MikeLigalig.com

by PLR

Magicians have their secrets but they won’t tell. It’s a sworn oath for magicians not to tell the audience how a trick is done. There are 3 secrets though that they’ve shared all throughout the years. Here are their 3 secrets.

The first secret is that some tricks are done through sleight of hand. These are ways with which they skillfully hide an object and make it reappear on another hand. New magicians hide things up their sleeves. Those are old tricks and very few used them now.

Sleights of hand require a lot of practice to master. Beginners of magic use specially created gimmicks to create the illusion. Professional magicians make use of their impressive sleight of hand. It requires a lot of time, patience and hand coordination to fully understand and do.

Another secret is the art of misdirection. See this blank paper? And as audience looks at the blank paper, he is carefully getting another piece with his other hand. This is misdirection. Another type of misdirection is the kind that doesn’t let the audience see what’s really causing the tricks. You might have seen that a magician has a lot of assistants who also do incredible stuff, but what you didn’t know is that they are helping the magician perform the magic just with their presence.

Another kind of misdirection is the appropriate use of words. For example, a magician will tell you to look at the ‘empty’ box. We tend to look at the box as empty just because he said it. This causes our mind to wonder when the magician gets a rabbit out of it.

Misdirection takes a lot of practice and lots of time in planning. It requires body coordination (one body doing something while the other is doing another thing) and quick thinking. Misdirection is an art and magicians are proud of it.

Another secret is their patter or a magician’s constant talk. Misdirection is achieved mostly because of patter. The magician will ask you to look at his right hand and as you are looking, you won’t notice what his left hand is doing. This is a really clever way to achieve the illusion that what happens next becomes so magical with the wink of an eye.

Patter usually takes the form of a story, where a magician will tell you of something that happened to him someday. Sometimes it’s so funny that we actually forget to look at what their hands are doing or what their assistants are giving them.

by PNA

Del Monte Philippines, Inc. is planning to expand its banana plantation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman said.

Hataman told reporters recently that Del Monte is eyeing to put up a 1,300-hectare banana plantation in Maguindanao province.

He noted the agribusiness firm signified to expand its banana plantation in the town of Ampatuan following assurance from regional officials on the speedy issuance of permits for the company.

“The problem before was the bureaucratic red tape,” said Hataman, referring to the prolonged granting of approvals to businesses planning to operate in the ARRM.

Under Republic Act 9465 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, government transactions such as applications or renewal of permits, licenses and other documentation should be completed in 5 working days especially for simple cases and 10 working days for more complex transactions or requests.

Hataman, who was appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III last December, said his administration is working to stamp out red tape in a bid to attract new investments in the impoverished autonomous Muslim region.

Besides Del Monte, the governor revealed that talks have been initiated with the Sandakan Business Chamber of Commerce of Malaysia for the resumption of trade exchanges using Polloc Port in Parang, Maguindanao.

Local and foreign investments in the ARMM are seen to grow this year with the planned establishment of a one-stop-shop that would facilitate business transactions faster, easier and more convenient for prospective investors.

The setting up of the one-stop-shop was embodied in a Memorandum of Agreement signed earlier by the ARMM regional government and the Mindanao Development Authority.

The partnership shall also embark on a strengthened campaign to promote and facilitate investments ranging from small and medium enterprises to agro-industrial ventures.

Larzon Santos, ARMM Regional Board of Investments research division chief, said they are anticipating investments valued at P1.5 billion with the planned expansion of agricultural firms in the area.

KATHY MILLER KRAMER is a New York City-based freelance writer. Additional reporting by CARLY CARDELLINO.

Hair is the ultimate accessory; it can add to (or detract from) your overall look instantly. Keeping it in healthy condition is the most important thing you can do to help it look and feel fabulous. And, while it seems easy, this isn't as simple as minimizing chemical treatments or slathering on a weekly deep conditioner. While these can make your strands softer and less split-end-prone, what really matters is the daily handling; this is what creates the most stress--and potential damage--to your tresses. To help your locks look their best, we asked top experts from around the country for their advice on how to baby your mane every single day. So whether your concern is dullness, damage, frizz or fragility, we have the answers to ease even the toughest hair-care woes. Read on for tips to achieve run-your-fingers-through-it hair.

1 Steer clear of plastic-bristle brushes. "The proper bristles are key," says stylist Edward Tricomi of the Warren-Tricomi Salon in New York City. "A combination of natural boar bristles on either a round or flat brush are best for dry hair, while soft, rubber-toothed wide-paneled brushes are best for damp hair." Our favorite brushes include the Mason Pearson Boar Bristle brush ($78.50; zitomer.com) and Aveda's Wooden Paddle Brush ($17; aveda.com).

2 Brush before shampooing. A few gentle strokes on dry hair will help remove product buildup and scalp flakes, as well as stimulate the scalp and promote blood flow (which delivers nutrients like oxygen) to hair follicles. For a smoother slide, try Clairol Herbal Essences Let It Loose Detangling Spray ($3; at drugstores).

3 Know your water. If your hair looks dull or is hard to style, the problem could be your tap water. According to Minneapolis-based Gordon Nelson, international creative director for Regis Salons, well water contains natural minerals (called "hard water") that can leave hair lusterless and hard to manage and can impart a brassy, orange hue. Soft water, on the other hand, has fewer damaging minerals. (Ask your local water department if your water is soft or hard, or try using Robert Craig's No More Bad Hair Days Kit, $20; robertcraig.com; with strips to test your water.) To rid hair of mineral buildup, suds up every week with a clarifying shampoo. We like Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo and Clean Conditioner ($18.50 each; saks.com).

4 Mist your ends with water before home coloring. The ends of your hair are more porous and, as a result, absorb more pigment. "Wet hair doesn't absorb color as readily as dry hair," explains Renee Patronik, a consulting colorist for L'Oreal in New York.

5 Trim your troubles. As the ends of your hair get older and damaged by rough handling, they become prone to splitting, Nelson says. Get regular trims, at least 1/2 inch every four to eight weeks. "Hair grows (on average) half an inch per month, so trim to maintain healthy ends," says stylist Stephen Knoll of the Stephen Knoll Salon in New York.

6 Use color-protective products. Chemical treatments like color can damage hair because the chemicals have to penetrate the outer layer of the hair (or cuticle) to allow the hue to be absorbed, explains stylist Rodolfo Valentin of Rodolfo Valentin Atelier for Hair in New York. Color-protective products are specially designed to minimize dryness, keep color true and prevent damage. "They typically have more nourishing ingredients, strip less color and are less abusive," Knoll explains. We love L'Oreal VIVE Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.69 each; at drugstores) and Matrix Biolage Color Care Shampoo ($10) and Conditioner ($11; matrix.com for salon locations).

7 Give wet hair extra TLC. It stretches and snaps more easily than dry hair does, so be extra-gentle with it. "Use a wide-tooth plastic comb while hair is wet; then, once it's towel-dried, switch to a good brush," says Jon Patrick, color director of the Mete Turkmen Hair Salon Plus in New York. And avoid wooden combs; wood can have microscopic divots that snag hairs. Instead try the Jilbere de Paris plastic shower comb ($1.49; sally beauty.com for store locations).

8 Deep condition once every two weeks. "These treatments penetrate the hair shaft and strengthen strands," says Patrick, who adds that using heat (from a blow-dryer) can intensify deep conditioning, as the heat causes the cuticle to open and the ingredients to penetrate.

For nourishing results, try Kerastase Masquintense ($36; 877-748-8357 for salons), available for fine or thick hair; Neutrogena Triple Moisture Sheer Hydration Leave-In Foam ($7; at drugstores); or Ellin Lavar Textures ReconstructMasque ($25; ellinlavar.com).

9 Try an ionic dryer. Ions are atoms with a positive or negative charge. These particular hair-dryers bathe your hair in negative ions, which help break up water molecules faster and cancel out hair-damaging positive ions, Valentin explains. Plus, your hair-drying time is cut in half. We love the Bio Ionic Super-Hydrator Pro Dryer ($165; bioionic.com for salon locations).

10 Just use your dryer's nozzle, urges stylist Frank Galasso of Frank.Studio in Santa Monica, Calif. It's the best way to help prevent frizz because it concentrates the airflow on sections. "Without a nozzle the dryer's grill gets very hot; if your hair gets too close to it, it will cause damage and/or breakage," explains stylist Mark Garrison of the Mark Garrison Salon in New York.

For curls, use a diffuser attachment to gently surround your hair with air. Try Vidal Sassoon Ceramic Finger Diffuser ($8; hotus.com for store locations). Follow up with John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme ($6; at drugstores) to smooth strands.

11 Give textured or relaxed hair a break. African-American hair tends to be coarse due to a lack of natural oils (more so if chemically processed), says New York-based celebrity hairstylist Ellin Lavar. Lavar suggests opting for gentle color choices like semipermanent or vegetable color. Spacing processing treatments at least two weeks apart, with weekly conditioning treatments in between for shine maintenance, helps.

12 Use the right accessories. Kim Vo, a stylist at West Hollywood's B2V Salon, suggests putting hair in soft braids or twists and using claw clips rather than barrettes, which can pull hair. Other options: gentle Goody Ouchless elastic bands ($3 for 14; at drugstores) and L. Erickson Grab 'N Go Pony O's ($12 for three; franceluxe.com).

1. CONCENTRATE ON WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING. When listening to someone, do you often find yourself thinking about a job or task that is nearing deadline or an important family matter? In the middle of a conversation, do you sometimes realize that you haven't heard a word the other person has said? Most individuals speak at the rate of 175 to 200 words per minute. However, research suggests that we are very capable of listening and processing words at the rate of 600 to 1,000 words per minute. An internal auditor's job today is very fast and complex, and because the brain does not use all of its capacity when listening, an auditor's mind may drift to thinking of further questions or explanations rather than listening to the message at hand. This unused brainpower can be a barrier to effective listening, causing the auditor to miss or misinterpret what others are saying. It is important for internal auditors to actively concentrate on what others are saying so that effective communication can occur.

2. SEND THE NONVERBAL MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE LISTENING. When someone is talking to you, do you maintain eye contact with that person? Do you show the speaker you are listening by nodding your head? Does your body language transmit the message that you are listening? Are you leaning forward and not using your hands to play with things? Most communication experts agree that nonverbal messages can be three times as powerful as verbal messages. Effective communication becomes difficult anytime you send a nonverbal message that you're not really listening.

3. AVOID EARLY EVALUATIONS. When listening, do you often make immediate judgments about what the speaker is saying? Do you assume or guess what the speaker is going to say next? Do you sometimes discover later that you failed to interpret correctly what the speaker was telling you? Because a listener can listen at a faster rate than most speakers talk, there is a tendency to evaluate too quickly. That tendency is perhaps the greatest barrier to effective listening. It is especially important to avoid early evaluations when listening to a person with whom you disagree. When listeners begin to disagree with a sender's message, they tend to misinterpret the remaining information and distort its intended meaning so that it is consistent with their own beliefs.

4. AVOID GETTING DEFENSIVE. Do you ever take what another person says personally when what her or she is saying is not meant to be personal? Do you ever become angry at what another person says? Careful listening does not mean that you will always agree with the other party's point of view, but it does mean that you will try to listen to what the other person is saying without becoming overly defensive. Too much time spent explaining, elaborating, and defending your decision or position is a sure sign that you are not listening. This is because your role has changed from one of listening to a role of convincing others they are wrong. After listening to a position or suggestion with which you disagree, simply respond with something like, "I understand your point. We just disagree on this one." Effective listeners can listen calmly to another person even when that person is offering unjust criticism.

5. PRACTICE PARAPHRASING. Paraphrasing is the art of putting into your own words what you thought you heard and saying it back to the sender. For example, a subordinate might say: "You have been unfair to rate me so low on my performance appraisal. You have rated me lower than Jim. I can do the job better than him, and I've been here longer." A paraphrased response might be: "I can see that you are upset about your rating. You think it was unfair for me to rate you as I did." Paraphrasing is a great technique for improving your listening and problem-solving skills. First, you have to listen very carefully if you are going to accurately paraphrase what you heard. Second, the paraphrasing response will clarify for the sender that his or her message was correctly received and encourage the sender to expand on what he or she is trying to communicate.

6. LISTEN (AND OBSERVE) FOR FEELINGS. When listening, do you concentrate just on the words that are being said, or do you also concentrate on the way they are being said? The way a speaker is standing, the tone of voice and inflection he or she is using, and what the speaker is doing with his or her hands are all part of the message that is being sent. A person who raises his or her voice is probably either angry or frustrated. A person looking down while speaking is probably either embarrassed or shy. Interruptions may suggest fear or lack of confidence. Persons who make eye contact and lean forward are likely exhibiting confidence. Arguments may reflect worry. Inappropriate silence may be a sign of aggression and be intended as punishment.

7. ASK QUESTIONS. Do you usually ask questions when listening to a message? Do you try to clarify what a person has said to you? Effective listeners make certain they have correctly heard the message that is being sent. Ask questions to clarify points or to obtain additional information. Open-ended questions are the best. They require the speaker to convey more information. Form your questions in a way that makes it clear you have not yet drawn any conclusions. This will assure the message sender that you are only interested in obtaining more and better information. And the more information that you as a listener have, the better you can respond to the sender's communication.

LISTEN ACTIVELY

Not everyone has to possess the same style of listening, but internal auditors who use "active" listening will likely become much better listeners. Active listening demands that the receiver of a message put aside the belief that listening is easy and that it happens naturally and realize that effective listening is hard work. The result of active listening is more efficient and effective communication. - source: Findarticles.com

by Phil Daily Inquirer

Most adult Filipinos last month believed that Chief Justice Renato Corona kept hidden wealth, that he intended to help former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to flee the country and that he accepted special favors in office, a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) found.

The survey also found that more than 46 percent believed that people power should be used to force Corona to step down should the Senate impeachment court decide to acquit him.

The opinion poll was conducted on March 10-13, at a time when the defense panel was starting its presentation. The impeachment trial adjourned on March 23 for a Lenten break and will resume on May 7.

Isang high school student ang nasawi makaraang uminom ng lason nang hiwalayan umano ng kanyang nobyo kamakalawa sa Malabon City.

Dead-on-arrival sa Tondo Medical Center ang biktimang si Mary Jane Dela Cruz, 16, estudyante ng Malabon National High School at residente ng Bernadeth St., Hulong Duhat, Malabon City.

Batay sa ulat, bandang 4:50 ng hapon nang makita ang biktima ng kanyang kuya na si Alvin, 20, na nakahandusay habang bumubula ang bibig sa ikalawang bahay na naging dahilan upang dalhin sa naturang pagamutan.

issue in today's tabloid in reply to national artist proposal:
"Pare-pareho raw walang K maging National Artist"
Dolphy: maraming inanakan
Nora: sangkot sa drugs sa USA at kahihiyan pa ng Pinas (in a relationship with a lesbian)
Vilma: sabit sa Betamax Scandal

fake tong butt ni kim kardashian. it was revealed by her ex-husband.

tinuod nga stuffed toy for display lang gud.

Quote from: hubag bohol on April 24, 2012, 01:03:27 PM
Klarong threat ni siya--threat to Bugsay's peace of mind...

threat sa mga minyo na ug hiniktan.

by Bohol Standard

Former Las Piñas City congresswoman Cynthi a Villar, wife of the out-going senator Manny Villar made no pretensions for her interest to run for senate in next year’s elections under his husband’s Nacionalista Party.

She was in the city yesterday then proceeded to Calape town as an invited guest speaker of the BOHECO 1 General Annual Assembly.

The lady Villar, who owns Vista Land, the biggest homebuilder in the Philippines today, bluntly answered the question on political dynasty saying that she wants to be elected on her competence and performance and not to be under the shadow of her popular husband.

“Senator Manny Villar will be completing his six-year term (the second 6-year term) by June 30, next year. If I am elected, he will be no longer in the Senate, so I don’t think such issue of dynasty applies to us,” Cynthia Villar said during a brief press conference held at the Emerald Room, Metro Center Hotel, this city.

The former Las Piñas congresswoman served three terms and is a staunch advocate for environment conservation and preservation. She and Senator Villar launched the Las Piñas-Zapote River System Rehabilitation Program in 2002 which won awards and recognition in best practices, accorded by UN Human Settlements Program and the OIKOS Foundation of Switzerland. The program also won the Green Apple Award for Environment Best Practices in London, UK.

When asked on her stand on the controversial Health Reproductive (RH) Bill, she said, such law does not answer the pressing problems of this nation.

“India, China had billions in population but they are progressing. The problem of this country is not on the number of people but on how to address poverty, the real obstacle to progress,” Cynthia Villar said.

She revealed she’s pro-life and member of the Catholic charismatic renewal group Couples for Christ. She also shared her views on the issue of ‘transvestism’ related with the recent controversy troubling the Miss Universe pageant recently.

“The Philippines as a Catholic nation is conservative and I think dealing on the issue is not for us to face this time. Let’s take on other pressing problems, like poverty. When we can rise above such level, then by that time we can perhaps afford to be complacent and tackle these issues,” she said.

Cynthia Villar has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from New York University. She served as chairperson of the Congressional Spouses Foundation from 1998 to 2000. She is currently the managing director of the Villar Foundation.

She considers family her most cherished treasure in her well raised children; sons Paolo and Mark, both graduates of Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, while only daughter Camille is a Business Management graduate of Ateneo de Manila University.

by PNA

Ernesto Zambo and his wife were shooting birds inside their compound in Alang-Alang, Mandaue City Friday afternoon when she accidentally shot him with an air rifle.

Ernesto Zambo, 66, an uncle of Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Ian Zambo, died the following day at the Chong Hua Hospital in this city Saturday afternoon.

Police Insp. Ramil Morpos, who led a team from the Mandaue City Police Office to investigate the incident at the Zambo compound on G. Ouano St., Alang-Alang, said Zambo was accidentally shot by his wife, Tita, 47.

Relatives of the victim, including PB Member Zambo, told the police that around 5:20 p.m. last Friday, the victim’s wife, Tita, was loading the air gun when it accidentally went off, hitting her husband, who was passing in front of her, in the abdomen.

The victim’s wife immediately called the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf), which rushed Zambo to the Chong Hua Hospital here.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, Zambo was declared dead by attending physicians.

Morpos, a member of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB), said Zambo and his wife run a handicraft business.

Morpos said the family decided not to report the incident to the police, believing that Zambo, who underwent an operation, would be fine.

”They didn’t expect he would die,” Morpos said.

The victim’s eldest son surrendered the air gun to IDMB personnel.

Morpos said the family failed to show a permit to carry the air gun, which they said was owned by the victim.

He will check with the Firearms, Explosives Security Agencies, and Guards Supervisory Section to see if the air gun is licensed.

Morpos said it is illegal to hunt birds in the country. But they did not see any dead bird when they went to the compound.

Sunod nga balaod kanang ibawal ang magpakita ug pikoy sa stewardess.

Another redundant law. Waste of time and money. Adultery and concubinage are already prescribed as crimes under the Revised Penal Code.

Too many Chinese hackers who steal corporate and military secrets of America. Wala gyud tay dag-anan. Maajo pay maglana ta ug putot ani.

by AFP

China is deploying more surveillance and paramilitary ships to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) without a clear legal framework to assert its ambiguous territorial claims, risking more confrontations, a report said Monday.

The bigger patrol ships sent by Chinese maritime surveillance and fisheries agencies have figured in major flare-ups, including an ongoing standoff with a Philippine coast guard vessel over a disputed shoal off the western Philippine coast.

At the same time, the nearly a dozen government agencies handling China’s claims compete for budget and power and operate with conflicting mandates and lack coordination, the International Crisis Group (IGC) said in its report.

Six countries are engaged in long-simmering territorial rifts in the West Philippine Sea, crossed by one of the world’s busiest commercial sealanes and accounting for about 10 percent of the annual global fisheries catch.

A map China submitted to the United Nations in 2009 claims virtually the entire area, but
China has so far refused to define the exact extent of its claims, causing confusion and fostering potential conflicts, the ICG said.

Some Chinese patrol ships, according to the ICG, were unaware of the limits of the areas where they were supposed to assert sovereignty.

ICG said it interviewed an official with the Maritime Safety Administration in China’s southern Hainan province who said he did not know what area to defend. The official was not further identified.

by Agence France Presse

The Philippines said alleged Chinese hackers attacked three websites maintained by President Benigno Aquino’s office on Monday.

The attacks came shortly after the government said it would raise its concerns with the United States over an increasingly tense territorial sea dispute with China.

Aquino’s office, in a statement, said a “significant spike in traffic with malicious URL requests” flooded the president’s official gazette (www.gov.ph) and two other websites (www.pcdspo.gov.ph, www.malacanang.gov.ph) run by his communications team.
“Information gathered through our data analysis indicated that the attack originated from IP (internet protocol) addresses were assigned to Chinese networks,” the statement said.

The attack caused a “temporary disruption of service,” the statement added.
Monday’s attack came three days after hackers claiming to be from China defaced the website of the Philippines’ top government-run university to assert their country’s claim over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Local reports said a group of Philippine hackers calling itself “Anonymous” allegedly retaliated by hacking two Chinese government websites.

By Catherine J. Teves, PNA

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) projects the Philippines to have more green forest areas than deforested ones if the government meets its 2016 National Greening Program (NGP) goal of planting some 1.5 billion tree seedlings in about 1.5 million hectares of open, denuded and degraded forest land nationwide.

"Achieving such goal will reverse our forest situation," DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio said in a speech during Sunday's main 2012 Earth Day (ED) celebration the agency and Earth Day Network Philippines Inc. spearheaded at Makati City's Ayala Triangle.

The annual ED celebrations aim helping to further boost the global environmental protection campaign.

Philippine areas designated as forests account for about half of the country's estimated total land area of some 30 million hectares.

Ignacio is urging all sectors to increasingly plant trees, saying latest available data show only half of the country's total designated forest area is green.

Studies also show deforestation reduced the country's forest cover from over 50 percent of land at the 20th century's start to only about 24 percent at present.

The government aims increasing such forest cover to about 30 percent by 2016, Ignacio noted.

To help curb deforestation and environmental degradation, the government launched NGP in May 2011.

NGP also seeks to help address food security and poverty by allowing agro-forestry activities in the uplands.

The program likewise aims addressing climate change which experts attribute to rise in global temperature.

Experts have said trees are able to absorb carbon dioxide which they identified as among greenhouse gases that concentrate in the atmosphere and trap heat there, jacking up global temperature.

DENR is pleased about the public response to NGP so far.

"Last year, about 700,000 people planted 93 million trees in over 128,000 hectares of land nationwide," Ignacio reported.

He said DENR expects the total number of trees planted since last year to hit 100 million this June.

by PNA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking partnerships for the development of cheap Pinoy tablet computer that will advance agricultural entrepreneurship by empowering farmers with critical information such as soil nutrients and farm goods markets.

The DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), together with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), seeks to develop a very affordable tablet computer that will give DA’s extension workersâ€"technicians ubiquitous access to critical farm information.

The tablet computer should have a 24-7 access to internet that must be purely focused on vital farm information (possibly blocking entertainment sites) and geographic information system (GIS).

The GIS will enable farmers to determine whether the crop they plant in a particular location is suitable to that location. It will help determine if the type of soil needs certain types of fertilizer, or whether water or moisture needed in plant growth may be sufficient in this farm area.

“We have an idea to revolutionize Philippine agriculture. We’re bringing a proof of concept tapping the power of Information Technology so we can inform farmers well. There’s no other than the DA that’s leading in enhancing the welfare of the farming community in the country,” said Dr. William D. Dar, ICRISAT director general.

ICRISAT’s network in India, where Dar, a former DA secretary, is based will extend the Philippines assistance in fabricating the hardware, the tablet PC.

“If we want to move forward, we have to start the first step. That’s what a famous Chinese philosopher said,’ A journey of a thousand journey miles begins with a single step,’” said Dar.

BAR will provide content for the tablet.

ICRISAT is also facilitating to provide the Agropedia, a farm management system that a consortium of seven institutions, including ICRISAT, developed to aid Indian farmers.

Indo US Healthcare Chairman Arun Tiwani said Indian Telephone Industry could fabricate the tablet for the Philippines, given government’s approval.

Dr. Michelle Almendrala, Philippine Sugar Research Institute director general, said the tablet computer would have a big impact in raising sugarcane productivity and may supplement on-farm training of farmers.

By Eddie G. Alinea

“Manny conditions himself.”

This was how chief trainer Freddie Roach put the loss of strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who left the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s training camp here Saturday night.

“Manny already knows the basics on how to put himself in shape and I don’t believe Alex’s absence would adversely affect these aspects of preparations seven weeks before his next fight,” Roach said, adding there’s no way Ariza’s loss would derail the total training program.

The Filipino eight-division kingpin will be putting his 147-pound crown on stake against undefeated American Timothy Bradley on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“No, it won’t derail or destroy what have started. Manny had matured these past many years, surviving all the distractions thrown his way in many attempts to destroy him and ruin his career,” Roach said in a statement attesting to his trust in his ward of 11 years.

What drove many, including sectors in media, to believe the relationship between Pacquiao and Ariza had ended was the statement attributed to the trainer this time that he will see to it that he'll oversee the training his way, unlike in the Filipino fighter's previous training when he refused to follow some of his instructions.

“Well, Manny always doesn’t listen to Alex, anyway. So nothing’s new really,” Roach said with a smile. “Alex, for instance, opposes Manny’s playing basketball. Alex wants Manny instead to swim.”

Meanwhile, the 52-year-old Hall of Famer said he himself will handle the strength and conditioning portion of Pacquiao’s fine-tuning program until such time that Ariza comes back or somebody surfaces to do the stamina-building program.

“I have been doing this conditioning thing all my life until I discovered Alex who I recommended to Manny himself, so I don’t see derailment in the program as some sectors feared,” Roach said.

Roach said he will be assisting Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio, his understudy for the past few years who, he said, is very capable of implementing the program Ariza has prepared.

Somodio, a member of the Anson Tiu Co-owned Shape Up Boxing Gym training team at the Cooyeessn Hotel here, handled former junior welterweight champion Amir Khan’s training here before Roach arrived.

“Yeah, Marvin’s more than qualified to do the job. In fact, I plan to bring him to the Wild Card Gym to continue implementing the program in case Alex doesn’t come back,” Roach assured. “I’ll try to work it out with Manny if Marvin can be included in the team when we move to Los Angeles for the last month of training.”

“Alex was quoted as saying he’ll be back when training shifts to Wild Card, but I don’t know how he can. Chavez is fighting a week after Manny’s fight with Bradley, Many things can happen, you know.”

By Eddie G. Alinea

Manny Pacquiao’s sparring session may have to wait for another week.

This is not because his scheduled mate â€"- Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia -- isn’t coming but because the Filipino World Boxing Organization welterweight belt-owner had a “good week” in his training camp here trainer Freddie Roach decided to forego the sparring until Saturday next week.

“It was a very good week. We have attained what we had wanted to attain so I decided to give Manny a break. Sparring session starts on Saturday,” Roach told this writer in an interview at the Shape Up Boxing Gym inside the Cooyeesan Hotel, home of Team Pacquiao's training in the Pines City.

“The two-week advanced training Manny had, indeed, produced good results. He was very good in doing the mitts with me, it was amazing in the conditioning aspect of preparations,” Roach said.

“He’s been on the road the whole morning since he arrived here Tuesday night and inside the gym in the entire afternoon till last Friday,” he added. “I can’t ask for more.”

Roach said that sparring in the last six weeks of the fine-tuning program will just be ideal with the way Pacquiao spent three weeks of priming up that started in taking the road inside the subdivision in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna where his family resides.

Pacquiao followed it up with another week in General Santos City during the Holy Week under the guidance of boyhood assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez.

Roach would not admit though that the change in schedule was to avoid Pacquiao being over-trained, a suspicion blamed by many for his lackluster performance against Juan Manuel Marquez in Act III of their trilogy last November.

Provodnikov, a 28-year-old promising junior-welterweight prospect, is to arrive Monday night from his hometown Beryosovo in Russia.

“I will make him observe Manny first to study what he can do to help in training, at the same time gain experience facing a tough, experienced fighter like Manny he could use in pursuing his boxing career,” Roach explained.

Roach said Provodnikov would be an ideal sparring partner for Pacquiao because of having a fighting style approximating that of Tim Bradley, the undefeated junior-welterweight champion with whom the Filipino icon will be staking his 147-pound diadem on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

By Bohol Standard

STILL smarting from unresolved sensitive irrigation-related issues, the National Irrigation Administration and irrigator-associations (IAs) “have agreed” in principle to work on important improvements of the “mega-dams” in Pilar, Ubay and San Miguel towns and iron out kinks particularly the controversial irrigation user’s fee (ISF).

This transpired during the meeting held at Bo-ol Parish rectory, Tagbilaran City presided over by NIA Engr. Frank F. Fusingan with the presence of Rev. Fr. Junix Nalzaro, as convenor; NIA Engr. Evelyn Putong, Mr. Alfredo Elmer Doblas of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as facilitator; Mr. Takafumi Suzuki fo JICA; Mr. Walter Balonga of NGO-Kinabuhi, Inc.; and Ma. Ira Pamat of NGO-Women Development Center (WDC).

Among the agreed courses of action include that the NGOs concerned “will be provided with minutes of every convergence meeting and the schedules of works to be performed by contractors and they (NGOs) can be part of the monitoring of these works and the monitoring team “can supervise every phase of the project implementation.”

The implementation likely includes the raising of the height of the Malinao Dam in this town with the Yen Loan Technical Assistance (YLTA) contained in the Action Plan for 2012.

The plan contains the funding of PhP 46 million for Bayongan Dam and Ubay town based Capayas Dam and PhP92 million for Malinao Dam. The fund would include the concreting of the canals “so that proper water distribution is achieved.”

“Engr. Putong has this to say on Malinao Dam: “the two-meter height-extension of Malinao Dam as recommended solution since the 2-meter height was already a property of NIA and that the buffer zone of another 2-meter is probable since no record of heavy rainfall happened,” said the minutes of the meeting.

Earlier, farmer-beneficiaries assailed the plan of raising the height of the said Malinao Dam, saying it is not the solution but the most important is to address the lack of water in the already leveled lands.

For their part, the beneficiaries or IAs and NGOs “must be vigilant upon contractors regarding the quality and standards of the concreting as class B with 1-2-3 mixture and they have to help clean their respective canals to prevent heavy siltation and to make water reach the target service areas.

On the payments, ISF “may not be collected (from IAs) if no water ever reach the farmers’ lots.” Earlier, lot beneficiaries cry foul against NIA for collection made even without water being served the farmlands. Farmer-beneficiaries were made to pay the ISF to NIA of about 150 kilos to 175 kiloes per hectare per harvest.


According to the WDC, landowners are made to pay ISF in the amount of P1,500 per hectare or its equivalent to number of kilos of palay harvest and it was increased to P2,000/ha..

A total of 1,363 farmer-landowners supposedly the beneficiaries of Malinao Dam irrigation (stage I) services in Pilar and neighboring towns are still languishing in paying debts arising from “expensive” ISF but with “poor” water supply to the farms, according to WDC.

Debts

A total of 1,363 farmer-landowners supposedly the beneficiaries of Malinao Dam irrigation (stage I) services in Pilar and neighboring towns are still languishing in paying debts arising from “expensive” irrigation service fees or ISF but with “poor” water supply to their farms, documents obtained an NGO bared.

Some of them have almost settled their obligations with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) with insignificant amounts, less than a hundred pesos. But others are still reeling to pay several thousands of pesos. For instance, an account as high as P1,397,929.49 and the amount due the NIA still amounting to P69,896.47. There’s another account with only P1,506 and his remaining payable is only P75.25. Names of these accounts are, however, withheld for reason of confidentiality.

Each of the beneficiaries, who belongs to a certain irrigators association, has his own account number with corresponding amount and amount due, documents bared. Names of the beneficiaries who still have pending dues are withheld temporarily.

Based on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the beneficiary-landowner and NIA, the irrigation is designed to service some 4,960 hectares but only 2,007 are fully developed irrigated rice paddies. The remaining 2,953 hectares remain ordinary rice paddies.

The MOA stipulates, among others, that farmer-landowner “shall pay development cost per hectare for the converted land which include cost of labor, tools and implements, equipment rental, as the case maybe.” The total cost is amortized for ten years in equal installment in 20 equal payments every crop harvest.

On its part, NIA provides financial and technical support, such as “paddy development, planning/construction, land area survey before and after land leveling,” to the farmer-landowner, the agreement provides. Other farm equipment that NIA should provide include soil scrapper, garden hoes, plows and other farm implements. But these were allegedly not met, said reliable sources.

Balonga, during the said meeting, that the farmers “were deceived on two occasions” because the Memorandum of Understanding they signed “didn’t contain the two-meter expansion and secondly, the signature of one affected was forged.”

For her part, Pamat asserted that relocation plan and funds “must be given to the affected” residents of Aurora and that the “MOU must be transparent.”

As to the non-payment of the submerged lands, Balonga said that owners of these lands were not paid of their dues by Engr. Fusingan argued that payment are made as long as proof or documentary evidence are presented by claimants. “For double claims, or multiple claims, the payment is withheld until the case is settled in the proper court, Dept. of Agrarian Reform or Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, as the case may be,” Fusingan added.

by Bohol Standard

Guided by “to make the best better” motto, 4-H Clubs and the Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs) members in the province showed their knacks in various competitions during the Provincial Farm Family Forum held April 11, 2012 at Jjs Seaffod Restaurant here.

4-Her Ms. Jonna Mae Jose of Ubay bested eight other contestants in the minus-one singing competition in her rendition of one of the hits of Shania Twain during the same assembly courtesy of the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

Ms. Angelique Lubiano of Pilar town proved to the the judges that she is the best among the rest in her “Malunggay Fruit Shake” against “Choco Malunggay Gel” recipe of Candijay’s Dennis de Borja and “Ginataang Tilapia” of Pilar’s Analou Pasos.

Mr. Nepthan Atup of Trinidad grabbed the first prize in the twp-hour poster-making contest during the event besting 11 other 4-H members from other municipalities.

Jose and Lubiano received their respective prizes from provincial board member Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez and OIC provincial agriculturist Larry Pamugas at the end of the program. But Atup failed to receive his prize for he left the scene to catch up the last trip to Trinidad, according to organizers.

Other contests include minus-one singing for the members of the Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs) in different participating towns the Vhong Navarro’s song and dance category.

Winners of various categories are to represent the province in the forth-coming regional assembly at the end of this month wherein competitions, this time, with other provinces in the region are expected, said Pamugas.

Gov. Edgar Chatto and provincial board member Atty. Benjie Arcamo, who represented Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim graced the assembly, emphasizing the importance of agriculture an one one of the important engines of economy.

Press Release

Strike it when the iron is hot. Surely it’s true as two of Bohol’s most promising cagers were given tryout opportunities at the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and University of Fatima Phoenix. The country’s leading State University has been searching for years for their next “The Point Lauriat” and “Tower of Power” to end their title drought.

The Boholano cagers are 5”11 slasher John Paul Romo and 6’4 behemoth Jeff Heylen. Heylen and Romo, both in their sixteen, used to play for the BWS Golden Dragons. Romo graduated at Bohol Wisdom School while Heylen transferred to Holy Name University to play for the Baby Falcons to finish his high school playing career. Heylen and Romo want to follow the footsteps of Jagna’s Christopher “Oping” Sumalinog of the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Dexter Zamora of the Lyceum Pirates.

Heylen and Romo, both in their sixteen, were given their biggest breaks through CVC Law Firm lawyer and Boholano Sports Manager, Atty. Julius Gregory B. Delgado of Tubigon, together with former UST standout Michael Sumalinog of Jagna, ex-Mapua Cardinal Hermes Sumalinog Jr. also of Jagna and San Beda Red Cubs Coach Britt Reroma from Cebu, which group is aiming to establish a Basketball Academy and Consultancy Firm which will soon bring ex-PBA, UAAP and NCAA players in the provinces to conduct clinics and at the same time, do scouting chores for Manila universities and colleges.

Heylen, whose father is from Belgium, will be an asset to any team as his size and versatility will surely cause problems to opposing players. Many pundits describe his playing style similar to that of BMEG Llamados forward, Fil-French Jean Marc Pingris. On the other hand, John Paul Romo, is a 5’11 wingman with a great defensive mindset. With the influx of talented guards from all over different leagues, he is worth watching and will surely give other guards a run of their money.

Aside from the UP Fighting Maroons, Heylen and Romo were also invited to join the practices of the University of Fatima Phoenix under the tutelage of former PBA and MBA playmaker Ralph Emerson Rivera and former UST Growling Tiger and PBL stalwart Don-Don Villamin.

In the years that passed and counting, Boholanos are aching to see another Peter Naron who played for Shell in the Philippines Basketball Association or the likes of Bernie Fabiosa of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers and Arvin Adovo, a Baclayanon who also played for the Batangas Blades of the defunct Metropolitan Baskebtall Association. Hopefully, the two will answer the craving of the Boholanos for new basketball superstars from the province.

by Bohol Standard

In a recent interview with representatives from media, the punong barangays of Buenavista, Katipunan, Montesuerte, Poblacion Norte, and Villaflor, the five barangays of Carmen from where the Prosperity Teams were pulled out by the mayor, all expressed that they understood that the Prosperity Teams designated in their barangays were looking to the welfare of the people.

The barangay captains said that although they understood that the pull-out is controversial, they also saw that the program would have greatly benefited their constituents.

Some even expressed that they look to the return of the said Prosperity Teams or ProTeams after the threshing out of issues between those concerned, especially since these had already started out on their house-to-house surveys on what developments the people wanted for their purok.

The ProTeams are in part implementers of the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and, with the coordination of the provincial government through the leadership of Governor Edgar Chatto and Vice Governor Concepcion Lim, of the Countryside Development Program through the Purok Power Movement.

From what they had seen on the activities conducted by the ProTeams, the barangay captains all reported that the ProTeam for their respective barangay had reported to them right after making a courtesy call at the mayor’s office and coordination meeting with the municipal government earlier that week.

Thereafter, each ProTeam had requested to meet with the barangay council on the next day. However, barely a week had passed before reports reached them on the morning of March 30 that the mayor wanted the ProTeams to pull out of the town.

In their accounts, among the activities conducted by the ProTeam in each barangay was a house-to-house survey of the puroks asking residents on what facilities or services their sitio needed and on what livelihood opportunities or assistance they believed their purok could have use for.

Among the developments that some of them listed the program could have helped with were barangay roads, small farm reservoirs, farm-to-market roads, and livelihood assistance.

The five barangay captains said that they did not want the issue to become political fodder and some said that they had hoped it could have been held as an example of unity of those serving in government, especially since it involved several departments and agencies from the national government, provincial government, and even volunteers from the private sector.

It was earlier said that Mayor Che Toribio-de los Reyes wanted the ProTeams pulled out of her town because of activities that accordingly did not sit well with her, but one of the barangay captains put forward that one of the possible reasons why she blocked the implementation of the program in her town is her reported plan to run for the office of governor in next year’s elections.

The barangay heads were united in saying that as punong barangays they only wanted to serve their constituents and also to abide by the directives from their higher-ups, adding that they would receive any assistance offered as long as it is for the good of their people.

By Bohol Standard

Known as one of the prime dolphin- and whale-watching sites in the Philippines, the island province of Bohol was once lauded in national and international circles as a classic victory for conservation, when whale hunters became whale watchers for the burgeoning tourism industry. It is a name that was built on the fishing communities’ long-held tradition of hunting these large animals, and their decision to stop the practice in favor of protecting them.

After years of struggle between communities and NGOs, however, the dolphin-whale watching industry in Bohol is barely surviving, and not because of a lack of dolphins or whales. Rather, it is because tourism entails considerable investment, good marketing strategies, and business-minded people.

Tourism businesses are also seasonal; during the months when the seas are rough, very few tourists come to visit the island. Worse, competitors from nearby Panglao Island offer similar tours, with non-local tour operators wanting a piece of the pie that was promised to the former whalers in exchange for giving up whale hunting.

Last year, another threat to the livelihood of the fishers surfaced: plans to establish a dolphin rescue and breeding facility in Bohol started to circulate among conservation groups just as the island province was preparing for its first dolphin festival in May. Local fisheries staff verified that there was indeed such a plan, and this year, a reliable source reported that a local government official has approved the proposal.

Such a plan is a slap on the face of local communities that have been protecting the dolphins in the wild, out there in the calm seas where they can swim freely. After all, a dolphinarium is not just a rescue facility; it is also a ‘holding’ and training facility for dolphins. Dolphins that are “rehabilitated” are then trained to perform in marine parks, transforming the ‘rescued’ dolphin into a thousand-dollar investment that no one will just allow to swim away. A dolphin breeding center is, in reality, a business.

From whalers to whale spotters

Let’s take a few steps back and trace the origins of the first policies protecting marine mammals in the Philippines.

In the early 1990s, there was an outcry from local and foreign conservationists when the front pages of newspapers featured the traditional practice of whale and dolphin hunting in Pamilacan in Bohol. Similar reports came up in international conferences abroad, and the ensuing outrage triggered the ban on the hunting of dolphins and whales. Critics said the practice was cruel, barbaric, and unsustainable.

Thus, the Philippines became one of the first countries in Southeast Asia with policies protecting marine mammals. The country has banned the catching, selling, or transporting of dolphins and whales since 1992 through Fisheries Administrative Order 185. The Animal Welfare Act was also put in place in 1998. Fisheries Administrative Order 208 on the conservation of rare, threatened, and endangered fishery species, which includes whales and dolphins, followed in 2001. The list goes on, proving that the Philippines has progressed in terms of environmental policies and joined the ranks of more developed countries in protecting marine mammals.

But what about the traditional whale hunters? One proposed solution was to convert them into whale watchers. However, the tourism business is not a stable source of income for Pamilacan residents, who earn a few hundreds of pesos from it along with very little else from other sources. It is also seasonal, merely supplementing the livelihood that is left for them, and only a few people directly benefit from the industry.

Dolphins in captivity

Worse, whatever income the former whale hunters earn from the whale- and dolphin-watching tourism industry is under threat from indoor shows.

When I first got into marine mammal work in the Philippines, the first dolphinarium in the country was still under construction. Conservationists managed to stall its completion for several years, but were eventually overpowered by the proprietors of the facility. Today, this dolphin aquarium boasts that their “animals live and play in a natural setting of clear water teeming with marine life, coral reefs, and a lovely white sand beach.”

The battle against this dolphinarium continues with protests, appeals, and campaigns. Yet, similar places are sprouting up in different corners of the archipelago. One shocking example is the outfit off Misamis Occidental that claims to have “rescued” dolphins but instead, puts them in holding pens where tourists can swim and snorkel with the animals. Another marine park in Manila has been planning to bring in dolphins as well, and such plans have now reached the shores of Bohol.

The problem with these dolphin centers is that they propagate falsehoods to attract customers.

One fallacy is that dolphins in captivity live longer than their counterparts in the wild. In fact, many dolphins in holding pens die several years before reaching maturity. One example close to home is the four false killer whales kept in Subic that all died at young ages.

Another argument of dolphin show entrepreneurs is that they provide educational entertainment, giving people who normally will not have the chance to see the animals up close a convenient opportunity to watch them in an accessible venue. But how can this be educational? Behaviors such as jumping into the air to hit a red ball are certainly not normal in the wild. Instead, dolphin shows propagate the illusion that humans can exert control over wild animals because we are superior to them.

In Bohol, some people have suggested that a dolphin rescue facility is needed due to the increase in the reported number of animals getting stranded in coastal areas around the province. However, it is unclear how such a trend was established, and it is important to analyze the factors behind the numbers.

First of all, a baseline or reference point is needed to establish an upward or downward trend. For example, if we take the year 2000 as a reference point, we need verified reports on how many animals were stranded around the province; if a stranding was not documented, it will not be counted. There are several factors to consider here, such as people’s awareness and the development of technology. Marine mammal stranding response trainings have been conducted around the country since 1999, a lot more in the last five years, which could mean a greater number of people are now aware of the need to report such events. Furthermore, mobile phones are now ubiquitous everywhere, and this is no doubt a huge factor influencing the increase in reporting. Therefore, an increase in the number of reports of stranding does not necessarily mean an increase in the actual occurrence of stranding events.

The proponents of the Bohol dolphinarium have also argued that most of the stranded animals are still alive when found, thus the need for facilities to rescue and rehabilitate them. Regardless of whether this claim is true or not, the primary objective when responding to the stranding of a live marine mammal is to ensure the safe return of the animal to its natural habitat. Therefore, responders must employ the safest and least invasive way of returning the animal back out to sea as soon as possible. The option of rehabilitation is impractical and expensive: why spend millions to build a facility to ‘save’ a few animals when there are possibly thousands out in the wild needing protection?

Bohol as a natural marine park

If people can afford to spend more than 3,000 pesos each to take a 3-hour trip to Subic to see these animals perform tricks, why can’t they save a few thousand pesos by taking a 2-hr trip to Batangas where they can see dolphins in the wild doing their natural behavior, playfully spinning around or leaping on the surface of the water? Why can’t they take the one-hour flight to Tagbilaran or Dumaguete and go dolphin watching in the seas of Central Visayas instead?

There is no need to spend millions of pesos to build an artificial ‘dolphin park’ when the Bohol Sea is already a huge natural marine park where you can see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat as well as sea turtles, whale sharks, and numerous other species of tropical marine life.

Instead of building captive dolphin facilities, why not spend time and money in mitigating threats to wild marine mammal populations? Why not promote conservation in their natural environment, conduct more research that will allow us to better understand these animals, or help small fishing communities develop a sustainable livelihood?

Why would Bohol want to tarnish its reputation by hosting a facility that will take these wild animals from their natural habitat into enclosures that will, no matter how large, never be able to imitate their natural home and further risk the livelihoods of small island communities?

The story of the whales and dolphins in the province is the story of the dependency of fishing communities on the animals swimming wild in the Bohol Sea. Forced to give up the hook for the sake of conservation, these people are still trying to adapt to these changes in their lives. It is hoped that, for the sake of the locals and the dolphins alike, the proposal to establish a dolphinarium can be stopped.

by Bohol Standard/Edcom

Plans for health care modernization kicks into high gear as the province welcomes new developments in this sector. Thursday became historic for Bohol as plans for a new 500-bed capacity modern Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) finally came to light.

The impending upgrade and relocation of the province’s only tertiary hospital is soon to be realized as Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and hospital Chief Dr. Nenita Morgia-Po welcomed to the province Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona.

Gov. Chatto joined the DOH top official who went straight from airport arrival to the regional hospital to inspect its current state where Po reported hospital improvements and facilities and equipment upgrades needed for its operations.

Ona, who was also in the province to attend the Philhealth Board Meeting which was taking place on the same day, was also joined by Philhealth National President Eduardo Banzon during the inspection of the hospital.

After the visit, the group proceeded to survey possible relocation sites for the hospital.

First District Rep. Rene Relampagos who caught up during the luncheon meeting expressed enthusiasm for the project which he says has been a direction the Provincial Government has considered for the longest time.

Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim was also present in the meeting.

The imminent upgrade of GCGMH is seen to address perennial concerns that have plagued the institution. The need to modernize the hospital not only solves the problem of overcapacity but also improves the services of the hospital and makes certain proper sanitation management.

The Chatto-Lim administration has put health in the forefront of the Provincial Government’s development agenda. They have put in place the Hospital Modernization Program this year for the 10 devolved hospitals, aimed at raising the quality of medical services and increasing revenue-generation capacity. The province also continues to collaborate with the DOH for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

Chatto was making true to his State of the Province Address (SONA) and strengthens health programs in his HEAT development agenda to address the health concerns of the Boholano people, particularly those in the marginalized sector.

Just before joining Ona at GCGMH, the governor was with Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chair Francisco Duque III at the inauguration of the new CSC building in the city. Duque was also in the province that day to award the 2011 Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence to LGU Loboc. The award recognizes Loboc’s outstanding implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Act. (Leah/EDCom)

by Bohol Standard

Pilar Mayor Wilson Pajo, in a recent interview, said that he was thankful that his town had been chosen as one of the pilot areas of the Prosperity Teams initiated by Gov Edgar M. Chatto.

Pajo added that there had been close coordination between the members of the Prosperity Teams (ProTeams) and the municipal government of PIlar, in contrast to a report from the mayor of Carmen that there had been no coordination with her prior to the entry of the ProTeams in her town.

Although Mayor Pajo said that he did not know Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-de los Reyes’s reason for wanting to pull out the ProTeams from the five barangays of her town that they were designated in, he clarified that as for the people of his town they were properly informed and briefed on what the Prosperity Teams were there to do.

He continued that apart from the coordination with the ProTeam members, he and his fellow mayors had also been advised prior to the program implementation during their regular meetings of the provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities and also via a memorandum circular from Governor Edgar Chatto.

Of the 21 barangays of Pilar, two have been selected as ProTeam pilot areas; these are the barangays of Cansungay and Bagacay.

Mayor Pajo added that he wished all the other barangays of his town would eventually be also included in the program, although he acknowledged that there criteria for ranking the pilot areas for implementation in the province.

The mayor said that from what he has understood about the program, the ProTeams were formed to identify what developments are most needed in a purok, especially in areas that may not be easily attended to by the local government for reasons of remoteness, among others.

Pajo also brought up that the program follows the barangay empowerment approach, which his town had already come across with as one of the beneficiary towns from the first to the third phase of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s KALAHI-CIDSS program.

It should be remembered that in 2006, Pilar was recognized as “Best in LGU Engagement” under the KALAHI-CIDSS program for the synergy of efforts between the community and the municipal officials.

Pajo adds that the ProTeams are in form a continuation of the provincial government’s poverty alleviation program in previous administrations and as continued by the KALAHI-CIDSS program of the DSWD.

Accordingly, he noted that the Prosperity Team has an even broader scope since it is composed of several departments and agencies of government and even involves volunteers from the private sector.

Pajo closed that even in spite of the development and progress achieved by any locality, citing Pilar’s experience under the KALAHI-CIDSS program, there will always be a prevailing or emerging difficulty that needs to be addressed, and for the resolution of which help will always be needed and welcome.

by Ric V Obedencio

Provincial Sangguniang Kabataan federated president Doxson Asoy of San Isidro town, Bohol proved he is a man of “palabra de honor” after he called it quits as head of the youth sitting as ex-officio member of the highest provincial lawmaking body.

His resignation has paved the way to his successor Jethro Imboy, SK federated head of Loay and son of Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy and provincial board member Brigido Imboy, representing the third district. Asoy has honored the agreement between him and Jethro Imboy, his vice-president, for a 50-50 term or power sharing in representing SK to the halls of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol.

He minced no words of saying in his valedictory address during the SP session Friday, “I shall go back to my mountain hide-out and strengthens my encampments for a better and brighter future outside politics.” Whatever that means is for him to tell but he has relinquished his being federated head of the youth.

His stepping down as SK federated president was part of the deal forged between Mayor Imboy and Trinidad Mayor Roberto Cajes before the eyes of provincial bigwigs for the same (50-50) power or term-sharing as president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Bohol chapter.

Cajes, earlier, has assumed as LMP head succeeding Mayor Imboy.

But Capitol observers cannot help but commented that what if the SK term is extended and no election would be held next year, could Jethro Imboy be enjoying the long term compared to Asoy’s stint? If this is so, Asoy might miss the opportunity to take an equal term of supposedly 50-50. To whom he may call for help, said an observer during the session last Friday when Asoy sang his swan song.

The Congress is now in the process of deliberating a proposed bill extending the term of the SK nationwide, apparently for economic reason despite the fact that a law has set the SK election.

As a token of his contribution and participation in the law-making work of the SP, Vice-Gov. Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim presented to Asoy a plaque of appreciation which the session was informally declared a recess for a photo session.

Asoy expressed gratitude to his mentors, whom he preferably called “formidable giants” including Gov. Edgar Chatto. He said they (mentors/fellow legislators) taught him “the eal meaning of political will and determination.” His one year and three months stint at the SP made him grow mature and “ten years” older in terms what he called experiences and perspectives. To his parents, he said, “I never heard from them that I am no good of anything” either.

Despite his being out of the SP hall, he is still optimistic that he will continue his tasks in his hometown even as he faces challenges ahead. He said that his figuratively his eyes are open to the stark realities and rampant inequalities --- poverty, high cost of living, poor health care, school drop-outs, drug addiction, unemployment, graft and corruption, red tape, and so on ---- in life that must be addressed.

But in spite all of these, he said hope for change is still possible and “this change lies in our hands.”

by Ric V Obedencio
Bohol Standard

As tourism here booms, work discrimination among beach workers is becoming almost the order of the day that may eventually deprive them of their bread and butter, said a member of masseurs organization.

This surfaced recently as the Tagbilaran-resident-members of the beleaguered Bohol United Masseuses and Masseurs Association (BUMMA) based here bluntly accused Barangay and municipal officials of what they described as “form of discrimination and harassment” against them. But officials here were quick to deny the allegations.

The masseurs said in interview last week that Tawala barangay captain and other officials literally drove them away from their work place, warning them not to engage anymore in massage services to tourists at the beach front and resorts here for the simple reason that they’re not Panglao residents. If they do, they will be arrested by the tourist police thru the order of Mayor Benedicto Alcala and Tawala Barangay captain Zenon Labaya, said Susan Sumbilon, treasurer of the association and a certain Julita Galao in interview last week.

Because of this predicament that they might lose their only source of livelihood, the group cries for help from Capitol officials, quoting Gov. Edgar Chatto as saying the province will extend the necessary assistance to them.

The masseurs who trooped to the Capitol for help last week said that the governor has already referred their gripe to the Provincial Legal Office led by Atty. John Mitchell Boiser.

Divided

Because of what the mayor and Barangay captain have done to them, the association is divided into two ---- the Tagbilaran group and those of Panglao residents.

Competition and even tug-of-war in who-offer-first-to-client have resulted to the manhandling of a certain Melissa Enderez, 41, a Tagbilaranon, by another masseus Merly Dayuday of Panglao, who reportedly has the backing of the town officials.

The physical injuries inflicted to Enderez by Dayuday resulted to medico-legal examination that showed “contusion, approximately 3 cms X 4 in size, upper third lateral aspect, upper extremity, right and multiple linear abrasions, upper third, lateral aspect, upper extremity, right.” The examination and findings of the injuries was conducted by municipal health officer Dr. Julita L. Cogo, M. D.

Permits, refund

Worst, they said, some of them have already renewed their permits and even paid the necessary fees for the permit while others’ application were not approved by the mayor. They were told by the mayor that those who already paid their dues to the municipality may get the refund because the mayor appeared not to approve their license applications, they alleged.

A case in point, Sumbilon, whose address is Tawala, Panglao, has already paid a total amount of PhP2,270 for the permit and other fees with official receipt number 2251768 issued to her dated February 02, 2012 by municipal treasurer Rena D. Guivencan.

This is broken down to building official, PHP50; certification, PhP50; garbage/health fee, PhP55; Mayor’s permit, PhP200; miscellaneous, PhP50; Personnel fee, PhP100; police clearance, PhP50; sanitary permit, PhP100; treasurer’s clearance fee, PhP50; and tax on service for first quarter, PhP1,565, or a total of PhP PhP2,270.

The same is true to others and to a certain Maria Helces Galeos, whose address is Dao district, Tagbilaran City.

Accreditation

BUMMA with address at Barangay Tawala of this town is being accredited with the Department of Labor (DOLE) with registration No. 4687 based on the Labor Code of the Philippines.

BUMMA “has been registered as and conferred with all rights and privileges of a legitimate workers association established for the mutual aid and protection of its members. It shall promote the moral, social and economic well-being of its members and shall have the right to represent them in accordance with its constitution and by-laws for purposes not contrary to law,” DOLE pointed out.

Galao and Sumbilon said their members who have already practiced their profession as accredited masseus and masseurs have undergone training provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Both bared that they have pioneered the massage services here that they each earned about PhP300 to PhP500, depending on the number of clients they serve on a given day.

Measure

Tawala officials have enacted on January27, 2012 Barangay Ordinance No. 01, series of 2012, “regulating the massage activities,” in this Barangay. The said Ordinance is signed by barangay captain Labaya as certified by secretary Dionisia A. Guigue. But the ordinance did not provide for exclusion of anybody who is not from this town from practicing their massage services.

The said Barangay massage measure is also approved on March 26, 2012 by the Sangguniang Bayan by virtue of Municipal Resolution No. 69, series of 2012, declaring the said ordinance as valid. The Resolution is signed by Vice-Mayor and presiding officer Dr. Evangeline Lazaro, M. D. as certified by SB secretary Analyn Alcala-Apduhan.

But contrary to claim by some masseurs, the said barangay ordinance did not prohibit anybody who is not from this town from practicing massage services.

The said measure provides penalties for the defined violations.

Response

Mayor Alcala said in text message last Friday that he cannot issue permits to these masseurs since they failed to secure Barangay clearance despite the fact that they were already issued ORs showing they already paid the municipal fees as required by the ordinance.

source: PNA

Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company said Sunday that it has annulled an export deal which shipped gas to Israel due to violations of contractual obligations, according to Egypt's Nile TV.

The head of the company Mohamed Shoeb said the government-holding firm, together with the General Authority for Petroleum, annulled the contract with East Mediterranean Gas Company (EMG) which exports gas to Israel, because it has not paid for the purchased gas for months.

"It was purely a business decision", the Shoeb added.

EMG, the other party of the contract, is founded by the fugitive businessman Hussein Salim, who is in detention in Spain pending extradition.

Salim is accused of involvement in exporting natural gas to Israel at lower-than-market prices.

The natural gas deal between Egypt and Israel was signed in 2005 at a price that critics said was far below the market value.

source: PNA

Following a sluggish start into the second quarter 2012, stock prices of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) developers were upbeat Sunday, outperforming blue chips from other Gulf Arab markets.

In the UAE sheikhdom of Dubai, the DFM General Index climbed 0.73 percent to 1,650.20. The Gulf state's largest developer by market value Emaar Properties jumped 3.13 percent, finishing at 3.30 Dirham (0.89 U.S. dollar). Earlier on Saturday, Kuwait's largest investment bank Global Investment House issued a "strong buy" on Emaar, raising the share's target price to 4 Dirham (1.09 U.S. dollar).

"Emaar remains one of our favorite regional picks in terms of real estate exposure offering a uniquely positioned portfolio of segmental and geographic operational coverage," Global said in a report on the UAE real estate market released on Saturday.

At Dubai's international market NASDAQ Dubai, the FTSE NASDAQ Dubai UAE 20 Index closed at 1697.68, up 0.81 percent. The world's fourth largest port operator DP World jumped 1.30 percent, closing at 11.65 U.S. dollars.

In the oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi, the equity measure ADX General Index dipped 0.18 percent to 2,495.78 points. The ADX witnessed a firework of real estate gains. The sheikhdom's largest developer Aldar Properties and its main rival Sorouh Real Estate surged to reach 1.11 Dirham (0.30 U.S. dollar) and 1.10 Dirham (0.29 U. S. dollar), respectively.

RAK Properties closed 2.63 percent higher at 0.39 Dirham (0.10 U.S. dollar) while Eshraq Properties surged 3.13 percent to close at 0.33 Dirham (0.08 U.S. dollar).

Elsewhere in the region, Bahrain Bourse, after a week of gaining, slipped 0.23 percent on profit booking, finishing at 1,156 points. In Kuwait, banking shares in particular lifted the KSE Market Index by 0.61 percent, which ended at 6,302.9 points.

by PNA

The G20 trade ministers should strengthen coordination in promoting a concerted response to current global economic uncertainties, a statement released by South African Department of Trade and Industry said on Sunday.

South African Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said the BRICS ministers have called on G20 trade ministers to "identify ways to improve" the multilateral trading system.

"We have made this call, so that all economies may pursue a sustainable and development-friendly integration in global trade, including adjustment strategies for their industries and workforce, as well as the appropriate social and sector policies to respond to existing structural vulnerabilities," Davies said.

The minister said at the just-ended G20 trade ministerial meeting that was held in Mexico over weekend under the themes of "trade as a source of growth," "trade as a source of jobs" and "the imperative to keep markets open and to keep opening markets," ministers have "re-emphasized" their commitment to the Doha Development Round.

The BRICS WTO members will continue their efforts for the successful conclusion of the Doha Round, based on the progress made and in keeping with its mandate, while upholding the principles of transparency, inclusiveness and multilateralism, the minister said. "We encourage all G20 economies to work constructively toward this end in pursuance of the collective decision taken at WTO 8th Ministerial Conference," Davies said.

Fairytale Photoshop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BLYJjRncJw#noexternalembed
A Human Frog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPA-bfKGTIQ#noexternalembed
Britons Are Jokers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM2IYVala0g#ws
Biggest Surprise in Germany That Brings People Into Tears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bskw0fLqYyM#noexternalembed-ws
Paul Potts: Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PECmXi8dv9s#ws
One of the World's Biggest Surprises Ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7npunWUVsw#ws
Father Surprises Daughter at Spelling Bee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJWlavnM6b0#ws
The Best Wedding Proposal in the World

Indian Peacock

gikasab-an pagkagabii, pasabot outside-the-kulambo, wala katambid, posible nga na-depressed kay wala ka score the night before.

pagkawalay dungog pud ning kamatayona. of all trees, ipil-ipil pa gyud.

Published by Bohol Standard

Pilar, Bohol - It was the flagship project of then Gov. Erico Aumentado.

Now it’s the turn of this town. Municipal lawmakers here have asked the provincial government of Bohol through Resolution No. 037, series of 2012, it recently passed, “to initiate (an) investigation of the plight of the oil palm planters” in this interior town.

Earlier, Mabini Oil Palm Grower’s Association led by Ms. Evelyn Figueroa as president has cried for help in this regard and requested the province for a copy of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and data “with regards to the economic survey of the Bohol Palm Oil Industry.”

Pilar Sangguniang Bayan said that reports reaching them “of rampant sale of these lands by the owners for reasons of fear of forfeiture by the (First Consolidated) bank due to non-payment of the loan since aside from low productivity their produce are not taken immediately and left to rot at the area.”

It said that considerable tract of lands in the barangays here has been planted with oil palm trees with a loan with the said bank.

The claim of rush sale of land planted with oil palm trees is being validated by the presence of buyers from Kadingilan, a town of Bukidnon province, who are here for buying spree at low prices. The lawmakers expressed apprehension that “majority of the people would lose their ownership in favor of these buyers.”

The said Resolution is furnished to Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan she chairs. It is sponsored by Kag. Adolfo H. Espuelas and signed by Vice-Mayor Wilfredo L. Bernante and Mayor Wilson Pajo and certified by SB Sec. Gualberto B. Jaspe.

In an exclusive interview last week, Figueroa said that growers are now facing problems after they adopted the planting of the oil palm trees. She did not, however, specifically mention what are these but apparently she was hinting to parcels of lands.

She said her family has about 40 hectares of about 500 planted to the crop in Mabini alone. She hinted they are losing in the oil palm business venture.

The Philippine Agricultural Land Development and Mills Incorporated (PALM Inc) has presented, earlier, to the provincial government for oil palm proposal for a farmer to plant oil palm trees in his land considered inhospitable to rice and other crops. PALM Inc. is maintaining and operating oil palm mills in Matin-ao Carmen town of this province.

The provincial government set the terms that PALM Inc. and farmer through contract growing would only utilize the so-called “idle lands” for planting and growing oil palm trees.

“Planting its business through contract growing schemes to farmers who can not plant rice in the rolling terrains of central Bohol, PALM Inc. eyes covering idle lands by putting up oil palms, giving technical expertise and facilitating credit for farm collaterals,” said a news report.

It added, “PALM Inc. presentor and company’s Malaysian mills chief operations officer Chee Kong Chang however clarified that contract-growing invitation does not include farmers engaged in rice production.”

The company in late 1990s started to have contracted “some 2,100 families and has succeeded in putting up the green cover for 6,500 hectares of otherwise idle lands. “Now wanting to maximize its oil palm production, PALM Inc. eyes covering 20,000 hectares of Bohol’s idle lands to hit mill operations at 3 tons per hour, Chang told the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce Chair. The palm, which has a peak production at 9-15 years could hand in at least P90T a hectare a year, and could be productive for the next 25-30 years,” PALM Inc. was quoted as saying.

Farmer’s contention

Bohol is one of the provinces in Central Visayas being targeted to be grown with oil pal, claimed Farmers Development Center (FARDEC) as former President GMA “major projects.” “The Provincial government under Gov. Aumentado has earmarked lands in the rural areas and convinced the farmers that it will boost their income and encourage development,” it said.

The municipalities of Alicia, Dagohoy, Mabini, Pilar, Bien Unido, Danao, Talibon, Trinidad, Carmen, Buenavist,a Inabanga, Getafe, Pilar, San Miguel, Sagbayan, Ubay, Jagna are the goal of the company. The towns of Garcia-Hernandez and Calape were added to the list. “ The original 11 municipalities has a total land area of 123,432 hectares wherein PALM Inc. identified 45,000 hectares as potential plantation area.”

Bohol’s Total Land Area is only about 411,000 hectares. Farms lands dedicated for rice is about 36,544 hectares; 42,845 hectares for coconuts; 19,837 hectares for corn; 6,842 hectares planted to mango; and the target land area for oil palm, 45,000 hectares, FARDEC said.

FARDEC cited a case in Barangay San Jose, Mabini. It said that several farmers already owed the bank “P36,000 in just 4 months; in Danao, one owner cultivator owes P148,000 in 2 years time. During the first harvest, he can sell only more or less 5 tons. At a range of 2 â€" 4 pesos per kilo of ffb’s, he only earned P10,000 or P20,000 at the most. This is not enough to even pay ¼ of his loan to FCB hence it could lead to eventual land grabbing.”

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago: Those Were The Days

Arriving at Office Late

Fraction

What do you call this?

sa bata pa, okay lang, inig kadagko, segurado ta nga mangilog ug isla ning pikot.

If You Tickle Me

Cebu to Boracay Promo

What is Friendship?

Google Is A Woman

Facebook Relationship Status

Life Quote

Men Are Like Bank Accounts

Still thinking...

by yengo.com

Air travel companies draw potential travelers with very cheap promo fares, but instead of paying less, people actually pay more than what is advertised because of their undeclared “hidden charges.” This Saturday (Apr 21), Ted Failon will look into these allegedly deceptive travel promos criticized by travelers due to their unclear and misleading terms and conditions.

This year, 41 cases have so far been recorded against airline companies due to these promos, based on the study by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). This number is more than half of the cases filed in 2011. How is the government acting on this problem? How can people prevent traveling glitches brought about by these bogus promo fares? Watch the full report of Ted Failon in “Failon Ngayon” (Apr 21) this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN.

kinsay kasing-kasing nga dili molanay sa kahumot sa mga bulak nga gidayan-dayan sa lawas ni Inday?

by Agence France Presse

The head of a Chinese government think-tank says China has no intention of invading the Philippines in response to a US pledge to help defend Manila's interests amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Thursday that Washington is committed to the Philippines' defense following a series of Chinese intrusions into Philippine-claimed waters.

President of the China Institute of International Studies Qu Xing said on Friday that it was based on a "totally groundless" premise that China would invade the Philippines.

"We have never sent troops to invade other countries and we have never used forces against other countries," Qu told a media briefing.

Posible pud ang Asus mouna ug gawas ani: http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2010/05/21/127045251/3d-for-home-pictures

Balong, basin ang Acer Company: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/21/acer-aspire-3d-laptop

By MARK LANDLER
New York Times

The Obama administration says it believes that a Chinese manufacturer sold North Korea the chassis and other parts for a missile-transport vehicle displayed in a military parade this week, a senior official said Friday, raising new concerns about China’s ability to enforce a ban on military sales to North Korea.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA
Manila Bulletin

Newly-listed GT Capital Holdings of tycoon George SK Ty reported that its subsidiaries showed strong growth trends for the first quarter of 2012.

GT Capital jumped on its trading debut at the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday after Vice Chairman Alfred Ty said the initial public offering abroad was five times oversubscribed.

The stock price soared by as much as 9.9 percent to P500, also buoyed by the company saying units posted “strong” first-quarter growth. GT Capital sold shares at P455 each in a P21.6-billion IPO (initial public offering) earlier this month.

GT Capital has stakes in Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the nation’s second largest lender by assets, builder Federal Land Inc. and utility Global Business Power Corp.

“We are in the midst of a changing economic landscape in the Philippines where the opportunities and prospects for economic growth have never been brighter,” said GT Capital vice chair¬man Alfred Ty.

GT Capital president Carmelo Bautista said property arm Federal Land Inc. reported that reservation sales for the first quarter of 2012 surged 113 percent to P3.8 billion compared to the same period last year.

by Manila Bulletin

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) yesterday reported that the 38 big banks' non-performing loans (NPL) ratio remained low at 2.34 percent in February, compared to January's 2.35 percent.

When compared to the same period in 2011, NPL ratio improved by 0.59 percentage point from 2.93 percent.

In a statement, the BSP said net of interbank loans, the NPL ratio decreased by 0.03 percentage point to 2.47 percent from January's 2.5 percent and by 0.71 percentage point from February 2011's 3.18 percent ratio.

Total NPLs year-on-year declined to P73.88 billion but higher from January's P73.2 billion. In the meantime, the total loan portfolio in the first two months grew two percent to P2.986 trillion.

The BSP said the industry’s provisioning against potential credit losses remained "adequate despite some decline." For the period, the NPL coverage ratio tempered to 124.2 percent from January's 124.73 percent but strengthened from what was recorded last year of 119.57 percent ratio.
The central bank in the report also noted that non-performing assets (NPA) coverage ratio went down to 64.57 percent from 64.69 percent in January but higher than last year's 61 percent ratio.

By MYRNA M. VELASCO
April 20, 2012

The Department of Energy (DOE) will rebid the 10 coal concession areas which have not attracted offers during the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 (PECR-4) last March.

“We will have to schedule a rebid¬ding. But we will have to do it after awarding the contracts for the areas which have gotten overwhelming interests from investors,” Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug has noted.

From the bid submissions last March 30, the energy department will need 150 days to evaluate the offers before making the awards to winning parties.

In Luzon, two areas will have to be included in the next round of auction. These will cover Area 2 in Calauag, Tagkawayan and Guinayangan in Quezon province; and Area 5 in Bacon, Prieto Diaz and Sorsogon in Sorsogon province.

Most of the ‘‘mineable areas’’ for coal are in Mindanao. In fact, of all the areas set for rebidding, eight are in that region.

The other contract blocks which will have their round two for auction will include Areas 14, 16, 20, 21, 24-A, 24-B, 25-A and 28.

Area 14 will cover Magsaysay in Misamis Oriental and Carmen in Agu¬san del Norte; while Area 16 will be in Sibagat and Bayugan, Agusan del Sur province.

Areas 20 and 21 are those in Trento, Agusan del Sur; and Mabunturan, Compostela Valley, respectively. For Area 24, the coverage is Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, while Area 25 is in Maitum and Kiamba, Sarangani prov¬ince. Area 28, on the other hand, covers Kabansalan and Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay. Of the 30 coal blocks opened by the energy department for tenders, 20 areas have cornered interests with some getting up to eight offers.

PLDT Watchpad used to provide educational channels like History, National Geographic, CNN, etc. Now, all international channels are gone.

PLDT Watchpad is Dead. Rest In Peace!

For months, the website of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is inaccessible. LTO makes billions of pesos every month but it can't afford a website. It's More Fun in the Philippines, indeed.

I can still see many China-made milk products sold at Island City Mall and in Cebu's Robinson's Mall.

In the news:

A Bayan Patroller sent photos of a foreigner and a woman having sex on the beach in Puerto Galera. Several people were looking at them and even taking pictures. The incident took place last April 15 at around 1 a.m. - Primetime, ANC, April 20, 2012

Ginebra in Sachet Pack

Learn Czech language and find out about Czech culture and arts!

An "Introductory Czech Language and Culture Course" is offered for free this summer, the Czech Republic embassy’s contribution to “Viva Europa 2012,” the European Union's cultural showcase in the Philippines.

As the course title suggests, the "Introductory Czech Language and Culture Course" aims to provide basic information and insight on Czech language, culture, arts, and lifestyle. It will be a six-session program, to be held once a week lasting 1.5 hours per class.

The course will introduce conversational skills in various practical settings (that is, at the airport, ordering in a restaurant, and others) as well as rudimentary work on days, months, numbers, and colors.

Class work will be supplemented by presentations on Czech food, history, geography, arts and literature. Czech film screening is optional.

As Czech Republic is situated in the heart of Europe, this fun and informal Czech course is a good start-off point for those who would like to know more about Central Eastern Europe and Slavic languages.

Schedule: All Wednesdays of May 2012 -- May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 3:30-5 p.m.

Venue: Czech Embassy Manila, 30F Rufino Tower, 6784 Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

Maximum of 20 students/per class. Reservation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Czech Embassy Manila can be contacted at phone 811-11555 and Email: manila@embassy.mzv.cz

by pna

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director-General Nicanor Bartolome has instructed all his units, especially the Firearms and Explosive Division, to scrutinize closely all purported purchases of guns to determine whether these are legitimate acquisitions or just intended to boost the firepower of groups planning to sow terror and violence during next year's mid-term elections.

"We are now monitoring all firearms purchases in the country to determine whether these are all legitimate," Bartolome said.

He explained that this measure is timely considering that private armed groups, with intentions of being political mercenaries, are now probably beefing up their arsenal to make up impressive show on their prospective clients.

In a related development, the PNP chief said that the police will now look closely for gun owners with expired gun licenses in an effort to further cut down the number of loose firearms in the country.

Authorities said an estimated 800,000 to one million guns of various types are known to be loose in the Philippines.

"Gun holders with expired licenses will be sent a notice telling them of their arrears or lapse. After a period of time or consideration, their respective police chiefs, or any of the latter's duly appointed representatives, will then visit them to personally inform them of their oversight. And if nothing else happens from these notices, their firearms will be declared loose and appropriate actions now can be taken against them," Bartolome said.

by PNA

A militiaman was killed when government security forces clashed with about 50 heavily-armed members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Sitio Damitan, Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Saturday morning.

Major Eugenio Osias, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division, said the encounter took place at 9:10 a.m. as troopers from the 4th Infantry Division's 403rd Infantry Brigade and Foxtrot Company of the 23rd Infantry Battalion were on combat patrol operations in the area.

A militiaman identified as Ryan P. Veluz was killed in the exchange of gunfire. The rebels quickly made their escape after the encounter.

Osias said government troopers were able to recover an M-14 and M-16 automatic rifles along with a carbine from the encounter scene.

by pna

Five suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels, including a leader, were arrested by elements of the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police during separate operations in Barangay Pubao, San Carlos City, and Barangay Refugio, Calatrava in Negros Occidental on Friday.

Major Enrico Ileto Gil, 4th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the arrested ranking NPA rebel was identified as Hernando Llorente, alias Adoy, the commander of the Negros Northern Front.

Gil said one of the four other rebels arrested was Llorente's wife, Bea. The remaining three are still undergoing interrogation and identification.

Found in their possession during the arrest were documents with high intelligence value, Gil said.

Appropriate charges are now being prepared for filing against them by the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the PNP.

Authorities said Llorente already has a standing warrant of arrest issued on January 20, 2012 by the Cadiz City Regional Trial Court for robbery in band.

pait ning mga chinese diay: mangulata pa ug asawa, mangingilog pa ug isla nga dili ila.

by ABS-CBN

Unknown assailants hacked into the University of the Philippines’ (UP) website today, and uploaded inflammatory content about the Philippines’ dispute with China over the Scarborough Shoal.

As of press time, the site has been taken down by website administrators.

An image and text asserting Chinese sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island, was posted on the UP system site’s (http://www.up.edu.ph) front page.

A map with the China-recognized territorial lines along with the text “We come from China! Huangyan Island is Ours!” were posted on the page.

The site has been taken down “for maintenance” by the UP Computer Center. “The UP Computer Center is conducting an evaluation of the website and its contents. This website will be restored to its operational status as soon as the maintenance checks have been completed. Thank you,” the notification on the site said.

University officials have denounced the defacement of the website.

In a press conference, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said that the defacement of the state university’s website may have been done by “some people who are passionately affected in the discussion.”

asa naman tong mga torpi nga League of Filipino Students who defaced the US Embassy? wala man lagi sila nagsamok-samok sa Chinese embassy?

by Associated Press

For computer users, a few mouse clicks could mean the difference between staying online and losing Internet connections after early July.

The problem started when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual move, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system will be shut down this summer.

The FBI is encouraging users to visit a website run by a security partner that will inform them whether they’re infected â€" and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won’t be able to connect to the Internet.

To check and clean computers, try: http://www.dcwg.org

Don't Waste Water

In the middle of a busy street, a dog was seen taking care of another, a good friend who was hit.

With his leg trying to wake his friend, without knowing it, he was already dead, trying to push him off the road and if someone tries to help, just gave it to her without letting anyone near him.

Despite the traffic, he did not abandon his friend, trying to somehow help him

Fingerprint Office in Thailand

Bahalag Pobre Basta Manggiloy-on

Human Art

Beauty of Heart River

Tinuod nga Wak-wak

Mansion of Arroyo in Boracay? or was it Erap's?

Web Manicure

Rock Castle

Why Visit Arizona, USA

A man in China had 9,999 red roses sewn into a dress for his girlfriend. After she put the dress on he proposed. The number 9 in Chinese culture is said to represent ‘forever’.

Flying Peacock

Strict Chinese Military Discipline: Chinese Soldiers stick needles to their shirt collars to keep ideal postures during military parades.

How China Plants Rice

Kay daghang napong moingon nga nagmilagro si santa, santo, ug bisan kinsa nalang hinganlan nga maoy nagmilagro.

In Japan, farmers of the Zentsuji region found a way to grow cubic watermelons, by growing the fruits in glass boxes and letting them naturally assume the shape of the receptacle. The square shape is designed to make the melons easier to stack and store

Blue Waves

Earth Hour from Space