Soldiers march under rain to practice celebration parade for 113 Years of Freedom

By PNA
Balita, Friday, June 10, 2011

MANILA, June 9 –- Although drenched in the rain dumped by tropical depression “Dodong,” soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) services held their rehearsal Thursday for the military-civic parade set on Sunday afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila in celebration of the 133 years of Philippine freedom and sovereignty.

“The AFP is in full participation as we rejoice together with the nation in commemorating the 113 years of our independence,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo S.L. Oban Jr. said.

Following Thursday's rehearsal at the AFP General Headquarters parade grounds in Quezon City, another practice parade will be held at the Quirino Grandstand on Friday. This is part of AFP’s participation in the series of events that will highlight the June 12 celebration.

On Sunday, soldiers composed of one battalion each from the Philippine Army, AFP General Headquarters, Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and Composite Enlisted Women, and two battalions from the Peacekeeping Contingent and 121 personnel from the AFP Band will join the Kalayaan (freedom) Grand Parade at the Quirino Grandstand.

There will be over 100 military personnel carrying the Philippine Flag and the AFP Colors which consist of the AFP units’ flags.

Rear Admiral Orwen J. Cortez will lead as the parading elements’ troop commander.

On the same day, the AFP Philippine Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Team will have an exhibition, to be followed by the PMA Silent Drill Company of Class 2013.

The AFP will also be conducting a free public concert dubbed as “Musikalayaan” or music for peace at the Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park, Manila on June 11, to be participated in by the uniformed bands of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Naval Construction Brigade.

“In the spirit of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, these activities exemplify our expression of great pride of our beloved country and to always bear in our mind the continuous pursuance of protecting the Filipino nation’s freedom and sovereignty,” Oban said.

balita.ph

Storm 'Dodong' kills 2 more, 27 fishermen missing

By Angelo L Guiterrez
Philippine Star, Friday, June 10, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - Two more persons have been confirmed killed and 27 fishermen remained missing today as tropical storm "Dodong" started to exit the Philippines.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified in its 6 a.m. report today the fatalities as 10-year-old Mark Daniel Ken Mateo of Batangas City, whose body was recovered 1 p.m. yesterday and Alejandra Mortel, 56 of Sitio Kabangan, Barangay Carmen, San Agustin town in Romblon.

Reports yesterday said three people in North Cotabato also died due to drowning.

The NDRRMC added in its report that 26 fishermen on board a boat were reported missing. It said that the boat was returning to Bolinao in Pangasinan when they were hit by strong waves.

The agency said that the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately formed search and rescue teams after being informed of the missing boat, but could not launch an operation because of the bad weather condition yesterday. It said that the search and rescue teams will be deployed as soon as the sea calms down.

The NDRRMC said a Navy boat and a helicopter from the PCG will be deployed today to look for the missing fishermen.

Another fisherman identified as Marcel Baroga was also reported missing after a sea mishap involving a barge loaded with soya beans in waters off Sariaya, Quezon.

In a separate report, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that "Dodong" intensified into a storm as it started to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

PAGASA said that as of 4 a.m., the storm was located 280 kilometers west northwest of Dagupan City or 300 kilometers west southwest of Laoag City.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving north northwest at a speed of 15 kph.

The weather bureau said that the storm may be already out of the PAR by noon today.

Public storm warning signals raised in Metro Manila, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Pangasinan and Cavite have already been lifted.

philstar.com

Navy, Coast Guard rescue 26 fishermen off Pangasinan –NDRRMC

By The National Broadcasting Network, Friday, June 10, 2011

The 26 crew members of a fishing vessel who were reported missing off Bolinao, Pangasinan have been rescued a few kilometers away from the shorelines of the province by joint elements of the Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.

NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said they were very thankful the fishermen were found alive by navy and coast guard elements aboard rescue helicopters.

Ramos said the 26 fishermen, whose names were not immediately available, were on board a 45-ton vessel named "FB 3MS WOF" when they were reported missing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Ramos also said all evacuees in areas affected by tropical depression “Dodong” in Maguindanao, Cotabato, Batangas and Bataan provinces have returned to their homes after floods in their areas had subsided.

A report by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to NDRRMC in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City said "Dodong" intensified into a storm as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by 12:30 p.m. on Friday. (PNA)

NBN

Phl navy, coast guard rescues 26 lost fishermen

By Joel Catencio, Friday, June 10, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The 26 missing fishermen have been found alive and floating with their life vests a few kilometers away from the shorelines of Pangasinan by the Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), disaster authorities said.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos said they are very thankful the fishermen on board a 45 tonner vessel named FB 3MS WOF were found alive by navymen and coast guard elements aboard rescue helicopters.

Ramos said the 26 fishermen, whose names were not available, were on board a boat were reported missing 6:30 p.m. in Bolinao, Pangasinan. He said they were hit by strong waves while on their way to Spratly Islands to do fishing.

He also said all evacuees in affected areas by Tropical Depression “Dodong” in the provinces of Maguindanao, Batangas, Bataan, Cotabato have returned to their homes after floods have subsided.

Ramos said there is minimal damage in areas where “Dodong” passed through Thursday.

In a report by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to NDRRMC in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City said "Dodong" has intensified into a storm as it exited of the of the Philippine area of responsibility PAR by 12:30 p.m. on Friday

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