Inflatable Shark and Laughing Cicada Among 300 New Species Discovered in the Philippines

One of the designs by the Mark of the Four Waves Tribe, created specifically for the wearer of the tattoo.

(via tribe_members2)

May 2011. Manila Ocean Park, City of Manila | Water Prisons.

The Philippines’ Azkals will go through its first ever game for a FIFA 2014 World Cup slot.

It will be held later today at Sugathadasa Stadium, 4pm (UTC +5:30).

I do hope they win because I think that we can find our niche in the sport of football. I say this because I think that we aren’t really made for basketball.

Here’s an OLMNews report on Melissa Roxas’.  If you haven’t heard Melissa is a Filipino-American organizer who was a victim and survivor of abduction and torture sponsored by the Philippines state.  Read below for more info and also check out

http://justiceformelissa.org/

Shot out to the Bayan-USA folks for the emotional guerrilla theater piece. 

(from description:)

OLMNews reports on the 2nd year Anniversary of Melissa Roxas, Filipino-American activist from Los Angeles who was abducted by gunpoint along with two other colleagues Juanito Carebeo and John Edward Jandoc in broad daylight in a home they were visiting on May 19, 2009 in the town of La Paz, Tarlac in Philippines. Roxas, an American citizen was in the process of working on a project to collect research for a future medical mission for organization Bayan-Tarlac. Students and organizers from Bayan USA staged a re-enactment of Melissa’s abduction at Union Square SF then marched to the Filipino consulate to voice their concerns.

Roxas suffered severe physical and mental torture while being held captive from May 19-25 of 2009. Some of these torturous acts include being dragged to a van, being struck on the head and body, while being denied of food and water. These extreme acts against human rights activists are said to be blamed by the command of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who launched a counter insurgency program called Oplan Bantay Laya which received financial backing from the U.S. Government.

sunset by the cliff

- Basco, Batanes…

@ Calamba Church

Aliwan Fiesta

June 28, 2011.

Meet my brother, J.R., aka the guy who becomes antsy when he’s not doing anything. Even during vacations, he likes to keep his schedule pretty busy. And thus, he decided to spend a couple of days working at my family’s factory. Here he is getting ready, uniform and all. Our mom would have wanted to take a picture of this, kind of like a first-day-of-school picture. I didn’t wake up early enough for his first day, so I took this before his second day. He attended a two-day orientation, where he was able to drive a forklift, make a few boxes, know how to manufacture wiring harnesses, etc. He was even put on the assembly line—although he did put them behind by a lot. Haha. I give props to my brother. He’s probably the most masipag or hard-working person out of us siblings. Hands down. He picks up the slack and keeps me on track whenever I drop the ball on my Ate responsibilites that’s for sure. Hehe. Love ya, weirdooo. :-p

Inflatable Shark and Laughing Cicada Among 300 New Species Discovered in the Philippines:

All these new findings help support the idea that the Philippines “is one of the hottest of the hotspots for diverse and threatened life on Earth,” Gosliner said

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/06/27/inflatable-shark-and-laughing-cicada-among-300-new-species-discovered-in/

WOOOO GO PHILIPPINES!!!

These windmills, there are twenty of them, are all placed along...

tuklasin ang mga bagay-bagay, baka sakaling matauhan ka at magbago ang lahat.

“SJM’s Perfection has been released in MYX. Vote for it — Text “MYX[space] REQUEST[space]PERFECTION” to 2366!!!”

- CR: @sportylorrie

Anne Curtis, speed painting, 22 minutes.

Photo by: shortNotice (Deviantart)

Dahil dito ang sarap, sarap maging PINOY. ^_^

ACCOUNTING TRIVIA 

On  March 17, 1923, the first legislation governing the accounting profession in the Philippines was enacted under Act No. 3105. It created the Board of Accountancy, vesting it with the authority to issue certificates of CPA to those who pass the licensure examination.

hindi kasi ako yung tipo ng tao na lagi nag eexplain. pag tinopak ang mga pasmado kong kamay. makakabasa kayo ng isang salaysay na tatagos sa isipan ng lipunan na ginagalawan nyo.parang rebolusyonaryong pagbabago na hindi kinakailangan ng isang marahas na pag galaw na ang gagamitin lamang ay pawang kritikal na pagsusuri at kritikal na paglalahad.

GOODNIGHT. SPANISH CLASS TOMORROW.

These windmills, there are twenty of them, are all placed along the coastline of Bangui, Ilocos Norte where the winds, the locals say, blow the hardest especially in the monsoon months.

They generate electricity (with enough to spare) to power the municipality and the nearby towns. A similar project will be undertaken which will add more windmills. The people here are very lucky to enjoy lower electricity cost; plus the revenues generated by the tourism surely helps a lot.

This was the last time the weather turned out good before the rains of Falcon started to arrive. It was very hot, and in the opposite direction, one can see the sand simmer in the heat.

Our driver-guide was hesitant at first to bring us to Bangui because our initial plan was to go further north of where we were staying. It was a good thing our suggestion prevailed, as the rains started to fall just when we were leaving the place.

Looking back, I think his perspective was making sure we had a “sulit” tour, so that we can see all of what there is to see during the time we hired his services.

Ako naman, I would rather that we take a few photos under good light, rather than take plenty of photos in dull, boring light.

Biodiversity in the Philippines

Sorbetes!

I’m stopping in Manila for an hour. It’s so short, but I know that it’ll feel great just to be back home, even though I’ll be stuck inside the airport.

I need to follow people who are awake at this time for me :)

Scientists braved leeches and a host of venomous creatures from the mountains to the sea to uncover more than 300 species that are likely new to science. These findings include dozens of new insects and spiders, more than 50 colorful new sea slugs and a number of deep-sea armored corals ”which protect themselves against predatory nibbles from fish by growing large, spiky plates,” said researcher Terrence Gosliner, dean of science and research collections at the California Academy of Sciences and leader of the 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. -Y! News

I’m only gonna post 6 of those cos my powers can’t find more.

These swell sharks can make like giants by inflating its stomach with water to bulk up and to scare off predators.

Sea Slugs!

Petalomera crab

This colorful worm is likely a new species of the genus Myrianida, which was found in coral rubble in the Philippines.

*

Mamma Mia!:

Hurrah!

I wasn’t able to watch this last Spring since we weren’t able to reserve a ticket for the show. Haha.

—

Hurray for the Phantom of the Opera! It’s a must-see! Classical music lovers will definitely enjoy it.

tiffany is joining miss lanao 2011..^^

& i so love the rock formations..

Dumaguete along with Davao we were able to learn and connect with many organizations working for development in the communities.  While at my homestay Kim and Lu spent a day taking us around to many organizations they have worked with or been to before.  Being in the social work college at Silliman University they are required to do so much community service, an aspect many of us on the trip from Mason really liked.  Mason doesn’t have a required amount of internships but we see the good it can do.  Most people wouldn’t mind the community service or internships once in them but I believe it takes an initial shove for people to do it.  Requiring it for school is the perfect solution.

Our first organization we went to was Casa Esperanza.  Casa Esperanza is an organization for battered and abused women.  The organization works at providing a place for those in abusive homes and works at finding a place for the women to go trying to incriminate the ones who did the harm. 

The next organization we went to visit is a government program set up at the Dumaguete Dump.  The dump is helping to teach the people of composting to get rid of how much garbage going into the dump.  They have cut down from 60 tons to 35 tons of garbage coming into the dump per day and are creating examples as to what they can do with many items they find in the garbage.  These things include planting pots, necklaces, handbags, bricks, and others.

The planting pots were made out of waxy paper as found in magazines as well as the necklaces.  They can be made as a way to decrease the garbage but also to create an income for the people who had been living off of scavenging at the dump. 

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The bricks and the candles are made out of melted down plastic bags.  Being in the Philippines in the last six weeks you come to find out how much those bags are used.  These products are good solutions for getting rid of the bags.

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The compost program run at the back of the building across from the dump.  The garbage is put into soil with African Night Crawlers to help break down the garbage.  This creates less garbage and more good soil.

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One traditional way to travel in the Philippines is to use a jeepney. It is also the most common vehicle for public use. Why not? It’s the cheapest way to travel. Aside from that, you also get to see a lo of different personalities. Different personalities that can sometimes be annoying. So here is my blog that will list the 6 people that you wouldn’t want to be with in a jeepney.

1. The Lady-in-skirt

These are the women who like wearing short skirts in jeepneys. And I find them annoying, because instead of sitting straight, they sit diagonally. This consumes more space, thus making the jeep tighter. I mean, if you are going to take a jeepney and you’re afraid that someone may peep on you, then don’t wear a short skirt! (Working uniform that requires you to wear it are excused from this.)

2. The Headbanger

Travelling early in the morning to work (or going home late in the evening) is really difficult for most of us. Most of us haven’t slept enough making us drowsy on our way to work. I totally understand this. What I don’t understand is why others have to bang their heads towards someone else if they feel sleepy. I mean, you can try to rest your head on the backrest (or on your side if you are sitting at the end of the jeepney) or perhaps on your laps if you feel sleepy. Try to think of others too. We lack sleep too, making us easier to get annoyed with things.

3. The Skunk

Since jeepneys are the most affordable way of travelling in the Philippines, we cannot remove the fact that people who physically works take it. I just hope that when they take it in the afternoon, at least they try to wash up a bit, because it’s a little bit insensitive and embarrassing to take a public vehicle smelling like rotten egg. If you don’t have water in your working area (which is a bit impossible to happen) at least use some alcohol or perfume (cologne).

4. The Ass-hole

Since jeepneys can accommodate a lot of people, it usually draws the attention of robbers. These are the people that you would certainly not want to be sitting next to you. They may be pickpockets, hold-upers, or some member of a gang who would use some strategy just to get your valuables. Anyway, whatever persona they may be, they are still f*cking annoying. May all of them burn in hell.

5. The Bitch

How poor a jeep may look like, wannabe queenbees still take it. They are the ones who think that they should be given importance in a jeepney. They will even push you away from where you are sitting, if you are sitting in the place where they want to sit. They will rant about how tight or how hot the jeepney is. They will even verbally assault you for whatever reason if they are feeling uncomfortable. Uneducated with poor breeding - that is how I’ll describe them. They make you want to shout, “take a taxi if you want to feel more comfortable, okay?!”

6. The Whores

A whore is usually accompanied by a man-whore (or sometimes a man-whore accompanied by another man-whore). These are the people who completely violates every inch of conservatism in our country. They keep on flirting all throughout the travel. They do all these slutty activities and throw some disgusting cheesy lines at each other. If you are quite unlucky, you might even hear the annoying flirty giggles of the whore. Their activities seem that they would end up having sex in the jeepney anytime! Disgusting. Especially if they look like people who came from a sewer.

Anyway, I know there are more people that you would hate in a jeepney. But the heck, we can’t do anything about it, but to wish that they try to be more sensitive to others next time. It is because it’s a public vehicle and we cannot just ask people to be what we would want them to be (or else we’re going to be categorized as the jeepney’s bitches). Bitch out discreetly. :)

Pilipinas Got Talent Season2 Grand Winner!Biodiversity in the Philippines

The Butterfly Effect

Ortigas Sunset ?

JEEPNEY: Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines.They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating. They have become a symbol of Philippine culture.

The word jeepney is a portmanteau of “jeep” and “Jitney”.

New York City: FIRE activists at the Trans Day of Action, June 24, 2011.

Photo by Christina Marie Sabio Hilo 

Took a brief stop at the Man Made Forest to take pics. There’s really nothing else to do here but it’s a good place to take jump shots and “artsy” shots especially when there are no vehicles passing by.

untitled by lisachaves on Flickr.

COLOMBO—The Philippine football team will be on attack mode right from the start when it faces Sri Lanka in the first leg of its opening round World Cup Qualifying clash here tomorrow.

Unlike other teams playing away from home that tend to play defensively, the Azkals will look to score early in its first World Cup Qualifying match in 10 years.

“We will put pressure on them (Sri Lankans) early,” team manager Dan Palami told the Inquirer upon arriving in the populous Sri Lankan capital Monday.

“Winning by two goals will be most ideal for us.”

Palami said a comfortable win here would mean less pressure on the Azkals in the second leg this Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

“If we could finish the series here by winning the game in their homecourt, there will be less pressure on us when we play in Manila,” he said.
Azkals’ strong offensive game
Palami’s confidence stems from the strong offensive game shown by the Azkals in their recent camp in Germany.

The attacking flair was spurred by the inclusion of Stephan Schrock in the lineup and the solid forward combination of Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado.

But there are still chinks on the Azkals’ defensive armor as shown in their lopsided losses to German sides Ingolstadt and Darmstadt.

“The training camp experience will count most on this away game,” said Palami, who has bankrolled the Azkals’ campaign the past two years.

In temperatures similar to Manila’s, the Azkals had a light training session for the first time here, a day after arriving in a country which is known more for its prowess in the sport of cricket rather than football.
Jonsson playing first leg
The team was also boosted by the news of leftback Ray Jonsson’s availability for the first leg that will be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium, which could accommodate up to 25,000 spectators.

The Philippines actually has a score to settle against the Sri Lankans, who defeated the national squad, 3-0, in a World Cup Qualifying match in 1995 in Qatar.

A victory by the Azkals will not only avenge that loss, but will also fulfill the team’s goal of making history by advancing past the first round of qualifying for the first time.

The Azkals are hoping to sustain a  streak that started in last year’s Suzuki Cup, which they followed up by advancing to the main tournament of the AFC Challenge Cup.

“I’m glad that in all the tournaments we have joined so far, we have actually achieved the results we wanted and even exceeded them,” said Palami.

“I hope this is one more tournament where our expectations are at least realized. And if we exceeded it by going past the second round, then there’s not much more that I could ask for.” -Cedelf P. Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Filipino Cebu-based furniture designer Kenneth Cobunpue’s Bloom chair. It’s created from microfiber stitched overtop resin with a steel base. (via Honestly WTF)

i cant stop eating them. mom, finished half the bag, i’ma...

I can’t believe I’ve been waiting for this day for ages (in my world, it means months!),  tomorrow morning or in a few hours, me and my family (mum dad and 2 sisters) will be going back to Davao City, Philippines for a holiday!

We’ll be going for 3 weeks~ that’s not long enough but that’s the maximum my work will ever grant me! Booo! This holiday will also be when my mum and dad will celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary, they will be renewing their vows on 30th June, and all of my scattered family members will be flying in for the event! 

For the past few months, I’ve literally been the wedding planner for the wedding, I’ve picked out the wedding souvenirs, made the gift tags, made the invitations, made the table labels and whatnot! It was actually fun but very stressful, can you imagine if it was a full-blown wedding? 

I’ve bought my dress for the event, I will be posting some pictures of the night~ but I reckon I won’t have a lot of time. 

I suppose a lot of people do this but I keep checking and re-checking everything, passport,insurance, dress, shoes, bag, booze, swimwear, it must have took me a few weeks to plan my outfits and get stuff sorted, I only finished packing 2 hours ago! 

I’m very very excited~ although I hear that there’s a lot of torrential rain in Manila at the moment, I suppose it is monsoon season, but from what I could remember as a child living in Davao, Davao City always had good weather all year long, you get the occassional storm and rain but not hurricanes! Thank god for Mount Apo!

I may not be able to go back on tumblr until I land either in Manila or Davao on Monday evening but I will try my luck for wifi in Abu Dhabi airport!

I love you guys! xxx 

Watching the Rain

Photo taken in San Pedro, San Pablo City, Philippines

Remember that little Asian girl from the Missy Elliott videos from the early 00’s? That girl was Monica Parales. She’s not a little girl anymore. She’s had a pretty impressive resume under her 18 year old belt. She appeared in a number of Missy Elliott videos, was in Eminem’s “Just Lose It” video, appeared in a number of commercials, TV shows and is a member of Nick Cannon-mentored girl group the “School Gyrls”. In addition, she was a member of Team Millenia Juniors, a competitive hip hop dance team based in Fullerton, CA.

Of course, Philippines is not a CUNTry. It’s a country.

Tiyanak is a creature which, in Philippine mythology, imitates the form of a child. It usually takes the form of a newborn baby and cries like one in the jungle to attract unwary travelers. Once it is picked up by the victim, it reverts to its true form and attacks the victim. Theories claim that the Tianak is the spirit of a child whose mother died before giving birth. This caused it to be “born in the ground”, thus gaining its current state.

My nephew. How much i miss him. 

Inside Quiapo Church

A  look inside Quiapo church also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. Apparently photography was not allowed so I was unable to get more shots.

Photo taken in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines.

i cant stop eating them. mom, finished half the bag, i’ma finish the rest LOL