WordCamp Philippines 2008

I just want to share this information regarding WorldCamp Philippines 2008.  This will be held on September 6.  The venue will be on College of Saint Benilde, Taft Avenue, Manila.  Feel free to visit the site through the link.  As for me, I’d like to be part of this event to further enhance my limited blogging knowledge.

Visit WordCamp Phlippines 2008 Website click here

Check also Mindanao Bloogers @ this link

The sponsors for the event are as follows:

• i.PH: the Domain for Individuals
• Free Online Flash Games
• Wazzup Manila Philippines
• Real Estate CRM
• Real Estate Website Designers
• Orange County Real Estate
• Auto Insurance Quotes
• Lane Systems Inc.
• RedMedia

Will Power

I smiled after looking at the first photo…you will also smile.  Just scroll down and you will get to know the story of Will Power.  Here it goes….
You thought the dog is imitating the man…..

(more…)

Funny BF-GF Conversation

BF: hon, yun ang ex-gf ko..(tinuro)

GF: ang pangit naman!

BF: wala akong magagawa, yan talaga weakness ko ever since..

GF: Pakyu!!  Aus-ayusin mo mga punchline mo ah?!! 

*Sent by my friend April thru SMS. 

**Caricature from http://cartooncave.blogspot.com/2007/09/angry-girlfriend.html

Brain Lies

 How Your Brain Lies to You

By Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt

Source: New York Times

False beliefs are everywhere. Eighteen percent of Americans think the sun revolves around the earth, one poll has found.Thus it seems slightly less egregious that, according to another poll, 10 percent of us think that Senator Barack Obama, a Christian, is instead a Muslim. The Obama campaign has created a Web site to dispel misinformation. But this effort may be more difficult than it seems, thanks to the quirky way in which our brains store memories — and mislead us along the way.

The brain does not simply gather and stockpile information as a computer’s hard drive does. Facts are stored first in the hippocampus, a structure deep in the brain about the size and shape of a fat man’s curled pinkie finger.

But the information does not rest there. Every time we recall it, our brain writes it down again, and during this re-storage, it is also reprocessed. In time, the fact is gradually transferred to the cerebral cortex and is separated from the context in which it was originally learned. For example, you know that the capital of California is  Sacramento, but you probably don’t remember how you learned it.

This phenomenon, known as source amnesia, can also lead people to forget whether a statement is true. Even when a lie is presented with a disclaimer, people often later remember it as true.
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Einstein’s Biggest Mistake

When Einstein saw that his mathematics for the general theory of relativity showed that the universe was expanding, he simply couldn’t believe it.  So he “fudged” the mathematics, and stuck in an equation that suggested the universe could never change.

Years later, when astronomers discovered that the universe was, indeed, expanding, Einstein lamented that changing his mathematics had been his “biggest mistake.”

 Source: Tom McGowen, Yearbooks in Science 1900-1919, (New York: Henry Holt, 1995), p.27.

*photo from www.deism.com/images/einfun.jpg

Video on the Rice Crisis

 This video is from Get Real Philippines .  Check the site for more worthwhile videos that tackles the issues concerning our nation.  Enjoy watching and act now.

Congratulations Cheenee!

I was checking my mails when I came about Cheenee’s mail.  It had a title of FSO.  When I clicked the link, this was the message:  

Kuya gelo,

NAKAPASA ME SA FSO QUALIFYING EXAMS!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHA!!!!!HIMALA!!!!!!

Wow!!!!  She’s one step closer to becoming a diplomat.hehehe!  We’re so proud of you Cheenee!  I’m sure you’ll pass the oral interview/s.  Cheers!

*Cheenee, is a Bachelor of Science in International Relations major in Diplomacy graduate from Lyceum of the Philippines University.  She’s one of the two students who graduated Magna Cum Laude last April (2008).  Apart from studying, she spent her time in college with the Lyceum Debate Society (2004-2008).

Cleaner Manila

Yesterday morning, I attended an Orientation Seminar entitled ” Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. 9003) “.  Although it didn’t started on time - 9:00am was the scheduled time, it was meaningful, educational, and moving.  The seminar was a project of Chairwoman Noralyn Morales, the better-half of Coun. Ramon Morales of the 3rd district of Manila.  The attendees were barangay officials (chairmen, kagawads, and SK), while the speakers were from the Department of Public Service better known as DPS

First part of the seminar was the Overview on Republic Act 9003, which was delivered by Mr. Juan V. dela Cruz (yeah!  no kidding!).  According to him, their statistics tells us that 1,700 Metric Tons of garbage are being collected in the City of Manila alone.  This amount of garbage requires more than 300 garbage trucks just for collection.  How much does this costs?  Php 512 Million (w/out equipment) is being paid to the contractor, which in this case is Leonel Waste Management (the blue or yellow or even red trucks who see everyday).  Garbage from the city of Manila is then transferred from trucks bunkers in Pier 18, which then will be brought to the waste facility in Rizal province. (more…)

Starbucks to close 600 US stores

Starbucks Inc., the coffee restaurant that made waves worldwide is continuing its downtrend since last year.  Seemingly, the changes made by the coffee-giant (naming another CEO aside from its founder/delegating the work) is not doing the trick.  Just recently, it is reported that from its initial plan of  closing 100 U.S. outlets, the target has now been set to 600.  An estimated “12,000 workers will be affected by the closings” according to Valerie O’Neill, Starbucks’ spokesperson. (more…)

Chinese Agreed to Pay $2.1M for a Dinner with Warren Buffett

Six months ago, I wasn’t aware of who Warren Buffet was.  Perhaps I was too focused on Bill Gates (most people are) that Mr. Buffet was put into the sidelines.  Not for long.  Forbes Magazine named him the ‘World’s Richest Man’ last March 2008.  Second in the ranking is Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, while Microsoft’s Bill Gates got the 3rd spot.  Yeah!  Bill Gates is not the richest man anymore. (more…)

Stop Sulpicio Lines

Sulpicio Lines should be stop by all means.  Only in the Philippines will you see this scenario: ” Hundreds of people died in the middle of the sea due to negligence of a sea liner.  Then after few days, government allows it to operate again. “  Walastik!!  Kapalmuks talaga!  

This is super incredible!  Craziness in its highest form!  Instead them paying a huge sum of money, they’re only paying Php200K per person/family; instead of being closed permanently, their ships would be sailing again.  Why can’t the government stop them?  Why can’t they flex their legal arm to stop liner and its money-breathing executives?  Even a manong barbero would be able to conclude that some officials of the land are getting paid for this.

The 8.50 peso minimum jeepney fare is underway.  We still have rice and oil crisis.  I thought GMA’s government would atleast uphold the rights of the families of the victims, but even that thought is fast disappearing.  Join the blogswarm.

PERA Bill

I was in the business office a brokerage firm last Monday, and I overheard 2 people taking about what strategy they should be employing during this time.  In their conversation, one of them mentioned about the PERA Bill and how optimistic traders are with the proposed law.  I am still wondering what really the coverage of this bill though I’ve read two or three articles about it.

A writer from The Lobbyist named Jayson Edward San Juan has something to say regarding the bill.  Since a login account is needed to view the article, let me just post the whole thing here.

Save with PERA

By Jayson Edward San Juan 04 July 2008 - 13:58

 

On 10 June 2008, Congress approved the Bicameral Committee Report on the consolidated version of House Bill No. 3754 and Senate Bill No. 1882 creating a Personal Retirement Account (PERA) Fund.

The PERA Fund functions like a trust fund where the consolidated amount contributed by Fund members will be invested in a portfolio of secured investments. Each contributor is entitled to a maximum of Php100,000 in contributions annually.

Among the important highlights of the bill are the following:

1. Under the bill, a five-percent tax incentive shall be given to contribution of Php100,000. Further, all income earned from the Fund, and withdrawal by the contributor upon age of 55 years or upon contributor’s death, shall be tax exempted.

Employers who choose to contribute to their employees’ PERA are also granted deductions from gross income. Employers’ contribution to PERA is on top of their Social Security System (SSS) contributions and payment of retirement benefits for their employees.

Early withdrawals, however, will be meted out with penalties upon the discretion of the Secretary of Finance, the amount of which shall not be lower than the five percent tax incentive.

2. The Fund targets those who are not members of either the SSS or the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS), specifically Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Respite for the modern Filipino heroes

The last highlight is important to point out. OFWs, hailed as the country’s modern day heroes, often goes back home to retire. But the lack of mandatory membership to the SSS or GSIS forces them to eat through their savings until they have nothing to feed on when they retire. Thus, unless they are able to save up their earnings from abroad, OFWs have no pension fund to support them when they retire in the country.

It is important to note that OFWs remain to be the biggest driver of the Philippine economy. According to the latest statistics in the Bangko Sentral, OFWs pumped in US$14.45 billion to the economy in 2007. Most economists agree that their remittances ensure that the Philippine economy remains afloat.

Thus, PERA is an opportunity for OFWs to invest in a pension fund, and also strengthen the country’s financial system.

Aside from PERA, another possible source of financial security to OFWs is the restoration of the Migrant Workers Loan Guarantee Fund, provided for by Republic Act No. 8042 (Migrant Workers Act). Senate President Manuel Villar is aggressively pushing for this option.

Under Section 21 of RA 8042, the Fund is established with a revolving amount of Php100 million where departing OFWs can secure loans ranging from Php5,000 to Php40,000 for the migrant workers’ plane fare, placement fees, clothing, and pocket money. The loan is payable in one year at 7.5 percent interest.

But because OWWA failed to collect loan payments from OFWs, the government suspended the Fund since 2006.

Villar emphasized that an efficient system can be implemented to properly manage the fund, and this should be immediately worked out.

Too high for low-income families

There is, however, one contention about the PERA bill. As written, the bill imposes a Php100,000-limit in contributions. This amount is prohibitive for small investors and low-income families.

Based on legislative discussions of the bills, the limit was placed to prevent depositors from shifting their entire savings deposits to the tax-exempted PERA. But to ensure that the intent of the bill – which is to promote savings mobilization and the development of capital markets – is realized, a graduated or ladderized limit should be setup to allow low-income individuals to invest in the Fund.

NextGen bill

PERA must be viewed as part of a total financial package that will include a bill similar to the US’s America Saving for Personal Investment, Retirement, and Education (ASPIRE) bill that ensures financial security for children by investing for their college education, or buying their first house.

The country has a similar bill in the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 2097 or the NextGen Act. This bill ensures that expenditures by contributors to this Fund will only be made for productive investments like a college education or real estate.

Thus, Congress must work on a financial package that will give Filipinos a wider option for financial security for their future.

Attention: Mr. Senate President!

But while the PERA bill has already mustered the approval of the Bicameral Conference Committee, it has yet to be enacted into law. According to Senate sources, the bill is still awaiting the signature of the Senate President, who is now abroad, before it is referred back to the House of Representatives for the Speaker’s signature. After the legislative process, the bill will be then transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s approval.

I hope that as of this writing, Sen. Villar is already done signing this bill.  On a similar note, Jj, a close friend of mine and a worthy contributor in FilipinoVoices, wrote about the similar topic after we had a discussion over a cup of coffee.  His article entitled OFWs as local investors can be read in the same site.  Join the discussion and take part towards financial literacy.