MikeLigalig.com

maayong hapon, adet.

welcome to Tubag Bohol.

God bless...

Quote from: shane on July 03, 2007, 03:15:18 PM
dile gyod sayon ang pag usab sa systema kung pipila lang ka tawo ang muhimo niini..kinahanglan ang dakong panag hiusa sa katawhan aron mabungkad ang dunot nga pamaagi sa atong pangagamhanan...

Shane, lamia nimo mo-binisaya. I admire you for that.

Quote from: frenz on July 03, 2007, 10:01:22 AM
yeah, kudos to Mr. Boc for a noble work done despite of crisis we encountered nowadays, kaingon ko ug Safeguard nalang may konsensiya karon, and i want to borrow the term used by Tubag Bohol, he's One of Bohol's Jewel. Salamat pod ni City Mayor Dan Lim sa pag offer ug free education sa iya mga bata, bayran iya bayronon sa balay didto sa Habitat ug hatagan pa ug tricycle aron naay panginabuhian.But in fairness pod sa owner nga nawad-an dili baya $17,000 ang giuli, according to Police blotter, only 17 pieces of $100 each, sa ato pa $1,700 lang ang tanan. Hinuon kadtong $32 dili jud ego bisan pa ug $1,700 lang kay what if wala giuli ang amount, pero wa pod ta kabalo basin naa pay mas importanteng padulngan tong kwartaha.

Here's the headline from GMA 7 TV News: Wife sick, rent overdue: Pinoy driver returns passenger's $17,000

You mean the Associated Press, newspapers in England, and media outlets all over the world are wrong in their figures? And our very own GMA 7 is wrong, too?

I don't think so. Frenz, you must have read in our local papers the rampant robbery cases in Bohol.
Perhaps the authorities just want to protect the owner of the money, that's why they really don't want to reveal the true amount.

source: <a href="http://www.scientistlive.com">Scientist Live</a>

Psychologists from the University of Exeter have identified an early warning signal in the brain that helps us avoid repeating previous mistakes.

Published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, their research identifies, for the first time, a mechanism in the brain that reacts in just 0.1 seconds to things that have resulted in us making errors in the past.

Previous research has shown that we learn more about things for which we initially make incorrect predictions than for things for which our initial predictions are correct. The element of surprise in discovering we are wrong is conducive to learning, but this research is the first to show how amazingly rapid our brain’s response can be. This discovery was made possible through the use of electrophysiological recordings, which allow researchers to detect processes in the brain at the instant they occur.

It's a bit of a cliché to say that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes,' said psychologist Professor Andy Wills of the University of Exeter, 'but for the first time we’ve established just how quickly the brain works to help us avoid repeating errors. By monitoring activity in the brain as it occurs, we were able to identify the moment at which this mechanism kicks in.’

For this study, a group of volunteers took part in a computerised task, which involved them making predictions based on information they were given. New information was then introduced, which made many of their predictions incorrect, so they needed to learn from this in order to avoid repeating the error.

While they did this, their brain activity was recorded via 58 electrodes placed on their scalp. The researchers identified activity in the lower temporal region of the brain, the area closest to the temples. This occurred almost immediately after the person was presented with the visual object that had previously made them make an error, and before there was time for conscious consideration.

Most previous research in this field has focused on the frontal lobes of the brain, which are the areas associated with sophisticated human thought processes such as planning, analysis and conscious decision-making. The lower temporal region of the brain, which was the focus for this activity, is responsible for the recognition of visual objects.

’This brain signal could help us in many different kinds of situations,’ said Professor Wills. ‘For example, when driving abroad the rules of the road sometimes differ. We may make a mistake the first time we misinterpret a situation, for example not realising that in the States cars can turn right on a red light. The next time we’re driving out there and see a red light, this early warning signal will immediately alert us to our previous mistake to prevent us from repeating it.’

source: <a href="http://www.dailyexhumation.com">Daily Exhumation</a>

New research published in an international journal has revealed that chronic stress triggers the body's fat cells to grow and multiply.

The link between stress and obesity has been known for more than a decade but these findings are the first to explain how exactly the connection works.

The research by Australian, US and Slovakian scientists could lead to new therapies that shrink fat cells or make them die.

Professor Herbert Herzog, director of neuroscience at the Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, said he expected the findings to have a profound effect on the way society deals with the obesity epidemic.

The research team made its discovery by feeding stressed and unstressed mice a "comfort food" diet high in fat and sugar.

The stressed mice gained twice as much fat as unstressed mice, because the stress caused fat to be stored differently.

Prof Herzog said a molecule called neuropeptide Y, released by the body when stressed, appeared to unlock receptors in the body's fat cells, stimulating the cells to grow in size and number.

This same mechanism was expected in humans.

While the stress reaction was normal and unavoidable, scientists are working to block the dangerous knock-on fat reaction that it triggers.

"If we can interfere before it causes fat to amass, it could have a major impact on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer which all have links with obesity," Prof Herzog said.

Study leader Professor Zofia Zukowska, of Georgetown University, said they also hoped to be able to target obesity directly.

"We may be able to reverse or prevent obesity caused by stress and diet, including the worst kind of obesity - the apple-shaped type," Prof Zukowska said.

The findings were published on Monday in the journal Nature Medicine.

No need to ask for a refund - you cannot afford it, I think. No window shopping here. 

Ako nga nagsuwat pagbalik na ko ug basa sa akong gisuwat, nagkatawa man hinuon ko. 

Riva, you should read the admin's reply to Rose's Motion for Reconsideration. Pag-andam ug extra nga panty kay makaihi ka ug katawa ato.

Ok ra malimtan ang labhonon, Rose. Ayaw lang ang nokie-nokie nimo sa prinsipe. 

Tubag Bohol: Friendship Unlimited.

Tubag Bohol: Away Unlimited.

Yes, pwede mag-away diri. Just avoid foul language.

Nindot baya ang away. Loving-loving inig kahuman.

Rose, labanan ti ka kung ikaw maoy daug-daugon. Apan kung ikaw maoy manaogdaug-daug, akoy labani. 

Unless you reveal your real name, we will never know you.

So, mag-ila-ila ta dinhi sa Tubag Bohol.

Maghinilakay. Magkinataw-anay. Mamalandong. Mag-inambitay sa kaalam ug kinaadman. Maghisgut sa mga butang kabahin sa atong probinsya. ... apan dili maghiningut-anay dinhi. 

Pwede ta mag-away dinhi, apan Peace ra pud inig kahuman. The United Nations was established after the World War II.

Tubag, tubag lang, way personalan.

Welcome, Atty. Salva Diputado!

He calls me "bai."

Pareha mi gikan sa Silliman.

Rose, maayo nalang gani kay wa mag-away sa topic that you started. Proceed to "After using Tubag Bohol" topic... 

We reap what we sow.

Office of the Municipal Mayor
Telephone No : (038) 5389080

Municipal Budget Office
Municipal Budget Officer Mrs. Hermenia T. Daohog
Telephone No : (538) 9080

Municipal Planning and Development Office
Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Mr. Mario C. Suyman, Sr.
Telephone No : (038) 5389082

Municipal Assessor's Office
Municipal Assessor Mrs. Silvestra L. Mendez
Telephone No : (038) 5389082

Municipal Engineer's Office
Municipal Engineer Engr. Peter C. Ilogon
Telephone No : (038) 5389080

Local Civil Registry
Local Civil Registrar Mr. Jose D. Tan, Jr.
Telephone No : (038)5389082

Municipal Treasurer's Office
OIC - Municipal Treasurer Mrs. Ma. Feliza F. Dumayac
Telephone No : (038) 5389082

Municipal Health Office
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Julius B. Romero
Telephone No : (038)5389082

Municipal Agriculture Office
Municipal Agricultural Officer Mrs. Violeta Balucan
Telephone No : (038) 5389082

Municipal Social Welfare Office
Social Welfare Officer III Mrs. Julia B. Chiong
Telephone No : (038) 5389082

We have tons of excellent reading materials.

Registered Tubag Bohol members can use the Send This Topic tool in our website. Share to your friend a topic which you think may help him/her or may brighten his or her day.


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"If you want to learn to love better,
you should start with a friend who you
hate."

ghost, peace na mo ni hazel? 

Quote from: jackeith on July 03, 2007, 12:09:42 PM
lisod sa pinas ang datu musamot ug kadatu,ang pobre mo samot ug ka pobre.mao halos tanan pinoy maningkamot na maka abroad pra makatabang sa pamilya.kay bisag college grad ka lisod ug pangita ug work sa pinas.saun kasagaran sa govt.kurakot ramay mahimo...

sakto ka jacke... padayon tang mag-ampo nga lamdagan sa Ginoo ang atong katilingban ug ang atong mga punoan.

Frenz, the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been quoted by international newspapers that the amount was $17,000.

Basin gilimod lang ang true amount kay uso ra ba tulis sa ato karon. Giuli na unta, pero natulis pa gyud.

Hi Jackelyn,

Maajong pag-abot dinhi sa Tubag Bohol.

We're glad you've joined us.

Sige, mangita ta ug mga taga Getafe diri. Kung wala, will you meet those from Lugapak?

Cheers!

Jeroen Hellingman is from the Netherlands. He is married to a Boholana.

He is the webmaster of www.bohol.ph

Welcome, Jeroen!

Diabetes could be avoided if people ate a "stone-age" diet consisting of fruit, nuts, vegetables and lean meat or fish, a study suggests.

Scientists found that patients with poor glucose control greatly improved their ability to handle sugar after switching to prehistoric eating habits.

The "Palaeolithic" diet given to the volunteers was similar to what early modern humans were eating when they first walked out of Africa 70,000 years ago.

source: <a href="http://www.breitbart.com">Breitbart</a>

By Joan Raymond
Newsweek

Some 20 million boomers are caring for their families while trying to provide care for aging parents. Few know what they are getting into, says Donna Schempp, program director of the Family Caregiver Alliance, a San Francisco advocacy group. "Caregiving simply happens," says Schempp. "No one really chooses their caregiver. It's almost always a default decision based on who is available." Taking care of a parent can be tough. But there are some extraordinary resources available. The smartest approach is to plan ahead, recognizing that someday you will be a caregiver or someone will be caring for you. Here are some tips to help lighten the load.

Medical Issues

There will come a time when an adult child must make decisions regarding a parent's health care. To ease the way, there are two legal documents that experts say are vital. The first is a health-care proxy. This document, also called a health-care power of attorney, appoints a specific person to make all decisions regarding health care and end-of-life care, including refusal of treatment. The health-care proxy goes into effect when the attending physician determines that an individual is no longer able to make decisions on his or her own.

The second critical document is an advance directive, also known as a living will, which allows the person to state what kind of medical care he wants and which life-support procedures he doesn't want. "One of the greatest gifts an adult child can give to parents is to speak for them when they can't speak for themselves," says Kathy Brandt, vice president of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. According to Brandt, advance directives can be powerful tools alone, but generally carry the most weight when combined with a health-care proxy. "It's kind of an insurance policy that your wishes will be carried out," she says.

It's very important for parents to talk about their spiritual beliefs and values, which may shape their decisions about the procedures they may or may not want at the end of life, says Brandt. One caveat: the laws governing advance directives vary from state to state, so it is important that they make sure their advance directives are state-specific.

Another type of advance directive is the Do Not Resuscitate order, or the DNR. Unlike the living will or health-care proxy documents, the patient does not prepare this document. The DNR is a request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the heart or breathing stops. Though it may be requested by a patient or by a health-care proxy, it is valid only if it is signed by a doctor. A DNR order will then be put into your medical chart. DNRs are accepted in all states.

Finances

Talking to parents about their finances can be extraordinarily difficult, but not talking about finances can be worse, especially if a parent's health starts to decline rapidly. In the past, estate planning involved little more than a will. Now, due to better medical care, people are living longer. That's why estate planning must cover long-term incapacity, including out-of-pocket expenses for assisted living, nursing homes (which, contrary to popular belief, Medicare does not cover long term), in-home care and other expenses related to aging. Long-term-care insurance is an option for some, but it is not a panacea, especially if people cannot keep up with rising premiums. Even if you are already a caregiver and your parents don't have an estate or financial plan in place, it is not too late. There are many strategies, such as reverse mortgages, living trusts and other options that may offer a solution to their long-term needs. A number of professionals can help form a plan, including attorneys, accountants, estate specialists and others.

Legal Issues

At a minimum, a caregiver should have a document called durable power of attorney, which gives you authority to make legal decisions when your parent becomes incapacitated or incompetent. These legal decisions can involve bank accounts, real estate and other personal matters. The durable power of attorney is extremely important for both the parent and adult child, explains Mark Shalloway, president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. "Financial, legal and other everyday routine decisions need to be made even if a parent suffers a catastrophic event or becomes impaired," says Shalloway. "This is a simple document that reduces hassles with banks, doctors, anyone the parent did business with." Though there are no hearings necessary to set up the durable power of attorney, the person granted the power has a fiduciary duty not to take advantage of the situation. "By law, people must act in good faith," says Shalloway. "There can be some very real legal consequences if someone sells off assets for their own use." If you don't have a durable power of attorney, and if your parent becomes incompetent, you'll need to be appointed guardian by the court, which is "expensive and time-consuming," and removes all legal rights of an older person, says Shalloway.

Also, make sure your parents have wills. This simple document names a person who will manage the estate upon your parents' deaths and the beneficiaries of the estate. If a person dies without a will in place, state "intestacy" statutes will determine who gets the property. Keep all legal documents, including the deed to the house, life-insurance policies and other important papers, in one place, such as a safe-deposit box. If your parents have a safe-deposit box, make sure that you are a signer.

Housing

Ask any older person where he or she wants to live and chances are good they'll say they want to stay in their own homes. But where Mom and Dad eventually live will more than likely be determined by their health, available resources and caregiver's needs. If a parent is healthy and mobile, one option is to make an existing home safer by reducing fall risks. Simple improvements can include adding grab bars in the shower and getting rid of throw rugs. Adult children can also help their parents by arranging for someone to prepare meals and do light housekeeping or to assist with more-personal tasks, such as dressing and bathing. Your local Area Agency on Aging, a governmental program that provides a network of elder services throughout the United States, can help you find a qualified home health-care outfit or individual, as well as provide tips and services on making homes more senior-friendly. But no matter what you do, it's important that your parent be comfortable with the person or persons providing care. So a meet-and-greet between your parents and their aides is essential. And, of course, get references.

When a parent wants to leave a home and is still healthy, there are many options available, including independent senior communities, continuing-care retirement communities and assisted-living facilities. Independent senior communities usually feature private apartments with senior-friendly designs. Some may offer 24-hour emergency-call services, group outings, social activities and other amenities.

The continuing-care retirement model offers numerous services that allows people to stay in place, even if their needs change. Generally, these facilities provide services that include housekeeping, emergency help, personal care and social activities. According to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), these continuing-care communities differ from other senior-housing options in that they agree under contract to provide residents with housing and services for life. They do require a one-time entrance fee and monthly payments that vary by region and by the type of housing and services needed. And some groups do operate on a rental basis.

For folks who need daily help with bathing or dressing, assisted-living residences are another option. These facilities can be part of a retirement community or nursing home. Most offer single rooms, but some offer suites or apartments, according to the AAHSA.

When someone is too sick to live on his own and requires round-the-clock care or is recovering from an illness or operation, a nursing home is generally the best choice. These facilities are state licensed, providing nursing and personal care and needed medical services. Like other facilities, nursing homes do offer social activities to residents.

Assisted-living facilities cost on average about $32,000 per year; a semiprivate room in a nursing home runs about $65,000 per year. While Medicare will pay for nursing-home services for a specified period of time for people recovering from surgery or in need of rehabilitation, it does not cover long-term-care expenses. Nor does Medicare pay for assisted living or any of the other senior housing options. "People will say to me, 'What do you mean, Medicare doesn't pay for assisted living or nursing homes?' " says Larry Minnix, AAHSA president. "People are in a world of hurt when they do the math." Your best bet, again, is to plan ahead.

Sometimes a move to an assisted-living facility can help elders socialize. "The decision to move from an existing home is really tough," says Minnix. "Within reason, the wishes of the parent should come first. If a parent wants to stay in the home, do all you can to help them stay there." Internet resources provide a wealth of information on how to choose the best facility or how to help parents make a decision to stay or leave their homes. To help assess your parents' needs, your first stop should be your local Area Agency on Aging.

Family Dynamics

Providing care for an aging parent can create friction among family members. Some siblings may be in denial about a parent's condition; others may not want to be involved in caregiving. "There is no easy way to straighten out years of problems among siblings," says the Family Caregiver Alliance's Schempp.

"Sometimes when a parent requires care it can bring out the best in people. Sometimes it can bring out the worst." If you're having trouble in the sibling-rivalry department, try a family meeting with an outside facilitator, such as a close family friend, attorney, social worker or clergy member. This mediator can make sure that all siblings get their say.

One of the most undervalued roles that siblings can play is providing respite care to the primary caregiver, helping with shopping, transportation, doctor's visits and other tasks. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, baby boomers caring for aging parents while juggling work and their own family responsibilities are at increased risk for depression and chronic illness and an overall decline in quality of life. Ask for help from siblings or local resources, such as senior centers and the local Area Agency on Aging. Support groups can help, too.

Resources

There is a wealth of resources to help caregivers with information on legal, medical, financial and support issues. Here are a few good places to start:

Administration on Aging (aoa.gov): Provides caregivers and their parents information on various services including elder rights.

Area Agency on Aging: This government program provides a national network of social services. See n4a.org (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging) or call 800-677-1116 for your local agency.

Family Caregiver Alliance (caregiver.org): Offers programs at national, state and local levels to support caregivers.

AARP (aarp.org): Membership organization for people age 50 and older; provides numerous benefits to members.

Eldercare Locator (eldercare.gov): A service of the U.S. Administration on Aging; links caregivers with senior services.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org): Provides searchable database to assist in finding an elder-law attorney.

Medicare Rights (medicare rights.org): Independent source of health-care information and assistance for people with Medicare.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (nhpco.org): Offers information on end-of-life issues and state-specific advance directives.

Nursing Homes (medicare.gov/nhcompare): Provides detailed information on the past performance of every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country.

© 2007 Newsweek, Inc. June 18, 2007 Edition

source: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">MSNBC</a>

snowhite, stay with us, we'll make your heart and mind fat.

promise.

By Rory Cellan-Jones
Technology Correspondent
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News</a>

As Facebook continues its explosive growth here's one question troubling me. Are my friends for real?

This week I received this intriguing message from a man who moves in London's new media circles.

He wrote: "I met somebody the other day who told me that online networking was so important, and he didn't have the time, he was paying somebody to be him online. To blog, network, post etc . £1,000 a month too.

"Apparently it's a new occupation which he reckons already numbers hundreds of people, paid to be other people!"

I rang the sender of the message - a real-world friend as well as a Facebook contact - and he gave me more details.

"This guy is a busy entrepreneur and he says that wherever he goes, people marvel at the energy he still manages to put into blogging and networking - and he then tells them it is all being done by a guy he pays to do it."

It's well known that Chinese workers spend long hours earning "gold" on the online game World of Warcraft, so that busy Western gamers can buy a new sword without putting in an excessive amount of time in front of their computers.

But are there really crowds of busy executives hiring others to do the online dirty work for them?

One of the things I like about Facebook is that its users appear to be there under their own identities - rather than the "lonelygirl15" of YouTube, or "crazyguy1603" on MySpace.

I started worrying about some of my Facebook "friends". Were they who they said they were?

Busy man

What about Brent Hoberman, the founder of lastminute.com, and one of the elite members of London's "digerati"?

Surely a busy man like him, in the middle of starting up a new online venture, does not have time to update his status on Facebook, ask his friends about their favourite books and films and take part in discussions about TV property programmes?

When I contacted him he assured me (via a blackberry message, mind you) that this was the real Hoberman.

"I think if I could get someone else to manage my e-mail then I could outsource social networking," he said.

"But I can't, and think one has slightly lost the plot if that happens."

Good, so he's the real him.

But what about my dear friend Sir Patrick Moore? I joined up with him a couple of weeks ago and was not entirely convinced he was the great astronomer.

His profile said he was here for "random play" and "whatever I can get" and his home town was Pinner.

Seeking reassurance

I happened to know that Sir Patrick lives in Selsey, in Sussex, so I wrote seeking reassurance.

"It is definitely me," he replied some days later, "extraordinary as it may seem! I was told about Facebook by some young camera crew I was working with, you see, and I was intrigued how people are able to communicate these days.

"You 're quite right I do live in Selsey, Pinner is the town in which I was born."

Hmm, still not entirely convinced.

And then there is Stephen Fry.

As an admirer of the great comic writer and actor (and gadget obsessive) I was delighted to spot him on another friend's network.

And even more pleased when my friendship request was accepted.

But his friends list appeared to be growing at an alarming rate, he was busy asking questions, playing rock, paper, scissors, and describing his favourite artists using the "ilike" application.

Surely this was the work of a gifted assistant?

Then came his latest status update: "Stephen is...concerned about the number of friendship requests he's getting. Don't want to turn anyone down, but 20+ every hour and rising is getting to be a worry."

Confirmation, then, that this was the real Stephen Fry, facing one of the dilemmas of modern manners - how to politely decline an offer of online friendship.

The actor has now set up a friendship group as a point of contact for all those strangers who want to be his friends.

But, like millions of others, he seems to have caught the Facebook bug.

... snowhite, many of the members here wa jud ko kaila. they have chosen to be anonymous. maybe for life.
and i respect them for that.

...the same story published by <a href="http://news.yahoo.com>Yahoo News</a>

MANILA, Philippines - He needed the money for his sick wife and overdue rent, but honesty prevented a motorcycle taxi driver from keeping $17,000 left behind by a passenger.

Iluminado Boc returned the money to police in Tagbilaran city on central Bohol island last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Monday. The woman who lost the bag of cash had just reported it to police when Boc showed up at the precinct.

"It was not mine," Boc was quoted as saying.

Boc, 45, said he was struggling financially because his wife was taken to a hospital the same day he found the money, and they had unpaid rent.

The owner rewarded him with $32 â€" about seven times what a motorcycle taxi driver makes a day.

By Brian Blakey
<a href="http://www.people.co.uk">The People UK</a>

A BABY-faced teen is selling her virginity for £10,000 so she pay her way through university.

Carys Copestake uses a false name to advertise her body on a website favoured by prostitutes - and her parents have no idea.

Using the come-on: "Virginity For Sale £10,000," she adds: "Hey, I think the title says it all. I'm an 18-year-old virgin with student funds to pay and I'm looking to sell my first time right here. I'm brunette, 34C, green eyes, all in proportion and good looking."

Pretty Carys is one of thousands of college leavers struggling to afford the £20,000 tuition fees and cost of accommodation at universities.

When our man responded to her ad, she went into sales overdrive, purring: "For as long as I can remember I've wanted to keep my first time special and wait for the right guy. I'm not like other girls who want rid of it from the word go.

"I'm getting curious about myself and the opposite sex. I want to explore and I want someone to teach me.

"I've also found myself in a financial situation where I need to fund my studies. I figured this could be killing two birds with one stone.

"I get lots of guys wanting to help me out with my 'problem' - some replies are really creepy. But I got so frustrated with the empty offers that I turned them down."

Carys who lives with her parents in Denton, Manchester, agreed to meet our man in a city centre coffee shop last week. After they shook hands, Carys admitted using a fake name, Amy Collins, on the website.

She explained: "I have to be careful, you could have been someone I know, even one of my teachers."

After we asked for proof of her age, she showed her provisional driving license and joked: "I'm shocked you think I'm so young."

She explained she was due to start a four-year physics course at Salford University in September.

She admitted doing nothing more than holding hands with a guy - and didn't want to go to university a virgin.

Asked how she wanted to be paid, the greedy teen replied: "Cash would be perfect but what does £10,000 look like? I don't want to wander round with that much money in case I get robbed." But she got angry when our man asked if she was a prostitute and lying about losing her innocence.

"I don't know how to prove to you that I'm a virgin. You'll have to trust me."

Asked how she imagined how she'd lose her virginity, she said: "Maybe we can have a meal, relax, and go back to your hotel. I hope you don't feel offended, but do you mind wearing a condom? That's one thing I'm worried about."

After our man left, she bombarded him with texts saying: "I'm really excited. Why don't we meet at mine and stay till six? That way I'm not telling so many lies to my family."

But her mood changed when our reporter asked for a lower price. She said: "Why do you want a discount? No, seriously, it's got to be ten, that's what the deal was."

When The People asked about her plans to sell her virginity, Carys said: "I've been offered the money in cash and I'm going to do it this Thursday. Sorry I'm at work so I can't speak any more."

source: <a href="http://www.breitbart.com">Breitbart</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An empty can of gourmet dog food taken from Paris Hilton's trash fetched $305 in an eBay auction.

The sellers were from the Web site HollywoodStarTrash.com, which also listed several other Hilton items for sale on eBay. A used toothbrush sold for $305; two envelopes sent to her while she was in jail sold for $510; and a Coke can pulled from her trash went for $51.

The organic gourmet dog food was produced by Party Animal Inc., and can be found in about 150 stores in Southern California and about 40 in New York. It can also be bought through the company's Web site.

... unya kay ang uban wa pa man kaila nimo... 

...America is wild. Its women are no longer discussing on how to marry a millionaire...

source: <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com">MSNBC Today</a>

Are you looking to fall for someone tall, dark â€" but most importantly â€"  very wealthy? Marlys Harris, Money Magazine Senior Editor, explains what it takes to snag your very own Richie Rich:

Work hard, take risks, maybe build your own business. That's the traditional route to financial success. Of course, there's another highly traditional path to acquiring wealth that isn't talked about quite as much these days: Marry money.

Real money. As in not a mere millionaire (a dime a dozen these days) but an honest-to-goodness billionaire - make that 10 figures after the dollar sign, please.

True, it's not politically correct to go hunting for a marital meal ticket (or for that matter, to write about it). But just for a moment imagine the life that could be yours if you did.

Forget the fabulous baubles, designer clothing, cutting-edge electronics and palatial mansions that your golden goose - uh, spouse - might heap upon you.

Consider the more pragmatic bonuses of the good life. No more scrimping and scraping to make your annual Roth IRA contribution. No more working until you drop to ensure a comfortable retirement. And no more worries about where your children will get into college (or how to pay for it).

A seven-figure donation from your beloved to the school of your choice and your kids are in the door, even if they're no smarter than grapefruit.

Sold? Of course you are. But how realistic is it for you, an ordinary wage slave with no more ties to the jet set than a business trip to Cleveland last month, to even meet, much less marry, a billionaire?

As a matter of scientific inquiry, Money Magazine decided to find out. To that end we analyzed the mating habits of 50 of the mega-monied to learn how they met their spouses.

We scoured the how-to-marry-rich literature and talked to society watchers, upscale matchmakers and wealth experts. And we pored over divorce news to see how spouse No. 1 was supplanted by spouse No. 2 (or 3).

Unfortunately, those who had already made it to Fat City refused to say how they got there. "I am just not telling," said one billionaire's wife over her cellphone before hanging up.

Nonetheless, our findings were encouraging. Marrying a billionaire is not beyond your grasp, as long as you're willing to work hard toward your goal. (Yes, hard work - albeit of a different kind - is still a requisite for achieving wealth.)

You will first need to identify the billionaires in your area (or their relatives) and learn their marital status. Then you'll have to study their businesses, hangouts, pets, favorite philanthropies, artists, music and vacation spots. (Google is a gold digger's best friend.)

Also required: an investment in the type of home, clothing, grooming and charity events that will help you mix among the high and mighty hoity-toity.

One cautionary note: Before you start making repeated visits to your target's golf club or home, remember that stalking is a crime in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Learn to live with less

First, some bad news. Forbes magazine, which has made a cottage industry of compiling lists of wealthy folks, declared this year that there are a paltry 946 billionaires in the entire world. Worse, most of them are currently married (though that does not necessarily discourage the most determined gold diggers).

The picture gets even grimmer for men. A scant 38 women appear on the list of U.S. billionaires. Average age: 63.

Lower your sights. Fortunately, the ranks of those who are filthy rich, if not quite in the billionaire stratosphere, are increasing daily.

According to Merrill Lynch and CapGemini, a consulting company, there were 85,400 ultrahigh net worth individuals (UHNWIs) in 2005, the most recent year for which data were collected. (UHNWIs are defined as those with $30 million or more.)

Many of them - up-and-coming hedge fund managers, telecom barons and Internet tycoons - may have amassed only a hundred million or so but could easily hit the Big B in a few years.

For male fortune hunters, there are widows and armies of ex-wives with humongous divorce settlements. (Yes, for all of the strides women have made in the workplace, most superrich gals do acquire their wealth through their relationships with men - and stereotypically, many of their husbands dump them when they reach a certain age.)

Take Janet Burkle, ex-wife of Ron, a Los Angeles supermarket mogul ($2.5 billion). Last year she lost her appeal to nullify a divorce agreement she claimed was unfair. The court forced her to make do with a pitiful $30 million, plus interest.

Don't forget the kids. The scions of billionaires are also numerous. While marrying less pecunious offspring may look like you're just making do, it's not a bad deal (and think about the scads they'll inherit).

New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman, for example, when berated by Bill O'Reilly from the right and the Washington Monthly from the left, can sob into a pillow at the $9.5 million, 11,400-square-foot house he owns with his wife Ann Bucksbaum, a shopping-center heiress.

Get down to business - his

Next step: Land the right job - one that allows you to circulate among the wealthy, of course. Just over half of the billionaires in our study met their spouses at work.

Examples: Melinda Gates was a Microsoft manager when she met Bill at a company press event. Both Anna Torv (wife No. 2) and Wendy Deng (No. 3) worked for companies owned by Rupert Murdoch ($7.7 billion), the first as a reporter, the second as a TV executive. And corporate raider Carl Icahn ($9.7 billion) made Gail Golden, his longtime assistant, wife numero dos.

The reason is obvious. Ambitious Type A+ billionaires rarely leave their offices long enough to chat up women at bars or to attend a mature singles hayride at their local church or temple.

Get an M.B.A. ASAP. To worm your way into a billionaire's business, and eventually his heart, you need the right career. An M.B.A. will give you the most flexibility. Since people think that it qualifies you to do just about anything, you can get hired just about anywhere.

Focus on industries with the most billionaires: finance (52), investments (51), service (42), media and entertainment (38), real estate (33) and oil and gas (30).

Show off your brain... Ultrarich men once gravitated toward women with the showiest plumage - or plastic surgery. That has changed, says Richard Conniff, author of The Natural History of the Rich: A Field Guide.

"Arm candy is now seen as déclassé," he notes. These days, the more prestigious your credentials and the brainier you are, the better.

Consider Anne Wojcicki, who only this May sealed the deal with Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder ($14.1 billion). She graduated with a B.S. in biology from Yale, conducted molecular biology research at the National Institutes of Health and the Weizmann Institute, and recently founded 23andMe, a genetic-research company. She met Brin through her sister Susan, a Google marketing exec with - see, we told you! - an M.B.A. from UCLA.

Women too seem to favor the brainy over the muscle-bound. Ebay's Meg Whitman ($1.2 billion), for example, is married to a neurosurgeon.

...Or make consumption your career. If you (or your close relatives) have little aptitude for Excel spreadsheets and turned in unimpressive GRE scores, you'll have to select a career that focuses on a billionaire's second-greatest preoccupation after his business: spending.

While alpha overearners may not visit their mother for months, they will gladly leave their corner office and computer screen to lavish money on pet luxuries.

Among the careers that will put you in contact with them at this vulnerable moment: real estate (with a specialty in mansions); luxury-car, private-jet or yacht sales; work at museums, galleries or high-end antique shops; interior design or architecture (again, specialize in mansions); and race-horse training.

Timeworn but still good: personal trainer or golf or tennis pro.

Join the leisure class

Don't despair if your job takes you no closer to wealth than the dollar store. There are plenty of other activities that the resolute billionaire hunter can pursue to mix with the excessively prosperous during evenings or on weekends.

Move close to where they live. "You need to move into a rich environment," says Ginie Sayles, a Houston marital consultant and author of How to Marry the Rich. "If you want to be rich, you must live where the rich live, even if it's in an attic."

She claims that no matter what your budget, you can find a hidey-hole "within 16 blocks of the big money."

By hanging out in a ritzy neighborhood, you'll get comfortable with wealthy people and attuned to what they like. And you'll greatly increase your chances of running into a billionaire at, say, the local Starbucks.

Get thee to a gallery. Billionaires' expansive estates, urban pieds-à-terre and quaint 30,000-square-foot country homes confront them with the task of covering vast stretches of empty walls and filling echoing foyers with something. That means they are constantly on the prowl for paintings, sculptures and other objets d'art that will do the job. So prowl where they prowl.

For starters, cultivate a taste for museums and become a member, not a visitor. At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, for example, you can become a supporting member for $250 a year. That entitles you to attend hosted exhibition previews and receptions where you can elbow your way into the elite.

If you're willing to go without dinner for a few months, invest in a $1,500 membership in the Artist's Circle, which provides much greater mingling opportunities, including evening receptions, private viewings for major exhibitions and priority invitations to special events such as the biennial art auction.

Christopher London, editor of the website ManhattanSociety.com, which covers cultural and philanthropic events in New York City, recommends that you attend as many gallery openings as possible.

"A chance encounter could easily lead to dinner," he says.

Every major city has a Web site that lists openings. For instance, if you visit ArtSceneCal.com, which covers galleries in Southern California, you'd find that you could view a new artist almost any night of the week. Better yet, you'll avoid another Chinese takeout dinner by scarfing the wine and hors d'oeuvres that galleries serve to ease buyers' grip on their wallets.

Show them the Monet. If you can't tell the difference between Jasper Johns and Johns Hopkins, study up so you can converse. It doesn't matter what you say specifically as long as you sound knowledgeable.

Even though he collected Impressionist works, hedge fund biggie Ken Griffin ($1.7 billion) didn't get mad when his date, Anne Dias, dismissed the movement as something she'd outgrown. Instead, he married her.

Money Magazine suggests that you specialize in the eras that interest the greatest number of billionaires. For example, Milt Esterow, editor and publisher of ARTnews, counsels that you focus on modern (late 19th century to 1970 or so) and contemporary art (post-1970), which are what le tout billionairage have been buying. Indeed, 85% of ARTnews' annual list of the 200 top collectors listed those two periods among their specialties.

Change the world

Getting and spending might be enough to fill your life with satisfaction, but for those who are loaded, there's a greater joy - and an even bigger tax deduction: giving money to others.

What other tasteful way is there to prove that you are truly a moneybags than to fork over a few mil to the Nature Conservancy, your alma mater or the hospital that performed Granny's hip replacement?

Look for good benefits. The fervor to give fuels an endless round of charity balls, silent auctions and golf tournaments in every town. There aggressive overachievers compete with one another to donate the most in what Milton Pedraza, head of the Luxury Institute, a market research company that studies the wealthy, calls the "alms race."

Now thanks to the Internet, you can ferret out those shindigs. Just type "charity events" and your city's name into a search engine and press "Go."

Not all charities are created equal in the hearts and wallets of the superrich. To figure out which nonprofits are most likely to put you in touch with people of ultrahigh net worth, peruse the Chronicle of Philanthropy to see what causes top givers favor.

You would learn, for example, that Veronica Atkins, widow of low-carb diet guru Robert, has a $400 million fortune to share. Her philanthropic cause: obesity research (duh). She is bound to visit - even be honored by - the hospitals and universities to which she has given dough.

Cultivate dowagers. In some cities there's an unspoken hierarchy of charities, says Richard Conniff. Newcomers to Palm Beach usually join the Opera Guild, which, he says, accepts anybody whose check doesn't bounce.

But it may take a few years to learn that the Preservation Foundation and the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults are considered the most prestigious and are more likely to win you invitations to private parties. Study the society pages and ask around to learn which charities are best for your purpose.

Shelby Hodge, society columnist for the Houston Chronicle, likes the American Heart Association and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Board of Visitors, among other charities.

She recommends that you attend the annual gala or dinner. That usually costs about $1,000, but doing so is worthwhile. Even if you wind up seated with a group of dowagers instead of wealthy bachelors, Hodge says, "those women can be your entry point."

There's no way the average Joe or Jane can cough up $1,000 every night or even every week, but Christopher London suggests that you can cut your costs by as much as 75% if you attend the so-called junior events - cocktail parties and dances that occur before and after the big charity dinner. Don't let the word junior put you off; most who attend are in their late thirties and forties, London says.

Become a charity yourself. Usually you can just buy a ticket - after all, it is a benefit. But some events admit only those with invitations. A person of your humble means is not likely to be included unless you are a regular volunteer -"but not stuffing envelopes," says Hodge.

Instead, she advises, you should set your sights on more highfalutin activities that will vault you into the upper echelons of the philanthropy - say, fund raising. Unfortunately, to sit on a committee you may have to donate $10,000 or so to the cause.

Another possibility: Become a grantee yourself. Pedraza suggests that you develop your own do-gooder project, such as a documentary on the environment, and take it around to charities, foundations and arts councils that might fund it. You may not meet a billionaire, but who knows, maybe you'll become the next Al Gore.

Hire a professional

Not everybody wants to deal with the hassle and expense of sussing out an appropriate ultrahigh net worthy. For such people there are experts who, for a fee, will help you.

Ginie Sayles offers seminars around the country on marrying rich ($50 to $150 a person), as well as $500-an-hour private sessions. Using a 14-point system to help hoi polloi ramp up their classiness, she says, her clients have married several multimillionaires in her 20 years in business. (If you can't afford her, study her books or buy the seminar on DVD.)

Patti Stanger, founder and CEO of MillionairesClub123.com, with offices in California, Florida, Canada and the United Kingdom, charges nothing for women aspiring to marry well to be part of her pool of eligibles.

But rich clients looking for love pay from $10,000 to $150,000, depending on the amount of territory the zillionaire expects her and her staff to cover in their search. (The top charge is for a worldwide hunt.)

Stanger counsels customers to "date for love, just in a rich pond. You do not marry for money because, at the end of the day, he could lose his money, and you end up with a toad."

Janis Spindel, owner of Serious Matchmaking in New York City, charges her clients, all of them affluent men, $20,000 for introductions to the right kind of marriageable women.

To get on her list of eligibles, you'll have to fill out a 14-page questionnaire (available in her book Get Serious About Getting Married: 365 Proven Ways to Find Love in Less Than a Year) or meet privately with her (charge: $1,000) or an assistant ($500) for half an hour. But there's no guarantee you'll be accepted.

Become a status faker

You'll never be able to close the deal, however, unless you look and act the part of a suitable spouse to serious money.

Be a class act. To attract the attention of the wealthy guys and gals who pique your interest, you have to dress appropriately. Montgomery Frazier, a New York image consultant who says he revamped Katie Couric for CBS, recommends taking your inspiration from designers Calvin Klein and Carolina Herrera, whose clothes, he says, "are sexy but with some sophistication."

Marc Jacobs, Christian LouBoutin and Dior are his favorites for shoes, but good-looking knockoffs are available from Banana Republic and Zara.

Pearls are "too preppy," Frazier says. "Wear small diamond earrings."

Men, as you might guess, need less: Good hygiene, a black suit, a tux and some gray slacks are enough, says Christopher London.

Be into what he's into. Once you zero in on a prospect, you'll have to look as if you're interested in what he or she likes. So spend some time boning up on thoroughbred horses, JAR jewelry, Modigliani and your billionaire's business.

Should you play hard to get or hop into the sack on the first date? Those are questions better left to Cosmo and Esquire. But Money Magazine is confident in advising this: If you do make it to the altar, hire a smart lawyer to negotiate the best terms on your prenup.

Despite all the luxuries that marriage ultimately heaps upon you, don't expect the proverbial bed of roses, counsels David Patrick Columbia, editor of NewYorkSocialDiary.com, a Web site devoted to the doings of the fabulously classy.

Having observed many who married for money over the years, he says, "The rich person can be a pain in the ass," adding that he or she often demands to be waited on hand and foot, arm and toe.

But no matter how difficult things get, hang in there. The longer you stay, the more the court will award you if the marriage fails. There's no reason, after all, that your divorce shouldn't be every bit as lucrative as your marriage.

Amanda Gengler contributed to this article.

source: <a href="http://www2.ljworld.com">Lawrence Journal-World and News</a>

A former Lawrence High School teacher pleaded guilty Monday to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a student in Douglas County District Court.

Meredith Kane, 24, who was in her first year of teaching at LHS, was arrested March 16 for having sexual relations with the 15-year-old boy.

Prosecutors said the acts occurred between August and mid-March.

“During that time period, I did have sexual intercourse (with the victim) in Douglas County,” Kane told Judge Stephen Six.

Another count of aggravated indecent liberties and two counts of criminal sodomy were dismissed.

“We agreed to take a plea in the matter,” said District Attorney Charles Branson. “Simply put, she plead guilty to the most severe charge she could plea to. We’re pretty happy getting a guilty plea to the primary offense.”

Kane could face 55 to 247 months in prison. Her attorney, James Rumsey, asked for access to the victim’s psychological records. A hearing set for 9 a.m. July 23 will determine whether or not he will have access to those files.

Kane’s sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12.

source: <a href="http://apnews.myway.com">Associated Press News</a>

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (AP) - A woman who works as a makeup artist and grocery store deli clerk found $20,000 at a bank's drive-up depository, then calmly walked into the bank and turned over the cash. Linda Hatch said her mind raced in the seconds after she found the two $10,000 bundles in a plastic deposit tube.

"Am I in the middle of a bank robbery ... a drug bust, is someone going to pick up the money?" Hatch said of the June 25 find. "I was like, 'Oh my g***. What do I do?'"

Hatch, who owns a permanent makeup business in Lake Havasu City and moonlights at an Albertsons store, said the bank teller she approached was just as confused about what to do.

"She looked at me like, 'What is this?'" Hatch said.

Hatch said she filed a police report in the days after turning over the cash, and hasn't been told by the bank if the rightful owner has ever surfaced.

Bank employees declined to comment.

Hatch, said she was "shaken for five hours" after the discovery, but has no second thoughts about turning in the cash.

"It's not enough money to move to Mexico," she said with a laugh.

...2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry...

or why worry when you can pray?

I really believe that if God carries the weight of the world, He can carry everyone's problem. It only takes a second to open our mouth and start calling upon His name in prayer.

--- this article was published in the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com">San Francisco Chronicle</a>

Normally, the state's Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board -- a favorite roost for out-of-work politicos -- is about as exciting as its name.

But a secretary's allegations that the board chairwoman tried to pay her $10,000 to have a baby for her -- and then punished her when she wouldn't -- set off a charge that had everybody from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to state Senate leader Don Perata scrambling for cover this past week.

The lawyer representing chairwoman Ann Richardson says there's nothing to former secretary Claire Connelly's allegations of harassment and workplace retaliation, or to her assertion that Richardson asked her to be a surrogate mom. And this past week, the state Senate confirmed Richardson to a second four-year term -- but not before the governor's office did a little clipping of her wings.

Connelly, whose father, Tim McArdle, is the agency's presiding administrative law judge, lodged a sex harassment and retaliation complaint against Richardson with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission two weeks ago.

As Connelly tells it, Richardson called her into her office in September and explained that she wanted to have a child, but was already in her 50s. So she asked whether Connelly, a 31-year-old single mom, would be interested in being paid $10,000 to become a surrogate mother -- although it would have to wait until Richardson was done with her board term so it wouldn't conflict with her job as Connelly's boss.

"Obviously, I was stunned," Connelly said in an interview. "I told her I needed time to think about it."

Connelly thought it over for a few days, then declined, she says. Richardson promptly turned sour toward her and began berating her regularly over the job she was doing in the office, Connelly says.

Once, she said, Richardson brought her dog to the office and told Connelly to walk it and clean up after it.

"I'm not one to complain or whine or make mountains out of molehills, but I dreaded coming to work," Connelly told us. "Words can't describe how out of control she is."

Connelly says she contacted the agency's chief counsel, Ralph Hilton, to inform him of the unusual surrogacy proposition right after it happened.

Hilton insists that Connelly never went to him, but that he did receive an anonymous letter about the matter in October.

Hilton said he investigated, but couldn't find any witnesses to support Connelly's charge.

However, one former board member who asked not to be identified because of his continued state employment told us that Connelly had informed him of Richardson's request last year, and that office executives brushed it off as a misunderstanding when he inquired about it.

In March, Connelly was transferred -- she says at her request -- to the agency's information technology unit and away from the board.

Despite the move, Connelly says, the harassment continued. In April, she says, she attended the unemployment claims board's monthly meeting, only to be told by her bosses afterward that Richardson didn't want her there.

"That was the final straw," Connelly said.

Richardson did not return our call seeking comment, apparently preferring to let the agency's lawyer speak for her.

Hilton, the lawyer, called Connelly's accusations -- both the surrogacy offer and allegations of retribution -- absurd.

"These are falsehoods, and we deny them emphatically and await the opportunity to respond to her complaint," he said.

Richardson was legislative secretary to then-Gov. Gray Davis when he tapped her for the unemployment appeals board in 2003. Then, last July, Schwarzenegger renominated her and elevated her to chairwoman.

Sacramento sources describe her as being tight with Susan Kennedy, the governor's Democratic chief of staff, who also served in the Davis administration.

Hilton found it curious that Connelly filed her federal complaint on the eve of Richardson's confirmation to a second term. But it turns out that Connelly wasn't the only one who complained about the board chairwoman.

Steve Angelides, deputy chief administrative law judge at the agency and the cousin of former gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides, submitted a nine-page letter to the Senate Rules Committee last month recounting the verbal and emotional abuse he says Richardson has heaped on him since she took over as chairwoman.

Angelides wouldn't discuss details of the letter, but Sacramento sources tell us he complained about late night e-mails from Richardson, her criticism over his handling of private office communications, and meetings with agency clients that he felt were inappropriate.

Hilton said he didn't think it was proper "to get into a battle between his allegations and our response in the paper."

But he said, "Overall, the characterization is false, and I can say that on behalf of Ann Richardson."

Angelides and Connelly met privately with the Senate Rules Committee staff last month. But by then, the committee had already voted 5-0 to confirm Richardson's reappointment by Schwarzenegger to run the seven-member board.

However, state Senate President Pro Tem Perata, D-Oakland, was sufficiently concerned to write to Schwarzenegger on June 21 urging that Richardson receive training and counseling. He said his suggestion was motivated by "information from a number of sources, some of whom were unwilling to publicly appear, who indicated that Ms. Richardson had engaged in behavior on a number of occasions that created a hostile work environment for her staff."

Perata's letter said, "We do not believe that people should be penalized because of unsubstantiated representations, but we do find the pattern of information disconcerting."

This past Wednesday, the day before Richardson's confirmation vote, the governor wrote to Perata that he was standing by his nominee -- but said she had agreed to step down as chairwoman "pending the administrative adjudication of these claims."

"I will soon appoint a new chair for the board," Schwarzenegger wrote, adding that "the entire board will receive additional (sex harassment) training before its next meeting."

EXTRA! Catch our Web page at www.sfgate.com/matierandross. Cast your vote for the best reason to get on board with the iPhone craze. Play the Arnold Schwarzenegger greets the French president caption contest. Check out the bricks and kisses in feedback. And read the Extra, Extra, Extra musings and insights of friends including Rich "Big Vinny'' Lieberman and The Chronicle's Carla Marinucci and Don "Bad Reporter" Asmussen.

---Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Phil can be seen on CBS 5-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call them at (415) 777-8815 or e-mail matierandross@sfchronicle.com.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - He needed the money for his sick wife and overdue rent, but honesty prevented a motorcycle taxi driver from keeping $17,000 left behind by a passenger.

Frenz, the UK newspaper made a mistake in its report.

Thank you for the information.

Now that you said it...

So, what's your name, Snowhite?

photo sent to Tubag Bohol from Gisela May Leggington, former editor
of the Bohol Sunday Post (now based in Texas, U.S.A.)

photo sent to Tubag Bohol from Gisela May Leggington, former editor
of the Bohol Sunday Post (now based in Texas, U.S.A.)

photo sent to Tubag Bohol from Gisela May Leggington, former editor
of the Bohol Sunday Post (now based in Texas, U.S.A.)

photo sent to Tubag Bohol from Gisela May Leggington, former editor
of the Bohol Sunday Post (now based in Texas, U.S.A.)

... tornado in Loon, Bohol... weird weather is indeed worldwide...

<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk">Daily Mail UK</a>
July 3, 2007

This year is on track to be the world's second warmest on record, experts warned yesterday.

The heavy flooding here this week and the heatwave in Greece may herald even greater disruptions from global warming, they said.

Their comments came as the European Commission advised leaders to 'adapt or die' in the face of climate change.

Based on temperature records to the end of April, 2007 will be the second warmest year since records began in the 1860s. The warmest was 1998.

Phil Jones, head of the Climatic Research Unit at Britain's University of East Anglia, which supplies data to the UN's International Meteorological Organisation, said: "It could change, but at the moment this looks unlikely."

He had predicted late last year that 2007 could surpass 1998, due to rising concentrations of greenhouse gases emitted mainly by burning fossil fuels and an El Nino warming of the Pacific.

In terms of extreme events, more than 500 have died in storms and floods in Britain, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India in the past week.

Temperatures in Greece reached 46C (114.80F) this week, as part of a heatwave in southern Europe. China has also had a heatwave in recent days.

And torrential rains have battered parts of Texas, where Austin is set for its wettest year on record.

Almost all climate experts say that the trend is towards more droughts, floods, heatwaves and more powerful storms. Yesterday, Salvano Briceno, director of the Geneva-based secretariat of the U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, said that the world had to work out better policies to prepare for disasters.

Many were cramming into cities, for instance, in plains where there was already a risk of floods or moving to regions vulnerable to droughts.

"We need to reduce all the underlying risk factors, such as by locating communities out of hazard-prone areas," he said.

In Brussels, environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "Europe needs to adapt now to unavoidable climate change which is already happening.

"In Britain there is really bad flooding and destruction on a scale rarely seen before, and there is more bad weather on the way. At the same time in Greece and southern Europe a heatwave is raging, with reports of the deaths of many people.

"For some people in some parts of Europe it is literally a case of adapt or die."

Hazel, Jeroen has a big heart for Bohol and the Philippines.

Bohol owes a lot to this man.

"...Not too long ago, the country was a top destination for foreign students seeking not just English proficiency but quality education in all subjects. Foreign students went to Los Baños to earn a degree in agriculture. Philippine schools excelled in almost all disciplines, and the quality of education showed in the skills of the country’s workforce... "

Thousands of Thais did go to the Philippines to earn college degrees during the 60s and 70s. But when our uncivilized education officials in Manila forced them, including the rest of foreign students in the Philippines, to learn Tagalog, they stopped coming to the Philippines. Why should they study Tagalog? Non-sense!

The other day I met one of the top five officials of the Royal Thai Airways. He is the manager of the Cargo Division of the Royal Thai Airways, a division that is generating 30 billion baht revenue a year for Royal Thai coffers.

My biggest surprise during our talk was when he told me that he studied in Silliman University and that he was one of the players of the Silliman Football Team during the early 70s.

Many Thais went to Silliman three decades ago. But when Tagalog was incorporated in the rotten Philippine education system, they all fled back to their country.

Okay, okay, Tagalog is the language of globalization and international trade, so the Manila folks want us to eat Tagalog. Non-sense!

EDITORIAL
The Philippine Star

For the past few years, the Philippines has been a favorite destination of Korean students seeking to improve their English proficiency. Special English language schools have been set up in recent years to meet this growing demand. Now the government has announced that it will promote the country as an “education tourism” destination. The government is encouraged by reports that students from India and China are arriving as well to enroll in Philippine schools.

If the government is serious in achieving its goal, it should improve the quality of Philippine education to attract more foreign students. Not too long ago, the country was a top destination for foreign students seeking not just English proficiency but quality education in all subjects. Foreign students went to Los Baños to earn a degree in agriculture. Philippine schools excelled in almost all disciplines, and the quality of education showed in the skills of the country’s workforce.

All this changed as the nation became complacent and education particularly in public schools was neglected. The country has lost its edge in all disciplines. If foreign students are coming here in droves to improve their English proficiency, one major reason is not the high quality of education but the lower tuition rates compared to those in countries such as Singapore where English is also widely spoken.

The government should improve the quality of education at all levels not just for foreign visitors but for all Filipinos. In recent years the government has scrambled to reverse the deterioration in the quality of education especially in public schools. Efforts are also being made to improve Filipinos’ proficiency not just in English but also in the Tagalog-based national language. So far, progress has been slow; it will take years before the toll of decades of neglect can be fully reversed. As the government promotes education tourism, it should apply as much energy in improving the quality of education for all Filipinos.

There are a lot of browsers available, actually. Seamonkey and Netscape are two less known browsers. Netscape was the dominant browser until Internet Explorer dethroned Netscape in the late 90s. Seamonkey is the cousin of Firefox, and was developed by the same Mozilla team.

Download other types of browsers and tons of clean and safe softwares at

www.filehippo.com (my favorite site, highly recommended).

Download the new Netscape at http://browser.netscape.com

I am certain the bayots of the world would rush to drugstores worldwide.

Safari's text interface is a bit smaller and hazy. But its browse speed is almost as fast as Firefox's.

Apple is still fixing significant bugs found in Safari's latest release. These bugs were known two days after Steve Jobs announced Safari's entering the Windows platform.

On Opera 9. It's my next choice after Firefox. My best description for Opera 9 is: gaan siya.

Today I got an reply-email from Jeroen Hellingman, the webmaster of www.bohol.ph who is based in The Netherlands. Jeroen Hellingman is married to a beautiful Boholana.

I had mentioned about Jeroen in my previous post here. He is the only webmaster who linked the Bohol Standard website. Other websites did not reply to my e-mail for a link request.

Today's email from Jeroen brought a bundle of joy to us because Jeroen himself, in his e-mail, has permitted Tubag Bohol to use some of the photographs published on his website - and we will always acknowledge him for every bohol.ph photograph that we'll be posting in Tubag Bohol.

I am hopeful that Tubag Bohol and www.bohol.ph would have fruitful relationship as these two sites work hard in order to promote Bohol and the Philippines!

Long Live Jeroen Hellingman!

Thank you, Jeroen.

Thanks for this, Ghost. An apt description of Jesus. and He is more than that. He is the only Savior and Lord - the creator of heaven and earth.

Two ladies in a car disputed concerning the window, and at last called
the conductor as referee.

"If this window is open," one declared, "I shall catch cold, and will
probably die."

"If the window is shut," the other announced, "I shall certainly
suffocate." The two glared at each other.

The conductor was at a loss, but he welcomed the words of a man with a
red nose who sat near. These were:

"First, open the window, conductor. That will kill one. Next, shut it.
That will kill the other. Then we can have peace."

Two mothers-in-law.

A woman visitor to the city entered a taxicab. No sooner was the door
closed than the car leaped forward violently, and afterward went racing
wildly along the street, narrowly missing collision with innumerable
things. The passenger, naturally enough, was terrified. She thrust her
head through the open window of the door, and shouted at the chauffeur:

"Please, be careful, sir! I'm nervous. This is the first time I ever
rode in a taxi."

The driver yelled in reply, without turning his head:

"That's all right, ma'am. It's the first time I ever drove one!"

The teacher directed the class to write a brief account of a baseball
game. All the pupils were busy during the allotted time, except one
little boy, who sat motionless, and wrote never a word. The teacher gave
him an additional five minutes, calling them off one by one. The fifth
minute had almost elapsed when the youngster awoke to life, and scrawled
a sentence. It ran thus:

"Rain--no game."

Daniel Webster was the guest at dinner of a solicitous hostess who
insisted rather annoyingly that he was eating nothing at all, that he
had no appetite, that he was not making out a meal. Finally, Webster
wearied of her hospitable chatter, and addressed her in his most
ponderous senatorial manner:

"Madam, permit me to assure you that I sometimes eat more than at other
times, but never less."

The mother called in vain for her young son. Then she searched the
ground floor, the first story, the second, and the attic--all in vain.
Finally, she climbed to the trap door in the roof, pushed it open, and
cried:

"John Henry, are you out there?"

An answer came clearly:

"No, mother. Have you looked in the cellar?"

The woman confessed to her crony:

"I'm growing old, and I know it. Nowadays, the policeman never takes me
by the arm when he escorts me through the traffic."

The editor of the local paper was unable to secure advertising from one
of the business men of the town, who asserted stoutly that he himself
never read ads., and didn't believe anyone else did.

"Will you advertise if I can convince you that folks read the ads?" the
editor asked.

"If you can show me!" was the sarcastic answer. "But you can't."

In the next issue of the paper, the editor ran a line of small type in
an obscure corner. It read:

"What is Jenkins going to do about it?"

The business man, Jenkins, hastened to seek out the editor next day. He
admitted that he was being pestered out of his wits by the curious. He
agreed to stand by the editor's explanation in the forthcoming issue,
and this was:

"Jenkins is going to advertise, of course."

Having once advertised, Jenkins advertises still.

The professor, who was famous for the wool-gathering of his wits,
returned home, and had his ring at the door answered by a new maid. The
girl looked at him inquiringly:

"Um--ah--is Professor Johnson at home?" he asked, naming himself.

"No, sir," the maid replied, "but he is expected any moment now."

The professor turned away, the girl closed the door. Then the poor man
sat down on the steps to wait for himself.

By Augusto de Viana
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippinesâ€"Before overseas Filipino workers came to Hong Kong in droves, the former British Crown Colony had long had its share of visitors from the Philippines, mainly crewmen of trading vessels.

The British took over the island of Hong Kong in 1842 and developed it into an entrepot. By the latter part of the 19th century, Hong Kong was a busy port town accommodating ships, cargo and passengers from all over the world.

During this period, Hong Kong became a refuge of Filipino patriots. Among them was Jose Ma. Basa, a rich Manila merchant who gave financial and moral support to Filipino reformists in the 1860s.

When the Cavite Mutiny broke out on Jan. 17, 1872, Basa was one of those arrested by Spanish authorities. He and 22 others, including Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Balvino Mauricio, Antonio Ma. Regidor and Maximo Paterno, were deported to Guam.

Basa stayed in Guam until 1874. Subsequently, he sailed to Hong Kong where he started a prosperous trading business while continuing to support the struggle for reforms in the Philippines.

His role in the smuggling of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” to the Philippines is little known. It was at his house where copies of the book were sent by Rizal from Europe. A young seaman named Perfecto Rufino Riego took the books and secretly distributed them in Manila.

Haven

The social and political ambience in Hong Kong made it a haven for Filipinos. Rizal lived and practiced medicine there for some time.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out in August 1896, more Filipinos escaping Spanish tyranny found their way to Hong Kong.

Among them were Galicano Apacible (who eventually formed the Philippine Central Committee (PCC) better known as the Hong Kong Junta, a sort of Philippine government-in-exile) and the lawyer Felipe Agoncillo, a staunch supporter of Filipino causes, who was accused of being a filibustero (subversive).

Agoncillo was about to be arrested when he fled to Hong Kong, where he was later joined by his wife, Marcela, and their daughters. The family lived in a house on Morrison Hill Road in the Wanchai district.

One of the visitors to the Agoncillo home was Antonio Luna, who became a general in the Philippine revolutionary army.

According to Marcela Agoncillo, Luna loved to cook. He would head straight to the kitchen whenever he dropped by, and even searched the market for the cooking ingredients he needed.

Revolutionary leaders led by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo arrived in December 1897. For their meetings, they rented the house next to the Agoncillo residence.

First flag

After he returned from Singapore where he decided to cast his lot with the Americans, Aguinaldo asked Marcela Agoncillo a favor: Would she sew the Philippines’ first national flag?

Marcela accepted the task. She bought the finest silk cloth from a nearby market and, with her daughter Lorenza, then five years old, and Delfina Herbosa Natividad, Rizal’s niece who was married to one of Aguinaldo’s generals, worked on the flag manually and with the aid of a sewing machine.

In Marcela’s recollection, their eyes and fingers hurt because of the prolonged sewing. Often they missed meals. Sometimes they had to redo a particular partâ€"for example, a ray in the sun that was not sewn straight.

The flag was finished in five days. On May 17, 1898, it was packed among the other things that Aguinaldo brought to Manila.

It was first unfurled in Cavite Nuevo, following the Filipino victory in the battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898.

But the formal unfurling was on June 12, 1898, at the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite.

‘Most important center’

Hong Kong continued to serve as the base of the PCC during the Filipino-American War.

In his memoirs, Apacible expressed admiration for the British administrators of the colony:

“I must confess that the British Government of Hong Kong had treated us not only with decorum but [also] with benevolence. Hong Kong is the most important center of our revolutionary activities and labors during our conflict with America, and the refuge of prominent Filipinos involved in the movement.

“The political refugees from many countries residing there were protected by the same English laws and the English spirit of equity. English chivalry inspired the Hong Kong government to fulfill this sacred duty toward all political refugees.”

Historical markers

Perhaps the only remembrances of the stay of Filipino patriots in Hong Kong are the two historical markers installed by the Hong Kong Antiquities Council at the former sites of Rizal’s residences and one indicating the area where the first Philippine flag was sewn.

The other sites of historical importance to Filipinos, such as the base of the PCC and the homes of patriots like Agoncillo, Apacible and Basa, have yet to be properly marked.

source: <a href="http://www.studentprintz.com">Student Printz</a>

Since the original publication of this article we have been inundated with responses from the public at all walks of life. It is important to note that research is ongoing with DCA, and not everyone is convinced it will turn out to be a miracle drug. There have been many therapies that were promising in vitro and in animal models that did not work for one reason or another in humans. To provide false hope is not our intention. There is a lot of information on DCA available on the web, and this column is but one opinion on the topic. We hope you will do your own research into the situation. So, we have added links to resources at the end of this column. If you are arriving here form a linking website like Fark, then those links will not appear because they tend to grab only the text. For those visitors, here is a link to the original research: www.depmed.ualberta.ca/dca

Scientists may have cured cancer last week.

Yep.

So, why haven't the media picked up on it?

Here's the deal. Researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada found a cheap and easy to produce drug that kills almost all cancers. The drug is dichloroacetate, and since it is already used to treat metabolic disorders, we know it should be no problem to use it for other purposes.

Doesn't this sound like the kind of news you see on the front page of every paper?

The drug also has no patent, which means it could be produced for bargain basement prices in comparison to what drug companies research and develop.

Scientists tested DCA on human cells cultured outside the body where it killed lung, breast and brain cancer cells, but left healthy cells alone. Rats plump with tumors shrank when they were fed water supplemented with DCA.

Again, this seems like it should be at the top of the nightly news, right?

Cancer cells don't use the little power stations found in most human cells - the mitochondria. Instead, they use glycolysis, which is less effective and more wasteful.

Doctors have long believed the reason for this is because the mitochondria were damaged somehow. But, it turns out the mitochondria were just dormant, and DCA starts them back up again.

The side effect of this is it also reactivates a process called apoptosis. You see, mitochondria contain an all-too-important self-destruct button that can't be pressed in cancer cells. Without it, tumors grow larger as cells refuse to be extinguished. Fully functioning mitochondria, thanks to DCA, can once again die.

With glycolysis turned off, the body produces less lactic acid, so the bad tissue around cancer cells doesn't break down and seed new tumors.

Here's the big catch. Pharmaceutical companies probably won't invest in research into DCA because they won't profit from it. It's easy to make, unpatented and could be added to drinking water. Imagine, Gatorade with cancer control.

So, the groundwork will have to be done at universities and independently funded laboratories. But, how are they supposed to drum up support if the media aren't even talking about it?

All I can do is write this and hope Google News picks it up. In the meantime, tell everyone you know and do your own research.

This is a column of opinion written by Printz Executive Editor David McRaney. Comments can be sent to printz@usm.edu

Maayo pa ang driver mouli ug P.765 million. Atong mga opisyales (dili tanan) bisan supply sa medisina sa lungsod daginoton ug kawat.

This story should be laminated and placed under every mayor's, congressman's, governor's, and councilor's pillow.

Tungod ani nga hulagway, nagkapandol-pandol ang pinitik sa kasing-kasing sa nabana ni Lumine karon.

By Ted Chamberlain
<a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com">National Geographic Online</a>

In Antarctica's Ross Sea, a fishing boat has caught what is likely the world's biggest known colossal squid (yes, that's the species' name), New Zealand officials announced today.

Heavier than even giant squid, colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) have eyes as wide as dinner plates and sharp hooks on some of their suckers. The new specimen weighs in at an estimated 990 pounds (450 kilograms).

The sea monster had become entangled while feeding on Patagonian toothfish (toothfish photos) caught on long lines of hooks. The crew then maneuvered the squid into a net and painstakingly hauled it aboardâ€"a two-hour process.

The animal was frozen and placed in a massive freezer below decks. Now in New Zealand, the carcass awaits scientific analysis.

"Even basic questions such as how large does this species grow to and how long does it live for are not yet known," said New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton in a statement.

The deep-sea species was first discovered in 1925, though the only evidence was two tentacles found in a sperm whale's stomach. Since then there have been only a scattering of sightings, including a colossal squid caught in 2003 in the same region as the recent find.

The new specimen is likely the first intact male ever recovered, Anderton said.

Squid expert Steve O'Shea told local press, "I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest."

For one thing, added the Auckland University of Technology professor, the squid would yield calamari rings the size of tractor tires.

Photographs courtesy od New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, illustration by Paul Hannan, National Geographic Digital Media

Quote from: !!! on June 27, 2007, 10:19:27 AM

Mag-abogado nalang unta ka Mike para ikaw maoy modapig sa mga kabus ug dinaog-daog.

Duhay padulngan, Rose: ang ubang abogado maoy modaug-daug ug moduot sa mga kabos ug dinaug-daug ug ang ubang abogado maoy molaban sa mga timawa uyamot.

Bisan ug dili ta abogado, makalaban gihapon ta sa mga kapos ug dinaug-daug.

Si James Yap naay HOPE.

Si Kris Aquino dihay PHILIP kaniadto.

Nakahibawo ba sila nga cigarette smoking is dangerous to health?

Priest nag-illegal parking. Nagbilin siya ug note sa car: "Pari ko. Walay maparkingan. Please ayaw ko tiketi. Forgive my trespasses."

Pagbalik sa pari, dihay ticket ug note sa iyang car: "Polis ko. Kon di ti ka tiketan, makasala ko. Lead me not into temptation. Amen."

Anda can never move up where it is now until the vicious political power is still patronized by the deceived constituents.

I have run out of tears weeping for the decadence of my town.

What can we do? Our people have chosen darkness and they love to die blind.

Dear Snowhite,

Welcome to Tubag Bohol. Personally I'm so glad you found this blooming website. And I'm so happy that you have joined this feisty community.

Since you choose Snowhite as your display name I won't call you **** but Snowhite. In Tubag Bohol we respect people's preferences, and their privacy is our utmost importance.

Snowhite, you are not alone. Many had lost, too. And the only way you'd find yourself in Tubag Bohol is by coming to us through the exit door.

Feel free to browse our HELP section for you to survive in this website.


Sincerely yours,

mike

P.S. Snowhite's writings can send you to the moon and back. She writes like a Cinderella. 

It was not the driver's fault that she lost her money.

And this is what she did: she rewarded herself $32 (P1,500) for her "kadanghag."

Amahan: Anak, pagtuon gyud ug maayo sa imong pagtungha. Angay kang masayod nga si Ferdinand Marcos, sa pareho pa nimo ug edad, siya ang labing hawod sa ilang klase. Gusto kong mapareha ka ni Marcos.

Anak: Mao ba? Apan, Tay, di ba dihang nagkaedad na si Ferdinand Marcos pareha nimo, presidente naman siya sa Pilipinas? Gusto sab ko, Tay, nga pareha ka niya.


By Eliezer N. Arnejo
Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro
from Bisaya Magazine

By Nancy Rones
<a href="http://www.webmd.com">WebMD Feature from "Redbook" Magazine</a>

    * Have breakfast... even if you don't feel hungry. You'll be a lot perkier: Studies show that people who eat breakfast feel better both mentally and physically than those who skip their morning meal. British researchers at Cardiff University even found that spooning up a bowl of breakfast cereal every morning is associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

    * Eat every three to four hours. Having three smallish meals and two snacks throughout the day can keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable all day long, says Roberta Anding, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Note the word "smallish." Supersized meals demand more of your energy to digest, which can leave you feeling lethargic. At each mini-meal, get a mix of carbohydrates (which the body uses for energy), protein (which helps sustain energy if needed), and healthy fats like those found in fish, nuts, and olives -- these fats and protein contribute to meal satisfaction, so you don't go hunting for sweets an hour later and wind up with a short-lived sugar high and subsequent crash. A few meal ideas: a low-fat yogurt parfait with berries and a couple of tablespoons of whole-grain granola; salmon over mixed greens with whole-grain crackers; and beef tenderloin with a baked sweet potato and asparagus.

    * Fill up on more fiber. Fiber has a time-releasing effect on carbs, so they enter your bloodstream at a slow and steady pace, giving your energy staying power, says Anding. When choosing your mini-meals (see above), include fiber-filled options that add up to the daily recommended 25 to 30 grams of fiber (the average person gets only between 10 and 15 grams). Some suggestions: a bowl of raisin bran (5 grams of fiber per cup); black beans and cheese wrapped in a multigrain tortilla (beans have 7.5 grams per 1/2 cup; one tortilla has 5 grams); air-popped popcorn (3.6 grams per 3 cups); an apple with the skin (3.3 grams); and whole-wheat spaghetti (6.3 grams per cup).

    * Fuel your brain with omega-3s. Found in fatty fish (such as tuna and salmon), walnuts, and canola oil, these essential fatty acids play a role in keeping brain cells healthy and helping you feel mentally alert. Another potential bonus: Omega-3s encourage the body to store carbs as glycogen â€" the storage form of glucose (blood sugar) and the body's main source of stored fuel â€" rather than as fat.

    * Stay hydrated. Water makes up the majority of your blood and other body fluids, and even mild dehydration can cause blood to thicken, forcing the heart to pump harder to carry blood to your cells and organs and resulting in fatigue. Also, ample fluids keep energy-fueling nutrients flowing throughout the body, says Nancy Clark, R.D., author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook. To gauge your hydration, Clark recommends monitoring how often you urinate. You should be going every two to four hours, and your urine should be clear or pale yellow in color. Tip: Besides drinking more, you can also consume foods that naturally contain water, such as yogurt, broccoli, carrots, and juicy fruits, like watermelons, oranges, and grapefruits.

    * Watch caffeine intake after noon. Typically, consuming a moderate amount of caffeine â€" 200 to 300 mg, the amount found in two to three cups of coffee â€" can make you more energetic and alert in the hours following, says Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D., a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. But when caffeine is consumed in large quantities â€" or anytime in the afternoon or evening â€" the quality of your sleep that night can take a nosedive, leaving you with heavy eyelids the next day. One caution for those who are highly sensitive to caffeine: Although switching to a decaf latte in the afternoon sounds like the answer, researchers at the University of Florida found that out of 22 decaffeinated coffee beverages tested, all but one contained some caffeine.

Energize Your Spirit

    * We're all familiar with physical exhaustion, but mental strain â€" sadness, boredom, worry, anger, and general stress (the biggie) â€" can take an even heavier toll on vitality, completely wearing you out. Life happens, and these difficult emotions will, too. But if you react wisely, your brain and body will rebound â€" along with your vim and vigor.

    * Splash some water on your face or take a shower when you're feeling burned-out. Some 55 percent of study participants reported using these types of "water therapy" to successfully increase their energy, according to findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Apparently, a little H 2 O refresher can instantly help take the edge off when you're feeling overwhelmed.

    * Suit up in a "power" outfit to beat the blahs. Fight the tendency to throw on sweats when you're feeling sluggish. Although it may seem counterintuitive to slip into the skirt you save for special occasions, it helps to look in the mirror and see an energizing image â€" not a deflating one that confirms and reinforces your internal state, says Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Domar Center for Complementary Healthcare in Waltham, MA. Dressing for success will give you a big mental boost every time you catch sight of your reflection (or receive a compliment) throughout the day.

    * Vent your feelings. Keeping fear, anxiety, and stress pent up inside may seem like a grown-up way to deal with these emotions. But discussing negative feelings with another person can ease them far better than keeping them bottled up; by airing them, you reduce their ability to sap your stamina, says Komaroff, who is also the editor-in-chief of the Harvard Health Letter.

    * Turn on some tunes. Listening to music is one of the most effective ways to change a bad mood, decrease tension, and increase energy. Consider this: Runners in one study who listened to music while on the treadmill ran faster than those who jogged in silence â€" no matter how loud the volume or how fast the tempo, according to new findings in the journal Ergonomics. Other research suggests that music effectively distracts you from feeling fatigue. Try burning a CD of your favorite songs and playing it anytime you need a pick-me-up. (If you exercise, so much the better â€" but the music will move you either way.)

    * Let go of grudges. Nursing a grudge prompts your mind and body to react as if they're under chronic stress, increasing your heart rate and blood pressure and potentially resulting in an impaired immune system and exhaustion over time, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science. On the other hand, practicing empathy and forgiveness after you've been wronged makes you feel as if you're back in control, which keeps the body's stress responses in check. The next time you find yourself harboring ill feelings, repeat a stress-relieving mantra to yourself, such as, "Forgiveness makes me a happier and stronger person."

    * Take belly breaths. When we're under stress, we're prone to take "chest breaths" â€" short, shallow ones, says Domar. Chest breathing brings less air into the lungs and reduces the supply of energizing oxygen to the body and brain, leaving you physically and mentally drained. The goal is deep, diaphragmatic breathing â€" like that of a sleeping infant: When you breathe in, your belly should round and fill like a balloon; on an exhale, your belly should slowly deflate. Of course, remembering to practice deep breathing isn't the first thing on your mind when you're under the gun, so as a visual reminder, try posting a tranquil picture (such as a pool of water or your kids smiling) with the word "breathe" next to your computer, or anywhere you tend to feel on edge.

    * De-clutter a corner. Go through that teetering pile of papers or overflowing closet and clear it out. Clutter can make you feel out of control and overwhelmed, especially when you're already feeling stressed or down. Plus, simply accomplishing a goal, no matter how seemingly minor, can be energizing, says Domar.

    * Do some good. Acts of altruism can lend a little pep to your step. In fact, one study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that volunteer work can boost your energy in six ways: It enhances happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and mood. Find short- and long-term volunteer opportunities at volunteermatch.org and charityguide.org.

Get a Restorative Rest

When you have a lot to do (um...always), usually the first thing to get squeezed off your agenda is sleep. But miss out on shut-eye and your energy, positivity, productivity, and memory are sure to suffer. And nearly a quarter of American adults aren't getting enough rest, which has led to an epidemic of daytime sleepiness, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation. The key to bucking this trend is to brush up on sleep hygiene. Try these steps for starters.

    * Cut back on TV and computer time after 8 p.m. If you're already a night owl (you go to bed late and sleep in on weekends), the bright light emitted from television and computer screens can make falling asleep at a decent hour even harder. The reason: Light suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone secreted at sunset that tells the brain that it's nighttime, explains John Herman, Ph.D., director of the training program in sleep medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. And when melatonin levels are low, your brain is fooled into thinking that it's still daytime â€" and remains raring to go. Whenever possible, wait until the next morning to tune in and/or log on. If you must use light-emitting technology at night, try to turn it off an hour or two before hitting the sack.

    * Hide your alarm clock. Watching the clock to see how long it's taking you to drift off or how much time you have left before your alarm goes off can result in a poor night's sleep, says Kelly A. Carden, M.D., medical director of the Sleep Health Center Affiliated with Hallmark Health at Medford in Medford, MA. This hypervigilance keeps the brain awake and alert and prevents you from slipping into deep, restorative sleep. The easy fix: Set your alarm clock, then either face the numbers away from you or put it on the floor, in a drawer, or across the room.

    * Give your pet his own separate sleeping space. At night, pets snore, jiggle their tags, move around a lot, and even hog the covers and bed space. It's no wonder that 53 percent of pet owners who sleep with their pets in the bedroom have some type of disrupted sleep every night, according to a study from the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center in Rochester, MN. Consider relocating your furry friend's sleeping quarters to another area, even if it's just his own bed in your bedroom.

    * Lower the thermostat. For a good night's sleep, make sure your room is comfortably cool â€" enough so that you need a light blanket. This ensures that your environment is in sync with your body's internal temperature, which naturally drops during the night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Studies suggest the ideal sleeping temperature is between 54 and 75 degrees; anything cooler or warmer may cause you to wake up.

    * Skip the nightcap. Alcohol depresses the nervous system â€" the system of cells, tissues, nerves, and organs that controls the body's responses to internal and external stimuli. So while sipping a glass of wine before bed may help you nod off, the sedative effects wear off as your body metabolizes the alcohol, which may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep. Alcohol has also been shown to interfere with the body's natural 24-hour biorhythms, causing blood pressure to rise and heart rate to race at night when it's normally calm and relaxed. You don't have to give up that evening cocktail entirely to achieve sound sleep â€" just try to avoid alcohol within two to three hours of bedtime.

    * Get your exercise. While scientists don't yet understand why, aerobic exercise has been proved to help you fall asleep faster at bedtime, spend more hours in deep sleep, and wake up less often throughout the night, says Komaroff. At the same time, vigorous exercise can act like a stimulant (which is a great daytime energizer), so schedule your workouts in the morning or afternoon, when you need a boost the most.
    * Follow the 15-minute rule. If you can't fall asleep, or if you wake up and can't get back to sleep within about 15 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing that will help clear your head, such as reading, meditating, or knitting (but not watching TV or surfing the Web). Then, once you feel sleepy again, go back to bed. If you stay put and fret about being awake, you'll only make yourself more anxious â€" and less likely to catch the z's you need.

    * Write down your worries. During the day, jot down any stressors that are weighing on you, says Carden. Then, do some mental problem-solving before your head hits the pillow â€" or, if you're falling short on solutions, tuck your list away and resolve to brainstorm ideas during your morning shower or commute to work. Just knowing you've established a plan for tackling your to-do's will make you feel like you've made some progress, allowing you to relax, drift off â€" and wake up the next morning ready to take on the day.

Location:           Southern part of Bohol Province
                       73 kms. Away from  the capital city of Tagbilaran
                       2 hrs. ride by bus
                       1.5 hr. ride by van-hire

Land:                5889.6996 hectares

Urban Rural Area Ratio:   32.68%

Political Submission:       21 barangays: 9 urban, 12 rural

Topography:            Generally Characterized as a hilly and rolling  terrain

Elevation:  Meter above see level   
89 meters lowest brgy.                                                                   
720 meters highest brgy.     

Climate:         20.8 degrees Celsius-coldest
                    24.8 degrees Celsius-warmest
                    20.1-27.1 degrees Celsius-average

Major Dialect:    Bisaya

Religious Affiliation    :    12

Major Religious    :       Roman Catholic
                                Phil. Independent Church
                                Jehovah's Witnesses
                                Baptist

Major Ethic Group   :   Eskaya

Other Settlers:   Waray, Ilongo, Ilocano

Population:     16, 548

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
HON. MAYOR C. TAN,M.D.
Municipal Mayor

MUNICIPAL BUDGET OFFICE
MRS. CONCHITA C. MACAS
Municipal Budget Officer

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
ENGR. ALBERT Q. WAPANIO
Municipal Engineer

MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR
MR. GONDELINO V. TENIO
Municipal Civil Registrar

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL TREASURER
MRS. JUDITHA F. TINAMPAY
Asst. Municipal Treasurer

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL ASSESSOR
MRS. AVELINA S. GUMATAY
Municipal Assesor

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
ENGR. CESAR B. SALAZAR JR.

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTANT
MRS. LEONARDA C. MARQUEZ, CPA
Municipal Accountant

OFFICE OF MUNICIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
MRS. AVELINA N. SABANDAL

MUNICIPAL HEALTH OFFICE
DR. ELETT B. SALADA,M.D

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURE
MR. RONULFO G. CASENAS
Municipal Agricultural Officer

    Duero is located in the southeastern part of the Visayan, the land is plain and situated near the sea. It is ten kilometers from jagna amd fifteen kilometers from Guindulman, its adjacent towns and two towns of Sierra Bullones and Pilar, north of the town.

    The town of Duero is erected in February 11, 1863 by a decree of the superior government - Governor General Rafael Echaue. The tenientes of the barangays or barrios of Guinsularan and Madua had initiated the course of action to the creation of the town and parish of Duero, Bohol. The toponym of the new town and parish was named after a very important and beautiful river in northeastern part of Spain called Duero.

    This consists of the titlle of the new town Duero for having proven that the barrios of Guinsularan and Madua which  before belongs to the towns of Guindulman and Jagna meet the circumtances and requirements provided for by law was erected into a town with its own civil and spiritual jurisdiction. The Council of Administration, Office of the Governor and Royal Vice Patron established the barrios Guinsularan and Madua into the town of Duero with civil and spiritual jurisdiction independent from its respective matrix Guindulman and Jagna, District of Cebu.

    His Excellency Politico-Military Governor of the Visayas was authorized and put in charge of marking and, through the Governor District of Cebu, set the landmarks upon the rural boundaries of the new town.

    Today, Duero is among the many bustling towns east of the province of Bohol. It has stood the test of time and today the see, the sturdy branches and the life giving leaves of the vision of its early forefeathers have borne fruits. Duero is fast becoming the province tourist destination, has established economic stability and self-reliance, pulsating with life, steered by new breed of leaders who have the same fate and vision of their fore bearers. Duero now is a paradise reclaimed where one would wish to build his home and stay forever.

How will you evaluate your Guindulman SB Officials?

Duero, Bohol 2004-2007 Officials

HON. JESUS B. ACENAS
SB MEMBER
San Pedro, Duero, Bohol

HON. JULITO M. CAGASAN
SB MEMBER
San Antonio, Duero, Bohol

HON. EDGAR U. CAGASAN
SB MEMBER
Mawi, Duero, Bohol

HON. MANSUETO Q. CASTINO
SB MEMBER
Guinsularan, Duero, Bohol

HON. MANSUETO C. OLANO
SB MEMBER
San Antonio, Duero, Bohol

HON. ROBERT A. PELIGRO
SB MEMBER
Danao, Duero, Bohol

HON. EDUARDO C. TAN
SB MEMBER
Guinsularan, Duero, Bohol

HON. ROGELIO G. RANA
SB MEMBER
Madua Sur, Duero, Bohol

HON. ADAUCTA T. ABUEVA
ABC PRESIDENT
Itum, Duero, Bohol

HON. EMERSON JAY N. ESPINOSA
SK FEDERATED PRESIDENT
San Pedro, Duero, Bohol

Office of the Mayor
Telephone No : +63385291181

Department of the Interior and Local Government
MLGOO / IT Coordinator Mr. Jose Jekeri P. Taningco
EMail Address : jekeri@yahoo.com
Telephone No : +639277152563 (cell)

Budget Office
Budget Officer Mr. Glicerio Peligrino
Telephone No : +63385291181

MPDC Office
MPDO Mr. Lucio B. Ocio, Jr.
Telephone No : +63385291181

Office of the Municipal Engineer
Municipal Engineer Mr. Ariston Beronio
Telephone No : +63385291181

Office of the Local Civil Registrar
LCR Mrs. Conchita S. Gran
Telephone No : +63385291181

Mayor :           PAULINO T. AMPER
Vice-Mayor:     DOMENCIANO DELIGERO

SB Members:

1.  VICENTE (TITING) TINIO
2.  NILO BERSABAL
3.  AGUSTIN (OTING) MAKINANO
4.  REINERIO (ENIE) MAKINANO
5.  NEMESIO (BOY) TINIO
6.  ROGELIO (ROGER) AMPONG
7.  LUCHIE TONGCO
8.  FRUMENCIO (MENTOY) BAGAIPO

How the people voted them:

Mayor:         Paul Amper                         4,675       
Vice-Mayor:  Domenciano Deligero            2,908

SB MEMBERS:

         1.  Vicente Tinio                             4,371
         2.  Nilo Bersabal                              4,228
         3.  Agustin Makinano                        3,966
         4.  Reinerio Makinano                        3,810
         5.  Nemesio Tinio                              3,648
         6.  Rogelio Ampong                           3,478
         7.  Luchie Tongco                            3,414
         8.  Frumencio Bagaipo                       3,159

Comelec Data:

Total Registered Voters:   9,602
Actually Voted:               7, 995

No, this is not in Bohol...



from the <a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu">Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History</a>

After lambasting the police provincial director as “numb and irresponsible”, the mayor-elect of Trinidad town Judith Cajes finally got her wish.

In a matter of two days after the comments of Cajes came out in almost all local media outlets, P/S Supt. Edgardo Ingking informed the new mayor that effective June 29 (Friday) nine (9) police officers were pulled out from the Trinidad police station and transferred to other units as requested.

These police men were subjects of Cajes’ allegations that they actively participated in the local elections supporting the then incumbent mayor Osias Flor who was seeking reelection but was trounced by Cajes.

Second district Rep. Roberto Cajes, husband of the new Trinidad mayor, also rebuked Inking’s delayed response saying the continued stay of said policemen can threaten witnesses while administrative and criminal cases are readied for filing.

Death threats continue and considering that these policemen are publicly known to be die hard supporters of outgoing mayor Flor, the grave danger is present, the Cajes camp added.

Mayor-elect Cajes, together with vice mayor-elect Frank Gonzalez, wrote the provincial police office on June 1 and 18, their concern about the policemen.

The two requested the immediate transfer of SPO3 Mario Balonga, SPO2 Edilberto Dagondon, SPO1 Cipriano Evardo, SPO1 Ranulfo Turan, PO3 Armando Balonga, PO3 Arsenio Agbo, PO2 Jennifer Cabando, PO1 Rene Avenido, PO1 Leonilo Aduna and PO1 Jackelyn Rosales.

Only four (4) were spared for retention at the Trinidad police station; SPO1 Danilo Torcende, PO3 Marcelo Balonga, PO2 Virgilio Otara and Marcos Lopez.

SPO1 Turan was however reconsidered for retention.

The mayor also wanted SPO3 Marcelito Autentico to be temporarily designated as acting chief of police (ACOP) for the Trinidad PNP station.

Ingking earlier said the request could not be acted upon immediately prior to concurrence of the concerned local chief executives (mayors) where these police officers are assigned.

Congressman Cajes who is a lawyer said the position of Ingking is not supported by Republic Act 8551 (as amended by RA 6975) which states that relief of police personnel ‘does not require concurrence of mayors.’

But Inking said it is not just a matter of law, but due courtesy and respect must be afforded to local chief executives whenever their police stations are affected by the transfer of police personnel.

“I have been fair in all my actions based on policies. But branding me as numb and irresponsible is uncalled for. That I cannot accept,” Ingking said.

-- <a href="http://www.theboholstandard.com>The Bohol Standard</a> July 1, 2007

<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk">Telegraph UK</a>

The floods that have devastated swathes of the country are God's judgment on the immorality and greed of modern society, according to senior Church of England bishops.

One diocesan bishop has even claimed that laws that have undermined marriage, including the introduction of pro-gay legislation, have provoked God to act by sending the storms that have left thousands of people homeless.

While those who have been affected by the storms are innocent victims, the bishops argue controversially that the flooding is a result of Western civilisation's decision to ignore biblical teaching.

The Rt Rev Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle, argued that the floods are not just a result of a lack of respect for the planet, but also a judgment on society's moral decadence.

"This is a strong and definite judgment because the world has been arrogant in going its own way," he said. "We are reaping the consequences of our moral degradation, as well as the environmental damage that we have caused."

The bishop, who is a leading evangelical, said that people should heed the stories of the Bible, which described the downfall of the Roman empire as a result of its immorality.

"We are in serious moral trouble because every type of lifestyle is now regarded as legitimate," he said.

"In the Bible, institutional power is referred to as 'the beast', which sets itself up to control people and their morals. Our government has been playing the role of God in saying that people are free to act as they want," he said, adding that the introduction of recent pro-gay laws highlighted its determination to undermine marriage.

"The sexual orientation regulations [which give greater rights to gays] are part of a general scene of permissiveness. We are in a situation where we are liable for God's judgment, which is intended to call us to repentance."

He expressed his sympathy for those who have been hit by the weather, but said that the problem with "environmental judgment is that it is indiscriminate".

The West is also being punished for the way that it has exploited poorer nations in its pursuit of economic gain. "It has set up dominant economic structures that are built on greed and that keep other nations in a situation of dependence. The principle of God's judgment on nations that have exploited other nations is all there in the Bible," he said.

He urged people to respond to the latest floods by turning away from a lifestyle of greed to instead live thinking of the consequences of their actions.

Global warming has been caused by people's lack of care for the planet and recent environmental catastrophes are a warning over how we behave, according to the Bishop of Liverpool.

"People no longer see natural disasters as an act of God," said the Rt Rev James Jones. "However, we are now reaping what we have sown. If we live in a profligate way then there are going to be consequences," said the bishop, who has previously been seen as a future Archbishop of Canterbury or York.

"We have a responsibility in this and God is exposing us to the truth of what we have done."

The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, said: "We are all part of the problem and part of the solution. Instead of living as if we owned the earth we need to recover a sense of being participants in a web of life with responsibilities to other life forms and to our children."

The Bishops' warnings came as flood-hit communities were being warned to brace themselves for more torrential rain this weekend, with the Met Office issuing a severe weather warning for large areas of England and Wales, with up to 50mm (2in) of rain forecast.

this story is also posted in townhall.com (Virginia, U.S.A.)

i haven't read this story in our local headlines. maybe i missed it, but thanks to Guardian Unlimited of the UK - they published this story.

published by <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">Guardian Unlimited (UK)</a> under its BREAKING NEWS INTERNATIONAL section

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - He needed the money for his sick wife and overdue rent, but honesty prevented a motorcycle taxi driver from keeping $17,000 left behind by a passenger.

Iluminado Boc returned the money to police in Tagbilaran city on central Bohol island last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Monday. The woman who lost the bag of cash had just reported it to police when Boc showed up at the precinct.

"It was not mine,'' Boc was quoted as saying.

The owner rewarded him with $32 - about seven times what a motorcycle taxi driver makes a day.

BY JOE ESPIRITU
Jagna-based Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

Some of the Local Government Executives were apprehensive on the shift from the unitary presidential system of government to the federal parliamentary system. The question was; would the Local Government Units be under the control of the central government. Will all-important local policies require the approval of Imperial Manila? Will the LGUs still go hat in hand to the national seat of power to ask for their share of the tax? Apparently, these topics were not taken up.

The direction of the Chacha is the change from the presidential unitary to the federal parliamentary form of government. Everybody knows that in a parliamentary system, it is the parliament that is all-powerful. The Executive is subordinate to the Legislative. The parliament can choose the Prime Minister or later dismiss him anytime in his term of office. By the time the Prime Minister falls out of power, he can also dissolve the parliament, which is the government and call for a new election. This means, tenure depends upon the good graces of the Members of the Parliament. A Member of Parliament in turn depends upon the good graces of his constituents, which he has to face frequently.

There is a misconception that the parliamentary system is unicameral. There are countries with unicameral bodies, small countries like Israel , Denmark , South Korea and New Zealand . There are also countries with bicameral bodies like Great Britain and Australia . In the former, the House of Lords form the upper body while the House of Commons the lower one. In Australia the upper house is the Senate and the lower house is the Representatives. The province elects both senators and representatives. Before South Africa became bicameral, they were first tricameral, with houses for the whites, the blacks and the coloureds.

Governments can be unitary, that means having one central government or federal, composed of small coexisting political units within geographical boundaries. Both presidential and parliamentary governments may be either unitary or federal, federal presidential like the United States of America or can be unitary parliamentary like Great Britain . Or it can also be federal parliamentary like Canada , Australia and Malaysia .

In a unitary system Local Government Units are directly under the control of the central government. In the federal form, each federal unit such as province or state has its own local law, which are responsive to local conditions. In a federal system, each federal unit has the option on what role their local government units will play within the federal unit. As to sharing of taxes, a province or state can retain a share and remit to the national treasury the rest. The sharing proportion may be agreed upon between the province and the federal government. A poor province, like Quebec in Canada , claims much of the federal aid for its development and maintenance.

Politicians and established institutions fear change, any change. They never had it so good in the present system. People run for elective office to break into the big money environment. Businessmen go into politics to protect their interests. A change in the constitution might make political mobilization difficult, and even if it may be still easy their security of tenure is threatened before they could recover their investment. They could not keep voters poor and ignorant forever. Many suspect that institutions like the Church fear that the new constitution would not be able to grant them tax free pre privileges.

The Constitution has to change if we have to keep up with the present times. We do not have to pattern our form of government to any of the existing ones. We must make a constitution, which is responsive to our needs and aspirations. If we have to change it now and again, then so be it.

By Joe Espiritu
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

(written before the fiestas in May)

In the few days into the fiesta month of May, an observer might notice that the festivities are somewhat subdued. Perhaps it is because of the times. There are some practices that are being slowly discarded. This is one of the causes why fiestas are now becoming conservative. It is noticeable that passenger volume of the past years is no longer the same. Jagna, the gateway to northern Mindanao does not experience the same volume of floating population.

In other years, there are fiesta goers who simply cruise by the streets hoping to be noticed by friends and acquaintances. Invariably they will be. These days, on fenced premises, only a few gates stay open. Which means, do not enter until called or had a previous invitation. This also means that the table is no longer open to all but for the selected guests.

It is out of consideration to oneself and to the fiesta resident not to just casually drop in. With high cost of commodities and transportation, the celebrant who had the reputation of splurging may choose to let the occasion pass until better days. He cannot warn off friends and acquaintances in advance so he just closes his gate or door as a sign of no preparation. To barge in uninvited would cause embarrassment to both the host and guest. Years ago, anyone, who drop in is welcomed. He is expected to be served and to those who live in far off places can expect to bring home some of the food.

As the cost of living rose, the “bring house” practice is slowly dropped. Then came the selective serving. To a discerning observer, mere acquaintances are served ordinary fare different from that for the favored guests. Discreet hosts reserve a different table for the latter. Then finally, if possible, only invited guests are entertained. The uninvited ones are served hesitantly. This is because preparation is limited. The irony is that those who enjoy a better standard of living are those who are more discriminating.

In the past, fiesta goers banded together in large groups, the more the merrier. Host appreciated big companies. This time, host quail at the sight of large numbers. His budgeted preparation would run out before the festivities are over. He will have to endure the embarrassment of telling latecomers that all the preparation had ran out.

This is a sign that Jagna is becoming urbanized. There was a time when everybody knows everybody. Everybody was practically related to everybody. But Jagna population grew, not just by reproduction but also by immigration. First the few newcomers adapted to the custom of a free spending fiesta. But as soon as the influx became numerous, the closeness of the former residents became diluted. The binding ties had loosened. The economic crunch placed limits on celebration spending. Selectivity set in.

As urbanization spreads culinary talents are hired during celebrations. Fancy dishes are served. The higher the social standing, the fancier and more varied dishes appear on the table. This places a strain on the budget. This forces the host to be selective in the invitation. Urbanization starts downtown, it will spread to the nearby barrios breaking old traditions as it spreads.

Those unaffected by urbanization keep old traditions alive. Those who can afford maintain laden tables. The fare is simple but ample. Pork, carabeef and chicken simply cooked are abundant. Vegetables are rarely served during fiestas. One can drink himself insensible on tuba, cheap rum and imitation brandy. For the next days until May 18, the fiestas will be in the coastal areas. As we had said urbanization had diminished fiesta goers. But after the 18th fiestas will be on the upper barrios. Most still keep old traditions, laden tables and open gates or doors.

By Joe Espiritu
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

Calamay is a delicacy, which the Jagnaanon claim to invent. Although other versions of calamay are found over the rest of the country, the Jagna calamay has already established itself in the taste of Southern Boholanos . It is a pasalubong item for those who had acquired a taste for it. Calamay is a thriving household industry that had financed the studies of most young Jagna professionals particularly seamen. Therefore the calamay industry s sought to be standardized by the Jagna LGU.

Calamay is a sweet, too bulky to be classified candy, too soft to be considered cake. It is made up of glutinous rice flour, cooked in coconut milk and sugar over a slow fire. Constant stirring until it is done assures its uniform consistency. It is then packed in a polished and sterilized coconut shell and a red crepe ribbon overlies the joint seal. It could be eaten as is or made into a sandwich filling. With improved shelf life, it could be transported to any part of the world.

Competition from Albur compelled the Jagna calamay makers to improve their quality. While other places sell their calamay only half full, Jagna vendors fill up every space in the coconut package. Some introduced coarse ground roasted peanuts as flavor enhancers. To keep the quality of their wares, those in the calamay industry formed an association called the Jagna Calamay Makers and Vendors Association. They set rigid product standards. The seal, which carries the name of the maker placed on the eye â€" the softest part of the coconut shell â€" is registered with the association.

Wardens of the association oftentimes conduct spot checks on the calamay sold. From time to time, they ask a vendor to open the calamay. Those who do not fit the standard are not allowed to use the seal, which was approved by the association. Furthermore, the violator is not allowed to display her wares along with those who had passed the test. She might conduct her business somewhere else but not on the choice spots claimed by the association.

Calamay vendors are either ambulant or stationary. There are those who chase buses or hawk their wares at bus or car windows. The swiftest and most alert catch the attention of the prospective e buyers. Boys and men compose this category. The stationary ones just display their goods on roadside tables. Those whose reputations had been established do not have to participate in the chase. They let the buyers come to them. One of the best examples is the Madera calamay of Canupao. Cars and busses stop to buy at the store.

Because to their reputation, the Jagna LGU tried to make the calamay acceptable worldwide not only by Southern Bohol expats. First, manufacturing is to be regulated. Calamay is to be made under sanitary conditions. If possible the product had to pass the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration standards. Then the calamay vendors are to stay in one place designated by the municipality. No more chasing of vehicles.

The association accepted the idea but most members resented the interference as they call it. In the first place, they were doing well under the previous conditions. Why rock the boat? They do not know that the municipal authorities are trying to help them. Let us say that because the industry promises lucrative returns, everybody would want to get into the act. Newcomers, unlike the established one, usually do not have the proprietary interest of their product. They are those who bring the hard earned reputation down. They are just only there during high demand.

If the municipal authorities think that a calamay cooperative can be formed so a centralized factory can be established with stainless steel vats, coconut shredders and grinders funded with government loans, they will have to perish the thought. Calamay vendors or any group of Jagna vendors are too fractious, too contentious and too individualistic to be grouped together. However, calamay industry has to be regulated or monitored on one way or another so the Jagna calamay will not lose its standing in the market vis a vis competition from other towns.

By Joe Espiritu
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

Sometime ago, dolphins were featured in the news. A dolphin was entangled in one of the driftnets; having drowned the fisherman was in a quandary what to do with it. It would be wasteful to throw away since it has some food value but mere possession of dolphin meat would not only mean a hefty fine but also a long imprisonment. The next best thing that the fisherman did was to bring it home and report the incident to the authorities and let them decide what to do with the catch. That is where the news ended.

There are dolphins and dolphins. Westerners or even us interchange the name dolphin with porpoise. Some apply the name dolphin to dorados that colorful blue water game fish. Almost all use the name dolphin for the black, air breathing marine mammal, which are found in large groups in tropical and temperate seas. They belong to the family Delphinidae under the mammalian order of the whales. They are extremely gregarious swimming in groups of six to several hundreds.

The name dolphin and porpoise are often times interchangeable to westerners but some call the bottlenose, dolphins while the blunt nosed are called porpoise. Although the name lumod stands for all air breathing marine mammals to a Boholano, some call the blunt nose as magkabaw. The most common dolphins found around our waters are the bottlenose. Dolphins prey on baitfish's small fishes like the flying fish, mackerel, sardines and squids that in some parts d the world, they are either killed or driven off.

Dolphins locate their prey by echolocation. Since they do not rely on sight, they can find their food even in murky waters. Although air breathing, they can dive deep and long. Their oxygen rich blood can sustain them for hours under water. While free diving humans hyperventilate before a dive to fill his blood with oxygen, a single inhalation through the blowhole on the head will allow the dolphin to stay under for hours. However, if the dolphin stays down for a long time they drown.

Dolphins are playful. The bottlenose leap out of water, frolic around ships and sometimes ride in the bow wave of the sailing ship. There had been tales of dolphins saving drowning people or pushing floundering swimmers ashore. There is no reason why they deliberately try to save human lives but they have that instinct to shove floating objects. There have been stories of dolphins giving rides to humans. The best known modern case is of an eight foot wild female dolphin named Opo that regularly visited a beach near Opononi , New Zealand and allowed small children to ride on her back.

In captivity, bottlenose dolphins are mischievous. They throw objects out of their tanks, squirt water on spectators and when rewarded with fish perform a variety of tricks. But sometimes they can be dangerous when antagonized or handled roughly. They fight over females, ram and bite trainers during training sessions.

Although they can avoid obstacles even in the dark through their sonar like navigating capabilities they are sometimes entangled in drift nets. Because of the ban with all the stiff penalties that the ban carries with it, no one will deliberately fish for dolphins. However, boats fishing for tuna and mackerel sometimes find dolphins dead in their nets. Because of their food value, it would be too wasteful to throw away, to tedious to bring it home just to hand it over to the authorities.

Frugality prevents the fisherman from jettisoning his catch. Even if the fish is handed over to the authorities, he suspects that the persons concerned would butcher it just the same. Who could blame them? Some cut it up and sell it clandestinely. Dolphin meat is just like beef or carabeef if it is boiled several times and throwing away the water after each boiling to get rid of excess blood. People with discriminating taste would shun dolphin meat but fishermen will eat anything as long as it is not poisonous. A drowned dolphin in the nets is considered a windfall. As long as he is not caught.

Hi GEC,

That's what we call "Patriotism Unlimited."

Tubag: Absolutely YES.

This is democracy in practice.

Who are my enemies? Those who hate Bohol, the Philippines, and the Filipinos - they are my enemies.

A friend of mine told me that she got lost in Tubag Bohol...

The solution: try our SEARCH tool.

Just type a word in the search box, and our website will give you all the related topics.

Quote from: becs on June 30, 2007, 07:59:53 PM
thank you. i had a great time reading people's opinions. anyway, i really wanna change my username. how should i do that?

hi becs,

you can now modify your display name. i locked it.

By Joe Espiritu
Jagna-based Writer
Bohol Sunday Post

It was once called Kampaningaw. Now they call it Mutong Baray. It is a wind swept ridge along the boundary of Kinagabaan and Bunga Mar that runs from Sambag to the Cantagay boundary. The hilltops are bare except for a rare wood pigeon or two there is practically no wild life. During the early days of World War II these hills were the stamping grounds of the scions of prominent Jagna families one of them was Gen. Buenaventura Caseñas, whose family lived near Kapajang spring at the foot of Kampaningaw.

The place is almost inaccessible. The Sambag route along which Marcial Oclarit once lived offers a route but the grade is steep. Not recommended for those with weak ambulatory equipment. There is a way, which passes the Tajong fields â€" why is it that Jagnaaonons convert the y in Tayong to z or j so it will be pronounced Tajong or Tazong? This is a popular route to the top.

Though remote, far away from amenities but the place is one of the most beautiful spots in Jagna. It overlooks the downtown area from the harbor to Poblacion. Open to elements the northeast trade winds and the southwest monsoon sweeps the place and in the moments of calm the temperature is still pleasant compared to the lower areas. Exposed to direct sunlight during summer months, the climate is comfortable after sundown.

Who started staying on the place during Holy Week, no one is sure. It may have started with two or three persons looking at the downtown lights during hot summer nights. Perhaps to prolong their stay they brought along with them provisions and decided to stay the night. They went home refreshed and decided to repeat the stay during the Holy Week when household chores were at the minimum. At present most Bunga Mar manhood literally take to the hills at Holy Week.

There are other places where people take their nightly vigil for the season. It could be in Ilihan Shrine or at the latest in Mount Palingkod . The Mount Palingkod and Ilihan Shrine pilgrimage if one can call it that has religious overtones. The Kampanigaw - or Mutong Baray if you like â€" sojourn is not a religious affair nor can it be called social. no one is compelled to come and stay the sojourn is purely voluntary.

If Napi â€" whose name could be Napoleon â€" Carin and Iki who is Danilo Auditor could be a prototype the Bunga Mar fisherman the they would deny that the Kampaningaw vigil if it is so, religious. They are good men, fiercely independent; they rely upon their capabilities to provide for their wants. They would be the last to ask for help should things go beyond their capabilities. We could say therefore that their religion is like that of the fire truck or fire extinguisher â€" to be used only in emergency.

But that does not mean that their spiritual needs are not there though they would be the last ones to admit its existence. No matter what you are and no matter what you are and no matter what is your upbringing, there is the spiritual hunger to commune with nature and with fellowmen. Although it is considered a weakness to some it is there and one cannot be human without it. The Kampanigaw stay is some sort of spiritual retreat. No ceremonies are observed no lessons are expounded.

To convert the Kampaningaw stay into a religious affair may ruin the whole thing if not handled delicately. People who go there may be of different religious persuasions. They are there because they want to be there. Perhaps rules of decorum may be imposed. If they are more receptive to other rules particularly those with religious impact, they should be gently implemented. As we have said, those people are fiercely independent and self-reliant. It would be hard to persuade them to follow a path, which they do not understand The Kamapningaw Holy Week affair is there to stay. Bunga Mar and the neighboring barrios are richer for it. May it last.

exactly, Riva.

when you're living abroad YOU ARE THE PHILIPPINES.

or if you live outside Bohol YOU ARE BOHOL.

epitome.

By Joe Espiritu
Jagna-based Writer
Bohol Sunday Post

There could be war brewing between the fishermen of Jagna and Garcia Hernandez. If this is not stopped in time it might flare up into an open conflict. Strict implementation of a law or ordinance is good but since nothing is perfect, there must be allowances. Since there was none those who had been penalized would be looking for instances so they could retaliate. Some residents of Garcia established fish sanctuaries. They placed buoys around certain areas so fishermen would observe rules pertaining sanctuaries.

A no disturbance rule inside the defined area is strictly imposed. Stiff penalties are imposed for violations. There are complaints for over enforcement of the rule. There is no room for consideration, violators claim. There was a fisherman from Jagna, out of ignorance or defiance, cast his long line locally called paranghe or palangre inside the sanctuary. He was apprehended and fined. Although the chap paid through his nose, he could do nothing since he was a violator. Then there was one who claimed, he set his lines outside the no fishing zone, he was also charged with the no disturbance violation and fined. There were fishermen cruising inside the zone and they were chased off.

Penalties could be imposed on the first and last incidents, but the second one is clearly not a violation since the operation was already outside the zone. Then there was one who merely landed because he had drifted inside the area due to some boat trouble. He too was penalized.

Then there was on whose engine had conked out outside the sanctuary. He was towed inside the zone and was penalized. If those stories were true, sanctuary wardens could be charged with piracy or kidnapping and illegal detention. However, those wrongly accused cannot afford to take their cases to court. Every day away from fishing would mean less food for their families. They would be looking for time and place to retaliate in one way or another. The sad part is that they take it out on the wrong persons.

Jagna has her share of sanctuaries. Their wardens are also strict in enforcing the rules. There had been arguments but since the rules had been enforced within acceptable limits argument would not degenerate into violence. This means violators are aware of their transgressions. Perhaps it is just pride or plain stubbornness, which makes them argue back but it is only as far as that. There had been stories of Jagna fishermen shooing away Garcia boats away from Jagna waters. Those men were not the ones who had allegedly done them wrong but since they were not able to fight back, they take it out on the wrong fellow. Sadly, the sanctuary wardens do no go out to sea. When the winds will shift to southwest, Garcia fishermen will be blown towards Jagna. Hopefully the Jagna fishermen will learn to distinguish people.

In other places, when boats are stranded because of engine trouble or boat malfunction, the sailor or fisherman is aided. Jagna fishermen say that if it happens in the sanctuary area, they are fined. No considerations given. If disturbing the waters of the sanctuary is strictly forbidden, warning signs must be placed all over the area. It is not fair to use the sanctuary as a trap for the unwary. The stories might not be true.

Fishermen are used to aiding one another during trouble no matter where one comes from. They have a set of unwritten rules to follow. When something starts brewing, it must be settled at once otherwise it become more serious before we know it.

By LOY M. PALAPOS

Seldom does a single human being create an immeasurable void in his absence, the way Bishop Leo has upon his assumption as the new Military Ordinariate of the entire nation. Now based in the National Capital Region, he has left his flock he has tended with utmost devotion for 14 long and fruitful years. Those whose lives he touched, including this writer, feel the most intense impact, although with a solace for he has no intention of abandoning Bohol . Before he left, he told many that he will be back occasionally, if his schedule permits, for it is here where he sowed affection and never expected he would be loved deeply in return, especially from the multitude who have keenly appreciated his brand of spiritual leadership.

Bishop Leopoldo Sumaylo Tumulak, D.D. is a Boholano. He was born in Santander , Cebu on November 29, 1944 to parents Lamberto Buscato Tumulak, Sr., a Cebuano, and Consolidad Granada Sumaylo, a Boholana from Dauis. He has two brothers and three sisters: Lamberto, Jr., Delia, Gloria, June, and Romanito. He has his early education at the Mainit Primary School , Oslob, Cebu (1950-1954) and Santander Elementary School , Santander , Cebu (1954-1956). He enrolled at Saint Mary's Academy, Oslob, Cebu for his secondary education (1956-1959) and finished it in the Seminario Menor de San Carlos , Mabolo, Cebu City (1959-1963). He stayed in the same institution until 1972, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained priest on March 30, 1972 . He finished Master of Arts in Educational Administration at Colegio de San Jose Recoletos on March 3, 1983 .

His first assignment was as Assistant Parish Priest at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (1972-1973). From 1973 to 1978 he served as Dean of Students and Treasurer at Pope John XXIII Minor Seminary in Mabolo, Cebu City , and was Rector Principal of Pope Pius XXIII Seminary until 1986. Simultaneously, he was Jesu-Caritas Philippine Responsive (1980-1984), Chairman of the Cebu Justice and Peace Commission (1983-1984), and Spiritual Director, Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year (1983-1985). From 1982 to 1993 Monsignor Tumulak was the Cebu Diocesan Consultor, Chairman, Commission on Formation-IV Diocesan Synod of Cebu (1985-1993); Member, Crisis Assistance Team (1986-1993); Chairman, Commission on Seminaries; Parish Priest of San Nicolas Parish; Vice President, Seminario Mayor de San Carlos Alumni Association; Team Priest, World Wide Marriage Encounter (1981-1986); Coordinator, Directors of Vocations in the Philippines; and Member, Cebu Archdiocesan Priests Senate (1980-1986).

On November 7, 1981 he was designated Honorary Prelate, and on January 12, 1987 he was appointed Bishop. His Episcopal Ordination took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu on March 16, 1987.

He was the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu from 1987 to 1993, becoming a Member of the Permanent Council of CBCP (Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines ) from 1995 up to the present. Monsignor Leo was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran in 1993, holding various positions aside from his main responsibilities: Chairman, Bohol Local Peace Forum; Chairman, Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee; Honorary Co-Chairman, Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council; and Apostolic Administrator of Tagbilaran.

To Bishop Leo is accredited the First Diocesan Synod of Tagbilaran. Preparations for the Synod began as early as 1993, it was celebrated in September 1997. A Diocesan Synod is a Consultative Assembly of the clergy, religious, and the laity tasked to advise the Bishop on matters that affect the pastoral governance of the Diocese. Bishop Tumulak streamlined the Diocesan Curia. This is the central and chief organ by and with which the Bishop exercises his Episcopal ministry in the Diocese. The institutes in the Diocesan Curia, which are the Diocesan commissioners, committees, and other offices, conducted strategic planning in 1998. From this developed the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.

He implemented the New Financial System (NFS) of the Diocese, calling for the identification and centralization of all funds. The undergirding principle of the NFS is the communion of resources of the territorial pastorates (parishes, quasi-parishes, chaplaincies) of the Diocese. To guarantee that territorial pastorates do not overshoot their budget, they are classified according to remittances to the Office of the Diocesan Oeconomous based on their regular expenses and income.

An offshoot of the NFS is the Standard Living Allowance (SLA) of the Tagbilaran Clergy that was fixed beginning November 1997 at more or less P8,000 a month for every priest. Msgr. Leo opted to abide with this arrangement, receiving the same amount as with his priests. The spirit behind the SLA is simplicity in lifestyle, clergy fraternity, and solidarity through resources-sharing. He also restructured the parish finances. The Bishop put in plan a system of proper parish administration of its temporal ecclesiastical goods, by instituting the positions of parish cashiers and bookkeepers in every territorial pastorate. The principles behind the restructuring an account and transparency.

The implementation of the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) structuring in all territorial pastorates is an on-going concern of the Diocese, commenced by Bishop Leo. The basic unit of ecclesiastical society is the Catholic family which, in the words of the Holy Father is the “ecclesia domestica” (the domestic church). Neighboring families are grouped into clusters. Those clusters are the BECs which are organically attached to a chapel. The chapel is an integral part of the parish, and the parish is a part of a vicariate forane. Bishop Leo operationalized the Diocesan Presbyterial Council and the diocesan Finance Council. These were non-existent before the Synod. These were two of the Diocesan consultative bodies that the Bishop makes full use in gathering advice. The Presbyterial Council consists of priests, some elected and some appointed, with others becoming members by virtue of the office. The Diocesan Finance Council is composed of laypersons, usually bankers and lawyers, to advise the Bishop on proper management of the temporal goods of the Diocese.

He pioneered ecclesiastical cultural heritage consecration in the Philippine Church by creating the Diocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in July 1995. The CBCP became aware of the work of the Commission, that in July 1996 Bishop Leo was elected Chairman of the CBCP Permanent Committee for Cultural Heritage of the Church. He convoked 3 national conventions of church cultural heritage workers in Tagbilaran (February 1999), Butuan (September 2001), and San Fernando , Pampanga (October 2003). He will convoke the 4th national convention with the Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo as host in April 2005. All these, were made possible without any expense. These activities were brought to the attention of Archbishop (non Cardinal) +Francesco Marchisano, President of the Holy See's Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in the Vatican City-State, In May 2000 Bishop Leo was appointed Consultor to the said Pontifical Commission by Pope John Paul II.

He drew up many policies for the clergy and created a good number of territorial pastorates. To date the Diocese has 48 parishes, 2 quasi-parishes, 2 chaplaincies, and 3 territories which are candidates for the chaplaining status. He also canonically declared one parish church, that of the Assumption of Our Lady, Dauis, a diocesan shrine. Holy Cross, Maribojoc will be also be declared as diocesan shrine on May 5, 2005. He made possible the consecration of peace-making and peace-building amongst the entire People of God of this Diocese, going to NPA camps, sitting with government policy makers and governance leaders, and meeting with ordinary fisherfolks and farmers. Christ does live in him; he lives in Christ. This is his greatest achievement.

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC NEWS</a>
July 1, 2007

Products claiming to be superfoods will be banned under new EU rules coming into effect Sunday - unless the claim can be proved.

Blueberries, salmon, spinach and soy have all been hailed as so-called superfoods - foods rich in nutrients.

Some say superfoods can protect against cancer and heart disease, but others say there is no evidence for this.

The new laws will apply to all food or drink products made or sold for human consumption within EU nations.

Onus of proof

Almost 100 products have been described as superfood, and sales of products like blueberries and spinach have soared.

But some nutritionists claim there are no proven benefits of "superfoods" and say marketing is misleading.

The new EU legislation will ban the use of the term superfood unless it is accompanied by a specific authorised health claim that explains to consumers why the product is good for their health.

However, companies will have just over two years to adjust their marketing in line with the new rules.

The legislation will also mean nutritional claims such as "low in salt" or "light" will have to meet a standardised definition agreed by the EU.

And foods that make a nutrition claim - such as being low in salt - will have to make it clear on the same label if they are also high in fat or sugar.

In addition, foods that are high in more than one nutrient will not be allowed to make a nutrition claim about another of its ingredients.

A spokeswoman from the Food Standards Agency said: "The use of general terms on food, such as 'healthy for you' or 'superfood', imply a health benefit. However, these terms do not communicate why the food is healthy or a superfood.

"So, the regulation requires they are backed up by a relevant and authorised health claim. This way the consumer knows why this food is healthy."

Kevin Hawkins of the British Retail Consortium said: "Our concern is not about the principle of this legislation.

"It is right that claims such as 'reduced fat' or 'good for your heart' are supported by science but customers must not be denied nutrition and health messages they find valuable.

"The regulation still risks unintended consequences. It could thwart national health campaigns and compromise innovation of healthier products. We will need to keep the impact of this regulation under review."

quoted: ...The suspect was only identified as someone from the Philippines. Because of the incident, United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Burwin Bell reportedly banned Filipino diplomats from using other Yongsan facilities...


Usa lang ang nangawat apan tanang Filipino ang naangin ug nadamay.

Filipino diplomat caught shoplifting music player, Gucci perfume in South Korea?
By Pia Lee-Brago
<a href="http://www.philstar.com">The Philippine Star</a>

A Filipino diplomat was allegedly caught on camera shoplifting at a duty free store inside a US military base in South Korea.

The Korea Herald, a leading daily in South Korea, said in a news report that the Filipino diplomat was caught shoplifting at the Yongsan Military Base PX (Post Exchange) shopping center.

The diplomat allegedly took a music player and a bottle of Gucci perfume last November but the incident was revealed only recently.

The suspect was only identified as someone from the Philippines. Because of the incident, United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Burwin Bell reportedly banned Filipino diplomats from using other Yongsan facilities.

The Herald said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo secretly met with Base Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Sargeant at the sidelines of his official visit to Seoul last week to discuss the incident.

The report added that the US military was considering legal action against the Filipino diplomat.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Franklin Ebdalin, however, said the Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware of the shoplifting incident involving a Filipino diplomat.

Ebdalin said the Home Office has not received a complaint from base authorities in South Korea.

A Filipino diplomat, who asked not to be named, said the report was “fabricated” and was part of a campaign to put the Philippine Embassy and officials of the diplomatic mission in a bad light.

“We’ve already asked for a copy of the tape but until now we haven’t received it,” the source said.

By Betina Cacho

Runway Icons, a talent and fashion division of Minds Unlimited and the premier talent handler of the Province, is now having a breed of fresh faces particularly RAMP MODELS, IMAGE MODELS, and TALENTS. Runway Icons expanded by tapping the talented Boholano youth to be more than what they could become, not just ramp models but also singers, dancers, hosts and image models, promo model personnel, stage talents and commercial models for print and broadcast media.

Runway Icons even went beyond its way to tap these young, gorgeous, stunning and gifted individuals to be future actors and actresses in the local scene. Almost 4 years of consistent operation, Runway Icons is currently managing a lot of fresh young models and talents and some are making a name in the world of showbizness.

Runway Icons a fashion and talent division of Minds Unlimited Events, Casting and Concepts Specialist, will have another unique event this coming July 28- July 29. The concept of the said event will be a mini photo exhibit of our models to be displayed at the Bohol Quality Atrium for 2 days and on Sunday, July 29, 2007 there will be a 30 - 45 minute fashion show featuring the collection of KACE, Young Fashion Stylist, Runway Icon's In-house designer EJ RELAMPAGOS and NENEN'S FANTASY GOWNS, Exquisite make-up styling of DEON and Fashion Hair Styling by RYAN SEXY.

The Title of the event "RUNWAY ICONS turns 4" and on the same day we will launch the new sub-group of Runway Icons called CLUB ICONS featuring the fashionista models and clubbers.

The models had their first pictorial at Panglao Island, Bohol last April 29, 2007 for the first Batch, the second batch of models had their pictorials at Dauis - Panglao Island, Bohol and the one of the oldest church in the Philippines at the Baclayon Church last May 19, 2007 and still photographed by the same person mentioned above and the last batch of models had their photo shoot last May 20, 2007 at the Cortes, Bohol.

-- press release, July 1, 2007

By BINGO P. DEJARESCO III
Editor In Chief
<a href="http://www.theboholchronicle.com">The Bohol Chronicle</a>

Without any encouragement, the national papers seemed to have picked up the issue of the controversial BHIP-2 Project - an issue that elevated itself to the national media consciousness for sheer magnitude and woeful implications.

Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) columnist Juan L. Mercado, in his June 28, 2007 column, suggested the BHIP-2 project could be facing serious technical problems that could lead to the project becoming a "white elephant."

Mercado opined that the "economic viability" ("excessive per NEDA) and the "legal" (violates ODA rules on pre-clearance by ICC of over-runs) are secondary worries.

The Inquirer columnist said that the viability of the Bayongan Dam (System Two) is dependent on the efficient of System One (located in Pilar) and the Malinao Dam (Pilar).

Since the Bayongan watershed is one of the smaller of Bohol's 22 watersheds, it was necessary that excess water from the Malinao Dam had to flow through a connecting channel to the Bayongan Dam, Mercado stated.

Malinao Dam does not have that kind of water level as water shortages have been encountered lately, perhaps partly due to what environmental experts is the "cumulative effect of global warming."

In an interview over Station DYRD, Governor Rico Aumentado, who can rightfully claim the BHIP-2 as one of his flagship projects, said " Mercado is just an swivel chair columnist. He should come over to Bohol and see the project for himself."

MERCADO QUOTES EXPERTS

But it seems Mercado was merely quoting experts.

He said the (IRRI) Irrigated Rice Research Consortium opined "the usefulness of the Bayongan Dam in San Miguel will greatly depend on the efficient management and operations of System One (located in Pilar to cover 4,960 hectares) and the Malinao Dam in Pilar."

The IRRI scientists further quoted "since the start of the Project of System One in 1998, there was not enough water during the dry season of December to April." Further more recently in 2006, the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research said :" The Malinao Dam only holds 17 days of water' and "without a recharge, Malinao Dam would run dry." Where will Bayongan Dam get its water then?

Was NIA not aware of this design flaw when BHIP-2 was evaluated? "Then why was the project allowed to take off the ground in the first place?" some observers asked.

According to Mercado, NEDA head Romulo Neri as early as 2005 , in a Bohol Research Consortium workshop averred that "the dam is not economically viable."

PROJECT DELAYED TWO YEARS

The operation of BHIP-2 was initially targeted for 2005 but the NIA had proposed a two-year extension (2007) alongside a cost over-run of P 1.2-Billion. Without prior ICC and NEDA approval of the over-run, contractor (Korean) Hanjin Industries, nonetheless, continued the project - with an accumulated receivables of P 600-Milllion today.

The DBM (Department of Budget and Management) will not release funds prior to ICC and NEDA endorsement, according to ODA (Office Development Act)rules.

During her recent election campaign visit here, the President Gloria Arroyo was assured that by June 2007, some 500 hectares will be partially irrigated by the project.

As we enter the month of July today, BHIP-2 Project Manager Modesto Membreve texted media yesterday that perhaps by August this year -with a dam water level of 39 meters, some 500 hectares will be partially irrigated out of the 5,300 targeted hectarage under the BHIP-2 Project.

"This is good since even at 90% completion, we can partially irrigate some land.", Membreve reasoned out. Observers, however, noted that the 500 hectares is less than 10% of the entire target hectarage and appears miniscule considering that the project is allegedly (by NIA claims) already 90% completed- clearly a layman's viewpoint.

Membreve further assured that by November 2007, the project will be "fully operational" from its low water level elevation today of only 36.60 meters.

BASIC TECHNICAL PROBLEM?

Quoting further the global Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Mercado reveled that the organization has a declining faith in the efficiency of the present-day irrigation system in effecting optimum food production. FAO says, according to Mercado, that only 36% of the world's food output is accounted for 16% of the time due to irrigation.

FAO cited: rising construction cost, silting, waste and inept management as the main reasons why irrigation is being given a third hard look by scientists -as an efficient adjunct to sound food production.

According to Mercado, in his Bohol visit in May, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap whose DA oversees NIA projects pointedly as to which "of the 59 rivers in Bohol will funnel water into Bayongan?" "He was told that it would be rain fed", an observer said. "And Yap's reaction was unprintable." It is an expected reaction.

Ordinary Juan de la Cruz reaction would have to be: why build an expensive dam and canals (that allegedly dissipates 40% of water content) fed largely by rain when by themselves the rice fields can wait for the rains to come and irrigate them, Nature's way?

It is a highly technical problem that only specialists-scientists can adequately answer. But it has to be answered fast before November 2007, the time the rainy season would have ended.

Would the dam be filled then (by November) with rain water up to 50 water level elevation and thus make it capable of operating fully?

It is an important question to answer since by Membreve's own account three other multi-billion irrigation-dam projects in Ilocos Sur, Cebu and Central Luzon (Bulacan and Pampanga) had over-runs that shot through the roof.

According to NEDA, they too have been stalled by lack of funding endorsements from the top economic planning body of the country.

Is there a technical flaw in these irrigation projects?

--July 1, 2007