Tonyo Cruz
Tonyo Cruz is a blogger and social media practitioner based in Manila. He wears many hats online and offline. He is a former reporter for Philippine English-language newspaper Malaya (Free), and served as press officer for a number of cause-oriented groups and partylist Members of Congress. He studied sociology at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. He is a graduate of the Manila Science High School.
APEC launches photography contest for amateurs, pros
(Note: The contest rules state that “the APEC Secretariat shall own the entire copyright interest in all photos submitted in the competition. The APEC Secretariat reserves the right to publish or display the entries in its publications, brochures and other materials, including calendars and posters, as well as on its website and other online platforms…>
PH mourns passing of medical premier Del Mundo
Dr. Fe del Mundo, Philippines’ first national scientist, founder of the country’s first pediatric hospital and one of the most beloved Filipino doctors, died Aug 6 in Quezon City. She was 99. Her long life was largely devoted to pediatrics and to the health of Filipino children. In a manner befitting a Filipino of her…>
Pacquiao nominated for ‘choice male athlete’ in US Teen Choice Awards
World boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, is among the nominees for “choice male athlete” in the United States’ 2011 Teen Choice Awards. Pacquiao, who is also a current member of the Philippines’ House of Representatives, is up against four other nominees: Jon Jones (mixed martial arts); Dirk Nowitski (basketball); Albert Pujols (baseball); and Shaun White (snowboarding, skateboarding). Pacquiao is very…>
‘Social media scandal’ rocks Malaysia tourism ministry
Kuala Lumpur – As we gathered for the World Bloggers and Social Media Summit at the Putra World Trade Center, two big news items have rocked Malaysia’s cyberspace and the country’s government. First was the reported hacking of a number of Malaysian government websites. But that’s really nothing new as many government websites across the…>
Philippines: Nestle recalls Maggi noodles due to salmonella scare
Multinational company Nestle Philippines today announced the voluntary nationwide recall of its popular brand of instant noodles after the discovery of “traces of salmonella” in two batches of the product’s beef flavor variant. In a half-page announcement in today’s issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nestle said the recall covers all Maggi Rich Mami Noodles,…>
You’re invited to Cordillera Day 2011 on April 26-27 in Lacub, Abra
Indigenous people in the Philippine region called the Cordilleras are set to gather anew for the 27th edition of Cordillera Day to remember and pay tribute to the heroes, and to take stock of their efforts towards attaining their right to self-determination and to reclaim their ancestral domain. This 2011, Cordillera Day will be held…>
Philippines: Mandaluyong City gets 20 electric tricycles
Here’s another sigh of relief for Metro Manila’s pollution-weary citizens. President Benigno Aquino III today led the turn over of 20 electric tricycles funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to Mandaluyong City, one of the National Capital Region’s component cities. And more e-trikes are expected to service the capital and in other urban areas…>
Controversial game show goes off air – temporarily
A defiant Willie Revillame on Friday announced that TV5′s flagship program Willing Willie will go off the air for two weeks, as protests rage over an episode which many view as a case of child abuse. In remarks broadcast over TV5, Revillame insists he did not do anything wrong, and vowed to “file charges” against…>
Child abuse furor rages as Willing Willie loses Unilever
Multinational company Unilever today announced it is withdrawing its advertising placements in the controversial television game program Willing Willie and other reality TV shows. Willing Willie, a flagship program on TV5, caught the ire of the public over its March 12 episode featuring Jan-jan, a six-year old contestant, who was made to dance provocatively. Concerned…>
Baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. to hold clinics in Manila, Cebu
As Filipinos expand their taste in sports with the recent upsurge in the popularity of football, the United States embassy is bringing a Major League Baseball (MLB) legend to Manila and Cebu for a series of baseball clinics. Ken Griffey Jr., MLB legend and Sports Envoy of the U.S. Department of State, will hold the…>
Philippines: Why we ought to derail MRT/LRT fare increase
The proposed increases in commuter fares for the MRT and LRT mass transit lines are not being discussed as widely as their expected impact on workers and professionals working and living in Manila and its suburbs. The citizens of Manila seem to have been lulled into calmly accepting the questionable fare hike. But thanks to activist…>
Technology for interfaith dialogue among Filipino students
A non-governmental organization this week held the latest of their videoconferences between mostly-Christian high school students in Manila and their counterparts in predominantly-Muslim schools in Mindanao. The Jan. 18 videoconference between students of Esteban Abada High School in Sampaloc, Manila, and Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology in Zamboanga City is part of NGO…>
Willing Willie and the hope of poor Filipinos
We’ve heard Willie Revillame defend his idea of entertainment many times, and it never fails to amaze me that he gets away with it from the showbiz community he comes from and the networks he has been identified with. Right now, Revillame propagates his concept of “helping” on TV5, and it is an open secret…>
Philippines marks feast of Black Nazarene
Hundreds of thousands are gathered today in front of the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park in Manila for the “translacion” of the pilgrim image of the Black Nazarene, patron of the downtown district of the nation’s capital. It is considered one of the greatest religious and cultural feasts in the Philippines. Popular belief says that…>
Winners of the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards
Comedy flick Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na Po Ito) took home top prizes in the awards night for the ongoing 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The Star Cinema production won the top prizes for best picture, best actress, best supporting actress, best director and several other awards. Comedy King Dolphy meanwhile took the best…>
Philippine tourism chief on goodwill visit in HK
Months after the horrific hostage-taking incident in Manila, Philippine tourism secretary Alberto Lim today met with Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang as a part of a “goodwill mission” whose main message is that the Philippines is taking measures to ensure tourist safety. Lim’s Hong Kong visit immediately follows his confirmation by the Commission on…>
New Cardinal sin: Ambulant ‘dawn masses’ in Manila’s shopping malls
The Roman Catholic archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, has banned the holding of the traditional Simbang Gabi or “dawn Masses” in makeshift chapels inside shopping malls in his jurisdication. Filipinos traditionally attend the nine-day Simbang Gabi starting on December 16 in the run-up to Christmas Day and it’s said to be the Philippines…>
Philippines protests travel warnings
Many Filipinos, including President Benigno Aquino III, are surprised and displeased as six countries advised their citizens against travelling to the Philippines, citing so-called terror threats. France on Friday became the latest country to issue a travel advisory against the Philippines, joining the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada which made similar…>
Why ‘Merry Christmas’ is a Twitter trend today Sept. 1
The question in the minds of many non-Filipino Tweeps across the world is this: Why is “Merry Christmas” trending today Sept. 1, 2010? For the benefit of Twitter users worldwide, blogger Bong Ong tweeted the answer: The world’s astounded that Merry Christmas is trending. What they should know is that September’s start of Christmas in…>
Ramon Magsaysay Award laureates for 2010 announced
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) today announced this year’s winners of what are touted as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The seven awardees who come from Bangladesh, China, Japan, and the Philippines are: Tadatoshi Akiba from Japan Christopher Bernido and Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido from the Philippines Huo Daishan from China A.H.M. Noman Khan…>
The Philippines needs sex education
The Catholic Church and its favored political party, Ang Kapatiran, are blocking proposals to introduce sex education in the nation’s public schools. They claim the state should not take away the duty of moral guidance from parents. Of course, they don’t want a change in the status quo. The moralistic arguments of the…>
Philippines lifts travel ban to Thailand
The Department of Foreign Affairs today lifted its travel ban on Filipinos who wish to go to Thailand. In a travel advisory, the DFA cited the improved peace and order situation in Bangkok as basis for allowing Filipinos to again travel to Thailand. Thailand, especially Bangkok and Phuket, are favorite tourist spots of Filipinos. The…>
Philippines prepared to repatriate Filipinos from Bangkok if necessary
The raging violence in Thailand has spared Filipinos living and working there, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which continues to monitor the situation there. If the situation dictates it, Manila and its diplomatic mission in Bangkok are prepared for the repatriation of Filipinos. Citing a report from the Philippine embassy there, the…>
Philippines warns against non-essential travel to Thailand
The Department of Foreign Affairs today advised Filipinos to “postpone all non-essential travel to Thailand, particularly to Bangkok”, citing the declaration of a state of emergency in the Thai capital city and the plans of protesters to hold more protests. “Filipinos who are already in Thailand are advised to avoid areas that have been identified…>
Catholic Philippines starts long Holy Week holidays
With the government declaring a half-day of work for civil servants, the predominantly-Catholic Philippines starts its annual long Holy Week holiday at noon today. Thousands have in fact started to make their way to their home provinces since last weekend. Local media has been reporting problems at piers and bus stations since late last week…>
APEC launches photography contest for amateurs, pros
(Note: The contest rules state that “the APEC Secretariat shall own the entire copyright interest in all photos submitted in the competition. The APEC Secretariat reserves the right to publish or display the entries in its publications, brochures and other materials, including calendars and posters, as well as on its website and other online platforms…>
PH mourns passing of medical premier Del Mundo
Dr. Fe del Mundo, Philippines’ first national scientist, founder of the country’s first pediatric hospital and one of the most beloved Filipino doctors, died Aug 6 in Quezon City. She was 99. Her long life was largely devoted to pediatrics and to the health of Filipino children. In a manner befitting a Filipino of her…>
Pacquiao nominated for ‘choice male athlete’ in US Teen Choice Awards
World boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, is among the nominees for “choice male athlete” in the United States’ 2011 Teen Choice Awards. Pacquiao, who is also a current member of the Philippines’ House of Representatives, is up against four other nominees: Jon Jones (mixed martial arts); Dirk Nowitski (basketball); Albert Pujols (baseball); and Shaun White (snowboarding, skateboarding). Pacquiao is very…>
Philippines: Nestle recalls Maggi noodles due to salmonella scare
Multinational company Nestle Philippines today announced the voluntary nationwide recall of its popular brand of instant noodles after the discovery of “traces of salmonella” in two batches of the product’s beef flavor variant. In a half-page announcement in today’s issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nestle said the recall covers all Maggi Rich Mami Noodles,…>
You’re invited to Cordillera Day 2011 on April 26-27 in Lacub, Abra
Indigenous people in the Philippine region called the Cordilleras are set to gather anew for the 27th edition of Cordillera Day to remember and pay tribute to the heroes, and to take stock of their efforts towards attaining their right to self-determination and to reclaim their ancestral domain. This 2011, Cordillera Day will be held…>
Philippines: Mandaluyong City gets 20 electric tricycles
Here’s another sigh of relief for Metro Manila’s pollution-weary citizens. President Benigno Aquino III today led the turn over of 20 electric tricycles funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to Mandaluyong City, one of the National Capital Region’s component cities. And more e-trikes are expected to service the capital and in other urban areas…>
