Pls support CareersForHealth.ph / TEAM AIHO for Project Pagsulong!

Dearest family, friends, colleagues, visitors, and passers-by:

Pls support our social entrepreneurship project called CareersForHealth.ph .

CareersForHealth.ph  is an online portal that aims to be a platform to help match health professionals with great career opportunities match, including work in lower income communities, to help make health human resources more equitably distributed in the Philippines. It is spearheaded by a group of young doctors serving in NGOs, far-flung municipalities, and various government agencies in the Philippines to help enhance the health and well-being of Filipinos.

We are currently a finalist in a national competition called Project Pagsulong, sponsored by PLDT, RFM, the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community, among other partners. Start-up funds will be given to the winning team in the competition proper. 

To sweeten the pot, P100,000 will be awarded to the People’s Choice. Pls help Team AIHO, the team behind CareersForHealth.ph   become the People’s Choice =] Here are the ways  how:

1. Thru the competition website:

Please go to  http://www.projectpagsulong.ph/top-10/careersforhealthph and click VOTE NOW. Currently, you can vote every 12 hours BUT on March 14, you can cast UNLIMITED number of votes from 8AM to 5PM (Manila time / 8pm-5am EST / +8 GMT).

2. Thru Facebook:

Pls LIKE and SHARE the Infographic of Team AIHO – CareersForHealth.ph which you can find here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=441022762643435&set=a.440341886044856.1073741826.326047674140945&type=3&theater.

Pls LIKE and SHARE the : CareersForHealth.ph Infographic within the contest album  until 5pm  of March 14 for them to be counted.

3. Thru Twitter: Please tweet

#SulongNatin #AIHO

from 8AM to 5PM of March 14 to show support for  CareersForHealth.ph

Thank you for taking time to support our cause =]

Team AIHO of CareersForHealth.ph

I am a man in a suitcase

My Lakbayan grade is B-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

On the road for the most part of this year, so far. Traveling is such a blessing, especially when you practically get paid to do it =]

Safe journeys always everyone =]

Called Out in the Dark (Snow Patrol)

Love, love, love this song =]



It's like we just can't help ourselves
'Cause we don't know how to back down
We were called out to the streets
We were called in to the towns

And how the heavens, they opened up
Like arms of dazzling gold
With our rain washed histories
Well they do not need to be told

Show me now, show me the arms aloft
Every eye trained on a different star
This magic
This drunken semaphore
And I

We are listening
And we're not blind
This is your life
This is your time

We are listening
And we're not blind
This is your life
This is your time

I was called out in the dark
By a choir of beautiful cheats
And as the kids took back the parks
You and I were left with the streets

Show me now, show me the arms aloft
Every eye trained on a different star
This magic
This drunken semaphore
And I

We are listening
And we're not blind
This is your life
This is your time

[repeats 5x]

from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/snowpatrol/calledoutinthedark.html

World Diabetes Day 2011

Diabetes is a health condition that runs in many families, including ours. In the face of its myriad challenges, we can still do something about diabetes. It is not a death sentence. Click on these online resources to find out more about the diabetes. You may just be a click away from better health.

World Diabetes Day 2009-2013

View more presentations from International Diabetes Federation

Make the Puerto Princesa Underground River one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

VOTE VOTE VOTE until 11/11/11!
Make the Puerto Princesa Underground River a part of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

To cast your vote:

Text PPUR to 2861 and follow the prompts/instructions and/or

Visit http://www.new7wonders.com

Here's why we should vote for PPUR:

https://www.facebook.com/PuertoPrincesaUndergroundRiver



Once again, here's how to vote for PPUR:



Voting ends November 11, 2011!

Blog Action Day 2011 = World Food Day

It's been a looong tiring day. The boss kept all of us in the room, stuck in a meeting that took ages to finish. Worst of all, they didn't even have the sensitivity to allow a quick lunch or coffee break to fill our tummies to get our minds working.

The meeting made us miss lunch! Such cruelty surely makes you mad, right?

But right now, 1 billion of the earth's population are suffering from involuntary hunger, not because of inhuman bosses or boardroom discussions that seem to have no end. A billion are hungry because of poverty, crop failure, drought, floods, and/or policies in their societies and from their governments that make food insufficient.

Here are some ways to stand united with them and the rest of the world to fight off the real cruelty of food insufficiency:

1- Watch the video and SIGN THE PETITION stating:

"We who support this petition find it unacceptable that close to one billion people are chronically hungry. Through the United Nations, we call upon governments to make the elimination of hunger their top priority until that goal is reached."



2- Support the TELEFOOD PROGRAM of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . By donating to the TELEFOOD PROGRAM, you can help finance small community-based enterprises which ensure food sufficiency through quality seeds, farm implements, and support mechanisms to families in vulnerable areas. Best thing about your donations, 100% goes to your partner communities, no part of the donation is used for administrative costs by the FAO.



3- In the Philippines, support the BAYAN-ANIHAN Program of Gawad Kalinga. Beyond the colorful homes, Gawad Kalinga now endeavors to support GK village residents towards self sufficiency by establishing "the first family-based,sustainable farm program in the Philippines. Each family is given a 10-squaremeter garden plot which can yield a minimum of 10 kilograms of vegetables per month, providing 30 meals per family." Be a partner and support Bayan-Anihan or "community harvest."



Other ways to respond to the food sufficiency challenge can be found in other blogs joining Blog Action Day 2011.

Organizations accepting donations for Typhoon PEDRING survivors

At least eight of the 17 regions of the Philippines were hit by Typhoon PEDRING (international codename: Nesat), displacing thousands of Filipinos because of the heavy rains and ensuing floods. As it leaves the country, we'll find out the full extent of the damages it caused and its corresponding health consequences. (PAGASA image above shows TY PEDRING moving through Luzon island and out to the West Philippine Sea, as of 10pm 27Sept.)

Scouring the Internet, here are some of the organizations who are now accepting donations for Typhoon PEDRING survivors. Kindly visit their respective websites and Facebook accounts and follow their Twitter accounts for updates as regards mechanisms for donation such as what items they need, where to drop off your donations, SMS or online donation systems, etc

List as of 10pm, September 27:

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), an Ateneo De Manila University-based NGO involved in disaster response
Website: http://www.slb.ph
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katotoo
Twitter: twitter.com/manindigan
Landline: 426-6101 loc. 3440/3441
Telefax: 426-5968
Mobile: 0949-7337049 or 0906-348047
Email: slb@admu.edu.ph
Contact person: Mykey Cuento
* UPDATE 9/29/2011: SLB has launched their Task Force Noah: PEDRING appeal for typhoon survivors: More details can be found >>here<<

* UPDATE 10pm 9/27/2011: Kindly visit SLB's http://e-ugnay.slb.ph/ website to know the exact areas where help is needed, the items being requested, and the field coordinator to work with in these areas.

* As of their 12nn 9/27/2011email, ready to eat food, water, and clothing are being collectedat the Loyola Schools Covered Courts, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

* SLB is also accepting donations via BPI bank deposits

Gawad Kalinga (GK)
Website: http://www.gk1world.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gawadkalinga
Twitter: twitter.com/GawadKalingaHQ
Mobile: (+63917) 523 9777
Email: info@gk1world.com

* GK is mobilizing for Quezon City, BASECO, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija, among other areas

Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
Website: http://www.redcross.org.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phredcross
Twitter: twitter.com/philredcross
Email: fundgeneration@redcross.org.ph / prc@redcross.org.ph
Hotline: 143 and (+632) 527.0000

* Accepts donations via SMS or text messaging

I will try to update this list should other organizations also announce their donation mechanisms.

Every little bit helps =]

Artist at work: Noel Cabangon on HEADSTART with Karen Davila

This has got to be the best half-hour of Philippine television I've enjoyed in a while.

Pinoy singer/songwriter/activist Noel Cabangon joined Karen Davila's HEADSTART last July 15th on ANC. Karen again displayed her engaging and engaged interviewing which Noel matched with his remarkable, remarkable musicality and by wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Noel's label, Universal Records,uploaded the video of this interview-cum-concert on YouTube in three parts. Enjoy!

A site for sore eyes

Eyes, Greek philosopher Heraclitus says, are more accurate witnesses than ears. But what do you do when those witnesses- your eyes- need help to stay sharp and focused? When the going gets blurred, the blurred go to Zenni Optical.

Here are ten things to love about the Zenni Optical site:

1. BALANCE: The Zenni Optical website offers eyewear options that are both stylish and affordable without sacrificing their health benefits. Affordable prescription eyeglasses that are practical, fashionable, without costing an arm and a leg.

2. NUMBERS: There are literally thousands of choices, all with photos, so you will see what you will be actually purchasing. Currently, some 3000-plus frames are yours for the choosing.

3. OPTIONS: The site has highly customizable options (on its left-hand panel) which can help narrow down your selection of eyewear- by price, by frame shape, by prescription type, by gender of user, among other filters.

4. TESTING: Not only will you able to see what you will purchase, you can actually see how it will look like on a human face, short of fitting it on yours. There are eight “faces” of various ages and ethnicity on Zenni Optical’s Frame Fit application where you can “try on” the frames you are considering to buy.


5. FREEBIES: Purchases have lots of bonuses, like free anti-scratch coating, eyeglass case and microfiber cleaning cloth.

6. HELP: The site has an extensive Help section which guides buyers with information like how to order from the site and understanding prescriptions for eyeglasses.

7. CONTACT: Zenni Optical’s team makes itself very accessible to the public. Inquiries can be fielded via email, live chat, phone, Facebook, and Twitter.

8. BLOG: Zenni Optical has a blog where additional information- so-called tips and tricks- for patrons are available at their fingertips.

9. TESTIMONIALS: Customers have a corner where they can share their very own Zenni Optical stories. Here's another corner of the blogosphere where the benefits of Zenni Optical are being heralded by a satisfied patron.

10. APPROVAL: Seals of good business practice can be found at the bottom part of the site, thus increasing buyer confidence in the site.

To see is to believe. Head on over to Zenni Optical and open your eyes to the endless possibilities for your eye care needs.

UPDATE: Task Force NOAH for survivors of floods in Cotabato City

Reposting the article by Marc Reuben Cuento, Disaster Response Program Manager of Simbahang Lingkod Ng Bayan, regarding SLB's response to the flooding situation in Cotabato City. Things are getting better versus when I first posted about the floods here but help is still needed. How to be of assistance to survivors of the floods can be found at the following article's end.

--==+==--

On June 18, residents of Cotabato City woke up from the previous night’s rainfall to find their house submerged at least waist deep in water in the wake of a spill over from Rio Grande River. More than 2,500 families were forced to evacuate from their houses as sustained downpour over the weekend caused water levels to rise further.

It was the discovered the same morning that a 20-hectare mass of decomposing hyacinths have formed an artificial island that caused clogging in the city’s tributaries and canals, which was the subsequent cause of flooding especially in the suburban areas.

In the midst of all this, the parishioners of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral Parish have been helping out with their volunteer relief efforts, led by Fr. Edwin Degracias, DCC.

Eleven days later, the flood water has still not subsided in many areas due to continued rainfall and the influx of more hyacinths from the. At least 1000 families remain displaced from their homes, and relief efforts are being sustained to meet their needs. In the absence of any strong downpour in the next week, the flood water levels should recede.

As of June 30, 2011, donations amounting to at least Php500,000 have been sent to Cotabato City through SLB's generous network of donors, Php275,000 of which was spent on rice.

SLB is currently working with Miriam College regarding their upcoming disaster response campaign.

For Cash Donation, you can visit the SLB office at Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan road, Loyola Heights Quezon City, or deposit to

SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (Account name/payee)
Bank of the Philippine Islands, Loyola Katipunan Branch
BPI PESO Checking Account Number 3081-1111-61
BPI Dollar Savings Account Number 3084-0420-12
SWIFT CODE: BOPIPHMM
ROUTING NO: 021 – 0000 – 21
BANKS THAT MAY RECEIVE DEPOSITS FOR BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ACCOUNTS

FOR THOSE IN UNITED STATES:

JP MORGANS BANK
BANK OF AMERICA

FOR THOSE IN EUROPE:

COMMERCE BANK
DEUTSCHE BANK
SOCIETE GENERALE BANK

FOR THOSE IN ASIA:

ANY BANK ALL OVER ASIA

Please pass this message to your friends and network.

For more information, please contact SLB hotlines: in Manila 426-5968, or mobile number 0906-348-0476, or email slb@admu.edu.ph.

The Mind Museum Moms' Day fundraiser: A star for the star that our moms are

This Mother's Day season and beyond, help further the cause of science education in the country while at the same giving a most unique gift to the star of our lives- our moms!

For just PhP 1,000.00 (roughly USD 24.00), you can light a star in The Mind Musuem's virtual sky. The Mind Museum is the Philippines' first world-class science museum which will provide hands on, interactive, innovative learning exhibits that aim to inspire and support young minds' love for science and technology. Choose which among the stars in Northern and Southern Hemispheres will be named after your mom. A certificate of donation, Facebook badge, and inclusion in the Universe Gallery's Donors' Marker upon the Museum's completion will be made available to each donor.

Live a lasting legacy in your mom's name. Be a champion for science. Light up a The Mind Museum star in honor of your life's finest star.

For more details, please visit The Mind Museum online, be a fan of The Mind Museum on Facebook, and follow The Mind Museum on Twitter.

What is your water footprint? (Blog Action Day 2010)

Your individual water footprint is equal to the water required to produce the goods and services consumed by you (waterfootprint.org). It's akin to one's carbon footprint, as it measures also the impact of our existence on the planet. You can visit waterfootprint.org to find out yours.

As for me, the Water Footprint Calculator, after plugging into it bits and pieces of my avergae regular water consumption, churned out the number 2,597 cubic meters. It means that I use that amount of water annually if I continue living my life the way I do now. 2,597 cu.m of water is a little more than the amount of water inside an Olympic-sized swimming pool! And mind you, I'm a biiit water-conscious as it is already. Imagine if all the people in the world spent AT LEAST an Olympic-sized-pool's-worth of water annually, we'd probably dry up before we can say Sahara Desert.

A huge part of my water consumption comes from my rather liberal intake of meat and meat products. Apparently, it takes a huge amount of water to care for cows, their pastures, etc. Maybe if I eat a lesser amount of meat, I'd be able to lessen my water footprint and thus help others have more water In The Bigger Scheme of Things...

So how do we improve our water footprint without having to stop bathing or stop brushing our teeth?

H20Conserve.org offers a simple, almost painless To-Do list to help us manage our water resources expecially in our homes. Here are some samples of their tips to become water-wise:

IN THE BATHROOM
- If you don’t have a low-flow toilet, put a plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
- Turn off the water while shaving, and instead fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor.
- Spend less time in the shower. If you lose track of time in the shower, bring a radio into the bathroom and time yourself by how many songs play while you’re in there. Try to get your shower time down to one song (or less).
- If it’s yellow, let it mellow. The saying may be cliche, but it’s good advice. If you’re grossed out by the “yellow”, just put down the toilet lid.

IN THE KITCHEN
- Scrape dishes into the compost (or trash if you don`t compost) rather than rinsing. New dishwashers don’t even require pre-rinsed dishes.
- Think ahead! Don’t use water to defrost frozen foods instead, leave them in the fridge overnight to defrost.
- Boil food in as little water as possible. You just need enough to submerge your pasta and potatoes, and with less water you keep more flavor and nutrients in your veggies.
- When grocery shopping, try to buy more whole foods like vegetables, rice and potatoes. Processed foods and beverages like chips, candies, pre-made meals and sodas take a lot more water to produce than foods that come straight from the farm.

For more tips to save money, save water, and eventually save the planet, please visit H20Conserve.org.

Please don't forget also to sign the petition in support of initiatives for common efforts to provide access to safe water for those most in need.

Change.org|Start Petition

Blog Action Day 2010: WATER

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

OCTOBER 15 IS BLOG ACTION DAY! Blog Action Day is that day of the year when blogs the world over write about a common topic to highlight a pressing concern that warrants the world's attention and immediate action

THIS BLOG ACTION DAY ON OCTOBER 15, 2010- LET ALL OUT BLOGS RESOUND WITH THE CLAMOR FOR BETTER ACCESS TO SAFE AND CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF- W A T E R !

Maria of the Blog Action Day 2010 Team put together this list of WATER facts and figures to underscore the world's need for wiser use of our water resources:

Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Unclean drinking water can incubate some pretty scary diseases, like E. coli, salmonella, cholera and hepatitis A. Given that bouquet of bacteria, it's no surprise that water, or rather lack thereof, causes 42,000 deaths each week.

More people have access to a cell phone than to a toilet. Today, 2.5 billion people lack access to toilets. This means that sewage spills into rivers and streams, contaminating drinking water and causing disease.

Every day, women and children in Africa walk a combined total of 109 million hours to get water. They do this while carrying cisterns weighing around 40 pounds when filled in order to gather water that, in many cases, is still polluted. Aside from putting a great deal of strain on their bodies, walking such long distances keeps children out of school and women away from other endeavors that can help improve the quality of life in their communities.

It takes 6.3 gallons of water to produce just one hamburger. That 6.3 gallons covers everything from watering the wheat for the bun and providing water for the cow to cooking the patty and baking the bun. And that's just one meal! It would take over 184 billion gallons of water to make just one hamburger for every person in the United States.

The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day – more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. From showering and washing our hands to watering our lawns and washing our cars, Americans use a lot of water. To put things into perspective, the average five-minute shower will use about 10 gallons of water. Now imagine using that same amount to bathe, wash your clothes, cook your meals and quench your thirst.

MAKE YOUR BLOG THE FOUNTAIN THROUGH WHICH WILL FLOW INTELLIGENT DISCUSSIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO CLEAN, SAFE WATER BY THE POOREST AND MOST VULNERABLE!

Join Blog Action Day 2010 on October 15th!

Mission- I *HEART* the Philippines 2010: Contest Winners!

Amidst the cacophony of political squabbles, economic woes, and showbiz nonsense, it can be very difficult to see the good in the Philippines and among Filipinos. But if we just stay still for a bit, look around, listen, and feel – we need not exert too much effort to experience the best of the Philippines and the Filipino.

In celebration of my blog's Year IV online, I put together a mini-contest to encourage fellow bloggers to express what they *heart* about the Philippines. Here's what they shared:

SuperMommyJem absolutely loves our Christmas season in the Philippines- replete with four F's – food, family, fun, and faith. There's even a very personal reason why December in the Philippines is extra special to her. Check out her SuperMommyJem's blog to find out.

Cornelio03, on the other hand, chose to highlight the various forms of heroism in our country. He brought to the fore personalities and events that showcase the unique love Pinoys have for their people amid seemingly insurmountable problems. I did not know Emilio Aguinaldo's wife played a crucial role in our struggle for independence from Spain. Learn what role she played by hopping over to Cornelio03's blog.

Chin chin put together the tastiest entry, featuring four Filipino gustatory delights. I think these four food items represent us Pinoys well. Have a bite of Chin chin's offering in her blog.

Luckyfinds describes the mysterious connection among us Filipinos as the best aspect of being one. She writes a timely recall of a great display of Filipino empathy that happened a year ago. It's an experience all of us can relate to. Her thoughts on Pinoy kindness can be found here.

I would like to thank these four courageous bloggers for writing about what's great about the Philippines and Filipinos when it is, at times, easier to rant and whine. Mabuhay kayo!

And now, the winners:

Free 7-day advertisement in the Adgitize network worth $7: SuperMommyJem

Free 7-day advertisement in the Adgitize network worth $7: Cornelio03

Free 7-day advertisement in the Adgitize network worth $7: Luckyfinds

Free 31-day advertisement in the Adgitize network worth $14: Chin chin

Thank you and Congratulations!

PS- As was stated in the contest rules, winners can opt to have the Adgitize ad prize or the equivalent amount deposited to their PayPal account =] Although I highly recommend taking the Adgitize option =] Please leave a comment under this post to let me know the email address through which I can contact you fastest =]

Mission- I *HEART* the Philippines 2010: Contest Continues til Sept. 25th

Baguio Boracay Batanes Batangas Bohol Bantayan - Which Philippine vacation place is the world's best?

Balagtas Rizal F.S.Jose Zafra De Quiros - Which Filipino author wields the mightiest pen?

Greenhills Market! Market! Colon Baclaran Divisoria - What is the true shoppers' haven of the Philippines?

Lechon balut adobo sinigang kwek-kwek - Which Pinoy food best exemplifies our people?


Enlist in MISSION- I *HEART* THE PHILIPPINES!

Share what you love most about being a Filipino or about being in the Philippines and do your part in promoting Pinoy pride.

State the obvious or bring to the fore what the current challenges the country faces obscure from the world's appreciation.

And since this is also a blogoversary contest to celebrate my blogs year 4 online, some $35-worth of prizes are also up for grabs to lucky bloggers, including Adgitize ads and Entrecard credits.

For contest details click please here.

Contest ends on September 25th.

Fourth Blog Anniversary Contest: Mission- I *HEART* the Philippines 2010

This September, I am celebrating my blog's fourth year in the blogosphere. Throughout the 349-odd posts I've churned out, I tried my best to give my two-cents on topics ranging from sports to politics to movies and faith. I tried my best to share with the stragglers who wander into my blog the things I am most passionate about. And if I were to base my passion-meter on the labels I most frequently used to tag my posts, then I would have to say I love the Philippines and thinking aloud the most.

To celebrate my Year IV on this blogging platform, I am launching a simple (and my first-ever) blogging contest-

Mission: I *Heart* the Philippines.

I did two editions of this writing prompt in 2006 and 2008. It's turning out to be a biennial event; but methinks it ought to be done for frequently.

I envision this contest to be a means by which bloggers with strong positive feelings about the Philippines will be able to share their thoughts, favorite memories, and experiences. In the face of all the challenges in and around our country, I feel it is also important to celebrate what is good in the Philippines and among Filipinos to serve as additional inspiration to strive harder to be the best versions of ourselves as a nation.

Here are the contest details.

It is open to any blogger regardless of nationality, location, political color, etc. Newbie and veteran bloggers with single or multiple blogs are welcome.

To join the contest, the blogger must write a blog entry with the following...

Topic: Please write about four Philippine-related items you feel strongly positive about. It maybe four beaches, four churches, four street delicacies, four movies, four hotels, four artists, four Filipino attitudes, four historical figures, four stamps, four books, four blogs- a set of four-anything Filipino that you find fantastic and can't help but share to the world. You can choose Philippine objects, personalities, places, events, etc.

Blog title:
I *heart* the (beaches/churches/streetfood/movies/hotels/heroes/blogs/etc) of/in the Philippines = topic you wrote about or a noun/pair of nouns that summarize/s the list you wrote about most succinctly (heroism/talents/etc)

For example- I *heart* the beaches of the Philippines

Content: I hope the blog post will not be a mere listing of what you love but will include some annotation. Pictures- personal or borrowed from the web- would be most welcome. Best also if the blog would be at least 100 words long.

Tone: Light and positive.

Language: English. The blog post can partly be in our local Philippine language but there should an English translation ng mga salita na nasa Tagalog (of the words in Tagalog).

Badge: Please add at the end of your post-

[This is an entry to MISSION: I *HEART* THE PHILIPPINES]

And kindly add this badge at the bottom of your post.

Copy and Paste Code

<a href="http://elsalvadordelmundo.blogspot.com/2010/09/fourth-blog-anniversary-contest-mission.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/ianfgomez/mihtp_flag.jpg" border="0"></a>

The contest will run for two weeks, from September 12 to 25, 2010.

A blogger can enter a maximum of three (3) entries for the contest. Bloggers with multiple blogs can enter a maximum of three (3) entries per blog. Each blog post entry must have gone online no earlier than September 12.

To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post with this format:
Q: What's the best thing about the Philippines?
A: (Your one sentence reply)
Blog title:
Link to entry:

Deadline for entering the contest is on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 8am Philippine Standard Time (+8GMT)

I will visit your link and see if your entry meets the minimum requirements of the contest. I will post a blog entry on Sunday, September 26, 2010 8pm Philippine Standard Time (+8GMT) to highlight the blogs who joined the contest and announce the winners of my mini contest.

Prizes for winning entries:

2 winners Adgitize gift card for a 7-day run of your blog's ad on the Adgitize network ($7 value) each
= courtesy of a very generous contest supporter
1 winner Adgitize gift card for a 31-day run of your blog's ad on the Adgitize network ($14 value)
= all three will be randomly chosen from entries

1 more winner Adgitize gift card for a 7-day run of your blog's ad on the Adgitize network ($7 value)
= my personal choice among the entries as having the best style (including correct grammar, appropriate use of pics, etc), unique point of view, positive content.

I chose Adgitize gift cards as prizes because I want more people to enjoy the winners' writings by way of driving traffic to your respective sites through Adgitize. But in case you don't want the Adgitize prize, I am willing to send to your PayPal account the dollar equivalent of the prize you won.

To sweeten the pot, the first 10 (10) bloggers with EC widgets to share this contest- not necessarily join it- will each receive 700 Entrecard credits from me. Write about my event and please don't forget to include in your post the badge below. Just please leave a comment again on this announcement with the link to your blogpost announcing my contest.

Copy and Paste Code

<a href="http://elsalvadordelmundo.blogspot.com/2010/09/fourth-blog-anniversary-contest-mission.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/ianfgomez/mihtp_flag.jpg" border="0"></a>

It's time to express our pride in our nation and highlight what's positive in our country. It's time to share our positive encounters with Filipinos and unforgettable Philippine experiences.

Start writing and be part of the mission- MISSION: I *HEART* THE PHILIPPINES!

Cyberspacefinds: Virtual Bubble Wrap (R)

Sometimes, oftentimes, the packaging is more interesting than the contents it protects.

For those among us who can't afford to buy gizmos and gadgets just too have the chance to *pop!* those amazing Bubble Wrap buttons, cyberspace now offers an environment-friendly alternative. Well, I think I'm about 14 years too late since this explosive addiction has been online since 1996 according to the Virtual Bubble Wrap front page. Then again, better late than never!

Happy popping!

I pop bubble wrap at 1.81 bubbles per second! I popped 196 bubbles in 1 minute and 48.4 seconds at www.Virtual-Bubblewrap.com! Can you beat my score?

The dead maybe luckier: 6M kid-"survivors" desperately need help in Pakistan

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. ~ The Talmud


Reposting this email I received from the United States Fund for UNICEF.

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-1562/Zaidi
"8-year-old Amreen washes dishes in rainwater in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, where an estimated 2.5 million of the province's 3.5 million residents have been affected by the disaster. She's just one of the 6 million children in desperate need of clean water to stave off certain outbreaks of disease."
- from UNICEF USA's blog Field Notes
UNICEF's Pakistan Disaster Relief Operations in Jeopardy Due to Funding Shortage
6 Million Children in Desperate Need - Deadly water-borne diseases threaten child survival

NEW YORK/ISLAMABAD (Tuesday, August 17, 2010) -- UNICEF warned today that serious funding shortfalls are jeopardizing its humanitarian operation in Pakistan. UNICEF is extremely concerned at the lack of funds for its water and sanitation operation, with millions of children at risk from water-borne diseases.

"Providing clean water and adequate sanitation is key to the survival of millions of flood affected people in Pakistan. In terms of numbers of people needing life-saving assistance, this emergency is bigger than the Tsunami, Haiti, and the last Pakistan earthquake put together," said UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Martin Mogwanja.

"UNICEF is currently providing enough clean water for 1.3 million people every day, but millions more need the same services. We urgently need to scale up the distribution of water. If we are not able to do so because of lack of funding, water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and dysentery will spread and begin killing affected populations, especially children, already weak and vulnerable to disease and malnutrition," added Mogwanja.

The Government of Pakistan estimates 20 million people overall have been hit by the flood crises, and according to the United Nations at least 15 million people have been seriously affected, half of whom are children.

"It is unbearable to think that six million kids in immediate danger may not get clean water, nutrition and shelter because of a funding shortage," said President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Caryl Stern. "UNICEF is completely dependent on voluntary donations, if we don't raise funds, we can't respond to this emergency. Please help us get word out, and please donate whatever you can to help us meet the need. Even a dollar will be put to good use and help save lives."

UNICEF is concerned that the floods have hit "the poorest of the poor," those least able to survive the present harsh conditions. The top concerns are water-borne diseases, acute respiratory infections, skin diseases and malnutrition rates, already dangerously high in many flood-affected regions of Pakistan.

Polio is endemic and measles still a threat, says UNICEF, which, together with WHO and Government, is carrying out polio and measles vaccinations at relief centers. UNICEF is also supplying oral rehydration solution, a home based treatment for diarrhea, but notes that this treatment is also in short supply due to funding constraints.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution please contact the U.S. Fund for UNICEF:

Website: www.unicefusa.org/pakistan
Toll free: 1-800-FOR-KIDS (1-800-367-5437)
Mail: 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10016

Cyberspacefinds: The Big Picture

There are photoblogs and then there is Boston Globe's news photoblog Big Picture.

This site is literally and figuratively a treasure-trove of screen-filling images captured from all over the planet- and sometimes beyond. The Big Picture, maintained by boston.com web developer Alan Taylor, sources its images from traditional news-gathering agencies like AP and Reuters and from the occasional non-professional contributors. It showcases snapshots of current events like the recent landslides in China and the struggles of the survivors of Pakistani floods in vivid details that transports the viewer into where the action is. At times, the Big Picture captures common threads that bind humanity like Stormy Skies or the joy of photography itself through features like In Silhouette.

I sometimes spend hours on end just wading through 30-40-picture sets. There are quick one-line captions contextualizing each photo. Whether posed or serendipitous, there's a clear perspective in each selected photo that make up each set. Truly, each image evokes the feeling that it is our story, each of us- photographer, subject, viewer/browser- is part of the planet's Big Picture.

Worse than the 2004 tsunami: UNICEF's call for help for Pakistan

PAKISTAN NEEDS OUR HELP!

Here is the information-appeal from the UNICEF USA Fund, soliciting support for Pakistan's children affected by the devastating floods of the past weeks:

GENEVA/ISLAMABAD (August 11, 2010) — As the figures continue to rise, UNICEF says that 6 million children have been affected by the floods in Pakistan with some 2.7 million children in need of urgent, lifesaving assistance.

According to UN estimates, a total of 14 million people have been affected by the flood crisis. Hundreds of thousands have received humanitarian aid, but millions more urgently need shelter, food, water, and health care. Flooding could worsen considerably in the coming days, especially in parts of Sindh.

"This is the biggest natural disaster to hit Pakistan and this region in living memory, bigger than the Tsunami or the earthquake, with millions of children and women struggling to survive in dire conditions. It is a race against time as we rush to deliver supplies to affected populations. The waters are still rising and we are bracing for flood waves as rivers overflow and the rains continue," said Martin Mogwanja, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.

"Shelter is the most urgent need, while food, water, and health care are also critical. Right now we need to save lives and create temporary living conditions for the 1.8 million homeless. It is a massive task and we are not there yet. Once we are, we can begin to think about the longer-term recovery of regions in Pakistan which have suffered widespread devastation," added Mogwanja.

UNICEF is sending in humanitarian supplies for health, nutrition, water and sanitation, child protection, and education.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DONATION H E R E .