MikeLigalig.com

Labor Day Promo of Cebu Pacific

from an e-mail:

Hello i'm also looking for my lost family that live in Matabao,Bohol, my father's name was Cesario Robles (deceased) i'm looking for the family of Milagros Robles-Embradora-Bustamante she was a registered nurse in Calapi,Bohol..my email add leonoraaslor@yahoo.com.
Anynews about them is much appreciated.Thankyou and God bless!

by Yengo.com

An Australian citizen has alleged a Filipina call center agent for attempting extortion saying the agent sent him an email to pay her 60 dollars so she can reverse some charges off of his bill. He alleged that following his call to Telstra to inquire about his 557 dollar bills, he was offered a reduced amount of 99 dollars if he paid her an extra 60 dollars.

The Australian blames outsourcing for the incident while Telstra management explained that it has nothing to do with location, that the company upholds the same consistent high standards to their clients regardless of location. The company defended that the incident was an isolated case and that they have taken necessary measures to ensure it does not happen again.

Banat News

Napahak ang bagolbagol sa usa ka ugangan human kini abisa sa sanggot sa iyang umagad didto sa sitio Bantayan, barangay Poblacion, dakbayan sa Lapulapu sa miaging gabii.

Ang biktima mao si Joseph Borres, hingkod , samtang ang suspetsado mao usab si Mark Padin, hingkod, nga umagad ra sa biktima nga molupyo sa maong lugar.

Si PO2 Calixto Botantan sa kapolisan sa Lapulapu mibutyag nga nag-away ang suspetsado ug ang asawa niini sa sulod sa ilang balay, apan wala na makaagwantang maminaw ang biktima sa mainitong tinubagay sa magtiayon, miapil na sa lalis nga midapig sa iyang anak nga asawa sa suspetsado.

Ang pagsalmot sa biktima sa away sa magtiayon, maoy nakapikal pag-ayo sa suspetsado hinungdan nga kalit kining milanit sa iyang sanggot ug liog unta sa iyang ugangan maoy puntariya niyang akgotan.

Apan abtik nga nakahupo ang biktima hinungdan nga nadapyas ra ang hait kaayong sanggot sa ulo niini ug maayong pagkapahak .

Dihang nakita sa suspetsado nga misirit ang daghang dugo sa ulo sa iyang ugangan, misirit dayon kini pahilayo sa maong lugar hinungdan nga wala siya hidakpi sa kapolisan.

To all congressmen and senators of the Philippines: please restore death penalty.

Usa ka 2-anyos nga bata ang gilugos sa usa ka lalaki diha sa barangay Looc, Santander niadtong miaging Miyerkules sa hapon.

Nahitabo ang maong insidente sa panimalay mismo sa biktima dihang usa ka 38-anyos nga lalaking silingan sa biktima ang misulod sa ilang lawak ug miabuso sa maong bata pinaagi sa pagpasulod sa tudlo niini sa kinatawo sa biktima.

Ang 23-anyos nga amahan sa bata nga maoy midangop sa kapulisan sa Santander human masuta sa iyahang asawa nga nagkadugo na ang kinatawo sa ilahang anak nga babaye ug gitug-anan sa gibuhat sa suspek niini. Tungod niini ang kapolisan daling midakop sa suspek ug gibalhog sa prisohan sa Santander.

Si PO3 Gabriel Defcartin sa dihang nahinabi sa Banat News mibutyag nga ang suspetsado gipapuyo lang sa pamilya sa biktima sa ilahang balay tungod kay gisalikway kini sa iyahang kaugalingong pamilya.

Tungod kay kaila ra nila ang suspetsado naluoy sila ug gipa-istar lang kini sa ilahang panimalay. Giingong hubog ang suspek atol sa paghimo niini sa maong krimen. - Banat News (source)

By Priam F. Nepomuceno

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa said on Saturday he wants the country's military reserve units to play a larger role on the country's defense affairs.

In line with this, Dellosa has issued an order calling for a strategic review of the AFP Reserve Force Development Program to ensure synchrony between the military’s active and reserve forces in their roles in internal security operations and territorial defense.

Dellosa also instructed the AFP Reserve Command to give priority to the development of the reservists as territorial forces for internal peace and security, and make community-based reservists the backbone of the military's first responders in the event of calamities and natural disasters.

“Our reservists must form part of the integrated territorial defense system in peacetime or the sustainment phase of our Internal Peace Security Program (IPSP) "Bayanihan" campaign. Thus, we must endeavor to have our reservists ready to perform a variety of physical as well as psychological deterrence roles, and support civil authorities for peace and development,” the AFP chief stressed.

Dellosa added there should also be a territorial defense dimension to this order as the regular-reserve force-mix in the locality serves as the nucleus of the centers of resistance of the total Army which, he said, is “a strategic deterrence to foreign invasion or occupation.”

The AFP chief said that this is relevant to IPSP "Bayanihan" as this comes at a time when the Philippines is shifting its focus on internal security operations to territorial defense.

At the same time, Dellosa also highlighted the improved security conditions of provinces in Central Visayas which led to the transition of the AFP Reserve Force from being under-utilized to being one of the preservers of the internal security operation (ISO) gains.

“With the improved security conditions that led to the declaration of Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor as insurgency-free areas, there is a need for the AFP Reserve Force to take a more organized and active role in the preservation of the gains of ISO. We should not solely rely on our active force component to perform territorial functions as our battalions are primarily tactical maneuver units that our commanders can re-deploy for force projection or mass forces in priority areas,” he said.

The AFP chief also said that the expertise and skills of technicians, managers and professionals can be a source of innovation that can further propel the military's reform initiatives.

“Indeed, at this time when the armed forces need all the help that it can get to fulfill its security mandate, rethinking our reservist program is a strategic step,” he said.

Dellosa also expressed his objective of confronting the challenge of enhancing the main source of the reservists, the Reserve Officer Training Corps or ROTC Program.

“We need to discard the same frameworks and reclaim the pride and prestige of the ROTC among our youth, and the reserve force program in general. We must strengthen the pool from where the AFP generates majority of its officers and enlisted personnel, as well as reservists in other vital sectors in our society. The AFP must ensure that the ROTC program is managed properly and strategically, for it will undoubtedly impact on the quality of our citizenry, and the kind of society we will have in the future,” Dellosa said.

AFP’s reserve units is primarily represented by the AFP Reserve Command located inside Camp Aguinaldo.

It is one of the military’s Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.

Its mission is to develop, organize, train, equip, and administer AFP-affiliated and technical service reservists into capable, responsive and mobilizeable reserve force as an integral component of the AFP in the defense of the state and to participate in socio-economic development efforts. It is also tasked to augment the regular force whenever needed.

By Benjamin L. Vergara

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has recorded a whopping P6.3 billion collection in the first quarter of 2012, higher than the P5.7 billion actual collections during the same period of 2011.

Despite its failure to collect this year’s quarterly target of P7.2 billion, BOC District III Collector Carlos So on Saturday said the bureau’s actual collections grew by 9.92 per cent, but still they have to double work to hit the quarterly target.

So, a lawyer, expressed optimism that the district collection would have proficient revenue collections on the second quarter, hoping his district would surpass monthly collection target and for the rest of the year so it can be able to recover the shortfall incurred during the first quarter of 2012.

So said that revenue collection targets might as well be achieved as long as the importation would be much better on the second quarter of the year.

The airport customs chief added that their collections are also higher than what was collected for the same months last year.

Earlier, it was reported that the BOC missed its goal due to low collection turnout brought about by the annual celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Because 70 per cent of the country’s imports came from China and the almost one month celebration of the Chinese New Year greatly affected the agency’s collections.

More than (63%) Boholano voters agreed to the statement that “women are good only for the management and care of the family and other church activities.”

source: Bohol Poll conducted by HNU

by PNA

The Dept. of Health has warned the public, especially senior citizens, against possible heat stroke with summer's searing heat.

Asst. Secretary Eric Tayag, also DOH spokesperson, said the people should drink at least 13 glasses of water to avoid dehydration, even when they are not thirsty.

Accordingly, dehydration is another cause of heat stroke, he said.

A dehydrated person may not be able to sweat fast enough to dissipate heat, which causes the body temperature to rise.

Tayag also noted the public pools opened by the local government unites as alternative ways to help the public cope up with the extreme heat.

Monday this week, the temperature was recorded at its highest in Metro Manila at 36.6 degrees C.

”Even an ordinary fan or allowing children to play in shaded areas are ways to avoid the extreme heat,” Tayag added.

However, Tayag discouraged the public from swimming at Manila Bay to avoid contracting diseases.

Tayag reiterated that heat stroke should not be taken for granted by the public because when not properly treated it is often fatal.

Accordingly, heat stroke is also sometimes referred to as sun stroke.

Severe hyperthermia is defined as a body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher.

The body normally generates heat as a result of metabolism, and is usually able to dissipate the heat by radiation of heat through the skin or by evaporation of sweat.

However, in extreme heat, high humidity, or vigorous physical exertion under the sun, the body may not be able to dissipate the heat and the body temperature rises, sometimes up to 106 F (41.1 C) or higher.

Those most susceptible (at risk) individuals to heart stroke include: infants, the elderly (often with associated heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, or who are taking medications that make them vulnerable to dehydration and heat stroke), athletes, and individuals who work outside and physically exert themselves under the sun.

by PNA

An active low pressure area (ALPA) may bring rain that can trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Mindanao while hot weather still continue to prevail over Luzon, including Metro Manila, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday

PAGASA said as of 2 a.m., the ALPA was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 60 km north northwest of General Santos City.

In its advisory, PAGASA said Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added.

Light to moderate winds from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon, and coming from the east to northeast over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

Meanwhile, Boy Soriaga, weather forecaster, said parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, may continue to experience even hotter weather due to ridge of high pressure area.

Soriaga said Metro Manila’s maximum temperature recorded on Sunday at the Science Garden in Quezon City was 36.3 degrees Celsius, just a notch short of the 36.4 degrees Celsius registered last Friday (April 27).

Soriaga added the highest temperature recorded on Sunday was 37.9 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, followed by 37.7 degrees Celsius in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; 35.7 in Clark, Pampanga; 34.2 in Dagupan City, Pangasinan; and 33 in Subic, Zambales.

In the Visayas, Mactan in Cebu recorded 31.6 degrees Celsius, while 30.8 degrees in General Santos City, Mindanao.

Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, 26 degrees Celsius on Sunday was recorded.

The highest temperature recorded this year so far was in Clark at 38.4 degrees Celsius on April 13.

PAGASA's five-day weather outlook for Metro Manila indicated Monday's temperature range at 25 to 36 degrees Celsius; and 36 degrees Celsius on May 2 and 3.

by PNA

The temperature in Metro Manila sets another record as it sizzles at 36.6 degrees Celsius on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA) said.

According to Jori Loiz, weather forecaster, the maximum temperature recorded at the Science Garden in Quezon City was 36.6 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m. Monday, hottest so far recorded in the metropolis.

PAGASA said it was on its seventh consecutive days that Metro Manila continued to exceed the 36 degrees Celsius.

Metro Manila recorded 36.4 last Friday then 36.1 on Saturday and 36.3 on Sunday.

Elsewhere in Luzon, the highest temperature recorded as of 2 p.m. on Monday was 37 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan. This compared with 36.5 degrees Celsius in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; 36.6 in Dagupan City, Pangasinan; 34.4 in Clark, Pampanga; and 33 in Subic, Zambales.

In the Visayas, Mactan in Cebu recorded 28.7 degrees Celsius, while General Santos City in Mindanao was at 31 degrees Celsius.

who knows the future? we may never know but we can speculate.

ang maayong tambal sa diabetes kanang murag tubo nga tanom hinganlan ug "bugang" sa mindanao. lagaa ang tubo ug imna kada adlaw. daghang diabetic nga naayo ana.

muot ra pud basahon ning imong sugilanon, balong.

A grandson of former Defense Secretary Rafael Ileto, who served in the presidency of the late Corazon Aquino,  was shot and wounded by a supermarket security guard in an altercation in Quezon City on Friday.

Florante Ileto, 28, was still confined as of Saturday at Cardinal Santos Hospital for wounds in the left arm and palm.

Police said he was shot by Jomar Tamayo Jr., a guard at a supermarket on Congressional Avenue, Barangay Toro, at around 3 p.m. The two men reportedly had a heated argument after Tamayo, who was posted at the baggage counter, refused to accept Ileto’s packages for safekeeping.

The guard, who faces a charge  of frustrated homicide, is at large. Julie M. Aurelio, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Criminology Board Exam Results: HNU Bohol Passers

1. ASA, Runny - Mabini, Bohol
2. BAYOCOT, Jefrey - Tagbilaran City
3. BITASOLO, Rustico Jr. - Carmen, Bohol
4. BUTRON, Marcelo - Pilar, Bohol
5. BUTRON, Ronie - Sierra Bullones, Bohol
6. CAMACHO, Moises Jr. - Tagbilaran City
7. CASTILLO, Geanne Carlo - Tagbilaran City
8. CONCON, Jerome - Tagbilaran City
9. DUCA, Procopio Jr. - Loay, Bohol
10. FAELDEN, Marcelo Jr. - Dimiao, Bohol
11. GALIDO, Chester - Garcia Hernandez, Bohol
12. GARCIA, Lito - Trinidad, Bohol
13. PANIO, Jun Dell - Danao, Bohol
14. PEÃ'ALOSA, Roel - Jagna, Bohol
15. QUIJADA,Javison - Dauis, Bohol
16. SARIGUMBA, Alfred - Loboc, Bohol
17. SEMPRON, Jowelle - Tagbilaran City, Bohol
18. SERANIAS, Adones de Abril - Maribojoc, Bohol
19. TAMPIPI, Rolando - Clarin, Bohol
20. TOCMO, Randy - Catigbian, Bohol
21. TUTOR, Ligaya - Dauis, Bohol

you may also read the civil engineering board exam result

Civil Engineering Board Exam Result: HNU Passers

1.   Engr. John Rey L. CENIZA, Danao, Bohol
2. Engr. Aiza G. GUDITO,   Danao, Bohol
3.   Engr. Vincent Aaron A. MALERIADO, Tagbilaran City
4.   Engr. Nilo L. PELENDINGUE, Dauis, Bohol
5.   Engr. Lourdes Marie M. SOMOSOT, Clarin, Bohol

you may also read the electronics engineering board exam result

Electronics Engineering Board Exam Result: HNU Passers

1. Engr. Irish Jane A. ATILLO, Tagbilaran City
2. Engr. Maria Rhoda G. AYENTO, Danao, Bohol
3. Engr. Joevil G. BUSLON, Valencia, Bohol
4. Engr. Arcelo D. CADORNA, Jagna, Bohol
5. Engr. Joseph Rizalino R. CANDA, Batuan, Bohol
6. Engr. Pocholo Carl V. DELIMA, Tagbilaran City
7. Engr. Alphonse L. FULLO, Baclayon, Bohol
8. Engr. Sedfrey C. GENSON, Carmen, Bohol
9. Engr. Jeralie B. HORMACHUELOS, Panglao, Bohol
10. Engr. Randynel Franco B. LACSENTO, Jagna, Bohol
11. Engr. Cristian Ray U. LORETE, Panglao, Bohol
12. Engr. Rejie A. MONTALBAN, Maribojoc, Bohol
13. Engr. Eric Kieth I. OBREGON, Baclayon, Bohol
14. Engr. Eleazar Brise C. PADILLO, Bien Unido, Bohol
15. Engr. Jeffrey M. PAGARAN, Sierra Bullones, Bohol
16. Engr. Julius P. REBUCAS, Loon, Bohol
17. Engr. Allen May P. TAMBELING, Tagbilaran City

You may also read CPA Board Exam Passers of HNU, Bohol

CPA Board Exam Result: HNU Bohol Passers

1. AÃ'ORA, Tesyl Mae J., CPA - Loay, Bohol
2. APIT, Abraham Jose T., CPA - Loay, Bohol (6th place)
3. BUDIONGAN, Ma. Nor Pia D., CPA - Loay, Bohol
4. CAGAANAN, Vic Raymond C., CPA - Loay, Bohol
5. COCA, Ronel H., CPA - Bien Unido, Bohol
6. FERNANDEZ, Stella Marris T., CPA - Loboc, Bohol
7. IDONG, Rodel C., CPA - Jagna, Bohol
8. LACANG, Karen E., CPA - Dauis, Bohol
9. LAGURA, Ralp Ryan A., CPA - Tagbilaran City
10. MONDRAGON, Rey Mark M., CPA - Tubigon, Bohol
11. CENITA, Nesie Rose nee Oculam, CPA - Aloran, Misamis Occidental
12. PILAYRE, Eden nee Macalandag, CPA - Tagbilaran City
13. PINANONANG, Arlyn E., CPA - Dauis, Bohol
14. STROUD, Paul Richard G., CPA - Tagbilaran City
15. TAMAYO, Jonalyn C., CPA - Danao, Bohol

naa man poy uban nga magpakulata lang sa asawa basta lang dili balibaran kung manguhit na inig kagabii.

dili ni pwede sa mga kabuhion.

The owners of Export and Industry Bank have given up and willingly turned over the operations of the bank to the government-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. Friday, according to an official of the Bangko Sentral.

A combination of bad luck, wrong decisions and insufficient liquidity to cover its debt obligations reportedly led to the collapse of the commercial bank, which had more than 15,000 depositors with total claims of P15 billion.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said, however, preliminary investigation showed no gross negligence on the part of the bank owners who declared a bank holiday Friday. - Manila Standard

airfoil
   
also spelled  Aerofoil,  shaped surface, such as an airplane wing, tail, or propeller blade, that produces lift and drag when moved through the air. An airfoil produces a lifting force that acts at right angles to the airstream and a dragging force that acts in the same direction as the airstream.

High-speed aircraft usually employ low-drag, low-lift airfoils that are thin and streamlined. Slow aircraft that carry heavy loads use thicker airfoils with high drag and high lift. - source: Britannica Encyclopedia

Aistis, Jonas
born July 7, 1904, Kampiškės, near Kaunas, Lithuania, Russian Empire
died June 13, 1973, Washington, D.C., U.S.

also called  Jonas Kossu-aleksandravičius , or  Jonas Kuosa-aleksandriÅ¡kis , pseudonym of  Jonas Aleksandravičius poet whose lyrics are considered among the best in Lithuanian literature and who was the first modern Lithuanian poet to turn to personal expression.

Aistis studied literature at the University of Kaunas and in 1936 went to France to study French literature at the University of Grenoble, receiving his doctorate in 1944. Because of the Soviet occupation, he did not return to Lithuania but went in 1946 to the United States, where, in 1958, he joined the staff of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Aistis' early collections of verse, written while he was still in Lithuania, contain his finest work; especially noteworthy is his fourth collection, Užgesę chimeros akys (1937; “The Dead Eyes of the Chimera”). His patriotic verse, written in exile, was not as successful as his earlier work. Three collections of his essays were also published, and he edited several collections of poetry, among them Lietuvių poezijos antologija (1950; “Anthology of Lithuanian Poetry”). Poezija (1961; “Poetry”) contains his collected poems to that time.

source: Britannica Encyclopedia

lingaw-lingaw lang samtang nagpaugmad ta sa atong kaalam ug kinaadman.

Airy, Sir George Biddell
born July 27, 1801, Alnwick, Northumberland, Eng.
died Jan. 2, 1892, Greenwich, London   

English scientist who was astronomer royal from 1835 to 1881.

Airy graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1823. He became Lucasian professor of mathematics at Cambridge in 1826 and Plumian professor of astronomy and director of the Cambridge observatory in 1828. In 1835 he was appointed the seventh astronomer royalâ€"i.e., director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, a post he would hold for more than 45 years.

Airy completely reorganized the Greenwich observatory, installing new apparatus and rescuing thousands of lunar observations from oblivion. Most importantly, he modernized the observatory's system for making extremely precise observations of stellar positions. He wielded great power within the British scientific community, and he opposed government support of pure science, arguing that original research was best left to private individuals and institutions. Modern scholars absolve him of the charge that his hesitation to publicize the calculations of John C. Adams in 1845 somewhat delayed the discovery of Neptune.

Airy in 1827 made the first successful attempt to correct astigmatism in the human eye (his own) by use of a cylindrical eyeglass lens. He also contributed to the study of interference fringes, and the Airy disk, the central spot of light in the diffraction pattern of a point light source, is named for him. In 1854 he measured gravity by swinging the same pendulum at the top and bottom of a deep mine and thus computed the mean density of the Earth. Airy was also the first to propose (c. 1855) the theory that mountain ranges must have root structures of lower density, proportional to their height, in order to maintain isostatic equilibrium. He was knighted in 1872.

moingon man ang uban nga "change oil" kono. gipanundog man nila ug makina sa truck.

naay daghang promoter sa Bohol - promoter ug derby.

Ham

lechon ma breakfast pa lang gani. unsa na kaha ang lunch ani?

nasuko diay kay wala na silay malilian...

Never will I. maayo nalang ang hotdog walay dog meat.

Guide to Business Writing
by Josh Gottheimer
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Organize your message. Like a good lawyer, build your argument in a coherent manner; the more your audience can follow along, the more attention they’ll pay. There’s a simple saying in the speechwriting world: First tell your audience what you plan to tell them; then tell them; and then close by telling them what you just told them.

Make it easy to follow. Arrange your points in a way that encourages your audience to follow along. I usually organize my points numerically throughout the speech. (For example, “Today I’m going to discuss three reasons to buy this book. First, this book will help you … Second …”) Also, don’t fill your speech with two-dollar words you learned on the SAT. People shouldn’t have to carry a dictionary to follow you. That’s not to say, of course, that you shouldn’t use descriptive language to help get your point across.

Make your best points first and last. When you’re making your argument, put your best point first and your second best point last. You always want to come out of the gate strong and leave your audience with a good impression.

Encourage your audience to like you. If you can, start with a joke or a good story, even if it’s recounting something you heard on the Tonight Show. The more you give the impression you’re a regular person, the more people will like you, relax, and actually listen to what you’re saying.

Keep it short. Most television programs last only a half- hour because people just don’t have the patience to sit through anything longer. Your speech should never run longer than 30 minutes or, if possible, 20.

Introduction from the book of Alicia Abell

Wielding his red editing pen, my former boss, President Bill Clinton, used to mutter, “Words, words, words,” as he slashed away unnecessary fluff from the speeches we’d given to him. Clinton wanted to speak to Americans, not over them, and he believed quite strongly that filling his text with unnecessary rhetoric only alienated the audience. Clinton was spot on. One of my colleagues used to say he was more Hemingway than Faulkner. Clinton wanted workers on the factory floor to understand him as well as the academics at Harvard and the members of Congress in Washington.

To achieve that goal meant never sacrificing the content or quality of an argument, but just framing it in a way that would keep our audience engaged, no matter what their level in life. It also meant keeping the President’s speeches organized, so that he offered a coherent argument, not a rambling lecture that would require a decoder ring to figure out.

It’s the same as talking to a doctor who can describe your condition in layman’s terms, versus the one who’s had his head in the books for too long. There’s a reason, in the end, Clinton is often described as one of the greatest communicators of the last century â€" a title shared with Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt. While Woodrow Wilson delivered powerful speeches, and his texts are worthy of bound volumes, no one ever accused him of being too cozy with the lower classes.

Speaking to people, not over them, isn’t easy. In fact, I’d argue that boiling down ideas into “Clinton-speak” is even harder than using the high-brow “industry-speak.” But it’s a skill that’s essential to great communication, no matter what your field of expertise. And it’s an approach that’s as applicable to a memorandum from the CEO to shareholders as it is to a speech at a board of directors meeting.

Think about it: How many meetings have you sat through where the speaker loses you less than five minutes into the discussion? Maybe his talk is filled with language so technical that you need a Ph.D. to figure it out. Or it’s so disorganized that it looks like the floor of your college dorm room. Perhaps he doesn’t even try to connect with his audience â€" no jokes, no stories, just numbers. Or maybe he leaves you wondering what in the world he wanted from you.

There’s simply no reason anything you hear or read should ever lose your attention or â€" even worse â€" intimidate you. The last thing any communicator should do, at any level, is marginalize his audience. The most important thing is to have your audience buy in to you and your message; the more comfortable they feel, the more they’ll be engaged with what you’re saying. You’ve received the highest compliment when someone in the audience leaves your discussion feeling as though you were talking directly to him.

- Josh Gottheimer
Cambridge, Massachusetts

When in doubt, just start writing.

If all of this seems too difficult, just start writing. As long as you have a basic idea of what you want to say, you can organize and polish later.

tip from Alicia ABell

by NBA.com

Bulls star Derrick Rose will miss the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Rose was helped off the court late in Chicago's 103-91 playoff-opening victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, a staggering blow for a team eyeing a championship run.

He scored 23 points and was playing more like the league's reigning MVP after missing 27 games because of injuries during the regular season, but his season came to an end as the Bulls were wrapping up an impressive win.

Rose crumbled to the ground after he drove the lane with about 1:20 left and the Bulls leading by 12. He was going for a layup when he came to a jump-stop and seemed to change his mind as the 76ers' Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen rotated over, passing off to a teammate before an awkward landing.

By TIM REYNOLDS

MIAMI (AP) LeBron James scored 32 points before getting the fourth quarter off, Dwyane Wade added 19 and the Miami Heat rode the strength of a 32-2 run to easily beat the New York Knicks 100-67 in Game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference first-round series on Saturday.

Mario Chalmers added 11 points and nine assists for Miami, which turned 27 New York turnovers into a franchise playoff-record 38 points.

J.R. Smith scored 17 for the Knicks, who have lost 11 straight playoff games dating to 2001. Carmelo Anthony missed 12 of 15 shots and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Baron Davis added 10 points for New York.

by Agence France Presse

The Philippines accused Beijing of employing “bullying” tactics Saturday after a speeding Chinese ship allegedly veered dangerously close to two Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

No one was hurt but “these manoeuvres by the Chinese vessel posed a danger to the Philippine vessels”, foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a statement.

“Our ships did not react to the bullying,” he added.

The incident took place near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea where Chinese fisheries vessels have been facing off against Philippine ships for weeks over which country claims the area.

Preserving the Tree

another angle

Igo Lang sa Pangandoy

Costa Rica Fruit

Ready for Dinner

Excellent Dining Room

Perfect Living Room

Environmentally Inspired Room

Infinity Pool

Hayahay

Just a Breakfast

Kung ikaw Inday mangita'g pamanhonon, pilia baya Inday ang Bol-anon. Ngano kaha? Kay magpakulata sa asawa.

wala tay percentage ana kay it was not included in the survey.

Among the forms of domestic violence presented, the highest incidence was wife battering at 22%, followed by physical abuse of children (14%), husband battering (13%) and rape of children by family member (9%).

source: Bohol Poll by HNU, Tagbilaran City

Vice-Governor. A great majority (78%) of the Boholano voters were that Concepcion Lim is the Vice-Governor of Bohol.

Among those aware, seven out of ten (72%) were satisfied with her performance as vice-governor while few (11%) were dissatisfied which resulted to a net satisfaction of +61. It is noticeable that Tagbilaran City voters had relatively low net satisfaction for Concepcion Lim (+29) which resulted to her relatively low net satisfaction of +51 in District 1 compared to the +71 of District 3.

source: Bohol Poll by HNU

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed support for the democracy and good governance programs of Globe Telecom for 2012. The leading telecom company recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy (PCCED) to work together in the next two years to strengthen the barangay justice system and train community leaders in monitoring the development projects of the mu¬nicipality by using information and communications technology (ICT) in establishing peaceful, orderly, and progressive communities.

In a courtesy call to DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero by Globe Telecom and PCCED, Panadero said his office will endorse the partnership program to be implemented by Globe and PCCED. “Technology can pave the way for good governance initiatives such as these. Let’s also explore other ways in which we can use technology for other DILG-led projects.”

Through its corporate social responsibility arm, Globe Bridging Communities, the telecom company will bring Barangay Rule of Law Seminars (BRLS) to Northern, Central and Southern Luzon and in the Visayas which will develop barangay leaders to act as conflict mediators and uphold the barangay justice system in their respective communities. Globe will also support the training of barangay leaders and their constituents in the participatory budgeting process which PCCED will implement in the city of Gubat , Sorsogon and the roll-out of Project Citizen in Batangas to develop active citizenship among the youth and enhance their democratic skills and attitudes. - Manila Bulletin

By JAMES A. LOYOLA

Philippine Savings Bank reported a 94 percent surge in its 2012 first quarter net income to P546 million as it took advantage of opportunities in its investment portfolio.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the bank said its record net income was also sup¬ported by strong growth from its loan portfolio.

“Our first quarter loan releases have exceeded our forecast. We are experiencing strong demand for loans with new mortgage loan releases growing by 32 percent versus the similar period last year,” PSBank president Pascual M. Garcia III said.

He added that, “given the strong first quarter results, we are raising our loan growth targets. Should this trend continue, we may exceed our net income target of P2.2 billion for the year.” The Bank’s gross loans expanded by 11 percent to P62.7 bil¬lion with both auto and mortgage loans posting double digit growths. Auto loans rose by 13 percent in spite of lingering supply issues due to the Thailand floods last year.

By CHINO S. LEYCO

State-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) turned P3.54 billion to the treasury bureau as part of its share in the gaming agency’s earning in the first-three months of the year, surpassing its P2.54-billion remittance in the same period last year.

Data from the Bureau of Treasury showed that Pagcor’s remittance in January to March of the year was more than 39 percent, or P1 billion higher compared with the end-March contribution to state coffers from a year ago.

As a government-owned and controlled corporation, Pagcor is required by Republic Act 7656 or the Dividend Law to remit at least 50 percent of its annual gross earnings to the government.

In March alone, total Pagcor contributions amounted to P1.22 billion, higher by 44 percent compared with P847 million in the same month last year.

Currently, Pagcor operates 13 agency-run Casino Filipino facilities and has four licensed casinos â€" Fontana Casino in Pampanga, East Bay Casino in Rizal, Poro Point Casino in La Union and Fort Stotsenberg also in Pampanga.

In 2011, Pagcor remitted P11.437 billion to the government, higher by 4.5 percent compared with the Department of Finance’s (DOF) expected P10.94 billion contribution. Last year’s contribution to state coffers by Pagcor was also higher by 10.5 percent compared with 10.343 billion that the agency remitted in the previous year.

by Manila Bulletin

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) announced that it is stepping up its efforts to protect the environment with the Tree Plantation Financing Program (TPFP), a credit assistance program that seeks to support the expansion, harvesting, maintenance, and protection of existing tree plantations.

DBP President & Chief Executive Officer Francisco F. Del Rosario, Jr. said an initial P2-billion has been allocated to promote the development and maintenance of tree plantations, help communities improve their socio-economic conditions, and arrest the rapid deforestation in the country.

Del Rosario said existing tree plantations with at least 4-year-old standing trees in at least 1% of the plantation area of qualified private and public land are eligible for financing. Projects may include the acquisition and planting of major tree planting stocks, site devel¬opment, maintenance and operating expenses, water system and other related expenditures for expansion of an existing plantation.

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

Indian Business Process Outsourcing Operations (BPO) giant Tech Mahindra and its sister company Mahindra Satyam has vowed to expand operations in the region, particularly in the Philippines, with estimated investments of $240 million over the next three years to benefit from the rapid BPO growth in the country.

“The Philippines is fast becoming the country of choice for BPO investors because of the similarity of culture between the Philippines and our western clients, coupled with the lower cost of operations in the country,” Tech Ma-hindra President and Chairman Sujit Baksi said yesterday.

Baksi also pointed out that inves¬tors find it risky to invest in the BPO industry in India due to to the sector’s oversaturation in the country, thus making the Philippines’ BPO industry, which is currently in the developing stage, attractive to investors.

“To that end, we will be investing $240 million over the next 3 years to bolster our operations in the Asia Pacific region,” he added.

By LEE C. CHIPONGIAN

In a new circular, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has set a uniform required minimum capital for trust-related businesses, specifically investment management activities (IMAs), at P300 million.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. has signed Circular No. 756 which aligns the requirements for the grant of a full trust license and an investment management authority.

The circular contained the revisions to the BSP’s Manual of Regulations (MOR) pertaining to required capital and other requirements before engaging in the trust and IMA businesses.

The provisions clarified that the minimum capital requirement for IMAs of not less than P300 million is the same in the 2011 circular which approved the creation of separate trust corporations from banks. The mini¬mum capital requirement for spin-off trust corporations is set at P300 mil¬lion for companies with assets under management of P20 billion. For AUM amounting to more than P20 billion, an incremental capital will be provided and computed as a percentage of the book value of the total volume of assets under management.

The circular sets new additional requirements for the granting of in¬vestment management authorities, which is compliance with the capital-to-risk assets and ceilings on DOSRI (directors, officers, stockholders and their related interests) for the last six months prior to the application.

Governor. An overwhelming majority (98%) of the Boholano voters were aware that Edgar Chatto is the Governor of Bohol.

A great majority (87%) was satisfied with his performance as governor while few (4%) were dissatisfied which yielded a net satisfaction rating of +83. Across districts, District 2 had the highest net satisfaction at + 89.

source: Bohol Poll, HNU

Vice President. An overwhelming majority (96%) of the Boholano voters were aware that Jejomar Binay is the Vice-President of the Philippines.

Among those who were aware, eight out of ten (80%) were satisfied with his performance as vice president while one tenth (9%) was dissatisfied with his performance as vice president while one tenth (9%) was dissatisfied which resulted to a + 71 net satisfaction rating. Across all variables, females and 35-44 age group had relatively low net satisfaction ratings for Binay at + 62 and +57 respectively.

source: Bohol Poll conducted by HNU 2012

President. Boholano voters were aware that Benigno Aquino III is the president of the Philippines. Of those who were aware, a great majority (77%) were satisfied with his performance as president while few (12%) were dissatisfied which resulted to a net satisfaction (% satisfied minus % dissatisfied) of + 65. Across districts, Districts 1 had the least net satisfaction for Aquino at + 46 as against the +72 for District 2 and + 75 for District 3. Across economic classes, Class D voters had the least net satisfaction of + 54 while across age groups, the 18-24 had the highest net satisfaction rating of +79.

source: Bohol Poll of HNU, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Graft and Corruption

Very few (0.15) of the Boholano voters had personal experience on government employees asking bribe or grease money form them. This happened inside the Land Transportation Office in Tagbilaran City (0.1%) The money was given and no complaint was made by the Boholano voter.

Nine out of ten (89%) Boholano voters agreed to the statement “it is not necessary to give bribe or grease money to government employees since it is their responsibility ti provide good services to the people” while few (10%) agreed to the statement “ it is okay to give money or grease money to government employees in order to be assured of quick and fast service.”

source: Bohol Poll by HNU

By CHINO S. LEYCO

April 25, 2012, 6:25pmThe Aquino administration expects a much lower budget deficit next year on the back of higher revenue collections of the government’s two main tax agencies, data from the Department of Finance (DoF) showed yesterday.

The finance department expects the government’s nominal budget deficit to reach P241 billion next year, lower by 13.6 percent compared with the P276.1 billion ceiling set the by the government’s economic managers for 2012.

The government’s fiscal gap assumption for next year is equivalent to 2 percent of the country’s economy as measured by its gross domestic product (GDP).

Premised on a more positive economic outlook for next year, the finance department expects that the government would generate P1.78 trillion in revenues, higher by 14 percent compared with P1.56 trillion target for this year.

The finance department said the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs’ tax efforts are expected to increase by 0.5 and 0.1 percentage points, respectively next year.

By MELODY M. AGUIBA

The Philippines has successfully propagated ‘superior’ varieties of nutrition-rich peanut from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) with the Asha “three-in-one” variety becoming known as confectionery peanut.

The introduction of ICRISAT peanut varieties in the country through field trials since 2005 is now recognized as a commercial success, according to Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CVIARC) Project Leader Rose Mary G. Aquino.

The varieties are now planted on 3,500 hectares in Region 2. Peanut area here is further targeted to reach 5,000 hectares in at least three years.

“Our ground nut (peanut) breeding and seed production training in ICRISAT, India in 2005 has been a contributor to the successful production of Asha peanut in Region 2,” said Aquino in a Bureau of Agricul¬tural Research (BAR)-ICRISAT collaboration forum.

The peanut varieties are not only high-yielding but have other traits such as disease resistance. Namnama 1, an all season variety, is resistant to foliar diseases and matures early at 98 to 110 days after planting. It gives a yield of 2.2 to 2.6 metric tons (MT) per hectare and has a high shell¬ing recovery rate of 69 percent.

By FRANCIS WAKEFIELD

MANILA, Philippines - After pioneering the e-Graduation project in Taguig City, Mayor Lani Cayetano is now eyeing live video streaming over the internet of the free mass wedding rites or Kasalang Bayan to be held today as part of the city’s 425th Foundation Day celebration.

The Taguig City Public Informa¬tion Office (PIO) said the Kasalang Bayan, a joint undertaking of the Office of the Mayor and Civil Registry Office (CRO), will be held at Taguig City University (TCU) auditorium at 8 a.m.

Cayetano will personally solem¬nize the wedding of the couples, most of whom have been living together for so many years but could not afford to legalize their relationship due to financial difficulties.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA

Philex Mining Corporation posted a historic high first quarter revenue of P4.02 billion, 4 percent higher than the P3.86 billion recorded in the same period last year on the strength of gold and copper prices in the global market.

However, the firm disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that lower grade and metal recoveries at the Padcal Mine in Benguet Province kept core net income steady at about P1.33 billion while reported net income was 3 percent lower at P1.27 billion from P1.31 billion last year.

Philex Mining chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the Company’s investment in its Silangan Project is necessary for the long-term develop¬ment of the Company.

“This is the time to sow. This is the time to put in significant investments in the Silangan Project â€" investments for the development of the mine, the capability development of the orga¬nization for its eventual operations, the technology and equipment to conserve the environment as well as investments into the long-term devel¬opment of our host and neighboring communities in Surigao del Norte,” Pangilinan said.

By LEE C. CHIPONGIAN

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank), the country’s second biggest bank in asset size, announced the election of Arthur Ty, former president and CEO, as the new chairman.

Replacing him as president is Fabian S. Dee, a seasoned banker and former senior executive vice president and head of the national branch bank¬ing sector of Metrobank and chairman of Metrobank Card Corp.

Arthur Ty has been Metrobank president since 2006. Under his leadership, Ty helped steer the bank to become one of the best and strongest in the country, ending his term with a breakthrough performance, reporting the highest-ever recorded consolidated net profit in 2011.

Ty replaces his father, the founder of Metrobank, George S.K. Ty.

The position of vice chairman will remain with Francis Sebastian, who is also chair of the Metrobank Card Corp.

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has raised a total of P2.68 billion for the country’s National Shelter Program (NSP) over the past 20 years contributing to the government's housing program for the poor.

“The money generated from the disposition of former Metro Manila camps has not only funded the AFP modernization program, but also provided decent housing leading to im¬proved and dignified lives of our poor and homeless countrymen,” BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said.

Casanova said that of the P2.68 billion, P1.88 billion was generated through the disposition of former Met¬ro Manila camps, the biggest of which are Fort Bonifacio and Villamor Air Base now known as Bonifacio Glob¬al City and Newport City respectively.

Pursuant to RA 7917, as imple¬mented by Administrative Order No. 236, the National Housing Author¬ity (NHA), National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and Home Insurance Guaranty Corpora¬tion (HIGC) are entitled to receive 12 percent share of the net proceeds from the disposition of former Metro Manila Camps to finance the NSP.

by Manila Bulletin

Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., the country’s largest homebuilder, has signed two long-term lease agreements with Puregold Price Club Inc. for the retailer to open two stores in the property developer’s projects in Luzon.

According to Vista Land, the lease agreements will allow Puregold to es¬tablish and operate a Puregold hypermarket in San Fernando, Pampanga and a Puregold Junior in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Puregold is expected to be the anchor tenant in the Community Malls set up by Vista Land in these locations.

Vista Land said the new agreements form part of a long-term partnership established between Villar-controlled Vista Land and Puregold which is controlled by businessman Lucio Co. Manuel Paolo Villar, Vista Land’s president, said “we have had a mutu¬ally beneficial relationship with Puregold and we are extremely grateful that they have agreed to partner with us.”

by Manila Bulletin

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $21.72 billion in financing operations in 2011, up by 14.5% from 2010, according to its 2011 annual report.

“Poverty reduction remains the greatest challenge for developing Asia and the Pacific,” ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said.

“Although significant progress has been made in reducing income poverty, large pockets of deprivation remain, and disparities within and across countries continue to grow.”

Nearly 1.8 billion Asians live on less than $2 a day. Low-income countries are struggling to sustain economic growth and reduce poverty, and a substantial proportion of the region’s poor today live in middle-income countries.
To make the process of economic expansion more conducive to reduc¬ing poverty, ADB focuses on three primary strategic agendas: inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration

By CLARISSA BATINO and CECILIA YAP

MANILA, Philippines â€" Philippine Airlines Inc. plans to order at least 100 new planes, resume flights to Europe and bolster US services after selling a stake to San Miguel Corp.

The carrier’s two main owners will provide $1 billion to help fund the fleet plan, Ramon Ang, president of the airline and of San Miguel, said in an interview in Manila yesterday. San Miguel will inject $750 million in PAL and affiliate Air Philippines Corp., including a $500 million stake purchase, while billionaire Lucio Tan will deliver the rest, he said.

“PAL will institute more improvement, offer a better service and fly newer planes,” said Ang, who’s a qualified pilot. “PAL is a good company â€" despite the problems, it’s always been above water.”

The carrier wants to join a global alliance, Ang said, to spread its international reach and to help compete with Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Emirates Airline on long-haul routes. San Miguel may also build an airport near Manila to help the airline improve services and to extend its own push away from a traditional focus on food and beverages, Ang said.

The 100 new planes, including single-aisle and twin-aisle models, will be divided across PAL and Air Philippines. Ang didn’t say how many aircraft the carriers would retire. The group will do more business with Boeing Co. than previously, he said, without elaboration.

By LEE C. CHIPONGIAN

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday that the banking sector’s capital health remain robust at 17.43 percent at the end of the third quarter in 2011, higher than the previous quarter's capital adequacy ratio (CAR) level of 17.25 percent.

The CAR, which measures banks’ capability to meet its liabilities and other credit exposures and risks, is well above the BSP’s benchmark of 10 percent. Based on consolidated basis, the industry average CAR stood at 16.44 percent on solo basis and 17.43 on consolidated basis and both levels are higher compared to second quarter ratios.

The tier 1 capital ratios are also at adequate levels and better than international averages, at 14.14 percent and 14.23 percent on solo and consolidated bases, respectively, said the BSP.

“The slight improvement in the banking system’s CARs resulted from the higher growth rate of qualifying capital vis-à-vis that of risk weighted assets (RWA),” the central bank explained in a statement.

From June to September last year, qualifying capital increased by 2.61 percent or P19.9 billion on solo basis to P782.8 billion and on consolidated basis, went up by 2.93 percent or P24.5 billion to P861.9 billion. The BSP said bank profits and additional float of common shares contributed to the increase in qualifying capital.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA

MANILA, Philippines â€" Ayala Corporation and subsidiary Manila Water Company Inc., are expanding their presence in Vietnam’s infrastructure business, including water supply and transportation facilities.

In disclosures to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Ayala and MWC said they have been respectively awarded by Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company (CII), the right to purchase a 10 percent stake in CII and a 49 percent stake in Kenh Dong Water Supply Joint Stock Company.

Ayala Corporation had earlier offered to purchase a 10 percent stake in CII concurrent with MWC’s offer to acquire a 49 percent stake in Kenh Dong.

“This investment primarily supports and complements the expansion of Manila Water Company as it gradually builds its presence in Vietnam,” said Ayala president and MWC chairman. Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

Zobel added that the investments also provide them with strategic access to other related infrastructure opportunities which may be of value to the group.

by Manila Bulletin - The country’s merchandise imports in February 2012 went up by 4.9 percent to $4.93 billion from $4.761 billion in February 2011.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) reported that aggregate imports for the first two months of 2012, inched up by 0.6 percent to $10.12 billion from $10.06 billion posted during the same period in 2011.

Accounting for 28.7 percent of the aggregate import bill, payments for electronic products in February 2012 amounted to $1.43 billion, down by 5.1 percent over last year's $1.51 billion.

Among the major groups of electronic products, semiconductors having the biggest share of 21.3 percent decreased by 15.9 percent from $1.267 billion to $1.065 billion.

Imports of mineral fuels ranked second with 20.1 percent share and posted a negative annual growth rate of 2.8 percent from reported value of $1.034 billion in February 2011 to $1.006 billion in February 2012.

Transport equipment was the country's third top import for the month with 9.1 percent share to total imports valued at $451.91 million, up by 53.9 percent from previous year level of $293.65 million.

By EDU LOPEZ

MANILA, Philippines â€" The government is set to implement the second phase of the P11.2 billion Jalaur River irrigation project in Iloilo, the largest Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF)-supported project.

“The Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II is one of the first batch of projects and biggest of the three irrigation projects approved by the NEDA board this year,” said NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan.

“It is a groundbreaking venture in terms of scale and importance in facilitating the increase in food production and ensuring food security in the country,” said Tungpalan who led the meeting and signing of the minutes of discussion (MOD) with officials of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea EximBank).

Out of the project’s total approved cost of P11.21 billion, a proposed P8.95 billion will be financed through an official development assistance (ODA) loan from the EDCF.

Swiss global financial services company UBS AG has revised upward its economic growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 4.5 percent from the previous 3.3 percent.

In a report, Edward Teather, UBS economist said explained that higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines reflects the government’s improved public spending and the eased monetary policy. But despite the upward revision on the bank’s growth forecast for 2012, Teather said that UBS has retained its GDP growth projection of 4.7 percent for next year. (CSL) - Manila Bulletin

Manila Stocks Top 2012 Returns

Russell Investments said yesterday that Philippine stocks have provided the best return in 2012 up to April 20, among countries covered in its index for the Asia Pacific region.

It notes that Philippine equities returned 23.5%, or more than double the Russell Asia Pacific Index's return of 10.3%. The Philippines is followed by Thailand (22.2%), Singapore (19.1%) and India (17.6%). (Dow Jones)

By CECILIA YAP and CLARISSA BATINO (BLOOMBERG)

MANILA, Philippines â€" San Miguel Corp., the Philippines’ biggest company, is in talks to make “several big acquisitions,” including two businesses with a combined revenue of $6 billion that may be purchased this year.

“Our appetite is still quite strong” for acquisitions, President Ramon Ang said in an interview yesterday, three weeks after announcing a $500-million airline investment. The two companies that may be bought this year are in the energy and telecommunications industries and operate in Asia, he said, declining to elaborate further.

San Miguel has expanded from food and drinks to industries including oil, power and infrastructure to meet a target of doubling sales. Buying almost half of Philippine Airlines Inc. and low-cost affiliate Air Philippines Corp. will boost San Miguel’s sales this year to almost $20 billion, at least three years ahead of target, Ang, 58, said in an interview in Manila.

The Philippines’ most acquisitive company “sees more lucrative businesses that’s why it continues to realign its portfolio,” Astro del Castillo, managing director at First Grade Finance Inc., said by phone yesterday.

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

MANILA, Philippines â€" Cumulative investments generated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) for the past 17 years hit P2.030 trillion, about a fourth of which or P465 billion came in during the past 22 months.

PEZA Director General Lilia B. de Lima reported this at the 17th PEZA Anniversary and Investor's Recognition Night where President Benigno Aquino III was the keynote speaker.

De Lima further reported that its export-oriented locators in its 258 economic zones around the country employ 915,260 Filipinos, 46 percent of which were created during the past 22 months of the Aquino administration.

In terms of exports, the 2,700 PEZA locators were able to export $463 billion worth of merchandize. PEZA accounts for 87 percent of the country's total merchandize exports.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA

MANILA, Philippines â€" SM Investments Corporation expects earnings to grow by 12 to 14 percent this year as it announced 13 percent growth in net income to P6.0 billion in the first quarter of 2012 from P5.3 billion during the same period last year.

In a press briefing, SMIC chief financial officer Jose Sio said the target reflects the growth of the firm’s various businesses. Its retail, mall, residential, tourism and banking units are all optimistic about prospects for 2012.

SMIC’s consolidated revenues increased by 16 percent to P49.7 billion from P42.7 billion last year. The positive results of SM during the first three months of the year came from the robust growth in revenues and profits of its core businesses.

“The encouraging performance of SM during the first quarter of 2012 is due mainly to the strong start of its core businesses, some of which posted better-than-expected results for the period,” said SMIC president Harley T. Sy.

He added that, “with the prevailing positive outlook on the domestic economy, together with the expected resilience of our subsidiaries, we remain optimistic that SM will attain its growth and expansion targets for the rest of the year.”

By NELLY FAVIS-VILLAFUERTE

MANILA, Philippines â€" Two days ago, a senior citizen-friend of mine requested me to write about the need for senior citizen-friendly facilities in commercial establishments… especially in the provinces.

Says Cora, my 76-year old senior citizen-friend: “Nelly, I went to a bank a few days ago to deposit. I queued in the regular lane because there was no special lane for senior citizens. After standing for over thirty (30) minutes my turn to give my deposit to the cashier was still far off. I felt so tired and weak already despite my cane. My back and knees were aching. Since the pain was getting unbearable, I went to the new accounts section and sat in a nearby chair. I then asked the lady attending to new accounts if the bank has a special lane for senior citizen customers. Obviously, there was none but I asked the question to justify my sitting in the chair reserved for bank clients who are opening new accounts.

One may ask: Are there no senior citizen friendly facilities and services offered by commercial establishments to their clients and visitors? To date, there are commercial establishments with special senior citizen friendly facilities and services. But there are also commercial establishments with no special senior citizen facilities and services. Mind you, there are still many commercial establishments in Metro Manila and in the provinces that do not have senior citizen friendly facilities and services â€" and many of these commercial establishments are big establishments.

By BEN ROSARIO

MANILA, Philippines â€" Despite the on-going diplomatic controversy over Scarborough Shoal between between Philippines and China, Beijing has aired its willingness to back the Philippines in its request before the World Trade Organization for extension of its special treatment of quantitative restriction on rice imports.

This was revealed by Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, disclosed that he received a report from a team of Philippine officials visiting Beijing that Chinese Deputy Minister for International Trade Yu Jianhua had aired this stand of his government.

The team headed by National Food Authority Administrator Angelito T. Banayo met Yu in Beijing on Thursday.

Yu said his country will support the Philippine request, citing the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries.

This came as a pleasant surprise to the Philippine delegation led by Administrator Banayo and Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Romeo Reside, along with NFA lawyer Gilbert Lauengco, who came to the Chinese capital to start formal bilateral negotiations seeking to extend quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports, which are otherwise due to expire June 30, 2012.

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD

Weathermen said yesterday that residents in Luzon, including Metro Manila, should brace for warmer weather brought about by the Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) extending over Northern Luzon which is expected to reach as high as 37 degrees in the second or third week of May.

Rene Paciente, senior weather specialist from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), disclosed that they are also not discounting the possibility that the temperature will reach 35 degrees Celsius and up starting next month due to prevalence of the hot summer months.

Last Thursday, Pagasa said that the temperature in Metro Manila was registered at 35.2 degrees Celsius.

“Usually kapag May, dun natin nare-record iyung highest temperature. Sa second to third week ng Mayo mas umiinit ang panahon (Usually its during May that we record the highest temperature. During the second or third week, we can expect the weather to get hotter), Paciente said.

Yesterday’s average temperature in Metro Manila was 26 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius, he said.

Paciente advised the public to always drink water and to wear light colored shirt or dress to beat the heat of the sun. He also advised the people to avoid long exposure from sun light from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid heat stroke and to take a bath twice a day.

by Cebu Daily News

The Visayan Electric Company (Veco) turned over the newly rewired Cebu Cathedral museum to the Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage led by its chairman Msgr. Carlito Pono on April 12.

The rewiring project started soon after the power firm and the Archdiocese of Cebu signed an agreement in Nov. 15, 2011 to upgrade the electrical fixtures of the museum.
The museum is now safe from electrical hazards.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in his message read by Msgr. Pono, called the Cathedral museum a living vessel where one can revisit the past and discover the present.
“The rewiring of the whole electrical system of the museum reflects the church’s commitment to safeguard her artistic cultural patrimony and the depository of the rich cultural heritage,” Palma said.

maingon ingon kay baroto ra man intawon ning atong Philippine Navy.

by PNA - The Board of Investments (BOI) recently approved the application of Thai-owned Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation (CPFPC) to raise hog parent stocks and slaughter hogs in the country.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. said, “We see a steady increase of investments from foreign investors in strategic sectors like agribusiness. This trend helps balance our investment portfolio, increase opportunities in rural areas, and strengthen food security.”

Agriculture policy expert Dr. Roland Dy, in a recent dialogue with DTI, remarked that growth in the country’s agriculture sector will likely be driven by the rising income and wealth in Asian countries, supply chain transformations in logistics and supply chain management, technology advancements, and cross-border investments.

“Agriculture/agribusiness is among the industries listed in the Investment Priorities Plan and has been identified by the DTI as one of the sectors for industry development. With a large constituency composed of small shareholders and farmers, investments in this area will help increase our farmers’ incomes and help reduce poverty,” added Cristobal.

The P1.352-billion investment project of CP Foods involves three swine farms: one in Floridablanca, Pampanga for the production of parent stocks, and two in Concepcion, Tarlac for the production of breeder stocks and swine.

The company’s parent stock capacity will be 25,453 heads and 3,647 MT slaughter hogs once the project starts its commercial operations in 2013.

The investment is projected to create an average net value added of 75 percent to the economy. The company’s primary raw materials used in manufacturing livestock feeds like corn, soybean, fish meal, and other feed ingredients will be sourced from both local and foreign suppliers.

CPFPC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thailand’s CP foods PCL which already has existing business operations in the Philippines, including production and marketing of prawn and fish fries.

Thailand led the country’s foreign investors for the first quarter with total investments amounting to P2.264 billion, followed by Japan, China, Italy, and the United States, data from the BOI showed.

by PNA

The United States and Philippine defense and foreign affairs officials will discuss the alliance between the two nations Monday at the U.S. State Department, the American defense officials said Friday.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin.

It is the first time this "two-plus-two" type of meeting will occur between the two nations, American Forces Press Service reported.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby said the Philippines is "a terrific partner in that part of the world", and the United States enjoys a rotational presence in and around the Philippines and the U.S. military wants to work with the Philippine counterpart to continue an "already good" rotation and training relationship.

The U.S. relationship with the Philippines is "part and parcel" of the larger U.S. strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, he said, yet adding the U.S. military is not looking for "permanent basing there."

Glory and honor and power and praise to Jesus Christ, the God and Savior, for all.
This resume is good for evangelism purposes. Thanks Padz for sharing.

Manila Meat Market

sakto ka suban-on. basin next time, after mailog nila ang spratly's ug scarborough, moingon na ang china nga ang whole philippines part of their territory.

posible pud WN. kay kung dili pa maayo modala ug kwarta si Danding, dili unta mahimong global corporation ang San Miguel. I read it somewhere that San Miguel is buying companies abroad, including in Australia.

6/55 April 25 2012 Lotto Result

Result: 07-23-15-05-02-50

Jackpot: P86,822,272.80

Draw Date: 4/25/2012 , 0  winner(s)

6/49 PCSO Lotto Result April 26 2012

22-49-15-20-30-44

28,971,846.00
4/26/2012 , 0  winner(s)

April 26 2012 PCSO Lotto Result
24-18-19-11-33-42
20,040,656.40
4/26/2012 , 0  winner(s)

April 27 2012 6/45 PCSO Philippine Lotto Result
08-32-05-15-01-40
4,500,000.00
4/27/2012 , 0  winner(s)

Very nice poem, Way Nada. Thanks for sharing.

by Science News, 1989

Tasaday controversy grows more curious

The strange case of the Tasaday -- modern-day hunter-gatherers in the Philippines, heralded during the 1970s as an isolated Stone Age group and lately denounced as a hoax by some journalists and anthropologist--grows stranger still with new evidence presented last week at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in Washington, D.C.

The new research focuses on the family trees and language characteristics of the Tasaday and supports the notion that they are a people distinct from other rain-forest communities living near them (SN: 5/6/89, p. 280).

By Boston Globe

Richer countries like the United States had a good year and so did some in the Third World like South Korea and India, the World Bank reported yesterday, but incomes in Latin America and southern Africa continued to fall.

The bank said 21 industrial countries, from Luxembourg to the United States, increased their production by a combined 4.2 percent. Since their populations increase slowly, the average income of each citizen went up almost as much.

Some countries in Asia had much bigger increases in output, but populations grow faster there, holding down per capita growth.

from the archives of The Washington Post

Newly filed documents detail how Ferdinand Marcos allegedly looted the Philippines, using kickbacks, dummy firms and war reparations from Japan to amass $5 billion, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The papers were filed in federal court to amend a 3-year-old lawsuit brought by the Philippine government, which seeks $50 billion in damages from the deposed Philippine president and his wife, Imelda.

The Los Angeles Times said the papers list bank accounts allegedly controlled by the Marcoses and associates in the Philippines, Switzerland, Hong Kong...