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The Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA) has recently received international recognition after winning in the 2010 Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND).

The OPAPA was declared as the best project in the third category prize of the AGFUND international prize for pioneering human development.

The category is ‘dedicated to the role of governments’ ministries and public institutions in adoption of new innovations to enhance the application of information and communications technology(ICT) for the development of remote and rural communities’.

The AGFUND International Prize theme for 2010 is Development of Remote and Rural Communities Through Information Technology and Communication.

Along with three other projects from Egypt, Palestine, and Burkina Faso, OPAPA emerged triumphant among the other 24 nominated projects from different countries.

OPAPA was recognized for its genuine efforts in enhancing agricultural knowledge sharing among Philippine rice stakeholders through ICT.

The OPAPA’s entry highlighted its various ICT interventions that connect lowly rice farmers to reliable sources of information, and modalities which encourage collaborative learning among rice scientists, extension workers, farmers, and other concerned organizations.

Importantly, OPAPA has shared its insights on the use and significance of ICT in Philippine agriculture, and how this is able to help the country attain rice self-sufficiency.

As third category winner, OPAPA received US$ 100, 000.

AGFUND is a regional developmental funding organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It actively works in the field of development at the international level and has helped in supporting 1, 268 projects in 133 developing countries. (PNA)

Malacanang distant itself from the alleged controversial error in the design of the new peso bills.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a media briefing on Monday, said that the design of the new bills did not pass the Office of the President for approval but it was the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Lacierda also said the BSP will explain the details of the design of the new bills since the OP has nothing to do with it.

He said that the new bills were only presented to the President in Malacanang.

BSP vice-governor Diwa Guniguindo earlier said that there was no error in the printing of the new bills.

He also said that it was not rushed but it underwent study and research for almost three years.

Gunigundo also said that the new design of the bills were done in artistic rendition.

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Agence France-Presse

A Thai woman swallowed more than 1,200 ecstasy pills wrapped in plastic and tried to smuggle them into the Indonesian resort island of Bali, officials said Monday.

Customs officials said the 24-year-old woman appeared nervous and was found to have a hard stomach during a body search at Bali's international airport as she arrived Thursday on a flight from Bangkok.

She was taken to hospital and 1,280 ecstasy pills were found in her stomach, Bali customs chief I Made Wijaya told a press conference.

"The pills were in a number of plastic wraps which she swallowed about 90 times," Wijaya said.

They weighed of 402 grams (0.9 pounds) and were worth about 448 million rupiah (50,000 dollars), he said.

The woman, who claimed to be a dancer in Bangkok, told investigators that an Israeli man had offered to pay her $ 656 to deliver the pills to Bali, one of Asia's most popular destinations for Western tourists, Wijaya said.

If convicted she faces life imprisonment or death under Indonesia's tough anti-drug laws.

Agence France-Presse

A bus carrying Thai tourists crashed on a Malaysian highway Monday killing 22 people on board after a trip to the Cameron Highlands, authorities said.

"We believe that 22 people were killed in the accident," said Aminuddin Abdul Rahim, spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Department, who was at the accident site in central Malaysia.

"More than 15 others were injured and are being treated by rescue officials," he told AFP.

"Search and rescue operations are still ongoing and we have yet to have a final figure for those dead and injured."

"All those killed in the accident are believed to be Thai nationals, this was a tourist bus filled with Thai tourists."

Zakaria Yusof, acting police chief in Perak state, said that "more than 20 people are believed to be dead".

"The bus was filled with Thai tourists," he told AFP, but was not able to confirm whether all the dead were Thai nationals. "We will know more when we have finished our operations."

By Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Don’t wonder if international boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao's face is all over the place, endorsing a wide range of products from ice cream to motorcycles, hamburgers and pain killers.

That's because he is considered the country's most influential celebrity endorser for two years in a row, according to the latest market survey by leading research firm Synergy Business Consultancy.

Close to 1 of 2 Filipinos surveyed declared him a credible endorser. And with about 7 of 10 Filipinos saying they buy a product or service because of a celebrity endorser, Pacquiao has indeed become a potent marketing force.

Next to Pacquiao is Vicky Belo, whose credibility rose 7 percent this year, partly due to her figuring in the high-profile sex video tape controversy that involved her boyfriend Hayden Kho and movie star Katrina Halili.

According to Germaine Reyes, managing director of Synergy, it pays to be the aggrieved party when involved in a controversy.

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What are your Predictions for 2011?

How Will You Know You Married the Right Person?

In 1953, the first Corvette's were unveiled. The cars were unique in their construction. Instead of the steel bodies common for the time, the Corvette was actually built from a much lighter material-fiberglass. This innovation, combined with its Earl-designed appearance, however, was still not enough to make the car an overnight success. - read more here

Max Hoffman was the only Porsche importer in the United States back then and wanted a lower priced, speedy version to market to Americans. So in 1954 the company manufactured the 356 Speedster with a removable windshield, bucket seats, and a very basic folding top. The Speedster production peaked at 1,171 cars in 1957 and was replaced in 1959 by the Convertible model D which featured a taller and more practical windshield as well as more comfortable seating. - read more here

By Agence France Press

Thousands of Thailand's "Red Shirts" gathered in Bangkok Sunday to mark seven months since a deadly military crackdown on their anti-government protest.

Wearing their signature colour, the demonstrators chanted "There were dead people here!" and released red balloons in the latest in a series of rallies in the Thai capital to commemorate those killed during unrest in April and May.

The Reds' two-month rally, which attracted 100,000 people at its peak in support of their demands for snap elections, was brought to a bloody end on May 19 with an army assault on the group's base.

The demonstration saw street battles between protesters and troops in violence that left more than 90 people dead and nearly 1,900 injured.

Around 10,000 people attended Sunday's rally, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Jatuporn Prompan, one of the few senior Reds not detained by authorities, called for the release of 19 leaders currently being held on terrorism charges, awaiting possible trial.

What Did We Use Before Toilet Paper?

How Do We Know You Are Smart?

How Can We Be Controlled?

Are Suicide Bombers Insane?

What Can Make You "Lose" Your Mind?

Where do you get ideas?

Do you interpret your own dreams?

What's your plan for 2011?

Are you expecting a gift this Christmas?

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Living tissue cultures often appear translucent to the normal brightfield microscope. They carry some models that have the phase contrast microscopy built in for added viewing contrast. They also carry one inverted tissue culture microscope model with fluorescence microscopy capability.

The first question we will look at is how did the seas form? This is an interesting point to consider. Now people who hold to the creationist view may say that it was there within the first 6 days of this world, however, we will look at the scientific point of view here.

The predominant theory on how the seas formed on Earth is that it happened external of the Earth. Globules of water - quite large - similar to rain would drop from space, likely from the comets, and over billions of years made the seas on our Earth.

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There are five basic instruments needed for an accurate record of the weather. A rain gauge, anemometer (wind gauge), thermometer, barometer and weathervane. 1.Rain gauge. These come in all shapes and sizes from a basic glass jar with incremental measurements on the side, to a wireless rain gauge which can be placed anywhere in your garden and remotely records data such as current rainfall total, current rainfall rate per hour and daily, weekly or monthly totals.
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Snow falls at approximately 2 m/s (6 feet/s), which is about a quarter the speed of rain.
It is untrue that it can be “too cold” for snow, although the heaviest snowfall tends to occur when the temperature is around zero since the air holds more moisture than it does at much colder temperatures
A piece of ice, measuring 20 ft across fell to earth in Scotland on 13th August 1849 and is the largest ever recorded piece of ice to fall out of the sky. Had this landed on someone's head, it would have really hurt.
A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow. That's approximately 160 million snowmen.
Antarctica has the coldest average annual temperatures, and the lowest temperature ever recorded on earth (-129°F) was at Vostok on July 21, 1983
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You can find several different methods of drug design today. The following are methods for finding a medication candidates, along with their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Virtual screening (VS) founded on the computationally deduced or simulated genuine screening;

The advantages that were observed during the experiments are:

- low prices, no compounds have to be bought externally or created by a scientist;

- scientists can research various compounds that are still in project;

- High-throughput screening is rather expensive and VS gives an opportunity to choose a number of helpful compounds for following HTS tests;

- a huge number of virtual elements to select from. - read more here

How do you approach life's problem?

Why did you cut classes during college?

By Michelle Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Next time you get hold of a new, crisp P200 bill, don’t be surprised if you find it difficult to locate the picture of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It has been relegated to a small corner of the bill and the new dominant photo is that of the tarsier, a specially protected animal species found in a few places in the Philippines.

Due for circulation this month, the newly designed peso bank notes will showcase on the reverse side the country’s top tourism spots.

The picture of Arroyo’s inaugural ceremony in 2001â€"printed at the back of the existing P200 billâ€"will still appear on the bill, this time on the front side, although a bit too small for anyone to even decipher her face.

It is on the side dominated by the picture of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

“The swearing in of GMA is on the front side of the [new] 200-peso note,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message to the Inquirer, answering insinuations that the former President was downgraded in the new design.

The new notes were launched the other day in Malacañang.

How do you react when the P200 bill has Bohol tarsier and Chocolate Hills?

Where will you spend your Christmas Day?

Have you received your 13th-month pay?

There is no other way but up for the Philippine men’s football team as it tangles with Indonesia for a championship berth in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2010 on Sunday.

After losing last Thursday before a hostile Indonesian crowd of 70,000 in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Azkals’ British mentor Simon McMenemy said his boys are ready to pull the rug.

"They (Indonesia) were the better team and they passed the ball around well but they weren't able to break us down. We'll be back on Sunday and we'll see what happens,” he said.

Gametime is set at 8 p.m. as Filipino fans are expected to be glued on their television sets to watch the Azkals finally upset the Indonesians in home turf.

The Philippines failed to stretch its unbeaten record in this year’s tournament after a defensive lapse allowed Indonesian striker Cristian Gonzales to head a goal.

"As far as the game went, we stuck to our game plan. I know it's not the prettiest and I would love to play more attacking football, but coaching is all about playing to your strengths and I thought that we did very well because Indonesia didn't really break us down too many times," McMenemy said. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

The Porsche 911 Turbo features a redesigned all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled multi-disc clutch. The result will be the transfer of the available power to the road. That's because, depending on the driving conditions, this system will determine the optimal torque distribution to ensure the best-possible drive. Also, Porsche Traction Management (PTM) ensures variable power distribution to the two driven axles. This means that on the road the 911Turbo will prove outstanding traction in the rain or snow, high agility on narrow country roads and optimal active safety even at high speeds.
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The Porsche Carrera GT was introduced as a 2004 model and until 2005 there were already a few changes in order to make the Carrera GT the new Porsche super car. These were minor updates in order to make it a little more street friendly. Between the supplemental bar hoops is now mounted a glass screen. The seats height is adjusted along with the additional bolstering in the thigh area. The Carrera GT is easy recognizable, as it's a low, sleek, lightweight roadster, very beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. Two removable panels that can be stored in the front trunk make the foul weather protection available.
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Motronic ME7.1.1.is a system that controls the split-second precision of the Cayenne V8 and V6 super engine. This new highly intelligent engine management system balances impressive power with great smoothness. All this to prove that Cayenne`s "brain" matches its brawn. The Motronic system is built to monitor a wide range of sensors and engine components. It compares streams of data with corresponding sets of reference values, all this in a speed of milliseconds.
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Porsche and Ferrari are German and Italian sides of the same coin, interpretations of the sports car idea. Both founded by a dominant patriarch, both honed in racing, both more than 50 years old, both with engineering and styling integrity. Whether on the track of Le Mains or on the streets, the two have always been put head-to-head and compared. Even the most naive motorist associates these two names with both performance and style. - read more here

Even if the 997 looks a lot like the previous model, the 996, the new car is actually 38mm wider which creates a more aggressive appearance. With each new model introduced, Porsche has aimed to reduce the drag co-efficient helping the 911 slide through the air more effectively, and so aiding performance. The same thing has been done with the new car, and if we compare the 993 Cd of 0.34 to the 997`s 0.28 we can see how far the aerodynamic game has moved on. The latest body shell and rear wing combine with new underbody paneling to also offer increased levels of down force for this latest evolution of Porsche's finest.
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Porsche 968 is basically the successor of the Porsche 944. It has a low nose and wide wheel arches that helps accentuating the beautiful lines of this classic shape that in a Porsche Guards Red is a real head turner. It has also the classic GT front engine, rear wheel drive layout with the added advantage of a rear transaxle giving almost perfect weight distribution.
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This is a more aggressive variation on getting resources for free. If the connection to your organization is valuable enough, people will pay you to have an association. For instance, cookbook authors are expected to buy a large number of books before a publisher will take them on. That's because there is an oversupply of both cookbooks and those who wish to write them. Whether or not you think of any opportunities, considering this question should open your mind to places where free or lower-cost resources can be made available to your company.

The reverse side of the new P200 bill features Bohol, with emphasis on the tarsier and Chocolate Hills found in the province.

By Edri K. Aznar, Sun Star

IN Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista and Mexican Alejandro Barrera's first encounter, the fight didn't go the distance and ended in controversial fashion in favor of the Filipino fighter.

Although Bautista believes he won the first fight, he wants to prove that he is the better boxer as he plans to beat Barrera again in their rematch on Jan. 29 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in “Pinoy Pride 3â€"The Rematch”.

“I believe I won the first fight. If he didn't spit the mouthpiece, he was going to be knocked out,” said the 24-year-old Boholano pug. “I believe that I can beat him (again).”

Bautista beat Barrera, who is the cousin of Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera, by a fourth round technical knockout after the Mexican suffered a huge cut on his left eyelid last Aug. 28.

Bautista is serious about beating Barrera and won't be taking a break for the holidays.

“In the first fight, we didn't see any clips of him but now we have an idea of how he fights and our mistakes,” said Bautista's trainer Edmund Villamor.

Villamor said Bautista was tagged with Barrera's counter-punches because his ward fails to cover up after a strong jab. But Villamor said they have worked on that mistake.

ALA promotions president Michael Aldeguer feels Bautista isn't ready for a world title fight just yet.

“That's far-fetched yet. He's still a work in progress. Let's see how it goes. This will be a crucial fight for Boom-Boom. We will focus on this and see what level he is right now,” said Aldeguer.

A Las Vegas judge has issued an outstanding arrest warrant for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. on a misdemeanor battery complaint alleging he poked a security guard in the face several times.

The warrant issued Dec. 8 requires Mayweather to turn himself in or face arrest at any time, said Las Vegas police Officer Bill Cassel.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo signed the arrest warrant for Mayweather after a Dec. 8 hearing, then immediately recalled it. It was reinstated after prosecutors complained Mayweather had received special treatment. Prosecutors also argued that Mayweather has a history of dangerous behavior and should be arrested.

A court hearing to review the warrant was scheduled for Tuesday.

Mayweather, 33, faces a a six-month jail sentence and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Mayweather's lawyer, Karen Winckler, could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. She has denied wrongdoing on his behalf.

The battery allegation stems from a Nov. 15 confrontation over parking tickets between the undefeated champion and a security guard outside Mayweather's home.

Police allege a "verbally abusive" Mayweather blocked the guard, Shayne Smith, from leaving a cul-de-sac, screamed he had no business "touching his personal property" and repeatedly jabbed his finger into Smith's cheek.

Police said photographs taken during the investigation show redness and discoloration below Smith's left eye.

Mayweather has been the focus of several other police investigations in recent months, and made headlines in September with an online video laced with expletives and racial rants against Philippine boxing rival Manny Pacquiao.

He was convicted in 2002 of misdemeanor battery stemming from a fight with two women at a Las Vegas nightclub. He received a suspended one-year jail sentence and was ordered to undergo impulse-control counseling.

He was fined in Grand Rapids, Mich., in February 2005 and ordered to perform community service after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery in a bar fight.

Mayweather is free on $33,000 bail on unrelated felony coercion, grand larceny and robbery charges from a September dispute with his children and their mother. He could face up to 34 years in prison if convicted in that case. (AP)

The Cayman is strictly a two-seater because the engine sits where the rear seats would otherwise be. This means that the engine is not quite readily accessible, although there's a way into the oil filler via the boot. Under that long tailgate, is revealed a generous luggage area to supplement the front 911/Boxster-sized boot. Like all other Porsche, the Cayman is not very big, which makes it very practical and usable. And for all its obvious Boxster genes, the Cayman is very much its own car with its curvaceous rear wings and neat fastback roof. As with other Porsches, there's a movable rear spoiler, which deploys above 120km/h. - read more here

President Benigno S. Aquino III was the guest of honor at the blessing of the first Airbus of South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) on Tuesday at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport here.

The new 144-seat A319 jet aircraft will fly SEAIR’s first international destination â€" Singapore, starting Dec. 16.

SEAIR President Avelino Zapanta said that with the new aircraft, his company projects monthly air passenger traffic at the Clark Freeport Zone to increase by more than 60 percent or an additional 200,000 passengers annually.

Additional routes for the new jet aircraft, according to him, will be added in the coming months.

“The introduction of these new flights will create a welcome boost to the Philippine tourism industry and create more high-caliber local jobs," said Zapanta. - PNA

The largest Philippine national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) offers a seat sale to Hong Kong, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia as low as P999, from now until December 19, 2010 or until seats last, for travel from January 5 to February 28, 2011.

Fly to Hong Kong, the City of Lights from Cebu and Clark, as well as to Kota Kinabalu, the Land below the Wind from Manila and grab your P999 ‘Go Lite’ seats.

Create your own adventure when you visit Brunei, the Kingdom of Unexpected Pleasures, discover the hidden charm of Ho Chi Minh and fabulous Hong Kong. Fly from Manila and it's all yours for the ‘Go Lite’ fare of P1,499.

Ni Flor V. Querubin

LAWAS sa construction worker nibuto gumikan sa kakusog sa boltahi dihang siya nakuryentehan sa high tension wire sa National Grid Corp. kagahapon sa mga alas 8:21 sa buntag.

Milagrong nabuhi ang biktima, kinsa giingong nalabay dihang nakuryentihan.

Hinuon, nakaangkon og 3rd degree burns ang biktima nga si Nelson Remedios, 37, minyo, taga-Banawa, Guadalupe, dakbayan sa Sugbo.

Siya kasamtangan nga nagpaalim sa iyang mga paso sa nagkadaiyang bahin sa iyang lawas sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Base sa initial nga imbestigasyon sa Homicide Section sa Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) nga nagbira og kabilya ang biktima sa rooftop sa gi-construct nga three- storey building sa Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu.

Wa makabantay si Remedios nga nasabod sa high tension wire sa NGC ang kabilya nga iyang gialsa nga niresulta sa iyang pagkalabay.

Nakaangkon siya og grabeng mga paso sa dughan ug ubang bahin sa iyang lawas.

Sigun pa sa mga nakakita sa hitabo nga human sa impact nibuto ug nagsiga-siga ang lawas ni Remedios sa kakusog sa boltahi nga nisud sa lawas niini.

Didto siya nitugpa sa sementado nga rooftop ug nangagisi ang iyang gisul-ob nga t-shirt ug karsones.

Dali nga nirespondi ang mga sakop sa Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) ug gidala sa VSMMC.

Pulong pa sa mga nakasaksi nga naka-survive si Remedios sa aksidente sanglit nakagawas man ang kuryente sa iyang lawas ug nakabuhi usab sa kabilya nga iyang gi-alsa diin nagsubay ang kuryente gikan sa high tension wire.

By Sun Star Cebu

PULIS nga kontrobersyal tungod sa paghubo nga nisakay sa barko og nagpakita sa iyang kinatawo nidtong, mag-atubang sa laing imbestigasyon tungod sa pagpalta sa trabaho nga way pananghid sa iyang labaw o absent with-out official leave (Awol).

Si PO2 Rodello Pilapil Jr., kinsa floating status sa Provincial Security Service Group (PSSG) sa Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO) nag-atubang sa kasong administratiba sa Police Regional Office (PRO-7) gi-imbestigar na usab tungod kay wala mopatim-aw sa PSSG.

Si Sr. Insp. Rubin Cuizon, hepe sa Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB), nagkanayon nga si Insp. Rolando Ong, hepe sa PSSG, nidugog report nga wala na mopatim-aw sa PSSG si PO2 Pilapil sukad niadtong Disyembre 11.

Sa report nagbutay nga si po2 Pilapil, human maka-serbisyon sa iyang suspensiyon sugado niadtong Disyembre 1-10 wala na mobalik sa opisina hinungdan nga gimarkahan kini nga Awol ug gikinahanglan makapasabot kun asa siya.

Nasayran nga ang maong police gidakop sa barko niadtong Okrubre 6 dihang nisakay kini paingon sa Leyte nga pwerting huboga, nga naghubo nga nagpakita sa iyang kinatawo ug nagbitbit sa iyang armas. (GPL)

GIABANDUNAR sulod sa usa ka nakaparada nga PUJ ang usa ka masoso nga bag-o pa gyung gipakatawo.

Nadiskubrehan ang batang lalake nga may pusod pa ug inunlan, giputos og sako sa bugas ug gitabunan og payong pasado alas 3 kagahapon sa kaadlawon sa dalan Cabreros, Barangay Basak San Nicholas.

Si Landy Cabillo, 29, taga Sityo Crossing, Barangay Basak San Nicholas, usa ka stylist sa Salon de Rose, niingon nga paingon na unta siya sa usa ka food chain sa maong dapit sa dihang iyang nalabyan ang usa ka multicab nga nakaparada daplin sa dalan.

Iyang nakita nga may payong nga nakabukas sulod sa multicab hinungdan nga iya kining giwaling ug maoy iyang nakita ang bata.

“Nagtuo ko nga itoy, akong gituslok. Mihilak man. Sus, bata man diay,” matod pa ni Landy. - Sun Star Cebu

NINGSAKA pa ang mga kaso sa tipos sa lungsod sa Alegria base sa talaan sa Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

Mokapin na sa 690 ang mga tawo nga nagpahiling ug gidudahang gipangtipos sa naasoy nga lungsod.

Si Dr. Cristina Giango, provincial health officer, nagkanayon sa pakighinabi sa Sun.Star Superbalita kagahapon nga nikuyanap pa sa ubang mga barangay sa nahisgutang lungsod ang sakit nga tipos apan ang labing daghan sa nangasakit gikan gihapon sa Brgy. Sta. Filomena ug Brgy. Poblacion.

Nikutlo na og duha ka mga kinabuhi ang tipos sa Alegria, usa ka 17-anyos ug 15-anyos nga pulos nakabsan sa kinabuhi sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) human grabe na ang ilang kahimtang sa dihang nahidangat sa tambalanan. - Sun Star Cebu

Are you an achiever? In what way?

What do you dislike about failure? What can you learn from it?

What are some things you feel irritated with?

Whom do you share personal difficulties with? How about personal joy?

When do finances become a worry or burden to you?

What fantasy would you like to live out. why

Comment on this: self-control is love's strength

One major problem you have to solve in 2011 is...

Tell us something about your interesting hobby

What is your greatest desire for 2011?

Is spiritual growth important to you? Why?

Crack to us a corny joke

Tell us about an embarrassing experience

Ferdinand Porsche played an important role in the development of airplanes and racing cars, and the construction of tanks for the Wehrmacht. He is an automobile engineer with more than a thousand patents to his name. He was appointed chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart in the 1920s. Later on, he set up his own engineering workshop and designed among others the Volkswagen. At the plant where Volkswagen was made, Wolfsburg, he was chief of operations and at the end of the war he was interned by the Allies. - read more here

The bodywork and the interior of the Boxster are of high quality, but considering that there's noting tricky or purely decorative, we can definitely say that these are not opulent cars. Still, the interior has been improved since the old car was often criticized for being to cheap-looking. The center console has been upgraded with revised switch-gear and titanium look paneling. The seats are more supportive and body-shaped in the new version, making them look absolutely superb. Unlike other roadsters, the Boxster has no problem swallowing luggage for a long trip: it has two trunks, a small one in the rear and an amply deep one under the front hood. - read more here

One of the great spectacles of F1 racing is the colour and razzmatazz can be seen at the circuits on race day, each circuit location has its loyal followers and of course these numbers are swelled by the travelling fans who follow motor racing. The colours are vibrant for each team and this is reflected through the fans, there is a growing trend to wear F1 clothing from the top teams and you will now see everything form race suits to jackets and caps at each circuit. The wearing of F1 team clothing was driven by the success of Ferrari merchandise, this has now been so popular that you will regularly see Ferrari clothing worn in everyday life. - read more here

The innovative speed trap sharing system from Trapster has been welcomed by all drivers who were upset with the introduction of speed traps. The system is based on the collaboration between drivers; however, it does not encourage speeding but it permits them to focus on driving and not on the speed indicator all the time. Knowing that there is a speed trap somewhere will make you feel stressed, increasing the chance of causing a jam in the traffic or even an accident. - read more here

Almost 80 percent of the prisoners at the Davao City Jail suffered from food poisoning after feasting on the meal served by the Davao City Government during the “Pasko Fiesta sa City Jail” on Tuesday.

Government officials on Thursday confirmed that 781 inmates suffered from loose bowl movement (LBM) after eating fried chicken, gravy, pansit (fried noodles), and rice.

Jail warden Erwin Kenny Ronquillo the jail has around 1,017 inmates as of October this year, which means majority of the detainees suffered from food poisoning.

City Public Information Officer Giovanni Aportadera said the food poisoning may have happened because the inmates consumed their food in the evening when these were intended for lunch.

Aportadera said the City Health Office (CHO) has provided immediate health assistance.

As of this posting Thursday, some 40 inmates are being observed as they continue to suffer from stomach pains.

No accreditation

Meanwhile, General Services Office (GSO) chief Jessie Marvin Melodias said no transaction of food packs for “Pasko Fiesta sa City Jail” went through his office.

“It never passed through the usual or the required process. I told you, I really don’t know if this is proper but I just want you to make it very clear. This is a personal note on my end,” Melodias said on Thursday.

City Mayor Sara Duterte also confirmed this, saying there was no accreditation given to the caterer. She guaranteed she would have the matter investigated. - Jade Zaldivar, Sun Star Davao

Using high-precision tools such as Mustang MD-AWD-500-SE all wheel drive dynamometer, knock recorder, EGT sensors, wide-band oxygen sensors and various forms of data-logging, you can be sure you will be provided with the most precise unitronic tune available. By modifying the engines timing, boost levels, fuel mixture and applying the correct formula for it all to work in sync you have stock-like drivability guaranteed. The main goal of the custom tuning service is to offer the market a very reliable, clean and cost efficient method to extract the most from your engine. - read more here

Today, Dec. 17, 2010, is the 32nd birthday of the world's best fighter, Manny Pacquiao. Happy Birthday to Manny Pacquiao

"For the past two decades, the Cadillac STS has been a showcase of luxury, performance and technology," says Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "The enhanced 2008 model extends that with bolder design, more standard power, better - read more here

When you invest in a incredible performance vehicle like a Mustang, you will want to further invest in enhancing and beautifying your car. When purchasing a car as a hobby and investment, look for good mileage, proven dependability, and a high performance rating. To make the most of your time and money, buy the best vehicle that you can afford. Once you find the right car, the next step will be to choose paint colors and accessories. - read more here

The mustang exhaust system contains more that just nuts and bolts in its construction and performance. Among the most important functions the mustang exhaust system performs includes: moving hot exhaust gases coming out from your car, limiting noise output, and reducing exhaust emissions. This exhaust system is key to improving overall engine performance because it allows you to increase air flow through the engine faster. read more here

One of the easiest and certain methods of finding a reputable køreskole/driving school is using the Internet. You can find yourself a good school, providing driving license (kørekort) for different motorized vehicles, including cars, trucks and motorcycles. Thy have classes starting every week and the best instructors, well prepared to teach you how to obey the rules of the road and become a responsible driver. read more here

Many vehicle enthusiasts and professionals of auto care are persistently bombarded with the metal polishing products that make claim to have “the best polish on the market”. The truth is that most of the many metal polishing products are similar, but the ingredients that are used to make the product are very dissimilar. For the customers, it is all about the results. Britemax has produced a line of metal polishers, and care kits that are designed to be the fastest, most efficient polisher with the end result in mind. With consistent natural ingredients, having quality bright shine is our #1 goal. read more here

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We've often come across terms such as seized autos, state seized auctions and bank seized cars, but ever wondered what these terms mean. Well, basically a seized vehicle or car is one that is seized or taken, by the government or certain financial and banking institutions. Why do they seize these cars? There could be many reason and all within the confines of the law. Repossession, surplus inventory etc are some of the main reasons of seizing these vehicles.

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Silver Service Limousines The 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 11 was first owned by John G. H Carroll.
Registration: JGC 000
Mr Carroll was responsible for bringing out some very famous people during the 1960s.
These are just some of the names of people who have been chauffeured around in style

What is the process of issuing lot title to an owner after completion of payment?

By Joann S. Villanueva

(PNA) â€" Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. presented to President Benigno Aquino III the new generation bank notes expected to be available before the year ends.

The new bank notes have the same color of their respective denomination but have new designs.

One side of the new P20 bill will still have the portrait of former President Manuel Quezon but will have the insignia of the Republic of the Philippines and the new logo of the BSP. All new generation notes will have one side featuring the photo of the featured personality alongside the two logos.

On the other side, the picture of the Malacanang Palace was changed with the picture of the world famous’ Banaue Rice Terraces, which was declared by the United Nations (UN) as a World Heritage Site; a photo of the palm civets famous for producing one of the world’s most expensive coffee varieties â€" Alamid Coffee; and a weave design from the Cordilleras.

The P50 bill still have the photo of former President Sergio Osmeña on one side and the landmark monument known as the “Leyte Landing.”

The other side features the Taal Lake, the Giant Trevally locally known as “Maliputo”, and embroidery handcrafted in the province of Batangas.

The new P100 billion retains the portrait of former President Manuel Roxas, the Republic’s and the BSP’s logo, a photo of the inauguration of the third Republic in July 4, 1946, and 1949 photo of the Central Bank of the Philippines, the charter of which was among the priority bills of Roxas during his stint in the House of Representatives.

On the other side is another world-famous landmark â€" the Mayon Volcano in Legaspi City, Albay; the world’s largest fish â€" whale shark locally known as “butanding”, which is the main attraction of Donsol, Sorsogon; and a detail from a design from an indigenous textile famous in the region â€" Abaca.

The P200 bill will have the Barasoain Church and the oath-taking scene of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the sides of the portrait of Arroyo’s dad former President Diosdado Macapagal and the logo of the Republic and the BSP.

Its other side features Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills, the world’s smallest primates â€" the Tarsier; and a highlight of a design handcrafted in the Visayas region.

A major change was made in the P500 bill, which now feature the portrait of former President Corazon Aquino beside the photo of his now smiling husband - former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. It also features the Benigno Aquino Monument on the same side.

The other side has the eight-kilometer Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park of Palawan, the rare Blue-naped Parrot found in the forests of Palawan and Mindoro, and a design highlight of a woven cloth from Southern Philippines.

The P1000 bill still has the three personalities â€" former Supreme Court Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos; social worker, educator, women’s right advocate and Girl Scout of the Philippines founder Josefa Llanes Escoda; and first Filipino West Point graduate and former Philippine Army Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Vicente Lim.

Their portraits have a photo of the 1998 Philippine independence centennial celebration on the left side of the money and a photo of medal of honor at the right side. The Republic’s insignia and the BSP’s logo are also on the same side with the portraits.

The other side of the bill has a photo of the largest pearls in the world â€" the South Sea Pearl at the center and at the background is the 130,000-hectare Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Sulu Sea. At the right side of the money is a highlight of the design for Tinalak or Ikat-dyed abaca, which is woven in Mindanao.

Tetangco said the new generation notes will be released this month but declined to say which denomination would be released first.

He said they are still waiting for the first tranche and they will release it as soon as these are delivered.

“We hope to release all denominations as soon as possible. Printing is continuing,” he said.

The central bank chief said the existing currencies will still be legal tenders in three to four years to allow for the transition and phase out of the old ones. (PNA)

Southwest Airlines Co. is getting new, larger planes that could pave the way for the all-domestic airline to offer international flights.

CEO Gary Kelly said Wednesday that Southwest will change an existing order with Boeing Co. and get 20 new 737-800 jets beginning in March 2012.

Those jets have 175 seats, 38 more than the largest planes in Southwest's current fleet, which means potentially more revenue per flight.

The airline plans to add international service when it completes the purchase of AirTran Airways, which flies to Mexico and the Caribbean. It could still use AirTran's planes for those flights.

Kelly said during a speech in New York that Southwest might use the 737-800 first at busy airports in the Northeast. But he said it could also be used to fly to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean â€" destinations that Southwest doesn't serve now. - AP

Malacanang supported the plan of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a reinvestigation on the Vizconde massacre case.

The PNP announced the proposal following the decision of the Supreme Court to free the accused, Hubert Webb and six others, on the controversial case.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it is the duty of the state to find the real perpetrators of the crime.

Although the case has gone cold, she said authorities should not be discouraged of finding the suspects of the gruesome killings.

If the case will be reopened, Valte however pointed out that it cannot anymore tag Webb because it would entail double jeopardy.

Voting 7-4-4, the high court cleared Webb and his group for the killings of Estrellita Vizconde and her two daughters in their Paranaque home in 1991.(Jill Beltran/Sunnex)

What one thing can you do to have an effect on government this year?

What type of adventure do you go for?

What makes a happy home?

Loss of Sovereignty
By Richard Lowright

Governments themselves are joining regional trade groupings to give themselves more size and power in a globalizing world. Fifteen European nations have submerged much of their national sovereignty in the European Union (EU), by far the most evolved of these groupings. Eleven EU nations adopted a common currency, the euro, in January 1999, and several others are expected to join. Over time, many analysts believe the common currency will force EU nations to coordinate many other policies, such as budgeting and taxation. These issues are at the heart of a nation's political life, and the adoption of the euro is widely viewed as a decisive step toward a single European government.

The United States has also become involved in regional trade groupings. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a much looser bloc connecting the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but with little of the economic coordination of the EU process. Talks are currently underway to expand NAFTA, which aims to eliminate tariffs and other barriers to trade, to most Latin American nations. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agreement is more a dream of cohesion than a reality. Its leaders meet annually, but the Asian and North American economies are so different and the impact of the Asian crisis so severe that real coordination, even on the NAFTA level, is likely to be years away at best.

Despite growing regional cooperation, national governments have seen globalization erode much of their ability to control their own economies as traders and corporations move beyond the reach of national law. For the world's market-oriented democracies, erosion of national sovereignty means a reduction in the power of the ordinary citizen's ability to influence events through the vote; hence, it has the potential to erode democracy.

In this partial vacuum, international organizations, new and old, have assumed some functions that national governments once controlled. For example, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an independent agency of the United Nations (UN), has become both a safety net for nations in economic crisis and a global enforcer of economic behavior. Both roles, however, have become controversial, and there have been proposals for a new global economic authority. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has succeeded the old General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and has become not only a forum to settle international trade disputes but a court with power to enforce its decisions.

An alphabet soup of other international bodies, such as the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Switzerland and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), are setting up new codes and regulations. These organizations are, in effect, now writing the global economic rulebook for the 21st century.

The global economy, then, is still evolving. No one can say yet what long-term effect it will have on the economies and societies it touches, nor whether regional and international organizations will succeed or fail to tame its power. To its boosters, the global economy offers the promise of immense global markets working with maximum efficiency to speed money, goods, and services to the places where they will do the most good and produce the highest return. Such boosters include free-market economist Milton Friedman, a Nobel Prize laureate, and United States treasury secretary Robert Rubin. To many in the developing world, globalization promises to bring the prosperity so far enjoyed only by wealthy industrialized nations. For analysts such as Drucker, as well as billionaire trader George Soros, the global economy already has succeeded the Industrial Revolution and, like that epochal economic event, eventually will change the world.

To its detractors, including organized labor and such critics as conservative U.S. presidential hopeful Pat Buchanan, the global economy is an untamed force that will undermine wages and living standards in the industrialized world while bringing little but chaos and exploitation to the developing world, impoverishing the many as it rewards the few. For proponents and critics alike, the events surrounding Asia's spectacular economic boom and dramatic bust offer revealing lessons about the great promise, and peril, of the new global economy.

By Alex Vochin, Softpedia

While Teac's golden age has pretty much come and gone, the company still manufacturers quite a few interesting products, the latest to join their lineup being the new designer line of SR-80i and SR-100i iPod audio systems.

The SR-100i features a powerful bass and has been designed to deliver clean sound, nicely balanced from top to bottom.

TEAC SR-100i has an output power of 50W per speaker, with 1 1/4" Tweeter and 3 1/2" sub-woofer and features a retractable iPod dock, plays back MP3 files from USB memory device, includes a CD player and also a PLL synthesized FM Tuner.

The slot-in CD player supports CD, CD-R/RW, MP3 and WMA discs, while the retractable dock automatically recharges the player connected to the stereo system.

Plus, the SR-100i also incorporates USB and Aux Inputs.

On the other hand, the TEAC SR-80i is a Hi-Fi table-top audio system that features output power of 15W per speaker, iPod / iPhone digital direct connection for Lossless Audio Path, full digital amplifier circuit from iPod / iPhone to speakers, super bass DSP powered by MAXXBASS and PLL synthesized AM/FM stereo tuner.

TEAC's new iPod Digital Direct feature allows the decoding and play back the digital data stream directly from an iPod, without the need for any external decoder or conversion device.

By Sebastian Pop, softpedia.com

Each time a new device emerges and proves to be growing fast as a market, talks arise regarding whether or not it can become the epicenter of convergence, and the latest candidate has now become the tablet.

"The definition of convergence has changed over time, with the latest version describing it as voice, video and data services being delivered to the home via broadband networks and the new services that would result from this confluence," said William Kidd, director and principal analyst, financial services for iSuppli.

"While that trend still exists, the convergence of consumer electronics devices and industries are now coming together at a fast pace, with the tablet form factor serving a tangible representation of that convergence, since it is part smart phone and part notebook," he added.

Basically, by convergence, one means the merging of consumer, computer and communications within a single product.

Tablets seem to combine elements of everything from cellphones to PCs while also providing more than enough of a reason for mobile operating systems (OS) to evolve and adapt.

iSupply thinks that mobile operating system providers will even start to add TV functionality over time.

Slates are also said to be quite poised to reshape the computer market as well, especially from 2012 onwards, by which time they will have begun to integrate content creation capabilities similar to those of notebooks.

"Companies in the electronics value chain increasingly must face the reality that the rise of the mobile OS means distinct product categories now are blurring together," Kidd said.

By Alex Vochin, softpedia.com

Although the leaks that occurred over the past few weeks and months have provided us with plenty of information regarding what we could (and should) expect from AMD's Cayman-based graphics cards, the day when AMD officially releases its next-gen Radeon HD 6900 series GPUs has finally arrived.

So, today, the company took the wrapps off its first two HD 6900 models, the flagship Radeon HD 6970 and the Radeon HD 6950, which will soon be pitted against their rivals from NVIDIA in an epic struggle for the consumers' attention (and cash).

The Radeon HD 6970 delivers 2.7 TFLOPs (IEEE754-SP)/675 GFLOPs (IEEE754-DP) of compute power, featuring a Core Clock Speed of 880MHz, 24 SIMD / 1536 ALU Stream Processors, 96 texture units, 32 ROPs and 128 Z-Stencils, 2GB GDDR5 memory on a 256 bit and 5.5 Gbps bandwidth, while the board power is rated below 300W.

The AMD Radeon HD 6950, on the other hand, delivers 2.25 TFLOPs (IEEE754-SP)/563 GFLOPs (IEEE754-DP) of computer power with the help of its Core clocked at 800MHz, as well as its 22 SIMD / 1408 ALU stream processors.

The second 6900 series Radeon also features 88 texture units, the same ROPs / Z-Stencil figures as the its more powerful sibling, as well as the same amoung of memory (although the bandwidth is slightly smaller, just 5 Gbps), but a lower power consumption (TDP under 225W).

After checking out the tech specs, we'll also have to mention that, theoretically, the HD 6970 is 15 percent faster than the 580 and the 6950 is 20 percent faster than the 470, but no comparative data involving the 500 series from NVIDIA has been provided.

White Rabbit Candy - is it still good?

PATAY ang usa ka buntis nga babaye nga gipusil sa iyang nagselos nga bana sa alas 4:00 sa hapon niadtong Dominggo didto sa Talakag, Bukidnon.

Giila ang biktima nga si Jayjay Talantao, hingkod ang panuigon samtang ang suspek mao si Randy Talatao nga pulos molupyo sa maong dapit.

Matud ni Police Inspector Adolfo Mercado, hepe sa Talakag Municipal Police Station nga nagkalalis ang magtiayon nga nagresulta sa pagpamusil gamit ang kalibre .45 nga pistola.

Naka-angkon og tulo ka samad pinusilan sa iyang dughan ang biktima hinungdan sa kamatayon niini.

Dali sab nga misibat ang suspek sa diha nga iyang nakit-an nga naligo na sa iyang kaugalingong dugo ang biktima apan nadakpan sab siya atol sa paglutos sa kapulisan.

Migawas sab sa taho nga selos ang hinungdan sa maong insidente sa diha nga nahibaluan sa bana nga dunay ka textmate si misis nga ila ra sab nga silingan. - Sun Star Davao

Ni Guam P. Logroño

ESTUDYANTE sa kursong education nabalhog sa bilango-an human gidudahang mipatay sa iyang bag-ong gihimugsong anak nga gisulod sa plastic bag ingon man sa karton una pa gisulod sa eneduro sa ilang pansayan atol sa iyang pagtubag sa sugo sa lawas niadtong Dominggo sa buntag sa Sitio Villaflores Barangay, Talangnan, lungsod sa Madridejos, Sugbo.

Apan si Miriam Concha Cahotay, 26, dalaga, first year college, kinsa kasamtangan nagpaalim sa Bantayan District Hospital nga ubos sa pagbantay sa kapulisan, nanghimakak nga iyang gipatay ang puya.

Mga alas 3:45 kagahapon sa hapon gipagawas na sa tambalanan ang inahan ug gitanggong na sa Madridejos Police Station samtang giandam ang kasong infanticide batok kaniya nga ipasaka karong adlawa.

Ang masuso siyam na ka buwan basi sa report sa duha ka midwife nga si Maria Victoria Bautro Ungon ug Leah Illustrisimo Escala, mga kawani sa Birthing Home of Rural Health Unit sa Madridejos.

Si PO1 Jeffrey Barco desk officer sa Madridejos Police Station nga nahinabi sa Sun.Star Superbalita nagkanayon nga niadtong Dominggo sa buntag ang inahan nisulod sa ilang pansayan ug nangayo pag kutsilyo sa iyang igsuong lalake. - Sun Star Cebu

GIKATAHONG nakulatahan ug nakawatan pa sa iyang armas sa usa ka pundok sa mga lalake ang usa ka pulis nga nauli gikan sa usa ka party.

Apan susihon pa sa kapulisan kon unsa ka tinuod ang alegasyon ni PO1 Saldy Salvo, 25, taga Loboc, Bohol, nadestino isip tourist police.

Nahitabo kini pasado ala una kagahapon sa kaadlawon sa lawak nga giabangan sa polis sa sityo Amor, Barangay Sambag Uno, dakbayan sa Sugbo.

Nakuha gikan sa biktima ang iyang personal nga service firearm nga kalibre .45 uban sa mga bala.

Matod ni SPO1 Agustin Collano sa Fuente Police nga gikan mitambong sa usa ka party ang biktima, human usab sila makadaug sa contest sa sayaw atol sa gipasiugdahan nga party.

Niuli kini nga luwan sa iyang motorsiklo, apan iyang nalabyan ang pundok sa mga batan-on nga gituohang sakop sa gang.

Sigun sa iyang aligasyon nga wa pa gani siya makasulod sa iyang giabangan nga lawak, giduol siya ug gitabangan pagkulata sa mga batan-on.

Usa kanila ang nikuha og gahi nga butang ug dayong hapos sa iyang ulo. - pna

By Joy Tumulak, Sun Star Cebu

NAKURYENTIHAN ug namatay ang usa ka b***t nga giingon sa kapulisan nga nagdala unta og lalake sud sa bag-ong gitukod nga edipisyo nga wa pa okopahe.

Ang biktima nisuway sa paglusot og una sa koral, nga wa niya mahibaw-i, gibutangan og buhing linya sa kuryente sa caretaker.

Matod sa kapulisan nga tuyo unta sa biktima nga maglipaylipay uban sa iyang gikasinabot nga batan-ong lalake sa dalan St. Michael, Barangay Banilad, dakbayan sa Sugbo.

Ang biktima taguon lang sa ngan nga Jhun, 23, taga Brgy. Tisa, ning dakbayan, nagtrabaho isip beautician.

Sa pasiuna nga imbestigasyon nga gihimo nila ni SPO4 Alex Dacua ug mga kaubanan sa Homicide Section sa Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) nagbutyag nga nahimamat sa biktima ang ginganlan og “Junior.” - pna

Albay is widely infested by rice back bugs, threatening productivity side-by-side escalating prices within the next few months, but farmers are not afraid for as long as this pesky insects don’t mind Albay’s second staple food-camote (sweet potato)

Albay Agriculture Rehabilitation Officer Jojo Elvira told this writer that governor Joey Salceda is cultivating ties with Japanese investors and scientists to bolster marker for both food consumption, winery and industrial use of camote.

“It is a popular plant that saves Albayanos dring past crises especially during the height of rice hoarding and natural shortage from calamities,” Elvira said.

Camote is a popular plant grown in the countryside which is edible both the nutritious leaves and fiber-rich root bulbs.

“Camote scientifically known as Ipomoea batatas, has been Albay’s second staple food, as well as a good source of income of local farmers here, and it has a huge potential for industrial-scale of planting and propagation,” Salceda told this writer Monday.

The Nutrition communication Network (Nutricomnet) here has also revealed that Camote contains more vitamin C than apple, based on the thorough research of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) here seized a 40-footer container van loaded with P5 million worth of imported firecrackers at around 2 p.m. Monday at Sasa Wharf.

BoC District Collector Anju Nereo Castigador led the opening in the presence of the police and fire auxiliary a 40-foot container van consigned to Staple Chase Enterprises with address at Torres Street, this city.

Castigador said the shipment arrived from China on board MV Iller Trader last November 21.

He said the shipment was declared as cleaning balls plastic craft and flashlight. However, when it was subjected to BoC X-Ray scanning, the Radioactive Monitoring System indicated the possible presence of pyrotechnics and/or explosives.

Castigador said the BoC is only following City Ordinance 060-02, or the Anti-Firecracker Ordinance, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar devices and the use of firecrackers or other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.

It will be recalled that the total firecrackers ban implemented since 2001 that resulted to zero incidents during Christmas and New Year celebrations in this city. - PNA

The Cebu City Government wants the city’s residents to limit to four hours each day the use of their Christmas lights to avoid contributing to a power shortage.

The Cebu City Council recently approved the resolution filed by Councilor Noel Wenceslao, asking the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to encourage business establishments, offices and households to switch on their Christmas lights only from 6 to 10 p.m.

”With the aim to make one’s residents and establishments more attractive, flooding of Christmas lights can be seen, which may add to the problem of random power shortage,” Wenceslao said.

Wenceslao, who chairs the council’s committee on urban planning and development, also asked the public to use Christmas lights that are energy-efficient or energy-saving.

Light-emitting diode or LED Christmas lights are said to be more efficient since they do not require the color filters used in traditional lights. - pna

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released as of December 2010 PhP50,628,900 to 19,457 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in 19 towns across Ilocos Region.

The program extends conditional cash transfer to the beneficiary-households provided respective children attend school and expectant mothers avail of health services.

DSWD reported initially benefiting 9,838 households in four municipalities under 4Ps’ Set 1 in Pangasinan province.

These are Aguilar, Bolinao, Mabini and Urbiztondo which collectively received PhP24,735,700 in assistance this year.

At least 2,217 households in three towns of La Union province under Set 2 â€" Bagulin, Santol and Sugpon - received assistance amounting to PhP7,528,700.

Another 6,402 households in 12 other towns under the program's Set 3 received PhP18,364,500 in financial assistance.

The towns are Agno, Mangatarem and Sual in Pangasinan; Burgos and Rosario in La Union; Batac, Marcos and Pinili in Ilocos Norte province as well as Alilem, Suyo, Quirino and Cabugao in Ilocos Sur province.

DSWD Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso said 4Ps is among DSWD's three key programs to help the poorest of the poor.

The two other programs are Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services for poor communities and Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K)for the economically active poor.

For SEA-K, DSWD reported releasing PhP114,636,884 in loans to 27,045 members of household associations throughout the Ilocos Region. - pna

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Lorelie Suelo recommended declaring under a state of calamity 22 flashflood-ravaged villages in Roxas City, capital of Capiz province.

She noted most of these villages are in coastal and fishpond areas as well as in locations with flood-affected agricultural land.

The Roxas City social welfare officer urged the city government to buy 30 additional sacks of rice, 30 cartoons of noodles and 20 cartoons of sardines all for distribution to the affected families.

These families are housed at present in evacuation centers of different villages.

Earlier, the social welfare office in that city distributed 20 sacks of rice, 10 boxes of sardines and 30 boxes of noodles to some 2,710 affected families there.

Based on the monitoring report from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Capiz, the number of families in various evacuation centers lessened already.

PDRRMC noted data from Pontevedra town show only 75 of the total 155 displaced families are left in the evacuation centers. - pna