Kylie Evans asked:


Happy Egg-Day!

Easter is a pretty flexible holiday for many.

If you are Christian, it is a day of celebration – for according to the gospel, today is the day that Jesus arose from the dead, after a nasty run in with the Romans, and was able to go about his business of healing and feeding the masses.

I have never read a story with such a happy and completely surreal ending; but then again, I also read this week that officials in Manila were issuing health-warnings to the general public about the hazards of not getting their tetanus shots and using clean nails for their own annual DIY crucifixions.

I believe the Filipino Surgeon General also went on to suggest the use of 30+ sunscreen. After all, if one is going to nail oneself to a couple of pieces of 2 X 4 and hang around for awhile, one can’t be too careful about melanomas and the like. (I can only wonder if there is a specific section in IKEA in Manila for such activities).

Easter Sunday is also the quintessential event on the calender for Chocolaphiles. Chocolate Eggs, Bunnies and Bilbies (for my non-Australian friends – An Easter Bilby is a short, squat little mammal that is currently endangered for many reasons, not the least of which is that people keep dipping them in cacao and eating them)

                    

With the amount of sugar consumed during this period, it is little wonder that Easter marks inordinate sales figures for the retailers of Play Station I – MMCCCXXIIV. What better a time to buy a mind-numbing, intellect-stunting piece of equipment that will keep the little sugar-crazed blighters from shaving the cat and filling the sink with sun-dried tomatoes and Pine-O-Kleen.

Given that I am not a religious person, and I am one of the few people in the street…the town…the globe (according to reliable sources) that has a distinct aversion to all things chocolate, it should come as no surprise that Easter is a little bit of a non-event for me (I keep hoping that an Easter Deli-man will arrive with eggs made of King Island Brie and mild Hungarian salami but this is inevitably met with annual disappointment)

So, normally I approach this public holiday (by the way, cheers for that Herod…) with a fairly relaxed attitude, but still adhering to some of the culinary tenets set out in the Good Book.

I drink plenty of wine and eat lots of disgustingly good fish. I may not go to such extremes as nailing myself to the kitchen cupboard, but I endeavor to at least assume a sedentary position six times a day, before and after meals.

What sets this year apart from the rest of my Easters to date, is that I read yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI has decided to add 7 new “deadly sins” to the list of what will apparently send you over into the Ninth Circle of Hell.

Included in these new list of dogma-related No-Nos are:

*Thou shalt not be a billionaire

* Thou shalt not help create poverty

*Thou shalt not contribute to the widening gap between the rich and the poor

*Thou shalt not use “Bioethical” violations such as birth control

Okay, let’s just dissect a few things here…..

If the Vatican wants to put a stop to excessive wealth, then it should look in it’s own backyard.

I would be more than happy to support such theological threats of eternal damnation if perhaps the Pope and his cardinals would maybe start selling off some of their own odds and sods.

                                                     

Bit of a “two birds with one stone” that one. They could tear down some of their gilded cathedrals and have a good, old-fashioned cent-auction say, in Darfur. In one hit we get rid of some of the obscenely excessive wealth, and by doing such, make positive steps towards relieving the poverty.

Just a side note too – if gross expenditure of wealth is the new and trendy sin du jour Number 1, the Catholic Church might want to perhaps engage the services of a public defender for any future cases against naughty priests. Any cash leftover could be used in addressing sin du jour Number 3 – Thou shalt not contribute to the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

Which brings me to the new and improved sin-alert regarding the banishing of “Bioethical” violations such as birth control.

Forgive my hell-raising here Benedict, pal, but perhaps if some of those living in the more impoverished countries, such as Bangladesh, had a little more access to “Bioethical violations” ie: birth control, we could probably stem some of the poverty there as well. Reducing gross overpopulation, and thus poor living conditions, could be achieved by introducing a little *** education and a supply of condoms.

Note to the Billionaires: Therein lies your “Get Out Of The Underworld” Free card.

If the Vatican INSISTS on giving us more things to be afraid of and/or ashamed of by way of introducing new sins, can we not, at least swap a few of the new ones for the old ones?

If I have to curtail my working and spending habits, could I at least be able to indulge in  a little Gluttony and Sloth. It’s a slog trying to continually say “No” to that fourth glass of Merlot, and do not even get me started on how I have managed, only in the name of all that is pure and holy, to finally figure out how the vacuum works.

If I MUST pour all of my time and energies into closing the gap between the obscenely rich and the desolate poor- do you think it would be TOO much to ask if the Lord Almighty might look the other way whilst I occasionally lust after a shirtless Matthew McConnaghy?

                            

I will endeavor to observe these new rules and regulations, upon fear of dancing cheek-to-cheek with Beelzebub, but I have got to say, I am not happy Jan!

If I had my way (or looked good in a smock and a tall, silly hat) the new and improved sins would read something like this:

*Thou shalt not watch FOX news

*Thou shalt not wear large and inane yellow sunglasses and go around acting like a purile meat-head.

                         

*Thou shalt not ring people at 10pm…from Delhi…. to ask them if their Internet provider is serving all of their telecommunication needs.

*Thou shalt not invite people over for coffee only to ambush them with AMWAY

*Thou shalt NOT submit his/her (whoops….that would be just “his”) resume for Pope and white-out the bits regarding support for genocide during their time in the ****** Youth Programme.

So, on that note, I am off to drink some alcohol and watch a DVD with a decent cameo of Orlando Bloom’s buttocks, all the while being very careful not to spill any Pito chip crumbs on the doona.

Those chips are the BEST, and wasting any of them is tantamount to a deadly sin………. if ever I knew one.

Archie Lopez asked:


Browse through any travel magazine or website and you will surely find articles that boast of the innate pristine beauty of the Philippines. Filled with a dozen or so panoramic pictures of different tourism spots scattered all over the archipelago, the Philippines is one of the most talked about tourism jewels in the world. Numerous TV specials and film presentations from other countries chose the Philippines to be its location precisely because the place just takes anyone’s breath away. With that being said, people across the seven continents come to the place and discover its wonders.

This buzz and hype proves to be beneficial in so many ways. Firstly, the positive advertising and media attention lets the whole world see the Philippines through a different lens amidst the whole political brouhaha and poverty issues. The longstanding didactic tradition within tourism and Philippine property buying also widens cultural knowledge and understanding. That is why the country is re-branded away from a negative image of politically torn and economically exhausted to a positive ecotourism orientated marketing strategy. Secondly, the infamous Filipino hospitality is more evident and celebrated as it is experienced by more and more local and foreign tourists. This means positive image control for the country. Thirdly, local tourists and foreigners alike are teased to explore the richness of the country. Most foreign visitors often include in their to-do list the search for a good investment Philippine property. Be it a beachfront property, beach house, residential house and lot, vacant lot, commercial lot/building, agricultural land/farm, island for sale, golf-front house/lot, fishpond, resort, hotel, business or waterfront property, Philippines properties for sale fit anyone’s description for the dream home and the good life.

Whether you opt for a busy and fast-paced setting in the metropolis or a more relaxed and pollution-free rural vibe, Philippines properties for sale good investments because these are some of the best quality assets you could afford and take pride of. Paying is made more flexible and easier with the various payment scheme offerings. Taking advantage of the World Wide Web, you could even see the list of available Philippine properties that are on sale. Reservations could be made online; queries and feedback can be left in the homepage of any property seller site.

It may not be obvious but buying Philippine properties, strengthening tourism and investing in the country makes it possible for economic stability to be achieved. They vastly increase income not only via direct spending but also through taxation and purchase of luxury goods. Those create a larger market than with that of purely local spending. In addition, the money generated act as alternatives to cash crops, thereby improving terms of trade and a more diversified economic base. And by providing reasonably priced and strategically located properties, it is foreseen that the number of tourists and investors will continue to rise. Seen in this manner, it is better to provide more facilities for them than to allow unlimited access that would make them not grab the chance of owning a Philippine property.

Visit the website http://buyandsellplus.com/.

Jose Maria Abada asked:

More than the usual- this is how the Philippine is positioned in the tourism block. The country is an archipelago and known officially as the Republic of the Philippines. This archipelago is located in Southeast Asia and holds the distinction of being one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia. The other country is East Timor. There are around 7,107 islands in the country and these islands host around 90 million people. This population based on 2008 estimates makes the country as the 12th most populous country in the world. For the traveler interested to know more about the country, it should be learned that the country has around 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide and these are the Filipinos who work in other country and one of the main reasons why the economy of the country is competitive.

According to 2008 estimates, the gross domestic product or the GDP of the country is pegged at over US$ 327.2 billion and this is considered as the 37th largest in the world. The name ‘Philippine’ traces a long history. This name was derived from the name of King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. It was the initiative of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos to use the name Las Islas Filipinas or the Philippine Islands as his name for the islands Leyte and Samar. And the use of this name was in reference and in honor of the Prince of Spain.  A further examination of the name ‘Philippine’ will reveal that this has Greek roots and according to historians this was the name of the father of Alexander the Great.

The country is divided geographically into three groups:

•    Luzon

•    Visayas

•    Mindanao

And these three major island grouping is then sub-divided into 17 regions, another 81 provinces and 136 cities. The country also plays host to 1,494 municipalities and 41,995 barrios. The government also controls Sabah, North Borneo as asserted by Section 2 of the Republic Act Number 5446. Ecologically, the country is known as one of those countries which feature diverse flora and fauna. This feature of the country is one of the major reasons why the archipelago is one of the favorite places for travelers who seek to experience nature at its best. Another main reason why the country is always part of the list of preferred travel destinations is that the country is rich in natural resources and its scenic spots are panoramic and ready to comfort and to overwhelm the first-time visitors. The natural resources of the country are extensive and this can be seen in many areas like agriculture, forestry and minerals.

Talking about the archipelago is not complete without talking about its fertile and arable lands, the forests that host diverse flora and fauna and the panoramic coastlines. For those travelers willing to sample what the country has to offer over a limited amount of time, it is suggested that the interested traveler should focus on its culture, its beaches and its heritage. The unique Philippine culture will let the traveler experience the many festivals in the country- from Sinulog in Cebu to the Penafrancia Festival in the Bicol Region. The country has a number of festivals and these festivals will usually peak during April and May- the time for the country’s fiestas. Most of these festivals have links to the church and religious in nature.

Visiting the country without visiting some of its finest beaches is not suggested. Since the country boasts of around 7,107 islands and a coastline twice the length of the United States, you can really expect that the country will have some best beaches. Mere mention of the Philippine will evoke images of fine and white beaches of Boracay, Palawan and some of the more not-so commercial yet beautiful sands of other beaches. Some names that should be part of the plans of the traveler include Pagudpud, Mactan Island and Panglao. And speaking of heritage, the country is home to Ifugao Rice Terraces which is now part of the UNESCO Heritage List in 1995. Aside from this rice terraces, Philippine also plays host also to many old churches- baroque churches in Metro Manila and these are all considered as heritage sites that carry the country’s culture and history.