Aquino believes a one-on-one debate would be a good idea since a candidate can explain his/her platforms without limitations. The challenge clearly addresses to his primary rival Sen. Manuel Villar. The two candidates currently hold the no. 1 and 2 spots on the initial survey with a very slim margin that separates each of them.

Meanwhile, Villar finally accepted Aquino’s challenge and said that public debates are an opportunity “to present plans and programs of government to the general public.”

“If such were the purpose of the challenge, I will gladly accede. Name the place, name the time, I will be there. If however, it is the intention of anyone -individual or party – to find a platform for senseless argumentation and mudslinging with the hope of calling attention unto oneself, then I will have to decline,” he added.

Other presidential bets shows interest in the one-on-one debate challenge are former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Senators Richard Gordon and Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas, JC de los Reyes and Eddie Villanueva.

In an initial investigation, Coast Guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said that the ship left General Santos City at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and was heading for Iloilo when it began having problems with its generator. The SuperFerry 9’s generator fluctuated several times. Authorities said they would investigate the cause of the sinking as soon as search and rescue operations are over.

The Coast Guard report said SuperFerry 9 listed to approximately 35 degrees towards her starboard side until she reportedly sank at vicinity 9.5 nautical miles west of Banga Point in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. However, it was not yet clear what caused the ship to tilt and on what side it was tilting.

The latter was carrying 200,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, 80,000 liters automotive diesel oil, and 10,000 liters lube oil when it departed from Manila for Iloilo and General Santos City.

Philippine Coast Guard sent search-and-rescue vessels BRP Batangas from Cebu, and BRP Corregidor from Palawan to help in search-and-rescue work. Aboitiz company which owns the SuperFerry, also sent their another ship “Myriad” to the area to help in rescue operations. MV Ocean Integrity was incidentally also there to give help.

Aside from Navy ships, three military aircraft were also deployed to scour the seas, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). American troops whose currently training counter-terrorism for Philippine soldiers in Mindanao likewise deployed a civilian helicopter and five boats, some carrying paramedics, to help, US Col. William Coultrup said.

Despite of heavy rains brought by tropical storm “Kiko” that affects several areas of Metro Manila right now, it doesn’t stop the people to witness the funeral cortege of the late President Aquino. The crowds chanted Cory’s name and flashed the “L” sign as Aquino’s hearse passed enroute to Manila Memorial Park.

The “L” sign or known as laban was the trademark for late President Cory Aquino when she battled for presidency against Marcos regime. The former president became a democratic icon for us Filipinos.

The funeral Mass for Aquino started at exactly 9 a.m. with Balanga Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, a close friend of the Aquinos, as the main celebrant.

Among those politicians who attended the mass were Vice-President Noli de Castro, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Rodolfo Biazon, Alan Peter Cayetano and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

At exactly 11:30 a.m., the funeral cortege of former president left the Manila Cathedral where thousands of people lined the streets where the procession is going to pass. The route is going along Roxas Boulevard toward the south, after which it will turn left at Quirino Avenue, cross Taft Avenue, and then turn right at the South Expressway onward to Paranaque.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday where the former President will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park.

Lorelei Fajardo, a deputy presidential spokesperson said that the declaration of Wednesday as a special non-working holiday will allow the whole nation to witness the moments before Cory is brought to her final resting place, radio dzMM reported.

A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial.

He also said that the current President Gloria Arroyo has to cut short her United States trip just to attend Aquino’s funeral service on August 5. She expected to leave New York for Manila on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).

The president declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) to pay tribute for the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850.

At the age of 76, Corazon Aquino died for a colon cancer last Saturday at 3:18 a.m. Her body lies at the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) gymnasium in Mandaluyong City.

The schedule for public viewing began at 5 p.m. of Saturday and will continue until Monday. The daily viewing schedule will be until 4 a.m., and will resume at 7 a.m.

President Arroyo is the first Southeast Asian leader who was received by Obama in the White House, arrived at around 3 p.m. at the executive mansion, where pro and anti-Arroyo groups held protests outside the White House gates.

The meeting lasted at about 45 minutes which Arroyo accompanied by some of her political constituents such as Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

US President Obama hailed the relationship of the two allies, and mentioned the contributions of Filipinos to America.

“We are proud to have 4 million persons of Filipino ancestry contributing to our country each and every day in all walks of life. The fact that we have Filipino veterans who have walked side by side with American soldiers on behalf of freedom, all those things that have strengthened the relations of our two countries,” he said.

He also said that they primarily discussed the fight against terrorism during their meeting.

“I am very pleased that President Arroyo has made such good progress on dealing with counterterrorism issues. She has initiated a peace process in Mindanao that we think has the potential to bring peace and stability to a part of the Philippines that has been wracked by unrest for too long,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo thanked President Obama for inviting her to the White House, and restated the Philippines’ support to issues America is pursuing in the region.

“The Philippines will stand behind the US in two crucial issues in the region: Burma and North Korea,” she added.

The President also thanked the US’s help in facing climate change, and the granting of benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.

CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles said that they decided to cancel classes on Monday due to the traffic that will be caused by the 95th celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

“Inaasahan natin ang mga taga Iglesia ni Cristo from the provinces na pupunta sa Manila for their anniversary, so malamang na magkaroon ng problema sa trapiko,” he added.

However, he clarified that the cancellation of classes is only for schools in Metro Manila. Teresita Domalanta, the NCR chief of the Department of Education also declared the suspension of classes in the pre-elementary, elementary and secondary levels.

“Dahil po sa dalawang malaking okasyon sa darating na Lunes, nagpasya kaming isuspindi muna ang klase,” she said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is scheduled on July 27 to deliver her 9th and last State of the Nation Address at exactly 4 p.m.

Several schools such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila announced earlier to suspend their classes tomorrow.

It was stated by the PUP Public Affairs Office that the suspension of classes implies to all of its campuses and branches all over the country.

PUP President Dante Guevarra wants their students to participate and listen to the great and last speech of the President of the Philippines.

Fresh from winning NBA championship against Orlando Magic, Bryant and reigning pound-for-pound king Pacquiao recently met during a commercial shoot for Nike in Los Angeles.

Bryant admits that they have great bonding with our own boxing icon hero Manny Pacquiao. It’s definitely not because they share the same sports apparel brand but both of them has a heart of a champion, a winning attitude and dedication to their respective sport.

“I love him,” Bryant said of Pacquiao during Tuesday’s press conference for his 2009 Asia Tour: Philippines for Nike in Makati City. Meanwhile, Manny was all praises and accolades for the LA Lakers superstar on his return from the commercial shoot, admiring Bryant’s humility and warmth while declaring his self as a Laker fan though he rooted for the Celtics before.

However for Bryant, the feeling is mutual. “I enjoy being around with people who are just as competitive, who have the same passion and work ethic,” the “Black Mamba” said. “It’s an honor to meet him because you can tell by watching him perform when he boxes that he truly loves the sport and I have the tremendous amount of respect for him. I wish him all the best.”

Now a “Pacfan” himself, Bryant would love to see Pacquiao clash with Miguel Cotto live on November 14 – if only his tight schedule would allow.

“I’ve never seen him fight in person but if I don’t have a game in his next fight, I’ll be there,” he said.

Asking about what he feels in Pacquiao’s chances against Cotto, Bryant said: “Manny Pacquiao all the way. I think it’s not even a question” to the applause of everyone in the ballroom.

Friends, relatives, and even the entire Filipino nation are now offering their prayers and healing masses for the recovery of 76-year-old People Power icon. The nine-day series of healing masses are held at the Greenbelt chapel in Makati.

There are several TV personalities and even ABS-CBN news anchor Korina Sanchez has been attended during the prayer healing. She was one of the readers in the novena prayer for Tita Cory, as the former president has been fondly called.

Among those who attended the service former members of her Cabinet, led by former Senate President Franklin Drilon and wife Mila, former Finance Secretary Ramon del Rosario Jr., former Land Reform Secretary Philip Juico and his wife, Margie; Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and anti-Arroyo activists Dinky Soliman and Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement.

As Korina said “Our hearts are burdened because of the illness of our beloved former president, and the pain and discomfort she has to endure”.

Ms. Aquino’s spokesperson, Deedee Sytangco said “She needs all your prayers” as he told to one of the nations leading newspaper. He also added that Ms. Aquino is in a very serious condition now.

Lourdes Siytangco, Mrs. Aquino’s former spokeswoman and a close family friend, earlier said that the former president “is no longer receiving chemotherapy or any other medical interventions.

The entire Filipino nation is supporting and offering their prayers for the recovery of our beloved former President Cory Aquino. We know that you had been a very good leader to us, a very strong woman, and have deep faith in God.

The American Petroleum Institute said that the US inventories dropped by 6.8 million barrels last week. Some investors will be monitoring for inventory data from the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration for more signs crude demand may be growing. Economic analysts are expecting the EIA numbers to fall 2.2 million barrels, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

The API numbers are reported by refiners voluntarily while the EIA figures are mandatory.

The New York-based Conference Board honestly said its consumer confidence index dropped in June after gaining it for the last three months.

Senior commodity strategist “Mark Pervan” said that the oil right now is very short-term news to sensitive market. “The inventory data is giving people a reason to buy today.”

He also said “Oil prices will likely go down between 10 percent and 15 percent during the third quarter as the global economy remains sluggish and the dollar strengthens. Prices will probably then rebound in the fourth quarter by about 20 percent.”

“I sense this quarter will be a breather,” Pervan said. “It won’t be a major pullback, but it will be a pullback.”

Oil increases 41 percent in the second quarter and 57 percent in the first half on investor optimism that the worst of a severe US recession was over. Commodities such as oil also rallied on a weaker US dollar, as investors sought a side step against inflation.

In other Nymex trading, gasoline for August delivery was steady at $1.90 a gallon and heating oil held at $1.72. Natural gas for August delivery jumped 4.1 cents to $3.88 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The 26-year-old Aboriginal man could be the first one to be claimed by the virus in the Asia-Pacific. He was hospitalized with multiple serious ailments and was diagnosed with swine flu, South Australia State Health Minister John Hill said. It is not yet known what the patient died of or where he became infected, he said. Swine flu has been reported most fatal in some other countries such as Mexico and the United States when there were thousands of people have died already.

Several countries in Asia Pacific have now also affected with this kind of virus and it shows the number of persons getting affected is gradually increasing. This could be tallied as one of the deadliest epidemics happen throughout history. Bangladesh, Laos, and Papua New Guinea now confirming the virus has been spread in their corresponding country.

The record shows where Australia has the highest tally of swine flu cases in the region, reaching about 2,330 people got affected. But Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon confidently said that the virus remained mild in there and that most people infected made rapid and full recoveries.

As of this date, the World Health Organization declared swine flu a pandemic last week, it said more than 44,000 cases had been reported worldwide, with 180 deaths.