scotty's girl

Just read a breaking news, and there are now 8 confirmed dead

(UPDATE 20) A dramatic hostage siege in the Philippine capital involving a busload of Hong Kong tourists ended after 12 hours on Monday with several captives walking free.

The gunman, a disgruntled ex-policeman, was killed in the final moments of the crisis in the heart of Manila, which was played out live on television screens around the globe.

Malacanang said at least four people were confirmed dead and one is in critical condition after the day-long hostage crisis.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also told reporters President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III might issue a statement in the next few hours.

“The President had been meeting with the police, the DILG officials and Mayor Lim,” said Lacierda.

The body of the gunman, a highly decorated former police inspector who hijacked the bus in a desperate bid to get his job back, was seen slumped out of the main door of the vehicle.

Multiple gunshots were heard moments before heavily-armed police moved in on the bus near a park in Manila’s historic tourist district just after nightfall.

The gunman, former senior police inspector Rolando Mendoza, said just ahead of the police assault that he had shot two of his captives and would kill the others if police did not move back.

“I shot two Chinese. I will finish them all if they do not stop,” he told the Radio Mindanao Network about 10 hours in to the hostage drama.

“I can see a lot of SWAT (special weapons and tactics police) coming in. I know they will kill me. They should all leave because anytime I will do the same here.”

Police were unable to get inside the bus for more than an hour after negotiations broke down and they decided to storm it.

They encircled the bus, smashed its windows and fired at it, but Mendoza held them off by shooting back.

The crisis eventually ended when police threw tear gas inside the bus, and fired again.

The hostage drama began when Mendoza boarded the bus in Manila’s tourist district on Monday morning. He wanted to clear his name after being discharged for extortion in 2008, and called on authorities to review his case.

Philippine authorities said 22 tourists from Hong Kong were originally on the bus, including children, as well as the local driver and two other Filipinos.

Seven of the tourists, including three children and an elderly man, as well two Filipinos, were released at various times throughout the day.

The Filipino driver jumped out of a window and escaped just before police stormed the bus.

Mendoza, 55, was honoured by police chiefs in 1986 as one of the top 10 officers in the country. But he was discharged in 2008 for his alleged involvement in drug-related crimes and extortion, according to police.

“He wants to be reinstated in the service,” Manila district police chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay said early in the day.

Mendoza had posted a series of written messages on the windows of the bus, one of which read: “Big mistake for big wrong decision”, apparently in reference to his sacking.

Joseph Tung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, said the tourists on the bus were aged between four and 72.

They were on a three-day tour with Hong Thai Travel and were scheduled to return to Hong Kong late Monday.

The bus was parked in front of a grandstand at Rizal Park, a popular tourist destination just a few blocks from police headquarters.

Before the crisis ended, China’s foreign ministry urged Philippine authorities to ensure the Hong Kong tourists were rescued safely.

Monday’s bus hijack recalled a similar hostage-taking in 2007, when a troubled civil engineer armed with a grenade took over a bus and held 30 children but freed them after a 10-hour standoff with police.

The 2007 drama took place near Manila city hall, just off Rizal Park.

The Malacanang Palace has ordered police to ensure the safety of foreigners who were taken hostage by the former policeman.

“We have asked the law enforcement agencies on the ground to put primary consideration to the lives and safety of the people involved, which are foreign tourists,” said Presidential Communications Operations Head, Secretary Herminio Coloma.

Coloma said the hostage taking need not alarm the international community because it is an isolated incident.

“We just need to view this in perspective as an isolated incident and does not reflect the real situation of our country today,” Coloma said.

I agree with Bob 4 Anna

Hmm, not really sure why, but once you fill it out online, you need to print it right away cuz I think you cannot save a filled out form of this. You can fill out the DS-157 using a pen with a blank ink though.

As long as they see that your relationship is genuine, then, no need to show them an engagement ring. There are other proofs that can show how genuine a relationship is.

For your first question, yes. However, if in case you forgot to fill out everything online, you can just use a pen with blank ink to fill out the remaining boxes. You can attach your photo before you go to the embassy.

Second question, another yes. It is a must. You don't have to attach it to the form. In my case, my CENOMAR was in a separate folder with my birth certificate and NBI.

Congrats! Interview will be next.. Good luck to you

congrats and welcome to the US!

You will be using I-134 for K1, not I-864. Read the guides and you'll be fine. You can also go to the Philippine Forum to learn about other helpful information.

Chat logs are fine. Hubby and I never emailed each other. His phone bills will be good too. Pay stubs are what we call pay slips in the Philippines.

Hello VJ friends! I am new to this forum..with some inquiries..

I was diagnosed with chronic Hepa-B but according to my doctor, it is non-infectious and he issued me a medical certificate stating that I can travel out of the country..right now, I am just waiting for my appointment letter for my medical exam and interview..

Should I tell the physician during the medical exam that I have hepa-B?

Do I need to present this medical certificate during my interview at the Embassy? Does my fiance' need to write/email a letter stating that I have informed him already about my situation?

You can tell them about it then show them the medical certificate. I think they are more concerned about TB or any other respiratory problems instead of Hepa.

I received packet 3 last July 22, do I need to email any DS-form back to the Embassy before my interview?

You'll have to bring the forms and documents on the day of your interview.

Will it be fine to bring money transfer receipts during the interview?

Yes it will be fine cuz it's one proof of ongoing relationship. You should also bring chat logs, emails, snail mails, etc.

What does an appointment letter contain?

Once your fiance has called the embassy call center to set up your interview date, you will receive an email stating the day and time of your interview, and other information.

Thank you and may God bless everyone!

1. The roads are pave with gold

2. Most trees grow dollars bills

Very common misconception among a lot of Filipinos. They don't know that people here have to work hard to earn money, they just think that once you go abroad (work or live, especially here in the US), they think that you're just picking dollars from trees.

She will take them to the interview. Most of the documents will be taken by a pre-screener during the interview process.

It appears the visa fee is now $330 as of July 13th: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

As previously suggested I would wait until the visa is in hand before purchasing an airline ticket.

I don't think it will affect in any way the process of your AOS, however, talk to her and tell her to have more patience next time. I know it is frustrating especially if they make us wait and not give a definite answer to our queries, but it's not a reason for us to call them names.

Congrats!

My ears were also visible in the photos I submitted at the SLMEC, but I saw a few girls whose ears were not visible and they accepted them. Guess it depends on who's in the counter.

No need to have them notarized

If they see something in your x-ray, you will have to undergo sputum test, if not, then I don't think you will have to do it.

Try contacting the Chinese Embassy in Manila. They might be able to help you. Her visa will not be denied, however, they will be asking her to provide the police clearance, then you still have to wait before she gets approved.

what happened?

Happened to me too. I got two letters from them, 1 was sent to my Philippine address and the other one was sent here in the US.

It took about a month before I received mine

Like most of you guys, we also don't drink tap water. I'm not picky when it comes to food, however, I don't like how the sausage tastes. It is just very different from our sausage in the Philippines. Ohh I love Chik-Fil-A

I noticed that my facial skin gets dry easily here, especially when I first came, hubby told me it will be worst in the winter And having used to live in a tropical country, I'm sure I'll have a hard time in the winter.

Good luck!

Good thing we didn't experience that nightmare. We went there about a month ago (we were not yet married then). What I did was to fill out the application online, printed it then took it with us to the SS office. The guy didn't even ask for my birth certificate. He only asked for my passport. He then told me that I would receive the card after 2 weeks, however, it was in the mail exactly a week after we filed.

Yes, the embassy has the documents sent by your petitioner to the USCIS. When I had my interview, I didn't have copies of the papers/documents in the package because he sent some original proofs. However, it's good to have them at hand, in case some of the documents got lost or if they want to see the original copies.

The pre-screener will ask for your documents. If the CO wants to see more, he will ask you. Like in my case, I didn't have my fiance's pay stubs, letter of employment, and tax return. When the pre-screener saw the I-134, he asked if I have my fiance's tax return, I said no then gave him W2's for the last 3 years instead. He didn't ask for pay stubs or employment letter (I guess, I got lucky). The CO also asked for the tax return. I didn't get a pink slip, however, I got approved only a day after submitting the lacking document. I think it all depends what documents the pre-screener and the CO want to see.

Good luck to you.

Congrats!