Miss Philippines first runner up, USA crowned Miss Universe

Miss USA Olivia Culpo (C) is congratulated by Miss Teen USA 2012 Logan West (L) and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola after being crowned during the Miss Universe pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada December 19, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Steve Marcus

Miss USA crowned Miss Universe in eighth American win

A 20-year-old beauty queen who plays the cello and is a breast cancer advocate was crowned Miss Universe on Wednesday, the eighth time an American has won the pageant where the world's most beautiful women parade in bikinis and ball gowns.

Olivia Culpo, 20, a brunette from Rhode Island, was chosen by a 10-judge panel from 89 contestants representing countries ranging from India to Kosovo and Britain.

Culpo, wearing a red, long-sleeved dress for her final look, was the eighth winner from the United States in the contest's 60-year history, and the first Miss USA to take the title since 1997.

Miss Philippines, 23-year-old Janine Tugonon, was the runner-up and Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, came third after the top five answered brief questions posed by the judges.

Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon

Culpo takes the place of last year's winner Leila Lopes, who was the first ever Miss Universe from Angola.

Miss Guatemala, Laura Godoy, was chosen Miss Congeniality after the two-hour pageant that featured live performances by U.S. pop group Train and Nigerian-born Australian singer and dancer Timomatic.

Contestants must be aged between 18 and 27, unmarried and with no children.

The contest was broadcast live on U.S. television from the Planet Hollywood hotel and casino in Las Vegas and seen by an estimated 1 billion viewers on TV and online in 190 countries, organizers said.

Culpo will travel the world for the next year representing the Miss Universe Organization and a charity of her choice.

After reaching the top five, Culpo was asked to name one thing she would never do again. "Picking on my siblings growing up," she replied.

The contest, owned jointly by businessman Donald Trump and the NBC network, held a moment of silence for the 20 children and six staff gunned down at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. (http://is.gd/iXp9C2)

Reuters 

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Philippine New Navy chief vows safer Philippine waters

Newly installed for Philippine navy Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano.

Philippines - Newly-installed Flag-Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano on Wednesday vowed that he will do what is necessary, including employing methods never attempted before, to make sure that the country's territorial waters will remain safe.

"If we are achieve results never before accomplished, we must expect to employ methods never attempted before," Alano said in a speech after assuming command of the 23,000-strong navy from outgoing navy chief, Vice Admiral Alexander Pama.

President Aquino, as commander-in-chief, presided over the hand-over of navy's command from Pama to Alano held at the Philippine Navy (PN) headquarters along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.

Pama and Alano, as well as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa, belong to Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1979. Alano is retiring in May 2014. Pama on the other hand, is expected to join the civilian government as announced by the President.

Under "exciting times" without mentioning any, Alano said the Navy can make a major contribution to the AFP's missions and objectives.

"We should be a responsible partner in keeping our waters safe and secured by maintaining security stability in the (West Philippine Sea) so that freedom of navigation and international trade may continue to flourish," he said.

To do this, he said the Navy will continue to review its maritime security strategy of active archipelagic defense in such a way that true and accepted scientific and quantitative and qualitative processes are prioritized.

"The course has been plotted, sea details have been set and the command to cast off all lines has been given. Our personnel are our most major concern. What we need are not warm bodies but able-bodied sailors and marines who are motivated, disciplined and professionals," Alano declared.

He added: "It is but up for us (the Navy) to seize this golden opportunity since the presiding officer has taken helm as the President and our Commander in Chief," Alano said.

With the country's problem on insurgency on the downturn, Alano said strategic situation and the security environment now requires the defense department to be more active in the region in ensuring maritime security in Southeast Asia by being a responsible partner of keeping the country's territorial waters safe.

As a maritime nation, the Navy, amid its aging fleet of warships, has an enormous task of guarding the country's waters, including those in hotly-contested West Philippine Sea.

At present, the Navy has only four warships considered as real sea combat capable, to include the decommissioned Hamilton Class United States Coast Guard cutter, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar,the country has acquired from the US and commissioned as a frigate.

Del Pilar now serves as the Navy flagship. Another US Coast Guard cutter, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, is due to arrive in April next year as it is still undergoing major repairs and refurbishment back in the US. (http://is.gd/uANtQC)

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Philippines' biggest ever government budget 2013 of ₱2 Trillion has been approved

Philippines' Department of Education has the biggest share in the 2013 Government Budget. ₱293.32 Billion has been allocated for DepED alone.

Aquino signs ₱2T budget for 2013

Philippines' President Benigno Aquino III signed on Wednesday the ₱2.006-trillion budget for 2013, the biggest budget ever approved in the country.

Calling it the 'empowerment budget,' the president said Republic Act 10352 is designed to give citizens the power to demand services from government agencies.

"The annual budget is an instrument to institutionalize accountability," Aquino said after signing the budget into law in Malacañang.

Out of the ₱2.006 trillion allotted for 2013, the Department of Education will get the biggest chunk at ₱293.32 billion.

Aquino said the budget aims to boost sectors that include agriculture, tourism, education, health and social services through the conditional cash transfer program.

"There is nothing impossible when you have the public's interest at heart," the president said, adding that it is the first time in seven years that not a single provision of the bill was vetoed.

He added that various sectors were consulted during the crafting of the national budget, in an effort to make the process more participatory.

"The result is a national budget that reflects the need of sectors and citizens," Aquino said. (http://is.gd/dvT9C9)

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