Spending money like water?

MON, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Some people have money to burn! Oh yes, just the opposite: they are spending it like water. Every time I observe them, I feel that their money is going down their drain. Yes, “money talks.”

The more money you have, the more you might become avaricious. Every time, we have to dig deeper into our pockets, we might longing to be like those people, who don’t see the difference between a 500 or 1,000 bill.

Oh yes, money matters! I am really not rich! I also wouldn’t hesitate to say, that I would like to be so! Being rich means having wealth! Wealth is abundance, opulence and affluence. Affluences become quickly influence. Dyed-in-the-wool millionaires or even multi-millionaires over lose their view of reality many times. They can’t even see the horizon, which could be the demarcation of their real estate. They even don’t recognize the wonderful flowers growing and blooming in their gardens.

Money calms down! Sure. No doubts at all! We all need an income to survive for our daily needs – and, maybe, a little bit more. Many of us struggle through life and work like slaves for a pitiful daily minimum wage. If you’re rich, you might be on the top. But believe me, once you are on top, you will have some unwelcome, mostly acceptable companions such as loneliness, so-called friends (!), parasites and freeloaders.

These companions will let you scream in pain, because you will start missing things, you have expected from them: real friendship, love, care, comprehension, understanding, sympathy, appreciation…. remember such things? Miss such things?

Yes, money can give you a wonderful sleep, and you might stay in one of the most luxurious beds – but being awake, while your poorest neighbor sleeps better and more peaceful on the floor. There are many sayings about money. I like this one: Money can buy books but not brains. You might study a lot and get a lot of experiences; it’s just a pity, if you don’t use them at the right time for the right people in your surroundings.

Money can buy food but no appe-tite. Who reaps the benefits of it? A full to overflowing store room will never be satisfying, if sour free-loaders join your table and push away your real friends.

Our last earthly dress has no more pockets. The remembrance on how we acted and lived together with our fellow creatures will remain forever. With money, we might be able to let the devil dance. But, money alone doesn’t make us happy. Money kills more people and friend-ships than a cudgel.

The more money, the more problems. And, how many times happened this: that’s throwing good money after bad. Do we really need all these things we bought without thinking about?

The more money, the more we have to pay and the higher our bills become….

Careful rumor mongers

Reprint from Mindanao Daily Mirror, published September 2-3, 2017 with friendly permission from the publisher.

EDITORIAL

Beware rumors mongers, you could now land in jail. This after President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 10951 which constitutes the amendments of the Revised  Penal Code. The law carries harsher penalties of crimes among others, treason which is now punishable by reclusion perpetua to death and a fine of at most 4 million Pesos, and spreading of false news found to endanger public order or cause damage to the interest of the State either thru publication  or utterances. The spread of fake news or unlawful utterances entails the penalty of arresto mayor (imprisonment of one month and a day to six months) and a fine of ranging from 40,000 to 200,000 Pesos. The prevalence of fake news recently in this country pushed lawmakers to declare it as criminal act.

Making fake news crime is a welcome development provided it would not be abused merely as a means for the fulfillment of certain political interests. This law also faces the danger of being abused as means to harass people out of personal grudge. Worse comes to worse, it could be used as a means to pin down political  detractors or enemies of state who are out to divulge irregularities of certain government officials or personnel. Thus, implementation of this law should be handled with extra caution to avoid thumping onto one's rights. There is a big tendency the spread of vital information against crooks in government could be easily charge to fake news, thereby curtailing one's right to freedom of speech. This is not cynicism since the above negative circumstances are big possibilities.

For all intensive purposes, fake news as a crime provides a tough lesson to rumor mongers who intend to color other people black. These people should be dealt with accordingly and be given a dose of their own medicine to let them realize how hurting it would be to be maligned in public. Meanwhile R.A. 10951 also penalizes a public officer who is guilty of revealing secrets of a private individual by arresto mayor and fine not exceeding 200,000 Pesos. This specifically pertains to a quidnunc who has the obsession of meddling into one's personal life for an ulterior motive only known to him. This law with any luck would stamp quidnuncs out.

New Job for Boxer-Solon

Pacquiao is new face of PH tourism

Ivy Jean Vibar, ABS-CBN News

Posted at Dec 01 2016 06:23 PM

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MANILA – It's more fun in the Philippines—and it will soon be up to boxing icon and lawmaker Manny Pacquiao to prove it to foreign tourists.

The House Committee on Tourism on Thursday approved a proposal to designate the boxer-senator as spokesperson for the Department of Tourism's (DOT) upcoming campaign to promote Philippine attractions here and abroad.

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"Senator Pacquiao's international stature is a big boost to the tourism industry of the country. His endorsement would create a lot of impact, especially in the social media," said 1-PACMAN Representative Enrico Pineda in a statement.

Pineda earlier suggested Pacquiao as tourism ambassador, citing his international popularity, and the possibility that Pacquiao might lend his services to the DOT for free.

The decision to designate Pacquiao as the country's endorser was one of several issues discussed regarding the plans and programs of DOT, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

In November, the DOT said it will spend P650 million to revise and "upscale" in 2017 the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign, which started in 2012, as it allegedly failed to generate enough visitor arrivals.

Advertising and marketing firm McCann Worldgroup, which won the bidding for the project, will handle the conceptualization and implementation of the new campaign Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.

"The P650 million is not only for the tag line itself; that includes all the media placements all over the world," DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro said.

According to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, data from DOT showed that the number of visitors to the country consistently increased from January 2012 to December 2015, reaching 5,360,682 visitors in 2015.

In 2016, the DOT's latest data from January to August showed that the country welcomed at least 4.04 million tourists, 12.59 percent (452,011) higher than the number of tourists received in the same period in 2015.

Learn German @ Davao's state university USEP!

Goodbye Malaysia; Hello, Philippines

By

 BusinessMirror

 -

AUGUST 31, 2017

In Photo: Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano waves the Southeast Asian Games Federation flag after receiving it from Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose Cojuangco Jr. and outgoing SEA Games Federation President Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar of Malaysia during the closing ceremony on Wednesday night at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur

THE 29th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games Kuala Lumpur has officially concluded in a colorful and vibrant ceremony as hosts Malaysia celebrate in style the 145-gold medal feat in the region’s biggest sporting extravaganza at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Games cauldron, which was lit by Malaysian diving sensation Nur Dhabitah Sabri on August 19, was completely extinguished at exactly 10.17 p.m. (Malaysian time), marking the end of an exciting 12 days of action which saw Malaysia achieving its target of becoming the overall champion.

Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier declared the Games closed at precisely 10.13 p.m.

Over the last two weeks, 4,709 athletes and 2,381 officials gathered in Kuala Lumpur and competed in 404 events over 38 sports. Host Malaysia formed the biggest contingent of 844 athletes and 390 officials.

Earlier on Wednesday, Malaysia raked in another six out of the seven gold medals contested in diving (2), ice skating (3) and weightlifting (1) to complete its gold medal haul to 145.

Thailand took home 72 gold medals for second spot, followed by Vietnam with 58, Singapore 57, Indonesia 38, Philippines 24, Myanmar seven, Cambodia three and Laos two.

Brunei ended its campaign with five silver and eight bronze medals and Timor Leste managed three bronze medals.

The 30th edition of the Games will be hosted by the Philippines in 2019.

It was a a proud moment for Malaysia and Games organizers, Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC), which, besides its massive achievement on the field amassing 323 medals, also earned recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its great efforts in organizing the Games.

IOC Executive Board member Ng Ser Miang of Singapore presented MASOC Chairman YB Brig Gen Khairy Jamaluddin, also the Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister, with a special trophy.

The traditional hand over of the SEA Games Federation flag to 2019 Games host Philippines was simple but meaningful with outgoing SEA Games Federation president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar of Malaysia presenting the flag to Philippines Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco who then handed it to the Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who will the lead in organizing the country’s first hosting of the Games since 2005.

KLSEAG2017 News

First IKEA store in the Philippines?

LOOK: Could this be the first IKEA store in PH?

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Aug 31 2017 11:34 AM | Updated as of Aug 31 2017 01:15 PM

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MANILA – (UPDATED) A huge structure featuring the signature blue and yellow colors of the Swedish furniture brand IKEA has been spotted in the Philippines.

The Philippine Star columnist Pepper Teehankee posted a photo of an unnamed blue and yellow building in Cabuyao, Laguna, asking his Instagram followers if it could be the country’s first IKEA store.

“The Swedish ambassador confirmed that IKEA will soon be opening in the Philippines. Could this be the secret IKEA Philippines location in Cabuyao, Laguna?” he said in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

Netizens had mixed reactions as some believe that it is indeed an IKEA store, while others said the structure is owned by the online shopping company Lazada.

On Thursday, Lazada Philippines co-founder and CEO Inanc Balci put an end to the speculation, saying that the so-called IKEA store is the company's new warehouse.

“Nope, it’s Lazada’s fourth new warehouse. Not kidding!” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Balci went on to assure the public that Lazada also sells IKEA products.

It was reported in July last year that IKEA, known for its ready-to-assemble furniture and Swedish meatballs, will open in the Philippines.

New Driver's Licenses released with German technology

++ New driver’s licenses released with German technology ++

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) released today the first batch of driver’s licenses with 5-year validity, produced with German technology.

DERMALOG is a leading German company known for providing the best security features in official documents (e.g. licenses, government IDs). It provided a turnkey solution which includes the production of the ID cards, the printing system, as well as the personalization system.
The new driver’s license has 32 safety features, making it one of the most secure government IDs of the Philippines.

The first driver's license only took 8-9 minutes and was received by Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transport, which now serves as his new license.

Workaday life

MON, AUGUST 28, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

BY KLAUS DÖRING

We are all workers. Whether we work in a plush carpeted office as executives or managers, in a hot and noisy assembly plant as factory hands or as housewives at home.

Why do we work? Why do we slug five or six days a week (or even more?) for eight or more hours at a stretch? The church has had quite a lot to say about work and especially, the rights of the workers. And when you get through the church jargon, you’ll find statements on minimum wages for workers, needs for leisure and social benefits.

It is the Book of Genesis which tell us that work is God’s gift to human beings. God gave us the will, power and intelligence to “fill the earth and subdue it” and not just talk about seeing the wild beasts, the fruits and grains… .

We are given the enormous task of shaping the earth, whether as machinist in a textile factory, or as clerk in court. The important message is: Work is for man (and woman) and not man (and woman) for work! Through work, man develops himself, his personality and his sense of self-worth. It is also through work that man produces goods and services contributing and participating in the development and society.

In the encyclical Laborem Exercens (on human work), Pope Emeritus John Paul II made it clear that there should be just remuneration for the work of an adult who is responsible for a family and this means enough money for the breadwinner to feed, clothe and maintain his partner and children, with provisions “for security for his future.”

We know the church cares. But the church is not our employer. In daily life, there are our bosses and companies which dictate our wages, our increments and our social benefits. What happens, if we have bosses who feel they own us; bosses who demand over-time from us and who are more worried abut cutting company costs than about our  wages?

Pope John Paul II saw these problems long time ago as conflicts between labour and capital and the strongly opposed exploitation of the workers by entrepreneurs who want to maximize profits by giving low wages. The late Pope called the Trade Union an indispensable element of social life especially in modern industrialized societies “with the task of being a mouthpiece for the struggles for social justice for the just rights of working people.”

If you think this is the beginning to sound radical, hang on, there’s more. Workers, he said, should be allowed to strike without being subjected to personal penal sanctions for taking part in a strike. Strikes, of course, are the extreme means, to be taken only after other means if reconciliation fails!

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This Baretta knows her fashion:

Travel #OOTDs according to Dani

By Euden Valdez (philstar.com) | 

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Always on trend, showing skin but not sexy, young and fresh, Dani does know her fashion. Photos from www.instagram.com/danibarretto

MANILA, Philippines—Unlike her younger sisters Julia Barretto, who is already a blockbuster actress, and Claudia Barretto, who has just released her debut album, Dani Barretto is carving her own career not in the show business but in the lifestyle landscape.

As a travel and fashion blogger, Dani has already gathered 374,000 followers on Instagram. This ranks her as among Filipina digital influencers. She is loved for her spontaneity—her feed veers away from heavy curation—and of course, her sense of style.

Always on trend, showing some skin but not racy, the young and fresh Dani does know her fashion. This is seen in her travel #OOTDs, which she captures using her trusted companion, the Huawei P10.

Featuring the new Leica Dual Camera 2.0 on its rear, Huawei P10 produces professional-looking portraits, monochrome and wide images, among others. Its front camera, which is also co-engineered with Leica, captures more light for stunning selfies day or night.

Check out Dani’s travel photos that showcase her signature stylesamidst the Philippines’ most beautiful destinations—all taken using the Huawei P10. 

Not your typical beach babe

Dani is not your typical beach babe who flaunts her skinny body in two-piece attires. This girl is proud of her healthy yet sexy figure and she complements it with the right choices of bikinis. Here, she dons a mustard one-piece in a paradise in the coast of Surigao City in Mindanao. She accentuates the look with brown hair and a pair of orange-tinted sunglasses.

She is shot in Huawei P10’s Portrait Mode that results to a vintage effect in Leica image style.

A pop of color to brighten a gray day

Dani brightens up a rather gray day on the beach with a turquoise bikini paired with faded denim shorts, in a sexy back pose.

To showcase not just her ensemble but also the surroundings on Pandanon Island in Bohol, she utilizes her Huawei P10’s dual lens feature. Huawei, by partnering with Leica, is the first to introduce the dual lens innovation in smartphones. 

The feeling of forever in El Nido

We all know how strikingly blue the lagoons of El Nido in Palawan are. But when photographed in black and white, the island paradise gives a different feeling, the feeling of forever.

This is exactly what Dani’s photo gives us here. She captions, “I love how my signature Leica Monochrome that's available on Huawei P10. Perfectly captures moments in my life that I want to bring with me forever.”

And oh, take a look at Dani’s high-waisted bikini bottom with side-string detail. Fabulous! 

The girl that glows

Still in El Nido, Dani reveals her soft side in this self-portrait taken using her Huawei P10. The Barretto beauty glows in her flawless skin and rose-coloredbikini with matching rose-tinted lips. 

The Barretto clan may indeed be famous in showbiz—before this generation’s crop there were sisters Gretchen, Marjorie and Claudine—but Dani is out to prove that in her own right, her star can shine as bright. 

The new Huawei P10, which carries lenses by Leica, best captures Dani Barretto's travel #OOTDs. Huawei Philippines/Released

To get more of Dani Barretto, follow @danibarretto in Instagram. To see more amazing photos shot using Huawei P10, follow @huaweimobileph in Instagram. To know more about Huawei Mobile Philippines, like it in Facebook or vsit http://consumer.huawei.com/ph.

Two late athletic Golds avert Philippines shutout

By Gerry Carpio (The Philippine Star)

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The Philippines’ Kaitlin de Guzman adds a silver in floor exercise and a bronze in balance beam after a gold feat in uneven bars. JUN MENDOZA

KUALA LUMPUR – Team Philippines lost the momentum of its golden romp the day before and was staring at a gold-less day until athletics’ Trenten Anthony Beram and Aris Toledo delivered late in the night in the 29th Southeast Asian Games here.

Beram erased the specter of fellow Fil-Am Eric Cray’s shattering loss in the 100m dash Tuesday by ruling the 200m in a new Philippine record while Toledo proved to be Games’ ironman by winning the decathlon, giving the Philippines its 10th gold that went with 15 silver and 19 bronze medals to remain at sixth.

Beram clocked 20.84 seconds to beat Thai Jirapong Meenapra (21.22) and Malaysian Thevarr Gunasegaran (21.26).

Khairul Hafiz Jantan, who foiled Cray in the 100m dash, struggled to end up fourth in 21.28 seconds.

Toledo, on the other hand, amassed 7433 points to clinch the decathlon gold. Thai Suttisak Singkon settled for second with 7411 points while Vietnam’s Bui Van Su took the bronze with 6737 points.

Mark Harry Diones also took the silver in triple jump with a 16.63m leap. Malaysian Mohd Hakmi Ismail won the gold in record 16.77m feat.

Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Malaysia pulled away with 47-35-29 (gold-silver-bronze) followed by Singapore (26-22-20), Vietnam (26-19-22), Thailand (16-27-33) and Indonesia (15-17-32).

EarIier, in a unusual day after a harvest of five gold medals Tuesday and three in the first three days, Team Philippines was stopped in its tracks by rivals from host Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia which leveled the field and carted away all the 32 gold medals staked until the late hours of the afternoon.

Until Beram and Toledo came through with late gold feats.

Perlas Pilipinas also hacked out a tough 69-67 victory over Thailand to stay in the medal hunt in women’s basketball.

Karatedo John Paul Behar advanced to the finals when the officials upheld a protest which involved a Malaysian karatedo’s entry to the finals on a wrong scoring. Behar advanced but lost in the gold medal round.

Kaitlin Cera Lianne dela Cruz added a silver medal in the floor exercise and a bronze in the balance beam, respectively, while Reyland Capellan took the bronze in the vault at the close of the artistic events in gymnastics yesterday. 

Dela Cruz who became gymnastics’ new sensation with her win in the uneven bars a day earlier, emerged as the best performer in artistic gymnastics in the Philippine team with a gold-silver-bronze medal finish.

The best finish before her was the silver medal of Ava Lorein Verdeflor in the uneven bars in 2015.

Capellan ended his stint in the SEA Games with a 1-3 finish counting his gold in the floor exercise to improve on his 1-0-0 gold-silver-bronze medal performance in 2015.

Last-minute substitute Arniel Ferreira, a former SEAG champion who was pulled out of retirement to sub 2015 gold medal winner Caleb Stuart, a no-show in the national eliminations, took the bronze in the men’s hammer throw.