Dengue in The Philippines Getting More Worst!

More then 62,000 people in the Philippines got sick with dengue during the last eight months, according to the Department of health. But, health secretary Enrique Ona said the DOH is on top of the problem and there is no epidemic disease in the country. Not yet!

Cagayan officials placed two days ago the city under a state of calamity following their declaration of a dengue outbreak due to the sudden rise in dengue fever cases in the past two months, here. Tuguegarao City reported 323 dengue cases during the first eight months 2010. 

In Carmona, Cavite, anti dengue brigades have been formed in schools. Mayor Dahlia Loyola, a doctor by profession, and the municipal health officials started to mobilize the schoolchildren in the fight against dengue. Municipal health officials and personnel are training the children in safeguearing their schools and communities. And not only in Cavite... .

Of course, the deadly bite is coming from mosquitoes. And the thing is: a total eradication of them is indeed impossible, because they are part of biodiversity. The WHO (World Health Organisation) in the 1950s actually aimed for the eradication of mosquitoes, and the diseases they carry - as we could learn from Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Executive director Jaime Montoya. But what happened? The WHO didn't succeed. In 20 years time they just changed it "to control"... .

Prevention is the only chance to fight against mosquito bites... .

PLDT Security Guard in Davao City Returns Lost Money!

His honesty brought him honor. I met him several times, while paying my PLDT-bills. 

When Ramil A. Rayos, security guard at PLDT-Smart Payment Center in Davao City returned a lost envelope containing cash to its owner, he was just doing his job. After all, it is indeed part of a guard's duty to return lost things to their rightful owners. Little did he know that he will be praised for his action.

"I commend SG Ramil Rayos for his honesty. He should be emulated by everyone!" said AMMG Head Rene G. Banez. 

On July 26, 2010, Rayos found an envelope containing more than 4,000 Pesos on top of a writing ledge at the payment center. Instead of keeping the money for himself as some people would probably do, he waited for the owner to come back for it.

So when Shane Delgado, an employee of the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, went to the payment center looking for an envelope she inadvertently left earlier, Rayos immediately ascertained her ownership of the lost envelope. He notified his detachment commander and the three of them went to the office of Mindanao Asset Protection division Head Wilfredo A. Arcinue where Rayos returned the envelope to Delgado. 

A man of humble circumstances, Rayos earns up to 3,500 Pesos every payday as a security guard. Rayos never thought twice about returning the money, saying: "I would rather work and earn my own money than spend somebody else's!"

Kudos to you and God bless!

Lake Sebu - Simply Beyond Your Expectation! (II)

I love it here... .

More Complaints in Bureau of Immigration

Said to say: since a couple weeks the complaints regarding the personnel performance in several branches of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration augment. Good to know, that the B.I. is evaluating the performances of its personnel, especially assigned at the Ninoy Aquino international Airport in Manila and other ports following numerous complaints from the public of poor service.

The BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma has ordered supervisors to immediately submit personnel evaluation and performance reports of all immigration officers assigned to the immigration arrival and departure counters as part of the bureau's thrust to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Ledesma said he issued the order after receiving reports that many immigration officers were not in their designated counters even when there were long queues of passengers waiting for their turn to be processed. I also learned this from several news reports and some good friends, who arrived in the Philippines last week via Manila.

I really like Ledesma's statement saying, "As immigration officers they are mandated by law to perform their duties without utmost zeal and dedication. They should be in their counters every time a plane lands at the airport." very well said, Sir! Let's hope so!

One thing more: Ledesma said he also ordered the bureau's training director to design a new training module for immigration officers to enhance the service delivery in the country's various ports. Good luck!

Philippine Musicians and Their Future

I am living in Davao City since 1999. Sad to say, but if it comes to Philippine music, Philippine musicians and Philippine music culture, Davao City remains as a cultural fallow field. 

If one talks about the whole Philippines, one really has to agree with  Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit president OGIE ALCASID, who pointed out: "If there is a dismal lack of major local concerts these days, at least there are small gigs around town that show "life goes on for Pinoy musicians". Again, even being an expat, please allow me to express: HAY NAKU!"

For those, who are residing in Manila, or those, who can afford just to fly there, it might be correct. Of course, it has been a great event - the most unexpected jam, even long time after midnight, when one of my idols, Gretchen Barretto sang "Last Night of the World" and "Sun and Moon" from "Miss Saigon". Tracks I have been brought many times during my radio show "Classics at Night"... . As Pocholo Concepcion of the "Philippine Daily Inquirer" stated very correctly: "Gretchen should indeed seriously pursue a singing career!"

Yes, life goes on for Philippino musicians and singers. But is this really enough?

CITIBANK and its Scammed Clients

Do you also have a bank account with Citibank Philippines? Do you also belong to one of several scammed clients?

The bank promised to fully reimburse clients allegedly duped duped by its former wealth management executive Francis Bryan Ang.

Citibank legal counsel Pia Pena-Lacson, in a press conference, said an investigation was still ongoing into the transactions handled by Ang, who was publicly identified by the bank for the first time as the employee who had conducted "questionable" (?) transactions. 

Ang, who disappeared after the swindle was discovered, had confessed to "fraudulent" (?) activities. "Hay naku"... . As a court had yet to issue a warrant of arrest, Ang managed to go to hiding!

Ang, an assistant vice president for wealth management and son of Manila councilor, had swindled clients of the bank's Binondo branch by issuing them fake certificates of time deposit and mixing up adresses so the clients would not receive monthly statements of accounts. 

The bank declined to give an estimate of the total amount involved. Why? i really have no idea.

And Here Comes the Rain...

Environment officials and experts in the Philippines have advised local governments to brace for strong storms and surging flood waters brought by the erratic La Nina weather phenomenon in the next few months, saying the signs point to a brutal rainy season. Wow, while writing this piece, it pours again and rains cats and downs here in Davao City... .

So let's expect the worst and be prepared the best we can. Here in the Philippines we will never forget the taifun "Ondoy" and many other mega storms in the past few years, which indeed had underlined the importance of disaster preparedness.

I wish and hope and pray (and not only me!) that the Philippino people and especially the local governments have now really realized that disasters and environment matters should no longer remain as abstract issues, as Neric Acosta, co-convenor of the La Nina Summit held at the Department of Agriculture stated several days ago in Manila.

La Nina is a weather phenomenon resulting from air-sea interaction that leads to colder ocean temperatures in the Pacific. We have to expect excessive monsoon rainfalls especially around September and October. 

Isn't it hurting to read the comment of Philippine Climate Change Commission Chief  Heherson Alvarez, saying the Philippines are not yet prepared for extreme weather brought by global warming!

Allow me to quote Acosta again: "If the United States has 911, we could set up a similar line!" Thanks God, in Davao City we have a 911!

Here Comes the Bride....

Wedding planning just go easier. Just a couple of days after another wedding (I have been asked to become the Godfather - or NINONG!) I found BridalBook.ph. With it you can now be your own wedding planner and coordinator in one. BridalBook.ph is indeed a one-stop online resource that guides practical yet stylish Philippina brides with its planning tools, tips and photos. With just a few clicks, brides can easily find all their wedding needs there.

Bridalbook.ph boasts a 40,000-strong Supplier Directory. With a search bar that filters suppliers by category, location and budget, you can easily find your desired suppliers for flowers, invitations, giveaways and more.

To inspire couples about to knie the knot, BridalBook.ph also features a gallery of photos from real weddings. Each photo is tagged with the supplier's information, so you can get fast and easy access to your chosen suppliers. 

Also unique to BridalBook.ph is My BridalBook, an application that allows you to organize your wedding planning efforts with tools such as a wedding countdown and calendar. Wedding suppliers may also sign up at My BridalBook to get listed in the Supplier Directory.

BridalBook.ph also plays fairy godmother to couples with its promos and contests. Get a chance to win a honeymoon package to the breathtaking Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. It's really very easy to win.

Log on to www.bridalbook.ph!

Are YOU a Senior Citizen Living in The Philippines?Sind SIE auf den Philippinen lebender Rentner?

I am not yet a senior citizen. I am not yet a pensioner. But I love to live in the Philippines for good since 1999, because Filipinos really can be proud of their strong support to elderly. Not only do they have a set of laws for senior citizens that are the envy of many developing countries, the Filipino families supprt system remains positive, appreciate and nurturing.

On the other hand; the number of all these elders continues to swell. If I am not mistaken, some five million people aged 60 years and older now account for about nice percent of the current population. This is expected to increase to about 12 percent by 2025.

Isn't it amusing to see aged 60-and-up-groups taking pleasure in discounted lunches or dinners or seeing for free a good movie? Many of Filipinos look forward to this retirement age with so much relish1 There is indeed a long list of freebies and discounts that are available to holders of that "one-and-only card" issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs under the city or municipal mayor's office.

And, these benefits are also available for all expats living in the Philippines permanently!!!

Aside from getting 20 percent discount on medicines, medical and dental fees, transport fares, services in hotels and restaurants, admission fess in theatres, as well as a fice percent discount on water and electricity charges. And, very important and just recently, these transactions are exempt from the value added tax!

MABUHAY!

Philippine President Aquino's Website to be Launched Soon!

Presidential Communications Group Secretary Herminio Coloma announced plans to launch a website for  President Aquino very soon.

Coloma said the website would include a feedback mechanism that would allow visitors to interact with the President.

Coloma encouraged the public to visit the website and participate in discussions on the programs of the government. He said the website is in line with the good governance and transparency policies of the Aquino administration.

Coloma earlier hinted the reorganized and revitalized Office of the Press Secretary will be setting up a system where citizens can send their concerns via text messaging, or on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter on the Internet.

Already the office of the President has its website www.op.gov.ph.

Secretary Ricky Carandang added a new website would also have interactive mechanism where visitors could report irregularities and corruption in the financial sector through the website of the Department of Finance at www.perangbayan.com on Facebook and Twitter.