I’m one of the million Filipinos who feel a sudden relief after hearing the news that Mary Jean Lacaba of Red Cross is finally released! Prayers are answered and this is a good sign that the bandits will also give the freedom of Andreas Notter and Eugenio Vagni.

After 78 days, Mary Jean can now be with her family.She was freed yesterday and is currently undergoing a critical stress debriefing.This is the doctor’s advice for her to get rid of traumas and bad experiences during her stay at the jungle.

A request was forwarded to the government which is to pull out the military forces specifically not in Sulu but in some areas only. That is to give way to safe and sound negotiations that will happen between two parties.The talk will be probably about the release of two remaining kidnap victims.

In my opinion, the Philippine Army Forces will not give it away.How can they prepare themselves for possible ignition of battles if they’re not on their posts!How can they stop those people from getting more victims if the country’s forces will do a retreat!?

Mary Jean’s family members are definitely happy of seeing her again.Finally, they’re reunited after more than two months of staying with the Abbu Sayyaf.The news article says that Mary Jean’s co-workers, relatives and friends are praising God for her release.

Though one of the kidnap victims  has been released by the  Abbu Sayyaf, International Red Cross cannot fully celebrate  since bandits still have the remaining RCY volunteers.

In this event,the names of  Senator Dick Gordon and Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla are the most heard ones.

The capture of three Red Cross Officers  few months ago added to the bad impression gained by the places in the Southern part of the country.Until now, military forces are having their operation.Their main goal is the safety release of the victims without damaging the lives and properties of civillians. There were recorded soldiers killed and casualties from the other troupe during battles and attacks.

As of now Andreas Notter (Swiss),Eugenio Vagni (Italian), and Marie Jean Lacaba (Filipina) are held by the Abbu Sayyaf Group.There is no news of ASG’s request in the government in exchange of the freedom of these innocent victims.

3 Red Cross Workers Kidnapped in Sulu

I’m living in Mindanao but Davao City is not close to Sulu.A friend of mine who hasn’t visited Philippines ever said that I’m living in a dangerous and war zone area.I laughed at her because the war that’s happening in my city doesn’t involve guns and armaments!

I don’t know when will the kidnapping in Sulu,Zamboanga and nearby cities end.The family of the victims are probably worried about  them.Their love ones may usually think how they sleep, what they eat and how safe they are with people who have gotten guns.I can imagine how the foreign workers stay in a remote area with complete strangers guarding  and dictating them to do what they want.Living in an unusual place will make an individual feel sick.As result, his immune systems slows down and his physical body is now prone to infections/diseases. Depression, too much stress, and everyday fear are the things being fought by every kidnap victim.

I am praying for their immediate release. These people are giving services to the people worldwide. My sister is a member of this organization.She donates blood to them regularly.Though it’s a small way, it can somehow save a dying life.I’ve known people who dedicate their lives and pure services for Red Cross and I felt sorrow and lament after knowing the news last January.

In Sunday variety program of ABSCBN which is ASAP ‘08 Karylle’s fellow actors and actresses welcomed her yesterday. They officially announced that she’s now a certified Kapamilya. Karylle is Zsa-Zsa Padilla’s daughter who’s working in other network. Perhaps she decided to moved to another network because of her current relationship with Ding Dong Dantes which is no longer good. Dingdong is now linked to Mariane Rivera, a beautiful, sexy and newy-born actress, model and product endorser.Well, in showbiz it’s pretty normal. If you’re not strong enough to handle this kind of event, your career will die!And so are you!

Karylle is lucky because she has her mom to save her and continue her singing and acting career in ABSCBN. She’s got talent too! In fact ,she was the one who sang the Philippine National Anthem during the fight of Manny Pacquiao and Dela Hoya in Dream Match lately.I saw some of her movies and soap operas too.

Zsa Zsa was happy to declare to people that finally she’ll be working with her daughter. She dreamed of it long time ago and it’s happening ! She revealed that sometimes she envied Mr Gary Valenciano because his son Gab is working with him unlike her.

Kaylle can do many things in ABSCBN Network. She’ll surely get projects because I know that she’s an asset to the company. She’s not the major one though.Good luck to her and we’ll see more of her in Kapamilya shows.

Do you still remember the freshman student who was studying in the University of Southeastern Philippines or USep Obrero campus and was burned to death? Her name is Sheryl Sarate.She was one of  16 contestants joining the Beauty Contest in College of Arts and Sciences or CAS Department of USeP. The accident happened during their production number because her costume was made out of cotton and plastic cover.The organizers of the said competition had put up candles where candidates  catwalk!

Cheryl Sarate Death

It happened last July 20, 2006 in the Social Hall of the said University. After less than 2 years the case is again talked about.A resolution was finally released declaring 6 or 7 people will be charged with negligence resulting to homicide.It involves school officers and students as well.Two of them are the College Dean Dr Marie Rose Escalada and Student Security Organization or SSO head Romulo Dequito. Rosita Sarate, Cheryl’s mom is happy to know that her family is getting justice with what happened to her daughter.This coming December 15th at 2pm a hearing will happen.

The lack of sufficient school facilities allow accidents  to worsen instead of preventing it. I was so shocked when I heard the news because I never thought that the victim will die. I didn’t think that she’d got worst condition when she was rushed to the hospital.Many people made fun out of it after the accident happened. Funny text messages were passed on to people which emphasized Cheryl Sarate’s motto in her profile which is “Expect the Unexpected”.

I felt sorry for what happened to her. She was just a new student and just starting to make her dreams do come true by getting a degree in USep.Unfortunately it wasn’t a happy ending when she left the school.

Read this news article A Blazing Student

In Inayawan Cebu City, a bag of dollars equivalent to Php 3Million was found in a dump site!A person named Napoleon Ursabia found it in a  garbage sack in a landfill. The money was lost because a housemaid accidentally threw it and the garbage truck had collected it.It was owned by Ben Tanpin, a money changer shop owner in Calamba. It was returned to him but he didn’t receive the full amount. Many people had used the money. At the dump site some of the bills were scattered so the people who were there with him when he found the bills had collected it. Many of them were thankful and thought that it was a blessing for them.The other bills were divided and given to the family members of Napoleon.

When you find something of great value in the garbage, would you care to know who the owner was?Do you think the finder committed a crime?

In my own opinion, the things you found in the garbage, valuable or not is considered trash.Whoever can find something valuable in a dump site wouldn’t care to look or trace the  owner of it. In this case that they found those bills genuine they did the right thing-returning it to the authorities. Of course I will expect that they had used some of it.For Mr Ben Tanpin he should be thankful that somehow his money was returned. It’s his negligence of handling such big amount of dollars and the act is not planned. If I were the one the who found it and a case will be filed against me, it’s better not to return or surrender the money and I’m gonna treat my family everyday! jajajajajajajajajajajaja  LOL

Read the news details

Teen Scavengers found 3Million Pesos

Lost Dollars Returned

In a family with six members, four of them were admitted to the hospital after eating pork sausage! The most affected one is the one year old baby. All of them felt something bad right after they had their meal.Sample of the food product was then submitted to BFAD for further assessment.

According to the attending physician, the family is poisoned with the substance which is added in processed food. Its purpose is the  preservation of fresh meat. Additives are added to prevent the food from spoiling.The chemical compound which is sodium nitrate is a preservative used in meat and fish

What is sodium nitrate?

Ways on how we can avoid such phenomenon:

1. Check the expiration date.
2. Always put our meat, fish and other processed food in our fridge.
3. Cook it well.
4. Consume the product while it’s still hot.

Dye in meat, is it harmful to our health?

In our case, we eat pork sausages rarely. Most of us don’t like its taste. Perhaps we eat but when it is processed by our favorite makers. Another thing is, these kind of food are so oily! Most of the people in our house are health conscious specially now that mom is sometimes having her hypertension. We choose real food like fruits and veggies than can goods and processed food.

See people’s answer Can you get food poisoning from undercooked sausage? 

This year the Professional Regulation Commission or PRC revealed that they have the highest number of Nursing Licensure Exam or NLEX takers at this point in time.A total of 88,750 will take the nursing exam this coming November 29 and 30! Imagine that! The data only shows that many Filipinos still want to become nurse then work and live abroad. According to report, the large number of examinees is due people who want to retake the exam. In other words, they added to the normal or expected number of examinees.

The bad thing is, year after year the percentage of takers who pass the National Exam is getting low.In fact, in 10 people who take the exam for US nurses only 3-4 or 39% can make it. This result means that they are not yet ready with the kind of profession that they had chosen. Examinees were observed to be weak when it comes to critical analysis. They know the concept but when applied to practical situations they’re having trouble in answering.

Related news: Republic of the Philippines or RP Nurses Still Want to Work in the US

According to Nursing Association not all who want to become nurses can become one. They added that examinees should be well-prepare before deciding to take the NLEX.

Good luck to the examinees (^_^). I’m excited to know the new set of Top Performing Schools in this field!

See the list of June 2008 NLEX passers

• Nursing Board Exam Results A-C
• Nursing Board Exam Results D-K
• Nursing Board Exam Results L-Q
• Nursing Board Exam Results R-Z

Another water vessel overturned in Visayas Region this year! If we remember last June the ship owned by Sulpicio Lines which is MV Princess of the Stars sank in Romblon killing almost 900 people. Last Tuesday, a ferry named Don Dexter in Dimasalang, Masbate caught the dangerous typhoon killing its passengers. A report says that this coming Monday the company of the sunken ship will give assistance to the family of the victims. More than 40 people were recorded dead.

Search for 10 Missing Don Dexter Passenger resumes

The bad thing is the ferry left the port without clearance! Sometimes I wonder on the country’s system in operating the boats and ferries leaving the ports. It only means that they are not monitoring it all the time. That’s why the drivers of the ferries are no longer afraid to leave ports without clearance because they’re used to it! Pity to those passengers who don’t know the situation as this. Their life is at stake and I felt sorry for dead children and old people who were unable to save themselves during the accident.

Event like this will surely give an additional negative impression when it comes to the safety of traveling  in  Philippine Regions by sea. This news will surely reach abroad and Visayas is known to have  great resorts but nowadays..hopefully tourism in Visayas will still continue to flourish in spite of these bad occurrences

Read more Philippine Ferry Overturns, at least 40 killed

Last October 23-25 thousands of Dabawenyos visited the Davao Convention and Trade Center for the 10^th Trade Expo. More than 4,000 people came to look for their fortune! As recorded on the last day, almost 70% who look for greener pastures get employed!

On the first day, many were glad because their effort of coming over and falling in line for a long time was paid back. On a certain day a total of 78 people got the job vacancy abroad and 64 for the local hiring.

The requirements ask to all applicants are easy to comply because the NBI, PhilHealth,NSO and SSS had supported the job fair by putting their booth for the convenience of the applicants. A total of 130 exhibitors were present and offered job opportunities! Unemployment is somehow given an action with the said trade expo.

Personally speaking, I can feel that there’s a lot changes that will happen to Mindanao especially here in Davao. In the coming years tall buildings are about to rise. Roads are widened. Additional shopping malls will be constructed. The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry or DCCCI are helping for making it possible. In fact they’re planning to conduct trainings and seminars to help those who are interested to make their own business and improve their annual  sales. Mindanao is still open for businesses and investors! More business would mean more job opportunities for the people of Davao. That’s what our Mayor is after-to provide jobs for his people.

This year’s job fair was made possible with the joint effort done by the local industry unit and DOLE XI.

In line with the trade expo that happened, the group Kilusan Mayo Uno had showed their disagreement on the government’s action in solving the unemployment rate in the country by doing a rally in front of the DFA building. Their questioning the labor export in which OFW’s remittance serves as a way to pay the country’s debt on World Bank.

In my case, I’m somehow happy for people who found their jobs last month with the aid of  Trade Shows in Davao. At least we have a lesser number of people who are not employed nowadays.

“Honest, dedicated and hardworking individuals always find work”

Nowadays, contaminated products especially from China were found distributed and sold in the market. Toxic chemicals like melamine was proven true in milk and dairy products.It’s definitely hazardous to our health. In our daily intake we didn’t notice that we are eating food daily with lots of preservatives. Eating food like canned goods is too unhealthy to the body if prepared for the family most of the time. That’s why the city  government and health office is encouraging mothers to do backyard gardening to fight against malnutrition and get good quality of raw materials to cook. In addition, planting some vegetables in our yards can help us to save money. Instead of buying we can just pick up what’s available in our food garden. I knew one family who’s doing it and if you see her children, all of them are really having good and vibrant skin. They’re not applying skin lotion because they can’t afford to buy it. They’re not rich on commercial products to be applied in the body but when you get to visit their house you can see leafy vegetables like cabbages, malunnggay and pechay. They also have squash, tomatoes, eggplant and more.However, if you don’t have the time you can do alternative ways on how to get the daily required dietary.

I do love gardening. I like to plant flowers, plants, and vegetables but since I’m not so good in nurturing agriculture ones I prefer to focus my attention with flowers. I did try to plant string onions in our Agriculture class. We were required to do it as a group. Aside from it, I haven’t tried more. I want to have my own garden in the future. I want to have a landscape in my own house. In my place there’s no enough space because we’re living in the city.

Read more 5800 Chinese babies hospitalized on tainted milk