Market indicators support continued housing growth in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The average bank lending rate on all maturities fell to 8.85% in the first quarter of 2007. Remittances from OFWs channeled through formal financial institutions rose 19 percent to $12.76 billion in 2006 from $10.69 billion in 2005. OFW deployments to the US increased from only 4,128 in 2005 to 11,406 in 2006, or an increase of 7,278.
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In New Zealand, activist to hold ‘caged’ protest vs Philippines president

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino trade unionist will be protesting in a cage against the Filipino President on the steps of Parliament today at 12.30pm in Wellington as the President attends a state lunch in her honor, says the National Distribution Union.

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Philippines wooing grave trouble with Australian mining deals, activists say

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stubbornly refuses to heed the grim warnings left by the environmental disaster caused by Australian-owned Lafayette Mining in Rapu-Rapu island, Albay and is even courting more danger by trying to seal a multi-billion dollar deal with BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company whose main headquarters is located in Melbourne, environmental activist organization Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) said today.
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Manny Pacquiao cries betrayal

MANILA, Philippines -- So why was Manny Pacquiao KO'd by Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio in the fight for the congressional seat of the first district of South Cotabato? Former North Cotabato governor (and now vice-governor) Manny Pi?ol, in an article published in philboxing.com, offers an answer: betrayal.

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Activist pastor and Bayan Muna leader abducted in front of his church

(SECOND UPDATE) | The UCCP and progressive groups like Bayan and Bayan Muna have scheduled a noise barrage at noon tomorrow to denounce the abduction of the Rev. Berlin Guerrero. It will be held in front of the offices of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines along EDSA near Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

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