June 4, 2012 Edition

Michelle Fernandez

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

  1. Congress tackles pending bills before recess

    CLOCK TICKING. Senators have only until Thursday to pass the AMLA amendments. Sponsors say the passage of the bills are important to show that the Philippines is serious about fighting money-laundering. Photo from emirates247.com

    As the dust settles after the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, lawmakers are faced with looming deadlines. Congress will adjourn on June 7, giving them a limited time to attend to pending bills. Among the urgent ones are the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) of 2001 that need to be passed before the June 21 deadline set by an international body. At stake is a possible inclusion of the country in the blacklist, which will make it difficult for millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to send money home through formal and central bank-regulated remittance centers. Also pending are, among many others, the Freedom of Information bill, the rationalization of fiscal incentives, the Kasambahay bill for household workers, and the amendments to sin tax law that aim to raise around P33 billion a year to help fund the government’s health and other social services. Four days to go and the clock is ticking. 

    Read about the Anti-Money Laundering Law amendments on Rappler.

    Read about the amendments to the Sin Tax Law on Rappler

  2. Aquino visits UK, US in 6-day overseas trip

    Aquino and Obama during their last meeting in 2011. AFP photo

    President Aquino hopes to raise investor awareness and seal diplomatic ties in his June 4 to 10 overseas trip, which will cover 3 cities: London, Washington, and Los Angeles. In the United Kingdom, he will be meeting with British royalty as London celebrates the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth, as well as with investors who are interested in his administration’s much-delayed big-ticket infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership scheme. In Washington on June 8, he and U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss security and key developments in the Asia-Pacific region. China will “possibly” be on the agenda. The Philippines has sought the support of the U.S. in its territorial dispute with China. 


    Read about President Aquino’s Washington visit on Rappler.


    Read about his London visit on Rappler

  3. The next ‘Angry Birds’

    Two former employees of Rovio, the Finnish firm that created hit online app “Angry Birds,” are cooking a new “multiplayer, real time” game that’s a cartoony version of “World of Warcraft.” Tuomas Erikoinen, the lead artist behind a story about the birds being mad at pigs that stole their eggs, and ex-Rovio server architecture Antti Sten have co-founded Boomlagoon, which plans to release an HTML5 Web game featuring non-angry characters that have oven mitts and frying pans on their heads. The young founders said the characters of their new game are goofier and less circular than the Angry Birds, and will use kitchenware as fashion accessories or weapons. Boomlagoon hopes to put out the game this year.

    R
    ead more on CNN

  4. SY 2012-2013 starts, K-12 program takes effect

    Almost 22 million students are back to school on Monday, June 4, the start of another academic year. School Year 2012-2013 also marks the first year of implementation of the K-12 program, which adds two more years in the curriculum aimed to improve the quality of graduates, as well as the usage of students’ Mother Tongue in 6 subjects among incoming Grade 1.  Usual issues greet school goers, most of them entering the over 45,00 public schools. Aside from typhoon and flood-battered month of June, the number of classrooms, teachers, and sanitation facilities has been increased, but still not enough.

    Read more on Rappler.

  5. US shifts defense strategy to Pacific

    GENERAL. U.S. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, attended a plenary session at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 11th Asia Security Summit in Singapore on June 2, 2012 before visiting the Philippines on June 3 to 4. Photo from AFP

    The United States announced a major shift in its defense strategy: from the current 50-50 split between Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic, it will reposition the majority of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020. This was announced by top US military officials in an annual security summit in Singapore, called the Shangri-la Dialogue, over the weekend. Aside from deploying more ships to the Pacific, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also said they will also expand their network of military partnerships in the region as part of a “steady, deliberate effort to bolster the US role in an area deemed vital to America’s future.” The defense minister of France noted that Europe should rethink its own defense strategy as this shift does not bode well for them. After the summit, General Martin Dempsey, the highest ranking armed forces office of the US, visited his counterparts in Manila, a key US ally. 

    Read more about the US strategy shift to Asia on Rappler.

    Read more about shift in alliances on Rappler.

    Read more about the Manila visit of US general on Rappler.

  6. Asia among best places to view Venus transit

    RARE EVENT. On June 5, 2012, astronomers are gearing for one the rarest events in the Solar System: an alignment of Earth, Venus and the Sun that will not be seen for another 105 years. The celestial ballet known as the Transit of Venus is one of the most eagerly-awaited events in skywatching, an episode that has advanced the frontiers of knowledge, sometimes with dramatic consequences. On the evening of June 5, North America, Central America and the northern part of South America will get to see the start of the transit -- clear skies permitting -- until those regions go into sunset. AFP photo

    On Tuesday, June 6, those in Asia will have one of the best views of the Transit of Venus -— a planetary alignment that occurs when Venus passes between the Earth and the sun. A lunar eclipse will set the stage for this rare astronomical events–rarer even than the return of Halley’s Comet every 76 years–with Venus appearing as a distinct but tiny round black spot with a diameter just 1/32 that of the sun. The Venus Transit is one of a pair of rare phenomena which happen 8 years apart, with the dual events only taking place approximately every 105 years. Venus will transit west-to-east across the solar disk over a period of 6 hours and 40 minutes, passing through Greenland and far-northern portions of Canada, all of Alaska and Hawaii, central and eastern Asia, New Zealand and the eastern half of Australia.

    Read more about Venus, the planet of broken dreams, on Rappler

    View infographic on Space.com

  7. Pope stresses importance of family values, Sunday rest

    FAMILY. Pope Benedict XVI (R) delivers a speech during a meeting with families for the feast of testimonies at the park of Bresso as part of the 7th World Meeting of Families in Milan. AFP photo

    At the festive World Meeting of Families in Milan over the weekend, Pope Benedict XVI told a crowd of at least a million that traditional family values and Sunday rest were key to escaping the ills of modern society. Throughout the event, he repeatedly cited the importance of family as a tool to boost mores that the Church sees as under threat, making reference to marriages not “between man and woman.” He said, “Watch over your children and, in a world dominated by technology, transmit to them, with serenity and trust, reasons for living, the strength of faith, pointing them towards high goals and supporting them in their fragility.” He also urged the pilgrims that, espite the relentless rhythms of the modern world, do not lose a sense of the Lord’s day,” the pope said, describing the tradition of Sunday rest as “an oasis in which to pause… and celebrate the family.” The pontiff looked joyful despite a whistle-blowing scandal that recently hit the Vatican.

    Read more the Pope’s message about family and Sundays on Rappler.

    Read more on the Pope’s call for rich countries to help poor ones on Rappler.

  8. Pomp and splendor in Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniv

    JUBILEE. Hundreds of rowing boats, barges and steamers filled the River Thames with a blaze of color on Sunday as Queen Elizabeth II sailed through London as part of her spectacular diamond jubilee pageant. AFP photo

    The 4-day festivities for the 60th anniversary of 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the British throne continued to be pompous and splendid during the weekend, and expected to culminate in another ceremonial parade on Tuesday, June 6. On Saturday, June 2, the queen indulged in her love of horse racing, before gracing the Sunday spectacle: a 1,000-boat river pageant on River Thames in London. It was the the biggest of its kind in 350 years, historians and analysts noted as rowing boats, cruisers, steam ships, as well as the Royal Yacht Britannia ship ferrying the queen and her royal family passed by. On Monday, there will be a concert in the shadow of Buckingham Palace featuring Beatles star Paul McCartney and other top names. The Jubilee festivities doubles up as a security rehearsal for the London Olympics that open on July 27.

    Read more about the Thames River pageant on Rappler

    Read more about the Jubilee celebration on Rappler.

  9. Formal search for new Supreme Court justice begins

    SEARCH BEGINS. The Judicial and Bar Council convenes at the Supreme Court to begin the search for a new chief justice. Photo by Matthew James Balic

    The formal search for a new Supreme Court magistrate formally begins on Monday, June 4, after former Chief Justice Renato Corona was found guilty of betraying public trust in the recently concluded historic impeachment trial. As the Judicial and Bar Council convenes to choose the replacement of Corona, calls for transparency in the nomination and selection process mount. After all, impeachment proceedings were lodged against two of JBC’s past choices: Corona and former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. The JBC, which traditionally held its voting for judiciary and Obmudsman nominations secret, has 8 members and 90 days to appoint a new chief justice after Corona was convicted.  

    Read more on Rappler.

  10. Reflections and Bible verses after the #CoronaTrial

    DIVINE INTERVENTION: Prosecutor Reynaldo Umali thanks 'Little Lady' for helping the prosecution

    This is the first week that keen watchers of the over-4-month-long “Corona-vela” will have a 2:00 p.m. habit no more. Reflections from those who played a role in the historic impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona–the first that finished in the Philippines–have been trickling in. Prosecutor Reynaldo Umali, the one behind the “Little Lady” story of Corona’s alleged bank records said he considers himself as an “instrument” and remains unfazed despite criticisms. Kaya Natin convenor Harvey Keh, who had a tongue-lashing from the senators for supposedly trying to influence the court, shared a lesson: he should have consulted a lawyer before getting involved. For his part, Corona stood firm and cited a Bible verse in his post-impeachment statement: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” The Palace laughed off Corona’s call for transparency. 

    Read reflections by 8 individuals who played a role in the Corona trial

    Read Corona’s statement after the impeachment.

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