by magnolia_eic | Mar 25, 2010 | Announcements, Headlines, National News
With an all-time high of 650 towns and cities voluntarily turning off lights last year, Environment Secretary Horacio Ramos called on all Filipinos to again be part of Earth Hour on Saturday.
Ramos urged Filipinos to again switch off their lights at exactly 8:30 p.m. on March 27, simultaneously with other people across the globe, to trumpet pleas for people to start mending their wasteful ways and save Planet Earth.
The choice Filipinos will make on Saturday will underscore the seriousness of climate change now occurring in many parts of the world, he said.
Last year, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said out of 88 countries with different time zones, the Philippines was top participant in the event with more than 15 million Filipinos voluntarily saving energy.
The country saved around 611 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2009, “equivalent to shutting down a dozen coal-fired power plants for 60 minutes.”
Calling the feat “not enough,” Ramos sought Filipinos’ solidarity on Earth Hour 2010 to carry it out “on a daily basis… in our homes, our communities and our organizations.” (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 25, 2010 | Headlines, National News
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to fall prey to foreigners who lavishly give out money or leisure trips in exchange for carrying baggage as more Filipinos become victims of drug trafficking in the Middle East for carrying baggage with illegal drugs.
The DFA, citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Tehran, said that OFWs should be “wary of persons who ask or “contract” overseas Filipino workers to carry items or baggage from Iran to another city abroad in exchange for money or leisure trips.”
Philippine Ambassador to Iran Generoso Senga said that there is an increasing number of OFWs involved in drug-trafficking cases with similar modus operandi.
The DFA said that Filipino victims were asked to bring a certain item or baggage from Iran to another country, usually Bangkok, Thailand or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in exchange for money or leisure trips abroad.
It would be recalled that two Filipinos were arrested by Iranian authorities for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs in the country. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Entertainment, Headlines, National News, World
HOLLYWOOD actors Garret Dillahunt, James Parks and Chris Cooper were all thumbs up when they visited the set of Baryo, by an American independent Filmmaker.
Unlike Cooper, who has been with indie film maker John Sayles, Parks and Cooper could not help but be bowled over by the set dome by Filipino team of production designer Rodell Cruz, a national daily reported.
Baryo, a turn of the century village nestled between the ricefields and rain forests in Busao Maribojoc and facilitated by Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Both actors also agree that the set, which the Filipino crew created helps actors by making their performance more organic and more authentic.
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, National News, World
EARTH Hour organizers WWF hope to zoom past the 4000 cities in 88 countries who voluntarily switched off their lights to advance awareness on the 2010 Earth Hour.
Wanting to impress on the need to advocate mitigations for climate change, the one hour switch off which started in Sydney Australian in 2007, organizers now wish that through the activity, they could post the largest global climate change initiative.
Last week the Environment Bureau information Officer Corazon Colarines said the local office is coordinating the activity support here.
Set for Saturday, March 27, the activity asks people to switch off their lights from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.
There is more to it than just switching off the lights, it gives people the chance to voice out their concerns on protecting the only planet tat we have, organizers from WWF were quoted.
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News
COMING to the rescue of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, World Health Organization (WHO) assured that condoms, when used properly can prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, WHO representative in the Philippines, said “the correct and consistent use of good-quality condoms confers a level of protection as high as 85-90 percent against HIV transmission.”
The WHO representative here said male and female condoms, when properly kept, stored, handled and used, are the only scientifically proven barrier products currently available against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
But even then, Boholano HIV-AIDS advocate Dr. Rene Bullecer earlier said there is only one excellent protection against AIDS: being faithful to the partner.
Acquired Immunity Disease Syndrome is often spread through multiple partners, faulty sexual habits and blood transfusion, Bullecer said. (PIA)
