"Sorry to burst your bubble, Mike"

I still remember what one of my other filipino batchmates (who studied in Spain that year the same year I did) said to me, "Sorry to burst your bubble, Mike" that sort of thing doesn't happen.

She was based in Madrid, and I was studying in Alicante. We were chatting over yahoo messenger and she asked me what I planned to do after business school. I told her, that I would want to be based in Manila, but represent a Spanish company, earning in Euros.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Mike" was her quick retort to my answer.

Well, it's been almost 6 years now and it definitely wasn't my bubble that got burst (I held a job representing a spanish brand in Asia for four years, before I decided to move on) and indeed I got what I wished for. (I've moved on since, to do other pursuits)

I guess my point in this little anecdote is that, you should never let anyone tell you what you can not do. Look to the bright side, be always positive and just do it. Things will all come into place, with the help of the big Guy upstairs of course.

The Philippine Eagle . . . on the London Bus!

The Philippine Eagle Has Landed… on the London Bus!!!

Top

The Philippine Eagle Has Landed… on the London Bus!!!

In line with promoting its latest travel product – birdwatching – the Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) is taking it to the busy streets of London this November. Watch out for London’s iconic buses as they carry the Philippines banner across the city. 

Commuters and pedestrians in London will be exposed to the country’s campaign on a daily basis as 25 local buses, carrying the promotional banners, drive by the lively streets of the city. These buses are en route the popular streets of London such as Oxford Circus, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington to name a few. These buses, that run most of the working day, arrive at a frequency of 7-10 minutes per hour on every bus stop. 

Penetrating the public transportation system of London is a highly effective way to promote Philippines tourism, with the very high population of commuters being exposed to it every day. According to research by CBS Outdoor, bus advertising is the most seen outdoor format around the city centre. There is no denying that this medium will increase visibility of the country’s brand campaign.

While these buses promote the Philippines as a birdwatching destination, they are, at the same time, also strengthening the country’s image as a place of diverse interests. Furthermore, many other countries also promote their tourism through this medium; thus, this is definitely a good way to present the Philippines as a place at par with any other popular tourist destination.

This campaign will deliver the message that the Philippines is definitely an option when it comes to travelling, with the many things that the country can offer – from birdwatching to scubadiving or simply as a place of leisure.

Breaking News: Michael Cricton Dead.

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 -- 1:05 PM ET
-----

Michael Crichton, Author, Dies at 66

Michael Crichton, the author of the blockbuster
science-fiction novels "Jurassic Park," "The Andromeda
Strain" and "State of Fear," has died at 66.

Dream Last Night

I was wandering about my neighborhood (in my dream I live in either San Lorenzo or Urdaneta, or one of those villages in Greenhills, I can't remember which one exactly, but the village looked like any of them.)   Then I bumped into some people on the street and they had something urgent in their house that I had to check out -- I really can't remember this exactly.

When we got to their house, (it was a huge 70s house with about 4 or 5 storeys in all, but very well maintained, everything was sparkling new white with red and blue trimmings -- although the furniture, the shiny twisting metal  grills, and the interiors were all decidedly 70s)  they went inside a room and wouldn't let me in. Then through the slightly open door, they told me to wait at the living area, down two flights of stairs.  (The house had an open design and a very 70ies flight of white stairs in the middle connecting all the 4 or 5 floors.  Much of the house was eaten by the space taken up by what seemed like an atrium.)

I obliged and I went down as told, where I found two chairs, again in 70ies fashion and a television set turned on to some tv show I really could not remember.   

After what seemed like a long wait, the door  to the left facing me, beside the TV opened, and a tall, very Spanish Mestiza lady with really flaming red hair in shiny silk robes,  appeared.    She was eyeing me suspiciously as I was seated there rather comfortably watching TV.  I told her (in spanish) that I was waiting for the guys upstairs who told me to wait here.   She looked my way, frowned, and went on her way to go up the stairs, without even speaking a word to me.  

Confused, I went up the same flight of stairs where i went down on, and where the lady passed.   I could remember seeing the marble floor and stairs still, and there were cleaning ladies who were mopping the floor silly, even when it was very clean and shiny.   They did not mind me at all too.   I found it so odd, and the people I first bumped into and convinced me to go inside the house in the first place, where nowhere to be found.  

So I went out of the house and now I can't remember what happened next. 

that's all, thank you, bow!

OMG! Sarah Palin Pranked

Is this for Real???? OMG, this woman is running for US Vice President?  Johnny Holiday?  Joe the Plumber?  Cara is Hot in Bed?  and she din't get it? OMG!!!!   

Case in Point: Repealing the eVAT?

This is a point I want to bring across.  Sometimes when luminaries of an entirely different field, like former Justices of the Supreme Court, for example, try to lend their brilliant legal minds to matters of fiscal policy and economics,  things just don't jive.

Remember when the Supreme Court Justices (I'm not sure  which way Justice Cruz voted in this case, or if he even was part of the decision)  to keep ownership of the Manila Hotel in Filipino Hands, which said decision in turn rejected the winning bid of an otherwise prestigious international  conglomerate?  Manila Hotel then fell onto the lap of Mr. Yap, owner of Manila Bulletin. 

Where is Manila Hotel now?  I think many of you would share my observations of how Manila Hotel, once in the ranks of the world's most luxurious,  prestigious hotels, is now in a very sorry, embarrassing state.

And so we go back to why exactly I am writing this entry.  Justice Cruz, is opining that the eVAT law be repealed.   Does he demand of this because he has indepth knowledge that doing so would be good for the economy?   Does he mean repealing the entire Value Added Tax law or just the expanded part of it? In the case of the latter, it would only mean, a 2% difference, because the original VAT is still pegged at 10% after all.   This then brings us to the question, of how big a difference will it make if we repealed the expanded 2%?

Does he not realize that probably because of the eVAT, we are now better off in terms of fiscal balance and in dealing with the current Global Financial Crisis that's been ripping the western hemisphere like a shockwave?  

Corruption this, corruption that, 6 million dollars for the Generals who went to Moscow, yadda yadda,  . . . does that make an argument to disassemble an entire fiscal structure?  

I don't have the answers but I have these questions.  

Repeal the expanded VAT

By Isagani A. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:43:00 11/01/2008

THERE is widespread disgust with the expanded VAT from all elements of the people, especially the senior citizens whose statutory benefits are negated by the oppressive law. For example, my wife bought medicines worth P2,703.57 that was reduced because of her age to P2,162.86 but in the same transaction was subjected to the expanded VAT of P259.54, making the total cost of her purchase P2,422.40. This lessened the 20 percent benefit required by the Senior Citizens Law to only 8 percent, wiping out as much as 12 percent of the original discount by only an implied amendment or repeal, which is not favored in law.

It is not only the senior citizens who are adversely affected. Even an ordinary meal advertised for only so much in the restaurant menu may embarrass a person who has ordered it with just enough of the indicated cost but is later also charged the expanded VAT. He may plead that he is only an ordinary wage earner with limited means but that does not excuse him from paying the additional tax that was authored by former Sen. Ralph Recto, whose grandfather would surely have opposed such an awkward exaction.

I imagine Don Claro would have dismissed the administration’s stupid excuse that the expanded VAT is necessary for the increased cost of government. We have enough other taxes except that they are not being paid by the powerful slackers who can invoke various pretexts for evading their lawful share in the upkeep of the government. The honest ordinary people do not enjoy that illegal convenience. It is the ordinary people, most of them from the middle class, who are directly prejudiced by the additional tax that is automatically imposed when they engage in ordinary activities like buying food and hiring services.

What makes the expanded VAT especially objectionable is that, contrary to its announced purpose, it is not being spent for “the increased cost of government,” as piously argued by its defenders. That apologia is a lie as everybody knows. Much of the expanded VAT we are paying is consumed for spendthrift purposes, like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s junket to the United States last June. She delivered a speech at the United Nations that nobody listened to except her many pampered companions whose only function was to act as her claque. The cost of that excursion exceeded P50 million of public funds.

Only recently, the public that has been inured to the scandals of our public officials was still shocked by the incredible disclosure of the prodigal bounties given to the members of the Philippine police delegation in their over-priced but overrated mission to Russia. They could have kept their excessive allowance a dark and improvident secret were it not for the efficient inquisitiveness of the customs inspectors in that country.

The money involved in this latest exposé is the P9.2 million that an eight-man delegation from the Philippine National Police carried for its six-day attendance at the 77th Interpol General Assembly. Some of the delegates were accompanied by their wives. The specified sum for their official expenses was P2.3 million, but they also had the undeclared “contingency fund” of P6.9 million, consisting also of the proceeds from various taxes, including the expanded VAT dutifully paid by the less privileged among us. Their already retired comptroller said that Russia was an “expensive country,” as if to explain their extraordinary privileges for incidental expenses like shopping adventures and nocturnal entertainment at the ballet or elsewhere.

Unlike many inquiries conducted by the Senate that started with a bang but languished with a whimper, the investigation of their extravagant escapade swiftly ended on a positive note. After its one and final hearing, the committee on foreign affairs recommended the prosecution of the superior officers of the Philippine National Police for the grotesque offenses they have committed probably with the also guilty permission of the interior secretary. Congratulations to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the investigating committee, and its other valiant members, for denouncing another band of vultures plundering the national treasury.

It is almost comical that the respondents are now claiming that the contingency fund entrusted to them was for the purchase of military and spy equipment, as if these were available at some talipapa in Moscow. And don’t laugh if they next refuse to say more on the ground that their defense is a national security secret covered by the executive privilege of their commander in chief. Also, mind you, the Supreme Court might agree.

To go back to my original gripe, part of their loot must have come from the proceeds of the expanded VAT that I hope will also be criminalized. Taxation must be exercised with a humane appreciation of the capacity of the people to cope with its requirements, not for the unfeeling need to raise revenues that are mostly used not to serve public needs but to cater to private caprices disguised as official functions. That is the rule in this country, where the majority of the people are exploited to indulge the pleasures of the untouchable few.

Roxas City nightlife rocks! ???

Because I'll be home for Christmas (I already made sure of this even if the plane fare I got is almost double what it normally costs), I started googling about Roxas City, my hometown. Guess what I found when googling Roxas City.  An Article by Bryan Argos, (not sure, but I think he was a classmate of my sis) hehehe

Yey! I feel like the small towner that I really am.   Cheers!

(Title is clickable to get you to the original posting of this article)

The Roxas City nightlife rocks!

By Bryan Mari Argos

Most of the time when I meet people during my travels and these associations have gone to Roxas City, their usual complain is, 'Walang night life sa Roxas City.' Well, partly, they are right, because in Roxas City, the nightlife is not quite the type that you can get accustomed to and know all about in just one night; and partly, they are wrong, because Roxas City does have an active night life, although not as active if compared to Malate in Manila, Eastwood, or Smallville in Iloilo City. The reason why most people don't quite find anything in the Roxas City nightlife is because they don't know where to go. For one to really enjoy the Roxas City nightlife, one has to at least go out with someone who is a native of the place. If this is not possible, the best alternative would be to walk around the city at around eight or nine in the evening and just immediately around the city plaza are bars that you can get into and have some beers in. This may not be very exciting at first, but the best way to go is to find a bar that you like and just stay there for the rest of the night. Bar hopping is not really a fad in Roxas City because most people in the City have their own turfs and you would find them in the same place night after night after night after night. In other words, if you get into a certain bar and find the crowd pleasing to your discriminating taste, then stay in that bar, because if you go to other bars, you are most likely to end up with a crowd that is either beyond what your pocket and hypocrisy could handle, or way behind your taste (that is if you do have taste). I'm not saying that bars in Roxas City are always at the extreme edges of the social penumbra; all I am saying is that when you find a crowd that you like in any of the bars, you are least likely to find any other bar in the city with the kind of crowd that you found comfort with in the first place. Now, for those of you who would really like to get into the Roxas City nightlife, whatever the cost, here are ten helpful tips that might come in handy.

1. Have at least three to five hundred pesos spending cash. This would get you a long, long way. Beer costs from 20-30 pesos in any bar and you can get a plate of decent pulutan for about 80-100 pesos. This leaves you with enough extra cash for a bowl of arroz caldo after the drinking session is over. Arroz caldo would cost you from 5-40 pesos depending on where you have it.

2. Have a ready smile always. People in Roxas City are very friendly and if you stay at a bar all alone, your smile might get you company. Roxas City folks are also very talky, so you can have a really nice conversation over a few beers. One thing though – do not offer to buy beers for your new found company, this can send out the wrong messages.

3. Either go back to your hotel early in the evening or early in the morning, say 2-3 AM. Be ready to stay out all night once you found the bar of your liking. You will most likely stay for hours on end.

4. Do not be too cautious. If someone you've chatted with and associated with offers to go to some other bar, tag along. Remember, the best way to explore the city's night life is if you have someone with you who is a native of the city.

5. Wear proper gimmick attire – I mean, no shorts, sandos, or rubber slippers. Most bars in the city strictly implement their dress codes.

6. Do not drink too much. This should be self-explanatory.

7. Look out for ads, streamers, and announcements for events in the various bars. Most likely, when there is an event in a certain bar, all party-goers will be there. This, however, does not always apply. As I said, people in the city find their turfs and stick to their bar choice no matter what.

8. Do not be an attention grabber – meaning, do not make 'eksena'. You can grab attention by looking good – attitudinal dynamics and attention grabbing antics like stealing the dance floor with weird dance moves or taking your shirt off in the middle of a party is definitely a no-no in Roxas City. This could get you the wrong kind of attention – maybe the kind that would leave you black and blue. Just behave, and you will be all right.

9. Videoke bars are a hit in Roxas City. Know a song or two; make sure those songs are rehearsed to impress. Just have some songs ready for an encore. However, refuse to sing when you have had too much to drink already.

10. Make sure you have a good soft bed waiting for you after your gimmick, and throw in a wake-up call in the morning if you need to wake up early, because if you get into the Roxas City night life, you will definitely find it really difficult to get out. It's not the beer that's addictive in the City, it's how people party!

There you have it folks. I hope to see you in one of the bars in the city one of these days!!!

Be rational; be insane… every once in a while! TTFN!

I love you all! Byers!

The Pablo Banila Bandwagon hahaha

Brought to everyone's attention by my multiply pal, doc carlos (carabaopower), I really did not know anything about this Pablo Banila Person until today. Out of curiosity, I discovered that he has frequented my multiply site as well with his countless multiply accounts. 

This is hilarious really hahaha. A quick checking out of his website (pablobanila.com) hints that he is some sort of a literary talent -slash- deviant and probably a student of Philippine Science High School in Quezon City.

Myriads of girls (and boys) have likewise been (stalked) by this Pablo Banila person and what is even more amazing is the fact that he has had more than 2 articles about him in our National Dailies. hahaha

I really don't mind him lurking in my site, after all, my entries are open for everyone in the worldwide web to visit.  he probably gets his kicks that way - either that or he's created some sort of a web crawler/phishing machine/ bot that can browse through multiply accounts over and over countless times per day.

here is the article that's come up in the inquirer about him. hahaha

Who in the world is Pablo Banila? 

By Bianca Consunji
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Last updated 20:36:00 10/31/2008

HE began as a series of mysterious avatars popping up on my Multiply viewing history. He didn’t bother me at first, because I was used to friendly strangers visiting my site. But when he began visiting on an almost daily basis—and under different usernames, although with the same avatar—I started to wonder who in the world was Pablo Banila.

Visits to his websites offered no clue. His avatar showed a creepy-looking guy with matted chin-length hair (think Severus Snape from Harry Potter) and a flashing sign that read, “Pablo Banila has a crush on you! That’s why he visited your website!”

That would have been almost flattering had I not already known that he had visited the websites of at least a hundred other people—all under different usernames and the same annoying avatar. He also has a dotcom, www.pablobanila.com, but it offers no clues, only rambling passages of text and close-up photos of himself.

People started complaining. “Please get a life, you pervert,” wrote one girl in her blog, after listing down his many usernames—pablobanila, ppaabblloobanila, rainbowinmycoffee, carrotperfume, laughingmankuze, edwardward, blackbetweenthestars, theblackbetweenthestars, etc. People left similar comments on that entry, saying, “OMG he viewed me too!” or “He views mine too, it’s so creepy!”

Others chimed in, “He views me every other day, more often than I check my own Multiply site,” while guys posted nervous comments like, “He checks me out too, and I’m a boy.”

So far, his visits to sites have been harmless (all he does is view homepages; he doesn’t leave comments), but creepy—there’s just no other word for it. Attempts to discover his identity have so far been futile. But identity aside, what everyone wants to know is, how does he find time to check out all those Multiply pages?

Is Pablo Banila actually a team of high school kids with nothing better to do?

Is Pablo Banila actually a group of college students doing a psychology research project for their thesis?

Is Pablo Banila a new Internet virus?

Is Pablo Banila actually just the government looking for suspected terrorists by combing through the pages of unsuspecting Multiply users?

Is Pablo Banila merely the victim of pranksters who are out to get him?

Or is Pablo Banila just really a sad person with no friends and nothing better to do?

In any case, Multiply users are waiting for an answer. But until then, Pablo Banila continues to stalk our websites—and our nightmares.

E-mail the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com

=======

update:update:update

edit delete reply miguel8088 wrote today at 7:08 PM hahah Genius, hats off to you Pablo Banila, great execution of a social experiment, well thought of indeed hahaha.

edit delete reply miguel8088 wrote today at 7:07 PM aha! and I think Pablo Banila does make sense in this retort after all, haha I lifted this in another multiply blog entry where he's replied. hahahaha reply edwardward wrote on Sep 27 As I have patiently cleared before, again and again: I am exploiting the concept of a "viewing history" as a problem of function. Public domain is public domain. If they feel harassed in any way it was because I keep exercising my right to view their public profile, AND they harbor an irrational fear and irritation against my scarecrow headshot LOL founded by a notoriety based on a shallow social validation. People read about accusations, libels, and death threats against me written in my very guestbook. As the "wisdom of crowds" would send lemmings to their final swimming lesson so does it lead human beings into biases. I am hated in exactly the same way other human beings discriminate Blacks, Muslims, and homosexuals. Interestingly, most of my most passionate haters honestly believed that I had a crush on them until I opened up a guestbook. They found out it wasn't only them. Most of them are kids who are not allowed to have a Multiply account in the first place. Wait until EVERYBODY exploits this method of "advertising" (: It turns out I'm the first one to execute a classic prank in a Biblical scale (100 million accounts viewed, worldwide). ~Pablo Banila is the next Slavoj Zizek

edit delete reply miguel8088 wrote today at 6:52 PM, edited today at 6:53 PM here's a reply i posted in one of frighteningly numerous blog entriess about mr. banila: miguel8088 wrote today at 6:49 PM Right on hhahhaha. after all the none of these people whom he allegedly stalked have their accounts set at limited viewing only by private contacts. Ergo: it's a free world. As far as i know, pablo banila, annoying as it may seem, has not committed any crime. if he adds you up, you always have the choice to ignore him. if you're freaked out because he's lurking at your postings (that's free for the entire world to view anyway), then maybe you should restrict access to your posts. just a thought hehe.  this guy, is a deviant, I guess, but hey, that's his personal choice after all.

Volvo S60 2008 Review

2008 Volvo S60

Posted on 08.14.2007 00:00 by Simona Alina

The Volvo S60 was launched in autumn 2000 as a somewhat smaller sedan than the Volvo S80. The design brief was to create a car with the same basic lines and safety as the S80 model, but in a more compact body and with a sportier profile. 

Design Four-door sedan. The Volvo S60 has a sloping roof line, swept-back C-posts and short rear section - a combination of sedan and coupedesign that gives the car its sporty appearance. In order to further emphasise the S60 model’s sporty profile, the nose section has been extended, the haunches are more pronounced and the body has a ground-hugging stance. Although the body is compact, the interior offers generous space and comfortable seating for four occupants. However, this is space for a fifth passenger, along with a fifth seat belt and head restraint. One of the reasons for the good interior space is Volvo’s modern powertrain concept, which features transverse engine installation. 2008 Volvo S60 Volvo S60 gets a new exterior colour: the 489 Matt Gold pearl. Discontinued colours are: 465 Cedar Green pearl 469 Lunar Gold pearl 613 Deep Blue   Safety Volvo Cars adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both Preventive and Protective safety. Preventive safety is closely linked to the car’s driving properties. The body of the Volvo S60 features immense torsional rigidity and the car has a sturdy chassis, a combination that results in consistent, predictable behaviour on the road (see also under "Powertrain and Chassis"). Volvo Cars has developed various information systems designed to help the driver while on the move. One such system is IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), which for instance delays incoming phone calls in complex traffic situations that require the driver’s undivided attention. BLIS - Blind Spot Information System - registers if another vehicle is in the offset rear blind spot alongside the car and alerts the driver via a visual signal. Active Bi-Xenon headlamps - moving headlamp beams that follow the curvature of the road - help maintain the best possible visibility in the dark on twisting roads. 2008 Volvo S60 S60 models intended for the US market are equipped with a tyre pressure control system - TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). Protective safety in the Volvo S60 is structured around a network consisting of exterior and interior safety systems that interact with one another to reduce the risk of occupant injury in a collision. The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger compartment remains as intact and undamaged as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a metal cage where all the components interact with one another to ensure controlled deformation. The interior safety systems aim to keep the passengers securely in place and also to reduce the risk of serious injury. In order to provide the most effective protection possible, Volvo Cars has developed a number of in-house systems, such as WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain). All are fitted as standard in the Volvo S60. What is more, all five seats are equipped with three-point inertia-reel seat belts, belt pre-tensioners and head restraints. The highest possible safety requires that all the car’s occupants always use their seat belts. Powertrain and chassis The engines in the Volvo S60 are five-cylinder, transversely installed in-line units. A five-cylinder engine gives low vibration and smooth operation. Together with large displacement, the five-cylinder configuration provides high torque across a broad rev band, and thus also swift acceleration and excellent driveability within a wide speed range. 2008 Volvo S60 The Volvo S60 T5 is the top model, featuring a turbocharger and a six-speed gearbox. The engine range also includes diesel engines with particle filters, and the environmentally optimised Volvo Bi-Fuel, which can be run on methane or petrol. The chassis, with spring struts at the front and Multilink axle at the rear, is set up for stable, reassuring driving manners and alert steering response. The Multilink rear axle is an independent rear suspension system featuring a number of links and it is designed to offer a good combination of controlled wheel movements and high ride comfort. Some of these links have the task of providing a certain degree of anti-skid steering effect. A long wheelbase and wide track, together with a very torsionally rigid body, contribute to the predictable, controlled driving manners. Volvo’s advanced DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) stability-enhancing system is fitted as standard. DSTC cuts in and helps stabilise the car if it registers any tendency to skid. An active chassis with advanced Four-C technology is available as an option. With this system, the chassis settings are adjusted automatically to suit the current driving conditions, thus improving both handling and ride comfort. Two alternative chassis settings are programmed into the system. At the touch of a button, the driver can thus alter the car’s behaviour to suit driving conditions and personal taste. TheVolvo S60 2.5T AWD has Volvo’s electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive system with Instant Traction, for fast and effective distribution of traction even when moving off on a slippery surface. 2008 Volvo S60 The environment The Volvo S60 is designed and equipped to impact as little as possible on the global environment and to offer a clean and healthy interior climate. Petrol engines with low internal friction, efficient combustion and advanced exhaust filtration technology result in low emissions. Energy-efficient diesel engines with particle filters produce low emissions of carbon dioxide and soot particles. Methane-powered Bi-Fuel cars with petrol as the back-up fuel reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25% compared with petrol-only cars, if the methane is extracted from natural gas. When running on biogas, the net greenhouse effect is instead virtually zero. The engines in the Volvo S60 can be optionally specified with a catalytic radiator coating known as PremAir®. This system converts harmful ground-level ozone into pure oxygen as the car drives. Its benefits are greatest in dense city traffic and in strong sunlight. 2008 Volvo S60 Volvo’s IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) effectively reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air entering the cabin. All the textiles and leather upholsteries are certified according to ÖKO-TEX 100, an international standard that ensures that the interior trim is free from allergy-producing and hazardous substances.

Volvo XC70 anyone?

I'm starting to like the xc70, but i dunno if it's too low . . .  this cam in my mail for the diplomatic car sales emailer they send out, this is how I found my car at such a great deal too :D

xc70 - 4x4 and high tech hehe, the werks  

Vote for a Young Pinoy's Work (Glenn Peter Perez) at UK's DCMag Photography Contest

International Photography Competition

Register, and then vote for GLP's entries  here

I'm sure you'll like em.  

DST Time Change

Don Miguel will have a -7 hour time difference from back home in a few hours.

here are the details

Time Zone
Europe/Brussels

Current Date and Time in Europe/Brussels
Sat 25-Oct-2008 10:47 P.M.

Country
Belgium

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in effect?
Yes

Most Recent DST Transition
DST began on Sun 30-Mar-2008 at 02:00:00 A.M. when local clocks were set forward 1 hour

Next Scheduled DST Transition
DST will end on Sun 26-Oct-2008 at 03:00:00 A.M. when local clocks are set backward 1 hour

Don Miguel is

Watching the Global Stock Indices bouncing along the bottom 

I tell ya, this is the best time to be working for government right now.

Raices Familia Ignacio (Caceres, Alcantara, Espana) - Ignacio Family Roots

Ignacio family Background (Caceres, Alcantara, Spain)
Posted by: Rafael L Ignacio Velez Torres Medina (ID *****2625)	Date: December 03, 2007 at 00:14:04
	of 25

To all interested, The Ignacio Family originated in northen Spain (Basco's) and transfer sometime around the 1500's to the area of Alcantaras, mainly the Town of Caceres. Since then it expanded to Portugal and areas near the border with Portugal and Spain, From there it had some relative move to the Caribbean , mainly Puerto Rico and one that reach the Philippines as early as 17oo's.

The oldest Ignacio recorded in the caribbean was bury (sic) in the catatombs, of Iglesia San Agustin in Puert de Tierra, San Juan Puerto Rico sometime around the late 1600's to early 1700's.
There are records of some 2 or 3 cousings reaching as far as Mexico from Puerto Rico in the middle 1700's.

I'm trying to reach all Ignacio'S that think or knows that they might be decendants of the Ignacio's from Alcantaras. Those in general is one clan only and it is consider the largest clan of Ignacio's. We even have a supposed Viceroy in Brazil appointed by the King of Portugal.

1 out of every 7 Belgians is poor - (expatica.be)

1 in 7 Belgians is poor20/10/2008 00:00

Almost 15 percent of the Belgian population is living below the poverty line.

20 October 2008

Brussels - On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, central Brussels hosted  a number of events to draw attention to poverty in Belgian society. 

According to European statistics, one in seven Belgians (or almost  15 percent of the Belgian population) is living below the poverty line.

The minimum benefit jobless people are entitled to is currently 711 euros a month. The Flemish association for the fight against poverty wants to have this raised to 860 euros, a 21 percent rise.

"No money for the poor, billions for the banks"

However, the government has promised only a 2 percent rise for next year. State Secretary responsible for the fight against poverty, Jean-Marc Delizée (Francophone Socialist), says the government cannot act immediately.

"My aim is to have nobody living below the poverty line", Mr Delizée explains. "This costs a lot of money though and we will not be able to achieve this goal in one year. I think it will take some years to close the gap, but I will support such a plan year after year."

Anke Hintjes of the Flemish Network for Poverty is disappointed. "They say there is no money, but at the same we see that billions of euros can be found for the banks in a couple of weeks. This is really shocking."

No teeth since a year and a half

Many people living below the poverty threshold can't afford decent housing or basic needs. One woman explained that she has been living without teeth for almost a year and a half. "I simply can't afford new teeth. It's too expensive."

Johnny now has a job, but he used to be homeless. "It was a daily struggle to survive, to find a toilet, something to eat, a dry spot to sleep. Time and again. I was lucky because it happened during summer, but it's even tougher in winter."

Nele says the poor should get more respect from people. "The poor are often stigmatised. They can't do anything, they are lazy, stupid, dirty... But that's not true. They simply don't get a chance."

When is someone considered poor?

In the European Union someone is considered poor when he or she has an income below 860 euros. 

For families with two adults and two children, the poverty threshold has been set at 1,805 euros per month. 

In Belgium, 14.7 percent of the population do not meet these minimum standards. Most at risk are those who have no job (the unemployed or pensioners), people living alone or single-parent families.

[flandersnews.be / Expatica]

Autumn is Here -

I got to Brussels one month short of a year ago. And this site greeted me. The building behind my office, covered in bright red leaves. 

This building had green leaves all of spring and summer and now this.  It's a chameleon of an edifice indeed.

The streets are filled with fallen maple leaves and the nip in the air is turning into frost.

And so my friends, in a month's time, I will be a year in Brussels.

can't wait to be home for Christmas really . . 

Don Miguel's Tuna in Brussels - Proudly Philippine Made

Canned tuna is a staple in my grocery list.  I use lots of tuna for my world famous, Don Miguel, il Signorino Mediterranean Salad, I use tuna for my Tuna-Melt Rice Topping, I use tuna for omelette, etc. 

Anyway, I did my groceries at Delhaize Supermarket, instead of my usual GB by Carrefour haunt, one time, went straight for the aisle where the tuna was, and reached in for several cans of Tuna with the Delhaize Brand, for the best price on the rack.

Part of my work is to protect our country's interests in its Tuna exports. . . and I was so surprised, later that week, to find out that the tuna I bought from Delhaize, was voila!  - made in the Philippines!

Whopeeeeeee!!!! made in the Philippines indeed!

So guys, I'll be doing my Tuna grocery shopping in Delhaize from now on.

Are you there?

are u there

in the offing

of the gloom

are you there

in the mist

of the cold winter noon

are you there

in the twilight

of the summer morn

are you there

An Ode of Gratitude to Ms. Pinky Marquez: The Lady with a Golden Voice and a Golden Heart.

About three or four years ago, my pals and myself were lining up at the ticket booth of the then newer Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.   (Yep, back in Manila, I used to watch movies 2x or 3x a week -- except of course if nothing interesting was showing. Here in Europe, I only watch movies with my expat pals once in a blue moon  because of the prohibitive cost-- but that's another story.)  In front of us in the queue was a beautiful lady who looked familiar and her son.  When it was their turn at the counter, she had what seemed like lots of free movie tickets and it took her a much longer time to finish their business with the ticket lady. My pals and I were growing impatient but said nothing. Until suddenly she turned to me and gave me three tickets. 

I was surprised and embarrased at the same time, I said thank you and offered to pay for the  tickets. She said, no it's okay, you and your friends have enjoy the movie.  And then she and her teener son left happily with a smile. 

I asked my friends, do you know her? I think she looks famous.   One of them answered, "We just got treated to a free movie by Pinky Marquez, Mike."

So here it is.  I'm here to tell my tale and this grand lady's little act of kindness, no matter how belatedly it is.   Ms. Pinky Marquez, Ma'am, Don Miguel Thanks you from the bottom of his heart.   Not only do you have a golden voice, and a pretty face, you also have a wonderful heart.  Muchissimas Gracias!  Thank you very very much all the way from Brussels, Belgium and that one movie night  - Don Miguel, il Signorino.

(If you know Ms. Marquez, or if anyone of her family or close googles her and somehow gets to this entry, please pass the message on for me.)

Blast from the (not so distant) Past -

November 2006 I think or was it 2005?  Wait I was with Chikka 2006, so yes 2005. I was on a business trip in Singapore for the Spanish company i used to represent in South East Asia, Korea and Taiwan. Here I am encoding and translating my purchase orders into spanish before transmittal to Spain at my hotel room at the Peninsula in Singapore around 8:30-9pm before going out to Partay!

I'm bringing this picture to my barber here to show him this IS the haircut i Like.   It's so hard to explain it in french, really.  

Economic Meltdown woes

I logged in to my investment brokerage account today and noticed the beating that my placements took because of the darn crash.   

I was away at the Port of Antwerp all the day and could not run to the bank to sign off cancel orders for the next scheduled placements and all the other scheduled placements for that matter.

But hey, I guess it wasn't wise to cash in at the worst possible day, hopefully today we see some rebounds after the graphs hit rock bottom.  The problem is, no one seems to know where the bottom is and until when it's gonna be on a freefall.

Dang SICAV funds!  

Arrrrrgh

The Bonfire Incident

Ateneo apologizes over bonfire incident 

By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:05:00 10/06/2008

MANILA, Philippines—A recent Ateneo bonfire celebration has added fuel to the varsity animosity between the Blue Eagles and the De La Salle University Green Archers, prompting an apology from top officials of the Loyola-based school.

Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, recently apologized to the La Sallian community for an irreverent incident during the bonfire on the Ateneo campus last Sept. 30 to celebrate the UAAP championship won by the Eagles at the expense of the Archers.

Some of the firewood used at the bonfire had the names of the entire La Salle roster bannered by JV Casio, Rico Maierhofer and coach Franz Pumaren.

"Despite our rivalries in sports, we are both committed to Christian values and what was done is certainly a violation of values we share," Nebres said in a letter to De La Salle University System president Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, dated Oct. 2.

As reports and photos of the incident circulated in blogs and online basketball forums, students and alumni from La Salle, and even Ateneo, branded the act distasteful regardless of the rivalry between the two elite squads.

Nebres said none of the school officials "saw it ahead of time, because the wood pile was covered by a tarp against the rain until the time came to light it."

An alumnus already claimed responsibility for "producing the materials" and apologized to Nebres for "the backlash it created."

"Our community accepted [Ateneo's apology]," Br. Bernie Oca, FSC, La Salle's representative to the UAAP board, said Sunday. "We are also awaiting the results of their investigations which they said they will do."

Huge Sigh of Relief: Bail-out Plan Approved by lower House Finally.

House Approves Bailout on Second Try

The House of Representatives gave final approval on Friday to
the $700 billion financial bailout, reversing course to
authorize what may be the most expensive government
intervention in the marketplace in history.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

Nope, I ain't this unlucky (yet)

This picture was supposedly taken in Geneva, I sure hope it won't happen here in Brussels while am here.