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One week after battering Antonio Margarito for his eighth world title, Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao returned to a hero’s welcome early Saturday. Pacquiao arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines   flight   at 6:19 a.m., and received loud applause at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 past 6:30 a.m. “Ang karangalan na ito ay di [lang] para sa pamilya ko o sa aking sarili kundi para sa ating lahat na mga Pilipino. Saan man sulok ng mundo tayo magpunta ikarangal nating lahat ang ating pagka-Pilipino  (This honor is not only for me or my family but for all Filipinos. Wherever we go, we should be proud to be Filipinos)," he said in an arrival statement. He also hinted he is not yet through with boxing, saying he is inclined to return to the 140- to 147-pound weight class for his next bout. Pacquiao also belied speculations he did not want to tangle with African-American boxers. “Wala pang tsuma-challenge e

MINA, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has unveiled an elevated light-rail that will shuttle some Muslims beginning the hajj Sunday between Islam's holy sites, part of plans to turn the ancient city of Mecca into a modern metropolis and ease crowding during the annual pilgrimage. The four-day Islamic pilgrimage draws around 2.5 million worshippers each year, and the large numbers present authorities with a challenge in preventing stampedes, fires in pilgrim encampments and the spread of disease. Dubbed the Mecca Metro, the new 11-mile (18-kilometer) light-railway is to begin shuttling pilgrims between holy sites Monday, although it's reserved for Saudis and citizens of other Gulf nations until it becomes fully operational next year. The train is just part of a bold plan to transform Mecca into a modern, high-tech city and increase the number of pilgrims it can host annually from the current 10 million to around 50 million by 2020. "We are trying to make Mecca the

PULLMAN (AP) – It's usually cheaper to fly one way, even to Mars. Two scientists are suggesting that colonization of the  red  planet  could happen faster and more economically if astronauts behaved like the first settlers to come to North America — not expecting to go home. "The main point is to get Mars exploration moving," said Dirk Schulze-Makuch, a Washington State University professor who co-authored an article that seriously proposes what sounds like a preposterous idea. At least one moon-walking astronaut was not impressed. "This is premature," Ed Mitchell of Apollo 14 wrote in an e-mail. "We aren't ready for this yet." Also cool to the idea was NASA. President Barack Obama has already outlined a plan to go to Mars by the mid-2030s, but he never suggested these space travelers wouldn't come home. "We want our people back," NASA spokesman Michael Braukus said. The article titled "To Boldly Go" appears in the latest is

The recruitment and deployment of foreign workers, including Filipinos, for the construction of US Navy facilities in the island of Guam will begin during the last quarter of 2011 and not earlier as previously reported, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).   In a   statement , the POEA said prospective overseas Filipino workers will have to wait another year for the project’s construction phase to commence. The Department of   Labor   and Employment (DOLE)   earlier reported   that the construction project – a naval hospital worth US$700 million – is set to be awarded by the end of September this year, and the construction will begin by the first quarter of 2011.   According to the POEA statement, the project’s design phase will start during the first half of the 2011 as many of the construction projects are of build-and-design type, and construction activity in the island will begin during the second half.   The statement said initial bids and request

MANILA, Philippines—However difficult it may be to swallow, the Philippines is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. According to the latest Transparency International global corruption index, the country continues to be in the “highly corrupt’’ category, ranking 134th out of the 178 countries included in the index. In Asia Pacific, the Philippines occupies the 26th spot out of a total 33 economies. But it is not too late to make a positive change. The Aquino government has six years to make good on its promise to drastically reduce, if not eradicate, corruption in the country. Given the current situation, however, this is quite a tall order. Impossible even, if government will be expected to do the job alone. This is why various business groups have decided to help make this dream of an almost corruption-free Philippines come true. Late last year, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Makati Business Club banded together to launch the Integ

CHICAGO – Some 57 young Filipino-American students who were on vacation from their schools here spent their summer learning about an important thing: their roots.   After three consecutive Saturdays, the students last week their Certificates of Attendance for completing this year’s pilot summer class on Philippine language and culture, part of the project dubbed “Eskwelahang Pinoy sa Konsulado 2010." The students recited Filipino poems and delivered speeches in Tagalog for the closing program. There was also a community singing of the trademark Filipino folk song “Bahay Kubo", accompanied by the Philippine Rondalla.   In his remarks, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim thanked the Filipino community for its “enthusiastic response" to the program.   “We thank the Filipino community in Chicago for joining us in this journey of self discovery. All of us moved closer towards a realization of our identity as Filipino and fully aware of the richness of our culture and heritage.

A Filipino high school student from the Philippine School in Bahrain topped a recently concluded Inter-School Speech competition in Manama. High school senior Karen Marie Dotado won championship trophy and a $300 cash prize in the competition organized by the Bahrain-India Educational and Cultural Forum. "In her prize-winning speech, Ms. Dotado pointed out that people should re-live and re-animate the ideals exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi who fought and died to build what can truly be called United Nations, and let the evils of our society sharpen and polish our global consciousness towards world peace and harmony," the   Department of Foreign Affairs said . The event was held on October 2 at the Indian Club Auditorium in Manama, it added. Some 10 pupils from different schools in Bahrain participated in the competition and delivered speeches with the theme of highlighting the need for global peace and harmony. The DFA said the event was also held under the patronage of United

Photo courtesy of DFA.Gov.Ph Three Filipino English teachers were recognized as outstanding foreign experts by China's Jilin Province for contributing to the province's economic and social development. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, the Department of Foreign Affairs identified the three as Ma. Socorro Rodriguez, Arnel Genzola and Lileth Mesias Reyes. "We are very proud for our Filipino awardees for their achievement. It was recognition of their talent and dedication while practicing their craft in China. More importantly, they continue to serve as ambassadors of goodwill as we continue to strengthen our people-to-people links with the Chinese people," the Philippine Embassy said in a statement posted on the DFA website. An article on the DFA website said the three were among 59 foreign experts who received citations on September 28 in ceremonies at Jilin's capital town Changchun. The awarding rites were part of the province's celebrati

MANILA, Philippines - The Math whiz kids of the Philippines arrived home Saturday night after winning 19 medals in the 7th International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO) for Primary Schools in Bali last week. The Philippine delegation arrived on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 504.                                                           Farrell Eldrian Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy in Taguig City and Clyde Wesley Ang of Chiang Kai Shek College in Manila won gold medals in the competition. Wu gained a bronze medal in the same competition last year. Andrew Brandon Ong of Chiang Kai Shek College and Miguel Lorenzo Ildesa of Westbridge School in Iloilo City, on the other hand, won silver medals.                                           The delegation was trained by the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines. It’s president, Dr. Simon Chua, expressed pride for the accomplishment of the Philippine team.          “Our math whiz kids have again made us proud,” he said. Fi