Beware of SCAMS.......................Like These

I have been receiving letters from unknown parties that if I'm not aware, I might be tempted to answer and do what they want. Herein below are two sample letters I received in my email:

Subject: Dear Friend ,
Sent: February 18 10:04 PM



Dear Friend ,

I am writing following the impressive information about your profile through the website your capability and reliability to champion this opportunity. In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of (TEN million US dollars). In an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family in APRIL,2004 in a ROAD ACCIDENT.

Since we got this information about his death, we have been expecting his next of Kin to come over and claim his money because we can not release it unless somebody applies for it as next of Kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking and financial policies but unfortunately we learnt that his supposed next of kin or relation died along side with him in the accident leaving no body behind to claim the money.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I and other officials in my department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don t want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed bills.

The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after long period, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund.

The request for a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and an in deigned cannot stand as next of kin to the deceased family. We agreed that 30% of this money will be for you as foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, 10% will be set aside for expenses incurred during this transaction and 60 % would be for me and my colleagues.

Thereafter I and my colleagues will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentages indicated.Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the Bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased indicating your private, telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be remitted. Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is 100% hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter.

I decided to contact you as you have products of interest in your part of the world where we can invest our own percentage to avoid peoples awareness as we are civil servants. We can conclude this operation within ten banking days.

Please keep this very confidential. Contact me for more information, all confirmation before you apply if you want.

May God be with you. Trusting to hear from you shortly. Peace and love always. REPLY TO THIS MY Email ( josephmmd2008@yahoo.com.vn )

Best regards

Mr Joseph Nnaego

And here's another example of an scam circulating the internet world where the uninformed wiould surely be attracted to try their luck because of the huge money involved. But as they say "If it's too good to be true, then there's no truth in it". So, be aware, you have been warned.


Subject: Best regards!
Sent: March 01 7:12 AM

Best regards!

This mail may be a surprise to you because you did not give me the permission to do so and neither do you know me but before I tell you about myself I want you to please forgive me for sending this mail without your permission. I am writing this letter in confidence believing that if it is the will of God for you to help me and my family, God almighty will bless and reward you abundantly. I need an honest and trust worthy person like you to entrust this huge transfer project unto.

My name is Mr. Samuel Kofi, The Branch Manager of a Financial Institution. I got your contact through a reliable source called database through Ghana chamber of commerce. I am a Ghanaian married with 3 kids. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of US$7,500,000.00 Dollars. This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit last year (i.e. 2009 financial year). I have already submitted an annual report for that year to my head office in Accra-Ghana as I have watched with keen interest as they will never know of this excess. I have since, placed this amount of US$7,500,000.00 Dollars on an Escrow Coded account without a beneficiary (Anonymous) to avoid trace.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account on my behalf. I agree that 40% of this money will be for you as a foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, and 60% would be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It's going to be a bank-to-bank transfer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund so that the fund can be transferred to your account.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response to me. This is why and only reason why I contacted you, I am willing to go into partnership investment with you owing to your wealth of experience, So please if you are interested to assist on this venture kindly contact me back for a brief discussion on how to proceed.

PLEASE REPLY ME ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS: (mr_samuelzenithmanager@hotmail.com)


Mr. Samuel Kofi,

Zenith Bank Plc,
Tema Branch, Accra - Ghana.
Mobile: +233-2429-424-22

                                                                     WANTED

Professional Real Estate Salesperson 

With the following credentials:

1. Computer literate

                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.

      3. College graduate/level

               4. Ability to work with a group

                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour

One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64

09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687

Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 

.  

What Happened To E-SWAMP?

It has been two years since the 2 day Barangay Solid Waste Management Workshop held at the PIT Conference Room and Interaction Center on January 15-16, 2008. How time flies, The activity which was in line with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Project (E-SWAMP) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the LGU of Palompon and PASAR Foundation, Inc.

Once again the "ningas-cogon" mentality of most Filipino's clearly shows in the result of the project which can be seen if you try to visit the dumpsite. The motto: segregate, re-use, recycle was not evident in the trash being thrown by residents. It can be seen that it was not being segregated, re-used or recycled.

It is evident that the people who should be involved in the said project have not heard or just indifferent to what's happening in their back and front yard. As they say "Kalat Mo, Basura Mo". But this can't be done individually. Someone has to be a conductor, to make a great music. And the most appropriate one to lead the synchronization of all actions should emanate from the LGU unit who represents the people themselves.

Every morning, as I pass by the dumpsite, I noticed the smoke coming from the garbage dump. If the fire was not intentionally set up by either a cigarette butt or a match or lighter, then the only reason fire is emanating from the inside of the dumping ground is methane which result to fire due to the heat wave we are currently having. But El Nino or not the people through the LGU unit, should do something to mitigate the problem the nation is encountering.

Onward Palompon.......................New Buildings on the Go!

Once again we are featuring the ever growing building spree in this part of Northern Leyte....i.e. Palompon.

First among the new additions is a building colored flaming pink owned by Mr. and Mrs. C. Capanas located at Rizal St., Palompon, Leyte.

The picture of the house, as can be seen above, is almost 95 per cent finished with a roof deck for added purpose and amenity.

This building is but one of what we're gonna feature today.

The limited spaces that Palomponganon's can offer to would-be businessmen, either local or outsiders, have given opportunities for some to use their idle savings and thereby be productive and compliment the ongoing modernization and progress that the town is enjoying.

Above is a commercial cum residential building owned by Mr. & Mrs. Lemuel Cardenas whose ground floor was converted into two commercial spaces which was immediately occupied even before it can be finished. Subject building is also located along the main thorough fare of Rizal St., Palompon, Leyte.

Still above is a newly renovated building owned by the family of Mr. & Mrs. Precy Santana along the road going to the LTO office.

From the looks of it, it is such a mini mansion of several rooms. I just can't describe the building since I don't have a knowledge of designs and styles. But as a layman, I can see that the building was meticulously designed and the facade was given importance. What I will miss in this kind of building is the green surroundings or yards that will enhance the beauty of the edifice.

If I have the money to build a house as beautiful and costly as these buildings, I will build it in a site that there are much space for us to romp around and plant lots of green leafy vegetables for our own consumption and shady and fruit trees for earth friendly reasons.

                                                                     WANTED

Professional Real Estate Salesperson 

With the following credentials:

1. Computer literate

                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.

      3. College graduate/level

               4. Ability to work with a group

                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour

One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64

09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687

Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 

.  

When A Love One Goes...............Ahead Of Us.

Saturday 20 February 2010 was a red letter day for the friends and relatives of Luis Olorvida Tagolino, a baby boy who died on the day he was born because of complications on his little heart which was aggravated by the enlargement of the heart suffered by his mother during child birth.

Death really is hard to accept, especially when the one who died is so young and you are expecting him to be part of your life in the near future, since the child is your first and only son.

The mother, Gina O. Tagolino is really at a loss on what to say and feel, but just resigned to the fact that all things happen because God wills it, whether people thinks otherwise. As they say, so be it.

Burial was scheduled at 2:00pm after the celebration of the Holy Mass at the St. Francis Xavier Parish church of Palompon, Leyte.

The afternoon heat was not a hindrance to dampen the spirits of those who joined the afternoon internment of the young and adorable child.

After the short and solemn affair, I decided to take some pictures of the cemetery, especially the open spaces above the graves or pantheons of the love ones of people of all ages, young and old, rich or poor, man or woman.

At right is a photo of graves located at the center of the cemetery where something can be done to make it more attractive, be made green and more earth friendly.

It is being done in countries where land is a prime commodity and the price sky high, like Japan.

What I am saying is that they are building structures where the top and even other floors can be used to plant small crops especially vegetables for human consumption.

Or they can landscape the top portion by planting small green plants that would enhance the beauty and functionality of the said cemetery. Others have been doing it, we can do it also.

BCBP Celebrates 7th Anniversary and Regional Assembly at PIT

Today, February 20, 2010 the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professional (BCBP) Palompon Chapter, celebrates its 7th anniversary in conjunction with the Regional Assembly being held at the Palompon Institute of Technolgy Gymnasium under the able leadership of Mr. Patricio Paloma, the current servant leader.

All members of the said lay organization are expected to converge in Palompon, Leyte to take part in the yearly assembly whose members are coming from places such as Ormoc City, Baybay City, Maasin City, Tacloban City and other parts of Region 8.

Today's celebration is the highpoint of various activities being conducted throughout the whole year which include but not limited to the weekly prayer meetings by different teams/groups in different parts of the poblacion.

They are also conducting teachings held bi-monthly and alternately with the breakfast meetings during 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Speakers to these breakfast meetings are culled from different Chapters and Outreach from the region and sometimes other regions such as Cebu City in Region 6.

One of the programs being implemented by the Parish Pastoral Council is the ongoing formation of various family groupings under the Basic Ecclesial Communities in the parish in which the help and cooperation of various ministries, faith communities, cofradias, and organizations in which the BCBP community was also tapped.

The organization was also asked to help in the voters education program held in different Baranggays of the town last October and November, 2009. Highlight of their information campaign was the setting up of billboards and flyers on different parts of the town asking the community to be honest in all their actions and dealings with each other.

The latest information campaign the BCBP organization is trying to make the people be aware of, is the "Be Honest Campaign" which, as of this date have been mushrooming all over the town, especially in the road exits going to Isabel, Villaba and Matag-ob towns respectively.

Above is the latest addition to the "Be Honest" campaign initiated by the said organization. This big signboard is located atop the Delgado building at Rizal St., where Julie's Bakeshop is located.

Beside it is the PACCI building, a cooperative institution where majority of the depositors are ordinary people with ordinary means or living, particularly teachers, market vendors, farmers, laborers and other low income groups.
                                                                      WANTED

Professional Real Estate Salesperson 

With the following credentials:

1. Computer literate

                                           2. Ability to write and converse in simple English.

      3. College graduate/level

               4. Ability to work with a group

                             5. Passion for work and financial growth

Apply at Realty-Options, Inc./Palompon Realty and Brokerage at 43 Rizal St., Central I, Palompon, Leyte. Learn "How to Do Internet Marketing Through Social Networking Websites" in a Free One Hour

One-on-One Orientation Seminar. For more info....Pls. Call Tel. # (053)555-84-64

09164422611/ 09336317922/09173373687

Pls. visit also my website: @ http://gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Now also available n Palompon, Leyte. Lifestyles products such as INTRA, NUTRIA and FIBRELife. For your healthy lifestyle and needs just call the telephones indicated above. 

.  

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a big day for Roman Catholics, since this is the first day of the Lenten season. It is a day when ashes of palm crosses blessed in the previous Palm Sunday is mixed in sacred oils or holy water and the resulting paste is used by the minister or priest to make a sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then to the congregation with the help of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion if needed. In Palompon, Leyte it was observed that there are more congregants than last year. Some are saying that it was the result of the on going formation/seminars being held in different Baranggay/Barrio's of the town through family groupings called Basic Ecclesial Communities.

Ash Wednesday, in the Western Christian calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as 4 February or as late as 10 March.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens^[1] (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on those of congregants.

At Masses and services of worship on this day, ashes are imposed on the foreheads of the faithful (or on the tonsure spots, in the case of some clergy). The priest, minister, or in some cases officiating layperson, marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally retains until it wears off. The act echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one's head to signify repentance before God (as related in the Bible). The priest or minister says one of the following when applying the ashes:

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

—Genesis 3:19

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

—Mark 1:15

Repent, and hear the good news.

—Mark 1:15

The imposition of ashes on Ash

Wednesday

The ashes used in the service of worship or Mass are sacramentals, not a sacrament. The ashes are blessed according to various rites proper to each liturgical tradition, sometimes involving the use of Holy Water. In some churches they are mixed with light amounts of water^[2] or olive oil^[3][4], which serve as a fixative. In most liturgies for Ash Wednesday, the Penitential psalms are read; Psalm 51 (LXX Psalm 50) is especially associated with this day.^[5] The service also often includes a corporate confession rite.

In some of the free church liturgical traditions, other practices are sometimes added or substituted, as other ways of symbolizing the confession and penitence of the day. For example, in one common variation, small cards are distributed to the congregation on which people are invited to write a sin they wish to confess.

These small cards are brought forth to the altar table where they are burned.^[6]

In the Roman Catholic Church, ashes, being sacramentals, may be given to anyone who wishes to receive them,^[7][8] as opposed to Catholic sacraments, which are generally reserved for church members, except in cases of grave necessity.^[9][10] Similarly, in most other Christian denominations ashes may be received by all who profess the Christian faith and are baptized.^[11]

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer also designates Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting. In the medieval period, Ash Wednesday was the required annual day of penitential confession occurring after fasting and the remittance of the tithe. In other Christian denominations these practices are optional, with the main focus being on repentance. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday,

Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Roman Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat (for those Catholics age 14 and over), as are all Fridays in Lent. Some Roman Catholics continue fasting during the whole of Lent,^{[citation needed]} as was the Church's traditional requirement,^{[citation needed]} concluding only after the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

As the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday comes the day after Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the last day of the Carnival season.^[12]

Comelec bars Richard Gomez from joining Congress race

By Anna Valmero

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has barred Richard Gomez from running as fourth district representative of Leyte, saying the actor lacks the required one year residency to join the congressional race.

The Comelec first division, chaired by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, ruled that Gomez had not resided in Ormoc City for a year prior to his filing of candidacy for him to qualify to represent Ormoc City in the House of Representatives.

Buenaventura Juntilla of Barangay Libertad, Ormoc City has petitioned the Comelec to disqualify Gomez, saying the actor is a resident of East Greenhills, San Juan City and not of Carlota Hills, Ormoc City as Gomez indicated in his certificate of candidacy.

Raymond Cajucom, legal counsel for Gomez, said they would appeal the ruling. “The decision is not yet final. We would file a motion. Parang sa pelikula lang ito, nagpapabugbog muna ang bida pero sa huli ay magwawagi (It’s just like in a movie, the main actor will be mauled at first but in the end he will emerge victor),” said Cajucom.

Valentine date at Sunburst

Sunday, February 14, 2010 I invited my wife to eat out. Since she not willing to go to a restaurant who serve chili in their dish, we decided to eat at Sunburst, because this is one of the original or one of the longest staying eatery in this part of Visayas, ika nga mayroong history.

I remember that when I was still working in Cebu City with the Bureau of Customs, we have the habit of going out every friday to unwind (drink). Part of our destination is Sunburst, for the chicken dish they serve.

I also invited my eldest daughter Michelle to join us thinking that since I was not around during her birthday last January 24, 2010 she should treat me for a repeat of her b-day bash. We went to Sunburst Mango early, afraid that the restaurant might be full of people celebrating Valentine's day. Luckily the resto was half empty when we arrived.

Together with their usual fare of fried chicken, we ordered soup of "sinigang" shrimp, a vegetable dish, leche flan, ice cream, drinks for them and a bottle of pale pilsen for me.

It was a simple but still filling meal. After a short rest we immediately went back home even if my wife is asking to see the movie "Avatar". I told them to just a buy a DVD copy of the film and together we could see it in our own living room.

Photo by GME courtesy of Nokia N95

I'm not really in the mood of going out late because I wanted to rest my aching body and get a good and sound sleep. 

On my return home I took the "Supercat" to Ormoc at the early hours of the morning. We are about halfway in our travel when this beautiful sunrise between  Mactan and Camotes islands caught my eyes.

 I am still half awake and still sleepy when I suddenly gaze outside and see the sun slowly coming out of the horizon. I immediately took my ever loyal Nokia N95 and started shooting through the glass pane of the Supercat vessel.

That's why you can see the flash reflection at the upper right portion of the picture which seem to be
another sun hiding in the dark clouds above the deep

blue sea.We'll this is not a phenomenon, because sunrise and sunset are called dime a dozen in any part of the Philippines. Bye for now..........

Summer is here.....its travel time

It was a beautiful morning of Saturday February 13, 2010 when I decided to visit my wife in Cebu City since I have not seen her for quite sometime already. I choose the Shuttle Ferry, where the Ceres Bus is the regular or daily passenger bus plying the route of Tacloban City and San Isidro, Leyte to be transported to and from Pulong Bato Port, Bogo City. I realized later that the usual Cokaliong vessel "Surigao City" was replaced by "Dumaguete City" because the former was scheduled for yearly maintenance.

I am quite adverse in traveling on board MV Surigao because of time constraints. It travels so slowly that it will take more than seven hours, if you're lucky, to reach Cebu City. While other vessels such as "Cebu" and Dumaguete City runs by about 4 to 4 1/2 hours only.

Traveling to Cebu by bus, is not good option nowadays because of the dusty roads in Bogo City, which was aggravated by the summer heat. If you survive the humps and bumps along the way, most likely upon arrival your body will be covered by dust, grime and you'll be aching all over. While on board the ship, you will be lying down, sleep and feel relaxed upon arrival at your port of destination.

On the way Pulong Bato, Bogo City I feel proud about the view of Calanggaman Island. It is only now that I realize that I am also a part of the said island, now that it was reclaimed by the LGU of Palompon. I have heard that the white beaches of the island is still there and many have shown interest, to go and visit the said place, since many are saying that it can be compared to famous beaches, like Boracay, in Aklan, being frequented by foreign and local tourist.

But we can't also forget the islands nearer to home, especially the Tabuk island, now famous also for its marine reserve and the islet's bat kingdom numbering in the thousands of flying foxes, locally known as "kabug", migratory birds, and different specie of fishes. It is said that "Tabuk" is one of the major ecological destinations in Eastern Visayas, being a rich and diverse haven of marine life.

From afar you can see the lush growth of mangrove trees which are essential in the growth of other marine products that abound in the surrounding areas. Definitely we need to treat our environment as having a life of its own, that needs to be nurtured and respected. If nature can't survive, man won't survive either.

Another Bakeshop Coming Up..............

There is an ongoing construction at the Palompon Bus/Jeepney Terminal that is making people look and listen. Not because another business is being established, but because the said area was again taken by an outsider, or from other places rather than Palomponganon. They said that the facade or frontage of the terminal was rented and being improved by a businessman from Ormoc City at the expense of would-be businessman from this town.

Some are saying that the limited government infrastructures in Palompon, Leyte should be biased for Palomponganons. They must be given first priority on matters such as this. Local residents have also the ambition to succeed in life by being entrepreneurs. So long as they follow or agree to the terms and conditions stipulated by the lessor, then why not try entrepreneurs from Palompon first.

Why not, Honorable SB members?

Richard Gomez Visits Palompon Again......

It seems Richard is serious in his quest to be the representative of the 4th District of Leyte in the Halls of Congress in the forthcoming election May 2010. He should be, because next to Ormoc City, Palompon has the highest number of voters which definitely could sway the outcome of the results of the voters preference. If I remember right, he visit's Palompon almost every month, and definitely he will be visiting the said place more often while the election time gets nearer.

What I don't understand is the billboard put up by the team of Onate/Arevalo where their choice or preference as candidate for the presidency is the Noynoy Aquino/Mar Roxas tandem. I have seen it for about a month, but now the faces of both Aquino and Roxas were both defaced by red paint. It seems they are still waiting for something to happen. Highest bidder perhaps? Well, that's how politics ran in many places. They don't care about platforms anymore, as long as they can get something from whoever can give them best. Then people be damned.

118th Regular Session...........Palompon SB

Since my schedule is not fully loaded, I decided to visit the local SB session hall, and to my surprise I've learned a lot from the said visit. It is also a good time to know what our local legislators are doing. And of course you will know whom to vote again and assess the qualification of most of the municipal councilors who wants to be sent back to the said august body.

Upon my arrival I was immediately treated to the fast approval of different budgets of various baranggays of the town such as Central I, Santiago, Catigahan, Mazawalo who has the highest budget approved that day. Other baranggays are enjoined to follow the example of Baranggay Mazawalo on how they were able to get the approval of P1,602,193.00 pesos as their annual budget while others cannot even get half or one fourth of the said amount.

The only baranggay who suffered a snag in their attempt to get their budget approved was Baranggay San Pedro when the Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan headed by Hon. Hazel Cangmaong asked for a deferment of the said baranggay's budget due to the fact that the SK head of the said Baranggay have not remitted the annual dues to the SK Federation.

The session was even suspended to give way to the explanation of Brgy. Captain Roxas of San Pedro, on what happened to the said allocation wherein it was mandated by the Local Government Code that ten per cent of their budget should be allocated for the SK of all baranggay's concerned. After some questioning, mostly from Hon. Gilbert Manongsong, who even offered to give some advise and solution on how to solve the impasse, he was instructed to talk with the SK and SK Federation heads respectively on how they will go about the problem.

Hon. J. Villardo III questioned why the local finance committee of the said Baranggay have been endorsing budgets which are still questionable, thereby making the SB Committee on Appropriation and Finance to endorse also to the SB a budget that is not yet ready for approval.

After the session's suspension was lifted, Atty Jesus Villardo III proposed to make a resolution on each of the Memorandum of Agreement's (MOA's) executed by the Hon. Mayor Eulogio Tupa with different organizations or agencies to make it more binding and executory. Particular emphasis was made on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) made by Professors or Doctors of Education coming from the Visayan State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte headed by Dr. Eduardo Mangaoang and two others, all academic experts, on the PHESCHEM Corp. plant site located and encompassing Baranggay Cantandoy, San Miguel and Liberty of this town.

Atty. Villardo said that upon reading the EIA report, he was amenable that they have to adopt the recommendation made by the EIA team because of the urgency and necessity of stopping the degradation, destruction and the saving of what is left from the wanton and unthinkable wastage of our natural resources and watershed area which is supposed to guaranty ours' and our future generation's drinking water reservoir.

Another resolution that the SB wanted to adopt and approve is the recall of Sr. Insp. Federico Sanchez to the Palompon Police Station saying that the re-assignment of him was made within the Comelec ban (60 days) on transfers and re-assignments. They also wanted to include the citations and awards given to the said police officer as a reason for his retention.

Orendain's sanggunian rules of procedure

The Long Trip to Catbalogan

Saturday, February 6, 2010 was an extraordinary day for me, since I will be traveling away from my usual work and station. This day, I will be joining my former co-employees at the Bureau of Customs, Sub-Port of Isabel, Leyte to Catbalogan City, Western Samar to attend the burial/internment of a colleague who is from the said place.

The agreed time of departure from Palompon is between 6:30am and 7:00am, but again because of the so-called "Filipino Time" habit, we were able to leave my place only at about 8:00am, in a Nissan Urvan van owned by our Sub-Port Collector, considering that we have to travel for about more or less 5 hours. Included, are the stops for peeing and lunch in Tacloban City. The van is filled to the brim "ika nga", because there are also civilian friends who joined the trip to Catbalogan City, W. Samar.

Our first official stop is at Andok's, a local eatery in Tacloban City where we took our early lunch while waiting for the other Kia car with some Phil. Phosphate Corp. employees headed by Mr. Dan Tentativa and our Acting Deputy Collector, Mr. Dodo Aranas.

Along the way we have to stop for the usual checkpoints i.e. Comelec and PNP for gun bans, LTO for registration papers and out of line for public utility vehicles. As usual at the start of the trip, when many are still wide awake, you can still hear the laughter and happy disposition of everybody. But the ambiance and cool air coming not from the natural air outside, but from the air-conditioned van was enough to make one sleepy. So one by one they became silent............until we arrived safe and sound.

Though travel is quite far, we still arrived on time for the internment scheduled at 2:00pm of the same day. Through the cellphone, we were instructed to proceed to the Roman Catholic Church, as they were already on the way. Upon arrival we immediately proceeded to the church where we saw the body of the late Charlie Go, just inside the main door, still awaiting instruction from the priest. Since cases like this (suicide) were treated differently on a case to case basis.

Luckily, the local priest allowed the remains to be brought near the altar, and he even celebrated Mass to the eternal repose of his soul as requested by the family and friends of the late Customs employee. After the Mass, a simple eulogy was given by Mr. Sevellino Tomol, the immediate superior of the late Mr. Go, and his mother and daughter, after which the body was brought to the city cemetery for internment. Then after bidding goodbyes to the family, we started our long trip back home.

By seven o'clock in the evening we were already in Tacloban were food (after early reservation) from OCHO restaurant, a native eatery in Tacloban City were people who are crazy about native foods can be found. If you will try to look at their faces and attire,you will think that many who are eating in the said place are the who's who in Tacloban City and vicinity.

We took a hearty meal of grilled pork, grilled fish, grilled scallops, squid calamares, lato salad, kangkong cooked in coco milk, and some other viands which escapes my mind as of now. We also took a bottle of the world famous San Miguel Lite and Dark pale pilsen to push the hearty and sumptuous meal right to where it should belong. After which, we started our trek to home base.

While others tried to take a nap and some were forced to sleep by the prevailing atmosphere, I decided to start a conversation with the driver of the van so that he would be forced to pay attention to what he is doing.
It did not take long to reach my destination, which is Palompon..........and after disembarking from the van, off they to go the their final destination.........of Isabel, Leyte.

Livelihood Training Seminar

Once again the Office of Congressman Eufrocino (Dodong) Codilla, of the 4th District has sponsored a Livelihood Training Seminar in cooperation with the National Livelihood Development Corporation and Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation for the people of Palompon, Leyte at the Palompon social Center.

It was a two day affair starting from February 6, 2010 to February 7, 2010 with the following livelihood program: Reflexology & Body Massage, Hair Cutting and Cosmetology, Meat & Fish Processing, Candle Making, Soap Making, Manicure, Pedicure & Hotspa, and Cellphone Repair.

Opening the affair was DSWD municipal head Ms. Nelanie Sanico together with Ms. Rebecca Mendoza and their ever trusted employees. All the livelihood programs have been able to attract a minimum of 30 participants for the Manicure, Pedicure and Foot Spa and a maximum of 5o participants for the Meat & Fish Processing Module respectively.

Seen at the were the Hon. Mayor Eulogio S. Tupa, Municipal Administrator Constantino Tupa, Hon. Councilmen Gilbert Manongsong, Jesus Sanchez, and Rodolfo Canson. Taking pictures for the Budyong sa Palompon was staff writer Jose Pajaron.

I for one have decided to review candle making, since I have already tried making candles about ten years ago.

I was thankful that I was part of the group of participants in candle making because I learned some things which I don't know before.

This I want to share to others who are in need of additional income to augment whatever they are earning, or to make their time worthwhile.

So many are complaining that their income is so small, but they don't do something to improve their lot.

Example of this, is the yearly livelihood training program being initiated by Congressman Eufrocino Codilla, But from the reduced number of participants this year, which is quite smaller than last years', it can be seen that many are not interested in improving their lot, because many of those who participated can be considered as not having "less in life" but still want to improve their lives.

How to quit a soft drink habit

He used to drink up to 8 cans of Diet Coke a day.

Posted by Karen Datko on Thursday, December 10, 2009 5:19 PM

Any fool knows that you can save money by not drinking soda. But what if you’re a soft drink freak?

During his more-than-decade-long love affair with Diet Coke, Steve at brip blap sometimes drank eight cans a day. Reportedly, the caffeine in Diet Coke and other types of pop can be addictive.

• Bing: Which soft drinks contain caffeine?

Steve quit in 2005. He might drink a regular soda from time to time, but diet no longer passes his lips.

How did he quit? Among his tips:

Imagine your savings. Steve writes: “I was working in one office where the Diet Coke was free, which was fine, but when I moved into consulting I found I was dropping $1.25 four or five times per working day (let alone at home) to get a soda. That’s almost $1,600 per year.” (This makes us think of that angry woman in the commercials opposing a tax on soda and sugary drinks, who appeared to consider them an essential food group. Lady, if you’re already struggling financially, cut out the pop.)

• Bing: Soda tax pros and cons

Adam at Your Money Relationship, who gave up his daily 20-ounce Pepsi as part of a new focus on health, estimated that if he had continued that pace for the rest of his life, he would have spend $51,000.

Find other things to drink. Steve mentions the benefits of water (room temperature goes down easier than ice cold, he says) and tea, and strongly recommends one part juice mixed with two parts seltzer as a satisfying substitute. If you have caffeine withdrawal -- and aren't giving it up entirely -- develop a taste for black coffee (made at home, of course).

Tipnut said a glass of water with lemon juice on crushed ice worked for her as a soda subsitute. "The crushed ice added a bit of ‘texture’ to the beverage that I felt was an acceptable replacement to the carbonated soda," she wrote.

Avoid mixed drinks that include pop. Steve loved Stoli Vanil with vanilla-flavored Coke, when it was available. He drinks wine now.

Seek support. If you tell everyone you’ve quit soft drinks, you’ll be less inclined to backslide.

Be patient. He says the craving disappears in a few weeks. Now diet sodas taste like chemicals to him, and regular soda is much too sweet. “Soda is just one of those things you’ll never miss once you give it up,” he says. “Trust me.”

Why quit? Steve writes, “Sodas cost a lot of money, they eat away at your insides and your teeth, they dehydrate you, and the long-term health effects of aspartame (for diet drinks) are still being debated.”

For the record, the Coca-Cola Co. stands by its products.

(Actually, Coca-Cola is not an effective toilet bowl cleaner, as some claim. For more Coke myths -- and there are plenty -- read this report at Snopes.com.)

Would you pay more for less Coke?

I am re-posting this post to let you be aware about the problem of the high cost of sugar since "soft drink's" uses a lot of sugar that is detrimental to our health.

New Coke Mini can cost a lot more than a regular-size can. Still, maybe having the option of a smaller size is progress.

Posted by Teresa Mears on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 3:34 PM

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is outraged. The new 7.5-ounce Coke Mini is selling for 50% to 140% more per ounce than the regular 12-ounce cans.
“Coke to Fleece America by Charging More for Less,” trumpets the CSPI, with a subhead reading “$8.50 a gallon for small cans of water & high fructose corn syrup?”
Umm, is $4.50 a gallon for larger cans of water and high-fructose corn syrup somehow a good deal?
We are trying to muster up the proper amount of outrage over the Coke Mini (we certainly agree with the CSPI on a lot of other issues, like the problem of misleading labels on food), but we just can’t do it. As far as we’re concerned, we will happily pay more for smaller portions. In the long run, paying more for less may be better for you.

• Bing: Pepsi or Coke?

The new Coke Mini is available in Washington, D.C., and New York and is supposed to be for sale in the rest of the United States by April. Coke touts on the can the fact that the drink has only 90 calories, as opposed to the 140 calories in a regular 12-ounce can of Coke.
Somehow this is supposed to be more appealing than the existing 8-ounce cans with 100 calories, which don’t seem to be very popular (and also usually cost more than the larger cans).

• Video: Drive-through diet debunked

Coca-Cola also is planning mini cans of Cherry Coke, Sprite, Orange Fanta and Barq's root beer, which we should see on store shelves sometime this year.
The 90-calorie, more-expensive cans of Coke follow the popular 100-calorie snack trend, in which manufacturers package various unhealthy snacks into 100-calorie packages and charge more for them per unit than they do for large packages. Who can argue that eating 100 calories worth of Oreos is NOT better than eating 300 calories’ worth?
While we’d rather see smaller portions for lower prices, smaller portions for higher prices are at least a welcome step away from the “supersize” everything trend.
According to a 2002 report by the the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity, getting a lot more food for a little more money may benefit restaurants, but it isn’t good for our health. There is strong evidence that, when presented with smaller portions, people eat less.
The report, titled “From Wallet to Waistline: The Hidden Costs of Supersizing,” concluded:

Value marketing (providing more food for less money) is a technique that is profitable for food companies, but that results in large portion sizes and contributes to overeating. . . . (Value marketing) encourages the customer to spend a little extra money to purchase larger portion sizes and leaves the customer with the impression that s/he has “gotten a deal.”

For those of us looking for value, that presents a dilemma: better value or smaller portions?
Are we going to go out and buy a pack of Coke Minis? Of course not. No way would we pay $8.50 (P399.50) per gallon for high-fructose corn syrup. We are going to drink water. And the high price of those 100-calorie snack packs just reminds us we’re better off not buying any Oreos at all.
What dilemmas do you face when you weigh value against portion size or packaging? Are you more likely to buy the Coke Mini than you are a regular-size Coke? Or the 100-calorie snacks instead of a larger package? Where would you like to see smaller portions?