Philippines is 6th in Internet Access

I love Internet. You love Internet. And many Filipinos too. And, it's amazing, the Philippines ranked sixth among 47 countries world-wide with the most internet freedom, a study by Freedom House (FH), a New York-based freedom watchdog, showed.

The study also showed that the Philippines is the only country in Asia that enjoys freedom in online media.

A total of 20 of the 47 countries examined experienced a negative trajectory in internet freedom since 2011, with bahrain, Pakistan, and Ethopia registering the greatest clines.

the 14 countries with most internet freedom worldwide were: Estonia, USA, Germany, Australia, Hungary, Italy, Philippines, United kingdom, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Ukraine, Kenya and Georgia.

Oktoberfest in Davao City in Apo View Hotel - Das Original - The Original

Brownouts return to Mindanao areas

Check this out, please...

Brownouts return to Mindanao areas

KZ Tandingan From Digos City Wins X-Factor

 

KZ Tandingan, a 21-year-old aspiring singer from Digos City/Davao del Sur, who almost lost her voice from a throat problem in high school, was named the first winner of "The X Factor Philippines" last Sunday night at the PAGCOR Theater. Tandingan, an early favorite of the latest ABS-CBN talent search, bested Gabriel Maturan and others during the show's star-studded season finale after garnering 54.77% of the total viewer's votes.

KZ,  former USEP-classmate from my niece Phoebe Ann, visited the University of Southeastern Philippines campus in Obrero, Davao City and was very welcomed by the USEP President, Dr. Perfecto Alibin and thousands of fans.

Davao Watersheds Home to Half the Philippines' Bird Species

I was really happy to learn about it because of an article in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR several days ago.

Imagine, 70 percent of the Philippine inventory of endemic bird species have been confirmed to be living in the Mount Talomo-Pangigan area. Results rom a recent study conducted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEF) revealed that the watershed is home to at least 124 bird species as studied in a series of field surveys conducted from 1997-2012.

The Philippines has currently 169 endemic bird species on record., 45 of which are only found in Mindanao. According to the report, 66 of the 124 species which were covered by the research study are Philippine endemic, while 24 of them are Mindanao endemic. This led the study authors to conclude that the watersheds hold an "impressive" percentage of local avian fauna.

Interface Development Interventions, Inc. Executive Director Ann Fuentes said that this significant find underscored the importance of Davao's watersheds in protecting and sustaining a rich biodiversity of organism that can only be found in the Mindanao region.

Other than the Philippine Eagle, the report also identified that the Tarictic of Mindanao hornbill, Penelopides panini, is the second most threatened bird in the watersheds due to illegal pet trade and because it also being hunted for food. Dwindling forest cover has contributed much to the decline of the local populations.

The Talomo-Panigan watershed areas along with the adjacent Lipadas, are the sites of aquifers which provide the current and future supply for Dabawenyos.

In 2010, the department of Tourism has announced that bird watching tours are becoming an emerging option in Philippine tourism. As a biodiversity hotspot, the Philippines has over 600 bird species with a high concentration of bird species per kilometer.  

What Do YOU Know About GERMANY?

What do you know about Germany? You will find out if you are an expert and if you try the German Embassy's quiz at this year's MABUHAY GERMANY from October 12 - 14, 2012.

Lots of prizes are waiting...!

Coach Michael Weiss of the Philippines' Men's National Football Team

Davao Celebrity Bangs Garcia Back Home

 

 Yes, it was great to see Bangs back in Davao! It was during the "Beauty Fair 2012" last Sunday in Gaisano Mall here in Davao City.

Bang started already as teen star and became famous through ABS-CBN's afternoon "OFW-serye" "Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo" together with Jake Cuenca and Shaina Magdayao. Bangs was already a local ABS-CBN talent in Davao City and one of those hopefuls in local talent searches.

Many important chapters in her career followed: As Cindy Kurleto's best friend in the Vic Sotto "Da De Di Do Du" - as to mention one.

Good luck for your future, Bangs Garcia!

Race to Save the Philippine Eagle

Re-post of MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR Editorial from Wednesday, September 26, 2012 with friendly permission of publisher Marietta Singco).(

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) continues to dwindle in number despite the valiant effort of some stakeholders, chief of which is the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF). According to the International Union for Consideration of Nature (IUCN), the Eagle qualifies as a Critically Endangered Species because it has "an extremely small population ... owing to extensive deforestation." Decades of unmitigated deforestation to fill the need of a growing human population have rendered the Eagles' habitat unviable, and now they number only between 180 and 500 adult individuals.

"Forest destruction and fragmentation, through commercial timber extraction and shifting cultivation, is the principal long-term threat, "the IUCN says. "Old-growth forest continues to be lost within the eagle's range. Moreover, most remaining lowland forest is leased to logging concessions. Mining applications pose an additional threat." Human activities, especially in Mindanao where the Eagles used to thrive, are driving the national bird to extinction.

Naturwunder in meinem Garten/A Natural Phenomenon

Ich traute meinen Augen nicht;
I thought, I am in a deep dream:

Wing span/Fluegelspannweite: 23 cm... .