MikeLigalig.com

Kuya Lindy, Happy, happy birthday. Glory to God who has blessed you with colorful life and loving family. May you have many more birthdays to celebrate.

God bless you Kuya!

By Rhodina Villanueva
The Philippine Star

The Senate sergeant-at-arms arrested anew a “defiant” former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante last night after senators ordered his arrest and detention for giving contradicting testimony during the investigation into his alleged involvement in the P728 million fertilizer fund scam.

Bolante was cited in contempt by the members of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee for his evasiveness, thus the order for his arrest and detention.

Bolante will be detained at the Senate building starting last night until the resumption of the hearings on Monday, December 8.

Bolante was served the warrant of arrest in Makati City last night but instead of going straight to the Senate, Bolante asked the arresting team to allow him to go to his home in Ayala, Alabang in Muntinlupa first to see his wife who he said is suffering from a mild stroke.

BBC News: A Silicon Valley company has hailed as a major landmark the production of their one billionth computer mouse.

Logitech's description comes at a time when analysts claim the days of the mouse are numbered.

"It's rare in human history that a billionth of anything has been shipped by one company," said Logitech's general manager Rory Dooley.

"Look at any other industry and it has never happened. This is a significant milestone," he told the BBC.

But sounding the death knell for the device is Gartner analyst Steve Prentice who said "the mouse will no longer be mainstream in three to five years."

However he did acknowledge the manufacture of the one billionth mouse was a "tremendous achievement."

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. - Benjamin Franklin

The same tone of opinion is available all over the Internet. Thousands of bloggers, pundits, independent thinkers across the borderless world wide web have made more scathing comments on Thailand's political turmoil.

The public clamors for the city accountant and city auditor to reveal the complete list of cash advances by city officials and employees amounting P6.5 million that remain unliquidated as exposed in the 2007 Commission on Audit Report.

This as city accountant Kurt Bungabong and city auditor Teresita Irig rejected the request of Tagbilaran City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso to release the details of the unliquidated cash advances.

In a radio survey over "Radyo Merkado" of Station dyRD yesterday, a resounding 100% of the respondents expressed disapproval on the refusal of both city officials to release the list containing the personalities involved in the P6.5-million
unliquidated cash advances as confirmed in the 2007 COA Report.

In said COA Report, it is only this "unliquidated cash advances" that did not have supporting document while the rest of the issues raised by the commission was backed up by supporting documents in the appendix section of the COA report, acccording to City Kagawad Djingo Rama who delivered a privilege speech regarding the points raised in the audit report.

The respondents said that the people of Tagbilaran deserve to be enlightened and clarified on how taxpayers' money entrusted to the city government is being administered.

On Tuesday, Veloso asked for the city accountant and the city auditor to be provided with the complete list of unliquidated cash advances as of December 31, 2007 as reported by the City Accounting Office.         

The list, Veloso said, was not included in the 2007 COA report which should have been part of the responsibility of the COA "to keep the general accounts of the government and to preserve the vouchers and other supporting papers pertaining thereto." source: Bohol Chronicle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a3I_YT9FIs

The Greatest Fights of Manny Pacquiao. Courtesy of HBO

The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has declared a fiscal emergency, amid fears the state could run out of cash by early next year.

He has ordered lawmakers to hold a special session to tackle the $11.2bn (£7.5bn) deficit in California, one of the world's biggest economies.

Across the US, state tax revenues are down because of the economic slump.

State governors have been meeting President-elect Barack Obama to press the case for federal help.

Governor Schwarzenegger on Monday invoked powers allowing him to declare a fiscal emergency as the new state legislature was sworn in.

"Without immediate action, our state is headed for a fiscal disaster," Mr Schwarzenegger said, saying that the current $11.2bn shortfall could swell to "a staggering $28bn" over the next 18 months.

"I compare the situation that we are in right now to finding an accident victim on the side of the road that is bleeding to death," the Republican governor told a news conference in Los Angeles.

"We wouldn't spend hours debating over which ambulance we should use, or which hospital we should use...No, we would first stop the bleeding, and that's exactly the same we have to do here."

He said the state was already drawing up plans to lay off public employees. - BBC News

Facebook has thrown the switch on a system that lets users browse other sites via the networking portal.

Called Connect, the system lets Facebook members use their login credentials to access other websites.

The system also gives feedback about what a Facebooker's friends have been doing on those partner sites.

Among the first sites visitable through Connect will be the Discovery Channel, social news site Digg, as well as video site Hulu.

source: BBC News

BBC News Feature

A major international study says palm oil plantations reduce plant and animal diversity, and do little to reduce carbon emissions.

Researchers say tropical forests are increasingly cleared to make way for palm oil crops, leading to a reduction in habitats for many rare species.

The problem is most acute in Malaysia and Indonesia which produce around 85% of the world's palm oil.

The report is published in the journal Conservation Biology.

Palm oil is a common vegetable oil, and is now regarded as a major source of biodiesel, however the researchers question whether it really offers environmental benefits over conventional fossil fuels.

Clearing land to start plantations involves burning huge tracts of forest, a process which produces large amounts of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide.

The researchers estimate at least 75 years of biofuel production is needed from the plantations, to save on emissions anything like the amount of carbon dioxide produced by this burning.

The lead author of the study is Finn Danielsen of Denmark's Nordic Agency for Development and Ecology.

"Our analysis found that it would take 75 to 93 years to see any benefits to the climate from biofuel plantations on converted tropical forestlands," he said.

Suitable sites

For the study, Emily Fitzherbert from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), assessed the impact of palm oil plantations on animal and plant life in Indonesia.

"Anywhere suitable for oil palm plantations throughout the tropics is vulnerable," she said.

"There are loads of different figures and calculations out there on biofuels and the carbon balance, we say these figures are not precise, but the proportions are what's important, to represent the magnitude - oil palm as a biofuel is not a green option," she added.

The conversion of tropical forest to plantation also dramatically changed the balance of plants and animals living in the area, overall there was a reduction in plant and animal species says the report.

Some common species increased in number in and around the plantations, wild pigs and leopard cats became dominant, but rarer creatures such as the Sumatran tiger were not seen at all.

"For fauna, only one in six forest species can survive in plantations, the study finds. Plantations are frequently dominated by a few abundant species that are widespread and of low conservation concern," said Matthew Struebig of Queen Mary, University of London.

Payback time

As well as raising concerns about the loss of biodiversity in plantations, the researchers question the logic of destroying forests to produce biofuels for export to industrialised world markets.

"Subsidies to purchase tropical biofuels are given by countries in Europe and North America supposedly to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from transport," said Finn Danielsen.

"While these countries strive to meet their obligations under one international agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, they encourage others to increase their emissions as well as breach their obligations under another agreement, the convention on biological diversity."

"This is not only an issue in South-East Asia - in Latin America forests are being cleared for soy production which is even less efficient at biofuel production compared to oil palm," added co-author Faizal Parish of the Global Environment Centre in Malaysia.

"Reducing deforestation is a much more effective way for countries to reduce climate change while also meeting their obligations to protect biodiversity."

On a positive note, the researchers found that grassed areas where forest had been destroyed in the past, the land farmed and then abandoned, did become a net absorber of carbon after 10 years of being planted with palm oil.

"Grasslands where you get the earliest payback are scrubby grasslands not natural or unique habitats - but areas that have clearly been trashed." said Emily Fitzherbert.

"Globally we don't want grasslands turned into palm oil plantations. Expansion is going to happen, saying no more palm oil is naive, expand where it will do the least damage and you may get a payback in terms of climate."

By Leonard Acosta
PNA

Flash floods and landslide spawned by heavy rains on Sunday claimed the lives of two persons, while nine others are still missing in Camarines Norte, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Monday.

Also, people in various evacuation camps have ballooned in number to 23,180 or 4,636 families.

The OCD said the reports have yet to identify the casualties, while nine fishermen from Mercedez town are still missing.

Bernardo Alejandro, OCD regional director, said the latest count on the number of families in evacuation camps rose to 4,636: - in the town of Mercedez, 2,948 evacuees; Labo â€" 1,093; Paracale â€" 194; Vinzons â€" 171; Daet â€" 150; and San Vicente with 80 evacuees.

Alejandro said flood waters submerged at least 47 villages in the towns of Mercedez, Labo, Paracale, Vinzons, Daet and San Vicente all in Camarines Norte.

Landslides also hit the villages of Malaguit in Paracale; Malatap and Canapawan in Labo town.

Heavy rains brought by the tail end of the cold front started at 1 a.m. Sunday, triggering waters in river channels to overflow in the area and wash out at least six bridges in the towns of Labo and San Vicente.

Major road networks in the towns of Labo, Vinzons, and the Manila South road in Labo town were rendered impassable to heavy and light vehicles due to chest level flood waters, but government engineers on Monday started to clear the area of debris.

Crude oil lost more than nine percent to close below 50 U.S. dollars a barrel Monday after OPEC deferred decision on further production cut to its next meeting later this month.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery fell 5.15 dollars to settle at 49.28 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, which is the lowest settlement price since May 23, 2005. Price fell to as low as 49.05 dollars a barrel during the session.

Oil prices rose last week on speculation that OPEC would trim output on the unofficial meeting in Cairo last Saturday. But OPEC decided to defer it until its next meeting on December 17. The cartel said it will use the time to observe the impact of its 1.5-million barrel reduction in October.

Oil prices have tumbled 65 percent from the record high of 147.27 dollars a barrel reached in mid-July. Many OPEC members including Iran, Venezuela and Algeria have been calling for further production cut to stable the price. - PNA

Top 10 Searches in 2008
compiled by Yahoo

1. Britney Spears
2. World Wrestling Entertainment
3. Barack Obama
4. Miley Cyrus
5. RuneScape
6. Jessica Alba
7. Naruto
8. Lindsay Lohan
9. Angelina Jolie
10. American Idol

By By Maggie Shiels 
BBC

Barack Obama will make history by becoming the first black US president, but in the world of internet search he trails the singer, Britney Spears.

Of the billions of searches carried out on the portal, Yahoo.com, over the last year, Mr Obama was third behind Spears and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Mr Obama was, however, the most searched-for politician during 2008.

The subjects of the most sought-after news stories were hurricanes, Caylee and Casey Anthony, and election 2008.

"Every day, people turn to the web to learn more about the world around them," said Yahoo's Web Life editor, Heather Cabot.

"Their searches reveal which news events, personalities and issues made an impact in 2008. This year people were captivated by the historic US presidential election and Olympic triumphs."

Outgoing US President George Bush has said his biggest regret is the failure of intelligence over Iraqi weapons.

In a wide-ranging TV interview, he declined to say whether he would have decided to invade Iraq if he had known it had no weapons of mass destruction.

Asked about what he regarded as his greatest achievement, Mr Bush said that his administration had fought a war against "ideological thugs".

Mr Bush will hand over to President-elect Barack Obama on 20 January.

The outgoing president told ABC television: "The biggest regret of all the presidency has to have been the intelligence failure in Iraq."

He added: "I wish the intelligence had been different."

Asked what his greatest accomplishment was, Mr Bush replied: "I keep recognising we're in a war against ideological thugs and keeping America safe."

He also defended his actions over the recent economic crises.

"When the history of this period is written, people will realise a lot of the decisions that were made on Wall Street took place over a decade or so," he told ABC.

Mr Bush - whose approval ratings are at an historic low - said he was happy for history to be his judge.

"I will leave the presidency with my head held high," he said.

source: BBC

My Last Duchess
by Robert Browning

"That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said,
`Fra Pandolf' by design: for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Fra Pandolf chanced to say `Her mantle laps
Over my lady's wrist too much', or `Paint
Must never hope to reproduce the faint
Half-flush that dies along her throat': such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart -- how shall I say? -- too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 'twas all one! My favour at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
She rode with round the terrace -- all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. She thanked men, -- good! but thanked
Somehow -- I know not how -- as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech -- (which I have not) -- to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, `Just this
Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
Or there exceed the mark' -- and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,
-- E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then. I repeat,
The Count your master's known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretence
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay, we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

Decalogue
by Ambrose Bierce

Thou shalt no God but me adore:
'Twere too expensive to have more.

No images nor idols make
For Roger Ingersoll to break.

Take not God's name in vain: select
A time when it will have effect.

Work not on Sabbath days at all,
But go to see the teams play ball.

Honor thy parents. That creates
For life insurance lower rates.

Kill not, abet not those who kill;
Thou shalt not pay thy butcher's bill.

Kiss not thy neighbor's wife, unless
Thine own thy neighbor doth caress.

Don't steal; thou'lt never thus compete
Successfully in business. Cheat.

Bear not false witness--that is low--
But "hear 'tis rumored so and so."

Covet thou naught that thou hast got
By hook or crook, or somehow, got.

Happy Birthday, Zel. You are such a blessing to many of us here. Thank you for your friendship across borders.

Kanus-a diay, Bem?

source: Sunday Post

To celebrate the restoration of its 184-year-old pipe organ, Baclayon Church is hosting a night of classical music on December 6, to be led by celebrated Spanish conductor and composer Cristóbal Halffter, principal guest conductor of the National Orchestra in Madrid and recipient of the Gold Medal for Fine Arts from King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Organized with the support of the Zobel de Ayala family, Ayala Corporation, and Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI), the concert will feature Halffter, together with acclaimed Spanish pianist Maria Manuela Caro. The concert will feature performances of classical pieces from Europe and the Philippines, and will signal the return of Baclayon’s pipe organ, which fell into disrepair and has not been used for over 60 years.

Among the pieces that will be performed during the concert are George Frideric Handel’s Largo, Antonio de Cabezón’s Tiento del Primer Tono, and Manuel Velez’s Sa Kabukiran. 

The Baclayon pipe organ was modified once in 1902, but many of the changes were of poor quality and often unnecessary. Before its restoration earlier this year, the pipe organ had been left covered with thick layers of dust, with several parts missing or damaged. With the support of Patricia Zobel de Ayala, the organ was carefully taken apart and flown to Manila for extensive repair. 

The restoration of the pipe organ is just one of the projects that the Zobel de Ayalas and AFI are undertaking in Bohol. Beatriz Susana Zobel de Ayala Jr., for instance, is advocating sustainable community development and the preservation of natural and cultural sites through a business model for social development. Most of these projects are concentrated in the municipalities of Baclayon and Dauis, which are well known not only for their diverse flora and fauna but also for their rich history and tradition.

Developing Dauis and Baclayon through their historical, cultural, and natural sites provided the framework for Bea Zobel Jr.’s projects, which focus on improving and restoring neglected historical sites, creating new infrastructures to generate income for Boholanos, and conducting training and seminars to introduce new skills and update the business proficiency of Bohol’s micro-entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, on December 5, a day before their performance at Baclayon Church, Halffter will conduct the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in a benefit concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Entitled “Bravo España.” The concert is organized in cooperation with the Spanish Embassy, and will also feature Caro, Filipino pianist Rudolf Golez and the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Among the pieces that will be performed at the concert are several pieces by Spanish composers, including Halffter himself. 

continuation...           

Lim did not take the governor’s verbal order lightly although he vowed to comply with it.           

Zeroing in on the governor’s insinuation about the water treatment plant as just a mere ‘drawing’ because it is not yet completed, Lim said everybody knows what we have to go through just to build it,” he added.           

The mayor said that he never said anything about the delay in the construction of the Panglao airport even though it is long overdue.           

“If you read all the news quoting Gov. Aumentado and Cong. (Edgar) Chatto, you would think the airport would be opened the next day,” he added.           

The mayor said that while the pollution at the outfall is a problem that needed to addressed, he wondered why the governor is singling it out.           

“What about the pollution levels in resorts, the places inhabited by Badjaos, those near commercial establishments and hospitals, what are they doing about it?” he asked.           

The mayor said he is in fact relieved that the governor interfered in the affairs of the city regarding the drainage issue because he will no longer be answerable for it.           

“Since he has overruled the city, he will have to take full responsibility from here on,” Lim added.

.

The mayor added that he would not have been forced to open the outfall and the governor would have saved everyone all the trouble that they went through.           

“That he had to announce it over the radio first reflects a lack of respect not only for my position but also for the people of Tagbilaran whom I represent,” he added.           

Lim said that although he is saddened that Aumentado did it at the expense of the people of Tagbilaran, he is also glad that from here on the people of Bohol can expect the governor to be just as decisive in implementing his orders such as the closure of establishments that violated the 20-meter salvage zone in Panglao.           

“One cannot be a decisive environmentalist in Tagbilaran and be a lame-duck environmentalist in Panglao,” the mayor pointed out.           

Lim noted that despite demolition orders against a building constructed by former Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan on the seashore, all the governor did was to send a bulldozer and have pictures taken of it.           

“To this day, the building remains and has not been closed much less demolished,” the mayor added.           

Lim said there are also other complaints raised against other resorts for the same violation but Aumentado has not done anything to address these issues.           

The mayor stressed that there are issues and arguments that could have been raised to justify the position of the city government.           

“For instance, it is strange that Gov. Aumentado singled out the San Jose outfall for his environmental concerns yet turned a blind eye to all the other environmentally-polluted areas in the city and in the tourism belt,” the mayor noted.           

“But since he has announced his order, these arguments have become moot and academic,” he added.           

Lim said that since Aumentado has decided to take an active role in the flooding issue in Tagbilaran, he is submitting to the governor’s leadership.           

“From here on, I will forward to his office any complaints regarding the flooding and of course the pollution in all places of the city. Since he knows better than us, then it is only fitting that he take full control,” the mayor added.           

Lim pointed out that he always takes a stand on any issue that confronts his constituents.           

“I have taken my stand on this problem but I have been overruled. In this regard, I submit to the governor’s decision not because I agree with it â€" which I do not â€" but because I want to set an example for our people,” he added           

Lim said “it is not only because I want to set an example but because it is the correct thing to do.”           

“I am sure history will render its judgment on how we acted today and I don’t want future generations to give me an A for sound judgment and an F for respect to authority,” the mayor added.

By Sunday Post

From euphoria to bacteria.

What else describe the situation regarding the euphoria generated by the opening of the controversial San Jose outfull only to be confronted with the harmful threat of  coliform bacteria reaching alarming levels.

“It’s a major environmental disaster waiting to happen,” thus barked Gov. Erico Aumentado but City Mayor Dan Lim  expressed complete surprise.

Caught- in- a damn- if- you- do, damn- if- you- don’t scenario, Mayor Lim said he will honor the order of Gov. Aumentado to close the outfall.

A study from the University of  San Carlos Laboratory showed that the coliform level in the seawaters along the shoreline of the  Tagbilaran Bay failed to pass the standards of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR).

Gov.  Aumentado expressed “very serious concern” on  the opening of the San Jose drainage outfall into the Tagbilaran and Maribojoc Bay in a letter to Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. dated November 24.

  Aumentado reiterated this concern over his weekly radio program The Governor Reports simulcast live on the city’s radio stations. 

  Vowing to Aumentado’s wishes, Mayor Lim said although there was enough basis to justify his position to close the outfull,  just the same he will follow the order.

  Without fanfare, Mayor Lim ordered the opening of the outfall early this month in answer to the demands of city residents affected by constant flooding because of the clogged drainage system.. Hardly hit were residents living in the vicinity of the Tagbilaran Coca-Cola Plant and Development Bank of the Phils.

  The mayor’s decision was greeted with  jubilation by affected residents after the drainage was opened. Then the  heavy flooding in the critical area became a thing of the past.

  But Mayor Lim’s “two minutes of fame” was short-lived.

  Shortly thereafter came these findings that the outfall opening yielded high coliform presence in the bay’s area.

  Other than the USC laboratory test, Provincial Health Officer Reymoses Cabagnot and Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) head Renato Villaber also presented to the governor results of separate water quality tests made on samples from the outfall before the water reached the seawater. The separate sampling was upon the   instruction of  the University of San Carlos (USC) â€" Water Laboratory.

  The USC result using the membrane filtration method indicated “too numerous to count” total coliforms, these being greater than 2,000 colonies per 100 ml.

  The PHO also maintains a water laboratory to regularly test samples from different artesian wells, waterworks systems, other potable water sources, bottled water manufacturers and even beach areas to monitor coliform and fecal coliform content, among others.

  Its test on samples from the outfall showed 2,400 colonies per 100 ml total coliform and 2,100 colonies per 100 ml of fecal coliform.

  In their transmittal letter to Aumentado with copies furnished  Mayor  Lim and Provincial Board member Cesar Tomas Lopez, chair of the PB Committee on Health, Cabagnot and Villaber said the results of both the fecal and total coliform counts are “way above acceptable standards” and “will definitely pose danger to the health and safety of constituents.”

  Villaber also had the wastewater sample ran for toxic elements and compounds. It showed a chromium content of less than 0.015 milligram Cr per liter, but prompted him anyway to submit it to a further test called Chromium hexavalent.

  Aumentado attached copies of the laboratory results to his letter to Atienza and vowed to provide him also with a copy of the result of the later test as soon as the result is in.

  He also attached to it a copy of the letter to him of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Nestor Canda that said for toxic and other deleterious substances, the result for Chromium is 0.015 mg Cr/L as compared to the standard under Class SB bodies of water which is 0.10 for old and existing institutions (OEI) per Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 35, series of 1990.

  This is detrimental to the fishery resources in the area and would ultimately affect human health. The likely generators of these pollutants are the small scale electroplating shops within the city, Canda had explained.

  Canda also said a consensus during their September 23 coordination meeting at the Governor’s Mansion tasked his office to send notices to identified establishments illegally tapping into the drainage and monitor compliance within 30 days after which the City Government will cut those still illegally connected.

  Meanwhile, just to stop the flooding along CPC North Avenue, Atienza had ordered for the outfall to be opened during downpours but otherwise closed while the illegal sewer taps have not yet been completely disconnected.

  Some responded to the notices and voluntarily disconnected their taps. Before DENR could completely validate the compliance, however, Lim had the outfall opened â€" to this date.

  “Until now, the drainage is flowing with the aforecited pollutants and contaminants since the gate thereto was destroyed and accordingly could not be located anymore by Canda,” Aumentado wrote Atienza.

  He said if allowed to continue, the situation will undoubtedly pollute Tagbilaran Bay and the beach lines of Panglao Island facing Tagbilaran â€" and the Maribojoc Bay, the resorts along Tagbilaran’s shorelines especially the Bohol Tropics Resort â€" now the favorite site for national and even international gatherings, as well as the Tagbilaran City Tourist Port â€" the only one of its kind in the country today.

  “The marine ecosystem in Tagbilaran City and Maribojoc Bay which is the source of livelihood for marginal fishermen will face tremendous destruction unless this grave public nuisance shall be abated,” he said.

  ATIENZA’S INITIAL ACTION

  Aumentado had sent his letter by personal courier. The secretary’s immediate reaction was to send Friday a team both from the central and regional offices of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to assess the situation.

  EMB-Central Office Director Julian Amador sent Engr. Esperanza Sajul, chief of the monitoring section of the Environmental Impact Assessment Management Division and Vilma Cabading, science research specialist of the Water Quality Management Section.

  On the other hand, DENR Region 7 Director Leonardo Sibbaluca sent lawyer Fernando Alberca and Forester Jose Layese

  Accompanied by Canda, the teams inspected the bay’s shoreline from Maribojoc and Cortes towns, down to Tagbilaran, including the port. Alberca and Layese collected samples from the outfall and other points and brought them immediately back to Cebu to beat the six-hour deadline between collection and testing to get accurate results.

  Sajul and Cabading stayed overnight. They briefed Aumentado on the activities they conducted for the day.

  Atienza’s instruction to cut the illegal connections and to open the San Jose outfall only during actual rainy days have not been followed but even blatantly violated, he wrote.

  Worst of all, he added, is that the city government’s long overdue promise of setting up a wastewater treatment plant is far from realization.

  Only when the city shall have constructed the plant shall the present illegal tappers be allowed to reconnect â€" but for a fee â€" for the drainage and sewer services they will enjoy.

By Sen Guingguing
Sunday Post

The fractious Sangguniang Panglungsud succeeded to hurdle Friday  an opposition hump to defer action on plans to buy a 23-hectare property in Taloto to pave the way  for the construction of two major city infrastructure.

Killed on the spot was the motion of Kagawad Bibiano Inting to defer action of  Proposed Resolution No. 10708 forcing  V-Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, city presiding officer of the city council, to write finis to his colleague’s proposal.

That being the case, the resolution authorizing Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim to purchase lots for the construction and operation of the Tagbilaran City Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility and the Centralized Waste Water Treatment Facility in barangay Taloto, was carried out.     

Inting and his opposition minded partners in the SPâ€"Kagawads Zenaido Rama, Mariquit Anne Oppus and Edgar Kapirig, moved to defer the resolution authored by Kagawad Nereo Zamora II.

The four argued that pending submission of a resolution from the Taloto barangay council, it would be prudent on the part of the SP to set aside any action on the authority given to the city mayor to purchase the lots.

The four also wanted an assurance from city hall that it has the capacity to prosecute the two giant projects.

But the protestations of Inting and company were met with stiff opposition by Kagawads Oscar Glovasa and Zamora.

Both administration kagawads were emphatic in their defense to pass the proposed resolution noting its urgency especially so that it was intended to solve once and for all the recurring flooding problem along CPG North Avenue.

Two of Bohol ’s three representatives were among the 42 solons who voted for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for insufficiency of substance.           

Representatives Edgar Chatto and Roberto Cajes of Bohol ’s first and second districts respectively joined 40 other solons in hastily throwing away the impeachment complaint against the President.           

The “magnificent eight” who voted for the impeachment were San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, also the minority leader, party-list Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna and Liza Maza of Gabriela, Representatives Teofisto Guingona III of Bukidnon, Mar-Len Binay, Makati , Rufus Rodriguez, Cagayan de Oro and Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Gen. Santos.           

As this developed, two lawmakers from opposing camps share the view that Congress should look into reports about a purported meeting at a hotel where payoffs were allegedly made in relation to the latest impeachment complaint.           

Reports said lawmakers gathered at the Linden Suites in Ortigas Center in Pasig City early last week to receive payoffs in exchange for junking the impeachment complaint.           

Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chair of the House justice committee, said the issue was part of black propaganda but could not identify its source.           

“This is trying to destroy the House of Representatives,” Defensor said at a news forum in Quezon City .           

He said he wanted the issue investigated but that he would rather not be the one to file the resolution.           

It appears Defensor’s request will be answered soon enough.           

Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza told reporters that she would initiate next week a House investigation of the alleged meeting at Linden Suites.           

Maza said she would include a call to look into the purported bribery of lawmakers and local government officials last year, also in relation to an impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo.

source: Sunday Post

A joint team seized six assorted firearms from an unlicensed gunsmith during a raid in Ubay town Thursday morning.           

The suspect was identified as one Genaro Evali, 32, a resident of Barangay Centinila, Ubay.           

Seized during the raid were three 45 caliber pistols, two .38 caliber revolvers, a 22 magnum revolver, three barrels for guns, magazines and rounds of ammunition.           

The raid was led by Chief Insp. German Mallari of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).           

CIDG-7 deputy director Ritchie Posadas told Cebu media that Evali was arrested by virtue of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Irma Zita Masamayor.           

Posadas said the suspect’s father, Genaro Sr., was not present during the raid but he will be included in the filing of criminal charges for violating the provisions of Republic Act 8294, or the Firearms Law.           

CIDG-7 regional director Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said Genaro Sr. has been previously arrested by a joint team of policemen from the Bohol provincial police office and Regional Intelligence Division for the same offense.           

He was released after posting bail.           

According to Genaro Sr.’s wife, the charge that was earlier filed against her husband had already been dismissed.           

Eleazar ordered the surveillance of activities of father and son after they received a tip from their informers that the suspects continue to engage in their activities.

There has been a rise in incidents of snatchings of cell phones by armed motorcycle-riding men in Ubay and neighboring towns.   

source: Sunday Post

Health information online is breeding a generation of cyberchondriacs - people who needlessly fear the worst diagnosis after surfing the net, say researchers.

A team at Microsoft studied health-related Web searches on popular search engines and surveyed 515 employees about their health-related searching.

Web searches had the potential to escalate fears - like a headache was caused by a brain tumour, for example.

Experts said people concerned about their health should see a doctor. - BBC

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The UK is "closer than ever before" to joining the euro, according to the European Commission's president.

Jose Manuel Barroso told French radio that British politicians were considering the move because of the effects of the global credit crunch.

However Downing Street said its position on the euro remained the same.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said it was "extraordinary" ministers were talking EU about joining the euro "behind the British people's backs".

In 1997 Gordon Brown set five economic tests which he had to judge were met before recommending UK euro entry.

The key test is whether the UK economy is coming together with those of countries in the eurozone and whether this can be sustained in the long-term. The second test, linked to this, is whether there is sufficient flexibility to cope with economic change.

The remaining three tests assess the impact of joining the euro on jobs, foreign investment and the financial services industry. - BBC News

Never trust a publisher... (I trust the publisher of Bohol Standard)...

Happy Birthday, Ben. May the love and peace of Christ Jesus continue to fill in your heart.

Thanks Zel for posting the birthday announcement.

Not really that chaotic, yet. The protest is bloodless, but the potential of becoming violent is really huge now that the country is existing without international flights (in and out).

Published by Sunday Post

Boholanos are indeed everywhere and the coordinated attacks by militant gunmen in Mumbai, India were no exception.

This Boholano from Taguihon, Baclayonâ€"Meliton Iyog, was lucky he was not one of the more than 150 fatalities in India’s worst terror attacks. Although he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, Iyog, 42,  was lucky to have survived when he was one of the those 300 rescued after they checked in at the embattled Taj Mahal Hotel in downtown Mumbai

According to the account of his wife, the former Cely Alagon, her husband left Manila last Noivember 26 enroute to Bangkok, Thailand.

But since another violent incident took place at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after it was blocked by angry demonstrators, the plane he was boarding from Manila was diverted to Singapore.

He was to take the flight from Singapore to Mumbai when the attacks on two hotels, a Jewish center and several sites happened.

From the Mumbai airport, they were hustled to the Taj Hotel. Then the shooting began with Iyog and other  guests holed up in the hotel which was subjected to armed confrontation by terrorists.   

Iyog was with two other Filipinos, one from Davao, the other from Quezon province when they were trapped inside the hotel while gunmen placed the hotel under siege.

As of last report, some 160 civilians, police and military including five Americans perished in the attack in what was believed to be perpetrated by armed militants tied to Pakistani Islamic elements. The casualty toll also included 372 wounded.

In the case of the Boholano survivor who scampered to safety along with 300 other hotel guests, he was supposed to board his vessel from Mumbai enroute to an unknown destination. Iyog’s wife did not know her husband’s

itinerary only that she was informed that he has to board it in Mumbai. His two companions are his shipmates.

The wife of the Mumbai survivor also narrated that for the past 16 years he had used the Mumbai port as jump off point since becoming a seaman in 1992. It was only last week that he was caught in the crossfire of what was billed as the worst terror attack in India. Mumbai is India’s biggest city and considered as the country’s financial center.

For almost 60 tense hours since late Wednesday, a team of 60 well-trained terrorists launched a meticulously planned set of attacks on Mumbai. The reign of terror left a death toll of 160, more than 300 wounded in a hail of automatic gunfire that ended yesterday. Three attackers were killed by Indian authorities.

Thanks Bem for sharing your experience. Most of us would only come to realize the value of something or someone when it/he/she is gone.

Now, you need to change your position when you take a nap. Your job at the call center is stressful.

The Philippines announced on Sunday they will move all Filipinos who wish to leave Thailand to Chiang Mai, and arrange to fly them home.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the foreign affairs department to repatriate hundreds of Filipinos stranded by the closure of the two Bangkok airports.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told newsmen that Mrs Arroyo released $15,000 in emergency funds to help the stranded Filipinos.

Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said at least 509 Filipinos were stranded in Bangkok, staying in different hotels or other lodging. They will be taken to Chiang Mai by bus, he added. - Bangkok Post

Yet another American celebrity dropped by Manny Pacquiao's training camp as Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg appeared on Tuesday at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Wahlberg, who starred in Rock Star and The Italian Job among other movies, went to the Wild Card on the same day NBA All-star forward David West of the New Orleans Hornets paid Pacquiao a visit.

In the early part of training this month, 80's icon Mickey Rourke was also at the gym to see Pacquiao.

The celebrities were just a few of Pacquiao's well-wishers. On the eve of Thanksgiving Day, fans flocked the cramped gym and spilled out onto the Wild Card carpark area hoping to get a glimpse of Pacquiao.

It's safe to say the closed-door training plan is out of the window.

RP-based press people who have regularly covered Pacquiao fights in the US admitted the attention Pacquiao is getting now has reached an unbelievable height.

"The response is just different. It was never like this before," said Manila Bulletin sportswriter Nick Giongco, who has covered all Pacquiao fights since his debut in 2001.

Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson, a confidante of Pacquiao, also made a quick visit on Wednesday. He was also interviewed by the HBO crew for the Pacquiao-Oscar de la Hoya 24/7 special.

source: GMA News

Jinkee Pacquiao will not be at the MGM Grand Hotel ringside when her husband fights Oscar de la Hoya on December 7 (December 6, US time).

Pacquiao is eight months pregnant with her fourth child with the Filipino world champion, making it delicate for her to watch a bout expected to be more tense than any of her husband's previous fights.

"Sa kuwarto lang ako, siguro sa pay-per-view na lang," said Pacquiao, who will be staying at a suite at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. "Siya (Manny) rin naman ang nagsabi na ayaw niya rin akong manood sa ringside kasi baka kung mapa-ano pa ako."

Pacquiao has never missed watching from the sidelines. She almost did when her husband took on Eric Morales in 2006.

"Naka-panganak na ako noon kaya nakapanood ako," Pacquiao recalled. "Kung six months pa siguro ngayon, ok lang. Pero eight months na kasi e, baka ma-stress pa ako."

She admitted that even when The Dream Match was still in the planning stages, she was already uneasy about the megabuck showdown.

"Alam naman natin si de la Hoya na magaling talaga at tsaka mabilis, so medyo may konting kaba," Pacquiao revealed.

"Nung una, ayaw ko talaga. Para sa akin hindi pa dapat. Na-suggest nga ako kay Manny na meron sigurong iba pang makakalaban, huwag na muna si de la Hoya," she added.

source: GMA News TV

Tension gripped a residential area in Manila's Tondo district late Saturday after a man took his four children hostage, a radio report said.

Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported that the father, who was not immediately named, was still negotiating with police as of 6:30 p.m.

One of the four children was reported injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.

A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team surrounded the area along Quiricada Street and near Jose Abad Santos Street.

source: GMA News

The Philippine Star

Manny Pacquiao is letting go of the lightweight crown he won over David Diaz last June.

The Filipino superstar, all set to face the great Oscar dela Hoya at 147 pounds, told Filipino scribes Wednesday he'd never fight again in the 135-pound division.

"Actually I think I'd never go back down to 135," said Pacquiao when asked about the possibility of him trying to defend the WBC lightweight crown.

"It's too difficult for me to get to 135 pounds now. I walk around at 155 when there's no fight, and 135 is too much a distance for me," he said.

Pacquiao said whatever happens in his "Dream Match" with Dela Hoya, he'd rather stay at 140 or 147 pounds where he feels a lot more comfortable now.

"There are great fighters at 140 and Ricky Hatton is just one of them," he said, as he enjoyed a plateful of chicken lollipops, fried salmon and crab rice.

Pacquiao saying he's giving up the lightweight crown also means that he no longer has to pay the WBC an extra $100,000 as sanction fee for the Dela Hoya fight.

A couple of weeks ago, the WBC said Pacquiao owed the body $30,000 in sanction fees for a previous fight and that he needed to pay the extra $100,000 for Dela Hoya bout.

Pacquiao was given 15 days to pay up or he gets stripped of the 135-pound title. He did pay the $30,000 but not the bigger amount.

He no longer had plans of defending the crown, actually the fourth world title the Filipino southpaw had won next to the flyweight, super-bantam and super-featherweight.

Pacquiao is the only Asian boxer to have won four world titles in different weight classes, and also the only fighter from the Philippines to be crowned lightweight champion.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that predicting the impact of the global financial meltdown is a risky business, but given its strong economic fundamentals, the Philippines will not go into recession.

“At least not as far as our predictions are concerned,” the President said in an interview with Tony Lopez, president and publisher of BizNews Asia (BNA).

She said predicting the actual effect on a particular economy of the financial crisis sweeping across the world would be akin to reading a crystal ball because of the inherent intractability of the problem.

“What is important for us is to be confident that we have been able to do what we have to do to buffer our economy and to continue to work on our plans to keep the economy moving . . . to help the poor,” the President said.

The interview with the President was conducted on the occasion of the seventh founding anniversary of BizNews, the country’s biggest weekly news magazine.

The President said it’s extremely difficult to speculate on the full range and impact of the unprecedented financial debacle. But “what we can say is that we made tough decisions over the last seven years, and these decisions have borne fruit.”

These tough economic reforms, notably the expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT), have made the Philippines more resilient to the blows of the current crisis, she pointed out.

But the government, the President added, must continue to beef up its programs and strategies to keep the economy on the move. “We are taking actions to keep the economy moving and also to make sure that the poorest of our poor have additional relief from the burdens they bear.”

Moreover, the government has adopted a contingency plan in the event the United States, the Philippines’ biggest trading partner, goes into recession, she said.

The President explained that the contingency plan, like those of other countries, is basically a stimulus package.

The stimulus package calls for massive infrastructure spending, emphasis on investments on agricultural production to ensure adequate food supply at affordable prices, and investments in energy. “At the end of the day, we want the private sector to continue to invest and they need infrastructure,” she said.

The President demurred when asked about what she considered her biggest achievement, saying, it’s all up to history to judge.

“What I can say is that during my presidency, we’ve been focused on reforming the economy, we’ve been focused on generating investments, we’ve been focused on creating new and better infrastructure, we’ve been focused on building a social safety net, especially in healthcare, education and bringing stability and peace to the country,” she added. - PNA

Deputy Prime Minister for economics Olarn Chaipravat said the government may have to pay about one billion baht to about 500,000 stranded Thais and foreigners at Suvarnabhumi airport, or about 2,000 baht per person a day.

Because Suvarnabhumi airport was under siege by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), more unemployment in the tourism sector would arise because the number of tourist arrivals next year would plunge, according to Mr Olarn.

The deputy premier said the initial forecast estimated 13.5 million tourists would travel to Thailand in 2009, but the figure would definitely drop due to the current political situation.

As a result, about one million people working in hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses could be laid off next year, Mr Olarn said. - Bangkok Post

By Lella Santiago
goodnewpilipinas.com and PDI

Filipinas never cease to amaze. They amaze with their talent. They amaze with their style.

As proof of their exceptional ability three Filipina authors have made the country proud by making it to the bestseller list of Kinokuniya Bookstore in Singapore: Noelle Chua at number 2, Maya Calica at number 3 and Tara Sering at number 5.

These three savvy, cosmopolitan and bestselling Filipina novelists were likewise handpicked by International Publisher Marshall Cavendish to launch the first “Asian Chic” Lit books. Asian Chic is about Asian women set within the panorama of Asian locales and takes a lingering look at their distinctly Asian lives. And it’s absolutely thrilling that this new literary genre is spearheaded by Filipinas.

The chick lit hits that were recently launched under the Asian Chic banner are “Undercover Tai Tai” by Maya Calica, “Amazing Grace” by Tara FT Sering, and “Mrs Mismarriage” by Noelle Chua.

Singapore-based Maya is the editor of Smile, the inflight magazine of Cebu Pacific Airlines. Previous to this, she worked as a writer and editor of different magazines.

Her talent for writing began to manifest around the 7th grade. She started by entertaining her sisters with her stories. As a matter of fact, her current hit, “Undercover Tai Tai” was loosely inspired by her sister Pinky, a wannabe detective.

A prolific writer, she has several editorial and journalistic laurels on her pretty head. Another of her bestsellers, “The Break-Up Diaries” has been produced into a 4-episode TV miniseries on ABC Channel 5.

A rich life is the source for creative writing. No wonder Maya is a bestselling author. She lives a full life with yoga, reiki and painting among her varied interests.

The only Asian Chic writer based in Manila, Tara works as the managing editor of Contemporary Art Philippines. Concurrently, she is the managing director of Southeast Asian Heritage Publishing.

She is a multi-awarded author with a National Book Award for her novel “Almost Married” and a 2nd Prize Palanca Award for her short story, “Good People.” Tara also writes a column for Supreme published by The Philippine Star.

Being a freelance editor and writer, Noelle is privileged to be a work-at-home wife and mom. She has been a resident of Singapore since 2000 where she migrated with her husband and children.

Another Palanca Award winner, she had several of her short stories published in literary journals in Asia and the U. S. Noelle’s craft was honed during her stint as a copywriter for McCann-Erickson and as deputy editor of several magazines for women.

These are three chic Filipina authors we can all be proud of.

News Announcement:

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) provides assistance to the stranded passengers.

Bangkok, Thailand, 27 November, 2008 - Due to the Airports of Thailand (AoT)'s suspension of services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, all inbound and outbound flights were cancelled since 04.00 hrs. during 25-26 November 2008, causing inconvenience to over 3,000 passengers. The stranded passengers who fly with THAI have been accommodated by Thai Airways International.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) transferred the remaining stranded passengers to the following hotels:

1. Regent Suvarnabhumi Hotel
         Address: 30/1 - 32/1 Soi Ladkrabung 22, Ladkrabung District, Bangkok 10520
         Tel: +66 2 326 7138-43
         Contact person: Khun Pitchaya (Tel: +66 81 255 4833)

2. Twin Towers Hotel
         Address: 88 New Rama 6 Rd. Rongmuang, Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330
         Tel: +66 2 216 9555-6
         Contact person: Khun Nalinee (Tel: +66 85 075 9998)
                                    Khun Watchirachai (Tel: +66 81 831 5554)

3. IBIS Hotel
         Address: 5 Soi Ramkhamhaeng 15, Ramkhamhaeng Rd., Bangkok 10240
         Tel: +66 2 308 7888
         Contact person: Khun Duangkamol (Tel: +66 89 892 4851)

4. Eastin Hotel
         Address: 1091/343 New Petchburi Road, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400
         Tel: +66 2 651 7600
         E-mail: info@eastinbangkokhotel.com
         Contact person: Khun Isada (Tel: +66 81 692 1919)
                                    Khun Niti (Tel: +66 81 207 0970)

5. The Centric Ratchada
         Address: 502/29 Soi Yuchroen, Asoke-Dindaeng Road, Dindang, Bangkok 10400
         Tel: +66 2 246 0909
         E-mail: info@centricratchada.com

6. Ambassador Hotel Bangkok
         Address: 171 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok 10110
         Tel: +66 2 254 0444
         E-mail: info@amtel.com

Besides the above, the Rose Garden Riverside Hotel at Petchkasem Road, Sampran, Nakhon Pathom (Tel: +66 34 322 544, +66 34 322 545, +66 34 322 588) has announced welcoming the stranded passengers stay with the hotel during 26-27 November 2008. Also, the Hotel Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok at Phaholyothin Road has been welcoming their guests, who just checked out from the hotel and cannot fly to their home country due to the temporary closure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, back to the hotel without charges.

On the basis of assistance, for tourists and travellers who cannot travel to their destination as of 25 November, 2008, till the airport reopens, TAT and Ministry of Tourism and Sports have provided accommodation and meals, as well as facilitated tourists as much as possible until they are able to return to their destination. For more information regarding accommodation, please contact the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) ( Tel: +66 2 237 6064-8, +66 2 632 7400-2), as well as the following Hotlines:
                  - 1414 : Ministry of Tourism and Sports
                  - 1672 : Tourism Authority of Thailand
                  - 1155 : Tourist Police

On the other hand, for any tourist whose visa has expired since 26 November, 2008, till the airport reopens, there will be no penalty or charge for overstay from the Immigration Bureau. However, tourists must show their original tickets to avoid being charged.

International Public Relations Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Fax: +66 2 253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th

Thai Airways International said on Thursday it was cancelling all flights from Munich, but would fly on Friday and Saturday from Frankfurt to Utapao, local media in Germany reported.

Passengers would be taken by bus to Bangkok.

A fully-booked Lufthansa flight was to leave on Thursday night, overfly Bangkok and land in Phuket, the airline said.

German package-holiday companies cancelled holiday departures on Thursday for 1,200 Germans because Suvarnabhumi international airport remains occupied.

The holiday companies, which also cancelled outbound trips on Wednesday, were conferring with airlines on how to bring holidaying Germans home on schedule, with both of Bangkok's civilian airports closed.

Lufthansa, Thai Airways International and Air Berlin's LTU unit cancelled all Bangkok-bound Thursday departures. - Bangkok Post

An American woman, accused of driving a teenage girl to suicide by bullying her on MySpace, has been cleared of one of the most serious charges against her.

Lori Drew, 49, was found not guilty of accessing a computer without authorisation to inflict emotional distress.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on another conspiracy charge.

She was convicted on three minor counts of violating the website's terms and conditions.

Drew, from Missouri, was accused of posing as a boy on MySpace to befriend 13-year-old Megan Meier, who hanged herself after their virtual relationship ended.

The court in Los Angeles heard that Lori Drew was aware Megan suffered from depression and was emotionally fragile.

Drew was charged with violating MySpace's terms of use, which ban users from assuming false identities and harassing other members.

The case is the first in the US relating to cyber-bullying.

Lori Drew could receive up to three years in prison when she is sentenced.

She would have faced a maximum 20 years if convicted of the more serious felony charges. - BBC News

The Mobile Testing Team of the Philippine Army Personnel Management Center (MTT-PAPMC) will administer the Pre-Entry Examination to interested applicants for Officer Candidate Course (OCC), Officer Preparatory Course (OPC) and Candidate Soldier Course at the University of Mindanao in Matina, Davao City on Dec. 12-14, the Army announced Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Kurt A. Decapia, public affairs office chief of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, said that interested applicants must satisfy the following basic qualifications: baccalaureate degree holder, natural born Filipino citizen, height of at least 5'4" for male and 5'2" for female, single and is not supporting any child, no pending case in any court of law, physically and mentally fit for training, between 21 and 25 years old on the date of admission at the OCC, and with pleasing personality and high scholastic records.

Decapia also said that for OPC/CAD, applicants must be commissioned as 2Lt. in the Reserved Force (inactive status), baccalaureate degree holder, natural born Filipino citizen, height: at least 5'4" for male and 5'2" for female, between 21 and 31 years old on the date of CAD, no pending case in any court, physically and mentally fit for training, and with pleasing personality and high scholastic records.

For Candidate Soldier Course (CSC), applicants must have earned at least 72 units in college for both male and female, high school graduates should possess technical skill highly desirable for acceptance in the military service, at least 18 but not more than 22 years of age at the time of appointment, 5'4" for male, 5'2" for female, physically and mentally fit, single and has no child, and no pending case in any court.

Decapia added that pre-registration for the examinations will be conducted at the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G1 on Nov. 27-28, 2008 and applicants must present the following documents: Original NSO (National Statistics Office) birth certificate, marriage contract of parents, transcript of records for college graduate/level and diploma for high school graduate. Walk-in applicants during the exam day will not be entertained.

Decapia further said examinees are also required to bring the aforementioned requirements during the exam day along with their valid ID, pencil #2 with sharpener and long brown ordinary folder. source: PNA

About two million books donated by the United States government are now being readied for distribution to the different schools and other learning institutions in Mindanao.

US Ambassador to the Philippinesp Kristy Kenny said that the program, which has a total funding of US$ 480 million, will be implemented under the Education, Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills Program until 2011.

To date, Ambassador Kenny said, more than 250,000 books have already distributed to the school children in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Kenny arrived here last week to see for her self the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the evacuation centers in Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

During the visit, the ambassador also announced that the US government is providing $ 2.5 million in assistance to individuals and families displaced by tragic outbreak of violent conflict in Mindanao.

It includes 1,480 metric tons of U.S rice, valued at approximately $ 2 million, for free distribution by the United Nations World Food Program, as well as water, health, and sanitation support by non-governmental organization partners.

“My thoughts are with those who have been displaced by fighting, people whose lives have been lost and disrupted,” said Kenny.

“Working together, we can help Mindanao move toward peace and prosperity, so citizens of Mindanao-especially the children-may have the future they deserve,” she added. source: PNA

Investigators have yet to establish the identities of more or less 10 armed men who figured in a shootout with policemen before midnight Wednesday when they put to the torch five air-conditioned buses of Victory Liner at its downtown terminal here.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman personally inspected the terminal attacked by the armed men after awarding wounded personnel medals for bravery and heroism on the six wounded policemen of Lingayen, now confined at the Region I Medical Center and Trauma Specialist Hospital in Dagupan City.

Ticman said they are checking on all angles as to the motive of the attack, including the possibility of its being part of the extortion activities of the New People’s Army since several more buses of the firm were torched in the past.

The firefight occurred just outside the bus terminal on Avenida Rizal st. in Lingayen when the policemen were conducting a routine patrol aboard their mobile unit.

Also hospitalized for second degree burns all over his body was a bus conductor known only by his last name Muyano, a native of Zambales, who was sleeping in the back seat of one of the burned buses.

As this developed, Governor Amado Espino Jr. expressed his personal condemnation over the attack by armed men at the Victory Liner bus terminal, calling this an unconscionable act and arrogant display of terrorism.

“I condemn the attack and the burning of five buses of the Victory Liner Bus Co. right inside its terminal compound in Lingayen. This is an unconscionable and arrogant display of terrorism, destabilizing the normal flow of economic activities,” Espino said in a press statement. source: PNA

Alert police and military bomb disposal experts successfully defused on Thursday morning a homemade bomb found a few meters away in front of an Iglesia Ni Cristo Church along Segundo village in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

Preceding Thursday’s bomb discovery was a blast on Wednesday night planted in front of the Jehovah Witness Church along Matalam St. in same municipality.

No one though was reported injured during the Wednesday night blast.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesman said both bombs were fashioned from an 81 mm mortar explosive.

“Such signature bomb devices are linked to Moro rebels,” he said.

Ando said they earlier received intelligence reports of possible bomb attacks by Moro rebels to ease military operations in Maguindanao against rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front Commander Amiril Umbra Kato. source: PNA

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified the Municipality of Maasin in Iloilo as techno-demo area for bamboo processing as one way to boost the bamboo industry and to be able to cope with the increasing demand for the product.

This was disclosed by DENR Undersecretary Edgardo C. Manda during the opening of the Bamboo Market Week held Monday afternoon at the activity center of the SM City here.

Manda said the DENR will provide the necessary training to farmers within the existing bamboo farms in Maasin starting January next year.

Manda said together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Rotary Club and the Office of Board Member Mariano Malones, who was once the mayor of Maasin, they will extend fund support for the training.

“What is important here is information and education. This will increase their productivity and increase their income,” he said.

Manda said with various high end products that can be produced out of bamboos, the farmers can increase their earning from P20,000 to P100,000 annually for every hectare. source: PNA

 The different sectors of society have manifested mounting disgust over delayed reduction in transport fares amidst the diving petroleum prices not only in the world but also in the local markets.

Despite the fact that the transport groups have primarily benefited from the gas price roll backs, still they seem to have the guts to stage a regionwide transport strike to raise their "sentiments", members of different sectors said.

After transport groups announced their plans over the radio on Tuesday morning, the Persons With Disability (PWDs) particularly the "blinds" vehemently expressed opposition to the staging of the strike on Wednesday, November 26.

“We, the passengers are in the proper position to stage the 'welga (strike)', not the drivers and operators, because the transport sectors have already benefited from the petroleum price roll backs since its start last month and only P.50 centavo was granted as rollback by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Aside from this, it was only the minimum fare passengers that felt the ‘slim’ ease which in effect is unfair to those who travel more than four kilometers,” a certain Ted, a practicing therapist at a mall in Legazpi, said.

On the other hand, George San Mateo, chairman of Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) clarified that the group is not opposing a fare rollback and that he believes the riding public must enjoy the same rollback because even their members' families are also part of it. source: PNA

Local government units (LGUs) should come up with city and municipal ordinances that would strengthen efforts at protecting the coral reefs of Davao Gulf.

This was the appeal of Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) head Grace Bacaltos, who said the coral reefs are dying because of global warming.

“The increase in the temperature in the ocean has caused the death of algae living in corals, causing coral bleaching, a vivid sign of corals responding to stress, which may also result in the destruction or death of the corals,” Bacaltos said.

The Davao Gulf area currently has more than 40 marine protected areas, but Bacaltos said some of these areas are not seriously protected.

She said Davao City has already two ordinances that aim to protect the marine protected areas. These are the Fisheries Code and the Marine Protected Area Ordinance.

“But we need more efforts to implement these. Not only Davao City has to protect Davao Gulf. Fishermen from the islands of Samal, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental and even the neighboring provinces are using the resources of the Davao Gulf. So, we are appealing to our local government officials from the region to help us protect and develop our marine resources,” Bacaltos said.

A marine protected area has two zones, the core zone, where no fishing is allowed and the buffer zone, where only hook and line fishing is allowed.

Bacaltos said the protection of the coral reefs will greatly help fishermen since fish will have a safe place to breed and lay their eggs. - source: PNA

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza foresees sweet victory for Filipino boxing icon and international pound-for-pound king Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao in his bout next month against world titleholder Oscar 'Golden Boy' dela Hoya.

"It'll be a tough fight but I believe he'll win it eventually," Atienza said during a press conference Thursday.

He attributed this forecast to Pacquiao's preparedness, saying "Manny's getting rigid but excellent training and this enables him to gradually gain weight that he'll convert into power."

He noted that Pacquiao, who's in the United States training for the fight, already gained 10 pounds.

In contrast, dela Hoya is working on losing weight as the bout is set at 147 pounds.

Atienza is not bothered that Pacquiao is the underdog in this fight.

"The odds are two-to-one with Manny as the underdog -- one of the few times he's rated as such -- but his training is going well and he's gaining more power so I think he'll win," he said.

He called on Filipinos to pray for Pacquiao's victory.

"Manny's one of our national sports treasures so let's pray he wins," he said. source: PNA

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the International Justice Mission (IJM) are glad to announce the latest conviction of a human trafficking case promulgated Thursday, November 27 in Paranaque City.

According to the decision penned by Judge Jaime M. Guray of the Regional Trial Court of Paranaque City Branch 260, Charmela Barrameda, Roberto Acuin a.k.a. "Wowie", Salvacion Alamares, and Gina Ajero were convicted for the crime of Qualified Trafficking in Person.

The four accused were convicted for victimizing minor girls, with ages ranging from 14-16 years old. The victims had been sexually exploited and were made to work as prostitutes by the accused.

One of the four complainants was promised the job of a cashier, while the other three were told they would work as group dancers. Instead, they all ended up as GROs in a videoke club and were forced to engage in acts of prostitution. They also were not brought to Laguna as agreed, but instead to Daraga, Albay. The victims were never allowed to leave the videoke club, until they were rescued by the NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division.

The court found the accused, Salvacion Alamares and Gina Ajero guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 and were sentenced to each suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 20 years and to each pay a fine of one million pesos.

An alias warrant of arrest was issued for Robert Acuin a.k.a. Wowie, and Charmela Barrameda. source: PNA

By Gloria Jane Baylon
PNA

A Filipino on business in Mumbai is under treatment for minor injuries sustained when an explosion today hit the luxury Oberoi Hotel, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported.

The DFA did not release his identity, but noted that he is apparently one of five Filipino nationals officially reported as affected by at least two explosions in the Indian financial district of the former Bombay.

The other four are married couples, unhurt, but nevertheless given assistance and “evacuated to safety” through the Philippine honorary consulate-general in Mumbai and the Philippine embassy in New Delhi.

The two men, whose names were not revealed, were workers at the Tiffen Restaurant in the Oberoi, which was among the buildings targeted for bombing by alleged Muslim militants.

Their respective wives have just arrived in the city for a visit.

DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal said both the embassy and consulate-general “maintain contact with the five Filipinos and will provide assistance as needed.”

Executives of Ingram Micro, the world’s largest technology distributor, called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Los Angeles today (Wednesday in the US) and committed to expand their business operations in the Philippines.

Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan at noon today (Nov. 27), said Ingram Micro officials presented to the President their company’s business plans which include locating in the Philippines.

Dureza said Ingram Micro executives “look at the Philippines as a very fertile investment” haven and that their commitment to expant their business operations in the country despite the current economic crunch bodes well for the Philippines.

“Despite the financial crisis, yung world leader in technology (Ingram Micro), tini-tingnan pa rin ang Pilipinas (as an investment destination).”

“Despite (economic) slowdown concerns, the biggest technological player worldwide (told the President), mag-i-invest kami diyan (Philippines),” Dureza said.

He added that economic analysts he met in the US said that the worldwide financial crunch could even be advantageous to the Philippines, predicting that US companies may just start laying-off workers and then “outsource to the Philippines.”

A total 144 Filipinos stranded since Tuesday in Bangkok after their flights out of the new Suvarabhami and old Don Muang international airports were arbitrarily canceled have been assisted by the Philippine embassy in Bangkok.

They are now safe and currently billeted at various hotels, according to reports from Bangkok to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Both airports were closed after the facilities were surrounded and attacked by anti-government protesters.

The DFA did not indicate who the Filipinos were and why they were in Bangkok, which is in the eye of the protests. - PNA

Hi Min,

I live far from the city. I might postpone going to the city this weekend. Rumors of coup have surfaced in media reports. No bloodshed so far.

When people don't respect the rule of law and the Constitution, we can expect terrible things to happen in a country. It's a state of lawlessness now.

Kidapawan City in North Cotabato is the richest among the cities and municipalities in Mindanao based on the 2003 poverty incidence data of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Davao, besting General Santos City, Davao City and even Cagayan de Oro City, according to NSCB regional head Estrella R. Turingan.

“We were also surprised with the result of the survey but this can be blamed on the inflation rate in Davao and in other cities and municipalities which were rated behind Kidapawan City,” Turingan said.

NSCB poverty incidence refers to the proportion of population or number of families with per capita income below the poverty threshold.

Turingan said this is the first time that they were able to get statistics up to the municipality level due to budget constraints. NSCB generates statistics on the provincial level every three years and the 2003 data is their newest available data.

“We were only able to afford conducting the survey up to the municipality level because the project was financed by the World Bank,” she said.

Kidapawan City is a first class city and is the capital of North Cotabato. It is known primarily as a tourist destination for those who want to climb Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak.

With a poverty incidence of only 12.46%, Kidapawan City bested General Santos City (13.98%), Polomolok (14.29%), Davao City (14.94), Tagum City (15.42%), Cagayan de Oro City (15.50%), Koronadal City (16.18%), Digos City (18.22%), Padada (21.99%) and Hagonoy (22.60%).

Kidapawan City is the only area in North Cotabato that has made it to the top 10 richest cities and municipalities based on poverty incidence. The provinces of South Cotabato and Davao del Sur each had three areas in the Top 10 list.

“Poverty threshold is driven by the price of the basic necessities for the current year. It appears that the average income of Davao City’s residents are not enough to catch up with the price increases in the city,” Turingan said. - PNA

The flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) cancelled its morning service to Bangkok today and closely monitoring developments in the Thai capital before deciding whether to operate its evening service.

Flight PR 730, scheduled to depart Manila at 10:30 a.m., was called off, as was the return flight, PR 731, which was scheduled to depart Bangkok at 2:00 p.m.

Both flights were to utilize a wide-body Airbus A330-300, with a capacity of 302 passengers and 12 crew.

The evening service, PR 732, is slated to depart Manila at 7:05 p.m. Its return flight, PR 733, is scheduled to depart Bangkok at 11:20 p.m. Passengers on these services are being continuously apprised of the status of their flights.

A narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft, capable of carrying 156 passengers and seven crew, is deployed on the evening service.

On Nov. 26, PAL cancelled both services to the Thai capital after the management of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport closed the facility, citing passengers' safety following the forcible takeover of the terminal by anti-government protesters.

The situation is still unresolved as of press time.

PAL passengers bound for Bangkok may contact the airline's 24-hour flight information telephone number 855-9999 for updates on the status of their flights. - PNA

Biotechnology can serve as the country's lifebuoy from the current global economic turmoil as many farms have adopted biotechnology while some technologies are just waiting for commercialization, agriculture experts said.

"Biotechnology is the key to national progress," Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said during the 4th National Biotechnology Week held at the UP Institute of Small-Scale Industries in Diliman, Quezon City.

Any technique that uses living things to make or modify a product, to improve plants and animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses falls under the general category of "biotechnology".

Biotechnology holds a great deal of promise in the fields of food production, agriculture, medicine and environmental management.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban concurred, saying that biotechnology can help address hunger and malnutrition.

"It can usher the Philippines to a new economic phase through safe, simple and cost-effective agricultural biotechnology," Panganiban said.

As NAPC chief, he is mandated to implement anti-hunger and anti-poverty campaigns and is coordinating all efforts by various departments and agencies to battle misery and pain in both rural and urban areas.

Meanwhile, Yap revealed that up to P1.3 billion would be used by the government for hard projects in agriculture -- meaning irrigation projects, farm-to-market roads and the likes -- to improve rice production and the cultivation of other crops. - PNA

By Leslie Venzon
PNA

The Philippine economy posted the second highest growth rate among the ASEAN 5 countries at 4.6 percent in the third quarter of 2008 from last year’s 7.1 percent, with the robust performance of the industry sector mainly spurring the overall growth.

In a press briefing, Socio-economic Planning Secretary Planning Ralph Recto said this is the first time that the industry sector, which grew 7.1 percent during the period, outperformed services.

Recto said key sub-industries exhibited resilience amid the impact of the slowing global economy, notably construction and manufacturing.

“The aggressive push of government in public construction as indicated by the 52.7 percent and 11.6 percent increases in national and local government spending on infrastructure and other outlays; and the sustained demand for real estate by the overseas Filipinos and BPO (business process outsourcing) sectors, both helped pushed total construction,” he stressed.

The services sector also remained strong growing by 3.7 percent and agriculture by 2.5 percent in the third quarter, he added.

Recto said the Philippines achieved modest growth in gross domestic product during the period even as its neighboring countries exhibited lower growth resulting from a global economic slowdown and high inflation and oil prices.

“The country managed to post the second highest growth rate among the ASEAN 5, next to Indonesia which registered 6.1 percent growth,” he said, “Singapore and Taiwan contracted by 0.6 percent and 1 percent, respectively, while Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Hong Kong grew by 4.2 percent, 4 percent, 4 percent, and 1.7 percent, respectively.”

Recto, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general, said supported by continually strong inflows of remittances from overseas Filipinos, the gross national product managed to rise by 6.5 percent in the third quarter.

He expressed optimism that growth momentum will be sustained with GDP rising by 4 to 4.6 percent in the fourth quarter, bringing overall growth to 4.6 percent for the whole year.

By Lilybeth Ison
PNA

Despite their opposing views and affiliations, lawmakers from different political parties on Thursday have agreed and filed a resolution at the House of Representatives which seeks to stop any move to pursue Charter Change (Cha-cha) before 2010.

House Resolution no. 888 was backed by 23 signatories, including majority lawmakers. It was principally authored by six out of the seven endorsers of the latest impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which was dismissed on Wednesday by the committee on justice for lack of substance.

Authors of HR 888 are Bayan Muna Reps. Teodoro Casino and Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Reps. Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, former Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. (Lakas-CMD); Liberal Party (LP) members Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya; and Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of presidential aspirant and ousted Senate president Manuel Villar Jr.

In filing the resolution, the solons said any move to amend the Constitution before 2010 would certainly benefit those currently in power.

HR 888 states that some proposed amendments pending before Congress are patently self serving and abhorred by the people.

The proposals to postpone the May 2010 elections to May 2011 -- extend the term of incumbent officials, lift term limits of public officials, change the presidential and unitary form of government to parliamentary and federal form of government before 2010 elections -- will surely play into the hands of those plotting to perpetuate President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in power, it added.

La Union Rep. Victor Francisco Ortega, chair of the committee on Constitutional amendments, however, maintained that term extension is not part of the Charter Change agenda being pushed at the Lower House.

"I can assure the public that term extension is not part of our agenda," he said.

Ortega also clarified that the controversial HR 550, which seeks to extend the term for one more year (from three to four years) of the office of local elected officials, except barangay officials and congressmen, has already been withdrawn by the proponent as early as three months ago after it has been filed.

He noted that HR 550 was filed on April 30 of this year by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas but this was withdrawn last August 12.

"A clerical error in the committee's matrix caused confusion and prevented us from identifying immediately that Batangas Rep. Mandanas already withdrew HR 550 last August 12. The committee is not taking that up anymore," the solon said.

Ortega explained that the Batangas solon had filed three resolutions on Charter change -- HR 548 which seeks to "promote efficiency in governance by uniting the executive and legislative functions; HR 549 which seeks to strengthen local autonomy by empowering Congress to create more autonomous regions; and HR 550 which changes the term of office of local elective officials, except barangay officials and congressmen, from three to four years and to synchronize local and national elections from 2010 to 2011.

He said an error in the panel's matrix mistakenly marked HRs 548 and 549 as having been withdrawn when Mandanas actually withdrew HRs 548 and 550.

Ortega said the term extension is "merely talk, rumors or chismis."

"The committee has not received any resolution directly or indirectly (proposing) any extension of term. None of the about 30 resolutions pending in my committee speak of any extension whatsoever," he said.

"I am clarifying these matter if only to allay fears that the moves of the committee on Constitutional Amendments is solely, if not ultimately, for the purpose of extending the term of the President, and even that of the members of Congress. This is not so," Ortega stressed.

The veteran lawmaker also said that presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo is also not working for term extensions.

At least 14,000 jobs will be created in the agricultural sector through the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Emergency Employment and Livelihood Programs of the Government (EELPG) next year.

According to DA Regional Executive Director Gumersindo D. Lasam, not only will jobs be created through the opening up of more lands for agricultural production but also in the production of organic fertilizer, repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and small water impounding projects (SWIPs), and the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects in the region.

Among the agricultural crops to be produced and continued to be produced are rice, corn, fruit, and vegetables, and fishery products.

Lasam said the program is in response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's memorandum circular for the Cabinet secretaries to create emergency employment and to implement pro-poor programs in all the regions of the country.

The regional executive director said both the DA and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will inventory the irrigation systems and SWIPs throughout the region that need repairs and rehabilitation.

The national government has allocated some 300 million pesos for the DA regional office to implement the program, while the NIA regional office will be allotted billions of pesos for the repair and rehabilitation of the irrigation canals and those of the SWIPs, Lasam said. source: PNA

Gunmen have carried out a series of co-ordinated attacks across the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing 101 people and injuring 287 more.

At least seven high-profile locations were hit in India's financial capital, including two luxury hotels where dozens of hostages are being held.

The buildings are now ringed by troops. Gunmen are also said to be holding people captive in an office block.

Police say four suspected terrorists have been killed and nine arrested.

As day broke in Mumbai, the situation on the ground was still confused with reports of gunfire and explosions at between seven and 16 locations.

The city's main commuter train station, a hospital, a restaurant and two hotels - locations used by foreigners as well as local businessmen and leaders - were among those places caught up in the violence.

Commandos have surrounded the two hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi Trident, where it is believed that the armed men are holding dozens of hostages. - BBC

Anti-government protesters in Thailand have forced the closure of the second airport in Bangkok, Don Mueang.

The airport was closed after opposition supporters blocked the terminal, in an apparent attempt to stop officials flying to meet PM Somchai Wongsawat.

Mr Somchai is in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, because he was unable to land in Bangkok after a trip to Peru.

Protesters have been occupying the international airport amid an escalating political crisis.

On Wednesday Mr Somchai rejected a call by army leader Gen Anupong Paochinda for new elections to end the political deadlock. - from BBC News

I agree with Nathanielz. Ang mentality man gud sa ubang mga Pinoy, pag-winner ka, suyaan ka, if pildi ang boxer, yaga-yagaan o umay-umayon hinuon ka. The same thing is happening kada human ug election. The worse is daghang mausab ang color.

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Newsletter from Cebu Pacific    

This Juan is for you. We're having a seat sale because you made us the 2008 Agora Marketing company of the year!

It's our way of thanking you and showing our appreciation for your unwavering support for Cebu Pacific (CEB) which made us the 2008 Agora Marketing Company of the Year.

More than 400,000 seats are available as we give you one of the biggest promotional seat sale of the year.

We hope that you can join us in celebrating this accomplishment and take advantage of the opportunity to travel with your loved ones! The domestic ‘Go Lite‘ seat sale fare is at P500 ALL-IN.

We're offering ZERO fares for most of our international flights. Passengers will just pay for government taxes and applicable surcharges, ranging from USD 25 to 80 per way. This promo is non-refundable.

Fly ZERO fares from Manila to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei.

Visit Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau or Singapore from Clark; or Hong Kong and Singapore from Cebu or Davao on the last ZERO fare for the year!

The sale period STARTS NOW until November 30, 2008. Yehey, for summer because the travel period starts January 1 until March 18, 2009.

Flying to your dream vacation has never been easier from any of our four hubs, Manila, Cebu, Davao and Clark. ‘Go Lite’ fares can be availed by passengers with no check-in luggage. Passengers with check-in bags will just add P200 upon booking.

Hurry, book your seats now at Cebu Pacific Online, call CEB's reservations at (02) 70-20-888 or (032) 230-8888, or visit your favorite travel agent.

A former US TV news presenter who hacked into a rival's e-mail and leaked gossip to the press has been sentenced to six months under house arrest.

Larry Mendte, 51, was also handed 250 hours of community service and a $5,000 (£3,300) fine. He was sacked in June.

Lawyers for Alycia Lane, 36, said Mr Mendte's actions "destroyed her career and made her a tabloid feeding frenzy".

The pair co-anchored the evening news bulletin on Philadelphia station KYW-TV from 2004 until January 2008.

Mr Mendte admitted hacking into his colleague's e-mail hundreds of times, before and after Miss Lane was dismissed by the broadcaster in January.

Several of Miss Lane's personal e-mails had appeared in the US media, including a message about a sexy bikini shot of herself that she sent to a married ex-colleague.

'Two-year assault'

During the case, Mr Mendte was said to be jealous of his rival's $780,000 (£516,000) annual salary, which was greater than his own.

He told the court: "My role at the station was still being diminished when Alycia told me... that she was the rising star and that I was '50 and on my way out'."

He said: "I felt I was in trouble. My career, my future, my family's future was in trouble. And, this is where I got into more trouble - federal trouble." -BBC

Shares in Citigroup have jumped by almost 60% as investors welcomed the US government's rescue plan for the bank.

The US Treasury is set to invest $20bn (£13.4bn) in return for preferred shares in the troubled banking giant.

The Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp will also guarantee up to $306bn (£205bn) of risky loans and securities on Citigroup's books.

"Equity markets have responded positively to the Citigroup news," said Neil Mackinnon at ECU Group.

The new plan follows a $25bn injection of public funds in the bank last month.

Citigroup's market value fell to $20.5bn on Friday, compared with $270bn in 2006, as its shares plunged by more than 60% last week.

However they rallied by 58% on Monday.

The company has announced 52,000 job losses worldwide, on top of 23,000 job cuts previously announced. It employs around 12,000 people in the UK. - BBC

Sa mga katiguwangan pa namo sa Anda kung maoy pasultihon: "Budlay na estoryahon. Dis-a mang daan."

Kaniadto nagdumili siya pagdawat sa padlock ug kandado sa kasing-kasing sa nagmanggad sa iyang dughan, karon lain na hinuon ang nagtangil sa yawi sa kasing-kasing sa laki.

Dis-a mang daan niadtong ulitawo pa imong brother. Mao lagi, mag-iloveyou-iloveyou na human niya giitsapuwera ang gugma sa imong brother ug human niya giwatas-watas ug giyatak-yatakan ang dughan sa imong brother human siya magdumili sa gugmang gihalad kaniadto sa mga ulitawo ug dalaga pa.

By Jason Palmer, BBC

IBM has announced it will lead a US government-funded collaboration to make electronic circuits that mimic brains.

Part of a field called "cognitive computing", the research will bring together neurobiologists, computer and materials scientists and psychologists.

As a first step in its research the project has been granted $4.9m (£3.27m) from US defence agency Darpa.

The resulting technology could be used for large-scale data analysis, decision making or even image recognition.

"The mind has an amazing ability to integrate ambiguous information across the senses, and it can effortlessly create the categories of time, space, object, and interrelationship from the sensory data," says Dharmendra Modha, the IBM scientist who is heading the collaboration.

"There are no computers that can even remotely approach the remarkable feats the mind performs," he said.

"The key idea of cognitive computing is to engineer mind-like intelligent machines by reverse engineering the structure, dynamics, function and behaviour of the brain."

By Ven Arigo

A Boholano overseas Filipino worker (OFW) jailed for over seven months in Saudi Arabia for alleged grave infraction against the Islam faith was finally released.

Roel Soliva Sebandal arrived at the Tagbilaran City airport yesterday morning but his wife Mylene and two-year-old son John Paolo are left in Riyadh.

Accompanied by his mother Lilia and a cousin, Sebandal rushed to the house of Rep. Edgar Chatto here to thank for the congressman’s assistance.  They were accommodated by the solon’s wife, Pureza, because her husband had left earlier to meet some Bohol guests from Manila.

The migrant worker, a resident of Gallares Street here, vowed never to return to work in Riyadh or anywhere in Saudi Arabia.

He told some press people who chanced upon him at the solon’s residence that he had contracted phobia and feels alarmed even by just seeing an Arab policeman. 

Sebandal said he was falsely accused of stepping on a Koran, Islam’s bible, placed on the floor below the driver’s seat of his car.

The OFW, 35 years old, was teary eyed while recounting how the Saudi policemen slapped him and banged his head on a hard table just for him to admit on the matter.

Like a brute, Sebandal was tortured in a bartolina for weeks until he was transferred to the main prison in Riyadh pending investigation, which lasted for months.

Meanwhile, his wife, who followed him to Riyadh together with their only child, managed to find a job as a physical therapist in a wellness club.

She worked to sustain her and son’s daily needs while her helpless husband languished in jail.
Sebandal was already about eight years abroad, working as an air-conditioning technician in Saudi Arabia.

The fateful day came on the 10th of April this year when he had his car washed in a shop, which workers were Bangladeshis, because he planned to sell it and buy a new one.

When the washing was over, Sebandal asked one shop helper for something to place on the wet front floor of his car.  He was given a piece of paper.

He boarded his car, his feet stepping on the paper on the wet car floor when he was suddenly apprehended.

Sebandal was brought to a police station and was later told that the paper he had stepped on contained Islam teachings written in Arabic.

He was even accused of seriously committing an infraction against the Islam religion for tramping on the Koran book itself.

Fear had forced the Boholano migrant worker to sign a document in “admission” of the crime against the Arab faith.   

While in the main jail---with an estimated 300 other helpless OFW prisoners---Sebandal managed to contact his mother here thru his wife who could only occasionally visit his jail.

Thus, the OFW’s mother sought assistance from Chatto’s office for all possible assistance leading to her son’s release from prison and return home.

Sebandal’s case was also raised to Vice Pres. Noli de Castro during the latter’s visit here last July 22.

The OFW was assisted only by a private counsel, who is an Arab lawyer provided to him by his kind Saudi employer, in the early stage of the investigation.  He had not yet contacted his mother by that time. 

Meanwhile, Chatto linked with top officials of such agencies as the Philippine Embassy in Saudi, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DOF). Subsequently Sebandal was notified for release last Monday.

He had not been convicted and sentenced for the alleged crime, but the OFW had already spent seven months and seven days behind bars.

Upon arrival at the international airport in Manila, Sebandal immediately went to see Chatto at Congress in Quezon City.  The solon facilitated his free travel to Bohol.

Mexican Heriberto Ruiz took a unanimous decision win over Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista seconds ago in their 8-round bout here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Ruiz knocked down Bautista in the third with a left hook, and Bautista was deducted a point in the seventh due to low blows, earning for the Mexican a 77-73, 78-72, 80-70 win.


Bautista started bleeding in the third round due to a headbutt, and was knocked down in the same round with a left hook.

Bautista's bleeding was not stopped by the corner starting in the third, and Boom-Boom was visibly bothered by the cut all throughout.

The Filipino fighter did not use his jab in the fight, and his punches were telegraphed as Ruiz continued to counterpunch beautifully and used good lateral skills to frustrate the Pinoy fighter.

source: philboxing.com

By the Bohol Chronicle

Boholano Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista will take on Mexican Heriberto "Cuate" Ruiz in one of the undercards of today's Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi showdown, 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Both Bautista and Ruiz came in at an exact 122 lbs during official weigh-in held yesterday at the MGM Grand.

Bautista (26-1, 19 KOs) will not be defending his WBO Intercontinental superbantam title, although Ruiz (39-7-2, 23 KOs) is expected to give the Bohol-raised fighter fits all night with his vast experience.

Ruiz has fought the best in the world, including Rafael Marquez, and has indicated Bautista does not faze him one bit.

Bautista trained at the Mayweather Gym here prior to today's event, which is expected to be packed by British fans all rooting for Hatton to win.

The night's main event, Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, is a scheduled 12-round battle for Hatton's Ring Magazine and IBO Junior Welterweight titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Punch Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Affliction Clothing and Cerveza Tecate. In the co-feature James Kirkland vs. Brian Vera, a 10-round middleweight bout, is presented in association with Tournament of Contenders.

Although he is the little brother of one of boxing biggest stars, Matthew Hatton is well on his way to carving out his own niche in the crowded welterweight division. A proud native of Manchester, the 27-year-old has won six of his last seven bouts including his last bout, a solid win, over Scott Woolford in September of this year. Hatton faces Accra, Ghana's Ben "Wonder" Tackie who is no stranger to the Hatton family, having fought Ricky in 2003.

Tagbilaran's Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista is already a star in the Philippines, but the highly-motivated youngster wants to achieve the same status around the world as his countryman Manny Pacquiao and knows the only way to do that is to win a championship. After falling short in his first world title shot against Daniel Ponce De Leon, Bautista has roared back with three straight wins. In Heriberto "Cuate" Ruiz Bautista will be facing a rugged warrior who has been in with the best in the world over the last 14 years. Winner of four of his last five bouts, the 31-year-old from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico is ready for a battle with "Boom Boom."

Former World Super Featherweight Champion Sirimongkol Singwancha (59-2, 34 KOs) of Thailand will return to fight in the United States for the first time in over three years when he puts his 16 fight winning streak on the line in a welterweight eight rounder against the always dangerous Rogelio Castañeda Jr. (24-14-3, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico.

Already 6-0 in 2008 and 8-0 with 7 KOs overall, Philadelphia's Danny Garcia will look to keep the momentum going in his busy year when he faces El Paso, Texas' Adan Hernandez (14-5, 5 KOs) in a junior welterweight six rounder.

Also competing in six rounders will be lightweight Hylon Williams (5-0 1 KO) of Houston, Texas, against Carson, California's Ramon Flores (2-3-1, 2 KOs) and hard-hitting Cincinnati lightweight prospect Adrien Broner (3-0, 3 KOs) making his debut under the Golden Boy Promotions banner against tough veteran Terrance Jett of Las Vegas.

By the Bohol Chronicle

The drainage outfall along Graham Avenue is posing environmental threat as free-flowing water is heavily contaminated with coliform. This was confirmed by a laboratory test conducted by the University of San Carlos - Water Laboratory in Cebu City, a DENR-EMB and DOH-accredited testing center.

In results released last Friday, the USC laboratory test showed “too numerous to count” coliform recorded at more than 2,000 colonies.

The figure alarmed health authorities after Gov. Erico Aumentado asked the Bohol Environment and Management Office (BEMO) to closely monitor the laboratory test which the provincial government commissioned the Cebu-based accredited laboratory.

The other results of the USC laboratory test released last Friday will be read and interpreted by chemical engineers who will be commissioned by BEMO.

This latest came few days after another laboratory test conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) laboratory showed the acidity level to be within the tolerable level at 7.29 while the maximum tolerate is 9. The biochemical oxygen demand was recorded at 35 (standard 150).

However, the total suspended solids recorded was 49 while the standard should not be more than 30.

The laboratory test of DENR is based on the fact that seawater off Tagbilaran Port has not been classified. Class SD is the lowest category, thus the tolerable level is high as compared if the area is under classified zone.

PENRO Nestor Canda said that there is a pending deliberation on the classification of the area which DENR has earlier classified as Class B. This was objected by PROCESS Foundation which evaluates the area to be under Class A.

Lawyer Raul Barbarona, ELAC head, reacted on the results of the DENR test saying that the opening of the drainage outfall should not be permanent as “surely the coliform and other pollutants will increase as the seawaters in the area would be exposed to the water outfall from the city’s drainage.”

“Cutting of the illegal connections remain basic requirement in order to ensure the cleanliness of the water coming out from its outfall,” Barbarona stressed.

It maybe recalled that even DENR Sec. Lito Atienza during his recent visit told DENR authorities here that the outfall might be opened during heavy rains in order to eliminate flooding of city streets.  However, the secretary stressed the outfall should be closed after a temporary opening especially if there are sewerage connections of business establishments along CPG Ave, this city.

The opening of the drainage outfall was ordered by the city mayor even without any coordination meeting among the agencies concerned like the DPWH, DENR as well as with Gov. Aumentado who presided the last coordination meeting.

The city mayor insisted that DPWH will turnover the drainage project to the city before the city assumes responsibility on the project. However, even before the governor could effect such request of the mayor, the outfall was suddenly opened.

The opening of the outfall stopped the flooding along CPG North Avenue. However, the basic concern for the construction of a water treatment facility has not been attended to by the city government as it is still under consultation level.

DPWH Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan said the city drainage project was done after the city mayor committed to construct simultaneously with the project the water treatment facility.

However, two years passed, no water treatment plant has been constructed by the city government. And amid pronouncements to construct water treatment facility, the issue of cutting the illegal connections first before opening the drainage outfall was raised, to ensure that the flushed out water will not pollute Tagbilaran bay.

At the bay sprawls the City Port considered as the “first tourist port by the Philippine Ports Autority.”

To A Layman: Anti-virus companies would run out of business without computer virus.

Some pharmaceutical companies would intentionally create a disease to skyrocket sales of their newly created drugs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KPsuxFB7z4

Reply from Eat Bulaga...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VZuev4kDBQ

How to Thank Eat Bulaga at A Wowowee Show. Funny blunder...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LShaoT38Nc

Claudine Barretto live on TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ogKMpu2vxE

Gretchen Barretto's career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFhHp5-ANyo

Cesar Montana and Sunshine Cruz: a marriage in crisis.

There are new global companies selling protective measures against the pirates. It's all about business.

I agree with Raquel. Media outlets all over the world are champions of portraying the dark side of life and society. Look at our very own Philippine Daily Inquirer. You can hardly read anything good about the Philippines.

Every country has its own woes. There is no perfect government, no perfect society. Perfection comes when Jesus Christ descends from heaven and rules the world during the Millennial Kingdom.

If governments are perfect, if the world is perfect, we won't long for heaven and the eternal life that awaits those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

All countries have their own problems but some countries are more problematic than others.

All is equal but some are more equal, George Orwell says in his novel, Animal Farm.

China has stepped up computer espionage against the US government and American businesses, according to an influential Washington congressional panel.

In its annual report to Congress, the panel warned that China was gaining increasing access to sensitive information from US computer networks.

It said China was aggressively pursuing cyber-warfare capabilities to gain an advantage over the US in any conflict.

There has been no comment so far from the Chinese on the report.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission was set up by Congress in 2000 to advise, investigate and report on US-China issues.
   
It alleges that the Chinese are looking for diplomatic and military secrets in government databases, and potentially lucrative industrial secrets held by American corporations.

The report said the US government and economy were critically vulnerable to cyber-space attack since both depended heavily on computers and the internet.

The panel of six Democrats and six Republicans said China would continue to target the US using cyberspace as it was cheaper and less risky than traditional espionage activities.

Another advantage, they say, is that determining who infiltrated computer networks is often difficult to establish.

"China is stealing vast amounts of sensitive information from US computer networks," said Larry Wortzel, chairman of the commission.

His panel recommended that lawmakers should provide funds for US government agencies - including those run by the military and homeland security - that would monitor and protect sensitive information held on computer networks. - BBC

Aside from the usual broomstick or "walis tingting," coconut midribs can provide income to families, especially for those who are in the rural areas where coconut trees are abundant.

This in essence is the belief of Marife Tacuyan, a mother and at the same time trainer of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) from the municipality of Tubungan in Iloilo.

Tacuyan said her training on making by-products out of coconut midribs started during her joining the RIC which has about 80 women-members. At present, she is already one of the RIC trainers and has often been invited to share her expertise with other interested groups.

“I make midrib by-products during my idle time or after I am done tending my carabaos and cows,” she said.

Midribs can be made into baskets, fruit tray, flower vase, among other items.

In one month, Tacuyan can complete around 200 fruit trays which she sells at P200 to P250 per piece. She spends around P100 for each tray.

“I was able to send my son to a maritime school this year out of my income from the project,” she said in dialect.

Tacuyan said coconut midribs are abundant in the rural areas. Other materials such as plastic rattan and bamboo can be bought in markets. - source: PNA

A Catholic Church official rebuffed a proposal for prelates to undergo sex education program.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said bishops need not have to undergo such an orientation as they have knowledge on the matter.

“The Church is more knowledgeable about human sexuality as it even has a lot of documents about it more than what our congressmen might actually have,” he pointed out.

Quitorio also noted that the Church has been giving sex education to Catholic schools.

“Actually the Church has long been giving sex education to Catholic schools and these bishops have been presidents or owners of these schools,” he explained.

However, the CBCP official said compared to the sex education being pushed by pro-Reproductive Health bill lawmakers, the sex education being given by the Catholic Church focuses on human sexuality.

Early this week, AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, one of the principal authors of the controversial bill, appealed to the bishops to undergo orientation on reproductive health and observe sex education sessions that the program seeks to institutionalize.

"There is nothing insidious in the use of artificial contraceptives and in the conduct of sex education for adolescents. What the bills hopes to do is promote public health -â€" to inform young Filipinos about the dangers of irresponsible sex, to give mothers choices on how they wish to manage their families and avoid unwanted pregnancies, and more importantly, prevent the death of hundreds of Filipino women because of abortion," she said.

The lawmaker’s proposal was made in response to the call of the CBCP for more dialogue with them on the measure which is pending in Congress. - PNA

A spate of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has prompted an emergency meeting between nations bordering the Red Sea to deal with the problem.

Senior officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen are meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

It comes amid a report that pirates who hijacked a Saudi oil tanker on Saturday are demanding a $25m (£17m) ransom.

However, the Sirius Star's owners, who are negotiating with the pirates, have cast doubt on that figure.

The Sirius Star, the biggest tanker ever hijacked, is carrying a cargo of 2m barrels - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - worth more than $100m.

It is now anchored off the Somali coast with around 25 crew members being held as hostages.

A pirate on board the vessel calling himself Mohamed Said was quoted by news agency AFP as saying that the Saudi owners, Vela International, had been set a 10-day deadline to hand over a $25m ransom.

BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner says the owners are effectively denying that figure, while the industry is expecting the demand to be higher.

A spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry, Hossam Zaki, was quoted by Egypt's official Mena news agency as saying that "all options are open" in trying to solve the crisis.

'Fundamental problem'

The 25 captive crew on the Sirius Star include 19 Filipinos, two British citizens, two Poles, one Croatian, and one Saudi national. - BBC

Samsung Gravity t459 Phone. Full details here

To unlock the country's college students their creative potential and set them on the path to academic and career success, Microsoft Philippines today launched a software giveaway that provides them access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools at no charge.

The Microsoft DreamSpark student program (http://channel8.msdn.com) makes available a broad range of development and design software for download.

“Looking at the kind of technology that we have today, we expect to see bigger and better innovation to come, and our students today will play a major role in this,” said Tim Vergel de Dios, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Philippines.

“Microsoft DreamSpark is our way of equipping the next generation of technology leaders with tools that will not only help them improve their skill, but also enable them to make use of technology in life-changing ways that will benefit the community and spur economic growth,” he said.

The program was initially offered to more than 35 million college students in Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. earlier this year.

Now, Microsoft DreamSpark is also available to all Filipino student members of the Junior Philippine Computer Society (JPCS), the only national student Information Technology (IT) organization in the country.

JPCS is open to all college students who are interested in IT and developing their technical and leadership skills.

The organization currently has over 4,000 members coming from universities and colleges around the country.

According to Vergel de Dios, Microsoft partnered with JPCS to ensure that they can reach out to students focusing on technology, design, math, science and engineering.

"Expansion of the program to include all tertiary students will continue throughout the coming years," he said.

The following cutting-edge software will be available to empower students to unlock their ingenuity by building critical skills -- Microsoft developer tools, designer tools, and platform resources.

“Students today are very technical, and this can be seen in our lifestyle and interests, as well as in what is expected of us when we enter the workplace. Here is an opportunity for students like me to be familiar with the same professional tools that we will be using when we graduate and enter the industry,” said John Paul Sibug, President, Junior Philippine Computer Society (JPCS).

He added,“This gives us a real advantage as we start our careers. Microsoft DreamSpark lets us apply what we’re learning inside the classroom to gain new insights into software design and development.

According to an International Data Corporation (IDC) study of the economic impact of IT across 82 countries and regions, technological innovation is a critical economic growth engine and is expected to generate 7.1 million new jobs in the global economy over the next four years. - PNA

Features of BlackBerry Curve 8320 Smartphone Titanium

    * Smallest, lightest BlackBerry with full QWERTY keyboard--weighs just 3.9 ounces
    * Wi-Fi connectivity for Web browsing and access to T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home unlimited calling service
    * 2.0 megapixel camera with flash and 5x digital zoom; Bluetooth wireless connectivity with with stereo headset support
    * Next-generation media player with audio and video playback in a variety of formats; expandable via MicroSD memory cards
    * Includes: Battery, Charger, Stereo Hands-free Headset, USB Cable, Carrying Case and BlackBerry Desktop Software

Blackberry Review: Click Here to Read More

Features of Motorola RAZR2 V9x Black Phone (AT&T)

    * Latest iconic RAZR2 design, improved with AT&T Navigator GPS and Video Share capabilities
    * Fast 3G connectivity and compatibility with AT&T Music (including Napster Mobile) and Cellular Video services
    * 2.0-megapixel camera/camcorder; stereo Bluetooth streaming, MicroSD expansion to 8 GB; handsfree speakerphone with noise-cancelling CrystalTalk Technology
    * Up to 3 hours of talk time, up to 295 hours (12+ days) of standby time
    * Includes: handset, battery, charger, mini-to-micro USB adapter, Quick Start Guide and User Manual

Motorola Review, click here to read more

Review BlackBerry Bold 9000 Smartphone

Features

    * Global Blackberry messaging smartphone with quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G connectivity as well as Wi-Fi networking
    * Compatible with AT&T Navigator GPS turn-by-turn directions, AT&T Mobile Music, and streaming video from Cellular Video service
    * 2-megapixel camera/camcorder; Bluetooth for handsfree devices; MicroSD expansion (to 32 GB); newly designed QWERTY keyboard
    * Up to 4.5 hours of talk time, up to 324 hours (13.5 days) of standby time
    * What's in the Box: handset, battery, charger, USB cable, 3.5mm stereo headset, holster, quick start guide and user manual, CD with Blackberry Desktop software

Blackberry Review, read more here

A Malabon councilor has proposed before the city council seeking to prohibit students from entering internet cafes or other similar establishments during school hours.

Malabon first district councilor Ma. Anna Lizza G. Yambao said that she filed the proposed ordinance after noting that some students cut class just to surf the net or play on-line games to the detriment of their studies.

She also said that this proposal is in-line with the Constitution’s Article III Section 12 which explicitly states “that the state recognize the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral and spiritual, intellectual and social well being.”

Should this proposal be approved by Malabon’s city council, Yambao said that students 18 years old and below shall be prohibited from entering any establishments offering internet or gaming services starting 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

She said that net cafes or internet shops caught violating this provision will be fined P1,000 for the first time, P2,000 for the second, and P5,000 and cancellation of business permit for the third time offenders.

Likewise, students caught defying this local law for the first time shall be remanded to their school or parents for proper action while second time offenders shall be fined P200 and third timers shall be slapped a P500 fine aside from serving a two-day community service sentence where he or she will be under the care and jurisdiction of the city social welfare and development department (CSWDD).

Implementing this ordinance will be the Philippine National Police (PNP) unit in Malabon, city business permit licensing office (BPLO) and barangay police. - PNA

Bonifacio Communications Corp. (BCC), a subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), has filed a criminal complaint against Innove Communications Inc., its contractor Avecs Corporation and the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) for malicious mischief and theft.

In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Taguig City, BCC accused Innove, Avecs and FBDC of intentionally cutting BCC’s lateral ducts and stub out conduits located along 3rd Avenue, eSquare area, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, to give way to Innove’s communications facilities.

In a subpoena dated November 11, 2008, the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office directed Innove, Avecs and FBDC to appear before its investigating prosecutor on December 12, 2008.

PLDT spokesperson Ramon R. Isberto, said BCC was compelled to file this case to avert any further damage to BCC’s facilities.

“Our intention is to prevent more untoward incidents that will lead to a further escalation of this dispute,” Isberto said.

BCC and its parent company PLDT are currently involved in a dispute with Innove and FBDC over exclusivity rights that BCC and PLDT currently have with respect to providing telecommunications infrastructure and services within the Bonifacio Global City.

“Whatever may be our dispute over exclusivity rights, nothing justifies the willful destruction of property,” Isberto added.

In its complaint, BCC said Avecs “intentionally disconnected the conduit of BCC from an unused stub out of the Net 3 building, replaced it with the Innove conduit, and ran Innove’s fiber into the building.”

BCC said the offenders deliberately caused damage to its property and feigned ignorance of BCC’s facilities.

This, according to BCC, also constituted to theft because the offenders took BCC’s lateral ducts and illegally cut them, with the clear intention to gain profit from the insertion of Innove’s fiber cables to access the building and its potential customers.

In addition, Innove, Avecs and FBDC were accused of violating PD 401, as amended by BP 876, since the installation of the telephone facilities were unauthorized by BCC.

According to BCC, “FBDC is undeniably aware of works conducted by Innove and Avecs” since it is FBDC that “grants permits for construction works and the installation of telecommunications and other facilities within the BCC.”

BCC said it sent a letter to Innove on September 1, 2008, demanding the “restoration of the BCC duct runs and for Innove to immediately cease and desist from using BCC stub out conduits in the area.”

“To date, Innove has failed and continues to fail to restore BCC’s communications infrastructure facilities, a portion of which was intentionally severed and condemned while another portion illegally appropriated by Innove, Avecs and their agents.”

Innove, under Globe Telecom, cannot be reached for comment. - PNA

Though the Philippines is not among the ally-countries of the United States included in its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), the U.S. Embassy in Manila wants it known that an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to the United States is required even from citizens of new VWP countries beginning Jan. 12 next year.

Under the program, citizens of ESTA-authorized countries can travel visa-free to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less.

Aside from ESTA authorization, the eligible traveler must carry an e-passport â€"- a documentation system that is not yet in full implementation in the Philippines.

Because the Philippines is not a VWP country, Filipinos must pass stringent measures to obtain a visa and travel to the U.S.

ESTA is “a web-based system that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the United States,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which administers the program, said in an announcement dated Nov. 13 and released through the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

The ESTA means that entrance to the U.S. for even VWP-country nationals is “not as simple and easy as it seems, not an automatic entry,” a diplomatic source said.

Filipinos who feel excluded or discriminated should not despair, the diplomat said on condition of anonymity because the issue is sensitive.

Efforts of the Philippines News Agency (PNA) to find out the latest status of RP-US effort related to the VWP program failed.

But the fact that Philippine passports are not yet fully electronic has been a drawback, according to a source. Next year, the DFA will begin issuing so-called e-passports.

Last week, DHS announced in Washington that such ESTA authorization is required, apparently in preparation for a formal announcement on Monday, Nov. 23, of the additional “seven allies to the list of countries authorized to participate in the VWP.”

The seven countries are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia.

Japan, Brunei, Singapore are the only Asian countries in the first list of 27 mostly European countries whose citizens or nationals have been traveling to the U.S. under the VWP.

The Philippines must meet various statutory requirements to be admitted to the VWP.

The DHS says the requirements include a “more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports.”

VWP members are also required to maintain high counter- terrorism law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said that “expanding the number of countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. without a visa increases business and social ties between our countries and at the same time deepens cooperation on required security measures.” - PNA

The 100,000 new jobs that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) hopes to generate from its issuance of an indefinite visa to foreigners employing 10 or more Filipinos is “realistic” and can easily be achieved, according to leaders of foreign business chambers based in the country.

“The target of 100,000 new jobs is realistic if you have very easy access by foreigners to the market. The immigration, justice and trade departments of the government are now going to the right direction,” said Petteri J. Makitalo of the Finland Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines

Makitalo said the country need as many laws as possible that would facilitate the entry of business and tourism into the country.

“The new visa opens tremendous opportunities in tourism and manufacturing here. Businessmen want to have very easy access into the country and make doing business here very easy,” he said.

Makitalo said that since there might be an economic slowdown as a result of the crisis in the world’s financial markets, the government has shattered considerable barriers in the bureaucracy.

He also pointed out that there are great economic opportunities in the Philippines similar to other foreign chambers in Israel, Finland, India that are staunchly committed to the vision of bringing in foreign capital and become part of the process of growth in the country.

Emanuel Fryzer, president of Philippine-Israel Business Association, for his part said the special visa for employment generation (SVEG) “could not have come sooner especially next year which is expected to be the worst year in the economic situation of the world so I think the implementation of this new visa is right on time.”

Leaders of other foreign chambers pointed out that the new job-generating visa will bring in not only fresh capital to the country but will prove to be a strong vehicle for technology transfer.

“This is a winner that will place the Philippines in many investors map,” an official of American Chamber said, adding that liberalizing laws for investors in the Philippines is very positive for the country.

The foreign business leaders were among the foreign businessmen who witnessed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed last Monday Executive Order 758 prescribing the guidelines for the issuance of SVEG.

The new job-generation visa grants indefinite stay to foreign investors who will employ at least 10 Filipinos in legitimate, viable and sustainable businesses and industries in the country. - PNA

President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo reiterated Thursday her administration’s determination to create more high-paying jobs throughout the country so that before the end of her term in 2010, Filipinos “will no longer need to go abroad to earn a living.”

“It is essential to create good, high-paying jobs here at home so that going abroad is a career choice, not the only option,” the President said during a one-on-one interview with DXOC-Ozamiz City at the airport in Gango town here Thursday (Nov. 20).

She said the government is firmly focused on economic reforms to break the offshore employment cycle for Filipinos “to keep working here at home.”

The Chief Executive acknowledged that breaking the overseas employment cycle that has been part of the country’s profile economic for several generations is a tall order but it can be done.

“It will take another 10 to 15 years to clearly break this cycle, but it is happening and I am pleased at the progress,” she said.

The President said her administration is vigorously pursuing the creation of more appealing employment opportunities through the development of priority sectors such as the business process outsourcing (BPOs).

“I am pleased at the BPO sector, and in successfully competing for added-value BPO business, is a good example of our ability to address these challenges,” she said.

Noting the big contribution of the BPO sector in creating new jobs, the President said she had ordered the Information and Communications Technology Commission (ICTC) to conduct a technical study on the resources needed by each province to be ICT-enabled.

"That’s why, I asked Secretary Rey Chua to study how to make every province ICT-enabled,” she said.

The Philippines is ranked among the most attractive off-shoring destinations in the world based on cost competitiveness and the highly trainable, English-proficient, IT-enabled quality Filipino manpower.

In recent years, the outsourcing sector has expanded beyond call centers and IT to include a range of professional and business processes, including accounting, human resources, financial analysis, design engineering, animation, medical services, legal services, insurance processes, banking processes, map making, publishing, content creation, and research.

In the last seven years, the President said, the economy has managed to create almost seven million new jobs. source: PNA