Philippines

Hoisting cardboard coffins and photos of the dead, protesters demanded justice Friday for scores of people gunned down three years ago in the Philippines, a politically charged case now stalled in its courts. Former provincial Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. has been accused of masterminding the slayings of 57 people, who were en route to declare the candidacy of his political rival before they were killed and thrown into mass graves. He denies the charge. The massacre victims included 32 journalists who were covering the election, the deadliest attack on the media recorded by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The shock isn't that Jeff Kent is voted off "Survivor: Philippines" on Wednesday night, but that eight others go before him. "I'll bet I was more entertaining than the crummy articles you write every week," Kent says by way of hello Thursday, and it's like old Dodgers times. Just imagine being stuck on a deserted island with Kent. He's joined by a bunch of bikinis, including a former Miss Utah teen and Miss Delaware USA. There's also a wimpish track coach with a mohawk, an African American cancer survivor with an earring in each ear and an openly lesbian competitor.

PHILIPPINES Slide show Rafael Mirasol will explore the Philippines' colonial roots, a bustling metropolis and its beach resorts. When, where: 7:30 Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. ROCK CLIMBING Workshop Experts will offer an introductory class in rock climbing, including types of climbing, what gear is necessary and getting started. When, where: 7 p.m. Wednesday at REI stores in Arcadia, 214 N. Santa Anita Ave., and Northridge, 18605 Devonshire St. Admission, info: Free.

An undercover FBI agent on a case of weapons smuggling from the Philippines to the United States denied a defense attorney's allegation that he paid for sex for himself and the suspects using taxpayer dollars. The agent, a 16-year veteran who was not identified by name in court documents because he is working undercover in a separate investigation, in a sworn declaration strongly denied allegations of what a public defender contended was "outrageous government misconduct" and should be grounds for the case to be thrown out. Federal prosecutors have acknowledged that the government paid for $14,500 in expenses incurred by the agent for entertainment, cocktails and tips over the course of the investigation.

An undercover FBI agent investigating weapon smuggling in the Philippines spent taxpayer dollars to pay for prostitutes for the suspects and himself at a club later raided for hiring underage girls, a defense attorney has alleged in court filings. Federal prosecutors acknowledged in court filings that the government reimbursed the agent for $14,500 for entertainment, cocktails and tips over a period of less than a year in 2010 and 2011 in connection with the case. The expenses included $1,600 on a night out in September 2011 at a club known as Area 51 in Manila.

EUROPE Presentation Distant Lands rail agent Susan Hickman will discuss the ins and outs of train travel in Europe, including planning your itinerary and buying a ticket or rail pass. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena Admission, info: Free; RSVP to (626) 449-3220 HIKING Presentation Craig Carey, author of the new book "Hiking and Backpacking in Santa Barbara and Ventura," will discuss destinations in the Los Padres National Forest.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan parted ways after a final sendoff rally Friday morning - abandoning plans to spend the day campaigning together so that Romney could join Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal for a tour of an area damaged by Hurricane Isaac. Ryan broached the subject during the rally outside a Lakeland airplane hangar, pausing for a moment of prayer for the hurricane victims as well as those affected by the magnitude 7.6 earthquake off the eastern coast of the Philippines.

Manny Pacquiao's fall opponent was supposed to be known by now. He's not, and neither is the date of the Pacquiao's next fight. Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum told The Times on Tuesday he's still "waiting to hear" from Pacquiao about his intentions. Arum said he remained in "conversations" with possible opponents, including Miguel Cotto, but gave little information beyond that. "I can't go blabbing to the press, who will trust me?" Arum said. "I have no date set, nothing.

Manny Pacquiao's fall opponent was supposed to be known by now. He's not, and neither is the date of the fight. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told The Times on Tuesday he's still "waiting to hear" from Pacquiao about his intentions. Arum said he remained in "conversations" with possible opposing fighters, including Miguel Cotto, but gave little information beyond that. "I can't go blabbing to the press, who will trust me?" Arum said. "I have no date set, nothing. This is what happens when you're dealing with a politician.

The contents of Metta World Peace's Twitter feed usually involves the unpredictable. He'll trash talk about opponents. He'll tell X-rated jokes. He'll hold promotions for fans. The tweets are usually random, but it's always expected they'll be odd, amusing or both. On Tuesday morning, however, World Peace devoted all of his time on Twitter aiding relief efforts for the Philippines as heavy rains reportedly killed nine people and emergency crews mobilized in an effort to rescue tens of thousands.