MANILA, Philippines – It's a close call as Senator Grace Poe won the votes of majority of the members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET). 

Recognizing the rights of an adopted child, 5 SET members voted on Tuesday, November 17 to dismiss the petition against Poe filed by her accuser, Rizalito David.

The remaining 4 members voted to disqualify Poe as senator of the Philippines. 

But the fight is far from over, as David's camp plans to file a motion for reconsideration soon. 

Jee Geronimo files this VLOG. - Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – In a move seen to consolidate forces on the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam on Tuesday, November 17, signed an agreement establishing a strategic defense and maritime partnership between the two countries.

Philippine leader Benigno Aquino III and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang expressed concern over tensions in the strategic sea – which the Philippines call the West Philippine Sea; and Hanoi, the East Sea – home to some of the world's most important shipping lanes.

"Mr President (Aquino) and I shared our concerns over the recent developments in the East Sea, or the South China Sea, affecting trust, peace, security and stability in the region," Sang said.

He added that the pact marked a "new era for cooperation" between the two countries.

In a statement, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said Vietnam and the Philippines will have a "strategic partnership on political, economic, agricultural, defense, maritime, security, judicial and law enforcement cooperation."

The details of the agreement, however, were not given.

In the bilateral meeting, Aquino and Sang discussed the recent decision of the arbitration tribunal on its jurisdiction to hear Manila's case against Beijing over the sea disputes.

While several other countries are also claiming parts of the sea, the Philippines and Vietnam have been the most vocal in contesting China's expansion in the disputed waters.  

"As I impressed upon the President: The decision represents a significant step forward in our quest for a peaceful, impartial resolution as regards the disputes, as well as the clarification of our rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Philippines indeed looks forward to presenting the merits of our claims in the very near future," Aquino said in a statement.

Sang, for his part, had nothing but concurrence for Aquino, insisting the need to adhere to international law to solve disputes.

"We also reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the stability, maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation and of flight in the South China Sea, as well as settling maritime disputes on the basis of international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Sang said.

TPP, fight vs trafficking

The diplomatic ties of the two countries go a long way back, as the Philippines was among the first countries to help its neighbor during the Vietnam war in the 1950s.

Both nations vowed to deepen their cooperation and talks as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2016.

Both countries also agreed to help each other combat human and drug trafficking.

Aquino also took the opportunity to get Vietnam's support on the prospective inclusion of the Philippines in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an economic agreement between Pacific Rim countries.

Earlier this month, China and Vietnam sought to cool tensions, pledging to solve their disputes after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hanoi, the first time in 10 years a Chinese premier had made a trip to its southern neighbour.

With the signing of the agreement, Vietnam becomes the Philippines' second strategic partner after Japan, which is sparring separately with China over a chain of islands and rocks over the Spratlys.

The agreement with Vietnam was signed as the United States announced it was ramping up maritime support to its Southeast Asian allies. – with a report from Agence France-Press/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Emojis have defined the way we interact online – breaking communication barriers. Its popularity is so evident that the Oxford Dictionaries named, for the first time ever, a pictograph as its "Word of the Year" for 2015.

The Oxford University Press (OUP) announced on Monday, November 16, that it chose the popular pictograph officially called “Face with Tears of Joy” as its "word" for 2015 because it best reflected “the ethos, mood, and preoccupations” of the past year. (READ: The Emoji Challenge: Can you guess these titles?)

Found to have been part of the English language since 1997, data from the Oxford Dictionaries Corpus said the frequency of use of the word "emoji" itself tripled in 2015.

For 2015, OUP partnered with mobile application SwiftKey to mine statistics related to the usage of the world’s most popular emojis.  

The smart keyboard mobile application found out that in 2015, the “Face with Tears of Joy” emoji comprised 20% and 17% of all emojis used in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively. The latest usage statistics of the pictograph rose by 16 points in the UK and 6 points in the US compared to statistics in 2014. 

The first-ever pictograph chosen as Word of the Year won over other strong contenders. The shortlist included the following, as defined by the Oxford Dictionaries: 

• Ad blocker, noun: A piece of software designed to prevent advertisements from appearing on a web page
• Brexit, noun: A term for the potential or hypothetical departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, from British + exit
• Dark Web, noun: The part of the World Wide Web that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable
• Fleek, adjectival phrase: (chiefly in the phrase "on fleek") Meaning extremely good, attractive, or stylish
• Lumbersexual, noun: A young urban man who cultivates an appearance and style of dress (typified by a beard and check shirt) suggestive of a rugged outdoor lifestyle
• Refugee, noun: A person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster
• Sharing economy, noun: An economic system in which assets or services are shared between private individuals, either for free or for a fee, typically by means of the Internet
• They (singular), pronoun: Used to refer to a person of unspecified sex

In 2014, vape was chosen as the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year. It refers to electronic cigarettes or the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapor the device produces. (READ: Are you as annoyed by the word 'vape' as these netizens?) – Rappler.com

PARIS, France – The Great Mosque of Paris urged French Muslims on Tuesday, November 17, to gather at the country's most important mosque Friday to say "No to terror" and "We are all Paris!"

A statement called on "all Muslim citizens and their friends" to gather at 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) to say "no to terror" and voice "their deep attachment to Paris, its diversity and the values of the Republic."

The gathering of French Muslims after Friday prayers was "the best response to those seeking to instill the venom of discord and suspicion within the national community," the statement added.

The rector of the Great Mosque earlier this week called on all French imams to lead the faithful in Friday prayers for the victims of the country's worst ever terror attacks.

Rector Dalil Boubakeur voiced "horror" at the "unspeakable acts" which had targeted "absolutely innocent" Parisians.

"We, Muslims of France, can only insist on the need for national unity in opposing this misfortune which has afflicted us and which attacks indiscriminately," he said.

"We are all victims of this barbarity," he said.

The suicide bombers behind Friday's attacks on the national stadium, a packed music venue and bars and restaurants were "people who call themselves Muslims but who should, by rights, be called barbarians." – Rappler.com

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – The survivors of Pakistan's deadliest ever terror massacre have expressed solidarity with the victims of the Paris attacks, describing those responsible as "animals" who had "nothing to do with Islam."

On December 16, 2014, a team of Taliban gunmen coldly slaughtered 150 people, more than 130 of them children aged between nine and 19, at a school in Peshawar in an assault that shocked and outraged a country already scarred by nearly a decade of extremist attacks.

France witnessed its own version on Friday night, with shootings and suicide bombings on bars, restaurants and a sports stadium that killed 129 mostly young people.

At a monthly gathering for survivors of the school attack in Peshawar on Monday, Syed Shah, the father of one of the victims, said that when he saw the news from Paris broadcast on local TV "our whole family cried for hours." 

"It took us back," he said.

"We feel the pain of the French better than anyone, because we know it."

Another student shouted in anger against the "animals" who killed her friends in the northwestern city and had "nothing to do with Islam" – a sentiment expressed repeatedly by parents at the meeting in reference to the Paris attacks.

The solidarity with France appears uniform across Pakistan – unlike after January's assault on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which gunmen killed 12 people over controversial drawings of the Prophet Mohammed. 

The depictions of Mohammed sparked protests in the Muslim-majority country.

However since Friday comments by religious and political leaders, the government and on social networks have roundly condemned the Paris attacks.

Peshawar student Azam Mehmood said he found it "hard to believe" that such violence could strike in the heart of Paris, capital of what he – like many Pakistanis – believed to be a "highly developed, peaceful and secure country".

Others told of the Taliban raid at the Army Public School in the northwestern city in stories closely mirroring the accounts of Paris survivors.

Chemistry teacher Andalib Aftab lost her 16-year-old son as well as many students in the Peshawar attack.

She said tearfully during Monday's meeting that she wants to "tell the French they are not alone." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) beheaded a Malaysian kidnap victim on Tuesday, November 17 in Indanan, Sulu, after reportedly failing to pay ransom, intelligence sources told Rappler.

Reports reaching Rappler indicated that the male Malaysian hostage, whose identity we are withholding, was beheaded at around 4 pm Tuesday by Indanan-based ASG led by sub-leaders Alden Bagade and Idang Susukan. Reports indicate his family did not comply with the ransom demand of the kidnappers. 

He was kidnapped nearly 6 months ago from a restaurant in Sabah, Malaysia, alongside a Malaysian woman, Thien Nyuk Fun. The woman was released earlier this month.

According to reports reaching security officials in Manila, the victims remains were immediately buried in the vicinity of Barangay Tanan in Indanan. His head was reportedly thrown down a ravine in the same area. 

At around 8:30 pm the same day, a street sweeper reportedly found the kidnap victim's severed head, placed inside a sack with a note bearing the man's name, in Jolo, Sulu. 

In the past, the Abu Sayyaf released hostages only after hefty ransoms were paid.

They have also beheaded captives if their demands were not met. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines first hosted the APEC summit in 1996 in Subic, Zambales. Back then, the country was dubbed as "Asia's next economic tiger."

Liberalizing the telecommunications services sector was considered its major success, but for this year, several economists said it could be placing MSMEs at the front and center of regional trade.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is composed of 21 member-economies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States of America, and Vietnam.

Watch the stream on Rappler – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – All eyes are on the Philippines from November 18 to 19, as it plays host to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Even before economic leaders fly in, security in Manila is tightened, special lanes along EDSA opened up, roads partially or completely closed, plus work and classes suspended.

Government and business leaders see it as an opportunity to expose Asia’s so-called “rising tiger” to the rest of the world, but for many Metro Manila residents, it’s hell on paved concrete. Commuters and motorists spend hours on the road, as the cracks of the Philippine megacity’s infrastructure become all the more apparent. 

Bea Cupin files this VLOG. - Rappler.com

They called it "Walking Deadsa." Others lamented about how they were "APECtado." 

Online and offline, Metro Manila residents turn to humor and wit this week as preparations for the arrival of several world leaders aggravate what is a long-running problem in the Philippine mega city: heavy traffic and infrastructure – or the lack thereof. 

But the scenes from Monday, November 16, or the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's CEO forum aren't anything to laugh at.

Road closures force commuters, particular those from provinces south of Metro Manila, to walk for several kilometers under the heat of the blistering tropical sun. 

Motorists are stuck in traffic for hours, while APEC delegates, the country's top government officials, and visiting dignitaries get to use the special "APEC lane" where congestion is non-existent. 

Filipinos say it's unfair for the government to make special considerations for its high-profile visitors while treating its own people as – quote – second-class citizens. 

President Benigno Aquino III himself concedes more could have been done to improve the country's infrastructure. 

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PRESIDENT, PHILIPPINES: Perhaps we could have been even more daring and more involved in to take on the loans that could have funded so many things. And we have reached that capacity in terms of the construction, etcetera, early on, perhaps we could have accelerated the pace of the infrastructure support. 

The traffic situation in Metro Manila – particularly in cities that will host summits, meetings, and world leaders – is expected to be even worse beginning Tuesday. 

SONNY COLOMA, PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON: Let’s just say we did our best. We believe that this is the best arrangement that we could organize for this meeting to fulfill our international responsibility and we are calling our citizens in the spirit of bayanihan to share in the burden of sacrifice and to understand this from the perspective of long-term national interest. 

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are among the 21 APEC leaders or representatives joining the economic leaders' summit at the PICC.  

MANILA, Philippines – No evidence, no probable cause. With these, the justice department exonerated members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Sanggunian or Council in connection with the alleged illegal detention case of expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr.

Samson, former editor in chief of the INC's official publication Pasugo, and another expelled INC member Jose Norlito Fruto, had filed separate complaints of harassment and intimidation against members of the Sanggunian.

Samson filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) harassment, illegal detention, coercion, and grave threat charges against senior church officials after he was charged with libel by the Iglesia on July 24. He was also expelled as minister for "disobedience" and "refusal to submit".

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano signed two separate resolutions dated November 13, dismissing the harassment, illegal detention, threats and coercion complaints filed against the 8 Sanggunian members.

Named respondents in Samson's complaint were Glicerio Santos Jr, Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago Sr, Mathusalem Pareja, Rolando Esguerra, Eraño Codera, Rodelio Cabrera and Maximo Bularan Jr, members of the INC's highest administrative body.

According to a report by the Inquirer, the Department of Justice said Samson “failed to offer proof that he was compelled to do something against his will when he was allegedly forced by respondent to execute a written statement admitting his culpability and complicity in the [Antonio] Ebangelista blog.” Ebangelista has been exposing alleged irregularities and abuses committed by some members of the Sanggunian.

Samson, according to the same report, also failed to present an “iota of evidence” on charges of intimidation and confiscation of personal property.

Absolve respondents

A Department of Justice (DOJ) insider said Arellano’s resolutions were signed after recommendations were made by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, Assistant State Prosecutors Olivia Torevillas and Mark Roland Estepa, to absolve the Iglesia respondents.

The DOJ source said that Samson “failed to offer proof that he was compelled to do something against his will” when he was supposedly forced to execute a written statement that admitted he had something to do with the controversial Antonio Ebangelista blog.

Quoting from the resolution, the Inquirer reported, “There is nothing in the recitation of facts made by complainant which show that respondents resorted to threat, violence and intimidation when the said articles were taken allegedly upon orders of the Sanggunian.”

As for Fruto’s complaint, the DOJ said there was no probable cause for illegal arrest, arbitrary detention, and violation of abode as he was not even in his house when the supposed robbery took place.

Fruto's complaint covered 17 individuals, including members of the Sanggunian. He accused them of coercion, harassment, threats, and arbitrary detention. He also alleged that several police officers went to his house and confiscated phones, laptops, and even cash and jewelry.

The DOJ resolution, however, said his claims of harassment should be raised as a matter of defense in the proper courts when the cases filed against him by INC officials are heard in the proper courts. Fruto claimed that INC officials were bent on silencing him by filing a string of criminal cases against him. – Rappler.com

Lots of netizens were complaining about the horrendous traffic caused by road closures for Manila's hosting of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. But once they caught a glimpse of the dashing Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto, netizens started swooning.

Aside from being one of the economic leaders attending the APEC Summit, Peña Nieto is also in Manila for a state visit.

Camille Elemia files this VLOG. - Rappler.com

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – The largest Moro rebel group in the Philippines has condemned the terrorist attacks on Paris, calling the carnage as unacceptable.

“We are deeply saddened by [the] tragic events in Paris, France. These blind, indiscriminate acts of violence deserve nothing but condemnation,” the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said over the weekend.

At least 128 people were killed while 180 were wounded when gunmen simultaneously attacked 6 locations, including a concert hall, in the Paris suburbs on Friday, November 13.

The terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) owned up to the attacks.

“This is unacceptable. The MILF rejects such acts of terror against humanity and all peace-loving peoples,” the group said.

World leaders, the Pope, and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III have condemned the attacks. (READ: World mourns, condemns attacks in Paris)

The MILF was once accused by the Philippine military of providing havens for radical Muslim organizations with links to the Al-Qaeda such as the Jemaah Islamiya and local extremist groups such as Abu Sayyaf.

In March 2014, it entered into a peace agreement with the Philippine government after 17 years of peace negotiations, ending more than 4 decades of violent wars in several southern provinces of Mindanao. In its website www.luwaran.com, the MILF said ISIS has been denounced by Muslim scholars as non-Islamic.

The MILF added that their “thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

It continued: “May we all find our way through these troubled times and emerge with a stronger resolve to pursue peace for all peoples in all parts of the world.

“We take this opportunity also to condemn in same strong terms the violence against civilians in Palestine, in Myanmar, and elsewhere in the world,” the group said. – Rappler.com

PARIS, France – This week's Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly that was brutally attacked in January, mixes poignancy and defiance in its response to Friday's jihadist assault on Paris.

The much awaited cover for the edition to appear Wednesday, by cartoonist Coco, depicts a dancing reveler, bottle and glass in hand, with champagne pouring out of holes in his body.

"They have weapons," the caption reads, adding underneath: "Screw them, we have champagne."

The attacks on Friday evening struck several targets in a trendy area of eastern Paris including pavement cafes and the Bataclan rock concert hall, where mostly young people were enjoying a night out, leaving 129 dead overall. 

They came 10 months after the attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices – just a short walk from the Bataclan – decimated their editorial team, killing some of France's most beloved cartoonists in a rampage that left 17 dead there and elsewhere in the city.

The following edition showed the Prophet Mohammed with a tear on his cheek saying "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie") – the global cry of solidarity after the January 7 attacks – accompanied by an ambiguous legend reading "All is forgiven."

The paper's managing editor, Riss, writes in Wednesday's editorial: "Blood and tears, prophesied Churchill. That's where we are. Without realizing it, the Parisians of 2015 have sort of become the Londoners of 1940, determined not to yield, neither to fear nor to resignation, whatever catches them off guard."

He calls for renewed debate on Islam, which, he writes, "For the past 20 years has become a battleground where radicals want to exterminate non-believers and subdue moderates by force."

Riss adds: "Avoiding the pitfall of division should not make us renounce the right to criticize religion on the pretext that its exercise is sometimes irritating. Among all the basic freedoms that make up our lives, it is also this freedom that the killers wanted to eliminate this Friday evening." – Rappler.com

PRISTINA – King Abdullah II of Jordan warned Tuesday, November 17, of a "third world war against humanity," in the wake of the Paris attacks, describing the Islamic State group as "savage outlaws of religion."

During an official visit to Kosovo, Abdullah said both Europe and Islam were under attack from the "scourge" of terrorism that could strike at any time.

"We are facing a third world war against humanity and this is what brings us all together," he told a press conference.

"This is a war, as I've said repeatedly, within Islam," he said, adding: "Groups such as Daesh (IS) expose themselves daily as savage outlaws of religion devoid of humanity respecting no laws and no boundaries."

"So therefore we must act fast and holistically to tackle and respond to the interconnected threats whether it is in this region, Africa, Asia or in Europe."

Jordan – like France – is a member of the US-led coalition battling IS, which controls swathes of land in its neighbors Iraq and Syria. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Papua New Guinea vowed to strengthen overall bilateral ties, particularly on improving trade, and cooperation in combatting climate change.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who is in the country for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit,  discussed ways to improve their countries' 40-year friendship during a bilateral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, November 17.

Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said that during the meeting, Aquino "expressed the wish for increased and expanded bilateral trade, noting that in December 2015, Philippine Airlines will increase its frequency to 3 flights (per) week, complementing the weekly flights of Air Niugini." 

Agriculture and fisheries are other key areas of cooperation between the two countries, Coloma added.

O'Neill noted that Papua New Guinea also gets a bulk of its rice supply from the Philippines, one of 3 major rice exporters to the country.

The Philippines also wants to strengthen cooperation in the areas of policy consultations, health and medical tourism, investment promotion and protection, and capacity building.

For his part, O'Neill said technology transfer and technical assistance from the Philippines will be appreciated. 

He also sought the Philippines' support in Papua New Guinea’s chairmanship in connection with the COP 21 United Nations Conference on Climate Change, said Coloma.

Papua New Guinea will host APEC in 2018.

Papua New Guinea hosts about 30,000 Filipinos, some of them are teachers from institutions such as La Salle and Don Bosco. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Five policemen sustained injuries during protest actions against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Thursday, November 19. (READ: Why Manila for APEC meet?)

All 5, from different regions outside of Metro Manila, were members of Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) personnel deployed to be the front-liners of the mass protest actions against the key regional meeting attended by leaders like US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Ahead of the reports on the injured cops, Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the APEC security task force, even thanked  militant groups who voluntarily dispersed during protests held on Wednesday, November 18 or the start of the APEC meeting.

“We acknowledge the gesture of cooperation by leaders of militant organizations with our security forces that voluntarily dispersed their illegal mass actions yesterday in separate locations around Metro Manila,” Mayor said at the time.

The Interior Department had earlier announced it would strictly implement the “no permit, no rally” rule during the week-long summit. Mayor said none of the local government units (LGUs) hosting an APEC event or an APEC leader approved any permits to rally.

In a Thursday press statement, the PNP said the following police personnel were injured:

1. Police Officer 1 (PO1) Mark Andrew Dela Cruz (from Police Regional Office 3, Bulacan PPSC detailed at Liwasang Bonifacio) who sustained abrasion in mid-forehead area
2. PO1 Rowel John P Felipe (from PRO 3, Bulacan PPSC detailed at Liwasang Bonifacio) who sustained abrasion in both forearm and elbow area
3. PO1 Michael Angeles (from PRO 3, Bulacan PPSC detailed at Liwasang Bonifacio) who sustained abrasion on right forearm
4. PO1 Christian Nataon (from PRO 2 detailed at Buendia) who sustained laceration wound in right cheek
5. PO3 Leandro Belenio Jr (from PRO Cordillera detailed at Buendia) who had heat exhaustion

Both Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez visited the 5 hurt cops on Thursday afternoon. Marquez is also the commander of the APEC security task force.

Although the Wednesday protests went by without a hitch, it was the Thursday protest that turned out to be controversial for security forces.

Police had earlier said they would be exercising “maximum tolerance” in handling APEC protests. Some 10,000 CDM personnel were deployed all around the Philippine mega city to prevent protesters from reaching restricted areas.

A group gathered near Roxas Boulevard were doused with water cannons, as a way to “cool down,” said Mayor. Dispersal methods in other areas were decidedly less vicious.

According to reports, police in another protest area began playing pop songs and party music to drown out chants by activist groups.

In both instances, protesters dispersed after a while.

Protests in the Philippines have a history of violence. During President Benigno Aquino III’s last State of the Nation Address, cops and protesters figured in clashes, with police accused of undue brutality.

The PNP later charged several militant activists for allegedly detaining and harming two intelligence operatives during the same SONA.

Mass actions were on top of security officials’ concerns, in additional to terror threats. The Chinese delegation, in particular, cited protests directed against them as one of their top concerns. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Beyond gaining worldwide reputation as this year's host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, the Philippines managed to seize the opportunity to strengthen its defense agreements with other nations amid its maritime row with China. 

The presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping did not stop the Philippines and its allies from strengthening their defense partnerships.

In several bilateral meetings between President Benigno Aquino III and other leaders, their top agenda was enhanced defense cooperation, a move widely seen to be directed at the current maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) involving China and claimant countries such as the Philippines.

There's one agreement though that analysts see as an important step in defusing tensions over the disputes: the deal signed by Taiwan and the Philippines on Thursday, November 19, pledging non-violence in disputed fishing zones.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said the agreement "upholds the spirit and principles underlying the South China Sea Peace Initiative" launched by President Ma Ying-jeou earlier this year, which called for peaceful dealings in disputed areas.

On defense deals, however, it's been a harvest for the Philippines.

Vietnam

On Tuesday, November 17, the Philippines signed a strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The deal between the 2 countries aims to promote “strategic partnership on political, economic, agricultural, defense, maritime, security, judicial and law enforcement cooperation." Details of the agreement, however, were not given. 

The 2 countries are among the claimants of the South China Sea and have been the most vocal in their opposition to China’s aggressive reclamation projects in these contested waters.

Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang called the signing of the deal a "historic event" for the maintenance of stability and prosperity in the region.

"Mr. President and I shared our concerns over the recent developments in the East Sea or the South China Sea, affecting trust, peace, security and stability in the region. We also reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the stability, maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation and of flight in the South China Sea, as well as settling maritime disputes on the basis of international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said.

Australia

The Philippines also signed a “comprehensive partnership agreement” with its longtime ally Australia.

Aquino said the agreement acknowledges the “increasing breadth and depth” of the 2 countries’ relations.

Palace Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the “strategic partnership” invokes an “over-arching framework and states general principles.” Both countries will craft the details of this partnership, he said.

The Philippine leader and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also "exchanged views on regional security challenges, including maritime security, and, with this, committed to continue bilateral consultations on how to address them."

"The Prime Minister and I committed to continue working closely towards more substantive and meaningful activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Australian Defense Force to build trust and confidence and enhance interoperability," Aquino added. 

Australia supports the Philippines’ stand on the peaceful resolution of the disputes in the South China Sea, even as it continues to provide military training and education to its Southeast Asian ally.

In 2007, the Philippines and Australia signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOFVA), which was enforced in September 2012. The SOFVA establishes procedures for joint training and exercises of troops in both countries.

Japan

In the case of Japan, the two allies signed in June this year a Joint Declaration for a Strengthened Strategic Partnership and its Action Plan during Aquino’s state visit to Japan. China condemned this.

Both countries stressed that the partnership was meant to "reaffirm their strong commitment to ensuring maritime safety and security, including in the South China Sea, which is a vital element for peace and prosperity of the region."  

After a meeting with President Aquino on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan is open to Aquino's request to send large patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard, the main agency tasked to secure the almost 40,000-km coastline of the country.

“There was a request from President Aquino regarding the provision of large patrol vessels to Philippine Coast Guard, and Japan would like to consider the specifics of the matter,” Abe said in a joint press statement after the bilateral meeting on Thursday, November 19.

While Japan does not have a stake in the West Philippine Sea, it is locked in a dispute with China over another cluster of islands in the East China Sea.

In June, the Philippines and Japan conducted military training exercises off the coast of Palawan, a move criticized by China.

United States

Aside from Australia, the country has a long-standing defense deal with the United States – the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. The new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the US military to build its own facilities and preposition its defense assets inside assigned Philippine military bases, is pending with the Supreme Court over issues of constitutionality.

After his meeting with President Aquino, US President Barack Obama reaffirmed the US’ “rock solid commitment” to the defense of the Philippines.

The Philippine Navy will be getting a Hamilton-class cutter from the US Coast Guard, the yet to be decommissioned CGC Boutwell, which is the same class as the Philippine warship that Obama visited in Manila on Tuesday, November 17.

The White House said the ship "will provide the Philippines the ability to maintain greater maritime presence and patrols throughout its EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)."

The Philippines is crucial in US’ pivot in Asia. Obama expressed hopes EDCA would hurdle the legal battles in the High Court, saying the deal would allow Americans to “help treaty partners to build up capacity.”

In October, a US warship sailed in the disputed waters, a move widely welcomed by other claimant-countries but strongly opposed by Beijing. (READ: 'Balance of power,' Aquino says of US ship in West PH Sea)

Russia, New Zealand

Other countries, meanwhile, pledged support and expressed willingness to help the Philippines’ military and defense capabilities.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told Aquino that Russia “seeks to open avenues for military and defense cooperation” similar to its agreements with its adjacent states.

While Russia is an ally of China, it has not categorically backed its East Asian ally on the maritime row. (READ:Power play in the South China Sea) 

The Philippines' longtime ally, the US, meanwhile maintains a safe distance from Russia – except in the fight against terrorism and ISIS.

New Zealand, for its part, signed a memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation with the Philippines in 2012.

The agreement set out a framework for the conduct of meetings between senior officials and military representatives, education and training exercises, capacity building, and information exchange.

Prime Minister John Key earlier said defense cooperation between Manila and Wellington would yield “real benefits.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines as host country of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation makes sure not only world leaders but even their spouses know what Filipino hospitality is like. 

Spouses of leaders from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore toured the walled city of Intramuros and witnessed Philippine heritage and culture come alive in 4 different venues: Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Casa Manila, and Ayuntamiento de Manila. 

The Philippines hopes that after APEC, the spouses will leave with a good impression of Filipinos.

Jee Geronimo files this VLOG. - Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was non-committal on Filipino environmental groups' call for Canada to bring back 103 container vans of trash illegally shipped to the Philippines. 

While Philippine President Benigno Aquino III did not raise the issue in his bilateral meeting with Trudeau, the premier was finally confronted with the question in a press briefing with foreign and Filipino media in Manila. 

ANC anchor Tina Monzon-Palma asked Trudeau what Canada intends to do with the trash that Ontario-based company, Chronic Incorporated, shipped to the Philippines back in 2013. 

Trudeau said he was aware of the issue, and was told that “there is a Canadian solution in the process of being developed.” 

“But, at the same time, I know that this has exposed a problem that needs fixing within our own legislation that we’re going to lean into and make sure happens,” Trudeau said on Thursday, November 19. 

Pressed what kind of law was necessary, and what will be done, Trudeau was unclear on what Canada will do with the garbage. 

“Well, I think, going forward, we need to ensure that if a situation like this were to arise once again that the Canadian government has more power to actually demand action from the companies responsible,” the prime minister said. 

He added: “I believe there are loopholes here that were allowed to be skirted that we need to make sure we close, both for Canada’s interest and for our good relationships with our neighbors.”

Same as embassy's line 

Trudeau is in Manila to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Ahead of his arrival, environmental groups called on Canada's new leader to act on the issue, which happened under the term of his predecessor, Stephen Harper. Trudeau took office only two weeks ago. 

The container vans from Canada arrived in batches at the Manila Port between 2013 and early 2014. Misdeclared as “plastic scraps,” the contents of the vans included non-recyclable plastics, household waste, and even used adult diapers.

Some of the vans are still in Philippine ports while others were dumped in landfills. There were complaints that waste juice from the vans posed health and environmental risks. 

Trudeau's response echoed the pronouncements of Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder. 

Reeder has said that while Canadian law imposes penalties on violations of import and export laws, it does not provide a mechanism to compel the return of illegal shipments to the point of origin. (READ: Canada wants its illegal garbage 'processed' in PH)

The envoy said the Canadian embassy was working with the Philippine government to process the shipment in the Philippines. 

'It's 2015' 

Lawmakers and environmental groups though want Trudeau to order that the trash be brought back to Canada. 

They cite the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes. Under the convention, the country responsible for importing toxic waste should return the waste to its port of origin within 30 days of being notified of the importation. 

Both the Philippines and Canada signed the convention. 

Greenpeace Philippines' Abigail Aguilar wrote an open letter to Trudeau to honor Canada's international obligation, and to show leadership.  

“Your election is a welcome change. The global community is happy to see a forward-thinking leader like you. You say you have formed a diverse and gender-balanced cabinet because it is 2015. I am hoping that Canada takes back its waste because, to borrow your famous words, it is 2015.” – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday, November 19, trumpeted the Philippines’ gains by hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this year.

One of these, he said, is that each of the Philippines’ 11,000 visitors for the summit “creates one new job” for Filipinos.

In a media briefing to close the APEC Summit, Aquino said: “By balancing the discussions in APEC between the technical aspects of trade, and its implications on the social and environmental challenges of growth, we have refocused our discussions towards all our people – the ones whose lives we, as leaders, are pledged to improve.”

“Apart from the fact that, as a general rule, each one of these visitors creates one new job for us; they have also now seen our country and met our people. In other words, they have discovered that the Philippines not only works, but it is indeed more fun,” he added.

The annual 21-member APEC gathering – hosted this year by the Philippines – is meant to forge trade unity but often finds itself sidetracked by other events.

Protestors: APEC is anti-people

In their statement, APEC leaders called for more global cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, as a wave of deadly attacks claimed by the Islamic State group dominated the final day of a regional trade summit.

In his speech, Aquino added that the 11,000 people who joined the APEC Summit this week “is more than double the attendance of our previous hosting” in 1996.

He then thanked the people who helped organize the event. 

“Most importantly, I am grateful to our countrymen who have expressed their support for our hosting.  All my fellow leaders heaped praise on how our people have welcomed them, and their words really made me swell up with pride,” he said. 

Protestors in different parts of Metro Manila, however, condemned APEC. 

They're shouting the opposite of Aquino’s claims: For them, APEC is actually against the people.

Progressive groups from various sectors on Thursday rejected APEC "for imposing onerous economic policies that satisfy foreign big corporations’ demands for cheap labor and raw materials."– with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Cheers and shouts erupted from the International Media Center in Manila on Thursday, November 19, as the Philippines wrapped up a year-long chairmanship of a key regional meeting. 

But the enthusiastic response at the close of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit wasn't directed towards the pacts and partnerships forged between heads of economies during days of talking trade and regional cooperation, as well as matters of bilateral concern.

Instead, it was focused on one specific world leader: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the man who has recently taken Philippine social media by storm.

Trudeau arrived at the media center past 6 pm for a press conference, held shortly after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III delivered his closing remarks as APEC chair.

Just minutes after Aquino left the stage, dozens of volunteers tapped for the event headed out in droves towards Briefing Room 1, hoping to catch a sight of the prime minister tagged as an "APEC hottie" by netizens.

The newly-elected Canadian leader spoke to media after Aquino's speech, where he was asked about his experience at his first APEC summit, Canada's ties with other countries, and – inevitably – his celebrity status among starstruck Filipinos.

Enthusiastic reception

Ushers, event volunteers, and some members of the media lined the hallway in anticipation of Trudeau's arrival, their smartphones and cameras held aloft to get a quick photo and video of the popular Canadian leader.

Trudeau, however, walked briskly to the briefing room, leaving the predominantly female crowd with not much choice but to head to the lounge where the press conference was being streamed live.

The giant wall showing Trudeau's image in the background became a popular spot for selfies.

During the press conference, Trudeau was asked if he was aware that he was now the social media darling of Filipino netizens, who rank him alongside Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

The Canadian leader took the question in stride, choosing to reply by recalling how he learned to "separate people's perceptions" during the years he grew up in the public eye.

The 43-year-old son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said he grew up learning how to take both the praise and criticism projected onto him by people who either supported or criticized his father.

"What I also had to learn is that there were a lot of people who liked my father and liked me for reasons entirely unrelated to who I actually was, and I had to learn to set aside positive impressions that weren’t grounded in reality," he said.

He added: "So, throughout my life, I have focused on what I have to do and the substance of what I put forward, and that has left me both grounded and able to focus regardless of perceptions or attentions to things external."

{source} 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Canadian PM Justin Trudeau leaves IMC to cheers and shouts from a mostly female crowd. <a href="https://twitter.com/rapplerdotcom">@rapplerdotcom</a> <a href="https://t.co/7Yf9czcQzx">pic.twitter.com/7Yf9czcQzx</a></p>&mdash; Katerina Francisco (@kaifrancisco) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaifrancisco/status/667297829333807104">November 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> {/source}

Serious questions

Trudeau's celebrity reception in the Philippines was just one of the colorful side events in the regional summit, where global leaders discussed trade cooperation and innovations for regional growth. 

But the excitement and hype surrounding the Canadian leader's visit didn't spare him from more serious questions, particularly the pressing issue on Canada's illegal garbage dumped in the Philippines.

Trudeau made no commitments to environmental groups' demands for his country to take back the tons of trash already posing health risks to Filipinos.

But he said that he has already been "made aware of the situation" and that a "Canadian solution" was already being developed.

"At the same time, I know that this has exposed a problem that needs fixing within our own legislation that we’re going to lean into and make sure happens," he added.

Asked about his impressions of his short stay in the Philippines, Trudeau said the two countries possess "strong ties," thanks in part to over 700,000 Canadians of Filipino origin.

"I have absolutely adored my stay in the Philippines. Everyone has been tremendously friendly and, for me, it was an opportunity to engage with a culture that I’ve gotten to know very well in Canada," he said.

"So for me to be able to be here and see what a beautiful and welcoming country so many of my fellow Canadian citizens call home or original home is a real pleasure," he added. – Rappler.com