Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino officially announced his candidacy for the 2010 elections as President. The announcement was made earlier at the Club Filipino in Greenhills San Juan that also marks the 40th day of President Cory’s death. A week ago, Sen. Mar Roxas sacrificed his candidacy to support Noynoy, that’s why he underwent series of consultations and spiritual retreat before he made the biggest decision in his life. His announcement drew a lot of cheer from all the people inside the Club Filipino. Councilor Shalani Soledad, Noynoy’s girlfriend was also there to support him together with Pinky and Kris, Noynoy’s siblings.

A Chinese garments factory owner was rescued from the hands of her captors a day after she was kidnapped. According to PNP Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, Michelle Tan was rescued from her captors that also led to the death of two suspects, who reportedly engaged policemen during the rescue operation at Block 18, Lot 32, West Bank Road, San Juan village in Taytay, Rizal. The rescue operation was conducted late Monday night, when joint elements of local police, Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (Pacer), and the CIDG raided the safehouse after receiving a tip from the Tan family of a pay-off in the area. Meanwhile, at 11 p.m., police spotted a suspicious vehicle roaming the areas of Camarin and Bagong Silang in Caloocan City where the five passengers allegedly shot at chasing policemen which led to a brief gun fight. They were rushed to the hospital but apparently, 4 of them died while the other one died on the spot in the shooting incident.

Two more Oil Companies increased their pump prices as they imposed an increase of P2 per liter for gasoline, diesel and kerosene yesterday. Both of them followed the move of Pilipinas Shell, Chevron Philippines and Seaoil who earlier announced a hike in their pump prices. According to them, the price hike reflected expanding regional and global oil prices as well as increases in production costs. Meanwhile, a new oil player PTT Philippines Corp. said it would hike its prices only by P1.50 per liter for both diesel and gasoline effective this afternoon.

Shell Philippine made another price marked-up to their LPG Products. Effective today, Shell LPG Prices is now P1.40 per kilogram. Bobby Kanapi, Shell’s Vice president for Communication confirmed the said price adjustment as their response for the price marked-up made by Petron Corporation.

The Department of Health confirmed its 1st case of death from A-H1N1 virus. The said case was a 49 year old woman who also happened to have a heart disease. Maybe her first ailment suddenly attributes to her death specially when she got infected by the virus. DOH recently said that the virus strain affecting our country was just mild compared to other countries. And this case was considered the very first death report among the almost 400 cases in the country today.

We will be witnessing another match this coming November as Manny Pacquiao agreed to fight Puerto Rican boxer, Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao sat ringside with Arum as Cotto carved out a hard-fought split decision win over the tough Joshua Clottey to retain his WBO welterweight strap yesterday at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. The said event will be held in MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on November 14, as confirmed by promoter Bob Arum. It was first reported that they have already scheduled the Pacquiao- Mayweather fight, but because of the rib injury that Mayweather had, the bout cannot be possible. Arum, meanwhile, assured that Cotto is enthusiastic with the prospect of a Pacquiao bout.

It was reported in the Department of Foreign Affairs that we have a fellow Filipino onboard that ill-fated plane who lost in the middle of Atlantic Ocean after flying into towering thunderstorms. The flight is composed of 16 passengers and 12 crew members on board. Most of the passengers were Brazilian and French, but 32 nations in all were represented, including two Americans, DFA has not yet giving any information regarding the identity of the said Filipino passenger as soon as it is ascertained.

LPG is now increased by P1.50 per kilo or P16.50 per 11-kg LPG tank due to the rise in international contract prices. According to Mr.Arnel Ty, president of the LPG Marketers Association of the Philippines (LPGMA),the latest LPG price hike will form part of the total P2.50 per kilo increase that the group will implement. He explained that the contract price of LPG rose by $43 per metric ton that resulted to an equivalent adjustment in LPG prices by P2.50 per kilo. On June 8, Another P1 adjustment will be implemented. Expect also a price adjustment to the foods that we used to eat that needs LPG to cook.

After a few weeks of not showing up, Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Nancy Gadian appeared before the Court of Appeals in connection with the writ of amparo filed by her sister This is in accrdance to the funds that are being pocketed by alleged officials of the AFP. She just arrived today, Thursday. The Court gave Gadian and her lawyers to submit additional information for 72 hours. She was accompanied by the same nuns that are serving as bodyguards to Rodolfo Lozada Jr. from the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines when the latter seeks help from being a whistleblower to the ZTE-NBN Broadband Deal Scam.

A few hours later, Actress Katrina Halili and Hayden Kho went to the Senate for the start of the preliminary investigation of their sex videos. RThe two proceed to their respective rooms while waiting for the hearing to start. The two were accompanied by their lawyers while Dr. Vicki Belo was represented by Atty. Adel Tamano because Dr. Belo has an appointment in France.

Today is the scheduled convention against corruption that will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center ( PICC) by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) It’s spokesperson, Edsel Naguit said this will set to unify all anti-corruption programs and groups in the continued fight against corruption.

International Artist Akon will supposed to have a concert tomorrow in Araneta Coliseum, May 23, but it was move to July 4 for some reasons.Akon’s Freedom Tour Concert producers, the ALV Events International, OctoArts Entertainment, Solar Entertainment and Regal Multimedia Inc. assures all ticket holders that they would still honor the same ticket prior to its rescheduled date this coming July 4 at the same venue as well.

Richard Gutierrez met an accident around 1 a.m in the morning,Today, May 22 at the Sta. Rosa -Tagaytay Road Puting Kahoy Village, Silang Cavite after Richard finished his taping for his new upcoming series in GMA. According to PO1 Bonifacio Tanola of Cavite Police, Richard’s personal assistant died on the spot while Richard and his driver was wounded in the accident. Earlier this morning, Richard was transferred to Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City to undergo a series of test like the ct scan. Meanwhile, GMA-7 CEO Atty. Felipe Gozun said they will carry the expenses of their hospitalization and funeral service for Richard’s P.A.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque announced the 1st case of A-H1N1 virus here in the Philippines from a 10-year old girl who came from Canada.The announcement was made last night in a teleconference from the WHO office in Geneva, Switzerland.The girl eventually developed fever, cough, and sore throat the next she arrived last May 18.RITM Confirmed the virus from the throat swabs they got from the patient using their A-H1N1 testing kit from Atlanta.For now, the patient has no longer fever and cough and still taking medications for her sore throat.Meanwhile, Duque advised the public not to panic because they are doing their best to implement measures to prevent the transmission of the disease. He also advised everybody to strengthen our immune system by taking Vitamin C, enough sleep and to drink a lot of water and fruit juices.Postponement of travel to affected areas will also be good for us.

This afternoon,Katrina Halili went to Senator Bong Revilla in the Senate to accompany her in filing charges against his ex-boyfriend Dr. Hayden Kho and seek investigation of the case after their private videos leaked in different websites. This was Katrina’s answer to malicious spread out of their video that made her family and career greatly affected.Katrina also got sympathy from women’s group Gabriela, and members of the House of Representatives condemning the acts of the said video leakage.