Dinos Alive! World Tour

Last November 27, we were lucky to be one of the firsts to see the Grand Launch of Dinos Alive Tour 2008.

The lighting of the waterfall facade marked the opening of Dinos Alive Tour 2008 in Manila. Press, celebrities, sponsors and executives were there to have an upclose view of the 31 different robotic dinosaurs. The biggest is 2 storeys high (Apatosaurus).

Apatosaurus

I saw Mayor Peewee Trinidad of Pasay City and Alvin Patrimonio with his family. They were enjoying the roaring experience in the Cretaceous and Jurassic era.

Anyway, we are very impressed on what they have done to this place. Imagine the “walk-through” dinosaur theme park, that measures 12 times the size of a basketball court (12,000 sq m), is full of fun and adventures.

It only takes one ticket to access the Dinos exhibit and all the fun activities in store for you. Among thses are Purefood dino trains and inflatebles, Alaska game zone, QTV Movie Theater, Caltex fossil dig, Santa's grotto and entertainment provided by magicians, clowns, face painters and the likes.

So, if you want to exprience a different kind of adventure, visit Dinos Alive Tour 2008 at Block 5 of SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

Tickets on weekdays cost P500 for adult, P400 for children below a meter and P1,600 for family package, which includes five tickets.

Weekend ticket prices, on the other hand, are P600 for adult, P450 for children and P1,750 for family package.

Don't worry, Dinos Alive organizers have considered the economic situation and how Filipinos loves going out in large groups. So on top of the family package, 3 supplementary tickets are available for purchase at Php 200 each.

For tickets call Ticket World (02) 891-9999.

"Dinos Alive World Tour" is open to public from Nov. 28, 2008 to Jan. 11, 2009.

They also have party plans. If you plan to celebrate your birthday, Christmas party, or even company outing in Dinos Alive! World Tour, you may get in touch with Mylene Amalgro at 09284170008.

The Dinos Alive! World Tour is guaranteed to thrill audiences young and old in a fun, educational and interactive display of mechanical magic.

For more information on , please visit: http://www.dinosalivetour.com/ or visit their blog at: http://dinosalivetour.wordpress.com/

More pictures: http://irisaeirin.multiply.com/

Batangas: A Great Getaway Destination

Travel is one of my passion. Too bad, when I got married (plus my husband is working in a call center), I don't have the time to travel. But we are planning to have a vacation by early 2009. We are thinking Batangas will be a nice place to relax and also to celebrate our anniversary.

Batangas is one of the places in the Philippines which houses several tourist spots that the country is being proud of. It is approximately two and a half hours from Manila proper and is strategically located at the southern coast of Metro Manila where you can find Anilao, which is known for its diving sites. Here you can also find Taal Volcano and Taal lake and of course, Tagaytay.
There are a lot of things to do in Batangas that a short vacation will not do. You can see caged tigers, swim in their one-of-a-kind swimming place where the reef is carved at the foot of the ladders to make it as a small swimming area, snorkel at Sombrero island to see the beautiful colors of various corals.

There are fresh-water beaches in the towns around the Lake -- San Nicolas, Agoncillo, Cuenca, Balete, Tanauan and Talisay. Salt-water beaches abound in the following towns: Matabungkay (Lian town), Nasugbu, Calatagan, Calaca, Lemery, Taal, San Luis, Bauan, Lobo, and Laiya (San Juan town). Or you can opt to explore their mountains! There is mountain trekking in Mt. Maculot and in Mabini and Nasugbu towns. There are also several island tourist destinations, like Tingloy, Verde Island, Ligpo Island, and Fortune Island and also Industrial Parks and various manufacturing industries dotting the shoreline.

Read more Here

Puerto Galera

Do you love beaches? Are snorkeling and diving your hobbies? If yes, Puerto Galera is one place I will recommend.

Port of Galleons, literal meaning of Puerto Galera, is a municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is about 130 kilometers south of Manila. Puerto Galera is only three and a half hours away from Manila

This coastal town is blessed with a tropical climate, fine beaches with crystal clear water, rain forests, natural caves, waterfalls, many fantastic snorkeling and diving spots.

Puerto Galera is one of the top dive destinations in the Philippines and Asia. Excellent diving spot is found less than 5 minutes from the Sabang area. There are so many dive sites to choose from, like Pink Wall, the Hill, Batangas Channel, and more. But Coral Gardens is considered as the best snorkeling in Puerto Galera.

Aside from diving. Puerto Galera is also famous for beaches. Sabang Beach and White Beach are the famous beached in the area.

Sabang is the busiest beach. It is the main destination for foreign tourists. Sabang Beach is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. And it is also known for nightspots, bars and discos.

On the other hand, White Beach is popular with local travelers. White sand beaches covering the stretching coastline of Puerto Galera have always been favorite destinations for weekend trips. There are huge varieties of small hotels, restaurants and bars offering cosmopolitan cuisine just off the beach, that are relatively cheap and comfortable. In short, White Beach provides a more amicable environment and is perfect for those interested in a more relaxed vacation.





There are several ways you can get to Puerto Galera. If you're in Manila, take a bus to the port at Batangas City and then by boat. At the Batangas Port, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, Balatero Pier and Sabang Beach.

One of the easiest way is to avail the Sikat Bus & Ferry service. They offer a nonstop bus ride from the City State Tower Hotel in Manila to Batangas Pier with a connecting ferry trip to Puerto Galera.

Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park is the first Oceanarium in the Philippines. It is located in one complex at the back of the Quirino Grandstand.

The Oceanarium is composed of 7 parts:

1. Agos (Flow) - a rainforest motiff and an artificial waterfall that flows into 8 tanks of freshwater fishes.

2. Bahura (The Reef) - exhibition of artificial corals in 48 tanks that feature the very colorful Philippine underwater rainforest

3. Laot (Fishing Ground) - Four big distinct aquariums features big fish and Eagle-spotted rays in a long tank.

4. Kalaliman (The Deep) - showcase marine animals found in the deepest parts of Philippine waters. Ang Kalaliman’s deep sea resident is the barracuda.

5. Buhay na Karagatan (Living Ocean) - the breathtaking attraction of the oceanarium. It is a 25-meter long walkway tunnel similarly seen in Ocean Park Hong Kong, Singapore’s Underwater World in Sentosa, Siam’s Ocean World in Bangkok, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur’s Aquaria in Malaysia.However, Manila Ocean Park has a 220-degree curved tunnel as compared to the standard 180-degree curved tunnels seen in other Asian countries.

6. Overhang Tank - variety of rays fly over while you’re under this unique Overhang Tank.

7. Pating (Shark) - features several species of shark





The Oceanarium is open from 10am – 9pm, Mondays through Sundays. Special tours may be requested and booked earlier than tour schedules.

Admission

Adults : Php 400.00
Kids : Php 350.00

For more information click here

Credits: Ktrix for photos

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

Charlie Green in the Philippines

I know the name Charlie Green rings a bell? He's the British-Filipino kid that wowed audiences of Britain’s Got Talent when he sang “Summer Wind”. On the show, he prompted judge Simon Cowell to comment: “You’re fantastic". To refresh your memory, watch this.



Charlie gained international attention when he joined the reality TV contest Britain's Got Talent along with fellow Filipino singer Madonna Decena early this year.

Now, Charlie is in Manila. He arrived last July 24, accompanied by his British father Roger Philip Green and Filipino mother Cecilia Sumargo. The family immediately went straight to the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Charlie's visit was made possible by ABS-CBN.

Charlie's itinerary includes television appearances on ASAP 08, Wowowee, The Buzz, Pinoy Dream Academy's Uberture, Boy & Kris and Sharon. A couple of other shows could be added to the list, depending on Charlie's schedule and availability.

Prisoners Dance to "Low" and "Soulja Boy"

Here's another dance show put on by the Filipino inmates. This is happening Only In The Philippines...

Low


Soulja Boy


I love these videos, they make me wanna dance. But Thriller was their best.

Batman The Dark Knight

I'm so excited. I can't wait for Saturday. We will watch Batman The Dark Knight. I heard Heath Ledger makes The Dark Knight unforgettable. According to People, "Ledger, who died of an accidental overdose in January at age 28, may receive an Oscar nod for his turn as the Joker", according to his costars.







Release dates for Batman: The Dark Knight

Australia - 16 July 2008
Egypt - 16 July 2008
Philippines - 16 July 2008
Argentina - 17 July 2008
Greece - 17 July 2008
Hong Kong - 17 July 2008
Peru - 17 July 2008
Singapore - 17 July 2008
Taiwan - 17 July 2008
Brazil - 18 July 2008
India - 18 July 2008
Indonesia - 18 July 2008
Mexico - 18 July 2008
Panama - 18 July 2008
USA - 18 July 2008
Uruguay - 18 July 2008
Venezuela - 18 July 2008
UK - 21 July 2008 (London) (premiere)
Belgium - 23 July 2008
Denmark - 23 July 2008
Iceland - 23 July 2008
Italy - 23 July 2008
Croatia - 24 July 2008
Israel - 24 July 2008

Kuwait - 24 July 2008
Lebanon - 24 July 2008
Netherlands - 24 July 2008
New Zealand - 24 July 2008
Portugal - 24 July 2008
Estonia - 25 July 2008
Finland - 25 July 2008
Norway - 25 July 2008
South Africa - 25 July 2008
Sweden - 25 July 2008
Turkey - 25 July 2008
UK - 25 July 2008
Japan - 2 August 2008 (limited)
Hungary - 7 August 2008
South Korea - 7 August 2008
Poland - 8 August 2008
Japan - 9 August 2008
France - 13 August 2008
Spain - 13 August 2008
Russia - 14 August 2008
Austria - 21 August 2008
Germany - 21 August 2008
Denmark - 23 August 2008

Weng Weng - the 2 foot, 9 inches tall actor

My Cousin shared this video to me. It's a rap video by The Chuds and John R of R Room dedicated to Weng Weng. The song keeps on playing in my mind. Might as well share this with you....




For those who did not know Weng Weng, he was a Filipino actor and martial artist. Only 2 foot, 9 inches (83 cm) tall, he is listed in the Guinness World Records as the shortest adult actor in a leading role.

Although Weng Weng had an active film career in the 1970s and the 1980s, he had not had a major acting role for several years prior to his death in 1992 due to a heart attack (aged 34).

Filipino Inmates do Thriller

This video reached 16,817,375 views.. Only in the Philippines, you can see 1,500 inmates jostling around like zombies, then breaking into spontaneous dance when they corner Filipino Michael Jackson and his transvestite “girlfriend.”



You may watch more of their videos HERE

Saud White Beach - Pagudpud

I love beaches... I'm quite sad that last summer, I was not able to visit even one beach.. I think the last beach I visited was in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte,and it was a year ago. Anyway, Pagudpud (PAH GOOD POOD) is a coastal resort town on the northernmost tip of Luzon in the Philippines. The South China Sea lies to the west and north.


Pagudpud is bounded to the south by the town of Bangui, the home of the first power generating windmill farm in the country.



Pagudpud beach is reputed to have the longest contiguous white sand with mighty waves and strong winds that can compare to Hawaii. That is why foriegners love Saud white beach. Its breathtaking views, white-sand beaches and crystal-blue water makes Pagudpud a haven for tourists. I like Saud more because they are not so crowded like Boracay.


Activities:
As Pagudpud is becoming the surfing capital of the Philippines, you may learn to surf during your stay there and go skinny dipping, boating and swimming all day. Aside from these water activities, you can pamper yourself in taking pictures of some of Mother Nature's beauty while mountaineering to Kaibigan Falls and walking along the historic streets and landmarks of Vigan, Batac, and Laoag. But I'll warn you not to swim too far from the shore because the waters there have a very strong undercurrent that can pull you far off the shore (seriously!)

This place is worth the trip and money. I definitely recommend this place. This is one of my favorite places in the Philippines.

How to get to Pagudpud:

Via land:
Pagudpud is 548 km from Manila and 75 km from Laoag City.

Some bus companies will take you straight from Manila to Pagudpud. You may try Florida Lines because they go straight to Pagudpud. Their terminal is located in Sampaloc, Manila, near UST. The fare is pretty affordable for a deluxe bus that has comfortable seats and, believe it or not, a toilet room. It costs around P600. The buses usually travel during the night so you could sleep the whole travel time. The trip is long. If you leave Manila at 7:30 p.m., expect to arrive in Pagudpud anywhere around 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.

or

From Manila to Laoag, the ride takes about 10 hours via the northwest highway. For a casual traveler, Philippine Rabbit, Partas and Farinas Transit have frequent buses heading to Laoag. From there, take a minibus to Pagudpud.

Once you arrive to Pagudpud, board a tricycle and ask them to take you to Barangay Saud. They will charge you P50.00.

If you will use your own vehicle, take the North Expressway at Balintawak and get off at Dau exit. Head for the coastal road. You will pass by Angeles City, Tarlac, Urdaneta, Pozzorubio, and Rosario. Proceed further north, past San Fernando (La Union), Vigan (Ilocos Sur), and Laoag (Ilocos Norte). Take the road towards Cagayan to reach Pagudpud. It is the fifth town from Laoag City.

Via Air:
By air and land, 55 minute flight on PAL (4 weekly flights) from Manila to Laoag. 1.5 hours by car from Laoag to Pagudpud (60km).

For more pictures of our trip, click here

What A Name! (For open minded only)

THIS WAS POSTED IN ONE RESTAURANT NEAR NAIA AIRPORT, so, maybe next time you are around the area, you may as well dine-in there, and check out their menu; AS YOU GO ON, IT'S BECOMING INTERESTING AND MORE FLAVORFUL!!! (this is based on true facts...)

1. TAPSILOG - Tapa, Sinangag, Itlog
2. LONGSILOG - Longganisa, Sinangag, Itlog
3. HOTSILOG - Hotdog, Sinangag, Itlog
4. PORKSILOG - Pork, Sinangag, Itlog
5. CHICKSILOG - Chicken, Sinangag Itlog
6. AZUCARERA - Adobong Aso
7. LUGLOG - Lugaw, Itlog
8. PAKAPLOG - Pandesal, Kape, Itlog
9. KALOG - Kanin, Itlog
10. PAKALOG - Pandesal, Kanin, Itlog
11. MAALOG NA BETLOG - Maalat na Itlog, Pakbet, Itlog
12. BAHAW - Bakang Inihaw (akala ninyo kaning lamig ano)
13. KALKAL - Kalderetang Kalabaw
14. HIMAS - Hipon Malasado
15. HIMAS SUSO - Hipon Malasado, Sugpo, Keso
16. HIMAS PEKPEK - Hipon Malasado, Kropek, Pinekpekan
17. PEKPEK MONG MALAKI - Kropek, Pinekpekan, Monggo, Malasado, Laing, Kilawin
18. DILA - Dinuguan, Laing
19. DILAAN MO - Dinuguan, Laing, Dalandan, Molo
20. BOKA BOKA - Bopis, Kanin, Bokayo, Kape
21. BOKA BOKA MO PA - Bopis, Kanin, Bokayo, Kape,Molong Pancit
22. KANTOT - Kanin, Tortang Talong
23. KANTOT PA - Kanin, Tortang Talong, Pancit
24. SIGE KANTOT PA - Sinigang na Pige, Kanin, Tortang Talong, Pancit
25. SIGE KANTOT PA IBAON MO - Sinigang na Pige, Kanin,Tortang Talong, Pancit - Take out
26. SIGE KANTOT PA HA - Sinigang na Pige, Kanin,Tortang Talong, Pancit, Halo-halo
27. SIGE KANTOT PAIBAON MO PAPA! - Sinigang na Pige, Kanin, Tortang Talong, Pancit... Take out with Ketchup
28. PAKANTOT - Pandesal, Kanin, Tortang Talong
29. PAPAKANTOT - Papaitan, Kanin, Tortang Talong
30. PAPAKANTOT KA BA - Papaitan, Kanin, Tortang Talong, Kapeng Barako
31. PAKANTOT SA YO - Pandesal, Kanin, Tortang Talong,Saging + Yosi
32. PAKANTOT KA - Pandesal, Kanin, Tortang Talong,Kape
33. PAKANTOT KA HABANG MATIGAS PA - Pandesal, Kanin, Tortang Talong, Kape, Inihaw na Bangus, Maruya,Tinola, Ginisang Aso, Pancit
34. SUBO! - Sugpo, Bopis
35. SUBO MO - Sugpo, Bopis, Molo
36. SUBO MO PA - Sugpo, Bopis, Molo, Pancit
37. SUBO MO PA MAIGE - Sugpo, Bopis, Molo, Mais, Pige
38. SUBO MO TITE KO - Sugpo, Bopis, Tinola, Teryaki,Kochinta
39. SUBO MO TITE KO BILIS - Sugpo, Bopis, Tinola Teryaki, Kochinta, Bihon, Tawilis
40. SUBO MO TITE KO BILIS, HAYOP! - ...same as #39, minura mo lang yung waiter kasi ang tagal ng order.

NOW, YOU BELIEVE, FILIPINO CUISINE MENUS CAN BE SO APPETIZING, SERVE WITH SIZZLING LIBIDO... ENJOY YOUR MEAL, BON APPETITI!!!

Random Pictures: Only in the Philippines - Restrictions

Only in the Philippines - Best Beer in the World

I'll just share you a story. Last week, we had a visitor from Detroit, Michigan. He's always bragging that the Philippines has the best beer in the world. He was advised by his son to try San Miguel Beer and San Mig Light while he's here in the Philippines. So, he tried it... I asked him, "what do you think of our beer?" He just answered, "THE BEST BEER I EVER HAD. The Philippine version of San Miguel is much better than the Mexican version." He described it as "a pale golden lager with pleasant, clean finish with well-balanced medium body, lively and snappy with a distinct bitter hop character that slides smoothly on the palate." I'm not into beer, but hearing those words made me thirsty.

**********************************************************************************

San Miguel Beer Division (SMBD) a division of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage company in Southeast Asia. SMBD manufactures and distributes San Miguel Pale Pilsen, the undisputed leader in the Philippine market and the leading beer in Hong Kong.

San Miguel also produces a wide range of popular beverage products that are runaway market leaders in their respective product categories.

San Miguel Pale Pilsen is the Company’s flagship brand and the Philippines’ leading brew. It is one of the world’s largest selling beers. Made from imported barley malt, as well as German and American hops, it is exported to over 40 countries worldwide.

TRIVIA:

* San Miguel Pale Pilsen is featured in the anime feature Ghost in the Shell. The movie has scenes wherein Batou (one of the main characters) drinks a can of San Miguel Beer, which was recreated onscreen faithfully to its real life appearance.

* During the Japanese era, and Andres Soriano was in America with the exiled Commowealth Government, San Miguel became the Balintawak Beer Brewery, Funded and supported by the Japanese until the liberation. Andres Soriano ordered the beer to be consumed by the Americans and the Filipinos to the last drop rather than be labeled under the name San Miguel.

* People in Hong Kong often assume San Miguel Pale Pilsen is brewed locally (although it does have a brewery factory there).

* San Miguel in Spain has the same origins as San Miguel in the Philippines. However, since 1953 the brewery in Spain has been under separate ownership and no longer has any connections with San Miguel Corp. Philippines. The beer in Spain is brewed by San Miguel Fábricas de Cerveza y Malta S.A., part of the San Miguel-Mahou group.

* San Miguel has a cult following in the United States, especially among Filipino "Balikbayans."

* In the movie Shaolin Soccer, Fung is drinking a can of San Miguel Beer when he meets Steel Leg for the first time.

* Latest commercial endorsers of San Miguel Beer include Kris Aquino, Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, and Jet Li.

* In the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Korea 'white label' San Miguel is available. However in other areas, only the 'gold label' is available. Gold label is a gold colored paper label, while white label is painted on white lettering. SMC has started shipping the gold paper labeled bottles, at least in Manila and is rumored to be phasing out the white versions.

* San Miguel Beer Division held a 3-day drinking contest in Makati, Philippines. The winner of this 1994 drinking bout is no other than 20 year old Carlo Decena Bilbao, who still holds the record of 83 bottles of pale pilsen. Take note, this was all consumed without the use of his hands. He would simply pick up the bottle with his mouth and start pounding one after the other. The second placer for this event was no other than the German Gulper himself, Roland Hiitzer, who downed 15 pilsens.

Trivia Source: Wikipedia

Random Pictures: Only in the Philippines: Step In

Random Pictures: Only in the Philippines: Balot Pinoy

Balot at Pinoy instead of Balot at Penoy...