8,000 Politicians get comelec nod on gun ban exeptions.

The Commission on Elections granted gun ban exemptions to at least 8,000 politicians, GMANews.TV learned on Saturday from Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

Ferrer said almost 50,000 individuals lodged their applications to carry guns during the election season. But he said the number of applicants who got Comelec's nod, especially in the high risk category, was lower this year than during the May 2004 elections.

“I don’t have the figures but from what I remember it's lower this time than the previous elections," Ferrer said.

Ferrer refused to answer when he was asked to name the politicians who got the exemptions. Earlier, he said Comelec granted 20 gun ban exemptions to boxing champ Manny Pacquiao who is gunning for a congressional post in General Santos City.

He said exemption applications from local politicians were greater than from national politicians But their applications were denied because of their failure to show proof that they were at high risk.

“There are areas which we found... are not lawless, so we denied the applications... (if they are) high risk they have to attach to their applications the proof of the threats to their lives and these (should be based on) police blotters, we don’t just grant exemptions without the evidence to prove their claims," Ferrer said.

Ferrer said about 30,000 gun ban applications were approved while 10,000 were denied.


Ferrer said politicians, the police and the military had the highest number of applications for gun ban exemptions.

Sources from the Comelec said the poll body starting on January 15, received a daily average of 500 applications for exemption.

The gun ban order took effect last January 14 and is to be observed until June 30.

Sandals

Yesterday i bought a new sandals.It is the latest and i am addict to a brand new one.I wore it today this morning when i attend the graduation of my son.It was so nice and i feel comfortable.
After the graduation i treat my family to a restaurant near by.I feel so proud to see my son marching and getting some merit awards.That is one of my dreams to give them a better future and finish their studies.And I'll do my best to achieve my goals.It matters a lot to me to see them happy and healthy.

Good night....

Hi!! Its me again.How are you doing'?
Last night,we sleep again here at the office because everyone is afraid to go back home late hours.Maybe you're wondering why?But sometimes,Philippines is not safe to hang around very late specially in dark areas.We went back home around 7:00 am then ate breakfast.After that,i slept again and return to the office before 5:00 pm.And this is my every days routine....

Good Evening!

Here i am once gain to share whats happening to me in every days life.Today nothing more serious just only the short meeting we had this afternoon.
That's all for now.Hope to see you again tomorrow.
Good night and have a sweet dreams to everyone..
May always God Bless You and guide you whatever you do and wherever you go....

Child tips off cops to drug-dealing mom

MILWAUKEE - A 28-year-old mother was arrested after her 6-year-old daughter tipped police off to her drug dealing ways.

The girl was interviewed by police Friday after her father reported she had been hit in the face with a curling iron while visiting her mother earlier in the week, Milwaukee Police Capt. Darlene Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the girl was wise to her mother's cocaine dealing, telling them she chops up a white substance, puts it in bags and takes them — and the girl — to alleys. There, people gave the mother money for the bags, police said the girl recounted.

The mother of four was arrested after police found 55 bags of cocaine worth about $20 each at the woman's home.

She was being held Saturday pending charges of child abuse and possession with intent to sell, Jenkins said. - AP

Coffee

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds—commonly referred to as beans—of the coffee plant. It is usually served hot but can also be served cold. A typical 7 fluid ounce (ca. 207 mL) cup of coffee contains 80–140 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the method of preparation.[1] Some people drink coffee "black" (plain), while others sweeten their coffee, and/or add milk, cream or non-dairy creamer. Coffee represents 71% of all the United States caffeine consumption followed by soft drinks and tea.[2] Coffee, along with tea and water, is one of the most popular beverages world-wide, its volume amounting to about a third that of tap water in North America and Europe.[3] In 2003, coffee was the world's sixth largest agricultural export in terms of value, behind wheat, maize, soybeans, palm oil and sugar.[4]

The English word "coffee" is believed to be derived from the name of the place from which coffee originated, Kaffa, Ethiopia. Coffee's Arabic name, قهوة qahhwa, was borrowed by Ottoman Turkish as kahve, which in turn was borrowed into Italian as caffè and French as café.[5] Early forms date to as early as the last decade of the 16th century, but the word "coffee" itself did not come into use until the early to mid 1600s[6]

Christians,How to show thier beliefs..

The 40 days of Lent starts on the month of March, on Ash Wednesday, the day when the Roman Catholic faithful troop to church to have their foreheads marked with a cross of ashes. It is the season when Christians fast or abstain from eating meat as a way of remembering the time when Christ went into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray. In the Philippines, the Lenten season's high point is the week that commemorates the suffering, crucifixion, and death of the Son of God. This year's Holy Week is observed in April by believers with a display of faith and devotion perhaps unmatched in any other predominantly Roman Catholic country in the world. Philippine Lenten traditions are unique in their pageantry and literal re-enactment of the events surrounding Christ's last days on earth.

Bad Day!

I'm not feeling well today because of the pain cause by my dysmenorrhea.Yesterday i tried to go to work but on my way,i couldn't do it.I felt like I'm going to collapse.I went back home to lay down.I took medicine then rest for a while.After an hour i recover from the hurts that I've been through.
Until now I've been wondering why only woman can experience like this every month?Why only woman get pregnant and deliver a baby?
I should rather asked God WHY?

Hundred Islands

Lose yourself among the Hundred Islands, scattered like emeralds in the deep blue waters off Pangasinan. Unexplored coves and islets await seekers of solitude. Each one in its own pristine beauty basks in the sun, lapped by the waters of Lingayen Gulf.

Situated in Alaminos, Pangasinan, Hundred Islands is a gem waiting to be discovered. Choose among it's many facets. Soak in the sunshine on the white sand beaches of Quezon Island. Frolic in the shallow waters of Children's Island. Hire a boat and go island-hopping. Explore the abundant marine life beneath the waters of Lingayen Gulf. Hike through caves and across island trails and discover interesting rock formations.

Only three of those myriad islands have been partially developed in the interest of ecological balance. Accomodations on these developed islands are rustic and basic, for those who wish to touch base with nature. Nipa huts and duplexes offer simple facilities, such as kerosene lighting, a drum of fresh water, and trundle beds.

Brand New Day

Hi!! Good morning.Last night i sleep here at the office because we are afraid to go back home very late.
I woke up around 8:00 in the morning.Thanks God it's a brand new day again.And now we are working,working,working until 5:00 in the afternoon.Keeping busy in waiting for the new students to log in.Hope we could meet here in JOYFUL ENGLISH PLAZA and become friends forever.
Always take care and have a nice Monday everyone....

Goto

Goto is one of my favorite food.Goto,a ginger-flavored rice porridge with ox tripe and served with toasted garlic and spring onions as toppings.Chicharon(pork cracklings) and hard boiled egg may also be added to make it special.Goto is all time Filipino food favorites,for both merienda (snacks) and mealtime are also offered.

Pinoy Wedding Facts and Trivia

Good afternoon everyone.How's life?
Today we woke up very early in the morning to attend the weeding ceremony of one of our friend that have been working here in JOYFUL ENGLISH PLAZA before.We never told her that we could make it because of our work.She was so happy and surprise after seeing us.
Traditionally, wedding expenses are paid for by the groom's family in the Philippine setting, unlike in some western cultures. But more and more couples are giving their share from their hard-earned savings. Other couples even shoulder the entire wedding expenses themselves. It normally follows that whoever foots the bill has the final say on the size of the wedding; he or she also has the 'majority stake' on guest list.

It was a tradition for the bride to hold an heirloom rosary with the bridal bouquet during the Nuptial Mass. This practice is now being revived by some brides to honor our Catholic heritage and respect the solemn occasion.
Aside from the exchange of rings, the giving of the arrhae (earnest money in the form of 13 pieces of gold or silver coins) is a part of Filipino weddings as the groom's pledge of his dedication to the welfare of his wife and children.
Soon-to-weds do not arrive at the ceremony venue at the same time. The groom is expected to arrive several minutes (an hour even!) prior to the set time of the wedding to receive guests. The bride on the other hand, usually stays in the bridal car and only alights from the vehicle just in time for her bridal march.
As part of the ceremonial dance at the reception, some couples incorporate a 'money dance' where guests pin peso (or dollar!) bills on either the bride or groom in return for a chance to dance with them.
Newlyweds release a pair of white doves during the reception to signify a peaceful and harmonious marital relationship. Catchers find themselves going home with a new feathered pet.

Tagaytay City

The city of Tagaytay is a tourist attraction for local and foreign visitors. It is an excellent vantage point of Taal Lake and Volcano. Tagaytay offers a breathtaking sight of the famous Taal Lake - a lake within an island within a lake.

Tagaytay City has vast resources and possesses tremendous potentials for development in tourism and agriculture. It is envisioned to become a city that is enrich and comfortable to live in and visit, with flowers in bloom along roadsides, ridges and mountains swathed in green, pure and unpolluted air and climate always invigorating. Tagaytay is a perfect getaway for people seeking respite from the daily pressures of life in the metropolis. It is home to more than 60 convents and congregations and numerous hotels, resorts, and convention centers. Lush forests, open grasslands and gentle slopes make up a calm scene that pleases and refreshes the eye - conducive for meditation and concentration needed during training, conventions and retreats.

Spaghetti

Ingredients
1/2 box Spaghetti noodles
1/4 jar Ragu spaghetti sauce
1/4 lb Ground turkey
Parmessan cheese

Preparation
Cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Cook the ground turkey until done and mix with the sauce until heated. Pour the sauce over the noodles. Steam the broccoli in a saucepan with a little water and sprinkle on some cheddar cheese and you're done.

Cook's Notes
Serve with broccoli and fresh baked bread & butter!

Halo-Halo

Halo-halo literally means,"mix-mix".And it is just that;a mixture of sweetened fruits and beans,lavished with pinipig(crisp flattened rice flakes),sugar and milk,topped by crushed ice cream.You know its summer time when halo-halo stand start sprouting by the roadside and by the beach,all whipping up their heavenly concoctions of such a refreshing divine dessert.You can make your own by selecting and mixing your ingredients to make a perfect halo-halo.Halo-halo is uniquely,unforgettably Filipino.
There is no specific recipe for this dessert, and a wide variety of ingredients are used. Primary ingredients include red mung beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, sugar palm fruit (kaong), coconut sport (macapuno), and plantains, . Other components may include jackfruit {langka), star apple, tapioca or sago, nata de coco, purple yam (ube) or sweet potato (kamote), sweetened corn kernels or pounded crushed rice (pinipig), flan or custard, and gelatin. Other fruits, such as papayas, avocados, kiwifruit, or cherries, may also be added.

Generally, condensed milk or evaporated milk are used instead of fresh milk, due to the tropical climate of the Philippines.

33 Pinoy nurses get psychiatric care training in Brunie

Thirty-three Filipino nurses from the Philippine National Center for Mental Health-Nursing Services received training on recent trends in mental and psychiatric care, Philippine ambassador to Brunei Virginia Benavidez reported Tuesday.

In her report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Benavidez said that the training on February 20, held at the Philippine Embassy in Brunei, was also an occasion for our nurses to network with their counterparts in Brunei.

In her message to the trainees, Benavidez said, "It [nursing] is more than just a job, it is a calling. It is a serious and honorable responsibility as nurses continue to be in the forefront to make the delivery of better health care a priority and life's work."

Data from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) show that from January to June 1998, failure to communicate with their relatives is among the leading causes of stress among overseas Filipino workers. Physical and psychological abuse contributes the rise in various psychiatric problems among migrant workers.

An OWWA report showed that from January to June of 1998, 93 cases of mental illness among OFW's were reported.

Horror Movies

Hi!! good evening to everyone.
I'm here again to share you about one of my favorite hobbies.Yesterday was my rest day and I've been watching video's.One of it was about horror.Guess what?I like watching horror movies,but the funny thing is after watching it i get paranoid.I always scream and cover my eyes and sometimes i also see the scenes in my dreams.I was afraid but i like the feelings of being scared only while i'm watching...

Good Morning

Hi there to all of you!
Today is a great day again,so we have to be thankful every time we woke up and nothing bad happened to us while sleeping in the middle of the night.
I am here once again to invite all our friends out there who wants to learn more about English lessons.We as joyful assistant are willing to teach you on how to speak English language,and show you some of the beautiful places here in our country.Hope to see you guys.
Bye have a nice day,everyone....

Baguio City

Baguio City is known as the summer capital of the Philippines or the City of Pines.I hope that through my blog,you will learn something about one of beautiful place here in Philippines.
There is nothing like it elsewhere in the Philippines to work for a living and start a family of your own.With its cool weather,friendly people,clean environment,scenic mountain views and pine scented air. I love Baguio very much.It is not only one of the best places to visit when you're in the Philippines.
One the tourist interviewed says "of all places i visited in the Philippines,Baguio City is the grandest of all".Maybe it is the Igorot ancestors of years gone by that supplies the everescent glow one feels in this magical city.In Baguio,you can also find lots of vegetables in good price and strawberry plantation covers an operational area of 77 hectares cultivated by 820 farmers but majority is owned by the Benguet State University.

Happy Days and Lonely Nights

With the parting of the ways
You took all my happy days
And left me lonely nights.

Morning never comes too soon
I can face the afternoon
But oh, those lonely nights.

I feel your arms around me,
Your kisses linger yet,
You taught me how to love you,
Now teach me to forget!
You broke my heart a million ways
When you took my happy days
And left me lonely nights.