http://www.dpgr.gr/usergalleries/thumbnails.php?album=18594
Check these excellent photos fresh from an exhibition in Athens two months ago. All proceeds of these exhibition went to a charity for homeless children.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Time Magazine Gushes Over Filipino's Favorite Food- Lechon
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1893324_1893292_1893289,00.html
Already named by famous chef Anthony Bourdain (read my entry here - http://xxxriainxxx.multiply.com/journal/item/135) as the Best Roasted Pig in the World, Filipinos beloved Lechon got more kudos from Time Magazine:
Best Pig
The Philippines
When itinerant TV chef Anthony Bourdain — whose love of all things porcine is famous — visited the Philippine island of Cebu with his show No Reservations and declared that he had found the "best pig ever," many viewers were as surprised by the hyperbole as by the country he situated it in. But not Filipinos, among whom the zenith of porky perfection is an indisputable fact. It was just a matter of time before the rest of the world found out.
The pig that made Bourdain smack his lips with glee was lechón, or slow-roasted suckling pig, perhaps the Philippines' most beloved dish. Usually reserved for fiestas, it has long been a source of fanatical adulation; it's not uncommon for a whole lechón, still hot and fresh from roasting, to be flown across the country for special occasions. Though varieties differ regionally — stuffing can include any combination of lemongrass, tamarind, star anise, garlic, green onions and chili leaves, while condiments range from a light vinegary dipping sauce to a thick liver-based gravy — the basic concept remains the same. A pig is roasted for hours over a fire of open coals, slowly rotated on a bamboo spit, lovingly basted and meticulously supervised until its flesh is so tender, moist and succulent that it can be sliced with the edge of a plate, and its skin so crisp it can be punctured with the tap of a finger. You could call it the Platonic ideal of a pig, but it's doubtful if Plato, or even an entire faculty of philosophers, could have imagined anything so exquisite.
Already named by famous chef Anthony Bourdain (read my entry here - http://xxxriainxxx.multiply.com/journal/item/135) as the Best Roasted Pig in the World, Filipinos beloved Lechon got more kudos from Time Magazine:
Best Pig
The Philippines
When itinerant TV chef Anthony Bourdain — whose love of all things porcine is famous — visited the Philippine island of Cebu with his show No Reservations and declared that he had found the "best pig ever," many viewers were as surprised by the hyperbole as by the country he situated it in. But not Filipinos, among whom the zenith of porky perfection is an indisputable fact. It was just a matter of time before the rest of the world found out.
The pig that made Bourdain smack his lips with glee was lechón, or slow-roasted suckling pig, perhaps the Philippines' most beloved dish. Usually reserved for fiestas, it has long been a source of fanatical adulation; it's not uncommon for a whole lechón, still hot and fresh from roasting, to be flown across the country for special occasions. Though varieties differ regionally — stuffing can include any combination of lemongrass, tamarind, star anise, garlic, green onions and chili leaves, while condiments range from a light vinegary dipping sauce to a thick liver-based gravy — the basic concept remains the same. A pig is roasted for hours over a fire of open coals, slowly rotated on a bamboo spit, lovingly basted and meticulously supervised until its flesh is so tender, moist and succulent that it can be sliced with the edge of a plate, and its skin so crisp it can be punctured with the tap of a finger. You could call it the Platonic ideal of a pig, but it's doubtful if Plato, or even an entire faculty of philosophers, could have imagined anything so exquisite.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Aliwan 2009 - Philippine Festivals
A mashup of some of the participants of the Aliwan Fiesta 2009 - a collection of Philippine Festivals from all the regions of the country- a proud testament to the multicultural heritage of the Philippines as well as proof that Filipinos do know how to throw the best party in the whole of Asia!
Philippines is Asia's Top Destination
RP is Asia’s Most Popular Destination, Makes mark in World Travel Fair 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
“Our country receiving the highest laurel in Asia’s leading source fair in China is a notable milestone in the industry’s optimism in sustaining the momentum generated from efforts to reach this important market segment,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.
The tourism chief added, “The Philippines is one of the fastest growing destinations in China’s outbound travel industry, recording a 74% month-on-month growth rate in visa issuances for February of this year. We are also the nearest tropical beach country for the Chinese, as Manila is only 2 hours away from Guangzhou, while Cebu is only 3 hours away from Shanghai.”
Durano likewise attributed the win to the country’s competitive tour pricing, the remarkable progress of the transportation sector and the Filipino’s friendliness and hospitality.
Dubbed as the ‘Outbound Travel Industry's Leading Source Fair in Asia, the WTF receives thousands of travel buyers from China, Asia and the rest of the world, who come to hold exchanges with more than 500 exhibitors from 62 countries, held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
“The Chinese travellers rank our country’s beaches and heritage sites high, as proven by the various recognitions they have awarded to our tourist spots,” Durano said further.
Beach holidays rank 79% among the top leisure activities undertaken by the Chinese, according to an outbound travel study in China, while the International Visitor Survey conducted by the DOT reported that foreign visitors rank the country highest for visitor satisfaction in terms of Filipino hospitality.
Due to its strong partnership with a consortium of travel agents, the DOT has urged the transportation sector to open direct chartered flights and daily regular flights to Cebu and Manila. These developments have reflected a 61% increase in number of chartered flights operated in 2008 compared to last year.
Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr. was enthusiastic to point out that the country has always garnered positive feedback from Asian tourists, “The Philippines has managed to secure, among others, the Best Leisure Destination in the last year’s WTF, for Boracay; the Top 10 Island Getaways for Chinese Summer Travel, for Bohol; the only Asian entry in the list of premier destinations in the acclaimed World Traveller Magazine; and Top 10 Most Searched Destination among Shanghai online users.”
Jarque was referring to Baidu, the biggest search engine in China capturing 68% of the Chinese online market (Google a distant second with 20% market share), which listed the Philippines in the Top 10 most searched travel destination among Shanghai online users from its latest report.
Meanwhile, Arlene Alipio, head of DOT Team China, noted that the flourishing outbound travel of China has been propitious to the Philippines as well, “Recent statistics from the China National Tourism Administration show that the number of Chinese travellers reached 34.4 million in the first nine months of this year, up by 14.8 percent year-on-year. In September alone, about 3.7 million Chinese people travelled overseas, an increase of 9 percent year-on-year. “
Shanghai-based Philippine Tourism Attaché to China, Gerry Panga, shared, “The country’s continued and consolidated efforts in promoting a wide array of travel opportunities to its Asian neighbours have indeed resulted to our strong market performance despite the global crunch.
RP posted a growth rate of 58.5% in 2008 in terms of visa issuances for travel to the Philippines from Eastern China plus Sichuan and Chongqing. Current growth rate stands at 20% from January to March 2009, making the Philippines one of the fastest growing outbound destinations for Chinese tourists.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Aliwan Fiesta - Philippine Festivals 2009
A mashup of some of the participants of the Aliwan Fiesta 2009 - a collection of Philippine Festivals from all the regions of the country- a proud testament to the multicultural heritage of the Philippines as well as proof that Filipinos do know how to throw the best party in the whole of Asia!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Manila's Aliwan Festival 2009 - Festivals of the Philippines
| Start: | Apr 24, '09 08:00a |
| End: | Apr 25, '09 |
| Location: | Aliwan Theatre, Pasay City to Quirino Grandstand, Manila |
The three day celebration of the Aliwan Festival 2009 will attract local and foreign visitors because they will see Filipino craftsmanship and ingenuity. Aliwan Festival is a festival that merge all the popular festivals in the Philippines in one single event. Different Regions and Provinces around the country will display products, craftsmanship, culture and show their most innovative ideas.
In the 7th Edition of the Aliwan Festival 2009, there are more than 3,000 dancers, musicians, craftsmen, and even acrobats that will compete in this celebration for streetdancing, float design, and the search for Reyna ng Aliwan in their colorful costume and beautiful smile.
Here are the list of contingents in the Aliwan Festival 2009. This list is still unofficial.
1. Lakbayaw of Tondo, Manila
2. Pakalog Festival of Santolan, Pasig
3. Panagbenga Festival, Baguio City
4. Pamulenawen - Laoag City
5. Ibon Ebon of Candaba, Pampanga
6. Disposorio Festival of Hagonoy, Bulacan
7. Luyang Dilaw of Marilao Bulacan
8. Boling boling Festival - Catanuan, Quezon
9. Fiesta de Toros of Nasugbu, Batangas
10. Lapay Bantigue Festival of Masbate city
11. Pulang Angui of Polangue Albay
12. Sinulog Festival of Cebu City
13. Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City
14. Kasag Festival of Banate, Iloilo
15. Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte
16. Buyugan Festival of Abuyog Leyte
17. Kadayawan Festival - Davao city
18. Tuna Festival of General Santos City
19. Halad Festival of Midsayap, Cotabato
20. Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City
21. Buklod Festival - Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan
22. Kalilintad Festival of Mamasapano
23. Samba de Regatta
The Aliwan Festival 2009 schedule of activities:
Streetdance Forum (CCP Silangan Hall)
* One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
* Band Concert and Pasakalye (Aliw Theater outdoor stage - 7:00 p.m.)
April 24
* One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
* Aliwan Festival Queen Talent Competition (Star Theater, 1:30 p.m.)
* Aliwan Festival Queen Pageant Night (Aliw Theater outdoor stage - 7:00 p.m.)
April 25
* One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
* Grand Parade (Aliw Theater Complex to Quirino Grandstand - 4:00 p.m.)
* Awarding Ceremonies (Quirino Grandstand - 9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Happy Earth Day!
More Info: http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth/
Release Date: Apr 22, 2009
Genre: Documentary
Narrator: James Earl Jones
Directors: Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield
Writer: Jody Hill
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Plot:
The first film in the Disneynature series, earth, narrated by JAMES EARL JONES, tells the remarkable story of three animal families and their amazing journey across the planet we all call home. earthcombines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing the most intimate moments of our planets wildest and most elusive creatures.
Friday, April 17, 2009
STOP THIS PHILIPPINE ENDEMIC BIRD MASSACRE !!! - The Petition Site
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/revolting-local-bird-massacre-website
If it flies, it dies’
By Juan Mercado
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 15:25:00 01/15/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice
That’s the macho slogan of a hunters’ website. Some members of the Philippine National Shooting Team scrambled to shutter this web’s photo section. Why?
As in Bacolod’s Air Rifle Hunting website, photos show members flaunting near-extinct Philippine ducks and mallards blasted out of the sky. The “Red List of Threatened Birds of the World” includes these species.
Photo scrubbing intensified after GMA-7’s Jessica Soho aired a documentary Saturday, showing that the “kill” included Philippine ducks found nowhere else in the world. Only 5,000 to 10,000 of these birds are left. These issues were stressed by earlier Inquirer and Cebu Daily News columns: “Avian pit stops” (September 18), “Slaughter of the birds” (December 13) and “Postmortem evidence” (December 18).
An “unknown group” swiped those photos from a spoof website, team members Jade and Mike de Guzman, plus Tet Lara, claimed in a convoluted denial. In a “poor judgment call,” they posed with birds somebody else shot. They apologized for “bad taste in photos.”
“Denial ain’t a river in Egypt,” Mark Twain once snorted. Joseph Estrada learned that in his pathetic spin that crony Jaime Dichavez owned the P1.1-billion Jose Velarde account. So did TV host Willie Revillame, who ladled P8,000 in taxes for a P30-million 2006 Ferrari he claimed he didn’t own.
But “mere possession of these species, evidenced by their very own pictures, on their very own websites, is punishable” under Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, emailed Wild Bird Club of the Philippines’s Michael Lu. RA 9147 mandates two-year jail terms and P300,000 fines for those who live by the slogan “If it flies, it dies.”
“We fail to see how defiance of the law qualifies sports hunters as conservationists,” Lu said. “It’s time to step back and consider our common impact on the planet.”
“Inquirer and Cebu Daily News article ‘Few closures’ (January 3) caught my eye as I settled back for the flight to Manila. And when my plane landed, text messages flooded in on the article regarding our son Phillip,” emailed Jose Pestaño.
Phillip Pestaño was a 24-year-old ensign when shot aboard RPS Bacolod. Within 24 hours, the Navy ruled it was a “suicide.” Nonsense, said the Senate after a painstaking investigation. The Ateneo and PMA graduate was murdered, Senate Report 800 declared. Pestaño bucked the loading of illegal lumber and shabu on the boat. “Kawawa ang bayan,” he told his parents, aware of threats.
A spineless Military Ombudsman finally started to ask Navy officials implicated to give their side – 12 years after the murder. Pestaño’s PMA and Ateneo classmates, and groups abroad, are pressing for justice.
“I’m confident these protests will not go unnoticed with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro,” the father wrote. “He is still on the crossroad as to whether or not they (DND) will pursue a high-level reinvestigation of Phillip’s case.”
Is Teodoro made of sterner stuff, rather than just an administration poster boy? Then, he’d give long-denied justice to a straight-arrow officer whose blood-stained shoes many Navy officers are not fit to polish.
The director of the Asian Bond Market Forum in Hong Kong, Marshall Mays, commented on “Poisoned wells” (Inquirer and CDN, January 3). Water in the Philippines, the column said, morphed from life-giver to serial killer due to massive pollution and weak governance.
“I am worried by how easy it is for politicians to dip from the well, then dump their dregs in afterward. (But) this battle will be won or lost with the middle class. They are the ones fooled into thinking that lower water tariffs are good. And they are the ones most capable (if motivated) of forcing changes in policy. No city’s or country’s policies begin to work until the middle class is roused to action.
“Shift from the ADB’s emotive generalities to specific, near-term consequences for the man-in-the-street. A bomb in your neighbor’s yard is not as scary as a gun at your own head.”
Cebu City officials built themselves a P132-million council building, noted “Frugality’s shame” (Inquirer and CDN, January 1 ). But two, sometimes three, sick kids were jammed into one bed in a decrepit pediatric charity ward, always short of medicine.
“We have the same situation in Iligan City hospital,” Winze Balangao wrote. But Makati’s Tony Elicano wishes he learned to speak Cebuano, “(So) I could say ‘mga walang hiya’ in Cebuano.”
“Comparison of Cebu City Medical Center conditions vs. the shameful monument to wanton megalomania in City Hall is evidence of incredibly distorted value,” Elicano added. “Aren’t we Filipinos to blame? We continue to reelect these trapos. Is this plain stupidity? Or are we just a nation of masochists?”
David R of the United States wrote: “Such ridiculous behavior is not unknown here. Members of our Congress spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to add fireplaces to their offices.
“But in the USA, there is decent medical care available to all. And public and private programs insure that there is no starvation. A politician who can spend money on a private bathroom, while children die from inadequate nutrition or inadequate medical care, displays a lack of humanity that defies belief.
“How Filipinos who have so much (not only politicians) can spend all their time and energy trying to acquire more material wealth than they can even use is scary. Sooner or later, Filipinos will realize that things must change. I hope I live long enough to see it.”
More reading at- http://onlovinganimals.blogspot.com/2008/01/members-of-philippine-shooting-team.html
If it flies, it dies’
By Juan Mercado
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 15:25:00 01/15/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice
That’s the macho slogan of a hunters’ website. Some members of the Philippine National Shooting Team scrambled to shutter this web’s photo section. Why?
As in Bacolod’s Air Rifle Hunting website, photos show members flaunting near-extinct Philippine ducks and mallards blasted out of the sky. The “Red List of Threatened Birds of the World” includes these species.
Photo scrubbing intensified after GMA-7’s Jessica Soho aired a documentary Saturday, showing that the “kill” included Philippine ducks found nowhere else in the world. Only 5,000 to 10,000 of these birds are left. These issues were stressed by earlier Inquirer and Cebu Daily News columns: “Avian pit stops” (September 18), “Slaughter of the birds” (December 13) and “Postmortem evidence” (December 18).
An “unknown group” swiped those photos from a spoof website, team members Jade and Mike de Guzman, plus Tet Lara, claimed in a convoluted denial. In a “poor judgment call,” they posed with birds somebody else shot. They apologized for “bad taste in photos.”
“Denial ain’t a river in Egypt,” Mark Twain once snorted. Joseph Estrada learned that in his pathetic spin that crony Jaime Dichavez owned the P1.1-billion Jose Velarde account. So did TV host Willie Revillame, who ladled P8,000 in taxes for a P30-million 2006 Ferrari he claimed he didn’t own.
But “mere possession of these species, evidenced by their very own pictures, on their very own websites, is punishable” under Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, emailed Wild Bird Club of the Philippines’s Michael Lu. RA 9147 mandates two-year jail terms and P300,000 fines for those who live by the slogan “If it flies, it dies.”
“We fail to see how defiance of the law qualifies sports hunters as conservationists,” Lu said. “It’s time to step back and consider our common impact on the planet.”
“Inquirer and Cebu Daily News article ‘Few closures’ (January 3) caught my eye as I settled back for the flight to Manila. And when my plane landed, text messages flooded in on the article regarding our son Phillip,” emailed Jose Pestaño.
Phillip Pestaño was a 24-year-old ensign when shot aboard RPS Bacolod. Within 24 hours, the Navy ruled it was a “suicide.” Nonsense, said the Senate after a painstaking investigation. The Ateneo and PMA graduate was murdered, Senate Report 800 declared. Pestaño bucked the loading of illegal lumber and shabu on the boat. “Kawawa ang bayan,” he told his parents, aware of threats.
A spineless Military Ombudsman finally started to ask Navy officials implicated to give their side – 12 years after the murder. Pestaño’s PMA and Ateneo classmates, and groups abroad, are pressing for justice.
“I’m confident these protests will not go unnoticed with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro,” the father wrote. “He is still on the crossroad as to whether or not they (DND) will pursue a high-level reinvestigation of Phillip’s case.”
Is Teodoro made of sterner stuff, rather than just an administration poster boy? Then, he’d give long-denied justice to a straight-arrow officer whose blood-stained shoes many Navy officers are not fit to polish.
The director of the Asian Bond Market Forum in Hong Kong, Marshall Mays, commented on “Poisoned wells” (Inquirer and CDN, January 3). Water in the Philippines, the column said, morphed from life-giver to serial killer due to massive pollution and weak governance.
“I am worried by how easy it is for politicians to dip from the well, then dump their dregs in afterward. (But) this battle will be won or lost with the middle class. They are the ones fooled into thinking that lower water tariffs are good. And they are the ones most capable (if motivated) of forcing changes in policy. No city’s or country’s policies begin to work until the middle class is roused to action.
“Shift from the ADB’s emotive generalities to specific, near-term consequences for the man-in-the-street. A bomb in your neighbor’s yard is not as scary as a gun at your own head.”
Cebu City officials built themselves a P132-million council building, noted “Frugality’s shame” (Inquirer and CDN, January 1 ). But two, sometimes three, sick kids were jammed into one bed in a decrepit pediatric charity ward, always short of medicine.
“We have the same situation in Iligan City hospital,” Winze Balangao wrote. But Makati’s Tony Elicano wishes he learned to speak Cebuano, “(So) I could say ‘mga walang hiya’ in Cebuano.”
“Comparison of Cebu City Medical Center conditions vs. the shameful monument to wanton megalomania in City Hall is evidence of incredibly distorted value,” Elicano added. “Aren’t we Filipinos to blame? We continue to reelect these trapos. Is this plain stupidity? Or are we just a nation of masochists?”
David R of the United States wrote: “Such ridiculous behavior is not unknown here. Members of our Congress spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to add fireplaces to their offices.
“But in the USA, there is decent medical care available to all. And public and private programs insure that there is no starvation. A politician who can spend money on a private bathroom, while children die from inadequate nutrition or inadequate medical care, displays a lack of humanity that defies belief.
“How Filipinos who have so much (not only politicians) can spend all their time and energy trying to acquire more material wealth than they can even use is scary. Sooner or later, Filipinos will realize that things must change. I hope I live long enough to see it.”
More reading at- http://onlovinganimals.blogspot.com/2008/01/members-of-philippine-shooting-team.html
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Cat Killer in UP Diliman is Joseph Carlo Candare - PLEASE REPOST THIS!
http://yoopee.multiply.com/journal/item/7073/Cat_Killer_in_UP_Diliman_is_Joseph_Carlo_Candare
I was really enraged when I have read this note on The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) which was posted by another member. It is about their dear little kitty who was brutally murdered by some demented boy. The little kitty was really a stray but it was being cared for by the guard, students and faculty of the UP National Institute of Physics Building (NIP). She was so loved by many that they were aghast to see her little body lifeless. Apparently, somebody threw her out in the air wrestling style then took a running start to finally stomp the kitten in the torso. It was a wonder the kitten was not squished to death right there and then. It was so gruesome, so uncalled for, so demented that everybody was so sadden and mad about this issue. And what's more blood boiling is the fact that this devil was so proud and happy of what he has done! No remorse what so ever! And he even boasted of killing another kitty in the future! Why do we know this? He posted the damn thing in his blog in multiply! Unfortunately, due to the now numerous comments that has been made, the appalling post has been made private but not without me getting some screen shots and getting a copy of his post first!
--- please click on the link for the rest ----
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated
-Gandhi
I was really enraged when I have read this note on The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) which was posted by another member. It is about their dear little kitty who was brutally murdered by some demented boy. The little kitty was really a stray but it was being cared for by the guard, students and faculty of the UP National Institute of Physics Building (NIP). She was so loved by many that they were aghast to see her little body lifeless. Apparently, somebody threw her out in the air wrestling style then took a running start to finally stomp the kitten in the torso. It was a wonder the kitten was not squished to death right there and then. It was so gruesome, so uncalled for, so demented that everybody was so sadden and mad about this issue. And what's more blood boiling is the fact that this devil was so proud and happy of what he has done! No remorse what so ever! And he even boasted of killing another kitty in the future! Why do we know this? He posted the damn thing in his blog in multiply! Unfortunately, due to the now numerous comments that has been made, the appalling post has been made private but not without me getting some screen shots and getting a copy of his post first!
--- please click on the link for the rest ----
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated
-Gandhi
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Philippine Easter Getaway 2009 - Capitano Farms, Anilao, Maricaban Island, Sombrero Island
An Easter weekend chillout spent with friends at the Capitano Farms in Lipa City, Batangas and a day trip to Anilao, Maricaban and Sombrero Islands.
Music: Let It Be Sung
by Jack Johnson, Matt Costa, and Zach Gill
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sombrero & Maricaban Islands, Anilao,Batangas,Philippines
Black Saturday 2009 Island Hopping with friends.
Chance to chill out after the Pampanga Crucifixion thingamajig.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Philippine Crucifixions 2009- Sta. Lucia and San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga - THE MUSIC VIDEO!
Actual crucifixions and self-flagellation in the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga- a city about 2-3 hours north of Manila during Good Friday. The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites (alternatively known as Maleldo) is the Holy Week re-enactment of the passion and death of Christ and takes place in an open field on the outskirts of San Fernando City, Pampanga in the Philippines. Penitents (mostly men, although there were rare instances of women) are nailed to a cross using 5 cm stainless steel nails. The Catholic Church does not sanction the crucifixions and does not endorse them, however, thousands still descend to Pampanga to watch these rites being performed for the past decades. Whilst San Pedro Cutud is the most famous (and prominently displayed on foreign and local media) there are also two other smaller sites within the vicinity of the city that perform similar activities. Penitents whipping themselves and street-plays are are also widespread in the streets of the city.
Pictures at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-242027
CNN version at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-241977
Philippine Crucifixions 2009 as seen on CNN iReport and HL_N
Actual crucifixions and self-flagellation in the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga- a city about 2-3 hours north of Manila during Good Friday. The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites (alternatively known as Maleldo) is the Holy Week re-enactment of the passion and death of Christ and takes place in an open field on the outskirts of San Fernando City, Pampanga in the Philippines. Penitents (mostly men, although there were rare instances of women) are nailed to a cross using 5 cm stainless steel nails. The Catholic Church does not sanction the crucifixions and does not endorse them, however, thousands still descend to Pampanga to watch these rites being performed for the past decades. Whilst San Pedro Cutud is the most famous (and prominently displayed on foreign and local media) there are also two other smaller sites within the vicinity of the city that perform similar activities. Penitents whipping themselves and street-plays are are also widespread in the streets of the city.
Pictures at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-242027
CNN version at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-241977
Filmed and edited by Ryan Buaron and Scott Allford
Watch out for the Extended Play version with music. :)
The Pampanga Crucifixions 2009
The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.
It includes a passion play culminating with the actual nailing of at least three penitents to a wooden cross atop the makeshift Calvary.
Events
Every year on Good Friday or the Friday before Easter a dozen or so penitents - mostly men but with the occasional woman - are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro Cutud, 3km (2 miles) from the proper of City of San Fernando, Pampanga and nailed to a cross using two-inch (5 cm) stainless steel nails that have been soaked in alcohol to disinfect them. The penitents are taken down when they feel cleansed of their sin. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope.
2008 Crucifixion
On March 21, 2008, Pampanga carpenter Ruben Enage, 47, was nailed to a wooden cross on Good Friday for the 22nd time, since his first in 1985. 25 other penitents, including two women, were nailed on wooden cross on Good Friday in San Pedro Cutud. Central Luzon crucifixion reenactments were also held yearly, in Angeles City, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, and in Bulacan.
Criticism
The Catholic Church does not approve of the crucifixions and does not endorse them. The media has also turned against the rites, calling them "pagan and barbaric" but generally admitting they are still a good show.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Philippines Travel Guide - Unbiased, Updated Travel Information
http://tourism-philippines.com/
Visit, read and support the Philippines!
Visit, read and support the Philippines!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Indonesia & Thailand top most corrupt list - RP is not the most corrupt country in Asia anymore!
SINGAPORE - Indonesia and Thailand are perceived as Asia's most corrupt economies, with last year's cellar-dweller the Philippines making a marked improvement, an annual survey of foreign business executives showed Wednesday.
Singapore and Hong Kong retained their top two rankings as the region's least corrupt economies, although there are concerns about private-sector fraud, according to the survey by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), made available to AFP.
Despite the negative perception of Indonesia, PERC noted "there has been a real headway in fighting the problem" under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is seeking re-election in presidential polls in July.
Table of the corruption scores of 14 Asian economies as seen in a survey of more than 1,700 expatriate business executives by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC).
Australia and the United States were included in the survey for purposes of comparison.
On a scale of zero to 10, zero is the best possible score.
1. Singapore, 1.07
2. Hong Kong, 1.89
3. Australia, 2.40
4. United States, 2.89
5. Japan, 3.99
6. South Korea, 4.64
7. Macau, 5.84
8. China, 6.16
9. Taiwan, 6.47
10. Malaysia, 6.70
11. Philippines, 7.0
12. Vietnam, 7.11
13. India, 7.21
14. Cambodia, 7.25
15. Thailand, 7.63
16. Indonesia, 8.32
Source: Agence France-Presse
On a scale of zero to 10, zero is the best possible score.
1. Singapore, 1.07
2. Hong Kong, 1.89
3. Australia, 2.40
4. United States, 2.89
5. Japan, 3.99
6. South Korea, 4.64
7. Macau, 5.84
8. China, 6.16
9. Taiwan, 6.47
10. Malaysia, 6.70
11. Philippines, 7.0
12. Vietnam, 7.11
13. India, 7.21
14. Cambodia, 7.25
15. Thailand, 7.63
16. Indonesia, 8.32
Source: Agence France-Presse
"To be sure, the absolute scores show corruption in the public and private sectors is still very high," PERC said.
"But our latest survey shows that residents in Indonesia are more favourably impressed with the determined way the KPK (anti-corruption commission) has been fighting corruption than any of the other countries graded poorly for corruption."
It said the major question its respondents are asking in Indonesia is whether the anti-corruption efforts can be sustained.
The March results are based on more than 1,700 responses from 14 Asian economies plus Australia and the United States, which were included for comparison purposes, PERC said.
In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, Indonesia got 8.32.
Thailand was seen as the second most corrupt country with a grade of 7.63, but PERC said foreign investors were more concerned about political stability.
"Very few expatriate executives find that corruption makes the country a less attractive place to live and do business," it said.
Cambodia was seen as the third most corrupt country with a score of 7.25, followed by India with 7.21 and Vietnam with 7.11.
A grade greater than 7.0 indicates that a "serious" corruption problem exists, PERC said.
Perceived as Asia's most corrupt country in the 2008 survey, the Philippines had a score of 7.0 to rank sixth from the bottom this year.
It was followed by Malaysia with 6.70, Taiwan with 6.47, China with 6.16, Macau with 5.84, South Korea with 4.64 and Japan with 3.99.
A score between 4.0 and 7.0 indicates a "moderate" level of corruption, the Hong Kong-based consultancy said.
The Philippine customs and tax agencies, police and politicians have the meanest reputation for corruption in the country, the consultancy said.
But while "there is very little confidence in the government's seriousness about fighting the problem," PERC also said that "the actual level of corruption is not as bad as it is often portrayed."
Singapore again topped the survey as Asia's least corrupt country with a score of 1.07, followed by Hong Kong with 1.89.
Australia scored 2.40 to be in third place followed by the United States with 2.89.
On regional financial centres Singapore and Hong Kong, PERC said "it is possible that the pressures of the recession will result in an increase in corruption in the private sector this year."
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/08/09/rp-ranking-improves-asian-corruption-survey
as of 04/08/2009 4:38 PM
Monday, April 6, 2009
After Chip Tsao slur - Kiwi Bitch Bridget Saunders attacks Filpinos
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/entertainment/blog-about-town/1882606/What-What-Can-you-repeat-that-PLEASE
Kiwi-Pinoys in NZ should lodge a complaint at the Human Rights Commission. Slap this ugly whore!
What? What? Can you repeat that PLEASE!!
I read with a sinking stomach that Telecom, in their infinite wisdom, are moving 250 call centre jobs to Manila which will bring their number of call centre people there to 700.
Must be a money saver...why pay Kiwis a half decent wage when you can get the job done more cheaply elsewhere?
hisssssssssss..............
I've had a lot of problems with email, am on the phone to xtra at least once a week - and it drives me nuts.
It's bad enough that Telecom/xtra can fail in their service to us full stop, and it's even worse if that failure is not reflected in a reduced phone bill, but what's really infuriating is not being able to understand the person on the other end of the line who is supposed to be helping.
Filipinos learn American English and their accents are diabolically hard to understand. They are so heavy!
When I have to call them for help I am always stressed out (because my job is communication and I can't afford to be offline and incommunicado - that would mean blank pages in About Town!) so getting someone with a voice that a) is almost unintelligible and b) grates, really fires me up. It shouldn't I know. But it does. Their voices are not just impossible to understand, they are really annoying as well. You know how some accents can be totally charming? Well, these are anything but! They must be the least attractive accents in the world!
And because these people are as close as we get to the actual corporation I allow myself to fully vent my anger...
E.g. after getting someone to repeat something 6 times I will yell in frustration.
I am better with Indian call centres since I saw Slumdog Millionaire, and I can cope with Cairo, but Manila? I lose it!
Wouldn't it be nice if Kiwis could do these jobs instead of adding to the unemployment.
It's mental. It doesn't make sense and it makes me really really mad!!!!
Kiwi-Pinoys in NZ should lodge a complaint at the Human Rights Commission. Slap this ugly whore!
What? What? Can you repeat that PLEASE!!
I read with a sinking stomach that Telecom, in their infinite wisdom, are moving 250 call centre jobs to Manila which will bring their number of call centre people there to 700.
Must be a money saver...why pay Kiwis a half decent wage when you can get the job done more cheaply elsewhere?
hisssssssssss..............
I've had a lot of problems with email, am on the phone to xtra at least once a week - and it drives me nuts.
It's bad enough that Telecom/xtra can fail in their service to us full stop, and it's even worse if that failure is not reflected in a reduced phone bill, but what's really infuriating is not being able to understand the person on the other end of the line who is supposed to be helping.
Filipinos learn American English and their accents are diabolically hard to understand. They are so heavy!
When I have to call them for help I am always stressed out (because my job is communication and I can't afford to be offline and incommunicado - that would mean blank pages in About Town!) so getting someone with a voice that a) is almost unintelligible and b) grates, really fires me up. It shouldn't I know. But it does. Their voices are not just impossible to understand, they are really annoying as well. You know how some accents can be totally charming? Well, these are anything but! They must be the least attractive accents in the world!
And because these people are as close as we get to the actual corporation I allow myself to fully vent my anger...
E.g. after getting someone to repeat something 6 times I will yell in frustration.
I am better with Indian call centres since I saw Slumdog Millionaire, and I can cope with Cairo, but Manila? I lose it!
Wouldn't it be nice if Kiwis could do these jobs instead of adding to the unemployment.
It's mental. It doesn't make sense and it makes me really really mad!!!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Wouldn't It Be Nice- Beach Boys
My take on the song by the beach boys, a video mashup of the different issues and events. Copyright belongs to the owners of the videos used here.
Hope you like it!
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