Philippine police authorities and U.S. Embassy officials made a tragic discovery yesterday, April 18, in their search for missing U.S. Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell. Her body was found in a shallow grave near an irrigation ditch in the town of Banaue, Ifugao province, apparently the victim of foul play. She was last seen alive last April 8, Easter Sunday, a solitary trekker visiting the famed Banaue Rice Terraces, a popular Philippine tourist attraction and U.N. World Cultural Heritage site. Details are still sketchy. No suspects have been apprehended.

Read the rest of this entry »

The worst mass shooting in U.S. history come just before the eighth year anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. Yesterday, at least 33 people, including the gunman, were killed at the Blacksburg, Virginia campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech as it is popularly known. At least 15 other people were injured.

The murderous rampage of the lone gunman began at a co-ed dorm on campus, West Ambler Johnston, at 7:15 a.m. ET and ended at Norris Hall, an engineering classroom building, hours later. Armed with a 9-mm pistol and a .22-caliber handgun, the killer cold-bloodedly chained the doors of the building so his victims could not escape and police could not easily enter. Then, from reports, he shot as many as 46 people before killing himself. According to witnesses, he never said a word.

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: Virginia Tech

Manny Pacquiao made short work of Mexican challenger Jorge Solis to retain the WBC International Super Featherweight crown and earn at a cool U.S.$ 7 million (PHP 350 million), which covers his guaranteed fight purse and his share of the pay-for-view revenues. The 15,000 crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, were treated to a workmanlike demolition of the previously undefeated Solis. Manny’s trainers, notably Freddy Roach, were unhappy with his “toying around” in the early rounds. But after an accidental head butt opened a cut in his left eye in the 5th round, Manny quickly took care of business. He decked Solis in the 6th round and knocked him out for good in the 8th round. The general consensus was that it was no cliffhanger, but there were enough good moments to make it worth watching on a hot and lazy Sunday afternoon in Manila.

Read the rest of this entry »

The second generation of internet-based services and usages, or the so-called “Web 2.0”, is being indicted by Andrew Keen, Silicon Valley entrepreneur and cultural critic, for having brought about “an endless digital forest of mediocrity”.

In his about to be released book, “The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing Our Culture” (subtitled “How the democratization of the digital world is assaulting our economy, our culture and our values”), Keen laments the harm caused by the self-authored content of the internet. He seeks to warn the world of the dangers of unbridled blogging, as the number of new blogs doubles every six months. In Keen’s words:

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: Web 2.0

Holy Week is a welcome break for many a stressed urbanite in Manila and environs, who rush out to the provinces or, for those who can afford it, abroad. This weekend is a rare treat, as it coincides with “Araw ng Kagitingan” of “Day of Bravery” , commemorating the Fall of Bataan to the Imperial Japanese Forces in World War II, which falls on Monday, April 9. Thus, we have a 5-day official weekend holiday.

In recent years, Manilenos have began to realize the benefits of staying put during Holy Week. Manila becomes a virtual ghost town. No traffic, reduced noise, not many people on the streets. Perfect for rest and reflection. You avoid the horrific gridlock going out of the metro and then coming back. Not to mention the expense. A hassle-free Holy Week is assured for those with the foresight not to run with the herd. Besides, the malls open by Black Saturday.

Read the rest of this entry »