Green news

World Bank approves $6-M grant for Mindanao project

Eleven sites in Mindanao rich with globally significant biodiversity are granted a multimillion fund from the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The World Bank has approved this month the $6.3 million (PhP305 million) for projects that aim to conserve critical coastal and marine biodiversity in targeted sites in region islands.

Specifically, the grant from the Bank’s Global Environment Facility will support the National Resource Management (NRM) component under the second phase of the Mindanao Rural Development Project (MRDP2). The MRDP2 is a five-year program designed to reduce poverty in Mindanao, promote growth with social inclusion, and strengthen decentralization, devolution, and collaboration between the national government and local government units.

The 11 identified sites are from the three regions in the island namely: Region 9, ARMM, and Caraga.
Of the 11 sites, seven are in Region 9 namely the towns of Olutanga, Mabuhay, and Talusan in Zamboanga Sibugay; Vencinzo Sagun and Margosatubig in Zamboanga del Sur; and Sibutad and Rizal in Zamboanga del Norte.
In Caraga Region, two sites are identified namely: Marihatag and San Agustin both in Surigao del Sur. Two towns were also identified ARMM Region namely Lamitan in Basilan and Datu Blah in Maguindanao.
Fishing accounts for an average of 4% of the total gross domestic product (GDP) of the country, and accounted for about 20% of gross value added in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors.

“That would seem small compared with the more hi-technology sectors like financial services, but in Mindanao, these sectors are even more important as they accounted for one-third of the Mindanao Region’s GDP,” explained Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

“Environmental risks like climate change are weighing down heavily on natural ecosystems in Mindanao on which many local communities depend. This is a great tragedy because the Philippines has been identified to have a biodiversity that is among the world’s richest. We need all the help we can get for our people in the south to fully benefit from and sustain such a rich biodiversity,” Yap added.

Meanwhile, program director Lealyn A. Ramos said the investment will help mitigate the impending impacts of climate change, “at the same time it will scale up the achievements of the program during the phase when it implemented the Coastal and Marine and biodiversity Conservation,” she added.

Further Ramos said through the NRM biodiversity concerns are mainstreamed in the local and national policies.

“Almost one-third of the Philippines’ poor is in Mindanao and the health of the island’s seas and forests is critical to their livelihood. This grant is another example of the World Bank’s commitment to support the government in realizing its goal of inclusive growth through better natural resource management,” World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman said.

The selection of the sites were based on the independence and interconnectivity of the upland, the lowland and the coastal areas, presence of globally significant species like Dugong, marine turtles, manta rays, giant clams, whale sharks, sea cucumber, and other unique important organisms and social inclusion such as poverty incidence and presence of indigenous peoples.

By the end of the grant, the World Bank and the National Government expects to raise fish population in project sites in 11 municipalities by a 30 percent increase in fish biomass, reduce silt and sediment in targeted coastal areas by 10 percent, and build up live coral and sea grass cover by 10 percent. The project is also designed to widen the number of protected mangrove areas in the covered municipalities and heighten public awareness and community participation in protecting endangered species by 20 percent.

The internet Pledge

The Internet Pledge is a cute material credited to anonymity.

Don’t take this seriously but it does make a lot of sense. So raise up your right hand and repeat after me as you take the Internet Pledge:

1. I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my newspaper like I used to, before the Web.

2. I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing.

3. I will get dressed before noon.

4. I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Web.

5. I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Web-deprived.

6. I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Web.

7. I will read a book...if I still remember how.

8. I will listen to those around me and their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Web.

9. I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email. I was told that two dogs were walking down the street. The one dog says to the other, "Wait here a minute, I'll be right back." He walks across the street and sniffs this fire hydrant for about a minute, then walks back across the street. The other dog says, "What was that about?" The dog first dog says, "I was just checking my messages."

10. I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not.

11. I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my checkbook because I was too busy on the Web.

12. Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime ... and the Web will always be there tomorrow!

got this from franciskong.com.

from the day i was born 'til today

from my facebook account
Sherwin calculated how long he has been alive, and the result was:
I was born on a Monday and since my birthday...
I've been living for 28 years
I've been living for 342 months
I've been living for 1,485 weeks
I've been living for 10,397 days
I've been living for 249,529 hours
I've been living for 14,971,781 minutes
I've been living for 898,306,883 seconds
I've breathed more than 142,500,114 times!
I've blinked my eyes more than 151,050,114 times!
My heart has beaten more than 1,048,024,670 times!

Mystical 999

Photo from: http://www.luminopolis.org/index.php
Today, September 9, 2009 is popularized to be a mystical day as the number nine (9) has a lot of meaning and significance in a number of cultures and groups. I have here some of the so-called definition of the number 9, surfed out from the net:

From: http://www.ridingthebeast.com/numbers/nu999.php

Symbolism of 999: The justice, the truth. In some texts sacred or esoteric, 999 represents the infinitely large, just as 999999.

General:

*By undertaking circular permutations of the numbers composing the mysterious number 153, this gives place to six possible combinations: 153, 315, 531 and 351, 135, 513. And:

153 + 315 + 531 = 999
351 + 135 + 513 = 999

*The number 999 is the reverse of 666, the number of the Beast of the Revelation (Apocalypse). This arithmetical strangeness demonstrates that the "power" of the Beast, 666, will be "reversed" by 153, characteristic number of the Christ, to give as result 999, symbol of the application of the divine justice. Thus Satan will be chained for 1000 years, 999 + 1.
*The number 666 to the power 5 gives 131,030,122,140,576. And 131+030+122+140+576 = 999.

Gematria

*By using as correspondence table A=1, B=2, ..., J=10, K=20, L=30, ..., S=100, T=200, ..., Z=800, we find that the French words "COMMUNAUTE" (community) and "Marie de l'Incarnation" ("Mary the Incarnation") give each 999.

*The numerical value of the Hebrew word ShKBTh ZRGh, meaning sperm or seed, gives 999.

Why 09/09/09 Is So Special
from Yahoo.com

Math magic

Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.

As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.
Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.

Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.

Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...

Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.

Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.

In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.

From: http://www.clubconspiracy.com/forum/f30/true-meaning-666-999-mirrors-prception-6874.html
999 AS ABOVE
The magic number is 36, and 9*4 is 36.
XYZA-B-CDEFGHIJ-K-LMNOPQRS-T-UVWX
9 digits to the right and the left of the letters B and T respective reveal the letter K, itself placed at the 11th position on the first half of the Alphabet.
4 digits to the right and the left of the letters T and B respective reveal the Letter X, itself placed at the 11th position the second half of the Alphabet.
K and X, sharing phonetics, design, and number, reveal the Master Number 11:11, or the Occult number of 66:66, which can then be multiplied to reveal 6*6*6*6 = 1296, or the Letters LIF(e), or the number in time of the perceptual diameter of the circle made by the Sun as it precesses through the equinox.
What is abundantly clear, however, is that the knowledge is so embedded and secure within our lives that, like English, it can never be destroyed.
We can take from these examples ways and means to peer into the Occult signatures being passed down through the aeons. However, the unknowing masses will worship the perpetual numbers of LIFE.666

from: http://home.online.no/~luneng/999.html

As above - so below" first published in 1996. A.Luneng
A penny for the age of aquarius

Numerology, as a tool for understanding, seems to have lost its importance in our scientific realm. However, it is a fact that it was implemented within the Jewish religion which is the basis of Christianity. That`s why it`s irrelevant to overlook the numerology in a religious and scientific research of the Bible.

It is a fact that Jesus attached importance to the two numbers 6 and 9, hence:

Mt:20:5: Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mt:27:45: Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto
the ninth.
Mt:27:46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?
The Gospel of the Holy Twelve:82:26:When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said,
"It is finished". And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. And it was in the ninth hour.
Acts:3:1: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour.
Acts:10:3: he saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an
angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Acts:10:30: And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour;
and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before
me in bright clothing,

The seal of Solomon

known as the sixpointed Jewish star, contains the old wisdom: "as above, so below". This wisdom is reflected with the numbers 6 and 9; the number 6 seen from above is 9 and 9 seen from above is 6. Nostradamus knew this when he dated the end of time to 999. (Remark: At the time when Nostradamus lived it was a custom to write the year without the 1000, i.e. they wrote 666 instead of 1666, and so on.)
And since the end of time cannot be predictet as to Mt: 24: 34, Nostradamus` "end of time" prediction has nothing to do with the year 1999. Still it has a relation and that is to the seal of Solomon; "as above (999), so below (666)". Nostradamus knew that in a numerological sence the Bible speaks of the same persons revelation:

666 = 6+6+6 = 18 = 1+8 = 9
999 = 9+9+9 = 27 = 2+7 = 9

This relates to the not so peacefull side of Jesus,(666/Mt:10:34-35):
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her
mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."
At the "same" time he showed his good side too,(999/Mt:12:7):
"But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not
have condemned the guiltless."
Thus Jesus reflected man in flesh and blood.

And this is what life is about for all of us. We undergo 9 months of pregnancy, the number of man so to speak. Then for the rest of our lives, we have to face and bring forth our inner abilities of good (999) and/or bad (666) behaviour.
The Calendar tells about 9 cycles:

16,4 billion years ago= cellullare cycle, creation of living cell
820 million years ago = organisation of cells
41 million years ago = animal cycle -apes
2 million years ago = tribal cycle-humanoids
102.000 years ago = cultural cycle - language
5125 years ago = national cycle-written language
256 years ago = planetary cycle -technology
12,8 years ago = galactic cycle (now)
9 months = Universal cycle

The last shall be first, and the first last

In ancient times the Jewish religion contained a numerological numbersystem which displayed a humans name either reflecting knowledge about the earth, the future, or some unrevealed personal talents. The names letters were decoded using a special scheme, and by this one could count the persons number within 1-9. The number 9 was seen as the highest attainable where it symbolize "realization, success, circle - the beginning meeting the end, the number of heaven; angel; paradise on earth."
As told the number representing our creativeness - 96 - (third eye) is made of 2 numbers - 9 and 6. You might say this is the same number because if one turns and see the number 6 from above you end up with 9 and visa verca. Jesus mentioned the importance of "turning around". In Christian understanding this relates to "turning" from paganism to Christ. However in a numberous and Solomon`s wisdom it relates to "turning point of view" - the last (9) becomes the first (6) and the first (6) becomes the last (9). This is reflected in decoding the name "Jesus", using the old Jewish numerological scheme. Here we find that his Hebrew name ends into the number 6. Using the "modern" name, "Jesus" reveals its "turn around":

1(J) + 5 (e) + 3 (s) + 6 (u) + 3 (s) = 18 = 1 + 8 = 9

In earth, as it is in heaven

Within holy Geometry the religious subjective connects to its objective opposite - science. In understanding this one is capable of revealing a "hidden" interactive between religion and science.The "heaven" as symbolized with the number - 9 - is reflected geometrically in the Star of Bethlehem. All its inner and outer angles when "decoded" numerologically, ends in the same number - 9. In the Revelation the number 144 (1+4+4=9) is the number both for the angel, but also the wall facing the human kind, Rev. 21,17: "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."

The "wall" is found to be the link between the angel and man. This link is found geometrically within the Star of Bethlehem and a scientific knowledge of the earth`s crystals. The Star has 2 x 5 inner angles ((252x5) + (36x5)) which by adding ends up in 1440 (9). The same number is found by analyzing the 5 different forms that nature in our 3 dimentional world is made of. "Hidden" in the earth we find that there are only 5 different but regular forms of crystals called Polyhedron (pah-lee-hee'-druhn). A polyhedron is a three-dimensional figure bounded by plane polygonal regions. A polygonal region consists of a POLYGON and its interior points. The polygonal regions are the faces of the polyhedron; the edges of the polygons are the edges of this polyhedron; and the vertices of the polygons are the vertices of the polyhedron. If the faces of the polyhedron are all congruent regular polygons, then the polyhedron is called a regular polyhedron. The regular tetrahedron (triangular PYRAMID), which has four equilateral triangles as faces; the cube , with six squares as faces; the regular dodecahedron, with twelve regular pentagons as faces; and the regular icosahedron , with twenty equilateral triangles as faces;the regular octahedron , with eight equilateral triangles as faces. It is only possible to create regular crystalforms from these 3: trianglels, quadranglels, and pentagons.

Now, if multiplying the first 4 with each of theirs proportionals - 2x3x6x10 - it makes thenumber of the circle - 360 (9). Finally the 5 th. proportional, which is a proportion of 2 pyramides locked up to eachothers squares (octahedron), and therefore has the number 4 as its proportional, reveals the number as found in the Star of Bethlehem: 360 x 4 = 1440 (9) By this we can approach both scientifically and spiritually by saying as Jesus said in Mt. 6,10: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth (Crystals), as it is in heaven" (the Star of Bethlehem).

There is another source for understanding "In earth as it is in heaven" using numerology. The following measurements of the sun, the moon and the earth synthesizes "in the beginning" - was the number "999":


The diameter in miles of:


the sun: 864 000 = 8+6+4 = 18 = 1+8 = 9
the moon: 2160 = 2+1+6 = 9
the earth: 7920 = 7+9+2 = 18 = 1+8 = 9

The stone that the builders rejected

The Great Pyramid is one of three in the same area of Giza. The original casing stones of the Great Pyramid, 144,000 (9) in all, were so brilliant that they could literally be seen from the mountains of Israel hundreds of miles away. On bright mornings and late afternoons, sunlight reflected by this vast mirrored surface of 5-1/4 acres distinguished the Pyramid so it could be visible from the moon.Only a solid stone mountain could endure the Pyramid's immense weight. And indeed, a flat solid granite mountain happens to be located just beneath the surface of the ground directly under the Pyramid. The Pyramid is located at the exact center of the Earth's land mass. That is, its East-West axis corresponds to the longest land parallel across the Earth, passing through Africa, Asia, and America. Similarly, the longest land meridian on Earth, through Asia, Africa, Europa, and Antarctica, also passes right through the Pyramid. Since the Earth has enough land area to provide 3 billion possible building sites for the Pyramid, the odds of it's having been built where it is are 1 in 3 billion.

The Great Pyramid is built to face true North. This indicates "heaven on earth" - the knowledge of Polaris, which as the Pyramid, can be used to locate the directions on the ground. Thus being a very helpfull tool for navigators.

The sign of Jonas and "the end of time"

Jesus selected his new world based on 12 precious "stones", known as the 12 diciples. The
selection was not casual. The 2 numbers as spoken of in the book of Daniel, by using the
same "childish" method we can "shorten the time", and the only sign given to this family
(Mt: 12:40) is revealed:
"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son
of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth":

1290 = 1 + 2 + 9 + 0 = 12 = 1 + 2 = 3 (days)
1335 = 1 + 3 + 3 + 5 = 12 = 1 + 2 = 3 (nights)

Spiritually the two numbers given to Daniel cannot be applied on an exact time-calculation, as many have tried to. Because, what is time, if not our illution in putting the universe into a squarelike box serving the speed of light as our God? No, these numbers reflects spirit and its way of thinking not in a linear time, but in cycles. What has been will be, and what will be has already been. In eternity there is no linear time but our illutions about time. Let`s face eternity; God doesn`t think for himself in terms like "the end of time", because being divine no such problem exists. It is only our problem, living in a 3 - dimentional realm.

There is however, a paradox regarding the speed of light and numerology. As we know the speed of light in miles is commonly known as 186 000 pr. second. The speed of light is one of the foundations "stones" in Albert Einstein`s equation E=mc². The speed of light squared and redused to a single equation (parable):


186 (000) x 186 (000) = 34596 (000000) = 3+4+5+9+6 = 27 = 2+7 = 9

E = 1 x 9

E = 9 (light / electric universe)

This is the "end of time" - the end of darkness - seeing all as light, at the 9 th. hour:

"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Rev. 22.5.

"Upon this rock I will build my church"

The world is now finally entering the understanding that our ancient God, or one might say Gods,didn`t play with numbers just to have fun. You might resist - what`s the meaning of playing with numbers? Well, in believing "God Created the Earth" this isn`t playing. The geometrical connection between the Star of Bethlehem (as above) and the earths foundation stones - crystals (so below), links the old and the new world together. What we now know have been known, and what we now see has been seen, (Mt. 16.18/19):

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Further understanding of this is given by Jack Becker, writer and researcher:

"The old testament tells that the tablets were written on stone (petra), and on both sides- the side of the Templars and the side of the common people. The law is indeed written into living stone, which includes mankind. The new testament too tells that the Church is build on "Peter" (Petra, Greek for stone). What has never been explained before is that the true law is basically very simple. The old testament, the law that Moses brought from The Mountain, was written into both sides of the tablets which Moses smashed. One side contained the 10 Roman numbers, and the other the Hebrew Alphabet. The law carved into the stone tablets can only be understood now, as we enter the millennium of the age of Aquarius, the 11th astrological sign.

Let me then show to you how the ten number figure on the tablets. Five of the roman numbers were written from top to bottom and the other 5 from bottom to top, the same as the holy testaments of which one is written from the bottom to the top, and from back to front. While the new testament is written top to bottom and from front to back.

1 + 10 = 11
2 + 9 = 11
3 + 8 = 11
4 + 7 = 11
5 + 6 = 11

The Law symbolizes the power from above and the power from below, as the star of David which consist of two triangles one pointing towards the heaven the other towards the earth to indicate that both powers form ONE unit. If we add the ten numbers we get 55. Or five and five, to underline that the old testament and the new are one, both belonging together."

Mt. 20:5-9: Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

As the Bible consists of two "different pages" - the old and the new testament, a penny illuminates the same thing. It has two sides that may look different, but both sides belong to the same unit - they are even.

From: http://www.tarot.com/articles/numerology/lucky-number-numerology-advisor-090809

In Numerology, September 9, 2009 or 9/9/09 is a special date. According to master numerologist Hans Decoz, "These numbers align in an unusual way and hold special sway for people on this planet." The number 9 is the number of completion and finality, but 9 is also the number of sympathy, love, selfless sacrifice and morality.

‘Brotherhood’ makes aid effective: WB official

The ‘big brother – small brother’ relationship between the provincial and the municipal governments has made the implementation of the Department of Agriculture – Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) effective, World Bank official said.

WB senior operations officer Carolina F. Geron described this relationship as helping one another particularly poor towns to better serve their communities.

“In this way, the provincial government helps its towns to effectively implement various interventions it (town) employs on the ground,” Geron said.

Geron who is also the MRDP Task team leader heads the current three-week WB review mission which kicked-off early this week here to assess how the program fares in its goals set early this year after an 18-month hiatus.

Meanwhile, on a separate statement recently, WB acting director Maryse Gautier said the Philippines needs a Provincial Development Strategy (PDS) to address the need for coordination among local government units (LGU) in the implementation of foreign-funded projects.

“A (PDS) could help address key issues in governance, capacity building and coordination,” Gautier said.

MRDP, an $83 million long term poverty alleviation program jointly funded by the national government, the local government unit and the World Bank, is geared at increasing incomes and uplifting lives of the poorest of the poor in rural Mindanao. It covers 225 towns in Mindanao’s 26 provinces.

Lesson learned
MRDP Deputy Director said that in the experience during the first phase of the program, one province intervened with the municipal implementation of the infrastructure project since it had difficult time in completing the said project.

“With the strong partnership of the provincial and municipal government all projects have been completed in the first phase. This is among the lessons we learned in our over seven years of implementing development projects around Mindanao,” De Mesa said.

De Mesa added that there are a number of towns that experienced technical and even financial adversity. “Convergence of their efforts ensures the proper delivery of services to the community,” he added.

Convergence
MRDP has been approved in 2007 but it was only in December 2008 when it started to roll out its targeted projects due to the counterparting policy.

The program applies 50-50 cost-sharing where half of the project cost is shouldered by the LGU and the other half is given as grant by the program.

“Some LGUs find it difficult to source out from their local coffer the fifty percent counterpart. As strategy, municipal local chief executives ask the provincial government to help put up the required cash equity,” De Mesa said.

In Sarangani province, the fifty percent equity is shared by the provincial government and the town recipient of MRDP projects.

“The provincial government as big brother to his towns shares 70 percent of its fifty percent counter part making it easier for small brother to come up with its cash value equity,” De Mesa cited one example.

“We are thankful to our governor Migz Dominguez for his generosity in helping particular us in Malapatan a fourth class municipality to come up with our counterpart for our farm-to-market road,” Mayor Aida Singcoy said in a separate interview.

“To extend more help the community, governor Dominguez also distributed corn seeds which encouraged our farmers to expand their production,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, fifth class town of San Isidro, Davao del Norte has sourced out its funding equity from the RDR WHEELS project of Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario.

San Isidro mayor Tomas Abelita said that without the provincial counterpart it would have been impossible for them to come up with the farm-to-market road which is needed in his locality.

“We are the cacao capital in the country. But we cannot improve our production without infrastructural support to our farmers. Although a little difficult, I really pushed to have a farm-to-market road project to help our local farmers,” mayor Abelita said.

Geron in a forum said she is expecting the technical, even financial assistance of the 26 “big brothers” to the 225 “small brothers” who are at the forefront of MRDP implementation to capitalize on the bulk of funds which have been readied since 2007.

“With this complementation we want to see five to seven more years from now that communities are able to eat three square meals a day and their incomes improved,” Geron said.

Further De Mesa added that at this early, this convergence has resulted to tangible gains in terms of fortifying peace and development across Mindanao.

Mindanao towns enjoy gains of antipoverty aid

More than half of the covered towns of the antipoverty program of the Department of Agriculture in Mindanao have gained results of their investments.

Barely eight months after it formally commenced project implementation, DA’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) has benefited 146 of its 225 covered towns across the island regions.

MRDP is an $83 million poverty alleviation program of the government funded through an adaptable program loan from the World Bank plus the funding from the national and local government units (LGUs).

As it gears to improve incomes of small farmers and ensure food security, the program aims establish agricultural infrastructure like farm-to-market roads, irrigation, potable water system and post harvest facilities. Coupled with agri-based livelihood projects, the program takes a more holistic approach to rural development.

In his report during the kick-off activity of the three-week World Bank review mission, Deputy Director Arnel V. De Mesa said that at least 146 towns have reaped initial gains in their investment.

“Six months after we have had our catch-up plan to cover our 18 month delay, we have seen initial and surely promising headway,” De Mesa said.

He explained, however, that the gains are at various levels. “Some have completed the projects, other projects are nearing completion, others are at procurement level, and some more are waiting for notices to proceed,” he said.

To date, De Mesa reported that of the P1.2 billion on the pipeline for infrastructure projects under the Rural Infrastructure (RI) component, P25 million has been completed and many of the on-going projects are within 70 – 85 percent complete.

Out of the P127 million worth of livelihood projects earmarked for the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component for it year one town, over P47million has been completed, close to P22 million are on-going projects while the remaining amount is on the procurement process.

Leading regions and provinces
Of the six regions in Mindanao, Region 10 leads in the implementation of the projects with its total P270 million worth if infrastructure projects on the pipeline. Of this amount, over P17 million worth of farm-to-market roads in Linamon and Salvador towns in Lanao del Norte and Manolo Fortich in the province of Bukidnon have been completed.

Caraga region follows closely with its pipelined P215 million worth of infrastructure projects. The towns of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur and Carmen in Surigao del Sur had finished their farm-to-market roads.

Further the top five performing regions are Agusan del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Sarangani Province.

Fresh opportunities
Beneficiaries said that the projects have brought substantial development and new opportunities for the LGU and the rural folks.

For Malapatan Mayor Aida Singcoy in the Province of Sarangani, the farm to market road which reached to highland villages of B’laans in her town has spurred more economic activities among the lumad farmers and allowed easier delivery of social services on the part of the LGU.

In Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, Mayor Benjie Baguio said that the road which connected the farthest barangay to the town center contributed much in securing peace and order in his town.

While in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur and Polomolok, South Cotabato the FMR and bridge constructed in their respective areas has reduced transport costs of their produce making them earn better farming incomes.

Other town beneficiaries
Other covered towns are yet to benefit from the program as they are on the process of completing the paper requisite while others are still preparing for their financial counterpart.

The program applies 50:50 cost-sharing scheme for its RI component and P500 thousand for the CFAD component.

Learning life skills on Sundays

Kristine Neñiza receives her diploma, goes to the center stage, and takes a bow. However that simple bow didn’t quite reflect whatever the story behind that piece of paper in her hand, for a diploma on a Sunday College is in fact not a walk in the park.

“Naglisod jud ko oi, dili lalim (I really had a hard time, it’s not easy),” Kristine said.

And not only Krisitine can attest to that, but there are at least 170 graduates of the Assumption College of Davao (ACD) - Sunday College Program. Each has a dream to fulfill, a determination to succeed and heart-warming stories to tell.

Brave Kristine

After a semester as working student, Kristine got sick and decided to go back to their town in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. Determined to finish her two-year computer programming course, she did not abandon her Sunday college with her parents supporting her financial needs.

Kapalong town is about three-hour ride from Davao City where jeepneys and buses are particularly scarce in early morning. To promptly attend to Sunday’s school time which commence at seven in the morning, Kristine has to face the ordeal of her travel.

She has to wake up 1:00 am (on Sunday) while every one else is sound asleep, prepares herself for school to catch the first trip of jeepney at around 2:30 am bound for Tagum City. In this trip, she rides a long with the baskets of farm produce and the bunch of empty fish buckets. Kristine is left with no choice but to take this trip since the next trip is scheduled at 5:00 am., which surely make her tardy in school.

By 4:00 a.m. she’s in already in Tagum and usually arrives at school by six in the morning. Come 9:00 in the evening, the class ends and by then hopes to catch a bus going back to Tagum. Since there is no jeepney plying the route to Kapalong on late night, she has to wait up until 4:30 am (by this time its Monday already) for the first trip back to her town.

Kristine has braved through this ordeal for almost two years.

“I did that for more than a year,” Kristine said.

“What made it more difficult was the fact that I have to bring everything that I need, books, P.E. uniform, rubber shoes, school requirement, some extra clothes,” showing her two packs of paper bags.

“Mura ko’g moilayas, (I seem to stow away)” she quipped.

The Sunday College Program

“Indeed the Sunday College Program has helped a lot of students to finish at least two-year college tech-voc education,” says ACD President Sr. Marieta Banayo of the Missionaries of the Assumption (ma).

Banayo said that when they opened for the Sunday school for college, her sisters in the congregation were not as optimistic as she was. But her confidence with her faculty along with Dr. Rinante Genuba the tech-voc program director, she took the risk.

“It was one of the risks I took as President of the school. We did not know what will happen, my sisters where a little skeptic. But I had faith,” Banayo added.

“We had the idea of opening the Sunday college when some employers of our Sunday high school graduates, approached us and asked whether there won’t be a Sunday college for their “kasambahay” to enroll and continue their education,” she said.

“As president I know it will entail big financial responsibility but it also made me think bitaw no, after they graduate in high school, unsa naman sunod? (what’s next for them?). So I decided to heed the call,” giving a nod as she said.

She disclosed that they had been outlining their plans since 2004 but it was only in 2006 when ACD opened the Sunday College Program for two-year courses of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Computer technology, programming and secretarial.

The Sunday college program had around 200 students for their first batch, “not bad for a start,” Banayo said.

“But the following school year was a big shock for us. A wave of enrollees we did not expect came to the school, even if we did not really campaign for the program,” Banayo blurt out.

“At certain point, we even closed enrolment since our classrooms and laboratories cannot accommodate yet the number of students,” she said.

Option for the poor
“Through this Sunday college program, we continue our preferential option for the poor,” Banayo said stressing that the congregation (Missionaries of the Assumption) stamp their mark to favor the deprived sectors in the community.

She said that the program is intended to help poor but persevering students get a college diploma with the best quality education and training they can use for gainful employment.

“Around 80 per cent of our students are full time working individuals like “kasambahay” (house help), food crew, and others and Sunday is there only time to go to school,” she said .

A number of them are graduates from the school’s Sunday high school program who wanted and are determined to continue their studies.

Transformative education
“We continue to provide the same quality and brand of transformative education for our youth which is to create socially aware individuals in a just and humane society,” she stressed.

With the aim to provide topnotch training, ACD availed of a loan through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided by Asian Development Bank (ADM) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM). They used the fund to establish air-conditioned classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratories.

“Part of providing life transforming education is to provide, affordable and superior skills training through modern facilities and competent instructors,” she said.

“Our instructors, who are both TESDA and CHED certified, share our vision of providing transformative education that the Assumption (College of Davao) is known for,” said Banayo.

On the issue of affordability, Banayo said that even if today’s prices of energy, water and other services are hitting high, the school maintains very affordable fees “and we will not have tuition fee increase next school year.”


Hopes and Dreams
For Kristine “life commences a new beginning and the world has opened up for more opportunities.” And she hopes to tread life much better now with the skills she learned from the school.

Meanwhile, Sister Banayo eyes ACD’s expansion as it will open a day and night program for regular college students and the more slots for Sunday Program to help realize more dreams and continue to provide gainful life skills on Sundays.

In the eyes of Jhana

Curious as every child her age, Jhana Aiza B. Tubo at eight is starting to see the world whole and seeing it in a wider horizon, a clearer perspective and brighter hope for the future.

Her mother Juana never thought this day would ever come. For years, it had constantly pained her to see Jhana, then her three-month old daughter developed a whitish spot in her left eye causing it to be partially blind.

But thanks to some helping hands, in the eyes of Jhana now is a spark of hope.

Perplexed Juana, Jolly Jhana
Estranged from her first husband and a widow from the second, Juana at 44 is left with three kids ages four, five and eight years old Jhana. She is the sole provider for the growing needs of the family. Her meager income of P80.00 a day from vending cigarettes and candies in front of a food chain in Bajada, Davao City would hardly make both ends meet.

“Sa akong kita lisod kaau nga mapatambalan ang mata sa akong anak (with what I earn, it’s impossible to find treatment for the condition of my child),” Juana said with a sense of pity for their circumstance.

Juana has no means to save her child from the developing cataract in the left eye of the bubbly Jhana.

A cataract is opacity of the eyes lens of its capsule. It causes blindness by obstructing passage of light, but the patient can distinguish light from darkness.

“She was three months old when her late father noticed the white spot in her eyes” Juana recounted.

“We observed that the child’s eye was in constant rapid movement, since we didn’t have money, we consulted a “hilot” who told us to just slowly massage the eyeballs of the child which we did,” she added.

“Although we observed that the movement was reduced the whitish spot was still there… until it has gotten wider,” she said.

At five Jhana went to a kindergarten in the community by then her left eye blot out with cataract.

“I could only see lights and blur of colors like red…yellow…” Jhana said.

Despite her condition, Jhana pursued her studies until Grade 1 when some of her classmates picked on her eye condition.

“Pasagdan lang man nako sila. Bahala sila (I don’t really mind them teasing me. I didn’t care what they say about me.)” Jhana said.

Jhana related that she had difficulty at looking at the teacher and whatever is presented in front of the class. She had to turn to her right side so that she could see everything.

“Every time I need to focus on the lessons of the teacher, I turn to my right before I could clearly see. It was difficult but I endured it,” she said in the dialect smiling as if cherishing how she sustained the situation.

Juana said that it was during the kindergarten years of Jhana when she started to find help to treat the worsening condition of the left eye of the child.

“But I couldn’t keep it up. I cannot support even my fare and I don’t know where to turn to,” the exhausted mother said.

Juana said that she really desired to find treatment for her daughter’s condition but their survival was her priority. The measly income is way far to support them.

Teacher’s concern
Concerned about Jhana’s rapidly deteriorating eyes, Mrs. Kathy I. Suarez and Mrs. Ruby Ann G. Ledesma, her Grade 1 teachers at Osmeña Elementary School in Sasa, suggested to her mother to let an eye specialist check the child’s condition.

The teachers brought both mother and daughter to Davao Doctors Hospital for initial check-up for free. According to the result, the child had a cataract with some complications or trauma.

Meanwhile, the teachers suggested some names whom Juana could contact for help.

Further eye examination at DMC, the child’s was noted to have barring complications that it needed an cataract extraction operation which will cost them P49,000.00.

“Asa man ko mangita ana nga kwarta! (Where will I find such amount?!),” she blurted out after learning that the treatment she was looking for was that costly.

Helping hands, generous hearts
To source out funding for the operation, Juana sought help from the local government’s program’s Lingap para sa Mahirap which gave P3,000.00. While the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gave an additional P10,000. She also approached the Office of the Second District Congressman Vince Garcia which gave P2000.00. Barely P15,000, still a long way.

Determined, she spoke to one of the office staff of Congressman Garcia who referred the case to Atty. Mylene J. Garcia, the office’s Chief of Staff.

The poignant story of Jhana made her pull some strings. She endorsed the case the Maharlika Charity Foundation, Inc. through its Vice President and sustaining board member Dr. Benedict Valdez.

Maharlika Foundation took the case with the required minimum cash counterpart. The foundation took the grant of the Second District Congressman as the Tubo family’s counterpart, the P3000.00 of Lingap for medicine and the P10,000 for the purchase of a special eye lens, and the rest of the P49,000 was shouldered by the foundation.

From then on, everything was arranged. Battery of tests and examinations were conducted and the eye operation was set. Thorugh the expert hands of Dr. Elvira Embalzado the operation procedure was successfully carried out on May 7, 2009 at Maharlike Center.

An Eye Opener
“Ka klaro nako karon, klaro ta gani ka, imong notebook og imong camera (I can see clearly now. I can see you, your notebook and your camera),” gaily said Jhana to the writer.

“Kung mangita lang jud ta og tabang, naa man gyud di ay motabang (If we really seek help, there will always be people who are willing to help), says the relieved mother.

Nagpasalamat gyud ko sa Ginoo, alang sa tanang mga tawo nga mitabang sa amoa kay kung wala ni sila, hangtud karon buta pa gihapon ang wa nga mata sa akong anak (I really thank the Lord for all the people who helped us. Without them the left eye of my daughter would still be blind),” said the teary eyed mother.

Continuing Treatment
Today, Jhana still maintains an eye drop medicine which cost P250.00 per bottle and has to under go monthly check up at the Maharlika Foundation Center. As this require financial expenses too, the office of Congressman Garcia shouldered the amount of medication as well as their fare for the check up until the eye of Jhana will be completely healed.

My prayer

Almighty and most divine Father, creator of everything I see, I feel, and I take. I thank you for the gift of this world, for the gift of life and the blessings of persons. Be with me dear Lord, as I continue the mission of stewardship that you entrusted to me and to us all your people.

Transform us in your heavenly grace that we feel empathy for the plight of our fellow men. I see in the eyes of justice, I breathe in and out the air of honesty and morality, Hear the voices of the desolate and those in need. I speak of words that soothes the pain of those suffering. May I touch others with your healing touch.

I pray to become the channel of your faith, hope, peace and love.

Embrace me with your divine protection as we continue my task of helping and uplifting others, all for the glory of your Name.

Amen.

Sa Mabini napadpad

Mabini is one of the popular names of places in the Philippines. Not surprise though since its an honor to one of the country's national hero Apolinario Mabini.

In addition the name Mabini has become more popular in the song of Freddie aguilar's Magdalena where Magdalena ang babaeng mababa ang lipad sa Mabini napadpad."

After thirteen years in Davao City, my family is now backin Mabini a 3rd class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 32,058 people in 6,524 households.

The town of Mabini is a sparkling jewel of Compostela Valley. It has pristine beaches and people with hearts so warm.

I promise to post pictures of the place if i could grab the chance to visit these beaches i talk about. I hope someone is reading this. (lol)

Face to face with death

Death is an inevitable pat of life. We cannot say we live unless we die. We know not white if there is no black; day without night and right from wrong.

Death comes in the most unexpected time. At times we cannot comprehend or accpet why its has become of anyone.

Though this is an accepted logic of living, the pain that death brings can be sa hurting to the point - unbearable.

We grieve for the death of people we love becuase we have to. But after that we have to move on.

I have seen, like anybody else, a lot of death in my life, each has unique hearting-tearing story.

My close encounters

Not once did I come close to it, I could still clearly remember when I was little (I was not even at school then; I attended school at grade 1) my sister and her friends were playing on top of piled wooden planks which will be used for the renovation of our house. I was watching their frolic at the same time watching over my baby brother on a stroller. Suddenly a thud was heard and I could see the planks piling over me. Then, strong thud, and another one, and then some more. It was a series of deafening banging of wooden planks piled against my frail body.

From the outside, I could hear fain shouting, “ang bata!” (the baby)” I don’t know if that holler of concern was for me or for my baby brother. Inside, I was lying real straight, breathing normally, surprised at what happened and how quick things were happening. I could see the planks of woods piling like dome or a niche barely touching my skin. I was unharmed.

There was panic from outside. People, including my father and mother, pulled the planks as fast as they could. When the last piece was removed, we were awed at how not a scratch was on me. (Unbelievable, is it? Up to now, I still wonder how it happened.)

Here’s another one. I was grade 5 then, very active, very playful. We had a mango tree right at the back of our kitchen. Some of its branches reach over the kitchen roof and its leaves touching the roof. The mago tree was high and heavy laden with golden fruits. Those “golden” mango were very attractive to my eyes that I volunteered to watch over it until they're big enough for eating.

So the day came, when it was good enough for our “harvest.” Since it was I who "guarded" it I was granted to do what I wanted to do. Because of my high level energy I volunteered to climb and do the harvesting. I was excited. The first branch was no hassle. Everything looks juice, sweet and the green once sour enough for the Filipino taste buds. Then next level, all clear. Up and higher I went. At this point the branches were thinner and it sways a lot. I was overly confident that I’m good at climbing, people below me were shouting, drop some more. And I shouted back, ok reserve for me the best, ha. Then there i saw one "golden harvest" naturally ripe near the tip of one thin branch. I “assessed” the situation, then decided to go for it assuming that I was light enough. I inch in, closing to the mango which was an apple to my eye. An arm reach away, I heard some crackings… eehhkk… ehhekkkk says the branch. I did not mind it.. so closer I moved in. Then, BOO! I was falling at a speed of gravity with only leaves between my legs…. BANG! I hit the ground! Their mouth and eyes wide open though some were close, I stood up and shouted “ako tong manga nga hinog!” (That ripe mango is mine.) What a big laugh it was.

Later did I realize how when my mother talked to me how tragic it would have been. Despite what happened, I never feared of climbing trees, ever… wanna challenge me… next time na lang I still have a lot stories to tell.

Next. When I was little I used to play alone. I read alone, I watch tv alone. It’s not that I don’t like to play with other children. But I just like to play alone. That simple, ok. So one time I was alone, I saw a candle and a match. The spark of the match was really enticing, so I scratch it, the tip burned and gone out. Then I scratched another, it sparked, it burn and went off… Then I lit the candle. The candled looked meek, it was gentle, its light swayed to the mild blow of air, it cried. I placed on a glass, its foot at the corner bottom of the glass and the body slanted towards the kitchen wall. Our kitchen wall was made of old wood. But not the hard ones, when the it caught the light of the candle, It flared up. To my surprise, I wasn’t able to move. I was shocked at how meek and genlte “light” has turned into fire. I was standing there when suddenly a gush of force jolted me out of where I was stading, it was my father.

So our kitchen was half baked, or for meat, rarely done. The ceiling was black with sooth and some wholes were carved in. I… I was scolded to sleep.

Grade 6. It was the most horrifying experience of my life then. We were aboard in one of the M/V Princesses of Sulpicio ship lines on our way to the first asean Jamboree for the boy Scouts to be held in Laguna. We left Davao City port sometime in high noon. I was excited… I was expectant of good things to happen of another adventure.

Night came and I learned we were already traversing the Surigao trench said to be the deepest trench in the Philippines. We had our free dinner at the mess hall amid the noise of laughter, jokes and some obnoxious conversation somehwere.

When we were about to sleep. We felt the boat shook a bit, and ride along a wave. Then some more ups and downs… It rained, as we were at the economy class, I could feel the wind and the droplets of rain. The gush of wind went stronger and it become stronger as we cruise along. The ship swayed more and riding along bigger waves this time.

On our bed, we felt tossed to the left, then to the right,left again.. some bags from top fell, emplty soda cans run left to right… we waves were getting bigger and bigger, the splashing of seawater stronger too.. our scout master prodded his way towards us and distributed life vests.. I received mine but did not put it on.. I just embraced it. Then we heard the captian of the ship, leading us to pray the holy rosary. Some aged women responded more moudly to the prayer. I was seated in the corner of my bed, as we were tossed left and right, up and down.. some bags and cartons were also running to and fro… left and right.. Then there was wave when the ship sided to the right at longer time, there were already shouting somewhere. Then side to the left a little longer this time.. more shouting was heard…. It went like that the whole night through.

I could not remember whether the captain included the Litany of the virgin Mary but I'm sure it ended with a big amen. After the prayer the sea was not pacified… we were still tossed left and right… but people were silent to death as in no human sound was heard except to some interruption from the captain through the PA calling some names of presumbaly ship crew members. I wen to sleep curling up in the upper corner of my bed clinging to one of the the four bedposts.

Morning came. WOw, it ws totally a different day! (Gushed everyone, i guess). No signs on big waves were eveident on the clear blue skies and deep blue waters.

Later that day, we learned that we indeed went to a typhoon.. good for us the captain was able to maneuver the ship to a safety cover in one of the islands in southern leyte.

And near death stories are counting...

Gumising at Magkape! (The cofibean hate hits )

While in a middle of a dull meeting, a colleague of mine gave me this url: http://cofibean.blogspot.com/, he said this is one thought-provoking ego-hitting-and-igniting(my own term) blog. I read few lines and i already got the trend... it was such a crap i thought, but reading further it becomes a laugh not on the ORC baho katutubo subject of this blogger but on himself.

This blogger (whoever she/he/it is) is really making waves on line. He receives hate messages mostly from call center agents he/she/it hits.

If you have a sense of humor, you will get hook to his blog. NOt for the its non-senseness, but on how pathetic people express themselves. So, engrossed with this "Certified glitterati from Makati. A commoner of all the chichi places. Simply suave and primo. The envy of many. Adonishingly fantasmo... Yep. That's him whose Motto: "Make Poverty History!" and hates the baho masa / orcs said: Obliterate them all!"

Make Poverty History - is very catchy. I thought it was some advocacy call to help the poor ORC katutubo baho natives of this country (borrowed this line from him/her/it). But OMG, Make poverty history was as crappy as the author.

I trackeddown his friendster account which he/she it/ said was hacked by some stalker or something, and here's what 'righteous' people have to say:

From Boo:

hoy cofibean LOL ang eksina mo bakla. winner ang kaiklatan mo. grabhe as in overrrr... tHE great pretender ang drama mo hitad. aNG tArush ng mga blog mo pinagkakaguluhan ng madlang people. pEro kwedaw ka bakla, balita ko mag aambag-ambag daw ng piso piso lahat ng mga call center agent dito sa pinas para pambayad sa hired killer na papatay sayo. hahaha saka isa pa mag iipon-ipon daw lahat ng ORCs sa luneta para mag prayer rally, ipagdarasal daw nila na sana mamatay ka na ahehehe. sabay sabay daw sila mag titirik ng kandila para sayo o di ba BONGGA!! kaw naman kasi bakla ko di ka ba namn isang dakilang moron, Imbecile, idiot, retarded, mongoloid, ingot, tanga, gusto mo lang maging poppular bakit itets na paraan pa naisip mo. ask me lang bakla kaw ba nakakatulog ka pa ng mahimbing nyan, Im sure balisa ka, sa sobrang dami ba naman ng maygalit sa blog mo, im sureness marami gusto ipa dead ka. kaya careful ka bakla baka one morning malaman namin palutang lutang na lang ang beauty mo sa ilog.

シリルおよび枕
06/28/2008 2:20 am

your the orc.. sobrang yabang.. wala kaming pakialam kung mayaman ka get a life.. and live outside philippines..dun ka naman bagay sabagay when your there ikaw yung ORC hahaha

Reginald
06/19/2008 3:32 pm

I WILL KILL YOU! gay... I will assure you that you will burn in hell! I WILL KILL YOU IF I SEE YOU! beware! stop making comments about people you dont even know. all that I can say is that you are a BUM. rich boy wannabe! I'll Kill YOU!

♥mAmA and GaBe♥
06/8/2008 6:15 am

• hey you!
  i got a glimpse of your blogs...
  and i should say YOU ARE SO PATHETIC...
  i SO pity you...all those whims and visions about
  money and porsche...
  stop claiming that you're a writer because you are not...
  these stories are all your make-believe fantasies...
  you smell worst than garbage!
  i am A CERTIFIED - TRUE BLOODED ATENEAN! but i
  don't possess such attitude like yours...
  this is a free country yes, but for you to step on other
  people's rights i don't think that's fair!
  you are all noise...nothing more...
  ever been familiar with a saying that goes EMPTY CANS
  MAKE A LOT OF NOISE...those are like empty brains...
  like yours...
  callcenter peeps did nothing to you...
  and by the way, i just had noticed that you don't post your
  pictures...hmmm...why is that so?
  well, i guess you are so ashame of your face that you
  don't have enough guts to show it to the public...
  well...hahaha! all i can say is...get a life! if life seems so
  miserable to you due to your bittern

jahja
06/7/2008 2:09 pm

• know what , i just read your blog last night posted in our knowledge base in our office. well, upon reading it ,no doubt i know you're gay. the way you compose you're statement. dude stop it, you're making yourself famous in a notorious way.
  granting you're born with a silver spoon on the mouth but BOY you need to WAKE UP....ikaw ang nakakatawa at hindi kami..tanga

LeSteR
06/5/2008 3:23 pm

• you know what.. if you really have the balls to write those shits on your blog,, post ur pic.. so we CALL CENTER ORC can kick ur ASS
  and one question.. are you gay PARE? coz you like those kind of TV shows..and whats with the language..straight english please... come out of the closet.. so hot in there hahaha.....
  hope you burn in hell.. you disgust me!!!!!

ΣAΛΒΑ
05/17/2008 4:53 pm

• i don't know man but i think you call yourself a good writer because you can agitate a lot of people... but to the level of being a professional hell no man. maybe you really are just a retard that's why you act like that. migrate to the US if you hate the 'baho masa' here in the Philippines, you keep on commenting on people, so why not make any actions? you're so stupid you can't think of that? keep the fuck talks and make some move mr. retard.
  
  actually on either way you are also an orc because you're narrow minded just like your mom who lost hefty sum of money... i just wish god put curse on people like you who don't know anything but to give shits on everyone.
  
  die biatch! egg-sucking ass pirate!

j
04/25/2008 4:57 am

• tangina mas gusto ko pa mag basa ng sign boards at commercials kesa mag sayang pa ng oras mag basa ng posts dito. posts, comments.. hay. walang kwenta. may mga orcs pang nalalaman di man lang marunong gumamit ng mga puns na napupulot sa ibang lugar ng maayos e. di ko naman sinasabi na un edcuated or sa madaling salita WALANG PINAGARALAN. Walang taste, yun na lang. pati mga supporters or readers or fans nya.
  
  o ayan. Baka mag reklamo pa kayo bat ako nag comment. hehehe kala ko ba ok lang sa inyo na express ang freedom to say what i want. laking tawa ko lang talaga pag nabasa nyo to at napag isip isp nyo na you could have done something more worthwhile with your time than reading a fag's blog full of shit.
  
  
  hate comment over. hehehehe. see you online mga bading.

PaulAndrew
04/12/2008 9:42 pm

• hoy.putangina ka.katutubo ba tlga tawag mo sa mga pilipino? puta.sa bagay.mga kalyo sa kamay mo.kasusubo at kahahawak ng titi ng mga katutubo.eh sa laki.di kaya.uuwi ng LA.haha.hm.do your own work.give money.pretending to be a good, rich gay.using the language og tag-lish. jologs puta.cut your penis.it will make others happy

How amusing are communication media nowadays. At your fingertips you can agitate people, provoke some juicy thoughts, hit ego, attack yourself. the world is becoming so borderless that you can never tell who is sane and not. The freedom of expression is sometimes construed and bent which becomes a lame excuse for unhealthy bubble mouths that does nothing except putting more crap to this already crappy world. So, whats the moral of this? I'll figure it our soon.

GMA's Ancestral Home (Iligan City, Lanao del Norte)

Here's GMA's house when she stayed with her grandparents in Timoga, Iligan, Lanao del Norte. It's a very nice place. Fifty meters infornt of the house is a beach where carenderias sprout whose specialty is lechon. At the back of the house are water resorts with various sizes of pools watered by the waterfalls above...

fast forward days

It seems that the past two weeks shot like an arrow. Very quickly, i was around Mindanao. The first visit was in Datu Odin Sinsuat in ARMM, hours later i was in GenSan, then the following day in Polomolok... Davao in Saturday and CDO on Sunday, went to Iligan, Linamon in Lanao del Norte then in the Province of Bukidnon: Malaybalay city and the town of Lantapan... (pictures of this travel will be posted later.. ) Kudos!

a couple days in tawi-tawi

I have this impression: people in Tawi-Tawi are peace loving.

From Zamboanga, we flew in to Bongao, Tawi-tawi's commercial hub via SEAir. There were 18 passengers (as of my counting ) in the plane including the two pilots. Flying quite low, the site below was exhilarating: islands laced with sugary white sand in various shapes and forms, water body with various shades of blue, dense and nude mountains.(were there nude ones?). It was all exciting especially when it rained and the aircraft shook.

Bongao airport was seemingly solitary, having our plane as the only aircraft around. :-). But not so far away were the warm welcoming hearts and smiles of our Sama and Tausug friends.

Bongao was not our destination. We were heading Simunul, one of the island municipalities in the Province of tawi-tawi.

Simunul is an important place for Islam in the Philippines. Simunul is the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines when Sheik Makhdumh, a missionary from mideast asia indoctrinated and baptized the inhabitants of the island.

To go there, we boarded a big boat.

There i met new friends Christians and Muslims alike. For our accommodation, we were hosted by some families of the community. As for me, I stayed with Sir Popoy Beyuta. Sir Popoy used to be a teacher in the Municipality of Mapun but as of the moment, the Chief of staff of Simunul. He was also a radio commentator few years back. I had a wonderful stay at their big house. His mother who is also a retired teacher was very gracious as a host. I felt very secured with them.