Mar, Korina tie the knot

MANILA - Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and broadcaster Korina Sanchez on Tuesday afternoon exchanged "I do's" at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. The ceremony started at 4 p.m. Tuesday as thousands of guests and well-wishers arrived to witness the union.

Crowds outside the church cheered and shouted "Korina!" as Sanchez, wearing a Filipiniana gown, stepped out of the bridal car. A white sheet held up by several ushers prevented people from seeing Sanchez until the start of her bridal march.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers sang “Ave Maria” as the entourage marched toward the altar.

As she was walking down the aisle with his brother, Sanchez shed tears of joy while Ray An Fuentes' “Umagang Kay Ganda” was being played in the background. Roxas, who was waiting at the altar, was also seen wiping away tears.

In his homily, Fr. Tito Caluag reminded the couple to love and serve one another throughout their married lives. "I believe that giving one's self to love brings blessing to one's self and to society," he said.

A veritable who’s who of the Philippine society attended the wedding ceremony. Political and show business personalities as well as representatives from various political organizations and non-government organizations have been invited to the event.

Among those spotted at the church were Randy David, Rey Langit, Pitoy Moreno, Paeng Nepomuceno, Vehnee Saturno, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Basil Valdez, Wilson Tieng of Solar Films, ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio, former Senator Letty Ramos Shahani,Ralph Recto, Lily Monteverde, Teodoro Locsin, former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and his wife, US Ambassador Kristie Anne Kenney;

Broadcasters Bernadette Sembrano, Ina Reformina, Willard Cheng, Alex Santos, Ted Failon, Joey Villarama, Julius and Christine Babao, and Doris Bigornia, former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Congressmen Teofisto Guingona III, Antonio Cuenco and Neptali Gonzales, Lopez family patriarch Oscar Lopez. Fernando Zobel, Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III and wife;

Jacqui Aquino, Maurice Arcache, Viel Aquino, Joselito Payumo, Joey Lina, Lauren Dyogi, Greggy Araneta and wife Irene Marcos-Araneta, Cesar Purisima, Karina David, Renato Constantino, Sister Mary John Mananzan, former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Fr. Tito Caluag and Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada.

White roses and sampaguita, Sanchez's favorite flowers, adorned the church. Sponsors and guests wore Filipiniana attires.

Fans and supporters of the couple also gathered in church ground to get a glimpse of the bride and groom.

The principal sponsors are Chief Justice Reynato Puno, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, Eugenio Lopez III, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Jorge Araneta, Ms. Rosa Rosal, Helen Costales, Ruby Roxas, Cecilia Lazaro, and Maria Fores.

Roxas’ 16-year old son, Paolo Zaldarriaga, stood as the senator’s best man, while Dang Cecilio-Palance was the matron of honor.

The ring bearer is Kris Aquino’s son, James Yap Jr., while Miguel Sanchez and Matthew Garcia are the coin and Bible bearers.

In their earlier interviews on radio dzMM, both Sanchez and Roxas could not contain their excitement. "Hindi na yata mapipigilan ito," Sanchez said.

"Parang bungee jumping. Para siyang isang malalim na malalim na talon tapos hindi mo talaga matitiyak kung ano ang kala-landingan mo. Pero dahil mahigpit ang pagkakatali sa iyong binti ng lubid ng pagmamahal, alam mong ligtas ka na la-landing…. it's really a very exciting adventure," Sanchez added.

The senator, for his part, said he felt both tense and excited after waking up on Tuesday, knowing that he would be a married man at the end of the day.

"Ang unang agenda sa abot kaya ng panahon at tuhod ko ay magkaroon ng mga anak...Ang sarap isipin na sana may mga chikiting kami at nakaupo kami sa sofa. Nai-imagine ko ‘yong Sunday lunch na magkasama kami at mga anak namin at mga apo sana. Komportableng-komportable ‘yong imahe sa puso ko at sa kaisipan ko. Kaya dumating na 'This is it!'" he said.

There will be no grand reception after the ceremony. The senator from Capiz and the veteran broadcast anchor decided to donate the money to 6 charity organizations providing assistance to victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

After the ceremony, the couple is set to meet with their guests in the courtyard where food and refreshments will be served.

Reports said more than 200 police have been deployed in the area to maintain peace and order. With reports from Reyma Buan-Deveza and Boy Villasanta, abs-cbnNEWS.com, and ANC

Arroyo reveals 2nd reason for nationwide state of calamity

GMANews.TV - Saturday, October 3

Aside from allowing local governments to access their calamity funds, President Arroyo bared a second reason Saturday for placing the entire country under a state of calamity: to go after profiteers.

Fears have been raised that the government was taking advantage of the crisis caused by tropical storm “Ondoy" to raise funds for next year’s general election.

Critics wondered why other provinces not affected by Ondoy were also being allowed to tap emergency funds when they are not really suffering from a state of calamity.

But Mrs. Arroyo explained that the nationwide state of calamity will allow government to run after traders who will go to areas not under a state of calamity to sell their products at higher prices.

“What was observed was that when there was price control imposed in a given area some supplies were diverted. So (this was also) for purposes of price control," she said at a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

On the other hand, she said one of the shortcomings of the present Price Law is that the local government can use the calamity funds in an actual state of calamity and not for risk reduction.

Earlier, Favila admitted the decision stemmed from the executive session of the NDCC in Cainta, Rizal, where they discussed the matter.

“There are unscrupulous traders who go to nearby areas not under a state of calamity, then sell at higher prices. We discussed it in the NDCC meeting’s executive session," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said the nationwide state of calamity was a recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council. - GMANews.TV

Rizal farm admits crocs escaped

ABS-CBN - Thursday, October 1

But all were recaptured, says farm OIC

MANILA - Environment and local government officals conducted an investigation into the origins of a crocodile that was seen swimming in Cainta floodwaters after tropical Storm Ondoy hit Luzon last Saturday.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) personnel went to the Coral Agri Venture Crocodile Farm in Teresa municipality in Rizal province on Wednesday. Earlier reports indicated this was where the crocodile escaped from.

Brian Sibongga, officer-in-charge (OIC) at the farm, admitted that 5 crocodiles escaped from their holding pens at the height of the storm on the evening of September 25, but that the reptiles were immediately recaptured along the farm's perimeter fences.

"Maswerte po tayo at meron po tayong perimeter fence. So narecover po natin ang ating buwaya. Imposible po na nakapunta po sa area ng Cainta yung buwaya kasi kung makikita niyo po talagang walang access," Sibongga told ABS-CBN News.

(We are lucky that we have perimeter fences. So we recovered the crocodiles. It is impossible that a crocodile escaped to Cainta becase there is no access [out of the farm]).

The Coral Agri Venture farm harvests crocodile meat, an "exotic food," and crocodile skin for belts and handbags.

Though all 9,000 crocodiles at the 3-hectare farm were accounted for, CENRO officials warned farm administrators about lapses in their security.

"Bakit naglagay kayo ng perimeter fence...at papano sila nakalabas? (Why did you put a perimeter fence... and how did they escape?)" said CENRO officer Antonio Diwa.

Diwa said the farm should report incidents like escaping crocodiles and damaged holding pens to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Teresa Municipal Mayor Rodel de la Cruz assured alarmed residents within the area that no crocodiles went loose from the Coral Agri Venture Crocodile Farm. He said the area looked "properly secured."

Earlier, residents of Greenpark Subdivision in Cainta reported seeing a 5-foot crocodile, initially said to have escaped from the Pasig Rainforest Park.

Cainta Police Supt. Nereo Torrecampo said this was immediately recaptured. Police are unsure, however, whether a crocodile is still on the loose.

CENRO, meanwhile, is continuing investigations as to where the crocodile that was sighted in Cainta could have escaped from. Officials will reportedly inspect a neighboring crocodile hatchery in Teresa, Rizal. Report by Gus Abelgas, ABS-CBN News.

here are some other photo's from the typhoon last week....

hope the new typhoon, typhoon pepeng will not be as strong as typhoon ondoy

Typhoon Ondoy @ UERM Campus Pt. 2

Typhoon Ondoy @ UERM Campus Pt. 1