2012 PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA

2012 PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Feb 9 Thursday First Fiesta Day
5.00-5.45 am Philippine Flag jump

5:50-6:00am PAF High Speed Opener and SF260 Fly By

5.45-7.00 am Hot Air Balloon flight
5.45-7.30 am RP / Malaysian / Spain/Australia Paragliding Exhibition
7.30-8.30 am ACFC Ultralight / Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights and Flour Bombing
8.30-9.00 am Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
9.00-9.30 am AFP/PNP/Brunei/Malaysia Sky Diving Exhibition
9.30-9:45 am Radio-controlled model aircraft demonstration

9:45-10:00am USAF F16 Flight Demo

10.00-11.30 am AOPA-P Light aircraft balloon bursting competition

11.30-12.00 nn KAP / KTP Kite Flying Exhibition

12.00-12.30 pm Airlink / WCC / Omni /Aviators/ Alpha flyby
12.30-1.00 pm Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demo
1.00-1.30 pm Skydiving and Tandem jumping Exhibition
1.30-2.00 pm Ultralight Flour bombing demonstration

2.00-3.00 pm AOPA-P Light aircraft balloon bursting competition

3.00-3.30 pm FEATI/PHILSCA Rocketry Demonstration

4:00-4:30 pm Philippine Air Force Silent Drill and SPOW Bomb Sniffing Dog Exhibition

3.30-4.00 pm ACFC Ultralight/Microlight aircraft formation flights

4.30-5.00 pm Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
5.00-5.30 pm RP / Malaysian / Spain/Australia Paragliding exhibition
5.30-6.00 pm Hot Air Balloon Fly-In

Feb 10 Friday Second Fiesta Day
5.00-5.45 am Philippine Flag jump
5.45-7.00 am Hot Air Balloon Flights
7.00-7.30 am RP / Malaysian / Spain/Australia Paragliding Exhibition
7.30-8.00 am ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights and Flour Bombing
8:30-9.00 am Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
9.00-9.30 am Sky diving exhibition
9.30-10.00 am Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration
10.00-11.00 am AOPA- P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
11.00-11.30 am KAP / KTP Kite flying exhibition
11.30-12.00 nn WCC / Aviatours / Omni / Aviators/ Alpha/Leading Edge / flyby
12.00-1.00pm German aerobatic glider flight
1.00-1:30 pm Skydiving exhibition
1.30-2:00 pm Jet Turbine Radio-controlled modeller demos
2.00-3.00 am AOPA- P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
3.00-3.30 pm Car Drifting Display
3.30-4.00pm FEATI/Philsca Rocketry demonstration
4.00-4.30 pm ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights
4.30-5.00pm Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
5.00-5.30 pm RP / Malaysian / Spain/Australia Paragliding Exhibition
5.30-6.00 pm Hot Air Balloon Fly-In

Feb 11 Saturday Third Fiesta Day
5.00-5.45 am Philippine Flag jump
5.45-7.00 am Hot Air Balloon Flights
7.00-7.30 am RP / Malaysian / Spain/Australia Paragliding Exhibition
7.30-8.00 am ACFC Ultralight/Microlight aircraft formation flights and flour bombing
8.00-8.30 am Tandem Skydiving exhibition
8.30-9.00 am Turbine RC flying display
9.00-9.45 am Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
9.45-10.30 am Helicopter flight display
10.30-11.00 am Philippine Coast Guard Rescue Demonstration
11.00-12.00 am PT13 Stearman / AOPA-P Flyby
12.00-12.30 pm WCC / Aviatour / Omni / PPA / CIA / Orient / flyby
12.30-1.00 pm Radio-Controlled model aircraft demonstration
1.00-1.30 pm Winch-launched German aerobatic glider flight
1.30-2.00 pm KAP / KTP Kite Flying Demonstration
2.00-2.45 pm AOPA-P Light aircraft balloon bursting competition
2.45-3.15 pm Skydiving Exhibition
3.15-3.45 pm CIAC Fire-fighting demonstration
3.45-4.30 pm Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
4.00-4.30 pm ACFC Ultralight / Microlight aircraft formation flights
4.30-5.00 pm FEATI/Philsca Rocketry Demonstration
5.00-5.30 pm RP/Malaysian/Spain/ Australia Paragliding Exhibition
5.30-6.00 pm Hot Air Balloon Night Glow

Feb 12 Sunday Fourth Fiesta Day
5.20-5.30 am Philippine Flag jump
5.30-7.00 am Hot Air Balloon Flight
7.00-7.30 am RP / Malaysian / Spain/ Australia Paragliding Exhibition
7.30-8.00 am ACFC Ultralight / Microlight aircraft formation flights and flour bombing
8.00-8.30 am Tandem Skydiving Exhibition
8.30-9.15 am Meynard Halili / Aerobatic Show
9.15-10.00 am Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Demo
10.00-11.00 am Wings Over Asia / AOPA – P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
11.00-12.00 nn CIAC Fire-Fighting Demonstration
12.00-12.30 nn Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration
12.30-1.00 pm Car Drifting demonstration
1.00-1.30 pm PT13/ WCC / Aviatour / Omni / Leading Edge/ Airlink flyby
1.30-2.30 pm KAP / KTP Flying Exhibition
3:00-3:30pm AFP / Civilian Skydiving Exhibition
3.30-4.00 pm ACFC Ultralight / Microlight aircraft formation flights
4.00-4.15 pm PT13 Stearman fly by
4.15-5.00 pm Meynard Halili aerobatic Show
5.00-5.30 pm RP / Malaysian / Spain/Australian Paragliding Exhibition
5:30- 7:30 pm Hot Air Balloon Night Glow And Fireworks

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Impeachment in the Philippines

Elpidio Quirino was accused in 1949 of using government funds to renovate Malacanang Palace in Manila, using government funds to purchase furniture for the Presidential Palace, and linking him to alleged diamond smuggling. A Congressional committee rejected his compliant for lack of factual and legal basis.

Diosdado Macapagal in 1964 was accused of illegally importing rice to build public support in an election, illegally dismissing officials, using the military to intimidate the political opposition, and ordering the deportation of an American businessman who was in the custody of Congress in violation of the separation of governmental powers. A Congressional committee dissed all the charges.

Ferdinand Marcos was accused by 56 lawmakers on 1985 of graft, economic plunder, unexplained wealth, granting monopolies too cronies, and other crimes. the following day the National Assembly committee dismisses the complaints after roughly five hour of discussions for continuing unsupported conclusions.

Corazon Aquino was accused by law makers in 1988 of graft and violating the Constitution. the charge were rejected the following month due to lack of evidence.

Joseph Estrada was accused of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution during the impeachment of 2000, to determine the accusations, the House of Representatives choose 11 members to act as prosecutors with the Senate as the impeachment court and the senators as judges

On November 13, 2000 Representative Manny Villar, then the speaker of the House of Representatives, sent the article of impeachment to the Senate of the Philippines for trial.

The impeachment trial started on December 7, 2000 and was aborted on January 16, 2001 after the House prosecutors walkedout from the impeachment proceedings, to protest against the perceived dictatorial tendency of the eleven senator-judges, who supported Joseph Estrada, this walkout led to EDSA Revolution of 2001 and the downfall of president Estrada.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was accused in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 impeachment complaints for different imputations, specially attempting lying, cheating and stealing during 2004 presidential election against opposition candidate Fernando Poe, Jr.. However all impeachment cases were failed due to absence of one third vote from the members of the Congress.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto was criticized by some for not aggressively investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption. The impeachment failed

COMELEC commissioner Luzviminda Tangcanco was accused of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. She allegedly showed bias for the multi-billion-peso voters registration and information system (VRIS) project, deciding to undertake it despite the lack of funds.

Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. was accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of the public trust and other high crimes

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos was accused of ZTE national broadband network (NBN) deal and Hello Garci controversy, he resign eventually

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was impeached on March 22, 2011 on charges of the office's underperformance and failure to act on several cases during then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration. The first impeachment complaint against Gutierrez was filed in 2009, but was dismissed later in that year in a House dominated by Arroyo's Lakas Kampi CMD party.

Impeached officials Official


Joseph Estrada, President November 13, 2000 Trial aborted
Merceditas Gutierrez, Ombudsman March 22, 2011 Resigned prior to trial
Renato Corona, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Manny Pacquiao opposes mining and illegal logging

http://mannypacquiao.i.ph

Mining is good business. But it's terrible public policy. Congressman Manny Pacquiao's stance on this issue shows he's a public servant.

Once Congress resumes session, the eight-time boxing champion will deliver a privileged speech which will implore colleagues in the lower House to oppose mining and illegal logging operations in the country. The first-term congressman recently purchased 10-hectare and 2-hectare lots near his district to be distributed for free to victims of natural disasters such as typhoon "Sendong".

Congressman Manny Pacquiao reminded them of the destruction to the environment brought on by mining activities, according to a statement by his congressional office.

Mining operations have existed in the country for decades. It's a profitable venture given the rising global demand for minerals. For example, several dozen materials that go into a computer once came from a mining operation. For years, manufacturers in the United States have been facing rising steel prices due to shortages from Asian suppliers, and most pre-order whatever supply is available.

Mining is bad public policy because, over the long-term, income per capita and productivity are not increased. A vast majority of minerals are exported to other countries as raw materials for their industries. Over the long-term, the Philippine economy is almost always never improved.

Investors ship profits (investable capital) overseas to seek returns elsewhere. Thus, mining operations largely develop the economies of other countries, and not that of the host country.

Natural calamities, which kill hundreds, routinely occur due to soil depletion and/or instability. Public resources such as underground water and natural streams are permanently harmed. Additionally, damage to the ecosystem harms farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

Download Ramgen Revilla-Janelle Manahan sex video

The person/persons responsible for disseminating the video in the cyberspace can be held liable for violating Section 4 of Republic Act 9995, or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009. The bill gained momentum at the height of the controversy regarding the sex videos of Hayden Kho with different women (Katrina Halili, Maricar Reyes, among others).

Section 4.d prohibits anyone from showing or exhibiting “the photo or video coverage or recordings of (sexual acts) or any similar activity through VCD/DVD, Internet, cellular phones, and other similar means or device.”

These prohibitions apply even if there is consent from the persons in the video. Curiously, the bill does not prohibit individuals from taking videos of themselves while having sex as long as it remains private (see Section 3.d and 4.a and b).

Technically, the mere uploading of this one-minute sex clip in websites is punishable by law. Street vendors who will sell this video can also be held liable. Violating RA 9995 carries a maximum penalty of 7-year imprisonment and a fine of P500, 000.

Any media outlet that airs this clip or publishes screen shots from the video can have their license to operate or franchise revoked. The law sounds strict, but it is almost impossible to implement thoroughly. Using the Ram Revilla-Janelle Manahan sex video, here are some questions I have in mind:

1. Where did this video come from (i.e. Ram’s laptop)? Who copied it from that source?
2. Who uploaded it to the Internet?
3. Who are those who reposted/re-uploaded the video in other websites?

Pinpointing the persons behind the aforementioned acts is a near-impossible task for our authorities. First, the Revilla clan seems not to be cooperative – even though they should feel violated because a murdered kin is involved in the video. Second, how are they going to find out the person who did the initial uploading of the video online? Third, how can they track the online users (all of them!) who reposted the video in other websites?

If a concrete case can emerge from the proliferation of the Ram Revilla-Janelle Manahan sex video, then it can be the first real test of the strength and worthiness of the Philippine Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P's)

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14.

4Ps has dual objectives:

• Social Assistance - to provide cash assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate need (short term poverty alleviation); and
• Social Development - to break the inter-generational poverty cycle through investments in human capital.

4Ps helps to fulfill the country’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals, namely:

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health

Targeting System
The poorest households in the municipalities are selected through a Proxy-Means Test. This test determines the socio-economic category of the families by looking at certain proxy variables such as ownership of assets, type of housing, education of the household head, livelihood of the family and access to water and sanitation facilities.
Eligible Households

1. Residents of the poorest municipalities based on 2003 Small Area Estimates (SAE) of NSCB;
2. Households whose economic condition is equal to or below the provincial poverty threshold.
3. Households that have children 0-14 years old and/or have a pregnant woman at the time of assessment;
4. Households that agree to meet conditions specified in the program.

Set of Co-Responsibilities
To avail of the cash grants beneficiaries should comply with the following conditions:

1. Pregnant women must avail pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional;
2. Parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mother’s classes and parent effectiveness seminars;
3. 0-5 year old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines;
4. 3-5 year old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85% of the time.
5. 6-14 year old children must enroll in elementary or high school and must attend at least 85% of the time.
6. 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year.

Program Coverage
4Ps operates in 45 provinces covering 255 municipalities and 15 key cities.
At present, 700,000 households are enrolled in the program and are receiving cash grants.
Program Cycle

The implementation of 4Ps Program follows the 8-step cycle starting from the 1) selection of target areas, 2) supply side assessment, 3) selection of household beneficiaries, 4) registration and validation of beneficiaries, 5) Family Registry preparation, 6) initial payment, 7) verification of compliance and 8) 2nd and succeeding release of cash grants.

 
Program Package
4Ps provides cash grants to the beneficiaries to wit:

• P6,000 a year or P500 per month per household for health and nutrition expenses; and

• P3000 for one school year or 10 months or P300/month per child for educational expenses. A maximum of three children per household is allowed.

A household with three qualified children receives a subsidy of P1,400/month during the school year or P15,000 annually as long as they comply with the conditionalities. The cash grants shall be received by the most responsible person in the household, usually the mother, through a Land Bank cash card.
In cases where payment through cash card is not feasible, the beneficiaries shall be provided their cash grants through an alternative payment scheme such as over-the-counter transactions from the nearest Landbank branch or offsite payments through Landbank.

Other Readings:

• Angeles City Population Growth Rate
• Apagmaragul mu bang Kapampangan ka?
• Bakit ganito sa Pilipinas?
• Barangay Cutcut Health and Household Statistics
• History of Angeles City
• History of Barangay Cutcut
• How to Hack Globe Tatto?
• Mission and Vision
• Population of Barangay Cutcut
• Profile of Angeles City
• What is Barangay?
• What is Sangguniang Kabataan?
• Which do you prefer; Cutcut Cemetery or Holy Mary Memorial Park?
• Why do they call it Fields Avenue?

What is good governance?

Recently the terms “governance” and “good governance” are being increasingly used in development literature. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that reforms that ensure “good governance” are undertaken.

This article tries to explain, as simply as possible, what “governance” and “good governance” means.

GOVERNANCE

The concept of “governance” is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put “governance” means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.

Since governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis of governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision.

Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of government that is under discussion. In rural areas, for example, other actors may include influential land lords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, finance institutions political parties, the military etc. The situation in urban areas is much more complex. Figure 1 provides the interconnections between actors involved in urban governance. At the national level, in addition to the above actors, media, lobbyists, international donors, multi-national corporations, etc. may play a role in decision-making or in influencing the decision-making process.

All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the “civil society.” In some countries in addition to the civil society, organized crime syndicates also influence decision-making, particularly in urban areas and at the national level.

Similarly formal government structures are one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented. At the national level, informal decision-making structures, such as “kitchen cabinets” or informal advisors may exist. In urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as the “land Mafia” may influence decision-making. In some rural areas locally powerful families may make or influence decision-making. Such, informal decision-making is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices.

GOOD GOVERNANCE

Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.

• Participation 
• Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.
• Rule of law
• Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.
• Transparency
• Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media.
• Responsiveness
• Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.
• Consensus oriented
• There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community.
• Equity and inclusiveness
• A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.
• Effectiveness and efficiency
• Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
• Accountability
• Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable to whom varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution. In general an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.

CONCLUSION

From the above discussion it should be clear that good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality. Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality.

Which do you prefer, Cutcut Cemetery or Holy Mary Memorial Park?

There is exclusiveness even in death.  It has been shared that in the Philippines, there are two types of people; rich and poor, rich people do not want to be with the poor ones.

Rev. Gaudario was talking to a lady about one of her family members had been recently buried.  He asked where they buried the wake. She told him Holy Mary Memorial Park, which is an exclusive cemetery for the rich folks.  It is located at Cutcut, Angeles City.  So, priest said "Oh Yes,  I know where that it is in Cutcut."  She got a little testy, because there is also another cemetery for the poor folks, commonly known as Cutcut Cemetery. She replied "No! Holy Mary." He may have again tried to clarify by saying "Yes in Barangay Cutcut." but she would not be caught dead (argh) burying a relative there, so she said "No. Holy Mary!"

No matter where a wake would it be buried whether in a “museleo” or in a simple apartment, what important is his/her final destination; heaven or hell.

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (NIV) Hebrew 9:27

The more important question is not where your body will be buried, but where will your soul spend eternity?