Sky Watch

When I woke up, the sun was already rising. But after a few hours, the sky became cloudy. It's a bit rainy in our place.


To join Sky Watch Friday or see other Sky Watchers click here.

SAHM-one Friday Meme #2

Would you allow your child to go out on a date at an early age (as early as 16)? What do you think you’d feel about it if one day your child would ask you “Ma, can I got out on Friday night with….?

When I was still young, my mom always tells me not to go on a date or to have a boyfriend until I'm 18 years old. But since she has a "pasaway" or hard headed daughter, I did not listen to her. I had my first relationship when I was in 6th grade, I was only 12 years old. Though it was just a puppy love.

I had my serious relationship when I was in college. One of my college days, my mom talked to me about having a boyfriend. She told me she would allow me to have a relationship as long as I'll introduce the guy to her, so I did. I was expecting she will accept my boyfriend, but it did not happen. On that same day and in front of my boyfriend, she hit me with an umbrella, she dragged me to my room and she said so many hurtful words to me. I was grounded for a week. She took my cellphone, my phone, even my PC. Because of so much hate and confusion, I left the house when they were asleep. I said to myself, I will never go back to that house again. But after a few days, they were begging for me to go home. We had a talk and after a few days, my mom and I are in good terms again.

To tell you honestly that experience haunt me for a long time. I guess I was traumatized on that experience, because my next relationships were all in secret. I was afraid to tell my mom. I envied those girls who can talk to their moms about their boyfriend. There was a time, I broke up with my boyfriend and I had no one to talk to about it. I wanted to tell my mom about my problem but I can't. I know she was just worrying about me, and I don't hate her. She made me a better person.

But from that traumatic experience, I promised to myself that if I'll have a daughter, I want her to be open with me. I want to be her best friend so she can tell everything to me. If she has a problem, she can talk to me so i can give her some advices. So to answer the question, I say yes. With proper guidance, I will allow my daughter to go on a date at an early age.

What's Your Mankind Motto?

NCsoft has announced Operation Immortality, a once in a lifetime event in history of mankind. It's goal is to save humanity's greatest achievements, digitized human DNA and personal messages from people all over the world.

The man who created Tabula Rasa, Richard Garriot, will travel the space to save humanity from extinction. He will place the "Immortality Drive", a time capsule with the digitized DNA of select video game players and space aficionados, on the International Space Station in October 2008.


And I'm proud to say that I am part of the Operation Immortality. I just registered on their site, pick up a free trial of Tabula Rasa, then I left my message for the universe, and I was given a Code 284.

I chose Anne Frank's quote “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” because I believe this is the truth. How could the world not be a better place when we start at home to make it that way. For me, it means in our own little ways we can improve the word by being a good person, by trying to help someone in need and by sharing our story. Also, I believe that everyone can help to improve the world and humanity. So, I challenge each and everyone to go out today and make a difference in the world, no matter how small.

Be a part of the Operation Immortality by:
1. Submitting your suggestions for humanity's greatest achievements
2. Leaving your message for the universe
3. Registering for a chance to have your DNA sent into space

If you want to be a part of Operation Immortality: Leave your mark. Save Humanity or to know more about my Code 284, visit OperationImmortality.com now.

I miss my mom

I was browsing some videos in YouTube, I don't know what came to me because I searched for KC aka Cassandra Concepcion, the daughter of Sharon Cuneta - a Filipina Actress. I'm not really a fan of KC or Sharon. But when I watched this video, tears dropped from my eyes. Not only because KC and Sharon really have such a good bond as mother and daughter, but also because I miss my mom. Since October 2007, I am living with my husband, and I can only see my mom twice or thrice a month. I miss her cooking, I miss her voice, I miss her. I miss her a lot...

Also, seeing Sharon's family makes me miss my family more.

Buhay Coke Vlog Contest Announcement of Winners Party

Time to party again!

What: Buhay Coke Vlog Contest Announcement of Winners Party
When: August 8, 2008, Friday, 6:00 p.m. onwards
Where: Taste Asia at the Mall of Asia
Wassup?: Announcement of winners and just simply to parteeh the Taste Asia way!
How: Register here.

There's room for 500 people! So kindly spread the word too!

HammeRuler ... Redesign almost ready!

HammeRuler will be available in Late-2008!! It is built on the notion of Short-Measure Acceleration (SMA). By cutting down on tool switching time when doing short measures, the HammeRuler makes you more efficient. You probably don't realize how much time you spend putting down your hammer to pick up your ruler.

JOIN DNEERO AND GET PAID!

Lazy Bloggers Post Generator

While doing my usual blog hopping, I came across Mommy Ruby's post about Lazy Bloggers Post Generator. The Lazy Blogger Post Generator will help you create a blog post in just a few steps. Just choose from the drop down menu and click the create blog post button and you’ll have your blog post ready.


Here’s the sample post I made using this generator.

Oh My Gosh! I just found out I have not updated this since you last visited... You would not believe how insane my life has become. Unbelievable.

I am overwhelmed with keeping up with my favourite daytime soaps, watching Dexter, just generally being a Darling to my husband, my day starts from 3am to 11pm at which point I fall asleep on the couch. I am totally exhausted. I need a nap.

I swear I will make more of an effort to blog more often. Seriously! I mean it!.

Amazing Advertising

♥ Romantic Idea 31 ♥

When you and your partner are in a shopping center or airport, stop at one of those booths that allow you to take an instant photo and print them out as stickers.

Choose a romantic background and kiss your partner while the photo is being taken.

Chain of Links

I got this tag from Genny. Thanks.

Now here are the benefits and rules.

* To get more more traffic.
* To increase Technorati authority.
* To get more back links.
* To gain more friends around the world.

Heres the Rules:

* First copy and paste the list below.
* Do not remove any content from the linker list.
* Just add One LUCKY NUMBER to your blogs.
* If you don't like the concept...say no. :-/

* The main goal here is we are going to circulate our number of friends.
* The more people who will join the "LINKER CHAIN", the more links we can generate.
* Lastly, write only ONE LUCKY NUMBER for your blogs...
* Keep it simple and short, I know some of you have more than one blog.

• The color for the link should be only black, gray, or white, depending on your blog's theme. Please avoid using any color, ok ?
• Hundreds and thousands and millions only no more trillions for chrissake lol.....ok lets get started.
  

1.) 6966 2.) 609 3.) 066 4.) 066 5.) 606 6.) 669 7.) 699
8.) 5354 9.) 777 10.) 737 11.) 1969 12.) 214 13.) 1229 14.)7173 15.0730 16.)2377 17.8 18.2406919.31320.42106 21)028 22. )888 23. 14344 24.)81107 25.) 0311821 26.) 0501265 27).8888 28.) 1969 29.) 8 30.) 0926 31.)21.) 791618 32.) 33.)298.,34)1234 35.) 08052008
36.)030102 37.) 273130 38.) 02152004 39.)LUCKY NUMBER HERE! END HERE!

If you play with this tag please submit your lucky number here.

Now, I am passing this to the following blogger: Biz-N-Honey, Mitch, Mommy Elvz

It's all about paintings, me, and Zriz

Ezrah Tuble aka Zriz got featured on the next conversation. It was nice to see her name in dNeero conversation.

JOIN DNEERO AND GET PAID!

Weekly Question #10: Little Girl

This week's Weekly question, Teacher Julie wants to know our thoughts about this photo. What can you we about this?


When I saw this photo, the first thing that came to my mind was "Is this in Manila?" You want to know why? Because, every time I'm in Manila, I see these little girls roaming around wearing an undershirt and an underwear. I hope their parents know what are the risks of leaving their children unattended. There are so many bad guys around us.

I heard there are groups or gangs that stole kids like her and make the children their workers. They force the children to roam in the streets and beg for money, then the children are forced to hand over their daily earnings.

If I have a child. I will never leave my child alone or unattended. I remember a real story of a 4-year-old British girl stolen from her hotel room. Her parents left her with her 2-year-old twin siblings asleep in their hotel room while her parents dined at a poolside restaurant just seconds away. I think it happened last year, but until now the parents have no clue where she is.

If I am the mother of that kid, I would not have left her unattended. It would not have mattered where I was. Same with the kid on the picture (above). Her parents should take care of her child. Parents should protect their children from harm anywhere and anytime.

Page Rank

On the blogger's world, everyone is talking about PageRank. So, I decided to check my PageRank.

From N/A, my PageRank for http://www.irisaeirincollections.com/ became 0 (zero). It's because my new domain is still young.

However, I was wondering what could be my Pagerank if I did not change my URL, and to my surprise it has PR 3.

I'm quite sad, because no PR means less opportunities. But, I guess I'll have to wait again for a couple of months for Google to grant my http://www.irisaeirincollections.com/ with a PR.

My non-verbal flirting techniques

Flirting is a basic instinct. It is a form of human interaction between two people. It can consist of conversation (verbal flirting), or body language (non-verbal flirting).

Among all the flirting techniques, the non-verbal signals are far better indicators of how a person feels about you than anything they may actually say verbally. Non-verbal flirting techniques are often used by women. Simply because stating intentions and feelings verbally involves a high risk of embarrassment or possible rejection.

There are many non-verbal flirting techniques, and you can choose ones that work best for you. Combination of eye contact and smile is one of the non-verbal flirting techniques that I used and still using with my husband.

Your eyes are probably your most important flirting tool. When you are interested with someone, make an eye contact to that person and try to hold his or her gaze for more than a second. If he or she responds to your gaze for more than a second, chances are that he or she returns your interest. So if you already catch his or her attention, just show him or her your sweetest smile.

This combination (glance and smile) is an excellent way to let someone know that you are interested in him or her, approachable, and friendly. I know most of you will agree that this is the easiest non-verbal communication technique available for meeting new people and starting conversations. I know this because it works for me.

Another tried and tested flirting technique is your gesture. The gestures we use can signal interest, attraction and invitation – or discomfort, dislike and rejection. Hair-flipping is the most common gestures of non-verbal flirting for women.

So, always ready your Victory Hair and flirty techniques because you'll never know when the right person comes along.

Remember, flirting is all about feeling great and having fun. And speaking of fun, I've been playing this game called Extreme Style by VO5's Ultimate Flirting Championship. I actually had so much fun playing this game. So what are waiting for? Just click on the widget below and start playing the game.

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

My husband and I watched "You Don't Mess with the Zohan". Zohan, played by Adam Sandler, is an Israeli counter-terrorism army commando who, after growing tired of his Israeli post-draft's standing service, fakes his death so he can re-emerge in New York City as a hair stylist.

I'm a big fan of Adam Sandler, but You Don't Mess with the Zohan is my least favorite. Though, there are some scenes that are very funny, but also there are not-for-kids scenes.


I love Rob Schneider's character. Rob played as Salim, a taxi driver whose goat Zohan had stolen after he threw his shoe at Zohan and spit in his face. Salim convinces his friends to help him exact revenge on Zohan.

Though I did not quite like the movie, but I can say it is a brave movie, for the way Sandler uses throwaway humor in the service of a strong point of view. "Zohan" believes that violence is not the answer to anything. Violence may get temporary results, but generally makes bad situations worse. So if you dig deeper, this movie is not done for nothing, but there's some meaning behind this madness.

Directed by Dennis Dugan; written by Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel and Judd Apatow; director of photography, Michael Barrett; edited by Tom Costain; music by Rupert Gregson-Williams; production designer, Perry Andelin Blake; produced by Mr. Sandler and Jack Giarraputo; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 1 hour 53 minutes.

Cast

* Adam Sandler as Zohan "Scrappy Coco" Dvir
* Emmanuelle Chriqui as Dhalia Hakbarah
* John Turturro as Fatoush "Phantom" Hakbarah
* Nick Swardson as Michael
* Lainie Kazan as Gail
* Rob Schneider as Salim Husaamdiyaamaaazinqutaybamujaahiduaaajaaaeeeh
* Ido Mosseri as Uri
* Alec Mapa (a Filipino-American actor) as Claude
* Dave Matthews as James
* Michael Buffer as Walbridge
* Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Greenhouse
* Sayed Badreya as Hamdi
* Daoud Heidami as Nasi
* Robert Smigel as Yosi
* Dina Doron as Zohan's Mother
* Shelley Berman as Zohan's Father
* Chris Rock as Taxi Driver
* Henry Winkler as himself, riding in the limo driven by Zohan
* Kevin James as himself sitting at the Hacky Sack tournament
* Mariah Carey as herself
* John McEnroe as himself
* George Takei as himself
* Bruce Vilanch as himself
* John Paul DeJoria as Paul Mitchell (hairdresser)
* Kevin Farley board member uncredited
* Tom Arnold as himself – uncredited

SAHM-one Friday Meme #1

This week's question: Looking back the days when you were still single, how would you differentiate your life now? How do you keep up with your busy schedule every day?

Being Single:
1. I can go out every time
2. I can buy anything I want (as long as I can afford it)
3. No worries about utility bills
4. No worries about the future
5. More time with friends
6. Shopping and Night out

Being Married:
1. So many responsibilities
2. Needs to save some money
3. Needs first before wants
4. Happier
5. Matured
6. more time with my hubby
7. You have to do household chores
8. You have to worry about the utility bills.

To be honest, I was lazy when I was single. I don't do household chores. Most of the times, I was out with my friends, and didn't care how much money I spend in a day.

But I got married a few months ago, I can say I already changed for the better. I am more responsible. I can cook now, but my husband is a better cook that's why I let him do it. I learned how to hand-wash our clothes, clean our small house, and other household chores. I'm more worried about budgeting our money, I don't want to (and I can't) ask my mom for money. I'm trying to budget our money, so bye bye shopping and night outs.

And since we don't have kids yet, I have more time for blogging and of course more time with my husband. Though, I admit sometimes I miss my single life, but I'm getting a hang of married life. I'm just worried about motherhood.

Like to do some Friday meme? Join us at SAHM-one.

One Day, One Race, One Million Runners.

The Nike+ Human Race 10k is the world's largest one-day running event, and it will happen on August 31, 2008.

There are two ways to run the Nike+ Human Race on 8.31.2008:

1. Join fellow runners in one of 25 cities hosting the 10K races worldwide.
2. Run anywhere using your Nike+, and sync your run by the end of the day.

The Nike+ Human Race is being organized to raise money and awareness for three global charities: ninemillion.org, World Wildlife Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

No matter your location, with your Nike+ Sport Kit or Nike+ SportBand, you can register and sync your race at nikeplus.com, the official destination for the Nike+ Human Race. To register for the race click here.

The Linkback Project - Updated

This is a simple procedure. You might have seen it done elsewhere on a few scarce weblogs. What is different, is that when we reach a certain point on the list, we start yet another one. Instead of one master list and its done, we will repeat the process over and over again, with new folks jumping on board. These backlinks combined with the social networking friends status will affect all areas of search engine algorithims. -=This List Will Stop At 100, then the next phase (list) will start=-

To participate is simple:

--->Copy The Post & List below into a blog post of yours.
--->Add Your Link to the list at the bottom.
--->Comment On the original post at LBP so that I can update the list with your link.
--->Make sure the list links and names are in place on your weblog post.
--->Digg, Stumble, Tag, and Reddit all of us, spread the word, get more on board.
--->Be sure to send them back to The Linkback Project for the updated list.

Make sure links and name are in place on your weblog, and then put yours on the last number, and "YOUR NEXT" below it on a new number.

Be sure to Digg, Stumble Upon, and Tag this post, so that you will be prepared with backlinks for Phase two, when we begin backlinks in Social Networking. Putting each list into the social networking system will be the second link in our "Closed Circuit" theory of search engine/link index exposure.

-BEGIN LIST-

1. The Linkback Project
2. All About Crime
3. Foolsville
4. Guy Vestal
5. SunEGrl Loves To Shop

6. Great Ways to Make Money Online
7. Shabam Development
8. CoffeeCoffeeCoffee~the blog
9. Kinky Personification
10. Da Kinky Kid Speaks
11. Josh Ottley Dot Com

12. Cebu Entrepreneur
13. Random Detoxification
14. PoeARTica
15. CoolAdzine for Marketers
16. Best Blog in the Universe
17. Ctrl + Alt + Delete : Personal random journal and reviews

18. the blog lab
19. Bradley Hankins
20. The Radical Blog
21. Get Rich Quick !? Really ??
22. Musikalye - Music is a two-way street
23. Planeta Turismo Activo

24. Swollen Pickles
25. EZ RICH PROJECT
26. ULUPONGDOTCOM
27. Picture to People
28. Your Fun Family
29. Mob Me

30. Healthy Moola
31. Champagne Dreams
32. David Rader
33. Gossip Girls
34. Before I am Famous
35. SUPLADO Online Reviews

36. Salsa Faith
37. BigMoneyList
38. Emmsy’s Stuff
39. That Blog 4 Me
40. Hey Just Blog
41. A little bit of THIS & THAT

42. Poker Forums
43. Blogging Tips
44. Journal of Journey
45. Hypn.za.net
46. Download Applications, Themes for Smart Phones
47. Memory This

48. Make Money Online from Earth
49. Dare to be Rare
50. Your One Stop Information Center
51. Reality of Legal World
52. Nita’s Random Thoughts
53. Nita’s Corner

54. Great Finds and Deals
55. Thomas Travel Tales
56. Filipino Online Community
57. Batuananons
58. My Wandering Thoughts
59. Erlinda’s Wandering Thoughts

60 Thomas Web Links
61. Aeropama Dot Com
62. Nita’s Ramblings
63. Junior IM Dot Com
64. Internet Marketing Expose
65. Hasbullah Pit

66. Tangan Yang Menghayun Buaian
67. Jejak Sahabat SMSP
68. Blog Sempoi
69. More Cowbell!
70. Blog Anak Raja
71. Malaysian Digest

72. Encik Beliau : Interesting Tips
73. Ariyako `news of software, hardware, technology, tips and tricks”
74. Techno Zone
75. Hidup Biar Sedap
76. Inside Of Nasz
77. Blog Farahaznil

78. Mezain
79. Simply ONE Saffawati
80. Suara Dari Keyboard Daddy
81. 24 Patrol
82. ketuk_angel
83. Koogita

84. Artikel Komputer & Internet
85. Sagittarius Wifey
86. Aeirin’s Collections
87. MerapuLand
88. Ima Blogger

89. Morphed
90. The Techsta Blog
91. Mother’s Got a Dot Com
92. Mutiara Hati
93. The Unemployed Dad
94. Entertainment Daily

95. Life From A Cat’s Perspective
96. Comedy Plus
97. Daytona Beach Real Estate
98. laketrees
99. EconoIndicators
100. BlogKnowtes.blogspot.com

101. Everything Wordpress : Blog Installation Service
102. mar1masri
103. Reflections by Mariz

-END LIST-

I'm tagging Mitch, Mommy Ruby, and Zriz

Aeirin's Collections New Look

Since I had nothing to do this morning, I decided to change the lay out of my blog. It took me almost 8 hours to do this. You want to know why? Simply because when I was almost done with the widgets, I accidentally deleted some of the scripts then I hit Save. To make the story short, I had to start all over again. So, this is a lesson learned for me. Remember: before editing your template, save a copy of it just in case something might happen.

Anyway, here's my blog's new look. Hope you like it.

Transcript: President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) for 2008

Here is the full transcript of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s state of the nation address (SONA) delivered earlier today at the Batasan Pambansa. (View SONA 2008 Video Archive)

STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS OF
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
DURING THE 2ND REGULAR SESSION OF
THE 14TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
28 July 2008

Thank you, Speaker Nograles. Senate President Villar. Senators and Representatives. Vice President de Castro, President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen:

I address you today at a crucial moment in world history.

Just a few months ago, we ended 2007 with the strongest economic growth in a generation. Inflation was low, the peso strong and a million new jobs were created. We were all looking to a better, brighter future.

Because tough choices were made, kumikilos na ang bayan sa wakas. Malapit na sana tayo sa pagbalanse ng budget. We were retiring debts in great amounts, reducing the drag on our country’s development, habang namumuhunan sa taong bayan.

Biglang-bigla, nabaligtad ang ekonomiya ng mundo. Ang pagtalon ng presyo ng langis at pagkain ay nagbunsod ng pandaigdigan krisis, the worst since the Great Depression and the end of World War II. Some blame speculators moving billions of dollars from subprime mortgages to commodities like fuel and food. Others point of the very real surge in demand as millions of Chinese and Indians move up to the middle class.

Whatever the reasons, we are on a roller coaster ride of oil price hikes, high food prices and looming economic recession in the US and other markets. Uncertainty has moved like a terrible tsunami around the globe, wiping away gains, erasing progress.

This is a complex time that defies simple and easy solutions. For starters, it is hard to identify villains, unlike in the 1997 financial crisis. Everyone seems to be a victim, rich countries and poor, though certainly some can take more punishment than others.

To address these global challenges, we must go on building and buttressing bridges to allies around the world: to bring in the rice to feed our people, investments to create jobs; and to keep the peace and maintain stability in our country and the rest of the world. Yet even as we reach out to those who need, and who may need us, we strive for greater self-reliance.

Because tough choices were made, the global crisis did not catch us helpless and unprepared. Through foresight, grit and political will, we built a shield around our country that has slowed down and somewhat softened the worst effects of the global crisis. We have the money to care for our people and pay for food when there are shortages; for fuel despite price spikes.

Neither we nor anyone else in the world expected this day to come so soon but we prepared for it. For the guts not to flinch in the face of tough choices, I thank God. For the wisdom to recognize how needed you are, I thank, you Congress. For footing the bill, I thank the taxpayers.

The result has been, on the one hand, ito ang nakasalba sa bayan; and, on the other, more unpopularity for myself in the opinion polls. Yet, even unfriendly polls show self-rated poverty down to its 20-year low in 2007.

My responsibility as President is to take care to solve the problems we are facing now and to provide a vision and direction for how our nation should advance in the future.

Many in this great hall live privileged lives and exert great influence in public affairs. I am accessible to you, but I spend time every day with the underprivileged and under represented who cannot get a grip on their lives in the daily, all-consuming struggle to make ends meet.

Nag-aalala ako para sa naka-aawang maybahay na pasan ang pananagutan para sa buong pamilya. Nag-aalala ako para sa magsasakang nasa unang hanay ng pambansang produksyon ng pagkain ngunit nagsisikap pakanin ang pamilya. I care for hardworking students soon to graduate and wanting to see hope of good job and a career prospect here at home.

Nag-aalala ako para sa 41-year old na padre de pamilya na di araw-araw ang trabaho, at nag-aabala sa asawa at tatlong anak, at dapat bigyan ng higit pang pagkakakitaan at dangal. I care for our teachers who gave the greatest gift we ever received – a good education – still trying to pass on the same gift to succeeding generations. I care for our OFWs, famed for their skill, integrity and untiring labor, who send home their pay as the only way to touch loved ones so far away. Nagpupugay ako ngayon sa kanilang mga karaniwang Pilipino.

My critics say this is fiction, along with other facts and figures I cite today. I call it heroism though they don’t need our praise. Each is already a hero to those who matter most, their families.

I said this is a global crisis where everyone is a victim. But only few can afford to avoid, or pay to delay, the worst effects.

Many more have nothing to protect them from the immediate blunt force trauma of the global crisis. Tulad ninyo, nag-aalala ako para sa kanila. Ito ang mga taong bayan na dapat samahan natin. Not only because of their sacrifices for our country but because they are our countrymen.

How do we solve these many complex challenges?

Sa kanilang kalagayan, the answer must be special care and attention in this great hour of need.

First, we must have a targeted strategy with set of precise prescriptions to ease the price challenges we are facing.

Second, food self-sufficiency; less energy dependence; greater self-reliance in our attitude as a people and in our posture as a nation.

Third, short-term relief cannot be at the expense of long term reforms. These reforms will benefit not just the next generation of Filipinos, but the next President as well.

Napakahalaga ang Value Added Tax sa pagharap sa mga hamong ito.

Itong programa ang sagot sa mga problemang namana natin.

Una, mabawasan ang ating mga utang and shore up our fiscal independence.

Pangalawa, higit na pamumuhunan para mamamayan at imprastraktura.

Pangatlo, sapat na pondo para sa mga programang pangmasa.

Thus, the infrastructure links programmed for the our poorest provinces like Northern Samar: Lao-ang-Lapinig-Arteche, right now ay maputik, San Isidro-Lope de Vega; the rehabilitation of Maharlika in Samar.

Take VAT away and you and I abdicate our responsibility as leaders and pull the rug from under our present and future progress, which may be compromised by the global crisis.

Lalong lumakas ang tiwala ng mga investor dahil sa VAT. Mula P56.50 kada dolyar, lumakas ang piso hanggang P40.20 bago bumalik sa P44 dahil sa mga pabigat ng pangdaigdigang ekonomiya. Kung alisin ang VAT, hihina ang kumpiyansa ng negosyo, lalong tataas ang interes, lalong bababa ang piso, lalong mamahal ang bilihin.

Kapag ibinasura ang VAT sa langis at kuryente, ang mas makikinabang ay ang mga may kaya na kumukonsumo ng 84% ng langis at 90% ng kuryente habang mas masasaktan ang mahihirap na mawawalan ng P80 billion para sa mga programang pinopondohan ngayon ng VAT. Take away VAT and we strip our people of the means to ride out the world food and energy crisis.

We have come too far and made too many sacrifices to turn back now on fiscal reforms. Leadership is not about doing the first easy thing that comes to mind; it is about doing what is necessary, however hard.

The government has persevered, without flip-flops, in its much-criticized but irreplaceable policies, including oil and power VAT and oil deregulation.

Patuloy na gagamitin ng pamahalaan ang lumalago nating yaman upang tulungan ang mga pamilyang naghihirap sa taas ng bilihin at hampas ng bagyo, habang nagpupundar upang sanggahan ang bayan sa mga krisis sa hinaharap.

Para sa mga namamasada at namamasahe sa dyip, sinusugpo natin ang kotong at colorum upang mapataas ang kita ng mga tsuper. Si Federico Alvarez kumikita ng P200 a day sa kaniyang rutang Cubao-Rosario. Tinaas ito ng anti-kotong, anti-colorum ngayon P500 na ang kita niya. Iyan ang paraan kung paano napananatili ang dagdag-pasahe sa piso lamang. Halaga lang ng isang text.

Texting is a way of life. I asked the telecoms to cut the cost of messages between networks. They responded. It is now down to 50 centavos.

Noong Hunyo, nagpalabas tayo ng apat na bilyong piso mula sa VAT sa langis—dalawang bilyong pambayad ng koryente ng apat na milyong mahihirap, isang bilyon para college scholarship o pautang sa 70,000 na estudyanteng maralita; kalahating bilyong pautang upang palitan ng mas matipid na LPG, CNG o biofuel ang motor ng libu-libong jeepney; at kalahating bilyong pampalit sa fluorescent sa mga pampublikong lugar.

Kung mapapalitan ng fluorescent ang lahat ng bumbilya, makatitipid tayo ng lampas P2 billion.

Sa sunod na katas ng VAT, may P1 billion na pambayad ng kuryente ng mahihirap; kalahating bilyon para sa matatandang di sakop ng SSS o GSIS; kalahating bilyong kapital para sa pamilya ng mga namamasada; kalahating bilyon upang mapataas ang kakayahan at equipment ng mga munting ospital sa mga lalawigan. At para sa mga kalamidad, angkop na halaga.

We released P1 billion for the victims of typhoon Frank. We support a supplemental Western Visayas calamity budget from VAT proceeds, as a tribute to the likes of Rodney Berdin, age 13, of Barangay Rombang, Belison, Antique, who saved his mother, brother and sister from the raging waters of Sibalom River.

Mula sa buwang ito, wala nang income tax ang sumusweldo ng P200,000 o mas mababa sa isang taon – P12 billion na bawas-buwis para sa maralita at middle class. Maraming salamat, Congress.

Ngayong may P32 na commercial rice, natugunan na natin ang problema sa pagkain sa kasalukuyan. Nagtagumpay tayo dahil sa pagtutulungan ng buong bayan sa pagsasaka, bantay-presyo at paghihigpit sa price manipulation, sa masipag na pamumuno ni Artie Yap.

Sa mga LGU at religious groups na tumutulong dalhin ang NFA rice sa mahihirap, maraming salamat sa inyo.

Dahil sa subsidy, NFA rice is among the region’s cheapest. While we can take some comfort that our situation is better than many other nations, there is no substitute for solving the problem of rice and fuel here at home. In doing so, let us be honest and clear eyed – there has been a fundamental shift in global economics. The price of food and fuel will likely remain high. Nothing will be easy; the government cannot solve these problems over night. But, we can work to ease the near-term pain while investing in long-term solutions.

Since 2001, new irrigation systems for 146,000 hectares, including Malmar in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, Lower Agusan, Casecnan and Aulo in Nueva Ecija, Abulog-Apayao in Cagayan and Apayao, Addalam in Quirino and Isabela, among others, and the restoration of old systems on another 980,000 hectares have increased our nation’s irrigated land to a historic 1.5 million hectares.

Edwin Bandila, 48 years old, of Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, cultivated one hectare and harvested 35 cavans. Thirteen years na ginawa iyong Malmar. In my first State of the Nation Address, sabi ko kung hindi matapos iyon sa Setyembre ay kakanselahin ko ang kontrata, papapasukin ko ang engineering brigade, natapos nila. With Malamar, now he cultivates five hectares and produces 97 cavans per hectare. Mabuhay, Edwin! VAT will complete the San Roque-Agno River project.

The Land Bank has quadrupled loans for farmers and fisherfolk. That is fact not fiction. Check it. For more effective credit utilization, I instructed DA to revitalize farmers cooperatives.

We are providing seeds at subsidized prices to help our farmers.

Incremental Malampaya national revenues of P4 billion will go to our rice self-sufficiency program.

Rice production since 2000 increased an average of 4.07% a year, twice the population growth rate. By promoting natural planning and female education, we have curbed population growth to 2.04% during our administration, down from the 2.36 in the 1990’s, when artificial birth control was pushed. Our campaign spreads awareness of responsible parenthood regarding birth spacing. Long years of pushing contraceptives made it synonymous to family planning. Therefore informed choice should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know about natural family planning.

From 1978 to 1981, nag-export tayo ng bigas. Hindi tumagal. But let’s not be too hard on ourselves. Panahon pa ng Kastila bumibili na tayo ng bigas sa labas. While we may know how to grow rice well, topography doesn’t always cooperate.

Nature did not gift us with a mighty Mekong like Thailand and Vietnam, with their vast and naturally fertile plains. Nature instead put our islands ahead of our neighbours in the path of typhoons from the Pacific. So, we import 10% of the rice we consume.

To meet the challenge of today, we will feed our people now, not later, and help them get through these hard times. To meet the challenges of tomorrow, we must become more self-reliant, self-sufficient and independent, relying on ourselves more than on the world.

Now we come to the future of agrarian reform.

There are those who say it is a failure, that our rice importations prove it. There are those who say it is a success—if only because anything is better than nothing. Indeed, people are happier owning the land they work, no matter what the difficulties.

Sa SONA noong 2001, sinabi ko, bawat taon, mamamahagi tayo ng dalawang daang libong ektarya sa reporma sa lupa: 100,000 hectares of private farmland and 100,000 of public farmland, including ancestral domains. Di hamak mahigit sa target ang naipamahagi natin sa nakaraang pitong taon: 854,000 hectares of private farmland, 797,000 of public farmland, and Certificates of Ancestral Domain for 525,000 hectares. Including, over a 100,000 hectares for Bugkalots in Quirino, Aurora, and Nueva Vizcaya. After the release of their CADT, Rosario Camma, Bugkalot chieftain, and now mayor of Nagtipunan, helped his 15,000-member tribe develop irrigation, plant vegetables and corn and achieve food sufficiency. Mabuhay, Chief!

Agrarian reform should not merely subdivide misery, it must raise living standards. Ownership raises the farmer from his but productivity will keep him on his feet.

Sinimula ng aking ama ang land reform noong 1963. Upang mabuo ito, the extension of CARP with reforms is top priority. I will continue to do all I can for the rural as well as urban poor. Ayaw natin na paglaya ng tenant sa landlord, mapapasa-ilalim naman sa usurero. Former tenants must be empowered to become agribusinessmen by allowing their land to be used as collateral.

Dapat mapalaya ng reporma sa lupa ang magsasaka sa pagiging alipin sa iba. Dapat bigyan ang magsasaka ng dangal bilang taong malaya at di hawak ninuman. We must curb the recklessness that gives land without the means to make it productive and bites off more than beneficiaries can chew.

At the same time, I want the rackets out of agrarian reform: the threats to take and therefore undervalue land, the conspiracies to overvalue it.

Be with me on this. There must be a path where justice and progress converge. Let us find it before Christmas. Dapat nating linisin ang landas para sa mga ibig magpursige sa pagsasaka, taglay ang pananalig na ang lupa ay sasagip sa atin sa huli kung gamitin natin ito nang maayos.

Along with massive rice production, we are cutting costs through more efficient transport. For our farm-to-market roads, we released P6 billion in 2007.

On our nautical highways. RORO boats carried 33 million metric tons of cargo and 31 million passengers in 2007. We have built 39 RORO ports during our administration, 12 more are slated to start within the next two years. In 2003, we inaugurated the Western Nautical Highway from Batangas through Mindoro, Panay and Negros to Mindanao. This year we launched the Central Nautical Highway from Bicol mainland, through Masbate, Cebu, Bohol and Camiguin to Mindanao mainland. These developments strengthen our competitiveness.

Leading multinational company Nestle cut transport costs and offset higher milk prices abroad. Salamat, RORO. Transport costs have become so reasonable for bakeries like Gardenia, a loaf of its bread in Iloilo is priced the same as in Laguna and Manila. Salamat muli sa RORO.

To the many LGUs who have stopped collecting fees from cargo vehicles, maraming, maraming salamat.

We are repaving airports that are useful for agriculture, like Zamboanga City Airport.

Producing rice and moving it cheaper addresses the supply side of our rice needs. On the demand side, we are boosting the people’s buying power.

Ginagawa nating labor-intensive ang paggawa at pag-ayos ng kalsada at patubig. Noong SONA ng 2001, naglunsad tayo sa NCR ng patrabaho para sa 20,000 na out of school youth, na tinawag OYSTER. Ngayon, mahigit 20,000 ang ineempleyo ng OYSTER sa buong bansa. In disaster-stricken areas, we have a cash-for-work program.

In training, 7.74 million took technical and vocational courses over the last seven years, double the number in the previous 14 years. In 2007 alone, 1.7 million graduated. Among them are Jessica Barlomento now in Hanjin as supply officer, Shenve Catana, Marie Grace Comendador, and Marlyn Tusi, lady welders, congratulations.

In microfinance, loans have reached P102 billion or 30 times more than the P3 billion we started with in 2001, with a 98% repayment record, congratulations! Major lenders include the Land Bank with P69 billion, the Peoples’ Credit and Finance Corporation P8 billion, the National Livelihood Support Fund P3 billion, DBP P1 billion and the DSWD’s SEA-K P800 million. For partnering with us to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit, thank you, Go Negosyo and Joey Concepcion.

Upland development benefits farmers through agro-forestry initiatives. Rubber is especially strong in Zamboanga Sibugay and North Cotabato. Victoria Mindoro, 56 years old, used to earn P5,000 a month as farmer and factory worker. Now she owns 10 hectares in the Goodyear Agrarian Reform Community in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, she earns P10,000 a week. With one hectare, Pedro and Concordia Faviolas of Makilala, North Cotabato, they sent their six children to college, bought two more hectares, and earn P15,000 a month. Congratulations!

Jatropha estates are starting in 900 hectares in and around Tamlang Valley in Negros Oriental; 200 in CamSur; 300 in GenSan, 500 in Fort Magsaysay near the Cordero Dam and 700 in Samar, among others.

In our 2006 SONA, our food baskets were identified as North Luzon and Mindanao.

The sad irony of Mindanao as food basket is that it has some of the highest hunger in our nation. It has large fields of high productivity, yet also six of our ten poorest provinces.

The prime reason is the endless Mindanao conflict. A comprehensive peace has eluded us for half a century. But last night, differences on the tough issue of ancestral domain were resolved. Yes, there are political dynamics among the people of Mindanao. Let us sort them out with the utmost sobriety, patience and restraint. I ask Congress to act on the legislative and political reforms that will lead to a just and lasting peace during our term of office.

The demands of decency and compassion urge dialogue. Better talk than fight, if nothing of sovereign value is anyway lost. Dialogue has achieved more than confrontation in many parts of the world. This was the message of the recent World Conference in Madrid organized by the King of Saudi Arabia, and the universal message of the Pope in Sydney.

Pope Benedict’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est reminds us: “There will always be situations of material need where help in the form of concrete love for neighbour is indispensable.”

Pinagsasama-sama natin ang mga programa ng DSWD, DOH, GSIS, SSS at iba pang lumalaban sa kahirapan sa isang National Social Welfare Program para proteksyonan ang pinaka-mahihirap mula sa pandaigdigang krisis, and to help those whose earnings are limited by illness, disability, loss of job, age and so on—through livelihood projects, microfinance, skills and technology transfer, emergency and temporary employment, pension funds, food aid and cash subsidies, child nutrition and adult health care, medical missions, salary loans, insurance, housing programs, educational and other savings schemes, and now cheaper medicine—Thanks to Congress.

The World Bank says that in Brazil, the income of the poorest 10% has grown 9% per year versus the 3% for the higher income levels due in large part to their family stipend program linking welfare checks to school attendance. We have introduced a similar program, Pantawid Pamilya.

Employers have funded the two increases in SSS benefits since 2005. Thank you, employers for paying the premiums.

GSIS pensions have been indexed to inflation and have increased every year since 2001. Its salary loan availments have increased from two months equivalent to 10 months, the highest of any system public or private—while repayments have been stretched out.

Pag-Ibig housing loans increased from P3.82 billion in 2001 to P22.6 billion in 2007. This year it experienced an 84% increase in the first four months alone. Super heating na. Dapat dagdagan ng GSIS at buksan muli ng SSS ang pautang sa pabahay. I ask Congress to pass a bill allowing SSS to do housing loans beyond the present 10% limitation.

Bago ako naging Pangulo, isa’t kalahating milyong maralita lamang ang may health insurance. Noong 2001, sabi natin, dadagdagan pa ng kalahating milyon. Sa taong iyon, mahigit isang milyon ang nabigyan natin. Ngayon, 65 milyong Pilipino na ang may health insurance, mahigit doble ng 2000, kasama ang labinlimang milyong maralita. Philhealth has paid P100 billion for hospitalization. The indigent beneficiaries largely come from West and Central Visayas, Central Luzon, and Ilocos. Patuloy nating palalawakin itong napaka-importanted programa, lalo na sa Tawi-Tawi, Zambo Norte, Maguindanao, Apayao, Dinagat, Lanao Sur, Northern Samar, Masbate, Abra and Misamis Occidental. Lalo na sa kanilang mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

In these provinces and in Agusan Sur, Kalinga, Surigao Sur and calamity-stricken areas, we will launch a massive school feeding program at P10 per child every school day.

Bukod sa libreng edukasyon sa elementarya at high school, nadoble ang pondo para sa mga college scholarships, while private high school scholarship funds from the government have quadrupled.

I have started reforming and clustering the programs of the DepEd, CHED and TESDA.

As with fiscal and food challenges, the global energy crunch demands better and more focused resource mobilization, conservation and management.

Government agencies are reducing their energy and fuel bills by 10%, emulating Texas Instruments and Philippine Stock Exchange who did it last year. Congratulations, Justice Vitug and Francis Lim.

To reduce power system losses, we count on government regulators and also on EPIRA amendments.

We are successful in increasing energy self-sufficiency—56%, the highest in our history. We promote natural gas and biofuel; geothermal fields, among the world’s largest; windmills like those in Ilocos and Batanes; and the solar cells lighting many communities in Mindanao. The new Galoc oil field can produce 17,000-22,000 barrels per day, 1/12 of our crude consumption.

The Renewable Energy Bill has passed the House. Thank you, Congressmen.

Our costly commodity imports like oil and rice should be offset by hard commodities exports like primary products, and soft ones like tourism and cyberservices, at which only India beats us.

Our P 350 million training partnership with the private sector should qualify 60,000 for call centers, medical transcription, animation and software development, which have a projected demand of one million workers generating $13 billion by 2010.

International finance agrees with our progress. Credit rating agencies have kept their positive or stable outlook on the country. Our world competitiveness ranking rose five notches. Congratulations to us.

We are sticking to, and widening, the fiscal reforms that have earned us their respect.

To our investors, thank you for your valuable role in our development. I invite you to invest not only in factories and services, but in profitable infrastructure, following the formula for the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

I ask business and civil society to continue to work for a socially equitable, economically viable balance of interests. Mining companies should ensure that host communities benefit substantively from their investments, and with no environmental damage from operations.

Our administration enacted the Solid Waste Management Act, Wildlife Act, Protection of Plant Varieties, Clean Water Act, Biofuels Act and various laws declaring protected areas.

For reforestation, for next year we have budgeted P2 billion. Not only do forests enhance the beauty of the land, they mitigate climate change, a key factor in increasing the frequency and intensity of typhoons and costing the country 0.5% of the GDP.

We have set up over 100 marine and fish sanctuaries since 2001. In the whaleshark sanctuary of Donsol, Sorsogon, Alan Amanse, 40-year-old college undergraduate and father of two, was earning P100 a day from fishing and driving a tricycle. Now as whaleshark-watching officer, he is earns P1,000 a day, ten times his former income.

For clean water, so important to health, there is P500 million this year and P1.5 billion for next year.

From just one sanitary landfill in 2001, we now have 21, with another 18 in the works.

We launched the Zero Basura Olympics to clear our communities of trash. Rather than more money, all that is needed is for each citizen to keep home and workplace clean, and for garbage officials to stop squabbling.

Our investments also include essential ways to strengthen our institutions of governance in order to fight the decades-old scourge of corruption. I will continue to fight this battle every single day. While others are happy with headlines through accusation without evidence and privilege speeches without accountability, we have allocated more than P3 billion – the largest anti-graft fund in our history – for real evidence gathering and vigorous prosecution.

From its dismal past record, the Ombudsman’s conviction rate has increased 500%. Lifestyle checks, never seriously implemented before our time, have led to the dismissal and/or criminal prosecution of dozens of corrupt officials.

I recently met with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US agency that provides grants to countries based on governance. They have commended our gains, contributed P1 billion to our fight against graft, and declared us eligible for more grants. Thank you!

Last September, we created the Procurement Transparency Group in the DBM and linked it with business, academe, and the Church, to deter or catch anomalies in government contracts.

On my instruction, the BIR and Customs established similar government-civil society tie-ups for information gathering and tax evasion and smuggling monitoring.

More advanced corruption practices require a commensurate advances in legislative responses. Colleagues in Congress, we need a more stringent Anti-Graft Act.

Sa pagmahal ng bilihin, hirap na ang mamimili – tapos, dadayain pa. Dapat itong mahinto. Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na magpasa ng Consumer Bill of Rights laban sa price gouging, false advertising at iba pang gawain kontra sa mamimili.

I call on all our government workers at the national and local levels to be more responsive and accountable to the people. Panahon ito ng pagsubok. Kung saan kayang tumulong at dapat tumulong ang pamahalaan, we must be there with a helping hand. Where government can contribute nothing useful, stay away. Let’s be more helpful, more courteous, more quick.

Kaakibat ng ating mga adhikain ang tuloy na pagkalinga sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino. Iisa ang ating pangarap – maunlad at mapayapang lipunan, kung saan ang magandang kinabukasan ay hindi pangarap lamang, bagkus natutupad.

Sama-sama tayo sa tungkuling ito. May papel na gagampanan ang bawat mamamayan, negosyante, pinunong bayan at simbahan, sampu ng mga nasa lalawigan.

We are three branches but one government. We have our disagreements; we each have hopes, and ambitions that drive and divide us, be they personal, ethnic, religious and cultural. But we are one nation with one fate.

As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people’s wellbeing. Hindi ko papayagang humadlang ang sinuman sa pag-unlad at pagsagana ng taong bayan. I will let no one – and no one’s political plans – threaten our nation’s survival.

Our country and our people have never failed to be there for us. We must be there for them now.

Maraming salamat. Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat

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