Welcome to my home sweet home.....

Just to share with you my newly built home....
Special thanks to Ms. Carrie Underwood's popular music...."Home Sweet Home."

MANILA RANKING HIGH IN POPULAR CHOICE TO BECOME New7Wonders OFFICIAL HOST 2011

News Release

MANILA RANKING HIGH IN POPULAR CHOICE TO BECOME New7Wonders OFFICIAL HOST 2011
Still missing official support!

Zurich/Switzerland, Apr. 27, 2009—Visitors to the new7wonders.com website have been suggesting leading cities around the world to become the Official Host for the Declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature event in 2011. Manila is frequently chosen in this poll, yet without official support now it cannot be considered by the organisers.

The opportunity to be in the global spotlight
''Cities and countries around the world are being invited to submit their bids to become the exclusive Official Host of the biggest event in 2011'' says Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, ''Manila certainly seems to be a popular choice, but unless we hear from the official authorities within the next few days, it may well miss out on the chance to bid.''

The Official Host 2011 receives unique global image and branding around the world over three years, and is the location for the Official Declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature event in 2011—when the result of 1 billion votes is revealed to the world during a spectacular gala.

For more information on the Official Host 2011, please visit www.n7w.com/2011.

Official authorities can contact the New7Wonders 2011 bidding coordination office directly via email at 2011@n7w.com.

Contact:
Tia B. Viering
tia@n7w.com, tel: +32-2-503-4767 or +32-473-79 57 53 (mobile)

Susan Boyle -Britains Got Talent 2009

Susan Boyle, I salute you....." an incredible performance."
To quote a "wake up" message from her:

“I know what they were thinking, but why should it matter
as long as I can sing? It’s not a beauty contest."
—Susan Boyle, The Sunday Times[14]

To honor this great lady, kindly access the URL below.
Enjoy the show and witness her stunning performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

TELEPHONE VOTING NOW LIVE WORLDWIDE FOR New7Wonders of Nature

Here's the latest news release from the New7Wonders of Nature....
CAMPAIGN Voting is now possible from any telephone anywhere!
Zurich/Switzerland, Apr. 21, 2009—People across the planet can now participate in the campaign to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature just by reaching for their telephone. This initiative step allows more people to participate in this second-ever global election, in which more than 1 billion votes are predicted.
Striving toward a key New7Wonders goal: direct democracy for all peopleIn the first New7Wonders campaign, voting by telephone was instrumental in allowing high participation from all countries*. By introducing telephone participation during the current second stage of voting, N7W is enabling more people to help choose the top 77 nominees by July 7. These will rise from the 261 nominees now competing and will be eligible for consideration as one of the 21 Official Finalists.
Voting detailsTo participate, people can call this number
+41 77 312 4041
from any international telephone line anywhere in the world, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. This is a standard international call to a Swiss mobile number, charged at normal international rates by telephone providers.
After callers hear a short message explaining the procedure, they should type in the three-digit code for their chosen nominee. A thank-you message lets them know that they have successfully voted. The three-digit codes for each nominee are listed here: www.n7w.com/telvote.
Calling on media to help people participate—get the information out!
N7W calls upon the media and supporters of each nominee to publish or distribute the telephone voting information to facilitate participation among all social groups and ages.
Contact:Tia B. Vieringtia@n7w.com, tel: +32-2-503-4767 or +32-473-79 57 53 (mobile)
* For more information on the participation of the developing world in the first N7W campaign, visit www.new7wonders.com/classic/en/n7w/votinganalysis

New 7Wonders of Nature Highlights

Here are some important dates for the coming year that you will want to put into your diary:
2009 with New7WondersJanuary 7- By 7.00 European time, the national nominee for each country will be announced. Only one national nominee per country will continue to the next stage - the Official Supported Nominee with the most popular votes.- Voting begins for the second stage - the race for the Top 77 is on.
July 7 - At midnight on the International Date Line, all voting in the second stage of the race to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature will stop. For two weeks, New7Wonders will tally and verify all votes cast and the New7Wonders Panel of Experts will select the 21 Finalists. As during the first campaign, Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, will preside over the New7Wonders Panel of Experts.
July 21- The 21 Finalists will be announced and voting in the last stage of the campaign will start. The New7Wonders team will visit the 21 Finalists between now and the Declaration of the Official New7Wonders of Nature in mid-2011.
Please feel free to call or email me with questions any time. I look forward to working with you this year!
Tia--Tia B. VieringHead of CommunicationsNew7Wonders
VOTE for your favorite New7Wonders of Nature nominees in 2009!
Tel.: +32-2-503-4767 (Brussels) or +49-89-480 887-19 (Munich)Mobile: +32-473-79 57 53tia@n7w.comwww.new7wonders.com

HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE BLOGGING WORLD...

I would like to greet all my friends in the blogging world, "MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR BLESSED WITH SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY!!!"

Many thanks for your support, inspiration and nice remarks on my website and wish you more success in your career in the coming years.

I will also take this opportunity to inform my friends that I will be embarking on a new blogging strategy with my own newborn website at http://www.ennspotlight.com/ to be launched and will go live on 1st January 2009.

I am inviting you once again to visit my new website. Your unfading support and inspiration are highly appreciated.

VOTE AND GET PERSONALIZED CERTIFICATE

News Flash

NEW!
Get Your Personalized New7Wonders of Nature Certificate
When You Vote to Support Your Favorite Nominee
ONLY 14 MORE DAYS TO VOTE IN NATIONAL ROUND

Zurich/Switzerland, Dec. 17, 2008—As of tomorrow, December 18, there will be only 14 days left to vote for the national nominees in the global race to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature.

At midnight on December 31, the first stage of voting in this second New7Wonders campaign will end. Only the top national nominee will represent each country moving forward, and these will be announced on the New7Wonders website on January 7, 2009.

Personalized and free New7Wonders certificates now online.
Voters can now purchase a personalized certificate on the New7Wonders site, displaying the voter’s name and the name of the nominee they support. Each certificate also includes one valid vote for the chosen nominee. Extremely popular during the first campaign, the personalized certificate has now been brought back by popular demand. People everywhere are excited to display their pride in participation at home, at school, in their office, in local businesses. The special personalized certificates are available at www.n7w.com/personalcertificate.

All voters can now also receive a free non-personalized, general New7Wonders certificate that confirms their participation in the global campaign: www.n7w.com/freecertificate.

Vote now at www.new7wonders.com to make your voice heard in the race to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature.

Contact:Tia B. Viering, tia@n7w.com, Tel: +32-2-503-4767 or +32-473-79 57 53 (mobile)

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS 60 YEARS OLD TODAY

Human Rights is in the spotlight this year as it marks the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assemby on 10 December 1948. The complete text of the declaration of Human Rights:

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore,

The General Assembly,

Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11

1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.


2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.


2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14

1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.


2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.


2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16

1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.


2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.


3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.


2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.


2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.


2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.


3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.


2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.


3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.


4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.


2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.


2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.


3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27

1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.


2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.


2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.


3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

© The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

OHCHR-UNOG

8-14 Avenue de la Paix

1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

+41 22 917-9000

udhr@ohchr.org

The Battle of Leyte

Today is the 64th anniversary of the famous “Leyte Landing” of General Douglas MacArthur and his forces in Palo, Leyte Island on October 20, 1944.
The Battle of Leyte was part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and staff land at Palo Beach, Leyte, 20 October 1944.
Date 20 October – 31 December 1944
Location: Leyte Island, Philippines
Result: Decisive Allied victory

Belligerents:
United States
Philippines
Australia
Empire of Japan

Commanders:
Douglas MacArthur
Walter Krueger
Franklin C. Sibert
John R. Hodge
Ruperto C. Kangleon
Tomoyuki Yamashita
Sosaku Suzuki
Shiro Makino

Strength:
200,000 U.S. troops
3,189 Filipino guerrillas
55,000 Japanese troops

Casualties and losses:
Allied trops 3,500 killed
and 12,000 wounded
Japanese 49,000 killed

The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita from 17 October to 31 December 1944. The battle launched the Philippines campaign of 1944-45 for the recapture and liberation of the entire Philippine Archipelago and to end almost three years of Japanese occupation.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaand wikimedia/commons.

“MILAGROSA,” miracle lady with a mystic scent

By: Enn C. Baybay
Freelance Writer

“Milagrosa,” a runaway rice variety- "miracle lady" with a mystic scent wants to be reunited to her homeland.


RIYADH - “Milagrosa Rice” or miracle rice has striking resemblance to a beautiful lady, Filipina name, but embracing citizenship of another country. When this fashionable young woman walks in for the swimsuit category, the gullible audience were overjoyed and thought at last a new breed of Filipina will be crowned as Miss Universe. However, when she introduced herself, her fans were caught by surprise when she said: “I am Miss Thailand.” The festive air fades away in an instant.

In reality, it is not only our talented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who invaded the lucrative market abroad, but also various Philippine products except for rice. Once our very own, Milagrosa has joined the caravan but ironically coming from another country. Some OFWs may have been victims of illegal recruiters or in the case of Milagrosa rice by shrewd businessmen whose ultimate opportunistic goal may prompt them to cheat and to enrich themselves at the expense of our national heritage.

During the Marcos era, a high yielding rice variety, named as IR8 was created. This variety was also popularly called the "Milagrosa" rice, a Spanish word for "miracle rice" which has been our pride and a favorite rice for many years. Its crystal, transparent complexion attracted not only Filipinos but also people from other countries. Many competitors are trying to duplicate this variety but failed to equal its vibrant texture. In fact, there was a report that a similar variety of "miracle rice" would have been christened as “Imelda” in honor of a once beauty queen and the former First Lady of the Philippines. However, the idea was abandoned due to the rice pests at that time that might have caused a "bad image for Mrs. Marcos and the IRRI."

Many people were wondering why the Philippines is facing a rice crisis when it hosts the prestigious International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the world. Since its founding, agriculture scientists have known that the Philippine agricultural lands need government support in providing fertilizers and pesticides to counteract the menacing bugs that attack our crops. That was almost half a century ago. Today, we are still confronted with the same dilemma. Before the so-called “Asian Tigers” were born, we were there at the limelight. We were always in the international spotlight economically. The importance of the "miracle rice" can not be ignored since it is the only variety that made the Philippines self-sufficient in rice during the early days of the Marcos regime.

Although there are factors beyond control, but failure in effective governance has been a major cause in the tremendous decline in the economy. The country’s debt has multiplied and keep on rising since the Martial law era and there is nothing in the horizon that shows us the light of recovery. I am expressing the sentiment of the common people, recipients of the fruits of a “failed economy.”

Meanwhile, feed up and frustrated of the economic situation, skilled workers have gone abroad in search of a better life, free from the "pests" that occupied the influential sector in society.

Going back to our beauty queen, Milagrosa, shall we just sit back and do nothing to regain its ownership? Was she adopted, stolen or pirated? I believe, the real mystery involving Milagrosa is adding insult to injury in a country whose “runaway daughter” gives magic and glory to an alien country. In my opinion, our local farmers are very sensitive to this issue and would like to be reunited to their once national pride which is nearing its extinction in a country it originates.

Can we prevent Milagrosa to be commercially manipulated, its Filipino name to be misrepresented and falsely advertised? For the sake of our national heritage, shall we take the initiative and start the campaign now to bring home our beautiful, “Milagrosa?” The least we can do perhaps is to convince the parties involved to refrain from using "Milagrosa" and "WagWag" rice labels in millions of bags being marketed abroad.



Close-up of Milagrosa rice bags on sale



Abundance of Milagrosa rice on sale abroad
at the height of the "rice crisis" in the Philippines.


Another variety "WagWag" rice of Philippine origin marketed abroad.