Fort Bragg soldiers recreated the music of a Lady Gaga’s Telephone.

Watch at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Great trailer for Machete!

Watch at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

David Wong was able to hack an iPhone and got it to run Android OS.

Watch the video at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

So yesterday we got news that Justice Secretary Alberto Agra has cleared Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and his uncle, Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan Sr., of the massacre of the 57 people in Maguindanao.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

I guess now we know who the traitor in the Noynoy camp is.

Watch at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Classic example of someone with too much money or shit for brains.

Watch at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

I found a video of the unboxing of an Apple iPad that was sent to Andy Ihnatko for review. Looks great!

Watch the video at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

This short movie won the 56th Berlin International Film Festival for Most Popular Short Film.

It shows the plight of many poor Filipinos and how much those who have the means waste their food.

Watch at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Nice to see some candidates have a sense of humor.

Watch at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Just got this

REFERENCE:

Gene Gregorio
Spokesman and PR Manager
Smartmatic TIM Corporation
Mobile: +63 917 587-5714
Email: edgregorio@smartmatic-tim.com.ph or
edgregorio.smtt.tim@gmail.

— update ends here —

posted by Paul “The Pageman” Pajo

“.. (we’re trying to spread awarenesss, tungkol sa, tamang pagboto di ba? Malinaw naman ang slogan di ba? MAKE A LIST. Puede kang mag-UNDERVOTE. Pero hindi ka puedeng mag-OVERVOTE. Tapos shade properly. H’wag tayong tamarin….”

Check out the video here

If you want to organize your own Voter’s Education gig please contact COMELEC or post a note at the Bagong Botante site.

Recent surveys show that Sen, Noynoy Aquino is going down in popularity as far as Filipino voters are concerned. If the trend continues, Sen. Manny Villar seems posed to win the May 2010 elections leaving the LP camp confused as to what could have hit them.

I think Aquino’s waning popularity is the result of major mistakes committed by his camp rather than on what the competition did. These major mistakes include

1. Their complete reliance on winnability/popularity, and
2. The negative tenor of their campaign.

Sen. Aquino ran for President on the basis of the popularity he gained from the extensive positive media coverage of his mother’s illness and subsequent death. The initial survey results understandably reflect such popularity but it does not mean the majority of voters are ready to embrace him no matter what. Everyone already recognizes the Aquino brand and the senator does not need to remind us about it. However, he still made sure we are reminded by invoking his parent’s legacy every time he is asked to speak. Perhaps he didn’t realize that voters are looking forward to know more what is behind the brand rather than have the brand merely repeated to them.

Obviously, Aquino will not get elected on the basis of what he did in the past. His performance in his three terms in congress and three years on the Senate did not produce any significant results. The fact that his home province of Tarlac, for which he could have wielded influence, has not shown any remarkable success, did not help to create the idea that at least he could have done something. His usual defense, “’fiscalization’ is what he did” simply does not hold water. The word “fiscalization” itself cannot be found in the dictionary, while more people, other senators, who produced more results, certainly has a better claim to it.

Because of lack of past performance to talk about, the Aquino camp banked on mere popularity to forward their cause. They used celebrities led by her controversial sister, popular actress and host Kris Aquino. They used surveys to create a bandwagon and to arrogantly turn the tables on the voters. Up to this day, Aquino ads are saying that it is the people who wanted him to run (obviously referring to the surveys), and not him wanting the Presidency. Now that the survey numbers are not favoring his argument, people would wonder: will he stop his run and go back to his slumber in the senate?

Aside from too much reliance on popularity, the other major blunder of Aquino is his negative campaign. First, his camp has shown their complete obsession or aversion of anything with Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in it. His platform says it all, he is just about anything but Arroyo. Meanwhile, his campaign says he will not steal, meaning everyone else are thieves. Also, they try to create the image that his main rival Sen. Manny Villar is the Arroyo reincarnate. While Aquino is not far behind in ad expenditures, his camp insists that Villar is using money to buy the Presidency and everyone on his way. The Aquino camp does all these while trying to create the illusion that their own campaign is a campaign of and by the people.

But there is truth to the saying that when you point an accusing finger, your other fingers will surely point at yourself. Of course, Aquino has been hounded and hurt by his lack of leadership and transparency, to put it in its mildest, on the Hacienda Luisita issue – the issue that could even eventually tarnish the legacy of his mother.

Instead of correcting their mistakes though, the Aquino camp is now resorting to stoking fear to get votes. They now talk about different far fetched scenarios such as “failure of elections” and military junta as they regularly attack the integrity of the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections. They are now talking about leading “People Power”, presumably in case they would not win.

I think the Aquino camp has got to stop its arrogance. Rather than bank on popularity while branding everyone else as “evil” to continue their negative campaign, Aquino should instead sit down and reflect on real solutions that he can offer the country. Instead of simply mouthing platitudes and meaningless generalities which Villar is similarly doing, the Aquino team should differentiate their candidate by really studying the problems and coming up with and presenting real solutions, with details down to the last centavo needed to implement them.

I am not sure if Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III still has time to do this, but if he cannot explain his past, he should at least fully explain and show us the next six years of the country if we would have him as President. This I think is the only way now that he could win the May 2010 elections.

In a brightly lit Manila gym, basketball players make daring lay-ups, desperate rebounds and even the occasional dunk — all amazing sights considering the tallest man on the court is the referee.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

You’ve probably heard about this already. You may have even seen the photo and the video of Anne Curtis’ bikini incident. If you don’t know, what happened was, while taping a show for ASAP in Boracay, her bikini top fell off and exposed her right breast.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Check them out at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Watch Pacquio vs Clottey Live Stream this March 13, 2010 (US) and March 14, 2010 (PH). Manny Pacquiao will face Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium. They’ll be fighting for the World Weltherweight Champion.

Full details at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

for the NOAA alert – check this post

ZULU TIME is *almost* the same as UTC, UTC1, GMT]

0527Z (or 0527 Zulu Time) is the same as 1327H GMT+8 or 1:27PM Manila Time

(this is the earliest expected time that the Tsunami is supposed to hit the Philippines although reports in Hawaii indicate the tsunami is hitting 14 minutes earlier)

#tsunami in the #philippines tracking is using the #SHOOnami hashtag

Tsunami in CNNWorld

TSUNAMI SURVIVAL 101

• Many Will Survive the Earthquake
• Heed Natural Warnings
• Heed Official Warnings
• Expect Many Waves
• Head for High Ground and Stay There
• Abandon Belongings
• Don’t Count on the Roads
• Go to an Upper Floor or Roof of a Building
• Climb a Tree
• Climb onto Something that Floats
• Expect the Waves to Leave Debris
• Expect Quakes to Lower Coastal Land
• Expect Company

If you’re a member of the Association of Information Management (AIM) in De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde and would like to help disseminate information about the Tsunami by blogging here or tweeting please buzz me on Facebook or Twitter

Amanda Evora, a Filipino-American woman, together with partner Mark Ladwig, competed in the figure skating pairs competition in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

They didn’t win a medal but came up with personal bests in their first ever Olympic Games.

The 25-year-old Filipina who trains in Florida and Ladwig posted a personal best score during the competition.

Their score of 114.06 points, based on difficulty of elements and grades of execution, was their best of the season by more than 15 points. Combined with their personal best in the short program Sunday, their total score of 171.92 points put them in 10th place.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

· Hydroquinone or HQ is an active agent in skin whitening products manufactured and sold locally.

· Skin whitening products are supposed to be used to treat hyperpigmentation or darkened skin.

· The popularity of skin whiteners in the Philippines is mainly due to the belief that whiter skin makes a person more attractive.

· The problem is that in recent years, it was found that HQ poses some health risks to users .

· There have been reports of complications arising from the unsupervised use of HQ-based products ranging from nail discoloration to ochronosis, a condition where the skin darkens and grey-blue bumps on sun-exposed skin areas appear, to fish odor syndrome, a condition where the body emits a rotting fish odor.

· Recent studies in the United States also indicate that the unsupervised use of HQ can encourage cells to develop into cancerous cells.

· HQ products have already been banned in Europe, Australia and Japan since 2001. HQ has also been banned by the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive.

· Local skin whiteners have HQ formulation ranging from 2% to 4%,.

· In other countries where HQ formulated products are still being sold (like the US), the sale of HQ-based products is highly regulated precisely because of the dangers of “HQ overdose.” Products with HQ are sold as prescription drugs – meaning its use is subject to the supervision of a doctor.

· But here in the Philippines, skin whiteners with HQ formulation are sold over-the-counter regardless of concentration. You can buy 4% HQ formulated skin whiteners freely in most supermarkets.

· There are a number of popular brands of skin whitening astringents and exfoliants in the Philippine market which contain from 2% to 4% Hydroquinone. These can be bought easily in supermarkets without the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

· Another local product is simply branded as “Hydroquinone” and has 4% HQ formulation and is manufactured by a local company.

· It is high time that the warning bells are sounded and Filipinos are educated on the proper use of HQ formulated skin whiteners.

· In Europe, medical researchers have called the continuous and unsupervised use of HQ-positive products as “a time bomb waiting to explode.”

· The House of Representatives had, at one time, sought to limit the OTC sale of skin whiteners with HQ (House Resolution 464 was authored by Reps. Imee Marcos, Ferjenel Biron and Gilbert Remulla which sought an inquiry into the hazardous effects of HQ and hydroquinone methylether with the end in view of determining whether there is a need to reclassify and regulate the use of such chemical substances. This was in 2005).

· Because of the harmful effects, some Congressmen have proposed that medicines containing 2% HQ or less should be classified as pharmacy-only medicines, while those with 1%or less as general sale medicine in hair and skin preparations. All other preparations should be prescription medicines, they added.

· The Department of Health issued Administrative Order 90 in September 2003 which reclassified and revised the use of HQ preparations in skin whiteners. The AO says: “All preparations containing HQ as the only active ingredient with the corresponding concentrations are classified as:

1. HOUSEHOLD REMEDIES – for preparations containing less than or equal to 2% HQ. They can be dispensed without the supervision of a licensed pharmacist;

2. OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS – for preparations containing more than 2% but less than or equal to 4% HQ. They must be dispensed under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist;

3. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS – for preparations containing more than 4% but less than 5% HQ. They must be dispensed only by licensed pharmacists of registered drug outlets upon the presentation of proper prescription;

· The Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) also said that there are some unethical practices by some manufacturers which indicate disguise Hydroquinone by using synonyms like “1,4-benzenediol”  or  “p-diphenol.”

· There is a real danger in the unsupervised use of skin whiteners with HQ, especially if it is used indiscriminately over a long period of time.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw at linggo, parang sunod-sunod ang mga presidential forums na naganap. Kamakailan, meron pong FOCAP, nung minsan, may forum ng Inquirer sa UP, noong isang linggo sa Merriam College, tapos meron din sa La Salle at Ateneo. noong dati sa UST, meron din sa AIM at kung saan-saan pa. OK po ang mga forums, kaso parang medyo nakakasawa na kung pare-pareho lang ang style. Parang nawawalan po tuloy ng saysay.

Para po maging exciting at makabuluhan ang mga forums na ito, may mga suggestions po ang Sentro ng Katotohanan. Sana po ay makarating ang mga suggestions ko sa mga nag-o-organize ng forums para na rin makatulong sa kapakanan at kaalaman ng ating mga kababayan:

1. Sana po, imbis na forums, debate ang gawin. Kung ang forums po ay tatanungin lamang ang bawat isa sa mga kandidato, e para saan pa kung bakit inimbitahan sila ng sabay-sabay? Pwede naman po silang tanungin ng hiwa-hiwalay, hindi po ba? Ang mainam po sa debate, makikita ng mga tao ang pag-kakaiba ng mga kandidato. Hindi po kagaya kapag forums lang, parang pare-pareho lang ang kanilang sinasabi. Nalilito tuloy tayo lalo kung sino ang dapat iboto.

2. Dahil hindi naman po iisa lang ang gagawing debate, dapat po ay paghiwa-hiwalayin ang mga issues sa bawat debate. Isang araw po ng debate ay puro lamang sana sa ekonomiya. Isang araw po ay puro lamang tungkol sa OFWs. Isang araw po sana ay puro lamang sa paglaban sa graft and corruption. Isang araw po sana ay puro naman tungkol sa Reproductive Health at population. Ibang araw naman ay tungkol sa Charter Change. Ang nangyayari po kasi ngayon, bawat isang forum ay pilit na itinatanong lahat ng mga tanong. Tapos ganun din ang nangyayari sa susunod na forum. Hindi naman po nakukumpleto ang sagot ng mga kandidato dahil nauubos na ang oras. Parang hindi na tayo natatapos sa pare-parehong tanong, nasasayang tuloy ang panahon at pagkakataon.

3. Sana po sa mga debate ay isang tao lang ang magtatanong o magmomoderate. Sa mga forums po na nakikita ko, ang daming nagtatanong. Lahat po yata ng mga tumulong mag-organize ng forum ay gustong magtanong. Ang nangyayari tuloy, walang nagiging follow-up sa mga kasagutan at wala rin tayong natatapos. Wag na po sanang pumapel lahat ng organizers, hindi naman po tayo lahat mahusay mag-tanong o magmoderate ng forum o debate. Sana po ay humanap ng isang professional at patas na tao, na may expertise sa issue na pag-uusapan, para magtanong o magmoderate sa bawat isang debate.

4. Dapat po ang mga tanong ay puro tungkol sa policies. Wag na po sana yung mga personal o yung mga iba’t-ibang issues laban sa kandidato. Kasi po yung mga tanong na iyon ay dapat sa individual interviews ginagawa, hindi na po sa debate o forum. Nakakadagdag lamang po sa paghihintay ng ibang kandidato, hindi naman din po nasasagot ng husto dahil nagmamadali na sa oras.

5. Sana po ay gawing televised sa primetime sa gabi ang mga debate sa maraming channels. Sana ay may replay din kinabukasan ng tanghali. Sana po ay i-sponsor na lang ng COMELEC ang mga forums o kaya ay i-air sa mga government stations. Kasi po, may mga ibang channels na parang may kinikilingan o may nilalabanan. Kung walang channel na may exclusive sponsor ng debate, mas mainam po at parang mas patas ang usapan. Hindi naman po dapat exclusive ang mga debate at forums sa isang channel, dapat po ito ay open sa lahat ng mass media.

6. Sa parte naman po ng iba sa mass media, sana po, ang lahat ng TV, radio at dyaryo ay mag-cover sa mga debate. Ang mali pong nangyayari, parang kanya-kanya ang mga media stations. Yung forum sa ABS-CBN, hindi konocover ng GMA, yung sa GMA hindi naman kinocover ng kabila. Kahit po iyong sa Inquirer hindi gaano kinover ng mga TV station. Para pong may kumpetensya pa. Public service na lang po sana ito, hindi na competition sa business. Kasi ang eleksyon po ay para rin naman po sa ating lahat, kasama na ang atin mismong business interests.

Ito po ang anim kong suggestions, ulitin ko lang po:
1. Debate po sana at hindi lamang forum, para makita natin ang pagkakaiba ng mga kandidato
2. Hiwa-hiwalayin po sana ang mga issues, iba-ibang araw ng debate po sana bawat issue para makita natin talaga ang mga solusyong ibibigay ng mga kandidato
3. Isang moderator po lamang sana bawat debate, hindi po kailangang lahat tayo ay magtanong.
4. Policy debates po sana ang gawin, wala na po sanang mga personal questions at mga issues na pwede namang gawin sa individual interviews.
5. I-televise sana ng live ang mga debate, sa prime time TV at open sa lahat ng mga channels, hindi exclusive.
6. I-cover po sana ng lahat ng mass media ang mga forums, para po mas marami ang makaalam sa lahat ng issues, Itigil na po muna sana ang kumpetensya sa mga media outlets.

Kami po sa Sentro ng Katotohanan (DWBL 1242KHz 8.30-9.30PM T-Th), ay umaasa na sana ay makita natin itong mga improvements na ito tungkol sa debate at forums. Maraming salamat po!