Pinoy Connection

10 WAYS TO SAVE TIME AT WORK

2009-07-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

Want to boost productivity, enjoy more time off, and jumpstart your career? Focus on these easy ways to work smarter — and get the job done

Waste your coworkers' time.
Take 15 minutes a day to talk about the ball game, ask about their kids, make plans for lunch. People with friends at work are better communicators (which is good for productivity, good for the boss, and good for your career).

Ask for an office.
A study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that people who work in cubicles have higher levels of stress hormones than those who work in offices with doors. More important to your bottom-line boss: Open offices increase morale and efficiency.

Sweat through lunch.
Men are more productive when they exercise. Those who exercise at any intensity for 2 hours a week (just 17 minutes a day), are 61 percent less likely to feel stressed. While working out will boost any bad mood, it has the biggest benefit when it's done outside.

Stand up when you're on the phone.
It has a magical way of shortening calls, according to Lyle Sussman, professor of management at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. "You're less likely to shoot the breeze, and you get to the point faster," he says.

Arrive 45 minutes early and stay 15 minutes late.
Use the 45 to knock one big thing off your daily agenda, and the 15 to plan out tomorrow. You'll undergo your own productivity boost by tapping into your best morning energy and end the day with a burst of organization.

Play your favorite music at work.
Researchers found that workers who listened to their favorite music improved their job performance and productivity by 10 percent. Music can boost your mood as well as drown out chatty coworkers.

Act immediately on emails and phone messages.
"If you can complete the task in 2 minutes, do it right away," says David Allen, author of Getting Things Done. Remember that your "delete" key can be the best organizer of all.

Bring a tennis ball to the office.
When reading, squeeze the ball in your right hand. This stimulates the left side of your brain, which processes words. If it's blueprints or instructions with diagrams, switch to your left hand. Stimulating the brain's right side helps with visualizing and spatial relationships.

Have stand-up meetings.
If you've tried everything to shorten office meetings without success, then try this: Take all the chairs out of the room. People will stop chatting and start making decisions.

Use an L-shaped desk.
Designate one side for right-now work, the other for later-on work. The L shape prevents you from being distracted by other projects right in front of you and saves time in sorting things out.

The Sands of Forgiveness

2009-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

The Sands of Forgiveness

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it..”

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

Brain Damage

2009-07-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

TOP 10 BIGGEST BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.

This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body.

Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping

Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3. Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much a possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.

Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts.

Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to “schedule”

Because:

@ 9 - 11pm : is the time for eliminating unnecessary/ toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes).This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health

@ 11pm - 1am : is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state

@ 1 - 3am : detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state

@ 3 - 5am : detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process

@ 5 - 7am : detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel

@ 7 - 9am : absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am , for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

Nice one

2009-07-12T10:13:00.001-07:00

Nice one

A popular motivational speaker was entertaining his audience. He Said : "The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who wasn't my wife!" The audience was in silence and shock. The speaker added: "And that woman was my mother!"

Laughter and applause.
A week later, a top manager trained by the motivational speaker tried to crack this very effective joke at home. He was a bit foggy after a drink. He said loudly to his wife who was preparing dinner, "The greatest years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who was not my wife!"

The wife went; "ah!" with shock and rage. Standing there for 20 seconds trying to recall the second half of the joke, the manager finally blurted out "....and I can't remember who she was!"
By the time the manager regained his consciousness, he was on a hospital bed nursing burns from boiling water

Moral of the story: Don't copy if you can't paste!

Fondling Bed

2009-07-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Publish Post

A 97 year old doctor's advice

2009-07-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

At the age of 97 years and 4 months, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing. After World War II, he envisioned a world-class hospital and college springing from the ruins of Tokyo; thanks to his pioneering spirit and business savvy, the doctor turned these institutions into the nation's top medical facility and nursing school. Today he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at both organizations. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself.

Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.

All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common: None are overweight. For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy.. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat.

Always plan ahead. My schedule book is already full until 2014, with lectures and my usual hospital work. In 2016 I'll have some fun, though: I plan to attend the Tokyo Olympics!

There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65.. The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100..

Share what you know. I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong.

When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure. Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery? I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine.

To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff. I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving.

My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler." My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance.

Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: We all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes.

Don't be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place..

Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. We designed St. Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives.

Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones.

Life is filled with incidents. On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis.

Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do. My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at DukeUniversity in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem.

It's wonderful to live long. Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours seven days a week and love every minute of it.

Con ASS

2009-06-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

THE leadership of the House of Representatives decided in a majority caucus on Tuesday to approve the controversial proposal for the convening of a constituent assembly (con-ass) even without the participation of senators.

However, House Speaker Prospero Nograles admitted that they are at a loss on whether they can convene into a constituent assembly immediately after approving House Resolution (HR) 1109.

“I do not know if we can convene immediately even if the resolution is approved today. But definitely, we would tackle the resolution at the plenary today [Tuesday] and hopefully approve it,” Nograles said.

The House speaker advised reporters to stay until 11 p.m. on Tuesday, saying the House will try to approve the measure through a majority vote after 211 out of 265 members responded to the roll call at 4:30 in the afternoon.

“I advise you to stay until 11 p.m. It’s 1109 all the way,” Nograles told reporters, referring to the House bill, HR 1109, calling for the convening of Congress into a “ConAss” to propose amendments to the Constitution upon a vote of “three-fourths of all members of Congress.”

Senators, however, shrugged off House threats to railroad moves to convene Congress as “ConAss” even without the Senate, saying it is not likely to prosper for lack of genuine support from the people.

“No senator will join that (ConAss),” Sen. Joker Arroyo said, recalling a resolution signed by all 23 senators rejecting the controversial proposal, initiated but later abandoned by Rep. Luis Villafuerte, and which Senator Arroyo dismissed as just a ploy to bring the issue before the Supreme Court.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel warned that the move could backfire on the pro-ConAss Congressmen. “Let them do their worst and they will reap the whirlwind of opprobrium and condemnation of the people,” Pimentel said.

The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments had voted 22-10 on Monday to approve the motion of Puwersa ng Masa Rep. Didagen Dilangalen of Maguindanao to send HR 1109 to the plenary for debates.

Kampi Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur drafted HR 1109 but withdrew his support after accusing Nograles of derailing its passage in favor of the latter’s HR’s 737.

Nograles’ HR 737, still pending in the plenary, is pushing for amendments in the economic provisions of the Constitution—among others, to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of lands in the country.

In filing 1109, Villafuerte had hoped to create a legal issue that would force the Supreme Court to decide whether or not Congress can meet and vote jointly or separately in proposing any amendment to the charter, since majority of senators have consistently opposed Charter change. (With Butch Fernandez)

Source : http://businessmirror.com.ph

Swine Flu Alert

2009-04-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days, the media has reported extensively on the emergence of a new strain of influenza (the flu). Public health officials in several countries, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), are working to better understand the characteristics of this new flu and to provide guidance on methods to minimize risk.

Why is this called “The Swine Flu?”

The new strain of flu is a virus that contains genetic characteristics of flu viruses from pigs (swine). It also has some components from flu found in birds and some from people.

Why are public health officials concerned?

§ Whenever a new strain of the flu virus emerges, there is a risk that our immune systems will not be equipped to effectively deal with the illness.

§ Evidence suggests that the new flu virus is easily transmitted from person to person, making outbreaks of the illness more difficult to contain.

§ Although all confirmed cases outside Mexico have recovered, there are over 100 deaths associated with the new flu virus in Mexico. The total number of cases of swine flu infection in Mexico cannot be accurately determined, so it is not possible to know whether the new flu virus is more deadly than any typical, seasonal flu. However, many of the deaths attributed to the swine flu in Mexico have been among otherwise healthy adults. This is an unusual outcome for the flu and may suggest an increased threat to public health.

What should I do to stay safe?

§ As mentioned in the news, practicing good hygiene is the single most important and effective method for reducing one’s risk of catching the swine flu or other illness. Be sure to THOROUGHLY wash your hands with soap and water before eating, after using the restroom, or touching “public” items like doorknobs or handrails. The use of a hand sanitizer will also minimize the potential for spread of viruses and bacteria in those settings where soap and water is not readily available.

§ Control your coughs and sneezes! Cough and sneeze into a tissue whenever possible, and then be sure to promptly wash your hands. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze “into your elbow” rather than your hand or into the air. Droplets from coughs and sneezes are primary routes of transmission of viruses from one person to the next.

§ Be a good neighbor. If you feel ill with flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, vomiting), stay home and avoid public places to keep from further spreading the virus. If your symptoms become severe, seek medical care.

§ Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes, as these places become routes of entry for the virus to enter your body.

§ Do not share cups, beverages, or unwashed eating utensils with others.

Following these common sense practices can significantly reduce the potential that you will become sick – from swine flu or any of many other viruses and bacteria. The Bechtel ES&H department and senior management will continue to monitor developments regarding the new strain of swine flu and will provide further direction and guidance if necessary.

For more information, visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Cancer Updated

2009-04-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY
WAY TO TRY ('TRY', BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE
CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU
THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These
cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until
they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell
cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in
their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests
are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have
not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in
a person's lifetime..

3 When the person's immune system is strong the cancer
cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying
and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has
multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to
genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies,
changing diet and including supplements will strengthen
the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing
cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy
cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and
can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs
etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns,
scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation
will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of
chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor
destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from
chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either
compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to
various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to
mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.
Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other
sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the
cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs
to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it
cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells.
Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc
are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better
natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but
only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical
added to make it white in color. Better alternative is
Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in
the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By
cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy
milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A
meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish,
and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also
contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and
parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people
with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole
grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the
body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from
cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices
provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach
down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and
enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes
for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable
juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat
some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are
destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees
C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high
caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has
cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified
water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy
metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid
it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a
lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in
the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic
buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By
refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes
to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows
the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6,
Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals,
EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to
destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E
are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death,
the body's normal method of disposing of damaged,
unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A
proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer
warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and
bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic
environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit.
Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated
environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help
to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen
therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer
cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its
newsletters. This information is being circulated at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals
cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are
highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze
your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases
dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto,
Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV
program to explain this health hazard. He talked about
dioxins and how bad they are for us.. He said that we
should not be heating our food in the microwave using
plastic containers. This especially applies to foods
that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat,
high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and
ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he
recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or
ceramic containers for heating food You get the same
results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV
dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed
from the container and heated in something else. Paper
isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's
just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He
reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food
restaurants moved away from the foam containers to
paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran,
is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked
in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat
causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the
plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a
paper towel instead.

Cancer Update from Johns-Hopkins

Bottled
water in your car is
very
dangerous!

On the Ellen show, Sheryl
Crow said this is what caused her breast
cancer. It has been identified as the most common cause
of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer
tissue.

Sheryl
Crow's oncologist told her:

women
should not drink bottled water that has been left in a
car. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of
the bottle which releases dioxin into the water. Dioxin
is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. So
please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has
been left in a car. Pass this on to all the women in
your life.

This information is the kind we need to know that just
might save us! Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass
bottle instead of plastic!

LET EVERYONE WHO HAS A WIFE / GIRLFRIEND /
DAUGHTER KNOW PLEASE!

This information is also being circulated at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center

Summer tips

2009-04-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Hidden Risks of Heatwaves
When a heatwave hits, your biggest problem may not be the heat or the humidity. The sun doesn't only threaten you with a bad sunburn, or even heatstroke, but it could make it hard to breathe - especially if you have asthma or other respiratory problems. Intense heat and sun mixes with pollution to cause ozone, a respiratory irritant that triggers a variety of breathing problems even in healthy people.In the upper atmosphere "good ozone" acts as a filter that keeps harmful UV rays from reaching us. Ground-level ozone ("bad ozone") is formed when heat and sunlight create a chemical reaction with air pollution. While many people refer to atmospheric ozone and ground ozone differently, they are exactly the same. They just affect people differently depending on where they are.Motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline, and volatile organic compounds such as paint and household cleaners pollute our atmosphere. When these things react with ultraviolet light, ozone is formed. Because these pollutants are more common in cities, there is more ozone pollution in urban areas than in rural ones. However, wind can quickly spread ozone. Since intense heat and sunlight has a hand in creating ozone, it's worse during the day, but ozone smog can linger into the night.Inhaling ozone can trigger all sorts of of health problems, including chest pains, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can also worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. While breathing in ozone is bad for people with respiratory problems, it can even affect healthy people. Ozone also damages plants and makes them more susceptible to disease, insects, and weather.To avoid exposure to ozone, limit outdoor activity, especially strenuous activities, to the early morning. Most weather reports also post advisories when the ozone levels are projected to very high. An index of ozone levels is also available from AIRNow.You can help reduce ozone by keeping your car well-tuned, using mass transportation when possible, and being careful with VOCs such as paint and cleaning products (or using non-VOC products when possible).

Paalam Kiko

2009-03-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

Full Name: Francis Michael Durango MagalonaNickname: Kiko, Francis M., FrancisA.K.A.: Master Rapper, The MouthBorn: October 4, 1964Birthplace: ManilaDied: March 6, 2009
Widow: Pia Arroyo-MagalonaChildren: Unna, Nicolo, Maxene, Francis Jr., Isabella, Elmo, Arkin, and Clara
Filmography: Bagets 2 (1984), Ninja Kids (1986), That’s Entertainment (original member)Discography: released seven award-winning full-length albums from 1987 to 2000 including the coveted Record Producer of the Year for the song “Kaleidoscope World”: Yo (1990); Rap is FrancisM (1992); Meron Akong Ano! (1993); FreeMan (1995); Happy Battle (1996); the Oddventures of Mr. Cool (1998); Interscholastic (1999); FreeMan 2 (2000)Awards: chosen as an honoree Legend in Music Award during the 1st Visionary Awards held at Kodak Theater on March 7, 2008; recipient of Generation Award of MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards in 2006
son of the late Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, ’50s-’60s love team in reel and real life
pioneer in Pinoy rap
joined showbiz on April 10, 1984
joined Eat Bulaga in 1997
rapper/actor/TV host/professional VJ (for MTV Asia, from 1996 to 2000, and Ch. [V])/record producer/composer/songwriter
hit songs include “Mga Kababayan,” “Halalan,” “Meron Akong Ano!” etc.
established the clothing business FrancisM Clothing Co. (3 Stars & a Sun store, named after his single)
on Aug. 8, 2008, Francis was diagnosed with leukemia (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with Mixed Lineage)

old philippine money

2009-01-29T23:54:00.000-08:00

banana diet

2009-01-26T05:43:00.000-08:00

Morning Banana Diet Rules
Every diet has rules. If a diet works for you, it’s simply because the rules have had the effect of making you eat less food (nothwithstanding whatever magical claims a diet may make). Diet rules generally do this by making eating a little harder or less convenient, through restricting when or what you can eat. Throw in a little “scientific theory” for motivation, and you have a diet. And remember, no diet works for everybody. So what are the Morning Banana Diet rules? Here’s a synopsis collected from various sources:

If you are a health reporter, dietitian or blogger intending to write about the diet, please read this page carefully and also check out this blog post before you write a kneejerk “just another fad diet” article. Thanks!

Eat a banana for breakfast
You can eat more than one, and in fact the inventor of the diet often ate four (smallish Philippines) bananas in the morning, but don’t stuff yourself to the point of fullness or discomfort.
Eat only raw, uncooked, unfrozen bananas.
Other fruit may be substituted.
If other fruit is substituted, some variants require it be restricted to one type of fruit per meal.
If you are still hungry 15 or 30 minutes after your banana, you can eat other food (the Japanese inventor of the original Asa Banana Diet sometimes ate a rice ball two and a half hours later, about 200 calories worth; Morning Banana forum members have suggested oatmeal, although it’s not as portable as a rice ball).
Eat normally for lunch and dinner
Dinner must be eaten by 8 p.m. at the latest (6 p.m. is better).
There are no explicit limits on the types of food you can eat for lunch and dinner, or the amount. But in practice dieters report on Mixi that they try to cut the amount of rice they eat and find substitutions for fried foods. As with many diets, the mere fact you have decided to go on a diet tends to make you more aware of what and how much you are are eating and how healthy it is. The diet avoids strict food rules to prevent a sense of deprivation.
However, you should not eat a dessert with dinner or any of your meals; you’ll need to satisfy your sweet tooth during a snack, but we’ll get to that later.
At all meals you should eat only until you’re satisfied but not full or stuffed. The Japanese have a proverb, Hara hachibu ni isha irazu, “A stomach eight-tenths full needs no doctor.” American dietitians define this level of fullness or satiety as a 7 on a 1-to-10 “hunger scale,” and they teach their clients to recognize this feeling.
Drink only water
The only beverage allowed at most meals is water, preferably mineral or filtered.
The water must be at room temperature, not chilled or hot.
The water should be drunk in small sips and not used to wash down food.
There is no quota of water to drink, and you should not drink it in excess.
Outside of meals non-caloric beverages like tea, coffee, and diet soda are generally allowed but somewhat frowned upon, and in general water is encouraged as much as possible; frequent consumption of milk products is discouraged.
On social occasions you may drink beer or wine.
Eat your food mindfully
Chew your banana and other food thorouoghly and be mindful of its taste.
You may eat an afternoon snack
A sweet snack of chocolate, cookies, or the like is allowed at about 3 p.m.
Ice cream, a donut, or potato chips are not recommended.
Some substitute fresh fruit for their snack, but if you want sweets you should not deny yourself.
Some Japanese who like salty snacks eat salted konbu (seaweed) snacks and some Japanese who are very hungry in the afternoon substitute a filling, fist-sized rice ball for sweets.
A good alternative if a salty or more filling snack is needed is popcorn according to Morning Banana forum members, but watch out for excessive fat content.
If you are hungry after dinner, you may have a second snack of fresh fruit, but this should not be a habit.
Early to bed
Go to bed by midnight. If you can manage to go to bed earlier, all the better.
Try to aim for a four-hour period between your last meal or snack and bedtime (which is why 8:00 p.m. is the latest you should eat dinner).
Exercise only if you want to
Put no pressure on yourself to exercise.
If you want to exercise, go ahead: the test is to do what puts the least stress on you.
But try to get some walking in every day if possible (but again, don’t force yourself if it stresses you out).
If you want a traditional Japanese light workout, consider taking up the kendama.
Keep a diet journal
Because the original Japanese banana diet was developed on the internet, many successful Japanese dieters naturally documented their daily food intake and progress online via blogs, forums, or social networking services, and they felt this gave them extra support (we have prepared a Morning Banana Diet Forum with individual food blogs for your use).
Because of the diet’s emphasis on digestive processes, some Morning Banana Diet journalers record a bit “too much information” — so remaining anonymous may be advisable.

One Hundred Fifty (150) Slots in OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program for SY 2009-10

2009-01-12T23:52:00.001-08:00

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) shall award one hundred fifty (150) slots to qualified dependents of OFW-Members who shall enroll in any four (4) to five (5) year baccalaureate course for School year 2009-2010.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the program, the applicant must:

1. Be a Filipino citizen;

2. Be a beneficiary / dependent of an OWWA member. Beneficiary / Dependent as used herein shall be limited to children of married OFWs or brother / sister of unmarried OFWs;

3. Not be more than 21 years of age;

4. Be a high school graduate;

5. Be of good health and of good moral character;

6. Have not earned units in any post-secondary undergraduate course;

7. Must pass the qualifying examination (DOST National Examination) and the College Admission Test of the school where he / she intends to enroll.

SCHOLARSHIP PRIVELEGES

a) A financial assistance amounting to P60,000.00 per year shall be provided. Tuition fees shall be paid directly to the school, while the remaining amount from the financial assistance shall be released to the scholar upon submission of grades for the semester. If the tuition fee exceeds the amount of financial assistance, the scholar shall pay for the difference.

b) The scholar is free to choose his / her desired field of study as long as the program is offered by a CHED-accredited college / university.

c) Scholarship shall continue until completion of the course (4-5 years) regardless of the status of OFW membership provided the provisions in the Scholarship Agreement are complied with.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS

a) The grant is only provided once and is non-transferable; and

b) The scholar must not be a recipient of other scholarship grants.

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must submit the following to the OWWA Regional Welfare Office in his / her place of residence.

1. Accomplished application forms (2 sets) – including Forms 2 and 3;

2. 1” x 1” ID pictures (2 pcs.);

3. Proof of relationship to Member / copy of Birth Certificate of applicant (and of the Member if related as brother or sister) duly certified by the Local Civil Registrar;

4. Form 137 / High School Report Card or Transcript of Records;

5. Proof of OWWA Membership (i.e. Official Receipt of OWWA Contribution / E-Receipt or Certification from the OWWA Membership Processing Center);

6. Other documents as may be required by the OWWA scholarship committee.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All qualified applicants shall be selected and ranked according to their performance in the qualifying exam for the scholarship;

The scholars shall be selected and recommended by the OWWA Scholarship Committee. The approval of the Administrator is final and unappealable.

Deadline for application is on September 25, 2008. Examinations will be held on November 9, 2008.

For inquiries, please proceed to the nearest OWWA Regional Office or inquire at the OWWA OP Center at telephone no. (02)833-6992 or send a SMS message to 0917-898-6992 or an e-mail message to owwa_opcenter@yahoo.com.

tips in the year of the ox

2009-01-01T23:33:00.001-08:00

2009 is the Year of the Earth Ox from a Chinese astrology perspective. The element that cycles every two years is known as the heavenly stem; so there are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood oxen. Variations in the heavenly stem influence one’s personality, which explains why not all ox (people or years) are the same.

The earthly branch is the animal-one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Ox is considered 2nd in the hierarchy, following the rat. 2009 is based on the Gregorian calendar, whereas the Chinese calendar is 4707. The ox is sometimes also called the cow or buffalo.

Ox years typically represent hard work. Think of the animal in its natural surroundings. It works alone or with one other and stays true to its course. The ox is conservative, focused, and serious. Their mottos is “I will,” which literally may result in a test of wills.

The stubborn ox challenges the Feng Shui fire year (normally brings out a more social, gregarious, and ambitious side). On the surface, Feng Shui earth and fire elements compliment each other; however, earth reduces fire (think of your Scouting days - dirt over the fire to put it out). In addition, the ox’s true nature is earth so this year is a double-earth over fire year. Earth, in of itself, can resist change but come around after there’s time to process. Double earth will adamantly resist.

I can’t help but equate it to the presidential election here in the U.S. Obama, whose slogan has long been “Change We Can Believe In,” has altered his slogan to “Change We Need.” I think most people agree we can’t survive more of the same, and that the economy would be more stable had there been more accountability and oversight. Will we learn from the past? Will there be a struggle of wills? I think so, regardless of who wins the election. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, and the new President has his hands full. The ox year will command a methodical approach and quantifiable results.

“Earth” businesses will do fairly well. They include real estate, recruiting, the food industry, farming, household products, and practical clothing. The energy implies business consolidation, which is normally met with layoffs.

Next months’ article, 2009 Feng Shui and the Fire Year, will reveal another layer of complexity. Earth years can also produce an earnest search for spirit and more focus on family. It’s fun to validate this theory by looking at history. The Chinese astrology calendar has a 60-year cycle, so the last time we experienced earth ox energy was 1949.

Events that happened in 1949: Mao Tse Tung’s army marches into Nanking; a bill is introduced to relocate African-Americans “equitably” throughout the country; Truman institutes policy of aid to underdeveloped countries; flight records are made; NATO begins; Republic of Ireland is created; Siam becomes Thailand; Chinese Communists take Shanghai; Orwell’s 1984 is published; Supreme Court rules that evidence gathered through illegal search and seizure may still be used in prosecution; apartheid begins by law in South Africa; Willie Mayes debuts; Vatican excommunicates Communists; seven UFOs in three pairs with one trailing are tracked for ten minutes; Ingrid Bergman divorces and quits Hollywood; Truman announces Russia has The Bomb; Mao Tse Tung becomes Chairman of China; and Chiang Kai-shek’s government flees to Taiwan. All the King’s Men won best picture.

Let’s look at some of the births that year. Some believe we need to see where we came from to see where we’re going (i.e., lessons turned to opportunities). How have these people lived their lives? Think objectively about the impact they’ve had: George Forman, Robert Palmer, Steve Perry, Erik Estrada, Patrick Duffy, Jessica Lange, Billy Joel, Hank Williams, Jr., Lionel Richie, Meryl Streep, Lindsay Wagner, Maureen McGovern, Richard Gere, Joe Theisman, Ed Begley, Jr., Twiggy, Bruce Springsteen, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Jenner, Richard Dreyfuss, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Shaffer, Garry Shandling, Jeff Bridges, Tom Waits, Maurice and Robin Gibb, Susan Lucci, and Sissy Spacek. When you think of oxen, these people are famous but keep to themselves for the most part.

Each Chinese astrology animal has an opposing animal. For the ox this is the ram (or sheep). These are both earth-related animals which implies severe earth-related symptoms such as earthquakes. With underlying yin fire, a volcano may also erupt. Other earth-related animals are dragon and dog. Dogs, dragons, ox, and sheep need to avoid strong earth settings such as mountains and deserts during earth and fire months (Feb. 5-Mar. 6, May 6-Jun 6, Jul 7-Sep. 8, Nov. 7-Dec. 7 ), and when their astrology sign is vulnerable (we provide this information as part of our monthly tip).Does life come to a stand still because it’s not particularly a good year? No, of course not. This is helpful information that enables success. If your energy is low this year, postpone strategic decisions and major purchases for a better time. You can be sure I check energy patterns and other conditions in my planning process.

This ox earth influence also brings health cautions such as cancer and liver issues. If you’re a drinker, do it in moderation. You’ll find the DUI (driving under the influence) will be met with stricter punishment. Purge your body of free radicals. Explore anti-oxidant agents such as vitamins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and tea.

Earth also represents the abdomen, stomach, immune system, spleen, joints, hands, and shoulders. Take care of your stomach, and stretch your body to help with joint and shoulder pain.

Timing is always an important factor. If you want to improve your chances of success, consider a personal analysis. It’s a custom report that details your personal energy, health vulnerabilities, energy balance, career suggestions, compatibility analysis, and calendar for this year. Also, our date analysis is helpful for all important decisions (contracts, engagements, medical appointments, travel, etc.). Call us for a free telephone consultation today!

By Diana Garber, The Feng Shui Results Lady
http://www.IntuitiveConcepts.com

The year of the ox

2009-01-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

The Year of the Ox

1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.

Special Training Program for OFWs Bound to Middle East

2008-12-26T02:46:00.000-08:00

Demand for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is still great in the Middle East region as they are mostly unaffected with the global financial crisis. Employment opportunities are available for various professions
In lieu with this, Filipino workers of selected professions bound to Middle Eastern countries such as United Arab Emirates now have to go through a hands-on special training program.
As reported in Khaleej Times, an online news site, this is informed by Nasser Munder, labor attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Munder said that the following need to undergo a training program: nurses, welders and chefs.
The labor attaché said the hands on training will involve the use of modern equipment. Munder said, “This time, the special training program will benefit the Filipino workers themselves.”
The hands-on” special training program which have been discussed with the secretary of Labor, Marianito Roque will start in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The first trainees will be Filipino college graduates who want to work in the Middle East.

When was Jesus Christ born? Was Jesus born on December 25—Christmas Day?

2008-12-25T06:35:00.000-08:00

When was Jesus Christ born? Was Jesus born on December 25—Christmas Day?
History shows that December 25 was popularized as the date for Christmas, not because Christ was born on that day, but because it was already popular in pagan religious celebrations as the birthday of the sun. But could December 25 be the date of Christ's birth?
"Lacking any scriptural pointers to Jesus's birthday, early Christian teachers suggested dates all over the calendar. Clement...picked November 18. Hippolytus...figured Christ must have been born on a Wednesday...An anonymous document[,] believed to have been written in North Africa around A.D. 243, placed Jesus's birth on March 28" (Joseph L. Sheler, U.S. News & World Report, "In Search of Christmas," Dec. 23, 1996, p. 58).
A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. According to Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309).
Similarly, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields at night.
Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.
Given the difficulties and the desire to bring pagans into Christianity, "the important fact then which I have asked you to get clearly into your head is that the fixing of the date as December 25th was a compromise with paganism" (William Walsh, The Story of Santa Klaus, 1970, p. 62).
If Jesus Christ weren't born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born? The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.
Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36), we can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year (The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).
It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child (Luke 1:8-13). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (verses 23-24). Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.
Although it is difficult to determine the first time anyone celebrated December 25 as Christmas Day, historians are in general agreement that it was sometime during the fourth century. This is an amazingly late date. Christmas was not observed in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, until about 300 years after Christ's death. Its origins cannot be traced back to either the teachings or practices of the earliest Christians.

What is Noche Buena

2008-12-21T06:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve is known as "Nochebuena" (the Good Night). It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. The Christmas Eve gaiety is interrupted at midnight by the ringing of bells calling the families to "La Misa Del Gallo" (Rooster's Mass).
Christmas dinner is often eaten late at night, but before midnight on Christmas Eve so that families may attend mass. It is a family feast, and often highlighted with "Pavo Trufado de Navidad" (Christmas turkey with truffles; truffles are a mushroom-like delicacy found underground). After the meal, family members gather around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols. The celebrations usually go on very late, one old Spanish verse says...
"Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no es noche de dormir" (Tonight is the goodnight,and it is not meant for sleeping.)

pinoy street food

2008-11-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

Like our counterparts in Asia, Filipinos love to feast on those salivating exotic street food found everywhere in the Philippines.

Wherever there’s a market, a heavily traffic road, schools, church areas, and in obscure street corners, a street food vendor will never lack for customers who crave for isaw, kikiam, fishballs, or those flour breaded chicken skin deep fried in oil.

The photo above was taken in Baguio City. Grilled corn on stick, dried squid, dried fish, and everyone’s favorite the banana cue are great substitute to those fast food choices to cure the ordinary Pinoy’s hunger pangs.

And we can name at least a hundred Pinoy street food: balut, penoy, tokneneng, betamax (grilled chicken or pig’s blood), adidas (chicken feet), IUD (chicken intestine), and many many others.

The most amazing thing is, Filipinos never stop in concocting new food recipe to sell in the streets. In time always a new type of street food satisfies the palette of the chow loving Filipinos.

source www.tsibog.com

pinoy joke

2008-11-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

JOSE: Kumusta ang assignment?
RICK: Masama. Wala akong nasagutan. Blank paper ang ipinasa ko.
JOSE: Naku, ako rin! Paano 'yan? Baka isipin
nila, nagkopyahan tayo?!

-----------------

TOTO: Pangarap ko, kumita ng P250,000 monthly gaya ni daddy!
JOVY: Wow! Ganyan kalaki ang kinikita ng daddy mo?
TOTO: Hindi! 'Yan din ang pangarap niya!

-----------------

DOK: May taning na ang buhay mo.
JUAN: Wala na bang pag-asa? Ano po ba ang dapat kong gawin?
DOK: Mag-asawa ka na lang ng pangit at bungangera.
JUAN: Bakit, gagaling po ba ako ru'n?
DOK: Hindi, pero mas gugustuhin mo pang mamatay kesa mabuhay!

-----------------

LITO: Pare, ano ba ang kaibahan ng H2O sa CO2?
JOSE: Diyos ko naman! Di mo ba alam 'yun?!
Ang H2O ay water! At ang CO2... COLD water.

Collection of Inspirational and Motivational Quotes Of Famous People

2008-11-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

“Humans have the remarkable ability to get exactly what they must have. But there is a difference between a must and a want.” Jim Rohn
"People are anxious to improve their circumstances but unwilling to improve themselves, they therefore remain bound." James Allen
"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success." Norman Vincent Peale
"Don’t let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you're crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you're lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you're greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn't understand." Robert Allen
"Success is not something that can be measured or worn on a watch or hung on a wall. It is not the esteem of colleagues, or the admiration of the community, or the appreciation of patients. Success is the certain knowledge that you have become yourself; the person you will meant to be from all time. That should be reward enough." Dr George Sheehan “The beginning of a habit is like an invisible thread, but every time we repeat the act we strengthen the strand, add to it another filament, until it becomes a great cable and binds us irrevocably in thought and act.” Orison Swett Marden "You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things — to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals." Edmund Hillary "Difficulties should act as a tonic. They should spur us to greater exertion." B.C. Forbes "To know and not to do is not yet to know." Zen saying "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt

Yamashita Treasure, Legend or Truea

2008-10-16T01:14:00.000-07:00

Yamashita's gold, also referred to as the Yamashita treasure, is the name given to an urban legend of alleged loot stolen in Southeast Asia by Japanese forces during World War II and hidden in caves, tunnels and underground complexes in the Philippines.[1] The number, size and value of the loot troves in the Philippines are unknown.

The "gold" reportedly included many different kinds of valuables looted from banks, depositories, temples, churches, other commercial premises, mosques, museums and private homes. It takes its name from General Tomoyuki Yamashita, who assumed command of Japanese forces in the Philippines in 1944.

According to various accounts, the loot was initially concentrated in Singapore, from where it was later relayed to the Philippines.[2] The Japanese hoped to ship the treasure from the Philippines to the Japanese home islands after the war ended. As the Pacific War progressed, Allied submarines and aircraft inflicted increasingly heavy losses on Japanese merchant shipping. Some ships carrying loot back to Japan were sunk.

Some historians have argued that looting was organized on a massive scale, by both yakuza gangsters such as Yoshio Kodama, and the highest levels of Japanese society, including Emperor Hirohito.[3] The Japanese government intended that loot from Southeast Asia would finance Japan's war effort. It is alleged that Hirohito appointed his brother, Prince Chichibu, to head a secret organization called Kin no yuri ("Golden Lily"), for this purpose.

Many of those who knew the locations of the loot were killed during the war, or later tried by the Allies for war crimes and executed or incarcerated. Yamashita himself was executed for war crimes on February 23, 1946.

There are claims that United States military intelligence operatives located much of the loot; colluded with Hirohito and other senior Japanese figures to conceal its existence, and used it to finance US covert intelligence operations around the world during the Cold War.[4]

It is also alleged that Ferdinand Marcos (who was President of the Philippines in 1965-86), recovered U.S.$8 billion from one concealed tunnel known as "Teresa 2", 61 km (38 mi) south of Manila, in Rizal province.[5] In 1996, a U.S. Federal Court made a ruling that Marcos had stolen a cache of recovered Japanese loot, from a man named Rogelio Roxas.[6] According to his family, Roxas found a one-tonne solid-gold Buddha and thousands of gold bars in a tunnel near Baguio in 1971. Roxas died prematurely in suspicious circumstances, leading to suggestions that he was murdered. The court awarded U.S.$22 billion, against Marcos's estate, to the heirs of Roxas. This amount was greatly reduced on appeal.[7]

Critics have questioned the extent to which the loot existed. In particular, Filipino historian Rico Jose has questioned the theory that treasure from mainland South East Asia was transported to the Philippines: "[by 1943] the Japanese were no longer in control of the seas... It doesn't make sense to bring in something that valuable here when you know it's going to be lost to the Americans anyway. The more rational thing would have been to send it to Taiwan or China."[8]

Many individuals and consortia, both Filipino and foreign, continue to search for treasure sites. A number of accidental deaths, injuries and financial losses incurred by treasure hunters have been well-documented.[9]

How to know your PHILHEALTH number

2008-10-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

I had the need to find out my PhilHealth number. I didn’t have it among my records
To know your PHILHEALTH Number just follow the instruction bellow

To know your PhilHealth Identification Number, type the following:PHIC[space]PIN[space]LName,FName[space]BDAY(mmddyyyy) and send to 2960
For members with extension name (Jr., Sr., III, etc.), typePHIC[space]PIN[space]LName,FName,ExtensionName[space]BDAY(mmddyyyy) and send to 2960
e.g. PHIC PIN DELACEUZ,JUAN,SR06201974
Result: I tried out the SMS service. It worked like a charm! Mission accomplished!

For More PhilHealth service instructions via SMS, Text in PHIC [space] HELP and send to 2960. Services include information on benefits, dependents, claims status, contact information and employer number.
There are a number of e-Government services out there. Some are lousy, some are exemplary. Let’s try them out more of them and tell people about it.

First crude lifted from offshore Galoc field

2008-10-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

Fresh oil was extracted from an offshore Galoc oilfield in southwestern Philippines at the start of production on Thursday, senior officials said, adding the new oil field has been a miracle for the Philippine economy.
"We are expecting some 17,000 to 20,000 barrels of oil per day in the first 90 days of commercial production. This will account for about six per cent of daily local demand of 300,000 barrels per day," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita from the presidential palace.
"The Galoc oil will be known as Palawan Light," said Ermita, adding Palawan's recent oil find was described as "light medium crude oil, with a potential high yield of light ends, such as gasoline."
');
//-->
The extraction of fresh oil from the Galoc oil field began at 10.45am yesterday morning," reported Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, adding, "The fresh extracts (from Galoc's production) were put onboard a Philippine vessel en route to our local refineries at 11.20 yesterday morning."
The Galoc field has reserves containing 10 to 20 million barrels, initial exploration results showed. "Further studies and exploration can possibly result in additional yields," said Reyes.
President Gloria Arroyo expressed optimism that Galoc's oil will help the Philippine economy, adding it will reduce government annual oil importation of $6 billion (Dh22 billion).
It will also contain the increasing cost of food and other commodities, said Arroyo, adding this will translate into savings of $1.4 billion in foreign exchange for the well's lifetime.
The oil well's development was estimated at three to five years, she added.
Three companies operate Palawan's Galoc field: Galoc Production Company has 58.29 per cent interest. It is composed of European trader Vitol which owns a 68.62 per cent stake, and Otto Energy, with 31.38 per cent. Nido Petroleum has 20.85 per cent interest, and several Philippine partners also have 20.85 per cent.
Costly delay
But repeated delays in the delivery of first oil from the 17,500 barrel per day (bpd) offshore field, initially due to start in the first quarter of this year, mean that its operators have missed this year's oil price rally.
Global crude oil prices are now around $89 a barrel, well off highs near $150 a barrel in mid-July.

sourceg : gulf news.com