MikeLigalig.com

Halu TB... naa ba mo kaila nga mo collect og coins from different country... ako unta ibaligya akong mga coins for the reason nga need jud og money si votives karon..... if kinsa interested contact me 09166120191.

mao ni akong mga coins:
US LIBERTY
QUARTER DOLLAR â€" 5 PCS
•   1981/1965/1968 - 1PC EACH
•   1776-1976 â€" 2 PCS
5 CENCTS â€" 8 PCS
•   1954/1955/1972/1976/1978/1983 â€" 1PC EACH
•   1979 â€" 2 PCS
ONE  DIME â€" 4PCS
•   1962/1965/1968/1969 â€" 1 PC EACH
ONE CENT â€" 10 PCS
•   1964 â€" 2PCS
•   1977 â€" 2PCS
•   1979 - 2PCS
•   1978/1995/1980/1998  - 1PC EACH
JULIANA KONONGER DER NEDERLAND
1 G -9PCS
•   1968 -2PCS
•   1978 â€" 2PCS
•   1973 â€" 2 PCS
•   1980/1967/1972 â€" 1PC EACH
BEATRIX GLOD PLATED 5 CENTS â€" 1PC
•   1980 â€" 1PC
5 CENTS â€" 3 PCS
•   1980/1967/1972 â€" 1PC EACH




ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS
DIEZ PESOS â€" 4PCS
•   1977 -2PCS
•   1976 â€" 2PCS
UN PESO â€" 3PCS
•   1980 â€" 2 PC
•   1978 - 1PC
5$ ESTADOS UNIDOS â€" 3 PCS
•   1980 â€" 3PCS
CENCUENTA CENTAVOS  - 2 PCS
•   1975/1980 â€" 1 PC EACH
TWENTY CENTS â€" 3 PCS
•   1980 â€" 2 PCS
•   1976 â€" 1 PC
TEN CENTS â€" 2 PCS
•   1980/1978 â€" 1PC
ITALIANA
L100 -3PCS
•   1978 â€" 2 PCS
•   1977 â€" 1 PC
L50 â€" 1977 1PC
L200 GENOVA 1991 GOLD PLATED  - 1PC
L10 â€" 1951/ 1971 1PC EACH




HONG KONG
TWO DOLLARS â€" 4 PCS
•   1979/1988 â€" 1 PC EACH
•   1975 â€" 2 PCS
ONE DOLLAR â€" 7PCS
•   1978 â€" 5 PCS
•   19790 â€" 2 PCS
FIFTY CENT GOLD PLATED 1977 â€" 1PC
TEN CENTS GOLD PLATED â€" 1961/1974 1 PC EACH
20 CENTS â€" 1980/1979/1976 â€" 1PC EACH

SINGAPORE
5O CENTS â€" 1970/1974/1977 â€" 1PC EACH
20 CENTS â€" 8 PCS
•   1978/1973 â€" 1 PC EACH
•   1979 â€" 2 PCS
•   1967 â€" 4 PCS
1O CENTS â€" 22 PCS
•   1974/1969 â€" 1 PC EACH
•   1981 â€" 6 PCS
•   1980 â€" 2 PCS
•   1979 â€" 3 PCS
•   1976 â€" 4 PCS
•   1971 â€" 5 PCS
5 CENTS â€" 11 PCS
•   1969/1972/1976/1978/1981/1982 â€" 1PC EACH
•   1977 â€" 2 PCS
•   1980 â€" 3 PCS


10 PFENNIG DEUTSCLAND GOLD PLATED 1972 â€" 1 PC
1 VINTAGE DEUTSCHEMARK 1966 â€" 1PC
AUSTRALIA 50 1976 â€" 1PC
PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1975 â€" 1PC
CHILLE 100 PESOS 1984 â€" 2 PCS
NEW PENCE  10 ELIZABETH II 1970 â€" 1 PC
INDONESIA 100 VINTAGE COIN SEPARATUS RUPIAH â€" 1 PC 
EURO 10 CENT (GOLD PLATED) â€" 1 PC

taud2x nako wala naka dok2x sa TB noh....
sa work raman gud ko maka online nya ni resign
naman ko didto so karon nalang jud ko nakabalik
pinaagi aning hulog2x piso na ineternet...

kapait intawn sa akon kahimtang karon usa raman unta
ko ka tao nga nangandoy mo asenso para makatilaw og hapsay
og haruhay nga pagpuyo, pero pagka dimalas gyud nako usa jud
ko sa naigo...

abi nako og madayon na jud ko sa saudi... nadawat na unta ko
sa defense of ministry and aviation pinaagi sa tabang sa ako0ng amigo
nga naa na didto... sa manila man gud ang agency (LBS agency) sila ang niari
para interview... niari sila og balik sa cebu para kuhaon among papelis og kwarta,
kaming upat intawn nga taga Cebu naninguha intawn na makahatag sa requirement. unsa
bang hitaboa na ang taga agency nga nikuha sa among requirement wala
naman pakita... pagkapait intawn unsa kaha dangatan aning problemaha...

ampo nalang ko ani na na mabalik lang tong akong gihatag nila kay naka desisyun ko
na dili na madayon og larga murag sign ni nga dili ko para didto... pagkapait sa kinabuhi
hinuwaman raba intawn ang uban ato para makompleto lang jud.... hinaut pa unta na mabalik bisan kato lang hinuwaman.... huh...

karon back to zero napud.... ninguha nasad og apply trabaho balik dri sa cebu...

makaingon man sad ko mayta wala nalang ko ni resign bahala nalang unta gamay og sweldo pero permaninti man sad unya maka dok2x pajud permi sa TB... unsaon naman lang ni....

Paulit-ulit niyang pinatawad subalit paulit-ulit pa rin siyang sinaktan ng lalaking kanyang minamahal kaya hindi na nakapagtiis pa ang isang 34-anyos na ina ng tahanan at nagpasyang tapusin na ang kanyang kalbaryo sa piling ng kanyang ‘lover-torturer’ bago pa siya mapatay nito.

Nangingilid ang luha sa mga matang parehong may blackeye at karga-karga ang kanyang anim na buwang sanggol habang inirereklamo ni Marjorie Jeciel y Cabuhat, ng Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, kahapon ng umaga sa Mandaluyong Police, ang huling kalupitang dinanas sa piling ng live-in partner niyang si Nelson Redobante y Malate, 33-anyos na naganap nitong nakaraang Lunes ng hapon.

“Karga ko ang bunso namin na anim na buwan pero bigla niya lang akong pinagsisipa sa tiyan, pinagsusuntok sa mukha kaya nag-iiyak ako habang nagmamakaawa pero parang wala lang sa kanya patuloy niya akong sinasaktan,” pahayag ni Marjorie.

Aniya pa, habang walang tigil ang kanyang pag-iyak ay nag-iyakan na rin at naglapitan sa kanya ang tatlo pa niyang mga anak na naawa sa nakikitang pananakit ng kanilang ama.

Sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin umano tumigil si Nelson sa halip ay kinuha pa nito ang lamesita at dalawang beses itong pinalo sa ulo ni Marjorie.

Nang lupaypay na sa hirap si Marjorie ay kumuha naman umano ng gunting si Nelson.

“Ginupitan niya ang buhok ko nang pauka-uka at parang ginuhitan pa niya ang ulo ko kaya marami akong may sugat sa ulo, pero wala po akong tigil sa pagmamakaawa. Karga ko ang anak ko at lumuhod ako sa kanya,” pahayag pa ni Marjorie.   

“Nang oras na iyon ay iyong mga anak ko pa rin na nag-iiyakan ang naiisip ko. Awang-awa ako sa kanila dahil gusto nila akong tulungan pero wala silang magawa,” ayon pa sa biktima.

Ayon pa kay Marjorie, hindi iyon ang unang pagkakataong nakaranas siya ng pananakit mula sa kanyang lover. Aniya, hindi na niya mabilang kung ilang ulit na siyang sinaktan nito.

Bukod sa nangyari nitong Lunes ng alas-singko ng hapon, tumatak din sa isip ni Marjorie ang pananakit na ginawa sa kanya ni Nelson noong Mayo 29 dahil humantong pa sila sa barangay.

Sa naturang petsa, nagawa pang patawarin ni Marjorie ang kanyang kinakasama dahil na rin sa pagmamahal dito at sa paniniwalang magbabago pa ang pagtrato nito sa kanya. Nagkaayos ang dalawa sa harap ng mga opisyales ng kanilang barangay.

“Lumuhod siya at umiiyak sa harap ko habang nakatingin ang mga opis­yal ng barangay namin kaya po pinatawad ko naman siya, pero ngayon po talagang hindi, hindi na po…,” ani Marjorie.

Inamin din ni Marjorie kay PO2 Monette Langil ng Women’s Children and Protection Desk (WCPD) na nalulong sa bawal na droga si Nelson kung kaya’t lagi na lamang itong naghihinala na nanlalalaki siya.

“Pinaghihinalaan niya po ako na mayroon daw akong lalaki. Paano pa akong manlalaki ay hirap na nga katawan ko sa pagtatrabaho para sa mga anak namin dahil wala naman po siyang trabaho,” pahayag pa ni Marjorie.

Sa loob ng kulungan, inamin naman ni Nelson ang lahat ng akusasyon ni Marjorie.

Aniya, kung muli pa siyang bibigyan ng pagkakataon ni Marjorie ay hinding-hindi na niya ito muling sasaktan.

“Inaamin ko naggagamit ako ng bawal na droga at nasasaktan ko ang misis ko pero dahil mahal ko kasi siya at nagseselos lang ako. ‘Pag bibigyan niya pa ako ng isang pagkakataon, ipapangako ko na hindi ko na siya sasaktan, maghahanap na ako ng trabaho at ilalayo ko na sila ng mga anak namin,” pahayag pa ng nagsisising si Nelson.

Gayunpaman, tulad ng kasabihan: ang pagsisisi ay laging nasa huli kaya tuloy na tuloy na ang reklamo ni Marjorie sa kanyang lover.

“Hindi ko na siya kailangan. Matigas na ang puso ko para sa kanya, baka mapatay niya pa ako,” matigas na pahayag ni Marjorie.

Tiyak na masakit para sa may 29 milyong aktibong miyembro ng Social Security System (SSS) ang nabulgar na umano’y pananamantala at panloloko sa kanila ng nasabing ahensya dahil sa sobra-sobrang ipinapataw na interes sa salary loan ng mga ito.


Kahapon, nanawagan ang isang militanteng mambabatas sa pamunuan ng SSS na isoli ang mahigit sa P788 milyon mula sa sobra-sobrang interes na ipinataw sa salary loan ng mga miyembro ng nasa­bing ahensya.


Ayon kay Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares, sa halip na magpatupad ng pagtataas sa ipinapataw na premium sa lahat ng manggagawa sa bansa ay dapat munang ibalik ng SSS ang nasabing halaga.


Sinabi pa nito na base sa ibinulgar ng Commission on Audit (COA), noong taong 2011 nang matuklasan na aabot sa 18.45% kada taon ang interest rate sa bawat pagkakautang ng mga miyembro ng SSS.


“In effect, COA revealed that the SSS has been charging its member-borrowers with an exorbitant 18.45% per annum interest rate. This is definitely unjust and unfair. Even regular banks don’t do that. To think that these borro­wers are SSS members and this is their own money that they are borrowing,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.


Base aniya sa audit report na ipinadala ng COA sa SSS, umaabot sa P43.23 bil­yong membership loans ang ibinigay mula Disyembre 31, 2011 ng SSS kung saan lumagpas ng 10 porsyento ang limit ng Investment Reserve Fund (IRF) na 38.05 porsyento o P11.915 bilyon.


Aniya, sinabi ni State Auditor V Delia Agatep, nagpataw ang SSS ng P982.61 na interest rate sa bawat P20,000 salary loan.

Nakakalungkot at nakakabahalang isipin na pabata nang bata ang dina­dapuan ng sakit na Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) kung saan sa 415 naitalang kaso, 55% sa mga ito ay may edad na 17 hanggang 29, na karamihan ay nakuha sa pakikipagtalik sa kapwa lalaki.


Ito ay kasunod nang ma­ngumpisal sa Department of Health (DOH) ang isang binatilyo na nakumpirmang may HIV, na nakuha niya ang sakit dahil sa pakikipagrelasyon sa isang bading.


Anang binatilyo, 17-anyos umano siya nang unang pumasok sa isang relasyon sa kapwa lalaki at nagpaulit-ulit pa dahil na rin sa kagustuhan niyang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral.


Ang lover umano nitong bading ang siyang nagtutustos sa kanyang pag-aaral at sa mga pangangailangan nito gaya ng uniporme, at pang-araw araw na baon at gastusin, habang ang mga magulang nito ang siyang sumasagot ng kanyang tuition fee.


Noong 2012 umano ay naging kapansin-pansin ang pagiging masasakitin ng kanyang karelasyong bading na madalas ay mayroong ubo, sipon at sugat sa labi na hindi naman nila ininda noong una hanggang sa nitong Enero 2013 umano ay kinakitaan na ng sugat sa kanyang ari na inakalang allergy hanggang sa mayroon umanong nagpayo na magpa-HIV screening sa DOH, at doon nakumpirma na mayroon nang full-blown AIDS ang 35-anyos na karelasyon.


Hindi umano itinago sa kanya ng karelasyon ang naturang sakit at pinayuhan siyang magpa­tingin din sa doktor, inabot umano ito ng tatlong buwan bago tuluyang magpasya na magpa-screen din sa DOH, at nitong Mayo ay nakumpirma ang kanyang kinakatakutan na positibo ito sa HIV.


Sa ngayon umano ay hiwalay na ang nasabing binatilyo at ang nakarelasyon nitong bading dahil na rin sa hindi umano nila kapwa matanggap ang kanilang sinapit.

Ang nasa­bing bading ay nasa panga­ngalaga ngayon ng DOH at binibigyan ng libreng gamot habang ang binatil­yo ay nangakong hindi na mu­ling makikipagrelasyon sa kapwa lalaki at umiinom na rin ng anti-viral therapy na makakatulong para mabuhay ito nang mas mahaba at mabawasan ang risk na makapanghawa ito sa iba.


Ayon sa DOH, hindi makikita sa panlabas kung carrier ng HIV/AIDS o hindi ang isang biktima, may ilan umano ang nalalaman na positibo sila sa sakit subalit hindi inaamin dahil na rin sa takot na iwanan o sa rejection.


Ayon sa DOH, 96% sa 415 bagong kaso ng HIV/AIDS sa bansa ay pawang mga kalalakihan dahil na rin sa pagkakaroon ng lalaki sa lalaki na pakikipagtalik.


Bunsod nito, sinabi ni DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag na pagiging responsable sa pakikipagtalik ang siya pa ring depensa para hindi mahawa ng HIV.

Dahil sa success ng beki-serye na My Husband’s Lover ng GMA 7, gusto ni Carla Abellana na maging presidente ng fans club ng love team nina Dennis Trillo at Tom Rodriguez.
Kung may itatayo nga raw na love team na Tom-Den ay magpiprisinta siyang president.

Inamin ni Carla na mas may karisma sa manonood ang love team ng dalawa niyang co-actors. Tanggap ni Carla na naitsa-puwera na ang love team nila ni Tom ngayong mas tinatangkilik ng maraming televiewers ang love story ng huli kay Dennis.

Alam daw ni Carla na sa umpisa lang ie-establish na mag-asawa sila ni Tom at mabuting asawa ito at kapagkuwan ay iaalagwa na ito sa istorya naman nila ni Dennis. Pero malaking sorpresa kay Carla na tinanggap ng manonood ang unti-unting development ng love story ng dalawa.

Aware si Carla sa magandang feedback sa kanilang serye dahil siya mismo ay personal na nakakatanggap ng mga papuri mula sa kung sinu-sinong tao. Hindi nga lang daw mga bakla at tomboy ang nanonood sa kanilang serye kundi mga tunay na lalake, babae at maging mga nanay at mga matatanda.

Aminado si Carla na kahit man-to-man love story ang tinatalakay sa kanilang serye, kinikilig siya tuwing magkaeksena sina Tom at Dennis. Nawala raw ang kaba niya nung unti-unting nakakahakot ng malaking viewership ang kanilang palabas at lahat ay positibo ang mga komento tungkol dito.

So far, wala pa raw natatanggap na violent reactions o unfavorable comments si Carla mula sa mga manonood at alinmang sector o mga moralist.

Gulat nga rin daw siya dahil pati ang kanyang kasintahang si Geoff Eigenmann na pinagdududahan niyang panonoorin ang kanilang teleserye ay lagi na ring sumusubabay sa kanilang soap.

Ikinatutuwa ni Carla ang pagiging bahagi niya sa MHL dahil nakalusot ito sa ere at maituturing na breakthrough sa TV viewing ang pagtanggap ng mga tao sa ganitong tema ng love story. Dahil dito, mas lalong sumusuporta si Carla sa tinatawag na universal love o pag-ibig para sa lahat.

Ang unconditional love ay para sa lahat, mapa-babae o lalake, kaya hindi ito dapat husgahan.

Hindi akalain ng mga magulang ng isang batang babae na sa loob ng kanilang tahanan na iniisip nilang ligtas ang kanilang anak ay doon pa ito mapapahamak matapos itong pagsamantalahan ng kanilang bisitang kaibigan kamakalawa ng tanghali sa Caloocan City.

Kinilala ng Women and Children’s Protection Desk ng Caloocan City Police Sub-Station 2 ang suspek na si Ely Diaz, 40, biyudo, construction worker, at residente ng Letre, Malabon City, samantalang itinago ang biktima sa pangalang Nina, 6, ng Caloocan City.

Sa inisyal na imbestigasyon, alas-12:30 ng tanghali nang dumating galing sa eskuwelahan ng biktima na hatid-sundo pa ng kanyang ina upang mailayo sa anumang kapahamakan.

Dumiretso umano sa silid ang paslit upang magbihis bago magtanghalian. Pag-akyat ng bata sa silid ay agad umano nitong hinubad ang kanyang damit at binuksan ang tukador upang kumuha ng maisusuot na pamalit. Laking gulat umano ng bata nang pagsara niya ng tukador ay nakita niya ang suspek sa kanilang kama at agad siyang hinablot ng suspek at sinimulang gawan ng kahalayan hanggang sa tuluyang gahasain.

Matapos umanong maisagawa ang pangri-rape ay bumaba sa sala ang suspek na tila walang nangyari.

Bago pa man tawagin ng mga magulang ang bata upang kumain ay nagpaalam umano si Diaz na uuwi na.

Nagtaka umano ang ina ng biktima na hindi bu­mababa ang kanyang anak at hindi rin ito sumasagot kaya’t nagpasya na siyang akyatin ito.

Pag-akyat ay nakita niya ang kanyang anak na nakatalungko sa kama at walang saplot kung saan ay umiiyak ito.

Agad niyang tinanong kung may diperensya ang bata ngunit umiling lamang ito at nang mabihisan ay saka isinalaysay ng biktima ang panghahalay na inabot sa suspek.

Dumulog naman sa pulisya ang mag-ina upang ipagharap ng reklamo ang suspek na naaresto sa isinagawang follow-up operation nina PO1 Jeffer Francjim Fagayan at PO1 Luem Gonzales na tumanggi sa alegasyon ng biktima.

Nahaharap sa kasong paglabag sa RA 8353 o rape ng RA 7610 o (Protection Againts Child Abuse) ang suspek kung saan ay walang piyansang inirekomenda sa Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Twice Saved - A True Titanic Hero
By Charles W. Colson
If you saw the movie "Titanic," you know much of what took place 87 years ago tonight, when the ship that even God couldn't sink, DID sink. Of the 1,528 people who ended up in the icy water, only six were rescued. But did you know that one of those six was actually saved twice that night?
His story is an inspiring reminder that there's more to life than mere survival.
To tell this man's story, though, I have to first tell you about another man, a Scot named John Harper. Harper, a minister of the Gospel, boarded the Titanic with his six-year-old daughter, Nana. He planned to travel to the Moody Church in Chicago, where he'd been invited to preach for three months. When the ship struck the fateful iceberg and began to sink, Harper made sure his daughter was placed into one of the lifeboats. He then began what would be the last evangelistic work of his young life.
As the freezing waters began to fill the ship, Harper was heard shouting, "Let the women, children and the unsaved into the lifeboats." Survivors reported that Harper took off his own life jacket and gave it to another man. "Don't worry about me," he reportedly said, "I'm not going down, I'm going up!"
When the ship began to sink, more than 1,500 passengers jumped or fell into the icy waters. As they gradually drowned or froze to death, Harper was seen swimming from one passenger to another, pleading with them to accept Christ.
Only six of the 1,500 people struggling in the water were later rescued, including a man who later identified himself as Harper's last convert. This young man had climbed up on a piece of debris. Harper, who was struggling in the water near him, shouted out, "Are you saved?" "No," the man replied. Harper then shouted the words from Scripture: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." The man did not answer, and a moment later he drifted away on the waves.
A few minutes later, the current brought the two men back together. Again Harper asked, "Are you saved?" Once again, the answer was "no." With his dying breath, Harper shouted, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." He then slipped under the waves for the last time.
Then and there, the man he had witnessed to decided to turn his life over to Christ. Four years later, at a Titanic survivors meeting in Ontario, Canada, this man tearfully gave his testimony recounting how John Harper had led him to the Lord.
I don't need to tell you that this dramatic story never made it into the movie. We live in a culture that seems to be more interested in fictional stories of romance, illicit sex, and priceless jewelry than in the real romance between God and His people.
When the subject of the Titanic comes up, as it may today on the eighty-seventh anniversary of the sinking, tell your friends the story of the young Scottish minister who witnessed to Christ with his dying breath. And make sure your kids know the story a well. John Harper reminds us of a great lesson, the secret of the ages: that there's more to life than mere survival.

dah nganong ni BJ tangtang nuon ang roska... hehe

Dalawang buwan na oobserbahan ngayon ang isang 16-anyos na dalagita makaraang malunok nito ang hikaw sa kanyang dila sa lalawigan ng Davao.


Sa salaysay ni Gng. Pinky Rodriguez, ina ni Lalaine Joyce Rodriguez, 16, ng Digos City, Davao, pinagalitan nito ang anak na si Joyce dahil sa pagpapalagay nito ng hikaw sa dila, pasado alas-tres ng hapon, na agad namang tinanggal ng biktima ngunit nagkulong umano sa silid nito.


Gayunman, hindi umano nito napansin na ibinalik pala ng anak ang hikaw at natulog.


“Nahimout ko niini kay kinigmata naa na daw nagbabag sa iya totonlan, mao na diay, aritos nga gisulod na pod [nainis ako sa kanya (anak) kasi pagkagising kinabukasan may nakaharang na raw sa lalamunan niya, ayon na pala, ang hikaw na sinuot ulit],” ang pahayag ni Gng. Pinky.


Agad namang dinala sa doktor ang biktima subalit bago pa tuluyang nakarating sa pagamutan ay nalunok na nito ang hikaw base na rin sa resulta ng x-ray nito.


Inihayag pa ng ginang na 2-buwan ang binigay na palugit sa kanila ng doktor para mailabas ang hikaw.


“Dalawang buwan ang binigay na palugit ng doktor, kung ‘di talaga madala sa pagdumi ay ooperahan ang anak ko,” paliwanag pa ng ginang sa kanilang lengguwahe.

Dalaga kulong sa shampoo

Dahil sa dalawang shampoo na kanyang inumit sa SM Megamall, swak sa loob ng kulungan ang isang dalaga sa Mandalu­yong City.


Halos hindi naman makaharap at hindi na rin nagbigay ng kanyang pahayag ang suspek na nakilalang si Tina Cepeda, nasa hustong gulang, ng Baloy St., Santolan, Quezon City.


Si Cepeda ay pormal na sinampahan ng kasong theft thru shoplifting ni Christopher Crisanto y Nicolas, 37, security officer ng Star Force Security Services at nakatalaga sa SM Hypermarket sa Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.   


Ayon kay Crisanto, dakong alas-tres ng hapon nang makita niyang pumasok ang suspek at nagtuluy-tuloy sa grocery at mabilis ding dumampot ng dalawang Head & Shoulders shampoo 350ml na nagkakahalaga ng tig-P199.75.


“Pagkakuha niya, agad niyang inilagay sa kanyang kulay brown na shoulder bag at mabilis siyang lumabas, kaya agad ko siyang sinundan sa labas,” ayon kay Crisanto.


Agad umanong hinanapan ng resibo ni Crisanto ang suspek sa kinuha nitong dalawang shampoo at nang walang maipakitang resibo ay dinala ito sa Mandaluyong Police upang ireklamo.

Once upon a time there was one storyteller. After getting tired of telling old fabricated stories, he left his house in search of a real life story.

He reached a village and took a cottage for rent. After roaming in the village throughout the month, in search of true story, the storyteller couldn't find one. Disappointed, he decided to stop his search.

The next day, while sitting in the cottage, he suddenly heard a voice - a woman was yelling at someone. The voice was coming from the big wall behind his cottage.

He tried to hear the conversation; it sounded like the woman was abusing her daughter-in-law. The storyteller didn't like it but he was happy to finally get his story.

Listening to the conversations each day he added them to his story. Though he couldn't see the characters of his story, he started hating the Mother-in-law, as she seemed to be villain.

Now it was time to finalize the end of the story. But before he did, the storyteller wanted to see the characters once, so he climbed the wall.

There he saw the mother-in-law sitting in a wheelchair. It seemed she was handicapped and that the daughter-in-law was resting nearby.

He saw the old lady trying to get a food item lying on the table near her chair. But because of her condition, she couldn't reach it and the daughter-in-law looked like she was enjoying the old lady's helplessness.

Suddenly the old lady fell from the chair and started abusing her daughter in-law.

The storyteller went back and quickly changed the ending of the story and was stunned at how different it was compared to what he originally thought it would be.

Truly he had found both a real life story and a real life lesson.

Lesson: Never judge a situation unless you know all the aspects well. Sometimes you can't imagine your distance from the reality.

Family

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.

But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake that night in my bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you
use, but the children you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise.
You never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Please wake up, little one," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway,"
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

Just Be Happy

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
Proverbs 23:7

Just be happy. Sounds too simplistic, doesn't it? But, in actuality, we can have much more happiness if we choose to consider things from a positive perspective.

Everyone experiences the ups and downs of life, however, we can make a decision to dwell on the negative or practice what the old saying says to do: "When life give you lemons, make lemonade!"

It really boils down to your attitude and you have the ability to mold your attitude into any shape you like.

Here are some tips:


Ignore those who tell you that life is too difficult to be happy. What do they know?


When you awaken each morning, be thankful for another day, even if it's raining.


Smile at those you meet, even if they don't return the favor.


Don't borrow trouble. Each day has enough of it's own.


Don't allow trouble to bury you in its gray mire of sorrow.


Don't give in to negative thinking.


Be positive even when others are not.


Refuse to give up on anything worth having or doing.


Do something you enjoy each day, even if it's just a walk in your neighborhood.


Whistle as you go through the day.


Work at being happy because it's worth it.
You're human, like everyone else, and from time to time you need a little pick-me-up in your decision to be happy. When you reach that stage, find someone else who has decided to be happy. Join forces with him or her and march forward in your decision to be a happy person.

Simply speaking, a happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.

Choose today to just be happy - as much as it depends on you!

The Rose Bush


One spring morning a single woman in her thirties was sitting in her garden. The woman, mother of two, was depressed with life's challenges and thinking how hard it was trying to manage a career and raise two children on her own. She began to think of how strong her belief in God was, but still could not help feeling overwhelmed with the difficulties in her life. Her eye caught that of a rose bush in her garden and she began to look hard into the bush.

She started by looking at the base of the bush and how it was formed by one trunk coming up from the ground. She compared the trunk to the beginning of her adult life and how simple things seemed to her then. No grave responsibilities, just herself to take care of.

As she moved up the trunk, it started to bend, and a branch had formed. This branch had reminded her of when she was married. She admired how smoothly the branch sprouted from the main trunk and how bliss her marriage was in the beginning. But as she moved up the branch, it became twisted and bent and riddled with knots. Her thoughts changed to how her marriage had developed, and how it became abusive and tormenting.

The branch seemed to go on for a while, as did her marriage and then the branch just seemed to end without reason or understanding. But from this branch she noticed two rose stems that had sprouted from the branch. She was amazed of how the rose stems came from such a twisted and knotted branch. Then she realized that these were her two beautiful children.

Each stem different from the other but still the same. One having more thorns than the other, but both were dark green and strong. At the top of the stems grew the largest and most beautiful flowers on the entire bush. Both were a brilliant dark red. She thought of her children, and though they may not be perfect, they were hers and they were absolutely beautiful.

The woman then went back to the base of the trunk and noticed another branch, which from its beginning was as straight as a board, then began to bend slightly. This branch signified her career.

As with any trial in life, things first began smooth and as time went on challenges began to occur. Although this branch wasn't as twisted as the first, its small imperfections still reminded her of the mistakes and misunderstandings that have happened to her throughout her career. This branch sprouted many rose stems. Some were in full bloom some had yet to be opened. She thought of the many accomplishments throughout her career and how there are more yet to come.

Still again she looked at the base of the rose bush and noticed a third and final branch coming from the main trunk. This branch was thick and consisted of many small, yet smooth curves throughout. For every turn in the branch there was a rose stem. This branch seemed to her to signify the friendships and relationships she has encountered throughout her life.

Some of the stems had flowers that had died or wilted which made her recall some of her friendships that didn't last or those she just didn't keep in touch with. Yet there were many others on this branch that sprouted beautiful roses, both strong and full of life. These were her current friends. There were many of these roses on the bush and it seemed to fill up the bush and give it color and life. She was thankful they were there.

The woman then sat back and realized what she had been doing and seeing in the bush. She noted the absence of herself in the bush, and how everything seemed to point to someone else or some other aspect in her life, but she didn't see herself. She began to weep because the bush was full of roses, thick and beautiful.

Then without warning, she heard a deep and warm voice from within. The voice said to her:

"My child, do not weep, for what you do not see is in front of you. This bush is YOU. For every brilliant colored rose is a part of you. The bush grows upward to the heavens, which tells me of your faith. Each rose you see at the end of a stem, you see something else. I declare to you that this signifies that your faith will be rewarded in the end. As you trim the roses away, they grow back each time. This I declare to you is my promise to you that your reward will always be there. Each bend or twist in a branch and every thorn on a stem are obstacles in your life. But as you can see, each branch and stem has a rose. I tell you now that each rose shows that I have been there with you throughout your life. Your responsibility is simple, continue to water this bush as you have with your faith and it will continue to grow higher and stronger than you can imagine."

The woman began to weep again, only this time it was of joy. She was filled with a new spirit of faith and determination. To this day she has continued to care for this bush, watering it daily and trimming when needed.

The bush now stands six feet tall and is covered with brilliant roses. The two signifying her children, still the largest and brightest of all. And each day she seems down on her luck, she goes to the bush and is given new strength to see the day through.

--- Robert Vickers

 
The Lollipop Lesson

It's been a difficult year to say the least. My daughter, service dogs, and I lost our home due to abuse right about this time last year. We've depended upon the kindness of others to provide temporary shelter, food and clothing; and are truly grateful.

For a while after the attack, I was numb. Post Traumatic Stress froze my emotions in an attempt at self-preservation. I tried to remain strong for my daughter, waiting until she was asleep to cry the tears of fear, loss, and panic that gripped my heart.

I tried desperately to rationalize the situation, but no matter how I looked at it, I came up empty. I kept thinking, "On the whole, I'm a good person. I give of my time, possessions and my heart to others. I treat people fairly and always try to do the right thing. I'm teaching my daughter the same morals and values that had been instilled in me as a child..." and yet, though I was a good person, and my daughter was an innocent; we sustained a brutal attack brought on by alcoholic rage of a once-loved and trusted family member. I couldn't get my mind around the betrayal. I prayed a lot. I was disheartened that I didn't get any response, and felt that God had betrayed me as well.

I became obsessed with my loss, and the injustice of the whole thing. At one point, I felt as though my daughter might be better off without me, that I was holding her back from having a secure future. If she were placed with a real family, then she would have a chance at a good life...one with a roof over her head. I was the one who was disabled and unable to provide adequately for her; I was excess baggage. She had her whole future ahead, and I feared that having me in it ensured her a difficult and dismal one. I prayed for guidance, I prayed for answers, I prayed for hope; but I didn't get the answer I'd expected.

I felt as though I failed my little girl in so many ways. She misses having friends, a place to play, a room of her own with pretty things, and the security of knowing what tomorrow will bring. The guilt felt like a wet coat, gradually getting heavier, wearing me down and preventing me from moving forward.

Children are so resilient. I've learned so much from my little girl over the past year, and I look at her with a new wonder and admiration these days. Though she clearly remembers the horrors that no child should ever have been witness to, she forgives as we are taught early on. For most, true forgiveness is lip service. "I forgive you," is a benign phrase we are prone to say when we know we should, but we often lack the ability to truly let go. Not my little girl. She still remembers the attack, still feels the loss; yet she has somehow found it in her heart to completely forgive our attacker who hurt us so badly.

She never complains, although she has every right to. She went from having a beautifully decorated bedroom of her own, to having only what the police could load into our van that cold, scary night; and a few subsequent, police-guarded truck loads that permitted us a few more boxes of belongings. The rest was left behind...along with the only home she ever knew, all her friends, and the innocence and security that should be a child's right; all that was cruelly snatched away from her.

Commercials she sees on TV with toys and trips to amusement parks, (things that she knows she can't have), taunt her at every turn, yet she is the first to offer up one of her few remaining and cherished toys to another child who is sad or hurt. At bedtime, she thanks God for the blessings in her life and offers up prayers to others, never asking for anything for herself, because she feels as though she has all she needs.

She doesn't complain when I'm sick and can't play with her, or that I can't afford to give her the extra things I know deep inside she would love to have...only issues an "I love you Mommy...you're the BEST Mommy!" whenever possible, seemingly oblivious to my disabilities and my shortcomings.

I dug through the change at the bottom of my purse and bought her a lollipop at the store today. She'd had her eye on it the entire time we were in line to pay for our purchases. It was the kind of lollipop you'd see in days gone by that are twisted with different colors; a neat old-fashioned pop that cost $1.00.

She never asked for it, never whined or even gave me the "look" that pleaded silently...which is exactly why I decided to get it for her. I really couldn't afford it, it's the end of the month and I only had $1.35 left to my name. I wouldn't have any more money coming until the first of the month, almost a week away, when my scant disability check arrives... but she'd been such a good girl, and I really thought she deserved a special treat. I foolishly worried that my last few cents should've been better spent.

When I reached into my purse and counted out enough for the pop, you would have thought I gave her the key to the magic kingdom! "Thank you Mommy! You're the BEST Mommy!" She shrieked with sheer joy, thankfulness gushing from her lips and unabashed love and joyous tears shining in her eyes as she hugged me with every ounce of strength her tiny body could muster.

All at once, the cloud of despair that had hung over me lifted and I shed the coat of guilt I'd been carrying for so long. I knew without a doubt in that very instant, that I was the family that my little girl needed. I knew that I wasn't baggage holding her back; I was the glue that was needed to keep us together. I knew that my daughter needed me and loved me despite my shortcomings, and despite our situation. I knew without a doubt that my prayers had been answered and I had been blessed from above. With tears in my eyes, I realized that the angel that stood happily devouring her unexpected treat at my feet had also blessed me; and I was never going to be the same.

I had been awakened from my nightmare. I was ready to continue my journey, willing to embrace whatever challenges may lie ahead; secure in the knowledge that I already had all I needed; the rest was a bonus.

I was in awe at this child of mine, and I was so thankful for the lesson she'd taught me.... while I'd wasted my time feeling guilty and focusing on what we'd lost, my daughter had moved on and was focusing on what remained...something that was more important than anything else; through it all, we had each other. Though I only had 35 cents to my name, I felt richer than ever.

My daughter's youthful insight to an adult situation brought me to a place where there is no longer any room left for doubt or worry; leaving me with the ability to put all those useless feelings that had been cluttering up my mind behind me, ultimately freeing me up to enhance my life through opportunities I have since created from my new perception.

Though she's only four, my daughter has the ability to be able to look past what she's lost to find true joy and satisfaction of having only the very basic necessities; and being truly grateful for them. She rejoices in the simplest of kind gestures and goes out of her way to do the same for others. How many of us adults can claim that? I've learned a lot from her; I hope you have, too.

In the spirit of giving, I wish for your life be blessed with the insight of my little girl, the shedding of your wet coat, a new and positive perception of life...filled with an unlimited supply of lollipops.

The Last Lesson

Even after many years, she still has not forgotten the last day her whole class got together to say goodbye to their dearest schooldays. The gloomy faces, the watery eyes, the loving embraces, the firm handshakes promising to seek each other again up hill and down dale... those unforgettable memories always become vivid every time nostalgia drives her feet towards the old school, only to find a big, old tree with all of their names carved deep into the trunk.

She wonders herself if any of them still remembers their promises, now that time has cloaked the past memories with layers of dust and transformed each fate beyond any expectations.

The jolly "dwarf" of the class has now turned into a successful businessman. The shy, skinny "bookworm" is now a talented Ph.D. trying his luck in some distant land in the Western atmosphere. The naughty, giggly tomboy has thrown away her carefree laughter in exchange for a sheltered, comfortable life beside a caring husband. And she, a literature addict, was driven by an inner force to put her pen aside and become a teacher instead. That's a life-choice, an abandonment of her dream about which she will never feel regret.

She decided to follow her old teacher, who had sowed the seed for the cause of nurturing people in her directionless mind through his poetical lessons. She used to dream of the enlightened faces of her students engrossed in her lessons full of sunlight and sea waves.

She had also dreamed of their round eyes running over every page of the books containing expanses of the light and darkness of life. Yet, at the most decisive turn of her life's course, she didn't choose literature for her career, for she had been told that literature is just like a magical paradise to which the way is extremely rough.

Travelers always keep in their heart a boundless aspiration for happiness, though they know very well that their ultimate goal will never be achieved.

Her hands are so small; how can they hold the immensity, the depths and the fullness that literature can bring? Still, she promises herself to go ahead, bearing in mind the last words of her dear teacher:

"Don't care for what you give or receive. Learn to live generously to enjoy life, even when it's not generous toward us."

This teaching was not written in his lesson plan, but she knew it would stay with her until the end of time.

Now, she is a teacher, yet she has to continue learning numerous difficult lessons of life. The more she experiences, the better she understands the value of her teacher's last lesson.

And now, among the heaps of unemotional personal pronouns, possessive pronouns and language structures in her own lesson plans, no leafy afternoons or sunny skies can be found yet the lessons of the old days have never faded away. Instead, they are revived in her teaching style. She has given her students the whole-hearted enthusiasm and tenderness that she once received from her teacher.

Now and then, she catches sight of a warm look in the eyes of her students, which encourages her to carry on. She hopes to find herself again in her students: always listening carefully and appreciating each lesson. To her, that will be the noblest award she could ever receive in her teaching years.

She tells herself to try her best to understand and take life at its deepest. And some day, when she has enough experience and confidence, she will give her students the teachings that are not written in the lesson plans, as her teacher used to do.

Tiyak na mababawasan na ang maraming problemang kinakaharap ng isang dating overseas Filipino worker (OFW) matapos manalo ng halos P18 milyon sa lotto na binola noong Linggo.


Ayon kay Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Ferdinand Rojas II, isa ang 60-anyos na dating OFW sa dalawang winners na tumama sa 6/49 Super Lotto draw.


Nakuha ng winner ang kumbinasyong 09-17-28-36-19-33 na may total jackpot prize na P37,655,647.20. Dahil dalawa silang na­nalo, nakuha ng winner mula sa Cavite ang share nito na P18,827,823.60.


Tumaya ang winner ng P40 sa pamamagitan ng random pick.
“Naglakad lang po kami ng anak ko mula sa Baclaran hanggang dito sa PCSO, dahil kulang na po ang pamasahe namin,” ayon sa winner.


Sabi pa nitong marami siyang babayarang utang at gusto nitong mabawi ang kanilang bahay at lupa sa bangko na kamakailan lamang ay napadalhan sila ng ‘overdue foreclosure notice’.


Bukod pa riyan, sinabi ng winner na kailangan niyang ipagamot ang kanyang anak na lalaki na may stage 4 cancer.

The Splashes Of Life

My grandfather took me to the fishpond on the farm when I was about seven and he told me to throw a stone into the water.

He told me to watch the waves created by the stone, and then he asked me to think of myself as that stone.

"You may create a lot of splashes in your life, but remember the waves that come from those splashes will affect the peace of all your fellow creatures," he said.

"Remember that you are responsible for what you throw into your circle, and that your waves will touch many other circles. Always try to live in a way that the waves that come from your circle send out the peace of your goodness to other circles."

"Remember the waves that come from anger and jealousy will also send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for all the waves."

That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world.

We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt and anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside whether we voice them or not. Whatever is sloshing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all the other circles of life.

Remember the eternal wisdom: WHATEVER YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS...

Isang senior citizen ang pinakahuling miyembro ng ‘millionaire’s club’ ng mga lotto winners.


Ayon kay Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Ferdinand Rojas II, solong napanalunan ng winner na 79-anyos na biyuda mula sa Iloilo ang jackpot prize ng 6/49 Super Lotto na binola noong Pebrero 28.


Nasambot ng winner (may limang anak) ang kumbinasyong 28-30-07-36-33-15 na kabuuang premyong P67,272,040.80.


Sabi ng winner, tumaya siya ng P120 gamit ang mga birthdays ng kanyang mga anak at death anniversary ng kanyang bunsong anak. 1995 pa itong tumataya sa lotto.


Plano ng winner ng bumili ng bahay at lupa, ipamahagi sa kanyang mga anak, pag-aaralin ang kanyang mga apo at magtatayo ng community chapel sa kanilang lugar.


Nabatid na nahimatay pa ang winner nang malamang siya ang nanalo ng jackpot ng Super Lotto.
Kasama ng winner ang kanyang tatlong anak sa pagkuha ng kanya premyo sa tanggapan sa PCSO sa Pasay City.

HOLY SEE â€" In a shocking press conference Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI revealed to the world that he will be stepping down from the Catholic Church’s highest office. “Through prayer and reflection over the past years,” the world’s holiest man began, “I’ve realized that Allah is the one true God.”
Amid clattering camera shutters and roaring reporters, Pope Benedict patiently answered questions, citing traditional Muslim folklore as well as passages from the Qur’an to explain his decision. His session was interrupted only once, when he swiveled South-East to face Mecca, stooped to the ground, and recited the Asr, one of the five daily prayers central to Muslim belief.
The startling reversal comes as a shock to many familiar with the Pope’s policies on Islam. “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,” the Bishop of the Vatican famously said of Islam in his 2006 lecture Faith, Reason and the Universityâ€"Memories and Reflections.
When asked about the quote, Pope Benedict sighed with good-humored remorse and chuckled quietly to himself: “Yeah I’ve regretted that for some time. But I was young and naïve… I see things much clearer now. Besides, I’ve always kinda liked the thought of having a sword. The Cardinals were a real pain on that one.”
When asked whether he would be reverting to his born name, Pope Benedict enthusiastically interjected. “I’ve decided to change my name to Sajjad Sayyid Ratzinger,” His Ex-Holiness explained. “I’m keeping my surname purely for logistical reasons, so my Facebook friends and Twitter followers won’t be confused.”
His transition hasn’t been without opposition. Hours after the press conference, a special Fox and Friends segment aired on FOXNEWS, featuring a picture of the Pope photoshopped to include stereotypical Islāmic features, including: a turban in place of his mitre, darkened complexion, black hair, and Arabic letters spelling out an endorsement of Barack Hussein Obama tattooed across his chest. Beneath the picture, the panel discussed the possible involvement of Pope Benedict XVI, 85, in 9/11. The segment’s title, “The Holy Heathen,” emblazoned the lower left corner of the screen.
This morning, newspapers nationwide featured an editorial by Bill O’Reilly detailing the parallels between the Pope’s “betrayal of God-loving Christians everywhere” with the “betrayal of the American people and the Constitution by Benedict Arnold, his liberal agenda, and his radical left-wing entourage

Nag-uumapaw ang kaligayan ng isang 55-anyos na hairstylist nang mapanalunan ang jackpot prize sa lotto na umabot sa P81.6 milyon.


Ayon kay Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Ferdinand Rojas II, solong napanalunan ng winner mula sa Las Piñas City ang jackpot prize ng 6/55 Grand Lotto na binola noong Pebrero 27.


Nakuha nito ang kumbinasyong 21-20-23-18-13-11 na may total jackpot prize na P81,670,273.20.


Sabi ng winner, tumaya siya ng P40 gamit ang mga birthdays ng kanyang dalawang ampon at mga magulang. Dagdag pa nito, 10 taon na siyang tumataya sa lotto.


Plano ng winner na bumili ng house and lot, magtayo ng mga beauty parlors at magpaaral ng mga street children o batang kalye.


"Natutuwa kami dito, sapagkat ang ating bagong milyonaryo ay halos pareho ang aming layunin na tumulong sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan," sabi ni Rojas.

Isang malapit nang magretirong opisyal ng PNP-Southern Police District ang nahaharap sa kaso ng panggagahasa ng isang menor-de-edad sa Parañaque City noong Martes ng gabi.

Pinaghahanap ngayon ng Parañaque police si Senior Insp.Mujalni Duga­san matapos magreklamo sa pulisya ang ina ng biktimang ginahasa.

Si Dugasan ang commander ng Police Community Precinct (PCP) 3 sa San Dionisio kung saan naganap ang krimen.

Base sa naging imbestigasyon, nagpunta sa PCP 3 ang 15-anyos na babaeng biktima bandang alas-siyete ng gabi para hanapin ang isang kaibigan na hindi na pinangalanan sa police report.

Dito nakita ni Dugasan ang dalagita na agad hiningi ang numero ng cellphone at nagmagandang-loob pa ang PCP 3 comman­der na ihatid ang biktima sa kanilang bahay sa Barangay Sto. Niño.

Pumayag naman ang dalagita at sumakay sa Toyota Innova ni Dugasan pero imbes na ihatid sa kanilang bahay ay dumaan muna sila sa drive-thru ng isang fast-food outlet at mula roon ay pumarada sila sa parking lot na malapit sa Parañaque police station.

Habang nakaparada ang Innova ay doon isinagawa ng 55-anyos na si Dugasan ang panghahalay sa 15-anyos na high school student, base sa pahayag ng biktima sa pulisya.

Pagkatapos ng panggagahasa ay iniwan ni Dugasan ang biktima malapit sa Amvel compound na nagsisilbing headquarters ng El Shaddai ni Bro. Mike Velarde.

Agad naman nagsumbong ang biktima sa kanyang ina na mabilis na sumugod sa Station 5 ng Parañaque police na sumasakop sa PCP 3 na pinamumunuan ni Dugasan.

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na may isang pulis na nadawit sa karumal-dumal na krimen ng panggagahasa. Matatandaang noong nakaraang Enero ay dalawang pulis ang nadawit sa magkahiwalay na insidente ng panggagahasa sa Pasay City at sa Taytay, Rizal kung saan mga asawa ng mga nahulihan umano ng droga ang kanilang pinagsamantalahan.

Nangyari ang sinasabing rape noong hatinggabi ng Enero 26 doon mismo sa loob ng patrol car nina Police Officer 1 Jona­than Castro at PO1 Marvin Panaga na mga miyembro ng Pasay City police office.

Base sa complaint-affidavit ng rape victim, hinuli nina Castro at Panaga ang live-in partner ng biktima sa violation ng city ordinance na “urinating in public” sa Merville Access Road noong Ene­ro 26. Inakusahan din ng dalawang pulis na matulis ang suspek ng drug possession dahil sa umanong nahulog na shabby packet mula sa kanyang bulsa.

Dito makikita ang modus operandi nina Castro at Panaga na planting of evidence para takutin ang suspek at kikilan ng mala­king halaga ng pera na siya ngang nangyari nang dumating sa Presinto 10 sa Merville, Pasay City ang kanyang live-in partner.

Nagsimula sa P100,000 ang halaga ng kotong hanggang ibinaba sa P40,000. Pero dahil P5,000 lang ang dalang pera ng babae ay dito na idiniga ni Castro ang sex bilang pampuno sa kakulangan.

Mabuti na lang at ipinagtapat ng babae sa kanyang live-in partner ang nangyaring pagsasamantala sa kanya ng pulis na si Castro kung kaya nagpasya silang humarap sa GMA 7 para isiwalat ang mga pangyayari.

Ganito rin ang naging karanasan ng isa pang batang babaeng ginang sa kamay ng isang pulis sa Taytay, Rizal na iniimbestigahan na rin ng mga awtoridad.

Mukhang walang kadala-dala ang mga matutulis na pulis kagaya ni Senior Insp. Dugasan na menor-de-edad pa ang napiling pagsamantalahan at hindi na naisip na parang apo na lamang niya ang biktima.

The Rose Bush


One spring morning a single woman in her thirties was sitting in her garden. The woman, mother of two, was depressed with life's challenges and thinking how hard it was trying to manage a career and raise two children on her own. She began to think of how strong her belief in God was, but still could not help feeling overwhelmed with the difficulties in her life. Her eye caught that of a rose bush in her garden and she began to look hard into the bush.

She started by looking at the base of the bush and how it was formed by one trunk coming up from the ground. She compared the trunk to the beginning of her adult life and how simple things seemed to her then. No grave responsibilities, just herself to take care of.

As she moved up the trunk, it started to bend, and a branch had formed. This branch had reminded her of when she was married. She admired how smoothly the branch sprouted from the main trunk and how bliss her marriage was in the beginning. But as she moved up the branch, it became twisted and bent and riddled with knots. Her thoughts changed to how her marriage had developed, and how it became abusive and tormenting.

The branch seemed to go on for a while, as did her marriage and then the branch just seemed to end without reason or understanding. But from this branch she noticed two rose stems that had sprouted from the branch. She was amazed of how the rose stems came from such a twisted and knotted branch. Then she realized that these were her two beautiful children.

Each stem different from the other but still the same. One having more thorns than the other, but both were dark green and strong. At the top of the stems grew the largest and most beautiful flowers on the entire bush. Both were a brilliant dark red. She thought of her children, and though they may not be perfect, they were hers and they were absolutely beautiful.

The woman then went back to the base of the trunk and noticed another branch, which from its beginning was as straight as a board, then began to bend slightly. This branch signified her career.

As with any trial in life, things first began smooth and as time went on challenges began to occur. Although this branch wasn't as twisted as the first, its small imperfections still reminded her of the mistakes and misunderstandings that have happened to her throughout her career. This branch sprouted many rose stems. Some were in full bloom some had yet to be opened. She thought of the many accomplishments throughout her career and how there are more yet to come.

Still again she looked at the base of the rose bush and noticed a third and final branch coming from the main trunk. This branch was thick and consisted of many small, yet smooth curves throughout. For every turn in the branch there was a rose stem. This branch seemed to her to signify the friendships and relationships she has encountered throughout her life.

Some of the stems had flowers that had died or wilted which made her recall some of her friendships that didn't last or those she just didn't keep in touch with. Yet there were many others on this branch that sprouted beautiful roses, both strong and full of life. These were her current friends. There were many of these roses on the bush and it seemed to fill up the bush and give it color and life. She was thankful they were there.

The woman then sat back and realized what she had been doing and seeing in the bush. She noted the absence of herself in the bush, and how everything seemed to point to someone else or some other aspect in her life, but she didn't see herself. She began to weep because the bush was full of roses, thick and beautiful.

Then without warning, she heard a deep and warm voice from within. The voice said to her:

"My child, do not weep, for what you do not see is in front of you. This bush is YOU. For every brilliant colored rose is a part of you. The bush grows upward to the heavens, which tells me of your faith. Each rose you see at the end of a stem, you see something else. I declare to you that this signifies that your faith will be rewarded in the end. As you trim the roses away, they grow back each time. This I declare to you is my promise to you that your reward will always be there. Each bend or twist in a branch and every thorn on a stem are obstacles in your life. But as you can see, each branch and stem has a rose. I tell you now that each rose shows that I have been there with you throughout your life. Your responsibility is simple, continue to water this bush as you have with your faith and it will continue to grow higher and stronger than you can imagine."

The woman began to weep again, only this time it was of joy. She was filled with a new spirit of faith and determination. To this day she has continued to care for this bush, watering it daily and trimming when needed.

The bush now stands six feet tall and is covered with brilliant roses. The two signifying her children, still the largest and brightest of all. And each day she seems down on her luck, she goes to the bush and is given new strength to see the day through.

Uncovering Hidden Treasure

My mother-in-law sat on the beach in Aruba and reached for her cold beverage nestled in the sand by her chair. She miscalculated her grasp and instead, her hand dove into the sand and she pulled out a glorious 14K solid gold rope necklace. Teams of salvage hunters spend millions of dollars, countless years and untold hours searching for lost treasure, more often finding it elusive. How is it then, some people find treasure when not seeking it, and others hunt and never find anything even when using elaborate calculations? The dichotomy of old sayings, "It'll show up when you least expect it," versus "Persistence pays," provides Spirit an opportunity to intrigue us in our journey and increase the value of things we desire but cannot yet manifest.

Hidden vs. Missing

When something is missing, it means it once existed in our life and it's no longer there. When something is hidden, that means it's still there, but we can no longer see it. In life, how do we distinguish between the two qualities of perceived lack? In both instances, we experience a void - we can't touch or feel what we want. From misplaced car keys to hidden clues, we struggle with filling the void with what we already know - that which once existed - instead of moving towards something better.

The qualities of things hidden range from stifled emotions to disguised authenticity and integrity; to secrets about ourselves we don't want the world to see. Missing things usually represent what we need to learn. If life repeats the lesson over and over for us, then we clearly missed the point of the lesson. Missing means a gap, a space, an emptiness for something which once served as a part of us, or for something we need to learn to complete the circle.

Hidden Meanings

Buried deep between the lines of written or spoken words, we get a glimpse of interpretation that our life experiences brought to our present moments. We attach many translations to subtle nuances that stem from our belief about who we are and what we need to discover. Forgetting to surrender to the Infinite and let go of judgment, we ascribe a meaning often all-too familiar with our repeated patterns instead of allowing new ideas and opportunities for growth to emerge.

The true meaning of any dusky perceptions lies not within our immediate accumulation of experience to shine the light on the unknown. Instead, our piercing beam of insight and willingness to progress forward emerges as authentic understanding in all of life's foggy depths of confusion. No mystical forces at work, simply accepting situations and circumstances at face value, without prejudice brings about the highest interpretations possible.

Hidden Blessings

The saying, "Be careful what you ask for, for you shall surely get it," cautions loudly in our minds when we dare to ask for something others deem as greedy or ill-guided. While Spirit focuses equally on our declarations of what we do and do not want in our lives, it also understands that a lesson presents more profound if the prayer goes unanswered.

Many times we look back at our requests of God and wonder why they never materialized. Later, after life unfolds, we realize if our exact petitions appeared, things would turn out much differently than we intended and we rationalize that the unanswered prayer represented a hidden blessing. In situations, which on the surface appear negative, we find precious rewards in the little blessings carefully protecting us from what we believed we wanted.

What Are You Hiding?

Inside each of us, burn the embers of understanding and coals of smoldering wisdom. With humility, many of us deny the truth about these gifts from life and bury our talents beneath our smoky exterior. We mistakenly think that if we disguise our true selves, we hide our strengths and weaknesses from the world thereby protecting ourselves from the harm of exposure. Additionally, we grow to expect the worst from the revelation of who we are, instead of allowing the possibility that more good enter our lives if we simply take the risk.

Spirit invites us to reveal the treasure of our authentic selves and uncover greatness! Day by day, we are shown scenarios that portray greater abundance and prosperity if we only took the risk of digging up and displaying the hidden treasures of our glorious self to the world. When we clutch tightly to a gold coin, it never transforms. It's stuck as a gold coin. If we open our hand and use it to bring more good into our lives, then all are enhanced by the transaction.

Today, take a moment to consider the elements hidden or missing in your life. Fill in the gaps with whatever you need to feel complete with Life and search for those parts of yourself that you scurried away out of your present awareness. When you look for hidden meanings, be prepared for answered and unanswered prayers to equally educate you in that lesson and others. Frequently lessons overlap and the jewels we glean from one learning experience blend perfectly with others.

Remember the most precious treasure of all already lives within you. If you willingly identify and acknowledge your self-worth, the treasure chest of life awaits you!

All of us have had traumas in our life. Granted, some seem much bigger than others and we can all sing the "Somebody Did Me Wrong" song.

I believe these challenges are sent so we can learn how to get back up. They are to show us how much courage we do already have within us.

Some people have huge stumbling blocks or traumas at a young age, some in later years. If you look back in your life and see darkness, I implore you to look more closely.


You are able to look back - aren't you?
You are still here,
living, breathing PROOF that you were ABLE to Get Back Up.

Bless the dark areas and thank them for the strength that you now have within you to face the next one. Without darkness we cannot recognize the light. Walk in the light and bless the darkness. This way the new light will touch everything past and everything yet to come…

Burdens can weigh you down if you let them engulf you - so don't.


Always remember you Are Still Here so
YOU
Are Able to Get Back Up.

Funny how in your darkest hours, you'll hang on to anything you think will help save you from feeling the despair you're feeling at moments.

Another day I wake up with the feeling that I need to get out of here to keep my sanity, to keep on living. 1:30 pm: We head out of the city to show one of your new out of town friends a little town you once showed and told me how it was one of your favorite places you liked to visit.

We get to our destination, and as we wonder around with you sharing your smiles and laughter with her, showing her your favorite shops, I watch from the background and remember the times when it used to be me.

I run out of one of the stores as a wave of emotions hits me. I find a deserted table and a seat, I light up a cigarette and as I take a drag, a feeling of hurt and anger consume me.

I slam my hand on the table with a passion filled with anger; anger at myself for still caring, anger at myself for being so blind all along, anger over something that's not worth how I'm feeling.

We continue visiting the little antique shops, while I carry with me this feeling of emptiness inside of me; an emptiness that weighs heavy in my heart and heavy on my body.

As we enter the last shop in our tour, I stand by the door as you both take off to look around. I hear you both laughing in the back of the store. I feel so alone. I close my eyes to stop the tears from falling and call out to GOD: " Dear God, Please grant me the patience and strength I need until I get myself out of this mess I put myself in".

I swallow the tears and open my eyes once again. As I open my eyes and look around, something catches my eyes; three hearts hanging from a string. The first heart had the word FAITH. The second heart had the word HOPE and the third heart had the word LOVE.

As I stare at the string of hearts and the words on them echo in my mind, I feel the tears rolling down my cheek. Faith, Hope, Love. Isn't that what makes life worth living? Three things missing from my life right now.

I reach out for the string of hearts and hold them in my hand so tight. I wipe my tears, head to the cashier, and pay for my string of hearts to take home with me; to remind me to hang on to my string of life in my moments of despair, to never give up on what makes life worth living: Faith..Hope..Love.

As we drive back home, listening to both of you in the front seat carry on with your laughter and conversation, I feel once again a moment of despair, but not for long, as I reach into my pocket and pull out my little string of hearts. Something to hang on to, until I find life again; FAITH..HOPE..LOVE.

Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

The other four balls -- family, health, friends, integrity -- are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.

Footnote: People are asking where to watch, view, download the USJR scandal 2013. This USJR scandal in Cebu has become a worldwide trending in Twitter, a talk of the country. The article below is authored by josephonperspectives.WordPress.com. Tubagbohol.com does not own the article. We do not promote indecency but we believe this topic is of public concern/issue so we allow everyone to engage a fluid discussion over the USJR SCANDAL.

NOTE: Apologies, the male is studying at the University of Cebu â€" Mambaling Campus, not from the University of the Visayas, according to the sources. Also, she was not expelled, rather, she forced to quit from schooling.

It has been in the main discussion all over Cebu and in the cyberspace on what happened to the University of San Jose-Recoletos where someone uploaded a sexual intercourse video involving a student from that said university in the cyberspace. Since Thursday evening, my Facebook and Twitter new feeds have been bombarded with comments and tweets from my friends about the viral sexual intercourse video which consists of not only one part, but allegedly, six parts. I myself watched the partial part of the video and after I watched that part of the video, I felt angry especially the one who took (or maybe the one who uploaded) the video as he/she never think the consequences of his/her actions especially to a poor female USJR student, whose future has been tarnished forever as a result of the uploader’s foolish acts.

The dissemination of the viral video in the cyberspace forced her to quit from schooling, a more than a month before her scheduled graduation.  On the part of the female student, the dissemination of that video was a big blow not only to her, but also to her family. The male whom she committed an intercourse was his boyfriend and according to several sources I gathered, the video became viral because the mobile phone with that video was stolen by someone and then was uploaded online. The male is studying at the University of Cebu -Mambaling Campus, according to several sources I gathered.

I think the moment the video was taken was a fatal mistake for the uploader who never think the long-term consequences especially to the female USJR student, whose future has been tarnished forever. That female student from USJR should have took her uniform off totally before the sexual intercourse and that fatal mistake forced her to quit schooling, just a month before her scheduled graduation. That male student allegedly from UC-METC should have never initiated a sexual intercourse with the female USJR student especially during school hours and instead if they wanted to have an intercourse, they should have done it privately during weekends.

I know that it was painful especially to the female student from USJR, but the damage has already been done and all we can do is to help her to recover from the traumatic parts of her life destroyed by a certain uploader with unknown specific reasons as of this moment. To the cybercitizens who wants to watch the video more (or those who wants to watch the video for the first time), I am asking you to stop from watching the viral video that tarnished a person because for every watching a scandalous video, it is like that you tarnish his/her dignity in an indirect manner.

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple or orange or green,
That's no offense, it's the freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise,
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the State.

We're allowed to cuss & dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues & cheeks.
This great nation has outlawed the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the unwed daddy, our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms, & birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires & totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No Word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
Chaos reigns....the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take.

Why Me Mom? - Death of an Innocent

Source Unknown

I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road,
the other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,
the other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who will pay.

I'm lying here dying, Mom.. I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.

Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.
Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?

Love even if it hurts, Love more even if it hurts more, Love most even if it hurts most...
Until theres no more hurts but LOVE....
-Mother Theresa

When we are in love, we do things just for our loved one even if it hurts us so much.
If we are giving all while it hurts, it is a sign of Love.
A great love to other people or to our someone special.
We forgot ourselves and we put someone we love first.
Because no one says that being in love is always a glimpse of heaven.
No one can says that when you love, it will be an unending happiness.
Of course love can hurt us the most.
But true and great love will put you on the happiest place in the world.
It will put you on a pedestal that you don't want to leave anymore...
I believe that love is the only answer for a happy relationship and the secret on how to live peacefully together.
So again, live and love!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
CEBU CITY -- A woman died when her partner’s genital was locked tight inside hers, a radio report said.
In a Bombo Radyo report, the victims were having sex in a lodging house in Guizo, Mandaue City when the incident happened.
They were brought to the hospital but the woman was declared dead on arrival.
The doctor, however, refused to disclose the identities of the victims.
Both were said to be working in an export processing company in Mandaue City and each had relationships respectively.
Police are investigating the incident where it was reported that the male’s genital was cut.
The phenomenon is called penis captivus in medical terms or vaginal lock in which a woman's vaginal muscles clamp around the penis during intercourse so firmly it causes the male to be 'locked' inside her. (Sunnex with wire reports)

 
If I Have Learned Anything


I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.


I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do.


I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's important.
It's what they do about it.


I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you a heartache for life.


I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.


I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.


I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.


I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.


I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.


I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't.


I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.


I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.


I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.


I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.


I've learned that when the light turns green, you had better look both ways before proceeding.


I've learned that you can love someone and still not like them very much.


I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.


I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and still have the best time.


I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.


I've learned that I'm getting more and more like my mom, and I'm kind of happy about it.


I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.


I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.


I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.


I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.


I've learned that you should never tell a child his dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if he believed it.


I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.


I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in awhile and you must forgive them for that.


I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.


I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.


I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.


I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.


I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other.


I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.


I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.


I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.


I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.


I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but whom you have in your life that counts.


I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.


I've learned that a good friend is better than a therapist.


I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.


I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

Once A Boy Went To A Shop With His Mother.


The Shop Keeper Looked At The Small Cute Child And Showed Him A Bottle With Sweets
And Said


" Dear Child..... You Can Take The Sweets...


But The Child Didn't Take.  The Shop Keeper Was Surprised..
Such A Small Child He is And Why is He Not Taking The Sweets From The Bottle.


Again He Said Take The Sweets.... Now The Mother Also Heard That And Said..


Take The Sweets Dear..


Yet He Didn't Take...


The Shopkeeper Seeing The Child Not Taking The Sweets...
He Himself Took The Sweets And Gave To The Child.


The Child Was Happy To Get Two Hands Full Of Sweets...... ......


While Returning Home The Mother Asked The child...
Why Didn't You Take The Sweets,  when The Shop Keeper Told You To Take?..


Child Replied...


Mom! My Hands Are Very Small And If I Take The Sweets I Can Only Take Few..
But Now You See When Uncle Gave With His Big Hands....
How Many More Sweets I Got!




Moral:-
When We Take We May Get Little But When God Gives...
He Gives Us More Beyond Our Expectations. ..
More Than What We Can Hold..!!!!!! !!!

Don't undermine your worth
by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different
that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what
other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers
by living in the past or for the future,
By living your life one day at a time.

Don't give up when you still have something to give
nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less then perfect.
It is a fragile thread that binds each of us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast
that you forget not only where you have been
but also where you are going.
Life is not a race,
but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the church.

As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.

We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began.

We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces.

He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man." No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand. "Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today." Makes you think, doesn't it.

 
A Brother's Love


Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's tummy.

The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Then the labor pains come. Every five minutes. Every minute. But complications arise during delivery. Hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The days inch by. The little girl gets worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst". Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot. They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby, now they plan a funeral.

Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says. Week two in intensive care. It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over. Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. But Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.

She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed in ICU."

The mother rises up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings:

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray " Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady. Keep on singing, Michael. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away---"

The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr. Keep on singing, Michael. "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister relaxes as rest, healing rest, seems to sweep over her. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glows.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away. The girl is well enough to go home! Woman's Day magazine called it "The miracle of a brother's song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love. A few weeks later, Michael's little sister was baptized at the Panther Creek Church.

For with God nothing shall be impossible - Luke 1:37

Moments In Time

"We do so with the certainty that we don't have the faintest idea what we're doing at all, which can be a very frightening prospect in a world; in a world where the boundaries of nations and the balance of nature can change over night.

Except that the years that we have spent at (West Beverly) have given us the foundation to face that future. We haven't just learned facts and figures, logic and reasoning skills, but we have learned the value of friendship, loyalty, & love which will not be diminished just because we may not end up together.

The memories that we have shared will not go away simply because we do. So even if the future does not always meet our expectations or the fates are cruel to us at times, no one can ever take away this moment from me. From me, from you, from any of us. No one can ever take away this moment in time."

I Still Look for Patches


Aren't we lucky, those select few of us who had a childhood friend willing to be our everlasting, faithful companion? I can still remember the day I met my special buddy.

My mother and I patiently waited one spring evening for my father to come home. His appearance in the doorway made no distinct impression in my mind. A pair of worn, tattered jeans clung loosely to his hips, accompanied by his favorite, well used Chuckie's and a work stained T-Shirt. The wallet mark on the back of his pants attested to their age and the pack of Kools he carried in his shirt pocket only completed the picture. The blandness of the day seemed to want to mingle with the night. Suddenly, I heard a small, feeble "Yip."

"Did I hear something? Daddy, please tell me. What was that? Where did it come from? Tell me, please? Where? DAD!"

As he reached into his shirt pocket he replied, "It was only my pocket."

The look on my face must have displayed some portion of my disappointment for I heard a soft "Amy."

I slowly turned around to look at my daddy's outstretched hand. There, curled tightly in his palm was my best friend. She was a runt, small and puny. Several brown splotches marred her white fur, reminding me of a beginning seamstress who had yet to learn the proper way to patch up clothes. Hence, her name, "Patches."

Just as small acorns become grand oaks, tiny puppies become great dogs. And Patches was the best of them. She was a friend, confidant, baby-sitter and blame taker. If I was troubled, I could depend on her two ears, one brown, the other white, to listen attentively to everything I had to say. Her usual sparkling eyes glowed at the sound of my voice. When my sister was born, who else but Patches protected her from the bullies. If my some misfortune I broke a glass, my trusting companion would willing assume responsibility. her obvious dedication only made parting with her harder to bear.

When I was about 10, my family moved into a house whose backyard wasn't nearly large enough to contain a boisterous, frolicking dog. Sadly, we had to get rid of her. My cousin seemed like the best candidate because he owned a house by the lake with vast pieces of land that should be heaven for an energetic dog to romp in.

I can still remember her sad, multicolored face staring at me forlornly as she disappeared around the corner. The anguish in her eyes will be with me forever.

Since her new owner was my cousin, I saw her once or twice before she vanished. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

Until my dying day I shall always expect to see her splotchy face come trotting up my drive. I believe that, to this very day, she is still trying to find her way back to her true home. Because I have no proof she died, I continue to have faith. The picture is vivid in my mind: A gangly white dog, whose body attests to the long journey she has made, comes bounding up, bathing me in loving dog kisses.

The Price


In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked". I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed".

The titles ranged for the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read", "Lies I Have Told", "Comfort I Have Given", Jokes I Have Laughed At". Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers". Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done In My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents". I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own hand writing. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To", I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts", I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!"

In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With". The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must look it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here.

Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't near to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper that my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word.

He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine.

It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

The Price has been Paid by Him. All He asks for is Love.

How do I get to Heaven? How do I receive eternal Life?

Know these things to be true and biblical.........

1) Heaven is a free gift.

Rom 6:23 "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

2) Man is sinful...

Rom 3:23 "...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

...and cannot save himself.

Eph 2:8-9 "By God's grace are you saved through faith, it is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."

Prv 14:25 "There is a way which seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death."

3) God is a loving God...

1 John 1:14 "...God is love."

Jer. 33:3 "...for I have loved you with an everlasting love."

...but He is also holy and must punish sin.

Exodus "He will by no means clear the guilty."

4) This certain punishment for sin, in all of us, is solved in the person of Jesus Christ...

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

...who laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin for us all.

Isaiah 56 "All we like sheep have gone astray, each has gone his own way. But He laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all."

God's grace has been defined thusly: "GRACE"= God's Riches At Christ's Expense

The last words spoken by Christ on the cross were..."It is finished...the debt is paid"

How is this gift of eternal life received?

5) By placing your trust and faith in Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

What kind of faith is saving faith? Faith is not an intellectual ascent or understanding of the historical facts of the life of Jesus or that He was a man who walked the earth. Saving faith is also not a crisis faith, where you get in a jam and call on God for a temporary help...then when the crisis is over...so goes your dependence and need for God.

Saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and eternal life. Not your own good works or what you can do...but trusting in what Jesus Christ has already done and settled for all of eternity in the heart of the living God.

Rev. 2:19 Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door...I will come in and dine with him and he with me." (Jesus will come in and become part of you by His Holy Spirit.)

What do you do now? Do you sincerely want to receive the gift of eternal life?

The Bible says..."If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved."..."For He (God) is faithful and just to forgive you of all sin."

All you have to do is pray this simple prayer...

Dear God, I am a sinner. I acknowledge that I cannot save myself. I thank you that you sent Jesus to die on a cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I believe that He is your Son and that he was resurrected from the dead. I believe that He is in Heaven now offering forgiveness. I open my heart and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and my Lord. Thank you God. I ask this in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, you have everlasting life.

John 6:47...Jesus said, "Truly, Truly, I say unto you, he who believes on me has everlasting life"

Welcome to the family of believers. We are not perfect...just forgiven.

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many others never understand.
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

Justin Bieber's laptop and camera were stolen last Tuesday and now an alleged "Justin Bieber naked photo scandal" has been leaked online.


According to Justin Bieber himself on Twitter, his laptop and cam were stolen Tuesday night while he was having a show with fellow Canadian, "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen at the Tacoma Dome in Washington, USA.



"s-cks when u take personal footage and people dont respect your privacy," posted Justin Bieber on Twitter. "yesterday during the show me and my tour manager josh had some stuff stolen really sucks. People should respect other's property."


Justin Bieber added that he had lots of personal footage (probably videos with girlfriend Selena Gomez?). "I had lot of personal footage on that computer and camera and this is what bothers me the most.
#lame #norespect"


And now, this is probably what Justin Bieber is worrying about after his laptop was stolen.


A scandal photo allegedly of Justin Bieber is spreading online, which shows a fully naked guy with a bird tattoo on his hip holding his birdie in front of the camera.


As we all know, Bieber also has a bird tattoo on his left hip and the guy is also as skinny as the singer, but the face isn't shown in the photo.


If that's really Bieber, then probably it was taken before he had a crown tattoo on his right collarbone last August (just like the one in the photo above).


A blurred copy of the photo was posted on Ace Showbiz, but was later removed. Unblurred copies of it however have already circulated on the web upon checking via Google Images.


In a recent report by TMZ, Justin Bieber reportedly has denied that he's the guy in the photo. (Thanks that it's not him, 'coz I don't like the birdie's appearance.)


Meanwhile, a certain "gexwy" has opened an account on Twitter to allege that he has videos of Justin Bieber from the stolen laptop. He even posted there links to a Youtube account "gexwy yo" containing videos of the singer.


"good job with the password protected @justinbieber weak."


"@justinbieber notice us and answer your dms or we are going to put the other videos from the camera out!"


"@justinbieber i got your stupid dms. I dont think so. Gonna show the world. TOMORROW."


"TOMORROW, u've been warned. Should of listened @justinbieber."


A bit worried Justin Bieber responded to the tweets: "@gexwy no matter what you have and what you put tomorrow i know my fans wont leave me. screw it. #toostrong."


That's right Bieber! (Maybe, the fans will adore you more with your naked pics.)


@gexwy replied to Bieber's tweet and said that he/she will leak a video at noon tomorrow (early morning MLA time). "@justinbieber that is what u think. We will see tomorrow at NOON. Last chance and the rest of u can just shutup. U have no idea what i have and when u see tomorrow u will feel tomorrow."


The said Twitter account already has over 50,000 followers, who probably are waiting for his/her next tweet and see if he/she indeed has Justin Bieber scandal videos on-hand.


LATEST UPDATE: As promised, @gexwy posted on Twitter a link to a video about Justin Bieber, and it's a newly-uploaded music video of "Beauty and a Beat" feat. Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Watch!


Now I get it. It was all a publicity stunt. That exchange of tweets between @justinbieber and @gexwy was staged and planned.


So Justin Bieber's stolen laptop and naked photo are nothing but a publicity to create buzz for his new music video? Nice one.


Read more: http://allanistheman.blogspot.com/2012/10/Justin-Bieber-Scandal-Nude-Photos-Are-Just-Publicity-Stunt.html#ixzz2ID2g3IXl

Becoming a teacher - Are you qualified?


The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was his 6th day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children. An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out".

"Yes," said the Lord, "but have you read the specs on this order?"

Teacher

Must stand above all students, yet be on their level

Must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subjects being taught


Must run on coffee and leftovers


Must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time


Must have more time for others than for themselves


Must have a smile that can endure pay cuts, problematic children and worried parents


Must go on teaching when parents question every move and others aren't supportive


Must have 6 pairs of hands

"Six pairs of hands," said the angel, "that's impossible".

"Well," said the Lord, "it's not the hands that are the problem. It's the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, "Three pairs of eyes… on a standard model?"

The Lord nodded his head, "One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what shouldn't be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, "I understand and believe I still believe in you", without so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord," said the angel, "this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't", said the Lord, "for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick… teaches a class of students that don't want to learn… has a special place in his/her heart for children who aren't their own… understands the struggles of those who have difficulty… never takes the students for granted… "

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating. "It's too soft-hearted," said the angel.

"Yes", said the Lord, "but also tough. You can't imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.

"Not only think," said the Lord, "but reason and compromise".

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek. "Well Lord," said the angel, "your job looks fine, but there's a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model. You can't imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek. It shone and glistened in the light. "It's not a leak," He said, "It's a tear".

"A tear? What's that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, "It's for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It's for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it's for the compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feels in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say goodbye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My," said the angel, "the tear is a great idea… you're a genius!!"

The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there…"

In life we can be hit with rocks so big, leaving us bruises and scars so deep, that one can barely get up. With every hit one falls, but God always catches us. He pulls those rocks off us and helps us by walking with us hand in hand.

Life will be filled with tests and hardships. I call them storms - storms that can consume so much of our being, storms that leave us holding on with all our might, struggling not to let go, struggling to survive.

Some of us get tested harder than others but the strong ones who live through these storms are the ones who come out victorious. There is an amazing feeling that comes with the victory of strength, perseverance, determination and most of all loyalty to God. With each fall… with each hit…a lesson is learned. With each lesson comes growth. With growth comes maturity. We learn not to regret the hardship, but to be thankful for it. Because of it we become better for it.

We must not look back at our past mistakes. We have to take those mistakes as part of our journey for a better future. We must embrace those experiences and allow them to mold us into the best we can be. No one knows what life will bring. Each day will come with it's own challenges, but we must be strong believing that God will get us through. Remembering his promise for our eternal peace and happiness.

An airstike by a Syrian regime fighter jet has killed at least eight children in the town of Moadamiyat al-Sham, southwest of Damascus.

The strategic suburb of Moadamiyat al-Sham is six km far from the president’s palace. Besides, there are several offices of sir Intelligence and special forces, north to this town.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, it had the names of eight children killed when a building hit by the strike collapsed.

One of the activists said that, the raid targeted a building, where more than 25 people are living, including women and children. The activist also confirmed that, the building was targeted with several rockets and that more than 20 dead bodies were lifted, and 18 bodies have been identified, including 8 children and 10 men and women.

Syrian activists from Moadamiyat al-Sham, posted video showed images of the limp body of a boy being pulled out from broken concrete, his back covered in dust and his front in blood.

For it's part, Syria's pro-regime Dunya TV claimed that, the building was a weapon store for terrorist groups. Adding, that 20 terrorists have been killed. Another pro-regime media referring to a security source, said that government forces have freed completely Damascus’s suburb Darayya from terrorists. Adding the terrorist gangs are fleeing from Darayya and are being pursued both by land and air forces.

It is worth mentioning here that, Damascus’s suburb Darayya is an important and strategic suburb for the regime for many reasons, as it is very close to Mazzeh area, home to a military air base, and Kfar Sousseh, where the government headquarters, the General Security intelligence agency head office, the Interior Ministry are located. It is also residence to many military, political leadership, ambassadors and businessmen from the Alawite sect.

In another incident, Turkey’s local TV channel reported that, a shell launched from the Syrian territory has detonated in the Turkish province of Kilis. Adding, the blast left a 5meter wide and 1.5-meter deep hole, in the orchard grounds. No casualties were reported. The channel did not mention if the Turkish forces had responded to this assault as they usually do in previous attacks.

Meanwhile, the Russian government reaffirmed, on Sunday, that it opposes any move to force Assad from power as part of any deal to get talks started on a political settlement.

Assad's ouster would be "impossible to implement," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian media.

“The demand of the Syrian opposition that it would start talks with Bashar Assad only if he agrees to resign, is a precondition that is now envisaged by the Geneva communique,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov stressed that, the Syrian opposition should better suggest more constructive ideas for talks, like President Assad himself does on his last speech .

Lavrov also reiterated his country's support for political transition in Syria saying that, Syrians themselves should decide about the future of their country without outside interference.

Opinion:

There is nothing new, as long as there is no deterrent to the Syrian regime. For this the regime will continue in his massacres, which always have a justification that the regime had targeted weapons stores for terrorists. Thus these attacks by the regime are not expected to stop, in particular that there is a battle taking place today between FSA and regime forces in areas around Damascus, and according to the media and some activists, the regime loses a lot in such battles.

Syrian regime announced for the fourth time, that Damascus's suburb Darayya is freed from the control of the FSA. At the same time, the regime did not prove even through a short video, that there is no trace of FSA therein. According to the latest information, the regime is carrying out heavy airstrikes on that area since the morning and targeting everything, but on the ground, only the FSA is controlling it.

Lavrov again confirms that he is a defender for the Syrian regime more than Bashar himself. Thus Russia's stance, based on Lavrov's attitude, gives the impression that attacking Damascus, is like attacking Moscow. However, other Russian officials attitude tends to moderation and some of them show that Assad is not important for Russia at all.

The situation on the ground, is still the same. The report of the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, stated that the FSA was last night able to seize many weapons that were hidden in secret stores, in Taftanaz air base. It also reported that, fights are going on between the FSA and the regime forces, in more than 30 sites, outside Damascus.

Finally, the situation in Syria is getting worse, almost no corner of the Syrian territory is now immune to the effects of this raging civil war. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes in search of the relative safety of refugee camps, across the borders in neighboring countries.

I have noticed throughout my life that despite religions (not simply Christianity) that give lip service to "loving thy neighbor as thyself," people chomp on the underdog. They do. Why? More delicious? That I do not know. The first and easiest answer is that the underdog is weaker, and when there's a pack mentality, the weak and meek, the young and the old are easier to savage.
And people are in a savage mood these days. Deprived globally by a few plutocrats/corporations who'd rather have all the riches of the world than feed the people of that world, city streets are getting meaner, and crimes against those that usually provoke protective instincts are skyrocketing. Why attack women, the mothers, sisters and lovers of the world? Why the particular interest in oppressing women these days? What's to gain?
You might not think it happens that often, but according to the Justice Dept., a woman is raped every two minutes in America. Other studies say that it occurs more frequently.
It seems as though every species of human is at war with somebody or something, even Earth itself. Within families there can be chronic, neurotic battling as a way to let off violent energy, and domestic abuse runs rampant during times of financial stress.
In the city, I've been forced to move to after I lost my home. The windows are barred and there are triple locks on the door. Though my neighborhood is lovely, a charming place with Victorians and Craftsman style homes, I'm told not to venture out at night because "the streets turn vicious." Bring on the pepper spray.
Why rape any human? Is it because that person is so lovely they cannot be resisted? That bit of fiction was actually believed and repeated by a young friend when I mentioned that I'd been at a train station where a woman had been raped later that week: "If you were younger or more attractive, maybe you'd have gotten raped there."
As I gasped at the very first time in my entire life that someone had mentioned that I was, indeed, "maturing," I schooled the lad on the error of his thought.
Attractiveness has nothing to do with the act of rape. Rape is an age-old way of exerting dominance over something, like bagging a gopher when big game hunting, that cannot say "no" to you. Bully for you, guys. Pick on someone your own size.
In India and places on this earth too numerous to mention -- women and children are victims to the rage of men who are not allowed to be men -- or at least educated, useful and balanced men -- by their government or religion. Wicked cycle, that.
In our country, a lack of creative fulfillment in life, hunger, no way to feed your family feed the impulse to take down the smaller creature. All these things, in this climate of hellish violence we encourage in our “society” through the "instruction" of violent video games, movies and eternal warfare, contribute to the cycle of violence. This is an unfortunate part of human nature, but absolutely undeniable.
The sorts of things we are seeing now are spawned by the worst in us, and it's time for a self-check as a nation. Our women are constant victims, and there are congressmen out there who want to deny them the right to handle this great wrong in any way that we see fit.
That this phenomena is occurring on more of a worldwide stage suggests that either the media is letting us all know how many vicious and "legitimate" (bitter laugh) rapes are happening these days, or that more vicious and "legitimate" rapes are occurring.
That we are surprised by gang rapes in India is odd to me. Rape happens in the good old U.S.A. all the time, and few give a damn.

Remember

Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits

Believe in yourself

Consider things from every angle

Don't give up and don't give in

Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come

Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches

Give more than you planned to

Hang on to your dreams

Ignore those who try to discourage you

Just do it

Keep trying to matter how hard it seems, it will get easier

Love yourself first and most

Make it happen

Never lie, cheat or steal, always strike a fair deal

Open your eyes and see things as they really are

Practice makes perfect

Quitters never win and winners never quit

Read, study and learn about everything important in your life

Stop procrastinating

Take control of your own destiny

Understand yourself in order to better understand others

Visualize it

Want it more than anything

Xcellerate your efforts

You are unique of all God's creations, nothing can replace you

Zero in on your target and go for it!

Dear Dra. Holmes:

Goodâ€,morningâ€,po, doc. May itatanong lang po ako, ano po ba ang muscleâ€,control?â€,Pag may ganyan ka po ba na kakayahan na mag-muscle control, hahanap-ha­napin ka po ba ng lalake doc?

-- Lorena



Dear Lorena:

Maraming salamat sa iyong sulat. Kapag ang pinag-uusapan ay sex at ginagamit ang mga salitang “muscle control”, ang pinag-uusapan nila ay ang pubococcygeus muscle (pc muscle) at anong magagawa nito. Ang pc muscle ay nakikita sa babae at lalake at naka-connect sa ating pubic bone hanggang sa ating coccyx (tail bone -- ‘yung buto sa dulo na nararamdaman natin kapag umuupo tayo). Ang pc muscle ang nagkokontrol ng takbo ng ihi natin. Ito rin ang muscle na nagko-contract (parang kumikirot na masarap) kapag tayo ay nakakarating sa langit.

Kapag ginagamit natin ang mga salitang muscle control, hindi natin ibig sabihin na ang pc muscle ay kinokontrol ang ihi natin. Ang ibig sabihin nito ay na ang pc muscle ay makokontrol ng babae para super lakas ang kapit sa ari ng lalake kapag ito ay nasa loob ng ari ng babae. Dahil masikip ang feeling para sa lalake, siyempre enjoy na enjoy siya.

Ayon sa ibang mga na-interview ko, kaya nilang ipa-ejaculate ang lalake sa pamamagitan lang ng muscle control. Pero kahit hindi ito magawa ng babae, mabuti pa rin kung siya ay may muscle control. Dalawa sa pinakamahalagang dahilan ay ang mga sumusunod:



1. Para hindi siya ma­ging sobrang luwag, lalo naâ€,pagkataposâ€,niyang makapanganak ng marami-rami (2, 3, 4 na anak). Ang pc muscle kasi ang nagbibigay-lakas sa pelvic floor natin. Ang pelvic floor ay ang nagdadala (?) /nagsasalo(?) ng pelvic cavity natin. Ang pelvic cavity ay ang “bahay” na nagbabahay ng ating mga organs para manganak: ovaries, fallopian tube, uterus, atbp. So, unang-una, ang (pc) muscle control ay mahalaga para sa kalusugan ng tao;



2. Pero ang (pc) muscle control ay mahalaga rin para sa kasarapan ng sex.

With the same levels of protein as a boiled egg white, along with vitamin C, calcium and 30 other constituents, semen might appear to be a multi-vitamin supplement. More research is required, though, before it can be packaged and sold as pills. Regardless, semen is already available as a face pack, touting its anti-aging benefits.



Read more: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-facts-about-body-secretions.php#ixzz2HuNtN9kf

Dear Dra. Holmes,


Hello! Gud am. Really need your help. Am married for one and a half years na. My husband and I been together for 2 years.

No baby yet. Doc, my problem is sobrang dalang namin mag-make love. As in siguro thrice a month lang.

Mag-make love lang for the sake na fertile lang ako madalas. I had boyfriends before pero siya lang talaga ‘yung ganto ka-boring. Naiiyak na nga po ‘ko madalas.

Kasi sobrang boring po ng sex life ko since nag-asawa ‘ko. First time to experience ‘yung ganto po when it comes to sex... Thank you in advance. Hope you could help me. More power to you. God bless you.

-- Melanie

Dear Melanie,


Maraming salamat sa sulat mo. Kahit na ang unang “problemang” minention mo sa akin ay wala ka pang anak, feeling ko sa iyo ay ‘di ito talaga ang problema mo.

In fact, kung ang problema mo ay mas malaki pa sa iyong binanggit, marahil mabuti nga na wala kayong anak, para mas madali para sa inyo na maghiwalay, kung sakaling ito ang magiging desisyon ninyo.


Ang problemang sinabi mo (na kutob ko ay mas malaki pa at hindi lang sex) ay na napaka-boring ng sex life ninyo. Nasabi ko na kutob kong mas malaki ito kaysa sa sex lang dahil para sa karamihan ng babae, kapag ang sex life nila ay boring, ibig sabihin na ang asawa niya ay boring.


Mas madali para sa karamihan ng mga lalaki na paghiwalayin ang sex at ang ibang damdamin kagaya ng pagmamahal at paggugusto.

‘Yan ang dahilan kaya mas madali para sa kanila na hindi madismaya kung ang asawa nila ay hindi exciting, hindi magaling sa kama, pero sa ibang bagay â€" sa pananalita, sa pagkukuwento â€" exciting pa rin sila. Para sa karamihan ng mga babae, kapag hindi ka exciting sa kama, ibig sabihin ay hindi ka exciting sa kanila bilang tao.


Hindi ko sinasabi na lahat ng babae ay ganito. Pero bago kita talagang matulungan, sana sulatan mo ulit ako, para malaman ko kung ok na ok kayo ng asawa mo at ang pinakamalaking problema mo ay na boring ang sex life ninyo O hindi lang ang sex life, kundi pati ang buhay ninyong mag-asawa ay boring.

Iba kasi ang “solusyon,” depende sa problema. Ingat and I hope to hear from you again, dearest Melanie

-- MG Holmes

It might be too late...
The hospital was unusually quiet that bleak January evening, quiet and still like the air before a storm. I stood in the nurses' station on the seventh floor and glanced at the clock.
It was 9 P.M. I threw a stethoscope around my neck and headed for room 712, last room on the hall. Room 712 had a new patient. Mr. Williams. A man all alone. A man strangely silent about his family.
As I entered the room, Mr. Williams looked up eagerly, but drooped his eyes when he saw it was only me, his nurse. I pressed the stethoscope over his chest and listened. Strong, slow, even beating. Just what I wanted to hear. There seemed little indication he had suffered a slight heart attack a few hours earlier.
He looked up from his starched white bed. "Nurse, would you - "He hesitated, tears filling his eyes. Once before he had started to ask me a question, but changed his mind. I touched his hand, waiting. He brushed away a tear. "Would you call my daughter? Tell her I've had a heart attack. A slight one. You see, I live alone and she is the only family I have."
His respiration suddenly speeded up. I turned his nasal oxygen up to eight liters a minute. "Of course I'll call her," I said, studying his face. He gripped the sheets and pulled himself forward, his face tense with urgency. "Will you call her right away - as soon as you can?"
He was breathing fast - too fast. "I'll call her the very first thing," I said, patting his shoulder. I flipped off the light. He closed his eyes, such young blue eyes in his 50 - year - old face. Room 712 was dark except for a faint night light under the sink. Oxygen gurgled in the green tubes above his bed. Reluctant to leave, I moved through the shadowy silence to the window. The panes were cold. Below a foggy mist curled through the hospital parking lot.
"Nurse," he called, "could you get me a pencil and paper?" I dug a scrap of yellow paper and a pen from my pocket and set it on the bedside table. I walked back to the nurses' station and sat in a squeaky swivel chair by the phone. Mr. Williams's daughter was listed on his chart as the next of kin. I got her number from information and dialed.
Her soft voice answered. "Janie, this is Sue Kidd, a registered nurse at the hospital. I'm calling about your father. He was admitted tonight with a slight heart attack and " "No!" she screamed into the phone, startling me. "He's not dying is he ?"
"His condition is stable at the moment," I said, trying hard to sound convincing. Silence. I bit my lip. "You must not let him die!" she said. Her voice was so utterly compelling that my hand trembled on the phone. "He is getting the very best care."
"But you don't understand," she pleaded. "My daddy and I haven't spoken. On my 21st birthday, we had a fight over my boyfriend. I ran out of the house. I-I haven't been back. All these months I've wanted to go to him for forgiveness. The last thing I said to him was, 'I hate you."
Her voice cracked and I heard her heave great agonizing sobs. I sat, listening, tears burning my eyes. A father and a daughter, so lost to each other. Then I was thinking of my own father, many miles away. It has been so long since I had said, "I love you."
As Janie struggled to control her tears, I breathed a prayer. "Please God, let this daughter find forgiveness." "I'm coming. Now! I'll be there in 30 minutes," she said.
Click. She had hung up. I tried to busy myself with a stack of charts on the desk. I couldn't concentrate. Room 712; I knew I had to get back to 712.
I hurried down the hall nearly in a run. I opened the door. Mr. Williams lay unmoving. I reached for his pulse. There was none. "Code 99, Room 712. Code 99. Stat." The alert was shooting through the hospital within seconds after I called the switchboard through the intercom by the bed. Mr. Williams had a cardiac arrest. With lightning speed I leveled the bed and bent over his mouth, breathing air into his lungs (twice). I positioned my hands over his chest and compressed. One, two, three. I tried to count.
At fifteen I moved back to his mouth and breathed as deeply as I could. Where was help? Again I compressed and breathed, Compressed and . He could not die! "O God," I prayed. "His daughter is coming! Don't let it end this way."
The door burst open. Doctors and nurses poured into the room pushing emergency equipment. A doctor took over the manual compression of the heart. A tube was inserted through his mouth as an airway. Nurses plunged syringes of medicine into the intravenous tubing. I connected the heart monitor. Nothing. Not a beat.
My own heart pounded. "God, don't let it end like this. Not in bitterness and hatred. His daughter is coming. Let her find peace."
"Stand back," cried a doctor. I handed him the paddles for the electrical shock to the heart. He placed them on Mr. Williams's chest. Over and over we tried. But nothing. No response. Mr. Williams was dead. A nurse unplugged the oxygen. The gurgling stopped. One by one they left, grim and silent.
How could this happen? How? I stood by his bed, stunned. A cold wind rattled the window, pelting the panes with snow. Outside -everywhere - seemed a bed of blackness, cold and dark. How could I face his daughter?
When I left the room, I saw her against a wall by a water fountain. A doctor who had been inside 712 only moments before stood at her side, talking to her, gripping her elbow. Then he moved on, leaving her slumped against the wall. Such pathetic hurt reflected from her face. Such wounded eyes. She knew.
The doctor had told her that her father was gone. I took her hand and led her into the nurses' lounge. We sat on little green stools, neither saying a word. She stared straight ahead at a pharmaceutical calendar, glass-faced, almost breakable-looking.
"Janie, I'm so, so sorry," I said. It was pitifully inadequate. "I never hated him, you know. I loved him," she said. God, please help her, I thought. Suddenly she whirled toward me. "I want to see him."
My first thought was, Why put yourself through more pain? Seeing him will only make it worse. But I got up and wrapped my arm around her. We walked slowly down the corridor to 712. Outside the door I squeezed her hand, wishing she would change her mind about going inside. She pushed open the door.
We moved to the bed, huddled together, taking small steps in unison. Janie leaned over the bed and buried her face in the sheets. I tried not to look at her at this sad, sad good-bye. I backed against the bedside table. My hand fell upon a scrap of yellow paper. I picked it up. It read:
My dearest Janie,

I forgive you. I pray you will also forgive me. I know that you love me.

I love you too,
Daddy

The note was shaking in my hands as I thrust it toward Janie. She read it once. Then twice. Her tormented face grew radiant. Peace began to glisten in her eyes. She hugged the scrap of paper to her breast.
"Thank You, God," I whispered, looking up at the window. A few crystal stars blinked through the blackness. A snowflake hit the window and melted away, gone forever. Life seemed as fragile as a snowflake on the window. But thank You, God, that relationships, sometimes fragile as snowflakes, can be mended together again - but there is not a moment to spare.
I crept from the room and hurried to the phone. I would call my father. I would say, "I love you."
P.S. I think it would be a wonderful idea for each of us to take a minute of our busy day and tell people that are special to us that we love them....before it's too late! Don't you?

We never get what we want,
We never want what we get,
We never have what we like,
We never like what we have.
And still we live & love.
That's life...

The best kind of friends,
Is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with,
Never say a word,
And then walk away feeling like
it was the best conversation you've ever had..

It's true that we don't know
What we've got until it's gone,
But it's also true that we don't know
What we've been missing until it arrives..

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance
that they'll love you back!
Don't expect love in return;
Just wait for it to grow in their heart,
But if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours.

Nagsumbong sa himpilan ng pulisya ang isang ginang kasama ang kanyang biyenan nang gahasain umano siya ng kanyang dalawang kapitbahay at katabi pa umano ang kanyang lasing na mister sa Caloocan City kamakalawa.


Nakilala ang mga suspek na sina Nolito Quitalig, 37, at Jovani Polloso, 35, kapwa ng PNR compound ng nasabing lungsod.


Sa pahayag ng biktimang edad 26, alas-tres ng umaga nang magising siya katabi ang mga suspek habang natutulog ang asawa sa tabi.


Nagawa umanong makapagparaos ng dalawang suspek nang pagbantaan siyang papatayin ang kanyang mister kapag pumalag sa gusto ng dalawang suspek at nang makaraos ay tumakas.

Nakadetine ngayon sa Manila Police District-Police Station 4 ang isang empleyado ng Manila City Hall matapos ireklamo ng kanyang ex-girlfriend na isang casino dealer dahil sa pag-upload sa Facebook ng kanilang mga ‘sex photos’ sa Maynila.


Ayon kay SPO1 Jacob Cebreros, ng MPD-PS 4, alas-2:50 ng madaling-araw nang arestuhin ang suspek na si Fritz Floreindo, 27, 1326 Vicente Cruz St. Sampaloc, Maynila sa loob ng Kubo sa Biak na Bato Bar and Restaurant sa Retiro St. Sampaloc, Maynila.


Nalaman na nagreklamo si Eva, 20, sa pulisya matapos madiskubreng ini-upload ni Floreindo ang larawan ng kanilang pagtatalik.


Bago i-upload ang kanilang sex photos, nabatid na nakaaway umano ni Eva ang kaibigang babae ni Floreindo at doon na umano nagsimula ang pananakot ng suspek hanggang totohanin nito ang pag-upload ng kanilang sex photos.


Kaugnay nito, itinanggi ng suspek na siya ang nag-upload ng sex photos nila ni Eva at sinabi nito na may access ang biktima sa kanyang FB account.


Narekober naman ng pulisya ang cellphone ng suspek na naglalaman ng malalaswang larawan pero wala rito ang pinabubura ni ‘Eva’ na sex video nila ng dating karelasyon.


Nahaharap ngayon sa kasong paglabag sa RA 9262, kilala bilang Protection law para sa kababaihan at ang posibleng paglabag sa cyber crime.

Value your health. Take good care of yourself because many people pray just to be healthy like you. Health is wealth.

Value your life, don't lose it. Don't even think of suicide because many people wished they had enough time to accomplish their dreams. You still have a chance to do that so why give up?

Value your freedom because so many people are willing to spend all they have to buy their freedom. If you doubt this, go to the prisons.

Value your parents irrespective of their status, whether rich or poor. If you think I'm wrong then go to orphanages and see how the kids wish they had someone they could call mother or father, no matter how bad they are.

Value your friends because they are not easy to come by. Be a good friend too. Be left alone on an island for a year and see if you will not contemplate suicide.

Value the food you eat, no matter how cheap because so many people have enough money to buy it but can't eat it because of their health.

Value your job because so many jobless people out there envy your job and wish to have it.

Value what you have because you might not have a chance to get it again. They say a bird in hand is worth 10,000 in the bush.

Value the little things you are given because they have the tendency to attract bigger ones.

Value yourself, value people and value the things around you, no matter how little. That's the best way to live and enjoy life.

Tribute To My Loving Wife

This morning I wrote something about my wife I like to share with you. I hope it can bless others as it has blessed me.

My wife just came downstairs. And you know, for those of you are blessed with a wonderful spouse, it is nothing like a blessing of a smiling woman (or for the ladies, a smiling man) first thing in the morning. Oh it could be so different. I remember there was a time where I was the nag until the Holy Spirit started to nag me!

The pleasant aroma of a warm spirit in the form of my wife is unequaled. There hasn't been bread baking, bread pudding cooking, sweet potato pie baking, cinnamon rolls baking, or the aroma of any favorite thing, that equals the fragrance of my spouse when she has joy. When she is sad or angry, the fragrance is a little harder to pick up, but it's still there. The Lord has definitely blessed me with a wonderful wife.

Pormal na hiniling kahapon ni Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago sa Commission on Audit (COA) na imbestigahan ang diumano’y “Christmas gift” na ibinigay sa mga senador noong Disyembre.


Sa kanyang liham kay COA chairman Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan, hiniling ni Santiago na imbestigahan ang aniya’y pag-abuso sa ‘savings’ ng Senado na ibinahagi ni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile sa mga senador mula P250,000 hanggang P1.6 milyon.


Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang na walang pakialam ang palasyo ng Malacañang sa ginawang pamamahagi ng cash gift ni Enrile sa mga senador nitong Disyembre.


Aniya, bagama’t public fund ito, hindi maaaring manghimasok ang eheku­tibo sa ginawa ng Senado sa kanilang pondo dahil na rin sa separation of power.


Itinanggi naman ni Enrile na binulsa nila ang savings ng Senado.


Aniya, hindi maaaring maibulsa ang savings ng Senado dahil anumang pondo ng kanilang tanggapan ay dumadaan sa ‘audit’ ng COA.

Pananampalataya, Himala at Pag-asa:
Ang Panata sa Poong Nazareno (Last Part)

Milagro kay Marlon


Halos walong taon nang namamanata sa Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno ang 28-taong gulang na si Marlon Estero, may kapareha sa buhay at naitatawid ang pang-araw-araw na pangangaila­ngan sa pamamagitan ng pagtitinda ng gulay sa Quiapo.


Simple at hindi man kasing-garbo ng buhay ng mga spoiled brat na ma­yayaman, kapag nakaharap si Marlon ay madadama ang galak sa puso nito dahil sa dalisay na pana­nampalataya sa Itim na Nazareno.


“Nagsimula po akong mamanata nang makaligtas po ako sa salvage. Napagkamalan po sigu­ro akong pusher ng drugs dahil ‘yung lugar na pinagdamputan po sa akin sa Caloocan (City) ay malala ang bentahan ng iligal na droga.


“Dinala po ako sa isang hindi ko na po alam na lugar. Kinukuryente po ako. Dasal po ako nang dasal at lahat po yata ng santo na alam ko ay natawag ko na… ang hirap po, ang sakit-sakit ng katawan ko, at pagdating po sa akala ko’y katapusan ko na ay tumawag po ako at mataimtim na nagdasal sa Poong Nazareno.


“Pagkatapos po akong tortyurin, binaril po ako sa noo na tumagos sa kaliwa kong panga. Nabulag po ang isang mata ko dahil sa pagkakabaril sa akin.


“Wala na po akong malay-tao at nagising na sa ospital. Pero ang pagkakasabi po sa akin ay nakita ako ng isang mag-asawa na nakatira sa ilalim ng tulay na palutang-lutang po sa ilog.”


“Naniniwala po ako na kaya po Niya ako binigyan ng pangalawang buhay ay para sa aking misyon na maging isang deboto ng Itim na Nazareno at maging mabuting taga­sunod po sa aral at pagsasakripisyo ng Panginoon,” ayon sa bulag na si Marlon.


Gumaling si Luisa


Isa pa sa deboto na nakaranas ng paghihimala ng Itim na Nazareno ay si Ma. Luisa Avancenia, 56-anyos, maybahay at taga-Caloocan City.


“Ako po ay nakaranas ng isang himala noong 2012. Mayroon akong bukol sa kanang dede ko. Namamanata po ako sa Poong Nazareno.


“Pagkatapos po ng 6 weeks, biglang nawala ang bukol ko… kaya alam ko po na isang himala ang nangyari sa akin… sa tulong ng pamamanata ko sa Poong Nazareno,” paghahayag ng ginang.
Pananampalataya at pag-asa


Taun-taon, makikita ang masidhing pananampalataya ng mga Katoliko sa poong Maykapal lalo na ng mga deboto pagsapit ng kapista­han ng Itim na Nazareno sa Quiapo.


Totoo man ang mga himala, ang mahalaga ay hindi nawawalan ng pag-asa ang maraming Filipino at sa pamamagitan ng pa­nanampalataya sa Diyos ay hindi basta-basta bumibigay sa anumang pagsubok at hamon ng buhay.


Sabi nga ni Bishop Bacani, maraming deboto ang nagsasakri­pisyo dahil tunay na dinidinig at tinutugunan ng Itim na Nazareno ang kahilingan ng mga mana­nampalatayang Filipino kaya nagdudumilat ang katotohanan na marami ang namamanata sa Kanyang kapistahan.

Inamin naman ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na duda siya kung nagkaroon talaga ng shootout sa pagitan ng mga miyembro ng Quezon-PNP at sa 13-kataong napatay sa checkpoint.


Pinaliwanag ni Pa­ngulong Aquino na kaya niya ipinag-utos ang malalimang imbestigasyon sa insidenteng ito ay dahil sa kanyang pagdududa sa mga natatanggap na impormasyon hinggil dito.


Sa inisyal na impormasyong nakuha ng Pa­ngulo kay PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, ay napaniwala umano siya na may naganap talagang shootout dahil kahit 13-katao ang napatay sa sakay ng dalawang SUV, may mga sugatan naman sa mga pulis na nagmamando ng checkpoint na patunay na may engkwentro.


“However, I asked for a lot of the details at doon sa details medyo napag-isip na ako doon sa salaysay na ibinigay, at ­brining-up (bring up) ko ito kay Director General Purisima and (to) Secretary (Mar) Roxas also na to look into what seemingly was not normative or normal behavior,” ayon sa Pangulo.


Sinabi ng Pangulo na sa checkpoint, ang mga pulis ang pinapaulanan ng bala ng mga kriminal hanggang magkaroon ng habulan. “Dito parang sa checkpoint mismo, naubos lahat nu’ng supposed to be dadakpin,” pahayag ng Pangulo.


“Well, there will be justice. ‘Yung where it will lead to, I cannot tell at this point in time,” dagdag pa nito. (Boyet Jadulco)



15 pulis pinagulong ang ulo



Dahil sa alegasyong rubout at hindi “shootout” o kaya’y ambus ang nangya­ring insidente na ikinamatay ng 13-katao sa Barangay Lumutan, Atimonan, Quezon, sinibak sa kanilang posisyon ang mga kasangkot na pulis at nirestrikto sa kani-kanilang kampo, ayon kay Department of ­Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas II.


Kasama sa mga sinibak si Quezon provincial police director Valeriano De Leon, Supt. Hansel Marantan na lider ng op­rasyon at kasalukuyang deputy ng intelligence division ng Police Regional Office 4A, at Chief Inspector Grant Gollod, hepe ng Atimonan police.





Binibilang ng team ng Scene of the Crime Ope­ratives (SOCO) ang mga balang pumasok at luma­bas sa mga sasakyan ng mga napaslang sa Atimonan, Quezon. (Arnold Bandala)

Ang pagsibak ay batay sa rekomendasyon ng fact-finding committee na binuo ng Philippine Natio­nal Police (PNP) national headquarters sa pangunguna ni Chief Supt. Federico Castro, deputy director ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).


Sa press conference kahapon, sinabi nina Roxas at PNP chief, Gen. Alan Purisima na lumabag sa standard operating procedure ang mga pulis sa kanilang ‘operasyon’.


Base ito sa resulta ng imbestigasyon ng fact-finding committee ng pulisya.


Ilan sa mga paglabag na naitala ay kawalan ng signage sa ikalawang checkpoint; walang marked police vehicle; at hindi nakauniporme ang mga pulis.

Ipinagtataka rin ng mga superior ni Marantan kung bakit naroon siya sa operasyon, gayung intelligence officer siya.


Sa iba pang kaganapan, nabatid sa imbestigasyon na 15 pulis at 25 naka-fatigue camouflage na sundalo sa pangunguna ni Lt. Col. Monico Abang ang nasa operasyon.


Ang unang SUV ay nagtamo ng 186 tama ng bala, samantalang mga 50 naman sa ikalawang sasak­yan. P265 libo lang ang narekober na cash sa mga sasakyan; may 15 armas ang narekober dito, kabilang ang 13 lisensiyado at 1 ang walang lisensya at isa ang may mission order ng PNP. Walo rin sa 13 nasawi ang nagpositibo sa paraffin test. (JBSalarzon/Rossel Calderon)

[/img]

You were designed to know God in a personal wayâ€"to have a relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ. How do you start a relationship with God?

1. Realize that you are a sinner.
No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person. That is because we are all sinners. The Bible says, "No one is goodâ€"not even one." We cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ.

2. Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you.
The Bible tells us that "God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while were still sinners." This is the Good News, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it.

3. Repent of your sin.
The Bible tells us, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." The word repent means to change our direction in life. Instead of running from God, we can run toward Him.

4. Receive Jesus Christ into your life.
Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church. It is having Christ Himself take residence in your life and heart. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in . . ." If you would like to have a relationship with Christ, simply pray this prayer and mean it in your heart.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."

A Friend Is...

Anyone can stand by you when you are right,
But a Friend will stand by you even when you are wrong.

A simple friend identifies himself when he calls.
A real friend doesn't have to.

A simple friend opens a conversation
With a full news bulletin on his life.
A real friend says, "What's new with you?"

A simple friend thinks the problems you whine about are recent.
A real friend says,
"You've been whining about the same thing for 14 years.
Get off your duff and do something about it."

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook
And stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over
When you have an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after
You've had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

CBS News) The national flu epidemic is getting worse by the day: On Wednesday, Boston -- with a population of at least 600,000 -- declared a public health emergency after the virus killed more than a dozen people.


At least three more states -- Montana, South Dakota and Arizona -- are now reporting widespread flu, bringing the total to 44 states. And the CDC says the percentage of people going to the hospital for treatment of flu symptoms has doubled in the past month.


The emergency in Boston was declared after confirmed cases of flu reached 700. There were just 70 at this time last year. Across the state, 18 patients have died.


"In the last two weeks alone we've doubled our number," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. "So, if we continue at this rate to see new cases, we'll have an explosion of flu in the city of Boston. We really need to get ahead of it at this point in time."


Flu surge leads to Boston public health emergency
Centers for Disease Control: High level of flu reports in 29 states


To do that, officials are urging vaccination for everyone six months and older. Clinics will be giving free shots this weekend.


Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania is getting as many as 100 patients a day with flu-like symptoms. A tent has been set up to handle the less serious cases.


"We need a full functioning active emergency dept for the community," said nurse Terry Burger, who is in charge of infection control. "And this just enables us to see the patients that are not as sick. So mild illness, mild injuries...see them quickly, and then discharge them."


About 60 miles south in Chadds Ford, the entire Coan family got the vaccine, but eight-year-old Alex came down with the flu anyway.


"You cough a lot," he said, "kind of sneeze a little, lay in bed all day."


His mother Christine said: "As a mom, I was very disappointed that he got the flu, because I had to fight him tooth and nail to get the flu shot."


In recent years, the vaccine has been about 60 to 70 percent effective at preventing the flu. Recently, scientists discovered this year's vaccine is not protecting against a specific strain.


Dr. William Shaffner, who is on the panel that decides what goes in the vaccine, said: "There is an influenza B strain that's out there, an additional strain that's causing about 10 percent of the mischief. And that's not in the vaccine and that accounts for some of the influenza that's out there."


The CDC told CBS News this year's vaccine is still very well-matched to the strains that are out there. Even when the flu vaccine does not prevent the flu, it can still stop complications including pneumonia and even death.


As for how does this outbreak compares historically -- a lot of people don't realize that the flu varies in intensity from year to year. In some years it's mild; it could be moderate; or it gets to be severe. The CDC told CBS News that this is a moderate to severe season, but it's well within what's historically a range of normal.

Isang dalagang sari-sari store owner ang pinakabagong miyembro ng 'millio­naires club' matapos masambot ang jackpot ng Grand Lotto draw na may premyong umabot sa P95 milyon.


Ayon kay Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Ferdinand Rojas II, solong nakuha ng 38-anyos na dalaga ang winning combination na 55-38-13-28-41-39 ng Grand Lotto na binola noong Sabado ng gabi.


Nabatid na tumaya lamang P20 ang dalaga at tumataya ito sa pamamagitan ng lucky pick. Pitong taon na umanong tumataya sa lotto ang winner mula sa Laguna.


Plano ng winner na bayaran ang kanyang housing loan matapos makatanggap ng 'forfeiture notice' mula sa bangko na kanilang pinagkakautangan.


Balak din ng winner na ipamahagi ang kanyang napanalunan sa kanyang mga kapatid at mag-invest sa iba pang negosyo.


Nalaman lang winner na napanalunan niya ang jackpot prize ng Grand Lotto nang bumili ito ng diyaryo sa katabi nilang tindahan.

Patay ang dalawa katao at sugatan ang 4 na iba pa nang bulabugin sila ng putok at pagsabog ng granada na kagagawan ng tatlong hindi pa nakikilalang salarin habang napa-party sa loob ng compound ng bagong tayong bahay sa bayan ng Bocaue, Bulacan kamakalawa ng gabi.


Ayon sa inisyal na report ng Bocaue police, tatlo ang salarin na sumugod dakong alas-otso ng gabi.
Sa imbestigasyon, dead-on-the-spot si Raymond Samson nang sunud-sunod na putukan ng mga salarin pagkatapos nitong pagbuksan ang mga ito ng gate.


Pagkapasok sa compound ay isinunod na pinutukan ang may-ari ng bagong gawang bahay na si Mario Mendoza.


Isinugod sa ospital ang biktima pero binawian ng buhay habang nilalapatan ng lunas.


Matapos barilin si Mendoza ay naghagis ang isa sa mga suspek ng granada sa kumpulan ng mga tao at saka tumakas. Tinamaan ng shrapnel sina Valeriano Nicolas, Raul Samonte, Ronaldo dela Cruz at Alberto Alberto, pawang nasa tamang edad. Sinasabing si Mendoza ang target ng pag-atake.

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan --- 'Di na nakapalag pa ang isang 31-anyos na ginang matapos mahulog sa ikinasang entrapment operation ng mga operatiba ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cagayan Valley sa kasong child abuse at human trafficking sa lungsod na ito kamakalawa.


Kinilala ng NBI-Cagayan Valley ang suspek na si Grace Aligado, nangungupahan lamang sa Soldiers Hill sa nabangit na lugar at tubong Antique.


Ayon sa NBI-Cagayan Valley, nagpasaklolo ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 2 matapos itawag ng isang concerned citizen mula sa Soldiers Hill sa lungsod na may nagbebenta ng sanggol sa halagang P15,000.


Dito na agad umaksyon ang NBI at DSWD kung saan ay isang operatiba ang nagpanggap na buyer ng sanggol dala ang marked money kung saan dito na hinuli ang suspek kasama ang paslit na wala pang isang buwan.


Nabatid din sa NBI na ang sanggol ay iniluwal nito sa Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) noong Disyembre 13, 2012 matapos mabuntis sa kanyang kasintahan mula sa lalawigan ng Apayao at kaya niya umano ito ibinebenta ay upang pagtakpan ang kasalanang nagawa dahil ito ay may asawa sa Antique.


Sa kasalukuyan ay hinihintay na lamang ng NBI ang kumpirmasyon mula sa CVMC kung dito nga talaga isinilang ang sanggol at kung tunay ngang ina ng paslit ang suspek habang nasa kostodiya ng awtoridad.

happy au si votives nga gisugat niya ang bag-ong tuig kuyog sa iyang anak og mama sa iyang anak....
http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/pmagtolis/prime_zps21996c77.jpg

In a time of rising inequality and sluggish growth, rags to riches stories are harder than ever to come by. Indeed, many of the richest people in the world were born into their wealth.

That makes it even more essential that we remember the people who started with nothing, and through hard work, talent, grit, and a bit of luck, managed to rise to the very top.

These 20 stories remind us that it's possible to overcome just about anything, from parents passing away, to extreme poverty, and more.

Maria Das Gracas Silva Foster escaped a Brazilian shantytown to become Petrobras' first female CEO



financialtimes/FlickrThe current head of Brazilian oil giant Petrobras spent her childhood in Morro do Adeus, an extremely poor neighborhood that became a shantytown. Her mother worked constantly and her father was an alcoholic. She collected cans and paper to make extra money.

She started as an intern at Petrobras in 1978, but broke through barriers to become the company's first female head of field engineering. Bloomberg reports that her tireless work ethic has earned her the nickname Caveirao, for the armored vehicles police use to clean up crime ridden Brazilian neighborhoods. She became the company's first female CEO in February.

Source: Bloomberg

Do Won Chang worked three jobs to make ends meet before starting Forever 21



LAEDCorp via YouTubeDo Won Chang and his wife, Jin Sook, moved to America from Korea in 1981. When they first arrived, Do Won was forced to work three jobs at the same time to support them, as a janitor, a gas station attendant, and in a coffee shop. Eventually, they were able to open their first clothing store in 1984.

That one store grew into Forever 21, which pioneered fast fashion and is now a multi-national, 480 store empire that generates around $3 billion in sales a year. It's a family business, with the couple's daughters Linda and Esther helping to run the company.

Source: Forbes

Harold Simmons grew up in a shack without electricity and became a multi-billionaire



Now a billionaire several times over, Harold Simmons grew up in the extremely rural town of Golden, Texas, where he lived in a "shack" that had no plumbing or electricity. He still managed to make it to the University of Texas, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. and masters in Economics.

His first venture was a series of drugstores, the first of which was almost entirely financed with a loan. That became a 100 store chain that he sold to Eckerd for $50 million. From there he went on to become a master of the corporate buyout. He currently owns 6 companies traded on the NYSE, including Titanium Metals Corporation, the world's largest producer of titanium. 

Source: Forbes, D Magazine

Zdenek Bakala fled communist Czechoslovakia with only $50 and is now a coal magnate



TuckIn 1980, when he was 19 years old, Bakala fled communist Czechoslovakia with a $50 dollar bill wrapped in plastic wrap hidden in a sandwich. He made it to Lake Tahoe, where he washed dishes at a Harrah's casino.

He eventually got an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Dartmouth. He went into banking, and eventually back to his home company, opening Credit Suisse First Boston's first officer in Prague after the Wall fell. presides over a coal company with a $2.52 billion market cap and eight production sites across Central Europe, which broke ground on the first privately owned coal mine in Central Europe since 1992. 

Source: The Wall Street Journal

George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary to become one of the world's most successful investors



George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary after his father paid a government employee, whose Jewish wife he had helped hide in the countryside, to let him pose as his godson. After the war, he escaped the country, which had come under communist rule, in 1947, to stay with relatives in London. Soros put himself through the London School of Economics by working as a waiter and railway porter.

After graduating, Soros sold goods at a souvenir shop before writing managing directors at merchant banks in London until he finally got a job. That was the beginning of a long and enormously successful career in finance, including his famous bet against the British pound in 1992, which earned him more than a billion dollars in profit in one swoop.

Source: Soros: The Life And Times Of A Messianic Billionaire, The Telegraph

Guy Laliberté ate fire on the streets before introducing Cirque du Soleil to the world



The Canadian-born Laliberté began his circus career busking on the streets: playing accordion, walking on stilts and eating fire. He gambled by bringing a successful troupe from Quebec to the Los Angeles Arts Festival in 1987, with no return fare. The bet paid off, and the circus group was eventually brought to Las Vegas, where they became the world famous Cirque du Soleil we know today.

Today, Laliberté is the CEO of Cirque, a professional poker player and space tourist, with a total net-worth of $2.5 billion.

Source: Celebs101

John Paul DeJoria lived in his car before John Paul Mitchell Systems took off



Eric Henderson As a first generation American, DeJoria had it rough from the beginning. His German and Italian parents divorced when he was two, and he sold Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his family before he turned 10. He was eventually sent to live in a foster home in Los Angeles.

DeJoria spent some time as an L.A. gang member before joining the military. After trying his hand as an employee for Redken Laboratories, he took a $700 dollar loan and created John Paul Mitchell Systems. He hawked the company's shampoo door-to-door, living out of his car while doing so. But the quality of the product could not be denied, and now JPM Systems is worth over $900 million annually. He also created Patron Tequila and has a hand in a variety of industries, from diamonds to music.

Source: Forbes

Ursula Burns grew up in a housing project on Manhattan's Lower East Side and now runs Xerox



Before the Lower East Side was cool, it was a hub for gangs. Burns was raised by her single mother in a housing project there. Her mother ran a daycare center out of her home and ironed shirts so that she could afford to send Ursula to Catholic school. She went to NYU, and from there became an intern at Xerox.

She's now Xerox's CEO and chairwoman. Burns is the first African-American woman to lead a Fortune 500 Company.

Source: Bloomberg

Howard Schultz grew up in the Brooklyn projects before becoming CEO of Starbucks



Robert SorboSchultz grew up in the Bayview projects of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He always wanted to climb "over the fence" and go beyond the lifestyle provided by his truck-driving father. Despite destitution, he excelled at sports and earned a football scholarship to the University of Northern Michigan.

After graduating with a degree in communications, Schultz went to work for Xerox before discovering a small coffee shop called Starbucks. Enamored with the coffee, he left Xerox to become the company's chief executive in 1987. After beginning with 60 shops, Starbucks now has over 16,000 outlets worldwide, giving Schultz a net worth of $1.5 billion. He even went on hiatus and came back as CEO to lead Starbucks out of a decline.

Source: Mirror News

Li Ka-shing quit school at 15 to work in a plastics factory and is now the world's richest East Asian



The family of Li Ka-shing fled mainland China for Hong Kong in 1940, and Li's father died of tuberculosis when  he was just 15. Quitting school to work to support his family, Li made plastics and later plastic flowers for U.S. export.

By 1950 Li was able to start his own company, Cheung Kong Industries. While at first manufacturing plastics, the company later moved into real estate. Similarly, Li expanded his ownership of different companies, and today has his hand in banking, cellular phones, satellite television, cement production, retail outlets, hotels, domestic transportation, airports, electric power, steel production, ports and shipping, and investing in cool apps, among other industries.

Source: Harvard Business Publishing

Francois Pinault was a high school dropout who now leads luxury goods group PPR



Pinault quit high school in 1947 after being teased for his poor background. He joined his family's timber trading business and in the 1970s began buying up smaller firms. His ruthless business tactics â€" including slashing jobs and selling his timber company only to buy it back at a fraction of the cost when the market crashed â€" gave him a reputation as a "predator." He had similar tactics in the real estate business, and did well buying French junk bonds and taking government money to save businesses from bankruptcy.

His self-made worth helped him start PPR, a luxury goods group that sells brands like Gucci and Stella McCartney. At one point the richest man in France, Pinault and his family are now worth an estimated $13 billion, and have historic homes around the world.

Leonardo Del Vecchio was an orphaned factory worker whose eyeglasses empire today makes Ray-Bans and Oakleys



Del Vecchio was one of five children who could not be supported by his widowed mother. After growing up in an orphanage, he went to work in a factory making molds for auto parts and eyeglass frames, where he lost part of his finger.

At 23, he opened his own molding shop. That eyeglass frame shop expanded to the world's largest maker of sunglasses and prescription eyeware. Luxottica makes brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, with 6,000 retail shops like Sunglass Hut and LensCrafters. His estimated net worth is now $11.5 billion dollars.

Source: Forbes

Kirk Kerkorian went from boxer and Royal Air Force pilot to Las Vegas mega-resort owner



Kerkorian, who learned English on the streets, dropped out of 8th grade to become a boxer. His family was a casualty of the Great Depression, and Kerkorian went about finding skills to help bring income home. He became a daredevil pilot for the Royal Air Force during World War II, delivering supplies over the Atlantic on routes that would crash one in four planes.

From the money he made running supplies, Kerkorian became a high roller on the craps table and eventually a real estate magnate in Las Vegas: he bought The Flamingo and built The International and MGM Grand, stalwarts of the Vegas scene. He's worth a few billion dollars today.

Source: Smart Money Daily

Sheldon Adelson is another Las Vegas hotels magnate who tried his hand at a few industries



Adelson grew up in tenement housing in Massachusetts, where he shared a bedroom with his parents and three siblings.  His father was a Lithuanian taxi driver and his mother had a knitting store. When he was 12 years old, he started selling newspapers and a few years later ran a vending machine scheme on the same corner.

Adelson tried his hand at a few different industries, from packing hotel toiletries to mortgage brokering. His biggest break came from developing a computer trade show. He turned that wealth into a purchase of the Sands Hotel & Casino, and later the mega-resort The Venetian.

Source: Minyanville

Ingvar Kamprad was born in a small village in Sweden and created a mail-order business that became IKEA



Kamprad lived the farm life growing up. But he always had a knack for business, buying matches in bulk from Stockholm to sell to his neighbors. He later expanded to fish, Christmas decorations, and pens.

Not satisfied with the small stuff, Kamprad took money from his father (a reward for good grades) and created a mail-order business that eventually became IKEA (the name comes from his initials plus those of his village and family farm). Furniture became the company's biggest seller, and Kamprad's use of local manufacturers kept his prices low. Once one of the world's richest men, his net worth has fallen recently to a an estimated $3 billion.

Source: Smart Money Daily

Roman Abramovich was an orphan who turned an expensive wedding gift into an oil empire



Eddie Keogh. After his parents died when he was just four, the Russian Abramovich was raised by his uncle and grandmother. Abramovich got his first break from an expensive wedding gift from his in-laws. He dropped out of college to pursue his entrepreneurial interests, which at first included selling plastic ducks out of an apartment in Moscow.

He managed a take over of oil giant Sibneft at a bargain price in 1995. He continued to flip his investments into even larger acquisitions, including Russian Aluminum and steelmaker Evraz Group. Over the years Abramovich has been accused of shady dealings, from paying out bribes and protection money to having a role in the gang feuds over aluminum smelters. It seems that being ruthless has paid off for the billionaire: he now owns the largest private yacht in the world, as well as a ton of other cool stuff. He's also the owner of the Chelsea Football Club.

Source: Hubpages

Richard Desmond went from living above a garage to creating an empire that published magazines like Penthouse



Peter Macdiarmid Desmond grew up the son of a single mother after his parents divorced. The two of them lived above a garage, during which time Desmond described himself as "very fat and very lonely." He quit school at 14 to focus on being a drummer, working as a coat-checker to help pay bills. Though he never became rich from his own musical talents, he later opened his own record shops.

Eventually Desmond published his first magazine, International Musician and Recording World. The Desmond magazine empire would expand to publications like a British version of Penthouse and Ok!, a worldwide favorite. He now owns publications around the globe and is involved in philanthropic work.

Source: The Observer

J.K. Rowling lived on welfare before creating the Harry Potter franchise



In the early 1990s, Rowling had just gotten divorced and was living on welfare with a dependent child. She completed most of the first "Harry Potter" book in cafes, as walking around with her daughter, Jessica, was the best way to get her to sleep.

The "Harry Potter" franchise has become a worldwide success and J.K. Rowling is now worth an estimated $1 billion.

Source: Biography

Before Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart, he milked cows and sold magazines in Oklahoma



Walton's family lived on a farm in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. In order to make ends meet, he helped his family out by milking the cow and driving the milk out to customers. He also delivered newspapers and sold magazine subscriptions.

By 26, he was managing a variety store after graduating from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in economics. He used $5,000 from the army and a $20,000 loan from his father-in-law to buy a Ben Franklin variety store in Arkansas. He expanded the chain, and then went on to found Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. He died in 1992, leaving the company to his wife and children.

Source: Biography

Oprah Winfrey turned a life of hardship into inspiration for a multi-billion-dollar empire



The Canadian Press, Frank GunnOprah spent the first six years of her life living with her grandmother wearing dresses made out of potato sacks. After being molested by two members of her family and a family friend, she ran away from home at age 13. At 14, her newborn child died shortly after he was born. She went back to live with her mother, but it wasn't until her mother sent her to live with her father that she turned her life around.

She got a full scholarship to college, won a beauty pageant â€"where she was discovered by a radio station â€" and the rest is history. The Oprah name became an empire, and according to Forbes she is worth $2.7 billion.

In a time of rising inequality and sluggish growth, rags to riches stories are harder than ever to come by. Indeed, many of the richest people in the world were born into their wealth.

That makes it even more essential that we remember the people who started with nothing, and through hard work, talent, grit, and a bit of luck, managed to rise to the very top.

These 20 stories remind us that it's possible to overcome just about anything, from parents passing away, to extreme poverty, and more.

Maria Das Gracas Silva Foster escaped a Brazilian shantytown to become Petrobras' first female CEO



financialtimes/FlickrThe current head of Brazilian oil giant Petrobras spent her childhood in Morro do Adeus, an extremely poor neighborhood that became a shantytown. Her mother worked constantly and her father was an alcoholic. She collected cans and paper to make extra money.

She started as an intern at Petrobras in 1978, but broke through barriers to become the company's first female head of field engineering. Bloomberg reports that her tireless work ethic has earned her the nickname Caveirao, for the armored vehicles police use to clean up crime ridden Brazilian neighborhoods. She became the company's first female CEO in February.

Source: Bloomberg

Do Won Chang worked three jobs to make ends meet before starting Forever 21



LAEDCorp via YouTubeDo Won Chang and his wife, Jin Sook, moved to America from Korea in 1981. When they first arrived, Do Won was forced to work three jobs at the same time to support them, as a janitor, a gas station attendant, and in a coffee shop. Eventually, they were able to open their first clothing store in 1984.

That one store grew into Forever 21, which pioneered fast fashion and is now a multi-national, 480 store empire that generates around $3 billion in sales a year. It's a family business, with the couple's daughters Linda and Esther helping to run the company.

Source: Forbes

Harold Simmons grew up in a shack without electricity and became a multi-billionaire



Now a billionaire several times over, Harold Simmons grew up in the extremely rural town of Golden, Texas, where he lived in a "shack" that had no plumbing or electricity. He still managed to make it to the University of Texas, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. and masters in Economics.

His first venture was a series of drugstores, the first of which was almost entirely financed with a loan. That became a 100 store chain that he sold to Eckerd for $50 million. From there he went on to become a master of the corporate buyout. He currently owns 6 companies traded on the NYSE, including Titanium Metals Corporation, the world's largest producer of titanium. 

Source: Forbes, D Magazine

Zdenek Bakala fled communist Czechoslovakia with only $50 and is now a coal magnate



TuckIn 1980, when he was 19 years old, Bakala fled communist Czechoslovakia with a $50 dollar bill wrapped in plastic wrap hidden in a sandwich. He made it to Lake Tahoe, where he washed dishes at a Harrah's casino.

He eventually got an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Dartmouth. He went into banking, and eventually back to his home company, opening Credit Suisse First Boston's first officer in Prague after the Wall fell. presides over a coal company with a $2.52 billion market cap and eight production sites across Central Europe, which broke ground on the first privately owned coal mine in Central Europe since 1992. 

Source: The Wall Street Journal

George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary to become one of the world's most successful investors



George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary after his father paid a government employee, whose Jewish wife he had helped hide in the countryside, to let him pose as his godson. After the war, he escaped the country, which had come under communist rule, in 1947, to stay with relatives in London. Soros put himself through the London School of Economics by working as a waiter and railway porter.

After graduating, Soros sold goods at a souvenir shop before writing managing directors at merchant banks in London until he finally got a job. That was the beginning of a long and enormously successful career in finance, including his famous bet against the British pound in 1992, which earned him more than a billion dollars in profit in one swoop.

Source: Soros: The Life And Times Of A Messianic Billionaire, The Telegraph

Guy Laliberté ate fire on the streets before introducing Cirque du Soleil to the world



The Canadian-born Laliberté began his circus career busking on the streets: playing accordion, walking on stilts and eating fire. He gambled by bringing a successful troupe from Quebec to the Los Angeles Arts Festival in 1987, with no return fare. The bet paid off, and the circus group was eventually brought to Las Vegas, where they became the world famous Cirque du Soleil we know today.

Today, Laliberté is the CEO of Cirque, a professional poker player and space tourist, with a total net-worth of $2.5 billion.

Source: Celebs101

John Paul DeJoria lived in his car before John Paul Mitchell Systems took off



Eric Henderson As a first generation American, DeJoria had it rough from the beginning. His German and Italian parents divorced when he was two, and he sold Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his family before he turned 10. He was eventually sent to live in a foster home in Los Angeles.

DeJoria spent some time as an L.A. gang member before joining the military. After trying his hand as an employee for Redken Laboratories, he took a $700 dollar loan and created John Paul Mitchell Systems. He hawked the company's shampoo door-to-door, living out of his car while doing so. But the quality of the product could not be denied, and now JPM Systems is worth over $900 million annually. He also created Patron Tequila and has a hand in a variety of industries, from diamonds to music.

Source: Forbes

Ursula Burns grew up in a housing project on Manhattan's Lower East Side and now runs Xerox



Before the Lower East Side was cool, it was a hub for gangs. Burns was raised by her single mother in a housing project there. Her mother ran a daycare center out of her home and ironed shirts so that she could afford to send Ursula to Catholic school. She went to NYU, and from there became an intern at Xerox.

She's now Xerox's CEO and chairwoman. Burns is the first African-American woman to lead a Fortune 500 Company.

Source: Bloomberg

Howard Schultz grew up in the Brooklyn projects before becoming CEO of Starbucks



Robert SorboSchultz grew up in the Bayview projects of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He always wanted to climb "over the fence" and go beyond the lifestyle provided by his truck-driving father. Despite destitution, he excelled at sports and earned a football scholarship to the University of Northern Michigan.

After graduating with a degree in communications, Schultz went to work for Xerox before discovering a small coffee shop called Starbucks. Enamored with the coffee, he left Xerox to become the company's chief executive in 1987. After beginning with 60 shops, Starbucks now has over 16,000 outlets worldwide, giving Schultz a net worth of $1.5 billion. He even went on hiatus and came back as CEO to lead Starbucks out of a decline.

Source: Mirror News

Li Ka-shing quit school at 15 to work in a plastics factory and is now the world's richest East Asian



The family of Li Ka-shing fled mainland China for Hong Kong in 1940, and Li's father died of tuberculosis when  he was just 15. Quitting school to work to support his family, Li made plastics and later plastic flowers for U.S. export.

By 1950 Li was able to start his own company, Cheung Kong Industries. While at first manufacturing plastics, the company later moved into real estate. Similarly, Li expanded his ownership of different companies, and today has his hand in banking, cellular phones, satellite television, cement production, retail outlets, hotels, domestic transportation, airports, electric power, steel production, ports and shipping, and investing in cool apps, among other industries.

Source: Harvard Business Publishing

Francois Pinault was a high school dropout who now leads luxury goods group PPR



Pinault quit high school in 1947 after being teased for his poor background. He joined his family's timber trading business and in the 1970s began buying up smaller firms. His ruthless business tactics â€" including slashing jobs and selling his timber company only to buy it back at a fraction of the cost when the market crashed â€" gave him a reputation as a "predator." He had similar tactics in the real estate business, and did well buying French junk bonds and taking government money to save businesses from bankruptcy.

His self-made worth helped him start PPR, a luxury goods group that sells brands like Gucci and Stella McCartney. At one point the richest man in France, Pinault and his family are now worth an estimated $13 billion, and have historic homes around the world.

Leonardo Del Vecchio was an orphaned factory worker whose eyeglasses empire today makes Ray-Bans and Oakleys



Del Vecchio was one of five children who could not be supported by his widowed mother. After growing up in an orphanage, he went to work in a factory making molds for auto parts and eyeglass frames, where he lost part of his finger.

At 23, he opened his own molding shop. That eyeglass frame shop expanded to the world's largest maker of sunglasses and prescription eyeware. Luxottica makes brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, with 6,000 retail shops like Sunglass Hut and LensCrafters. His estimated net worth is now $11.5 billion dollars.

Source: Forbes

Kirk Kerkorian went from boxer and Royal Air Force pilot to Las Vegas mega-resort owner



Kerkorian, who learned English on the streets, dropped out of 8th grade to become a boxer. His family was a casualty of the Great Depression, and Kerkorian went about finding skills to help bring income home. He became a daredevil pilot for the Royal Air Force during World War II, delivering supplies over the Atlantic on routes that would crash one in four planes.

From the money he made running supplies, Kerkorian became a high roller on the craps table and eventually a real estate magnate in Las Vegas: he bought The Flamingo and built The International and MGM Grand, stalwarts of the Vegas scene. He's worth a few billion dollars today.

Source: Smart Money Daily

Sheldon Adelson is another Las Vegas hotels magnate who tried his hand at a few industries



Adelson grew up in tenement housing in Massachusetts, where he shared a bedroom with his parents and three siblings.  His father was a Lithuanian taxi driver and his mother had a knitting store. When he was 12 years old, he started selling newspapers and a few years later ran a vending machine scheme on the same corner.

Adelson tried his hand at a few different industries, from packing hotel toiletries to mortgage brokering. His biggest break came from developing a computer trade show. He turned that wealth into a purchase of the Sands Hotel & Casino, and later the mega-resort The Venetian.

Source: Minyanville

Ingvar Kamprad was born in a small village in Sweden and created a mail-order business that became IKEA



Kamprad lived the farm life growing up. But he always had a knack for business, buying matches in bulk from Stockholm to sell to his neighbors. He later expanded to fish, Christmas decorations, and pens.

Not satisfied with the small stuff, Kamprad took money from his father (a reward for good grades) and created a mail-order business that eventually became IKEA (the name comes from his initials plus those of his village and family farm). Furniture became the company's biggest seller, and Kamprad's use of local manufacturers kept his prices low. Once one of the world's richest men, his net worth has fallen recently to a an estimated $3 billion.

Source: Smart Money Daily

Roman Abramovich was an orphan who turned an expensive wedding gift into an oil empire



Eddie Keogh. After his parents died when he was just four, the Russian Abramovich was raised by his uncle and grandmother. Abramovich got his first break from an expensive wedding gift from his in-laws. He dropped out of college to pursue his entrepreneurial interests, which at first included selling plastic ducks out of an apartment in Moscow.

He managed a take over of oil giant Sibneft at a bargain price in 1995. He continued to flip his investments into even larger acquisitions, including Russian Aluminum and steelmaker Evraz Group. Over the years Abramovich has been accused of shady dealings, from paying out bribes and protection money to having a role in the gang feuds over aluminum smelters. It seems that being ruthless has paid off for the billionaire: he now owns the largest private yacht in the world, as well as a ton of other cool stuff. He's also the owner of the Chelsea Football Club.

Source: Hubpages

Richard Desmond went from living above a garage to creating an empire that published magazines like Penthouse



Peter Macdiarmid Desmond grew up the son of a single mother after his parents divorced. The two of them lived above a garage, during which time Desmond described himself as "very fat and very lonely." He quit school at 14 to focus on being a drummer, working as a coat-checker to help pay bills. Though he never became rich from his own musical talents, he later opened his own record shops.

Eventually Desmond published his first magazine, International Musician and Recording World. The Desmond magazine empire would expand to publications like a British version of Penthouse and Ok!, a worldwide favorite. He now owns publications around the globe and is involved in philanthropic work.

Source: The Observer

J.K. Rowling lived on welfare before creating the Harry Potter franchise



In the early 1990s, Rowling had just gotten divorced and was living on welfare with a dependent child. She completed most of the first "Harry Potter" book in cafes, as walking around with her daughter, Jessica, was the best way to get her to sleep.

The "Harry Potter" franchise has become a worldwide success and J.K. Rowling is now worth an estimated $1 billion.

Source: Biography

Before Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart, he milked cows and sold magazines in Oklahoma



Walton's family lived on a farm in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. In order to make ends meet, he helped his family out by milking the cow and driving the milk out to customers. He also delivered newspapers and sold magazine subscriptions.

By 26, he was managing a variety store after graduating from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in economics. He used $5,000 from the army and a $20,000 loan from his father-in-law to buy a Ben Franklin variety store in Arkansas. He expanded the chain, and then went on to found Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. He died in 1992, leaving the company to his wife and children.

Source: Biography

Oprah Winfrey turned a life of hardship into inspiration for a multi-billion-dollar empire



The Canadian Press, Frank GunnOprah spent the first six years of her life living with her grandmother wearing dresses made out of potato sacks. After being molested by two members of her family and a family friend, she ran away from home at age 13. At 14, her newborn child died shortly after he was born. She went back to live with her mother, but it wasn't until her mother sent her to live with her father that she turned her life around.

She got a full scholarship to college, won a beauty pageant â€"where she was discovered by a radio station â€" and the rest is history. The Oprah name became an empire, and according to Forbes she is worth $2.7 billion.

MANILA - The death of a girl hit by celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve sparked calls Thursday for stricter gun controls in the Philippines, where unlicensed weapons are widely blamed for rampant violence.

The girl, Stephanie Ella, aged seven, died Wednesday from a gunshot wound to the head, triggering outrage and condemnation of poor law enforcement that allows hundreds of thousands of unregistered firearms to be on the streets.

"This incident should not be allowed to become just another statistic," Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a statement.

"We have enough laws to penalize but the problem has always been in the enforcement of laws," he stressed, as he challenged the police to catch the person responsible for Ella's death.

Ella and her father were watching a fireworks display outside their home in a Manila suburb on Monday when a bullet, apparently fired from celebratory gunfire, struck her.

Ella was the second young victim to die from stray bullets in New Year's eve celebrations, when gun owners traditionally fire bullets into the air or explode powerful firecrackers to make noise.

A four year-old boy was also killed, while a 16-year-old was in a coma after being wounded in a similar incident.

Ella's ordeal, however, was prominently covered in national media, as her grief-stricken parents tensely waited by her hospital bedside as doctors lost the battle to save her.

An outpouring of sympathy followed, led by the office of President Benigno Aquino -- himself a keen sports shooter -- which issued a statement condemning her senseless death.

Prominent anti-crime crusader Dante Jimenez said the government should impose "a total gun ban during the holidays" and not only during elections, when rival politicians are known to engage in blood feuds.

"There should be no guns on the streets during these times. That is the only way," he said.

However, he said the bigger problem was the failure of the authorities to seize all illegal firearms in the face of mounting violence.

There were 1.2 million registered firearms in the Philippines as of last year, according to data from the police firearms and explosives office.

It said there were another roughly 600,000 unlicensed firearms in circulation across the Philippines.

While carrying an unlicensed firearm is punishable by up to six years in prison, it remains relatively easy to acquire guns in the black market, Jimenez said.

The fireworks that lit up the sky on New Year's Eve have already expired, but Pinoys may still get to see a spectacle in the nighttime sky during the first week of the year.

With the weather permitting, state astronomers said "falling stars" may be seen from the Philippines from the start of the year until Jan. 7.

"The annual Quadrantid meteor shower will be active from January 1 to January 7," Pagasa administrator Nathaniel Servando said.
Related story: 'Daytime comet' to arrive this year
It peaks Jan. 3 and 4, with falling stars seen at the rate of at least 40 meteors per hour.

"Meteors from the Quadrantid meteor shower hit the Earth’s atmosphere at the rate of about 40 kilometers per second," Servando said.

This, as the Pagasa chief noted that the meteors are said to be particles from debris ejected by the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH1.

NASA meanwhile said that the EH1 asteroid may have come from a piece of comet that broke up several hundred years ago.

Related story: Comet may outshine the moon
Meteor shower viewing, however, may be interrupted by the waning gibbous Moon on Jan. 3, Servando said.

Aside from the Quadrantid meteor shower, Pagasa has highlighted other treats for Pinoy stargazers this January.

These include the rise of the "famous equilateral triangle after sunset."

The Triangle is composed of Betelgeuse, the prominent star of the famous constellation Orion (The Mighty Hunter); Sirius, the brightest star in the sky of the constellation Canis Major (the Big Dog); and Procyon, the brightest star of the constellation Canis Minor (the Little Dog).

As we start 2013, let us remember those who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and everyone who isn't able to be here. May you all rest in peace. Let us be thankful for the lives that we have and are fortunate to live, for one day, as may have shown, could very well be your last. However, although some say to live everyday like it's your last, more importantly be sure to dream each day like you're going to live forever.

Lumikha ng maraming katanungan ang ginawang pagbabakasyon ng maimpluwensyang staff ng ­bigating miyembro ng Upper House.


Matagal nang alam ni Mang Teban ang pagbabakasyon ng nasabing staff bago pa man tina­lakay ang kontrobersyal na sin tax bill at ang reproductive health (RH) bill sa kapulungan.


Subalit nitong mga nagdaang araw, lumabas ang mga ulat na pinagbakasyon daw ng bigating senador ang maimpluwensya nitong staff at hindi tulad ng mga naunang napaulat na kusa itong nagbakasyon.


Nagmistula raw kasing ‘doktor’ ang staff, kung saan nag-ala ‘Garci’ sa mga numerong inire-report sa kanyang amo.


Nakarating marahil sa bigating senador ang mga dinoktor na report ng kanyang staff kung kaya’t pinagbakasyon niya muna ito, tutal naman ay malamig ngayon sa Baguio City para roon magpalamig ng bukol eheste ng kanyang ulo.


Pintahan n’yo na: Ang staff na pinagbakasyon ay nagtatrabaho sa isang senador na kilalang babaero. May letrang N sa kanyang apelyido as in Nokia ang brand ng cellphone.

Magbakasyon ka na lang muna at magpahinga.


Matindi man ang kari­ba­lan nina Manny Pacquiao at Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- bagama't hindi pa nangyayari sa ibabaw ng ring -- pinayuhan pa rin ng undefeated American fighter ang Pinoy ring icon na huwag munang isipin ang muling paglaban. 


"Pacquiao's focus should be trying to take a vacation, get his mind right, and get a few tune-up fights so he can bounce back," ani Mayweather.


"The only thing he can do is rejuvenate himself and bounce back like a true champion."


Nalasap ng 8-division champion na si Pacquiao ang ikalawang sunod na talo ngayong taon nang ma-knockout ito sa sixth round ng kanyang kontrapelong si Juan Manuel Marquez ng Mexico noong Linggo sa MGM Grand Arena sa Las Vegas sa ikaapat nilang paghaharap.





MANNY PACQUIAO AT FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

"Marquez is a true champion. Manny Pacquiao is a true champion. Both of them went out there and put on a good performance, and that's a good thing for the sport of boxing," dagdag pa ni Mayweather.


Dahil sa pagbaba ng hatak ng Pambansang Kamao sa tao at kita sa fight dahil isa na itong "damaged goods", posibleng hindi na talaga matuloy ang inaasahan at inaabangang mega bout sa pagitan ni Pacquiao at Mayweather.


O kung matuloy man ay malayo na ito sa sinisilip na may pinakamalaking kitang boxing card sa kasaysayan.


"I wish Pacquiao nothing but the best. I wish he can bounce back and he can recoup from this….You have to really, really dedicate yourself to your craft. I think he's got so many different things on the outside that he worries about, you know.

But it was a good thing that he was able to come into the sport, you know, piggyback off my name, and get a bunch of endorsement deals and make a good living," sundot pa ni Mayweather.


Ilang beses na ring sinubukang maluto ang Pacquiao-Mayweather fight ngunit laging hindi magtagpo ang dalawang kampo sa mga demands, na karaniwang galing kay Mayweather.

 
Misis patay, anak kritikal sa rape try ni kumpare

   
CAMP SIMEON OLA, Legazpi City, Albay --- Patay ang isang ginang habang kritikal ang 12-anyos nitong anak matapos pagsasaksakin ng kumpare ng kanyang mister na nagtangkang gumahasa sa kanyang maybahay sa Tinambac, Camarines Sur, ayon sa ulat ng pulisya kahapon.


Dead on the spot sanhi ng tinamong 'di pa batid na bilang ng saksak sa katawan si Maria Cano, 37.

Kritikal naman ang 12-anyos nitong anak na sadyang 'di na pinangalanan sanhi ng tinamong tatlong saksak sa katawan, kapwa taga-Sitio Kilometro Gapo, Bgy. Salvacion. Patuloy naman ang manhunt operation sa suspek na si Jerry Collantes, kapitbahay at kumpare ng asawa ng biktima.


Sa ulat na sa Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 sa Camp Simeon Ola kahapon, naganap ang insidente pasado alas-11:00 ng gabi kamakalawa nang samantalahin ng suspek ang pag-alis ng mister ng biktima upang mangisda.


Nabatid na habang natutulog ang ginang kasama ang walo nitong anak ay hinalay ito ng suspek habang tinutukan ng patalim. Nanlaban ang ginang at dahil sa ingay ay uminit ang ulo ng suspek at pinagsasaksak ito.


Sinubukan namang sumaklolo ng 12-anyos na anak kaya pati ito ay idina­may.

Sobra-sobrang regalo ang natanggap ng isang factory worker matapos manalo na P93 milyon sa 6/49 Super Lotto na binola noong Disyembre 4.


Ayon kay Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Ferdinand Rojas II, nasambot ng 29-anyos na factory worker ang kumbinasyong 30-01-14-20-41-42 na may total jackpot prize na P93,422,923.20.


Sinabi ng winner na tumaya siya ng P80 at ginamit ang birthday ng kanyang 3-buwang gulang na ampon, kaarawan at anibersaryo ng kanyang kasintahan.


Dalawang beses pa lamang umano siyang nakasubok tumaya sa lotto, ayon sa winner.


Plano nitong bayaran ang kanilang mga utang, mga bills sa ospital kung saan naka-confine ang kanyang ampon.

" Anxiety is the assassinator of creativity. You cannot operate simultaneously under two opposite forces; you can only travel in one vehicle at a time. No matter the situation you're in, you need your creative mind to get out of it. So, do not worry, put your mind at rest and put your mind to work - (what an euphemism)."

Maayong buntag TB!!! Have a nice day ahead.

naunsa naman ni... kaluoy gyud sa among Virgen sa Regla diri sa Lapu-Lapu City....

CEBU CITY -- An image of the Virgin of the Rule was stripped of jewelry by burglars in Lapu-Lapu City Wednesday dawn, a week after devotees observed the feast of the City’s patroness.
Fr. Agustin Pulong, who is in charge of the Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish National Shrine in Barangay Poblacion, said the burglars took away 69 necklaces, 70 rings and 16 bracelets.
The burglars also opened the donation box below the image and stole an unknown amount, leaving only coins and a few small bills.
A security guard and two utility workers discovered the burglary past 3 a.m.
The parish could not estimate the value of the stolen jewelry items because these were donated by private individuals, Pulong told reporters.
The police are looking into the possibility that an insider took the jewelry or helped the thieves as there were no signs of forced entry.
Inspector Christian Torres, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said they may request the parish employees to undergo a polygraph test.
Torres said they are also looking at the workers who repainted the church a few weeks ago as possible suspects.
“Among gisubay ron kung kinsa to ang mga namintal (We’re now tracing the persons who worked on the repainting of the church),” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Based on their initial investigation, Torres said the burglary was done by two persons or more.
Torres said the laborers who repainted the church knew how to enter the church through the ceiling.
Hole
The burglars may have gained access to the shrine, which is located at the back of the main church, through a hole in the ceiling near the campanario (bell tower).
Torres said a parish official estimated the value of the stolen jewelry to be not less than P500,000.
It was the second burglary in the shrine, said Pulong, who has been in-charge of the shrine since August. The first burglary happened in the 1990s.
Pulong said he is not familiar with the stolen jewelry but some of the pieces were made of gold.
The burglars spared the silver crown of the image. Pulong said the image has a gold crown, but they only use this when the image is taken out for the procession, held a day before the feast.
Remains
The burglars also left three rings, four jade bracelets and a pair of earrings. But they took away donations collected from Sunday to Tuesday. To get the jewelry, they removed one of the glass panels encasing the original image of the Virgin of the Rule.
The glass was taken by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) yesterday to examine some fingerprints.
Soco is also getting fingerprints from the parish employees, including the four security guards and three utility workers.
The shrine has a security camera but it stopped working last October.
“We were supposed to have the CCTV (closed circuit television) fixed this week,” said Pulong in Cebuano, adding he would suggest that the CCTV be replaced with a new one.
Bad news
Even though parish officials said the CCTV is no longer working, Torres said they will still send IT experts to examine the CCTV.
Pulong and Fr. Fabian Cayetano, another parish official, were awakened yesterday dawn by the news that the shrine was burglarized.
Hiram Miranda, 29, the guard on duty at the time, reported the incident to the Police Station 3 around 3:20 a.m.
Miranda and utility workers Rogelio Cogal and Virgilio Camposo opened the shrine past 3 a.m. and noticed that the glass on the left side of the image had been forcibly removed.
The guard’s shift started at 10 p.m. and ended at 6 a.m.
Familiar
Pulong said the culprits seemed to be very familiar about the image and the shrine.
“Di ko makasulti kung naay inside job. Huwat na lang ta sa police (I could not say whether it was an inside job. Let’s just wait for the result of the police investigation),” he said.
Pulong said he would pray that the burglars will realize their mistake and return the jewelry.
Librando Aying, 42, one of the four parish security guards, said the burglars may have entered the shrine by crawling through the hole in the ceiling.
The wooden lock on the small door covering the hole was destroyed. Apart from that, he said, there were no signs of forced entry as the doors remained locked.
Donation
Aying, who has been working at the shrine for eight years, said they close the shrine around 7 p.m. every day.
Aying said the burglars removed the image’s crown to get the necklaces and put it back on afterward.
The donation box was pried open.
The police found marks made by shoes or slippers and fingerprints above the wooden door, but Insp. Torres said these could have been made by workers who repainted the church in preparation for the fiesta last week.
Fr. Jimmy Duero, the parish priest, is in Nueva Ecija attending the diamond jubilee celebration of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. He is expected to arrive in Lapu-Lapu today.
The parish is temporarily closing the shrine at the back of the main church. It will be opened to the public as soon as investigators finish collecting evidence.
“We condemn the act. We pray for the conversion of the one who perpetrated the crime,” Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma told reporters.
Mayor Paz Radaza, in her regular news conference, said she will leave the investigation to the police

Your friends at TUBAGBOHOL.com With Mike Ligalig would like to take a moment of your time to wish you a happy birthday, Votives. If you have not done so recently, please visit our community in order for others to have the opportunity to pass along their warm regards.

Even though today is your birthday, Votives, we would like to remind you that your membership in our community has been the best gift to us thus far.

Best Wishes,
The Staff of TUBAGBOHOL.com With Mike Ligalig

Nadakma ang isang Asyanong tsuper ng taksi na pinararatangang gala­may ng sindikato ng prostitusyon sa Kuwait at nagtangkang mambiktima sa isang Filipina worker.

Sa ulat ng local press sa Kuwait nitong Nobyembre 19, bago tuluyang nabitag ng mga pulis ang cab dri­ver ay isang motoristang Kuwaiti na nakasaksi sa maduming plano ng ina­akusahang tsuper ang nagpakabayani at lakas-loob na humabol para ito ay masukol.

Nakita umano ng la­lakeng Kuwaiti ang ginagawang pangha-harass ng taxi driver sa Pinay kung saan tinangka pa ng nagmalasakit na motorista na patigilin ang suspek pero hindi ito nagpapigil.

Bunsod nito, agad tumawag at nagpasaklolo sa Operations Department ng Ministry of Interior ng Kuwait ang motorista saka binuntutan ang taxi driver.

Sa pamamagitan ng deskripsyon sa taksi at lokasyon na binigay ng Kuwaiti ay matagumpay na nahuli ng Kuwaiti police ang suspek.

Sa imbestigasyon ay lumitaw na ang Pinay ay nagtatrabaho sa isang beauty salon sa Sabah Al-Salem at suki nitong ‘service’ ang tsuper na regular na naghahatid sa kanyang pinagtatrabahuhan.

Isang rambol ang sumiklab sa loob ng isang bar matapos mag-agawan kung sino ang unang kakanta ng sikat na awiting “Pusong Bato” kahapon ng madaling-araw sa lungsod ng Naga, Camarines Sur.

Dahil sa pangyayari, sa kulungan ang bagsak ng limang kalalakihan na sina Dennis Imperial Buce­nio, Rex Baltazar, Nathaniel Garcia, James Rial at Benjie Sanchez, matapos magrambulan sa loob ng Hand Sweet Bar sa kahabaan ng Barlin St., ng nasabing lungsod.

Sa ulat ng Naga City PNP, naganap ang kaguluhan pasado ala-una ng madaling-araw nang kapwa na mga lasing ang mga suspek.

Nabatid na tatlo sa mga kalalakihan ang pare-parehong nag-request ng “Pusong Bato” kaya nag-agawan ang mga ito sa mikropono na nauwi sa rambol.

Ginilitan muna sa leeg saka pinagsasaksak ang isang bakla na isa ring tauhan ng konsehala ng hindi pa nakikilalang nobyo ng biktima sa Valenzuela City kamakalawa.

Hindi na umabot sa Valenzuela General Hospital si Domingo Dimas, 36, staff ni Valenzuela councilor Lorie Natividad ng Villa Martha Subd., Parada ng nasabing lungsod sanhi ng tinamong gilit sa leeg at mga saksak sa katawan.

Sa salaysay sa pulisya ng pamangkin ng biktima na si Jerico James Dimas, alas-4:45 ng umaga, na­gising siya nang makarinig ng mga kaguluhan at nang akyatin ay nakita nitong aktong papalabas ng kuwarto ang kanyang tiyuhin su­balit  hinablot umano ito ng suspek pabalik sa kuwarto bago ikinandado.

Mabilis namang humingi ng tulong si Dimas subalit bago pa dumating ang mga pulis ay nakatakas na  ang suspek sa pamamagitan ng pagdaan sa terrace.

Inaalam na ng mga pulis ang motibo sa pamamaslang sa biktima.

Kasama sa listahan ni Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Arturo Cacdac Jr., ang anak ni Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson na si dating Cong. Ronald Singson sa 53 pulitiko na sangkot diumano sa drug trade.

Gayunpaman, agad na kinuwestiyon ni House minority leader Danilo Suarez ang pagkakasama ng pangalan ng dating kongresista dahil naresolba na umano ang kanyang kaso sa Hong Kong.

“That’s why I object to General Cacdac, why do you have to include the name of a former colleague whose case is already settled, tapos na. ‘Yung case naman ng aming kasamahan ang allegation perso­nal consumption eh,” ani Suarez sa kanilang lingguhang press conference.

Magugunita na nahulihan ng droga ang da­ting kongresista sa Hong Kong noong 2010 kung saan nakulong ito ng mahi­git isang taon sa nasabing Chinese territory.

Ang listahan ay personal umanong ibinigay ni Cacdac kay Suarez nang bumisita ang opisyal sa kanya noong nakaraang taon kung saan 53 pulitiko ang nasa listahan ng PDEA kasama na si Singson.

“He gives me a copy. Off hand, I am not satisfied with the list because ine-involved mo pa ‘yung dating congressman eh tapos na ang kaso nito, si Ronald, isinama niya eh. Ronald is not a pusher, he is a user. Bakit mo pa isasama dito sa report mo, tapos na iyon,” ani Suarez.

Kabilang sa nasa listahan umano ni Cacdac ay isang dating mayor, isang mayoralty candidate sa 2013 elections, isang kandidato sa provincial board, 13 barangay councilmen, dalawang municipal councilor, isang vice mayor, da­lawang municipal mayor at isang city councilor.

Nais ng isang senador na paimbestigahan sa Senado ang pamamayagpag ng pyramid scam na nakapambiktima ng libong mga Pinoy.


Ayon kay Senador Aqui­lino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, gusto niyang malaman kung bakit sa kabila ng pagkakaroon ng sapat na batas ay nakakapag-ope­rate pa ang ganoong uri ng panloloko.


“Nakakapagtaka dahil ‘di sila natatakot sa kabila ng umiiral na batas laban dito,” ani Pimentel.


Gusto ring malaman ni Pimentel kung bakit nakapag-operate ng ganoon kalawak ang Aman Futures sa Mindanao at ang bago pang nabulgar na pyramid scam sa Quezon City kung saan mga guro rin ang biktima.


Ani Pimentel, nais mabusisi kung nagkaroon ba ng kapabayaan ang mga awtoridad sa intelligence gathering kaya hindi nila natiktikan ang naturang mga panloloko.


Una rito, lumapit kay Pimentel ang mga guro na naging biktima ng pyramid scam sa Quezon City.

" Life is filled with gifts. They may not be the kind of gifts that we always want to have, often deemed by most of us as materials, but life gives us the best kind of gifts that no riches can ever provide. Just look around, feel within your heart and you will catch sight of them."

The words “Japanese school girl” and “sex” can conjure up a lot of images â€" and fantasies â€" but it looks like it’s mostly just that: fantasy. Fewer young Japanese women in high school and university are having sex.

Asia Japan Watch reports that a survey by the Japanese Association for Sex Education (JASE) reveals that, for the first time since the group began recording sexual activity among Japanese students, young women  are having less sex.

According to the survey the number of female university students who have had sex at least once has dropped 14 per cent from 47 per cent at its peak in 2005.

And the story is the same for high school girls who, until this year, also followed an upward trend of sexual activity, since the survey began in 1974. In 2005 almost one in three female high schoolers were having sex, but now it’s one in four.

Compare this to the United States where almost 70 per cent of young adults have had sex by their 19th birthday and it becomes clear just how little Japanese young adults are “getting”.

But it doesn’t end there. Even the number of students who have experienced their first kiss has dropped.  Only 66 per cent of university students and 37 per cent of high schoolers have kissed, compared to 72 per cent and 48 per cent in 2005, respectively.

While there must be parents out there breathing a sigh of relief, cancelling their chastity belt orders, in a country with an alarmingly low birth rate these results could be predicting an even more frightening future for Japan.

Several weeks ago I surveyed some students for an article in my university newspaper. Amongst the questions was a section on the students’ futures: whether they wanted a partner, children and if so, how many. To my surprise almost half the respondents said they weren’t interested in marriage or children, mainly because it’s easier and cheaper to live on your own.

Now I consider myself to be a fairly utilitarian type, but there seems something so sad about having such an outlook at such a young age. Purely biologically speaking, shouldn’t people in their early 20s be totally geared toward spreading their DNA and bringing on the next generation?

Even among the students who said they did want a family, some of their reasons behind procreation had me raise my eyebrows. Of course some students just wanted a family, but others said they wanted a partner because they didn’t want to die alone or they wanted children so they had someone to take care of them in their old age.

Several years ago the term soushoku danshi or ‘grass eating man’ was thrown around a lot to describe men who were less interested in chasing after women. But looking at these results from JASE now it looks like women are doing the same.

Perhaps they’ve lost interest in chasing after men, when there is no one to chase after them. Or maybe Japanese women are genuinely less interested in sex. But whatever the case, ladies, next time we’re feeling a little unloved and unpopular, we should spare a thought for our sisters in Japan.

Karumal-dumal ang sinapit ng isang pamilya sa lalawigan ng Caga­yan de Oro mula sa kamay ng kaibigang kanilang inam­pon, nang tadtarin ang mag-asawa at kanilang dala­wang musmos na anak, bago ihinulog sa septic tank.

Ayon kay Sr. Insp. Rechie Yandog, hepe ng Police Station 7 ng Caga­yan de Oro, nadiskubre ang kalunus-lunos na sinapit ng isang pamilya dakong alas-10:45 ng umaga kahapon.

Kinilala ang minasaker na pamilya na si Christopher Lastimosa, 34; misis na si Sumagang, 34; at mga anak na sina Christian, 8, at Chamlie, 6, pawang re­sidente ng Zone 4, Agong, Bgy. Canitoan, CDO.

Sinabi ni Yandog na pinutol ang magkabilang braso ng padre de pamil­yang si Christopher bago pwersahang ihinulog sa septic tank at isinunod ang asawa at dalawang anak nito.

Lumalabas sa imbestigasyon ng Philippine National Police na nadiskub­re lamang ang krimen nang magtungo sa bahay ng pamil­ya Lastimosa ang isa sa mga kaanak nila, dala na rin ng pagdududa na walang sumasagot sa cell phone ng mga biktima si­mula pa nitong nakalipas na Lunes.

Dito umano tumambad ang mga tuyong patak ng dugo sa kusina ng bahay ng pamilya Lastimosa at nang sundan ay natunton ang butas na septic tank na kinalalagyan ng mag-anak.

Naaresto naman ang suspek na si Arman Abo­yin, 18, na nakikituloy lang umano sa bahay ng nasabing pamilya.

Narekober sa pinangya­rihan ng krimen ang dala­wang kutsilyo na duguan, isang itak at shabu paraphernalia.

How does one spend fourteen million pesos in three months and end up buried deep in debts after? Well, Lotto winner Dionie Reyes sure knows how to do it. He revealed that despite warnings and admonitions from his wife and family to live his life easy and spend his winnings wisely, he gave away money to friends and complete strangers, gambled away and drowned himself drank to his heart's content.

And just when he found himself broke and sold his property to pay his debts, he had to have a heart surgery without a centavo on his hands and had to thank the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for shouldering the hospital bills. He says its a lesson learned the hard way and wants to warn lottery winners of his demise lest it happens to them, too.

layua gyud sa akong dagway pag elementary og sa dihang nag masteral nako....

kamingaw aning mag inusara sa kinabuhi...

ZAMBOANGA CITYâ€"Retired school supervisor Cristituto Potayre of Pagadian City had hoped to triple his  retirement pay after 30 days when he invested in a scheme run by Pasay City-based Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc.
But Potayre’s money “vanished into thin air” instead, according to Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles.
One day, Cerilles said, apparently unable to accept his loss, Potayre committed suicide.
Marcia Agueda, 48, a Pagadian City resident, said her neighbor who was a soldier put in P300,000 that he had secured as a  loan from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association (AFPSLAI) after being convinced that he could at least double it after a certain period.
“He could only vent his ire on plants after losing his money in Aman,” Agueda said, referring to Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc.
Like the soldier, Agueda also lost money, P1.3 million, in the investment scheme that Amanâ€"owned by Manuel Amalilio, said to be a Filipino-Malaysianâ€"had trumpeted.
Potayre, Agueda and the soldier were among thousands of victims of the “double your money” scheme pulled by Aman Futures, whose operators, like the investors’ money, have disappeared.
Agueda said what could have convinced more people to invest in the scheme was that many had actually earned money from the initial cash pool.
“I had initially invested P100,000 and it doubled after the first month. I was enticed to pour in more, about P1.3 million. Many people invested with me. We lost our money,” she said.
P700,000 loan
A 53-year-old housewife lost her husband’s AFPSLAI loan of P700,000 in the Aman scheme.
But what worries her more is that her husband, a Marine officer assigned in Cotabato, enticed other Marine officers into investing in the scheme.
In all, their group lost P3.7 million in September when Aman defaulted on payments.
“(Aman) said it was only closing due to its failure to renew its permit to operate in Pagadian City,” she said. But Aman never reopened. And it did not return their money.
The housewife, who requested anonymity for personal reasons, said what made her case worse was that she had nothing to prove she invested in Aman.
“All my receipts had been turned over to an Aman staff,” she said.
Mayor Co
So when Pagadian Mayor Samuel Co announced that all those with original receipts would be issued checks, the housewife said she sighed with relief.
But the checks that Co had issued bounced for lack of funds.
Cerilles said Co could be  instrumental in the operation of Aman in Pagadian City.
“He is simply not an investor because when Aman shut down, he assured the people they could get their money back,” he said.
Mayor Co denied issuing checks to investors.
“The checks we gave out were recovered from the Aman office here. I  did not issue these checks. We just distributed,” Co told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by  phone.
Co also denied being involved in the scam, saying his name was being dragged because of politics.
Cerilles said the Aman scheme was quite a serious matter that needed a deeper investigation, which should lead to the prosecution of those behind it.
A few days ago, pandemonium erupted in Barangay (village) Kawit  in Pagadian as thousands of people  converged near the office of Aman Trading.
Aman had ceased to operate, defrauding thousands of investors of their hard-earned money, most of whom were ordinary citizens.
What made the situation more confusing is the entry of the city mayor of Pagadian, who claimed he was authorized to distribute checks issued by  Aman Trading,” Cerilles said in a letter he sent to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“The extent of the scandal was so grave that ordinary people like farmers, teachers, vendors, fishermen, soldiers, lawyers, housewives and prominent people were victimized,” he added.
The exact number of victims was still being determined, Cerilles said, but in Pagadian City alone, it would easily reach 8,000.
Among the victims are members of the Pagadian City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Macapagal Pantaran, a chamber official, said he lost P263 million in the scheme.
“More than 90 percent of businessmen in Pagadian City have invested with Amalilio,” Pantaran said.
Quite attractive
The scheme was so attractive that even a religious group pooled its members’ money to invest in Aman.
Pastor Hipolito Paner of the Christ the Lord of Glory group said at least 1,000 members managed to raise millions and put it in Aman.
Paner urged Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas, who came to Pagadian City on Friday, to help the defrauded investors run after Amalilio and other Aman officials.
Roxas was also told that there were reports that many local governments in Mindanao also used their internal revenue allotments (IRA) to invest in Aman.
Roxas pledged to look into the report and said he would order an audit of the IRA of some local governments, including Pagadian City.
“This is sad but we will do our best to prosecute those involved,” he said.
Chief Supt. Mario Yanga, deputy director for administration of the Western Mindanao police, said the investigation into Aman’s activities was being spearheaded by the NBI.
Cebu victims
In Cebu City, three businessmen will bring charges against Aman in the hope of getting back P100 million in vanished investments.
Ayubkhan Conding, Agakhan Dianalan and Mamad Conding visited Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director Lindeza Gavino on Tuesday to secure documents about the company.
The businessmen come from Lanao del Sur but are based in Cebu and engaged in buying and selling vehicles, cell phones and laptops.
In an interview, Dianalan said he wanted to get back the P30 million he invested because part of the money came from his relatives who, believing they would get high returns, entrusted their money to him.
Ayubkhan invested P39 million while Mamad’s investment reached P57 million.
Mamad and Ayubkhan, who are cousins, also told the Inquirer that part of the money they invested came from their relatives.
Dianalan said that they decided to invest in Aman after they learned that the mayor of Pagadian City invested in the company and even issued a business permit to the company to operate in the city.
The three had asked Cebu journalists to blur their photos and footages that showed them as they were afraid for their lives.
They recounted that in Lanao, some of the investors have threatened to kill those who put in the investment for them if their money would not be returned.
Mamad said they wanted to ensure their safety, as their relatives have been demanding the return of their money.
Dianalan said that it was a “painful” learning experience for him because he lost not only his money but also his relatives’ money.
Next time, he said, he would carefully check the background of any company that would offer lucrative schemes to him before plunking down his money.
He said he and his two companions had yet to determine what charges to bring against Aman.
Gavino said the three businessmen were the first complainants in Cebu to come to her office.
Cease and desist order
She said the local SEC office received the cease and desist order issued by the Manila head office on Oct. 16, which was posted in the Aman office in Keppel building at the Cebu Business Park.
A copy of the order was also posted on the house at 99 Espina Village B. Rodriguez St., the address given by Amalilio in Cebu City.
Gavino said the company was not incorporated in Cebu, although the incorporators were based in Cebu.

Modelo, pinatay ng kaibigan at boyfriend...
6 na gun-for-hire todas sa Calamba...


Bank exec, mommy at maid, kinatay ng tanod...


Pulis, anak dedo sa ri­ding-in-tandem...
Lolo, tinodas ng kapitbahay...


Ito ang balitang suma­lubong sa akin matapos ang tatlong linggo kong pagkawala sa bansa. At nangyari ito sa loob lamang ng 24 oras?!?


Ang tanong ng marami, who's in charge?


Wild, Wild, West na ba tayo at ang tawag ng karahasan ang nangingibabaw? Sobrang lupit na ba at halang ang kaluluwa ng mga modernong kriminal?


Kung susuriin ang ba­wat krimen na nabanggit sa kolum na ito, iisa lamang ang pinag-uugatan -- droga at kahirapan.


Hanggang ngayon 'di ko maunawaan kung bakit ang mahihirap pa ang lulong sa droga? May kamahalan ngayon ang ipinagbabawal na gamot kaya't kailangan nilang magna­kaw para masuportahan ang kanilang bisyo.


Doon na pumapasok ang demonyo sa utak ng mga sugapa. Gamungg­o ang tingin sa kapwa at mapurol ang respeto sa iba.


Ang malungkot pati ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), na dapat ay manguna sa pagsawata sa mga sindikato ng droga, ay tila pinaglaruan din ng kasalukuyang mga namumuno sa atin.


Pero balikan ko ang tanong ko -- sino ang may kontrol ng anti-crime program ng gobyernong Aquino? Bakit tila kanya-kanya na lamang ng diskarte ngayon ang bawat Pilipino para mabuhay nang normal na malayo sa karahasan.


Siguro naman, Mr. Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa, ang itinalagan­g crime czar ni PENoy, hindi na bunga ng imahinasyon ng mga Pilipino ang kaliwa't kanang krimen katulad ng nais mong isaksak sa aming mga isip?


Kaya 'di ko masisi ang ilang sektor na muling mag-ingay sa panawagan na ibalik ang parusang kamatayan sa bansa.


Ang nakakatawa sa gitna ng lumalalang krimen, ginawa pang lame duck ngayon si PNP Chief Nick Bartolome ng palasyo ng Malakanyang at pinagpag­retiro nang maag­a. Kung kailan pa kailangang-kailangan ang kanyang pamamahala sa ating mga pulis ay tsaka pa siya binabalewala.


Panahon na muling pulutin ang mga pira-pirasong pagkakamali at sama-samang buuin para sa maagang solusyon ng kriminalidad. Dapat ay walang puwang ang agam-agam at makatulog lahat ng mamamayan nang mahimbing.


Madaling mapaikutan ang mga natutulog sa pansitan.


Lord, Kayo na po ang bahala.

Dear Kuya Hubag Bohol,


Call me Tina. Sakit ba ang pagsisinungaling? May oras na sobrang tahimik ang boyfriend ko at kapag tinatanong ko siya kung may problema siya, hindi niya ako sinasagot ng deretso. Kapag sumasagot siya, alam kong nagsisinunga­ling siya. Kapag sinasabi kong sinungaling siya, white lies at maliit lang daw iyon. Marami siyang kasinungalingan.


Kapag tumatahimik siya at ayaw niyang magsalita, umiiyak na lang ako. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, gusto ko lang siyang tulungan. Magagalit siya at iibahin niya ang usapan. Alam kong gumagamit siya ng droga, at natatakot akong baka magkasakit siya.


Ayaw kong husgahan siya. Pero para akong tanga na hindi pinapansin ang mga bagay na ginagawa niya na alam kong hindi mabuti. Kapag pinagmamasdan ko siya, hindi ako sigurado kung hihinto siya sa pagsisinungaling o hindi. 


Marami kaming diperensya na kailangan naming harapin. Kahit ganito, ayaw ko siyang iwanan. Ayaw kong mag-isip siya ng negatibo tungkol sa kanyang mga ginagawa sa kanyang buhay. Pero kung hindi ko siya iiwanan at magpakasal kami, natatakot akong baka magmana sa kanya ang mga anak namin, matututunan nila ang pagsisinungaling, pagkahilig sa bawal na gamot, at galit.


Kuya, tulungan mo sana akong makapag-isip. Thanks a lot. -- Tina

Galit ba sa Intsik si Secretary Cesar Purisima? Hindi namin alam dahil wala naman siyang dahilan para lumpuhin ang sigarilyo ng joint venture na Fortune Tobacco ni Lucio Tan at ng Philip Morris ng America.


Pero kung titingnan natin ang laki ng buwis na gustong ipataw ni Purisima sa sigarilyo at halos insultong halaga ng ipasasagot sa alcohol, lalo na sa beer, lumalabas na kontra sa Intsik si Purisima.


Matatandaan na sa HB 5727 ni Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, ang hangad na makuhang buwis sa sigarilyo at alak ay P60 billion. Hati ang siga­rilyo at alak. Tig-P30 billion. Sobra ang laki pero pareho ang trato.


Sa pagtalakay ng House ways and means committee, bumaba ang balak na buwis sa alak sa P6 na billion mula sa P30 billion. Bumaba rin ng katiting ang sa sigarilyo, mula sa P30 billion hanggang P27 billion.


Sa madaling salita P3 billion lamang ang binawas sa sigarilyo. Napakalaki ang binawas sa alak, kasama ang serbesa â€" P24 billion mula sa P30 billion. Pananagutin ang alak ng katiting na halagang P6 billion.
Parehong masama sa kalusugan ang sigarilyo at alak. Marami na ang namamatay sa lung cancer dahil sa 'di mapigil na paghithit. Marami rin ang namamatay sa paglalasing.


Ang diperensya lang, malimit mangyari na buhay ang lasenggo at patay naman ang mga pasahero ng sasakyan na binangga niya dahil sa kalasingan. Ibig kong sabihin, kung mamatay ka sa lung cancer dahil sa paninigarilyo, ikaw ang napahamak. E, kung sobra ang iyong pagkalasing puwede kang makamatay pero buhay ka.


Iyan ba ang katuwiran ni Purisima kung bakit konti lang ang dapat ibuwis ng alak. Baluktot na katuwiran iyan at tahasang pagpapahayag na hindi niya gusto ang mga Intsik tulad ni Lucio Tan na gumagawa ng sigarilyo. Ilokano pa naman si Purisima. May katuwiran na mag-apoy sa galit ang mga nagtatanim ng tabako dahil sa balak ni Purisima.


Kung maging batas ang balak niya, mawawala ang mumu­rahing sigarilyo ng mahihirap dahil tataas ang presyo nito sa laki ng buwis. Sa ganung paraan daw mababawasan ang bilang ng mga may bisyong sigarilyo.


Mahina pala kayong mag-isip. Lalo pang darami ang may bisyo dahil babaha sa bansang Pilipinas ang smuggled na sigarilyo. Mura na blue seal pa. Iyan ang hihithitin ng mga may bisyo. Ang murang halaga at masarap na lasa ng blue seal ang mahihikayat sa mga bata na manigarilyo.


Alam ba ninyo ang pwedeng mangyari kung masunod si Purisima? Una, sabi ko nga, darami ang maninigarilyo dahil mura at masarap ang blue seal na smuggled. Kung ito ang mangyari, mawawala ang murang sigarilyong yari sa tabakong tanim ng mga Pilipino.


Kung ganun, saan kukuha ng P40 billion na buwis sa sigarilyo? Hindi nagbabayad ng buwis ang mga smuggler. Sa bandang huli, dumami ang may bisyo, kumalat ang sakit na dulot ng sigarilyo, malaki ang nawalang buwis dahil sa smuggling.


Ang mahalaga sa lahat ay nawalan ng kabuhayan ang halos tatlong milyong Pilipino na nabubuhay sa tabako.


Handa ba si Purisima na harapin ang malagim na kinabukasang iyan ng maraming Pilipino dahil baka malaki ang galit niya kay Lucio Tan. Hindi naman tama iyan. Personalan na iyan.


Higit pa sa P100 million ang nagastos ni Lucio Tan sa pag-aayos ng mga lumang reservoir bilang paghahanda sa mahabang tag-init. Ang mga ilog sa mga probinsyang nagtatanim ng tabako ay pinada­daloy sa isang ipunan ng tubig para sa tabako.


Wala namang inaasahang gantimpala si Lucio sa ginagawa niya. Tinitiyak lamang na tuloy ang kita ng mga nagtatanim ng tabako at hindi siya mauubusan ng tabako para sa gawaing sigarilyo. Pagkatapos wawalisin na lamang basta ni Purisima ang industriyang tabako.


Naku, baka bumaba sa Maynila at magprotesta ang mga Ilokano na nabubuhay sa tabako. Hindi malayong mangyari iyan.

May pagkakataon na okay lang na maging epa­l. Pero teka, hindi epal na pulitiko ang tinutukoy ko, ha.

Ang ibig kong sabihin ay may mga oras kung kailan maaari tayong maging epa­l pagdating sa pagiging produktibong mamamayan.


Paano?


Una sa lahat, galing ang salitang 'epal' sa mapapel o pumapapel. Nega­tibo ang kadalasang gamit sa salitang ito, pero hayaan niyo akong baliktarin muna ito para sa partikular na usaping nais kong talaka­yin. Ang isa pang maaa­ring kahulugan ng epal ay ang pagpapel ng mamamayan sa mga usaping kalimitan ay naisasagawa lamang sa iisang panig -- sa panig ng pamahalaan.


May kaisipan ang iba na ang mga gawain at res­ponsibilidad ng pamahalaan ay sa pamahalaan lamang kasama na ang mga opisyal at kawani nito. Iniisip ng iba, "Ay, bahala na silang ayusin ang mga problema at magbigay ng serbisyo sa aming mga mamamayan".


Sa palagay ko, hindi naman dapat ganito. Sa mamamayan nangga­galing ang kapangyariha­n ng gobyerno ayon sa ating Saligang Batas at batay na rin sa mandatong ipinagkakaloob natin sa mga pampublikong opisyal kada tatlong taon tuwing panahon ng halalan.


O, paano nga napasok ang pagiging epal ng mamamayan?


Ang pag-epal (na positibo ang hangarin) sa gawain ng pamahalaan ay mahalaga at makabuluhang bahagi ng pagiging isang mamamayan ng bansa. Ang pakikialam dahil may pakialam ay importante upang maisakatuparan natin ang layunin ng pagkakaroon ng pamamahalang bukas, tapat, at may pananagutan. Dapat, 'pag may nakitang mali ang isang Juan dela Cruz sa mga gawain sa loob ng gobyerno, kailangan niyang umepal at makialam.

'Pag may nakita namang tama si Juana na ginagawa ng pamahalaan, maganda ring umepal siya at tumulong upang tuluy-tuloy ang positibong dulot nito.


Pero teka, paano ba umepal?


Isang hakbang dito ay ang pakikilahok sa mga konsultasyon ng mga lokal na pamahalaan natin pagdating sa polisiya at sa budget. Tama lang ding umepal at magtanong kung sakaling walang konsultasyong nagaganap.


Kailangan din nating magtulungan upang ang pag-epal natin sa pamamahala ay may institusyonali­sadong mga paraan. Kaya naman dapat maipasa na ang mga progresibong batas kagaya ng People's Participation in Budget Deliberations at ng Freedom of Information Law.


Sa nauna, layon nitong buksan ang proseso ng pagbubuo ng budget para sa susunod na taon sa mga non-government at civi­l society organization. Sa pamamagitan nito, magiging tunay na tapat ang paggugol ng pera ng mamamayan dahil naida­an ito sa prosesong bukas.


Sa katunayan, may ganito nang prinsipyo ang DBM, sa pamumuno ni Sec. Butch Abad, pagda­ting sa pagsasaayos ng national budget. Ikinagagalak kong kahit wala pang batas na magpapanatili nito, nasimulan na ang ganitong uri ng pagiging tapat sa mamamayan ng DBM.


Tara, umepal tayo para sa positibong pagbabago at magtulungan para mapasa ang mga batas na ito!

Higit na karespe-respeto ang taong nagkamali pero umamin ng kahinaan at humingi ng taus-pusong dispensa kaysa sa taong pilit na nagmamalinis kahit huling-huli na sa kasalanang ginawa.


Ang respeto ay isa sa pinakamahirap ibigay sa tao. Hindi ito nahihingi, hindi ito nabibili, hindi naiuutos at lalong hindi pwedeng iobliga. Ito'y makakamit na kusa â€" kahit mula sa estranghero â€" ng taong karapat-dapat tumanggap nito.


Nakakalungkot ang nangyayari sa ating Senado. Kaladkad na kaladkad na sa kahihiyan sa mundo sa nangyaring insidente ng plagiarism na inaakusa ngayon kay Senator Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III.


Mga dayuhang bloggers ang unang nagreklamo. Kinopya raw ng talumpati ni Sotto ang kanilang blog. Ngayon ay mismong anak na ni assassinated US Sen. Robert F. Kennedy ang nagsasabi na lantaran ang pangongopya ng Philippine senator na ito sa 1966 Day of Affirmation speech ng kanyang ama.


Dini-demand din ni Kerry Kennedy ang public apology ni Sotto dahil labis daw ang pagkakainsulto niya na ginamit ang mga salitang ito ng kanyang senador na ama bilang punto sa pagkontra sa paggamit ng contraceptive ng mag-asawa, gayong ang talumpati ni Sen. Kennedy noon ay bilang suporta sa human rights at hustisya. 'Distorted' o baliko at may halong panlilinlang (deceptive) daw ang pagkakagamit ni Sotto sa bahagi ng speech ng kanyang yumaong ama, sabi ni Kerry Kennedy.


Kahapon ay nag-sorry si Sotto, espisipiko sa mga Kennedy, kung nasaktan sila sa kanyang ginawa, sabay dugtong na, "but I never plagiarized."


Ano ang silbi ng sorry kung walang pag-ako ng kasalanan? Ano ang layunin ng paghingi ng dispensa kung ipinipilit pa rin ang kalinisan ng konsensya?


Mismong anak ng may-ari ng orihinal na talumpati, mismong mga may-akda na ng blog ang nagsasabi na kinopya sa amin 'yang talumpati ng senador sa kanyang argumento laban sa condom at pills, bakit hindi na lang aminin?


Dahil sa prinsipyo? Anong klaseng prinsipyo ang ipinaglalaban dito? Lahat naman ng tao nagkakamali. Lahat ng tao, may kapalpakan. Walang perpekto sa mundo. Walang karapatan ang sinuman na kumondena sa isang taong nagkasala, puwera na lamang kung siya ay hindi nagkasala kailanman.


Ang importante lang, kapag nagkamali ay may dignidad at may 'balls' na kilalanin ang naging pagkakamali at ihingi ito ng dispensa. Walang ligoy, walang palusot at walang pagmamalinis dahil kung hindi ay walang silbi at hindi katanggap-tanggap ang 'sorry'.


Hindi kailangang maging senador para magkaroon ng hiya at delikadesa. Mula sa bahay hanggang sa eskwelahan, itinuturo na sa mga paslit na mali at pangit na asal ang pangongopya at lalo na ang pagsisinungaling.


Pagkatao na ang nakataya rito. Lahat ng pagkakataon para itindig ang dignidad sa nagawang pagkakamali ay naibigay na, pero patuloy pa ring niyayakap ang nakakahiyang pagmamalinis.


Sana ay umaksyon ang Senado sa kahihiyang ito. Ang delikadesa ay hindi dapat ilubog sa saya ng 'immunity'.