MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines has ordered its seafarers, who constitute about a third of the world’s commercial sailors, to go through anti-piracy training before they will be allowed to board ships, the labor secretary said Monday. (more…)

PHUKET, Thailand: The second stage of the four-part “Pinoy Sports Fest 2009” will take place at the QSI International School on Sunday, May 24. (more…)

By Dino Maragay – Nine Filipino sailors of an oil tanker that was hijacked by militants off the coast of Nigeria were rescued by authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported today. (more…)

Dollar remittances from overseas Filipinos grew by a mere 2.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year amid the global financial crisis, the government said Friday. The growth rate was down from 24 per cent in the same January-March period in 2008, the central bank said. (more…)

By Heda Bayron – At least 80 Filipino seafarers are being held hostage by Somali pirates – the highest number from any nation. The Philippine government has banned ships carrying Filipino crew members from sailing near Somalia. But as Heda Bayron reports from Manila, piracy is unlikely to stop Filipino sailors from plying the treacherous route. (more…)

Arlan and Sarah Calderon hug their daughter Noriko farewell.

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) — The clicking of dozens of news cameras drowned out the sobs of the 13-year-old girl, but her face explained what was happening in the departure hall of Japan’s Narita International Airport. (more…)

The comments angered a large chunk of the more than 120,000 Filipinos who live in Hong Kong, mostly as low-paid domestic workers. — PHOTO: REUTERS

HONG KONG- MORE than 1,000 Filipinos marched through Hong Kong on Sunday to protest against a local magazine columnist who described the Philippines as a ‘nation of servants’ in a satirical article. (more…)