MikeLigalig.com

Published by the Bohol Chronicle

The "big haul" in the buy-bust operation in Dauis on Tuesday night last week involving a resident of Pamaong St., Tagbilaran City turned out to be just a matter of 91.46 grams of shabu-a big difference from the raw estimate of about 500 grams as reported earlier.

PO1 Germijeldo Gargar, spokesperson of Dauis Police Station, said they already filed charges of violation of Section 5, 11 and 12 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002 before Provincial Prosecutor's Office against Jessie Raymund Estonina.

The 30-year-old suspect was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok 6, barangay Totolan, Dauis nearby Olman's View where he was reportedly renting a room.

Estonina has been detained in the lock-up jail of Dauis police after he was arrested by a team led by PInsp. Niño Lawrence Ibo, chief of the Dauis PNP.

By visual estimate, the three medium packs and six large sachets containing the crystalline granules seized from the suspect was at first thought to have weighed about half a kilo.

However, results of the test from the crime laboratory of Camp Dagohoy showed that the crystalline granules were indeed shabu but only weighing 91.46 grams.

The suspect, who was checking in at a posh resort in the town was flagged down by a poseur buyer prior to the arrest.

The two marked 500 peso bills were recovered from his possession following the operation.

Also confiscated from Estonina 20 vials of Nubain, P3,200 cash, drug paraphernalia and the black Honda XRM 125 that he used in the transaction.

Together with the arresting team were PO3 Marlito Ingking, PO1 Jason De Guzman, SPO1 Jose Pogoy, SPO1 Progreso Macua, Totolan barangay chairman Raldo Rollorazo and kagawad Danilo Doloritos.

Published by Bohol Chronicle

The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has ordered Cortes Mayor Apolinaria "Jasmin" H. Balistoy, and his son Municipal Councilor Junn Eckart H. Balistoy to answer the charges filed against them by the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Cortes led by Vice Mayor Danilo Montero.

In a one-page order dated November 8, 2011 and signed by Virginia Palanca-Santiago, Visayas Assistant Ombudsman, the investigating office found "enough basis to proceed with the criminal/administrative investigation of the aforementioned cases" as contained in two cases docketed as OMB-V-C-11-0386-G and OMB-V-A-11-0418-G.

The Ombudsman Visayas also ordered them to file their counter-affidavit and other controverting evidence to the complaint filed by VM Montero, Councilors Lynn Iven Lim, Celerino Jubac, Jr., Soledad Ligan, Rolando Dela Torre and Martian Iyoy, strictly within ten days from receipt of the order.

The order further stated that "failure to comply as herein directed within the period prescribed by the rules shall be deemed a waiver of the right to preset the party's counter-affidavit or reply-affidavit and the investigation shall proceed according to existing rules".

"The order of the Ombudsman against the respondents will disprove the claim of Mayor Balistoy's camp when they said that nothing will happen to the complaints we filed until next elections", Montero said.

Montero added that among the charges they filed in the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas included Grave Abuse of Authority, Misuse of the Ambulance and Falsification of documents.

When asked to comment on the said cases filed against her, Balitstoy instead informed the Chronicle, in a text message that the Commission on Elections already issued a resolution to conduct an election recall of Vice Mayor Montero which she said could probably be the "first to happen in Bohol.". However, she did not elaborate.

By Bohol Chronicle

The clamor to institutionalize a sports program for the province is stronger than ever as the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) came to a close Friday.

On Friday's Kita Ug Ang Gobernador, Gov. Edgar M. Chatto congratulated and thanked Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia, Bohol Division Schools Superintendent Dr. Lorna Rances and Tagbilaran City Division Schools Superintendent Norma Varquez for the success of the weeklong CVIRAA hosted by the province. He also thanked municipalities for hosting athletes from 15 cities and 4 provinces in the region.

Chatto stressed the more important aspect of wholistic development of the youth through sports as he answered questions on the provincial athletes' performance during the CVIRAA.

Further underscoring the Provincial Government's efforts to build a stronger sports program for Bohol, Provincial Administrator Alfonso R. Damalerio II reported plans which include amendment of the Bohol Sports Commission.

Damalerio also brought to the table the intent to take advantage of the recently concluded CVIRAA through a post analysis which will help determine the best direction for the province in terms of excellence in sports.

Both Chatto and Damalerio however maintained full support for a sports program as part of strategies towards development.

The Provincial Government allocated P5.5M out of the P8M budget to host this year's regional athletic meet.

Early this year, sports leaders gathered to draft the vision of Bohol Sports, designed to be a comprehensive, sustainable, opportunity directed for the development of budding athletes down from the grassroots level.

Fr. Vic Uy S.V.D., provincial consultant on Sports of the Chatto administration led the one day gathering. Uy was a former commissioner and executive director of Philippines Sports Commission and is presently the regional president of Private Schools Athletic Association.

Among priorities of the Sports program is to upgrade existing Sports facilities, foremost of which is the repair and renovation of the CPG Sports Complex.

Chatto also increased financial aid to district meets to P400,000 and P600,000 to the provincial meet.

DepEd for their part highlighted sports as central to education with top officials gracing the opening ceremonies earlier this week. Undersecretary Atty. Tonisito Umali officially declared the opening of the regional meet along with Assistant Secretary Jesus Lorenzo Mateo.

By Bohol Chronicle

The Regional Development Council approved proposal to conduct separate feasibility studies of two muli-million-peso projects of Bohol during the full council meeting here on Monday last week as presided by co-chair Argeo Melisimo.

RDC chair, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was in Manila then.

RDC meeting held here on Nov. 28, 2011 unanimously approved the move to conduct the feasibility study of the P7-billion Bohol Northeastern Basin Multipurpose Dam proposed by the National Irrigation Administration-7 with the support of Rep. Erico Aumentado, and pre-feasibility study of the establishment of Bohol Northwest Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as proposed by the Provincial Development Council chaired by Gov. Edgar Chatto.

Aumentado's motion for approval of his pet project was amended by Gov. Edgar Chatto to include the SEZ prior to the nod of the RDC during the same gathering.

Following the move (approval), the two different projects are to be favorably endorsed to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for consideration.

The first (irrigation project) to be located in barangay Concepcion, Danao town deals with the construction of multipurpose irrigation dam that carries with it the (electric) power generation while the second (SEZ) to be situated at the contiguous towns of Maribojoc, Loon, Calape and Tuigon.

The multipurpose irrigation dam has earned endorsement by Chatto-led executive committee of the provincial Development Council (PDC) after the provincial leaders conducted PDC meeting and ocular inspection of the project site earlier.

SEZ on the hand, is an "integrated complex of an international cruise ship port, a transport bulk terminal and container yard and other medium-and-large-scale port related industries."

Like its predecessors--the multi-billion-peso Malinao Dam in Pilar town and the Bayongan Dam, San Miguel town --- the multipurpose irri dam aims to provide reliable water supply and sustain rice sufficiency and eventually increase the electric demand in the province soon despite some oppositions against building another huge dam as raised by some farmers and sectors.

Municipal Mayors Dr. Eutiquio Bernales of Ubay, Ton Gonzaga of Danao and Jacinto Naraga of San Isidro reportedly have expressed support and welcomed the irrigation project.

The proposed multipurpose irrigation dam project is expected to irrigate more than 19,000 hectares of rice farmlands benefiting some 21,000 farmers. The said irrigation project relies mainly on more than 50 sq. km. Inabanga-Wahig river and watershed. It may be able to store some 78.5 million cubic metre of water and produce between 10-20 megawatts power generation.

By Bohol Chronicle

Local radio stations were issued a stern warning on not to become as vehicle in the campaign the illegal numbers game of swertres.

The warning was issued by PNP Prov'l Director P/Supt. Constantino Barot, Jr. as part of the continued drive against swertres in the province.

In his letter addressed to the local radio stations, the PNP director said that Camp Dagohoy has monitored that "unscrupulous individuals are buying airtime from radio stations purposely to broadcast tips for swertres."

The PNP director asked the radio stations' management to "deny these individuals from buying airtime." In so doing, this will eliminate their means of broadcasting "swertres tips" through the radio stations.

These tips aired on radio can influence people to gamble, according to the letter dated Nov. 21, 2011 signed by P/Supt. Julius Cesar Gornez as PNP deputy provincial director for administration.

By Ven rebo Arigo

Capitol is not in the practice of releasing funds without the necessary documentation for proper liquidation. stressed Gov. Edgar Chatto as he clarified the continued clamor of Mayor Dan Lim that the city is not given a share of the 20% Development Fund.

"If the mayor is fond of releasing funds minus the supporting documents, we can never do that at the Capitol," stressed the governor who clarified that this is the reason why the province can not release any funding to the city from the 20% development fund since Mayor Lim has not submitted documentation nor formal proposal of projects.

Still crazy over the other's 20% Development Fund, Mayor Lim was again corrected of his misunderstanding of the fund which he demanded to be equally shared among the local government units (LGUs) to justify his own fiscal want.

In Lim's wrong perception, Capitol should literally share the fund to Tagbilaran City and 47 towns, which are component LGUs of the province, even if no law mandates it.

Town mayors led by their president, Loay Mayor Rosemarie Imboy, last week assailed Lim's unauthorized use of their resolution which requested Gov. Edgar Chatto to allocate P1 million from the province's 20% DF for each of their respective LGUs.

They were at the same time shocked that the request of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) - Bohol Chapter was already published in full even if it was not yet even delivered to or discussed with the governor.

It was published as a paid advertisement, printed in full together with Lim's own letter in a local weekly.

It was obviously designed to mislead the people into thinking that it was a support to the seemingly warped view and sweeping demand of the city mayor.

LMP officers and members clarified that theirs was not a demand but an "appropriate, civil" request which was made long before the city hall official's demanding letter to the governor was even written.

Others explained that they know for a fact that many provincial government projects in the towns cost several millions, depending on their impact on the total development of the province as a whole.

In insisting on his baseless claim, Lim implied that any and all provincial programs and projects that do not actually pass through the purse of city hall under him are programs and projects that "deprive the city and its people of their just due."

This contradicts the practice of the capitol with Chatto at his helm of delivering services to the Boholano constituents in all component LGUs, includingTagbilaran City, through the implementation of projects and programs provincewide.

These are incorporated in the development plans and annual investment program as mandated by law.

The city mayor was evidently more confused when he said that the governor refused to categorically state his (Chatto) position on the Lim issue that city hall must get its share from the province's 20% DF.

The governor was quite disturbed by the mayor's failure, if not plain dislike to understand, the substance and import of his November 18 letter-response, which was self-explanatory "that even non-lawyers could easily grasp."

On November 25, the mayor wrote another demanding letter to the governor.

This time in reply to the above---and even at the expense of repetitively explaining---the governor reminded the mayor of the absence of any provision in the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160 to support Lim's claim.

Not even in spirit that the Code mandates for the equal distribution of the 20% DF of the province to its component LGUs, said Chatto who is regarded by various merit-granting institutions as one of the ablest governors in the country today.

The mayor invoked a legal opinion of a former DILG regional director, but who did not say nor intimate that the fund is to be distributed in the form of shares to the LGUs.

In stark contrast, what the Code mandates is for the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays to allocate in their respective annual budgets not less than 20% of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for development projects based on their development plans.

This is the 20% DF that the LGUs from the level of provinces to barangays are mandated to appropriate in their respective annual budgets to fund their development projects.

The governor would like to understand that pursuant to this mandate, Lim has appropriated the city's 20% DF for the development projects to be executed in his component 15 city barangays.

Since the 20% DF is intended by the Code for development works Bohol-wide based on the approved plan of the province, this should also be true with the 20% DF of the city based on the latter's approved development plan.

Capitol's 20% DF is not given in the form of cash but projects pursuant to the implementation of the provincial development plan as approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

CITY BARANGAY

CONCERNS IGNORED

As in practice, capitol under Chatto has been ably providing assistance to the city barangays on several concerns that have been turned down or ignored by the city hall leadership.

"It is ironic that you should be advising us on the principle of 'sharing' the 20% DF when some of your very own barangays have been, quite frankly, ignored by your administration," the governor pointedly told Lim.

This has left the barangays fending for themselves and seeking assistance from other institutions such as the provincial government, said Chatto whose assertions are true according to city barangay leaders themselves.

On the other hand, the same barangay leaders doubted the assertion of the mayor that he would attend any capitol activity.

This is because the mayor had long sounded loud his refusal to cooperate with the provincial government in Chatto's time.

Petty politics is Lim's widely believed motive, according to political pundits.

The governor reminded the mayor that the provincial government already convened meetings to which all mayors were invited but "you did not attend these meetings."

There were numerous invitations to other development forums sponsored by the province which were extended to all mayors which Lim likewise refused to attend.

By Bohol Chronicle

Cebu City maintained the reign in the recently concluded 2011 Central Visayas Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet held here with 836.17 total points, pushing the host teams down below the chartâ€"Bohol Team at 4th place with 282 total points and Tagbilaran City team at 7th place with 110 total points.

Other teams from Cebu also dominated the top 10 slots wherein Cebu Province claimed the 2nd place with 507.75 total points, while the Mandaue City ranked 3rd with 321.5 total points; then Lapulapu City settled at 6thplace with 134.17 total points; Talisay City at 9th place with 71.75 total points; and Danao City lagged behind at 10th place with 55.25 points.

Dumaguete City ranked next the Bohol Province at 5th place with 199.5 total points, while its ally team, Negros Oriental, settled at 8th place with 92 total points.

Lagging at the bottom 9 were Bayawan City at 11th place with 36.67 points; Guihulngan at 12th place, 22.5 points; Bais City at 13th place, 21 points; Tanjay City at 14th place, 20 points; Toledo City at 15th place, 17.5 points; Bogo City at 16th place, 15 points; Siquijor at 17th place, 12 points; Naga City at 18th place, 11.25 points; and Carcar City crawled at the bottom with only eight total points.

In the elementary division, male athletes of Bohol team raked 82.5 points, while the girls culled 72 points, and settled at 4th place

Tagbilaran City garnered a total of 58.5 points in the elementary division wherein the boys contributed 45.5 points and girls, 13 points, and managed to place 6th in the partial ranking.

In the secondary division, Bohol team ranked 5th in the initial ranking with a total of 127.5 points wherein the boys contributed 65.5 points and the girls, 62 points; while the Tagbilaran team accumulated 51.5 points, 26.5 by the boys and 25 by the girls.

In the cultural competition, Bohol won the 2nd prize in the kundiman ni Dr. Jose Rizal, following Mandaue City which got the 1st prize, while Tagbilaran City ranked 3rd. In folk dance competition, Carcar City ranked 1st, followed by Mandaue City then Cebu City.

Bohol's hosting of the CVIRAA Meet on November 28 to December 2 put the sports facilities in this city and the neighboring towns to test.

Governor Edgar Chatto said hosting the 2011 CVIRAA Meet that brought here around 6,000 athletes representing 19 schools divisions in Central Visayas was an opportunity to gauge the capacity of Boholano athletes and the facilities to see the areas for improvement.

Bohol Division sent 638 delegates; while Bais City division sent 315 delegates; Bayawan City, 360; City of Bogo, 300; City of Carcar, 300; Talisay City, 520; Cebu City, 690; Cebu Province, 710; Danao City, 416;Dumaguete City, 588; Guihulngan City, 248; Lapu-lapu City, 528; Mandaue City, 632; City of Naga, 250; Negros Oriental, 560; Siquijor, 235; Tanjay City, 250; Tagbilaran City, 50; and Toledo City, 300.

DepEd-7 regional office sent here 42 delegates.

Chatto admitted the Boholano athletes need more training to stand at par the athletes from Cebu and to be more prepared in the next CVIRAA Meet.

The provincial government contributed P5.5 million, including the budget for the Bohol athletes.

The total budgetary requirements of 2011 CVIRAA Meet reached P8 million wherein the rest of the funds came from the Bohol congressmen and the SEF.

The governor said he would call a post-activity meeting to assess the overall hosting of CVIRAA and explore the things that needed to be done.

Archery (secondary) was played at the Gov. Esteban Bernido P.A. facilities; while arnis (secondary), softball (elementary-girls), football (elementary- boys) and volleyball (elementary-B&G) were played at HNU-Dampas.

Events at the CPG Sports Complex were athletics, basketball (elementary-boys), football (elementary-boys), tennis (elementary-B&G), and swimming (elementary and secondary-B&G).

Other venues that were put to test were the Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center in Taloto for athletics (throwing-elementary and secondary), basketball (elementary-boys & girls), volleyball (elementary and secondary); Eastern Cogon Covered Court for badminton, Maribojoc Central School for baseball, University of Bohol Gym for table tennis, HNU-Main Gym for basketball and cultural competitions, Island City Mall for boxing, BPSTEMPC (Bohol Public School Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Coop) Bldg. for chess, Maribojoc Cultural and Sports Center for gymnastics, People's Mansion for tennis, Capitol Tennis Court for tennis, and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School for sepak takraw and sipa.

By Bohol Chronicle

The Bohol Light Company, Inc. (BLCI) is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to relax the side constraints to prevent the power rates from abruptly spiking up and minimize the sudden increase.

After skirting the city government's attempt to stall again last Monday's hearing on the translation of the ERC-approved Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) under the Performance Based Regulation (PBR) for the regulatory period 2012-2015, BLCI is left with the side constraint issue to deal with the ERC as the implementation of the new rates nears.

In their pleading, BLCI requested ERC to ease a bit the maximum allowable formula that the electric firm can impose in the rate setting.

BLCI's current side constraint is at 16 percent wherein 4.96 percent is based on the consumer price index for inflation and 12 percent for profit margin relative to return of investment measurement which has been set as industry standard.

However, in BLCI's computation, the side constraints already reached almost 24 percent.

The city government, supposed intervenorâ€"represented by City Councilors Bebiano Inting, Nerio Zamora II and Doni Piquero, also wanted to explore the cost allocation.

According to Inting, it could have been affected by the cost allocation wherein it is considered that if the rate for commercial consumers will be increased further, they would already cross the side constraints allowed by ERC.

Inting cited the BLCI computation wherein the cost allocation was divided based on the number of customers, instead of allocating it to the total wattage of power supply that they produce or distribute to different customer classes.

The city councilor also questioned the lifeline rates for discounted customers wherein the it used to be only those who consumed 55 kWH that were covered in the lifeline rates. But in the new set up, BLCI raised it to 65 kWH. He said the 0-20 kWH consumption used to be subjected to 50 percent but now it is made to 100 discount.

by Bohol Chronicle

Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup will be arriving here today to spark some lights in welcoming the Christmas season in this island destination Bohol.

The beauty queen who is an architecture board topnotcher will lead the lighting up of festive parols at Bohol's newest luxury resort, the Panglao Bluewater at 5 o'clock this afternoon.

The true Filipino Christmas experience becomes even more meaningful with the specially made parols, handcrafted lanterns made from indigenous materials.

Reviving the artisanal art of parol-making, these illuminated works of art hang all around Bluewater Panglao to light pathways and common areas for the entire holiday season. Twelve specially-crafted ones, adopted by Bluewater's generous partners, proceeds of which benefit the Danao Elementary School of Panglao are the true “stars of the night.”

Tonight's affair dubbed as “Walk Among the Stars” will likewise have a charity dinner at the interactive live seafood main restaurant Aplaya, graced by stellar special guest Shamcey Supsup.

To book a table for our dinner-for-a-cause with Shamcey Supsup, call 0922 8779059 and look for Alma Mondigo (www.bluewater.com.ph)

“I am a skeptic…Global warming has become a new religion.” - Nobel Prize Winner for
Physics, Ivar Giaever.

Published by the Bohol Chronicle

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan officially handed down its decision last Friday scrapping the proposed controversial man-made island project within Panglao Bay-- as the gigantic project since its inception -generated mounting objections from the cross-section of the community.

Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim said the lawmakers, during last Friday's regular session, approved three measures recommended by the joint environment-tourism committee presented during the regular session which virtually ended the "debate" on whether the project is destructive or not to the environment. A joint venture agreement was inked during the tail-end of the term of then Gov. Erico Aumentado between the Oasis Leisure Islands and Development, Inc. (OLIDI) and the provincial government.

The law making body approved provincial Resolution to cancel/rescind the “Joint Venture Development Agreement entered into with Oasis Leisure Islands and Development Inc. (OLIDI).” The proposed project “presents a clear and present danger to the healthy biodiversity and sensitive marine environment within the offshore area of Panglao Bay,” the committee recommendation said.

The second measure authorized the Governor's Office to “withdraw the application for reclamation filed with the Philippines Reclamation Authority,” said board member Atty. Abeleon Damalerio, who chairs the environment committee in his joint report. The SP also approved the third Resolution “opposing the establishment of any form of reclamation within the shores of Panglao Island,” said Damalerio. Provincial board members Damalerio, tourism chairperson Godofreda Tirol, tourism vice-chairman Dr. Romulo Cepedoza and environment committee member Dr. Beinvenido Molina signed the 8-page joint committee report.

However, board member Engr. Gerardo Garcia who is closely identified with former Gov. Aumentado did not affix his signature in the said report as certified by stenographers Josefina Gulle, Diodora Acedo and attested by committee secretary Romeo Jaum. SP's junking of the proposed reclamation project was based on narrative findings on legal, social/economic and environmental considerations as reported by Damalerio.

Contrary to claims describing the project as “a juicy proposal,” the SP found that it is a “grossly disadvantageous transaction" since the province has “totally surrendered its environmental and zoning responsibilities” to the project proponent. In addition, the SP said that the province “will be incurring costs” that are not being considered by the proponent. OLIDI, according to the lawmakers is "not qualified to undertake” the project since it has no track record being just newly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with a capitalization of only P12 million represented by a group under Norris Oculam.

The decision to scrap the proposed reclamation was anchored on the strongly worded recommendation done by a Manila based group of top-notch Boholanos composed of “physical, economic, political scientists and legal experts,” who expressed a strong objection to the project. Even before the environmental or feasibility study could take place as requested by the proponent, they have this to say.

“We are among those vehemently opposed to such reclamation project, knowing fully well the breadth of its potentially damaging ecological impacts. Its impact on marine biodiversity in the area, not to mention other unforeseen effects because of human interference with the natural sea currents along a narrow channel ( in the site, the Panglao Bay alluded to above among our provisos, where said project is proposed to be located) are extremely worrisome.” On legal effects, the SP also argued that the authority given to then governor Aumentado “was only for negotiation.”

“No subsequent Resolution was passed by the (SP) before for the governor to enter into and sign the JVDA.” Hence, it concluded that the JVDA “is unenforceable against the provincial government” and OLIDI “cannot demand from the current administration confirmation of the reclamation phase.” SP's opposition to stop the project has reinforced the contention of Panglao lawmakers when the latter passed Municipal Resolution No. 140, 2011, series of 2010 on October 10, 2010, “strongly objecting the establishment of any form of reclamation projects within the municipal waters of Panglao, Bohol,” considering that the area where the project is to be undertaken is “haven of coral diversity and a sanctuary of diverse marine resources.”

The Panglao lawmakers measure against the project is far from the position of Mayor Benedicto Alcala who was reportedly quoted to have wanted an environmental study first be conducted before turning down the project Earlier, the past SP (during 2007-2010) has passed provincial Resolution No. 2009-633, “authorizing Governor Erico Aumentado to represent the provincial government of Bohol and enter into a negotiation for a joint venture and development agreement (JVDA) with the Oasis Leisure Islands Development Inc. on the proposed reclamation project, off Panglao Bay, Panglao, Bohol, provided, however, that the provisions and amendment to the JVDA as proposed by the provincial legal office shall be made an integral part of the same (JVDA).”

This became the basis of the OLIDI to pursue the project even as it was amenable for the conduct first of the feasibility study as required by the afore-quoted Resolution. No. 2009-633. Resolution No. 2009-633 provides that the Bohol environment policy should be the guiding principle in pursuing the project, including the province's commitment to growth and conservation of its natural resources and compliance with the relevant environmental regulations and other legal pre-requisites.

Also, then governor Aumentado said in his letter-endorsement to the SP that “no reclamation activity will be commenced unless appropriate social preparation activities among the stakeholders and affected persons shall have been conducted.' He also pointed out that the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be adhered and Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “We humbly believe the proposed project reclamation into man-made islands of Panglao Bay will enhance the province's vision of being a prime eco-cultural destination by providing readily available land for development by players in the industry,” said Oculam in his letter to Aumentado.

Oculam said that the project will bring in more tourists and “bring enormous benefits” to the tourism industry here in terms of “economic development, business opportunities and employment generation.” It was expected the increase of visitors, now numbering more than half a million, will need for the opening of tourist sites, products and facilities. Reacting to the SP decision, Oculam said that his group will explore other legal measures to be taken against the provincial law making body for scrapping the supposedly joint venture agreement.He said the move can be perceived as an "anti-investment" stance of the provincial government, he said. GIGANTIC PROJECT The location is composed of cluster of islands.

The first one of about 150 hectares is intended for commercial and recreation areas, convention centers, hotels and other facilities; the second island (150 has.) is for institutional and residential, spas and medical tourism facilities; and the third one (75 has.) would house for small commercial establishments such dive and souvenir shops and apartment for people who work here. The fourth island (70 has.) would be reserved for nature's park or camping grounds or fishing for commercial use.

Here, “private sector can be tapped for coral planting and other marine-based initiatives for the conservation and protection of the environment.” The fifth cluster of islets (5 has.) can be acquired privately, the paper said.

published by Bohol Standard

Together with the rest of the country, the province of Bohol celebrated Climate Change Consciousness Week from November 19 to 25.

Instituted through Proclamation No. 1867, the observance of Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week is aimed to create greater awareness in the country on global warming and climate change through broad and intensive information and educational campaigns.

It is also intended to secure the collective cooperation of all citizens and the collective action of private and public sectors at all levels in finding solutions to the threats of a changing climate.

The provincial government has incorporated climate change in its thrusts under the HEAT Bohol development framework, where proactive and adaptive strategies and responses to climate change are instituted through local projects and programs, especially in the concerns of environment, agriculture, education, technology, sanitation, and infrastructure.

As a testament to this, in July this year, the province was recognized as an omnibus Learning Destination for Good Environmental Governance by the EcoGov 2, an ecological governance project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), because of the highly adoptable environment programs in the province, such as those exemplified by the towns of Talibon, Jagna, Duero, and San Miguel, among others.

This year’s observance of Climate Change Consciousness Week is centered on the theme: Creating Convergence on Climate Change, with a conference, exhibit, and concert held on November 21 and 22 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The national observance was spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission in partnership with the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and also featured climate change workshops for the youth and media and public information offices of government agencies.

Also held were a matching of the banking sector agenda with local low-carbon, climate-resilient development programs of local government units and a cabinet cluster meeting on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

By: Rey Anthony Chiu

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 25, 2011 (PIA) â€" The country pauses for a holiday Wednesday as Filipinos celebrate Bonifacio Day.

Traditionally celebrated every November 30 as a regular holiday, the observance is to commemorate the birthday of one of the country’s very important historical figures.

Born November 30, 1863, Andres Bonifacio was considered the father of the Philippine Revolution having organized Katipunan, a secret society that will cause serious headaches among the ranks of the Spanish authorities ruling Manila.

But, through Republic Act 9492, or the act rationalizing the celebration of Philippine holidays, the celebration of Bonifacio Day every November 30 could be reset to the nearest Monday, in a move better understood as holiday economics.

While the move has afforded many Filipinos the opportunity to travel and as tourist areas report influx of local tourists caused by long week-ends, not everyone was happy with the results.

Even for the right purpose, moving the holidays to a different date loses the essence of the celebration, a con on the holiday economics state.

To probably correct the move, President Simeon Benigno issued Proclamation 84 late last year.

Signed December 2010, Proclamation 84 has declared the regular holidays, special non-working days and special holidays for 2011.

The same proclamation has pegged Wednesday, November 30 as the day when Bonifacio Day is celebrated nationwide.

by Bohol Standard

Today, November 27, expect a power service interruption between 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

This as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has scheduled shutdown of some of its transmission facilities for repairs especially along the Tagbilaran- Garcia Hernandez 69 kilovolts transmission line.

In and advisory sent to the media, NGCP through Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said two sets of power service interruption are in fact, expected within the week.

Areas affected in the temporary shutdown of transmission lines November 27, from BOHECO 1 are consumers of Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Loboc and Sevilla.

The same shutdown would also affect power consumers of BOHECO II from the towns of Valencia, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Duero, Guindulman and Valencia.

And since Philippine Mining Sinter Corporation uses the same line that is strung until Tagbilaran, the sintering corporation’s services can be disrupted on the same day.

In Tagbilaran, consumers served by Bohol Light Company Inc. also get to experience the power outage between 6 AM to 5 PM.

While NGCP did not specify if the power service cut would be for the entire duration, the company hinted segmented activities along the transmission line and added power interruptions are expected 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after the activities.

Meanwhile, on November 30, Wednesday, the Ubay Substation and the transmission line along the Ubay-Alicia 69 KV is also set for annual preventive maintenance and structure repair activities between 6 AM to 5 PM.

Areas to be affected are those served by BOHECO II in the towns of Guindulman, Candijay, Mabini, Anda, parts of Alicia and Duero including Marcela Industrial Plant.

Normal operations will immediately resume after work completion, NGCP assures.

NGCP’s customers then and the general public are advised to take the necessary preparations and precautions for this scheduled interruption. (RAC)

Published by Bohol Standard

A poultry dispersal project shapes up following the passing-on-the-gift concept pushed by 3rd District Rep. Arthur Yap to provide alternative livelihood by maximizing the backyards.

Members of the Carmen Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CSNMPC) based in Poblacion Sur, town of Carmen are the pioneer beneficiaries of a poultry dispersal project that Yap facilitates as a congressman.

Yap entered into a memorandum of understanding on November 24 with CSNMPC represented by its chairperson, Rosa Dumagan.

Yap has conceptualized the HEART program that covers the areas of health, education, agriculture, rural infrastructure and tourism to better serve the constituents and the project is a way to manifest this.

It is explained in the MOU that under the agriculture program, the Office of Congressman Yap is implementing a Native Chicken Dispersal Project through which native chicks will be produced and distributed to qualified and deserving people’s organizations (POs).

The CSNMPC has been chosen as a recipient of the project.

In the MOU, the CSNMPCâ€"as the “project holder” will implement the project, including the practice of passing on the gift.

The Office of Congressman Yap, through the HEART Program, will provide the native chicks to the CSNMPC for their poultry dispersal scheme.

The cooperative will identify the qualified beneficiaries of the project and submit to the Office of Congressman Yap or to his representative, the names and addresses of the qualified beneficiaries.

CSNMPC assumes full accountability in the implementation of the project, recognizes and agrees that the project is in the concept of dispersal and requires that its benefit shall spread to other qualified beneficiaries by way of distributing to the latter the offsprings of the native chickens given to the preceding beneficiaries.

As project holder, the cooperative will prepare a progress report every six months and shall submit the same to the HEART Program coordinator or its staff.

Project evaluations will also be done to monitor the progress of the project.

By Ven rebo Arigo

Basic reproductive health will be integrated in local disaster plans as Gov. Edgar Chatto gets totally serious in capacitating Bohol’s risk reduction and emergency response.

In actual calamities, post-disaster times or lingering destabilizing events, there are disruptions of vital services which include neglected maternal and child health care.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports the province in meeting the needs and gaps timely with the inclusion of humanitarian response that addresses reproductive health in its country program next year.

UNFPA’s Ronnel Villas cited the province’s “high appreciation” for disaster preparedness, but there are telling essentials between responding to risks and reducing them by higher possible scale.

Focal capitol persons last week underwent a two-day UNFPA seminar-workshop right on the integration of the minimum initial service package (MISP) for reproductive health in emergency situations in the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (PDRRMP).

The MISP effectively applies during post-emergencies when essential services are absent or wanting.

It ought to be included in the plans of all other local DRRM councils, and that a national policy for its countrywide application is necessary, according to workshop resource speaker Department of Health (DOH) Region 5 Director Nestor Santiago.

Santiago shared the Bicol experience, which proved the supreme importance of MISP to the health emergency response system in the region.

Boholanos could just imagine how the Bicolanos should react to the risks and hazards of Mayon and Bulusan volcanoes, average of 22 typhoons a year, floods, earthquakes, epidemics and even armed conflicts in their area.

The UNFPA-capitol workshop gained valuable inputs from Dr. Rose Rempillo, also of DOH-5, on integrating reproductive health in early recovery and post-disaster interventions.

While packaging MISP for reproductive health into the DRRM plan of Bohol, it is equally deemed essential to create the local disaster risk reduction and management offices (LDRRMOs).

The governor chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as mandated by Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

When he composed the PDRRMC last year, the governor at the same time created the Provincial DRRM Office (PDRRMO) which is initially headed by executive assistant Anthony Damalerio.

Damalerio attended the UNFPA workshop, which was also participated by officials and representatives from the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Provincial Human Resource Management and Development Office (PHRMDO), Red Cross and Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Response (TARSIER 117).

A major component of the PDRRMC, the TARSIER 117 serves as the council’s communication nerve center.

TOP 3 MISP ELEMENTS

The MISP for reproductive health as integrated in the DRRM plan has three core focuses, namely, the maternal and child health care management, prevention of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, and prevention of sexual or gender-based violence.

The risk of sexual violence can get high in emergency situation when protection mechanism is absent.

The UNFPA has observed that humans tend to make sex even in the middle of lingering emergency conditions “to feel they remain normal.”

Studies show that child births do not stop in times of risks and many mothers give births in evacuation sites.

Many pregnant women give births in emergency situations such as calamities because of stress.

These are confirmed by study results gathered from different risk and emergency conditions around the world, according to the UNFPA whose coordinator in Bohol, Ma. Solita Virtudazo, helped in facilitating the workshop.

“How many pregnant women gave births at the height of the recent worst typhoons in Luzon? Who were the service providers of last resort?” questions like these were raised in the workshop

Villas, who is the UNFPA humanitarian response coordinator, asserted that the integration of the MISP for reproductive health in the DRRM plan is crucial to responding to such situations.

Effectively, this will help ensure that if possible, no woman should die giving life.

Published by Bohol Standard

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 23, (PIA) -- Authorities at the local Bureau of Inter Revenue (BIR) urge taxpayers especially those in Value-Added Tax registered businesses to pay right or be in trouble.

This as a chain of stores which boasts of at least 42 branches in the country narrowly escaped the padlock for violations against the National Internal Revenue Code.

Bohol Revenue District officer Romeo Naranjo had gathered the team set to implement a closure order for a local branch of an erring business in line with its Oplan Kandado November 21 when a new order called the operations off.

Oplan Kandado is the bureau’s program that suspends the business operations of non-compliant taxpayers as their establishments are temporarily closed if found to have violated tax laws.

“Oplan Kandado” aims to intensify the Bureau’s enforcement operations through strict imposition of prescribed administrative sanctions for noncompliance with the basic tax requirements, Naranjo explained.

Unitop General Merchandise Inc., with a branch business address at CPG Avenue here could have been closed for at least five days, had the call from BIR Central Office been 10 minutes later.

Naranjo was prompted to initiate the closure order dated November 18, issued by BIR Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe against Unitop closure order, for failure and neglect to comply with the requirements set by an earlier BIR tax audit.

During a press briefing following the aborted closure, Naranjo said Unitop, with its main store located in Valenzuela, Metro Manila immediately sent representatives to BIR to rectify their deficiency at the exact moment BIR Bohol was gearing up for the operation.

Had the Unitop move to correct the deficiency came an hour too late, the closure order could have been served and the store already starting to show promise with pre-holidays buy could be losing greatly as it would be with its 41 other branches whose closure was set to be implemented Monday.

According to the BIR here, Unitop has received a five day VAT Compliance Notice dated September 29 but has not properly acted upon the notice.

Although information about the store’s violations were sketchy, policies under BIR Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No 3-2009 says that the Internal Revenue Commissioner can suspend business operations on certain grounds.

Pursuant to the provisions of the RMO, business operations can be suspended or temporarily closed for failure to issue receipts or invoices by a VAT-registered or registrable taxpayer; failure to file a VAT return; understatement of taxable sales or receipts by 30% or more of the correct amount in the case of VAT-registered or registerable taxpayer or failure to register.

It adds, the closure of a business establishment shall last for a period of not less than five (5) days, and shall be in force until the violation is rectified by the concerned taxpayer.

But, just as Unitop escaped by the whisker, BIR Bohol reiterates to businessmen: settle your taxes or get padlocked and lose greatly.

by Bohol Standard

GETAFE, Bohol- As part of its continuing commitment on mangrove tree planting, the Kanepackage (KP) Group of Companies is expanding its endeavour in the municipality of Getafe, a port town on the northern coast, 92 kilometers from Tagbilaran City.

Kanepackage, a Japanese packaging firm with offices in the country has already planted more than 400,000 mangroves in Olango Island since the launching of its KP-GREEN EARTH program last 2009 that commits to plant five million mangrove trees.

The KP-Green Earth program is in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) together with the host community.

Meanwhile, like the previous tree planting activities, top officials from the Kanepackage Group of Companies are expected to grace the event headed by its President Mr. Yoshikasu Kanesaka while representatives from Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China and Philippines will also join the said event.

KPs first tree planting event in the province of Bohol will take place in Banacon Island, this November 26 which will start early at 7 in the morning to take advantage of the low tide.

Banacon Island has an extensive mangrove plantation with established scenic trails beneath overlapping and intertwining mature mangrove trees that are breathless to behold.

It is an eco-tourist destination with an approximate area of 425 hectares of Mangrove Forest established through community effort that started since 1957. The Banacon Island Mangrove is considered the biggest plantation in the country.

On the other hand, aside from the regular conduct of the mangrove tree planting, the company will also be providing a monthly honorarium to the forest guards for maintenance and sustainability of the project.

By Bohol Standard

With fuel prices in Tagbilaran City higher by at least â,±3 to â,±5 than in the cities of Cebu and Davao, Governor Edgar Chatto has asked the Department of Energy to look into the matter and determine if there is overpricing in the city and other areas of the province.

In a letter dated October 13, the governor highlighted the price differentials on gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and LPG between Tagbilaran and the said metropolises and requested for DOE intervention on the matter to protect the Boholano constituency and the consuming public.

Director Zenaida Monsada of the DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau said that they have already sent inquiries to Eric Recto, president of Petron; Edgar Chua, chairman and president of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum; and Jim Meynink, country chairman of Chevron Phils., asking them for comments on the issue.

In her reply, which was received by the Office of the Governor last November 17, Monsada clarified that, by virtue of RA 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, local dealers can determine their actual selling prices based on freight, storage, handling, transportation, and other operating costs and the behavior of market forces in their area.

However, Monsada added that her bureau will be conducting an investigation on the matter, in coordination with the DOE-Visayas Field Office, to determine the actual causes of the disparity in prices and to assess the reasonableness of prevailing fuel prices in the city.

Gov. Chatto urged the resolution of the issue noting that all sectors and industries not just in the province, but nationwide, are dependent on fuel prices.

Press Release

The St. Ezekiel Moreno Medical Dental Prayer Mission Foundation held a medical and dental mission over the weekend in Brgy. Bacong, in Anda.

A Manila-based mission group of medical practitioners, cancer survivors and religious persons, the medical dental prayer mission foundation named after patron saint of cancer patients St. Ezekiel Moreno, is bound by the saint’s love for the poor and sick.

The medical dental mission services include surgery, cyst operations, tooth extractions, medical check up, circumcision, and distribution of medicines for the barangays of Bacong, Tawid, Poblacion, Suba, Lundag, Buenasuerte, Sta. Cruz, and Virgen.

Gov. Edgar M. Chatto received the 50-man delegation at the People’s Mansion on Friday, thanking them for their support and assistance to health care delivery.

The group led by founders Rev. Fr. Carmelo Borces and Engr. Adel Vergara were only too happy to have chosen Bacong, Anda for their 60th medical mission.

The medical mission foundation which has held missions all throughout the country traces its roots from their first medical mission in Ligawan, Puerto Princesa in Palawan in November 2007.

By Edcom

Members of the Alburquerque Sanitary Landfill cluster on Friday to revisit project amidst growing clamor for a solution to the waste disposal problem plaguing the city and neighboring towns.

Gov. Edgar Chatto saw fit to review technical and environmental points of the controversial sanitary landfill project to aid “social preparation” phase as completion of the project nears.

TIEZA representatives reported completion of Phase 1 of the project in November of 2008 amounting to â,±93M which works included landfill cells, administration building, road improvement, water system, electrical works, and the concreting and widening of access road.

Initially constructed under the Philippine Tourism Industry (PTA) and now under Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the project has been allocated â,±140M for the implementation of Phase 2 which will lead to its completion, a pronouncement made by Pres. Noynoy Aquino during his visit to the province back in August.

Bohol Environment and Management Office (BEMO) also revealed University of the Philippines (UP) experts’ findings on environmental viability of the landfill.

UP experts have stated the site is not an Environmentally Critical Area (ECA), a policy defined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as an area that is environmentally sensitive and is so listed under Presidential Proclamation (Pres. Proc.) No. 2146, Series of 1981 as well as other areas which the President of the Philippines may proclaim as environmentally critical in accordance with Section 4 of P.D, No. 1586.

The UP team has also assured technical support in ensuring the safety of the project upon its operation.

Chatto, however, maintained that only residual waste will be sent by cluster municipalities to the Albur landfill and that Local Government Units must observe proper implementation of an Ecological and Solid Waste Management Program in compliance with Republic Act 9003.

The role of the province in terms of preparedness level is to support, guide, and supervise compliance to requirements of the project, he said.

Our vigilance remains in the protection of Albur as host and site of the project, he added.

National Solid Waste Management Commission representatives meanwhile challenged leadership for Bohol to become model for the proper implementation of the sanitary landfill as only a number of provinces apply the clustering approach on such project.

As part of social preparation, the cluster is set to hold a stakeholders forum in Albur to present data disclosed during the meeting. (Leah/EDCom)

By Ven rebo Arigo

Bohol mayors have cemented their support for the administration of Gov. Edgar Chatto whose thrusts guide the province and its component local government units (LGUs) to aspired development, according to their league leader.

Loay mayor and League of Municipalities of the Philippines LMP) â€" Bohol President May Imboy assessed the governor to be more than a father of the province who knows and faithfully attends to the needs of his family LGUs.

While saying these, she felt sad that the request of their group for development aid from the province has been apparently capitalized by outside quarters on suspicious motive.

She was referring to the LMP resolution asking the governor for P1 million to each town from the province’s 20% Development Fund (DF).

Imboy was surprised and dismayed to know that this was capitalized by Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim in his clear attempt to justify his sudden “intriguing” demand for fund share.

Lim has long been reported threatening his own barangay leaders who would ask assistance from Chatto.

The LMP head assailed the “malicious” use of the “spurious” copy of the resolution, which is in the hands of Lim, because the league has not released any to anybody, not even the governor to whom the measure is addressed.

She hinted, though, that there may be some mayors “who are with Lim.”

Imboy said the league takes exception to any grand design to belittle the credibility and malign the good image of the present capitol leadership.

For her, it is in fact entirely wrong and misleading to even think that the LMP resolution is a manifestation of Bohol town mayors’ discontent in Chatto’s management of the province because it is the contrary happening.

Imboy said she respects whatever the city mayor’s opinion may be, but she asserted against putting malice into the LMP act because in ”fairness to him (Chatto), the governor is hardworking, thoughtful and so good to us.”

The LMP president said she has not given---or authorized anybody to release--- a copy of the resolution, which was passed in the meeting of the league in August as a matter of “parayeg, not demand,” to the governor.

The mayors understand, too, the impact of the reduction of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) for the province next year as what will similarly happen to the IRA of the LGUs.

It is natural for LGU officials to ask but they adhere to doing it “in appropriate ways” and Chatto always welcome them.

Capitol has instituted a consultative management system, including the process of project and fund identification and prioritization.

The LMP measure was passed supposedly on motion of Dimiao Mayor Sylvia Adame but who, in a phone call, could not recall having done so.

She could also not remember the LMP having passed such a resolution. She would check the records of the league.

Adame revealed that Trinidad Mayor Roberto Cajes, the LMP executive vice president, had earlier called and inquired from her because he could not remember, too, any similar measure passed by the league.

Notwithstanding, Adame cited Chatto’s sustained laudable programs cascaded to the LGUs like the HEAT caravans and other projects pursuant to the province’s overarching development agenda.

Being the LMP secretary, Mabini Mayor Ester Tabigue could not remember any copy being released, not even to the governor, from her end.

Imboy herself confirmed that she has not submitted the resolution to the governor as they (mayors) realized, later after its passage, that Chatto has accommodated LGU proposals which are even more than their request from the 20% DF and other sources.

For one, the provincial government has counterparted huge funds for essential projects in municipalities under the Provincial Roads Management Facility (PRMF) program.

“Honestly, we seem to feel ashamed of just handing the resolution to gov(ernor),” the mayors’ league leader said, “despite knowing that he supports the development of the towns (whose mayors) are not even (politically) aligned with him.”

GOOD FAITH

The resolution was passed “ïn good faith,” Imboy said, and the mayors would naturally be saddened by attempts to spoil or exploit their gesture of trust “in the kindness of the governor.”

Separate sources claimed that some quarters allegedly identified with Lim agitated the LMP resolution.

The measure could easily pass since no mayor would dislike development assistance, they said.

To recall, the city mayor “demanded” in his harshly-worded letter to the governor for 20% DF share, even “putting on record” that he was at the same time asking for the shares to the 47 towns.

According to a former DILG director, it is up to the mayor to ask the development council to include in the provincial development plan a project he wants for his city or town.

Lim claimed the city has been deprived of it since the past governors (Relampagos and Aumentado) but no records could show that he has ever submitted a project proposal for inclusion in the provincial development plan.

The city hall chief executive has neither attended capitol functions despite invitations since Chatto’s assumption.

Instead, the town mayors could hear him hitting constantly the governor.

RICO: NO LEGAL BASIS

In a meeting at People’s Mansion, now Rep. Erico Aumentado recounted that he had stressed during his capitol term that sharing equally the 20% DF has no legal basis.

His statement supports Chatto’s position made known last week in response to Lim’s demand.

Thus, Aumentado said he had directed his development funds, in the case of Tagbilaran, to the city barangays during his governorship

Lim’s want this time for Chatto’s aid contradicts the mayor’s own order to the barangay leaders and city hall officials as well as teachers who have long reported or complained against their warning from the mayor not to ask help from capitol.

They experienced this even way back to the congressional stint of Chatto, but who aided the barangays and many sectors in the city regardless of who ruled city hall.

On the other hand, city Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Faro Cabalit and other barangay leaders could only hope that Lim has equally shared his own 20% DF to all Tagbilaran barangays to avoid his demand from the province not getting back at him.

They agreed that Lim should not say his claim was long denied because there had been no such claim in the first place, not until he suddenly demanded for fund share just this month.

The LMP president corrected the crooked perception that Lim is authorized to speak for the league.

Otherwise, the public may be misled into thinking that the governor is on a warpath with the mayors across the province, seconded some mayors who asked not to be named.

“’I am the LMP president,”” Imboy declared, and thus she should know that Lim is not a spokesman of the group.

In an interview, Imboy pleaded to the media to “please clarify” that Lim “is not even a member of the LMP” because he belongs to the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).

By Bohol Standard

The latest threat to the environmental protection campaign of the province was confirmed by the local Environmental Management Bureau field office here.

EMB-Bohol records clerk Marietta Abing said gas stations owners applies for environmental compliance certificates (ECC), not in Bohol but in the regional office in Cebu.

“We only have copy of ECC if the project proponent provides us,” Abing said.

It is also public knowledge that there are “fixers” disguising as consultants in the EMB-7 vicinity in Cebu that offer easy, fast way to secure ECC for a “fee”.

In a separate interview, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Nestor Canda lamented the same concern as gas stations are now noticed put up everywhere and his office have no way of determining if owners have secured environmental compliance documents before starting with such business.

“Aside from the fact that ECCs are secured in the regional office in Cebu, the requirements provided in the terms and conditions are mostly within the jurisdiction of the local government units and DENR only acts if there are violations reported,” Canda said.

Reports say there are even gas stations without ECC owned by mayors of the towns where they are operating. Gas stations are supposed to abide by the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the municipality where it is operating.

These kinds of businesses are prohibited to be put up in residential or environmentally critical areas and must seek clearance from the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB). Protected Area Supervisor Marcial Ugay said they have discussed these concerns about gasoline stations in its recent cluster meeting.

Some gas stations also skirts securing ECC by applying instead for a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC). Applicants state in their application that their gas station is operating with just one tank and a capacity of maximum 18,000 liters only. These are called “bulilit” stations.

There are, however, bulilit gas stations exceeding such limits and the PENRO office said it had already issued notices for violations which could carry a penalty of P50,000 if found non-compliant to environmental requirements.

PENRO Canda said, the law, PD 1586 “Establishing an Environmental Impact Statement System” is not strong enough if environmental protection is to be taken seriously. In that law, liability of a violator is extinguished after paying the penalty. “It needs to be amended,” Canda said.

By Nestor Burgos

A man who disliked his fresh haircut hacked the barber to death in Calinog town, 48 kilometers from this city, on Wednesday, police said.

Charlie Agustino, 48, died from multiple hack wounds after he was attacked by Benjie Lozada, 36, inside Rammy’s barbershop at the public market. The assailant was believed to be mentally disturbed.

The victim, who had worked as a barber for seven years and was also a pastor of the local Baptist church, died while being treated at Calinog District Hospital.

Senior Police Officer 1 Elmer Sanchez of the Calinog police station said Lozada had his hair cut by Agustino in the morning. At around 3 p.m., Lozada, now armed with a bolo, returned to the place, looked for the barber, then went on a rampage.

Sanchez said the assailant immediately went to the police station on foot to surrender after the killing. Lozada appeared calm and still had the bloodstained bolo in his hand when he arrived just as a team of policemen was about to go to the crime scene.

“He told us that he did not like the way his hair was cut,” Sanchez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the phone on Thursday.

Lozada is believed to be mentally disturbed and recently had a nervous breakdown, the officer added.

According to Police Officer 1 Mark Warren Castillo, Lozada said he was teased about his “uneven” haircut upon reaching home and that he had to use “two mirrors” to check if it was really that bad.

An enraged Lozada then took a motorcycle back to the barbershop, which was about 10 km away, Castillo said.

As of Thursday, Lozada was being held in a separate cell away from the two other detainees at the station.

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by Bohol STandard

Following the approval of an appropriation ordinance reverting some P5.5M from Capitol savings for purchase of diesel fuel to save heavy equipments and service vehicles of the Provincial Engineering Office from being grounded, the provincial board agreed Friday to conduct an investigation on the matter.

The fresh fuel funding was requested by Provincial Engineer Rosalinda Yu noting that her office fuel allocations were already exhausted as of October, or a shortfall of two months, November and December for this year.

The PEO request was endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by Provincial Administrator Alfonso R. Damalerio II and presented during the Presiding Officer’s Time by Vice Gov. Concepcion O. Lim during the SP session of October 28, 2011.

The approved appropriation ordinance included diesel fuel funds up to January 2012 anticipating the delay in the implementation of a new provincial budget at the start of the year.

This was made to insure unhampered operations of the province’s fleet of heavy equipments as maintenance work is at peak with the onslaught of the rainy season.

In the 2011 annual budget, P15.9M was appropriated for diesel fuel alone, another P6M for combined gasoline, diesel and lubricant needs was also added.

The cause of the unexpected budget shortfall is one of the main issues to be threshed out by the investigating committee.

The move, in form of a fact-finding proposed by SP majority Floor Leader Cesar Tomas “Yul” Lopez, was for legislators to know why the PEO annual fuel budget for the year was consumed early, and with the findings, come up with recommendations so the budget shortfall won’t happen again.

The Lopez proposal was unanimously approved with the SP agreeing to conduct the investigation as a committee of the whole. (VGO-EDCom)

by Associated Press

An Australian man was abducted in the southern Philippines on Monday, the military said, in what could be the latest in a long line of kidnappings for ransom by Muslim militants.

Several armed men abducted Warren Rodwell from his home in the seaside town of Ipil on Mindanao island, then fled on speed boats, according to regional military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang.

Cabangbang told AFP no one had claimed responsibility for the abduction.

But kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners, occur frequently in parts of the southern Philippines, where a Muslim separatist rebellion has endured for more than 40 years.

The Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf is the most infamous of many Muslim militant groups known to carry out such kidnappings in the south.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is believed to have only a few hundred armed followers, was blamed for the abduction of a Filipina woman also in Ipil town in September.

The military rescued her two weeks later on the Abu Sayyaf's stronghold of Basilan island, about three to five hours away by speed boat, during a gunfight in which one soldier died.

Cabangbang said the military was not yet able to determine if the Abu Sayyaf was also behind Monday's kidnapping.

by Associated Press

China on Monday asked the Philippines to ensure swift and fair treatment for six Chinese fishermen detained and facing up to 24 years in jail for allegedly poaching sea turtles in disputed waters.

China's foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing was "paying attention to the incident", had spoken to the Philippine side and had sent staff from the Chinese embassy in Manila to visit the detainees.

"We have asked the Philippine side to ensure the safety and legal rights and interests of the Chinese fishermen and handle the issue in an early and fair manner," spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing.

The Chinese fishing boat was intercepted by the Philippine navy on December 1 off the coastal town of Balabac in Palawan, a western island facing a section of the South China Sea that both countries claim.

Police confiscated the boat and recovered 11 sea turtles, fishing nets and other paraphernalia from the six fishermen.

Philippine environmental authorities and police have filed charges against the six for illegally poaching an endangered species. They face over two decades in jail if convicted.

Hundreds of Chinese fishermen have been caught allegedly poaching in waters off Palawan over the past decade, but all have eventually been freed and deported to China, often under pressure from Chinese diplomats.

China claims ownership over all of the South China Sea on historical grounds, and its fishermen often stray close to Philippine shores.

In October, the Philippine navy seized 25 small Chinese fishing boats being towed by a larger vessel, also off Palawan.

The bigger vessel escaped after the navy confronted it near Reed Bank, just 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Palawan.

Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia also have competing claims to parts of the South China Sea.

Vietnam and the Philippines have complained of increasing Chinese aggression in the area, but a proposal by Manila at a recently concluded East Asian summit seeking a stronger regional front against Beijing failed to gain traction.

apil ang pagbangatunan ngano sa kadaghan sa nag-ipok tomboy pa man ang gipatulan.

By PNA

Cavite - Operatives of the Police Provincial Office (PPO) arrested Friday six Korean nationals suspected of running a massive, high-tech dog-fighting operation in Indang town where matches were shown online to overseas bettors, police on Saturday said.

Cavite PPO director Sr. Supt. John Bulalacao identified the Korean suspects as Kim Jeong Py, 40; Kim Su Jeong, 27; Kim Sang Hyun, 28; Kang Jun Ho, 28; Lee Han Gu, 33; and Kim Min, 31 -- all temporarily residing at the Summit Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Bulalacao said policemen confiscated some 250 pitbulls in a raid Friday evening from a secluded compound in Indang town where the dogs were kept and where matches were being held.

He said that at least 17 Filipinos who work as dog keepers for the Koreans were also arrested.

Bulalacao said that acting on a tip-off, Chief Insp. Gil Toralba, deputy chief of Cavite Intelligence Bureau, and representatives of the Animal Kingdom Foundation, swooped down on a warehouse in Barangay Mahabang Kahoy, Indang town and apprehended the suspects Friday at around 8 p.m.

The dog-fighting operation in Indang had been going on for more than a month now, and sometimes dogs would die from their injuries, Supt. Rome Valero of the Cavite PPO Intelligence Group, said.

Valero said the Koreans built an arena enclosed with mirrors, had videocams, computers and show live fights of the pitbulls... on their website in Korea.

He also said that no dead animals were found at the compound although some of the dogs were suffering wounds from recent battles.

Bulalacao said the Koreans don’t speak in English and it was not yet known how long they had been in the country. One Korean claimed they did not know dog fighting was illegal in the Philippines, he said.

Police said the dogs were turned over to a local animal shelter in Cavite province.

Bulalacao said the arrested Koreans, including the Filipino caretakers, would be charged with violation of Section 6 of Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

He said the suspects also face charges for illegal gambling, even if no money was seized since the betting took place in South Korea.

Bulalacao said that if convicted, the suspects could face six months to two years in jail. He said the police were still trying to contact the South Korean embassy for comment.

by PNA

On December 3, 1574, Limahong and his bandits left Manila for Pangasinan and established a kingdom near the mouth of Agno River.

Limahong was a notorious Chinese pirate and warlord who invaded the northern Philippine Islands in 1574.

He announced to the people that he had conquered the Spaniards and that he had come to rule over them as their king.

Near the mouth of the Agno River, about four miles from the sea, he built a fort consisting of an outer palisade of palm logs, and an inner enclosure of palm planks which sheltered his palace.

He also built pagodas and dwelling places preparatory for permanent settlement.

Limahong decided to stay there and to make himself master of the region, be rich and far from reach of the Spaniards and the Chinese emperor.

Great terror and fright filled all the neighboring villages, and all of them, with no exception, received Limahong as king, and they obeyed him and paid him tributes.

The Spanish colonizers could not tolerate the presence of Limahong, hence they sent an expedition for Lingayen on March 23, 1575. They drove out the bandit who slipped out into the China Sea toward his former lair.

Also on this same date was the birth in 1924 of Francisco Sionel Jose, a leading fiction writer in English and editor, in Rosales, Pangasinan.

Notably, Sionel Jose was recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts in 1980 and the Philippines National Artist for Literature in 2001.

His works include: The God Stealers (1968), Tree (1978), My Brother, My Executioner (1979), Waywaya (1980), Mass (1984) and Poon (1985).

dili ka promise kay ang saad gihimo lang aron pakyason?

Moduaw ba kaha ang iro niya sa prisohan? Mas importante pa niya ang kinabuhi sa iro kay sa kinabuhi sa tawo.

Grabeha pud ani. Makalagot. Death penalty should be brought back to our justice system.

Lovers on a Date in Bohol, Philippines

By PNA

On December 2, 1899, the Battle of Tirad Pass between 60 Filipino soldiers under General Gregorio del Pilar and more than 300 American soldiers under General Peyton C. March took place.

General Del Pilar, confidante and right-hand man of General Emilio Aguinaldo, was ordered to block the Yankees' advance into Tirad Pass, a mountain gap in the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon.

He followed the order of General Aguinaldo to defend the pass to stop the Americans so the revolutionary leader could build a guerrilla force in Isabela beyond the Cordilleras.

Del Pilar asked his 60 men to position themselves on top of the mountain where, from their vantage point, they could see a whole battalion of 300 American soldiers advancing.

Hence, Aguinaldo and his men were able to retreat safely to the north.

Del Pilar gave encouragement to his men while watching the Americans coming within the range. “This is the most glorious moment in our lives,” he said. “We are fighting for our motherland.”

After sometime, the enemy stopped firing. The Filipino forces halted their fire too, thus the whole valley fell silent.

However, unknown to Del Pilar and his men, a Filipino was leading a group of American soldiers to their rear. As he heard a volley of fire coming from the back, Del Pilar saw many of his soldiers fall one by one.

Standing alone, he took out his diary from his breast pocket and wrote the following words: ”What I am doing now is for my beloved land.” After returning his diary to his pocket, he mounted his horse once more with saber in hand, but a single shot claimed the life of the young, brave general.

The American soldiers rushed to the spot where the fallen general was. One of them got his diary, another one took the spurs from Del Pilar’s boots, one other got the boots, another followed and took his shirt off, someone collected his buttons, tore off the bloody collar and pants.

But there was one thing that the American soldiers were not able to take away from General Del Pilar -â€" his love of country, a love that neither extreme hardship nor death was able to extinguish.

Del Pilar's heroism won the admiration of American Lieutenant Dennis P. Quinlan, who ordered the burial of his remains with military honors, and marked his grave with a headstone bearing this inscription:

"GENERAL GREGORIO DEL PILAR, KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF TIRAD PASS, DECEMBER 2, 1899, COMMANDING AGUINALDO'S REAR GUARD, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN."

Girlfriend of Shaquille Oneal

Reposted:

SPECIALIST â€" LOCAL GOVERNANCE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is responsible for the delivery of Australia’s Development Cooperation Program to the Philippines, one of the largest aid programs in the Philippines. AusAID is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and innovative person to fill the Local Governance (LG) Specialist position in the Sub-National Portfolio team.

The LG Specialist will contribute to the efficient and effective delivery of AusAID’s program in the Philippines, by providing expert advice on local governance issues to the Sub-National Portfolio team, other portfolio teams, and senior managers at the Manila Post. The LG Specialist’s expertise on local governance issues will assist in: shaping AusAID’s strategies and approaches to strengthen the governance capacities of local government units and civil society organisations at the sub-national level; contributing to the design of a major new sub-national program; identifying opportunities to achieve greater convergence of AusAID’s sub-national programs across all portfolios; supporting AusAID’s dialogue with stakeholders and partners on sub-national strategies, plans, programs and initiatives for improving and strengthening local governance; and shaping an analytical and research agenda on the factors associated with governance and reform processes, poverty reduction and better service delivery at the sub-national level.

Selection Criteria

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons, with local nationals being encouraged to apply. This is an Overseas-based employee position and not an Australian Public Service position. Further details on job description and selection criteria (also attached herein) for the position can be accessed under job vacancies at: http://www.philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/aboutus.html.

Conditions of Contract

The Position will be a full-time position based in AusAID’s Manila office, with a fixed term 12 month employment contract (and the possibility of a 12 month extension). The successful candidate is expected to commence as soon as possible. The commencing salary of Php175,000 per month is negotiable depending upon qualifications and experience, with entitlements to leave, comprehensive health insurance and other conditions.

Expressions of Interest

Interested applicants must address the selection criteria (2-3 pages) and detail suitability to perform the duties of the position including personal qualities, experience, skills and knowledge.  All applications should be forwarded to: The PCCO, 9th Floor, Salcedo Towers, 169 H.V. dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Philippines, or at ipe_careers@pcco.org.ph on or before Wednesday, 23 November 2011. Please include a curriculum vitae, and two (2) work-related referral letters (preferably from current supervisor and addressing the criteria). Do not send copies of academic transcripts, awards, degrees, or published papers. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Envelopes should be clearly marked "Specialist â€" Local Governance / AUSAID". Due to volume of applications, AusAID will only contact shortlisted applicants.

AusAID is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and maintains a smoke-free working environment.

Reposted:

SPECIALIST â€" EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is responsible for the delivery of Australia’s Development Cooperation Program to the Philippines, one of the largest aid programs in the Philippines. AusAID is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and innovative person to fill the Education Specialist position in the Education Portfolio team.

The Education Specialist will contribute to the efficient and effective delivery of AusAID’s program in the Philippines, by providing expert advice on education issues to the Education Portfolio team, other portfolio teams, and senior managers at the Manila Post. The Education Specialist’s expertise on education issues will assist in: supporting AusAID’s broad basic education reform program, and its program of education to Muslim and Indigenous People including basic education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); contributing to the planning, design, implementation and review of education initiatives; supporting AusAID’s dialogue with stakeholders and partners on education strategies, plans, programs and initiatives; and contributing to an analytical and research agenda on education issues.

Selection Criteria

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons, with local nationals being encouraged to apply. This is an Overseas-based employee position and not an Australian Public Service position. Further details on job description and selection criteria (also attached herein) for the position can be accessed under job vacancies at: http://www.philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/aboutus.html

Conditions of Contract

The Position will be a full-time ongoing position based in AusAID’s Manila office. The successful candidate is expected to commence as soon as possible. The commencing salary of Php175,000 per month is negotiable depending upon qualifications and experience, with entitlements to leave, comprehensive health insurance and other conditions.

Expressions of Interest

Interested applicants must address the selection criteria (2 pages) and detail suitability to perform the duties of the position including personal qualities, experience, skills and knowledge. All applications should be forwarded to: The PCCO, 9th Floor, Salcedo Towers, 169 H.V. dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Philippines, or at ipe_careers@pcco.org.ph on or before Wednesday, 23 November 2011. Please include a curriculum vitae, and two (2) work-related referral letters (preferably from current supervisor and addressing the criteria). Do not send copies of academic transcripts, awards, degrees, or published papers. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Envelopes should be clearly marked "Specialist â€" Education / AUSAID". Due to volume of applications, AusAID will only contact shortlisted applicants.

AusAID is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and maintains a smoke-free working environment.

Wondershare Vivideo

Wondershare Vivideo is the ideal video editor to personalize your videos.

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4Media iPhone Contacts Transfer

4Media iPhone Contacts Transfer is a convenient iPhone contacts management tool to help you backup, import/export, restore and manage contacts information in your iPhone.

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OpenCloner Stream-Cloner

Stream-Cloner is an all-in-one leading stream downloader which allows you to download online movies and capture streaming video/audio.

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Tansee iPhone Transfer SMS

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Ramka SoundTaxi Media Suite

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Easeware Technology Limited
Driver Navigator

Driver Navigator makes it easy auto-detect and download drivers.

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Syria, Iran, and the Balance of Power in the Middle East
By George Friedman | November 22, 2011

U.S. troops are in the process of completing their withdrawal from Iraq by the end-of-2011 deadline. We are now moving toward a reckoning with the consequences. The reckoning concerns the potential for a massive shift in the balance of power in the region, with Iran moving from a fairly marginal power to potentially a dominant power. As the process unfolds, the United States and Israel are making countermoves. We have discussed all of this extensively. Questions remain whether these countermoves will stabilize the region and whether or how far Iran will go in its response.

Iran has been preparing for the U.S. withdrawal. While it is unreasonable simply to say that Iran will dominate Iraq, it is fair to say Tehran will have tremendous influence in Baghdad to the point of being able to block Iraqi initiatives Iran opposes. This influence will increase as the U.S. withdrawal concludes and it becomes clear there will be no sudden reversal in the withdrawal policy. Iraqi politicians’ calculus must account for the nearness of Iranian power and the increasing distance and irrelevance of American power.

A Deadly U.S. Attack on Pakistani Soil
By Nate Hughes

In the early hours of Nov. 26 on the Afghan-Pakistani border, what was almost certainly a flight of U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and an AC-130 gunship killed some two dozen Pakistani servicemen at two border outposts inside Pakistan. Details remain scarce, conflicting and disputed, but the incident was known to have taken place near the border of the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar and the Mohmand agency of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The death toll inflicted by the United States against Pakistani servicemen is unprecedented, and while U.S. commanders and NATO leaders have expressed regret over the incident, the reaction from Pakistan has been severe.

Claims and Interests

The initial Pakistani narrative of the incident describes an unprovoked and aggressive attack on well-established outposts more than a mile inside Pakistani territory â€" outposts known to the Americans and ones that representatives of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) had visited in the past. The attack supposedly lasted for some two hours despite distressed communications from the outpost to the Pakistani military’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Published by Stratfor
U.S. Naval Update Map: Nov. 30, 2011

The Naval Update Map shows an approximation of the current locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs), the keys to U.S. dominance of the world’s oceans. A CSG is centered on an aircraft carrier, which projects U.S. naval and air power and supports a carrier air wing (CVW). The CSG includes significant offensive strike capability. An ARG is centered on three amphibious warfare ships, with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked. An MEU is built around a heavily reinforced and mobile battalion of Marines.
Carrier Strike Groups

    The USS John C. Stennis CSG with CVW 9 embarked is under way in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

    The USS George H.W. Bush CSG with CVW 8 embarked is under way in the U.S. 6th Fleet AOR after having completed five months of combat operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

    The USS Carl Vinson CSG with CVW 17 embarked is under way on a deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

Amphibious Ready Groups/Marine Expeditionary Units

    The USS Bataan ARG with the 22nd MEU embarked is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

    The USS Essex ARG with the 31st MEU embarked arrived in Manila for a scheduled port visit during its deployment to the western Pacific region and the Indian Ocean.

    The USS Makin Island with the 11th MEU arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet AOR during its maiden deployment to the western Pacific region.

by PNA

On December 1, 1959, Jose Nepomuceno, the so-called Father of Philippine Movies, died at the age of 66.

Born on May 15,1893, his well-off family lived near a theatre, Teatro Oriente, which he frequented during his adolescence and where he watched Spanish dramas (zarzuelas) and, later, European films.

In 1915, Jose and his brother Jesus opened a photography store. They mastered the craft and rose to prominence in Manila during their time.

This was the prelude to starting a film company, Malayan Movies, and making the first Filipino film "Dalagang Bukid" which Nepomuceno produced and directed, the first ever Filipino-made movie, which was based on a popular zarzuela of the time.

Nepomuceno sold his prosperous photography studio, and used the capital to buy equipment, books and magazines about film making.

Before he started making feature films, he also made subtitles in English and Spanish which he inserted in French and Italian films.

As he became an accredited correspondent of Pathé and Paramount News, his newsreels were shown abroad. Nepomuceno’s newsreels included: the funeral of the first wife of House Speaker Sergio Osmeña Sr. in Cebu; filming the wife of the boxer Pancho Villa as he became the flyweight champion; and the earthquake in Japan in 1923 (the first newsreel taken by a Filipino outside of the Philippines).

As the sound technology arrived in the Philippines in 1929, Nepomuceno produced "Punyal na Ginto" in 1932, a movie based on the novel by Antonio Sempio, was the very first Filipino-produced sound movie made in the Philippines.

The movie was partially silent and partially with sound, as Nepomuceno just experimented with sound in the latter part of the movie.

Nepomuceno's other later movies include "La Venganza de Don Silvestre" (1920), "La Mariposa Negra" (1920), "El Capullo Marchito" (1921), and "Hoy o Nunca, Besame" (1923).

In 1930, Nepomuceno produced his masterpiece, Noli Me Tangere, considered one of the greatest films in Philippine cinema history.

Nepomuceno is the acknowledged founder of Malayan Movies (1917), Malayan Pictures Corporation (1931), Nepomuceno Production (1932), Nepomuceno-Harris-Tait Partnership (1933), Parlatone Hispano-Filipino Inc. (1935), X’Otic films (1938) and Polychrome Motion Picture Corporation (1946).

Malayan Movies (and later Malayan Pictures Corporation) was the major domestic film producer during the era of silent films.

Nepomuceno continued directing and producing movies until he passed at the age of 66.(PNA)

murag dili labi na sa mga baryo nga wala pay kuryente.

a bizarre case indeed.

Labon naay uban nga giabot ug ajad. Bisan unsaon ug tulod nga magminyo, modingo na.

it says it all.

wala na gyuy inhibition ang unggoy sa iyang harassment gestures. it appears nga kamao mamili ning unggoya kinsay kuoton.

pwede na diay ni mangharana, hubz.

reminds me of Wall-E

by Phil News Agency

The Visayan Electric Co. Inc. (Veco), the lone power utility in Metro Cebu, Monday filed a P168-million electric pilferage case before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office against the management of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug, this city.

Ethel Natera, Veco spokesperson, said the pilferage was discovered by Veco's Revenue Protection Staff on Feb. 7 to 17, 2011.

Veco criminal complaint against the hotel’s management was for alleged violation of the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.

Veco is also seeking payment of P168,699,560.86, representing differential billing for the pilfered electricity consumption from August 2007 until its discovery on February this year.

This is so far the biggest pilferage claim Veco has filed against any of its customers.

by PNA

On November 29, 1898, the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo, who had approved the Malolos Constitution, recognized the equality of all forms of worship and proclaimed the separation of Church and State.

Deriving inspiration from the Constitutions of Mexico, Belgium, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil and France, the most heated argument about it occurred with regards to the provision making Catholicism the religion of the State.

The draft of the Malolos Constitution was made by prominent delegate Felipe Calderon.

After much debates on the subject, the Congress voted on it with a tie result, hence a second voting resulted in the victory of the separation of Church and State by only one vote.

Notedly, the Congress sessions on the subject of whether or not the Church and State should be united showed: First, that the Filipinos, though up in arms against the Catholic Spain, were not anti-Catholic but merely anti-clerical.

Second, that many of the delegates learned from the bitter lesson of Philippine history in voting against the union of Church and State which, under Spain, was the fundamental basis of Spanish colonial system.

Hence, the decision became the cornerstone of Philippine democracy as shown not only by the nationalism and democratic orientation of those who voted for the separation of Church and State, but also the keen sense of history.

Also on this same day in 1917, Dioscoro L. Umali, world-class scientist in the field of plant breeding and an outstanding administrator who built the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna and national scientist, was born in Manila.

Craigslist website is a dangerous website. You will never know who you gonna deal with.

source: http://www.booknflytravel.com/2011/07/countries-filipinos-can-travel-without.html

"The countries listed below do not require an entry visa for Filipinos. You can pack and go and tour these countries for a limited number of days without the hassle and bustle of visa application.

Asia

ASEAN
Brunei Darussalam - 14 days
Cambodia - 21 days
Indonesia - 30 days
Laos - 30 days
Malaysia - 30 days
Singapore - 30 days
Thailand - 30 days
Vietnam - 21 days

Non- ASEAN
Hong Kong - 14 days
Israel - 90 days
South Korea (Jeju Island only) - 30 days
Macau - 30 days
Mongolia - 21 days
Palestine - visa not required
Sri Lanka - 30 days

Europe

Kosovo - 90 days
Oceania
Cook Islands - 31 days
Federated States of Micronesia - 30 days
Palau - 30 days
Niue - 30 days
Vanuatu - 30 days

North and Central America

Costa Rica - 30 days
Dominica - 21 days
Haiti - 3 months
Montserrat - 3 months
Saint Kitts and Nevis - 3 months
Saint Vincent ad the Grenadines - 1 month
Turks and Caicos Islands

South America

Bolivia - 59 days
Brazil - 90 days
Colombia - 90 days
Ecuador - 90 days
Peru - 183 days
Suriname - 90 days

Africa

Morocco - 90 days
Seychelles - 1 month

You can also visit these countries without a prior entry visa. These countries grant a visa-on-arrival access to Philippine passport holders.

CENTRAL AMERICA

Nicaragua - visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)

OCEANIA
Fiji - 4 months Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Marshall Islands - 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Samoa - 60 days Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Tuvalu - 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)

AFRICA
Burundi - 1 month visa issued upon arrival for USD 90
Cape Verde - visa issued upon arrival for EUR 25
Central African Republic - 7 days visa issued upon arrival
Comoros - visa on arrival at Immigration Office
Djibouti - 1 month visa issued upon arrival for DJF10,000;
Egypt (South Sinai only) - 15 days issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Gambia - At port of entry passport 24-72 hour transit pass is issued. This must be converted into a full visa valid up to 1 month at the immigration department in Banjul (fee payable)
Kenya - 90 days visa issued upon arrival for USD 50
Madagascar - 90 days visa issued upon arrival for MGA140,000
Mozambique - 30 days visa issued upon arrival for USD82
Saint Helena - visa issued upon arrival
Tanzania - visa issued upon arrival for USD 50
Togo - 7 days visa issued upon arrival
Uganda - visa issued upon arrival for USD 50
Zambia - 90 days visa issued upon arrival for USD 50

ASIA
Armenia - 30 days issued upon arrival for AMD 15,000
Bhutan - 15 days issued upon arrival for USD 20 with conditions
Georgia - 90 days visa issued on arrival for USD10 ~ USD200
Iran - 15 days visa issued upon arrival for USD50
India - 30 days visa issued upon arrival for USD 60
Nepal - 15/30/90 days visa issued upon arrival for USD 25/40/100
Maldives - 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
Timor-Leste - issued upon arrival for USd30
Taiwan - 30 days if holding a valid visa for Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Schengen countries, United Kingdom or United States

The visa regulation of these countries could change anytime, so it is important that you must verify with the embassies or consular offices concerned beforetraveling."

Published by Sunday Post

Under Section 43(f) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), and Rule 15, Section 5(a) of its implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR),authorized the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to adopt alternative forms of internationally accepted rate-setting methodology. Now therefore emerge Performance Based Regulation (PBR) which serves as a rate setting methodology using a price cap to set the distribution wheeling rates to be charged by Distribution Utilities to its customers. Due to such law, on December 13, 2006, ERC Approved Resolution No. 54 Series of 2006 “Adopting the Rules for Setting Distribution Wheeling Rates (RDWR) for Privately Owned Distribution Utilities Entering Performance Based Regulation for the Second and Later Entry groups as MERALCO, CEPALCO and Dagupan Electric were the first.

Then ERC issued Resolution No. 10, Series of 2010, adopting the timeline for the Fourth Entry Group of Regulated Entities entering the PBR commencing on October 01, 2011 and terminating on September 30, 2015. The 4 th Entrants are the following: Angeles Electric Corporation; Bohol Light Company Inc.; Clark Electric Distribution Corporation; Panay Electric Company; Subic Enerzone Corporation; San Fernando Electric Light & Power Company Last September 28, 2010, BLCI filed an application for approval of Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) and Performance Incentive Scheme (PIS) with ERC under PBR regime. Then last November 23, 2010 a Jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearings regarding the ARR and PIS Application of BLCI was made here at the franchise area held in Governor’s Mansion, Tagbilaran City

On June 08, 2011 a Public consultation was made by the Energy Regulatory Commission on the Draft Determination of BLCI’s ARR and PIS Application While on May 21, 2011 the Draft Determination of BLCI’s ARR and PIS Application was posted on the ERC Web Site for further comments. Finally, last July 06, 2011 the ERC in its Decision and Final Determination approved BLCI’s ARR and PIS Application presenting its final decision on the price control arrangements that will apply to BLCI for the Regulatory Period with the smoothened Maximum Average Price (MAP) of P1.02 from 0.82¢ or an average increase of 0.20¢. The approved MAP will then be translated into rates for the different customer segment of BLCI such as Residential, Commercial, Public Buildings & Street Lights and Hospitals & Radio Stations. The translation of the approved MAP into rate by customer segment is still under application by BLCI with the ERC. In comparison to other Private Distribution utilities in the Visayas who were now using the approved Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR), among PECO, PROSIELCO, VECO, MECO and BLCI,

it appears that BLCI has the lowest rate for residential and commercial rate, like for example, on residential customer class, the following rates are as follows, P 10.89/kWh, P10.78/kWh P 9.19/kWh, P 8.15/kWh and P 5.98/kWh respectively even after with the proposed increased on the approved ARR for BCLI. For the Commercial Customer Class the rates for PECO, PROSIELCO, VECO, MECO and BLCI are P10.34/kWh, P12.39/kWh P 8.89/kWh, P7.80/kWh and 5.68/kWh accordingly. To simulate, estimated monthly billing comparison for residential using the old rate and the proposed new rate, if you have a consumption of 100kW your old bill is P644.49 while under the proposed new rate it would now be P671.03 with a difference of P 26.54 supposed increase per month which is still even lower than our average every day mobile load. While if you have an estimated consumption of 500kW, your old bill is P 3,127.13, and for the proposed new rate your bill would now be P 3,186.99 with difference of P 59.86/month which is still even affordable than your leisure drink session. This proposed rate increase was made to improve BLCI services and truly are for the benefit of the entire valued customer in the franchise area.

By: Reyna Omictin

The Local Government Unit of Tubigon together with the Municipal Agriculture Office turned over the Cansuran Dam to the Cansuran Irrigators and Rice Farmers Association in a blessing and turn-over ceremony last November 10 in Cansuran, Bosongon, this town. After a few months of rehabilitation of Cansuran dam, LGU Tubigon, spearheaded by the its supportive mayor William R. Jao, together with Municipal Engineer Engr. Dionisio Sarpamones, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Engr. Noel C. Mendaña and Municipal Agriculturist Mrs. Yolanda L. Labella, has finally decided to hand over its supervision and safekeeping to CIRFA or the Cansuran Irrigators and Rice Farmers Association, a union of farmers from barangay Bosongon, Tubigon. The group has 32 active members. With the reconstruction and turning over of the dam, the farmers will be highly benefited through proper irrigation of their rice fields with at least two harvest seasons annually. Rice production in these areas used to be on a one harvest cycle is in a smaller level with only one harvest due to inadequate water supply.

In line with this mitigating project, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) has also been encouraging the constituents especially the farmers to put up gardens alongside the water passages or the canals which lead to the diversion dam, thus explained by MAO. This setup will enable the farmers to gain extra income with the extra production aside from rice as well as it optimizes utilization of water for the dam. Moreover, the impounding project induces natural underground water replenishment. According to Municipal Agriculturist Mrs. Yolanda Labella, it “is a way to help conserve and manage our resources well, especially because with the presence of global warming, water becomes scarce,”. She said that it is important most especially to the farmers since rice farming is a water intensive activity. As of press time, LGU Tubigon in partnership with MAO is in its best efforts in designing projects and programs to help alleviate environmental issues in order to provide a better and greener environment for the community.

you can call bohol tropics office. the resort has a website where you can find its contact number.

i understand. unfortunately, dive centers and dive spots are found in panglao island.

most likely you can find it in Alona Beach area, Panglao Island. haven't seen one in Tagbilaran City.

published by The Bohol Standard

Government doctors’ competence is once again ‘in question. Aside from the usual excuse of Ill-equipped hospital facilities, “incompetence” has been added to their name.

Doctors at the government-owned Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital were in the limelight again when one of the newborn twins was declared “dead” in the afternoon on Nov. 23, 2011, but woke from her sleep more than five hours after arriving home in a packed carton.

On the other hand, her twin sister (no name yet as of this writing), who was instead attended by doctors and was breathing at the hospital, expired in the evening on the same day.

Doctors at Gallares hospital based in the city could not explain the peculiar incident.

Dr. Edgar Pizarras, spokesman of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH), where the twins were born, in an interview, could only say it could be a “miracle.”

Initial investigation said that after being declared dead, the baby was wrapped up in a cloth in a manner like an Egyptian “mummy” and put inside a cartoon box and given to her father. In turn, the father let her grandmother brought her to the hometown of Carmen, about 50 kms. from the city, apparently for burial, said Pizarras.

But five hours later, Pizarras said, the grandma was surprised as she heard a cry from the supposedly dead Maryjoy, still breathing. She was rushed back to the Gallares hospital again for further treatment.

The resurrected baby is still under intensive care by the doctors, Pizarras said.

The surviving twin Maryjoy was baptized by a priest on the following day (Nov. 24, 2011) at the said hospital.

She weighs less than 500 grams while her sister twin who died inside the hospital was more than 500 grams. Both were born under the so-called “extremely premature” conditions classified by doctors as “abortous” at the time of their delivery.

Pizarras said that it was not the doctor who assisted the delivery of the twins that declared her dead but another doctor who is a pedia practitioner.

Meanwhile, Pizarras bared the initial findings of the investigation the hospital has conducted immediately after the incident during the weekly press conference of Gov. Edgar Chatto held Friday at the Governor’s Mansion here.

The provincial government is also to conduct a fact-finding, led by the Provincial Health Office to ascertain facts of the incidents.

Chatto however said the provincial government may not be in the position to slap any sanction to hospital staff, if ever there were lapses on the part of the doctors, since the hospital is run by the Department of Health.

The governor promised that the PHO’s findings will be made public once this is completed.

The Gallares hospital maintains that it found the doctors following certain protocols in the delivery of the twins and what they did was “appropriate” enough to save the twins.

This DOH-ran hospital mistakenly known as the “provincial hospital” has figured in many reported malpractices before including incident of newly delivered baby falling into the floor after coming out of the mother’s womb; a doctor who threw a glass to a patient, miss-diagnosis and many others.

The hospital management had even filed libel cases against local media outlet who exposed incident of medical practices, most of the time involving indigent patients.

Gov. Chatto said, the DOH regional office has been informed of this latest incident and a separate probe is expected to be conducted immediately. (With reports: RVO)

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by PNA

On November 26, 1862, Mariano Dacanay, a famous Ilokano priest who titled Dr. Jose Rizal’s farewell poem as “Mi Ultimo Adios” (Spanish word for My Last Farewell), was born in Bacnotan, La Union.

Dacanay, also a noted translator of religious works, had received the poem of Rizal while he was in jail since September 1896 for suspicion of Masonic leanings and cooperation with the Katipunan. He was found innocent and a year later was released from jail.

Accordingly, in the afternoon of December 29, 1896, a day before his execution, Rizal was visited by his mother, Teodora Alonzo, sisters Lucia, Josefa, Trinidad, Maria and Narcisa, and two nephews.

When they took their leave, Rizal told Trinidad in English that there was something in the small alcohol stove (cocinilla), not alcohol lamp (lamparilla).

The stove was given to Narcisa by the guard when the party was about to leave and board their carriage in the courtyard.

Rizal used the stove to light the room and to be able to write the poem and his other parting words.

At home, the Rizal ladies recovered from the stove a folded paper. On it was written an unsigned, untitled and undated poem of 14 five-line stanzas.

The Rizals reproduced copies of the poem and sent them to Rizal's friends in the country and abroad.

As Rizal did not inscribe a title to his poem, his friend and fellow reformist, Mariano Ponce, in 1897, titled it "Mi Último Pensamiento" in the copies he distributed, but this did not catch much attention.

Hence, Fr. Mariano Dacanay, who also had a copy of the poem while a prisoner in Bilibid (jail), published it in the first issue of La Independencia on September 25, 1898 with the title "Ultimo Adios."

Thus Rizal's untitled, undated and unsigned last poem became popularly known as "Ultimo Adios," or "Mi Ultimo Adios."

The poem, which became internationally renowned, had political impact, as this was the same poem United States Representative Henry Cooper (who was lobbying for management of Philippine Affairs) recited before the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Philippines was perceived then as a community of "barbarians" incapable of self-government.

Realizing the nobility of the author, Cooper's fellow congressmen enacted the Philippine Bill of 1902 (renamed Jones Law), enabling self-government for the country, although relative complete autonomy would not be granted until 1946.

On this same date in 1986, President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 74 granting year-end bonus and cash gift to national and local government officials and employees.

In her directive, President Aquino said it is the policy of the government to improve the economic welfare of government employees.

She said the government is cognizant of the important contribution of government officials and employees in providing quality service to the Filipino People.

“In recognition of this important service, the government would like to brighten the Christmas spirit by providing government officials and employees with a year-end bonus as well as with an additional Cash Gift,” President Aquino said.

islander, unsa man na nga bangko, rural bank? sa metrobank, dili man ingon niana. I would suggest that you report this matter to the Central Bank complaint desk/bureau.

Drink a glass of water before you start the meal. Water naturally needs some space so that
you feel fuller without actually having to stuff yourself.

muot ra pud ni kaajo.

hehehe self-control is recommended.

by PNA

An elementary school teacher in Capiz province is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 7610 otherwise known as the Anti-Child Abuse Law for the alleged maltreatment of her students.

The case against 47-year-old advisory teacher Mrs. Susan Balgos has been filed after the 47 Grade 5 pupils of Plaridel East Elementary School in Capiz reported to their respective parents that the teacher slapped them with the sole of her shoes.

The abusive act on the part of Balgos reportedly started after she asked her pupils to pay their contributions intended for the purchase of flooring tiles for their classroom.

They said their teacher got mad after only a lone pupil out of the 47 students paid his contribution.

The court has recommended a total of P2-million bail bond for the temporary liberty of the erring teacher.

by PNA

Policemen of this capital town early Wednesday jailed a man who according to a witness stabbed the neck of a female horse, resulting in the animal's death.

This incident was reported by policemen here to the office of Police Sr. Supt. Benjamin Lusad, Benguet Philippine National Police provincial director.

The jailed suspect, whose identity was withheld pending further investigation, was apparently under the influence of liquor when he killed the horse.

If the owner of the horse will pursue the case, the suspect will become the first to face a criminal charge under the Animal Welfare Act.

The owner of the female horse is now in quandary as to how he would nurse the two-month old offspring of the dead female horse as it still depends on its mother's milk for nourishment.

The incident raised an uproar among the animal-loving populace here especially that horses stole the show in the recent "Adivay" festival which featured the skills of the natives as horse riders.

by PNA

On November 22, 1896, Jose Corazon de Jesus, a noted Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for independence during the American occupation, was born in Sta. Cruz. Manila.

During the early years of the American regime, De Jesus worked as a journalist for the revolutionary newspapers Independence, The Brotherhood, The Union, Renaissance and Democracy.

He later joined the Nacionalista Party which wanted the independence of the Philippines from the United States.

He received his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1920. Having been busy writing column for the Tagalog newspaper Taliba, De Jesus had no chance of practicing his legal profession.

In his column “Buhay Maynila” (Manila Life) under the pseudonym Huseng Batute, he satirized society under the American colonizers and espoused independence for the Philippines.

De Jesus's works also appeared in several magazines and newspapers, notably Ang Democracia, Taliba, Liwayway, El Debate and Sampagita, in addition to his articles that have appeared in various anthologies and textbooks from grade school to college.

De Jesus was also known as “King of Balagtasan” as he was acclaimed winner of the showdown on debate in 1925.

One of his famous works, the Tagalog poem Bayan Ko (My Country, 1929) was used as lyrics for a patriotic song that became popular during the dictatorial regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s.

De Jesus died on May 26, 1932, and was buried in Manila's North Cemetery.

Also on this same day in 1913, Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, the first Filipino woman to be chosen Justice of the Supreme Court, was born in Bauan, Batangas.

Appointed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on October 29, 1973, Muñoz-Palma penned several opinions adverse to the martial law government of her appointer.

She later became a leading figure in the political opposition against Marcos, and was elected to the Batasang Pambansa as an assembly member for Quezon City.

During President Corazon C. Aquino's presidency following the 1986 People Power Revolution, Muñoz-Palma was appointed president of the 1986 Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution.

She died on January 2, 2006, at the age of 92.

Germany on Monday reiterated its opposition to the issuance of so-called "eurobonds" across the eurozone to tackle the ongoing debt crisis.

"The chancellor and the federal government do not share the opinion of many others, that eurobonds are now a sort of universal cure for the crisis," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said at a regular news conference.

Germany "sees the danger that such eurobonds could prevent us from attacking the problem at its roots," he said.

Berlin fears it would make the debt-ridden countries less inclined to implement the indispensable harsh measures to reform their finance and budget system.

Merkel is due to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and new Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Thursday in Strasbourg, France, to discuss European Commission proposals, Seibert said.

The idea of eurobonds would be on their agenda as one option, which the Commission envisaged could bring down the borrowing costs of those under the most pressure, he hinted.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stressed that only the appropriate levels of integration, convergence and discipline could be the prerequisite to maintaining the "stability bonds" in Europe.

by Stratfor

Unless you or a loved one live inside or near Syria, you may not spend much time thinking about it.

But the fate of Syria is more important than most people think. The U.S. is set to leave Iraq soon, and Iran is ready & waiting to fill the ensuing power vacuum. This is Iran's historic opportunity to reshape the regional politics in its favor. This gives countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and the United States something to worry about.

Syria is the current battleground for this wider struggle. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States would love nothing more than to add Syria to a coalition of states counterbalancing Iran. Iran, on the other hand, needs to keep Syria as a strong ally in the Levant through which to threaten Israel.

Mug Shots of Gloria Arroyo
source: Inquirer.net

maayo gyud pagka-capture ang sinukliay sa komo.

peligro ug mosuroy sa Tondo, Manila ning tawhana.

tingali adunay gitawag ug kinawat-kawat nga kalipay ug nibuhagay ang popcorn nga maoy bugtong saksi sa kalipay nga gitagay sa kangitngit.

The Mexican Drug Cartel Threat in Central America
By Karen Hooper | November 17, 2011

Guatemalan President-elect Otto Perez Molina told Mexican newspaper El Universal on Nov. 9 that he plans to engage drug cartels in a “full frontal assault” when he takes office in 2012. The former general said he will use Guatemala’s elite military forces, known as Los Kaibiles, to take on the drug cartels in a strategy similar to that of the Mexican government; he has asked for U.S. assistance in this struggle.

The statements signal a shifting political landscape in already violent Central America. The region is experiencing increasing levels of crime and the prospect of heightened competition from Mexican drug cartels in its territory. The institutional weakness and security vulnerabilities of Guatemala and other Central American states mean that combating these trends will require significant help, most likely from the United States.

angay sya moingon mao na akong pamahaw, paniudto, ug panihapon.

We have to establish balance in life. If she couldn't finish her thesis, it's not the end of the world. I hope the school where she was studying would institute some counseling for students under distress.

by PNA

The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution directing the police and traffic enforcers to arrest carolers inside moving public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the city.

The resolution, filed by Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) president John Philip Po, who sits as an ex-officio member of the council, asked the City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to apprehend those who will be found caroling inside PUJs.

Po said the carolers, who are usually young adults and who hop into PUJs, rap a Christmas carol and ask for cash are a public nuisance.

”Caroling inside a jeepney is a public nuisance since carolers occupy the aisle of the jeepneys and sometimes cause fear in the commuters,” he said.

Po said caroling inside the jeepney also puts the carolers’ lives in danger.

”These carolers just hop into moving jeepneys and some of them latch on to the rear portion of the vehicles,” he said.

”There is a need to regulate and stop this practice,” he said.

In October, the city council also passed a resolution enjoining the Department of the Social Welfare Services and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children to monitor the presence of carolers in the streets and discouraged the practice of caroling, which they said puts the lives of children in danger.

Cebu City’s Commission for the Welfare and the Protection of Children (CCWPC) has intensified its campaign to keep carolers safe in the weeks leading to Christmas.

It has already noted an increase in the number of beggars in the city, which multiplies during holidays.

The apprehension of PUJ carolers is in line with the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance of the City.

nathanielz was an attack dog of the late Pres. Marcos. he was once most hated by the Filipinos who love democracy. Marcos gave his a Filipino citizenship. He actually came from an unknown country called Sri Lanka.

Nathanielsz has a close tie with Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao's embittered former promoter.

ABS-CBN wants Nathanielsz to attack Pacquiao because the boxer exclusively belongs to GMA-7 where he has a program, and his fight was covered by GMA network. ABS-CBN is just envious of Pacquiao.

Annabelle Rama in a 1973 Magazine Cover

Europe's Crisis: Beyond Finance
By George Friedman | November 15, 2011

Everyone is wondering about the next disaster to befall Europe. Italy is one focus; Spain is also a possibility. But these crises already are under way. Instead, the next crisis will be political, not in the sense of what conventional politician is going to become prime minister, but in the deeper sense of whether Europe’s political elite can retain power, or whether new political forces are going to emerge that will completely reshape the European political landscape. If this happens, it will be by far the most important consequence of the European financial crisis.

Thus far we have seen some changes in personalities in the countries at the center of the crisis. In Greece, Prime Minister George Papandreou stepped aside, while in Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi now has resigned. Though these resignations have represented a formal change of government, they have not represented a formal policy change. In fact, Papandreou and Berlusconi both stepped down on the condition that their respective governments adopt the austerity policies proposed during their respective tenures.

by PDI

In a dramatic airport showdown, President Benigno Aquino III’s government stopped  former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo from boarding a Hong Kong-bound plane and leaving the country Tuesday night, despite a Supreme Court order allowing her to seek medical treatment abroad.

The wheelchair-bound Arroyo, wearing a neck brace,  and her husband were supposed to take a Dragon Air flight leaving for Hong Kong at 8:50 p.m. but immigration officials barred them from taking the flight.

The Arroyos had also booked other flights, including Singapore Airlines, but immigration officials stopped them from getting on any of the planes.

Arroyo’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said they would file contempt charges Wednesday against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and others who stopped the Arroyos from leaving.

Asked if the decision of the Bureau of Immigration to stop the Arroyos from leaving despite a high court order giving the Arroyos the green light amounted to a contemptuous act, Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said:  “Yes, it is, but we still have to look at the facts.”

Prior to the Arroyos’ arrival at the airport,  Lina Pelia, chief of the Bureau of Immigration’s airport operations center, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that she would heed De Lima’s order to stop the Arroyos from leaving.

Reworded by Leo John Quiachon

* * Footsteps in the Ring.
Last Saturday night I dreamed I was watching live at Ringside MGM with the Lord. Many scenes from the actual fight flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footsteps in the canvas. Sometimes there were two sets of footsteps, other times there was only one.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of Pacquiao, when he was suffering from anguish and frustrations, I could see only one set of footsteps, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if Pacquiao followed you, you would walk with him always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of his time with Marquez, there has only been one set of footsteps in the canvas. Why, when Pacquiao needed you most, you have not been there for him?”.
The Lord replied, “The frequent times when you have seen only one set of footsteps, my child, is when Pacquiao carried Marquez the entire game and the latter doing some acts not favorable to my eyes.” I have to nullify Marquez claim of being robbed to give justice to the pure..**.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3: Foot Stopper Trick? by Juan Manuel Marquez
Exposed: Juan Manuel Marquez is a Dirty Boxer
reports said Marquez intentionally stepped on Pacquiao's foot 17 times, not 6 times.

Marquez's dirty tactics: watch
Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3: Foot Stopper Trick? by Juan Manuel Marquez

Perfect Place for Reflection

Modern Dating Style?

Talking Back to Parents?

Cute Toddler

Sad Beautiful Face

A Happy Man

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