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(The Borneo Post) The High Court today declared that 24-year-old Nalvin Dhillon — who was born to a Malaysian father and Filipino mother — a Malaysian citizen under the country’s Federal Constitution as he was not born a citizen of any other country, finally putting an end to years of being stateless.

Nalvin, who is due to turn 25 in June, had been trying together with his biological father since December 2009 or slightly more than 13 years ago to have himself recognised as Malaysian.

The decision was delivered by High Court judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh to recognise the boy from Klang as Malaysian.

“The plaintiff has fulfilled the condition precedents of Section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution. Once this is established, the law is that citizenship by operation of law is almost automatic. It is a matter of birthright… Read More

(Sun Star) INTERNATIONAL tourism is expected to rebound in the coming years to pre-pandemic levels as the country ramps up environmental sustainability efforts on key tourist destinations.

Roberto Alabado III, Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said they target the number of tourists going back to pre-pandemic levels by 2024 and 2025.

The Philippines recorded over eight million foreign tourists during the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

“Tourism will eventually learn to adapt to the current pandemic. Tourist behavior generally will change due to the current pandemic –more outdoor, smaller groups, health-conscious,” he said in a webinar.

To cater to tourists, Alabado said it is important to focus on the issues of environmental sustainability, including the need for more environmental action on key tourist spots, wastewater systems and solid waste systems.

“Investments (are) needed to protect the natural resources for tourism purposes,” he said.

Alabado also underscored the need to improve the world’s information about the country.

“There is still a lack of knowledge about the Philippines in general,” he said. “Digitalization of the Philippine tourism industry will rapidly change how tourism is done.”

Alabado said connectivity to destinations likewise is a must, thus the importance of having airports, roads, cruise ports and seaports.

“So for the past few years, with the ‘Build, Build, Build’ (infrastructure) program, this administration, we have to develop more or improve our airports so that people can now visit small islands at the same time cruise ports are being developed,” he said… Read More

(The Sun) He was reportedly found with six grams of cocaine along with a 9mm Beretta pistol.

Wall claimed the gun was not his and claims he was not the aggressor in the row.

Cops now claim he was the leader of a brutal gang in the capital which operated in the notorious red light district on Manila.

It is alleged he was involved in drug dealing and running a protection racket.

Police Colonel Michael Villanueva said Wall is facing a life sentence of 18 years without parole if he is found guilty of drug dealing and possessing a handgun.

Colonel Villanueva said: “He ran his criminal protection racket through fear.

“But now his reign of terror is over.”

The cop also alleged that Wall had at least five corrupt police officers on the payroll of his suspected organisation.

Abejo was arrested for refusing to comply with the officers when the couple were detained at the nightclub… Read More

(Interaksyon) The Carmelite Sisters on Tuesday decried a dramedy’s depiction of them as nuns playing mahjong with the character of former president Cory Aquino set in the aftermath of the 1986 snap elections.

The Cebu-based monastery said it is aware of the pictures circulating online from the film “Maid in Malacañang,” a dramedy supposedly reenacting the Marcoses’ last 72 hours in the Philippines before fleeing to Hawaii.

The stills depict the character of Aquino as ordering the Marcoses to leave the country through a phone call and then playing mahjong, a social gambling game, with nuns.

In reality, Aquino was inclined to grant late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr‘s request to stay for at least two more days before flying to Hawaii.

However, her party was not warm to the idea… Read More

(Inquirer.net) MANILA, Philippines — Less than 40 days before the polls, the tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio courted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and promised more jobs in the country so they no longer have to leave their families to work abroad.

During their hybrid OFW Miting de AvanceFriday, Marcos Jr. looked back at former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s labor-exporting policy, saying the government at that time found an “opportunity” for workers in the Philippines to work abroad.

Through the years, however, many OFWs have suffered from harassment, violence, and abuse. Philippine Overseas Labor Offices abroad reported that in 2020 alone, 4,302 cases of abuse of OFWs were recorded, according to Senate labor committee chairman Senator Joel Villanueva… Read More

(Radio Free Asia) Japan plans to hold so-called “two-plus-two” meetings with the Philippines and India to discuss maritime security including in the South China Sea, a move analysts say could send a message to Beijing about Tokyo’s determination to foster ties with like-minded partners.

“Two-plus-two” are ministerial-level meetings that involve both foreign and defense ministers of participating countries.

Unnamed diplomatic sources were quoted by Kyodo News Agency as saying that arrangements are being made for Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to meet with their Philippine counterparts in early April, and their Indian counterparts in mid-April in Tokyo.

China’s growing maritime assertiveness is expected to be high on the agenda, and ministers are expected to renew their pledge to promote a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana are expected to travel to Tokyo for the talks.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to RFA that Japan and the Philippines are considering the launch of a two-plus-two meeting but maintained that “the timing has not been decided yet.” Neither the Philippine nor Indian foreign ministries responded to requests for comment… Read More

(**Agency**) State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) led a syndicate of banks in providing P5-billion funding support to partially finance completion of the Makati Life Nurture Medical Center, formerly the Ospital ng Makati 2 project, which would be situated at the heart of the country’s premiere business district, a top official said.

DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa said that the facility was arranged by GIV Capital and co-arranged by DBP and Land Bank of the Philippines. Union Bank of the Philippines participated as co-lender.

‘’This project will help address the growing needs of the country’s health infrastructure landscape,’’ Herbosa said. “It also responds to the pressing need to develop an efficient, effective and responsive health system that delivers affordable and quality care.’’

DBP is the fifth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development. The DBP Board of Directors approved the credit assistance in 2021.

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(Daily Tribune) The Philippines will be the first in Southeast Asia to avail of the Starlink technology.

A quantum leap in Internet speed is expected in the next three months, if United States-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) pulls through with the expansion of its Starlink satellite broadband services in the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the game-changing services from US billionaire Elon Musk’s company is already secured.

The Philippines will be the first in Southeast Asia to avail of the Starlink technology that will particularly benefit areas where connectivity has been difficult or impossible.

A quantum leap in Internet speed is expected in the next three months, if United States-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) pulls through with the expansion of its Starlink satellite broadband services in the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the game-changing services from US billionaire Elon Musk’s company is already secured.

The Philippines will be the first in Southeast Asia to avail of the Starlink technology that will particularly benefit areas where connectivity has been difficult or impossible.

Lopez on 30 March met with publicly-listed DFN Inc.’s executive chairperson Ramon Garcia Jr., SpaceX senior manager for Government Affairs Rebecca Hunter, and SpaceX Market Access Director Ryan Goodnight on the launch of Starlink in the country.

According to Lopez, the government committed assistance to SpaceX, particularly in its registration with the Board of Investments (BoI) to secure incentives under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP).

The Department of Trade and Industry also committed to facilitate the processing of permits through the Ease of Doing Business Act… Read More