Saturday, May 2, 2015

Biggest Political and Religious Events in the Philippines

Ninoy Aquino’s burial, August 31, 1983. Two million people marched from the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.
October 1983. First anti-Marcos rally in Makati, where thousands of office workers and businessmen poured out of their buildings to join marchers along Ayala Avenue.
“Tarlac to Tarmac,” late 1983. A march initiated by the August Twenty-One Movement from Ninoy’s home province to what was then the Manila International Airport, where he was assassinated. The crowd peaked at the boundary of Meycauayan and Valenzuela towns along MacArthur Highway in Bulacan, where rallyists were blocked by uniformed men.
First anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s death on August 21, 1984 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by 500,000 people.
Corazon Aquino’s miting de avance for the snap elections on February 8, 1986 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by 500,000 people.
Marcos’ miting de avance for the snap elections on February 1986 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by 100,000 people
Tagumpay ng Bayan rally to celebrate EDSA victory. February 15, 1986 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park attended by more than 500,000 people.
EDSA People Power Revolution of February 22 to 25, 1986. Camp Crame to White Plains, a low of 300,000 and a peak of 500,000
Burial of labor leader Rolando Olalia, November 1986. March from University of the Philippines-Diliman to Mandaluyong Cemetery, 145,000.
El Shaddai 3rd Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 48th birthday from August 22 to 23, 1987, It rained heavily throughout the affair, but the estimated two hundred thousand attendees stayed until it ended in the morning.
El Shaddai 4th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 49th birthday from August 20 to 21, 1988 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila where an estimated half a million people packed the venue. It was the biggest crowd so far gathered by a particular group in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Philippines. The testimonies on the healing and miraculous power of Psalm 91 inspired some prayer-partners to have the Psalm printed on handkerchiefs. These handkerchiefs have become an instrument of God's healing and miracles among the prayer-partners worldwide.
El Shaddai 5th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and it's leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 50th birthday, August 19 to 20, 1989 at the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium, Vito Cruz Street, Malate Manila with over half a million people from all over the Philippines to take part in an overnight activity of praise and worship dedicated to El Shaddai. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, together with some priests from the different parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila, led the Holy Mass.
El Shaddai 8th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and it's leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 53rd birthday on August 22-23, 1992 at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City, more than one-and-a-half million prayer-partners attended the affair. His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, gave his greetings to the congregation.
El Shaddai 9th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and it's leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 54th birthday on August 21-22, 1993 at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila with 2 million people. The crowd filled the Rizal Park from Taft Avenue to Manila Bay at the back of the grandstand. The affair featured the mass wedding of two hundred thirty couples who had previously lived together without the blessing of the Church. During his healing message, Bro. Mike launched the "Love Our Police Movement," believing that through the Filipinos' love and faith in the members of the Philippine National Police, the nation will change for the better.
El Shaddai 10th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 55th birthday from August 20 to 21, 1994 at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila with 3 to 10 million people. The participants crowded the 61-hectare park and adjacent areas-Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, UN Avenue, T.M. Kalaw St., Port Area, and Jones Bridge. Some of them came to the venue as early as three days before the event. They came not only from Metro Manila, but also from Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, the Ilocos Region, Quezon, the Bicol Region, Sorsogon, Leyte, and other distant provinces. Also present were members from different overseas chapters of the Foundation.
11th Christmas Overnight Celebration Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai on December 24 to 25, 1994 at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila. The close to three million attendees feasted on thousands of roasted calves, pigs and chickens. In the early morning, thousands of doves for peace and prosperity were released by the attendees.
Pope John Paul II’s second visit for the 10th World Youth Day at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila on January 14 to 15, 1995 with 1 to 10 million people.
El Shaddai 11th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 56th birthday at the PNCC-PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City on August 19 to 20, 1995, Three days before the event, tents of sack, plastic and umbrellas had already mushroomed in and around the venue. The members and followers of the Foundation from the provinces arrived in buses, trucks, jeepneys, and other vehicles festooned with streamers bearing the name "El Shaddai." In view of the huge numbers of people coming to the venue, the Buendia Avenue Extension was closed and a big number of those who came had to stay in their vehicles, go to the rooftops of nearby buildings, or sit on the sidewalks and simply monitor the celebration on their portable TV and radio sets. His Eminence Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, officiated a mass wedding of one hundred eighty-two couples.
Twelfth Christmas Overnight Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai on December 23 to 24, 1995 at the PEA Grounds in Pasay City. Close to three million people stood witness to the blessed event as Bishop Bacani officiated the mass wedding ceremony assisted by other priests. Romance pervaded the air, bringing smiles to the young and old alike who stood shoulder to shoulder, seemingly unaffected by the cool December breeze.
El Shaddai 13th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 58th birthday at the PNCC-PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City on August 23 to 24, His Eminence, Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez, Most Rev. Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Bishop Bacani, and some Reverend Fathers and Spiritual Directors of the Foundation for local and overseas chapters attended the affair. A number of public officials also graced the occasion. Brother Mike presented the "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" Award to President Fidel V. Ramos, the guest of honor
In spite of heavy rains, close to 600,000 people trooped to the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, September 21, 1997 to join a prayer rally for peace and unity called by His Eminence Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and former president Corazon C. Aquino. The rally was held in protest of move to amend the Constitution before the May 11, 1998 national elections. The attendees were from the different NGOs, civic, business and political groups, Catholic religious organization, and non-Catholic groups. This include the thousands of flaglet-bearing members of the Foundation. Representatives of the different groups in attendance signed a covenant against charter change. An ecumenical invocation was held with leaders from Islam, Protestant and other sect groups participating. Brother Mike represented the Catholic Church. As a result of the rally, the move for charter change in then congress were stopped as called by former president Fidel Ramos.
El Shaddai 15th Anniversary Celebration Overnight Mass and Healing Prayer Rally and its leader Bro. Mike Velarde’s 60th birthday celebration at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila with 1,200,000 people on August 20, 1999 a show of force by the Joseph Estrada camp in answer to the anti-Estrada rally in Ayala with a turnout of 50,000 people. Before the noon of August 20, in observance of Bro. Mike's birthday, the attendees feasted on roasted chickens, pigs and calves as a gift of the family and friends for his natal day. Early in the afternoon, the crowd jubilantly caught with their umbrellas inverted thousands of miracle-souvenir handkerchiefs thrown into the air from several helicopters. A thanksgiving prayer was offered by Bro. Mike for his birthday and for the anniversary of the Foundation. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer-requests, which were tied to balloons and released to the air at the signal of Bro. Mike. His Excellency, President Joseph E. Estrada, the guest of honor in the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with First Lady Eloisa Ejercito Estrada, MD. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Blas Ople; several congressmen led by House Speaker Manny Villar; and friends of Bro. Mike from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector. A Thanksgiving Mass was led by His Eminence Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez of the Vatican City, together with Bishop Bacani; Very Rev. Msgrs. Mariano T. Balbago Jr. of Antipolo Diocese and Mario A. Castillo; and Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual and Rev. Fr. Sanny de Claro, spiritual directors of the Foundation. Joining them also were several spiritual directors from the international chapters of the Foundation namely Reverend Fathers Bernard J. Nolan of Brisbane, Australia; Leo E. Steinbock of L.A., Ca., USA; and Thomas Kawamura of Tokyo, Japan, as well as from the Philippines namely, Dwight de Jesus; Remigio Mendoza of Mabini, Batangas; Manheim Abellana, SDB; Eligio Santos of San Ildefonso Parish, Makati; and Stephen Punnakal and Victor Maung Thit of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Malate, Manila. Highlighting the Mass was the mass wedding of 50 couple who had been living together for a long time without the blessing of the Church. They decided to get married for they had known through their listening of the Word over DWXI (1314 kHz) AM, that they are living against the will of God, for it is written in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "...Do not be deceived: Neither the sexual immoral...nor adulterers...will inherit the Kingdom of God." After the Mass, a candlelight ceremony was held followed by the delivery of the healing message of Bro. Mike.
Launching of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga campaign of the government, August 28, 1999. Quirino Grandstand with 500,000 people
El Shaddai and Iglesia ni Cristo’s National Day of Prayer and Fasting Against All Adversities, thousands of people from different sects and religions in the Philippines joined together for the affair held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila in support of President Joseph Estrada on November 13, 1999, in accordance with Executive Order No. 169 signed by the President, complementing Presidential Proclamation No. 47, declaring the second Saturday of November of every year. Reverend Ephraim Perez and Bro. Boy Baldomaro of the New Hope of Life Church, Baliuag, Bulacan led the congregation in the singing of praise and worship songs. Bishop Efraim M. Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCES) exhorted the crowd about the importance of prayer. Reverend Reynaldo Santillana of the Christian Ministers Council of Bulacan led the invocation. This was followed by the offering of prayers of representatives of the different sects and religions, namely, Bro. Joe Villanueva of the Mission to All the World Ministry; Rev. Fred Magbanua of the Christian Leaders Alliance of the Philippines (CLAP); Imam Abdul Bashit Kareem Bantuas of the Muslim community; Rev. Kenneth Aguillera of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP); Minister Adriel Obar Meimban, Ph.D. of the Iglesia ni Cristo; Most Rev. Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. of the Catholic Church; and Bro. Bert Lotilla of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship. Their prayers for the nation were as follows: peace and unity, healing of the nation, lasting peace and prosperity in Mindanao, productive collaboration between the media and the government, eradication of poverty and graft and corruption in the public service, and bountiful harvest and improvement of economic growth and employment. A candlelight ceremony was held after the special message and prayer of the President. The congregation led by Bro. Mike joined together in the recitation of the "Our Father". He also prayed for unity among Filipinos amidst adversities and for progressive development of the nation.
El Shaddai’s National Day of Prayer for President Joseph Estrada, November 11, 2000. Quirino Grandstand, 1.2 million, in answer to the anti-Estrada EDSA Shrine prayer rally of November 4 with a turnout of 15,000
EDSA People Power 2, EDSA Shrine, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City on January 17 to 20, 2001. Low of 50,000 and peak of 200,000.
Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva's 67th birthday party at the Manila Hotel and its 35th anniversary celebration at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila on October 25 to 26, 2013 with 10 million people packed the 61-hectare national park and adjacent streets (Roxas Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Padre Burgos Drive, Port Area District and Jones Bridge), a show of force by the Aquino III camp in answer to the anti-Aquino Pork Barrel rally in Ayala Avenue, Makati City with a turnout of 50,000. This year's celebration theme was "Revolution of Righteousness".
Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva's 68th birthday party at the Manila Hotel and its 36th anniversary celebration at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, City of Manila on October 24 to 25, 2014 with 10 million people packed the 61-hectare national park and adjacent streets (Roxas Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Padre Burgos Drive, Port Area District and Jones Bridge), a show of force by the Aquino III camp in answer to the anti-Aquino Charter Change and Pork Barrel rally in Ayala Avenue, Makati City with a turnout of 50,000. This year's celebration theme was "Pursue Peace and Be Holy, Without which No One Can See God" (Hebrews 12:14). Most of the attendees were already in the venue days before the overnight affair beamed live nationwide via satellite over GMA-7, ABS-CBN-2, PTV-4, TV5, 9TV, GMA News TV-11, IBC-13, ABS-CBN Sports+Action 23. Before the noon of October 6, in observance of Bro. Eddie's birthday, the attendees feasted on roasted chickens, pigs and calves as a gift of the family and friends for his natal day celebration. Early in the afternoon, the crowd jubilantly caught with their umbrellas inverted thousands of miracle-souvenir handkerchiefs thrown into the air from several helicopters. A thanksgiving prayer was offered by Bro. Eddie for his birthday party and for the anniversary celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer-requests, which were tied to balloons and released to the air at the signal of Bro. Eddie. During the 36th Anniversary Celebration last October 24, 2014, His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III, the guest of honor in the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with the members of the Aquino Family. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Franklin Drilon; several congressmen led by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.; and friends of Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector.
Overnight Vigil and Closing Liturgy of the Apostolic and State Visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines on January 17 to 18, 2015 with 10 million people packed the 61-hectare national park and adjacent streets (Roxas Boulevard, United Nations Avenue, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Padre Burgos Drive, Port Area District and Jones Bridge). It also dwarfed the million or so who faced down tanks and guns in the February 22 to 25, 1986 EDSA People Power uprising that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos from power. And the two million who rallied behind Corazon Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park after the February 7, 1986 snap presidential elections. People started massing at the Rizal Park as early as midnight Friday, swelling the one-million crowd that attended the celebration's annual sunset overnight vigil at the 61-hectare Rizal Park. The throng grew swiftly as more and more people arrived early yesterday morning, January 17. Among those who came for the annual religious celebration were residents from barangays in the cities and municipalities in provinces, some coming from as far north as Laoag.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Future Metro Manila Road Projects

Sunday, April 12, 2015

32 dead, power down as 7.2 quake hits Bohol 33 wounded and counting, LGUs say Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/507169/6-dead-power-down-as-7-2-quake-hits-bohol#ixzz3X1MiOUGJ Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

The death toll in the powerful 7.2- magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao Tuesday morning rose to 32, authorities said.

Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, likened the energy released by the quake to “32 Hiroshima bombs.” The earthquake toppled buildings and historic churches and sending terrified residents into deadly stampedes.

At least 16 people died in Bohol and 15 in Cebu, officials said. Scores were injured.

“We ran out of the building, and outside, we hugged trees because the tremors were so strong,” said Vilma Yorong, a Bohol provincial government employee.

“When the shaking stopped, I ran to the street and there I saw several injured people. Some were saying their church has collapsed,” she told The Associated Press by phone.

As fear set in, Yorong and the others ran up a mountain, afraid a tsunami would follow the quake. “Minutes after the earthquake, people were pushing each other to go up the hill,” she said.

Panic ensued as people spilled out on the street after the quake struck at 8:12 a.m. It was centered about 33 kilometers (20 miles) below Carmen town on Bohol Island, where many buildings collapsed, roads cracked up and bridges fell. Extensive damage also hit densely populated Cebu City, across the narrow strait from Bohol, causing deaths when a fish port and a market roof fell.

Bohol quake ‘like 32 Hiroshima bombs’ Quake kills at least 97 in Bohol and Cebu Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/507373/bohol-earthquake-strongest-to-hit-visayas-and-mindanao-in-over-20-years#ixzz3X1KIuDIc Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

An earthquake with energy equivalent to “32 Hiroshima bombs” jolted the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao and southern Luzon early Tuesday morning, causing centuries-old churches and modern buildings to crumble, disrupting power and phone services, setting off stampedes and killing at least 97 people.

The nuclear bomb dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, packed power equal to 20,000 tons of TNT.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck at 8:12 a.m. with its epicenter at 2 kilometers southeast of Carmen town in Bohol province, known for its chocolate hills and tarsiers.

Offices and schools were closed for a national holiday—the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha—which may have saved lives.

Bohol and Cebu have declared a state calamity as the death toll rose to 97 in the two provinces, including a 9-year-old girl who died in a stampede that broke out at the queue for the cash transfer program in Pinamungahan town, Cebu.

President Aquino will fly to Bohol and Cebu Wednesday to check on the damage caused by the quake.

“I will be going to Bohol and Cebu tomorrow, and if possible other areas. And if our assessment is there are a lot of other things that are not being taken care of, then we will reconsider the (Korea) visit. But as of this time, the things that have to be done are being done,” the President told reporters.

Senior Supt. Dennis Agustin, the Bohol police chief, reported 87 fatalities in the province based on an actual body count. At least nine others were killed in nearby Cebu province and another died on Siquijor Island, according to field reports.

Agustin said Loon town accounted for at least 20 fatalities; San Isidro and Sagbayan, nine fatalities each; Balilihan, Calape and Antequerra, five fatalities each; Tubigon, Inabanga, Bilar and Catigbian, four fatalities each; and Maribojoc, three fatalities.

Agustin said the towns of Clarin, Buenavista, Loay and Albor had two fatalities each. Tagbilaran City also had the same number of fatalities.

The towns of Getafe, Batu-an, Baclayon, Cortes and Talibon each had one fatality.

Aquino presided over an hourlong closed-door executive session of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at the Office of Civil Defense.

Combined figures from the Bohol provincial police and the NDRRMC showed that at least 164 people were injured in the province.

East Bohol Fault

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the movement of the East Bohol Fault triggered the strongest quake in the Visayas in 23 years.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum placed the depth of the tectonic tremor at 33 kilometers.

The US Geological Survey initially reported the quake as having a magnitude of 7.2, but shortly afterward lowered it to 7.1.

By noon, Phivolcs had recorded 137 aftershocks in Carmen and Tagbilaran, the strongest of which was magnitude 4.3 at 9:37 a.m. Intensity IV was felt in Tagbilaran.

Magnitude is the measurement of the energy released by the earthquake, while intensity measures the extent of damage caused by the quake.

Limestone church crumbled

Many roads and bridges were reported damaged, but historic churches dating from the Spanish colonial period suffered the most. Among them is the country’s oldest, the 16th-century Basilica of the Holy Child in Cebu, which lost its bell tower.

A 17th-century limestone church in Loboc town, southwest of Carmen, crumbled to pieces, with nearly half of it reduced to rubble.

Bohol Administrator Alfonso Damalerio said two other churches in Maribojoc and Loon were destroyed.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Bohol also received reports of damage to old churches in Loay, Clarin and Baclayon as well as the belfry in Panglao.

Photos on social media showed extensive damage not only to churches but also to modern buildings, including a university, while major roads had also been torn apart.

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, authorities were struggling to reach or contact damaged areas, with power lines as well as phone networks down, and a clear picture of the disaster had yet to emerge.

Neil Sanchez, head of the Cebu disaster management office, said authorities were trying to confirm reports that a school had collapsed, with an undetermined number of children trapped.

“Communications lines are quite difficult here. Even the disaster risk reduction management office has been damaged. We had to move elsewhere,” Sanchez said.

Businesses in Cebu were on a standstill as people rushed out of buildings, homes and hospitals.

Malls and several establishments closed down for the day to allow engineers to check on their buildings. They are expected to resume operations on Wednesday.

Classes, flights suspended

Cebu declared a state of calamity and suspended classes in both private and public schools on Wednesday to allow school officials to check on the buildings.

Operations at Mactan Cebu International Airport and Bohol’s Tagbilaran airport were halted after the quake struck, as airport safety authorities conducted safety checks.

By 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, both airports resumed operations. John Andrews of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said damage was reported at both locations. In the case of Tagbilaran, the second floor ceiling of the terminal collapsed but the debris was already cleared, he said.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Globe Telecom said service in earthquake-hit areas continued but noted that operations were likely hindered by the lack of power and damage to their facilities. The companies said engineers are working to restore services.

Ports operations resumed at 1 p.m. after the Coast Guard Cebu Station commander, Weniel Azcuna, lifted a suspension order. He, however, urged passengers bound for Bohol to take the boat to the province’s Tubigon town because the passenger terminal in Tagbilaran was damaged.

Bridge collapsed

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said the Abatan Bridge that connected Maribojoc to Tagbilaran City had collapsed. But an alternative route in Antequerra town can be used.

The highway in Cortes particularly in Lilo-an was rendered impassable due to a landslide. A part of Cortes’ highway was also damaged.

Municipal halls in Sagbayan was destroyed while the municipal hall in Clarin was damaged.

In Cebu, nine persons were reported killed in the cities of Cebu, Talisay and Mandaue, and in the towns of Ronda and Pinamungahan.

Four people were killed when a portion of the ceiling of the Pasil Fish Market collapsed. Only three fatalities were identified—Leona Cabarrubias, Rondilino Bondoc and Condrado Perez.

Cabarrubias was identified by her son-in-law, Douglas Encabo, who went looking for her in the market which was cordoned by the police.

Encabo said his mother-in-law was selling fish in the market when the tragedy happened.

Reports from Cebu City said 53 people were brought to Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) for minor cuts and bruises.

Patients evacuated

At least 250 patients of CCMC were evacuated after cracks were found in the hospital. Most of the patients were transferred to the nearby Pahina Central gym. Others stayed under the tents placed on the sidewalk near CCMC.

Eight patients with critical cases were taken to the other hospitals.

A fatality in Cebu City, Aurora Abellar Repe, 64, died after she was hit by a concrete wall in Barangay (village) Sawang Calero.

Stampede

Four-year-old Shaisha Mia Patiluna was killed in a stampede on Tuesday morning when people panicked after they felt the earth shaking while they were lining up to receive cash assistance from the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Pinamungahan town, Cebu.

A separate stampede also occurred in Toledo City where the Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel were distributing the cash doles when the earthquake hit. At least 20 people were hurt.

Ethel Natera, information officer of the provincial government, identified two of the fatalities as Mordencia Lumera, 80, of Ronda town and Leio Planos of Talisay.

She said Planos was killed while his two companions were wounded when their vehicle was hit by falling debris in Talisay.

A woman was also killed after she was hit by a glass decor at the fish section of the new public market in Barangay Centro, Mandaue City.

Roger Paller, Mandaue information officer, said 39 others were wounded by glass shards.

At least 3,000 people from Cebu City’s coastal barangays were evacuated to nearby gyms and church grounds. These were in Pasil, Sawang Calero, Duljo Fatima and San Nicolas.

INC towers destroyed

Two towers of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on General Maxilum Avenue in Cebu City collapsed while cracks were found on the walls of Fort San Pedro, the Bureau of Customs building and approaches to the flyover in Barangay Mambaling.

In Iloilo, two persons were hurt.

One of them was a 50-year-old woman who fell from a scaffolding while overseeing repairs at her home in Barangay Tabuc Suba in Jaro District.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog ordered the suspension of classes to allow the inspection of school buildings for damage and structural integrity.—Reports from Carine M. Asutilla, Doris C. Bongcac and Connie E. Fernandez, Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Jhunnex Napallacan and Carmel Matus, Inquirer Visayas; Miguel R. Camus, Tarra Quismundo and Cynthia Balana in Manila; AP and AFP

Thursday, April 9, 2015

common station

the common station was designed to accommodate LRT-1, MRT-3 and eventually MRT-7 “side to side.”
Head to head platforms for LRT1 and MRT3 with a 147.4-meter elevated walk-a-lator to the proposed MRT7 at North Avenue will be constructed.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Papal visit by the numbers

58 HECTARES Land area of Rizal Park
1-1.2 MILLION Estimated capacity of Rizal Park
6 MILLION Expected number of people to attend Mass at Rizal Park
4 MILLION Estimated number of people who attended the Mass led by Pope John Paul II on January 15, 1995—“the largest papal crowd in history”—according to Guinness World Records
200 Number of bishops who will attend the Pope’s Mass
2,500 Number of priests who will attend the Pope’s Mass
5,000 Number of lay ministers to give Communion during the Pope’s Mass
60,000 Number of choir members accompanied by a 200-member orchestra that will provide music at the Pope’s Mass
400 Portalets that will be set up around the park
20 First-aid stations that will be set up around the park
18 LED screens that will be set up along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard to Anda Circle to allow spillover crowds to follow the Mass at Quirino Grandstand

Compiled by Mariele Medina

Source: Inquirer Archives

papal mass update

MMDA on Pope’s Luneta Mass: ‘Everything is in order’

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/666230/mmda-on-popes-luneta-mass-everything-is-in-order#ixzz3Wbf70XeC

Shrugging off criticisms that crowd management at Pope Francis’ Mass in Luneta lacked order, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino on Sunday said that the event went smoothly as planned.

In a radio interview, Tolentino said he was pleased with the agency’s initial assessment after the Mass.

“Everything was in order. Everything that we have planned was implemented,” Tolentino said in an interview over dzBB minutes after the event.

He also added that without the cooperation of the pilgrims, the event would have been chaotic.

According to MMDA’s estimate, six million people attended Pope Francis’ third and final Mass in the country for his five-day apostolic and state visit and lined up on the pontiff’s route.

Injuries were reported after a scuffle ensued on Maria Orosa Street early Sunday morning as pilgrims clambered their way over metal barriers to get to Quirino Grandstand, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said. A 13-year-old boy reportedly fainted after being crushed by the jostling crowd.

4 million heard Papal Mass in Luneta

By Mike Frialde (philstar.com) | Updated January 18, 2015 - 7:35pm

At least six million people gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park (formerly Luneta) and the route of the papal motorcade from the Apostolic Nunciature to the historic park during the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on Sunday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the crowd estimate in Rizal Park for the Mass of Pope Francis was four million and people at the park's perimeter numbered at least 360,000.

Additional two million people gathered along the route of Pope Francis' motorcade from the Apostolic Nunciature to Rizal Park.

The pope arrived at the rain-soaked Rizal Park at 2:43 p.m. aboard a jeepney-inspired popemobile and started the Mass early at 3 p.m.

In his homily, the pope expressed his concern for the family and urged the millions of pilgrims attending the outdoor Mass to "protect" the family.

"[The Santo Nino] reminds us of the importance of protecting our families and those larger families, which are the Church, God's family, and the world, our human family," the Roman Pontiff said in English.

Meanwhile, the MMDA said that six children who got separated from their relatives remained in the care of the agency as of 3 p.m.

The MMDA identified the children as Nicole Coryna, 9; Trishia Yanib, 8; Mary Zyle Guinto, 12; Leegil Bret, 12; Eriza Zapico; Joshua Dalmatio, 7.

Two adults were also brought to the MMDA’s “lost and found tents” after they were found separated from their relatives. They were identified as Nena Clark, 66; and Sol San Dingan, 57. Jona Espejo

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/01/18/1414339/4-million-heard-papal-mass-luneta

Due to long lines at portalets, devotees relieve themselves elsewhere January 18, 2015 2:19pm

As the lines to portalets and public restrooms in nearby restaurants and fastfood chains continue to grow, many of the devotees who have gathered in Manila for the Pope's Mass have decided to relieve themselves in elsewhere.

Some men used a fence at a construction site to relieve themselves, while a father told his son to do it behind a tree.

A number of women were also seen covering themselves and others with tarpaulin to urinate.

Millions are expected to attend the Pope's Mass on Sunday afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand.

As of posting time, a portion of Rizal Park near the Lapu-Lapu Shrine already reeks of urine. — Amita Legaspi/BM, GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/popefrancis/story/409255/due-to-long-lines-at-portalets-devotees-relieve-themselves-elsewhere

Pope holds final motorcade before departure (philstar.com) | Updated January 19, 2015 - 9:07am

Pope Francis is now on his way to Villamor Airbase in Pasay City for his departure for Rome, Italy on Monday morning.

The pontiff is on board the pope mobile which left the Apostolic Nunciature around 9:04 a.m.

Numerous Filipinos again lined up along the papal route to get their final glimpse of the esteemed Catholic leader.

Pope Francis is scheduled to be given a send-off ceremony at the Presidential Pavilion of the Villamor Air base at 9:45 a.m. and is set to depart for Rome at 10 a.m.

The pope is concluding his five-day state and apostolic visit here, which has been highlighted by his trip to typhoon-hit Leyte on Saturday.

On Sunday, he also officiated a holy mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, which was attended by a record crowd of six million.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/01/19/1414559/pope-holds-final-motorcade-departure

Friday, April 3, 2015

Tutuban Center signs lease deal to host North-South railway station

THE DEVELOPER of Tutuban Center in Manila on Wednesday agreed to lease to the government a portion of its mall, to accommodate the transfer station of the North-South Railway Project (NSRP).

In a statement on Wednesday, Prime Orion Philippines, Inc. said its subsidiary Tutuban Properties, Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Transportation department and the Philippine National Railways.

“Under the MoU, the parties agreed to cooperate in the finalization and completion of the plans for the NSRP within a period of six months,” the statement read.

The lease agreement will be effective until 2039.

The NSRP will come in two phases. The first is the North Line, a 37-kilometer elevated commuter railway that will run from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban. The second phase is the South Line, a 653-kilometer railway from Tutuban to Legazpi City in Albay province.

The west extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) will also reach the Manila port area and will have one of its major stations in front of the shopping complex.

The LRT-2 station will be interconnected to the NSRP transfer station in Tutuban and initial studies show that this will result in additional daily foot traffic of some 400,000 people for the Tutuban Center area.

Listed Prime Orion has said it will expand the leasable area of Tutuban Center by 40,000 square meters (sq.m). from the current 60,000 sq.m. in the next two or three years.

The North Line is expected to cost P117 billion and is targeted for implementation this year with a 35-year operating period starting 2020. The Japanese government will fund the project through an official development assistance loan.

The South Line, meanwhile, will cost P170 billion and will be implemented under the public-private partnership scheme. -- Daphne J. Magturo