U.S. Drone Found in Masbate Came from Guam

A U.S. drone found floating by fishermen off Masbate province last week was actually fired four months ago during American naval exercises off Guam, reports Inquirer.net. The US Embassy dismissed speculation that the drone was launched within Philippine air space, which militant groups said would have constituted a violation of national sovereignty. Some legislators and Filipino activists called for an investigation.

Enrile Gave Millions to Senate Peers

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile played Santa Claus last Christmas, making a list and checking it twice as he gave gifts to Senate members and personnel apparently on the basis of who were “naughty” or “nice,” reports Inquirer.net. Enrile gave 22 senators a total of nearly P30 million ($737,000), a gift that one senator said was “unconscionable and unconstitutional.” The cash gift allegedly came from the funds allotted for the Senate post vacated by President Aquino when he won the presidential election in 2010.

Job Openings in the Philippines for U.S.-Licensed Filipino Nurses

American health insurance companies that are cost-effectively offshoring their clinical services are creating a new demand in the Philippines for U.S.-licensed Filipino nurses, reports Manila Standard Today. House Deputy Majority Leader Roman Romulo said on January that the pay is not as good as U.S. nursing salaries, but it is higher than the average call center’s. The work includes evaluating the patient’s needs and required treatment and reviewing post-discharge care requirements. Three companies—Radiant Services, Exelservice Holdings, and United Health Group—have been employing Filipino nurses with U.S. licenses.

High Birth Rate Good for Philippines, Bishop Argues

Overpopulation has been advantageous to the Philippines, contrary to the aims of the reproductive health (RH) law, declared Bishop Gilbert Garcera of the Diocese of Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte. Inquirer.net reports that Garcera believes overpopulation has increased the number of OFWs who send remittances back home, care for aging people abroad and spread the Christian faith. He also said many Filipino women would make “good wives” for foreigners in countries that have low population growth. Overpopulation, he added, could be part of “God’s plan for Filipinos to be caregivers to aging nations whose populations had become stagnant."

Demand for Filipina Domestics Rising in Morocco

More well off Moroccan families are hiring Filipino maids instead of native Moroccans because Filipina maids are known for their hard work and fluency in English, reports Morocco World News. Some Moroccan activists added that employing Filipina housemaids has become prestigious among wealthy Moroccan families. The fact that no visa is required for Filipino citizens is an added encouragement for Filipinas. There are now an estimated 3,000 Filipina domestic workers in Morocco, according to the Philippine Consulate. While many maids are well treated, a few have experienced labor and sexual abuse.

CORRECTION: 63rd Berlin International Film Festival

We incorrectly posted the story below on Jan. 8; it was last year's listing. The 2013 list of entries will be available in the beginning of February. The festival itself is from February 7 to 17. We apologize for the incovenience. -Ed.

Four Filipino films will participate in the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) from February 9 to 19, reports the Manila Bulletin. According to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, "Captive," by 2009 Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza, will compete in the Main Competition while "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank," starring Eugene Domingo and the movie directorial debut by Marlon N. Rivera, will compete in the Forum Section. Rommel Tolentino's "Nono" will be the entry in the Generation Kplus Section while "Pusong Wazak!" by multi-awarded composer, writer and filmmaker Khavn de la Cruz will be the entry in the Short Film Section.

30,000 Get Dual Citizenship

The Bureau of Immigration reported that 30,362 “former Filipinos” reacquired their Philippine citizenship and became dual citizens in 2012 compared with 19,328 in 2011, reports GMA News. Most of the petitions were filed at Philippine consulates in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, and London.

Paris Museum to Exhibit Pre-Colonial Philippine Art

Examples of pre-colonial Filipino art selected from both public and private collections in the Philippines, Europe and the United States, will be featured at the world-famous Musée du Quai Branly in the heart of Paris from April 9 until July 14, 2013, reports the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Entitled “Philippines: Archipel des échanges” (archipelago of exchanges), the grand exhibition will be hosted by the Musée du Quai Branly in collaboration with the Philippine National Museum, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Ayala Museum.