Hey! Check this out :) Bongga! -------------------------------------------
Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency
WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.
Vacation Package Inclusions:
- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel
- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines
- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila
- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat
- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash
Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com I woke up around 8AM on Sept. 26 quite miffed. I already had plans, but Jazz failed to inform me about his. Like always, his took precedence, so I was really upset. Thus, my first status update on Facebook that day was "My weekend plans were already ruined before the rains fell."From where I sat on my bed, I saw the rains fall relentlessly. Then a text message came: just the day before, the heads of the parents' group in my sons' school had scheduled a meeting for 10AM, Saturday. It was going to push through despite the rains, that SMS said, and the genius who sent it wished we could all make it. Brilliant. My annoyance with the message sender birthed my next Facebook status update: Whoever's the head or admin of the parents' org in my sons' school is a moron. Sabi ba naman sa amin, tuloy pa rin daw ang meeting this morning. Sana raw makapunta kami despite the rains and floods. Can you spell "inconsiderate" and "thoughtless"? One of my friends gave the perfect comment: Capital M-Y-O-P-I-C. Bull's eye, I replied back.I then continued wiling away the time, doing my usual lazy meaningless routine when the weekend's shot. Restaurant City, Farmville, Treasure Mania, other online games, browse through news sites, Digg... exciting stuff like that. Suddenly, soon after lunchtime, the rains fell even harder. So hard and so much, in fact, that our condo unit's balcony itself -- on the 3rd floor! -- got flooded with at least 2 inches of rainwater. I called frantically to my son Keoni to quickly shut the sliding doors. Hours later, we learned that areas in the metro that never floods (like ours) now did.By 2PM that day, Metro Manila was forever changed. My next Facebook status update, made at 3:06PM on Sept. 26: For people who need assistance: National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120. Please repost!Like hundreds of other netizens on Facebook, Twitter, and Plurk, I became a mini command center all through the week, even until today. As early as the afternoon of Sept. 26, private citizens mobilized themselves to do the rescuing and coordinating when it took the government until much later that night to finally get 3 freakin' rubber boats out to Marikina. Would you believe, by 4PM, private organizations were already putting up relief centers?And now it's been more than a week since Ondoy left us. Have things gone back to normal? No, and honestly, I hope it doesn't. Ever. I don't mean that I never want displaced residents to find a new home again or for flooded areas to remain flooded forever. What I mean is, I wish we'll never go back to being apathetic and disillusioned.
If we do, that means we go back to thinking that our hopes are wasted on the Pinoy youth; we go back to turning a blind eye to graft and corruption; we go back to being happy we're up here and they're all down there in their shanties by the garbage-laden rivers and creeks; we go back to believing that jail inmates can never be rehabilitated, when it's these same people who gave up their allowances and meals so others could live again; we go back to never paying attention to PAG-ASA when they say it might rain a lot today; we again forget beautiful, simple, true, and powerful things like prayer and compassion.
In the EDSA Revolution, we showed the world our true mettle. We did that again on Sept. 26. A freelance graphic designer named Mark Gosingtian captured it with this image. Never forget it, mga kababayan.
 This is a list of Facebook status updates and posts that I copy-pasted as FYI about where/how to help Ondoy victims:- To all UP Manila students, the NSTP Program through the DSS will be accepting relief goods for the victims of Ondoy. We will be collecting the whole week this coming week. Bring old clothes, canned goods, Blankets etc.- ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline:landline: +63 416 3641Disaster Relief- Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas Disaster Relief: Drop off for relief donations at Balay Expo across Farmers Market contact: Jana Vicente: +63 9285205499b. Clare Amador: +63 928 520 550- There is a Relief Operations Center at La Salle Greenhills beginning 9am tom (Sunday). Donations will be received at Gate 2 along Ortigas Avenue.- Ateneo is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy.For those stranded/those who need help:To all students who need help or know of people who need help, please text the name, location, and contact numberto 0908 887 7166.(SMART NUMBER. NO LAG.)- Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am – 7pm Donate:Food (non-perishable goods only)ClothingBeds, Pillows, BlanketsEmergency SuppliesContact Person:Warren Habaluyas(0929) 871 3488luzonrelief@gmail.comDonations can be brought to:Renaissance Fitness Center2nd Floor, Bramante Building,Renaissance Towers Ortigas,Meralco Avenue, Pasig City- Donate thru Red Cross for Ondoy victims - http://www.txtpower.org/2009/09/philippines-help-typhoon-victims-in-luzon-philippines/Addendum:LUCA Stores, Team Manila stores, and Victory Fort (call 813FORT) are also accepting donations. A tribute made by Bong Banal, to "Yellow" by Coldplay, performed by the Vitamin String Quartet.LinkLook at the stars,Look how they shine for you,And everything you do,Yeah, they were all yellow.I came along,I wrote a song for you,And all the things you do,And it was called yellow.So then I took my turn,Oh what a thing to have done,And it was all yellow.Your skinOh yeah, your skin and bones,Turn into something beautiful,You know, you know I love you so,You know I love you so.I swam across,I jumped across for you,Oh what a thing to do.Cos you were all yellow,I drew a line,I drew a line for you,Oh what a thing to do,And it was all yellow.Your skin,Oh yeah your skin and bones,Turn into something beautiful,you know for you,I'd bleed myself dry for you,I'd bleed myself dry.It's true, look how they shine for you,Look how they shine for you,Look how they shine for,Look how they shine for you,Look how they shine for you,Look how they shine.Look at the stars,Look how they shine for you,And all the things that you do. Reposting this email from my writer-friend, Ime Aznar:If you’re wondering how you can possibly help, then this an important opportunity to make a small difference.In partnership with Akap Bata Sectoral Organization, a group that serves children’s communities, we are organizing a simple Send-a-Child- to-School project. We are asking for donations, either in cash or kind, to help the underprivileged students of an urban poor community in Muntinlupa. These are children of factory workers who don’t have enough money to send the little ones to school. The parents’ salaries barely cover their food expenses. We all know the story.There are four ways you can help this cause:1. Donate items like school supplies, clothing, shoes, bags and other things that the children might need during the school year.2. Sponsor a child’s educational expenses for P500 a month for one year. You can either commit to a year, or send any amount which we will pool and use for the students’ expenses.3. Spread the word to your friends and contacts. 4. Volunteer to join our future projects to help underprivileged Filipino children.For this school year, donations will be accepted until June 12, 2009. There will be drop-off points in Makati, Quezon City and Cavite. Please get in touch with any of the following for pick up/drop off arrangements:Ime – 09164120636; imelda.aznar@ yahoo.comDino – 09052548486; bike_ko@yahoo. comFor more details and updates, please get in touch with us through the above numbers and email addresses, or visit our blog at isangbata.blogspot.com  (repost from Gang Badoy's FB wall post) WE AINT TAXING BOOKS HERE! We're giving them away for free! Rock Ed invites you to bring used/old books to give away.
We will invite people to just come and browse through our donated books and they are free to take books. But give anyway!
Books left behind will be delivered to further flung public schools. We're not happy about the taxes imposed on books.
Join us watch the sunset.*wink* NOTE: to be fair, it's DUMAGUETE SPRINGS BEACH RESORT that should be AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. however, we highly recommend their sister lodge in the city called DUMAGUETE SPRINGS APARTMENTS. look for FRYLIM. she's terrific!
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i won't do a blow-by-blow recount here of why we STRONGLY recommend AGAINST going to this resort, because too much craziness happened and i'd really rather just forget about the entire experience. but i WILL share the MOST DISTURBING THING that happened to us there. please do read on. i urge you to do so.
when we first arrived at the resort, we were all extremely pleased because it was really very charming and cozy. also, since i got very good service from the owner (an Austrian named Egon) and manager (a wonderful lady named Frylim) while i was booking the accommodations and arranging the tours 2 months before our trip -- and this same professionalism was echoed by their super nice and reliable drivers who assisted us from the airport to the resort and even around the city -- we, of course, expected the same level of efficiency from the staff at the resort.
however, within the first 3 hours of our stay there, we became DISAPPOINTED with their disorganization and apathy, then we became FRUSTRATED with their excruciating slowness, then we became ANGRY with the head caretaker's amazing ineptitude and downright idiocy. we didn't expect the resort to be run like clockwork; we simply expected hospitality.
but worst of all, we ended up TRAUMATIZED as we left the resort. i'm not kidding you and i'm not being dramatic when i say that. here's what happened:
on our last day there, i discussed our complaints with the manager, Frylim (who was stationed in the apartments in the city), who understood our sentiments and agreed to further discuss the "peace offering" they could arrange for us. however, since we were in a hurry to leave the resort because we had to catch the Fast Craft to Cebu, we both agreed to continue our conversation when i return to Manila. but, for some reason that we still can't comprehend, the head caretaker (a moron named Vangie) began SHOUTING AT ME for supposedly giving her a hard time blah blah blah -- wow, talk about twisted! eh wala nga syang nagawang matino for us, hello?! it was a useless battle so i immediately turned away and got on our van. but, as our vans drove out of the resort, this woman became HYSTERICAL and forced one of the staff to LOCK THE GATE AND TO CALL THE POLICE. i stepped down from the van and calmly asked the man to please open the gate because we'll be late for the ferry. i could see he was confused between listening to me or obeying Vangie because he didn't immediately lock the gate. it was only when Vangie was already near him that he did. then this woman continued YELLING AT ME even as i kept on calmly asking for the gate to be opened. then she ACCUSED US OF RUNNING AWAY FROM "KARAPATAN NYONG MAGBAYAD" (wtf???) and insisted that our balance was over PHP22K!!! i corrected her and said (still calmly but i was already really terrified) that it was only a little over PHP12K, and that i had already actually spoken with Frylim. she said that Frylim is on her mobile phone at that moment and she said that it was Frylim who said that our balance was 22K. soooo confusing! soonafter that, one of my colleagues, Poch, stepped down from the van and also calmly asked what the problem is. this Vangie woman also SCREAMED AT HIM. she wouldn't stop so napasigaw na rin si Poch (which is something we've NEVER seen him do).
i asked Vangie to hand me her mobile phone so i could speak with Frylim. i walked away from the fray so i could hear Frylim better. Frylim was also becoming confused and worried because of all the shouting in the background. she was shocked to hear about the padlocking (which, FYI, can already be counted as KIDNAPPING). not surprisingly, as i spoke with her, she asked me where Vangie got the 22k+ balance amount from because her computations say differently (it was the same as mine actually). it seemed like we simply continued where we left off; she continued being courteous, accommodating, and understanding. i told her, just so we could close this entire chapter, we'll go see her at her office in the city.
as i handed the phone back to Vangie so that Frylim could instruct her to unlock the gate, i was frightened to see that Poch was already joined by 2 other colleagues in the face-off with that woman. i pulled my friends back and then herded them into the van. while on the drive towards the city, i learned from my friends the different insults that Vangie hurled at them/us. we were called BASTOS among other things. we were accused of being TANGA and ABUSIVE, kami raw ang educated pero BASTOS daw kami. etc etc etc...
pasalamat sya na di kami naabutan ng pulis while we were locked in there, or else we would've had her thrown into jail for KIDNAPPING and SLANDER. tignan lang natin kung ilalabas pa sya ng owner. during the final conversation with Frylim in her office, we learned -- among many other things -- that we were NOT THE FIRST to complain about that wretched woman. we insisted that she be removed immediately and replaced with a real manager, or at least someone who just has the right attitude (like their drivers, for instance). otherwise, they'll keep losing opportunites -- as they already did while we were there. a number of guests had actually left because of that woman.
apologies for the lengthy blog, but this is just too important not to share.
there were 18 of us on that trip. we all belong to prestigious global companies. 7 of us are managers. One is a Director in our company. just imagine how much bad press we could generate.
 as mommy to stray cats and a pet lover in general, i'm so glad that we can actually do something about worms like this. let justice be served.
spread this poster!*kage, cyn: thanks for sharing. this is so heartbreaking. nilibing na yung kitten? swiped this from my friend Augie's blog. check this out!
CANVAS is looking for someone willing to document (thru photos, video, blog) the month-long building of their 'Pacific Rim Friendship Park' in Palawan on May 2-31. Click here for the details.
just got this tip from a good friend ;-) enjoy!
go to mininova.org and use the following keywords: "13130 science fiction and fantasy". then narrow search to books. About 10 gigs worth of science fiction and fantasy novels. A-Z. Torrent Love. Reposting this note for everyone who'd like to help. Please do forward this also to others who might be able to help. Thanks, and God bless! :-)---------------------------------------------------------Many have been asking how they can help since our post on Jose Fabella Hospital. Below are the things that they need based on our meeting last week: CONSUMABLES (needed on a regular basis): - diapers - linens (crib sheets, receiving blankets, etc) There are already two (2) potential donors for linens. One is in the garments business and is willing to donate surplus cloth from their production. Another is an airline that's willing to give a crate full of blankets regularly (every 3 months nga ba, Rea?), but is being taxed by our beloved government. Can anyone help us resolve this? For those interested to give diapers, I personally suggest you get them from Handy Dandy Diapers who has pledged to give a pack of diapers to Fabella for every 10 packs they sell. :) This next list are the big ticket items we need to raise funds for - HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT: - pulse oxymeter - blood transfusion sets - infusion pump - digital weighing scale - hospital grade breast pump If we're fortunate, maybe we can find sponsors or donors who will be willing to provide them. Nonetheless, we will ask Fabella what we should prioritize among these things so we can start to set goals on how to acquire each of them. Since the collection of donations has started 2 weeks ago, some people gave items that are not part of this list (such as clothes, bottles, formula, etc.). Should we receive such donations again, we will just channel these items to other institutions such as shelters or orphanages who will be able to find use for them. For those who have a multiply account, please add momsformoms to your contact list. We've already posted the photos and slideshow we presented on the website. Feel free to grab, repost, or link them to your websites when you have time. You can also email us through momsformomsph@gmail.com if you have other concerns or ideas for this project. Let's keep spreading the word, shall we? :) Well, that's it for now. Have a blessed Holy Week, everybody! :) Sheila 09178963129 littlephotographer.multiply.com
Acel
acelvanommen.multiply.com
momsformoms.multiply.com
momsformomsph@gmail.com Jemps - thanks for sharing this awesome news! :-)
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Record power savings for RP in Earth Hour 2009
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines topped last Saturday’s hour-long lights-off drive in terms of power savings.
According to information posted in the website wwf.org.ph, the Philippines saved 611 MWh of power during the Earth Hour 20009, outshining the rest of the world. The website also disclosed that with over 15 million Filipinos in 650 major cities participating in the event last Mar. 26, the Philippines edged out all other countries, including Australia where the first Earth Hour was conducted in 2007. Greece placed second with 484 cities and towns participating, followed by Australia By with 309. The website indicated that the power conserved by the Philippines during voluntary event was estimated to be equal to that saved by shutting down a dozen coal-fired power plants for an hour. Earth Hour 2009's power savings was deemed “at least 10 times more massive and effective” compared to last year. - By Katherine Adraneda (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com) Reposting from my college buddy's Karen's site: PLEASE help! We are treating more than 300 kids from disadvantaged communities this summer!Every child has the right to learn and to play.
All Together in Dignity (ATD) invites you to the Festival of Learning...
Empowering children living in poor communities the right to learn and to play.
The Festival of Learning is a series of educational activities (storytelling, workshops on arts & crafts, music, dance, writing, and excursion trips to museums, zoos, and art galleries) to children living in poor communities to be held on April 14 – May 10, 2009.
How can you join?
There are 3 ways to help!
1. Donate Two Hundred Pesos (P 200). This will provide one child the art materials, transportation fare, snacks, and entrance fee to the museums and excursion trips. The more generous you are, the more children will learn and enjoy the festival.
2. Give art materials: acrylic/water color paints, art papers and illustration boards.
3. Be a Volunteer: read stories and teach children arts and crafts, music, dance or any art form OR have fun sharing your time with the children.
For cash donations:
Deposit your donation at any PNB branch under the account name ATD Fourth World Philippines 106784200017, PNB Pandacan Branch.
Fax the deposit slip at fax number 563.9312 or email at atdmnl@skyinet.net
Please write your full name, address, email, and contact numbers in the deposit slip.
ATD will send you an Official Receipt to acknowledge your donation.
For more information, call 563.9312 or email atdmnl@skyinet.net.
Log in to our website http://www.atd-fourthworld.org...
Every child deserves to have a happy childhood!In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.
Orientation meeting April 4, 2009,2 p.m. at the ATD office:1225 Labores Street Pandacan, Manila 1011
p.s. Feel feel free to forward, re-post and spread this call for help! an article on PDI about Earth Hour quoted a woman saying that, she didn't participate in Earth Hour because she wanted to watch MMK, hahahahahahaha!!! didn't the media networks sign off temporarily during Earth Hour? if they didn't, then doesn't that make them out to be "posers"? promoting Earth Hour and yet not participating anyway? tsk tsk. coz i have a stupid & utterly close-minded family friend who thinks it is. i simply shut her up by telling her "whatever, that's your opinion. meanwhile, it won't hurt to save energy."
my goodness, how more can global warming become so obvious than it already is?
or... maybe she lives on another planet.
anyhoo, HAPPY EARTH HOUR! :D
Join the book launch of A Time for Dragons (Anvil Publishing), edited by Vincent Simbulan, March 29, 2009 (Sunday), 3:00 pm, Shangri-la Mall Grand Atrium. This book is a collection of new dragon stories by Filipino authors to present the dragon in new and inventive ways, and renew and refresh the dragon for a more sophisticated and mature audience. Don´t miss the parade of dragons at the launch in Shangri-la Mall.
Aside from the parade of dragons and the original art auction, Anvil will be holding an on-the-spot "Design your own Dragon" contest, which will be open to kids, so make sure you bring them along.
Here's the Table of Contents:
"Glass" by Nikki Alfar
"Dragon Brother" by Cyan Abad-Jugo
"The Annotated Account of Tholomew Mestich" by Elyss Punsalan
"The Clockwork Dragon's Heart" by Vincent Michael Simbulan
"Moondown and Fugue" by Alexander Drilon
"Gunsaddled" by Alexander Marcos Osias
"Lex Talionis" by Paolo Chikiamco
"The Final Tale of Zhang Bai Long" by Elbert Or
"A Fishy Tale" by Apol Lejano-Massebieau
"Johnny Tatô and the Dragon of Pasig" by Joseph Nacino
"Capture" by Gabriela Lee
"3:30pm with Sir Galahad" by Kate Aton-Osias
"A Change of Guards" by Oscar Alvarez
"The Fossil" by Angelo R. Lacuesta
"A Little Knowledge" by Dominique Cimafranca
"The Bridge" by Yvette Natalie U. Tan
"Fallow's Flight" by Dean Francis Alfar
"Dragons Among Us (Essay)" by Charles Tan | |
