MikeLigalig.com

An Australian woman who gave birth to twins instead of a single baby after undergoing in-vitro fertilization has sued her doctor for the cost of bringing up the second child.

The woman, who cannot be identified because of a court order, is seeking $329,000 to cover the expense of raising one child until age 21.

Testifying in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory on Tuesday, the 40-year-old mother said she told her doctor that she only wanted one child.

But an embryologist under the doctor's supervision implanted two embryos in her uterus, resulting in the birth of non-identical twin girls.

The woman told the court that she and her female partner were devastated when they learned she was carrying twins, and even considered putting one of the babies up for adoption.

The couple, whose combined income exceeds $82,875, are seeking $329,000 to cover the costs of raising one of the girls, including private school fees. They also want more than $12,000 to compensate them for time off work and medical expenses.

source: Associated Press

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funnelling nearly US$300 million into research to produce new tools to fight tuberculosis, an old foe whose growing resistance to existing treatments has global public health authorities seriously concerned.

The money, part of a previously announced commitment to fund US$900 million worth of tuberculosis research by 2015, is divided into 11 grants aimed at accelerating testing of potential new vaccines as well as speeding development of new drugs and diagnostic tests.

All these tools are badly needed, experts say.

"I more than welcome this type of initiative," said Dr. Mario Raviglione, head of the World Health Organization's Stop TB program.

"If we cannot diagnose TB more rapidly, if we cannot treat it with new drugs and in the end ultimately prevent it with potentially a much more effective vaccine than what we have today we're going to suffer as humanity in the face of this epidemic."

The WHO estimates that a third of the world's population is infected with TB bacilli, the germs that cause tuberculosis, and one in 10 of those people will go on to develop active disease over the course of their lifetime.

For those with access to drugs, regular tuberculosis is cumbersome to treat, requiring months of antibiotic therapy.

But strains of the bacteria have developed multi-drug resistance or even extensive drug resistance. For people newly infected with those strains - and people whose strains develop high-level resistance because they don't follow their drug regime religiously - TB can be lethal.

source: www.medbroadcast.com

Russia and China are spying on US facilities at close to Cold War levels, the head of US intelligence has warned.

Both were aggressively collecting information on the US, head of National Intelligence Michael McConnell warned.

US agencies are battling traditional state foes as well as terror groups, Mr McConnell told a congressional hearing.

Mr McConnell was defending new legislation allowing the US government to eavesdrop on international phone calls and emails without a warrant.

"Foreign intelligence information concerning the plans, activities and intentions of foreign powers and their agents is critical to protect the nation and preserve our security," Mr McConnell told the House Judiciary Committee.

source: news.bbc.co.uk

Quote from: Lorenzo on September 19, 2007, 10:50:53 AM
Brod Mike!! You're in the same month as my parents. Kai my mom and dad have the same birthday on Sept. 28. hahaha.

I hope ALL of your wishes come true, man. Peace!!

Really, Bran. Hapit gyud diay magkadungan.

Salamat sa tanan nga mi-greet though my birthday falls on the last week of September. 

Our life is borrowed from the Lord Jesus. I thank the Lord for giving me life now and beyond.

My would-be wife is more than ten years older and I love to date with her.

By Jaime Laude
The Philippine Star

Pilar, Bohol â€" Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano has warned troops at the front that “unscrupulous groups” might try to use them for their own vested interests.

“If anyone of you has something against the government, you can always get out of the service,” he said.

“From there you can air grievances. But for as long as you are in the service you are bound by your oath to protect the republic and the people from enemies of state.”

Speaking to troops of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, Yano said he will use the full might of the Army to foil any attempt of soldiers to break from the chain of command.

“There are still few noisy people who think that they alone have the monopoly of patriotism,” he said.

“What about us, the majority who have been true to our oath and have been performing our duties as protector of the people and defender of the republic? It’s unfair. So I am ordering you to deal with these vested groups decisively.”

Battalion commanders must immediately resolve grumbling of the troops and not allow it to reach higher headquarters, he added.

Yano told the troops they are deployed in Bohol to rid the province of communist rebels who are trying to make their presence felt despite their dwindling number.

“If you go against your sworn duties, you are even worse than the NPAs, because they (insurgents) don’t have any oath to speak of,” he said.

“They’re plain and simple criminals. Let us put a stop to this foolishness (destablization).”

Meanwhile, Yano told a peace and order council meeting in Tagbilaran City chaired by Gov. Erico Aumentado that the Army presence in this island province will continue until such time that the New People’s Army (NPA) has been defeated.

However, the Army cannot do it alone because fighting and defeating the NPA requires coordinated efforts, especially with local governments, he added.

Bohol is a government laboratory for development, Yano told provincial board members, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Bohol chapter and local leaders.

Powerful Typhoon Wipha has hit China's densely populated eastern coast, south of the country's financial hub, Shanghai, state media say.

State TV showed huge waves hitting the shore as soldiers worked in pouring rain to help residents to move to temporary shelters.

More than two million people were earlier evacuated from Shanghai and neighbouring areas.

Experts said the storm could be the worst to hit China in a decade.

The typhoon - with winds of up to 45m per second (150ft) - made landfall at 0230 on Wednesday (1830 GMT Tuesday), the Xinhua news agency reported.

President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao "demanded that relevant provinces and cities strengthen their guard against the typhoon... and safeguard the lives and safety of the people" in a statement posted on the Chinese government website.

The province of Zhejiang bore the first brunt of Wipha.

State TV showed waves of up to 10m (36ft) pounding eastern shores, and it reported that boats and ships had been ordered to return to port and ferry services suspended.

Earlier, heavy rains forced schools to shut and grounded flights, and flooding brought central Shanghai to a standstill.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange may close if "emergency measures" were necessary, state media reported.

source: news.bbc.co.uk

Tubag Bohol adds a new board intended for all singles' talks.

There are issues and problems that an unmarried person will face and we hope this board would be of help to all singles.

Here's the board link:

http://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?board=163.0

Husbands, love your wives. â€"Ephesians 5:25

People around the world reacted with shock in September 2006 when news broke that Steve Irwin, the “Crocodile Hunter,” had died. His enthusiasm for life and for God’s creatures was contagious, making him a favorite personality worldwide.

When his wife Terri was interviewed shortly after Steve’s death, her love for him was obvious as she said through her tears, “I’ve lost my prince.” What an affectionate way to memorialize her husband! She saw him as her prince and her best friend.

The husband-wife relationship is often viewed today as anything but the tender one Terri and Steve must have shared. We see bitterness, insults, and animosity presented in the media as the norm. How much more desirable it is to see true loveâ€"to see a husband unashamedly cherish his wife, to unselfishly be her “prince.”

How can a husband continue to love his wife in a more princely way? Try these suggestions: Listenâ€"enjoy those tender times when she can unburden her heart without fear. Love lifeâ€"find ways to add fun to your marriage. Lead spirituallyâ€"guide the way into prayer and intimate fellowship with the Lord.

Men, be a prince to your princess. â€"Dave Branon

Honor your wife and in love with her dwell,
Yield to the Savior and all will be well;
Peace He will give to both husband and wife,
Blessing their marriage with joy throughout life. â€"Anon.

Marriage thrives in a climate of love and respect.

source: Our Daily Bread

Raquel you got married 3 days before the 911 tragedy.

By Sanjay Pinto

In perhaps one of the biggest matrimonial frauds in India in recent times, an impostor out on bail in a pornography case managed to trick three women into marrying him and 37 others into a physical relationship.

The victims are all young professionals from across India. The Chennai police have arrested this online Romeo.

False profiles

Liqayat Khan, 31, put up false profiles on a popular matrimonial website:

Sandeep Kumar
Profession: Sub Collector, Training

Sudhakaran
Profession: IAS Officer

Rajesh Kumar
Profession: Software Engineer, London

But in reality, he's already married in Neyveli, has a child and was out on bail last year after being charged by the Trichy police for making pornographic films in a computer centre he once ran.

Alerted by a user of the website, the police trapped the impostor, but not before he married three gullible women, lured and developed physical intimacy with 37 others from all over India.

This is on the basis of cellphone call records in the last four months.

Matrimonial fraud

The culprit had been operating for about two years and sources say the actual number of victims from doctors to software professionals to bank employees could be close to hundred.

''It's a case of cheating by chatting. He contacted 37 women and married three of them so far,'' said M Ravi, JCP, Chennai.

After ''marrying'' his unsuspecting victims, he would leave on the pretext of having to continue his training in Mussoorie or to rejoin work in the UK. Of course, never to return.

source: ndtv.com

IT security and control firm Sophos has welcomed news that four men have pleaded guilty to being part of an international gang that used spam to manipulate the stock market, raising more than $20 million from investors.

According to the US Department of Justice, 47-year-old Michael Saquella (also known as Michael Paloma), 63-year-old Lawrence Kaplan, 38-year-old Henry Zemla and Justin Medlin, were members of a gang which spammed out fraudulent news stories to create artificial demand in stocks, pumping up the share price of 15 small companies (Beverly Hills Film Studios; Body Scan; Cor Equity Holdings; Courtside Products; eDollars, IFINIX; Integrity Messenger; Latin Heat Entertainment; Motion DNA; PokerBook Gaming; TKO Holding; Trans-Global Holdings; V3 Global; Xtreme Technologies; and Zuma Beach Entertainment).

The pump-and-dump gang then sold off their stock, netting more than $20 million in profits, some of which was shared with the companies that were having their share prices manipulated. Astonishingly, these firms were involved in the operation, although it is not believed they realised anything illegal was taking place.

26-year-old Medlin, from Paris, France, was one of the people hired by the rest of the gang to send out the spam messages.

Sophos experts report that pump-and-dump stock campaigns like this account for approximately 25 percent of all spam, up from 0.8 percent in January 2005.

All four men have pleaded guilty to counts of fraud and are facing between 5-10 years in prison when sentenced later this year. Saquella and Kaplan have also admitted multiple Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) violations. Three other defendants, Steven P. Luscko, Gregory A. Neu, and Brian G. Brunette, have already been sentenced to between 1-5 years in prison.

Pump and dump stock campaigns work by spammers purchasing stock at a cheap price and then artificially inflating its price by encouraging others to purchase more (often by spamming "good news" about the company to others). The spammers then sell off their stock at a profit. Sophos experts report that pump-and-dump stock campaigns account for approximately 25 percent of all spam, up from 0.8 percent in January 2005.

source: sophos.com

IT security and control firm Sophos has reported on its blog that webpages of the US Consulate General in Saint Petersburg, Russia, were compromised by hackers earlier this week. The infected pages have since been cleaned up.

The attack was part of a larger campaign by cybercriminals in which vulnerable web servers were targeted. This resulted in more than 400 webpages around the world being infected over the last week. The majority of the compromised pages were hosted in Russia.

"This latest attack highlights the fact that no organization is immune from infection, and that no matter what the size of the company, it must defend its webpages fully to avoid being stung," said Fraser Howard, principal virus researcher at SophosLabsâ,,¢. "The hackers have reeled in a big fish on this occasion and will no doubt be very pleased with their catch of the day. Unfortunately, while high profile sites such as the US Consulate can be cleaned up quickly, we are seeing a dangerous number of companies that are failing to act responsibly to retain the sanctity of their sites."

By retrieving a copy of one of the infected Consulate pages from an internet cache, Sophos experts were able to identify that the cybercriminals had planted malicious code known as Mal/ObfJS-C, that then attempted to load further malware from a remote server. This malware includes an additional malicious script that attempts to exploit several browser vulnerabilities in order to install a Trojan horse that could be used to steal business critical data and personal details.

source: sophos.com

--e-mailed directly to Tubag Bohol Information Center

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the country's leading domestic carrier and airline innovator, has announced that beginning September 19, 2007, guests can pay for their airline tickets via Megalink automated teller machines (ATMs) and Megalink member banks after making their booking through CEB's call center.

All depositors of Megalink affiliated banks may now pay for their CEB bookings in over 1,700 ATMs nationwide. 

Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product, said after payment is confirmed, CEB will send a text message to the passenger containing their e-ticket details on or before 12 noon the following day.

To help shoulder the cost of using banks' facilities, a 15-peso service fee will be charged per payment transaction. 

All Megalink-affiliated banks will be accredited for the CEB link-up. In addition, Banco De Oro, Equitable-PCI Bank, along with Robinsons Bank, will accept over-the-counter payments even from those who are not account holders.

Iyog added that this service enhancement is delivered to CEB guests shortly after the airline announced that payments for flight changes can also be settled through their call center.

"We are aware of the need to innovate and look for better ways for our guests to book and pay for their tickets.   With this new service, guests now have the option to pay for their CEB tickets in the same way that they are now paying for their electric bills."  Iyog said.

For more details, passengers may call the CEB Customer Service Hotline (70-20-888) or visit the CEB website at www.cebupacificair.com or the nearest Megalink-affiliated bank or Robinsons Bank.

"We want to make air travel more accessible so we need to find ways to reach more people in a faster and more efficient manner." Iyog emphasized.

Now in its 12th year, CEB has the youngest fleet in the Philippines at just one and a half years. CEB operates 14 Airbus aircraft to its 20 domestic and 9 soon to be 12 international destinations with the addition of Xiamen this month and Guangzhou , and Macau next month.

It happens to everyone. From time to time, things at work get you down and you end up telling yourself that you hate your job and it's time to go. But usually, it's just like bad weather. The mood will pass.

Which leaves us with one question: how do you know if you really hate your job or if it's just the weather? It's an important question given that we spend most of our lives working.

Here are the 7 Signs:

#1 -- I’ve Got the Monday Morning Blues

Everybody’s heard it â€" people moaning about the fact that it’s Monday. 

“How are you today?”

“Oh, I’m O.K. for a Monday.”

If you find yourself ruing Monday (or whatever happens to be the first day in your work week), you may very well hate work.  Monday is a day like any of the other six days in a week.  It holds the promise of new discoveries, opportunities to solve challenges, the chance to work with comrades to improve outcomes, and the reward of contributing to the success of your organization.  If these elements don’t exist for you, or aren’t apparent to you, something is dreadfully lacking, and no one could blame you for hating work.

#2 -- T.G.I.F.

If you live for the end of the work week so you can head for happy hour to drown your sorrows, chances are something is lacking at work!  Everybody looks forward to a break in work â€" R & R to relax and renew, to connect with family and friends, to devote time to personal pastimes and projects, but if half of Friday is spent salivating at the thought of “getting out,” whoa!  Take a good look at how you really feel about the work you’re doing.

#3 -- You’ve Got My Body, But My Brain is Somewhere Else

Some researchers suggest that the average worker spends less than 60 percent of the day actually engaged in work.  The other 40 percent is spent daydreaming, surfing the Web, playing games, engaging in personal phone calls, etc.  Keep an informal (yet candid) log of how you spend the average day.  If you find you are committing less than 95 percent of your time to activities that directly benefit your employer, someone is being shortchanged!  Most likely you and your employer!

#4 -- You Spend More Time at The Water Cooler Than at Your Desk

Gossip â€" a terrific waste of time and energy â€" brings only grief, to those who engage in it and to those who are the brunt of it.  There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it’s hardly appropriate for any of us to be gossiping.  Sometimes the practice is a learned behavior that we ought to eliminate; sometimes we get sucked into it.  People who are passionate about their work find no time to engage in idle chatter about their employer, their co-workers, or celebrities.  They are having too much fun applying their talents for the advancement of their organization.

#5 -- You’re in Danger of Being Crushed if Your Inbox Falls Over

Do you find yourself avoiding projects?  This often results from lack of clear vision â€" how does the accomplishment of this project move us toward success?  Those with a clear, compelling vision relish the opportunity to tackle assignments and contribute to the attainment of that vision.   

#6 -- You Wouldn’t Recognize ‘The Boss’ if His Picture Didn’t Hang in the Foyer

Lack of recognition is one of the most common comments made by employees in job satisfaction research.  Truly, it isn’t much fun to pour yourself into a project, only to receive no thanks.  The Gallup Organization discovered in it’s benchmark 25-year study of successful organizations, that one of the most important factors in job satisfaction was recognition by an employee’s direct supervisor/manager. 

#7 -- “That’s Not in My Job Description” Is Your Favorite Song

If you have ever asked a co-worker to lend a hand, and heard the reply, “that’s not in my job description,” you are not to be blamed for hating work.  That response is never heard in organizations that are driven by a compelling vision, where everyone chips in to achieve success.  My financial advisor has built a team dedicated to providing extraordinary service to clients.  Everyone on that team is capable of responding to my needs â€" no one ever says, “I’m sorry, I can’t take care of that . . . you’ll have to talk to so-and-so.”

This is the perfect time to determine how you feel about work.  If you hate it, there could be no better time to give it up (the hatred, not the work), discover your compelling vision, and change the course of your life.  You owe it to employer.  More importantly, you owe it to your yourself.

source: Upward Bound

By Rona Dougall
Sky News Correspondent

The Army is beginning its new winter recruitment campaign with a series of glossy television advertisements - amid the mounting casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It comes at a crucial time for the armed forces, with high numbers of people leaving and against a backdrop of the growing casualty figures.

In the year 2005/2006, 24,000 people left the armed services compared with 18,150 who joined up.

Last year, the new head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, warned British forces were stretched.

"We are running hot, certainly running hot. Can we cope? I pause. I say 'Just'," he said.

Quote from: balong on September 18, 2007, 09:15:32 AM
chapter 4

kong wa pa ko kasakay ug overseas nga barko, dili ko ka sakay ug erplano. the first time i rode a plane was when i joined my ship in japan. m/v sacramento. this was the real name of the ship. it does not matter much if i told you the name. pero pasayloa nga dili ko kapa ila sa ahong kaugalingon. lisod ang kinabuhing tnt. all filipino crew mi. sagol ug experience. kasagaran veteran na sa barko. diha poy mga 1st timer pareha naho. ang position naho apprentice mate. after 15 days of travel from japan, mi abot na mi sa states. lipay tawon patid patid sa snow kay winter man. ug labaw na pong excited nga maka tilaw mi ug white meat, if you know what i mean. a few hours human mi mo dunggo, nangabot na ang GTG. ang problema kay 8 lang sila ka book unja daghan mi. mga 20 man ming crew, dako kaajo ug short. inig saka sa mga chicks, adto dajon sila sa mess hall istambay. kadtong mga walay duty maoy mag entertain. dalitan ang mga chicks ug beer ug whisky. swerte swerte lang kong kinsay maka una. aron madali ang estorya, nahalin dajon ang mga girls. tagsa tagsa na ug dala sa cabin. mao nga kong may swerte ka, maka kuha ka ug chicks naa na kay asawa for the few days the ship is in the port. m/v sacramento was a log ship. lami sakyan ang log ship kay tag dugay man sa port mag load ug troso. dihay usa ka chick nga nabilin. si dorothy. diga dajon ang kauban nahong mga rookies. bahala na ug tiguwang basta white meat. wa na lang ko manumbaling. in my mind i said 2 myself, injo na na. bahala na ug di ko katilaw. hinoon, mada pa man ang hitsura ni dorothy. tabonan lang nimo ang nawong ni dorothy ug magazine nga naay nawong ug artista nga gwapa inig k***t nimo, pwede na. tanaw tanaw lang ko sa ahong mga amigo nga nakig hagwa, namasin basin nga katilaw 4 the 1st time ug white meat. wa ko mag dahom nga sa pag labay naho sa mess hall, na siplatan diay ko ni dorothy. natinga ko kay sa pag sulod naho sa ahong cabin, gi sundan diay ko ni dorothy ug mi deretso pod sija ug solod.

of course this will be continued.

Balong, a TV report says that Filipino seamen are AIDS carriers to the Philippines?

Unsay buhaton sa mga asawa nga nabilin sa Pilipinas? Many Boholanas have husbands who are seafarers.
Are they in danger now?

Quote from: kaliwatnidihay on September 18, 2007, 11:43:57 AM
what's your views and comments on this topic -- do we owe from our parents of what we are? are we going to repay them emotionally and financially?

I can give my life for my parents.

Kami diri tambok buaw: tambok buaw sa pahiyom ug kinaadman.

Welcome Buaw to Bohol's fastest-growing website.

Quote from: Bambi on September 18, 2007, 07:05:19 AM
Na....magtuwad-tuwad gjod si Sigbin ini. Unya sekondariohan pas Balak ni Mike na.

Di pud ko kabalak kung naay nagtuwad.

Quote from: Ginger on September 18, 2007, 04:35:37 AM
Btw, nindot kaayo ang balak, Mike!

Fusing imagination and distant realities. Thank you, Zel.

Quote from: Ginger on September 18, 2007, 04:36:46 AM
Mike, maka hubo man ta aning balaka oi...

Mas makahubo ka Zel inig human sa kasal ninyo ni Sigbin. 

Tubag Bohol's Prolifics as of September 17, 2007

The Magic 9

1. Happy         3561
2. Hajji       2198
3. Ginger       1701
4.  ..yadz..       1626
5.  ms da binsi         1471
6.  buenavista           1152
7.  lumine       1132
8.  Bambi       1100
9.  Lorenzo       1096

By virtue of the Constitution of Tubag Bohol vested upon me, you, cdnams, shall now be called gagiest este gagiers. 

dear gagiers,

you are using this e-mail add for gagiers' account: www.carolyn_boutet@yahoo.com is this your email add?

i already sent your activation letter. if you cannot find it in your inbox, check it in your spam folder or bulk folder. Yahoo's SPAM parameters are quite jumbled. Unreliable.

Anyway, what I gonna do now is to delete gagiers account and i will change your cdjams to gagiers.

Mike

Most UK adults are so unwilling to exercise that not even the threat of an early death is enough to get them off the sofa, a survey suggests.

Only 38% of people questioned by YouGov said they would do more exercise if their life depended on it.

And British Heart Foundation figures show only a third of people manage to do enough exercise to achieve the minimum recommended amount.

Experts warned inactivity is dangerous even in those who are a healthy weight.

Among the 2,100 people surveyed, brisk walking was found to be the favourite way of getting exercise - before dancing, swimming or going to the gym.

However, only 4% said they found exercise fun.

A greater inspiration was exercising to change body shape, particularly among women and young adults.

Almost a third of 18 to 24-year-olds reported they would do more exercise if they saw an unflattering photo of themselves or were told they looked fat.

Other less predictable forms of motivation to work out included fancying someone at the gym.

But only 13% of men and 7% of women said keeping a healthy heart was their main motivator.

Excuses for not exercising were found to be always close at hand - from not having enough time to the one in seven who blame bad weather for not doing enough physical activity.

source: news.bbc.co.uk

Internet crime has become a major commercial activity, reveals a report by computer security company Symantec.

The report said cyber crime had become increasingly professional and was now a multi-billion dollar industry.

The underground economy has its own auction sites and marketplaces that sell valuable data such as credit card numbers and bank accounts.

They also sell toolkits for novice cyber criminals who lack technical know-how to craft their own attacks.

Boom times

"We're seeing a definite shift in terms of commercialisation," said William Beer, Symantec's european director of security practice. "It's being used by organised crime and it's being used to launch their attacks.

"We have seen very focussed attacks that leverage very active commercial business on toolkits," he told the BBC News website.

Mr Beer said Symantec had seen the net's underground economy enter a new phase in the last six months as those involved in it prospered.

One example of how it had grown could be found in the number of new malicious programs reported to Symantec. The 212,101 new threats reported during the first six months of 2007 was a 185% increase over the previous six months.

The economy had rapidly become specialised and now every service a criminal needed to carry out attacks was widely available, said Mr Beer.

For instance, he said, many malicious hackers were using their technical skills to create tool kits that they then sold to those with the criminal know-how to carry out attacks.

Evidence that these were being taken up enthusiastically, he said, could be found in the fact that three phishing toolkits were behind 42% of all phishing attacks seen by Symantec in the first six months of 2007.

In addition, 86% of all phishing websites were hosted on only 30% of IP addresses known to be phishing websites, suggesting that some were cornering the market in looking after criminal sites.

More worryingly, said Mr Beer, were signs that different sections of the underground economy were starting to collaborate to improve their chances of catching people out.

Hi-tech criminals with information culled from job sites, online games or social networking sites were teaming up with phishing gangs and spammers, said Mr Beer.

source: news.bbc.co.uk

Saudi Arabia says it is to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from UK firm BAE Systems for £4.43bn.

The Ministry of Defence would not confirm the deal had been completed, saying negotiations are continuing.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) dropped a probe last year into a sale of jets to the Saudis in the 1980s.

The UK government said the decision was on national security grounds, but reports said the Saudis had threatened to pull out if the probe went ahead.

A report on the official Saudi news agency SPA says that the price paid per aircraft is the same that Britain's Royal Air Force pays for the aircraft.

Critics attacked the decision to drop the SFO investigation, saying the government had put commercial interest before ethics and had given in to Saudi blackmail.

In addition to the price paid for the planes, there is also expected to be a lucrative deal for the munitions that go with them and for their maintenance.


source: news.bbc.co.uk

Microsoft has lost its appeal against a record 497m euro (£343m; $690m) fine imposed by the European Commission in a long-running competition dispute.

The European Court of First Instance upheld the ruling that Microsoft had abused its dominant market position.

A probe concluded in 2004 that Microsoft was guilty of freezing out rivals in server software and products such as media players.

Microsoft has two months to appeal at the European Court of Justice.

"The Court of First Instance essentially upholds the Commission's decision finding that Microsoft abused its dominant position," the court's statement said.

Microsoft's top lawyer said it was important now for the company to comply with EU competition law, but that it had not yet decided on its next legal steps.

source: news.bbc.co.uk

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

The three Boholano solons said they were not informed of a House resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into the environmental impact of the oil seismic survey and future drilling at the Bohol-Cebu Strait.

This was the statement yesterday by representatives Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Jala after fishermen’s groups intimated that the three congressmen did not show interest in House Resolution 212, filed by Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño, even as it gained support with six other Visayan congressmen and party list representatives.

The 3 solons said they were not informed that the resolution was filed in Congress until last Wednesday, when it came out in a story of the Chronicle.

In fact, Casiño, the resolution’s principal author, revealed in an interview that he already apologized to Chatto for having been not informed on the matter.

Casiño bared that when the resolution was circulated in the House, the Boholano congressmen were not available since all three had separate meetings to attend.

Chatto pointed out that since the start of the debates regarding the effects of the seismic oil survey, he was already pushing for transparency.

“I welcome and support the formal inquiry on the matter in Congress,” the first district representative said.
For his part, Jala said he will review the resolution once he gets a copy of it.

Cajes, on the other hand, said that usually their offices are informed of resolution or bills to be filed that requires their support.

However, Cajes said his office was never notified of such resolution. He said he will study the resolution, once he receives a copy of it.

According to Casiño the resolution was already endorsed to the committee on the environment and natural resources.

It is now up to the committee to conduct hearings regarding the matter, Casiño said.

House Resolution 212 was jointly filed by administration congressmen Eduardo Gullas (Cebu 1st Dist., KAMPI), Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu 4th Dist., KAMPI), Antonio Cuenco, (Cebu City 2nd Dist., LAKAS), Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong, Negros Oriental (1st Dist., LAKAS-CMD), George Arnaiz, (Negros Oriental 2nd Dist., NPC), and Henry Teves (Negros Oriental (3rd Dist., LAKAS) along militant lawmakers Luzviminda Ilagan and Liza Maza of Gabriela, Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis and Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna.

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

The franchise of Bohol Light Company Incorporated is “highly questionable and illegal.”

This was the claim made by City Mayor Dan Lim yesterday who renewed his call for Gov. Erico Aumentado to pursue the reacquisition of the Salcon controlled power and water utilities.

Lim’s statement followed after the mayor was accused by former OIC Gov. Victor dela Serna to have been “silenced” together with the governor regarding the provincial government’s bid to buy-back the 70% equity of Salcon in Bohol Light and Bohol Water.

Lim retorted yesterday during his weekly “Mayor’s Report” saying that expropriation, as proposed by Dela Serna is a risky option that could drive away investors here.

The mayor said that Bohol Light’s franchise can be nullified in court. In fact, Salcon wants to totally eliminate the provincial government’s legal personality in the company by applying a franchise for Bohol Light in Congress.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) did not have authority to issue franchise upon adoption of the EPIRA law, Lim said, as NEA approved Bohol Light’s franchise two years after the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Under the EPIRA law only Congress could issue a franchise to power distribution companies.
“If their franchise is valid and legal, then why is the company applying for a franchise in Congress?” Lim asked.

“[It’s] highly questionable that the NEA still accommodated the Bohol Light application despite the adoption of EPIRA,” the mayor added.

Lim challenged the governor and the provincial board to exploit this argument to invalidate the power utility’s franchise.

Even Dela Serna, according to Lim, as member of the Bohol Light board should question this through a court petition.

Power Hike

Bohol Light will allegedly earn more than P70-million every year due to the 25-centavo power rate increase granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Lim said.

This will mean an average of an additional expense of P3,000 monthly to an average consumer, according to the mayor.

It may be recalled that there is a pending petition filed by the mayor against the water rate increase of Bohol Water at the RTC.

Bohol Water was supposed to implement a 40% water rate hike but was issued an injunction resulting from Lim’s petition.

The mayor said he has no personality to initiate an offer to Salcon in reacquiring the power and water utilities.

Lim said he could only question the transfer of reservoirs owned by the city to Bohol Water during the time of former mayor Jose Torralba.

By Ric Obedencio
The Bohol Chronicle

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has tried to contain the so-called coco leaf “hispine” beetle, scientifically known as Brontispa Longissima Gestro, that infested at least two barangays of Baclayon town.

The move to get rid of the pest was apparently in response to the directive from no less than President Arroyo, said Timoteo Lago, Jr., PCA provincial officer.

In an interview with Contact Point over DyRD, Lago said his personnel have already treated a total of 789 coco trees in barangays Laya and Cabanac, where these pests were first detected.

The containment measure was also undertaken with the help of the Department of Agriculture, provincial agriculture technical coordinating office, Regional Crop Protection Center, and local government unit of Baclayon, PCA said.

Lago admitted that this type of pest, which is as tiny as a firefly, has threatened the precarious coconut industry of more than 89,000 hectares in the province.

This beetle is “flat and slender measuring about 7.5 to millimeters long and 1.5 to 2 mm wide. The color is generally black except for the yellow-orange to red color of the neck and basal portion of the wing. The larva stage lasting for about 36 days and adult lasting for 75-90 days are considered the most destructive.

The adult and its larva feed on the soft tissues of young fronds of coconut seedlings and mature trees and ornamental palms. They cause the decay and drying of affected parts preventing the tree from bearing fruits and ultimately killing the tree,” said PCA press release.

Coconut seedlings and oil palm trees or any palm species are vulnerable to infestation of this pest, Lago said. But there was no report yet that oil palm trees in some areas in bohol show infestation.
They can be transmitted by hiding in any clothing or belonging of a passenger coming here. PCA said that the source of this pest is still unknown. But it could have entered the country through the importation of ornamental palms from infested countries in 2004.

Lago warned coconut farmers to keep extra watch over their plantation because the surge has already been experienced in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Samar, Albay, Sorsogon, Boracay and Pasay City. He urged them to report any unusual signs of infestation.

Based on Food and Agriculture Organization, the countries  of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Maldives are already facing this menace that their palm trees are “heavily infested,” said PCA.

Published by the Bohol Chronicle

Adopting the report of the committee on environment, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan endorsed last week to file appropriate charges against the perpetrators of the neglect and mismanagement of the Rajah Sikatuna Protective Landscape (RSPL).

This is one of the recommendations pushed forward by the SP through committee chair Alfonso Damalerio II on the raging controversy over the alleged fund mismanagement and environmental neglect of RSPL.

The move, however, did not identify who are the culprits or personalities or entities involved in the RSPL mess.

The highest lawmaking body also passed a Resolution urging Congress to tinker the law on integrated protected area fund (IPAF) to be directly given to RSPL Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). If done so, the money should be subjected to usual auditing and accounting rules and regulations, said Damalerio.

Damalerio’s committee conducted separate committee meeting and ocular inspection of RSPL in barangay Riverside, Bilar, Bohol, to find out the real score. It was done with the cooperation of the committees on Tourism, General Resolutions, and Ways and Means.

Damalerio got the explanations of warring Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation (SWCF).

During the hearing, William Granert, SWCF executive director, accused DENR of fund mismanagement as well as non-implementation of the community-based forest management (CBFM) and non-implementation of biodiversity conservation program funded by New Zealand for RSPL.

There was no truth that DENR mishandled the funds, said Eduardo Inting, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Penro). He also brushed aside the allegations that they did not implement the CBF and biodiversity program.

He turned the tables on Granert saying that SWCF is in fact interested to control the RSPL fund. If indeed the DENR should be blamed, Granert, who is a member of the PAMB, he is a part of the mismanagement, Inting argued.

He explained that prior to any project implementation and fund disbursement, the “approval of the PAMB must first be secured.”

PAMB is composed of local chief executives of different towns within RSPL, SWCF, DENR, Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), CVSCAFT, provincial tourism office. It conducts quarterly meetings.
Inting made assurance that RSPL funds are being accounted for and that audit is regularly conducted by PENRO and DENR Central Office.
 
But SWCF said that DENR “controlled all the funds and never had any accounting for the money spent.” It said that it never had in any way involvement in the release or transactions of funds.
This probably prompted SWCF to file formal complaint against DENR with the latter’s central office. “Their last recourse is to file criminal and administrative charges against DENR officials.”

Whoever you are, show us your face.

Welcome to Tubag Bohol, Alexandra De Rossi.

How's married life? 

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

Three Cebu City policemen facing charges of extortion were not transferred here in Bohol as earlier reported.

Central Visayas police director C/Supt. Silverio Alarcio bared in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday that the three police officers are being suspended for two months.

SPO1 Jaime Otadoy, PO3 Rey Albotra and PO1 Raniel Capangpangan of the Cebu City Police-Vice Control Section (VCS) could not be reassigned in Bohol, contrary to earlier reports, since they are under investigation and currently undergoing dismissal proceedings, Alarcio said.

Reports of the transfer was met with dissent from various sectors here.

The three policemen were accused by an arrested drug suspect of extortion. Otadoy was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, which conducted an entrapment operation at the Cebu City Police Office. Albotra and Capangpangan eluded arrest and are still at large.

In a separate interview, Bohol PNP director SSupt. Edgardo Ingking explained that he was apparently misquoted by Cebu newspapers after he was interviewed about the reported transfer of the three policemen.

According to Ingking, he did not receive any official order from the regional director regarding their reassignment. However, when asked by Cebu media to comment if he will accept the three policemen, Ingking said that if there is an order from his superior, he will accept the transfer.

He said he would prefer police to be assigned here who are Boholanos, for practical reasons that they do not have to regularly go to their home province, which could affect operations.
Ingking also prefers those who do not have pending cases.

Alarcio disclosed that 20 policemen from Cebu have been assigned here as additional personnel being requested by Ingking.

Ingking said 10 of the 20 are already reporting at the Tagbilaran City Police Office.
The other 10 new police personnel have yet to report here, Ingking added.

press release

Agnes Celeste P. Ytac, a freelance Department of Tourism-accredited tour guide and a member of the Bohol Island Tour Guides Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BITGAP) was one of the awardees during the commencement exercises of the Korean Language Training course conducted in Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea.

The two-month training sponsored by the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) through the Sustainable Tourism in Eliminating Poverty (STEP) Foundation ended last August 17, 2007. Present during the commencement exercises were the Kyung Hee University President, Ki Jong Lee, Dean of the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management of Kyung Hee University, Korean language teachers from the International Institute for Education (IIE), Korean buddies, staff from STEP Foundation and residency training program for ASEAN Tourism, government officials and delegates.

The Philippine delegates in the training were David John Apigo from Manila, Michael Villaga from Pampanga, Michael Alfon of Cebu Association of Tour Guides (CATG) and Ms. Ytac of Bohol Island Tour Guides Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BITGAP).

“The training was very helpful in understanding another Asian culture through language studies most especially that we have experienced an increasing number of Korean tourists in the Philippines,” Ms. Ytac said. “We do hope that the program will be continued to another level and more delegates from the Philippines will be sent for such studies,” she further recommended. 
The graduation started at 10 o’clock in the morning with the presence of Ki Jong Lee, Dean of the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at Kyung Hee University as guest speaker.

Two delegates from Vietnam topped the Level 1 class while a Cambodian delegate topped the Level 2 class. Ms. Ytac ranked third in the Level 1 class. There were a total of 26 delegates from 7 Asian countries namely: Laos, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

For the finale, the delegates sang the Korean graduation song entitled “Nahansang,” a Korean love song taught to them by one of the Korean teachers. The graduation program ended with all the delegates and guests joining together for their luncheon banquet prepared by the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management students at the Walker Hill Hall.

In the afternoon, the delegates witnessed the traditional and cultural performances of Korea in one of the historical palaces located in Seoul. Following the concert, the delegates had their final dinner together with their Korean teachers and the staff of the program. Most of the delegates departed for their respective countries on the 18th of August while the rest the following day.

For the past more than two months of the training, the Korean language class was held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Lectures on tourism, Korean Culture and Tradition, Politics, Korean history, people and the arts, Hallyu (Korean music, movies, dramas and artists), among others were also conducted from 2 to 4 in the afternoon.

A series of field trips were scheduled during the weekends. The delegates visited the DMZ (demilitarized Zone area) dividing North Korea and South Korea at the so called 38th Parallel, JEJU Island and its famous vacation area, Everland, historical palaces and temples, city tour, traditional and cultural performances, folk villages to name some.

press release

Kia Motors introduces to the province its latest iteration of minivans, the 2007 Kia Carnival.
Previously known as the Sedona - prior to that, Carnival also - the 2007 model is completely redesigned and sports fresh new sheetmetal that has a decidedly more elegant and upscale styling.

The new minivan is also basking in the recent 5-star ratings in frontal and side impact tests for all seating positions given to it by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)-the highest possible rating.

The all-new Carnival offers more horsepower and torque than its predecessor and is also substantially larger in all key dimensions, providing 15% more passenger room and cargo-carrying capacity.  New features found on this newest Kia include a standard fold-flat-into-the-floor third-row seat and power sliding doors and liftgate.

And with increased power and torque, the all-new Carnival catapults itself into the higher end segment of its class.  A completely new 2.9-liter common-rail direct-injection (CRDi) DOHC turbo intercooled diesel engine pumps out a generous 160 ps at 3700 rpm while delivering improved fuel efficiency.

With more power, less weight and a new chassic with comfort-turned four-wheel independent suspension, the new Carnival should deliver a more rewarding drive then its predecessor and be highly competitive with its competitors.

Other accolades that the Carnival has received includes a “Gold Top Safety Pick” for its top ratings in frontal, side, and rear impact crash tests conducted by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in separate tests.

In order to receive a Gold Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, a vehicle must receive a “good”-the institute’s highest rating-in all three categories of frontal, side and rear impact tests.  Among the eight current minivans IIHS has rated, only the Carnival earned a “good” in all three tests.

The new Kia Carnival’s retain price starts at P1.2 million for the entry-level LX M/T. The automatic variant retails for P1.275 million while the top-of-the-line EX, which sports a longer wheelbase, stickers at P1.55 million.

press release

A Boholana, member of the prominent Tirol clan in the province, is among the 28 youth leaders who are set to sail in the 34th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP), an annual diplomatic exchange program among and between the emerging youth leaders in Asia sponsored by the Cabinet Office of Japan.

Janice Aurora “Nice” Briones Tirol, daughter of Engr. Jes Belarmino Tirol, Director for Research and Development and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bohol and the late Aurora Briones, is a faculty of the University of Bohol - College of Education since November 2001.

She is part of this year’s PAGSIKAT Philippine delegation that will spend six weeks on board the Japanese luxury ship “Nippon Maru” this year. The delegates will be involved in activities such as institutional visits and home stays in participating countries, discussion groups, cultural presentations, and other goodwill exchanges geared towards broadening international perspective.

“Nice” finished Bachelor in Secondary Education - Major in Social Studies in March 2001, passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in the same year (2001), proceeded with Master of Arts - Major in Educational Administration and graduated in May 2003. She obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in March 2006. Having earned her Diploma in Special Education in June 2007 and having completed her academic requirements, she is currently doing a project study for the degree in Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education.

Chosen by the Office of the President of the Philippines through the National Youth Commission and declared as Philippine Participating Youths (PPY) are Ralph Irish S. Aguda and Ma. Elena R. Abundo (Region I), Ritchie A. Rivera (Region II), Alden Roi D. Copuyoc and Myra M. Gabito (Region III), Phillip Norbert Ahmad L. Medina and Joanne Kristine M. Mamaril (Region IV), Eddie R. Balunso and Indira B. Tabo (Region V), Jason B. Mande and Jeneda C. Salcedo (Region VI), Michael Nicholas D. Malazarte and Janice Aurora B. Tirol (Region VII), Eugene C. Sosing and Anna Celeste M. Agabe (Region VIII), Marvin F. Delfin and Giselle Iris M. Alano (Region IX), Hector G. Quilang and Angelie S. Azcuna (Region X), Jonald T. Boyoc and Precious Ann Legario (Region XI), Jaypee B. Carmen and Jocelyn B. Lambac (Region XII), Aiza Mae J. Kanda (Region XIII), Ronald C. Lopez (CAR), Bai Erisha C. Sinsuat (ARMM) and Albert John M. Mallari and Astarte D. Abraham (NCR).

Composed of a select group of young professionals, educators, community workers, students, artists, writers, designers and musicians, they were selected from among the thousands of applicants from across the country and underwent a rigorous 10-day pre-departure training in Pililla, Rizal last July. The PAGSIKAT Group will join its counterparts from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam in Japan on October 22 for the inauguration ceremony and the Japan-ASEAN Youth Summit.

Other Boholanos who have had the privilege of promoting the Philippines via the SSEAYP are First District Cong. Edgar Migriño Chatto, May Valles Blanco, Leni Casiguran Ingking, Anne “Dianne” Namoc Ramirez, Felma Rengel and John Maraguinot. (Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao â€"Gabin)

By Hector M. Manding
press release

Tradition clings to the heart. This prompts Boholanos who have found a second home abroad to celebrate fiestas in foreign lands. For the people of Panglao, everywhere they go their Patron, San Agustin, is always there.

The Panglaonons of the East Coast of USA, mainly from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. celebrated the Feast of San Agustin in Langhorn, Pennsylvania, at the residence of Dr. Vilma Fucanan-Wong. Her husband, Nestor, and their children played host to more than 70 Boholanos who came as far as Florida. Coordinating the event was Flor B. Maslog.

The usual sumptuous Filipino foods were there, highlighted by the necessary lechon at the center of a massive buffet table. Eating and drinking started at lunchtime and ended at 10 o’clock in the evening of August 24. Dancing-and-singing was a non-stage activity, which made some American guests conclude that Boholanos are born with music in their hearts.

It was also timely that the news of Msgr. Crispin Varquez being appointed Bishop by the Pope was at its highest pitch, for which reason he was fetched from Long Island, New York and driven to Pennsylvania on a three-hour drive to celebrate the Holy Mass. Assisting him was Father Jerome Comendador of Cebu. The fiesta became a double celebration. A week later, Msgr. Varquez was feted a Despedida Party at the Our Lady of Martyrs Parish Church, where he has been assigned, after he officiated as the main celebrant of a Holy Mass attended by approximately 500 Boholanos and parishioners.

In the Panglao fiesta celebration, a short program was prepared in honor of San Agustin, spiced by an instant selection of Miss Panglao. Miss Aliza Cuaco of Florida was crowned queen by Bishop Varquez and Mr. Loy M. Palapos, who was in San Francisco and New York for the forthcoming TBTK. Her court included Miss Monaliza Arcaya, Miss Vanessa Wong, Miss Hannah Guimalan, and Miss Rosalyn Estoquia.

As planned, a meeting was made and a new organization was founded, the APEC (Association of Panglaonons in the East Coast). The following were elected officers: Vilma Fucanan (President), Francis Dompor (Vice-President), Flor Maslog (Secretary), Hermigarda Kennedy (Treasurer), Cory Cloma (Assistant Treasurer), Marie Palapos (Auditor), Claire Matela (PRO). Elected Directors were: Candelario Arcaya, Agustin Arcaya and Rosalyn Estoquia.

Registered Members are: Nestor & Vilma Fucanan, Francis & Tita Dompor, Boy & Sancha Arcaya, Marie Palapos, George & Minda Kennedy, Agustin & Josie Arcaya, Ricky & Jeanne Guimalan, Philip & Amanada Estomo, Yul & Dory Dompor, Sheldon & Aida Kirstein, Trifon & Inday Fucanan, Roger & Aurora Polotan, Flor Maslog, Claire Matela, Cory Cloma, Wincee Arao-arao, Digna Laurie, Diocera Cuaco Castro, Rita Ranario, Amalia Guimalan, Rosalyn Estoquia, Gerry Fucanan, Veronica Salinas De Leon and Greg Tomo.

--press release

Consistent scholar Mary Joy I. Moncada, passed the licensure examinations for chemist given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Manila on September 6 and 7, 2007.

Mejoy, as she is fondly called, consistently whisked elementary and high school with flying colors and graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas â€" Iloilo in March this year with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

The new Boholana chemist of barangay Taguihon, Baclayon town is the daughter of Fe Iyog-Moncada, Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation (BCRC) office staff and the late Joy Moncada, of Kiss 102.3 FM and a former LBC employee.

As per PRC result, out of 460 examinees nationwide only 234 passed the licensure. The commission has set the oath-taking ceremony of successful examinees on October 6, 2007 at 1 o’clock in the afternoon at the Ceremonial Hall of the Manila Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
Registration for membership with the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) will start on September 17, 2007.

The Moncada family would like to extend sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Dejaresco Family, Mejoy’s uncle and aunt in Canada for their support.

By Anzing Zoilo Poquita
press release

The annual fiesta celebration of Birhen sa Barangay Parish, Lindaville Subdivision capped with one of the nightly activities held on Aug. 30, 2007 at the Sports and Cultural Center of said village, the Search for JR. CWL Princess, 2007.

Organized barely more than a year ago, JR. CWL is a counterpart of CWL Lindaville Subdivision Chapter. The search is purely based on beauty and brains criteria. Seven lovely and intelligent teens vied for the title, the first of its kind, submitted themselves to the board of judges in a pageant choreographed by Gilbert Libante, Professor of Mater Dei College, Tubigon.

The candidates were presented in a production number, their costume courtesy of Estoce Accounting and Auditing Office, in casual wear and long gown, their attire provided by Miriam M. Suarez of ML Bridal Fashion, after which talent, question and answer portions followed.

After a two-hour careful selection process, minor awards went out to Fritzie Hazel E. Salise - Best in Production Number, Best in Talent and Ms. Photogenic; Kristine Gean A. Licayan â€" Best in Casual Wear, Carmell Glory Sotomayor â€" Ms. Congeniality; and Airah Balatayo â€" Best in Long Gown The brain-breaking process of the jurors came up with this result; Hayacinth Uy, 6th runner-up; Airah Balatayo, 5th runner-up; Maria Katrina P. Alaan, 4th runner-up; Carmell Glory Sotomayor, 3rd runner-up; Alma Bella Jumawid, 2nd runner-up; Fritzie Hazel E. Salise, 1st runner-up; and Her Majesty, Kristine Gean Licayan, is JR. CWL Princess 2007.

Sash was pinned on each by the parents and trophies were presented by CWL - Board of Directors. Rev. Fr. Manuel Mendez assisted by Ms. Esperanza E. Bruñidor put on the crown, while CWL-Lindaville Chapter president Evelyn O. Oracion presented the trophy. The board of judges is composed of CWL Diocesan board president and retired Reg. VII DSWD Director Esperanza E. Bruñidor, chairman Atty. Heidi Oracion-Molina, CPA, and Mr. PMI Colleges, 1997 Joseph Gregson Olaivar, members.

Dao Brgy. Kag. Natividad L. Estoce, past president and present first vice-president. CWL-Lindaville Chapter, moved heaven and earth to make the search both a reality and a success. Heartwarming messages were shared by Parish Priest Mao Mendez and LSPIRAInc. president Cirilo Esperanza Jr. The women power of CWL-Lindaville Chapter are the following:

Phase I â€" Evelyn Oracion, president; Natividad Estoce, 1st vice president; Arsenia Tabuno, 2nd vice president; Felexia Mumar, secretary; Myrna Opon, treasurer; Maria Balane, assistant treasurer; Sulpicia Pahang, auditor.

Phase II â€" Jean Lumanas, president; Myrna Marigomen, secretary; Rita Libay, treasurer; and Versilita Olandre, auditor.

Jr. CWL â€" Leah Monteron, president; Maris Opalla, 1st vice president; Emilee Bantugan, 2nd vice president; Fritzie Hazel E. Salise, secretary; Rona Malou E. Monton, assistant secretary; Ann Veronica Galendez, treasurer; Airah Balatayo, assistant treasurer; and Amie Cris Boquilla, auditor.

Board of Directors: Phase I â€" Elsa Lingo, Maria Ofamen, Carmen Monton, Porferia Vertulfo, Annabelle Yana, Margenia Navarro, Virginia Bentulan, Alejandra Navea, Phase II - Fernanda Abucejo, Amparo Duhaylungsod, Vida Encarquez, Teresita Anabieza, Crispina Boquilla, Felicitas Aranas, Jesusa Visaya, Elsa Calamba, Estrella Buynay, Geronica Quiachon, and Segmaringa Reformina, JR. CWL Board of Directors - Deo Maria Gracia Duites, Hyacinth Uy, Joan Inobio, Nieves Rosagaran, Kristine Gean A. Licayan, Carmell Glory Sotomayor, Alma Bella Jumawid. Pevi Ann Pastorfide, Nerissa Ayeng, and Maria Katrina P. Alaan, PROs.

--press release

Preparations for the main highlight of the University of Bohol (UB) Days and Intramurals, the Mr. & Miss UB Personality Pageant, are in high gear. The talent show is on Tuesday, September 18, 7:30 p.m. and the search proper is on Thursday, September 20, 8 p.m., both at the UB Quadrangle.

The handsome and pretty contestants, Mr. & Miss CSAC Eric Shia and Adeline Taer, Mr. & Miss Technology Jayson Caguin and Jenelyn Barbosa, Mr. & Miss Criminology Arvin Gubantes and Mirva Polo, Mr. & Miss Nursing Rolf Roland Reyes and Leslie Jane Cepedoza, Mr. & Miss DHS Homer Jose Virtudazo and Anni Wachsmuth, Mr & Miss T/HM Edil Tan and April Mariz Taburaza, and Mr. & Miss Pharmacy Parker Bolanio and Rhesa Gene Cerio had their personality enhancement workshop, sponsor visits, mall tours, pictorials and rehearsals last week.

Different Culture, Different Reaction
By Jes B. Tirol
Columnist
The Bohol Chronicle

Proem

Culture is defined as the sum total of the ways of living built up by a group of human beings, which is transmitted from one generation to another.

History tells us that the culture of the Filipinos is composed of the pre-Spanish Southeast Asian ways, the Spanish culture, and the American culture.

The Japanese have built up their own culture and assimilated the culture of East Asia.  The Japanese monarchy is the longest dynasty in the world today.  Only one family has occupied the Japanese throne for almost two thousand years now and the monarchy became the unifying force of Japanese culture.

Similar Situation but Different Reaction

Last Wednesday, September 12, 2007, the Sandigan Bayan pronounced Ex-President Joseph Estrada as guilty of the crime of plunder. Coincidentally, in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation in order to take responsibility for a scandal-scarred government.

In the Philippines, no President has ever resigned to take responsibility of the scandal in the government.  In Japan, any slight hint of scandal can cause the Prime Minister to resign.  Sometimes they even commit suicide or “seppuku” as an honorable way of erasing one’s shame.  In the Philippines, the President will stay on as if a scandal of humongous proportion is not important.  The question is, why is our reaction different from the Japanese, the British, the Europeans, etc. who will resign?
Is It Religion?

The Philippines is one of the two Christian countries in Asia (The other is East Timor).  Our religion follows the Muslim-Christian tradition.  In these religions, martyrdom is a virtue.  The maxim “No retreat, no surrender” is a desired trait.  If you surrender or give up the cause, then you are viewed as a traitor.

The Japanese has the Shinto and Zen Buddhism.  These religions have no concept of God.  Its equivalence of God is nature and the Universal Intelligence.  The greatest emphasis is in ethics.  You must behave honorably or else your next life will become miserable.  In the culture that they developed, accepting responsibility for the failure of subordinates is viewed as honorable and a way of manifesting that the leader is sinless.

The Filipinos have a different view.  If the leader accepts responsibility of the failure of subordinates, then the leader himself is also guilty.  So the “honorable” way is to fight it out to protect your subordinates.

The last line of our national anthem emphasizes it by saying “Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo (To die because of you).”  It is a distorted interpretation of what Jesus Christ said, “No man has greater love than this, that he gave his life for his fellowmen.”

Is It the Spanish Influence?

During Spanish times, the Governor General will face the “Residencia” at the end of his term.  It was a kind of court to be headed by the incoming Governor General to investigate the out-going Governor General for corruptions and other misdeeds done during his incumbency.

The result was not a clean government but a more corrupt government.  The Governor General would steal more in order that he will have money to bribe the judges, pay the penalties, and still have some money left for himself.

Given the present situation in the Philippines, it is more probable that this Spanish influence is what is being followed in the Philippine culture.  The ex-President has already been sentenced as guilty of the crime of plunder but the present government is still wrack with scandals involving money of gargantuan proportion.

What do you think will be the purpose of the huge ill-gotten wealth?  For sure they would not bring it with them to the grave or to whatever place in the afterlife.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
Philippine Information Agency

Filing of Certificate of Candidacies (COC) for the up-coming synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is delayed anew, says the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The recent move has further dipped the candidates and the law enforcement agencies into confusion, apart from the fact that the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has put up an omnibus proposal to reset the October 29 2007 synchronized Barangay and SK elections.

Instead of the previous dates set for filing as determined by the Comelec to be September 14-19 as per its Resolution 8298, it has again reset the date of filing to September 29 to October 10 by virtue of the Resolution 8301.

The resetting of the date is the second change after the Comelec has issued in an en banc Resolution 8264 setting the date as October 11-18.

As this developed, the gun ban, which the Comelec and other law enforcement agencies have been tasked to implement is also moved from the enbanc resolution set date at September 29-November 23 to September 29 to October 13.

The Comelec, through another resolution earlier determined the start of the gun ban from Sept. 14 to November 13 as contained in Resolution 8298.

The recent reset was contained on another Comelec resolution as signed by Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr., Commissioners Resurreccion Borra, Florentino Tuazon, Romeo A. Brawner, Rene V. Sarmiento and Nicodemo Tanner.

In related developments, the elections commission said they would still see to it that the mandatory drug test is implemented.

The mandatory drug test which would be demanded of Barangay Chairman, Kagawad, SK presidents and kagawads is in consonance with Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

“By requiring candidates to undergo the mandatory drug test, the public will know the quality of the candidates they are electing and will be assured that only those who can serve with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency would be elected to hold office”, Abalos explained in reports.

“All candidates therefore are asked to submit the drug test certificates to the local Comelec before October 18,” he added.

By Rey Anthony Chiu
Philippine Information Agency

Banking on the cooperative’s character, Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas hopes the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Bohol Chapter could goad the Bohol Electric Cooperative to agree with town executives on certain issues regarding local projects’ implementation.

Salinas, who also sits as the LMP executive Vice President told mayors during the recent meeting that he wished the LMP could call on the electric cooperative so they can agree on matters regarding services both want to render to constituents.

The retired navy captain said when his town expanded its water services, BOHECO allegedly demanded that the town spend for the installation and would only go and tap the power after all is set, he claimed.

Catigbian opened up an electric powered pumping unit to widen its water service coverage, and the town was left alone in putting up the infrastructure, including the putting up of power lines to energize the water pump sources.

He said he has talked to BOHECO officers and asked if the cooperative could co-share in the installations costs, because, according to him, the power server would earn after collecting from the costs of power used.

The power cooperative however accordingly refused.

“I am just hoping the league can do something about this problem, he stressed, even as he said the installation costs may sometimes be too high for local governments.

“We are not expecting to earn, we are there to serve so we spend. But if there is a way they can also cooperate and share on the costs, then it could stretch the little amount the towns put up for services,” he said.

Aside from Catigbian, several league members also shared the same problems.

With the issue, LMP chairman and Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren promised that the league would write to the two BOHECO managers and invite them on the next league meeting.

Now on a plan to rotate the LMP gatherings to the districts, Mayor Salinas suggested that the next LMP meeting be set November 7 in Catigbian. Salinas also said he would also be inviting the provincial government officials to attend the same.

The league also agreed to hold their meeting on a regular bi-monthly basis on the first Wednesday of the month and goes to towns whose mayors previously bid.

forwarded letter from leo udtohan

Mga sano and sana in Europe you are invited for the october 13th event in Bonn, Germany.

The MabuhaySampaguita association e.V, a registered association in Germany, is inviting all Boholanos, the “sanas” and “sanos”, to attend the first Boholano Charity Gala Night in Europe, which will be held at the Brückenforum, Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 17, 53225 Bonn, Germany on October 13, 2007.

The objective of this Charity Gala is to start the process of uniting all Boholanos in Europe under one umbrella organisation, the Boholano Community Europe, to be more effective in promoting and supporting our beloved Province of Bohol and generate a stronger spirit of cooperation among the Boholanos in Europe. In addition the Gala will also be the start of the preparation of the TBTK held 2009 in Tagbilaran City in which the European Boholanos will participate for the first time.

Please spread this news...tell your family members in Europe, friends and other people who are interested to join the event. This is your hance to foster camaraderie and friendship with other paisanos.

Interested, please contact:

Rosemarie Marapao-Bruening
President
MabuhaySampaguita Filipino-German-Friendship-Association e.V.
Rosemarie Marapao-Bruening . Fraunhoferstr. 6 . 53121 Bonn
phone: 0228 54 93 72 . mobile: 0177 3610472 . e-mail: mabuhaysampaguitabonn@yahoo.de

Quote from: buenavista on September 17, 2007, 04:05:02 PM
mao sad na ibalak nimo sa kasal nila ni Ginger,Mike?

Dili oi. Magbuhat ko ug bag-o ug pinasahi. Something very special for that occasion alone.

Constant monitoring of students' boarding houses.

Sa Tagbilaran, luoy kaayo mga studyante kay usa ka kwarto dose ka boarders ang ipasok.

Nag-eskwela ko ug Bohol High sauna sa first year high school pa ko. I was 12 years old then. I was living with 8 college students inside one room. Tua na ko sa ikalima nga deck. Inig buka sa imong mata, atop na. Miuli ko sa Anda. Wa ko kaantos sa kapait sa kinabuhi sa Tagbilaran.

May the City Council legislate a good standard for students' boarding houses and apartment.

Hope the city could provide basic IT training to high school and elementary students.

Behind kaayo ta sa IT. Ang nahibaw-an sa kadaghanan mga students friendster ra gyud ug text-text.

Thais of all walks of life love to ask this question: "Where are you from?"

My answer: Philippines!

Quote from: Sigbin II on September 17, 2007, 03:11:20 PM
Besides, kinsa nay mo-Best Man sa kasal namong Ginger?

Hmmmmmmm... Mobalak jud ko sa kasal ninjo ni Ginger. 

Maybe kahinumdum pa ka nako nibalak sa pantalan sa Tagbilaran. The poem was entitled "Ukay-ukay"

Bene and Princess - thank you.

Here's the whole chapter of Psalm 23:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

I remember I was meditating on this chapter one morning six years ago that I suddenly wept. I couldn't control myself from weeping and I fell on my knees, thanking the Lord for His love and grace.

Bran, luoran ba si "you know who you are"? 

Luoran means a person who is very sensitive, dali ra ma-hurt ug estorya or gesture. There are advantages and disadvantages anang luoran.

As a disclosure, luoran kaayo ko when I was young. Karon na-control na.

Tagbilaran City Councilor Kit Oppus sent me this e-mail and with her permission I am posting it here in Tubag Bohol hoping I could generate suggestions from Boholanos all over the world. Kindly post your suggestions in relation to her message to us and well forward all the ideas to her e-mail. Thank you.

"...Am writing to solicit for your help with my work. Am presently chair of our SP Committees on Social Services, Men, Women and Family, and Public Accountability and Investigations. And knowing you to have a "better picture" from the outside, looking in (you know i mean), maybe you can help me out, with your friends, who would like to help our city, in any way that they can. I hope to present a new way at doing things here, not just solicitation letters, but more of letters suggesting possible legislative support/initiatives. Am also a member of other committees, so any subject would be most helpful."

Hope to hear from you soon - anything under the heat of the sun, For Tagbilaran.

Thanks in advance.

Kit Oppus

Wala bay staff sa National Intelligence Office diri?

Basin madakpan ta kay mi-welcome ta ug Renegade. 

I sat on a rock by a beach in Anda naghulat naay motohil sa paon sa akong pasol.

I remember I sat one whole morning until midday, isa ra gyud ka isda ang mikubit sa akong pasol. The fish was called "tagibunbon."

Labihan na kong lipaya.

Pag-uli na ko sa balay I gave the fish to Mama, saying: "Ma, inig-maluto na ang isda, ituwa nalang ni nato ni Venus." Venus was our home dog.

"Tan-awa nang imong panit, napagtong na ka ug sige ug pamasol, unya usa ra ka isda imong kuha, unya imo pa gyung ipakaon sa iro," said my mother. By the way, Mama doesn't use "j" when she talks since she is from Zamboanga del Sur.

Quote from: Sigbin II on September 17, 2007, 01:11:47 PM
Ok.  Someone suggested that we come up with an eyeball event for Tubag Bohol members who are based nearby.  Now I cannot really qualify what is "nearby" since, because of circumstances, it may be easier for some Ubay-based members to participate than it is for, say, members based in nearer towns (depending on how busy you are), so anyone who is based in Bohol is invited.

However, an Executive Committee (EXECOM) of sorts will need to meet and plan and organize the activity.  So, any volunteers?  (And I do mean volunteers kay from our pockets ra jud ning atong organizational expenses.)

Updates will be posted in this thread.

GEC, Mari, Snowhite may come forward and raise their right hands. 

Quote from: renegade on September 17, 2007, 12:43:14 PM
MAO NI ANG SUMPAY SA SERIES OF EVENTS TUNGOD ANANG FRANCINE. WE APLLIED FOR A U.S. VISA TOGETHER WITH NILA MONTERO AND FR. LINUEL CANIZARES, FR, FELIX HORA, EMMA JOY ABUGHO ( daughter of Mrs. Minda Kennedy of New York ) Fr. Hora and Emma Joy were denied visa during the interview at the embassy last July 16, 2007.  Fr. Linuel was granted. Me and Mrs. Montero were granted visaa according to the consul who interviewed us. Supposed visa were about to be received 4-7 days upon approval. To my dismay, our passpiorts were held at the embassy from July 16 and was released on September 9 only. Nganong giabot man ug adto kadugay nga man siguro na mahitabo sa uban sukad. I made several follow ups thru faxed letters to the embassy but wa jud ko kadawat ilang reaksyon. We are scheduled to attend the 2007 JATA WORLD TOURISM CONGRESS in Tokyo, Japan this Seot 13 16 unta pero saon namo pag aplay ug japanese visa nga ila mang gihawiran amoang pasports. AKONG DUDA, there wer unseen hands nga nag manipulate sa among dokumento didto sa embassy. Duda nako, ila ra man ko gi apil / giangil sa away pilitika dri sa panglao.  Di Ba mao kanay akong huna hunaon. Na man juy pllitiko anaa sa tagbilaran nga close kaayo kang gma. nya, few days ago, miari pus sa bohol ang ambassador to the rp nga si kristie kenney ug mao silay ga host. di ba na klarong gipilitika kini. PASTILAN UG MAO GALING PANGHITABOA UG NAKA AKO SILA HIMO INANA, gakalas kalas ra man atubang ug kuha sa akong butar miaging eleksyon. APILON BA DIAY TA SA AWAY O BUGNONG PULITIKA BISAG WA TAL LABOT?  MAO NIY RESULTA SA ILANG KABUANG. PWERA GABA JUD NANG MGA TWAHANA AS IN PWERA, PWE PWE PWE!

Sorry to hear your ordeal, renegade.

Stay in Asia and get a visa from one of the Asian countries - way koskos-balongos. Way politika.

Quote from: ms da binsi on September 17, 2007, 11:00:18 AM





that's a real prayer Mike, when you talk to Him, He like that, you know???

Da Binsi, God said in the Bible: "Call unto Me and I will answer thee..." - Jeremiah 33:3

Quote from: C2H4 on September 17, 2007, 04:15:59 AM
Thanks for sharing this, Mr Admin.

Our appreciation for life must not make us appreciate death less.

Life and death, one cannot be without the other.

But I for one, am glad you are still with us.

Mag unsa nalang ang Tubag Bohol?

C2H4, Even when I'm gone already (God forbid), this site will still be running. I will entrust to friends the cost and management of this site so the Boholanos all over the planet can always use this site to reconnect to each other for years and decades.

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this.....

Very interesting, read until the end.....

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Here are some men and women who mocked God:

John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:

"Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about that. I am certain.
Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple,
Today we are more famous than Him" (1966) (He said this during an interview and it was published in magazines all over the world)

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil):

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made
President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):

During A show in Canecio (Rio de Janeiro), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: "God, that's for you." He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked
him how safe the Titanic would be.
With an ironic tone he said: "Not even God can sink it." (This line was bannered in most newspaper headlines all over the world on the day of Titanic's voyage.)

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: "I don't need your Jesus."

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

Bon Scott (Singer)

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
"Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell".
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005)

In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the
car:My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You."

She responded: "Only If He (God) Travels in The Trunk, Cause inside Here....It's Already Full"
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, and the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the
trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none were broken.

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)

Said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name
that was given so much authority as the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again,and He is still alive.

Receive Him today as your only Lord and Savior. Say this prayer on your knees:

"Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and I need you to save me from death and
eternal condemnation. I now repent of all my sins. I believe that You died for me in the cross and on the
third day You rose again. Lord Jesus, I invite you now to come into my life as my
Lord and Savior. Give me Your Holy Spirit so that I may be able to live according to Your words. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen."

Revelation 3:20:

Jesus said: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

Romans 6:23:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

source: forwarded message
additional verses supplied

Phuket can be travelled by bus - 8 to 10 hours away from Bangkok. Haven't been there.

Sad to hear this news. Our condolence to families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

This thing can happen anytime, anywhere.

Quote from: Mari on September 17, 2007, 04:00:23 AM
bitaw, ok ra oy. i dont know how far is how far in TB, so if you find those provocative or whatever, i have no problem. i'm cool with that.

Those are beautiful pictures - both the person and the background.

Censorship is next to impossibility.

I was just kidding about the censorship. 

Quote from: Mari on September 17, 2007, 03:55:26 AM
i don't find them raunchy really pero ok ra sad if it break some rules. i dont have problems with that mr. administrator.

Daghang maguol, Mari. 

Quote from: vasegundo on September 15, 2007, 02:02:40 PM
Daghan salamat for welcoming me in this site.  Can you see, I'm still confuse.   I'm going around in circle.  I felt like a dog nga nawala sa site.  But, I'm snooping around to get to know about this site. 

Vase, do you need a lonely planet map? 

Quote from: Mohandis Hajji on September 17, 2007, 03:00:31 AM
si mike mas labaw pa na sa MTRCB!

Dugay na wala mang-censor.

Only blasphemy is a no-no here. Other than that is tolerable at some extent.

Should I censor Mari's pictures? 

Zel, it makes a difference when we always pray.

I know I'm not a saint, but I always talk to the Lord whenever, wherever I am.

There was an unusual urgency to pray at the moment I left my room. I usually talk to the Lord before I leave my room. But last Saturday was different - God wanted me to pray for safety with so much sense of urgency.

Walking to the main highway, I lifted my eyes to the heaven and said: "Father God, panalipdi intawon ko sa akong pagbyahe karon. Ilikay ko sa mga kadautan ug katalagman. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen."

Every weekend I move out from our campus and stay in Bangkok for my teaching and study sessions. Travel time to Bangkok from my place may take up to 3 hours.

I was standing on the shoulder of the highway, waiting for a public van. Fifteen minutes later, I saw a speeding van and I flagged it down. Tailing the van was a speeding bus.

It was so stupid of the driver of the van: he made a sudden left-turn on a one-way road, crossing the highway purposely to pick me up without paying attention that a bus was just a meter or two behind him.

I almost screamed but my breathe stopped because 10 - 15 meters away from me I saw the van that was about to be hit by the bus - but the bus quickly swerved to the left - and it went straight to where I stood. Frozen.

With my eyes closed, being shocked, being terrified - in a millisecond - I mustered all my strength, swung my body, and leaped away to the farthest spot I could reach so that the bus couldn't hit me. I had my laptop bag and cloth bag with me, so I was heavier. I felt the bus's speed generating deathly air that swept on my skin.

Three hours earlier, I was trying to console my sorrowful girlfriend who has been weeping for a week, grieving over the death of her younger sister last Sunday.

"I could die today, and it may be more devastating to you," I told her. "Don't look at death according to the world's perspective - but according to God's perspective - that those who put their trust in Christ Jesus for their salvation have eternal life, and will be resurrected on Christ's second coming, and there will be a great reunion in heaven for all the believers in Christ," I said to her.

I could have died on that day - but God saved me.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Quote from: Ginger on September 17, 2007, 02:44:01 AM
Hoy Barbaro! Wala'y trayduray ha?

sorry dear, im usually off saturday! mo laag ko's Oslo ug mo tan-aw ug naa ba'y na utro sa syudad! hehehe

baloooooong, gi mingaw jud ko sa imong balong-balong...sa akong pag absent, ako kang na hinumduman ug kalit lang nisangtop sa akong huna-huna ug unsa ka ka maayo mo himo ug storya...ka nus-a pa kaha mahuman kining imong nobela aron ato nang masayran ug maka pasar ba ka isip usa ka manunulat. atangan gihapon namo ang kato-uhan dili mong storya.

Pagka-daghan sa mga Bol-anon nga gimingaw ni Balong.

Ginger, gimingaw pud ka ni Sigbin? 

Bran,

Miingon ang Ginoo: "Ang magpaubos ipataas, ang magpataas ipaubos."

The Bible says "My people perish for lack of knowledge."

While I was still in Bohol I already published articles in various newspapers about this man and his racket.

Maybe the victims were reading comics or watching Wowowee.

My family name is a lost tribe.

I have no idea where our family roots came from.

When I re-read this poem, I no longer understand what I was writing.

Samtang Ikaw Nahikatulog
sinulat ni m. ligalig

Gisapnay ang atong mga lawas
niadtong mga balili
sa nataran sa balay - ang tulay
sa daklit natong pag-inilhanay.

Naligo ta sa kahayag sa bulan
samtang atong gigakos
ang kataposang kangitngit
sa atong panag-uban.

Mitambid kanato ang katugnaw -
misuhop ang kabugnaw
lapos sa atong kaunoran
nga hapit mahubsan sa kainit.

Naglupad ang akong mga mata
nagpaabot nga mahukasan
ang sayal sa kadlawon -
kadlawon nga nahimong samad.

Buot ko ikaw pukawon
aron magdungan ta ug halok
sa ngabil sa bulan
ug aping sa mga balili.

Apan ang imong mga mata
nahikalimot sa syagit
sa kagabhion - sa singgit
sa malinawong langit.

Nganong nahikatulog ka
samtang ako nagping-it

sa kasakit sa panamilit
sa bulan ug mga balili?

Kahumot Sa Dahong Laya
sinulat ni m. ligalig

Mihangyo ka kanako nga iuli ko kanimo
ang kagabhion nga akong gihulaman.
Matod mo kinahanglan na ako nga mobiya
kay nangatagak na ang kilay sa kangitngit.
Buot pa unta ko nga ihungit kanimo
ang katam-is sa mga liso sa kamatis
apan gihikawan mo na ako nga mosapidpid
sa sampot sa hilaw nga mansanas.

Sa akong pagtalikod, gibilin ko nalang kanimo
ang kahumot sa dahong laya.

That is if the current daily trend continues up to the end of this month.

Let's wait and see. 

Let's continue to share what we know.

All for the love of Bohol!

For God's glory!

The best is yet to come.

Bohol's brightest, smartest, funniest - all in Tubag Bohol. 

One of the first posts in Tubag Bohol was about this guy - his nefarious activities in our province.

But he got a permit from City Hall, reports said.

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked. â€"Acts 4:34

Six friends have formed a home-repair club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They meet one Saturday each month at one of their homes to work on projects that cannot be tackled alone. Having helped one another for 20 years, they say they’re now bonded together like one big family. A similar group has formed in Snohomish, Washington. Their motto is: “Will Work For Friends.”

The concern of these groups for their friends reminds me of the early church (Acts 4:32-37). During this time of great persecution of believers, they especially needed the support of one another. Some people voluntarily sold their lands or houses and brought the proceeds to the apostles, and “they distributed to each as anyone had need” (v.35). They were of “one heart” and “had all things in common” (v.32).

As followers of Christ today, we too need the spiritual support and encouragement of one another. We may be struggling with a decision about how to serve the Lord, or concerned about a problem at work, or unsure of how to discipline a rebellious child. These are good opportunities to enlist the advice and prayer of fellow Christians.

Through love, let’s serve one anotherâ€"physically and spirituallyâ€"in the family of God (Gal. 5:13). â€"Anne Cetas

Be not weary in your serving;
Do your best for those in need;
Kindnesses will be rewarded
By the Lord who prompts the deed. â€"Anon.

Christians stand strong when they stand together.

source: Our Daily Bread

Quote from: Franklin on September 16, 2007, 01:57:21 PM
Oh boy I was lucky to run into the whole group of Miss Earth candidates a couple of times 2 years ago.
Wow.
None of those beauties are under 6 feet tall.
I got a few good shots of Miss Sweden, as she talked to me, made my heart beat fast.

Where are the photos, Franklin?

         Philvolcs National Director Dr. Renato Solidum and Office of the Civil Defense Administrator (OCD) Maj. Gen. Glenn Rabonza will be in Bohol next week to oversee the series of actual tsunami drill and Information and Education Campaign that the OCD will hold from September 17 to 19, as part of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council’s READY project or the "Hazards Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community?based Disaster Risk Management.

        The governor is expected to witness the actual tsunami drill and the MOA signing on the implementation of the Community-Based Early Warning System on September 17 in barangay Canmanico , Valencia during the IEC.

        Mayors of coastal towns in Bohol are also expected to grace the ceremonies together with New OCD Regional Director Rosario T. Cabrera.

        OCD Regional Director Rosario T. Cabrera from Region 6 officially takes over the Region 7 hierarchy effective September 16. Cabrera swaps office with OCD Regional Director Angel Gaviola who will take over the Region 6 post.

        The string of activities will start with an IEC in the afternoon of September 17 in barangay Canmanico, Valencia.

        Then the OCD will conduct an actual tsunami drill in the morning of September 18 also in barangay Canmanico , Valencia.

        At 2:00 p.m. they will proceed to barangay San Pedro Duero, to conduct another IEC session.
        Another actual tsunami drill will be held at 8:30 a.m. on September 19 in barangay San Pedro.

        Of the barangays in the five towns surveyed by the Phivolcs group, only barangays Canmanico in Valencia and San Pedro in Duero passed the criteria for conducive exercises for the evacuation site and evacuation route drills.

        The two barangays serve as showcase of the coastal barangays where Community-Based Early Warning System will be implemented.

         The PDCC and Phivolcs will also identify evacuation routes to the evacuation sites.
         Earlier, Governor Erico B. Aumentado, through Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr., had sought the cooperation of the municipal mayors of Valencia, Garcia-­Hernandez, Jagna, Duero and Guindulman to assist in tsunami drills.

         READY project advocates for a holistic approach to disaster preparedness, according to Provincial OCD Coordinator Verneil Balaba.

         Balaba explained that CBEWS will serve as the popular and traditional "batingaw" or the channel of information to give warning on foreseen disasters, from the Pacific warning center in Honolulu, Hawaii to the municipal officers here through the Phivolcs, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) which will then relay it to the PDCCs then to the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils (MDCCs), then to the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils (BDCCs).

The implementation of CBEWS involves LGUs, PhivoIcs, Department of Education, the OCD and the PDCC. (AV?PGMA)

Quote from: rayborze on September 16, 2007, 01:39:54 PM
Hi,my brother just died.louie ylaya.we need to educate our people.rey ylaya(vancouver canada)

Our condolence, Ray.

Bohol’s investment and tourism thrust got the chance to be promoted during the Manezh Gifts Expo on September 24 to 28 in Moscow.

         The consul of the Russian Federation and the Filipino companies participating in the exhibit had included promotional materials from Bohol when they shipped the exhibit and promotional materials for display to Moscow on September 2.

         Armi Lopez-Garcia, consul to Russian Federation, had availed of a complimentary booth in the exhibit that can be maximized for the Philippine Embassy in the promotion of the country’s trade industry, investment and tourism.

         Information materials on trade incentives, travel brochures and other promotional materials will be displayed at the complimentary booth.

         This is to boost Bohol and the country’s relations with the Russian community, while enhancing the local economic and political development.

--Provincial Government Media Affairs Office

Bohol to host five Miss Earth candidates
Provincial Government Media Affairs Office

The provincial government will host five of the about 90 candidates of Miss Earth 2007 which events span from October 25 to November 2, which will give a chance for Bohol’s eco-tourism factors to be aired over at least 35 television networks in different countries.

        The Carousel Productions, Inc. proposed to the provincial government that by hosting the candidates, Bohol’s environmental advocacy will get international mileage and will be featured as one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines.

         Bohol will accommodate four Miss Earth delegates and one Miss Philippines-Earth  winner for two days.
        The telecast over ABS-CBN at 9:30 in the evening of November 11 will be replayed in 35 countries on Star World Channel, the largest cable television network in Asia and the Middle East and over 26 countries through The Filipino Channel and some participating countries in their local television stations.

The Miss Earth delegates will visit different Asian countries to see the highlights on peace, culture, environmental issues and tourism industry.

         They will also visit the different tourist spots in the Philippines and, at the same time, experience the taste of the Filipino culture and hospitality.

         There will also be a search for “Li’l Earth Angels” among boys aging seven to ten years old at the different malls and schools in different municipalities, environmental campaigns against global warming in schools, tree-planting, clean-up drive, and waste segregation, among others.

         Special events include fashion shows showcasing swimsuit, long gown, talent and national costume competitions in different establishments. (AV-PGMA)

By June S. Blanco
Office of the Governor

A Bol-anon newspaper reporter and his managing editor drew prison terms and were ordered to pay P1 million in moral damages plus P50,000 attorney’s fee for publishing two libelous articles against Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado on Oct. 10, 2002.

Ordered by Presiding Judge Pablo Magdoza of Branch 48 of the Regional Trial Court of Bohol to each suffer imprisonment of from six months and one day to four years and two months on top of the prison terms were chief of reporters Ven C. Arigo and managing editor Reynaldo “Reigh” Monreal of the Atong Balita Sano (ABS), a weekly newspaper edited, published and circulated in Tagbilaran City and Bohol.

The case stemmed from Arigo’s banner story “Opisyal sa Kapitolyo, target sa NPA (Capitol official target of NPA)?” subtitled “Erico target sa NPA?” and another story, “Naglasalasa gyud diay ang P53 M equipment deal (The P53 M equipment deal is really greasy)?” that were published in the same issue.

The prosecution presented two witnesses: Aumentado who completes 40 years of elective public service this year, and lawyer Rolando Butalid, former Tagbilaran City mayor and former governor of Bohol . Private prosecutor Paulino Clarin Jr. assisted the governor.

Aumentado’s political career started in 1967. He has survived nine elections with no loss at all: as senior Provincial Board member, vice governor, completed three terms as congressman of Bohol’s 2nd District and is now in his third term as governor. He was the first Boholano to become Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chair of the Visayas Bloc of Congressmen.

In his eight-page decision, Magdoza found Arigo and Monreal guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of libel under Article 353 in relation to Article 354, 355 and 360 all of the Revised Penal Code.

To note, the New People’s Army (NPA) had campaigned against Aumentado in previous elections by, among others, distributing leaflets that enumerated five reasons why the people should not vote for him. Samples of the leaflets are found at the mini museum then Col. Juanito Gomez, previous commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade established at the brigade headquarters in Camp Rajah Sikatuna in Carmen town.

Among others, the governor earned the NPA’s ire because he did not pay access fee or permit to campaign fee in areas allegedly controlled by the rebels.

Besides, the NPAs ambushed Aumentado on Feb. 13, 2004 â€" a Friday the 13th â€" as he left the Capitol after meeting the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) that he chairs. Bullets wheezed by the feet of his close in security officer and hit in several places the dark green Mitsubishi Pajero that was his service vehicle at the time.

The late Silvino “Ka Bino” Clamucha, then spokesperson of the Central Visayas Regional Party Committee (CVRPC) had claimed responsibility of the ambush.

Arigo however wrote in Visayan that “But there is doubt as to the truth in the reported inclusion of the governor in the hit list of the leftist rebellion since Aumentado himself has been constantly publicizing his programs for the ‘forgotten’ sector of the society.”

“A few days before the unverified news about the list of the NPA, the administration of Aumentado was criticized because of, allegedly, conspiring with one of the quarry ‘concessionares’ Domingo Chua, not from Bohol,” Magdoza quoted the prosecution’s evidence.

Arigo also wrote that “Rumors also emerged that during the recent election, Aumentado used the ‘NPA’ to accordingly threaten the voters.”

But Aumentado said the published article reeked of malice. A lawyer by profession, he said he does not resort to terrorism, as this is a crime punishable by the Omnibus Election Code.

He said he did not have any understanding or conspiracy with Chua. While as governor he had exclusive authority to issue permits to quarry sand and gravel and other resources, he does not remember issuing one to Chua. The latter was already well established in the quarry business before he became governor so that Chua had no need to have any understanding with the complainant, Aumentado had stated in his affidavit.

In the same issue of the ABS, Arigo again maliciously attacked the complainant; he imputed graft and corruption on Aumentado.

“When the governor mentioned about ‘kickback’ in his letter, it revived the allegations of the contractors that there are some politicians who are receiving a 10% commission.”

“If we are to make the accusation of the contractors our basis, the 10% of the P53 million earmarked for the ‘road mechanism project’ will reach more than P5 million â€" even if the ‘winning bidder’ will give a ‘road roller’ or ‘grader’ so that the transaction will push through, there would still remain millions [of pesos] in grease money,” he wrote.

Aumentado said the article was opinionated and was a malicious imputation against him. He said Arigo twisted his letter to Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera dated Oct. 7, 2002.

Part of the letter reads: “xxx the acquisition of the equipment shall be through open and competitive public bidding to ensure transparency. For this purpose, I am requesting your personal active participation as PBAC [Pre-Qualifiction, Bids and Awards Committee] member in all phases of the process from pre-qualification to bidding and award.”

“xxx Furthermore, to avoid suspicion of ‘kickback’, we may ask the winning bidder to donate instead an earth-moving equipment such as pneumatic road roller or grader, among others, to the provincial government.”

Arigo’s article however read: “After it was disclosed that Gov. Erico Aumentado wantet to buy a HAMM RACO soil stabilizer costing more than P53 million.

The governor said Arigo’s presentation made it appear that the desire to buy road equipment costing P53 million was his alone when in fact it was the strong recommendation of the Technical Working Group (TWG) headed by Provincial Board member Eufrasio Mascariñas. He said the HAMM RACO costs definitely less than P53 million.

Aumentado also said Arigo insinuated that he was going to make money out of the deal, thereby imputing on the complainant the commission of the crime of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
For his part, Butalid testified that after reading the articles, he found them derogatory to Aumentado.

In his affidavit, Monreal said he allowed the publication of the first article “because he respected Arigo’s ability to write,” and the second article “because it was written by Arigo.”

Arigo failed to appear in court on the occasions he was supposed to testify, thereby waiving his right to adduce evidence in his favor.

Magdoza found all the elements of libel present in the instant case â€" defamatory imputation which tends to cause dishonor, discredit or contempt of another; publication of the imputation; existence of malice and the person defamed must be identifiable although it is not necessary that he is named.

A third co-accused in the case was former Gov. Rene Relampagos. For lack of probable cause, however, the case against him was dismissed.

Welcome to our home, Rayborze.

This site is yours.

Laugh and learn with us.

Our government has too many nonsense priorities but cannot address this problem squarely.

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

Dengue death toll in the province has now reached 15 with 1,188 others afflicted since January this year.
This is the highest number of casualties and victims of the deadly aedes mosquito since the past 5 years, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot.

Eight of the 15 deaths are from Tagbilaran City.

The latest dengue casualties are Darwin Sarmiento, 2 years old of barangay Mansasa, this city; Louise Jay Ilaya, 7 years old of Borja Street, this city; Aljohn Pitao, 9 years old of barangay Tawala, Panglao; Stephanie Joaquino, 4 years old of Gallares Street, this city; and Grina Bacante, 3 years old of barangay Jaguilao, Getafe.

The other victims are Christine Fostanes, 5 years old of Airport Road, this city; Johnny Pinsoy, 3 years old of Tinago, Dauis town; Faith Cimafranca, 6 years old of barangay Mansasa, this city; Franz Coto, 6 years old of Butalid Street, this city; Christine Jade Digal, 4 years old of Cambacay, Batuan town; Angel Jose Orique, 5 years old of Canjulao, Jagna town; Gardel Dagodog, 4 years old of West Poblacion, Albur town; Elaizah Janelle Requina, 6 months old of barangay Bool, this city; Niño Jade Marimon, 4 years old of Catagbacan, Loon town; and Giselle Cutamora, 8 years old of Torrero Street, this city.

As of last week, Tagbilaran City registered a total of 409 afflicted with dengue fever.

Town with high incidence of denge are Dauis with 136, Jagna 94, Loon 54, Baclayon 44, Albur 37, Panglao 30, Mabini 28 and Ubay 26.

God gave him time to repent. He could have been shot and killed during the robbery incident.

The best is yet to come...

Laugh and learn with us!

We're glad you arrive here.

Mak2, welcome to Tubag Bohol.

Enjoy our site using your Macintosh computer.  Apple's Mac!

Quote from: C2H4 on September 16, 2007, 01:06:37 PM
Nice one, Mr Admin.

I am a firm believer of personal quiet, down-time.

You're welcome, C2H4.

God speaks when silence rules.

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

A member of the Meloy Garcia Robbery Group who survived seven gunshot wounds has been regretting his criminal acts after doctors declared him permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

Cresencio “Bruts” Reguya, 27, had been bedridden after a critical surgery to extract bullets lodged in different parts of his body.

Reguya, together with cohorts, was fleeing the shootout with security guards of the Bank of Commerce when he was hit by a shotgun blast on his back from one of the guards.

Another bank security hit him with a .45 caliber round.

One bullet dislocated a disc in his spinal column that caused the paralysis.

More than two weeks after the incident, Reguya is still in pain as doctors just re-stitched the surgical incision through his chest down to his navel.

One more bullet is still lodged on his left shoulder. Unless his other wounds heal, doctors will not perform another surgery on Reguya.

Reguya said he feels guilty and remorseful of what he did as he was informed that one of the security guards, Remegio Cañizar, died from the shootout while two others were also wounded.

Reguya admitted that he shot Cañizar with Meloy Garcia.

         The string of awards that the province of Bohol garnered during the recent First Central Visayas Corn Festival in Toledo City , Cebu inspired Governor Erico B. Aumentado to gear for more achievements in the next round in 2008.
         Bohol stood out in the corn festival held on August 22 to 24 with at least 16 awards which include Most Supporting LGU (provincial category), first prize in Corn Jingle Contest for Daniel Bautista of Sagbayan, Bb. Corn Festival 2007 title for Nathaline Rose Nalupa, “Pinakadaghan og Pusô”, Best Corn Farmer for Dionisio Galendez of Sierra-Bullones, third prize in Best Booth, third prize in slogan contest, and “Pinakanindot og Pusô” (tie) for Bohol’s booth entry.
         The province also received consolation prizes in Best Corn Cluster, Best Corn By-Product Display, Corn-based Handicraft demo contest for Felicitas Remoreras of Loon, Corn-based delicacy cooking demo for Leonida Milana and Leticia Ocol of Candijay, Most Supportive LGU (municipality category) for Sagbayan, Folk Media contest, minus-one singing contest also for Daniel Bautista and Quiz Bee for Arlene Cabusao.
         The Boholana Bb. Corn Festival 2007 also garnered the Best in Evening Gown award.
         The consolation prize for Best Corn By-Product Display was for the corn coffee, corn-shrimp kropeck varieties  of corn hybrid and the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
         The slogan, “Alang sa matahum, himsug ug kusgan nga kalawasan mais ang gikinahanglan” by the Bohol group won the third prize.
         Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog and Provincial Corn Coordinator Leon Parac Jr. brought home the news with pride as it gave signs that Bohol has potentials in making it bigger next year for the second corn festival having claimed slots in a number of categories.
         The corn festival celebrated the theme, “Improved Corn Productivity: For Better Health and Profitability in Central Visayas ”.
         Representatives from the Provincial Agriculture Office, municipal agriculture officers, agriculture technicians, and Boholano farmers compose the Bohol delegation.
         The city government of Toledo held the event in cooperation with the provincial governments of Bohol, Cebu , Negros Oriental and Siquijor; and the regional Agricultural and Fishery Council of Central Visayas.
         They thought of holding the event “to showcase and promote various uses of corn and its by-products and provide corn producers and buyers the proper venue to discuss relevant information, especially on the recent updates of the regional corn industry”.
         It highlighted the primary uses of corn as food and in industries of oil and starch, and its other uses in handicrafts and medicine then in medicine as bio-fuel.
         It updated corn stakeholders on the latest techniques in corn production, post-harvest   handling and marketing, aside from forging “a strong cooperation and understanding among all corn stakeholders, especially on discussing programs that will alleviate poverty, thereby increasing  income of corn farmers”.
         Among its participants were corn producers, consumers, industrial users, processors, researchers, investors, input suppliers, and farm implement dealers and fabricators. (Angeline Valencia and Aida Tanghal/PGMA)

After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. â€"1 Kings 19:12

In recent years, the spread of personal digital music players has resulted in concerns about hearing loss. The design of the music players and their earphones has been the target of complaints and lawsuits. Long-term exposure to music at a high volume has been shown to cause serious hearing impairment. In a sense, too much hearing can result in an inability to hear.

We live in a world filled with noiseâ€"noises designed to sell, plead, seduce, and deceive. In the midst of this cacophony of sound, it’s easy to miss the one voice that matters most.

Elijah had listened to Jezebel’s threats and the voice of his own fear, so he fled to a cave to hide. In the cave he was confronted with the overwhelming noise of wind, an earthquake, and fire (1 Kings 19:11-12). Then the cave grew silent and the voice of the Lordâ€"the only sound that matteredâ€"broke through as “a still small voice” (v.12).

If we are to hear God speaking to our hearts through His Word, we need to pull away from the noise of the crowd. Only when we learn to be quiet can we really understand what it means to commune with the God who cares for us.

In our “quiet time” today, let’s make an effort to listen for the voice of God. â€"Bill Crowder

Speak, Lord, in the stillness
While I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen
In expectancy. â€"Grimes

To hear God’s voice, turn down the world’s volume.

source: Our Daily Bread

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

Third district Rep. Adam Jala and Provincial Election Supervisor Veronico Petalcorin denied allegations of “dagdag-bawas” carried out against former governor Rene Relampagos who ran for congressman in the 3rd district during the May elections.

Rep. Jala, in an interview with the Chronicle yesterday said there is no evidence that his camp coerced the Comelec to cheat in the May elections.

The newcomer solon asked why Relampagos only raised these issues now and did not file an official protest at the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

Answering allegations that his camp was responsible for “dagdag-bawas” operations in the towns of Sierra Bullones and Loay, Rep. Jala pointed out that he would only recognize the official results of the polls that declared him winner and the fact that no official protest was filed by Relampagos, is proof that the latter do not have strong evidence to prove his allegations.

24 year-old Wei has a very loving girlfriend… Maybe too loving.

When Wei went to see his girlfriend recently they began to kiss. She apparently got so excited that she accidentally bit off Wei’s lower lip. Bit off to the extent that the bottom lip was actually still hanging in her mouth.

Wei was rushed to a hospital in the Chongqin area of China, but the tissue from his mouth was already dead. The doctor was forced to use tissue from other parts of his body to fix his lower lip.

As strange as this story is, it is not the first time Wei’s girlfriend has taken to biting him. It seems whenever she gets excited, biting and hurting Wei is the only way she can be satisfied.

source:weirdasianews.com

Sleeping with 4600 women and swearing off marriage altogether doesn't necessarily mean Gene Simmons is against women's empowerment.  In fact, Simmons, star of A&E's Gene Simmons Family Jewels, told one Canadian web magazine that he is all for progressive social change for females, and believes women should be given the power to rule.

"I believe that every single country by dictum should be ruled by women but just at the high end,” Simmons told Dose.ca. However, he quickly added that men should be in charge of “pragmatic, everyday things [because] you women refuse to roll up your sleeves and build skyscrapers and pour concrete and pour the roads that we all drive on because your nails will break.  That's why the ant colonies have it right: there's a queen and the rest are all male workers."

Chalk this up to another one of Simmons' unusual takes on modern society.  He admitted he is governed by a different way of thinking than most people, but is not ashamed to live by it.  This is evidenced by his demon-like rocker persona and non-marital union with Shannon Tweed.

source: buddytv.com

Colin Farrell's known as a philandering, dirty-mouthed, Hollywood bad boy -- but this week, he spent around $10,000 on a homeless man.

Farrell took the man shopping, telling workers there to "Get him anything he wants."

After shopping Colin then went to an ATM, took out "a wad of twenties" and arranged to pay the dude's rent for a year.

source: Mike Strober, Cnews.com