MikeLigalig.com

Quote from: lindy on September 26, 2008, 12:06:02 AM
Please tell me that this is only a joke... can't believed it... can't say anything more kay am already crying.

Death is real, Kuya Lindy. Life is fleeting. This is real. We are all shocked. Hug your loved ones today and tell them how much you love them while you still have time to do so.

Rebirth of Pain and Loss
By Michael O. Ligalig
(for Orchids and for all friends who have left us)
composed today, September 25, 2008

Tonight I sit on the edge of my bed
And my weight rests on the edge of the universe
Where time and space transform into a boundless thought,
Where life and death pulsate on the edge of my breath.

Hands clasped on my knees, head bowed in complete silence,
I want to pray and pour out before God my Creator
My incomprehensible pain over a sudden loss of a dear friend.
But where are the words of my meditation?

“Lord, I don’t know what to say.” Is that all I can say?

Where is the music of my solitude?
Where are the words of my heart’s prayer?

What is this so-called journey of life?
That some of us, mortals,
Must return to the dust
Before some of us would kiss
The earth’s wind goodbye.

Then I travel to the highways of my soul
And I see but gloom and despair,
To the planets of my mind
And I see but sunless skies and darkened moons,
To the secret corners of my grieving heart
And I see but shadows of pain,
Loneliness,
Emptiness.
Memories.

Flashes of distant images, of dear faces of friends
Scattered over all corners of the globe cover my room.
I want to hear their voices.
The friendly voices of Raul Oblenda and Charles Nagel
Who left us, fleeting mortals, without ubiquitous farewell. 
I want to hold my loved ones again.
The hands of my father,
Whose death nearly a year ago remains
A daily agonizing remembrance.
I want to send Tubag Bohol PM, chat in Yahoo Messenger,
Pick up my cellphone, open a Friendster message.
And touch Aya’s happy and sad words
Echoing down the highways of my soul.

Yet there are more lovely faces I want to kiss.
There are more fragrant voices I want to hear.
There are more sweet laughters I wish to remember.
There are more immortal hands I want to caress.

But time and space
And life and death
And earth and eternity
Have silenced me
On the edge of my bed,
The edge of the universe.

Baking is the nickname Anda knows so well. Aya remembers that name of my childhood.

Grace, my grandfather passed away in 2002. I was the apple of his eyes among the apos. When I was a little boy, we walked every Sunday to church, which is 3 kilometers away from house.

My lola lives in Anda with Aya's auntie.

Aa, she passed away yesterday. Her untimely death has left an abysmal void in Tubag Bohol world.

Aya's daughter. I haven't met her daughter. Some of TubagBohol members must have seen her during the Cebu EB this year.

Update from Aya's family relayed through my sister in Anda, Bohol.

Aya (Orchids) will be cremated tomorrow in Japan.

Quote from: Bambi on September 25, 2008, 06:24:39 PM
I love you my dear kirschblüte (cherry blossom) and I will be missing you! You will be kept always in my heart  forever! I must have to think of the last offline message you had sent to me calling me sweety Bamz! Why you left?....we agreed to meet sooner in Bohol? Why Lord? Why she? She is still too young to die....Oh my God!  Her kids? Her Family? Let us pray for her soul and may she rest in peace...Amen

Dear Mike,

Why I can't open my messages? And I can't  send messages as well? Thanks Miga for the text...I am too sad.

Hi Ate Annie,

We still have a problem with our PMs and sending messages. I encourage everyone to use TubagBohol email instead.

Indeed, Orchids was such a sweet, lovely friend whom we will miss all our lives.

Balong, mao ni ang one of the pictures ni Aya sa Friendster niya.

Si Aya is pag-umangkon sa asawa sa akong uncle, who is the brother of my father. Kaila na mi daan since adtong gamay pa kong bata.

Quote from: Lorenzo on September 25, 2008, 05:53:44 PM
Mike, I'm so sorry Mike.



I must go for a bit mike. This is too painful for me.

Love,
Bran

Bran, next month is the first death anniversary of my father. This Saturday is my 29th birthday. My birthday will be filled with gloom. And my father's death anniversary will be doubly sorrowful.

Bran, I haven't recovered from the immeasurable pain over my father's death nearly a year ago, and now Aya, who is a close personal friend of mine, one of our pioneers in Tubag Bohol, and who is a beautiful soul to all of us here, is gone. My heart is a picture of gloomy, empty land.

Today I tried to convince myself that I was just dreaming, but death is so real. And the pain, Bran, is so shattering.

Quote from: hofelina on September 25, 2008, 05:47:42 PM
Ondoy Mike,
This is very touching, you must be very sensitive and romantic.

Manay Tess

Ate Tess,

Orchids was such a darling to us. She is a close friend of mine. Aside from the fact that she was always online in Tubag Bohol, we chatted a lot of times and exchanged email messages, talking about life, family, and about our relatives in Bohol.

Ang auntie ni Aya is wife of my father's brother, who also had passed away.

Due to the untimely death of our dear friend, Aya (also known as Orchids) of Tubag Bohol, and to show our sympathies to her family, I would like to request that all new topics and replies be related with Aya.

Tubag Bohol will be shut down once everyone has been informed of this shocking news and once all our friends have poured out their words of grief.

You may post videos, music clips, pictures about Orchids in any boards/threads.

I feel that it is so difficult to read and discuss any other topics at this time as our souls are still nursing this great pain over the eternal departure of our faithful, loving, caring friend Aya (Orchids).

Thank you for understanding,

Mike

Aya's roaming number is +639097946611.

There is so much sadness in my heart. I've been trying to hold back my tears because I don't want my students and colleagues at school to see me in tears for they have no idea the sea of grief that engulfs my soul.

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

My dear friend Aya, you know how precious you are to me. You're such a good friend to me and to my family. We shared together many days of sorrow.

This song is for you, sister.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNEytJp31dY

For you, sister Aya... Tubag Bohol will never be the same again now that you're gone...

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

Line to Heaven song...

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

Aya, I will treasure our friendship until I breathe my last. And when we see each other in heaven, I hope you'd still recognize me.

Aya, my heart is bleeding. My soul is covered with clouds of gloom and sorrow. I wish I could fly to Japan right now and see you for the last time. You're such a dear friend to me.

Aya, I love you. And many of us love you so much. You're such a darling to us. We are all in deep grief.

I still don't want to believe that you're already gone. But in heaven, we will see you.

Farewell, Orchids, the lovely soul of Tubag Bohol, a dear friend to all of us.

We will be praying for your 3 kids who from now on will face every single day in their lives without the warm of a mother's love and care.

I am at the office and in tears now. I don't know how to face the day today.

Oh my God, Lord God, what shall I say?

Grace, I just got a text from my sister. I am speechless. This is shattering to my soul. She's such a good friend of mine and to all of us here.

Left to Right: Ellen Poqueta Racela ( Clarin), Amie Ranario Joritz ( Garcia-Hernandez), Tess Bertumen Wilms ( Guindulman) Bolanon sa GErmany party last 20 September 2008

Forget white picket fences and a two-car garage. The new dream home of the future is totally integrated, networked, and ready to log on, even the refrigerator (and you thought that 1980s crushed ice dispenser was cutting edge).

Cisco Systems and Whirlpool Thursday announced their plan to develop a complete line of networked home solutions stocked with Internet-ready products and services, which are now only prototypes. Cisco launched its Internet home platform at the Consumer Electronics Show here this week.

If you want a window into the future, then CES is definitely the place. Whirlpool's major home appliances won't start rolling out until the end of this year, although a full line of products is currently in development.

"We focused on looking at consumers and their habits and behaviors," says Philip Pejovich, Whirlpool vice president of corporate technology and engineering development. "The dual-income household has a lot of pressure in terms of time." - PCworld.com

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) seized late Tuesday several cartons of formula milk from China following an inspection of a mall in Iloilo City.

Radio dzBB's Iloilo affiliate reported Wednesday that BFAD operatives seized the cartons of milk from the SM City mall in Iloilo during a routine inspection.

According to BFAD operatives, the brand of the Chinese milk was not in the BFAD's records of milk imported from China and sold locally.

The report did not say how many cartons were seized during the inspection. It also said the mall management admitted selling the milk since last month.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas ordered the City Health Office to coordinate with the Trade department in the inspection of repacked milk being sold in the city. - GMANews.TV

By Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

The Department of Education (DepEd) wasted millions of pesos from its 2007 budget, the Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD) said on Wednesday.

Citing the 2007 audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA), the CPBD - in its agency budget notes for September 2008 - said millions in DepEd's budget for last year were wasted either through non-utilization, misallocation or purchase of inferior equipment.

"Information and multi-media equipment packages amounting to no less than P667.95 million were neither utilized nor maximized for classroom instructions in 13 regions because they were either defective or distributed to schools which were not strictly selected in accordance with the approved criteria, resulting in the wasteful storage or utilization of the units," the CPBD report stated.

Acute classroom shortages in 2,929 schools were also left unaddressed because school building projects worth at least P597.796 million were spent instead on 1,329 school sites that had the least need for buildings and classrooms, the report stated.

Likewise, 84,254 sets of tables and chairs and 150,748 armchairs costing P197 million were allocated to 2,777 elementary and 899 secondary schools that already had adequate seat provisions from 2004-2007 instead of giving them to 2,764 elementary and secondary schools with acute seat shortages.

The CPDB further said the COA report disclosed that while the number of undistributed textbooks decreased from 2006 to 2007, a total of 1,275,056 copies of unused textbooks or manuals costing at least P57.3 million remained stored in school stockrooms or libraries in 2007.

The COA report also showed that "unnecessary expenses and waste of time and effort by school personnel and parent-student beneficiaries" occurred due to school implementers' non-compliance with DepEd guidelines on the implementation of the Food for School program and violations of the existing rice supply contact of the National Food Authority, said the CPBD.

The CPBD likewise noted that while participation in secondary schools increased from 57 percent to 58 percent from 2001 to 2006, elementary school participation declined from 90 percent to 83 percent.

The overall achievement rate for school year 2006 to 2007 also remained low for both levels, with 60 percent for elementary and 47 percent for high school, said the CPBD.

The report said the failure to meet the 2005 Medium Term Philippine Development Program Plan (MTPDP) targets for key indicators for basic education such as participation, cohort survival, and dropout rates for both elementary and secondary levels indicate that there is low probability to meeting the 2010 MTPDP targets.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P167.94 billion for the DepEd for 2009, a 13 percent increase from 2008's P149.25 billion.

During the budget briefing last Sept. 11, DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus said the 2009 allocation is still inadequate as the increase in the DepEd should be at par with the increase in the P1.41-trillion national budget for 2009, which increased by P15.32 percent from 2008.

Under the P167.94 billion budget allotted by the Budget department, the DepEd is planning to allot P136.82 billion for personal services, a 19 percent increase from 2008's P114.77 billion.

However, the funds for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) is likely to go down by 7 percent, from 2008's P21.73 billion to the proposed P20.27 for 2009.

Only P10.85 billion will be allotted for capital outlay, which includes school building constructions, a 15 percent decrease from P12.75 billion in 2008.

A 33-year-old Filipina was arrested Tuesday night at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China after authorities discovered heroin inside the five pairs of shoes in her carry-on luggage, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Vicento "Tito" Sotto III said Wednesday.

In a press conference after the House subcommittee hearing on the proposed 2009 budget for the DDB, Sotto said the woman, whom he refused to identify, flew to China from Manila aboard a Cebu Pacific 5J678 flight.

She was carrying a tourist visa, Sotto said.

Sotto said authorities are still determining the specific amount of heroin found in the shoes, which he described as high-heeled.

On September 15, a 25-year-old Filipino was likewise arrested in the same airport after boarding another Cebu Pacific 5J678 flight from Manila.

Sotto said they are studying the possibility that Philippine airport authorities are involved in the drug-trafficking incidents. - GMANews.tv

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized P89 million worth of fake Lacoste products during Tuesday's raid at a mall in Manila's Binondo district, the bureau reported on Wednesday.

Raided were eight stalls located at the 168 Mall on Soler St. in Binondo which yielded 22,345 pieces of fake Lacoste blouses and shirts.

The charges stemmed from the complaint of lawyer Michael Untalan of Bengzon Negre Untalan Law office, a firm contacted by Lacoste S.A. to conduct investigation and prosecute any cause of action, including civil and criminal charges.

In a post operation report filed by Head Agent Sixto Comia, chief of the Intelligence Special Operations Division (ISOD), the NBI agents put the establishments under surveillance last September 22 and conducted test buys to confirm the allegation.

Armed with search warrants issued by Judge Antonio Eugenio, of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC), the NBI simultaneously conducted several investigative activities and seized the products.

Comia said the Lacoste products are presently kept and stored at a private bonded warehouse maintained by the requesting party. - source: GMANews.tv

This woman must be put behind bars for the rest of her life. She is a real threat to society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqaWBA8wVX0

By Matt Maxwell
(Sung to the tune of Counting Crows "Round Here")

Fired up my browser, went to a flash blog
Where I read the latest entry, couldn't believe my eyes.
Adobe you-say-theres-a-version-that's-new, But I still haven't gotten through
Learning AS3, inDesign, and After Effects
I click on the link, and I find out, announcement day is only weeks away
How, will I ever-be-able-to-wait.
"Something Brilliant" you're advertising, the new features you are hiding
Until that blessed date.

CS4, I hope you're really great
CS4, will-you-be-worth-it to update?

Your new features look tantalizing, it's got me fantasizing,
The Flash-timeline for example you say has been revamped
Some-of-the-new features you've planned, I'm not sure I understand
Like inverse kinematics and 64 bit.
And-I really hope in this version
The help files were written by a person
that isn't a geeked-out super nerd
And then there's the installer, I hope it's fast
I hope this one doesn't take a year.

CS4, I hope you don't come late
CS4, how-much-will-it-cost-to-update
CS4 I will start saving
all of my clams
CS4 when can I get you in my hands

Ohhh-ohhh...   

Software's always evolving like the wind
only to get more bloated
Adobe you better pay close attention
And not overload it...

And then, there's the workflow...
I've never...sigh... I wish I could understand
In CS3 when I go to design, I have a really hard time
trying to figure out which program to use.
In one of them I can draw, but then I need tools from Photoshop
So why are they making me use two programs?

CS4, your new-logo it looks strange
CS4, you might, consider a change
The-logo-resembles a TV station
I hope you don't get sued
Just being honest, I don't - I don't - I don't mean to be rude...

I - I'm actually excited
to get my hands on CS4
Ohh
Won't you tell when it releases
Tell me when it releases
Tell me cause I can hardly hardly wait

I said I'll be first in line
CS4
Oh, man I say I'll be first in line
CS4
Just make sure it's finished before-you-release it
CS4

If you have a household with multiple cats, you know that cat fights do happen. Even if you cats generally get along, at times, they can still fight. While humans may not completely understand why their kitties are fighting, cats have their reasons for fighting.  Some of these reasons are similar to the reasons that humans have disputes. Cats express their discontent with other cats by picking fights. The reasons why cats fight can help you determine how to prevent your cats from fighting in the future.

Fighting for their territory: Many cats fight because of their territory. One of the reasons that cats fight is because they feel like an unwanted cat has invaded their territory, even if it is a cat that has lived with them for a long time.  Cats are much more territorial than dogs and the gender of the cat has very little to do with it.  Contrary to what many people believe, female cats are sometimes just as territorial as their male counterparts are.  If you have two cats in your home, you might notice that one cat hisses and swats at the other whenever he feels his territory has been invaded.  This can also happen if you bring a new cat into the home. They are simply defending their territory.

Social ranking: Either male cats frequently threaten and fight with each other for social ranking or despite what you may think; even neutered males may do this. If you have multiple cats, especially more than one male cat, one cat is usually considered the “alpha male” and will be at the top of the cat hierarchy. Two cats might posture their bodies, then begin howling and screaming at one another.  If one of the cats walks away or backs down, then the catfight is usually avoided.   However, if neither one wants to throw in the towel and surrender, then one cat will attack the other by jumping forward and attempting to bite the neck.  The other cat will fall on his back and tries to bite or scratch the attacker with its hind legs.  The two cats might go through this several times before walking away.  There are usually no injuries sustained in these kinds of fights. You may even notice that kittens or young cats play with one another this way. Most of the time, you will not need to interfere.

Aggression: Cats also fight as a result of some kind of redirected aggression and this is quite common, especially with indoor cats.  Your cat might be looking outside the window at another cat or dog crossing the yard.  Your cat begins to feel territorial and aggressive at this cat, but since this other cat cannot be reached, he may instead attack the other family cat. Another example is if you are giving your cats treats. One cat may reach the treat first and begin eating. The other one wants a bite, but the cat that is eating may become aggressive over the treat and begin to swipe or yowl and the other cat.

If you find your cats fighting occasionally, you should know that this is common and quite typical of cats. Most of the time, you will be able to tell whether or not your cats are fighting for “blood” or just playing around. The time to stop a fight is when it gets nasty otherwise; allow your cats to work it out themselves. If you feel the need to stop a catfight, then you should do it carefully. Even the most loving cat can bite or scratch you in aggressive passion. To stop a fight, you should make some kind of loud noise, such as a handclap.  Since cats are startled by loud noises, they will both stop to see what is making the noise.  You can also spray water on them to interfere with the aggressive behavior..

When you find your cats fighting, it is best not to punish the cats for their fight. Cats do not understand punishment and fighting is a natural instinct in cats. The best thing to do is only interfere when necessary. If you find your cats are fighting more than they should, it is time that you find out why. Do they fight over a litter box, a food bowl or a prime window location? Make sure each kitty has his or her own “things” and a place to retreat when they feel overwhelmed by other pets in the house. This will go a long way in preventing real catfights. - PLR Article

Wedding photography is perhaps the most important field because these are the special moments in life we want to capture.  Portraits are important and often play a major roll in wedding photography, but there are more to the wedding and finding the perfect photographer.  Below are several tips to finding the right photographer for you.

Equipment is one of the most important aspects.  There are new photographers who will start out not being able to afford a lot of camera equipment, lights, tripods and so on.  This doesn’t make them a bad photographer, but it can mean they will miss important wedding moments when they are reloading the film on one camera.  In today’s world a wedding photographer should have at least one digital camera at the professional grade and two film cameras.  A successful photographer will have enough cameras to put appropriate lenses on and be able to switch memory cards in the digital camera with ease.  They should also have a video camera run by another person to capture the entire wedding.

Experience will determine the cost of the photographer.  Most photographers who have been on the circuit longer will charge between $3000 and $10,000 for wedding photographs.  It all depends on the type of package you will want and how many assistants they will need to cover the entire affair.  Other photographers typically charge between $300- $3000 depending upon the package and their experience.  A well-known wedding photographer is going to cost more, just for the name.  These packages often denote their experience as well as the equipment they can use.  A digital camera does not cost film, but purchasing one can be expensive so most new photographers may charge a little more to replace the cost of the equipment.

Price of a wedding photographer should only be a moderate issue.  The top important aspect of a professional wedding photographer lies in their photography skills.  They will instantly walk into the places your wedding and reception will take place and have ideas of the placement of equipment and lighting.  They will also be able to show you a portfolio of past weddings.  Wedding photography is about the moments that pass between your family and yourselves.  The moment where you are looking at your betrothed with love written on your face when you think no one else is looking will make the best photographs.  A wedding photographer needs to see these moments and capture them as well as obtain the portraits.

Wedding photography is often seen around the home with the portraits.  The portraits of the bride holding her flowers, the wedding party posing, and the groom and bride together.  The traditional wedding photography will include the hands with the shinning wedding bands placed on a pillow or wrapped around the bride’s waist.  The arrangement of the wedding couple is as important as the photograph.  The wedding photographer should be able to pose you while capturing the light and background.

Photography is an intricate profession and when you have an important day such as a wedding you will want the best.  You may have ideas of the photographs you want and the wedding photograph will be glad to help bring those ideas to fruition.  Photography is about lighting, catching those unguarded moments, and creating memories that will last forever. - PLR Article

Candid photography is by definition taking pictures of people when they are unaware.  Part of the fun in photography is catching your human subject’s off guard so that your pictures have more emotion.  Photographers who work for magazines, like Time Life, have been able to get candid shots of their subjects.  I think most of us can remember the black and white photographs of Africans and others giving rise to more emotion from the viewer.  Taking candid shots may appear easy although there are few techniques in the photography world that will make the candid shot worth more than just a snap shot of friends.

First and of course most important is to keep the subject in view while they are not paying attention.  The next step is training your eye to catch the moment.  You have to be able to move fast, but with design.  You need to have your camera set for the picture before you are even aware you will take the photograph.  The best way to do this if you have a digital or automatic camera is to keep it on the proper setting.  Manual cameras take moments to focus and can loose the candid shot if your subject becomes aware of you.

Candid photography relies on the light; however, you may not always get to choose the angle.  The angle could be where you are standing at the time.  As a photographer of candid photography, you know the importance of choosing the best angle at the right moment that is possible.

The entire point of candid photography is to gain the unguarded moments of a person’s emotions, whether it is tears, happiness, love, or other emotions.  While it is true, you need to have light, angle, and a good camera to catch the shot it is more important to observe.  Most photographers are trained observers.  Their eyes will wander over the crowds, landscape, or other setting searching for the perfect shot.  They will always have a camera ready.  It can be extremely hard when you are taking photographs of your friends because they tend to be more involved in the conversations or activity.

The key to taking candid photographs of your friends is to draw them away from the fact that you carry a camera.  If they forget you carry the tool, they are more likely going to act natural.  Some friends tend to pose in front of the camera while others will shy away turning their backs when you get ready to take a photograph.  Knowing your friends will help you find the best way to take candid shots without their knowledge. 

Observing, having the camera ready, and understanding the basics of photography will yield you better results when you try for a candid shot.  Posing or turning away from the camera will take away from the shot you hoped to attain so hanging to the side or a little ahead can get you the shot you may need.  Profiles make great candid shots because the person will not realize you are taking a photograph until you have already clicked the button.  Candid photography can be one of the most rewarding arts of photography, but also vexing when the subject is aware of the camera. Always remember the camera when going out with friends.  - PLR Article

Good Morning Bran. Night has come here in Thailand.

Buwadsan

Quote from: buwadsanga on September 22, 2008, 04:38:03 PM
naa bay makaon dani o mag bawon pa kami

Buwadsanga, Villa Tarcela has a restaurant with a complete set of meals for morning, noon, and evening. You can order both Filipino and international food varieties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiTm860zMsk

Bohol SWAT Video. Provided by Nestor Daarol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUt94vWBLfE

This video is courtesy of Nestor Daarol.

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

This video was provided by Nestor Daarol.

They're all over the place. The room is owned by a woman.

North Carolina cops are searching for a guy who successfully passed a $200 bill bearing George W. Bush's portrait and a drawing of the White House complete with lawn signs reading "We like ice cream" and "USA deserves a tax cut."

The phony Bush bill was presented to a cashier at a Food Lion in Roanoke Rapids on September 6 by an unidentified male who was seeking to pay for $150 in groceries. Remarkably, the cashier accepted the counterfeit note and gave the man $50 change.

In a separate incident involving a different perp, Roanoke Rapids cops Tuesday arrested Michael Harris, 24, for attempting last month to pass an identical $200 Bush bill at a convenience store.

source: ncwanted.com

Call the solid waste management department, please.

Too busy to clean it up?

What will happen to the computer?

By Jes Tirol
Sundry Column
Bohol Chronicle

continuation...

Proem
The towns that we list on this issue are: 1. Dimiao, 2. Duero, 3. Garcia-Hernandez, 4. Getafe, 5. Guindulman, 6. Jagna, 7. Lacy, 8. Lila, 9. Loay, 10. Loboc, 11. Loon, 12. Maria, 13. Maribojoc.
For further brevity we will eliminate the honorific title “Don.” We will use the abbreviations: a) Gob‘lo = Gobernadorcillo (Mayor), b). Tnt 1 = Teniente primero (First Lieutenant), c). Tnt 2 = Teniente Segundo (Second Lieutenant), d). Tnt = Teniente (Lieutenant), e). Algel = Alguacil (Constable or policeman), f). J. de Gdos = Juez de Ganados (Judge for Cattles), g). J. de Semtra = Juez de Sementera (Judge for Farms), and h). J. de Plcia = Juez de Policia (Judge for Police).
15. Dimiao

A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Juan Quimpit â€" Gob’lo
2. Andres Madula â€" Tnt 1
3. Julian Magdale â€" J. De Gdos
4. Juan Halasan â€" J. de Semtra
5. Eucebio Baldo â€"  de Plcia
6. Apolonio Adecer â€" Tnt 2
7. Juan Magallanes â€" Algel 1
8. Mariano Magalup â€" Algel 2
9. Juan Patana â€" Algel 3
10. Apolonio Namoco â€" Algel 4
11. Mariano Madula â€" Algel 5
B. Public works jurisdiction
12. Pedro Aclon â€" Algel 1
13. Eugenio Laguda â€" Algel 2
14. Eustaquio Ydol â€" Algel 3
15. Simon Aclon â€" Algel 4
16. Francisco Tagufa â€" Algel 5
17. Vicente Cagud â€" Algel 6
18. Agapito Tabiliran â€" Algel 7
19. Lucio Gamorot â€" Algel 8

16. Duero
A.  Whole town jurisdiction
1.  Felipe Jamila â€" Gob’lo
2. Rufino Bernales â€" Tnt 1
3. Tomas Bernadas â€" J. de Gdos
4. Martin Olario â€" J. de Semtra
5. Mariano Bernales â€" J. de Plcia
6. Eusebio Felisan â€" Tnt 2
7. Macario Ranara â€" Algel 1
8. Nasario Olano â€" Algel 2
9. Benito Cagasan â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
10. Gregorio Esclamado â€" Algel 1
11. Leuterio Era â€" Algel 2
12. Lucio Berno â€" Algel 3
13. Claudio Baigan â€" Algel 4
14. Dionisio Taclindo â€" Algel 5
15. Mariano Madera â€" Algel 6

17. Garcia-Hernandez
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Simon Cuadra â€" Gob’lo
2. Juan Alaba â€" Tnt 1
3. Sebastian Ranario â€" J. de Gdos
4. Lazaro Salarda â€" J. de Semtra
5. Antonio Jaminal â€" J. de Plcia
6. Juan Torcellido â€" Tnt 2
7. Apolonio Acero â€" Algel 1
8. Francisco Galeon â€" Algel 2
9. Gerardo Pagigal â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
10. Bartolome Cagulada â€" Algel 1
11. Valeriano Acero â€" Algel 2
12. Adriano Bajan â€" Algel 3
13. Serafino Alaba â€" Algel 4
14. Matias Galeon â€" Algel 5
15. Felipe Acero â€" Algel 6

18.  Getafe
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Facundo Camacho â€" Gob’lo
2. Mauricio Torregosa â€" Tnt 1
3. Nicolas Garcia â€" J. de Gdos
4. Bibiano Suello â€" J. de  Semtra
5. Victoriano Josef â€" J. de Plcia
6. Alfonso Torrijas â€" Tnt 2
7. Francisco Socias â€" Algel 1
8. Felis Torrijas â€" Algel 2
9. Servando Suello â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
10. Antonio Rosagaran â€" Algel 1
11. Fruto Suello â€" Algel 2
12. Jose Mejiasco â€" Algel 3
13. Agustin Membrillos â€" Algel 4
C. Jandayan Island outpost
14. Carmelino Torreron â€" Tnt
15. Gabriel Torrefiel â€" Algel
D. Barrio Pangpang outpost
16. Simeon Melencion â€" Tnt
17. Lucas Torregosa â€" Algel 1
18. Estevan Ontong â€" Algel 2
19. Moises Arapan â€" Algel 3
20. Calisto Sumalinog â€" Algel 4

19. Guindulman
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Juan Olaivar â€" Gob’lo
2. Luis Olaño â€" Tnt 1
3. Joaquin Olaso â€" J. de Gdos
4. Pablo Caga â€" J. de Semtra
5. Rufino Acman â€" J. de Plcia
6. Doroteo Olaño â€" Tnt 2
7. Anastacio Bernados â€" Tnt 3
8. Angel Amin â€" Algel 1
9. Ygnacio Besas â€" Algel 2
10. Petronilo Amparo â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
11. Ygnacio Bersabal â€" Algel 1
12. Ygnacio Ligtas â€" Algel 2
13. Mariano Raper â€" Algel 3
14. Julian Peliño â€" Algel 4
15. Marcelo Bersalona â€" Algel 5
16. Antonio Golocino â€" Algel 6
C. Barrio Tugas outpost
17. Gregorio Timario â€" Tnt
18. Esteban Bermoy â€" Algel 1
D. Barrio Cabantian outpost
19. Julio Caseñas â€" Tnt
20. Julian Bernados â€" Algel
E. Barrio Cabugan outpost
21. Pablo Golles â€" Tnt
22. Hermenegildo Mapalo â€" Algel
20. Jagna
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Juan Castillo â€" Gob’lo
2. Santiago Abrea â€" Tnt 1
3. Roque Abrenilla â€" J. de Gdos
4. Ciriaco Aceñero â€" J. de Semtra
5. Doroteo Abrea â€" J. de Plcia
6. Rufino Daigan â€" Tnt 2
7. Estanislao Acedillo â€" Algel 1
8. Macario Abran â€" Algel 2
9. Julio Cadua â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
10. Mariano Rañin â€" Algel 1
11. Bacilio Abrea â€" Algel 2
12. Vicente Rances â€" Algel 3
13. Aquilino Llido â€" Algel 4
14. Damiano Madera â€" Algel 5
15. Antonio Virtudes â€" Algel 6
16. Ygnacio Galope â€" Algel 7
17. Julio Macas â€" Algel 8
C. Bario Naatang outpost
18. Antonio Aceberos â€" Algel
D. Barrio Lonoy outpost
19. Saturnino Ranes â€" Algel

21. Lacy
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Feliciano Balolong â€" Gob’lo
2. Juan Omandan â€" Tnt 1
3. Valentin Baroro â€" J. de Gdos
4. Antonio Aljas â€" J. de Semtra
5. Alberto Bongcauel â€" J. de Plcia
6. Jose Zacarias â€" Tnt 2
7. Lorenzo Bongcauel â€" Algel 1
8. Hermogenes Ondo â€" Algel 2
9. Eugenio Balios â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
10. Antonio Duhay-longsod â€" Algel 1
11. Regino Ances â€" Algel 2
12. Felis Castillon â€" Algel 3
13. Silvestre Pacho â€" Algel 4
14. Antonio Baroro â€" Algel 5
15. Lorenzo Bulabulay â€" Algel 6
C. Barrio Campalanas outpost
16. Felipe Sumagang â€" Tnt
17. Pedro Diongan â€" Algel 1
18. Gregorio Tamparong â€" Algel 2

22. Lila
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Juan Aclo â€" Gob’lo
2. Benito Dahiroc â€" Tnt 1
3. Cecilio Sepe â€" J. de Gdos
4. Eduardo Cagaanan â€" J. de Semtra
5. Pedro Tagayoma â€" J. de Plcia
6. Gregorio Obre â€" Tnt 2
7. Pedro Cahiles â€" Algel 1
8. Gregorio Gamel â€" Algel 2
B. Public works jurisdiction
9. Antonio Baldago â€" Algel 1
10. Gabriel Aco â€" Algel 2
11. Doroteo Japson â€" Algel 3
C. Barrio Tiguis outpost
12. Juan Oculam â€" Algel
D. Barrio Nagsulay outpost
13. Gabriel Cero â€" Algel
E. Barrio Bongcucan outpost
14. Juan Magadan â€" Algel

23. Loay
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Bonifacio Enerio â€" Gob’lo
2. Lucas Pilong â€" Tnt 1
3. Eusebio Solideo â€" J. de Gdos
4. Vidal Adiong â€" J. de Semtra
5. Leon Lagura â€" J. de Plcia
6. Ygnacio Datoy â€" Tnt 2
7.  Ysidro Apalisoc â€" Algel 1
8. Estevan Cesar â€" Algel 2
9. Vicente Lagura â€" Algel 3
B. Public works jurisdiction
10. Fernando Bapor â€" Algel 1
11. Jacinto Dieson â€" Algel 2
12. Guillermo Molina â€" Algel 3
13. Mechor Galela â€" Algel 4
C. Barrio Tocdog outpost
14. Valentin Vapor â€" Tnt
15. Luis Dumpa â€" Algel 1
16. Ygnacio Solana â€" Algel 2
D. Barrio Tangcasan outpost
17. Placido Lavagon â€" Tnt
18. Juan Sabaña â€" Algel 1
19. Lucio Baquial â€" Algel 2

24. Loboc
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Mariano Varques â€" Gob’lo
2. Victoriano Sabijon â€" Tnt 1
3. Melchor Biliran â€" J. de Gdos
4. Higino Suganob â€" J. de Semtra
5. Cristino Tecson â€" J. de Plcia
6. Victoriano Biliran â€" Tnt 2
7. Justo Requerme â€" Algel 1
8. Remigio Bargas â€" Algel 2
9. Antonio Domapias â€" Algel 3
10. Ygnacio Misiona â€" Algel 4
B. Public works jurisdiction
11. Mariano Silacan â€" Algel 1
12. Jacinto Lagang â€" Algel 2
13. Julian Jala â€" Algel 3
14. Julian Gomez â€" Algel 4
15. Hilario Malaran â€" Algel 5
16. Agapito Saludo â€" Algel 6
17. Felipe Salig â€" Algel 7
18. Marcelino Dompor â€" Algel 8
19. Paulino Sarigumba â€" Algel 9
C. Barrio Quinoguitan outpost
20. Macario Lusano â€" Tnt
21. Gabriel Bolongabong â€" Algel 1
22. Catalino Dango â€" Algel 2
D. Barrio Cambuac outpost
23. Januario Campion â€" Tnt
24. Claros Bantugan â€" Algel 1
25. Dionisio Baure â€" Algel 2

25. Loon
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Antonio Sevilla â€" Gob’lo
2. Nicolas Sevilla â€" Tnt 1
3. Victor Salomon â€" J. de Gdos
4. Moyses Salomon â€" J. de Semtra
5. Santiago Dalugdug â€" J. de Plcia
6. Carlos Pueblos â€" Tnt 2
7. Francisco Gallo â€" Algel 1
8. Policarpo Relampagos â€" Algel 2
9. Guillermo Garcia â€" Algel 3
10. Rafael Lafuent â€" Algel 4
B. Public works jurisdiction
11. Ygnacio Calatrava â€" Algel 1
12. Geronimo Charcos â€" Algel 2
13. Agustin Sombrio â€" Algel 3
14. Ylario Marsalada â€" Algel 4
15. Eulogio Lominarias â€" Algel 5
16. Baldomero Orcullo â€" Algel 6
17. Ygnacio Libadicos â€" Algel 7
18. Romualdo Slarte â€" Algel 8
19. Eleuterio Simbulaz â€" Algel 9
20. Laureano Guantero â€" Algel 10
21. Julian Preciados â€" Algel 11
22. Ciriaco Pamplona â€" Algel 12
C. Cabilao Island outpost
23. Antonio Maratas â€" Tnt
24. Leon Montero â€" Algel 1
25. Antonio Molina â€" Algel 2
D. Sandingan Island outpost
26. Ygnacio Ganados â€" Tnt
27. Tomas Lariba â€" Algel 1
28. Bonifacio Literatos â€" Algel 2

26. Maria
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Jose Lubguban â€" Gob’lo
2. Crisanto Anoos â€" Tnt 1
3. Pablo Adlao â€" J. de Gdos
4. Hilario Aco â€" J. de Semtra
5. Valentin Magsayo â€" J. de Plcia
6. Mariano Adlao â€" Tnt 2
7. Pantaleon Daguman â€" Algel 1
8. Gregorio Tarog â€" Algel 2
B. Public works jurisdiction
9. Lorenzo Adlao â€" Algel 1
10. Mariano Ponce â€" Algel 2
11. Ysidro Magsayo â€" Algel 3
12. Teodoro Tomarong â€" Algel 4
C. Barrio Minalulan outpost
13. Sabino Daguhoy â€" Tnt
14. Clemente Nisnisan â€" Algel

27. Maribojoc
A. Whole town jurisdiction
1. Gregorio Echaves â€" Gob’lo
2. Jose Flores â€" Tnt 1
3. Matias Descallar â€" J. de Gdos
4. Damaso Villar â€" J. de  Semtra
5. Dionisio Descallar â€" J. de Plcia
6. Rufino Escabarte â€" Tnt 2
7. Juan Arcaba â€" Algel 1
8. Alejandro Forinaz â€" Algel 2
9. Simeon Cabilla â€" Algel 3
10. Jose Obtiar â€" Algel 4
B. Public works jurisdiction
11. Julian Fabiosa â€" Algel 1
12. Andres Getigan â€" Algel 2
13. Corpus Apolinares â€" Algel 3
14. Donato Echavia â€" Algel 4
15. Agapito Alderete â€" Algel 5
16. Florentino Bebero â€" Algel 6
17. Macario Cruspero â€" Algel 7
18. Liberato Resente â€" Algel 8
C. Barrio Busao outpost
19. Cirilo Butero â€" Tnt
20 Eusebio Apayor â€" Algel 1
21. Fabian Amarille â€" Algel 2
D. Barrio Candavid outpost
22. Ylario Samoraz â€" Algel 1
23. Faustino Margate â€" Algel 2

To be continued next issue.

By Leo Udtohan

From Nilo Sapong: Vicky Wallace (no, not the Singing Bee but Bohol’s Queen Bee), the proprietor of Bohol Bee Farm was awarded by the Department of Science and Technology as among the Top 10 Awardees on Business Entrepreneurship.

The bee farm is Vicky's way of sharing knowledge with visitors about products that are organically grown. The house's mouth-watering specialties include vegetable and honey-based products such as squash muffins, herb camote bread, and bee farm concoctions of fruity ice cream, homey spread, garden salad and honeyed tableya.

Her continuing struggle to make organic farming a priority item for agriculture tops her wish list. "Let us not turn down the opportunity to help others. In life it is not only about an individual or about ourselves, but also the welfare of others."

By Kit Bagaipo
Bohol Chronicle

The Philippine Coast Guard still fears of a possible oil spill around a cargo vessel that ran aground off Puntod Island near Panglao since Saturday.

The Tagbilaran Station of the Coast Guard is preparing to deploy an oil spill boom near the accident site while Marine Environment Protection Unit (MEPU) personnel are already monitoring the cargo ship 24-hours.

“MV San Padre Pio-2”, an old cargo ship carrying some 29,000 bags of cement worth P5 million, was bound for Jagna Port when it ran aground near Puntod Island, some 3 nautical miles off Panglao last Saturday.

The boat left Naga City, Cebu Friday night and got stuck in a shallow portion near the popular dive spot. Part of the ship’s hull was damaged by corals causing it to list by about 50 degrees to its starboard side.

The cargo ship is lodged close to a deep trench estimated to be 200 meters deep, according to the coast guard.

The vessel’s 21 crewmen and the captain are all safe but the cement cargo have been damaged.
Ship captain Fernando Patricio told Coast Guard investigators that the vessel encountered strong winds at about 4 a.m. on Saturday.

The skipper said he experienced zero visibility and the 248 ton boat began drifting off course until it hit a shallow portion.

The coast guard said they have already instructed the vessel’s owner Medallion Transport Shipping to immediately re-float the ship to protect the corals in the area.

According to PO1 Ursulo Arbuladora of the Tagbilaran Coast Guard, the engine room of the ship is flooded including its two cargo hulls.

MEPU is also closely monitoring the vessel as there were reports that the crewmen have unloaded its cement cargo into the sea.

The shipping firm has also started pumping out water from its engine room that could cause oil spills.

The coast guard said there were already two other ships that ran aground in the area.
As of yesterday, the coast guard was assured the ship’s owner that there is no bunker fuel or used oil left in the ship.

The owner likewise told the coast guard that the vessel was not overloaded.

By Kit Bagaipo
Bohol Chronicle

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is finally stepping in to resolve disputes on mining claims in the province.

DENR Sec. Jose Atienza made the assurance after being informed that mining sites in the province already belongs to a single claimant authorized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Atienza’s statement was issued during an exclusive interview with the Chronicle at the Prawn Farm last Wednesday.

The provincial lawmakers are on the process of crafting an ordinance on mining.
“The issue must be addressed decisively and expeditiously. Small miners must be given equal opportunity to benefit from our natural resources,” the environment chief stressed.
“If all these years one person has succeeded in syndicating the mining claims here in Bohol, I wont tolerate that anymore,” Atienza declared.

Atienza said he will act immediately on the matter once he receives a formal complaint providing him the details and information of the said claimant.

“Everybody should have equal opportunity from mining. I will act on this immediately. Just give me the details and information about this claimant, you don’t even have to identify yourself,” he added.

The DENR secretary said he wants to “put a stop all illegal activities in mining so that as an industry it can be well appreciated by the people.”

“We must enforce the law to the letter and protect our natural resources,” he said.
The proposed Bohol Mining Code seeks to regulate small-scale mineral extraction in the province with the provincial government issuing permits to applicants.

Even Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera has criticized the approval of mining applications in Bohol.
Local mining applicants are most of the time deprived claim rights as majority of mineral rich areas in the province are already claimed by a Cebu businessman.

Who Can Be Held Liable for the Mess?

Based on the facts established by the probe team in the course of their inquiry, several persons were found liable for the misuse of the cooperative funds.

On the shortage of P200,000, Limboy was made liable for having caused the withdrawal of funds despite her full knowledge that the Federation money is a “dummy” for BPRMO expenses.

Limboy also failed to liquidate and keep proper records of administrative costs while committing procedural lapses in the utilization of funds.

Digao, who is now councilor of Carmen town, is also liable for using P140,000 of the cooperative funds which he admitted was used in his election campaign and for endorsing the project proposal on skills training even if he knew that it was only a “dummy” for the BPRMO.

Digao also did not exercise due diligence to properly monitor how the funds of the Federation were spent.

Pernia, on the other hand, is accountable for allowing the Federation funds in the amount of P21,000 to be used to advance the unpaid salaries of community organizers and the amount of P14,000 to be used in buying a cellular phone for the BPRMO.

The outgoing BPRMO head is also held accountable “for allowing the release of P200,000 to the Federation even though there was no memorandum of agreement and counterpart yet from other partner institutions.”

Rommel Macalolot, former project development officer of BPRMO and secretary of the Federation, was also held responsible for participating in the improper use of funds such as the purchase of the mobile phone when it was intended for training.

BPRMO personnel Marian Mitzie Llorente is also held liable “for committing procedural lapses in the proper use of administrative cost”.

Matilde Campoamor and Nestor Nacua, chairperson and general manager of the Federation respectively, were both held liable for failing to perform their roles in safeguarding the Federation’s funds.

As part of the revamp ordered by the governor, planning officer Glicerio Doloritos and BPRMO project development officer Paul Inting were designated as new assistant heads of BPRMO.

By the Bohol Chronicle

Governor Erico Aumentado has ordered for the reshuffling of personnel of the Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO) after a special probe team investigating into the mishandling of funds intended for cooperatives has submitted its findings.

The governor likewise directed for the immediate liquidation of unaccounted funds and the audit of financial transactions of the BPRMO.

Based on the findings of the special probe team headed by provincial legal officer Atty. Handel Lagunay, funds for cooperatives amounting P200,000 were “diverted and not applied for the purpose of its release”.

Moreover, disbursements amounting to P600,000 taken from the P2 million financial assistance for cooperatives were also found unauthorized.

Following the findings, Aumentado issued a memorandum directing the provincial government’s Internal Audit Service (IAS) to conduct a performance audit of said funds.

He also directed IAS head Jerome Maniwang to “cause the liquidation of all funds received by cooperatives from the BPRMO.”

Another memorandum was issued by Aumentado which designated Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Atty. John Titus Vistal as interim head of BPRMO as Antonieto Pernia assumed as new chief of staff of the governor.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The probe committee findings noted a conflict of interest as some employees of BPRMO were also officers of the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Eastern Bohol.

“The area of coverage of BPRMO is over-expanded but its budget is not sufficient,” the findings said.

It was found by the probe team that the amount of P200,000 was released and spent for office supplies and P140,000 of which was borrowed by Primo Digao, former deputy head of BPRMO, for his personal use.

The said amount was supposed to be utilized as BPRMO’s counterpart for a skills training project of the Federation that was supposed to start on December 2006.

The probe team uncovered that the Federation money is controlled by BPRMO as shown by how P21,000 was used for the community organizers and another P14,000 was used to buy a cellular phone of the said office.

“Federation funds were diverted and not applied for the purpose they were released.”
Likewise, it was noted by the investigating committee that there was no proper recording and observance of disbursement procedure.

“There is no showing BPRMO asked permission from the Federation when it used Federation money,” the findings stated.

The probe team also said that the use of P140,000 for private purposes is irregular.

Women who have had a miscarriage could be at greater risk of miscarrying again if they are obese, research suggests.

A team from London's St Mary's Hospital followed the progress of 696 women whose miscarriages were classed as "unexplained" by a specialist clinic.

The team told a conference in Canada the risk of a further miscarriage was raised by 73% if the woman was obese.

However, an obesity specialist said it was potentially dangerous to try to lose weight when already pregnant.

Although the links between being obese and having problems conceiving and complications during pregnancy are well known, this study claims to be the first to look specifically at "recurrent" miscarriage, for which there is often no obvious cause.

Of the 696 women whose cases were followed, more than half were of "normal" weight, 30% were overweight, and 15% were obese, meaning they had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above.

The older the woman, the higher chance she had of having another miscarriage, but, when the figures were adjusted to account for this, obesity emerged as another possible factor.

While there was no difference in the miscarriage rates for overweight, normal and underweight women, the risk of further miscarriage increased sharply for obese women.

source: BBC News

By Bohol Sunday Post

     The Cebu-Bohol water supply business is back in the talking points, but with Cebu in a less begging end.

      Before Cebu resorts to Bohol’s abundance, Vice-Governor Gregorio Sanchez suggested that Cebuanos should check their backyard first to see the untapped water sources that experts saw.

      With 120 rivers and several falls and springs, Cebu can meet the water requirement in the the island without tapping water from Bohol.

      Cebu papers quoted the vice governor as saying that if Cebu can successfully generate water from these sources and add it to existing capacity, around 500,000 cubic meters will be made available to consumers every day which he said is even more than the demand.

      According to the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) survey Metro Cebu has a total demand of 300,000 cubic meters daily for its 118,000 water subscribers spread from Liloan town in the north to Talisay City in the south.

      Annual growth rate of the demand has been pegged at two to three percent.

      The engineering works on pipelines network for the distribution of water to different parts of Metro Cebu can even be made easier if the Capitol’s Trans-axial Highway project would take off.

      “No bidding has been held yet or fund source identified for the highway, estimated to cost P45 billion. It is supposed to run through the Cebu mountains from tip to tip, connecting north to south,” a Cebu paper reported.

      Fierce objections by Boholanos and the expensive cost of water to consumers forced proponents to shelve off the Cebu-Bohol water deal in the 1990s.

      The water source tapping issue resurrected after former president Fidel Ramos said Thursday last week that Cebu should look for alternative water sources and suggested, in a press conference, “that Cebu should revisit the proposal to pipe in water from Bohol province which he said was mothballed due to what he called as ‘cultural reasons’,” according to reports.

      Governor Erico Aumentado, for his part, said he would fully support the Bohol-Cebu Water Supply Project if another company decides to pursue it on a build-operate-transfer scheme.

      Aumentado, who was congressman when the project was pushed in the 1990s, said Cebu leaders should have collective decision whether or not to support the project to avoid problems.

      He said foreign consortium, ANGLO and Kinhill Brown & Root, wanted to sell the water from Bohol’s Inabanga River at P23 per cubic meter even if the cost of extracting and bringing water to Cebu was P80 per cubic meter.

      But talks were aborted as Cebu insisted on P14 per cubic meter, he said.

      Aumentado had been mentioning that helping Cebu will also bounce back the development.

      Moreover, he shares Ramos’ opinion that the project cost would lower when the Cebu-Bohol Friendship Bridge will already be there.

      The 90-kilometer bridge being pushed by Aumentado will connect Cordova town on Mactan Island, Cebu and Getafe town in Bohol.

      From P5.7 billion, the cost of the water supply project may go down to one billion pesos, since the pipes can pass through the bridge instead of submarine pipes.

      Under the proposed Bohol-Cebu Water Supply Project, runoff water from Inabanga River would be brought to Cebu through a 30-km submarine cable from Bohol to Mactan Island, Cebu. Pumping stations in Mactan would be fed to pipelines and would distribute the water to the consumers in Metro Cebu.

      MCWD’s raised a dilemma on the prices, considering that it was yet pegged at P60 to P70 per cubic meter in the ‘90s when the exchange rate was still P26 to a dollar. With higher value of dollar, today, the cost is expected to go higher.

Managers Are Made, Not Born
By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post

      Management skills are not inherited, they are learned. A manager does not necessarily produce an offspring who is also a manager. If not exposed to the management craft, and he inherits the position of the father, the son may end up a square peg in a round hole… a managerial nightmare.

      On the other hand, he who is fathered by a lowly worker, without any administrative know-how, who starts from scratch and climbs up the ropes of the trade, may evolve into a good administrator and manager. If given the appropriate environment.

      The case of Ma. Maulitte Maglajos Yap takes the mold of the latter. Never in her wildest imagination did she entertain the thought of one day becoming a Manager. Now, she manages the prime Supermarket which revolutionalized retail and wholesale trading in the province of Bohol. She epitomizes the ordinary college graduate who, through sheer efforts and competence, rose from the ranks.

      She wanted to be a teacher, and if not… a nun. She wanted to enroll in a teaching course, but ended up enrolling in a Commerce degree. She applied at Jollibee, but ended up as Management Trainee at the Human Resource Development (HRD) office. The rest that took place followed the same pattern of sudden twists.

      This interview that took place last Wednesday acquainted me with a reluctant Manager. But Ma. Maulitte Maglajos Yap (MMY) has long learned to take things in stride. She accepts unplanned outcomes sans complaints. She knows everything cannot be chartered. Yet, she has developed the ability to tackle things unflinchingly.

LMP: Was it really your plan to become a Manager?

      MMY: No, Sir. My first plan gyod was to take up Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Ganahan man gyod ko mag-tudlo. Second choice nako was mag-madre. Wala gyod ko magdahom nga mag-manage ug dakong tindahan.

LMP: Unsa man ang naka-inspire nimo nga mahimong teacher?

      MMY: Every formal and informal themes nga suwaton nako during elementary, pag-teach gyod akong isuwat. Mao man god na akong kalingaw makit-an. Ganahan pod ko mag-sige ug paminaw sa among maestra.

LMP: Wala ba ka makahuna-huna nga kapoy ang pag-maestra?

      MMY: Wala man, Sir. After graduation sa high school, didto na nako na-assess nga lisod man di-ay. So nangayo ko ug advice sa among Principal kon unsa nga kurso ang angay kuhaon. Ingon siya nga Commerce kay flexible kono. Bisan asa ka pwede ibutang.

LMP: Second choice nimo is mag-madre. Unsa man pod ang nakadani nimo ani?

      MMY: Ang among silingan, murag ate-ate nako, religious kaayo. Siya maoy naka-encourage nako.

LMP: Why chose Commerce, then?

      MMY: Ang among silingan, Sir, Commerce ang gikuha nga kurso. Giubanan nako siya sa Dean’s office that time. Gamay ra kaayo ang linya. Pag-adto namo sa Teachers College, gikapuyan ko kay taas kaayo ang linya. Sa Commerce kay gamay ra man, so naka-decide ko adtong puntoha nga mag-Commerce na lang ko.

      LMP: Wala man kaha miabot sa imong paminsar nga nasayop ka sa imong kurso?

      MMY: Wala man pod, Sir. Pag first year, first semester, Accountancy akong gikuha. I shifted to Management sa second year.

      LMP: By the time nga mi-graduate ka, nasulod na gyod sa imong huna-huna nga posibleng mag-Manager ka?

      MMY: Wala gihapon, Sir. Nag-start man god to sa dihang nangompra mi kuyog sa akong Mama sa Alturas kay naa man siya’y gamay nga tindahan sa Catigbian. Dihay gi-post nga nangita ang Jollibee ug Management Trainee. Nakahuna-huna ko nga mosuway ug apply kay labong wala pa koy nakit-an nga trabaho. Nagtabang-tabang pa ko ni Mama sa tindahan. After ko nag-apply, gipadad-an ko nila ug telegrama nga nadawat ko. Pero wala ko ma-assign sa Jollibee. Didto ko sa Recruitment sa HR-Alturas for pioneering crew sa Jollibee and Greenwich.   

LMP: You were never able to work at Jollibee?

MMY: Wala gyod, Sir.

LMP: After HRD Alturas, where were you assigned?

      MMY: Gibalhin ko, Sir, sa Grocery Check-out Counter of Plaza Marcela as Junior Supervisor.  After that, as Senior Supervisor at Kris-Lyn Shop n’ Dine; then I was promoted as Assistant Store Manager for Alturas Supermarket. I became the Store Manager on January 2006.

      LMP: You have been assigned at Plaza Marcela before. What are the differences between Plaza Marcela and Alturas Supermarket?

      MMY: Humot pa ang Plaza Marcela sa mga tawo before, Sir, kay bag-o pa man. Ang duha ka tindahan way kalainan, ilabi na sa customer service. Lain-lain lang ilang location. 

LMP: Are you the type of person nga ganahan ug challenges?

      MMY: Yes, Sir. Sa nag-eskuwela pa ko, very timid gyod ko kaayo. But I realized nga dili pwede ug ana ra ko kutob. Kinahanglan nga mo-open up ko sa uban. Mao nga naninguha ko nga mawala ang akong pagkamanggiuwawon. Although it took some time for me to become more sociable.

LMP: What is your feeling pagkahimo nimong Manager?

      MMY: Gikulbaan ko kay dako kaayo ang responsibility, Sir. Sa mga previous departments nga gi-handle nako, lahi ra kay a portion of the store ra man. Karon, tibuok tindahan na. But I accepted the challenge. I believe I made the right decision.

LMP: Unsa nga tindahan ang naka-encounter ka ug dako nga problema?

      MMY: Sa Alturas, Sir. Tungod kay daghan na ang sections nga gi-handle unya diverse pod kaayo ang mga tawo. Misamot kadako ang akong responsibilidad. 

      LMP: Sa imong tan-aw, unsa pa ang angay nga i-improve sa Alturas Supermarket?

      MMY: Ang structure sa tindahan, Sir, aron mas competitive tan-awon. Nagkadaghan ang mga tawo, nagkagamay ang tindahan; dili na makaya ang traffic.  Expansion will partly solve the problem. Sa side sa personnel wala na kaayo’y problema labi na nga dugay na sila.

LMP: What is your biggest problem in Alturas right now?

      MMY: Monitoring on people, Sir. Tungod kay dako na ta ug gi-handle nga tindahan, maglisod ta ug monitor sa tanang mga employees.

      LMP: What activities are you preparing for the 23rd anniversary of Alturas Supermarket?

      MMY: Daghan ta ug mga in-house activities nga gi-andam, Sir. We have Product Sampling on November 22, 23, and 24; free clinic for 3 days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Food Center. Naa pod ‘tay Customers of the Day. Kining mga napili nga customers will receive gift packs. There will be 12 customers per day. Then we have the Computer Game Promo from November 5 to December 5.

LMP: Do you still have activities involving the development of the youth?

      MMY: Naa, Sir. Every Saturday starting October 18, naa ‘tay Inter-School Quiz Bowl and Dance Showdown. Kining Quiz Bowl is a battle of brains between different elementary and high schools around Bohol. It covers General Information, History, Sports, Entertainment, Arts and Culture, Mathematics and Science. There will be 4 eliminations prior to the Finals on November 22. Five schools both from elementary and secondary will compete per elimination. With the Dance Showdown, there will be seven groups with five members up per elimination. Only two groups will qualify to the Finals. We also have Little Miss Alturas and Bulilit Singing Star every Sunday starting October 19. Girls aged 4 to 6 years old are qualified to join. Kinahanglan pod nga ang ilang height is 4 ft. and 6 inches. For the Bulilit Singing Star, ang qualification lang is kids 6 to 12 years old. Mura ra ni siya ug videoke challenge, Sir, mao nga ganahan gyod ang mga bata ani. It’s also good to note, Sir, that all of these events are already sponsored. But, of course, the biggest activity is the Alturas Drum and Bugle Corps Showdown, now on its 21st year. This year, we have contingents from Zamboanga del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, and possibly, Dumaguete City, aside from the ones in Bohol.   

LMP: How do you envision this year’s anniversary?

      MMY: It would be livelier than last year, Sir. The traffic and transactions will triple for sure. 

LMP: Are you already contented with your life right now?

      MMY: I am, Sir. With all the blessings my family and I have been receiving, I couldn’t ask for more. Ang ako lang, Sir, is good health for me and my family. I want to grow more at Alturas.

      How does a young wife and a mother succeed in the ever-competitive world of business? Surely, what Maulitte Yap is experiencing now is not a joy-ride to nowhere, but a roller-coaster episode wrought with anxiety and jubilation, depending on her capabilities and how she adjusts to a situation.

      Maulitte acknowledges that what she is into is not the usual route for a run-of-the-mill woman. She also recognizes the perils of her job, while simultaneously aware that she has to play smart all the time. Her main concern is competition, and she knows that she has to resort to innovations in order to succeed in her endeavors.

      The Lady Manager, true to form, is not one-hundred percent sure about the outcomes of all her moves. But she is learning, and all indications show that she is a fast learner. One good trait the Lady has is her awareness that a few times mistakes are unavoidable; and better still, she readily acknowledges when she makes an error and corrects herself.

      But most grateful is she to the top management of the Alturas Group of Companies who has brought her up to what she is now. For at Alturas, even a common employee from the bottom ranks can rise up, if given the opportunity to be a good Manager.

By Sunday Post

      Municipal officials take charge of the ten nightly activities starting September 19 leading to the feast day on the 29th.

      Clarin Mayor Hermogenes Diezon, representing the local government unit (LGU) took charge of the opening salvo on Friday afternoon with the basketball tournament dubbed as “For the First Time: Matira Matibay Basketball Knock-out Showdown” elimination round in a two-day league.

      Diezon also took charge of yesterday night’s musical variety show featuring D’ Talent Haus.

      All nightly shows start at eight o’clock.

      Tonight’s variety show, will be presented by the PPC and will be taken cared of by Vice-Mayor Allen Ray Piezas.

      Tomorrow will be the presentation of the “Sa Dihang Makab-ot na Unta ang Langit” coordinated by the CVSCAFT and is taken cared of by Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Moises Carcallas.

      On Tuesday will be “Hala Bira” courtesy of the provincial, national and private sectors, through the coordination of SB Member Isidro Arcales.

      DepEd will present on Wednesday the Cultural Extravaganza through dances (international level) through the coordination of SB Member Felimon Alison.

      On Thursday, NHS will sponsor the “Lantaw” in coordination with SB Member Isabelo Infiesto.

      On Friday will be the “Basta Swertres ‘Tay, ‘Kaw ang Bida” through the effort of CNSF and SB Member Roberto Sabalberino.

      On Saturday, the ABC will sponsor a liveband through the coordination of ABC president Reynaldo Salera.

      On Sunday, the LGU will sponsor “A Night to Remember Disco” through the leadership of SB Member Francis Manalo. In the afternoon, at 1 p.m., DepEd will lead the ground demonstration in coordination with SB Member Andres Pelias Jr.

      The semi-final and final rounds of the “For the First Time: Matira Matibay Basketball Knock-out Showdown” will be at 2 p.m. on September 29, as sponsored by the LGU, through the coordination of SB Member Celestina Zafra.

By Sunday Post

CCC or car care center is now a byword in maintaining to tip top shape vehicles of all types and models.

But with the opening of the Venecy Marketing & Service Center, CCC took a different meaning and rightly so. It stands for Casa Car Center.

In car care lingo, in-house service or better known as casa service, is the ultimate name in car maintenance.

By and large, car owners are always enamored of Casa quality service that having patronized this kind of service is considered a status symbol.

A kind of quality service where prize is not an option,  the casa services of Venecy were introduced to the motoring public as its way of complimenting the after sales transactions brought about by the sale of branded cars available in its showroom.

Venecy is still in the business of selling cars and there is no way that it will go out of style.

With its state-of-the art equipment for preventive car maintenance, Venecy is ready to accept anything that involves change oil, washing, wheel balancing, H.I.D. sale/installation, tint installation, computerized wheel alignment, body repair (painting infrared drier), car interior/exterior detailing, under chassis repair, preventive maintenance service and  car products.

Venecy also accepts services in rust proofing, vacuum cleaning, vulcanizing, accessories and body repair.

Venecy is owned and managed by Steven Lim and is located along CPG North Avenue, Tagbilaran City.

The Inabanga Fire Station was good as activated with the delivery of a new firetruck courtesy of the Provincial Fire Station.

The Local Government Unit through Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy was on hand to witness the turnover.

Representing the Provincial Fire Station was Fire Marshall of Bohol Supt. Nonilo Acero and City Fire Marshall of Tagbilaran City Inspector  Manases Bautista. Complimenting the services of the new firetruck were six  firemen who were deployed with complete uniforms and other fire fighting gadgets.

The  local fire station is headed by Municipal Fire Marshall SPO2 Vicente Jumamoy . He is backed up by the six firemen.

In his acceptance speech, Mayor Jumamoy expressed thanks to the Provincial Fire Station.

He said in  behalf of the local government of Inabanga, he assured that the LGU will do its part in protecting the lives and properties of the people now that the town has its own fire station.

By Sunday Post

            There is still to let-up in the incidence of robbery in the province as a restaurant owner in Candijay found out belatedly.

            The victim was identified as one Charlita Orias, 42, a resident of Poblacion, Mabini town.

            Initial investigation revealed that the incident happened late in the morning last Sept. 13.

            Orias told investigators she was very busy attending to the customers in her restaurant and was very preoccupied.

            She however recalled that a female and a male entered the restaurant about 10 that morning.

            The couple pretended to be customers and started to move around but Orias did not have time to monitor their movements.

            A few moments later however, the victim said she noticed that her bag with her valuables were already missing.

            She said the couple was also nowhere to be found at the time the bag was discovered missing.

            Orias revealed that her bag contained P96,000 in cash. She said she placed the bag inside a plastic Orocan container.

            It was not known if the money represented her earnings for the day or whether it was intended for something else.

            Elements of the Candijay PNP conducted follow-up investigation to determine the identities of the couple.

            Police authorities have repeatedly issued warnings in the wake of an upsurge in robberies and hold-ups.

            The rise in the reported incidents of criminalities is attributed to the worsening economic situation in the country.

            The police have also been largely unable to respond appropriately to the increasing incidence in many towns.

A young woman from Tagbilaran City has accused a companion of raping her in Antequera town last April 1.

The 21-year-old girl who is a native of Taloto district in Tagbilaran reported the incident to the Antequera PNP on Sept. 14.

According to the girl’s account, she was picked up by three young males about 2 pm last Sept. 1.

She was able to identify the three only by their first names namely Allan, Ryan and Jimmy.

The victim did not mention if the three were casual acquaintances or long-time friends.

She narrated that the three brought her to a videoke bar in front of a nautical school in Taloto.

The victim added that they drank a bottle of beer at the bar but did not say how long they stayed there.

From the videoke bar, she said the group went to Plaza Rizal where they passed the time.         

The group then decided to proceed to Antequera riding a motorcycle but passed by a friend in Taloto.

They stopped in Manga where the three youths continued drinking and proceeded to Antequera when it was already night time.

The group went to an abandoned house but the one named Allan asked the victim to go with him to a hut near it.

When they were alone, the victim said Allan proceeded to rape her.

She claimed that after he was through, Allan warned her not to report the incident to anybody.

On the morning of the following day, the victim said she was brought back to Taloto.

A medical certificate obtained by the victim dated Sept. 10 revealed that she was found positive of abuse.

The certificate was signed by Dr. Nonaluz Pizarras, women and children protection unit in-charge of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital. - Sunday Post

Violence reared its ugly head when another barangay official died after he was shot by a still unidentified suspect.

An elderly barangay official in Bien Unido town became the latest victim in the incidence of violence in Bohol .

The victim was identified as one Rito Boniel, 67, a resident of Purok 6, Barangay Nueva Fuerza, Bien Unido town.

Boniel’s lifeless body was found bathed in his own blood in the evening of Sept. 14.

Initial reports revealed that the victim was walking on his way home about 7 pm last Sunday.

The victim decided to pass by the place where he kept his carabao so he can take it home.

Unknown to him, the unknown assailant was lying in wait for him at the said place.

When the victim was near, the suspect who was armed with a gun of undetermined caliber fired at will.

The victim died instantly due to the fatal wounds he suffered during the ambush.

Boniel’s body was located by neighbors who went to the scene where they heard the sound of gunshots.

Responding policemen also found a hand grenade not far from the scene of the shooting.

The lawmen theorized that it belonged to the suspect who probably dropped it while he was fleeing the crime scene.

Elements of the Bien Unido police station are still trying to determine the identity of the suspect as well as the motive for the murder. - Sunday Post

from a forwarded email...

A 21 year old guy, he used to wear a pair of contact lenses, during a barbecue party. While, barbecuing he stared at the fire charcoals continuously for 2-3 minutes. After a few minutes, he started to scream for help and moved rapidly, jumping up and down.

No one in the party knew why he was doing this? Then he was admitted into the Hospital, the doctor said he'll be blind permanently because of the contact lenses that he had worn.

Contact lenses are made by plastics, and the heat from the charcoal melted his contact lenses.

Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation lightweight champion Randy Suico (28-3-24 KO’s) defends his title against a worthy challenger in Japan’s Nihito Arakawa at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Saturday.

Suico is coming off a third round KO victory over a confirmed patsy Songkom Jockygym, a 30 year old Thai who paraded a record of 3 wins against 14 defeats and 3 draws with only 1 knockout last April 21.

A tall and talented fighter with power in both hands Suico’s career regrettably was stymied by the tendency to often pick comparatively easy opponents so that when he met a fighter like Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz for the WBA lightweight title he got plastered and lost by a 9th round TKO at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In fact Suico won the vacant OPBF lightweight title with a 4th round TKO over Pongpetch Chuwatana, a Thai fighter with a rather dismal record of 9 wins against 14 defeats and7 wins by knockout.

Suico had earlier won the OPBF super featherweight title with a 4th round TKO over tough Ryuhei Sugita on Feb. 5, 2006. Suico also scored an 8th round TKO win over Koji Samejima on Aug. 25, 2007.

Arakawa, the 26 year old challenger is a southpaw who is coming off a 5th round TKO victory over Jamed Jalarante of Indonesia on June 1 this year.

During a visit to the famed ALA Gym last week we witnessed Suico engaged Philippine light welterweight champion Jason Melligen, a southpaw, in a torrid sparring session which is certain to help Suico in his effort to retain his title against the Japanese lefty. - Bohol Chronicle

Written By Leo Udtohan

Remember Jerome Sala? Of course, we do, don’t we?

For a refresher, Jerome Sala created a stir when he became the grand champion of the reality singing tilt of ABS-CBN’s Star in a Million 2005 Season 1.

But where he is now?

Well, Jerome (the People's Choice Top Entertainer Awardee as Most Promising Balladeer and finalist of the 19th Awit Awards for the Best Performance of a New Male Recording Artist for the song One In A Million You, among his awards in 2005) is back in his hometown Pilar (particularly in Barangay Bagacay) nowâ€"as a family man.

This was relayed to Bared by a Very Reliable Source (VRS) confirming (and swearing with all honesty) that Jerome took home a wife named Honey (who hails from Cebu City) and the couple have a one year old daughter.

So, the ever-supportive Tatay Jaime (who’s a town councilor) and Nanay Ruth have another apo from Jerome. “The couple decided to settle down in Pilar far away from the limelight,” VRS said.

And how about his singing career? He occasionally sings in parties and birthdays when he’s invited. “The last time he performed in a big crowd was in June during the Miss Katigbawan Festival 2008 in Catigbian, Bohol,” VRS added.

Jerome is busy. “He is now busy managing his own hallow block business,” VRS added, “He supplies and trades hollow blocks to neighboring towns.”  An outlet or branch in Guindulman is reportedly owned by him.

Jerome was considered as another musical gem in the soulful and distinct ballads (after another fellow Boholano singer Luke Mejares. ABS-CBN Star Records said that “Jerome’s strengths are his deep and moving baritone voice, and his oozing sex appeal.” He sings like a younger Nonoy Zuñiga and has the same audience appeal as a new generation Rico J. Puno. More than being likened to other artists, Jerome had proven that he had his own style as he walked away with the much-coveted grand prize of the biggest talent search in the country.

Before, Jerome found himself joining and winning in barangay, fiesta, and municipal singing contests, even traveling to nearby islands in small dinghies to join competitions â€"and not even the near-tsunami waves and stormy skies could stop him from reaching his destination.

In 2005, streamers flooded the streets of Tagbilaran City signifying their support to “Bohol’s golden son.” Most households had tuned to Channel 2 to watch the preceding as chores were done early and supper were served before TV Patrol Linggo not to miss every detail of the show.

Many have suspected that Jerome’s career was not properly handled. Others think that he wasn’t able to survive showbiz, or he has begun entertaining the illusion (delusion?) that he’s that par, the usual “ailment” of new stars making a little nameâ€"even a semblance of stardom goes to their heads. Wait, ‘till they fall a loud thudâ€" and like Jerome they will wake up to painful reality (ouch!)

Having been out in the limelight, Jerome must have realized that in this world, we have two types of friends: the real and temporary friends. The latter is dangerous. They make friends with you when you're on top or when they just need your help. When the time comes that you are ugly, poor and old, they'll leave you just like that. (A piece of advice: Treasure your real friends and be a real friend too!)

While it’s a sunny day, gather more hay, invest your money in business, insurance and stocks while you can still have them. I am not kidding.

And another one: Showbiz is not forever.

Jerome, a simple lad from Pilar town has gone that far in being at the top of the country’s premier search for music idol even for a short time. He can inspire thousands of Filipinos that there is room at the top for those who aspire.

By Ric V. Obedencio
The Bohol Chronicle

A Boholano commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) is under fire following the filing of both administrative and criminal charges against him before the Ombudsman for alleged misrepresentation and forgery.

According to a reliable source, SK leader of Iloilo is taking the cudgels in filing appropriate charges against Commissioner Benjie Oliva, of Catigbian town, before the DILG and the Ombudsman.

SK Bohol led by federated president Jane Censoria Cajes is not taking the issue for granted as it also planned to formally file separate charges against Oliva, the source said, saying this is the only way to rectify what they perceived as corruption of the youth.

The case stemmed from Oliva’s alleged forging the signature of Sec. Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). He allegedly used DILG’s memorandum with Puno’s (forged) signature in it for the conduct of the Integrated Sangguniang Kabataan Organizational Leadership and Reorientation-Basic Orientation Seminar (ISKOLAR-BOS), collecting PhP4,000 for each SK participant as registration fee.

The “forged” memorandum circular was practically addressed to SK officers in regions six, seven and eight, urging SK’s participation for the program. But unfortunately, SK Bohol, belonging to region 7, was “deliberately” excluded in the said memorandum, the source said.

According to the source, the alleged forged signature did not match with that of the original (memorandum) bearing the serial number of Puno’s signature.

The original memorandum circular (with No. 2007-03) dated January 8, 2007 bore the same number but dated January 11, 2007 with different addressee, the source said.

In a phone interview yesterday, Oliva did not confirm nor deny the allegation against him. He said Cajes and company are probably the ones who made this issue blown out of proportion “to discredit him.” He said he did not receive a complaint yet filed against him.

Oliva said he is set to talk this over this week with the SK Bohol represented by Cajes.
While he is contemplating to get reappointed to NYC, Oliva said he is securing clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation, Ombudsman, Sandigan Bayan and other credentials for his reappointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. His term in the NYC is due to expire yesterday after a three-year term of office.

He said he also got endorsements from Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, Congressmen Adam Jala and Edgar M. Chatto (3rd and 1st dist) but not from Congressman Roberto C. Cajes (2nd dist), father of Jane Censoria Cajes.

Implications of the issue of Oliva’s case may have, perhaps, far-reaching effects, the source said. For sure, Oliva’s obsession to be reappointed to the same position may be in jeopardy once the complaint is raised, the source said.

A robbery suspect in the city will face court charges in connection with a robbery incident along Remolador extension, this city last Jan 20 this year.

The suspect identified as Percy Amizola, Jr. a resident of Belderol st., this city, was positively identified by the witnesses Jose Marie Pernia, Jr and Gerhine Rose Ampog as the person who barged into the room and carted away cash amounting to more than P200,000.

Amizola is known by the police as a prime rob suspect in other cases particularly in Cogon district, this city.

In a two-page order, City Prosecutor Romeo Chatto,  duly approved by City Prosecutor Adriano Montes, reconsidered an earlier resolution after counsel of the complainant filed a motion for reconsideration.

The prosecutor said that corresponding information be filed against Amizola with the proper court based on the merit that the complainant, Marylnne L. Pernia  and her husband, Jose Marie,  who actually saw the respondent as the person who took away the bag of the complainant outside the house.

“There can be no doubt  as to the positive identification of Amizola  although at first only by appearance and not by name,” it was stated.

The prosecutor likewise stated that the non-verification of the motion for reconsideration by complainant is a reversible error which was rectified when complainant herself appeared before the office and confirmed that the motion for reconsideration  was filed through her instance and swore that the contents are within her personal knowledge and belief. - The Bohol Chronicle

Thanks Mari for posting the beautiful photos. Miuli diay si Gemma diha lately? How was the meeting? How's Gemma?

Japanese actress Aya Sugimoto has taken off her clothes for sexy movies and photo shoots, but for the first time Wednesday she went naked for animal rights.

Holding a tiny sign reading, "Fur? I'd rather go naked," Sugimoto posed in the buff before dozens of photographers and television cameras in one of the first Japanese campaigns by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"I stopped wearing fur two years ago after I learned how fur products are being produced," said the actress, who is also a dancer and erotic novelist.

"I want to play a role in the 'No Fur' movement and let more people know of the cruel and grim reality for animals," Sugimoto said. "I don't mind at all -- even if my naked photos are posted all over."

PETA chose Sugimoto, 40, as the first Japanese model of its international anti-fur campaign because of her passion for animal rights, for which she has created a fake-fur fashion brand.

"She is perfect," said Jason Baker, director of the group's Asia-Pacific branch office. "She cares about the issue."

Sugimoto, a cat lover, said she wants to show Japanese consumers that being stylish and caring about animal rights do not necessarily contradict.

Japanese fashion -- particularly the so-called "kawaii" cute look -- is enjoying growing popularity worldwide. - AFP

By Ricky Lo
The Philippine Star

As we go to press, word got to Funfare Update late yesterday afternoon that Gretchen Barretto was packing her things and leaving the mansion in Forbes Park which she and her beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco and their daughter Dominique have been sharing even during these past turbulent years.

"Tonyboy drove her away," said the Funfare Update DPA, refusing to elaborate.

Since calls to Gretchen from Funfare Update were unanswered (she could "not be reached"), all we could do is speculate (as of now) what finally, so to speak, broke the camel's back.

Since two years ago when Gretchen got involved in the so-called "kisscandal" with John Estrada, Funfare Update sources said that things have never ever been the same again between her and Tonyboy. Matters worsened when Gretchen was romantically linked to a businessman who is separated from his wife and who has a love child with an actress/beauty-queen. Gretchen and Tonyboy sometimes openly fought in public, like during Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's birthday party early this year at The Blue Leaf in Taguig City.

There were rumors that Gretchen had been sleeping over at the businessman's condo unit at The Fort, Taguig City, something which Gretchen dismissed with a laugh.

"Gretchen doesn't seem to hide whatever relationship she has with the businessman," said somebody close to her. "She gets invited to the affairs of the businessman's relatives. Once, Gretchen even checked into a five-star hotel for a weekend holiday with the businessman's kids."

Gretchen has been vocal about her long-time wish for Tonyboy to marry her. But there's a hitch: Tonyboy's first marriage (to Denise Yabut) hasn't been annulled.

It's not the first time that Gretchen was rumored to have left, or been "driven away" by Tonyboy from their Forbes Park home.

By Sheila Crisostomo
Philippine Star

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) backed today the plan of the Bureau of Immigration to come up with a new visa program for foreign investors.

"The plan jibes with our prior proposal for the government to lead in jobs creation, and for all agencies to consciously use their policies and programs to generate badly needed new employment," said TUCP general secretary and former senator Ernesto Herrera.

The bureau is planning to allow qualified foreigners to stay in the country indefinitely provided they invest here and fully employ at least 10 Filipinos. The proposal had been submitted to Malacañang for approval.

By John Unson
Philippine Star

Army bomb experts defused the other day an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by unidentified suspects near a public school in Carmen, North Cotabato.

Senior Inspector Miraluna Ortega, chief of Carmen’s municipal police, said it was fortunate that the IED was found by patrolling policemen before it exploded.

Miraluna said the IED was made of about a kilo of highly combustible ammonium nitrate mixed with incendiary chemicals and packed with about a kilo of jagged metal fragments and concrete nails.

Miraluna said the IED, placed inside a jute sack, was rigged with a battery-operated blasting mechanism attached to a mobile phone.

By John Unson
Philippine Star

Kidnappers freed today a beach resort owner they kidnapped in Datu Odfin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan ten days ago.

Senior Superintendent Esmael Ali, Shariff Kabunsuan police director, said Jesus Perfecto Martinez, 49, also known here as "Boyeh," was set free by his captors at 4 a.m. today near the Cotabato City mega market area.

"The kidnappers earlier demanded P10 million but maybe because of our constant pursuit operations, they settled for lower amount (P300,000 as "board and lodging fee)," Ali said.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are shielding the Philippines from the financial turbulence that hit the United States by remitting the much needed dollars and staying on their jobs amid the financial meltdown that is sending shockwaves across the globe, a top official of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

Diwa Guinigundo, deputy governor of the BSP said the dollar remittances of OFWs have contributed to the financial stability of the country despite the slowdown of exports brought about by financial crisis in the US.

"OFWs are now saving and investing their hard earned money which help generate economic activity," Guinigundo told reporters during the weekly Kapihan Sa Sulo news forum in Quezon City.

A survey conducted by the BSP showed that at least 30 percent of OFW are now saving their money and some are also engaged in business activities in their respective localities.

"Instead buying expensive iPods, OFWs are now engages in small businesses," he said. -- Perseus Echeminada (Philstar News Service)

FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo
The Philippine Star

I fell in love with Bohol the first time I went there three years ago to attend the wedding of a friend’s brother. I’ve been going there every chance I get since then, to what my Boholano friend Raoul Tidalgo and I call “our paradise on earth.”

When my big-city-trapped friends ask me why I’m always in Bohol (it just seems like that because I keep on mentioning the place and the people in this corner every once too often), I want to tell them, “Let me count the ways,” rattling off the following “10 Things to Love About Bohol” (not necessarily in this order):

1. The Tarsier â€" I saw it perched on a tree along the Loboc River made even more famous by Cesar Montano, one of Bohol’s pride, in his movie Panaghoy sa Suba. I looked at it eyeball-to-eyeball and that’s how I noticed lonely its eyes were, so huge that, for a while, I felt that those eyes would kill me with gentleness.

2. The Chocolate Hills â€"One of Da King FPJ’s favorite settings of his blockbusters, the hills are alive with the whatever sound you can imagine, all those 1,268 mounds (count ‘em!). If you have the stamina, try climbing the 200-plus steps up one of them and, from the peak, be mesmerized by a panoramic view of the province. Breath-taking! How did the hills got the name? Give the credit to the Americans who, many years ago, stood transfixed by the natural wonder that reminded them of Chocolate Kisses. Thus, Chocolate Hills.

3. The Amarela (in Panglao) â€" Touted on its flyer as “...not just a beautiful beach resort but also a showcase of Bohol’s rich cultural and artistic heritage...”, Amarela is Spanish for yellow. Said its owner-manager Doy Nunag, “We called it Amarela by accident. Three years ago when we were on a family vacation in Portugal, we noticed that the subway lines were identified by color, one of them the Amarela Line. We were looking for a name for the resort and we thought that Amarela was perfect for it.” Most of the rooms face the sea. Watch the sun rise and set from your window, and you will sing the famous Sunrise, Sunset song from Fiddler on the Roof  with new lyrics coming spontaneously from your heart. I heard that Bea Zobel stays at Amarela when she’s in Bohol, which is often. (Note: For inquiries, call 038-5029497 to 98 or cell phone 0906-5884145.) 

4. The old churches â€" Raoul and I visited 14 churches the first time I was in Bohol, completing the Visita Iglesia even if it was the Lenten Season. We lingered a bit in the vicinity of Baclayon Church in Baclayon town, several meters away from it stands the lighthouse where Cesar Montano proposed to Sunshine Cruz at sunset, to the enchanting music of the Loboc Children’s Choir. Romantic!

5. The Bohol Bee Farm â€" Owned and managed by Vicky Wallace, the Farm serves all-organic food, including â€" would you believe! â€" Bougainvilla Salad (“Anything that the bees eat is edible,” assured Vicky, a retired nurse who worked in the States, now the widow of an American husband) and Camote Bread. To digest an “organic” meal, you can stroll around place and have a close look at the bees of various species, coming from different parts of the country (and Australia).

6. The Peanut Kisses, Ube Jam and Torta â€" Don’t just bring home beautiful memories from Bohol, complete with album-fuls of pictures. Remember to drop by any of the groceries in department stores (BQ Mall â€" BQ for Bohol Quality â€" one of them, owned and managed by Raymond Ong who also owns and manages Metro Center which has a cozy hotel at the heart of Tagbilaran City) and stuff your back-pack with as many packs of Peanut Kisses and Torta and Ube Jam as you can. Family and friends back home will love those pasalubongs. Yummy!

7. Payag Restaurant â€" Your weekend in Tagbilaran will not be complete if you don’t take lunch or dinner at Payag (#18 CPG East Avenue). My favorite item on the menu is the Chicken Barbecue, served with fresh achara and cold buko juice (or any juice of your choice). When Floy Quintos brought balikbayan international model Anna Bayle to Bohol, they went to Payag for dinner. “They occupied that table in the corner,” Raoul pointed out. “Anna looked as delicious as the chicken inasal, holding a bottle of ice-cold Beer Light.” Burp before you leave the place. (Note: For reservations, call 038-4112527 or 038-5019447.)

8. The Loboc River Night Cruise â€" For a touch of romance, take this tour with a loved one (lover or friend) â€" or even alone (you can “romance” yourself, can’t you? By day, the cruise comes with buffet lunch. At night, you first take dinner at a floating restaurant and then you transfer to a boat that sails oh-so-slowly along the river between tall trees on both banks, adorned with lights that turn from red to orange to pink to violet to green to blue and then to light blue-green. Those lights were donated by Carlos Chan (Benchan’s brother) to the tune of... P12 million!?!... including the Children’s Palace where the Loboc Youth Band caps the cruise with an hour of soothing music. But first, enjoy a homegrown group composed of children and adults, waiting on a raft at the far end of the Loboc River to serenade the “cruisers” during the brief stopover. (Don’t forget to donate a few bucks to the singing group; they need it.) Cruise prices are very affordable. (Note: For inquiries, call the Loboc Tourism Port Office at 038-5379292 or mobile phones 0928-5077627 and 0920-9623550.)

9. The Panglao Island Nature Resort â€" Owned and managed by Raymond Ong, this resort is another haven for weary souls from the big city. If you’re looking for a place so quiet and so serene that you can feel your heart gently beating and yourself thinking, with only the sound of the wind rustling among the trees, this is the place for you. Your muscles grown tired? Walk to The Spa nearby. Or take a swim or do a lap or two at the Olympic-size pool. Or run to the beach just beyond your cottage. The resort’s new feature is the just-opened Verdant Pavilion which is a perfect venue for concerts (Sitti was the first to hold one there; and, if negotiations push through, Martin Nievera just might do a Valentine concert there in February next year, keep your fingers crossed!). For inquiries, call (63-38) 411-5875 or 502-2451.

10. The Beautiful Boholanos â€" Bohol has produced a lot of stars, including Cesar Montano (of course, who is rumored to be running for governor or congressman), Luke Mejares, retired actress and now US-based Rebecca del Rio, Giselle Sanchez, the late Yoyoy Villame, StarStruck finalist Rich Asuncion, Star in a Million Champion Jerome Sala (now managing the family’s hollow blocks business and, on the side, driving the family-owned passenger jeepney), Rebecca Lusterio, Hot Babe Sheree, Lutgardo Labad, 2006 Bb. Pilipinas-World Mariz Igpit and “adopted son” Maryo J. delos Reyes (who has a house in Tagbilaran. And, last but definitely not the least, my friends (aside from Raoul Tidalgo, Raymond Ong, Vicky Wallace and Doy Nunag), Betty Veloso-Garcia and husband Bebe, Boy Echavez, Rep. Edgar Chatto and wife Pureza Veloso, Michael and Tata Veloso, the Veloso Family, the Veloso Matriarch Dean Primitiva Veloso, Leo Udtohan, Rose Soy and LikLik Gallares Schroeder (now based in Sacramento, California).

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

  The environment secretary has okayed on the suggestion to spill the clogged city drainage system to the sea, reasoning that the city residents should not be made to suffer for an illegality.

  Arriving in Bohol to keynote a convention of the country’s foresters at the Bohol Tropics Resort, environment Secretary Joselito Atenza apparently has resolved an issue, which has kept local officials buck-passing the blame while keeping residents in limbo. 

  In a radio interview the day after he set foot in Bohol, Sec. Atienza revealed that he has explicitly ordered the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office here to immediately coordinate with the city government to un-tap the illegal connections along the drainage. 

  The opening up of the closed drainage however, Sec. Ateinza said, should be done only when there is a heavy down pour.

  The move probably based on the logic that the heavy volume of storm water would dilute the dirty water enough to make it relatively safe for spilling into Tagbilaran City Bay.

  “While we are not yet able to correct the irregularities, I have instructed the local DENR Officer to rush the cutting of illegal connections,” he said over the radio lane.

  Atienza pressed that it is indeed the local government units who should implement the disconnection, but added he had ordered his men to assist and coordinate with the city mayor.

  It may be recalled that the city drainage system along Carlos P. Garcia avenue is packaged with the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project as implemented by the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Philippine Japan Highways Loan Project who had Hanjin Heavy Engineering doing the construction.

  Hanjin authorities have aired that the illegal connections had the green-light by the PMO, despite the fact that the project specifically states that the canals would only be for storm drains.

  To put up a conduit for the rain water to flow out to the sea, the local Department of Public Works and Highways implemented the San Jose street drainage and out fall towards Tagbilaran Bay.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA

  Bohol molded Friday the country’s second provincial special police team trained to handle crisis situations all over Bohol.

  Bohol Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team comes next to the Cebu SWAT, which was the first provincial special action team in the country, revealed Police Regional Director Ronaldo Roderos at a press conference at the Bohol Tropics Resort Wednesday.

  More or less 37 police aspirants would be trimmed down to 17 after they pass the rigid training under 8 Camp Crame-based Special Action Forces and complemented by the 6 members of the Cebu City SWAT team, police sources said. 

  After more than three months of grueling training, the Bohol team of 17 men, would be going on rotation duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week, explains Bohol Provincial Police Chief Edgardo Ingking. 

  The team, organized in the pattern of the elite Los Angeles Police Department’s anti-crime SWAT would be allowing residents the protection of a force trained and given expertise to respond to problems. 

  The press conference was held a day before outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief also formalizes the opening of the innovative Bohol Tourist Police Assistance Center in Bolod Panglao.

  Admitting forming the Bohol team is really a belated move, PNP Chief Avelino Razon said if it were not for the insistent efforts of Bohol government and civil society leaders, the dream would not have been realized.

  The move came after the Boholanos shivered in dread over a foiled bank robbery, which cost the life of a security guard, a robber and led to the notorious Meloy Garcia rob group disbandment.

  Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado added that Bohol local officials including the congressional representatives pooled resources with the PNP and civil organizations like the Bohol Bankers Association, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Boholanos in the USA and Canada to fund the Bohol SWAT team realization.

  The team would operate not just in the city but would also respond to crisis situation in the different areas in Bohol, Aumentado explained.

  If the LAPD SWAT were any indicator, then the Bohol team would comprise of special squads using hi-tech equipment and firepower support trained in armed combat, urban and rural counter terrorism, explosives and ordnance experts, riot suppression and negotiations experts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpXT1bO7_Z4

Bohol PNP - Video provided by Nestor Daarol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiTm860zMsk

Bohol SWAT. Video provided by Nestor Daarol of DYTR.

Use of paracetamol in babies increases the risk of developing asthma five years later, a study of more than 200,000 children suggests.

Those given the painkiller for fever in the first year of life had a 46% increased risk of asthma by the age of six or seven, The Lancet reported.

Researchers do not know if the drug directly increases asthma risk or another underlying factor is to blame.

Experts said parents should still use the drug for high temperatures.

Increasing use of paracetamol in children has coincided with rising cases of asthma over the past 50 years, the researchers said.

The latest study, carried out in 31 countries, is the largest to date looking at paracetamol use and childhood asthma.

Parents of children aged six and seven were asked questionnaires about symptoms of asthma, eczema and related allergic conditions in addition to details on paracetamol use for fever in the child's first year of life and the past 12 months.

The results also showed that higher doses and more regular use of the drug are associated with a greater risk of developing asthma.

Analysis of current use in 103,000 children showed those who had used paracetamol more than once a month in the past year had a three-fold increased risk of asthma.

Use of paracetamol was also associated with more severe asthma symptoms.

And risk of eczema and hayfever was also increased. - BBC News

By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter

Evidence is accumulating that there is no such thing as a "safe tan."

Ultraviolet rays, no matter where you get them from, cause skin cancer, and the purported health benefits of UV rays, such as vitamin D production, are overstated, if not downright wrong.

So say a trio of papers published in the October issue of Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research.

"There's a lot of money to be made, and the tanning industry has been quite successful even in places like New Mexico and South America selling tanning as a safe alternative to outdoor sun. We're trying to point out that it's not the case," said Marianne Berwick, author of one of the papers and a professor of internal medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque.

"We wanted to counter the marketing and a response to the misperception of the true cost/benefit analysis of UV radiation," said Dr. David Fisher, director of the Melanoma Program in Medical Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, president of the Society of Melanoma Research, and author of one of the other papers in the journal.

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States, with 1 million new cases in 2008, and an estimated one in five people developing some type of skin cancer during their lifetime. Ultraviolet radiation is a major risk factor for all types of skin cancer.

Yet, the tanning industry continues to grow, with revenues increasing fivefold since 1992, according to background information in the journal.

But there is rampant evidence that tanning of any kind is not safe and carries few, if any, health benefits.

"The first step [to both skin cancer and a tan] is DNA damage. That tells us that there's one common initiating event, and it is a carcinogenic event through which you get your tan, so the concept of a safe tan becomes essentially impossible," Fisher said.

Moreover, claims that tanning may not lead to melanoma, as opposed to other forms of skin cancer, are based on cleverly skewed interpretations of complex molecular phenomenon, Fisher added.

"There is no controversy whatsoever about the presence of UV signature mutations in squamous cell carcinoma. You can see that the genes have been mutated in a way that UV directly caused it," he explained. "The melanoma connection to UV is probably indirect, so you wouldn't see the mutation directly in the melanoma cell even though the UV caused it."

"The tanning industry has seized on that complexity."

A representative for the tanning industry refuted the findings using that exact argument.

"Here are three more studies that make irresponsible assertions without providing any concrete link between indoor tanning and melanoma," said John Overstreet, executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association. "The fact is, UV light provides vitamin D, which helps the body ward off many types of diseases, and the rewards that come with moderate and responsible exposure to UV light far outweigh the consequences of not getting enough of it."

But Fisher noted vitamin D can come from other, safer sources.

"We know that vitamin D is synthesized in the skin after ultraviolet radiation hits the skin. It's how you couch the discussion when the indoor tanning association took out a full-page ad in The New York Times right before prom season and lists all the good things about vitamin D," Fisher said. "Basically, you're getting vitamin D from a carcinogen."

Not only can vitamin D be obtained from supplements, a simple blood test can tell a person if he or she is actually deficient in the vitamin.

The World Health Organization and other organizations have called for a ban on sunbed use by individuals under the age of 18. According to the papers in the journal, the industry has lobbied against such a ban.

Hi Marivic, welcome to TubagBohol.com. We are pleased to have you here. You must be a relative of Dioscoro Ayag Jr., who is based in Saudi Arabia.

You can often see Jun Ayag online here in TubagBohol.com.

USA - A German shepherd dog saved his owner's life by calling the emergency services when the man had a seizure.

During a recording of the call to 911, Buddy is heard whimpering and barking after the controller, Chris Trott, repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.

Joe Stalnaker spent two days in hospital and recovered from the seizure after officers in Scottsdale, near Phoenix, responded to the call.

They said Stalnaker's address was flagged in the system with a notification that a trained assistance dog could call the emergency services when the owner was incapacitated. - guardian.co.uk

Joe and I at the floating market in Thailand last year.

BBC News - A study has linked a small number of cases of cerebral palsy to antibiotics given to women in premature labour.

The UK study found 35 cases of cerebral palsy in 769 children of women without early broken waters given antibiotics.

This compared with 12 cases among 735 children of women not given the drugs. Advice is being sent to the study's 4,148 mothers and a helpline set up.

Medical experts stressed pregnant women should not feel concerned about taking antibiotics to treat infections.

The Oracle study was the largest trial in the world into premature labour and was set up to investigate whether giving antibiotics - which might tackle an underlying symptomless infection - to women with signs of premature labour would improve outcomes for babies.

One in eight babies in the UK is born prematurely and prematurity is the leading cause of disability and of infant death in the first month after birth.

A law that landed a Florida teenager in jail for having sagging jeans that exposed his underwear is unconstitutional, a judge has decided.

The 17-year-old spent a night in jail after police arrested him for exposing 4in (10cm) of boxer shorts in Riviera Beach, south-east Florida.

Town voters backed the law in March after supporters raised a petition.

However, a circuit judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional based on "the limited facts" of the case.

Carol Bickerstaff, defending teenager Julius Hart, had urged Judge Paul Moyle to throw out the law, saying: "Your honour, we now have the fashion police."

Before making his ruling, Judge Moyle said: "We're not talking about exposure of buttocks. No. We're talking about someone who has on pants whose underwear are apparently visible to a police officer who then makes an arrest, and the basis is he's then held overnight." - BBC News

A large study is to examine near-death experiences in cardiac arrest patients.

Doctors at 25 UK and US hospitals will study 1,500 survivors to see if people with no heartbeat or brain activity can have "out of body" experiences.

Some people report seeing a tunnel or bright light, others recall looking down from the ceiling at medical staff.

The study, due to take three years and co-ordinated by Southampton University, will include placing on shelves images that could only be seen from above.

Towards the light

To test this, the researchers have set up special shelving in resuscitation areas. The shelves hold pictures - but they're visible only from the ceiling.

Dr Sam Parnia, who is heading the study, said: "If you can demonstrate that consciousness continues after the brain switches off, it allows for the possibility that the consciousness is a separate entity.

"It is unlikely that we will find many cases where this happens, but we have to be open-minded.

"And if no one sees the pictures, it shows these experiences are illusions or false memories.

"This is a mystery that we can now subject to scientific study."

Dr Parnia works as an intensive care doctor, and felt from his daily duties that science had not properly explored the issue of near-death experiences. - from BBC

Top 10 Brain Killer

     1. Skipping Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

     2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

     3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

     4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

     5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

     6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

     7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

     8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

     9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

     10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.

10 Home Decorating Ideas To Quickly Update Any Room
By Michael Holland

Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If you're looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1.   Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.
2.   Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)
3.   Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don't have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.
4.   Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.
5.   Hang Pictures or Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.
6.   Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.
7.   Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.
8.   Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.
9.   Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.
10.   Eliminate Clutter-  Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room. 
About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of the Web site http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com.

The US Federal Reserve has announced an $85bn (£48bn) rescue package for AIG, the country's biggest insurance company, to save it from bankruptcy.

AIG will get an $85bn loan, in return for an 80% public stake in the firm.

Why is AIG in trouble?

American International Group (AIG) has been hit hard by the credit crunch.

The company's main business is insurance, but not just household insurance for you and me.

The firm also provides insurance to large companies, and most importantly to banks.

If an investment bank did a big complex trade, AIG might be the company to insure them against the deal going wrong, through so-called credit default swaps.

AIG has been under financial pressure for some time after posting three quarterly losses in a row totalling $18.5bn (£10.3bn).

The losses were related to the problems afflicting housing and credit markets, with AIG playing a key role in insuring risk for financial institutions around the world.

AIG is a rich company, but its money is stuck in deals and investments that are either not easy to sell or difficult to value.

To survive, the company urgently needed cash, and the US Federal Reserve was the only organisation prepared to supply it. - BBC News

Let's hope Windows 7 would redeem the shame and fall of Windows Vista.

US stock markets sank in early trade on fears the bailout of insurance giant AIG would not be enough to dispel the gloom engulfing the financial world.

AIG's rescue and a potential takeover of UK lender HBOS had earlier boosted confidence in Asia and Europe.

But markets were volatile as nervous investors tried to make sense of the dramatic events that have unfolded in recent days.

The widely watched Dow Jones industrial average was down 1.9% at 10,849.

The FTSE 100 index of top UK shares was down 0.48% at 5,001.4, reversing earlier gains.

UK banking shares saw the most volatile trade.

Top UK mortgage lender HBOS, which has faced heavy selling this week, fell as much as 50% before recovering after it emerged that it was in advanced talks to be taken over by Lloyds TSB. - BBC News

I got a gander at the latest test build of Windows 7 briefly (courtesy of a source of mine) and was not allowed to take any screenshots. But it is real, it does exist and it is, indeed, in certain testers’ hands inside and outside the company. - quoted from Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcJnnT2qdl4

But Lewis avenged his shameful defeat on a rematch against Rahman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABZu5v2JPuE

But Hasim Rahman knocked out Lewis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuOzydfpv28

The undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0em16mPPvR0

Lewis vs Andrew Golota - First Round Knockout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV8A7jCf4Cg

This was the fight, insurectus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH5wEEFfer0

Deadly punch at first encounter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BoLkv83XkE

Be careful when you kiss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wNrB_V3PFc

That's true boxing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpVlaVy12hE

Floyd Mayweather vs Zab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuObp2iEdQQ

Just a punch.

Snake at a bar in Thailand. Only in Thailand.

Hangtud kanus-a matapos ang among mga paghanduraw kanimo, C2H4?

Jun, our country needs more individuals who possess innovative thinking such as what you espouse. Many of our countrymen, particularly politicians, are still living in the mentality of the 40s. We are so behind in technological development because our leaders have failed to grasp the current changes that shape the world today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk

Matt Damon as interviewed by CBS News.