Fifteen people were killed and twelve were injured after an eight hour hotel fire in Tuguegarao City, Northern Philippines, however police and firefighters managed to save many guests. Reports suggest the deceased sought cover in bathrooms where they were burnt beyond recognition.

One man is confirmed drowned in a river as Super Typhoon Megi, also known as Juan, makes landfall in the Philippines. Megi is the strongest typhoon to strike the country this year.

Come to Palawan and join the

El Nido 4th Cadlao Challenge – on October 16, 2010 – A Ocean swimming competition over 2.5km from Cadlao Island to El Nido Town Beach.

ENDURANCE SWIM – FOR FUN – OR TO COMPETE – CHALLENGE YOURSELF

Popular Filipino social commentator and tour guide Carlos Celdran staged a protest action in Manila, Philippines against church opposition to the Reproductive Health Bill. Dressed as Jose Rizal, Celdran, 37, entered Manila Cathedral during a mass with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Adams, and other Catholic bishops present, standing before the altar with a sign bearing the word “Damaso” — a reference to the villainous, power-wielding Spanish friar from Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere, who represents the abuses of the Catholic Church during the 19th century Spanish occupation of the Philippines. He shouted “Stop getting involved in politics!” before he was taken away by the police at around 4:30 p.m. Once outside, Celdran said the Church officials “need to hear what the Filipinos are saying: that 90 percent of the people want the RH [Reproductive Health Bill].”

The bus on which the 25 people, of which 21 people were from China, were taken hostage by disgruntled former policeman Rolando Mendoza, who was fired from the police force for misconduct.

Some of the eight tourist fatalities involved in a bus hijacking in the Philippines in August may have inadvertently been shot by police during a raid on the vehicle, authorities investigating the incident have said. Philippine justice secretary Leila de Lima told Sky News that bullet trajectories and wounds received by the hostages indicate that some of the eight were killed by “friendly fire”.

An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude on the Richter scale struck the Mariana Islands today. The epicenter was located 1,484 kilometers northeast of Davao, Philippines and 2,703 kilometers northeast of Lahad Datu, Sabah at a depth of 4.7 kilometers.