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The U.P. College of Mass Communication has extended the deadline for the nominations for the tenth U.P. GAWAD PLARIDEL to 15 May 2014. The award recognizes Filipino media practitioners who have excelled in any of the media (print, radio, film, television, and new media) and have performed with the highest level of professional integrity in the interest of public service.

In efforts to forge stronger business links and penetrate further the Asian market, Mindanao-based companies participate in the 19th Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2014, considered as Asia’s largest food and hospitality trade event being held this week at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Business players from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand will converge here from October 23 to 26 for the 2nd BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders’ Conference 2014, an international event designed to attract foreign investments and promote regional cooperation within Asia and the Pacific region.

More than 500 delegates from 50 countries consisting of lawyers, judges, magistrates, academics, law students, and representatives from various sectors are expected to attend the five-day Congress to be held at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel with the theme “Lawyering for People’s Rights.”

Neil Cervantes, Chairperson of Sambayan, said, “What we are witnessing tonight is only a bit of the rich culture and arts of the lumad through their dances and songs. But more than our performances, this is a night to unite with the ‘roots’ of our country.” He further said that, “Our lumad sisters and brothers here are calling for the pull-out of military troops in their areas after they experienced aerial bombing and many forms of abuse from the soldiers. Any form of aggression upon their land like military operation ultimately destroys their culture.”

“The Zamboanga City government should ensure that the rights of the IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the Cawa-cawa evacuation camp are protected as the city government acts to relocate them in the coming days,” Phelim Kine, Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia, said today. “Any relocation should be done peacefully and fully respecting the rights and well-being of IDPs who have already been traumatized by the Zamboanga violence late last year.”

This year, the Palanca Awards has enhanced­­­ its submission system to facilitate the submission of entries, particularly for aspiring and professional literary artists who wish to join the competition but are based in the provinces or overseas. Contestants will no longer be required to submit hard copies of entries, which saves on printing and courier service costs.

Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Javier Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate today said that it is beyond doubt that the Aquino administration is in a mad rush to complete the sell out of Philippine sovereignty through the Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation (AEDC) when United States of America Pres. Barack Obama arrives in April 28.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on Monday called for the strengthening of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) to become “a strategic force not only for peace, but for human freedom, common prosperity, and collective security in the region.”

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares hit the Liberal Party for trying to obscure the MRT extortion issue and linking it to the 2016 elections and harassing Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar.