EMONG'S JOURNALS

Jeane Napoles -- the daughter of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles who is tagged as the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel and Malampaya scam -- blogs her lavish lifestyle.

Jeane Napoles photo during her 21st birthday

The Instagram account of her daughter, Jeane, shows photos of the younger Napoles boasting about expensive cars she received from her parents during her birthday debut and graduation from college.

The photos also show expensive watches, jewelry, clothing, and shoes.

One Instagram photo claimed that she bought all the items at a branded bag store.

Another showed shopping sprees in other countries.

The photos were sent to ABS-CBN News by a friend of the younger Napoles, a fashion designer and model, after the pork barrel scam hit news headlines.

Jeane Napoles' Instagram account has since been deleted, but other photos and video clips showing her lifestyle are continuing to circulate online.

One Vimeo video clip shows her 21st birthday party at Beverly Hills. The video was later made private but a copy was uploaded on YouTube.

The younger Napoles has deleted her Instagram accounts showing photos of Porsche cars, designer bags, expensive shoes, and jewelry her parents bought for her, but some of the photos and a video clip have made their way to the public eye.

Her old Tumblr account has not been deleted. It shows her taste in fashion as well as her passion for travel and parties.

Her mother, in a "TV Patrol" interview, has confirmed the authenticity of the cars and luxury items her daughter owns, but said these were paid using money earned in their legitimate business ventures

Napoles said her daughter's Porsche was a gift when her daughter graduated magna cum laude.

Another Porsche was a gift during her daughter's birthday, she added.

She said they also gave jewelry and expensive watches as gifts during her birthday.

Napoles denied that they own the 20 pieces of luggage at a Japan airport, but did not disown luggage that arrived in Manila.

She said they only had 5 pieces of luggage and a copier machine.

Napoles said it was their right to go shopping because they were earning money from their business ventures.

She also denied buying all of the items sold at a high-end bag shop.

Napoles insisted that their wealth is the the result of legitimate business.

"Wala po na nanggaling sa gobyerno, ni piso. Lahat pong yan ay hanapubuhay namin galing sa aming pinaghirapan," she said. "Kaming mag-asawa ay nagpapakamatay na maghanapbuhay para maibigay po namin sa aming mga anak.:

She also confirmed that they co-own a P7-million hotel near Disneyland in Los Angeles, California.

BIR chief Kim Henares said she has also recieved photos and information on the Napoles family.

She said the bureau is now looking into the family's properties.

She said there is nothing wrong in flaunting one's wealth as long as the person pays the right taxes.

She said tax evasion charges will be filed against Napoles if there is evidence to support the allegation.

"Sabi niyo mayaman kayo, kailangang ma establish kung ano yung asset. Check natin kung nagbayad ng tamang buwis. Kung talagang mayaman at nagbayad, walang problema. May problema lang kung hindi nagtutugma yung dalawa," Henares said.

Napoles, meanwhile, said they have paid the right taxes and she is ready to reveal all of their wealth if needed.--Source: ABS-CBN News

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President Aquino has signed Proclamation 629 declaring August 9, Friday, as a regular holiday nationwide to mark the end of Ramadan or Eid'l Fitr.

Malacanang declares Aug 9 as regular holiday

"Now, therefore, I, Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Friday, 9 August 2013, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan). The Eid’l Fitr Prayer shall be performed depending on the result of the moon-sighting activity on 7 August 2013," the proclamation read.

Malacañang earlier announced August 26, National Heroes Day, as a regular holiday. August 21, Ninoy Aquino Day, is also a special non-working day.--Source: ABS-CBN News

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) implementing guidelines for proper pay during holidays.

For Regular Holidays:

1. If it is an employee’s regular workday
* If unworked – 100%
* If worked - 1st 8 hours – 200%
excess of 8 hours – plus 30% of hourly rate on said day

2. If it is an employee’s rest day
* If unworked – 100%
* If worked - 1st 8 hours – plus 30% of 200%
excess of 8 hours – plus 30% of hourly rate on said day

For Special Non-Working Holidays:
1. If unworked
* No pay, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment of wages on special days even if unworked.

2. If worked
* 1st 8 hours – plus 30% of the daily rate of 100%
* excess of 8 hours – plus 30% of hourly rate on said day

3. Falling on the employee’s rest day and if worked
* 1st 8 hours – plus 50% of the daily rate of 100%
* excess of 8 hours – plus 30% of hourly rate on said day.

Canadian singer-songwriter and the artist behind the hit song “Call Me Maybe” Carly Rae Jepsen visits Manila for a one-night concert at the Araneta Coliseum on Aug. 7.

Get free concert tickets to “Carly Rae Jepsen Live in Manila” when you avail of a Huawei Ascend Mate or Huawei Ascend P6 under Globe Best-Ever MySuperPlan. You can also score free tickets when you purchase a prepaid phonekit for both handsets.

For plan subscriptions at Plan 999 and up, get two free VIP or Patron seats at the concert. Meanwhile, subscriptions at Plan 499 and All-Unli Plan give you two free Lower or Upper Box seats. A prepaid phonekit also comes with a free Upper Box ticket.

The Huawei Ascend Mate is free at Plan 999 and is also available at Plan 499 with a P200 monthly cash out over a 24-month contract period. Meanwhile, the Huawei Ascend P6 is available for as low as P999 monthly at Plan 499 with P500 monthly cash out or at Pl,199 monthly at Plan 999 with P200 monthly cash out also for a 24-month contract period. Huawei Ascend P6 is a Globe-exclusive handset while the leader in postpaid is the first telco to carry the Huawei Ascend Mate.

“We are very excited to be part of a musical extravaganza that’s set to make another concert history that Filipinos will surely remember for years. Co-presented by Globe and Huawei, the “Carly Rae Jepsen Live in Manila” will definitely break concert records once again with thousands of Filipinos eagerly waiting for her and her music,” said Raul Macatangay, Head of Globe Postpaid. “Be part of the Carly Rae Jepsen global phenomenon in the Philippines for free by availing of Huawei’s newest handsets, perfect for those who want top quality smartphones at an affordable price, with the Best-Ever MySuperPlan, now made even more flexible and customizable. You are definitely in for the best-ever concert party to hit Manila this year.”

With the Best-Ever MySuperPlan, subscribers get more than what they pay for with a plan value that is almost twice the value of prepaid load. Each plan has a corresponding ‘peso value’ (PV) which can be converted to avail of a combination of call, text or surf services, tree or discounted ‘gadgets, and a monthly consumable amount for more calls, texts, and surf.

Subscribers also get the full flexibility of choosing the gadget they want at the contract period of their preference. The Best-Ever MySuperPlan now offers contract periods of six, 12, 18, and 24 months.

Huawei Ascend Mate boasts of a 6.1-inch screen display, longer battery life with 4050 mAH, quad-core processor and the latest Android OS. Touted as the world’s slimmest smartphone, Huawei Ascend P6 has a quad-core processor, an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, as well as the latest Android OS.

Born Nov. 21, 1985, Carly Rae Jepsen placed third in Canadian Idol Season 5. Shortly after competing on Canadian Idol, she independently released her debut album Tug of War in 2008. Three years later, she released a new single titled “Call Me Maybe” which became the first song by a Canadian artist to reach the top of the digital chart since Justin Bieber’s “Baby” in January 2010. The song also peaked at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, making Jepsen the fourth Canadian artist to do so. Jepsen was also the first Canadian Idol contestant to enter the UK charts when “Call Me Maybe” debuted at number one.

In 2012, Jepsen released her second album Kiss and performed her song “This Kiss” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in September that year. Jepsen has been catapulted to become a global phenomenon not only in the music industry but also in social media. Her official Facebook fanpage now has over 7.5 million likes. She is also one of the most-followed musical artists on Twitter with close to eight million followers.

To know how you can avail of free tickets to the “Carly Rae Jepsen Live in Manila” concert, visit www.globe.com.ph/carly-rae-promo.--Source: Manila Standard

A councilor of Lipa City, Batangas, was charged before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly sexually assaulting a young municipal councilor inside the house of another local lawmaker last June.

Batangas councilor charged with rape by female councilor

Charged with rape by sexual assault was Councilor Nonato “Patmon” Monfero of Lipa City.

The case stemmed from the complaints of the 20-year old municipal councilor of San Pascual, Batangas, who claimed that the incident took place inside the guest room at the house of Lipa City Councilor Kathleen Briones in Xavierville Avenue, Quezon City, in the morning of June 28, 2013.

In her 8-page complaint-affidavit, the complainant narrated that before the incident, she, together with Monfero and another Lipa City Councilor Joey Pua were invited to temporarily stay at the house of Briones while attending the five-day “Introductory Course on Excellence in Local Legislation” at the National College of Public Administration and Governance-University of the Philippines (NCPAG-UP) in Diliman, QC, from June 24 to 28, 2013.

In the said house, the complainant and Briones slept at the latter’s room while Monfero and Pua slept at the guest room for the duration of the training.

A day before the end of their training, Councilors Briones, Pua and the respondent were preparing for their oathtaking in Manila Hotel and their return to Batangas after the ceremony while the complainant was persuaded by Briones’ father, Rep. Nikki Briones, to continue their stay at their house wherein her only companion is their housemaid.

The complainant, who acceded on the offer of Rep. Briones to stay in the house, said that when she arrived at the house on the night of June 27, she decided to just sleep at the guest room since it has an air-conditioning unit.

In the morning of the following day while she was sleeping, the complainant claimed that she seemed to be dreaming since she heard someone is whispering on her ears and kissing her left ear.

The complainant just ignored it since the whispering suddenly stopped then continued her sleep.

After a few minutes, the complainant suddenly awakened when she sensed that someone is lying beside her inside the comforter she was using and her breasts were already exposed.

The complainant further claimed that the already naked respondent went on top of her then started kissing her and licked her breasts despite her struggle.

“Hindi ako makagalaw sapagkat bukod sa nag-aagaw antok at gulat sa pangyayari, hawak-hawak ni Patmon ang aking dalawang kamay at nakaipit ang aking hita habang nakadagan din siya sa aking mga tuhod,” the complainant stated in her complaint.

While the respondent was doing the assault, he allegedly told the complainant that he loves her and that he would leave his family for her.

The complainant, however, did not stop from struggling to free herself but the respondent allegedly continued on licking her breasts until he inserted his finger on her private organ.

The lady councilor punched the head, face and shoulder of the respondent while she was shouting to stop what the latter was doing to her but he ignored her.

While she was struggling, the complainants hed hit one of the corners of a small table located near the bed that resulted in laceration.

The respondent was surprised momentarily when the complainant’s head was hit but resumed his sexual assault on her, who happened to get her cellular phone placed under the pillows.

When Monfero saw the complainant that she was about to call for her help through her cellular phone, he stopped the assault and just seated at the bed.

At this juncture, the complainant stood up, took her cellular phones and bag then ran towards the door but the respondent blocked and embraced her before apologizing to her.

But the complainant struggled again and hit the respondent with her bag then ran towards the room of Councilor Briones where she locked herself and called up a fellow councilor, Leoncio Kiat Jr., asking him to fetch her up.

While the complainant was locked in said room, Monfero knocked on the door and pleaded to just talk about the incident. The complainant, however, did not open the door until Monfero stopped knocking.

The complainant only came out of the room when it was the housemaid of the Brioneses’ knocked on the door.

She went out of the house when Kiat already arrived while the respondent was left inside the house.--Source: Journal Online

SM elevator girl viral (and funny) video

A video of a "funny" mall elevator attendant in Olongapo recently hit the web, drawing laughter among netizens and also inspiring Filipino workers.

The video, posted by a certain Dave Pronto on the video-sharing site YouTube, shows a perky SM City Olongapo elevator attendant identified as Cheridel Alejandrino patiently informing the passengers of establishments found at a specific floor.

She is also seen greeting every elevator passenger, even singing at one point.

The video has inspired many viewers, drawing various positive comments. As of posting time, the video has been viewed over 62,000 times.--Source: ABS-CBN News

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Chito Miranda, Parokya ni Edgar frontman and celebrity girlfriend Neri Naig recently has become another trending news on the web as netizens scour the internet for their sex video.

Chito Miranda, Neri Naig sex video goes viral

The 7:17-minute video shows a naked couple who appear to be Miranda and his television actress sweetheart making love in various sexual positions. It made its unauthorized screen debut on YouTube, but was quickly taken down.

A cat-and-mouse game has since left YouTube pulsating as users sneak to post a copy of the sex tape that the popular video-sharing website would swiftly expunge.

Porn and file-sharing sites have since carried the steamy film.

Miranda, 37, took to Instagram Saturday to say sorry for a “leaked private video of me and my girlfriend” and later tweeted to explain that his computer hard disk drive and “several other stuff” were stolen.

Later that day, the singer-songwriter posted on Instagram a photo of him and 27-year-old Naig on a beach, bearing the caption “Di n’yo kami matitinag.”--Source: Inquirer.net

Below are some photos circulating in the net:

The ban on carrying firearms and employing security personnel shall begin on September 28 when the country officially enters the Barangay and SK election period, based on the Calendar of Activities released by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Gun ban for barangay, SK polls starts Sept 28

The agency also said the gun ban exemptions issued during the May 13 polls will still be honored for the October 28 synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.

"Gun ban exemptions issued in connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections shall be recognized as valid for purposes of the October 28, 2013 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections," said Comelec Resolution 9738.

More than 3,600 individuals, mostly civilians, were arrested before end of the five-month gun ban period. The ban ended last June 12.

On the other hand, Comelec Resolution 9735 said the approved permits in availing security personnel and bodyguards during the May 13 elections shall not be extended for the October elections.

No date has been set yet as to when will the new applications and renewals be accepted, according to the Office of Comelec Commissioner Elias Yusoph. Yusoph was retained as the chairman of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel for the October 28 polls.

Violation of the bans on carrying firearms and employing security personnel shall be punished with imprisonment one to six years, permanent disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right to vote.--Source: Sunstar

Two dogs inside a wire cage were spotted strapped to the roof of an SUV while the car drove at high speeds on South Luzon Expressway in Manila, Philippines.

A photo taken by ABS-CBN’s Charie Villa on Sunday showed the Isuzu Crosswind with plate number UDY 624.

In her Facebook post, Villa said: “Poor puppies on top of an AUV speeding along SLEX. Driver was a woman. The dogs were terrified.”

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said its records show the plate number should be on a Nissan Sentra 1995, not an Isuzu Crosswind. This is an impoundable violation.

Meanwhile, Ashley Fruno -- senior campaigner of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) -- has condemned the woman, saying, “Transporting animals in such conditions would be terrifying for the animals, and puts them at constant exposure to the sweltering heat and downpours, in addition to being dangerous. Dogs are pack animals who like to be with their human ‘pack’ at all times – that means riding inside the car with the family."

PETA has reminded the public to secure their pet animals inside vehicles when travelling.

This is not the first time that a netizen has posted alleged abuses by pet owners.

Some owners have been penalized because of of maltreatment of animals. There were the pictures that went viral on Facebook of a dog in a sack tied to the back of an SUV, as well as a cat left to dry on a clothesline.

The Animal Welfare Act prescribes that, “Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or a fine of not less than one thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or both at the discretion of the Court.”

Some lawmakers are already pushing for amendments to put more teeth to the bill.--Source: ABS-CBN News/Photo by Charie Villa

Scientists unveiled the world's first lab-grown beef burger in London on Monday, frying it in a little oil and butter and serving it to volunteers in what they hope is the start of a food revolution.

World's first test-tube burger tasted in London

The tasters pronounced the 140g patty, developed at a cost of more than USD330,000 (PHP14Million) with backing from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, as "close to meat" in flavour and texture but not as juicy.

The so-called "cultured beef" - dubbed the "Frankenburger" - was made using strands of meat grown from muscle cells taken from a living cow, mixed with salt, egg powder and breadcrumbs and coloured with beetroot juice and saffron.--Source: Straits Times

A Swedish father panicked as his wife gave birth to the couple's third child in the family car en route to the hospital, causing the car to roll over four times, but all survived in good condition.

Swedish baby survives car crash after birth

Mokhles Raheema said his wife was in the passenger seat on Sunday as he was rushing her to a maternity ward in the eastern city of Gavle when she began giving birth.

"She told me, 'she's coming out, she's coming out!' " Mr Raheema told public television on Monday.

"I saw my daughter come out and fall headfirst onto the floor" of the car, he said.

His eyes left the road, and the car veered into a ditch before rolling over four times, he said.

When the car came to rest, Mr Raheema said his wife was beside him and their other two children, aged one and eight, were in the backseat and conscious, but he could not see the baby.

Finally he spotted her under the passenger seat, "under her mum".

"I fetched her and held her against me. She was crying," Mr Raheema said.

"I feel better. But I hurt all over," said the mother, Samaher Mezban.

Emergency workers, alerted by a passing motorist, drove the family to the hospital, all in good condition.

Mr Raheema said he was sorry that he had totalled the car, which belonged to a friend.--Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Rapper 50 Cent, on Monday, pleaded not guilty to a domestic abuse charge stemming from a June incident where he allegedly attacked his former girlfriend -- Filipina model-actress Daphne Narvaez -- and also trashed her Toluca Lake, Calif., condo, E!News reported.

50 Cent and Daphne Narvaez

The 38-year-old rapper, whose original name is Curtis Jackson, has also been slapped with a restraining order, which prevents him from coming within 100 yards of Narvaez. The rapper, who was in a three-year relationship with Narvaez, has been asked to avoid any sort of contact with her.

According to reports, the court order also requires 50 Cent to either hand over firearms in his possession to authorities or to sell them to a federally-licensed arms dealer.

Reportedly, 50 Cent got into a spat with Narvaez on June 23 and he attempted to break down her bedroom door and kicked her, causing an unspecified injury. The rapper is also said to have damaged furniture, chandeliers, a television set and a table lamp, destroying property worth $7,000 in Narvaez's house.

50 Cent, who was later charged with misdemeanor domestic violence and four counts of vandalism, had left the house by the time cops arrived.

He is due back in court on Sept. 4 for a pre-trial hearing, and if convicted, the rapper could face up to five years in jail and $46,000 in fines.

Shortly after his court appearance on Monday, 50 Cent took to his Instagram account to post an inspirational message, probably hinting at his recent legal troubles. The photo is that of a pair of sneakers with the message, "Step into my shoes and walk the life I'm living and if you get as far as I am, just maybe you will see how strong I really am."

In a press statement, a representative for Narvaez requested privacy for her during this time.

Narvaez played a mermaid in the Johnny Depp-starrer "Pirates of the Carribean" and also appeared on TV shows such as "CSI: Las Vegas" and "Criminal Minds."

Daphne Narvaez is known in her screen name Daphne Joy

In a previous interview with ABS-CBN, Narvaez talked about growing up in the Philippines. "It's great that I grew up in the Philippines. I lived in a very humble environment and I think everything I have now, I appreciate so much more," she said.

50 Cent and Narvaez were together for three years and had a child.-- Source: IBT/ABS-CBN News

An Indonesian passenger plane has skidded off a runway into a field after crashing into a cow.

The Lion Air plane, with at least 110 passengers on board, hit the cow as it came into land at Jalaluddin airport on the island of Sulawesi.

No-one has been reported injured, but the cow was crushed to death under a plane wheel.

The pilot, Iwan Permadi, told the national news agency Antara that he could smell "burning meat".

He said he initially thought there were dogs in front of the plane, "but it turned out there were three cows wandering in the middle of the runway".

Transport ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told AFP news agency that all the passengers had safely disembarked.

The airport was closed after the incident, affecting people's travel plans for the Eid holiday. It has now reopened.

Indonesia relies heavily on air travel to connect its more than 17,000 islands, but the country has one of Asia's worst air safety records.

Lion Air is one of Indonesia's biggest private carriers, and has been expanding rapidly in recent years.

In April this year, at least 22 people needed hospital treatment when a Lion Air plane on a domestic flight missed the runway at Bali's Denpasar airport and came down in the sea.--Source: BBC News

The production company that owns the rights to the pornographic movie "Deep Throat" filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block distribution of the upcoming movie "Lovelace," a biography of the adult film's star.

Amanda Seyfried poses in the "Lovelace" movie poster

Amanda Seyfried poses in a "Lovelace" movie poster

Arrow Productions Ltd, the owner of the rights to the 1972 film, filed a $10 million copyright lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan against the producers of the movie, starring Amanda Seyfried, and its distributor, The Weinstein Company.

"Lovelace" chronicles the formative years of porn star Linda Lovelace (born Linda Boreman), her abusive marriage to Chuck Traynor, played by Peter Sarsgaard, and how she came to work on "Deep Throat."

The lawsuit contends that the production company used more than five minutes of footage from "Deep Throat" without a license or permission.

The title "Lovelace" gets its market appeal entirely from the cultural cachet of the trademarked name Linda Lovelace, Arrow Productions said.

"Defendants use that title without license or permission," the lawsuit said.

Representative for the defendants, who include Millennium Films Inc and United Entertainment Inc, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"Lovelace" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. It is set to be released in theaters and available to video on demand customers on Friday.

"Arrow and its partners were surprised to hear about (the film) 'Lovelace,' because no one had approached Arrow for a license to use any of Arrow's intellectual property," the lawsuit said.

Arrow said it approached production company Millennium Films Inc as early as December 2010.

In a December 2011 letter attached to the lawsuit, a lawyer for Millennium wrote Arrow's lawyer saying it was his client's view "Lovelace" did not violate Arrow's trademarks and copyrights.

The producers had a First Amendment right to use the name and likeness of Lovelace and depict her in connection with the production of "Deep Throat," wrote Donald Gordon, the lawyer for Millennium.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the distribution and marketing of "Lovelace," an accounting of all profits and revenues from the film, and damages of at least $10 million.

Linda Lovelace, who later in life became an anti-pornography activist, died in 2002 at age 53 from injuries she received in a car crash.--Source: The New Age

Four died after a failed robbery at the Robinsons supermarket in Rosario, Pasig City at around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night.

Eastern Police Director Miguel Laurel said the four include merchandiser Nonie Onas, and security guards Melanie Velga and Frederick Perez, Jr.

Hernani Lupera, a former security guard there, allegedly asked one employee to let him and three other companions in. They declared a robbery when they reached the main office.

The three unnamed suspects brought out Onas, Velga, Perez and information clerk Daisy Devanadera. The latter tried to fight them off, forcing the robbers to fire shots at them.

One of the security guards, Juanito Bordadora, managed to strike Lupera with a metal pipe several times. When the three other suspects saw their colleague die, they panicked and immediately left without opening the office vault.

Police are now assessing whether the incident was an inside job. They said they will study the contents of the CCTVs installed.--Source: DZMM

Six areas are now under storm warning signal number 3 as Typhoon Labuyo (international codename Utor) barrels toward Luzon Sunday, August 11.

Labuyo was 160 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 270 km east northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.7°N, 125.6°E), as of 10 am, carrying maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h and gusts of up to 185 km/h.

Storm warning signal number 3 has been raised over the following areas:

Catanduanes
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Northern Quezon including Polilio Island
Aurora
Isabela

These provinces will have winds between 101-185 km/h expected within 18 hours, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 am severe weather bulletin.

Heavy damage to agriculture and property is possible, along with moderate to heavy disruption to communications and power systems. Any type of travel - land, sea, or air - is dangerous.

Storm warning signal number 2, where winds between 61-100 km/h can be expected within 24 hours, is in effect over the following areas:

Albay
Sorsogon
Rizal
Rest of Quezon
Laguna
Bulacan
Nueva Ecija
Quirino
Nueva Viscaya
Benguet
Ifugao
Mountain Province
Kalinga
Cagayan

These areas can expect moderate damage to agriculture, as well as to structures made of light materials. Travel by air or sea is risky.

Storm warning signal number 1, meanwhile, is in effect over the following areas:

Calayan Group of Islands
Babuyan Group of Islands
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Apayao
Abra
La Union
Pangasinan
Tarlac
Zambales
Pampanga
Bataan
Cavite
Batangas
Marinduque
Burias
Ticao Islands
Metro Manila

These places can expect winds 45-60 km/h within the next 36 hours.

Some damage to agriculture may be experienced, and structures made of light materials may be partially damaged. Small seacraft are advised to stay ashore in these areas.

In all areas under storm warning signals, flash flooding, landslides, and storm surges are possible, and residents are warned to be on the lookout for these.

The typhoon can further intensify, since it is still at sea. Rainfall within the typhoon's 600 km diameter is estimated to be heavy to intense (7.5-25 mm/h).

"Ito po ang pinakamalakas na bagyo so far this year… na tatama sa kalupaan" (It is the strongest typhoon to make landfall this year), PAGASA OIC Director Vicente Malano said in a press conference.

The bureau has sent a storm-chasing team to monitor the typhoon in Aurora, and will coordinate with the local disaster risk reduction management council there, Malano said.

PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said the storm is moving slowly. The bureau said it is moving at a speed of 19 km/h.

PAGASA forecasts Labuyo to follow a west-northwest direction going towards Aurora, and is forecast to make landfall in the northern part of the province early Monday morning, August 12. It will traverse northern Luzon Monday, and will exit in the area of the Ilocos provinces.

It will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday.

Labuyo will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rain to the rest of the country.--Source: Rappler

A woman cut off her husband’s penis in a fit of jealous rage shortly after they checked into a motel in Pasay City, southern Manila before midnight on Sunday.

Despite his injury, Rodolfo del Rosario, a 51-year-old businessman, managed to bring himself to Pasay City General Hospital where doctors said he remained under observation.

They were unable, however, to reattach the severed portion of his organ because investigators had yet to find it.

Also, the only person who could tell them where it was—Radina, the victim’s 34-year-old wife—fled right after the incident, taking with her the bladed weapon she used to mutilate her husband.

Senior Supt. Rodolfo Llorca, Pasay police chief, said that Radina was likely to face criminal charges, including serious physical injury.

Del Rosario, meanwhile, told the police that his wife had been accusing him of having an affair with another woman.

The incident happened shortly after the couple from Tondo, Manila, checked into one of the rooms at Galaxy Lodge on Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

Llorca said a staffer of the motel, Nestor Daganato, told investigators that he showed the Del Rosarios to their room at 11:50 p.m. on Sunday.

Daganato added that about 30 minutes later, he saw Radina rushing out of the room, followed by her husband who was naked.

He said that he noticed that Del Rosario was walking awkwardly and had covered his privates with a piece of cloth that had blood on it.

Daganato added that the victim shouted for help and begged him to bring him to the hospital as his organ had been cut off.

As Del Rosario asked the motel staffer for help, his wife ran out of the establishment, flagged down a taxi cab and escaped.

“The room boy left for a second and when he returned to the room, the victim [was gone]. He apparently decided to bring himself to the hospital,” Llorca said.

At Pasay City General Hospital, attending physicians told the police that the victim was still under observation. The damage to his organ, however, could no longer be reversed, they said.

Llorca said that after the incident, investigators went to the room where the victim and his wife checked in but they found out that the crime scene had been cleaned. In fact, the room was already occupied by another customer, he added.

The police learned through a brief interview with Del Rosario that right after he and Radina checked into the motel, he fell asleep because he was drunk. It was at this time that his wife cut off his organ using a bladed weapon.

Sunday’s incident was not the first “below the belt” crime in Metro Manila.

In 2008, traffic enforcer Joelito Bayabado had his manhood cut off by his wife who had long suspected him of being unfaithful to her.

Doctors, however, managed to reattach the severed organ and Bayabado decided not to press charges against his wife for the sake of their four children.

In the United States, John Wayne Bobbitt became an international celebrity in June 1993 after his wife, Lorena, sliced his penis off.

Lorena, who accused her husband of abusing her physically, emotionally and sexually, was eventually found not guilty of malicious wounding due to temporary insanity.--Source: Inquirer.net

The University of the Philippines Street Dance Club once again took home the bronze at the Megacrew Division at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship held August 11 (August 12 MNL) in Las Vegas, USA.

UP Street Dance Club wins 3rd place in World Hip Hop

The group tails behind Praise Team from Canada, which won silver, and Royal Family from New Zealand, which took the gold.

The UP Street Dance Club, which also bagged 3rd place in last year's MegaCrew competition, was consistently among the top scoring teams in the eliminations.

In the semi-finals, they placed 2nd with a score of 8.75, coming short of Royal Family's score of 8.97.

During last Thursday’s MegaCrew preliminaries, the Philippine flags were waved high for the top 3 teams from the Philippines.

Also representing the Philippines in the MegaCrew finals were preliminary 1st placers and semi-finals 4th placers, La Salle Dance Company Street.

Meanwhile, Pinoy bets Philippine AllStars, which placed 3rd in the Adult Division prelims, were bested by teams Rockwell from Canada (Gold), Identity from New Zealand (Silver), and Elecoldxhot from Malaysia (Bronze).

A total of 9 teams representing the Philippines competed during the 6-day competition.

Other participating Pinoy crews rocking the world hip-hop stage during the preliminaries and semi-finals include Legit Status, A Team, and LMN for the Varsity division; ADDLIB and Unschooled for the Adult division; and the MegaCrew team of the Philippine Allstars.

Top crews from all over the world battled it out for the top spots in Junior, Varisity, Adult, and MegaCrew divisions.

Canada proved to be this year’s big winners as Canadian teams placed 1st in the Junior, Varsity, and Adult divisions and 2nd in the Megacrew division.

It’s a hat trick for New Zealand MegaCrew, Royal Family, which has yet to be dethroned since the inclusion of the MegaCrew division in the 2011 competition.

Here is the complete list of winners announced on Hip Hop International’s Facebook page:

MegaCrew Division

Gold: Royal Family (New Zealand)
Silver: Praise Team (Canada)
Bronze: UP Street Dance (Philippines)
Adult Division

Gold: Rockwell (Canada)
Silver: Identity (New Zealand)
Bronze: Elecoldxhot (Malaysia)
Junior Division

Gold: Flip (Canada)
Silver: Bubblegum (New Zealand)
Bronze: Shiny-T (Japan)
Varsity Division

Gold: Brotherhood (Canada)
Silver: Sol-T-Shine (Japan)
Bronze: Sorority (New Zealand)

--Source: Rappler

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Actress Sunshine Cruz has accused her estranged husband, actor Cesar Montano, of subjecting her to physical, psychological and sexual abuse, claiming that on Mother’s Day, he went to her house and raped her.

Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz

“On or about May 12, 2013, respondent suddenly barged into complainant’s residence where she was then alone, and then and there, respondent violently attacked her, employed physical violence and raped the complainant,” Cruz said in her complaint which she filed Tuesday in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Aside from marital rape, she also accused Montano of violating Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence against Women and Children’s Act of 2004, saying he had been subjecting her to emotional and physical battery since January this year.

Cruz blamed his manner for the deterioration of their 13-year marriage and further claimed that he took their daughters without her permission last month and has since refused to let her see them.

Sought for comment, Montano’s lawyer, Joel Ferrer, said in a text message to the Inquirer that he and his client would reply to the charges once they get a copy of the complaint.

Inquirer also contacted the actor’s talent manager, Shirley Pizarro, who gave a similar reply.

In her nine-page complaint, Cruz described Montano as a “very domineering, philandering husband [who] demanded full submission and obedience from the complainant while he continually [prohibited her] from inquiring [into] his own affairs.”

She recalled that every time she asked about his activities, Montano would react with “harsh verbal abuse.”

Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz, with daughters

She recalled an incident in February during which she and her three daughters were forced to leave their home because of her husband’s “abusive behavior,” thus depriving their children of support, shelter and means of going to school.

Cruz also claimed that when she decided to move out of their house, Montano hit her.

“Respondent continued and still continues to harass complainant by threatening her with physical harm, obscene accusations and grave defamation,” she said, citing a series of angry text messages that Montano sent her on June 10.

On July 29, Cruz added, Montano fetched their three daughters from school without her permission and brought them to his home. When she asked him to return their children to her, he “deliberately and forcibly refused.”

She said in her complaint that her husband’s continued custody of their daughters would be prejudicial to their normal growth and development due to his extra-marital relationship with another woman.

Cruz earlier asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to issue a temporary protection order (TPO) and, subsequently, a permanent protection order (PPO) in her favor.

The court, however, denied her petition for a TPO while it has yet to resolve the second motion.

Starlet Krista Miller

The couple separated early this year following reports linking the actor to starlet Krista Miller. Montano, who won acclaim for his portrayal of national hero Jose Rizal, twice ran unsuccessfully for public office, first, for senator in 2007 and Bohol governor in 2010. Source: Inquirer.net

Oprah Winfrey said she was sorry for the uproar and media response caused by her comments about an incident in a Swiss luxury store last month when an assistant refused to show her a $38 100 (roughly PHP1.6 million) handbag.

Oprah Winfrey

At the premiere of her new film, “Lee Daniels' The Butler,” in Los Angles on Monday evening, the U.S. actress and talk show host, recently named by Forbes as the world's most powerful celebrity, said she regretted saying it took place in Switzerland.

“I'm really sorry that it got blown up. I purposefully did not mention the name of the store. I'm sorry that I said it was Switzerland,” she told reporters on the red carpet.

“I was just referencing it as an example of being in a place where people don't expect that you would be able to be there,” she added.

Winfrey, 59, said in television interviews last week that while she was in Switzerland for the wedding of singer Tina Turner last month a sales assistant in a Zurich shop had refused to show her a luxury handbag by designer Tom Ford, saying it was “too expensive” and instead suggested cheaper bags.

Speaking anonymously, the assistant at Trois Pommes, in Zurich, Switzerland (pictured)
said it is 'absolutely not true that I declined to show her the bag on racist grounds'

Swiss tourism officials said it regretted the incident and the owner of the Tom Ford boutique, luxury shop operator Trois Pommes, denied racism, saying it was a misunderstanding.

“This has nothing to do with racism. I am here for everyone and the customer is king,” shop owner Trudie Goetz said last week.

Goetz added that the sales assistant had wanted to show Winfrey, who earned an estimated $77 million in the year to June 2013, that the bag was available in other materials, which may have given the impression that the shop did not want to sell it to her.

Shop owner Trudie Goetz holds up the handbag (right) that Winfrey wanted to see

“It's not an indictment against the country or even that store,” Winfrey explained. “It was just one person who didn't want to offer me the opportunity to see the bag, so no apologies necessary from the country of Switzerland.”

In “The Butler,” which deals with race issues and opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, Winfrey plays the wife of an African-American butler who worked at the White House for eight U.S. presidents.--Source: Independent Online

A video of Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres showing her betting in front of a casino slot machine has been circulating in the net via the video sharing site YouTube.

LTO Chief Virginia Torres

Rumored to have gotten one of the nation's plum post because she was one of the shooting buddies (“kabarilan”) of President Benigno Aquino III, she used to head the LTO-Tarlac office during Pnoy's stint there as a congressman.

When interviewed by ABS-CBN News, Torres alleged that the video was taken probably "way back" and that she was only "curious" to see colorful "lights" of the casino slot machines.

Philippine laws prohibits government officials, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from entering casinos and engaging in any forms of gambling.

In December 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the dismissal from service of Torres for her alleged complicity in the takeover of the Stradcom office.

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