BPI iOS Apps - Make the Best Happen

This is how Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) serves its customers.

Actually, this is my second article about BPI. See the other article here.

Aside from doing transactions from your PC's, would you be glad if you can do all your online transactions on the go? With your Iphone, you can check your account, transfer funds and pay bills among others. I have been using the app since then. The oldest email confirmation I have from expressmobile@bpi.com.ph is dated November 2, 2012 for a fund transfer that I did. That might be my first transaction using the app.

The BPI app can (from the app):

FEATURES:

- View the account balances of your enrolled BPI, BPI Family Savings, BPI Direct deposit accounts, BPI Credit Cards, and Investments accounts

- View the transaction history and details of your enrolled accounts

- Transfer funds from your enrolled accounts to any other BPI, BPI Family Savings, or BPI Direct deposit account

- Pay to over 300 partner merchants

- Subscribe to or redeem from your investment accounts

- Load a BPI Express Cash Card, BPI My ePrepaid Card, or Express Money Order card

- Reload Globe/TM prepaid numbers... and more!

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

- Look for the nearest ATM/branch with the ATM/branch locator

- Browse through BPI's latest promos

- Check the latest Foreign Exchange rates of BPI

Try it for yourself and get the Apple's iOS BPI App in HERE. :)

Do you have any concerns or questions? BPI developed an App and its Customer Service Representative answers queries in less than 30 minutes (tried) during office hours. You can also ask them to call you even you are working outside the Philippines (tried and tested). And that's SERVICE. 

 Download their BPI Bankers Online Apple's iOS App in HERE. :)

Outreach at Saint Joseph Orphanage 2013

Our class in High School, the Martins, had a successful outreach last December 27, 2013. 

We spent the afternoon at Saint Joseph Orphanage located in Our Lady of Grace Academy, Lonoy, Roxas City, Capiz. It was a mini reunion cum outreach. We plan to do this yearly; to celebrate Christmas with the kids there. 

Some of the photos below:

9 Toxic Habits That Kill Your Motivation

Want to be successful? You have to start by getting motivated. Unfortunately, everyday you are bombarded by toxic habits that can kill your motivation. Here are the most common culprits.

1. You desire to be perfect.

Pursuing perfection is the quickest way to kill your motivation. If this one is particularly hard for you, next time you are working on a project, tell yourself you are just doing a “rough draft,” and you will make it “perfect” later. When later arrives, do a few revisions to your project and call it good. Having something done is better than never finishing anything.

2. You compare yourself to others.

Constantly comparing yourself to others is one of the easiest ways to lose motivation. Not only will you stop working, but you will also waste a ton of time. Instead of comparing yourself to others, find out what makes them so good at their jobs. By telling someone you admire them, you may find out what their secret of success is–or you may find out that the person you’re comparing yourself to doesn’t have it as good as you thought.

3. You don’t believe in yourself.

If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? Stop wasting time and energy by tearing yourself down. Next time you’re feeling down, force yourself to think of one thing you do well. It will feel weird at first, but eventually you will realize that you are doing better than you thought.

4. You do too much at once.

The best way to find motivation is to focus on the tasks you want to complete. If you have 100 projects going on at once, you won’t get anything done. So focus on what you want to accomplish and get started.

5. You don’t have any goals.

If you don’t have goals, you won’t be motivated because you don’t know where you’re going. You need to figure out where you want to go and then your goals will take you there. Not having goals is like trying to find a new restaurant without an address. You might luck into it every once in a while, but you will be stuck wandering most of the time.

6. You don’t encourage yourself.

Do you ever wish someone would tell you you’re doing a great job? Well, you can get that encouragement today–from yourself. By finding a way to encourage yourself, with notes, emails, even a special treat, you will feel more rewarded and motivated. Remember, treat yourself the way you expect others to treat you.

7. You forget to rest.

Don’t forget sleep! You need to take time to recharge so can have energy at work. Want to take this one step further? Carve out some “quiet time” every day. Let your mind relax while you’re awake, and you will be able to come back to a project with a renewed spirit.

8. You have trouble finding new ideas.

You need to fuel your motivation with new ideas. If motivation is gas, new ideas are the gas pump. By reading, thinking, and talking to others you will discover new ideas and make connections to old ideas. This way you can solve problems and your tank will stay full.

9. You get distracted.

We all have one activity that makes hours–or days–of our lives disappear. From TV, to the Internet, to social media, you’ve got to learn how to shut out distractions so you can be motivated. Need help? A great way to focus is to schedule your time. If you need to work on a project, set aside time every day to work on it. This way, when you’re tempted to read about the latest celebrity gossip, you can remember your time is already spoken for.

These 9 toxic habits can kill your motivation. Now you know what to look for, so make sure you stop them before they stop you.

First seen in: Young Business Leaders FB Page

How to pay your Kaiser Health Premium through BPI online

Steps to pay your Kaiser Health premium online through BPI Express Online:

1. Go to http://www.bpiexpressonline.com/.

2. Log in to your BPIexpressonline account.

3. Go to "Payments & Reloading" > "Bills Payment" > "Enroll all other Bills".

4. Fill up your ATM Card Number, JAI Number (available on your ATM Card). For the Company Name, choose from the drop down menu "KAISER INTERNATIONAL HEALTH (KAISER)" and for the Reference Number use your Application Number and NOT the policy number. Your application number starts with "8" and followed by a series of numbers. Replace this "8" with "0"; so your application number should be in this format: 00001234567. After filling up, hit the "submit" button below.

4. You'll received a confirmation of Enrollment of Bills. And an email from BPI.

You can now pay your Kaiser Premium:

1. Go to "Payments & Reloading" > "Bills Payment" > "Pay Bills Today".

2. From the drop down menu of "Pay", choose your KAISER Account (you can rename it to your preferred name). Enter the amount of your premium and choose from which of your bank account you want it paid. For my records, I put on the remarks field the month and year of the premium paid. After filling up, hit the "submit" button below.

3. You'll receive Bills Payment from ATM Account confirmation. And an email from BPI.

Bakit ko Tinututulan pa rin ang RH Bill?

Ni Ansel Beluso

Sa mga linggong nagdaan at sa mga nalalabing araw ng sesyon ng Mababa at Mataas na Kapulungan ng Ikalabing-Limang Kongreso, painit nang painit ang debate tungkol sa sinasabing bagong bersiyon ng RH Bill.

Nabasa ko ang lahat ng bersiyon ng RH Bill, lalo na itong pinakahuli. Ipinahahayag ko na hindi ko lang patuloy na tinututulan ang panukalang batas na i

to kungdi lalo pang lumalim, lumawak at naging marubdob ang aking pagtutol dito.

Muli, narito ang mga dahilan ng aking pagtutol na hindi naman natugunan o napabulaanan ng bagong bersiyon – dahil hindi lang basta mga probisyon ang katutul-tutol sa RH Bill kungdi ang pinakadiwa at intensiyon nito.

Una, ako ay sumasampalataya sa kabanalan ng buhay, na siyang pinakasagradong biyaya ng Diyos. Ako ay nananalig na ang buhay ay nagsisimula sa akto ng pagtatagpo ng punlay ng ama at ng itlog ng ina. Ako ay naniniwalang anumang paraan na humahadlang at sumisira sa pagpapatuloy ng likas na daloy ng buhay mula sa puntong iyon ay labag sa kalooban ng Diyos.

Pangalawa, ako ay tutol sa abortion. Bagama’t ang salitang “abortion” ay hindi matatagpuan sa alinmang pahina ng House Bill No. 4244, marami sa mga contraceptive methods na isinusulong at popondohan nito ay mayroong abortifacient potential, may kakayahang magbunga ng tinatawag na chemical abortion. Ang chemical abortion ay abortion.

Pangatlo, naniniwala akong ang tinatawag na reproductive health education component ng RH Bill ay mapanganib para sa pamilya at sa kabataan na ayon sa Saligang Batas ng ating bansa ay tungkulin ng Estado na itaguyod, kalingain at pagyamanin.

Ang RH Bill ay mapanganib sa pamilya dahil pinahihina nito ang ugnayan ng magulang at anak; at pinanghihimasukan nito ang karapatan at obligasyon ng magulang bilang pangunahing guro at gabay ng mga anak sa usapin ng seksuwalidad.

Ito rin ay mapanganib sa kabataan dahil ituturo nitong isabuhay ng ating mga anak ang kalayaang magbubunga ng ibayong kapusukan at mga maling pagpapahalaga. Ito ay salungat sa aral ni Ama at ni Ina, kumakalaban sa tradisyon at kalinangan nating mga Filipino, at may malaking potensiyal na magdulot ng peligro sa kapakanan ng mga bagong sibol na Filipino.

Pang-apat, naniniwala akong hindi solusyon ang idudulot ng RH Bill kungdi karagdagan pang problema. Nakikita natin ang masamang bungang idinulot ng batas na ito sa mga kanluraning bansa – contraceptive mentality, secular lifestyle, godless ideology, etc. Ang batas na ito ay nagpapabago sa pananaw at pagpapahalaga ng lipunan sa lahat ng aspeto ng buhay na nauuwi sa kapahamakan ng tao sa pangkalahatan.

Panglima, hindi ako naniniwalang ang RH Bill ay pangkababaihan. Una, isang katotohanang marami sa mga contraceptive methods na sinasabing “safe” ay hindi “safe” dahil nagpapanipis ng matres, nagpaparupok sa obaryo, sumisira sa natural cycles ng katawan ng babae, at may potensiyal na magbunga ng sakit tulad ng iba’t ibang cancer. Pangalawa, walang contraceptive method na 100 percent safe. Ang mga kontraseptibong itinuturing na 99-percent safe ay naglalagay sa panganib sa 1 percent ng gumagamit nito. Samakatuwid, sa bawat isang milyong kababaihang gumagamit ng 99-percent safe contraceptive methods ay may sampung libong babaeng magkakaroon ng pinsala mula rito.

Pang-anim, hindi ako naniniwalang ang RH Bill ay pangmahirap. Ayon sa aking payak na pang-unawa, ang solusyon sa kahirapan ay hindi yung lipulin natin ang mga mahirap at hadlangan ang kanilang likas na kakayahang magparami. Sa halip, kasama sa mandato ng pamahalaan na mabigyan sila ng mga paraan upang makaahon sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng mga basic services na kailangan nila para magkaroon ng parehas na laban sa buhay, umunlad, yumaman at makapag-ambag din sa lalo pang ikasasagana ng bansa.

Pampito, kumakatig ako sa paninindigang ang pondong inilalaan para sa RH Bill na nagkakahalaga ng P37B ay higit na epektibo kung ilalagak para sa mga programang pangkabuhayan, pang-edukasyon, pangkalusugan, at iba pang mas kailangan ng taumbayan tulad ng pabahay at relokasyon ng mga informal settlers, solusyon sa baha at mga kagamitang kailangan para sa pagsansala sa pinsala ng kalamidad, pangmatagalang programa para sa kaunlaran ng Mindanao, sustenableng tugon sa problema ng communist insurgency na ipinaglalaban pa rin ng CPP-NPA, trabaho at hanapbuhay para hindi na kailangang mangibang-bayan ang mga Filipino na pumipinsala sa kapakanan ng pamilya, at marami pa.

Pangwalo, ang panukalang ito ay isang redundancy dahil marami sa mga probisyon nito ay nakapaloob na rin sa iba pang batas, partikular ang Magna Carta of Women. At ang mga programang nilalayong pondohan nito ay sapat na ring natutugunan ng mga umiiral nang programa ng DOH, DepEd, DSWD at iba pang kagawaran ng pamahalaan.

Pangsiyam, ayokong magsawalang-bahala at nakararamdam ako ng pangangailang kumilos sa harap ng banta sa katiwasayan at kaunlaran ng kinabukasan ng aking mga anak at apo. Hindi ko hahayaang dalhin sa tiyak na kapariwaraan ang buhay at bukas ng susunod na mga henerasyon ng mga Filipino.

Pangsampu, sumasampalataya ako sa Simbahang Romano Katoliko at Apostoliko; at kusa akong pumapailalim at nagpapasakop sa mga Obispo at kaparian na pinananaligan kong nag-aangkin ng dunong ng tao at pinagdadaluyan ng dunong ng Diyos. Naniniwala akong hindi katigasan ng ulo o bulag na pagtaguyod sa makaluma at sinaunang kaisipan ang nagbubunsod sa Simbahan para tutulan ang RH Bill; naniniwala akong ang panukalang ito ay labag sa kalooban ng Diyos kaya ito, ayon sa kunsensiya ko, ay imoral at makasalanan.

Panginoon, gabayan Mo ang Iyong bayan.

Source: CBCP for LIFE

Why I oppose the RH Bill...

Why RH BILL: if we have these existing laws to protect women and children that only lack implementation:

- People have ALWAYS the right to CHOOSE, refer to Article 3: Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution.
- RA 9710 - An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women
- PD 965 - A Decree requiring applicant for Marriage License to receive Instructions on Family Planning 
                  and Responsible Parenthood
- RA 8980 - An Act promulgating a Comprehensive Policy and a National System for early Childhood Care
                    and Development (ECCD), providing Funds therefore and for other purposes
- RA 9262 - An Act defining Violence Against Women and their Children, providing for protected measures 
                    for victims, prescribing penalties therefore and for other purposes
- RA 7877 - An Act Declaring Sexual Harassment Unlawful in the Employment, Education or Training 
                    Environment and for other purposes
- RA 9995 - An Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Photo and Video Voyeurism, prescribing penalties 
                    therefore and for other purposes
- RA 6615 - An Act requiring Government and Private Hospitals and Clinics to extend Medical Assistance 
                    in Emergency Cases
- RA 9502 - An Act providing for Cheaper and Quality Medicines, amending for the purpose RA 8293 or 
                    the Intellectual Property Code, RA 6675 or the Generics Act of 1988, and RA 5921 or the 
                    Pharmacy Law and for other purposes
- RA 7875 - An Act instituting a National Health Insurance Program for All Filipinos and Establishing the 
                    Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the purpose 
- RA 8504 - Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998
- EO 452 of July 30, 2005 - Directing the Enrollment of 2.5Million Indigent Families pursuant to EO 276 S. 
                                            2004 and for other purposes

Also approved in the House, HB 4484 - An Act Providing for A Magna Carta of the Poor  and
     HB 6048 - An Act providing for Universal Health Care Services to all Filipinos, further amending for the 
     purpose RA 7875, otherwise known as the "National Health Insurance Act of 1995, as ammended

and, a lot more at Philippine Commission on Women website.

Our taxes may just go to the pockets of our dear corrupt politicos. What if, there will be ghost condoms, ghost health centers, ghost health care providers and a lot more of ghosts in some of the barangays, municipalities and cities? SOP's in government agencies have been very active for years. We have a lot of laws, but are with flaws and loopholes. Why not implement the existing laws first or amend those with loopholes?

Can we put into law the Freedom of Information Bill first? Can we create a "Corruption Prevention Act" first? Can we have the National ID System first? Maybe, we can protect our taxes from the CORRUPT if we have these!

http://www.facebook.com/i.oppose.the.RH.Bill

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Welcome, Jan Leonard (JL)

Our dear prince was born last 06 February 2012 in Doctors Hospital, Iloilo. There was a 6.9 magnitude eathquake that day. JL's birth shoke Iloilo with that quake. :) Here are some of the photos...

Back to work...

Sacrifices, sometimes are essential in life. I fly away from home to work and earn a living, leaving my wife and son back home. Today starts living alone and away from family, it's sad, indeed very sad. To my fellow OFWs, cheers and mabuhay!

iPhone 4s: In My Hands

Have this as a Christmas gift for myself for a year of hardwork and sacrifice working away from my family. Posting from my 4s... =)

VOTE: Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines - New 7 Wonders of Nature

Please support and VOTE for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave. -PP Underground River

To vote:



Please visit and register at "New 7 Wonders of Nature" to vote now.

Or, vote by SMS if you are in the Philippines by:

                                 Each SMS sent counts as one vote for PP Underground River

                                 in the New7Wonders of Nature.

                                 Send PPUR to 2861

                                       Cost per each SMS sent:

                                       PHP2.00 (Sun)

                                       PHP2.50 (Globe, Smart)

For more information on Telephone Voting Options in the Philippines. Click here!





Blogger App for Iphone

Now that blogging is on the go with the Blogger App, I will have no reason not to post updates frequently. Like, this is my first post for 2011. This App works great!

PAX MANIFESTO ON CARLOS CELDRAN

We, the officers and members of the Philippine Alliance of X-Seminarians (PAX), a nationwide umbrella organization representing various federations of Catholic ex seminarians and Catholic seminary alumni organizations in the Philippines, do hereby declare:

1. That freedom of expression as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution is a democratic right of every citizen of the Republic, inviolable when exercised within the ambits of existing laws;

2. That religious freedom, the right of every citizen of the Republic to freely practice one's religious beliefs is likewise guaranteed in the provisions of our Constitution;

3.That all places of worship, churches, mosques and temples shall be revered as sacrosanct, holy and sacred houses of prayer and therefore should not be defiled or disturbed by any authority or individual;

4. That any disruption or disturbance during the celebration of the Holy Mass, regardless wherever it is celebrated, is a direct attack to the central faith of the Catholic Church and in violation of the religious freedoms of all its faithful;

5. That no citizen is endowed with such right to disrupt religious rites and ceremonies of any faith or creed, within their religious confines or in public places, whenever and wherever these rights and ceremonies are not prohibited by law;

6.That the actions of Mr. Carlos Celdran to disrupt the celebration of the Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral, is an abject abuse of his right to freedom of expression, an affront to universally accepted social norms and decorum, and, most gravely, a desecration of the most sacred sacrament of the Catholic Faith ;

7. That while his right to freedom of expression is enshrined in Section 4, Article III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, his condemnable action also violates Section 5, Article V of the very same Constitution;

Therefore, in the strongest possible terms, we condemn the actions of Mr. Carlos Celdran for desecrating a place of worship, the Manila Cathedral, and for disrupting a religious worship thereat, the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist on September 30, 2010. Such actions are devoid of good manners and social civility, disrespectful to an ongoing religious service, illegal, malicious and evil acts directed to a Faith, in total disregard to the hierarchy and church leaders present, and in violation of the rights of everyone participating therein to freely exercise their religious beliefs and creed.

We further condemn his cohorts for utterly condoning and supporting such acts, in brazen violation of the Philippine Constitution and existing laws.

Finally, we demand that Mr. Carlos Celdran and his cohorts apologize for their acts and make amends for their evil deeds, and resolve that they refrain from any such transgressions in the future.

-Philippine Aliance of X-Seminarians (PAX)

The Filipino Today

(received through email):

The Filipino today

By Alex Lacson

 
After the August 23 hostage drama, there is just too much negativity about and against the Filipino.
 
“It is difficult to be a Filipino these days”, says a friend who works in Hongkong. “Nakakahiya tayo”, “Only in the Philippines ” were some of the comments lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles received in her Facebook. There is this email supposedly written by a Dutch married to a Filipina, with 2 kids, making a litany of the supposed stupidity or idiocy of Filipinos in general.  There was also this statement by Fermi Wong, founder of Unison HongKong, where she said – “Filipino maids have a very low status in our city”. Then there is this article from a certain Daniel Wagner of Huffington Post, wherein he said he sees nothing good in our country’s future.
 
Clearly, the hostage crisis has spawned another crisis – a crisis of faith in the Filipino, one that exists in the minds of a significant number of Filipinos and some quarters in the world.
 
It is important for us Filipinos to take stock of ourselves as a people – of who we truly are as a people. It is important that we remind ourselves who the Filipino really is, before our young children believe all this negativity that they hear and read about the Filipino.
 
We have to protect and defend the Filipino in each one of us.
 
The August 23 hostage fiasco is now part of us as Filipinos, it being part now of our country’s and world’s history. But that is not all that there is to the Filipino. Yes, we accept it as a failure on our part, a disappointment to HongKong , China and to the whole world.
 
But there is so much more about the Filipino.
 
In 1945, at the end of World War II, Hitler and his Nazi had killed more than 6 million Jews in Europe . But in 1939, when the Jews and their families were fleeing Europe at a time when several countries refused to open their doors to them, our Philippines did the highly risky and the unlikely –thru President Manuel L Quezon, we opened our country’s doors and our nation’s heart to the fleeing and persecuted Jews. Eventually, some 1,200 Jews and their families made it to Manila . Last 21 June 2010, or 70 years later, the first ever monument honoring Quezon and the Filipino nation for this “open door policy” was inaugurated on Israeli soil, at the 65-hectare Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon LeZion, Israel.
 
The Filipino heart is one of history’s biggest, one of the world’s rare jewels, and one of humanity’s greatest treasures.
 
In 2007, Baldomero M. Olivera, a Filipino, was chosen and awarded as the Scientist for the Year 2007 by Harvard University Foundation, for his work in neurotoxins which is produced by venomous cone snails commonly found in the tropical waters of Philippines . Olivera is a distinguished professor of biology at University of Utah , USA . The Scientist for the Year 2007 award was given to him in recognition to his outstanding contribution to science, particularly to molecular biology and groundbreaking work with conotoxins. The research conducted by Olivera’s group became the basis for the production of commercial drug called Prialt (generic name – Ziconotide), which is considered more effective than morphine and does not result in addiction.
The Filipino mind is one of the world’s best, one of humanity’s great assets.
 
The Filipino is capable of greatness, of making great sacrifices for the greater good of the least of our people. Josette Biyo is an example of this. Biyo has masteral and doctoral degress from one of the top universities in the Philippines – the De La Salle University (Taft, Manila ) – where she used to teach rich college students and was paid well for it. But Dr Biyo left all that and all the glamour of Manila , and chose to teach in a far-away public school in a rural area in the province, receiving the salary of less than US$ 300 a month. When asked why she did that, she replied “but who will teach our children?” In recognition of the rarity of her kind, the world-famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States honoured Dr Biyo a very rare honor – by naming a small and new-discovered planet in our galaxy as “Biyo”.
 
The Filipino is one of humanity’s best examples on the greatness of human spirit!
 
Efren Penaflorida was born to a father who worked as a tricycle driver and a mother who worked as laundrywoman. Through sheer determination and the help of other people, Penaflorida finished college. In 1997, Penaflorida and his friends formed a group that made pushcarts (kariton) and loaded them with books, pens, crayons, blackboard, clothes, jugs of water, and a Philippine flag. Then he and his group would go to the public cemetery, market and garbage dump sites in Cavite City – to teach street children with reading, math, basic literacy skills and values, to save them from illegal drugs and prevent them from joining gangs. Penaflorida and his group have been doing this for more than a decade. Last year, Penaflorida was chosen and awarded as CNN Hero for 2009.
 
Efren Penaflorida is one of the great human beings alive today. And he is a Filipino!
 
Nestor Suplico is yet another example of the Filipino’s nobility of spirit. Suplico was a taxi driver In New York. On 17 July 2004, Suplico drove 43 miles from New York City to Connecticut , USA to return the US$80,000 worth of jewelry (rare black pearls) to his passenger who forgot it at the back seat of his taxi. When his passenger offered to give him a reward, Suplico even refused the reward. He just asked to be reimbursed for his taxi fuel for his travel to Connecticut . At the time, Suplico was just earning $80 a day as a taxi driver. What do you call that? That’s honesty in its purest sense. That is decency most sublime. And it occurred in New York , the Big Apple City , where all kinds of snakes and sinners abound, and a place where – according to American novelist Sydney Sheldon – angels no longer descend. No wonder all New York newspapers called him “ New York ’s Most Honest Taxi Driver”. The New York City Government also held a ceremony to officially acknowledge his noble deed. The Philippine Senate passed a Resolution for giving honors to the Filipino people and our country.
 
In Singapore , Filipina Marites Perez-Galam, 33, a mother of four, found a wallet in a public toilet near the restaurant where she works as the head waitress found a wallet containing 16,000 Singaporean dollars (US $11,000). Maritess immediately handed the wallet to the restaurant manager of Imperial Herbal restaurant where she worked located in Vivo City Mall. The manager in turn reported the lost money to the mall’s management. It took the Indonesian woman less than two hours to claim her lost wallet intended for her son’s ear surgery that she and her husband saved for the medical treatment. Maritess refused the reward offered by the grateful owner and said it was the right thing to do.
 
The Filipina, in features and physical beauty, is one of the world’s most beautiful creatures! Look at this list – Gemma Cruz became the first Filipina to win Miss International in 1964; Gloria Diaz won as Miss Universe in 1969; Aurora Pijuan won Miss International in 1970; Margie Moran won Miss Universe in 1973; Evangeline Pascual was 1^st runner up in Miss World 1974; Melanie Marquez was Miss International in 1979; Ruffa Gutierrez was 2^nd runner up in Miss World 1993; Charlene Gonzalez was Miss Universe finalist in 1994; Mirriam Quiambao was Miss Universe 1^st runner up in 1999; and last week, Venus Raj was 4^th runner up in Miss Universe pageant.
 
I can cite more great Filipinos like Ramon Magsaysay, Ninoy Aquino, Leah Salonga, Manny Pacquaio, Paeng Nepomuceno, Tony Meloto, Joey Velasco, Juan Luna and Jose Rizal. For truly, there are many more great Filipinos who define who we are as a people and as a nation – each one of them is part of each one of us, for they are Filipinos like us, for they are part of our history as a people.
 
What we see and hear of the Filipino today is not all that there is about the Filipino. I believe that the Filipino is higher and greater than all these that we see and hear about the Filipino. God has beautiful story for us as a people. And the story that we see today is but a fleeting portion of that beautiful story that is yet to fully unfold before the eyes of our world.
 
So let’s rise as one people. Let’s pick up the pieces. Let’s ask for understanding and forgiveness for our failure. Let us also ask for space and time to correct our mistakes, so we can improve our system.
 
To all of you my fellow Filipinos, let’s keep on building the Filipino great and respectable in the eyes of our world – one story, two stories, three stories at a time – by your story, by my story, by your child’s story, by your story of excellence at work, by another Filipino’s honesty in dealing with others, by another Pinoy’s example of extreme sacrifice, by the faith in God we Filipinos are known for.
 
Every Filipino, wherever he or she maybe in the world today, is part of the solution. Each one of us is part of the answer. Every one of us is part of the hope we seek for our country. The Filipino will not become a world-class citizen unless we are able to build a world-class homeland in our Philippines .
 
We are a beautiful people. Let no one in the world take that beauty away from you. Let no one in the world take away that beauty away from any of your children! We just have to learn – very soon – to build a beautiful country for ourselves, with an honest and competent government in our midst.
 
Mga kababayan, after reading this, I ask you to do two things.
 
First, defend and protect the Filipino whenever you can, especially among your children. Fight all this negativity about the Filipino that is circulating in many parts of the world. Let us not allow this single incident define who the Filipino is, and who we are as a people. And second, demand for good leadership and good government from our leaders. Question both their actions and inaction; expose the follies of their policies and decisions. The only way we can perfect our system is by engaging it. The only way we can solve our problem, is by facing it, head on.
 
We are all builders of the beauty and greatness of the Filipino. We are the architects of our nation’s success.
 
To all the people of HK and China , especially the relatives of the victims, my family and I deeply mourn with the loss of your loved ones. Every life is precious. My family and I humbly ask for your understanding and forgiveness.
 
END

The Birth of "Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians" (PAX)

The  Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians (PAX) invites you to join other former seminarians (religious and diocesan) at http://www.paxseminarians.com/. If you need any assistance or if you have any queries, just visit the website or drop me an email at "Contact Me Here".

Video: The Birth of PAX

2008 Best Inventions of the Year

Run, ride, swim, and sing through some of TIME Magazine's best inventions of the year:

Best Inventions:

source: http://www.time.com/time/video/

Oldest New Testament Bible heads into cyberspace

Reuters - Tuesday, July 22
By Dave Graham

BERLIN - More than 1,600 years after it was written in Greek, one of the oldest copies of the Bible will become globally accessible online for the first time this week.

From Thursday, sections of the Codex Sinaiticus, which contains the oldest complete New Testament, will be available on the Internet, said the University of Leipzig, one of the four curators of the ancient text worldwide.

High resolution images of the Gospel of Mark, several Old Testament books, and notes on the work made over centuries will appear on www.codex-sinaiticus.net as a first step towards publishing the entire manuscript online by next July.

Ulrich Johannes Schneider, director of Leipzig University Library, which holds part of the manuscript, said the publication of the Codex online would allow anyone to study a work of "fundamental" importance to Christians.

"A manuscript is going onto the net which is like nothing else online to date," Schneider said. "It's also an enrichment of the virtual world -- and a bit of a change from YouTube."

Selected translations will be available in English and German for those not conversant in ancient Greek, he added.

Dating from around 350, the document is believed by experts to be the oldest known copy of the Bible, along with the Codex Vaticanus, another ancient version of the Bible, Schneider said.

The vellum manuscript came to Europe piece by piece from Saint Catherine's Monastery by Mount Sinai after German biblical scholar Konstantin von Tischendorf found a number of folios there in 1844. He was allowed to take some to Leipzig.

Tischendorf returned to the monastery in 1859 with Russian backing and acquired the biggest section of the Bible for his imperial sponsors. It remained in St. Petersburg until the Soviet Union sold it to the British Museum in 1933.

"The first section was clearly a gift to Tischendorf, but that's not so clear in the case of the second portion. The monks all signed a contract at the time, but the rumor persists that they were given a raw deal," said Schneider.

"And there is probably some truth to this."

Subsequent discoveries meant that the original Codex, missing roughly half the Old Testament, is now housed at four locations in Europe and the Middle East.

The project, launched in cooperation with the Russian National Library, the British Library and Saint Catherine's Monastery, also details the condition of the Bible, believed to have been written by early Christians in Egypt.

"I think it's just fantastic that thanks to technology we can now make the oldest cultural artifacts -- ones that were once so precious you couldn't show them to anyone -- accessible to everyone, in really high quality," said Schneider.

source: Yahoo.ph News

Philippine Alliance of ExSeminarians (PAX)

An update on the creation of the Alliance of ExSeminarians was sent to me by Bolano Peter Marlon last July 9. I thank him for sending me these updates which also give me the opportunity to help spread the endeavor to fellow Exseminarians.

I learned that the creation of the Philippine Alliance of XSeminarians (PAX) had been started a long time ago. From the update that I received - a brief history was included and the following in italics are also from the update. If you are an ExSeminarian and wants to know more about the Philippine Alliance of XSeminarians (PAX), please contact me and i will be very glad to forward to you the updates and current undertakings sent to me by Bolano Peter Marlon.

-It was learned that sometime in the early 70’s an attempt was made to form an association of ex-seminarians through the initiative of the late Orly Punzalan from the UST Central Seminary. Unfortunately, the initiative fizzled out despite the initial gathering of several ex-seminarians which had now Justice Feria as its guest speaker.

-Another attempt was made sometime in 1992 with an assembly of over 100 ex-seminarians from different seminaries which was held at the Guadalupe Minor Seminary at Makati City. For some unknown reasons, there was no other meeting called thereafter.

-The last attempt was made in early 2003 when a group of ex-seminarians met in San Carlos Seminary at Makati City. The group also fizzled out.

With the theme “ut unum simus” (that we may be one) Please Foundation Inc, (Palo Leyte Alumni of the Seminary) initiated the move to organize all ex-seminarians nationwide.

CURRENT UNDERTAKINGS

1. MORINGA PROJECT — The group adopted the proposal of Atty. Ribo to plant Moringa/Malungay in a two-hectare land pilot area and to build a factory for this purpose. A multi-purpose cooperative was created to handle this project. This project will then be replicated in other dioceses to benefit the local ex-sems. This project and other future project will make the Alliance financially self-sufficient, provide employment for the ex-sems and augment their incomes. This, and other future similar projects, is the answer to Objective No. 1 (Better economic opportunities (employment and business) and Issue No. 3 (Logistics).

2. WEBSITE — An official website to be called “paxinterra.org” is now being designed by Roderick ”Derek” C. Madrunio, a Benedictine ex-sem. This website will contain (a) links to all the alumni websites, the Vatican, the CBCP, and related sites; (b) the directory, relevant and non-confidential information of the members; (c) forum for discussion on relevant issues concerning the alliance; (d) a page for the projects and activities of the alliance; (e) an advertisement of the businesses of the members for a fee; (f) announcement of issues relevant to the alliance and its members; and (g) other features which the members may propose. This website will be our means of knowing and getting-in-touch with each other.

3. Creation of Political Affairs and Good Governance Committee — Though there was a general agreement on the need for moral change and promote good governance in government, it was emphasized that the alliance must respect the political persuasions of each ex-sem. This will is also answer Objective No. 4 (Better participation in governance). Reflecting on this matter later with a friend, I will share some of my ideas on what’s wrong with our political system.

Sometime in 2005, at the height of the “Hello Garci” controversy, Pres. Arroyo justified her “lapse in judgment” (whatever she meant by it) in the political culture prevailing in the country. While it is not a excuse for her “lapse in judgment”, she has a point. In her youth she studied in Assumption College. Like her most of the people in government attended good schools (private Catholic and protestant schools, public schools like UP), where virtues and idealism were inculcated. Like her, we had been idealists who refused to compromise good with evil, we had been dismayed with the way we have been governed, we had hoped to change the system for the better when our time comes; we hoped to change the world, our country and our community. Like her, we lose our idealism to the practicalities of survival and the realities of life.

If we wish to change the world, our country, and our community, we have to change within, we have to change ourselves, we have to go back to the idealism of our youth, we have to remember and practice what were taught to us when we were young. And we have to do them collectively. These are the things which the bishops have been telling us in their pastoral letter “Seeking the Truth, Restoring Integrity” dated February 26, 2008: “For the long term we reiterate our call for “circles of discernment” at the grassroots level, in our parishes, Basic Ecclesial Communities, recognized lay organizations and movements, religious institutions, schools, seminaries and universities. It is through internal conversion into the maturity of Christ through communal and prayerful discernment and action that the roots of corruption are discovered and destroyed. We believe that such communal action will perpetuate at the grassroots level the spirit of People Power so brilliantly demonstrated to the world at EDSA I. It is People Power with a difference. From the grassroots will come out a culture of truth and integrity we so deeply seek and build. We instruct our CBCP Commissions to take active role including networking for this purpose.”

The epitaph of an American Cardinal and borrowed by Sen. Raul Rocco is best to describe it. It says: “When I was a boy I dreamed to change the world, when I became a young man I hoped to change my country, when I became old I hoped to change my community; but now that I am dying I realize that I have to change myself first.”

The Alliance, being an amalgamation of SAA’s and exsems, is in a better position to do this because of the common traits and training of its members. If we could help place enough ex-sems in government by appointment and elections, especially in critical and high positions, we will be in better position to influence the way policies and laws are formulated, enacted and implemented. Without breaking the rule on the separation of state and church, we could instill in the government the social and moral principles taught by the bishops and the Church.

On July 6, a group of 5 exsems were selected as members of this committee. They were mandated to study on how the alliance could better achieve this goal.

4.Creation of Religious Affairs Committee — This committee shall be responsible for religious projects and programs, especially for the holding of retreats.

5.Extension of the date for Relief Efforts for the Victims of Typhoon Frank — This will be the first civic project of the Alliance. For more information please contact Atty. Ricky Ribo at 09193274512.

World Youth Day

World Youth Day will be in Sydney, Australia from July 15 to 20, 2008. For the official website and for the scheduled activities and events, please see here. Chronicles of World Youth Days can be viewed from the Official website of The Holy See.

World Youth Day established by Pope John Paul II in 1986 as an annual event to reach out to the youth of the world. He was inspired by massive gatherings of young people in Rome celebrating the Youth Jubilee in 1984 and the United Nations International Year of Youth in 1985. He wanted to bring together young Catholics from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis.

Pope John Paul II saw WYD as away to reach out to the next generation of Catholics, to demonstrate confidence in them, to rejuvenate the Church and ensure that the core teachings of Christ are transmitted and lived. World Youth Day is a pilgrimage of faith, where young people from diverse backgrounds meet and experience the love of God.

The first World Youth Day was held in Rome in 1986 on Palm Sunday. Each year since, World Youth Day has been celebrated at a Diocesan level on Palm Sunday.

Every two to three years, World Youth Day is taken to an international host city. The international World Youth Days are a week-long series of events attended by the Pope and hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world.

The week culminates in a Final Mass celebrated by the Pope on the last day (the actual World Youth Day). Typically, it is the largest event of the week and, overseas, has drawn millions of people.

The Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) - a key Vatican body - is responsible for World Youth Days globally .

My Past Life

While browsing on the users of socialspark.com, i stumbled on sleinah's page and viewed her blog, Simple Reveries. Her blog was great and i just kept on browsing on her posts until i found this title, "Past Life Tests". I find it so interesting, so i tried it for myself. And who am I in the past?

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Famous Monk. Where You Lived: North Canada. How You Died: Killed in Battle.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Senator Mar Roxas - Mr Palengke

‘Mr. Palengke’ is Senator Mar Roxas, the son of the illustrious Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of the venerable President Manuel Roxas whose public service careers have greatly benefited the country.Elected to the Senate in 2004 with a staggering 20 million votes, the largest ever obtained by a candidate in any Philippine election, Mar Roxas has made it his business to champion the people’s agenda on quality education, livelihood opportunities through small and medium enterprises, information technology, consumer welfare and good governance.

His concerns are national and his range international. His consistent performance as an exemplary public official has elevated him with the stature of a respected global leader. The Singapore government chose him as the 16th Lee Kuan Yew Fellow and the World Economic Forum acknowledged him as ‘one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow who is expected to shape the future.’ ‘One of the young leaders in politics and business who will bring Asia and the Pacific to the forefront of world affairs’ was how the international community described him.

Mar Roxas stamped his mark early at the House of Representatives where, as a congressman, he espoused consumer protection, underscoring the right of every Filipino to affordable medicines, as his personal advocacy.

This consumerist crusade found a larger expression in ‘Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya’ program which he launched during his tenure as trade and industry secretary. The program benefited millions of Filipinos in need of effective but cheaper medicines. In the Senate, this crusade continues with Mar’s authorship of Senate Bill No. 2139, which seeks to lower the cost of medicines by amending the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. With the approval of this bill, prices of quality medicines are expected to drop resulting in savings for the poor, and better health for all.

Nursing back the economy to robust health through education, information technology, job creation, and development of small and business enterprises are his other passions, reflected in his work as chairperson of the Senate Committees on Trade and Commerce and on Economic Affairs and as co-chairperson of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Electronic Commerce Law.

His heart goes for consumers who are shortchanged in buying, among others, defective and substandard products. Thus, he initiated inquiries, with the end in view of strengthening the Consumer Code of the Philippines, on such legislative proposals as the ‘Lemon Law’, proper labeling of milk, toys, and food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and stronger safeguards against pyramiding and other similar scams.

When the pre-need industry succumbed to a mismanagement-spawned financial crisis, which threatened to wipe out the investments of thousands of consumers in pre-need plans, he filed a bill, the Pre-Need Act of 2005, to improve and strengthen industry regulation and safeguard consumer interest. Senator Mar’s leadership at the time provided pre-need plan holders a veritable lifeline.

Guided by lofty ideals yet gifted with the common touch, Mar Roxas adheres to the philosophy of ‘palengkenomics’, which considers the palengke as the economy’s weathervane and the mirror by which its over-all health can be seen and measured.

Senator Mar conducts weekly monitoring of the prices of prime commodities and maintains strong linkages with suppliers, traders, and vendors in the different wet markets. “Price is an important economic indicator. It is a crucial determinant of activity in the market place,” he said.

Information and communications technology has found in Mar Roxas a staunch advocate. Hailed as the ‘Father of the Call Center and Business Process Outsourcing Industries’, he saw—and cultivated—the potential of the Philippines as a global e-services hub. As trade and industry secretary, he launched ‘Make IT Philippines’ and organized the first IT-enabled services (ITES) to the US which inevitably led to the biggest global industry names to invest in the country, thereby creating thousands of jobs for Filipino IT workers.

In education, he authored the ‘PCs for Public Schools Project’ to provide student and teachers IT access. To date, the program has distributed 30,000 computers to over 2,000 public high schools nationwide, opening doors on hands-on computer training to 500,000 students yearly and reducing the computer backlog in public high schools by more than half, from 69 percent to 31 percent.

For Roxas, the exercise of public leadership entails accountability and transparency which should bring about people empowerment. He has called for a paradigm shift in policy-making, rejecting incrementalism, or the tingi mentality, which has resulted to ‘doing a little bit of everything to please a little bit of everyone.’

“People can hardly feel the impact of incrementalism. Government must target the people’s most pressing concerns and focus its resources on completely addressing these problems. We can’t be doing what we used to do in the past simply because if we did, there is no reason to expect that the future would be any different,” he says.

He complements his youth and dynamism by listening to the voices of the common Filipino, reaching out to them through personal interaction, the media, and various IT tools. His website, www.marroxas.com, is a sampler of his IT inclination, an interactive site that dispenses user-friendly information and serves as repository of public sentiment.

Mar Roxas has distinguished himself as a public servant in his own unique way, following the imprints of his forbears yet with the courage and competence to carve his own path as a national leader.

source: http://www.marroxas.com