Gov't employees to get 13th month pay starting this week

Manila Philippines - Government employees will get the remaining half of their 13th month pay and cash gift starting this

week, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Sunday.

Under Budget Circular 2010-1, which was first issued on August 28, 2010, government personnel are entitled to a year-end bonus equivalent to a month's pay, as well as a cash gift of P5,000.

"For the past year, government employees have been working quietly and without fanfare for the good of the nation. It's only proper that their efforts and hard work are given fair recognition. The year-end bonus and extra cash should help them prepare for the holiday season and its demands," said Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad.

Government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) will tap into their corporate funds for the bonuses, while local government units (LGUs) will source their perks from local government funds.

The budget circular covers civilian and uniformed personnel across all government departments and agencies. It also includes regular co-terminus government employees.

Abad noted that the budget for the 13th month pay was already released at the very start of the year as part of the General Appropriations Act.

"The General Appropriations Act-as-release-document ensures that funds are sufficiently available to the agencies from the very start, so that they can roll out the year-end bonuses and cash gifts at the appropriate time," he said.

Government employees already received half of their 13th month pay and cash gift last May.

China issues travel warning for the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines— China on Friday warned its citizens not to travel to the Philippines

after a Chinese teenager who worked in a family-run store was kidnapped.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also said it was worried because of plots confirmed by the police in the Philippines that criminal groups planned to attack the Chinese embassy, Chinese companies and public venues such as malls.

"Given that the safety situation in the Philippines is deteriorating, the consular service of the foreign ministry is asking Chinese nationals not to travel to the Philippines for the time being," the warning read.

The warning comes as relations between the countries have soured and even turned hostile in recent years as Beijing and Manila battle over claims to the same territory in the South China Sea.

On late Thursday, 18-year-old Li Peizhi was seized by unidentified gunmen in Zamboanga Sibugay province's Kabasalan township, Senior Inspector Leo Castillo said.
The gunmen also took 20,000 pesos ($455) from the store's cash register.
Castillo, the provincial police spokesman, said officers in pursuit found the kidnappers' vehicle burning in a village about two kilometers (1.25 miles) away.
Mayor George Cainglet said Abu Sayyaf militants who kidnapped Australian Warren Richard Rodwell in 2011 may have been involved. He said no ransom demand had been made.

Philippines "SHOCKING DISCOVERY"

After having dug to a depth of 50 feet last year, Mexican scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago. 

Not to be outdone by the Mexicans, in the weeks that followed, Puerto Rican scientists dug to a depth of 75 feet, and shortly after, headlines in the San Juan newspapers read: 

" Puerto Rican archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the Mexicans." 

One week later, Philippines "National Historic commission", with the participation of the Philippine Archeological Society and the Manila Times reported the following:

"After digging as deep as 190 feet in wash beds near Navotas, archeologist reported that they found absolutely nothing. and has therefore concluded that 300 years ago Filipino Natives had already gone wireless."

Mark Gil passes away

MANILA, Philippines —  Veteran actor Mark Gil has passed away Monday morning at age 52.
According to reports, the veteran actor died of liver cirrhosis, progressive disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, preventing the liver from functioning properly.
Son of actors Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, Mark entered showbiz during the early 1980s and starred in a number of acclaimed films such as Batch '81, directed by Mike de Leon.
He was the father of actors Sid Lucero, Andi Eigenmann, and Gabby Eigenmann.
Earlier this month, Lucero clarified in a Pilipino Star Ngayon report that his father was not suffering from cancer and that he seemed to be well, except for frequent hospital visits
Mark last appeared on television via the ABS-CBN soap opera "The Legal Wife" early this year.

Image: Via Pep.ph

Syrian rebels engaged PH peacekeepers - Via Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Syrian rebels have engaged Filipino peacekeepers in a firefight in Golan Heights on Saturday, a military source said.

The source, who is privy to the monitoring of the situation, said the attack was done in Positions 68 and 69 by the rebels at 6 a.m. Syrian time.

There are Filipino peacekeepers trapped in these positions since Thursday after refusing to surrender their firearms to the Syrian rebels.

There were no reported casualties so far among the peacekeepers, the source said.

Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines monitoring the situation will hold a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo at 4 p.m.

More: Inquirer.net

'BATTALION OF EXCELLENCE': The troops in Golan Heights are well-trained and well-armed. November 2013 file photo before the group left for Golan

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Comparing the the Genuine and the Counterfeit Php1000.00 bill...

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