Deuterium in The Philippines may Generate $30B per year Income

by: Joeborgz

I have scanned through the internet and I found this write up a few years ago about Deuterium in the Philippines. The Author , however, has not revealed his identity. It looks interesting anyway, so I share this article.
 A SPECIAL REPORT
 International Press Release
 
 By: (name of proponent withheld)
 Metro Manila , Philippines
 
 
 HYDROGEN from Water was predicted by Jules Verne in 1874 to be the fuel of  the future. During World War II, Germany used V-2 Rocket Bombs propelled  by HYDROGEN. Now, Dr. Jacob Bigeleisen discovered that at room temperature  or under atmospheric condition, DEUTERIUM ATOMS are electrolyzed naturally out of water in the form of HYDROGEN gas. This natural phenomenal process  needs no expensive electric power consuming electrolysis to artificially  separate HYDROGEN from OXYGEN in Water.
 
 What is DEUTERIUM? Deuterium is HEAVY WATER or HYDROGEN WATER without  oxygen. This is obtained from the deep trenches of the World and the  World’s largest DEPOSIT OF DEUTERIUM is IN THE PHILIPPINES – A big deposit  of 868 miles long, 52 miles at widest point, and 3 miles at deepest point,  replenished by nature 24 hours a day after Deuterium traveled more than  12,000 kilometers from Central America to the Philippines through the span  of the Pacific Ocean when Planet Earth turns on its axis from West to East  in unending perpetual motion.
 
 USES OF DEUTERIUM
 
 Deuterium is used in the production of (Hydrogen) Li-Hy Fuel now used in  Canada , America , Germany and some parts of Sweden to provide fuel for cars, trucks, jet planes, etc. including solid Hydrogen for Spacecrafts  Challenger and Columbia . Deuterium can replace gasoline, LPG, LNG, Avgas,  etc. in powering all types of internal combustion engines. It does not  emit pollutants or any harmful carbon monoxide and does not cause any environmental problems because it is in the water family as emissions are  nothing but water vapor or steam. Deuterium as Hydrogen Fuel can be used for cooking, lighting, heating, and as Heavy Water fuel for Reactors in  electric power generation.
 
 Why does Deuterium electrolyze out of water in the form of Hydrogen  Gas? It electrolyzes out of water in the form of Hydrogen gas because Deuterium is CONCENTRATED HYDROGEN with element symbol, H2 (Hydrogen mass of 2 as distinguished from H2O in Water) subjected to the pressure of water mass at the ocean floor of about 10,000 psi or more because Deuterium obtained from depths of more than 7,000 meters below sea level and at more than 10,000 psi pressure causes the oxygen in water to disengage, separate and escape naturally from hydrogen leaving only Hydrogen isotopes to  combine with other Hydrogen isotopes in forming Deuterium under pressure. And Deuterium under pressure, when exposed to room temperature  or atmospheric condition, forms or electrolyzes naturally into Hydrogen Gas, in the same manner that LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) in LIQUID state transform into gas after fusion process with air in the atmosphere the moment LPG or LNG tank valves are  turned on or opened. By taking out impurities from Deuterium, Li-Hy Fuel is produced by special simple process at very, very  low cost known to this proponent and his associates. Cheap Hydrogen will reactivate all idled Hydrogen Based Industries internationally affected by high petroleum costs, and this will boost food, chemical, and metal industries worldwide.
 
 PROPOSAL TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND FOREIGN
 INVESTORS
 
 Through intensive research and development on oceanographic data and processes with foreign associates, the proponent discovered that concentrated Hydrogen exists only about one centimeter thick in every 3,000 meters deep of water mass at the ocean floor.
 Because Deuterium more than twice the weight of ordinary water, it sinks and in the process, OXYGEN separates naturally from Hydrogen when the pressure becomes about 10,000 psi or more. The usual ocean floor depth ranges between 2,000 meters to  3,000 meters. With the Philippine Trench at 7,000 meters to 10,500 meters  deep, Deuterium is naturally trapped through the ages untapped by man through this day, replenished by nature through the North Equatorial  Current Tidal Flow from more than 12,000 kilometers away in Central America to the Philippines hitting the Philippine Trench
 DIRECTLY PERPENDICULAR –
 The one and only Trench with the widest and longest resource flow of  Deuterium in the whole world!
 
 This proponent presented in March 1986 the Deuterium Project to the  Philippines and American Governments in his desire to help the People of the Philippines and its Government, by introducing an internationally  accepted production-sharing scheme. This is the 40/40/20 production-sharing scheme. 40% of daily production revenue goes to the  Government, 40% goes to the Investors, and 20% is retained or set aside to  cover the cost of security, operation, management, administration, salaries and wages, materials, supplies, repairs and maintenance, and other operation costs.
 
 The Philippine Government would not put in any investment funds but the  following:
 
 1) Land and Export Processing Zone or EPSA;
 2) Tax and Duty Free Operation, and
 3) Security of Investments with Government Guarantee
 
 There are several lands belonging to the Government along the areas of proposed sites. The Law on Export Processing Zone can be used to declare selected sites as EPSA, the Law providing a built-in Tax and Duty Free  arrangements with the Government. The Security of Investments are provided for by the Omnibus Investment Act, the Investments Law, the Constitution of  the Philippines (past, present, and proposed) guarantee the Constitutional Rights to Properties and Due Process, including just compensation. The Government MUST GUARANTEE enforcement of these laws.
 
 Foreign Investors have been informed that all funds would have to be provided by them on the following items:
 
 1) Funds for Research and Development;
 2) Mobilization Costs and Recruitment;
 3) Engineering, Development and Construction Costs;
 4) Equipment, Pumping, Storage, Loading facilities and other industrial  project costs
 
 The 20% production sharing revenue would be set aside and be used for Security, Management, Administration, salaries and wages, materials, supplies, transportation and housing personnel, food, medical supplies, and other operational costs in order to preserve and not disturb the 40%  production revenue sharing for each of the Government, and the Investors’ shares. By maintaining this production revenue sharing ratio, future disagreements and irritants are avoided. A built-in protection for the  Government and the Investors, which is strongly recommended by the proponent on the basis of the ARAMCO experience.
 
 WHO BUYS OR SELLS ALL DEUTERIUM PRODUCED?
 
 Using the ARAMCO experience since the 1950s for rapid development, the
 foreign investors shall have the first option to buy or sell the daily production of Deuterium at preset price of US$7.00 per barrel. This would  give a marketable Gas Station Retail Price of only Php0.90 or US$0.45 per liter or US$0.15 per gallon of Li-Hy Fuel from Deuterium. In effect, the  investors buy, after discounting their 40% sharing or at 40% less, at only US$4.20 per barrel giving them more flexibility on their international  market pricing policies.
 
 This Hydrogen Fuel gives twice the mileage economy of gasoline or LPG/LNG  fed cars. Old gasoline fed cars can be converted to Li-Hy Fuel use by utilizing the same conversion kits used in converting gasoline fed engines to LPG/LNG fed units. Brand new cars have been made to use LPG/LNG fuel more than ten years ago and the same car engines can use Li-Hy Fuel.
 
 In Japan and Canada , there are about 78% brand new cars running on LNG or  LPG. The same brand new units can use Li-Hy Fuel, which is more economical fuel than any other available in the international market today. Hydrogen Fuel does not emit any pollutants or harmful carbon monoxide but steam or  water vapor.
 
 PROPONENT AND ASSOCIATED INVESTORS
 
 This proponent conducted intensive studies on Research, Development, Philippine Investments Law, Corporation Code, organization, security, management,administration, operation, marketing, including the  breakthrough in Pump Technology with his associates.
 This breakthrough in Pump Technology will use Hydrodynamic Power in pumping Deuterium from more  than 7,000 meters below sea level.
 
 The U.S. Government sent an Investment Mission last June 1986 to the  Philippines and initial conferences were held with Overseas Private  Investment Corporation (OPIC) of Washington , D.C. , USA with the  participation of Government Officials and private businessmen in Manila . A  meeting with Trade and Industry Minister Jose Concepcion was held during  President Corazon C. Aquino’s trip to USA last September 1986. Another  meeting is scheduled this December 1986 in Washington D.C. with Deputy
 Minister Tomas Alcantara. Major U.S. investors are expected to attend and  participate. OPIC Mission has scheduled a series of February 1987 conferences in Manila with Deuterium Project as the banner line of  publication agenda. International Investors are expected to attend the technical presentation conferences in Manila in 1987.
 
 The Japanese Group of Investors is composed of the top eight industrial  companies, which will form a consortium to undertake a 4 million barrels capacity per day of Deuterium production.
 
 A Saudi Group visited the Philippines in September and October 1986 and was interested in a 2 million barrels daily production capacity of Deuterium.
 
 With the two top U.S. oil companies interested in a 6 million barrels capacity, Japanese investors in a 4 million barrels capacity, and the Saudi  Group in a 2 million barrels daily production capacity, the total prospective investors inquiries so far received is 12 million barrels daily production. The Philippines can supply all the requirements of the WHOLE  WORLD in Deuterium as Hydrogen Fuel and as Hydrogen for food, hemical, and  metal industries worldwide.
 
 TRANSFER OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY
 
 Hydrogen from Deuterium is the fuel of the future available in the  Philippines . This needs the transfer of high technology in pumping and  refining processes. The proponent has developed with an American Pump  Engineer a new breakthrough in pump technology using HYDRODYNAMIC POWER by  employing the RAM JET SUCTION TECHNOLOGY in the same manner that Jet Planes use the RAM JET PROPULSION to propel heavy loaded jet planes  today. Storage system will use the underground Tunnel Type Tanks in lieu  of the surface tank farm. Loading System will use the same types as those  for LPG and LNG Systems.
 
 RULE OF THUMB INVESTMENTS
 
 Subject to the refinements of cost data, project line items and other factors, the Rule of Thumb Investment Estimates is about US$200,000,000.00  for every 1,000,000 barrels daily production capacity – a very much lower  Investment/Capacity ratio than Petroleum production.
 At 12 million barrels  per day capacity, the estimated total investment is US$2,400,000,000.00 or  US$2.4 billion – the single largest industrial investment in the Philippines .
 
 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
 
 As the Feasibility Study on the Project has been started, this proponent  estimates that the Deuterium Project’s combined production capacities will  employ no less than 350,000 personnel of international pay rates and  allowances for unskilled, semi-skilled, technical, and professional levels  from the Philippines . Less than 2,000 foreign nationals will also be  employed on the transfer of technology. The type of operation is the same  as those in the Middle East petroleum production facilities, with the same  pay rates so as not to disturb international energy pricing and economy of  costs.
 
 BENEFITS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
 
 At 12 million barrels per day capacity priced at US$7.00 per barrel, this  is US$84 million per day or US$30.66 billion per year, enough to wipe out  all existing foreign debts of the Government in one year, revenue-wise in  Foreign Exchange.
 
 Public works, private construction, economic and financial booms are  expected to happen in the Philippines in the same manner as those which  happened in the Middle East and financial centers of the world from 1974 to  1984, with everybody earning their respective comfortable livelihood, while  pricing basic prime necessities at reasonable and affordable levels.
 
 Deuterium and Hydrogen Fuel is the final and lasting hope of the Filipino  People and the Government to be great again. This untapped source of  energy supply will make the Philippines one of the richest countries of the  world.

Reuters: All Oil and 20 trillion cubic feet Gas Produced in Recto Bank would NOT be exported- Philippines

by: joeborgz

Philippines says gas from disputed field should be used domestically

The Philippines will insist that any gas produced from an offshore field a unit of Philex Petroleum Corp hopes to develop with China's CNOOC Ltd be used domestically, a senior energy official said on Wednesday.

London-listed Forum Energy Plc, a unit of Philex, is holding talks with CNOOC, the Hong Kong-listed unit of China National Offshore Oil Company, for a possible joint venture to explore for oil and gas reserves in an area of the West Philippine Sea, a deal that may later lead to a production agreement, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said.

Service Contract 72 in the Reed Bank holds the Sampaguita field, which is estimated to have 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, dwarfing Malampaya, the Philippines' current sole gas producer with only about 2.7 tcf of gas.

"What I know is they are having regular meetings, that's the way to move forward," Petilla told reporters. "Certainly, we will not agree that it (the gas) will be sold elsewhere when we actually need it," he said.

Manila needs to find a replacement for the natural gas produced in the Malampaya field, which is expected to operate only until 2024, Petilla said.

Any deal would have to be reviewed by government lawyers, but Manila is open to an ownership structure of SC 72 similar to that of Malampaya, he said.

Malampaya is 90 percent owned by a consortium led by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. of Royal Dutch Shell Plc and 10 percent held by a state agency.

China says it owns the Reed Bank, but SC 72 falls within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with Manila insisting on sole sovereignty over the waters.

"We maintain that the area that Forum Energy is exploring is clearly within our EEZ and therefore any exploitation of the same has to be in conformity with our laws," Philippine President Benigno Aquino said in a forum with foreign press.

Forum approached CNOOC as early as last year for an agreement on a joint exploration venture so that the gas resources in the SC 72 block could be developed despite the sovereignty dispute.

Forum Energy has extended its drilling programme for SC 72 by two years to August 2015 due to the territorial dispute.

Forum had earlier disclosed plans to conduct a survey to identify and evaluate other gas prospects near the Sampaguita gas field and the Reed Bank, despite problems with previous survey and drilling attempts due the diplomatic wrangling between Manila and Beijing.

When asked about how sovereignty issues raised by China and the Philippines over the waters weigh on the discussions between Forum and CNOOC, Petilla said: "Those are the governments, I'm hopeful of the commercial (talks)."

There was no immediate reply from Forum Energy when asked about the talks.

CHURCHES CRUMBLE | Quake destroys Cebu, Bohol historical, tourist sites

by: joeborgz   
October 15, 2013 12:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines -- The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas including Bohol and Cebu destroyed centuries worth of history and valuable tourism assets.

In Bohol, the quake left portions of the Loon and Loboc Churches in rubble. Local officials said it would take time to rebuild.
"Loboc Church is a 17th century church which is a major tourism draw," Rep. Arthur Yap of Bohol's third district, where the church is located, told InterAksyon.com.
In a separate interview, Cebu Representative Ace Durano said the churches of Bohol are very much part of the heritage of Boholanos.
"This reflects the Boholanos' deep appreciation of their cultural assets and reflects their deep religiosity. The fact that these churches are very much part of the lives of the Boholanos render them valuable tourism assets," Durano, former secretary of the Department of Tourism, said.
The Church of San Pedro in Loboc, the second oldest church in Bohol, was built in 1602 but was damaged by fire. In 1638, a more sturdy structure was built, according to the website www.bohol.ph. As it was located near the river, it has survived a number of floods, but remained standing.
The church features paintings on the ceiling, and a Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. Its bell tower is about 100 meters from the church. Attached to the structure is a three-story convent, which houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. The museum keeps old statues of saints and some religious artifacts.
The church is also famous for the Loboc Children's Choir, a school-based chorale of school children from the Loboc Central Elementary School. Founded in 1980, the choir has held concerts all over the country and abroad, and has won several awards.
The Church of Our Lady of Light in Loon, the biggest church in Bohol, was built during the term of Fray Manuel de Elizalde in 1753. The building has two octagonal bell towers, and is fully symmetric. From Loon Church is a long stairway of 174 stone steps connecting it to Napo, the former seat of the town.
The other old churches in Bohol are the Baclayon Church and Dauis Church--both of which were also damaged by the quakes--and Maribojoc Church and Panglao Church.
Unfortunately, according to Australian experts, these beautiful historic churches in Bohol and Cebu were obviously not built to withstand a magnitude 7.2 earthquake.
In Cebu City, the Basilica Del Sto Nino also was not spared as its belfry crumbled during the quake while the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral also sustained damage

American Lawyer to face illegal China in behalf of the Philippines, Vietnam, Borneo ‘till 2014

 

 

by: joeborgz

Lawyer Paul Reichler points to the area in dispute on a map of South China Sea in his office in Washington, D.C [Melissa Golden for The Wall Street Journal]

Philippines Takes China's Sea Claims to Court

A Washington Lawyer Helps Manila Challenge Beijing's Sea Claims

Paul Reichler, a Washington-based lawyer, has spent much of his career representing small countries against big ones: Nicaragua versus the U.S.; Georgia versus Russia; Mauritius versus the U.K., Bangladesh versus India.

His first big victory made headlines in the 1980s when the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that U.S. support for Contra rebels trying to overthrow the left-wing Sandinista government of Nicaragua violated international law.

That's one reason to pay attention to the case he launched this year at a United Nations arbitration body: the Philippines versus China.

Lawyer Paul Reichler, who specializes in international public law, is taking China to court on behalf of the Philippines over a dispute in the South China Sea.  [Melissa Golden for The Wall Street Journal]

Mr. Reichler is the lead lawyer representing Manila in its legal challenge against China's claim to almost all of the South China Sea, signified by the "nine-dash line"-a U-shaped protrusion on Chinese maps that brushes the coastlines of smaller states, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The Philippines brought the case in January under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs the world's oceans. China is a signatory. The heart of the case is that the line has no basis under the U.N. convention, which states that coastal states are entitled to a territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles as well as a 200-mile economic exclusion zone in which they have rights to fish and extract undersea resources.

"Of course we're aware of the enormity of taking on a country like China. We'd be foolish not to" be aware, says Mr. Reichler, a litigator with the U.S. law firm Foley Hoag.

The Arbitral Tribunal has appointed a five-person panel of judges and issued a timetable for handling the case, including a deadline for the Philippines to submit its evidence by March 30 next year.

It's the first time that Beijing has been taken to a U.N. tribunal and China is furious. Most recently, it showed its displeasure by making clear that Philippine President Benigno Aquino III wouldn't be welcome at a trade event in southern China in August. The Chinese Foreign Ministry didn't respond to requests for comment on the arbitration action. But Beijing has said it will ignore the legal proceedings, without giving any reasons.

China insists that territorial disputes over islands in the South China Sea should be settled through bilateral negotiation under its frequently stated principle of "shelving disputes and going in for joint development." The sea contains potentially vast reserves of oil and natural gas. In addition, Beijing maintains that the nine-dash line presents no obstacle to freedom of navigation in a stretch of water that carries a third of global trade—a major U.S. concern.

Beijing's refusal to participate hasn't stopped the case going ahead. It could even speed its resolution: Mr. Reichler says that if China doesn't take part, the case could wrap up by the end of 2014. Such cases can otherwise drag on for up to five years.

To some skeptics, Manila's challenge is quixotic. Even if the tribunal decides it has jurisdiction over the case, and then finds in Manila's favor, Beijing could simply ignore the verdict.

Yet there are more than legal considerations at stake. The case is also significant for what it will signify about the way that China views the world.

China's self-image is wrapped up in its own sense of victimhood at the hands of imperialist powers led by Britain starting in the mid-19th century. That, in turn, has driven a Chinese foreign policy that professes to treat all countries equally, large or small, rich or poor.

But now that China is a global player, and dominates its own backyard, neighbors are asking anxious questions. Will it seek to work within existing international laws, or try to bend them to suit its purposes? As it acquires a blue-water navy to project power far from its own shores, will it be more tempted to use force to settle territorial disputes? And how will it treat smaller countries, like the Philippines, that feel bullied by China's growing military might?

Mr. Reichler is counting on international opinion to sway China's response toward any judgment that doesn't go China's way. "It's a terrible blow to a state's prestige to defy a tribunal's decision," he says.

From the Philippines' point of view, legal action was the last option after diplomacy failed. China wouldn't budge from its claim to "indisputable sovereignty" over the whole sea, say officials in Manila, and it was steadily encroaching on Philippine territory. Last year, Chinese ships fenced off the Scarborough Shoal, a fishermen's haven just west of Manila. China says the Philippines navy was harassing Chinese fishermen.

Manila conducted a global search for legal counsel before settling on Mr. Reichler. "We wanted the best," says one high-placed Philippine official.

China uses history to support its claims to the South China Sea and all its land features. These date back to its own imperial days centuries ago, when China treated its neighbors as mere vassals. However, the nine-dash line itself was first published on a map in 1947 by the Chinese Kuomintang government, and the Communists inherited it after the civil war that brought the Communists, led by Chairman Mao, to power.

The line extends almost to Indonesia, some 900 miles from China's southernmost territory, Hainan Island. Such a far-reaching claim has no parallel anywhere in the world.

As for the islands, rocks and reefs that fall within the line, Mr. Reichler makes a technical argument in the Philippines' case. The convention rules that a habitable island is entitled to a 200-mile economic exclusion zone. A rock that juts out of the sea gets 12 miles. A semisubmerged reef gets nothing.

Mr. Reichler's argument is that all the sea features that the Philippines disputes with China are either rocks or reefs. And, therefore, even if China owns them, it has only limited rights to the surrounding resources.

His legal team is pulling together a massive document to support that contention consisting of aerial photographs, naval charts, hydrology reports and geographical findings. "I'm not in a position to say how China will react," he says. "My job is to say [to the Philippines]: 'This is a good case for you to win or not.'"

Write to Andrew Browne at andrew.browne@wsj.com

DOLE ready assistance to OFW's for possible “ban” on the hiring of Maid workers for Hong Kong

by: joeborgz

President Benigno S. Aquino III during the 16th ASEAN Plus Three Summit

President Aquino expressed hope that Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying would tell his people about the Philippines' desire to move forward after the 2010 Manila hostage crisis.

Aquino met with Leung at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali, Indonesia on Monday before proceeding here for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and related meetings.

The President said he explained to Leung the reasons behind the Philippines' refusal to issue a public apology on behalf of a deranged individual who killed eight Hong Kong tourists he took hostage three years ago.

He said the act of a "mentally unstable" individual alone should not make the whole of the Filipinos and the Philippines liable.

The Philippine government had expressed regret and extended its sincere condolences several times and had given necessary assistance, including compensation, to the families of the victims of the hostage crisis.

The government also took measures like increasing the number of tourist police units in the city to prevent the same unfortunate incident from happening again.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said high-level talks would continue because "we want to put the issue behind us."

Carandang said they were optimistic that both sides would clarify things and take steps to move forward.

The President also said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is ready to assist overseas Filipino workers who might face another threat of a ban on the hiring of Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

 

TIME Magazine : President PNOY - 2nd Worlds Most Influential person, a notch higher Barack Obama

by: joeborgz

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III - 2nd worlds' most influential person.  LLUSTRATION BY DAVID DESPAU FOR TIME. 

An honorable time

WITH all the negative issues and events currently ongoing, both in the Philippines and around the globe, this comes as a refreshing bit of good news.

Recently, President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) emerged as one of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world for 2013.

PNoy ranks second among the world's 23 most influential leaders, next to Rand Paul (a junior US senator from Kentucky) and a notch higher than President Barack Obama, who is in third place.

"In a country of nicknames, Filipinos proudly call their President PNoy — a pun on the word they use for themselves: Pinoy. For his courage, however, he really should have the pet name the family gave his eldest sister Maria Elena: Ballsy," wrote TIME news director, Howard Chua-Eoan, to describe Aquino.

Chua-Eoan said that while PNoy may have inherited the legacy of his parents, Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. and former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino, he "quickly began making his own name."

"The sputtering economy stabilized and became hot. Aquino pushed through a reproductive-rights law that many said was impossible in the fervently Catholic nation. Most important, he became the face of the regional confrontation with Beijing over its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea. It is a brave stance, the long-term consequences still unknown,"Chua-Eoan further said.

PNoy reacted modestly to this recognition, saying that he is merely the "face" of Filipinos.

"This is perhaps a recognition of our countrymen, of all Filipinos, more than anything else. I'm just the face. Like in battles, I'm just the first one to move forward, and I accept that. But if there is any triumph, it's a triumph for everybody," he said.

"We have been reminded that we did quite a lot in terms of achievements. It's clear to me that we only did this because the people are behind me," PNoy further said.

The president credits his motivation to the public's support of the reforms that his administration initiated.

"...because our countrymen are there behind us, they are the ones that gave us the opportunity to reform and continue to support us until now, then I can accept with much honor that distinction – on their behalf rather than for myself," PNoy said.

According to Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, TIME Magazine's article recognized "the true grit which characterizes his (Mr. Aquino's) leadership, and the optimism, dynamism and renewed pride which has restored the standing of our nation in the eyes of Filipinos and the world."

"We take pride in how the ideas of good governance and inclusive growth that are the major thrusts of the Aquino presidency resonate not just with Filipinos but with the entire world. This is especially relevant today, as countries all over are trying to become more inclusive economically, politically, and even culturally, President Aquino is already doing it in the Philippines," Lacierda said.

Of course, not everyone feels the same way.

Some senatoriables gave mixed feedback about this recognition.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan thinks that PNoy's inclusion in the list is not enough to make Filipinos feel the benefits of economic growth.

"We should be happy, but that will not be enough to convince our people that our economy is growing...This honor is deserved I think, but for our people to be equally proud and to feel this on the ground, we should do more than recognize the President," Honasan said.

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay opined that PNoy being regarded as a most influential person/leader does not mean much for the poor.

"The ordinary Filipinos are concerned about where to get money they can use to feed their families, how to survive the next day, what will be their job to generate income. That is the focus of ordinary Filipinos," she said.

Nevertheless, this should still be a cause for elation and celebration among Filipinos.

While the Philippines continues to flourish (albeit slowly but surely) and be regarded with more respect in the global community, there are things that we are better off removing from our own "list" -- crab mentality most of all.

After all, PNoy said it best: his victory is our victory.

Davao, Philippines ranked as 4th safest in 349 cities in the World over Seoul Korea and Hongkong

Davao, Philippines ranked as 4th safest in 349 cities in the World over Seoul Korea and Hongkong

 

 

reporting live by: joeborgz

Screen captured from Numbeo.com website

DAVAO -- The city of Davao ranked fourth as the world's safest place, according to website Numbeo.com.

Out of 349 entries, Davao City is the only metropolis in the Philippines that made it to the top 10. It has a crime index of 13.27 and safety index of 86.73.

Makati landed at 20th place with a crime index of 18.75 and safety index of 81.25.

The only other cities listed from the Philippines are: Manila with a crime index of 64.54 and safety index of 35.46, and Cebu with a crime index of 46.88 and safety index of 53.12.

According to the website, safety index is, on the other way, quite opposite of crime index. If the city has a high safety index, it is considered very safe.

It said that it is 93.75 percent safe to walk alone during daylight in Davao, while 76.69 percent safe to walk alone during night.

"These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past two years. If value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high," the website said.

With regard the crime index of 18.75, the website explained, the issue with the highest rate is the problem on corruption and bribery with 31.67, followed by "worries things from car stolen" with 29.69, then "worries home broken and things stolen" with 26.56.

The issue with the least crime rate is "worries being subject to a physical attack because of your skin color, ethnic origin or religion" with 6.67.

Treat with caution

The source Numbeo claims to be the world's largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide.

It provides current and timely information on world living conditions including cost of living, housing indicators, health care, traffic, crime and pollution.

But it gathers data through user input, thus although it is popularly consulted as source for cost of living, its data have to be addressed with caution.

User input can skew data and will not reflect the whole picture, especially from places where there is not much available data. It cannot also be ascertained where and how the numbers can be verified.

The crime and safety indexes were published online at http://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_current.jsp around 11 p.m. of August 8.

The website also said that Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates placed first among the safest place with a safety index rate of 90.47, then Lugano, Switzerland (90.16), and third is Marbella, Spain (88.78).

Fifth is Taipei, Taiwan (86.26); next is Munich, Germany (86.06); Quebec City, Canada (85.55) ranked seventh; then Hong Kong, Hong Kong (85.51) as eighth; Seoul, South Korea (84.28) on ninth place; and Bern, Switzerland (84.24) as tenth.

Netizens happy

Netizens all over the country lauded the result posted online.

Chris Ryl said: "Akalain mo ba naman nasa Mindanao yun pa ang mas least of crime rate sa Pilipinas! at tumatak pa sa buong mundo... GO DAVAO!!!"

"Wow congrats. Ipahiram nyo po ang DDS sa Maynila pra maubos mga kriminal dun," netizen Kenneth G. Taningco said.

Some netizens also attributed the result to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the city's executive chief for an unprecedented seventh term.

"Kung ganyan katapang ni mayor ng Davao ang nag papatakbo ng Pinas at pinapairal ang disiplina at batas, talagang my takot ang mga mokong gumawa ng kalokohan. Mabuhay ka mayor Doterte. Lagi mo akong kasangga sa ganyang prinsipyo," netizen Al Dallu said.

Edmund Moonraker said, "Thumbs up!! po ako kay Mayor Rudy R. Duterte. Maganda po ang kanyang pagdala ng Davao City. Mabuhay po kayo Mayor Duterte puwedi na po kayong tumakbo ng presidente sa 2016."

"Duterte for president!" Jevy Carretero Ramos said.

Philippines with other 19 countries Pledges Billion Dollars to Boost IMF

 

reporting live by:joeborgz 

20 Countries Pledges to Boost IMF (International Monetary Fund) to save Europe

1. Belgium - $13.2 Billion
2. Brazil - $10 Billion
3. Britain (UK)- $15 Billion
4. China - $43 Billon
5. France - $41.4 Billion
6. Germany - $54.7 Billion
7. India - $10 Billion
8. Italy - $31 Billion
9. Japan - $60 Billion
10. Mexico - $10 Billion
11. Netherlands - $18 Billion
12. Philippines - $1 Billion
13. Russia - $10 Billion
14. Saudi Arabia - $15 Billion
15. Spain - $ 19.6 Billion
16. Sweden - $10 Billion
17. Switzerland - $10 Billion
18. Singapore - pledged smaller undisclosed amount
19. South Africa - $2 Billion
20. South Korea - $15 Billion
21. USA - refused to pledge

President Aquino administration's pledge to lend $1 billion USD to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday drew mixed reactions.

A militant labor group slammed the administration's pledge, saying the funds should be spent for Filipinos suffering from widespread unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and hunger.

On the other hand, an administration ally in the House praised the government for agreeing to pitch in to the IMF's fund-raising efforts to bail out tumbling economies in Europe.

"Planet Earth to the Aquino government: The Philippines is still a poor country," the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said in a statement.

But Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol "Magi" Gunigundo said the move to lend $1 billion from the country's gross international reserves to the IMF would "actually hit two birds with one stone."

KMU said the pledge, which was announced at the recent Group of 20 meeting in Mexico by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr., would most likely be sourced from taxpayers' money and go to the IMF's "war chest" for helping economies distressed by the current severe economic crisis.

"What were they thinking? That amount can be used to improve social services such as education, health, and housing and build basic industries to generate employment," KMU chair Elmer Labog said.

"Where will the Aquino government get this huge amount? From a new tax measure, which will worsen the poverty and hunger being experienced by workers and the people?" he asked.

"We will earn interest and help our kababayans or overseas Filipino workers in Europe to keep their jobs by helping their economies survive the current turmoil," said Gunigundo. "If Europe's economy falls, our OFWs in the region will lose their jobs not to mention our exports will also fall."

Gunigundo said that while the Philippines does have its own problems, "we should have a global perspective considering that what happens in Europe will be felt in other regions such as Asia and the US."

Philippines with other 19

The country is one of an additional 12 that contributed to new crisis-fighting funds now amounting to $456 billion, the IMF said in a statement. The latest level is up from the $430 billion committed last April.

"Countries large and small have rallied to our call for action, and more may join," the statement quoted IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde as saying.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the country wanted to help promote global economic and financial stability.

"The BSP's commitment to the Fund's bilateral borrowing facility is the Philippines' show of support...," central bank Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., said in a text message.

The new pledges to boost IMF resources were made during a recent G20 meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico, although the Philippines is not part of the group of major economies.

"Having facilities such as this in place does not indicate -- one way or the other -- that the view is such that the situation can worsen," Mr. Tetangco noted.

"Rather, prudence dictates that the best time to have safety nets in place is when you don't need them yet. The facility is there when it is needed," he added.

The Philippines is a participant in the IMF's Financial Transactions Plan (FTP). From the country's contributions, the IMF drew down 96.4 million special drawing rights (SDR) or approximately $148.9 million as of the end of last year.

Participation in the FTP since 2010 paved the way for the country' admission to the IMF's New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB) facility. The Philippines' commitment under this facility amounts to 340 million SDRs or about $524 million.

As of April, the IMF had drawn 34.7 million SDRs or $53.5 million from the NAB commitment to extend assistance to Portugal and Greece.

Dennis Botman, IMF resident representative, also welcomed the Philippines' new commitment.

"The [Philippine] government has made a generous contribution to the global firewall and the IMF is impressed by, and indeed grateful for, the strong support demonstrated by the Philippines," he said in an e-mail.

"This commitment will greatly help the collective endeavor to rekindle growth, restore confidence, and create jobs to put the global economy on the path of sustained recovery." Earlier this year, IMF made the call for additional resources to deal primarily with the euro zone debt crisis and its possible spillover.

BSP chief: $1B loan to IMF will earn interest, goodwill

Having near record-high foreign reserves of $76 billion, the Philippines is "capable of lending $1 billion" that will earn interest while helping other countries beset with financial problems, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. pointed out Wednesday.

"The Philippines is supporting the global efforts to stabilize the world economy and maintain it on a growth path. This is the reason why the Philippines is extending a $1 billion loan to the IMF," Tetangco said in a statement.

"We are a member of the global community of nations and it is also in our interest to ensure economic and financial stability across the globe," he added.

This pledge to the IMF fund marks the third time that the country has extended a helping hand to other countries that were in troubled fiscal waters. In the past months, the country pitched in for a fund to assist troubled European economies and another buffer fund, the Chiang Mai Multilateral Initiative.

Getting used to being a creditor nation

Tetangco recalled that the Philippines was an IMF borrower for 40 years until 2006.

"We finally fully paid our loans to IMF in December 2006 as the implementation of continuing reforms have made our economy stronger. Today, our economic fundamentals are sound, our banks are able to meet domestic credit needs, and we are capable of lending $1 billion from our international reserves to the IMF," the BSP chief noted.

At the G20 Leaders' Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde thanked the countries " large and small (that) "have rallied to our call for action, and more may join."

"I salute them and their commitment to multilateralism. As a result, total pledges have risen to US$456 billion, almost doubling our lending capacity," she said.

Lagarde explained that "(t)hese resources are being made available for crisis prevention and resolution and to meet the potential financing needs of all IMF members. They will be drawn only if they are needed, and if drawn, will be refunded with interest."

Former Philippine President FIDEL V. RAMOS met Sigma Alpha Epsilon - SAE Singapore Alumni Chapter








reported by: joeborgz

 

SAE Singapore Alumni chapter meeting with President Fidel V. Ramos & the Philippine Ambassador in Singapore Mrs. Minda Cruz last April 21, 2013

 

 

The Philippine Embassy and the Filipino Community in Singapore meeting with the former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos discussing regarding the Philippine Economy and the current situatuion in Zamboanga City during the stand off by the MNLF rebels and talk about the real history in Mindanao during his term and especially during the terms of Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos regime. The former President straight away answers all the questions coming  from the filipinos and visitors who are concerned what really happened in Mindanao and the country Philippines itself.