Thursday, August 31, 2006

Mass grave found in Philippines: ‘killing fields’

A wire report on the rebel purges of the mid to late 1980’s-1990’s is prominent in the news wires abroad. As ‘a alleged’ mass grave filled with “Hundreds of victims” was reported uncovered - some allegedly new - of people the military says were suspected of cooperating with the government was uncovered.

It is not a new story- one that is often under-reported - and often unmentioned by some in the international community who often prefer to highlight Governments alleged abuses whole downplaying those who may have supported or helped government from being victims - such as these here.

[]”…. MANILA, Philippines — Soldiers found mass graves believed to hold the remains of up to 300 people allegedly killed by communist guerrillas in the 1980s during a purge of suspected spies in the Philippines’ remote east, officials said Thursday”.…[]

There are numerous reports on alleged role of those in Uniform and of the Political group’s who are often thought of in these cases. Leading some in government to claim some in media take sides or work to tell only one side of the story.

[]…”Leftist murders spark fear ABS CBN News, Philippines Across the Philippines, masked gunmen on motorcycles have killed scores of left-wing community leaders and Ayunga fears he could be next….’{}

But all forms of this kind of violence by whatever side should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

FYI-TV.net had this report from about not too long ago - I repost it here:

News image

Special Report

About a Boy

…who lost his parents at age 5, grew up believing in the same revolutionary cause he knew they left him for… only to discover 20 years later that his parents were tortured and buried alive by their own Communist Party comrades on suspicion of being Deep Penetration Agents. —Winona Cueva

Another report deals with anger over ‘tax’ activities of the rebel group in another part of the Philippines by a Congressperson from a cause oriented groups.

[] …”Partylist solon condemn NPAs Philippine Information Agency, Philippine

Akbayan representative Loretta Ann Rosales stood in the plenary on Monday to condemn the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, whose latest …” []


Tuesday, August 29, 2006

SMS Text Scam alert: Brunei warns

The Borneo Bulletin put out a warning versus a text and email based scam that has been victimizing residents of the Sultanate in Northern Borneo where a charity sends a message seeking information and bank details to victims.

The person gets a message saying they won in a contest and upon response seeks details or a asks for small fee to be sent to cover bank transfer expenses.

But the key warning here is this charities’ usually ask or seek donations. Most do not engage in contests or give out money. There is an old rule that states no one that something too good to be true usually is just that not true!

[] …” Beware Of New Easy Money Scam
By Kartika Rahman Bandar Seri Begawan - A conman is on the prowl offering people big money for a small fee. The scam artist apparently calls random numbers and informs them that they have won $350,000 from an American Charity Foundation. After convincing the victim, he then asks for their account number, identity card details, and a tax fee of $500.The tax fee is then requested to be sent to the association’s account in the Philippines. The public is reminded to be wary of scams that promise easy money. – Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin …” []

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, philippines, Filipino, scams, freedom of speech, Pinoy, OFW, filipino-american, phisling scam alert


Saturday, August 26, 2006

Philippine Oil Spill: National level Calamity declared

President Arroyo’s order is more than just a formality that most diasters require for the release of funds to handle natural disasters. It also brings the level of responce up to treaty level and allows more direct international participation in the clean-up.

[]…” Arroyo declares oil spill calamity President Arroyo on Friday declared the oil spill in Guimaras a national calamity as the slick spread rapidly and threatened some of the country’s richest fishing grounds.Mrs. Arroyo, who made the declaration during the 18th National Convention of the National Prosecutors’ Week in Cebu, said the oil disaster in Guimaras demands the cooperation and solidarity of all Filipinos. “I call upon Petron and the ship owner to immediately clean up the mess and the Task Force Guimaras and Coast Guard Admiral Arthur Gosingan to attend to environmental and health issues,” she said. …” [] ABS-CBNNEWSonline

I do not know which PR agency is advising the Petron people what to say when they appear on TV- one man in particular yesterday was talking about -”product recovery” The insensitive nature of the comment and term might lead some to believe there is more concern over product- than people the environment and safety.

But then again had the concern been with true product integrity - delivery of product to destination in the most safe & secure manner to an end user i wouldn’t even be writing this blog and those people sick and in hospital and the man who died and hundred imillion peso partail clean up bill not needed?

Uncategorized, news, News and politics, philippines, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., OFW, Guimaras Oil Spill


Sunday, August 20, 2006

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF): ‘Philippines 9 dead in Dengue epidemic?’

August 20th, 2006t

Reports from the wire services seem to say something we have NOT heard pronounced yet in the official circles about an epidemic.- there have been epidemics in the past.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a potentially lethal complication, was first recognized in the 1950s during the dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand, but today DHF affects most Asian countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalisation and death among children in several of them. “ -WHO

RELATED LINKS

- Dengue haemorrhagic fever: diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control
Information on dengue, including a list of those countries where outbreaks have occurred
- Dengue

People I work with; and those I know have had several cases reported in many schools around metro manila - and elsewhere - some have also had these cases heard of in large numbers in Malabon and Pangasinan yet there seems to be no major effort to raise an alarm.

More so say experts because the best thing here is for people not to panic - Dengue is curable if caught in time - but it is not something to be taken lightly.

[] …” Pangasinan dismisses dengue fears
ABS CBN News, Philippines -Health officials in Pangasinan have allayed fears of a dengue outbreak after at least nine people died of dengue in the last six weeks, ANC reported Sunday. ... ” []

[] …” Dengue epidemic kills 9 in Philippines
People's Daily Online, China -At least nine people were killed by a dengue epidemic in the province of Pangasinan 150 kilometers north of Manila in the past six weeks, the Philippine News ” []

While Government seems to be taking the issue as part of the usual season of dengue - it is after all endemic to the country - what is it ? Why is there not so many worries? Well medical reports do clearly show that if tested properly and taken care of at first notice the survival rate is high - with less than 1% resulting in death. But, that is the key- early detection - survival rate is 80 per cent if not taken into consideration and treated at home. the bottom line is those who are more affected are those people who in the danger group.

The world health organization has extensive information on the disease - and also the information that all parents should be aware of or those who have senior citizens in their homes since the two elderly and very young are the most susceptible to the disease.

Characteristics

Dengue fever is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, but seldom causes death.

The clinical features of dengue fever vary according to the age of the patient. Infants and young children may have a non-specific febrile illness with rash. Older children and adults may have either a mild febrile syndrome or the classical incapacitating disease with abrupt onset and high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, and rash.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, haemorrhagic phenomena–often with enlargement of the liver–and in severe cases, circulatory failure. The illness commonly begins with a sudden rise in temperature accompanied by facial flush and other non-specific constitutional symptoms of dengue fever. The fever usually continues for two to seven days and can be as high as 40-41°C, possibly with febrile convulsions and haemorrhagic phenomena.

In moderate DHF cases, all signs and symptoms abate after the fever subsides. In severe cases, the patient’s condition may suddenly deteriorate after a few days of fever; the temperature drops, followed by signs of circulatory failure, and the patient may rapidly go into a critical state of shock and die within 12-24 hours, or quickly recover following appropriate volume replacement therapy.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. However, careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses frequently saves the lives of DHF patients. With appropriate intensive supportive therapy, mortality may be reduced to less than 1%. Maintenance of the circulating fluid volume is the central feature of DHF case management.

news, News and politics, china, asia, Views, philippines, Filipino, freedom of speech, Global Warming, Pinoy, free speech, Palawan, Makati, filipino-american, biird flu, Arroyo, Dengue haemorrhagic fever, Dengue fever, haemorrhagic fever


Thursday, August 17, 2006

Help Lebanon:Manila based aid group for OFW’s & Lebanese

At a meeting held in Manila’s Makati district groups of Filipino & Expat organizations are working together to seek out ways they can Helpl

The goal is to find ways to assist people in Lebanon by doing their part to make themselves available for those people in need. It’s not Politics, here or there.

But just people trying to help those both from there and here and families they worked for… Or companies that provided lively-hood to thirty thousand filipino’s get back on their feet.

In so many disasters here in the Philippines I have covered - both the man made and natural kind - people in places in Lebanon and the middle east did their part by making donations to the red cross and red crescent to assist people in the Philippines in their time of need - so now this group says it is time for them in their own way to their part. As those who can in some way or service or kind do their part to help people there regardless of ideology or faith or political color rebuild their lives after this war that has brought so much of the tragic things that Wars brings - they hope to do their part as well.

MikeinManila gives it’s space- to this and re-posts here the link and ways to reach this group.

God Bless all…

Mike

THE HELP LEBANON MEETING:

Honorary Consulate of Lebanon, Manila

Philippine National
Red Cross

With the assistance of
International SOS

IConnect Inc.
Philippines

Lebanon: saving lives and restoring human dignity

The ongoing conflict in Lebanon is a human catastrophe with hundreds of civilians reported dead, thousands injured and hundreds of thousands displaced. The Lebanese Red Cross Society, through the efforts of its volunteers and with the full support of the ICRC, continues to help the most vulnerable. A report from the ICRC’s Marko Kokic and Ayad Al Mounzer of the Lebanese Red Cross.

A long prayer rings out through loudspeakers across the centre of Beirut. The sombre tone is in keeping with the city’s mood. Streets normally packed with people and traffic remain quiet. Many shops are closed. In the few that remain open, televisions bring today’s news of another day of fighting, another day of horror.

Images of dead and injured civilians caught in the crossfire and the heroic efforts of Lebanese Red Cross paramedics feature on the news bulletins every day. First on the scene, volunteer paramedics rescue the living and recover the dead. Their work is fraught with peril, with only the Red Cross emblem to protect them.

A recent incident proved just how dangerous their work can be. A rocket tore through the roof of an ambulance transporting the injured. It blew a melon-sized hole through the centre of the Red Cross emblem on top of the ambulance. Paramedics suffered minor wounds but a patient lost his leg in the incident.

Red Cross paramedics transport the seriously injured to Beirut’s hospitals. Thousands of civilians have already been wounded. One of them is nine-year old Samah Chihab who is recovering in Beirut Governmental University Hospital. A bomb cut her down as she played in front of her house in the town of Tyre.

The hospital is modern and well equipped but understaffed.

“We have received medical supplies, but no direct medical assistance,” explains Assistant General Manager, Bilal Masri, “Right now we are working at thirty percent of our capacity in terms of human resources because staff have been unable to reach the hospital”.

Many people have already fled raging battles in the south while others remain trapped. Leaving can be as dangerous as staying. Bombed cars litter the road leading south. Some still contain bodies but the security situation in many areas is still too dangerous for Red Cross volunteers to recover them.

An estimated million civilians have been displaced, many taking shelter in schools and other public buildings. Hassan Mohammed Abadi and his family are camped out in a school on Mount Lebanon near Beirut. They arrived only days ago from their southern village of Yatir where they remained amidst the fighting for almost two weeks. When it became unbearable they took a chance and fled, taking only what they could carry.

For those who are seeking to *restore* *contact* *with family members* who may have been impacted by the conflict, please click *HERE *to go to the International Committee of the Red Cross special web site called Family Links.

If you are reading this in a country other than the Philippines and wish to contribute to this effort, kindly contact the RED CROSS or RED CRESCENT society in you country of residence. For a complete list of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies throughout the world, please click *HERE*.

All donations are handled by the Philippine National Red Cross and are coursed
through the International Committee of the Red Cross to the Red Cross in Lebanon.
Donations are used solely by the Red Cross for humanitarian purposes.

For details on how you can HELP LEBANON!,
call the HELP LEBANON! HOTLINE at +632-6334060.
The HELP LEBANON! HOTLINE is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Friday, August 11, 2006

Report says JI-ASG: beheads kidnap victim

August 12th, 2006

A report by the Zamboanga based journal says that the military says that one of two kidnap victims has reportedly been beheaded in Jolo, Sulu. This comes in the wake of claims by the Military of having been able to foil attacks and amidst heightened security after a on-going operation versus rebels in the area of Indanan and patikul towns in Sulu.

[] ” … Sayyaf Hostage Is Beheaded In Jolo Island

Filed under: — zamboangajournal @

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 12 Aug) Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded one of their two kidnapped victims in Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila, where security forces were battling the terrorist group tied to the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya network, officials said Saturday. …” []

The report comes on the heels of statements from the Government of having foiled attacks being planned by the joint JI and Abu sayyaf group in the area - perhaps to have been timed with the attempts to sow terror on flights over the Atlantic?

[] ” …. NSA chief warns nation of Islamic ‘sympathy attacks’ 8/12/2006 1:33:39 AM … ‘ [] ABS-CBN News.com

There are often times a failure by some to see the true global picture of many of the attacks of these groups are so close in when they happen - take Madrid bombings for example - then the superferry 14 bombing then at the same time a series of attacks in Iraq and a few in Thailand. All often with-in a 48 hour to a week long period. A day ago there was a set of bomb attacks in Kidapawan and clash with police in a area near Cotabato. The situation makes it not hard to see that global netowrks are at times coincidence filled in timing or more of regualr pattern of each group doing something to show they are still around.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, news, News and politics, pirates, Iraq, asia, war on terror, terrorism, Views, war, philippines, Democrats, Afghanistan, immigration, Filipino, Bush, freedom of speech, Buhay ofw, East Timor, republican, border security, free speech, al qaeda, Dubai, Al Gore, abu sayyaf, fil-am, filipino-american, Jemaah Islamiah, World War 3, Arroyo


Monday, August 07, 2006

Mayon Volcano Evacuation: 30,000+ flee imminent eruption

Mayon Breaking News Update
Reports continue to pour in about Ash Explosions, Tremors, and other sigins of a possible major eruption of the Mayon Volacano in Albay Province.

If a major eurption occurs the effects may be felt in the form of Earthquakes and Ash cloads that might reach nearby areas and even more parts of the Bicol Region.

the Quote of the day has to be - “… ‘Mayon is ready to burst’ - PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum.”

[]… ” 34,000 flee imminent Mayon eruption LEGAZPI CITY - Tens of thousands of people were being moved out of their homes in Albay province on Monday in the face of an imminent eruption of the rumbling Mayon volcano, officials said. AFP 8/7/2006 1:22:44 PM ” ….[]

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, news, News and politics, asia, philippines, Filipino, OFW, fil-am, filipino-american, Bicol, Albay, Mayon Volcano


Sunday, August 06, 2006

Mayon Volcano: Alert level 4 raised imminent eruption

August 7th, 2006

20,000 people have been evacuated from the areas surrounding Mayon Volcano in the Philippines fears of a major eruption in days or hours has been raised as Government moves quicky to move people away from the Active volcano after a series of major Ash Explosions Monday Morning in Manila.

Mayon Volcano Bulletin

07 August 2006

8:00 AM (+8GMT)

NOTICE OF ALERT LEVEL 4:

This announcement advises all concerned that PHIVOLCS is now raising the alert status of Mayon Volcano (13.2576°N, 123.6856°E) to ALERT LEVEL 4. This means that a hazardous explosive eruption is imminent and the effects of such an eruption could severely impact certain areas around Mayon.

To prevent undue harm to the public, an EXTENDED DANGER ZONE (EDZ), defined as an area within Eight (8) kilometers from the summit crater located in the southern sector, is now recommended. The following localities are included in the EDZ:

  1. Barangays Anoling and downstream areas including Tinuburan, Sua, Upper Quirangay, Salugan, and Upper Cabangan of Camalig Municipality,

  1. Barangays Miisi and areas to its south including Budiao, Matnog and Bañadero of Daraga Municipality; Mabinit, Bonga, Matanag, and Buyuan of Legaspi City.

At other portions around Mayon, the following areas, within Seven (7) kilometers of the crater, should be evacuated:

  1. Barangay Baligang, of Ligao.
  2. Barangays Bonot, Magapo, Oson part of Buhian and Comon of Tabaco Municipality,
  3. Barangays Canaway, Calbayog and part of San Roque of Malilipot Municipality,
  4. Barangays Lidong, Fidel Surtida, San Isidro, Sta. Misericordia, and San Antonio of Sto. Domingo Municipality.

Areas just outside of these Barangays should prepare for evacuation in the event explosive eruptions intensify. Notice to evacuate shall be recommended by PHIVOLCS for implementation according to PDCC’s action plans.


PHIVOLCS-DOST

Volcano Activy report from Philippine Government PHILVOLCS

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/news/99-06MV.pdf

Reports:

Philippines fears imminent eruption at volcano
Reuters.uk, UK - Mayon volcano in the central Philippines has been spewing lava and boulders the size of cars since last month, leaving a bubbling, pyrotechnic trail more than
Alert level 4 raised in Mayon Volcano ABS CBN News
Lava now flows on Mayon’s Bonga Gully Manila Bulletin
06 - DPWH urges dredging of Mayon Volcano channels Balita.org

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, news, News and politics, pirates, asia, philippines, Filipino, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., Buhay ofw, Pinoy, protests, republican, border security, Al Gore, OFW, Makati, fil-am, filipino-american, Bicol, Albay, Mayon Volcano


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