31 March 2010

Unmasking Manny Villar’s fraudulent life story


From the blog of Boy Mejorada


Just this morning, I heard Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manny Villar speak before a nation-wide audience over the Bombo Radyo Philippines network in a lame effort to deflect evidence that he was never poor, that his life story as depicted in his campaign jingle that he “swam in a sea of garbage, and had a kid brother die because they were too poor to pay for the hospital bills” was a big fraud. The way Villar talked, one can sense that his whole world is spinning out of control. It was filled with inconsistencies, and he tried to cover one lie with another lie. The thin ice is cracking under his feet.

It was inevitable that Villar had to confront the issue that came out in the articles written by Winnie Monsod and Billy Esposo in the leading periodicals, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star. These articles presented documentary proof to disprove the story that the Villars were a poor family in Tondo as the NP presidential candidate has been trying to project, and that the death of a three-year old brother was a consequence of their poverty. The most damning evidence consisted of a land title which Villar’s father had used to borrow money from GSIS to build a house and the medical certificate from FEU hospital where his brother died on Oct. 13, 1962. You can’t just pretend these issues don’t exist once Monsod and Esposo take them up in their columns.

Villar didn’t dispute the authenticity of the documents. He admitted they lived on Bernardo St., San Rafael Village in Tondo which, as pointed out by Monsod and Esposo, were upper-middle class neighborhoods of Tondo in the 60s. Villar also acknoweldged the truth that his brother died at the FEU Hospital in 1962. But he insisted they were poor, and they indeed slept — all nine of them — on a single mat. It was true, he said, that he had swam in a sea of garbage. The only reason his brother was admitted to the FEU Hospital is that his father had a cousin who worked as a nurse there, and facilitated the patient’s confinement in the charity ward.

This is where the cracks in the story start to break wider.

Villar told his Bombo Radyo audience that his brother was regularly examined by the “family doctor” as there were almost no specialists as we know them today at the time. This is a critical inconsistency that tears Villar’s story apart further. Poor families then, as it remains to be the case now, had barely enough money to see a doctor. For a family like the Villars to have a “family doctor” shatters the myth about their being poor. It is easy for Villar to claim that his brother died as a charity ward patient, but one thing is clear — his brother didn’t die because his parents had no money to buy his medicines. Leukemia had no known treatment then, and even to this day, it is still a leading cause of deaths.

Now that the authenticity of these documents are no longer being disputed, Villar’s assertion that all nine siblings slept on a single mat is also shattered. He is the second of nine children. If his departed brother is number three or number four, by 1962 the family would already have been living in San Rafael Village. How can all the nine siblings sleep on a single mat when by 1962, not all children have been born? It’s simple logic. And besides, no one will believe Villar if he says they still slept on a single mat in San Rafael. Lies, lies, and lies.

Villar’s father was a government bureaucrat. As a salaried employee, he was able to bring food to the family table, clothes and education for the children, and a decent home over their heads. Villar should stop desecrating the memory of his hard-working father who endeavored the provide the best for his children. And the amount of loan from GSIS speaks volumes about the salary level of his father. GSIS members can borrow money to build homes based on their monthly salaries. If he managed to borrow P16,000, then he must have been occupying a supervisory position. Even today, a regular government clerk earns enough to keep body and soul above the poverty level.

By Villar’s own candid admission, the house was a two-bedroom house, which is the usual size for starter homes. It was a bigger house than his standard housing units in his subdivisions. Hence, Manuel Villar Sr. was earning a good pay from the government. Not exactly the kind of person who would qualify as poor.

Villar’s fraudulent life story is now shattered. He spun a web of fiction to project himself as champion of the poor because he came from the poor. The truth is coming out, and not even Villar can now disprove the facts that are rushing to the surface of the sea.


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Noynoy Aquino represents change – a statement from Filipinos in Cambodia

A group of Filipinos in Cambodia is actively campaigning for Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who are running for President and Vice President in the May election in the Philippines. Known in the Filipino community in Cambodia as “Pinoy for Change (P4C),” this same group also was active in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana), raising money and other kinds of assistance for the Filipino flood victims.

Since the official start of election campaign, P4C has been distributing Noynoy campaign leaflets and tarpaulin banners amongst Filipino groups in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap using money from its sale of Pinoy for Change t-shirts. The group has already organised four Saturday-night dinner-meetings to help raise awareness of overseas Filipinos about the importance of the coming election.

Tonight, P4C is hosting a “solidarity concert for Noynoy and Mar” at the NOSH Cafe on Mao Tse Tung Blvd. in Phnom Penh. Angelito “Bing” Escarez, a Filipino entrepreneur in the travel and tourism sector in Cambodia, is instrumental in organising this concert. Bing is a former president of SAMAPI, the biggest association of Filipinos in Cambodia. He brings to NOSH Cafe tonight several Filipino performers currently based in Phnom Penh, and who are also going to vote for Noynoy and Mar – they are Wowie Hidalgo, Rollie Janairo, Greza Molina and Ann Beraño.

But why are they supporting Noynoy? A long-time Phnom Penh resident, Wowie said,

“I sense a sacred purpose in Noynoy;” adding, “Amongst the current field of candidates, Noynoy represents a tradition of heroic sacrifice. He’s keeping alive the heroism of his parents. Wala nang iba pa, si Noynoy talaga ang dapat maupo bilang susunod na Presidente.”

Another Filipino, Maia Diokno, is expected to jam with the performers during the concert. Maia is a lawyer and was formerly with the Cambodia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the youngest daughter of the late Philippine Senator Jose “Pepe” Diokno.

Asked how the group emerged and developed, Lou Autencio, current president of SAMAPI, explained, “There are certain things that a large and formal association cannot easily do, but which a small and informal group such as P4C can.” Jane Banez-Ockelford, international development Consultant and one of the key figures of P4C, quickly added, “Noynoy gave us reason to keep alive the Filipino civic spirit even if we’re far away from our country.”

P4C, though small, is also a diverse group. One of its coordinators is Ofelia Rodriguez, a self-employed entrepreneur who owns a popular carinderia in Phnom Penh – Kucina Filipina. Another member of the group is Florida “Tita Purit” Flores, a retiree and doting Tia to everyone.

There are currently more than 6,000 Filipinos in Cambodia. They serve effectively and efficiently in many different sectors – e.g.: in tourism, entertainment, banking, IT and telecommunications, food and beverage, security services, education, health, Christian missions, garments, and NGOs.


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25 March 2010

IBP vouches free legal assistance to teachers in May elections

Reposted from www.deped.gov.ph

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education to formalize its commitment to give free legal assistance to public school teachers who may be facing legal suits in the performance of their election-related duties.

The newly installed Secretary of Education Dr. Mona D. Valisno led the department in signing the agreement with IBP represented by Justice Santiago Kapunan, Officer-In-Charge and Atty. Rodolfo Urbiztondo, Deputy General Council and Chief of Staff. Also present were Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Franklin Sunga, Assistant Secretary for Special Projects Jonathan Malaya, some regional directors, and representatives from various teachers’ organizations.

Valisno has expressed her appreciation to IBP for offering free legal assistance to public school teachers serving in the coming elections. “We express our deep appreciation to IBP for such a generous act as this will reassure our teachers who are committed to protect the integrity of the elections,” said Valisno.

There have been incidents during election season where teachers, in the performance of their election duties, are wrongfully accused of wrongdoings and are unduly faced with legal suits.
DepEd is mandated by law to make available the services of public school teachers who will serve as chairmen and members of the different board of election inspectors (BEI) in the coming May 10, 2010 national and local elections.

Valisno added that the MOA will set the procedures on how such free legal assistance could be promptly availed by affected public school teachers. “The MOA arises from our desire to promote and protect the welfare of the public school teachers who will again play a key role in this democratic exercise,” stressed Valisno. “This agreement clearly stipulates IBP’s commitment to DepEd to provide free legal assistance to public school teachers who will be charged administratively and criminally in the performance of their election duties,” Justice Kapunan said. The DepEd and the IBP had previously entered into a MOA during the May 14,
2007 national and local elections wherein the IBP extended free legal assistance to the public school teachers faced with legal suits. “This has been a standard practice on the part of DepEd and the IBP in every election year. However, since 2010 elections will be the very first automated national and local elections, it poses a whole new set of questions,” said Sunga.

The free legal assistance shall be in the nature of court appearances and representations, preparation and submission of pleadings and other documents required to be produced and submitted by the court or tribunal where the case is pending; and such other legal services needed for the protection of the rights of the public school teachers serving as chairmen members of the BEI. Subject to IBP’s means and merit test, free legal assistance shall be provided and made available in administrative and criminal cases filed against a qualified public
school teacher serving as chairman or member of the BEI. In instances, however, where the BEI chairman or member of the BEI is the nominal complainant, free legal assistance shall not be granted.

The free legal assistance can be availed of upon the filing of the complaint before any court, administrative body, the Prosecutors Office, or before the Ombudsman, against a qualified public school teacher who served as chairman or member of the BEI, or at any stage of the proceeding in court, even on appeal, if still warranted by the circumstances.

All requests for free legal assistance shall first be evaluated by the DepEd. Should the DepEd find the request meritorious and that the offense charged against a public school teacher serving as chairman or member of the BEI is service connected or related, the DepEd shall submit a written request for free legal assistance to the President of the IBP for appropriate action.

Moreover, the DepEd shall monitor the coordinative efforts between the IBP office tasked to render legal assistance and the DepEd office concerned to ensure that the purpose of this MOA shall not be hindered. The MOA is effective for a period of one year. “IBP lawyers are idealistic volunteers serving the needs of teachers involved in the election. We are happy to do it for free, contrary to what other people think that lawyers are only after the money,” furthered Kapunan.
Meanwhile, DepEd Election Task force will be created for the May elections in the central office and in all regional offices for easier coordination and evaluation of complaints. There will also be IBP counterpart offices in each region to work closely with DepEd regional offices.


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Tara na! Biyahe na Tayo!



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24 March 2010

Graduation Day!

myspace comments



Classmates and teachers have made all the learning fun. As you leave school to join the work force, bring all the memories and forget none, for they will always remind you that in school these good things began. Happy graduation!

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23 March 2010

Speaking of Land Grabbing

A Villar ally is one to speak of land grabbing


“NP senatorial bet Adel Tamano, who spoke against Sen. Noynoy Aquino in Tarlac yesterday, was kind enough to bring up the issue of land grabbing. He is running under the wing of Manny Villar, who has a colorful record of bribery and land grabbing, which Villar tries to cover up using an over-funded propaganda machine.

“Tamano should learn to look at his own patron’s backyard before commenting on issues of which he only has sound-byte comprehension. The Luisita property was legally acquired by the Cojuangco family. This is hardly the case for some of the lands acquired by the real estate mogul, Manny Villar.

“Villar has displaced over a thousand people in San Pedro, Laguna. He has grabbed the ancestral land of indigenous minorities, the Dumagats of Norzagaray, Bulacan. He has grabbed and converted much-needed rice lands in Iloilo to benefit his real estate development company Camella Homes. Now Villar wants to grab Malacanang at any cost, even if it means manipulating the truth and misleading the Filipino people.

“Manny Villar’s lack of principle, his abuse of his elective office, and his preference for transactional politics to sate his insatiable hunger for power falls within the culture which the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino seeks to end. If our country is to progress, we must elect a leader of unquestionable integrity—the coming elections may be our last chance to do so.”

March 22, 2010


Edwin Lacierda

Spokesperson
The Presidential Campaign of Benigno S. Aquino III



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22 March 2010

Walmart’s 7 Minute Behind the Scene’s Eclipse Featurette

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16 March 2010

7 Reasons Why We are Supporting Noynoy


By: A Family from Baguio City, Philippines


1. We see the handiwork of God in his candidacy –Ninoy died for the country and his widow became president after people power. After battling cancer, Cory went home to the Lord which ushered in an unprecedented showing of support and love for a former president. This showing of support miraculously bankrolled into a people’s call for Noynoy to run for president even if he had no plans of doing so. These events could only be orchestrated by a sovereign God who has compassion over nations shackled by the blight and darkness of arrogant and shameless corruption.

2. He inspires hope — Prior to Noynoy’s candidacy, we were resigned to our fate of just choosing the utopian lesser evil among traditional, same old, eager beaver presidentiables. None of them inspires hope. But all that changed when Noynoy responded to that God-given calling in his life to serve the Filipino people whom his father died for . Tears of hope from the hearts and eyes of ordinary Filipinos flowed when he declared his candidacy. Upon learning of Noynoy’s candidacy, a Bureau of Customs employee said, “Salamat. Pwede na ulit mangarap.”

3. He is honest — Ballsy Aquino Cruz, Noynoy’s sister declared on national media that she is willing to be shot if anybody could present evidence that her brother is a thief. This sincerity is unparalleled even among the closest family and relatives of the other presidentiables. None of the other presidentiables’ sisters or brothers would like to end up dead. Noynoy was reared in an environment of honesty as exemplified by the lives of his parents. Indeed, an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

4. He has strength of character — We don’t need a president who will hang a shingle in Malacanang that reads, ” Business as Usual”. He is the only candidate that we believe when he says he will clean house because he is clean.

5. He is humble and not in love with power — Everything about him is not contrived. Ordinary people like us could see through spin doctor- managed acting among public officials and candidates. But we see in Noynoy the sincere simplicity of a simple man, who although pedigreed, is not self-centered, power and recognition hungry. He doesn’t mind having thinning hair, simple clothes and a down-to-earth manner of speaking. More so, his humble spirit was manifested when he sought God’s direction first before plunging in the presidential race.

We could see that his reluctance to seek the presidency is genuine. We believe that power should be given to those who have strength of character because they are not obsessed nor in love with it. And yes, Mr. Gary Olivar, Malacanang spokesman, Noynoy is his own man because true manhood could only come from a humble spirit.

6. He alone could mobilize people power – No other presidentiable could ask the Filipino people to bankroll his campaign and credibly call for volunteers. In this country where the norm is patronage politics and presidentiables spend billions just to win an election, Noynoy is the only presidential candidate as of press time who is being swamped by a snowballing groundswell volunteer support from unknown, ordinary Filipinos from Luzon to Visayas without any budget. Noynoy is the anti-thesis of patronage politics because he could ask for volunteers to spend time and resources to campaign for him.

7. He is the good in this fight between good and evil – No other opposition candidate had earned the most vicious attacks from Malacanang and the other political parties who are fielding candidates in the presidential race than Noynoy.

In fact, some parties are already demolishing the people’s perception and argument that the 2010 presidential race is a fight against good and evil. Noynoy’s detractors would like to brush aside the morality of the elections because morality in government leadership is not a campaign strategy that could propel their traditional, same old, eager beaver presidential candidates.

It is true what Earl Spencer said ,that true goodness is threatening to those who are on the other side of the moral spectrum. In this fight versus good and evil, Noynoy credibly represents the good.

In his declaration speech, he was unmindful of politics or a possible loss of votes when he said he desires justice over the unresolved issues and cases the Marcoses committed against Filipinos. That to us, is true goodness, because it is a conviction that stands up for what is right no matter what the consequences are. Mabuhay ka Noynoy!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!


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15 March 2010

Principled Leadership Needed to Fight Corruption

LP Senatorial Candidate Acosta: Principled Leadership Needed to Fight Corruption


“Nakakalungkot at nakakahiyang isipin na mismong ang gobyerno ni Arroyo ang sumusuko at nawawalan na ng tiwala sa kakayahan ng mga Pilipino na manindigan laban sa korupsyon,” Liberal Party senatorial candidate Neric Acosta reacts to the statement of deputy presidential spokesperson of Malacanang, Gary Olivar, that “…corruption is an old, old problem. It is one of culture, di lang institution, pati kultura natin sa pulitika at civic life.”

Malacanang points to the Filipino culture and the election-season mudslinging as the primary reasons for the Philippines’ being named as the fourth most corrupt country in Asia. Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) conducted the survey.

Change in Perspective


“Kailangan nating palitan ang ating pananaw sa kakayahan ng mga Pilipino. Hindi dahil laganap ang korupsyon sa ating lipunan at sistema, katulad ng pananaw ng Malacanang, hahayaan na lang ba natin at magsasawalang kibo ba tayo? Huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan at gawing dahilan ang kultura sa paglaganap ng korupsyon. Sa halip, dapat magsilbing ehemplo at magsilbing instrumento ang pamahalaan sa pagsugpo ng korupsyon sa ating lipunan,” ang sabi ni Acosta. Corruption is not a hopeless case as presented by Malacanang because in the beginning, the Arroyo leadership is the problem! In the Arroyo government, corruption has reached record-highs.

Lingering illness


Acosta asserts that almost all the socio-economic problems haunting our country now points to the prevailing problem of massive corruption. “Ang mga pondong dapat nakalaan sa mga batang gustong makapasok, makapag-aral at makapagtapos ay sadyang ibinubulsa at winawaldas ng mga taong nasa katungkulan. Kung walang corrupt, walang maghihirap!”

Acosta expressed dismay over the massive corruption in the country and the danger it poses to the minds of the youth if the next government does not address head-on this “lingering illness.”

Exemplary and Principled Leadership


“Matagal nang naghahanap ang mga Pilipino ng mahusay at mapagkakatiwalaang pinuno. Likas sa bawat Pilipino ang kabutihang loob at pagiging marangal. What our country really needs now is an exemplary and principled leader. And I put emphasis on the word principled,” Acosta said with strong conviction.


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11 March 2010

Twilight: Eclipse - Watch the Eleven Second Teaser Trailer

HERE is the (eleven second!) trailer for the eagerly-awaited new movie Twilight: Eclipse – the third installment in the Twilight film franchise.



The film — starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner — hits theaters June 30, 2010.

Here’s a plot summary of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse:

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death.

Rob, 23, recently insisted everything in Eclipse is more intense than its predecessors.

“In Eclipse there’s a lot of fighting and conflict,” he said.

“It’s really escalated. It’s much more tense and it’s at a lot faster pace.”

In Eclipse, schoolgirl Bella has to battle with her passion for Edward and for werewolf Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner.


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Noynoy Reacts to Latest Pulse Asia Survey


PRESS STATEMENT OF SENATOR BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
February 3, 2010


1. I am not surprised with this turn of events. First, our opponents have had a long head start in this campaign. And while I diligently perform my functions as a legislator, the others are practically campaigning fulltime, neglecting their mandate with those who entrusted them with their votes. Second, for all the unprecedented and sustained ads spending in all forms of media of the other camp and the unrelenting and increasingly below-the-belt and baseless black propaganda against me by my opponents, not to mention the harassment we have been continuously getting from this administration—the arbitrary transfers and replacement of police directors, the inexplicably adverse rulings we have been getting from Comelec for our local executives, the abrupt cessation of government projects in provinces friendly to us and lately even the denial of venues for our rally sites– I am surprised that I am still on top of the surveys.

2. By the day, it is becoming clear that an unholy alliance is developing between this administration and my opponent. No wonder the Palace spokesman couldn’t restrain himself in expressing his gratitude to one of my opponents for keeping quiet on the many issues confronting this administration.

3. Of course, that is not to say that we do not face challenges in the campaign. Quite a lot, I must say, foremost of which is the ability to bring our message—a clean, decent, transparent and accountable government will put an end to massive corruption, dedicate precious public resources to basic services for the poor and alleviate our people’s hopelessness and poverty—across to as many of our people as possible. It is a strong and relevant message that we are certain has had and will continue to have traction among more and more of our voters. We have been able to address this. In the coming days, we will be able to do this with greater frequency and in a sustained manner through ads.

4. On top of this, I believe that our comparative advantage—the organizational strength coming from our ability to mobilize volunteers all over the country—still has to make itself felt in the campaign. We expect that to happen as we formally start the campaign this February, the historic People Power month.

5. I have been through this before. When I first ran for office as a Congressman in 1998, I faced eight opponents and initially attracted about two-thirds of the votes. After the eight ganged up on me, throwing everything they could at me, my numbers fell to half of what I started with. But since the issues they threw at me did not stick and since I brought a message of change and hope, in the end, I prevailed with plenty to spare.

6. What should not escape all of us is that I still lead the surveys—from the time I declared my candidacy to this day. I would like to assure everyone, especially our supporters, that as the formal campaign period starts, we will work harder to make sure that we remain on top of the fight and the hope of our people for a clean, competent and compassionate government through my tandem with Senator Mar Roxas will be fulfilled.


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08 March 2010

Noynoy Aquino: A Summary of What He Stands For

Taken from the cover story of the international investment magazine, Asian Tigers, February 2010 issue.


Beyond the call of official duty


… Ballsy Aquino Cruz, the oldest daughter, was overheard to have asked Noynoy over the phone, “Are you willing to give up six years of your life?”

It was a modest question, coming from someone who had served as her mother’s private secretary during her presidency. IN her humility she had forgotten to acknowledge that their lives had already been intertwined with that of our nation…suffering through their father’s imprisonment and assassination, their mother’s reluctant presidency and selfless dedication in service to the nation.

On September 9, 2009, the 40th day after the death of his mother Corazon Aquino, Noynoy Aquino announced his presidential bid. A text message that day suggested that if you multiplied the 9-9-9 by 3, you would get 27. His father Ninoy Aquino was born on November 27. Noynoy would run in 2010, 27 years after Ninoy’s assassination. Also, 9-9-9 was the 252nd day of the year. If you added the digits, it also yielded a 9. Is it his destiny?

In 1996, ten years after the historic EDSA Revolution, Cory Aquino may have been prophetic in her warning that:

Challenges to our freedoms continue to lurk in dark corners, some of them disguised as anti-crime legislation or as proposed constitutional reforms to streamline government.

They also come in the shape of recycled and unrepentant politicians, and discredited ideologues that would talk advantage of the democratic space, which the EDSA Revolution had created in our society.

But mostly, these challenges take the form of a general apathy among our people, a tendency to leave everything in the hands of the leaders, and just heap the blame on them if something goes wrong.

I believe that such apathy, which has allowed the return of discarded ideas and personalities in the highest levels of governance, goes against the spirit of EDSA. Our national situation demands nothing less than a return to, the revival of the Spirit that brought us all to the defense of the Republic, our people and the democratic way of life in the dark days of martial law, and into the dawning of a new day at EDSA.

I do not speak only of providing our warm bodies when needed to make a national statement, but a generosity of spirit, a sharing of our time, efforts, resources and our very lives if needed, to see to it that others might improve their lives.

I speak of living in the Spirit of EDSA in all our endeavors, whatever is our state and calling in life.

Beyond his father’s request to take care of his mother and sisters, armed with the courage of his parent’s, Noynoy’s SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH THE FILIPINO PEOPLE is a call to action. His platform is a commitment to change that Filipinos can depend on. With trust in their leaders, everyone can work and build a future together.

  • He is committed to become the nation’s first and foremost fighter of corruption. Education is his central strategy, prioritizing jobs, protection of public health and equal justice to the rich and the poor.

  • For the economy, he sees farms and rural enterprise as vital to achieving food security. His is a leadership that will execute all the laws of the land, with impartiality and decisiveness.

  • He will create conditions conducive to the growth and competitiveness of private business, big, medium and small. He wants to create more jobs at home, but will prioritize the welfare and protection of overseas workers.

  • He wants professional, motivated and energized bureaucracies with adequate means to perform their public service missions in government service. Selection should be based on integrity, competence and performance in serving the public good.

  • His Mindanao policy will seek a broadly supported just peace and will redress decades of neglect of the Moro and other peoples of Mindanao.

  • His is a government that will encourage the sustainable use of natural resources to benefit present and future generations.

    In his VISION FOR THE PHILIPPINES, Noynoy sees:

  • A re-awakening sense of right and wrong, through the living examples of our highest leaders.

  • An organized and widely-shared rapid expansion of our economy through a government dedicated to honing and mobilizing our people’s skills and energies as well as the responsible harnessing of our natural resources.

  • A collective belief that doing the right thing does not only make sense morally, but translates into economic value as well.

  • Public institutions rebuilt on the strong solidarity of our society and its communities.

    The MISSION which he has chosen to accept is that:

    We will start to make these changes first in ourselves by doing the right things, by giving value to excellence and integrity and rejecting mediocrity and dishonesty, and by giving priority to others over ourselves.

    When Noynoy announced his decision to run, Fr Manny Domingo, former parish priest of Don Bosco Makati, expressed what many Filipinos now feel: “I HAVE BEEN GIVEN HOPE.”

~Marisse Reyes,
Asian Tigers magazine


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04 March 2010

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse- First Official Movie Poster Revealed

Summit Entertainment has just released the first official poster for the third film of the Twilight Saga series, Eclipse.


In Eclipse, Bella (Kristen Stewart) is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf.

Along with director Slade (30 Days and Nights, Hard Candy), several new actors are joining Eclipse including Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria, Xavier Samuel as Riley, Catalina Sandino Moreno as Maria, Jack Huston as Royce King, Julia Jones as Leah, BooBoo Stewart as Seth, Jodelle Ferland as Bree and Kirsten Prout as Lucy.

Twilight fans don’t need to wait for another year to watch the next installment because Eclipse will be released on June 30, 2010. That’s [only] 7 months from now!

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Disposal of Old Computer Equipment



Most of the environmental concerns with computers lie with the monitor, specifically its cathode ray tube (CRT). Each color monitor contains, on average, four to five pounds of lead, considered hazardous waste when disposed of, according to EPA standards. Computers also contain other hazardous materials, including mercury, cadmium (a known carcinogen), and hexavalent chromium (shown to cause high blood pressure, iron-poor blood, liver disease, and nerve and brain damage in animals). The Utah Department of Environmental Quality estimates that 314 million computers will be thrown away by the end of 2004, containing 1.2 billion pounds of lead, 2 million pounds of cadmium, 1.2 million pounds of hexavalent chromium, and 400,000 pounds of mercury.

Imagine a worst-case scenario: Groundwater near a landfill becomes contaminated. In a search for potentially responsible parties, a company that had disposed of computers at the site (identified by a control tag or manufacturer’s number) could be subject to potentially costly criminal and civil litigation (i.e., SARA, formerly CERCLA, litigation). All of this could happen even if the organization had donated the equipment to a charity or paid a company to recycle it.

Regardless of how old computers are disposed of, there are several important steps to take before handing them over. First, remove the hard drive or reformat it. Simply deleting files does not prevent them from being recovered from the hard drive; sometimes, files can even be retrieved from reformatted drives. Next, evaluate software license agreements to determine if they preclude transfer of the software along with the computer.


It is important to remove all company insignia and inventory control tags from computers to be disposed of. Removing company insignia and control tags can hamper hackers from identifying to which company any recovered information belongs.


If possible, have the recipient of the used computer equipment sign an agreement accepting responsibility for its proper disposal. This is necessary whether it is sold, given to an employee, or donated. In the event of future litigation, this documentation supports the position that the recipient has accepted responsibility for the equipment’s disposal.


Recycling companies should also provide written documentation of the proper disposal of computer equipment. If a recycling company cannot or will not provide such documentation, this could be a sign that it is not a reputable company. Finally, a written record of all disposed-of computers should track the serial number, description, method of disposal, and date of disposal. This information should be kept with all other documentation regarding computer disposal.

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03 March 2010

Mindanao Power Shortage Worsens



Luzon was spared from rotating brownouts after several power plants were able to reconnect to the grid. Mindanao’s power shortage, however, continued to deteriorate.

Data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showed that Mindanao’s power generation deficiency has grown to 578 megawatts from around 350 megawatts a week ago. Peak demand from the region was recorded at 1,400 megawatts, meaning supply was only able to power up nearly half of Mindanao’s electricity use.

The severe power-generation deficiency in the region was attributed mainly to limited available capacities of hydroelectric power plants, most of which have water reservoirs that are drying up because of the El Niño weather phenomenon. Historically, hydro facilities generate more than half of Mindanao’s power supply.

In particular, state-owned National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) Agus hydroelectric power plant has a total available capacity of only 110 megawatts out of its total rated capacity of 727 megawatts. The Pulangi hydro plant, also owned by Napocor, is running at only 30 megawatts out of a total rated capacity of 255 megawatts.

But because of its reliance on hydroelectric facilities, industry officials said that Mindanao may be hard-pressed to improve its supply situation even if the dry spell abates.

“Even if the water levels at the Agus complex and the Pulangi hydro plant are brought back to normal, we will still experience power outages in Mindanao, especially in the South,” said Joseph Nocos, the vice president of Conal Holdings Corp., which is putting up a 200-megawatt coal plant in Maasim, Sarangani.

Reposted from The ManilaTimes.net

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02 March 2010

Maryknoll School of Lupon Celebrates 50th Founding Anniversary


THEME: "50 YEARS OF QUALITY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR MEN OF ACTION AND FAITH AT MARYKNOLL SCHOOL OF LUPON"

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