February 29, 2012 Edition

Going viral on the Internet today is a photo of Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. and PSBank Katipunan Branch Manager Anabelle Tiongson together at a wedding. The two had denied knowing each other prior to the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, where Tupas is lead prosecutor, and Tiongson a witness. Ties between the two were first alleged by Senator Judge Jinggoy Estrada, earlier this week Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago also warned the prosecution that she had evidence a congressman lied under oath.

 

 

 

1913 of the 6200 examinees passed the 2011 BAR Exams. Supreme Court Spokesperson Midas Marquez said this is the second highest passing rate for the bar exams in the last decade. The results, including the full list of examinees will be made available at 2pm sharp today, February 29, 2012.   

 

 

Actress Bela Padilla, the cover model on the March 2012 edition of FHM Magazine has spoken up about the pullout of the said magazine due to criticism that it was racially insensitive. Speaking to BBC via Skype Wednesday evening, February the 28th, the actress said she was proud of the cover, and that they had no intentions of discriminating anyone in any way. Earlier Wednesday the actress apologized over Twitter, “I’m so sorry to everyone who got offended. I hope all of you see the beauty of the cover and appreciate it.” 

 

A 17 year old boy is the third student casualty of a shooting at a high school in the United States. During the incident last Monday, February 27 an unidentified teenager open fired on five classmates at the Chardon High School in Ohio. Police have the suspect under custody but have yet to determine a motive for the crime. The suspect supposedly posted a poem on his Facebook last December that ended in, “Die, all of you”.

 

Amid the ongoing bribery scandal involving Pagcor chief Cristino Naguiat and Japanese investor Kazuo Okada, whose Manila Bay Resorts development is a $2 billion dollar project, Malacañang believes it has created a favorable investment atmosphere in the country and that foreign investors will come. 

 

 

 

As expected, Apple has officially set the date for its first big launch event of the year for March 7th, and its pretty much certainly going to be the much anticipated iPad 3. The event and the new iPad were teased in the invites Apple sent out to press people February 29th.

 

 

The newest player in the local budget airline scene, Air Asia Philippines launched with a bang February 28th offering 20,000 free seats on flights from its home base in Clark, Pampanga to Davao and Kalibo. 

 

 

 

The Philippine National Football squad goes head to head against 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup Champions Malaysia in a friendly match at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium today, February 29. The match is FIFA-sanctioned meaning even if no titles are up for grabs, the results of the match will affect the world rankings of both squads. Azklas from all over the world have flown in to play including goalie Neil Etheridge, midfielder Jason de Jong and defender Rob Gier.

 

The rescue of a British photographer from Syria cost the lives of 13 volunteers who took him out on a stretcher from the city of Homs into neighboring Lebanon. A UN official says the 11-month uprising in Syria has reach well over 7500 people. The conflict began in March of last year when protestors took to the streets to call for an end to the dictatorship of President Bashar Assad. Casualties continue to rise as government forces using force to stop protests have sparked even more protests, and civilian activists taking up arms to protect themselves.