CHANGE 2010

2010-03-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

NOYNOY AQUINO FOR PRESIDENT!

Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III (born February 8, 1960) is a Senator of the Philippines and a candidate for President of the Philippines in the 2010 election, as the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party. He is the only son of former President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.

A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, he was wounded by rebel soldiers in a failed coup attempt during his mother's presidency. In 1989, he was elected to the House of Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province in the 11th Congress of the Philippines. In 2007, he was elected to the Senate of the 14th Congress of the Philippines.

2010-03-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

TRUTH ABOUT SENATOR MAR ROXAS

Last year, I spent a bit of time browsing through official biographies of different candidates online and thought that they sounded too impersonal, too distant. Here’s an attempt at changing the tone of this introduction without sounding too self-serving. Make no mistake, I realize that this forms part of my job application for 2010. The least I can do is to tell you of who I am, how I’ve served this country, and what kind of decisions I’ll be making should I get elected in 2010.

On a personal level (and to break the ice a little bit), here are some tidbits of myself that you won’t find anywhere else. For one thing, I consider myself a bit of a gadget aficionado. I like tinkering with my laptop, my cellphones, among many other things. I now have over 30GB worth of songs in my iPod – most of them copied from my old CDs.

Food? My favorite is KFC. Oh and I eat leche flan with rice. Some people – particularly my wife and my son – find
this odd.

Back when I still had time to watch TV, my favorites were CSI (New York and Las Vegas), the West Wing, and the Sopranos. Hmm, what else? Food? My favorite is KFC. Oh and I eat leche flan with rice. Some people – particularly my wife and my son – find this odd. I think it’s delicious.

Now that we’ve gone over the basics, I guess I’ll continue by introducing my family. My grandfather was the first President of the Republic after we regained our independence. My parents were two of the fiercest critics of the martial law regime in the seventies. Despite this political background, it was because of my brother that I entered public service.

Dinggoy Roxas died of cancer at a very early age. He was the real politician, the real successor of my family’s heritage of serving the people. I was his campaign manager when he ran as a congressman so many years ago. When he won, I went back to my work as an investment banker. Happy. Content. It was in 1993 when we found out that he was dying. This is still a very painful experience that I will not talk about too much. Needless to say, I went back to the Philippines to be with him for what was going to be the last three months of his life. One night on his deathbed he asked me: “why can I afford to buy medicines, while they [the people] can’t?” This was a simple question but it changed my life. I entered politics after his death.

One night on his deathbed he asked me: “why can I afford to buy medicines, while they [the people] can’t?” This was a simple question but it changed
my life.

As a congressman, my job was to make laws and ensure that the good ones got passed. Education was then, as it is now, a priority. And of all the laws that we passed, I’m particularly proud of having been part of the enactment of the Roxas Law. This ensures a fairer distribution of the education budget in all provinces – freeing the sector, at least, from patronage politics and providing a more efficient process of addressing classroom and teacher shortages.

As a former Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, laying the groundwork for the BPO industry and espousing ‘palengkenomics’ were among the things I focused on. The philosophy, if you can call it that, is simple: since the market is the heart of local life – it being able to supply food and provide jobs – it should be enhanced as an institution and should be made more efficient. There is still much to be done to achieve this.

… laying the groundwork for the BPO industry and espousing ‘palengkenomics’ were among the things I focused on…

As a senator, some of the laws I helped pass were the Magna Carta for MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), the income tax exemption of minimum wage earners, and the establishment of a public fund from a portion of the EVAT to be used for education and healthcare. But of all these laws, what I am most proud of is the enactment of Cheaper Medicines Act. Making this law a reality was a personal mission. It was like hearing my brother’s voice all over again. And I’ll be damned if I let this administration ruin its implementation for the sake of appeasing the pharmaceutical companies.

As a candidate, well, I won’t give you a five or thirteen-point program in making this country great again. Instead, I will tell you of what we do need as a people… and this is simply what I like to call an activist government.

It’s no secret that this administration lacks many things… but the most important factors are accountability, transparency, meritocracy, professionalism and the independence of enforcement agencies.

what we do need as a people… is simply what I like to call an activist government.

Because of corruption and the lack of the qualities mentioned above, the people no longer trust this government, the people no longer trust its leaders. Restoring this trust should be the starting point of the government that will lead this nation after May 2010.

My promise, therefore, dear reader, is simple: I will not abuse the trust already given. And I will not betray this trust if ever its given again.

from: http://www.marroxas.com/know-mar/

2010-03-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Risa Hontiveros, who is currently in her second term as representative of AKBAYAN Party-list, is known as an opposition leader, a progressive lawmaker, a former journalist, and peace advocate.

She made her mark in national politics when the police illegally arrested her at the height of the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal. She joined the opposition to the GMA administration, endorsed the impeachment of President GMA several times, and faced harassment from the government. She has not received her pork barrel since 2005, a ‘badge of honor’ for this fiery congresswoman.

Risa’s oppositionist stance did not prevent her from pursuing her legislative agenda. Indeed, despite being in the minority, Risa was able to champion the enactment of several laws, among them the Cheaper Medicines Law, CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER), and an amendment to the Tax Code to increase income tax exemptions for minimum wage owners. She has actively used Congress’ oversight functions to correct government abuses. Her diligence in her legislative work has earned the respect of her fellow lawmakers and various civil society groups.

Her activism began when she was still a high school student in Saint Scholastica’s College. She became a scholar and a student leader at the Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated cum laude. While still in school, she entered the world of journalism, a career she pursued for more than a decade. She was awarded the Golden Dove for Best Female Newscaster by the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in 1994. She also became active in the peace movement and served as the Secretary General of the Coalition for Peace and member of the GRP panel in the peace talks with the NDF. She was given the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Peace Advocacy in 2001.

In 2005, she became a widow and single mother to her four children. With her family as her main inspiration, she has made her mark in Philippine politics as a principled public servant and as a champion of the voiceless.

Author of more than 80 bills and resolutions on various concerns from SK Reform to BHW Bill, Security of Tenure to Students Rights and Welfare, Risa’s sense of integrity is a refreshing break in Philippine politics. Her demeanor epitomizes grace under pressure, a character that inspires people to listen to what Risa has been saying, and see what she has proven – that, if used properly, power can transform, and politics can be an instrument of reform.

from:http://www.risahontiveros.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=58

2010-03-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

I.Q. TEST

What do you see?

Do You See 2 Men?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Maybe

2. How many months have 28 days?

a.1
b.2
c.6
d.12

3.Canada is part of what continent?

a.North America
b.South America
c.Europe
d.Antarctica

4.Which of the following weighs more - a pound of bricks, a pound of cheese, or a pound of feathers?

a.Bricks
b.Cheese
c.Feathers
d.Same weight for all

5.Which one of the four is least like the other three?

a.Apple
b.Pear
c.peach
d.strawberry

6.If you rearrange the letters "SEOMU", you would have the name of a/an:

a. animal
b. city
c. country
d. ocean

7.Two monkeys, four pigs and three chickens have how many legs?

a.12
b.16
c.20
d.26

8.If you count from 1 to 100, how many 6's will you pass on the way?
a.9

b.10

c.11

d.19

9.What is the minimum number of toothpicks necessary to spell the word "FAT"? (You are not allowed to break or bend any toothpicks.)
a.5

b.7

c.8

d.9

10.Two of the following numbers add up to seventeen: 6 - 13 - 2 - 12 - 7 - 14

true

false

2010-03-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

8 Foods that Fight Stress

Dark Chocolate

High in flavonoids, which are lauded for their relaxing properties (chamomile tea is another great source), chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a chemical that enhances your mood. The darker the chocolate, the more healthy substances you're getting in your diet, so look for bars that are 70 percent cacao or higher.

Skim Milk

Turns out that a glass of warm milk really is calming. One study found that women who drank four or more servings of lowfat or skim milk every day were about half as likely to experience stress-related PMS symptoms than those who drank less than one serving a week.

Oatmeal

Carbs help you produce serotonin, a calming hormone that helps fight anxiety's negative effects-which is probably why many of us crave them when we're stressed. Go with the craving and choose healthy sources. Oatmeal is high in fiber, which means that your body will absorb it slowly. In one fell swoop, you'll prolong the serotonin boost, keeping yourself feeling full for longer (and on less) and making sure your blood sugar's in check.

Salmon

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids-abundant in fish like salmon-can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels, and that an omega-3-rich diet can also help suppress the production of the anxiety hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Walnut

They've been shown to help lower blood pressure, which is critical for those whose hearts are already working overtime thanks to high adrenaline levels. In fact, research so strongly backs their health benefits that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration goes so far as to recommend 1 1/2 oz per day.

Sunflower Seeds

A good source of folate, which helps your body produce a pleasure-inducing brain chemical called dopamine.

Spinach

Studies show that magnesium, which you'll find in leafy greens like spinach, improves your body's response to stress.

Blueberries

There antioxidants counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol on your body

2010-03-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism: the world's hottest chili.

After conducting tests, the military has decided to use the thumb-sized "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili," to make tear gas-like hand grenades to immobilize suspects, defense officials said Tuesday.

The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world's spiciest chili. It is grown and eaten in India's northeast for its taste, as a cure for stomach troubles and a way to fight the crippling summer heat.

2010-03-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

HUNTING HIGHER PREY

Cheetahs depend on their speed. It is the one advantage they lord over all land animals. That advantage doubles as their greatest weakness. If an injury impairs the cheetah's ability to run, it impairs the big cat's ability to hunt and feed as well. To tackle dangerous prey is to risk injury and potential starvation, which is why cheetahs typically stick to hunting weaker animals, such as Thomson's gazelle. Even lions may shy away from the likes of the beisa oryx, with their horns.

2010-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

2010-03-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

The eBay listing and drop a few gold coins on what might be the fanciest Mario we've ever seen.

Covered with diamonds, the 4.25 carat, solid yellow gold pendant is listed with a 'buy it now' price of a mere $2600. Of course, you can always bid on it instead if you consider $2600 to be too cheap. Besides, free shipping!

The pendant is just the latest ludicrously priced video game item to hit the auction site. A recent listing for an old Nintendo Entertainment System and a bunch of games fetched a whopping $13,000 when keen eyes saw the ultra-rare collector's item Stadium Events included in the package, though that paled next to the staggering $41,000 nabbed by a seller lucky enough to have found a sealed copy of the game in his basement.

2010-03-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

The turritopsis nutricula species of jellyfish may be the only animal in the world to have truly discovered the fountain of youth.

Since it is capable of cycling from a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may be no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan jellyfish is the only known animal that can repeatedly turn back the hands of time and revert to its polyp state (its first stage of life).

2010-03-17T11:39:00.001-07:00

The video rental store declared in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday that it might be forced to file Chapter 11 if cash flows don't improve and it is unable to restructure its debt. Blockbuster reportedly has about $1 billion in debt.

"These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern," Blockbuster said in the filing.

As a result, shares of Blockbuster are tanking 26.1% to about 29 cents in morning trading, with investors fearing that a Chapter 11 filing would render common shares worthless.

Still, a voluntary bankruptcy, while painful, may be its only way out, Needham analyst Charles Wolf says.

Blockbuster has provided little confidence that it will be able to recover on its own. Last month the video rental company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $434.9 million, or $2.24 a share, as same-store sales fell almost 16%.

2010-03-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

2010-03-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

2010-03-12T14:00:00.001-08:00

2010-03-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) quickly came to terms with former welterweight titlist Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), who is also promoted by Top Rank, making their deal a snap to finalize. They'll meet for Pacquiao's welterweight title on March 13 (HBO PPV) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Cruises hit by deadly waves in Spain

2010-03-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

This accident happened in an area of the Mediterranean called the Gulf of Leon, which is known for big waves when storms hit.

The ship was on a 12-day cruise from the ports of Genoa and Marseilles in the western Mediterranean, calling at Tangiers, Casablanca, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Cadiz, Cartagena, Barcelona and had been due to return to Genoa on Thursday.

MEGA MILLION JACPOT

2010-03-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

$ 133 MILLIONS

Welcome

2010-03-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

Take a guided tour of the nation’s capital and enjoy our national treasures. Here are the best of Washington, DC tours:

Old Town Trolley
Enjoy a narrated tour of Washington DC covering over 100 points of interest, including the Lincoln Memorial, Georgetown, Washington National Cathedral, the White House, the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, and Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. On and off privileges at 17 stops allow you to tour at your own pace.

American Heritage Tour of Washington, DC
Hop on a Tourmobile and enjoy a narrated sightseeing tour of 25 major sites on and around the National Mall in Washington DC. One day and two day tickets are available. You may reboard for free throughout the day.

Monuments by Moonlight
Old Town Trolley Tours show you the sights of Washington, DC after hours on its 2 ½ hour tour. Enjoy the sights of the illuminated monuments and memorials, the Capitol Building, the White House and Georgetown. Stops include: FDR Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Lincoln and Vietnam Veteran's Memorials. Hear entertaining stories and learn of the ghosts whose spirits haunt our nation's capital.

DC By Foot
Free walking tours of the Washington, DC's monuments include a fast paced and engaging presentation by young and energetic tour guides. The guides work exclusively for tips ensuring that you enjoy the experience. You'll hear unique and legendary stories about George Washington's love for dogs, the indestructibility of the President's car, why French women loved Thomas Jefferson and much more. Private tours are available as well.

Ghost Tours in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
Take a walking tour and hear ghost stories and legends about infamous haunted places such as Lafayette Square Park, Historic Alexandria or downtown Annapolis. Find spooky tours around the region.

DC Ducks
Climb aboard an authentic, fully restored 1942 "Duck" and see the sites of Washington DC. Ninety minute tours begin at Union Station, continue to the National Mall where you'll see the city’s monuments and Smithsonian Museums. The tour concludes with a cruise along the Potomac River all in the same vehicle!

Spy City Tours
This is a new interactive tour, just launched by the International Spy Museum and Gray Line combining a Washington, DC city tour and espionage. See more than 25 of Washington's most notable espionage sites used by some of the nation's infamous spies from the World Wars to the Cold War to the present!

Washington DC Capital Bike Tours
Enjoy a tour of Washington DC while riding a bike. Learn about the city's monuments, museums and other sites from the seat of a 21-speed mountain bike. Visit the most popular sites of the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Washington Monument, Supreme Court, Union Station, the Capitol and more. Trailers are available for young children.

Segway Tours
Segway tours are the hip new way to explore Washington, DC! Cruise past the monuments, the Smithsonian museums, the White House, the Capitol and more as your guide entertains you with stories and historical facts about the nation’s capital. A Segway is a self-balancing, personal transportation device that's fun and easy to operate.

DC Party Shuttle Tours
Take a tour with personalized attention while visiting the Capitol Building, the White House and most of Washington, DC's monuments. Tour guides get on and off the shuttle and offer insight into the city's top attractions. Day and Evening tours are available as well as private tours.

Washington DC Cruises along the Potomac River
For a different view of Washington DC, take a cruise along the Potomac River and see breathtaking views of the Kennedy Center, Watergate, the Washington Monument, the U. S. Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial and more.

Georgetown Tours
Explore the oldest and most famous neighborhood of Washington, DC. Take a tour of Georgetown and see historic homes, the C & O Canal, the prestigious Georgetown University, and more.

Ford's Theatre Walking Tours
During the spring and summer months, Ford's Theatre Society offers History on Foot walking tours, which are guided by actors playing characters from Civil War Washington. Learn about the life of Abraham Lincoln on a unique tour of downtown Washington DC.

More Walking Tours
A walking tour is great way to see the city and to learn about the history, architecture, and famous people of a particular neighborhood. These tours are usually composed of small groups and can be targeted to your specific interests.

SNOW STORM IN WASHINGTON

2010-02-09T23:11:00.001-08:00

Weather forecasters predicted another major snowstorm even as six states and Washington, D.C., are still digging out from a weekend blizzard.

An estimated 25 to 50 centimeters of additional snow could fall on the Middle Atlantic region of the United States by a storm that was expected to start Tuesday and last well into Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

As of Monday night, more than half a meter of snow is already on the ground in portions of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Washington had a near-record snowfall.

On Monday, the federal government was shut down, schools and businesses were closed, and airports were providing limited service. Tens of thousands of homes are without electricity.

2010-01-30T00:04:00.000-08:00

Russia's first stealth fighter intended to match the latest U.S. design made its maiden flight Friday, boosting the country's efforts to modernize its rusting Soviet-built arsenals and retain its lucrative export market.
The Sukhoi T-50's flight comes nearly two decades after the first prototype of the U.S. F-22 Raptor took to the air, and Russian officials said it will take another five years for the new jet to enter service. Still, the flight marked a major step in Russia's efforts to burnish the faded glory of its aviation industries and strengthen a beleaguered military.

Nursing Board exam, Philippines

2010-01-09T04:46:00.000-08:00

This month the result will be released!

2010-01-05T04:10:00.001-08:00

Some visitors to Spain's EU presidency website were Monday directed to a blog that showed Mr Bean instead of the country's prime minister, whose resemblance to the hapless comic character is a long-standing joke.

The government emphasized in a statement that the site itself, www.eu2010.es, had not been attacked, but that an unidentified hacker had taken a screenshot of the home page to make a photo montage.

The mock-up replaced Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero with a smiling Mr Bean, the television and movie character played by British actor Rowan Atkinson, saying "Hi there".

The government, which took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU on January 1, admitted that the site had become saturated as thousands of Internet users sought to confirm press reports of the spoof.

"The alleged attack exploited a vulnerability called XSS (cross site scripting) to users of the website...," the government statement said.

"For such attacks to be effective, they must be combined with any additional technique that tricks the user to the website to click on a link that has been maliciously modified..."

Opponents of Zapatero often poke fun at the prime minister by comparing him to Mr Bean.

Seasons Greetings

2009-12-31T00:54:00.000-08:00

HaPPy New Year Everyone!!!!!

2009-12-21T04:52:00.001-08:00

It is now at four out of a possible five, meaning a hazardous eruption "is possible within days". Level five is when a major eruption has begun.

Scientists raised the level after the number of volcanic earthquakes more than doubled on Sunday.

The cone-shaped volcano has already been emitting lava and ash for days.

About 40,000 people who live near Mount Mayon have been moved to temporary shelters.

2009-12-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

Kailangang bantayan ng mabuti kung saan gagamitin yung pag-martial law! – Bongbong Marcos Both Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III expressed misgivings about Proclamation 1959, which placed the province under martial rule and suspended the writ of habeas corpus almost two weeks after the November 23 massacre that left at least 57 people, including 30 journalists, dead. [See: The Ampatuan Massacre: a map and a timeline]

President Arroyo's declaration was the first time any part of the country was placed under martial rule since the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos imposed it upon the whole country in September 1972. [See: Arroyo declares martial law in Maguindanao]

"It is with some concern that we watch these developments in Maguindanao," said Bongbong in a text message. "Kailangang bantayan ng mabuti kung saan gagamitin yung pag-martial law! (We must keep watch over how the administration will use martial law!)"

Questioning the timing of the declaration, Bongbong said, "Baka Hello Garci na naman ang iniisip ni GMA at ng mga kandidato niya (Maybe Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her candidates are thinking of doing a Hello Garci again)." [See: 'Hello Garci' timeline] Noynoy likewise urged the public to be vigilant, saying in a statement:"The people must demand an explanation of the circumstances that led the administration to resort to this action, how the President intends to use its vast powers, and for how long."

Saying martial law was unnnecessary because Mrs. Arroyo could have easily ordered the swift suspension and filing of charges against those implicated in the massacre, Noynoy called on his colleagues in Congress to meet immediately and review the validity of the declaration.

This is a time for all our people to be sober, discerning, vigilant, and unafraid. – Noynoy Aquino The Constitution provides that within 48 hours from the proclamation of martial law, “the President shall submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress," which may vote to revoke or extend such proclamation.

"Congress must ask the right questions, and it must act now," Noynoy said. "This is a time for all our people to be sober, discerning, vigilant, and unafraid."