April 16, 2014 Edition

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said 4 of its members were killed in a military operation in Basilan, just 2 weeks after the MILF and the government signed a peace deal. The MILF denounced the attack and said the military should have made sure it did not enter MILF identified territory. The military, however, said they were carrying out an operation against members of the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG). The military added that the MILF members killed could have been acting on their own to aid relatives who are ASG fighters. MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar cautioned the military from repeating an incident like this in the future and from disturbing the “honeymoon period” between the government and the MILF.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Boston pays solemn tribute Tuesday, April 15 to the victims and survivors of the marathon bombings that traumatized the northeastern US city and stunned the nation one year ago. Three people were killed and more than 260 others wounded when two bombs made of explosives-packed pressure cookers detonated near the finish line of the city’s famous marathon on April 15, 2013. US leaders will conduct memorial services across the country, with President Barack Obama observing a moment of silence in the Oval Office. This year, the Boston Marathon – which has been run since 1897 – will take place on Monday, April 21.

Read the full story on Rappler.

An anti-government rally held in Tacloban in February may have been supported by the Romualdez family of Leyte. This according to intelligence reports received by secretary Panfilo Lacson, the President Assistant on Rehabilitation. Lacson told Rappler on April 15 that a truck bus that shuttled at least 25 protestors to the rally was traced to the Romualdez family. Lacson expressed his frustration at the news. “I’m so disappointed to find out that they’re assisting rallyists who lambast us, including myself…. They are part of the government,” he said. The mayor, however, denied that he helped mount the anti-government rally in February. He said he doesn’t “hide behind these rallyists.”

Read the full story on Rappler.

Armed and masked men kidnapped Jordan’s ambassador to Libya as he rode to work in the capital city of Tripoli on Tuesday, April 15. The gunmen shot at the ambassador’s car and wounded his driver, officials said. Tuesday’s incident was the latest targeting of Libyan leaders and foreign diplomats in the increasingly lawless North African country, 3 years after NATO-backed rebels ended autocratic leader Moamer Kadhafi’s 4-decade reign. Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur urged the Libyan authorities to work to secure the safe release of the kingdom’s ambassador, Fawaz Aitan. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said Amman had yet to receive any demands from the kidnappers.

Read the full story on Rappler.

An unmanned submarine equipped with sonar gear has been sent deep underwater in the Indian Ocean to search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 on Wednesday, April 16. After more than 3 weeks of hunting for black box signals, the autonomous sub had been deployed for the first time on Monday night from the Australian ship Ocean Shield, which has spearheaded the hunt for the Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8 with 239 people aboard. It’s first mission was earlier aborted when the sub reached its maximum operating depth without finding any traces of the aircraft.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Former president and current Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada will travel to Hong Kong after his coming birthday to make a personal apology for the botched 2010 hostage rescue involving HK tourists. Estrada will celebrate his 77th birthday on Saturday, April 19. He said he wants to bring back and strengthen the relationship between Manila and Hong Kong. Estrada has apologized before on behalf of the City of Manila. The Philippine government, led by President Benigno Aquino III, has said that while it regrets the incident, it cannot apologize for the act of a rogue former policeman. Estrada added that if his apology is not accepted, he will at least have a vacation in Hong Kong.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The UN weather agency on Tuesday, April 15, warned there was a good chance of an “El Niño” climate phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean this year. The weather pattern could bring droughts and heavy rainfall to the rest of the world. The El Niño phenomenon occurs every two to 7 years, when the prevailing trade winds that circulate surface water in the tropical Pacific start to weaken. The last El Niño occurred between June 2009 and May 2010. It is often followed by a return swing of the pendulum with La Niña, which is characterized by unusually cool ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.

Read the full story on Rappler.

It’s a sight you won’t often see – eternally cool, unruffled Pharrell breaking down in tears over his own song. During an interview with none other than Oprah Winfrey, Pharrell talked about his work and his music. “Zero airplay, nothing. And the next thing you know, we put out the video… and all of a sudden, BOOM,” he told Oprah, about “Happy.” “It was no longer my song,” he said. “It’s overwhelming because I love what I do and I just appreciate the fact that like, people have believed in me so long that I can make it to this point to feel that,” he said through tears.

Watch the interview and the video that made Pharell cry on Rappler.

When iconic Philippine rock band The Eraserheads split up in 2002, many thought it was the end of an era. But bandmates Ely, Buddy, Marcus and Raymund have quietly been jamming together in Raymund’s basement, often to practice for several planned concerts outside of the country. Rappler’s Marga Deona talks to the musicians and gets a sense of what it’s like to grow up with a band that has touched the lives of many Filipinos here and abroad.

Watch the interview with Eraserheads on Rappler.

For the Catholic faithful in our country, Visita Iglesia (church visit) is a common practice during Holy Week, especially on Maundy Thursday. While there are churches all over Metro Manila, there are those which stand out for their rich history (some over 400 years old!) and beautiful architecture. Rappler presents 8 beautiful churches within Metro Manila where urban pilgrims can find solace and sanctuary.

Check out the 8 churches on Rappler.