MikeLigalig.com

some years back, i got a text in my roaming number congratulating me for winning a 6-figure money prize because my mobile number had been chosen among millions of numbers... too good to be true.  i wasn't born yesterday but on the other day, hehehe. 

i take care to stress here that it did not come from the server but from a conman (servers use only 4 digits; the text that i received came from an 11-digit number sent by a lawyer, kuno.)

it was too good to pass up.  "congratulations!"  i answered back.  "you just won the privilege of claiming my prize.  go ahead, it's all yours."  that made my day.  i hoped it made the conman's too.

the truth about these servers is that a text message costs only .35 centavos.  they charge 1 peso.  fine, they have facilities to maintain, employees to pay, and profits to protect.  but it looks like they are increasing that 1 peso to 5 pesos through these ads... greed knows no bounds.

just because our country is perceived as poor and weak, it does not follow that a place like hongkong, which is not even a sovereign country by itself, must demand of it to grovel and kneel by way of a national apology-on-demand.  the city of manila can apologize to hongkong, which was already done by mayor erap, but not our whole country through our president.

the fact is hongkong politics is making their politicians dig up this 2010 issue.  quite a red herring to divert a population's attention from their own issues, which includes china's expansionism, by fanning nationalism.  wag the dog, anyone?

our country never demanded of china and hongkong to apologize and compensate for the deaths and domestic abuse of our own citizens there.  what makes the chinese believe they deserve national apologies more than we do?   

there is more to geopolitics than national pride, lorenz.  there must be more to why our president is not going to apologize just as the u.s. government through its president must never apologize for its spying on other countries.  never mind that china, israel, australia and who knows what other countries do some spying too.  it's just too bad for the u.s. that there was a snowden who confirmed this covert activity.  but in terms of realpolitik, no formal u.s. apology should be expected, much less demanded.

what an honor.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Russia has long prided itself on its contribution to classical music and dance, and so the fanfare wouldn’t be complete without a rendition of Swan Lake, Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s famous classic. The performance by Mariinsky Ballet dancer Diana Vishneva took a modern turn, illuminated with LED lights.





Anna Netrebko, a renowned operatic soprano, sang the national anthem, accompanied by the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the shaggy-haired Yuri Bashmet, one of Putin’s most avid admirers.



-images from various sources

UNCLE STYOPA

There couldn’t have been a better part for former boxing heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev, who towers at 7-foot-1 (2.16 meters), to play then the giant police officer Stepan Stepanov â€" Uncle Styopa for short.

Uncle Styopa is one of the country’s most beloved children’s tale characters, with the steel jaw and thick neck of most Soviet-era heroes.

In the ceremony, he walks around town punishing neighborhood hooligans, helping lost children find their mothers, and even saving a hardened Russian babushka, who is standing on an enormous chunk of ice doing her laundry when it breaks off and floats down the river.

Uncle Styopa was also a winter athlete in the show, dazzling fans by dashing to first place in a speedskating race. At the finish line, a little girl clambers to the top of airplane stairs so that she can reach up and hand Styopa her teddy bear as a prize.

i can only imagine how it was, live or on tv, judging from the pictures i see. 

RUSSIA’S AVANT GARDE

The ceremony highlighted the young artists who took the country by storm after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. Breaking away from what they called the decadence of traditional painting, the group pioneered a style influenced by industrial design and communist ideology.

The show made references to Kazimir Malevich, whose angular, almost sculpture-like paintings and famous black square were a loud rebuke to traditional painting. It featured Alexander Rodchenko, a groundbreaking photographer most famous for his dramatic pronouncement that ‘Painting is dead,’ and El Lissitzky, who pioneered propaganda as art.

After Stalin came to power in the 1920s and started to crack down on the arts, many of the country’s energetic young artists fled the country or were killed.

WAR AND PEACE

For most, this enormous book is more doorstopper than showstopper. But many Russians, who grew up reading Leo Tolstoy’s epic saga in school, know the story and its most famous scene â€" Natasha Rostova’s first ball â€" by heart.



Bolshoi Theater prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova played Rostova, a young debutante in 19th-century Russia who is desperate to be asked to dance at her first ball. It’s love at first sight when the handsome Andrei Bolkonsky, played by Danilo Korusnetsev of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater, approaches.

But their love proves cursed: Prince Bolkonsky is later injured on the battlefield by Napoleon’s invading army, and eventually dies in Natasha’s arms.

A cultural guide to Sochi opening ceremony

Associated Press   
Saturday, February 8th, 2014


2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. http://media.vocativ.com/

MOSCOW â€" Wondering about some of the Russian culture featured Friday in the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics? Here’s a guide to the history, literature and art that made up a big part of the show.

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 06, 2014, 01:38:36 PM
Klarong estorbot. Malagmit diha lay salamin tupad sa tadyaw.

kj ra ka.  malagmit naa ra ninyong duha ni bugsay ang nanamin tupad sa tadyaw.

excerpts from Why Hong Kong's government should apologise for failing abused domestic workers
by Jason Y. Ng
South China Morning Post
Thursday, 23 January, 2014

It has been four decades since the first batch of foreign domestic helpers arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines. Since then, our economy has taken off but their status and working conditions have gone the other direction. Their grievances about domestic violence and unlawful business practices have fallen on seven million pairs of deaf ears. We either brush them off as “isolated incidents” or, as some have shamelessly suggested, turn to even more docile workers from Bangladesh and Myanmar. But enough is enough â€" the time to take a hard look at our migrant worker policy is now.


Indonesian domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih lies in a bed at a hospital in Central Java, Indonesia. Photo: Sam Tsang

Abused domestic workers are failed by our city in every way: by the employer and employment agency, our law enforcement and policymakers. Every safeguard in the system has failed. The same way many Hong Kongers are demanding Philippine President Benigno Aquino III apologise for the Manila hostage crisis in 2010, the migrant worker community in Hong Kong will be justified in asking C.Y. Leung for an apology for all the systemic failures that have led to the plight of so many foreign domestic workers.


Journalists surround the suspect (wearing mask and long black coat), who allegedly tortured Indonesia domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, accompanied by her husband (head covered with envelope) while she leaves at Kwun Tong court. Photo: Nora Tam

more at http://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1411581/why-hong-kongs-government-should-apologise-failing-abused-domestic

the philippines never demanded apologies nor compensation for the following victims' families.  none was volunteered, none was given by china/hongkong: 

1.  In 2005, newly retired Shell executive Emmanuel Madrigal and his daughter Regina Mia were touring Beijing when they were suddenly stabbed to death by a Chinese man.

2.  In October 2013, Filipina doctor Lina Bunyi was killed by a wayward car that ploughed into a crowd at Tiananmen Square.

3.  Domestic workers residing in Hong Kong
    -data gathered by the Mission for Migrant Workers, which 
    surveyed more than 3,000 women last year:
    58 percent had faced verbal abuse
    18 percent physical abuse
     6 percent sexual abuse

(And this may only represent the tip of the iceberg as many victims are believed to be too scared or ill-informed to come forward.)

This led Jason Ng to write a provocative article in the 23 January 2014 edition of South China Morning Post on why the Hong Kong government should apologize for the plight of abused domestic workers.

-from reply #5, this thread

But who stands to lose more anyway? Filipinos currently make up roughly 1.9 percent of the Hong Kong population (mostly working as domestic helpers). Their presence not only makes the home lives of their employers easier, it also enables both spouses to seek gainful employment. I am sure that their absence will make the Hong Kong middle class and foreign expatriates unhappy.

Moreover, Hong Kong makes more money from Filipino tourists than the Philippines makes from their Hong Kong counterparts. While a few flying hours further off, Singapore, Thailand and Japan stand to be the beneficiaries as they present comparable tourist attractions and benefits.

So Hong Kong authorities should carefully consider the consequences before escalating the matter further. As stated earlier, our leaders have not only expressed sincere regret, they have also provided substantial remuneration to the victims and their families. Coercing an official apology will not bring the latter closure. Only time and justice can do that.

*      *      *      *

more at http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/02/08/1287913/saying-sorry

And let’s examine the flipside. In 2005, newly retired Shell executive Emmanuel Madrigal and his daughter Regina Mia were touring Beijing when they were suddenly stabbed to death by a Chinese man. More recently, in October 2013, Filipina doctor Lina Bunyi was killed by a wayward car that ploughed into a crowd at Tiananmen Square. Did the Chinese government issue any apology for these incidents? Did they provide compensation for the victims’ families?

And what about the domestic workers residing in Hong Kong? According to data gathered by the Mission for Migrant Workers, which surveyed more than 3,000 women last year, 58 percent had faced verbal abuse, 18 per cent physical abuse and 6 percent sexual abuse. And this may only represent the tip of the iceberg as many victims are believed to be too scared or ill-informed to come forward. This led Jason Ng to write a provocative article in the 23 January 2014 edition of South China Morning Post on why the Hong Kong government should apologize for the plight of abused domestic workers.

*      *      *      *

In this instance, my four centavos is that the need for an official apology should be framed by the following: 1) whether state officials were involved; and 2) whether acts were committed with malicious intent or through negligence.

Indeed, the police assigned to deal with their emotionally unstable colleague may not have been up to the task but it has not been shown that they acted with evident bad faith either. This case should be differentiated with the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard last May 2013. In that case, the President was quick and forthcoming with an apology. So why the current reluctance? The main difference between the two cases is that one involves what criminal law terms as dolo while the other involves culpa. When the PCG opened fire on the Taiwanese vessel, that was a clear act of dolo or “criminal intent.” There was malice aforethought as common law jurists would call it. However, the Mendoza crisis was bungled due to negligence or culpa, not malice. The deaths of the tourists was accidental, not deliberate.

*      *      *      *

So should the Philippines still provide an official apology?

When an individual commits a wrong, even unintentionally, he or she is generally expected to apologize. And depending on the extent of the harm inflicted, saying sorry must be accompanied by some form of restitution.

But when one is acting as leader, and that of a sovereign state for that matter, the situation is different. Since a Head of State speaks for the country and the entire citizenry, an apology would have broad, political implications.

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras was dispatched to Hong Kong not only to personally condole with the families of the victims but to provide generous financial assistance as well.

Yet Hong Kong officials are not appeased. Probably encouraged by the bosses in Beijing, they recently announced that Philippine officials will no longer enjoy the privilege of staying in Hong Kong for 14 days without a visa. In truth, this is a symbolic sanction will only affect roughly 700 to 800 Filipinos (and who possess regular passports anyway). However, there are reports circulating that Hong Kong authorities may change the visa-free rule for tourists as well and require every Filipino to obtain a visa to visit the crown colony.

*      *      *      *

Since then, the President and other senior officials have formally and informally expressed deep regret over the incident and heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. Former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has also profusely apologized. He stated that the National Government had nothing to do with the failed attempt to peacefully end the hostage crisis. In his words, “it was the fault of the past administration, the local government of Manila… It’s the fault of the local official, not the President. The President need not apologize.” The late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo had already found the former Mayor guilty of neglect in the handling of the 2010 hostage crisis. The Manila City Council had passed a resolution apologizing to the Hong Kong Government.

Saying sorry

MY FOUR CENTAVOS
By Dean Andy Bautista
(The Philippine Star)
February 8, 2014

Elton John once said, “sorry seems to be the hardest word.” Nearly three and a half years have passed since dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked a bus of 22 Hong Kong tourists and three Filipinos and held them hostage in Luneta. Unfortunately, our local SWAT team (Manila’s finest?) bungled the rescue attempt during an 11 hour standoff, resulting in the death of eight Hong Kong nationals and the wounding of seven others. Admittedly, it was a fiasco. And to make matters worse, the entire episode was broadcasted live on television and radio.

now i know why there's a yellow rose of texas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwM7FJvcaQE#

i am addressing this to mobile phone servers in the philippines with the hope that one, even just one, employee of these servers get to read this.  and i mean GLOBE, SMART, and SUN.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR PESKY UNWANTED ADS THAT YOU TEXT, UNBIDDEN, TO YOUR CLIENTS, ARE THE BIGGEST TURNOFFS OF THIS DIGITAL AGE?

oh, i've tried those suggested numbers that we're supposed to contact if we didn't want any more ads (or announcements or some other euphemism), but still i keep getting these pesky messages disguised as coming from another number or another program or gimmick from these servers. 

HEY, I'M PAYING FOR YOUR SERVICES!  MUST YOU FREELOAD ON MY PAYMENT, INVADE MY PRIVACY, AND RATTLE MY PEACE JUST SO YOU CAN BLOAT YOUR PROFITS?

one thing with this digital age is that basic manners and respect for paying customers have become strange words for those who profit the most from it.     

oh, there he goes again.  this guy is said to "love his own voice so much" that he's always expected to make statements on just about anything, ahead of the pack, so to speak.  his ability though lies in reading the political temperature of the moment.

di ko maguol ana kay mas dancer kay sa nako si banana republic.

Sugar can make you feel angry

Just as fibre can calm you by stabilising your blood sugar, consuming too much sugar can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar and have the opposite effect. Although you might crave sugar and experience an initial mood boost when you first have it, over time it will lead to mood swings and make you feel angry. Researchers at Princeton University found that these mood swings are amplified by the fact that sugar can be as addictive as some drugs. They found that the body can become dependent on sugar if enough is consumed, which leads to mood altering cravings. And when you finally give in and have a sugary snack? The whole cycle starts over again, and your mood swings worsen.

http://ph.she.yahoo.com/

Brown rice can make you feel calm

Brown rice is the perfect food for people who regularly suffer from mood swings, and that’s because it’s high in soluble fibre. Fibre slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, which serves to stabilise your mood and decrease mood swings. Mood swings commonly occur during high-stress periods of your life, and can severely impact on both your career and personal life. If you’re not a fan of brown rice there are plenty of other foods whose high fibre content means they’re great for calming your mood, such as oats and Brussels sprouts.

Chocolate can make you feel happy

That warm chocolately hug you feel inside every time you give in to the sweet stuff isn’t just your imagination. A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that participants who consumed a chocolate infused drink every day felt happier and calmer than a control group who didn’t have the drink. The reason chocolate makes you feel so happy is it increases the production of serotonin in your brain, which is a hormone commonly found in antidepressants. If you want this mood boost without feeling guilty, opt for healthier natural dark chocolate without added sugar or milk.

Avocados can make you feel alert

If you need a quick boost to feel awake and alert then forget the ‘up and down’ effects of caffeine and turn to avocados instead.  Avocados are naturally high in the amino acid tyrosine, which your brain needs to produce the alertness-boosting neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. The journal Brain Research Bulletin published the research to back this up. The study found that tyrosine can improve both concentration and alertness even in extremely stressful situations; in this case, an army training course. Researchers at the Pesacola Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory also discovered that tyrosine can help improve the cognitive performance of people who have been deprived of sleep, so it’s a great option if you’ve missed out on some shuteye.

5 surprising foods that can affect your mood

RealBuzz
06 February 2014

Crisps can make you feel depressed

Deep down you know snacking on crisps is bad for your body, and now scientists have proven that it’s also bad for your mood. According to research from Spain presented in the journal PLoS One, foods like crisps that are loaded with trans fat and saturated fat can lead to a startling 48 per cent increase in the risk of suffering from depression. The study found that even if only 0.6 per cent of your diet is made up of trans fat, you still risk feeling depressed. This is due to the inflammatory effects of trans fats and saturated fats, which can interrupt the neurotransmitters in the brain that produce serotonin.

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 07, 2014, 12:27:53 PM
Lisod ning hingkujapan ta tungod sa pasmo. Hmm, sa pagdinayit, nakapamahaw na ba kaha nis Islander?

by the grace of heaven, alas 9 pa sa buntag, namahaw, naniudto, nanihapon na ko ug nag-snacks pa gyod kog kaduha.  sayang, naminhod akong left leg sa kabusog.

di gyod kareklamo ang mga tsaynis aning mga plasbaka.

Gihuboan sa selosong bana

Gidakop sa polis ang usa ka bana nga mida sa karsada sa iyang asawa ug gipasayawsayaw kini human huboi sa tanang sinina ug salimbong niini.
1995
Ang bana giingon sa mga silingan nga may pagka buangon ug selosong banaha.

Nagkadugo ang asawa kinsa 26 anyos pa ang pangidaron samtang ang bana kapin na sa 60 anyos ang edad. (J.M. Pansoy, BN, Oktobre 1995)

Plasbak
Banat News
Pebrero 6, 2014
Hinikay ni Lynn O. Saavedra

Babaye nakuyapan milandig kan-anan

Samtang naninda ug utanon si Maring (apelyido gipugngan) diha sa may VECO luyo sa Carbon kalait nga nakuyapan.

"Napasahan sa gutom tingali," matud sa usa ka kargador.

Gipasandig siya sa mga tawo sa pundok sa sinakong bugas.  Dihang naulian na siya, wala na ang iyang mga baligya ug tua na siya naglingkod sa usa ka karinderya nagkaon.

Nahibung si Maring kun kinsa ang nagdala niya sa karinderya ug gapakaon.

Matod sa serbidora usa ka tawong tiguwang apan kusgan ang mida niya sa kan-anan, giorderan ug makaon ug dayon nawala lang.  "Ginoo ba kaha kadto?" nakatuaw si Maring sa iyang kaugalingon. (Kinutlo ni Ban Anido, BN, Marso 1995)

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 06, 2014, 01:42:04 PM
Maayo ka Madame kay exception to the rule. You care for us hoi polloi.

igat ra pod ka.  this comment of yours is below the belt nga ako nang giprenda.

Dragonfly Spy

The first insect-sized aerial vehicle (insectothopter, developed to explore intelligence collection via miniature devices). The CIA's R&D team created the bug in the 70s, and it became the first flight of an aerial vehicle the size of an insect.

Next time a pesky dragonfly is humming over your shoulder, deny everything. (http://www.oddee.com/)

Quote from: hofelina on February 06, 2014, 05:13:46 PM
Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

aguy.  so this happened in japan 76 years after magellan landed in the philippines.

hehehe, include open-close surgery without anesthesia, lorenz.

magpahimo gyod ko ani ni banana republic.  naibog lagi koh...

yeheeey, go, go, go, lorenz!  get stronger by the day, doc!

(hehehe, what a way to smack whining nurses back to their senses.)

real, real sweet.  mora siya--ug si kenshin pod, both being orange tabbies--ug akong si gaspar, melchor ug rexie nga puro pod orange tabbies ang coat.  (balthazar, the third brother who's a tuxedo, had died 4 years ago.  it's because of him nga nitagam na kog patambok ug iring; gimenosan na ilang kaon tanan aron sakto rag lawas kay ma-heart attack unya pareha ni balthazar.)  every cat, every pet, is truly precious.

so i've been reading all i could about goiter, doing the medical research for my niece.  she said all of them similarly situated have their own backup researchers and writers anyway, so she might as well have the "best" (aherm, call it beating her own drums.  what a way to make me do something for her, hehehe, wise girl.)  yes, i'm writing her research paper for her; studying and defending it is up to her.  and she's feeling on top of the world now.

funny, i woke up with a painful throat.  this goiter thing is getting into me... i thought i'll end up as a goiter expert.  turns out it's my throat that caught the expertise.

Quote from: Lorenzo on January 24, 2014, 03:00:45 PM
Unsay gi bati ni Dr. Lorenzo? Hmm, the long hours of work and the arrival of a new class into my schedule has kept me quite inundated with all these quandries , these foibles in this vale of tears. O how nice it must be being a rich derelict living off one's pension or huge swathes of hoarded gold. But a las, i am but a poor , working man. Where one must work to survive! he he!

Got that off my chest. 

very much like my niece who's also a medical intern.  she's been crying over the pressures of her job and the needed medical research papers for which she hardly has the time... sleeplessness, too many emergency surgeries, angry patients, alone in the wee morning hours, all the works.  she said she wouldn't mind forgetting about becoming a surgeon because selling cooked bananas at the sidewalk seems like a better career.

hold on, hold on, i said.  all careers have their pressures.  one can't sell bananas during typhoons.  midlife crisis?  fine.  after this personal storm, you'll end up only as either odysseus or aeneas--back to where you belong or out into the unknown to discover new worlds.  and either way is great.  bongga, she answered.  i believe she felt good soon after.

lorenz, i might as well be talking with you.

goodness me.  a 12-year-old?  how sad.  may this angel now sing with the choirs of heaven.

cool.  this is very beautiful and neat!

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 06, 2014, 10:53:04 AM
Hmm, kinsa kahay naay motive nga wagtangon ang Tubag Bohol?

gawas sa possible nationalists sa atong neighborhood bully, naa pa ba diay lain?  tug-ani mi biiiiii...

Quote from: Mike Ortega Ligalig on February 06, 2014, 09:15:04 AM
Lolla, as long as I can still pay our hosting company, our tbland shall live, by the grace of the Almighty...

thanks for helping us keep our sanity, mr webmaster.

this is the nearest thing to that engineer's description of a tambaloslos.  just change the blue tinge to black.

the trade-off?  grabe kuno silag swerte atong mga tuiga.  tanan niyang entradahan kuno, molambo.  his is the house that tambaloslos built.  nahanaw ra man pod kuno si mr tambaloslos and family sometime later, leaving the engineer and his family fairly settled and economically secure.  but henceforth, motuo na gyod siya ug mga di ingon nato.

so do i.  though i don't want to see one, i believe a tambaloslos is a type of nature spirit. 

kabahin ug tambaloslos (reply #1)...

true story pero di akong kaugalingon--an engineer from a town in cebu's south (yes, pikoy, kun asa man ka karon, engineer nga taga-south pod sa cebu ning nag-estorya aning first person account.  kauban ni siya nakog trabaho sa una.  take note, loll.)

kausa, hapit kuno siya matumba sa kakuyaw paglingi niya sa ilang banggera, tapad sa ilang tadjao.  dihay nagngisi nga itom kaayo, nitupong lang sa tadjao.  description: morag gangisi, pero wa baya diay.  porma lang sa baba morag gangisi kay tibuok nawong napuno sa kadako sa baba.  super busila, in other words.

to cut a long story short, sa pinurol nga pagkasulti, nahimong additional residents sa ilang balay ang pamilya sa tambaloslos.  tinuod gyod diay kuno ang tambaloslos.  kausa ra nipakita, di manghilabot, di mosamok, kahibawo lang ang engineer nga naa ra sila, ug moapil ug kaon sa ilang bugas/kan-on bisan di na mopakita mao nga kas kuno silag bugas ato.  kan-on ra pod, way sud-an. 

hinoon, bisan tingalig ako, gikang gainom, pauli wa na sa oras, agi ug hilit nga lugar ug kalibonan, gikan pang gauwan-uwan and the atmosphere is humid, unya makatagbo kog siga nga galutaw, aw, 100-meter dash gyod ko kay kandila nga galutaw man ang akong tinan-awan.  tagam lagi kay hubog pa man... magsiga gyod ang mga mata sa akong pang-estoryahan sunod adlaw nga gigukod kog tiaw.  and that's how an innocent natural phenomenon like st. elmo's fire became a ghost.   

anyways, my own take ba lang kintahay, with due respect to author channel marie imperial...

ang santilmo (reply #6) dili tiaw.  some years back, right here in tb, if i remember right it was hubag who explained st. elmo's fire (st. elmo = santilmo) and the science behind it. 

and i remember my father explaining long ago why santilmo got to be a scary thing that it really isn't; it tends to follow you when you "encounter" it because the vacuum your movement creates right next to your body allows it to have something to "fill in".  mao kuno nga kung mohinay kag lakaw, mohinay pod ang santilmo.  sirit kag dagan, sirit pod siyag iya, because it is dependent on the speed of the vacuum that you've created with your movement.

Quote from: vrglguapo on February 02, 2014, 03:24:01 AM
nice one, but I dont think the new generation have any idea of what it is.Ang na elhan nila vampire lang cguro nga mga gwapo ug gwapa nga pareho sa movie nga Twilight saga..

Quote from: chicogon on February 02, 2014, 03:49:30 AM
That's why it's good adunay nag research and gemantala pag-usab ning mga kinaraan. Kung sa syudad, puros internet nay hibaw-an sa mga kabataan (modern na sad ilang tiaaw-tiaw like Twilight per your observation), pero kung adto ka sa bukid, like sa Catigbian, nig kagabii na didto sa waiting shed, kinaraang tiaw gehapon istoryahan bwahahaha.

pilay pad, karong taudtaod naa nay modern nga tiaw para sa mga kids karon, like a white or black lady laptop or ipad nga naglutaw rag iya.

they look healthy and unharmed.  how nice.

those who tinkered with this living creature may end up being swallowed by their own frankenstein.

this ddos thing, whatever it is, does it come from china?  if so, how could an opinion from someone in tbland, if that indeed be the reason for such an attack on tb, matter when even our own government would not even deign to bother to read, much less give credence, to our opinions here?

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 05, 2014, 04:33:11 PM
He he, you should also fear the purveyors of chemical weapons...

well, talking of anthrax, as it happens...

Quote from: bugsay on February 02, 2014, 10:28:10 PM
wakwak sa TB?

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 03, 2014, 07:36:23 PM
Hmm... Kadtong naay daghang binuhi?

diin man tawon mo ana naglupadlupad uy, hubs ug bugs?

eeekkk!  one more reason to fear suicide bombers.

a song direct from the so-called golden decade of filipino music and movies...

yeheeeyyy!  thanks, fr chic!

Storm surge alert

Meanwhile, residents living in coastal areas under storm signal number 2 are alerted against storm surges around 1 to 2 meters high

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals 1 and 2 should also prepare for possible flash floods and landslides.

"Huwag po tayong kumpiyansa dahil sa dala nitong hangin at pag-ulan. Mag-ingat po tayo," Malano said.

An estimated rainfall amount of 5 to 15 millimeters per hour (moderate to heavy) is expected within the tropical storm's 400-kilometer diameter.

Fishing boats and other small sea craft are advised against venturing out into the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to the surge of northeast monsoon.

PAGASA, meanwhile, said Basyang will not have a direct effect on Metro Manila.

more at http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/31/14/basyang-intensifies-storm-surge-alert-raised

According to PAGASA, Basyang is forecast to move west at 33 kph.

At this rate, the storm is likely to make landfall over Southern Leyte and the northern tip of Surigao del Norte area around midnight.

Perez said Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Caraga regions will experience stormy weather tonight until Saturday.

According to PAGASA officer-in-charge Vicente Malano, the cyclone is not likely to weaken even after it hits land.

"Pag nag-landfall po siya ay hindi po siya gaanong hihina dahil hindi naman malaki yung babanggain niyang bundok sa Siargao Island... Puro katubigan din po yung dadaanan niya," he explained.

But he said the storm is not expected to intensify further due to the presence of the northeast monsoon (amihan).

Meanwhile, 15 areas are under signal number 1:

Masbate,
Palawan,
Calamian Group of Islands,
Northern Samar,
Aklan,

Capiz,
Antique,
Misamis Oriental,
Misamis Occidental,
rest of Agusan del Norte,

rest of Surigao del Sur,
Agusan del Sur,
northern part of Bukidnon,
Lanao del Norte,
Zamboanga del Norte.

These areas should expect 30 to 60 kph winds in at least 36 hours.

Public storm warning signal number 2 has been hoisted over 19 areas:

Iloilo,
Negros Oriental,
Negros Occidental,
Siquijor,
Guimaras,

Cebu,
Bohol,
Leyte,
Southern Leyte,
Eastern Samar,

Samar,
Biliran Island,
Camotes Island,
Camiguin,
Dinagat Province,

Surigao del Norte,
Siargao Island,
northern part of Surigao del Sur,
northern part of Agusan del Norte.

These areas should expect 61 to 100 kph winds in 24 hours, PAGASA said.

'Basyang' intensifies, storm surge alert raised

ABS-CBNnews.com
01/31/2014, 8:09 PM



Storm warning signals up over 34 areas
Basyang to make landfall midnight

MANILA -- Tropical storm "Basyang" (international name Kajiki) intensified further on Friday afternoon, placing 34 areas under public storm warning signals, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In a press briefing, weather forecaster Chris Perez said Basyang was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 100 kph as it continues to move towards the Southern Leyte-Surigao del Norte area.

Basyang was last spotted 201 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at 4 p.m.

goodness me.  when man intawon mapordoy ug balik ang china aron di na mogara?  countries are very much like people; they bully the poor and weaker ones when they gain some semblance of power and wealth.

Its sudden declaration bolstered claims that China is throwing its growing military weight around.

Observers say the establishment of a similar zone in the South China Sea is a likely move for Beijing.

In November the southern Chinese island province of Hainan passed a rule requiring foreign fishing vessels to obtain permission to enter its waters, which it defined as the bulk of the sea.

In December, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned China against any move to declare an air defence zone over the sea, which is a vital transport route through which much regional and global trade passes.

© 1994-2014 Agence France-Presse

Japan, South Korea and others reacted with anger in November when Beijing unilaterally declared an ADIZ in the East China Sea.

China demanded all aircraft provide flight plans when traversing the area, give their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication, or face "emergency defensive measures".

The US said it would not comply, and, in what was seen as a challenge to Beijing, promptly flew military planes through it.

The zone covers disputed Tokyo-controlled islands -- known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China -- where ships and aircraft from the two countries already shadow each other.

Many countries, including the US and Japan, use ADIZs as a form of early warning, allowing them to track aircraft approaching their airspace.

Planes entering the area are frequently asked to identify themselves and to maintain radio contact with local authorities. Any aircraft causing concern can trigger the launch of fighter jets, which are scrambled to intercept it.

The draft says the zone would at a minimum cover the Paracels, and could go as wide as the majority of South China Sea, the Asahi said.

Beijing is still deliberating the extent of the zone and considering the timing of an announcement, the paper said.

Working level officials in the Chinese air force have drafted proposals for the new zone, which could set the Paracel islands at its core and spread over much of the sea, the Asahi Shimbun said, citing unnamed sources, including from the Chinese government.

The draft was submitted to senior Chinese military officials by May last year, the respected daily said.

Beijing claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, even areas a long way from its shoreline.

The countries surrounding the sea have competing and overlapping claims to the area and are in dispute with Beijing, including over the ownership of islands.

China eyeing West PH Sea air defense zone: Japanese report

Agence France-Presse
01/31/2014

TOKYO - China is considering declaring a new Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea, according to a Japanese report Friday, a move likely to fan tensions in an area riven by territorial disputes.

The report comes months after Beijing caused consternation with the sudden declaration of an ADIZ above the East China Sea, covering islands at the center of a sovereignty row with Tokyo.

It also comes as countries in the region grow increasingly concerned about what they see as China's aggressive territorial claims.

aguy, terrrrifffic.  kalami ba ipuyo dinha uy.  thanks, vrglguaps.

thanks.  you all look great there.

and the movie?



cavite pictures inc. superbly presents ramon revilla (senior) as some kind heroic robin hood?!

The car lurched to the side of the highway and stopped. The Agents then immediately jumped out of their vehicle and took cover. Some Agents were still firing their guns to make sure that Nardo will not retaliate. The Impala was later hauled into NBI Headquarters in Manila, with the dead Putik inside, in full view of Director Bugarin.

The news became a flash report on local television, and a top newspaper story the next day. That mission cemented the fame of Agent Velasco, who later became NBI Director in the nineties.

wikipedia/

The operation which was a joint NBI-PC-Imus police force was composed of some 20 men. Troopers from the 233rd PC Company were led by Capt. Manuel Bruan. At 5:00 in the morning, the light of the house of the mistress of Nardo went out. After a few minutes, Nardo drives his Chevrolet Impala car out to the main Manila-Cavite highway. For unknown reasons, or maybe Nardong Putik senses that he is being tailed by the Philippine Constabulary, he was able to escape the PC dragnet or checkpoint at Panamitan and Talon, Kawit, Cavite.

However, Nardong Putik did not notice a Volkswagen Kombi tailing him in the highway at the same time. The Kombi contained NBI Agents Velasco, Nasol, Utico, Bautista and others. They chased Nardo's car, and at Noveleta, Cavite, they were able to overtake the Impala and was at the right side of the car. Velasco shouted "NARDO!". He sensed the danger and immediately reached for his .45 pistol. At that moment, the NBI Agents opened fire with their revolvers, carbines, and submachine guns, peppering the car, and causing Nardo's instant death.

On February 10, 1971, the National Bureau of Investigation's Narcotics division surveyed a marijuana plantation in Imus, Cavite allegedly being protected by Putik. Two NBI Agents, Rogelio Domingo and Antonio Dayao were captured, tortured, and killed by Nardong Putik and his men. The incident sealed Putik's fate: Angered by the heinous crime, NBI Director Jolly Bugarin ordered all his Agents to capture dead or alive Nardo and all responsible for the death of Agents Domingo and Dayao.

NBI Agent Epimaco "Eppy" Velasco was then installed as the new Chief of the NBI Narcotics Division. In a month's time, they were able to record the movements of Nardong Putik. Later, with enough data, they were able to track his full whereabouts confidently to enable them to launch the operation to capture him on October 10, 1971.

Capturing Nardong Putik

As a fugitive, Putik and his men continued to instill terror in Cavite. Among the cases he was involved in were the illegal cultivation of marijuana and money extortion activities.

may he rest in peace.

Epimaco Velasco was a big man literally (6’1”) and figuratively. So his passing last Monday from heart attack is like the felling of a large tree: it leaves a huge hole in the forest canopy. He was 78.

Uncle Epi rose to prominence in the NBI with the killing of the Philippines’ most wanted man, Nardong Putik, in 1971. In 1992 he became the first NBI director to rise from the ranks. Thence he became governor of Cavite (1995), and Secretary of Interior and Local Government (1998).

He lies in state starting today at the San Agustin Church, Tanza, Cavite. Cremation on Sunday 9 a.m., then from the ancestral house on Calle Bigti, funeral march at 3 p.m. to the Santa Cruz Cemetery.

-from GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star), January 31, 2014

Epimaco A. Velasco (December 12, 1935 â€" January 27, 2014), popularly known as Epi, was a Filipino politician, DILG Secretary, Governor, NBI Director, first NBI Director who rose from the ranks; worked as a bailiff at the Manila City Hall while studying law; rose to prominence at the NBI with the killing of the Number 1 Most Wanted Man in Cavite, Leonardo Manecio aka Nardong Putik.

hehe, tan-awa ra god ning philippine star, missing out on the typo of malacañang...

in cebu--it looks like typhoon basyang is here.  holding on to a flashlight, in case the dreaded blackout follows.  all pets already covered and protected from the cold wind.  i pray for the best.

comments from readers of this news item:

bok
• 16 hours ago
Umeksena nanaman ang mga MAGNANAKAW sa senado.

TheTuth
• 17 hours ago
Only the corrupt gov't officials will be affected by this initial action. And look who among these wants our gov't to reverse our stand. Remember the maceda issue, with a bagful of cash to hk? It seems hk is one of their favorite place to hide stash money. A thief haven.

Alexander d. Saya
• 17 hours ago
Now you are reaping the fruits of your being tarnished image. Whom do you think will listen to you, senators accused of plunders and disgraced president due to illegal number game? And now you think, the epal king can do magic to convince the other gov't. The leaders of the Phl gov't can learn here that it is not easy to clear names once blemished by shame. Are u bothered now by your conscience , because thousand of OFW are in danger of losing their jobs??What a pity, tsk,tsk,tsk..

branlem
• 17 hours ago
apologize for what? oh boy...people can be so mindless!! apologize for something if you made a mistake!! the police were idiots everyone knows that but they acted despite their limitations!

http://www.philstar.com/

the mindless official passport holders strike again.  hey, honorables, let your wives shop somewhere else.  there's nothing in hongkong that they can't buy in divisoria.

"The City of Manila, where the incident happend, already issued formal and public apology to [the Hong Kong government].. Unfortunately for us, they don't think that this is sufficient enough, they want our national government to do so," Ejercito said.

The senator said that Vice President Jejomar Binay should be tapped as an emissary to help ease the tension between the two governments.

"If PNOY is reluctant to say sorry now, may I suggest instead that we send an official emmisary to HK to  resolve this issue," Ejercito said.

"VP Binay is doing good in his job as defender of OFW. Since it involves hundred of thousand OFW,Binay is the right man for this job," he added.

http://www.philstar.com/

"Erap's efforts are a good step knowing how this problem affects our Filipino workers there," he said.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III shared the concern as he also asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to look again on the issue and reconsider its decision not to apologize over the bungled police rescue operation for the Hong Kong tourists.

"I think its too much pride on the part of the DFA. Walang masama mag-apologize sa isang sitwasyon na 'di natin na control," Sotto said.

Sen. JV Ejercito, meanwhile, was saddened by the Hong Kong government's decision, which came even after his father, Mayor Estrada, issued a public apology over the hostage taking fiasco.

Senators urge Macalañang to apologize to HK gov't

By Christina Mendez (philstar.com)
January 31, 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Senators on Friday urged Macalañang to apologize to Hong Kong over the Manila hostage crisis in 2010 where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed by a dismissed policeman.

"The refusal to apologize I find hard to understand," said Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Marcos cited the efforts of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who has said that he will try to reach out to Hong Kong officials to negotiate its decision to cancel visa-free arrangements for Philippine officials and diplomat passport holders.

Signal No. 2 (winds with 60 to 100 kph):
Cebu
Bohol
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Eastern Samar
Samar
Camotes Island
Camiguin
Dinagat Province
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Is.
Northern Part of Surigao del Sur
Northern Part of Agusan del Norte

Signal No. 1 (winds with 3-60kph):
Masbate
Cuyo Island
Northern Samar
Biliran Is.
Aklan
Capiz
Antique
Iloilo
Guimaras
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Siquijor
Misamis Oriental
Misamis Occidental
rest of Agusan del Norte
rest of Surigao del Sur
Agusan del Sur
Northern part of Bukidnon
Zamboanga del Norte

Basyang was expected to make landfall over Southern Leyte- tip of Surigao late Friday or early Saturday.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/571951/13-areas-now-under-signal-no-2#ixzz2s1zc0elX

Over 5,000 passengers stranded in ports due to ‘Basyang’

By Frances Mangosing
INQUIRER.net
Friday, January 31st, 2014

MANILA, Philippinesâ€"Over 5,000 passengers were stranded in ports due to Tropical Storm “Basyang,” the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday.

The Coast Guard said over social media that there were 5,178 passengers stranded as of 3 p.m. in some ports of Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Northern Mindanao and National Capital Region.

Most of the stranded passengers were from Manila, with 3,035.

Thirteen areas in the Visayas and Mindanao were placed under Signal No. 2, while 19 were placed under Signal No. 1 due to the storm.

Basyang is expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday between Southern Leyte and tip of Surigao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

kuyawag colors sa photography ani ni christopher uy.

btw, how's your photography hobby, vrglquaps?  we haven't seen your photos here in a long while...

aruy abi nako headline intsik sad-an.

[Mr. Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesperson] said the Philippines, as a sovereign nation, isn't prepared to consider Hong Kong's demand for an apology.

"Our nation has already expressed its deepest regret and condolences over the incident and we are preparing to reiterate this to bring the issue to its final conclusion," he said.

In October, President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines shouldn't be expected to apologize for the violence of one individual, whom he described as mentally unstable. The president said if he apologized, "then I am apologizing on behalf of the sin visited by the entire country on these Hong Kong residents, and I don't think that is appropriate at this time."

more at http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303743604579352120387556260?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303743604579352120387556260.html

non-visa visits be damned.  i personally never cared much about going to hongkong, with apologies to kabayans who love to go there, much more to those who work there.  but enough of being treated as second-class non-citizens for being heroic domestic workers there.

we must not give in to such arrogance, please.  the city of manila had already apologized through mayor erap.  it looks like hongkong thinks itself a sovereign nation that wants the philippines as a sovereign nation to apologize.

Quote from: islander on January 31, 2014, 10:20:06 AM
Artist Mauro Pallotta had put the image up on Monday in homage to Francis. Pallotta's agent, Margaret Porpiglia said Thursday the artist is now hoping to avoid a city fine, but is considering making a street art piece depicting "anti-hero" Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino.

can hardly wait for this, though.

Devotees fill their vessels with water, which is considered to be holy, from the Bagmati River at Pashupatinath Temple during the Swasthani Bratakatha festival in Kathmandu January 30, 2014. The month-long festival, dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, involves the recitation of folk tales about miraculous feats performed by them in many Hindu households. (REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar)