MikeLigalig.com

Bravo, Mike.

I've seen this movie many times over years ago and I love it.  It's on my Fav list.

Puking!!!!

Quote from: willmerit on February 22, 2008, 10:04:41 PM
hahhahaha  ayaw usiki ang imong mahalon nga lipstick princess. 

bitaw, willmerit. 

Happy Birthday, Barbaro.

I think it is : thisgirlvader   orchids, mari
I did some digging .. here's what I found.

Tubagbohol.com launched date:  April 22, 2007.

Few list of members joined at the early stages of Tubag ...

Names & the earliest member registered dates:

mari:      April 22, 2007, 4:11:14pm
bluegirl:   April 22, 2007, 8:50:25pm
orchids:  April 25, 2007, 9:36:09pm

Happy Birthday ...make a wish.

jara! sayang lang sa akong lipstick mahal raba pag palit. 

Quote from: dakogoten on February 22, 2008, 04:32:22 PM

hal-la simbako. kinsa ako tihik? ha! ha!  ha!  never! pero because of YOU dili gyud ko.

dear mr. g. d.o.

complain, complain, complain, blah!, blah!, blah!  because of you i will not make any offer.

Basketbolan sa Anda, Bohol, Philippines.

ok 'Te soon I will.

Thanks, Ate. Yes, it was taken during my vacation .. .

Simbahan sa Anda, Bohol, Philippines.




©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills


©Margie Mills

Deadline date and list to choose from?

Quote from: junayag on February 17, 2008, 07:50:15 PM
aahh...is the Admin Leo Lumacang kadtong close friend sa pari o nagpari ba to? who is also a Municipal councilor? I've met one Leo Lumacang who represented Fr. Pacunan during the town fiesta last year where I've headed the committee for Miss Anda Babes beauty pageant... and there is one Leo Lucacang who graduated with honors in HIA, is he the Admin of andabohol.org?

I think you are right, Kuyajun. 

JHey, I speak Italian. 

Prada!
Dolce & Gabbana.

Bargain Hunters.

Are you looking for a bargains ... look no further.  For limited time offer you can shop at Steve & Barry's for fashion of Amanda Barnes, "bitten" by Sarah Jessica Parker, Starbury, Big Ben, sport's clothings such basketball shoes, name brand "Eleven" designed by the world famous tennis sister: Venus Williams and more.

Link:  http://www.steveandbarrys.com/

Hurry! it will end soon... everything* $8.98.

It wasn't lewd photos, it was the adult explicit comments on its guestbook.  No one really monitored the website and response to inquires such ie. new password or confirmation request goes un-notice. Then, too many changes took place, member's photos were removed especially when HIA Reunion photos from all Andahanons were removed due to some type of maintenance and new website look, and never brought them back.

It does look better now but it's lack of interest at this point ... 

Quote from: BlueAngel on February 16, 2008, 07:07:18 AM
wow Eifel Tower Haps very nice place

wla pako ka adtog Paris

You are very close to Paris, from Munich it takes about 3 hours drive and from Schweinfurt about 6 or 7 hours.  You will see a lot of beautiful places along the way.   Why not fly... it's faster.  It will be worth the trip, especially during the holiday seasons.

Ate, I sent you a private message.

I missed Paris ... I really love it there but not for honeymoon. 

Private Tahitian resort.

"te, Don't get discourage about our scholarship program kay we can continue without its website.  I really think our scholarship program CAN survive with or without its website. All we need is ACTIVE and determine participants.

Ate, I didn't register ... I am no longer fully involve as I use too because of this issue.  I don't have access anymore na gyud by their refusal to respond.  So I decided not to pursue any longer.  I quit na!

 

Lorenzo, Don't lick to much you'll end up with dry, crack lips.

Hello Ate, It's better website this time 'Te pero it has change so much that people lost interest and I am beginning to dislike their refusal to respond to my request of having my old/new password email to me.  I have ask many times over and over again .. walay respond from them. I have no access anymore. Frustrated kaayo! Karon mingaw na gyud.  Plus, they are not promoting "big" on our scholarship program which it should kay it all started from that website.  Dissapointed.

Fast cars .. I am into.. hands down to 2008 Ferrari Enzo class

old school nato

'te, this was fun .. I enjoyed it.  Sa pa nalibat nako ug tan-aw tan-aw.

thanks, Happy.  you solve the mystery. ..Mike still need to explain.

Mike needs to solve this mystery.

Congrats to Agnes .. it's okay Ate...I do however see it on everyone.

Here's an example.

on his/her:

st. agnes
International Moderator
Devoted Bol-anon


Rating: +40/-4
[Applaud]
Posts: 1867


Feb. 14, 2007 - Bohol Beach Club, Lunch Date

asianfairy
International Moderator
Devoted Bol-anon


Rating: +93/-4
[Applaud]
Posts: 1025


I'm wearing d nice scarf from Willmerit.

Bambi
International Moderator
Die-hard Bol-anon


Rating: +88/-9
[Applaud]
Posts: 3097


Bambi relaxing with Billy the cat


   

 
   

Ate, everyone have "applaud" on it.  no difference. 

BlueAngel
International Moderator
Devoted Bol-anon


Rating: +36/-0
[Applaud]
Posts: 1874



Winter Sunshine, hallo TB family


   

you're the only one with -0 (negative zero).  Is there's such thing as negative sign with zero?

your "Winter Sunshine, hallo TB family" is in the middle between your avatar and the 3 icons at the bottom.

you have the lowest Rating: +36/-0 with 5 stars

dark/black spot bottom right corner.

I see man with mustache

okay, here's another: naka tindog ug taas an avator nimo amo dili.

5 signs she’s into you
By Chelsea Kaplan

Let’s be honest: Sometimes it’s tough to tell if your date’s just being nice, or if she’s really into you. So if you need help sussing out your lady love’s true feelings, check out these pointers from Greg Hartley, former Army Special Forces interrogator and author of I Can Read You Like a Book: How to Spot the Messages and Emotions People Are Really Sending With Their Body Language. Who knew your date’s smile, complexion and even where she places her handbag can reveal whether she considers you friend or boyfriend material?

Five signs your date is into you…

1. She tilts her head
“When a woman sees and feels especially comfortable with a man, she will tilt her head,” Hartley says. A tilt in any direction â€" right, left or down â€" are all signs that she’s interested in getting to know you betterâ€"say, over another date.

2. She takes a sip when you take a sip
When a woman is drawn to a guy, she’ll instinctively mirror his actions, Hartley says. While men do this, too, women are more likely than men to first begin the copying. What should you look for? “You might notice she will shift her body in the same direction as yours or take your lead for behavior changes like picking up a glass to drink or blinking her eyes repeatedly if you’re doing so,” he suggests. If you want to test her, lean forward and see if she comes closer, too.

3. She twirls her hair
Since the beginning of time, a woman’s hair has been celebrated as a symbol of her sexuality (does the story of Samson and Delilah ring a bell?). And it’s true today, says Hartley: If your date begins twirling or playing with her hair while talking to you, it is a good sign she’s into you and subconsciously trying to attract you.

4. She gets a glow
While blushing often means embarrassment, don’t assume that her rosy cheeks are an indication of discomfort. When a woman is sexually aroused and attracted, blood flows not only to her nether regions, but also to her face, which causes her cheeks to get redder, Hartley explains. And if your date is smitten, he adds, her lips and even eyelids will get fuller, too, he says.

5. Her pupils dilate
While your gaze is fixed on her, pay particular attention to her pupils, advises Hartley. “When a woman is attracted to a man, her pupils will dilate,” he notes. “Essentially, the body does this in order to allow itself to take in more of a good thing.”

…and five signs your date is not into you

1. She crosses her arms
Did she assume the angry librarian stance? “When a woman on a date places her hands in front of her body â€" especially if they are crossed â€" she is closing herself off from the man,” Hartley notes. If you get this red flag, you don’t stand a chance… and she wants you to know it. “Men are not nearly as perceptive as women, so even if she’s not consciously aware of it, a woman knows her body language needs to be very loud,” Hartley explains. “In this instance, that body language reads loud and clear.”

2. She places her bag between your two
“When I ask male friends how a blind date went, step-by-step, and they say‘she put her bag on the table,’ I always know that’s a bad sign,” Hartley says. If your date places her purse â€" a real and physical barrier â€" between you two, she’s showing she wants to create distance, he says. Not a good sign.

3. She speaks faster than an auctioneer
So she seems to love talking to you? Before you break open the bubbly, note the speed of her small talk. “Romantic conversation does not occur at the same speed as business conversation,” Hartley says. “Conversation between two people who are attracted typically slows to about three-quarter speed and softens. In fact, most emotional conversation â€" with the exception of very hostile conversation â€" is at a slowed cadence.” That said, she may be nervous early in your first date, and her nerves can cause her to spit her sentences out rapid-fire. But if by the end of the evening she’s still going at a rapid rate, consider it a clue that she just wants to be friends at best.

4. She offers you a chin-up smile
Though it’s tempting to interpret any old smile as a sign of interest, all smiles are not created equal. Smiles can say a lotâ€" “I’m polite,” “I’m crazy about you,” and, believe it or not, “I can’t stand you.” The secret to decoding what her smile really means? It’s all in the chin placement. A woman who gives you a relaxed, chin-down “soft smile” is smitten and wants you to dig her back, Hartley explains. A full-on toothpaste grin or stiff and polite smile â€" both of which generally involve the chin raised up â€" mean either “I like you as a friend” or “I wanna get out of here!”

5. She strokes her neck
If your date’s telling you she agrees that you should get together again, that’s a good sign, right? Maybe, says Hartley. “Her body language may be the key to the real truth,” he says. “If a woman is gently stroking her neck when telling you this, it may be a sign that she’s interested, but it is also known to be a sign of lying.” To figuring out which message she’s sending, consider the aforementioned “she’s not into you” signals. If she’s also giving you the raised-chin smile and speaking to you over a giant purse, you may want to move on to your next prospect.

Chelsea Kaplan is deputy editor of www.thefamilygroove.com and regularly appears as a guest on XM Radio’s “Broadminded.” Her blog, “I’m Somebody’s Mother?” can be found at www.chelseakaplan.com. For the other side of this story, read 5 signs he’s into you.

source: msn.com

I am not giving up ..how about you are the only with nature photo: cloud, trees, sun AND moon etc.. avatar.

Quote from: bol-anon_ko on February 16, 2008, 02:45:00 AM
ehehe nakatawa lang ko sa term ni sea princess nga mixed breed.. reminds me of my aunts dog nga mixed breed sad.. shitzu ug unsa to isa.. ahaha

he! he! he! hahahhaha! ...mix breed.

Flying or running horse or horse with two wings raised up and a devil's fork or close visual effect.  Mao ba ni, Ate?
Also I see a rabbit or a dog behind this horse.

she looks like mixed breed .. don't you think so?

Where's the PURE boholano/nas beauty?

This is really a good start, Kuya.  Why not add our public high schools?

Hello Fortune,

Communication and follow-up is the key to making reservations in Bohol. 

For one, you are right, they (or Mrs. Dy) may not have had any experience regarding your needs. Your experience  in Bohol (Philippines) and my experiences elsewhere in Europe, the U.S.A and other countries will happen from time to time. I really think it has nothing to do with "English" language, it's the experience or say "lack of" by the hotel's part.  I know this is really frustrated, been there, done that! so many times.

I am glad Mrs Dy will correct her mistake and take care of you by Monday.  Rectifying her mistake is a good start to good communication & service.

HotelTravel.com is another reasonable site you can take a look and compare Hotel & Resorts in Panglao Island.  I really like this website because it gives feedback from passed vacationers.  Here's the link:  http://www.hoteltravel.com/search/search.aspx

I read that you want to know more about Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa.  Here's the Link:  http://www.eskayabeach.com/home.html
Their Audio Video Presentation and photos will give you an outlook of their resort.  Room and pricing is also available on site.  I have not been here but by glancing at their website video presentation I might consider it in the near future.

So, you own a travel agency ... share your business travel website address with us TB members. 

Good Luck!

The truth will come out!

SEOUL (Reuters) - Valentines Day in South Korea means chocolates, romantic dinners and a high-tech mobile phone device that can secretly check the passion in the voice of a lover.

The "Love Detector" service from mobile operator KTF uses technology that is supposed to analyze voice patterns to see if a lover is speaking honestly and with affection.

"We created this service because we thought people would want to know what others were feeling about them," said Ahn Hee-jung, a KTF official.

Users who speak by pointing their mobile phones at themselves for video conferences can see a "love meter" bar on the screen of their handset during a conversation.

They later receive an analysis of the conversation delivered through text message that breaks down the amount of affection, surprise, concentration and honesty of the other speaker.

The service costs subscribers a flat fee of 1,500 won ($1.59) a month for unlimited use or can be accessed at 300 won for each call, KTF said.

"The caller is paying the money, so the information is provided only to him or her," said Ahn.

(Reporting by Lee Jiyeon; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by David Fogarty)

Fortune said: "renting the entire resort" and with possible first class service. You get what you paid for.  Right, $15,000.00/day (in DOLLARS) in a resort is too darn expensive. I can buy a beach for that price in Bohol.   There are other alternatives.

Hello Ate G.  I am doing good, Ate.  Happy Valentine's Day to you, too.  Thanks. 

Quote from: fortune on February 14, 2008, 07:51:21 PM
They did not answer my email so I called. It will cost about $15,000 for 1 day. For the whole resort. Not bad. Just MAYBE, I can afford it.

Hey Fortune, If you're planning to reserve the entire resort and money is not an issue try:  http://www.flushingmeadows.com.ph/ in Dauis, Panglao.  I booked my entire family for couple of days with their excellent service, food, pool, and beach, thou the rooms are okay, it was worth every penny.  And if you're lucky, you might be having lunch in the same room with movie stars or politician having lunch or staying for R&R.  It's very private, no hassle and the people who work there are really nice. The sunset view while swimming in there negative edge pool with champaign on hand is to die for.  Give it a try.

I know it's a hassle reserving rooms, especially the entire hotel but it's all worth it, once you are there.  They really response well when I made my reservation but reserve as soon as possible because they are busy during high season.  Good luck!

I took these photos while I was there with my family.

Link:  http://www.flushingmeadows.com.ph/

You are their blessing .. wonderful.

sa mga karaan diay gi gamit ang lapok sa dagat

Hello Kuya Jun,

I hope you have a good memory of me.  My Mom lives in Stockton, California, just 1 to 2 hours drive from Union City and I live in Arizona. 

Kuya, when you are ready I will be happy to donate for a good cause.

Speaking of donation.

Several Andahanons are actively and/or generous donate money to our local scholarship program.  Our scholarship program consist of 3 public high schools such as Candabong High School, Anda High School and Badiang High School, totaling 15 children who are in needs of help paying for their yearly school expenses. We are now in our upcoming third year program. 

Kuya, every centavo counts when it come to our scholarship program.  I am inviting you, your family and your friends to donate for a good cause.  These 15 students need our help.

Below are link to our Yahoo! Group.  You can view our discussions, financial statements, etc… and more.   

To join our group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andaboholorg/

Link below will provide details of our 15 Scholars and meeting discussions I held while I visited these 3 high schools last year. 

http://andascholarsprogram.blogspot.com/

I hope you will join us.

Thanks.

Margie

Hi ms da binsi, try going to this site:  http://movies.go.com/
This should give you some ideas.

Hello Kuya Jun.  Yes, you are right.  My Auntie Narda was the local barber at that time.  I bagely remember Daisy and Mardy though I left Anda at the age of 8 years old (at around 1978 or '79).  When I went home early last year I spoke to Amy on the phone, sadly, we didn't get a chance to see each other because she was too busy working in Cebu. Sos! Amy and I arang ka laagan kaayo sa gamay pa mi nangitom lagi ug kaligo sa dagat.
Reyboy is in Michigan according to Nang Pema. Where is your Mama residing? Union City as in California, U.S.A? 

There you have it! It's a small world after all.

Kuya junayag,  You were in Anda back in the seventies because I remember Cording Makinano and Boy Amora, Anda's Mayor at that time.  I know Naneth Amora gamay pa cya saona.  Amy (Stella's sister) was my best childhood friend back then.  Our house is the 4th (I think) one down the corner, across sila mga Castro. Kuya, I remember the Kabataang Barangay pero I don't really know about it because I moved out of Anda in 1978 or '79.  Do you still remember akong Auntie Meling, nanay ni Art, Rick and Jun Visaya?  Yes, ako si Margie.

Kuya junayag,  Asa man ka sa Anda dapit basig kaila ko nimo? kay kaila man ko sila mga Deligero sa Poblacion.

Is there an ending to this bloodbath?!!  Enough already, Mr. President!


NEW YORK - The U.S. military said five soldiers were killed Friday in two separate incidents in Iraq.

Four soldiers died when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while the troops were on a combat patrol northwest of Baghdad, the military said.

In violence near Tikrit, another soldier and killed and three others wounded in an explosion near their vehicle as thy carried out operations in Tamim province, the military said in a statement.

The wounded soldiers were transported to a coalition medical facility for treatment.

No other information on the attacks was immediately released, and names of the casualties were being withheld pending family notification.

Source:  Yahoo! News

bi*chy when I am hungry. I gotta eat!

Hillary!!!  Hillary & Obama = winning ticket.

False.  It's Friday evening ... enjoying quite family night at home.

Next person to post can't wait to celebrate Valentine's Day with someone "special".

I met my husband while I was partying celebrating with my friends on my 31st birthday at a dance club in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Still celebrating our marriage everyday.

[Made YOU look!!!

Here's the real heading:


"Half of U.K. men would swap sex for 50-inch TV" Survey found that only a third of women would make the same trade.

For other men, please don't drink England's water.  That's right, I'm blaming it on their water ..yeah, that's it, water!

Here's the complete article:
Half of U.K. men would swap sex for 50-inch TV
Survey found that only a third of women would make the same trade
Electrical retailer Comet surveyed 2,000 British men, asking if they'd be willing to swap sex for six months in exchange for a 50-inch plasma TV. While 47 percent of men said yes, only a third of women did.

LONDON - Nearly half of British men surveyed would give up sex for six months in return for a 50-inch plasma TV, a survey â€" perhaps unsurprisingly carried out for a firm selling televisions â€" said on Friday.

Electrical retailer Comet surveyed 2,000 Britons, asking them what they would give up for a large television, one of the latest consumer “must-haves.”

The firm found 47 percent of m
en would give up sex for half a year, compared to just over a third of women.

“It seems that size really does matter more for men than women,” the firm said.

A quarter of people said they would give up smoking, with roughly the same proportion willing to give up chocolate.


Source:  MSNBC.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will phase out incandescent bulbs by 2010 in favor of more energy-efficient fluorescent globes to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and household costs, the president said Tuesday.
 
Acknowledging similar moves in Canada and Australia, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called for a ban on incandescent bulbs.

"Like Australia, we should phase out incandescent lights by 2010," Arroyo said in her closing remarks at the Philippine Energy Summit.

The Asian Development Bank, a technical adviser at the summit, lauded the Philippine plan as a first in Asia. It said the most effective way to reduce the demand for electricity and greenhouse gases was to use energy more efficiently.

The bank "will support and encourage other developing countries to follow the Government of Philippines' lead and make the switch to more energy-efficient products like compact fluorescent lamps," Thomas Crouch, deputy director general of ADB's Southeast Asia Department said in a statement.

The Manila-based development bank said it was considering extending a $30 million loan to the Philippines to help fund energy-efficiency programs, including projects for low-income families to mitigate the financial impact of changing from incandescent globes to the more expensive fluorescent alternative.

Fluorescent bulbs need just 20 percent of the electricity that incandescent bulbs use to produce the same amount of light. They also last six to ten times longer than the average incandescent bulb.

The Asian Development Bank said the switch would cut household lighting costs by as much as 80 percent and â€" because the amount of electricity used would be drastically lower â€" reduce the Philippines' annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2.2 million tons starting in 2010.

Three years ago, Cuban government workers went door to door in many neighborhoods replacing incandescent light bulbs with more-efficient alternatives to counter crippling energy blackouts across the island. The scheme inspired Venezuela to give away energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs.

Source:  Yahoo! News
             

Well, if this is true .. than, I should have some great skin by now.  I fuel myself with coffee in the morning and sometimes during the afternoon. Hmm.

Give your friend a "mint" candy and graciously say: " This mint candy helps eliminate bad breath, ... I have one this morning" and hopefully your friend will get the hint. If all fails, tell the truth.

Quote from: 1997fordf150 on January 29, 2008, 10:43:07 AM
I must say these Google ads are somewhat tacky, selling filipina mail order brides. I would think that they would not be shown here.

I don't think "selling filipina mail order brides"  is the right words to use ... dating service(s) is.

Absolutely NOT!  Your heart will but not your mind.    Love and loyalty to one another is the two of several keys to happy marriage.

Take her to Anda to get away from all the crazy-ness in Awfullywood. 

Hey! I know these two Geishas ..hello Tita S and Ms. A.

Quote from: Kyle828 on January 26, 2008, 12:10:14 PM
If I am not playing with my Wii, I played my Nintendo DS Lite with my Mom. Dad bought her a Nintendog and we like to play the my word coach, flash focus and brain age 2. Nintendo DS Lite is a very fun game because we can chat too.

Try Yoshi's Island, my daughter's favorite game.

Tomb Raider Anniversary is great for much, much older children because they can control better by using the Nunchuk and it does have violent contents on its game. Much practice, I can navigate Lara through the mountain, caves and fight the bad guys with guns, jump, run and more.


Super Mario Galaxy is much better games for much younger children for easy control of Nunchuk and no violent contents. 

Otherwise, I like both games as a collection.

 I don't trust majority of the people in politics, Philippines (Bohol) politics. Take care, Sir M.

My daughter likes baseball and tennis game.  My Mom loves bowling which she was playing every night while she was here visiting for the holidays.  I, myself enjoy planning tennis, as a form of exercise.  I recently bought Tomb Raider Anniversary, which I think my daughter is too young to play the game.  I also bought Super Mario Galaxy which she enjoys playing along with the Wii Sports.

"Trauma Center", which I have not seen in stores but I will keep my eyes open. Thanks.

I just wish they are not expensive:  $49.00 per game. Ouch!

You are right.  I wanted "active" games for my daughter. We love it!

In searched for Wii.

… Frantic searched for Wii before Christmas I called and spoke to my family and friends to keep their ears and eyes wide open for Wii.  My daughter and more so for me too, wanted a Wii game for Christmas.  Christmas Eve comes around with no Wii in site under my tree; I am now desperate to get one because it was the only gift I was to give to my 7 year old daughter.  Christmas Eve, at 10:30pm I had my immediate family circle to go out and shop around … with no luck. 

Then, I remember, my best friend who lives near by (we live in Arizona) went to California to be with her family for Christmas.  So I called her and ask if all her nieces and nephews can get their hands on Wii to purchase.  Luckily, one nephew’s good friend is the manager for Best Buy, an electronic store, had one reserved for him to buy, was nice enough to give it up for my daughter. 

We received our Wii two days later … and until today we still keep on playing the game. 

Apparently, I was not the only one who was searching for Wii game for Christmas.  Continue reading below, a column I read from Kristin Kalning, Game Editor for MSNBC.



Readers respond: How to catch a Wii

Some of you were persistent. Some of you were lucky. Some just gave up

By Kristin Kalning
Games editor
MSNBC
updated 3:28 p.m. MT, Thurs., Jan. 24, 2008

Some of you will go to great lengths to catch a Wii.

In response to my last column, I received hundreds of e-mails from readers eager to share Wii-hunting stories. Some of you stood outside big-box stores in the pre-dawn hours. Some of you called retailers every day for months, checking on shipments. Some of you got lucky. And some of you gave up.

“I tried to buy a Wii for my three nephews, Couldn’t, so I bought them a PS3,” wrote Bob Lobsiger, of Omaha, Neb  “Cost me double. Wii’s loss, Sony’s gain. Stupid on the part of Nintendo. There should have been ample Wiis for the holidays.”

Russ Fleenor, of Roanoke, Va., doesn’t buy that there was a shortage at all. “I finally realized that the entire holiday Wii shortage was a manufactured marketing ploy on Nintendo's part,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I bought my sons an Xbox 360 and a PS3. I will not buy a Wii.”

Some of you had an inside track, like Jan Burke. “I scored a Wii on Christmas Eve, but only because my daughter works for Best Buy and called me to let me know they had gotten some in.”

One reader found that it paid to go right to the source. “I was recovering from surgery in February and wanted one to aid in slowly increasing my level of activity and my recovery and could not find one anywhere,” wrote Gayle Topolinicki of Pine Island, Minn.

“I finally emailed Nintendo, explaining and asking for suggestions on where to get a Wii. Nintendo  called me several days later, said they wanted to help and sold me a Wii over the telephone. It arrived three days later! God bless Nintendo!”

Ed Deleon, of Ontario, Canada, got no help from Nintendo â€" but he did snag a Wii. Deleon and several dozen hardy folks lined up outside a store at 4:00 a.m. on Dec. 14. And by the time the store opened, he’d met everyone in line â€" and procured a coveted console.

Deleon managed to keep a sense of humor about his adventure. “Breakfast at McDonald’s: $8.00. One Nintendo Wii: $269.99. Waiting in line to get the Wii for five hours in sub-zero temperatures … priceless,” he wrote in an e-mail. “There are some things money can’t buy, for everything else, Santa gets the credit!”

Alisha Perry, of Las Vegas, said that she started looking in October for a Wii â€" and had to call about 80 stores to find one.

“I found it at Target and the operator who answered the phone when I called said, ‘We had four left this morning, get here now.’ So I dropped everything and went as quickly as possible; when I arrived they had two left!” she wrote. “I realize that they are very hard to find but I believe if you are persistent and patient enough, you will get one!”

It doesn’t hurt if you’re halfway around the world, either. Tiffiny Kaszuba, of Omaha, wrote that she had given up finding a Wii â€" but her husband, a Navy reservist stationed in Iraq, managed to find one.

“Today my husband calls me from Falluja  … they had eight Wiis in their PX for $249 and no tax,” she said. “He has to mail it home still. So I hope the post office doesn't lose it.”

Many of you attributed your Wii wins to good luck â€" and good timing. Anthony Lower, a reader from Philadelphia, had given up his 6-month search, which included haunting local stores and monitoring the Wii-inventory sites. Right after Thanksgiving, his luck changed.

“While in the store, I browsed my way to the back of the store and heard an overhead announcement ‘Would the customer who is buying the Nintendo Wii, please come to customer service.’  I was off like a shot, jumping over grandmas examining towels and dodging guys trying out weight machines,” he wrote in an e-mail.

When he found out the store had five machines left, Lower says he “pushed away the evil capitalistic instinct to buy all five and put them on e-Bay (and thereby making the situation I endured worse for others), and just bought the one.”

Speaking of evil capitalistic urges, Amy Cummins had strong words for profiteering Wii-sellers: “I just hope there's some sort of Christmas karma that comes back to haunt all of those people who were selling Wiis at twice their retail price on eBay,” she wrote in an e-mail.

But a few readers chose to ignore any Grinchy urges, like Todd Cone. He was in his local Target, shopping for nothing in particular, when he saw one Wii on the shelf.

“I examined the box through the glass, but, having never even seen a Wii before, I wasn’t sure what I was seeing. I asked the clerk ‘Is that a Wii?’ Immediately, everyone near me almost got whiplash they turned so fast,” he wrote in an e-mail.

But Cone didn’t keep the Wii for himself. “I called a very good friend who had been frantically looking for a Wii for her 8-year-old son. Despite efforts to dissuade him, a Wii was the only present he wanted from Santa,” he wrote. “I invited her to lunch the next day and presented her with the Wii. She broke down and cried.”

Interesting vision.

I hope after the Election the value is on the upward direction.

Now we know why ..but don't let this beach beauty fools you.  Beyond the boundaries of Resorts and white beaches of Boracay it shows the reality of poverty and the very poor.


Boracay beach

I agree.

Tight budget is the key to overseas travel with U.S. Dollars on a decline assessment value.  According to Forex exchange rate for today is P40.723000 = US$ 1.00 as of 6:00 pm Jan. 16, 2008. 

MANILA, Philippines - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has downgraded Philippine airline operations and put them under heightened scrutiny because of their inadequate safety standards, the U.S. Embassy said Tuesday.

The decision gives the Philippines a Category 2 rating along with countries such as Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia. It means Philippine carriers can continue flying to the U.S. but only "under heightened FAA surveillance," the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy also advised Americans flying to and from the Philippines to use carriers from countries whose civil aviation authorities meet international standards.

Only one of the country's carriers, Philippine Airlines, currently flies to the U.S. FAA rules stipulate that airlines from the Philippines cannot expand services to the United States under a Category 2 rating.

The FAA informed the Philippine government it has "serious concerns" about the oversight of Philippine air operations, which it said did not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization safety standards.

A spokesman for the Philippine Transport Department, Thompson Lantion, did not dispute the downgrade and said his department would conduct an in-house investigation to determine the shortcomings and fix them.

He said it the Philippine Congress must pass proposed legislation to create a Civil Aviation Authority to help modernize the country's system, and must secure more funds for safety and aircraft maintenance.

Both houses of the Philippine Congress have already approved the bill, but it still needs to be ratified in a joint session and signed by the president.

The head of the Air Transportation Office, Daniel Dimagiba, told the Business Mirror newspaper that his annual budget of $32 million was spent mostly on salaries and operating expenses. He said the office would need at least another $24 million to upgrade navigational equipment and communications â€" money that would become available when the CAA is set up.

On its Web site, the FAA says the Category 2 rating means the country lacks laws or regulations needed for the certification and oversight of airlines under minimum international standards.

Philippine Airlines President Jaime Bautista said the downgrade dampened hopes of increasing its 33 flights a week to the U.S. Also affected will be the delivery of six new Boeing 777-300ER airplanes ordered by the airline, he said.

He said the FAA rating does not reflect on the airline itself, but is an assessment of the government's compliance with international safety rules.

Source:  Yahoo! News
By HRVOJE HRANJSKI, Associated Press Writer

Natural beauty ba ni sila or Augmentation?

Can this be true?

Kris Aquino


Susan Roces


Maui Taylor


Jonalyn Viray
Winner of Pinoy Pop Superstar


Regine Velasquez

I agree. We have the mass and educated Filipinos who can do the job provided with proper training.  Certainly, we can compete with India on education, friendliness, and English proficiency.

All we need is the experts and investors who are willing to invest in Bohol.

Conde Nast Traveler picks Palawan
The Manila Times

Palawan was voted as the tourist destination with the Best Beaches in Asia by American magazine Conde Nast Traveler in its Great Asian Beach Finder review. In addition to underwater rivers and impressive coral formations, the province was cited for its powdery beaches, charming coves and interesting islets.

Conde Nast Traveler is one of the pioneering and most respected tourism publications in the world, catering to high-end luxury tourists and adventure seekers.

“Palawan is undoubtedly one of the Philippines’ prized jewels. This achievement validates the collaborative efforts of the department, the local government and the private sector in preserving and promoting the country’s nature attractions,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, when he learned about the good news.

For Conde Nast Traveler, the beaches of Palawan bested other first-rate destinations in the Asian region including Beach No. 7 on Havelock Island, India; the Nihiwatu Beach in Indonesia; and the Laem Tong Bay in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, which was made famous by the Hollywood movie The Beach when it was picked as the principal location for the film. Palawan also bested the shores of Baa, North Ari and North Male Atolls in Maldives.

Among the Palawan attractions cited was the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, located southeast of Puerto Princesa. The ecosystem is made up of two atolls that lie on a line of extinct underwater volcanoes and is a sanctuary for marine life. The publication also noted the St. Paul Subterranean River, which boasts of nature-made limestone sculptures. Both the reef and the underground river are listed under the World Heritage Sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

Conde Nast Traveler further explored the wonders of the Miniloc Island Resort and the world-famous private resort of Amanpulo.

Source:  Yehey.com

Holiday style
By: Dinna Chan Vasquez | Manila Standard

This season, it’s all about smart, stylish and party-ready outfits.

Shangri-La Plaza unveiled its holiday silhouettes in a fashion show directed by Jackie Aquino and featuring over 20 Philippine and international brands.

For day, the look is full of attitude with skinny dark jeans, wide-legged trousers, belted skirts, short shifts, jackets and pullovers and crisp shirts.

For night, it’s all about dazzle and shine.

Ben Sherman showed a bold palette of red and blue jackets worn over crisp shirts while Memo presented a collection of ensembles perfect for corporate day wear and company parties.

For Gas, Diesel, Esprit, Marithe Francois Girbaud, Tough Jeansmith and 7 for All Mankind, it was about jeans in dark washes. There were lots of layers, long jackets, slim pants, hoodies and separates. Most of the casual clothes were in earth tones, blues and blacks but Esprit showed that it’s really a brand for the free spirit with checks and strips not only on the garments but even on the accessories.

Marks and Spencer presented smart separates like skirts, culoottes and sweaters for a timeless look.

Smart suits for men was Bergamo’s fashion statements. The suits were worn with scarves. Jackets were longer while trench coats were belted.

Fun brand T-Box showed travel-perfect crinkled fabrics in lots of textures and wonderful color combinations such as red and teal and brown and turquoise.

Fashionista favorite Zara was very European with blacks, whites and silvers. The Spanish brand had its own take on the equestrian look with trousers tucked into knee-high boots. Opaque tights were worn with dresses and patent leather heels.

Paul Smith made a sartorial statement with pinstripes. The silhouette was slim from the sleeveless tops and vests to the polo dresses.

Rustan’s celebrated femininity in the colors gold, white and black with ruffles, ribbons and lace from Culte Femme, Red and Luna.

Mico by Mia Urquico presented long taffeta skirts in jewel tones worn with crisp black blouses.

Felicity had gowns in different shades of blue worn with the brand’s dazzling charms and tickets.

It was classic and preppy looks at Debenham’s, which wowed the crowd with a silver mini while Daniel Hechter had bonnets and scarves for men in grays, blues, russets and browns-perfect for the chilly weather.

K & Co. paid homage to the East with short shifts in rich fabrics. The dresses had big bow accents and were worn with long scarves.

Celine dedicated its collection to the cocktail hour with fun dresses in silver, black and brown while The Ramp at Crossings showed outfits in jewel tones with metallic accents.

British India stayed true to its signature boho look with drawstring pants and exquisite long skirts.

For accessories, it was all about smart heels for women square-toed dress shoes hip and trainers for men from Cole Haan, Pazzion and Ecco.

Bags were big, roomy and definitely not cloudy. Kate Spade had totes in red and brown while Lancel showed details like chains. It was also big at Fino Leatherware with bags in different colors such as red, black, beige, green and brown. La’ Bagagerie shoved smart carry-ons that would be perfect for that weekend getaway.

Ama Pashinira’s signature shawls had details like tassels and fringes. The brand also presented smart capes that would look great with jeans and trousers on chilly nights.

The different collections showed that there are really no rules when it comes to dressing up. One could only wish for colder weather to be able to wear Tough Jeansmith’s Eskimo-inspired hoodies with fur trim or Ben Sherman’s slim and sexy jackets.

The collections captured the vibe of urban chic and showed us that the holidays are, after all, about celebrations.

Source:  Yehey.com

Exotic Filipina's point of view: Relationship with a Foreigner
By: C. Louise Sienes

If you asked me years ago exactly what I thought about relationships between a Filipina and a foreigner I probably would have given a different answer. And you probably wouldn't have liked what I had to say. Now, it can be told and I must admit that, yes, once upon a time in my life, I had frowned upon such relationships and found myself thinking that I couldn't possibly get into something like that. And, if I did, I'd have to be either desperate or simply out of my mind.

Not because I had been harboring anti-foreigner feelings. It wasn't that. Race has never been an issue and never will be an issue for me. I just never entertained the possibility of getting involved with a foreigner -- much less envisioned it would happen to me. Why not? For the simple reason that I wasn't in the market for a man. I wasn't even looking, believing love would come at the right time and not something that is actively sought after or relentlessly pursued.

Of course, for someone who considers herself old-fashioned and a true-blue romantic, for me, love had to come with all the fancy trimmings -- magic in the air and the unexplainable rush of emotions running riot in the heart, sending the senses reeling. I guess, for me, love has to be an important ingredient in a relationship because I had never been the kind who would get into a relationship all for the sake of having one. There'd be no point in getting involved with someone or even marrying if not for love.

But, besides this and the fact that I'd been riding high on the wings of a dream and basically trying to carve my own career path, one of the biggest reasons why I shunned the idea of inter-racial relationships was the usual impression or public perception or even stigma attached to exotic Filipinas involved with foreign men.

And the stigma? That Filipinas involved with or marrying foreigners are only after one thing -- greener pastures in the good old US of A or any western country! Thus formed the basis for long-standing jokes about what to look for in a future partner: someone who has the "4 M factors" or Matandang Mayaman, Madaling Mamatay (Old, Rich, and Soon to die). If not that, then someone who has "CAR-acter & PESO-nality". So, why should every Filipina who has what it takes to make it in life want to become the object of such unpleasant public perception? No way, I thought. Not me. No, Sir. Not me. Never.

But life is full of surprises. More often than not, things just have a way of showing up in your life when you least expect them and the next thing you know, WHAM! You've just been hit between the eyes. Which was exactly what happened to me a few years ago. I hadn't really sworn off men then but I didn't exactly relish the thought of finding one via an online "friend-finder" club. I thought it was cheap. Forgive me, but that was how I felt THEN.

Friends thought I was too serious with life and was "all work and no play". So, after all of their efforts were met by my usual "WHEN-I'M-GOOD-AND-READY-I'LL-ASK-YOU-TO-FIND-ME-A-MAN" retort for several
torturing months, I finally surrendered in exasperation just so they'd stop pestering me about it.

To make the long story short, I found love when I wasn't looking for it, from the last place on earth I'd thought of finding it, and with someone I never dreamed I'd find it with -- a foreigner. Of course, love didn't happen right then and there but the "connection" was instant. I had only met him and yet it felt as though I'd known him all my life. It was as if I'd been created for him, and he, for me and we were two souls fated to meet. It was...... destiny.

Then came the nagging thought of what people would say about "my destiny". What would my family say? What would my friends and colleagues think? That I was so desperate for a man I had resorted to acquiring one through the internet? That I was no different from those who went for relationships or marriages of convenience?

But then I reminded myself that I already knew what the common perception was on exotic Filipina-foreigner dating even before I met my foreign boyfriend and so, no matter if I had no other reasons for getting involved with him other than that I truly loved him, the world would still choose to believe the worst. I told myself that as long as I'm happy and my conscience is clear, the whole world can believe whatever they want. I couldn't care less.

Source:  Yehey.com

Denim Glam
The Manila Times


Denims have gone a long way since it emerged during the California Gold Rush in the 1800s. Since that time, denims have partied with American GI’s during World War II, gained anti-establishment status in the 1960s and 1970s, and reached its peak in the 1980s when Brooke Shields declared that nothing came between her and her Calvin Klein’s.

While denims have long been associated with rugged dressing, we are now also seeing their glam side today at SM. In fact, wearing denims like its haute couture is the fashion statement of the 21st century. Think of ultimate party girl Paris Hilton in her itsy bitsy denim miniskirts, red-carpet stunner Cameron Diaz and her closet full of high-end denims. Here are some ways to glam it up with denims from SM:



Pure Jean-ious. There’s nothing like a well cut pair of jeans to make you stand out in the crowd. You’ll never go wrong with a flattering pair of boot cut jeans or flair cut jeans. For a sexier silhouette, go skinny-with a pair of ankle length or cropped skinny jeans.


Jacket Required. The denim jacket goes uptown when paired with luxe evening dresses in soft chiffon and shiny metallics.


Best of the West. Borrowed from the boys, the denim vest is a great way to layer any outfit. They’re great for the rock couture look of the season when paired with poufy or slim fitting tops.


Jumpstarting. Denim jumpers have gone a long way from the handyman’s wardrobe. Today’s jumpers are curve hugging, cropped and cuffed, and can walk the red carpet with a pair of sexy, strappy heel sandals.


Skirting the Issue. The denim skirt is a fashionista’s best friend because it’s stylish and comfortable. Pairing it with dressy tops and bling elements will make you look so polished you can take it out to dinner or a movie preem.


The Short Story. Go for the glitz and pair denim shorts with a sexy dramatic top and a pair of killer stilettos.

The collection is available at the Ladies Wear Department of all SM stores.

Source:  Yehey.com

Woman gets $500,000 in church abuse case
Victim was preyed on by Roman Catholic priests; had baby with one


updated 3:18 a.m. MT, Wed., Dec. 5, 2007

LOS ANGELES - A woman who was sexually abused by seven Roman Catholic priests and had a baby by one of them received a $500,000 settlement from America's largest archdiocese.

Rita Milla, now 46, first filed her case in 1984 after she says she was abused as a teenager by priests in the Los Angeles area. The payment was part of a $660 million global settlement the diocese reached collectively with past abuse victims.

"I'll never escape the memories and I'll always be fighting the after effects of the trauma I went through, but now I can work on healing," Milla said Tuesday at a news conference.

A state court found in 2003 that priest Valentine Tugade fathered Milla's daughter, now 25. And another priest, Santiago Tamayo, admitted he had sex with Milla and publicly apologized years before his death in 1999.

Diocese refused to comment
The diocese refused to comment on Milla's case, referring questions to a statement by Cardinal Roger Mahony. The whereabouts of the remaining priests were unclear.

"We will continue our long-standing efforts to protect children, prevent sexual abuse and the potential for abuse," Cardinal Roger Mahony said in a statement.

Milla has maintained that she was molested by Tamayo at a church in Carson when she was 16. After she turned 18, she says, she had sexual intercourse with Tamayo and he introduced her to six other priests who also abused her.

After she was impregnated in 1982 by Tugade at a Los Angeles-area church, Milla said, Tamayo suggested that she get an abortion, then devised a plan to send her to the Philippines to have the child.

Milla returned to California after giving birth to her daughter, Jacqueline, and pleaded with the archdiocese for help but was refused. On the day Milla sued 23 years ago, all seven of the accused priests disappeared from the their parish offices, said her attorney, Gloria Allred.

Went to Philippines
Tamayo later went to the Philippines. In 2004, Allred released documents showing the church urged Tamayo to stay in that country after Jacqueline's birth and mailed him checks.

In three letters, church officials advised him not to reveal the source of the payments "unless requested under oath," noting that he was "liable for personal suits arising out of your past actions."

Milla, now a medical assistant who lives in southern Los Angeles County, said that she has not spoken with Tugade since shortly after her return from the Philippines.

Tugade, who was last known to be living in Fremont in Northern California, never expressed interest in caring for the child, she said.

"He was disappointed actually that she wasn't a boy," Milla said.

While she once planned to become a nun, Milla no longer believes in God. She said she lost her faith because of the church's callousness.

"I thought that the church would make everything OK, that they would punish them," she said. "After the church showed me that they didn't care about what happened, I realized what they were really about, that they were more like a business.

"They have no fear of God."

Source:  msnbc.com

blast'n my radio all the time.

It's all about apples, oranges and bananas.

I am disappointed with all of this, preciousNpolite.  What we do with our lives is our own prerogative. FYI ..the other side of the fence is NOT alway green and ATM sometimes comes with empty bank account.

So what! I like my Gucci ... my Burberry, ... Havainians and more, it's because we work hard for it and I deserved it. Oh, yeah I was legal way before I said "I do."

Inside my wallet! 

Hey, Santa! My Christmas tree is big enough for an Acura MDX.

 

King of Bling

How a poor boy from London's East End became the most exclusive diamond merchant you've never heard of.
British billionaire Laurence Graff, the man jewelry business insiders call the new Harry Winston, swears this story is true: A woman and her husband walk into Graff's shop on London's swanky New Bond Street and ask to see the stunning diamond-and-ruby necklace in the window. It's the woman's birthday and hubby wants to buy her a bauble. At $2 million, however, he feels the price is too steep. Instead he offers $1 million and exits the store, giving the jeweler 24 hours to cash the check. Later that day the lady returns with a second man, her lover. He, too, admires the necklace but finds the price too high. Another $1 million check is written and left on Graff's desk. The dapper jeweler, ever discreet and always the consummate salesman, breathes no word of the birthday girl's earlier visit to his store. Later she returns once more to scoop up her present, and presumably tells each of her benefactors that he has gotten a bargain from the jeweler. Graff cashes both checks.

It has the flavor of a very tall tale. Why does Graff tell it? It adds to the mystique and drama that define his business, the upper tier of jewelry retailing. The 69-year-old Laurence Graff climbed from scrubbing toilets in a Hatton Garden workshop to the helm of a worldwide brand with 15 stores in the globe's wealthiest spots, from Monte Carlo to Dubai to Moscow. Behind this retail chain is a wholesale buying operation: Graff Diamonds International is vertically integrated, taking stones from the rough shapes that come out of the mine to the display case. He sells stones of the greatest weight and highest quality and claims an average transaction price of $400,000. By that score he seems to easily surpass such classic outfits as Cartier, Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany (nyse: TIF - news - people ).

Graff knows how to cultivate his customers. He once sailed out to meet Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people )'s Larry Ellison, yacht to yacht, in the Mediterranean to deliver a cache of diamonds Ellison had requested. Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz, the Sultan and Queen of Brunei, Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Taylor, even soccer star David Beckham and wife, Victoria, all count themselves among Graff's longtime clients. Donald Trump bought Melania's 12-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Graff's Madison Avenue salon in 2004 for a reported $1 million. "Laurence is a spectacular jeweler," pronounces Trump. "The quality of his stones, the quality of the service and the reputation are the top."

Graff shares quite a few of Trump's traits: charming and outrageously self-promoting, blunt and full of braggadocio, obsessed with superlatives. (He is about to release a glossy $150 coffee table tome, about himself, entitled The Most Fabulous Jewels in the World.) "I'm a complete thoroughbred in the business," proclaims the trim, nattily attired jeweler (suits custom-made in Milan; monogrammed bespoke shirts), with no trace of irony.

Graff also possesses Trump's knack for making money. He's probably worth some $2.5 billion, including homes in Geneva (his legal residence), London, New York and Cap Ferrat in the south of France; a new 150-foot Feadship yacht; a Global Express XRS plane; a winery and vineyard in Stellenbosch, the Napa Valley of South Africa; and a modern and contemporary art collection worth $250 million.

To be sure, sellers of luxury goods--from yachts to art, watches and real estate--have had little trouble raking in fat profits since 2000, a period during which the affluent have been awash in money. Graff rode that luxury boom at his Graff Diamonds International (he owns 100%), where sales jumped from $90 million in 2000 to $400 million in 2006, while aftertax profit grew from $11 million to $48 million.

What distinguishes Graff from the likes of Cartier and Van Cleef is a decision he made a decade ago. Wanting to expand globally and needing a steady supply of diamonds, especially bigger stones, in 1998 he bought a 51% controlling stake in a Johannesburg diamond wholesaler and manufacturer, South African Diamond Corp. (Safdico). Other retailers buy and sell finished diamond jewelry. Graff's wholesale business allows him to cut out the usual middlemen--the brokers, polishers and manufacturers who each take their slice as a rough stone moves up the jewelry chain.

Through Safdico, Graff now buys half of his uncut diamonds from the South African mining behemoth De Beers (Safdico is one of 93 sightholders, or wholesalers who are permitted to buy rough diamonds from De Beers). On the manufacturing rung he employs 370 cutters and polishers in South Africa and Mauritius, who handle smaller goods, and 19 master craftsmen in Antwerp and New York, who work on the larger diamonds. He makes all his own jewelry, in his London and New York workshops. (De Beers has developed its own retail brand in conjunction with luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, but it's not competing with Graff at the highest end of the price spectrum.)

This pipeline is especially helpful to Graff with big stones, his specialty. Gross margins at branded jewelry retailers like Tiffany and Cartier hover at roughly 50% for diamonds up to around 5 carats. For bigger stones, where the per-carat price is much higher, those margins get squeezed below 20%. "When you sell a big stone worth $2 million or $3 million," explains diamond analyst Martin Rapaport, "you can't mark them up that high. The person buying that stone is going to be smart and a serious handler."

Indeed, on very large stones of 20 carats and up it may make sense for a jeweler to take no profit: The monster pieces draw attention to the brand. A 50-carat flawless diamond of the highest clarity might wholesale for $100,000 a carat, or $5 million, and sell at retail for not much more than that. There is still money to be made on the very large pieces, however, by someone who buys rough and takes on the labor and risks of chopping up the rock.

A publicly traded entity like Tiffany has to concern itself with inventory turnover; Graff cavalierly maintains a huge inventory of diamonds, with a retail value, he estimates, of $1.5 billion. The stockpile enables Graff to construct jewelry made up of multiple rare diamonds, like the $30 million necklace he sold late last year that could be worth 20% less if each of the diamonds were sold on its own.

These two factors--bulging inventory and vertical integration--help explain why Tiffany's net profit margin sits at 9.6% while Graff puts his at 12%.

Graff can count one potent rival, the Israeli Lev Leviev ( see FORBES, Sept. 15, 2003), who has set up a diamond operation even more vertically integrated than Graff's. Leviev owns mines and mining interests (in Africa and Russia), as well as manufacturing and wholesale operations. Now he seems to be gunning for Graff at the retail level. Leviev's sumptuous first store, in London on Old Bond Street, sits a stone's throw from Graff's on New Bond Street, and his second, in Manhattan, will be less than a block from Graff's new boutique on Madison Avenue. Graff is dismissive. "I don't think he's a potential competitor," he sniffs. "He doesn't have a clue what the retail business is all about."

Graff grew up on Commercial Road in London's gritty East End, where he spent his first seven years living in a single room with his Jewish Rumanian immigrant mother, behind the corner sweet shop his Russian father opened just before leaving to fight in World War II. At age 14, in 1952, he was getting such poor marks in school that his family urged him to drop out and start a trade. Graff's first job: apprentice (which included scrubbing floors and toilets) to a jeweler named Schindler in London's Hatton Garden, historic center of the city's diamond and jewelry trade. He was fired just three months later but got another job where he learned how to repair rings and make small pieces of jewelry.

When that business folded a few years later, Graff, now 18, convinced an older man to take him on as an apprentice in a new venture. Soon the two men owed their suppliers $6,000, and Graff says he talked his senior colleague into letting him take over the debt--and the business. By the time he was 22 years old Graff had wheeled and dealed his way to a solvent, one-man enterprise. At age 24 he opened up two small jewelry shops.

But Graff couldn't convince London's top jewelers to buy his competent but lackluster designs. He decided to hit the road. With $1,000 worth of diamond jewelry in a black leather briefcase, Graff stopped at Robinsons department store in Singapore. He ended up landing a jewelry exhibit there every other month. "All of a sudden I was selling $10,000, $20,000 worth of diamonds at a time," he recalls.

He also made an important contact in Singapore, the then prince of Brunei and his wife, formidable collectors of art and jewelry. They became lifelong clients, as did dozens of moneyed Malaysians, Indians and Chinese. The Brunei connection proved extremely valuable. For a period of two decades starting in 1966, Graff says, he traveled to Brunei as frequently as once a month to visit with the royal family, who brought him along to polo matches and gave him an Aston Martin to tool around the kingdom. With him at all times was a briefcase loaded with diamond jewelry.

By the 1970s the Middle East was awash in oil, and Graff's Arab clients were jetting to London to spend their cash. Graff became their point person there. "If they needed a doctor, I found them a doctor. If they needed a car, I found them a car. The Saudi princesses would go shopping, and then they'd come to my office to change into their new clothes."

Graff closed his two small shops and in 1974 opened up a bigger one close to Harrods. One lucky day Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz walked in unannounced and "bought out the entire shop," Graff recalls, "including the largest diamond I had in stock, which was 14 carats."

Of course Graff would still travel when a deal was to be made. In the early 1980s, after seeing a Graff exhibition in Hong Kong, a lady-in-waiting to Imelda Marcos invited Graff to the Malacañang Palace for an audience with Madame Marcos. At the end of Graff's week in the Philippines Mrs. Marcos bought three storied gems that he had carried to Manila, for a total of $10 million. Among them: the 42-carat Emperor Maximilian, named for the Austrian archduke who, legend has it, was wearing the diamond around his neck in a pouch when he faced a Mexican firing squad in 1867. Graff bought it at a Christie's auction in 1982 for $726,000.
By the early 1990s, with oil money tapering off and the Sultan of Brunei cutting back on his jewelry purchases, Graff decided his shop near Harrods needed an upgrade. Graff relocated to New Bond Street in the tony Mayfair neighborhood--and went on a real estate shopping spree. He now says that his commercial real estate in London is worth $500 million.

America, where half the world's diamond jewelry is bought, was Graff's next big move. Competitors Cartier and Van Cleef had both been swallowed up by corporate conglomerate Richemont. The top diamond jewelry brand in America, Harry Winston, had descended into chaos after its founder died in 1978 and sons Ronald and Bruce engaged in a nasty legal battle that crippled the business. "There was really a vacuum at the top of the pyramid," recalls Frenchman Henri Barguirdjian, 50, who runs the U.S. operations. "All of our competitors had neglected that end of the market."

Starting in 2001 Graff opened stores in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas (in Steve Wynn's casino) and in Bal Harbour and Palm Beach, Fla. In addition, he cut a deal with Saks (nyse: SKS - news - people ) Fifth Avenue to build three in-store boutiques, in New York, Atlanta and San Antonio, and to sell Graff jewels at Saks stores in five other cities. Graff clients enjoy a range of perks you won't get at Kay Jewelers. In June, for instance, Graff paid to send a burly bodyguard along with an American client who flew to London to attend a function where she planned to wear a multimillion-dollar piece of Graff jewelry.

Graff's one U.S. misstep: a failed attempt to open a store in Beverly Hills. Wynn caused problems, Graff says, because the contract between them gave Wynn a partnership interest in any store within a radius of the Wynn casino, which included Los Angeles, until September 2008. (Wynn declined to comment.) Graff wound up dropping his Rodeo Drive plans, losing $1 million on the deal.

Barguirdjian says each of the U.S. stores has turned a profit within a year of opening. Graff's 800-square-foot Manhattan store, the busiest in the U.S., grossed $65 million last year. A spokesman for Harry Winston declined to answer questions, but two sources in the jewelry business say sales at Winston's Fifth Avenue store last year were 60% of Graff's in New York.

Graff still controls virtually every aspect of his business, including marketing. Graff wrote the ad copy nine months ago for a $30 million 267-carat multicolored diamond necklace: "It took Graff and nature one million years to create this necklace." An Asian client acquired the piece shortly after the ad appeared. If Graff buys a stone that has no name or legend attached? No problem, says François Curiel, international head of jewelry and chairman of Christie's Europe. Graff will simply christen it: the Graff Blue, the Graff Orange, etc., branding the gems and, Graff hopes, increasing their value.

Over the years Graff has brought three family members into the business, including son François, 43, who holds the number two slot at Graff Diamonds, and, Graff says, will eventually take the top job. (François' French mother, Anne-Marie, has been married to Graff for 45 years; the couple has two other children.)

This fall Graff will open stores in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Geneva, double the size of his flagship store in London and undertake construction on a new 4,200-square-foot Manhattan boutique on Madison Avenue.

At the same time, Graff's Safdico wholesale business is expanding, constructing diamond factories and an office park that will eventually employ several hundred workers in Botswana. Graff says he wants to further extend his vertical reach into mining. Last year he failed in his attempt to buy a controlling stake in the Letseng mine in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Graff rues the lost opportunity, since just weeks later the 603-carat Lesotho Promise was unearthed there, the fifteenth-largest rough ever discovered. Graff's Safdico ended up buying the stone in October 2006 for $12.4 million. He thinks he can double that investment.

Graff says he's not interested in selling out, even at a time when private equity firms like Ronald Burkle's Yucaipa are investing in British jewelers Garrard and Stephen Webster. "In my thinking, I'm just starting out," Graff says. And he has no taste for going public. He did that in 1973, selling a third of the company, but decided he hated dealing with shareholders and a board. By 1978 he had bought back all the shares.

For now Graff stands alone in his domination of jewelry's upper reaches. Observes Christie's François Curiel: "The Jacques Arpels, Harry Winstons and Gerard Boucherons are long gone from the business. Where else can a customer walk in and see the man behind the brand?".

Source:
King of Bling
Susan Adams 08.13.07
forbes.com

Amanpulo, Philippines
Prices from $50,000 a night.

This property's three and a half miles of beaches on the private island of Pamalician can accommodate 140 people. The 40 casitas are situated on a hillside or on the water and have DVD players and marble baths with separate showers and soaking tubs. Spend the days playing tennis, taking nature walks or on diving and snorkeling excursions. Reefs available to visit include Jalah, which is rich in tuna, mackerel and turtles.

For more information, visit www.amanresorts.com.

Ultimate Private Resort Rentals

World's Best Private Beaches 

In April, Sanctuare, a marketing company that organizes private island rentals, planned a 50th birthday party for the wife of a prominent Toronto businessman on Musha Cay, a 150-acre private island in the Bahamas.

The group of 18 guests spent eight days boating, practicing yoga, swimming and snorkeling on the property's seven beaches. Dinners included a beachside tiki torch gathering with music from a five-piece band flown in from nearby Nassau, and a formal affair in a glass-walled dining room culminating in a 30-minute fireworks show.

The final bill? $345,000.

In Pictures: Ultimate Private Resort Rentals
Yes, it's more than many mortgages, but for some, the appeal of taking over a resort or private island is worth the price.

"The affluent traveler today has stayed in the best hotels and has rented private villas," says Kimberly Wilson Wetty, co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel, a luxury travel consultancy in New York City. "Now they want the exclusivity and privacy of having an island or resort all to themselves."

Many argue that Necker Island, a 74-acre swath of land in the British Virgin Islands and owned by Virgin CEO Richard Branson, was the first habitable private island to be rented out when it entered the scene in the mid-1990s. Today, experts estimate there are around two dozen islands worldwide that can be rented out exclusively to one party. The number of land-based resorts or hotels that can be taken over entirely is fewer.

John Steinle, president and owner of Stamford, Conn.-based Sanctuare, says most guests choose to take over one of the company's 10 properties to celebrate a milestone birthday.

Creating a "wow factor" also figures in.

"It's a dream to have one's own island or hotel where everyone is running around after you," Steinle says. "Since there are so few people who actually do this, it's considered very exclusive. You earn bragging rights and get your ego stroked."

High-profile people and celebrities looking for ultimate privacy are also apt to take over a resort. Sanctuare's clients have included Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Necker Island remains the company's most popular property. A staff of 64 is on hand to pamper guests in a 10-bedroom main house (each room has a private terrace and ocean views) and four freestanding, Balinese-style homes. Guests can enjoy hiking on several nature trails, water-skiing, sailing on Hobie catamarans, kayaking, working out in the sea-view gym or swimming in the pool, complete with a waterfall and swim-up bar.

Though costs run $46,000 a night, the island is booked more than a year in advance.

Rarified Resorts
Though properties like Necker are undoubtedly remote, you can achieve exclusivity without being completely cut off from the outside world by renting out a resort. In fact, for some, this is the draw.

Bill Fisher, owner of Fisher Travel, a membership-only travel club in New York City, regularly arranges hotel and island rentals for his clients. He says they generally don't venture to far-flung locales.

"The cachet is about having an entire place to yourself," he says, "not so much traveling to a far-off destination."

The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, for example, is on a 20-acre island, accessible by car and less than 10 minutes from Miami in Biscayne Bay. It rents for $52,000 a night and can accommodate 100 guests in its 49 rooms, which have Italian marble baths, four-poster beds and bay views.

Activities and amenities include a spa with Watsu massage pool, swimming, sailing, boating and tennis. The on-site Euro-Asian restaurant features dishes such as Thai lobster bisque and Szechuan basil seared tuna.

If you're willing to shell out $50,000 a day, Amanpulo, an Amanresorts hotel in the Philippines, awaits.

The property has three and a half miles of beaches and can accommodate 100 people in 40 casitas, built on a hillside or on the water. Each has coconut shell tables, a DVD player and a marble bath with a separate shower and soaking tub. There are two additional four-bedroom villas. Activities include laser-boat sailing, tennis and nature walks. Guests can also get massages at the spa or take a pontoon boat on diving and snorkeling excursions to the many reefs in the area, such as Jalah, which is teeming with tuna, mackerel and turtles. 

While most of these resorts can accommodate 10 to 100 guests, you certainly don’t need a group to rent one out. Steinle says there have been several couples who've reserved Necker Island just for themselves.

Exclusive indeed.

Source:  forbes.com  Shivani Vora, 09.07.07, 12:00

The Philippines' 40 Richest


Rank Name Net Worth ($mil) Age

1  Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family 2,000  73 
2  Henry Sy & family 1,700  82 
3  Lucio Tan & family 1,600  73 
4  Andrew Tan 1,100  55 
5  Manuel Villar 940  57 
6  George Ty 870  74 
7  Andrew Gotianun 860  79 
8  Enrique Razon Jr. 820  47 
9  Tony Tan Caktiong & family 790  57 
10  Oscar Lopez & family 775  77 
11  Vivian Que Azcona & family 670  NA 
12  Inigo & Mercedes Zobel 660  NA 
13  Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. 540  72 
14  Emilio Yap & family 445  81 
15  John Gokongwei Jr. & family 430  81 
16  Enrique Aboitiz & family 375  85 
17  Alfonso Yuchengco & family 365  84 
18  Beatrice Campos 220  NA 
19  David Consunji & family 210  86 
20  Luis Virata 200  53 

Rank Name Net Worth ($mil) Age

21  Gilberto Duavit Jr. & family 191  43 
22  Menardo Jimenez & family 190  NA 
23  Felipe Gozon & family 165  67 
24  Mariano Tan & family 140  NA 
25  Ramon del Rosario Jr. 137  63 
26  Ronaldo & Rosalinda Hortaleza 110  48/50 
27  Manuel Zamora 105  68 
28  Betty Ang 100  NA 
29  Tomas Alcantara & family 90  61 
30  Frederick Dy 70  51 
31  Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Sr. 60  80 
32  Salvador Zamora 55  61 
33  Oscar Hilado & family 51  69 
34  Philip T. Ang 50  66 
35  Magdaleno Albarracin Jr. 49  71 
36  Jesus Tambunting 47  70 
37  Antonio Roxas 36  65 
38  Manuel Pangilinan 35  61 
39  Marixi Rufino-Prieto & family 33  67 
40  Lourdes Montinola 30  79 


Source: forbes.com

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Dramatically played out on live television, an opposition politician and rebel military officers surrendered to government forces after taking over a luxury hotel in Manila.


Soldiers take aim outside the Peninsula hotel.

1 of 3  "We're going out for the sake of the safety of everybody," Philippines Sen. Antonio Trillanes said.

The senator made the decision to give up after the military peppered the inside of the hotel with tear gas. Live pictures from inside the hotel showed reporters and rebel soldiers covering their faces.

An armored vehicle was also seen firing into the lobby of Manila's Peninsula hotel and later rammed through the front entrance of the building.

"The situation is contained within the Peninsula hotel, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told CNN.

"The perpetrators are in the process of being arrested." Those who held the hotel were shown being loaded into a Philippine National Police bus.

Teodoro said no one was injured, but Associated Press reported that at least two people were injured.

The standoff began hours earlier when a group led by Trillanes and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim bolted from a court hearing on charges linked to a failed 2003 coup attempt.  Watch footage of troops storming the hotel in Manila »

"What happened, to me, was clearly either an attempted rebellion or an attempted coup d'etat," Teodoro said.

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Philippines military and police personnel had been surrounding the hotel, where the group was asking for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down. After Trillanes' announcement, soldiers milled around the outside of the hotel, but the scene had calmed noticeably.

Arroyo had issued orders to the military and police in response to the seizure of the hotel, located in Manila's Makati financial district, journalist Adrian Addison told CNN. Few supporters of the rebels were visible around the Peninsula hotel, Addison said.

Philippine authorities gave the rebel group until 2:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) to allow guests to leave the hotel, and until 3:00 p.m. (0700 GMT) to surrender, the ABS-CBN news service reported.


Businessman Peter Parcel was caught in the middle of the hotel's takeover and subsequent tear-gassing. Listen to the eyewitness in the hotel describe what happened

"I couldn't see and couldn't breathe," he said, noting he faced "at least 100 guns" as he exited the hotel.

source: cnn.com