fast handed southpaw has continued to train in hopes of making an eventual return to the ring.
Judah and Mayweather shared the ring back in April of 2006. There were many who had Judah winning the first four rounds of that fight until Mayweather was able to adjust and dominate down the stretch. There’s no doubt that Judah will provide good work for Mayweather.
2012 “Trainer of the Year” Robert Garcia has welcomed news of the reconciliation between four-division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, his wife Rachel and Nonito’s father Nonito Donaire Sr.
Garcia told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard “that’s awesome” in reference to Nonito and Rachel; having made up and forgotten whatever differences they had with Nonito Donaire Sr.
Garcia “its always a great relationship between father and son. Forget bad-mouthing each other. They had differences for a few years and I’m glad its over” even as he welcomed the assistance of Donaire Sr in his son’s training camp.
Garcia referred to his own family situation where one brother, Danny, doesn’t talk to any of them. He said “it’s a perfect example as we are together even though one brother doesn’t talk to us and my farther doesn’t understand and in fact cried in front of me.”
Garcia said he called Nonito and Rachel when he arrived in Las Vegas last Friday to watch the Floyd Maywearher- Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight and invited them over to the MGM Grand where Garcia said “we spent a couple of hours together and had a good time.”
The trainer said Mexican fans were taking pictures of Donaire and pointed out “they love Nonito because of the way he is. He’s kind to everybody and Rachel is the same way.”
Garcia said they are leaving for the press conference at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas to officially announce on Wednesday an exciting Top Rank triple header scheduled for November 9 will be headlined by the WBO junior lightweight title fight between champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez and undefeated former WBO featherweight champion Mikey Garcia with Donaire battling three-division champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan in a rematch that Darchinyan has pleaded for ever since Donaire scored a stunning 7th round knockout to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on July 7, 2007.
Donaire was being trained by his father at that time.
Nonito’s Dad told Dennis Principe of the Standard “I will be joining their team. I am really thankful this has happened. I had dinner with Jun-jun and Rachel. We talked about a lot of things but we never discussed anything about the past except that we’ve accepted to forgive and forget our mistakes.”
After Donaire successfully defended his crown against Luis Maldonado and Moruti Mthalane father and son were involved in a publicized spat which centered around Nonito’s wife Rachel.
Donaire Sr said “I have now accepted everything knowing that they’ve been happily together for quite some time. But that moment when I held my grandson Jarel was really very special for me.”
Trainer Garcia said his younger brother Mikey trained hard today and enjoyed his first day of sparring where he went six rounds with Robert’s nephew Javier Garcia.
He said Donaire will travel to Garcia’s gym in Oxnard, California to begin serious training next week and informed us that he already has some sparring partners in mind.
Malacañang on Sunday congratulated Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire for his ninth-round technical knockout win over Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Donaire’s win solidified the Filipino boxer’s place in the international scene.
“Na-solidify ang pwesto ng Filipino boxer sa international scene when it comes to boxing, hindi lang si Manny Pacquiao,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
Donaire’s win in Carson City in California allowed him to keep his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization super bantamweight crowns.
An article posted on boxing site Bad Left Hook said Donaire stopped Nishioka in the ninth round after having won every round up to that point. — LBG, GMA News Read moreDonaire do most of the work early on, hoping that the Filipino would punch himself out.(GMA News)
By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News The chances of passing the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill at the House of Representatives are already slim due to time constraints, a House leader said Tuesday.
“Medyo lumiliit na ang butas na pagdadaanan ng RH bill. Considering that realistically, hanggang December na lang kami,… medyo humihirap na ang panahon para maipasa siya sa House,” House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said at a press briefing.
He said the RH bill — formally known as House Bill (HB) 4244 — will be shelved in the next two months, since the House will become busy with deliberations on the 2013 budget.
But Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, an author of the measure, said the House leadership should not give up on passing the RH bill.
“We should let the legislative process run its course. Why should he [Gonzales] precondition the minds of Congress and the public that the bill will not be passed?” Ilagan said in a separate text message.
HB 4244, which has been undergoing plenary debates at the House since March last year, endorses the use of both natural and artificial modes of family planning. It has been identified as one of President Benigno Aquino III’s priority measures.
The bill is being opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, which promotes only natural family planning methods.
Last month, the Senate ended debates on the controversial measure, making it a step closer to being passed on second reading.
Caucus
At the news briefing, Gonzales further said that he will ask House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to call a caucus of all House members to decide on the fate of the bill once and for all.
“Hindi naman puwedeng nagsimula iyan one year ago tapos up to this date, pinagdedebatehan pa rin… We owe it to the people na dumating kami sa puntong mapagbobotohan ito,” he said.
Gonzales said he hopes his colleagues will agree to vote on whether or not to end the period of debates next month, before the House tackles the 2013 budget at the plenary.
He said this test vote, which he has been calling for since early this year, will allow the House to determine if the RH bill can still gather support from lawmakers.
“Kung walang quorum, that’s an indication na walang support, kaysa naman naglolokohan pa tayo at binibigyan ng false hopes ang mga tao,” he said. — RSJ/KG, GMA News
A policeman was relieved from his post and faces summary dismissal for allegedly slowing down and refusing to make way to the convoy of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in Quezon City.
According to a report of radio dzBB’s Tuesday Niu, the president was on his way to an engagement when his convoy chanced upon the orange Asian utility vehicle driven by the policeman, SPO2 Ricardo Pascua, along Batasan Road.
Quezon City police head Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega said Pascua, who was assigned to the QCPD Station 4, was relieved from his post after the incident.
Dela Vega said Presidential Security Group head Brig. Gen. Ramon Mateo Dizon ordered some PSG members approach Pascua when he refused to make way for the president’s convoy.
However, Pascua allegedly refused to give his name or his driver’s license, and even said, “Pulis ako .”
Dela Vega also said Pascua’s vehicle had a “QCPD” (Quezon City Polic District) license plate in the front. – VVP, GMA News
ABS-CBN News The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation is set to file today plunder and graft charges against former PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino and 3 others in connection with the alleged overpriced coffee products sold in Casino Filipino branches.
Named respondents in the case to be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman are former PAGCOR Chairman Efraim Genuino, former PAGCOR President Rafael Francisco, former PAGCOR Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Head of Research Development Department Rene Figueroa, and Promolabels owner Carlota Cristi Manalo-Tan.
A report from the gov.ph website said the 25-page complaint was initiated by the current PAGCOR Board. The agency’s Board authorized incumbent Directors Jose Tanjuatco and Enriquito Nuguid to sign and file the complaint.
The complaint noted that from 2001 to 2010, the three top Pagcor officials directed Casino Filipino branches “to enter into concession agreements with Promolabels with a view towards enriching themselves and coffee concessionaire Manalo-Tan through the sale and purchase of overpriced Figaro coffee products, to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people.”
Pagcor’s audit team discovered that from 2005 to 2008 alone, five Casino Filipino branches paid at least P258 million to Promolabels for coffee products.
Investigation done by the current Pagcor board revealed that Genuino approved a resolution on May 16, 2001 granting the proposal of Figaro Coffee Company to set up coffee kiosks in its Casino Filipino branches wherein the prices of beverages “will be similar to the prices in the malls.”
Thus, the concessionaire, a Figaro franchisee, put up kiosks in seven casino branches. Pagcor noted that Manalo-Tan is the wife of Johnny Tan, an ally of Genuino.
It noted that the seven contracts gave Promolabels a monopoly. The contracts never passed through a public bidding, Pagcor added.
Pagcor alleged that Promolabels was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“For the years 2005 to 2008 alone, PAGCOR could have saved at least P78 million if only the prices of Promolabels’ Figaro coffee products were the same as those of other Figaro franchisees,” the state-owned gaming firm cited in its complaint.
The ex-Pagcor officials were supposedly informed of the losses of Casino Filipino but “they refused or otherwise failed to act to stem or prevent further losses.”
“The respondents refused or failed to demand price reductions from Promolabels, and even went out of their way to give several justifications for Promolabels’ higher prices,” Pagcor said.
And yet, the former officials allowed Promolabel to increase further the prices, it said.
“The respondents’ acts of procuring coffee from, and “leasing” spaces to Promolabels without observing government procurement laws and their refusal to demand price reductions from Promolabels despite notices of irregularities affecting the concession agreement and the losses being suffered by the Casino Filipino branches under these contracts caused undue injury to the government and gave Manalo-Tan unwarranted benefits, advantages and preferences,” the PAGCOR complaint pointed out.
The billion-peso coffee scandal was first exposed by President Benigno Aquino III in his state of the nation address last year. Aquino will again face the nation on July 23.
Current Pagcor officials told the Philippine Daily Inquirer last week that the case has finally been resolved.
PINOY SNIPER 