photography

I love photography. Last saturday, I had the chance to use my friend's DSLR. Here are some of the photos that I took.

Bomb threats at POEA

I wonder if this is somehow related to the new rule they are trying to implement.

 

taken from this link

 

POEA staff flee amid bomb threats

The Philippine Star

Police evacuated on Tuesday thousands of panicked employees and job applicants at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) amid reports of a bomb threat.

Elements of the explosive and ordnance division (EOD) of the Eastern Police Distirct searched for one-and-a-half hours the vacated building located in the corner of Ortigas Ave. and EDSA but found no bomb.

"We paneled the entire vicinity for bombs but there is no indication that there is one," said Senior Inspector Darlido Aceveda, EPD's EOD chief.

The Interior Department's Text 117 received eight messages Tuesday informing them that there is a bomb planted at the office of POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldos.

The Text 117 operator forwarded the messages to lawyer Lyn Perez, assigned at Baldos' office, at 9:05 a.m.

Upon receipt of the report, Perez rang up POEA's chief security, Reneboy Malot, who in turn called the attention of Aceveda, who immediately rushed to the scene.

Aceveda said the evacuation procedure was ongoing when they arrived at the six-story POEA building.

"The employees and job applicants gathered in the sidewalks outside. They were prevented from entering the building without clearance from us," a bomb squad member said.

The movement of people in the streets resulted to a slight traffic buildup.

Augmented by two bomb sniffing K9 dogs and elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) from the Mandaluyong City police, the EPD contingent searched the building for bombs but found none.

"Together with POEA security, simultaneous paneling operation was conducted from the ground floor to the 6th floor, in different offices and public access area and every nook and corner of the building," said Aceveda in his report to EPD director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz.

Aceveda reported that the paneling operation was completed at 10:30 a.m. resulting to a negative presence of any improvised explosive device and hazardous materials. Non Alquitran

Dilbert

Garfield has a new friend to help him entertain me during my idle, boring moments. His name is Dilbert.

I have yet to find out how to view the previous strips.

sentimental

Have you ever noticed that songs strike us deeper when we're feeling sentimental?

 

One of my friend just broke up with his GF and now he's going about interpreting songs. I've been through that. In fact, I still am. Not to an extent though. I hear the music and try to get the meaning. Usually, I dont relate. I empathize though. I feel what the singer is feeling. I make up an imaginary scenario to go with the song. Soon enough, it's the end of the train/bus ride.

 

I'd like to be sentimental again. The good kind. =D

An appeal to the Philippine Government

We refer to the Article in the Straits Times dated 23 January 2008.

New rules in hiring OFW issued.

An appeal to the Philippine Government
Especially to our beloved Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

While it is the intention of our Government to protect the overseas Pilipino Workers, they should not discourage overseas employers in hiring Pilipinos.
The world is changing; China is fast developing and developing faster than the Philippines.
Their workers, professionals, have now entered the Global Market. Their cost is cheaper than the Pilipinos. There is also Malaysians, Vietnamese, Thais, and other nationalities that are now employed in the Global Market.
We are competing with them.

Our President (I believe) once said "The Pilipino Overseas Workers is savior of the Philippines."
This new regulation is saying: "The Government is killing the Pilipino Overseas Market"

Our government should increase the chances of our workers to be employed overseas, not kill their chances.

We beg our Government to do the following:

1. Our Government should make a fair assessment of the Global situation before implementing such regulations.
2. Registration into the POEA should be a voluntary action by overseas workers. If it is really for the benefit of the workers, the workers should be the one insisting to be registered.
3. Some of the Pilipinos opt to travel as tourist to take chances to get employed overseas. This, according to them, is to avoid exorbitant fees charged by accredited overseas employment agencies. They do not have the funds to go through the system. Is our government killing their chance to earn a decent living?
4. Our Government should provide incentives for overseas employers, not discourage them.
5. If the Government wants to discourage Pilipinos from going out of the Country, provide more jobs in the Philippines so that they wont go abroad.
6. Our Government have so many bright, brilliant people in the Senate, Congress , Cabinets, and Dept Heads, they should think more of increasing the buying power of the Pesos. Even if the Salary in the Philippines is lower, but if it can afford to buy the basic necessities, the Pilipinos will think twice before leaving the Philippines.
7. The cost of Development in the Philippines is overly expensive because of corruption. Our Governments greatest sin is corruption. Our Government is fighting Corruption by words and not by action. Please review and study how Singapore has eradicated corruption in their Country. Study other countries how they are doing it. Fight it with all your heart, not your mouths.
8. Encourage our young to travel abroad to get more experience. At the same time create policies and incentives for those who have gained experience abroad to come home and make use of these experiences to help improve our Country.
Fight Brain Drain by Brain Gain.
9. The flight of the Pilipino overseas workers is pitiful. In Dubai, 16 Pilipinos cramp in Apartments that should house 6.
Please survey their situation. They are sacrificing being away from their love ones just to earn Money that they can not earn in the Philippines. Help them get, and keep their Jobs, not loose them.

All, if you agree to this message please send it to as many Pilipinos as you can. Hopefully This will reach our beloved President who can do something for her people.

Eliseo P. Tenza Jr.
DP Architects
Senior Resident Architect (Mall)
Dubai Marina Mall

 

I got the above article from email. It's worth to read especially to anyone who cares about the future of the Philippines.

me, logistics head

I have been asked to head the Logistics Team in the Music Ministry. I was really hesitant to accept the position simply because its an avoidable responsibility. But I figured I could use some lessons in leading a team and being part of an organization. This is an opportunity to improve myself, as a servant, as a leader and most importantly, as a Christian.

art of conversation

I just want to share a good quote I got from my igoogle gadget:

 

"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

travel plans 2008

These are the places that I would want to go to this year:

 

Sorted by probability ;)

1. Bintan - Booked! =D

2. KL - It's just around the corner and yet I've never been there before.

3. Thailand - Quite near also.

4. Japan - I have a highschool classmate living there.

5. Hong Kong - I want to see Disneyland.

6. Korea - I want to see Sandara. haha! j/k!

 

These are the places that I want to go to. It does not necessarily mean that I would be able to go there. Of course, there are a lot of things to consider. Like money and timing. I would be lucky just to be able to go to at least three of these places. Good luck to me!

new year

The beginning of a new year. A time for renewal and hope. Everybody's optimistic:

 

"This year will be a better one."

"This year will be great."

"This year will be a happy year."

 

It's catchy. I can't help but be optimistic this time of year.

 

All these optimism. All these positive energy. Without anything to aim for, I'll just save them for later.

Am I?

I'm back from a long holiday in the Philippines. And I'm a little disoriented. I'm still trying to have a grasp of reality -- of what is really going on and what is just on my mind. I'm trying to repress emotions that should not be there. Rationalizing. Convincing myself that I'm doing the right thing.