MikeLigalig.com

By MYRNA M. VELASCO
Manila Bulletin

Publicly-listed Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation has entered separate agreements with Australian firm Frontier Gasfields Pty. Ltd. for two of its oil and gas exploration ventures.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Trans-Asia noted that it entered into an option agreement with the Aussie firm for its Service Contract 55 in west Palawan; and farm-in option agreement for its Service Contract 69.

It noted that the agreement relating to SC55 “grants Frontier the option to acquire from Trans-Asia a five-percent participating interest” in the exploration venture.

The firm qualified that the interest for Frontier’s acquisition “may be acquired by Trans-Asia from its current SC 55 partner by virtue of a separate agreement.” SC has 15 percent equity in SC 55.

Sharp Philippines Corp. (SPC), one of the country’s biggest home appliance manufacturers, expects to double its sales in the country to P6 billion in the next two years driven by the strong demand for environment-friendly, healthy innovative products and enhanced customer care relations.

At Thursday’s press launch for the company’s unveiling of its latest innovations called “Beyond Expectations”, SPC president and general manager Juntaro Shimamoto said they are strengthening its competitiveness with new product offerings and enhancements of existing programs.

“By 2012 we aim to double our current P3 billion sales to P6 billion,” Shimamoto said.

The doubling of sales by 2012, Shimamoto said, would mark the double anniversary celebrations of SPC’s 30th year of operation and Sharp Corp. of Japan’s 100th year in the country. SPC is a joint venture between Sharp Corp. of Japan and Pilipinas Development Corp. - Manila Bulletin

By Tudor Vieru, Science Editor
Softpedia.com

In a fortunate turn of events, it would appear that the United States had a higher number of students enrolling in science and engineering (S&E) graduate programs in 2008. It is often being said that the strength of a country can be measured by the amount of scientists it has, and the US had taken a turn for the worse in past years. Over the last few decades, the overall quality of schools in the nation decreased markedly, with a few notable exceptions. America is currently lagging behind in international charts on learning quality, and doesn't even occupy one of the top 10 places.

Many scientists have voiced concerns that too few students were enrolling in S&E programs, saying that a lack of skeptical, inquisitive, young scientists has two catastrophic consequences. First of all, the entire field of scientific research risks losing its development speed, and grinding down to a halt. Secondly, reduced numbers of scientific minds pave the way for the emergence of religious fanatics, who would stop at nothing to introduce their views and beliefs on how the world evolved into the classrooms, to be taught right alongside valid, empirically-tested, scientifically-correct theories. The rise in S&E enrollment is a positive aspect in this debate, one that is bound to give fanatics and fundamentalists a run for their money when the new generation of researchers and scientists develops.

Police in Texas have seized a cache of weapons allegedly being smuggled to drug gangs in Mexico.

The haul, in Laredo on the US-Mexico border, included assault rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Police say it was one of the largest weapons shipments found in recent years. Two men have been arrested.

The seizure comes two weeks after Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged US lawmakers to help stem the flow of weapons to Mexico. - BBC

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With the possible exception of Ayn Rand's Rush-inspiring 1938 novella, it's universally accepted that anthems are great fun, both to create and to hear. In "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," Jay-Z opined that anthems can spur us to throw our damn hands up; several years later, Maryland-based bummers Good Charlotte did the same, except with guitars, guyliner and pretending to be friends with guys like Jay-Z.

When you add sports into the equation, though, the anthem thing can get tricky (I think we're all still struggling with how we relate to Gary Glitter), especially when the anthem is intended to promote or rally the fanbase of a specific team. From "official" creations like the Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle" and the Atlanta Hawks' "Nothing Can Stop Us" to the independent Indianapolis Colts rhapsodizin' of Lil' Ronnie and Syracuse Orange fans' cringe-inducing '03 effort "Cuse Yourself," there are way, way more anthem failures than success stories. (Want to hear some more negative examples? Uproxx gotcha.)

Which is why it was so refreshing to hear, via Boston hip-hop blog Jump the Turnstyle, that Cambridge, Mass.-based crew N.B.S. (Natural Born Spitters) had dropped a Boston Celtics-themed NBA Finals anthem that didn't, y'know, stink. - Yahoo Sports!

By Tudor Raiciu
Softpedia.com

Scientists at the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have been conducting research related to the fields of nuclear physics for many years. A couple of years ago, in 2008, experts at the Lab's Nuclear Science Division (NSD) launched the Applied Nuclear Physics program, through which they sought to develop and implement even more widely-useful technologies for applications ranging from medicine to astronomy and surveillance. Together with colleagues from the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California in Berkeley (UCB), the team has just been awarded two grants to research gamma-ray detectors.

“Pure science and practical applications push each other. Adapting laboratory devices to real-world uses gives us many opportunities to demonstrate new techniques, which often turn out to benefit science as well,” says NSD expert Kai Vetter, who is also a UCB DNE professor in residence. He took command of the Applied Nuclear Physics program after having spent more than six years at the DOE Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The scientist says that one of the main goals of the program is the development of practical applications from highly-theoretical principles.

Please get in touch with Chicogon, our friend here in tubagbohol. He is a music guru.

Sir Paul McCartney has performed at the White House after picking up an award from US President Barack Obama.

The former Beatle, 67, played as part of a concert in his honour, having been presented with the third annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Among the songs he performed for the Obama family was the ballad Michelle, with lyrics directed to the First Lady.

Other performers in the East Room gig included the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Corinne Bailey Rae and Stevie Wonder. - BBC

By Jane Hughes  Health correspondent, BBC News   

Children who eat a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of developing asthma, but eating three or more burgers a week is linked to a higher risk, research suggests.

Researchers looked at 50,000 children from 20 countries.

Writing in the journal Thorax, they said eating fruit, vegetables and fish appeared to protect against asthma.

But they said eating burgers could be linked to other unhealthy habits, which may be the real trigger factor.

The study looked at the habits of children in both wealthy and poorer countries between 1995 and 2005. Parents were asked about their children's diets, and whether they had ever been diagnosed with asthma or had suffered wheezing.

The effects of their diet seemed to vary depending on where they lived.

A lightning bolt has struck nine people waiting to see the Old Faithful geyser erupt at Yellowstone National Park in the US state of Wyoming.

All the visitors were on the boardwalk or walkways around the geyser when the single lightning bolt struck.

One of the nine people hurt was taken to hospital in Idaho for treatment.

Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash told the Associated Press news agency that the 57-year-old man was to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday evening.

It was not clear what injuries he had suffered. - BBC

A woman who ripped off her ex-boyfriend's testicle with her bare hands has been sent to prison.

Amanda Monti, 24, flew into a rage when Geoffrey Jones, 37, rejected her advances at the end of a house party, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

She pulled off his left testicle and tried to swallow it, before spitting it out. A friend handed it back to Mr Jones saying: "That's yours."

Monti admitted wounding and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

'Pulled hard'

Sentencing Monti, Judge Charles James said it was "a very serious injury" and that Monti was not acting in self-defence.

The court heard that Mr Jones had ended his long-term but "open relationship" with Monti towards the end of May last year.

The pair remained on good terms and on 30 May she picked him up from a party in Crosby and went back for drinks with friends at Mr Jones's house.

An argument ensued and Mr Jones said there was a struggle between them.

In his statement, Mr Jones said she grabbed his genitals and "pulled hard". - BBC

A sheen of oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill is nearing the white sand beaches of north-west Florida, officials say.

The slick, containing thousands of tar balls, is only nine miles (15km) from Pensacola on the Florida "panhandle".

"It's inevitable that we will see it on the beaches," said Keith Wilkins, an Escambia County official.

Meanwhile, BP's efforts to cap the leaking well got back on track as a saw that had become stuck in a thick pipe on the sea bed for hours was freed. - BBC

Indeed, Te. I wish makaanhi ko ani nga lugar. So beautiful. Beyond words of description.

Fantastic Valley in California, USA by Darvin Atkeson


Round Valley Regional Park, by Darvin Atkeson

Hotel California in Pictures

Greywhale Cove, California by Patrick Smith of flickr.com

Marin County, California, USA by Patrick Smith

Walnut Creek, California

Very impressive list of visited countries, VRGL!

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel had "no other choice" but to stop the flotilla of ships which tried to break the Gaza blockade on Monday.

Nine activists were killed when Israeli troops raided one of the ships in an operation widely criticised by Turkey, which recalled its ambassador in protest, and others.

"This was not a love boat, this was a boat of hate," Mr Netanyahu said.

Planes carrying hundreds of expelled activists have arrived in Turkey. - BBC

BBC News - Close encounter with a bizarre venomous beast

Conservationists are in the Dominican Republic to save one of the world's strangest and most ancient mammals - the Hispaniolan solenodon.

After days of searching, the team finally tracks down one of the bizarre beasts.

A shout from the forest sounds, bursting through the night chorus of frog tinks and cricket chirrups.

"They've got one, they've got one," someone yells.

It is the middle of the night, and local research assistants Nicolas Corona and Lleyo Espinal have been trawling the dense forest vegetation, attempting to track down the elusive Hispaniolan solenodon.

They need complete silence to find the animals: they pinpoint them by listening for the sounds of rustling leaves as the little creatures scuttle across the forest floor. -bbc

Voltage Pictures, the company behind Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker, has filed lawsuits against illegal file-sharers of the movie in the US.

Internet Service Providers have identified 5000 computers which have been involved in sharing the film via peer-to-peer networks.

Voltage Pictures will now seek the names of the PC owners from the ISPs.

The company said that piracy is "directly contributing" to a decline in the film industry.

"With new technology making it easier to commit piracy, we believe it is more important than ever for people to continue to act responsibly in order to protect jobs and our industry's survival," said a statement.

"Piracy hurts each and every hard-working person attempting to support his or her family through a career in the entertainment industry." - BBC

Tracing its roots to a textile factory founded in 1839, by the 1950s Berkshire Hathaway had grown to fifteen plants employing 12,000 people. From 1962, Warren Buffett began to buy stocks in Berkshire Hathaway and by 1965 he had gained a majority share.

In 1985, struggling against competition from cheaper labour in overseas factories, the textile mill was closed. He is happy to admit that Berkshire Hathaway wasn't one of his best investment decisions.

But its share price tells a different story: Mr Buffett began buying shares in Berkshire Hathaway at $7.60 a share. Today, as his investment vehicle, each share is valued at around $100,000. - BBC

Mr Warren Buffett's involvement in Geico stretches back to 1951, when his interest was sparked by his mentor, the business writer and investor, Benjamin Graham. Mr Graham was an investor in the insurance company, and the young Warren visited the company in Washington and began to buy a few shares.

Geico's success continued throughout the fifties and sixties, but by the mid-seventies the firm had run into trouble. In 1976 Mr Buffett stepped in, and through Berkshire Hathaway bought half a million shares in the company, only to see them quadruple in value in six months.

Twenty years later, the business cycle drooped again, offering Mr Buffett a chance to buy the company outright for $2.3 billion.

The investment, along with Berkshire Hathaway's other insurance companies, provides a cash float that allows Mr Buffett and his partner Charlie Munger to invest without having to borrow money. - BBC

Warren Buffett's love of ice cream and his eye for a business opportunity came together when Berkshire Hathaway bought Dairy Queen for $585 million.

With its familiar logo, glimpsed from highways and movies alike, the soft ice-cream company founded in 1940 has in excess of 5,700 outlets from Omaha to Oman.

Dairy Queen's fare now includes hamburgers and fries and soft drinks such asg Coca-Cola - a business in which Mr Buffett also has a large stake.

Since 2005, Dairy Queen has been expanding and lately announced its intention to open 500 more outlets in China over the next few years.

As Buffett put it in his annual shareholders' letter: "We have put our money where our mouth is." - BBC

Mr Buffett says he likes businesses he can understand.

Coke has been a good thing for Warren Buffett

Coca-Cola's business model isn't quite as simple as you might imagine - involving separate syrup production and bottling plants - but it's not rocket science.

First produced in 1895 as a syrup, the soft drinks company's advertising and its unique bottle gave Coke global recognition.

During the 1980s, Mr Buffett believed that Coca-Cola's share price did not reflect the company's steady returns, strong brand and opportunities for growth, so he started buying its shares.

Now with an 8.6% stake in the company, Berkshire Hathaway's commitment to this once-undervalued firm has paid off - and is now worth more than $10 billion. - BBC

Warren Buffett may be best known as the Oracle of Omaha, but he became Goldman Sachs' knight in shining armour during the financial crisis which hit Wall Street last year.

On 23rd September 2008, Berkshire Hathaway invested $5 billion in the company, matching a publicly raised investment.

Within hours, Goldman's shares had risen 6%.

Mr Buffett bolstered confidence in Goldman, and, at the same time, secured a favourable deal for Berkshire, with Goldman agreeing to pay Berkshire Hathaway a 10% annual dividend on the preferred stock, irrespective of Goldman Sach's common stock price. - BBC

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is to face questions later about the role of credit rating agencies in the financial crisis.

Mr Buffett will testify before the US Congress's Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.

He will appear with the chief of rating agency Moody's, Raymond W McDaniel.

The rating agencies have been criticised for conflicts of interest because their fees are paid by the banks whose deals they rate.

Billions of dollars of complex debts that were given the highest "AAA" rating by Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, went bad during the financial crisis.

UK insurer Prudential has scrapped plans to buy AIA, the Asian business of US insurer AIG.

The deal collapsed after Prudential failed to negotiate a lower price for AIA.

In March, Prudential agreed to buy AIA for $35.5bn (£24.6bn), but last week asked for the price to be cut to nearer $30bn after shareholder opposition.

AIG said on Tuesday that it would not "not consider" any revision to the terms of the deal.

The Prudential said it faced £450m ($653m) in costs related to the deal, including a break fee of about £152m.

The company's shares were 3.3% lower in early morning London trading at 556.5p. - BBC

In a study of tropical guppies, scientists have found that the less attractive males have "better sperm".

The research revealed that colourful flamboyant-looking males "invest" in their appearance at the expense of their sperm quality.

This suggests, the scientists say, that there is a trade-off between different characteristics that help the male to reproduce.

The findings are described in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B.

Professor Jonathan Evans from the Centre for Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia carried out the study.

He described how his findings supported "sperm competition theory", whereby females mate with several males and the quality and swimming speed of the sperm determine which male fathers the offspring.

Guppies are a particularly useful species in which to study this, because the males engage in two types of reproductive behaviour - courtship displays and non-consensual or "sneak" mating. - BBC

BBC News - Sir Winston Churchill memorabilia auction may fetch £1m

One of the largest collections of Sir Winston Churchill memorabilia, including an unsmoked cigar, is expected to fetch £1m at auction later.

The items are being sold by US publishing magnate, Steve Forbes, who amassed them over three decades.

The collection also features the wartime leader's official engagements diary and candid letters to colleagues.

Auctioneer Christie's says the items, being sold in three parts, provide an exceptional insight into the man.
Continue reading the main story

The first sale, of about 150 lots, will be followed by a second in New York in December and a third in London next summer. - BBC

Three people have been killed and six injured trying to defuse a World War II bomb in central Germany.

Workers building a sports stadium had earlier unearthed the bomb in the town of Goettingen.

It was not immediately clear why the bomb, reportedly weighing 500kg (1,100lb), had detonated.

Unexploded WWII bombs dropped by Allied planes are frequently found in Germany, though it is unusual for them to explode unexpectedly. - BBC

By Nick Bryant  BBC News, Sydney   

An Australian Rules football team has suspended one of its star players for saying that homosexual players should not reveal their sexuality.

Writing in a newspaper column, Jason Akermanis said it was too controversial to have an openly gay player, and urged them to "stay in the closet".

His club, the Melbourne-based Western Bulldogs, has banned him for two games.

Australian Rules has one of the country's most macho sporting codes, and is steeped in custom and tradition.

In his column for Victoria's Herald Sun newspaper, Mr Akermanis wrote: "Imagine the publicity associated with a current player admitting he's gay.

Apple boss Steve Jobs has defended conditions at a Taiwanese electronics firm that produces the firm's popular iPhone, following a spate of suicides.

"Foxconn is not a sweatshop," he told a conference in the US.

Mr Jobs said that Apple representatives were working with Foxconn to find out why 10 workers had killed themselves at a factory in Shenzhen, China.

An eleventh worker recently died at another factory in northern China.

In total, there have been 13 suicides and suicide attempts at Foxconn factories this year.

"We're all over this," said Mr Jobs at the All Things Digital conference in California. - BBC

A number of people have been killed and others injured after a gunman opened fire in several areas of west Cumbria.

Police are searching for the suspect, named as Derrick Bird, after shots were fired in Whitehaven, Seascale and Egremont.

Detectives said he drove into the central Lakes in a Citroen Picasso before abandoning it in the Boot area.

People who live nearby are being urged to stay indoors for their own protection.

A force spokesman said officers are working to establish the identities of those killed and wounded.

Police were initially called after shots were fired in Duke Street, Whitehaven, at 1035 BST. - BBC

Our Daily Bread

Sometimes silence is the best response to a false charge. At other times we must speak up.

When false witnesses accused Jesus as He stood before the Sanhedrin, He “kept silent” (Mark 14:53-61). Defending Himself would have been useless. Furthermore, He was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7. But earlier in His ministry, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, challenging them to prove that He sinned (John 8:13-59).

A pastor resigned from his church because a few members made untrue statements about him. He thought it unchristian to defend himself, and in some instances it is. But in this case, the troublemakers needed to be confronted and their false charges refuted. He should have urged them to repent or face church discipline.

Saying nothing may allow wrongdoers to go unchallenged in their evil ways. But if God’s Spirit leads us to remain silent, or if we want merely to try to salvage our wounded pride, then we should hold our tongue.

Are you being falsely accused? If you discern that it’s futile to argue, or if your pride has been hurt, ask God for grace to say nothing. But if you feel concern for the wrongdoers and want to see justice done, speak up!

Lord, give us wisdom to discern
When what is false must be revealed
Or if we need Your grace and strength
To close our lips and keep them sealed. â€"D. De Haan

Silence can be valuable; don’t break it unless you can improve on it.

from Our Daily Bread

For most English-speaking people, the acronym ASAP means “As Soon As Possible” or immediately. But for the Christian it can also mean, “Always Say A Prayer.”

King Hezekiah was one of Judah’s best kings. He restored the worship of God to his nation after his father Ahaz’s evil reign (2 Kings 18:3-4). Yet when the Assyrian king attacked Judah, Hezekiah capitulated to the king and stripped off the gold from the temple in Jerusalem to placate him (vv.13-16).

That did not satisfy the Assyrian king, however, who returned to issue another threat. It was then that Hezekiah turned to the Lord. He prayed, “You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. . . . Save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone” (19:15-19). When Hezekiah prayed, God answered him in a remarkable way and delivered him from his enemies (vv.35-37).

You may be facing a problem that leaves you feeling helpless. It may be the loss of a job, a difficult family or work situation, or health struggles. We have a powerful God to whom we can bring our concerns. So before you do anything else, remember to ASAPâ€"Always Say A Prayer.

Something happens when we pray:
Powers of evil lose their sway,
We gain strength, and fear gives wayâ€"
Therefore, let us pray. â€"Anon.

Prayer should be our first response rather than our last resort.

The US government has begun criminal and civil investigations into the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Attorney General Eric Holder has announced.

He would not say which companies or individuals were being targeted.

Earlier, BP launched a new attempt to try to contain the spill from its well using undersea robots to cut off the fractured pipe and seal it with a cap.

BP said the spill - the largest in US history - might be capped within 24 hours, but success was not guaranteed. - bbc

The English is clear enough to lorry drivers - but the Welsh reads "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated."

When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.

Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated".

So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near a supermarket.

"When they're proofing signs, they should really use someone who speaks Welsh," said journalist Dylan Iorwerth.

Homer Simpson has been named the greatest TV and film character of the last 20 years, according to a Entertainment Weekly survey.

The cartoon character, best known for his love of eating, beat schoolboy wizard Harry Potter to the top slot.

People relate to Homer "because we're all secretly propelled by desires we can't admit to," creator Matt Groening told the US magazine. - BBC

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has announced his resignation after just eight months in office.

He was forced out after breaking an election pledge to move an unpopular US military base away from the southern island of Okinawa.

The move comes as his Democratic Party of Japan (DJP) struggles to revive its chances in an election due in July.

The centre-left DPJ's election landslide last year ended half a century of conservative rule in Japan.

But wrangling over the base distracted attention from their broader aims - pursuing a more equal alliance with the US, a bigger welfare state, and to seize control of policy-making from the bureaucracy, says the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo.

Mr Hatoyama, 63, was Japan's fourth prime minister in four years. - BBC

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives is a development program whose management is the responsibility of the Head of Mission of the Canadian Embassy, and which is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency on a yearly basis.  It provides direct funding assistance to community groups, non-government organizations, and in exceptional cases, international NGOs, government institutions, and individuals for small projects addressing technical, economic, educational, and social development issues.

The overall goal of the program is to enhance the economic, cultural and social lives of the Filipino people. More specifically, the Fund supports basic human needs, health, water and sanitation, enabling environment for small-scale private sector development, and emergency response to disasters. The program assists partner organizations in their efforts to develop self-reliance and sustainability, maximize the use of limited resources, and contribute to ongoing, long-term and integrated community development.

The Canada Fund invites applications for innovative short-term (6-10 months implementation, between July 2010 to March 2011) development projects that positively impact on the lives of men and women in communities, particularly the underserved ones.  Activities may include fora, training, workshops, partnership building, and learning events that may be part of longer term initiatives. The projects should focus on any of the following themes: (1) basic human needs, (2) health (e.g. maternal health, children under 5 years of age), (3) water and sanitation, (4) stimulating sustainable economic growth, (5) support to children and youth, and (6) emergency response and disaster risk reduction.  Gender equality and the environment should be considered as crosscutting themes at the same time that they can be areas of focus.

While Canada Fund's contribution may go up to a maximum of Php2,150,000.00 (Cdn$50,000.00), our experience has shown that the average contribution to a project ranges from Php800,00.00 to Php1.2M.  Applicants must meet specific requirements and proposals should respond to the themes mentioned above. All initiatives undertaken through this mechanism will contribute towards the achievement of expected results of the Canada Fund and to the broader CIDA Philippines program strategy.

To apply for a grant, please read the attached Canada Fund Info Sheet, complete the Application Form and send the through e-mail at rfp_cfli@pcco.org.ph, mail or hand-delivery on or before 15 June 2010 to:

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives

c/o Philippines-Canada Cooperation Office

9F, Salcedo Towers

169 HV dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City


We thank you in advance for your interest and look forward to receiving your proposals on or before the specified deadline.


Sincerely,


EPHREM GABRIEL CORTES
General Manager

Philippines - Canada Cooperation Office
The Program Support Unit of CIDA in the Philippines
9th Floor, Salcedo Towers, 169 H.V. dela Costa Street
Salcedo Village, Makati City, 1227 Philippines
T (+63) (2) 813 8255 F (+63) (2) 892 8913 M 0920-911-9749
www.pcco.org.ph

Urbanized South Africa for World Cup 2010

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is pleased to announce the start of the second Bluetooth Innovation World Cup (IWC). After a successful first year of the competition in 2009, the trade organization is once again calling on developers, entrepreneurs and students to submit concepts for applications making use of the new Bluetooth low energy wireless technology. The 2010 Bluetooth Innovation World Cup will focus on applications for the sports & fitness, healthcare, and home information and control markets.

- Business Wire

It’s June 1, 2010 and that can mean but one thing: the World Cup starts this month. Let joy be unconfined … well, for fans of the planet’s most popular sport and many of its star players. But not all of them.

The first day of the month also serves as the deadline for all 32 teams to trim their initial squads down to the 23 names allowed by FIFA (as well as clearly allowing Naomi Campbell the opportunity to pose with the famous trophy). In England, passions are running predictably high, with opinions on whom coach Fabio Capello should take to South Africa being heard across the nation’s classrooms, pubs and workplaces.
- time.com

Logo of World Cup 2010 South Africa

With only nine days until the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, excitement is building for the most watched sporting event in the world. And when it comes to places to watch the games in Miami, the choices go beyond the usual sports bar suspects.

Many Miami restaurants will open their doors a little earlier starting June 11 to show most of the month-long cup's games. Games are scheduled for 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (see full World Cup schedule). Not surprisingly, many places will not open at 7:30 a.m.

There's a high chance that you'll run into working TVs showing the games around town, but here are some places where you can watch the beautiful game accompanied by good food and drink.

- source: blogs.miaminewtimes.com

Every four years, the World Cup has us on the edge of our seats, as we watch our heroes (and soon to be villains) do battle on the biggest stage, bleed sweat and tears for their nations, and give their last dying breath to the cause.

And we also squirm as writers and commentators everywhere use every cliche under the sun ad infinitum.

But those players that are sent to represent us, well, they're not always the ones they should be, are they?

Sometimes the selections are funny for reasons totally unconnected to how right or wrong they are.

- source: bleacherreport.com

RTÉ Sport have announced details of its 2010 World Cup coverage, where all 64 games will be covered live, as part of an astounding 200 hours of soccer over 25 days from South Africa.

At a photocall in RTÉ, Argentinean World Cup winner and Tottenham Hotspur legend Ossie Ardlies, as well as former German international Dietmar (Didi) Hamann, were introduced as part of RTÉ's unrivalled team of soccer panellists for the World Cup.

Fabio Capello on Tuesday named his 23-man England World Cup squad (see here) and betting is underway on who will start in goal for the Three Lions against USA

William Hill make David James 4/6 favourite to start between the sticks for England's Group opener against the United States ahead of Robert Green and Joe Hart.

Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "Capello plays his cards so close to his chest that no-one can predict with certainly which of the three keepers will get the nod to start the opening game. - oddspreview.com

Times Newsline

The departure of the Nigerian squad for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa was delayed today due to a technical hitch on their plane. The Super Eagles were supposed to leave from their training camp in the south of England to South Africa yesterday.

The Nigerian players are still at Stansted Airport after their aircraft developed unspecified technical problems. Meanwhile, the Nigerian government today announced that it a new aircraft will now take the team to South Africa. The new plane will fly in from Paris. Nigeria are drawn in Group B along with Argentina, Greece and South Korea.

By Paul Madden
goal.com

Chile continued their World Cup preparations with a facile 1-0 win over Northern Ireland thanks to a solitary first half goal from Esteban Paredes.

The Colo Colo midfielder was on hand to guide a back post header beyond Alan Blayney from Matias Fernandez's corner on the half hour mark to give Marcos Bielsa's men a straightforward win.

Blayney proved the busiest man on the pitch in the opening exchanges and kept Northern Ireland in touch with fine saves from Marco Estrada and Gonzalo Fierro early in the contest.

By Adam Scime

Italy striker Alberto Gilardino has told the press he is feeling good both physically and mentally ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and is certain the Azzurri will perform admirably in trying to defend their title.

"I don't feel any tension, I have lived through a thousand experiences both domestically and internationally," he said at a press conference.

"I want to play a great World Cup. We must do our best work as we showed in 2006. We're doing very well in training, every day we are improving minor details to address the match against Paraguay in the right manner."

The former Milan and Parma player is expected to be in the starting XI, leading the attacking line in a 4-2-3-1 formation in that match against the South Americans on June 14.

Te, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is mind-blowing. Truly an amazing work of human ingenuity.

If there is a persistent demand I can extend the editing time frame within 24 hours.
What do you think?

Israel says it will release all the foreign nationals seized on board an aid flotilla trying to break its blockade of Gaza.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it hoped deportations would be completed within 48 hours.

At least nine pro-Palestinian activists died when Israeli commandos raided the six-ship convoy early on Monday.

Amid international criticism Israel says its troops acted in self-defence, but campaigners deny this.

The incident has sparked widespread concern and led to calls for Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Israel has maintained control of Gaza's airspace and territorial waters, as well as most of its land borders, since withdrawing troops and settlers from the territory in 2005. - BBC

from cebu pacific newsletter

Cebu Pacific will begin flying to the State of Brunei Darussalam starting August 21, 2010. This announcement comes with a P899 ‘Go Lite’ seat sale to promote our newest route. The sale period starts now until June 4, 2010, for travel August 21 to November 30, 2010.

We will be operating a twice weekly service from Manila to the Nation of Brunei. Our flight leaves Manila at 11:50pm, and the return flight departs Brunei at 2:25am.

Visit Bandar Seri Begawan, the center of Brunei’s commerce, finance and government, and home to beautiful mosques, the Kampong Ayer water village, and the Istana Nurul Iman, which is the Sultan’s lavish home and the largest residential palace in the world.

The seat sale fare of P899 is 68% less than the lowest year-round ‘Go Lite’ fare of P2,899, which will be offered after the seat sale period.

Flights from Manila to Busuanga, Dumaguete, Laoag and Naga are on sale for the ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare of P499. Guests going from Manila and Cebu to Hong Kong, and Manila to Macau and vice versa can also avail of P1,499 seats. These are for travel from July 1 to August 31, 2010.

I love this song, Bran. I have 20 albums of HillSongs Australia. All mp3s.

Today: water sa office and hot tsokolate sa ICM food court

Bran, try to visit sa Bohol Provincial Jail when you are in Bohol. Luoy kaayo ang kahimtang. You can also visit sa provincial jail sa Cebu.

Acura concept

If the jail destination is in the Philippines, I would not.

You starve in the jail because the prison wardens steal your food allowance.

Sa Muntinlupa, luboton daw ka sa mga manyakis.

I've seen some jails in the Philippines. 30 to 40 persons in one small room. Pait.

Quote from: statesville on June 01, 2010, 11:33:07 PM
A stroll in the park or mall, house chores,
   praying  and meditation, TV or TB 

If diri sa mall sa Phils, stressful ang mall Ate. Alingog-ngog. Too many sources of noises. Each store outlet in a mall has its own sound system.

Two most favorite subjects in elementary and high school: English and History

Yes, I had an experience. In Thailand.

Now I remember: it was palpak. Grade 6 pa ko adto. Didn't know what to do then. Pero hapit maka-kiss.

Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia

snake
Our house stands near the mountains of Anda
Naay mga halas nga masaag sa patag ug mangadto sa mga balay.

walking at nighttime
jogging at daytime
a glass of wine before bedtime
browsing tubagbohol

Kanang binagow na-deprived jud ko ana sa gamay pa kong bata kay dili jud mi pakan-on ni mama kay madaot among ngipon. maayo pud kay perfect akong teeth karon.

@statesville: dili lang ang dpwh ang dunay corruption, wala nay mapili.

@chicogon: principal tong akong kaestorya padre ug na-assign na sa daghang lugar. mamupo pa ug dugang kasayoran mahitungod niini.

budget sa DepEd kada tuig: almost P200 Billion.

French-born American sculptor Louise Bourgeois has died in New York, at the age of 98.

Based in New York since 1938, Bourgeois gained fame late in her long career and kept working to the end of her life.

Her giant spider sculptures have been exhibited around the world and earned her the nickname of Spiderwoman.

Her abstract explorations of themes such as birth, sexuality and death made her one of the world's most influential contemporary artists. - BBC

Guillermo del Toro will no longer direct the two movies based on JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, reports said.

Speaking exclusively to fan site The One Ring, Del Toro said it was with "great regret" that he would be "taking leave" of the films.

"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life," he said.

However, del Toro added that he will continue to co-write the screenplays.

The project - which has already been delayed for several years - is expected to last longer than originally expected.

Executive producer Peter Jackson reportedly said Del Toro could not commit to living in New Zealand for that long. - BBC

Hewlett-Packard (HP) says it plans to spend $1bn (£686m) and shed 9,000 jobs over three years as it creates fully-automated commercial data centres.

HP, the world's largest technology company by sales, says the job cuts will be the result of productivity gains and automation.

HP said the resulting "next-generation services" would benefit clients.

The firm said it would record a $1bn financial cost charge in the course of its 2013 financial year.

The French president has called for Africa to be given a bigger say in world affairs and better representation on the UN Security Council.

President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking at a two-day France-Africa summit in Nice, also said Africa would be a key source of global growth in the coming decades.

He pledged to push for Security Council reform next year.

Thirty-eight heads of state and some 200 business leaders are at the summit, the first to be hosted by Mr Sarkozy. - BBC

Ryanair has reported pre-tax profits of 341m euros (£289m) for the year to March, bouncing back from its first annual loss this time last year.

The Irish budget airline also said it planned to pay a one-off dividend to shareholders totalling 500m euros - the first dividend it has paid.

Passenger numbers were up 14% on last year, while revenue rose 2%.

But the airline said disruption caused by volcanic ash, not covered in the results, would cost about 50m euros.

The trial of a Swiss-based firm over its alleged role in exporting toxic waste to Ivory Coast in 2006 has opened in the Netherlands.

The company, Trafigura, is accused of breaking Dutch export and environmental laws and forging official documents - charges it denies.

Tens of thousands of people in Ivory Coast said the waste made them ill.

The firm has always denied that the waste was dangerous, or that it knew the chemicals would be dumped.

Among those standing trial is an employee of Trafigura and the Ukrainian captain of the Probo Koala, the ship that exported the waste from the Netherlands. - BBc

Three judges have been shot dead at a court in China's southern Hunan province by a man armed with a submachine gun, reports say.

Three other judges were injured before the man, who was also carrying two more weapons, killed himself.

Officials told the BBC the attacker was a 46-year-old local man who worked as head of security at a post office.

Correspondents say shootings are relatively rare in China, as few people have access to firearms.

The shooting happened during just before 1000 (0200 GMT) at the Lingling District People's Court, said Xinhua.

The BBC's Chris Hogg in Shanghai says the man, named by officials as Zhu Jun, had reportedly borrowed his weapons from a colleague saying he needed to inspect them. - bbc

Oil giant BP's share price has fallen nearly 17% to £4.12, its lowest level since March 2009.

The sharp sell-off came as the firm's so-called "top kill" bid failed to plug the massive spill from its leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico.

There are fears the leak will now go on for at least another two months, until relief wells can be drilled.

BP said that the total bill for the clean-up already stood at $990m (£684m) - bbc

Wala Gihapoy Libro
by Mike O. Ligalig, as it appeared in the Bohol Standard newspaper

Usa ka maestro sa tunghaang pampubliko ang miestorya nako nga hangtud karon kulang ang libro sa eskwelahan. Matod niya nga daghan pang mga bata nga magbaylo-baylo ug hulam ug libro tungod sa maong kanihit.

Nahasiga ang akong mga mata sa pagkadungog niini. Kaingon ko nga ang henerasyon karon nagtagsa na sa libro ug dili pareha namo nga kausa ra makahawid ug libro sa usa ka semana kay niadtong grade 1 pa ko lima mi mag-angay-angay sa usa ka libro.

Kapin na sa baynte ka tuig ang nakalabay nga ingon niadto ang among kahimtang: ang libro matulog sa laing balay matag gabii.

Unya karon! Ing-ani lang diay gihapon? Kulang gihapon ang libro sa mga bata sa baryo? Asa man diay tong panihapon ni Madame Gloria Arroyo sa New York nga tag-1 million pesos? Laing binilyon ka pesos nga gigasto ni Arroyo sa paglaroy-laroy sa tibuok kalibotan nga walay gihatod nga kaayohan sa nasod.

Kung ang gobyerno makagasto ug usa ka milyon ka pesos alang sa usa ka panihapon, ngano dili makahatag ug libro alang sa mga bata?

Gani ang DepEd nabulgar nga migasto ug P270 Million aron kono ipalit ug noodles ug ipakaon sa mga bata sa Pilipinas. Nahibaloan nga among noodles times 3 ang pagka-overprice, ug wala pay seguro kung kanang usa ka pack nga noodle aduna bay sustansya.

Masabtan nga nanubra ang kwarta sa DepEd kay mura naman pud sila ug Department of Health nga mao nay nangunay sa pagpahimsog sa mga bata ginamit ang usa ka putos nga noodles. Unya karon, ang DepEd dili kapalit ug libro?

“Segurado ba gyud ka Sir sa imong gisulti”? gisukna ko siya. Abi man gud nako ug nahitabo lang kini sa baryo diin siya madestino. Apan siya miingon: “Mao ni tinuod nahitabo sa daghang barangay. Walay mga libro ang mga bata.” Siya midugang: “Maayo lang tong naa sa syudad kay naa man silay option nga moeskwela ug private.”

Kung mao ni wala pa gyud diay kausaban ang atong nasod sukad niadtong bata pa ko.

Ang libro man gud gamay ra nga problema nga dali ra sulbaron. Dili pareha sa problema sa unemployment ug rice shortage nga moagi pa ug daghang proseso. Pero ang libro â€" ang kinahanglan ani mao ang pagprinta ug daghang kopya, unya iapod-apod sa tanan.

Diri sa Bohol, migasto gani ang gobyerno ug binilyon ka pesos alang sa mga dam nga wala ra pud mapusli panahon sa ting-init. Matod pa sa usa ka international report, nia diri sa Bohol ang pinakamahal nga dam sa tibuok kalibotan.

Dili man ta makaingon nga walay kwarta ang panudlanan sa pangagamhanan. Kay kung naay budget sa binilyon nga mga dam, nganong walay budget alang sa libro?

Kung wala ako masultihi sa maestro nga akong nakaila dili ko makahibalo nga ania pa kita ning maong problemaha.

Ang pangutana karon kung nahibalo ba ang presidente sa Pilipinas nga karon congresswoman na ang mga bata sa nasod walay libro nga gibasa?

Unsa nga klase sa henerasyon ang mosunod nato nga kulang sa kaalam ug kinaadman? Unsay mahitabo aning mga bataa nga maulahi sa lumba sa pagkab-ot sa kinaadman dinhi ning kalibotan? Mosamot na nga mabiyaan ta sa Vietnam ug Cambodia ani.

Nabiyaan na ta sa Thailand ug Vietnam sa ekonomiya ug sa pagpalambo sa agrikultura. Nailhan ta nga mga maayo ug utok ug mao man gani nga nakatrabaho ang mga Pinoy sa ubang nasod tungod sa edukasyon nga ilang nakat-onan dinhi, unsa man kahay mahitabo sa sunod nga henerasyon nga wala pay Internet sa baryo, wala pa gyoy libro?

Another tragedy in Philippine governance. Another wrong president with a wrong mindset.

By Reine Real

First District Congressman and incoming Governor Edgar M. Chatto was conferred an award recently in recognition for his support and assistance to the Division of Bohol - Department of Education that led to the successful establishment and operation of the Library Hub in Bohol, on 27 May 2010 at the Bulwagan Ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.
         
DepEd Secretary Mona Valisno gave the award to Governor-elect Chatto in the presence of the Undersecretaries, guests and Superintendent Division of Schools, Norma Varquez and Assistant Superintendent Division of Schools, Wilfreda Bongalos.

"The library hub project of the DepEd will supplement the existing library systems in the city and the province because it establishes additional libraries in selected areas, with upgraded number of books, information materials, and other literature for the use of students. Consequently, through this project, our students will be more educated, informed and develop in them a habit of reading," Chatto expressed.

- bohol chronicle (source)

By Bohol Chronicle

Sunburst Fried Chicken serves the Boholano community after it formally opened last Friday a franchised outlet at the second level of the Tagbilaran City Square.
         
The Tagbilaran City branch is Sunbursts 15th outlet in the Visayas-Mindanao area.

Sunburst Fried Chicken is an Iligan Institution. In 1972 it opened its very first store in Sabayle Street serving only the Golden Crust Empanada. It was a record bar then.

In 1973 it went into full time restaurant service and transferred to its current location in 1978.

When the company opened is franchising network, branches sprouted in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog and other areas.

Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening was Deputy Mayor Mario Uy. Other guests include Billy Tongco; Rene Congmon, president of Sunburst Fried Chicken Franchising and Marketing Corporation; Nelin Tambis, president of Sumptuous Food Ventures, Inc., franchise of Sunburst in Tagbilaran City; and Butch Pilapil, Sunburst franchising director.

By Bohol Chronicle

A US trained Cebuano physician will be arriving here to conduct free check up to stroke patients in the province.
         
Dr. Edgardo Alicawai, a neurologist from Seton Medical Center in California will be conducting his medical mission at the Bohol Medical Care Institute (BMCI) on June 9-11.

He heads the stroke department of the California hospital.

Only 12 patients will be accommodated daily.

Patients will be listed at BMCI starting tomorrow.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expected to do its homework in the development of the Catagbacan port of Loon town, one of the eight ports of Bohol under the port system of Tagbilaran.

This came as the Provincial Development Council (PDC) approved its full council Resolution No. 05-2010, "reiterating the approval of the proposed port zone delineation of Catagbacan, Bohol."

The provincial board tackled the said PDC Resolution during its regular session on May 25, 2010, after weeks of hiatus and the recent polls, presided over by BM Amalia R. Tirol in lieu of BM Cesar Tomas Lopez, who was not present during the session. Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera was supposedly to preside but he was acting governor vice Gov. Erico Aumentado who was on abroad. - bohol chronicle

would you rather go to jail on a point of principle?
Why?

Do you believe in "love at first sight?"

What is helpful to you in coping with stress?

What are the things that you're afraid of in your office?

What are the things that you're afraid of in your home?

What is the greatest thing that happened in your life?

what examples would you like others to follow about you?

By ARIS R. ILAGAN
Manila Bulletin

Another group of gun enthusiasts asked members of Congress on Saturday to pass a law that will relax existing rules on gun ownership amid proposals of a possible implementation of a permanent total gun ban policy.

Perry Punla, an advocate of total pro gun and president of Gun Enthusiast Confederation of the Philippines, said there is a need for lawmakers to draft a law that would give people “the right, not just the privilege to own a gun.”

Punla issued the statement after a multi-sectoral group of gun afficionados held a series of meetings in Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan few days ago to come up with a "common voice" in airing their side on the issue of proposed permanent implementation of the total gun ban policy now being considered by the PNP.

By JONAS REYES

With a 37 percent surge in tourist arrivals from China last year, this premier Freeport is poised to become a major gateway that would have direct flights between the two countries after the Chinese government granted the Philippines its “Approval Destination Status.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza stated that officials of Shijiazhuang and Taizhou cities including a municipality in Southern China have already expressed support for direct flights to Subic.

The expected influx of tourists from the People’s Republic of China (PRoC) means big business for this freeport and that of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark Freeport, just 35-45 minutes drive away via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

Hi Everyone,

To conserve web server resources, we no longer track guests and members of tubagbohol who visited our site 2 hours after they came here.

We used to do that in a span of 24 hours.

What you would see now is "Users active in past 120 minutes". Or 2 hours. Soon we will trim it down to 30 or 15 minutes to further minimize bandwidth and ram usage of the server.

For now, we are getting 2,000-3,000 visitors a day.

I am doing my best to make this site fast and accessible all the time by optimizing our server, and I think the TB is loading quicker these days.

Please report to me if you have problems accessing TubagBohol.


Thank you,
Mike

Hi Everyone,

You can still edit your posts within 2 hours after you posted a topic.
So please review what you've written before you hit the "post" button.

Thank you,
Mike

By Bohol Chronicle

Opening classes in the middle of June faces woes on lack of classrooms to accommodate the ever increasing enrolment as a result of the Department of Education's aggressive drive to encourage all children of school age to go to school.

With projected five-percent increase in enrolment, the provincial schools division of Bohol expects last year's enrollment of 171,794 in the elementary to reach a little over 180,000 this year and from 65,231 to almost 70,000 in high schools or 75,000 as to the estimate of Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Lorna Rances.

OIC of the Administrative Section of the Provincial Schools Division of Bohol, Auxilio Cruspero, told the Chronicle last week that the trend at the provincial division has been an annual increase by five percent in the past three years.

He said they have 5,501 teachers manning the elementary schools in the province, while they have 1,624 for high schools and 277 non-teaching personnel.

Cruspero said this brings to the ratio of one teacher per 31 pupils in the elementary schools and one teacher per 40 students in high schools.

The continued increase of students demand more classrooms, he said.
"We need at least 39 two-classroom school buildings or 78 classrooms for the high schools and 62 two-classroom school buildings or 124 classrooms for the elementary. With the campaign of education for all, we hope to bring all children of school age to go to school, so we expect further increase in the future," according to Cruspero.

Dr. Erlinda Maninay, OIC of the office of the Assistant City Schools Superintendent, also expect the same problem on shortage of classrooms in the city division as they expect an increase in the enrolment this year just like in the past.

By Bohol Chronicle

Water rate increase which is retroactive to October 2006 will take effect in the next month's billing, according to Engr. Conrado Melissimo, consumer services supervisor of the Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (BWUI).

The increase ranges from 36 to 70 percent depending on the volume of one's monthly water consumption.

The increase will be implemented on a staggered basis in order not to burden the consumers, Mellisimo said. The increase will be payable in 18 months.

This is the first rate adjustment after the takeover of the joint venture agreement of the provincial government and Salcon.

The bulk of about 70 percent of BWUI's concessionaires consume between 21 to 30 cubic meters where the increase will be P4.97/cubic meter (from P8.78 to P13.75) or an increase of 56.6%.

The water rate adjustments vary: P21.20/cubic meter for those consuming up to 10 cubic meters (P58.80 to P80); P3.15/cubic meter for 11-20 cubic meter consumption (P7.60 to P10.75) and P12.63/cubic meter for those consuming 31 and above cubic meters (P17.87 to P30.50).

The implementation of the water rate increase came following the lifting by the Court of Appeals of the preliminary injunction filed by the city government.

The Court of Appeals, in its decision contained in CA-G.R. CEB-SP No. 02520 dated Jan 5, 2010 reportedly declared the local RTC with no jurisdiction on the case filed by the city government.

In reaction to the CA decision, RTC Judge Suceso Arcamo of Branch 47 automatically lifted the preliminary injunction issued by the Court. In his order dated March 16, 2010, RTC, Branch 47 held that the preliminary injunction issued by the court was "null, void and annulled for lack of jurisdiction". The order further admitted it was "powerless to insist on a status quo and has no authority to restrain and enjoin" BWUI from implementing the approved NWRB rate increase.

Reacting on this, lawyer Victor de la Serna categorically said there was no need for the RTC to issue the order since the CA already made the decision.

"It was just a face-saving move of Judge Suceso Arcamo," de la Serna said during a phone interview yesterday.
         
Reacting to this, RTC Branch 47 Judge Arcamo said that the order lifting the preliminary injunction on the water rate increase was based on the CA decision. He ordered the lifting of the injunction despite a motion for reconsideration on the CA decision filed by the petitioner, City of Tagbilaran.

It was learned that a motion for reconsideration was filed by the petitioner on the CA decision to lift the preliminary injunction.

CA decision ordering the lifting of the preliminary injunction also took cognizance that the petition of the city government to block the implementation of the water rate increase was filed beyond the required period for filing an objection.

NO BOND?

De la Serna raised the query on why there was no bond required by the RTC to answer for whatever damages that would arise from the case.

Asked to comment on this, Judge Arcamo admitted that he did not require the filing of a bond since the petitioner was a government entity.

Arcamo said the imposition of a bond is left to the discretion of the judge.

However, de la Serna stressed that if the RTC could have required the city government to put up a bond, it could have saved the water consumers from burden of paying the water rate increase since the bond will answer for whatever damages that would arise from the case.

De la Serna commented that the court is "beholden by the city mayor who represented the city government as petitioner."

LOWEST IN REGION 7

Despite the increase, the new rates are still among one of the lowest in the entire country especially in Region 7 with operations management having similar scheme like that of a water district.

According to Local Waterworks Utility Administration (LWUA) as of Jan. 1, 2010, the average water rates of the reported 481 water districts nationwide for residential consumers was P21.28.

The new Bohol Water rate is 13.75. Even before the approval of the new water
rates by the National Water Resources Board on September 20, 2006, comparative rates showed BWUI's rates for residential consumers was 9.87 less than the average rates of 459 water districts;

The new water rates was approved by the NWRB in its 47th meeting on September 20, 2006 per NWRB Resolution No. 008-0906;

Meanwhile, BWUI assures the consuming public of continuous sufficient supply of safe and potable water while on the process of developing new water sources.

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