Bolinao Pangasinan

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to go to Pangasinan with my relatives. Sorry for not posting earlier. Pangasinan is a beautiful place to go to. It’s just 3 to 4 hour trip from Manila (if you’ll use the SCTEX from NLEX and if you go the route of Camiling road).

Anyway, we went first to Bolinao, reputedly North Luzon’s answer to Boracay. Bolinao is about 5 hour drive thru wide expanses of rice fields, mountains and hills. It’s a majestic ride.

beautiful wife and a beautiful kid

When you reach Bolinao, you’ll find many first-class resorts which charge first-class rates. It’s really a place for foreign tourists. When we arrived though, we saw most guests are locals. Tourism secretary Ace Durano is right—there’s really a spike in numbers of local tourists, probably because of the lower price of gasoline. People travel when gas prices are low and dein do the discoveries when its high.

Bolinao, the Boracay of the North

I don’t want to disappoint you, but Bolinao is no Boracay. It may look like the island paradise, save the stone-filled beachfront and the greyish sand full of coral debris. The sand is not fine and powdery talc, like what we find in Boracay. And you can’t really swim as much as you like to, coz, waters are filled with stones, some as sharp as a glass shard.

But, it has a wonderful sunset and it’s so quiet, it’s best for people who just want to rest and unwind, like me.

Bolinao beach

People of Bolinao are wonderful people, except those who run those resorts. Resorts are fully booked and if you just want to settle for a fairly big cottage, you’ll be charged with 500 per pop. Nothing wrong, it’s normal, except that the cottage does not have its own comfort room or even a changing room. You need to use the public one.

Bolinao is lovely

I hate to say it, but commercializing the place will do more harm than good. I guess the right thing to do here is for people of Bolinao to form a cooperative and build their own tourism zone. This tourism zone should undertake eco-tourism, make the place as lovely as possible without harming the environment. The first thing they should do is ensure that people can swim in that lovely beach. Or, reposition the place not as swimming area but rather as either one of the best snorkeling area or a place for meditation.

Bolinao sunset

And Bolinao, I think, has one of the best sunsets there is, lovelier than the world-class Manila bay sunset. I have seen sunsets in Ilocos, in Sulu, in Lanao, in Davao, in Bataan, in Zambales and even in New York, Singapore and all around—but nothing beats seeing that majestic sun honoring the advent of Night. Such a wonderful sight to behold indeed!

World-classThese photos would show you how wonderful and lovely the Philippines is. These Bolinao sunsets really melts all your worries. It just tells you that after a day's travel, God gives you the time to really relax and appreciate the wonder of this world whom He gave us to take care of. The Divine really takes care of everybody. And I thank God that He allowed me and my family to experience this wonderful thing. Even if I was not able to swim.World Class Sunset Only in the Philippines

If you want world-class sighting of a sunset, go to Bolinao Pangasinan.

Why do health experts worry about this new and lethal strain of the flu?

In 1918-1919, nearly 20 to 100 million people around the world, died due to a virulent strain of the Spanish flu. It was an influenza pandemic which shook the entire world. Scientists say it originated in Austria in the spring of 1917 and literally spread in every corner of the globe.  The virus that infected at least one billion in the world has a influenza virus strain A of sub-type H1N1. In 25 weeks, this influenza strain killed 25 million people. It has been described as the “greatest medical holocaust in history” and is thought to have killed more people than the Medieval pandemic called the “Black death”.

Spanish flu exhibited unusual characteristics, similar to those now found in Mexico. First, it killed young adults and otherwise healthy victims. Influenza usually targets infants, the elderly and the weak. Second, the outbreak happened and spread in summer and fall in the Northen Hemisphere, an oddity since influenza is worse in the winter months. 

Wikipedia has a description of those with the symptoms:

People without symptoms could be stricken suddenly and within hours be too weak to walk; many died the next day. Symptoms included a blue tint to the face and coughing up blood caused by severe obstruction of the lungs. In some cases, the virus caused an uncontrollable hemorrhaging that filled the lungs, and patients drowned in their body fluids (pneumonia). In others, the flu caused frequent loss of bowel control and the victim would die from losing critical intestinal lining and blood loss.^{[citation needed]}

In fast-progressing cases, mortality was primarily from pneumonia, by virus-induced consolidation. Slower-progressing cases featured secondary bacterial pneumonias, and there may have been neural involvement that led to mental disorders in a minority of cases. Some deaths resulted from malnourishment and even animal attacks in overwhelmed communities.

Now, in the Mexican flu cases, many of the victims show similar signs of the deadly Spanish flu virus. First, it infects healthy people, between the ages of 20 and 45 years old. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDCP) says that the flu is a deadly strain of Influenza A virus, carrying the strain H1N1, the same characteristics as that of the Spanish flu. The latest strain contain DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, making it even deadlier.

Right now, it has spread to the US, Canada, France, Spain and New Zealand. At least 20 cases were reported in the US so far.

It can be passed on thru sneezing, coughing or having hand contact. However, they say, it’s not passed thru eating pork, but of course, it’s best not to eat pork for now.

Because of this flu, Mexico City has been turned into a ghost city. Most of the nightlclubs, bars and restaurants were ordered closed by the government (how about motels? are they closed too?).  Churches and cinemas were ordered closed too to prevent the spread of the disease.

Sometimes, I’m thinking of relocating my entire family in Canada and just live there.

I did it once when I went to Singapore. Most of my relatives are either living in the States or in England. They once egged me to go abroad.

If I do that, am abandoning my beloved Motherland. It’s like giving up. And when you do it, you just made those corrupt men succeed. You just made their day.

For justice to prevail, we need good men to really start working for the welfare of the People.

Let’s just not wait for it to happen in 2010. Let’s actually start now. The longer we procrastinate, the worse we become. Start by being proud of being a Filipino. That’s a good start. Then, remember those old values your parents told you about. Work from there. And maybe, just maybe, it becomes a spark.

Philippine Justice

Ever wondered why we’re so f…c…kup?

If you use iPOD, that’s an American invention. Everything in our house right now are inventions of either Americans, Japanese, Swiss, even Koreans. But, nothing, nothing novelle enough to be considered Pinoy.

That, my friends will change as a group of young Pinoy mavericks launched the world’s first ever iTV. Yes, they kicked Steve Jobs in the butt with this very inventive and very innovative product.

Last night, I was one of about seventy Filipinos who witnessed the unveiling of the Ilumina, the world’s first ever iTV. For non-teckies, an LCD iTV is actually a television with internet and computing power. It’s what we call a “convergence” product because it synchronizes everything essential in our life in just one gadget.

Let me illuminate. Look at your sala. It has a television set, a DVD player, probably an iPOD player and a corner where you keep your personal computer. Probably, you also have a web cam and your PC would probably have its own DSL connection and you probably have speakers and a linksys router to boot.

Clutter? Space? Yes. Your room probably is as messy as you once lived in your college dorm.

With the Ilumina, my friends, you’re only talking about just ONE gadget with everything.

Let me paraphrase Pinoy Chief Inoventor Brian Quebengco and let him describe what his group of Filipino Industrial and IT designers created:

” The Ilumina”, he told a stunned audience last night at the basement of Fullybooked store at Bonifacio High Street last 30 November 2008, ” is a television set with a brain power of a personal computer”.

” It contains a flat-screen LCD display, a hard drive and a multimedia center that allows one to watch movies, listen to their favorite music, watch cable or free television programs and surf the web–all at the same time. With Ilumina, you don’t have to booth up when you use both the television and internet modes. You just flick the switch and you have a technological delight that is purely Filipino.”

This is the very first iTV ever invented by anyone in the world. This “inovention” (a term invented by Brian’s group which is the synthesis of “invention” and “innovation”) showcases the Filipino’s ingenuity and brilliance in industrial design.

” With our knowledge, no body has come up with this before. “We want to prove to the world that Filipinos can do it—that we stand a chance in the electronic industry and we can even excel in it!” beamed Brian as he addresses the first group of Filipinos who witnessed last night’s historic unveiling of a technological wonder.

Filipinos should be proud of what these group of innovators did. Lacking in money but never in creativity, the Inovent group composed of industrial designers and IT designers from different schools (UP, Ateneo and La Salle) achieved the impossible. ” We Filipinos can conquer the world”, adds Brian as he watches with pride the Ilumina TV.

More on this group in subsequent posts… Next, I’ll tell you how Brian’s group started the Ilumina and how they are now creating technological wonders that aims to astound not only Filipinos but the world!

I think this plot will just be a counter-plot since it will just anticipate the expected bolt of the JDV-FVR faction in Lakas to coalesce with Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party and Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Sources say there is already an understanding between FVR and Cojuangco while FVR’s group reportedly is almost close to talks with Villar’s. Meaning, Lakas is just trying to mitigate the effects of a formal split, since obviously, Malacanang, for the longest time, has been trying to marginalize both JDV and FVR.

A split within Lakas will definitely affect the strength and stability of the entire “rainbow coalition” at the House. It would impact particularly on KAMPI, since majority of its members are former Lakas stalwarts. If JDV and FVR succeeds in coalescing with Danding and Villar, the possibility of another party raid within Kampi-Lakas is huge given that JDV and FVR still commands respect among the old guards of Lakas. In practical terms, with Danding and Villar united, this sends a message to Congressmen that the gravy train has shifted from Gloria to again, the JDV-FVR tandem.

JDV’s marginalization will all be done immediately after the AFP attack on Camp Bushra of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Reports say, the AFP brass is preparing for an outright assault on Bushra this December. JDV’s ouster from Lakas will coincide with this military assault.

This explains why Gloria hurriedly invited 40 or so Congressmen to the Peru trip, austensibly to discuss and fortify the Kampi ranks which was reputedly being raided by JDV and FVR. Talks are rife that Gloria wants to discuss cha-cha with these Congressmen, which, by the way, includes Batangas Cong. Hermigildo Mandanas, the author of Resolution No. 550 calling for the conversion of the House into a Constituent Assembly. The Resolution, which was a surprise for House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair Victor Ortega is one among three Trojan Horses that Gloria and her allies created to austensibly lead to one conclusion—charter change.

A JDV-FVR bolt from Lakas will wreck havoc Gloria’s plan of term extension and charter change. This will spoil the pot, so to speak. However, with Gloria’s Peruvian Forty, cha-cha advocates would just need a another forty or even a hundred to pass these resolutions and throw it into the plenary for voting. The vote in the impeachment complaint at the House Committee on Justice shows the future direction of these cha-cha efforts.

By the way, Joey de Venecia the Third, who I find to be a very serious Nationalist, sent me his statement stating his opinions on the killing of his impeachment complaint. This is what he has to say:

STATEMENT OF JOEY DE VENECIA III
DISMISSAL OF IMPEACHMENT CASE
DUE TO INSUFFICIENCY OF SUBSTANCE
November 26, 2008

This is a sad day not only for us the complainants and the minority lawmakers, but more so for the Filipino people. Our right to take President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to task has again been taken away from us.
As our minority lawmakers have said repeatedly, this process is a way to let government show the transparency that the Constitution mandates.
The impeachment process is the proper and legal forum to let the people know what is happening and to allow the government and its officials to explain themselves.
It appears that the government would rather that the people take its grievances to the street than offer them a decent and legal forum.
The House Justice Committee might have stopped the impeachment complaint but I assure everyone that the Committee cannot stop us from airing our grievances and allegations in any and all other forums available to us.
We will bring this case straight to the people. We will go to them and talk to them. We will put out into the open what the government would rather keep under the cloak of darkness.
I give my utmost appreciation to all those who supported us in any way. I thank the Filipino people for their sentiments and their prayers.
We will not keep quiet. The fight in the halls of Congress may be over but the real fight for truth and justice goes on.

Want to get out of the financial rut? Then, go, build your own business. There are many things to sell (excludes yourself of course). You just need to be a risk taker. And of course, passion to make your dreams possible.

I watched one report over at ANC. It’s a story of a man who just thought of selling street food to the middle class. He started with just one food cart. And you know what? That food cart generates for him 1,000 pesos a day! He figured that if he continues selling street food in a food cart, he’ll be able to get more than his monthly pay. After two months, he set another food cart. Then, another one, and another one until it grew to 300 food carts right now! Imagine, he’s earning 300,000 a day just by selling fish balls and kikiam!

I’m also proud to be friends with Atty. Bong Suntay. For those of you who still don’t know it yet, Bong owns Basic Taxi, one of the biggest, if not the biggest taxi service in the Philippines today. He started with just one cab. Then, it grew. Now, he has a fleet of about 3,000 cabs plying Metro Manila and the environs. And you know what? One cab generates 1,800 pesos a day! What’s more, he build his own gasoline station and every cab gets their gas from him. Now, think of how much he earns right now.

There are so many success stories of Filipinos right now who started getting rich by just making their dreams happen and had the guts to struggle and get on with life. I’m looking forward to see my own business in the next few weeks.

Sign the Petition to give Justice to the Hultmans

Today, I started an online petition for the family of Maureen Hultman. 

Justice for Maureen. Justice for All. End the Arroyo Regime Now!

On October 17, 2008, the Hultman family will be commemorating the death anniversary of their daughter Maureen. In 1991, sixteen year old Maureen was brutally murdered by Claudio Teehankee Jr. Teehankee shot her in the head, while in the company of her friends. One of the victims survived and testified against Teehankee Jr. After 90 days, Maureen died due to the bullet wound she sustained in the head.

In 1995, Judge Joe Madayag sentenced Teehankee to life imprisonment. The son of the former Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice received two life sentences and another one for frustrated homicide. Based on the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, Teehankee should serve at least 40 years incarceration.

In 2008, the Hultmans and the rest of the Filipino People were shocked when Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted executive clemency to Teehankee. Speculations point to the reported closeness of Arroyo to the sister and brother of the convicted killer. Philippine Justice secretary Raul Gonzales was quick to defend the decision of Mrs. Arroyo, along with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. Both said that Teehankee has served his due and eligible for clemency.

A quick look at the laws says that a convict can only be eligible for pardon if he already served 30 years imprisonment and if the convict already reached the age of 70.

Teehankee has just served less than 20 years and he’s only 62 years old. Therefore, the convicted killer is still not eligible for executive clemency.

It is clear that the decision of Arroyo has no basis in law and therefore, can be considered as a capricious abuse of her executive powers as president.

We, therefore, ask all Filipinos everywhere to support this Petition. The petition ask that:

1. Restitute Justice to the Hultman family through a review of the executive clemency granted by Arroyo to Teehankee.

2. Petition for the immediate arrest and re-detention of Teehankee so that he continues to serve the remainder of his sentence.

3. Justice for all victims of violence and human rights violations in the Philippines.

4. Ask the International Community to help the Filipino People end the capricious rule of Mrs. Arroyo and her Mafia gang of gutless officials through a People’s Revolt.

5. Regain Truth, Justice and Peace that have been trampled upon by Mrs. Arroyo and her Gang of Misfits.

Register your voice.

Restore our Self-respect as a People.

Regain Our Respect for the Law and Justice.

Sign Up Now!

Better luck next time boy!

It was a stunning loss.Panamanian boxer Rafael ” El Torrito” Concepcion flew all the way from Panama for one goal–to be a world champion. And tonight, July 26, he did just that. And AJ “Bazooka” Banal, unfortunately, became his victim.