Wowowee spoof highlights start of Villar-Legarda campaign
A spoof of the popular noontime show Wowowee - complete with a song-and-dance number and a contest - highlighted the start of the campaign of presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and his running mate Loren Legarda on Tuesday.

Gordon, Fernando break into song on first day of campaign
Both known for being strict disciplinarians, Bagumbayan standard bearer Sen. Richard Gordon and his running mate, Bayani Fernando, showed their soft sides on Tuesday, singing songs advocating change.

30K expected to witness Gibo-Edu rally in Antipolo
Administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD on Tuesday afternoon kicked off its campaign for the May elections with a motorcade from its headquarters in EDSA to Antipolo City, where a proclamation rally will be held at the Ynares Center.

Noynoy: Hacienda Luisita distributed to farmers by 2014
TARLAC - With the ghost of Hacienda Luisita haunting his bid for the presidency, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III vowed Tuesday to ensure the distribution of the 4,500-hectare plantation to farmer-beneficiaries by June 2014.

Perlas takes low profile during first day of campaign
Candidates of all colors and hues seized the day on Tuesday, the start of the campaign for national positions. But some, like presidential bet Nicanor Perlas, chose to take a low-profile.

DOJ pushes murder raps vs Andal Sr, 196 others
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday recommended the filing of 57 counts of murder against Andal Ampatuan Sr. and 197 others who allegedly had direct and indirect participation in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province.

BSP receives source code for safekeeping
As the campaign period for the May 10 polls kicked off Tuesday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) received the software master copy that would be used in the first automated elections.

Presidential bets kick off campaigns with gimmicks
Colorful publicity stunts marked the opening salvo of presidential aspirants on Tuesday, the start of the official campaign period for candidates seeking national posts. Eddie Villanueva unfurled the largest Philippine flag, Noynoy and Jamby heard Masses, the camp of Erap distributed aprons while the Gordon-Fernando tandem had Optimus Prime in the sortie.

Gordon, Bayani vow no star-studded campaign
Veering from traditional political campaign rallies, the "transformers" tandem of presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon and his running mate Bayani Fernando would not hire the services of actors and actresses to attract crowds as the duo goes around promoting their candidacies.

Noynoy seeks God's help at campaign kick-off in Tarlac
(Updated 3:45 p.m.) TARLAC - Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III kicked off his campaign on Tuesday with a Mass in his home province, in his bid to become the second member of the Aquino clan to become President.

MMDA: Pro-Arroyo streamers to stay on footbridges
Despite a ban on political materials on footbridges, streamers "thanking" President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hanging there will stay, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Tuesday.

Who's running and where? A GMANews.TV interactive map
In the interest of voters' information, GMANews.TV and GMA News Research are posting the official list of candidates for the May 10, 2010 elections at the national level (presidential, vice-presidential, senatorial, and party-list); at the congressional district level (Lower House seats), and at the provincial level (gubernatorial, vice-gubernatorial, and provincial board).

Posters appear in parts of Metro as campaign period starts
Campaign ads, posters and streamers of candidates running for national posts in the country's first nationwide automated polls began appearing on papers and some areas in Metro Manila as the campaign period started early Tuesday.

Bro. Eddie kicks off campaign at Luneta, unfurls RP's biggest flag
(Updated 12:20 p.m.) "Today marks the rise of a new beginning." This was the theme of the Bangon Pilipinas' (Arise Philippines) event in kicking off the campaign of its standard bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

3 suspected robbers die in QC shootout - report
Three suspected robber-carjackers were shot dead in an encounter with law enforcers, after robbing a taxi driver and taking his cab in Quezon City before dawn Tuesday.

US Embassy: 1 week left for Pinoy WWII vets to apply for benefits
Filipino World War II veterans have only one more week left to send their applications for lump-sum compensation from the US government, the US Embassy in Manila said on Tuesday.

Pagasa: Temperatures to start getting warmer
Filipinos should expect temperatures to get warmer in the next few days as summer draws near and the El Niño weather phenomenon makes itself felt.

10 private armies dismantled; crackdown continues
At least 10 private armed groups have been dismantled across the country since the government launched a crackdown on such organizations following the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao province, police said on Monday.

Civil society to have bigger role in Perlas administration
Civil society will play a bigger role in Philippine politics if environmentalist Nicanor Perlas gets elected as president. This was the promise he gave Monday during the presidential debate organized by the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Judge in Lacson case nominated for CA post
The female judge who issued the arrest warrant for Sen. Panfilo Lacson in connection with the Dacer-Corbito case has been nominated by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to the Court of Appeals.

Zuño, state prosecutor in Estrada plunder case, retires
Jovencito Zuño on Monday ended his 35-year career in government service as chief prosecutor after reaching the mandatory age of retirement of 65.

Optimus Prime to carry "Transformers" in campaign
The "Transformers" will kick off their campaign for the May elections on board Optimus Prime. The Transformers refer to the tandem of Sen. Richard Gordon and Bayani Fernando, and Optimus Prime is the 10-wheel Isuzu truck that will carry them throughout their motorcade.

Bro. Eddie to unfurl "biggest RP flag" to kick off campaign
Television evangelist Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) will kick off his presidential bid Tuesday by unfurling what they claimed is the country"s biggest flag.

In latest debate, presidential wannabes play it safe on RH issue
On the eve of the official start of the campaign period for national posts, several presidential aspirants still could not categorically state whether or not they are in favor of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill now pending in Congress.

Comelec to rule on protest filed by Pineda against Panlilio
After much anticipation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division announced on Monday that it will finally be releasing a decision on the electoral protest filed against Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio by former provincial board member Lilia Pineda.

Hounded by colleagues, Villar leads Senate in absenteeism
Leading presidential contender Sen. Manuel Villar, whom his rivals have accused of spending more time campaigning than performing his duties as an elected official, had the worst attendance record of all the senators, with the exception of the incarcerated Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, according to an examination of Senate records by GMANews.TV.

GMA Network's 24 Oras maintains lead over rival newscast
24 Oras, the primetime news program of the Philippines" leading network, maintained its lead over its rival newscast, latest figures released by by AGB Nielsen Philippines said.

2 presidential bets eye cuts in IRA, pork barrel
If elected president, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will reduce the funding of non-performing local government units while Sen. Ana. Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal will trim down, if not abolish, the multi-million pork barrel received by legislators.

Comelec eyeing several options to resist signal jammers
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is currently considering several options to prevent electronic devices from delaying - however temporarily - transmission of results from automated poll machines.

Noynoy distances self from sister Kris in debate
Presidential aspirant Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III on Monday distanced himself from his youngest sister, television personality Kris Aquino, saying she won't be calling the shots if he gets elected president of the country.

Candidates who nail posters on trees to face charges
An environmental group on Monday threatened to file charges against candidates who damage the environment in the course of their campaign, saying the environment is the primary victim of "wasteful and indiscriminate use" of campaign materials.

NBI verifying report Lacson is back in RP
Fugitive senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson could already be back in the Philippines a month after he left the country apparently to evade arrest. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nestor Mantaring told reporters during Monday's press conference that the bureau received an intelligence report regarding Lacson's whereabouts.

Rivals take digs at Villar's ads in presidential debate
After climbing to the top in opinion polls, Senator Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party found himself at the receiving end of verbal attacks from fellow contenders for the country's top post during the Philippine Daily Inquirer's presidential debate on Monday.

Poll watchdog warns of more election-related killings
Even before the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre in which 57 people were killed, the poll watchdog group Bantay Eleksyon said it has recorded 36 other political killings since January 2009.

Madrigal turns to prayer, fasting in poll campaign
Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal has sought Divine intervention at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, before embarking on a three-month "non-trapo" campaign for the presidency.

Military accused of torturing detained health workers
A health workers’ group has accused the military of torturing the 43 medical workers, including two doctors, who were arrested during a training seminar in Morong, Rizal last Saturday.

Green groups welcome ‘writ of kalikasan’
Environmental groups on Tuesday welcomed Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s proposed “writ of kalikasan,” saying the move by was a “progressive measure” taken by the high court to address the “injustices” experienced by Filipinos from ecologically-destructive projects.

Gordon brandishes replica of Spanish era sword to recall ancestor’s heroism
To fire up his campaign, presidential candidate and senator Richard Gordon brandished on Tuesday, a replica of the sword his great-grandfather, Jose Tagle, seized from a Spanish general in remembrance of the "first victory of the (1896) Revolution," in Cavite.

350 supporters launch jailed Lim’s campaign bid
About 350 supporters of detained senatorial bet Brigadier General Danny Lim on Tuesday trooped to Camp Aguinaldo to formally kick off the independent candidate's campaign.

Murder raps filed vs Maguindanao gov
The Department of Justice filed murder charges against Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. before the Quezon City regional trial court, said Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera Tuesday.

Colorful election season kicks off
The Philippine election season kicked off on Tuesday with the world's best boxer and the defiant wife of a dead dictator among the dizzying array of characters hoping to grab a share of power.

Missing health workers’ kin file habeas corpus plea at SC
Relatives of the 43 abducted health workers have asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus against the military.

NP senatorial bets launch campaign minus standard-bearers
Without its standard-bearers, the Nacionalista Party's (NP) senatorial ticket kicked off its campaign with a motorcade in various towns in Laguna on Tuesday.

Arroyo won’t be at Teodoro campaign launch—Lakas exec
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not attend Tuesday's campaign kickoff activity of her anointed one, former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, an official of the Lakas-Kampi party said.

Fernando admits trying showbiz to raise campaign funds
Vice Presidential candidate Bayani Fernando gave away copies of his yet-to-be-released CD, "May BF Ka Na Ba? (Do you have a BF?), featuring nine original songs.

Despite disasters, Filipinos upbeat, survey shows
On the streets of Manila, flight attendant Lesly succinctly sums up her view on life: "Being positive and optimistic -- it's the only way. If you think too deeply about all the problems here, it'll only get you down and stop you from doing anything -- or make you want to leave."

Fourth typhoon in month hits Philippines
The fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in a month came ashore east of the capital, Manila, on Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and washing away shanty houses near the coast.

Shame the nations where journalists are killed
The Afghan war claimed the lives of two more international news correspondents in the past two weeks.

Philippines mayor pleads not guilty to murder
A member of a politically powerful family in the southern Philippines pleaded not guilty to dozens of murder charges filled against him in connection with a November massacre in Maguindanao province, Philippine news outlets reported.

27 missing after boats collide in Philippines
More than two dozen people were missing after a ferry collided with a fishing boat off the coast of the Philippines on Thursday, according to the nation's coast guard.

Volcano spews lava as eruption looms
Fountains of red-hot lava shot up from the intensifying Mayon volcano as the Philippines awaited an imminent eruption, the country's national news agency reported Tuesday.

Philippines' Mayon Volcano to explode 'within days'
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as scientists warn the towering Mayon volcano is about to explode in the Philippines, the country's national news agency reported Monday.

Philippines volcano eruption likely soon
Philippine authorities on Sunday raised the alert status of the country's most active volcano to level 4 and established an extended danger zone around it, saying an eruption is imminent.

Residents flee as Philippines volcano threatens to erupt
Philippines authorities Tuesday started evacuating about 50,000 people living around the island nation's most active volcano after it oozed fiery lava and belched clouds of ash.

Remaining 45 Philippines hostages released
Gunmen in southern Philippines have released the remaining 45 hostages, ending a three-day crisis that began when the kidnappers raided a school in a small village late last week.

Arrests made under martial law in Philippines
Troops in the southern Philippines early Sunday took advantage of martial law to hunt down those believed responsible for last week's killings there.

Murder charges filed in Philippines
Philippine authorities charged a mayor and a group of unidentified suspects with 25 counts of murder Tuesday in the slaying of dozens of unarmed people, a court spokesman said.

100 suspects sought for Philippines massacre
One hundred more suspects -- including police officers -- could face arrest over a massacre in the Philippines, a government official said Friday after authorities charged the alleged architect of the killings.

Politician charged over Philippines massacre
Authorities have filed murder charges against a politician over the massacre of 57 unarmed civilians in the Philippines, state-run media reported Thursday.

Philippines politician to be questioned
The son of a Philippines provincial governor is voluntarily turning himself in for questioning in the massacre of at least 57 unarmed civilians, a CNN affiliate reported Thursday.

Group: Philippines most dangerous country for journalists
The Philippines this year has been the world's most dangerous country for journalists, an official of the advocacy group the Committee to Protect Journalists told CNN's "Amanpour" program Wednesday.

Death toll rises in Philippines massacre
Bodies lie scattered in a rural field in the southern Philippines, some unearthed from a shallow grave hastily dug by the gunmen who seized the group of men and women just a day earlier.

Philippines region on alert after massacre
The Philippines government has increased security in the southern region of Maguindanao after gunmen kidnapped and killed at least 22 people, according to military officials and the country's national news agency.

Irish priest kidnapped in Philippines freed
An Irish priest kidnapped last month in the southern Philippines was freed Thursday.

At least 14 dead after Typhoon Mirinae lashes Philippines
At least 14 people were dead and four missing in the Philippines a day after Typhoon Mirinae roared through the heart of the country, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Sunday.

Typhoon strengthens as it nears the Philippines
As the Philippines tried to recover from the one-two punch of deadly storms, another typhoon strengthened as it rushed toward it Tuesday.

Typhoon nears Philippines as toll rises
A powerful typhoon lumbered toward the storm-battered Philippines on Monday, as the death toll from two devastating storms in the last month climbed to 858.

Irish priest kidnapped during 'evening stroll' in Philippines
An Irish priest was kidnapped Sunday in the southern Philippines, his missionary society said.

Days of flooding, landslides kill 186 in Philippines
Flooding and landslides from tropical depression Parma have killed 186 people in the Philippines, authorities said Saturday.

15 dead as Typhoon Parma whips Philippines
Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines over the weekend, triggering landslides that killed at least 12 people, local media reported Sunday.

Typhoon Parma slams into Philippines; 3 reported dead
Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, killing three people, according to local media.

Thousands evacuated in Philippines as typhoon nears
Thousands of Filipinos who live near coastlines and mountainous areas were evacuated Friday as the storm-battered country braced for Typhoon Parma, which is expected to make landfall Saturday.

2 U.S. soldiers killed in Philippines bomb blast
Two U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were killed by a homemade bomb while supporting anti-terror operations on an island in the southern Philippines, Army officials said Thursday.

Filipinos preparing for worst, 'praying' for best from Parma
Arturo Fidelino couldn't sleep.

Storm-weary Philippines braces for Typhoon Parma
Thousands of Filipinos who live near coastlines and mountainous areas were evacuated Friday as the storm-battered country braced for Typhoon Parma, which is expected to make landfall Saturday.

Scores killed in Philippines floods
The death toll from flooding in the Philippines climbed to 140 Monday as a tropical depression in the Pacific sparked new fears of flooding.

Two U.S. service members killed in the Philippines
Two U.S. service members were killed in the Philippines when their vehicle rolled over a landmine Tuesday morning, military officials said.

Dozens dead in Philippines from tropical storm flooding
At least 51 people have died and at least 21 others are missing after torrential rains and subsequent flooding pummeled the Philippines on Saturday, the government said.

Brilliante Mendoza: Philippines' celebrated and divisive director
Feted by Sean Penn and applauded by Quentin Tarantino at Cannes, Filipino filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza appears to finally live up to his name.

Nearly 1,000 rescued in Philippines ferry accident
Nine people were killed and 957 rescued when a ferry capsized Sunday in the Philippines, leaving crews scouring the waters for survivors, officials said.

Philippines pays reward in militant's arrest
Police in the Philippines have paid an informant in the arrest of a militant tied to the kidnapping of four Americans and dozens of Filipinos.

Bomb blast kills 3 in Philippines
Three people were killed and 37 injured after a bomb exploded Sunday morning in Cotabato City, Philippines, the military said.

Storm kills 8 in Philippines
Eight people were killed and 11 were left missing after tropical depression Nangka triggered flooding, a tornado and a landslide in the Philippines, according to disaster officials.

Philippines landslide kills 26
A landslide slammed into a village in southern Philippines on Monday, killing 26 people, emergency services personnel said.

Philippines debates government promotion of contraception
A debate is stirring in the predominantly Roman Catholic country of the Philippines: should the government provide contraceptives to the public?

Brother of Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.ap Is Murdered
The younger brother of the hip-hop singer was shot in his native Philippines

Red Cross workers kidnapped in Philippines
Men on motorcycles with machine-guns abducted three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Philippines Thursday morning, officials said.

Philippines: Rebels bomb electricity tower, official says
Separatist rebels bombed an electricity transmission tower in the southern Philippines on Saturday, according to military spokesperson Lt. Stefani Cacho.

Strong earthquake jolts southern Philippines
A strong earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Ferry capsizes off Philippines, killing 23
A ferry capsized off the coast of the northern Philippines near the town of Aparri, killing 23 people and leaving 29 others missing, authorities said.

Philippines Bomb Blast Hits South
A deadly bomb blast in the southern Philippines' raises the question of how much the nation's splintered insurgencies might be working together

Typhoon toll in Philippines could pass 1,000
The official toll from last weekend's typhoon in the Philippines has risen to more than 500 people killed and could go much higher, according to the latest figures from the country's National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Storm hits China after lashing Philippines
Tropical storm Fengshen surged toward Taiwan and southeast China on Wednesday after leaving a path of destruction in the Philippines where the search for more survivors from a capsized ferry has proved fruitless.

Divers yet to find ferry survivors
Philippine divers found bodies but so far no survivors inside the hull of a ferry that capsized in a typhoon, a Philippine Coast Guard official said Tuesday.

Rescuers hold out hope for ferry survivors
Rescuers in the Philippines have refused to give up hope of rescuing some of the more than 800 people missing after a ferry capsized in a typhoon despite rough seas stalling efforts to get inside the vessel.

33 survivors rescued from Philippines ferry
Rescuers have found at least 33 survivors and at least six dead among the nearly 750 aboard a ferry that capsized in a typhoon that battered the southern Philippines, a Red Cross official said Monday.

Earthquake hits Philippines
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean off the northern Philippines Sunday morning and was felt as far as southeastern Taiwan, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Treatable Ailments Kill 10M Children
More than 200 million children worldwide under age 5 do not get basic health care, leading to nearly 10 million deaths annually from treatable ailments

Philippines: No Kidneys for Foreigners
Foreigners will be permanently banned from receiving kidneys for transplant in the Philippines to prevent the country from becoming a major black market Asian center

Easter penitents warned: Whip at your own peril
Exercise caution while you practice devotion.

26 Chinese rescued from sinking vessel
Emergency crews have rescued 26 Chinese crew members whose boat began taking on water off the northern Philippines Sunday night, the state-run Chinese news agency reported.

Typhoons near Vietnam, Philippines
The Philippines and Vietnam stepped up the evacuations of tens of thousands ahead of the landfalls of two separate typhoons expected on Saturday.

Arroyo, Imelda aid mudslide effort
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived Wednesday at the site of the mudslide which is thought to have killed 1,000 people, many of them children.

Your e-mails: Asia
CNN.com asked its readers to share their views on the death of Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday. Here is a sampling from thousands of responses, some of which have been edited:

Terror alert out for Philippines
Australian and American citizens have been warned to postpone all but essential travel to the Philippines because of fears of terrorist attacks.

Survivors rescued after 10 days
As the confirmed death toll from devastating storms in the Philippines rises to more than 840, rescuers have pulled at least four survivors from a building that collapsed in mudslides 10 days ago.

Typhoon hampers Philippines rescue
High winds and heavy rain from the approaching Typhoon Namandol are hampering rescue efforts in the northeastern Philippines where emergency services are struggling with the aftermath of two earlier storms.

Deadly flooding, landslides hit Philippines
Amid fallen trees and coconut leaves, the dead are piled onto a muddy roadside. Surrounding them are survivors, signaling for help.

Philippines forces in Iraq to handover duties
Remaining members of the Philippines forces in Iraq will leave the country after handing over their duties to Polish troops Monday morning, according to Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert.

Officials 'won't bow to militants'
Bulgaria and the Philippines say they will not bow to demands by suspected insurgents who kidnapped and threatened to kill their citizens in Iraq.

Philippines gym blast kills 12
A bomb has exploded near a gymnasium in the southern Philippines, killing 12 people and wounding several others -- including the town's mayor -- according to a national police spokesman.

Detained Health Workers Denounce Philippine Government
The families and colleagues of 43 health workers detained over the weekend denounced the Philippine government on Sunday and accused the police and military of framing the suspects.

Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord
The murders of people warbling “My Way” in karaoke bars have spawned urban legends about the song and left Filipinos groping for answers.

State of the Union, in Dutch
A comparison of how six world leaders use a yearly address to lay out their agendas.

Court Is Told Mayor Aided in Massacre of Filipinos
A witness to the massacre of 57 people in the southern Philippines testified Wednesday that the principal suspect in the case, a town mayor, shot several of the victims himself.

Philippines Gun Ban Starts Ahead of Vote
A nationwide gun ban took effect to stave off any increase in political violence as elections draw closer, officials said.

Not Guilty Plea in Philippines Massacre
The mayor of a town in the southern Philippines who is accused in the November massacre of dozens of people pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 41 murder charges.

3 Dead and 22 Missing as Ferry Sinks in Philippines
The accident came two days after the collision of a ferry and a fishing boat near the mouth of Manila Bay killed as many as 27 people.

At Least 27 Missing After Collision in Manila Bay
Forty-six or more of the 73 people on a Philippine passenger ferry that collided with a fishing boat were rescued, the coast guard said.

The Weak Center
Asia continues to seek a balance among democratic demands, good governance and economic and social equality.

Martial Law Is Rescinded in a Philippine Province
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lifted martial law in a southern Philippine province where 57 people were massacred last month, her spokesman said.

Gunmen Hold Dozens at School in Philippines
Gunmen took 75 people, including children, hostage on Thursday in the southern Philippines, after police tried to serve an arrest warrant on one of their leaders. The children were later released.

The Making of a Massacre in the Philippines
Two things may help to explain the violent power politics in this impoverished part of the southern Philippines: the mansions at the center of this town, and the armed men who guard them.

Critics Challenge Martial Law in Philippines
Critics of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo challenged her declaration of martial law, as the government conducted raids to battle what it calls an armed rebellion.

Arrests in Philippine Province
Dozens were arrested after martial law was imposed on the province where a recent massacre left 57 people dead.

Inquiry of Philippines Massacre Urged
Two human rights officials urged the government to pursue a thorough investigation of the massacre that killed 57 people.