About Philippines

December 2004 seems the month of mourning for the known families here in the Philippines. On December 14, 2004, Filipino were shocked by the news on the death of the Movie King and Filipino idol Fernando Poe Jr. Then on early Friday, December 17, 2004, the youngest child of Speaker De Venecia, Ma. Kristina Casimira de Venecia was killed by the strong fire which burned their mansion in Makati City. And now, December 18, 2004, the grandchild of the comedy King Dolphy, J. Carlo Quizon was shot dead by the unknown assailants.

Typhoon "Yoyong" slamned the islands of Catanduanes with the speed of 185 kph and was heading for Quezon. By Thursday night "Yoyong will slam the flash floods and landslides affected area of Aurora. It is expected to cross Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union and Ilocos Sur. Its eye was expected to pass the storm-battered town of Real late Thursday. According to the Red Cross, it killed atleast 1 person in Catanduanes and 1,500 people fled their homes and find shelter with the government centers.

Last night, I was watching the documentary program of both GMA and ABS-CBN which featured the places hit by the disaster. Nakakaawa ang aking nakikita. There was a man caught by the flow of the flood. A rescue helicopter crashed down. Rescuer’s automobile pushed by the water into the river. And marami pa. I was even touched by the story told by a woman about her experience during the landslide. She said, she was buried alive by the lands, but she was fortunate enough when water came and the lands which covered her washed away until she got the chance to ask for help. While watching the television, I remember the days when I was stranded in Allen, Samar last May 2004 during a typhoon. We stayed there since Friday night and we were able to cross the sea from Allen to Matnog, Camarines Sur on Monday midnight. Napakahirap ng panahon na iyon, wherein halos hindi ako nakakain since, masyadong napakamahal ng mga foods doon. This afternoon at 1:00 was actually my scheduled flight for ...

Rescue operation at flash floods and landslides affected area brought by the typhoon "Winnie" will affected by the approaching typhoon "Yoyong". Typhoon "Yoyong" (Nanmadol) was expected to hit Luzon on Thursday night. It has a speed of 160 kph over the Pacific Ocean and is expected to become a supertyphoon as it hit the land.

A powerfull storm "winnie" hit Philippines killing more than 400 peoplea and 177 missing people.

Here are some of the headlines on Typhoons - Landslides kill over 300 by Philippine Star - ‘Winnie’ Death Hit 300 by Manila Bulletin - Aurora, Nueva Ecija Reel From Death, Devastation by Manila Bulletin - 25 Confirmed Dead as Evacuation Center Collapses by INQ7 - ‘Yoyong’ Intensifies, Heads to Areas Devastated by ‘Winnie’ by INQ7 - ‘Winnie’ Leaves 348 Dead by Manila Bulletin - Floods, Landslides Kill More Than 300 by ABS-CBN - Signal No. 3 Up in Catanduanes as Megastorm Yoyong Nears by ABS-CBN

Typhoon "Winnie" increases its speed to 55 kph as it reaches Bikol regions and other part of Southern Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Monday that the center of Winnie was spotted at 70 kilometers northwest of Legaspi City, Albay, or at 60 kilometers east-southeast of Daet, Camarines Norte. Catanduanes, Ca­marines Norte, Camarines Sur, Que­zon, Polilio Island, Albay, Burias Island, Romblon, Marin­duque and Oriental Mindoro raised storm number 1.

A Kapampangan showed his impressive ability by inventing a stove which uses both the electricity and fuel such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene and other. Edgar Mendoza, 35, single, of 5006 G. Valdez Street Lourdes Sur who was a graduate of B.S. Electrical Engineering, spent more than Php20,000.00 in processing his invention. ( More from our source )

It was on November 23, 2004 when the outbreak of Gastroenteritis hit Cebu. For only 6 days, there are already 239 reported cases and 2 of them have already died. The outbreak was traced to a leaking water pipe of the Moalboal Water System of the Local Water Utilities Administration, which was tested positive of contamination.

Document missing? Newspapers’ headline today is on the case of Maj. Gen. Garcia’s case for the alleged violation of the Article of War, in which original documents of the statement of the assets and liabilities which is the basis for perjury are missing. Original copies of retired Army Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia’s statements of assets and liabilities (SALs) — the basis of his indictment for perjury before the Sandiganbayan — are missing from the records of the Armed Forces, the special prosecutor said yesterday. Under the Rules of Court, evidence submitted in court must be original documents. If the originals are in the custody of a government official, then a certified true copy of these documents duly authenticated by the government official must be on hand. ( Source ) If it is really true that the documents are missing, then there should be an underground operation to clean up evidences against the retired General. Of course we can’t just reject the possibilities about it. Maj. Ge...

First we heard a news on the corruption by a military general, Retired Major Gen. Carlos Garcia. Then, the Imbestigador of GMA 7 exposed the homosexual activity of a military major. And now, another scandal faced by the organization is the shoplifting case of a top PMA graduate (2004), 2Lt. Rolly Joacquin. Joacquin who graduated com laude is just wasting the opportunity came into his life as a grantee for the Basic Officers course at Fort Benning sponsored by the United States Military Assistance Group. He tried to exchange the good luck came into his military career with just a piece of CD. He’s not using his intelligence and tried to show his stupidity.

Now, it was confirmed that homosexuality does exist in the Philippine Military organization. Although how strict is their policy regarding on homosexuality, still one has survived covering his true identity. From the expose shown by the Imbestigador of the GMA 7, Army Major Ferdinand Ramos was caught on video engaging in oral and anal sex with the military trainees. This scandal is another truth exposed behind the camouflage.

When I was still on high school, our teacher told us that the best school on agriculture especially on rice production was here in the Philippines through the University of the Philippines in Laguna and the VISCA in Leyte. Students from China, Thailand, Korea and other neighboring Asian countries went here to study agriculture. And then after they graduated, the techniques and especial processes they learned here were being applied in their own countries. Today, while reading on the news, I found this article: The Philippines, however, expects its rice import volume to be lower in 2005 due to anticipated record harvest of palay this year. Rice imports this year cost government about P12 billion. ( source ) And it reminds me that Philippines although is an agricultural country is still importing rice from other country such as China, India, Vietnam and Thailand. Those countries which sent scholars here in the Philippines to study and learned techniques from us are now supplying...

The number of death on the side of the protesters has increased from 7 to 14 as of the report today ( source ). Both sides were blaming each other for firing the first to shots who triggered the riot ( source ). But, the Department of Justice said that both parties could be held liable on the death and injuries of the protester ( source ).

I am wondering if the Philippines have a plan to send a mission outside the earth, just as what Europe did when their SMART 1 was successful on its first orbit mission to the moon ( source ). The European Space Agency is now in their lunar study, using the SMART 1 craft which will now begin its spinning orbit from 3,100 miles (distance from the moon) down closer to the moon. When other nations are trying to extend their mission outside the earth, I think, Philippines will stay in focus on its internal economic crisis which tends to pull down every citizens and residents of the country. The Bureau of Internal Revenue is now preparing a P39 million tax-evasion case against Maj. Gen. Garcia ( source ); Sugar mill workers of Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac continue their protests which led to the death of 7 and injured 50 ( source ); A radio manager in Bacolod City died due to multiple organ failure caused by gunshot wounds when he was attacked last Saturday, November 13, 2004 ( source )...

In these times of hardship, Filipino poor people find ways to earn a little for their survival. They sometimes are not concern on what will be the result of their action, as long as they knew that what they do can give a little remedy for their hunger. On my Living In Metro Manila Blogsite , I have a post entitled “ Eating Garbage ” which talked about the tendency of the Filipino poor people to eat garbage just to survive from the day’s hunger, without knowing that what they eat will just give them more trouble than relieving their pain of hunger. Now, here’s a news: 10 Dies As Trains Derails … The Manila-bound Philippine National Railways train, with about 400 passengers, went off the rails at speed near Barangay Duhat, Padre Burgos. … Four of the six passenger coaches plunged down a 40-foot slope, eyewitnesses said. Some of the wheelbases remained on the track. People might think that what had happened to this train was just an accident. But hey! Is it really an accident or ...

The government has granted the P353 million loan from the PAG-IBIG fund to the real estate firm of Mike Velarde, for the construction of the Amvel Mansions, a 3,000 unit residential project at the Amvel Business Park, San Dionisio, Parañaque. Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer I believe that the said grant of loan is part of the projects of the government for the implementation of one of the 10 point agenda of President Gloria Arroyo for the Nation’s Development. But what makes us think negatively is the person who received the biggest Pag-ibig loan in the history. For every Filipino knows that Mike Velarde as leader of the El Shaddai Catholic Charismatic Movement is the supporter of President Gloria Arroyo and Vice President and chairman of the housing and urban development committee, Noli De Castro during the May 2004 election.