Philippine Brides, Don’t be a Fool

December 20, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under Dating

A. Hathaway asked:


What to know when considering a Philippine Bride

The Philippines is a poor country and has a reputation for relationship fraud. Of course there are plenty of good, beautiful and honest women seeking marriage with foreigners. There is also an active population of scammers, fraud schemes and old fashioned gold diggers. Some women seek financial gain and lifestyle upgrades, an escape from poverty. Others are actually seeking a loving relationship, marriage and something new and exciting. How to tell this difference is the key question.

If she asks for money, put the brakes on. Beware of family or medical “emergencies” where the woman needs cash and financial support fast. Know that sending money via Western Union is likely lost in the event that she’s a scammer. Understand that the scammers are professional criminals and are very difficult to distinguish between an honest and trustworthy woman.

Educated yourself by reading about scam and fraud methods. Knowing about the different scams will help you recognize any foul play. The schemes and fraud efforts vary in strategy, but all have one thing in common, money. Money is usually requested in the form of advance fee fraud, where the criminal needs help with school, medical, rent, family, visa, etc. You can read more about the fraud types at Wikipedia’s site for relationship fraud and advance fee fraud. This is a major step in prevention.

Once you understand the fraud types and warnings signs, consider a trip to the Philippines. Get to know her and her country. See for yourself who you’re dealing with. This is a key step in not only preventing fraud, but also in establishing a meaningful relationship. Take time to get to know her. A Philippine woman in a hurry to marry is a major red flag.

Lastly, if all checks out, get a professional background check by a firm with a local presence in Manila and Cebu. Wymoo offers confidential investigations and has years of experience dealing with potential brides and relationships in the Philippines.

Best of luck, and do your homework!

A. Hathaway



It’s Terrible: A Newly Hired Security Guard Suddenly Made His Employer Bankrupt

December 20, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

Onofre Poonin asked:


Retired Army General and Mrs. Doe were operating their own security agency in Metro Manila for over a year with its manpower of 700 field personnel who served about 50 security clients. It ran so well that the old spouses were able to live an extravagant life until they met a doom they had never expected.

One morning of  Tuesday at their agency office, the HRD Manager was interviewing an applicant  SG John Doe, about 30 years old, 5’7 in height, well-built and clean-cut. The interview includes submission of necessary papers, such as NBI and PNP clearances, Neuropsychiatric and Drug Tests, Training and License Certificates and other pre-employment requirements. Having been found qualified for the job, with his documents verified complete and in order; he was eventually hired as Security guard and was temporarily deployed in an on-going construction site.

SG Doe was given a 12-hour tour of duty which started at 6:00pm, and as far as his duty was concerned, his guarding night ordinarily passed without any problem. He was supposed to be relieved at 6:00am the following morning but unfortunately, the next guard who was supposed to relieve him was not able to report for duty for an unknown reason. As it was an emergency absence, the Security In-charge could not be able to look for a replacement and further asked SG Doe to extend his tour of duty for another 8-hour -which he did not contest.

His duty extension went on smoothly as if  he were enjoying his new job, not until pass 1:00pm when he got a text message from unknown sender, informing him that his wife was caught by their son having *** with another man. He immediately asked his In-charge for an emergency replacement so he could check on it but the former failed to provide his reliever. And so he was forced to stay on with a heavy heart.

SG Doe was seemingly agitated by the information he received through text message and at around 3:00pm, he suddenly grabbed his 12.gauge shot gun and ran towards the next post and – without provocation, shot dead his co-guard who was on-duty at the administrative entrance.  Thereafter, he rushed towards the Reception area and fired to death at the lone visitor who was seated near the reception table. As if he were not contented, he again ran towards the construction area where workers scampered for cover, but one of them was hit by another bullet and laid dead. Ironically, when the police arrived SG Doe did not resist the arrest and voluntarily turned over his firearm and went calmly with the arresting officers.

For the next few days, the incident had formed part of the newspapers headlines – in the Radio/TV news and other tabloids. “I was not in my normal mind when I did it. I was probably in total delusion at that time because I’ve been on duty for three consecutive days without eating”, so he claimed. The news and media interviews immediately caught the attention of all existing security clients and at no time, these clients gradually terminated their contracts with the agency and looked for new security service providers. The security agency was forced to engage into amicable settlement with the aggrieved parties. It paid almost a million for the lives of the three innocent victims. It became the subject of investigation of the local authorities, and the worse, the pull-out of security guards from their original deployment due to the clients’ termination of contract suddenly sent the agency into total bankruptcy.

What is the moral lesson in this story?

Never hire an irresponsible security In-charge who could not act in dispatch in an emergency situation. Double-check the mental records of the applicant and if necessary, personally check with the Neuropsychiatries and Drug Testing Center where he got the clearances. Do background check on new applicants and do assess his previous employment records. To SG John Doe, never tell a lie to the media. To the wife, don’t let your son catch you To the agency, better luck next time..

 



Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots

December 17, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

Ruel Hinaloc asked:


Explore Paradise Philippines. Take a peek at Filipino’s culture and history as mirrored in century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. Paradise Philippines have the top of nature’s paradise pictured thru white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.

Paradise Philippines is blessed with an extensive coastline, ringed with unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Paradise Philippines’ deep-blue, crystal-clear waters offers about 40,000 square kilometers of coastal reefs teeming with a variety of marine life.

Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots

Paradise Philippines is endowed amid a tropical climate offering perfect paradise treat to enjoy the sunlight. Lying in Southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Paradise Philippines boasts of unsullied beaches, spectacular sunsets, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain weather, brilliant man-made paradise resorts, and dazzling 7,000+ islands.

Paradise Philippines boasts of one or two of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world. Witness the vast expanse of nature’s paradise Philippines’ splendor underneath the spell of cool paradise Philippines mountain breeze.

Here are some featured destinations and paradise regions that is living proof of Paradise Philippines reputation of being referred to as Paradise Philippines.

Alona Beach, Paradise Philippines

Panglao Island, Bohol (May 6, 2007) – The Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has inaugurated the first age of a P600-million upscale resort complex that is riding on the tourism boom in this province. Durano said, referring to the 16-hectare Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, which is making 70 luxurious villas catering to the rich Filipino tourists and visitors from Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and Korea.

Donsol, Whale Shark Capital, Paradise Philippines

Once a sleepy coastal village located at the northwestern tip of Sorsogon province, this town now eyes to be a first-class municipality, thanks to giant sea creatures that are now attracting hordes of foreign and local tourists who infuse millions of pesos to the local economy.

Boracay Paradise, Paradise Philippines

Widely known as one of the best swimming destinations in the world, Boracay is blessed with unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches. Its tranquil crystal simple waters are best for swimming, sailing, fishing and sunbathing. Boracay in addition boasts of sapphire seas and spectacular sunsets. Countless hidden coves dot the island and tall coconut trees line up along the beaches. Boracay lies at the northwest tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea.

Captivating Guimaras, Paradise Philippines

Nueva Valencia, Guimaras – An Italian couple on a two-month holiday in the Philippines chose to include the present paradise in this itinerary and stayed at the Raymen Beach Resort in December 2006, unperturbed by to know about the oil spill that brought the island province to world attention in August of the same year. “We are just here to see good beaches,” said the Boldo couple, who are just among the hundreds of intercontinental guests who kept coming to Guimaras even in the aftermath of the infamous oil spill.

Wonderful Palawan, Paradise Philippines

The exotic beauty of Palawan remains undefiled. Branded as the country’s survive frontier, Palawan is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna which are found nowhere else. With more as opposed to a thousand islands and islets, Palawan boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, underwater rivers and magnificent caves. Palawan is additionally structure to Tubbataha Reef, the only nationwide marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Banaue Rice Terraces, Paradise Philippines

Traversing the rugged terrains of Cordillera highlands in a duration of one week is an adventure in itself and could be an immense learning experience for someone who has the guts to be on the look down to the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces. With tall rice terraces at the backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks, a journey across the Cordillera heap ranges exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its suburbs.

Amazing Coron, Paradise Philippines

Coron, a town in the Busuanga Island in Northern Palawan, can charm much the most insensitive amongst men. Its natural beauty can only be described as seductive, giving first-time visitors and repeaters alike a sense of wonder so is hard to shake off.

Cebu City, Paradise Philippines

Cebu City drew 403,326 worldwide visitors in 2005, making the “queen city of the south” the top provincial destination of worldwide travelers. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) also showed such a Cebu City attracted 1,813 distant Filipinos and 712,938 domestic travelers.

Pagudpud, Paradise Philippines

If Aklan has Boracay, Ilocos has Pagudpud, its northernmost town bordering the South China Sea. The coastal town of Pagudpud is the perfect setting for panoramic movies and photoshoot for travel magazines cover. The town’s main attractions are Saud Beach, famous for its fine white sand stretching for hundreds of meters and Maira-Ira Point, which hides a secluded beach called Blue Lagoon. Other breathtaking landscapes in Pagudpud include Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea, the Mabogabog Falls and the Patapat viaduct that treats motorists to a scenic view of red lushes and green waters of South China Sea.

Bohol, Paradise Philippines

Bohol is one of the loveliest islands in southern Philippines. It is situated at the heart of Visayas and with coastline skimmed by gentle coves and white-sand beaches. Many highways snake along sparkling beaches or leafy rivers where one can stop at any point and jump in. With its rolling hills and plateaus, crystal springs and beaches, the province of Bohol is a picturesque province replete amidst ancestral structures and centuries-old churches.



Experience Worldclass Travel And Vacation Destination- Philippines

December 11, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under Destinations

Bercle George asked:


The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands. The Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world, after Indonesia, and enjoys a healthy tropical climate. There are many islands located in the Philippines, and one of them is the Boracay, which covers three kilometers of white beach.

The charm and beauty of the Philippines has always mesmerized travelers and vacationers. The Philippines also boasts as one of the top three best diving destinations as well aside from Palau and the Maldives.

Palawan has natural gas fields on the northeastern part of the island but the beautiful beaches around the island are still maintained. There are so many types of places to visit in the Philippines that it’s hard to enumerate each and every one of them. A luxury resort will, however, normally be characterized by a high level of luxury, sophistication and, of course, price.

Famous Destinations in the Philippines:

-Manila, Cebu and Boracay are the ground zero for parties – pool parties, yacht parties, rave and fashion events.

-Everyone head for the nearest beach so if you don’t want to feel crowded when you’re sunbathing, set your travel date for another time of the year.

-Bohol is also blessed with a numerous white sand beaches, and Panglao Island is one of the famous destinations, having powdery sand.

Foods:

-Filipino dishes very frequently include coconut, and, hence, meat, and other vegetables are cooked using coconut milk.

-Rice is served with almost all meals, as it is their staple food. Countryside folks eat their main meal at noon, while city inhabitants place emphasize on the evening meal.

- Apart from fish, the Filipinos also like other seafood such as crabs, shellfish, and shrimps.

-The Filipinos consider food to be the most important aspect of their culture since it is an integral part of their communal existence.

Events:

-Xmas Eve is the time when you can raise toasts and drinks to celebrate this festival.

-Surfing in the Philippines is comparable to the best in the world – with the world-famous cloud 9s off the island of Siargao facing the Philippine Trench in the Western Pacific as well as the surfing destinations of La Union and Zambales (facing South China Sea).

-The beauty pageant Miss Earth is the 4th largest beauty competition in the world and it is held in the Philippines every year.

Shopping:

If you would like to find Philippine items that you miss, start shopping online now. Shopping is one of the things tourists love about the Philippines. This will give you a large selection of sites that offer the products you desire.



Web Dot Com is the Web Site Developer of Amnesty International Philippines

December 10, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

Business Local Listings asked:


Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. is the official web site developer of Amnesty International Philippines.

Amnesty International is a global movement of people campaigning actively for the protection of human rights and taking action against human rights abuses. Such action comes in the form of information campaigns through communication and media channels, as well as public pressure through mass demonstrations, vigils and lobbying.

Amnesty International Philippines was officially recognized as an Amnesty International section on January 27, 1987. Among its many accomplishments is its role in the repeal of the Death Penalty Law in the Philippines in 2005 and its participation in the successful campaign to get UN approval for a moratorium on executions in 2007, with the Philippines as co-author and signatory of the resolution.

The Amnesty International Philippines web site developed by Web Dot Com is packed with information that is systematically categorized and labeled. Despite the huge amount of data on the entire site, the visitor is not overwhelmed. Perhaps this is because the landing pages are bright and feature a clean layout which clearly displays the various sections. Navigation is definitely not a problem since links are properly labeled.

Given a prominent position is the link to the Amnesty International Report of 2009. There are Spotlights on Human Rights and Poverty, Violence against Women, Counter Terror with Justice, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). There is a section on News and Updates alongside a section on Appeals for Action. There is a special link to Good News and another one to CampAIgn, the Amnesty International newsletter.

There are buttons labeled Donate to Amnesty International, Join Amnesty International, and More ways to get involved.

There are also several search buttons. One is to select a country where Amnesty International is active and another is to select a country with human rights abuses.

There are buttons leading to the sections on Amnesty International in the Philippines, Act Now, Join Us, Activities and Publications.

The Amnesty International Philippines section is comprised of subsections titled Who We Are, explaining Amnesty International; AI Philippines; Networks, Statute of AI, AIPh ByLaws, UDHR and FAQ.

The Act Now section is comprised of subsections titled Direct Appeals, Urgent Actions and Donate.

The Join Us sections has subsections titled Members, Local Groups, Form a Group and Volunteers.

The Activities section has a list of AI Philippines activities since 1998, categorized by year.

The Publications section contains downloadable materials as well as subsections for the Newsletter, Reports, Library and Archives.

Indeed, the Amnesty International Philippines is a fitting showcase of the web development and design skills of Web Dot Com.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. has been successfully serving an international clientele from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Korea, the British Virgin Islands and the Philippines for the last ten years. From Manila, Web Dot Com offers various business process outsourcing (BPO) services, including outsourcing web development and contact center services.

In the area of web development, the web hosting provider also offers domain name registration and low cost advanced web site development packages. Depending on the client’s needs, this may include advanced interactive database driven web site development, advanced portal development, heavy web based programming, web application development, content management systems, good website design, graphic design and multimedia components including flash animation development, e-commerce site solutions including a shopping cart using osCommerce, web site maintenance and support, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and social media marketing. Its programmers and developers are highly skilled at php, mysql, JavaScript and other internet languages and tools.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. is your One Stop Shop Internet and Contact Center Solutions Vendor for the Global Market. Make it your own web site developer, as well.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc.

Address:

2nd Floor, BT&T Center

#20 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Libis (C-5),

Quezon City, 1110 Philippines

E-mail: info@webdc.com.ph

Telephone numbers: (632) 634-4625; (632) 635-6104



Call Center Lifestyle in the Philippines

December 7, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

Roberto L. Bacasong asked:


Yuppie Filipinos get the chance to be employed easily once they obtained their bachelor or diploma degrees because of the emergence of contact centers everywhere in the Philippines. These workers started to fill the 24-hour skyscrapers that gives a colorful background to metro Manila’s financial districts at nighttime.

This only shows that people employed in this job for a couple of years were used to on their ticking biological sleeping habit. They slept all day long just to regain their strength and wake up again at the wee hours to prepare themselves for a nightlong work. Clad in casual attire with matching fashionable coats are the most common props if you are a customer service representative. During break time some even used to occupy the al fresco various dining areas in Manila. In Ortigas for instance, call center agents enjoy their 30-minute to 1 hour break at McDonald’s, Starbucks, among others. For those who have extra pennies, they enjoy the hot aroma of Brazilian coffee in various blend. Others may sit on the corner and lit up their cigarette in a way of releasing their stress from work. It is enjoying isn’t it?

At 8 pm. about 100 people, most 25 younger, sit in a room of enclosed cubicles outfitted with phones and computers. They’ll be working until 4 am. or depends on the schedule of their shifts. As their shifts starts, it is usually morning in the US. These contact centers are following US standard zones such as Pacific, Eastern, Mountain and Central.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Luisa Geneta disclosed that call center is her first job when she finished her bachelor’s degree on May 4, 2007. At 12 am., Geneta left her house in Tondo, a suburb village in Manila, as her shift starts at 2 am. This Banking and Finance graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is one of the top caliber representatives for Unique Interaction, an American call center based in Ortigas.

“Working in a call center in the Philippines is really a big challenge for me especially that I’m new to this business. I spent most of my time and energy on this job,” she said, who handles an inbound account.

It is a very risky to leave my house at midnight for a young lady like me. However, I consider that this is the most rewarding career that we have nowadays and this will be a big help in creating another means of livelihood for us Filipinos especially for fresh graduates like me, she claimed.

On the other hand, Margaret Estanislao, 19, a team leader of the same company, disclosed that placing the agents into action challenge her in keeping her job.

Estanislao, who started as an agent added that they tried everything in sorting out the problem of the customers. “We need to maintain our empathy if the customer is upset. They are pissed and upset not because of the representatives but to the products itself”.

Both Geneta and Estanislao agreed that this job has given them the opportunity to enhance their skills and boost their confidence when it comes of interaction with their clients in a phone-to-phone conversation.

“Not to mention the financial aid that it gives to me and my family. I think this industry will continue to prosper in the succeeding years and it will continue to be one of the leading providers of career opportunities for Filipinos,” Geneta further said.

It cannot be denied that outsourcing business is one of the most flavored industries in the Philippines and other Asian countries. It appears that contact center executives preferred this country because of the number of students produced every year, which can speak English in American way. As the third largest English-speaking country in Asia no doubt that business process outsourcing is in demand today.

BPO companies provides a state-of-the-art equipment in outsourcing their business in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. These companies trained their employees to speak like American way. In Unique Interaction, they provide fundamental call center training before the call center trainees will be allowed to take calls. The trainees has to learn account information first. Once they know the account then they are deployed ready on the floor and receive as many calls as they want. The company also teach their employees on how to handle their customers well. It is so hard to lose a customer, we know that they are considered as the lifeblood that gives full stream of support to make the company up and running and stay on the business for long.

The fact is call centers are part of the Philippine economic activity. Almost half of the 86.2 million people in the Philippines are younger than 20 years old. So don’t be surprised if you will be able to meet supervisors, team leaders, managers below 25. This is because that call center has the fastest way of promoting a career development. If the agent is performing better and receiving good CSAT ratings then no doubt that within six months or less than, this certain employee is entitled to move to another level in his or her career path. The Philippines is also one of the potential factors for outsourcing. It has been also forecast by the XMG Inc., Manila-based research and advisory firm that the nation will surpass India by 2008 as home to the world’s largest call center companies.

The Philippines offers attractive environment for the BPO companies, which is one of the key requirements by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) in applying for this business. Even now big contact center firms also expanded their centers not only in Manila but targeting the provincial levels. So it means, the revenues will not only take place within the National Capital Region (NCR) but it will also circulate to the provincial areas after passing the standard set by the Peza. Largest call centers are also found operating in Pampanga, Laguna and Baguio in Luzon; Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete and Iloilo in the Visayas; and Cagayan de Oro and Davao in Mindanao.

The Philippine Government is very supportive to this. Under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she said that BPO companies will generate billions of pesos in the country with target by 2010. When it starts to operate in 2000, now off-shore call center industry estimates to employs 60,000 people.*



Add Features to Your Interactive Web SiteAdd Features to Your Interactive Web Site

December 5, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

Business Local Listings asked:


An interactive web site is undeniably more attractive to visitors and holds them longer. It also invariably earns many return visits. To make your interactive web site even more attractive, here are some features you may want to add to it, if your site does not have them yet. According to statistics, they will be even more effective if placed in your landing pages.

Discussion forums

Discussion forums are very popular among online users. Here users united by a certain interest can congregate and have online conversations, encouraging them to return again and again. Eventually, these users form an online community that becomes the solid and loyal base of the website.

Newsletter

You can also build and consolidate a long term relationship with your web site visitors by asking them to subscribe to your newsletter. At no cost, they will be able to receive updates and other useful information by email. Of course, the newsletter will also contains invitations and links to pages you want them to visit.

Online guestbook

An online guest book may take the place of a discussion forum or may co-exist with it. The difference is that comments by visitors on a guest book are about the web site and their experience on it. This may be password-protected to allow you to screen and approve or disapprove comments. This could also be a way of gathering your visitors’ email addresses if you do not have a newsletter.

Site search engine

A site search engine allows users to more easily search for something within your site. This encourages them to explore your site, too.

News column

A news column adds value to your web site by flashing up to the minute news to your visitors. This could also spark discussion with and among your visitors.

Personalized postcards

You can offer a selection of free postcards on your site, preferably with a theme related to your topic. It would be best if your visitor is able to send the postcard to an unlimited number of recipients, with a personalized message. Of course, each postcard contains a link back to your site.

Online calendar

The online calendar is particularly effective for web sites with registered users. Each one gets an individual calendar customizable with his or her appointments and alerts. This will entice the users to spend more time on the site and to check in regularly.

Calculator

A calculator is particularly handy for web sites that sell online. The user can use the calculator to figure out costs and totals before deciding on buying.

If you still do not have an interactive web site, or any web site for that matter, Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. can help you. Based in Manila, this web site developer and web hosting provider offers domain name registration services as well as low cost advanced web site development packages. These packages include advanced interactive database driven web site development, advanced portal development, heavy web based programming, web application development, content management systems, good website design, graphic design and multimedia components including flash animation development, e-commerce site solutions including a shopping cart using osCommerce, web site maintenance and support, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and social media marketing. The company gives employment to highly trained programmers and developers equipped with skills in php, mysql, JavaScript and other internet applications.

Web Dot Com also provides business process outsourcing (BPO) services to companies from around the world outsourcing web development and other back office and front office business processes. Indeed, Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc. is your One Stop Shop Internet and Contact Center Solutions Vendor for the Global Market. You can rely on it to create your interactive web site.

Web Dot Com Website Development Philippines, Inc.

Address:

2nd Floor, BT&T Center

#20 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Libis (C-5),

Quezon City, 1110 Philippines

E-mail: info@webdc.com.ph

Telephone numbers: (632) 634-4625; (632) 635-6104



Deadly Sins – Updated Version 6.66

December 5, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

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.



The Virus due to A (H1N1)

December 1, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under News

yvette vaeriano asked:


The Influenza A (H1N1) virus started in Mexico. Then the virus spread all over Africa, china, and even in America. On may 21, 2009 the virus entered in the Philippines.  The first case in the Philippines is from a young Filipina who got the influenza while she was in the united states of America. Health secretary Francisco Duque said that the girl is now in stable condition and she is quarantine for the safeties of the public. In the following days, many cases followed when two infected Taiwanese women attended a wedding in Zambales. On may 21, 2009 department of health (DOH) secretary Francisco Duque confirmed the said cases in the Philippines.

As a progress, on June 22, 2009 news came out about the 49-year-old lady who died because of influenza A (H1N1) the DOH assured the public that the said lady did not die because of Influenza A (H1N1) but due to heart attack. The lady is a regular employee of the house of representatives. for safety reasons they suspend the legislature for 5 days.

Almost half of the part of the Philippines were said to be affected due to Influenza A (H1N1). Another case was confirmed in metro, manila when a 50-year-old patient who arrived in the Philippines from united states. On may 20, 2009 he showed the symptoms of the Influenza A (H1N1) including having a high fever. Immediately he was diagnose having the virus and quarantine in the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in manila.

On June 8, 2009 the De La Salle University-Manila confirmed a case of Influenza A (H1N1). One of their foreign students diagnosed to have the virus. The University suspend their classes starting from June 4, 2009 up to June 15, 2009 almost 10 days to quarantine the University. The University is diagnosed to have the first case virus in Metro, Manila. The University recorded the most numbers of confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in Metro, Manila.

As the Progress of the virus many cases confirmed from different Schools and Universities all over the Philippines. The Department of Education assures the public that the opening of the classes was moved to June 15, 2009 for the safety of the students as well as the teachers. Luckily, the virus Influenza A (H1N1) entered the Philippines is mild and curable. As of now only few of dead cases are recorded.



Best Beach Vacations in the Philippines

November 18, 2009 by Anita  
Filed under Business

Christel Lumabas asked:


One unique fact about the Philippines is that we have more than 7,000 islands altogether– and this fact can excite most travelers from around the world. Since the Philippines is situated near the equator, the country is considered as the tropics, with temperatures perfect for a day at the beach. Philippine travel usually consists of island hopping, checking out some virgin sceneries, and visits to great local cities.

For serious travelers, they may opt for luxury vacations in the Philippines through exposure to the beauty of the country’s natural resources.

In every foreign place, one would not help but think of communicating with the locals. But when you are in the Philippines, any travelers with English speaking skills need not to worry, because around 85 percent of the locals can understand English. In any case, for any vacation or travel spot in the country, there is a Filipino in the area that can speak and understand English.

Language barriers aside, the exchange rate may also be quite favorable for travelers. With cheap accommodations, food, and services, any traveler may easily have a luxurious vacation without them feeling the pain in their wallets. In other words, everything is on sale.

The tropical islands of the Philippines showcase some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia, and also the most colorful coral reefs in the world. The far fetched island of Palawan features one of the country’s best hotel accommodations, with popular guests such as Mariah Carey and Brian McKnight. The island boasts of clear blue waters, pristine white sand, and rich sea life– all with a relaxed environment. Palawan may be considered as a spot for luxury vacations, simply because of the exquisite accommodations and hotels, such as the infamous Amanpulo. The resort features world class amenities that can rejuvenate and change your perspective of the country altogether. Amanpulo can be reached through charter plane from Manila, and usually costs around $300 per person. Once there, any guest can enjoy all amenities for $850 per person, for a whole week! So if you want to see and experience the Amanpulo in Palawan, try to book ahead of time so as to have proper reservations.

Another popular destination when it comes to luxury vacations would be the in the island of Boracay. This long stretch of pure white sand beach offers not only relaxation, but a boost on social gatherings with beach front parties and good restaurants, offering both local and foreign delicacies. Boracay provides luxury vacations for locals and foreigners visiting the country, with full hotel accommodations to huts by the beach front. Other key destinations include Cebu and Davao, and also key historic landmarks such as Bataan and Corregidor, not to mention the fascinating sights in Manila and Iloilo.



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