DECEMBER 30 and 31, 2011 Are Non-Working Holidays

Proclamation No.84  declares both December 30 and 31, 2011 as non-working holidays.

December 30, 2011 is Rizal Day, an annual regular holiday commemorating the death of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal who was shot in Bagumbayan, Manila now Luneta Park on December 30, 1986. 

Rizal's novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo and his death by firing squad sparked the Philippine revolution that lead to Philippine independence in 1898.

December 31, 2011 is also declared as special non-working holiday. The purpose of which is to give time for Filipinos to prepare for the festivities of New Year's Eve.

All those who will be required to work on these holidays shall receive additional compensation according to existing Philippines Labor rules.

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Wish

My wishes for 2012:

• My number one wish is for the victims of Sendong who survived.  I wish they would slowly rebuild their homes and their lives. Naranasan na po namin yan sa Bicol at sa awa ng Diyos medyo okay okay na po ang mga tao doon sa amin. Sadya pong matiisin at masikap ang mga Pinoy kaya kung kaya namin kaya rin po ninyo. God bless po sa inyo!

• For people who don't have a job. Start a business now na! Kahit ano basta legal.Go ka!

• That all government officials would show genuine care and concern for their constituents. Hindi pang press release lang. Sa mga politiko na nilamon na ng sistema maawa po kayo sa amin.

• I wish that there would be peace in everybody's heart. 

• That another Filipino would be canonized a Saint.

•  I wish my left eye would see clearly again this life's wonderful images and people. Yep dear readers I am a one eyed bandit. To all physically challenged people out there never ever lose hope. You could always excel. Kahit pa i down kayo ng lahat ng tao. Ipagsiksikan man nila sa iyo na wala kang talent wala silang magagawa kung mag excel ka. Kung talagang para sa iyo para sa iyo talaga basta pagsumikapan mo lang.

•  Last na wish ko sana may mag sponsor na mag host at magbigay ng domain name para sa blog ko. Hindi naman po ako kumikita dito sa pag blo blog ko. At wala din po akong work sa ngayon dahil nag papagaling pa po ako.

 Maligayang Pasko po at Manigong Bagong Taon sa lahat!

TRIO 20 TO SUN, SMART AND TALK N'TEXT SUBSCRIBERS

Details

• Promo period is from December 23, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
• The first ever tri-network offer that gives you 15 minutes of calls and 200 texts to SMART, Sun & Talk ‘N Text for just P20.
• Use any of the three SIMs- Sun, Smart or Talk 'n Text.
• Initially available for prepaid subscriptions only.
• Promo is available through Load Conversion by Dec. 22, 2011, and will be available via Sun Xpress Load by Dec. 30, 2011.
• Converting your load is free of charge.
• You need to have at least P20 regular load balance to be able to convert your load.
• Text TRIO20 to 2477 from your SMART, Sun or Talk ‘N Text SIM.
• Connect to over 65 Million subscribers nationwide.

CHRISTMAS TREE VARIOUS FORMS AND SHAPES

Enjoy my collection of Christmas Tree Photos

I love taking pictures. And I hope I've given justice to this beautiful Christmas Trees!

You can grab my Christmas tree pictures just don't forget to mention my name and my site! Or else...ha ha ha!

Photography by Cha Sy

http://travel-on-a-shoe-string.blogspot.com

Love love love!

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

VANGIE:THE PINOY SIRI

Vangie is the truly Pinoy virtual assistant for your iPhone 4S. Tweet Vangie at @AteVangie

DONORS LIST FOR SENDONG VICTIMS

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today that messages of sympathy and offers of assistance from foreign governments and international organizations have been pouring in for the victims of Typhoon Sendong, which hit parts of Visayas and Mindanao last December 16.

Organizations

• International Organizations. Messages of sympathy were sent by World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director Shin Young-Soo and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General William Swing.
• The IOM also has an initial appeal of US$50,000, and that their Philippine office has a team who conducted needs assessment in Mindanao and is providing relief support.
• European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has sent a message of sympathy, and the Philippine Mission to the European Union in Brussels has been informed by the EU that the latter is in the process of requesting funds for relevant humanitarian operations to help those affected by the typhoon, which will be channeled through humanitarian agencies. Humanitarian experts are already on the ground conducting needs assessment, which will be the basis of the funding decision. The EU Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection is also considering giving in €3 million worth of assistance.
• Regional Organizations. League of Arab States Secretary General Nabil Elaraby has sent a message of sympathy.

ASEAN Countries

• Singaporean Acting President JY Pillay and Acting Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean have sent messages of sympathy. It will send 50,000 Singaporean dollars (SGD) through the Red Cross, and Singapore NGO mercy will send 1,000 relief packs worth SGD27,800 through the National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC).
• The Indonesian Government has offered a search and rescue and medical team to come in and help in rescue and relief operations. Indonesian Embassy in the Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission Sritomo Wirodijardko sent a message of sympathy, and has turned over a cash donation of US$10,000 and two boxes of goods to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis on December 21. The cash and goods donations was turned over by the DFA to the NDRMMC and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today.
• Foreign Minister Dato' Sri Anifah Aman have also turned over a donation of US$100,000 to Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya in ceremonies held on December 21. The Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines have also pledged donations in cash and in kind.
• Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit have also sent messages of sympathy.

Asia Pacific

• China has offered US$1 million in assistance, with its Embassy in the Philippines already giving US$10,000 worth of assistance.
• Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has sent a message of sympathy. The Japanese government will provide emergency relief goods worth ¥25 million (PhP14 million) in the form of water tanks and generators, and has offered any necessary assistance.
• Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Myung-bak has conveyed his message of sympathy, through ROK Ambassador to the Philippines Hye Min Lee, and will provide US$500,000 worth of relief items.
• Australia will provide assistance worth A$1 million based on the needs assessment to be conducted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and in kind assistance of worth A$300,000.

Europe

• French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State Jeremy Brown have all sent messages of sympathy.
• Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, Acting President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Trinidad Jimenez Garcia-Herrera all sent messages of sympathy. The Spanish Cooperation Agency for Internation Development (AECID) has set aside €200,000 for humanitarian assistance, and AECID officials in Manila has joined the needs assessment team organized by the NDRMMC, the OCD and the UN Humanitarian Country Team. It will also channel humanitarian aid from Spanish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help typhoon victims.
• The German government, through the German Embassy in the Philippines, meanwhile pledged 500,000 euros (roughly P30 million) to help Sendong victims.
• The Swiss government has informed the Philippine Embassy in Berne that Swiss experts are in close contact with its Embassy in the Philippines as to how they can offer assistance.
• The Irish government has made available €100,000 to humanitarian agency Plan Ireland for relief efforts in Mindanao and it has also offered emergency supplies.

North America

• Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and Parlimentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Parliament for Mississauga-Erlindale have all sent messages of sympathy. The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa was also informed by Canadian Defense Forces Chief of Defense Staff General Walt Natynczyk that they will consider any request from Philippine defense officials for assistance, including military assets in the rescue and relief efforts.
• United States President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have sent messages of sympathy, and the U.S. government has offered assistance.

Middle East and Africa

• The Israeli Embassy in the Philippines and South African President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma sent message of sympathy.

As of the recent report by the NDRMMC, Sendong has claimed 1,010 lives, injured 1,603, 51 missing, and has damaged property worth P999,946,415.

UPDATE: 1,236 CONFIRMED DEAD AS OF DECEMBER 25, 2011

CEBU PACIFIC NOCHE BUENAS SEAT SALE UP TO DEC.26, 2011

Details

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• International fares are exclusive of fuel surcharges. For Osaka, Japan surcharges will take effect on April 1, 2011.
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• Flight changes must be made more than 24 hours before scheduled time of departure.
• CAB approved terms and conditions of carriage apply.

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Travel Period: April 1 to May 31, 2012
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Travel Period: April 1 to May 31, 2012

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GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION'S STATEMENT REGARDING CABARO INCIDENT

Repost: GMA-7 KAPUSO FOUNDATION DISCRIMINATED MUSLIM SENDONG EVACUEES!

Today a bunch of "so called KAPUSO volunteers" went to Hinaplanon Cabaro.. supposed to be they are going to distribute relief goods to those people who were affected by the catastrophe of Bagyong Sendong, and when they got there and seen that most of the people lining up or lets just say waiting for the goods to be given or distributed are mostly Muslim people, they backed out!!!

opoh! taga iligan city aq na muslim tinamaan din kami sa baranggay hinaplanon nakita namin ang sasakyan ng GMA with a truck of relief goods nang makita nila puro muslim ng back out cla.. ang baranggay hinaplanon ang isa sa pnaka grabeng tinamaan ng baha.. ang baranggay pa naman namin ay kapuso certified talga kasi malakas ang station nila samin pero ngaun?never!!!!! ganyan pala ang kapuso! o karelihiyon lang?

The Official Statement of the GMA Kapuso Foundation

The GMA Kapuso Foundation wishes to state that no racial or religious discrimination took place in Cabaro. The GMAKF relief operations team wanted to prioritize giving to areas that haven’t or hardly received assistance. It so happened that the team that conducted a feeding activity in Cabaro is the same team that was to distribute relief goods in another affected area that lies at the farthest end of the town and has not been given any assistance whatsoever. We are deeply saddened that the decision of the team leader not to give relief goods in Cabaro resulted to the GMAKF being perceived as unsympathetic to the Muslims, something that is unacceptable to us given our long history of providing serbisyong totoo even in far-flung and conflict-ridden areas just to reach our Muslim brothers and sisters in need.

We would never do anything that would ruin the respect we have earned from our Muslim brothers and sisters all these years. This is evident as early as 2003 when we built several Kapuso classrooms across war-torn Pikit, North Cotabato. Since then and twice a year thereafter, our Kapuso teams are able to reach even the remotest communities to provide school supplies before the school year opens and again during Christmastime to distribute noche buena packages for both Muslim and Christian children. In fact, we are very careful in being culturally sensitive in that we see to it that the packages we distribute in Mindanao would only contain Jalal products.

Just to mention one more incident (and there are so many), in May this year, two of our staff nearly died when the truck that would bring school supplies to Muslim children in Basilan fell off a ravine. Bruised and shaken, this nearly fatal accident didn’t stop the Kapuso staff from looking for other means to go ahead with their mission. Back in Manila, these Kapuso staff tearfully recounted how they instantly forgot their traumatic experience upon seeing the smiles on the faces of the Muslim children who thankfully received our presents that were painstakingly brought through all means possible: plane, ship, truck, banca, borne by a horse or by our very backs—all these to prove that as Kapuso, we genuinely care and have consistently shown our concern for the Muslims and their plight.

Many of these experiences of our Kapuso staff and volunteers are not and will never be seen on TV but they remain etched in the hearts of countless Muslim brothers and sisters. This incident will not deter us from our mission to help. If anything, it has only intensified and renewed in us the commitment to be there for the Muslims whom we have always prioritized in serving.

For whatever hurt this recent incident that rose from miscommunication has caused anyone, the GMA Kapuso Foundation expresses its sincerest regret.