News: Hostage in Philippines

At least seven killed in hostage crisis in the Philippines recently. The hostage taking was on a tourist bus (HONG THAI TOURIST) held in Quirino Grandstand Manila Philippines. The hostage taking started around 10 am(local time) and ended around 9 pm.

Philippine security forces stormed a bus full of Hong Kong tourists on Monday to end a dramatic hostage crisis that unfolded live on global television, leaving at least seven people and the gunman dead.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.Negotiations broke down after nightfall when the gunman, a highly decorated former senior police inspector identified as Rolando Mendoza, began shooting the passengers, and commandos stormed the bus.Police said Mendoza was shot dead by a sniper after he used his captives as “human shields” in the final moments of the 12-hour standoff. In the end, one of the snipers managed to shoot the hostage taker in the head.

Now the Security Bureau of Hong Kong advised its citizens to avoid all travel to the Philippines an hour after the hostage crisis ended Monday.In an outbound travel alert, the Security Bureau, changed its “amber alert warning" - meaning there were signs of threat - for the Philippines to a “black alert warning" indicating severe threats on the country’s security.

The Hong Kong warning stated that a “serious kidnap incident happened in the Philippines. [R]esidents should avoid all travel to the country; those who are already there should attend to their personal safety and exercise caution."

The travel warning came after the 10-hour hostage crisis ended with at least 4 Chinese nationals killed. Hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza, a former police office, was shot in the head by a SWAT sniper.

Traveling Singapore

Singapore is an Asian melting pot of fascinating crossroadbetween East and West. Here the hypermodern buildings ofthe financial district blend with Chinatown’s classic smallhouses. As an old trading town, Singapore is the naturalplace for anyone who wants to shop – the range isenormous.In addition, Singapore offers a cuisine with influences fromall corners of Asia that exceeds the highest expectations. Singapore is clean, safe and efficient andthe inhabitants are as proud of this as theyare of the city’s great financial heartbeating around the clock. The harbour isthe busiest in the world and capital flowson the stock exchange. All the world’sbanks, insurance companies and investorsare represented here.

Hotel And Accomodations:

Raffles Hotel

The drink Singapore Sling was createdhere in 1915 by the bartender Ngiam TongBoon and it is still served in the traditionalLong Bar. A wonderful hotel with a greatatmosphere, museum and beautifulgardens. Food is important at the hotelwhere the cuisine is world-class. Foranyone who wants to learn to cook like thegreat chefs, courses are given at RafflesCulinary Academy. Outside the entrancestands probably the most photographeddoorman in the world.

Address: 1 Beach Road

Underground: City Hall

Phone: +65 6337 1886

Internet: www.raffleshotel.com

HolidayCity Singapore

We provide a wide selection of properties - budget, business, tourist, luxury, bed and breakfasts and apartments accommodation. HolidayCity Singapore hotels offer comfort, quality and great value for the money, ideal for leisure and business travellers.

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore

Consistently ranked as one of the top luxury hotels in Asia and the world, the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore is where the legendary hospitality of Shangri-La first began. The hotel, which sits amid fifteen acres of luxuriant botanical gardens, is a short stroll from the main entertainment and shopping belt of Orchard Road.

This luxury hotel in Singapore comprises 750 luxury guestrooms and suites in three distinctive wings: the contemporary Tower Wing, the tropical Garden Wing and the exclusive Valley Wing. All guests have use of our peaceful gardens, large free-form pool and world-class dining options. Our guest also enjoy signing privileges at the nearby Traders Hotel, Singapore and Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort on Sentosa Island.

Parks and Recreation:

SENTOSA ISLAND

Slated to be one of the world’s most exciting family destinations, Resorts Worldat Sentosa is a collection of resorts andattractions with a plethora of fun-filledofferings for the entire family.Action-packed adventure, romanticescapades, stylish indulgence or non-stoppartying. Just 15 minutes from Singapore’scity centre. Spanning 49 hectares, thisS$6.59 billion mega-resort is home toSoutheast Asia’s first and only UniversalStudios theme park and soon, the world’slargest Marine Life Park and the region’sfirst integrated destination spa. Beyondresorts and attractions, world-classentertainment such as the Crane Dance – aspectacular multi-media moving art withcleverly choreographed animatroniccranes, set out at the waterfront – will alsobe presented to the public.

address: Island south of the city centre

Subway: Harbour Front, then bus, taxi or

cable car to the island

Phone: +65 736 8672

www:www.sentosa.com.sg

Esplanade

At the mouth of the Singapore River liesthe Esplanade, a performance art centrefeaturing a concert hall, a theatre hall,recital and rehearsal studios, as well asout-door performing spaces. Casuallyreferred to as "the Durian" because of itsresemblance to the famous tropical fruit,the architecturally stunning building boastssome of the world’s best acoustics. Evenwith no one on stage, this is a great spotfor lunch or afternoon tea at theneighbouring Esplanade Mall.

Address: 1 Esplanade Drive

Underground: City Hall

Phone: +65 6828 8377

Internet: www.esplanade.com

Transportation:

MRT & LRT Trains

BUS

TAXI

Lechon Paksiw

Lechon Paksiw is one of the most cooked Filipino food. This is when the famous Pork Lechon has left over (Sobra). This will make the lechon more tastefull, more yummy and easy to cook. So, why won't you try cooking this. Here's the recipe of how to cook this!

Ingredients

• 1 kilo cooked lechon
• 1 cup ready-mixed sauce or 1 can liver spread
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (pack)
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. peppercorn (whole)
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon vetsin
• 1/2 cup dried oregano
• 1 cup water

Instructions

Chop lechon into small serving pieces. Put in pan and add all the ingredients. Boil. Lower heat and simmer until lechon skin becomes very soft and sauce thickens.