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The last day of filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) on December 1, 2009 paved way for the revelation of surprise candidates and team-ups for the 2010 National Elections in the Philippines.

Among the surprise team-ups is the so-called “Transformers” comprised by none other than Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon who filed his COC as Presidential candidate and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman, Bayani “BF” Fernando as his Vice-President.

Despite having a total of 1, 367 patients who recovered from the A(H1N1) or the “swine flu” infections in the Philippines, still it has ranked No. 8 worldwide in terms of confirmed cases, overtaking Argentina and Japan. The World Health Organization (WHO), in its latest pandemic update issued on July 3, showed the Philippines with a total of 1,709 confirmed cases while Japan has 1,466 and Argentina with 1,587.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked first, surpassing Thailand with 1, 414 cases of influenza infections. However, A(H1N1) related deaths in the Philippines are lower with only one case documented since the outbreak of the flu virus in April. The United States still remains as the country with the most number of deaths at 170, followed by Mexico with 119 deaths.

A total of 89,921 cases have already been recorded by WHO, following the discovery of 12,520 newly confirmed cases. These cases are mostly from the US with 6,185, Mexico withe 1,582, Chile with 1,165, United Kingdom with 909 and the Philippines with 848 new cases.

As the Tokyo official visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ended, the Philippines has secured $5 billion in investment commitments and offers of official development assistance which is focused primarily on agriculture credit programs, infrastructure, and disaster mitigation projects.

Pres. Arroyo met with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. Both countries vowed to “foster a strategic partnership for the future”.

The two leaders likewise announced the start of talks for a mutual legal assistance treaty and a social security agreement between the Philippines and Japan.

Classes for the elementary and secondary students have started today in private and public schools in Metro Manila and the provinces. However, the start of classes for the College Students will be on June 15, 2009 due to the A(H1N1) flu virus that’s threatening some of the schools in Metro Manila particularly the De Lasalle University in Taft Avenue, Manila and the Far Eastern University in Manila.

Three (3) A(H1N1) confirmed cases were recorded in the De La Salle University which made the total number of cases in the Philippines grow to twenty nine (29). Two of the said students with confirmed A(H1N1) are Japanese exchange students who just came back in the country.

Marikina City legislators passed Resolution No. 140, Series of 2009 on second reading, during its 22nd Regular Session held this morning at the City Council Session Hall, in Barangay Sta. Elena, Marikina City.

The resolution strongly enjoins all business establishments in the City of Marikina to display the Philippine Flag in front of their buildings as part of the celebration of the independence of the Philippines every 12th of June of each year.

The resolution was principally authored by the City Vice Mayor, Dr. Marion S. Andres and was co-sponsored by all the sixteen (16) City Councilors including the SK Federation President and the Representative of the League of Barangay Captains.

The A(H1N1) virus or most commonly known as the Swine Flu, as how it was referred to early on, is already in the Philippines. As of yesterday (June 1, 2009), the number of persons afflicted with this virus is up to twenty one (21). The alert level is likewise raised to Level 2 by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH has been monitoring Two Hundred and Eighty Five (285) patients who showed signs of the influenza virus. These patients are called Cases Under Observation (CUOs) by the DOH. The monitoring started on May 1, 2009 and 21 cases have been laboratory confirmed so far.