Hip Vietnamese Concoctions
by Winchelle C. Nacague
Vietnamese food, as we know it, shows heavy influence of Chinese cooking. Images of steaming noodle-based soups or pho, topped with choice meat or chicken, crisp sliced veggies and the distinct fresh leaves of basil or other herbs and fresh spring rolls or nem with peanut sauce for dipping come to mind. But a further exploration shows Indian cultural presence and due to the French colonization, some deep French influences in Vietnamese cooking.

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Board Exam Results
Nurse Licensure Examination Results (November 2008)

Nicole recants, claims no rape, then flies to the US
By Rey E. Requejo
THE Filipina who accused US Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of rape has recanted, saying they might have ?just got carried away? when they had sex inside a parked van in Subic Bay in November 2005.

An affair to remember. Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith and his accuser, ?Nicole.?

China cancels meeting with Arroyo
By Joyce Pangco Pa?ares
CHINA has canceled a scheduled high-level meeting with President Arroyo amid a diplomatic row over the disputed Spratly Islands.

Clean up pre-need rules, new SEC official told

Dacer suspect faces arrest when he returns Thursday

Jobless rate in January rose to 7.7%

Airport chief in Legazpi relieved

Six killed as Marines battle Sayaff bandits

Legacy depositors given forms

FirstPac to sell Meralco stake
By Jenniffer B. Austria
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. plans to increase its stake in Manila Electric Co. by acquiring the shares owned by its parent company?Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd.

Eton Properties in upscale QC townhouse project
Eton Properties Philippines Inc., the property arm of beer and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, yesterday launched its first high-end townhouse project on a 3.3-hectare property along Roces Avenue in Quezon City.

A Brown secures P2-b loan from BDO
By Alena Mae S. Flores
Listed A Brown Co. Inc. has obtained a P2-billion (around P40 million) term loan from Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. to fund the investment of its affiliate in National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

Manila Water to cap rate hike to P1 per cubic meter
By Othel V. Campos
Manila Water Co., the water utility firm of conglomerate Ayala Corp. that owns the concession in the eastern section of Metro Manila, said it will cap rate increases to P1 per cubic meter a year from 2010 to 2012 if the government agrees to extend its contract by 15 years.

More Filipinos saving, investing?BSP survey
By Lawrence Agcaoili
More Filipino families are saving and investing money sent home by their relatives working overseas to cope with the full impact of the global economic crisis.

BSP rejects emergency funds for Banco Filipino
THE Bangko Sentral has rejected granting a court-ordered emergency assistance that the Banco Filipino has been seeking for since December.
??t should be stressed that the unconditional release of the special liquidity facility or emergency loan to Banco Filipino without the benefit of security or collateral clearly involves the exercise of discretion of the Bangko Sentral and its Monetary Board,? the central bank?s counsel, Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco, told the Makati Regional Trial Court in a filing last week.

Condura Run 2009
By Gerry Geronimo
Last year, this month, I ran, says the T-shirt that I brought home after nearly an hour of huffing and puffing in the early morning air of Bonifacio Global City and which I continue to wear proudly today in order ?to save the reef.? However, I must confess that when I pinned my race number on my shirt that morning, I was, besides knowing what ?the reef? meant, according to the organizers, Concepcion Durables Inc., the Tubbataha Reef, clueless as to what all the fuss was about.

Five vying for graft court seat
By Macon Ramos Araneta
SANDIGANBAYAN Associate Justice Gregory Ong, whose appointment to the Supreme Court was rejected because of citizenship questions, wants to be presiding justice of the anti-graft court.

Laguna governor, son accused of plunder
PLUNDER charges were filed yesterday before the Ombudsman against Laguna Gov. Teresita ?Ningning? Lazaro, her son Dennis as the provincial administrator, and 20 other local officials and four private suppliers for allegedly more than P294 million in fraudulent purchases and embezzlement of almost P250 million.

Polls erred on Arroyo performance ? solons
By Roy Pelovello
Surveys showing a drop in President Arroyo?s satisfaction rating do not reflect her true performance as the country?s Chief Executive, lawmakers said yesterday.

Congress moves to expand powers of Pag-IBIG trustees
By Fel V. Maragay
Premium contributions to the Pag-Ibig Fund are likely to increase if Congress approves a bill strengthening the housing fund scheme.

Government takeover of MRT pushed
Opposition Senator Francis Escudero backed moves for a government takeover of Metro Rail Transit to prevent taxpayers from paying for ?ghost riders? in the light rail firm.

New law condones home loan penalties
Borrowers with delinquent loans from any housing agency may now apply for loan restructuring or condonation and save their homes from foreclosure.

Belo shrugs off ex-patient?s P20-m suit
By Ferdinand Fabella
Cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo is shrugging off the P20-million damage suit filed by a former patient, claiming she has nothing to do with the allegedly botched facial operation.
Belo, of Belo Medical Group Inc., said she was caught unaware by the criminal complaint filed by US-based nurse Leila Palaganas before the Makati City Prosecutors Office.

Customers, stallholders oblivious to mall mixup
Patrons and locators of Ever Gotesco Grand Central Shopping Mall in Caloocan City will rather have business as usual than get lost in the mixup over ownership and tax claims.

Holdupper robs 2 Dutch women
Two Dutch women were robbed by a lone hold-up man while on board a passenger jeepney late Monday night in Manila.