12 Ways for Stress Relief

This is one interesting article I have read online. These tips are applicable not only for home business owners but also to everyone regardless of status in life.

12 Ways to Help Relieve Stress 

Owning your own online home business is wonderful, but if you are like me, there are days when you feel down and stressed. You just can’t seem to get going. Sometimes sitting in your lonely home office, it seems like you are the only person on earth. You feel like you are locked in a cage with no way out! This can also be compounded by a slump in your business sales and/or success!


When you feel like this, it is hard to get any work done and can be very counterproductive for you. You must step back, take a break, clear your head and get rid of some stress!
I have found a few things that can help alleviate these problems and would like to share them with you.
1. Get up and get away from the computer for awhile, even if it is only for 10 – 15 minutes. Walk around the house, stretch your muscles, do some neck and back stretches. These can do wonders!
2. Take a walk. Get dressed, go outside, breathe in the fresh air and take a 20 – 30 minute walk. This is one of the most invigorating things you can do to clear your head and get the cobwebs out. Walking is the one activity I would recommend the most.
3. Call a friend or family member and just chat for awhile. This can also be a great way to lift your spirits and confirm your suspicions that there are other people on this planet! ;-) Chat for awhile and laugh a little. Laughter is a great medicine!
4. Have a little fun! Put on some of your favorite music and dance around the house. Let loose and have some fun. Act goofy, crazy or waltz yourself to China. This helps get out some of the frustrations and pent up emotions that can cause the blues.
5. Just relax! Turn everything off, (including your computer), make yourself a cup of coffee, cocoa or just plain water. Just sit in complete silence and watch the birds outside or put a cool cloth over your eyes. Let your mind just go blank for awhile. Forget everything and just relax!
6. Exercise your mind! Show your mind that there is more than just the computer. Do a crossword puzzle, play a few games of solitaire, or read a book. These are all great ways of getting your mind off business and clearing out all the old to make way for the new.
7. Do some housework! This might not be the most fun thing to do, but it helps take your mind off business for awhile and believe me, after about an hour of housework, you will be more than ready to get back to business!
8. Take a TV break! Watch a program that allows you to escape to another world. After you are finished you just might be glad to be back in your world.
9. One thing I do when business gets the better of me is to shut the computer down for the day and turn my attention to other things that need to be done. Just taking a small break from business can help, but when things are really stressful we may need a longer break.
10. Get some sun! After being indoors so much, we need to get out and get some sun. The sun is very good for your mind and body. Sunshine is a very good anti-depressant! But do remember to wear protection so you don’t get too much exposure.
11. Enjoy time with your family! Play a game, take a walk, watch a heartwarming family adventure movie, or just sit and talk. No matter how hard we work, we need to make time for family.
12. Eat healthy foods! This we all know, of course, but it is much easier said than done. Start by changing one meal at a time or adding one healthy food a day. The better we feel, the better we can handle everyday stress!
I hope some of these pointers will help you relax and get back to business. I know they have been a great help to me more than once. Sometimes when you are feeling unproductive, stressed our or just plain tired, the idea is not to work harder but to stop working and give your mind and body a well-deserved break!
About the Author:
Terri Seymour (also known as “The eBook Lady”) has over ten year’s online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site at http://www.seymourproducts.com for resources, $1 resell ebooks & software, affiliate programs, free ezine and free business ebook with Master Resell Rights. http://www.seymourproducts.com/free.shtml


Read more at BusinessDiary.com.ph: http://businessdiary.com.ph/6236/12-ways-to-help-relieve-stress/#ixzz3O6abimbe

12 sins of Christmas marketing

This article is not written by us but by Amor Maclang. I just found this interesting to read. Full context can be found here and here.

On the 1st day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Negligence
Also known as "The early turtledove gets the worm.”
On the 2nd day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Insincerity
Also known as “Frosty the frigid brand”
On the 3rd day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Ambiguity
Also known as “A vague wish list”

On the 4th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Hardheadedness
Also known as “Failure to learn from the ghost of Christmas past”
On the 5th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Being Safe
Also known as “Drinking too much of your own eggnog”
On the 6th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Being Ungiftable
Also known as “Not being Santa's helper”

On the 7th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Insensitivity
Also known as “Not taking care of your elves”
On the 8th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Unoriginality
Also known as “Being more of the same”
On the 9th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Missing Opportunities
Also known as “Not grabbing the chance to turn naughty to nice”

On the 10th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Forgetting the Target
Also known as “Not marketing to the Secret Santas”
On the 11th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Being Perceived as Miserly
Also known as “Scrooge-like behavior”
On the 12th day of Christmas, your brand is guilty of… Failure to Consider the Whole Year
Also known as “Not spreading the cheer, all year”

Sources: 

12 sins of Christmas marketing--Part 1
12 sins of Christmas marketing--Part 2

12 MPSPC teachers dismissed

Twelve faculty members of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College were ordered dismissed from government service with forfeiture of benefits for their involvement in protest actions that disrupted the operation of the school in 2011.

The protests also led to the involuntary resignation of former MPSPC president Nieves Dacyon, temporary stoppage of work and classes, and to insubordination and conduct prejudicial to public service.

Ordered dismissed in the 46-page decision by the Civil Service Commission regional office were Dan Evert Sokoken Sr., Dario Guinayen, Daniela Chumacog, Terrence Lief Fang-asan, Peter Puma-at, Brueckner Aswigue, Eric Fulangen, Jayson Omaweng, Charlie Wrakan Engngeg, Nellie Diaz, Beverly Ann Chaokas, and Angelita Bayle.

The faculty members were meted the maximum penalty of dismissal with cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and from taking any civil examination.

The CSC-CAR order said the teachers were found guilty of grave misconduct for their involvement in mass protest actions held at the MPSPC campus in Bontoc from June 28, 2011 to July 1, 2011.

“As government employees, the teachers were prohibited from engaging in strikes, mass leaves, walkouts, and other forms of mass action that will lead in the temporary stoppage or disruption of public service,” according to the CSC decision.

The teachers were also found guilty of insubordination and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for defying a lawful order from then MPSPC officer-in-charge Elpedio Marrero Jr. when he instructed them to hold regular classes because the sit-down strike they planned to stage on June 28, 2011 was illegal.

Also on the same date, then MPSPC trustee member Juan Dicang tried to intercede and asked the  faculty members not to proceed with the strike, but to no avail.

On July 1, 2011 Dacyon was forced to sign a prepared resignation letter before she would be allowed out of her office and the campus.

Respondents’ lead counsel, Milton Balagtey, said in a phone interview the order is not yet final and executory as they will file a motion for with the CSC central office.

He added the CSC-CAR order will not also be enforced while the appeal is being heard.

Sokoken added they are in contact with their lawyers to explore other legal remedies.

Dacyon, who was represented by the Sanidad and Villanueva Law Offices before the CSC-CAR, was subsequently upheld and recognized by the Commission on Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of MPSPC, as the rightful president of the school.

CHED also condemned the mass protests actions and intimidation exerted on Dacyon for her to resign.

Dacyon is currently the president of Apayao State College.

The CSC-CAR order was signed by Regional Director Marilyn Taldo.

Source: CSC sacks 12 MPSPC teachers in 2011 row 

12 Interesting FACTS about the ancient Mayans

1. The Mayans Enhanced Their Children's Features
2. The Mayans had Excellent Medical Techniques
3. Maya Blue or Azul Maya Still a Mystery
4. Mayans Played Sophisticated Deadly Ball Games
5. The Mayans Used Saunas
6. The Mayan Used Hallucinogenics and Painkillers
7. The Mayan Still Practice Blood Sacrifices
8. The Last Mayan Kingdom Existed Until 1697
9. Dec 21, 2012 Mayans Marks Rare Cosmic Event
10. The Mayan Had Advanced Writing Skills
11. The Mayan Were Fond Of Jewelry
12. The Collapse of Mayan Culture Still a Mystery

- See more at: http://www.educatinghumanity.com/2012/11/Facts-Secrets-Mayans-Top-10-List-Photos.html#sthash.VO9AWqgO.dpuf

References:

http://www.educatinghumanity.com/2012/11/Facts-Secrets-Mayans-Top-10-List-Photos.html

Sync Chrome Desktop Bookmarks To Android

in StarMobile Turbo...

1. Click Chrome browser.
2. Click menu button.
3. Choose Settings.
4. Click your signed-in name or your account. (Google account)
5. If off, turn it on by clicking on it.
6. Click your name again.
7. Below your name should have "Sync is on"
8. Check all options: Sync everything, Autofill, Bookmarks, History, Passwords, Open tabs, Encryption
9. Click MANAGE SYNCED DATA
10. The browser will appear and you will be able to see Chrome Sync which saves your personalized browser features to the web and you will be able to access in any computer or device.
11. Click Settings on your phone and choose Google on the ACCOUNTS option.
12. Check to see if the account was synced on your current time and date.

12 Things Which Constitute Real Richness

I am currently (8:20 PM 17 December 2014) listening to an audiobook of Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich" and from the beginning, these 12 things already caught my attention.

1. A positive mental attitude
2. Sound, physical health
3. Harmony in human relations
4. Freedom from fear
5. The hope of future achievement
6. The capacity for applied faith
7. Willingness to share one's blessings with others
8. To be engage in the labor of love
9. An open mind on all subjects towards all people
10. Complete self-discipline
11. Wisdom on which to understand people
12. Financial security

12 Days Before Christmas 2014

And what happened today, 13 December 2014...

1. Final examination on CMSC201 (Discrete Mathematics) at UP Baguio.
2. Walked up to Burnham park, withdrew money and walked back to Harrison road and deposited money for savings.
3. Bought four hardbound books at Booksale wherein we had 5% discount on items we purchased because the clerk informed us that 5% discount can be availed for a total cost of 1,000 pesos.
4. Bought additional gifts to avoid Christmas holiday rush next week.
5. Bought RJ acrylic epoxy spray paint colored signal red at Ace Hardware.
6. Had a post-monthsary lunch date with Love at Pizza Hut Session road and tried out their new Cheesy Pockets pizza.
7. Took home two Dairy Queen Blizzard ice creams for dessert and a box of Dilly Bar chocolate
8. Slept for almost two hours.
9. Love, gift wrapped additional gifts.
10. Had two boiled corns, Auntie Anne's pretzel and Kalinga brewed coffee for dinner.
11. Watched movies while browsing the internet.
12. Registered at origin.com to get the limited free SimCity 2000 PC game.

F(rancisco) Sionil Jose

1. Turned 90 years old, today, 3 December 2014. He was born on Dec. 3, 1924 in Rosales, Pangasinan.
2. Has outlived and out-produced most of his contemporaries.
3. He is perhaps the most widely known abroad with most of his writings translated into 22 foreign languages which is more than those of any other Filipino writer and well ahead of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
4. Has a five-novel masterpiece, the Rosales saga, consisting of (1) The Pretenders, (2) Tree, (3) My Brother, My Executioner, (4) Mass, and (5) Po-on, wherein he was able to tell Philippine history while simultaneously narrating the lives of generations of the Samsons whose personal lives intertwine with the social struggles of the nation.
5. Founder of the Philippine chapter of the international organization PEN.
6. Awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1980.
7. Received the Outstanding Fulbrighters Award for Literature in 1988.
8. He was bestowed the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts in 1999.
9. He has also won the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres from France in 2000.
10. National Artist for Literature award in 2001.
11. Also received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award in 2004
12. Owner of Solidaridad Bookshop on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila which offers mostly hard-to-find books and Filipiniana reading materials.

References:

http://fsioniljose.blogspot.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Sionil_Jos%C3%A9

http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca/org-awards/literature/fsionil_jose.php

http://www.manilatimes.net/f-sionil-jose-turns-90/146108/

http://www.philstar.com/author/F.%20Sionil%20Jose/HINDSIGHT

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/252268.F_Sionil_Jos_

http://biography.jrank.org/pages/4741/Sionil-Jose-F-rancisco.html

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/tag/f.-sionil-jose

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEN_International

IDEVAW 2014 - Engr Fidela Salvador

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women or IDEVAW.

1. In Baguio City today, 24 November 2014, the Alliance of indigenous women's organization in the Cordillera commemorates the quest for justice for Engr. Fidela "Delle" Salvador who was brutally killed by the 41st IB in Lacub, Abra on 5 September 2014.
2. On 17 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25 as the annual date of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in commemoration of the death of the three Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic.
3. This day also marked the beginning of a 16-day period of Activism against Gender Violence. The end of the 16 days, on 10 December, is noted as International Human Rights Day. 
4. The Mirabal Sisters who are also known as Las Mariposas or The Butterflies are the four Dominican sisters who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, three of whom were assassinated on 25 November 1960. Their assassination turned them into "symbols of both popular and feminist resistance". After their assasination, they were then known as the "Unforgettable Butterflies".
5. Patricia Mercedes Mirabal (born on 27 February 1924) was famous for saying "We cannot allow our children to grow up in this corrupt and tyrannical regime, we have to fight against it, and I am willing to give up everything, including my life if necessary".
6. Minerva Argentina Mirabal (born on 12 March 1926) was famous for saying "....it is a source of happiness to do whatever can be done for our country that suffers so many anguishes, it is sad to stay with one's arms crossed..."
7. Maria Teresa Mirabal (born on 15 October 1935) Maria was famous for saying ".....perhaps what we have most near is death, but that idea does not frighten me, we shall continue to fight for that which is just.."
8. Like the Mirabal sisters, Engr. Fidela "Delle" Salvador is also an Unforgettable Butterfly who was a courageous woman who worked selflessly in the area of Lacub, Abra for project monitoring activity being the independent consultant of the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services and who was killed during the pursuit operation of the state armed forces against the New People's Army.
9. Engr. Salvador, 50 years old, and a mother of three children is a consultant of the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services Inc. (CorDisRDS) and the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera (CDPC). She was on a monitoring visit for various socio-economic projects implemented by CorDiSRDS and CDPC in Lacub, Abra when she was killed by the AFP in their operations. Engr. Fidela B. Salvador is a committed development worker, a Project Consultant, a civilian and a non combatant; and not a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) as claimed by the AFP.
10. On 6 September 2014, Engr. Salvador’s body along with the dead body of another civilian, Lacub resident Noel Viste, was airlifted by the AFP from their Bantugo military camp in Lacub to the Barbarit, Lagangilang, military camp. Attendants of the Pineda Funeral Homes fetched and brought them to the Pineda Funeral Homes in Bangued where her body was identified by the staff of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) on the evening of 6 September 2014.
11. The killing of Engr. Delle is the latest extra-judicial killing perpetrated against an environmental advocate, specifically a disaster responder. A total of 77 environmental advocates have been killed since 2001, of which 39 killings occurred under the administration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino.
12. With Engr. Delle’s death, there are now seven (7) disaster responders that have been killed under the Aquino government, including humanitarian workers, disaster survivors, and grassroots disaster responders.

Below is just an excerpt from http://pinoyweekly.org/new/?p=31841 

The autopsy report was released on 18 September 2014. Prior to this, a case conference with Dr. Ronald Bandonill was held on September 15. Here he discussed salient points of his examination of Engr. Fidela’s body.

The report states that, Engr. Salvador’s cause of death is described as:

+HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK secondary to GUNSHOT WOUNDS, POSTERIOR TRUNK AREA+
+BLUNT TRAUMATIC INJURY, BACK OF THE HEAD, Contributory+.

Nine bullets entered the body of Engr. Fidela. The damage they brought to her vital organs (heart and lungs) might have killed her instantaneously. But the finding that the blunt traumatic injury (comminuted fracture–meaning skull broken into particles) at back of her head as contributory cause of death, and the contusions, massive lacerations, massive hematoma, among the significant findings of the autopsy painted a scenario that directly questioned the validity of the AFP claim that she was killed in an encounter.

It pointed to the possibility of torture.

An officer of the legal department of PNP-Abra also stated that the 41st IB did not submit a report on Engr. Delle to the SOCO (Scene of the Crime Officer). Yet they had in their possession her ID – a photo of which is posted in their social media page.
- See more at: http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2014/10/letter-quest-for-justice-for-engr-delle-bugarin-salvador/#sthash.1wFPMhfp.dpuf

Front of pamphlet given during the IDEVAW 2014 celebration

Back of pamphlet given during the IDEVAW 2014 celebration

References:

fidela salvador
CDPC-DEFEND! Statement: Justice for Engr. Fidela Salvador
NGO worker Delle Salvador is killed in Lacub, Cordillera
LETTER | Quest for Justice for Engr. Delle Bugarin Salvador
Justice for Engr. Delle Salvador and all Disaster Responders at Risk!
September 24, 2014 URGENT CALL TO STOP THE AFP OPERATIONS IN LACUB, ABRA
Last Surviving Mirabal Sister, Doña Dede, Dead at 88
Mirabal Sisters of The Dominican Republic
The Murder of the Mirabal Sisters: Flashback 1960
Mirabal sisters

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Today is the 150th birthday of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

1. Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec Monfa was born in Albi, Tarn in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France, the firstborn child of Comte Alphonse and Comtesse Adele de Toulouse-Lautrec.
2. Henri's parents, the Comte and Comtesse, were first cousins (Henri's two grandmothers were sisters) and Henri suffered from congenital health conditions sometimes attributed to a family history of inbreeding.
3. At age twelve Toulouse-Lautrec broke his left leg and at fourteen his right leg and the bones did not heal properly, and his legs ceased to grow. The post-Impressionist, whose legs stopped growing when he was a child so that he grew to a height of 1.54m (5ft 1in), was one of the most celebrated characters of La Belle Epoque.
4. Deprived of the physical life that a normal body would have permitted, Toulouse-Lautrec lived completely for his art. Lautrec's physical appearance contributed to his suffering from alcoholism, and he's thought to have invented the notorious cocktail "Earthquake" - 3 parts Absinthe, 3 parts Cognac, over ice. 
5. The bright green and alarmingly potent spirit Absinthe became the creative fuel for the bohemian artists of the day. It became known as "the queen of poisons", favoured by Lautrec, Picasso and van Gogh.
6. In his 20-year art career, Toulouse-Lautrec was exceptionally prolific, creating 737 canvases, 275 watercolours, 363 prints and posters and at least 5,084 drawings - as well as ceramic and stained glass work.
7. "The Laundress" is the painting that set a new record when Christie's auction house sold it in 2005 for $22.4m.
8. Actress Marcelle Lender was a favourite subject of Toulouse-Lautrec, who had a passion for theatre in all forms.
9. The young Pablo Picasso imitated Toulouse-Lautrec when he first visited Paris and in fact, Toulouse-Lautrec influenced Picasso’s concept of art throughout his career.
10. “A favourite model was a red-haired prostitute called Rosa la Rouge from whom he allegedly contracted syphilis.”
11. An alcoholic for most of his adult life, Toulouse-Lautrec was placed in a sanatorium (also spelled sanitorium and sanitarium) after a particularly violent bout of delerium tremens in 1889 shortly before his death. He recovered and was released, but died in 1901 from complications due to alcoholism and syphilis at the age of 34 at the family estate in Malrome, fewer than three months before his 37th birthday. He is buried in Verdelais, Gironde, a few kilometers from the Chateau of Malrome, where he died.
12. Toulouse-Lautrec's last words reportedly were: "Le vieux con!" ("Old fool!")

References:

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec Biography
Henri de Toulouse Lautrec: Google celebrates 150th anniversary of French artist's birth
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901)
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec [French Post-Impressionist Painter and Printmaker, 1864-1901]
Why Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is much more than Google Doodle’s poster boy
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: The French painter's 10 most famous works and facts about his life

Universal Children's Day

1. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, promotes and coordinates this special day for international children, which also works towards improving children's welfare and lives all over the globe.
2. By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children.
3. The General Assembly recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. 
4. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. 
5. On 20 November 1958 the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
6. The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989.
7. The Convention on the Rights of the Child can be downloaded on this link: http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/children/participation/CRC-C-GC-12.pdf
8. UNICEF is dedicated to meeting the six of eight goals that apply to the needs of children so that they are all entitled to basic rights written in the 1989 international human rights treaty.
9. In September 2012, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations led the initiative for the education of children.
10. Universal Children's Day is not simply a day to celebrate children for who they are, but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have succumbed to violence in forms of abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
11. The International Labour Organization in 1999 adopted the Prohibition and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour including slavery, child prostitution and child pornography.
12. Canada co-chaired the World Summit for children in 1990 and in 2002 the United Nations reaffirmed the commitment to complete the agenda of the 1990 World Summit.

References:

Universal Children's Day 20 November
Children's Day
Universal Children's Day 2014: 6 Fun Facts; 10 Quotes and Wishes to Take Inspiration From
COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Fifty-first session Geneva, 25 May-12 June 2009

question and answer # one 🙋

How many 12-letter arrangements can you form from the letters of the word "COMPUTER" if repetition of letters is allowed? 

12 Thoughts From An Unexpected Visit

We had an unexpected visit from a missionary today, 18 November 2014, in our office. She was Sister Lilia Gonzales-Pre, a lay missionary who encourages everyone to have a deep devotion to the Divine Mercy.

She did an spiritual talk to us and we did enjoyed, learned and had an spiritual enlightenment and spiritual healing. There are some things I have learned and tried to remembered during her very simple yet profound talk.

YAGIT KA

For most people, yagit means mahirap. To God, most of us are YAGIT. People don't want to be yagit or experience being yagit. People do not want to be in pain, to be hurt or to be poor. Ayaw ng taong maging mahirap o mahirapan.

Then she expounded on these letters. These are included on the 12 things that caught my attention.

1. Y - Yabang | "alisin ang yabang" People who are boastful have this motto: "I know everything and they do nothing."
2. A - Api | "okay lang ang inaapi dahil kakampi mo ang Diyos". Vengeance is God's alone.
3. G - Galit | "alisin ang galit dahil ang galit ang kadalasang pinagmumulang ng sakit"
4. I - Inggit | "huwag maiinggit dahil ito ay nagdudulot ng galit lalo na sa mga gustong maging pangit."
5. T - Tapang | "huwag masyadong matapang dahil maraming namamatay sa sobrang katapangan lalo kung wala sa lugar" "pwede mo ring sabihin kapag hinahamon ka ng ganito:"hindi ako katalo, pero malapit ka na (while pointing your hand to the ground which figuratively means that you are closer to the demon or the devil's act is upon you)
6. T - (another meaning of T) Takaw | "huwag maging matakaw"
7. Ka - Kakuriputan | "huwag pairalin ang kakuriputan at pati ang sarili ay pinagdadamutan pa o pinagkakaitan pa ang sarili"
8. Love your parents. Mahalin mo ang iyong mga magulang.
9. Love your parents-in-law too because without them you will never knew your wife or husband whom you are loving. Isampit mo na rin ang iyong mga biyenan dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanila hindi mo mapapangasawa ang iyong asawa na iyong minamahal. 
10. Give money to your parents. Bigyan mo ng pera ang iyong mga magulang. Do not go home with free hand. Always bring or buy something even small to your parents. 
11. Magpatawad. Kapatawaran. Forgive. Learn to forgive.
12. Bayaran mo (na) ang iyong mga utang. Pay your debts (already). "Eh wala pa naman akong pambayad." If there's a will, there's a way. Kailangang bayaran mo ang mga utang mo dahil ang perang inutang mo ay pinaghirapan din ng taong inutangan mo. Ang taong walang utang, deretso kung maglakad. Ang taong may utang, paliko-liko kung maglakad dahil kapag nakita na ang pinagkaka-utangan sa kanan, iwas sa kaliwa at kapag sa kaliwa naman nakita, iwas naman sa kanan. Mahirap mamatay ng may mga utang. 

Sister Lilia also mentioned that she had a vision two days before a tsunami and earthquake devastated parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and other places.

Later, on her closing remarks and after the "healing" part, she told us to always pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary by praying the Rosary every day. We should also pray to the Holy Spirit for spiritual guidance and enlightenment. Also, we need to pray to the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph because he is the patron of the dying.

She also recommended to attend 9 consecutive First Friday Masses starting December 5.

In return for this spiritual talk, I bought a copy of her CD to aid her in her missionary works in my own little way. 

Front of the CD

Back of the CD

Note: For spiritual talk, healing and counseling: Please contact Sis. Lilia Pre

Mobile No. 09198413544

I tried to search for a few references in the internet about her and I only found one.

Song to the Divine Mercy 

For the tsunami and earthquake, the references are:

Why Didn’t the Tsunami Hit Singapore & Australia? 
Tsunami devastates Indian Ocean coast
11 Facts About the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
2004: Thousands die in Asian tsunami

12 Akimbo Alternatives

I started listening to the audiobook "Steve Jobs: Biography" using Akimbo audiobook player and I had a chance to view this 12 alternative for this audiobook.

1. Ambling BookPlayer Pro
2. Listen Audiobook Player
3. MortPlayer Audio Books
4. Smart AudioBook Player
5. OverDrive Media Console
6. Donation for my apps
7. Astro Player (old)
8. Ginkgo Audio Book Player
9. Audiobook Player 2
10. LibriVox Audio Books Free
11. Ambling BookPlayer Lite
12. MortPlayer Widgets

References:

12 Best Alternatives to Akimbo Audiobook Player (android) | AppCrawlr

12 Metropolitan Areas of the Philippines

Last 5-6 November 2014, the first tourism summit for BLISTT was held in Baguio City. BLISTT is among the 12 metropolitan areas in the Philippines as identified by NEDA or National Economic and Development Authority.

The 12 metropolitan areas of the Philippines as identified by NEDA are:

1. Metro Manila

• Manila
• Caloocan
• Las Piñas
• Makati
• Malabon
• Mandaluyong
• Marikina
• Muntinlupa
• Navotas
• Parañaque
• Pasay
• Pasig
• Pateros
• Quezon City
• San Juan
• Taguig
• Valenzuela

2. Metro Cebu

• Cebu City
• Carcar
• Compostela
• Consolacion
• Cordova
• Danao City
• Lapu-Lapu City
• Liloan
• Mandaue City
• Minglanilla
• Naga
• San Fernando
• Talisay City

3. Metro Davao

• Davao City
• Digos City
• Panabo City
• Island Garden City of Samal
• Santa Cruz
• Tagum City

4. Metro Cagayan de Oro

• Cagayan de Oro City
• Alubijid
• Baungon
• Claveria
• El Salvador
• Gitagum
• Jasaan
• Laguindingan
• Libona
• Malitbog
• Manolo Fortich
• Opol
• Sumilao
• Tagoloan
• Talakag

5. Metro Angeles

• Angeles City
• Bacolor
• Mabalacat
• Porac
• San Fernando City

6. Metro Iloilo-Guimaras

• Iloilo City
• Guimaras Province
• Leganes
• Oton
• Pavia
• San Miguel
• Santa Barbara

7. Metro Bacolod

• Bacolod City
• Silay City
• Talisay City

8. Metro Naga

• Naga City
• Bombon
• Bula
• Calabanga
• Camaligan
• Canaman
• Gainza
• Magarao
• Milaor
• Minalabac
• Ocampo
• Pamplona
• Pasacao
• Pili
• San Fernando

9. BLISTT

• Baguio City
• Itogon
• La Trinidad
• Sablan
• Tuba
• Tublay

10. Metro Batangas

• Batangas City
• Bauan
• San Pascual

11. CAMADA

• Dagupan City
• Calasiao
• Mangaldan

12. Metro Olongapo

• Olongapo City
• Subic

References:

Metro Baguio 
Why BLISTT?
Philippine Metropolitan Areas 
Cities of the Philippines 
The 12 Metropolitan Areas of the Philippines 
NEDA 

Plastic

Plastic Bags

We had an opportunity to purchased several groceries from a Sari Sari Store Bonanza event which was on its 4th year already. It was a jam-packed event but there really were so much savings most especially for store owners.

Upon arriving at home, what caught my attention was one of the plastic bag that was used for one of the items we bought.

Here are 12 interesting things printed in the photo below.

SAVE EARTH USE PLASTIC BAGS

Photo taken using my own Starmobile Turbo phone.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC BAGS ARE:

1. Recyclable
2. Reusable
3. Degradable
4. Non Toxic
5. Saves Water
6. Saves Trees
7. Affordable
8. Lesser Landfill Space
9. Convertible to Gasoline & Diesel
10. Does not cause GLOBAL WARMING
11. The above Claims are SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN.
12. DO NOT be misled by false accusations made by those without SCIENTIFIC PROOF.

By: PPIA (Philippine Plastic Industry Association)


I am not against the use of paper bags especially for groceries but plastic bags are really practical especially for wet market items.

Regarding saving earth, upon analyzing it thoroughly, the use of plastics really saves a lot of trees from being cut in contrast to the number of fallen trees used for paper production.

Also, at this age of information technology, we should be promoting "PAPERLESS" system especially for our documents. This is off-topic already and we do still need papers among other things which need not be listed here.

We cannot really stop the production of plastics as well as the production of papers. For environmental purposes, it is really just a matter of proper disposal of garbage which includes segregation. Waste management is a big issue and plastics are just a fraction of it because wastes also includes papers, steels, human wastes among other things.

HELP SAVE EARTH BY PROMOTING CORRECT WASTE MANAGEMENT.

And yes, at home, we do practice segregation of plastics, papers, bottles, cans and residuals. It is our way of contributing in helping our Mother Earth.

References:

List of Waste Types
Rethink ban on plastics: association 
Plastics manufacturers cut down production amid ban

Goodreads Alternatives

1. LibraryThing -
2. Shelfari -
3. weRead
4. The Reading Room - 
5. Libib -
6. Booklamp -
7. Reader2 -
8. Anobii -
9. Riffle Books -
10. BookLikes - 
11. Thirdscribe -
12. Slice Bookshelf -

References:

12 Alternatives to Goodreads

Carlos Garcia

1. His full name is Carlos Polistico Garcia. 
2. He was born in Talibon, Bohol on 4 November 1896.
3. He died from a fatal heart attack at the age of 74 on 14 June 1971.
4. He was a lawyer, poet, teacher and a guerrilla leader too. 
5. He was the vice president of Magsaysay and Secretary of Foreign Affairs for 4 years.
6. He became the 8th President of the Philippines and 4th President of the Third Republic (18 March 1957 -  30 December 1961) when Magsaysay died in 1957.
7. He was famous for his Filipino First Policy. 
8. He established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce. 
9. He was one of the founders of the Association for Southeast Asia in 1963 wwhich is now called Association for Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. 
10. He was known as the "Prince of Visayan Poets" and the "bard from Bohol". 
11. Cultural arts was revived during his term. 
12. He became the first layman to lie in state at the Manila Cathedral which is an honour previously reserved for deceased Archbishops of Manila and the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. 

References:

TAGALOG  LANG -  Filipino Presidents  -  Biography and Accomplishments 
Achievements of president Carlos Garcia 
Presidents of the Philippines and their Achievements and Contributions 
Carlos P. Garcia

12 Things SUCCESSFUL People Do in the 1st Hour of the Workday

1. They step back and reflect.
2. They strategize.
3. They check their to-do lists and calendars.
4. They update their to-do lists and calendars.
5. They acknowledge and plan for the tough projects.
6. They don't address "people conflict".
7. They write something that requires thought.
8. They greet the team.
9. They glance at emails.
10. They avoid distraction.
11. They don't hold meetings.
12. They relax.

Reference:

12 Things Successful People Do in the First Hour of the Workday

12th Candidate Miss World Philippines 2014

Candidate No. 12 of Miss World Philippines 2014

1. Her full name is Christine Ramos Balaguer.
2. Her hometown is Boracay, Aklan.
3. Her height is 5'6" and she is 24 years old when she joined Miss World Philippines 2014.
4. She was one of the Top 13 semifinalists in the Miss World Philippines 2014.
5. She won the Special Award of Miss Friendship, tying up with Candidate No. 6, Kristine Angeli Estoque.
6. She is a successful fashion model with Elites Model Management.
7. Tin-tin loves to swim, jog and ride her bicycle. 
8. The last marathon she joined was a 42-km distance run. 
9. She also plays football.
10. She is a member of the RCP Sea Dragons (Dragon Boat team)
11. She is deaf.
12. Her advocacy is to be a role model for disabled and deaf people like her by being an inspiration to them and boosting their confidence and also show them that they can achieve everything in life if they believe that they can, despite their disabilities.

References:

Miss World Philippines 2014: Candidate No. 12 Christine Balaguer
Miss World Philippines 
Miss World Philippines 2014
Christine Balaguer: From Paddles to Pageants
Christine Balaguer by Dennis Natividad · 365 Project
Miss World Philippines 2014: Vote Christine Balaguer For Yahoo Philippines Readers' Choice

World Rabies Day

1. Rabies is a zoonosis (a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans) that is caused by a virus. 
2. It is known to be present in more than 150 countries and territories of all continents except Antarctica.
3. Rabies is a 100% preventable disease that causes inflammation of the brain and eventual death. There is no way to stop or retard the progression of the disease once it has begun, and death almost always results within two weeks.
4. Rabies is wide-spread and potentially threatens over 3 billion people in Asia and Africa, where people most at risk live in rural areas with very limited or no access to human vaccines and immunoglobulins.
5. Rabies is present in the nerves and saliva of an infected animal. While human beings usually cannot fight a potential rabies infection without medication, some bird species have been known to develop antibodies and recover from the disease.
6. September 28 is World Rabies Day and it has been recognised as such by the United Nations and marked every year since 2007. The first World Rabies Day campaign took place in September 2007 as a partnership between the Alliance for Rabies Control and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA (CDC), with the co-sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/AMRO).The day has been chosen as the World Rabies Day because it is the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine.
7. There is hope for a cure for rabies. In 2004, American teenager Jeanna Giese became the first known person to have survived an infection of rabies without being vaccinated. She was bitten by a bat on her way back from school, and received no further treatment after the bite wound was treated with hydrogen peroxide. She developed neurological symptoms after 37 days and was eventually diagnosed with rabies. The doctors put Giese into an induced coma to temporarily halt brain function, which they thought would halt the progression of the disease. Giese was given a mixture of ketamine and midazolam to suppress brain activity, and the antiviral drugs ribavirin and amantadine, while waiting for her immune system to produce antibodies to attack the virus. The treatment succeeded and came to be known as the Milwaukee protocol. Though Giese had difficulty with walking and balance for several years hence, she became the first person to be cured of rabies.
8. Similar treatment has proved successful in 2 of another 20 patients so far. Overall, the treatment seems to have a success rate of less than 10%. However, it provides hope for an eventual cure for rabies. Until then, it is best to take precautions to avoid animal bites, and seek immediate and appropriate treatment if bites occur.
9. The problem with rabies is that symptoms do not usually occur immediately, but vaccinations must be taken within 48 hours (and an absolute maximum of a week) to prevent rabies from occurring after a dog bite. The symptoms (if post-exposure treatment is not taken promptly and correctly) usually manifest within one to three months, though there have been cases of symptoms occurring within a week, and after six years. The time lag between the bite and symptoms happens because the rabies virus must reach the central nervous system before the occurrence of symptoms. Additionally, it is thought that the distance of the place of bite from the brain and spinal cord also determines the period of onset of symptoms. According to WebMD, rabies symptoms initially feel like influenza. They include fever and tingling at the site of exposure (the bite). After a few days, the person may develop violent movements, fear of water (hydrophobia), paralysis of the body, inability to consume food, confusion, loss of consciousness and an urge to bite others. Paranoia, anxiety, double vision and hallucinations also may occur. The end result is almost always death. With the progression of the disease, the dog may become very sensitive to light, sound and touch. It may hide in dark places and develop paralysis of the throat muscles, which could result in foaming at the mouth. Paralysis of hind legs is also possible. Loss of appetite, weakness and seizures may also occur. Eventually, the dog dies.
10. According to the National Guidelines on Rabies Prophylaxis (of the Government of India), firstly, it is essential to immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. This is known to reduce the threat of infection. Next, it is necessary to visit a clinic which provides anti-rabies vaccination as soon as possible. The doctor usually checks the area of the bite and decides treatment based on it known as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). The treatment usually involves administration of anti-rabies vaccine on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28. Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) is also administered. The treatment is given both intra-dermal and intra-muscular. A tetanus shot and a course of antibiotics may also be recommended.
11. There are two types of Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG), which is essential to prevent rabies (vaccination alone is not enough after being bitten). Either can be provided to the bitten person:
1. Equine Rabies Immunoglobulin (ERIG): ERIG is produced from hyper-immunisation of equine animals. It is cheap and readily available in India. The dose of ERIG is 40 IU per kg body weight of patient.
   
   Purified chick embryo vaccine or purified duck embryo vaccine would be provided in addition to ERIG/HRIG.
   
   
2. Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG): HRIG is expensive but free from any side effects. The dose of the HRIG is 20 IU per kg body weight. 
12. It is important not to miss out on any anti-rabies doses. If a dose is missed on any day, it is necessary to take it as soon as possible. Abandonement of subsequent doses after the first medication on Day 0 can result in eventual development of rabies.

References:

On World Rabies Day, here's all you need to know about rabies and its prevention
World Rabies Day
World Rabies Day From Wikipedia
World Rabies Day is September 28
Rabies
Rabies still kills
World Rabies Day Raising Rabies Awareness
CDC Features World Rabies Day

Miguel Malvar

1. Miguel Malvar y Carpio was born on 27 September 1865 in New York street in Cubao, Quezon City, to Maximo Malvar (locally known as Capitan Imoy) and Tiburcia Carpio (locally known as Capitana Tibo).
2. In 1891, Malvar married Paula Maloles who was the beautiful daughter of the capitan municipal of Santo Tomas, Don Ambrocio Maloles. Ulay, as she was locally known, bore Malvar thirteen (13) children, but only eleven (11) of them survived: Bernabe, Aurelia, Marciano, Maximo, Crispina, Mariquita, Luz Constancia, Miguel (Junior), Pablo, Paula, and Isabel. Malvar had the habit of bringing his family with him as he went to battled during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. 
3. General Malvar assumed command of the Philippine revolutionary forces when Emilio Aguinaldo surrendered to the Americans in 1901.
4. General Malvar surrended to General J. Franklin Bell on 13 April 1902 mainly due to desertion of his top officers and to put an end to the sufferings of his countrymen.
5. After the war, General Malvar refused any position which the Americans offered him and he died in Manila on 13 October 1911 due to liver failure.
6. General Malvar was buried in his hometown, Santo Tomas, Batangas on 15 October 1911.
7. According to some historians, he could have been listed as one of the presidents of the Philippines but is currently not recognized as such by the Philippine government.
8. Malvar, Batangas is a second (2nd) class municipality which was named in honor of the late General Miguel Malvar.
9. Malvar, Batangas was created a municipality by virtue of a proclamation by the acting Governor General of the Philippines Honorable Charles B. Yeater, on the 16th of December 1918. The proclamation took effect on 10 January 1919 and on the same day the municipality was inaugurated. Luta was Malvar's old name before it became a municipality.
10. The Miguel Malvar class corvette was named after General Malvar which is a ship class of patrol corvettes of the Philippine Navy and are currently its oldest class of corvettes.
11. On 18 September 2007 Congressman Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro filed House Bill 2594 declaring General Malvar as the second Philippine President, alleging that it is incorrect to consider Manuel L. Quezon as the Second President of the Philippine Republic serving after Emilio Aguinaldo: "General Malvar took over the revolutionary government after General Emilio Aguinaldo, first President of the Republic, was captured on March 23, 1901, and [was] exiled in Hong Kong by the American colonial government---since he was next in command." Also, in October 2011, Vice President Jejomar Binay sought the help of historians in proclaiming revolutionary General Miguel Malvar as the rightful second President of the Philippines.
12. PROCLAMATION NO. 853  DECLARING SATURDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2014, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MALVAR, BATANGAS.

References:

Miguel Malvar
Malvar, Batangas
Malvar
Proclamation No. 853, s. 2014

First Dismissed Sandiganbayan Justice

1. Ong is the first Sandiganbayan justice dismissed by the high court. Prior to Ong, the anti-graft court indefinitely suspended Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena in 2001.
2. Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory S. Ong was dismissed on 23 September 2014 by the Supreme Court (SC) for “gross misconduct, dishonesty and impropriety” over his links to the alleged pork-barrel scam architect Janet Lim-Napoles.
3. This was the second offense committed by Ong. In 2011, the SC ruled with finality that Ong had committed conduct unbecoming of justices when he and two other Sandiganbayan justices mishandlled the trial of cases in Davao City in April 2006. Assistant Prosecutor Rohermia Jamsani-Rodriguez had alleged that the anti-graft court's Fourth Division simultaneously heard two cases together, with Ong hearing one case by himself, while the two other magistrates heard the other. The Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division compromised their ability to function as a collegial body when its three members heard two cases simultaneously, the Supreme Court said in its ruling.
4. Ong's dismissal came with the "forfeiture of all retirement benefits, except accrued leave benefits, if any, and with prejudice to reemployment in any branch, agency or instrumentality of the government including government-owned and controlled corporation." The SC said its decision was "immediately executory."
5. Ong was born on 25 May 1953 in San Juan City, Manila. He finished elementary and high school education at the Philippine Chinese Chen Kuang (1966) and at the Jose Rizal College (with honors, 1970), respectively. He earned his AB Political Science degree at Far Eastern University (1975), and his Bachelor of Laws at San Beda College of Law (1979), where he became Grand Judex of Lex Talionis Fraternitas. He passed the 1979 Philippine Bar Examination with a bar rating of 76.45%. He studied Master of Laws at the Manuel L. Quezon University (1992).
6. Ong was the most senior associate justice of the Sandiganbayan or the longest-sitting justice of the anti-graft court. Ong was appointed associate justice and the chair of the fourth division of the Sandiganbayan by former president and Manila City mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on 5 October 1998, making him the longest sitting justice. He was scheduled to retire 25 May 2023 when he reaches 70.
7. He was promoted as SC justice on 16 May 2007 during the Arroyo administration but it was withdrawn after his citizenship was questioned. Since the creation of the Philippine Supreme Court in 1901, no presidential appointment of a Supreme Court Associate had ever been nullified by the High Tribunal. But on 3 July 2007 the Adolfo Azcuna judgment made history. The Court granted the petition of two foundations that sought to block Ong’s appointment over the citizenship issue. Azcuna wrote that Ong would be unable to join them on the bench "until he had proven in court that he was a natural-born Filipino citizen and corrected the records of his birth and citizenship". The court declared its decision to be final and effective immediately.
8. Ong was the seventh richest associate justice in the Sandiganbayan with a net worth of P16 million, according to his 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
9. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno ordered an investigation against Ong after Benhur Luy and Marina Sula, whistleblowers in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, accused the anti-graft court justice as the contact of Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged mastermind in the fund anomaly.
10. Ong, was the chairman of the Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division, who allegedly fixed the 2010 decision that acquitted Napoles and her husband, Jaime, over the anomalous sale of 500 Kevlar helmets to the Philippine Marines in 1998.
11. Napoles, currently detained on illegal detention charges and is facing separate graft and plunder charges, is accused of using bogus non-government organizations to misuse lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the formal name of pork barrel. 
12. Voting 8-5-2 or eight in favor of Ong’s dismissal, five against and two abstentions, the high court in a per curiam (by the court) decision said: The “totality of the circumstances of such association strongly indicates (Ong’s) corrupt inclinations that only heightened the public’s perception of anomaly in the decision making process.”

Those who voted for Ong’s dismissal were:
* Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno,
* Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio,
* Associate Justices Arturo Brion,
* Mariano Del Castillo,
* Martin Villarama Jr.,
* Estella Perlas-Bernabe,
* Marvic Leonen,
* and Francis Jardeleza.
Those who dissented were:
* Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin,
* Presbitero Velasco,
* Jose Perez,
* Jose Mendoza, and
* Bienvenido Reyes.
Out of the 15 SC magistrates, two justices have abstained from the case — Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Diosdado Peralta — former colleagues of Ong in the anti-graft court or the Sandiganbayan.

References:

Sandiganbayan Justice Ong resigns
Palace lauds SC decision vs Ong
Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong dismissed over Napoles link
Sandigan Justice Ong dismissed
Who is Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong?
Gregory S. Ong

Martial Law in the Philippines

Proclamation No. 1081 read in part:

“ My countrymen, as of the twenty-first of this month, I signed Proclamation № 1081 placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law... ”
— Ferdinand Marcos, September 21, 1972

1. Martial law in the Philippines (Tagalog: Batas Militar sa Pilipinas; Spanish: ley marcial en Filipinas) refers to several intermittent periods in Philippine history wherein the Philippine head of state (such as the President) proclaims that an area is placed under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Martial law is declared either when there is near-violent civil unrest or in cases of major natural disasters, however most countries use a different legal construct like "state of emergency".
2. Typically, the imposition of martial law accompanies curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus, and the application or extension of military law or military justice to civilians. Civilians defying martial law may be subjected to military tribunals (court-martial).
3. On 30 August 1896, Spanish Governor-General Ramón Blanco, 1st Marquis of Peña Plata, declared "state of war" in the provinces of Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija and place them under martial law.
4. On 23 June 1898, another decree signed by Emilio Aguinaldo was issued, replacing the Dictatorial Government with a Revolutionary Government, with himself as President.
5. On 22 September 1944, martial law came into effect when President José P. Laurel of the wartime Second Philippine Republic (puppet-government under Japan) placed the Philippines under martial law in 1944 through Proclamation No. 29, dated 21 September 1944.  Proclamation No. 30 was issued the next day, declaring the existence of a state of war between the Philippines and the US and Great Britain. This took effect on 23 September 1944.
6. On 21 September 1972, but it was actually signed on 17 September 1972 by President Ferdinand Marcos. The formal announcement of the proclamation was made only at seven-thirty in the evening of 23 September 1972, about twenty-two hours after he had commanded his military collaborators to start arresting his political opponents and close down all media and retail (fashion, food, religious, sports) establishments.
7. Proclamation № 1081 was the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It became effective throughout the entire country on 21 September 1972, and was announced to the public two days later. It was formally lifted on 17 January 1981—six months before the first presidential election in the Philippines in twelve years.
8. Under the pretext of an assassination of then-Defence Secretary (now Senator) Juan Ponce Enrile and an ensuing Communist insurgency, President Marcos enacted the Proclamation that he might be able to rule by military power.
9. He initially signed the Proclamation on 17 September 1972, but it was postdated to 21 September 1972 because of Marcos' superstitions and numerological beliefs. Marcos formally announced the Proclamation in a live television and radio broadcast from Malacañang Palace a further two days later on the evening of 23 September 1972.
10. The following year, President Marcos replaced the 1935 Constitution with a new one that changed the system of government from a presidential to a parliamentary one, with himself remaining in power as both head of state (with the title "President") and head of government (titled "Prime Minister"). President Marcos also manipulated elections and had his political coalition–the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL; English: New Society Movement)–control the unicameral legislature he created, known as the Batasang Pambansa.
11. President Marcos formally lifted Martial Law on 17 January 1981, several weeks before the first pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to the Philippines for the beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz.
12. On 4 December 2009, in the wake of the Maguindanao massacre, Macapagal-Arroyo placed Maguindanao province under a state of martial law, through Proclamation No. 1959. The declaration also suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the province. The announcement was made days after hundreds of government troops were sent to the province, which would later raid armories of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The Ampatuan family was implicated in the massacre, which saw the murder of 57 persons, including women members of the rival Mangudadatu clan, human rights lawyers, and 31 media workers. This was considered the worst incident of political violence in the nation's history. It has also been condemned worldwide as the worst loss of life of media professionals in one day in the history of journalism. Macapagal-Arroyo lifted the state of martial law in Maguindanao on 12 December 2009.

References:

Proclamation No. 1081
Martial law in the Philippines

12 2nd Big Apple Awardees including 1 Filipino

The Big Apple Awards is a citywide recognition program open to all full-time teachers in New York City public schools. Twelve award recipients, along with more than 100 finalists and semi-finalists, were honored in a ceremony at Gracie Mansion.

“Teachers are the heart and soul of all our schools, and these awards recognize the transformational impact they have on our students and families every single day,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. 

The winners of the second (2nd) annual Big Apple Awards: Recognizing Teacher Excellence in New York City, which celebrate the incredible and life-changing work of public school teachers in New York City.

1. Phyllis Berk Pre-Kindergarten teacher, P.S. 188 Kingsbury (26Q188) Phyllis Berk is a passionate advocate for pre-kindergarten because, as she says, “this is where it all starts.” From exploring the type of cloud that will hold the most water to using a Vaseline-covered leaf to make predictions (along with a game of telephone), Phyllis mixes creativity and rigor to create a classroom environment where each child is valued and challenged. She also helps her students see beyond their classroom by engaging in a pen pal program with students in Botswana. (Her students have corresponded with pictures and letters, and led a fundraising drive for a new library). As an active UFT delegate, Phyllis facilitates dialogue between faculty and school leadership, leading to solutions that support the entire school community.
2. Margaret Boyd 7th grade Math teacher, New York City Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies (02M312) Margaret Boyd “is passionate about math, and her love of teaching comes across in lessons which make learning math fun,” a parent of a student in her class writes. Her classroom exudes joy; students recently passionately debated which polygons would have the greatest area (no rulers allowed!). Margaret also provides opportunities for her students to demonstrate their expertise as “mathletes” in the Continental Math League, the AMC8, and the New York Math League. In addition to her responsibilities as the math chair, Margaret is committed to providing a safe space for all students to learn, including by serving as a school-wide dean and helping craft the school’s anti-bullying policy.
3. Ramil Buenaventura 7th and 8th grade Math teacher, Renaissance Charter School (84Q705) Ramil Buenaventura moved to New York after 13 years as a school teacher and administrator in the Philippines. With ten years under his belt working here, his classroom provides exceptional examples of integrating mathematical practices and common core standards into math lessons. Ramil uses project-based learning, "pi" challenges, and student-created videos to help his class achieve.  And he continues to maintain a close relationship with his country of origin: After Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines last fall, he coordinated a School Relief Drive for victims with his advisory class. All of his efforts, Ramil says, are worth it for the success he sees in his students: “This is the essence of why I am a teacher.  As I see these gains and successes, they challenge me to gain more so I can give more.”
4. Nekesha Bynum 3rd grade teacher, P.S. 310 (20K310) “In this class, one of the important lessons we learn every day is the importance of sharing,” explains one of Nekesha Bynum’s students. Indeed, excitement was abounding on a recent morning when students were able to mix and mingle to Pharrell’s “Happy” and then asked to freeze to share a new learning with a partner. Nekesha’s enthusiasm and expertise has led to great gains for her students, with 86% of her students advancing more than four reading levels during each of the last four years. She says her nine years in the classroom has led to her finding additional ways to support the learning of her colleagues; Nekesha serves as a member of the Core Instructional Team, a mentor teacher, and an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College.
5. Doreen Donnelly 3rd grade teacher, TAG Young Scholars (04M012) Colleagues describe Doreen Donnelly’s classroom as “a mecca for teacher training.” She invites her students to make their thinking visible, often through a shared text. (A recent class involved her third-graders looking at figurative text in Langston Hughes’ “A Dream Deferred” and then creating their own poems). In addition to this shared inquiry approach, Doreen has leveraged her previous experience  managing a media company to collaborate with a non-profit theatre troupe, “The Story Pirates,” to encourage more creative writing at her school. She also designed and launched a morning and afterschool program for students who needed additional support. Her investment in her school community has paid off: This past year TAG Young Scholars was named one of the top-performing 25 schools in all of New York State. 
6. Irina Gonzalez 8th grade Social Studies teacher, J.H.S. 123 James M. Kieran (08X123) Her principal says that Irina Gonzalez “works tirelessly on behalf of her students and our entire school community.” Her nominator, a colleague at her school, says she is a “prototype of what an exemplary teacher should be.” In just two years, Irina has contributed in significant ways to her school and her classroom: leading and chairing the Social Studies department, creating new document-based questions to support her English Language Learners, and coaching her students to a third place victory at the National History Day Regional Competition. In addition, Irina continues to pursue her own professional development by representing her school at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which is committed to the improvement of history education.
7. Joseph Pesqueira 11th grade Social Studies teacher, Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics (09X260) One of his students describes Joseph Pesqueira as the “most dedicated person I know…not only is he there as a teacher, but he is a great man overall.” His student-centered classroom is often “flipped,” which means students take notes on pre-recorded online lessons at home and then come to class ready for rich classroom discussion. (To ensure access, Joseph comes to school early every morning to provide computers to students who do not have Internet at home). A recent discussion on which piece of literature was most important in the development of America included a comparison to the Declaration of the Independence as a ‘break-up letter.’ His work has led to great success for his students: His principal noted that an unprecedented 96 % of his U.S. History students passed the Regents exam, with three out of four students passing with an 80 or higher.
8. Jessica Russo Special Education teacher (Grades 2-5), P.S. 55 Henry M. Boehm (31R055) “Jessica is one of the most amazing teachers I have ever met,” writes a parent. “She taught my daughter, who has Down syndrome, things that I only dreamed she would be able to do.” Jessica Russo carefully matches the needs of her exceptionally diverse set of learners to an expansive repertoire of instructional strategies. Her positive classroom environment, the real-life connections she makes with her students, and the seamless integration of paraprofessionals in her classroom together provide tremendous support to her students. She is also a resource for colleagues, serving as a mentor, a member of the RTI team, and a model classroom teacher for other special education teachers in the district.
9. Jacqueline Stokes Special Education (District 75, students 16-21), The Richard H. Hungerford School (75R721), Stapleton, Staten Island Jacqueline Stokes has been a valued part of the Richard Hungerford School since she asked to be a volunteer there at the age of 11. She kept coming back – first as a sign language paraprofessional for seven years and now as an educator who is known for her passion and her partnerships with her students’ families, including daily phone calls to discuss her students’ successes. Outside of the classroom, Jaqueline continuously seeks opportunities to develop her professional skills to ensure she meets her students’ needs; she attended the TEACH program at Duke University, is ABA trained, and supports new teachers at Bank Street who are working with students with Autism. Her dedication to her students’ success has resulted in the highest scores on alternative-assessments at her school. 
10. Kathryn Vitale 8th grade English Language Arts teacher, Frederick Douglass Academy VIII Middle School (19K452) On Kathryn Vitale’s classroom door, students see the following message: “Welcome. Take off your shoes and stay a while. This place is HOME. Here, your voice matters. Here, you are part of something special, and it is only special because you are here.” Indeed, Kathryn makes every day special because of her ability to, in the words of her principal, “think of innovative ways to make concepts like ‘central idea’ cool.” Her scholars drive the learning in her classroom and beyond, where they participate in her school’s NYC Urban Debate League team (which Kathryn started), poetry slams at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and writing retreats at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Kathryn also contributes to her larger school community, including revamping her school’s extended day program and creating opportunities for colleagues to teach together and learn from each other’s practices.
11. April Yee 1st grade (Bilingual) teacher, P.S. 105 The Blythebourne (20K105) When you walk into April Yee’s classroom, you can feel the positive energy as you see her first graders take on leadership roles – coordinating transitions, giving each other constructive feedback, and even rewarding each other with stickers. As an English Language Learner herself, Chun Yan knows what it takes to support each and every one of her 32 students, many of whom are newcomers to the United States. Her students benefit greatly from her dedication: they have the greatest NYSESLAT growth in her school, with 80% of students exiting her class on or above grade-level. Her commitment to her school extends beyond her classroom, too: April Yan engages in professional learning, writes curriculum maps, and mentors novice teachers. As she describes it: “Teaching is not a job or even a career; it is my life.”
12. Laurence Minetti High School Art teacher, Collegiate Institute for Math and Science (11X288) Big Apple Arts Award Recipient “My school is my home,” Laurence Minetti says. Laurence has the unique opportunity to teach at the same high school campus from which he proudly graduated, and to follow the footsteps of his mother, who was also an educator. His nominator describes his classroom as a “laboratory for his colleagues to visit.” Indeed, it’s a place where self-expression is encouraged and where students learn to be “constructive critics.” As a result, his students see art as a way to build self-confidence, motivation, and courage. His students 'masterpieces are exhibited throughout the entire building. Laurence takes on leadership roles outside of the classroom, training staff on the Common Core shifts, helping to launch an AP Art Studio class on the campus, and organizing a $10,000 beautification initiative.

Eligibility: current, full-time NYC Department of Education and charter school teachers who have demonstrated exceptional success in the following areas: Impact of Students’ Learning + Instructional Practices + Professional Contributions.

References:

This Year's Recipients

Chancellor Fariña Announces Winners  of the 2014 Big Apple Teacher Award

17 September 2014, 399th Foundation Day Los Baños, Laguna

1. Los Baños is a first class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. 
2. The town is located 63 kilometres (39 mi) southeast of Manila and is accessible via the South Luzon Expressway.
3. Los Baños has a total land area of 56.5 square kilometers (5,650 hectares) and is bordered on the south and southwest by Mount Makiling, on the north by Laguna de Bay, on the northwest by Calamba City and on the east by the town of Bay. 
4. The town of Los Baños is crossed by five rivers or creeks:
1. The Dampalit river, which is named after an edible herb Sesuvium portulacastrum which often grows near river shores, originates on the north face of Mt. Makiling east of the Philippine High School for the Arts, and feeds into Laguna lake at the boundary of Barangays Lalakay and Bambang.
2. The Saran creek, whose headwaters begin somewhere near the municipal dumpsite, flows through Barangay Anos near the municipal cemetery, and feeds into the lake at Barangay Malinta.
3. The Pele or Pili creek, named after the Pili tree (Canarium ovatum), flows through the west side of Barangay Batong Malake and has its mouth at the boundary of Barangays Malinta and Mayondon.
4. The Molawin River, most familiar to UPLB students because it flows through the UPLB campus and the Makiling Botanic Gardens, is named after the Molave tree (Vitex parviflora).
5. The Maitim river, whose name simply means 'black', flows through the westernmost portions of Los Baños, marking the town's boundary with its neighboring town of Bay. The Molawin and Maitim rivers merge just a few meters before feeding into Laguna de Bay at the shore of Barangay Maahas
5. The town's name literally means bathing places and it was once called as "the town with many hot baths" during the Spanish period. 
6. Los Baños started as a settlement, a barrio of Bay, called Mainit, the Tagalog term for "hot" and alludes to the thermal springs at the foot of Mount Makiling and by 1589, through a Franciscan Friar, it became popularly called by its present name: "Los Baños," which is Spanish for "bathing place."
7. In 1595, a temporary building made of bamboo and cogon was built to serve as shelter for the patients who journeyed to Mainit to seek cures for their ailments. It was on 15 September 1615 when the Friars administered Los Baños as a separate town from Bay.
8. The early traders from Las Pinas such as the "Eusebio clan" and from Manila the "Lopez clan" are considered the earliest to have established farming and business establishment in the area followed by the Kalaws, Clemente and De Castro clan who are all related to each other.
9. One of the country's leading academic institutions, the Univerity of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), was founded as the College of Agriculture in 1909 and being a center of knowledge in various fields especially in the sciences, Los Baños is widely known as a "Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines." and the town was proclaimed as such on 17 September 2000 by then President Joseph Estrada. 
10. Los Baños also hosts other foreign and local and international research centers, such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice), the Philippine Carabao Center at the Univerity of the Philippines Los Baños (PCC at UPLB), The ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, National Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB/BIOTECH), and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO-SEARCA).  
11. Los Baños is also famous for its delicacy, the buko pie or coconut pie. Dairy products such as fresh milk, chocolate milk, kesong puti or native white cheese, pastillas, and yogurt are available at the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) and at the Philippine Carabao Center which are both located at UPLB.
12. PROCLAMATION NO. 852  DECLARING WEDNESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2014, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LOS BAÑOS, PROVINCE OF LAGUNA

References:

Los Baños, Laguna
Proclamation No. 852, s. 2014
Los Baños