A Repost From ABS-CBN News

Gabby Lopez talks about Willie in ABS-CBN stockholders' meet

ABS-CBN - Thursday, May 27

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Gabby Lopez talks about Willie in ABS-CBN stockholders' meet

Photo courtesy of Ryan Ramos, ABS-CBN Corp. Comm.

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III discussed the recent controversy involving the network and its biggest talent, "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame, during the firm's stockholders' meeting on Thursday.

In response to a question raised during the meeting held at the Dolphy Theater, Lopez acknowledged that what happens to a star like Revillame definitely has a financial impact on the network.

"There are ongoing discussions now with Willie, and we prefer to keep these discussions at this point between ourselves and Willie. Suffice it to say that we are cognizant of the financial impact that a star like Willie brings to the network. But we are also aware that an institution like ABS-[CBN] will deal with stars all the time. And stars come and go, but the institution stays," Lopez said.

"So we will take into consideration the wide variety of factors that are involved in dealing with stars like Willie. He is not the first or the last star that will reflect this kind of behavior. It goes with the territory," he added.

"These decisions will be made in the proper time. I think the best decision we made is for both Willie and I to decide that, for the interim, we will both keep silent about what's going on, and these discussions will be made in the course of the next several months.”

Lopez talked about the controversy when one of the stockholders asked management about Revillame. The visibly irked stockholder even added that if it was up to him, he would kick Revillame out.

'Indefinite break'

On Tuesday, ABS-CBN announced that Revillame is taking an “indefinite break” from his popular noontime show, but his contract obligations with the network remain.

“ABS-CBN management and Willie Revillame pushed through with their scheduled talk yesterday afternoon. Willie has realized his mistake and apologized to ABS-CBN management for his outburst on air in 'Wowowee' on May 4, 2010, and his failure to report to work since May 5, 2010. ABS-CBN management has accepted Willie’s apology.

"ABS-CBN and Willie agreed that he takes an indefinite break effective immediately, but his contract obligations with ABS-CBN hold. This disallows him to perform similar work for any person or entity in direct competition with ABS-CBN. At some point, ABS-CBN management and Willie will discuss what will be in the best interest of the viewing public.

"Meanwhile, 'Wowowee' will continue to provide entertainment and inspiration to Filipinos worldwide,” said Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications."

The statement was released after Revillame and the big bosses of the network met Monday evening.

'Release me'

Prior to the meeting, Revillame sent management a letter dated May 12 asking that he be released from his contract.

The letter, which was addressed to ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III and president Charo Santos-Concio, was written in light of the controversy involving him and entertainment journalist Jobert Sucaldito. A copy of the letter was leaked to the media.

Revillame had slammed Sucaldito for the latter’s alleged non-stop criticisms about Wowowee. Revillame, in particular, got irked after Sucaldito allegedly insulted the contestants of “Wowowee." The contestants were reportedly high school students with general averages of 75 to 79.

Sucaldito has repeatedly denied that he insulted the “Wowowee” contestants.

Revillame demanded that the network fire Sucaldito and threatened to leave the network if this was not implemented. The “Wowowee” host then went on indefinite leave.

"Wowowee" is currently being hosted by action star Robin Padilla.

Award-winning director and actor Cesar Montano has been offered to host the show for two weeks, but Montano and ABS-CBN have not made a final decision.

Reposted From ABS-CBN News

A Repost From Thea Alberto at Yahoo News

Enrile: Canvassing may have to wait

By Thea Alberto – May 25th, 2010

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By Thea Alberto, Yahoo! Southeast Asia

(UPDATE 5) Although both chambers have approved the rules of canvassing, actual canvassing may have to wait for a few more days, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said after the joint session was suspended Tuesday.

“Hopefully we could begin but we ask the public to be patient. We will spend about two days or three days to clarify all these issues. We can’t open canvassing with a cloud of doubt,” Enrile told reporters.

Enrile said the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic officials have to appear before the joint committee of canvassing to clarify and answer several issues including allegations of poll fraud.

“Comelec must explain why, in its order or directive under Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010, it disregarded the requirement of the law for digital signatures to be affixed before transmitting the results of the voting,” Enrile said in his opening speech.

Enrile added that if the Comelec and Smartmatic refuse to heed their invitation to appear, a subpoena will be issued.

Meanwhile, the Senate president said a partial proclamation is possible.

“As much as possible, we will proclaim both. If there is reason to proclaim [one candidate] ahead, it’s not much a problem,” said Enrile when asked whether a president might be proclaimed ahead of the vice president.

“There is no legal question as long as we proclaim both by June 30,” he added.

The Senate and the House of Representatives finally adopted the rules for canvassing Tuesday, which signals the start of a journey towards proclaiming the winner for president and vice president of the country.

Enrile and House of Representatives Speaker Prospero Nograles presided over the public joint session.

“Let us rise above our political and partisan interest and…summon our collective will as institution and as statesmen of this nation, working on the people’s trust,” said Enrile, as he opened the session.

He also noted the “number of registered of voters,” which showed “256,733,195″ as the number of voters.

“What was brought to my attention was that in the field marked ‘No. of Registered Voters,’ the figure ’256,733,195′ was reflected. I inquired from Smartmatic if this was just a code or an outright error which must be corrected right away,” he said.

He said that Smartmatic has asked to be given time to verify the data.

Enrile said the Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that the poll body would make the necessary corrections.

During the deliberation on the rules, Representative of the 1st District of Maguindanao Didagen Dilangalen requested the presence of Smartmatic, the Comelec and information technology experts before the House approves the rules.

Nograles eventually ordered the presence of the Comelec, Smartmatic and IT experts in the joint session, which was set to resume 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The joint Congress might proclaim the winners for president and vice-president by June 15, according to Enrile.

The Philippine Constitution requires that a new president must be proclaimed on June 30.

Presidential candidate Maria Consuelo Madrigal was among the presidential candidates seen attending the session.

Photo by NPPA

Reposted From Thea Alberto at Yahoo News

A Repost From AFP

Philippine boxing champ Pacquiao taken to hospital

AFP - Monday, May 24

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Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao (L) shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote at a polling center in Kiamba, Sarangani province, in the southern island of Mindanao on May 10. World boxing champion Pacquiao has been taken to a hospital for a stomach ailment, but his lawyer says it is not serious and that he will likely be out the next day.

Slideshow: Faces of Asia PH

MANILA (AFP) - – World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was taken to a hospital on Sunday for a stomach ailment, but his lawyer said it was not serious and that he would likely be out the next day.

Pacquiao, who was recently elected as a legislator, was taken to a suburban hospital in Manila after feeling pains in his stomach, said lawyer Jesus Gacal.

"It was just his usual acid reflux. The doctor told me there is nothing to worry about," Gacal told AFP.

"There was even no need for him to be confined but he wanted to take a rest after the (election) campaign," the lawyer added.

He said Pacquiao had suffered from this stomach problem before.

The 31-year-old fighter, who was elected on May 10 to represent the impoverished southern province of Sarangani, has been preparing to take up his post in the Philippine parliament.

Boxing promoters are also working to arrange a bout between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in November, to settle once and for all the fighters' claim to be the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of his generation.

Pacquiao has said he can handle the simultaneous burdens of being a legislator and training for a major fight, remarking that this required only proper "time management."

Boxing victories as well as his commercial endorsements last year made Pacquiao the world's sixth-highest paid athlete, with earnings of 40 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Reposted From AFP