Erupting underwater volcano off Spanish coast.

Residents of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro were recently evacuated after weeks of earthquakes and the growing threat of an erupting underwater volcano that is making its presence known on the surface with an expanding, bubbling patch of dark debris.

5 Korean, 12 Filipino mountaineers arrested in Mt. Banahaw

Inquirer News - An environment official and policemen arrested five South Koreans and 12 Filipino mountaineers inside the prohibited areas of Mount Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon, on Sunday.

Salud Pangan, park superintendent for Banahaw, identified the foreigners as Hak Su Kim, Eob Kyo Lee, Yanug Su Kim, Nak Si Ji and Chang Yong Lee, all of Barangay (village) Iruhin in Tagaytay City. They were members of one of two mountaineer groups found in an area which was still closed to outsiders, she said.

“They claimed that they were not aware that Banahaw is still closed (to the public). But it is impossible for any mountaineer not to know that,” Pangan said by phone.

The Filipino mountaineers with the Koreans were identified as Jeffrey del Rosario, Dave Dela Cruz, Bryan Maglalang, Roderick Perez, Aries Ilocario and John Paul Dulan.

Pangan said she received information on Friday that two groups of mountaineers, including some foreigners, would sneak into the mountain.

“I immediately alerted our forest guards to monitor the entrances, but the trespassers eluded my men when they sneaked very early (morning) and under cover of darkness,” Pangan said.

Police said the first group was composed of five Koreans and six Filipinos, while the second had 17 Filipinos from Metro Manila.

The 17 were identified as Wilson Labrador, Jonorie Boticario, Jaybee Laurel, Feil Gulane, Feves Estacion, Mark Arnold, Vilson Gahoy, Anne Estipona, Ronald Tugade, Dana Alarcon, Jan Ann, Rommel Anthony Britana, Michael Joseph Abalos, Jedeah Mariz Claro, Serlina Surian, Dennis Pensotes and Alfred Lazona.

The climbers were brought to the Dolores police station and were expected to be transferred to Lucena City on Monday. They will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 9847 or the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) Act of 2009.

The offense is punishable by a fine of P5,000 to P500,000 or imprisonment of one to six years or both.

Pangan warned mountaineers and religious devotees that they would be arrested if they entered the prohibited mountain spots. They could only go as far as areas identified by billboard signs, she said.

In February, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stopped pilgrims and mountaineers from sneaking into the closed areas through the backdoor being offered by several resorts at the foot of Banahaw.

In 2004, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) started a a five-year program to resurrect the mountain’s resources which were damaged by slash-and-burn farmers and visitors who littered the place with trash.

With barbed wires, the PAMB sealed off several trails leading to certain areas in the bosom of Banahaw.

Smelly socks could help fight malaria

CBCnews World

The odour of smelly socks may save lives in Africa.

Not-for-profit funding organization Grand Challenges Canada announced a grant Wednesday to help a Tanzanian doctor develop a trap that attracts and kills mosquitoes with the smell of dirty socks.

Mosquitoes spread malaria, which kills about 800,000 people every year, mostly children. About 90 per cent of those deaths are in Africa.

Dr. Fredros Okumu and his scientific team at the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania have learned that socks attract four times more mosquitoes than a human being.

Bed nets and spraying are frequently used indoors, but the trap could help guard against malaria outdoors.

The $775,000 grant is being jointly funded by Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Grand Challenges Canada describes itself as a not-for-profit organization "dedicated to improving the health of people in developing countries through innovation."

Its chairman is Canadian financier and philanthropist Joseph L. Rotman.

Sad state of Manila Zoo

Amid calls to improve the facilities at the country’s capital zoo, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have renewed its appeal to close down Manila zoo and let the animals live in their natural habitat.

“Improvements are never going to replace natural habitat. There is no such thing as a good zoo,” Rochelle Regodon, PETA Asia-Pacific campaigns manager told Yahoo! Southeast Asia in a phone interview.

Regodon said it would be better to “lock up the zoo and stop bringing in animals.”

Photos of wounded, unhealthy, and emaciated animals in Manila zoo have been making rounds in the Internet and have fueled calls to improve the decades-old tourist destination. Manila zoo is also among the trending topics for the Philippines in micro-blogging site Twitter.

Regodon cited the case of the elephant “Mafi,” a Manila zoo attraction for 30 years now.

“It’s not his natural habitat. He’s in a small cemented area. We already contacted a sanctuary in the U.S. and they agreed to take her in,” Regodon said. However, local authorities refused to heed their calls.

“We wouldn’t impose the expenses [of the transfer] to the Manila government. We will find ways to make it happen,” she added.

Regodon also laments the case of “Sisi,” an orangutan who lived in Manila zoo since 1981 and died there two years ago.

Sisi had to bear living in a “tiny, litter-filled concrete-and-steel enclosure” and was “continually on display in a cage that was surrounded by noisy souvenir stands and food vendors,” PETA said in one of its petitions.

Regodon said locking up animals also defeats the purpose of creating zoos to educate kids.

“What should we be educating children? There is no educational value in keeping animals in a zoo,” said Regodon noting that students can still learn about animals through books and the Internet.

YAHOO PH

Meanwhile, the Malacanang on Thursday said it shares the concern expressed by the public and that they have alerted the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

“As a response, the BAI, through the Committee on Animal Welfare, said that it continuously engages in a comprehensive discussion with the animal advocates, particularly on the condition of Mali the elephant and other animals in the zoo,”

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also urged concerned citizens to help restore the Manila zoo.

“It is noteworthy that concerned citizens have expressed the willingness to assist in any way they can, to help the Manila Zoo improve its facilities and raise its standards. We are encouraged by this demonstration of public spirit on the part of our fellow citizens,” said Lacierda.

He said that those who want to help raise funds to restore the Manila Zoo can call 468-9498 and 383-6862.

There is also a signature campaign via petition site change.org.

Coca-Cola-WWF plant billboard absorbs pollution

Billboards along Metro Manila's busy thoroughfares are a dime a dozen, all touting the latest project, product, service or promotion. But there's one on EDSA that's recently caught the eye of drivers, motorists and passers-by, and that's the latest Coca-Cola and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) billboard.

The eye-catching advertisement stands 60 feet tall and measures 60 feet wide. On the ad, a Coke bottle's silhouette is surrounded by Fukien tea plants, supposedly to absorb air pollution.

Botanist Anthony Gao explains how each plant works to absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year, beneficial to Metro Manila's notorious pollution problem. "This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, on estimate."

According to Coca-Cola, only recyclable materials were used for the billboard: the plants are housed in 3,600 recycled bottles of different products, designed to contain the plants securely and to allow the plants to grow sideways. Holes were added to ensure proper drainage and to hold the drip lines in place.

In order for the plants to get the necessary water and nutrients, a drip irrigation system was installed, which works on a schedule. This method saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to slowly drip to the roots of plants, and allows the plants to get what they need when they need it.
Together with the WWF, Coca-Cola aims to draw attention on water stewardship and climate protection.

Coca-Cola Philippines President Guillermo Aponte says the billboard "embodies the company's 'Live Positively' commitment to make a positive difference in the world by incorporating sustainability into everything that we do."

YAHOO.COM

DENR warns collection, trade of "Gecko", also known as "Tuko"

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has taken steps to stop the rampant illegal collection and trade of the Philippine Bow-Fingered Gecko, officially known as Tokay Gecko"” or “Tuko” in Pilipino.

An advisory released on June 17 by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Pangasinan confirmed previous reports there was a mad hunt in the province and elsewhere for Tokay Gecko, which is allegedly being sold at fantastic prices to still unidentified buyers.

PENRO chief Leduina Co said the rampant illegal collection and trade of the Bow-Fingered Gecko already reached the attention of DENR higher authorities months back, prompting them to issue a memorandum to their field offices to be more persistent and vigilant in monitoring the collection, transport and trade of geckos and other banned wildlife species.

The memorandum was issued by Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., DENR undersecretary for field operations and environmental law enforcement task force focal officer, warning appropriate legal actions would be taken against any person found violating Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” signed into law on July 30, 2001.

The trading, collection, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives and transporting of wildlife (Chapter IV, Section 27 of the Wildlife Act) are considered illegal.

The “tuko,” although not included among the list of protected wildlife species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) can be considered as part of “other wildlife species, Adobo said.

This means that “tuko”, not being classified as either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, is under threat from adverse factors such as over-collection, which can ultimately lead to their being vulnerable or extinct.

Penalties and/or fines for violations inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species range from imprisonment for 10 days to one month and/or fine of P2,000 to P20,000; imprisonment of 10 days to one month and a fine of P1,000 to P5,000; or imprisonment of five days to 10 days and a fine of P200 to P1,000.

Co said that although “tuko” was not yet considered endangered, the public was advised to refrain from doing any business involving it or any other wildlife species.

"All existing wildlife has a role to play in our complex biodiversity and as human beings, we must protect and preserve them, not abuse or harm them,” she said.

The Geckos are being traded through the Internet where a 30-gram gecko commands a price of P600,000. (PNA)

New Environmentally Educational Board Game

A new environmentally educational board game called Ethica lets players assume the role of an investment banker or venture capitalist and see how well their green intentions stand up in the world of international finance. The game represents part of the developing trend of environmental education through play.

Ethica is designed to be played by between six and 27 players. Each player assumes the role of a family or banker with money to invest. Players take turns to visit banks where they have to choose a share investment, cooperative investment or a savings account, each investment gives the player either a positive or negative financial, social or environmental score. The winner of the game is the player with the lowest score after three rounds.

The game's developers state that it is based upon the principles behind the collaborative ethical investment group Reseau Financement Alternatif. According to a June 15 statement to Relaxnews by a spokesman for the company, the game will be available at the end of August and will be distributed throughout the UK, France, Switzerland, Poland and Spain.

The game is part of the developing trend of environmental education through play. Other environmentally and ethically themed board games include Bioviva, a question-and-answer-themed game, Earthopoly, a green version of Monopoly, The Green Game and Environchallenge, all of which are available to buy at amazon.com and other retailers.

A range of environmentally educational games are also available online. Perhaps the most successful is Fate of the World, which won "best artistic response" at the 2011 Climate Week Awards and was nominated at the eighth annual Games for Change awards. Players of Fate of the World take charge of an international organization which must make choices on energy usage and emissions while continuing to ensure the stability of the Earth's growing population; the game can be downloaded for $9.95 (roughly €7).

Etiquette and the people you don’t want to meet on the MRT

BY: Alexander Villafania

Other than EDSA, the Metro Rail Transit – 3 (MRT) is the next busiest transport system in the Philippines. Nearly half a million people use the MRT daily and with the trains almost full almost every hour of the day, the chances of meeting a strange person is extremely high.
Here are some examples of people you don’t want to meet in any of the crowded trains in Metro Manila:

The Crazed Addict – For whatever reason, this is the person you’d most hate to be riding with in a train. The crazy addict would tend to mumble or talk a lot of nonsense and even argue about anyone he thinks is sneering at him. The hard part is when this type of person suddenly becomes physically violent. Watch an example of this type of person in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWjsXcTFOnc)

The Preacher – Buses are no longer the domain of religious fanatics who preach the Bible to passengers. These types of persons are still rarely seen in metro trains. Sadly, even the load sound of the train traveling on metal tracks isn’t enough to drown out the sound of these people who scream at the top of their voice in order to let everyone in the train cab hear the Word of God. An example of the preacher is found in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qILldqRKnZc).

The Glutton – There are reasons why eating is prohibited in trains and they’re almost always related to trash and also the odor of food in a crowded, air conditioned train. Even in small amounts, it’s not ethical to eat inside trains. If everyone does it, imagine the leftovers, the trash, and the smell of the train. One instance is this couple (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njzDs4EJOGw) eating a rice bowl inside a crowded MRT cab.

The Talker – People using mobile phones tend to speak louder than normal, which is acceptable if they’re in wide open spaces. But think about what other passengers in a train would be thinking when they hear you speak loudly about your life story to someone else on the other line. While other people wouldn’t mind, it’s still annoying for others. Now, imagine a vulgar passenger spewing profanities at someone on the phone, like this woman during a train ride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCgQd1ZdNQI). Now that would be really annoying.

The Smooch -- It’s okay for couples to show how much they’re in love by giving a smack or two but what if it becomes too much that it’s no longer a tender kiss but a full-blown make out session? Yes, these couples can say they’re just being in love but we’re still in a country where the most often comment in seeing such people is “get a room.” But what if the make out session is between two guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g_X95BEaoI) like these two?

The Smelly – Passengers with bad odor is fairly common in train rides, especially during rush hour in the morning and late afternoon. Due the Philippines’ constant humidity, the odor of tired, sweaty people can become overpowering. Add to the problem of crowding and the absence of air conditioning, people could literally lose consciousness when the odor becomes too much.

The Bully – There are people who think they require more space inside the train than everyone else so they push others aside in order to get more space. They complain about feeling suffocated and would let everyone hear it. There is no reasoning with these people and even if someone tries to tell them to get off the train and take a cab (which is actually the best recourse for these bullies), those who intervene would only get a dose of screams and curses.

Riding the MRT will always be a challenge especially in a city where everyone would want to have a faster and relatively safer way of traveling along EDSA. Needless to say, people must still practice some etiquette if they want to remain satisfied in taking one of the busiest modes of transport in Metro Manila.

Follow the basic guidelines in the MRT – This means no eating, no smoking, no pushing and definitely no bringing of prohibited items such as drugs, guns, and knives in trains. Also do not ride when under the influence of alcohol. While most drunk people forget this, persons who see someone intoxicated are advised to take it to guards in every station.

Give way to others – There’s a reason why certain areas in a train cab do not have seats; these are reserved for disabled people on wheelchairs. There are also areas reserved for the elderly, pregnant women, and other types of disabled people. It does not matter if you’re tired, these people are in more sensitive situations than you are so give way.

Respect authority and facility – People do get angry when taking the MRT especially when their items have to be checked. No matter how insignificant the security checkpoints are when entering train stations, passengers have to accept this fact. People also have to avoid damaging equipment and facilities inside the MRT in many cases, the automatic door mechanisms get damaged when the doors do not operate when people forcibly open them.

Respect others – No matter how despicable others are, it’s still best to be nice. A long day at work is stressful. Don’t add anymore to your stress.

Emperor penguin takes wrong turn to New Zealand

In this June 20, 2011 photo released by New Zealand's Department of Conservation, an Emperor penguin walks along Peka Peka Beach in New Zealand after it got lost while hunting for food. The young Antarctic Emperor penguin has taken a rare wrong turn and ended up stranded on a New Zealand beach.

He's healthy, well-fed and far from home. And he's quickly become the most popular attraction on a New Zealand beach. If only he could talk.

A young penguin apparently took a wrong turn while swimming near Antarctica and endured a 2,000-mile journey to New Zealand, the first time in 44 years that one of the creatures has been sighted here in the wild.

Christine Wilton was walking her dog Monday when she discovered the black-and-white bird.

"It was out-of-this-world to see it," she said. "Like someone just dropped it from the sky."

Wilton said the scene on Peka Peka Beach reminded her of the 2006 movie "Happy Feet," in which a young penguin finds himself stranded far from home.

The bird "was totally in the wrong place," she said.

Estimated to be about 10 months old and 32 inches (80 centimeters) tall, the Emperor penguin was probably born during the last Antarctic winter and may have been searching for squid and krill when it got lost, experts said.

Emperors are the tallest and largest species of penguin. They can grow up to 4 feet (122 centimeters) tall and weigh more than 75 pounds (34 kilograms).

Their amazing journey to breeding grounds deep in the Antarctic was chronicled in the 2005 documentary "March of the Penguins," which highlighted their ability to survive — and breed — despite the region's brutal winter.

Emperor penguins can spend months at a time in the ocean, coming ashore only to molt or rest, said Colin Miskelly, a curator at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. He did not know what might have caused this particular one to become disoriented.

The penguin appeared healthy and well-fed, with plenty of body fat. He probably came ashore for a rest, Miskelly said.

However, he added, the penguin needs to find its way back south soon if it is to survive. Despite the onset of the New Zealand winter, the bird is probably hot and thirsty, and it had been eating wet sand.

"It doesn't realize that the sand isn't going to melt inside it," Miskelly said. "They typically eat snow, because it's their only liquid."

However, he said, the bird was in no immediate danger from dehydration because Emperor penguins can also drink salt water in the summer.

A small group of people, mostly parents with children, gathered Monday to watch the penguin on the beach on North Island's western coast. Some photographed him as he stood quietly on the sand or lay in the surf.

Peter Simpson, a program manager for New Zealand's Department of Conservation, said officials are asking onlookers to stand back about 30 feet (10 meters) from the creature and to avoid letting dogs near it.

Other than that, he said, officials plan to let nature take its course. Simpson said the bird could live several weeks before needing another meal.

The last confirmed sighting of a wild Emperor in New Zealand was in 1967 at the southern Oreti Beach, Simpson said.

This time, the bird appears to weigh about 22 pounds (10 kilograms) — healthy for its age, but only about one-third of the weight a penguin would need before it could survive a breeding cycle on the Antarctic ice, Miskelly said.

KEN doesn't date girls who are into deforestation. (Goodbye Barbie)

Rainforest scandal REVEALED!

The habitat of the endangered Sumatran tiger is under threat from deforestation for pulp and paper. Image: Alamy

A rainforest scandal has just broken up one of the world's most iconic couples, as it has been revealed that Barbie, the world's most famous doll, has been wrapping herself in destroyed rainforest. This revelation has led Barbie's longtime beau Ken to announce publicly that he "doesn't date girls who are into deforestation."

Barbie's scandalous deforestation habit is fed by her manufacturer Mattel, who uses paper products made by notorious forest destroyer Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). APP continues to rely on clearance of carbon-rich rainforests and peatlands in Indonesia despite the dire consequences for the climate, endangered animals like the Sumatran tiger, and local communities.

Priceless rainforest and animal habitat are being lost - all so that Barbie can wrap herself in cheap, throw-away packaging! Mattel needs to put an end to Barbie's destructive deforestation habit and immediately stop using APP products.

Join Ken in denouncing rainforest destroyers - send a message to Mattel today. You can join Ken right now on Facebook (Not on Facebook? Make sure Mattel knows how you feel about rainforest destroyers here.)

Last year with your help Nestlé was convinced to remove rainforest destruction from its supply chain. Now we are counting on your support and your voice again as we continue to demand the change needed to protect Indonesia’s rainforests.

Article from Greenpeace.org and YAHOO!

Sandra Inez Seifert Profile - Miss Philippines Earth 2009

Sandra Inez Seifert (born 1984 in Taipei, Taiwan) is the daughter of Zenaida Suravilla of Bacolod City and Harald Seifert of Germany who are now based in the Philippines.


Seifert took her elementary education in a Montessori and at St. Scholastica’s Academy in Bacolod City and high school at Brent International School, Eurocampus – Philippines, an international, co-educational day and boarding school, where she graduated valedictorian, the highest rank among those who graduated during her time.


She is a “straight A” student at the City University of New York in the United States of America, where she obtained her healthcare nursing degree. She passed the New York nursing board examination in 2008 in the United States.


Miss Philippines-Earth2009 Complete Results

Miss Philippines Earth 2009
Sandra Seifert (Negros Occidental)

Miss Philippines Eco Tourism
Adie Adelantar (Victorias City)

Miss Philippines Fire
Patricia Marie Tumulak (Quezon City)

Miss Philippines Air
Michelle Martha Braun (Aklan)

Miss Philippines Water
Catherine Loyola (Sydney Australia)


Miss Earth 2009 Official Results

Miss Earth 2009 Official Winners

Miss Brazil, Larissa Ramos was crowned as the Miss Earth 2009. The coronation night was held in the Eco Village Resort and Convention Center in Boracay, Aklan last November 22, 2009. Our Miss Philippines, Sandra Seifert was hailed as the Miss Earth-Air 2009. The lists below are the winners and finalist of the pageant.

MISS EARTH
LARISSA RAMOS (Brazil)

Miss Air
Sandra Seifert (Philippines)

Miss Water
Jessica Barboza (Venezuela)

Miss Fire
Alejandra Echeverria (Spain)

Finalists
Alejandra Castillo Munera (Colombia)
Pascale Nelide (Martinique)
Izabela Wilczek (Poland)
Rujinan Phanseethum (Thailand)

Semi-Finalists
Magalie Thierry (France)
Nonna Diakonidze (Georgia)
Shriya Kishore (India)
Yeju Park (Korea)
Kayleigh O'Reilly (Northern Ireland)
Gabriela Rejala (Paraguay)
Valerie Lim (Singapore)
Chanel Grantham (South Africa)


Miss Earth 2009 Winners for Major Awards

* Best in Swimsuit / Best in Long Gown – Miss Earth Philippines, Sandra Seifert
* Best in National Costume – Miss Earth Tanzania, Evelyne Almasi
* Best in Talent – Miss Earth Tahiti, Niuriki Teremate
* Miss Photogenic – Miss Earth Czech Republic, Tereza Budkova
* Miss Congeniality / Miss Friendship – Miss Earth Switzerland, Graziella Rogers

Miss Earth 2009 Winners for Minor/Sponsor Awards

* Miss Jubilee Presidents’ Foundation- Miss Earth Philippines, Sandra Seifert
* Miss Pasigandahan – Miss Guam, Maria Luisa Santos
* Face of New Placenta – Miss Puerto Rico, Dignelis Taymi Jimenez Hernandez
* Best in Eco-Bag Design Wear – Miss Czech Republic, Tereza Budkova
* Miss AVSCOR - Miss Dominican Republic, Mariel Garcia
* Miss HDR Management – Miss Poland, Izabela Wilczek
* Miss Eagle Express / Miss Asei – Miss Korea, Park Ye-ju
* Miss Fontana Resort – Miss China, Yan Xu
* Miss Perwoll Award – Miss Venezuela, Jessica Barboza
* Best in Eco-Design Wear – Jamaica, Jenaae Jackson
* Best in Use of Indigenous Products Wear - Miss Albania, Suada Saliu
* Miss Discovery Suites Award / Miss Gandang Ricky Reyes Award – Miss Spain, Alejandra Echevarria
* Miss Golden Sunset Resort & Spa – Miss Cuba, Jamillette Gaxiola
* Missology.org people choice award – Miss Indonesia, Nadine Zamira Sjarief

CPU Mountaineering Society, another new PEAK (Mt. Butuan)

Last September 26, 2009…

CPU Mountaineering Society organized an exploration climb in Igbaras, Iloilo. The team persists to climb even the Bagyong Ondoy was battering the country. But it was a success and the team conquers another new peak, the Mt. Butuan.

• Date Conquered: September 27, 2009

• Time: 10:53:36am

• Bearing: 10 49' 10 N, 122 14' 25 E

• Elevation: 1212 ft

I would like to congratulate the two new members who were inducted in that mountain; Gio Irving Chambliss and Jezreel Ga. And also to the applicants, congratulations for having two minor climbs, padayon guid kamu! BAKOL!!!


GOD BLESS CPUMS! E tib-ong ang Kawsa!

Hidlaw na ko cnu… hehe... :D

Cristine Reyes stranded on the roof of her house (updated)

FHM Sexiest Pinay 2009 awardee Ms. Cristine Reyes was trapped on her house at Provident Village in Marikina City. Her house was subsided by water due to this current calamity (Bagyong Ondoy). She was stranded on the roof of her house with her family since 1:00PM until and was rescued late at night.




These are her words as she cried for help in ABS-CBN. (SOURCE)

“Sana may dumating na rescue kasi kanina pa kami dito ng 1 p.m. Kapag hindi pa tumigil ang ulan aabutin na kami sa roof. Hindi ko alam anong gagawin namin,” Reyes said.

Reyes said that the flood already reached the second floor of their house, forcing them to move to the roof.

“Lagpas na ng puno. Nakarating na siya sa second floor. Pinasok na yung mga rooms namin, so konti na lang, dito na siya sa roof,” she said.

Reyes fears for the safety of her family as flood waters continue to rise because of incessant rains brought by the typhoon.

“Mommy ko kasi, hindi marunong mag swim at may kasama akong dalawang bata,” she said.

On the roof with the actress are her mother, a sibling, two children, household helpers and some neighbors.

“Mommy ko, pamangkin ko--dalawang bata--isang five years old at isang three years old. Tapos yung bunso namin, yung PA ko, yung maid namin, tapos driver tapos yung kapitbahay namin pumunta na dito sa roof namin kasi mataas yung house naming,”.

Even her manager

The Corn Pops

Corn Pops
by: Esther Tanate

Other people say that Popcorn is one of the most prehistoric forms of corn. It was discovered in the New Mexico Caves more than 5,000 years ago. Popcorn varieties are flint corns, which have a solid shell that protects the starchy, slightly moist embryo inside. When the kernel (or the seed) is heated beyond 400 degrees, the moisture inside expands, causing an explosion that pops it.

As i researched about Popcorn, it happens that my friend posted a wall photo in his facebook account. I opened the image and it was a corn... or maybe a popcorn. Inilalarawan lamang na epekto eto ng global warming kung bakit naluto ang mais (corn) habang nasa sakahan pa lamang. The hot temperature nowadays has the ability to cook popcorn in the corn farm???

It is indeed that the earth is really getting hotter. Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. And experts think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Scientist say that unless we curb global warming emmisons, average U.S. temperature could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century.

Top 10 Laziest Ways to Fight Global Warming

If you have seen the documentary movie entitled “An Inconvenient Truth,” you might have been convinced that our world nowadays is truly doomed if we continue abusing our resources what we have today .Our Earth does not deserve all the pains it suffers from right now. The consequences are horrifically not convenient but there are expedient ways to avoid them from happening .Be aware. Make a move. It’s time to take care of our environment.


Top 10 Laziest Ways to Fight Global Warming
by: yoshke


10. BUY IN BULK
Buying in bulk is not just practical but also eco-friendly. Items are much cheaper when purchased in bulk and it is a nice way of doing the environment a favor. You’re not just spending less money. You are also expending less energy. If you have so many items stocked at you home, you don’t need to make so many trips to the store; thus, saving gas or fare. You also save energy because of the reduced packaging. Do you have any idea how much plastic you’d save by choosing a six-in-one pack of toilet paper over six separate rolls? You also don’t need to worry about running out of toilet paper while doing your thing inside the bathroom because hey, you purchased lots of them.

9. EAT LESS MEAT
Yes, you’re tired of hearing this from your doctor who has been crazy worried about your ailing heart. But if you don’t care much about your health, then care about the environment. Aside from the health risks that red meat poses, more energy is required in producing and transporting meat. Did you know that much of our forests have been cleared just to turn them into grazing lands for livestocks? Fruits and vegetables require 95% less energy than meat so why not start a diet rich in fruits and vegetables? After all, they are healthier.

8. OPEN YOUR WINDOWS
Many of use are so used to air-conditioners that even when it is warm inside but cold outside, we still opt to use them instead of just opening the window. If you are living on the higher floors of your apartment building, you may give your air-con a rest and take advantage of the free cold air outside. If it’s not enough for you, then turn on the fan hanging comfortably upon your ceiling. You have no idea how circulated air does wonders for regulating the temperature in the room without cranking down the thermostat further. Besides, if you find it hard to sleep at night, you’ll be surprised by how the whirring sound could help you sleep.

7. PLANT A TREE
Oh yes, it takes too much effort digging a hole on the ground and burying the roots of a cute, little mahogany plant in your garden. However, are you not tired of drawing your venetian blinds throughout the day? You don’t to worry about dealing with those nasty blinds every now and then if you just plant a tree where the sun hits directly. By doing this, you can cool your home without relying too much on your air-conditioner. It will dramatically reduce your power costs. Now you see what a humble tree can do? Plant a tree now.

6. GO LITTLE
The smaller the vehicle you drive, the less you make global warming worse. That’s why instead of bigger SUVs, drive smaller cars. Furthermore, don’t forget to keep your car tuned up and all its tires properly inflated. This will not just save you much on fuel costs but also help in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. A single tune-up could boost your miles per gallon up to 40%. You might also want to get a new filter. It could get you 10% more mpg. And if you’re not using the roof rack, take it off to save more.

5. AVOID PLASTICS
Plastic is ugly. If you are the type who always uses wrinkly and pathetic plastic cups just because you feel lazy to wash your glasses, stop it. What you don’t realize is that disposing countless plastic cups take more time than washing glasses or mugs. Aside from that, mugs and glasses are far sexier than plastic cups. They can also make you look more professional. Know that every year around 24,000 tonnes of polystyrene (which is non-biodegradable) end up in a landfill.

4. PRINT BACK-TO-BACK
Do you realize how much paper you waste every time you print out each page of an unimportant document on a separate sheet of paper? Each year, an estimated 150 trees are wasted by overprinting documents. Isn’t it sad to know that some trees sacrificed their lives for rubbish? Admit it, you don’t even use the back page of the drafts you print out. That’s why if the document you’d print is just something you’d throw away after reading, then you better set your printer to duplex and use both sides of the paper. You’ll be helping the environment and saving money. But wait, there’s a bonus! You’ll also get to see the paper do a cartwheel in your printer as it prints the other side. Paper acrobatics, huh?

3. WALK
In the United Kingdom alone, 10 million car seats are left empty each day. Imagine if vacant car seats were prohibited, there would be far fewer vehicles on the road which means less traffic, less petrol and less pollution. That would truly help the environment. But of course, we all know that forbidding people to leave car seats empty is an absurd idea. The point is, you don’t need to use your car every single time you’d go out of the house. Take public transit, bike or walk if you’re not chasing time. If people made it a habit to leave their cars at home for at least two days a week, we would have been reducing our carbon dioxide emissions by at least 1,600 pounds a year.

2. TELEPORT
Or at least, telecommute. If you don’t need to meet up with your boss to give him an update of how well you do or how much you suck at work, then just telecommute. The telephone and the Internet were not invented for nothing. You don’t need to have superhuman abilities to break the distance-time relationship. If your house is 47 lightyears away from your workplace, why don’t you just find a place to stay nearby? This way, you won’t have to worry about getting late and waking up early just to arrive at the office at the last minute. If you live closer to work, you’ll be doing yourself, the society and the environment a huge favor. Again, less cars on the road means less pollution.

1. SPREAD THE WORD
How hard can it be to tell people how easy it is to care for Mother Nature? Share everything you have learned from this article with your family, friends and colleagues. Tell your office management that the company can also go green while improving their image along the way. Words can do wonders. Sometimes, all we need to do is spread the word and everything else will follow. Fighting global warming has to be a collective action. Anyway, no matter how lazy you might be, it surely wouldn’t hurt to convince the people around you to care for the world they live in.