UST-AB DevCom Lesson: Typhoon Yolanda tops Philippine News 2013

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday (www.pbs.gov.ph)

UST-AB DevCom Lesson: List down the good news of 2013, other than those listed here. (Regular bond paper, handwritten) 

In this aerial photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, and released by the Philippine Air Force, a ferry boat is seen washed inland from a massive storm surge caused by Typhoon Haiyan, in the city of Tacloban, central Philippines. Acknowledgement: AP FILE PHOTO

Philippine Top News 2013

January 6 - Thirteen people were killed in a mass murder in Atimonan, Quezon

February 10 – Lolong, the Indo-Pacific crocodile died at Bunawan, Agusan del Sur from 7:59 pm.

February 12 – Philippine gunmen claiming to be part of the "royal army" of the Sulu Sultanate landed on Lahad Datu, Sabah causing a standoff which tested bilateral relations between the Philippines and Malaysia

April 20 - A Chinese fishing vessel with 20 fishermen on board, ran ground at the Tubbataha reef, almost two months after an American navy ship ran ground on the same reef. The fishermen will face charges of illegal poaching and attempted bribery.

May 9- A Philippine Coastguard vessel open fired a Taiwanese fishing vessel, allegedly inside Philippine maritime territory, leaving one Taiwanese fisherman dead. Tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines heat up as Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, threatens to impose sanction on the Philippines following a day after the incident. The Philippine Coast Guard sympathizes with the victim but refuses to apologize for the incident and insisted that its personnel are just doing its job to address illegal fishing.

June 27- Tropical Storm Rumbia (2013) brought heavy rains to the northern Philippines, triggering more landslides and flashfloods.

July 26 - At least 8 people dead, and 48 people injured in a bomb blast at the Limketkai Center in Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines.

August 5 - At least 8 people were killed and 40 others injured after a car bomb exploded in Cotabato City, Cotabato province in the Philippines. It is the worst such attack ever in Cotabato City.

August 12 - MNLF leader Nur Misuari unilaterally declared the independence of the Bangsamoro Republik. The Philippine government refuses to recognize the republic and no other foreign governments has officially recognized the republic.

August 16 - MV St. Thomas Aquinas collided with MV Sulpicio Express Siete resulting in 55 deaths. 65 people remain missing.

August 18 - Typhoon Maring hit northern Luzon, but affected the whole areas of Luzon through the "Southwest Monsoon" or "Habagat".The "southwest monsoon" brought by Typhoon Maring hit Metro Manila, Cavite, some parts of Rizal and Laguna, leaving many areas flooded.  Eight people were reported dead, with over 200,000 homeless.

August 26 - Widespread protests against the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam was organized nationwide. Some Filipino communities worldwide also held solidarity protest. The biggest demonstration that was held on this day was the Million People March held in Luneta Park in Manila

September 7 – Mutya Johanna Datul was crowned Miss Supranational 2013 and is the first Asian and first Filipina to win the title.

September 9–28 - The Moro National Liberation Front and government forces clash in Zamboanga City, paralyzing economic activity in the city.

September 28 – Miss Philippines Megan Young (photo) was crowned Miss World 2013 and is the first Filipina to win the title.

October 15 - A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the island of Bohol with a depth of 20.0 km (12.4 mi). It was centered about 20 miles below the town of Sagbayan. As of October 15, it was reported that the death toll was at least 93, including people in Cebu. The following day, the death toll had risen to 144, with 291 people injured.

October 19 - A road accident involving three buses and five other vehicles which occurred on a zigzag diversion in Maharlika Highway in Barangay Santa Catalina, Atimonan, Quezon province. The road accident killed 20 people and another 54 were wounded.

November 7 - Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion pork barrel scam faced the Senate for the first time to answer the allegations against her.

November 8 - Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda), the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, caused catastrophic destruction in the Visayas, particularly on the islands of Samar and Leyte, killing 6,166 people. About 11 million people have been affected by the typhoon with many left homeless.

November 9 - Miss Philippines Ariella Arida won third runner-up in the Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow Oblast, Russia.

November 19 - Miss Philippines Annalie Forbes won third runner-up in the Miss Grand International 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand

November 20 - The Supreme Court of the Philippines abolishes the Priority Development Assistance Fund otherwise known as the 'pork barrel'.

November 21- Miss Philippines Amber Delos Reyes won Miss Teen Expoworld Universe 2013 held in Guatemala. Mister Philippines Gil Wagas won fourth runner-up in the Mister International 2013 held in Skenoo Hall, Gandaria City Mall, Jakarta, Indonesia.

November 29 - The Manila City government passed a resolution urging President Benigno Aquino III and the Congress of the Philippines to recognize Andres Bonifacio as the first president of the Philippines.

December 7 - Alyz Henrich from Venezuela crowned as Miss Earth 2013.

December 11 - The highest number of journalists is killed in a single year since 2009 in the country reaching a total of twelve.

December 12 - The Comelec disqualified governors Vilma Santos of Batangas, E. R. Ejercito of Laguna, Ryan Luis Singson of Ilocos Sur and Amado Espino, Jr. of Pangasinan. The commission also disqualified congressmen Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga and Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa and several elected government officials failed to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. 

December 14 - Miss Philippines Koreen Medina won third runner-up in the Miss Intercontinental 2013 held in Magdeburg, Germany.

December 15 - Former Pagadian mayor Samuel S. Co and his wife, Priscilla were arrested. Both are facing syndicated estafa case in connection with the multi-billion Ponzi scheme of Aman Futures. 

December 16 - Don Mariano Bus falls off the Metro Manila Skyway near Bicutan, Parañaque, killin18 people and injuring 20 others.

December 17 - Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago won Miss International 2013 held in Tokyo, Japan^.

December 20 - A shooting that occurred at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila killed four people, including Mayor Ukol Talumpa of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and his wife Lea Talumpa, and left five others injured.

December 31 - Miss Philippines Angeli Dionne Gomez won Miss Tourism International 2013 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

TRIVIA: December 4 - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago exchange of accusations at the Senate plenary against fellow Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.