Wood on String-Earrings
Get this great pair or handmade earrings.
Produced by starving kids, who work for a handful of rice under the supervision of a armed man.
Posted in accessories
Carabao kills farmer, hurts son in Agusan del Sur
A domesticated carabao, which suddenly showed unusual behavior, had gone berserk and wild, attacking its own owner farmer and his son in Purok 4, Barangay Alegria, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur on Saturday afternoon, police here said.
Report from Agusan del Sur Provincial Police office to Caraga PNP regional information office said killed instantly in the attack was the carabao’s owner and farmer identified as Ruben Diagrel Sanchez, 53, a resident of the mentioned barangay.
The victim’s son (name not disclosed in the police report) who accompanied his farmer father in pasturing the carabao was also slightly hurt in the attack.
The son, who reported the incident to the family, said he ran away from the scene after seeing the carabao already started attacking his father.
San Francisco town, the biggest town of Agusan del Sur, is 78 kilometers away from Butuan City, the region’s capital.
Initial police investigation said the victim bore multiple wounds in different parts of his body. (PNA)
Posted in other regions
DENR padlocks alleged ‘Pacquiao’ resort in Boracay
A Boracay beach resort allegedly owned by boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was closed down by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Friday because of its failure to posses several environmental permits.
In GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation,” Mariz Umali on Monday reported that the Saranggani congressman has denied owning the resort, adding that it is owned by Crisostomo Aquino, a close friend of the boxer’s.
Aquino added that Pacquiao even has to pay whenever he stays in the resort.
The 998-square-meter Boracay West Cove was padlocked by local authorities because it was built on what they said is a no-build zone. But Aquino argued that they were issued a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) clearance by former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza.
Aquino’s camp argued that the FLAgT is proof that the area is not a no-build zone.
The resort also does not have several local permits or an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). The permits, Aquino said, were filed last year but were not attended to by the local government.
The ECC was only required recently after a reassessment by the local DENR. Aquino’s camp has already applied for the ECC but has not yet received word from the DENR.
The resort owner asserted that the local government’s actions were a case of “harassment” as he stands to lose over P8 million worth of cancelled reservations.
Former Secretary Atienza has not yet made a comment as of this posting, but the DENR said that it would approve whatever the local DENR would recommend. — BC/VS, GMA News
Posted in Boracay
Cebu graduate tops board for architects
A graduate of the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City topped the architecture licensure examinations given last week, while two other USC graduates shared the fourth place.
Marianne Therese Caballero Amores bested 1,082 graduates who passed the Architect Licensure Examination (ALE), with a rating of 87.7 percent.
Tied at fourth place are USC graduates Clive Andrew It-it Guanzon and Mary Angelie Go Sang, both garnering 86.10 percent.
Of USC 42 first-time examinees, 39 passed, giving the school a 92.86 passing percentage.
Results of the examination held in Manila last June 10 and 12 were posted on the Professional Regulation Commission website Thursday night.
USC College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) Dean Joseph Michael Espina said the topnotchers would be given medals and certificates and will be recognized during the graduation rites in October.
He attributed the success of the examinees to he up-to-date facilities of the university, particularly in the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA).
”CAFA is responding to Creative Cebu, the movement aimed at making Cebu a creative capital. And our advantage is we also offer arts, painting, fashion design and cinema,” he added. (PNA)
Posted in Cebu
CebuPacific to fly Australia, India, N. Japan with US$ 3.8B worth airbus deal
Cebu Pacific announced Thursday it invested on 30 new Airbus A321neo and seven A320 aircraft, which some will serve future destinations Australia, India and Northern Japan.
“Cebu Pacific has made the largest firm order for the Airbus A321neo aircraft in the world. These 220-seater aircraft will be a real ‘game changer’ for Cebu Pacific because the A321neo will have a much longer range. We will be able to serve cities in Australia, India and Northern Japan, places the A320 cannot reach,” said CEB chief executive officer and President Lance Gokongwei.
The A321neos will be a first of its type to operate in the Philippines, being a larger and longer-haul version of the familiar Airbus A320.
The addition to its fleet, 30 new Airbus A321neo and seven A320 aircraft is valued at approximately USD3.8 billion, the largest single aircraft order ever made by a Philippine carrier.
CEB turned into firm orders its existing options for seven Airbus A320 aircrafts, and has placed a new order for 30 A321neo (New Engine Option) aircraft with options for a further 10 A321neos.
The said orders for A320 and A321neo aircraft will be delivered between 2015 and 2021. These are on top of firm orders for 18 Airbus A320 aircraft to be delivered from the second half of 2011 until 2014.
This increases Cebu Pacific’s total firm orders of Airbus aircraft to 55.
“The aircraft will reduce our unit cost per seat to a level that cannot be achieved flying A320s. This means that Cebu Pacific will be able to offer even lower fares to our guests and be much more competitive with anyone flying less cost efficient aircraft,” he added.
“This will allow us to create highly skilled, highly paid airline jobs for Filipino pilots, cabin crew and airline staff,” added Gokongwei.
Cebu Pacific currently utilizes 33 brand-new aircraft, 25 of which are from the Airbus A320 family and eight ATR turbo-prop aircraft. By 2021, CEB will more than double its fleet and triple its capacity.
John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, said, “With the A321neo, Cebu Pacific will be able to fly more people further at significantly lower cost per seat than any other competing aircraft, and with less impact on the environment.”
The A321neo is the largest model in the recently launched A320neo series. It incorporates new engines and large wing-tip devices called sharklets, allowing CEB to achieve 15 percent reduced fuel burn, and function on a lower operating cost.
The new engine types offered on the A320neo are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G. Cebu Pacific has not made an engine choice at this time.
Since its inception in 1996, the Philippines’ low-fare pioneer, CEB, had already flown 50 million passengers and counting. It broke local aviation records for passengers carried in a month in April and May of 2011, carrying more than one million passengers per month.
This year, CEB will carry more than 12 million passengers. It achieved a year-on-year growth of 19 percent in 2010.
Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. (PNA)
Posted in Manila
Cheaper flight to Busan launched
Overseas Filipino workers and tourists planning to go to South Korea will now have a cheaper option to fly there as Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) launches its Manila-Busan flight Wednesday.
“CEB offers the lowest fare from the Philippines to Busan, South Korea’s 2nd largest city. We are very optimistic about our Busan operations, especially since this is our fourth route to South Korea. We can see that the market for Cebu Pacific flights can really be stimulated by our trademark low fares,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.
The route’s maiden flight took off Manila at 4:15pm, and is schedule to arrive Busan at 8:40pm.
The airline operates its Busan-Manila flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, for the lowest year-round fare of PHP 4,099. CEB fares to Incheon and Pusan are only one-fifth the fares of other Philippine carriers, and one-fourth those of foreign airlines.
Thousands of Filipinos work in Busan in various fields, lured by good working environment and better pay. South Korea meanwhile is an emerging tourist destinations among Filipino travel junkies with the popularization of Koreanovelas and its distinct culture.
CebuPacific also flies four times weekly from Busan to Cebu, twice daily from Incheon to Manila and daily from Incheon to Cebu.
“Our low-cost carrier model offers high-quality and low-cost travel to anyone who wishes to visit Busan’s famous Haeundae Beach or drop by the renowned Busan International Film Festival. Other tourist attractions in the city are Mt. Geumjeong, Busan Aquarium and the Busan Tower, which form the backdrop of several Korean films and shows,” she added.
Ambassador Lee Hye Min of the Republic of South Korea, Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and MIAA Senior Assistant General Manager Antonio Bautista sent off CEB’s first passengers from Manila to Busan.
“We are grateful for the support of the different government offices which have helped promote our flights to and from South Korea, and we hope to serve even more passengers through our new four times weekly flights from Manila to Busan,” she said.
CEB currently operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A319, 15 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft.
By the end of 2011, CEB will be operating a fleet of 37 aircraft – with an average age of less than 3.5 years – one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2012 and 2014, Cebu Pacific will take an additional 16 Airbus A320 aircraft.
Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. (PNA)
Posted in Manila
Pro-environment NGO launched in Panglao, Bohol
An organization of fishermen and residents in Panglao, Bohol, called “Kalamdag” has received an assurance of full support from Coop-NATCCO and ANAD partylists in their effort to promote balanced community-based development anchored on the tagline “Aiming for a better life.”
This is consistent to what Kalamdag stands for — KaLihukan Alang sa Maayong Dagan sa kinaiyahan, kalamboan ug kabuhian sa lungsod sa Panglao (movement geared towards positive trend of nature, development and livelihood in the town of Panglao).
In the launching activity of the group at Panglao Island Convention Center on Saturday afternoon, new members took their oath before Bohol 1st District Rep. Rene Relampagos.
During the event, Carlitos Dueñas of Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, who serves as Cebu area coordinator of Coop-NATCCO, advised Kalamdag members to form a cooperative to improve the capacity of their group.
Dueñas represented Coop-NATCCO Partylist Rep. Cresente Paez in Saturday’s event.
He assured them of full support, especially that Coop-NATCCO has no beneficiary in the town yet and Kalamdag would be the first NGO in Panglao to receive assistance from Coop-NATCCO.
Duenas told Kalamdag members that poverty is not a hindrance to pursue progress.
For his part, Baltaire Balangauan, chief of staff of Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist Rep. Jun Alcover, pointed out that people need to protect the environment and nature to sustain its abundance for the future generations to benefit.
Representing Alcover, Balangauan challenged the people of Bohol to preserve the abundance of their marine life.
Tirso Cloma, as the president of Kalamdag, works in tandem with Severino Arboleras, the vice president, and other officers — Juanita Estorioso, auditor ; Marilou Bungabong, treasurer; and Lucresia Fucanan in achieving Kalamdag’s vision of protecting nature, equitable progress and getting involved in providing more opportunities to develop livelihood in the town of Panglao.
Each of them vowed to support all activities of the organization that involve protecting nature, undertake economic activities that will provide additional opportunities for employment and income to bring prosperity in the town of Panglao. (PNA)
scs/Angeline Valencia/mec
Posted in Bohol
Zambales LGU, SBMA to fully develop tourism potentials of some areas in the province
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the provincial government of Zambales are planning to fully develop the tourism potentials of some areas in the province.
The plan was hatched after newly appointed SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia recently paid a courtesy call to Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.
Garcia said there are several tourism areas in the province that SBMA could help to develop including the Silangin and Anawangin coves in San Antonio town.
“These are areas we can help to develop to promote tourism in Zambales and we can plan together for this initiative,” Garcia said.
Ebdane, on the other hand, welcomed the idea and said that Zambales would welcome such assistance from SBMA.
Three municipalities in Zambales, namely Subic town, San Antonio and Castillejos as well as the lone city of Olongapo are among the recipients of developmental fund from SBMA.
The governor said the idea is also in line with his vision to make Zambales one of the tourism capitals in the region.
The provincial government, with the support of local tourism stakeholders and entrepreneurs, has been intensifying a campaign to fully develop the potentials of natural attractions like beaches, rivers, lakes, caves and forests in the 13 towns of Zambales.
In 2009, Zambales was identified by the Department of Tourism as one of the top 10 most frequently visited spots in the country, along with Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and Camarines Sur. (PNA)
Posted in Subic
SC issues TRO on Boracay reclamation project
By Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 06/07/2011 3:48 PM | U
In Tuesday’s En Banc session, the high court issued a temporary environmental protection order(TEPO) in favor of petitioner Boracay Foundation, Inc. which filed a civil case for Environmental Protection Order/Continuing Mandamus against respondents contesting the P1-billion 40-hectare reclamation project.
The foundation consists of some 60 resort, hotel, restaurant owners and representatives, 5 community organizations, and individual environment advocates.
In a news conference, Court Administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the TEPO remains in effect until lifted by the high court.
“The Court took into consideration the allegations. A TEPO was issued, this means the respondents are being ordered to cease and desist from conducting reclamation activities along the coastlines of Caticlan and Malay, Aklan,” he said.
Respondent Province of Aklan was directed by the high tribunal to comment on the petition within 10 days.
The petition was anchored on the following grounds:
-the provincial government failed to comply with relevant rules and regulations in the acquisition of an environmental compliance certificate(ECC); and
-the reclamation of land bordering the strait between Caticlan and Boracay shall adversely affect the frail ecological balance of the area.
Petitioner maintained a full environmental impact assessment study should be conducted “to assess the reclamation project’s likelihood of rendering critical and lasting effect on Boracay considering the proximity in distance, geographical location, current and wind direction, and many other environmental considerations in the area.”
Petitioner also alleged the provincial government failed to comply with certain mandatory provisions in the Local government Code, especially the provision that requires the project proponent to conduct consultations with stakeholders.
The Malay municipality’s refusal to issue a reclamation permit and notice to proceed to the provincial government was also raised in the petition.
The reclamation project is intended for the province’s MARINA project and other commercial purposes.
Tags: Schools in Central Visayas to hold ‘Brigada Eskwela’ next week
CEBU CITY, May 19 (PNA) — Schools in Central Visayas will hold the annual “Brigada Eskwela” next week, as part of preparations for the school opening next month.
Education officials in the region will kick off the week-long activity in Bohol on May 23.
Dr. Vivian Ginete, regional coordinator for Brigada Eskwela, said the education department hopes to attract more volunteers and generate more resources in this year’s Brigada Eskwela.
Held in time for National Schools Repair and Maintenance Week, the Brigada Eskwela brings together the community every third week of May to repair and prepare public elementary and secondary schools for the school opening.
Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Assistant Regional Director Carmelita Dulangon said the activity is important to “prepare schools for the coming of students on Day One.” She said classes will start on June 6.
At the kick-off ceremony, DepEd 7 will also award schools that excelled in implementing the Brigada Eskwela last year.
These schools include Ubujan Elementary School in Tagbilaran City, Marigondon Elementary School in Lapu-Lapu City, Dusita National High School and Sandigan National High School, both in Bohol, and Manalongon Central School in Negros Oriental.
Last year’s Brigada Eskwela in Central Visayas generated resources amounting to P49.5 million for secondary schools and P60.3 million for elementary schools.
It was participated in by 2,775 schools and over 666,000 volunteers.
”It’s a bayanihan. Parents, teachers, alumni, LGUs (local government units), the community are involved,” Ginete said.
She said stakeholders may contribute materials like paint, cement and nails, and may also bring food for the volunteers.
”No cash is involved,” she said, but added that when there are cash donations, these should be handled by officers of parents and teachers associations, in a transparent manner.
Education officials from 19 divisions in the region will hold a caravan during the activity’s launching in Bohol.
The launching ceremony will be held at the San Jose National High School in Talibon, Bohol.
Ginete said the Brigada Eskwela, which involves repair, repainting and beautification of schools, is held so students will not have to repair and clean their classrooms on the start of classes.
Seeing the importance of Brigada Eskwela, former DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus introduced Brigada Eskwela Plus, a year-round effort to get the community involved in improving basic education. (PNA)
Posted in Cebu