Latest news with #Mendiola
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
San Beda clinches back-to-back overall crowns in NCAA Season 100; Mapua to serve as Season 101 host
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News The NCAA has officially concluded its historic 100th season and is now setting its sights on ushering in a new century with Season 101. San Beda University emerged as the big winner in the previous season with the Mendiola crew capturing the Season 100 overall championships in both the juniors and seniors divisions. San Beda swept the men's and women's divisions of taekwondo and swimming while also ruling the men's football event to complete its 26th overall crown. The longtime NCAA member also dominated chess and table tennis to seize the general championship for the second straight year now. After a historic centennial edition, the NCAA now hopes to begin a new era in Season 101, which will be hosted by Mapua University. In a ceremony on Tuesday, Season 100 host Lyceum of the Philippines University formally handed the hosting duties to Mapua as the league eyes to kick off Season 101 in October. "We just finished our meeting a while ago and we agreed that we are going to formally open the Season 101 in October but there will be a kick-off activities in August," Mapua president Dodjie Maestrocampo said. "There are a lot of plans that are in store. There will be changes on how we do our competitions, hoping that the league will be more exciting and more engaging." It will also mark the first time in 10 years that Mapua will serve as the league host since Season 91. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Over 50 OFWs up for repatriation from Israel amid rising tensions —PH envoy
A missile launched from Iran is intercepted as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, June 21, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File photo As tensions flare once again in Israel following missile strikes and heightened regional hostilities, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola confirmed that at least 50 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are set for voluntary repatriation, with 26 already successfully escorted out through the Jordanian border. In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Monday, Mendiola said that another round of missile alerts forced Filipinos in affected areas to rush into bomb shelters. 'Oo, kalalabas lang namin sa bomb shelter… Just after 3, nagkaroon ng alert na naman,' she said (Yes, we just came out of the bomb shelter… Just after 3 p.m., another alert was issued.) Despite the danger, many Filipinos remain hesitant to return to the Philippines due to economic concerns. 'Isa sa mga naging difficulty namin 'yung nagbabagong-isip sa mga kababayan natin… Kasi 'pag babalik na sila, end of contract na,' she explained. (One of the difficulties we face is the constant change of mind among our nationals… Because returning home means the end of their contracts.) The embassy has been coordinating closely with community leaders to finalize repatriation lists and secure transit visas to Jordan, where OFWs are temporarily hosted before flying home. 'Ang request namin, total 253. Confirmed namin is 50 na susunod i-repatriate,' she said. (We requested a total of 253 for repatriation. We have confirmed 50 who will be the next batch.) Following renewed conflict involving the United States and Iran, the Israeli Home Front Command reimposed strict mobility restrictions, halting work, schools, and public gatherings. Mendiola confirmed that Filipinos, especially caregivers, are heavily affected. Of the 127 OFWs displaced by recent missile strikes, 118 have already been resettled by Israeli authorities, while 32 were recently evacuated from a nursing home hit by collateral damage. 'Buti na lang nakapasok sila sa ground shelter so they're all safe,' Mendiola said. (Thankfully, they were able to take shelter underground and are all safe.) The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also provided alternative shelter options, especially for those hesitant to stay in government-designated relocation sites. As of the latest count, eight OFWs were reported injured. Seven have since been discharged, while one remains in critical condition after undergoing two operations. Mendiola emphasized that communication lines remain stable in Israel. Families in the Philippines can still contact their loved ones via mobile apps and traditional calls. 'Yung internet at telephone lines, okay. Walang palya,' she said. (The internet and telephone lines are working fine.) She urged the public to monitor the official Facebook page PH in Israel and shared the embassy's hotline numbers: +972-544-661-188 +972-50911-4017 To streamline operations and ensure the safety of repatriates, Mendiola appealed to Filipinos to finalize their decisions. ''Pag nagsabi kayong gusto ninyo, huwag na kayong mag-back out para maisara na 'yung listahan,' she said. (If you say you want to be repatriated, please don't back out so we can finalize the list.) She acknowledged the fear among OFWs, many of whom endure daily missile alerts. 'Siyempre mananalangin ka na sana, you live another day,' she said. (Of course, you just pray you get to live another day.) Iran and Israel are currently at Alert Level 3 following armed hostilities between the two countries. Crisis level 3 or voluntary repatriation phase is imposed by the Philippine government on countries with deteriorating security conditions. The Department of Foreign Affairs advised Filipinos in either country to consider repatriation to avoid getting caught in hostile exchanges between the two Middle Eastern countries. —KG, GMA Integrated News
ABC News
22-04-2025
- ABC News
Pacific airfield that set stage for atomic bombing of Japan set for revival
Those who have heard of Tinian, a tiny island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, know it for pristine waters, hot peppers and archaeological relics. Not many know about the dark role the island played during World War II. Locals like Juanita Mendiola however, haven't forgotten. During the war, Tinian was a strategic location used to launch bombing raids on Japan. The two US planes, nicknamed Enola Gay and Bockscar, that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, took off from a runway on this island. "Since the late '60s, students from Hiroshima and Nagasaki would come to Tinian on the anniversary of those two events," Ms Mendiola said. Now some in Tinian's community are worried history could one day repeat itself, due to a major US military project aimed at bringing the airfield back to life. They fear rising geopolitical tensions and a bitter tariff war between the US and China could make Tinian a target in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. 'We don't know what is going on' Ms Mendiola is the interim chief executive of the Tinian Women's Association. She's been closely following the project, which is part of a broader $US800-million ($1.2-billion) strategy by Washington to beef up security in the Pacific. Juanita Mendiola is the interim chief executive of the Tinian Women's Association. ( Supplied ) The US Air Force says it is rehabilitating the airfield so it can "rapidly deploy and sustain forces in the region". Bulldozers and excavators have been deployed to the site, with work on two of the four runways expected to finish next month. However, Ms Mendiola said the military had provided little detail about the work being carried out. And she is seeking assurance that areas once exposed to the nuclear bombs won't be a threat to the public if they are disturbed during land-clearing efforts. ''When they talk about rehabilitating the airfield, are they talking about the nuclear part of it where they stored nuclear weapons and took off in Enola Gay?" she said. "Even with a rehabilitation plan, there needs to be documents outlining how it's planned out, which we haven't seen." The crew of the B-29 bomber Enola Gay after dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. ( AFP: US Air Force ) 'Who knows what Tinian has' Although self-governed, the Northern Marianas is an unincorporated US territory. Much like neighbouring US territory Guam, it was liberated from Japanese occupation in the 1940s and residents have US citizenship. Leland Bettis is a director at the Guam-based think tank, the Pacific Centre for Island Security. His firm tracks military projects and geopolitical activity in the region. He said the way hazardous materials had been handled by the military in the past concerned many Pacific Islanders. "I know nuclear weapons were fairly well contained for the time back then, but there's radiological equipment that got used in aircraft, and we've had instances where that equipment turns up in makeshift dumps in Guam," he said. "A place like Tinian has been off the map for 80 years, so who knows what Tinian has." In terms of nuclear hazards on the island, nuclear expert Tillman Ruff, an honorary principal fellow in population and global health at the university of Melbourne, isn't too concerned. Tillman Ruff, an honorary principal fellow in population and global health at the university of Melbourne. ( James Ross ) He said when the bombs were transported to Tinian in the 40s, they were finished products. And given they were stored underground in specialised bomb pits, any residual contamination from the bombs would have been unlikely. What is of concern, he said, is the contamination of area due to other chemicals and materials from the time period. "This was a massive airfield, the biggest in the world when they built it after the Battle of Tinian," he said. "There would have been an awful lot of industrial work and operations involving fuel, weapons, as well as unexploded ordnance, which has since been grown over and covered by vegetation. "So there's going to be heaps of residual chemical contamination which would have degraded in the environment." This isn't a new issue for the Northern Marianas. Saipan-based lawyer and cultural anthropologist Isa Arriola said in the years since the war, there's been a pattern of environmental regulations being circumvented to complete projects. She fears this project will be no different. Saipan-based lawyer and cultural anthropologist Isa Arriola. ( Supplied ) "Sometimes there's very little oversight of what the military does because the community is not involved. It tends to take place at the agency level," she said. "So if they aren't on top of it, the community is left to pick up the pieces." 'We are worried we are becoming a big target' In terms of the project's broader significance, Ms Arriola said the community also has questions over what role the airfield will serve once completed. "Language we are using is really important, because the work that's being done in Tinian by the military is being framed as infrastructure improvements," she said. "But what we are seeing is an intense re-militarisation of the same runway from World War II, and it's not entirely clear what the threat is," she said. Military documents obtained by Mr Bettis said the purpose of the Tinian airfield would be to support cargo planes, tankers, military exercises and humanitarian relief. However Mr Bettis believes it's also a strategic chess piece in case Guam was incapacitated during a conflict. Photo shows Men in Chinese military uniforms march Taiwan is a potential flashpoint for a war between China and the United States. "It's really about creating this notion that says if you want to take us on, you'll have multiple airfields to contend with," he said. Nicknamed "the tip of the spear" of the American armed forces, Guam is a hub for military operations in the Pacific and is home to a major Air Force base. A report commissioned by the US Air Force last year outlined Guam as a potential target if a US-China conflict over Taiwan were to escalate. This too is a concern for Tinian locals, who fear their home could also be in the crosshairs if geopolitical tensions were to spill over. "We used to be just a tiny spec in the ocean," Ms Mendiola said. "Now with the activities across Micronesia and tariff wars, we are worried we are becoming a big target." The US military is yet to respond to questions from the ABC on the matters raised.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect arrested in series of commercial burglaries
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Authorities arrested a suspect for his alleged involvement in seven separate cases of commercial burglaries over three months, the San Diego Police Department stated in a news release Thursday. According to police, seven businesses in San Diego were the target of commercial burglaries between March 15 and 18. Fay Diner, Isabella's Mexican Food and Pizza at the Ranch were burglarized on March 15. Retail theft bust at Las Americas outlet mall leads to 80 arrests Pho Hoang Express, Fine Indian Cuisine and Pailin Thai Café were targeted the next day on March 16, followed by Best Pizza and Brew two days later. On Friday, March 21, SDPD charged Eugene Mendiola, 31, with seven counts of commercial burglary. According to police, Mendiola was identified as the suspect when the vehicle being used during the crimes was traced back to him using the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system. Mendiola has also been the suspect in several other cases throughout San Diego County since February. The crimes were committed in cities such as Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido and Oceanside, SDPD stated. Currently, Mendiola has been linked to a total of 19 different cases. SDPD said it is working with other law enforcement partners to find out whether he may have committed any other crimes. Anyone with more information is asked to call the Northeastern Substation at (858) 538-8012 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
