MikeLigalig.com

By Joe Espiritu
Sunday Post Columnist

The Philippines will be experiencing the effects of a financial but a piece of news offsetting that is the report of a major oil discovery in northwestern Palawan. It says that the deposit would supply 60% of the country's needs in the next few years. That is if the oil is sold solely here. There may be more. This only goes to show that there is oil in the Philippines in commercial quantities and it needs only to uncover the deposits.

During the Six-Day Arab - Israeli War, the oil producing Arab countries refused to sell oil to western countries sympathetic to Jewish cause. This caused the western industries to grind almost to a halt. A frantic search for alternative sources of fossil fuel supply ensued. European nations discovered vast sources in the stormy North Sea. Nearer home, the Malampaya Sound in northwestern Palawan was explored. Preliminary survey showed possible presence of oil. Service contracts were leased to oil exploration companies.

The first to discover oil deposits was the Oriental Petroleum. When peace was restored in the Middle East, the Arabs resumed shipping out oil. Offshore oil discoveries were not developed since it was cheaper to buy Arab oil mined beneath the desert sands than in offshore areas. However, the industries of the European nations refused to be held hostage to possible Arab oil embargo that they developed the North Sea oil fields. Further Palawan oil explorations slowed down. Discovery wells were capped. But a large deposit of natural gas was discovered and developed. When the oil in the world market rose over a hundred dollars per barrel production wells were drilled in the discovery areas of Cadlao, Nido and Matinloc.

Initially, when presence of oil deposit is suspected, the area is subjected to gravity meter or seismic exploration. When a promising spot is located, a test well is drilled. If no oil is found the prospector tries again farther. This makes oil prospecting a highly speculative area where few Philippine companies will venture.

If the prospector is lucky, he may hit a deposit. Oil may spurt out of the well as a gusher or has to be pumped out. To determine the extent of the deposit called the oil horizon, several test wells are drill around and away from the initial well.

Each successful well will be then be converted into a production well. Since the presence of Palawan deposits are relatively close to each other, the reserves must be connected thus extensive. We hope.

There must be oil also in the Visayan Sea, somewhere between Negros, Cebu and Bohol. Exploration, though sporadic, is already going on. Since drilling is expensive, the area must have passed extensive survey. Should oil be found in those areas, fishermen may protest loud and long but their objections would be futile, as local interest must give way to national welfare.

Palawan oil or any oil that may be discovered in the Philippines would be of premium quality. The deposits have been classified as light, sweet crude. That means it has less dregs, after refining and relatively free of dissolved sulfur, which would corrode cracking facilities in a refinery. It was said that oil of this quality like Borneo oil during the war could be pumped directly to warships without passing refineries. It could be possible since most ship use bunker fuel.

Palawan offshore area may produce enough oil to make us self sufficient. We do not have to be an oil exporting country. If, like the natural gas produced in the same area can be piped directly to refineries in Luzon, transporting costs will be lessened. Refinery byproducts would be raw material for other industries like synthetics and plastics. If this will ever happen, there will be lesser and lesser OFWs.

A couple was held up by highway robbers in Sagbayan town while a farmer was shot in Danao as violence continued to rear its ugly head in the province.

Renerio Melecio and his wife Alice were riding their Yamaha Crypton motorcycle about 8:30 am last Oct. 4 on their way home.

Renerio, 49, and his wife Alice, 45, are residents of Barangay Libertad Norte, Sagbayan town.

They did not make it safely however because two men had other plans that morning.

The two suspects blocked the road when the motorcycle carrying the couple came by.

Both suspects were armed with guns but the victims could not identify the calibers of the guns.

The men, who covered their faces with shirts to hide their identities, aimed their guns at the couple and announced the hold-up.

They divested the victims of the bag they were carrying. The bag contained P1,000 in cash and important documents.

After the hold-up, the two fled the scene of the crime using the victims' motorcycle.

Responding policemen subsequently recovered the motorcycle used by the suspects as their getaway vehicle in Barangay San Vicente of the same town. - Bohol Sunday Post

Beaming a signal of innovative governance, Jagna launched Wednesday October 8, Bohol's first community radio while sending to Jagnaanons a loud and clear call of molding empowered people partnering for development.

The empowerment envisioned by local authorities with a benevolent partner roots in health, social, cultural and economic education for sectors here through a wide field of information sharing.

Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren, in his inaugural message beamed live over Jagna's DyJP FM said the new communications facility would become the town's voice and allows the people a channel to air their concerns.

Operating on a temporary broadcast permit issued by the National Telecommunications Commission, Mayor Lloren said such is because the town still is processing the papers to comply with the broadcast requirements.

Not mincing words to praise Forrest Malakoff and Philos Health for putting up state of the art broadcast equipment, the mayor who also heads the Bohol mayors' league vocalized his appreciation for the group's unequalled concern for Filipinos and Jagnaanons.

Philos Health, a benefactor group headed by Malakoff is a San Francisco based health service provider. It first came to Jagna to offer a medical mission in the spirit of social responsibility.

The US based provider graduated from an outsider medical mission group into one that is genuinely with the local government in its health concerns for the people. - Sunday Post

A teenager was shot dead in Carmen town while a member of the Crips gang was arrested in Lila for illegal possession in separate incidents last week.

In Carmen town, still unidentified suspects shot dead a young man in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Montesuerte last Oct. 7.

The victim was identified as one Charlie Guboy, 19, single and a resident of the same place.

Initial reports revealed that the Carmen PNP station received an alert about 7 am Tuesday that a dead body was found in a rice field.

The body, which sustained multiple bullet wounds, was confirmed to be that of Guboy.

Investigations conducted by elements of the Carmen police station showed that Guboy watched a variety show which was part of the observance of the barangay fiesta.

Witnesses said the young man went on his way home about 1 o'clock dawn when bullets rained on him.

The victim sustained fatal gunshots wounds on his head and his back that caused his instantaneous death.

Police investigators are still pursuing the investigations to determine the identities and motives of the suspects.

Meanwhile, a member of the Crips gang was detained by policemen in Lila town after they seized short firearms from him.

The suspect was identified as one Arthur Lague, 23, single and a resident of Barangay Bonkokan, Lila.

Policemen on routine patrol chanced upon the suspect who yielded assorted firearms including a caliber .357 Magnum with four live bullets, three caliber .38 guns and a caliber .357 along with his personal belongings.  - Bohol Sunday Post

Letter sent to the Philippine Star

Dear Consumerline,

Nestle Philippines assures consumers that Nestle products manufactured, imported, distributed, and marketed by Nestle Philippines are safe for consumption.

The company issued the statement in response to radio and TV reports that mentioned some Nestle products being pulled out for melamine testing. The products mentioned are Carnation Calcium Plus Non-Fat, Nestle Choco-Flavored Ice Cream Cone, Nestle Vanilla-Flavored Ice Cream Cone, Nespray, Nestle Dairy Farm Pure Milk, and KLIM Instant Full Cream Milk.

The six above-mentioned products are not sold in the Philippines. It is possible, however, that these products have been brought to the Philippines by unauthorized importers.

Nestle Philippines fully supports BFAD’s efforts to test various products to determine melamine levels, and expresses confidence that the above-mentioned products, if truly from Nestle, do not contain milk adulterated with melamine.

Raw materials for its milk products currently manufactured and distributed in the Philippines come from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the United States. The company locally produces milk products under the brand names Nido, Bear Brand, Neslac, Nestogen, Nesvita, and Nestle. Nestle also imports as finished goods Nan 1 from the Netherlands, Nan 2 and 3 from Switzerland, and Nan HW 1 and 2 from Germany.

Nestle milk products are manufactured under high quality control standards and meet all regulatory standards before they are released to the local market. Nestle thoroughly routinely analyses all raw materials to ensure that they comply with Nestle standards as well as other internationally recognized standards for food quality and safety.

The safety of our consumers is of utmost importance to us.
â€" Sandra Puno

Director of Communications

Nestle Philippines, Inc.

Message to the Philippine Star

Dear Consumerline:

With regard to your recent column entitled “Melamine: The most dreaded M word,” there was a mention that Oreo by Kraft Foods has been found to contain melamine in Indonesia. Under our Oreo brand, there are many products, the most popular of which are the Oreo sandwich cookies. The entire Oreo sandwich biscuit range is made in Indonesia and contains no milk ingredients. In the Philippines, Oreo sandwich cookies include the following: Oreo Regular (Vanilla Cream); Oreo Double Stuf; Oreo Choco Cream; and Oreo Double Delight (Peanut/Choco ).

We wish to clarify that the product you may have referred to are the Oreo Wafer Sticks that were imported from China and sold in Indonesia. We understand the Indonesian government’s cautionary measures and support their advocacy on behalf of consumers. However, we are seeking to understand their testing methodology and protocol as Oreo Wafer Sticks do not contain any Chinese-sourced milk ingredient. In fact, the government authorities of Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have confirmed that Oreo Wafer Sticks are approved for consumption based on negative test results. Oreo Wafer Sticks are not sold by Kraft Foods in the Philippines.

Regardless of where they are produced, Kraft products are always held to the highest standards of safety and quality. With over 100 years of existence as a global food company, it will always maintain its commitment to its consumers, and that it considers the quality and safety of its products a top priority by complying with all applicable quality standards in every market it serves.

Sincerely yours,

Raymund S. Soberano

Head, Corporate Affairs

Kraft Foods Philippines, Inc.

If powdered milk is free of melamine, is it safe to drink?

Interview by Ching M Alano
Philippine Star

If powdered milk is free of melamine, is it safe to drink?

DR. ANGEL RESPICIO: Sally Fallon in her article, “Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry” has this to say on the production of powdered milk: “Liquid milk is forced through a tiny hole at high temperature and pressure, and then blown out into the air. This causes a lot of nitrates to form and the cholesterol in the milk to oxidize.  All liquid reduced-fat milk (1%, 2%, skim milk) have dried powdered milk concentrate added to give them body.”

What’s wrong with oxidized cholesterol?

Says Fallon, “Those of you who are familiar with my work know that pure unoxidized cholesterol is your best friend; you don’t have to worry about this natural cholesterol in your food (from full cream milk and egg yolks); however, you do not want to eat oxidized cholesterol. Oxidized cholesterol contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, to atherosclerosis. So when you drink reduced-fat milk thinking that it will help you avoid heart disease, you are actually consuming oxidized cholesterol, which initiates the process of heart disease.”

source: Philippine Star, an excerpt

By Ricardo Lo
Philippine Star



Multi-awarded animator Jess Espanola made Filipinos proud during the recent 60th Annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards by an Emmy trophy for his work as Assistant Director for the The Simpsons’ Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind which was named Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour).

This report came from Funfare’s L.A.-based contributor David Casuco who is a Waray like me.

According to David, also given recognitions were the top executives of Fox Gracie Films and Starz Film Roman, namely: James L. Brooks, Matt Groening (the creator of The Simpsons), Al Jean, Ian Maxton-Graham, Matt Selman and Tim Long, executive producers; John Frink, Kevin Curran, Michael Price, Bill Odenkirk, Marc Wilmore, Joel H. Cohen, Ron Hauge and Rob Lazebnik, co-executive producers; Lurie Biermacki, and Rick Polizzi, animation producers; J. Steward Burns, writer; Chuck Sheetz, director; Mark Kirkland, supervising director; Patricia Shinagawa, animation timer.

The Simpsons (FOX, Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox) bested four top nominees, namely: Creature Comforts America Don’t Choke To Death, Please, CBS, Aardman Animations production in association with The Gotham Group; King Of The Hill Death Picks Cotton, FOX, 20th Century Fox Television in association with 3 Arts Entertainment, Deedle-Dee Productions & Judgemental Films; Robot Chicken Robot Chicken: Star Wars Cartoon Network, ShadowMachine Films; and SpongeBob SquarePants Inmates of Summer / Two Faces of Squidward Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon with United Plankton Pictures, Inc.

By Kevin Young
BBC News

Tens of thousands of Virgin customers have spent four days cut off from, or with little access to, their e-mail accounts after a suspected spam attack.

The problem affected a company which processes messages delivered through the Virgin.net platform.

All legitimate e-mails were held back when the "large" attack began on Tuesday evening so the spam could be removed, a Virgin Media spokesman said.

E-mails were gradually being delivered now the fault was cleared, he added.

He said these messages should now have been available but access via webmail may have been taking longer to restore.

Ranged against a taller opponent in the mold of Oscar de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao didn’t take too much time to adjust and deliver the message.

“He is too fast and very strong. I felt those body shots,” said super welterweight Rashad Holloway.

The 5-10 Holloway is the first of six boxers tapped by Freddie Roach to spar with the Filipino icon, who stepped up his buildup for the Dec. 6 showdown with De la Hoya with his first sparring session Tuesday at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

It didn’t take long before they mixed it up with Pacquiao moving in and tagging his opponent on the head and face then moving out to avoid Holloway’s counter punches, according to Philboxing.com.

Pacquiao fended off some shots with his gloves and took those, including the power shots, that Holloway managed to sneak in lightly.

Although they may not be as strong as those expected to be delivered by De la Hoya, it appeared that Pacquiao has the capacity to take and absorb blows from the 10-time champion, tipped as the favorite in the mega-buck fight.

“I am happy with what Manny showed today, even if it’s only the first day,” said Filipino trainer and buddy Buboy Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer has predicted that De la Hoya will brutally knock out Pacquiao in their keenly awaited duel and said setting up a fight with Ricky Hatton at Wembley Stadium afterwards would be a dream.

The Golden Boy goes into the bout as a favorite with the bookmakers and his promotional company’s chief executive expect his superior size to be the big difference between the two men.

source: The Philippine Star

A safety device which prevents drivers using mobile phones by automatically intercepting calls and text messages when they are moving has been unveiled.

The software tells callers the person they are trying to reach is driving and asks them to leave a message.

Canadian firm Aegis Mobility hopes its system will become available via a monthly subscription fee.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says drivers are four times as likely to crash using a phone.

Phone fine

The DriveAssist system can also tell callers where the person they are trying to reach is located by using satellite navigation technology.

Motorists using mobile phones caused 25 fatal, 64 serious and 259 slight accidents in 2007, according to the Department for Transport.

It has been illegal to use a mobile phone while driving since December 2003 - with offenders facing a £60 on-the-spot fine and three points on their licence. - BBC

By Evelyn Macairan 
Philippine Star

A Filipino-American, who was once a sergeant in the United States (US) Air Force, will soon be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to face bribery and extortion charges.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said yesterday Rommel Isidera Schroer became a fugitive in the US when he reportedly tried to extort money from drug traffickers, who turned out to be Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.

The US Embassy sought the help of the BI in locating Schroer after learning that he is in the country. Libanan immediately issued a mission order against him. The BI agents were able to track him to his place of work at the Paseo Tesoro Building on Pasay Road, Makati City.

Schroer has to face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and extortion pending against him before a district court in Arizona. If found guilty, he will be imprisoned for a maximum period of five years and meted a fine of $250,000.

He has been on the wanted list of US authorities since Oct. 18, 2006 when the Arizona court issued the arrest warrant against him. The US government has revoked his passport. He has been living in the country since Dec. 8, 2007.

A fetus was reportedly found yesterday morning at the entrance of the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.

The male fetus, estimated to be three to four months old, was discovered by security guard Joy Galara in a flower pot at the entrance of the church.

Galara told Police Officer Erwin Castro he was doing the rounds of the church at around 10:45 a.m. when he smelled a foul odor.

He said he traced the scent to a flowerpot at the entrance of the church and when he looked inside, he found the fetus. The police brought the fetus to the Universal Funeral parlor. â€" Nestor Etolle, Philippine Star     

By Nestor Etolle 
Philippine Star

A Chinese national reportedly fell prey to a con artist who took away P250,000 in cash and valuables yesterday morning in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Chen Xiao Xiong, 40, told police he could not explain how his cash worth P235,000 and a cellular phone worth P15,000 disappeared from inside his shoulder bag while he was talking to the woman.

Senior Police Officer 2 Ronald Carlos said Chen, who works as a chef at the Home Deli Restaurant on Kalaw street in Ermita, said he was on his way to the Arranque Market when he met the suspect along Ongpin street in Sta. Cruz.

The woman, who Chen described as between 45 and 50 years old, at least 5’1” tall, and of medium build, tapped him on the shoulder and talked to him in Chinese. The woman allegedly wanted to go back to China and sell her gold necklace.

Chen, who could speak Filipino and Chinese, said he seemed hypnotized by the woman and could not remember what transpired after talking to her.

“The victim only regained consciousness long after the woman had gone. When he checked the contents of his shoulder bag, the cash and his cell phone were already missing,” Carlos said.

A 40-year-old teacher was charged with illegal detention after he refused to return a six-month-old baby to its mother unless she paid him P30,000.

Arturo Tolentino told police he bought the baby from Alexander and Marivic Pineda, who were also charged with illegal detention.

Manila Assistant Prosecutor Rodolfo Azucena Jr. recommended no bail for their temporary liberty.

Police arrested the three after Jonalyn Calbay, 25, complained that Tolentino refused to return her baby until she gives back the P30,000 he paid the Pinedas.

Investigation showed the Pinedas borrowed the baby from Calbay on Aug. 2, 2007. Calbay’s husband is a nephew of the Pinedas.

When Calbay asked the Pinedas to return the baby after two days, she was told that a doctor from Cebu had adopted her baby.

Alexander Pineda later admitted that her baby had been sold to Tolentino. Calbay said when she talked to Tolentino via cellular phone, he told her she could have her baby back if she could come up with P30,000. - Sandy Araneta, Philippine Star

Armed men allegedly abducted a Customs broker at Manila’s South Harbor yesterday afternoon.

Case investigator Police Officer 3 Cris Celestial said a witness saw Albert Illesca walking to his parked vehicle when at least four armed men blocked his path and forced him into a white Toyota Fortuner (XJJ-765). The abduction occurred at past 3 p.m. in front of the Velco building along 24th street, Celestial said.

Celestial refused to provide further details pending notification of the victim’s family. However, he said a witness is now in police custody. - Philippine Star

Dubious reference material MINI CRITIQUE
By Isagani Cruz

During the Manila International Book Fair, Gus Vibal, founder of Filipiniana.net, gave a lecture on James Alexander Robertson, the Robertson of “Blair and Robertson,” the 53-volume standard reference work entitled The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898.

The work of Blair and Robertson has been cited thousands of times by scholars, who have always assumed that it is accurate and comprehensive. Vibal proved, in an extended treatise, that we should not trust the work.

Vibal’s thesis was simple but provocative: “Far from being a neutral and scientific enterprise, Robertson’s acquisition policies were strongly guided by American colonialist considerations, overriding the B&R’s claims to historical objectivity. What seemed to be a monumental scholarly undertaking also masked an imperialist ideological bias which has been picked up unwittingly by nationalist historians and passed on today as orthodoxy and accepted as textbook truth.”

Painstakingly tracing the career of Robertson as first director of the National Library, Vibal showed how the American librarian was part of a grand conspiracy “to stitch together a cohesive imperialist narrative to justify white rule over the Philippines.” Unlike Wenceslao Retana, who collected even anti-Spanish texts, Robertson saw to it that only pro-American and anti-Filipino texts were included in his collection. In fact, Robertson even included hoaxes such as the Code of Kalantiao.

Vibal concluded his lecture with these words: “In the guise of ‘tutelary democracy’ the ‘savage people’ of the Philippine islands would be shaped into a democratic nation by white people who would act as their moral and political superiors. Not satisfied with political victory, the new American masters were determined to achieve cultural hegemony and in so doing unleashed an insidious war against hispanismo, the last dying trace of Spain in the Philippines. Its methods were the supplanting of the very language in which the nationalist aspirations were framed, as well as the gradual erosion of Hispanic elements in Philippine society as the Americans sought to renovate the national culture after their image.”

“The proof of this,” said Vibal, “is today’s lecture where I stand before you, a Filipino speaking in English, and still interpreting my Hispanic Philippine past through readings of the highly selective and skewed Blair and Robertson translations. I find it difficult to read the works, all in Spanish, of Isabelo de los Reyes, Wenceslao Retana, Epifanio de los Santos, Pedro Paterno, Jaime de Veyra, or Teodoro Kalaw. It is a laborious effort to read the classic seditious novels of early Tagalog writers such as Lope K. Santos, Faustino Aguilar, and Iñigo Ed. Regalado.”

Renato Constantino called this “the miseducation of the Filipino.” Unfortunately, until today, that miseducation still continues.

Very few Filipinos know enough Spanish to read at least the two novels of Jose Rizal, not to mention the other masterpieces of 19th century and even early 20th century Filipino writers. The vast majority of Filipinos can read modern Tagalog, but even Tagalogs find it hard to understand the old Tagalog of the early 20th century.

It is time to return Spanish to the curriculum. Unless we know where we have been, we will never get to where we want to go. In fact, we will not even know where we should go.

It is also time for our scholars to translate all our historical and cultural documents in Spanish into languages young Filipinos easily understand. Even the old Tagalog novels have to be translated into Filipino, if we want the next generation to continue reading them.

SILENT FILM CONTEST: The deadline for registration in the Hong Kong i3 Silent Film Festival Contest has been moved to Dec. 1, 2008. The deadline for the film entries themselves is Dec. 31. Each film entry (one minute, with no dialogue) has to deal with one of the following topics: One Minute of Kindness, Yak Cheese, and an Open Topic (anything the filmmaker cares about). Although there are entry fees, they can be waived if you write nicely to the contest sponsors (iCUBED.us).

ATTENTION, CHED: Taking advantage of EO 566 (amended by CMO 3, s. 2008), placing nursing review centers inside schools, some unscrupulous regulated or non-autonomous schools have put up such centers but have located them outside their campuses. This may not violate the letter of the law, but it clearly violates its spirit.

“WORDS OF THE DAY” (English/Filipino) for next week’s elementary school classes: Oct. 20 Monday: 1. all/dikit, 2. mind/dapat, 3. rat/dait, 4. wide/danaw, 5. only/dita [pine tree], 6. belief/dagit; Oct. 21 Tuesday: 1. and/dasal, 2. clear/dugo, 3. old/dulas, 4. wing/dunong, 5. woman/digma, 6. account/dakila; Oct. 22 Wednesday: 1. ill/ekis, 2. mist/edad, 3. bulb/eksamen, 4. spade/edukado, 5. female/ekonomiya, 6. payment/eksperimento. The numbers after the dates indicate grade level. The dates refer to the official calendar for public elementary schools. For definitions of the words in Filipino, consult UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino.

By Marianne V. Go
Philippine Star

CGA Mining Limited, the foreign partner of Filminera Resources Corp., remains bullish on the growth prospects of the mineral industry in the Philippines and is set to expand the gold refining capacity of its local subsidiary Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp. (PGPRC) next year.

In an interview at the sidelines of the 8th Asia Pacific Mining and Exhibit at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza yesterday, Michael J. Carrick, president and chief executive officer of Canadian CGA Mining, said that despite the current global financial crisis, Filminera remains a “unique exception” in that it is on track in its production timetable and is, likewise, on budget.

“Filminera is completely funded and is not hedged,” Carrick said, adding that the company is not experiencing technical difficulties.

Carrick said, Filminera is on track with the completion of the first phase of development of its Masbate gold project in the first quarter of 2009.

The company is projecting an annual gold production of 200,000 ounces and an annual revenue stream of $180 million.

Carrick said they have spent a total of $200 million to develop the Masbate gold mine.

CGA owns 40 percent of Filminera, while 60 percent is held by the Filipino owners.

The gold produced by the Masbate mine is refined by PGPRC which currently has a rated capacity of four million tons of ore.

The expansion, Carrick said, would increase PGPRC’s refining capacity to 7.5 million tons of ore.

By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
Philippine Star

A Soriano Corp. (Anscor), the investment holding firm of the Soriano family, is acquiring a 20-percent stake in a culinary and hospitality management school for $6 million.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Anscor said it has entered into a subscription agreement for the acquisition of 16.22 million new shares of Enderun Colleges Inc., a three-year-old institution that offers a full range of bachelor’s degree and non-degree courses in the fields of hospitality management, culinary arts and business administration.

Anscor said the acquisition would be funded by internally-generated cash.

Andres Soriano III, chairman of Anscor, said the purchase is in line with the company’s goal of strengthening its foothold in the growing services sector.

“We are excited about the prospect of re-establishing the Philippines as a center for educational excellence in the world, and proud that Enderun competes so favorably with the finest hospitality management schools in the US and Europe,” he said.

Enderun president Javier Infante, for his part, said the capital infusion from Anscor will allow the McKinley Hills-based school to provide students a higher quality of educational experience.

Yes the Filipino can
ASK GONEGOSYO By Joey Concepcion

Last Monday, after a rollercoaster ride in the financial markets during the weekend, RFM Corp. celebrated its 50th anniversary.

In 1958, my grandfather Dr. Salvador Araneta founded RFM Corp., together with my other grandfather Jose Concepcion Sr., and other close friends BJ Server, Pete Grimm, Albino Sycip, Zoilo Alberto, Leonardo Eugenio, Francisco Gamboa Sr. as well as his wife, Victoria. It was also the same year when I was born. My baby picture, wearing a baker’s uniform, was placed at the entrance of RFM’s first office. RFM was the very first flour mill in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. At that time, flour was imported.

We have seen two crises in the past 50 years. At one point during the dictatorship, we thought we would lose our business, especially during the Martial law when my father was going against the dictator. Then, in the recent years during the Asian financial crisis in the late 90’s when RFM had a maturing dollar bond, we saw the peso collapsed from 25 to 50 pesos to a dollar. We survived both challenges. RFM paid its bond obligation, even if it meant selling a jewel, like Cosmos, just to maintain our reputation. It was good that Cosmos was sold at a very attractive price.

As part of our golden anniversary last Monday, we had President Arroyo as our special guest during the morning celebration, when we had a symbolic re-dedication of our flour mills, which still stand after 50 years. This was followed by the inauguration of the RFM’s Fiesta pasta plant, which is now the most modern and largest pasta plant in Asia. We had this investment in response to the upswing in demand for our Fiesta pasta, which is now the fastest growing and a close number two brand in the market.

During the commemoration of founding day, my message to our employees was simple: God has given us our purpose in life as a company, which is to produce quality food, always at the most reasonable prices. We have survived for 50 years because we have fulfilled this mission, and we will continue to survive another 50 years if we continue to fulfill it.

As we have gone through the years in RFM, I have seen my father work not only for the company but for the betterment of this country, especially at its darkest point. Launching Namfrel became the catalyst for the People Power movement, giving hope and courage for Filipinos to stand for what they believe in. Namfrel has served its purpose during those dark times, together with the countless number of Filipinos who joined the group to protect the ballots.

Today, the time for solving poverty level has come. Through Go Negosyo, an advocacy that inspires people to think that all things are possible, and with the right attitude in life, we can attain our dreams. It is through the creation of more negosyos that we can hire more people and one day improve the condition of poverty in this country.

This is what we also celebrated during the evening of the RFM anniversary at the NBC tent. Close to three thousand people also witnessed the launching of the first Yes The Filipino Can! Awards. In a way, Namfrel, Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) and Go Negosyo are all products of the Yes The Filipino Can!

The Yes the Filipino Can! attitude and passion can be seen in many Filipinos and we recognized a select group of Filipinos and organizations that have continued to inspire millions of Filipinos with their unselfish dedication and advocacies.

We had awardees like Rico Hizon, whose Good News Pilipinas web portal only talks about the good news about the Philippines and inspiring Filipinos, and no bad news. The Philippine Star’s Belmonte family always felt that a newspaper should not only inform but inspire people and give them hope today. Because of this mindset, Star is the most widely read paper. Another awardee, Dylan Wilk of Gawad Kalinga is a British citizen who is more Filipino than many of us, building homes for the poor. Elena Lim also has an entrepreneurial spirit that is so infectious, with a heart for the Filipinos. In spite of challenges, she inspires people to never give up.

Despite being blind, Tony Llanes has set up ATRIEV, a school to teach other blind people, and has produced a number of successful entrepreneurs who are blind, like Marx Melencio who is in the IT software outsourcing business. Of course, who would forget former Senator Juan Flavier’s contributions for a healthy nation. He brought healthcare to the barrios as he also made a choice to continuously serve the poor. Francisco Colayco also believes in building the Filipino’s future by spreading financial literacy to many Filipinos.

Onofre Pagsanghan applies his own advocacy by being an educator for more than 50 years. Through his teaching profession, he is also able to share his love for his country. Former Senator Santanina Rasul is dedicated to improving Mindanao and its people through her foundation’s Magbasa Kita literacy programs. Two of the awardees are foundations that believe in nation building. Unlad Kabayan focuses on helping develop micro-enterprises, and the re-integration of OFW through entrepreneurship. Another awardee is Tulkas Katutubo which works on empowering indigenous communities through education and preservation of culture.

All of these advocacies say one thing â€" YES THE FILIPINO CAN! I dedicate this to my father, Jose Concepcion Jr., who has brought me to another point in my life that it is not all about making money but serving the Filipinos. To my father who has been my mentor and inspiration, this annual Yes The Filipino Can! Awards will be here to inspire others to dream the impossible.

By Mike Frialde 
Philippine Star

One of the private lawyers who helped prosecute convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr. yesterday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) on the latter’s commutation of sentence and the subsequent grant of executive clemency.

In his 84-page petition for certiorari, lawyer Ernesto Francisco argued that the commutation of Teehankee’s jail sentence and the subsequent grant of executive clemency violated the Constitution.

Named as respondents in the petition were Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who is also BPP chairman; the Board of Pardons and Parole; Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Teehankee.

Francisco said Gonzalez and the BPP committed grave abuse of discretion when they recommended the grant of executive clemency and commutation of sentence despite the fact that Teehankee was not qualified.

He said none of the extraordinary circumstances mentioned in the amended guidelines for recommending executive clemency were present in Teehankee’s case.

Among the circumstances, according to Francisco, are when the prisoner has reached 70 years old and his continued imprisonment is inimical to his health, when the prisoner suffers from a life-threatening illness, and when the penalty imposed on the prisoner is too harsh compared to the crime committed.

Francisco also argued that Teehankee was granted executive clemency despite his alleged failure to settle the civil aspect of his case.

He said Teehankee has failed to settle his P2.5 million civil liability with the Chapman family and P4 million and $55,600 with the Leino family.

In his pleading, Francisco asked the Court to issue a preliminary injunction and order the BuCor to immediately retake custody of Teehankee pending resolution of his petition.

By Mike Frialde
Philippine Star 

The Supreme Court yesterday denied with finality the motions for reconsideration filed by four justices of the Court of Appeals who had earlier been sanctioned for irregularities committed in the handling of the Meralco board election case.

In a 33-page per curiam resolution, the Court also denied with finality the motion for reconsideration of businessman Francis de Borja.

In its decision, the Court held that its Sept. 9, 2008 decision remains unchanged.

The Court explained that the decision was fully supported by the facts on record and is in accordance with the law and prevailing jurisprudence. It added that there are no substantial grounds to reverse its previous judgment.

The motions for reconsideration were filed by dismissed CA Justice Vicente Roxas, suspended CA Justice Jose Sabio, CA Justice Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal and CA Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez.

In its Sept. 9 decision, the Court ordered the dismissal of Justice Roxas for “violations of the canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct, grave misconduct, dishonesty, undue interest and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, with forfeiture of all benefits.”

By Rainier Allan Ronda
Philippine Star 

Some 48 young Filipino math wizards bagged honors in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) conducted by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT).

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith and Professor Peter Taylor of the AMT led awarding ceremonies at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel yesterday morning where they handed out prize awards and certificates of high distinction to the 48 students who joined the AMC last July.

Ten Filipino students were given the prize award: Immanuel Incarnacion of Philippine Science High School Main; Henry Jefferson Morco and Dann Julius Tan of Chiang Kai Shek College; John Russel Virata of Gideon Academy; Jose Enrico Leceta of the Science Education Institute; Mikaela Angelina Uy, Vince Say, Austin Chua, Seanne Ng, and Carmela Antoinette Lao, all from St. Jude Catholic School.

Also present in yesterday’s ceremonies were Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro and Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines who prepared the Filipino students for the AMC tilt and other international math competitions.

The Filipino students competed with counterparts from Australia, Hong Kong, Bulgaria, China, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Malaysia in the AMC.

By Helen Flores
Philippine Star

Sixty-eight percent of Filipino adults agree that there should be a law legalizing the distribution of contraceptives, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in a recent survey.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 24-27, found that 68 percent of Filipinos agree that there should be a law requiring government to distribute legal contraceptives like condoms, IUDs, and pills to people who want them.

The remaining 15 percent disagree and 16 percent were undecided on the issue.

“It is undeniable that the Filipino people are the ones demanding information and services on reproductive health and family planning,” Benjamin de Leon, president of The Forum for Family Planning and Development (The Forum), said in a statement.

Of the 1,500 respondents surveyed, 81 percent were Catholics with much trust on the Catholic Church, The Forum said.

In the survey, commissioned by The Forum, the respondents were asked to agree or disagree with three statements: 1) The use of legal contraceptives like condoms, IUDs and pills can also be considered as abortion; 2) There should be a law that requires government to distribute legal contraceptives; 3) If family planning would be included in the curriculum, the youth would be sexually promiscuous.

By Jaime Laude
Philippine Star

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday that the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million intercepted by customs authorities in Russia from a member of the Philippine delegation to the International Police (Interpol) conference is clean and part of the group’s contingency fund.

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman, said the money found by customs authorities at the airport in Moscow in the bag of former PNP comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz on Saturday is the contingency fund of the eight-man police delegation that attended the 77th Interpol general assembly in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad).

De la Paz was carrying 105,000 euros, contrary to reports that he was in possession of 10 million euros, when he was held at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport last Saturday while the police officials were about to board the plane bound for Manila.

“Let me make it clear that no member of the PNP delegation has been arrested or detained. De la Paz is now staying at a hotel in Moscow near the Philippine Embassy and is waiting for the official documents that will be translated into Russian and forwarded to the customs authorities,” Bartolome told reporters.

The documents were issued by the PNP leadership to prove that the money in question belonged to the PNP and only released to De la Paz as the designated disbursing officer of the delegates to the Interpol convention.

By Rainier Ronda
Philippine Star

A Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) official said the failure of the government to sell the sequestered 27-percent stake in food and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) last year resulted in a loss of some P25 billion for coconut farmers who would have benefited from its disposal.

PCGG commissioner Ricardo Abcede said the drop in the price of SMC shares in the stock market this year had greatly reduced their value as compared to last year when government planned to sell.

“The shares could have earned a higher price if it was sold last year. But we failed to do so. So now, if we will sell, it will be at the prevailing price. Hopefully, it will still go up,” Abcede said.

The closing price of SMC-A shares yesterday at the stock market was at P46 while SMC-B shares closed at P46.50.

Last year the price of SMC shares hit a high of P80 per share.

Abcede said the distrust and bickering among the different coconut farmers’ groups on the mode of distribution of the proceeds prevented the PCGG from selling the 27-percent SMC stake.

Football matches in France will be called off immediately if spectators jeer during the French national anthem, says the country's sports minister.

France's national anthem was booed in Tuesday's friendly win over Tunisia.

"Any match at which our national anthem is whistled at will be immediately stopped," said Roselyne Bachelot.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the booing was "insulting" and that in the event of a repeat it would be necessary "to call off matches".

"It's insulting for France, it's insulting for the players of the French team, it should not be tolerated," he added.

"I think we should stop the matches when the anthems, whichever they are, are booed."

Two goals from Thierry Henry gave France coach Raymond Domenech a much needed boost in cementing a 3-1 win in Paris. - BBC

BBC News: Pop star Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce after nearly eight years of marriage, their PR representatives have confirmed.

Relations were still cordial and they expected to agree a settlement without going to court, added Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg.

The statement followed several months of speculation that the couple's relationship was in trouble.

In July, the singer's publicist said the marriage did not "need saving".

The pair appeared together at last month's premiere of Ritchie's RocknRolla in London, walking arm-in-arm and posing for photographs in London's Leicester Square.

Financial settlement

Ritchie, 40, had rebutted suggestions his marriage was over with a public show of support at Madonna's 50th birthday party in August and also told a US magazine in July the marriage was "fine".

The statement issued on Wednesday read: "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven and a half years of marriage, their representatives confirmed today.

Press Release from Cebu Pacific sent to Tubag Bohol News Center

We're taking the lead and giving you the year's biggest mark down on our year-round ‘Go Lite’ fare on most of our Asian routes and some domestic services starting October 15, 2008.

We've also reduced our fuel and insurance surcharge for domestic flights by P200 and as much as USD10 for most of our international routes.

You're in for a delightful surprise when you fly from Manila to Ho Chi Minh and Kota Kinabalu for only P299. That's 75% off our regular Go Lite fare!

Our Manila-Macau service now starts from P799. While our Manila-Bangkok and Manila-Kuala Lumpur ‘Go Lite’ fare is as low as P1,299, down from P1,799.

Services from Manila-Jakarta, Davao-Hong Kong, Davao-Singapore, Cebu-Hong Kong and Cebu-Singapore ‘Go Lite’ fare is marked down from P2,799 to P1,799.

More wonderful surprises when you fly to Bangkok and Hong Kong via Clark because our one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare is only P799.

Fly from Manila to Laoag and Tuguegarao for as low as P788 all-in. The Manila-Cebu and Manila-Iloilo ‘Go Lite’ fare now starts from P988 all-in, down from P1,188.

The Manila-Puerto Princesa, Cebu-Puerto Princesa, and Cebu-Clark one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare goes as low as P1,688.

International ‘Go Lite’ fares are exclusive of applicable surcharges and government taxes. Passengers with check-in bags will just add P200 upon booking

Hurry, book now through CEB’s website, www.cebupacificair.com, call the reservations hotline (632) 70-20-888, or visit your favorite travel agent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn_Zcl1-zig

Thanks to Youtube and Nestor Daarol of DYTR. After four years since we exposed this irrefutable corruption scandal in Bohol, the video, documented by GMA's Imbestigador Team, can now be viewed worldwide.

Why is our country poor? Watch this episode and you will know the answer to the question.

Matarong ug sulondon ang imong gihimo, Raquel. Unta daghan pa ang sama nimo nga maaghop ang kasing-kasing.

Kabahin sa mga Badjao, naa koy higala sa Cebu nga nag-ministry focus lang sa mga Badjao. Pero kay lahi man jud sila ug pangutok, mosimang gyud sa matarong dalan sa kinabuhi. Maybe it has to do with one's religion. You know what I mean.

Remittances sent through banks by Filipinos abroad grew 17.2 percent year-on-year last August after it reached US$ 10.9 billion from year-ago’s US$ 9.34 billion.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor and officer-in-charge Nestor Espenilla Jr. attributed this development to the continued billion dollar-level inflows of remittances, with the August figure alone at US$ 1.3 billion.

He, however, noted that the month-on-month growth of remittances declined to 10.4 percent from the previous month’s 24.64 percent growth.

These inflows mainly came from US, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Remittances posted its highest growth in June 2008 after the month’s inflows totaled to US$ 1.45 billion or a 30 percent jump from last May’s US$ 1.43 billion.

Noting the widely expected decline of remittance inflows because of the global financial meltdown, Espenilla reiterated monetary officials’ earlier statements that remittances will continue to boost the economy amid the current global financial crisis.

BSP officials earlier said inflows coming from the Middle East in particular will off-set the slower remittance growth along with the higher deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) shows that OFW deployment in the first eight months of the year grew by 26.4 percent to 884,907 from the 699,937 same period last year.

Espenilla said most of these workers were deployed in the Middle East and some Asian countries like Taiwan and Hong Kong. - Philippine News Agency

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn2pQ5ZCp50

Dancing in Barcelona, Spain. Video by Julia Sumangil of Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TVoMbhT55s

Amazing Diving Experience in Bohol Philippines. Video by Hong Kong's Reginald Chong of Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYsJOD6DkEU

Badjaos at Bohol Seaport. Video by AsiaTrip08 of Youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFMbTjFDgg

Bohol featured on GMA 7. Video uploaded by Nestor Daarol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icJrm15VbC8

Balilihan, Bohol: Vegetable Capital of the Province. Video by Nestor Daarol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWsYHid6kcY

Balilihan's Birthday. Video courtesy of Nestor Daarol

Manila, Philippines - The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on Wednesday tested positive for toxic industrial chemical melamine a biscuit made in China as it cleared 34 other Chinese milk products.

Tested with melamine is Lotte Strawberry Snack Koala Biscuit.

The biscuit is the fourth Chinese milk and milk products tested to contain traces of melamine since the BFAD started random testing of these products following melamine contamination deaths and sickness in China.

The Chinese dairy products earlier tested with melamine were Yili Fresh Milk, Mengniu Drink, and Jolly Cow slender High Calciu, Low Fat Milk.

The fourth batch of products cleared by BFAD as negative for melamine are Arla Instant White Milk Powder Milex 126, Baby Sucker Candy (Smart Plastic Mfg.), Baina Watch Milk Candy, Bainapie Coolmilk Bean, Barbie Milk Candy, Call and Text Candy (Smart Plastic Mfg.), Chang's Chin Tai Chang Square Cookies, Changtai Food Lollipop Candy, Chaozhou-Zhancui Original Butter Scoth Classic Candy, Cow's Head Skimmed Milk Powder (Spray dried process), Dairy Cow Instant Whole Milk Powder,

Dongguan Bairong Strawberry Biscuit, Dongguan HSU-CHI Orange Sandwich Cookies, Duke's Choco Crunch Bar, Erko Marsmallows (Dairy MIlk Flavour Filling), Galaxy Sweetened Milk Powder, H&Y (Healthy and Young) Jollybee Eat & Drink Candy (Orange Flavor), Jiayuan Shuang Le Tong Candy, JollyCow Sterilized Milk, Khong Guan Custard Cream Biscuit, Khong Guan Marie Biscuit, Lotte Nidoo Skimmed Milk Powder, MC Nation Confectionary Milk Beans Candy, Milk Land Milk Powder (Sweet Cream Buttermilk Powder), Orion "It's Now" Custard Cream Cake,

Palma Commercial Skimmed Milk Powder, Permen Aneka Rasa Buah Candy Granules, Red Bull Skimmed Milk Powder, Sam's Superman Milk Candy, Strange Biscuit of Common Song/Guava Cookies, Sweetworld Almo Milk Powder Bottle, The New Zoland Company Omilk Bonbon Yogurt Milk Soft Drops (Original Taste), Tiwi Banana Split Chocolate and Vitasoy Malted Soya Bean Milk.

Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., (Third District, Pampanga) announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the release of some P100 million for the rehabilitation and repair of the Arnedo Dike which serves as flood control structure protecting several municipalities in the province of Pampanga.

Gonzales made the announcement over the weekend in an ocular inspection of the Arayat-Apalit portion of the dike in Barangay Cupang where government engineers and local residents have undertaken sandbagging operations and placed gabions (large cage to protect) and spur dikes to protect the endangered portion of the dike.

He said the President has promised to release an initial amount of P23 million for the Arnedo Dike and that he is currently sourcing funds for the repair of the endangered portion in Barangay Cupang here.

According to Gonzales, a long term solution must be attained to address the problem.

Gonzales said the Department of Public Works and Highway, the local government units (DPWH-LGUs) and his office are closely working together to come up with a plan on how to divert the flow of water from its current source to another channel. - PNA

Boracay policemen arrested a trader from Marawi City for allegedly stabbing a friend who failed to settle his P900 debt.

Investigators identified the victim as Fernando Avila of Barangay Libertad, Nabas.

Avila, in critical condition, is under treatment in a hospital in nearby Kalibo, Aklan.

Police said Abdul Ismael, the principal suspect, was in their custody.

They said Ismael will be charged temporarily with attempted homicide. But if Avila will die, the suspect's case will be upgraded to homicide.

They related Ismael would face preliminary investigation before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

Police report said Ismael asked the victim to pay his debt but the latter refused. - PNA

Sige ug tan-aw ug TV makabuta sab. Anything that is excessive is harmful to ourselves.

We need to take a rest every after an hour of doing something.

Excellent interview tips, Jez. Thanks indeed.

For middle aged and older people at least, using the internet helps boost brain power, research suggests.

A University of California Los Angeles team found searching the web stimulates centres in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning.

The researchers say this might even help to counter-act the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.

The study features in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
   
As the brain ages, a number of changes occur, including shrinkage and reductions in cell activity, which can impact on performance.

It has long been thought that activities which keep the brain active, such as crossword puzzles, may help minimise the impact - and the latest study suggests that surfing the web can be added to the list.

Brain activity in an experienced internet user when searching the web
Web use stimulates much more activity in the same brain

Lead researcher Professor Gary Small said: "The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerized technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults.

"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."

source: BBC

    *  Always look clean and neat
    * Hair should be neatly combed
    * Tattoos should be covered
    * Limit pierced jewelry to ears only
    * Perfumes and Colognes should be avoided as many people are allergic

MEN

Wear a suit or sport jacket with color coordinated trousers

The color should be neutral or dark

Wear a power tie

Shoes should be cleaned and polished

Nails should be trimmed and cleaned

WOMEN

Wear a suit or simple dress with a jacket

Some appropriate colors: Navy blue, black, burgundy, dark green, gray

Avoid tight fitting clothing; clothing that is revealing or too trendy

Fingernails should be trimmed and polish should be conservative in color

source: NYCB Family of Banks

 A resume is a personal data sheet; it is a short summary of important facts about you.

   1. Write your resume yourself - No one else really knows your background better than you
   2. Use action verbs, i.e. implemented, directed, supervised, maintained
   3. Be aggressive in presenting your capabilities without sounding conceited or arrogant
   4. Limit your resume to one page, two is acceptable if you have an extensive background
   5. When forwarding your resume to an employer, attach an individually typed cover letter
   6. Emphasize the positive, without being misleading or dishonest
   7. Proofread for spelling, grammatical and typing errors

DON'T

   1. Be inconsistent with your format
   2. State salary information on your resume
   3. State your age, race, marital status, or religion
   4. Use the pronoun "I"
   5. List your reasons for leaving previous employers
   6. Waste space with actual names of references
   7. Make your job objective too limiting; you may leave yourself out of consideration for other positions for which you are qualified. - source: NYCB Family of Banks

Actors enter into politics when their fame is diminishing. Politicians become actors when elections draw near.

 A Cover Letter should accomplish three objectives:

   1. Create favorable interest
   2. Introduce the resume
   3. Request an interview

To achieve these three objectives, the letter should include some or all of the following information:

Current position

Current industry, if applicable

Field of interest

Experience and/or Education in the field of interest

Specific position or type of position desired

Salary requirements

Knowledge of company and its products

Request for an interview

Mention of the enclosed resume

Remember, a COVER LETTER is an introduction to your resume; it shouldn't be too long.

source: The NYCB Family of Banks

# Newspapers…Only a small portion of companies advertise in the newspaper; however, it is still a great resource. You should start your search with the most popular newspaper editions in your region; the classified sections best utilized on Sundays and Wednesdays.

# Job Boards…The internet has become very popular and effective for employers and job seekers. You are able to apply for most positions on line using various types of search engines.

# Register with your local State Employment Service office…The Department of Labor maintains a current list of companies who generally list job postings. These postings are accessible on the computer.

# Public Libraries…Most local, town, county, state and federal examination announcements are listed; you can also conduct research on industry and/or companies you may have interest in.

# Job Fairs…Usually advertised in the Newspapers, Department of Labor, On-Line, and Libraries. This open forum is an excellent opportunity for you to show a potential employer how you shine. You should come dressed professionally and ready to hand out many resumes; additionally, use this opportunity to collect information on various companies.

# Network…Another common way to seek an interview and employment is through personal contacts. Talk with your friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. See if any of these contacts can produce leads for you to begin your job search. You're gaining information from others and with others. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times.

# Telephone book…If you specialize in a specific field/industry. Go through the yellow pages and do a mass mailing. You want to wait one week and then follow-up with a phone call to verify the company has received your resume and use the opportunity to ask for an interview.

# Memberships…This too can be considered a part of networking; however, if you're a member of the PTA, Chamber of Commerce, or any other specialized field you should ask if they know of any leads that can help you.

# Fee paid Agency…Register with several temporary and permanent agencies.

source: The NYCB Family of Banks

Bisan diri sa Thailand, kung dili pa kakita ug trabaho mo-exit sa Cambodia, Laos, Burma, or Malaysia. Ang nakaparat kay daghang illegal recruiter sa ato sa Pilipinas nga mopromise sa atong mga kaigsuonang Pinoy nga makatrabaho. Unya inig abot nila sa Thailand, pamiyaan sila. Diha sa Bohol, bisan gibalita na sa mga newspapers ug GMA 7 ang illegal recruitment sa teachers in Bohol para Thailand, dili man gihapon motuo ang tawo, willing man gihapon magpailad.

swiss knife from Ate Lita
highlighter
pens
a key

Bolingitboy, I don't really know. But the caption says this islet belongs to Bohol. Our province has 111 islets dotting around the mainland island.

A Paradise Spot in Bohol Island

Boyles is the middle name of the incumbent governor of Bohol. Boyles comes from Ubay town. Perhaps the governor knows the history of Boyles family name.

Dostoyevsky's last and probably greatest novel, Bratya Karamazovy (1879â€"80; The Brothers Karamazov), focuses on his favourite theological and philosophical themes: the origin of evil, the nature of freedom, and the craving for faith. A profligate and vicious father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, mocks everything noble and engages in unseemly buffoonery at every opportunity. When his sons were infants, he neglected them not out of malice but simply because he “forgot” them. The eldest, Dmitry, a passionate man capable of sincerely loving both “Sodom” and “the Madonna” at the same time, wrangles with his father over money and competes with him for the favours of a “demonic” woman, Grushenka. When the old man is murdered, circumstantial evidence leads to Dmitry's arrest for the crime, which actually has been committed by the fourth, and illegitimate, son, the malicious epileptic Smerdyakov.

The youngest legitimate son, Alyosha, is another of Dostoyevsky's attempts to create a realistic Christ figure. Following the wise monk Zosima, Alyosha tries to put Christian love into practice. The narrator proclaims him the work's real hero, but readers are usually most interested in the middle brother, the intellectual Ivan.

Like Raskolnikov, Ivan argues that, if there is no God and no immortality, then “all is permitted.” And, even if all is not permitted, he tells Alyosha, one is responsible only for one's actions but not for one's wishes. Of course, the Sermon on the Mount says we are responsible for our wishes, and, when old Karamazov is murdered, Ivan, in spite of all his theories, comes to feel guilty for having desired his father's death. In tracing the dynamics of Ivan's guilt, Dostoyevsky in effect provides a psychological justification for Christian teaching. Evil happens not just because of a few criminals but because of a moral climate in which all people participate by harbouring evil wishes. Therefore, as Father Zosima teaches, “everyone is responsible for everyone and for everything.”

The novel is most famous for three chapters that may be ranked among the greatest pages of Western literature. In “Rebellion,” Ivan indicts God the Father for creating a world in which children suffer. Ivan has also written a “poem,” “The Grand Inquisitor,” which represents his response to God the Son. It tells the story of Christ's brief return to earth during the Spanish Inquisition. Recognizing him, the Inquisitor arrests him as “the worst of heretics” because, the Inquisitor explains, the church has rejected Christ. For Christ came to make people free, but, the Inquisitor insists, people do not want to be free, no matter what they say. They want security and certainty rather than free choice, which leads them to error and guilt. And so, to ensure happiness, the church has created a society based on “miracle, mystery, and authority.” The Inquisitor is evidently meant to stand not only for medieval Roman Catholicism but also for contemporary socialism. “Rebellion” and “The Grand Inquisitor” contain what many have considered the strongest arguments ever formulated against God, which Dostoyevsky includes so that, in refuting them, he can truly defend Christianity. It is one of the greatest paradoxes of Dostoyevsky's work that his deeply Christian novel more than gives the Devil his due.

In the work's other most famous chapter, Ivan, now going mad, is visited by the Devil, who talks philosophy with him. Quite strikingly, this Devil is neither grand nor satanic but petty and vulgar, as if to symbolize the ordinariness and banality of evil. He also keeps up with all the latest beliefs of the intelligentsia on earth, which leads, in remarkably humorous passages, to the Devil's defense of materialism and agnosticism. The image of the “petty demon” has had immense influence on 20th-century thought and literature.

In 1880 Dostoyevsky delivered an electrifying speech about the poet Pushkin, which he published in a separate issue of The Diary of a Writer (August 1880). After finishing Karamazov, he resumed the monthly Diary but lived to publish only a single issue (January 1881) before dying of a hemorrhage on January 28 in St. Petersburg. - Britannica Encyclopedia

In 1873 Dostoyevsky assumed the editorship of the conservative journal Grazhdanin (“The Citizen”), where he published an irregular column entitled “Dnevnik pisatelya” (“The Diary of a Writer”). He left Grazhdanin to write Podrostok (1875; A Raw Youth, also known as The Adolescent), a relatively unsuccessful and diffuse novel describing a young man's relations with his natural father.

In 1876â€"77 Dostoyevsky devoted his energies to Dnevnik pisatelya, which he was now able to bring out in the form he had originally intended. A one-man journal, for which Dostoyevsky served as editor, publisher, and sole contributor, the Diary represented an attempt to initiate a new literary genre. Issue by monthly issue, the Diary created complex thematic resonances among diverse kinds of material: short stories, plans for possible stories, autobiographical essays, sketches that seem to lie on the boundary between fiction and journalism, psychological analyses of sensational crimes, literary criticism, and political commentary. The Diary proved immensely popular and financially rewarding, but as an aesthetic experiment it was less successful, probably because Dostoyevsky, after a few intricate issues, seemed unable to maintain his complex design. Instead, he was drawn into expressing his political views, which, during these two years, became increasingly extreme. Specifically, Dostoyevsky came to believe that western Europe was about to collapse, after which Russia and the Russian Orthodox church would create the kingdom of God on earth and so fulfill the promise of the Book of Revelation. In a series of anti-Catholic articles, he equated the Roman Catholic church with the socialists because both are concerned with earthly rule and maintain (Dostoyevsky believed) an essentially materialist view of human nature. He reached his moral nadir with a number of anti-Semitic articles.

Because Dostoyevsky was unable to maintain his aesthetic design for the Diary, its most famous sections are usually known from anthologies and so are separated from the context in which they were designed to fit. These sections include four of his best short storiesâ€"“Krotkaya” (“The Meek One”), “Son smeshnogo cheloveka” (“The Dream of a Ridiculous Man”), “Malchik u Khrista na elke” (“The Heavenly Christmas Tree”), and “Bobok”â€"as well as a number of autobiographical and semifictional sketches, including “Muzhik Marey” (“The Peasant Marey”), “Stoletnaya” (“A Hundred-Year-Old Woman”), and a satire, “Spiritizm. Nechto o chertyakh Chrezychaynaya khitrost chertey, esli tolko eto cherti” (“Spiritualism. Something about Devils. The Extraordinary Cleverness of Devils, If Only These Are Devils”).

Dostoyevsky's next novel, Besy (1872; The Possessed), earned him the permanent hatred of the radicals. Often regarded as the most brilliant political novel ever written, it interweaves two plots. One concerns Nikolay Stavrogin, a man with a void at the centre of his being. In his younger years Stavrogin, in a futile quest for meaning, had embraced and cast off a string of ideologies, each of which has been adopted by different intellectuals mesmerized by Stavrogin's personality. Shatov has become a Slavophile who, like Dostoyevsky himself, believes in the “God-bearing” Russian people. Existentialist critics (especially Albert Camus) became fascinated with Kirillov, who adopts a series of contradictory philosophical justifications for suicide. Most famously, Kirillov argues that only an utterly gratuitous act of self-destruction can prove that a person is free because such an act cannot be explained by any kind of self-interest and therefore violates all psychological laws. By killing himself without reason, Kirillov hopes to become the “man-god” and so provide an example for human freedom in a world that has denied Christ (the God-man).

It is the novel's other plot that has earned Dostoyevsky the reputation of a political prophet. It describes a cell of revolutionary conspirators led by Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky, who binds the group together by involving them in murdering Shatov. (This incident was based on the scheme of a real revolutionary of the time, Sergey Nechayev.) One of the revolutionaries, Shigalyov, offers his thoughts on the emergence of the perfect society: “Starting with unlimited freedom, I arrive at unlimited despotism.” Enforced equality and guaranteed utopia demand the suppression of all individuality and independent thought. In lines that anticipate Soviet and Maoist cultural policy, Pyotr Stepanovich predicts that, when the revolution comes, “Cicero will have his tongue cut out, Copernicus will have his eyes put out, Shakespeare will be stoned,” all in the name of “equality.”

Pyotr is the son and Stavrogin the former student of the novel's weak but endearing liberal, Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky. Dostoyevsky suggests that the madness of the radical sons derives from their fathers' liberal skepticism, mockery of traditional morals, and, above all, neglect of the family. The Possessed is a profoundly conservative and Christian work. In contrast to its savage portraits of intellectuals, the novel expresses great sympathy for workers and other ordinary people ill-served by the radicals who presume to speak in their name. - source: Britannica Encyclopedia

Dostoyevsky's next major novel, Idiot (1868â€"69; The Idiot), represents his attempt to describe a perfectly good man in a way that is still psychologically convincingâ€"seemingly an impossible artistic task. If he could succeed, Dostoyevsky believed, he would show that Christ-like goodness is indeed possible; and so the very writing of the work became an attempt at what might be called a novelistic proof of Christianity.

The work's hero, Prince Myshkin, is indeed perfectly generous and so innocent as to be regarded as an idiot; however, he is also gifted with profound psychological insight. Unfortunately, his very goodness seems to bring disaster to all he meets, even to the novel's heroine, Nastasya Filippovna, whom he wishes to save. With a remarkably complex psychology, she both accepts and bitterly defies the world's judgment of her as a fallen woman. Ippolit, a spiteful young man dying of consumption, offers brilliant meditations on art, on death, on the meaninglessness of dumb brutish nature, and on happiness, which, to him, is a matter of the very process of living. Columbus, he explains, was happy not when he discovered America but while he was discovering it. - source: Britannica Encyclopedia

Written at the same time as The Gambler, Prestupleniye i nakazaniye (1866; Crime and Punishment) describes a young intellectual, Raskolnikov, willing to gamble on ideas. He decides to solve all his problems at a stroke by murdering an old pawnbroker woman. Contradictory motives and theories all draw him to the crime. Utilitarian morality suggests that killing her is a positive good because her money could be used to help many others. On the other hand, Raskolnikov reasons that belief in good and evil is itself sheer prejudice, a mere relic of religion, and that, morally speaking, there is no such thing as crime. Nevertheless, Raskolnikov, despite his denial of morality, sympathizes with the unfortunate and so wants to kill the pawnbroker just because she is an oppressor of the weak. His most famous theory justifying murder divides the world into extraordinary people, such as Solon, Caesar, and Napoleon, and ordinary people, who simply serve to propagate the species. Extraordinary people, he theorizes, must have “the right to transgress,” or progress would be impossible. Nothing could be further from Dostoyevsky's own morality, based on the infinite worth of each human soul, than this Napoleonic theory, which Dostoyevsky viewed as the real content of the intelligentsia's belief in its superior wisdom.

After committing the crime, Raskolnikov unaccountably finds himself gripped by “mystic terror” and a horrible sense of isolation. The detective Porfiry Petrovich, who guesses Raskolnikov's guilt but cannot prove it, plays psychological games with him until the murderer at last confesses. Meanwhile, Raskolnikov tries to discover the real motive for his crime but never arrives at a single answer. In a famous commentary, Tolstoy argued that there was no single motive but rather a series of “tiny, tiny alterations” of mood and mental habits. Dostoyevsky's brilliance in part lies in his complex rethinking of such concepts as motive and intention.

Crime and Punishment also offers remarkable psychological portraits of a drunkard, Marmeladov, and of a vicious amoralist haunted by hallucinations, Svidrigailov. Raskolnikov's friend Razumikhin voices the author's distaste for an ideological approach to life; Razumikhin's own life exemplifies how one can solve problems neither by grand ideas nor by dramatic gambles but by slow, steady, hard work.

Quite deliberately, Dostoyevsky made the heroine of the story, Sonya Marmeladova, an unrealistic symbol of pure Christian goodness. Having become a prostitute to support her family, she later persuades Raskolnikov to confess and then follows him to Siberia. In the novel's epilogue, the prisoner Raskolnikov, who has confessed not out of remorse but out of emotional stress, at first continues to maintain his amoral theories but at last is brought to true repentance by a revelatory dream and by Sonya's goodness. Critical opinion is divided over whether the epilogue is artistically successful. - source: Britannica Encyclopedia

After the Second World War, many experts believed that the Philippines would become the economic powerhouse of Asia, not Japan. It was an American ally, it was a stable English-speaking country with a capable workforce, and it had natural resources. By the 1960s it had a per capita income that was double that of Thailand and it seemed destined for greatness â€" however today the opposite has happened, and Thailand now has almost twice the per capita income of the Philippines. - source: economywatch.com

In the first part of Zapiski iz podpolya (1864; Notes from the Underground) an unnamed first-person narrator delivers a brilliant attack on a set of beliefs shared by liberals and radicals: that it is possible to discover the laws of individual psychology, that human beings consequently have no free choice, that history is governed by laws, and that it is possible to design a utopian society based on the laws of society and human nature. Even if such a society could be built, the underground man argues, people would hate it just because it denied them caprice and defined them as utterly predictable. In the novella's second part the underground man recalls incidents from his past, which show him behaving, in answer to determinism, according to sheer spite. Dostoyevsky thus makes clear that the underground man's irrationalist solution is no better than the rationalists' systems. Notes from the Underground also parodied the bible of the radicals, Nikolay Chernyshevsky's utopian fiction What Is to Be Done? (1863). - Britannica Encyclopedia

For several reasons, Fyodor Dostoyevsky spent much of the 1860s in western Europe: he wanted to see the society that he both admired for its culture and deplored for its materialism, he was hoping to resume an affair with the minor author Appolinariya Suslova, he was escaping his creditors in Russia, and he was disastrously attracted to gambling. An unscrupulous publisher offered him a desperately needed advance on the condition that he deliver a novel by a certain date; the publisher was counting on the forfeit provisions, which would allow him nine years to publish all of Dostoyevsky's works for free. With less than a month remaining, Dostoyevsky hired a stenographer and dictated his novel Igrok (1866; The Gambler)â€"based on his relations with Suslova and the psychology of compulsive gamblingâ€"which he finished just on time. A few months later (1867) he married the stenographer, Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina. She at last put his life and finances in order and created stable conditions for his work and new family. They had four children, of whom two survived to adulthood. - Britannica Encyclopedia

Dostoyevsky is one of my most admired writers of all time.

A day after actress Angelika dela Cruz detailed the surprise romantic engagement proposal of her non-showbiz boyfriend Orion Casareo, she announced in a television interview that she was already married and is pregnant with her beau.

Refuting her own claim, Angelika revealed she was already engaged to Orion last December 27, 2007 and got married through a civil wedding on August 19, this year.

She then found out, last October 9, that she is three months pregnant.

The 27-year-old actress said someone "prohibited" her not to make her situation known to the public that's why she was compelled to keep the status of her relationship a secret for almost two years.

But now, Angelika is more than ready to face the new chapter in her life and decided to share to the public her happiness for bearing a child.

"I am pregnant. I am very happy and I am very proud!" she exclaimed. - Sun Star Daily

News is all over tabloids that former sexy-actress Rosanna Roces's daughter Grace Adriano is pregnant again.

Pilipino Star Ngayon report said Grace is four months pregnant but not with Jolo Revilla, who is the father of her first baby named Gab.

Rosanna, also called Osang, meanwhile was quick to deny the rumors, saying it is impossible to happen because Grace is with her all the time.

She added that she could easily find out if Grace is pregnant through her behavior but at this point nothing's changed in her daughter's routine.

Osang, on the other hand, admitted that her daughter's new boyfriend frequently visits their house. But then, she refuted speculations that Grace and Palestinian boyfriend are living together. - Sun Star Daily

Former Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) scholar Irish Fullerton denied that she was the woman in the inside pages of a tabloid newspaper striking appalling poses at a certain car show event.

Irish said she doesn't' know where the nasty photos came from and she doesn't remember posing in such event.

About a week ago, Pinoy Parazzi came out with the photos claiming that it was Irish, taken before she joined the first season of PDA. The photos were allegedly taken when the crooner was still in the US.

According to Irish, she doesn't mind what people will say for as long as she knows the truth especially her family and her boyfriend Jay-R Siaboc, who is also from PDA.

Irish said Jay-R was the one who presented her the tabloid photos, but they both brushed off the appalling pictures because they knew that it was not true. - Sun Star Daily

Thanks Ate Lee for the feedback. I sent a message to Paul, but I am not sure if I was sending to the right number.

Thanks Ate Lee. Unsay number ni Paul? Do you have one?

I've lost contact with my sister. Her phone number has been inaccessible for nearly two weeks. My mother's number can't be contacted, too.

If anyone has a friend or relative in Anda, Bohol, please send me an email at mike@tubagbohol.com
I am already desperate to get in touch with my family.

My cousins' numbers can't be contacted. All I know is that they change number every week. You know how easy it is to change SIM card in the Philippines.

Internet connection remains an illusive dream in our towns.

Candidate number 10 Jan Maricris Vega was named best in the talent competition of this year's MassKara Queen search held last Sunday, October 12, at the SM City Event Centre.

Candidate number 8 Kazumi Mami Sakuma, on the other hand, went home as Ms. Natasha and Ms. Ever Bilena.

The third major event of this year's Deconstructed MassKara Queen search featured various talents from the 10 candidates including jujitsu, magic tricks and belly dancing, among others. Vega performed an Indian-inspired dance she called 'Bollywood' - India's version of Hollywood.

Model, TV and event host, and Amazing Race Asia runner-up Marc Nelson led the board of judges, which was composed of belly dancing instructor Irene Caram, Rudy Villar of SM Retail Inc., flamenco instructor Mayen Lizares and MassKara street dance chairman Rudy Reveche.

The Best in Talent award is an addition to Vega's Best in Interview and Darling of the Press titles that she won during the press presentation last October 5 also at the SM City Event Centre. She was also named 'Girl of Ipanema' during the swimsuit competition held at the Planta Centro Bacolod last October 10. By winning Best in Talent, she took home a cash prize of P5,000, gift certificates from Pietro Kaffee and SM Department Store.

Sakuma, meanwhile, added the Ms. Natasha and Ms. Ever Bilena titles to her collection that includes winning the Best in Swimsuit, Ms. Photogenic and Ms. Avon during the swimsuit competition. She also received gift certificates from Natasha and Ever Bilena.

Next stop, the candidates in their festival costumes will be joining in the parade of participants in the baranggay category of the street dance competition on Friday, October 17. This is part of the MassKara Queen Committee's efforts to re-integrate the pageant into the whole MassKara festivities.

Meanwhile, the final judging and coronation night will be on Saturday, October 18, at the PNB Stage along Lacson Street to usher in the city's 70th Charter Day countdown before midnight. - Sun Star Daily

It will surely be a star-studded MassKara Festival highlight weekend for the City of Smiles as SM City Bacolod brings over the hottest celebrities for a series of exciting mall shows.

ABS-CBN gives a delightful treat as they bring over celebrity dancing duo Maja Salvador and John Pratts for an electrifying, energy-packed Kapamilya Stars variety show on October 17, Friday, from 3 p.m. onwards at the North 3 car park.

The hottest celebrity basketball starts will surely stir the Bacoleños with the most awaited 'Meet and Greet' with Jason Abalos, Joseph Bitangcol, Marco Alcaraz, Joross Gamboa, Bruce Quebral and Paolo Paraiso on October 18, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. at the Event Centre. Get stars-truck with these handsome hunks who will do autograph signing, photo ops and a few song numbers!

GMA makes their presence felt with their exhilarating Kapuso mall show featuring the lovely Sunshine Dizon and Angelika dela Cruz plus heartthrob JC De Vera on October 19, Sunday, 2 p.m. onwards at the Event Centre.

On top of the great entertainment in store for its patrons, SM City Bacolod goes all out with its MassKara Festival sale from October 13-19. Get up to 50 percent off on great selections mallwide.

Lot's of fun, excitement and great shopping awaits mallgoers and tourists alike during this festival highlight weekend only at SM City Bacolod.

Meanwhile, Cebu's ultimate lifestyle destination - The Northwing of SM City Cebu - grandly opened last October 10. Highlighting the occasion was the 'Gear and Glam', an exhibit and fashion show event featuring the rare classic car collections of the Performance and Classic Car Enthusiasts of Cebu (Pace) and elegant fashion designs inspired by the classic cars and presented by the Fashion Council of Cebu (FCC).

The grand opening showcased the finest collections of Metro Cebu's classic car enthusiasts composed of the city's top business personalities, namely: Bobby Aboitiz, Glenn Soco, Kenneth Cobonpue, Grand Benedicto, Darren Deen, Chris Tio, and Jay Aldeguer. Cars displayed at the Atrium of The Northwing are popularly associated in movies like Top Gun, Austin Powers, Con Air, and the International Man of Mystery. They were Corvette Roadster, 1952 Triumph TR2, 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, 1966 Pontiac GTO, 1961 Jaguar E-type Roadster, 1965 Kougar Jaguar, 1978 Porsche 911 SC, 1959 Porsche 356A, 1965 Corvette Stingray.

The FCC also flaunted their original creations with elegant style inspired by these classic cars. FCC is composed of Cebu's top designers like Albert Arriba, Jun Escario, Arcy Gayatin, Oh Hofer, Ditas Rodriguez, Philip Rodriguez, Vania Romoff, Cary Santiago, Felix Yu and Minnie Yuvienco. Their original creations were elegantly modeled by the members of the Models Association of Cebu (MAC).

The promise of higher salaries and a range of benefits are among the reasons why the country is fast losing its technical experts.

Overseas, scientists are not only accorded competitive salaries and work for big companies, they and their families are also given benefits like scholarships for their children, medical, car and house mortgage, paid vacations and processing of immigration papers, said Department of Science and Technology (Dost) Assistant Secretary Ma. Lourdes Orijola.

"Besides, they are already well-established there," Orijola said.

Professor Norberto Ison, who recently concluded the short-term program at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Baguio, said that side from coming to the Philippines for a vacation, he does not plan of coming back to the Philippines.

His family, friends and his source of living are all in the US, where he teaches in two universities.

Orijola said Australia, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom are among the countries, which offer the better salary packages to Filipino scientists.

Among its several programs, the Dost has instead asked scientists who are now based abroad to avail of short or long-term programs and teach future scientists of the country.

Through its Balik Scientist Program (BSP) incentives are given to grantees. For those awarded the long-term program, the Dost gives a roundtrip economy airfare for the awardee, his/her spouse and two minor dependents, reimbursement of freight expenses, housing and grants-in-aid for research and development projects approved by the DOST secretary.

For the short-term program, roundtrip economy airfare, daily subsistence allowance of US$150 per day for first time grantees and daily subsistence allowance of US$100 for subsequent visits.

The incentive package is separate from the salaries they will receive from host institutions.

The long-term program lasts for at least two years, while the short-term program lasts for a minimum of a month.

Priority programs of the Dost are for those scientists who specialize in alternative energy, biotechnology, information and communications, technology, environment and health and medical products.

The BSP was established in 1975 to encourage overseas Filipino scientists and technicians to return or reside in the country and share their expertise

The other Filipino scientists who availed of the BSP are Dr. Alfonso Alabano (Physics), a professor at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania; Edsel Maurice Salva (Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine), Cleveland, Ohio and Dr. Leah Tolosa (Chemistry) a research associate professor in Maryland Baltimore County, Dr. Francis delos Reyes III (Environmental Engineering), an associate professor at the North Carolina State University and Dr. Amador Muriel (Theoretical Physics), president and founder of the Data Transport Systems, an IT consultancy firm in New York City. - source: Sun Star Daily

Five people died while 15 others survived and a five-year-old child remained missing and feared dead when a motorized banca capsized offshore Sulu, a military official said Monday.

Major Eugenio Batara Jr., information officer of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the incident took place around 8 a.m. Saturday near Daongdong Island in the town of Pata, Sulu.

Batara said the victims were aboard a motorized banca that capsized after it was battered by big waves while they were traveling from the town of Kalingalang Caluang to Pata municipality.

The victims were supposed to attend a celebration. They were also scheduled to avail medical services in the town. - Bong Garcia, Sun Star Daily

If your car could only speak it would let you know that the winter season may be the one season that it would hate the most. Ice, snow, salt and loose gravel can convert any minor scratches to an assortment of nasty rust spots in no time at all. Car heaters may not be enough during those extremely cold spells to keep the occupants at a comfortable temperature while the vehicles windshield is sure to experience a very bad beating during these bouts with the frigid outdoor temperatures combining with the warmer car interior.

Of major concern and one that you should be continually mindful of is this windshield. If you happen to have a slight crack in your window you can rest assured that by the end of winter that crack will have grown. Water from the snow gets inside it and freezes, as it freezes the crack enlarges. Your windshield was designed to protect the occupants inside the vehicle however under conditions such as these and with a small crack the windshield becomes a dangerous part of your car.

Another major issue that you should be aware of is the fluids within your car such as the brake fluid, engine coolants and transmission levels. Engine coolants are good well below the 0 degree temperature range if it is fresh and working properly. Mixing it with water prevents the freezing of your automobile and protects the engine from this extremely cold weather. Many car owners tend to forget about these fluids during the winter months however they play a great part in the proper functioning of your vehicle and definitely should not be forgotten. In addition as you can readily tell many of the fluids protect various parts of your car during the cold winter months. Lastly you must not forget your car battery as they are a very important aspect needed in order for your car to operate in a safe and reliable manner. Check your battery's charge capacity and recharge it if needed. If it is beyond saving replace it promptly. You would not like it if your battery died on you in the middle of a very bad snow storm.

Checking the usual things one check on their car may not be enough. Sometimes it is the little things that are left unattended that can cause you to have major damage done to your car and cause unnecessary delays. If you know your car very well you can readily diagnosis when it is not functioning at its peak level without ever opening the hood. - by Joseph Paris of http://www.survival-training.info

1-Allways mount the cooler in a place that has good air flow and if mounting in front of the radiator always make sure the fin's in the cooler are parallel with the fin's in the radiator to avoid restricting air flow to the radiator. If you must place the cooler in and area with little air flow a FAN is a must.

2-When Installing coolers make sure lines are clear of anything that can rub them and always use line that’s approved for transmission/hydraulic fluid. Fuel line will not work and will break down in transmission fluid.

3-By passing the radiator is the way I prefer a cooler be set up. Generally the transmission will run cooler this way and additionally this may take some of the load off the radiators job of cooling the engine.

4-When hooking up multiple coolers several things should be noted. The cooler itself is a restriction of flow and this restriction while not a problem for the cooling or lube to the trans can cause excessive pressure inside the converter. This can force the converter against the flex plate more so than normal and cause wear to the engine thrust bearing. A stopped up or severely restricted cooler or cooler lines can do the same. So when installing more than one cooler its advised to put them in parallel with each other, This means one line from the trans is split with a Y and one line run to each cooler then out of each and into a Y back to a single line running to the trans. This will assure adequate cooling while reducing the wear to the engine thrust bearing. Always use line that’s at least as large as the inlets in the cooler, Avoid extreme twist or turns in them particularly with rubber lines.

5-Type and brands of coolers; I really have no preference here as far as brand. From my experience and expensive brand name or a generic unit appear to do the same job. I have found the stacked plate (Flat tube) Types when measured inlet to outlet temp drop tend to be more efficient in the same dimensional sizes with a greater temperature drop. I did a test once with two coolers in parallel one round tube and one flat with a laser thermometer to determine this.

6-This is not specifically about a cooler but about cooling. Always be sure that the metal lines coming from the transmission under car do not contact the headers or exhaust. I once had a car where the transmission temps would sky rocket when the car was being run hard and couldn’t understand why. I after some looking around found that the cooler lines in and out were pinned against the headers. This would super heat the fluid when the headers got hot. Moved them away and the problem was solved, So always keep trans cooler lines factory or otherwise as far away from the exhaust as possible.

7-Trans temps- This question gets ask a lot. What’s TOO HOT? Well ideally you want you average temp to stay under 190 degrees however I would not get to concerned till the temps get at and or over 230 degrees. Heat can damage a trans but with the exception of extreme heat 250 or higher this damage is a long term killer by breaking down fluid and causing rubber seals to harden and break.

8-Never use your cooler lines to remove fluid from your transmission by starting the engine or in and attempt to flush by catching fluid in a pan while adding fluid to the dipstick. When this is done no lube is being sent to the planets and bushings and they can go dry and melt down very quickly destroying or significantly shortening the life of your transmission.

9-It is advisable to fully and properly flush a cooler especially when a converter failure is involved. Where a transmission internal failure is unlikely to put debris in the cooler since all fluid coming from transmission must travel through the trans filter. The fluid coming from the Pump or converter does not and any debris from these will certainly end up in the cooler. Its always a good idea to power flush a cooler or replace after a failure but is particularly important in the case of this type failure. Anything that’s in your cooler or lines will end up in your Valve Body, Bushings and Planets. A cooler cannot be properly cleaned simply by blowing air through it. A can of cooler flush which most transmission shops and or transmission parts suppliers should have followed by a blow out with air is the correct way to do it.

10-When installing rubber cooler lines to metal lines it’s a good idea to put a small flair at the end of the metal line. Not too big because you will tear the line on the inside during install. Then place a clamp just ahead of the flair. Also roughening up the outer surface of the metal line with very coarse sand paper in area where clamp will ride will help assure a good seal and reduce the possibility of blow off. Never over tighten clamps to the point of the rubber oozing through or being cut this will cause a failure too.

11-Temp sending units- The best place for these is in the pan since that will give the best average temperature which is what’s important, using the pressure port is ok however you will show temps 10 to 20 degrees higher average than you would in the pan. I do not suggest placing temp senders in either the inlet or outlet from the cooler as they will increase cooler restriction and increase the odds of a leak. - source: Davidwat of http://www.performabuilt.com

According to Forbes Magazine, Warren Buffett, with a net worth of $62 Billion, is now the world's richest man. Forbes' profile on Buffett is posted below:

America's most beloved investor is now the world's richest man. Soared past friend and bridge partner Bill Gates as shares of Berkshire Hathaway climbed 25% since the middle of last July. Son of Nebraska politician delivered newspapers as a boy.

Filed first tax return at age 13, claiming $35 deduction for bicycle. Studied under value investing guru Benjamin Graham at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway 1965. Today holding company invested in insurance (Geico, General Re), jewelry (Borsheim's), utilities (MidAmerican Energy), food (Dairy Queen, See's Candies). Also has noncontrolling stakes in Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo. Insurance operations flourished in 2007.

"That party is over. It's a certainty that insurance-industry profit margins, including ours, will fall significantly in 2008." The Oracle of Omaha issued a challenge to members of The Forbes 400 in October; said he would donate $1 million to charity if the collective group of richest Americans would admit they pay less taxes, as a percentage of income, than their secretaries. Had long promised to give away his fortune posthumously.

Irrevocably earmarked the majority of his Berkshire shares to charity in 2006, mostly to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gift was valued at $31 billion on day of announcement; donation will far exceed that sum so long as Berkshire shares continue to rise.

This is Susan Tinio Suliveres-Tudtud, first cousin of Virginia Tinio Blanco-Kawaguchi asking for your endearing prayer for her.

She passed away last September 24, 2008 in Nagano, Japan.

It's very painful as it is if someone special leaves us and indeed more painful feelings if we can't even see her even at the last glimpse in our eyes.

We, her family - friends - loveones -- thinks nothing of her as a person with

KIND HEART
GOOD GIVER
GOOD PROVIDER
PALABAN
INTELLIGENT
BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT
LOVING
VERY KIND
PROMINENT
SIMPLE

And most of all RELIGIOUS

I have known her for a couple of years when she took her stint with us in our little home in Carmen and Zone 1 Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City taking her high school years in Cagayan de Oro College way back in 90's and as a cousin she took every chances of culvitating me and my brother and late sister to become a better person with a kind heart to help and never under estimate other's capability of being a person no matter who you are and what your are.

She was also the source of planning every activities we could build just to enjoy life…

I remember, samtang wala among mama og papa sa balay. Mangadto mi sa ubos nga bahin sa among silingan para mamalit og ice drop. Tagsaan mi uban sila Manoy Phol, yeyek, auntie lita, usa ka kauban sa panimalay, auncle loloy og uban pa. Tagduha-duha mi ato ka ice drop but human nako mahurot akong usa ka ice drop, pag abre nako sa freezer cellophane na lang og tukog ang nabilin. Dili na'ko malimtan ang iyang higik-ik nga katawa samtang nagluha-luha ko kay sila tagduha ang nahurot ang ako usa ra.

Siya ang taga prepare na'mo og snacks matag hapon, iyang lutuon ang sobra-sobra nga chorizo og pakapinan og init nga kape with bahaw nga kan-on.

One thing also, kada mahilantan ko iya kung hiluton. Magkaga-kaga ko sa kasakit kay pirte man gyud niyang kusgana. Siya ang gatambal sa ako allergy. In-ana siya kamapinanggaon sa iyang pamilya.

Disiplihanon ka niya og tratuhon nga dili iba.

And last namong istorya, iya ko ipag tigom aron mi mag reunion sa TINIO FAMILY this coming 2010.

But now, GIBIYAAN NA MI NIMO…

Ting, sakit man sa ako part karon nga nagsulat aning letter para sa imong mga higala og pamilya.

IF ASA MAN KA KARON? SANA MASULTI MAN LANG NAKO SA IMO NGA LOVE KAAYO TIKA kamo nila auntie lita og auntie bebeth coz you were once my big sisters and you know that…

And you also know you were my idol and inspiration coz nakita na'ko sa imoha kung giunsa nimo pagdala sa imong kaugalingon inspite sa kalisod og survival nga imong gibuhat para lang ma-achieve nimo kung asa man ka karon. And ginapakita nimo sa amo nga wala'y tao nga taas og tao nga powerful over sa isig katao coz pantay-pantay lang ang tanan sa kalibutan.

I wish we could see you again even in my dreams...

Some Dumagats tribesmen are now reportedly starving due to a strange fishkill that is now affecting a portion of the giant reservoir of Angat Dam, which is nestled at mountains of Eastern Bulacan.

This developed as Bulacan Vice Governor Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado requested the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon to immediately conduct an investigation on the incident.

"Nakakaawa naman ang mga Dumagat dito, magugutom silang lalo na kapag di napigil ang fihskill at di natuklasan ang sanhi," the vice governor said.

Aside from gathering rattan and other forest products, Dumagat tribesmen living in different settlements within the Angat Watershed area are dependent on fishing at the dam's reservoir, where they usually catch giant tilapia and kanduli.

"Lubha nang naapektuhan ang mga kapatid nating Dumagat. Nagugutom na sila dahil halos isang buwan na silang walang mahuling isda dahil sa fishkill, at ang ikinatatakot pa nila ay baka chemical ang dahilan ang sanhi nito," said Bro. Martin Francisco of the Sagip Sierra Madre Multi-sectoral Council (SSMMSC). - PNA

At least two suspected communist-New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were reportedly killed and undetermined number of other rebels were believed wounded when a gunbattle erupted between government forces and communist terrorists in Barangay Banglasan, Montevista town, Compostela Valley (ComVal) province.

Maj. Armand F. Rico, spokesman of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), also said combat maneuvering troops of the 3rd Special Forces Battallion were conducting security to villages in Montevista on Saturday when engaged alleged regular members of guerilla-Front Committee 3 of the CPP-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

“Our ground troops also secured the villagers from the force revolutionary taxation imposed by the communists when engaged in Banglasan area,” claimed Maj. Rico. - PNA

By Rey M Nasol
PNA

Concerned member-consumers of the Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) and the water districts in this city and the adjoining town of Daraga are seeking transparency from their officials through the help of the Albay Consumers Association (Alconas).

Inspired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s sincere appreciation of communications during her recent visits here, participatory and more democratic means of contributing to the decision making, the consumers association implored to be heard in coming up with measures to mitigate the spiraling cost of electricity and water here.

Alconas, being represented by its diligent spokesman Rafael Villar, an engineer by profession, has sought audiences from authorities by conducting (as proposed) public hearings regarding pressing woes on water and electricity in the province.

Villar told this writer that his group has sought a public hearing on updating issues and concerns of today’s services being rendered by public utilities operating in Albay province namely: Aleco and the Legazpi City Water District (LCWD).

But local chief executives and their respective legislative bodies have yet to act on the matter while communications are on their way from the local level and even consistently seeking the comments or support from the office of President Arroyo.

More and more Filipino software designers and systems engineers are now becoming world-class information technology specialists after passing a series of tough examinations given by Japanese IT engineers through the Philippine National IT Standard (PhilNITS) Foundation.

This was revealed recently by Teolulo Pasawa, head of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC), a section of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that extends government assistance to several IT firms in the Davao region.

Pasawa said Filipino IT specialists like software designers, computer programmers and systems engineers who pass the world standards set by top Japanese IT engineers through the PhilNITS exams are considered in the global job market as "professionals" and not ordinary IT workers who get lower pay.

"When they earn a PhilNITS Certification after passing those difficult exams, they are considered as world-class. They are expected to do their jobs with the highest global standards, so naturally they get better jobs and bigger pay," Pasawa said.

Three PhilNITS training centers had been set up nationwide in Manila and Cebu during the last four years and lately in Davao last year by DTI's regional operations group in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan.

These training centers are used by the DTI to train people in the small and medium sized enterprises (MSE) to sharpen their competitive edge in the global job market, according to Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz who heads the Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG). - PNA

Camarines Sur First District Congressman Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal Arroyo was recently honored as the Most Outstanding Neophyte Congressman in the 14th Congress.

In an article of the Public Eye Magazine stated that it is Dato Arroyo’s ardent passion for public service, to serve the people with all the best that he can offer that made him stand out among the rest.

Presently elected by the house as the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, Special Committee on Bicol Recovery, Economic Development and Youth Sports Development, Arroyo is also a member of other important committees such as Energy, Games and Amusement, Government Enterprises and Privatization, Information, Communications and Technology, Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, Natural Resources, Public Works and Highways and Transportation.

The deposed vice mayor of Tayug who lost in the electoral protest filed against her by the losing candidate holed herself up inside her office to prevent the takeover of her position.

With her bodyguards and supporters surrounding the legislative building, Vice Mayor Janet Zaragoza has not left her office since Friday in order to thwart former Vice Mayor Madelyn Cabotaje-Ramirez from taking over her position.

Ramirez was declared on October 7 winner of the vice mayoralty election in May 2007 by Regional Trial Court Judge Emma Parajas of Branch 52 who found the latter to have won the vice mayoralty election by 82 votes.

The decision of Judge Parajas reversed the proclamation made by the Municipal Board of Canvasser which declared Zaragoza winner of the vice mayoralty race by 47 votes.

Tension is expected as Ramirez is bent on taking over from Zaragoza on Monday with the help of elements of the 107th Police Mobile Group and her own followers.

It was learned that the followers of Zaragoza are massing around the municipal hall to thwart Ramirez from taking over.

In a pamphlet her followers are circulating addressed to the people of Tayug, Zaragoza said she continues to be the vice mayor of Tayug as she and her lawyers filed an appeal before the Court of Appeals and the Commission on Elections. - PNA

Two local officials who were abducted and brought as “human shield” by the fleeing rogue Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF) over the weekend, were released in an undisclosed place in Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat province, Central Mindanao, a regional Army spokesman reported on Monday.

Maj. Armand F. Rico, spokesman of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), identified the released village officials as Ruel Sunga and Jun Colao of Barangay Sangay, Kalamansig town.

“The abducted village officials were released through a local politician's effort,” said Maj. Rico.

He said they were released unhurt, and were immediately reunited with their respective families after medical check up in nearby hospital in Kalamansig.

The two village officials were abducted and used as “human shield” after an undetermined number of heavily armed lawless MILF groups stormed the village of Sangay over the weekend, said Rico. - PNA

Negros Occidental on Saturday played host to the "Caravan for Peace for Ride" that was participated by nine motorcycle organizations from all over the country. The more than a thousand motor bikers rode from the Bacolod New Government Center going to the upland Municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), some 46.32 kilometers east of Bacolod.

Movie actor Robin Padilla and Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. graced the occasion.

Gov. Isidro Zayco said the caravan has created an image of advocating peace by highlighting road safety thus boosting the province’s peace efforts, especially in DSB which was once a rebel-infested town.

“I hope that this will encourage more motorbike enthusiasts to push for relevant measures that will ensure motorcycle rights and road safety to the public at large,” Zayco said.

The caravan was also aimed at highlighting the Helmet Bill and the Mandatory Helmet and Kids’ Off Motorcycle Bill of Senator Revilla advocating for road safety in the country. - PNA

Two Army soldiers were killed when the single motorcycle they were riding collided head on with a double cab pick-up along the national highway in Kilometer 5, Barangay Tabo, Bislig City, a report to the Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here on Monday stated.

Senior Supt. Nestor M. Fajura, chief of operation and plans division of PRO 13, identified the victims as Sgt. Maximo O. Salonia and Pfc. Melvin G. Yanga, both members of 23rd Infantry Battallion.

They were rushed to Bislig City Hospital but died after an hour of confinement, Senior Supt. Fajura said, quoting a spot report from Bislig City Police Office.

The road accident happened at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Initial investigation disclosed that a double pick-up with plate number LGA-254 registered under MG Mining and Energy Corporation and driven by Rodulfo T. Calalay was descending at the curve and inclined road towards Pamaypayan area when it met the motorcycle driven by Sgt. Salonia which was allegedly trying to overtake a passenger bus, resulting in the collision.

By the Philippine News Agency

The Marine Battalion Landing Team-5(MBLT-5) and the municipal government in Maimbung, Sulu is holding a first- ever shootfest in the province of Sulu with an aim of advocating responsible gun ownership.

MBLT-5 chief Lt. Col. Ferdinand Fraginal said Monday that the shootfest dubbed as Mayor's Cup Practical Shooting Competition, a Level 1 Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA)-sanctioned match, will be held on October 18 at the Buhanginan Firing Range in the town of Patikul.

The firing range is located within the headquarters of MBLT-5, which is under the 3rd Marine Brigade headed by Col. Eugenio Clemen.

Fraginal said there will be four challenging stages consisting of 97 rounds with participants coming from Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga City as well as from Sulu province.

Fraginal, who is the chairman of the organizing committee, said that the shoot fest aims to advocate responsible gun ownership, develop amity among shooting enthusiasts, and promote practical shooting as a sport.

Western Visayas is joining the country’s bid to the Guinness Book of World Records to have the most number of people who stand up against poverty.

Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias said communications were already sent out to various local government units (LGUs) in the region to encourage their constituents to enroll and commit their support to the program.

“Every year we are counting people who stand up against poverty. The people have themselves enrolled that they are one with the initiative,” Banias said.

The program with the theme ‘Stand Up Against Poverty’ is being facilitated by the National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC), Banias added.

Banias said this month the country is celebrating ‘programs and efforts to overcome poverty’ that will be highlighted on Oct 17. - PNA

Bid winner Waterfront Philippines Inc. in the privatization of the multi-billion peso Mimosa Leisure Estate (MLE) here was not permitted to take over its management and operation for failure to settle its obligation of some P872.5 million to Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

The 90-day grace period expired on Saturday.

This developed after Waterfront requested CDC for another 40-day grace period while it is negotiating with a Korean investor to finance the winning bidderʼs obligation to CDC.

The CDC legal department earlier said that the estate corporation can not grant the requested extension of settling its financial obligation because it is a violation of the legal procedure of its terms of reference (TOR).

In addition, a foreign investment firm has backed out from Waterfrontʼs request to a tie-up and agree to a joint venture in settling its financial commitment as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which expired on Oct.11.

The CDC legal department also explained earlier that CDC can not grant the requested extension explaining that CDC was not at fault in the bidding. With this development, a former CDC director expressed fear that it could lead to a failure and conduct another bidding.

The former CDC director also disclosed that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) continued refusing a license to Waterfront to operate the Mimosa Casino unless the more than P400 million financial obligation of the former operator of Mimosa Estate is settled. - PNA

Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. today called for the sustained tree planting around the huge rain basin of the city atop Mount Santo Tomas which has an approximate capacity of more than 10,000 cubic meters of potable water.

Bautista himself joined some 50 members and officers of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) Sunday in planting more than 300 tree seedlings around the natural reservoir.

Records show that water at the basin is only released as potable water to the consumers of the Baguio Water District (BWD) during summer.

More than 10 years ago, the late Reynaldo Punongbayan of the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) confirmed that the basin is a sturdy natural bowl-shaped depression of the earth because it had been a crater of an extinct volcano whose fuel or magma had been exhausted hundreds of years back.

The full support of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the government’s anti-illegal logging drive in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) has resulted to the seizure of more than 13,000 board feet of illegally-sawn lumber along the Maharlika National highway in Barangay Fili, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur province.

The said illegally-sawn lumbers were supposed to be slipped out from the region when apprehended by the joint forces of Agusan del Sur provincial police office and Bayugan Police City Office (BPCO) said Senior Supt. Nestor M. Fajura, chief of operation and plans division of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13).

The seized smuggled lumbers loaded in three extended passenger jeeps were seized after the drivers failed to present cutting and transport documents to the apprehending police force, Fajura said.

Fajura told Chief Supt. Jaime E. Milla, regional director of PRO 13 that the drivers were immediately brought to Bayugan City police office for further investigation.

Identities of the drivers are also temporarily withheld pending invitation of the owners to explain on the said smuggled forest products.

Initial report from Agusan del Sur provincial police office and Bayugan Police City Office stated that the drivers attempted to slip the forest products at Tabon-Tabon monitoring station when detected by the patrolling police force at 12:21 on Saturday morning along Fili area. - PNA

Jaye C. Bautista
Manila Bulletin

Truth be told, there are true-blooded Filipinos behind some of the most recognizable Western pop images.

The fact is, there may be not such hype about it but Pinoy artists, animators, and comic book artists are, time and again, proving that they can hold their own against foreign artists.

In my humble opinion, I think, given the right break and timing, the Pinoys may very well rank among the best in the world. Why? Read on…

The demand for Filipino talent surged in the last decade, especially in the years when other countries like India, Singapore, and China had not yet penetrated the art outsourcing market in Asia.

Big, American-based entertainment providers like Walt Disney Co., Warner Brothers, Marvel Comics, Dream works, Inc., and Hanna-Barbera were culling animation products solely from the Philippines.

The benefits from this exchange prompted these companies to set up base in the Philippines, spurring the animation industry in the country forward, and giving birth to subsidiaries like Fil-Cartoons and Philippine animation houses.

The Philippines is now known as the global animation haven. Industry estimates say about 90 percent of American television cartoons are now produced in Asia. Of that, more and more are bringing their business to the Philippines.

The animation industry in the Philippines started in 1983 when Burbank Animation, Inc. set up the first animation studio in the country.

This was quickly followed by Fil-Cartoons, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanna Barbera, a subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting which employs nearly 650 people in Manila.

Filipino artists and technicians draw, paint and film up to 25,000 sketches, mainly by hand, for every 30-minute episode. After 20 years, the animation industry now employs 4,500 full time employees in 40 animation studios in the country. Its estimated revenues last year reached 54 million US dollars, according to reports.

In fact, while I was living in the U.S., I rented out a bedroom in my 4-bedroom townhouse in Glendale, California to a girl named Jopot who was part of an all-Pinoy team of animators that the U.S. "pirated" from Hanna Barbera. They were all women, in their early 20s and the company that got them facilitated everything â€" their transport, board and lodging an even gave them cars!

There is an emerging preference for Asian subcontractors the reason being mainly due to lesser labor costs. According to a CNN report, a 30-minute cartoon costs $ 130,000 to produce in the Philippines, compared to $ 500,000 in the United States.

The work is so lucrative that the Philippine animation industry makes up a hearty $ 50 million of a global industry pegged at $ 50 billion, according to a study by Beanstalk Media.

The comic book arena continues to be attractive to the country’s animators, especially Fine Arts graduates.

Media reports estimate that 150-200 digital animators leave the country each year, in search of better paying jobs abroad. The demand for Filipino artists, in particular, continues to increase because of their world-class skills and other advantages: English proficiency and understanding of other audiences, particularly the Western audience.

My brother Joel is a 3-D Animator and lives in Glendale , California. Proof of Pinoy ingenuity, my bor was a2-D animator before then. He learned in 3 months what some of h is peers learned in years. After only3 months of training, he was given his $ 200,000.00 work station --- and how!

Because of this edge, industry experts predict that the worth of Pinoy artists will continue to rise in the coming years, even with competition from others from the Asia-Pacific region.

Such a trend can only result, as one such Pinoy artist, Anthony Climaco, who recently was given "The Visual Effects Society Award and also garnered a Creative Emmy Nomination, has proven, in indelible and original Filipino marks on the majority of animation produced in the world.

Never before have people been so concerned about the environment and with good reason.

Over the years, we have witnessed how pollution resulting from the exploitation of the environment has lead to numerous health problems. Destructive effects of climate change have similarly caught up with us.

All these plus the conscious effort to be responsible citizens have moved individuals, groups, and private corporations to action.

For its part, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has responded to the global call to use renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse emissions that cause climate change, which harm the environment. The telecom giant has started harnessing wind and solar energy to power cell sites located in remote areas in the country.

Generally, alternative energy is derived from "renewable" resources such as solar or wind energy. No harmful exhaust is produced when using alternative energy generators. Renewables do not pose any threat of toxic or radioactive waste products. And they are abundant in nature and never get used up unlike other sources of power. - Manila Bulletin

Eco-friendly malls are fast becoming the standard bearers for sustainability in the architectural world.

From the desert metropolis of Dubai to the industrial hub of Chicago, developers from around the world are reshaping malls into environmentally responsible structures through green retrofitting â€" the process of making an existing building more eco-friendly through structural improvements or additions.

This trend is becoming more popular among retail establishments because of its many upsides. It promises lower disruption as compared to rebuilding from the ground up, lower energy costs because of energy-efficient equipment, higher occupant satisfaction brought by the aesthetic of natural interiors, and reduced impact to Mother Nature due to less CO2 production. - Manila Bulletin

By RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT
Manila Bulletin

TACLOBAN CITY â€" A ranking official of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) based here strongly recommended the immediate relocation of a village in Calubi-an, Leyte as it is believed to be prone to landslides.

Engr. Loreto Alburo, MGB Region 8 director, said his office is recommending for the immediate relocation of Barangay Casiongan in Calubian town, to include the school compound and the cemetery, to be transferred to a safer area to avert any eventuality as the village is prone to landslides.

He said with the onset of the rainy season, there is an immediate need for the relocation of the village to a safer ground.

Alburo hinted the urgent relocation, as recommended by his office, is to avert the occurrence of another tragedy like the grim incident in Guinsaugon in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, where the whole village was buried in mud after a landslide occurred in February 2006.

Alburo said based on the findings of his office, the geohazard condition of the village makes it highly prone to landslides â€" as the condition of the area is highly susceptible to water-induced landslides.

As this came, Alburo said Calubian Mayor Hazel Po has earlier requested technical assistance from his office to conduct an ocular geohazard assessment on the barangay to determine the dangers that would affect the area due to the formation of mountain cracks seen near the village proper, as the situation posed danger to the lives of the residents.

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Manila Bulletin

The Department of Tourism (DoT) Region 8 office based here is encouraging local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas to have their own local tourism offices and assign a qualified official.

Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, DoT Region 8 director, said she has observed that many LGUs in the region have no respective tourism offices.

While she said that all cities and some major towns in Eastern Visayas already have their own tourism offices, she lamented that many LGUs still do not have their own.

"It’s very ideal for local government units to have their own tourism offices and officers given the fact that there is a paradigm shift towards tourism," Tiopes said.

She said that while the provincial governments of the six provinces in Eastern Visayas have their respective tourism offices, only Eastern Samar appears to have no permanent tourism officer yet to be designated by Governor Ben Evardone.

She suggests that Eastern Samar should designate a permanent tourism officer considering that the province is host to some of the major tourism destinations in Eastern Visayas, like for instance the Calicoan Island--which is being considered the surfing capital of Central Philippines.

According to Tiopes, it is the common practice of some LGUs in Eastern Visayas to designate a tourism officer who is not totally knowledgeable about their local tourism assets.

"The best situation is, there should be a tourism office that will have a focal person who is on top of things," she said.

By Vincent Labial
Manila Bulletin

Camp Sultan, Iligan City â€" After his name was called, Mang Ireneo tried his best to hold back his tears while going up the stage to accept a posthumous award for his slain son from the commander-in-chief herself President Arroyo.

The President honored the members of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who gallantly fought against the elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) some months backâ€"both the living and the fallen ones.

But no matter how Mang Ireneo tried to control his emotions, tears trickled down his cheeks while receiving the medal of bravery from the President.

Somehow, memories from as way back as 20 years when Mang Ireneo was still the active Master Sergeant Ireneo Salvacion of Philippine Army’s 3rd Division flashed in his mind.

After going down the makeshift stage at a village where the ceremony was held, he couldn’t help but remember the years when his young son Dexter idolized him as a brave AFP soldier, which later led Dexter to follow his footsteps.

"It was really his personal choice. Ever since he was a boy, he wanted to be a member of the armed forces," recalled Mang Ireneo.

With enough perseverance and hard work, Dexter eventually realized his childhood dream of playing cops and robbers for real.

He then became Police Officer 1 Dexter Salvacion of the Philippine National Policeâ€"the pride of Barangay Tambo in Iligan, and the source of joy of the Salvacion family.

However, this glory became so short on the fateful day of Aug. 18 this year after the Salvacion family received a heartbreaking news from Dexter’s former classmate.

The young but brave Dexter was among the casualties when MILF rebels attacked the nearby town of Kolambogan.

At first, Dexter’s family could not believe the report, that it was their sonDexter, their beloved Dodong Dexter.

Happy Birthday Bol-anon nga Cenuano. May the Lord bless you more.

By Robert Langreth
Forbes.com

Radical researchers aim to customize cancer treatment with computer simulations.

In her laboratory at the University of Washington, mathematician Kristin Rae Swanson peers into the future of brain cancer patients--on her computer screen. She has created a software program that uses data from magnetic resonance imaging scans to simulate how fast a patient's brain tumor is likely to spread. She can pinpoint with uncanny precision where a tumor will grow months ahead of time and predict how long a patient is likely to live under various treatment scenarios.

She first proposed the idea ten years ago and "was laughed out of the room" by skeptical doctors who figured brain tumor growth was too erratic to predict, Swanson says. But she has developed an equation that takes into account how fast tumors divide and disperse through brain tissue and can predict their path. It takes three hours on a PC to run a patient's data through this simulation. She has found that her model is accurate in predicting cancer progression in 350 patients, including 30 still undergoing treatment.

Swanson, who was inspired to go into cancer research after her father died of lung cancer, hopes her simulation will lead to a new generation of customized brain cancer treatments. Right now brain glioblastoma patients typically get once-daily radiation for six weeks. But her computer model predicts that some slow-growing tumors could be treated just as well with less-frequent radiation, sparing patients bad side effects. Others with fast-proliferating tumors would live longer with smaller doses of radiation two or three times a day. A human trial with customized radiation therapy could begin next year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSSoMw3R-E8

A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson