Erap airs his pro-jueteng agenda over GMANews.TV "Examine!"
If the rich man's gambling games such as casino, cock-fighting, and horse-racing are considered acceptable and can be legalized, why can't the poor man's "jueteng" be legalized and deemed socially acceptable too?

Pinoys join Raise your Voice campaign on climate change
A six-minute amateur video featuring dramatic footage that showed the devastation caused by tropical storm Ondoy is the lone Philippine entry in a YouTube campaign to raise awareness on the issue of climate change.

'Suspect in Ebarle slay was in 2004 car accident that killed a Palace exec'
The man suspected to have shot the son of a ranking Palace official during a traffic altercation last Wednesday had been involved in a car accident five years ago that resulted in the death of, incidentally, another Malacañang official. Police described him as "armed and dangerous."

Detained Brig. Gen. Danny Lim joins LP senatorial slate
Detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, the bemedalled former chief of the Scout Ranger Regiment accused of launching a coup against the Arroyo administration, will join the senatorial race in the 2010 polls under the Liberal Party.

Jinggoy won't run as Villar's guest senatorial candidate
Senate President Pro Ttempore Jinggoy Estrada has turned down the offer of the Nacionalista Party to become its guest senatorial candidate.

Noynoy tops polls again, this time in Davao City, Batangas
He is on top again, this time in Davao City and Batangas province, enjoying a consistently wide margin over his opponents. Results of recent surveys conducted in the said areas show that Noynoy Aquino is the most preferred presidential aspirant in the 2010 polls.

Arroyo spokesman quits post, prepares for congressional bid
Anthony Golez Jr, the deputy spokesman of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has formalized his resignation from his post, radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported on Friday.

Marcos family formalizes support for Manny Villar
The children of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos on Friday formalized their support for the May 2010 bid of Senator Manuel Villar Jr. as the once mighty Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) entered into a coalition with the presidential hopeful's Nacionalista Party.

Govt vows tougher crackdown vs Chinese sex toys, enhancers
Authorities vowed tougher action Friday on unregistered Chinese sex toys and enhancing drugs, following the seizure of P1.5 million worth of such items in Manila Thursday.

'Emperor of the World' aspirant is first presidential wannabe to file COC
(UPDATE- 1:30 p.m.) The first person to formalize his bid for the presidency in 2010 wants to ultimately become the "emperor of the world."

Cops in Metro Manila tighten security for Pacquiao motorcade
Metro Manila police braced themselves Friday for a security nightmare of sorts for the victory motorcade of Filipino boxing champ Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao.

Weather disturbance intensifies into LPA, nears Mindanao
A weather disturbance that threatens to become yet another cyclone intensified into a low-pressure area and moved closer toward Mindanao early Friday, state weather forecasters said.

2 drug suspects shot dead in QC clash with cops
Two suspected drug pushers linked to the killing of a policeman earlier this month were shot dead in an encounter with law enforcers in Quezon City late Thursday, a radio report said.

"Diamond Queen" scores legal points vs govt
Sui Ting Alpha Kwow, also known as the "Diamond Queen," has scored legal points against the government. This was after the Manila Regional Trial Court prevented the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) from performing its functions for 20 days.

Vehicle in Palace exec son slay traced to British national
The vehicle used by the suspect in the killing of the son of a Malacañang official is in the name of a British national who works for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), police said Thursday.

Recto "surprised" at Osmeña's defection from LP
Liberal Party (LP) senatorial bet Ralph Recto on Thursday said he was "surprised" to learn that he had caused the defection of fellow senatorial candidate Sergio Osmeña III from the political organization.

Comelec to tap 400,000 teachers for 2010
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday that it will be tapping 400,000 teachers to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the 2010 automated elections.

Arroyo to lead hero's welcome for Pacquiao
A grand hero's welcome at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila awaits Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao upon his return to Manila on Friday.

Ebdane to name VP, senatorial bets on Nov 29
Presidential candidate Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Thursday said he would reveal his running mate and senatorial bets on November 29.

CHR to probe violent Pasay demolition
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday said it will look into possible police abuses committed during Wednesday's violent demolition of a shantytown in Pasay City where four people were hurt.

Pimentel wary of Congress' weeklong break
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. is sensing something "fishy" in the Congress" one-week break, saying it might be related to the deliberations on the proposed P1.415-trillion national budget for 2010.

Comelec is ready for filing of COCs for 17,888 elected seats
Starting Friday until December 1, Commission on Election offices throughout the country will remain open daily for an estimated 70,000 political aspirants to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 17,888 electoral seats available in the 2010 elections. A Comelec official said Thursday it's "all systems go" but reminded candidates to observe the rules against premature campaigning.

LDP bares lineup of favored senatorial bets
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, one of the nation"s major political parties, on Thursday bared the names of the possible senatorial candidates that it would support in the 2010 elections.

Villar, Bongbong to seal alliance on Friday
The once dominant Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar Jr. will seal their alliance Friday in a bid to boost the latter's presidential bid.

Arroyo urged to extend AFP chief"s term
At least two presidential aspirants on Thursday urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to extend the term of General Victor Ibrado as chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) until June 30, 2010.

"Climate change pushes poor women to prostitution, dangerous work"
The effects of climate change have driven women in communities in coastal areas in poor countries like the Philippines into dangerous work, and sometimes even the flesh trade, a United Nations official said.

Amid defections, Gibo, Edu declare 'Game na!' for 2010
(Updated 5:30 p.m.) Despite being battered by a number of defections, the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party on Thursday stood ground and declared that the tandem of Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. and Eduardo "Edu" Manzano is ready to charge into the 2010 electoral battleground.

Serge Osmeña confirms bolting LP over Recto entry
Former Senator Sergio Osmeña III confirmed on Thursday that he is no longer with the Liberal Party over differences with party leaders on the entry of Ralph Recto, marking the first crack within the LP that has so far benefited from the defection of various political personalities ahead of the May 2010 elections.

Son of Palace exec killed in QC shooting incident
The son of a Malacañang official died Wednesday night after a still unidentified man fired several gunshots at him while he was aboard his vehicle in Quezon City.

Ermita: No shortcuts in replacing AFP chief Ibrado
There will be no shortcuts in replacing Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, Malacañang assured Thursday amid reports that a ranking military officer associated with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be installed next month.

Marikina residents turn baseball field into methane gas kitchen
Methane gas oozing from a former baseball field in Marikina City has become an attraction for local residents affected by recent tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana).

Predawn grenade blast damages PASG critic"s house
A predawn grenade blast damaged the house of a vocal critic of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) in Marikina City Thursday.

Palace ready to replace Bayani Fernando at MMDA
While Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando has not made clear if he will quit his post to run in the 2010 elections, Malacañang is ready to replace him if he does so.

UN alarmed by surge in HIV cases among RP youth
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among the youth in the Philippines "have been increasing at an unprecedented rate," the United Nations representative office in Manila has warned.

LP keeping Recto, denies infighting
The Liberal Party is not letting go of former Sen. Ralph Recto and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos even as it tries to reconcile with former Sen. Serge Osmeña who has left the party in protest of Recto’s inclusion in its senatorial slate.

18 party list groups want to join 2010 elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Secretariat has accepted manifestations for intent to participate in the 2010 elections from 18 party list groups Friday, an official said.

Marcoses, leftist can work together under NP – Villar
The Marcoses and left-wing groups can work together under the Nacionalista Party (NP) and help bring victory to the party in the May 2010 election, its standard-bearer senator Manuel Villar said.

Jinggoy no longer running under Villar banner
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada announced on Friday he will no longer be a guest candidate in the senatorial slate of Sen. Manuel Villar's Nacionalista Party.

Jinggoy no longer running under Villar banner
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada announced on Friday he will no longer be a guest candidate in the senatorial slate of Sen. Manuel Villar's Nacionalista Party.

Marcoses, leftists can work together under NP—Villar
The Marcoses and left-wing groups can work together under the Nacionalist Party (NP) and help bring victory to the party in the May 2010 election, its standard-bearer senator Manuel Villar said.

Pacquiao urged to use ties with Atienza vs. mining
A group of Mangyan on a hunger strike greeted Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao when he arrived at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Quezon City on Friday.

Pacquiao urged to run for partylist seat
Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson is still convincing boxing champion Manny Pacquiao to run for a partylist seat in Congress saying that, as in boxing, he will surely win.

Leftist solons warn of ‘complications’ vs NP-KBL alliance
The alliance between the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Senator Manuel Villar and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party of the Marcoses has brought “complications” that could get in the way of the left-wing organizations’ support for Villar in the May 2010 election, two partylist lawmakers said Friday.

Marcos party joins forces with Villar’s NP
(UPDATE) The opposition party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), led by Ilocos Norte Representative (2nd District) Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. sealed an alliance with the Nacionalista Party (NP) Friday.

Comelec OKs 14 presidential bets; 3 for Senate
(UPDATE 6) Over 20 aspirants for the presidency and the Senate have filed their certificates of candidacies (CoC), including a “messiah,” a quantum physics professor, and a retired general.

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.

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.

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.

Bloggers unite on climate change
It is being billed as the largest-ever social change event on the Web and one which its organizers believe will unite the digital world in a wider conversation about climate change.

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.

Josie Natori's stylish evolution
Josie Natori followed her business dreams from the Philippines to Wall Street. But after nine years as a banker, she needed a more creative outlet. In 1977 she launched a lingerie company with an East-meets-West flair. Today her brand includes four intimate-apparel lines, as well as a ready-to-wear clothing collection, home and bath products, eyewear and fragrance. Natori, 62, shared her story with Fortune Small Business in her Manhattan showroom.

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

Philippines' Uneasy Peace Broken
Weeks after nearing a peace agreement, the Philippines restive south is hit by a new wave of fighting between the government and separatist insurgents

Filipino Troops Assault Muslim Rebels
Philippine troops, backed by helicopter gunships, regained control of two southern villages from Muslim rebels Monday and pressed ahead with a massive assault to clear 13 others, officials said

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.

Shooting spree in Philippines kills 8
A man strafed several houses during a shooting spree early Monday in a town south of Manila, killing eight people and wounding six others.

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.

Manila Bomb: Terror or Vendetta?
The blast at the Philippines' legislature appears to have targeted a lawmaker at odds with the Islamic terror group Abu Sayyaf. But with political violence in the Philippines so widespread, its real cause may never be known

Market bomb kills 3 in Philippines
Making good on a threat, insurgents in the southern Philippines on Tuesday bombed a busy public market in the city of Tacurong, killing three and wounding 21 others, police said.

CNN Future Summit forum
Bruce Willis did it, with the aid of a large plastic tube and a set of bellows, in "Twelve Monkeys;" Michael J. Fox did it -- three times -- in the "Back to the Future" series; the crew of the Starship Enterprise can't stop doing it (at least 14 times in television episodes alone); while as the "Terminator" Arnold Schwarzenegger also gave it a go, albeit stark naked.

THE WORLD AT RISK
1. Brazil

How startups go global
When working in the tropical sun becomes too much for Ivko Maksimovic, the lanky Serbian heads to one of the Dominican Republic's pristine white-sand beaches. He first gathers up a black hat, mosquito repellent, and a bottle of drinking water.

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.

Filipino 'freed when troops leave'
Militants holding a Filipino hostage say they will free him when "the last Filipino leaves Iraq on a date that doesn't go beyond the end of this month," according to a statement read by the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera.

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.

ASIA'S RISING EXPORT POWERS Thailand and Malaysia lead the next generation of little Japans. Their rapid
JAPAN blazed the export trail. But soon a new group of champions came roaring down that path -- Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. Now a second pack of Asian nations is carving out a gr...

AQUINO NEEDS A NEW MIRACLE The plucky housewife-turned-President of the Philippines can take credit for the country's recent ret
THE SHATTERED Philippine economy is finally perking up, thanks largely to President Corazon Aquino. But the recovery is more sluggish and uncertain than it should be, and Aquino bears responsibilit...

Philippines Suffers From a 4th Typhoon
A tropical storm roared toward Vietnam after battering Manila and the surrounding provinces, leaving 14 people dead in a region struggling to recover from previous storms.

Oil and Gas Price Increases Meet Opposition in Philippines
With millions of Filipinos still reeling from the effects of successive typhoons, the price increases by the three largest oil companies in the country were criticized as greedy, callous and predatory.

Estrada Begins Unlikely Comeback in Philippines
The former Filipino president and actor Joseph Estrada returns, at 72, to both movies and presidential politics.

Misery and Illness Persist in Philippine Typhoons’ Wake
Relief workers are concerned about children in evacuation camps in the Manila metropolitan area that remain flooded after successive typhoons.

Bill to Increase Access to Contraception Is Dividing Filipinos
Family planning advocates trying to make birth control more readily available are meeting resistance in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country.

A Versatile Boxer Is Fighting Poverty
Manny Pacquiao, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer, is also a singer and actor, and is making a second try at political office.

Typhoons Hit Small Businesses in Philippines Hard
The back-to-back typhoons that struck the Philippines have devastated small entrepreneurs.

In Typhoons’ Wake, Filipinos Search for Landslide Victims
Successive storms have killed more than 600 people, and the toll is expected to rise as the search continues in mountainous, remote regions.

More than 160 Killed in Landslides in Philippines
Landslides triggered by Typhoon Parma buried dozens of houses, only a week after Typhoon Ketsana killed more than 300.

After Storms, Stagnant Floodwaters Bring Disease in Philippines
Large areas of Manila remain flooded a week after Typhoon Ketsana battered the region, and residents face a host of other problems, including disease and ruined crops.

Choked Floodways Feed Manila’s Typhoon Toll
Devastating typhoons have highlighted the dismal state of infrastructure in the Philippines, where about 20 typhoons and major storms strike every year.

2 U.S. Soldiers and Filipino Marine Are Killed by Land Mine
The three were killed when their vehicle struck a land mine on the troubled southern island of Jolo, the Philippine military said.

Death Toll Hits 240 in Philippine Flooding
Facing criticism over its response to the disaster, the government appealed for international aid.

Death Toll Hits 240 in Philippine Flooding
Facing criticism over its response to the disaster, the government appealed for international aid.

Death Toll Expected to Rise After Storm in the Philippines
Countless people remained trapped on their roofs on Monday because of floodwaters in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ketsana.