The Malacañang Palace suspended the classes in all levels (Elementary, High School, & College) Wednesday 20 August 2008 starting 1200H in anticipation of the heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Karen. Please be guided accordingly.
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The games of the 29th Olympiad has just began at Beijing, China. Missed the beginning of the ceremonies, which started at 8:08PM on the 8th day of the 8th month of 2008 (08 August 2008 at 8:08). Nice numbers. Wonder will this bring luck to Team Philippines.
Was excited to see the events of the Opening Ceremonies as they unfold “live” at C/S (Solar Entertainment channel), but got dismayed with the number of commercials during gaps. Luckily, I found another channel covering the ceremonies, just minutes behind the one aired at C/S. But, seems to be that the lucky day is not favoring me: the CCTV channel just went off the air. Got pissed, turned the television off and headed on to the net. Justin.tv is still not covering the ceremonies, but the pictures are already online at the official Olympics website and at Yahoo!News.
Now, I remember 16 years ago, I was just 11 years old then when Barcelona in Spain played host to the 1992 games. Because of the timezone difference, my dad woke my brother and I up at around 2AM just for us to catch the opening ceremonies. It was the first time that I had actually watched the Olympics Opening Ceremony. And who can forget the dramatic lighting of the cauldron by archer Antonio Rebollo? For those who were still very young to comprehend or remember the 1992 Olympics, here’s what happened during the final torch relay and ceremonial lighting of the cauldron:
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Commissioner Marcelino Libanan approved the purchase and installation of 12 cellphone dampers and jammers at the immigration arrival and departure areas.
Libanan said the move was also part of their campaign against human trafficking, noting that cellphone use allegedly enables some BI personnel to communicate with persons engaged in human trafficking and the irregular facilitation and escort of passengers.
“The strict implementation of cellphone ban will strengthen the bureau’s drive against human trafficking and, most importantly, it effectively prevents corruption,” he said.
Libanan added that the installation of the device will likewise discourage passengers from using their phones, which may also disrupt the immigration clearing process.
NAIA-BI operations chief Ferdinand Sampol, who proposed for the installation of cellphone blockers, said that the use of mobile phone by an immigration officer at work consumes his time and inconveniences passengers lining up at his counter.
The bureau is also looking to mount the same devices at the immigration area of NAIA 3 terminal when international flight services at the new airport become operational. - GMANews.TV
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Those were the words of NBA (Washington Wizards) star Gilbert Arenas when he visited the Philippines this momth. He made an entry at this blog, and to quote:
I was stunned.
They made me feel like an NBA star.
Any NBA players out there: If you’re having a bad day, or you’re having a bad career, go to Manila. They’ll bring your spirits up, trust me.
I felt like I just won the NBA championship, to be for real.
After we left the mall we were looking at pictures from the event a couple days later and we were telling ourselves, “Man, that was unreal!”
Plus, with the security I had, I felt like I was the President. I felt like I was Obama. I really felt like I was running in the presidential election, especially when I got to meet the U.S. ambassador out in the Philippines. We had a great time talking to each other.
Reading those words makes me prouder to say that I am a Filipino!
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In a report over radio dzBB, GMA News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez said the court - in a decision dated June 23 - ruled in favor of the Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs of San Pedro, Laguna which said the Philippine National Construction Corporation and Toll Regulatory Board were illegally collecting toll fees at the Slex since May 1, 2007.
The report said according to lawyer Melvin Matibag, his group filed the case on April 2007 on the grounds that PNCC’s franchise has already expired and so it should stop collecting toll fees at the SLEX and turn-over its assets and facilities to the government.
Matibag said the TRB, instead of stopping PNCC, issued a toll operation certificate extending the franchise of PNCC.
The report said the court decision, aside from stopping the toll fee collection, ordered PNCC to turn over its assets and facilities to the government. However, the court decision was silent on what will happen to the fees collected by PNCC throughout the period in question.
Matibag said his group did not include in their complaint the collected fees so they will leave it up to the government whether it will refund the fees or not.
The report said the group is ready if the PNCC will appeal the court decision, even as it hoped the government will see that PNCC is not worthy of the franchise given to it due to many violations it has committed. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
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Got this link from fellow Multiply-er Azrael. As of this writing, this incident is not yet posted (nor confirmed) in the ABS-CBNNews.com website.
On a personal note, I really hate that girl (Ces Drilon). I do not see true, unbiased, and fearless reporting in her. I just hope that the ASG release Ces and her crew unharmed.
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Industry experts forecast that prices of fuel will shoot up to P60 per liter in a month’s time. SEAOIL’s new offering is a great news to all motorists. Read on …
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SEAOIL Philippines Inc., the largest independent retailer of petroleum products in the country, has introduced an industry-first prepaid card that pegs a customer’s gasoline purchase at PHP59.00 per liter.
Company officials explained that the Price Lock Prepaid Fuel Card can be used to buy 20 liters of gasoline (G5 X-treme and Unleaded) from any SEAOIL participating stations. The selling period is from July 05-20, 2008. Each card costs P1,180 and is valid for 10 weeks (July 05 up to September 20, 2008).
Since the price has been fixed, cardholders will have an easier time budgeting their fuel expenses as they will be insulated from further spikes in gasoline costs during the promo period.
In the less likely event of a price rollback also during the period, i.e. the price goes down to less than PHP59.00 a liter, SEAOIL will refund unused (unscratched) fuel prepaid cards.
The Price Lock Prepaid Fuel Card will be made available at the following participating SEAOIL stations:
1. A. Bonifacio
2. Binangonan
3. Buendia
4. Cainta
5. Commonwealth
6. Dagat-dagatan
7. Dimasalang
8. EDSA
9. E. Rodriguez
10. Gulod
11. Imalda Avenue
12. Karuhatan
13. Malabon
14. Marikina
15. Maybunga
16. Merville
17. Mindanao Ave.
18. Montalban
19. North Bay
20. P. Tuazon
21. Paco
22. Palatiw
23. Panaderos
24. Paraluman
25. Pasig
26. Payatas
27. Pritil
28. Retiro
29. San Juan
30. San Mateo
31. St. Dominic
32. Sucat
33. Tandang Sora
34. Taguig
Stations to open in July:
35. Arkong Bato
36. Sta. Cruz
37. Legarda
38. Del Monte
SEAOIL will also be selling the prepaid card in the following offsite points: Greenhills Theatre Mall (in front of Starbucks), Greenhills V-Mall (in front of SM Appliance Center), Shopwise (2nd level parking) and Metrowalk (Activity Center near Starbucks). Here’s the schedule: Theatre Mall, V-Mall, Shopwise - July 4-6 and July 11-13 (Fridays-Sundays), 11am-6pm; Metrowalk - July 4-5 and July 11-12 (Fridays and Saturdays), 5pm-12mn
The card is valid for a single transaction only, which means customers should use up its entire 20-liter value since any unconsumed amount, such as a 19-liter purchase, will forfeit the remaining card value.
Only SEAOIL station attendants are authorized to scratch the silver coating of the prepaid card upon purchase and claim the same card after the customer fills up.
About Sea Oil
Formed in 1997, SEAOIL is the first independent fuel company to put up a gasoline retail station, following the deregulation of the country’s downstream oil industry. It has since aggressively expanded, becoming the largest petroleum firm outside the Big 3 of Petron, Shell and Chevron (Caltex) with over 130 outlets nationwide and about 3 percent share of the retail market.
Consistent with its thrust of innovation, the company pioneered the promotion of biofuels and other alternative fuels in the country, being the first to introduce the use of ethanol as a gasoline blend. In 2005, two years before the implementation of the Biofuels Act, SEAOIL already offered the first 10-percent ethanol blended gasoline or E10, now available in its nationwide retail station network along with the similarly mandated 1 percent biodiesel blend.
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Received this email from them:
Dear Ringo member,
After much consideration we have decided to end the Ringo service.
As of June 30, 2008 the Ringo service is ending and you will no longer have access to your Ringo account.
How do I get my photos?
We created a new feature that will allow you to download your photos to your computer. Click here to download your photos.
You may also order a CD of your photos. Just sign in to your Ringo account, click on the “You” tab, click” Order prints” and then “Photo Disks”.
How do I get my videos?
Videos uploaded to Ringo were hosted for us by a partner. This partner has decided to end this service and after June 30 videos uploaded to Ringo will no longer be available.
Thank you for being part of the Ringo community.
The Ringo Team
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Solar Sports won the right to broadcast PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) games for three (03) years starting next season. The PHP508 million deal will bring the country’s premier basketball league back to RPN 9 (where Solar Sports is a block-timer).
This makes Solar Sports the exclusive rights to air all of the premier basketball leagues Pinoys love: NBA, PBL, and PBA games. Not to mention exclusivity in airing the 2008 & 2012 Summer Olympics (China and London) and 2010 Winter Olympics (Canada).
Read on the details at http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2133/1/
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Microsoft offered a whooping US$44.6B (as in billion) bid for Yahoo!
To quote: “We have great respect for Yahoo, and together, we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers, and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online-services market,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.
More of this from here.
What happens if this pushes through? Microsoft + Yahoo! =MY && MY to compete with Google?
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MANILA, Philippines — A Pasay City school filed Monday a civil case against software firm Microsoft Corp. and its local subsidiary, Microsoft Philippines, for alleged illegal distribution of copyrighted material.
The case stemmed from Microsoft’s allegedly unauthorized and illegal “digital copying” and distribution of a locally developed manual on the use of Microsoft Office. Ironically, Microsoft has been at the forefront of attempting to curb the illegal distribution of its own copyrighted software in the Philippines. The company is a member of the Business Software Association, an organization which in turn works with the Optical Media Board and the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team to conduct raids on copyright-infringing software in the country.
The registered copyright of the manual in question is owned by Southeastern College (SEC), which filed the case against Seattle, US-based Microsoft and its Philippine office at the Makati City Regional Trial Court.
Originally titled “The SEC Microsoft Office XP Manual,” the 379-page manual was copyrighted in 2005 by SEC director Conrad Mañalac for the exclusive use of teachers and students. It is filed with the National Library with registration No. A-2005-799 and assigned ISBN (international standard numbering system) No. 971-9272-1-2 by the National Library’s Bibliographic Services Division. Mañalac said work on the manual began in 1999.
In 2004, Microsoft Philippines reportedly purchased licenses to print 10,000 copies of the SEC manual, now retitled “Innovate: A Mentor’s Guide to ICT Foundation Competencies,” which was used for the company’s “Partners in Learning” program for high school teachers.
In October 2006, Microsoft distributed the manual (in PDF format) through CDs as part of its corporate giveaways during two separate events.
“SEC has never given Microsoft or any other person authority to reproduce and/or distribute (Innovate) in CDs,” said Atty. Estelito Mendoza, legal counsel for SEC.
He added: “SEC only consented to the printing of 10,000 book copies. The making of the CDs, as well as its copying and distribution, grossly violates Southeastern College’s economic rights to its intellectual property.”
At least 700 copies of the Innovate CDs were allegedly distributed by Microsoft during its two company-sponsored events.
INQUIRER.net contacted Microsoft Philippines to comment on the case. Mae Rivera-Moreno, public relations and community affairs manager of the company, said they are still consulting lawyers regarding its public statement about the lawsuit and that they would issue a reply Monday.
The lawsuit charged that Microsoft violated Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. In a copy of the suit shown to INQUIRER.net, Microsoft allegedly violated two specific provisions: unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted content and public communication of said content.
The CDs in question allegedly contained copyrighted material distributed to teachers in two separate events in 2005 and the 2006. SEC also claimed that Microsoft’s local office also sent the CDs via mail to teachers who were not able to receive copies. The CDs reportedly contained Microsoft’s name and copyright mark on the cover.
In an interview, Atty. Mendoza referred to the act as a “bare-face” case of copyright infringement. It is also regarded as the first legal case of IP violation filed versus Microsoft in the Philippines.
“But Microsoft has reason to be happy,” he added. “This case demonstrates even more strongly that in the Philippines, we do not tolerate counterfeiting, we give protection to intellectual property.”
source:
By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
dude2nuckle Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:12:00 +0000
Source: http://teampilipinas.blogspot
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Got a call from my dad, advising me not to go to the Makati CBD today as Sen. Trillanes had walked-out of a Makati Courtroom and is now in Ayala asking people to withdraw support to PGMA.
Read on at http://www.gmanews.tv/story/70621/Trillanes-Lim-walk-out-of-hearing-call-for-Arroyo-ouster
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The Press Release is online at http://multiply.com/info/press/abscbn
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Taken from http://www.gmanews.tv/story/63483/Pacquiao-wins-keeps-WBO-title-Barrera-off-to-retirement
10/07/2007 | 12:44 PM
Manny Pacquiao kept his WBO International super featherweight title via unanimous decision against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. - GMANews.TV
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Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita has signed the proclamation declaring August 20, which falls on the eve of “Ninoy Aquino Day,” as a special non-working holiday.
He also affirmed that Bonifacio Day (November 30) and Rizal Day (December 30) will remain regular holidays whose observance dates will be unchanged.
“Now, therefore, I, Eduardo Ermita, Executive Secretary, by authority of Her Excellency, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, do hereby declare … Aug. 20, 2007 (Monday) (as) a special (non-working) day throughout the country,” Proclamation 1353 read.
It added that: “August 21, 2007 (Tuesday) shall be a working day throughout the country. All activities and celebrations in observance of ‘Ninoy Aquino Day’ shall, however, remain to be observed on Aug. 21, 2007.”
Ermita also ordered the Department of Labor and Employment to promulgate implementing guidelines for the holidays.
President Arroyo recently signed into law Republic Act 9492, which moves holidays, traditional non-working days to the nearest Monday.
If the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the holiday would be observed on the Monday of that week. If it falls on a Sunday, the holiday would be observed on the Monday that follows.
Under Republic Act 9492, the following holidays would be moved to the nearest Monday: Araw ng Kagitingan (from April 9); Labor Day (from May 1); Independence Day (from June 12); Ninoy Aquino Day (from August 21); National Heroes Day (from the last Sunday of August); Andres Bonifacio Day (from November 30); and Rizal Day (from December 30). - GMANews.TV
Taken from http://www.gmanews.tv/story/54986/Aug-20-holiday-economics-proclamation-signed
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Robert "Bob" Reyes is a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and is the General Manager & Chief Technology Officer of TurfSite Computing, Inc., a local internet presence and website hosting company. He is also a professor of Interface Design, Office Multimedia, Web Development, and Electronic Commerce at the De La Salle - College of St. Benilde.
This blog website is created with the aim of making information readily available to every Filipino.
You may reach Bob via bob@bobreyes.com
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