MikeLigalig.com

Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) and AboitizPower have agreedto increase plant efficiency of the five run-of-river hydropower plants operated by Hedcor, Inc. in this city.

Hedcor president Rene Ronquillo said the AdDU Engineering and Architecture Division will provide site survey, hydro structure measurements and drafting of the construction drawings of the improvement construction to be done at Talomo Hydro 1, 2, 2A, 2B and 3 power plants spread over Barangays Malagos, Mintal, Tugbok and Catalunan Pequeno, all in Davao City.

Ronquillo said AdDU will receive P242,000 from Hedcor as payment for the contracted work.

“We partnered with Ateneo de Davao University knowing they have the capacity to bring out what we require and to help the academe sector in promoting and enhancing the talents and skills of their students,” he said.

Ronquillo said this was not the first time Hedcor collaborated with the academe sector. It even held architectural design competition for the Tamugan Hydropower Plant where AddU, University of Mindanao (UM) and University of the Philippinesâ€"Mindanao (UP-Min) participated. A student from UM won the contest.

On the other hand, AdDU’s Engineering and Architectural Division chairperson Jenith Banluta and Engr. Bebot Monteclaro, professor of the civil engineering students, said they were happy and proud to handle the project since this would their first time in power industry.

“Actually, the student-members of the team to handle the project are the cream of the crop and we started training them right after their second semester classes ended”, they said.

Average is the New Exceptional - Binghamton University Commencement remarks

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1223857670390#&ref=mf

Drinking plenty of water is important, particularly among people who exercise vigorously.

The American Council on Fitness offers these recommendations for how much to drink:
Two or three hours before you start to exercise, drink 17-to-20 ounces of water.
Twenty to 30 minutes prior to exercise, or while you're warming up, drink another eight ounces.
While you're exercising, drink seven-to-10 ounces every 10 minutes to 20 minutes.
Within 30 minutes of completing your workout, make sure you drink another eight ounces.

-- Diana Kohnle

Microsoft Silverlight is a programmable web browser plugin that enables features such as animation, vector graphics and audio-video playback so you can experience rich Internet applications.

Silverlight offers a flexible programming model that supports AJAX, VB, C#, Python, and Ruby, and integrates with existing Web applications.

It supports fast, cost-effective delivery of high-quality video to all major browsers running on the Mac OS or Windows.

Shockwave Player is the web standard for powerful multimedia playback. The Shockwave Player allows you to view interactive web content like games, business presentations, entertainment, and advertisements from your web browser.

Install the Adobe Shockwave Player and you'll have access to some of the best content the web has to offer including dazzling 3D games and entertainment, interactive product demonstrations, and online learning applications. The Shockwave Player displays web content that has been created by Adobe Director, including content made with previous versions and Director MX 2004.

Unlike Adobe Flash, Shockwave Player displays destination web content such as interactive multimedia product demos and training, e-merchandising applications, and rich-media multi-user games.

This version enables Shockwave support in both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

SeaMonkey is a web-browser, advanced e-mail and newsgroup client, IRC chat client, and HTML editing made simple -- all your Internet needs in one application.

Tabbed browsing gives you a better way to surf the net. You no longer have to open one page at a time. With tabbed browsing, open several pages at once with one click. Plus, your homepage can be multiple pages, in tabs.

Popup blocker lets you surf the web without interruption from annoying ads.
Image Manager lets you block images to remove offensive images or speed up the rendering of web sites.
Find as you type gives you another way to navigate a page. Just start typing to jump from link to link or to find a word or phrase within a page.
Plus all the features a modern browser should have including: Advanced security settings; Password, Download, and Cookie managers; Themes; multi-language and multi-platform support; and, the latest in Web Standards.

At one time, web browsers simply got you to the Internet. But from the day it was released, Safari set the bar higher for web browsers. It introduced sophisticated design elements that made browsing a joy. Easy to use, Safari stayed out of your way and let you effortlessly navigate from site to site.

More browsing space: Safari is designed to emphasize the browsing, not the browser. The browser frame is a single pixel wide. You see a scroll bar only when needed. By default, there's no status bar. Instead, a progress indicator turns as your page loads. You'll find tabs at the very top of the browser, opening an even wider window for viewing websites. A great browser, Safari lets you simply enjoy the web.

Find the sites you need: Looking for a site you visited in the past but can't quite remember? Use Full History Search to quickly find sites using even the sketchiest search terms. And when you click a web page in Cover Flow, it's because you've already recognized it as the site you were looking for. No more guessing. Innovative features like these show you how good browsing can be.

Satisfy your need for speed: The world's fastest browser, Safari has speed to burn. Why should you wait for pages to load? You want to see those search results, get the latest news, check current stock prices, right now.

A full-featured Internet browser, Opera includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera's groundbreaking E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRC chat. And because we know that our users have different needs, you can customize the look and content of your Opera browser with a few clicks of the mouse.

Speed Dial: Your favorite sites are just one click away at all times.
Search Shortcuts: Faster search ââ,¬â€œ type your queries directly into the address bar.
Trash Can: Instantly reopen recently closed tabs.
Speed Dial: Get your favorite Web page with just one click.
Mouse Gestures: With Opera you can navigate the Web with your mouse.
Opera Link: Synchronize data of your choice online, or among different computers and devices.
Quick Find: Opera remembers not only the titles and addresses, but also the actual content of the Web pages you visit.
Feed Preview: Preview a Feed by clicking on the feed icon, and you will see it in clean and efficient multiple-column layout.
Quick and customizable Web search: Get quick access to Google, eBay, Amazon and more with the search field in the upper right corner.

AOL stopped development of the Netscape browser in February 2008 so is no longer officially supported.

Netscape Browser provides more security options, streamlines more standard browsing tasks and arms internet users with more timesaving solutions to their browsing needs.

Security Center

Quickly view the status of security protection provided by the Netscape Browser. The browser will automatically let you know when there is a problem.

Spyware & Adware Protection

The Netscape Browser provides real time Spyware scanning when you download files from the web. You may also run memory and disk scans for Spyware protection and prevention.

Real-Time Feeds

The Netscape Browser takes the mystery out of Real Simple Syndication (RSS) and allows you to read and manage RSS feeds without the need of a separate news reader application.

Profiles

Create more than one profile to keep your bookmarks and passcards safe from other users. If you have a family, create a profile for your children and make use of the parental controls feature.

Tabbed Browsing

Tabbed browsing lets you have multiple web pages open in one window. This feature is great for organizing and freeing up desktop space because it files your web pages in a series of tabs.

Maxthon Internet Browser software is a powerful tabbed browser with a highly customizable interface. It is based on the Internet Explorer browser engine (your most likely current web browser) which means that what works in the IE browser will work the same in Maxthon tabbed browser but with many additional efficient features:

The Ultimate Out-of-box Experience

Easy to use and powerful straight out of the box
Download now for free, forever!
Maxthon Works the Way You Want It To

Swap, add, move, remove, and change Maxthon's tool bars, icons, menus, colors, skins, and layouts until it looks the way you would have designed it.
Don't like menus? Use hot keys, word aliases, toolbars, or mouse gestures - it's all up to you.
Pick from more than 1,400 plug-ins that make Maxthon the do-all of browsers.
Remote conferencing, screen capture, electronic passports, and automatic password inlcuded, free.
Security.

Maxthon is 100% free of viruses, spyware, adware ââ,¬â€œ any kind of malware.
The built-in Ad Hunter blocks harmful, or just irritating ads, images and pages.
Filter packs screen out offensive and irritating Web pages.

K-Meleon is an extremely fast, customizable, lightweight web browser based on the Gecko layout engine developed by Mozilla which is also used by Firefox. K-Meleon is free, open source software released under the GNU General Public License and is designed specifically for Microsoft Windows (Win32) operating systems.

Choose your desired bookmarking system

"Tabbed" browsing
Mouse gestures
Complete toolbar, menu, context menu, & keyboard shortcut customization
Block popup windows
Fast load time
Easy web searching
Themes & skins
Macros

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.

One box for everything

Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages.

Thumbnails of your top sites

Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab.

Incognito mode

Don't want pages you visit to show up in your web history? Choose incognito mode for private browsing.

Safe browsing

Google Chrome warns you if you're about to visit a suspected phishing, malware or otherwise unsafe website.

Flock delivers the latest webmail, photos, videos and updates from your favorites sites, so you can stop running around. Take a load off. Enjoy.

Keep In Touch - Keep in tune with your friends and their activities. Flock makes sure you never miss a beat.

It's Cool To Share - Flock hooks it all together so you can drag and drop anything to your friends.

Make the News: Publish Yourself - Flock makes blogging and photo uploading to popular services super easy. Just log in to your favorite service and your instantly ready to publish anything from anywhere on the web with Flock.

Easy Access - Flock automatically connects you with over 20 of your favorite online services. Just log in. Flock does the rest.

Stay Informed and Be Heard - Flock has features you can't find in any other browser, whether you're consuming the news or making the news.

source: filehippo.com

Avant Browser is a standalone application designed to expand features provided by Internet Explorer. It adds a bunch of features and functionalities to IE and its user-friendly interface brings a new level of clarity and efficiency to your browsing experience, and frequent upgrades have steadily improved its reliability.

Avant Browser is freeware. That's right. 100% Free! No cost to you ever. No limitations. No Adware. No Spyware. You can donate if you want, but it's certainly not required.

Avant's features include:

Online Profile Storage
Autofills
Mouse Gestures
Flash Animation Filter
Built-in AD/Pop-up Blocker
Built-in RSS/ATOM Reader.
Additional Mouse Functions
Multi-Window Browsing
Real Full Screen Mode and Alternative Full Desktop mode
Built-in Search Engine
Full IE Compatibility
Control Your Privacy
Safe Recovery
Skins
Support for 41 languages

The Adobe® AIR, runtime enables you to have your favorite web applications with you all the time. Since applications built for Adobe AIR run on your desktop computer without a web browser, they provide all the convenience of a desktop application.

Companies like eBay and AOL are using Adobe AIR to create exciting new applications that allow you to use their services on your desktop.

In short, Adobe AIR means applications that are easier, more powerful, and more fun to use.

Be safe on the web: Adobe AIR helps ensure safe installations by requiring digital signatures on each AIR application that identify the application and its creator before you install.

By Nancy Shute

Teenage drinking is such a health risk that pediatricians are now being told to screen all teenagersâ€"and even sixth gradersâ€"for alcohol use. That new policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics can be a powerful tool for parents to help their children avoid trouble with alcohol. But first, parents need to learn to give teenagers some privacy in the doctor's office.

"Tenacious parents who will not leave the examination room" are cited as a major barrier to routine screening for alcohol and drug use by pediatricians in the new teen alcohol screening policy. And what 13-year-old would want to tell Mom she pounded five Vodka Cruisers at a party? "We want to keep families involved," Patricia Kokotailo, director of adolescent medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health told me, "but some things are very difficult for teenagers to express if it's not confidential." She is also lead author of the new guidelines. When Kokotailo sees teenagers in the office, she usually talks with them privately before speaking to the family as a whole, but doesn't reveal anything that children want kept private.

Mounting research showing that the teenage brain is in the midst an amazing developmental phase was a chief driver behind the call for universal screening for alcohol use. That brain growth spurt gives teens remarkable cognitive powers, but also leaves their brains more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Recent research has also shown that the earlier teenagers start drinking, the more likely they are to have problems as adults with school, jobs, and relationships.

There's abundant evidence that no matter how much teenagers diss grown-ups, they still view their parents as their biggest role models. And while the pediatricians are calling for some privacy in the exam room, they emphasize that strong parental involvement is key to controlling teens' drinking. That's great motivation to tell your children what you might have hesitated to say before:

Talk with your children about your family's history of alcohol or drug use. There's a genetic component to alcoholism, and kids should know if they're at greater risk of problems.
Give your children one-on-one time with the pediatrician. Think of it as their lesson in how to navigate the healthcare system.

Set a firm policy: No alcohol, drugs, or tobacco until age 21. Use the new research on the teenage brain to explain that this is about keeping those brains safe.

Never host a teenage party with drugs or alcohol. "The liability is enormous if one of those kids goes out and drives and kills himself, or others," says Kokotailo.

Show your kids how to use alcohol responsibly; have a beer, sure, but don't get drunk. Current federal dietary guidelines call for no more than one drink a day for women, two for men.
"Prevention is a big thing," Kokotailo told me. "We now know better how alcohol affects the brain and neurodevelopment of young people." Her hope is that with more pediatricians asking about teenage drinking, and with more parents telling children what they need to know about alcohol and keeping a close eye on their behavior, teenagers will be better equipped to make their way to a healthy adulthood.

WinPatrol alerts you to hijackings, malware attacks and critical changes made to your computer without your permission. As a multipurpose support utility, WinPatrol replaces multiple system utilities with its enhanced functionality.

WinPatrol was the pioneer in using a heuristic behavioral approach to detecting attacks and violations of your computing environment. Traditional security programs scan your hard drive searching for previously identified threats. WinPatrol takes snapshots of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that occur without your knowledge.

You'll be removing dangerous new programs while others prepare to update their definition/signature data files.

for a complete antivirus protection - visit www.norton.com

Windows Defender is software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software by detecting and removing known spyware from your computer. Windows Defender features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected, minimizes interruptions, and helps you stay productive.

The benefits of installing Windows Defender include:

Spyware detection and removal
Improved Internet browsing safety
Protection against the latest threats
Windows Defender is enhanced by SpyNet, a community that brings Windows Defender users together to identify and share information about spyware. This community reports potential threats identified by the Windows Defender real-time system agents to the SpyNet servers, which catalog and update the system to help protect you from new spyware threats.

for complete antivirus protection - visit www.norton.com

SUPERAntiSpyware Professional features our highly advanced Real-Time Protection to ensure protection from installation or re-installation of potential threats as you surf the Internet. Used in conjunction with our First Chance Prevention and Registry Protection, your computer is protected from thousands of threats that attempt to infect and infiltrate your system at startup or while shutting down your system.

Advanced Detection and Removal

Detect and Remove Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans, Dialers, Worms, KeyLoggers, HiJackers, Parasites, Rootkits, Rogue Security Products and many other types of threats.
Light on System Resources and won't slow down your computer like many other anti-spyware products. Won't conflict with your existing anti-spyware or anti-virus solution!
Real-Time Protection

Real-Time Blocking of threats! Prevent potentially harmful software from installing or re-installing!
First Chance Prevention examines over 50 critical points of your system each time your system starts up and shuts down to eliminate threats before they have a chance to infect and infiltrate your system.
Schedule either Quick, Complete or Custom Scans Daily or Weekly to ensure your computer is free from harmful software.

= for full antivirus protection, visit www.norton.com

Spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the fastest-growing threats on the Internet today. By simply browsing to a web page, you could find your computer to be the brand-new host of one of these unwanted fiends!

The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.

Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.
Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
Restrict the actions of potentially unwanted sites in Internet Explorer.
SpywareBlaster can help keep your system spyware-free and secure, without interfering with the "good side" of the web. And unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster does not have to remain running in the background.

for antivirus protection - visit www.norton.com

Millions of users worldwide rely on Spyware Terminator, winner of many awards and high ratings from industry experts and users. Its free comprehensive protection is comparable to competitors' paid versions!

Spyware Terminator includes:

Fast spyware scanning
100% real-time protection
HIPS protection
Antivirus protection
Multilanguage Support
Free automatic updates
Free scheduled scans
Free support
Spyware Terminator will scan your computer for known threats and report findings in a manner that is easy to read and interpret. Every entry is given a rating and a classification, which makes it very easy to decide if a detected item should be removed. Unlike some free software titles, Spyware Terminator will remove all threats for free.

Spyware Terminator is licensed for free for both home and business use.

for antivirus download, visit www.norton.com -

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies.

If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware.

Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.

Spybot-S&D can also clean usage tracks, an interesting function if you share your computer with other users and don't want them to see what you have been working on. And for professional users, Spybot-S&D allows you to fix some registry inconsistencies and extended reports.

for antivirus protection - visit www.norton.com

RootkitRevealer is an advanced rootkit detection utility. It runs on Windows NT 4 and higher and its output lists Registry and file system API discrepancies that may indicate the presence of a user-mode or kernel-mode rootkit.

RootkitRevealer successfully detects many persistent rootkits including AFX, Vanquish and HackerDefender (note: RootkitRevealer is not intended to detect rootkits like Fu that don't attempt to hide their files or registry keys).

Since persistent rootkits work by changing API results so that a system view using APIs differs from the actual view in storage, RootkitRevealer compares the results of a system scan at the highest level with that at the lowest level. The highest level is the Windows API and the lowest level is the raw contents of a file system volume or Registry hive (a hive file is the Registry's on-disk storage format).

Thus, rootkits, whether user mode or kernel mode, that manipulate the Windows API or native API to remove their presence from a directory listing, for example, will be seen by RootkitRevealer as a discrepancy between the information returned by the Windows API and that seen in the raw scan of a FAT or NTFS volume's file system structures.

for antivirus protection, pls go to www.norton.com

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove malware that even the most well known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to detect. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware monitors every process and stops malicious processes before they even start.

Key Features:

Support for Windows 2000, XP, and Vista (32-bit only).
Light speed quick scanning.
Ability to perform full scans for all drives.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Protection Module. (requires registration)
Database updates released daily.
Quarantine to hold threats and restore them at your convenience.
Ignore list for both the scanner and Protection Module.
Settings to enhance your Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware performance.
A small list of extra utilities to help remove malware manually.
Multi-lingual support.
Works together with other anti-malware utilities.
Command line support for quick scanning.
Context menu integration to scan files on demand.

for antivirus protection - visit www.norton.com

HijackThis inspects your computers browser and operating system settings to generate a log file of the current state of your computer. Using HijackThis you can selectively remove unwanted settings and files from your computer. Because the settings identified in a HijackThis log file can belong to both legitimate software and unwanted malware, it is important to use extreme caution when choosing to removing anything using HijackThis.

HijackThis also comes with a process manager, HOSTS file editor, and alternate data stream scanner.

for antivirus program - visit www.norton.com

Trend Micro CWShredder is the premier tool to find and remove traces of CoolWebSearch â€" the name for a wide range of insidious browser hijackersâ€" from your PC.

CWShredder removes these browser hijackers. CoolWebSearch installs dozens of bookmarksâ€"mostly to porn Web sitesâ€"on your desktop, changes your home page without asking, and continually changes it back if you attempt to correct it. Furthermore, it significantly slows down the performance of your PC, and introduces modifications which cause Microsoft Windows to freeze, crash or randomly reboot.

click hereto download Trend Micro anti-virus

AVG Anti-Spyware offers protection against urgently growing threats like Trojans, Worms, Dialers, Hijackers, Spyware and Keyloggers. ewido anti-spyware begins and supplements existing security applications to create a complete security system - because only a complete security system works effectively.
Completely renewed user interface
Possibility to create exceptions
Shredder for secure file deletion
XP Antispy
BHO Viewer
LSP Viewer
Heuristics to detect unknown threats
Scanning and cleaning of the Windows registry
Support for NTFS-ADS scanning
Daily database updates
Patch proof by using strong signatures
Analysis tools (startup, connections and processes)
Intelligent online-update
Scan inside archives
Secure detection and deletion of DLL-Trojans
Generic crypter detection through emulation
Generic binder detection
Free E-Mail Support
Automatic Clean Engine
Quarantine for suspicious files
Multilingual User Interface

click here]to try AVG Anti-virus

Ad-Aware gives you comprehensive malware protection. With real-time monitoring, threat alerts, and automatic updates you can rest easy knowing that you are protected.

Shop, bank, and make travel arrangements online - We keep you safe from password stealers, keyloggers, spyware, trojans, online fraudsters, identity thieves and other potential cyber criminals.
Control your privacy - Erase tracks left behind while surfing the Web - on browsers such as Internet Explorer, Opera, and Firefox - in one easy click.
Get Peace of Mind - Know that your personal information is kept safe from dangerous intruders and prying eyes.

for antivirus protection, get info from www.norton.com

Security must not be a privilege. Under this motto, Emsi Software provides the Malware scanner a-squared Free completely free of charge for private use. But it is not a very limited version, it is a full tool to clean your computer from Malware. Not only Spywares, as detected by classic Anti-Spyware programs, but also especially Trojans, Backdoors, Worms, Dialers, Keyloggers and a lot of other destructive pests, which makes it dangerous to surf the web.

The advantages to you:

Frees your PC from Malware
Quarantine for emergency
Exceptionally easy to use
a-squared reliably detects:

Trojans, Backdoors, Keyloggers
Spyware, Adware, TrackingCookies
Worms, Bots, Viruses
Dialers

for antivirus info, visit www.norton.com -

PDI:

The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, in partnership with the EU Cultural Group, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, and The Philippine Blog Awards, has opened the contest for a music video on the EU, the delegation said in a news release.

The contest, entitled "Ang Aking Europa (My Europe),” is open to all Filipinos, except for officers and staff of organizations and institutions implementing projects and programs funded by the delegation, as well as staff of the EU delegation and EU member-states’ embassies or cultural institutes.

Music video entries should address the theme "Aking Europa" ("My Europe") taking into account participants' perceptions of the role of EU in the Philippines. References including video illustrations of EU in the Philippines are available at delegation’s website and EU website.

Winners will each receive a trophy plus, in-kind prizes as follows: â,¬1,000 for first prize,
â,¬800 for special prize for original music scoring, â,¬800 for second prize, and â,¬600 for third prize.

Any format, camera and/or video editing or authoring software may be used. When selecting the system/s to use, participants must be aware of the need to produce a quality suitable for internet viewing. The video must have a maximum total running time of two and a half minutes, including opening and closing credits.

A maximum of five entries per participant is allowed. The video must not have been previously submitted to any video contest.

Five winners will be judged according to clarity in exposition/showing of EU role/s in the Philippines (20 percent) , originality of interpretation of EU role/s, program/s, and/or involvement in the Philippines (25 percent), relevance of exposition/interpretation to theme "Aking Europa" (15 percent), creative choice of imagery/subjects/locations in exposition/interpretation (15 percent), and technical quality (25 percent).

All entries must be submitted on or before 12 noon, 15 October 2010 via uploading in YouTube with a tag comprising the title, plus Aking Europa, plus the initial of the first name and the surname. For example: My EU. Aking Europa. J.dela Cruz. In this case, details should also be submitted separately via e-mail to DELEGATION-PHILIPPINES@ec.europa.eu

Others may submit, both video and details via snail mail or courier to: The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, 30th Floor, Tower II, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City.

Each entry must be accompanied by the following information: participant's name/s, title of video, address, phone numbers, and school or employer.

For more information, contact Thelma Gecolea, public affairs officer, Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, with landline 859-5124 or mobile 09209441371.

By Aquiles Zonio, Jeffrey M. Tupas, Inquirer Mindanao, Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

When the Ampatuan clan was still the most powerful political family in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, its membersâ€"led by patriarch Andal Sr.â€"always flew first class.

On Friday, they had a humbling experience.

Andal Sr., his sons Zaldy, Sajid and Anwar, and nephew Akmad were flown to Manila aboard a Philippine Air Force C130 military transport plane after lawyers of the Maguindanao patriarch failed in their bid to delay his transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

The five Ampatuans are among 197 people charged with murder in connection with the killing last November of 57 peopleâ€"including 31 media workersâ€"in what has become known as the Maguindanao massacre.

In a kind of family “reunion,” the five will join fellow accused Andal Jr., who was moved to Camp Bagong Diwa the other day.

The Ampatuans used to enjoy a reputation of being “untouchable” political allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The C130 transport plane initially fetched Zaldy Ampatuan, the suspended ARMM governor, his brothers Sajid and Anwar and cousin Akmad from General Santos City, where they had been held since December.

Powerful escorts

Earlier Friday, Nestor Rivera, sheriff of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, which handles the murder cases against the Ampatuans, arrived at the office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in General Santos City to serve the commitment order.

Rivera was accompanied by private prosecutors Nena Santos and Prima Quinsayas.

It took them four and a half hours to convince the CIDG to turn the Ampatuans over to them.

Policemen, backed by a platoon of soldiers and two armored personnel carriers, escorted the vehicles carrying Zaldy, Sajid, Akmad and Anwar to the airport, where the C130 plane was waiting.

Senior Supt. Marcelo Pintac, General Santos City police chief, said the transfer came as a surprise because they had not been informed in advance.

By Daxim Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan submitted Friday his “irrevocable resignation” as chair of the Ateneo de Manila University’s board of trustees, according to a statement issued by the school.

At the same time, the philanthropist and sports patron also gave up the honorary doctorate that the university conferred on him late last month, in an effort to end the controversy triggered by his recent graduation speeches at the Ateneo, portions of which were found to have been lifted from commencement addresses of prominent foreign personalities.

“Circumstances have continued to the point where [this issue] is creating division within the university,” the Ateneo statement quoted Pangilinan as saying in a letter to the school’s president, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J.

“I have no desire to see this happen, or be an accessory to it,” he went on. “In that light and all things considered, it is best that I stand firm in my decision to retire, and reiterate this wish in my earlier note to you on 3rd April 2010.”

In an interview with the Inquirer on Thursday night, Pangilinan said he had yet to decide whether he would accept the Ateneo board’s request for him to stay on as board chair.

100 signatories

Earlier on Thursday, a group of Ateneo faculty, administrators and staff circulated a manifesto objecting to the unanimous decision of the remaining 14 board members to reject Pangilinan’s earlier offer of retirement.

From the initial 66 signatories, the number had grown to 100 as of Friday afternoon, out of the university’s estimated 700-strong faculty corps.

“Please take this letter as confirmation of my resignation from the board of trustees of the Ateneo with immediate effect,” Pangilinan said in his letter to Nebres.

“Further, for the sake of completeness and of good order, I am relinquishing the honorary degree which the university bestowed on me on 26th March,” he said.

According to the Ateneo, the tycoon ended his letter with the hope “that the subject controversy develops closure soon.”

“I am indeed grateful to the board and to you for the kind words of support,” he told Nebres.

By Aquiles Zonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

In the boxing ring, everyone is afraid to face Manny Pacquiao.

However, in the political arena, Pacman has called on his wife Jinkee, whose parents, siblings and friends, have come in full force to campaign for the world’s only seven-division champ.

Pacquiao, 32, is running for a seat in the House of Representatives in Sarangani province, against a political giant Roy Chiongbian, son of former Rep. James Chiongbian.

Pacquiao’s family especially Jinkee, were barely visible when he first ran for office in 2007. They have been very active, visiting various parts of the province.

Jinkee says she is confident her husband can make a differenceâ€"especially in the life of poor residents.

“We talked about it and I believe in his good intentions to serve the people of Sarangani,” she says. “Manny and I can’t let our supporters down. The people need help.”

Crowd-drawer

With only a few weeks before Election Day, Jinkee has been campaigning for her husband like a seasoned politician. She has toured the public market, shaking hands with the people and has gone on a house-to-house campaign, soliciting votes.

On Thursday, while Manny was campaigning in Glan, on the eastern part of Sarangani, Jinkee and her group went southward, visiting remote areas, including Malungon town.

There, she was met by Delia Constantino, chair of the vote-rich village of Malandag.

Constantino, mother of incumbent Malungon Mayor Bongbong Constantino, says Jinkee’s decision to join the campaign is a big boost to Manny’s candidacy.

“She’s down-to-earth and a crowd drawer like Manny Pacquiao,” she says.

“We are actually ahead in the surveys but now we really have to maximize our efforts and time,” Jinkee reveals.

Give him a chance

In a campaign stump held early this month at the plaza of Malapatan town, 10,000 people drenched by the rain waited patiently for a glimpse of their idol Pacquiao and to hear his political platform.

The billionaire candidate explained how he would bring about development to the resource-rich yet poverty-stricken province. He asked them to give him a chance to serve “even for just one term.”

One of the world’s richest athletes, Pacquiao said it was hurting him to see politicians spending so much in the campaign, “at babawiin sa kurakot pag nanalo (only to recoup their expenses through corruption when

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BBC- Toyota has announced yet more recalls, the latest being 600,000 Sienna minivans in the US due to corrosion.

The news came a day after the Japanese company halted production of its Lexus GX 460 because of safety concerns.

The latest recall affects Siennas made between 1998 and 2010, which may suffer corrosion in the spare tyre carrier.

"In the worst case, the carrier cable may fail and the spare tyre could become separated from the vehicle," Toyota said in a statement.

The company said it was working on a solution to the problem.

On Tuesday, the Japanese carmaker halted sales of its Lexus GX 460 SUV worldwide after a US magazine, Consumer Reports, said the vehicle's handling during its tests posed a "safety risk".

Toyota also said it would test all of its other SUV models, including the Land Cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado and Rav4.

Concerning the Sienna recall, Toyota said prolonged exposure to road salt could result in excessive corrosion of the spare-tyre cable, and that they should be inspected by dealers.

By Bohol Chronicle

Four Boholano military officers earned their status as Brigadier Generals following their recent promotion.

They are Esteban A. Castro (Phil. Air Force) of Anda Bohol; Ramiro Busalanan (PAF); Michael Salvaleon (Phil. Army) of Tagbilaran City and Alejandro Estomo, Sr., (PA) of Panglao, Bohol .

ESTEBAN A. CASTRO, PAF (GSC)

Col. Castro was promoted to brigadier general last March 8 while the donning of the rank (Star Rank)
       
Lt.Gen.Oscar Robena, Phil.Airforce commanding general (right), congratulates newly promoted Brig. Gen. Esteban Castro (center) of Anda, Bohol during ceremonies held recently. The event was witnessed by Castro's wife the former Gerardine Ang Galang of this city.
was held March 18 during his assumption of command as the new Wing Commander of the 570th Composite Tactical Wing of the Philippine Air Force based in Palawan. Lt. Gen. Oscar H. Rabena, commanding general of the Phil. Air Force pinned the star on Castro. He was also awarded the Air Force golden wings for becoming a general in the Phil. Air Force.

Brig. Gen. Castro underwent various military courses in his 32 years of service in the Air Force including intelligenceBasic training. He took the International Defense Resource Management course at the United States Naval Post Graduate School in Montery , California in 2001 and Master of Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air War College of Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery , Alabama in 2006. He is also a graduate of the AFP Command and General Staff Course at the AFP CGSC College , Camp Aguinaldo , Quezon City in 2003.
    
The new Boholano brigadier general took extensive workshops on terrorism in Singapore in 2004.

With the rank of 2nd lieutenant after graduation at the prestigious Philippine Military Academy (Class 1979), he rose to the rank to a full-pledge colonel in 2004.

Gen. Castro is a native of Anda town. He finished his elementary and high school studies in his native town of Anda . He completed his Bachelor of science in electrical engineering at the University San Carlos in Cebu City . He graduated BS Law at St. Louis University , Baguio City and MBA at the University of the Philippines , Baguio City . He earned his Master's in Public Administration at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.

Gen. Castro is a medalled soldier having earned distinguished awards of service star, military merit and commendation medals including anti-dissident campaign medal and ribbon, the Mindanao-Sulu anti-dissidence long service medal and the Commander's Combat Kagitingan badge.

He is acertified Air Froce pilot having completed training at the Defense Work Study Wing in Bandiana , Victoria , Australia as well as in Villamor Air Force Base in Pasay City . He took pilot assignments in Mactan, Lapu-lapu City , PAF Sasa Airport in Davao City , PAF Lumbia Airport , Cagayan de Oro City and Puerto Princesa City , Palawan where he is currently the Wing Commander of the 570th Composite Tactical Wing of the Phil. Air Force. He is also the concurrent commander, joint Task Froce based in Malampaya Western Command in El Nido, Palawan .

His colorful military service is highlighted when he received the tactical/ group commander of the year award in 2001.

He is married to the former Boholano beauty queen Gerardine Ann Galang (Miss DWCT 1977 and Miss Bohol 1978) with whom he has five children: Stephanie Ann, Raymund Paul, Steve Gerard, Therese Francess Claire and Cecilia.

By Bohol Chronicle

All the three surviving former city mayors who used to run the affairs of the city were unanimous in denouncing the actuation of Mayor Dan Lim in indiscriminately disconnecting the power services at two residences owned by a broadcaster and a radio technician.
       
"I have never encountered such kind of action ever since I was in government service," declared former Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha reacting to the indiscriminate action of Lim.

The act was "unjust," while asking Lim to define what he means by "conflict of interest."

Mayor Rocha who used to have Lim as his city administrator said the mayor is the "type of person who does not listen to advice."

For his part, former Gov. Rolando Butalid who also served as city mayor commented the act as "demeaning to the citizens of Tagbilaran, as he was acting like a dictator."         

"He over stepped the bounds of prudence and good manners and right conduct," Butalid said in an interview yesterday.

He advised Lim to be the "mirror of the city's personality which is gentle, of good breeding, respectful and religious."

Butalid advised Lim to stop using "abusive language and actions which the mayor gets criticisms from the public."

"I am just worried on how the city is being governed now under a reign of dictatorship," according to former Mayor Joe Torralba.

"This is the first time that such an act was committed by a mayor just because he wants to silence his critics," Torralba commented saying that in his 15 years as mayor, he never harassed people, nor the media who would criticize him.

"Since we live in a democratic country, then people have the right to express their criticisms," Torralba stressed.

The former mayor described the present situation as never been experienced in a peaceful city like Tagbilaran where respect reigns for differing opinions in every home.

He said not a single former city mayor has been doing these questionable actuations since the time of the late Mayor Venancio Inting, the first mayor when Tagbilaran became a city in 1966, until his time as city mayor."

Torralba noted that the city is "under siege" considering the influence peddling done by the mayor in the judiciary as shown in the inhibition of city judges of cases against the city mayor and the control of the city police since raids on swertres, drugs and human trafficking have to be conducted by operatives from Cebu due to the alleged protection racket by a top city hall official.

"Sobra na," Torralba concluded.

By Bohol Chronicle

What could have been a completely quiet observance of Good Friday in the city has turned into a nightmare inside a residence in Mansasa district, this city.

A drug suspect stabbed to death a lady nurse while wounding the mother and his mother who tried to stop him past 8 a.m. last Friday.

Police identified the victim as Salome S. Quibir, 36, a staff nurse of the Tagbilaran Community Hospital.    

The victim who died on the spot sustained 54 stab wounds, according to Dr. John Bernaldez of the City Health Office.

The suspect, Mark Joseph Salao alias Biboy, 18, jumped through the high fence of the Quibir residence at 128 CPG East Ave., this city.

Eye witnesses said they noticed Salao's strange attitude, causing commotion at the nearby Pablo compound. When the responding cops arrived at the scene, Salao eluded and scaled a seven-feet high fence and jumped after climbing a tree nearby.
         
Upon entering the house, the Quibirs were surprised when the suspect pulled the 37-year old nurse and started stabbing her. When Salome was already down on the floor, he also attacked Salud, 60, the mother who likewise sustained stab wounds.

Salud who recently arrived from the United States is in critical condition, placed under close watch by doctors at a hospital in the city.

The mother of the suspect, Clarita, 49, was also wounded after she tried to calm her son down.

The living room in the Quibir house is messed up with broken decors and figurines, turned tables and bloody floor.

Police said the suspect was arrested inside the house without any resistance. Prior the gruesome killing of the nurse, the suspect figured in a commotion in the neighborhood.

Police is investigating on the motive behind the killing, considering various angles.

In addition to that, did Eladio Jala sell his political rights in the second district to Arthur Yap? That's the art of Gloria Arroyo's political deception.

By AIMEE ROJO

It's all set for the 3rd SCAP Visayas and Mindanao Regional Conference, April 14-18, 2010 at Mercedarian Retreat House, Union Dauis, Bohol to be hosted by the CM-SCA Diocese of Tagbilaran.

Expected to attend are 140 delegates which include student leaders from the high school and college representatives, coordinators, animators, and chaplains all over the Visayas and Mindanao as well as invited animators from Luzon, SCAP National Coordinating Council, IYCS Asian Staff, National Secretariat and Executive Team.         

Also attending are Sonia Roco (SCAP Alumni) who will be one of our resource persons, Teresita Nitorreda-SCAP Executive Director, Loreto San Juan - Executive Secretary and Most Rev. Leonardo Medroso, DD., Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran as the main celebrant of the closing Eucharistic celebration.

This event will highlight the SCAP Campaign for the preservation and protection of the environment. "Vote for ME!" (Mother Earth) theme raises the issue not only of climate change but also of the moral standards in politics and good governance. This theme is also aimed to come up resolutions to answer current issues in ecology and Philippine political system.

The activity is a collaborated effort of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Staff of the CM-SCA Diocesan Secretariat of Tagbilaran headed by James Visto the current CM-SCA Diocesan Coordinator.

To Christ the King! Love and Loyalty!

By STEVE OCON

Another Boholana made it to the international level after she emerged champion in the international speech and first runner-up in the impromptu speech.

A former alumna, a graduate in Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Holy Name University this city and thereafter joined the teaching force as a College instructor of the University of Bohol, has recently made a name for herself and her country in the field of public speaking in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).         

Charity Tan Madera for a number of years after her stint as alumna of Holy Name University and as a faculty member of the University of Bohol went to the United Arab Emirates to look for greener pastures. Landing herself as an assistant to the operations managers to one of the biggest companies in Dubai, she is presently promoted as head operations manager after more years of hard work.

Aside from her hectic schedule of works, she has also found time and busied herself by joining the internationally renowned Toastmasters' Club and joined and participated in contest conducted by the Toastmasters' Club in UAE.

Charity or Chichu as fondly called by her relatives and friends is the daughter of retired Chief Probation and Parole Officer and Diomedes J. Madera, nee Dioscora Tan of Bool, this city.

Recent development cropped up that Chichu wants to celebrate her victory and has invited this month her parents, brother and sister and her three children Jon Matthew, Lauren Elizabeth and Roger John to join her in Dubai for a happy reunion.

RMT Concerts and the Fennel & Gladiola Corporation in cooperation with the Tagbilaran City Fiesta Activity 2010 proudly present "Heart-Struck" The Pop Heartthrob meets the Timeless Divas live concert on April 26, 2010, 8:00PM at the Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.         

This concert will feature the relaunched Jukebox Queen Eva Eugenio that popularized the old time hit "Tukso;" the GMA comeback talent & tagged as Pop Heartthrob Mark Bautista; and the most sought Asia's Queen of Songs Ms. Pilita Corrales who popularized "Bakit Ako Mahihiya."

The live concert will be conducted by Maestro Mark Lopez (Musical Director), & also features Jimmy Marquez (the Star in A Million Finalist) as guest performer.

Tickets at P1,500 (VIP1)/ P1,000 (VIP 2)/ P700 (Patron 1)/ P400 (Patron 2)/ P200 (General Admission) and available at the Video City, Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City Square, Alturas, Plaza Marcela, & Dunkin Donuts outlets.

This concert is brought to you by Viva Concerts & Events with GEA Events Productions & All Stars Media as the marketing partners, and supported by Ocean Fast Ferries, Mang Inasal, Gluta White & Firm, San Miguel Beer, Coca-Cola Bottling Phils., Inc, Nautica Shipping, JJ's Seafoods Village, Peanut Kisses, Nature Spring Mineral Water, Ocean Fresh, Dunkin Donuts, and also Richmedia, Kiss FM 102.3, & the Bohol Chronicle as the media partners.(GEA Events Productions)

By Bohol Chronicle

The Department of Tourism  Central Visayas will conduct another Basic Tour Guiding Course in May 2010. All interested applicants are requested to submit all requirements at the Bohol Tourism Office or at Dagohoy World Travel before April 23, 2010.

A panel interview is scheduled on April 29. The 17-day course will be participated in by those who will pass the said panel screening interview.

For more details, please call the Bohol Tourism Office at 412-3666 or Dagohoy World Travel at 412-0476 look for Lorraine.

The Basic Tour Guiding Course is organized by the Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour Operators (BOFETTO) in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Bohol through the Bohol Tourism Office.
   
This concert comes with live band with Maestro Mark Lopez as the Musical Director; and also features Asia's Queen of Songs Pilita Corales; the Jukebox Queen Eva Eugenio; & the Star in A Million Finalist Jimmy Marquez as guest performer.

Tickets at P1,500 (VIP1)/ P1,000 (VIP 2)/ P700 (Patron 1)/ P400 (Patron 2)/ P200 (General Admission) and are available at the Video City, Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City Square, Alturas, Plaza Marcela, & Dunkin Donuts outlets.

By Bohol Chronicle

Oslob, Cebu Regional Trial Court Judge James Stewart Ramon E. Himalaloan swore last Friday the new officers of the Philippine Trial Judges League (PTJLI), Bohol chapter during its induction rites at the Olman's View, Dauis, Bohol.

Sworn before Judge Himalaloan were Judges Jorge D. Cabalit, president; Cecilio O. Dangoy, vice president; Lindecita Cabaron-Arcamo, secretary; Ma. Elisa Ello-Ochoco, treasurer; Jorge Uba, auditor; Sisinio Virtudazo, public relations officer; Emma Supremo, Alejandro Canda, Glen Pergamino, Avelino Puracan, and Olivia Migriño-Mende, directors; and Salud C. Migriño, immediate past president.         

At the same time, the PTLI, Bohol chapter presented awards of recognition to judges for their respective accomplishments and dedicated service to the judiciary.

Awarded were Judge Sisinio Virtudazo who was recently chosen as outstanding judge for judicial excellence, Judge James Stewart Ramon E. Himalaloan who was recently promoted as RTC judge, Judge Salud Migriño and Avelino Puracan who have retired from the judiciary.

For his part, reelected PTJLI President Cabalit thanked the members of the league for their support for his first term as president of the league.

He thanked the members of the league for the successful implementation of the Death Aid and Disability Fund (DADFUND) Program of the league.

The PTJLI president also thanked the members of the league for their support in the past national conventions of the league.

He urged all members of the league to support his second term as president of the league. (Judge Sisinio Virtudazo)

By Bohol Chronicle

BIR Bohol RDO Romeo E. Naranjo reiterates to all Boholano taxpayers the nationwide plea of the office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to file their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) early and pay the corresponding taxes correctly before the deadline on April 15, 2010 to avoid the hassles of last minute filing.

This appeal was earnestly called on to all taxpayers by BIR Commissioner Joel L. Tan-Torres who emphasizes the convenience and hassle free filing of valued taxpayers at the banks and filing centers with early filing habits. Taxpayers are also reminded of the new tax exemptions implemented starting 2008 ITr SUCH AS: P50,000 for every individual income earner married or unmarried whether filing as single or head of family and P25,000 for every legitimate child only not exceeding four for every married couple.

2009 ITR files are urged to take note of the following:
a) those qualified under the "substituted filing" system are those with compensation income only, who have one employer for the calendar year, and the tax due is equal to the tax withheld as reflected on BIR Form 2316 which now will serve as their BIR Form 1700. In this case, there is no need to file BIR Form 1700 nor bring BIR Form 2316 given by the employer to the office of the BIR since the office has been provided with these by the employers themselves;         

b) ITRs with required attachments only that bear no payment such as exempt, break even, refundable must be filed at the district office where the taxpayer is registered;
c) Minimum wage earners exempted from the withholding tax need not file except those with other income within the year but are not fixed, who therefore must file using BIR Form 1701;

d) BIR Form 1701 will also be used by professional practitioners and business income earners as well as mixed income earners such as employees with other income;

e) Returns with payments must be filed with the Accredited Agent Banks (AABs or Collection Officers in respective municipalities under the jurisdiction of the district where the taxpayer is registered.

RDO Naranjo is pleased to inform the taxpayers that the Accredited Agent Banks have been requested to be open to taxpayers until 5 o'clock p.m. until April as well as to accept reproduced copies of the BIR forms for convenience to taxpayers.
The BIR call however is not to wait for the deadline. (ERLomantas, BIR-RD84)

By Ariel Fullido

The city's premiere most-modern supermarket, Plaza Marcela, celebrates its 13th Anniversary on April 19, with lots of fun and excitement for everyone.

As a means of expressing the company's gratitude for the constant patronage of the consumer public, various activities had been lined-up to add glitter to the celebration: March 20 to April 19 - "Spin & Win" Roleta Promo, April 10 to 24 - "Lahat Panalo" Computer Game Promo, March 20 to April 19 - Dance Rewind 2010, April 19 (7 PM) - "Guess It Right" Game Show, with Zephyr Choir and Cruizers band, "Fashion for Less" Dress-Up Challenge -Teen Addition, April 19 to 24 - "Tabo" and Sidewalk Display at Plaza Marcela, and "Guess the Price" Game Show on April 24 (5 PM).
         
A Free Clinic is also scheduled on April 17, where patients can avail of ECG, BP Monitoring, SBS, and General Consultation, from 8 AM to 12 NN and 9 AM to 5 PM. The Plaza Marcela Free Clinic is sponsored by Servier Pharma, Pharex, and Prosel Pharma. Last Tuesday, April 6, Life Prolong conducted a free fungi treatment.

In the "Spin & Win" Roleta Promo, participants will have a chance to win the jackpot prize of P10,000 cash plus grocery items, while customers can win instant prizes in the "Lahat Panalo" Computer Game Promo. One can join the promo for every cash purchase worth P100 to P300. Fabulous appliances are also at stake in the "Guess the Price" Game Show, which is scheduled on April 24, at 5 PM.

On April 19, the first 100 customers with single receipt worth P200 will receive free T-shirts, while the first 200 customers with kids and single receipt worth P100 will get free balloons.

Customers can also avail of big, big discounts of up to 50% on great selections at the Home & Fashion Department in the "Tabo sa Plaza Marcela" and Sidewalk Sale outside the store, from April 19 to 24.

Yesterday, April 10, was the third elimination round of Dance Rewind 2010, held at the carpark in front of Plaza Marcela. The participating dance groups were Street Vipers, Blue Kiss Dancers, Street Exiles, Fleaky Dolls, Raptors, Future Shock, Fast Track Dancers, and Next on Stage. The grand finals is on April 19, Monday, at 8 PM.

The Art of Political Survival
Editorial, Bohol Chronicle

Political serenity, Bohol could have had, but at the expense of the freedom of real choices. Let us look back.

The political deafening fireworks and the Samurai swordfight between former allies today could have been avoided. But such is political destiny - it is written in the stars or it is not.

Consider that if Congressman Edgar Chatto and Congressman Roberto Cajes run together as governor and vice governor respectively, Vice governor Julius Herrera for 1st District congressman, Governor Erico Aumentado as 2nd District Representative and Arthur Yap as unopposed 3rd District congressman - everything would have been nice and dandy for Lakas-Kampi.

But then the people would have yawned on May 10, 2010 and only the national presidential elections giving spice to the menu.

But such is Bohol's political life - so fated that an irresistible force named Chatto and an immovable object called Aumentado had to crash into the Clash of Titans. The province of Bohol became too small for these two political giants to co-exist as power is largely indivisible.

So in truth the Chatto-Cajes-Relampagos-Yap grouping and Fridays newly-minted coalition called the Grand Alliance for Bohol's Sustainable Development are really just great specimens in the Art of Political Survival.

Wounded pride and hearts were the casualties in the exchange of poisoned darts, sharpened arrows, killer blades and piercing bayonets between and among former allies who used to drink red wine and enjoy sweet music in their days of bonded friendship and common goals.

Words like smiling assassin, Judas Escariot, Brutus and Pontius Pilates - uttered in their most derogatory meanings were used by one just as they were used by the other.

Which of the kettle and pot is more black than the other is in the eye of the beholder.

There are few pains of course, that can equal the betrayal of a trusted friend. Both camps accuse the other of the same - and they justify their new found alliances like the products of the phrase that "necessity is the mother of invention".

Governor Rico Aumentado, every one knows, was torn between his loyalty to Lakas-GMA, his filial ties with his former Speaker as House Deputy in presidential candidate of the NP senator Manny Villar and his long-time and repeated promise to his vice governor Julius Herrera to inherit the mantel of governorship of the fabled island that is Bohol.

Congressman Chatto's bid for the governorship, he wanted to be assured himself because he could not afford being hemmed in many fronts by allies (only in name) but whose political agenda may have been diametrically opposed to his.

So he had to coalesce with the LDP in order to have his political soul mate former governor Rene Relampagos to lock in the 1st District by running for congressman and a moneyed Arthur Yap in the 3rd district. He also had to endorse a Cajes surrogate candidate in the 2nd District to minimize his political losses in that District.

The eruption of war between Aumentado and Chatto was not only predicted but is also inevitable. The cementing of the Grand Alliance for Bohol's Sustainable Development was just a confirmation of an on going informal coalition between politicians of common interests. It was like an announced marriage after a live-in relationship.

It is hard to put a value judgment on who played Brutus first in what is purely an intra-party family quarrel. All we know is that "politics is always addition" and that "politics is the art of the possible."

And the first basic instinct of a political animal - is survival. There are no tomorrows for those who die today.

Verily, from hereon, bombs will be detonated every day in a spectacle that will rival a Cecille B. De Mille production or a Steven Spielberg thriller. Boholanos will have to develop a keen sense of discernment from the flood of facts, half-truths and outright lies that will be standard fare as we move one day at a time to the fateful May 10.

People will have to search with the lamplight in the haystack - for the proverbial needle - representing the politician who says what he means and means what he says.

Words are cheap these days and alliances are as fragile as a woman's hymen.

Politicians shake with the right hand with a dagger on the left - we have sadly learned through the years.

There are no permanent political friends - only permanent interests is a phrase we have learned to accept in the kind of politics we have been forced to endure through the years.

The scenario would have been perfect as a Last Round scene in a boxing bout between great alliances except that a clown came in and colored the scene funny.

City mayor Dan Lim, who "generally speaking is generally speaking" applied as part of the Alliance's head of the Speaker's Bureau. Frankly, the Alliance could have done without him - after all he claims to be head of a city with only 50,000 voters which is not even 10% of the 730,000 registered voters in the province.

The discredited Mayor who is famed worldwide for acts seen as graft and corruption, criminal protection, foul language and with bad manners and wrong conduct should be needed by the Alliance like a hole in the head.

Mayor Dan Lim could be the secret recruiter of fans for the Alliance's perceived common enemy - the front running Congressman Edgar Chatto - because every time he opens his mouth campaigning for the alliance, the listener votes for Chatto. He is local politic's Mr. Kiss of Death.

After all, he is a perennial congressional loser and he is probably using the Alliance to prepare his next step which is to go for the 1st district congressional seat - assuming he wins his reelection fight against Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso (in a fight dubbed as "Limdan " versus "Toto-o)". What does Kagawad Oscar Glovasa have to say now about that - an act has been done by the mayor that seems to place an obituary on Glovasa's candidacy for the 1st district?

In another of his pukish reply to the question that he may perhaps be neglecting his city campaign by going around Bohol for the Alliance, the cocky Mayor said the interests of the many supercedes his self interest. But if he is eyeing the congressional seat in 2013, isn't that statement a lot of sentimental B.S.?

What we are saying is that alliances are expected and necessary in political fights where the race is for the higher votes for victory.

But the Grand Alliance can stand by itself without any help from a mayor whose credibility and reputation have been tattered not just in the province but in many parts of the country like Manila Cebu, Davao and Iloilo and others , as a lady radio caller said yesterday.

"Are you from Bohol? Isn't it that your City Mayor there has such a bad reputation?" was a uniform question asked of her, said she.

The Grand Alliance could have a "grander" view of what a Spokesperson should be. Don't you think?

By Bohol Chronicle

The Commission on Election issued a warning against those poll candidates who insist to go on-air using radio programs for their enhancement through media exposure.

Provincial Comelec Supervior Eleseo Labaria said he wrote station dyTR regarding the continued airing of a noontime program with City Mayor Dan Lim regularly on board.         

He cited Sec. 36 of Comelec Res. 8785 which states that any mass media announcer, reporter, correspondent or personality "shall be deemed resigned or shall take a leave of absence from his work during the campaign period.

"Any violation of RA 9006 and these rules shall constitute an election offense punishable under the Omnibus Election Code."

Labaria said that aggrieved party may file a verified complaint for violation of rules with the law department of the Commission on Audit.

Meanwhile, mayoralty bet Vice Mayor Jose Veloso, filed a formal complaint at the office of the provincial Comelec supervisor regarding the continued airing of program with Mayor Dan Lim.

"Such act of the mayor gives him due advantage over the rest," Veloso said in his formal complaint filed with the Comelec.

By Bohol Chronicle

There is no truth to claims that there was no due process in the issuance of an arrest warrant against a businessman who is also a candidate for board member in the province.

This was the reaction issued by Atty. J. Albert R. Tinampay, counsel for complainant, Jacinto B. Decasa as he assailed malicious insinuations from certain sectors that the information for murder filed against Eduardo Flores Enerio et al was railroaded and patently lacking of due process.

In a press conference at the Metro Center Hotel last Friday, Atty. Tinampay was surprised why the issue of lack of due process surfaced since judges and prosecutors are sensitive to allegations of impropriety and are zealously protecting their reputations.

"No judge and prosecutor worth their salt would recklessly self inflict damage to their future," the lawyer said.

Tinampay surmised that parties adversely affected by the court's decision brought up the lack of due process issue since "wala nila makuha ang klase sa desisyon nga ilang gusto".
         
Citing his 31 years of law practice, Tinampay said that "appreciation of the facts and evidences by the judge and litigants often differs, but in the end we have to bow down to the wiseness of the court".

On the issue that since Enerio et al allegedly committed murder which is a heinous crime and therefore should be accorded all the legal remedies but instead the filing was fast tracked before acting on the motion for reconsideration.

Atty. Tinampay contended that the respondents were afforded all the legal remedies within the rules of court but the defense was not prepared and was often running out of time. He further stressed that court proceedings are time bound and should be always respected.

Tinampay further stressed that they will oppose the motion for reconsideration for judicial determination of probable cause filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Cebu City since this is a clear case of forum shopping. The motion for judicial determination of probable cause was denied by Judge Arcamo because it was unnecessary or superfluous.

The denial of the motion paved the way for the issuance of the warrant of arrest with no bail fixed against Enerio.

By Bohol Chronicle

After the Presiding Judge of a regional trial court handling the murder case against businessman-board member candidate Eduardo Enerio allegedly acted with manifest bias when it ruled on the Accused' Motion for Judicial Determination of Probable Cause without prior hearing as required under the Rules of Court, counsels of the accused had filed Tuesday an Omnibus Motion; 1) for reconsideration and 2) for Inhibition.

Accused Enerio, through his counsels, cited that since RTC Branch 47 Presiding Judge Suceso Arcamo has already made his own conclusions which are now being questioned, there is however that natural and adamant propensity of persons to stick to their conclusions, especially so when questioned, just to show that they are right.

Thus, in order to afford Accused full confidence in the subsequent proceedings of this case, and to spare the Honorable Judge, who we regard with so much respect, from such sticky situation of having to reverse himself, Enerio prayed that the Honorable Presiding Judge inhibit himself from resolving the Motion for Reconsideration.

ERROR

On March 29, 2010 Judge Arcamo issued an Order denying the Motion for Judicial Determination of Probable Cause filed by the accused. Copy of the Order was received by his counsels only on 30 March 2010.

In the Motion for Reconsideration, the accused counsels said the Honorable Court should have conducted a hearing first to promote and protect the rights of herein Accused considering the fact that Accused is charged with a capital offense, and since complainant's rights and position on the matter are affected and/or prejudiced by the said motion.

The outright denial of Accused's Motion without hearing is a violation of Section 4. of the Rules of Court, Enerio's counsels said..

NEW FOUND EVIDENCE

The counsel of the accused also pointed out the Honorable Court has more reason to determine probable cause since Accused has found a new evidence, that if properly considered, could have firmly negated the findings of the Investigating Prosecutor that probable cause exist to indict him for Murder.

This new found evidence, which allegedly was deliberately concealed and suppressed by the Investigating Police Officer and was not submitted to the Prosecutor and is very material in the proper determination if indeed probable cause for murder exists against Accused.

The pieces of evidence was discovered by the Accused only on March 5, 2010, after he was able to secure a copy of the Police Blotter of the same only last March 8, 2010.

The said new found evidence, as extracted from the main Police Blotter of the PNP Tagbilaran City Station, was a bag containing belongings and test papers with the name of the victim Jack Lord Decasa found by a street cleaner at about 11:00 o'clock a.m. of 18 November, 2009, at the back portion of City Central, Espuelas Street.

The street cleaner then give the bag to Eutorgio N. Telmo, Jr., Punong Barangay of Booy District, Tagbilaran City who personally turned over the bag to the city police.

ARMED ASSASSIN

Also found inside the bag was a black magazine porch, with two silver color .45 cal. magazine and 11 live ammunition. The said items are under the custody of City Police Investigation Section.         

The finding of the bag containing the stated pieces of evidence by a street cleaner at the back of the City Central School, along Espuelas Street, strongly supports the allegations of accused' witness that there were actually two men: one man (the victim) armed with a gun who went up to the second floor of the building where accused lives; and the second man who stayed in his motorcycle across the street from the building, waiting for his companion, and who drove away when he saw accused' employee cross the street to Soledad Suites to ask for assistance.

Enerio's counsels said such findings negates complainant's and his witness' claim, as well as the insinuation and/or conclusion of the Investigating Police Officer, SPO1 Bagotchay, that the victim's gun found and recovered at the crime scene was planted by accused.

It strongly supports accused' and that of his witness' testimonies that the victim who entered accused' building was armed with a gun, and establishes the presence of a second man with a get away vehicle;

Said vital document entered in the official public record of the Tagbilaran Police Station, and the pieces of evidence listed therein, if considered, would have clearly established that there is no probable cause for murder against accused, and that in fact such only prove that it was the victim who intended to kill herein accused.

Thus, a hearing should have been conducted to properly determine probable cause, and this Honorable Court should not have relied solely on the resolution and other documents submitted by the Prosecution since a new found evidence not considered by Prosecution during the Preliminary Investigation was submitted by Accused, his counsels contended.

Cited also was the mandate of the judge to first determine probable cause for the arrest of the accused, to insulate from the very start, those who are falsely charged of crimes from the tribulations, expenses and anxiety of a public trial.

The counsels of the accused also prayed that pending resolution of the Omnibus Motions, the Warrant of Arrest must be recalled.

By Bohol Chronicle

Unopposed Third District congressional candidate Arthur Yap has passionately appealed to his fellow Boholanos for total support to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD line-up from presidential bet Gibo Teodoro to gubernatorial timber Rep. Edgar Chatto and down to the municipal level.

The former agriculture secretary recounted how supportive the Arroyo administration has been to Bohol's development, and he believed that the momentum can be best sustained by choosing the able men and women under the administration flag.

Yap sounded his serious and honest appeal on the day the Lakas traitors led by Aumentado announced their "joke alliance" with personalities campaigning for separate presidents.

In another act of deception, some alliance figures sowed intrigue of Yap as to be with them.

In their campaign sortie in Guindulman on Friday, Yap took pride in being in the Lakas ticket of "stellar, superstar" candidates in the province led by Chatto and his vice governor, Board Member Concepcion Lim who is also the Bohol president of all barangay councils.

Once proclaimed winner, Lim will write history as the first elected woman vice governor in this part of the country, according to Yap.         

The soft-spoken Yap took the opportunity of thanking another woman who was his "first supporter" when he then floated himself for Third District congressman, reelectionist Mayor Fe Piezas, who led a town caravan on the same day.

Chatto, Lim and Yap were joined by reelectionist Board Members Aster Apalisok-Piollo, Jing Trabajo and Brigido Imboy, who is the provincial president of the Philippine Councilors' League (PCL), and comebacking former Board Member Godofreda Tirol.

Days before the Guindulman sortie, the Chatto-led group stormed Anda in a motorcade greeted by eager supporters waving whatever green they had. The color of nature provides identity to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD camp this election under Teodoro as the national standard bearer.

Yap asked his constituents to "show the force of the Third District" for the Lakas line-up led by Chatto at the helm of the province.

"I believe the Third District will be given a lot of development projects" with Chatto governing the Boholano province," Yap declared.

He likes the people to regard him as a generous contributor to progress, stressing that he would share "whatever I can get in Congress." His service will be an "open book."

The "incoming" congressman expressed steel confidence in Chatto's leadership of their group, so that he "could not rest until we all win." Yap confessed that some told him to just stay away in comfort because he has no opponent anyway. But Yap and his fellows in the group are committed to each other from start to finish.

Yap worried about how vested politicking could create chaos, but he is confident that the people would listen to them because "the people trust us."

The Lakas faithfuls guided by Chatto also wooed the constituents in Garcia Hernandez in a proclamation rally of the municipal slate led by Tita Galendez for mayor and last-termer Mayor Myrna Scheurs who slides down to vice mayor.

The Chatto card and the municipal line-up in Dimiao, also a Third District town, got stronger commitment from the barangay leaders headed by their ABC president.

The camp of genuine Lakas further held proclamation rallies, this time in the Second District towns of Dagohoy, San Miguel, Clarin and Inabanga, and in the First District municipality of Alburquerque.

In the Second District, the provincial slate was joined by congressional bet Judith Cajes and her husband Rep. Roberto Cajes.

Back to the First District, Chatto and his group cruised to the Mantatao island in Calape together with the municipal line-up of reelectionist Mayor Junnie Yu and candidate for vice mayor Nelson Yu. Islanders rejoiced over the visit of their Lakas candidates and "model leaders."

A local caravan followed in Loon led by reelectionist Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez with the Loonanon congressional bet in the First District, former Gov. Rene Relampagos.

One of Chatto's board members is from Loon, reelectionist Yul Lopez who is a brother of the mayor. The other aspirants for board members are lawyers Abel Damalerio and Benjie Arcamo. (Ven rebo Arigo)

By Bohol Chronicle

Aware of the importance of women representation in the Tagbilaran City Council, the Lakas-CMD-Kampi Party has the most qualified women candidates in their slate in the persons of City Councilor Anne Mariquit "Kit" Derikito-Oppus and long-serving Cogon Barangay Captain and former Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President/ City Councilor Alberta "Betty" Co-Torralba.

Anne Mariquit "Kit" Derikito-Oppus Kit Oppus is the only woman legislator in the 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod and is known for her independent views, advocacy for transparency and good governance, and her all-out support for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children. She is the chairperson of two (2) vital committees: the SP Committee on Public Accountability & Investigations and the SP Committee on Social Welfare, Men, Women, Children & Family Relations.

Among the major legislations she sponsored at the council are the following: a resolution to grant the salary adjustments of City Hall employees; an ordinance seeking to protect children 7 years and below; riding motorcycles on a highway; amendments to the Blue Card Ordinance; strengthening the mechanisms on the implementation of RA 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act; and a resolution on Anti-Trafficking in Persons.

The eldest child
of the former Bohol Provincial Hospital Director, Dr. Quintin Torralba Derikito, and Ma. Asuncion Sumampong Caberte, Kit first joined local politics when she assumed as Executive Assistant at the Governor's Office in 2000 during the term of Gov. Rene Relampagos. She then served as Chief of Staff of the Vice-Governor's Office in 2001 until in 2007 when some local leaders prodded her to run as City Kagawad and she won.

Personally, though, she believes that God leads her to her present position in serving her fellow Tagbilaranons. In a country where politics has become almost synonymous with corruption, Oppus has maintained her integrity and sincerity in public office. "If there's one thing politics has lost and needs to regain, it is integrity. Very few people trust politicians because of their own experiences of graft and corruption. And the only way to regain the trust and confidence of people is through a no-nonsense drive for transparency and good governance," she quipped.
         
Padayon Bol-anon will not be surprised if the party traitors in Bohol will speculate against Teodoro and Chatto's group using the presidential candidate's "wise option" resigning from national party chairmanship to focus on his nationwide campaign.

After all, the group said, the Lakas faction now proven to have slept with strangers has been deceiving the people whose trust it has otherwise sought.

At the helm of the Lakas advocacy group includes vice gubernatorial candidate Lim congressional bets ex-Gov. Rene Relampagos, Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes and former Sec. Arthur Yap of the First, Second and Third Districts, and Rep. Roberto Cajes who is now vying for Trinidad mayor. It is also composed of mayors and leading party candidates in Bohol's 47 towns.

As early as her elementary and high school years at Holy Spirit School, Kit has already shown sterling leadership qualities. Today, she is an active officer of the HSS Alumni Association and member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippine (GSP) Bohol Council. She obtained her B. A. in Political Science at the University of the Philippines and Bachelor of Laws at the University of San Carlos, where she was class president, member of the debating team and champion in women's lawn tennis competitions. She pursued her Masters in Public Administration at Holy Name University. She used to be a director of the Videogram Regulatory Board at the Office of the President in Manila and was Vice-president for Personnel and Administration of the Protectors of Assets and Personnel Services, Inc.

Kit is married to P/SSUPT Louie T. Oppus, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1984, who has given her unreserved support to all her undertakings.

They are blessed with three children: Marie Louise, 19; Daniel Thaddeus, 14; and Gabrielle Mirin, 9 years old Alberta "Betty" Co- Torralba ,the wife of the former Tagbilaran City Mayor, Alberta "Betty" Co-Torralba is in her own right a public servant with a track record to beat as Barangay Captain of the city's largest district for almost two decades.

She first served as barangay kagawad of Cogon in the 1980s. In January, 1989 she topped among all elected kagawads and assumed as Cogon Barangay Captain and Tagbilaran ABC President thereby representing the city's districts as City Councilor until 1993. She was elected as Barangay Captain in January 1994-Aug. 2002. In her third term as Barangay Captain (2002-2007) she was again ABC President and sat at the City Council for another 5 years.

During her terms as Barangay Captain, Cogon District flourished and several basic social services and institutions were established for the residents. It was under her leadership that the barangay was able to construct a spacious and modern barangay hall with a covered court that used to serve as badminton hall and now, a basketball court. Several day care and health centers as well as basketball courts also rose in different puroks within the barangay in her leadership.

It was also under her incumbency that the Cogon Night High School was conceptualized and established. At present, the said institution is home to financially-challenged learners and former out-of-school youth.

Helping ordinary folks and dealing with people comes naturally with Betty whose father, the late Co Hok Sing, was among the pioneering leaders of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Bohol and her mother, Pastora Sarabia, coming from one of the largest clans and original residents of Tagbilaran. The better half of the former City Mayor Jose V. Torraba, she has always been in support of her husband's political career, which started out early after he was elected as kagawad of Tagbilaran at the age of 23 and later serving as City Chief Executive for several terms.

Aside from being an enduring public servant that she has become, Betty takes pride in nurturing five successful children who have all given her strength, support, and several grandchildren that she dotingly treasures. Eldest child, Miriam, is an employee at the Philippine National Bank and married to Rudy Ocio. Third daughter, Melina, runs a tour and travel agency in the city and is married to Noel Darunday Bullecer. The Torralbas' three other children are based in the United States: Madonna, a nurse married to Ramil Borja Robles; Melita, also a nurse married to Karl Hao Cuenco; and only son, Malvin Misael (more known as Atoy) is a physical therapist married to Carmelina Lagura Borja.

Betty's long experience in baranggay governance as well as her natural knack for public service will make her an invaluable member of the Tagbilaran City Council.

By Bohol Chronicle

Members of the City Task Force working under the city mayor's office were back in the limelight after they harassed a broadcaster at the premises of station dyTR recently.

Christianito "Boyet" Requeron reported that some five members of the task force waited for him outside the radio station last Thursday.

He identified two of the task force members as Gido Lopena and Jong-jong Garcia.
Lopena approached him in a threatening mode but was pacified by Leoncio Ramirez, companion of the radio commentator.

Requeron said these were the same persons who mauled his father, Boy Requeron at the height of the 2007 elections.

The same show of force met Requeron when he was about to board his radio program last Friday.
         
This time, the broadcaster called the city police for assistance to ensure his safety after seeing Ingles and Garcia waiting for him near the radio station. However, the responding cop, SPO2 Rodrigo Balatero, instead of gathering the details of the incident asked Requeron to go to the city PNP station to formally file the report.

Requeron informed the cop that it was already the second time that the task force members wanted to block his way from the station. Because of the indifferent attitude of the cop it would seem they were siding with the task force members during the brief confrontation at the station premises.

The indifference of the cop caused Requeron to call for assistance from Camp Dagohoy which dispatched a team to the station.

Requeron said that during the second incident last Friday when the task force members were waiting for him, an object which looked like a hand grenade was thrown towards him by the task force members.

Meanwhile, the two task force members likewise went to the city PNP to report while they were passing in front of dyTR, they were allegedly harassed by Requeron. They claimed that the motive of the incident was due to misunderstanding and past grudges.

By Bohol Chronicle

"Where there is reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused, he must be acquitted even though his innocence may be doubted since the constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty can be overthrown only by proof of reasonable doubt."

This was the aptly-worded conclusion highlighting the 35-page Decision of the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division, promulgated on March 23, 2010, which cleared former Carmen mayor Pedro Budiongan of another graft complaint, the second of three, filed against him.

Budiongan was charged for violating Section 3(h) of R.A. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for having financially benefited in a business transaction between the Municipality of Carmen and local construction firm YY Home Builders Depot which supplied materials used in the rip-rapping works of the Tan Modesto Bernaldez Street, of said town amounting P34,800 sometime in April to June 2002.

This was the second in a series of graft complaints lodged against Budiongan and several other Carmen officials including Board Member Josil Trabajo, who was then the municipal vice mayor. In all three complaints, the respondent-public officials are represented by Atty. Alexander Lim of the Trabajo-Lim Law Office and Atty. Jovito A. Coresis, Jr.

In November 2009, the graft court acquitted Budiongan, Trabajo and eight other municipal officials in one of the three cases involving another road improvement project in Carmen.

In the original complaint, then municipal councilor Arlene Palgan, accused Budiongan of having a financial and pecuniary interest in the municipal government's purchase of supplies and materials from YY Home Builders Depot, which the mayor allegedly used as a dummy for the said transaction.

Budiongan, in his official capacity as municipal mayor, supposedly intervened or took part of the business transaction, by way of approving the award of the contract to supply construction materials to YY Home Builders Depot and subsequently approving the disbursement voucher for the payment of said supplies and materials in the amount of P34,800 out of the municipal government's funds.         

In its Decision, the Sandiganbayan said that after careful evaluation of the evidence on record, it finds "no sufficient evidence that the accused (Budiongan) has a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the business transaction between the Municipality of Carmen and YY Home Builders Depot."

According to the court, in order to secure the conviction of the accused for the offense charged, it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the following elements are present: (a) that the accused is a public officer; (b) that he has a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business or transaction; and (c) that he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity in connection with his direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in such business, contract or transaction.

The Decision penned by Associate Justice Gregory Ong and concurred by Associate Justices Jose Hernandez and Samuel Martires, stated that "the second and third elements of the offense charged have not been duly established beyond reasonable doubt."

The graft court said that there is no dispute that the prosecution has proven its allegation that the Municipality of Carmen entered into a business transaction with YY Home Builders Depot, where the municipality purchased from said company construction supplies and materials amounting P34,800 that were used for the rip-rapping of Tan Modesto Bernaldez Street.

"However, to establish the second element of the offense charged, the prosecution is also required to prove beyond reasonable doubt its concomitant allegation in the information that the accused used YY Home Builders Depot as mere dummy in said business transaction in order to collect from the municipality the amount of P34,800 as payment for said supplies and materials," the Sandiganbayan ruling continued.

The court decision explained that unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that YY Home Builders Depot was merely a dummy of Budiongan in the transaction, it cannot establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused has a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the said transaction between the municipality and the company.

The complainant in the case and the prosecution alleged that Budiongan used PMCCK Hardware, another construction materials supplier in Carmen town, which the mayor allegedly owned based on evidence presented, to transact business with the municipal government of Carmen and that YY Home Builders Depot was merely a dummy in the transaction for the mayor's own financial gain and advantage.

But the Sandiganbayan said that the only material evidence the prosecution relied on to prove the allegation was the circumstance that a certain Gencies Anne Tan-Dapiton, a sales clerk of PMCCK Hardware and a cousin of the mayor's wife, was the one who collected from the municipality the check payment intended for YY Home Builders Depot.

"It is the view of this Court that the circumstantial evidence the prosecution is banking on is too tenuous to prove beyond reasonable doubt that YY Home Builders Depot was indeed a dummy fronting for accused Budiongan."

Circumstantial evidence is that evidence which proves a fact or series of facts from which the fact in issue may be established by inference - it is founded on experience and observed facts and coincidences establishing a connection between the known and proven facts and the facts sought to be proved.

"The rule is that before there can be a conviction upon circumstantial evidence 'the circumstances proved should constitute an unbroken chain which leads to one fair and reasonable conclusion, which points to the accused, to the exclusion of all others, as the guilty person. From all the circumstances, there should be combination of evidence which in the ordinary course of things leaves no reasonable doubt of his guilt.' This standard has not been met," the court added.

The defense has likewise presented during the trial a plausible explanation on why it was Gencie Anne Tan-Dapiton who collected the check payment intended for YY Home Builders Depot. Tan Dapiton merely acted upon the request of YY Home Builders Depot, a company which she had business dealings in the past.

The court also found out that the corresponding tax on the business transaction was duly recorded and paid by YY Home Builders Depot while proceeds of the check payment was deposited to the company's bank account.

Consequently, the court said it cannot be concluded with moral certainty that the accused mayor materially benefited or financially profited from the transaction between the municipal government and YY Home Builders Depot.

Having no proof that YY Home Builders is a dummy of the accused, the prosecution also failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that Budiongan had any direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the transaction, likewise, it follows that the accused could not have possible intervened or taken part in his official capacity in said transaction with any financial interest therein, the ruling stated.

The mayor's intervention in his official capacity, according to the court, was not because he had any direct or indirect financial interest in the transaction but because it was part of his official duties as mayor.

In concluding the Decision, the Sandiganbayan discussed the constitutional precept that in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is shown:

"It is thus incumbent upon the government to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt in respect to each and every essential element necessary to make out the offense charged. Thus, where there is reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused, he must be acquitted even though his innocence may be doubted since the constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty can be overthrown only by proof beyond reasonable doubt."

"Considering that the prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the existence of all the essential elements of the offense charged in this case, the accused is entitled to an acquittal," the Sandiganbayan ruling concluded.

By Bohol Chronicle

Presidentiable, Sen. Richard "Dick" Gordon reiterated Monday his plea to the Comelec not to allow the distribution of sample ballots to familiarize voters on the new format of the official ballot.

In an exclusive one hour interview over DYRD, Gordon raised the specter of political operators shifting their dirty tricks from the old manual system to the sample ballots for vote buying.       

If the Comelec would push thru with the distribution of sample ballots this would be open season for vote buying which the automated system could not prevent.

"This will go down in history as one of the craziest elections we will experience" warned Gordon.
         
Sample ballots with pre-punched holes corresponding to the ovals preceding names of favored candidates would be given to voters as guide for shading. This will serve as basis for monitoring and facilitate payment of the agreed amount upon exit from the polling precincts.

Gordon, author of RA 9369 or the law on Poll Automation reminded the Comelec on their assurance not to use sample ballots and to issue the resolution prohibiting such distribution. No resolution has been issued by the Poll body.

The use of sample ballots to familiarize voters on the new election forms will add to the mounting expenses facing the Comelec in the light of the purchase of ultraviolet lamps to identify fake ballots since the built-in scanner in the PCOS machines failed to read official printed ballots due to technical glitches.

"There is no need for such sample ballots since the names of candidates will be printed on the official ballot and voters will just shade the ovals".

Gordon, who is running for president under the Bagumbayan Party urged the electorate to be vigilant and help to make the country's first automated polls clean, honest, credible and orderly.

During his visit last Monday, he met the cross-section of the community during a dinner fellowship at JJs Seafood Village and met with the media during a press conference at Bohol Tropics yesterday.

By Bohol Chronicle

Flooding besets the city's main thoroughfares during a sudden heavy downpour yesterday that broke months of dryness and warm temperature since January this year.

In just the first few minutes of the downpour the flooding already reached one to three inches high along Remolador St., Palma St., Ma. Clara St., the long stretch of CPG Avenue, B. Inting St., Borja St., Belderol St., H. Del Pilar St., and San Jose St., among others.

The first question that entered the minds of city residents during yesterday's heavy downpour: where is the wastewater treatment facility envisioned by City Mayor Dan Lim?       

The drainage problem caught the limelight two years ago when Mayor Dan Lim made his own solution on the flooding along CPG North Ave., near the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) when he "illegally" opened the drainage outfall along the shorelines of Graham Ave., this city.

The decision of the mayor solved the flooding along the highway but shifted to a bigger environmental problem when the seawater off Tagbilaran Port registered countless of colonies of micro organism as found in laboratory tests both by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the University of San Carlos laboratory.         

The issue on the drainage problem escalated to a near conflict between Mayor Lim and Gov. Erico Aumentado who expressed different opinion on the opening of the drainage outfall.

The mayor, during the absence of the governor who was out of the province, directed his men to demolish the block at corner San Jose and CPG Ave., thereby releasing the contaminated water coming from the illegal tapping of the various commercial and residential houses along CPG Ave., which the mayor declined to cut.

Earlier the mayor, during a conference with Gov. Aumentado said he will cut the illegal connections but only to find out later he negated from his public pronouncement.

The issue on the drainage problem started the conflict between the mayor and the Chronicle and DYRD after the media outfit stood by the public's stand to protect the environment.

With the mayor's belief that he will come out as "hero" in solving the flooding along CPG Ave., he opened the drainage outfall which was not the solution.

Then DENR Sec. Lito Atienza even dispatched his men to stop the illegal release of the sewerage coming from the drainage system along the city's main avenue.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

The culprit behind the environmental issue was the failure of Mayor Dan Lim to fulfill his earlier commitment to DPWH regarding the construction of the wastewater treatment facility.

The drainage system along CPG Ave. which was requested by the city mayor was issued the approval by DPWH only after the Mayor Lim committed to construct the wastewater treatment facility.

Until today, the mayor has not come up with the said facility which he committed to DPWH authorities.

The mayor issued public pronouncement that he will build a modern wastewater treatment facility which he earlier said will be started.

However, until now, even the "shadow of his plan" could not be seen by the public.

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By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

Fear of the dentist keeps many people from getting the dental care they need, but new research suggests that an ancient Chinese treatment -- acupuncture -- may provide quick relief.

One in 20 people suffer from odontophobia -- severe anxiety about dentistry -- and a third of all people say they have moderate anxiety when seeing the dentist, the researchers said.

"We can offer patients a safe, fast and cheap treatment for their odontophobia," said lead researcher Dr. Palle Rosted, from the department of oncology at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield, England.

Other available treatments, such as distraction, relaxation techniques, tranquilizers and sedation, can be time-consuming or have side effects, Rosted said. "Moreover, in some patients, the more traditional treatments are not sufficient. By offering acupuncture, the dentist has an extra tool in his bag," he said.

The report is published in the March 29 issue of Acupuncture in Medicine.

For the study, Rosted's group tested acupuncture on 20 patients who had suffered from dental phobia for two to 30 years. Their average age was 40, and their anxiety was considered moderate to severe.

Their anxiety was checked before and after five minutes of acupuncture and rated, using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire. The acupuncture treatment, which involves inserting thin needles into specific body points, targeted two points on the top of the head.

The researchers found the average BAI score of 26.5 dropped to 11.5 after the acupuncture session. And all the patients were able to have their dental treatment.

Before trying acupuncture, only six patients could withstand any treatment at all, and even at that, just a partial visit that required a great deal of effort by both dentist and patient, Rosted noted.

By Levi Scott

Modifying a mortgage loan denotes changing the terms and conditions originally agreed upon by the borrower and the lender. Akin to mortgage refinance, it is mainly intended to make payment of installments handier for borrowers, especially during times of financial strains.

Borrowers can select from several mortgage modification plans. Among these is interest rate reduction. Instead of having a floating rate, borrowers may request for a fixed rate. Another modification scheme involves the reduction of the principal amount. Increasing the time for repaying the loan is also another option. In addition, trimming down late fees or other penalties are offered in the plan. There are also cases wherein the lender agrees to forgo part of the balance of the borrower. It is wise for the borrower to carefully go over these choices in order to arrive at a sound modification plan that best suits his or her financial situation.

Typically, any borrower current, late, in default, in bankruptcy, or on the brink of foreclosure is eligible to apply for a mortgage modification. However, the scheme prioritizes homeowners with financial struggles. Such financial struggles must not be in the light of the borrower's irresponsible use of money; instead, it should be due to hardships such as unemployment, salary reduction, loss of a family member, divorce/separation, medical expenses, and the like. Moreover, the borrower must prove that he or she will keep up with the modified plan and not default again. Thus, it is important to provide accurate and complete financial statements that signify the borrower's ability to stick to the new repayment scheme.

The borrower ought to take the initiative in applying for loan modifications. This can be done by personally contacting the lender in order to discuss options and to gain other valuable information. Note that the key to acquiring the modification plan is by showing responsibility. This will leave the lender with the impression that loan modification and not foreclosure is the most suitable option for the borrower. Loan modifications offer borrowers a surefire way to get ahead of their financial hardships.
more info at www.100dayloans.com

By Johani Tonnti

Actually the reverse mortgage loan is planned just for these cases and for these seniors, but it is still only an one good source of money. The usage of the reverse mortgage loan is always a very serious action. The reverse loan uses the equity, which the family has saved through many years. It will also naturally decrease the amount of the heritage.

1. Do I Have To Pay Away The Usual Mortgage?

Yes, says the law. The target is that a senior will have only one mortgage, in this case the reverse mortgage loan. So if he has the usual mortgage left, he can pay that away with the reverse mortgage. This will not decrease the loan amount, because now he will not do the mortgage back payments every month.

2. Can I Take My Spouse With Me?

Most seniors have their spouses with, when they plan the reverse loan. But both the spouse and the husband must fulfil the loan requirements, i.e. to be at least 62 and owners of the home. Actually altogether three persons can be borrowers and owners and in this case they all must fulfil the qualifications. Actually the group of three can be wise, because the whole group is responsible about the property and about the loan. If one of them will go to the nursing home, the rest will take care of the property and there will not be a must to sell it. The loan will be closed, when the last owner or borrower, will die, sell the home or move permanently away.

3. Who Will Own My Home?

The reverse mortgage will behave like the usual mortgage. It is always taken against the equity of the home and the ownership will not change. So the lender cannot take the home, not even in the case, when the borrower cannot pay the loan back.

4. Who Can Qualify?

When the U.S.Government planned this product especially for the seniors, the idea was that as many as possible can qualify. The qualification terms are simple. A senior must be at least age 62 and own a home, where he has equity left. Practically all home types are accepted. Altogether three owners and borrowers are accepted.

5. Is This Dangerous?

No, a senior reverse mortgage loan is safe to take, when a senior will get proper guidance and will use only the recommended lenders, which have good reputations. This is a loan type, which really require counseling. = more info at www.100dayloans.com

By David Price

more info at www.100dayloans.com

The new Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act will overhaul the existing student aid system and should help future students not to get themselves in such a financial bind many current students and alumni now face. That is all fine and great but what about all those people who currently have a load of student loan debt? After all, two thirds of all college students borrow money to get their education and their average debt last year was over $23,000. There are many decisions on how to tackle that debt as one embarks on a new career fresh out of school. One decision involves choosing how much to invest in retirement savings as opposed to quickly paying off the education loan. There are three choices: first pay off the loans and then save for retirement, start saving for retirement now and only make the minimum payment for each student loan, and finally proceed in the middle splitting your expendable money between retirement savings and loan payback.

Immediately paying off the financial aid to get the monkey off the back is a popular and seemingly prudent choice. Often though, this is not the best plan. Eight percent is the magic number to consider. This is currently the average long term return the stock market has been yielding. If the student loan is costing more than eight percent, it would be wise to direct disposable income towards loan repayment rather than investing for retirement.

If a loan is less than eight percent, the second option of saving for retirement and making minimal loan payments may work best. One will have more money in the end because they will earn more from their retirement account than they would have paid in loan interest.

Of course, there are other things to consider. The average stock market return is variable. The housing market bubble over the last couple of years caused a decrease in that rate of return that the world is still recovering from. So, that eight percent should really be considered a fuzzy magic number. Also, one may consider the peace of mind in retiring a student loan worth the extra cost.

David Price gives student loan advice at studentloanadvice.blogspot.com

By Anneline Smith

A Payday loan is a huge benefit for anyone who has experienced financial problems and knows what it' like to be caught in the middle of the month without cash. Many of us live from one pay day to the next, running out of cash during the month and having no one to turn to until our next paycheck. Who hasn't experienced an unforeseen financial emergency such as school fees, an unexpected medical bill or car repair just when we can least afford it? When this happens the financial stress of being without funds can be so crushing we just don't know which way to turn or who to ask for help. That's when the Payday loan can become a real lifesaver!

How the Payday Loan Works

Pay day loans are small, short-term loans provided by lenders who charge a flat, one-time lending fee. The loans granted are typically around $500 - $1000. Unlike regular long-term credit loans, the length of the pay day loan is short - usually until your next payday, or around 30 days - although some lending companies are more flexible on this, depending on their lending policy.

If you are looking for a quick cash solution to your financial problems or cash-strapped emergency, then this type of short-term loan could be just the answer you're looking for.

Instant Cash in Your Bank Account

The great benefit of these loans is that they offer INSTANT cash, which means that whatever your financial crisis, you will have the money you need in your bank account within 24 hours of applying for the loan.

Another great benefit is that these short loans are quick and easy to obtain - and almost everything is done online. And the good news is you can qualify for a short-term pay day loan even if your credit rating is poor. The loan does not depend on your credit scores. In order to qualify, all you need is steady employment, and a valid bank account.

These short term loans are specifically designed for financial emergencies, and involve a simple, painless lending process. There's no hassle of filling out dozens of forms. The whole loan application is done easily online - and within minutes!

How do you know whether you qualify for a quick Payday Loan?

You would have an almost 100% chance of being approved for a pay day Loan if you meet the lending criteria below:

    * You have a fixed monthly income and are employed by a reputable company
    * You have been employed for the last 6 months
    * You have an active bank account
    * You are over the age of18

So the next time you're in a cash crisis, remember there is a way out with a short-term, quick-cash, no hassle pay day loan. = more info at www.100dayloans.com

By Sreelakshmi Bibinraj

Rising inflation is really causing worry among consumers as it would set the regulators to have more strong rules. All leading banks have hiked the percentage of interest in home loans. If the hike is over 2 percent then that would really have an adverse impact on the real estate sector. If it is just a 0.5 percent hike it may make just a small impact on consumers, but if it is between 2-2.5 percent, then it would definitely affect the sector. The revised income tax norms may reduce the negative impact in the long term.

The Finance Minister assured that the introduction of Direct Tax Code in the next fiscal will bring more money to the tax payers pocket and will help the consumers to overcome the interest rate hike. In India there is a need for low-cost homes, a consumer report says. The data maintained by housing companies depicts the fact that there is a high demand for affordable housing loans and the average tenure the banking sector provides is seven years for a home loan. Most of the consumers pre-pay their loan when they upgrade their home which is very expensive. Borrowers can avoid this expense if you try to repay in small amounts. It is very difficult to make early repayment. You can spare some cash for repaying by making a judicial management of your money.

Consumers can invest the cash at SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) or RD ( Recurring Deposit). The aim is to build a sizable amount after a period of time and that can fulfill a part of your requirement. You can open this at a bank or post office. The banks return is about 6%, you can easily select the tenure of the RD. On the other hand you can earn more from RD since the return is 8%. But remember that there is a lock-in of 5years. If you are choosing SIP, you can stop the SIP half way if you are in need of money. It is better to use liquid funds and liquid plus funds which will gave your short term gains with a return of 4.5-5%.

Consumers can also keep a certain portion of their bonus for partly repaying the loan. This can decrease in the principal amount of your loan and bring down the interest costs significantly by the time you can take care of your long term financial goals also. It is the common option that the borrowers used to do with their bonus. If you pay a lump sum of amount that can have a direct impact on the home loan amount, it is better to invest the surplus in RD/SIP/liquid fund as stated above and pay the loan after earning some return on it.

We can find a month's gap between the loan disbursement and the first EMI. When we make payment it is directed towards the principal payment. This will reduce the overall cost; better pay one EMI before schedule.

If you are sure in making the dues at the earliest, then choose a scheme that allows maximum part-prepayments in a given year. There are different repayment schemes for different banks. Some banks allow once in a year repayment while others allows repayment 4-5 times a year. Even certain banks offer Home Saver Loans where the interest is to be paid by the consumer on the utilized amount. Now banks are tracking down credit card and personal loan defaulters, they are armed with a new information service. It is easy to track those defaulters who have gone missing or moved to another town to escape recovery agents.

If a borrower tries to get a new loan from some other place in the country the bank gets an email alert. The information service is provided by Credit Information Bureau of India Ltd (Cibil). Previously there were no ways for the banks to trace the defaulter; if he does not intimate the new address to the banks it was difficult for them to track such people. This service is definitely going to help the banks a lot. This is based on the parameters like date of birth and PAN number. There may be a question of privacy here, but that is strictly under the Credit Information Act where the data is shared only among lenders.

Cibil provides lenders a history of the loan transactions of a borrower. The credit history gives the details of all the loans and also it contains the details of his repayment schedule. The telecom companies are also going to adopt this to track defaults by users who change locations. There are cases where two branches of the same bank lend loans to a single borrower. So it is better to repay the loans in a wise manner.
more info at www.100dayloans.com

By Anna Peacocks

Getting the car of our dreams is just a leap you take together with the auto loan. If you have been dreadful about the loans and car servicing fees that might bother you endlessly, you could find means to reduce your auto loan of higher interest rates; and that would significantly reduce your burdens and also your credit scores for other properties and even insurance.

First things first, you must get yourself a trustworthy dealer when it comes to buying a car and getting the auto loan. If you have heard of bad credit reports that might affect the loan interest rates, you would want check your credit scores beforehand so as you don't get rejected for the loan. Credit calculator does exist on the internet; however, when it comes to preparing the credit report, you do not have a choice but to hand it over for the professionals to deal with it. If you have been encouraged or ignored by car dealers when preparing the report, the truth if is that they would charge you higher rates of interest and that is self explanatory. When it comes to getting the dealer, it is always good to get recommendations before jumping the car due to the excitement of buying the new car.

Another act that would significantly impact your burdens is that you refinance your car. Your new lender would have a much lower APR; and that indicates lower auto loan payments in each month hence resulting lower interest rates applied. The key factor is that you find another lender if you think that the current loan payment is suffocating for you.

Before paying for the auto loan, you have to be cautious about the amount you are paying. If it is higher payment than you have expected, you must question your dealer. Some unethical dealer might have put in extra hidden charges, and that does not require any paper records. It is also wiser to educate yourself and be worldly about the possible scams you might be exposed to when dealing with these easily neglected processing fees and charges in loans.

Anna has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. Not only she does her own research in finance, you can also check out her new website Loose Beads to learn more about different kind of loose beads.
more info at www.100dayloans.com

By Joseph Stutzman

Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, the GI bill was designed to provide free housing to American veterans and their families. Today, more than 25 million veterans are eligible for a VA loan.

To be eligible for a VA loan, a veteran must have served on active duty for at least 90 days during wartime or 181 continuous days during peace time. The veteran cannot have been dishonorably discharged. In addition, the veteran must be purchasing the home for their own personal use (i.e. they must live in the residence).

There is some variability in these requirements. For instance, veterans who became active after September 7, 1980 or who served as an officer after October 16, 1981 must have served for at least two years before becoming eligible for a VA loan. National guards and reservists must serve for at least six years before meeting eligibility requirements.

Those veterans who are eligible are guaranteed a maximum of 25 percent of a home loan for up to $104,250. This limits the total amount of the home loan to $417,000. In general, all veterans who qualify can borrow the funding fee in addition to either the reasonable value of the property or the purchase price, whichever is the lower amount.

Private lenders such as banks, mortgage companies, or savings and loans companies guarantee VA loans. This guarantee means that the private lender is protected against a loss in the event that the homeowner does not pay back the loan. This guarantee replaces the down payment that normally serves this purpose. A VA loan does not require any down payment from veterans. This goal is to allow veterans to obtain suitable financing for their housing needs.

Veterans who are interested in learning for about a VA loan should contact their service officer or visit the government's website for more information.

Along with writing, Joseph enjoys gardening. One of his favorite gardening websites is Garden Harvest Supply which offers neptune's harvest fish emulsion and asparagus crowns for sale. - more info at www.100dayloans.com

By Max Alan

The people are greatly benefited with the help of payday loans. They help a lot when people are in a state of real financial crisis. An individual applies for the payday loan during his emergency and needs to make certain important financial payments within the required time. There are many lenders who offer the payday advance loans with a certain rate of interest on the particular amount of loan. The amount that he takes as the loan has to be paid later on when he gets his next pay. This method of getting loan is not only convenient but also quite simple.

A lot of people are showing their interest towards applying for these kinds of pay day loans. The payday cash loans have become quite popular at present. You can now get so many options of pay day loan. More number of companies as well as lenders are showing their interest towards offering no teletrack payday loans to people who have real financial crisis. If you are interested in getting no teletrack cash loans, you can simply browse through the internet to look at the available options. To approve this type of payday loan, the lenders do not even perform any kind of formal check of the credit history. For this reason, even though your credit record is not up to the mark, the loan will be approved to you. The money that you want to borrow gets deposited in the bank account within less time.

Moreover, the biggest advantage with no teletrack payday loans is that, you do not need to fax any sort of paper document to any lender to get approved of the payday loans. Therefore, you not only end up in saving some valuable time but also get the money in a convenient method. In this case, the only method that needs to be done is that you have to fill up the application form online only after providing the necessary details. If you have more than two "open cash advance loans" and using a wrong security number, the lenders of the no teletrack method, will alert you at the earliest. Moreover, you loan will not be approved in that case too. This type of payday loan is usually granted for a short period of time. The loan amount usually varies between $50-1500. Though the approved amount is not large but the rate of interest charged is pretty high.

Thus, these types of cash advance loans are not only beneficial with regard to getting it but they are really useful at the time of financial emergency. Moreover, be careful about the risks involved here and make sure to fill up the online form correctly. So if you are in urgent need of money, applying for the payday loans would be a wise decision. more info at www.100dayloans.com

By Jessie Bowers

Very often people are confronted with unforeseen situations requiring immediate financial backup. Such urgent need for cash demands a checking account. But there are a number of people who do not have one. These are the people who experience a lot of difficulty when faced with a sudden contingency. No need to panic in these tough situations. There are ways to bring in funds to overcome debts. Cash advance payday loans provide a good solution to people falling under this category. These loans can be acquired in two ways, i.e. from your neighborhood payday loan company or from the internet.

How can this loan be availed from your local payday loan company? You follow a standard procedure of fulfilling whatever simple formalities they require you to do, and wait for your turn. This is a quick method whereby you can leave with cash in your hand on the very same day. This might be a relatively simple way, but not necessarily the safest. Even then it continues to be used over the years.

There is a wrong notion in the minds of people that while using the internet to access these loans; a checking account is mandatory .But there exists a no checking account cash advance Secret. This implies that there are some payday loan companies who are satisfied if the borrower has a savings account.

The existence of a bank account, be it savings or checking account is mandatory. This is because the lending company will only transfer funds into this account; you cannot expect them to send a cheque through your mail. Also the fees and interest associated with a cash advance payday loan is lifted from your account electronically on the due date. To sum up, savings account is the key to acquiring a cash advance payday Loan.

Time Taken To Release A Cash Advance Payday Loan

If the borrower is in a situation where he requires immediate funds it is possible to get the cash transferred immediately into his account. But this has its shortcomings. Such a transaction carries an additional charge. On the other hand, If you are prepared to wait a day, then you can get your money free of any charge.

Formalities Associated with Accessing An Online Cash Advance Loan.

It is necessary to fill in the online application form of the particular company from whom you are availing the loan. This can be done in a time span of 10 minutes. the information sought is :

   1. The borrowers name, address & age.
   2. Bank details.
   3. Employment information

Limited formalities make it possible for this loan to be accessible to any individual above 18years who has a steady income. There are no extensive background checks on credit record of the borrower.

A disadvantage is the high interest rates charged. Starting from 10% they can go as high as 30%.Therefore it's advisable to avail this loan only in case of utmost need. Also one has to look for lending companies who are willing to advance this loan to people with savings accounts.
more info at www.100dayloans.com

from EzineARticles

If you're thinking of applying for a home modification loan, DON'T!

When this topic was first announced, billions of homeowners thought they would get relief from the heavy burdens of high mortgages. The intention behind the modifications was to save family homes across the country. They thought they're mortgages would be lowered and they would have a chance to keep their home.

This is not how it turned out. While the intentions were for the homeowners, and the politician bickered and fought for the revisions they wanted, the mortgage companies schemed and the results you ask? Total chaos.

The process of applying for a home modification loan is fairly simply. The mortgage company sends you an information packet including a hardship form to fill out as to why you need to lower your payment. In the packet they request specific information regarding your finances. That's understandable; they need the information to make a determination. Based on the information, they give you a three-month trial modification mortgage amount that must be paid on time every month. The difference can be a few hundred dollars up to thousands, depending on your financial situation.

They continue to request the same information throughout the process; even if you have already sent it, you will be required to send it again. When you speak to them, they will request such minute information that you scramble to get it together. When you finally think that you have sent them all they will need, they need more.

What they don't tell you is that while you are on the modification program, the difference between the modification amount and your original amount accrues with interest. The mortgage company reports to the credit agencies that you are behind on your payments and your credit score goes down.

Even if your original loan did not have an escrow for taxes and insurance, a modification loan requires that you have one. A certain amount of the mortgage payment is set aside but the kicker is that they will not release it until the following year. That means that you are responsible for paying the taxes and insurance out of your own pocket, and if there is a balance owed to the mortgage company they apply whatever is in escrow to that balance.

The mortgage company will present hoops for you to jump through by way of requesting information, and if you miss even one, your loan will be denied. You have to be diligent in calling them at least once a week to find out what the status of your modification is, if you don't you will be denied and owe them huge sums of money. It WILL put you into foreclosure.

The Feb 18, 2010 edition of USA TODAY states that over a million people in the United States have applied for modification loans, and of the million people, only 12% have been converted into a permanent modification.

Economists estimate that within the next three years, over six million homes will be foreclosed upon. This is unacceptable.

Seventy Five billion dollars was set aside to save family homes in the United States and because of the bickering and fighting within the government, mortgage companies have instituted deceptive practices and nobody noticed. They pocketed the funds and families are being left homeless because the political parties wanted to 'one up' each other to get their own way like children fighting on a playground.

It is time to stop the bickering and fighting and take a very close look at what these mortgage companies are doing and find a way to solve the problem before six million people are living on the streets of America.

- - Kelly Howe is a professional writer able to write on many different topics. Kelly has worked with a some of the biggest marketing companies on the Internet today, and is available to write at anytime with a fast turn around time.

from EzineArticles

Many would not be familiar with the term payday loan, but those who are, know that it is a friend in need. Yes, it's a loan that can help you to overcome all your emergency financial needs before your actual payday arrives. This loan can help you to clear some of your small financial needs that crop up in the middle of the month. This loan ensures that you are not left high and dry when you have to pay for your son's summer project or our wife's sudden demand for extra cash. But what actually is a payday loan? Well, a payday loan is a small loan that is disbursed by the banks and the financial institutions for a short period of time i.e. till your next payday.

Instant payday loans no faxing is a loan that is given without any mortgages or securities and you are to pay back the money on our next payday. This loan ensures that you are able to get hold of your loan within one or two days of your application. You can avail the loan at minimum or no paper work. Yes, contrary to the general belief or convention that a loan has to pass through stringent scrutiny of loan application, you can get access to payday loans without any hassles. This loan requires you to only submit your application and you would get the required amount of money on the same day.

There are many financial companies that offer their online support for the disbursal of these loans and you only need to log on to their site for the submission of the application. Here, you are required to fill the online application form and within 24 hours of its submission, you would be having the requested cash. Neither do you require faxing your application nor do you have to go through a credit check. As we have already mentioned that this loan is for the purpose of sufficing your urgent but small financial needs, so the value of the loan generally does not exceed the limit of $1500.

Instant payday loan is not the one that requires you to pass the stringent credit check or any other cumbersome paperwork, so you are handed your loan amount within 24 hours of the submission of your application. Instant payday loans no faxing does not mean that you have to wait in the bank's queue for 2 hours or faxing our application and waiting for it approval for a week; online submission of application would get you your loan in a jiffy. - visit www.100dayloans.com

By Jesse Graham

If some people are asked this, they would certainly say, no. This is because the common notion is that a good credit score is the only acceptable score. The notion is quite inaccurate. This is because a good credit score is in fact only the standard. This score can easily get approved. However, bad credit scores can also be approved under the right circumstances.

What are these circumstances? It all depends on the credit inspector. This person decides whether to approve a loan or not. He inspects the situation of a debtor in all aspects. If the debtor has a good credit score, he can get easily approved. But if a debtor has a low or bad credit score, he needs to be scrutinised further. The inspector will have to find out the reasons why this debtor had such a bad score. And the reasons can come out reasonable. In some instances, the debtor could have lost his job thus he was late with payments. A health emergency could have also taken the rest of his funds so he was not able to repay. Also, he could have lost his home through an unexpected reason so now he wants another house loan. When any of these reasons is found acceptable by the inspector, he can approve the loan application.

However, things are not a happy ending still for bad credit scorers. Although they are approved for a loan, they would only qualify for the fitting one. And this means bad credit personal loan only. This type of loan includes a stricter form of policies. For instance, interest rates are higher compared to good credit loans. Additionally, creditors could also require a security pledge. This is in forms of valuable properties that are competitive against the amount the loan.

For bad credit home loans, security pledge is atypical. Debtors usually pledge their existing homes or a business property. Lenders require of these securities when they find the debtors as not such a good risk. There is a possible threat of default just like on the debtor's credit history. So to avoid this, they must secure their investment. They need to redeem the loan they have given as quickly as possible. This explains the high interest rate and security pledge of the bad credit loans. -more info at www.100dayloans.com

Spyware is computer software that is installed stealthily on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's knowledge or consent. Unlike a computer virus, spyware does not directly spread in the manner of a worm. Generally, an infected system does not attempt to transmit the infection to other computers; the issue is contained to your local system.

Spyware normally interferes with networking software, which commonly causes difficulty connecting to the Internet. Spyware, along with other threats, has led some Windows users to move to other platforms such as Linux or Apple Macintosh, which are less attractive targets for malware. However these platforms are not full-proof so don't fall into an out of sight trap. They will reach your system by exploiting security holes or are packaged with user-installed software, such as Limewire.

Spyware is often hidden alongside other programs, and you may unknowingly install spyware when you download a program from the Internet or install software from disks.The scariest part of being attacked is the privacy implications, as spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Not only can spyware programs collect various types of personal information, but they can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. Microsoft has an entire Windows Update site devoted to automatically updating users' systems with all the latest fixes and patches for a wide range of Microsoft software, including Windows, Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), and Internet Explorer.

Anti-spyware software programs can be used solely for detection and removal of spyware software that has already been installed onto your computer. Anti-virus software can detect many but not all forms of malicious software before they have a chance to affect your computer. Anti-spyware applications must also be able to remove programs on reboot for spyware/adware that refuses to be removed through normal processes. Of course, anti-spyware applications alone can't protect you entirely from unwanted spyware and adware.

For example, recent test results show that bundled software (WhenUSave) is ignored by popular anti spyware program AdAware, (but removed as spyware by most scanners) because it is part of the popular (but recently decommissioned) Edonkey client. To address this dilemma, the Anti-Spyware Coalition has been working on building consensus within the anti-spyware industry as to what is and isn't acceptable software behavior.Another form of spyware is Adware, it's similar to viruses in that they can be malicious in nature, however the focus now is money as people are now profiting from these threats making them more and more popular. - source: ezinearticle. Try www.norton.com

By Dr. Allen S. Josephs Co-Founder & Director, Vitacost.com   

I admit I typically do not get enough sleep. Often it seems that there are simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done, leaving little time to rest. But this common bad habit can do more than make you yawn. In fact, sleep deprivation may actually damage your health and lead to long-term problems.

A recent meta-analysis of sleep duration and obesity examined 30 different studies involving nearly 635,000 men, women and children1. Researchers defined short sleep duration as less than 10 hours for children and less than five hours for adults. Analysis of the studies showed a consistent link between short sleep duration and increased body mass index (BMI) and incidence of obesity in both children and adults.

An article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition may shed some light on the link between sleep and obesity2. Researchers studied the eating patterns of 12 men, who slept eight hours for two nights, then were restricted to four hours of sleep for two nights. After sleeping only four hours, the men reported stronger feelings of hunger, which led them to consume 22% more calories than they had eaten after eight hours of sleep.

We all lead busy lives that can sometimes keep us from getting an adequate amount of sleep. If you have trouble winding down at night, I recommend establishing a set bedtime and avoiding caffeine and strenuous activities in the evening hours. I also suggest that you take advantage of the natural relaxing power of herbs and nutrients. Valerian is an herb well-known for its calming properties, and regular use of this root can help you develop healthy sleeping habits.  Another helpful product is melatonin, a naturally occurring chemical which can lead to more restful sleep and a healthier tomorrow.

Are You Curious About Yourself?

A new type of malware infects PCs using file-share sites and publishes the user's net history on a public website before demanding a fee for its removal.

The Japanese trojan virus installs itself on computers using a popular file-share service called Winni, used by up to 200m people.

It targets those downloading illegal copies of games in the Hentai genre, an explicit form of anime.

Website Yomiuri claims that 5500 people have so far admitted to being infected.

The virus, known as Kenzero, is being monitored by web security firm Trend Micro in Japan.

Masquerading as a game installation screen, it requests the PC owner's personal details.

It then takes screengrabs of the user's web history and publishes it online in their name, before sending an e-mail or pop-up screen demanding a credit card payment of 1500 yen (£10) to "settle your violation of copyright law" and remove the webpage.

BBC News - Icelandic volcanic ash alert grounds UK flights

All flights in and out of the UK and several other European countries have been suspended as ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moves south.

Up to 4,000 flights are being cancelled with airspace closed in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark among others.

The UK's air traffic control service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in UK airspace until at least 0700 BST on Friday amid fears of engine damage.

Safety group Eurocontrol said the problem could persist for 48 hours.

The volcano is still spewing ash and the wind direction is expected to continue bringing clouds into UK and European airspace for some time to come.

The UK's airspace restriction was the worst in living memory, a Nats spokesman said. Some 600,000 people are thought to have been affected. - bbc -

from EzineArticles
Anti Virus Is Very Important

What happens is that these emails are part of phishing schemes. Phishing generally means that someone sends you fake or bogus emails with bad links in them. These links invite you to click on their bogus sites (i.e. not government sites at all) and submit some of your personal (confidential) information: maybe your complete name, social security number, etc. Some emails even have spyware attachments on them.

Identity thieves, or thieves who focus on identity theft issues, send out thousands of fake emails almost on a regular basis any more, saying they’re representing government entities. So heads up if you receive emails saying they’re from the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, Internal Revenue Service or other government agency or department. Spyware is computer software that is installed stealthily on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's knowledge or consent.

These emails may be trying to trick you.One government department alone, the Treasury Department, reported* receiving over 23,000 complaints about IRS-related phishing schemes since November 2005. Most involve hoax emails telling recipients that they have a pending tax refund and are under investigation. Do not click on links inside emails from government agencies.

Government agencies rarely communicate via email, and if they do, it’s in response to something you initiated most often. They communicate via postal mail.Windows posts updates regularly, especially security patches. Make sure you download these or at least check monthly for updates. Mark your Outlook or other calendar and check regularly. So arm yourself: your computer and email for identity theft protection. Better
safe then sorry!

Most agencies are list on the web nowadays with contact information readily available.  If you receive communications that you are unsure of, call the agency first to see if the emails are legitimate. Do not click on or save attachments that come with government emails. Delete these files. Unfortunately, sometimes even the best security isn’t good enough. Computers are expensive, and it makes sense to protect your investment from anything that could harm it.

Or maybe your computer just decided to crash one day. Back on Track was created with situations like these in mind, to help repair the damage that has been done to your PC.I really can’t rave enough about Back on Track. You don’t even need a Boot Disk for it to work, so there’s nothing to forget to make or to lose. If you have a computer that has information on it you’d rather not lose, I highly recommend Back on Track. From doctoral dissertations to Snood high scores, Back on Track has you covered.

They will reach your system by exploiting security holes or are packaged with user-installed software, such as Limewire. Spyware is often hidden alongside other programs, and you may unknowingly install spyware when you download a program from the Internet or install software from disks.

The scariest part of being attacked is the privacy impliciatoi virus spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Try Norton antivirus at norton.com:

If Bohol's bishops would do something about Skelton's case, it would be to their shame and embarrassment. So they chose to be silent.

Manny Villar blameless?

By Solita Collas-Monsod
Philippine Daily Inquirer

WHILE the Senate is declaring a moratorium on the discussion of the ethics case against Sen. Manny Villar, here are some incontrovertible facts, presented in Q & A form. The source of the information is also given.

Question: What roadway projects are the subject matter of the Villar ethics controversy? Answer: 1. The Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP), the original C-5 south extension project, linking SLEX with the Coastal Road; 2. the DPWH C-5 Extension project (CX-5), which together with 3. the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Project (LPPLP), also links SLEX with the Coastal Road. Source: Senate Report (SR) 780.

Q: Is the CX-5/LPPLP project a realignment, as Sen. Jamby Madrigal describes it, or has there been no realignment, as Senator Villar’s allies insist? A: Technically there has been no realignment, because these are two separate roads linking C-5 from SLEX to the Coastal Road. But they are very close together and, in some areas, overlap, as can be ascertained from a site map. Source: interactive map available at www.gmanews.tv

Q: Are there any differences between the MCTEP and the CX-5/LPPLP? A: Yes. 1. The MCTEP is a joint-venture project between the government and a private Malaysian partner, with the government’s financial exposure limited to P2.68 billion for the purchase of the road right-of-way; the private partner is responsible for the construction of the project, for which tolls will be charged. The CX-5/LPPLP is a toll-free, wholly-financed government project costing P6.96 billion; 2. The CX-5/LPPLP is longer than the MCTEP, its extra length essentially covering the LPPLP portion; 3. The CX-5/LPPLP passes through more Villar properties than the MCTEP. Source: DPWH project documents cited as Exhibits A, B and TTTT in SR 780; site map from www.gmanews.tv.

Q: How large are the Villar company landholdings in the immediate vicinity of the questioned road projects? A: At least 50-52 hectares: 40 hectares in the vicinity of the LPPLP; 10-12 hectares in the area between Sucat Road and Multinational Avenue. Source: testimony of Anastacio Adriano Jr., senior vice president and general manager, chief operating officer of Adelfa Properties Inc. and other Villar-owned companies up to 2008; self-styled consultant and political officer of Senator Villar since August 2008. Nota bene: Senate employment records do not include his name. Nota bene: it is not clear whether the 50-52 hectares mentioned above include properties cited in SR 780â€"roughly 10 hectares in areaâ€"to be developed by Villar companies in joint venture with their owners.

Q: What is the involvement of Villar in CX-5 and LPPLP? A: 1. The Project Feasibility Study of the DPWH for CX-5 states: “The conceptualization of and the initial release of funds for the CX-5 Project was initiated by Sen. Manuel Villar whose same efforts also paved the way for the funding of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road [LPPLP]”; 2. Various insertions and amendments (Priority Development Assistance Fund, read pork barrel) in the national government budget over the years 2002-2008 for CX-5 and LPPLP; 3. Adriano (cited above), in the office of and presence of Villar, dictating to the director general of the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) Villar’s proposed amendments to the 2008 budget, including a P400-million appropriation for the CX-5. Source: documents submitted by DPWH, lawyer Yolanda Doblon of the LBRMO, testimony of both Doblon and Adriano, cited in SR 780.

Q: Were the Villar properties bought for road right-of-way overpriced?  A: SR 780 argues for the affirmative; PSR 1472 (the resolution signed by Villar and his allies exonerating him from all charges) argues for the negative.  This calls for a conclusion of the reader. And to help that along, I haveâ€"based on the documented prices and acreage of the lands purchased in connection with the LPPLPâ€"computed the weighted average prices that were paid for the Villar and related properties, and those paid for the non-Villar properties. The results: The Villar/related properties, comprising 23,455 square meters, were bought for P168.1 million. The non-Villar properties, comprising 11,685 square meters, were bought for P22 million. That comes to a weighted average of P7,168 per square meter for Villar’s properties, and P1,880 per square meter for the non-Villar properties. That has to be a statistically significant difference.

Given the above factsâ€"which no one can contest, since they are based on official documents, and not on a he-says-she-says set of assertionsâ€"it has to be reasonable to conclude:

1. Since there was already an ongoing project (the MCTEP) linking C-5 to the Coastal Road, it was totally unnecessary to build a second one.

2. Which means that there was a waste of scarce resources.  Instead of using only P2.6 billion of government funds for the first project, the government had to spend an additional P6.9 billion for the second, which practically duplicated the first, except for the additional length which happily for Senator Villar, traversed his properties.

3. This unnecessary, wasteful project was certainly Villar’s idea.  It is specious to argue that it is a DPWH project. As the DPWH feasibility study states (in black and white), both the CX-5 and the LPPLP were conceived and initially funded by Villar.

4. Villar benefited tremendously from the second project.  Certainly, his companies were paid significantly more per square meter for the road right of way (which were mostly bought from him).  But that pales into insignificance compared with the tremendous increase in the values of his real estate holdings in the areaâ€"at least 50-52 hectares.

Is he blameless?  Is the Pope protestant?

By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter

If you're hoping to slim down, try not to focus on the healthfulness of that low-fat, low-calorie salad you ate for lunch.

People who were asked to taste food described as "healthy" reported being hungrier afterward than people who ate the same food when it was described as "tasty."

"When people feel they are required to eat healthy food, eating that food makes them hungry," said senior study author Ayelet Fishbach, a professor of behavioral science and marketing at the University of Chicago. "They are hungrier than if they didn't eat anything at all or if they'd eaten that food without thinking of its healthiness."

The study was published online this month in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Researchers conducted several experiments to explore the impact of perceptions about the health content of food and how full it made a person feel.

In the first experiment, researchers asked 51 college students to sample a chocolate-raspberry protein bar. Students were either told they were sampling "a new health bar," containing lots of protein, vitamins and fiber, or a "chocolate bar that is very tasty and yummy with a chocolate-raspberry core."

Later, when asked to rate their hunger, those who ate the "health" bar rated themselves as hungrier than those who ate the identical bar described as "tasty," according to the study.

A third group of students was asked to examine the bars and rate their hunger but they did not eat either bar. Their hunger levels were about the same as students who ate the bar described as "yummy" -- meaning that eating the "healthy" food actually made them feel hungrier than if they hadn't eaten a bar at all, the researchers said.

By Tito N. Fiel
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ozamiz: A radio volunteer reporter was shot dead here Wednesday afternoon.

Supt. Ramon Diones, city police chief, said Edwin Segues, a volunteer reporter of dxSy here, was shot by a still unidentified man along Don Anselmo Bernad Avenue here at around 4 p.m.

Diones said the victim had just parked his car when the suspect shot him.

Segeus is also a village councilor of Barangay San Antonio here.

Police are still investigating the motive of the killing.

Fujitsu, Japan's largest IT services firm, has defended its actions in a row with the firm's former president about his alleged links to organised crime.

In a statement, Fujitsu said it did nothing wrong over the resignation last September of Kuniaki Nozoe, who it was said at the time suffered ill health.

But last month Mr Nozoe claimed that he was ousted after being wrongly linked with criminal organisations.

Fujitsu now says he was warned about his dealings with "anti-social forces".

The phrase is widely seen as a euphemism for organised crime. Mr Nozoe, president of Fujitsu for just 15 months, has categorically denied any such link.

Fujitsu's five-page statement, issued at a press conference in Tokyo, is the company's first comment since Mr Nozoe made his claims about the reason for his resignation. - bbc

Let's wait comments from NHI.

Movie actor Steven Seagal is facing legal action from a former personal assistant who claims he sexually abused her and illegally trafficked women.

In papers filed with Los Angeles County Superior Court, Kayden Nguyen claims she was assaulted three times before fleeing his home in New Orleans.

The 23-year-old also claims the actor kept two Russian attendants who were available to him at all times.

Seagal's lawyer says the allegations are "ridiculous and absurd".

'Sex toy'

He added that Ms Nguyen is "a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired".

Her $1m (£650,000) legal action accuses Seagal of sexual harassment, illegal trafficking of females for sex, failure to prevent sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and false representation about employment.

Ms Nguyen, who responded to a magazine advertisement to be the star's executive assistant, claims he asked for a massage on her first day.

Seagal proceeded to use her as a "sex toy" and subjected her to a "vicious sexual assault," she alleges in court documents.

Ms Nguyen adds that co-workers at the actor's production company refused to listen to complaints about her treatment.

After her departure in February, personal property that was left behind was not returned because she had refused to sign documents stating there would be no legal action, she further claims.

Action star Seagal, whose movie credits include Under Seige and Flight of Fury, currently stars in his own US reality TV show, Steven Seagal: Lawman. - BBC

Of all the theories floating around as to where Conan O'Brien was going to end up post-NBC -- on Fox, on Comedy Central or skipping television and doing something different altogether -- no one was placing bets that he would end up on TBS.

When Turner Broadcasting -- which owns TBS, along with CNN -- released a statement Monday heralding the deal between the cable channel and the former "Tonight Show" host, many in the industry were caught off guard. But some see a method to O'Brien's unconventional decision.

"Conan's going to a network that caters to comedy," Mediaweek TV analyst Marc Berman said. And for TBS, "it's going to give them a stronger following and solidify their brand; they're already doing well with syndication."

The rumored Fox deal, on the other hand, "was always vague," said TVGuide.com's Mickey O'Connor. "It was clear that Fox wanted to try something, but they've also been very successful with syndicated programming in that time slot, as opposed to a talk show." - CNN

Spare the rod, period. That's what parents across the globe told us when we asked how they discipline their children.

Respondents in all 16 countries in this month's global survey picked a good talking to as the best tactic for teaching a lesson, by a wide margin.

Taking away a privilege placed second. Two other traditional forms of discipline - sending kids to their rooms and spanking - were the least favored choices in all but two countries.

Among respondents who did favor physical punishment, men outnumbered women in every country except Canada, France, and India.

Not a single woman in the United States expressed a preference for spanking. - Readers Digest

In the good old days, Indians would wait for years for a telephone line to be installed in their homes and workplaces.

Until the early 1990s, a phone was seen as a luxury.

But today, India's vast underclass is almost as well connected as the rich in what is hailed as a telecom revolution that has delivered mobile telephony to nearly 600 million people in just a little over a decade.

The nation is now preparing for another giant leap into the digital world as it auctions off its airwaves for third-generation (3G) services to enable super-fast multimedia streaming on wireless networks.

Industry leaders Vodafone Essar, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Telecom and six other companies began bidding last week for slots in 22 zones -- called circles -- of India's telecom market.

The auction, with a reserve price of $787 million, is being held online on a secure Web site, according to officials.

The process is expected to run for days or weeks. The government has not set a closing date for the auction.

The government wants to award the 3G frequency space later this year, said Satyendra Prakash, a spokesman for the communications ministry. - CNN

By PAUL M. ICAMINA
Part I

Because engineers are scarce, the Philippines is missing out on high-end outsourcing contracts.

The Philippines has to be content with call centers and the lower end of business process outsourcing while engineering designs, for example, go to South Korea, India, Singapore, even Thailand and Malaysia and soon China and Vietnam, said Armin Luistro, president and chancellor of De La Salle University.

His concern, voiced during a recent forum that reviewed the country’s engineering education and research and development, was echoed by Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman, president of the University of the Philippines.

"Engineers who have training in R&D, computer science, Information Technology and related disciplines, have the highest global resourcing potential," she said, citing a McKinsey Global Institute report that says 4.6 million engineers could be resourced from anywhere in the world with a projected growth rate of 22 percent.

"The economic impact on the Philippines if we can p artake in engineering outsourcing is enormous," Roman said. "High-value added activities and the corresponding economic growth result when technology-based investors decide to set up in the Philippines."

"However, it requires engineers with advanced degrees," she szaid.

The Philippines simply does not have the numbers, said Luistro.

"We have very, very few experts in electrical engineering, computer science, earthquake and structural engineering, materials science, energy engineering, nanotechnology, electronics engineering, solid state physics and quantum engineering," he said. "We just have to produce more, otherwise, the few that we have will also leave."

Each year, Roman said, the Board of Investments brings to engineering colleges several technology-based investors who are potential locators in the country. "Their first question is always, how many MS and PhDs do we produce."

Months later, Roman would hear that these companies had taken their new investments in China, Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia.

"Technology-based companies expect human resources to be already developed, they will not invest in developing human resources," she said. "They will locate where human resources that match their needs are already available."

Because most engineering schools are privately-owned and are dependent on tuition, they tend to shy away from R&D, Roman said.

From 53,000 graduates of engineering schools each year, only 11,700 or 20 percent pass the licensure exams, she said. The Commission on Higher Education requires only an 8 percent passing rate to accredit an engineering college.

"Each time we produce one MS graduate in the UP College of Engineering, our counterpart in Vietnam produces six, in Thailand 25 and in Singapore 200," Roman said.

At UP, she observed, about 90 percent of engineering graduate students study part-time and only 10 percent are full-time. Of these students, only 10 percent, most of them full-time, actually graduate. Because of work demands, only two out of 10 part-time students graduate.

"This state of engineering education translates into low value-added activities in industry and means low economic contribution," Roman said.

"Unless we invest on education and on R&D, in strategic areas such as engineering and Information Technology at a scale that would develop a critical mass, that would keep us within fighting chance in the intense knowledge-based arena of the coming decades, then we will find ourselves watching by the sidelines," she said.

Luistro proposed a P120 million endowment fund to provide scholarships for 10 PhD students, 20 masteral students and up to P4 million reserved for competitive research grants in engineering each year.

The fund would be managed by the Engineering Research and Development for Technology consortium of UP Diliman, De La Salle University, Mapua Institute of Technology, Ateneo de Manila University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, University of San Carlos, Central Luzon State University and UP Los Banos.

With P10 million each from large corporations, P5 million each from 10 medium-sized companies and P1 million each from 20 smaller benefactors, and earnings of 8 per cent per annum, up to P10 million per annum would be available exclusively for engineering education and R&D.

If there is a willing industry partner, academe can waive tuition and fees for these scholars, he said. (To be continued) -

A couple who won Israel's biggest-ever lottery prize have claimed the $20m (£13m) payout after a four-month delay.

The pair had been holding the lucky ticket, which had been in a pile of papers and old lottery forms at their home, the Associated Press reports.

They finally noticed the ticket and when they double-checked the numbers they found it was a winner.

The couple were presented with their prize at a news conference, wearing masks to conceal their identities.

The prize is subject to a 25% tax in Israel, the lottery agency was quoted as saying by AP.

'Pretty shocked'

"This win is thanks to my wife, who pushed me to go check the tickets because otherwise I wouldn't have found it," the man said.

After establishing they had a winning ticket, the pair made a late-night visit to a shop shortly before closing time, to see how large the prize would be.

A silence fell over the store as they began counting the number of zeros in the winning payout with the sales assistant, the man told AP. - bbc

Giraffes have the shortest sleep cycle of any mammal. They sleep only between 10 minutes and 2 hours in a 24-hour period and average just 1.9 hours of sleep per day. Seemingly always awake, the giraffe has nothing much in common with most humans in that regard. If we had so little sleep, it would probably mean we had some form of insomnia. But for giraffes, it’s not a sleep disorder that keeps them awake. It’s just the way God has made them.

If you think 1.9 hours a day is not much sleep, consider this fact about the Creator of our tall animal friends: Our heavenly Father never sleeps.

Describing God’s continual concern for us, the psalmist declares, “He who keeps you will not slumber” (Ps. 121:3). In the context of this psalm, the writer makes it clear that God’s sleepless vigilance is for our good. Verse 5 says, “The Lord is your keeper.” God keeps us, protects us, and cares for usâ€"with no need for refreshing. Our Protector is constantly seeking our good. As one song puts it: “He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He watches me both night and day.”

Are you facing difficulties? Turn to the One who never sleeps. Each second of each day, let Him “preserve your going out and your coming in” (v..  â€" Bill Crowder

The Rock of Ages stands secure,
He always will be there;
He watches over all His own
To calm their anxious care. â€"Keith

The One who upholds the universe will never let you down.

It was a simple task, but I was in over my head. One of the items on the grocery list was soy. Problem was, I didn’t know what kind of soy my wife, Sue, had in mind when she made the list. After searching the aisles and asking the advice of a worker who was stacking soup cans, I grabbed a bottle of soy sauce, placed it in the cart, and went on my way.

Only after I unloaded my bags at home did I discover that Sue didn’t want soy sauce. She wanted soy milk for our granddaughter Eliana. I was sincere in my search. I even asked for help and confidently pulled my selection off the shelf. But it didn’t do me (or Eliana) any good. I had the wrong stuff.

Sadly, some people are walking through the grocery store of life with “heaven” on their list, but they are not getting what they need. Despite their sincerity and the intended help of others, they grab something that won’t get them to heaven because they find a “different gospel” (2 Cor. 11:4).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And Peter said, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Trust Jesus. Don’t settle for the wrong gospel.  â€" Dave Branon

Not all roads lead to God,
As many people claim;
There’s only one true wayâ€"
Christ Jesus is His name. â€"Sper

The Taj Mahal in India is a magnificent mausoleum. Built entirely of white marble, it was commissioned by the Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his wife, who died suddenly. It took 22 years to complete. Millions of tourists visit this memorial annually in order to see this grand structure the emperor ordered to be built in memory of the woman he loved.

Millions of people also throng to Jerusalem to look at another siteâ€"a tomb that some say may have been where Jesus was buried. No matter what tomb He lay in, Jesus occupied it for only a few days. It has been empty for 2,000 years.

Jesus doesn’t need us to build a memorial to Him. Instead, He gave us the Lord’s Supper (communion) as a memorial to remember Him. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and the cup and gave thanks to His Father before offering them to His disciples (Luke 22:14-21). Each time we partake of those elements in church, we are first to examine ourselves and our relationship with God (1 Cor. 11:28). “As often as [we] eat this bread and drink this cup” we are to do so in remembrance of the One we love, till He comes (vv.25-26).

The Lord has given us an enduring memorial to remind us of what He has done for us.  â€" C. P. Hia

I’ll take the bread and cup, dear Lord,
That speak of love sublime,
And give myself afresh to Thee.
My life, my all is Thine! â€"Anon.

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. Yet hidden away in its brief record is a vital question that affects us all: How should we respond when we see an enemy experience misfortune?

The prophet Obadiah ministered during the time that the city of Jerusalem was under fierce attack by the armies of Babylon. The neighbors of Jerusalem, the Edomites, were actually cheering on the enemy armies to destroy and kill (Ps. 137:7-9). Ironically, these hurtful jeers were spoken by blood relatives of the Jews. They were descendants of Jacob, and the Edomites were descendants of Esau.

Obadiah condemned the Edomites for gloating: “You should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction” (Obad. 1:12).

If someone has repeatedly been hurtful to us, it is easy to give in to vindictive pleasure when they experience misfortune. But Scripture admonishes us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles” (Prov. 24:17). Instead, we are to maintain an attitude of compassion and forgiveness, and trust God to bring justice in His time.  â€" Dennis Fisher

For Further Thought How to handle people-problems (Romans 12): Be patient (v.12), bless persecutors (v.14), be humble (v.16), don’t take revenge (v.19), defeat evil with good (v.21).

Love for God can be measured by the love we show for our worst enemy.

Have you ever dreamed that you were falling out of bed or from some great height, and you awoke in fright? I remember that as a boy I would often be awakened by such a terrifying feeling.

I heard about a man who had this sensation as soon as he slipped into sleep. He was so rudely awakened by his sense of falling that he was afraid to go back to sleep. He feared he would die, and he imagined he was falling into a bottomless pit.

Then one evening as he was strolling through a cemetery, he saw this phrase engraved on a tombstone:

Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms

These words reminded him that when believers die, they are safely carried by the Lord to their home in heaven. He recalled the assurance of the psalmist, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4).

The once-fearful man realized that in life and in deathâ€" and even in sleepâ€"the “everlasting arms” of our loving Lord are there to catch and hold us. That night he was able to sing what he was taught in childhood, “Teach me to live that I may dread the grave as little as my bed!” At last he could fall asleep without fear.  â€" M.R. De Haan

I can trust my loving Savior
When I fear the world’s alarms;
There’s no safer place of resting
Than His everlasting arms. â€"Hess

What a frustrating problem pollution is! Everybody suffers with it, yet everybody contributes to it.

Pollution takes many forms, but one type is often overlooked. Charles Swindoll calls it “verbal pollution,” passed around by grumblers, complainers, and criticizers. “The poison of pessimism,” Swindoll writes, “creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized.”

A group of Christian friends became concerned about this form of pollution and their personal part in it. So they made a pact to avoid critical words for a whole week. They were surprised to find how little they spoke! As they continued the experiment, they actually had to relearn conversation skills.

In Ephesians 4, Paul called believers to that sort of decisive action. He said we are to “put off” the old self and its conduct that grieves the Holy Spirit (vv.22,30) and “put on” the new self that builds up others (v.24). As we rely on the help of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), we can make those changes in our conduct, our thinking, and our speaking.

If we want to be rid of verbal pollution, we must choose to change and ask for God’s help. It’s a great way to start cleaning up our spiritual environment.  â€" Joanie Yoder

What! Never speak one evil word,
Or rash, or idle, or unkind!
O how shall I, most gracious Lord,
This mark of true perfection find? â€"Wesley

An anonymous author wrote, “When I was first converted, and for some years afterward, the second coming of Christ was a thrilling idea, a blessed hope, a glorious promise, the theme of some of the most inspiring songs of the church.

“Later it became an accepted tenet of faith, a cardinal doctrine, a kind of invisible trademark of my ministry. It was the favorite arena of my theological discussions, in the pulpit and in print. Now suddenly the second coming means something more to me. Paul called it ‘the blessed hope.’ But today it appears as the only hope of the world.”

From the human standpoint, there is no solution for the struggles of the world. Leaders are naturally frustrated in trying to deal with the increasing problems in society. The only complete and permanent solution is found in the return of Christ to earth. When He comes, He will set up His kingdom. He will rule the nations in righteousness, and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14).

As we await our Savior’s return, let us keep on praying, working, and watching, while “looking for the blessed hope”â€"our only hope for this world.  â€" Richard De Haan

And for the hope of His return,
Dear Lord, Your name we praise;
With longing hearts we watch and wait
For that great day of days! â€"Sherwood