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A lawyer challenged the National Historical Institute’s (NHI) rebuke of Martin Nievera’s controversial rendition of the Philippine National Anthem during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight last Sunday, saying that although the performance was in “bad taste,” Nievera did not violate any law.
“It certainly does not constitute criminal conduct. Call it artistic license exercised in bad judgment, but it is still constitutionally-protected free expression and therefore not subject to criminal prosecution,” said Atty. Harry Roque Jr., chairperson of the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) Philippines.
CenterLaw is a non-government organization that advocates free speech and human rights.

Flag Code
The NHI said this constituted a violation of Section 37 of Republic Act 8491 or the 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, which states that the rendition of the national anthem, whether played or sung, should be in accordance with the original musical arrangement of Julian Felipe, which follows a marching-type beat. Violators may be imprisoned for not more than a year and fined at least P20,000.

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

AP
Published: May 06, 2009, 10:04
Sydney: A bungee jumping, ostrich-riding British charity worker was named on Wednesday the winner of what’s been dubbed the “Best Job in the World”: A $111,000 contract to serve as the caretaker of a tropical Australian island.

Ben Southall, 34, beat out nearly 35,000 applicants from around the world for the dream assignment to swim, explore and relax on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months while writing a blog to promote the area.

He was selected for the gig by officials from the tourism department of Queensland state.

Southall and 15 other finalists spent the past four days on the Queensland island for an extended interview process, which required applicants to snorkel through crystalline waters, gorge themselves at a beach-side barbecue and relax at a spa.

The finalists also had to demonstrate their blogging abilities, take swimming tests and sit through in-person interviews.

In his application video, Southall expressed a love for adventure, and featured photographs of himself riding an ostrich, running a marathon, trekking through Africa and kissing a giraffe.

The job is part of a tourism campaign to publicize the charms of northeastern Queensland, and officials say it has already generated more than AU$100 million worth of publicity for the region.

Southall will live for free in an airy, three-bedroom oceanfront villa with a private pool and sweeping views of the surrounding islands. The job begins July 1.

Dubai: The Dubai tourism industry continues to defy global economic downturn as international hotel operators continue to look at the emirate and the Gulf region to expand their portfolios.
International tourists still regard Dubai as one of the top destinations around the world.
While the emirate is combating market downturn, which has hit the tourism sector hard, Saleh Mohammad Al Geziry, the director of overseas promotions at Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said that the challenges are making Dubai stronger and it is “being looked at with greater interest than before.”
Starting on Wednesday, Arabian Travel Market, the region’s exhibit destination for all things tourism, will provide a perspective and foothold for the industry to dig deeper for regional opportunities.
Though the show has seen some decline in exhibitor numbers, a number of new entries into the market will contribute in lifting the sector’s growth.
DTCM revealed that the city had seen 7.5 million visitors last year, over 6.9 million from the year before, at a time when international arrivals began to decline.
Tourism revenues in 2008 hit the Dh15.26 billion mark, up 15 per cent from the previous year.