Overseas Voter Turnout in U.S. Very Low

Until the last few hours before the polls closed for Filipinos in the United States, Philippine Embassy officials were still urging overseas absentee voters to take part in Philippine midterm elections. A total of 13,976 Filipinos voted in the United States and Carribean out of 125,604 registered voters–a dismal turn out of 11 percent, reports BalitangAmerica.tv. 

4 Pinoys Nabbed in Macau's Biggest Drug Bust

Four Filipinos were arrested in Macau on May 4 for allegedly smuggling more than 50 kilograms of high-grade cocaine amounting to about P1 billion, in what is believed to be the biggest drug trafficking incident to date in the Chinese territory, reports GMA News. The Filipinos, two men and two women, were arrested  following a drug bust conducted by Macau’s judiciary police on Saturday.

PH Wields Visual Diplomacy in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR--With the standoff in the disputed Sabah still unresolved, the Philippine Embassy here is hoping to put Mindanao in a positive light on the Malaysian stage by mounting an exhibit featuring Mindanao’s unique traditions, scenery and people in visual masterpieces by local artists, reports Inquirer.net.

Hawaiian Airlines Discontinues Flights to Manila

​Hawaiian Airlines announced that it will discontinue direct flights to Manila starting in July due to concerns over fuel and fares. The airlines will contact passengers with reservations dated after August 1, 2013 and will re-accommodate them without expense in other airlines that fly to Manila.

First Batch of Jeddah Campers Up for Deportation

JEDDAH--A total of 63 undocumented Filipinos who were among the hundreds of those camping outside the Philippine consulate in Jeddah will soon be deported from Saudi Arabia, reports GMA News. They are the first batch to be sent home since hundreds of Filipinos fearing arrests set up camp last month. Loaded in two minibuses and taken to the deportation center or tarheel in Jeddah by Saudi authorities at 5:30 p.m. Sunday [PHL time] were 20 men, 20 women and 23 children.

Filipino Tenor Debuts in Pavarotti's Hometown

Tenor Arthur Espiritu made history as the first Filipino to sing Cassio in “Otello” mounted in Teatro Communale Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, Italy, recently, reports Inquirer.net. Modena is the hometown of the legendary opera singer.

PH Mangoes a Big Hit in Austria

The first shipment of fresh mangoes was flown directly from the Philippines to Austria on April 11 and sold out within 48 hours, reports Philstar.com. The fresh mangoes arrived o through the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna.  Orders were received from as far as the western Austrian states of Tirol and Vorarlberg, and half of the shipment was delivered to buyers outside Vienna. 

First Filipino Canadian Superior Court Judge Named

The Honourable Steve A. Coroza, a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines, was appointed a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Brampton), becoming the first Filipino Canadian to be appointed to the superior court, reports Munting Nayon. He will  replace Madam Justice N.M. Mossip, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of July 8, 2013. This appointment is effective July 8, 2013.