MikeLigalig.com

I am selling my 842 sq meter lot in Manga for P1M instead of P1.2M. for more inquiries, you can send PM or text me: 09289940651.

Hello,

Our PARK & MUSEUM ENTRANCE RATE:
Child: Php 200.00 (4-11 yrs. old) / Non-Resident: Php 500.00 / Bohol Resident: Php 300.00


Best regards
Tarsier Botanika - Botanical Garden and Bohol Guide Management



I was really shocked to get a reply from Tarsier Botanika when I asked for the rate. Why is the entrance rate so expensive? For those who have already visited this place, does the rate compensate the view and the place in general? We plan to visit next month pro murag gimahalan man jud ko kaau oy esp na usa mi kabaryohan.

My husband and I brought my family to a countryside tour during our vacation in Bohol last week.




Forest Camp in Loboc


Forest Camp in Loboc

Kinsay kabalo sa contact number ani na floating resto sa Loay? I really need it ASAP. I tried to research online pro wala jud contact number ako makit-an.

Yesterday afternoon, I helped in repainting our fence. Hours after,i experienced a mild spotting. This morning, it was already a bit alarming that Herman told me to visit my obgyne the soonest. I underwent a transvaginal ultrasound where i saw the image of the fetus. My doc told me to be hopeful that the fetus would hold tightly. When i arrived home, i saw a thick blood shaped like the fetus after i urinated.

By Chito A. Fuentes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:15:00 04/18/2010



CORELLA, BOHOL, Philippinesâ€"Three’s company for the Buagas triplets who turned 82 this year.

Known as the three Mariasâ€"Maria Magdalena, Maria Cleofe and Maria Salomeâ€"the identical triplets were born to Lucio Buagas and Feliciana Lumain in Poblacion, Corella town, on Feb. 16, 1928.

Being triplets, they never failed to arouse curiosity. However, everyone thought it was pretty amazing when they reached the age of 82.

“Honestly, our parents had other names in mind but the priest who baptized us turned us into the three Marys,” said Magdalena in Cebuano.

Magdalena is considered the eldest because she came out first, followed by Cleofe and finally, Salome.

Triplets are rare and even more so during pre-war days.

“Our parents told us our house was like a church after we were born. People wanted to see the three babies born to one mother,” Cleofe said.

Cleofe and Magdalena, both single mothers, live in the house of the latter’s son in this town.

For this interview, they were joined by Salome, a widow, who came from the house of her daughter in Barangay La Paz, Cortes town.

Bracelets 1, 2 and 3

The years have been kind to the three ladies, who look sprightly and healthy. Yes, it was still difficult to tell them apart.

“After we were born, our father put bracelets with Nos. 1, 2 and 3 on each of our wrists so people can tell us apart,” Cleofe said. Her two sisters nodded, smiling.

At their baptism, they said they were separately brought in and out of the church using a different passageway. Old-timers had given strict orders not to bring them together because they believed it was bad luck.

Their identical features had given them unique experiences.

While studying at the Corella Elementary School, they had an unfair advantage over their classmates.

“When our teacher asked a question, the one who knew the answer stood up regardless of who had been called,” Salome said, smiling.

At that time, they not only looked alike, they wore the same clothes, sported the same haircut, and had almost identical handwriting.

Confusing, fun

Salome recalled a visiting priest who refused to give her Communion thinking she had returned for seconds. The altar boy had to explain she was a triplet before the priest agreed to give her Communion.

“It must have been confusing for many people. For instance, a neighbor was amazed at how fast I could change my clothes. The truth was he had seen one of my sisters walking home from church and a few minutes later he saw me,” Cleofe said.

It was fun when they became teenagers and started getting their share of admirers.

Magdalena recalled walking home with a boy who thought she was one of her two sisters.

“When we were close to home, I yelled to my sister that a boy was looking for her. He never came back after that,” she said, laughing.

Sad times

They also had their share of sad moments.

Their mother died when they were only 7 years old. Their father, a farmer, had to raise three young daughters all by himself. He turned to his parents for help.

“Our grandfather paid nursing mothers to breastfeed us,” the triplets chorused.

Sometimes, they walked barefoot to school. When it rained, they covered themselves with banana fronds as they had no umbrellas.

Cleofe and Salome reached only Grade 6 while Magdalena was sent to a dressmaking school in Tagbilaran.

While Magdalena pursued dressmaking as a livelihood, Cleofe and Salome decided to go into trading jewelry in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao and even Cebu.

Missing each other

They could not recall if they experienced anything supernatural while away from each other. They, however, made it clear they longed for each other’s company.

“We always felt for each other. As kids, when our father scolded any of my sisters, I cried with them,” Magdalena said.

Asked about the secret of their long and healthy life, the three said their diet consists mostly of vegetables and they hardly eat pork.

“A farmer cannot afford meat so we grew up eating vegetables and root crops,” Magdalena said.

As triplets, they were never lonelyâ€"they always had each other.

“Our growing up years were difficult but we stayed close to God with constant prayer,” Magdalena said.

Celebrated

When they celebrated their 82nd birthday, Salome said she was pleasantly surprised when Tagbilaran City Councilor Oscar Glovasa gave each of them a cake.

“We were brought to the Tagbilaran City Hall because Mayor Dan Lim wanted to meet us,” Salome said.

Growing old gracefully

After living an accumulated 246 years, raising seven children, 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, the three Marys showed no signs of crankiness usually equated with age.

On the contrary, the Buagas sisters said they would go through life with the same innocence and happy disposition they had as children.

“They are still very active in community affairs, particularly in religious activities,” said barangay chair Jose Nicanor Tocmo Jr.

Tocmo said many people in the barangay looked up to the three ladies.

“It is rare to see women their age adapting casually to the complexities of the changing times,” he said.

We love u! Thank u soooo much for your wonderful advices when i'm down. Thank u so much for being with us all the time despite the distance.

Description:
We currently in need of writers to make articles concerning Health & Fitness.

Details:
- Minimum of 500 words per article
- Must be unique, no plagiarism
- Ok to be informal, just as long a normal reader will understand it (not too techy)
- Rate is P120 per article. On the average, a writer submits 90 articles per month.

Qualifications:
1. Superb English (can play with words easily)
2. Committed and Dedicated
3. Has Internet Connection at home
4. Preferably those with writing experience.

Email your cv/résumé and writing samples at bgubs@yahoo. Include your mobile/contact number.

we plan to enrol Matthew John to school as toddler. we went to Rosevale School here in cagayan de oro this afternnon. we were taken aback to push through with our plans because the annual tuition fee is P38,785. Upon enrolment is almost P12thousand. murag makasamot ug pobre namo ni na amount.

since we have a plan to move to bohol, so didto na lang namo sya paskwelahon. naa moy ikasuggest na school na kaya ra sa bulsa?

http://www.pep.ph/news/20562/Former-sexy-actress-Klaudia-Koronel-to-marry-her-Chinese-American-fiance-on-August-28

" Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself. "  Harriet Nelson

It is 842 sq meters at P1,500 per sq meter, located in Manga District, Tagbilaran City.

NEGOTIABLE

clean title

contact number: 09289940651

last wednesday, some tb friends attended herman's bday. here are some pics:


while waiting for the tb ppol to arrive


pag-abot ni paul,niuli na sad sila gel and rye


they are friends again,wala nay "slapping session "


taken before the visitors came



ate lee,fons,wards and borbs, ang ato pics kay wala pa kay wala pa na upload sa ako amo.ang kani ako gipost sa ako ni fone.

on aug 30 last year, my husband and i bought an 842 sq. meter lot in manga from our relative. we hired a lawyer to process the titling of the said lot since by that time, we still had to go back to belgium to process some paperworks for my husband regarding his permanent stay in the phils.

it will be a year this month,but we havent got hold of the title yet. the owner passed away months ago so our lawyer asked for the extrajudicial thing since she said it's a requirement. the lawyer's secretary went to the BIR to ask for a computation of the estate tax of the owner and found out that the other co-owners of the lot who already passed away years ago didn't pay their own taxes. my cousin, who is in-charge of paying because she was the one who handled the money we paid, asked me to pay the taxes instead. common sense would tell me why do i have to pay for the taxes of the co-owners?

dapat ba na i-channel pa sa akoa if the lawyer wants to talk to our cousin? i was even suggesting to send a demand letter if our cousin would not continue to cooperate in the pertinent papers.

any advice?

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maski asa pa ibutang si baby matt,manguot jud,hehehe! watch this:

object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eo-4TCzT9r4"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eo-4TCzT9r4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>

While in Bohol for the summer vacation, Rebecca Lusterio (Bikay for short) is busy promoting and campaigning for the inclusion of Bohol’s Chocolate Hills in the list of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

“If you are in Bohol and you don’t visit the Chocolate Hills,” Bikay told Funfare correspondent Leo Udtohan, “your visit is not complete.”

Bikay will be a third-year Masscom student this coming June at the Colegio San Juan de Letran where she is a scholar. As a kid, she helped her poor parents make ends meet by peddling seashells at a beach in Panglao. It was her fellow Boholano Cesar Montano who discovered her for the movies. She has done three movies â€" Muro-Ami (for which she won a Best Child Actress award), Panaghoy sa Suba and Ligalig.

According to Leo, a good friend of Bikay, “She has remained humble. Last week, she appeared in a musical video prepared by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation headed by SK National President Jane Censoria Cajes. The musical video pays tribute to the young Boholano achievers in the forthcoming Bohol Youth Week on May 26 to 31. Bikay still goes to Alona Beach where her mom Helen sells seashells. Her father, Verano Lusterio, is a fisherman.”

What about her acting career?

“I’d love to do a soap, if there’s any offer,” said Rebecca.

(Paging Wilma Galvante! Paging Charo Santos-Concio!)


source:Philippile Star

Charlie Green, a ten-year old half-Filipino and club singer Madonna Decena are singing their way to the next round of Britain’s Got Talent.

It’s a talent search created by American Idol judge Simon Cowell who also acts as judge in the show, alongside journalist Piers Morgan and actress Amanda Holdren.

During the program’s second week of live auditions in Birmingham, Charlie gave a spirited rendition of Frank Sinatra’s 1966 hit record “Summer Wind.” He was cool and composed throughout the entire performance, even doing some old-fashioned jazz scatting and finger snapping. After he sang, the audience gave Charlie a standing ovation and chanted his name for a few seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gX5F27DfsM

Charlie is the second Filipino to make waves in the talent search. First was the 32-year old single mom and club singer Madonna Decena, who auditioned in Manchester, and wowed the judges with her powerful rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhTWUNO4Rkk

Piers Morgan, who called Charlie, the boy “Old Charlie,” was entertained with both his singing and dancing. Amanda went as far as giving a bold forecast: “I predict, you could win in this show.”

Even the panel’s harshest critic, American Idol judge Simon Cowell, had nothing but praises. He said, “Charlie, I think you’re a little star! I really, really like you!” In the end, Charlie got three “YES” votes from the judges, and is now set to move on to the next round of competition.

Charlie’s mom is a Filipina Cecilia Sumargo- who hails from Dumajug, Cebu and his dad is British dad. Auditions for Britain’s Got Talent are currently ongoing and will air locally very soon.


source: Good News Pilipinas

write a word which starts and ends with same letters.

note: if the word especially a noun starts with S, its plural form is not accepted.



level

kayak

here's another poem which was also published in our school organ when i was college.

it only took me less than 10 minutes to write this because i was so inspired in one of my vacations going to cagayan de oro.

last night, my husband submitted two of my poems at www.poetry.com where he is a member.



A Trip In A Ship
I slept in a ship,
When zephyr touched my skin
But when I looked, it's not the Wind
It's a seaman from within.

A vigorous and handsome guy,
Staring at me and smiled
A little silence passed by,
And I began to wonder why.

Hearing the tinkling sound of his heart,
Knocking, whispering though we're apart
Reading the intermittent gleams of his eyes
Saying "I love you", how very nice.

Love? What a wonderful word to hear
My heart is beating, but I have to bear
But Lo! He's a stranger to me
So how could it be.

He and me in sinuous offing
Sharing, talking and dreaming
A little love is growing deep
Oh! What a wonderful trip in a ship.


Lumine Pitoy Marginet
Copyright ©2008  Lumine Pitoy Marginet

I wrote this poem when i was still in college. This was published in The Word, DWC-T's school organ.

I would like to dedicate this poem to all TB members who are graduating.



As I stand by in a nook,
Wandering minds somewhere down the brook
Ambition becomes a reality
Lofty dreams in destiny.

Amidst the sleepless nights,
Studying and working on assignments
Sacrifices from my parents
Their love, support, and encouragements.

Fresh from the gentle morning breeze
My world full of memories
There are times of loneliness
And times of happiness.

Brilliantly look on my gorgeous toga
Accompanied with the sound of the orchestra
Pace proudly in an aisle
With a million-dollar smile.

Immeasurable happiness on graduation
With garlands on my hands
At last! My ever wanted diploma,
This is for you, dear Papa and Mama.

last sunday, herman was busy cleaning. so to escape the dust and dirt, i phoned up cara if they could pick us up after hearing mass. baby matt and i spent our weekend at cara's place. we all had fun. here are some pics:

 
Customer Service Rep: Can you install LOVE?

Customer: I can do that. I'm not very technical, but I think I am ready to install now. What do I do first?

Customer Service Rep: The first step is to open your HEART. Have you located your HEART ma'am?

Customer: Yes I have, but there are several programs running right now.Is it okay to install while they are running?

Customer Service Rep: What programs are running ma'am?

Customer: Let me see....I have PASTHURT.EXE, LOWESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.

Customer Service Rep: No problem. LOVE will automatically erase PASTHURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOWESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGHESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma'am?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Customer Service Rep: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, I'm done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?

Customer Service Rep: Yes it is. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?

Customer: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?

Customer Service Rep: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other HEARTS in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops...I have an error message already. What should I do?

Customer Service Rep: What does the message say?

Customer: It says "ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS". What does that mean?

Customer Service Rep: Don't worry ma'am, that's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in non-technical terms it means you have to "LOVE" your own machine before It can "LOVE"others.

Customer: So what should I do?

Customer Service Rep: Can you find the directory called "SELF-ACCEPTANCE"?

Customer: Yes, I have it.

Customer Service Rep: Excellent, you are getting good at this.

Customer: Thank you.

Customer Service Rep: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the "MYHEART" directory: FORGIVESELF.DOC, SELFESTEEM.TXT, EALIZEWORTH.TXT, and GOODNESS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete SELFCRITIC.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My HEART is filling up with really neat files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that WARMTH.COM, PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my HEART!

Do you like this love story?
Share this love story with your friends on your Blog/Website/Myspace!
a href="http://www.lovefatedestiny.com/cutelovestories2.htm"
Cute Love Story
</a>
Or get the code to link to Love Fate Destiny!

Customer Service Rep: Then LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go...

Customer: Yes?

Customer Service Rep: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some really neat modules back to you.

Customer: I will. Thank you for your help.

come december 1, 2007,next saturday, i will finally bid goodbye to my second country,belgium and welcome myself and my family again to the country where i was born,the philippines.

it's hard to say goodbye,but we have to. as my loving husband would always say, "Baby, our future is in the Phils. There are no family ties here,unlike in the Phils."

last sunday, tears started to fall like heavy rain, as herman's sister-in-law and her family invited us for a dinner. it was painful to see my husband sobbing while hugging them tightly.(im crying now again,as im writing this.)whew!

in the car, everybody was quiet. moments after, my husband kissed my forehead and my lips, he said, "Baby, it's hard to say goodbye but i will make it because soon, i will be leaving all my miseries. Real happiness will come soon." (it's too personal if i will share the trials my husband went through.)

last night, my 18 year-old stepson, Joachim, visited us. an hour before he left, i asked him if he could still visit us for the last time. he said that his schedule in school wouldn't allow him anymore. so this is our last time to see each other? i asked. as we hugged each other, my tears started to fall, and before it would rain, i told him i needed to put his lil brother to sleep already. i noticed he was teary-eyed when baby matt gave him a flying kiss.(ngek! nitulo na sad ako luha.)

as i went upstairs, i was crying. minutes after, i could hear herman sobbing. i wanted to go downstairs to see Jo again,but baby matt was having his milk. i could hardly stop my tears from falling as i heard father and son saying goodbye in dutch. baby matt was awake from my sobs. i immediately carried baby matt to join his daddy whose eyes were already swelling from crying. when Jo left, herman kept reading at the frames with the inscriptions about a father which Jo gave him last night. at the end of one of the poems in the frames, it says, "Ik hou van jou,Papa." in english, "I love you, Daddy."

i can really understand the feelings of herman this time.

next week, we will visit my mother-in-law and my close brothers-in-law. what will i expect? super heavy rains again...

Maan D’Asis Pamaran

Believe it or not, kids get stressed out too and they show it in different ways!


In today's hurly-burly world, we feel that stress is inevitable. It is a given that every functioning adult will experience burnout at some point. That is why spas enjoy regular patronage, anti-stress vitamins and supplement drinks are flying off supermarket shelves, and we have relaxation gurus holding seminars at fully-booked venues.

But did you know that kids can get stressed too? And according to SPED teacher Marvin Borja of the Jesu-Mariae International School in Paranaque, they don’t even know that they are stressing out. "When we adults feel tired or anxious, we know that we are already stressed. But kids manifest it in ways that adults often misunderstand. They become irritable or throw tantrums. These, the parents might interpret as simply their child misbehaving." They may also verbalize it, but in other ways. Adds Borja, "When they are playing, they may say, ‘mommy, pagod na ko!’ but they don’t realize that the pagod may already be stress."

"Even babies may get stressed if they are not comfortable," Borja says. Toddlers may feel antsy when they are faced with new situations. "Change can be stressful for anybody," he adds.

Signs of stress in children


Children respond to stress in their different ways, with their own coping mechanisms, like adults do. Here are some cues that your child may already be stressed out.


• Frequent tantrum bouts

• Restlessness

• Mood swings

• Change in sleep patterns

• Pretends to be sick

• Doesn’t want to go to school

• Develops new mannerisms (hair-twirling, thumbsucking)

• Has trouble concentrating on schoolwork

• Grades start to slip

• May complain of headaches or tummy aches


Stress factors


Kids often get stressed because of factors that are out of their control. Borja says one common reason is the environment. "Pag mainit, hindi sila mapakali. They are not comfortable. I see that even in school. When it is hot, the children become restless," he shares.

Schoolwork is another contributor to child burnout. "Children need downtime too. If they go to school tapos puro aral sila doon, then they get home and there are piles of homework to be done, the child will feel overwhelmed. On top of that, there are the extra curricular activities to attend to. Talagang mapapagod sila," says Borja

Family matters may also contribute to stress. "The addition of a new baby can be quite stressful, as well as tension or quarreling in the home," he adds. If the child feels that his home is not a safe haven, this may lead to chronic stress.

Stress may also be seasonal. "In my experience, tinatamad na yung students to go to school when it is nearing Christmas or summer vacation. It may also have something to do with the activities that they have outside of school, in preparation for the season."


Unwind, Relax


If you feel that your child may be stressed, Borja advises the following interventions:


• Hug more often. Physical contact is key, he says. "Even we, as adults, welcome a hug from our loved ones at the end of a long day at the office. Our kids will definitely appreciate the same."

• Talk to teacher. If you feel that their homework load is too heavy, talk to the teacher for a little leeway. "At our school, we try not to give our students homework during weekends. We want them to be with their family. We want them to have the mindset that Monday to Friday is for school, and weekends are for play." Weekend homework can be a hindrance to bonding time. "If mom knows that the kids have some studying to do, she might veto going out as a family, or if they do go out, they hurry home. Kasi nga mag-aaral pa sila," Borja explains. "If you see grades starting to slip, talk to the teacher about it," he adds.

• Make the home front peaceful. Confrontations may be had to avoid at times, but you always have to show children that there are calmer ways to settle things. This will lower their stress levels, and teach them an important life lesson too.

• Clean up your act. Mess means stress, says Borja. "Try to find your child a comfortable place to work on his assignments."

• Let ‘em play. Physical exercise burns off not only calories, but also negative feelings. "A lot of kids today stay indoors. They have no outlet for their energy. As a result, they get stressed more easily. Another result of keeping kids indoors is that they are not used to the heat. Let them go out, let them get used to it gradually," Borja exhorts.

• Deload them. If your child complains about having too many activities, it may be time to chuck out taekwondo or ice skating from his schedule.

• Make the weekend sacred. "On weekends, have fun!" enthuses Borja. There should be no pressure for the child.

• Bring out the crayons. Art therapy does wonders with special children when they start their tantrums. Observes Borja, "Art helps them develop fine motor skills, and helps them express their feelings.

• Laugh. When his students start acting up, Borja says he talks in cartoon voices to get their attention.

• Find quiet time. Naptime is a good stress buster. "The kids don’t even have to go to sleep, maybe playing some soft music lang or simply keeping the room cozy and quiet helps," he says.

• Watch the diet. "If they eat unhealthy food, their bodies won’t function properly, and they don’t feel well. A balanced diet will give them the energy they need to face their day-to-day activities," advises Borja. Nix those fizzies and add more fruits and veggies.


source: Manila Bulletin Online

( need to be read aloud)

What do you call a fish with no eyes?
- Fsh.
What do you call a fish with 3 eyes?
- Fiiish.
What do you call a fish with one eye?
- Fish.

What do you call a deer with no eyes?
- No I-dea?
What do you call a deer with no eyes and no legs?
- Still no idea?

What do you call a dinosaur with no eyes?
- Do-you-think-he-saw-us?




Professor of English giving a lecture:
"Of course, it's well known that in the English language it is not acceptable to have a double negative. The two parts of the sentence cancel each other out and the sentence would become positive thus changing the intended meaning of the speaker. Equally the converse is not true, two positive clauses in the same sentence do not cancel each other out and become negative."

Student at back of class: "Yeah, Yeah"

Black guy goes into Cambridge University Library:
"Hey man, which shelves the history books on?"

Librarian:
"Sir, this is Cambridge University. We do not end a sentence with a preposition at Cambridge"

Black Guy:
"Oo Kay, Which shelves the history books on, arsehole?"

Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Wendy.
Wendy who?
Wendy today. Sunny tomorrow

Knock, knock
Who's there?
A Fred!
A Fred who?
Who's a Fred of the Big Bad Wolf ?

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Kenya
Kenya who?
Kenya think of anything that's more fun than geography?

By BOY VILLASANTA

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Will rumors about an Ara Mina-Manny Pacquiao romance never die? Despite repeated denials by both the actress and the world boxing champion, rumors about their alleged affair hound them all the way to the location shoot for the film "Anak ng Kumander", at the Nipa Hut Resort in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.

It was a Wednesday morning, during a lull in the filming when members of the press caught up with the actress and the boxer inside a multi-purpose warehouse that alternately serves as gym, soundstage, dance floor or even session hall.

“Anak Ng Kumander” is  MP Productions’ official entry to the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival in December. Manny plays a rebel while Ara plays a TV reporter.

During the break Pacquiao could be observed whispering something to Ara, his right arm resting on her shoulder, as they talked in the presence of director Jose “Kaka” Balagtas, co-star comic Long Mejia, the film’s stuntmen, character actors, make-up artists and other production staff.

Pacquiao's right arm was resting on the actress' shoulder. The sight alone sparked speculations among the excited entertainment writers about the lead stars’ alleged romantic involvement.

“Naku, magtigil na nga sila. (Oh! Stop that already.),” Mina told abs-cbnNEWS.com. She was visibly irked that despite her denials, the rumor about her and the boxing champ seems to have taken on a life of its own.

What is it like working withPacquiao? “Ay, naku, ibang klase. Komikero siya. Puro biro. (Oh! He’s one of a kind. He’s such a comic. He’s always cracking jokes),” answered the pretty actress.

Mina said that her role in the movie isn't much, acting-wise. She said that it's Pacquiao who will be getting the meatier, more dramatic moments.


Real to reel

Mina seemed more excited about a film project she's currently discussing with directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. Titled “Ate,” the drama vehicle would pit her characte against that of her real-life sister, Cristine Reyes.

“Magkapatid kami rito. Next year namin isu-shoot. (We’re sisters here. We’ll shoot next year),” volunteered Mina.

The movie, to be produced by Ara herself, will demonstrate once more the older sister’s concern over her younger sibling. This is a truly a translation from real to reel life. No matter how vividly Ara is painted as an overprotective sis, she doesn’t mind.

“May pagkamakulit kasi si Cristine kaya kailangan na may gabay lagi. But I love her. I just want to protect her. (Cristine seems to be irrepressible so she needs  constant guidance),” she quipped.

Reyes already filed a slander case agaisnt former beauty queen Carlene Aguilar, with Mina's full support. According to Reyes, Aquilar grabbed her hand inside a dressing room in Broadway Centrum and whispered something derogatory in her ear.

Aguilar is supposedly jealous about a supposed relationship between Reyes and actor Dennis Trillo, who is the father of Aguilar’s baby.

According to Reyes, Aguilar has been harrassing her in order to driver her away from Trillo.  Reyes claimed that Aguilar sent her threatening text messages, telling her that Trillo "is only interested in your body."

Before ending her interview with reporters, Mina reacted to reports about her supposed move from GMA-7 to ABS-CBN.

“Kung sakali man mangyari ‘yon, magpapaalam ako sa GMA Network. So far, okay naman ako sa kanila. Alam nila na non-exclusive naman ang contract ko sa kanila pero sila ang priority ko. (If ever that happens, I’d ask permission from GMA Network. So far, I’m okay with them. They know I have a non-exclusive contract with them but then again, they’re my priority).” 

Then Mina said goodbye. It was already three o’clock in the morning and she had to get to the US Embassy in Manila to follow up her travel documents to Guam. 

When the actress left, Pacquiao was nowhere in sight.

Agence France-Presse

BANGKOK - Two Thai teachers were each sentenced to 50 years in prison Tuesday for gang raping six of their students, who were as young as six years old, court officials said.

Lorn Sorakanit, 59, and Pimol Chumsri, 49 -- both teachers at a public school on the outskirts of Bangkok -- were convicted by the Thai Criminal Court of sexual abuse, molestation and illegal detention of the six girls.

The girls were aged between six and eight years old when the two teachers began assaulting them in June 2006, the court said.

Parents of the students sought help from Paveena Hongskul, a non-governmental organization, to file charges against the teachers in August 2006.

In its ruling, the court said the teachers on many occasions would take turns raping the girls, sometimes forcing their classmates to watch.

Thailand has become the focus of international concerns over sexual abuse of children following a spate of pedophile arrests.

Last week the Supreme Court upheld a 36-year sentence for the former deputy speaker of the Senate, Chalerm Promlert, who was convicted of having sex with four underage girls.


source: ABS-CBN News Online

MANILA, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 (STAR) Ousted President Joseph Estrada might run in the 2010 presidential elections as the opposition’s “last option” if there is no strong standard-bearer.

Speaking before his supporters in Laguna on Saturday, Estrada said that he will throw his hat in the ring for the 2010 elections if the opposition runs out of new and strong candidates for president.

“I might run (for president) if I will see that the opposition has no winnable presidential candidate in 2010,” he said.

“But as I can see, the opposition has a deep bench. We have many strong presidential contenders.”

Former Senate president Ernesto Maceda, a member of the United Opposition’s (UNO) committee of elders, said they are eyeing to field Estrada’s son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as possible presidential and vice presidential candidates in 2010.

“We are asking Jinggoy and Mayor Binay to talk and decide by themselves who among them will run for president and vice president in 2010,” he told a crowd in Vitas, Tondo in Manila.

Estrada said 2010 is “still very far,” although he already declared during a rally in Tondo that he would no longer run for president.

“It will depend on how things will be (by 2010),” he said.

“But in the meantime, now that I am already released from jail, I will dedicate my time to helping our poor countrymen.”

“History will be kind to me and it will vindicate me. God has his own purpose and what happened to me were mere trials.”

Estrada said he does not want to commit a mistake in picking this early the presidential candidate that he will endorse as the opposition standard-bearer.

“I don’t want the poor Filipinos to blame me for endorsing the wrong candidate,” he said.

“We will see who among them (presidentiables) are true pro-masses and pro-poor. They are all qualified and good.”

Estrada said he would be able to make a good choice six months before the 2010 presidential elections.

Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda, and Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., are being considered as probable presidential candidates of the opposition, he added. â€" Jose Rodel Clapano

HAVING had two women as president may have been one factor. Having millions more working as overseas workers definitely is.

The Philippines ranked sixth among 128 countries in the race for gender equality, according the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2007 released last week.
In placing sixth for the second year in a row, the Philippines was able to outpace its competitors including the U.S. and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Ahead of the Philippines in this year's global gender gap index are Sweden at number one, followed by Norway , Finland , Iceland and New Zealand . Rounding out the top ten are Germany , Denmark, Ireland and Spain. The Philippines is, therefore, the first Asian country to enter the list, with Sri Lanka at 15th spot as the only other Asian nation in the top 20.
“We are expectant that this report serves as a catalyst for greater awareness as well as greater exchange between policy makers,” said Saadia Zahidi, head of the WEF’s women leaders program.
According to Ricardo Hausmann, director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University, and one of the authors of the report, the index assesses countries’ ability to divide their resources and opportunities among the male and female segments of their population. This is regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities.

"The index does not penalize those countries that have low levels of education overall, but rather those where the distribution of education is uneven between women and men," Hausman said.
The report measures the size of the gender gap in four critical areas of inequality between men and women, namely:

* economic participation and opportunity; * educational attainment; * political empowerment; and, * health and survival

The report â€" which covered over 90 percent of the world’s population â€" said that while no country has achieved full gender equality, Sweden , Norway and Finland have closed over 80 percent of the gender gap and serve as a useful benchmark for global comparisons.

The Philippines is the only Asian country to have closed the gender gap on education as well as health, and is one of only six nations to have done so. Also, the country's scores on political empowerment improved even more, as did some of its economic indicators such as estimated income, labor force participation and income equality for similar work.

A slight majority of the more than eight million overseas Filipino workers who remit about $12 billion annually are women.

The Philippines placed first in educational attainment and health and survival, second in economic participation and 14th in political empowerment for a total score of 76.29 points, just 5.17 points off Sweden 's score of 81.46.

The Philippines ranked highest in the education category, where majority of teachers at all levels are female. Women account for 87 percent of elementary, 76 percent of high school, and 56 percent of college teachers.

In the field of politics, Filipino women were given the right to vote in 1937. Two of the country’s last six presidents were women, with the incumbent being the daughter of one of the six. Filipinos generally consider themselves as being a matriarchal society, where men may wield positions of strength, but where women actually control the power.

In 2006, the Philippines also ranked sixth among 115 countries in the annual World Economic Forum report.

Apart from the Philippines, other Asean countries rated in the report are Vietnam (number 42 with 68.9 points), Thailand (52, with 68.2 points), Singapore (77, with 66.1 points), Indonesia (81, with 65.5 points), and Malaysia (92, 64.4 points).

The U.S. ranked number 31 with 70 points, while Japan was at 91, with 64.5 points. At the tail end of the list was Yemen , with 45.1 points.

Two Eastern European countries, Lithuania and Latvia, showed dramatic rises in their standing. Latvia rose to 13th place in 2007, from 19th place in 2006. Lithuania went from 21st place last year, to 14th place this year.


source: http://www.philnewscentral.com/

By Mayen Jaymalin
Monday, November 19, 2007


The Department of Tourism (DOT) plans to mount intensive marketing missions to attract more tourists next year, particularly sports lovers from various European countries.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said this early, the DOT is already working on its marketing plan.

“We are taking a more assertive role in pushing our beaches and aqua sports attractions to the European traveler,” Durano said.

He said DOT’s marketing rally to Europe in 2008 will begin with the biggest dive show in France Salon de la Plongee sous-Marine in Paris from Jan. 11 to 14.

Durano said DOT is also set to join Germany’s Boot Show, the leading water sports exhibit in Europe, that will be staged in Dusseldorf from Jan. 19 to 28.

Durano added that DOT will also attend similar events in Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands and Scandinavia in the first quarter of 2008.

Aside from programs designed to attract more than 200,000 European tourists in 2008, the DOT will also participate in the Moscow International Dive Festival from Feb. 14 to 17 to capture the growing adventure tourists market in Russia.

Durano called on the travel industry to join the DOT’s marketing missions.


source: Philstar online

If you see Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion or Angelina Jolie, to name a few, all so made up and beautiful for the red carpetââ,¬Â¦ more often than not credit goes to Mally Roncal, the in-demand 36 year old Filipina makeup artist who has been toning, painting and glossing celebrity faces for major events, magazine covers and appearances.

A favorite of top fashion magazines for cover and photo shoots, Mally has also guested as a beauty expert on television shows like Oprah, Access Hollywood and The Today Show. But mostly, Mally says she is on some private jet flying with a celebrity as their official make-up artist. But this charming Filipina is not complaining. "There is nothing I love more than sharing my secrets and tricks with women, celebrity or not, so they can feel their best," Mally says in the application instructions that come with her product called Shimmer, Shape and Glow. "Beauty is about projecting positive energy. Everyone is beautiful inside and out. Love yourself."


Mally whose parents are both doctors initially thought she will end up in medicine. "Every Filipino is a doctor or nurse," smilingly says Mally. "I was in Pre-med to study and be a dermatologist, because I ultimately wanted to start my own line of makeup I just thought that it made the most sense. Halfway through I said. 'This is not fun. All I wanna do is do the makeup.' So I switched to Fashion Design working for designers like stylists Mathu and Zaldy, and celebrity hair stylist Danilo. I did that for two years. But realizing it was not my passion; I went head first into the deep end into becoming a makeup artist.

"I never had formal training. I always knew how to do it. I never went to school. I just kept watching and learning. I just started workingââ,¬â€fashion shoots, models, then somehow, celebrities. I was always asked to be the spokesperson for Sephora, Revlon, MAC, Almay and Maybelline and so one day I thought, instead of selling other people's stuff. I should be selling my own stuff!

Now this Filipino offers her own beauty line simply called Mally which has been a favorite among celebrities. And has been featured in magazines namely Glamour, Cosmo, In-Style, Self, Harper's Bazaar, People, Alllure, US Weekly and Entertainment Weekly. Her monthly column " Trend Spotting" for Seventeen is a staple in the beauty industry. But, even more wonderful is that this full bred Filipina who talks about adobo and pansit with Beyonce is very patriotic.


"I was born in Middletown, N.Y., but I always say that if you walk through the door of our home, it is like being in Manila kasi it smells like patis. We have the big fork and spoon and everything else that shows it's a Filipino-owned house.

"Even my husband, Phil, who's from South Carolina, is now Filipino too. He is now COO of Mally Beauty. We talk and eat Filipino all the time.

"It just makes me so sad when I meet an Asian girl who asks me, "How do I make my eyes look rounder?" And I'm like, "Don't do it!" I believe everyone is beautiful and all of our characteristics really lend to celebrating what our nationality is and we should work with that. I've always tried to find fun new ways to enhance my Asian look rather than try to mask it. That is why I named one of my lipsticks Maganda!


source: Good News Pilipinas

By Francisco J. Colayco, Ph.D

When you budget, you usually budget monthly. However, many of your payments are not made monthly but maybe quarterly, twice a year of yearly. The problem in this method arises when you have extra money for the month and you know you will not need it until after a few more months. You start making yourself believe that you can somehow find the cash when payment is due and you decide to spend the present cash instead of putting it aside. If this happens for a real need, then, you are quite blessed that you had the cash for that real need. You just have to immediately find a way to replace that cash. Do not waste any time because time flies in a situation like this.

What is really bad is if you are tempted to use the cash for a want! You will not only be sorry because you may not have the cash when you need it. You will be even more sorry when you realize that you are no longer happy with the item you bought. Wants are usually items that give fleeting happiness. When you already have it, you tend to want something else.

To help yourself out of this predicament, consider setting up a separate bank account to handle quarterly, semi-annual or annual expenses like tuition fees. When you make your monthly budget, include these expenses as well as part of the monthly budget. For example, if you have to pay PhP60,000 for tuition for the whole school year, make sure you include PhP5,000 in your monthly budget. Deposit the PhP5,000 monthly in that separate bank account. This separate account should be an earning account and as much as possible should earn higher than the inflation rate.

Do not be tempted to touch that money for anything else. If you plan for this monthly expense, you will automatically give up expenses for things that you want but do not really need, knowing that you do not have the money. In this way, you will be practicing a derivative of the equation I am always reminding everybody about: Income less Savings = Expenses. In this case, you will have Monthly Income less Savings (10-20%) less Tuition Budget = Expenses allowed for the month.

You can use this same system for other quarterly, semi-annual or annual expenses like taxes, association dues and the like. This is a simple method and many know it but again, many are surprised to learn about it. I know because I have received so many emails thanking me for opening their eyes to the fact that they can save and be ready for their necessities.


source: Good News Pilipinas

A Filipino choir group has cemented the Philippines' reputation as a nation of natural-born singers.

The multi-awarded Himig Singers of Davao City swept the First Asian Choir Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Nov. 2 to 10, winning the top prize in the mixed vocal ensembles category, besting rival groups from China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

They performed the Visayan folk song "Usahay" (Sometimes), "Circle of Life" by Elton John and the gospel hymn "Walls of Jericho."

Other Philippine groups also won top prizes in other categories in the Jakarta tilt.

In the mixed youth choir category, the Lyceum University of the Philippines Chorale took the gold diploma, a mere point away from the Gema Sangkakala Youth Choir of Indonesia, which was declared champion.

The Lyceum Chorale won the silver diploma in the folklore category while the Mandaue City's Mandaue School for the Arts Children's Choir finished second after Indonesia's Voice of YPJ, which was declared champion.

Philippine representatives also performed well in the Asian Open phase of the contest, with Quezon City's Coro de Sta. Cecilia winning the silver diploma in the mixed vocal ensembles category and the Mandaue School for the Arts Children's Choir bagging the gold in the children's choir category.

The Himig Singers won the National Music Commission for Young Artists awards in 1990 and 1993. It also brought home the Award of the Audience at the 2004 Vivace International Choral Festival in Veszprém, Hungary.

In 1997, the group won first prize in the mixed category and the grand prize in the 26th International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, garnering the highest rating ever of 99.93 percent in the history of the competition.


source: Good News Pilipinas

Philippine Airlines is increasing flights to key international and domestic routes to accommodate the upsurge in demand in advance of the peak Christmas travel season.

For international flights, PAL's decision to mount additional flights to the US West Coast, Australia, Bangkok and Singapore will increase the flag carrier's available capacity in time for the holidays.

Starting Nov. 25, PAL will add two flights per week between Manila and Los Angeles, while an extra weekly flight between Manila and San Francisco will be operated starting on the same date.

This will raise total frequency on the West Coast routes from the current 17 to 20 flights weekly,with 11 flights between Manila and Los Angeles and nine flights between Manila and San Francisco.

Two additional weekly flights will also be scheduled between Manila and Melbourne/Sydney starting Nov. 26, raising total frequency to Australia to five times a week.

Meanwhile, PAL's services to Bangkok and Singapore will get the biggest boost with the planned deployment of three more flights a week for each route starting Nov. 30. With the new frequencies, PAL's service to Bangkok increases to 10 times weekly, while the service to Singapore will have a total of 17 flights per week.

On the domestic front, the daily Butuan service will be augmented, starting Nov. 20, by an earlier flight every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, raising total frequency from seven to 10 times weekly.

PAL's services to Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro will increase by two flights a week as well, raising total frequency for each route to 27 times weekly.


source: Good News Pilipinas

By Kit Bagaipo
PDI Visayas Bureau

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -- A policeman in Bohol is facing criminal and administrative charges before the Ombudsman for alleged violations of election laws.

The complaint filed before the Ombudsman on November 9 identified the policeman as Police Officer 3 Diosdado Dahan, an investigator of the Anda town police.

Edwin Ladesma and Honorato Edubas, both residents of the village of Basiao, Garcia Hernandez town, filed separate complaints against Dahan citing several violations, including grave threats, carrying a firearm despite a gun ban, and giving money to voters so they would vote for Dahan's wife Maria who was running for village councilor in Basiao.

In his complaint, Ladesma said that on October 29, he was watching a candidate for village chairman arguing with a resident when Dahan "came rushing and without asking questions, forcibly shoved" him to the ground.

"Dahan drew his firearm and aimed it at him although the cop did not fire his gun,” Ladesma said.

Edubas also claimed in his affidavit-complaint that in the morning of October 28, he was in a waiting shed in Basiao when he saw Dahan holding P20 bills attached to pieces of paper bearing the name of Dahan's wife Maria.

Edubas said he felt surprised since, as a police officer, "Dahan should not participate in any political activity."

He also alleged that Dahan was carrying a firearm although he was 40 kilometers from his post in Anda.

The two complainants reported the incidents to their village chairman Benjamin Galido and the Garcia-Hernandez police, which later confiscated Dahan's firearm.

HANOI, Vietnam - Soldiers, militiamen and local residents searched Tuesday for hundreds of crocodiles on the loose in central Vietnam after they escaped from a farm during heavy floods.

Sixty-seven crocodiles have already been captured or killed, but an unknown number continue to pose a danger to villagers in Khanh Hoa province, said Nguyen Nhu Long of the provincial military command.

"We have sent in more soldiers to search for the animals because we are worried that they may crawl into people's houses in search of food," Long said. "They haven't been fed for several days now."


source: MSNBC News

By Courtney Hazlett
The Scoop


Tom Cruise’s new film “Lions for Lambs” didn’t even crack the top three at the box office, and “Tom is not happy,” says a source close to the actor. “Lions,” Cruise’s first release since “Mission Impossible: III,” is also the first film to come from Cruise and Paula Wagner’s United Artists studio.

“Tom wanted to really hit a home run with his first United Artists movie,” says another source. “It was more about how the industry was going to view him than the moviegoing public that Tom was worried about.”

Despite the less-than-impressive numbers (for some context, refer to the weekend’s other new movie, “Fred Claus,” which earned $19 million), reps at United Artists say they’re “proud.” Says one rep: “We performed right at the pre-weekend predictions and are glad to have done that. Given the modest production and marketing  budgets we do not need to be a blockbuster hit. Everyone at United Artists are very proud of the film and could not have had a more perfect filmmaker to have made our first film.”


source: MSNBC News

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

 
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

 
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honour" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

 
One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, " Oh Momma,  you  made ALL of grandma's hairs white?"

 
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

 


 
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

A couple in Singapore are taking turns in serving jail sentences for abusing their Filipino household helper.

Singapore Straits Times reported on Wednesday that Thya Meng Hong, 42, a senior planner, will start serving her two-week sentence on Monday for hitting her 24-year-old Filipino helper with a cane and pinching her on her arms.

Thya’s husband has just completed a three-week jail term for molesting the same helper at their Paya Leybar Road last November.

The helper began working at the couple’s home in October.

The report said she was in the kitchen when the couple’s five-year-old son asked her to write some numbers in his notebook. The boy cried when the maid said she was busy. But then, she had no choice but to oblige.

When the wife saw the helper writing in her son’s notebook, she asked angrily why she was doing so and why the boy was crying.

When the helper told her the boy asked her to write something because he was lazy, the wife became angrier, prompting her to hit the helper with a cane then pinched her on her arms.

The helper reported about the abuse to the police two days later. - GMANews.TV

 


By Armin Adina
Inquirer
Last updated 11:16pm (Mla time) 10/31/2007


MANILA, Philippinesâ€"“Enough with the bashing!"

Filipino-Scottish Margaret "Maggie" Wilson, the Philippine bet to the 57th Miss World pageant, made the appeal to her kababayans during her send-off party last week at the Araneta Coliseum Gazebo in Quezon City.

The 18-year-old actress and MTV VJ said she needs all the support she can get as she prepares to fly to Sanya, China tomorrow to compete in the prestigious beauty pageant.

Unfavorable comments

Maggie was reacting to unfavorable comments hurled against her by pageant fanatics on numerous media, including the Internet.

Maggie, who was also adjudged Miss Photogenic in Binibining Pilipinas-World last March, has been enduring scathing comments about her supposedly imperfect looks.

"It's such a bad habit that we Filipinos have," Maggie said, referring to the insults.

Up to the last minute, Maggie had to dismiss rumors about her being stripped of her title after questions were raised on her eligibility to participate in the prestigious competition.

She reportedly failed to comply with a pageant requirement: That contestants should at least be a high school graduate during the competition. She was just about to graduate from high school when she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-World.

"I only heard about it from my friends who asked if what was said on the radio was true," she recalled. "I just came from the Araneta offices for my training and fitting. I told the Binibining Pilipinas Charities about it, so they released an official statement saying I'm still the girl."

Maggie chose to brush off rumors, concentrating on her preparations for the finals instead. She said she got valuable tips on how to win the judges' approval from Miss World finalists Mafae Yunon and Karla Bautista, her predecessor Anna Maris Igpit and 1993 Miss World princess and second runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez.

Maggie will face competition from more than 100 delegates around the world. She finds Angola's Micaela Reis and the Dominican Republic's Ada Aimee de la Cruz as among the most beautiful.

In Asia, she believes her strongest competitors are Malaysia's Deborah Priya Henry and India's Sarah-Jane Dias. "India always sends strong competitors," Maggie noted.

Semifinal slot

But she believes her being multi-racial and well-traveled will give her an edge in the competition. She has also prepared for "fast-track" events where the winners automatically earn a semifinal slot.

"I'm doing the sports challenge because I'm athletic. I've been hitting the gym a lot-training," she revealed. "If I do the talent event, I'll sing a local song by artist Julianne. Her songs are feel-good."

The 5'9 1/2" beauty also hopes there would still be SMS voting this year, as in the last five editions. "I'm not sure. There's still no feedback from the Miss World organization," she said.

But before she leaves for the Dec. 1 pageant, Maggie begged her fellow Pinoys to "pray for me."

"I need you to believe in me and what I can do," she said. "I'm going to give it my all!"

smiffytheninja, welcome! im glad you accepted ate ging's invitation to be part of tubag bohol.

Visayas Bureau, Northern Luzon Bureau
Last updated 04:28pm (Mla time) 10/21/2007

CEBU CITY, Philippines--Five hundred sixty-one candidates for the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections in Bohol have signed a covenant vowing they will not buy votes for the Oct. 29 elections.

The covenant-signing was held in Maribojoc, Bohol, and witnessed by Maribojoc officials led by Mayor Leoncio Evasco and the town’s parish priest, Fr. Efren Dolauta.

Evasco said the covenant-signing was “a small step towards realizing a dream of a fair, clean and honest elections.”

The candidates likewise agreed to police themselves and report anyone attempting to buy votes.

“You will be the ones to enforce this pact,” said Evasco, as he urged the candidates to gather evidence of vote buying.

He said the municipal government would help the candidates prosecute those who would refuse to abide by the agreement.

Evasco said synchronized village assemblies would be held on Monday in the town where teams composed of councilors for seven clustered villages would inform voters about the covenant against vote buying.

The same teams will monitor the campaign and Election Day itself in Maribojoc’s 22 villages, according to Evasco.

Villages considered election hotspots would be closely monitored by the municipal government, Evasco said.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado on Friday likewise declared that Bohol leaders had agreed to stay neutral during the campaign period.

Aumentado said during his weekly radio program that he had a pact with the three Bohol congressmen and the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (Bohol Chapter), Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren, to protect the non-partisan character of the village and youth polls.

The governor also directed town mayors to distance themselves from village and youth candidates in their areas.

In Iloilo City, few youths filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the youth council polls amid calls for the abolition of the youth federation.

Jonathan Sayno, Commission on Elections Iloilo City election assistant, said about 200 candidates filed their COCs for SK chair and another 300 for the SK council in the city’s 180 villages.

Sayno said SK candidates were running unopposed in many of the villages.

He said many of those who registered in the SK were discouraged from running for any position because of the costs of filing the COC including having their COCs notarized, which cost around P100, and drug testing which cost P250.

But Sayno said there was a high turnout in candidates for the village elections.

Candidates flocked to the Comelec Iloilo City office to beat the deadline at midnight on Oct. 19. The office was jampacked especially between 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday.

At least 2,000 candidates for the village councils and another 500 for village chairmen filed their COCs.

In Pangasinan, a village official and a candidate for council member in an upland village in Bolinao town were wounded after they were shot by a group of men on Friday night.

Fely Anama, 59, a village councilor in Samang Sur, and Freddie Ariola, 48, a candidate for village council member, were traveling on a dirt road in their village aboard a motorcycle at about 8:30 p.m. when unidentified men fired at them.

Anama was hit by a bullet in the right foot while Ariola was hit in the left hand.

Meanwhile, The Philippine National Police will deploy about 4,000 policemen in Eastern Visayas for the village and youth council elections next week.

The assignment of these policemen, especially in “areas of concern” would help ensure that the conduct of elections in the region would be peaceful and orderly, Chief Supt. Abner Cabalquinto, the police regional director, said on Oct. 17.

Police identified 528 of the 4,391 villages in Eastern Visayas as areas of concern.

Cabalquinto said most of the policemen would come from the regional police headquarters located at Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo town, Leyte.

Joey A. Gabieta and Nestor P. Burgos Jr. and Kit Bagaipo, Inquirer Visayas; Gabriel Cardiñoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon

By Carissa Villacorta

There are just some things you never gave a thought about. Until you met people from that background, country or culture.

Did we even know of Haiti , Senegal or Armenia before we met people who share these as their origins? Did we ever think about, or talk about the practices of the Buddhists, Jewish or Muslims before we met people whose beliefs are formed by them?

When the news tell of realities from another part of the world, or a group of people we're not actually aware of, they don't hit home. Until they're actually at home. There are people we know who've intermarried into other classes, cultures, races and religions, and often, we hear "My parents are going to smack me.' And sometimes, they actually do.

It's true: it is rather inconvenient not to have the same practices and beliefs as your chosen partner. But it's hard enough to find your soul mate, much less have him or her molded into the standards of the family or the community. Basically, it's easiest when the partner you chose is just like you. In our case, a Filipino Catholic - respectful, obedient and humble. But surely, these human traits are not exclusive to Filipino Catholics. Or Chinese Filipinos. Or African Americans. Or the Jewish. These honorable traits are found in people all over the world. And so, why do we have to marry one of the million, and not one of the billion?

Instead of focusing on our differences, we should learn to recognize our similarities. We are all human beings. We are all embodied spirits that are striving to live a meaningful and happy life. Beings that ask why, and why not. Beings that laugh, and cry, and think, and wonder. Beings that think about the past and the future, while trying to live the present to the fullest.

I just read in the news this morning that a man was arrested for having repeated sex with a horse. I hope that that kind of relationship between a human and an animal will be the only one frowned upon and condemned by our societies. That is indecent, inhuman. But to love somebody, who's poorer, who's darker, who's disabled, who's shorter, who's fatter, who sees another face of God, is decent in its very core. Some people even marry agnostics or atheists. But they are still human beings, and not horses.

Not only is love blind. Love is also inconvenient. But that doesn't make it less real or worthy."


source: Good News Pilipinas

By Gilda Cordero Fernando

Pinoy is what Filipinos call each other, a term of endearment. You're Pinoy from Pilipino just like you're tisoy from mestizo or chinoy from chino.

It's a nickname just as Minoy is from Maximo, Ninoy from Benigno, Tinay from Florentina and Kikay from Francisca. But now they're Maxi and Ben and Tintin and Cheska.

You've been called indio, goo-goo, Negro, flip, noypits. Or Filipino, a biscuit that is brown outside and white inside, or a word stricken from the dictionary which means domestic. Ay, lintik!

You're Juan de la Cruz or Mang Pandoy. You're common tao, masa, urban poor but also Cecile Licad and Don Jaime, Jose Rizal and Tony Meloto, Shawie and Pacquiao and Nick Joaquin, galing galing.

Born June 12, 1896, the Republic of the RP is a Gemini, good at connecting, good at loving-loving, good at texting and interpersonal skills.

Filipinos like to yakap, akbay, hawak, kalong, kalabit. We sleep side by side, siping-siping, we go out kabit kabit.

There's lots of us to go around. Someone always to listen to a sob story, even in a jeepney, to share-a-load or to share a TV.

Everyone's tito, tita

Who has a hipag, a bayaw, a bilas, a balae, a kinakapatid? Who has an ate, dete, diche, kuya, diko? The maids call her ate, the driver calls him kuya and everybody is tito or tita.

Who has a Lola Baby, a Tito Totoy, a bosing called Sir Peewee, his wife Ma'am Lovely and their kids Cla Cla and Cring Cring?

The Pinoy lives in a condo, a mansion, an apartment, a bahay na bato, ilalim ng tulay, Luneta, Forbes Park, and Paris too!

He's a citizen of the world, he's in all the villages and capitals, colonizing the West, bringing his guitar and his bagoong, his walis na tingting, his tabo, his lolo and lola.

Where there's a beat, there's a Pinoy. You'll find her singing in a nightclub in Tokyo, a musical in London, the Opera House in Sydney. Sure, they've got the infrastructure, the theaters and architecture. Who but Pinoys direct their plays, or trains their company managers, and imports our teachers, by the way?

Viagra to Victoria's Secret

Look at that baggage-all pasalubong, none for herself. From bedsheet to hair color, Toblerone to carpet, Viagra to paella pan, Victoria's Secret to microwave.

Hey, Joe, don't envy me 'cause I'm brown, you'll get ultra violet from that sun and turn red not brown.

Just lucky, I guess. God put us all in the oven, but some were uncooked and some were burned, but me, I came out golden brown!

Hey, Kristoff! Hey David and Ann! Your Pinoy yaya makes your kids gentler, more obedient, she teaches them how to pray. Hey Big Brother! Hey Grandma Moses! Who but Pinoy nurses make your sick days easier all the way?

We made the jeepney, the karaoke, the fluorescent bulb, the moon buggy. We invented People Power and crispy pata; popularized virgin coconut oil, scaled the Everest and made it with Cebu furniture abroad among the best. Ever trying for the Guinness World Record-with the longest swim of a child, the longest kiss, the longest longanisaââ,¬Â¦

Linguist

The Pinoy is a linguist. As in. As if. For a while. Open the light. Close the light. Paki ganyan naman ang kuwan sa ano. Tuck in. Tuck out. Don't be high blood. If you're ready na, I'll pass for you.

Hayop; Hanep! Bongga ka 'day, feel na feel kita, kilig to the bones ako. Don't make wala, don't make tampo. Taralets na, babes, let's go, nababato na ang syota mo.

I'm inviting you to my party, please RSVP. Oo means "yes" or "maybe," or "yes if you insist," or "maybe if it doesn't rain."

"Yes" is also a nice way of saying "no." Yes, hindi kita sisiputin. "No," eto na ako at ang barkada ko. Please don't ask a Pinoy a question like that!

Just flows

She's not so exact, not so chop-chop, she just flows and flows. Filipino time? Naku, huli din naman ang Kano!

The Pinoy finds time to be nice, to be kind, to apologize, to be there when you're depressed, to help you with your utang and your wedding dress.

The Filipino is a giver, never mind what it does to his liver, never mind what it takes. Hardships of the Third World don't dry up his blood, they just make him more compassionate, more feeling, of the other guy's lot.

Note that the maid sends all her wages home to ailing daddy. She is the OCW whose labor of loneliness created the original katas ng Saudi.

'Bahala na'

The Filipino is fearless, bahala na si Batman, which actually means Bathala na or "leave all to God." Okay lang if I die by bitay, okay lang if I live, okay lang if I survive by the skin of my teeth.

Saway ni Inay: Di ka naman Bill Gates, di ka naman French, mahirap nang magbuhat ng sarili mong bench.

Be Pinoy! Enjoy!



source: Good News Pilipinas

Ace shooter Grace Tan bulls eyed her way to win the ladies division of the Intercontinental European Hand Gun Championship held in France.

The tournament, held in Cheval-Blanc, France from Sept. 17-22, was participated in by more than 1,000 shooters from 50 other countries.

Using an STI 9mm race gun fully customized by True Weight gunsmiths, Tan capped her sterling performance by beating World Champion Gabriela Kraushopper of Austria by 45 points.

Overall, including the men's division, Tan wound up 70th.

Tan, who was a bit disappointed that she did not meet her target of finishing in the top 50 overall, was still thankful that she won the gold despite making somecostly errors. She attributed her win to hard work, daily practice and the patience of her coach Jojo Naranjilla.

She also thanked her father, Roland Tan of TrueWeight gunsmiths for crafting the 9mm STI race gun which was perfectly created for her.

After the European win, Tan will now focus her sights on the Asian Intercontinental Championships to be held this December in Thailand in preparation for the World Shoot to be held in Bali, Indonesia next year.


source: Good News Pilipinas

Filipina international designer Monique Lhuillier has opened her new Boutique in Los Angeles. The shop is located in the prime spot on the corner of Melrose Place and La Cienega.

The opening combined to create a dazzling display of Hollywood's most gorgeous females all wearing Lhuillier cocktail dresses.

Among the who's who who attended the opening and are big fans of the Cebu-bred designer were jewelry designer Martin Katz, event planner Patrick Herning, and " Charlie's Angels" director McG, Maggie Grace and Jud Tylor, Rebecca Gayheart, Jessica Collins, Emilie de Ravin, Kristen Bell, Kate Mara, Dita Von Teese , Marilyn Manson 's ex-wife.

Other A-listers who are big fans of Monique are California's First Lady Maria Shriver, actresses Michelle Trachtenberg, Shiva Rose, Perrey Reeves, Becki Newton, Rachel Nichols, Melissa Sagemiller, and Maria Menounos . All exchanged air kisses with Monique, who explained later why she has become the go-to gal when it comes to dressing Hollywood's elite.

"I have the eye to make them look chic and feminine at the same time," Lhuillier explained. "And every time I dress someone for the red carpet, it is very much a collaboration. I steer them away from things that are not for them, and to the styles and shapes that will make them shine."

Monique Lhuillier's designs have graced the wedding aisle of some of Hollywood's most famous brides. Other fans of her ready-to-wear line include actresses such as Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba and America Ferrera.

With a passion for creating gowns that are both feminine and modern, Monique Lhuillier continues to design collections that are luxurious, chic and true to her aesthetic.


source: Good News Pilipinas

THIS IS A FORWARDED EMAIL I GOT FROM A FRIEND;

The Pastor and His son

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.

This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to walk the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring down rain. The
boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, Dad, I'm ready.'

His Pastor dad asked, 'Ready for what?'

'Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out..' Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain.'

The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?'

Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.' Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go? Please?'

His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful son.'

'Thanks Dad!'

And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing to everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TR AC T. He stopped at a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.

Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.

Finally, this eleven year old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch! He rang again and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that *JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU* and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE.'

With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'

Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, 'Does anybody have any testimony or want to say anything?'

Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face, 'No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.

So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.' I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.

When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.' Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand.

As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.

You see---I am now a Happy Child of the KING. Since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell.'

There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated.

He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honor for his son... Except for One.

Our Father also allowed His Son to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, the Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named.

Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.

Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heaven is for His people!
Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you..

Please share this wonderful message...

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back -

1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person -

1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose-

1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable -

1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain -

1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person -

1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant -

Father - Son - Holy Spirit

I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today;

to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way.

God's love is always with you, God's promises are true.

And when you give God all your cares,

you know God will see you through.


Pass this along to People you want God to Bless - I just did!

~~~***My God Reigns***~~~

NO one falls in love
by choice,


it is by CHANCE.
No one stays in love
by chance,
it is by WORK.


And no one falls
out of love by chance,
it is by CHOICE


He did something for you,
now do something for Him.
Spread His word,
and you'll be rewarded.
How will you be rewarded?

Matthew 10:32
'Whoever acknowledges
Me before men,
I will acknowledge him
before My Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns Me
before men, I will disown
him before My Father in heaven'

here are some pix i wanna share during our vacation:


our arrival at NAIA


a sumptuous food at bee farm


at a turkish restaurant in cdo


first bday of baby matt at jollibee-icm


the party continues at home


with my sisters and a niece and nephew


breastfeeding time while waiting for the priest


baby matt's baptism. cge pacute sa pari,hehe!


family pic


my ex-bf and my new bf

i would like to welcome my elder sis, Ate Ging, who is based in Sacramento, California.

sorry to all bohol-based TB members that i didnt have time to meet you. nagkita mi ni leo at icm but it was unplanned. mobawi na lang ko when we are back next month pohon.

we arrived safely last night at 11 PM from our more than a month vacation in the phils.

i wasnt able to visit TB every now and then as i promised because my dear baby matt got cough, colds, and fever so often. the three of us were sick actually but it was baby matt whom my husband and i got worried much.

i also had to worry my husband because everytime an insect bit him, the bitten part would swell.

we spent some weeks in cagayan de oro, but everytime we were in bohol, we always loved to dine at bohol bee farm at icm. the food is world-class.

generally, it was a nice vacation.

i would like to welcome,miko! he is one of my long-lost friends.

THE READING CLUB By Girlie Rodis
Sunday, August 19, 2007

A Love Story is the title of a current movie now showing in movie theaters across the country. It is a Tagalog movie released through Star Cinema and directed by Mario J de los Reyes and it tells of  the complexities of real-life relationships, in which everything is not black and white. It stars the wonderfully buff Aga Muhlach, young actress Angelica Panganiban, and the stellar Maricel Soriano. At the special belated birthday celebration for Aga after the movie’s premiere at Florabel’s (at the Podium), I asked the stars to share their favorite reading materials.

MARICEL SORIANO: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (and all the other Harry Potter books that came before this) by J.K. Rowling: “I love the Harry Potter books because the way the author wrote them makes you feel like you are part of the world she created. You get so involved in the characters. No one can disturb me when I am reading a Harry Potter book because I really get into it and I hate to be pulled out of it. I never start one of these books when I am on a movie project because I won’t be able to read it continuously.”

Embraced by the Light by Betty J. Eadie and Curtis Taylor: “One of the writers, Betty Edie, actually died after surgery. During the time she was clinically dead, she talks about traveling… to where, through what â€" you must read it for yourself. It affected me deeply.”

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden: “Her world is so different. Wonderfully written. Just loved this book.”

ANGELICA PANGANIBAN: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho: “I like the way he handles the emotions of the character. You can feel the different characters. As an actress, as a person, one can relate to all of that.”

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom: “The true story of the love between a spiritual mentor and his student, Morrie Schwartz â€" a one-of-a-kind professor whom the writer says is a cross between a prophet and an elf. We get to read about his last moments and the advice he shares with his student. I learned a lot.”

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks: “A love story between a happy-go-lucky teenager who is not ready to grow up and an unusually good girl who has no time to grow up. It will make you cry.”

AGA MUHLACH: “I love to collect rare plants and birds and create beautiful homes so I love books about these such as, but not limited to, the following: 25 Tropical Houses in the Philippines by Elizabeth Reyes, Paulo Alcazaren and A. Chester Ong; Tropical Asian Style by Kim Inglis, Gianni Francione, Luca Invernizzi  and Luca Invernizzi Tettoni; Tropical Plants for Home and Garden by William Warren and Luca Invernizzi Tettoni; The Large Macaws: Their Care, Breeding and Conservation by Joanne Abramson, Jorgen B. Thomsen, Marsha Mello and Brian L. Speer; Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide by Joseph M. Forshaw and Frank Knight.


source:
Philippine Star

 I will just share this forwarded e-mail i got.


This really sheds light on both American and Filipino cultures.


American Kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their
parents.

Filipino Kids: Move out when they're 28, may have saved for that nice house and are a week away from getting married .... unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American Kids: When their Mom visits them she brings a nice bundt cake and you sip coffee and chat.

Filipino Kids: When their Mom or Dad visits them she or he brings 3 days worth of food, and immediately begins to tidy up, dust & do the laundry.

American Kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them and its usually only on special occasions.

Filipino Kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads come over, unannounced on a Saturday morning at 8:00 and starts pruning the peach & lemon trees. And if there are none, he will plant some!

American Parents: You can leave your kids with them and you always worry if everything is going to be ok plus you have to feed them after you pick them up.

Filipino Parents: No problem, leave your kids there and if they get out of line your parents can set them straight .... plus they get bathed, fed and get told stories of when you were young.

American Kids: Always pay retail and look in the yellow pages when they need something done.

Filipino Kids: Just call their dad or uncle and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done cash deal.

American Kids: Will come over to visit their parents and get only cake and coffee, no more.

Filipino Kids: Will come over to visit their parents for lunch and get B-B-Q, Pancit, Lumpia, Adobo and Rice and stay for late dinner as well.

American Kids: Think that being Filipino is a great thing,

Filipino Kids: Know that being Filipino is a great thing,

American Kids: Never ask the reason you have no food.

Filipino Kids: Are the reason you have no food.

American Kids: Will say 'hello" but are hesitant to hug.

Filipino Kids: Will give you a big hug and a kiss, and great big hand shake and pat you on the back.

American Kids: Hardly invite over to eat or they have to share their portion.

Filipino Kids: You always have your friends over to have something to eat regardless

American Kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

Filipino Kids: Call your parents Uncle & Auntie.

American Kids: Have never seen you cry.

Filipino Kids: Cry with you.

American Kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.

Filipino Kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together.

American Kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.

Filipino Kids: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

American Kids: Know a few things about you.

Filipino Kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

American Kids: Will leave their parents behind.

Filipino Kids: Will hang out with their parents.

American Kids: Would knock on your door.

Filipino Kids: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"

American Kids: Are for a while.

Filipino Kids: Are for life.

American Kids: Will ignore this.

Filipino Kids: Will forward this. Hehe.


Michael Vincent J. Dosdos
Integrated Marketing Communications
School of Communication
University of Asia & the Pacific

Form a new word by simply deleting one letter and changing one letter as well. Copy-paste the given words before you add your word.

cool
fool
food

it's your turn to add your word/words.

i'm in heaven today because finally, we now have our plane tickets bound to the PHILIPPINESSSSSSS!

excited na jud kaau mi sa ako bana to meet my family again.

finally,makakaon na ko inun-ong tulingan,kinilaw,etc.

remember the ad on surf man cguro to or ajax ba kaha to with the line " wise si lumen"?
as a mom to a very active ten-month old kid, i have to be wise where to put him so at least, i can help my husband in doing the household chores.









or i will let him play my mobile or the remote control if he is already bored with his toys.

minutes from now, i will log out because my husband has to disconnect the computers, telephone, etc., as we are to prepare for another connection in the rented house we will temporarily stay while waiting for our papers to settle in the phils for good before the year ends.

our house was sold last month, and the new owner will assume next month. i will surely miss reading ang posting replies here for a week.

By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark
Monday, July 23, 2007



She dances the tinikling and sings Dahil Sa ‘Yo and Matud Nila. Yet former Sugababes member Mutya Buena was born in England to an Irish mom and a Pinoy dad.

Her British twang doesn’t keep her from loving the adobo her father cooks for the family and celebrating Filipino Independence Day every June 12.

Nor does Mutya’s western upbringing prevent her from taking her Visayan grandmother’s hand, touching it lightly with her forehead and saying, “Mano Po!”

Unlike some people she grew up with, Mutya doesn’t call her elders by their first names. In fact, she addresses her relatives in Tagbilaran, Bohol as tito and tita.

Mention Itik-itik and she reacts, “Oh, the one where you move like a duck? Oh yes!”

Pandanggo sa Ilaw is where “you move with candlelights.” And tinikling is something Mutya learned as a little girl.

That sense of rhythm that makes you want to get up on your feet and dance is encoded in her DNA. Dad is a guitarist who taught her Filipino songs as a girl while Mom loves music just as much.

“I went to a Filipino school,” Mutya explains. “And I know all the Filipino dances, like the one where you rotate candlelights in your hand (read: Pandanggo sa Ilaw), move like a duck (Itik Itik) and act like you’re planting rice.”

Like fellow half-Pinoy artist Apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas, Mutya is proud of her roots. She tells anyone who cares to listen when she’s on stage that she’s half-Pinoy.

Now that she’s on solo flight with a debut album titled Real Girl to show for it, Mutya has a bigger audience she can share her Pinay heart with.

And she’s succeeding, so far. The first single, the album’s title track Real Girl, entered the UK Singles chart at No. 11 in downloads alone climbing to No. 2 after its CD release. The song samples Lenny Kravitz’s It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over.

The track closest to Mutya’s heart, however, is Suffer For Love, because she herself wrote it.

Real Girl marks another first for Mutya. It’s the first time she is using her family name â€" Buena, in an album. This is the same family name her two-year-old daughter (by boyfriend Jay), Tahlia-Maya is using.

Turning solo, says Mutya, has brought with it many wonderful changes.

“It’s allowing me to do my own thing,” she explains.

On top of this list of plus points is the chance to spend more time with her daughter and be the best mother she can be to her.

When it comes to Tahlia-Maya, Mutya is like a typical mom who can’t stop talking about her little girl.

“Tahlia means morning dew. I found that name in the Internet and I think it’s Hebrew,” she relates. Since her bundle of joy was born at 3 a.m., Mutya thought the name was just perfect for her firstborn.

Maya, on the other hand, was the name of Mutya’s late sister.

The doting mom plans to travel more often to the Philippines and bring Tahlia-Maya as often as possible to the land of her ancestors. This way, her daughter will imbibe Filipino values of respect for elders, love for family and others.

For starters, Mutya says she, her siblings and Tahlia-Maya will take a vacation in Bohol towards the end of the year.

“We’re so excited,” Mutya gushes.

Yes, England may have its gleaming skyscrapers, latest gizmos and other things new and high-tech. But Mutya Buena â€" with her love for adobo, tinikling and fiestas â€" remains proudly Filipino, right down to the core.



source: Philippine Star

This is similar to the ICE Quiz.

Guess the correct word based from the given meanings and number of blanks.


1. _ _age  ( old saying )  Answer:

2. age_ _ _ ( A list of matters to be taken up (as at a meeting)   Answer:

3. _ _ _ _age ( Of no exceptional quality or ability )  Answer:

4. _ _ _ _age ( A case used to carry belongings when traveling )  Answer:

5. _ _ _ _ _age ( Any liquid suitable for drinking )  Answer:

Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa in Bohol sizzled as an array of VIP guests from show business, politics, the business circle and society’s Who’s Who attended its formal opening recently. This latest haven located in Panglao Island and deemed to becoming the latest celebrity getaway is designed by renowned Filipino architect Bobby Mañosa.


Leading the guest list included Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano with DOT Undersecretary Edu Jarque, Usec. Phineas Alburo and DOT Region VII Director Dawnie Roa. Adding glitter to the event was GMA Artist Center talent and one of the stars of "Impostora," Iza Calzado who assisted Eskaya CEO and president, Richard Lim (also the newly elected president of Rotary Greenhills) and wife Phoebe in cutting the ceremonial ribbon, together with actress Cheska Garcia and former Bb. Pilipinas World Ana Marie Igpit, a native beauty from Bohol.

Powerhouse guests from the political sector included Bohol Governor Erico B. Aumentado, Rep. Edgar Chato, and Mayor May LimImboy; while representatives from both the business and society sectors included Bohol business magnate Jun Lim, Juliet Avenido, tour operator Arjun Shroff, former presidents of the Rotary Club of Greenhills Chit Enriquez and Eddie Cruz; Genesis Hotels & Resorts President Miguel Cerqueda and VP Roger Begre; the Architectural Design team led by Bobby Mañosa, interior designer Ms. Cecilia Hofileña and Luis Alvarez; Cebu’s society chronicler, Honey Jarque Loop, PR Asia Worldwide CEO Joyce Ramirez and Eskaya Sales & Marketing Manager Nico Estrella.

Serenity and luxury share top billing at this 16â€"hectare development, which is 25 minutes away from Tagbilaran Airport in Bohol. This exclusive hideaway is a knockâ€"out: guests were billeted at their own private single-detached villas that boast of a luxurious whirlpool in an indoor garden setting as well as villas with its own private pools.

The opening party was held at Eskaya’s spacious Lantawan Restaurant offering breathtaking views of the Mindanao Sea as well as the fabulous infinity pool as guests enjoyed sumptuous meals as well as cocktail drinks.

The name Eskaya refers to the only known indigenous people of Bohol. The resort is situated right in the middle of Panglao Island which is at the southernmost tip of Bohol. The resort, which officially opened its doors to the public last May 6, 2007, is pretty a much boutiqueâ€"style with an upscale touch of exclusivity. The thatched villas or "balai," were built with sturdy construction materials, emphasizing ample use of bamboo, cogon, and wood to complete its modern Filipino take â€" reminiscent of the famed Amanpulo Resort in Palawan (incidentally, both resorts were designed by Architect Bobby Mañosa).

After the event, some of the VIP guests were given a grand tour of Bohol the following day which included a side trip to the famed Chocolate Hills, a Loboc River luncheon cruise and an unforgettable encounter with the cute Tarsier. Others, on the other hand, opted to go islandâ€"hopping to see dolphins.

To get there, one can take a short plane ride from Manila to Tagbilaran. A luxurious shuttle service is readily available, and guests are off to the resort in less than 25 minutes. All villas offers king-sized beds with sixâ€"star category high-thread count sheets and goose down pillows, outdoor bathroom with private landscaped garden setting, complete amenity set, safety deposit box, mini bar, coffee and tea making facilities, a compendium, flat screen television sets with cable, DVD player as well as IPOD speakers.

For more information, contact Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa’s International Reservation & Sales Department at (02) 727-4927 or 725-5597, email reservations@eskayabeach.com or visit their website at www.eskayabeach.com


source: Manila Bulletin

Yilmaz Bektas resurfaces once again.

Talking anew to ABS-CBN Europe bureau chief Danny Buenafe, Yilmaz said that his estranged wife is in danger of being imprisoned for 12 years if she fails to answer all the cases against her before the Turkish court.

Yilmaz stressed out that Ruffa made a grave offense in his home country when she failed to reveal that she's still Mrs. Richard Daloia when she married the Turkish businessman.

The Turkish court, according to Yilmaz, is bent to pursue Ruffa for faking vital documents to acquire a national I.D., driver's license, and Turkish passport.

He also revealed that the judge who is in-charge of the case was already aware of Ruffa's public admission that she was indeed married to a certain Richard Daloia in Las Vegas in 1999.

Ruffa failed to mention this crucial fact when she filed and applied for personal documents in Turkey.

Yilmaz clarified that he has nothing to do with the four cases allegedly being prepared by the Turkish court against his estranged wife. In fact, he revealed that he was serving as Ruffa's "legal protector" as he's deeply concerned with the cases and its possible outcome.

Falsification of documents is a serious crime in the European Union and Turkey. Ruffa is thus required to fly back to Turkey to face and answer all the charges being linked to her.

Aside from Turkey and other Europe countries, the former Miss World Second Princess may also be blacklisted in the US, leaving her incapable of traveling outside the Philippines.

Yilmaz confessed that he's still open with the possibility of reconciliation with the mother of his two children but that will only be feasible if they find time to meet face-to-face to discuss important personal matters.

They still talk on the phone according to Yilmaz, though they've been arguing lately over Ruffa's showbiz career which she quickly resumed after the controversial separation.

Ruffa, meanwhile, watched the entire Yilmaz latest interview at ABS-CBN's watch room but refused to give comments, though it was obvious that she was distressed after watching the footage.


- Philippine Entertainment Portal

By Tetch Torres, Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 12:50pm (Mla time) 07/14/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 3) The husband of murdered movie actress Nida Blanca died after falling from a 2-story inn in Tracy, California and police there ruled it a suicide.

Roger "Rod" Strunk, 68, who was one of the prime suspects in the murder of his wife, Dorothy Jones in real life, was found dead on the pavement outside the Tracy Inn at 24 W. 11th around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (US time), said Matt Robinson, Tracy police public information officer.

"Yes he did," Robinson told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview, when asked if Strunk committed suicide.

There were also no indications of foul play, said Robinson.

Nida Blanca's daughter, Kaye Torres, declined to comment on Strunk's death until she gets official confirmation from Tracy officials.

Torres said she would want to personally gather details about Strunk's death before making any comment, a report from QTV's Balitanghali newscast on Saturday said.

Strunk was implicated in the killing of his wife in November 2001 by arrested suspect Philip Medel, who claimed Strunk had hired him to kill Blanca.

Strunk left for the US in 2002 to visit his ailing mother, Helen Strunk, before he could be charged for Blanca’s killing.

He never returned to the Philippines.

Murder charges were eventually filed against him but he successfully evaded extradition from the US after Medel recanted his statement implicating Strunk.

Blanca was found stabbed to death in a car parked in the parking area of Atlanta Building.

“Everything will go with him to the grave,” Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said, reacting to news of Strunk’s death,

"I only heard it from the news. We have not received any official communication from the US government," Gonzalez said, adding that the government had a filed a second extradition case against Strunk.

"Now that he's dead, his extradition [and] murder case are already moot and academic," Gonzalez said.

THE author of a bill seeking to reinstate English as the medium of instruction has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to use no less than the national hero, Jose Rizal, to motivate elementary and high school students to master the language.

"Rizal spoke and wrote English, and mastered at least four other foreign languages," House Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas said. "In this sense, Rizal can definitely serve as a model who can inspire school children to learn English, the global lingua franca, or other foreign languages that will be useful to them once they join the labor force."

Rizal, who studied in Europe, was also fluent in Spanish, French, German and Latin, even though one of the popular proverbs attributed to him is: "Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay mas masahol pa sa mabahong isda." (People who do not love their own language smell fouler than rotten fish).

"In an increasingly borderless ‘global village’ characterized by the freer world trade in human resources and services, English mastery or a working knowledge of the language is certainly a huge competitive advantage," Gullas stressed.

"This applies to all Filipinos â€" to nurses, engineers, sailors, hotel staff, construction workers, caregivers and domestic helpers overseas, as well as to the Filipino personnel here of multinational firms and business processing outsourcing (BPO) providers," Gullas pointed out.

Gullas, meanwhile, lauded the Supreme Court decision throwing out a lawsuit that had sought to stop the DepEd from enforcing a new language policy reviving English in schools.

Gullas was referring to the petition filed by a group of Filipino writers, academicians and linguists, asking the tribunal to restrain the implementation of Executive Order 210 and Deped Order 36, both of which seek to bolster English in schools.

A large labor group earlier bared that BPO providers here have stepped up hiring of Filipinos who can speak at least one foreign language besides English.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) pushed for the "foreign language skills retooling" of secondary and vocational school graduates, college undergraduates and jobless professionals, to build up their chances of securing gainful employment.

"Workers who are able to speak a second foreign language can surely look forward to even more lucrative jobs, here or overseas, in global corporations, non-government organizations and multilateral institutions," TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said.

"So this is definitely not just about well-paying jobs in call centers here that are now offering a substantial premium for extra foreign language proficiency," Aguilar stressed.

source: Manila Bulletin

Guess the correct word based from the given meanings and number of blanks.

  Example:
     _ _ _ _ice ( fairness )  Answer: justICE


1.  _ _ _ice ( beginner )          Answer:

2.  _ _ice   ( refreshment )      Answer:

3.  _ _ _ice ( ill will )              Answer:

4. _ _ _ _ _ _ice ( bias )         Answer:

5. _ _ _ice  ( scheme )           Answer:

By Fatima Parel
Saturday, July 7, 2007

The majority of the Philippines’ homeless, underprivileged and deprived may not know of Dylan Wilk and what he stands for. But that will soon change as this British national is on a mission: To bring back hope to these very same people who have lost almost everything but their pride in being Filipinos.

A self-made millionaire who made his fortune through his computer games company in his twenties, becoming one of the richest men in Great Britain below the age of 30 â€" Dylan made a life-changing decision at the height of his success. The answer eventually led him to Gawad Kalinga (GK) in the Philippines, a non-profit organization that provides various programs â€"  on housing, education, health and livelihood â€" to those who are in need.

“I thought that there has to be a reason why I was rich. At a certain point, I realized I’ve done everything my own way and it hasn’t made me happy. In fact it leaves you greedier and more selfish, more empty. The more you have, the more you want. You’re never satisfied. Then when you’ve become focused entirely on yourself and your own pleasure you become the walking dead, nothing is ever good enough. I realized that I’ve done everything I could by myself and I wanted then to restore my relationship with God.

“I’ve neglected my family, my friends, God himself and I was sitting on top of the world almost alone. And I looked at the other rich people I knew and on the surface, things looked great. They have the best of everything, they went all over the world but when you get to know them, many of them have broken marriages, their children hated them because they were never there, they were alcoholics and so on. And then I realized, in 20 or 30 years time, I’m going to be like that â€" unless I find out what is it that God really intends for me to do with my life. So I came back to Him and He brought me here. It’s the last place that I would have expected to settle.”

Of course, many know Dylan by now as the young man who sold his BMW to build modest homes for 80 Filipino families. But like other philanthropists before him, Dylan thought that the only way to help others was through giving away money, lots and lots of it. But Gawad Kalinga founder and executive director Tony Meloto set him straight: he refused Dylan’s monetary donation and instead, encouraged the young Brit to visit the GK communities and see firsthand what the organization was all about.

“That was really a life-changing experience for me. It’s the first time anybody had ever refused my money!” laughs Dylan. “But here in GK, it’s really about relationships. That initial experience I had brought home to me that all the money in the world will not be enough to change the Philippines unless there’s a change of heart among those who have the money.”

It’s been four years since, yet Dylan is still as excited and passionate in helping build houses for the poor as the day he first learned about Gawad Kalinga. Nowadays, Dylan â€" as GK’s head coordinator for International Partnerships â€" spends most of his time traveling around the world promoting GK’s cause to communities of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“I spend a lot of time talking to Filipinos and trying to show this good news, trying to give them back hope, trying to give them back pride in being a Filipino. And help them see the good in themselves and (in) one another. Because these overseas workers left to be heroes for their family and now we’re showing them a way where they can really be heroes to their country. They’re no longer just balikbayan, but now, (they are) balikbayani. That’s the term I use for Filipinos who are part of GK abroad. And many of them are taking up the challenge and that’s what inspired me to keep going because we think that you have something very precious; something that brings hope.”

And whether he likes it or not, Dylan has become the new “face” of GK, a term which he laughingly contradicts. “Maybe the mouth! I’m just a big mouth. And quite seriously, I don’t feel that what I’m doing is really a sacrifice. It’s really the most exciting thing that you can do, to be part of such a huge movement to change a whole nation. And of course, I let go of a lot of things but it’s been replaced by much better things.”

The “better things” came in the form of his lovely Filipino wife, Anna, and their healthy daughter, Ariel.   

Though he admits that there are challenges in daily life, they are really nothing compared to the “huge sense of satisfaction, huge sense of joy that comes from seeing the fruits of the work. So if I ever do get tired or exhausted, my antidote is simply visit the GK community and just spend a little time there… It’s like looking at a little piece of heaven, like the Promised Land. The vision of what the Philippines can become when every slum finally becomes a beautiful piece of community. This is the most exciting time of my life and it’s the most significant thing I could imagine doing with my life. I cannot imagine anything more significant than this,” he smiles, the peace and satisfaction apparent in his face.



source: People Asia

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Isang mag-inang Pili­pina ang inaban­dona umano ng recruiter at pinabayaang walang kapera-pera at trabaho sa China. 

Sinasabi sa report na tinanggap ng Philippine Overseas Employment Administration at iniulat kahapon ng GMA News na nagba­yad ang mga biktimang sina Ma. Cris­tina Miel at anak nitong si Mi­chelle ng tig-P130,000 placement fee para maka­pagtrabaho bi­lang titser o factory worker sa Guangzhou sa natu­rang bansa.

Sinabi pa sa ulat na na­kakuha naman ng pan­samantalang traba­ho ang mag-ina bilang mga guro pero tinanggal din sila ki­nalaunan dahil hindi maka­kuha ng work visa para sa kanila ang esku­welahang kumup­kop sa kanila.

Sa kasalukuyan ay istranded ang mag-ina sa Philippine consulate sa naturang lalawigan ng Tsina habang nag­hihintay na ipatapon sila pabalik sa Pilipinas.

Sinasabi ng mag-ina na ni-“recruit” sila ng  Arzel Management Services Inc., isang ahen­syang li­sensyado na­man ng POEA pero wa­lang job order mula sa China.

Nabatid na pumirma ng employment contract ang mag-ina ma­ tapos silang sabihan ng uma­no’y mga em­ple­yado ng ahensya na sina Rodol­fo Arceo at Joven Ser­deniola na natanggap silang mag­turo sa isang eskuwela­hang Intsik sa loob ng dalawang taon.

Kaugnay nito, nilinaw ng POEA na, bagaman nangangailangan ng mga English teacher ang China,  hindi naman lahat ng eskuwelahan doon ay pinapayagan ng pamaha­laang Intsik na kumuha ng dayu­hang empleyado.

Inireklamo ng mga biktima na iniwanan sila ng kanilang mga agents sa China mata­pos kunin ang kanilang mga passport at kon­ting perang ga­gamitin sana sa pag­pa­pa­pro­seso ng kani­lang work visa.

Nabatid sa POEA na marami pang Pili­pino ang nagkapro­blema sa China dahil sa iligal na pagta­tra­baho o overstaying doon.


source: Pilipino Star Ngayon

A friend sent me what appears to be a joke, but there's a certain ring of truth in it. Look familiar? Judge for yourself. --- Rome



Filipino dies and goes to hell. There he finds that there is a different
hell for each country. He goes first to the German hell and asks "What
do they do here?" He is told, "First they put you in an electric chair
for an hour.  Then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour.
Then the German devil comes in and whips you for the rest of the day."

The man does not like the sound of that at all, so he moves on. He checks
out the US hell, the Spanish hell as well as the Russian hell and many more.  He
discovers that they are all more or less the same as the German hell.

Then he comes to the Filipino hell and finds that there is a very long
line of people waiting to get in. Amazed he asks, "What do they do here?"
He is told "First they put you in an electric chair for an hour.  Then
they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour. Then the Filipino devil
comes in and whips you for the rest of the day."

"But that is exactly the same as all the other hells - why are there so
many people waiting to get in?"

"Because there is always a brownout, so the electric chair does not work.
Somebody stole all the nails to sell them per kilo.  And the devil used to
be a public official, so he comes in, punches his timecard, shakes
hands with all the people waiting there and then goes back home..."

Tatay: pedro, asa man nimo gibutang ang asukar?
Pedro: naa sa banggera akong gimarkahan ug asin
Tatay: nganong man imo man gibutangan?
Pedro: para di katoud ang AMIGAS...
                                                         

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu has overtaken Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the richest person on the planet, the Mexican financial website Sentido Comun reported.

Sentido Comun said the Mexican billionaire's wealth had rocketed past Gates following the red-hot performance of his telecommunications firm, America Movil.

US-based Forbes magazine, renowned for its rankings of the world's wealthiest individuals, updated its listings in April to rank Slim as the second richest individual in the world, as he bested the legendary US investor Warren Buffett.

The Mexican financial website said Slim's lead over Gates amounted to billions of dollars.

"Thanks to a 26.5-percent rise in the shares of America Movil during the second quarter, Slim, who controls a 33-percent interest in Latin America's largest mobile phone company, is substantially richer than Gates," Sentido Comun said.

"The difference between their two fortunes is around nine billion dollars in favor of Slim," the financial website claimed.

It said it had based its calculations largely on the share price movements of companies controlled by Slim.

The website said soaring performances from Slim's other business interests had also helped propel him past Gates.

Aside from America Movil, Slim controls the INBURSA financial group and the Grupo Carso industrial firm with interests spanning retail stores, coffee shops and restaurants.

One reason for Slim's meteoric rise might be because he is also still working.

Gates stepped aside as Microsoft chief in 2000 to devote his energies to the philanthropic foundation he runs with his wife, Melinda.

Forbes in April had pegged Slim's wealth at a staggering 53.1 billion dollars, and said Gates was sitting on a 56-billion-dollar fortune.

Slim, the son of Lebanese immigrants, has had business in his blood from his early days when he helped out in his father's shop, "The Star of the Orient."

The 67-year-old started out in real estate and was already affluent enough when he graduated from university with an engineering degree to buy stakes in a stock brokerage and a bottling firm.

During the crippling Latin American economic crisis of the early 1980s, Slim snapped up and reformed a number of distressed businesses, banking massive profits for Grupo Carso.

Carso gained its name from the first three letters of Slim's name and the first two of his late wife's, Soumaya Gemayel.

Analysts say one of Slim's smartest and most lucrative deals occurred when he took control of Telefonos de Mexico (Telemex) in 1990 as the then government moved to privatize the sprawling monopoly.

Slim oversaw a 1.8-billion-dollar investment to take over Telemex, but he then overhauled the company and expanded its service as the telecom firm became the star of the Mexican stock exchange and more than returned Slim's initial investment.

The Mexican billionaire has also made some savvy stock picks.

In 1997, he bought about three percent of Apple Computer at 17 dollars a share shortly before the company launched its hit iMac computer. Twelve months later, Apple's shares topped 100 dollars.

Despite his vast riches, Slim reportedly shuns corporate jets and flashy offices and sported a plastic watch during the 1990s.

Widowed in 1999, Slim has boosted his philanthropic presence and overseen his three sons' careers within his business empire.

Like Gates, he has developed a strong profile on the philanthropic front.

Earlier this month he allied himself with the foundation of former US president Bill Clinton and with Canadian mining magnate Frank Giustra to launch an anti-poverty campaign in Latin America.

Fifty-three percent of Mexico's population of 104 million live in poverty, which is defined as living on less than two dollars a day, World Bank data show.


source: Yahoo News

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 05:09pm (Mla time) 07/05/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- An actor has been arrested inside a plane bound for Palawan province for allegedly telling a flight attendant that he had a bomb in his baggage, a police official said.

Jay Manalo, who was on board PR flight 195 Thursday, made the claim after he was asked to put his baggage at the overhead compartment instead of along the aisle, said Chief Superintendent Atilano Morada, Aviation Security Group chief.

But Manalo, allegedly irked by the order, told the flight attendant to keep off his baggage because there was a bomb inside, said Morada.

Manalo was arrested for making a “false bomb threat" under Presidential Decree 1727 although the offense carried a P10,000 bail, said Morada.

If found guilty, Manalo could face up to five years imprisonment and would be asked to pay P40,000 in damages.

Last May, another actor, John Estrada, was also held by airport police after refusing to undergo the standard inspection. He was however allowed to board the plane after undertaking the procedure.

Judge: Young man, where do you work?
Man: HERE AND THERE...
Judge: Wat do you do for a living?
Man: THIS AND THAT...
Judge: Hmm...............................
Man: When will I be released?
Judge: SOONER OR LATER!!!

By Ardelle T. Merton
Wednesday, July 4, 2007


Vita means “life” in Latin, and vitamins are essential for life. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls them the “magic wands” used by the body to synthesize enzymes, hormones and other chemical necessities. Unable to create vitamins from scratch, the body must fetch them from outside sourcesâ€"typically through food and in our increasingly health-conscious society, also through supplements.

The fast-rising and dynamic Making Real Rich People (MRRP) Corporation has now opened its doors in Cebu through founder Resel Resma and welcomes you to try a new dimension in health and beauty products. They had just begun operations early this year and the company is gaining a massive following for its quality products.

MRRP Corporation, the exclusive Philippine distributor of AFC health supplements from Japan, recognizes the importance of proper nutrition and offers a wide array of vitamins and health supplements for everybody.  AFC products are backed by years of scientific research from AMS Life Science in Japan. From prevention to cure, from enhancement to protection, the AFC health products have your specific needs packed conveniently in herbal, all-natural supplements.

With good health comes beauty; a radiant glow comes from within. That is why business partner Perla A. Peterson of MRRP emphasizes that their products are not only for health, but also for beauty. When you feel great in the inside, it shows on the outside. Here are some AFC battle weapons your body can arm itself with in sickness and in (preserving) health:

• Agaricus â€" MRRP’s flagship product and bestseller. This wonder product contain is made of a certain type of mushroom and it offers anti-tumor, anti-cancer, preventive benefits as well as blood glucose reducing effect (especially for the diabetics) and blood pressure, cholesterol-reducing effects. Those are common concerns for all of us today.

Agaricus helps you prevent or recover from up to 42 diseases that affect the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, nervous, respiratory and reproductive system. From the common ailments like high-blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and breast cancer to the rarer problems such as leukemia, gastric ulcer and cirrhosis of the liver, there isn’t a body out there that wouldn’t benefit from this all-natural, powerful herbal supplement.

• Vitamin C â€" The classic, all-around Vitamin C, plus complementing supplements. It helps to make the skin smooth and white and to promote a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is vital to the reproduction of collagen. The product’s added perks include Korean ginseng extract, Vitamin B2, and Beta Carotene.

• Maca â€" The energizer. Do you often feel tired and “not in the mood”? Fret not, this is the one for you. Extracted from fresh mace root of the Peruvian Andes, Maca Powder packs a powerful punch since it is rich in potassium and calcium. Moreover, it enhances sexual stamina, gives energy, improves reproductive functions and helps prevent menopausal symptoms. It helps prevent liver disease and dysgeusia.

• Skin Whitening â€" This must have been Snow White’s secret. Now you too can look like a princess from the fairy tales. This special, all-natural formula gently whitens skin from within, controls freckles, dark spots & aging spots, and makes the skin clear and even-toned. The tablets also contain L-Cysteine Peptide, Astaxantin, Vitamin C, Apply Polphenol, and grape seed extract.

• Collagen â€" The fountain of youth. Collagen makes the skin firm, restores elasticity of the skin, minimizes fine lines, supports sagging skin and irons out wrinkles. This power pack includes special shark cartilage extract powder, hydrolyzed collagen, corn germ extract, Vitamin E and Vitamin B. The supplement also helps prevent other diseases associated with aging, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and muscular degeneration.

Health is wealth, said a wise, old man. Supplements for your well-being should be treated as an investment â€" not an expense- for the future. Invest in feeling great and looking great!



source: The Freeman

Motherhood is filled with joys and challenges.





The joy and love I feel being a mother is indescribable at times.



Being a mother challenges you in every way. It brings you to your edge; it tests your strength, courage and patience. It takes you to your edge and builds strength. It allows to be a child again in moments. It allows you to appreciate the simple things in life. It allows you to laugh more and not to take yourself so seriously. Being a mother reminds you of who you are in the eyes of the beholder. It's magical and humbling.





Motherhood is an honorable profession.

Ang kaibahan nang Dinner at Supper:

Anak: Itay, ano po ba ang pagkakaiba nang DINNER at SUPPER?
Ama: Anak, 'pag kumain tayo sa labas, DINNER 'yon. Kapag dito tayo kakain nang luto nang mommy mo, SUFFER 'yon.

Kano: Miss, will you please give me one FEW-TWO?
Tindera: What, sir?
Kano: I said one FEW-TWO...?
Tindera: Oh, PUTO!
Kano: Yeah, thats right!

(Sa loob-loob ng tindera, 'Tangna! Puto lang pala, pino-FEW-TWO FEW-TWO pa! Gagantihan ko siya!?

Tindera: Okey, sir? What color do you want? FEW-LA or FEW-TI?

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:18pm (Mla time) 07/03/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- Yahoo is putting a local spin to some of its popular user-generated services like Flickr in its bid to win over the succeeding millions of Filipino Internet users.

Yahoo! Pinoy Connect, a newly launched community site, aggregates local content from Yahoo services including Flickr, del.i.cio.us and Yahoo! Answers. It also creates a listing of Filipino mailing lists at Yahoo! Groups.

By consolidating content, Yahoo is creating country-specific sites that localize its services toward a more targeted audience.

Tom Sipple, Yahoo's managing director for Southeast Asia, noted there are around 14 million Filipino Internet users today and predicts a total of more than 22 million in 2008.

Yahoo claims to have an 85-percent "reach" in the current population of local Internet users.

Yahoo! Pinoy Connect was started late last year and was originally intended to be a platform for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to communicate with families in the Philippines.

"We are adding more depth to the site," Sipple said.

"The site now caters to four constituents: new Web users, schools including teachers and students, Internet cafe owners and veteran Web users looking for a more social media aspect," he added.

Yahoo runs around 20 similar country-specific sites including neighboring countries Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Yahoo is looking to generate advertising opportunities in these portals. Yahoo! Pinoy Connect is carrying ads from the local Department of Tourism.

"Advertisers are looking to leverage on the site to reach an OFW audience," Sipple said.

this was taken more than three years ago.

Our trip in Italy almost two years ago was so short but worth-remembering! The night of October 27, my husband and i agreed to sleep early so we would be awake at 3 a.m since we needed to catch the train at 5:30 a.m the following day. Since my day then was incomplete without playing Literati/scrabble, i told him that i would play first until i felt drowsy. He slept at the sofa while waiting for his game-addicted wife.It was 12 midnight when he noticed i was still playing. He took his turn of using the computer to put the gospel in the site while i treated myself to a rest at the sofa. I tried to sleep but i couldn't. Time was running so fast, and we already found ourselves preparing for our much-delayed honeymoon in Rome. At 5 a.m we already broke the placidity of the village as we walked down the road going to the train station.

Normally, when I'm already in the train, i will get a sleep. But on that day, i didn't. Too excited perhaps? Indeed! 9:30 a.m, we were already on board Alitalia via Milan. I was ecstatic to step Milan even if it was only at the airport. I felt i was rich,hahaha!(feeling ra to nako ha?) The more i was ecstatic when we arrived in Rome, the place i NEVER dreamed of visiting but the opportunity came.

Fr. Etienne and Robert welcomed us there since they arrived 10 days earlier. Fr. Etienne's day is incomplete without drinking glasses of beer. Well, Belgians are beer and wine lovers, and they hardly get drunk. As expected,  we spent an hour at the cafe in Leonardo Da Vinci Airport.

Tired from the trip, we decided to go to the hotel where father's friend had booked. To our dismay, the location of the hotel would take us 21 bus stops. We couldn't imagine travelling again just for us to reach that hotel. Herman, my dearest husband, decided to look for a hotel which would have an easy access to the spots there. We had to walk from one hotel to the other since it was fully-booked, until we landed to a Pakistani-owned hotel which cost us 50 euro. "Thank you, Lord," i told myself.

We felt relieved as we walked going to our room. Silence came in to me and my husband as the room was like a jail. The window was broken thus there was a natural ventilation. And it was not only that, we would be sharing one toilet to all the occupants of the 8 rooms in the third floor! What a hotel! "Rome has this? i murmured. I didn't voice it out since my husband was already exasperated, and i didn't want to add fuel to the fire. We comforted ourselves by saying we would look for another hotel the next day. Since Father promised us a dinner, we then headed to a restaurant near the Augustinian Convent where Father was staying and where the towers of the St. Peter's Basilica were visible. As we passed at the St Peter's Square, i felt i was in heaven. I could only see the scene on tv, and for that time, i was there. I immediately whispered a prayer for a successful kidney operation of my mom and my niece's health.

Finally, we were sitting in a restaurant as we waited our orders at 9 p.m. We were all quiet as our dish was served. It was so expensive, and that was all we got? But because we were so hungry, we also ate all our complaints! My goodness! It was a day of complaints!

The following day, we walked almost two hours to get for a real good accomodation. It was paid off because the 100 euro per day room was really a place to rest.

Before visiting the known places in Rome, Father treated us at a Chinese Restaurant. It was a half-price cheaper than the Italian Resto we had last night and a mouth-watering meal as well! "This is the real meal!" we chorused.

The rest of the time last Saturday was spent visiting Maria Maggiore where one of the confession rooms had Tagalog and Visayan languages, Colosseo, Fontan de Trevi, the palace of Mosolini, Pietro, etc.

The whole Sunday was spent at the St. Peter's Basilica. Huge crowd from other countries queued to see the Holy Church of the Catholics. But the most memorable experience i had was when the Pope delivered his weekly blessings to the world in one of the windows of the Basilica. Thunderous applause was made. It was a hair-raising experience!

It may be a journey of our patience on the first day but we were able to pass the test!

CONSUMERLINE  By Ching M. Alano
Tuesday, June 26, 2007


At the First World Congress of Public Health Nutrition held last year, according to Food Facts Asia, the experts asked some very absorbing â€" and disturbing â€" questions, such as: Do consumers know how much they should eat? Do they read the nutrition information on food labels, do they understand what it means, and does it come in handy when they choose the food they buy?

It takes more than a dash of food savvy to know what lies beneath those food labels. Yes, as a conscientious consumer, it pays to know how to read between the lines. For instance, Eliza Zied, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, warns that food manufacturers are allowed to show that a product contains zero gram of something even if it actually has the dreaded trans fats.

Would you like to know how much of a health-conscious consumer you are? Answer these interactive CBS News questions (no cheating, please!) and then read the answers given below by Nathaniel Hupert, an assistant professor of public health and medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University; Dr. Dean Edell, author of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Healthiness; and Dr. Mallika Marshall.

1. True or false: Eating red meat raises cholesterol levels.

2. True or false: Eating eggs is bad for your heart.

3.  True or false: Red wine protects against heart disease.

4. Which food is most likely to promote cavities in children: cheese, raisins, apples, chocolates, peanuts?

5. True or false: Chocolate can elevate your mood.

6. True or false: Cranberry juice treats urinary tract infection.

7. True or false: Whole milk is more nutritious than skim milk.

8. True or false: You must take a daily multivitamin to stay healthy.

9. Which is more nutritious â€" fresh or canned tomatoes?

10. True or false: Naps are good for you.

Answers:

1. False. Studies show that people fed a diet of lean red meat had no significant rise in cholesterol than those whose diet consisted of lean white meat.

2. False. There’s no conclusive data linking eggs to highter cholesterol, but some people are sensitive to eggs and will show higher cholesterol levels. If you go on a high-egg diet,  have your cholesterol checked to make sure you are not one of these people.

3. True. There’s tremendous evidence that red wine â€" and every other kind of wine â€" prevents heart disease when taken in moderation.

4. Raisins. They’re the culprits because their stickiness means they are more likely to stay on teeth and feed the bacteria.

5. True. Especially dark chocolate, which is chockful of catechins, antioxidants that enhance the endorphin or that feel-good chemical in the brain.

6. False. There’s no scientific evidence to show if cranberry is really berry-good for UTI. But a 1998 study found that cranberries have proanthocyanidin, which protects against E. coli bacteria so that the latter does not latch onto the cells lining the urinary tract, thus reducing your chances of having UTI. A British Medical Journal study also found that women who drank this juice every day for six months had a lower risk of contracting urinary tract infection.

7. False. It’s assumed that when milk goes through a skimming process, calcium is removed. But the calcium is found in the watery part of milk, that part that’s not skimmed. However, the skimming process does remove some of the vitamins A and D.

8. False. According to the US Preventive Services Taskforce, there’s insufficient evidence to recommend  daily multivitamins. But if a person is not taking a balanced diet, taking a vitamin supplement daily is prescribed.

9. Canned tomatoes. Canned tomatoes have more fiber, potassium, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron because they are riper when picked as compared to fresh tomatoes, which have to be firm to be shipped.

10. True. Naps have been shown to improve alertness and cognitive performance in people who don’t get enough sleep at night. Even a 10-minute nap has been shown scientifically to be helpful.

So, how did you fare (or fail?). If you got seven correct answers, congratulations! â€" you must have gone to medical school or you’re good enough to write a health/diet book.

If you scored four to six right answers, you should live to a ripe old age â€" riper than a juicy/pulpy red tomato.

If you got one to three correct answers, that explains why you are sick so often.

If you scored a yawning zero, you better watch out and keep your doctor’s number on speed dial on your cell phone.

Oh, dear, it’s time for our nap!


source: Philippine Star

POR VIDA By Archie Modequillo
Sunday, July 1, 2007


There is in our world a certain illness, so widespread yet has no name of its own. It afflicts so many, perhaps even all of us, only at varying gravity. Its general symptom is an insatiable yearning for anything unavailable, leaving its victims unhappy with what’s in their possession or what they can acquire easily.

Some romantic philosophers say that it is human nature to value only what one cannot fully possess. Pure love, according to them, is kept alive by chasing a loved one who is not fully accessible or impossible for conquest. An interesting observation, indeed.

There seems to be some truth to it. Consider how many of us so intensely crave for things that are beyond our reach. We want to have the best home, the best car, the best job, fantasize over the faces and bodies we see in fashion magazines, pursue people who reject us.

Yet whatever we highly value and try so hard to acquire or attain tends to lose much of its appeal the moment we have it. In our love relationships, particularly in marriage, many look back to the courtship as the more satisfying phase. Once they’ve settled down and made the relationship secure, the love flame begins to fade.

For instance, it is common to find a man who, as soon as he becomes assured that he is wanted and needed, ceases to court his woman and, instead, wants to be courted by her. This changed attitude can boggle the mind, because the more he is assured of her devotion, the faster he falls out of love.

It’s utterly unfair, of course. But it is unfair, as well, to quickly condemn such a man. He may just be behaving according to his own uncontrollable emotional tides. Perhaps he is equally in great misery over his ebbing affection for his spouse.

On the other hand, the woman cannot be blamed for being sore over her man’s emergent disinterest in her. She may contain her grievance for a while, trying to understand if it’s she who is causing his coldness. Then, eventually, she absolves herself and the man she loves of the fault and points her anger elsewhereâ€"usually at another woman.

Even the most rational and composed woman will break down at the thought of being shunned by her man for another woman. As she thinks that he is no longer fully hers and fearing that she will eventually lose him completely, her yearning for him can grow into near mad obsession.

Some people intentionally make themselves “scarce” to their spouses, as a tactic for raising their perceived value by their mates. “She craves for me more when I’m not always available,” one man says. It might be true. But the efficacy of such a trick is often short-lived. Also, it is bound to have harmful repercussions.

Any scheme designed to create a false perception, for the sake of heightening one’s value to the other party in the relationship, may work somehow. But a sham will not hold for long. And no real intimacy will develop between the partners if the relationship is laced with a lie.

It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. And so probably does security. During courtship, our affection combines with our fear of losing the other person so that we always try to please our beloved, to increase our value to him or her. But once the challenge is gone, the attraction begins to decline.

The very things we do in courtship may have much to do with our feeling of being in love. Our good regard for the other person is sustained by our own efforts in always trying to charm him or her. The sweet nothings, the simple hellos, the dinners together, the intimate trysts, everything helps turn the initial attraction into deep affection.

While a loving hug or approving smile is a dear prize that keeps us doing what we do for our sweetheart, it is also a motivation for us to do more. When we see that our actions are drawing us closer to the one we love, we keep at it. We don’t want the gained intimacy to decline.

But when one or both parties come to feel that the relationship is secure, they will no longer see any reason to continue trying to please each other.

Experts on human behavior say that the tendency to fall out of love is a universal human trait. Precisely why society devised the marriage contract. Wedded couples commit to love each other and stay together in marriage, “for better or for worse.” Yet with today’s rising number of broken marriages, it’s obvious that the marital promise is getting hard to keep.

There is, as we can see, a need for spouses to commit themselves to the relationship way prior to and beyond the exchanging of vows at the wedding rites. There has to be, in themselves individually and together, a clear and solid reason for the marriage decision. There has to be, also, a profound understanding between the partners of their obligations to each other and to the union.

Perhaps more than the need to know the other person, knowing oneself is an important requirement in a love relationship. As we know, it’s not going to be fair weather every day. Yet we pay little attention to our own tendencies of behaving under stress. Even when things are going all right, we may not feel okay, and look out for someone to blame for our distress. Often the one closest to us unjustly gets the blows.

Couples must continually find new expressions of love and concern for each other, similar to what they do during courtship. Otherwise, they will risk diminishing their feelings, even their respect, for each other. And when the love is all gone, they’ll end up hating each other like mortal enemies where they started out loving each other infinitely.

If we are to continue loving our mates, we must go on courting them, even after feeling assured of their devotion. We must enjoy making the other person happy. It is the foundation of a healthy union, when what one does to another gratifies both of them.

“But,” someone may object, “if being in a relationship is to be such an unremitting, painstaking endeavor, we’d rather stay out of it.” Then better stay out of it. If you find it a hassle to be mindful of another person’s feelings and wellbeing, to be always checking your own conduct towards him or her, you’re not ready.

If you feel that you have the “illness” in you and can’t seem to contain it, stay clear of a relationship. Work hard on your own maturity; until you gain the capacity to share yourself and your life with another. In the meantime, go hug yourself in the corner, have a beerâ€"and spare the world of any more possible heartbreaks.



source: The Freeman

by Alexis Franz T. Lim

LAS VEGAS -- Top Rank promoter Bob Arum won't discuss the ongoing mediation with Golden Boy Promotions because of a confidentiality agreement signed by both sides, but he is willing to discuss Manny Pacquiao's next fight in the event there is no quick settlement of the various lawsuits between the companies.

Pacquiao, the junior lightweight star, is at the center of the battle between Top Rank and Golden Boy. He signed contracts with both of them and both companies claim his promotional rights, even though Pacquiao ultimately pledged his loyalty to Top Rank, fighting Jorge Solis under its banner April 14.


If the sides settle, Pacquiao's fall fight would undoubtedly be a major HBO PPV event against Golden Boy's Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch of Pacquiao's 2003 knockout victory.


Barrera, who is here to support his buddy Ricky Hatton in Saturday night's fight against Jose Luis Castillo, told ESPN.com he wants to fight Pacquiao again before retiring at the end of this year.


However, if there is no settlement Arum said he will match Pacquiao with Humberto Soto, another Top Rank fighter and a top junior lightweight contender.


On June 9, Soto knocked out Bobby Pacquiao, Manny's brother, and he wants revenge, Arum told ESPN.com.


"Soto is who he would fight," Arum said. "It's a good fight. It's probably a better fight than Barrera, even though it's not as much money. But it's better than Barrera action-wise. Soto wants the fight like a kid wants ice cream, and Manny wants to avenge his brother's loss. That's what he told me. Manny said it's the perfect fight and that's what he wants, and that the fans will love it."


If it's Pacquiao-Soto, Arum said it would take place Oct. 6 in Vancouver, British Columbia, where there is a sizeable Filipino population. Arum said he is in talks with Showtime about the fight because without a Top Rank-Golden Boy settlement, he said HBO is leery of being involved.


Whomever Pacquiao fights in the fall, Arum wants to match exciting junior bantamweights Jorge Arce and Martin Castillo on the undercard.


"All I want to do is make good fights," Arum said. "That's all I want to do, and we're on a pretty good roll right now."


The last major fight in Vancouver? The 1972 rematch between Muhammad Ali and George Chuvalo. The promoter? Arum.



source: The Bohol Standard

WORDS WORTH By Mons Romulo- Tantoco
Sunday, July 1, 2007


We hear of Filipinos wanting to migrate to another country, particularly the US, and also stories of how our kababayans have conquered and successfully made a name for themselves abroad. Their triumphs make us and our country proud. But after all their success, does it mean they have chosen to stay abroad for good or do they still long to go back to the Philippines?

Here are successful Filipinos in the United States who have made a name for themselves in their respective fields, sharing with us their dilemma over whether to remain abroad or go back home.

GINA ALFONSO, founder, Cartwheel Foundation Inc. Philippines (www.cartwheel foundation.org); Art Therapist Inc. S.T.R.E.S.S. Centre, Virginia: A very close Jesuit family friend, Fr. Rafael Borromeo SJ, made it easy for me to make a decision when I was confronted with this question more than a decade ago after just finishing a program in NYC. He said, “Whenever you are confused about where to go or what to

do, remember, you belong where you are needed most.” This prompted me to return to Manila and to experience the eight most fruitful years I’ve had at home. Now that I’m back in the US and grappling with the same question, the same advice has led me to a different “place.” I find myself deciding to want to travel back and forth, be a bridge to connect my little world in the US with my work in the Philippines.

RICA CAMPOS, English instructor: The practical realities of life dictate, at least for now, that the US is home for us. The question is a two-sided issue for me: one is the desire to be physically close with my loved ones and all things familiar; the other is the desire to be able to contribute to the community.  The first issue is easily dealt with by going home to visit as often as I can; the other issue is a little bit more challenging. What helps is when we are able to hold fundraising events that benefit organizations for the less fortunate back home.   

BING CARDENAS BRANIGIN, community and media liaison, National Federation: I consider the Philippines still my home. That’s the reason I go home one month a year or twice or thrice. There are several non-profit organizations that I am an active member of and we give scholarships, housing, books, feeding programs, etc. to our kababayans back home. When my husband retires, we will split the year between the US and the Philippines. Life in the Philippines is less stressful. We love the waters and where better to spend our years but in Boracay, Panglao or Palawan. Then there are the unspoiled beaches in Curimao, Ilocos Norte and San Esteban, Ilocos Sur. Deep inside, I never left the Philippines. It will always be my home.

CHERYL CUENCA MADLANSACAY, account executive: Of course I would love to go back and settle in our homeland! My roots are there, most of my family and friends are there, and what can compare to the exhilarating Filipino lifestyle? But having gotten married only a year ago, it may take quite a few more years of settling down with my new family before we think of that step. 

EDI SIAN, micro-finance consultant: I firmly believe that everyone has the choice to leave. In fact, I encourage people to grab the opportunity presented. Working or studying abroad enables people to learn new skills, gain overseas networks, and put the Philippines in the right perspective. A person goes home when he/she is ready to go home... when personal and professional incentives align and make the decision obvious. That timing may happen early on or much later and sometimes it never comes. Gemma Nemenzo wrote in her book Heart in Two Places: “In this global village we live in, a person’s character is not determined by his leaving the country to live and work in another land. It is defined by how he gives back to the community that nurtured him.”

DR. ARLENE MARIE A. LORICA, infant to adolescent medicine: I have decided to go back to the Philippines to share my knowledge and training.  Having been a government scholar since high school, my Philippine education allowed me to enjoy the comforts and blessings of life in the United States. I was raised by parents dedicated to service, with bishops and nuns in my immediate family, who all instilled in me the desire to give back and serve with all that that I have. I want to go back within 10 years, when my youngest daughter will be well adjusted in college and my son will have graduated college and can begin contributing to society.

MITZI PICKARD, assistant director for development, Asia Society: The recent panel discussion on this topic sponsored by the UP Alumni Association-DC, Maryland and Virginia (UPAA) and Embassy of the Philippines was timely and thought-provoking. After careful debate and deliberation, I thought it best to stay in Washington, DC, after college and continue graduate studies for professional purposes. Nevertheless, I feel that I’ve been a strong advocate for the Philippines through my active involvement and participation in various Filipino-American community causes that benefit projects like Bantay Bata, Gawad Kalinga, Feed the Hungry, Inc., educational/school projects, medical missions, etc. For example, when PACC-DC held its Monte Carlo Casino Night this past May, a portion of our proceeds went towards a PACC-DC/Gawad Kalinga livelihood project. I agree that “home is where the heart is” but I am also a firm believer in what Jose Rizal said: “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” 

WILMA GONZALES BUENAOBRA, professor, George Washington University: I love the United States, where I have spent most of my adult life, specifically my home of the past several decades, the Metropolitan Washington, DC, area.  It is a well-planned city, where the gardens are well-tended, where restful parks and memorials abound. I reside in a nearby suburb in very quite subdivision. I can walk, jog, ride a bike any time of the day, or night, without fear. I love witnessing and feeling the miracle and magic of the changing of the seasons here. I have the freedom to dress up or dress down without reservation, to speak without fear or retribution. However, I am afraid I left my heart in the Philippines. For, in the final analysis, while culled in my environment as a working city girl who is comfortable in high heels, makeup and a sharp business suit, I am but a little Filipina country girl at heart.  It is the hospitality, sincerity and warmth that make Filipinos unforgettable. I have been the recipient of these amazing qualities whenever I visit the country. It is not the place, but the people that matter most to me. I am going back!

SIGRID G. ZIALCITA, director, Cushman & Wakefield of Virginia Inc.: While I have resided in the US for almost 12 years now, I still have the strong desire to go back to the Philippines. Manila will always be my home. Of course, I will always be grateful for the myriad opportunities that America has provided me on a personal and professional level, particularly equipping me with an education that has allowed me to build and nurture a career that I have passion for. However, it is my ultimate goal to return to the Philippines, be reunited with family (my parents and siblings are all Manila-based), and contribute my share in building an economic future for our motherland. 

source: Philippine Star

PEDRO: puslan man walay gamahal sa ako..,maayo pa MAGPAKAMATAY nalang ako!
 
(ug si Pedro nidayb sa SUBA...)

(pipila ka mga minuto...)

NITUNGHA si Pedro og misyagit: aaaaaaahhhh dili ko kaginhawa...
MURA KO OG MAMATAY!

Agence France-Presse
Last updated 06:43pm (Mla time) 06/30/2007


WASHINGTON D.C. -- A United States newscaster refused to lead her program with a story about Paris Hilton, arguing she was fed up with media attention given to the controversial Hollywood socialite.

Mika Brzezinski tore her script to pieces on the air and then put another one through a shredder Friday morning when she was asked by her editors on MSNBC cable channel to lead the newscast with an item about Hilton.

"Listen, I just don't believe in covering that story, especially not as the lead story in a newscast when you have a day like today," Brzezinski said on the air.

Footage documenting her revolt is now making the rounds on the Internet, and has since been viewed on the video exchange website YouTube more than 870,000 times.

Hilton, a 26-year-old hotel chain heiress, was released from a Los Angeles jail on Tuesday after serving 23 days for driving with a suspended license.



source: Phil. Daily Inquirer

A Chinese man walks into a bar in America late one night and he sees Steven Spielberg. As he was a great fan of his movies, he rushes over to him, and asks for his autograph.

Instead, Spielberg gives him a slap and says, "You Chinese people bombed our Pearl Habour, get outta here."

The astonished Chinese man replied, "It was not the Chinese who bombed your Pearl Harbour, it was the Japanese".

"Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, you're all the same," replied Spielberg.

In return, the Chinese man gives Spielberg a slap and says, "You sank the Titanic, my forefathers were on that ship." Shocked, Spielberg replies, "It was the iceberg that sank the ship, not me."

The Chinese man, replies: "Iceberg, Spielberg, Carlsberg, you're all the same."

Joke removed.

Sure, Filipinos are resilient, but this doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t feel stressed.

by MICHAEL L. TAN



HOW DO we say we're stressed in Filipino?

We don't. Well, at least not in a way that we would in English: I am stressed. It just doesn't work out; we don't, as far as I know, have a word in any of our Philippine languages for stress and being stressed.

But that doesn't mean we Filipinos don't ever experience stress. We feel it all the time and we see it producing illnesses, both physical and mental, both fleeting (as in having to run to the toilet) and serious, life-threatening ones. Because stress affects the body's immune system, we can say all ailments are in one way or another stress-related, from asthma to singaw (canker sores), to cardiovascular ailments and even infectious diseases.

There's also a tendency to dismiss stress-related illnesses as "psychological," and that these are self-limiting, easily resolved. The fact is that stress can so overwhelm people that they lapse into depression, resorting to destructive behavior, directed toward the self, or toward others.

The drug companies, especially those producing vitamins, have tried to cash in, pushing their products through advertisements showing stressed people and dangling promises: with our product, you can meet the many stresses of life, and of the world, and survive without falling ill. One vitamin has even gone to the extent of incorporating the word "stress" into its brand name.

But doctors â€" at least reputable ones â€" will tell you that medicines are of limited use for handling stress. Vitamins can help you to deal with the harmful chemicals produced in the body that come after stress, but as long as you don't deal with the stress itself, you eventually lose out.

Besides the vitamin ads, the media bombard us with all kinds of articles about, and ads for, New Age therapies that supposedly help us deal with stress â€" to name a few, yoga and meditation, spas offering massage and aromatherapy, soothing music interspersed with sounds of birds and frogs. But these are often expensive fads with exaggerated claims.

Not enough's being done to understanding stress in its local context, yet stress is mediated through culture: from the very nature of the stressors, to the ways we respond to the stress. Understanding this local context might help us develop more culturally appropriate, and therefore more effective, ways to deal with stress.



STRESSORS ARE not universal. For example, we say "noise" is stressful, but what exactly is noise?

Culturally, we have different thresholds for these sounds. I have a nephew and a niece who were born and bred in Canada, and they find the Philippines too "noisy": the jeepneys, the arcade games in malls, even the way people talk. Yet they have no problems tuning into hard rock music on their iPods.

My nephew and niece also find crowds stressful; yet a Filipino sees a crowd and is delighted, "Uy, masaya." Westerners crave privacy; the Filipino is stressed by solitude. We're not alone, of course, in finding pleasure in crowds and camaraderie. Culture adapts to circumstances and we are only one of many countries with large dense populations that have learned to live with the maddening crowds, complete with the noise. The Chinese, for example, refer to "merriment" as re nao, the words for "hot" and "noisy."

While we enjoy noise, we're quite sensitive to olfactory assaults. Filipinos will claim some odors are so bad they cause a stomachache. We sniff everything, from food to lovers, and the smells we find good, we tend to indulge to an excess. No wonder aromatherapy's taken off in the Philippines, as did those terrible car fresheners and deodorizers.

Beyond these sensory stresses, we Filipinos do face many sources of stress, around work and livelihood mainly. Farmers worry about drought and typhoons; urbanites go berserk with tyrannical bosses and vicious gossipy office-mates.

Rural or urban, we all face the stresses of family, perhaps more so than in Western countries. We like to say we are family-oriented, with relatives always on hand to help out. But the extended Filipino family can be stressful too, with all its obligations. Overseas workers have a particularly difficult time with all the expectations family members have back home. I've met Filipinos overseas, from Hong Kong domestic workers to physicians in the United States, who postpone returning home for years because they dread the jeepneyloads of relatives waiting for pasalubong (gifts).

But the balikbayan in California has the advantage of distance. The poor migrants who go from impoverished rural areas to work in big cities face even greater stress from family relations, who can easily contact their now "rich" urban cousins for a share of the pittance these earn in the city.

By Kit Bagaipo, Jhunnex Napallacan
Inquirer
Last updated 05:26pm (Mla time) 06/27/2007


TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines -- Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado has offered a P50,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of Hilario Diola, the prime suspect in the killing of provincial Bayan Muna (People First) leader Mario Auxillo.

The governor made the offer Tuesday morning during a conference with Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, local leaders of cause-oriented groups and Bohol police director Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ingking at the Governor's Mansion.

Ocampo and Ingking welcomed the governor's move as the suspect remains at large despite seven witnesses having positively identified him as Auxillo’s alleged killer.

"These so-called political killings have blemished our country's reputation. We could not countenance the slaying of militant leaders," said Aumentado.

Last year, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) provincial chair Victor Olayvar was gunned down while he was on his way to a meeting with local peasants. Olayvar's killers remained unidentified and a case filed by the police was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Ocampo flew in from Manila on Tuesday to lead a tribute for Auxillo in Trinidad, the slain activist's hometown where he was buried Tuesday afternoon.

With the cash reward and the filing of the case against Auxillo's assailant, Ocampo said "the Auxillo slay is at least partially solved."

Aumentado urged Ingking for a "proper closure" to "end speculations" about the peasant leader's murder as the PNP already had a strong case based on the testimonies of three credible witnesses.

Bayan Muna in Central Visayas has accused the military of hiding the suspect in the killing of Auxillo.

In Cebu City, the left-wing party list’s Central Visayas coordinator Arman Perez chided the Bohol police for letting a week pass without being able to catch Diola, an alleged member of the anti-communist organization Alimaong.

He said the Alimaong Holy Warriors were organized by a certain Master Sergeant Anthony Tabada.

Perez and about 80 activists held a mock burial on Tuesday for Auxillo at the headquarters of the Police Regional office (PRO 7) in Cebu City to demand justice.

Colonel Jessie Dellosa, commander of the 302nd Brigade based in Carmen, Bohol, has denied allegations Diola is under their protection.

Dellosa said he talked to Tabada, who admitted that he organized the Alimaong group to help the indigenous people in Bohol. Tabada also confirmed that Diola was a member, Dellosa said.

According to Dellosa, the military is not involved in the Alimaong, an initiative of Tabada who has gone on absence without leave.

Meanwhile, Ingking briefed Ocampo on the progress of the manhunt and the status of the case filed against the suspect.

Ingking said the police were trying to convince the suspect's wife to disclose the whereabouts of her husband as there were reports Diola was spotted at least twice going to their house after the killing.

Only Diola knows the motive for killing Auxillo since several witnesses saw the two engaged in "a serious conversation" for about 20 minutes before the shooting, Ingking said.

Diola shot Auxillo in full view of many witnesses.

However, the two were known friends.

“Friends are the pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes they lean on you, and sometimes it's just enough to know that they are standing by.”

Jim and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out. When the Director of Nursing became aware of Edna's heroic act, she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged; since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of another patient, I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness. The bad news is that Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself in his bathroom with the belt of his robe right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead!" Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself; I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"

Associated Press
Last updated 03:31pm (Mla time) 06/26/2007


LYNWOOD, Califonia -- Paris Hilton left jail Tuesday after a bizarre, three-week stay in which the hotel heiress was briefly released to her Hollywood Hills home, then sent screaming and crying back to a county lockup.

The 26-year-old celebutante walked out of the all-women's jail in Lynwood to an enormous crowd of cameras and reporters after midnight. She had checked into the jail, largely avoiding the spotlight, late June 3 after a surprise appearance at the MTV Movie Awards.

Hilton smiled broadly as she left the jail. It wasn't immediately clear where she was going.

Hilton will complete her probation in March 2009 as long as she keeps her driver's license current and doesn't break any laws. She can reduce that time by 12 months if she does community service that could include a public-service announcement, the city attorney's office has said.

Hilton was sent to jail after she repeatedly violated probation on alcohol-related reckless driving charges by driving on a suspended license.

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:14pm (Mla time) 06/25/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- A Filipina domestic worker in Doha, Qatar died of unknown cause last week while another overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia was arrested for allegedly killing his employer, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

In her report to the home office, Charge d'Affaires Rosario Lemque of the Philippine Embassy in Doha, identified the dead OFW as Melissa Leseniana.

She said the June 22 death is being investigated by Qatari authorities, who are holding Leseniana's employer in custody.

Lemque said as soon as Leseniana's death was communicated to her office, she sent assistance-to-nationals officers to the Hamad Hospital Morgue to look at the body. However, embassy officials were not allowed to take photographs by morgue officials as the case is still under investigation, her report said.

Lemque promised to follow up on the case and report on the developments.

In Saudi Arabia, OFW Joven Esteva, was arrested for allegedly killing his employer, Philippine Ambassador to the kingdom Antonio Villamor said in his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Esteva, a family driver, was taken into police custody on June 3, Villamor said.

After asking the assistance of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philippine embassy officials are scheduled to visit Esteva on June 27 at the Malaz Central Jail in Riyadh where he is detained.

Villamor assured the secretary that the embassy will provide all the needed assistance to Esteva, including the services of a Saudi lawyer, and will report any new development on the case.

In both cases, the DFA refused to give details until official reports are in.

You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment unless you trust enough.  ~Frank Crane

ANAK: Nay, nag tambling tambling gyud kami sa skwelahan ganina...

NANAY: Dili ba ingon man ko ayaw pag tamblingtambling kay makita imo panti?

ANAK: Wala man nako kalimti imo giingon Nay oy.., mao gisulod gyud nako sa BAG ako panti usa ko nagtambling tambling.

Donya : Kay bag-o man ka dinhi, gusto ko masayod ka nga ang pamahaw diri alas sais impunto!

Katabang: Way problema Sinyora! Kung tulog pa ko anang orasa, una nalang mo og ka-on!!

BOY : Sir, apply unta ko pagka-boy.

AMO : Sige, bahugan nimo ang iro kada buntag ug hotdog, corn beef ug chorizo

BOY : Kining Sir, apply nalang ko pagka-iro.

An elderly woman went into the doctor's office. When the doctor asked why she was there, she replied, "I'd like to have some birth control pills."
Taken aback, the doctor thought for a minute and then said, "Excuse me, Mrs. Smith, but you're 75 years old. What possible use could you have for birth control pills?"
The woman responded, "They help me sleep better."
The doctor thought some more and continued, "How in the world do birth control pills help you to sleep?"
The woman said, "I put them in my granddaughter's orange juice and I sleep better at night."