Barangay Cannery Site

The end of the world as we know it - PEPE DON'T PREACH By Pepe Diokno

2012-01-07T21:24:00.002+08:00

The end of the world as we know it - PEPE DON'T PREACH By Pepe Diokno

On Dec. 21 of this year, a cycle ends on the Mayan Calendar, and some people swear this means that the end of the world is imminent.

Should we believe them, sell all our belongings and move to higher ground? Yes.

Just kidding. The Mayans prepared for the apocalypse like they prepared for the collapse of their civilization. Humanity does not have a date with doomsday just yet.

I mean, we’ve heard Armageddon calls so many times before. Google: Harold Camping, Joseph Smith, and William Miller. Old white guys who've prophesied the end of days, only to disappoint their flocks.

It’s just silly, if you think about it. Many of us believe in “God’s Plan” — that’s great — but to imagine God with a planner? Like, “Jesus is busy on the 20th, can we schedule the death of humanity on the 21st?”

No, the universe doesn’t need a timetable to destroy us. Human life will probably end on a random day, completely out of the blue. It’ll just happen, like a fart.

We could get hit by a gamma-ray burst, a dark nebula, or a wave of radiation from the explosion of hypergiant star.

Our planet is a little dot swimming in a vast expanse of unknown universe. We have no control over what’s out there, and can do nothing more than scream for help.

But thinking of how powerless we are amongst the cosmos makes me appreciate the power we do have: to shape the Earth; to change ourselves and the way we deal with our surroundings.

We can treat each other better. We can fix systems that make people poor. We can turn joy into suffering, be heroes instead of cowards, love instead of hate, and rebuild what we destroy.

See, it doesn’t matter when the world will end. What matters is that we make every day the end of the world as we know it.

Starting now, let's change little things for the better every day. Life will cease to be what it is, and inch closer to being what it should be.

'via Blog this'

Filipino Best Recipes: NESTLÉ: How to Eat and Drink for Exercise

2011-12-20T21:38:00.000+08:00

Things you need to know about eating and drinking for exercise:

1. Eat a light and healthy meal before exercising. If you don’t eat, you may feel sluggish or lightheaded during exercise. Try NESTLÉ Fruit Selection Yogurt, NESTLÉ NESVITA Pro-Weight Management Non-fat Milk, or NESVITA Cereal Beverage. A slice of bread or a small piece of fruit are also good choices. And then wait one or two hours before starting any activity.

2. If you need to eat a big meal before exercising, wait it out. Large meals usually take 3 to 4 hours to be completely digested. The ideal time to wait before starting any fitness activity is about:

1/2 hour after a light snack
1 hour after a light meal, heavy snack, or meal replacement drink
2 hours after a regular meal
3 hours after a big feast

3. Don’t eat while exercising. If you do, your body shifts fluid and blood away from your muscles and into the gastrointestinal tract. This increases your risk of stomach ache or muscle cramps.

4. Make sure you’re well hydrated before, during and after exercise. Muscle cramps are caused by excess water loss or dehydration through perspiration. Prevent cramps after exercise, specially the night after exercise, by keeping well hydrated.

Drink at least 2 cups of water about 2 hours before exercise.
Drink another 2 cups of water within 20 minutes of exercise.
And drink water during exercise. Whether you feel thirsty or not, drink 1/2 cup of water every 10-15 minutes.
After exercise, compare your post-exercise weight with your pre-exercise weight and drink 2 to 3 cups of water for every pound lost.

5. It’s very important to eat a healthy meal after a workout. This helps the muscles recover and replaces their glycogen stores. Glycogen is the fuel we burn when we exercise.

6. It is not advised to eat a heavy meal in the first hour after exercise. Have a snack or light meal about 30 minutes after exercise. The ideal post-exercise snack is light and nutritious, like a cup of NESTLÉ NESVITA Pro-Weight Management Non-fat Milk, NESTLÉ Acti-V or NESTLÉ Fruit Selection Yogurt.

7. Avoid consuming too much fatty food just before exercising. Fats are harder to digest and remain in your stomach longer, and thus may cause you to feel uncomfortable.

Source:
https://www.nestle.com.ph/

Boost your health and immune system with the right kind of food.

2011-12-09T22:43:00.000+08:00

There's no such thing as good or bad food, only a good and bad diet. Here are some food which you might want to include to maintain a good diet.

Oatmeal

Love your heart just a little bit more by pampering it with oatmeal! Oats have soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol. In fact, studies have shown that people who regularly eat oatmeal are less likely to develop heart diseases. So keep your heart beating stronger by consuming a bowl of NESVITA Oatmeal today!

Broccoli

There’s nothing ordinary about this dark-greened vegetable! In fact what is found inside makes it so extraordinary! Broccoli contains compounds that were found to have powerful cancer-fighting substances: sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. It is also contains fiber and may have anti-ulcer activity.

Banana

Bananas are packed with nutrients like potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Aside from their nutritional value, bananas may very well act as a first-aid remedy for diarrhea.

Watermelon

Watermelon has always been dismissed as an insignificant fruit mainly because it is 91 percent water. But, did you know that it contains beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid that’s associated with reduced heart disease risk? It is also abundant in Lycopene, an antioxidant that may reduce cancer.

Moringa or Malunggay

Don’t let its size deceive you! It may be small, but this vegetable is definitely loaded with so many nutrients! In fact, health experts refer to Malunggay as “nature’s medicine cabinet” because it is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. In addition, Malunggay is also known for its medicinal properties, including helping strengthen the immune system, restore skin condition, heal inflamed joints and control blood pressure.

Remember, the right diet can help you attain the healthy body you need to enjoy life to the fullest!

Sources:

www.webmd.com

www.findarticles.com

Star of Hope, Baskets of Joy

2011-12-07T12:51:00.004+08:00

The 'Star of Hope, Baskets of Joy' is a fund raising project initiated by the Barangay local government of Cannery Site for the benefit of chosen beneficiaries.

Officials and employees of Barangay Cannery Site used to make stars and sold them for P200 to raise funds to buy baskets of groceries to be given as Christmas gifts to chosen indigent families.

Many stars were made and sold bearing the name of the buyer/donor on it. They are used to redecorate the ‘lane of hope’ at the center of the community plaza. By supporting this cause and/or by buying worth P200 means sharing a happiness to the less fortunate this yuletide season

Thanks for being a part of this project. May the love of God always shine in your life, as you become a light for others. Have a pleasant day. Merry Christmas!

For more details regarding this project, please contact the office of the Punong Barangay Canenry Site,

Tel No. (083) 500-2103.

Mga Halamang Gamot Sa Mga Sakit (Medicinal Plants)

2011-12-06T07:56:00.000+08:00

Alam n’yo ba na marami sa karaniwang sakit ay nagagamot na mga halaman?

Malamang na nasa inyo lang paligid o kaya’y laganap sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa ang kailangan ninyong gamot.

Narito ang wastong pamamaraan ng pagamit sa mga halamang gamot ayon sa National Science Development Board.

Marami sa ating mga halaman ang bukod sa nakakain ang bunga o dahon at nakapagbibigay sa atin ng kailangang lilim kung panahon ng tag-init ay nagagamit pa ring panlunas sa iba’t ibang karamdaman.

Ang sumusunod na mga halaman ay pawang nagagamit na panlunas sa iba’t ibang karamdaman.

AKASYA - Ang akasya ay tumutubo kahit saan. Ang mga dahon nito o balat ng kahoy ay inilalaga at ipinaiinom sa nag-iiti o sa masakit ang tiyan.

AMPALAYA - Ang ampalaya ay mabuti sa diyabetes, at sa hindi magka-anak, mabuti rin sa mga sakit sa balat. Maraming paraan ng paggagamot ang ampalaya.

ATSUWETE Panlunas sa karaniwang sakit ng ulo. Basain ng malinis na langis ang mga dahon nito (pitong dahon ang kalimitang ginagamit), painitan sa apoy, at itapal sa noo. Upang mapanatili ang tapal ay kailangang gumamit ng kapirasong damit na malinis o isang panyolito. Ang atsuwete ay mabuti para sa mga sakit sa regla ng mga babae at nalilinis nito ang obaryo nila. Ito ay mabuti ring gamot sa mga sugat, galis, at nalulugas na buhok.

BANABA - Panlunas sa mga sakit sa bato. Ilagay ang nalinis na mga dahon nito sa kamukulong tubig at gamiting inumin ang tubig na pinakuluan. Ang puno ng banaba ay mabuting gamot sa sakit na diabetes, sakit sa bato, sakit sa pantog at alta presyon.

BAWANG - Ang dinikdik na bawang ay mabuting pampalambot ng pigsa. Ang katas nito ay mabuting pampurga. Mabuti ring itapal sa rayuma.

BAYABAS - Panghugas sa mga sugat, hiwa o pantal. Ilagay sa kumukulong tubig ang nalinis na mga dahon nito at gawing panghugas sa sugat, hiwa o pantal ang tubig na pinagkuluan. Sinasabing madali itong makapagpapatuyo o makapagpapagaling sa sugat o hiwa.

BUNGA - Kalimitan ito ay ginagamit sa pampaganda sa hardin. Ang prutas nito ay nagsisilbing purga. Kung mura pa ay mabuting laksante. Ang magulang na buto nito ay makabubuti sa may diperensiya sa pag-ihi.

CAIMITO - Ang prutas nito ay gamot sa diyabetes. Nakapagpapaalis din ng bulati.

COMFREY - Ang pinaglagaan ng dahon o ugat nito ay mabuti sa tiyan at baga. Ang katas ng dahon ay mabuti sa sugat. Kung nais gumawa ng tsaa, mag lagay ng isang dahon sa apat na tasang tubig.

DAMONG MARIA -

Panlunas sa karaniwang sakit ng tiyan. Hugasan nang malinis ang halaman (katawan at dahon) at pakuluan sa tubig. Gamiting inumin ang tubig na pinagkuluan.

Ang damong maria ay siyang ginagawang pampaligo ng mga bagong panganak upang mainitan ang katawan. Mabuti rin itong inumin sa mga sakit ng mataas ang dugo, diyabetes, sikmura. Mahusay din itong gamot sa mga peptic ulcer o sakit sa sikmura, at mga sugat sa bituka.

DUHAT - Panlunas sa malimit na pagdumi, pag-iiti o pagkukurso. Ilagay ang nalinis na balat ng puno ng duhat sa tubig at pakuluan. Inumin habang mainit-init ang pinakuluang-tubig. Ang mga bunga at dahon ng duhat ay mabuti sa sakit na diabetes, ang sakit na taglay ng sobrang asukal sa katawan ng tao. Ang nilagang buto ng duhat ay mahusay na panglanggas sa mga maantak na sugat. Mabuti sa mga sakit sa buto (arthritis), sa sakit sa pantog sa labis na taas sa lagkit na dugo o alta presyon, ang mga balat (bark) ng puno ng duhat.

GUMAMELA - Panlunas sa pigsa. Dikdikin ang buko ng bulaklak nito na may kaunting asin at ihilot o itapal sa namamagang pigsa. Mainam ding gugo ang katas ng dahon nito.

GUYABANO - Ang hilaw na guyabano ay mabuti sa nag-iiti.

KALABASA - Ang balat ng kalabasa pagkatapos na ibilad sa araw ay maaaring pakuluan at siyang gamitin panghugas sa mata ng may sakit. Ang kalabasa na dilaw ay mabuting pagkain at nakatutulong sa kalusugan ng mga mata. Ang buto ng kalabasa ay nagagamit na panghugas sa mga sugat. Ang kalabasa ay mabuti ring gamot sa sakit ng polyo. Mabuti rin sa mga bagong panganak ang gamiting panghugas ang pinakuluang ugat ng kalabasa. Nalilinis nito ang dugong maaaring pagmulan ng mga pamamaga o impeksyon.

KALACHUCHI - Ang nilagang dahon ay ginagawang parang tsaa ay gamot sa hika. Ang pinpit na dahon ay mabuting itapal sa namamaga. Mabuting ilaga para igamot sa sakit ng ngipin, at singaw sa loob ng bibig. Gawing pangmumog. Ang dagta ng Kalachuchi ay gamot din sa sakit na kanser.

KAMANTIGUE - Panlunas sa namamagang mga daliri, lalung-lalo na sa hinlalaki. Dikdikin ang dahon nito nang may kasamang kaunting asin, balutin sa kapirasong malinis na damit, at dahang-dahang ihilot habang kinakatas sa namamagang daliri.

KASOY - Ang pinaglagaan ng balat nito ay mabuti sa diyabetes, nag-iiti, o sakit ng ngipin.

KATAKA-TAKA - Panlunas sa pamamaga ng pisngi bunga ng sumasakit na ngipin. Dikdikin ang mga dahon nito at kapag inaakalang may katas nang mapipiga ay balutin sa kapirasong damit na malinis at habang marahang kinakatas ay banayad na ihilot sa namamagang pisngi.

KATANDA - Ang katas ng dahon nito ay mabisa sa buni, eksema, at kagat ng insekto. Ang pinaglagaan ng dahon at bulaklak nito ay mabuting pampaalis ng plema.

KUGON - Ang ugat ng kugon ay ginagamit na pampaligo para sa mga taong may sakit na rayuma. Mabuti rin itong ilaga para inumin ng mga may sakit na diabetes. Sinasariwa nito ang kalamnan ng ating katawan. Mabuti rin itong gamot sa nahihirapang umihi, nagbabalisawsaw, sakit sa bato o maruming pantog.

LAGUNDI - Ang pinulbos na bulaklak nito ay mabuti sa lumulura ng dugo. Ang prutas nito ay mabuti sa sakit ng ulo at ubo. Ang pinaglagaan ng dahon ay mainam na panglanggas ng sugat.

LUYANG DILAW - Ang dahon nito ay mahaba at ang bulaklak ay dilaw na kung minsan ay may bahid na rosas. Ang ugat nito ay dilaw na parang luya. Ang dinkdik na ugat nito ay mabuti sa mga pasa at rayuma.

MABOLO - Panlunas sa malimit na pagdumi o pagkukurso, gayon din sa pag-iiti. Kumain ng maraming bungang hinog nito hanggang hindi tumigil ang mainit na butuan o butuhan.

MAIS - Ang buhok nito ay ginagawang tsaa ay mabuti sa binabalisawsaw. Mabuti rin sa sakit sa bato.

MALATABAKO - Ang pinaglagaan ng ugat nito ay mabuti sa malimit ng pagdumi. Mabuti rin sa sakit na dinadaanan ng ihi. Ang dahon nito ay mainam na pangkuskos ng plato kapag naghuhugas ng kinainan.

MALUNGGAY - Ang Malunggay ay sagana sa bitamina A. Ang dahon at bunga nito ay masarap igulay. Ito ay nagpapadagdag ng gatas ng inang nagpapasuso. Gamot din ito sa sugat. Lamukusin lamang ang dahon at ipahid o itapal sa sugat. Ito ay nakabubuti rin sa hindi natunawan.

MALBAS - Ang tubig na pinagpakuluan ng mga dahon nito’y ginagamit sa paglalabatiba.

MANSANILYA - Panlunas din sa karaniwang sakit ng tiyan. Pakuluan ang mga nalinis na dahon nito at ang tubig na pinagpakuluan ay gamitin inumin ng maysakit.

MAYANA - Panlunas sa mga galos o bukol bunga ng mga pangkahulog o pagkarapa. Dikdikin ang mga dahon nang may kasamang kaunting asin. Putulin ang katas sa sugat o galos o kaya’y itapal ang dinikdik na dahon sa bukol.

NIYOG - Panlunas sa balakubak. Dikdikin ang ugat nito nang may kasamang balat ng gugo, katasin at gamiting panggugo ang katas. Ang tubig ng niyog ay gamot sa binabalisawsaw.

OJAS DE LANTIN - Sa katutubong wika’y nangangahulugang dahon ng lantin. Ginagamit na panlunas sa sakit ng ngipin.

OREGANO - Ang pinalambot na sariwang dahon ay mabuti sa nasunog, kagat ng alupihan o sakit ng ulo. Ang pinaglagaan ng dahon nito ay mabuti sa masakit ang tiyan at nakakalinis ng balat.

PANDAKAKI Mabuting gamot ang pandakaki sa mga sugat at gayon din sa inaagasang babae.

PANDAN - Ang langis nito ay mabuti sa sakit ng ulo, tainga, at rayuma. Ang pinaglagaan ng ugat ay nakaktulong sa gustong makunan. Ang mabangong puno ng pandan ay mabuting inumin para sa tuloy-tuloy at mabuting pagdaloy ng dugo sa katawan ng tao. Ito ay isa ring mabuting tonik o pampasigla sa katawan ng tao.

PAPAYA - Ang laman ng papayang hinog ay mabuti para sa maasidong sikmura dahil sa labis na pag-inom ng kape, mga inuming may karbonate at mga alak. Ang katas ng buto ng papaya ay mabuti para sa mga sugat na galis, eksema, pigsa at bungang araw. Ang butong nilaga para inumin ay mabuti sa mga bukol, sa mga kirot at sakit ng katawan at lalo na sa mga sakit na galing sa mga babae. Ang dahong ng papaya ay mabuting pang-alis ng mga mantsa ng damit. Ginagamit din sa paggawa ng mga gamot na anti-biotics ang ugat ng papaya.

SABILA - Panlunas sa paglulugas ng buhok. Ipahid ang malapot na malagkit na katas ng dahon ito sa anit na naalisan ng buhok. Sinasabing bukod sa nakapagpapatigil ito sa pagkakalugas ng buhok ay nakapagpapatubo pa ng buhok sa anit na pinaglugasan ng buhok. read more..

SAMPAGUITA - Ang katas ng bulaklak nito ay mabuti sa mata.

SAMPA-SAMPALUKAN -Pangkaraniwang tumutubong damo. Ang pinaglagaan nito ay gamot sa ang diperensiya ay pag-ihi. Ang dahon nito pagpinipit ay mabuting pangtapal sa namamaga. Ito ay nakakalason sa mga isda.

SANTAN - Panlunas sa mga sakit ng tiyan at sinasabing lunas din sa mga sakit sa baga o pagkatuyo. Ilagay ang bulaklak nito sa kumukulong tubig at gamiting inumin ng maysakit ang tubig na pinagkuluan.

SIBUYAS - Ang sibuyas na halos sa tuwi-tuwina’y ginagamit na sangkap sa ating pagkain ay napatunayan din ng siyensya na ito mabisa sa maraming sakit. Sa isang pagsubok na ginawa sa sibuyas ay may dalawampung klaseng gamot ang lumabas.

Sa mga taong hindi makabili ng mamahaling gamot sa ating botika ito ay magandang balita. Halimbawa: sa kunting halaga ng sibuyas, ay magagamot ang lagnat na dulot ng malaria at iba pang karamdaman. Narito ang ilang gamot na galing sa sibuyas:

1. Pananakit ng lalamunan -> alisan ng balat ang sibuyas. Ang katas nito ay ihalo sa pinakuloang suka na kasingdami rin ng katas ng sibuyas.

2. Gamot sa rayuma -> alisin ng balat ang sariwang sibuyas at ihalo sa kasingdami ring langis ng mustasa. Ito ay mabuting paghaplos.

3. Sakit ng ulo, himatay o pagkalason sa takbo o mga sugat-> katas ng sibuyas ang ihalo sa kasingdami ring langis ng mustasa.

4. Pampalusog-> sa mga bata ay makakapagpalusog ang sibuyas na may kasamang asukal.

5. Pampaalis ng bulate-> ang katas ng sibuyas ay mabisang pampaalis ng bulate at iba pang parasito na nabubuhay sa tiyan.

6. Gamot sa sakit ng tainga-> ang kinudkod na sibuyas ay maaaring linimento sa masakit na tainga.

7. Sa disenteriya-> ang katas ng sibuyas na sinamahan ng gayon ding karaniwang suka ay mabuting gamot sa disenteriya.

8. Sa iskarbi-> ang katas ng sibuyas na pinakulo at may asin ay mabisa sa sakit na iskarbi.

SITSIRIKA - Ang pinaglagaan nito ay gamot sa kanser. Mabuti rin sa sakit ng ngipin at mabuting inumin sa may sakit na diyabetes .

SORO-SORO - Panlunas sa mga sakit sa tainga, lalung-lalo na sa luga. Hugasan nang malinis ang murang dahon nito, patuyuin, basain ng malinis na langis, painitan sa apoy, dikdikin hanggang malantas, katasin, at ang katas ay patuluin sa sugat sa tainga.

TAKIP-KUHOL - Panlunas sa malimit na pagdumi, pag-iiti o pagkukurso. Hugasan nang malinis at ilagay sa kumukulong tubig. Gamiting inumin ng maysakit ang tubig na pinagpakuluan. Ito’y tinatawag na ngalang binabanggit sapagka’t ang hugis nito ay tulad sa takip ng kuhol.

TALAMPUNAY - Ang tuyong dahon at bulaklak nito ay ginagawang sigarilyo ay mabuti sa sinusumpong ng hika. Ang sariwang dahon na dinikdik ay mabuti sa namamaga. Ang pinakuluang dahon na isinama sa langis ay nakakaalis sa sakit ng tainga. Ang sobrang pagamit ay nakakalason.

TSAANG GUBAT - Ang pinaglagaan nito ay mabuti para sa nagtatae, sa ubo, at sa sipilis.

TUBA - Panlunas sa namamagang kamay, daliri, paa, o alin mang bahagi ng katawan dahil sa pagkabali ng buto o pagkapilay. Hugasan nang malinis ang murang dahon nito, basain ang malinis na langis, painitan sa apoy, at kapag lanta na ay itapal o ibalot sa namamagang bahagi.

YERBA BUENA - Ang dinikdik na dahon nito ay mabuti sa mga kagat ng insekto. Ang pinaglagaan ng tuyong halaman ay mabuti sa tiyan. Ang langis na galing sa dahon nito ay nakakapagpalasa ng pagkain.

How Did You Know By Gary Valenciano Lyrics, Music Videos, Translations - Hip Lyrics

2011-09-30T01:18:00.001+08:00

How Did You Know

By: Gary Valenciano

I remember so well
The day that you came into my life
You asked for my name
You had the most beautiful smile

My life started to change
I'd wake up each day feeling alright
With you right by my side
Makes me feel things will work out just fine

CHORUS
How did you know
I needed someone like you in my life
That there was an empty space in my heart
You came at the right time in my life

I'll never forget
How you brought the sun to shine in my life
And took all the worries and fears that I had
I guess what I'm really trying to say
It's not everyday that someone like you comes my way
No words can express how much I love you

Repeat Chorus

Read more: http://www.hiplyrics.com/lyrics/how-did-you-know-by-gary-valenciano-lyrics.html#ixzz1cNxBxeKM

Two Is Better Than One - by Taylor Swift and Boys Like Girls- Song and Lyrics

2011-06-24T22:59:00.001+08:00

Two Is Better Than One ~ Taylor Swift and – Boys Like Girls Song Lyrics

Two Is Better Than One ~ Taylor Swift and – Boys Like Girls

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought
“Hey, you know, this could be something”
‘Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And now I’m left with nothing

‘Cause maybe it’s true
That I can’t live without you
Maybe two is better than one
There’s so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you thought that it got me coming undone
And I’m thinking two is better than one

I remember every look upon your face
The way you roll your eyes
The way you taste
You make it hard for breathing
‘Cause when I close my eyes and drift away
I think of you and everything’s okay
I’m finally now believing

That maybe it’s true
That I can’t live without you
Maybe two is better than one
There’s so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you thought that it got me coming undone
And I’m thinking two is better than one
Yeah, yeah

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought, “Hey,”

Maybe it’s true
That I can’t live without you
Maybe two is better than one
There’s so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you thought that it got me coming undone
And I’m thinking
I can’t live without you
‘Cause, baby, two is better than one
There’s so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
But I’ll figure it out
When it’s all said and done
Two is better than one
Two is better than one

The Lazy Song – Bruno Mars - Song and Lyrics

2011-05-26T19:11:00.005+08:00

The Lazy Song – Bruno Mars Song Lyrics

The Lazy Song – Bruno Mars

Today I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don’t Feel Like Pickin’ Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
‘Cause Today I swear I’m Not Doin’ Anythin’

I’m Gonna Kick My Feet Up
Then Stare At The Fan
Turn The TV On
Throw My Hand In My Pants
Nobody’s Gon’ Tell Me I Can’t

I’ll Be Lounging On The Couch, Jus’ Chillin In My Snuggie
Click To MTV So They Can Teach Me Howda Dougie
Cause In My Castle I’m The Freakin’ Man
Oh Oh

Yes I Said It
I Said It
I Said It ‘Cause I Can

Today I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don’t Feel Like Pickin’ Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
‘Cause Today I Swear I’m Not Doin’ Anythin’
Nothin’ At All

Woo Hoo Ooh
Woo Hoo Ooh Ooooh Ooh Ooh

Nothin’ At All

Woo Hoo Ooh
Woo Hoo Ooh Ooooh Ooh Ooh

Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up Do Some P90X
Meet A Really Nice Girl Have Some Really Nice Sex
She’s Gonna Scream Out “This Is Great!” (Oh My God! This Is Great!)

Yeah

I Might Mess Around, and Get My Collage Degree
I Bet My Old Man Would Be So Prouda Me
But Sorry Pops You’ll Just Have To Wait
Oh Oh

Yes I Said It
I Said It
I Said It ‘Cause I Can

Today I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don’t Feel Like Pickin’ Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
‘Cause Today I swear I’m Not Doin’ Anythin’

No I Ain’t Gonna Comb My Hair
‘Cause I Ain’t Goin’ Anywhere
No No No No No No No No No
Ohhh

I’ll Just Strut In My Birthday Suit
And Let Everything Hang Loose
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Oohh..
Today I Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don’t Feel Like Pickin’ Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
‘Cause Today I swear I’m Not Doin’ Anythin’
Nothin’ At All

Woo Hoo Ooh
Woo Hoo Ooh Ooooh Ooh Ooh

Nothin’ At All

Woo Hoo Ooh
Woo Hoo Ooh Ooooh Ooh Ooh

Poker Face – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-05-24T17:48:00.001+08:00

Poker Face – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

Poker Face – Lady Gaga

Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah

I wanna hold em’ like they do in Texas Plays
Fold em’ let em’ hit me raise it baby stay with me (I love it)
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he’s been hooked I’ll play the one that’s on his heart

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got

Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you’re with me I love it)
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it’s love if its not rough it isn’t fun, fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got

Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I won’t tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
Cause I’m bluffin’ with my muffin
I’m not lying I’m just stunnin’ with my love-glue-gunning
Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand cause I’m marvelous

Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)

Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)

Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my, Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(she’s got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

Today My Life Begins – Bruno Mars Song and Lyrics

2011-05-10T20:02:00.001+08:00

Today My Life Begins – Bruno Mars Song Lyrics

Today My Life Begins – Bruno Mars

i’ve been working hard so long
seems like pain has been my only friend
my fragile heart’s been done so wrong
i wondered if i’d ever heal again

ohh just like all the seasons never stay the same
all around me i can feel a change (ohh)

i will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
leave the past behind me, today my life begins
a whole new world is waiting it’s mine for the taking
i know i can make it, today my life begins

yesterday has come and gone
and i’ve learn how to leave it where it is
and i see that i was wrong
for ever doubting i could win

ohh just like all the seasons never stay the same
all around me i can feel a change (ohh)

i will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
leave the past behind me, today my life begins
a whole new world is waiting it’s mine for the taking
i know i can make it, today my life begins

life’s to short to have regrets
so i’m learning now to leave it in the past and try to forget
only have one life to live
so you better make the best of it

i will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
leave the past behind me, today my life begins
a whole new world is waiting it’s mine for the taking
i know i can make it, today my life begins

i will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
leave the past behind me, today my life begins
a whole new world is waiting it’s mine for the taking
i know i can make it, today my life begins
today my life begins

Let’s Play – Kristina Maria Song and Lyrics

2011-05-10T19:43:00.001+08:00

Let’s Play – Kristina Maria Song Lyrics

Let’s Play – Kristina Maria

There’s so much that we can do
Have a play date in my room
And the rest is up to you baby
We can dress up if you like
What’s your flavor what’s your type
Come on over for the night
I’ll bring your fantasies to life

Chorus

Let’s play
I’ll let you wrestle me
You can win all day
I’ll show you what it means
to fool around you’ll see
How much you want it now
Just come out and play

Baby if I tie you up
It don’t mean I tie you down
I just like it to play it rough baby
and if you wanna bring a friend
He’s more than welcome to join in
We’ll have triple times the fun
Yeah, this night has just begun

Chorus

OOOOOh, Let’s Play

I can show you all the toys that you might like
My way
This Barbie’s got nothing on me tonight
Let’s play
Anything you want
We’ll make up our own rules
All day
We can find a game
Where no one has to lose

Chorus 2 times

Bad Day – Daniel Powter Song and Lyrics

2011-05-09T19:49:00.000+08:00

Bad Day – Daniel Powter Song Lyrics

Bad Day – Daniel Powter

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion’s gone away
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You’re faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life’s been way off line
You’re falling to pieces every time
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

Because you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I’m not wrong

(yeah…)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You’ve seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Talking to the Moon – Bruno Mars Song and Lyrics

2011-05-05T19:26:00.003+08:00

Talking to the Moon – Bruno Mars Song Lyrics

Talking to the Moon – Bruno Mars

I know you’re somewhere out there
Somewhere far away
I want you back, I want you back
My neighbors think I’m crazy
But they don’t understand
You’re all I have, You’re all I have

Chorus:

At night when the stars light up my room
I sit by myself

Talking to the Moon, Trying to get to You
In hopes you’re on the other side
Talking to me too or am I a fool who sits alone
Talking to the moon

I’m feeling like I’m famous, The talk of the town
They say I’ve gone mad, Yeah I’ve gone mad
But they don’t know what I know
Cause when the sun goes down, someone’s talking back
Yeah They’re talking back

Chorus:
At night when the stars light up my room
I sit by myself
Talking to the Moon, Trying to get to You
In hopes you’re on the other side
Talking to me too or am I a fool who sits alone
Talking to the moon

Do you ever hear me calling?
Ahh Ahh,
Ahh Ahh,

Cause every night I’m talking to the moon
Still trying to get to you
In hopes you’re on the other side
Talking to me too Or am I a fool who sits alone
Talking to the moon

I know you’re somewhere out there
Somewhere far away

Grenade – Bruno Mars Song and Lyrics

2011-05-05T19:18:00.003+08:00

Grenade – Bruno Mars Song Lyrics

Grenade – Bruno Mars

[Verse 1]
Easy come, easy go,
That’s just how you live, oh,
Take, take, take it all,
But you never give.
Should’ve known you was trouble
From the first kiss,
Had your eyes wide open.
Why were they open?

[Bridge]
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash,
You tossed it in the trash, you did.
To give me all your love is all I ever asked, ’cause
What you don’t understand is

[Chorus]
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah)
You know I’d do anything for ya (yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh, I would go through all of this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain!
Yes, I would die for ya, baby,
But you won’t do the same.

No, no no

[Verse 2]
Black, black, black and blue, beat me ’til I’m numb,
Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you’re from.
Mad woman, bad woman, that’s just what you are,
Yeah, you’ll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car

[Bridge]
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash,
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did.
To give me all your love is all I ever asked, ’cause
What you don’t understand is

[Chorus]
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah)
You know I’d do anything for ya (yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh, I would go through all of this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain!
Yes, I would die for ya, baby,
But you won’t do the same.

[Verse 3]
If my body was on fire,
Ooh, you’d watch me burn down in flames.
You said you loved me, you’re a liar, ’cause you never, ever, EVER did, baby!
But, darling

[Chorus]
I’d still catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah)
You know I’d do anything for ya (yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh, I would go through all of this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain!
Yes, I would die for ya, baby,
But you won’t do the same.

[Outro]
No, you won’t do the same
You wouldn’t do the same
Ooh, you’d never do the same
Ohh, no no no

Price Tag – Jessie J Song and Lyrics

2011-05-04T19:13:00.001+08:00

Price Tag – Jessie J Song Lyrics

Price Tag – Jessie J Song and Lyrics

[Jessie J]
Seems like everybody’s got a price,
I wonder how they sleep at night.
When the sale comes first,
And the truth comes second,
Just stop, for a minute and
Smile

Why is everybody so serious!
Acting so damn mysterious
You got your shades on your eyes
And your heels so high
That you can’t even have a good time.

[Pre-chorus]
Everybody look to their left (yeah)
Everybody look to their right (ha)
Can you feel that (yeah)
We’re paying with love tonight

[Chorus]

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag

Ain’t about the (uh) Cha-Ching Cha-Ching.
Aint about the (yeah) Ba-Bling Ba-Bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag.

[Jessie J - Verse 2]
We need to take it back in time,
When music made us all UNITE!
And it wasn’t low blows and video hoes,
Am I the only one gettin’… tired?

Why is everybody so obsessed?
Money can’t buy us happiness
Can we all slow down and enjoy right now
Guarantee we’ll be feeling Alright.

[Pre-chorus]
Everybody look to their left (yeah)
Everybody look to their right (ha)
Can you feel that (yeah)
We’re paying with love tonight

[Chorus]

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag

Ain’t about the (uh) Cha-Ching Cha-Ching.
Aint about the (yeah) Ba-Bling Ba-Bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag.

[B.o.B]
Yeah yeah
well, keep the price tag
and take the cash back
just give me six strings and a half step.
and you can keep the cars
leave me the garage
and all I..
yes all I need are keys and guitars
and guess what, in 30 seconds I’m leaving to Mars
yes we leaving across these undefeatable odds
its like this man, you can’t put a price on the life
we do this for the love so we fight and sacrifice everynight
so we aint gon stumble and fall never
waiting to see, a sign of defeat uh uh
so we gon keep everyone moving their feet
so bring back the beat and everybody sing
it’s not about…

[Chorus]

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag

Ain’t about the (uh) Cha-Ching Cha-Ching.
Aint about the (yeah) Ba-Bling Ba-Bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag.

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag

Ain’t about the (uh) Cha-Ching Cha-Ching.
Aint about the (yeah) Ba-Bling Ba-Bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag.

[Jessie J -Outro]
Yeah, yeah
Oo-oooh
Forget about the price tag.

Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars - Song and Lyrics

2011-05-03T20:12:00.000+08:00

Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars Song Lyrics

Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they’re not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying

She’s so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She wont believe me
And its so, its so
Sad to think she don’t see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look okay
I say

When I see your face
There’s not a thing that I would change
Cause you’re amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you’re amazing
Just the way you are

Her nails, her nails
I could kiss them all day if she’d let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think its so sexy

She’s so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Oh you know, you know, you know
Id never ask you to change
If perfect is what you’re searching for
Then just stay the same

So don’t even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say

When I see your face
There’s not a thing that I would change
Cause you’re amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you’re amazing
Just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Girl you’re amazing
Just the way you are

When I see your face
There’s not a thing that I would change
Cause you’re amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you’re amazing
Just the way you are

Today Is Your Day – Shania Twain Song and Lyrics

2011-05-03T18:49:00.001+08:00

Today Is Your Day – Shania Twain Song Lyrics

Today Is Your Day – Shania Twain

You got what it takes, you can win.
Today is your day to begin.
Don’t give up here, don’t you quit.
The moment is now, this is it.
I know that you can, then you will.
Get to the top of the hill.
Part of the fun is the climb.
You just gotta make up your mind.

That today is your day.
And nothing can stand in your way.
Today is your day.
Everything’s going your way.
Today (you can do it).
Today (c’mon).
Today (c’mon, do it now).
Today.

When somebody throws sticks and stones,
all they can break are your bones.
And life’s gonna kick you around.
And then kick you again when you’re down.

But today is your day.
And nothing can stand in your way.
Today is your day.
Everything’s going your way.
Today (c’mon, do it now).
Today.
Today (do it).
Today.

Life’s gonna kick you,
it’s gonna kick you around,
it’s gonna kick you down.
Brush yourself off, no regrets.
This is as good as it gets.
Don’t expect more or less.
Just go out and give it your best.
(Give it your best)

Today is your day.
And nothing can stand in your way.
Today is your day.
Everything’s going your way.
Today.
(Yeah)
Today.
I said today is your day.
Today (you can do it).
Today (yeah).
I said today, yeah (come on, do it now).
Today.

Today is your day

Marry You – Bruno Mars - Song and Lyrics

2011-05-02T20:05:00.003+08:00

Marry You – Bruno Mars Song Lyrics
Marry You – Bruno Mars

It’s a beautiful night,
We’re looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go,
No one will know,
Come on girl.
Who cares if we’re trashed got a pocket full of cash we can blow,
Shots of patron,
And it’s on girl.

Don’t say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we’ll go, go, go, go-go.
If you’re ready, like I’m ready.

Cause it’s a beautiful night,
We’re looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

I’ll go get a ring let the choir bells sing like oooh,
So whatcha wanna do?
Let’s just run girl.
If we wake up and you wanna break up that’s cool.
No, I won’t blame you;
It was fun girl.

Don’t say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we’ll go, go, go, go-go.
If you’re ready, like I’m ready.

Cause it’s a beautiful night,
We’re looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Just say I do,
Tell me right now baby,
Tell me right now baby. x2

Cause it’s a beautiful night,
We’re looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

The Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-04-27T18:35:00.001+08:00

The Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

The Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga

There ain’t a reason you and me should be alone
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
But I got a reason that you’re who should take me home tonight
I need a man that thinks it right when it’s so wrong,
Tonight yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
Right on the limit’s where we know we both belong tonight

It’s hot to feel the rush,
To brush the dangerous
I’m gonna run back to, to the edge with you
Where we can both fall far in love.

I’m on the edge of glory,
And I’m hanging on a moment of truth,
I’m on the edge of glory,
And I’m hanging on a moment with you,
I’m on the edge
The edge (6x)
I’m on the edge of glory
And I’m hanging on a moment with you
I’m on the edge with you

Another shot, before we kiss the other side,
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
I’m on the edge of something final we call life tonight
Alright, alright
Put on your shades ’cause I’ll be dancing in the flames
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
It isn’t Hell if everybody knows my name
Tonight, alright, alright

It’s hot to feel the rush,
To brush the dangerous
I’m gonna run back to, to the edge with you
Where we can both fall far in love.

I’m on the edge of glory,
And I’m hanging on a moment of truth,
Out on the edge of glory,
And I’m hanging on a moment with you,
I’m on the edge
The edge (6x)
I’m on the edge of glory
And I’m hanging on a moment with you
I’m on the edge with you

I’m on the edge with you

I’m on the edge with you

I’m on the edge of glory,
And I’m hanging on a moment of truth,
I’m on the edge of glory,
And I’m hanging on a moment with you,
I’m on the edge
The edge (6x)
I’m on the edge of glory
And I’m hanging on a moment with you
I’m on the edge with you
With you (4x)
I’m on the edge with you
With you (4x)
I’m on the edge with you
With you (4x)
I’m on the edge with you
With you (4x)

Telephone – Lady Gaga Ft Beyonce Knowles Song and Lyrics

2011-04-27T18:18:00.001+08:00

Telephone – Lady Gaga Ft Beyonce Knowles Song Lyrics

Telephone – Lady Gaga Ft Beyonce Knowles

Hello
Hello, baby; you called
I can’t hear a thing
I have got no service in the club you say, say
Wa-wa-what did you say?
Huh?; You’re breaking up on me
Sorry; I cannot hear you
I’m kinda busy
K-kinda busy
K-kinda busy
Sorry; I cannot hear you
I’m kinda busy

Just a second; it’s my favorite song they’re gonna play and I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh?
You shoulda made some plans with me; you knew that I was free
And now you won’t stop calling me
I’m kinda busy

Stop callin’, stop callin’; I don’t wanna think anymore!; I left my head and my heart on the dance-floor
Stop callin”, stop callin; I don’t wanna talk anymore!; I left my head and my heart on the dance-floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Stop telephonin’ me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
I’m busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Stop telephonin’ me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh

Can call all you want but there’s no one home and you’re not gonna reach my telephone!
‘Cause I’m out in the club and I’m sippin’ that bub’ and you’re not gonna reach my telephone

Call when you want but there’s no one home
and you’re not gonna reach my telephone
Out in the club and I’m sippin’ that bub’ and you’re not gonna reach my telephone

[Beyonce]
Boy, the way you blowin’ up my phone won’t make me leave no faster, put my coat on faster, leave my girls no faster.
I shoulda left my phone at home ’cause this is a disaster!
Callin’ like a collector
Sorry: I cannot answer!

Not that I don’t like you: I’m just at a party
And I am sick and tired of my phone ri-ringing
Sometimes I feel like I live in Grand Central Station
Tonight I’m not takin no calls ’cause I’ll be dancin’
‘Cause I’ll be dancin’
‘Cause I’ll be dancin’
Tonight I’m not takin’ no calls ’cause I’ll be dancin!

Stop callin’, stop callin’; I don’t wanna think anymore!; I got my head and my heart on the dance-floor
Stop callin’, stop callin’; I don’t wanna talk anymore!; I got my head and my heart on the dance-floor

Stop callin’, stop callin’; I don’t wanna think anymore!; I got my head and my heart on the dance-floor
Stop callin’, stop callin’; I don’t wanna talk anymore; I got my head and my heart on the dance-floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Stop telephonin’ me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
I’m busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Stop telephonin’ me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh

Can call all you want, but there’s no one home
And you’re not gonna reach my telephone
‘Cause I’m out in the club and I’m sippin’ that bub’
And you’re not gonna reach my telephone

Call when you want, but there’s no one home
And you’re not gonna reach my telephone!
‘Cause I’m out in the club, and I’m sippin’ that bub’
And you’re not gonna reach my telephone, my telephone, mi-mi-mi, my telephone
‘Cause I’m out in the club and I’m sippin’ that bub’
And you’re not gonna reach my telephone
My telephone
Mi-mi-mi, my telephone
‘Cause I’m out in the club and I’m sippin that bub’ and you’re not gonna reach my telephone

We’re sorry; the number you have reached is not in service at this time
Please check the number, or try your call again

Just Dance Ft Akon, Colby O’donis – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-04-27T18:10:00.002+08:00

Just Dance Ft Akon, Colby O’donis – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

Just Dance Ft Akon, Colby O’donis – Lady Gaga

Red One
Convict
Gaga
I’ve had a little bit too much(much)
All of the people start to rush.
Start to rush babe.
How does he twist the dance?
Can’t find my drink or man.
Where are my keys, I lost my phone.
What’s go-ing out on the floor?
I love this record baby, but I can’t see straight anymore.
Keep it cool what’s the name of this club?
I can’t remember but it’s alright, alright.

[Chorus]

Chorus:
Just dance. Gunna be okay.
Da-doo-doo-doo
Just dance. Spin that record babe.
Da-doo-doo-doo
Just dance. Gunna be okay.
Duh-duh-duh-duh
Dance. Dance. Dance. Ju-just dance.

Lady Gaga:

Wish I could shut my playboy mouth. (mouth)
How’d I turn my shirt inside out? Inside out babe.
Control your poison babe
Roses with thorns they say.
And we’re all gettin’ hosed tonight.
What’s go-ing out on the floor?
I love this record baby, but I can’t see straight anymore.
Keep it cool what’s the name of this club?
I can’t remember but it’s alright, alright.

[Chorus]

Colby Donis:

When I come through on the dance floor checkin out that catalogue.
Can’t believe my eyes so many women without a flaw.
And I ain’t gonn’ give it up, steady tryna pick it up like the car
I’ma hit it, I’ma hit it and flex until the til done until tomorr’ yeah.
Shawty I can see that you got so much in the jean
The way you twirling up them hips round and round
There’s no reason, I know why you can’t leave here with me
In the meantime stand, let me watch you break it down.

[Chorus]

Lady Gaga:

I’m psychotic synchypnotic
I got my blue burners and phonic
I’m psychotic synchypnotic
I got my brand electronic
I’m psychotic synchypnotic
I got my blue burners and phonic
I’m psychotic synchypnotic
I got my brand electronic

Go. Use your muscle comin out work and hustle
I got it, just stay close enough to get it
Go slow. Drive it, clean it like so clean it’s been molesto, I got it, and your popped coll’

[Chorus]

Brown Eyes – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-04-25T18:00:00.000+08:00

Brown Eyes – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

Brown Eyes – Lady Gaga

In your brown eyes, walked away
In your brown eyes, couldn’t stay
In your brown eyes, you watch her go

And turn the record on
And wonder what went wrong
What went wrong

If everything was everything
But everything is over
Everything could be everything
If only we were older

Guess it’s just a silly song about you
And how I lost you
And your brown eyes

In your brown eyes, I was feeling low
’cause they’re brown eyes
and you never know
Got some brown eyes, but a soft face

I knew that it was wrong
So baby, turn the record on
Play that song

Where everything was everything
But everything is over
Everything could be everything
If only we were older

Guess it’s just a silly song about you
And how I lost you
And your brown eyes

Everything was everything
But baby it’s the last show
Everything could be everything
But it’s time to say goodbye so
Get your last fix, and your last hit
Grab your old girl with her new tricks

Honey yeah, it’s no surprise
I got lost in your brown eyes

In your brown eyes, Brown, brown eyes
Your brown eyes, Brown, brown eyes
Got some brown eyes, Brown, brown eyes
Brown eyes

Paparazzi – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-04-25T17:40:00.001+08:00

Paparazzi – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

Paparazzi – Lady Gaga

We are the crowd, We’re c-coming out
Got my flash on it’s true
Need that picture of you It’s so magical
We’d be so fantastical

Leather and jeans a watch on my wrist,
Not sure what it means, But this photo of us
It don’t have a price
Ready for those flashing lights,
Cause you know that baby i

Im your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa-paparazzi,
Baby there’s no other superstar
You know that i’ll be your Papa-paparazzi

Promise i’ll be kind, But i won’t stop until that boy is mine
Baby you’ll be famous Chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi

I’ll be your girl Backstage at your show,
Velvet ropes and guitars, Yeah cause you’ll know
I’m staring between the sets Eyeliner and cigarettes

Shadow is burnt Yellow dance and return
My lashes are dry But with teardrops I cry
It don’t have a price Loving you is cherry pie
‘Cause you know that baby I

Im your biggest fan I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa-paparazzi,
Baby there’s no other superstar You know that i’ll be your
Papa-paparazzi

Promise i’ll be kind, But i won’t stop until that boy is mine
Baby you’ll be famous Chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi

Real good (We dance in the studio)
Snap, snapped (That xxxx on the radio)

Don’t stop boy, rewind
We’ll blast it but we’ll still have fun!

Im your biggest fan I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa-paparazzi,
Baby there’s no other superstar You know that i’ll be your
Papa-paparazzi

Promise i’ll be kind, But i won’t stop until that boy is mine
Baby you’ll be famous Chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-04-25T17:13:00.001+08:00

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance

I want your ugly, I want your disease
I want your everything As long as it’s free
I want your love
(Love-love-love I want your love)

I want your drama, The touch of your hand
I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand
I want your love, Love-love-love
I want your love, (Love-love-love I want your love)

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want it bad, your bad romance

I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
(Oh-oh-oh–oh-oooh!)
I want your love and All your lovers’ revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance

I want your horror, I want your design
‘Cause you’re a criminal As long as your mine
I want your love
(Love-love-love I want your love-uuhh)

I want your psycho, Your vertigo stick
Want you in my rear window, Baby you’re sick
I want your love, Love-love-love
I want your love
(Love-love-love I want your love)

You know that I want you
(‘Cause I’m a freak bitch baby!)
And you know that I need you
I want a bad, bad romance

I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!)
I want your love and, All your lovers’ revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance

Walk, walk fashion baby
Work it, Move that bitch crazy

Walk, walk fashion baby
Work it, Move that bitch crazy

Walk, walk fashion baby
Work it, Move that bitch crazy

Walk, walk fashion baby
Work it, I’m a freak bitch, baby

I want your love and I want your revenge
I want your love, I don’t wanna be friends

Je veux ton amour Et je veux ton revenge
J’veux ton amour I don’t wanna be friends
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
I don’t wanna be friends
(Caught in a bad romance)
I don’t wanna be friends
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Want your bad romance
(Caught in a bad romance)
Want your bad romance!

I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
I want your love and All your lovers’ revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
(Caught in a bad romance)
Want your bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
(Caught in a bad romance)

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-roma-mamaa!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance

Speechless – Lady Gaga Song and Lyrics

2011-04-22T18:31:00.001+08:00

Speechless – Lady Gaga Song Lyrics

Speechless – Lady Gaga

I can’t believe what you said to me
Last night when we were alone
You threw your hands up
Baby you gave up, you gave up

I can’t believe how you looked at me
With your James Dean glossy eyes
In your tight jeans with your long hair
And your cigarette stained lies

Could we fix you if you broke?
And is your punch line just a joke?

I’ll never talk again
Oh boy you’ve left me speechless
You’ve left me speechless, so speechless

I can’t believe how you slurred at me
With your half wired broken jaw
You popped my heart seams
On my bubble dreams, bubble dreamsa

I can’t believe how you looked at me
With your Johnnie Walker eyes
He’s gonna get you and after he’s through
There’s gonna be no love left to rye

And I know that it’s complicated
But I’m a loser in love
So baby raise a glass to mend
All the broken hearts
Of all my wrecked up friends

I’ll never talk again
Oh boy you’ve left me speechless
You’ve left me speechless so speechless

I’ll never love again,
Oh friend you’ve left me speechless
You’ve left me speechless, so speechless

Hooow?
Haaaa-oooo-wow?
H-ooow?
Wow

Haaaa-oooo-wow?
H-ooow?
Wow

And after all the drinks and bars that we’ve been to
Would you give it all up?
Could I give it all up for you?

And after all the boys and girls that we’ve been through
Would you give it all up?
Could you give it all up?

If I promise to you boy
That I’ll never talk again
And I’ll never love again
I’ll never write a song
Won’t even sing along

I’ll never love again
So speechless
You left me speechless, so speechless
Why you so speechless, so speechless?

Will you ever talk again?
Oh boy, why you so speechless?
You’ve left me speechless

Some men may follow me
But you choose “death and company”
Why you so speechless? Oh oh oh

Halamang gamot- Luya (Ginger)

2011-04-21T11:23:00.001+08:00

Latin Name -Zingiber officinale

Ginger is a tropical plant that has green-purple flowers and an aromatic underground stem called a rhizome. Ginger is commonly used as a spice in cooking, and is prominent in Chinese, Indian, and Japanese cuisine. The rhizome of the ginger plant is used fresh or dried, and used as an ingredient in tablets, capsules, liquid extracts (tinctures), and teas. Ginger is also used as a flavoring in food and beverages, such as ginger ale.

Traditionally, ginger has been used in Asian medicine to treat stomach aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Many digestive, nausea, and cold and flu dietary supplements sold in the United States contain ginger extract as an ingredient.

Ginger is used as an herbal remedy in the hope that it can help alleviate symptoms of postsurgery nausea as well as nausea caused by motion and chemotherapy.

Ginger is the subject of research for its ability to help reduce inflammation, and its effectiveness as a potential herbal remedy for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and joint and muscle pain.

Research studies are mixed on whether ginger is effective for nausea caused by motion, chemotherapy, or surgery.

According to research up to this point, it is unclear whether ginger is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) funded investigators are studying:

Whether ginger interacts with drugs, such as those used to suppress the immune system.
Ginger’s effect on reducing nausea in patients on chemotherapy.
The general safety and effectiveness of ginger’s use for health purposes, as well as its active components and effects on inflammation.

Suggested link to related articles: Ginger's Health Benefits

Side Effects and Cautions Summary

Ginger side effects most often reported are gas, bloating, heartburn, and nausea. These effects are most often associated with powdered ginger.
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health to help ensure coordinated and safe care. Complementary or alternative therapy should not be used in place of conventional medical care or to delay seeking that care.

Sources

Ginger. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed July 6, 2007.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed a July 3, 2007.
Ginger root. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:153–159.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:241–248.

Halamang Gamot: Aloe Vera – Know What This Herb Does What

2011-04-19T11:08:00.000+08:00

Latin Names – Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis

The aloe vera plant is a hardy evergreen perennial that is used as an herbal remedy around the world. It has spiky green leaves that contain a clear gel that has traditionally been used as a topical ointment on the skin as a moisturizer and also for wounds, burns, sunburn and psoriasis.

Dried aloe vera gel has been used as an ingredient in various treatments in European folk healing as well as Chinese and Indian traditions. The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel is used to produce a juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is used as an ingredient in herbal remedies.

Aloe vera has been in use as an herbal remedy for over 4,000 years. Today aloe vera is grown in quantity in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Africa, India and China. Aloe vera can also be grown at home, as an ornamental shrub in the garden or indoors in pots.

Traditionally, aloe vera was used topically to facilitate healing of wounds and for various skin conditions, and orally as a stomach remedy. In China, aloe was used for fungal conditions. In India, aloe was used as a stomach treatment, as a laxative, and for parasites.

Today, aloe is also used topically in the hope of improving osteoarthritis, burns, and sunburns. Aloe vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions and sunblocks.

Aloe vera latex contains strong laxative compounds. Products made with various components of aloe (aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin) were at one time regulated by the FDA as oral over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives. In 2002, the FDA required that all OTC aloe laxative products be removed from the U.S. market or reformulated because the companies that manufactured them did not provide the necessary safety data.

Aloe has been studied for its health benefits such as its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Early studies show that topical aloe gel may help heal burns and abrasions. One study, however, showed that aloe gel inhibits healing of deep surgical wounds. Although aloe vera has been used following radiation exposure, one study concluded that aloe gel does not prevent burns from radiation therapy.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support aloe vera for any of its other uses.

Side Effects and Cautions Summary

Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera. Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of many drugs.
Aloe vera can cause allergic reactions.
People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health to help ensure coordinated and safe care. Complementary or alternative therapy should not be used in place of conventional medical care or to delay seeking that care.

Sources

Aloe. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. June 5, 2007.

Aloe(Aloe vera). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed on June 3, 2007.

Pinoy buyer's guide to the Internet

2011-04-15T21:10:00.000+08:00

Summer is here and, along with thoughts of vacation, come thoughts of summer spending. Whether it’s that new outfit you’re looking forward to wearing at the beach or that new laptop you’ve been saving up for since Christmas, many people are turning to online shopping portals to beat the heat —and, hopefully, score a good deal.

These days, e-commerce is no longer a new thing for a growing number of Filipinos. Ever since eBay became popular, millions of people have come to rely on it and put their trust in it, whether to earn money by selling their stuff that otherwise they will find hard to sell, or to save money by finding cheap online bargains.

Here in the Philippines, similar sites have proliferated, such as Sulit.com, TipidPC.com, and TipidCP.com, on top of intesive usage by Filipinos of their Facebook and Multiply accounts, as our media for online buying and selling.

Products sold over the Internet are cheap compared to the ones sold in malls or other establishments. A whole lot cheaper, actually. This is because, first, sellers have a smaller overhead: they don't have to pay rent for shop stalls and other fees. And secondly, much of the stuff sold online consists of second-hand items.

Sure, there are top-of-the-line online stores where you can order brand-new products online. But more and more actually go to online marketplaces —perhaps we can even call them cyber-bazaars or cyber-fleamarkets— where ordinary people can sell personal, hand-made, reconditioned, and even one-of-a-kind items.

Although this may sound like a good deal, you should be mindful of certain things:

If possible, avoid long-distance transactions. Getting an item shipped to you might be convenient. But remember, there are shady people out there who pretend to be selling stuff but won't send anything at all once they have received your payment. Unless you really know and trust the person or online shop you're buying from, avoid these kinds of transactions.
Check the all the credentials of the seller. Always make sure that the person you are buying from has good feedback from their previous online transactions. But don't just look at the number of positive feedback, though. Read what others say and check out the dates of the feedback comments. Some online culprits fabricate false feedback about themselves using dummy accounts to make their account look legit. TipidPC.com, Sulit.com and most other local eCommerce websites have this feedback feature; make full use of it.
Check the item thoroughly, if possible, before purchasing it. This should be common sense, but it’s usually forgotten. You don't want to end up buying something with defects or, worse, doesn’t work at all. Make sure that the item you're buying is working properly before you pay for it. If you're buying a high-tech gadget or part that is not easy to troubleshoot and repair, ask for a warranty if it’s brand new. If it's secondhand, ask for the item’s official receipt so you could still avail of the warranty from the shop where it was bought from originally. Also, for PC parts, there's a so-called distributor's warranty that ranges from one year to even a lifetime warranty. Ask the seller for this if he or she still has it.
Get the seller's verified contact information. It is possible that the item you've purchased looked ok at first, but you found out later that it actually was defective. Having the seller's contact information, not just their email address or cell number, would be handy by then so you can register your complaint directly with them. If you only have the email address or cell number of the seller, he or she could just ignore you; you have better leverage if you have their full names and home addresses as well.
If it's too good to be true, it's usually too good to be true. Finding great bargains are common in the online world. But when an item is priced incredibly cheap, even for an online purchase, there's something wrong. It could either be defective, fake, stolen, or even part of a scam. Be extra careful when transacting these kinds of deals. Would you pay P5,000 for an iPhone 4? Many people probably would, even without taking a direct look at the item itself. But what would you feel if you later find out it was a “China phone" and not an authentic iPhone 4 as advertised by the seller? You’d feel cheated —because, in fact, you were.
Avoid using credit cards in unsecured online transactions. Remember that your signature isn't required to use your credit card online. The card number, CVC, name on card, and your billing address are usually enough for someone to use it without your permission. Never give these out to anyone. Always prefer COD (cash on delivery) over credit card transactions. If using a credit card is your only option, look for signs of security on the payment site, such as VeriSign or at least a legitimate contact number, so you know where to file your inquiries and complaints in case there's a problem with your bill.
Always keep records of your transactions. Most online sellers don't issue receipts. This might be irregular from the taxman’s point of view, but it’s a fact of life. This is probably because most online sellers are just ordinary folk trying to sell personal or disposable stuff and not really doing it as a profitable business. Thus, if you buy an item online and something goes wrong, you probably won't have proof of where, when, and from whom you bought the item. It’s always handy to always keep simple paper documentation that lists the item, its condition, the name of the seller, and the time and place it was bought, then have the seller sign it.
Avoid deals involving hefty amounts of money. Criminals keep getting smarter and are always perfecting ways to victimize people online, posing as legitimate sellers. So try to avoid online transactions involving large amounts of money. The smaller the transaction, the lesser your risk of being defrauded. If you're really itching to buy that big-ticket item, then at least use bank transactions. After all, you can never be fully sure if the person you're dealing with online (or face to face after meeting online) is an honest seller, or a crook who has ways to get your cash, by hook or, well, by crook.

Source: TJD, GMA News

Secondhand smoke may affect kids' mental health

2011-04-13T20:01:00.001+08:00

Secondhand smoke may affect kids' mental health
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Breathing secondhand smoke could increase a child's risk of mental and behavioral disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggests a new study.

The study adds to evidence suggesting that kids of mothers who smoked while pregnant may be more likely to have behavioral problems. Secondhand smoke exposure has also been linked to heart and breathing problems in kids.

"It's time for us to begin to prevent children's exposure to (secondhand smoke) if we are serious about preventing these diseases," Dr. Bruce Lanphear, who heads the Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Center, told Reuters Health.

"We have sufficient evidence to prevent many of these diseases, but we don't," added Lanphear, who was not involved in the study.

The authors, led by Frank Bandiera of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, studied the link between secondhand smoke and mental health in a nationally representative sample of almost 3,000 kids ages 8 to 15.

Researchers measured the level of cotinine - which forms when nicotine in tobacco breaks down - in each kid's blood to find which kids had been exposed to secondhand smoke. Kids with the highest levels of cotinine were considered to be smokers themselves, and were not included in the study.

The researchers also interviewed all kids to see which ones showed symptoms of a mental or behavioral disorder.

After taking into account factors such as age and race, boys who were exposed to secondhand smoke were more likely to show symptoms of ADHD, depression, anxiety, and conduct disorder than those with no secondhand smoke exposure. Girls who were exposed to secondhand smoke had more symptoms of ADHD and anxiety only.

However, the number of kids actually diagnosed with most of the conditions was still small. While 201 kids, or about 7 percent, had enough symptoms of ADHD to be diagnosed with the disorder, only 15 kids were diagnosed with depression and 9 with an anxiety disorder.

Researchers acknowledge that it can be difficult to separate the effects of secondhand smoke from harm caused by mothers smoking while those children were in the womb.

In a commentary accompanying the study, Dr. Jonathan Samet from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California said that more research is needed to determine how exactly exposure to secondhand smoke could affect kids' brains.

Bandiera also noted that the study can't prove that secondhand smoke causes mental and behavioral disorders. But in the meantime, he told Reuters Health, "We should keep the kids away from secondhand smoke."

His study was published online Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine alongside research from UK authors also showing a link between secondhand smoke exposure and poor mental health in about 900 kids.

The U.S. Surgeon General has estimated that about 60 percent of children are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Lanphear said that while there might not be enough definitive evidence to tie secondhand smoke exposure to mental health problems, it would be a "surprise" if there was not a link between the two.

The authors conclude that more efforts are needed both to ban smoking in all public places where there are children and to prevent kids from being exposed to secondhand smoke at home.

SOURCE: bit.ly/ejjQQ4 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, online April 4, 2011.

Dolefil Employees Ended AK-NAFLU-KMU’s Reign of Deception

2011-03-16T13:18:00.012+08:00

Press Releases

“The employees of Dole Philippines ended AK-NAFLU-KMU’S reign of deception after their newly-formed union Labor Employees Association of Dolefil-Polomolok Hourlies (LEAD.PH) have won a battle in the recently-concluded certification elections.”

This was an advocacy group Industrial Security Focus’ reaction to the results of the February 22 certification elections in Dolefil in Polomolok, South Cotabato which presently employs 3,853 hourly rank-and-file workers, in which an independent union Lead-PH won over Amado Kadena-NAFLU, a union affiliated with the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Kilusang Mayo Uno.

“The loss in the certification elections of the crooked workers’ union in Dole Philippines surely delighted the workers. As long as KMU continues to carry out its deceptive strategy in luring the workers to embrace a Marxist ideology, Lead-PH would surely preserve its hard-earned victory and continues to promote a harmonious relationship with the management,” said Chito Herbolingo, ISF Executive Director.

“AK-NAFLU-KMU’s unprecedented defeat in the certification elections is the result of more than ten years of deceiving the workers. For the whole period, this union allegedly robbed the workers of their monthly union dues, mini-mart and their rice allowance including unreasonable assessment fees from their signing bonuses. Hundreds had been terminated and suspended for influencing the workers to violate some company policies. Despite their link with the international and local leftist groups who tried to influence and pressure the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) by presenting unsubstantiated accusations against the company, the workers continue to stand and expressed their right” he added.

“KMU is certainly insulting the workers when it accused Dolefil and the military of intimidation and vote buying just to have LEAD.PH won. The workers preferred a company-friendly union because it is Dolefil who gave them job and not the KMU who is getting rich at the expense of the workers they represent. On the issue that KMU as being a communist front is already an open book, which, no less than Jose Ma. Sison categorically stated that KMU is the leading force of the Philippine revolution,” Herbolingo added.

“The workers believe that in these difficult times, the war should not be labor versus capital but labor and capital versus the threats of economic failure. It is sincerity, mutual tolerance and the capacity to make mutual sacrifices in order to save both the business and the jobs. The struggle for higher wages, job security and the exercise of trade-union rights can only be achieved within the framework of symbiotic relationship between the management and labor,” Herbolingo said.

Chito D. Herbolingo, ISF Executive Director

Date: 12 March 2011

Show your skin some lovin’ with these basic skincare tips

2011-03-05T16:28:00.000+08:00

Aside from being the first thing that other people may notice about us, our skin has many functions. In fact, there can be no emphasizing the important role our skin plays in our bodies. It is our largest organ, covering everything else as a huge waterproof envelope does, and as such, is our first defense against germs. Skin also controls the body’s temperature, so we sweat when it is hot, and shiver and get goosebumps when it is too cold. An important component of the skin is the pigment called melanin, which not only gives us our color, but also helps protect us from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

These are the reasons why meticulous skin care is not merely a matter of vanity, but an important health routine too. There are now many skin care products that are coming out in the market today: some for whitening the complexion, others for getting a youthful glow, and there are also others for eradicating skin imperfections. But nothing beats the basics, and healthy skin simply needs care and consideration. Here, we give simple tips for getting skin-tastic!

Keep it clean. Make sure that you cleanse your skin gently and thoroughly, and that goes not just for your face, but the skin all over your body. As with the products you use for your facial wash, make sure that the soap you use for hand scrubbing and bathing also has a mild formulation.
Be gentle. Even though a hot bath sounds like a relaxing idea, you have to make sure that your water is not too hot. This robs skin of its natural oils and leaves it dry. Exfoliants help to scrub away dead skin cells, but you have to remember that they are not meant for everyday use. Excessive exfoliation can irritate your skin.
Keep away from irritants. Many experts advocate using natural items that are found in your pantry as masks, peels, or scrubs. These are fine and dandy, however, you should check for allergic reactions by dabbing a dollop of the product on a small area of your arm. Soaps and creams with strong perfumes, or unregistered products that have not been approved by your country’s drug agency can cause allergic reactions or worse, so you should be wary of these too.
Moisturize and hydrate. Dry skin is itchy, flaky, unsightly, and irritating. So you would do best to avoid its triggers, such as using strong soaps or applying too much alcohol, and dry weather conditions. Dry skin can also be caused by excessive alcohol intake, so drink moderately! Several glasses of H20 helps keep the skin healthy by flushing out toxins. With inadequate amounts of water circulating through the body, toxins can build up and escape through skin pores. This contributes to acne. Therefore, by flushing the body internally with water, acne breakouts are less likely to occur.
Stamp out smoking. Cigarette smoking contributes 4000 toxins to the body and is taken by the bloodstream directly to the skin, leading to wrinkles, skin discoloration, and acne. In fact, the British Medical Journal published in 1985 states that smokers can be identified easily by the appearance of the skin. So if you want to look younger and healthier, think twice before lighting up!
Eat right. Feed your face right with nutrients such as Vitamin E, for youthful, glowing skin, found in nuts, seeds, and egg yolk; Vitamin C, which eliminates free radicals in the body that destroy collagen and elastin, found in citrus fruits and green leafies; and Vitamin A, which is necessary for the repair of skin tissue, found in low-fat yoghurt and other dairy products.
Slather on sunscreen. Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach! Even on cloudy days, the sun’s harmful UV rays can still get to you. So before you head out, reach for a trusty bottle with at least an spf of 30, and remember to reapply after two hours of sun exposure.
Trust only a pro. Never try anything drastic, such as a facial or wart treatments, without consulting a reputable dermatologist. A dermatologist can recommend the best treatment for skin problems such as acne or scars that will work best with your skin type. Before having any skin work done, insist on a consultation with the establishment’s dermatologist. It may be more expensive or time-consuming to do so, but it is the best way to save your skin from damage.

Get some shut eye. The term beauty sleep is not just an empty promise. Skin repairs itself when you are at rest, so make sure to catch enough Zs. On the graveyard shift? No problem. Experts say that as long as you get eight hours of sleep a day, regardless whether it is in the daytime or night time, you can still get the full benefits of snoozing.

Escape to the countryside!

2011-02-15T12:27:00.000+08:00

Take a stroll in the countryside.

The countryside has a certain charm that leaves many worn out city dwellers wanting a portion of its quiet beauty. There’s nothing like waking up to the smell of fresh, clean air and peaceful stillness ---a welcome change from the regular noise of the city. So before you even start looking at the usual weekend getaways for your family, why not try exploring the countryside for a change? Maybe you and your husband have respective hometowns that you have not visited for a long time. Now’s the perfect time to drop by and get your kids reacquainted with your roots. Taking a trip to the countryside can have a lasting impact on your children. Here are a few benefits your children can get from taking a stroll along the quiet, poignant side of the country.

Breathe in the fresh, clean air

One of the most obvious benefits of taking a hiatus in the province is that the countryside is a breath of fresh air—both literally and figuratively. The air is smog and pollution-free and at night one can actually see the stars, a far cry from the starless nights in the city. The clean air in the province is good for you and your children’s lungs. It will also help your bodies recuperate from the stress brought about by city living.

Go natural

People who’ve spent a week or two in the province would often exclaim with delight how their appetite increased. There’s something about the laid-back lifestyle in the countryside that encourages one to eat heartily. But aside from the ambiance, the one thing that may persuade you to eat with gusto is the fact that you have access to organic farmer’s markets. The vegetables and fruits are homegrown and fresh, perhaps even grown right at your host family’s own backyard! With organically-produced food, you can be assured that no chemicals were used. The result: a richer and more flavorful harvest of vegetables and fruits that you and your family will come to love!

Bask in the beauty of nature

The countryside often offers picturesque spots for you and your family to explore. Go hiking and let your children see and embrace nature’s beauty. While enjoying the nature walk, help your kids identify different plants and animals that they may encounter. You can ask them to carry a nature journal so they can draw, describe and write down the things they see. Make sure you carry extra clothes with you. Who knows, you may just stumble onto a clear, cool waterfall!

The great outdoors

Deliberately leave your children’s computer gadgets and toys at home. Let them take this time to discover the fun side of playing outdoors. Introduce your children to Filipino games that have been long forgotten. Games like “piko”, “siato”, “patintero” and “luksong tinik” that were once-upon-a-time a part of your childhood playtime. An afternoon of running and frolicking on the grass and breathing the crisp air is good for your children’s well-being!

Trace your roots

If the province you’ve chosen to visit happens to be your hometown, now’s the time to get your children acquainted with your roots. It would be nice if you can organize a small reunion so that your children will be able to meet their relatives. Involve them in the conversation, especially if it’s about your childhood and other stories from the good old days. This will strengthen their sense of belonging and loyalty. Maybe you can ask your children to map out a family tree so they will always have a piece of their family’s history with them.

Filipino Best Recipes: Grilled Pork with Pineapple-Cucumber Sauce

2011-02-12T10:22:00.006+08:00

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
1 can (20 oz.) Dole Pineapple Chunks
2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel
1 large orange, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 cup peeled, seeded and chopped cucumber
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon lime juice
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon seeded and finely chopped chili
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 to 2-1/2 pounds pork tenderloin

HERE'S HOW:

Drain pineapple chunks; reserve juice. Set aside.
Combine pineapple chunks, orange peel, orange, cucumber, onion, cilantro and lime juice in bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
Combine reserved juice, honey, mustard, chili and garlic in shallow non-metallic dish. Add pork; turn to coat all sides. Cover; marinate 15 minutes in refrigerator.
Grill or broil pork 35 to 40 minutes or until pork is no longer pink in center, brushing occasionally with marinade and turning halfway through cooking. Discard any remaining marinade. Let pork stand 5 minutes. Slice pork into 1/4-inch rounds. Serve with Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa.

Rich in Potassium and Vitamin C.

Get more tried-and-tested" recipes for meals that are a snap to prepare. Visit FilipinoBestRecipes

Classic With Twists Recipes:

Fiesta Paksiw

Laksa

Hinalog

Pork Chop Steak

Pina Beef Steak

Pork Pina Humba

Ways to Prevent and Treat Wrinkles for Younger-Looking Skin

2011-01-27T12:14:00.000+08:00

Ways to Prevent and Treat Wrinkles for Younger-Looking Skin - Yahoo! Philippines News:

To prevent and treat wrinkles, you should protect your skin from the sun, quit smoking, avoid stress, hydrate yourself, apply Tretinoin creams, use alpha hydroxyl acids, and consider opting for laser treatment.

As a person grows older, their skin becomes drier and less elastic, making it more prone to wrinkles. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent wrinkles, as well as skincare products that can treat them. You have probably heard of argan oil and anti aging benefits that it offers. Here are some ways to prevent and treat wrinkles:

Protect your skin from the sun

Sun exposure has been identified as one of the primary causes of wrinkles. The sun can dry out your skin, and when skin loses its natural oils and moisture, it is more prone to wrinkles. Because of this, it is very important to avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible. Before you go out of the house, be sure to protect your skin by applying sunscreen lotion with sufficient sun protection factor (SPF). Not only can the sun dry out your skin, but it can also cause sunburn and irritation.

Quit smoking

Aside from being harmful to one's overall health, smoking also has aging effects on the skin. The term "smoker face" has been attributed to the manifestations of smoking on one's physical features. These include the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the smoker's face, especially around the lips, corners of the eyes and the lower jaw. The best and most effective solution to avoid these negative consequences is simply to quit smoking.

Avoid stress

Stress has always been said to make skin look aged and unhealthy. It is best to unwind from work and stressful activities regularly. Keep an optimistic disposition, engage in a sport or exercise and eat healthy food. Additionally, get enough sleep every night.

Hydrate yourself

Dehydration can cause skin to dry out. Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day, or even more if you frequently drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol. Additionally, drink plenty of water after exercising or doing any strenuous physical activity to replenish your body of the water it has lost.

Apply Tretinoin creams

Tretinoin creams are made from vitamin A and are known to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin. They are prescribed by dermatologists to treat skin imperfections caused by sun exposure, age spots and even wrinkles. You may ask the advice of a dermatologist and whether a Tretinoin cream is right for you, as this treatment can only be dispensed to customers with a prescription.

Use alpha hydroxyl acids

Some research has shown that alpha hydroxyl acids are effective at removing wrinkles and age spots. This treatment, however, should be used with caution as it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. Users of alpha hydroxyl acids should minimize sun exposure because it could damage and irritate the skin. It is best to seek expert advice from a dermatologist regarding this kind of treatment.

Consider opting for laser treatments

Erbium lasers and carbon dioxide lasers are well-known treatments for wrinkles. These laser treatments are quite expensive and are considered a minor surgical procedure.

Although skin aging is natural, there are still methods and products that can help you have healthy skin free from wrinkles.

Healthy eating during the holidays

2010-12-05T08:27:00.000+08:00

Healthy eating during the holidays

MANILA, Philippines - The holiday season is a time of celebrations, and when there is celebration, there is also food.

The food items served during Christmas parties, noche buena, and media noche are truly delectable but also, most of them, unhealthy. Most of these are fried, cream based, with cheese, oily, sweet and salty, and with processed meat, not to mention the alcoholic beverages that you are going to pair them with. In other words, they are heavily laden with fat and calories.

It's a given that these food items are irresistible, that is why weight-conscious individuals and those on the heavy side can't help sighing at those extra pounds gained after all the cheers. However, what is uglier than those bloated bellies are the health problems that may arise from your overindulgence. So it is important to monitor everything you eat if you want to stay merry long after the last of the fireworks has exploded.

Here are some tips on how to eat without the guilt during the holidays.

Always eat a heavy but healthy breakfast. This way, you will stay filled up the whole morning and you won't be tempted to try yummy Christmas goodies before lunch.
If you are hosting a party or preparing dinner at home on Christmas eve, make sure that you are serving a balanced meal. This includes vegetable and fruits, healthy salads, low-fat dairy products, and low-fat meat.
In preparing your veggies, do not overcook them. Try to keep them as close to raw as possible. Do not fry them, as they are going to be soaked in oil. Boiling them will make them lose their nutrients. Steaming is the best way to cook veggies. If you want your vegetables to be tastier, instead of salt, add flavor using pepper or fresh herbs.
For your meat, instead of serving pork, you prepare turkey and white chicken meat (breast). They are both low in fat, good for those watching their weight. However, this is not to say that dark chicken meat does not have its own health benefits. Serving fish at Christmas dinner is also recommended.
Dairy products are not totally forbidden. You just have to make sure that you are using low-fat varieties in cooking. Examples of low-fat dairy products are Greek-style yoghurt and fromage frais. Also use less cream.

Season's Greetings!

Get more free recipes for the Holiday season.

When you are attending parties and other gathering, here are some healthy tricks.

Do not go to a party very hungry. The hungrier you feel, the more you eat.
Always use a small plate. This way, you will feel not guilty when you fill it up.
If you want to try all the dishes served, eat small portions.
Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Opt for alcoholic beverages with fewer calories such as Cosmopolitan, Bloody Mary, and Mojito.
Drink more water/fruit juice than alcohol.
For desserts, eat less chocolate, cheesecake, and other sweet treats. Go for fresh fruits or salads.
Eat slowly. And when you are already full, simply stop eating.

(Sources: HealthCastle.com, Handbag.com)

World's eighth wonder: Pacquiao clobbers Margarito for 8th crown

2010-11-15T08:32:00.003+08:00

World's eighth wonder: Pacquiao clobbers Margarito for 8th crown
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 15, 2010 12:00 AM

DALLAS – Manny Pacquiao reached yet another revered place in boxing history with a methodical destruction of Mexican Antonio Margarito for the WBC super-welterweight crown at the Cowboys Stadium Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The Filipino icon simply dominated the bigger, taller and heavier former three-time world champion right from the opening bell to earn an unprecedented eighth world title in as many weight divisions with a unanimous decision win.

Pacquiao carried the fight to the game Margarito who was seeking a victory for his own ring redemption with all the deadly tools in his arsenal - hand speed, power and ring savvy - in a bout watched by 41,734 fans at the cavernous stadium and millions more around the world.

So dominant was Pacquiao in the contest, leaving Margarito nearly half-blind with swollen right eye that at one point in the 11th round the Filipino fighter virtually implored referee Laurence Cole to stop the carnage.

Margarito hung on to finish the 12-round bout but was so beaten up he was rushed to the hospital afterwards for an MRI and other precautionary measures.

As early as the fourth round, his right eye started to swell and soon after it started to bleed.

A couple of times late in the fight, the referee had to check on his eyes if he could still see. The doctor also kept his eyes on Margarito in the closing rounds.

If not for his heart the size of the massive stadium, or his braveness and determination to keep on fighting, Margarito could have easily gone down, early, or could have signaled anyone among his cornermen to simply throw in the towel. But he did not, and for that he was also applauded in the end.

Margarito was always there in front of Pacquiao, marching toward the Filipino, and walking through some of the biggest punches the reigning pound-for-pound champion, also a congressman back home, had thrown in his entire career. It could have felled any lesser opponent, but not this 32-year-old Mexican former three-time world champ.

Pacquiao had marks all over his face as well. He did get hit a good number of times, but only when he opted to, either by standing in front of Margarito or trading blows with the heavier boxer or when he tried to test the power of his opponent, as he had wrongfully done in some of his previous fights.

Pacquiao showed up at the post-fight press conference with swollen hands, and apologized to everybody because he said he couldn’t sign any autographs.

Prior to the fight, there were talks about Pacquiao’s retirement from the ring, so he could focus on his new job as congressman of the lone district in Sarangani province back home.

But an hour after the fight, Pacquiao said retirement is not part of his immediate plans.

“Yes. I am still strong. I will continue fighting,” he said while trying to evade a question whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be his next opponent. He said it’s the job of his promoter to set up the fight.

It was freezing cold outside the $1.2 billion stadium while Pacquiao was carving out the victory, and as he was carving out an even bigger place in boxing history. Once again, right after the fight, his promoter, Bob Arum, hailed him as “the best fighter” he’d ever seen in his more than 40 years in the sport.

Pacquiao, who won the first of his eight world titles as a flyweight (112 lb) almost 12 years ago, tipped the scales in Friday’s official weigh-in at 144.6 lb, and climbed the ring at 148 lb, just almost the same weight he carried in his fights against bigger men like Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey.

Margarito, five inches taller at 5-feet-11, barely made the catchweight of 150 lb, and added up a grand total of 15 lb overnight. On the HBO scales, he was at 165 lb by the time he came out of the dressing room to face Pacquiao, in the hope that the difference in height and heft would spell the difference.

As seen by millions from around the globe, it did not.

“Manny was very fast. We were doing good until I got cut and that’s when all the problems started coming in. He’s very fast. But there was no way (for him to quit). I’m a Mexican, and will fight till the end,” Margarito told fight commentators on top of the ring.

“He’s the best fighter in the world. He’s just too fast,” said Margarito’s trainer, Robert Garcia, who held on to his fighter as they walked away from the ring, a white towel almost covering the boxer’s head.

Garcia said he never thought of stopping the fight because he said “Tony (Margarito) is a warrior.”

Until the final bell, Margarito was there hoping to land the punch that can turn things around, and give him the victory that can erase the stigma of the incident involving the illegal handwraps for his fight with Shane Mosley in January last year. That led to a one-year suspension for the native of Tijuana.

The ring doctor said his only concern late in the fight was that if Margarito could still see. He knew the damage to those eyes were getting worse, but each time he consulted the Mexican corner, he was told that yes, Margarito can still see.

Cole, who refereed Pacquiao’s 2003 showdown with Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio, Texas, said stopping the fight had crossed his mind somewhere in the late rounds.

“I was looking for a chance to stop the fight but Margarito kept fighting back,” he said.

True enough, Margarito did fight back. But Pacquiao fought back even harder each time he got hit by the Mexican. Yet, he failed to put the Mexican away, and score a knockout which his trainer, Freddie Roach, had promised or had hoped would come.

“I can’t believe it. He was really strong. I really did my best to win. He was strong and I got hurt, too. I was hurt in the body and the face because of his uppercuts,” said Pacquiao.

Judge Juergen Langos of Germany had it all for Pacquiao (120-108), while Glen Crocker gave the sixth and eighth rounds to Margarito (118-110), and Oren Shellenberger also had the Mexican taking the sixth round (119-109).

Yet another unanimous victory, indeed, for Pacquiao.

P-Noy launches biggest ship made in Cebu

2010-11-11T09:42:00.000+08:00

P-Noy launches biggest ship made in Cebu
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 07:49:00 11/11/2010
Filed Under: Waterway & Maritime Transport, records

Balamban town in western Cebu claims the honor of producing “the biggest ship ever to be built in a Philippine shipyard.”

In yesterday’s seaside turnover ceremony, President Benigno Aquino III, said the feat was also a symbol of hope and pride for the Filipinos.

He cut the rope of the 92,000-tonnage MV Tenshu Maru as a champagne bottle atop the ship’s bow smashed open, and confetti and ribbons fell from the deck.

“This ceremony signifies our readiness to set sail. Hope lives in the Philippines, and powered by this hope, we have begun the journey toward the achievement of our aspirations. The time of darkness is over; daylight is finally peeking from beneath the clouds," he said in his speech during the naming and ceremonial delivery of the cape size bulk carrier in barangay Buanoy, Balamban.

The shipyard employs 11,000 workers and is expected to hire 2,000 more to handle other orders.

The vessel set sail to its port of origin in Panama, South America.

Aquino thanked the Aboitiz family and the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (THI) officials for their commitment to provide jobs and for their trust and confidence in the country.

“We have certainly come a long way. It seems only some time ago that we saw paper boats being ceremoniously set adrift on the Pasig River, and bore witness to the emptiness of its promise. Now, we are formally naming the biggest ship ever to be made in a Philippine shipyard," said Aquino.

Aboitiz Group chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, the local partner of THI, told the President that Tenshu Maru is the 120th vessel constructed by THI.

The ship builder is fully booked with orders until 2013.

It has a workforce of 11,000, but Aboitiz said they expect to hire 2,000 more workers to accommodate the orders.

Aboitize noted that 260,000 Filipino seafarers sail the seas, “making us number one and truly a maritime nation," aside from being the world's fourth biggest shipbuilder country combining the capabilities of Hanjin and THI.

The President said he was confident there would be more jobs for Filipinos once he returns from the 18th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) from Nov. 12-18 in Japan.

The operation of THI is a joint venture between Japan's Tsuneishi group and Cebu-based Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV). The shipyard opened 16 years ago and is located in a 147-hectare complex in Balamban.

The event on Wednesday also marked the vessel's delivery to Kambara Kisen of Japan.

The bulk carrier has a length of 286.90 meters, breadth of 45.00 meters, depth of 24.50 meters and draft of 18.04 meters. Its gross tonnage is 92,379, net tonnage of 60,235 and deadweight of 180,630 metric tons.

President Aquino arrived by chopper from Mactan Airport. He immediately went up the stage to name the ship and later cut the rope connected to a champagne bottle on the ship's bow.

The bottle smashed open, and confetti and colorful ribbons burst from a large ball.

If one stands at the pier, the ship is as tall as an eight or ten-floor building.

The activity was attended by local officials of Balamban headed by Balamban Mayor Ace Binghay, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, AEV chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, AEV president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz and Tsuneishi vice president Makoto Kambara. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura also attended the event.

It was the first time for Governor Garcia to meet Aquino during an official visit in Cebu.

In his speech, the President emphasized his fight against corruption and reiterated his trust in Cebuano former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., who leads the Truth Commission tasked to investigate the anomalies in the past administration.

Aquino also asked the Filipinos to join him in all his efforts for the development of the country.

"The time of darkness is over. Daylight is finally peeking from beneath the clouds," he said.

After the ceremonies, Aquino looked at the miniature ships that were built in the THI shipyard and then left by helicopter.

About 2,000 cheering shipyard workers waited for him to arrive but he didn’t go out of the security cordon to shake their hands.

Governor Garcia and her brothers Rep. Pablo John Garcia and Mayor Nelson Garcia of Dumajug inspected and joined the send off ceremonies inside the ship.

Tokens were given to the ship, a large framed photo of the ship and an image of the Santo Niño de Cebu.

Following a tight schedule, the President flew to Cebu City to grace the opening of the P2.5-billion, 400-room Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu of the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.

It is the first Radisson Blu in the Asia-Pacific region franchise from the upscale Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

In his speech, Aquino said the opening of Radisson Blu showed that the SM Investment Corporation was bullish about the country's economy.

"With the Department of Tourism's intensive campaign to boost our tourism, the demand for accommodations is expected to dramatically increase. Indeed, there is no better time to open up this new facility than now," he said.

/Reporters Dale Israel and Aileen YAP and Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan

Blogbits For Friends: Amazing Noni "Apatot" Plant - Halamang Gamot

2010-11-04T12:04:00.001+08:00

Blogbits For Friends: Amazing Noni "Apatot" Plant: "Apatot is a plant what we call in the Phillipines for Nonu, Nono, or Noni which has become popular for years ago in treating ailments and disorders in the body. People in our place who’ve been using it called it as a “miracle plant” as they testified that they have been cured from their illness.

Back in year 2000, one of our staff Alan Villarias told us from vacation in Leyte that her mother who suffered from acute arthritis which she could hardly walk has been cured by the treatment of Noni or Apatot juice. He said Noni juice is very popular in their town because many were cured even without a doctor treatment or buying medicines from the drugstores.

By that time here in South Cotabato, Apatot also became popular. In fact, it was sold in the market and grabbed by many-- from barks, fruits and twigs. The barks were sold in pack and used as a tea by boiling it with water. The matured fruits were sold at P150.00 – P200.00 per kilo and even the young ones were sold out at a lower price. As most people using it, matured fruits are ripened and smashed into a puree and the juice is extracted through a cloth. The young ones are boiled and also taken as a tea. The twigs were sold at P10.00 for planting or they make use of it anyhow.

As a user of natural medicines, I became interested of the Apatot plant. I bought two twigs and hoped somehow it will survive. The twigs grew up and became a big tree, bearing fruits everyday. I use to pick up the ripe fruits fallen on the ground and wash it clean and stock in a glass pitcher then refrigerate. When it produces juice I take a spoonful from it during bedtime. I tested it for myself observing how it affects my body glands. There was a frequent urinating, feeling of warmth and excessive perspiration. The first month I took it regularly, pimples and acnes spread out over my face and then gone. The muscle pain I was suffering in my leg also gone. What was so surprising is that there was always a feeling of excitement in sex. I never have told this to anyone even to my husband until I am convinced and certain that it really cures illness and is safe to use. I firmly believe in the effectiveness of pure Apatot juice- the how it affects the glands of the body, giving them what they need to promote health. It’s really an incredible immune system builder and has strong anti-toxin properties.

My husband would not believe it! He hates the smell of Apatot and he even warned me not to store it in the refrigerator. But when he suffered from painful rheumatism which his physician could hardly treat it, he secretly tried for a spoonful of the pure juice each day. When I caught him on the act I laughed at him because he swore not to try it when he confronted me before. His illness completely cured by just taking for a spoonful of pure juice during bedtime and morning. We both became a regular user of apatot juice. I also use to add it to juice drinks for my children.

Clinics, hospitals and drugstores at that time lack patients and customers because people were only relying on the effectiveness of the Apatot. This maybe the reason why Apatot or Noni was banned claiming that it is dangerous to health and that will possibly cause to death. I don’t believe it! I think they’re just making bad stories against it because as far as I know, according to the history, Apatot has been used as a food source of Polynesians and became a staple food choice in times of famine to sustain strength. So whatever people say or how they banned Apatot, we remain using it until now. I think more than ten years of using it is enough to prove that it is safe to use."

Philippines not going to fight peso's rise-official

2010-11-04T11:02:00.001+08:00

Philippines not going to fight peso's rise-official - Yahoo! Philippines News:

MANILA, Nov 3 -- The Philippines will not block the peso's strength even on concerns its surge to 2-� year highs against the dollar may undermine export competitiveness and remittances from Filipinos abroad, a government official said on Wednesday.

'The BSP is not going to fight the market,' Ricky Carandang, one of President Benigno Aquino's spokesmen, told reporters.

"We know that the exporters are worried that it may have an impact. We know that overseas Filipinos are worried about that and we're starting to think of what can be done about it."

Last week, the central bank approved measures to encourage capital outflows and help temper peso's gains of more than 8 percent this year.

For a list of the changes in the foreign exchange rules approved on Thursday, click on [ID:nSGE69R0I4]

The central bank has said it was not considering capital controls, and said while the inflows could complicate policy settings it did not want to discourage investors as the country needs funds to upgrade infrastructure. [ID:nSGE69I0E6] There have been concerns the inflows, part of a global shift to emerging markets by investors, pose a risk by strengthening currencies and undermining export competitiveness and remittance inflows, a key driver of domestic consumption.

"The best that monetary officials can do is really to make sure that the fluctuations are not so violent or not so volatile," Carandang said.

"You cannot force your currency to where you want it to go. It's a function of market forces that are in many cases beyond our control. So maybe more coordination, more talks between central banks in the region and governments in the region."

How To Prevent Dengue

2010-10-12T19:50:00.001+08:00

Ang dengue ay nakukuha sa pamamagitan ng Aedes aegypti at Aedes albopictus. Maaaring ikaw ay magkasakit ng dengue sa pamamagitan ng kagat ng lamok na Aedes aegypti o Aedes albopictus na naka-kagat sa isang taong may sakit na dengue.

Anong sintomas na ikaw ay nagkaroon ng dengue?

pabigla-biglang pagtaas ng lagnat na umabot hanggang 40°C mula sa dalawa hanggang pitong araw.
sakit o pamamanhid ng kabutuhan (joints)
sakit ng ulo at panghihina
pagkaroon ng pupulahing puntik-puntik sa katawan
sakit ng tiyan
pagdudugo ng gilagid at ilong
pagsusuka at pagtatae ng may kulay pula o itim

Sa anong paraan upang maiwasan ang sakit na Dengue-Hemorrhagic Fever?

Takpan ang mga lalagyan ng tubig gaya ng drum, balde at ganun na rin ang balon kung meron kayo upang ito ay di mapag-itlogan ng lamok.
Linisan o kuskusing mabuti ang mga gilid ng mga sisidlan ng tubig gaya ng drain pan o mga plorera dahil ang itlog ng lamok ay maaaring dumikit sa mga gilid nito. Palitan ang tubig ng plorera makaisang beses sa isang lingo upang maiwasan ang pag-ganap ng "wrigglers" ng itlog ng lamok.
Linisin ang baradong alulod ng inyong bahay upang di mananatili ang tubig-ulan.
Butasan ang mga gomang ginagamit na pampabigat sa atip ng bahay upang di rin ito mapunduhan ng tubig.
Linisin ang palibot ng bahay. Itapon o ipunin ng maayos ang mga walang lamang lata, bote at huwag hayaang mapunduhan ng tubig kapag umuulan.
Ugaliin ang 4 o’clock habit – Maglinis ng buong paligid at magpa-usok sa pamamagitan ng mga tuyong dahon, kahoy, o basura na WALANG halong plastic, cellophane, styrofoam at goma dahil ito ay nakasisira rin ng ating ozone layer.

Ano ang dapat ispin at gawin?

Huwag painumin ng ASPIRIN ang taong nagkasakit ng DENGUE.
Huwag hayaang madapuan o makagat ng lamok ang pasyenteng may Dengue upang di kumalat ang“virus” ng lamok.
Painumin ng maraming tubig ang pasyente.
Magpakonsulta agad sa doktor o sa pinakamalapit na ospital o Health Center sa inyong lugar.

Source: Dengue Prevention and Control Program, Infectious Disease Control Unit, Polomolok Municipal Health Center

How dangerous are snake bites?

2010-09-06T10:39:00.001+08:00

How dangerous are snake bites? - Yahoo! Philippines News:

Why do snakes bite? Who do snakes bite? And what should be done when bitten by a snake? We don't often hear questions like these asked in normal conversation. This is because snakes are not very common animals like dogs and cats that can be easily spotted in households. In the Philippines, out if the few hundred species of snakes, there are thirty poisonous snakes that can be identified. Snakes can be found in rural areas, especially farmlands and rivers where they can easily prey on smaller animals and live in the moist. This also makes people in rural areas prone to snake encounters and snake bites - something that should not be taken lightly, even from non-venomous snakes. Five million snake bites are recorded worldwide yearly and causes about 125,000 deaths. This number should not be taken lightly, considering that snakes are only common in tropical regions and in agricultural areas.

Why snakes bite

Snakes bite when they are attacked. Most people who encounter snakes commit the mistake of engaging the snake and turning aggressive towards it making the snake defensive. When you encounter a snake in the wilderness, it if doesn't harm you first, it's best to just keep away from the snake instead of trying to kill it.

Snake bites that lead to deaths are not only caused by the venom from the snake. Infection, tetanus, as well as improper handling or treatment of the bite can lead to more deaths. So when faced with this problem, one must be able to provide first-aid as well a treatment to lessen the harm that can result from the bite. What to do when bitten by a snake

Here are some things that should be done if someone has been bitten by a snake.

Get away from the snake.Call for medical help.While waiting for medical help, apply first-aid on the snake bite.Wash the bite with soap and water.Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.Cover the area with a clean, cool compress or a moist dressing to minimize swelling and discomfort.Monitor vital signs.

If a victim is unable to reach medical care within 30 minutes, the American Red Cross recommends:

Apply a bandage, wrapped two to four inches above the bite, to help slow the venom. This should not cut off the flow of blood from a vein or artery - the band should be loose enough to slip a finger under it.A suction device can be placed over the bite to help draw venom out of the wound without making cuts. These devices are often included in commercial snake bite kits.

Sources: Emedicinehealth Pinoy Mountainer

Catholic Church bares advocacies for new administration

2010-09-02T08:05:00.000+08:00

Catholic Church bares advocacies for new administration - Yahoo! Philippines News: "The Catholic Church has drawn up a list of 13 advocacies that will help guide the new administration of President Benigno Simeon 'Noynoy' Aquino III. The 13-point advocacies that were presented to the media yesterday are

1) Implement land reform through Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reform or CARPER;
2) No to legalization of the Reproductive Health Bill, same sex union, abortion, divorce, euthanasia and contraceptives;
3) No to demolition without relocation of urban poor families;
4) top human trafficking of children and women;
5) Protect the environment by stopping large scale mining and illegal logging;
6) Stop corruption and prosecute the people involved in graft and corruption;
7) No to Nepotism and political dynasty in Philippine politics;
8) Uphold human rights of all the accused;
9) Educate the poor by improving educational system and give the poor access to quality education;
10) Peace and security: Negotiate with the rebels with public consultations to all stakeholders;
11) Stop illegal gambling by arresting and prosecuting gambling lords;
12) Alleviate poverty by improving the living condition of the marginalized, under-represented and oppressed people; and
13) Food security by eliminating structures that hinder the growth and development of those in the agricultural sector."

At least seven killed in hostage crisis

2010-08-24T08:43:00.001+08:00

Fit to Post – Yahoo! Philippines News � Blog Archive At least seven killed in hostage crisis �: "(UPDATE 23) Philippine security forces stormed a bus full of Hong Kong tourists on Monday to end a dramatic hostage crisis that unfolded live on global television, leaving at least seven people and the gunman dead.

Hong Kong eventually issued its�top-level black travel alert for the Philippines on Monday after Hong Kong tourists were killed in Manila in a bus hijack by an armed ex-policeman.

The Hong Kong government said it was “very disappointed” about the outcome of a dramatic hostage siege.

The day-long ordeal began when a disgruntled ex-policeman armed with an M-16 assault rifle hijacked the bus in Manila’s tourist district in a desperate bid to get his job back.

(see the video here)

Negotiations broke down after nightfall when the gunman, a highly decorated former senior police inspector identified as Rolando Mendoza, began shooting the passengers, and commandos stormed the bus.

Police said Mendoza was shot dead by a sniper after he used his captives as “human shields” in the final moments of the 12-hour standoff.

“I shot two Chinese. I will finish them all if they do not stop,” Mendoza told a local radio station as the police assault was about to get underway.

“I can see a lot of SWAT (special weapons and tactics police) coming in. I know they will kill me. They should all leave because anytime I will do the same here.”

Seven of the Hong Kong tourists were confirmed killed, according to doctors at hospitals in Manila and the Hong Kong government, although exactly how they died was not immediately clear.

Seven tourists, including children, and two Filipinos were freed at various times throughout the day from the bus parked at Rizal Park, a popular tourist destination just a few blocks from police headquarters.

The Filipino bus driver jumped out of a window and escaped moments before police stormed the vehicle, with his escape and the rest of the crisis broadcast live on television.

Another four hostages were seen scrambling out of the bus after the siege ended, but the fate of the remaining Hong Kong tourists originally on board the bus remained unknown late on Monday.

The Hong Kong government issued its top-level black travel alert for the Philippines after the crisis ended, but said it was sending in two charter planes to Manila for the families of the hostages.

Police were unable to get inside the bus for more than an hour after negotiations broke down and they decided to storm it.

They encircled the bus, smashed its windows and fired at it, but Mendoza held them off by shooting back.

The crisis eventually ended when police threw tear gas inside the bus, and fired again.

“He used the tourists as human shields. But he panicked and retreated to the front of the bus. He was then met with a valley of gunfire,” the assault team’s leader, Superintendent Nelson Yabut told reporters afterwards.

“One of our snipers managed to shoot him in the head.”

Mendoza, 55, was honoured by police chiefs in 1986 as one of the top 10 officers in the country.

But he was discharged in 2008 for his alleged involvement in drug-related crimes and extortion, and he hijacked the bus in a desperate bid to clear his name, according to police.

“He wants to be reinstated in the service,” Manila district police chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay said early in the day.

Joseph Tung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, said the tourists on the bus were aged between four and 72.

They were on a three-day tour with Hong Thai Travel and were scheduled to return to Hong Kong late Monday.

“A serious kidnap incident happened in the Philippines. Hong Kong residents should avoid all travel to the country,” a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a statement.

“Those who are already there should attend to their personal safety and exercise caution.”

Monday’s bus hijack recalled a similar hostage-taking in 2007, when a troubled civil engineer armed with a grenade took over a bus and held 30 children but freed them after a 10-hour standoff with police.

The 2007 drama took place near Manila city hall, just off Rizal Park.

Monday’s tragedy also added to a fast-growing number of attacks of foreigners in the Philippines.

Gunmen shot dead a South Korean man in a separate attack on Monday morning in another section of Manila. Police said the incidents were not related.

Last month, an American, a South African, a Briton and their Filipina partners were killed in spate of murder-robberies in Angeles City north of Manila. The alleged killer was arrested.

House of Pacquiao's sister raided for illegal gambling

2010-08-01T10:07:00.004+08:00

House of Pacquiao's sister raided for illegal gambling | Sun.Star Network Online:

"GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The house of the sister of Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao was raided by the authorities in General Santos City for suspicion of illegal gambling activity.

Raided was the residence of Isidra Pacquiao-Paglinawan, older sister of Pacquiao. The subject was, however, not in the house when police operatives arrived.

At least 10 people suspected to be ushers of 'Last Two' were arrested along with several gambling paraphernalia and cash.

Representative Pacquiao, who arrived in the area just as the authorities were conducting the raid, was meanwhile surprised by the incident.

In a television interview, the boxing champ said if proven by court that his sister is indeed involved in the illegal activity then he will not tolerate her misdeeds.

"Kung may kasalanan sya dito eh di parusahan. Ganun naman ako, walang pinipili," Pacquiao said.

Rumors on the involvement of the Pacquiaos in the illegal gambling activity in General Santos City and Sarangani have been going around for some time now.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Pacquiao's brother and Apopong barangay chief Roel Pacquiao is the one handling the illegal gambling activity in the said areas.

Several "outlets" were said to have been maintained by the Pacquiaos and is said to be raking in at least P1.5 million a day in earnings.

Back when Pacquiao was training in the United States for his fight with Ghana's Joshua Clottey last March, the earnings from the illegal gambling activity were allegedly used to fund Pacquiao's campaign for the congressional race in Sarangani.

The issue of Pacquiao's involvement in illegal gambling cropped up as authorities intensified the hunt for illegal gambling operators.

Intelligence operatives said some police officials are receiving millions of pesos in protection fees from big time gambling lords.

Some high-ranking officials in the region are allegedly getting about P500,000 per week while lower ranked police officials get a weekly stipend of P50,000.

Police authorities, however, denied the allegations.

The organized crime group headed by Rex Salud operating in Cebu was said to be helping the Pacquiaos in running their illegal gambling business.

A report by the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) about organized crime in the Philippines identified the Rex "Wacky" Salud Group with 30 members operating in Cebu as being engaged in illegal gambling. The said report was presented by the PCTC in a gathering in Tokyo, Japan on January 2003. (Ben O. Tesiorna)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 1, 2010.

Dolefil not a labor violator, exec says | Sun.Star Network Online

2010-07-28T10:12:00.003+08:00

Dolefil not a labor violator, exec says | Sun.Star Network Online: "GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Fruit giant Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) has denied that it does not comply with labor standards as shown by the audit of the Societe Generalle de Surveillance (SGS), an offense with a penalty of declassification from the Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000) list.

Kevin Davis, Dolefil general manager, questioned the audit conducted by SGS last March 23-27, stressing there's 'serious irregularities in the conduct of the audit.'

'This matter is now the subject of a complaint pending before SGS. Likewise, the company strongly disagrees with the alleged major non-conformance that the lead auditor cited. The company found this to be baseless and therefore has filed the requisite appeal,' the executive said in a recent statement.

SGS, which issues the SA 8000 certification, is already in the process of organizing an Appeals Committee to process the appeal in accordance with their rules and regulations, Davis added.

The Dolefil management expressed confidence that the appeal will be resolved in favor of the company in due course.

Dolefil has been an SA 8000 certified company for more than nine years now, starting March 2001. It is one of only six companies in the entire country that is SA certified and holds the distinction of being the first manufacturing company in the Philippines that has been SA certified.

Davis recounted that the controversy arose after Dolefil recognized the newly-elected officers of the incumbent union named Amado Kadena-National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AK-Naflu-KMU).

In the SGS audit report, the newly-elected officers were identified as belonging to UR-Dole, although the management recognized them as Amado Kadena.

A special meeting by 71% of the union membership last February resulted to the election of the new officers, and resolved to disaffiliate from Naflu-KMU, Davis said.

The old officers challenged the legality of the special meeting before the Bureau of Labor Relations where the matter is still pending.

The company intends to continue to deal with the new set of officers until the intra-union dispute on the union leadership has been resolved with finality or until a new set of officers have been duly elected by the union membership, Davis said.

In a letter dated last June 4, SGS said it has verified one major and two minor non-conformities against Dolefil in relation to SA 8000 standards.

"The major non-conformity has been raised against the standard requirement Freedom of Association, and the two minor non-conformity raised were related to Control of Suppliers and Health and Safety," wrote Marina Piloni, Systems and Services Certification-SA 8000 global product manager.

Jonie A. Valdez, national staff of Naflu-KMU, earlier claimed the action of Dolefil to recognize UR-Dole or Amado Kadena is tantamount to union busting.

Dolefil negotiates with UR-Dole despite the company's collective bargaining agreement with Amado Kadena-Naflu-KMU still in effect until February 10, 2011, Valdez said.

Davis said the CBA is in place and continues to be respected, clearly demonstrated "by the fact that the company has already implemented the wage increase for the year pursuant to the CBA."

As a matter of policy, Dolefil respects the rights of its workers to organize, which is public knowledge in the community and as demonstrated by its historical dealings with various trade unions as early as the 1960s in its operations in the Philippines, the expatriate said.

SA 8000 is a voluntary, universal standard for companies interested in auditing and certifying labor practices in their facilities and those of their suppliers and vendors. It is designed for independent third-party certification.

SA 8000 is based on the principles of international human rights norms as described in International Labor Organization conventions, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It measures the performance of companies in eight key areas: child labor, forced labor, health and safety, free association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, and compensation.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on July 28, 2010.

SONA: Transcript of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III's State of the Nation Address

2010-07-26T17:31:00.001+08:00

SONA: Transcript of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III's State of the Nation Address:
07/26/2010 | 04:50 PM

State of the Nation Address

of His Excellency
Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
to the Congress of the Philippines
Session Hall of the House of Representatives
July 26, 2010
[Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City]

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.

Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.

Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.

Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.

Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.

Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga po ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang. Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta’y sais porsyento ang dagdag.

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha. Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta’y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta’y otso mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa’t kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo. Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira – sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu’t anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.

Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu’t walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.

Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Walumpu’t anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.

Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana’y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.

Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.

Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.

Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.

Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.

Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan. Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.

Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu’t anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?

Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.

Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.

Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.

Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin ukol dito.

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles ng baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu’t dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni MacArthur.

May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.

Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba’t ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.

Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:

Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu’t anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan. Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa’t isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.

Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.

Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu’t pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta’y tres porsyento naman. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu’t walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.

Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.

Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.

Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower’s Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.

Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.

Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Mag-usap tayo.

Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.

Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.

Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo. Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?

Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?

Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw—kung iisipin nating “Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa"—magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.

Traveling with kids

2010-07-25T11:06:00.000+08:00

Traveling with kids - Yahoo! Philippines News

Children are adorable, no doubt about it. But when you are traveling with them on a long journey, they turn into so-called ''little monsters.'' Siti Rohani, managing editor of the Asian edition of Reader's Digest who handles the travel features, shares some tips on what to do if you are traveling with kids:

Keep food and water in your hand luggage when flying. It may take some time before the flight crew can get to you after take-off, especially if it's a bumpy ride and the seatbelt sign is still on. So, it's a good idea to keep snacks in your bag to keep the little ones happy until you can get some assistance. Since water is not allowed to be brought in, ask the stewardess if she could give you water once you get into the plane and explain to her your reason for having water immediately.
Split up. The old adage of strength in numbers doesn't apply when flying with children. It may be easier if you and your partner sit several rows apart so one can get some rest while the other tends to the child. This works equally if you have more than one child; breaking the kids up can keep the noise level down and your sanity intact.
Give your kids emergency instructions. It's inevitable that your kids will think you a nag, but it's crucial that you give them instructions on what to do in case you get separated; for example, not to follow strangers. Prepare a card they can carry with them (keep it in a plastic case for durability) with the name of the hotel you're staying at and the various phone numbers where they can reach you.
Plan for a rainy day. Make contingency plans in case of bad weather so you won't be stuck in a hotel room with brooding children. Rainy day activities include trips to the museum or art galleries.
Bring along a stroller. Not only will it provide a comfortable place for your child to sit in when he gets tired, you can also use it to wheel your bags around when you're up and about.
Find out local transport costs. Sometimes, children below a certain age get to travel on public transport for free. This information may not be relayed to you by the train conductors or bus drivers so it pays to do some research.
Inquire about family packages. Popular tourist attractions like the zoo or theme parks may offer family packages with concessionary prices for children so it never hurts to inquire at the ticket booth.
Dress your kids in bright colors. Deck your children with distinctive clothing so you can spot them easily in a crowd. But to avoid costly therapy sessions in the future, draw the line at fancy dress costumes.

If you are bringing with you a little baby, Sarah Tucker, author of Have Toddle, Will Travel, shares the following tips:
• Young children invariably get bored during long journeys. Fill the day before with activities so they're more likely to sleep during the travel.
• Consider traveling by train which is a toddlers' favorite type of transport. If flying, choose a departure time that fits in with normal sleeping patterns.
• Toddlers can be fussy about the place they sleep in - take their own bedding or a pillow. And bring a favorite cuddly toy.

Aquino applauds 'Django', Ana Julaton

2010-07-14T07:03:00.000+08:00

Aquino applauds 'Django', Ana Julaton - Yahoo! Philippines News: "President Benigno Aquino III is presented by Ana 'The Hurricane' Julaton with a pair of autographed boxing gloves during a courtesy call on him Monday (July 12). Looking on are billiards legends Efren 'Bata' Reyes and Francisco 'Django' Bustamante. (ALFREDO FRANCISCO-OPS/NIB Photo)

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III praised the recent achievements of cue artist Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Filipino-American pugilist Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton in Malaca�ang on Monday."

Bustamante, the 2010 World 9-Ball victor, and Julaton, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion, paid a courtesy call on Aquino Monday afternoon at the Presidential Guest House.

Julaton presented to the President the Everlast boxing gloves she used in winning the vacant WBO title last month.

She toppled Maria Elena Villalobos of Mexico by split decision at “Rumble at the Rama XII” at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada on June 30.

Aquino even told the Fil-Am boxer that his father, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., was into boxing during his college days.

The President also received a cue stick from Bustamante, who was accompanied by his wife Milagros, billiards godfather Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, and fellow Filipino pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes.

Bustamante won the World 9-Ball title after edging “The Little Monster” Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese Taipei, 13-7, at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation hall in Doha, Qatar early this month.

The win placed Bustamante in the elite group of Filipino World 9-ball champions that includes Reyes (1999), Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan (2004) and Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano (2006).

‘Django’ eyes more titles

After capturing the World 9-Ball title that he almost won in 2002, Bustamante jumped to No. 2 in the 2010 Player Money List with $69,338.

Reyes currently leads the list with $71,012 after conquering the 2010 Spanish Open in Vigo, Spain last June 21 to 23. He bested Niels “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands in the finals.

According to AZbilliards.com, other Filipinos in the money list are No. 5 Lee Van “The Slayer” Corteza with $37,625 and No. 7 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo with $33,775.

Bustamante is said to be setting his sights on the US Open, which he has not won yet.

Before the US Open in October, he and Reyes will defend their World Cup of Pool crown in Manila in September.

Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton and Francisco "Django" Bustamante

Julaton in Manila

Julaton, for her part, expressed her desire to fight before her kababayans in the Philippines.

“Negotiations are still taking place but I hope to have my next fight here,” said the ward of famed trainer Freddie Roach.

The Fil-Am fighter, a former WBO and International Boxing Association (IBA) champion, has 7 wins (with 1 knockout), 2 losses and 1 draw.

“Despite being able to acquire these titles, it’s a lot of pride for me to show the world what is it to be a Filipina, strong, resilient and we have a place in this world,” added Julaton in a press conference as quoted by The Philippine Star.

She also regarded Roach as “an excellent communicator,” sharing that the American trainer told her to show a lot of confidence against her Mexican opponent. – With reports from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), Joey Villar of The Philippine Star and Marlon Bernardino

Cops arrest 2 killers of Ampatuan massacre witness

2010-07-04T13:23:00.000+08:00

Cops arrest 2 killers of Ampatuan massacre witness – report - Yahoo! Philippines News: "Police have arrested two suspects in the killing of Suwaib Upham, a potential key witness in the multiple murder case stemming from the Ampatuan carnage last year that shocked the world.

An initial radio report on Saturday quoted police officials as identifying Upham's attackers as a certain Abdullah Pasawilan alias 'Dedo Pasawilan,' and Morted Sintal.

Upham claimed to be one of the gunmen in the November 23, 2009 massacre in Maguindanao that left dead 57 people, including 32 journalists, in what is regarded the worst, single-day election-related violence in Philippine history."

After deciding to turn his back on the Ampatuans, Upham approached the prosecution and in February faced the media — although masked under the alias "Jessie" — to explicitly state that the powerful Ampatuan clan was behind the killings.

Upham tried to apply for the government’s witness protection program, but was killed before he was granted protection.

Private prosecutor Harry Roque earlier claimed that he already knew the identities of Upham's four attackers but refused to reveal them to media.

Roque had said they learned about the suspects' identities through Upham's relatives and a person who claimed to have witnessed his killing.

Reached by GMANews.TV on Saturday night, Roque refused to confirm if the suspects arrested by the police were among those he had earlier eyed as suspects in the crime.

"Hindi muna ako magco-confirm kasi baka maaberya iyong paghahanap doon sa dalawa pa (I won't confirm anything yet because it might snag efforts to find the other two)," Roque said over the phone.

Roque promised he would reveal the names of all four suspects once he gets an assurance that police have already collared them.

"Everyone knows I am all for the 'freedom of information,' [meaning] I share eveything I know. But this is an exception," Roque said in jest, alluding to the House bill that would have allowed the public to gain easier access to government documents and transactions.—JV, GMANews.TV

P-Noy to Pinoys: You are my boss (Noynoy Promise)

2010-07-01T07:18:00.001+08:00

P-Noy to Pinoys: You are my boss - Yahoo! Philippines News: "MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino promised yesterday the dawning of real change and to make the people his “only boss,” as he rallied them to unite since “we’re all in this together.”

“You are the boss so I cannot ignore your orders. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to your needs and aspirations,” Mr. Aquino said in his inaugural address after being sworn in as the country’s 15th president by Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park at noon yesterday."

“You are the ones who brought me here: our volunteers – old, young, celebrity, ordinary folks who went around the country to campaign for change; my household help who provided for all my personal needs; my family, friends, colleagues at work, who shared, cared, and gave their support; my lawyers who stayed all hours to guard my votes and make sure they were counted; and the millions of Filipinos who prevailed, kept faith, and never lost hope – I offer my heartfelt gratitude,” Mr. Aquino said.

“This is the end of the government that does not care for the people. It is not Noynoy who found a way. You are the reason why the suffering of the nation is about to end. This is the beginning of my Calvary, but together we can carry this cross, no matter how heavy it is,” Mr. Aquino said.

“Through good governance in the coming years, we will lessen our problems. The destiny of the Filipino will return to its rightful place, and as each year passes, the Filipino’s problems will continue to lessen with the assurance of progress in their lives,” he said.

“Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang pagnanakaw. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawanggawa (No more cheating, no more patronage politics, no more stealing. It’s time for helping one another),” the President said.

“Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, walang maiiwan. Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon (Today, I am inviting you to pledge to yourselves and to our people, no one shall be left behind. No more junkets or senseless spending. No more turning back on pledges made during the campaign, whether today or in the coming challenges over the next six years),” he said.

The 50-year-old President drew loud cheers from the crowd the moment he arrived at the grandstand with former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

His speech touched on his campaign promises and the most applauded were his references to fighting corruption and on empowering the people.

His speech was rich in messages of hope, change, reforms, unity, self-reliance, perseverance and hard work.

Top local artists came to sing inspirational and patriotic songs. The crowd cheered, flashed the L or Laban (fight) sign, waved yellow flags and many had fun with the music. The national anthem was sung by international singing sensation Charice.

True strength

President Aquino said he felt humbled by the people’s show of trust, declaring “my presence here today is proof that you are my true strength.”

“I never expected that I will be here taking my oath of office before you as your president. I never imagined that I would be tasked with continuing the mission of my parents. I never entertained the ambition to be the symbol of hope, and to inherit the problems of our nation,” he said.

“I had a simple goal in life: to be true to my parents and our country as an honorable son, a caring brother, and a good citizen,” Mr. Aquino said.

“My father offered his life so our democracy could live. My mother devoted her life to nurturing that democracy. I will dedicate my life to making our democracy reach its fullest potential: that of ensuring equality for all. My family has sacrificed much and I am willing to do this again if necessary,” he said.

“I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens. We all know what it is like to have a government that plays deaf and dumb. We know what it is like to be denied justice, to be ignored by those in whom we placed our trust and were tasked to become our advocates,” Aquino said.

“Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at a government that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I,” Aquino said, eliciting cheers and applause from the crowd.

“I am like you. Many of our countrymen have already voted with their feet – migrating to other countries in search of change or tranquility. They have endured hardship, risked their lives because they believe that compared to their current state here, there is more hope for them in another country, no matter how bleak it may be,” he said, referring to overseas workers.

“In moments when I thought of only my own welfare, I also wondered – is it possible that I can find the peace and quiet that I crave in another country? Is our government beyond redemption? Has it been written that the Filipino’s lot is merely to suffer?” he asked.

No more indifference

Mr. Aquino promised that his administration would be sensitive to the needs of the people.

“We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the nation,” he added.

“It is the promise I made during the campaign, which you accepted on election. During the campaign we said, ‘If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor.’ That is no mere slogan for posters – it is the defining principle that will serve as the foundation of our administration,” he pointed out.

He said his administration’s foremost mission was to lift the nation from poverty through honest and effective governance.

“The first step is to have leaders who are ethical, honest, and true public servants. I will set the example. I will strive to be a good model. I will not break the trust you have placed in me. I will ensure that this, too, will be the advocacy of my Cabinet and those who will join our government,” Mr. Aquino said.

“I do not believe that all of those who serve in our government are corrupt. In truth, the majority of them are honest. They joined government to serve and do good. Starting today, they will have the opportunity to show that they have what it takes. I am counting on them to help fight corruption within the bureaucracy,” he noted.

He assured his “impoverished countrymen” that “starting today, your government will be your champion.”

Education

“We will not disregard the needs of our students. We will begin by addressing the glaring shortage in classrooms and educational facilities. Gradually, we will lessen the lack of infrastructures for transportation, tourism and trade. From now on, mediocre work will not be good enough when it comes to roads, bridges, and buildings because we will hold contractors responsible for maintaining their projects in good condition,” he said.

“We will not be the cause of your suffering or hardship. We will strengthen collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and we will fight corruption in the Bureau of Customs in order to fund our objectives for the public welfare, such as: quality education, including vocational education, so that those who choose not to attend college or those who cannot afford it can find dignified livelihood; improved public health services such as PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance coverage) for all within three years; a home for every family, within safe communities,” Mr. Aquino said.

“We will strengthen the armed forces and the police, not to serve the interests of those who want to wield power with impunity, but to give added protection for ordinary folk. The armed forces and the police risk their lives daily so that the nation can live in peace and security. The population has doubled and yet their numbers remain unchanged. It is not right that those who make sacrifices are treated pitifully,” he said.

Farmers’ security

Mr. Aquino also said there would be greater security for farmers under his administration.

“We are directing (Agriculture) Secretary (Proceso) Alcala to set up trading centers that will directly link farmers and consumers thereby eliminating middlemen and opportunities for corruption. In this way, funds can be shared by farmers and consumers,” he said.

“We will make our country attractive to investors. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance to business. This is the only means by which we can provide jobs for our people,” Mr. Aquino said.

He said his government’s goal would be to create jobs at home so that there would be no need for Filipinos to look for employment abroad.

“However, as we work towards that end, I am ordering the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency), OWWA (Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration), and other relevant agencies to be even more responsive to the needs and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers,” he said.

Consultation

Mr. Aquino also said his government would strengthen the process of consultation and feedback.

“We will strive to uphold the constitutional right of citizens to information on matters of public concern. We relived the spirit of people power during the campaign. Let it take us to good and effective governance. Those who believe in people power put the welfare of others before their own,” Mr. Aquino said.

“If I have all of you by my side, we will be able to build a nation in which there will be equality of opportunity, because each of us fulfilled our duties and responsibilities equally,” he said.

After the elections, Mr. Aquino said the people “proved that it is the people who wield power in this country.”

“This is what democracy means. It is the foundation of our unity. We campaigned for change. Because of this, the Filipino stands tall once more. We are all part of a nation that can begin to dream again. To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities,” Mr. Aquino said.

“We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, ‘it all works,’” he stressed.

Mr. Aquino said he attained victory because the people stood together with him.

“We had no resources to campaign other than our common faith in the inherent goodness of the Filipino. The people who are behind us dared to dream,” he said.

“Today, the dream starts to become a reality. To those among you who are still undecided about sharing the common burden I have only one question: Are you going to quit now that we have won?”

Parents’ legacy

“I will not be able to face my parents and you who have brought me here if I do not fulfill the promises I made. My parents sought nothing less, died for nothing less, than democracy and peace. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward,” the President said.

“My hope is that when I leave office, everyone can say that we have traveled far on the right path, and that we are able to bequeath a better future to the next generation. Join me in continuing this fight for change,” he told Filipinos during his inaugural address.

After his inauguration, Mr. Aquino proceeded to the Malacañang for lunch with his family and guests and administered the oath of office to 200 local officials as his first official act, after which he presided over his first Cabinet meeting.

- By Aurea Calica (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Colorectal cancer 3rd highest killer disease

2010-06-29T07:24:00.002+08:00

Colorectal cancer 3rd highest killer disease - Yahoo! Philippines News: "'Our colon can be likened to how the colon of a cow works; it is more suitable for fibrous food like vegetables and fruits rather than meat,' explains Dr. Manuel Francisco T. Roxas, president of the Philippine Society of Colorectal Surgeons (PSCRS) during the recently concluded 1st National Convention on Colorectal Surgery. Dr. Roxas, who is also the head of The Medical City's (TMC) colorectal surgery section shares that colon cancer is now ranked as the third killer disease in the country, an alarming jump from its seventh spot 10 years ago. Global scenario Worldwide, colorectal cancer is a very common condition. But colorectal surgery had become active and vibrant especially in European countries that the development in technology and specialization has led to higher survival rates of colon cancer patients. Meanwhile, the death rate in countries that have strong screening programs and where treatment is sophisticated is going down." Sadly, the same cannot be said about local conditions. While the country does not have a strong screening program, there are also very few doctors who specialize in the field of colorectal surgery.

If truth be told, more Filipinos suffering from the disease die compared to its neighboring countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. "Our survival rate for colon cancer (based on 2005 data) is 48 percent (while) rectum cancer is 19 percent!" Early detection With the slim chance for survival, it is likely that the future of a colorectal cancer patient is as gloomy as a stormy night. Yet, according to Dr. Roxas, through screening, colorectal cancer can be avoided, and in fact, it can be cured if detected early. Majority of people who get colorectal cancer belongs to the average age of 60 and it takes 10 years for a polyp to become a cancer. Thus, Dr. Roxas strongly encourages every Filipino to get a screening once they reach the age of 50 since it is a way to detect possible polyps in its early stage. Blood examination or fecal occult blood, another way for screening aside from colonoscopy, costs P200 to P400 a year. Before colorectal cancer could get worst, Dr. Roxas says that blood in the stool is the most obvious tell-tale sign that one needs to have a check up right away. "They won't get any check up for months until they find out that it is more advanced than we hope it should be. Any bleeding should be check out. You don't want to assume. Leave a hemorrhoid behind as long as you know that it is a hemorrhoid," he stresses. Other symptoms are: Change in bowel habit, alternating diarrhea then constipation, persistent abdominal discomfort such as cramps, gas or pain, abdominal pain with bowel movement, a feeling that bowel doesn't empty completely, unexplained anemia, weakness or fatigue, weight loss with no known reason, and narrow or thin stools.

5 Fiber-filled food must-haves

Pears
Most people are unaware of the fact that pears contain more fiber than prunes. An average size pear packs five grams of fiber, compared to only three grams in one prune!

Light popcorn
Many people wouldn't suspect it, but a serving of popcorn actually packs four grams of fiber. Popcorn is also a good source of whole grains, and because it's popped with air, you fill up on less.

Whole-grain cereals and bread
Whole-grain cereals are a great opportunity to get in 14 grams of fiber early in the morning while 100 percent whole-wheat breads contain twice the fiber and almost half the calories of their all-white counterparts!

Cucumber
Adding a crunchy cool cucumber to your salads is an especially good way to increase your fiber intake because cucumber comes naturally prepackaged with the extra fluid you need when consuming more fiber. Plus, you get the added bonus of vitamin C, silica, potassium and magnesium.

Green peas
Due to being low calorie but very nutrient dense, green peas make an excellent snack if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Green peas have also been prescribed to increase energy function in the body. Green peas are said to maintain healthy vision as well as improve immune function.

For more information, visit www.themedicalcity.com or email mail@medicalcity.com.ph.

Noynoy Aquino fulfills destiny

2010-06-10T02:01:00.000+08:00

Fit to Post – Yahoo! Philippines News � Blog Archive Noynoy Aquino fulfills destiny �: "(UPDATED) Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III becomes the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

The son of national hero Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino II and former president Corazon Aquino, Noynoy is “The new Aquino” who won convincingly in the country’s first automated — and fastest — elections Filipinos have ever witnessed."

A consistent topnotcher in polls, Aquino’s rise to power started after he reluctantly decided to become the Liberal Party’s bet after some prodding from supporters and family following the death of his mother on August 1, 2009.

The outpouring of love and devotion to the country’s mother of democracy convinced the unassuming Aquino to make a run for the highest post in the country, taking Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, a former presidentiable and also a strong contender, as his running mate.

Just a day after four of his rivals conceded, the ever-reluctant Aquino has refused to claim early victory. “My parents taught me to be humble,” he said at a press conference a day after the May 10 elections.

Amid the chaos of election day — defective electronic ballot machines, shootings, and long queues in polling precincts — the Commission on Elections placed Aquino on top of the race as it disclosed partial and official tallies coming from polling precincts.

The Comelec claimed that this year’s elections produced the highest turnout of voters and the “most peaceful” exercise of suffrage. Philippine stocks surged the next day, with investors relieved that the election passed without any major problems.

Aquino was slow to declare victory as after he received news that the Nacionalista party bet Manuel Villar’s decided to quit the race.

“Based on the partial election results, it is clear that I have significant lead over the next contender in the presidential race. I am grateful to the Filipino people for their support and to the loyal supporters in our People’s campaign who made this achievement possible,” he said.

Aquino will formally takes office on June 30.

The 50-year-old bachelor who drew on the enormous public support for his democracy hero parents, secured just over 15.2 million votes, or nearly 42 percent of the total, according to final results released by parliament on Tuesday following the May 10 election.

Former president Joseph Estrada finished well behind in second place with nearly 9.5 million votes.

A joint public session of Congress formally ratified the results and proclaimed Aquino.

His inauguration is scheduled for the end of the month.

The rafters were packed with supporters wearing yellow, the trademark campaign color of the Aquino family.

Wearing a barong, Aquino arrived at parliament surrounded by family and friends and was escorted to a holding room.

Legislators from the two houses of Congress approved Aquino’s election by acclamation, and Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri declared him “the duly elected president of the republic”.

“It is now time to heal the wounds of the election. It is time to move forward,” Zubiri said earlier on ABS-CBN television.

Ironically, the 73-year-old Estrada held the record for the biggest win in recent Philippine political history when he triumphed in the 1998 elections with 39 percent of the total vote.

But the former action-movie star was ousted three years later, half-way through his term, amid allegations of corruption for which he was later convicted.

“I sincerely offer my congratulations to my good friend and worthy opponent,” Estrada said in a speech read by his son in Congress.

“I am confident that president-elect Aquino will fulfill his campaign promise to address the problem of corruption.”

For Aquino, victory is another chapter in his family’s dramatic political story.

His father, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, was shot dead in 1983 at Manila airport as he returned from US exile to lead the democracy movement against Marcos.

His mother, Corazon Aquino, took over from her slain husband and led the “People Power” revolution that eventually toppled Marcos in 1986. She then served as president for six years.

Her death from cancer last August triggered a massive outpouring of support for the family that turned the son from a low-key senator to presidential front-runner.

Aquino, an economics graduate, has said that fighting corruption, improving the economy and bridging the enormous wealth divide will be among his top priorities.

But his Liberal Party will be hamstrung in its efforts to implement reforms after its choice for the vice presidency, Mar Roxas, lost.

Estrada’s running mate, Jejomar Binay, won the vice presidential contest and could potentially be a destabilizing force for Aquino.

However, Binay insisted on Wednesday he would be a positive influence in government.

“I am a team player and I am willing to work with the president. Whatever is asked of me (I will do),” Binay told AFP.

The Liberal Party will also not have a majority in either house of parliament.

The Lakas Kampi CMD coalition of outgoing President Gloria Arroyo will remain powerful in parliament, and Arroyo won a seat in the lower house, where she could lead opposition to Aquino.

14 tips for a healthy digestion - MIND YOUR BODY By Willie T. Ong, MD

2010-06-08T09:15:00.003+08:00

14 tips for a healthy digestion - MIND YOUR BODY By Willie T. Ong, MD | The Philippine Star >> Lifestyle Features >> Health And Family: "14 tips for a healthy digestion
MIND YOUR BODY By Willie T. Ong, MD (The Philippine Star) Updated June 08, 2010 12:00 AM

Eating and digesting food are major functions of the human body. We eat to obtain energy to do our work. Our stomach and bowels need to properly digest and absorb the nutrients we eat. Here are 14 stomach-friendly tips to help your digestion:

1. Eat six small meals a day. Most nutritionists recommend that we eat five to six small meals a day. Why so? First, this schedule will help reduce sudden surges in your blood sugar. Second, it prevents you from overeating because of hunger. Third, the smaller food intake is easier for the stomach to digest. And fourth, frequent meals help prevent hyperacidity and ulcers. Eat several times a day, but just a little. A banana or an apple can be considered a snack already."

2. Eat two bananas a day to keep the doctor away. For me, bananas are the healthiest fruits because they can help treat diarrhea, fatigue, heartburn, insomnia, menstrual problems, and kidney problems. A six-inch banana contains 16 percent of the dietary fiber, 15 percent of the vitamin C, 11 percent of the potassium, and 20 percent of the vitamin B6 recommended each day. Based on these nutritional values, we can make a case for the banana as a natural multivitamin. Between these two banana varieties, the lakatan type (yellowish and tastier) has a higher vitamin C content compared to the latundan (white with thinner skin) variety.

3. Avoid the working lunch. Lunch is meant for eating only. If you combine eating and mental work, this can lead to indigestion. Your body will be confused as to what you want it to do. Do you want it to digest your food or to think? A possible consequence: stomach upset and hyperacidity.

4. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Drinking water is good for the bowels. Water helps wash off the acid in the stomach. It can also help cure kidney diseases, urinary tract infection, and migraine headaches. The best way to drink water is to sip it little by little throughout the day rather than to gulp down two glasses at once. Doing so will lessen the stress on your heart.

5. Wash your hands properly. According to infectious disease expert Dr. Mediadora Saniel, washing hands is the single most effective technique to prevent infections. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after eating. You prevent diseases like typhoid, gastroenteritis and cholera.

6. Choose stomach-friendly foods. Try keeping a food diary and list down which foods are gentle to your stomach (you feel good and calm afterwards) and which foods wreak havoc on your stomach (you get gurgling and discomfort after eating). Generally, we should avoid too spicy foods, like chili and hot sauce. Consume in moderation sour foods like vinegar, calamansi and pineapple juice, as these can cause hyperacidity, too. Some foods, like yogurt, contain healthy lactobacilli bacteria which are good for the stomach.

7. Choose hot, instead of cold foods. Studies show that Chinese people have fewer cases of stomach disorders as compared to the Japanese. Experts think this is because the Chinese like their tea, rice, and food piping hot, unlike the Japanese with their cold sushi and sashimi diet. Hot chicken soup, tea, milk or plain hot water are excellent foods because they can warm and relax the stomach muscles. Avoid very cold drinks that jar and upset your stomach.

8. Choose soft, instead of hard foods. Soft foods like congee, rice, noodles, papaya, and boiled fish are easier to digest as compared to hard foods like a 12-inch steak, crispy pata, and dry meat. These hard foods make the job of your stomach doubly hard. When eating these foods, you can use a sharp knife to cut your food into little pieces, and chew thoroughly. Just be careful in chewing meat because bony meat fragments can chip your teeth.

9. Eat more veggies and fruits. Vegetables and fruits contain healthy fiber, which is good for the digestion. Fiber promotes bowel movement and helps prevent bowel cancer. A common bowel disease called diverticulosis results from eating too little fiber. Vegetables like okra, kangkong, and cabbage are rich in fiber. Fruits rich in fiber include apples with the skin and oranges with the membrane in between.

10. Say no to santol seeds. To all santol-loving Filipinos: Never, never swallow a santol seed. It could be your last. There are hundreds of reported deaths already from swallowing santol seeds. Santol seeds have sharp pointy edges that can perforate the intestines. Smaller seeds, however, like those found in tomatoes and okra, are safe and won’t cause appendicitis.

11. Wear loose pants. If you are prone to heartburn, avoid wearing tight jeans. The tightness of the pants constricts and adds pressure to your abdominal cavity, thereby causing your food to back up. Some people also have a stomach hernia, which means that the closing valve between the stomach and the esophagus is loose. This makes them prone to heartburn. My favorite haberdashery store, King Philip, can make specially designed adjustable pants with garter. These are stomach-friendly pants that stretch when you sit or eat a lot.

12. Eat slowly. Eating slowly gives your stomach time to digest the food, thus causing less stomach upset. Just relax and eat well.

13. Walk after eating. After a full meal, take a 15-minute leisurely walk. By staying upright and helping gravity push the food down, you are helping in your digestion. You’ll also avoid becoming a victim of the bangungot syndrome, which is probably due to acute pancreatitis. So take our advice: Don’t go to sleep right after eating a heavy meal. Take a stroll.

14. Pray before meals. “What does prayer got to do with it,” you might ask? Well, it’s nice to say grace before eating and give thanks to the people who prepared the food. We can also pray for those who have less food to eat. And once the food is blessed and you’re all relaxed, you can now enjoy your meal. Take care.

Your guide to preventive health care

2010-05-29T08:36:00.001+08:00

Your guide to preventive health care - AN APPLE A DAY By Tyrone M. Reyes, M.D. | The Philippine Star >> Lifestyle Features >> Health And Family: "You are responsible, in large part, for managing your own preventive health care. It is the most important investment of your time and money. Yet, most Filipinos do not receive all the important preventive services they need — that is, screening tests for early detection of disease, immunizations, and education about healthy habits. Why not?

Many Filipinos are not aware of these various preventive care services, and even if they do, they may not be able to afford them.
A great number of Filipinos have no health insurance to pay for tests, vaccines, and other medical care.
Many people do not get continuity of care. They may have to switch doctors as they switch from one insurer, company, or HMO, making it hard to keep track of what services they’ve had.
Many miss out on preventive services because they do not go to their doctors for years, do not go for the tests their doctors recommend, or are confused about which tests to ask for. They may not know that prevention is the most economical form of medicine — well worth budgeting for, even if insurance doesn’t cover it."
With tests for some cancers, there’s the embarrassment factor. Some people may dread being tested for colon, prostate, cervical or breast cancer and they are relieved if the doctors fail to mention it. Some people would simply rather not know.
Both patients and doctors may be confused by contradictory recommendations. What should a medical checkup consist of? How often should a woman have a Pap smear?
Doctors may fail to ask patients about smoking and drinking, not to mention exercise habits, diet, sleep, and emotional problems.

How About Annual Physicals?

In the old days, people were advised to undergo a “complete physical exam” periodically. That standardized one-size-fits-all exam for seemingly healthy people has now largely been discarded, since it doesn’t pay off in terms of better health and longer life.

Starting in the 1980s, an independent committee of US experts, known as the Preventive Services Task Force, evaluated the benefits and drawbacks of common screening tests and came up with evidence-based recommendations. The Task Force continues to update and re-evaluate its advice. Thanks largely to this work, some tests that used to be done routinely, such as chest x-rays, electrocardiogram (EKGs), urine tests, and complete blood counts, are now reserved for people with symptoms or risk factors. In other words, they are not routine screening tests for healthy people (and as such are not covered in this article). A 2007 article found that “periodic health evaluations” could be beneficial because they allow doctors and patients to evaluate risk factors, and undertake the preventive services now proven to be beneficial and tailored to the specific patient. For this reason, it’s a good idea to see your doctor every year or two.

Vaccinations: A Checklist For Adults

Influenza: Those age 50 and over; younger people with certain chronic disorders, such as asthma, lung or heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or HIV infection; women in second or third trimester of pregnancy; and health-care workers. Young, healthy adults can also benefit from the shot.
Pneumococcal (pneumonia): Those 65 and over; younger people with certain chronic disorders (same as for influenza).
Tetanus: Everyone, every 10 years for life.
Chickenpox: Anyone who has never had chickenpox.
Shingles: People 60 and over.
Rubella (German measles): Women of child-bearing age, but not during pregnancy.
HPV (human papilloma virus), to prevent cervical cancer: women 26 and younger.
Hepatitis A: Travelers to most parts of Latin America, Africa, Asia, or other areas where hepatitis A is common; those with chronic liver disease; anyone who wants to be protected.
Hepatitis B: Sexually active gay men; heterosexuals with multiple partners; health-care workers; frequent travelers to high-risk areas; partners of infected people; drug users who share needles; certain other groups. There’s a combined vaccine for hepatitis A and B.

Preventive Services For Healthy Adults

These are the major screening tests (that is, routine tests for people without symptoms). Our advice is based largely on the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force. Infants, children, and pregnant women need other kinds of preventive care not described here.

The discussion on this list follows the following sequence: The service, who needs it, how often, and other comments.

Blood pressure measurement (to detect hypertension): All adults. Once every two years for those with normal blood pressure. More frequently for those over 60 and anyone with readings over 120/80.
Cholesterol measurement (including HDL, LDL, and triglycerides): All adults. Once every five years. More often if any results are abnormal or there are other risk factors. Those at high risk for heart disease need medical advice about lifestyle changes and possibly drug therapy.
Pap test (for early detection of cervical cancer): All women, starting within three years of becoming sexually active, no later than age 21. Annually until age 30. After 30, if three consecutive years are normal, once every two to three years, unless a woman smokes or has multiple sex partners or other risk factors. Women 70 and over who have had normal recent results can stop being screened, unless they are at high risk. Women who have had their cervix removed do not need to be tested.
Breast cancer screening (mammography): All women 50 and over; those at higher risk need to start earlier. Annually. Certain women at high risks should also have an annual MRI scan starting at age 30. Clinical breast exams are important, too — consult your doctor.
Colorectal cancer screening (fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy): Everyone over 50 and over; earlier for those at high risk. Occult blood test annually plus sigmoidoscopy every five years. Or preferably, colonoscopy every 10 years. X-ray with barium enema or CT (“virtual”) colonoscopy may also be done. Those with abnormal results need more frequent testing.
Prostate cancer screening (prostate specific antigen or PSA test; digital rectal exam or DRE: Men with family history of prostate cancer, start testing at age 40. For others, DRE and possibly PSA, starting at age 50. DRE to be done annually; PSA on professional advice. Routine PSA screening for all men remains controversial. Discuss with your doctor.
Diabetes screening (fasting blood glucose test): Everyone 45 and older; earlier for those at high risk. Every two to three years. Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, obese people, and those with strong family history need more frequent screening, starting at age 30.
Thyroid disease screening: Women 50 and over; those with high cholesterol, family history, or other risk factors. Frequency depends on professional advice. Routine screening remains controversial. Talk with your doctor about risk factors.
Bone density testing: Women 65 and over; younger women at high risk for bone loss; men at high risk. Frequency depends on professional advice. Risk factors include being small-boned, sedentary, a heavy drinker, or a smoker, or having a personal or family history of osteoporosis.
Chlamydia screening: Sexually active women 24 and younger; older women at increased risk (such as multiple partners). Annually, or more often. Men who have unprotected sex should also be tested.
Glaucoma screening: people at high risk; those over 65, very nearsighted, or diabetic; those with family history of glaucoma. Frequency depends on professional advice of eye specialist. Benefits of routine screening remain unproven. Still, most eye specialists advise testing all adults 40 and over every three to five years.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (ultrasound): men 65 to 75 who ever smoked (at least 100 cigarettes in his lifetime). Once only. Some experts think women 65 to 75 who smoked, and anyone over 75 who smoked, should also be tested.
Dental checkup: All adults. Every six months, or on professional advice. Should include cleaning and exam for oral cancer.

Bottom line: Medical experts may disagree about a lot of things, but they all agree that good health depends on improved access to and increased use of preventive services.

ABS-CBN-Willie agreement gets mixed reactions from stars - Yahoo! Philippines News

2010-05-27T00:28:00.000+08:00

ABS-CBN-Willie agreement gets mixed reactions from stars - Yahoo! Philippines News: "MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN's circle of big stars expressed mixed emotions but largely�accepted ABS-CBN management's acceptance of Willie Revillame's apology and their mutual decision for the host's indefinite leave.

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, a close friend of Revillame and his wedding godmother, said she was sad at the turn of events for both parties who are all dear to her."

But she said crucial decisions in show business have to be reached for the good of all concerned. In this case, she said, Revillame's fate is the handiwork of God to remind him of his mistake.

"Tinapik siya pero pagkatapos n'yan sana naman, yakap na," said the second term governor at her thanksgiving party on Tuesday in Batangas City. Santos has exclusively made award-winning movies and television specials for ABS-CBN in the last 15 years.

Aga Muhlach, a close friend of Revillame, refused to comment on the issue. He, however, said that ultimately ABS-CBN management and Revillame's agreement should be for the best interest of the televiewers.

Muhlach, an ABS-CBN film and TV star for the last 2 decades, also confirmed reports that he had been asked to be the next guest-host of “Wowowee,” but that he refused.

He said he did not want to be put in an uncomfortable position, and he prefers to devote his time with "Malay Mo Baka Ma-Develop," his upcoming sitcom with Ai Ai de las Alas.

“Showtime's” popular host Vice Ganda, meantime, hailed the ABS-CBN-Revillame verdict a fitting closure to the issue.

"Ang dami kasing speculations. Ngayon tatahimik na sana ang lahat. I will pray for him, we will pray for each other. (Laughs), " the comedian joked.

De las Alas also welcomed the solution to the impasse. She also indicated that she is willing to be a guest-host in “Wowowee” if the management asks her.

In the end, both Vice Ganda and De las Alas said the network's decision regarding talent discipline should be upheld and respected.

"We work inside a family, igalang natin ‘yon," said De las Alas.

2,160 Mindanao refugees heading home — report - Yahoo! Philippines News

2010-05-26T10:33:00.000+08:00

2,160 Mindanao refugees heading home — report - Yahoo! Philippines News: "A total of 2,160 refugees from 360 families forced to flee their homes due to fighting between government and secessionist troops in southern Philippines are finally going home, an online news website said.

The Union of Catholic Asian News reported Wednesday that the refugees are leaving evacuation centers in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Piang in Maguindanao."

It said the refugees, who were brought to the centers due to fighting between soldiers and a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), are being returned to their homes in Pagatin town in Maguindanao.

A team of 30 Christian and Muslim volunteers, organized by Oblates of Mary Immaculate Father Eduardo Vasquez, collected food and supplies from parishioners and neighbors to sustain the evacuees as they return.

They also received supplies bought with donations from Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN) and well wishers from the United Kingdom, the same report said.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo said this transfer is "just the beginning" of a process to bring all evacuees back to normal life.

Sinarimbo added the regional government aims to return every one of 16,131 displaced families back home.

At a farewell ceremony for the refugees, the UCAN report quoted Sinarimbo as promising to "exert every resource and effort possible to bring you all back to your homes, recover from the losses and regain the potential that may make your young family members become better citizens."

The United Nations Act for Peace (UNAFP) has committed to build 150 new core shelters and restore a health center at the refugees’ destination, while relief groups Mindanao Tulong Bakwit and MERN are helping to construct water pump and toilet facilities.

Peace talks between the MILF and government were stalled in 2008 following the Supreme Court's junking of a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD). Both sides have since undertaken efforts to resume formal peace negotiations. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV

Boxing champ Pacquiao discharged from hospital

2010-05-26T10:17:00.000+08:00

Boxing champ Pacquiao discharged from hospital - Yahoo! Philippines News: "MANILA (AFP) - – World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao left hospital on Tuesday following treatment for an ulcer possibly brought on by his campaign for a seat in parliament.

Pacquiao, 31, who was taken to a hospital for stomach pains on Sunday, said he was suffering from an ulcer which may have been caused by irregular eating habits during his recent political campaign."

"I must be disciplined and not miss meals during the proper time," he said in an interview with ABS-CBN television.

The 31-year-old fighter, who was elected on May 10 to represent the impoverished southern province of Sarangani, has been preparing to take up his post in the Philippine parliament.

Boxing promoters are also working to arrange a bout between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in November, to settle once and for all the fighters' claim to be the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of their generation.

Asked about the fight, Pacquiao replied: "Wait to see if (the fight with) Mayweather will push through. It is hard to say. Mostly, we hear a lot of talking."

Negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight fell through earlier this year when the American insisted on Olympic-style random drug testing, which the Filipino rejected as too intrusive before a bout.

Boxing victories as well as his commercial endorsements last year made Pacquiao the world's sixth-highest paid athlete, with earnings of 40 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Philippine boxing champ Pacquiao taken to hospital

2010-05-24T08:11:00.000+08:00

Philippine boxing champ Pacquiao taken to hospital - Yahoo! Philippines News: "MANILA (AFP) - – World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was taken to a hospital on Sunday for a stomach ailment, but his lawyer said it was not serious and that he would likely be out the next day.

Pacquiao, who was recently elected as a legislator, was taken to a suburban hospital in Manila after feeling pains in his stomach, said lawyer Jesus Gacal."

"It was just his usual acid reflux. The doctor told me there is nothing to worry about," Gacal told AFP.

"There was even no need for him to be confined but he wanted to take a rest after the (election) campaign," the lawyer added.

He said Pacquiao had suffered from this stomach problem before.

The 31-year-old fighter, who was elected on May 10 to represent the impoverished southern province of Sarangani, has been preparing to take up his post in the Philippine parliament.

Boxing promoters are also working to arrange a bout between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in November, to settle once and for all the fighters' claim to be the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of his generation.

Pacquiao has said he can handle the simultaneous burdens of being a legislator and training for a major fight, remarking that this required only proper "time management."

Boxing victories as well as his commercial endorsements last year made Pacquiao the world's sixth-highest paid athlete, with earnings of 40 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Binay denies poll fraud, vows to unmask ‘Koala Bear’

2010-05-23T07:31:00.000+08:00

Binay denies poll fraud, vows to unmask ‘Koala Bear’ - Yahoo! Philippines News: Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, the frontrunner in the vice presidential race, on Saturday said his camp is set to unmask the whistleblower who claimed that fraud was committed during the conduct of the first nationwide automated elections last May 10.

In an interview aired over GMA Network’s “24 Oras," Binay said he was concerned by the accusation of “Koala Bear" — the moniker given to the masked whistleblower — that he spent P1.4 billion to have the votes of his rivals shaved during the canvassing of the votes.

“Let me confirm that I am concerned. We have been validating data that we have been receiving regarding him [the whistleblower]," said Binay, who ran under the Joseph Estrada-led Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) banner.

Binay a “consolidator"?

In a video played during a forum sponsored by the Catholic Media Network (CMN) last Tuesday, “Koala Bear," who introduced himself as “Robin," said he was among those who allegedly rigged the elections. He accused Binay of being the “consolidator" of poll fraud in four areas in the country.

This page requires a higher version browser Binay denied this, saying it is not in his character to cheat only to win. He, however, refused to comment on who he thinks were behind the plan to link him to electoral fraud.

“If it turns out to be a hard fact, tsaka magko-comment ako (that’s the time I will make a comment)," he said.

The controversial video was provided by Manila Times columnist Buddy Cunanan, who said the video was given to one of his colleagues in an informal citizens’ group closely monitoring the elections.

Sore losers?

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said “Koala Bear" could be a defeated presidential candidate who’s griping about the outcome of the elections.

Losing presidential candidates Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas and JC delos Reyes, who have yet to concede defeat to frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, have been openly questioning the results of the elections.

Madrigal, Perlas and Delos Reyes were all present during the CMN-sponsored forum.

Makati Rep. Teodoro “Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr., who first used the moniker “Koala Bear" in referring to the masked whistleblower, sees Malacañang’s hand in what he described as “a gimmick."

Both of the administration’s bets for president and vice-president — Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Eduardo “Edu" Manzano — didn’t fare well in the recently concluded elections judging from the unofficial tally by the Comelec.

The House committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, which is under Locsin, is in the thick of its investigation on the alleged fraud during the May 10 polls. - KBK, GMANews.TV

ABS-CBN mum on Willie’s request

2010-05-21T21:26:00.000+08:00

Fit to Post – Yahoo! Philippines News � Blog Archive ABS-CBN mum on Willie’s request �: "ABS-CBN chooses to stay mum on a Willie Revillame’s request to be “released” from the network.

“Even prior to the publication of Willie Revillame’s letter to ABS-CBN in the May 21 column of Ricky Lo in The Philippine Star, a meeting has already been scheduled between Willie and ABS-CBN management next week,” Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications, said in a statement.

ABS-CBN stressed that it “chooses not to comment on his letter until after the meeting.”

“ABS-CBN believes that issues are best resolved when discussed with the parties concerned privately before they are made public,” Osorio said.

Osorio was referring to a letter where Revillame was requesting the TV network to “release him” from his contract, the Philippine Entertainment Portal wrote.

Revillame has gone on an indefinite leave after he threatened to resign from the network if the station decides to keep entertainment reporter Jobert Sucaldito. Sucaldito who also happens to be an ABS-CBN talent, has been very critical of Revillame.

Revillame eventually had enough, declaring through his show Wowowee that he will leave the TV network if they don’t fire Sucaldito.

Two weeks after he left, ABS-CBN has asked actor Robin Padilla to temporarily replace Revillame in the show."

e-Passports now issued at DFA Consular Office-GenSan

2010-05-21T13:32:00.003+08:00

e-Passports now issued at DFA Consular Office-GenSan | GenSan News Online Mag: "Effective last April 2010, the Regional Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs in General Santos City has been issuing electronic passports or e-Passports to its clients."

Wow! Wasn’t it just last year in March 2009 when Bariles blogged about the same office issuing him a machine-readable passport (Click here for that report.) in place of the old manually-scripted passport? Now it seems that the MRP, altho accepted internationally looks passe with this latest launch of a cutting edge travel document.

A joint project of the DFA and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the e-passport makes the Philippines compliant with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), of which it is a member. It is the world standard in travel documents.

The e-passport which is expected to decrease incidents of passport fraud and tampering, will make it easier for Filipino travelers and migrant workers to move across borders due to its various security features, including a hidden encoded image; an ultra-thin, holographic laminate; and a tamper-proof electronic microchip.

Its Integrated Circuit (IC) chip stores the passport holder’s biometrics, that is, his photograph, fingerprint and other personal data for easy verification of identity and is fully inter-operable which means that the chip can be read by border control officials in other countries using a passport chip reader.

Hitech, don’t you think?

Anyway, the lovely Ms. Helen Acharon, a staff of the DFA Consular Office, from whom we got this piece of great news wants to inform all their would-be clients that their office is currently accepting and processing 70 passport applications only every day or 350 applicants per week. This will go on while they are still putting up their online program.

Priority numbers for the whole week are given out starting at Monday morning until after the allocated 350 numbers have all been given away on that day.

The new e-passport will cost applicants P950 (processing of 30 days) and P1200 (processing of 2 weeks).

For help on how to apply for passports, JUST SIMPLY CLICK HERE.

For more info, call the Department of Foreign Affairs Regional Consular Office GenSan at (083) 553-8380.

Machine-readable passports now issued at DFA GenSan | GenSan News Online Mag

2010-05-21T13:00:00.015+08:00

Machine-readable passports now issued at DFA GenSan | GenSan News Online Mag: "The old Philippine passports have green covers while the new version shifted to maroon. Other than that, the new passport is now machine-readable. Meaning, the data on the identity page (which has been moved from the Inside Back Cover to Page 2) is encoded on optical recognition format. (Click here for old and new passport images).

This is more advantageous for international travelers due to the faster processing of their arrival at airports by immigration officials. No more long slow queues this time because the immigration staff would only have to swipe the passports’ identity pages on their machines.

It’s actually very easy now to apply for a MRP (Machine-Readable Passport).

If you’re in GenSan, just go to their office beside the Big Chow Restaurant which is adjacent to Shakey’s inside the Gaisano Mall compound."

Inside the spacious, white-washed office, you may wait for your turn before you report to the table under a sign which says STEP 1 manned by Ms. Edel Mae Patugan. You may then show her your documents.

If you are renewing your passport, these are the things you need to give to Ms. Edel for verification:

1. Photocopy first two and last two pages of old Passport;
2. Photocopy all stamped pages (all travel, arrivals, departures, visas, etc.);
3. Bring any two documents to support your Middle Name:

Voter’s Affidavit
Driver’s License
Baptismal Certificate
GSIS Policy/SSS E-1 Form
PRC/Postal ID
NBI Clearance
Government Service Record
Seaman’s Book
Income Tax Return

4. 3 pieces Passport sized ID pictures (4.5cm x 3.5cm) colored picture with Royal Blue background
5. Processing Fees: 64 pages – P750

If you are applying for a new passport, then submit these for verification to Ms. Edel:

1. Authenticated Birth Certificate
2. Authenticated Marriage Contract (for married women & minors only)
3. OMA Certification (for Muslims only)
4. Any 2 of the following docs to support your Middle Name:

Voter’s Affidavit
Driver’s License
Baptismal Certificate
GSIS Policy/SSS E-1 Form
PRC or Postal ID
NBI Clearance
Government Service Recort
Seaman’s Book
Income Tax Return

5. 3 pcs. Passport Sized ID pictures – (45 cmx3.5cm) colored pic with royal Blue Background)
6. Processing Fee: 64 pages – P850

After your docs have been verified and approved, proceed to the table under the sign which says STEP 2 and submit them to Ms. Helen Grace Acharon for processing.

You may then approach Mr. Eric Camina at a table behind her under the sign STEP 3 for the encoding of your data.

Easy and simple right? Now come back two weeks after to get your new (MRP) machine-readable passport from the cheerful and helpful Mr. Elmor Maglunsod at the 2nd floor. Two weeks, no more, no less.

Wheatgrass boosts the immune system | The Philippine Star >> Lifestyle Features >> Health And Family

2010-05-19T08:29:00.000+08:00

Wheatgrass boosts the immune system | The Philippine Star >> Lifestyle Features >> Health And Family: "MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that the body’s�immune system is our amazing, complex way to fend off foreign bacteria and viruses which cause infections or illnesses? The immune system recognizes viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and foreign bodies, and signals the brain to activate the immune processes. The first line of defense is the skin and mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, and other areas that prevent the intrusion of harmful agents. Just imagine what will happen if an intruder enters the body and the first line of defense is not strong enough to ward off or attack the harmful trespasser. A research conducted at Loma Linda University in California and reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that sugar suppresses immunity. Drinking 24 ozs. of soda (which contains sugar) depresses the activity of neutrophils (the white blood cells responsible for fighting infection) by 50 percent."

Boosting your body’s immune system can help halt the onset of frequent colds, arthritis, and even cancer. Avoid excessive stress as it can also compromise your immune system. Nutrition and physical activity play a vital role in supporting the body’s immune system. Wheatgrass is known to enhance immunity. Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass is an excellent and unique source of nutrition which utilizes the roots and leaves of wheatgrass, and is processed using the multi-awarded aeroponic technology to actually help regulate the body’s immune system, strengthen its deficiencies, and reduce overactive systems.

Easy Pha-max wheatgrass contains high levels of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and proteins. Here’s how Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass acts in four interrelated ways in the body. First, the enzymatic activity supports the transformation and absorption of nutrients. Second, the alkaline nutrients found in abundance in Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass help the digestive system. Third, the high level of chlorophyll in wheatgrass juice helps in blood oxygenation, and because minerals and trace elements can be easily absorbed, there is a significant increase in blood quality. Fourth, blood quality leads to improved blood circulation.

For more information, call toll-free 1-800-10-8901111, 890-1111 or visit wheatgrasscan.com.

Last 3 senators proclaimed

2010-05-19T08:21:00.001+08:00

Last 3 senators proclaimed | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines: "MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections yesterday proclaimed the last three winning senators, completing the so-called Magic 12, with a speed that Comelec officials said vindicated the poll body.

Senators Manuel Lito Lapid of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Teofisto Guingona III of the Liberal Party (LP) and independent candidate Sergio Osme�a III will serve until 2016.

They were proclaimed even though the Comelec has not yet canvassed all the provincial certificates of canvass (COCs). Osme�a, who was in Cebu, did not attend the event held at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

In a speech, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said the senators’ proclamation “comes at a most opportune moment in our country’s political history.”

“A mere eight days after the landmark elections of May 10, 2010, we stand ready to proclaim the last three senators-elect, thereby causing the continued orderly progression of the august Philippine Senate,” he noted."

“As a people, we face the future with great hope, secure in the knowledge that whoever our new president turns out to be, he will be aided in his task by a Senate that enjoys an unequivocal mandate from the Filipino people,” Melo said.

He added that the proclamation was a “shining vindication of everything we had fought for, from the halls of Congress to the rough and tumble world of public opinion.”

“Today marks the beginning of the future. We have successfully broken the psychological barrier that prevented us from imagining fully automated elections in the Philippines,” he said.

Based on the Comelec canvassing, Osmeña placed 10th (11,583,854) while Lapid bagged the 11th slot (10,971,045) and Guingona the 12th and last place (10,200,293).

Guingona defeated his closest rival, party-mate Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, who got 9,041,494 votes.

In an ambush interview, Guingona said it was unfortunate that other LP bets, especially Baraquel, did not make it but gave assurance the party would continue their fight.

The three senators will join their nine colleagues who were proclaimed by the Comelec last Saturday.

They are Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. (Lakas-Kampi); Jinggoy Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino); Miriam Defensor-Santiago (People’s Reform Party); Franklin Drilon (LP); Juan Ponce Enrile (PMP); Pia Cayetano (Nacionalista Party); Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (NP); Ralph Recto (LP); and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (Nationalist People’s Coalition).

Come-backing Senator Osmeña failed to appear in his proclamation at the Comelec office yesterday morning because he thought the ceremony was in the afternoon.

The newly elected and re-elected senators will join incumbent Senators Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes, Manuel Villar Jr., and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Malacañang, meanwhile, congratulated yesterday Lapid, Guingona and Osmeña.

Deputy presidential spokesman and Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan said the three senators “will carry this nation forward and will lead us perhaps to a more colorful level of governance as another body that would ensure checks and balances and to provide a continuing voice for the Filipino people.”

Meanwhile, Baraquel, who placed 13th in the senatorial race, yesterday hinted that she was open to be proclaimed a winning candidate, but clarified this issue has to be settled first by the Supreme Court.

By July 1, the Senate will only be composed of 23 members because one of its members, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, whose term is set to expire in May 2013, ran and won in the presidential race.

By tradition and practice, Filipino voters elect only 12 senators every three years.

“On the question of the proclamation of a 13th senator, it is an interesting legal question that should promptly be brought to the proper body for answers and to set a precedent for such an incident, should it occur again,” Baraquel said.

In another development, Sen. Francis Escudero downplayed reports yesterday that he is also interested in the Senate presidency when the 15th Congress starts in July.

“I’m not actively seeking it,” he said.

But he hinted he was ready to take up the challenge if it comes his way.

Comelec to proclaim last 3 senators today

2010-05-18T07:46:00.001+08:00

Comelec to proclaim last 3 senators today | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines: "MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), will proclaim today the last three winners in the senatorial race.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the proclamation was delayed by one day to give the poll body time to

complete some standard operating procedures.

“We have to send notices to winning candidates and we have to prepare (for the proclamation ceremony) so it may take some time,” Larrazabal told reporters.

He said proclamation�will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.�"

Based on the latest partial, official tally of the Comelec released at 10:51 a.m. yesterday, occupying the last three slots are Sergio Osmeña III (independent) with 11,312,362 votes; Manuel Lapid (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), 10,573,073 and Teofisto Guingona III (LP), 9,932,278.

In 13th place is Rep. Risa Hontiveros (LP) with 8,816,620 votes; followed by Rep. Ruffy Biazon (LP), 8,337,692; and Joey de Venecia III (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), 8,043,905 votes.

The Comelec was expected to proclaim the three winners yesterday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City where the commission is canvassing the votes for the senatorial and party-list races.

Last Saturday, the NBOC proclaimed Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Franklin Drilon, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ralph Recto, and Vicente Sotto III.

As of yesterday morning, the NBOC has yet to canvass COCs from Mountain Province, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said these areas have 791,132 registered voters.

Early yesterday, Guingona’s legal counsel Dante Atienza asked the NBOC to proclaim the last three winners, saying that the uncanvassed COCs will no longer affect their standing.

Citing paragraph 2, section 8 of the Omnibus Election Code, Atienza stated that “if the missing canvass will no longer affect the results, this honorable court can proclaim the remaining three.”

Up to Comelec

Also yesterday, the Comelec said that it is up to Congress to decide whether it will call for a special election to fill the remaining three years of president-apparent Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

“Congress can call for a special election for that one seat,” Larrazabal said.

Aquino has yet to be proclaimed president so technically the Senate seat is not yet vacant, Larrazabal said.

“The votes for the presidency haven’t been canvassed. So Senator Aquino is still a senator. He hasn’t been proclaimed therefore his position is not yet vacant. You cannot proclaim a 13th senator because there’s no 13th (senatorial post) to speak of,” he said.

A joint session of Congress will serve as the national canvassing board for the positions of president and vice president.

Aquino is leading the presidential race, garnering a total of 13,840,703 votes in the partial and unofficial tally of both the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the poll body’s accredited citizens’ arm.

Early yesterday, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the commission will convene to discuss if they would allow the 13th ranking senatorial candidate to fill the would-be-vacancy or if special elections would be held.

“We have to discuss if it should be the number 13 that will go up or should there be a special elections. I think that this is a legal question that we have to address,” Sarmiento said.

Corona sworn in today

2010-05-17T08:36:00.005+08:00

Corona sworn in today | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines: "MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo is set to swear into office today Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Renato Corona as the new chief justice despite continued opposition to his appointment by presidential frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, officials said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo reiterated yesterday Malaca�ang’s call for Aquino to respect the SC decision allowing Mrs. Arroyo to appoint a new chief justice while the constitutional ban on midnight appointments is in effect.

Saludo said Aquino should take his cue from the appeal of Corona’s predecessor, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who warned the nation could be divided if the incoming president insists on not recognizing the appointment.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raoul Victorino said Corona would be sworn in today as Puno had vacated his office last Friday and left for the United States to receive an award from his alma mater, the University of California in Berkeley.

Corona would be sworn in today “because Chief Justice Puno already had his retirement ceremony last Friday,” Victorino told The STAR in a telephone interview, adding that such ceremonies are normally held on the eve of retirement."

Victorino had said last week that the oath taking could be held at midnight tonight to ensure “continuity” in the SC.

“Nobody can question that (appointment), not even the president-elect (Aquino),” Victorino earlier told reporters.

Aquino earlier said he might ask a barangay chairman instead of the chief justice to swear him into office at noon on June 30.

Puno had expressed concern that Aquino’s refusal to honor the appointment of Corona would lead to a constitutional crisis.

Former President Fidel Ramos and other critics, on the other hand, urged Corona to reject the appointment to avoid any such crisis. Critics have said the SC ruling effectively rewrote the Constitution and overturned the high court’s own jurisprudence.

Puno told reporters last Friday that Aquino should respect the rule of law if he becomes the country’s 15th president.

He added that the SC has already come up with its ruling, which declared that the constitutional ban on midnight appointments does not cover vacancies in the SC, thus upholding the authority of Mrs. Arroyo to appoint his successor.

It would be up to the President to exercise such power, he said.

“The rule of law is the glue that unites our society, without the rule of law our society will disintegrate. All of us should observe this rule of law, there’s nobody who can excuse himself and say that he is not covered by the rule of law. The higher you are in the government the more you should respect the rule of law,” Puno said.

Puno believes that the executive, legislative and the judiciary, representing the three branches of government, should be united in promoting the good of the people.

Aside from Aquino, several groups and individuals expressed their opposition to Corona’s appointment.

Puno also asked Corona to keep the SC credibility intact and to show that the 15-member High Court would remain independent and not allow itself to succumb to pressure.

“The biggest challenge I would like to think for the Court is to immediately prove to the people that it is indeed an independent Court,” Puno said.

“My advice is simple, he (Corona) has to keep the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, completely independent, with integrity intact because as we all know the only enduring capital of the High Court is its credibility,” he added.

Those against Corona’s appointment believed that there was a violation of the constitutional ban on midnight appointments.

Corona is also known to be close to Mrs. Arroyo, thus putting his independence in question.

Corona served under the Arroyo administration as presidential chief of staff and spokesman before he was appointed as SC associate justice.

He also served as Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff and spokesman when she was still the vice president.

Puno will officially leave the SC tomorrow after Corona takes his oath as the 23rd chief justice.

Reason and statesmanship

Meanwhile, Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) executive director Vincent Lazatin, in behalf of the Supreme Court Appointments Watch, recently sent a letter to Corona.

In the letter dated May 14, Tan appealed to Corona “to let reason and statesmanship prevail by refusing to accept President GMA’s (Arroyo’s) appointment and allowing the next president to appoint the next chief justice of the Supreme Court.”

“It will only serve to cast doubt on the legitimacy of your appointment should you allow the incumbent president (who herself has suffered from questions of the legitimacy of her presidency) to name you the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” Tan said.

As head of the judiciary, he said Corona should maintain the integrity of the institution.

“Integrity starts with an appointment that is not only legitimate, but morally and ethically acceptable. A chief justice whose own appointment is embroiled in doubts and suspicion will not be an effective leader,” he said.

He added: “With the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the validity of the appointment of the next chief justice by the outgoing president, your selfless act of refusing GMA’s appointment and giving that authority to the next president may be the only way to spare the Supreme Court from continued controversy.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Charito Planas admitted there is nothing in the law that states that Aquino should take his oath before the chief justice “but he will stand 10 feet taller” if he would do so and follow tradition.

She said if Aquino refuses to budge from his position of “not respecting” the Constitution and the Supreme Court, he could trigger a constitutional crisis that would eventually divide Filipinos.

“The fact that you do not recognize and you do not (respect) the Chief Justice as the head of the judicial department... the Constitution is the one that provides that the judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice and his (Corona’s) appointment is legal and the members of the Supreme Court already welcomed him and accepted him,” Planas said.

Retired SC justice Serafin Cuevas, who had also served as justice secretary, warned there could even be some possible unrest when the SC and the Palace under Aquino would finally come at loggerheads.

“As president, he (Aquino) should lead the country in defending and respecting the law and the Constitution especially on issues that the honorable Supreme Court has resolved, otherwise we will have chaos,” Cuevas told television network Net 25 last week.

“We may not agree but that’s the decision of the Supreme Court and that must be respected,” he said.

Binay confident of victory

2010-05-13T07:09:00.003+08:00

Binay confident of victory | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines: "MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay is confident of winning the vice presidential race, saying his lead of 700,000 votes against his closest rival Sen. Manuel Roxas II could only be overcome through “electoral fraud.”

“In almost all regions, I won, especially in the NCR (National Capital Region) by more than 600,000 votes, excluding the votes from Malabon that are not yet counted. I think I won in 14 out of the 17 regions,” Binay said.

As of 1:39 p.m. yesterday, Binay had garnered 13,274,470 votes against Roxas’ 12,481,973, based on returns from 88.64 percent of over 76,000 polling precincts, according to the unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

Partial unofficial results from 12 local absentee voting precincts also showed Binay got 3,329 votes compared to�the 809 of Roxas, according to Betty Pizana, chair of the Comelec committee on local absentee voting.

Binay said he is leading in the vice-presidential race partly because of the endorsement of Sen. Francis Escudero, his being Estrada’s running mate, his closeness with Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III, the help from his brothers and sisters in the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and his experience as chief executive of Makati."

Binay said the six million to seven million senior citizens nationwide voted for him.

“I am a senior citizen myself, and I can talk in the language of senior citizens, including the Persons With Disabilities.”

Binay group claims ‘special operations’

Members of Roxas’s “inner circle” are in Mindanao to allegedly manipulate votes in Mindanao and in Western and Central Visayas to give the LP vice-presidential candidate a lead of 100,000 votes, according to Binay’s spokesman Lito Anzures.

Anzures said they received reports from their leaders in Bacolod and Negros Occidental that former defense secretary Avelino “Nonong” Cruz, a member of Roxas’s inner circle, were among those sighted in Mindanao. Cruz could not be reached for comment.

Anzures said a team of lawyers is also allegedly trying to manipulate the canvassing of election returns in Western and Central Visayas to overhaul the lead of Binay.

Anzures said when Binay’s leaders left the Bacolod provincial canvassing center, Roxas’s votes suddenly increased by 100,000.

“How can it happen when only 40,000 votes are not yet counted,” he said.

Anzures said teachers were ordered to alter the results of the vote in Bacolod. “We will produce these witnesses at the proper time, “ he said.

Anzures said the five million votes that have yet to be counted are spread in various areas nationwide and are not confined in the perceived bailiwick of Roxas.

However, Franklin Drilon, LP national chairman, said the Binay camp was engaging in propaganda and mind-conditioning that he was cheated if he would lose.

Drilon said Cruz, who is helping in LP’s Bantay Balota, never went to Mindanao, and that many from the party could attest to it.

Drilon said the Binay camp might have “done their own math” and “they are now very, very worried that they could lose.

“And the best way for them to discredit any possible surge from us is to throw wild and outrageous accusations of so-called ‘special operations’ in Mindanao,” he said.

“Their allegations serve as a smokescreen to their own operations. Remember, it is the PDP-Laban which has always operated in Mindanao, and is known to be the principal operation that can deliver block votes from the area.”

Figures from different areas in Regions Western, Central and Eastern Visayas showed Roxas could win “although admittedly slim,” Drilon said.

LP to Comelec: Release 100 percent tally

The LP called on the Comelec yesterday to release 100 percent of the tally of votes to quell speculations of cheating.

Drilon said the Comelec count stopped at 78 percent and the remaining 22 percent would constitute up to seven million more votes.

“We recognize that we cannot compel them to continue up to a hundred percent. They can of course assert that it is not their duty to proclaim the president and vice president as this belongs to Congress.”

However, Drilon said the Comelec should not wait for the remaining 22 percent to be transmitted to the server of Congress, where canvassing would be done, so as not to leave the people wondering who really won.

“We must remember that Congress convenes on May 31 yet, and therefore everybody will be kept hanging between now and maybe the middle of June, that’s about a month away,” he said.

Negrenses hope for Roxas win

Negrenses are optimistic that their votes will be enough to give Roxas the needed boost and regain his footing in the vice-presidential race.

Former Negros Occidental governor Daniel Lacson, who heads the Negros for Noy-Mar campaign, said the province will definitely deliver votes for Roxas, as it did for Aquino.

However, the Makati Business Club believes Roxas has a slim chance of winning.

Speaking to reporters, MBC executive director Alberto Lim said mathematically it is still possible for Roxas to win, but that statistically there is “a very slim chance” that he will defeat Binay.

“It depends on the provinces that were not counted yet,” he said.

Binay: I will meet with De Castro

Binay will meet with outgoing Vice President Noli de Castro, former President Estrada and other former vice presidents to get tips on how to be an effective vice president.

Binay said he would also meet with De Castro for a smooth transition of the Office of the Vice President.

Binay said as vice president, he would prioritize the realization of the new law that gives 20 percent, non-taxable, discounts for senior citizens purchasing basic commodities and other expenses.

“We must practice good governance. Makati has been progressive because all the barangays in the city are progressive.

“I believed that I can do this in the entire country by improving all the local government units.”

Binay said progressive local governments would result to a progressive national government.

Jinggoy: Erap happy for Binay

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said his father is very glad that Binay is doing well in the vice-presidential race.

Jinggoy also defended his father over allegations that he did not vote for Binay in Monday’s elections.

“It is impossible for my father not to vote for Mayor Binay,” he said.

“My father repeatedly read the ballot three times and filled the oval for Mayor Binay and the rest of the candidates of the PMP,” he said.

Binay also believes that Estrada voted for him.

“President Estrada told me that he repeatedly read the ballot and he shaded my name.”

Jinggoy said cameramen who took footage of his father’s ballot and the photographers who took pictures of it have violated the Omnibus Election Code.

“We have to protect the secrecy of the ballot, the sanctity of our ballot. We can file charges against the cameramen who took footage of the ballot of my father and the photographers who took pictures of my father.”

Binay also agreed that the cameramen and photographers who took footage and photographs of Estrada’s ballot have violated the Omnibus Election Code. —With Aurea Calica, Antonieta Lopez, Eliza Osorio