We have been offline for quite a while since having some problems with badwares, upgrades, contest, the holidays, and most of all a change to a new host. Having some issues with the previous one due to badware issues that have prevented us in many things, we found a new home for our site and it seems were liking it. The service is good and support is awesome. Unfortunately we haven’t posted anything during the closing days of 2008 due to transfer issues and DNS flushing. Seems all is fine and doing our first post for the year 2009.

The latter part of December 2008 had everyone in our team looking for free slots in everyone’s time schedule with both offline and online work to be accommodated. Families and friends keep coming, calling or wants a night out with us dining or just staying at home chatting and we did enjoy the company since we see them very seldom. Shopping for gifts was so time consuming too with food preparation for Christmas Eve and the Noche Buena was so tiring. So now facing the year ahead of us that include our plans for more post and site upgrades looks like a pile of term papers dropped by a whole school to be checked before graduation in our table. Anyways our commitment is still the same that is to provide accurate information on variety of topics for our country. Our goal is to achieve more success in various areas that includes reaching more viewers, particpate in more conventions, provide online assistance to our forum members, our commitment to charity drives and getting more visitors to our country through our website thus contributing to the well being of the Filipino people and the country’s economy.

Talagang we have big plans for our site this coming days and months and we are looking forward too in building our online market place for all kinds of Pinoy products that every Filipino could participate and sell, trade or buy goods online with global participation. This is kinda of a big project so this could materialize sometime in the middle part of the year. Marami talaga and we will continously be looking for sponsors to finance our projects para sa ating mga kababayan. These are some of our 2009 snapshot plans and hope everything could happen with God’s help and pick up some more projects along the way. And to everyone a Prosperous New Year and Good Health.

Manigong Bagong Taon Sa Inyong Lahat.

I was scheduled to write an article for one of the destinations of the Philippines but could not resist writing about this first as its a news that we Filipinos should be proud of. A moment of glory for every Pinoy in all corners of the globe when Manny Pacquiao became the worlds best pound for pound fighter by beating Mexican Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya.

Prior to this bout Manny came in as a 2-1 underdog as people opted for the more experienced de la Hoya. The Golden Boy who had an illustrious career winning the gold medal in the 1992 Olympics, became a professional in 6 weight division and now a candidate for a slot in Boxing’s Hall of Fame, was stopped by Manny in the 8th round with a non stop swing of jabs, punches and uppercuts that made his coach ask the referee to stop the fight in the eight round.

Manny Pacquiao

The phenomenal fighting of Manny had everyone in the living room jumped for joy in each round as we watched the pay per view fight live in the MGM Grand Arena last night. Everyone was thumping for joy that includes fans of Pacquiao in the arena, as we saw it, which has a crowd of 15,000 watching it. The left straight swings of Manny almost closed the left eye of Oscar de la Hoya that made the deciding factor when his coach asked the referee to stop the fight in round 8, giving Manny his awaited worldwide glory.

The win gave Manny Pacquiao his much awaited prize of being the world’s best class fighter today and brought the Philippines into a positive news point in international affairs. The disparity in size proved no handicap for the 29 year old boxer as he flurried a sizable amount of punches to de la Hoya. Nevertheless Manny admitted that Oscar de la Hoya remains his idol and the fight was really meant only for business and Manny really proved that. On the other hand Oscar said that Manny was a great fighter, that he deserves to win and was the better man of the bout. A very sportsman attitude coming from 2 great professional fighters. Indeed, in our record both are winners.

And for Manny Pacquiao our proud salutation for once again he gave the Philippines another glory for every Filipino to fathom especially this coming Christmas Season. Mabuhay ka Manny Pacquiao, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

A full story of this fight can be read here at Oscar De la Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao.

Christmas Season in the Philippines is not the one to miss. It is by far the most celebrated of all festivities in the country. As early as the BER months of September, October and November, Christmas music can be heard sporadically played in every busy streets of Metro Manila especially in the malls, department stores, radio stations or any business establishment. But one of the signs that Christmas is around the corner is the Parol or Christmas Lanterns. As early as December 1, people hang their lanterns already, but traditionally it starts at December 16 during which starts also the Misa de Gallos and the street caroling by groups or individual people of all ages, hopping from one house to another.

-History-

During the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger, there was a shining star that shined so bright and was followed by the shepherds and 3 Kings. The parol now symbolizes that bright star in houses. The word parol came from the Spanish word lantern and according to history archives in the Philippines, the parol was first introduced by the Spanish from the traditional Mexican Pinata (traditionally from Italy to Spain went to Mexico and brought by the Spaniards who spread Christianity in the Philippines). According also from the archives, the parol was used to light the way to churches for the Misas de Aguinaldo. The early church also played a big part in the encouragement of parol making in the Philippines. The Spanish priests encouraged the locals to display these lanterns hanging on their window houses with incentives.

Theres no greater symbol, mascot or whatever one might call it but it really does symbolizes the true spirit of the Filipinos who celebrate the Christmas season. A star shaped ornament made out of bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper, crepe paper and a candle or coconut oil for illumination (traditional style). The present day parols are made out of glorious lighting with a more sophisticated and modern materials. All over the country and especially in the cities such as Metro Manila, spectacular lightings can be found in houses with parols as the main symbol. Some has as big as a 20 foot tall ornament with beautiful illuminated lights or some has even has kaleidescope of neon lights wrap around it. To view the peak of its beauty with glorious and modern craftsmanship, one has to travel around Metro Manila at night.

I don’t really know what kind of magic the Christmas Season brings into our lives but what I do know that it changes a lot with its time of sharing, a time of happiness for the children and old alike, a time of no fighting, a time of giving and almost everything good that comes from our hearts.

Article Contributed by Michelle Cortez-Carvalho of Etc-Atbp

A new beginning for the Philippines which is a literal translation. This song is being aired at TFC (The Filipino Channel) primarily aimed to show the Filipino Community worldwide about a new hope and beginning for our very own country. Bagong Simula is a song that encourages change on a new level and brings hope for a new Philippines by the new generations spearheaded by musicians, singers, actors and actresses of the local television industry, it provides a message that we can once more bring life to a deteriorating and tarnished image of our country. I consider it as an ANIMO Song. The song also emphasizes about the daily life, ways and visions of what everybody can do to bring that new breathe of life. Nice job once again from the people behind this. Below is the lyrics sung by Kevin Roy, Yael Yuzon, Marc Abaya, Kitchie Nadal, Yeng Constantino, Placid and Tugma. With the additional credits that goes to the other members of the production staff who contributed to this very nice presentation of Animo Pilipinas !

concept: Danie Sedilla-Cruz
Creative prod Head: Johnny de los Santos
Directors: Robert Labayen/Peewee Gonzales
Lyrics: Robert Labayen
music: Jonathan Manalo
design and compositing: Oliver Paler
Producer: Hancel Hernandez
Production Supervisor: Jimmy Porca
Editor: Angelito Dayao
Production Design: Andrew Go
Casting: Rosalie David
Lighting Director: Jimmy Anyano

Bagong Simula

Parang isang gabing walang katapusan
Sa bawat mesa, asin lagi ang ulam
Umaalog sa alkansya pisong pinagpawisan
Batang nakahubad kumot ang lansangan

Lupaing kinalbo minsa’y nadidilig
Ng dugo sa away ng kapatid sa kapatid

Sa kalagayang ito tayo ay nakagapos
Parang awa sana ay dito magtapos

Todo na ‘to!

Liparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw

Mamumulang muli ang silangan
Sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Wag nang maulit kapalarang kay pait
Wag magpabaya wag kang manahimik
Wag kang manlalamang, wag kang mangigipit
Wag magkanya-kanya, magkaisang bisig

Magmalasakit ito’y kabayanihan
Gawin mo anumang makayanan
Kalagayan ng bayan sumasama lamang
Kung walang gagawin tayong mamamayan

Todo na ‘to!

Lliparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw
Mamumulang muli ang silangan
sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Ipakita natin sa ating mga magulang,
Mga kapatid,
Kaya natin ‘to!
Isang subok pa,
Sabay-sabay na,
Walang kokontra!

Todo na ‘to!

Lliparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw
Mamumulang muli ang silangan
Sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Todo na ‘to!

Lliparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw
Mamumulang muli ang silangan
Sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Good news for our fellow citizens. The Philippine government, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ), National Statistics Office ( NSO ) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration ( POEA ) has upgraded their services. A hassle free online service has been added that would eliminate long lines of waiting and scalpels who prey on people. Citizen Services is the online service made available for every Filipino citizen especially the Overseas Foreign Workers ( OFW )seeking documents with the respective departments that includes the rundown of fees and payment centers.

Passport - Department of Foreign Affairs

Fee - PHP 1,300.00

Birth Certificate - National Statistics Office

Fee PHP 330.00
New Registrations Call (02) 737-1111
Returning Customers - Online Applications
Payment Centers - Metrobank and Bayad Centers

Overseas Exit Clearances - Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

POEA Processing Fees PHP 100.00
OWWA Membership* P 1,121.00
Philhealth* PHP 900.00
2GO / ABoitiz Courier Fee PHP 160.00
Teleserv Service Fee PHP 369.00
Total PHP 2,650.00

For more information and other questions:

Citizen Services Contact Details:
• DFA Express Passport Delivery - (02) 737-1000
dfa@citizenservices.com.ph
• NSO Birth Certificate Delivery - (02) 737-1111
nso@citizenservices.com.ph
• POEA Balik Manggagawa OEC Delivery - (02) 737-7777
poea@citizenservices.com.ph
Note : POEA Balik Manggagawa OEC Delivery service is only available Mondays to Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.