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Quote from: kaayohan on May 07, 2010, 07:52:40 PM
Naa man diay proceso ug consultation sa governmental agency - DENR gi himo sa atong Mayor Piezas before sa pag potol sa mga kahoy.... and aside from that DENR itself issued the special permit for cutting.... though nga ang mayor who recommend sa pagpotol BUT final decision nag gikan gyud sa DENR and NOT THE MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS....

Legally, the DENR WILL BE BLAMED not our mayor......

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? What did you say? Blame the DENR, not the mayor? Where is your logic?

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. - Plato

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News item published in Bohol newspapers...

In the wake of the reported senseless, heartless cutting of century-old acacia trees lining the national highway of the historic town of Guindulman, advocates of Boholanos’rich socio-cultural and historical heritage have come up with a plan of conducting mapping of sites, for purposes of preservation or restoration.

The joint-committees on environment, culture and arts conducted a meeting Wednesday, in aid-of-legislation, following a formal complaint filed by a certain Fred C. Amora, president of the Living Dreams Association, citing the cutting of the trees in his town. 

As this developed, invited resource persons Marianito Luspo, chair of the Bohol Arts, Cultural Heritage (BACH) Council and Enriquita Butalied, head of the Provincial Center for Culture and Arts Development, jointly urged that next time, local officials must also involved in consultation other sectors in the society when it comes to altering, or in this case, cutting of trees that had become part of their life and culture.

Guindulman town got its name “guidoman” meaning “darkened” from travelers passing the area. Because of the majestic crown of green leaves and proud trunks of the tall acacia trees, the road in that part of the province was cool and shaded (dark).

Luspo proposed to conduct what he called a “cultural mapping” or an inventory of the sites and things considered part of our rich cultural heritage, including centuries-old houses and trees, in the province. “Cultural mapping” could be the basis for protection and preservation effort so that cultural heritage and their aesthetic values may be saved for the next generation.

MYOPIC MINDS?

The LIVING DREAMS, a government-recognized people’s organization based in Guindulman reported that four century-old acacia trees standing in front of the newly-built public market were cut on August 19, 2009, two weeks before the September 8 town fiesta for the purpose of giving a prominent view of the building claimed by the municipal administration as its major accomplishment.

The cutting of the trees was followed by a day and night painting of the public market building and the installation of flood lights for all to see during the town fiesta season. But what caught the public attention, however, was the despicable sight of the tree trunks that remained out of the once-majestic acacia trees.

Former mayor and now retired judge Atty. Lilio Amora said we will never see again in our lifetime those trees which stood witness of the town’s struggles, trials and triumphs.

The Pacific Consultant International (PCI), consultants of the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project (BCRIP-2) did not recommend the cutting of the trees when the national highway road was built in 2006.

Residents of Guindulman said it is illogical that the trees suddenly became a hazard after just three years when Japanese environmental and structural experts deemed the trees safe, part of the scenic sights along the national highways.

Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe Piezas did not refute the allegations that she ordered the cutting of the trees to give a wider view of the newly constructed public market.

The lady mayor secured the help of other municipal officials to justify her actions which she admitted was a very “unpopular decision” noting the outburst of sentiment among town folks.

E-mails from Boholanos living in other countries also flooded numerous websites when the new was posted in the Internet, all condemning the myopic foresights of some local officials.

JUSTIFICATION

The decision to cut the trees was purportedly for public safety, first and foremost, than their preservation.

Mayor Piezas told the meeting of the environment committee chaired by provincial Board Member Alfonso Damalerio II last week at the provincial Capitol that she had to choose and decide, lamenting “damn if you do and damn if you don’t.” 

She explained that the trees have been suffering from decay as can be gleaned from the colored photos she distributed during the same meeting. The trees cannot be saved anymore because they are dying, she said.

In explaining the urgent need to uproot the trees by virtue of a special permit issued by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, the feisty lady mayor stressed that environmental preservation and cultural heritage are also part of her administration thrusts.

The decision to cut the trees was necessitated following several complaints reaching her office that the trees have already posed danger to the public considering their location nearby the public market. She was told that a lot of people have not been spared from falling branches of said trees.

Though she took the responsibility of what she described as “not a popular decision,” she said she had to do what must be done in the name of public safety. 

Mayor Piezas found an ally in Engr. Nestor Canda, provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO) of the DENR Bohol, who was also called to the said meeting. 

Canda told the meeting “there’s really danger because the trees have already cavities and their inner core is already hollow.” He said that the trees will eventually collapse so they really pose risk to the public.

Penro Canda explained that every tree has a life span that may explain why the acacia trees bore “cavities,” signifying they are dying.

But before issuing a special permit to the municipal government to cut the trees, Talibon-based CENRO conducted an inspection, Canda said.

Pesent during the meeting include Vice-Mayor Marivic Golosino, Kag. Ephraim Licayan, DPWH Engr. Celestino Adlaon, CCAD’s Ekit Butalid, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Edgar Sarabosing and CENRO-Talibon forester Frank Lolong.

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By Diego Urdaneta
Agence France-Presse

Civil rights and labor groups on Thursday urged Americans not to travel to Arizona, as they launched a national boycott in response to the state's divisive new anti-illegal immigration law.

The boycott was called by the National Council of La Raza, the largest US-based Hispanic civil rights group, which also urged President Barack Obama to redouble his efforts to see that immigration reform becomes law.

"We are calling for a boycott because this law will blow open the door to increased racial profiling, wrongful arrests, and other discrimination," said Janet Murguia, the president of the group, who criticized the Arizona law as "not American."

"There is a right way and a wrong way" to achieve an overhaul of US immigration policy, she added.

"The right way is for Congress to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to properly regulate immigration," she said, urging Americans not to travel to the southwestern US state.

A Los Angeles couple who hit the $266-million jackpot in a multi-state lottery said Thursday that the bumper payday would not change them.

Jacki and Gilbert Cisneros became California's newest millionaires on Tuesday when they struck paydirt in the Mega Millions Lottery after the prize total had rolled over to an eye-popping $266 million.

The win instantly obliterated the couple's financial worries -- Gilbert Cisneros had recently lost his job -- and left them contemplating a life of almost unlimited luxury.

But the couple insisted Tuesday they are not planning a spending spree, with NBC television journalist Jacki Cisneros even revealing that she had no plans to give up her job.

"I don't think it's going to change us," Jacki Cisneros told NBC4. "You know, we'll buy a house, but doesn't everyone dream of buying a house? I don't want to get too carried away, you know?," she said, adding that she hopes to keep working at her current job. - AFP

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A1 Source: As early as Wednesday and Thursday, Atty Dionisio Balite, a board member candidate for the third district of Bohol, has started handing out 20 pesos cash to town voters.

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3GP, a new standard for creation, delivery and playback multimedia over 3rd generation networks, are commonly mobile phone video file formats supported by most 3G capable mobile phones. Sometimes you might need to put your favorite videos onto your mobile phone to enjoy them on the go keeping up your mood or post the recorded video to Youtube or wherever, here is a simple way.

3GP Converter for Mac is able to transcode almost all popular videos to 3gp formats with different resolution, frame rate and bit rate to exactly accommodate to your mobile phones. It supports to export mov, avi, mpg, flv, wmv, mp4, m4v, dv and a variety of others to 3gp or 3g2 for playback on mobile phone. 3gp converter for Mac also provides you the option to convert audio to audio, convert video to audio like mp3, flac, ac3, m4a and wav.

If you would like to get your precious home video or fantastic Youtube video onto your mobile phone, fine, 3gp converter for Mac provides you an ultra efficient solution with its powerful video editing capacity. You can trim the video to leave out unwanted frame and crop out black sides in the frame then merge all small parts of videos into one. Nothing to complain about.

Main features of 3GP Converter for Mac
Manage almost all popular video and audio

Input:
Video: avi, flv , asf, wmv, 3gp, 3g2, mov, vob, mpg, mp4, mkv, m4v, dv
Audio: mp3, flac, aac, ac3, aiff, amr, wma, mp2, mka.

Output:
Video: 3g2, 3gp, mov, mpg, mp4
Audio: ac3, mp3, m4a, wav

Supported providers of these 3gp-based multimedia phones:
Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, Qualcomm.

Extract Soundtracks and Images from Movies
Save audio streams as audio files, save single frames as images.

Batch Mode conversion
Convert several video files at once. Convert video to video, convert audio to audio and convert video to audio. Join several video files into one.

Video editing:
Delete unwanted parts. Split and join video files. Rotate; Apply audio and video effects to your movies

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WebVideoRip is the easiest and the most powerful way to capture web video and online TV. Just start WebVideoRip, play your video as usual and WebVideoRip saves it automatically. No additional click or configuration hassle. WebVideoRip does everything automatically in the background for you.
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Convert any music files to MP3, AAC or WAV. Easily and at high speed.
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TuneGet is a break-through tool that finds and downloads any music and music video from the web in 2 clicks.
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SoundTaxi Media Suite includes 5 fantastic tools :
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RipTiger is the easiest and the most powerful way to capture online video. Just start RipTiger, play your video as usual and RipTiger saves it automatically. No additional click or configuration hassle. RipTiger does everything automatically in the background for you.

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MovieTaxi iPod Video Converter is an extremely easy to use 1-Click solution to convert Tivo, DivX, Xvid, MPEG, MPEG4, WMV, AVI, (S)VCD, RealMedia videos and many more to iPod Video in high quality at high speed.

It uses a new MPEG4 encoder to produce smaller high quality video files at an incredible speed.<BR><BR>
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MovieTaxi 3GP Video Converter is an extremely easy to use 1-Click solution to convert Tivo, DivX, Xvid, MPEG, MPEG4, WMV, AVI, (S)VCD, RealMedia videos and many more to 3GP mobile phones in high quality at high speed.

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Media Buddy is a versatile tool that can convert almost any given multimedia files, be it video or audio, to a huge variety of media formats that are suitable for playback on DVD and portable players, mobile phones, gaming consoles and whatnot. = Trial Download Here

GetRadio plays online radio stations, filters and records their music to mp3 tracks. With over 25,000 free web radio stations out there, and the ability to add even more, you can listen to music of almost any genre and flavor while recording it to your hard drive. In fact, GetRadio can even silently record several radio stations simultaneously. Leave it recording a couple of stations (as many as you want) and you'll rack up a huge collection of free legal mp3 tracks in no time. GetRadio Full edition can also filter songs to record only those performed by artists you specify. >> Free Trial Download

GetRadio plays online radio stations and records their music to mp3 tracks. With over 25,000 free web radio stations out there, and the ability to add even more, you can listen to music of almost any genre and flavor while recording it to your hard drive. In fact, GetRadio can even silently record several radio stations simultaneously. Leave it recording a couple of stations (as many as you want) and you'll rack up a huge collection of free legal mp3 tracks in no time. - Try it = Free Trial Download Here

DRMBuster is aimed to remove limitations from your protected video and audio. It can convert both regular and protected media files to unprotected format, which suits exactly your needs. No matter where you want to use YOUR purchased music or clips. Just convert them with DRMBuster and enjoy your WMV, AAC, M4P, MP4, M4V, WMA, RAX and ANY others format to MP3 (to listen it anywhere) or directly to your iPod/iPhone. - FREE Trial Download Here

Extremely easy to use application for copying your DVDs to DVD, iPod/iPhone, DivX or your PC. 1Step DVD Copy is amazingly fast and it creates copies in DVD, M4P, iPod/iPhone & DivX format in almost original quality at only 10% size. The integrated DVD writer function can write the movie onto DVD. Order Form Here

John is the kind of guy you love to hate.  He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.  When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator..

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!'

'You can't be a positive person all of the time.  How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today.  You can choose to be in a good mood or...you can choose to be in a bad mood

I choose to be in a good mood.'

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it.  I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life.  I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said.  'Life is all about choices.  When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice.  You choose how you react to situations.  You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.  The bottom line:  It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said.  Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business..  We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied.  'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices:  I could choose to live or...I could choose to die.  I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared?  Did you lose consciousness?'  I asked.

He continued, '...the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine.  But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.  In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'.  I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked..

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John.  'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.'  The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.  I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live.  Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude...I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully...

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.'  Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. - forwarded email...

Jane has a PR writer and there is a possibility she did not read the press release before it went public. Or, it could be that she herself dictated all the statements herein to her PR writer.

Her first project: Cut all the centuries-old acacia trees so people in Bohol would know Guindulman has a new public market. Ego trip: first mission.

by John Hagel III, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison

But all too often those who are passionate about their work are frustrated with their employers and bosses. They are not satisfied. Far from it. They want to do more, but they feel held back.

by Rafi Mohammed

“There is a fundamental ‘profit disconnect’ in business today. Companies work to bring a product to market by investing significant effort and money in research and development, distribution, and marketing strategies. But when it comes to setting a price â€" how businesses get compensated for their hard work and financial risk â€" most companies drop the ball. Critical pricing decisions are often made using arbitrary ‘this is the way we’ve always done it’ methods. Companies are shortchanging themselves every day.”

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“His work rate is unbelievable, unreal,” Holloway said. “I have sat there and seen Manny go 30-something rounds and not even get tired. And I’m not talking about doing rounds where he just throws 70 or 80 punches or a light round, every round he goes balls to the walls and throws over 100 punches. Everything has mean intentions. He takes that 30-second break, which half the time he doesn’t want to take, and then he gets back in the ring.” - Rashad Holloway, quoted by examiner.com

Agence France Press:

President Barack Obama on Wednesday issued his toughest criticism yet of an Arizona immigration law that critics say enshrines racial profiling, warning that people should not be singled out by their appearance.

The president also urged Republicans to join him in beginning work on a comprehensive immigration reform bill this yearâ€"but offered no assurances he would push for legislation before mid-term elections in November.

The new law in the southwestern state, one of the toughest in the United States, allows police to question and detain anyone they believe may be an illegal immigrant, even if they are not suspected of committing another crime.

Obama admitted that some states felt betrayed by a wave of illegal immigration, but said the answer was not to "undermine fundamental principles that define us as a nation."

"You can't start singling out people because of who they look like or how they talk or how they dress," Obama said at the White House, at a reception marking the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

The Washington Post announced Wednesday that it was putting money-losing Newsweek magazine up for sale.

"Newsweek is a lively, important magazine and website, and in the current climate, it might be a better fit elsewhere," Washington Post Co. chairman Donald Graham said in a statement.

"The losses at Newsweek in 2007-2009 are a matter of record," Graham said. "Despite heroic efforts on the part of Newsweek's management and staff, we expect it to still lose money in 2010.

"We are exploring all options to fix that problem," he said.

The Post Co. said it had retained Allen & Company to explore the possible sale of the magazine, which was launched in 1933 and purchased by the Post Co. in 1961.

In addition to Newsweek and the flagship Washington Post, the Post Co. owns Kaplan educational services and cable TV operations.

Like other US magazines, Newsweek has been grappling with a steep drop in print advertising revenue, steadily declining circulation, and the migration of readers to free news online.

Advertising revenue at Newsweek fell 37 percent last year. - Associated Press

By Glenn Chapman
Agence France-Presse

Facebook on Wednesday temporarily shut down its online chat feature after a software glitch let people's friends in the online community see each others' private chat messages.

For a "limited period of time" chat messages and pending friend requests could be made visible to friends, according to Facebook.

For peeks at the usually walled-off information Facebook users had to manipulate a "preview my profile" feature in a particular way, according to Facebook.

After enduring weeks of condemnation, acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra Wednesday reversed a decision to drop murder charges against two key allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in last year’s massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province.

Agra’s earlier decision to clear Zaldy Ampatuan and Akmad Ampatuan drew nationwide outrage and calls for his resignation, which he largely ignored.

Zaldy is a brother of the main suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr., and governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, while Akmad is Andal Jr.’s cousin and vice governor of Maguindanao.

The Ampatuans, who delivered crucial votes for Ms Arroyo and her candidates in two previous elections, were accused of leading policemen and militiamen in the murders of their political rivals and at least 30 journalists accompanying them.

The Ampatuans have denied the charges against them. The emotional trial opened in January in the country’s largest criminal case since post-World War II prosecutions of war criminals.

Agra, an election lawyer who defended Ms Arroyo against charges of massive election fraud in 2004, has been at the receiving end of nationwide protests since his April 16 decision to drop the charges against the two Ampatuans.

On Wednesday, he said new pieces of evidence made him change his mind.

“I am now convinced that there is probable cause,” said Agra, whose appointment as justice secretary is deemed temporary since it could not be acted on by Congress’ Commission on Appointments which is on recess.

Leandro Mendoza, acting executive secretary of Ms Arroyo, earlier called on Agra to review the decision he made to drop Zaldy and Akmad from the charge list.

The President’s spokesperson, Gary Olivar, said Malacañang was backing Agra’s turnaround.

“Secretary Agra was simply being consistent … that his decisions are based only on facts,” Olivar said. “New facts, new decision. This is natural and reasonable.” - Philippine Daily Inquirer

@kaayohan... since you really want to insist that this is political when in fact many of those who signed the petition have not been to Guindulman, Bohol wherever it is, then so be it... now how about the pure guindulmanons who care more about the environment than politics? if the one who ordered all the centuries-old trees cut were a manicurist and people were reacting to the slaughter of innocent trees and it so happened it were an election time, would you still call it political?

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” - Plato

Boxing analysts all over the world have finally concluded that the Mosley-Mayweather fight last May 1, 2010 was a fixed fight. Please review the video and you will see that Mosley didn't throw punches.

Why the fight has to be fixed? Because if Mosley wins the fight, it would be a huge loss of money to the promoters who cannot launch a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. Pacquiao now has to fight Mosley, a match that is not expected to generate much revenue to the big guys in the boxing industry.

By MADEL R. SABATER
Manila Bulletin

Malacañang is finalizing an executive order (EO) authorizing the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to enter into a lease purchase agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the acquisition of real estate properties abroad as sites for Philippine embassies and consulates, a move that would save on rental cost going forward.

“This is part of the ongoing program of the DFA under Sec. Alberto Romulo to acquire chanceries and ambassador residences and upgrade existing ones,” DFA spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya told the Manila Bulletin.

DBP President Reynaldo G. David, in a separate interview, disclosed that the Palace is in the final stage of drawing the EO that “will authorize” the bank to “undertake the acquisition of the residences of the ambassadors and chanceries” for and on behalf of DFA.

This transaction known as lease purchase agreement is allowed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) law as amended.

By JUN RAMIREZ
Manila Bulletin

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) disclosed Sunday that many candidates running for various posts in the upcoming elections, to include some presidential bets, have not registered as tax withholding agents with the bureau, as required by law.

Under the law, candidates are required to register with the BIR as tax withholding agents and then collect and remit on a monthly basis a five-percent withholding tax on their campaign expenses.

However, many candidates running for various posts have not yet registered as tax withholding agents with the BIR, said BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Nelson Aspe.

Aspe said reports from revenue district offices throughout the country show that “only few (candidates) have registered with us.”

He said the BIR is giving candidates for elective positions until a month after the May 10 elections to settle their respective five-percent withholding tax duties on their campaign expenses.

By MARVYN N. BENANING
Manila Bulletin

Filipino environmentalist and sportsman Bobby del Rosario is set to embark on a 1,170-kilometer trek to reach the South Pole and drum up support for the war against climate change and break the world record in the process.

Del Rosario, also a professional golf instructor and outdoorsman, will be supported by the 414,000 member-strong Blue Falcons, an environmental group led by its president, Prof. Leonardo "Onad" Usita.

Usita said Blue Falcons will pool their resources to ensure that Del Rosario will achieve his goal of reaching the South Pole under harsh claimatic conditions and beat the standing world record of 33 days.

Should Del Rosario succeed, he will be the first Filipino to ever reach Antarctica's geographical center from the Chilean-administered Patriot Hills.

By November, which is summer in Antarctica, Usita said Del Rosario will be ready to fly to Patriot Hills from Punta Arenas, Chile. Del Rosario will have to battle the notorious Katabatic winds, also known as gravity winds, before he sets off for the long trek.

He has been training since last year to endure the rigors of his Antarctic trek at an average of minus 50 degrees Celsius daily, with headwinds ranging from 80 km to 100 km per hour.

By LESLIE ANN AQUINO
Manila Bulletin

Prepare for the worst, bring sunblock on Election Day.

This was the reminder of an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to the electorate as they troop to the various polling precincts on May 10.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez, director of the Comelec’s Education and Information Department, said voters should prepare for the worst by bringing sunblock lotion especially since they might have to contend with long queues.

The poll official issued the statement after the poll watchdog group, Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch), called on the public to prepare for the worst, saying the Comelec failed to prepare for the first-ever nationwide automated elections in the country.

“We are now left with declaring to the public that Comelec has indeed failed the people… We now call on the people to prepare for the worst, guard the vote, and keep our vigilance high!” said the AES Watch in a statement.

(AP) â€" A Muslim Frenchman at the center of a firestorm over polygamy said Monday that keeping mistresses is the French way of life.

The man’s case came to light after his wife was fined for driving with a veil covering her face, and his comments are an ironic riposte to those in French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government who want to push immigrants to better integrate into French society.

The 31-year-old Frenchwoman drew nationwide attention last week to a driving fine she received for apparel that hinders her vision. But it soon emerged that her husband may have four wives â€" although it was doubtful the marriages were made official under French law.

The Netherlands' Queen Beatrix celebrates 30 years on the throne Friday amid a crisis of government that observers say has made her all the more relevant as a unifying figure.

"Beatrix is a symbol of unity. It is her role as queen," Han van Bree, an author on the Dutch royal family, told AFP ahead of the ever-popular queen's landmark anniversary.

"People have a need to know that there is someone who looks after the stability of the country."

Given the collapse of the centre-left government in February in a spat about extending the Netherlands' military presence in Afghanistan, the 72-year-old monarch's retirement ahead of June elections was unlikely, the author said.

While the build-up to last year's annual Queen's Day celebrations was marked by widespread speculation of her abdication, there has been no such talk this year.

"She won't abdicate in such a turbulent time," said Van Bree, especially given the popularity dent recently suffered by crown prince Willem-Alexander, 43. - AFP

Associated Press: A depressed Alexander McQueen twice tried to overdose on drugs in the months before he hanged himself, the fashion designer's psychiatrist and a coroner said Wednesday.

Coroner Paul Knapman ruled that McQueen's Feb. 11 death was a suicide, and said the designer took his life after taking a mixture of cocaine, sleeping pills and tranquilizers.

The 40-year-old "killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed," Knapman told a public inquest that aimed to establish the circumstances surrounding his death. In Britain, inquests are held whenever someone dies violently or in unexplained circumstances.

"It seems that he had a history of self-harm and, no doubt fueled by cocaine, he resorted to desperate measures to end his life," he said.

McQueen's body was found in a wardrobe in his apartment on the eve of his mother's funeral. The coroner's court said the cause of his death was asphyxiation and hanging.

Single at 50. If he can't lead a family, how can he lead a nation?

What's your reaction to the allegation?

By NEIL RAMOS
Manila Bulletin

The widow of the late rapper-actor Francis Magalona is crying foul, alleging that supporters of presidential candidate, Benigno Noynoy Aquino III, have been pestering her after she declared her support for another presidential wannabe, Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon.

Magalona vented her feelings via her Facebook account by posting “shout outs” like, "Kayong mga takot sa COMMITMENT, kayong mga consistently inconsistent. Bakit ba kayo affected at nagre-react sa mga sinasabi ko? I'm just being TRUE to myself. Kayo na nagsasabi na sayang ang boto kay Gordon kasi di mananalo, e di gawin nyo gusto nyo. Wala lang sisihan diba. E di naman kayo nag-iisip e. You just go with the flow.”

Another one of her shout outs stated, “Vote whomever you want to, just go out and vote. E kahit naman sinong nakaupo, magre-reklamo kayo. Unlike me, kahit sinong umupo, ginagawan ko ng paraan ang buhay ko para maka-adapt. Pero hindi ako ngangawa-ngawa kasi I'm glad I voted for that person. [By the way], in 2004 we voted for Mr Roco. Good guy, bless his soul.”

Magalona’s tirade seemingly stemmed from having seen photos of her and her late husband supposedly “vandalized” by supporters of Aquino to make it appear that they are endorsing his candidacy.

By NEIL RAMOS
Manila Bulletin

Singer- actress Malu Barry is appealing for financial help.

In a recent TV interview, Barry divulged that her son Charles, 27, is in coma after having been allegedly run over by a wayward vehicle.

According to Barry, the incident happened February this year in Cebu, where her son is currently based.

During the same interview, Barry admitted that she is having difficulties in raising the necessary amount to pay for her son’s medical expenses.

She revealed that the alleged culprit has refused to foot the bill, even with her having asked only for the latter to, at the very least, shoulder part of it.

She has filed a case against the suspect.

By ALEX VALENTIN BROSAS
Manila Bulletin

Like other hoax text messages about celebrities in the past, the new one which claimed that actor-singer Piolo Pascual had died in an accident was proven to be untrue.

Star Magic, Piolo’s management company, received a barrage of queries about Piolo's safety as soon as the messages started doing the rounds.Through a statement read on “Showbiz News Ngayon” last April 28, Star Magic doused the malicious talk with cold water.

“We were not able to receive the exact text message regarding Piolo that he had an accident yesterday and died today. A lot of versions are coming out already and we are surprised with the news. He is alive and okay. He is on his way back to Manila from training in Subic for a soap opera,” the statement read.

SNN co-host Mariel Rodriguez warned the public to not immediately believe rumors circulating on text messages.

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
Manila Bulletin

Gretchen Barretto captured the headlines recently by doing this.

Now, it’s Sharon Cuneta who has been rumored to have staged a walkout--from her own show, no less.

The Megastar refuted such rumor, saying she had to leave because she wasn’t feeling well.

“Some things happened na hindi inaasahan. Low batt[ery] ako that day. Off na off ako. And I just felt hindi ko magagawan ng… hindi ko mabibigay ang one hundred percent ko sa audience ko kung pipilitin ko that day. I’d rather not do it kung half-baked, di ba?” explained the singer, host and actress in a “TV Patrol World” interview.

The award-winning thespian added, “I don’t like to be a 'flastic.' I’m not!”

Reports circulated late last month that Sharon allegedly stormed out from a taping of her Sunday evening variety-talk show “Sharon” because she didn’t like the “naughty” theme of the production.

A tearful Sharon is said to have gone straight to her dressing room. The shocked staff tried to comfort her but she wouldn’t talk to them. After some time, she reportedly left the building.

That aside, Sharon and her solon-husband Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan will take a break from showbiz and intrigues to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 2, at a beach.

By JOJO P. PANALIGAN
Manila Bulletin

Akbayan representative and Liberal Party (LP) senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros admits she and Queen of All Media Kris Aquino are not friends yet, despite the TV commercial that the latter shot to endorse her candidacy.

“It would be presumptuous on my part to say we are close, not even friends. It’s true that we have been together in a few campaign sorties lately but we’ve not had the chance to really strengthen our bond,” says Hontiveros.

She maintains, however, that Kris’ endorsement means a lot and “utang na loob ko sa kanya ‘yon magpakailanman.”

“I need all the help I could get seeing that I’m not even in the Magic 12 at this point. And Kris is such a charming person â€" namamagnet niya ang lahat. Some people love her, a few don’t, but most are fascinated by her. Kahit ako, nakikinig ako sa opinion niya as a public figure and I look forward to becoming her friend,” Hontiveros says.

Aquino recently coaxed Hontiveros to sing with her during a campaign sortie. They sang Rey Valera’s “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo,” also the theme song of Aquino’s latest teleserye. Aquino lauded Hontiveros on stage, saying “maganda na ang boses, maganda pa, maganda talaga ang laban!”

No surprise there. Hontiveros was a former theater actress who had performed with the likes of Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, and Raymond and Menchu Lauchengco in the ‘80s.

Natural Airbags

By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
Manila Bulletin

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) presidential candidate former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada is slowly but surely inching closer to the top.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey released Friday, Estrada surged to second place in a tie with Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar.

Still leading the pack is Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino III.

The nationwide survey conducted from April 23 to 25 with 1,800 respondents showed that Aquino leads with 39 percent of the overall voter preference, a two-point increase from 37 percent in the March survey.

Both Estrada and Villar have 20-percent voter preference.

Estrada’s score is two points higher than the 20 percent he got in the previous survey, while Villar’s voter preference dropped five percentage points from 25 percent last March.

In the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results, Aquino also registered the highest voter preference with 38 percent, while Villar came in second with 28 percent, and Estrada in third place with 17 percent.

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By MARVYN N. BENANING
Manila Bulletin

An agriculture input company has declared the country can feed an additional 50 million Filipinos by 2040 if it cultivates high-yielding rice varieties that need less water to thrive.

Jose Valmayor of Syngenta Philipines told farmers and officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) that he challenge posed by an expanding population can be met comprehensively by using these varieties and applying crop protection products that ensure higher recovery of grains but with less carbon footprint.

"How can we feed a growing population, while maintaining a healthy environment that is fit for our children and their children after them?" Valmayor asked.

"The Philippine government is very cognizant of this challenge and has therefore made food security and rural development as one of its enduring goals. And what better place to start than with rice â€" the staple of most Filipinos and provider of over half the calories in an average Filipino's diet and the most widely grown crop. Rice has been the focus of productivity efforts since the 1960s and much progress had been made," he said.

By MARVYN N. BENANING
Manila Bulletin

Militant farmers will not budge in their demand for the dismantling of Hacienda Luisita and other large estates even under another Aquino presidency.

Peasants belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) claimed that whoever sits in Malacañang would have to tackle the issue of the parceling of the 6,400-hectare estate in Tarlac.

It would be a major headache for Sen. Noynoy Aquino in case he wins the presidency in the May 10 elections, they said.

The KMP and its regional allies in Southern Luzon, the Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are pressing government to also junk the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Extension with Reform (CARPER) Law and replace it with House Bill 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) filed by the late Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza had taken the cudgels for the farmers, who lost at least eight colleagues when soldiers and police allegedly fired at their picket line in November, 2004.

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By EDU H. LOPEZ
May 4, 2010, 12:33pm

The search is on for the outstanding Filipino seafarers in the country following its official launch by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the Filipino seafarers in the domestic and overseas employment have greatly contributed to the growth and development of the Philippine maritime industry. The DOLE has organized a search committee for the award composed of the Administrator of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); Administrator of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); the Director General of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); the Executive Director of Maritime Training Council (MTC); the President of the Association of Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Chairman of the Joint Manning Group (JMG). The search committee would also select nominees to the IMO Bravery at Sea Award. The search is in line with the declaration of 2010 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the “International Year of the Seafarer,” Roque said.

Records at the POEA showed that there were 323,384 seafarers deployed in 2009 or a growth rate of 26.5 % from the 261,614 figure in 2008. Percentage share of seafarers in the total deployment of OFWs was 25% while the annual average deployment of Filipino seafarers was 256,000. In 2009, deployed Filipino seafarers according to flag of registry were distributed as follows: Panama, 65,585; Bahamas, 39,075; Liberia, 29,754; Singapore, 15,790; Marshall Island, 18,113 and others 155,067. Based on the presence of seafarers according to vessel type, majority of them are in bulk carriers with 62,229 workers closely followed by passenger type vessels with 61,705 seafarers.

Other types of vessels are container (44,276) and tanker (30,459), oil and product tanker (22,366), general cargo (14,695), chemical tanker (17,179), tugboat (10,347) and other type of vessels (60,128).

By EMMIE V. ABADILLA
Manila Bulletin

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Tuesday signed a Share Purchase Agreement with Torre Hermanos Agro-Industrial Enterprises Inc. to acquire a 51% shareholding in Riverside Medical Center Inc. (RMCI), the largest hospital in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

RMCI will be the 4th premier hospital to join MPIC’s growing nationwide chain â€" now with a total group capacity in excess of 1,300 beds, which includes the Makati Medical Center and Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Metro Manila, and Davao Doctors Hospital in Mindanao.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2009, RMCI had consolidated revenues of P940 million, assets of P911 million, liabilities of P553 million, and equity of P358 million.

RMCI, also known as the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in honor of its visionary founder who started it as an 8-bed clinic in 1954, was grown by the family into a 336-bed level IV hospital with medical departments comprising Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine, Orthopedics, ENT, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Pathology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Imaging Sciences, Anesthesia, Surgery, and Opthalmology.

It has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Riverside College Inc., a nursing school with 2,800 students.

By Arlyn dela Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The influential religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has made official its choice for president and vice president in the coming May 10-elections.

Beginning Wednesday during early worship service in various locales of the INC nationwide, church ministers read to the faithful members the list of the INC's candidates in the coming elections.

For president, the church endorsed Liberal Party standard-bearer Senator Benigno Noynoy Aquino III and for vice president, Aquino's running mate Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

The INC's endorsement is one of the most anticipated endorsements in the May elections. Voting as a block, the INC has an estimated command votes of 5-8 million.

By BEN O. TESIORNA
Manila Bulletin

A youth group advocating a campaign against corruption in the government launched their organization here in Davao City on Monday with about 2,000 youth leaders from all over Southern Mindanao attending.

Calling their group as the Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon (KKK), lead convenor Melvin Mitra said they started organizing a little over two months ago yet they already have membership of hundreds of youth organizations all over the country.

In Metro Manila alone, Mitra said, they have about 200 youth groups joining KKK. Here in Davao City, they expect to get the support of several youth groups along with the Sangguniang Kabataan in various local government units as well. KKK launched their group in Mindanao through a “youth convergence” at the People’s Park in Davao City.

Attending the launching were Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and daughter China. The Cojuangcos said KKK is just one of the many members they have in their Pinoy Patriot group. He said their main objective is not only to ensure Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s victory in the May 10 presidential election but even beyond.

What's your reaction?

(Reuters) â€" A spike in raw sugar prices which powered the market to a 29-year peak just three months ago has been scuppered for good, and some in the trade are wondering if the fall will be as fast as the rise.

Sugar may have another 20 percent to fall this year even after more than halving since hitting a 29-year high just three months ago, if past super-spikes of the 1970s and 1980s are any guide.

The sugar market has changed dramatically in the past three decades with the advent of ethanol, the rise of Brazil and decline of government intervention.

But this year's collapse in prices revived memories of previous boom-bust cycles in which prices rapidly recoiled to pre-spike levels within 3 years.

In both the 1974-76 cycle and the 1979-82, prices quintupled or more from below 10 cents â€" only to fall back below 10 cents again.

In the 1970s, raw sugar peaked above 60 US cents a lb. It again punched up in the 1980s to around 45 cents.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA
Manila Bulletin

Cement maker Holcim Philippines Inc. is planning to raise capital expenditures to P2.2 billion this year as it invests in raising plant efficiencies amid stronger demand.

In a briefing after the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting Tuesday, Holcim chief operating officer Roland van Wijnen said that, in the past 3 years, they had been spending about P2 billion each year.

However, the firm lowered capex last year because of the global crisis which dampened demand. But this year, Wijnen said they will try to bring it back to P2 billion.

Holcim also plans to put in an additional P200 million for this year’s capex which will be used for plant improvements.

Van Wijnen said they are cautiously optimistic of the industry but, if demand surges, Holcim still has one million available but deactivated capacity. The firm is currently using capacity of six million tons  from total rated capacity of 7.2 million tons a year.

Holcim sustained the momentum of its strong 2009 performance, achieving year-on-year growth of 17 percent in net sales during the first three months of 2010.

Associated Press:

A Massachusetts woman who was born without arms or kneecaps is preparing to test for her black belt in taekwondo. Sheila Radziewicz was scheduled to take her test next month at Bruce McCorry's Martial Arts in Peabody. The 32-year-old brown belt, who was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius, or TAR syndrome, told The Salem News she's been training in martial arts for three years.

McCorry, her teacher, said he's never seen a student like Radziewicz. Despite her condition, she can use nunchucks and break boards with her kicks.

The Salem resident, who works as an advocate for victims of domestic violence, said she has never let her disability stop her. At 23, Radziewicz earned her driver's license. She uses a car that she controls with her feet.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA
Manila Bulletin

D.M. Consunji Inc., a wholly-owned unit of DMCI Holdings, and Marubeni Corporation, have signed a $1.12 billion contract for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the MRT 7 project.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday, DMCI said the contract was signed with Universal LRT Corporation Limited.

DMCI president Isidro Consunji said their share of the project, comprising all of the civil works, is worth about $500 million adding that they hope the project will “hopefully” start construction in May next year and will be completed after less than three years.

The Marubeni-DMCI consortium will execute and warrant the works for the roughly 22 kilometer rail system which starts from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and ends at the integrated MRT Line 3 â€" MRT Line 7 Station at North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City.

DMCI said they will build the combined elevated and at grade guideway sections for a maximum period of 42 months. “This infrastructure project will further address the transportation needs of the riding public and alleviate traffic in Metro Manila, particularly traffic going to and coming from Northern Luzon.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA
Manila Bulletin

Alaska Milk Corporation is investing at least P500 million to boost production capacity for both powdered and liquid milk as it aims to double revenues to P20 billion in five years.

In an interview at the sidelines of the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting Tuesday, Alaska president Wilfred Uytengsu Jr. said expansion into new products will be limited since there are still a lot of opportunities in liquid and powdered milk.

“Doubling our sales again in the next five years will put us on the radar screen of a different set of investors that are currently investors in the company, particularly institutional funds abroad,” Uytengsu noted.

He said that, for this year, Alaska is aiming for double digit growth. “We think we will have fairly good topline growth on our businesses. At this point, demand is outstripping supply. This is why we are looking to increase capacity and we are hopeful of exceeding the 2009 financial performance,” Uytengsu said.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA
Manila Bulletin

After giving up on two ventures in Taiwan, Jollibee Foods Corporation, through wholly-owned unit Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd., is investing RMB 41 million ( $4.4 million) in South China through its joint venture with Guangzi Zong Kai Food and Beverage Investment Company Limited (GZK).

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday, JFC said JWPL has signed a joint venture agreement with GZK for the eventual joint ownership of San Pin Wang, a chain of restaurants with a total of 34 stores in Nanning and Lizhou, Guang Xi Zhuang Minority Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of China.

JFC will own 55 percent of San Pin Wang while GZK will own 45 percent of the business. JFC will invest RMB 30 million to secure 55 percent of San Pin Wang.

Both JWPL and GZK will also place additional investments amounting to RMB 20 million on this fast food chain in anticipation of its expansion. The joint venture is estimated to be fully operational by January 2011.

Less than a week ahead of presidential elections in the Philippines, a new vote-counting system has malfunctioned.

But officials from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they remained optimistic that problems evident in tests would be solved before the vote.

Computerised vote-counting will be used for the first time in the Philippines in the 10 May elections.

Some candidates and analysts fear the system could make it easier for fraud or miscounting to take place.

There has also been discussion about whether the system's weaknesses could provide adequate cause to delay the vote, although this remains highly controversial.

Some of the 82,200 machines tested failed to read the names of candidates, forcing a recall of the software used, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

"We had some problems with the configuration of the machines. Some of them weren't reading the ballots properly," he told the BBC.

"So we're pulling out all the memory cards and re-configuring them, then we're going to retest them on Friday."

Mr Jimenez repeated assurances that software fixes would ensure that the country's more than 50m voters could vote successfully on Monday.

He said the new configurations would be done over the next few days and that he was "absolutely optimistic that there will be no problems" on election day.

Count fears

But one analyst told the AFP news agency that the system's problems would "raise doubts about the winners and results".

"This will just increase fears among the public. It smacks of a lack of preparedness, incompetence and their failure to listen and heed suggestions from various sectors," said Bobby Tuazon, policy studies director at the Centre for People Empowerment and Governance.

The 10 May poll is for a new president, vice-president, Congress, half the Senate and all provincial officials.

Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino - the front-runner in a full field of presidential candidates - warned last week that if he does not win he will assume it is because of fraud.

"If we have a correct counting of the votes, I think we will be very victorious," said Mr Aquino, whose mother Corazon "Cory" Aquino took power on the back of the first People Power revolt of 1986 which deposed the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

If "the people's will is frustrated," however, demonstrations could make this month's protests in Thailand seem "mild" by comparison, he said.

The Philippines has a feisty democracy long marred by fraud, corruption and violence. - BBC

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