AARP to Match Donations Dollar-for-Dollar

AARP Foundation has established a relief fund to support victims devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), one of the strongest storms to make landfall in recorded history, reports Inquirer.net. AARP and AARP Foundation will match dollar-for-dollar contributions up to $500,000, which could mean up to $1,000,000 in aid. The matching program will be administered through AARP Foundation.

China State-Media Urges Aid for PH Despite Dispute

BEIJING - China should put aside its territorial dispute with the Philippines to help victims of typhoon Haiyan, state-run media said Tuesday, adding that doing so was in Beijing's best interests, reports Interaksyon.com/Agence France Presse.

Hongkong to Impose Sanctions Despite Yolanda

Hong Kong lawmakers will push through without delay the implementation of economic sanctions against the Philippines even if the country is still reeling from the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) that struck last Friday, reports ABS-CBN News.

Bald Pinay Wins Beauty Title

Angelica Galindez, a 19-year-old licensed cosmetologist from Salt Lake City, has alopecia, a condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss, but she still won a title in the Miss Philippines Earth competition where she appeared without a wig, reports Shine/Yahoo.

Koreans Are No. 1 Visitors to PH

Foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines reached a little over 3.8 million in the first nine months of the year, moving closer to the full-year target of five million visitors this year, reports Inquirer.net. Meanwhile, Koreans are the top visitors by nationality, according to 2011 figures.

TOP VISITORS TO THE PHILIPPINES BY NATIONALITY

Rank           Country                         Jan.-Dec 2011

1.                  KOREA                          925,204

2.                  USA                              624,527

3.                  JAPAN                          375,496

4.                  CHINA                           243,137

5.                  TAIWAN                        181,738

6.                  AUSTRALIA                   170,736

7.                  SINGAPORE                  137,802

8.                  CANADA                       117,423

9.                  HONGKONG                  112,106

10.                 UNITED KINGDOM         104,466

Sources of Data: A/D Cards & Shipping Manifests Prepared by: Tourism Research & Statistics Division, Office of Tourism Development Planning, Product Development and Coordination, DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM.  

Statement of Pres. Obama on Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda

"Michelle and I are deeply saddened by the loss of life and extensive damage done by Super Typhoon Yolanda. But I know the incredible resiliency of the Philippine people, and I am confident that the spirit of Bayanihan will see you through this tragedy. The United States is already providing significant humanitarian assistance, and we stand ready to further assist the Government's relief and recovery efforts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the millions of people affected by this devastating storm."

Filipino Figure Skater Is Going to Winter Olympics

After a 22-year absence, the Philippines is going to the Winter Olympics, reports ABS-CBN News. After finishing 7th in the Neblehorn Trophy Tournament in Germany last September, figure skater  Michael Christian Martinez from Muntinlupa will represent the Philippines at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia in February. He lacks government support.

 

'Filipina Girl' Snares 1,000 Pedophiles Worldwide

Over 1,000 pedophiles around the world have been caught soliciting online sex with a "ten-year-old Filipina girl" that they did not know was the computer generated product of an anti-exploitation sting, reports RT.com