abhi_the _gr8_maratha
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Philippines : News and Discussion
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abhi_the _gr8_maratha
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Thousands of American and Philippine
troops launched large annual
exercises Monday after US President
Barack Obama vowed "ironclad"
backing for its Asian ally, locked in a
tense maritime row with China.
Filipino Foreign Secretary Albert del
Rosario said the 10-day drills were
necessary to deal with the challenge
of "aggressive" neighbors intent on
"changing the status quo."
He did not mention China directly, but
Beijing has been robust in its efforts to
assert territorial claims over most of
the South China Sea, putting a strain
on its relationships with neighboring
countries.
"In recent years tensions in the Asia-
Pacific region have increased due to
extensive and expansive maritime and
territorial claims undermining the rule
of law," del Rosario said at the opening
ceremony.
"Aggressive patterns of behavior
aimed at changing the status quo
threaten peace and stability in the
region."
He added that the military exercise,
known as Balikatan (Shoulder to
Shoulder), with its focus on "maritime
capability", boosted the Philippines'
ability to "address these challenges."
In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said her
government hoped that efforts of "all
parties in this region ... (were)
conducive to regional peace and
stability."
State-run China Daily newspaper last
week said that US has presented itself
as a "security threat" to China by
joining its "trouble-making allies" in
ganging up against Beijing.
The Philippines on March 30 filed a
formal plea asking a United Nations
arbitration tribunal to declare what
Manila said was Beijing's claim to 70
percent of the South China Sea as
illegal and a threat to freedom of
navigation.
The seabed is believed to contain huge
deposits of oil and gas and the waters
straddle vital sea lanes.
Beijing has rejected UN arbitration and
urged Manila to settle the dispute
through bilateral talks instead.
About 2,500 US soldiers are joining
3,000 Filipino troops in the maneuvers,
which began a week after President
Obama assured Manila his government
was committed to a 1951 mutual
defense treaty.
Dozens of Australian troops, including
Special Forces, are also taking part this
year as the Philippines seeks to
include other key allies in the region.
Looking to raise its regional defense
platform, Australia will be bringing P-3
Orion surveillance aircraft to the drills
to help boost Manila's "maritime
domain awareness," said Wing
Commander Nicholas Pratt of the
Royal Australian Air Force.
He said the aircraft would be operating
out of the western Philippine island of
Palawan, fronting the disputed waters.
Meet 21st Century Challenges
Also last week, the US and the
Philippines bolstered their security
alliance with a new agreement giving
American forces greater access to
Philippine bases — part of a US
rebalancing towards rising Asia.
The deal allows US forces, vessels and
equipment into up to five Filipino bases
over the next 10 years, the hosts said.
"The (new agreement) updates and
strengthens US-Philippine defense
cooperation to meet 21st century
challenges," US ambassador to the
Philippines Philip Goldberg said
Monday.
Obama's four-nation Asian tour was
dominated by worsening maritime
tensions between Beijing and
Washington's allies in the region,
which have triggered fears of military
conflict.
The Philippines, which has one of the
weakest militaries in the region, has
repeatedly called on the United States
for help as China has increased
military and diplomatic pressure to
take control of the contested areas.
While Obama sought to reassure the
Philippines that the United States
would support its ally in the event of
an attack, he did not specifically
mention coming to the aid of Manila if
there were a conflict over the
contested South China Sea areas, as
his hosts had hoped.
But he ended his trip with a warning to
China against using force in territorial
disputes.
The war games will feature live-fire
drills, search-and-rescue operations
and humanitarian response scenarios
in several locations.
There will also be demonstrations of
maritime surveillance systems and
ship-to-shore landing exercises on the
hosts' west coast, facing the disputed
waters.
troops launched large annual
exercises Monday after US President
Barack Obama vowed "ironclad"
backing for its Asian ally, locked in a
tense maritime row with China.
Filipino Foreign Secretary Albert del
Rosario said the 10-day drills were
necessary to deal with the challenge
of "aggressive" neighbors intent on
"changing the status quo."
He did not mention China directly, but
Beijing has been robust in its efforts to
assert territorial claims over most of
the South China Sea, putting a strain
on its relationships with neighboring
countries.
"In recent years tensions in the Asia-
Pacific region have increased due to
extensive and expansive maritime and
territorial claims undermining the rule
of law," del Rosario said at the opening
ceremony.
"Aggressive patterns of behavior
aimed at changing the status quo
threaten peace and stability in the
region."
He added that the military exercise,
known as Balikatan (Shoulder to
Shoulder), with its focus on "maritime
capability", boosted the Philippines'
ability to "address these challenges."
In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said her
government hoped that efforts of "all
parties in this region ... (were)
conducive to regional peace and
stability."
State-run China Daily newspaper last
week said that US has presented itself
as a "security threat" to China by
joining its "trouble-making allies" in
ganging up against Beijing.
The Philippines on March 30 filed a
formal plea asking a United Nations
arbitration tribunal to declare what
Manila said was Beijing's claim to 70
percent of the South China Sea as
illegal and a threat to freedom of
navigation.
The seabed is believed to contain huge
deposits of oil and gas and the waters
straddle vital sea lanes.
Beijing has rejected UN arbitration and
urged Manila to settle the dispute
through bilateral talks instead.
About 2,500 US soldiers are joining
3,000 Filipino troops in the maneuvers,
which began a week after President
Obama assured Manila his government
was committed to a 1951 mutual
defense treaty.
Dozens of Australian troops, including
Special Forces, are also taking part this
year as the Philippines seeks to
include other key allies in the region.
Looking to raise its regional defense
platform, Australia will be bringing P-3
Orion surveillance aircraft to the drills
to help boost Manila's "maritime
domain awareness," said Wing
Commander Nicholas Pratt of the
Royal Australian Air Force.
He said the aircraft would be operating
out of the western Philippine island of
Palawan, fronting the disputed waters.
Meet 21st Century Challenges
Also last week, the US and the
Philippines bolstered their security
alliance with a new agreement giving
American forces greater access to
Philippine bases — part of a US
rebalancing towards rising Asia.
The deal allows US forces, vessels and
equipment into up to five Filipino bases
over the next 10 years, the hosts said.
"The (new agreement) updates and
strengthens US-Philippine defense
cooperation to meet 21st century
challenges," US ambassador to the
Philippines Philip Goldberg said
Monday.
Obama's four-nation Asian tour was
dominated by worsening maritime
tensions between Beijing and
Washington's allies in the region,
which have triggered fears of military
conflict.
The Philippines, which has one of the
weakest militaries in the region, has
repeatedly called on the United States
for help as China has increased
military and diplomatic pressure to
take control of the contested areas.
While Obama sought to reassure the
Philippines that the United States
would support its ally in the event of
an attack, he did not specifically
mention coming to the aid of Manila if
there were a conflict over the
contested South China Sea areas, as
his hosts had hoped.
But he ended his trip with a warning to
China against using force in territorial
disputes.
The war games will feature live-fire
drills, search-and-rescue operations
and humanitarian response scenarios
in several locations.
There will also be demonstrations of
maritime surveillance systems and
ship-to-shore landing exercises on the
hosts' west coast, facing the disputed
waters.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
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- Apr 15, 2014
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The Department of National Defense
(DND) accepted the motions for
reconsideration of two foreign
shipbuilding firms that seek to join the
bidding for Philippine Navy's frigate
program, a Navy official said.
India state-owned Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers, Ltd. and
STX France, SA from Europe joined the
P18-billion project to boost the
country's maritime forces with new
warships, Navy technical working
group head Commodore Roland
Mercado said in a state news report on
Thursday.
DND earlier excluded the firms from
the program due to deficiency in
documents, but were recently
reconsidered by the agency's Special
Bidding Awards Committee after
renewing their application.The firms
now join Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures)
of Spain, and South Korean contractors
STX Offshore and Shipbuilding,
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine
Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai
Heavy Industries, Inc. which have
passed the first stage of the bidding
process. Mercado said the Defense
officials are now conducting technical
discussions with Garden Reach and
STX France. The discussions will aid
DND to draft final technical
specifications of the required frigates,
Mercado explained.
He added that the committee was also
tasked to closely scrutinize the hull,
power plant, communications systems
and weapons systems in the frigate
designs submitted.
(DND) accepted the motions for
reconsideration of two foreign
shipbuilding firms that seek to join the
bidding for Philippine Navy's frigate
program, a Navy official said.
India state-owned Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers, Ltd. and
STX France, SA from Europe joined the
P18-billion project to boost the
country's maritime forces with new
warships, Navy technical working
group head Commodore Roland
Mercado said in a state news report on
Thursday.
DND earlier excluded the firms from
the program due to deficiency in
documents, but were recently
reconsidered by the agency's Special
Bidding Awards Committee after
renewing their application.The firms
now join Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures)
of Spain, and South Korean contractors
STX Offshore and Shipbuilding,
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine
Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai
Heavy Industries, Inc. which have
passed the first stage of the bidding
process. Mercado said the Defense
officials are now conducting technical
discussions with Garden Reach and
STX France. The discussions will aid
DND to draft final technical
specifications of the required frigates,
Mercado explained.
He added that the committee was also
tasked to closely scrutinize the hull,
power plant, communications systems
and weapons systems in the frigate
designs submitted.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
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- 2,193
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- 609
The Philippines
hopes to complete this month
negotiations for the acquisition of
three Israeli-made aerial radars worth
P2.68 billion that will be used to
monitor disputed areas in the West
Philippine Sea.
Defense Undersecretary Eduardo
Batac told The STAR that department
officials have completed the pre-
negotiations for the project, which
seeks to boost the country's capability
to detect aerial intrusions.
"We have finished the pre-
negotiations. That was actually a
marathon negotiation for two weeks,"
Batac said.
"Hopefully within May, we can finish
(formal negotiations) because we are
really putting priority to this," he
added.
The three radars would be acquired
from Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. -
Elta through government-to-
government transaction.
"This is very important. This should
precede the acquisition of all our air
defense aircraft. We have to have the
eyes, the ability to detect intrusions
into our airspace before we can even
scramble our air assets," Batac said.
"We cannot let our fighters roam
around our skies because it would be
too costly. We scramble them on the
basis of a detection report which is
done by the radars," he added.
Batac, however, said that they could
only start the talks once the special
allotment release order (SARO) for the
project is released.
"We cannot enter into formal
negotiations until we have the SARO
because the moment we enter into
formal negotiations, there are already
commitments both on the part of the
supplier and us. There are some things
which are to be prepared by us when
the equipment arrives," he said.
Such requirements, Batac said, include
roads leading to the site of the radar
station and basing support facilities.
President Aquino and Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin have to
approve the project's terms of
reference, he added.
The pre-negotiation for the project
was finished last March, about two
weeks after a Philippine delegation led
by Gazmin visited Israel.
Defense officials from the Philippines
and Israel have signed an
implementing agreement that provides
the guidelines for the formal
negotiations.
Batac said the radars could also be
used for civil aviation purposes, noting
that the country derives income from
aircraft flying within its airspace.
"We have to have a basis other than
their (aircraft) reporting to track their
entry and exit from our flight
information region," he said.
Last February, Israel offered to provide
excess defense articles to the
Philippines, widely viewed as one of
the weakest in the region in terms of
military capability.
The matter was discussed during a
bilateral meeting of Gazmin and Israeli
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon in Tel
Aviv.
Israel also offered assistance in the
development of command, control,
communications, computers and
intelligence capabilities.
Meanwhile, the military vowed to
continue boosting the morale of
soldiers guarding the Ayungin (Second
Thomas) Shoal following the
successful air drop of food supplies in
the area last Saturday.
Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt.
Col. Ramon Zagala said that the
Marines stationed on the BRP Sierra
Madre, the rusty ship that ran aground
in the shoal and serves as a makeshift
military detachment in the area, were
given the sensitive task of defending
Philippine sovereignty.
"We won't neglect them. They have an
important role to do and that is protect
our national interest," Zagala said in a
phone interview.
"They can expect more morale-
boosting support. (We will deliver) not
just supplies but letters and presents
from civilians. Those little things are
very important to them," he added.
hopes to complete this month
negotiations for the acquisition of
three Israeli-made aerial radars worth
P2.68 billion that will be used to
monitor disputed areas in the West
Philippine Sea.
Defense Undersecretary Eduardo
Batac told The STAR that department
officials have completed the pre-
negotiations for the project, which
seeks to boost the country's capability
to detect aerial intrusions.
"We have finished the pre-
negotiations. That was actually a
marathon negotiation for two weeks,"
Batac said.
"Hopefully within May, we can finish
(formal negotiations) because we are
really putting priority to this," he
added.
The three radars would be acquired
from Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. -
Elta through government-to-
government transaction.
"This is very important. This should
precede the acquisition of all our air
defense aircraft. We have to have the
eyes, the ability to detect intrusions
into our airspace before we can even
scramble our air assets," Batac said.
"We cannot let our fighters roam
around our skies because it would be
too costly. We scramble them on the
basis of a detection report which is
done by the radars," he added.
Batac, however, said that they could
only start the talks once the special
allotment release order (SARO) for the
project is released.
"We cannot enter into formal
negotiations until we have the SARO
because the moment we enter into
formal negotiations, there are already
commitments both on the part of the
supplier and us. There are some things
which are to be prepared by us when
the equipment arrives," he said.
Such requirements, Batac said, include
roads leading to the site of the radar
station and basing support facilities.
President Aquino and Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin have to
approve the project's terms of
reference, he added.
The pre-negotiation for the project
was finished last March, about two
weeks after a Philippine delegation led
by Gazmin visited Israel.
Defense officials from the Philippines
and Israel have signed an
implementing agreement that provides
the guidelines for the formal
negotiations.
Batac said the radars could also be
used for civil aviation purposes, noting
that the country derives income from
aircraft flying within its airspace.
"We have to have a basis other than
their (aircraft) reporting to track their
entry and exit from our flight
information region," he said.
Last February, Israel offered to provide
excess defense articles to the
Philippines, widely viewed as one of
the weakest in the region in terms of
military capability.
The matter was discussed during a
bilateral meeting of Gazmin and Israeli
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon in Tel
Aviv.
Israel also offered assistance in the
development of command, control,
communications, computers and
intelligence capabilities.
Meanwhile, the military vowed to
continue boosting the morale of
soldiers guarding the Ayungin (Second
Thomas) Shoal following the
successful air drop of food supplies in
the area last Saturday.
Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt.
Col. Ramon Zagala said that the
Marines stationed on the BRP Sierra
Madre, the rusty ship that ran aground
in the shoal and serves as a makeshift
military detachment in the area, were
given the sensitive task of defending
Philippine sovereignty.
"We won't neglect them. They have an
important role to do and that is protect
our national interest," Zagala said in a
phone interview.
"They can expect more morale-
boosting support. (We will deliver) not
just supplies but letters and presents
from civilians. Those little things are
very important to them," he added.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
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- 609
A
Chinese national working at a fish
farm in eastern Malaysia was
kidnapped by gunmen early Tuesday
and believed taken to southern
Philippines, police said, sparking
fresh concerns of security threats on
Borneo island.
The incident comes a month after
suspected Filipino insurgents seized a
Chinese tourist and a hotel worker
from a dive resort in eastern Sabah
state.
Mohamad Bakri Zinin, Malaysia's
national deputy police chief, said five
men clad in military fatigues entered
the fish farm belonging to Wonderful
Terrace Sendirian Berhad several
hours before dawn and kidnapped its
manager, Yang Zailin, 34.
He said two of the men were believed
armed with M16 rifles. Police pursued
the kidnappers who fled on boat and
they exchanged shots at a nearby
island, he said.
"However, they managed to escape
and were headed to a neighboring
country," Bakri said in a statement.
A Philippine security official, who
declined to be named as he isn't
authorized to speak to the media,
said Filipino authorities have been
notified of the kidnapping. The
official said the victim was believed
to have been taken to Mindanao in
the southern Philippines.
China's Xinhua News Agency said
Beijing has urged Malaysia to speed
up efforts to rescue the man.
The spate of kidnappings underline
persistent security threats in Sabah,
a popular tourist destination and dive
spot that is a short boat ride from the
southern Philippines, where Muslim
militants and kidnap gangs have long
found safe haven.
The move will likely add further to
negative sentiment in China over the
safety of its citizens in Malaysia,
which is still hunting for a jetliner
that went missing March 8 with 239
people, mostly Chinese citizens, on
board.
Last November, suspected Filipino
militants shot and killed a Taiwanese
tourist and kidnapped his wife from a
resort in Sabah. The women was
released a month later in the
southern Philippines. Authorities
didn't say whether a ransom was
paid.
Militants in the southern Philippines
are holding more than a dozen
captives, including two European bird
watchers who were seized from
Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost
Philippines province closest to Sabah,
in 2012.
Chinese national working at a fish
farm in eastern Malaysia was
kidnapped by gunmen early Tuesday
and believed taken to southern
Philippines, police said, sparking
fresh concerns of security threats on
Borneo island.
The incident comes a month after
suspected Filipino insurgents seized a
Chinese tourist and a hotel worker
from a dive resort in eastern Sabah
state.
Mohamad Bakri Zinin, Malaysia's
national deputy police chief, said five
men clad in military fatigues entered
the fish farm belonging to Wonderful
Terrace Sendirian Berhad several
hours before dawn and kidnapped its
manager, Yang Zailin, 34.
He said two of the men were believed
armed with M16 rifles. Police pursued
the kidnappers who fled on boat and
they exchanged shots at a nearby
island, he said.
"However, they managed to escape
and were headed to a neighboring
country," Bakri said in a statement.
A Philippine security official, who
declined to be named as he isn't
authorized to speak to the media,
said Filipino authorities have been
notified of the kidnapping. The
official said the victim was believed
to have been taken to Mindanao in
the southern Philippines.
China's Xinhua News Agency said
Beijing has urged Malaysia to speed
up efforts to rescue the man.
The spate of kidnappings underline
persistent security threats in Sabah,
a popular tourist destination and dive
spot that is a short boat ride from the
southern Philippines, where Muslim
militants and kidnap gangs have long
found safe haven.
The move will likely add further to
negative sentiment in China over the
safety of its citizens in Malaysia,
which is still hunting for a jetliner
that went missing March 8 with 239
people, mostly Chinese citizens, on
board.
Last November, suspected Filipino
militants shot and killed a Taiwanese
tourist and kidnapped his wife from a
resort in Sabah. The women was
released a month later in the
southern Philippines. Authorities
didn't say whether a ransom was
paid.
Militants in the southern Philippines
are holding more than a dozen
captives, including two European bird
watchers who were seized from
Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost
Philippines province closest to Sabah,
in 2012.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
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- 609
27 Apr 2014
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Cars Dating
Tue 6 May 2014 Updated 8 mins ago
Home » News »
Philippines to sign security pact with
US
The deal was announced during
President Barack Obama's current tour
of the Far East
Picture: AP
Twitter Facebook Share
Ten-year deal designed to support
Washington ally in territorial disputes
with China
The United States is to sign a deal with
the Philippines allowing it to beef up
the US military presence on the
islands, a move likely to annoy China
as it presses claims to waters in the
region.
The two long-term allies will on
Monday sign a ten-year pact allowing
US forces to access military camps and
to preposition planes and ships for
operations. It could see America's old
base at Subic Bay – used during the
Vietnam War – reopened some two
decades after it was
MORE FROM THE TELEGRAPH
MORE FROM THE WEB
Home Sport
UK News Football
World News Fantasy Football
Politics Rugby Union
Comment Cricket
Finance Technology
Personal Finance Obituaries
Culture Women
Travel Men
Lifestyle Luxury
Motoring Jobs
Cars Dating
Tue 6 May 2014 Updated 8 mins ago
Home » News »
Philippines to sign security pact with
US
The deal was announced during
President Barack Obama's current tour
of the Far East
Picture: AP
Twitter Facebook Share
Ten-year deal designed to support
Washington ally in territorial disputes
with China
The United States is to sign a deal with
the Philippines allowing it to beef up
the US military presence on the
islands, a move likely to annoy China
as it presses claims to waters in the
region.
The two long-term allies will on
Monday sign a ten-year pact allowing
US forces to access military camps and
to preposition planes and ships for
operations. It could see America's old
base at Subic Bay – used during the
Vietnam War – reopened some two
decades after it was
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
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- 2,193
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- 609
US President Barack Obama
has arrived in the Philippines in a visit
widely seen as a part of Washington's
"pivot to Asia strategy."
Obama landed just hours after
Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin and US Ambassador to the
Philippines Philip Goldberg signed a
new military agreement allowing more
troops in the country.
The Philippine government said the
pact was an affirmation "of the robust
and enduring strategic partnership
between" the two allies.
Talking to reporters in Manila,
Goldberg, said that the new agreement
would not allow the reopening of US
bases in the Philippines, something
that has been opposed by nationalist
forces and is prohibited by the 1987
Constitution.
But the agreement essentially allows
US access to Philippine military bases
across the country.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago,
chairman of the Philippines Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs, told Al
Jazeera that the agreement has
"marginal advantages" for the
country, and is more beneficial to the
US.
With the signing of the agreement,
Santiago said the US "could claim that
it has 'contained' China, because the
Asian countries involved, including the
Philippines, are now bound by their
respective agreements with America".
"It would make the Philippines sounds
as if we are a satellite ally of America,"
she said.
During a joint press conference with
the Philippine president, President
Obama said he goal of the US was not
to contain China.
"We welcome China's peaceful rise. We
have a constructive relationship with
China," Obama said.
"Our goal is not to counter China, our
goal is not to contain China. Our goal is
to make international rules and norms
are respected, and that includes areas
of maritime disputes.
"Our primary interest is the peaceful
resolution of conflict, including
navigation that allows for continued
progress and prosperity. We continue
to stand shoulder to shoulder to
uphold peace and security in this
region and around the world."
Philippines president, Benigno Aquino,
said the agreement "reaffirms our
countries' commitment to mutual
defense and security, and promotes
regional peace and stability."
"Both President Obama and I share the
conviction that territorial and maritime
disputes in the Asia-Pacific region
should be settled peacefully, based on
international law. We affirm that
arbitration is an open, friendly, and
peaceful approach to seeking a just
and durable solution," he said.
has arrived in the Philippines in a visit
widely seen as a part of Washington's
"pivot to Asia strategy."
Obama landed just hours after
Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin and US Ambassador to the
Philippines Philip Goldberg signed a
new military agreement allowing more
troops in the country.
The Philippine government said the
pact was an affirmation "of the robust
and enduring strategic partnership
between" the two allies.
Talking to reporters in Manila,
Goldberg, said that the new agreement
would not allow the reopening of US
bases in the Philippines, something
that has been opposed by nationalist
forces and is prohibited by the 1987
Constitution.
But the agreement essentially allows
US access to Philippine military bases
across the country.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago,
chairman of the Philippines Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs, told Al
Jazeera that the agreement has
"marginal advantages" for the
country, and is more beneficial to the
US.
With the signing of the agreement,
Santiago said the US "could claim that
it has 'contained' China, because the
Asian countries involved, including the
Philippines, are now bound by their
respective agreements with America".
"It would make the Philippines sounds
as if we are a satellite ally of America,"
she said.
During a joint press conference with
the Philippine president, President
Obama said he goal of the US was not
to contain China.
"We welcome China's peaceful rise. We
have a constructive relationship with
China," Obama said.
"Our goal is not to counter China, our
goal is not to contain China. Our goal is
to make international rules and norms
are respected, and that includes areas
of maritime disputes.
"Our primary interest is the peaceful
resolution of conflict, including
navigation that allows for continued
progress and prosperity. We continue
to stand shoulder to shoulder to
uphold peace and security in this
region and around the world."
Philippines president, Benigno Aquino,
said the agreement "reaffirms our
countries' commitment to mutual
defense and security, and promotes
regional peace and stability."
"Both President Obama and I share the
conviction that territorial and maritime
disputes in the Asia-Pacific region
should be settled peacefully, based on
international law. We affirm that
arbitration is an open, friendly, and
peaceful approach to seeking a just
and durable solution," he said.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
Disputes with China
Anti-China sentiments have been on
the rise in the Philippines, which is
engaged with Beijing over disputed
atolls in the potentially oil- and gas-
rich South China Sea, with both
countries claiming Scarborough Shoal
and Second Thomas Shoal as their
own.
The Philippines has accused Beijing of
becoming increasingly aggressive in
staking its claims to the sea, and has
called on the US for greater military as
well as diplomatic support.
While the treaty is seen to boost
Manila's confidence in countering the
Chinese power, Santiago warned that
the country must be careful in
handling the agreement, and avoid the
violation of the Philippines
constitution.
"Filipinos should keep uppermost the
supremacy of the Philippine
Constitution," she said.
"We should not accommodate any
foreign power at the cost of the
sovereignty of our Constitution, even if
the problem is presented as if it were a
problem of national survival."
Activists opposing what they call "US
imperialism in Asia," raise the question
of sovereignty.
They cite a case in 2005 when five US
soldiers were initially sentenced to life
in prison for allegedly raping a Filipino
woman, before the ruling was
overturned by another court and they
were set free, despite public anger.
Another issue that has spiked
contempt is the alleged dumping of
toxic waste in the northern
Philippines, supposedly by US military
ships which Washington denies
Anti-China sentiments have been on
the rise in the Philippines, which is
engaged with Beijing over disputed
atolls in the potentially oil- and gas-
rich South China Sea, with both
countries claiming Scarborough Shoal
and Second Thomas Shoal as their
own.
The Philippines has accused Beijing of
becoming increasingly aggressive in
staking its claims to the sea, and has
called on the US for greater military as
well as diplomatic support.
While the treaty is seen to boost
Manila's confidence in countering the
Chinese power, Santiago warned that
the country must be careful in
handling the agreement, and avoid the
violation of the Philippines
constitution.
"Filipinos should keep uppermost the
supremacy of the Philippine
Constitution," she said.
"We should not accommodate any
foreign power at the cost of the
sovereignty of our Constitution, even if
the problem is presented as if it were a
problem of national survival."
Activists opposing what they call "US
imperialism in Asia," raise the question
of sovereignty.
They cite a case in 2005 when five US
soldiers were initially sentenced to life
in prison for allegedly raping a Filipino
woman, before the ruling was
overturned by another court and they
were set free, despite public anger.
Another issue that has spiked
contempt is the alleged dumping of
toxic waste in the northern
Philippines, supposedly by US military
ships which Washington denies
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
- The ratio of government
debt to gross domestic product eased
further to 39.2 percent last year from
40.6 percent in 2012.
In a report, the Department of Finance
said the government's debt to GDP
declined to ₱4.53 billion as of the end
of December 2013.
Government debt to GDP, which
peaked at 78.1 percent during the
Asian financial crisis in 1997, has been
on a downward trend in the past few
years as the Aquino administration
stepped up efforts to manage the
country's debt.
Generally, government debt as a
percent of GDP is used by investors to
measure a country's ability to make
future payments on its debt, thus
affecting its borrowing costs and
government bond yields.
This continuing trend of decreasing
general government debt-to-GDP
ratio shows government's efforts to
ensure sustained fiscal space
throughout the medium term.
The decrease in government debt level
was attributed to the ongoing fiscal
consolidation with deficit accounting
for only 1.3 percent of the country's
total economic output.
Apart from this, the government took
advantage of broadly favorable
domestic funding conditions in 2013 to
redenominate away from foreign
currency debt.
Of the P554.7-billion gross borrowing
for the year, 94 percent came from the
domestic market while the remaining
six-percent comprised concessional
foreign loans from development
partners.
This helped reduce the foreign debt
component of government debt to
only ₱1.95 trillion or 34.3 percent of
the total outstanding debt.
A decrease of local government debt
to ₱71 billion from ₱73.4 billion
likewise helped trim the ratio.
The intra-sector debt holdings of local
government also declined to ₱3 billion
from ₱3.1 billion.
Under the consolidated general
government debt, the obligations of
the Philippine government, the Central
Bank Board of Liquidators, social
security institutions (SSIs) and local
government units are taken into
account.
The consolidated debt also nets out
public holdings of government
securities, including the Bureau of the
Treasury's bond sinking fund (BSF).
The combined investment in
government securities of the GSIS and
the SSS, meanwhile, rose to ₱474.6
billion from ₱453.7 billion in 2012. -
debt to gross domestic product eased
further to 39.2 percent last year from
40.6 percent in 2012.
In a report, the Department of Finance
said the government's debt to GDP
declined to ₱4.53 billion as of the end
of December 2013.
Government debt to GDP, which
peaked at 78.1 percent during the
Asian financial crisis in 1997, has been
on a downward trend in the past few
years as the Aquino administration
stepped up efforts to manage the
country's debt.
Generally, government debt as a
percent of GDP is used by investors to
measure a country's ability to make
future payments on its debt, thus
affecting its borrowing costs and
government bond yields.
This continuing trend of decreasing
general government debt-to-GDP
ratio shows government's efforts to
ensure sustained fiscal space
throughout the medium term.
The decrease in government debt level
was attributed to the ongoing fiscal
consolidation with deficit accounting
for only 1.3 percent of the country's
total economic output.
Apart from this, the government took
advantage of broadly favorable
domestic funding conditions in 2013 to
redenominate away from foreign
currency debt.
Of the P554.7-billion gross borrowing
for the year, 94 percent came from the
domestic market while the remaining
six-percent comprised concessional
foreign loans from development
partners.
This helped reduce the foreign debt
component of government debt to
only ₱1.95 trillion or 34.3 percent of
the total outstanding debt.
A decrease of local government debt
to ₱71 billion from ₱73.4 billion
likewise helped trim the ratio.
The intra-sector debt holdings of local
government also declined to ₱3 billion
from ₱3.1 billion.
Under the consolidated general
government debt, the obligations of
the Philippine government, the Central
Bank Board of Liquidators, social
security institutions (SSIs) and local
government units are taken into
account.
The consolidated debt also nets out
public holdings of government
securities, including the Bureau of the
Treasury's bond sinking fund (BSF).
The combined investment in
government securities of the GSIS and
the SSS, meanwhile, rose to ₱474.6
billion from ₱453.7 billion in 2012. -
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
The Philippines
has been removed from a watch list for
US trade partners exhibiting problems
with intellectual property rights (IPR)
protection, enforcement or market
access.
The announcement was made by the
Office of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) which said it
has "determined to remove the
Philippines from the Special 301 Watch
List."
This Watch List identifies "countries
that deny adequate and effective
protection for intellectual property
rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable
market access for persons that rely on
intellectual property protection."
In removing the Philippines from the
watch list, the USTR cited the
enactment of "a series of significant
legislative and regulatory reforms to
enhance" IPR protection and
enforcement in the country. Civil and
administrative enforcement in this
regard has also improved, it said.
(READ: Aquino presses for PH inclusion
in Pacific trade deal
)
"Although significant challenges
remain, the commitment of Philippine
authorities and the results achieved
merit this change in status. The United
States will continue to engage with
the Philippines to address unresolved
and future challenges," it said.
The Philippines has appeared on the
Watch List or Priority Watch List
continuously since 1994, and was first
listed in 1989.
The USTR said that a trading partner's
inclusion on the watch list "indicates
that particular problems exist in that
country or economy with respect to
IPR protection, enforcement, or market
access for persons relying on
intellectual property."
"Trading partners on the Priority
Watch List become the focus of
increased bilateral attention
concerning the problem areas,"
has been removed from a watch list for
US trade partners exhibiting problems
with intellectual property rights (IPR)
protection, enforcement or market
access.
The announcement was made by the
Office of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) which said it
has "determined to remove the
Philippines from the Special 301 Watch
List."
This Watch List identifies "countries
that deny adequate and effective
protection for intellectual property
rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable
market access for persons that rely on
intellectual property protection."
In removing the Philippines from the
watch list, the USTR cited the
enactment of "a series of significant
legislative and regulatory reforms to
enhance" IPR protection and
enforcement in the country. Civil and
administrative enforcement in this
regard has also improved, it said.
(READ: Aquino presses for PH inclusion
in Pacific trade deal
)
"Although significant challenges
remain, the commitment of Philippine
authorities and the results achieved
merit this change in status. The United
States will continue to engage with
the Philippines to address unresolved
and future challenges," it said.
The Philippines has appeared on the
Watch List or Priority Watch List
continuously since 1994, and was first
listed in 1989.
The USTR said that a trading partner's
inclusion on the watch list "indicates
that particular problems exist in that
country or economy with respect to
IPR protection, enforcement, or market
access for persons relying on
intellectual property."
"Trading partners on the Priority
Watch List become the focus of
increased bilateral attention
concerning the problem areas,"
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
longest stretch of inflows into
Philippine equities since at least 1999
shows growing confidence among
foreign investors that the economy has
the best prospects in Asia, according to
the nation's top-performing stock
picker.
Overseas money managers were net
buyers on the Philippine Stock
Exchange for a 26th straight day today,
adding $571.8 million to holdings during
the period and capping the longest
streak of inflows since Bloomberg
began compiling the data in March
1999. Noel Reyes, the chief investment
officer at Security Bank Corp. (SECB),
says fresh purchases may drive further
gains as long as the nation maintains
economic growth near 7 percent.
Southeast Asia's fifth-biggest economy
capped its strongest two-year
expansion since the 1950s in 2013 as
the central bank held interest rates at
record lows, while exports jumped at a
faster-than-estimated 24 percent pace
in February. The benchmark equity
index has climbed 18 percent from last
year's low in August, approaching the
20 percent threshold that signals a bull
market.
"The Philippines continues to be the
country with the best prospects on the
macro side," Reyes, 48, who helped
oversee about $810 million at Security
Bank as of December from Manila. The
firm's SB Peso Equity Fund (SBPSEQF)
has returned 19 percent in 2014, the
most among 29 Philippine peers tracked
by Bloomberg. "Funds are betting that
these good GDP expectations will
translate into good corporate
earnings."
Top Holdings
Reyes said he favors infrastructure,
consumer and energy companies. While
he declined to name specific stocks,
data compiled by Bloomberg show
Manila Electric Co. (MER) and Puregold
(PGOLD) Price Club Inc. were among
the SB Peso Equity fund's biggest
holdings at the end of January.
Manila Electric, the nation's largest
power retailer, climbed 10 percent this
year through yesterday while Puregold,
the biggest grocery-store operator,
rallied 21 percent. The Philippine Stock
Exchange Index advanced 15 percent,
versus a 1.9 percent decline in the MSCI
Asia Pacific Index. The Philippine
measure was little changed today.
"The government will spend on
infrastructure and power will be
required to sustain economic
expansion, while consumption remains
a big component of the economy,"
Reyes said. The money manager has an
underweight position in banks on
expectations they will fail to repeat
trading gains that boosted earnings in
2013.
Aquino Economy
Philippine President Benigno Aquino
plans to raise spending to a record this
year and will seek more than $11 billion
of investment in airports and roads to
deliver economic growth between 6.5
percent and 7.5 percent.
Gross domestic product expanded 7.2
percent in 2013 and 6.8 percent in 2012,
data compiled by Bloomberg show. That
compares with 4.7 percent growth for
developing economies worldwide last
year, according to the International
Monetary Fund.
Sustained economic expansion will
support the premium on Philippine
stock valuations relative to the region,
according to Reyes. Shares in the
nation's benchmark index trade at 17.8
times estimated 12-month earnings,
compared with a 12.3 multiple for the
MSCI Asia Pacific Index.
"The key for valuation is sustainability
of economic growth," Reyes said. "If
GDP weakens, then that valuation will
drop because that will have an effect
on corporate earnings."
The economy will probably expand 6.5
percent this year while corporate
earnings grow 8 percent, Reyes said.
Consumer prices, which climbed at a 3.9
percent pace in March, may increase in
a range between 3.7 percent and 4.2
percent, he said.
Reyes said the Philippine Stock
Exchange index may climb to as high as
7,000 this year if GDP and inflation
figures are better than investors
anticipate. The gauge, which closed at
6,765.93 today, reached a 2014 high of
6,784.95 on April 22.
"We need more catalysts to break the
resistance at 6,800, like better-than-
expected GDP and inflation," Reyes
said. "Investors want more proof that
economic growth is sustainable."
Philippine equities since at least 1999
shows growing confidence among
foreign investors that the economy has
the best prospects in Asia, according to
the nation's top-performing stock
picker.
Overseas money managers were net
buyers on the Philippine Stock
Exchange for a 26th straight day today,
adding $571.8 million to holdings during
the period and capping the longest
streak of inflows since Bloomberg
began compiling the data in March
1999. Noel Reyes, the chief investment
officer at Security Bank Corp. (SECB),
says fresh purchases may drive further
gains as long as the nation maintains
economic growth near 7 percent.
Southeast Asia's fifth-biggest economy
capped its strongest two-year
expansion since the 1950s in 2013 as
the central bank held interest rates at
record lows, while exports jumped at a
faster-than-estimated 24 percent pace
in February. The benchmark equity
index has climbed 18 percent from last
year's low in August, approaching the
20 percent threshold that signals a bull
market.
"The Philippines continues to be the
country with the best prospects on the
macro side," Reyes, 48, who helped
oversee about $810 million at Security
Bank as of December from Manila. The
firm's SB Peso Equity Fund (SBPSEQF)
has returned 19 percent in 2014, the
most among 29 Philippine peers tracked
by Bloomberg. "Funds are betting that
these good GDP expectations will
translate into good corporate
earnings."
Top Holdings
Reyes said he favors infrastructure,
consumer and energy companies. While
he declined to name specific stocks,
data compiled by Bloomberg show
Manila Electric Co. (MER) and Puregold
(PGOLD) Price Club Inc. were among
the SB Peso Equity fund's biggest
holdings at the end of January.
Manila Electric, the nation's largest
power retailer, climbed 10 percent this
year through yesterday while Puregold,
the biggest grocery-store operator,
rallied 21 percent. The Philippine Stock
Exchange Index advanced 15 percent,
versus a 1.9 percent decline in the MSCI
Asia Pacific Index. The Philippine
measure was little changed today.
"The government will spend on
infrastructure and power will be
required to sustain economic
expansion, while consumption remains
a big component of the economy,"
Reyes said. The money manager has an
underweight position in banks on
expectations they will fail to repeat
trading gains that boosted earnings in
2013.
Aquino Economy
Philippine President Benigno Aquino
plans to raise spending to a record this
year and will seek more than $11 billion
of investment in airports and roads to
deliver economic growth between 6.5
percent and 7.5 percent.
Gross domestic product expanded 7.2
percent in 2013 and 6.8 percent in 2012,
data compiled by Bloomberg show. That
compares with 4.7 percent growth for
developing economies worldwide last
year, according to the International
Monetary Fund.
Sustained economic expansion will
support the premium on Philippine
stock valuations relative to the region,
according to Reyes. Shares in the
nation's benchmark index trade at 17.8
times estimated 12-month earnings,
compared with a 12.3 multiple for the
MSCI Asia Pacific Index.
"The key for valuation is sustainability
of economic growth," Reyes said. "If
GDP weakens, then that valuation will
drop because that will have an effect
on corporate earnings."
The economy will probably expand 6.5
percent this year while corporate
earnings grow 8 percent, Reyes said.
Consumer prices, which climbed at a 3.9
percent pace in March, may increase in
a range between 3.7 percent and 4.2
percent, he said.
Reyes said the Philippine Stock
Exchange index may climb to as high as
7,000 this year if GDP and inflation
figures are better than investors
anticipate. The gauge, which closed at
6,765.93 today, reached a 2014 high of
6,784.95 on April 22.
"We need more catalysts to break the
resistance at 6,800, like better-than-
expected GDP and inflation," Reyes
said. "Investors want more proof that
economic growth is sustainable."
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
The history of the Philippines is
believed to have begun with the
arrival of the first humans using rafts
or primitive boats, at least 67,000 years
ago as the 2007 discovery of Callao
Man showed.[1] The first recorded visit
from the West is the arrival of
Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted the
island of Samar Island on March 16,
1521 and landed on Homonhon Island
(now part of Guiuan, Eastern Samar
province) the next day. Homonhon
Island is southeast of Samar Island.[2]
Before Magellan arrived, Negrito tribes
inhabited the isles, who were
subsequently joined and largely
supplanted by migrating groups of
Austronesians. This population had
stratified into hunter-gatherer tribes,
warrior societies, petty plutocracies
and maritime-oriented harbor
principalities which eventually grew
into kingdoms, rajahnates,
principalities, confederations and
sultanates. The Philippine islands
were greatly influenced by Hindu
religions, literature and philosophy
from India in the early centuries of the
christian era.[3] States included the
Indianized Rajahnate of Butuan and
Cebu, the dynasty of Tondo, the
august kingdoms of Maysapan and
Maynila, the Confederation of
Madyaas, the sinified Country of Mai,
as well as the Muslim Sultanates of
Sulu and Maguindanao. These small
maritime states flourished from the
1st millennium.[4][5] These kingdoms
traded with what are now called China,
India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and
Indonesia.[6] The remainder of the
settlements were independent
Barangays allied with one of the larger
states.
Spanish colonization and settlement
began with the arrival of Miguel López
de Legazpi's expedition on February 13,
1565 who established the first
permanent settlement of San Miguel
on the island of Cebu.[7] The
expedition continued northward
reaching the bay of Manila on the
island of Luzon on June 24, 1571,[8]
where they established a new town
and thus began an era of Spanish
colonization that lasted for more than
three centuries.[9]
Spanish rule achieved the political
unification of almost the whole
archipelago, that previously had been
composed by independent kingdoms,
pushing back south the advancing
Islamic forces and creating the first
draft of the nation that was to be
known as the Philippines. Spain also
introduced Christianity, the code of law
and the oldest modern Universities in
Asia.
The Spanish East Indies were ruled as
part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain
and administered from Mexico City
from 1565 to 1821, and administered
directly from Madrid, Spain from 1821
until the end of the Spanish–American
War in 1898, except for a brief period of
British rule from 1762 to 1764. They
founded schools, a university, and
some hospitals, principally in Manila
and the largest Spanish fort
settlements. Universal education was
made free for all Filipino subjects in
1863 and remained so until the end of
the Spanish colonial era. This measure
was at the vanguard of contemporary
Asian countries, and led to an
important class of educated natives,
like José Rizal. Ironically, it was during
the initial years of American
occupation in the early 20th century,
that Spanish literature and press
flourished.
The Philippine Revolution against
Spain began in August 1896,
culminating the establishment of the
First Philippine Republic. However, the
Treaty of Paris, at the end of the
Spanish–American War, transferred
control of the Philippines to the United
States. This agreement was not
recognized by the insurgent First
Philippine Republic Government
which, on June 2, 1899, proclaimed a
Declaration of War against the United
States.[10] The Philippine–American
War which ensued resulted in massive
casualties.[11] Philippine president
Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in 1901
and the U.S. government declared the
conflict officially over in 1902.
The U.S. had established a military
government in the Philippines on
August 14, 1898, following the capture
of Manila.[12] Civil government was
inaugurated on July 1, 1901.[13] An
elected Philippine Assembly was
convened in 1907 as the lower house
of a bicameral legislature.[13]
Commonwealth status was granted in
1935, preparatory to a planned full
independence from the United States
in 1946.[14] Preparation for a fully
sovereign state was interrupted by the
Japanese occupation of the islands
during World War II.[15] After the end
of the war, the Treaty of Manila
established the Philippine Republic as
an independent nation.[16]
With a promising economy in the 1950s
and 1960s, the Philippines in the late
1960s and early 1970s saw a rise of
student activism and civil unrest
against President Ferdinand Marcos
who declared martial law in 1972.
[citation needed] The peaceful and
bloodless People Power Revolution of
1986, however, brought about the
ousting of Marcos and a return to
democracy for the country. The period
since then was marked by political
instability and hampered economic
productivity. However, economic
growth has gained pace in recent years
to become one of the highest in Asia;
as such the Philippines has been
labeled one of the Next Eleven
countries due to promising future
growth.
believed to have begun with the
arrival of the first humans using rafts
or primitive boats, at least 67,000 years
ago as the 2007 discovery of Callao
Man showed.[1] The first recorded visit
from the West is the arrival of
Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted the
island of Samar Island on March 16,
1521 and landed on Homonhon Island
(now part of Guiuan, Eastern Samar
province) the next day. Homonhon
Island is southeast of Samar Island.[2]
Before Magellan arrived, Negrito tribes
inhabited the isles, who were
subsequently joined and largely
supplanted by migrating groups of
Austronesians. This population had
stratified into hunter-gatherer tribes,
warrior societies, petty plutocracies
and maritime-oriented harbor
principalities which eventually grew
into kingdoms, rajahnates,
principalities, confederations and
sultanates. The Philippine islands
were greatly influenced by Hindu
religions, literature and philosophy
from India in the early centuries of the
christian era.[3] States included the
Indianized Rajahnate of Butuan and
Cebu, the dynasty of Tondo, the
august kingdoms of Maysapan and
Maynila, the Confederation of
Madyaas, the sinified Country of Mai,
as well as the Muslim Sultanates of
Sulu and Maguindanao. These small
maritime states flourished from the
1st millennium.[4][5] These kingdoms
traded with what are now called China,
India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and
Indonesia.[6] The remainder of the
settlements were independent
Barangays allied with one of the larger
states.
Spanish colonization and settlement
began with the arrival of Miguel López
de Legazpi's expedition on February 13,
1565 who established the first
permanent settlement of San Miguel
on the island of Cebu.[7] The
expedition continued northward
reaching the bay of Manila on the
island of Luzon on June 24, 1571,[8]
where they established a new town
and thus began an era of Spanish
colonization that lasted for more than
three centuries.[9]
Spanish rule achieved the political
unification of almost the whole
archipelago, that previously had been
composed by independent kingdoms,
pushing back south the advancing
Islamic forces and creating the first
draft of the nation that was to be
known as the Philippines. Spain also
introduced Christianity, the code of law
and the oldest modern Universities in
Asia.
The Spanish East Indies were ruled as
part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain
and administered from Mexico City
from 1565 to 1821, and administered
directly from Madrid, Spain from 1821
until the end of the Spanish–American
War in 1898, except for a brief period of
British rule from 1762 to 1764. They
founded schools, a university, and
some hospitals, principally in Manila
and the largest Spanish fort
settlements. Universal education was
made free for all Filipino subjects in
1863 and remained so until the end of
the Spanish colonial era. This measure
was at the vanguard of contemporary
Asian countries, and led to an
important class of educated natives,
like José Rizal. Ironically, it was during
the initial years of American
occupation in the early 20th century,
that Spanish literature and press
flourished.
The Philippine Revolution against
Spain began in August 1896,
culminating the establishment of the
First Philippine Republic. However, the
Treaty of Paris, at the end of the
Spanish–American War, transferred
control of the Philippines to the United
States. This agreement was not
recognized by the insurgent First
Philippine Republic Government
which, on June 2, 1899, proclaimed a
Declaration of War against the United
States.[10] The Philippine–American
War which ensued resulted in massive
casualties.[11] Philippine president
Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in 1901
and the U.S. government declared the
conflict officially over in 1902.
The U.S. had established a military
government in the Philippines on
August 14, 1898, following the capture
of Manila.[12] Civil government was
inaugurated on July 1, 1901.[13] An
elected Philippine Assembly was
convened in 1907 as the lower house
of a bicameral legislature.[13]
Commonwealth status was granted in
1935, preparatory to a planned full
independence from the United States
in 1946.[14] Preparation for a fully
sovereign state was interrupted by the
Japanese occupation of the islands
during World War II.[15] After the end
of the war, the Treaty of Manila
established the Philippine Republic as
an independent nation.[16]
With a promising economy in the 1950s
and 1960s, the Philippines in the late
1960s and early 1970s saw a rise of
student activism and civil unrest
against President Ferdinand Marcos
who declared martial law in 1972.
[citation needed] The peaceful and
bloodless People Power Revolution of
1986, however, brought about the
ousting of Marcos and a return to
democracy for the country. The period
since then was marked by political
instability and hampered economic
productivity. However, economic
growth has gained pace in recent years
to become one of the highest in Asia;
as such the Philippines has been
labeled one of the Next Eleven
countries due to promising future
growth.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
The US Department of
State has warned of the risks of
travel to the Philippines, in particular
to the Sulu Archipelago and the
island of Mindanao in a travel
warning dated 5 July 2013, because of
continuing threats in those areas due
to terrorist and insurgent activities
together with conflicts between
Muslim militias and the Philippine
government. In 2009 this region was
declared the world's most hazardous
area for journalists by the Committee
to Protect Journalists, a massacre
having occurred twice in this area -
once in 2009 and again in 2010.
Travelling to the Sulu Sea region is
dangerous and strongly discouraged.
If it is necessary to visit, inform your
embassy.
State has warned of the risks of
travel to the Philippines, in particular
to the Sulu Archipelago and the
island of Mindanao in a travel
warning dated 5 July 2013, because of
continuing threats in those areas due
to terrorist and insurgent activities
together with conflicts between
Muslim militias and the Philippine
government. In 2009 this region was
declared the world's most hazardous
area for journalists by the Committee
to Protect Journalists, a massacre
having occurred twice in this area -
once in 2009 and again in 2010.
Travelling to the Sulu Sea region is
dangerous and strongly discouraged.
If it is necessary to visit, inform your
embassy.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
Ethnologue maps.
There are some 120 to 175 languages
in the Philippines, depending on the
method of classification.[1] Four others
are no longer spoken. Almost all are
classified as Malayo-Polynesian
languages, while one, Chabacano is a
Creole derived from a Romance
language. Two are official, while (as of
2010) twelve are official auxiliary
languages.[2]
National and official languages
Spanish was the national and official
language of the country for more than
three centuries under Spanish colonial
rule, and became the lingua franca of
the Philippines in the 19th and early
20th centuries. In 1863 a Spanish
decree introduced universal education,
creating free public schooling in
Spanish.[3] It was also the language of
the Philippine Revolution, and the
1899 Malolos Constitution effectively
proclaimed it as the official language
of the First Philippine Republic.[4]
National hero José Rizal wrote most of
his works in Spanish. Luciano de la
Rosa established that Spanish was
spoken by a total of 60% of the
population in the early 20th century as
a first, second or third language.
Following the American occupation of
the Philippines and the imposition of
English, the use of Spanish declined
gradually, especially after the 1940s.
Under the U.S. occupation and civil
regime, English began to be taught in
schools. By 1901, public education
used English as the medium of
instruction. Around 600 educators
(called " Thomasites") who arrived in
that year aboard the USS Thomas
replaced the soldiers who also
functioned as teachers. The 1935
Constitution added English as an
official language alongside Spanish. A
provision in this constitution also
called for Congress to "take steps
toward the development and adoption
of a common national language based
on one of the existing native
languages." On November 12, 1937,
the First National Assembly created
the National Language Institute.
President Manuel L. Quezón appointed
native Waray-Waray speaker Jaime C.
De Veyra to chair a committee of
speakers of other regional languages.
Their aim was to select a national
language among the other regional
languages. Ultimately, Tagalog was
chosen as the base language
December 30, 1937.[5]
In 1939, President Manuel L. Quezón
renamed the Tagalog language as
Wikang Pambansa ("national
language" in English translation).[6]
The language was further renamed in
1959 as Pilipino by Secretary of
Education Jose Romero. The 1973
constitution declared the Pilipino
language to be co-official, along with
English, and mandated the
development of a national language,
to be known as Filipino. In addition,
Spanish regained its official status
when President Marcos signed
Presidential Decree No. 155, s. 1973.[7]
The present constitution, ratified in
1987, designates Filipino and English as
joint official languages. Filipino also
had the distinction of being a national
language that was to be "developed
and enriched on the basis of existing
Philippine and other languages."
Although not explicitly stated in the
constitution, Filipino is in practice
almost completely composed of the
Tagalog language as spoken in the
capital, Manila; however, organizations
such as the University of the
Philippines began publishing
dictionaries such as the UP
Diksyonaryong Filipino in which words
from various Philippine languages
were also included. The constitution
also made mention of Spanish and
Arabic, both of which are to be
promoted on a voluntary and optional
basis.
Filipino is an official language of
education and also the major language
of the broadcast media and cinema,
but less important than English as a
language of publication (except in
some domains, like comic books, which
are meant to speak directly to the
Filipino psyche) and less important for
academic-scientific-technological
discourse. English and Filipino compete
in the domains of business and
government.[dubious ] Filipino is used
as a lingua franca in all regions of the
Philippines as well as within overseas
Filipino communities, and is the
dominant language of the armed
forces (except perhaps for the small
part of the commissioned officer corps
from wealthy or upper-middle-class
families) and of a large part of the civil
service, most of whom are non-
Tagalogs.
There are different forms of diglossia
that exist in the case of regional
languages. Locals may use their
mother tongue or the regional lingua
franca to communicate amongst
themselves, but sometimes switch to
foreign languages when addressing
outsiders. Another is the prevalence of
code-switching to English when
speaking in both their first language
and Tagalog.
The Constitution of the Philippines
provides for the use of the vernacular
languages as official auxiliary
languages in provinces where Filipino
is not the lingua franca. This is
however not implemented as Filipinos
at large are polyglots.
There are some 120 to 175 languages
in the Philippines, depending on the
method of classification.[1] Four others
are no longer spoken. Almost all are
classified as Malayo-Polynesian
languages, while one, Chabacano is a
Creole derived from a Romance
language. Two are official, while (as of
2010) twelve are official auxiliary
languages.[2]
National and official languages
Spanish was the national and official
language of the country for more than
three centuries under Spanish colonial
rule, and became the lingua franca of
the Philippines in the 19th and early
20th centuries. In 1863 a Spanish
decree introduced universal education,
creating free public schooling in
Spanish.[3] It was also the language of
the Philippine Revolution, and the
1899 Malolos Constitution effectively
proclaimed it as the official language
of the First Philippine Republic.[4]
National hero José Rizal wrote most of
his works in Spanish. Luciano de la
Rosa established that Spanish was
spoken by a total of 60% of the
population in the early 20th century as
a first, second or third language.
Following the American occupation of
the Philippines and the imposition of
English, the use of Spanish declined
gradually, especially after the 1940s.
Under the U.S. occupation and civil
regime, English began to be taught in
schools. By 1901, public education
used English as the medium of
instruction. Around 600 educators
(called " Thomasites") who arrived in
that year aboard the USS Thomas
replaced the soldiers who also
functioned as teachers. The 1935
Constitution added English as an
official language alongside Spanish. A
provision in this constitution also
called for Congress to "take steps
toward the development and adoption
of a common national language based
on one of the existing native
languages." On November 12, 1937,
the First National Assembly created
the National Language Institute.
President Manuel L. Quezón appointed
native Waray-Waray speaker Jaime C.
De Veyra to chair a committee of
speakers of other regional languages.
Their aim was to select a national
language among the other regional
languages. Ultimately, Tagalog was
chosen as the base language
December 30, 1937.[5]
In 1939, President Manuel L. Quezón
renamed the Tagalog language as
Wikang Pambansa ("national
language" in English translation).[6]
The language was further renamed in
1959 as Pilipino by Secretary of
Education Jose Romero. The 1973
constitution declared the Pilipino
language to be co-official, along with
English, and mandated the
development of a national language,
to be known as Filipino. In addition,
Spanish regained its official status
when President Marcos signed
Presidential Decree No. 155, s. 1973.[7]
The present constitution, ratified in
1987, designates Filipino and English as
joint official languages. Filipino also
had the distinction of being a national
language that was to be "developed
and enriched on the basis of existing
Philippine and other languages."
Although not explicitly stated in the
constitution, Filipino is in practice
almost completely composed of the
Tagalog language as spoken in the
capital, Manila; however, organizations
such as the University of the
Philippines began publishing
dictionaries such as the UP
Diksyonaryong Filipino in which words
from various Philippine languages
were also included. The constitution
also made mention of Spanish and
Arabic, both of which are to be
promoted on a voluntary and optional
basis.
Filipino is an official language of
education and also the major language
of the broadcast media and cinema,
but less important than English as a
language of publication (except in
some domains, like comic books, which
are meant to speak directly to the
Filipino psyche) and less important for
academic-scientific-technological
discourse. English and Filipino compete
in the domains of business and
government.[dubious ] Filipino is used
as a lingua franca in all regions of the
Philippines as well as within overseas
Filipino communities, and is the
dominant language of the armed
forces (except perhaps for the small
part of the commissioned officer corps
from wealthy or upper-middle-class
families) and of a large part of the civil
service, most of whom are non-
Tagalogs.
There are different forms of diglossia
that exist in the case of regional
languages. Locals may use their
mother tongue or the regional lingua
franca to communicate amongst
themselves, but sometimes switch to
foreign languages when addressing
outsiders. Another is the prevalence of
code-switching to English when
speaking in both their first language
and Tagalog.
The Constitution of the Philippines
provides for the use of the vernacular
languages as official auxiliary
languages in provinces where Filipino
is not the lingua franca. This is
however not implemented as Filipinos
at large are polyglots.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
) At least 16 people
were reported hurt after a fire and
explosion hit the Philippine Army's
compound in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig
City Wednesday morning.
The fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m.
at the Explosives and Ordnance
Disposal (EOD) office in Fort Bonifacio,
Army Deputy Chief Capt. Anthony
Bacus told reporters.
The office is a one-floor building like a
bungalow-type house, Philippine Army
spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said.
"Ang total bale is 16 'yung injured pero
minor injuries lang naman tulad ng
bruises, lacerations at iba pa. 'Yung iba
nga, dito na lang binigyan ng first aid,"
Detoyato told GMA News Online in a
phone interview on Wednesday.
Out of the 16 injured, seven were
firefighters, while the other seven
were fire volunteers. The two others
were official cameramen of the
Philippine Army.
The two were hit by shrapnel with one
being loaded on an ambulance and the
other on a military vehicle, radio
dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported.
.
.
At least 16 hurt as fire, explosion hit Philippine Army compound in Taguig | News | GMA News Online
were reported hurt after a fire and
explosion hit the Philippine Army's
compound in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig
City Wednesday morning.
The fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m.
at the Explosives and Ordnance
Disposal (EOD) office in Fort Bonifacio,
Army Deputy Chief Capt. Anthony
Bacus told reporters.
The office is a one-floor building like a
bungalow-type house, Philippine Army
spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said.
"Ang total bale is 16 'yung injured pero
minor injuries lang naman tulad ng
bruises, lacerations at iba pa. 'Yung iba
nga, dito na lang binigyan ng first aid,"
Detoyato told GMA News Online in a
phone interview on Wednesday.
Out of the 16 injured, seven were
firefighters, while the other seven
were fire volunteers. The two others
were official cameramen of the
Philippine Army.
The two were hit by shrapnel with one
being loaded on an ambulance and the
other on a military vehicle, radio
dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported.
.
.
At least 16 hurt as fire, explosion hit Philippine Army compound in Taguig | News | GMA News Online
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
There have been five republics in the
history of the Philippines:
First Philippine Republic (January
23, 1899 – March 23, 1901)
Second Philippine Republic (October
14, 1943 – August 17, 1945)
Third Philippine Republic (July 4,
1946 – September 21, 1972)
Fourth Philippine Republic (June 30,
1981 – February 25, 1986)
Fifth Philippine Republic (February
2, 1987 – present)
history of the Philippines:
First Philippine Republic (January
23, 1899 – March 23, 1901)
Second Philippine Republic (October
14, 1943 – August 17, 1945)
Third Philippine Republic (July 4,
1946 – September 21, 1972)
Fourth Philippine Republic (June 30,
1981 – February 25, 1986)
Fifth Philippine Republic (February
2, 1987 – present)
Free Karma
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2013
- Messages
- 2,372
- Likes
- 2,600
^^ post's are a bit hard to read with the narrow column formatting.
Dont understand why some posts end up like that.
Dont understand why some posts end up like that.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
Undaunted by China's aggressive
rhetoric and expansionist claims to
nearly all of the South China Sea, the
Philippines has filed a legal case
against Beijing with an international
arbitration tribunal in The Hague. This
is an appropriate venue to resolve a
major dispute peacefully and in accord
with global norms. The strategy of the
Philippines has implications for others
with similar claims against China —
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan
— and thus deserves support from the
international community.
The rivalry between China and the
Philippines is bitter and potentially
dangerous, with frequent face-offs at
sea over the disputed islands and
rocks. It is not hard to imagine
incidents spiraling out of control. In
the latest episode, a Philippine vessel
on Saturday outmaneuvered the
Chinese Coast Guard and resupplied a
ship that has been stranded for 15
years on a tiny reef called the Second
Thomas Shoal. The Philippines
intentionally grounded the vessel in
1999 to stake claim to the reef, and it
has since served as, effectively, a
military outpost. The Chinese ships
were trying to block a delivery of fresh
food and troops from reaching it.
The Second Thomas Shoal is at the
heart of the legal brief filed with the
Permanent Court of Arbitration. It
argues that the Shoal, known as
Ayungin in the Philippines and Ren'ai
Reef in China, is 105 nautical miles
from the Philippines, well inside the
200 nautical miles of an exclusive
economic zone that allows the
Philippines to control and exploit the
waters around the shoal under the
United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea. A ruling is expected
sometime next year.
For its part, China claims about 80
percent of the South China Sea, a vital
waterway for world trade. It has
repeatedly asserted that it does not
accept the Philippine decision to take
the case to the tribunal and will not
participate in the proceedings. It also
summoned the Philippine ambassador
in Beijing to lodge a strong complaint
just in case the Philippines did not get
the message.
China is a signatory to the 1982
Convention on the Law of the Sea,
though it has opted out of
international jurisdiction over some
territorial issues. Its proposed remedy
in this case — bilateral talks — has
been on offer for years and clearly has
not led to a settlement. Given all the
tension, it is time for a legal proceeding
allowing both sides to present their
best arguments and obtain a
judgment. The United States has not
taken sides on the claims but has
argued for a peaceful resolution and
backed the right of the Philippines to
use the tribunal's dispute mechanism.
Other countries should take a similar
stand or risk sending China a message
that it can keep trying to bully its
rivals into submission.
rhetoric and expansionist claims to
nearly all of the South China Sea, the
Philippines has filed a legal case
against Beijing with an international
arbitration tribunal in The Hague. This
is an appropriate venue to resolve a
major dispute peacefully and in accord
with global norms. The strategy of the
Philippines has implications for others
with similar claims against China —
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan
— and thus deserves support from the
international community.
The rivalry between China and the
Philippines is bitter and potentially
dangerous, with frequent face-offs at
sea over the disputed islands and
rocks. It is not hard to imagine
incidents spiraling out of control. In
the latest episode, a Philippine vessel
on Saturday outmaneuvered the
Chinese Coast Guard and resupplied a
ship that has been stranded for 15
years on a tiny reef called the Second
Thomas Shoal. The Philippines
intentionally grounded the vessel in
1999 to stake claim to the reef, and it
has since served as, effectively, a
military outpost. The Chinese ships
were trying to block a delivery of fresh
food and troops from reaching it.
The Second Thomas Shoal is at the
heart of the legal brief filed with the
Permanent Court of Arbitration. It
argues that the Shoal, known as
Ayungin in the Philippines and Ren'ai
Reef in China, is 105 nautical miles
from the Philippines, well inside the
200 nautical miles of an exclusive
economic zone that allows the
Philippines to control and exploit the
waters around the shoal under the
United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea. A ruling is expected
sometime next year.
For its part, China claims about 80
percent of the South China Sea, a vital
waterway for world trade. It has
repeatedly asserted that it does not
accept the Philippine decision to take
the case to the tribunal and will not
participate in the proceedings. It also
summoned the Philippine ambassador
in Beijing to lodge a strong complaint
just in case the Philippines did not get
the message.
China is a signatory to the 1982
Convention on the Law of the Sea,
though it has opted out of
international jurisdiction over some
territorial issues. Its proposed remedy
in this case — bilateral talks — has
been on offer for years and clearly has
not led to a settlement. Given all the
tension, it is time for a legal proceeding
allowing both sides to present their
best arguments and obtain a
judgment. The United States has not
taken sides on the claims but has
argued for a peaceful resolution and
backed the right of the Philippines to
use the tribunal's dispute mechanism.
Other countries should take a similar
stand or risk sending China a message
that it can keep trying to bully its
rivals into submission.
abhi_the _gr8_maratha
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 2,193
- Likes
- 609
China on Monday called for efforts to
safeguard peace and stability in the
Asia-Pacific region in response to
ongoing joint military exercises run by
the United States and the Philippines.
"It is in the common interests of all
parties concerned to maintain peace
and stability in Asia and the Pacific,
which demands constructive efforts by
all parties," foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a
daily press briefing.
"(We) hope that actions taken by the
United States and the Philippines will
go in this direction as well," said the
spokeswoman, urging the two
countries to do things "conducive to
building mutual trust among countries
and maintaining peace and stability in
the region."
Troops from the Philippines and the
United States formally began on
Monday their annual joint military
exercises, dubbed Balikatan (or
"shoulder-to-shoulder").
The 30th annual joint military drill will
involve 3,000 Filipino soldiers and 2,500
American soldiers.
safeguard peace and stability in the
Asia-Pacific region in response to
ongoing joint military exercises run by
the United States and the Philippines.
"It is in the common interests of all
parties concerned to maintain peace
and stability in Asia and the Pacific,
which demands constructive efforts by
all parties," foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a
daily press briefing.
"(We) hope that actions taken by the
United States and the Philippines will
go in this direction as well," said the
spokeswoman, urging the two
countries to do things "conducive to
building mutual trust among countries
and maintaining peace and stability in
the region."
Troops from the Philippines and the
United States formally began on
Monday their annual joint military
exercises, dubbed Balikatan (or
"shoulder-to-shoulder").
The 30th annual joint military drill will
involve 3,000 Filipino soldiers and 2,500
American soldiers.
