Tough times hit home

If you think the United States is so far away that the Philippines is not affected by the recession, think again.
Tough times have hit home---this early.
My fear is, its going to get worse next year.
One of the hardest hit is the call center industry here.
Marsha, a friend's wife works in a call center.
Her employer laid off call center agents in a snap, when one of its largest U.S. clients pulled out.
In a call center, you can loose your job in a flash.
Fortunately, Marsha was able to jump to another call center job, owing to her experience.
Maureen, a cousin, works in a Japanese-owned forwarding company operating in Cebu and Manila.
She said exports to the U.S. have fallen sharply.
"If you talk about one hundred fifty container vans exported before, now you have only twenty container vans shippped out," she said.
Graphically, that's how steep the fall in exports is, she said.
Home Depot in the U.S. used to order thousands of pots (for plants) from Cebu regularly.
The exports have stopped as Home Depot discontinued ordering Cebu-made pots.
Cebuano pot manufacturing workers, suddenly lost their jobs.
A friend's father works in a casino in Las Vegas.
If the tip in casinos before was US$600, today its US$60, we learned.
This means far lesser dollars remitted to relatives in the Philippines.
Rey, a structural enginner who holds a managerial position in a U.S.-based firm in Manila, said that they had a major client in the U.S. who engaged their building-design services.
The contract with their structural engineering firm was inked already, while the client was awaiting release of the proceeds of a multi-million dollar loan in the U.S. to fund the building construction.
The U.S. loan did not materialize, hence the structural engineering agreement abruptly came to a standstill---no more money.
The U.S. recession indeed, has directly affected, and will continue to affect the Philippine economy.
Manny Pacquiao is the exception.

Duped

I have a strong feeling I'ved been duped by a car repair shop.
About two weeks ago, or November 13, 2008 to be precise, I had the break pads of my vehicle replaced, by a near-by car repair shop.
It was sort of urgent as it involved car breaks so I decided to immediately have it repair at a nearby car re pair shop.
I have permanent car-maintenance shop in Evangelista owned by my friend.
The changing of the break pads total cost amounted to P4,025.
When I made a test drive, I noticed an unaffiliated sound in the front.
I notified the owner-manager of the car repair shop who told me to bring back the vehicle.
Two days after the repair, on NOvember 15, 2008, I left it in the car shop as I had other professional engagements that day.
I called the car repair manager for an update, and he told me that the sound did not emanate from the break, or did not arise from the repairs in the vehicle break facilities.
When I went to the car repair shop I was handed a "job estimate" to repair the alien sound in the front of the vehicle.
The job estimate cost P4,870.
I did not proceed with the job repair.
I did not use the vehicle until seven days after.
I used the vehicle on the sevenths, eighth and eleventh day or on November 26, 2008.
On the seventh day from the last check up with the car repair shop, I already noticed the vehicle to be "dancing" while driven.
On November 26, 2008 I discovered the front right tire was abruptly shaven on the outer portion.
It displayed the symptoms of a disaligned vehicle.
I have strong suspicions of foul play.
I immeidately called up my friend from my "in-house" car repair shop.
My friend share the same suspicions.
They are going to undertake an inspection and compare it with the items in the "job estimate".
They said they can determine whether something was done to the vehicle.
My permanent car repair shop also said they have a record of the previous maintenance of my vehicle.
This should merit a legal action.

Router repaired

I use a D-Link Wireless Router at home.
Its an old model, DI-624+, having bought it more than two years ago.
Two days ago, it conked out.
Let me tell you some information about D Link in the Phlippines, in case you don't know.
There are only two main distributors of D Link routers in the Philippines.
One of the distributors is a repair shop along E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City.
The information I am sharing is that D Link offers liftime warranty, at least in the Philippines.
That is what people in that distrbution shop told me.
If your D Link malfunctions, the shop will find out first whether it was bought from one of their sub-distribution shops in Manila.
If it was, they will service it.
If warranted, they will replace it.
When my D Link wireless router refused to turn its power on two days ago, I asked the service shop to either repair it or replace it.
They replaced.
But only the adaptor since it was the only one destroyed.
They returned the unit since it was still ok.
My wireless router is back to work.
I think the series of brownouts had something to do with the damage sustained by the adaptor.
The brownouts came along with lightnings.
By the way, in case your D Link doesn't function even if there is already an internet connection, try disconnecting the adaptor of the PLDT DSL modem for a while. Then patch it back.
It should remedy the problem.

PAL returns flights to Dumaguete?

I have just read that Philippine Airlines will return its Manila-Dumaguete-Manila routes by August 15, 2008.
I don't know how true this is.
I got the information from Wikepedia at this address http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Airlines#Corporate_management
This must be a new post since it mentions the date of the its return which is August 15, 2008.
PAL had been servicing Dumaguete before.
They used to fly the BAC-111's.
But it stopped flying there.
It was taken over by Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines which presently have two daily flights each.

BIR Tax Audit Seminar

I received an email from Bebs Manalang, Associate Publisher, Tritium Knowledge Center Publishing who asked that the following invitation be published. It's a seminar on BIR Tax Audit:

BIR is tasked by government to collect more taxes this year. This represents 65% of the government’s revenue.
Such a task impacts largely on taxpayers who could expect to encounter more BIR scrutiny for them to comply with their tax obligations. Corporate organizations and high net worth individuals who are not ready for an in-depth BIR audit may expect to encounter tax problems and issues.
The “Winning Your BIR Tax Audit” seminar is intended to address this. The seminar will be held July 30, 2008 from 1-5 PM at the Banahaw Room, Legend Villas, 60 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City.
Topics discussed during the seminar are: learning the step by step guide to a BIR tax audit; knowing your rights and remedies as a taxpayer when confronted with a BIR tax audit; and, understanding the techniques and tips in handling tax assessment issues.
Resource Speaker is Mr. Joel L. Tan-Torres—a Tax Expert and practitioner with over 20 years experience working previously as Assistant BIR Commissioner and as a Tax Consultant.
The first 10 paid Registrants get a free short consultation each after the seminar. A FREE valuable Resource CD packed with information is also going to be distributed together with seminar materials.
For details, call Tritium Knowledge Center Publishing at tel. nos. 381-2664; 331-6256; 531-0084 or CP: 0919-2299777; 0919-2299780 or email at tritium@pldtdsl.net or tkcp_ph@yahoo.com.

Planting rice is never fun

I received an email from Leo-Dgte, as a fitting reminder of the spiralling cost of rice:
Planting rice is never fun...
Bent from morning till the set of sun...
Cannot stand or cannot sit...
Cannot rest for a little bit....----------------------
It's that time of year once again... thought i'd give you pause to remember....
With the price of rice skyrocketing, this scene is becoming all the more important.Best,Leo

See the most sophisticated weaponry

Modern technology has helped create the most effective weaponry in land battles....


or on the seas....

Superdelegates should decide

I am not that familiar with the system of choosing the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.
The two main Democratic candidates for president Brack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked-in battle for the nomination.
Obama, however is leading in the delegate count as well as the popular vote.
Although her chances at snatching the nomaintaion are getting slimmer by the day, Hillary remains stubborn and won't quit the nomination race.
As of last report, right after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, Barack Obama needs only 184 delegates to clinch the nomination.
I wonder if it would be possible for the superdelegates to just band to gether and get that 184 count and declare, even unofficially or informally,their support for Barack Obama.
Not so much for my preference for Obama, but more to let the Democrats have a candidate already.
From the way it looks, the longer it takes to choose the Democratic candidate for president, the more divisive it becomes for the Democratic party, and the more it adversely affects its timetable in competing for the general election against the Republican presidential candidate John Mc Cain.

Chronicle associate editor to speak on libel at PPI confab

Negros Chronicle associate editor Elmar Jay Martin I. Dejaresco will be among the speakers during the annual gathering of newspaper publishers, editors and reporters for the 12th National Press Forum (NPF) and Annual Membership Meeting on May 27-29, 2008 at Diamond Hotel Philippines.
Jay Dejaresco will discuss the recent decisions of the Supreme Court on libel and defamation involving the press.
Dejaresco, who practices media law, is has been speaking on the developments of libel and defamation in various gatherings of newspaper associations and students in the country.
He is director of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI) and has acted as legal counsel and adviser to several newspapers.
Other topics to be taken during the three-day activity will include the human security act, the bill on the right to information, transparency and good governance, the right of reply, the safety of journalists, and the conference theme “Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism.”
For the first time, the annual event opens its doors to non-PPI members.
Journalism schools, media organizations, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, NGOs and civil society groups have been invited to participate in some segments.
A seminar on media accountability and ethics will be conducted for the scholastic press associations.
An exhibit and a media bazaar will be added as new components to make the event more relevant and engaging. Special booths on Civic Journalism will underscore the best practices of some award-winning newspapers in the regions.
The PPI is the national association of newspapers whose mandate is to defend press freedom and promote media ethics for the professional and skills development of journalists in the country.

Oldest functioning train?

There is an antiquated train that still traverses the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.The train is one of the main mode of transport by commuters who live outside the Metropolis, like Laguna province.I think this rickety train is of world war II vintage.

Everytme it passes through a main street like Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., the motor vehicles are stoped by two bamboo poles. Everytime I pass this area, I feel swallowed into a time warp that takes me decades back.

Bangga an

One of the dangers of Metro Manila streets is the frequency of vehicular mishaps.

While on my way back to Makati from a hearing in Paranaque, I wondered why the traffic along Sucat road, heading towards the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) suddenly became heavy.

I later learned there was another vehicular accident between a Nissan Sentra and a cargo truck.

Vehicle mishaps like this have become a common sight in Metro Manila streets.

Metro Manila is perhaps one of the most dangerous streets.

I feel the policy is "to each his own". No one follows the street lanes.

The solution is to always drive defensively.

Easter Messages

Happy Easter!
Today My cellphone kept on buzzing with Easter Messages.
The messages are warm, well crafted, and its impact is distrbed only by the thought that probably this was just a message forwarded already a hundred times.
Worse, the thought that probably these beautifulm poetic Easter messages emanated from the telecom giants themselves and broadcast for the gulible subscribers to forward to their friends.
In short, its actually, the Easter test messages is another innovative commercialization of the commemoration of the Lord's ressurection.
In any event, I force myself to think these were genuined Easter greetings sent from one brethren to another.
If thought this way, the Easter text message bring greater meaning.
Here are some of the Easter text messages I received today, messages which you yourself might have received also:

Holy Week Reflections:
1.) Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
2.) Sometimes, He sends us pain so we can be stronger.
3.) Sometimes, He sends us failure so we can be humble.
4.) Sometimes, He sends us illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
5.) Sometimes, he takes "EVERYTHING" away so we can learn thevalue of 'EVERYTHING: we have.
HAPPY EASTER

He is Risen. May the blessings of the Risen Christ remain with you and loved ones always.
Happy Easter!

Like birds, let us leave behind what we don;t need to carry - grudges, sadness, pain, fears, & regrets. Fly light. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL by design...Happy Easter!

Happy Easter.

Truth decay

I am watching on television the live telecast of the Mass for Truth at the Baclaran, in celebration of the EDSA anniversary.
According to the homily, there is so much untruthfulness going on in our country today.
The untruths are pervading in the top position, to the lowest positions in our government.
The priest says the country is suffering what he calls "TRUTH DECAY."

Coca Cola ads: an insult to intelligence?

Another reaction from Dinah Penaflorida on the Coca Cola "fence" advertisements seeks information on how much was paid to the city government for these ads. The email goes:

Please inform me how much did Coca-Cola pay the city Council to get a permit in creating this"eyesore"? This is an insult to the intelligence of the "gentle people of Dumaguete"...it conveys the message that they have a one track mind of drinking exclusively...coca-cola...what happened to C2 Pepsi,calamansi,tea, taho etc? If Coke has alot of money to burn - why not pay the school children to paint a mural over these signs?I am not a resident of Dumaguete..but I remain loyal to Silliman and love Dumaguete City!

Dinah Penaflorida
SUCN, '69

Coca Cola advertisements: an eye sore?

Reacting to the email about Coca Cola painting the town red, through their massive "fence" advertisements all over Dumaguete City, ADumlao is suggesting to the city council that it take action.
Here is the email reaction of ADumlao to the Coca-Cola fence advertising:

"I looked at the 2 photos and find the COKE Ads as "eye sores" that affect the "character" of the city.They should not be allowed to "litter" the beautiful city that I once knew and fell in love with when I was a student in Silliman in the late 60s.Companies should have specified places to put their advertisements, that would be a great thing to impose, by the city council"

Why not criminalize journalism?

The way the government is treating media in the Philppines makes me think there is a creeping effort to criminalze the practice of journalism.
The latest advisory coming from the Department of Justice illustrates that media should now heed advices and take orders from the government.
The consequence of disobeying government officials and personnel (including government utility workers?) is criminal liability.
I have a suggestion.
Why doesn't this government criminalize the practice of journalism altogether?
That would be a good idea, wouldn't it?
I think the revised penal code still has room for an article that would criminalize the practice of journalism.
Better yet, the justice department should draft an executive order or presidential proclamation to this effect.
If the practice of journalism is criminalized, the the government will not have to make advisories to media.
As a matter of fact, criminalizing journlaism would prevent pesky media-persons from prying into illegal activities of government officials.
If journalism is criminalized, then governmen officials can continue incurring unliquidated cash advances.
If journalism is criminalized, then government officials will be unhampered in brokering billions of dollars of transactions and loans, the payments of which are to be shouldered by Filipino taxpayers.
I think if the government has it way, the trend should be to criminalize journalism.
The justice secretary, Raul Gonzalez, perhaps one of the most brilliant justice secretaries this country even had, is going so slow in calibrating government actions towards the Philippine press.
Go ahead, Mr. Justice Secretary.
Why don't you criminalize journalism?
Naging mahiya-in ka pa.

How to get to the sandbar

Someone sent an email to inquire hot to get to the sandbars.

“Hi, I am planning to visit Dumaguete soon and Manjuyod Sand Bar is one of the places I want to go to once I get to Dumaguete. I have several questions regarding going to Bais and Manjuyod, I hope you don't mind answering them. :)1) Are there trip schedules for Bais-Dumaguete? Di po ba kami mahihirapan makabalik ng Dumaguete if we leave Manjuyod at 3pm?2) How much is the rental fee for local boats that will charter us to Manjuyod? Di po ba mahirap kumuha ng boat from the minidocking area?Thanks.Gene”

Hi Gene.

To your first question, the answer is yes.
I might suggest that you arrange with the rent-a-van to pick you up at the sandbar at 3 p.m. That’s the most convenient, although you have to pay higher for this arrangement.
If not, buses ply from Bais to Dumaguete at 3 p.m., even later.
Whoever takes you to the dock, make arrangements with the driver to fetch you in going back. That would be safest I suppose.

I am not sure I got your second question right.
If you are seeking to charter a boat from Dumaguete to Manjuyod, that’s expensive. The travel time is two hours. Not practical. We did that once before.
The usual practice is to charter a small motor boat from Manjuyod or Bais to the sandbars. You take the land trip from Dumaguete to Bais or Manjyod.
The last time I inquired, the rates were P2,500 per trip. That motor boat emanates from Bais (not Dumaguete)
Perhaps the rates have increased a bit.
The telephone number of the Negros Oriental provincial tourism office is (035) 225-1825.

Better, the Bais Tourism Council telephone numbers are (035) 402-6629 or (035)541-5161. They can answer your querries also.

I’ll inquire, and get back to you soonest.

Comment on Coca Cola's 'fence' advertising

Let me give my two cents worth about Coca Cola's aggressive posturings in local advertising.
Whoever is the local advertising guy for Coca Cola in Dumaguete, should get the attention of Coca Cola higher ups, plus a pat on the back.
I commend this local advertising guy, whoever he may be.
He gets a grade of ten out of ten, for aggressiveness.
I like these kind of people.
I call this type of advertising "fencing", because the product advertises on fences.
But lets talk a little legal.
Is Coca-Cola committing anything unlawful with their massive "fence-advertising" in Dumaguet City?
First, the question we might ask is, whose fence is it?
Is it a private fence or a public fence?
If it is a private fence, who are we to interfere with the presumed agreement between Coca-Cola and the fence owner?
To me, an analogy would be the jurisprudence on freedom of expression on our electoral processes.
The Supreme Court said it is not illegal for candidates to post any size of their posters and visual political propaganda if these are posted in private property, like gates, houses, fences of private persons.
But the political poster size is strictly regulated in designated poster areas.
So I think it would be hard to find legal fault on Coca-Cola for their massive fence-advertising on private property.
There is one long-shot argument against Coca-Cola on their fence-advertisements on private property.
That is, if these huge advertisements become a distraction to motorists that it endangers their safety.
This kind of argument was raised against the giant billboards in Metro Manila.
But what if the fence is public property?
Can Coca Cola paint their logo, let's say, on the white provincial capitol building?
That would pose some problems, wouldn't it?
It would be like the state or the government, endorsing a product, wouldn't it?
What would rival Pepsi Cola say?
Can the government do that?
One of the pictures taken by Leo Mamicpic was the picture of Coca Cola advertisements painted on the fence of the Piapi Elecmentary schools, a public porperty.
Is this legal?
If Globe streamers litter all around the premises of Sidlakan Negros, a public property, is there a legal issue here?
It is legal for private property to be used for public purposes, as long as there is just compensation.
What about the reverse?
Can public property be used for private pruposes?
Ah.... with "just compensation"(?)
But in whose pockets will compensation go?

Coca Cola painting the town red

The second portion of Leo Mamicpic's email is his observation that Coca Cola is painting the town red.
Here is the second portionof Leo's email:

"Has anyone noticed what's been happening to our city recently? Notice the occurrence of red paint all over town? May I ask if our city officials are aware of this, especially our Tourism Council who should me mindful of how we project Dumaguete's Image? Is Coca-Cola this INSENSITIVE? Am attaching photographs. If you all think this is OK, then God Help Dumaguete City.

I'll make this plea to Gov. Dodo Macias: Since you're able to ban smoking, drinking, etc at Sidlakang Negros and since Dumaguete is the capital of the province you are strongly promoting with a better image, perhaps you can do something about banning Coca-Cola from painting our town red (no pun intended)."

Leo Mamicpic
Brgy Bantayan, Dumaguete City

Comments via email

I received a rather lengthy, yet substantive email from friend Leo Mamicpic which I would like to treat in my blog.

I will divide his email into two general comments which he titles: "Dumaguete's image".

First Leo comments about the Sidlakang Negros, a pet tourism project of Governor Dodo Macias.

The Sidlakang Negros, in case you haven't heard is a booth-type presentation of the rich resources and culture of Negros Oriental located along E.J. Blanco Drive Piapi Dumaguete City.

By the way, the other tourism project boosted by Gov Macias, the Lake Balanan in Siaton received a black eye in terms of "image" with the death of a tourist who drowned in the lake on New Year's day.

That Lake Balanan should emphaize safety first, before pleasure.

Anyway, Leo appreciates this Sidlakan project, as well as the no-smoking policy adopted with the Sidlakan premises.

The second topic is Leo's comment about a private corporation Coca-Cola (I really don't know Coca-Cola's corporate name--Coca Cola Bottlers Philipines Corp.?--, just the trade name) painting the town red.

Let me therefore chop Leo Mamicpic's email into two.

Here is the first portion of Leo Mamicpic's email:

"I applaud Gov. Dodo Macias for creating a permanent site that's aptly called SIDLAKANG NEGROS. I applaud him even more for banning smoking, drinking and immoral behavior in the site premises. I would like to suggest to Dodo that commercial banners/streamers be not allowed in the booth/display and promenade areas. I saw a big Globe kiosk near the entrance one morning and it was very distracting and did not fit into what Sidlakang Negros was all about. I would also suggest that he also ban karaoke singing. I happened to be revisiting the site one morning only to be met with this loud music with a singer who was very 'yabag' trying to belt out a tune. I asked nearby booths how they felt about it and they said, 'samok kaayo'; 'maglisud mi ug istorya kay halos di mi magkadunog, unya maka-ulaw kaayo labi na ug dunay mga bisita nga may pangutana o mangayo ug informacion.'; 'dili gyud na angay dinhi sa sidlakan.' I felt the same way so I went to the 'karaoke' booth and politely asked them to stop because it was too loud, yabag and inappropriate for the venue. Fortunately they complied. I'ts okay for each booth to feature their own music (perhaps some Pinoy songs and preferrably the visayan ones) but the volume must be enough to serve the booth and not filter out to other booths or in the pormenade. A suggestion to all booth managers: Please do not make the refrigator/cooler the centerpiece of your display. Try to make it inconspicuous like one booth did. Showcase your town products and not the refrigerator.

I can't wait to see the completion of Sidlakang Negros and enjoy walking the pathways and admiring the various art and craft from each participating Oriental Negros town.

SIDLAKANG NEGROS is a BIG BOOST to Dumaguete's Image.. BUT...."