Bonsai Fields of Mt. Hamiguitan

Truly one of Mother Nature's gifts to the Filipino people, the Bonsai fields of Mt. Hamiguitan, which is situated no less than 5,345 feet above sea level, consists of more than 1,000 hectares of forest life filled with wild and exciting flora and fauna. As the name suggests, Bonsai trees span most of the given area.

These century-old trees stand 2-3 feet tall, with the tallest reaching only 5 feet in height, and are so sturdy that one can literally carry the weight of a man on its branches. It is like finding oneself suddenly in a veritable enchanted garden right in the middle of the jungle. Also located at Barangay La Union, this wonder has already been featured in Magandang Gabi Bayan for its uniqueness and mystical quality.

The area is also a sanctuary of rare and exotic birds and animals, including the world famous Philippine Eagle. Because of its beauty and charm, the mountain has become a favorite camping site of many local and foreign tourists, mountaineers, enthusiasts, biologists, ornithologists, and adventure loving people.

Mang Inasal is Now in Lupon!

MANG INASAL, the famous barbeque fast-food chain and one of the fastest growing food companies in the Philippines, which has become a modern icon of the Ilonggo culinary culture is finally in LUPON with its authentic, chicken inasal specialty at Central Warehouse Club Lupon Branch.

The management and staff of Mang Inasal Lupon branch were overwhelmed by the warm reception accorded by the public. Mang Inasal’s marketing manager also credits the country’s leading barbecue foodchain’s phenomenal growth and expansion on its product consistency wherein its food offerings such as chicken and pork barbecue, Sisig, grilled boneless Bangus, Sinigang, short orders such as Spaghetti and Halo-halo are strictly subjected under quality control to make sure that these conform with the highest quality standards possible.

On June 6, 2009, Mang Inasal are having a grand opening, coupled with a motorcade around Lupon’s main thoroughfares, Ati-Atihan dancers and Inauguration.

Mang Inasal is proud to do its share in alleviating the unemployment burden of Lupon. It is effectively stimulating economic activities in our community. Local suppliers of calamansi, charcoal, banana leaves, vegetables, fish, bamboo sticks, and other ingredients, as well as LGU’s, trisikad (pedicab) drivers, and a host of other enterprises are benefited by the presence of Mang Inasal here.

Worst Commercial Air Accident

Air France has told families of passengers on Flight 447 that the jetliner broke apart and they must abandon hope that anyone survived.

The plane broke apart either in the air or when it slammed into the ocean, carrying 228 people disappeared after leaving Rio de Janeiro for Paris on Sunday night.

Investigators were relying heavily on the plane's automated messages to help reconstruct what happened to the jet as it flew through towering thunderstorms. The messages detail a series of failures that end with its systems shutting down, suggesting the plane broke apart in the sky according to an aviation industry official with knowledge of the investigation.

Air France is the deadliest plane crash, and world's worst commercial air accident since 2001.

Am I Going to be Rich?

Since child, I’ve always heard the place of Buringot in Pantukan (now part of Compostela Valley Province). It seems to be a nicest place for me then that someday I could visit the place because all our neighbors who’ve been there brings a lot of money when they come back in our village. The place is said to be the mountain of gold, many men work in the mining and panning they are very happy to have this gold mining area and many people migrate in that place

But this morning I saw in the television a mudslide tumbled down burying dozens of shanties in a gold mining village and kills 26 people, it reminds me to a place I wanted to visit and to live for that someday I could grab a piece of gold to become rich. I can’t imagine the dark side that occurs in these natural calamities.

In this situation I have found the answer to my ambition in life “Am I going to be rich?” That depends on you, if you work hard and save your money, invest it in the right things then you will find yourself there, and don't forget those who told you that you would.

Avoid Illegal Recruitment

12 ways on how illegal recruiters operate:

1. Tourist Visa Scheme

Workers leave the country as tourist but are actually leaving for employment abroad.

2. Escort Services

Workers are 'escorted' at the airport and seaport and allowed to leave even without the required travel documents.

3. Blind Ads

Advertisement for overseas employment published in the dailies that do not indicate the name of the recruiters but provides a P.O. Box to which applications may be submitted.

4. By Correspondence

Applicants are encouraged to submit their requirements through mail together with a seemingly small fee.

5. Backdoor Exit

Workers leave through the southern ports of exit where immigration control is lax. They usually leave on cargo ships or on boats.

6. Assumed Identity

Workers leave under another name either using the name of another worker or through the 'barkada' system or obtaining passposts through fake birth certificates and other documents. Minors are normally deployed throough this scheme.

7. Direct Hiring

Workers are recruited directly by the foreign employer and deployed either as tourist or through any other illegal means.

8. Trainee-Worker Scheme

Workers are recruited and deployed as trainees on a training agreement. More often, HRM students leaving in the guise of a traineeship program for hotels abroad but eventually landing jobs in hotel/restaurant abroad.

9. Tie-Up or Kabit System

Unlicensed recruiters tie-up with licensed agencies and recruit workers through the facilities of the latter. Workers are either deployed under the job order of the licensed agency but actually work for another employer abroad or the foreign principal of the unlicensed recruiter is registered or accredited under the licensed agency name.

10. Visa Assistance or Immigration Consultancy Scheme

Entities operating under the guise of consultancy or offering services for visa facilitation are actually engaged in recruitment by offering placement abroad on immigrant visa. Some of them also operate through the conduct of orientation seminars, which are actually recruiting activities.

11. Camouflaged Participants/Representative in Seminars/Sports Event

Workers leave as participants in seminars or sports event abroad but actually intend to work there.

12. Mail Order Bride

Marriage is arranged by brokers between women and foreigners. The wife end up being a domestic helper to her husband and her family or in worst situation abroad.



Taken from the Modus Operandi of Illegal Recruiters leaflet of the POEA(Philippine Overseas Employment Administration).

Immigration

Immigration is no joke. It is a major decision that involves all aspect of your life. People who are planning to permanently settle in a foreign land must put importance into having all their papers and requirements processed the legal way.

If you are working and living abroad without the proper documents, you are putting your reputation and future at risk. Peace of mind will definitely be elusive when instead of adjusting to your new environment or concentrating on your job, you are playing hide and seek with the authorities.

Many people who are discouraged by the tedious requirements and procedures one has to go through at the embassy. This is the reason why many bravely dare to enter a foreign territory with an illegal status. Even though some people managed to emerge victorious by eventually being granted legal status, aspiring migrants must not look at this a source of inspiration.

In USA, illegal immigration is a serious issue where the rules are strictly implemented. Moreover, if you are an illegal alien, you and your family will be denied many benefits.

For one, finding a decent and good paying a job will be a big burden. You will not be permitted to apply for an insurance. Your child will not be allowed to enroll in school.

People migrate overseas for a purpose, whether for economic, cultural, or educational reasons. Achieving those goals can be likened to a camel passing through the eyes of a needle if you are an illegal alien. Spare yourself of the emotional and physical trauma of illegal migration by going through the legal process.

Swine flu -- a quick overview

The swine flu news is right up my alley, so I do just want to say a few words about it, and point you to some excellent stories already up elsewhere.

First, in case you've not been paying attention to the news in the last few days, there have been reported cases of swine influenza infections in humans and reports from Mexico suggesting as many as 1000 ill and 68 dead from influenza in the past month or so.

Swine influenza (swine flu) is caused by type A influenza virus and gives pigs the flu. Swine flu viruses cause regular outbreaks of flu in pigs but death is infrequent. The viruses may circulate among pigs throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

A few things make this outbreak concerning.

One, we see occasional swine influenza infections in humans on a somewhat regular basis.

Two, while the cases here in the Philippines have been regulated and no deaths have occurred that we're aware of, it seems in Mexico that young people are dying from this--a group that is typically not hard-hit by seasonal influenza viruses.

Third, is this really a new virus? So few influenza isolates are actually analyzed each year (in proportion to the number of people infected) that we aren't sure yet whether this is something brand-new, or something that has been circulating at a low level for awhile, but just hadn't been picked up.

Fourth, and going along with that third point--how widespread is this? We have confirmed cases from Mexico which suggest it could be spreading in some parts of the world.

In summary, this is a fast-developing story, and it will take much more investigation and field work to determine the true extent of the virus's spread in the population. Whether this burns out or spreads worldwide, it certainly shows once again the importance of surveillance and monitoring of influenza strains, and demonstrates that improving our infrastructure due to concerns about the virus.