Countdown 2012 : Happy New Year to Everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

 Thank you to all the readers and visitors of this blog.

May 2012 be a very good and prosperous year to all of us.

Keep on dreaming . . .

God Bless Everyone!

Information : Today is Rizal Day ( Dec.30 )

Click photo to enlarge

Execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in Bagumbayan in Dec.30 1896

"Pride of the Malay Race"

Today is the 115th anniversary of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal's martyrdom.

Click below for the biography of Dr. Jose Rizal :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rizal


Acknowledgements : 
Source :  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rizal  
               http://www.philippine-history.org/ 
          

Trivia : A Song About Our Environment

This song by the folk rock band : Asin was a big hit in the late '70's-'80's. It talks about our environment , what we have done to it  and the legacy of what we have done.

The lyrics of the song are relevant to what is happening now to our environment and to what recently happened in Mindanao. Maybe it is just a coincidence that the members of the band are from Mindanao.

                    

                                                 Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran 

                                                                 (Asin)

                                                 Wala ka bang napapansin

                                                 Sa iyong mga kapaligiran

                                                 Kay dumi na ng hangin

                                                 Pati na ang mga ilog natin

                                                 Refrain I

                                                 Hindi nga masama ang pag-unlad

                                                 At malayu-layo na rin ang ating narating

                                                 Ngunit masdan mo ang tubig sa dagat

                                                 Dati’y kulay asul, ngayo’y naging itim

                                                 Ang mga duming ating ikinalat sa hangin

                                                 Sa langit, ‘wag na nating paabuti

                                                 Upang kung tayo’y pumanaw man

                                                 Sariwang hangin, sa langit natin matitikman

                                                 Refrain II

                                                 Mayro’n lang akong hinihiling

                                                 Sa aking pagpanaw, sana ay tag-ulan

                                                 Gitara ko ay aking dadalhin

                                                 Upang sa ulap na lang tayo magkantahan

                                                 AD  LIB

                                                 Ang mga batang ngayon lang isinilang

                                                 May hangin pa kayang matitikman

                                                 May mga puno pa kaya silang aakyatin

                                                 May mga ilog pa kayang lalanguyan

                                                 Refrain III

                                                 Bakit ‘di natin pag-isipan

                                                 Ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligaran

                                                 Kung hindi nakakasira ng kalikasan

                                                 Darating ang panahon, mga ibong gala

                                                 Ay wala nang madadapuan

                                                 Masdan mo ang mga punong dati ay kay tatag

                                                 Ngayon’y namamatay dahil sa ating kalokohan

                                                 Refrain IV

                                                 Lahat ng bagay na narito sa lupa

                                                 Biyayang galing sa Diyos kahit no’ng ika’y wala pa

                                                 Ingatan natin at ‘wag nang sirain pa

                                                 Pagkat pag Kanyang binawi, tayo’y mawawala na

                                                 *Repeat Refrain II


Acknowledgements : 
Video Source :   You Tube   tribongpinoy00's Channel

Environmental Issue : No To Mining In Palawan Campaign

This Blog Supports this Campaign :

Will we let them destroy this paradise? Sign up now to stop them!

Please visit the site below for more information on No to Mining in Palawan  :

https://www.facebook.com/no2mininginpalawan

Please visit the site below to sign online :

 https://www.facebook.com/no2mininginpalawan?sk=app_136838949749969

Acknoledgements :
Source of Posters  :  https://www.facebook.com/no2mininginpalawan

Environmental Issue : An Analysis of What Happened During Typhoon Sendong and Why It Happened

I just read this article/slide show and the author is requesting the readers to share it with everyone. This is an analysis of  what happened during Typhoon Sendong and  why it happened. 


This article is an eye-opener for all of us on what  we "have done" and "have not done" to our environment. 

Understanding Sendong Floods

Author : Marvin Macatol

Please click below for complete article/slide show :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/76463699/Understanding-Sendong-Floods#source:facebook

Places and Events : 2011 San Fernando Giant Lantern Festival

Click below for  History of Lantern Making in San Fernando :
http://www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph/tourism/glantern.php

Click below for more San Fernando Lantern Festival video :
http://www.youtube.com/user/andoyzki28?feature=watch


Acknowledgements :
Source :     http://www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph/
                    You Tube :  andoyzki28's channel

                  

             

Places and Events : 2011 Ayala Triangle Symphony of Lights Show - Makati Philippines

The Philippines is the still best place to celebrate Christmas. It is a known fact that we have the longest and most festive Christmas celebration in the whole world.


The Ayala Triangle Symphony of Lights Show is a Christmas presentation of the City of Makati and  Ayala Land at the Ayala Triangle, Makati Central Business District.The show has become an annual Christmas activity in the city. The Symphony of Lights show starts around 6pm up to 9pm everyday and will continue until January. Don't miss this one!

Acknowledgements : 

Thanks to Mr. Manny Bocaling of Makati for sharing this video.
Source :    You Tube :  dmitrivalencia's Channel

Greetings : Merry Christmas to All

Philippine Traditional Christmas Lantern : Parol

Merry Christmas to All!
( Maligayang Pasko sa Lahat )


Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

Information : Climate Change Commission

I didn't know that there is a government agency or commission  called Climate Change Commission (CCC). I  thought we only have our PAGASA ( Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration ) on weather matters. I came across CCC when I was acknowledging the picture source on my previous blog entry Usec Naderev Sano, a commisioner and undersecretary of the Climate Change Commission. I got curious of the name of his office so I went to check their official website :   http://climate.gov.ph/ . Indeed there is such an office and in fact under the Office of the President.

What is the CCC and what does it  do?

The COMMISSION shall be an independent and autonomous body and shall have the same status as that of a national government agency. It shall be attached to the Office of the President.

The Commission shall be the sole policy-making body of the government which shall be tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government relating to climate change pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

It shall formulate National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC), National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) and Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP).


Now we know what  the Climate Change Commission is.

An afterthought : In the last Real Estate Broker Licensure Exam,  the examiners gave a lot of question on ecology, I have a hunch that they will be asking questions on climate change in the next exam after what had happened in Mindanao.

Places and Events : Cagayan River, Cagayan de Oro "Before and After" Sendong Photos

Click photo to enlarge

Click photo to enlarge

Click photo to enlarge

Where have all the people gone?

Acknowledgements : 

Photo Source : 

Undersecretary  Naderev Saño

Commissioner/Undersecretary at Climate Change Commission, Republic of the Philippines 

For more pictures pls. go to the site below :
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2664266359259.157070.1033993952&type=1

An Appeal for Help from Iligan

Iligan City Typhoon Sendong victims

This letter of  PP Mike Caparros was originally addressed to members of Marikina Valley Realtors Board. This concerns an appeal from Iligan City Realtors Board seeking help from us here in Manila. I would like to share this letter to all RESPs and I hope we can respond ASAP to the appeal for help from the people of Iligan. Merry Christmas everyone! 

To All :

Atty Pates is past president of Pareb Iligan Realtors Board. She messaged me today seeking donations for the people of Iligan. I believe all of us have more than enough comfort compared to what they are experiencing. Iligan CIty is a small town compared to Metro Manila thus, the devastation of Sendong has affected conservatively more than 50 % of the population. Cagayan de Oro City which was the direct hit suffered the same fate. I call on our MVRBians to please help by donating whatever meager financial or material support we can give. La Salle Academy in Iligan was affected as well. They are spearheading the donation drive which shall be distributed to the 10 evacuation centers. In Cagayan de Oro, Xavier University , a Jesuit run school is spearheading the drive.

Please help..this is I believe the essence of Christmas 2011...sharing and giving to the most needy.

God bless and Yuletide greetings,

Mike Caparros
Past President
PAREB MVRB

Appeal for Donation : From De La Salle

From :  Mr. Mike Caparros

             President - LSGH Alumni Association

.            Past President - Marikina Valley Realtors Board Inc.

Click poster to enlarge

Dear Lasallians,

Once again, our country grapples with the devastation brought by Typhoon Sendong particularly in Iligan City and Cagayan De Oro. In fact, many of our teachers, staff and students in La Salle Academy are affected by the calamity.

In this light, De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) through the Lasallian Justice & Peace Commission (LJPC) will mobilize a relief operation starting on Monday , December 19, 2011. We would like to seek your help by sending donations, preferably in cash and send to DLSP or it may be deposited to La Salle Academy, Iligan Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) savings account no: 9353-0377-62. Non-cash donations will be accepted at the La Salle Green Hills Gate 2.

We feel sad and sorry that we are ending the year with a devastating event. We also mourn with those who lost their loved ones. Let us continue to show the true meaning of advent by sharing any amount or resources you can give.

[SIGNED]
Br. Ricky P. Laguda FSC
President, De La Salle Philippines

 — with Kundirana Lsgh and KUNDIRANA.

Information : MMDA Christmas/Mabuhay Lanes 2011

Here are the so called Christmas lanes of MMDA the driving public can use to avoid traffic along EDSA during the Holiday Season. Along with the route information are also the road  maps. My congratulations to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino for the innovations on road planning that he has been implementing in the Metro. One of the recent projects of MMDA the "Project Navigator"is a very creative and proactive idea. I just hope that more drivers ( private and public ) will be computer literate for them to be able to use and appreciate this one great project. Hat's off to MMDA and  Chairman Tolentino.

Click below for complete list  Christmas Lanes:

http://www.mmda.gov.ph/Christmas-Lanes.html

Example :


From McArthur Highway 

Click map to enlarge

•  Right turn to Samson Road, C-4/Letre, R-10, A. Bonifacio, Roxas Blvd., to destination.

Source :            

Real Estate Forecast : 6 things you should know about real estate in 2012

One of the basic assets that a number of Filipinos value is real estate – whether it’s an ancestral house in the heart of the business district, an underutilized building, an empty property, or a farm lot in the province.


With 2012 less than a few months away,Entrepreneur.com.ph asked Victor Asuncion,Executive Director for Global Research & Consultancy of CBRE Philippines about what he sees in the future of real estate in the country.

In this Q&A, we discuss what sectors will boom in 2012, which ones to avoid, and what you can do with your property to turn it into an asset in the coming year.

1. What is your forecast for the growth of real estate in Metro Manila for 2012? 

The macroeconomic indicator of the real estate industry is the gross value added of real estate renting and business activities (i.e. sales transaction/ revenues/ earnings of real estate businesses) which registered a year-on-year growth of 6.8 percent  (i.e. 2009 vs. 2010). However, for the last 10 years, the compounded annual growth rate is at a low 4 percent given the fluctuations of the property cycle.  For 2012, given the Public-Private Partnership trust of the government and the continued growth by the drivers of the real estate industry i.e. OFWs, BPOs, Tourism and also Mining in selected area, we expect a growth of between 5 to 10 percent.

2. How about in the other major cities in the country?

The drivers of real estate for the Philippines in 2012 will still be OFWs, BPOs, Tourism and also Mining in selected areas. This will be mainly felt in key locations such as the Subic-Clark Economic Corridor, Metro Manila particularly the business districts namely Fort Bonifacio, Quezon City, Ortigas and its fringes, Bay Area and Alabang.  For the South, we continue to see growth in Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Iloilo and Bacolod City plus the major tourist destination such as Boracay and Palawan.


4. What sectors to avoid?

While the industrial segment continues to be a laggard, it should not be avoided because it sustains itself mainly from the consumer demand for consumer goods i.e. domestic market.  There are still strategic industrial or logistic sites across the country like Subic, Clark, Sta. Rosa, Calamba and Cavite.

5. In what real estate sector would it be most wise to invest in this coming year?

In my opinion, the most promising sector will be the Hospitality Industry given the target growth of foreign tourist arrival, more liberalized and competitive airline industry and the infrastructure developments of the government related to tourism like building and renovating the airports.

Gaming is also seeing its way into the Philippines. Thus, hotel and leisure development for this market is expected to be strong.  Thus, investment in this segment will be favorable and lucrative.

6. What trends should we anticipate for the real estate industry next year?

All businesses are conducted with the use of real estate, whether air, sea or land.  Thus, demand for real estate will continue to be strong.  As the Philippine population approaches 100 million, a consumer based economy is emerging with all the needs and wants of this market growing year-on-year.  Therefore a wise developer, investor and even creditor should partake of the strong potentials and opportunities of this specified market. An example is the OFW families given their dollar remittances expected to hit another record amount of US$23 billion for 2011.


Source :  Entrepreneur.com.ph

News Update : GSIS starts offering emergency loans to 'Sendong' victims

Click picture to go to GSIS Website

21-Dec-11, 10:30 AM | Likha Cuevas-Miel, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Government Service Insurance System began extending emergency loans Wednesday to members in areas ravaged by tropical storm “Sendong.”

The state pension fund said that from December 21, 2011 to January 20, 2012, GSIS members can file for an emergency loan if they are living or working in the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Negros Oriental, the municipalities and cities of Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte; Polanco, Zamboanga Del Norte; Ozamis, Misamis Occidental; Clarin, Misamis Occidental; Asuncion, Davao Del Norte; Tagbina, Surigao Del Sur; Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur; Bislig, Surigao Del Sur; Lingig, Surigao Del Sur; Talacogon, Agusan Del Sur; Valencia, Bukidnon; Nabunturan, Compostela Valley; Montevista, Compostela Valley; Compostela, Compostela Valley; New Bataan, Compostela Valley; Monkayo, Compostela Valley; Iligan, Lanao Del Norte; Bubong, Lanao Del Sur; and Kapai, Lanao Del Sur.

Members who can avail of the loan should be in active service and not on leave of absence without pay.

They should also have no pending criminal or administrative charges, no arrearages in the payment of mandatory social insurance contribution and do not have loans in default.

The agency of the member-applicant must not also be suspended because of non-payment and non-remittance of premiums and loans.

Qualified members can apply for an emergency loan through the GWAPS kiosks using their eCard or their UMID eCard. 

Those who do not have an eCard Plus or UMID eCard yet but are eligible can apply over the counter and the emergency loan will be credited to a temporary eCard, which the GSIS started issuing. 

Under the emergency loan program, each eligible member can borrow up to P20,000 at an interest rate of 6 percent per year computed in advance and payable in equal monthly installments over three years.

GSIS said a Loan Redemption Insurance of 1.2 percent of the gross loan amount will be deducted from the proceeds of the loan.

Member-borrowers with outstanding emergency loans will be allowed to renew the loan if they have paid at least 12 monthly installments but not earlier than the anniversary date of the previous loan.

Source :

Person : Picture-Perfect Palawan Moment Wins NatGeo 2011 Prize for Pinoy Photographer

Click Picture to enlarge

Picture-perfect Palawan. Out of around 20,000 entries from 130 countries, Filipino travel photographer George Tapan's beautifully composed shot of Onok Island in Balabac, Palawan, won the Places category of the NatGeo Photo Contest 2011.

On the National Geographic website, competition judge Tim Laman said, "Tapan showed a perfect sense of timing and composition in the way he captured the two small human subjects in this beautiful scene, and that really made the shot."

Another judge, Amy Toensing, commented,  "(the) very moody, beautifully composed image, called 'Into the Green Zone', compellingly shows a sense of place via the dark clouds, rainbows, the spot of pink amid a palette of blues and greens, and the woman's flowing hair.”

Magazine photographer and judge Peter Essick was also captivated by the detail of the woman's hair. "It only fills a fraction of the picture's real estate, but by capturing the movement at the apex, the photographer has documented a sense of style and flair."

Source :

News Update : Google opens person finder tool for ‘Sendong’ casualties

J. M. Tuazon, InterAksyon.com · Monday, December 19, 2011 · 9:01 pm

MANILA, Philippines — Search engine giant Google on Monday made available a “person finder” utility to aid relatives of those affected by Typhoon “Sendong” in getting information about their loved ones.
Through the person finder database, users can also report names of relatives who are still missing amid the chaos wrought by the typhoon, which left hundreds dead in its tracks.

With the number of missing persons nearing the 1,000-mark, the person finder becomes an indispensable tool to keep track of the situation on the ground.
Google clarified, however, that it does not verify or review the accuracy of the data entered by people into the database. As of posting time, the system is currently monitoring some 200 records of missing persons.
The person finder proved invaluable when it was put up during the twin-disasters in Japan, which wiped away entire provinces and left many people disconnected from their relatives.
Meanwhile, a central database for donation channels had been put up by people behind the Facebook group “Mata na, CDO”  to coordinate relief efforts in flood-stricken areas.
Using the database, prospective donors are updated on what are the immediate needs of the typhoon victims, where they can take their cash or in-kind donations, and where they can direct their relatives in Mindanao to safety and assistance.
A similar situation during Typhoon Ondoy, social media became an effective tool in disseminating information regarding relief efforts for those affected by the natural disaster.
Rock Ed Philippines founder Gang Badoy (@gangbadoy), for example, has been coordinating efforts with her team in Iligan City using her and her group’s Twitter accounts.
Over on Facebook, concerned citizens had put up a page (Missing Persons of CDO and Iligan)where users can upload photos of those missing from the flash floods and ensuing disasters in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
Users had also turned their profile pictures into an icon brandishing the words “Help CDO” to turn people’s attention further to the overwhelming condition down south.
Enterprising students of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), meanwhile, decided to take the simple #OneForIligan hashtag on Twitter and spawned an entire website out of it.
By visiting http://www.oneforiligan.com, users can peruse an interactive map that shows exact locations of news and social media reports on casualties, sites for evacuation and medical assistance, as well as missing persons in the area.
For those who are worried about the whereabouts and condition of their relatives in the affected areas, an alerts system has also been put up which would send an update to any one’s email address when a report is submitted within 20 kilometers of their chosen location.
These efforts boosted by technology prove that even if nature raises a storm and destroys entire cities, people the world over could still rally help and offer resources with the help of the Internet.


Source :