MikeLigalig.com

An eight-year-old boy died after he slipped and had a bad fall on the stairs while running down the Quezon Elementary School building, here, yesterday afternoon.

Chief Superintendent Eugene G. Martin, Cordillera police director, identified the victim as Reymar Pitan, 8, a Grade I pupil of the said school in Middle Quezon Hill, Baguio City, and a resident of 6 Purok 7, Sunnyside, Fairview, here.

School Principal Consolacion de Guzman told investigators that the boy just finished his lunch inside their classroom when he started running towards the Grade VI room located at the second floor.

But he slipped and tumbled down the stairs until he fell flat and unconscious on the ground floor. - Tempo

By Joseph Lariosa
GMA 7 TV

A loan broker from the Philippines has been charged in connection with a $15 million scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (the Ex-Im Bank), officials said on Tuesday.

A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a nine-count indictment against Bettina Balderrama, also known as Bonnie Balderrama, 57, of Manila, said US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey A. Taylor.

The indictment charges that Balderrama brokered approximately $15 million worth of fraudulent loan transactions between companies located in the Philippines and US lending banks, in which the Ex-Im Bank acted as guarantor or insurer.

The Ex-Im Bank, an independent agency of the United States, is the official export credit agency of the United States and issues loan guaranties and insurance to US banks on behalf of creditworthy foreign companies for the purpose of purchasing US goods.

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
ABS-CBN

Erlina "Lily" Pecante, hailed as the world's strongest woman, reinging world champ and record holder in Women's Powerlifting, will fly to Palm Springs, California, to compete in the IPF World Masters Powerlifting Championships slated from September 30 to October 4.

Pecante, an employee of the Philippine Postal Corporation and the postmaster of Pasig City, will leave on Saturday, September 27, for Palm Springs.

The 43-year-old postmaster has reigned supreme in all International Powerlifting competitions since 1988. She is a recipient of this year’s Philippine Sportswriters Association award.

The latest edition to her long list of achievents is the Asian Powerlifting Championships where she led the Philippine team in sweeping the women’s 90-kg masters. She also came home with the Asian Best Lifter award, smashing the Asian Master record in the bench press with 275 pounds. 

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has issued an apology for airing a comedy sketch that portrayed a Filipino woman in a very demeaning manner.

“Firstly, we're sorry if you were in any way offended by the program as this wasn't our intention,” the BBC’s Complaints Division stated.

The complaints division of the network described 'Harry & Paul' as a “post-watershed comedy sketch show well-known for its exaggerated humour and absurd characters.”

“It in no way represents real people and was never intended to offend or demean any viewer,” it added.

An official complaint was emailed to the network following the airing of the show on September 26. The show outraged many Filipinos, women’s groups and even lawmakers prompting the Philippine government to direct the foreign affairs department to act on the issue.

“We recognize that you were personally offended by the sketch and would like to assure you that your complaint has been registered on our audience log,” the complaints division stated.

It said that audience feedback also reaches BBC’s executive board, channel controllers, senior managers and staff.

The letter explained that the offending sketch is from a series known as “Northern Monkey” which is “featured strongly in both series of the program over the last two years.”

RP maid not relevant to comedy

In the show, Harry Enfield played Roger while Paul Whitehouse was his “pet” northerner named “Clive” whom he wanted to “breed”. The maid was given instructions to elicit response from Clive.- ABS-CBN News

From Wikipedia

Suspensions

In August 1999, Randy, John and Willie were suspended by ABS-CBN from Magandang Tanghali Bayan because of the vulgar jokes that they threw at the contestants during the show's portion Calendar Girl. The suspension was meted after MTRCB, then headed by Armida Siguion-Reyna, issued a warning on ABS-CBN regarding MTB. A week later, the whole noontime show was suspended and was replaced temporarily by Esep-Esep.

In 2001, Willie was terminated from Magandang Tanghali Bayan after he defied orders from ABS-CBN management to refrain from making vulgar jokes. He was replaced in the show by the matinee-idol triumvirate of Marvin Agustin, Dominic Ochoa and Rico Yan (now deceased). Soon after, he started appearing as guest star in some GMA 7 shows, fuelling speculations that he will soon be transferring to ABS-CBN's rival network. But after guesting at GMA 7, there was no news coming from Willie's camp except for his appearance during an EDSA 3 rally.

When Magandang Tanghali Bayan went off air, it made a comeback with a different title Masayang Tanghali Bayan with almost the same group, plus new hosts. Then in December 2003, the MTRCB ordered ABS-CBN to terminate Willie from the show, when he remarked nasty jokes with Masayang Tanghali Bayan mainstay Mahal, but before the order could be carried out, the host-comedian filed his resignation instead. In January 2004, Willie appeared on ABS-CBN's The Buzz and made a tearful farewell appearance.

Annulment case

On July 16, 2007, Revillame was charged before a Quezon City court (Criminal Case No. Q-07-147787) for allegedly abusing his estranged wife, Floralice "Liz" Almoro. Prosecutor Gibson Araulla Jr. recommended P 12,000 bail after he found that Revillame violated Section 5, RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act. Almoro alleged that Revillame a) humiliated and shouted at her while he was holding their baby boy, b) that sometime May 2006, he allegedly tried to hit her with a chair and throw the remote control and that c) he had "dirty sexual affairs'" with different women. In his counter-affidavit, Revillame denied the charges claiming that he had difficulty performing his duty as husband allegedly because of Almoro’s explosive moods and hurtful tirades.[1]

While his Wowowee co-host Janelle Jamer stated that she was never pregnant by by Revillame, since there were rumours that she was slim due to an alleged abortion.

Cebu Daily News

A 16-year-old female college student died when she was run over by a truck along a national highway in Sibonga town, southern Cebu, yesterday morning.

The student was waiting for a ride when she was hit by an Isuzu Elf cargo truck driven by Julito Antone.

Before the victim was hit, the truck collided with a motorcycle before ramming into parked motorcycles, tricycles and three stores.

Injured were Felix Repunte and Marcelina Padilla, both from Bairan, Naga City; tricycle driver Samuel Ricaforte Jr, 32 of Bahay, Sibonga and Bernadeth Carisosa, 32 of Simala.

PO2 Ederlino Bacusmo, of the Sibonga police, said the truck, owned by CP KELCO, a seaweed processing industry, came from Taloot, Argao town where it unloaded the factory's waste materials.

The truck was on its way back to its factory in barangay Abogon, Sibonga when the accident happened.

By the Bohol Chronicle

A leading German firm in the operation of integrated solid waste management facilities has committed to pour in some P300-million to solve the burgeoning garbage problem in the city.

Juergen Lorenz of JL Business & Technology Consultancy, Inc. presented to residents of barangay Taloto last Monday his company's holistic waste management system which integrates recycling, waste reduction and livelihood.

The company has been tapped by the city government for the multi-million joint venture project. The city's equity will be the 10 to 12 hectare lot where the facility will be built in barangay Taloto.

For several years now, Lorenz have partnered with other local governments in promoting modern waste management systems.

It may be recalled that as early as 2006, City Mayor Dan Lim had decided to construct solid waste management facilities and totally close the present garbage dump in barangay Dampas.

The mayor also ditched the city's inclusion in the Cluster Sanitary Landfill Project in Alburquerque saying 80-percent of the waste to be disposed in the facility will come from the city.

Tagbilaran's 15 barangays generate over 100 tons of garbage daily that are dumped at the open dumpsite in Dampas.

By F G Delfin Jr
Inquirer.net

A high school student was killed and two others seriously injured when a rifle grenade they had found earlier accidentally exploded, police said Saturday.

A police report identified the victim of the explosion, which occurred Thursday afternoon in the village of Ilasan, as Roy John Pecito, 17, who was declared dead on arrival at the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

His two companions, Marvin Luce, 15, and Nonilon Labado Sabadilla, 39, suffered serious injuries in different parts of the body.

Police said the victims were inside the house of Pecito when suddenly the M203 grenade which they found earlier in a forested area of the village exploded.

Thanks for sharing the beauty of this place, Bem. I haven't been to Tacloban. I wish to visit this farm one day with a copy of a poetry book.

By Jes Tirol
Columnist, Bohol Chronicle

Proem

Last June 2008 the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) granted me certificates of specialization in Structural Engineering. Among the almost one hundred thousand registered civil engineers in the Philippines I am specialist No. 110 in Structural Engineering and No. 19 in Geotechnical Engineering. This specialist recognition is similar to "Diplomate" recognition among physicians.

Geotechnical engineering deals with soils, rocks, and foundation of roads, bridges, structures and buildings. Therefore I have the proper expertise to comment about the flooded portion of CPG North Avenue because it is within my area of specialization.

Road Section

The section of CPG North Avenue located in front of the Coca Cola Bottling Plant up to corner Peñaflor St. and CPG North was constructed way back in 1984 or 1985. This section of the road was not touched by the Hanjin Construction when they constructed the circumferential road.

When it was constructed in 1984, the project engineer was my classmate, the late Engr. Salvador Cabalit. I was one of the suppliers of the "anapog (limestone)" to be used as sub-base filling materials. He told me that he had a problem with the estimated volume of filling materials. His estimate was based only on the pavement width because the shouldering would be in a later appropriation. As it turned out, there was no "later appropriation." So when the filling materials were spread and compacted to include the shoulders of the road, the surface elevation of the road was lower by almost one meter. This is the reason why the area is still subject to flooding during heavy rains.

Twenty Years Service

After being in service for more than 20 years the Hanjin Construction had the opinion that the road section was still in perfect condition and it was not reconstructed. The Hanjin Construction of course did not know that it would soon be subjected to flooding and be subjected to severe conditions.

Deterioration

With the absence of any outlet for the drainage of CPG Avenue, all the run-off water gathers and floods this particular section of the road.

Every time the place is flooded and heavy trucks will pass over it, I always feel sorry for the road pavement. Why? It is because it was not designed to be subjected for that kind of punishment.

The concrete pavement when poured had a "slump test" of about four (4) inches compared to Hanjin's zero (0) "slump test." In spite of its inferiority compared to Hanjin's standard, the road pavement has still withstood its ground. However, if you will observe closely, the concrete pavement or road surface is already showing signs of erosion.

Undermining

Concrete loves water. So I am not much worried with the concrete pavement. I am very much worried with the process called "undermining." [Note: mine, as in digging for gold.]

The base or under layer material is limestone (anapog). This material will be dissolved by water. Water can enter into the base materials through the unpaved shoulder portion of the road. When heavy trucks passed over the concrete pavement, it will create pressure to eject the water under the pavement. This constant pumping action will create voids under the road pavement or what we call "undermining."

If you will observe closely, you will notice that the concrete pavement near the Sayong's Furniture shop has already sagged. It is a clear indication that undermining is already occurring. In my observation, this deflection of about 2 inches is already at the limit. Once this portion will break all the other concrete pavement will also break and the road will be out of service. When this happens, then our problems will be compounded. We will still have flooding and the road could no longer be used even when dry. The question is who will make the appropriation for another concrete pavement? How about the inconvenience of the people when another construction will be done at this "bottleneck" of CPG Avenue?

Comment

The way I see it, we will be lucky if the road pavement will withstand another year of punishment. Everybody knows that the solution is to let the run-off water drain to the sea. The drainage tunnel already exists. The next step is the actual opening of the outlet. When will it happen? It should be done the soonest possible time or else we will face more expenses and more inconvenience, a situation that ought not to happen. Sa Binisayâ pa, suliran kini nga tinuyóan!

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and his father, Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan, to find ways to broach with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) a possible resumption of peace talks with the government.

Pike Mentang, speaker of the ARMM’s Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA), told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Arroyo would be in this city Saturday to talk with military officials and to reiterate her directive to the Ampatuans.

Mentang, the third highest-ranking official of the ARMM, said he learned that the Ampatuans were keen on linking with the MILF in the hope of reviving peace talks, which stalled over the issue of ancestral domain.

“They are open to a peace dialogue with the MILF hierarchy anytime,” he said. - Inquirer.net

By Jeoffrey Maitem
Mindanao Bureau, PDI

Mindanao autonomous region police said Saturday they were certain that followers of rogue Moro rebel leader Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, were behind Thursday's kidnapping of a university official in the southern Philippines.

Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, did not say how authorities managed to confirm the identity of the kidnappers but added that a joint police and military operation to rescue Hipolito Miñoza had already been launched in Pualas and Piagapo towns.

The 54-year-old Miñoza, budget officer of the state-run Mindanao State University, was driving home with his wife to Iligan City from the university campus in Marawi City when armed men flagged down his car and seized him in the village of Bubong in Saguiaran, Lanao del Norte around 3:45 p.m. Thursday.

JCM Well Radio Holdings Corp., a young and emerging broadcast company, is looking for qualified applicants willing to be trained for immediate employment for:

RADIO ANCHORS / ANNOUNCERS
NEW WRITERS, NEWS CASTERS, & FIELD REPORTERS
RADIO SCRIPTWRITERS & RADIO PRODUCERS
SOUND EDITORS
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
VOICE TALENTS

Interested applicants must be fluent in both English and Tagalog. The ability to speak other dialects and/or languages apart from those mentioned will be an advantage.

Send your letter of application, bio-data, and a 30-second sample of your speaking voice to Unit 605, 6th Floor, SEDCCO 1 Building, 120 Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Please provide working phone numbers and other reliable means of communication as qualified applicants will be called for a full audition at a later time. - Inquirer.net

By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Authorities seized around 1,000 kilos of foul-smelling “double-dead” pork during a regular inspection Thursday night at the Balintawak area in Quezon City.

The seized meat was estimated to be worth P180,000 or more.

Authorities were unable to take anyone into custody.

Neil Lina, chief of the city’s Market Development and Administrative Department, said they suspected the hot meat came from Bulacan or Nueva Ecija province.

Lina’s team chanced upon the 1,000 kilos of pork in styrofoam coolers around 10 p.m.

Following the seizure, Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said he had ordered an intensified drive against contaminated meat in the city.

“When we first checked the area at 8 p.m., it looked very ‘clean.’ So we decided to wait a while longer,” said Lina.

He added that the meat was dropped off between North Diversion market and MC market.

By Tara Quismundo
Inquirer.net

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed Friday it was offered P20 million for the release of a high-profile drug suspect arrested last month.

Government agents arrested Richard Santos Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph and Joseph Ramirez Tecson in buy-bust operations in exclusive Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City and the south gate of Araneta Center in Quezon City on Sept. 20.

The operations were conducted four hours apart. The suspects were busted for allegedly carrying ecstasy, a high-end drug, cocaine and marijuana.

Brodett and Joseph were arrested inside Ayala, Alabang while Tecson was arrested at the parking area of Araneta Center Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. The PDEA did not name the suspect whose release was being sought.

Apart from possession, the three also tested positive for methamphetamine, cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol and diazepam.

They underwent inquest proceedings Sept. 21. No bail was recommended for their temporary release. The preliminary investigation was held on Sept. 29.

PDEA information chief Derrick Carreon said their agents had been receiving death threats through text messages.

Click Here to read the Bohol Chronicle's editorial.

By DJ Yap
Inquirer.net

Eight members of a household in Mandaluyong City were bound and locked up Thursday morning in the bathroom by armed robbers who ran away with almost P500,000 in cash and valuables.

The police said the incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. in the house of businessman Marcelo Ong Jr. and his wife Blanca on Calbayog Street, Barangay Highway Hills.

Investigators said Ronaldo Bañas, the family driver, was steering the Ongs’ Honda CRV out of the driveway when an armed suspect entered.

The suspect ordered the driver to get off the vehicle while his companions entered the compound. At gunpoint, the housemaids, who were washing clothes, were ordered to go inside the house, according to Mandaluyong chief of police Senior Supt. Carlos de Sagun.

The Ong couple, Ong’s mother Catalina, housemaids Ponciana Purgatorio, Majilyn Simon, Librada Velasco and Grace de Guzman, and Bañas were herded into the bathroom on the ground floor and tied up with a white straw cord.

The victims managed to free themselves after the suspects left, and called the police.

The six unidentified suspects fled with P50,000 in cash, a Rolex wristwatch worth P150,000, a Tag Heuer watch worth P60,000, two Calvin Klein watches worth P20,000, assorted pieces of jewelry amounting to P100,000, and four cellular phones worth about P50,000.

The risk of spam and viruses that attack mobile devices is set to rise, says a report.

Security experts suggest current risks are small, and that attacks will take the same form as PC spam and scams.

End-user protection like anti-virus software is not yet mature in the mobile market, so the issue is being addressed by the network operators.

Mobile users are urged to employ the same safe behaviours familiar from PCs to reduce risks.

New threat

The annual Emerging Cyber Threats Report from the Georgia Institute of Technology Information Security Center (GTISC) in the US has identified mobile devices as particularly vulnerable platform.

It said that as more and more people adopt smartphones, more applications will allow financial and payment infrastructure that employs them, and the availability of such sensitive data will prove to be a draw for cybercriminals.

The growth of mobile spam and viruses has been reminiscent of the early days of PC spam and scam, says Simeon Coney of Adaptive Mobile, a firm that tracks malware and provides security software for mobile firms. - BBC

Image and story from BBC News

A man has been jailed for life for stabbing his wife to death over a posting she made on the social networking site Facebook.

Wayne Forrester, 34, told police he was devastated that his wife Emma, also 34, had changed her online profile to "single" days after he had moved out.

The Old Bailey heard Forrester drove to her home in Croydon, south London, and attacked the mother-of-two.

He stabbed her with a kitchen knife and a meat cleaver on 18 February.

Forrester, who pleaded guilty to murder, was ordered to serve a minimum term of 14 years.

Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, told him: "You committed a terrible act. There is no possible excuse or justification.

"This is a tragic killing and what you have done has caused untold anguish."

The tomb of a general thought to have been an inspiration for the main character in the Oscar-winning film Gladiator has been unearthed in Rome.

The tomb of Marcus Nonius Macrinus is one of a number of recent archaeological discoveries in the city.

Marcus Nonius Macrinus was a favourite of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, helping him achieve major victories in Europe.

He is believed to have in part inspired the character Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe in Gladiator.

But although the film character is also a favourite of Marcus Aurelius and goes into battles with him in the late 2nd century AD, that is where the similarities end. The real Roman general is not believed to have been sold into slavery only to return to Rome as a vengeful gladiator.

'Huge' tomb

The tomb was discovered along the northbound Via Flaminia where construction work has been taking place. Many marble columns, inscriptions and decorations have been beautifully preserved thanks to the mud caused by a centuries-old flood of the River Tiber.

It is "the most important ancient Roman monument to come to light for 20 or 30 years", said senior archaeologist Daniela Rossi.

More than 10 inscriptions on the tomb detail the life of Marcus Nonius Macrinus. They show he came from Brescia in northern Italy, was a police commissioner, magistrate, pro-consul of Asia and close confidante of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who wanted him to fight in the wars against Germanic tribes in northern Europe.

"The movie character played by Russell Crowe leaves for and participates in these wars and is an intimate friend of Marcus Aurelius, chronologically we are in the same period and the war is the same, but the movie character has a very sad story and comes to a terrible end while ours becomes a rich and famous man," said Professor Rossi. - BBC

Two young chess players from Davao City will play for the Philippines when the 2008 World Youth Chess Championships unfolds on October 20 to 31 in Vietnam.

Twelve-year-old, sixth-grader champion John Ray Batucan from Don Juan dela Cruz Elementary School in Toril had been training the past four months for the tournament.

With his fellow Davao player Rowelyn Joy Acedo of Jose Maria College, Batucan will play the 11-round Swiss System format chessfest.

They leave for Manila on Friday night for departure with the Team Philippines on Sunday.

Batucan, a son of taxi driver Neptali Batucan, Jr., captured two gold medals in boys' 12-under individual and team standard events of the 9th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships in Danang, Vietnam last June.

The young ace, who will be coached by Filipino International Master (IM) Ildefonso Datu in Vietnam, said he and 10 other Filipinos will be up against the best and finest young chess players in the world, including those from powerhouse Russia.

"The Asean tournament is far different from the World Youth. It will be a very challenging experience for me. But I'll give my best all the same," the youthful champion said.

His World Youth Chess stint is backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Engr. Enrico Vanta of Chadric Builders. - PNA

Chinese submarines have recently increased their activity near Japan's maritime borders in the East China Sea, a Japanese military source said on Friday.

According to the source, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force detected the presence of a Chinese Han-class nuclear-powered submarine and a Song-class diesel attack submarine in the region as the US George Washington nuclear aircraft carrier was heading to the South Korean port of Pusan on a friendly visit.

The USS George Washington is stationed at a US naval base in Yokosuka, Japan.

The source said the Chinese submarines did not violate Japanese territorial waters, but described their activities as attempts "to gather data on noise signatures emitted by all automated systems of the US aircraft carrier" and "some sort of intimidation."

In response to the Chinese moves, Tokyo and Washington increased the number of patrol flights by Japan's P-3C Orion ASW aircraft and deployed additional US reconnaissance satellite assets to monitor the area.

The Chinese Navy's submarine fleet includes at least two nuclear-powered attack submarines, and its 13 Song-class submarines are extremely quiet and difficult to detect when running on electric motors.

In October 2006, an undetected Chinese Song-class submarine popped up in the middle of a US task force during an exercise in the Pacific at the distance of only 5 miles from the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier. - PNA

The Philippine peso improved a little against the US dollar Friday after it closed at 48.08.

It closed P0.02 better than the previous day’s 48.10 finish.

At the Philippine Dealing System, the local unit opened further down at 47.92 against the previous day’s 47.75 start.

The peso rose to 47.89 during the trading but posted its weakest at 48.09.

This resulted in an average of 47.98, better than day-ago’s 48.04.

Volume of trade is down to US$ 663 million from the US$ 991.5 million Thursday.

Traders said risk aversion places a major role in the unit’s fluctuation but believe that the local currency will improve against the US dollar in the coming days as remittances from Filipinos abroad come in for the holiday season. - PNA

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) charged 37 policemen in connection with the ambush of a convoy of a vice mayor that resulted in the death of six persons and wounding of seven others in Zamboanga del Sur last August 22.

Charged before the Department of Justice's prosecution office are as follows: Senior Superintendent Ramon Ochotorena, Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office, Camp Abelon, Pagadian City; Senior Inspector Oscar Tan Buenaobra, same office; Insp. Nestor Mantes Vicente, of Tukuran Police Station, Curvada, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur; Insp. Lee Eric Sale Humpa; Insp. Van Froilan Penados Tompong; Senior Police Officer 4 Eliseo Velasquez; SPO4 Ananias Fuentes;

SPO4 Albin Mantuhan; SPO2 Matias Reso-Or; SPO2 Eliezer Requejo; SPO1 Eduardo Hulagno; SP01 Wilson Omandam; SPO1 Carlos Omentic; SPO1 Diego Quimada; SPO1 Angelo Duhaylungsod; SPO1 Benedicto Vega; SPO1 Leo Rey Soria; PO3 Marcelo Andale; PO3 Wendell Dela Cruz; PO3 Jimmy Dag-Uman; PO3 Moridil Kadil Bani; PO3 Edgar Digal; PO3 Cirilo Lamayo; PO3 Melbourne Mangubat; PO3 Dexter Dalena; PO3 Bensherl Tumatal; PO3 Albert Vailoces Villa; PO3 Herminigildo Bajao; PO1 Roldan Padilla Duman-Ag; PO1 Joel Jandugan; PO1 Renie Ariel Real; PO1 Policarpo Adalim; PO1 Maxim Peralta; PO1 Gerben Gerale; PO1 Ervelindo Co-Oc Amacanin; PO1 Emil John Tanjilul; and PO1 Von Bimbo Silongan, all of Camp Abelon, Pagadian City.

The 37 policemen were charged with multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and attempted murder in relation to Articles 6 and 8 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

The accused were tagged for the death of Sgt. Paulino Tapang, of 1MB 1st Infantry Division (Tabak) Philippine Army (PA); Kuta Major Cesar L. Sang-an, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Cpl. Jesus Gaudencio Burlat Jr., 1MB 1st Infantry Division, PA, Kuta Major Cesar L. Sang-an, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) CAA Thong Abdullah, 51st Infantry Battalion, PA, and resident of Dalapang, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; PO1 Michael Jover, member of the 9th Regional Mobile Group, PNP, resident of Tawagan Sur, Pagadian City; Halil Acang, of Dalapang, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; and Tinie Buisan, of Balimbingan, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

Wounded were Cpl. Allan Deguit, of 32nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Tabak Division; Tho Masukat, of Labangan; Jay Minalang, of Brgy. Sto. Nino, Tukuran; Datukan Macmod, of Dalapang, Labangan; Tony Salangani, of Upper Sang-an, Labangan; Duran Alpad, of Brgy. Sto. Nino, Tukuran; and Saidamen Tabayag, of Dalapang, Labangan.

The case stemmed from the complaints lodged by Incumbent Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Abubakar A. Afdal, and Labangan Vice Mayor Wilson Nandang.

The ambush occurred in Barangay Sto. Nino, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur at 7 p.m. of August 22, 2008. - PNA

A reshuffling of police chiefs in Negros Oriental is in the making following the conduct of a performance evaluation of the different police stations in the province.

Provincial police director P/Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr. disclosed that a committee has been created to make the necessary recommendations for the reshuffling or appointment of police chiefs in the different towns and cities in Negros Oriental.

Although there is no timeline for this, Marquez said the first to relieved from his current position is Sr. Insp. Domeneciano Distrito, Jr. of the Zamboanguita police station.

Marquez said the town mayor, Kit Mark Adanza, had requested him to replace Distrito, who has held the post for almost the prescribed tour of duty of two years.

Distrito will be assigned to the provincial police office while Sr. Insp. Teddy Picardal will replace him.

According to P/Sr. Supt. Marquez, there are several reasons for the relief or reshuffling of police chiefs, to include completion of tour of duty, low performance rating of his police station, scheduled retirement, and command responsibility in cases where his subordinates are found to be of poor performance.

He also shunned public speculation that police chiefs are “under the mercy” of local chief executives in that they can be replaced anytime. - PNA

Iloilo Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. through Provincial Budget Officer Elena Lim has now submitted his proposed 2009 Executive Budget amounting to more than P1.180 billion to the provincial board.

Gov. Tupas said the proposed executive budget has already been approved by the provincial development council, thus, he is optimistic that it will not suffer the same fate as of last year.

It can be recalled that the proposed budget by the governor submitted to the provincial board for 2008 was severely slashed by the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Vice Gov. Rolex T. Suplico which was also later on rendered inoperative by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Thus, the governor and the provincial government were forced to operate under the 2007 budget which has been reenacted for this year.

Gov. Tupas, who refused to submit another 2008 executive budget after the DBM rendered its decision, is confident however that next year’s proposed executive budget will not undergo the same rough sailing because it had already been approved by the provincial development council. - PNA

Some 30 farmers and coffee growers attended the recent First Coffee Field Day activity, in Sorsogon city.

Lorna Figueroa, Sorsogon City administrator, said the activity was conducted to convince farmers that there is money in coffee; update growers of the technologies and market opportunities of coffee; identify issues and concerns on coffee growing; encourage more farmers to venture into coffee production.

Figueroa said coffee has great potential since people will never stop drinking coffee and that increasing the area for production would mean additional jobs generated.

"We hope that Sorsogon would later be known as one of the top producers of coffee in the country," she said.

The First Coffee Field Day event was sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in partnership with Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PARCF) and Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sorsogon City.

Francisco Aranda, member of Para-café kan Sorsogon City Association, shared his experiences, practices and technologies adopted on coffee production.- PNA

Classes in a public high school in Panabo City, this province, have been temporarily suspended on Wednesday when an 18-year-old male student was believed to have been possessed by another spirit and suddenly collapsed. - PNA

Seven high-ranking officials of the government-owned Davao City Water District (DCWD), two of them were already resigned and one had retired from the service, were ordered dismissed from the service by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the award of contracts to a Davao City-based company for the drilling of two production wells without public bidding.

Found guilty for grave misconduct, abuse of authority, dishonesty and negligence were Wilfredo C. Carbonquillo, former DCWD general manager; Wilfred G. Yamson, general manager; Alfonso E. Laid, assistant general manager for operations; William V. Guillen, manager of the legal department; Arnold D. Navales, manager of the systems and internal audit department (SIAD); Rey C. Chavez, manager of the engineering and construction department (ECD); and, Rosindo J. Almonte, ECD division manager.

The Ombudsman also ordered the forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service of the DCWD officials.

The case of the dismissed officials arose from two administrative complaints filed by DCWD officers, Danilo C. Castro and George F. Inventor, SIAD division manager and internal control officer, respectively, for the award of contract to Hydrock Wells, a drilling company based in Davao City, for the drilling of one deep production well in Cabantian and another in Communal, all in Buhangin district, in February 1998 both without public bidding in gross violation of existing laws.

The production well in Cabantian cost P2.807 million while in Communal was valued at P2.309 million. Under present rules and regulations, any public works project worth more than P1 million is subject to public bidding, usually through advertisements in newspapers of general circulation. Contracts for projects costing less than P1 million may be awarded to a private contractor through direct negotiation. - PNA

QuoteDi naku ma imagine mag lisud akong anak. I know it's not easy to become a single parent, pero naa man gihapon sa ato ang survival instinct. Ang huna-huna nga di kaya, mabuhat para lang sa anak. 

Zel, here's more picture about "survival instinct."

Quote from: Gingah on October 18, 2008, 03:00:01 AM
Mike, di pa lagi mo kuyos akong matres. hehehe

Di naku ma imagine mag lisud akong anak. I know it's not easy to become a single parent, pero naa man gihapon sa ato ang survival instinct. Ang huna-huna nga di kaya, mabuhat para lang sa anak. 

Bolkit ug bike bisan ug disable ang kamot ug tiil. Tudlo lang sa tiil ang makasugakod for this man.

Mao niy survival instinct, Zel.

This disable Chinese man uses his feet to repair bikes at the roadside.

The last remaining survivor of the Titanic disaster is auctioning mementoes from the doomed liner to pay for her nursing home fees, a newspaper said Thursday.

Millvina Dean was only two months old when the Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank in 1912, but now at the age of 96 she is struggling to make ends meet and hopes to make 3,000 pounds from the sale.

Personal items going under the hammer include a 100-year-old suitcase filled with clothes given to her family by the people of New York after they arrived there following the catastrophe.

Dean has lived in a nursing home for the last two years.

"I was hoping to be here for two weeks after breaking my hip but I developed an infection and have been here for two years. I am not able to live in my home any more," she told the Southern Daily Echo newspaper.

"I am selling it all now because I have to pay these nursing home fees and am selling anything that I think might fetch some money," she added. "The fees are quite expensive. The more money I can get from the auction the better." - Yahoo News

Quote from: Gingah on October 18, 2008, 02:52:14 AM
i am ready to get pregnant. with or without a husband. hahaha

pero, di lang sa karon kay wa pakoy ikabuhi ug wa koy bana.

Mao nay babaye nga isog moatubang sa mga gumonhap sa kinabuhi.

Daghan pud ko nakaila nga babaye nga nanggimahay kay karon nga naa na sila kwarta ug ready na mabuntis, pero mikuyos naman ang matres.

Ang kwarta makit-an pa pero ang time lost dili na.

By Wigan Today

A heartbroken dog owner is appealing for the safe return of her beloved pet.

Eva Stadaniova is fraught with worry after Nikita, her cross breed American Staffordshire and bull terrier, was stolen from outside the Grand Arcade. She is also worried because the two-year-old pooch only understands Czech.

Nikita arrived in the UK two weeks ago after six months in quarantine.
Eva, 23, moved to the area from Prague in the Czech Republic three months ago and is distraught about being separated from her again.

She said: "I am very worried about my dog, she is like my child, my darling, and I am afraid for her because she doesn't understand English. I don't know who these people are and I am scared they won't look after her."

Eva, who is originally from Slovakia and now works in a factory in Skelmersdale, bought Nikita two years ago while she was living in Prague.

Eva left Nikita, described as black and brown and wearing a brown leather collar with her name on it, tied to a post outside the Grand Arcade. When she came back the dog had gone.

A U.S. researcher says a study of prairie voles suggests monogamy may alter brain chemistry, resulting in depression when separated from their mate.

Neuroscientist Larry J. Young of Emory University said close monogamous relationships foster the release of corticotropin-releasing factor, or CRF, that builds loyalty. The compound, however, can also result in depression when the pair are separated, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

He said the same chemical is found in human brains. "Whenever you form a pair bond, it changes your neurochemistry," Young told the newspaper. "If you lose that partner, it has a dramatic impact on the brain." - source: UPI

By Hetal Gandhi
Tampa Bay Connect

A New Port Richey man called us with an unbelievable story.

Jimmy Hill offered up this mobile home to friends of the family six months ago. They lived in Tampa, and wanted to relocate to Pasco county.

But his effort to put a roof over this family's head has come back to haunt him. Now they're trying to take his home.

According to Hill the family was paying him $600 a month plus utilities. He says shortly after the family moved in, the flow of money stopped and the headaches began. "Well they don't pay for the utilities at all," Hill says, "My bill has gone from $160 a month before they moved here to my last bill which was $654 . The next one is even worse, they run things day and night."

Hill says it was time for them to go. "Well I asked them if they would get out and they threatened to poison my dogs." That was when Hill says he went to the sheriff's office and picked up an eviction packet.

"Now these people are suing me for my home," claims Hill. "They filed a restraining order on me the day after I hand them the eviction papers." Hill says he learned he can't evict the family because they're considered squatters. He even considered shutting off the utilities but can't because the family moved a child into the house. He says they threatened to charge Hill with child endangerment.

The family was not available for comment but with little money in his pocket, Hill says he can't afford the legal fees necessary to take them to court.

Hill now feels as though his heartfelt gesture has left him empty handed.

An angry wife or girlfriend might not be the only thing to worry about when visiting a strip club.

A Margate man suing a Pompano Beach club claims a performer's shoe flew off during a pole dance, shattered the mirrored ceiling and caused glass and the shoe to hit him.

The lawsuit filed in Broward County by 35-year-old Charles Privette says the Booby Trap breached its duty when its employee failed to perform her routine in a reasonably safe manner. The suit seeks at least $15,000 in damages.

Privette's attorney says his client suffered a small cut to his eyebrow, headaches and nose bleeds because of the Jan. 14 pole dance. Booby Trap general manager George Gettinger acknowledges paramedics were called but says injuries were minor. - source: Tampa Bay Connect

Thai people use MSG lavishly. But wala may mga tao ilang hospital kay dili man masakiton ang mga tao.

The city government has taken cognizance of the mushrooming Korean English tutorial schools here operating without the necessary permits either from the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and the city government.

Iloilo Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is meeting with the TESDA, city legal office and the licensing and permits division to consult on the proper procedure that should be followed as regard the operation of tutorial schools

He added that they will also be talking on the possible use of dummies by the Koreans.

The city was alarmed with the report from TESDA last month that only two of the 35 centers that offer English as Second Language (ESL) have permits, the Neo International Language Center, Inc. and SNS Fame Language Center.

TESDA provincial director Lorena Yunque, in previous interviews, said based on the memorandum of agreement entered into by the ESL Tour Program in the Philippines and TESDA.

The latter has to accredit centers offering ESL courses subject to the unified technical vocational education and training program registration and accreditation system

TESDA would like the city government to refrain from issuing permits for centers to operate if they could not present their accreditation. - PNA

The boundary conflict between the three provinces in Central Mindanao was finally resolved after agreeing to fully implement the cadastral survey plan.

The cadastral survey plan was agreed in Koronadal City with top regional and local government unit officials (LGU’s) attending led by Central Mindanao Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna.

Central Mindanao DENR Regional Executive Director (RED) Jim O. Sampulna organized the one-day meeting in order to once and for all settle overlapping claims of three local government units (LGUs).

The move is in line with the thrust of poverty reduction and hunger mitigation under the leadership of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose “Lito” L. Atienza, Jr. and in pursuance of the 10-point legacy agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Sampulna also confirmed that it is “all systems go” for the implementation of the cadastral survey of the political boundaries of the three affected municipalities, namely Maitum in Sarangani Province, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato and Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

Funds for the survey project shall be augmented through sourcing from the DENR Central Office.

“We are here to settle if not to lessen the tension owing to the long-standing boundary conflict among three municipalities. While the DENR takes charge in the survey, the settlement of the conflict is still within the mandate of the LGUs under Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code,” Sampulna said. - PNA

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas ambushed and killed Thursday an Army intelligence officer in Aleosan, North Cotabato.

Aleosan Mayor Loreto Cabaya said victim SSgt. Felizardo Villagracia, of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion, was on his way aboard a motorbike to investigate an attempt by MILF rebels to take over a military detachment in remote Barangay Pagangan.

Col. Julieto Ando, Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said Villagracia engaged his ambushers with his service pistol and manage to kill three of his ambushers before felled by enemy fire.

The victim was rushed to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center here following the incident but was declared dead on arrival by doctors.

The soldier’s ambush was preceded by the harassment by followers of rogue MILF Commander Ameril Umbra Kato of an Army detachment in Barangay Tubak, another secluded village in the area.

Cabaya said the rebels attacked the detachment with heavy assault rifles and B-40 anti-tank rockets, prompting an encounter. - PNA

The Supreme Court (SC) has asserted that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has no authority and administrative jurisdiction over an employee of the Judiciary for illegal acts committed while the employee was still with the executive department particularly with the Department of Education (DepEd).

The question of administrative jurisdiction over an employee came out from a case filed against a former public school teacher in a school in Davao City for taking a Professional Board Examination for Teachers (PBET) in behalf of another person.

On November 10, 1991, PBET was held in Davao City particularly at the Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Elementary School wherein a certain Evelyn Decir was an examinee. Decir passed that examination with a weighted average of 74.27%.

But at the time of the PBET, it was Sarah Ampong, also a public school teacher who took the examination for Decir.

On August 3, 1993, Ampong was appointed as Court Interpreter III at a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Alabel, Saranggani Province.

The irregularity in the civil service examination of Decir was unearthed when a woman identified herself as Evelyn Decir appeared before the CSC XI in Davao City to secure a copy of her PBET Certificate of Eligibility.

During the transaction, CSC personnel noted that the picture in the seat plan did not resemble the woman who identified herself as Evelyn Dacir.

After conducting a preliminary investigation, the CSC found that it was Ampong who took the exam for Decir, thus, the Ampong and Decir were charged with Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

At the course of the trial, Ampong appeared before the CSC and admitted the offense.

On March 21, 1996, Decir and Ampong were found guilty of the offenses charged and ordered dismissed from the government service.

But Ampong contested the CSC decision, asserting that the CSC has no administrative jurisdiction over court employees even if the act was committed during her stint at the Education Department. - PNA

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa threw his support to the distribution of shotguns by the Pangasinan provincial government to its barangay captains numbering some 1,330, "so long as there is no violation of the firearms law".

Verzosa was interviewed by newsmen when he came over Friday to preside over the laying of cornerstone and the groundbreaking of a proposed state-of-the-art headquarters of the Dagupan Police.

He said if any of the barangay captains issued with the firearms violate the firearms law, that is only the time that the police will intervene.

Verzosa was accompanied to Dagupan by Police Regional Director Luizo Ticman and Police Provincial Director Percival Barba, after being honored by the Pangasinan Provincial government led by Governor Amado Espino Jr. in Lingayen.

He came along with many of the police generals who are natives of Pangasinan, including Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, director of the Manila Police District, who is an adopted son of Dagupan, having been chief of police of Dagupan for two times, at whose administration the Dagupan Police was adjudged as the best city police station nationwide three times.

The other generals were Dante Ferrer, director for intelligence, from Calasiao; Silverio Alarcio, director for operations, Laoac; Leopoldo Bataoil, director for police community relations, Lingayen; Romeo Hilomen, director for comptrollership, Calasiao; Conrado Laza, deputy regional director, Alcala; Federico Terte, deputy director PRO7.  - PNA

Tension is mounting in this resort island while police are on red alert after some members of the Boracay Boat Cooperative block the operation of Montenegro Fast Craft in nearby Caticlan Jetty Port since Thursday night.

Supt. Arnold Ardiente, Boracay police chief, said they are now in Cagban Jetty Port in Boracay to monitor the security while the Montenegro Fast Craft halted its operation because the conflict.

"At around 10 pm last night, a group of boatmen marched towards the Caticlan Jetty Port in nearby Malay, Aklan to express their protests against the operation of Montenegro Fast Craft. After their march in the sea using their respective boats, at least three boats were docked surrounding the fast craft and left it there to ensure it could not be able to operate and pass through them," Ardiente said.

For several weeks already, the Boracay boatmen have been protesting the operation of the Montenegro Fast Craft, claiming it is competing with their operation. - PNA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_ibLU7OSa0

Cambodian Boy Is Inseparable With His Giant Snake Friend

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

How A Giant Snake Eats A Hippo (Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drpiH34FwmQ

Bohol's Frony: One of the World's Largest Snakes. Location: Albur, Bohol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A8iCLJV1s4

Bohol Runway Icons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUKYUktIb3U

Humabol Group in Bohol. Video by Nestor Daarol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICLnvYY15jI

Bohol Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera on World Food Day. Video by Nestor Daarol.

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa vowed to make the Dagupan City Police station one of the models in the whole country.

He said this when he presided over the laying of the cornerstone and groundbreaking for the proposed P14-million Dagupan City Police Station on lots owned by the Dagupan City government where the Philippine National Red Cross and the Pangasinan Teachers' Memorial used to stand.

Also in the groundbreaking rites were Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, members of the city council, Supt. Mariano Luis Verzosa, chief of police, Police Provincial Director Percival Barba, Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman and other police generals who accompanied Verzosa.

Verzosa, a native of Dasol town and who lived in Dagupan when he was two to three years old, said one of the projects of the PNP's Project Monitoring Office, wherein he was once an executive director, is to establish model police station projects nationwide.

Three model station projects are now existing, namely Marikina City Police Office, Aklan Police Provincial Office and the Marawi City Police Office.

"I hope that with the cooperation between the local police and the local government, we can establish and put up a model police station project here," Verzosa said.

He said the cooperation between the local police and the LGU must be very, very tight and paramount for the Dagupan Police Station to qualify itself as a model police station.

In being a model police station, Dagupan will receive additional facilities, supplies, assets like patrol cars, computers and others, adding that Dagupan will also be open to foreign donors, like the U.S., British and New Zealand embassies that are conducting special training for policemen of model police stations.

The model station project has two main components, the institutional development and citizen empowerment, he said. - PNA

Sixteen candidates of the Miss Earth 2008, an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness, will be visiting the island town of Coron on October 22-24.

Board Member and Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL)-Palawan Chapter president Jim Gerald Pe, said the Miss Earth candidates visit in Coron is part of the pageant’s “Goodwill Tour” in promoting environmental projects and to address issues concerning the environment.

The Miss Earth advocates to have its candidates and winners actively promote and get involved in the preservation of the environment and the protection of Mother Earth.

In their three-day stay, they will be treated to numerous tourism activities such as diving, island hopping, snorkeling, trekking, rock climbing, kayaking, horseback riding, motor and mountain biking, cave and lake exploration.

He said that Coron is the “Next big thing in the Philippines” because its various island abounds in natural wonders that serve as year-round attractions for visitors.

Likewise, Coron is the “Wreck Diving Capital of the Philippines” because of its 26 World War II vintage Japanese Shipwrecks.

Miss Earth 2008, now on its 8th year, will culminate on November 9, 2008 at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Over 90 candidates are expected to participate in the event and all of them, will be toured in different places in Bali, Indonesia, Guam and in the country. - PNA

The construction industry in Mindanao is a boom, making the architecture profession competitive, members of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)-Davao chapter said.

The ongoing construction works of malls, houses, condominiums and office buildings in the key cities of Mindanao including the cities of Davao, Panabo, Cotabato and Tagum marked the brisk growth of the construction industry, UAP members Architects Jay Mendoza, Francis Gerard Hidalgo and Agatha Ellen Valencia said.

Major construction projects cannot proceed without structure designers or architects. Hence, the booming industry made architectural fees to level off in Mindanao, Mendoza said.

In Davao City, the Robinsons Mall and Ayala Center-Davao, condominiums and housing projects clearly manifest a booming construction industry.

Valencia said she is very optimistic about the construction industry and the architect profession in Mindanao amid the rising of construction projects, including schools and call centers.

She said Davao City and nearby provinces are perfect for the latest concept of sustainable architecture or green architecture because of a predictable weather.

Sustainable or green architecture pertains to the use of environment such as rain, wood, wind, open spaces and the like in structural designs.

Hidalgo, for his part, identified the arrival of at least 10 airplanes a day in Davao City to prove that businesses thrive in the city and the entire Mindanao.

"We are an agriculture-based island, which means we are dollar earners, hence are capable of infusing huge investments," Hidalgo said.

The architect profession and the construction industry also find a niche in the demand for hospitals following a mandate for all government units to build a public hospital. - PNA

The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, will issue new Identification (ID) cards for its 7,224,698 members nationwide, just like the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or the Social Security System (SSS) for proper identification.

Pag-IBIG Branch Manager Ibrahim Lajarato said that these cards will be in the hands of its members nationwide by the first quarter of this year.

Lajarato said Pag-IBIG offices are now going over their lists of members to consolidate data for use in the permanent ID cards for its members.

The office will start the mentioned process by giving their members their permanent Pag-IBIG numbers before the end of this year and their laminated cards next year.

In Zamboanga City the Pag-IBIG office counts 93,766 members.

The members will only have one Pag-IBIG number and this will be their number while they are members of Pag-IBIG.

Some Pag-IBIG members have several ID numbers because they worked in several companies.

Lajarato explained that for those who worked in several companies and different employers and were provided with many Pag-IBIG numbers, Pag-IBIG will choose one number and the member will be informed that this will be his or her permanent number. - PNA

The provincial government of Guimaras is now focused on improving the performance of its public school students in Science and reaching out to the remote areas to decrease the number of out-of-school youths (OSYs).

This was revealed by Mario Deriquito, director of the Gearing Up Internet Access and Literacy for Students (GILAS) of the Ayala Foundation, which is one of the organizations helping the province achieve its academic goals.

The Division of Guimaras for several years was ranked first in Western Visayas during the annual national achievement test.

However, Deriquito complained that Science happens to be the subject where students obtained the lowest scores.

He added that the province will also be deploying more non-formal education teachers or mobile teachers to reach out to OSYs.

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has not yet ordered the return of China milk and its by-products to the markets here in Western Visayas pending the result of the laboratory examination from their head office.

BFAD Supervisor Nenita Gallardo said that they are still waiting for the result of the laboratory examination of the products they have sent to Manila.

They have not yet given go signal for the retailers to return the products in their display stands despite Department of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III earlier announcement.

The Food and Drugs Regulation Officers (FDROs) reported the presence of melamine in some China- products on shelves here and even monitored big supermarkets in Iloilo city like Shoemart, Iloilo Supermarket, Ledi Supermarket, etc.

They also bought samples of the different products such as Calci Plus Soya, Pure Soya Bean Extract, Nissin Ramen, Jolly Cow Slender Milk, Green Food Yelly Fresh Milk made from China which were sent to Manila.

The Jolly Cow Slender Milk and Green Food Yelly Fresh Milk were then confirmed to be positive of melamine.  - PNA

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

Rice Festival in Bohol. Video by Nestor Daarol

 The Kapanlig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) on Wednesday filed the recall petition against Gov. Eddie Panlilio before the provincial Commission on Election here.

Thousands of Kapampangans along with Vice-Gov Joseller “Yeng” Guiao and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and some mayors marched at the provincial Comelec office and submitted the 224,874 signatures they gathered to subject Panlilio to a recall election.

As early 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, supporters of the recall petition coming from different towns in the province assembled at the Arnedo Park in front of the provincial capitol before filing of the recall petition.

At least three hours protest rally was conducted at the said park and was attended by Mayors Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Ricardo Rivera of Guagua, Eduardo Guerrero of Floridablanca, Lyndon Cunanan of Magalang, Nardo Velasco of Sasmuan, Teddy Tumang of Mexico, Edgar Flores of Minalin, Rodrigo Canlas of San Simon, Peter Flores of Masantol, Romel Concepcion of Sta. Ana, Chito Espino of Arayat and Jun Tetangco of Apalit.

Lolita Hizon owner of the Pampanga’s Best food products and Renato Romero of Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) also attended the pro-recall rally.

In her short speech, Hizon told recall move supporters that she was sorry that she had misled people and her followers to vote for Panlilio.

“Now I am correcting that mistake and will not rest until Panlilio is removed from office,” Hizon said.

The rallyists marched to the provincial Comelec office where Kambilan president Rosve Henzon led the formal filing of the recall petition before election officer, Atty Temie Lambino.

Henzon presented the 224,875 signatures contained in 168 colo-coded boxes.

In his 10-page complaint, Henzon said Panlilio is being subjected to recall primarily for loss of confidence occasioned by his gross violation of the pertinent provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Civil Service Law (RA 6713) and grave misconduct in office.” - PNA

PNA - The Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) has become the first power utility in the country to offer electric bills in Braille for visually-impaired consumers.

Veco officials said they are hoping other service providers like Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. and Cotabato Light and Power Company Inc. and even the Metropolitan Cebu Water District, Metro Cebu’s water utility, will replicate such service.

The first set to Veco bills in Braille will be delivered starting this week to seven Veco customers who were initially identified by Veco’s project partner, Resources for the Blind Inc. (RBI).

The first recipient is Eric Abella who owns a sari-sari store in Guadalupe, Cebu City.

RBI, a non-profit organization devoted to removing the obstacles that prevent visually-impaired Filipinos from reaching their full potential, will print the bills in Braille and update the list of recipients from time to time.

Veco will shoulder all expenses that may be incurred in the printing and delivery of the bills.

Sebastian Lacson, Veco vice president for administration and customer services group, said that the especially printed Veco bill in Braille is an attachment to the regular bill and will contain only pertinent details, such as status of the bill, name and address of recipient, amount of payment, due date and notes, among others.

He encourages other visually-impaired Veco customers to inform the utility company if they want to receive a copy of the billing statement in Braille.

Jaime Jose Aboitiz, Veco senior vice president and chief operating officer, said they will ensure that this service will be replicated in other Aboitiz-owned power distribution companies before the year ends.

Residents of Bansalan town in this province were recipient of a P1-million fund from the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) as start up capital for livelihood and construction of potable water system.

Bansalan Mayor Edwin Reyes said MRDP forged partnership with Bansalan municipality for a program that will provide small infrastructure and livelihood.

Reyes said the total fund support is about P2.5 million coming from the MRDP-Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) to include cash equity from the local government unit.

The program is prioritizing provisions of potable water supply to promote rural productivity as well as eliminate water borne diseases, he said.

On the other hand, MRDP program director Rogelio Chio said access to safe drinking water is a prerequisite to poverty alleviation as it promotes good health.

He said included in the implementation MRDP projects in the municipality are abaca and native chicken production.

He said abaca production will be for the cooperative members with indigenous tribe in barangay Sibayan while barangay Poblacion Dos will go into native production with the growing demand for egg and poultry meat in the locality. - PNA

Aspirin should not routinely be used to prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, Scottish research suggests.

The British Medical Journal reported that in 1,300 adults with no symptoms of heart disease the drug, which can cause stomach bleeds, had no benefit.

The findings contradict many guidelines which advocate people with diabetes use aspirin to counter the underlying high risk of heart attack and stroke.

But there are key high-risk groups who still need the drug, experts said.

Patients with concerns are advised to consult their GP before changing medication.

In people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, or have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of future "events" by around 25%. - BBC

By Aurelio A. Peña
PNA

Higher costs of organic vegetables are forcing many Filipino consumers to turn to their chemically-grown counterparts because of their lower prices.

"Consumers don't really mind whether or not vegetables were grown with chemicals as long as they are cheap," Val Turtur of the Southern Mindanao Vegetables Industry Council (SMVIC), said.

"We can't really blame them for ignoring organic vegetables," he added.

Cheaper vegetables are more important to most cash-starved Filipino consumers due to "the spiraling costs of food commodities" and not health concerns brought about by the presence of harmful pesticides and other chemicals in vegetables grown in Davao farms, according to Turtur.

Some 1,200 hectares of fertile lands in the rugged outskirts of this southern city are planted with a multiple variety of vegetables, especially in the cool hilly districts of Baguio, Malagos, Marilog and Paquibato by over 3,500 vegetable farmers.

Farmers are blaming some banana plantations run by growers of multinational fruit firms for the infestation of their vegetable farms with thousands of pests and insects fleeing the toxic chemicals of the plantations.

Leafy vegetables like lettuce are easily attacked by these pests, according to Turtur, forcing farmers to apply pesticides to save their crops from being devastated by the pests.

The SMVIC has started pushing for "natural farming" among the city-based vegetable farmers, training them how to grow organic vegetables without applying any kind of chemical or fertilizer.

"This is a very good development among vegetable farmer here," says Paciente Cubillas, a consumer advocate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

"It's rather sad to hear that consumers would rather buy vegetables grown using chemicals and pesticides--instead of buying organically-grown vegetables. We understand how the cost of vegetables can swing our efforts to stay healthy," Cubillas said.

A new opportunity for Davao computer systems engineers, software designers and programmers to be certified by foreign IT engineers and earn global recognition for their skills will be available during two big events to be conducted by the Philippine National Information Technology Standards (PhilNITS) Davao Office.

This was announced here recently by PhilNITS president Ma. Corazon Akol who runs training centers in Manila, Cebu and Davao for information technology engineers and programmers to upgrade their skills to global IT standards.

The first event will be a Certification Examination for fundamental IT engineering and software designers and programmers to be held on October 19 at the University of Immaculate Concepcion annex building, Bonifacio Street this city from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The second event will be an intensive training program for trainers of IT engineering and software programming called PHFEIT Training to be held on November 17 to 28 at the PhilNITS training center at the 5th floor of DTI Mintrade building at Monteverde-Sales Streets, this city.

PhilNITS was set up by a joint agreement between the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the training, examinations and certifications of Filipino IT engineers and software designers and programmers nationwide with technical and financial support provided by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) which provided top Japanese IT engineers to supervise the training programs and certification exams.

Acting DTI regional director Marizon Loreto said this is a good opportunity for Davao IT engineers and software programmers to upgrade their IT skills to international standards.

By Mike De La Rama
PNA

The Provincial Government of Albay through the Provincial Coordinator on Education is set to distribute 4,355 books on mathematics for grades 1 to 6 amounting to P1 million.

This is part of the Every Child A Reader project of the provincial government which aims to improve the quality of education, specially the performance of the elementary pupils in mathematics.

Governor Joey Salceda's priority is quality education for Albayanos, which is not limited to augmentation of books. It also includes the provision of financial assistance for the repair of public school buildings, awards to outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers through the Search for Outstanding Teachers and the Brilliant Young Teachers scholarship program.

The said series of mathematics books will benefit all elementary pupils in four divisions of Albay, namely: Legazpi City, Tabaco City, Ligao City and Albay.

Salceda said this program is in response to the Medium Development Goal of the United Nations (UN) to achieve universal education for all.

On the other hand, the provincial government under the Quality Education for Albayanos (EQUAL) is currently implementing the Educational Assistance Program to all college students enrolled in eight community colleges and three Bicol University local campuses.

At least 52 villagers of Cataingan town in Masbate were hospitalized after eating tuna fish reportedly laced with either cyanide or formalin on Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol said Wednesday.

Dr. Ingrid Magnata, DOH assistant regional director, said no fatality was reported but of the 52 people hospitalized at the Cataingan District Hospital (CDH), 47 are still confined and under observation while five patients were already discharged as of Wednesday.

Magnata said 13 of the victims were children and the rest were adults.

Reports said the victims, all residents of Barangay Poblacion, bought "tulingan" (tuna) from one Alfredo Abilong, a fish vendor of said town.

Abilong told health authorities that the fishes he sold came from a dealer from Samar province.

Magnata said initial reports from CDH said that some of the victims even ate the entrails of the fish.

She said the victims after eating the fish they cooked for lunch on Tuesday, complained of severe stomach ache, vomiting, nausea and numbness that immediately landed them in the hospital.

Magnata said a medical team from the Health Emergency Management Service (HEMS) is now in Cataingan to assist health personnel at the CDH in attending to the needs of the victims.

Dr. Jovan Lim, CDH chief, said he is closely coordinating with Dr. Bes Antonio, Toxicologist of the DOH Central Office, for a thorough examination of the incident. - PNA

The Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access for Students (GILAS) project of the Ayala Foundation has already established computer and internet laboratories in 2,000 public schools nationwide.

The GILAS project hopes to "promote information literacy" among students of public high schools by giving them access to Internet.

GILAS director, Mario A. Deriquito said the earlier target was to cover all the entire 6,371 public schools around the country by 2010 but due to budgetary constraint, it might not be doable.

“It’s not doable because of the huge financial requirement and it’s really not that easy. To begin with, 700 schools do not have electricity and not all schools have easy access to the internet,” he explained.

For schools that are outside cities that lack access to the internet, the option according to Deriquito is to resort to wireless infrastructure.

“We will continue to work beyond 2010,” he assured. Aside from the Ayala Foundation, the project is also supported by other institutions and groups here and abroad.

The total package for every school is P300,000 that will include P200,000 for the PCs and P100,000 for the server, internet connection and training for teachers. - PNA

Parties involved in the construction of 500 houses at the Iloilo City relocation site in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) indicating the start of the project anytime soon.

This was disclosed by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas who signed the agreement in behalf of the city. Other parties were from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Habitat for Humanity.

The project cost is P35 million and it will be provided by the DSWD while the Habitat for Humanity will undertake the construction.

The city government has provided the site for the project.

“The 500 houses will be constructed for our constituents affected during the last typhoon,” the mayor said.

Treñas said probably, the ground breaking ceremony will be held within the next two weeks with Vice President Noli de Castro as possible guest.

The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) under De Castro was responsible for fast tracking the release of funds for the initial 500 houses. - PNA

Quote from: swakee on October 17, 2008, 12:06:32 PM
di fa ko ready mabuntis

Some women feel ready to get pregnant when they turn 60.

The local government of Iriga City in partnership with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has done exceedingly well in environmental management programs.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada said the DENR is moving towards more environmentally empowered local government units (LGUs), and efforts have been taken to capacitate LGU officials to take a lead and pro-active role in the proper management of the environment and natural resources. In this regard, the Iriga LGU-DENR tandem is a standout model in environmental governance.

The City of Iriga is a typical showcase of an environmentally degraded area, with its people experiencing the adverse consequences of damaged ecosystems.

Iriga City is blessed with a beautiful mountain called Mt. Asog, the habitat of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, such as Rafflesia Irigaense, the smallest flowering variety of the Rafflesia family, the plant with the largest flower in the world. A flower of said species found in Sumatra, Indonesia has a width of 1.3 meter, while the variety found in Mt. Asog has flower that measures only 13 centimeters in diameter.

Mt. Asog is also the home of indigenous people Agta, the decendants of the first people to inhabit the Philippines, and its ancestor is linked to the Homo Erectus, the first standing human species that migrated to Southeast Asia from Africa, where human beings first began 3 to 4 million years ago. Hence, the Agta tribal community in Mt. Asog is a rare and precious living archeological relics. - PNA

By the Philippine News Agency

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to conduct an autopsy on the remains of a 17-year-old girl who died after she was allegedly gang-raped by four men in the southern town of Sta. Catalina in Negros Oriental recently.

Jess Cañete, CHR special investigator for Negros Oriental, said on Thursday that he has already requested the CHR central office to send a medico legal officer and a forensic team to exhume the remains of the girl who was buried late last week.

Cañete said he received a directive from his direct superior, CHR Region 7 Director Atty. Alejandro Alonso, to conduct an independent inquiry into the incident which has now sparked public interest due to perceived discrepancies in the circumstances surrounding the case.

These include an alleged attempt by some quarters to muddle the case, but Cañete said he will not allow this to happen.

He did not elaborate although he hinted at getting to the bottom of the incident.

The victim, “Janet” (not her real name), had claimed in a dying declaration, that she was gang-raped repeatedly by four men, one of whom she had named.

Ten minutes after talking to her father, she died.

The father told reporters that they were not aware of her ordeal until shortly before she died, when they noticed unusual things about her, to include infected breasts and genitals.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects, Sherwin Gabo, has denied involvement in the gang rape, saying he was just being used as a scapegoat because of a previous similar charge.

He admitted that he and two others were charged of gang-raping a 16-year-old girl sometime in 2002 in Metro Manila but they were all acquitted.

Residents in Sibulan, Negros Oriental raised their proptest during a public hearing recently over the establishment of yet another drive-in motel in a municipality, which is espousing the “character town” image.

The application of one Alex Kang for the construction of drive-in motel in barangay Maslog, Sibulan town in Negros Oriental hit a snag when residents of Purok 1 objected to the plan.

The constituents believe construction of more drive-in motels in the barangay runs counter with the municipality’s image as a character town.

Already, three drive-in motels are operating in the same barangay.

The public hearing was conducted following the advice of the town mayor and the municipal planning and development officer for the reclassification of the area.

Councilor Enrique Jariol says the villagers have spoken during a public hearing and that the opposition should not be taken lightly. - PNA

By Rita Ledesma
Philippine Star

As early as the first Millennium B.C., the Philippines had a rich tradition of personal adornment. It enjoyed a lively trade of glass beads and semi-precious stones with India and China. Its pre-colonial era was dominated by princesses and women warriors who adorned themselves wi   th the finest gold woven as sashes, or designed as intricate earrings and elaborate necklaces. Even then, exquisite jewelry was integral to being Filipina.

From this heritage emerges jewelry artist Celia Molano, who keeps the tradition vibrant and reveals her own ease with elegance. She spent her childhood in the aristocratic south playing with her grandmother’s heirloom pieces as though they were favorite toys. This background reflects the lifestyle of generations before her, and elucidates her refined feel for jewelry that comes naturally, like mists of beautiful memories. Steeped in artistic history and tradition, Celia Molano creates timeless treasures for the sophisticated woman. She executes designs of superb quality and refreshing innovation, threading together excavated beads, tambourines, fresh water pearls, gold, silver, and semi-precious stones in a delightful mix beyond imagining. She has no boundaries in thought and expression. And this inner excitement she successfully conveys through her art.

The exhibition at the Kampa Museum in Prague is a tribute to the history of Philippine jewelry while being magnificently modern. It displays dramatic, oversized necklaces of original pre-Hispanic beads and reproductions of gold finials once worn by sultans and powerful women. They exude an air of majesty while remaining authentically primitive.

Then there are the delicate ornaments: necklaces of exquisite granulated flowerettes alongside tambourines, cameos, and ribbons of the finest pearls overlapping like waves at sea. There are flirtatious gold earrings that dance and dangle with supreme subtlety, evoking fantasies of lace and ephemeral splendor reminiscent of the Spanish era when femininity was unrivaled.

But the era of glamor never wanes. Celia Molano’s extensive travels in India and Indonesia inspire lavish combinations of excavated beads in every size, shape and color: round, oval, clay, glass, faience, multicolored, striped. With stunning creativity, these beads are accented by an ancient mamuli pendant, or interspersed with finely carved gold and silver “balls” that echo every unique design. The effect is matchless.

So is the artist’s imagination. Baroque pearls are replicated in gold or silver, and then combined to make fabulous necklaces, brooches, bracelets, earrings. Bronze pearls are mixed with matte gold filigree. Carved aquamarine butterflies serve as whimsical pendants. Pearl, coral, gold, silver “sticks” are freely strung to fashion ornaments that subtly shift with the movement of the wearer. A magical world is created.

Celebrated in her own country, Celia Molano has captured the imagination of collectors all over the world: in Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United States among others. Her works have been exhibited in museums and galleries in the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines. An internationally renowned jewelry artist, she expresses the grandeur of Philippine design and the rich nuances of Eastern elegance.

An exhibit of Celia Molano’s jewelry opens at the White Cube Gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila on Oct. 14. It is her first exhibit in ten years. The author is former president and trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

By Victor H. Bocaling, Managing Director
The Philippine Star

I would like to share with you insights gained for working with a company that is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this October.

Thirty-five years ago, Swedish Match AB, a publicly-traded Swedish multinational, started the manufacture of disposable lighters here in the Philippines on 15 October 1973. It established a Lighter Division in its local subsidiary, Philippine Match Company (Phimco Industries). Starting with a focus of manufacturing for the local market, it eventually began to export its production. Today, at least 95 percent of its production capacity is for export! In 1991, Swedish Match spun off the Lighter Division as a separate legal entity called Swedish Match Philippines, Inc. (SMPI) and sold off the rest of its local operations.

For over three decades, SMPI has produced high quality lighters and observed its tradition of excellence and quality in its products. Our brand name, Cricket, is recognized as a global brand for disposable lighter and for its safety, reliability and design. Through years of product development, Swedish Match has successfully introduced several Cricket variants like Original, Mini, Maxi, Electronic, Pocket and Pico that are used by over 200 million people in more than 100 countries.

Starting as factory manager and up to my present position as managing director, I’ve had the good fortune to be present for 19 of those 35 years of SMPI. During this period, the company has imparted on me two important lessons which are still valid, even for the future.

The first is that the only constant in business (or life for that matter) is change. You can either deal with it or ignore it at your own peril. It will not go away. Part of SMPI’s ability to survive and prosper all these years was that it adapted to the various changes facing it. It started out producing lighters under the Feudor brand. It used manual intensive process to make these products. The company could have just stayed that way. And, when the product was no longer meeting consumer needs or the process was no longer viable, it could have just closed shop.

Instead, its management pushed for a new brand: the Cricket lighters. It also expanded its product lines to include electronic lighters, utility lighters and gas cartridges. In the late 1990s, it also began to sell in the local market the global tobacco products of Swedish Match. These tobacco products were cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco. These products carried brand names such as Macanudo, Wings, Borkum Riff, Willem II and Days Work.

Furthermore, instead of holding on to a labor-intensive production model, we benchmarked ourselves against the automated manufacturing processes in our European factories. We emulated the best practices in those factories and transformed our factory to that level. We wanted to combine those best practices with our local wage structure. We felt we could be the lowest cost producer among the Swedish Match lighter factories if we did so.

This objective was achieved in 2005. Furthermore, in recognition of this achievement, the factory moved from its previous location in Manila to its current location in the Laguna Technopark, Inc.’s PEZA zone last December 2007. The new site has the potential to produce almost twice its 2007 capacity. That is our goal for the near future!

I also don’t want to give the impression that everything was easy in meeting these challenges. It requires hard work and commitment from all of SMPI’s employees at all levels. Along with the gain, there has been pain. There were four major restructurings in the company’s history. In each case, we made sure that the affected employees were treated fairly, humanely and assisted them to find new opportunities after SMPI. It also gave a message to the remaining employees that everyone will always be treated with respect and dignity no matter the situation.

This leads to the second lesson: Change happens through people. Without people committed to meet challenges and perform their best, you cannot effect the desired change. It has been indeed a privilege for me to work with such a dedicated group of individuals who are the past & present employees of SMPI: the SMPI Family and Team.

I’ve often been asked how this teamwork and family spirit developed and was maintained through these years. The simplest answer is that we reward and recognize collective and individual performance through such measures as an annual Productivity Program and an Individual Performance Evaluation system which has monetary benefits for good performance. We also celebrate individual milestones and events with Service Awards and company-sponsored social and sports events.

There are many other good business lessons that SMPI’s history can give. I just felt the above mentioned experiences were the most significant for me as a professional manager.

The past 35 years has been quite a challenge for everyone in SMPI. Growing from a very small production unit to a key player in Swedish Match’s Asia-Pacific operations is a big achievement. Its employees have been the key factor in that achievement. I congratulate and thank all present and past employees in their contributions to the company. Our employees’ ability to meet the challenges with teamwork and a family-oriented spirit will continue to serve them well in the next 35 years!

Mabuhay SMPI!!

The art and science of cooking is becoming a common passion among many professionals today. In fact, a good number are taking it up as a second vocation. Celebrities and employees-turned-businessmen are storming the food industry. Among this growing breed of restaurateurs is Dr. Efren “Boy” R. Vazquez, MD. After practicing obstetrics-gynecology for more than 30 years, he now dedicates his time to his restaurant, Café Juanita.

A graduate of University of Santo Tomas, Vazquez had his residency training at the Makati Medical Center. His mentor was the famous Dr. Constantino Manahan who inspired him to specialize in the field of OB-GYN.

As a boy, Vazquez had already wanted to become a doctor. But it was also during his childhood when he first discovered his love for cooking. “I come from a big family in the province of Nueva Ecija,” he relates. “Our kitchen was always busy. I guess that’s where my love for cooking started. My mother, a Kapampangan, was my first cooking teacher.”

In fact, Café Juanita is not his fist venture in the food business. Having caught the cooking bug from his mother early on, Dr. Vazquez began dabbling in the food industry nearly two decades ago.

“Aside from cooking, I love to entertain. Every time I’d have a party at home, people would tell me to open a restaurant,” he shares. “So 18 years ago, as a hobby, I opened SoHoâ€"a small Japanese restaurant that only had a seating capacity of 15 to 20 persons. The success of SoHo encouraged me to stick to this hobby until now.”

- Excerpt from the Philippine Star

Published by the Philippine Star

SM City North-Edsa was the mall that started it all and changed Filipino lifestyles forever. For many of us to whom malling has become a way of life, it’s hard to imagine the circumstances how SM founder and chairman Henry Sy Sr.’s decision to open the mall was a big risk during that time.

In 1985, the country was in the midst of a major political and economic crisis brought about by the assassination of Senator Ninoy Aquino. Inflation was soaring at double-digit level, a huge capital flight and a lot of uncertainty. The fact that the mall seemed to be in the middle of nowhere fueled doomsday predictions.

But Sy saw it differently. Instead of a road to nowhere, he saw a crossroads linking the metro and provincial areas. Instead of a crisis, he saw an opportunity to serve more customers. During his buying trips to the US during the 1950s and 60s, Sy had seen how the suburbs had grown from the East to West coast, each with a shopping mall as its center, and from that time knew that this would be possible in the Philippines. The rest, as they say, is history.

As SM City North-Edsa today prepares for yet another transformation beginning with the opening of the new Annex later this year, some of the mall’s pioneer tenants share with us the reasons why they took the risk that time with Sy. They also share with us how they have grown with SM, and why they will continue to be part of the mall as it renovates.

MANELS
Opened November 12, 1985

Why they chose to open at North-EDSA: “Tessie Sy-Coson invited me and some other colleagues in the retail industry to have a tour of the mall as it was being built and gave me prime space,” recalls Manels chairman Manuel Siggaoat. “While I was apprehensive because of the crisis during that time, this was overcome by my experience working with SM â€" its track record in Makati, and the all out support of the mall’s management.”

How they have grown with SM? “Sales were good from the time we opened, and I remember that the mall even had to extend its closing hours to 9:00 and 10:00 PM to accommodate the many customers. We now have 42 stores all over the Philippines, 18 of which are at SM.”

Why they will continue to be part of the North-EDSA transformation: “We have a dynamic relationship, and I want to be part of the new mall, just as I was part of North-EDSA the first time it opened.

JOLLIBEE
Opened 1986

Why they chose to open at North-EDSA: We’ve had a long, solid relationship with SM for so many years,” says Jollibee president William Tan. “I remember the time I was scheduled to meet Henry Sy Sr. about opening a branch at SM City North-EDSA. I was surprised that they had scheduled the meeting at SM Echague at 12 midnight. We went as were asked to and were shocked to see Sy still in the office with his staff at that time.

I was also impressed and touched when Tessie-Sy Coson who was heavy with her first child at the time took time to tour me around the construction site and show me the space SM was providing. We were amazed at the SM management’s dedication to work and thought that despite the odds, the mall would be a success.”

How they have grown with SM: “We have more than 30 Jollibee outlets in its malls and supercenters. We have a mutually beneficial relationship with SM.”

Why they will continue to be part of the SM City North-EDSA transformation: “We will always remain committed to support SM in its malls in the Philippines and overseas.”

RICKY REYES
Opened November 12, 1985

Why he chose to open at North-EDSA: “I’m a very adventurous businessman,” says Ricky Reyes, who founded his popular chain of hair and beauty salons. “Besides, I could see the trend leading to shopping malls.”

How he has grown with SM: “I was a pioneer tenant at SM City North-EDSA opening the same time as the Department Store and Supermarket, and have grown as SM has grown. Today, I have salons in almost SM Malls â€" except those in Sucat, Batangas, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro.”

Why he will continue to be part of the SM City North-EDSA transformation: “It’s because of my loyalty to Henry Sy Sr. whom I fondly call Tatang. I remember when SM City North-EDSA first opened, he would be in the mall every other day. He would often visit my salon and our interactions became learning sessions for me. For me, Mr. Sy is not only a business icon, but someone who has become very much like a father to me.”

NATIONAL BOOKSTORE
Opened April 11, 1986

Why they chose to open at North-EDSA: “My mother in law, National Bookstore founder Socorro Ramos and Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. had known each other for sometime as they both had stores downtown,” says National Bookstore president Precy Ramos. “He invited us to be part of the mall, and we agreed.”

How they have grown with SM: “ We have been able to grow together and today 30 of our 100 branches are at SM.”

Why they will continue to be part of the SM City North-EDSA transformation: “We are happy to be part of the new SM City North-EDSA the way we were the first time it opened.”

FRENCH BAKER
Opened September 1989

Why they chose to open at North-EDSA: “Before I thought of investing in French Baker, our family was already supplying bread to the SM Supermarket,” says French Baker president Johnlu Koa. “Deciding to join SM was not difficult as I’ve known the Sy brothers, especially Herbert, very well. I knew it would work because I’ve done my homework and studied market opportunities.”

How they grew with SM: “I was one of the first tenants at the old SM City Annex. During that time, the crises were different - brownouts and coup attempts, but I was given much support and encouragement by the SM management. I hope that I will have 40 stores by the end of the year, and am happy that 90 percent of these are at SM.”

Why they will continue to be part of SM City North-EDSA’s transformation: “Putting up a store at SM makes it very accessible and convenient for customers. Having worked with SM for 20 years has made us aware of the vision of SM Founder Henry Sy, Sr. to always be innovative and up to date. We are happy to be part and share this vision.”

SPORTSHOUSE
Opened December 1985

Why they chose to open at North-EDSA: “We believed in the mall concept,” says Sportshouse president Mars Chua. “ I vividly remember our opening day at SM City North-Edsa, which was graced by celebrities, PBA players, sporstscasters and sports enthusiasts. We dressed our mannequins in sports attire and were surprised that shoppers were having their picture taken with those mannequins.”

How they grew with SM: “We have around 32 stores nationwide, 22 of which are at SM.”

Why they will continue to be part of SM City North-EDSA’s transformation: : I am very grateful to SM especially to Mr. Sy for all the support and encouragement through the years. Wherever SM goes, we are looking forward to be part of the group.”

Some of SM City North-EDSA’s other pioneer tenants include McDonald’s, Max’s, Goldilocks, Dimensione, Magic, Ideal Vision, Fabric Warehouse, and Multi Time, each one with their own SM story, each looking forward to open new stores as SM City North-EDSA undergoes its transformation.

The P2-billion unsecured subordinated debt of the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) has retained its PRS AA plus rating.

The ratings was issued by the Philippine Rating Services Corp. (PhilRatings), the only domestic credit rating agency in the Philippines accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“This is only slightly below the highest rating in the PhilRatings scale which is given to issues with the smallest degree of investment risk,” the rating agency said.

PhilRatings noted that the consistent high ratings given to PSBank is due to its continuous growth and stability in the past three years despite the adverse external conditions.

It also indicates its strong capability to pay its debt issue, which has a maximum term of 10 years, with a call provision after five years.

A PRS Aa plus rating means that the bank’s margins of protection may not be as large as in PRS Aaa issues. Fluctuations of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present, which make long-term risks appear somewhat larger than for PRS Aaa-rated securities.

Specifically, the PRS AA plus rating given to PSBank reflects its key strengths such as its strong market position anchored on a well-defined strategy that is based on continuous product innovation; its promotions and geographical expansion; and its robust deposit generation ability indicating capability to maintain depositor confidence, the Philratings report said. - Philippine Star

By Ted P. Torres
Philippine Star

The SB Corp. is introducing new options for banks to comply with the mandatory lending provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9501, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

SB Corp., (also known as the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corp.) is a line agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the agency mandate by RA 9501 to look for better compliance alternatives for financial institutions for lending to MSMEs.

RA 5901 states that all banking institutions must allocate eight percent of its total loan portfolio for microfinance and small entrepreneurs, and another two percent for medium enterprises, or a total of 10 percent of the institution’s total loan portfolio.

However, banks are finding it difficult to actually comply with the law. Commercial banks generally are awash with loans to the medium-sized entrepreneurs but find it difficult to comply with the eight-percent requirement for lending to small and micro-enterprises.

Thrift banks too find it difficult to comply with the eight-percent portion of the law. Both commercial and thrift banks are not designed to deal with lower valued but numerous in quantity small and micro-enterprises.

In contrast, rural banks have an over-compliance of loans to the small and micro sectors, but find it extremely difficult to comply with two-percent loan portfolio for medium-sized entrepreneurs.

Failure to comply is greeted with a penalty of P500,000 per quarter as banks are required to report compliance to the law on a quarterly basis.

To answer the banks compliance with the law, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) offered alternatives such as the SBGFC promissory notes, which are non-interest bearing notes.

Tomato and garlic planted around cabbage plants can control major insect pests like diamondback moth (DBM), Hellula, and cutworms, among others.

Researchers of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte, led by Dr. Miriam Pascua, found in a three-year study that companion planting with tomato or garlic results in higher marketable yields and net income on cabbage.

This strategy, called companion planting, tries to divert the insects from the main crop by presenting to them a more favorable substitute or a crop that would be deterrent to them, said Lucrecia Cocson and Lagrimas Flojo. It is also a very effective way of protecting environmental health and increasing farm productivity.

Results of the study showed that cabbage plus tomato combination significantly reduced the damages caused by Hellula and DBM. On the other hand, the cabbage plus garlic combination reduced cutworm damages.

Hellula is an insect that feeds on cabbage shoots at the early vegetative stage of the plants. Its damages come in either of two ways: one, the crop does not produce any head at all; two, the plants may produce multiple heads that are not marketable.

DBM larvae are voracious feeders on cabbage heads. This insect may cause farmers to lose 80 to 100 percent of their expected yield if left uncontrolled. Damaged cabbage heads become unmarketable.

Cocson and Flojo harvested a total cabbage head yield of 14.86 tons per hectare (t/ha) in the cabbage plus garlic combination, and 13.86 t/ha in the cabbage plus tomato combination.

source: The Philippine Star

Onion farmers of Nueva Ecija, known as the “onion basket of the country,” are looking forward to a bright Christmas this year, unlike the past years when they were very vocal against the influx of imported and smuggled onions.

The reason: A bountiful harvest this year attributed to the comprehensive program of the Department of Agriculture initiated by Secretary Arthur Yap through a package of sustained assistance directly to local government units (LGUs), marginal farmers and multi-purpose cooperatives of onion growers.

Hitting a banner year in harvest is Bongabon town, a third-class municipality with 28 barangays and a population of less than 100,000. Bongabon is the leading producer of onions in the province with some 2,000 hectares planted and producing an average of 350 bags of onions per hectare.

Bongabon Mayor Amelia A. Gamilla lauded Yap for giving the town’s 2,850 farmers direct assistance in the form of “certified seeds,” a multi-million irrigation infrastructure to portable irrigation generators, and coupons for P250 worth of fertilizers.

Bongabon municipal agriculture officer Luchie Cena said province-wide, Nueva Ecija produced an average of 250 bags of onion per hectare or about three million bags harvested this year from a total of 12,000 hectares.

Cena said the 22 multi-purpose cooperatives in Bongabon allied with the Union of Growers and Traders of Onions of the Philippines (UGAT), headed by Magtanggol Alvarez, also benefited from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program.

source: The Philippine Star

By Rudy A. Fernandez
Philippine Star

Goat production has become a thriving enterprise in parts of the Ilocos Region, thanks to a Department of Agriculture (DA)-supported R&D project.

Called “Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) Goat Agribusiness Development Project in Region I,” the undertaking is being implemented by the DA-Regional Field Unit I-Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (RFU I-ILIARC).

A report on the CPAR-ABDP won the AFMA (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act) Best Paper R&D Award â€" Development Research category given during the 2008 National Research Symposium (NRS).

NRS is an annual competition sponsored by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) headed by Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar that gives due recognition to outstanding researchers and their scientific works. It is participated in by researchers of DA bureaus and agencies and state colleges and universities.

The scientific paper on the goat project was authored by DA-RFU I-ILIARC researchers headed by Melinda Calumpit.

Through the project, goat production has considerably become popular as an important component of Ilocandia’s agricultural system. It has benefited farmer-partners in terms of bigger goat stocks and increased income, and generated revenue for the local governments, the researchers noted.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) is leading an effort to revive the local bamboo industry which promises to provide millions of dollars in export revenues for the country and presents huge potentials for rural and agriculture development.

“Recent studies have shown that bamboo has around 1,500 uses ranging from food production to building materials, aside from being a carbon sequester,” said LLDA general manager Edgardo C. Manda.

At the start of 2008, private sector and farmer interest in making bamboo â€" considered the “a grass of hope” â€" a viable industry has been increasing, said Manda.
Consider the following:

• World trade on bamboo and bamboo products was estimated at $12 billion in 2002 and was growing at $2 billion yearly. Bamboo flooring enjoys a very good demand especially in environment-conscious Europe where people are willing to pay more than $100 per square meter of bamboo flooring compared to only about $25 per square meter for a floor made of oak;

• Back in 2002, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines said it needed some 1.5 million poles of bamboo and that the demand would increase to 1.875 million the following year. There are studies which indicate that a farmer can earn close to P300,000 per year from a one-hectare bamboo plantation.

Perhaps the more important reason why farmers and all landowners should plant bamboo is its contribution to the environment.

According to Manda, bamboo does an excellent job of rejuvenating degraded lands and protecting them against soil erosion, landslides, mudslides and slippage. Its massive root system helps control soil erosion and surface run-off in fragile riverbanks.

Bamboo is also an ideal windbreaker and helps protect farm crops, structures and other properties from destructive wind.

Finally, bamboo helps in carbon sequestration and conservation of biodiversity considering that it produces large amounts of biomass which conserve ground moisture and is converted into organic matter when it decomposes. Studies have shown that one hectare of bamboo plantation can sequester up to 12 tons carbon per year.

Importantly, too, bamboo is a renewable and sustainable resource which matures in a short time. According to Manda, bamboo has a much shorter gestation period than trees. He said a bamboo stand starts to yield after three to four years from planting. What’s more, bamboo can be harvested annually and non-destructively. It has the ability to regenerate or replace itself when damaged or extracted or harvested, Manda pointed out.

Bamboo can be productive for up to 50 years, depending on the species or variety. It can grow three times faster than the fastest growing tree.

“The Philippines somehow missed the opportunity to cash in on the viability of bamboo, unlike China which already has an established bamboo industry,” said Manda. “But it is not too late, because the need for bamboo as a watershed crop, additional food source, and provider of building materials remains constant.”

In line with this, LLDA is spearheading the 1st National Bamboo Development Forum to be held from Oct. 22-24 at the PTTC on Pasay City. Its partners are members of the Bamboo Network, an alliance of private sector individuals and business groups that will actively take part in establishing a viable bamboo industry in the Philippines.

source: The Philippine Star

Kia lovers at the heart of Quezon City no longer have to go far as Kia Motors Corporation recently opened its newest dealership along Congressional Avenue, the first and only Kia dealership within North of Quezon City that has a full service facility.

Located on 146B Congressional Avenue, Kia Congressional boasts of a brand new showroom facility where test-drives can be easily arranged and customers can avail of Kia’s best-in-class financing programs and Trade-up deals. Kia Congressional also boasts of its full parts and service center that can service multiple units per day.

“As the first Kia dealership with a full service facility North of Quezon City, Kia Motors Congressional is committed to bring you the fulfillment of your driving pleasures. We are devoted to provide you the highest customer service satisfaction we can offer,” said Kia Congressional President, Niko Sebastian. “We truly value customer partnerships, which goes beyond your purchase of a Kia, as we extend our uncompromising service and customer-centered offerings for a memorable Kia experience,” he added. - Philippine Star

Defying rising fuel prices, increasing cost of raw materials and the threat of recession, Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), manufacturer and distributor of Kia in the Philippines, chalked up an impressive 75% sales growth for the first half of 2008, the highest in the industry, and lay claim to being the fastest growing automotive brand in the country today.

Figures bared by CAC showed that Kia vehicle sales grew by 75% from January to June based on comparative 2007 vs. 2008 figures culled from the latest Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Phils., Inc. (CAMPI) report. Kia was followed by Nissan which posted a 60% growth and General Motors at 36%, completing the top three. Hyundai took the fourth spot with 33%, tailed by Mitsubishi at 22%, Isuzu 16%, Suzuki 13%, Ford 10% Toyota 7% and Mazda 2%.

source: Philippine Star

Quote from: Bambi on April 25, 2008, 05:36:26 PM
To the above subject:  

WARNING:  We have a thread here....saying:  Masturbation may cause blindness!

GOOD HINT: Masturbation may prevent prostate cancer!

My comments:  To all guys here in TB!  Which kind of sickness will you prefer? 

Blindness does not kill, but prostate cancer does. The answer is clear now.

By Katherine Adraneda
Philippine Star

The Philippines is eying a revolutionary contribution to the world by turning filthy mud and water lilies into valuable resources that might just address problems on flooding and garbage.

This, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) signed a 10-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) with a Filipino inventor who discovered that the grimy mud of Pasig River and Laguna Lake, as well as the massive population of water lilies that clog these waterways, can be converted into organic fertilizer and alternative fuel.

Gonzalo Catan Jr., executive vice president of Mapecon Green Charcoal Philippines Inc., said they have proven during earlier research and development efforts that mud taken from Pasig River and Laguna Lake is organic and can be used as component of a mixture to create vermicast, an organic fertilizer.

The latest MOA signed among DENR, LLDA, Mapecon, and the National Committee on Urban Pest Control (NCUPC) was a “supplemental agreement” to an earlier MOA dated July 26, 2006, which facilitated joint research and development on the recycling of water lilies and organic mud from Pasig River and Laguna Lake.

“We have found out that this project to convert an unwanted waste to a valuable and useful resource is workable. We have proven during our first research and development initiative that mud in Pasig River and Laguna Lake is a valuable raw material, as we have proven that it is organic,” Catan said.

Filipino workers must constantly improve their skills and talents. The competition in the job market is so fierce that foreign employers can easily lay off a Filipino worker and hire a more competent worker from another country.

Whatever job you have, you must be indispensable. But it cannot happen unless you have something great to offer to the company you work for, something that you alone can do, a problem that you alone can fix.

I remember meeting a man from Cebu who works in Congo, Africa. His employer is an American pilot who operates a construction company in that country.

This Filipino manages all the Caterpillar heavy equipment of the company. Without him, the construction company cannot operate.

Our Filipino worker in Congo, indeed, has become indispensable.

Only Filipino workers can survive the harsh climate and culture in Saudi Arabia. Soon SA will realize they need Filipinos, not other nationals to empower their economy.

Like anything in today’s world, the only thing constant is change. The need for change has been the impetus for progress. In the field of diabetes, breakthroughs in research for medicines and gadgets can be life-changing for the millions of diabetes sufferers worldwide.

In the October-November issue of DiabetEASE magazine, articles focus on the latest developments in research for a possible cure for the disease and the newest gadgets in the market that are making the lives of people with diabetes more enjoyable.

With this, doctors share their knowledge on the latest blood glucose monitoring devices that have made a once laborious routine more convenient; incretin-based therapies and how these can work wonders for diabetics; and how continuous research is making insulin shots less painful.

Other articles delve on the top 10 foods that can help prevent the onset of diabetes; tips for effective sick-day management; must-have fitness equipment; recipes for healthy baked treats; and how painting could help relieve stress.

DiabetEASE is available at all National Bookstore outlets and other leading bookstores nationwide. For subscription inquiries, call 813-5433. - Philippine Star

Realities in RP science
By Raul Kamantigue Suarez, PhD
Published by the Philippine Star

During my recent Balik Scientist visit to the Philippines, a very dear scientist friend said she had gotten tired of reading articles such as this because, after issues have been debated and so many words exchanged, nothing ever changes.

But even Marx, who pointed out the need to change the world, analyzed it first. In my previous Star Science article entitled “Myths in Philippine Science,” I wrote about the apparent lack of clear understanding of what limits scientific productivity in the Philippines. Such understanding is necessary if problems are to be properly addressed. For example, if providing more funding for science is necessary, is this, by itself, sufficient? Or, given current conditions, should certain changes precede or accompany an increase in government funding for science? I think our dear friend would agree that such questions are worth asking, especially in a poor country where science competes for funding with education, health care, and other national programs that are starved of funds.

The importance of rejuvenating science in the Philippines cannot be underestimated. Kirk Hamilton’s work (Where Is The Wealth Of Nations?: Measuring Capital for the 21st Century, World Bank, 2006, http://go.worldbank.org/2QTH26ULQ0) reveals that about three-fourths of each country’s wealth lies not in natural resources or industrial production, but in “intangible capital” (quality of social institutions, education, skills and know-how, stable rule of law, honest elections, etc.).

The intangible capital available to each Filipino is worth about 10 times less than what is available to each Singaporean and 20 times less than what is available to each Japanese. Research, done by a healthy and productive scientific community, is an important component of the engines that drive the economies of all countries. So, let us consider the problems faced by those who do research and train scientists. Here are several problems identified by some accomplished Filipino scientists with whom I spoke:

The brain drain. Many scientists have left academia or left the country. Graduate students and young faculty members (at the UP) suffer from lack of mentors. Thus, although there is an abundance of raw talent among Filipinos, the national investment in manpower training is lost when scientists leave or give up doing science. In addition, the scarcity of highly published senior scientists, who can train students and serve as role models, creates new generations of scientists who are improperly trained in the culture and practice of science.

Low salaries. Researchers and scientist/professors who have trouble living on their salaries must find other ways to make ends meet and cannot do research with the commitment, passion and intensity required to be productive and to achieve excellence. This situation, along with other factors, contributes to the brain drain.

Too much teaching. University students refer to their professors as “teachers” and university administrators view teaching as the primary responsibility of their faculty. Research is considered an optional activity, done “on the side.” These are symptoms of the widespread failure to recognize that universities must contribute to the advancement of knowledge to be considered as true universities. Professors who write poetry teach poetry; those who teach science must do science.

* * *

Raul Kamantigue Suarez is a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology of the University of California, Santa Barbara, California and an editor of the Journal of Experimental Biology, Cambridge, UK. E-mail him at suarez@lifesci.ucsb.edu.

“The Philippines feels like home,” said Nondas Vandoros of Greece, as he walked through a hectare of land in Zambales planted to a variety of rice and other plants.

“Where the Dutch have a constant struggle with the water, Aetas are perpetually threatened by Mt. Pinatubo,” shared Ingrid Swagemakers of the Netherlands, when asked about the similarities between her home and her host community.

“We failed ‘Rice 101’ when we kept spilling grains on the floor while two Aeta women patiently taught us city-folk how to grind, separate, and cook rice,” recalled Maya Abood of the United States and Guillermo Fernandez of Spain.   

These are just some of the reflections shared by participants of the 2008 International People’s Project (IPP) held recently in the Aeta settlement communities in Zambales, which brought together about 30 young people from 11 different countries.

IPP is an activity regularly organized by CISV International (www.cisv.org), an independent, non-political and volunteer organization with members across the globe, and which promotes peace education and cross-cultural friendship through its activities.

IPP enables CISV members to learn while being immersed in and actively contributing to a particular community. It gives participants the opportunity to become aware of challenges to society and, in a real-life setting, experience different ways of dealing with them.

In partnership with local organizations, IPP delegates participate in hands-on work involving a specific theme or project such as nature conservation or immigration.

This year, IPP had the theme “Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development” and was held in Zambales, in partnership with the Aeta community, the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP), and ABS-CBN Eco-Village.

It was supported by Smart Communications Inc. which provided wireless broadband Internet to the IPP participants during the course of the immersion. 

Smart Bro Prepaid, the country’s first prepaid wireless broadband offered by Smart subsidiary Smart Broadband Inc., kept IPP delegates and CISV staff connected to the outside world, even as they immersed themselves in the lifestyle and culture of Zambales’ Aeta community.

The Smart Bro Prepaid broadband kit now costs only P3,800 with free five hours worth of Internet access. For a limited period or until supply lasts, the kit is available at the reduced price of only P2,500. It is available at all Smart Wireless Centers nationwide and from any accredited Smart dealer.

Internet access via Smart Bro Prepaid costs only P10 for every 30-minute use, and load for the wireless modem is available from over a million Smart e-load retailers all over the country. For more information on Smart Bro Prepaid, visit www.smart.com.ph/smartbro.

source: Philippine Star

No longer do you need to make a choice between music, media and imaging when picking your next phone. Compromise is now a thing of the past, thanks to Sony Ericsson’s latest Walkman phones.

Downsize your bag, free your pockets and leave your music player and camera at home â€" both handsets enable you to play your favorite tunes, snap those precious moments or watch crystal-clear video on the bright QVGA screens.

Also, both phones have a fantastic added feature that lets you upload videos or download your favorite clips from YouTube.

Sony Ericsson has partnered with YouTube owner Google to integrate the website into the W902 and W595 Walkman phones, enabling users to instantly access YouTube from their phone. By tilting the phone you can watch the videos in full-screen landscape mode.

W902 Walkman

The W902 Walkman is a phone that goes beyond music and gives users everything they need in one pocket-sized stylish device. With an 8GB Memory Stick Micro (M2), you can store more than 8,000 songs and enjoy the clear audio experience.

You can also switch seamlessly from music to image capture using the five-megapixel auto focus camera with photoflash.

source: Philippine Star

At a recent business roundtable with the government hosted by the Economist Conferences in Makati City, Convergys Corp., a global leader in relationship management, shared its insights on the importance of developing and sustaining an educated workforce and investing in telecommunications infrastructure to capture the growth potential of the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) services sector.

Participating in a panel discussion about doing business in the Philippines, Convergys’ Marife Zamora said investments in people and facilities are needed to encourage and support strong business and job growth in the years ahead.

As Convergys’ country manager for the Philippines, Zamora is responsible for overseeing the operation of Convergys’ nine contact centers with 14,100 employees in the country.

She is also responsible for growing the company’s business in the Philippines and helping Convergys clients worldwide drive greater value from their customer and employee relationships.

source: Philippine Star

BNC, you mean a hundred more companies coming or a hundred more buildings to be constructed in Cebu?

By Manny de los Reyes
Philippine Star

Epson Philippines Corp. (EPC) pioneered another benchmark in large-format pro-graphics with the launch of the Epson Stylus Pro 11880 64-inch-wide large-format printer (LFP).

The Stylus Pro 11880 is engineered with Epson’s new Micro Piezo printhead technology and UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta.

According to Eduardo Bonoan, EPC senior general manager and division head of sales and marketing, the Stylus Pro 11880 is designed for professionals in the photography, fine art, and proofing markets and promises to exceed limits in high-resolution printing with no compromise on print scale and media versatility.

Engineered with Epson’s leading core technologies, the Stylus Pro 11880 includes Epson’s latest Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP) printhead and an eight-color inkset, which features Epson’s renowned formulation of UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta that significantly widens the color gamut and further cements the reputation of Epson’s award-winning UltraChrome K3 as an industry benchmark.

Young executives and starting families know how difficult purchasing a condo can be, especially in frenetic Makati. Aside from the hefty investment involved, there is also the tough decision of choosing a condo based on proximity or privacy.

While residing close to corporate hubs minimizes daily travel time and gives families easy access to urban amenities, the surrounding activity leaves little room for quiet solitude and rest. In the same vein, staying in the outskirts of Makati has its perks of family bonding and personal reflection. But this comes paired with inconveniences, such as longer commutes for office workers and limited lifestyle destinations (schools, malls, etc) for the rest of the family.

Hoping to solve this dilemma is One Pacific Place. The soon-to-rise residential condominium offers the best of both choices with its strategic location in Salcedo Village and stress-reducing living space. Developed by Cactus Realty Corp., the same dynamic group that developed Pan Pacific Manila and Adriatico Square, One Pacific Place delivers these advantages in world-class style.

source: The Philippine Star

The only thing constant in life, wise men say, is change. With the right attitude, it provides the opportunity to evolve and improve for the better â€" whether one is at the beginning of building a new life or embarking on their twilight years.

Always at the forefront of innovation, maverick real property developer Brittany Corp. continues to stay ahead of its clientele â€" identifying its needs long before the demand arises. A proud member of the country’s largest home builder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., Brittany has unveiled the “New Amore Series of Homes” at the 24-hectare Amore enclave at Portofino. This features new kinds of model homes in response to the changing market.

“Brittany decided to come out with the new Amore series to address the changing demands of the market. Amore’s target markets are retirees and starting families. The vision for Amore was to provide the grandeur and luxury of Portofino at a price that is more practical to families or couples that don’t necessarily need the bigger homes available in the Masters Collection or Courtyards of Portofino. The homes are cozier, but the quality of the design, craftsmanship and materials are still the same,” said Brittany’s chief operations officer Mary Lee Sadiasa.

Amore of Portofino is a unique exclusive enclave inspired by the rustic Tuscan region of Italy â€" the birthplace of the Renaissance. It sits on prime, fertile, windswept terrain cradled by trees and can easily be accessed through three major road arteries. It is seven minutes away from the central business district of Alabang and 35 minutes from Makati.

The new Amore series offers five designs that exemplify the Italian spirit infused with the conveniences of modern living. Niccolo, Montano, Leandro, Franco and Giorgio range from 141sqm to 259sqm in total floor area. Packages range from P8.7 million to P13 million. Within this enclave is a unique feature developed by Brittany called Clusters. A Cluster is an assemblage of 4 single-detached residential units with a common treated driveway and a landscaped pocket garden. The landscape features promote a quaint, rustic and romantic ambience â€" providing a sense of community without sacrificing security and privacy. - source: The Philippine Star

Always a step ahead of competition, #1 business process outsourcing (BPO) office buildings developer Megaworld Corp. is introducing new dimensions to the 15-storey McKinley Hill Commerce & Industry Plaza to make it the perfect location for outsourcing and offshoring (O&O) firms.

“Megaworld’s team of architects and planners have raised the ante anew in BPO building developments by integrating in the Commerce & Industry Plaza the elements and features that they found to be very essential in the operation of BPO firms but were overlooked by other developers,” Megaworld FVP for business development Jericho Go declared.

First, the Commerce & Industry Plaza offers wide uninterrupted office spaces of up to 1,800 square meters. The building was designed in such a way that the posts and columns will not be found inside the units to make sure that the BPO locators will not waste precious space. This also makes the setting up of the working areas, facilities and equipment more efficient and easier for BPO tenants. - source: The Philippine Star

Eton Properties Philippines Inc., the property arm of the Lucio Tan Group of companies, is set to launch the first residential island lot development in the country called the South Lake Village. South Lake Village is the initial development within Eton City, a world-class development that is set to rise in the rapidly developing Sta. Rosa area in Laguna.

Hailed as “The Makati of the South”, part of Eton City’s masterplan is the creation of a mixed-use township project that would seamlessly integrate residential, commercial, recreational, and institutional centers to form one vibrant community.

As the centerpiece of this ambitious project, South Lake Village shall provide for the first island community development in the country. Occupying 150 hectares of the almost 1,000-hectare Eton City project, South Lake Village is set to bring the concept of waterfront living to Philippine shores.

“One of the trends in the real estate industry today is developing waterfront properties and promoting waterfront living. In countries like Thailand, Singapore, Australia and the US, areas near water are considered prime property,” said Arch. Nestor Mangio, Eton Properties’ partner in conceptualizing South Lake Village.

“This project was actually inspired by the waterfront developments in Dubai such as Jumeirah, The Palm and The World, as well as the waterfront communities in the U.S. like San Francisco and Orange County,” he added.

South Lake Village is not like any ordinary community. This development features 18 residential islands that’s surrounded by a 35-hectare man-made lake. Each island, approximately one hectare in size, will have 6 to 12 residential lots ranging from 600 to 1,000 square meters each. The islands will be connected to the mainland through roads, and are highly exclusive and secure. Only kayaks and electric boats will be allowed to preserve the lake, and residents can have their own private dock.

source: The Philippine Star

Article and Interview by Loy Palapos
Bohol Sunday Post

Times have changed, and so have people. Even in public service, which skeptics used to generalize as graft-ridden, the upsurge of positive observation and remarks has tripled. Especially in City governance.

For instance, there was a time several years ago, where the City Engineer's Office was condescendingly viewed as a trash can of unbiodegradable misfits, where unqualified appointees were dumped, for no other reason than political patronage.

My brief visit to the new Office proved that those "dangling modifiers" (in English grammar) are not there anymore, and the place, which used to sound like a public market, has a new ambience of orderliness and goodwill, devoid of the notoriety which it used to be characterized.

Meeting the City Engineer at her Office last Thursday, October 9, confirmed what I heard of the big changes that have taken shape at the CEO. The members of the working staff were busy, and gone was the unsettling buzz and ear-itching noise. In place was a work force performing their respective responsibilities. It was not even a planned encounter with the City Engineer, for I just dropped by her office without being invited.

The reception was friendly, for I know the City Engineer as a potent ally in the previous Sandugo celebrations. Even if in those years when she was not yet occupying the topmost position of the Department, she was the one who worked with me on engineering concerns: electricity, construction, decoration, physical arrangement, manpower, etc. and in all those years, I found in her a real Engineer who knew her job and has mastered the arts of motivating her staff.

Engineer Pianicita Sepe-Castolo (PSC) is a Civil Engineer from UB (1979). Enticed to teach right after passing the Board, she taught full time for only 5 months, for she got the job of Field Engineer at DPWH I. She continued to teach partime, until the burden of her main job had to be fully addressed.

To augment her management skill, she took and finished MPA (2000), together with her husband Electronics Computer Engineer Felix Castolo, now based in Ilo-ilo City. Admired and respected by her personnel and staff, she is a vital support to the success of the Lim administration.

LMP: There are people who perceived Engineering as a man's world. What enticed you to become an Engineer?
PSC: In high school, I always had top scores in mathematics. That was why when I went to college, I chose Engineering. Add the fact that my older sisters and brother took up engineering courses too.

LMP: When you started to study engineering, was there any problem or was it smooth sailing?
PSC: It was fun for me. I enjoyed dealing with numbers.

LMP: How long have you been working as an Engineer?
PSC: I've been working for 28 years already.

LMP: What would you consider as the biggest problem in your career?
PSC: Handling the people in the department because of their different characteristics. But I considered it as a challenge. That was why I took up MPA. Before, we used to have as many as 65 employees, but during the start of Mayor Dan Lim's administration, some of the employees were transferred to other offices. Others opted for an early retirement; about 30 percent of them.

LMP: During the previous years, the Engineering Office was considered as a dumpsite for casuals. Is it still true today?
PSC: Our department needs casuals because of our work in the field. It's important that we accomplish all the projects being assigned to us. But right now, we only have those who we really need in the office. We don't have casuals that are not utilized anymore.

LMP: There was a time, when this office was dilapidated. Now, it is already brand new. Does that make a difference when functions in the office are concerned?
PSC: Yes. People are more efficient and effective when their environment is conducive for working.

LMP: What are the present projects that you are working on right now?
PSC: The concreting of roads from the Tagbilaran Pier going to the Capitol Site, Mansasa and Manga districts.

LMP: I have heard that the administration would rather concrete roads so that no more repairs will be made. Is that true?
PSC: Yes, that's correct. Unlike before wherein the roads were in need of concreting again after 1 or 2 years. Right now, the concreting is permanent. We already have the budget intended for that. Our City Mayor would really like to have this project accomplished this year. In 2009, there will be 2 sections to be concreted. From the Pier to Gallares St., then to Calceta St. It's a cut-and-fill process; cut the higher portion of the road and fill-up the lower portion. We have so many projects to be started next year. Mayor Lim is convinced that the roads in Tagbilaran are in need of concreting.

LMP: What can you say about the way the City Mayor is handling the departments?
PSC: Mayor Dan Lim is indeed very good. He wants to be close to the Heads of the Offices so that there will be an easy flow of communication. He has very good ideas and is a visionary.

LMP: What is the structure of the City Engineering Office now?
PSC: Under me are the Engineer III and the Engineer II. The Administrative Department is headed by Engr. Pablito Corloncito. The Property Section is headed by Engr. Josephine Lopena. We have Archt. Romo of the Planning and Designing Section, Construction and Maintenance Division by Engr. Servando Acedo, Electrical division by Engr. Pilito Francisco and the Public Service Divison by Engr. Glovasa.

LMP: How many casuals do you have?
PSC: I only have 3 casuals. But the Electrical division has 12 because there are so many lighting problems in the different barangays, the offices in Tagbilaran and of course the traffic lights.

LMP: How do you go about with the other department heads, is it smooth sailing?
PSC: I don't have any problems when it comes to my relationship with the other Heads. I go along well with them.

LMP: How do you divide your time as a wife, as a mother and as an engineer?
PSC: I devote myself with my work and with my children. I am only connected with a few affiliations like the Bukas Loob sa Dios, elected as one of the Board of Directors of TACICO or Tagbilaran City Cooperative, and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) of which I'm the Auditor.

LMP: Combining all of these things, would you like to consider yourself as a fulfilled woman?
PSC: Yes, I am very fulfilled already.

LMP: What is your message to your constituents in the Engineering Department?
PSC: I want to have a very good result with regards to our projects in Tagbilaran City. And I am positive that this can be accomplished with all of your help.

Engr. Castolo is a caring wife, a dutiful mother, and above all, a career woman. How she balances her time, so that not on of her responsibilities is set aside, is the mark that sets her apart from the ordinary woman. At 24, her eldest is a Computer Engineer, the second (22 years old) is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

The third in the family is a 15-year old fourth-year secondary school student; and the youngest (10 years old) is in grade 5. All of them earning their educational foundation at Holy Spirit School. A believer in education as a necessity for a better future, she has full trust that her children are on the right track, even if her husband is not with the family all the time.

It is this trust that inspires her in everything she does, even in her career of 28 long solid years. With a working force dedicated to their jobs, after the resignation of many unwanted surplus workers, she is convinced she is empowered to perform her tasks optimally. She credits Mayor Dan N. Lim for the "cleansing" of the City Engineer's Office. The move may have caused quite a sum for the present administration but, in the long run, it will prove that it was the right move. Why retain extra hands that are not used, nor minds that have long outlived their usefulness? But of course, the process applied was fair and humane, with those involved grateful for a graceful exit.

The confidence she now earns from the administration is the most potent driving force in the performance of her job. She is thankful to Mayor Lim for steering her way to a more productive career. As an expression of her gratitude to the present governance, she is convinced she and her staff will be more productive. She now comprehends how a belief in a leadership style could also inspire the best in her.