There is Hope

I know many people would be happy, despite the typhoon Milenyo that just hit the country that created so much damage, that there is good news going around. What are these?

1. I saw the replay of the GO Negosyo on TV, and I commend the efforts of the organizers. Without doubts, many Filipinos were inspired by the successes of the many entrepreneurs during that summit. I say…..a quite revolution on entrepreneurship is currently going on in the Philippines. It seemed that people got tired of being the “problems”, of blaming “somebody” of “politics.”

2. On the news: PDI. THE COUNTRY'S total foreign debt fell 3.8 percent to $53.9 billion at the end of June from $56.0 billion a year earlier, and 2.5 percent from $55.3 billion at end-March, after government and private sector borrowers made net repayments in excess of $2 billion, the central bank said.

3. On the news: PDI.THE PESO is likely to firm up at the level of 49 to the US dollar over the next six to 15 months, following the appreciation of most other Asian currencies, French investment bank Calyon says in a report.

4. On the news: PDI.This vision for the Central Philippines mega region as a tourism magnet was presented yesterday with a P20 billion budget for infrastructure projects for three airports, six seaports and 21 road projects to be completed by 2010.

5. On Samar News: CATBALOGAN, Samar – To show their concern for the people by ensuring an honest and transparent government anchored on the principle of good governance, some political leaders here launched an anti-corruption drive dubbed as the "Crusade for Samar".

6. On Samar News:An Indignation Rally was conducted Saturday by more than 5,000 residents from the affected municipalities of Baybay, Inopacan and Mahaplag. Lt. Col. Mario Lacurom, commander of the 43rd Infantry Battalion based in Sogod, Southern Leyte said that the Indignation Rally is an expression of the people’s desire to seek for justice for the residents and relatives who died in the hands of the CCP- NPA and to call for an end to the CCP-NPA’s reign of terror in the area.

7. More than P91 billion worth of infrastructure and other projects are to be implemented in Eastern Visayas region in the next three years as the government strives to make the Philippines “the next success story in Asia.”

I just wish the government would do more to curb corruption in the Philippines. I read somewhere that the governor of Samar have just been convicted of corruption charges. Things are moving in the country; although not at the phase that we all want it to be…at least it is moving.

I am optimistic of the prospects. Its my only country…kasi, hehehe.

My Sunday

Since I am a farmer now, I went to visit my farm last Sunday. I brought with me the seedlings I tried growing in our backyard here in the City: 2 seedlings of Bangkok santol, 3 lanzones, and 6 avocados. Syempre, magagandang klaseng seedlings ito.

So when we arrived at the farm, I planted the seedlings, hehehe. Ang mga Narra, Mahogany, and Mangga that I planted last last year are now really tall, 1.5 meters na cguro, pero ang Mangga maliit pa.

Pagkatapos ng tree planting, we sold our copra for a princely sum of 11,000 pesos, 16.00 pesos ang kilo ng copra. Pagkatapos nag-katay kami ng chickens, hehehe for lunch. I already designated 5 chicken for Christmas, and another 5 for New Year, O diba? I noticed na 10 na yata ang pa-itlugan ng manok doon sa gilid ng farm house ko. Sabi ko sa katiwala ko “mag-ingat sa birdflu, dumarami na manok natin”.

After lunch nakipag-inuman ako sa mga katiwala (2 lang naman) and one visitor who helped us katay the chicken and buy the tuba. Hehe (ayos ba taglish ko?). Nang-uwian na, nagdala ako ng young corn (1/2 sack), (1/2 sack camote), (1/2 sack banana), niyog, and vegetables.

Pero ang mga katiwala ko sumabay sa sasakyan noong pauwi na kami– magsasabong daw sila sa bayan, hehehe, may pera kasi. So I told my driver, tara makisabong na rin tayo since we still have time. I don’t know what happened but we won around 8K in less than 1 hour without shelling any money out, hehehe. We kept on betting and we keep on winning – voila in around 45 minutes we got 8K. Kaya sabi ko sa driver, tara uwi na tayo, hehehe. I gave 500 each to may katiwala and 200 to my driver as balato.

That’s my Sunday. The Sunday of a mid-30's retired OFW. hehehe.

PS.

1. My last visit to sabungan, we call “gallera” was around 5 years ago.

2. October will be harvest time, so I will be busy collecting my palay.

3. Nagplaplano na ng Christmas decoration ang "manager" ko sa "School Supplies and Photocopying Shop" ko.

Anime HunterXHunter

I am not too old, nor too young, hehehe, middle age ako. Despite my age, I enjoy watching cartoons, particularly Japanese Anime. What? yup, but only selected ones. When I was jobless a few years back, I used to watch Dragon Balls, Ghost Fighter, Flame of Recca, and HunterXHunter showed in GMA 7.

When HunterXHunter was showed, I would try….even to postpone my meetings, and some other not so important personal activities just to watch this Anime, hehehe. Sobra na to…but yup I did. In more than a year watching this anime, I missed lots of episodes. I remember, trying to postpone my trip back to KSA last, last year so I can continue watching this Anime…….what? Well…that’s the truth, hehehe.

Last week, it was pay back time; I purchase the DVD of all the episodes of this Anime, watching from the first episodes, up to its sequel, the Green/Greed Island. Believe it or not, it took me more than four days to finish watching this Anime from start to finish. I started at 6:00 am, and finished around 7 PM, with headaches; hehehe. Despite the headaches, I am full of smiles. Even in my sleep, this Anime tries to invade my toughts and dreams, heheheh, sobra na to!

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PS.

I am going to my farm on Sunday (my katiwala informed me to visit) to sell my copra, and to fix some problems with my “babuyan”. They need me there to sell the copra, and for some important decisions. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, this is good, so I can also ask, when will the rice harvesting would start, hehehe (pera). Makapagdala/makuha na rin ng manok, gulay, camote, kabute, niyog, buko, etc. etc. para sa bahay. Madadala at maitatanim ko na rin ang mga seedlings ko ng Avocado, Lanzones at Mangga na lumalaki na ngayon.

Sequel to my previous post

On pork barrels, I read on Jarius Bondoc's column today how disgusting our law makers are becoming, hehehe.

Here's a part of his column:

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GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc

The Philippine Star 09/20/2006

Legislators know it is immoral and illegal for them to increase their own pay. But look what they’re doing. Given a 2007 budget plan with pork barrel allotments at "only" P20 million per congressman and P60 million per senator, Rep. Joey Salceda, as head of the House appropriations committee, snorts, "No problem, we’ll raise everything to P70 million and P200 million, respectively."

Just like that. No compunction, no attempt to justify the more than tripling of their perks, not even a promise in return to triple their service to the people. Only plain greed, from an assumption that because they’re in power, they can do anything they please – including divvying up public money among themselves.

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O...diba....kailan kaya sila magbabago?

I said this time the budget will pass. (1) Election time is coming, (2) they need their pork barrels, and their "cuts", (3) may dad dag pa!

Di na naawa sa bayan! hay.....

National Budget

You know what? I am sure the National Budget will be passed by both Houses of Congress this year. This is despite their failure to pass the budget for the past two years.

Bakit?

Hehehehe, May 2007 is election time. All our politicians would need money in the form of pork barrels (including their % cut) to win the elections. It is their interests now that is at stake. Kaya ipapasa yan. I can bet a peso on that, hehehe.

In the previous years, what was at stake was the country’s poor (who cares about the poor?), the country’s economy (who cares about the economy?), our social services (who cares?). All that was in their mind, particularly the Senate was to make sure that the PGMA administration would suffer, so no budget was passed. O diba? But this time, the game shifted to personal…election eh….kaya….they have no choice but to pass the budget or else.

Let us laugh

Warning: This post is sexist, whatever that means. I respect women, and promoted equal rights in college, and years after college. All I am saying is, this is just a joke forwarded to me by email..and I just want you guys to laugh, if you think this is entertaining, hehehe.

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An Irish daughter had not been home for over 5 years. Upon her return, her fathercursed her. "Where have ye been all this time? Why did ye not writeto us, not evena line? Why didn't ye call? Can ye not understand what ye put yer old mum thru?"

The girl, crying, replied, "Sniff, sniff....dad....I became a prostitute...." "Ye what!!? Out of here, ye shameless harlot! Sinner! You're a disgrace to this family."

"OK, dad-- as ye wish. I just came back to give mum this luxurious fur coat, titledeed to a ten bedroom mansion plus a savings certificate for $5 million."

"For me little brother, this gold Rolex and for ye, daddy, the sparkling new Mercedeslimited edition convertible that's parked outside plus a membership to the countryclub....(takes a breath)....and an invitation for ye all to spend New Years' Eve onboard my new yacht in the Riviera, and...."

"Now what was it ye said ye had become?" says dad. Girl, crying again, "Sniff, sniff..a prostitute dad! Sniff, sniff."

"Oh! Begorra! Ye scared me half to death, girl! I thought ye said a Protestant. Come here and give yer old man a hug."
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An 18 year old girl tells her Mom that she has missed her period for 2 months. Very worried, the mother goes to the drugstore and buys a pregnancy kit. The test result shows that the girl is pregnant.

Shouting, cursing, crying, the mother says "who was the pig that did this to you? I want to know!"

The girl picks up the phone and makes a call. Half an hour later a Mercedes stops in front of their house, a mature and distinguished man with grey hair and impeccably dressed in an Armani suit steps out of the Mercedes and enters the house.

He sits in the living room with the father, mother and the girl, and tells them: "Good morning, your daughter has informed me of the situation. I can't marry her because of my personal family situation but I'll take charge. I will pay all costs and provide for your daughter for the rest of her life.

"Additionally, if a girl is born I will bequeath her 2 retail stores, a townhouse,a beachfront villa and a $2,000,000 bank account. If a boy is born, my legacy will be a couple of factories and a $4,000,000 bank account. If twins, they will receive a factory and $2,000,000 each.

" However, if there is a miscarriage, what do you suggest I do?"

At this point, the father, who had remained silent, places a hand firmly on the man's shoulder and tells him, "You root her again."

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O....tawa ka naman.

I said it before, and I will say it again

I said it before, and I will say it again:

"In my earlier post, I predicted 35 to 40 pesos to the dollar by December 2006".

This prediction would seem to be too strong for the Peso, but actually its not. It should be the fair value of the US Dollar relative to the Peso, IMO.

My prediction still stands, December 31, 2006 is still more than 3 months away.

Let us wait and see.
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Another prediction is: Oil prices will go down to 50 dollars per barrel by December 31,2006. And 40 dollars per barrel by December 2007. And 30 dollars per barrel by December 2008.

Why? Thats a secret.

But let us wait and see. Matagal pa naman yan eh.

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Now on the news from PDI:

Peso seen hitting 46-48 to $1 in early '07

Inquirer Last updated 04:06am (Mla time) 09/12/2006

THE PESO is expected to rise past 50 to the dollar by the end of the year and reach 46-48 to the greenback early next year, given positive macroeconomic fundamentals, the treasury head at the country's biggest bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co.

Me? I say 40 to the dollar by December 31.

Warning: Be ready to put your money in Gold or Dollar once bird flu hits the fan.

Depression

I confess I suffer from mild depression from time to time. When it hits me, I forcefully do the following:

1. I don’t ride, I walk…in the sun. (After getting wet from perspiration, nakakatulong din ito na mawala ang depression ko).
2. I eat a bunch of bread, hot bread. I read somewhere that this helps.
3. I open all the doors and windows in the house, and play loud music.
4. I go to church and give alms to some people, make me feel good.

And if it’s really worse, I packed my bags and go away. I go to Cebu, (when I am in the Philippines) to window shop, watch movies, eat a lot of good food, etc. And of course, the best therapy ever is to be in bed with your love one, just huggin….and..

Hay….. when D hits me, my mantra are as follows:

a. “ this too, will pass”
b. “ things happen for a reason”
c. “ if it’s for you, it will be yours”, of course you have to work for it.

Blah blah….hehehe.

Agreement

On my dealings with farmers on my Farmers Loan Venture, I have written the agreements myself, para makatipid sa lawyers expense. Sana naman eh.. tama ang pagkakagawa ko, although I am hoping that not one of my clients will reneged on our agreements. Pero, in this business dapat sigurista ka. There should be a guarantee of some sort whenever you release an amount for any venture.

Dahil baka may gumaya sa venture ko among my readers, I will post a sample of the agreement, I have made baka makatulong. Ito:

REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE/LOAN GUARANTEE


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

This REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE, made executed by and between:
Pangalan ng Umutang. (mortgagor), Filipino of legal age, single with postal address at Address ng Umu-utang;

and

Pangalan ko. (mortgagee), Filipino, of legal age, single, with postal address at Address ko, Philippines.

WITNESSETH:

That the MORTGAGOR does hereby convey by way of REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE unto the MORTGAGEE the following described real property situated in Location ng Lupa, together with all the improvements, to wit:

(see attach documents)

of which real property, the MORTGAGOR is the registered owner in accordance with the provisions of the Land Registration Act, his title thereto being evidenced by Transfer Certificate of Title No. __T-5011________, of the Registry of Deeds of Province of xxxx.

That this real estate mortgage is given as security for a loan from the mortgagee in the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00) with interest thereon at the rate of Sixty Five Sacks of unhusked rice/palay per cropping, which is twice a year for a total of 130 sacks of unhusked rice per year.

That the MORTGAGOR will hold the land title with him and cultivate/till the land provided the MORTGAGOR promises to pay the loaned sum plus interests to the mortgagee. In the same manner, that the MORTGAGOR promises to convey, deliver the said real state to the mortgagee, if and when the MORTGAGOR fails to pay the loaned sum plus interests.

That this real estate mortgage will be in effect for at least two years or until the mortgagor paid the full amount of the loaned sum of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00) with interest to the mortgagee.

That the conditions of the REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE are such that if the mortgagor shall well and truly pay then this mortgage shall be of no further force and effect, otherwise, the same shall remain in full force and effect and shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the mortgagor has hereunto set his hands this 28TH day of June, 2006 in xxxx City, Philippines.

____________________ ___________________
(Mortgagor) ............................(Mortgagee)

SIGNED IN TIHE PRESENCE OF:

____________________ ___________________

(NOTARIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)

Weather is changing

My observations, hehehe, I am not that old, but in my life of 30+ years thus far, I have observed that, in the Philippines:

1. There is an increase of frequency of Tornado hitting the country.
2. The frequency of typhoon hitting Leyte, Samar, and Catanduanes has been reduced. My observation is that the path of typhoons has move up towards the North i.e. hitting HK, Taiwan, China and Japan frequently now, than before i.e. Leyte, Samar and Catanduanes.
3. The weather now is much warmer than say, 15 years ago.

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On the news from CNN:

Scientist: Planet going back to dinosaur era

NORWICH, England (Reuters) -- Global warming over the coming century could mean a return of temperatures last seen in the age of the dinosaur and lead to the extinction of up to half of all species, a scientist said on Thursday.

Not only will carbon dioxide levels be at the highest levels for 24 million years, but global average temperatures will be higher than for up to 10 million years, said Chris Thomas of the University of York.

Between 10 and 99 percent of species will be faced with atmospheric conditions that last existed before they evolved, and as a result from 10-50 percent of them could disappear.

"We may very well already be on the breaking edge of a wave of mass extinctions," Thomas told the annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Scientists predict average global temperatures will rise by between two and six degrees centigrade by 2100, mainly as a result of the heat-trapping carbon dioxide being pumped into the air from burning fossil fuels for transport and power.

"In geological terms 100 years is effectively instantaneous," Thomas noted.

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So, what can we do?

No Women Allowed

On the news from Washington Post:

Saudis Consider Banning Women From Mecca

By DONNA ABU-NASR
The Associated Press
Thursday, September 7, 2006; 2:25 PM

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- Officials are considering an unprecedented proposal to ban women from performing the five Muslim prayers in the immediate vicinity of Islam's most sacred shrine in Mecca. Some say women are already being kept away.

The issue has raised a storm of protest across the kingdom, with some women saying they fear the move is meant to restrict women's roles in Saudi society even further.

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Its a pity that, while the world is moving forward, and I thought that KSA was moving along with it. Proposals like this are still being considered.

Please fill in the blanks:

No____ allowed here.

______ kind of people, keep out.

hay....

Guimaras Oil Spill - Impact 2

It is difficult to assess the impact of the oil spill unless data are gathered on field. It would help a lot if prior data on various parameters such as water quality, species diversity, density, affected fishing and related activities etc. are available so we can compare this with post data during and after the spill. By doing this we can measure the damage and impact of the oil spill, and probably demand compensation for the damages. I am hoping that there is a group already doing this - so the people will know the extent of the damage.

Based on other oil spill study, and other experiences, the following are the additional impacts I could think of taken from various sources:

1. Large hydrocarbon concentrations in sediment are toxic to many organisms and may cause widespread mortality.

2. Oil spill may change community composition at various taxonomic levels, and probably extinction to some fragile species.

3. Miller in 1999 observed in the technical background paper entitled Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Ten Years Later that “To the naked eye, Prince William Sound may appear ‘normal.’ But if you look beneath the surface, oil continues to contaminate beaches, national parks, and designated wilderness.”

4. Analysis of massive oil spill impact on the fisheries in the middle east revealed a drastic decline in fish and shrimp stocks.

5. Comparison of "same-site" tissue samples of clams in the middle east provided strong evidence of bioaccumulation of oil-related metals (e.g., cadmium, cobalt, nickel, vanadium and chromium). Concentrations increased with clam size and proximity to the source of the oil spill.

6. From number 5, we can speculate bioaccumalation, and magnification of these metals on humans once these clams are consumed by people (dito sa Pilipinas, we eat almost anything, diba?).

7. Oil spill may disrupt reproduction and spawning habits of various marine organisms resulting in decline of fish stocks among other marine organisms.

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Buhok?

Nagbibiro ka ba? hehehehe. Hairs, although biodegrable, takes a very very long time to degrade. I can speculate this will only delay the various natural processes that could help mitigate the oil spill such as evaporation, photo-oxidation, bacterial degradation and other factors. If we must, I would recommend the ever reliable "bunot" of our coconuts - this at least would degrade in months, and not decades.

Buhok daw? Ako, yoko magpakalbo ha, hehehe.

PHCCI

Last Saturday, I joined the membership seminar of the PHCCI or Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative (PHCCI). On their website, information about the coop are: "PHCCI was established in 1967 by the Mother of Perpetual Help Parish and was administered by the Redemptorist Fathers. Very successful and going strong everyday, the PHCCI is run by highly-professional and dynamic group of people who are driven by strong desire to help the country’s economy, improve the lives of the common people and empower the ordinary folks to become financially independent".

Assets of the PHCCI improved over the years as follows:

1969 - 1,201.94
1979 - 1,193,558.81
1989 - 9,183,861.88
1999 - 128,216,630.71

2006 - 310,000,000.00 +

A good track record indeed. I joined this cooperative because I want to avail their loan oppurtunities provided to members.

A member is required to make a fixed deposit, and the fixed deposit as a basis, a member can avail a loan 200% or 300% of the fixed deposit.

The cooperative also provides various benefits such interest on fixed deposit, patronage refund, free medical and dental services, burial benefits among others. Also the interest on loan is low and interest on deposits are high compared to banks.

Let us see what happens, makakautang ba? This is my first time to avail outside financing for my various endeavors, hehehe. Lets us see.

Mass Graves Found in Leyte

"Akala namin nagpunta lang ng Maynila at hindi na bumalik!" was what was said among one of the people in the grave site, probably a relative, yon pala, andito lang pala!

In the news (local TV in Leyte): mass graves were found in Inopacan Leyte, with more than sixty (67 was the latest count) skeletons found, with indications of torture before they were killed. Locals interviewed in the village who are former NPAs, Commanders, and Amazona, admitted that some of them were eye witnesses to the killings on orders of the high command of CPP-NPA. All of the them, and villagers "regretted ever joining the NPA".

One of the locals said " we were a stronghold of the NPA in the 80s and 90s. Not a single military can approach the village within its 20 km radius. Local NPA government existed here for years. We speculate there more of these mass graves around the island."

Hay.... I use to symphatize with the causes of the left before, pero ngayon hindi na! Their struggle may be legtimate, but the way they pursuing it is just not right.

Who are going to be held responsible for these mass killing? Joma Sison? Satur Ocampo? Ka Roger? Criminal cases should be filed in court and those responsible should be prosecuted. I hope this time, they are not going to hide in the guise of "political dessent" or "political prisoners".