24 October 2009

Anong balita? 102409

Top news for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

NBI arrests suspects in illegal telecom scheme
A group of post-paid telecom subscribers illegally using Globe Telecom facilities have been arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Paranaque City.

Need to tackle Metro slum woes underscored following calamities
One thing that cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” demonstrated is the need not only to improve the lives of slum dwellers, especially those residing along the riverbanks, creeks and esteros, but to actually ensure their safety.

Japanese pilgrims to pray for world peace today
Hundreds of Japanese pilgrims are set to pray for world peace during the commemoration of the 12th anniversary of the Declaration of Clark-Mabalacat as “City of World Peace” today, October 25, at the Lily Hill inside the Clark Freeport Zone.

RP still unsure of hosting NAM meet
Tied up with its relief and rehabilitation efforts, the Philippines is still mulling over whether or not it will host the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting from December 1 to 3 in Manila.

Tons of biscuits for storm-affected kids
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is shipping into the country some 100 metric tons of biscuits from Turkey for the victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”, especially the children.

Marcos: Opposition must unite vs poll fraud
Opposition parties may have failed to agree on a single candidate for the May 2010 presidential elections but this does not mean they cannot be united in guarding against a possible electoral fraud, according to an opposition congressman.

Arroyo signs Climate Change Act of 2009
President Arroyo signed the Climate Change Act of 2009 or Republic Act No. 9729 that would boost the Philippines’ capacity to brave threats posed by climate change.


Showbiz Chika for the day
Source: GMA News.tv

Hayden Kho Jr. indicted in sex video case
Criminal charges were filed Thursday against cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho Jr. in connection with his sex video with actress Katrina Halili that was uploaded on Internet.

iGMA: TJ Trinidad talks about 'ghost' on Patient X setSinabi ni TJ Trinidad sa entertainment press na hindi siya naniniwala sa multo. Kaya sa set ng movie nila na Patient X, siya mismo ang kumukuha ng pictures sa paligid nito kung saan may...

Paul McCartney plans European tour in DecemberLONDON – Paul McCartney will return to Hamburg, where The Beatles honed their craft, to launch his first European tour in five years.

Jackie Chan, Andy Lau to star in new Shaolin movieHONG KONG – The king of kung fu cinema is set to star in a new movie about China's famed shrine of martial arts, the Shaolin Temple.

‘Pantasya ng Bayan’ Joyce Jimenez is now a motherAng tinaguriang ‘Pantasya ng Bayan’ noon na si Joyce Jimenez is now a mom to Jorja Ely Reintegrado Egbalic.



Da who for today
Source: Wikipedia

Ramón S. Fernandez is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in Philippine Basketball Association. Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards and a record of 19 PBA championships (the equivalent of 6 championships in the NBA as the PBA runs three championships a year) bagged. Fernandez scored 18,996 points to finish as the PBA's all-time scoring leader. He is also the PBA's all-time leader in rebounds, blocked shots, and second all-time in assists and steals. He played for five teams in his entire the PBA career starting with Toyota, Manila Beer, Tanduay, Purefoods, and with San Miguel, his last stop. Fernandez played in many overseas tournament by being a part of the Philippine basketball team. He is widely considered as the best basketball player to ever play in the PBA.

Retirement
After his playing career, Fernandez ran for a senatorial seat under the Nationalist People's Coalition in the 1995 elections but lost. In 1998, he became the first commissioner of the defunct professional league, Metropolitan Basketball Association.
In 2000, he was included in the PBA's 25 Greatest Players' list and was awarded during the league's anniversary on April 9, 2000.

In 2003, Fernandez was named the Commissioner of the Collegiate Champions League tournament. A few months earlier, Fernandez was part of the Toyota Tamaraws in the Crispa-Toyota Reunion Game. The highlight of the event was the kickout pass of Fernandez to Jaworski, who later sank a three-pointer to seal the Tamaraws' 65-61 win over their bitter rivals, the
Redmanizers.
He also became the Commissioner of the now-inactive United Regional Basketball League during its only run in 2004.

Fernandez was also inducted in the PBA Hall of Fame and participated in the Greatest Game, a reunion of several members of the league's 25 Greatest Players, in May 30, 2005 when they lost to the TM Greats team 96-92.
Mon Fernandez now operates a cafe named "Tisoy." It is located on Fortuna Street, Cebu City, Cebu.


Gospel for the day

Source: The Daily Gospel Online

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 13:1-9.

At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them --do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!" And he told them this parable: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. (So) cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'"


Word for the day
Source: Merriam Webster Online

gruntle • \GRUN-tul\ • verb
: to put in a good humor

Example Sentence:
The hour wait irked us, but once we were seated, we were immediately gruntled by an amiable waiter.

Did you know?
The verb "disgruntle," which has been around since 1682, means "to make ill-humored or discontented." The prefix "dis-" often means "to do the opposite of," so people might naturally assume that if there is a "disgruntle," there must have first been a "gruntle" with exactly the opposite meaning. But actually, "dis-" doesn’t always work that way -- in some rare cases it functions instead as an intensifier. "Disgruntle" developed from this intensifying sense of "dis-" plus "gruntle," an old word meaning "to grumble." In the 1920s, a writer humorously used "gruntle" to mean "to make happy" -- in other words, as an antonym of "disgruntle." The use caught on. At first "gruntle" was used only in humorous ways, but people eventually began to use it seriously as well.


Lesson for the day

Source: Engr. Paul Elmer Morala from Duisberg, Germany

His house

It was a cold Sunday morning when members started arriving at church, snow flakes had just fallen, people were rushing in to get inside. To the warmth, to the dry sanctuary.

As the members were walking in they were astonished to see a homeless person laying on the sidewalk by the front door. He was bent over all covered up with an old black trench coat, that had many holes in it. His shoes had holes in it and you could see his socks filthy from months of grime on them. The man had a black hat on that covered his face. His hands filthy with dirt from probably digging in a garbage can some thought.

As the members made their way into the sanctuary, they were all discussing how this horrible filthy man, had the nerve to sleep at THEIR church doors! Finally the pianist started playing and the members all sat down in their seats. They were all looking around, wondering where the Pastor could be. You could hear people whispering, saying, "Pastor Joe is probably telling that homeless man he needs to leave the property." "What would visitors think if they seen him."

All of a sudden, you could hear a gasp! The homeless man was walking down the middle of the church aisle, he made his way to the front, and then to the platform!!! When the homeless man got to the microphone. He said "Good morning, how are you all?" The homeless man was their Pastor Joe! Not a word was said, no one moved all around. Even the pianist stopped playing.

Then Pastor Joe said, "Did any of you see Jesus outside this morning?" "He was cold, He was dirty, His clothes were filthy!" However no one asked Him into HIS house."


Joke for the day
Source: Art’s Funbox

Elmo

Wife: ang liit ng bird mo hon!! may tattoo na ELMO, sakto lang mga letra...

Husband: maliit ba?? patigasin mo at basahin mo agad!!
Wife: Oh Shit!!! ELfilibusterisMO!!!

23 October 2009

Anong balita? 102309

Top news for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

MMDA to install more CCTVs
The MMDA expects to boost collections from fines from traffic violations with the installation of 100 additional closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) seven major roads in the metropolis.

P500,000 bounty put up for rob gang leader
The PNP virtually declared a war against a notorious robbery gang responsible for the broad daylight Greenbelt 5 robbery in Makati City over the weekend.

Bernabe commends police for successful drug bust
Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. commended the local police for the seizure of more than 30 kilos of dried marijuana leaves at a suspected drug lair the other day.

Rizal lepto death toll rises to 29
Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares III said a total of 29 people in the province have so far died of leptospirosis while 168 are still under observation.

Fuel prices to rise again
Expect another round of fuel price hikes next week, declared the country’s “Big Three” oil firms.

Senate fulfils record-breaking accomplishment
The 23-member Senate notched record-breaking accomplishments by passing more bills and having them enacted into laws in this current year than the 11th and 12th Congresses.

Palace: Erap can’t run
Former President Joseph Estrada is barred by the Constitution from taking another crack at the presidency, Malacañang stated firmly.


Showbiz Chika for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

PEP: Arnel Pineda joins Ogie Alcasid's unity song for typhoon victims
Kasama ang 'Journey' vocalist na si Arnel Pineda sa mga singer na kakanta sa unity song na nilikha ni Ogie Alcasid, "Kaya Natin 'To", para sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng mga...

Britney Spears, photographer settle suit
LOS ANGELES – Court records show Britney Spears and a photographer whose foot she ran over have settled a lawsuit.

Jury set to decide John Travolta extortion case
NASSAU, Bahamas — Lawyers for an ambulance driver and a former politician accused of trying to extort millions from John Travolta urged jurors Tuesday to clear their clients, accusing the...

Chris Brown embarks on 'Fan Appreciation' tour
It's safe to say Chris Brown does not have as many fans as he did before he attacked Rihanna (ree-AH'-nah). But he still has some, and he's going on tour to thank them next month.

Richard-Heart tandem reignites in new series Full House
Muling magsasama sa prime time series sina Richard Gutierrez at Heart Evangelista para sa Pinoy remake ng very successful Koreanovela na Full House.

News site founder vows fight in Mel Gibson case
LOS ANGELES – The founder of celebrity news site TMZ.com is promising a fight after he says the Los Angeles County sheriff's department illegally obtained his phone records in its investigation...

Psychiatrist details Anna Nicole's drug addiction
LOS ANGELES – A psychiatrist who treated Anna Nicole Smith for drug dependency during her pregnancy said she tried to set up a program to wean her off prescription painkillers but found the...

PEP: Heart Evangelista, Allen Dizon win top acting honors in 57th FAMAS Awards
Pinangunahan ni Heart Evangelista at Allen Dizon ang mga nagwagi sa katatapos na 57th FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movies, Arts, and Sciences) Awards noong Linggo (Oct 18), sa Grand Theater ng...

iGMA: How Miriam Quiambao saves lives
Bilang 'Nurse Betty,' Miriam Quiambao takes it upon herself to isolate the danger that is known as Patient X. Pero it's not just on screen that Miriam saves people. She tries to make...


Da who for today

Source: Wikipedia

Alfonso T. Yuchengco is a prominent industrialist, certified public accountant, educator, and diplomat in the Philippines.

He heads the Yuchengco Group of Companies, one of the largest family-owned business conglomerates in the Philippines. He is the Chairman of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, one of the largest commercial banks in the Philippines. He is also the Chairman of the Mapua Institute of Technology, a leading engineering school in the country.

Education
Yuchengco holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Accountancy, from the Far Eastern University. He took and passed the licensure examinations for certified public accountants in the Philippines. He attended graduate classes at the Columbia Business School of Columbia University in New York City.
He received a Doctor of Business Administration from De La Salle University, and a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Waseda University in Japan.

Business interests
Yuchengco is the Chairman of the Yuchengco Group of Companies. He is also concurrently the Chairman of the Board of MICO Equities, Inc. (holding company of the Malayan Group of Insurance Companies); Pan Malayan Management and Investment Corporation; Mapua Institute of Technology; Nippon Life Insurance Company; and the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation.

He has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GPL Holdings; House of Investments, Inc.; BA Savings Bank; Dole Philippines; Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company; Benguet Corporation; and the Philippine Fuji Xerox Corporation.

Diplomacy
Yuchengco has been the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador Extraodinary and Plenipotentiary (A.E.P.).
He has also served as the Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs in 2004; Presidential Assistant on APEC Matters in 1998; Philippine Ambassador to Japan in 1995; Philippine Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 1986 to 1988; and Presidential Special Envoy to Greater China, Japan and Korea.

In 2005, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Yuchengco as one of the members of the Consultative Commission for Charter Change, a special body tasked to study and recommend changes in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.


Gospel for the day
Source: The Daily Gospel Online

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:54-59.

He also said to the crowds, "When you see (a) cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain--and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot--and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."


Word for the day
Source: Merriam Webster Online

rugose • \ROO-gohss\ • adjective
*1 : full of wrinkles
2 : having the veinlets sunken and the spaces between elevated

Example Sentence:
Sam has happy memories of being a child in his grandmother's lap, stroking her soft, rugose face.

Did you know?
"Rugose" was borrowed into English in the late 17th century from the Latin adjective "rugosus" ("wrinkled"), which itself derives from "ruga" ("wrinkle"). One descendant of "ruga" that you'll probably recognize is "corrugate," which initially meant "to form or shape into wrinkles or folds." Another, which might be more familiar to scientists, is "rugulose," meaning "finely wrinkled." In addition, there is the noun "rugosity," which can refer to either the quality or state of being full of wrinkles or an individual wrinkled place.


Lesson for the day
Source: Art’s Library

DETERMINATON

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so.""Crazy men and their crazy dreams.""It`s foolish to chase wild visions."

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.


Joke for the day
Source: Art’s Funbox

MATAGAL NA
Doctor: Lola, kailan ho ba kayong last nakipagtalik?
Lola: Mga 1955
Doctor: Matagal na ho pala ano?
Lola: Di naman! (sabay tingin sa relo). 20:55 pa lang naman ah!

Ikaw lang...
Magsyota sa motel.
BF: alam mo love, ikaw ang first girl na dinala ko dito.
GF: sinungaling. Sabi nila lagi ka dito!
BF: oo, pero ikaw lang talaga ang girl!

22 October 2009

Anong balita? 102209

Top news for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

Villar tops mock polls at Senate
Senator Manny’ Villar got the nod of Senate reporters in a mock election for senators seeking the presidential post via the May 2010 national election.

Congressman’s house robbed
Some P2 million worth of jewelry was lost when unidentified suspects robbed Mandaluyong congressman and House Deputy Majority Floor leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II's house last Wednesday.

Lawmakers advise Erap on legalizing 'jueteng'
Former President Joseph Estrada has been advised by lawmakers against his take on legalizing “jueteng” as a means to address widespread poverty in the country.

Phivolcs cites need to prepare for earthquakes
Aside from strong typhoons and floods, Filipinos should prepare for earthquakes, the head of the Phivolcs warned on Wednesday.

Presidential bets urged to craft migrants’ plan
A migrant workers’ welfare advocacy group invited possible successors of President Arroyo to experience themselves the actual lives of OFWs on job sites to create a genuine migrant’s agenda that would be included in their respective platform of governance.

$5-billion ASEAN adaptation fund pushed
President Arroyo has been asked to call on fellow Southeast Asian leaders to set up a $5-billion adaptation fund that can be tapped in times of disasters in the region and help the regional bloc address the threats of climate change.


Showbiz Chika for the day
Source: GMA News Online

Vic Mizzy, who wrote 'Addams Family' theme, dies
LOS ANGELES – The songwriter who wrote the catchy theme songs to "The Addams Family" and "Green Acres" television shows has died. Vic Mizzy was 93.

Gately column sparks Twitter outrage, complaints
LONDON – Britain's press watchdog says it has received a record 21,000 complaints about a newspaper column on the death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately after critics used Twitter to brand the...

Beyonce postpones Malaysia gig amid Muslim criticism
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – R&B star Beyonce Knowles has postponed a planned concert in Malaysia, the event's organizer said Monday, following accusations by Islamic conservatives that the show...

Lyka Ugarte's daughter confirms ma's suicide try
Inamin ng 19-year-old daughter ni Lyka Ugarte na apat na beses nang nagtangkang magpakamatay ang kaniyang ina. Depression daw at financial problems ang karaniwang dahilan nito.

Def Leppard cancels third leg of tour
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Rock band Def Leppard has canceled the final leg of its North American tour.

Elvis' hair sells for $15K at Chicago auction
CHICAGO — A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for $15,000 at a Chicago auction house.


Da who for today

Source: Wikipedia

Tony Tan Caktiong is the founder and current Chairman and CEO of Philippine fast food chain Jollibee.

He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in chemical engineering. Caktiong had initially planned an ice cream parlor when he founded Jollibee, then subsequently added additional dishes such as hamburgers, french fries, and fried chicken.

Caktiong, on July 8, 2008 was elected board director of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT)'s 11-member board replacing Ma. Lourdes Rausa-Chan. He is also an independent director of First Gen Corp. Also, Caktiong top billed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) video documentaries. The WIPO webcast page featured personalities chosen from the 184 member states.
Caktiong founded the fast food chain Jollibee in 1978, after having started it as an ice cream parlor in 1975. Through expansion and acquisitions of Greenwich Pizza in 1994 enabling it to penetrate the pizza-pasta segment.

From a 50-branch operation, Greenwich has established a strong presence in the food service industry. In early 2006, Jollibee Foods Corp. bought out the remaining shares of its partners in Greenwich Pizza Corp., equivalent to a 20% stake, for P384 million in cash., Chowking in 2000 and Hongzhuangyuan in 2007, he has turned it into one of the largest fast-food chains in the world. As of August 2008, Tan's Jollibee has a total of 1,480 stores worldwide including Jollibee, Red Ribbon, Chowking, Greenwich, Delifrance Philippines and Manong Pepe's


Gospel for the day
Source: The Daily Gospel Online

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:49-53.

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."


Word for the day
Source: Merriam Webster Online

scuttlebutt
\SKUHT-l-buht\ , noun:
1.A drinking fountain on a ship.
2.A cask on a ship that contains the day's supply of drinking water.
3.Informal. Gossip; rumor.

Origin:
Scuttlebutt comes from scuttle, "a small opening" + butt, "a large cask" -- that is, a small hole cut into a cask or barrel to allow individual cups of water to be drawn out. The modern equivalent is the office water cooler, also a source of refreshment and gossip.


Lesson for the day
Source: Engr. Paul Elmer Morala from Duisberg, Germany

Value

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!


Joke for the day
Source: Art’s Funbox

Mighty Bond
Anak: Tanghali na.. Bakit kaya ayaw pang lumabas sa kwarto sila mama at papa…Inday: Ewan ko, kagabi humingi sila ng PETROLEUM JELLY..
pero ang naibigay ko MIGHTY BOND...

O, eto pa...
Tanong: Ano sa inggles ang Maswerte akong lalaki?
Sagot: Lucky Me with Egg.
Tanong: Eh iyong matronang barat?
Sagot: Payless instant Mommy?

21 October 2009

Anong balita? 102109

Top news for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

Oil firms face harsh criticism
Oil companies faced their harshest criticism yet from the second-highest legislative official in the land following their decision to raise the pump prices of their petroleum products.

Noynoy to act as sponsor in Mar-Korina wedding
Senator Noynoy Aquino will act as one of the principal sponsors in the wedding of Senator Mar Roxas and popular broadcaster Korina Sanchez.

Estrada to run for president in 2010 elections
Former President Joseph Estrada declares to the nation his decision to run in next year’s May elections as the chase for the 2010 presidential crown begins.

10 days left to register unlicensed guns – PNP
The PNP warned delinquent gun owners and holders of unlicensed firearms to take the opportunity of registering their guns in the last 10 days of the amnesty period.

17 cops honored for returning recovered P2.9-million ransom money
Seventeen members of the Valenzuela City police and the Regional Police Intelligence Operation Unit (RPIOU) were honored for "demonstrating honesty and utmost integrity" by returning P2.9 million in ransom money recovered from a kidnap for ransom gang early this month.

MMDA denies dumping wastes in Marikina River
The MMDA denied that flood wastes and other debris left by tropical storm “Ondoy” are being illegally dumped in the Marikina River.

Donated meals poison evacuees
More than 200 typhoon evacuees were believed to have fallen victim to food poisoning after they ate packed meals given by a religious group in San Pedro, Laguna.

Palace says Mrs. Arroyo eligible to run next year
President Arroyo can run for an electoral post next year and doesn’t even have to campaign due to overwhelming public support for her in Pampanga, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Windows 7 on sale starting October 22
Finally, the much anticipated new operating system from Microsoft – Windows 7 – will be made available starting Wednesday, October 2 2 , 2009.


Showbiz Chika for the day
Source: GMA News Online

PEP: Glaiza de Castro's sickness stress-related
Show business is a hectic world and fatigue can take its toll on an actor's health without them even realizing it. This is exactly what happened to Glaiza de Castro.

Japanese musician Kazuhiko Kato found dead
Police say Japanese musician Kazuhiko Kato, founder of the Sadistic Mika Band, has been found dead in a hotel room in an apparent suicide. He was 62.

Jackson's ex-wife seeking $500K in lawsuit
LOS ANGELES – A Florida woman who told a television interviewer that Michael Jackson's ex-wife was only interested in getting money from the singer's family and wasn't interested in...

Survivor Philippines Palau: 2 castaways voted off in back-to-back tribal councils
Isang gabi, dalawang Tribal Council. Ito ang nangyari sa Friday episode ng Survivor Philippines: Palau sa GMA 7.

No punches thrown as Tyson, Holyfield meet on Oprah show
No punches were thrown. And neither bit off the other's ear. Instead, mutual praise and admiration dominated during a face-to-face meeting between ex-world champion boxers Mike Tyson and...

Pinoy film wins award in Pusan filmfest
A multi-awarded Filipino film about the lives of four men in Manila has won yet another award in one of Asia's leading film festivals Friday.

Father of Anna Nicole's daughter due to testify
LOS ANGELES – Larry Birkhead, who gained fame in a custody battle over Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, was due to testify in the preliminary hearing for two doctors and the man who once fought...

Defense rests in Bahamas Travolta extortion trial
NASSAU, Bahamas – An emergency medical technician involved in attempts to save John Travolta's teenage son spent most of Thursday on the witness stand explaining why he gave conflicting reports...

Megan Fox gets top dollar in Armani endorsement
LOS ANGELES – Confirming that endorsement deals still have cachet in a recession, "Transformers" star Megan Fox is pulling down a seven-figure payday to model Armani underwear and jeans.


Da who for today

Source: Wikipedia

Jaime Zobel y Fitz (born 1934), also known as Jaime Zobel de Ayala, is a prominent Filipino businessman and photographer of German, Basque and Spanish descent. He was the last managing partner of Ayala y Compañía in 1967 when the company changed to a corporation. He served as both president and chairman of Ayala Corporation from 1983 to 2005 (succeeding his first cousin, Enrique Zobel, when he retired as president). In 2006, he retired as chairman; he is current chairman emeritus of the corporation. His eldest son, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, is chairman and chief executive officer of Ayala while his younger son, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, is president of the corporation. Honors include: Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France, 1980; Comendador al Mérito Civil, Spain, 1968; Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), University of the Philippines, 1991; “Management Man of the Year”, Management Association of the Philippines, 1987; Senator Award, highest honor bestowed by the Jaycees, 1986; Doctor of Business Management (honoris causa) De La Salle University, Manila, 1985
Zobel Graduated from Harvard College in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in architectural sciences and attended the Advanced Management Program in the Far East conducted by the Faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in Baguio City, Philippines in 1963.

He was Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James's in London and the Scandinavian countries from 1970 to 1974. He is married to Beatriz Miranda Barcon Zobel de Ayala. Together they have 7 children: Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, 1959, married, Elizabeth Eder;Fernando Zobel de Ayala, 1960, married, Catherine Marie Silverio; Beatriz Susana Zobel de Ayala, 1961, widow, Juan Fernandez de Araoz Urquijo (deceased);Patrisha Zobel de Ayala, 1962, married, Walter Caro H. Anderson;Cristina Zobel de Ayala, 1964, married, Ignacio Fontes Suarez de Puga;Mónica Zobel de Ayala, 1967, married, Guillermo Otañez Pla; Sofía Zobel de Ayala, 1968, married, Francisco José Roxas Elizalde.

In 2007, Jaime Zobel de Ayala tied with Henry Sy as the richest person in the Philippines with a net worth of $2.6 Billion according to Forbes magazine. Zobel de Ayala and family, however, slipped to 3rd in Forbes magazine's 2008 list of 40 wealthiest Filipinos due to 46% drop in their conglomerate Ayala Corp. shares, which were worth $800 million.

The February 2008 Forbes Asia magazine’s first Heroes of Philanthropy list included four Filipinos - Jaime Zobel de Ayala, John Gokongwei, Ramon del Rosario Jr., and Oscar Lopez. The list is composed of four philanthropists each from 13 selected countries and territories in Asia.


Gospel for the day
Source: The Daily Gospel Online


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:39-48.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted
with more.


Word for the day
Source: Merriam Webster Online

handsel • \HAN-sul\ • noun
1 : a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck
*2 : money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a bargain

Example Sentence:
Having signed the papers and handed over the agreed-upon handsel of $200, Caroline was now the proud owner of a small sailing skiff.

Did you know?
According to an old custom in the British Isles, the first Monday of the new year is Handsel Monday, a day to give a small gift or good luck charm to children or to those who have served you well. As long ago as the year 1200, English speakers were using the ancestor of "handsel" for any good luck charm, especially one given at the start of some new situation or condition. By the 1500s, traders were using "handsel" for the first cash they earned in the morning -- to them, an omen of good things to follow. Nowadays, it can also be used for the first use or experience of something, especially when such a use gives a taste of things to come.


Lesson for the day
Source: Art’s Library

Sandpiper To Bring You Joy

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sandcastle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea. "Hello," she said. I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child. "I'm building," she said. "I see that. What is it?" I asked, not caring. "Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by."That's a Joy," the child said."It's a what?" "It's a Joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."The bird went gliding down the beach. "Good-bye joy," I muttered to myself, "hello pain," and turned to walk on.


I was depressed; my life seemed completely out of balance."What's your name?" She wouldn't give up."Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson.""Mine's Wendy... I'm six.""Hi, Wendy."She giggled. "You're funny," she said.In spite of my gloom I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle followed me."Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We'll have another happy day."The days and weeks that followed belong to others: a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, an ailing mother.

The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of the dishwater. "I need a sandpiper," I said to myself, gathering up my coat. The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was chilly, but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed. I had forgotten the child and was startled when she appeared."Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?""What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance."I don't know, you say.""How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is.""Then let's just walk."

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face."Where do you live?" I asked."Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.Strange, I thought, in winter. "Where do you go to school?""I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation."She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like demanding she keep her child at home."Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I'd rather be alone today,"She seems unusually pale and out of breath. "Why?" she asked.I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, my God, why was I saying this to a little child?"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day.""Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and-oh, go away!""Did it hurt? " she inquired.'Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself."When she died?""Of course it hurt!!!!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door."Hello," I said. "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where she was.""Oh, yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much. I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please accept my apologies.""Not at all -- she's a delightful child," I said, suddenly realizing that I meant it. "Where is she?""Wendy died last week," Mr. Peterson. "She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't tell you."Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. My breath caught."She loved this beach; so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no. She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly." Her voice faltered."She left something for you ... if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?"I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something, anything, to say to this lovely young woman.

She handed me a smeared envelope, with MR. P printed in bold, childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms."I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I muttered over and over, and we wept together.

The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage, undemanding love. A gift from a child with sea-blue eyes and hair the color of sand-who taught me the gift of love.

NOTE: The above is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other. "The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less." Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas, can make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a monetary setback or crisis.This weekend, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means, take a moment, even if it is only ten seconds, and stop and smell the roses.


Joke for the day
Source: Art’s Funbox

GMA Goes To Heaven

"GMA dies and goes to heaven. The heavenly court is gathered to welcome all the newcomers to heaven. God the Father is there seated on his throne in all his splendor. The Second Person of the Trinity is there also, and the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, and all the saints.


As GMA enters, everyone stands up ­ except God the Father, who does not get up from his throne. Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity turns to him, and says, "Heavenly Father, what's the matter? Why don't you stand up to welcome GMA?

God the Father replies: "I am afraid to lose my seat. If I stand up she will take my throne."

20 October 2009

Anong balita? 102009

Top news for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

‘Ramil’ won’t stop GMA from attending summit
President Arroyo will push through with her scheduled trip to Thailand later this week despite an incoming super typhoon in the country, Malacañang said on Monday.

LM endorses Ebdane for president
DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is considering to run for president under the country’s third oldest political party after the selection of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as administration candidate by leaders of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Comelec nixes Sabungero party-list
The Comelec has denied the accreditation of a group of cockfighters called “Alyansa Sabungero” for party-list after it failed to meet “basic” technical requirements.

Precinct chief relieved over Greenbelt robbery
The Philippine National Police hierarchy ordered Monday the relief of police precinct commander who has jurisdiction over a Makati mall which was stormed by a group of heavily armed robbers on Sunday.

P30-billion needed to relocate squatters
The government will need an estimated P30 billion and at least 10 years to change the “topography and geography” of parts of Metro Manila.

DepEd seeks support from private sector
DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus appealed to private donors to help bring needed resources to public schools that were hit by cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

SC affirms disability pay for seaman
The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals ordering a recruitment agency to pay an ailing seaman disability benefits in the amount of US$60,000 or its peso equivalent at the time of payment.


Showbiz Chika for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

Carmen-Echo-Kristine film postponed
Carmen Soo said her supposed movie team-up with Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa will not push through at least for this year.

Heart puts one over Sharon at the FAMAS Awards
Actress Heart Evangelista edged out Megastar Sharon Cuneta in winning the Best Actress trophy at the 57th FAMAS Gabi ng Parangal ceremonies.

Does Sunshine Dizon want out of GMA-7?
Actress Sunshine Dizon has reportedly asked the GMA-7 management to release her as their talent.

‘Gretchen, please clear my name’ - Mikaela Bilbao
Mikaela Bilbao's being privy to the business affairs of Gretchen Barreto and Pops Fernandez may have been the reason she was dragged into the recent controversy involving the two.

Cool music and luminous art blend in Nescafé 3-in-1 commercial
Upbeat, energetic music plus dazzling light spectacles equals a TV commercial with a music video feel.


Da who for today

Source: Wikipedia

Sergey Brin (born August 21, 1973, in Moscow, Soviet Union) is a Russian-born American computer scientist best known as the co-founder of Google, Inc., the world’s largest Internet company, based on its search engine and online advertising technology. As of 2009, Forbes ranks Brin as the 26th richest (youngest in the list) person in the world.

Brin immigrated to the United States at the age of six. Earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, he followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps by studying mathematics, double-majoring in computer science. After graduation, he moved to Stanford to acquire a Ph.D in computer science. There he met Larry Page, whom he quickly befriended. They crammed their dormitory room with inexpensive computers and applied Brin’s data mining system to build a superior search engine. The program became popular at Stanford and they suspended their Ph.D studies to start up Google in a rented garage.

The Economist magazine referred to Brin as an “Enlightenment Man," and someone who believes that “knowledge is always good, and certainly always better than ignorance," a philosophy which is summed up by Google’s motto of making all the world’s information "universally accessible and useful" and "Don't be evil."

Search engine development
During an orientation for new students at Stanford, he met Larry Page. In a recent interview for The Economist, Brin jokingly said "We're both kind of obnoxious." They seemed to disagree on most subjects. But after spending time together, they "became intellectual soul-mates and close friends." Brin's focus was on developing data mining systems while Page's was in extending "the concept of inferring the importance of a research paper from its citations in other papers." Together, the pair authored what is widely considered their seminal contribution, a paper entitled "The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine."

Combining their ideas, they "crammed their dormitory room with cheap computers" and tested their new search engine designs on the web. Their project grew quickly enough "to cause problems for Stanford's computing infrastructure." But they realized they had succeeded in creating a superior engine for searching the web and suspended their PhD studies to work more on their system.
As Larry Malseed wrote, "Soliciting funds from faculty members, family and friends, Sergey and Larry scraped together enough to buy some servers and rent that famous garage in Menlo Park. ... [soon after], Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim wrote a $100,000 check to “Google, Inc.” The only problem was, “Google, Inc.” did not yet exist—the company hadn’t yet been incorporated. For two weeks, as they handled the paperwork, the young men had nowhere to deposit the money."

The Economist magazine describes Brin's approach to life, like Page's, as based on a vision summed up by Google's motto, "of making all the world's information 'universally accessible and useful.'" Not long after the two "cooked up their new engine for web searches, they began thinking about information that is today beyond the web," such as digitizing books, and expanding health information.
Awards and recognition

In 2003, both Brin and Page received an honorary MBA from IE Business School "for embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and lending momentum to the creation of new businesses...". And in 2004, they received the Marconi Foundation Prize, the "Highest Award in Engineering," and elected Fellows of the Marconi Foundation at Columbia University. "In announcing their selection, John Jay Iselin, the Foundation's president, congratulated the two men for their invention that has fundamentally changed the way information is retrieved today." They joined a "select cadre of 32 of the world's most influential communications technology pioneers..."

In February, 2009, Brin was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, which is "among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer ... [and] honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice...". He was selected specifically, "for leadership in development of rapid indexing and retrieval of relevant information from the World Wide Web."

In their "Profiles" of Fellows, the National Science Foundation included a number of earlier awards:
"he has been a featured speaker at the World Economic Forum and the Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference. ... PC Magazine has praised Google [of] the Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines (1998) and awarded Google the Technical Excellence Award, for Innovation in Web Application Development in 1999. In 2000, Google earned a Webby Award, a People's Voice Award for technical achievement, and in 2001, was awarded Outstanding Search Service, Best Image Search Engine, Best Design, Most Webmaster Friendly Search Engine, and Best Search Feature at the Search Engine Watch Awards."


Gospel for the day

Source: The Daily Gospel Online

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:35-38.
Gird your loins and light your lampsand be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.


Word for the day
Source: Merriam Webster Online

diabolical • \dye-uh-BAH-lih-kul\ • adjective
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil : devilish

Example Sentence:
The movie’s antagonist is a fairly standard supervillain, complete with the requisite incompetent minions and a diabolical scheme to destroy the world.

Did you know?
Like the word "devil," "diabolical" traces back to Latin "diabolus," which itself descends from Greek "diabolos," a word that literally means "slanderer." In English, "diabolical" has many nuances of meaning. It can describe the devil himself (as in "my diabolical visitor") or anything related to or characteristic of him in appearance, behavior, or thought; examples include "diabolical lore," "a diabolical grin," and "a diabolical plot." In British slang, "diabolical" can also mean "disgraceful" or "bad," as in "the food was diabolical."


Lesson for the day
Source: Engr. Paul Elmer Morala from Duisberg, Germany

Strongest Dad in the World
Rick Reilly for Sports Illustrated

I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.But compared with Dick Hoyt, I'm lousy.Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars -- all in the same day. Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right? And what has Rick done for his father? Not much -- except save his life.

This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. "He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life," Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. "Put him in an institution."But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way," Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain.""Tell him a joke," Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain.

Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? "Go Bruins!" And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, "Dad, I want to do that."Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described "porker" who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. "Then it was me who was handicapped," Dick says. "I was sore for two weeks."

That day changed Rick's life. "Dad," he typed, "when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!"And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon."No way," Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor.

For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.Then somebody said, "Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?"How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think?Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? "No way," he says.

Dick does it purely for "the awesome feeling" he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 -- only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time."No question about it," Rick types. "My dad is the Father of the Century."And Dick got something else out of all this too.

Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. "If you hadn't been in such great shape," one doctor told him, "you probably would've died 15 years ago."So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.

That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy."The thing I'd most like," Rick types, "is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once."Sports Illustrated Issue date: June 20, 2005, p. 88


Joke for the day
Source: Art’s Funbox

Boy and Mahal

Boy Abunda:Mahal, kung ihahalintulad ka sa isang bagay na makikita sa inyong bahay, anu ka?Mahal:Alam mo ticho boy,chiguro maihahalintulad ko ang charili ko cha ichang, CHUPA!
Boy Abunda: Huh? Susmaryosep! Bakit?
Mahal: kachi macharap humiga cha chupa malambot parang ako!!

19 October 2009

Anong balita? 101909

Top news for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

Shootout in Greenbelt
Up to six heavily armed men clad in black bomb squad uniforms figured in a fierce gunfight with security escorts of Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga after robbing a high-end watch store in Greenbelt 5, Makati, triggering panic in the posh Makati City mall before noon Sunday.

NDCC prepares for ‘Ramil’
The NDCC Sunday began mobilizing its personnel to ensure the safety of the public as Typhoon Ramil threatens to hit disaster-wary Luzon in the next couple of days.

Emergency power for GMA up to Congress, Palace says
Malacañang will let Congress decide whether President Arroyo should be given emergency powers to rein the prices of petroleum products while Luzon remains under a state of calamity.

‘Ramil’ gains strength, threatens north Luzon
Typhoon “Ramil” further strengthened Sunday as it continued to threaten extreme northern Luzon provinces.

PHIVOLCS monitors rise in sea level
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. said Sunday they are closely monitoring sea-level rise and ground subsidence but appealed to the public not to panic because there are ways to prevent disasters triggered by sea level rise and ground subsidence.

Reduced prices vowed as veggies flood markets
The Department of Agriculture Sunday vowed to further reduce the prices of vegetables and other food items affected by the isolation of Cordillera, the country’s vegetable center.

Fil- Chinese traders pledge to support RP job generation
The Bureau of Immigration’s special visa for employment generation got ySunday a big boost from the Filipino-Chinese businessmen who pledged to support the job generating program of the government.


Showbiz Chika for the day
Source: Manila Bulletin Online

Judge extends probation for Lindsay Lohan
A judge on Friday extended Lindsay Lohan’s probation on drunk driving and other criminal charges for one more year.

Sharon Cuneta clarifies cancer buzz
Megastar Sharon Cuneta has confirmed that the three cysts she recently discovered in her breasts are benign.

The 57th FAMAS Special Awardees
The FAMAS board of directors headed by its president, Angelo “Eloy” Padua, has chosen people from the show business for their outstanding contribution to the Philippine movie industry.

Mikee misses showbiz
One of the most beautiful faces in showbiz industry, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, proved her natural beauty still charms the public.

‘Disney On Ice’ returns to the Araneta Coliseum this Christmas
After the recent calamities that befell our country, there is no better time to spread Christmas cheer than now.

Christian Bautista, the next Double Diamond Artist of the Philippines?
The concept of jumpstarting a car is simple – use a stronger battery to power up the weak battery!

The game show that every family loves to play is back!
Get ready for a fast-paced and big-time entertainment as GMA-7’s top-rating and widely popular game show, “Family Feud” returns to family homes starting on Oct. 19.

Lav Diaz does a ‘Brando,’ lambasts censors at Italian film fest open
Lav Diaz may have been paying homage to Brando when Diaz spoke at the 8th Italian film fest at the Shangri-la Plaza.

Carmen Soo spills the beans about her breasts
Malaysian actress Carmen Soo was out of action for two months because she had to undergo a breast operation.

Agot Isidro returns to music as wedding singer
I thought the "Ngayon at Kailanman" was too ‘big’ for me and I knew how popular and well-loved this song is to Filipinos. I hope I gave justice (to) my version,” she related.

Derek Ramsay: Not vain, just hot
Although he claims to not be vain at all, actor-model Derek Ramsay admits he worries about his looks because physical appearance matter much in his line of work.

Carmina Villaroel opens up about her 'Ondoy' tragedy
Trying to put a brave front, Carmina said, “Kahit na sabihin mong literal na may bahay pa kami, hindi kami nakatira doon. So I feel for those na nawalan ng bahay.”


Da who for today

Source: Wikipedia

Joseph William Feliciano Smith is a Filipino guitarist, bass player, drummer, singer and songwriter. More commonly known as Joey Smith and Pepe Smith, he is an icon of original Filipino rock music, or "Pinoy Rock".

Born to an American serviceman father and a Filipina mother at Subic Bay Naval Base, he grew up in the Kamuning district of Quezon City, with his maternal grandmother from the age of three. He formed his first rock band at the age of eleven.

Juan dela Cruz Band
Smith was a member of the nationalistic and the seminal Philippine rock group, the Juan dela Cruz Band along with fellow musicians, Wally Gonzales and Mike Hanopol. "Juan dela Cruz" is the recognized term for the "everyman" in Philippine society. The Juan dela Cruz Band initiated the rock music revolution in the Philippines, veering away from covers of foreign hit songs and focusing on original songwriting. The trio has always been credited of spearheading the Pinoy Rock genre in the Philippine music industry.
Smith was also a member of the Japanese trio Speed, Glue & Shinki, his interest in amphetamines was the inspiration for the "Speed" in the name of the band.

He spent six months in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. His band, the Surfer, was contacted to play for American soldiers.

He was jailed for six months for alleged drug trafficking in 1993. His constant jail visitor in the Quezon City Jail was Apa Ongpin. After his release for lack of evidence, Smith held a concert at the jail for the inmates.

At the age of 11 he had his first band, consisting of his friends and neighbors from the Kamuning district, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Released in 2005 his very first solo album entitled Idiosyncrasies, on Alpha Records. The 14-track album was three-years in the making; the recording project had started in 2002. The album was released simultaneously with the Juan Dela Cruz's three-CD collection from the rival Vicor Records.
Despite having an American father, he has never set foot in the USA. It's his dream to visit America, he says. His band, during their peak, only toured the United Kingdom, East Asia (and later, Australia), but not the U.S.

In 1994, he survived a car accident that damaged his signature jaw.
He was one of the Filipino acts who opened for the July 4, 1966 concert of the Beatles at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines. His admiration of the Beatles further strengthened his musical resolve.

He and the Juan Dela Cruz Band participated in the first open field rock festival in in 1970, the Antipolo Rock Music Festival.

Father of singer Queenie Smith and former MYX VJ Sanya Smith.

One of his main hobbies is collecting toy planes. His childhood dream was to become a pilot.
A member of the nationalistic and the seminal Philippine rock band, the Juan Dela Cruz Band. "Juan Dela Cruz" is the Everyman's name in the Philippines.

Smith composed the song "Himig Natin" backstage in 1972, while waiting for his turn to play in a concert called "Himig Natin", at the Rizal Park grounds in Manila, Philippines.
Joey Smith formed his own band, The Airwaves, in circa-1976. The members were Joey Smith (vocals/dobro/drums), Jun Lopito (guitar), Gary Perez (guitar), Gil Cruz (bass) and Edmund Fortuno (drums).


Gospel for the day

Source: The Daily Gospel Online

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12:13-21.

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me."He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."


Word for the day
Source: Merriam Webster Online

ostracize • \AHS-truh-syze\ • verb
: to exclude from a group by common consent

Example Sentence:
Ostracized by her former friends for spreading false rumors and gossip, Christina now walks to school alone.

Did you know?
In ancient Greece, prominent citizens whose power or influence threatened the stability of the state could be exiled by a practice called ostracism. Voters would elect to banish another citizen by writing that citizen's name down on a potsherd (a fragment of earthenware or tile). Those receiving enough votes would then be subject to temporary exile from the state (usually for ten years). The English verb "ostracize" can mean "to exile by the ancient method of ostracism," but these days it usually refers to the general exclusion of one person from a group at the agreement of its members. "Ostracism" and "ostracize" derive from the Greek "ostrakizein" ("to banish by voting with potsherds"). Its ancestor, the Greek "ostrakon" ("shell" or "potsherd"), also helped to give English the word "oyster."


Lesson for the day
Source: Engr. Paul Elmer Morala from Duisberg, Germany

Special Delivery

Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the Surgeon come out of the operating room, saying: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be O.K.? When can I see him?"
The surgeon responded, "I'm sorry, we did all we could." Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer, doesn't GOD care any more? GOD, where were you when my son needed you?"
The surgeon softly told her, "One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes to let you spend time with your son's remains before it's transported to the university".
Sally asked that the nurse stay with her while she said good-bye to her son. As she ran her fingers through his thick red curly hair, the nurse said, "Would you like a lock of his hair?"
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of his hair and put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.
She gazed at her son’s body as she spoke to the nurse.
"It was Jimmy's idea to give his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else, and that is what he wanted. I said, no at first, but Jimmy said, ‘Mom I won't be using it after I die, maybe it will help some other little boy to be able to spend one more day with his mother’. My Jimmy had a heart of gold, always thinking of someone else and always wanting to help others if he could".

Sally walked out of the Children's Hospital for the last time now after spending most of the last 6 months there. She sat the bag with Jimmy's things in it on the seat beside of her in the car. The drive home was hard and it was even harder to go into an empty house. She took the bag to Jimmy's room and started placing the model cars and things back in his room exactly where he always kept them. She lay down across his bed and cried herself to sleep holding his pillow. Sally woke up about midnight and lying beside her on the bed, was a letter folded up.
She opened the letter, it said:

Dear Mom,
I know you're going to miss me, but don't think that I will ever forget you or stop loving you because I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU. I'll think of you every day mom and I'll love you even more each day. Some day we will see each other again. If you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, he can have my room and my old stuff to play with. If you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things as us boys do, so you will have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like.
Don't be sad when you think about me, this is really a great place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything here.
The Angels are so friendly, and I love to watch them fly. Jesus doesn't look like any of the pictures I saw of Him, but I knew it was Him as soon as I saw Him. Jesus took me to see GOD! And guess what mom? I got to sit on GOD'S knee and talk to Him like I was somebody important. I told GOD that I wanted to write you a letter and tell you good-bye and everything, but I knew that wasn't allowed. God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter with. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel that is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him about... “Where was He when I needed him?”
God said, "The same place He was when Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.” Oh, by the way Mom, nobody else can see what is written on this paper but you. To everyone else, it looks like a blank piece of paper.

I have to give God His pen back now, He has some more names to write in the Book Of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great. I almost forgot to let you know - now I don't hurt anymore, the cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me suffer the pain either, so He sent The Angel of Mercy to get me. The Angel said I was Special Delivery!


Joke for the day
Source: Art’s Funbox

Hot in here

There was a new bad gurl coming down to hell.
Agad siyang nag-complain kay Satanas…
Bad Gurl: Wow! Ang daming hunks and cute guys dito
Satanas: Syempre ako pa, matinik yata akong mag-recruit.
Bad Gurl: Kaso bakit ganun sila? Maliliit ang birdie?
Satanas: Gaga! Eh, kung malalaki ang mga bird nila eh di para ka nang nasa HEAVEN!