RESIDENTS VERSUS FIRE

In the philippines, residents train the firehose rather than fire volunteers battling the blaze.

JUMPS

MOUNTAINEERING

"POVERTY IS THE WORST FORM OF VIOLENCE" - Mahatma Gandhi

NATIONAL FLAG DAY

28 May is recognized as Flag Day in the Philippines. Public are encourage to display the Philippine National Flag in front of their houses and offices from May 15 to June 30 in celebration of the Philippine National Flag Day on May 28 and the 110th Philippine Independence Day on June 12.

A painter applies the finishing touch to a Philippine flag billboard yesterday morning at the police community precinct 1 in Bucaneg Street, CCP complex, Pasay City with the theme "Igalang ang ating watawat, sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa".Filipinos celebrate the National Flag day May 28 in the celebration of Independence.

FILIPINO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP DAY

A Filipino soldier plays the trumpet inside the memorial hall for soldiers during a Memorial day ceremony at the American cemetery. American and Philippine war veterans attended the ceremonies to commemorate their fallen comrades who served in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. Like heroes before them, today a new generation of men and women are fighting for freedom. Their determination, courage and sacrifice are laying the foundation for a more secure and peaceful world.Filipinos celebrate FIL-AM friendship day every 25th of May.

GREENPEACE blocks coal shipment in the Philippines

GREENPEACE flagship Rainbow Warrior with a giant logo "QUIT COAL" anchors alongside MV Medi Firenze which unloads coal at Pagbilao coal power plant yesterday morning in protest against coal plant expansion in the Philippines. Coal burning emits carbon dioxide which causes climate change.

GREENPEACE flagship Rainbow Warrior crew negotiates with Philippine coastguard in response with its protest as the ship anchors alongside MV Medi Firenze which unloads coal at Pagbilao coal power plant yesterday morning in protest against coal plant expansion in the Philippines. Coal burning emits carbon dioxide which causes climate change.

There are currently eight coal-fired power plants in the Philippines, with a total of 4,177 MW, or about 26.1% of the country's installed capacity. Together the coal plants already account for as much as 36% of the emissions from the energy sector.

PHILIPPINE NAVY'S 110th ANNIVERSARY

Sailors from the Philippine Fleet/SOG the Philippine Navy SEALS showcase their firepower during Philipine Navy's 110th Foundation Anniversary at the Navy Headquarters.

Elite marines carry a machine gun and supplies into a naval vessel for their deployment to Tipo-tipo Basilan as part of the regular augmentation of forces engaged in the campaign against local terrorists in the southern part of the country

A marine feels the hugs and kisses of his family at the Navy Headquarters moments before his deplyment to Tipo-tipo Basilan to battle insurgents in the South.

A sniper on a tight guard during the 110th Foundation Anniversary of the Philippine Navy.

A boy plays n circle around the Philippine Marines in formation during the 110th Foundation of the Philippine Navy. A battalion of elite marines are deployed to Tipo-tipo Basilan to fight the rebels.

THE STAR SPANGLED BLANKET

A homeless man sleeps comfortably using an american flag for warmth as wind blows from at the waters of Manila bay.

FEAST OF STA. RITA DE CASCIA

Baclaran folks, together with those from the nearby barangays, take to the streets as waters keep them wet as they walk in a procession to deliver the image of Sta. Rita yesterday morning. Baclaran becomes more alive when the actual celebration of Caracol is observed as a highlight to the township's Feast of Sta. Rita de Cascia, its patron saint.

CELENE

LATE CATCH

A local fisherman throws a fishnet into the waters of Dangkalan in Gubat Sorsogon before sunset.

BALLOONFEST 2008

MANILA BAY CATCH

NUTRIMEAL

These kids enjoy a hearty meal of chicken soup sauted with "NUTRIMEAL" fortified food suppliment while a religious nun entertains them yesterday morning at the Caritas Heaquarters in Pandacan Manila. The Centerfor Community Work and People's Development, Inc. (CCWPD), along with CARITAS Manila, various local parishes, government and non-government organizarions and including the Rise Up for Food Network launched the 'NUTRIMEAL' fortified food suppliment to address the alarm on malnutrition problem in the country. The 'Nutrimeal' fortified food suppliment is a concrete solution to protein-energy and malnutrition come from native ingredients such as rice and carbohydrates.

ALIWAN 2008

Aliwan Fiesta is the ultimate competition of festival champions with their beauty queens and floats. The highlight of the Aliwan Fiesta 2008 is the street dance competition, where spectators get to experience a non-stop explosion of color, sound, culture, and synchronized movement during the street dance competition.

Festival performers prepare for their dance routine during the ALiwan 2008 grand parade along along Roxas Boulevard.

BEHIND BARS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Some less fortunate mothers spend lengthiest time behind bars rather than with their families, unlike some mothers who spend today's celebration of "mother's day" stolling around shopping malls.

JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. A female detainee of the Makati City Jail uses a cellphone to contact her relatives on mother's day.

PASSING TIME AWAY. Mothers and other female detainees pass their time away chatting to each other, reading or doing something inside their dormitory at the Makati City jail.

SMALL LUXURY. Female detainees are allowed to smoke inside the pantry area located inside the dormitory.

TEARS OF JOY

AMBUSHED

Kids watch in horror the body of SPO3 Francisco Neri covered with newspapers who was killed in a shootout with robbers along Merced St. in Paco Manila.

THE DIVER AND HIS SONS

Felimon (left), a fisherman, sits on a rock and getting ready to make a morning dive into the cool waters of Manila Bay. Divers like him frequent the waters for a catch of fishes and crabs.

DUCKS

Duck Raising is a lucrative livestock industry in the Philippines because of its egg. Its most important product, the balut (boiled incubated duck's egg), is sold daily throughout the archipelago for its delicious flavor and nutritive value.

A duck is a valuable asset in the Philippines, providing such benefits as protein from eggs and revenue from selling eggs and ducklings.

PASSING OF AGE

A young boy covers his face as he undergoes free circumcision sponsored by the Scout Royale Brotherhood in Barangay 483, Zone 48.

SOLVE FOOD CRISIS

A special session of the human rights body would bring into the debate over rising food prices and global shortages " the human right to adequate food for the momenthas been totally absent". Food prices on international market have almost doubled in three years,100 million persons are threatened with not having enough to eat.

LABOR DAY PHILIPPINES

A protester waves banners as he stand side by side with a famous Filipino monument near the Presidential Palace in Manila during a rally to mark May Day Thursday May 1, 2008 in the Philippines. The protesters, led by the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (May 1st Movement), denounced the non-wage package announced by the government and are demanding instead a P125-peso (US$ 2.95) across-the board wage increase which they claim is not even enough to offset the spiralling food and fuel price increases.