Manila, May 17 - Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch (PLHCW), Ladlad Partylist
and other LGBT and allied organizations are celebrating the International
Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) with a march to the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

  The two-week old standoff between the Philippines and China in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal located in the West Philippine Sea has spilled over into the cyberspace. The website of the University of the Philippines (UP) has been defaced early Friday morning by suspected pro-China hackers. UP is the national university of this Southeast Asian country.

Since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has captured the world’s imagination by becoming a global phenomenon. Earth Hour 2010 inspired 1.3 billion people in over 4000 cities to join the 60-minute switch off. 

  The traffic navigator aims to provide motorists a better way to view traffic situation.

Can one ordinary person inspire various people and entire governments to bring to justice the most wanted international criminal? Simply put, YES!

Watch this powerful and inspiring video of how it is done and realize your own power.

A rose by any other name...
As the OCCUPY movement is still holding strong, its sister, I DON'T PAY is born.
Global social movements are cropping up all over indicating a systemic problem that the people refuse to swallow.

This brand-new commercial—which includes video footage from PETA Asia’s recently concluded investigation of fur farms in China, now the world’s largest exporter of fur—may shock some viewers, but it’s nothing compared to the shock that animals receive when they are anally electrocuted on fur farms:

"Empowerment is the common theme that characterizes the liberal projects. They develop the knowledge, skills and abilities of people to control and shape their own destinies. As liberals, we always put premium on the empowerment of individuals." This was how Lito Arlegue, member of the jury of The Liberal Project 2011 and Executive Director of the Council of Asian Liberals ...

When one speaks of 'free energy', the name Nikola Tesla comes into the picture along with words like 'cold fusion', 'zero-point energy', and it gets esoteric all of a sudden.
But in the TED talk, it is scientifically dissected and deduced that it is reality. Soon, our crippling dependence on oil and unnecessary toil will be a note ...

Good Magazine created a video clip montage of the massive year in social media of 2011.
Take a look back and see how the power shifted to you, us, everyone.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje today advised the public, particularly those who are still on a shopping spree for gifts, to avoid products that have no proper labeling.

The leading cause of deaths for young people is car accidents and they are due to human error, not mechanical error. If so, then accidents and deaths can be prevented with machine technology and algorithms that self-correct. This is exactly what Google and Toyota are doing. Watch this fascinating video and look out for Toyota's Driverless Prius.

Philippine public high school students will be happy in June 2012. Finally, all of them can be active cyberspace participants. All of them can have access to the Internet for the next school year.

This picture does speak volumes. It also has so many implications and questions.
It is a milestone to have a former president accountable for her crimes.
It also sets a precedence that no one is above the law.
Nobody, however, acts alone. It takes great support to pull off an electoral heist.

Via CNBC >> As far as emerging markets go, the Philippines is seldom the choice investment destination, but one analyst says the Southeast Asian nation could well become the "dark horse" of the region, thanks to its favorable demographics and sound economic fundamentals.

A local government program for literacy, a civil society project to bring kids
to school and a legislative bill that encourages participation in governance
topped the list of The Liberal Project.

Let the images, facial and body language tell the story. You infer what's going on.

A video production by Anonymous that details WHY there is a mass uprising.

Days ago, Palden Choetso walked out of her nunnery, covered herself in petrol and set herself on fire while pleading for a 'free Tibet'. Minutes later she died. In the past month, nine monks and nuns have self-immolated to protest a growing Chinese crackdown on the peaceful Tibetan people.

An elite group of hackers issue a warning to corrupt and power-hungry government officials and business owners. They have already cracked police database and attacked multiple intelligence agency sites among many others. One cannot help but side with these freedom-fighters against an oppressive force behind the curtains. Watch and read and judge for yourselves.

Reason and analysis should always check emotion and sentiment.

To capacitate the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in maintaining peace and order, President Benigno S. Aquino III has instructed the Department of Budget and Management to release P10 billion for the AFP Modernization Program.

In the interest of transparency and to keep the public abreast of its plans to improve basic education in the country, the Department of Education reveals its planned expenditures for 2012.

No it's not the Maglev effect because no electricity is passed through any magnets to lift an object. This is the Meissner Effect -- where when objects are extremely cooled down, it exudes a superconductive / magnetic field, that, when exposed to an exterior magnet, with push against it and levitate. Watch the video an be amazed.

This inspiring video comes from the Occupy Wall Street protests. A young war veteran Marine officers speaks up and defends the peaceful civilians against the NYPD who are on the payroll of banks.

Rape is the ultimate objectification and dehumanization of women. Let us not stop our call until justice has been given to Given Grace Cebanico, another victim of cruelty and sexual abuse.

One lucky texter stands to win the biggest prize money in text messaging with the launching of the “Pera sa Kweba” text raffle promo for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan.

Thousands of Occupy Wall Street supporters gathered in Washington Square Park on Saturday afternoon for a General Assembly intended to spread the movement's message.

Occupy Wall Street is a social movement to end financial and political strong-arming in the USA where the bearer of impact is always the poor. From wars to the financial bail-out, special interests to irresponsible financial markets, the people have had enough. Thousands peacefully occupy the streets of New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Boston and more as the movement ...

The Philippines was featured last Friday (September 30, 2011) on The Washington Post’s website, but for reasons which do not exactly generate nationalism. One discerning blogger noticed that the DPWH’s Facebook photo from their page was odd, and sure enough he found that the three officials, who seemed to be discussing the aftermath of the Typhoon that hit the Philippines, ...

It does not look good for low-lying and fresh water-proximity areas in central Luzon.   6 dams are once again prepped to release more water in preparation for Typhoon Quiel. After Pedring, all six dams released water and flooded riverside areas in Bulacan, Pampanga and surrounding areas.

It's real and it's happening --everyday Americans are fed up with the polluted system comprised of bankers, lobbyists, special interest groups, war-profiteering, bank-bailout, and crooked government and corporate entities.

The much-awaited $35 computing-cum-access device, to be made available to students right from primary schools to universities, will be launched on October 5.

There is a proposed legislation to move the Philippine class opening from June to September. This is because of the typhoons that make students suffer even though no typhoon signal was declared. It is difficult for the Philippine

Sprint Nextel will start selling the next version of the Apple Inc iPhone in mid-October, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal that cited unnamed sources.

Amid a spate of reports about abusive teachers in the public schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) is firming up a comprehensive child protection policy that would seek to prevent all forms of abuse in the classroom through a more “positive” kind of discipline.

A reason for dogs, frogs, monkeys, mice, pigs and many other animals to smile: Dorma (“Chita”) and Vicente Ridon, the Filipino couple charged with crimes related to the production of a series of “crush” videos in which scantily clad young girls engage in the torture killing of animals, were arrested by the police early on Tuesday morning.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> With his resignation from the Senate, Juan Miguel Zubiri earned plaudits even from the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary general, said Zubiri “had the delicadeza (propriety) to do what Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wouldn’t do from 2005 to 2010, which was to resign amid questions of legitimacy and allegations of ...

Two articles from two major newspapers tell two sides of the story.

From The Philippine Sta >> Senators pressed for the approval of a bill that would allow public participation in budget deliberations.

At least four senators led by Senate finance committee chairman Franklin Drilon delivered their respective sponsorship speeches for proposed Senate Bill No. 2857, also known as the People’s Participation in the National Budget Process Act of ...

From The Philippine Star >> Tropical cyclones “Kabayan” and “Lando” continued to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas, the state weather bureau reported yesterday.

From The Philippine Star >> The Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins today, with Muslims required to fast from dawn to dusk as well as perform good works.

From The Philippine Star >> An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported yesterday that the Australian Federal Police had placed under their protective custody a young Filipino woman who was a victim of organ trafficking.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> “You can’t hide anything that stinks.”

With those words, Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago on Friday apologized to the Filipino nation, “and especially to Madame Susan Roces,”  for what he and his men did six years ago—steal election returns (ERs) to ensure the victory of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the fraud-marred 2004 presidential ...

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >>
Two articles pertinent to the 2004 poll fraud investigation.

From The Philippine Star >> The dedicated movers and shakers behind the country’s removal from the US State Department’s Global Human Trafficking watch-list index will be given recognition today at Rizal Hall in Malacañang by President Aquino.

At least 10 people died and four others were reported missing as tropical storm “Juaning” (international codename Nock-Ten) intensified further and moved closer to the country yesterday, officials said.

A compilation of stories from various newspapers on post-SONA reactions.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Even before President Benigno Aquino III could deliver his report to the nation, militant teachers already gave their verdict on the administration’s first year in steering the education sector.

From The Philippine Star >> Two articles in the PhilStar highlight the cheers and jeers for yesterday's SONA.

From the Philippine Star >> A multinational risk consultancy firm claimed that cybercrime would continue to pose a threat to business and individuals in the Philippines if lawmakers do not address it.
A hacker group hit another government website last Saturday, a day after attacking the website of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

From The Philippine Star >> A year into the administration of Benigno Simeon Aquino III, “Aquinomics” is the buzzword of his economic team.

At the heart of this, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told us the other night, is that “good governance is good economics.”

From Reuters >> A U.S. astronaut on the final shuttle mission said on Friday China's first space station will be a welcome addition to the orbital brotherhood.

From The Philippine Star >> The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had cited the failure of the government to investigate and prosecute cases of unexplained killings and enforced disappearances that have remained unsolved during the first year in office of President Aquino.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> A pro-environment watchdog on Wednesday called on the government to ban the use of chemicals in children’s toys and draft a law protecting them from toxic substances.

From the Philippine Star >> The Philippines will push key initiatives on security, trafficking in persons and implementation of the master plan on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) connectivity during the 44th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and 18th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) beginning today in Bali, Indonesia.

From The Philippine Star >> Officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) considered to be homosexuals will not be allowed to frisk inmates and visitors to prevent complaints of sexual harassment, BJMP director Rosendo Dial said yesterday.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Malacañang may develop a profound sense of “utang na loob” (indebtedness) to Zaldy Ampatuan if it bites the bait of his exposé on alleged election fraud involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is seriously considering placing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the immigration watch list because of the mounting cases filed against her.

From The Philippine Star >>  The government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) or 4Ps program significantly improved the health, nutrition and education of children of low-income families, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said yesterday, citing studies conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Ateneo de Manila University.

From The Philippine Star >> Malacañang has forged a deal with former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol to pin down former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for election fraud, her legal spokesman alleged yesterday.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Stressing that “domestic helpers also deserve access to decent and humane work like professionals,” Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday expressed support for the speedy approval of House Bill No. 553, the Magna Carta for Household Helpers.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Fresh allegations of poll irregularities against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have prompted calls for the reopening of investigations into the 2004 and 2007 balloting in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Senate.

From The Philippine Star >> The Supreme Court (SC) has been cited for its effective management of financial aid and resources from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
In its national implementation modality audit for 2010, the UNDP rated the SC with an outstanding performance after ensuring that its resources given to the country’s judiciary are judiciously used ...

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >>

Four Catholic bishops on Thursday urged President Aquino and gaming chief Margarita Juico to make a public apology for dragging the Church into the so-called “Pajero” scandal.

An archbishop also reminded the President that leadership was not only about integrity but about uniting people, not dividing them.

...

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Thieves and art dealers are the usual suspects, but mildew and flashbulbs are just as dangerous for some of the country’s beleaguered cultural treasures.

From The Philippine Star >> The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported yesterday a marked increase in foreign tourists arrivals despite travel advisories issued by some countries.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said 1.6 million foreign tourists visited the different tourist spots nationwide in the first five months of the year.

From the Youtube channel of The Philippine Star

There is no article here. No words to read. Do not click to read more. It's just an image. The image says more than words ever can.

Image from The Philippine Daily Inquirer

From The Philippine Star >> The scientific community urged the government yesterday to increase the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help minimize poverty in the country. Emil Javier, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), urged the Aquino government to allocate about P50 billion to P60 billion for the DA per annum.

From The Philippine Star >> The government has released a total of P251.6 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the nationwide implementation of the Madrasah Education Program, which aims to enhance educational development of Filipino Muslims.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Zaldy Ampatuan unloaded another bombshell on Wednesday against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, this time accusing her of receiving some P200 million in kickbacks from road projects in Mindanao during her administration.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >>

The scandal arising from the alleged misuse of at least P325 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has moved into the legal arena with the filing of a plunder, graft and malversation case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former PCSO General Manager Rosario Uriarte.

World boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is the new poster boy for the anti-poverty campaigns of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

From The Philippine Star >>A top official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) confirmed yesterday the existence of a so-called Philippine National Police (PNP) sweepstakes account during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> Saying his powerful family had “ruined” his life, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan implicated his father Andal Sr. and brother Andal Jr. in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >> 7 bishops ready to accept responsibility, consequences

National Greening Program supports carbon trading project in Southern Leyte, Philippines.

From   The Philippine Star   A high-ranking Malacañang official said yesterday the unfolding scandal at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is just the “tip of the iceberg” as more disclosures are expected in the next months.

From  The Philippine Star  An official of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged the government to immediately adopt a comprehensive reproductive health policy amid the rapidly growing population in the country.

“Protecting reproductive health and rights is fundamental to our collective future and sustainable development.

From  The Philippine Star

A party-list lawmaker urged the Department of Health to vaccinate the 1.93 million children in the new kindergarten program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

From The Philippine Star  -More than 55,000 jobs await unemployed Filipinos or those seeking better opportunities based on postings on the Phil-Job Net website, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said yesterday.

Phil-Job Net(http://phil-job.net)is the government’s official job portal. It is managed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer

Okay, so maybe they were in your face, albeit effective marketing material for what they were selling, Bench underwear. But surely, now, there must be bigger problems in the country than having the Philippine Volcanoes rally support for rugby and pose in their briefs?

The Department of Education (DepEd) sees the construction of around 12,500 classrooms this year and next year courtesy of the private sector.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro yesterday said that in their tally of the mounting pledges from private companies and entities who want to help the DepEd address the problem on classroom shortage, there will be 12,500 classrooms built this ...

Manila, Philippines - Local employment appears to be getting brighter for jobseekers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—At least 5,000 families displaced by last month’s floods here refuse to go home despite prodding from the city government, an official said Thursday.

A former high-ranking official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) close to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo found herself in hot water as senators pressed her for answers on the use of the agency's intelligence funds, which at one point was found to be higher than the military's.

The Catholic Church in Palawan has joined the call for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow the murder case against former Governor Joel T. Reyes for the killing of broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega to be filed in court.

From The Philippine Star >> The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is being used as a source of pork barrel funds by sitting presidents, Sen. Francis Escudero declared yesterday.

He said the PCSO had become the milking cow of the past administration to favor “a selected few” of its allies, notwithstanding the mandate of the agency to service all Filipinos ...

From PhilStar.com

 The Supreme Court (SC)’s decision on Hacienda Luisita drew condemnation yesterday from militant groups.

From PhilStar.com

The economic team of President Aquino will have its own State of the Nation Address (SONA) today on live television on the administration’s success in steering the economy to growth and in attracting more investments.