MANILA, Philippines (AP) – A dramatic hostage-taking in the Philippines capital ended with 9 bus passengers dead Monday after shots rang out and police stormed the vehicle.

The hostage-taker also died, police said.

Five hostages were brought to the Manila Hospital, two of them dead on arrival and three alive without injuries.

The Manila Doctors Hospital reported it received four dead and one woman in critical condition.

The incident started when a dismissed policeman armed with a M16 rifle seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists to demand his reinstatement in the force.

Police officer Roderick Mariano cited the Filipino driver who escaped moments before police surrounded the bus as saying the hostage-taker, identified as former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, 55, opened fire at the tourists.

The gunman earlier released nine hostages – leaving 15 inside – and demanded his job back to free the rest.

Hong Kong eventually issued its top-level black travel alert for the Philippines on Monday after Hong Kong tourists were killed in Manila in a bus hijack by an armed ex-policeman.

The Hong Kong government said it was “very disappointed” about the outcome of a dramatic hostage siege.

The day-long ordeal began when a disgruntled ex-policeman armed with an M-16 assault rifle hijacked the bus in Manila’s tourist district in a desperate bid to get his job back.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

By Thea Alberto, Yahoo! Southeast Asia / Photo by Mike Alquinto & Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images

In what seemed to be a prophecy, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. once told his only son Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to serve and lead the country in the best of his capacity.

In his letter to Noynoy dated August 25, 1973, almost a year after Martial Law was imposed, Ninoy lamented his incarceration and asked his son to continue his advocacies.

“The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength,” the older Aquino said.

“Son, the ball is now in your hands,” added Ninoy.

Thirty-six years later, Ninoy’s hunch proved to be true—with his only son now taking oath as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Although Ninoy and his wife, the late president Corazon Aquino (who died of cancer August 2009), did not live to see this day, the younger Aquino took his oath before his four sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris, and before millions of Filipinos who believed his promise to eradicate corruption.

‘So help me God’

Amid cheers, Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales administered Aquino’s oath of office at the highly yellow Quirino grandstand, minutes short of the 12:00 time as mandated by the Constitution.

A 21-cannon salute was delivered after Aquino’s oath while two choppers showered the crowd with yellow rose petals.

Fr. Catalino Arevalo, the family’s spiritual adviser, held the bible where Aquino symbolically placed his hand as he delivered his oath.

Earlier, Vice President Jejomar Binay also took the oath administered by Morales.

In a brief but highly symbolic move, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally relinquished her post to President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

The two arrived at the Quirino grandstand at exactly 10:35 am and exchanged handshakes before the crowd.

Earlier, Aquino and Arroyo shared the presidential car, a tradition in inaugurals.

At the Quirino grandstand, Arroyo then made her final pass in review. She was seen smiling at the yellow crowd.

Arroyo then left with her personal car.

What do you think is the above combination?

Who is your pick?

Why?

This is for the sake of filipino’s who are abroad  I want to share it with you and to those filipino’s who already memorized the lyrics of their jingles. Who do you think will win? and if ever he wins, do you think he will not make “bawi” all the expenses they paid on air-ing their infomercial campaigns? I’m sure they spend a lot of millions of money to reach every filipinos in the country what their plans are for the good of the country.

Here are some of the big list infomercials:

#1. Manny Villar

#2. Eddie Villanueva

#3. Noynoy Aquino

#4. Gibo Teodoro

#4. Dick Gordon / Bayani

I know that every filipinos in Mindanao is already used to killings and kidnap for ransom dramas there but this time, it’s really kinda different to them. As what media reporter says in tagalog, “kalunos-lunos” na pag patay. As of now the dead bodies found is already 57 and I hope it will stop there. Here’s the update news from the Kapuso Channel.

(Last updated 2:01pm Nov 26) Three days after the mass murders that have shocked the world, primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., the mayor of Datu Unsay town, surrendered to authorities Thursday morning. Ampatuan is awaiting formal murder charges in General Santos City.

The police also said they “rounded up” several local militia members who may have taken part in the bloodbath.

“At this point, Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. is a suspect,” Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said in an interview on dzBB radio. His statement came three days after the horrific mass killing on Monday of civilians, including journalists and lawyers.

Upon Ampatuan’s arrival by helicopter at General Santos City airport at midday Thursday, he was briefly interviewed by GMA News reporter Jessica Soho about his involvement in the massacre. “Wala pong katotohanan yan madam, wala pong katotohanan yan,” Ampatuan said.

“Kaya po ako lumabas, para patunayan na di ako nagtatago at di po ako guilty,” he continued. He was later seen in the VIP lounge of the airport joking around.

Inquest proceedings at the airport will take place as soon as the Ampatuans’ lawyer, Sigfrid Fortun, arrives. Fortun flew to Cotabato City Thursday morning and was fetched by helicopter for the trip to General Santos City. Formal charges of multiple murder are expected.

Andal Jr. surrendered to Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza at the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak. Dureza accompanied him by helicopter to General Santos City where he was turned over to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera.

Ampatuan is expected to be flown to Manila by the end of the day Thursday.

At his surrender in Shariff Aguak, Andal Jr. was accompanied by his brother, Zaldy Ampatuan, governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

GMA News’ Chino Gaston reported that Andal Jr.’s wife was seen crying and slumping to the ground when Andal Jr. submitted himself to Dureza.

Philippine’s first woman president, Corazon Aquino died yesterday at 3:18 am at the Makati Medical Center. She was been battling for her colon cancer for almost 18 months. She had contributed a big landmark to the Philippine history and later became an icon of the Philippine democracy.

Yellow ribbons, Tita Cory’s unique description, are spreading fast over the Internet lately. Top websites including Yahoo! Philippines, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, TV5, and Pinoy Exchange.com, have their yellow ribbon on their logos.

This has been Aquino’s countrymen’s way of showing their pledge of gratitude and love for the former president. And me personally is also joining this special way of thanking her.
Let us show our love for Tita Cory, and post a yellow ribbon to your Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Multiply, Friendster, My Space, etc. By our own simple way, Tita Cory will remain forever in our hearts and minds, even in our blogs.

On the other hand,

August 5, 2009 (Wednesday), has reportedly declared as a special non-working holiday. This is because of Former President Cory Aquino’s burial. This will allow the nation to witness the moments before she is brought to her final resting place beside her late husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a 10-day national mourning, under Proclamation No. 18050, from August 1 to August 10 for the death of Aquino.”

Let us show our love for Tita Cory, and post a yellow ribbon to your Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Multiply, Friendster, My Space, etc. By our own simple way, Tita Cory will remain forever in our hearts and minds, even in our blogs. Get the yellow ribbon here.

Also, join the everyday one-minute prayer campaign of AkoMismo.org for President Cory. You can also post your own prayer for her. Visit Ako mismo website at http://www.akomismo.org. Be part of the history.

The Yellow Ribbon Posting Advocacy aims to reach out all Filipinos around the world to post a small yellow ribbon on any part of their blog site, social networking profiles (Facebook, Friendster, My Space, Multiply), Twitter, Yahoo Messenger Avatar, Websites, etc. to show their love and support for our Beloved Former President Corazon Aquino.

We believe that with our own little way, we can show our love for President Cory, and make her presence stay in every heart and mind of all the Filipinos.

Copy the codes below.
Right Click and choose “Select All”, then press ctrl+C
<center><img src="http://jimerston.com/images/yellowribbonadvocacy.jpg" width="150" height="200" border="0"/><br /><a href="http://www.jimerston.com/yellow-ribbon-advocacy/" target="_blank">Join the YELLOW RIBBON POSTING Advocacy. Click Here.</a></center>