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Flight Connections | Cebu Pacific

We are a point-to-point carrier and will not be liable for any misconnections brought about by delays and cancellations.

Guest and baggage will be checked only up to the sector for which you have checked in. Guests with connecting flights are required to claim all baggage and clear through Immigration and Customs in all airports and recheck-in to their connecting flight.

However, we offer connections within our network and are sold as such.  Only guests who have availed of our flight connections (through fares) will be treated as connecting guests.

Live Animals Acceptance

Cebu Pacific Policy

Live animals are accepted through our Cargo Services.  Please contact them at (+632) 851-4126 for arrangement.

Firearms Handling

According to Cebu Pacific

Prior check-in, a Firearms Handling Fee of PhP 500 inclusive of VAT will be collected for handling of firearms and ammunition at domestic airports.

For international travel, firearms and ammunition will be refused carriage.

Guests Needing Special Assistance

According to Cebu Pacific

Please contact our Call Center at (+632) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888 for bookings of incapacitated guests, guests with illness or other guests requiring special assistance like Expectant Mothers, Unaccompanied Minor etc., as these require prior arrangement with us.

We may charge a fee for providing these special requirements at selected airports (such as provision of an Incapacitated Passenger Lift at Singapore Budget Terminal priced at USD200; or at the LCC Terminal, Kuala Lumpur International Airport priced at MYR222; and Macau International Airport priced at MOP390 per half hour).

Unaccompanied Children

According to Cebu Pacific:

We do not accept for carriage unaccompanied children below four (4) years old unless they are accompanied by a guest of at least eighteen (18) years of age.

Children aged four (4) to twelve (12) years old may be accommodated on the flight provided that they pay the Unaccompanied Minor Handling Fee of PhP500 + VAT per sector per unaccompanied minor for domestic and USD30 per sector per unaccompanied minor for international (at selected airports).

Cebu Pacific Boarding Guidelines

You must be at the boarding gate at least thirty (30) minutes before the scheduled departure time.

We practice allocated seating.  Priority for boarding is given to the handicapped, elderly and those traveling with children.

Guests seated Rows 1 to 15 shall board using the front door; while guests seated Rows 16 and above shall use the rear door (for airports that allow dual boarding and deplaning).

Travel Documents

Cebu Pacific Policy:

You are responsible for obtaining and must possess all entry and exit, health and other documents required by law, regulations, orders, demands or requirements of the countries flown from, into or over.

You must present upon check-in a passport valid for at least six (6) months at time of travel, applicable valid visas, a hard copy of a confirmed return or an onward journey ticket and must be able to show sufficient means of financial support.

Immigration Requirements

Cebu Pacific Explains:

Different countries may require different travel documents, we advise that you check with the country you are flying to for their complete list of requirements.

In the event that we are required to return you to your point of origin or elsewhere, owing to your inadmissibility into a country, whether of transit or destination, you will have to shoulder the fine or penalty we have incurred due to such.

Check-in Guidelines of Cebu Pacific

Cebu Pacific counters open two (2) hours before Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) and closes forty five (45) minutes before published departure time.  It is highly recommended that you be at the airport terminal at least two (2) hours for domestic and three (3) hours for international, before flight departure to avoid delay and finish all necessary formalities before boarding.

All Cebu Pacific domestic and international flights will operate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport â€" Terminal 3 along Andrews Ave., Pasay City starting August 1, 2008.

Government Taxes, Fuel and Insurance Surcharges

From Cebu Pacific:

The price of the ticket may include taxes, fees and charges which are imposed on air transportation by government authorities.  These may either be included in the computation of the fare and charged upon purchase of ticket or may be collected at the airport at time of departure depending on local government regulations.  The guest is required to pay these in full prior to check-in. 

Cebu Pacific's Purchase and Issuance

      There are five (5) ways to pay for your travel

    * via www.cebupacificair.com â€" only Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted for online payment
    * by calling our Call Center at (+632) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888 â€" we accept all major credit cards
    * through our airport and city sales offices
    * d) through our payment centers â€" pay at any Megalink or Bancnet ATMS, Banco de Oro or Robinsons Bank branches
    * local travel agents

For online bookings, payment shall be made in full at the time the reservation is made.  For bookings done through our Call Center, you have 24 hours to pay for your travel before your booking is cancelled.

Cebu Pacific reserves the right to refuse you or your baggage carriage, if, in the exercise of our reasonable discretion, we determine that the payment of your fare has been done fraudulently or unlawfully.

At check-in, we may require you to present the credit card you used to pay for your flight.  For this purpose, we recommend that you bring that particular credit card.

Cebu Pacific Group Travel

If you have 10 or more guests traveling together, you must email groupbookings@cebupacificair.com for assistance.

Standard booking conditions shall apply.

Cebu Pacific Fare Rules

Fares quoted are per person per one way journey.  These, like taxes and charges may fluctuate based on impending currency exchange rates and will be displayed as reservation charges.

Fares quoted are subject to availability and exclude airport taxes and other prevailing charges, both of which shall be borne by the guest.  All fares are subject to change until purchased.

Flight dates, times, routes may be changed subject to change fees and applicable fare difference being paid.  You may do these transactions by calling our Call Center at (+632) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888 or by visiting our sales offices.

Infants below two (2) years of age, who do not occupy a seat will fly free of charge (FOC).  They are not required to pay taxes and charges (except for security charge imposed on Hong Kong to Manila flight) and do not qualify for any free baggage allowance.  Only one (1) infant per adult over eighteen (18) years of age will be permitted to travel.  While infants two (2) years old and above are required to occupy a seat and will be required to pay the full fare, taxes and charges.

Changing a Booking at Cebu Pacific

All bookings on Cebu Pacific can be changed subject to the following conditions.

Flight dates, times and routes may be changed subject to availability and upon payment of a rebooking fee of PhP500 + VAT for domestic; PhP1,500 for international (or local currency equivalent) per sector per guest plus the fare difference between the original total price paid and the lowest total price available for the new flight at the time the change is made.  If the total price is lower on the new flight, no refund will be made and guest will only have to pay the change fee.

     Bookings may be changed by:

    * rebooking online at www.cebupacificair.com
    * calling our Call Center at (+632) 70-20-888
    * dropping by our airport and city sales offices

Names cannot be changed on any Cebu Pacific reservation.  Please ensure that the name you use on your booking is the same name indicated in your photo-ID/passport.  Any discrepancy in the name will need to be re-issued at a cost.

Changes may not be permitted on selected promotional fares.

All About Your Cebu Pacific Itinerary

Your Itinerary is good for carriage for one year from date of issue, unless otherwise stated.

If you are holding a paper ticket, fare is forfeited once lost. If you are an e-Ticket holder, it may still be reprinted once lost.

Starting 01 April 2008, we shall no longer issue paper tickets and e-Tickets.

Making a Booking at Cebu Pacific Air

      There are five (5) ways to book a Cebu Pacific seat

    * via www.cebupacificair.com
    * by calling Cebu Pacific Call Centre at (+632) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888
    * at the airport and city sales offices
    * via local travel agents
    * by SMS

We accept bookings up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure time of any Cebu Pacific flight.  However, online bookings can be made only up to 24 hours before time of departure.

Please note that a web administration fee is charged per sector per guest on all bookings done online.  This is a one-time web administration fee charged for every booking that is created through this channel.

Once booking is confirmed, your Itinerary shall be sent to the email address you specified shortly after the online payment is done.  Should the owner of the designated email address not receive the transaction receipt in thirty (30) minutes, you may view your booking by clicking on View/ Change Your Bookings Online button in our website. Kindly print your Itinerary to gain entry into the airport, and present this at check-in together with a valid photo ID.  The name in the photo-ID should match the guest name that was entered upon booking.  Sample valid photo-Ids are as follows: passport, Social Security System (SSS) ID, Tax Identification Number (TIN) ID with photo, credit card with photo and driver’s license.  You may also be asked to present the credit card used for your flight transaction upon check-in.

Since we allow online purchase for your relatives and friends, you may simply email to them their Itinerary.  No need for the cardholder (that’s you) to be part of the traveling party.  However, you may want to provide them with a photocopy of your credit card as this maybe asked at check-in.

The Concept of GO Fares of Cebu Pacific

Go Fares are Cebu Pacific’s fares available all year-round.  Because the lowest fares are on a first come, first served basis, the closer you get to the departure date, the higher the fares become.  That’s why it’s important to book early, so you’ll pay less.

If you are purchasing your ticket at the airport on the day of departure, you will be assessed with our highest Go Fare.

The Concept of Book and Buy

Cebu Pacific purchases are on “book and buy” basis wherein you need to pay for the seat you have booked immediately, otherwise the seat is not confirmed.  Bookings must be paid in full at the time of making the reservation.

How will I know if low fares are still available for the flight I want?

Answer from Cebu Pacific: Check seat availability online at www.cebupacificair.com or contact our Call Center at (+632) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888.

Why can’t I get an open dated booking confirmation?

Answer from Cebu Pacific: We want to make sure you get the lowest fare for your flight and in order to do this, we need to know when you are traveling.

Are low fares available only during the lean season?

Answer from Cebu Pacific: Our Go fares are not promo fares.  Our low fares are available year round!

Why do fares become higher as it gets closer to the departure date?

Answer from Cebu Pacific: Our fares are sold on a first come, first served basis, with the lowest fare being sold first. So our tip to avail the lowest fare - book early.

Why is Cebu Pacific offering low fares?

Answer: Cebu Pacific wants to give everyone the chance to fly by making fares as affordable as possible. We want you to start flying, or keep on flying because now you can.

I lost my Itinerary. What will I do?

Answer: If your Itinerary gets lost, you may call our Call Center at (+63) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888 or visit our sales office to request for a print-out.  If your original booking was made online, you may also view your Itinerary online at www.cebupacificair.com and print another copy.

Does Cebu Pacific allow refunds?

Answer: Yes.  You may refund from the sales office where you paid for your ticket.  Or you may do it online via www.cebupacificair.com or through our Call Center at (+632) 70-20-888 or (+6332) 230-8888.

Does Cebu Pacific allow flight changes?

Answer: Yes.  Flight changes are allowed as long as applicable charges are paid.  Please note however, that if the new flight booking is in a lower class than your original booking, the fare difference will not be refunded.

What other discounts does Cebu Pacific offer?

Answer: Because our Go fares are already so low, we only offer senior citizen discount.

What are your fare conditions for child guests?

Answer: There are no available discounts for child guests.  Children will be charged the adult fare.
Why?  The rationale is simple, if you occupy a seat you pay for the fare.

What are your fare conditions for infant guests?

Answer: Infant guests (less than 2 years old) can fly free of charge (except in the case of Hong Kong to Manila where they will be assessed a HKG tax). They will not be given a seat though. So if you wish to get a seat for an infant guest, the adult fare will apply.

Question: What happens if I don’t show up for my scheduled flight and was unable to advise Cebu Pacific?

Answer: If you fail to show up for your flight, you will be charged a No Show Fee (NUF) on top of your rebooking fee (if you wish to change your schedule) or refund penalty (if you wish to cancel).

Does Cebu Pacific allow “Go Show” guests?

Answer: Yes

Does Cebu Pacific allow name changes?

Answer: Name change is not allowed once the booking is confirmed.

Question: I haven’t received my Itinerary yet. What should I do?

Answer: If you haven’t received your Itinerary yet you may check your browser first as you may have received it in your “Junk” or “Trash” folder. Our website occasionally encounters problems with various web-based emails and some anti-spam software.

Common Resume Blunders
By Kim Isaacs
Monster Resume Expert


Make sure your resume is in top-notch shape by avoiding the top 10 resume blunders:

1. Too Focused on Job Duties

Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself:

    * How did you perform the job better than others?

    * What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the company benefit from your performance?

    * Did you receive any awards, special recognitions or promotions as a result?

2. Flowery or General Objective Statement

Many candidates lose their readers in the beginning. Statements such as "a challenging position enabling me to contribute to organizational goals while offering an opportunity for growth and advancement" are overused, too general and waste valuable space. If you're on a career track, replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

3. Too Short or Too Long

Many people try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, because they've heard resumes shouldn't be longer. By doing this, job seekers may delete impressive achievements. Other candidates ramble on about irrelevant or redundant experiences. There is no rule about appropriate resume length. When writing your resume, ask yourself, "Will this statement help me land an interview?" Every word should sell you, so include only the information that elicits a "yes."

4. Using Personal Pronouns and Articles

A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be concise and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mentions of "I" or "me," and only minimal use of articles. For example:

I developed a new product that added $2 million in sales and increased the market segment's gross margin by 12%.

Should be changed to:

Developed new product that added $2 million in sales and increased market segment's gross margin by 12%.

5. Listing Irrelevant Information

Many people include their interests, but they should include only those relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a ski instructor, he should list cross-country skiing as a hobby.

Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the resume unless you're an entertainment professional or job seeker outside the US.

6. Using a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History

It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and impact you made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional format.

The modified chronological format, or combination resume, is often the most effective. Here's the basic layout:

    * Header (name, address, email address, phone number).

    * Lead with a strong profile section detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency.

    * Reverse chronological employment history emphasizing achievements over the past 10 to 15 years.

    * Education (new grads may put this at the top).

7. Not Including a Summary Section That Makes an Initial Hard Sell

This is one of the job seeker's greatest tools. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.

To create a high-impact summary statement, peruse job openings to determine what's important to employers. Next, write a list of your matching skills, experience and education. Incorporate these points into your summary.

8. Not Including Keywords

With so many companies using technology to store resumes, the only hope a job seeker has of being found is to sprinkle relevant keywords throughout the resume. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your resume.

9. Referring to Your References

Employers know you have professional references. Use this statement only to signal the end of a long resume or to round out the design.

10. Typos

One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Proofread and show your resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect.

Four Ways to Safeguard Your Job in Hard Times
By Peter Vogt
MonsterTRAK Career Coach

In a September 2008 Accenture survey of more than 300 middle managers across the US, 61 percent said their employees are concerned about being let go. Similarly, three out of four respondents in a VitalSmarts poll conducted at the same time said they believe their organizations are likely to go through layoffs in the next 12 months.

It’s no fun feeling like your neck is under a workplace guillotine. But there are some smart steps you can take now to prevent the ax from falling later.

Do More Than What You’re Told

Look around your workplace. What critical tasks are falling through the cracks because a key employee left, for example, or because there’s no budget for them?

If you cover even a few of these activities without waiting to be asked, you’ll be seen “as one who takes the initiative and who wants to see the success of the team in hard economic times,” says Dustin Weeks, author of Lessons from a Recovering Worker Bee and a former investment banking and corporate finance professional.

Communications consultant Jenny Schade remembers working with a corporate communications manager who helped the company’s information technology department with its communications needs. “She escaped a massive employee reduction when her IT contacts created a special position for her within their department,” she says.

Show Your Company the Money

It’s human nature for organizational leaders to focus more diligently on financial matters when the overall economy is floundering. You need to do the same.

For starters, figure out how you and your work contribute to your organization’s bottom line. Have you saved the company money? If so, how much? Conversely, do you bring in money? Again, how much?

“Find a way to measure your value,” stresses Schade. “If your contribution to the bottom line isn’t obvious to you, how will it be clear to the leaders determining who stays and who goes?”

Similarly, watch your company-related spending closely. You want to be viewed as someone who treats the firm’s money as carefully as you do your own.

“Eat McDonald’s on your business trip,” advises Armen Berjikly, CEO of ExperienceProject.com. “You can fine dine later.”

Become Your Own PR Rep

“Dutifully slaving away in a dark corner, avoiding personal interaction in the name of productivity, may backfire when it comes time for management to hand out pink slips,” says publisher Kathryn Marion, founder and president of Real Solutions Press. “It’s much easier to let go of the person who comes out of hiding every blue moon to hand in work.”

So while you may not necessarily like the idea, make peace with becoming more visible among your colleagues and tooting your own horn -- at least enough to let your bosses pinpoint you as a doer who gets results. Send your supervisor weekly or biweekly emails briefly summarizing your accomplishments. Or volunteer to lead a key multidepartment committee. In other words, do whatever it takes to be seen (and heard) as someone the organization can’t afford to lose.

Be the Likeable, Professional Person Everyone Respects

“Most employees would be shocked to overhear the conversations when managers and human resources are deciding who to lay off,” says etiquette consultant and trainer Jodi Smith.

For example, Smith recently led a four-hour seminar for a corporate client. Fifty of the client’s employees participated. When the session was over, the client said to Smith: “I have to lay off five of these people. Can you guess who?” Smith correctly identified four of the five, based on their attire, behaviors, attitudes and participation during her session.

“It truly is the little things that count,” Smith stresses. “If a manager has two employees who both do their jobs well, the manager is going to keep the employee who is easier -- who comes to work on time, is pleasant and is dressed appropriately. It really isn’t rocket science.”

Love at Work
By Michele Marrinan
Monster Contributing Writer


Dating someone from work is natural for many people. After all, who has time to meet someone when you're working 60 hours or more per week? You may find that understanding your mutual work lives can deepen your relationship. And instead of rushing home each evening, you may be willing to work late, especially if you can do it alongside your beloved.

Despite the upsides, the downsides can be pretty daunting. First, there's no escape if the romance goes sour. You still have to see and interact with that person daily. A failed workplace romance can also hurt your career and reputation. People may view a promotion or raise as favoritism, no matter how much you deserve it. And even if the relationship works out, it can be tough to work with your lover. "You get sick of each other," says Judy Kuriansky, PhD, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dating.

Whether you should or should not date someone at the office isn't always a clear-cut decision. It depends on your situation and personality. But if you decide to make the leap, tread carefully over these issues.

Make Sure You Can Take the Consequences

"If you decide to wander down that illicit path of meeting somebody in your office, remember to take the good with the bad," says Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together, two dating franchises. "The biggest problem about interoffice relationships is that if it doesn't work out, you still have to face that person every single day." Make sure that you can.

Be Smart

You don't want your entire life to be an open book. Before you ask your love interest out for a drink, be certain he isn't the type to share your innermost secrets around the water cooler.

Date Up, Not Down

Dating a subordinate isn't smart. Your relationship could be misconstrued as a power play -- "date me, or you won't get that promotion." If things go badly, you could get hit with a lawsuit for sexual harassment, even if the relationship was mutual. Some companies require managers to report workplace romances and both parties to sign an agreement stating they willingly entered the relationship.

Be Discreet

Some people keep workplace romances a secret. That's the route Falzone recommends.

But Kuriansky disagrees. She says that secrets can cause issues among coworkers. The key is to be discreet. Don't hold closed-door meetings, don't make overt displays of affection in the office and stay focused on work.

Get a Life

It's important not to spend every waking hour with your lover and your work. That's not good for any relationship. Pursue other interests together and individually. And make sure you have more in common than your jobs.

In this lead-up to Valentine’s Day, thoughts turn to hearts, candy, flowers and romance. You love your significant other. You love your kids. You love your parents. But do you love your job?

According to a Harris Interactive survey from last February, 9 percent of respondents would marry their job if it were a living person, while 34 percent would date it seriously. Forty-three percent are playing the field, reporting they’d date their job casually. On the flip side, 9 percent said they didn’t like their jobs, and 5 percent wanted to break up immediately. Ouch.

What about you? Are you in love with your job or composing a Dear John letter right now? If you’re looking to leave, this advice will help you make the break. - source

OT- fieljeromecielo please check your pm.

Quote from: The Arch on February 11, 2009, 05:09:56 AM
TO EVERYONE;
On Friday and on your own and please remember even if you don't know Lynn Vi, at 12:00 midnight before Saturday comes, stop whatever you are doing for 5 minutes...just 5 minutes and offer a prayer to her. to the guys who knew her, think of the happy times you had with her. make this as an offering, to do your part no matter how helpless we are. thank you.

All of us can spare 5 minutes of our time.
Let us pray for justice and eternal rest of Lynn Vi Ebarita's soul.

Amazing Dubai. Construction on-going

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15 Minutes: The time it takes for a man to determine whether or not he wants to see a woman again.

Meaning in Taiwan

One red rose means “an only love,” 11 roses means “a favorite,” 99 roses means “forever,” and 108 roses means “marry me.”

BlindsExpress offers blinds, shades and window treatments in an extremely wide range of style, fabric and texture. We have negotiated with major manufacturers to get a better price on their products without the advertising cost, allowing us to pass the savings directly on to you. Click here to visit Blindexpress

Nissan is to cut 20,000 jobs worldwide, 8.5% of its workforce, over the next year because of a sharp fall in sales.

The Japanese carmaker made the announcement as it said it expected to make a loss of 265bn yen ($2.9bn; £2bn) for its current financial year.

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said the the firm's "worst assumptions on the state of the global economy have been met or exceeded". - BBC

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“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and no intent on arriving,” - Lao Tzu

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According to a brief report of the Bohol Chronicle

There will be no more habal-habal operators allowed within the city starting tomorrow after LTO Registar Joel Maloloy-on will welcome a 20-man team from the regional offices to implement the total ban of habal-habal in the city. The presence of other mode of transportation in the city justifies the removal of their operation here. However, they will be allowed to operate in the towns. Habal-habal is a "motor taxi" which carries 3 to 4 passengers.

Provides administrative support and performs full secretarial services of a responsible and confidential nature in the Managing Director General’s (MDG) office.

Go to: http://money.getthebestinfo.com/senior-administrative-assistant-local-staff-asian-development-bank-3/

The government is compiling a database to track and store the international travel records of millions of Britons.

Computerised records of all 250 million journeys made by individuals in and out of the UK each year will be kept for up to 10 years.

The government says the database is essential in the fight against crime, illegal immigration and terrorism.

But opposition MPs and privacy campaigners fear it is a significant step towards a surveillance society.

The intelligence centre will store names, addresses, telephone numbers, seat reservations, travel itineraries and credit card details of travellers. - BBC

The serenity in this place is so pervading.

An email like this is proliferating in the Internet today. Please let your friends know about it.
#####

Sir, I know you are a filipino working in Bulgaria can i ask for assistance from you sir?

My name is (fake name here) from Quezon City, Philippines.  I am applying for a job in the internet thru the website jobineurope.net then they refer me to the company Icons88 Ltd. in Bulgaria,  Last December 22, 2008 I send my signed work contract and photocopy of my passport to them for them to file a work permit for me there in the workforce in bulgaria, I keep on following up as to when is the leadtime for the processing of said working permit but (fake website url) can not tell me about it.  I also wanted to know more about the company Icons88 Ltd. my future employer if what kind of company they are,  i need to know them before going there but jobineurope. net cannot tell me the info.  sir, can i ask for a favor from you since you are already in Bulgaria can you research for me even the website of the company Icons88 Ltd.?  I can not see them on the website or thru googlesearch.

I appreaciate very much if you could help me know more about my inquiry.  Please help me.


Thank you so much.


Fake Name Here

By Alex Villanueva
PNA

The Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in Spratlys off South China Sea is believed to be sitting on top of what could be the largest oil and natural gas deposits in the world, and holds one of the four largest hydrocarbon concentrations.

It could be able to generate 17.1 billion barrels of oil, more than Kuwait's 13 billion barrels based on the report of China’s Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources.

This was revealed by Jose Antonio Socrates, a known geologist here who is consultant of Palawan on maritime affairs.

Socrates, also a doctor of orthopedics, is actively monitoring KIG and the Malampaya oil project in northern Palawan.

The KIG is the subject of territorial claims by six Asian countries including the Philippines. But with the signing of Presidential Decree 1596 in 1978 by then President Ferdinand Marcos, the territory was incorporated within the jurisdiction of the province to strengthen the country’s claim over the area.

Aside from the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim the KIG in part or as a whole.

All claimant countries believe there are some 200 billion barrels of oil, natural gas, minerals and polymetals â€" such as gold, silver, iron and nickel â€" under the sea surrounding the Spratlys.

One of the oil prospects in the KIG Socrates mentioned is the Marantao Petroleum Fields, located in the South Palawan Shelf-Reed Sedimentary Basin.

The Marantao prospect is a carbonate build-up (reef) interpreted to be at least five times larger than the Malampaya gas project.

The potential oil reserve in Marantao that is under Service Contract 55 is estimated at one billion barrels. Malampaya only has an estimated 2.5 million cubic feet of natural gas reserves, and 85 million barrels of condensate which could provide 2,700 megawatts of electricity to Luzon for 20 years.

Socrates further disclosed that aside from Marantao, KIG could be hosting other prospects like Sirinao, Bajallanura, and a string of other structures collectively known as the Rizal Leads.

These structures, or areas where possible oil and gas deposits can be located, lie along the giant petroleum fields offshore Borneo up to Mindoro in the continental shelf of the eastern coast of the South China Sea.

Socrates reported that that continental shelf of the South China Sea has geological structures that can trap oil in large quantities.

Meanwhile, Malampaya is just one of many petroleum deposits of one vast reservoir rock formation offshore both east side and west side of the province.

There are 15 service contracts within Palawan covering an area measuring about 11.85 million hectares.

Some of the service contracts (SC) in Palawan are: SC 50, which covers 128,000 hectares in Northwestern Palawan; SC 55 covering 900,000 hectares in West Palawan; SC 61 covering 1.3 million hectares in northeastern Palawan; SC 62 covering 1.3 million hectares in southeastern Palawan; SC 67 covering 648 million hectares in eastern Palawan, SC 68 covering 983,000 hectares in eastern Palawan; SC 59, which covers 1.47 million hectares in West Balabac in southwestern Palawan; and SC 63 covering one million hectares in southwestern Palawan.

Police operatives arrested a notorious car thief, a namesake of a multi-awarded actor, in Barangay Batia here, Monday afternoon.

Senior Supt. Allen Bantolo, Bulacan Police Provincial Office (BPPO) director, identified the arrested suspect as Christopher de Leon, 33, married, of Northville Subdivision, Barangay Batia here.

Bantolo said De Leon is a member of the notorious "Kabayan Group", a criminal gang engaged in robbery hold-up, carnapping and gun-for-hire activities operating in some Bulacan areas.

He said joint operatives of the Provincial Intelligence and Detective Management Bureau (PIDMB), headed by Supt. Dave Poklay, and the Bocaue Police Police Station, under Supt. Ronald “DJ” de Jesus, swooped down on the gang's suspected hideout in Barangay Batia after receiving information that the suspect was sighted in the area.

Police said De Leon went into hiding following the killing of some of his cohorts during an encounter with lawmen last year. - PNA

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A student from the University of the Philippines bagged top awards in a science competition for his research on behaviors of atoms which may have big contributions in the field of Physics.

Mikhail Solon, BS Physics University of the Philippines student, won the Department of Science and Technology-Bank of the Philippine Islands (DOST-BPI) Best Project of the Year Awards for his project titled "Analysis of Selected Non-Linear and Non-Local Systems."

His research offers new methods for analyzing relativistic nonlinear oscillators and the Brownian motion of charged particles in changing magnetic fields.

In simpler terms, this explains the orbits of electrons in heavier atoms as well as describe plasma and heavier ions.

His project has potential applications to the description of the atomic spectra of atoms with heavy nuclei and to the motion of ions and electrons in plasmas.

In physics and chemistry, plasma is a partially ionized gas, in which a certain proportion of electrons are free rather than being bound to an atom or molecule.

Like gas, plasma does not have a definite shape or a definite volume unless enclosed in a container. But unlike gas, in the influence of a magnetic field, it may form structures such as filaments, beams and double layers.

Artificially-produced plasmas include plasma displays, including TVs and fluorescent lamps (low energy lighting), neon signs.

His project has been published in Physics Letters A and Physics Review, both international publications whose articles are being reviewed by renowned physicists throughout the world before they are printed.

Solon is the first BPI Science awardee from the NIP in seven years.

He bested 27 others from 10 partner-universities throughout the country as the BPI-DOST joint undertaking aims to recognize and provide incentives to graduating students in selected colleges/universities who excel in specialized fields of science, namely: mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science and biology.

Solon also took home cash incentive of P50,000 and a P200,000 research grant, courtesy of DOST, and a trophy from BPI.

Stephen Co of Ateneo de Manila University ranked first runner-up this year for his work titled “Design and Construction of a Synthetic Coconut Cadang Cadang Viroid cDNA.” He would be receiving P30,000 cash prize from DOST and a trophy from BPI. - PNA

The Committee on Constitutional Amendments of the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a resolution which seeks to amend the economic provision of the 1987 Constitution.

With a vote of 11 in favor as against four, House Resolution no. 737, authored by Speaker Prospero Nograles, which proposes amendments to Sections 2 and 3, Article 12 of the Constitution to allow the acquisition by foreign corporations and associations, and the transfer or conveyance thereto, of alienable public and private lands, the committee on Constitutional Amendments approved the proposed measure and recommends it for plenary deliberation.

Committee chair and La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, in an interview, said the proposed measure was thoroughly discussed and that all sides were given fair chance to air their manifestations.

With the approval of the committee, he expects the bill to be deliberated at the plenary by March, including what mode to use in amending the 1987 Constitution. - PNA

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) on Tuesday said it has recovered an additional P261 million in cash dividends from the Philippine Telecommunication Investment Corporation (PTIC) which has been declared as part of the ill-gotten of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos and his family.

In a statement, the PCGG said the Bank of Commerce recently turned over some P261,657,047.48 million which represents cash dividends accruing to the 111,415 PTIC shares of stock registered in the name of Prime Holdings, Inc (PHI).

The Supreme Court (SC), in a ruling dated January 20, said the PTIC shares are part of the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth which rightfully belongs to the government.

The newly-recovered funds raised to P1.555 billion the total amount of cash dividends the Commission has transmitted to the National Treasury since 2008 pertaining to the PTIC shares.

The recovered cash, pursuant to the mandate of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law or CARL, has been earmarked as additional funding for the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The PCGG claimed that as of December 31, 2008, the Commission has remitted to the national treasury a total P84.18 billion to fund CARP.

The Bank of Commerce, earlier, also turned over to PCGG some P103 million dividends accruing from the same shares of stock. - PNA

The House of Representatives has started deliberation on the controversial bills on sin taxes in a bid to increase tax collections of the government.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, author of House Bill no. 3759 proposing a unitary tax rate on cigarettes, noted that aside from revenue collection, "the thrust of these measures on sin taxes is to discourage the youth from taking cigarette and liquors at the early age."

"Cigarette smoking has become a status symbol for the youth and is considered as a primary cause of respiratory illnesses resulting in financial burden on the government in terms of increased health assistance and subsidies to citizens," he added.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, author of HB 4951, said that while the primary purpose of taxation is to raise revenue which is an essential support for the myriad functions of the government, taxes can also be made effective to implement police powers to promote general welfare such as safeguarding the health of the people and funding essential services to promote public health.

Aside from HBs 3759 and 4951, other measures on sin taxes being deliberated on by the Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier include HB 2551 increasing excise tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products filed by Manila Rep Bienvenido Abante Jr.; HB 3917 increasing tax rates on cigars and cigarettes by Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis; and HB 3787 seeking to restructure the excise tax on alcohol products also by Suarez. - PNA

Kitkat of ABS-CBN. A pure Filipina.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Elias Yusoph as new commissioner of the Commission on Election (Comelec).

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita made the announcement during a press briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacanang.

Ermita said Yusoph will fill-in in the position left by Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner, who died of heart attack on May 29, 2008.

He also said Yusoph is highly recommended by the Bishops-Ulama Conference as co-chaired by Davao Archbishop Fernando Robles Capalla and Hilario Gomez Jr., co-convenor, Bishop Emeritus of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines and the representative of the Ulama League of the Philippines Dr. Hamid Bara.

“The appointment of Yusoph in the Comelec will not only show the sincerity of the government in appointing a Muslim in this Constitutional body but will also infuse a new personality in the Commission,” Ermita said, as he read the Ulamas-Bishop’s recommendation letter.

Prior to his new appointment, Yusoph was former prosecutor of Marawi City since 1987. - source: PNA

Metro Manila felt the chills Tuesday morning as temperature drops to 19 degrees Celsius due to the fresh surge of northeast monsoon.

"The coldest was felt 5:35 a.m. at dawn when most residents are in deep slumber," Nonoy About, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Baguio was still nippy at 15 degrees Celsius.

The cold wind is still associated with the chilly temperature felt in early January, from the winds blown across snow-capped Siberian mountain into the country, known as the northeast monsoon.

A brief lull of NE monsoon was felt mid-January caused by the intrusion of easterly wave resulting in the rise of mercuries, About said, but chilly mornings can be expected in the coming days as NE monsoon has not yet reached its peak.

"It will get colder in early days of February, temperature is expected to dip at 18 degrees Celsius, at least in Metro Manila, in the mornings," he said. - PNA

New Barako Bull team coach Leo Isaac said former Red Bull head coach Yeng Guiao is one hard act to follow and his shoes are too big to fill.

But that also means Isaac is a challenged new head mento who can explode if his young and rejuveated team wants to in the near future.

"Basketball means giving ones best shot at all times--it is a dynamic sport which should keep a player, a coach or any member of a team to keep on moving and improving," said the popular former Barangay Ginebra forward who went into college coaching, PBL assistant coaching and finally as a top floor director in one of the PBA's changing teams.

He admits he can't predict what may happen to the Bulls under his tutelage. "It's going to be a day-in, day-out practice, training, bonding and review of every man's performance. - PNA

The city government of Marikina, thru Business Promotions and Development Office and the local police, has implemented a city ordinance that would closely monitor Internet shops

Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando said that the city ordinance prohibits establishments from running network games during late hours.

Fernando said that they have received complaints that many young patrons of these Internet shops, majority of whom are students, play online games until the wee hours of the morning.

As a result, these students have become addicted to computer games, thus affecting their studies, the complaints said.

To prevent this bad habit from escalating further, Fernando said the operation of online games and other related forms of computer gaming in all Internet cafés must be regulated.

An ordinance, authored by Councilor Ponciano Ubaldo and approved by the City Council, prohibits establishments from running online computer games from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Internet shops found violating the order face revocation of their business permits as well as closure. - source: BBC

Authorities on Tuesday nabbed a 27-year-old tourism graduate who is notorious in robbing tourists of their cash and other valuables in different hotels in Pasay City by using his talent -- speaking different languages.

Police identified the suspect as Joseph Tamayo who was arrested following a tip from hotel personnel who reported that the suspect, together with a Korean national, arrived at the hotel in Pasay around 6 am.

Tamayo’s modus operandi to victimize foreign nationals involves talking to them in perfect foreign language. After gaining his victims’ trust, he will then rob them of their possessions.

His latest victim was identified as Shin Dong Chui, 24, a Korean National.

Shin said that he did not notice that Tamayo already have his cash, worth P17,000 until the police apprehended the suspect. Authorities caught the suspect red-handed while trying to walk away with the victim’s other valuables.

Pasay Police Investigation & Detective Management Section (IDMS) chief PO3 Rodolfo Soquina Jr. said that he received a tip from hotel personnel Alfredo Nocum and Herman Abucar. The two believe that the suspect was responsible for the series of robberies inside hotels in Pasay.

On January 17, Tamayo arrived in RL Hotel along with a Japanese National identified as Akatsuko Kiyoshi, 22. After touring with the suspect, the victim was surprised to see that all his valuables were missing when he arrived at the hotel.

Investigations showed that the suspect has befriended his victims as they arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Once the suspect has gained the trust of his victims, he will convince them to join him in the hotel to save money from hotel expenses. - source: PNA

Victories in three different weight classes, including two title conquests and a dominant showing against one of boxing’s all-time greats.

All of these Manny Pacquiao achieved in a 12-month span, giving him a strong case as the leading pick for the year’s top athlete honor.

Actually, make that a no-contest.

The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), the country’s oldest media organization, unanimously chose Pacquiao as its Athlete of the Year for 2008 following his heartwarming success in the ring and elevated Philippine boxing to a higher level.

The 30-year old boxing icon from General Santos City leads the finest sports personalities and entities of the year just past to be honored during the SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night on February 20 at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

This marks the fifth time the 60-year old media group consisting of editors and sportswriters from the various national broadsheets and tabloids, is bestowing its highest award to Pacquiao, counting the similar Athlete of the Year honor awarded to him in 2002-04 and 2006.

At the same time, the PSA is also elevating the four-time world champion to the Hall of Fame, making him the first Filipino athlete to be accorded such honor while still at the peak of his career.

Past PSA Hall of Famers included bowlers Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo, basketball greats Caloy Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar, pro boxers Pancho Villa and Gabriel `Flash’ Elorde, amateur boxer Mansueto `Onyok’ Velasco, tracksters Lydia De Vega and Mona Sulaiman, swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, tennis player Felicisimo Ampon, Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre and golfers Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot.

“Manny Pacquiao has all the mark of a great athlete that while he’s still active fighting, he already deserved to be a Hall of Famer,” said PSA President Aldrin Cardona of the Daily Tribune.

Given a second look for the Athlete of the Year honor handed out yearly during the awards rite which has the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) as major sponsor and supported by Shakey’s, Accel, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Basketball League (PBL) NCRAA, ICTSI, Smart, Purefoods, Ginebra, Ever Billena, Harbour Centre and Secretary Lito Atienza, included the Women’s World Cup champion duo of Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, young chess whiz Wesley So, wushu artist Willy Wang, boxer Nonito Donaire and golfers Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina.

None of them, however, came as close to surpassing what the boxer known as `The Pacman’ did in 2008.

The Filipino southpaw began the year with a bang, scoring a razor-thin split decision win over Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, Nevada to wrest the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight belt.

Three months later, Pacquiao added the WBC lightweight crown to his collection by knocking out David Diaz in the ninth round of their title showdown in his first foray in the 135-pound division.

The victory gave the boxing idol his fourth world title, making him the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win belts in four different weight classes following earlier reigns in the flyweight and super-bantamweight divisions.

As if those were not enough, Pacquiao saved his best for last.

In one of the stunning upsets in boxing history, Pacquiao administered the worst beating in boxing star Oscar De La Hoya’s checkered career, stopping the former Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion in the eight round of their mega-welterweight showdown before an animated crowd of 15,000 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The bout billed as `The Dream Match’ was the first time Pacquiao fought at 147 pounds.

“You’re my idol. You’re the best fighter in the world,” De La Hoya told Pacquiao shortly after the convincing win that reinforced Pacquiao’s status as the best fighter in the world, pound for pound. (PNA)

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Flowering landscape trees are the crown jewels of the yard.
Perhaps no other plants, individually, can have as great an
impact on how a yard looks in spring. Browse the articles to
which I've linked below for information on particular varieties
of flowering landscape trees. Pictures are included.

Crape Myrtles: Landscape Trees of the South

A popular choice in flowering landscape trees for Southerners,
crape myrtles have a long blooming period (mid-summer to
fall). The blooming clusters of these flowering landscape trees
come in pink, white, red and lavender. The clusters appear on
the tips of new wood. Northerners can sometimes get away
with treating these flowering landscape trees as perennials
that die back in winter but come back in spring.

Trees

Not all specimens with a weeping habit are flowering
landscape trees, but this article looks at several weeping
varieties that do bloom, headed by four types of cherry.
Saucer Magnolias

The size and shape of the blooms are what suggested the
common name for these flowering landscape trees. Want a
specimen with a brilliant bloom as big as a saucer? Access
information on these beauties here.

Rose of Sharon

Although some people think of it as a landscape "tree"
(because it gets tall and can be pruned so as to have a single
trunk), rose of sharon is, in fact, a flowering shrub. The fact
that it blooms relatively late -- and for a long time -- makes it
a valuable plant for those looking to distribute their yard's
color display throughout the growing season.
Top 10 List of Flowering Landscape Trees and Shrubs for
Spring |

This article features information on ten flowering landscape
trees and shrubs that brighten our spring seasons. Included
are redbud, callery pear and crabapple.
Hawthorn: Late-Blooming Landscape Trees

This article offers information on Washington hawthorn trees,
which are perhaps most valued for the time at which they
bloom (late spring to early summer). Many of the popular
flowering specimens bloom earlier in the spring, and while
their blossoms are pleasant sights for eyes sore from winter's
barrenness, they desert us too quickly!

By the Bohol Chronicle

Due to unpaid medical expenses under Tagbilaran's Blue Card free hospitalization program amounting P1.9 million, the Gov. Celestino Gallares Regional Hospital is suspending admittances charged against the city government.

The administrative office of the government hospital confirmed in a check made by the Chronicle that the outstanding obligations of the city remain unpaid prompting its management to stop allowing patients to charge hospital billings against the Blue Card.

Since the hospital fees ballooned to over P2.146 million in June 2008, the city government only paid once despite several demands for payment.

Some city lawmakers were shocked to learn of the unpaid debt since the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved a P4 million allocation for the Blue Card last year.         

"Where did all that money go if the claims incurred by Blue Card patients is much less than the appropriated amount?" asked Kag. Zenaido Rama.

Until the city government pays its debt, the hospital will refuse admittances under the hospitalization program of the city.

The Blue Card was conceived to provide free hospital care for "the poorest among the poor" in Tagbilaran. The City Social Welfare and Development Office is tasked to identify its beneficiaries in coordination with the City Health Office as the program's implementer.

By the Bohol Chronicle

A rural bank that shut its doors on Monday after experiencing heavy withdrawals since December has sought a rescue loan package from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to save its operations.

The Rural Bank of Maribojoc Inc. (RBM) bore the domino effect of the closure of Pilipino Rural Bank (PRBank) Tagbilaran Branch last December 12, 2008 and other conglomerate rural banks under the Legacy Group.

According to an official of RBM, the bank got affected due to the closure of PRBank as deposits dropped to an all time low while withdrawals barraged the 31-year old rural bank located in Poblacion, Maribojoc.

"Operations had been smooth until our depositors turned anxious owing to the collapse of PRBank," said RBM board chairman Restituto Tan.

Officials from the Central Bank had been in constant talks with the rural bank's management for an emergency loan, reportedly somewhere between P15 million - P20 million, that would pull out RBM of its predicament, Tan confirmed.

In fact, two BSP representatives came last Friday to start processing the loan requirements.
         

Even as Tan is hopeful on the rural bank's application for loan, he said "the element of time depends on how fast central bank officials can grant the rescue loan".

"The central bank advised the management to wait," Tan said as he also appealed for patience among their depositors.

The banker said the government should be able to rescue distressed rural banks due to the closure of 13 Legacy banks which expectedly caused depositors to be apprehensive on the banks' operations.

LOAN IN THE PIPELINE

Antonieto Pernia, chief of staff of Gov. Erico Aumentado and an intermediary of the rural bank and the BSP, disclosed that the central bank representatives who visited here were "quite optimistic" that the loan will be granted.

Pernia said the BSP representatives disclosed that the central bank is willing to release an initial amount even while the documentary requirements are being complied with.

He said the initial figure was due for release and other personnel from the central bank will be here for the signing of loan documents.

Pernia said he introduced Tan to BSP officials who came to Bohol last month to supervise the convergence program of cooperatives in the province and the BSP.

It was during that meeting that Tan told the BSP officials that the rural bank needs cash infusion before its cash reserve is depleted, Pernia said.

By Sen Guingguing
Sunday Post

      Former third district representative Eladio Jala tries to swerve away from dilemma’s route in the possible clash of his close friends- -Lawyer Vic-Vic Abrenilla or retired chief captain Cipriano Madera- -in the Jagna mayoralty race in 2010.

      Jala told the local media that if Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren will support Abrenilla in the mayoralty race, he will ask Madera to forgo his plan to run for mayor.

      Jala said he will prevent Madera and Abrenilla from clashing against each other in the 2010 elections.

      He said he is bound to support Abrenilla lest their party chooses the latter as their official candidate for mayor of Jagna.

      By then Jala has to ask Madera to sacrifice his quest for the mayor’s post, to avoid being “torn between two lovers”, since Madera has been his close friend.

      Madera has long been vocal about his intention to run for mayor in Jagna, when Lloren would finish his last term.

      Madera takes pride of his contributions to the lives of many Boholanos when he was still manager of Magsaysay Shipping Agency.

      With a Japanese partner behind him, he now manages Merfolk Shipping Agency.

      Madera had served many companies over the years until he retired to concentrate in managing the shipping agency.

      Meanwhile, Abrenilla has expressed interest on Councilor Bonifacio Virtudes Jr. to be his candidate for vice mayor.

      Vice-Mayor Teofisto Pagar Jr., however, said Lloren’s group still has to set a meeting to discuss about the local slate in the municipal level.

      Pagar is also among those who had expressed interest in running for mayor as he is no longer qualified to seek reelection in 2010, having served three consecutive terms already as vice-mayor.

      Another Jagnaanon who had expressed interest to serve the people of Jagna is Joseph Ranolla.

      Ranolla has found greener pasture in Manila and had gained pre-exposure to politics during his past stint as chief of staff of former senator Rodolfo Biazon.

      Jagna parishioners mourned the death of well-loved former parish priest and first adopted son of the town- -the late Msgr. Saturnino Escobia Felicitas, H.P.

      Born on December 23, 1915, Monsignor Ninong, as he was fondly called by friends and parishioners, died of pneumonia at the age of 93 on January 24 in his residence in Anda.

      Jagna parish priest, Msgr. Orencio Jubac, E.V., personally facilitated the memorial services and wake based on the pre-arranged request of the late monsignor.

      “It was really a personal prayer and intention of Msgr. Ninong that if ever the ‘proper time comes on him’, he be brought back to the Birhen sa Barangay Shrine in Jagna. However, for the convenience of the parishioners especially those who are too old to go to Ilihan Hill we decided that the continuation of the memorial wake be held at the St. Michael, The Archangel Parish Church for two days,” according to Msgr. Jubac.

      A convoy of at least 20 private vehicles escorted the bier on Monday, dropping by briefly at the Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Guinduman before heading to Anda, Msgr. Ninong’s hometown.

      The late monsignor finished his elementary years in Anda Elementary School. He took his secondary course at the former Central Visayan College (now CVI-F) in Jagna but received his high school diploma at the former Bohol Provincial High School in Tagbilaran City.

      His desire to become a priest brought him to the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Cebu City where he successfully finished his Philosophy and Theology studies.

      He was ordained priest on April 2, 1949 by the late Bishop Julio Rosales, D.D.

      His first assignment was in Maribojoc as parish vicar in 1949. He became priest-in-charge of Baclayon the following year.

      His other major assignments as parish priest were in the parishes of Loon, Antequera, Tubigon, Calape, Tagbilaran City, Guindulman and Loay.

      He was once Superintendent of the Bohol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS), a member of the Council of Priests of Tagbilaran City and Diocesan Chaplain of the Barangay Sang Birhen.

      Prior to his retirement in the active priesthood, Msgr. Ninong was assigned as parish priest of St. Michael, The Archangel Parish of Jagna in 1975-1981 and in 1987-1992.

      As one of the longest staying parish priests of Jagna, he has been dubbed as a “great homilist”.

      He likewise initiated various spiritual related programs in the parish which made him closer to the people.

      Jagna was also witness to his many glorious moments in priesthood, while serving the parishioners.

      It was during his time when the Birhen sa Barangay Chapel atop Ilihan Hill in Jagna was constructed with the help of the late Diocese of Tagbilaran bishop, Onesimo Gordoncillo, D.D., and the late Bohol governor Esteban Bernido.

      His title and rank as honorary prelate (H.P.) was bestowed on him by the late Pope John Paul II through the instrumentality of Talibon Bishop Christian Vincent Noel, D.D. as a mark of papal recognition of his service to the local church of Bohol and Jagna in particular.

      After the February 8, 1999 major earthquake that destroyed the St. Michael Parish Church, he boldly instigated the million-peso restoration project.

      His rapport with the people of Jagna and his undying devotion to the Birhen sa Barangay strongly inspired him to spend his conventual years at Ilihan Hill which has become a pilgrim site and a diocesan shrine.

      Perhaps gifted with longevity despite his permanent blindness due to glaucoma, Msgr. Ninong was able to celebrate with the Jagnaanons his golden anniversary as a priest.

      For his contribution to the parish and town, Msgr. Ninong was declared “First Adopted Son of Jagna” through a Sangguniang Bayan resolution during the term of former Mayor Alexander Villacastin in the early 1980s.

      In the 375th founding anniversary of Jagna as a town and parish in September 2006, Mayor Exuperio Lloren accorded Msgr. Ninong the prestigious Dungog Kaliwat Jagnaanon Award.

      Attended by hundreds of friends, former parishioners, relatives and fellow priests both from the Dioceses of Tagbilaran and Talibon Msgr. Ninong was laid to his final resting place at the Anda Cemetery on January 29.

      The late monsignor is survived by sisters Ciriaca Felicitas-Lunop and Trinidad Felicitas-Magallano.  - Sunday Post

      An 18-year-old girl in Tubigon town complained that she was a victim of rape.

      The crime was committed about 9 pm last Jan. 28 in Barangay Panaytayon.

      The suspect was identified as one Retchie Intia, 26, single and a resident of the said barangay.

      According to the victim, she was walking toward the house of her aunt when the suspect suddenly grabbed the victim when she came upon a dark place.

      She said the suspect brought her to the house of one Calixto Ponteras and there consummated the crime.

      The suspect immediately fled from the scene of the crime but was subsequently arrested during the follow-up operations.

      Intia, who was under the influence of liquor at the time of his arrest, was placed under detention at the Tubigon PNP lock-up jail.     

      The case is being monitored by the PNP women’s desk. - source: Sunday Post

      A detention prisoner was found lifeless inside his cell Friday midnight in an apparent case of suicide.

     The victim was identified as one Romeo Tarac, 56, married, a Leyte native who was a resident of Barangay Jandig, Maribojoc.

     PO1 Michael Armeldez of the Maribojoc PNP told Station DyTR that Tarac’s body was discovered hanging about 11 pm last Jan. 30.

     Tarac used the cord of his short pants for his final act by tying one end to the window grill in the comfort room and then tying the other end around his neck.

     It was learned that the guards discovered the suicide when they noticed that the water from the faucet kept running.

     When Tarac was not in his cell, the guard on duty went to the comfort room and found him kneeling but with the cord tied around his neck.

     The victim was facing a case for frustrated homicide for stabbing one Pastor Arocha of Maribojoc. He was detained last Jan. 15 after he voluntarily surrendered for the crime committed.

     Days before the suicide, Tarac had been very silent in his cell.

     It was learned that the victim had been separated from his wife. The burial preparations were undertaken by town officials.

     Another shocking suicide that preludes Tarac’s was that of Cansague Barangay Kagawad Edwin Cruza, 28, in the town of San Isidro.

     He was found with a rope around his neck. He was rushed to a hospital in Tagbilaran City, but was declared dead on arrival.

     It was learned he had a fight with his wife prior to the incident.

source: Suicide in Maribojoc

On the other hand, even the best intention can be fatal as an amok belatedly discovered in Tagbilaran last week.

      A man who ran amuck in San Isidro district ended up dead when a shot intended for his feet instead turned out to be a fatal shot.

      The fatality was identified as one Rogaciano Olea alias Ojing, 43 and a San Isidro native.

      Olea went berserk in the morning of Jan. 27 at the Gawad Kalinga area in Cabawan of the said barangay.

      The amok who was armed with a bladed weapon hacked a woman later identified as one Maria Emily Salarda, 38 who was also a resident of the place.

      This prompted barangay officials to request for police assistance to prevent the fatality from inflicting harm on other people.

      Olea however did not show any sign of slowing down and instead turned to one of the responding policeman identified as PO1 Joseph Salang.

      Salang decided to aim for the victim’s feet to neutralize him. Olea however ducked just as the policeman fired his gun.

      Olea was hit in his body which turned out to be fatal. He was declared dead on arrival at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital.

      The hacking victim however was no longer admitted because the wound on her arm and hand were only superficial.

      Investigators learned that the fatality had lately been mentally troubled although it was not immediately known what caused him to ran amuck that day. - Sunday Post

A baby boy died while three others were rushed to the hospital for what is suspected to be a case of cassava poisoning.

      The victim was identified as Christian Lubon, 1 year old and a native of Barangay Calinginan Norte, Sevilla town.

      According to the account of the boy’s mother, Angelita, the incident happened last Jan. 27.

      She told policemen that they ate cooked cassava at noon time.

      After a couple of hours, the boy suddenly complained of stomach ache which was followed by vomiting.

      This prompted her to bring the boy to the Sevilla municipal health office for treatment.

      The boy was however declared dead on arrival by Dr. Jessie Tabel, Sevilla municipal health officer.

      Meanwhile, three other children were brought to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran.

      Like the fatality, the victims aged 13, 11 and 4 were also residents of Calinginan Norte, Sevilla.

      The three children however were no longer admitted after they were received treatment at the hospital.

      Nearly four years ago, 26 children died after eating cassava laced with poison in Mabini town.

      The poisoning of the school children who went to school at the San Jose Elementary School was considered the worst peacetime tragedy in Bohol. - Sunday Post

By SEN GUINGGUING
Sunday Post

A confidential information leaked to the Post showed that the “floating” Pilar municipal treasurer has a collection shortage to the tune of P1.9 million.

This was contained in the final demand letter sent to Pilar Municipal Treasurer Fermina Margatinez from the Bureau of Local Finance. This office is  under the Department of Finance which conducted an audit on the treasurer’s financial operations.

The shortage was also found in the latest Commission on Audit report in CY 2008. The shortage was supposed to be paid end of January, 2009.

An incident in Pilar just before New Year jolted the sleepy town when the municipal local government officer and the budget officer were waylaid while on their way to the house of Calixta Orapa. She is Pilar’s the budget officer. The suspect used a hand gun in the attack only that the firearm  jammed sparing the lives of the would-be liquidation victims. Another suspect lobbed a grenade but the two also escape the explosion unhurt. They then sought protective custody from Camp Dagohoy, seat of power of the Bohol Police Command.

MLGOO Joseph Malabosa and Orapa caught the ire of the suspects after they filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against the Pilar municipal treasurer. 

In their follow up letter dated  January 21, 2009 to  Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol,  the two sought for the suspension of the town treasurer who has since in floating assignment at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

Earlier, the two complainants accused before the Ombusdman last October their municipal treasurer for malversation of public funds and other irregularities.

The two also implicated Municipal Accountant Jean De la Pena due to another cash shortage amounting to P93,878.51 as reflected in the COA Annual Audit Report of CY 2007 for LGU-Pilar.

The two further told the Ombudsman that the cash shortages constituted another multiple counts of malversation of public funds aside from the COA Annual Audit reports for CYs 2006, 2005 and 2004.

While Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim was fighting in another front to drive home the point that nobody was untouchable as far as he was concerned, his fighting mood against Presiding Judge Teofilo Baluma of the Regional Trial Court Branch I remains in frenetic proportions.

The city mayor’s running feud with the twin media enterpriseâ€"DYRD-Bohol Chronicle combined took a turn for the worst when he dragged the media powerhouse’s tax payments into the limelight.           

  This time, Lim’s  close brush with the presiding magistrate zeroed in on the latter’s inhibition from a controversial Rehabilitate, Operate, Transfer contract of the Tagbilaran City Square.

Judge Baluma’s inhibition, made known Monday, came at a time when the two conflicting parties have agreed on Baluma’s handling of the case.

As subsequent events showed, while the parties were in agreement to Baluma’s role as the third man in the  legal ring, came this pronouncement from the judge himself that he cannot handle the case owing to the relation of his deceased spouse  to Councilor Zenaido Rama, one  of the plaintiffs of the case. They were distant cousins, according to the clan’s patriarch, thus making Baluma ineligible to handle the case. The judge cited the relation as a ground for mandatory inhibition.           

  Rama however has declared in a radio interview that he is not a party to the case and has refused to receive notices for this reason.           

  Lim was quick to the draw by challenging Baluma to set aside his inhibition and hear the case which has been tossed from one RTC sala to another due to the motions for inhibition filed by both parties.           

  The mayor pointed out that if the only impediment to Baluma’s hearing the case was his “sudden realization” that his wife is related to Rama, this has been effectively removed now that the councilor has denied that he is one of the complainants.           

  “The inhibition is amazing because no one raised this issue, not lawyer Alexander Lim and certainly not the mayor who has in fact dared him to hear the case,” Lim said.           

  The mayor said he is confused who included Rama as one of the plaintiffs in the class suit that was filed by lawyers Victor de la Serna, Zotico Ochavillo and Lim and radio block timer Roberto Alba.           

  “As to why (Rama) was included by the legal luminaries now persecuting the city government, we will no longer comment on that. As to why praised is being heaped on Rama because he supposedly stood up for the interest of the people, they will be the one to explain,” the mayor added.           

   Lim said that if Baluma is not afraid of anybody, he will reassume jurisdiction over the case that is being given priority by his media critics “more than their responsibility to pay their taxes”.           

  “If this is the biggest problem in the city as they make it appear, then it is a challenge to Judge Baluma to be the instrument to let justice prevail,” he added.           

  The mayor admitted that he was forced to react to Baluma’s order dated Jan. 26 because the judge revived other issues aside from the relationship of his spouse to Rama.           

  “He should decide which is which. If he decided to inhibit because of Rama is related to his departed spouse, then he should stop right there instead of using the order to cast aspersion on my office and the other judges,” he added.           

  Lim disclosed that he will make a formal complaint on the conduct of the case to concerned offices.           

  “Judge Baluma raised very serious allegations that impugn not just the character of all RTC judges who are beneficiaries of honorariums from the city government but also the justice system itself,” he added.           

  The mayor said there has to be an arbiter to decide on the issues raised by Baluma and his clarifications because otherwise they will be left hanging.           

  “Judge Baluma wants to assault the credibility of the mayor in his order but he does not want me to rebut his malicious and reckless allegations,” he added.           

  Lim declared that he will not allow the insults to pass not because he cannot allow contrary ideas but because the judge is actually insulting the constituents who voted him into office.

source: Sunday Post

Rural Bank of Maribojoc Declares Bank Holiday
by Sunday Post

The ailing  Rural Bank of Maribojoc, Inc. (RBMI) has assured Tuesday  jittery depositors not to worry “because we have enough assets to service the claims of clients”.

Restituto Tan, owner of the failed bank made the disclosure to the Post, the day after his rural bank in Maribojoc, declared a bank holiday.

Surprised depositors woke up Monday morning that the bank was turning away transactions because it declared a bank holiday.

A victim of panic withdrawals, the rural bank management, said in a statement, that everything is well with the bank operations. Whatever that means, it was not explained in the statement.

In  the same  statement signed by Loy Palapos, the bank’s appointed spokesman, it said the bank management has been in constant contact with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the past months in order to be abreast with the latest moves for sustainability and clientele protection. To some observers, this was interpreted to mean  that the bank is seeking a bail out loan from the Central Bank.

In assuring the public, Tan said, the bank management  has enough real estate assets to cover the excess liability not covered by the insurable interest of P250,000 per account per depositor of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

He mentioned from up between P80 million to P100 million in real property assets are under the bank’s control and disposal. The value in assets is well beyond the current  liability level of only about P10 million.

All deposits of the bank are insured with the PDIC and any excess will be covered by standby company assets.

In calming the frayed nerves of the clients, Palapos said what was needed was a little patience especially at this adverse time.

Tested in the banking industry after existing for 31 years, the Rural Bank of Maribojoc followed the fate of the collapsed rural banks affiliated with the Leagacy Group of pre-need companies. The bank, however, is not whtsoever with the besieged Legacy Group.

In Bohol, thousands of Legacy investors were duped of their hard-earned earnings when they fell into an elaborate Ponzi game which was nothing but another pyramiding scam.

Legacy’s banking arm in Bohol which folded upon Dec.8 was the Pilipino Rural Bank, Tagbilaran branch.

Hiding under the guise of a double-your-money financial instrument, the high-yielding offer for mind-boggling interest  crumbled at the first sign that no new  investors fell in line to pay  old maturing obligations. The simple tack of Legacy’s caper: rob Juan, to pay Pablo.

In the case of the Rural Bank of Maribojoc, it used to be that the same bank offered double-your-money scheme to its depositors.  But according to Tan, it has since been scrapped two years ago. He did not elaborate why the special offer  was scrapped until the Monday debacle. 

Published by Sunday Post

A powerful barrier built around 54 years of community journalism was virtually broken when Mayor Dan Neri Lim ordered the investigation of tax payments of the Bohol Chronicle, the province’s leading bi-weekly.

A media institution like the Bohol Chronicle which was believed untouchable among media peers went under the microscope when the Office of the City Treasurer started the ball rolling when it blew off the lid on the media giant’s business tax liabilities.

The bi-weekly of over half a century pioneered the print business in Bohol with its uncompromising editorials and up-to-the-minute news stories until it locked horns with a no-nonsense city hall tenant like Mayor Lim.

Founded by the late  Jun Dejaresco, the Chronicle, saw the rise and fall of governors and city mayors. While having run-ins with some of them in the past, it was clear that  the winner took it all and it was no other than this media colossus. Erring public officials  who did try to tangle with the Chronicle were bruised and wounded and may have opted to vow-- never again.

   During the heydays of its founder, nobody from among the ranks of so-called local papers owned by lesser mortals can afford to touch the publication with a ten-foot pole.

Until Mayor Lim drew the battle lines against the twin media outfit that it became fair game not just to the city executive but to  struggling publications as well.

In her letter to Peter Dejaresco,  DYRD general manager and  Chronicle managing editor, City Treasurer Visitacion Acero revealed that the city government is conducting an investigation on the broadcast and print powerhouse for its “non-payment” of business taxes.

“Based on records, the Bohol Chronicle has not paid business taxes on the year 2003 and on the years prior to that,” Acero told Dejaresco.

As if the shattering blow to the Chronicle’s aura of invincibility was not enough, the city treasurer followed this up with an even more devastating observation of the media institution’s “unrealistic gross receipts declaration” from 2004 to 2008.

“We will be investigating this incident to identify its root cause to ensure that this incident will not happen again,” Acero said.

Lim and the Dejarescos have been going after each other’s throat since the Chronicle and DYRD openly mocked the mayor’s response to the drainage problem in the city.

The mayor clearly put his political career on the line by severing ties with the Dejaresco outfit and moving out to DYTR which is DYRD’s rival station.

In a virtual slugfest, Lim and Bingo Dejaresco, the Chronicle editor-in-chief exchanged bitter words that caught the imagination of Boholanos in every nook and cranny.

DYRD commentators and reporters pulled no punches against Lim who returned the favor by picking the Dejaresco mystique apart, something no politician dared to do or even thought of doing.

Lim, who goes on the air from 5:15 to 7 am daily and from 8 to 10 am on Saturdays, all on DYTR, said he is doing all he can because knowing the Dejarescos, he will not survive the 2010 polls.

“They tell people I will follow the path of all those whose political careers ended when the Bohol Chronicle went after them,” the mayor declared sarcastically.

Lim however made it clear he will not go down without a fight.

Acero’s letter to the DYRD general manager delivered the message in no unequivocal terms.

“The City Government is very vigilant on businesses who evade their taxes because businesses who cheated on taxes cheated not only the city government but also their industry peers who have been religiously paying taxes, the community wherein they operate and which they claimed to have been served by them faithfully, and most importantly to God,” the letter said.

Lim said while the total amount of the business taxes paid by the Chronicle from 2004 has been less than those of the Sunday Post and the Bohol Times, no one imagined that the day will come when the Chronicle would receive a stinging rebuke from anybody.

There is no quarrel with Acero when she said that the Chronicle’s non-payment of business tax in previous years “has eroded” confidence in the newspaper’s current declaration. But for her to verbalize it is completely unexpected.

Aside from the investigation of the non-payment of business tax, Acero said the city will also be reviewing the Chronicle’s current gross receipts declaration to “provide it with reasonable assurance that the gross receipts declared by you represents the underlying actual gross receipts of the business.”

Lim acknowledges that he is making a big gamble when he stood up against the Bohol Chronicle but believes history will ultimately vindicate him.

No one can tell who will end up on the canvass in the fight between the media giant and the irrepressible mayor. One thing is sure though: things will never be the same as far as the Tagbilaran political and media scene is concerned.   

Manny Pacquiao To Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree
PDI

Emmanuel Dapidran "Manny" Pacquiao will be formally conferred an honorary doctorate degree at the Southwestern University (SWU) on Feb. 18, this was learned during a meeting to finalize the details of the conferment with SWU officials led by chairman Andrew Aznar, president Dr. Eldigario Gonzales, treasurer Victor Sierra and this writer.

A news conference was held yesterday to formally announce the event. Pacquiao’s friend and confidante Rex 'Wakee' Salud represented Pacquiao in the press conference.

The Soutwestern University is the only university in the Philippines which has instituted a degree in physical education and thus, according Gonzales, is most qualified to award the degree to Pacquiao.

By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Police have filed perjury charges against a man who pretended to be a Harvard University law student and claimed he was robbed by a taxi driver in Quezon City.

Chief Inspector Enrico Figueroa of the Quezon City Police District filed charges of false testimony and using a fictitious name against Richard Sangalang, 24, before the city prosecutor’s office.

Sangalang, of Capas, Tarlac, had claimed to be a Filipino-American from Beverly Hills, California, who was studying at Harvard and who came to the country to attend a relative’s wedding in Baguio City.

He claimed that at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he hailed a taxi driven by Peniquito Gallardo, who instead of taking him to the nearest bus station where he could a board a bus for Baguio, drove to Cubao, Quezon City, where he and a cohort divested him of his cash and valuables worth $10,000.

Police went as far as arresting the driver but subsequently became suspicious of Sangalang, who had introduced himself as Nathan Santos Smith, when a check with the Bureau of Immigration at NAIA did not turn up the name Smith among recent arrivals.

The police’s suspicions were later bolstered when Sangalang could not tell them in which US state Harvard was located. He also reportedly let slip a Filipino phrase, although he supposedly could not speak the language.

The Kenyan half-brother of President Barack Obama has been arrested for alleged marijuana possession.

George Obama was arrested in Nairobi with one joint of marijuana, police chief Joshua Omokulongolo said.

"He is not a drug peddler. But it is illegal, it is a banned substance," he said. Mr Obama has denied the allegations.

The US president and George Obama share the same father, but are thought to have only met each other briefly. - BBC News

Breast Cancer image...

source: marlogestole.multiply.com

bugnong lugaynon = election
takulahaw = sudden
nangaliyupo = begging
pangagpas = guess/estimate

By  John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Why is it so hard to eat right? “When you’re hungry, you’re not a philosopher,” explains Dr. Daisy Merey, a physician and authority on eating habits.

Indeed, food -- and especially the lack thereof -- brings out our animal nature. And when we homo sapiens find ourselves in the artificial environment of the workplace, complete with its stresses, catered temptations, psychosocial dramas, smelly refrigerators, bureaucratic tedium and, yes, vending machines, we are animals who eat badly more often than not.

“You’re sitting in a room with no windows for hours, and sometimes you just get bored and eat,” says Natalie Davis-Runyan, a regional vice president for staffing firm Todays Office Professionals. And if you eat what’s within reach, such as cafeteria food, high-calorie snacks and so on, you’re alarmingly likely to develop health problems.

What can you do to improve what you eat at the office, which for many of us is the bulk of what we consume all day? Here are a few approaches to better nutrition in the land of heartburn and the pizza-sized chocolate chip cookie.

Bring Your Own Food

The consensus of health and nutrition professionals is that you’ll eat much better if you plan ahead and pack a lunch. “You have to be prepared and bring food that’s healthy,” says Merey. “A brown bag is always better than a restaurant or vending machines.”

Brown baggers are a small but significant contingent of the workforce. “There’s about 25 percent of the people who bring their own lunches and walk away from the birthday cake,” says Davis-Runyan.

Your planning should go beyond a lunch that includes fruits and vegetables and not too much sugar or fat. “Ideally, you want snacks with fiber, protein and carbs,” says Elysse Lakatos, a registered dietitian. For example, “pistachios have those nutrients, and it takes time to shell them,” she says -- time that can give your craving a chance to subside before you stuff yourself.

Control Portions to Control Your Waistline

Whether it’s a meat entree or guilty snack in a bag, you’ve got to control portions to eat healthfully at the office. The key is to portion out at home what you’ll be eating in the break room.

If you must snack on fat-infused carbohydrates, try pre-portioned 100- or 150-calorie bags. “We have a natural tendency to finish the bag, whatever the size, even though people can satisfy cravings with small amounts,” says Miriam Pappo, director of clinical nutrition at Montefiore Medical Center.

Get Real About What’s Healthy

Educate yourself to understand what’s really nutritious. Those little cheesy fish-shaped crackers may be less nutritionally damaging than most potato chips, but they’re still not health food. “There are a lot of foods that we think are healthy, but they’re not,” says Pappo. “One of the biggest is muffins; even a regular doughnut can have many fewer calories.”

Still, sometimes you can fool yourself in a good way. “People who hide candy in a dark container are less likely to eat it than if they put it in a glass bowl,” says Merey.

Advocate for Institutional Change

Employees should bring their nutritional needs to management, which often controls the cafeteria as well as the vending machines. “The food service is a money maker for hospitals, so they want to balance what is healthy with what is profitable,” says Pappo. Unfortunately, unhealthy foods often make the most money because they sell so well.

Then there are catered lunches, those stacks of meaty sandwiches and mountains of over-the-top desserts mandated by executives looking to trigger each others’ budget envy. The first solution to try is the simplest: “Ask the people who are ordering if they can change the food,” says Tammy Lakatos, a registered dietitian and sister of Elysse Lakatos.

Take Special Care If You’re a Woman

Finally, women should remind themselves that their cardiovascular health is of great concern, media emphasis on men’s heart attacks notwithstanding. “More women than men die of heart disease each year,” says Dr. Aliya Browne, clinical director for the Hainesport Women’s Heart Center.

And women may have more difficulty staying away from unhealthy foods at the office, according to Browne: “We can become a bit more stressed than men, and that can make us more emotional eaters.” - source: Monster

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Following the killing of a hotel guest here, Mayor Jerry Trenas wants security cameras installed in hotels and other commercial establishments.

Trenas is urging the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass an ordinance requiring commercial establishments to set up close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their alleys and lobbies as an added security measure.

Trenas said setting up CCTV cameras is a good security investment, especially in hotels.

Thirty-seven-year-old Ephie Ramos, a resident of Cabatuan, Iloilo, was found dead at Rm 404 of Eon Centennial Plaza Hotel on Tuesday. He succumbed to 21 stab wounds.

Trenas said Ramos' death is an isolated case.

“It does not mean that Iloilo City is not safe for visitors,” he said, noting that there were no signs of forcible entry into Ramos’ room. The culprits were allowed inside upon Ramos’ permission himself, the mayor added. - PNA

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here has assured the public that salt being sold in public markets are safe and not mixed with alum.

Leonora Dominguez of the DOST said the salt they tested were imported from Australia.

For her part, Nenita Gallardo of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) said the salt are in fact high-grade and 99.5 percent pure sodium chloride.

“There is nothing to be scared of,” Gallardo said.

Last month, residents raised the concern that the salt were hard to dissolve in water. They feared that the salt being sold are mixed with alum (tawas).

Gallardo said BFAD conducted a laboratory analysis to determine the components of the salt. - PNA

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"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel... Malachi 2:16, The Bible

Seventeen-year-old student Dyling Cadano does not have to walk for eight hours just to get home, while 70-year-old Timuay Jordiny Etol does not have to labor for three hours to get his vegetables and root crops to the town proper here anymore.

For this, the two thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she launched today the construction of the seven-kilometer Poblacion-Maligubaan farm-to-market road in Barangay Poblacion here.

The President led the capsule laying rites of the P10-million Poblacion- Maligubaan farm-to-market road funded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) that would benefit some 6,000 farmers in six barangays here and other communities in neighboring Zamboanga del Norte.

Welcoming the President are more than 500 residents and local officials led by Misamis Occidental Gov. Leo Ocampos, 1st District Rep. Marina Clarete, Concepcion Mayor Benjamin Pilota Jr., Vice Mayor Juanidy Vina, Sanggunian members, regional officials of government line agencies, and mayors of other towns in the province.

Accompanying the President is Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

The President turned over to Mayor Pilota a check for P1.575 million representing the 15 percent mobilization fund for the early completion of the road project this year. - PNA

A housemaid who was employed for only five hours robbed her employer of some half a million pesos worth of cash and valuables in San Andres Bukid, Manila, the Manila Police District (MPD) said on Wednesday.

The MPD launched a hunt against Mia Mendoza, a native of Mulanay, Quezon following the complaint of her employer Leonora Manansala, 60, a trader of 2084 Batangas Line, San Andres Bukid, Manila.

Chief Inspector Benigno Macalindong, chief of the MPD-Theft and Robbery Section, said the suspect was hired upon referral of housemaid- recruiter identified as Amalia Ruda, also a native of Aurora, Quezon last Jan. 21, 2009 at 9 a.m.

Manansala told probers that she personally knew Ruda, she accepted the house helper on that day.

After several minutes, the victim left the house to fetch her grandchildren from the school. The suspect was left alone in the house.

When the victim returned home after fetching her grandchildren, the suspect was nowhere to be found. She discovered that her closet was forcibly opened and her cash and valuables were missing.

The suspect left her two plastic bags of clothes but carted away her employer’s cash and valuables.

“She is only employed for five hours when she committed the robbery,” she told probers. - PNA