Just this February 28, 2012 when Department of Foreign Affairs Regional Consular Office- Cebu was transferred to Pacific Mall Mandaue City from its previous location in Cebu City. DFA Secretary Albert F. del Rosario himself inaugurated the newly-opened Regional Consular Office with its aim of bringing better consular services to Filipinos living in the neighboring provinces. But do they really offer “world-class service to the people of the Central Visayas?”

Better or bitter?

On February 20, 2012, I, together with a friend, went personally to DFA Cebu to apply for passport. Having brought all the requirements, our passport applications were then processed and were scheduled for release on March 13, 2012.

 In connection with this passport application, we handed the consular office letters from the National Youth Commission and Japanese Embassy-Manila requesting the office to fast track the processing of our passports. They accepted it and told us to call the office a week later to follow-up the release since our passports will be out with the date we’ve stated in our letters.

The letter reads:

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Regional Consular Office

Mandaue City, Cebu

Philippines

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings!

I am requesting your good office to acknowledge the letter from the National Youth Commission and Embassy of Japan- Manila to facilitate the expeditious process of my passport application as a participant of the JENESYS Programme.

I am instructed to have my passport ready for submission on or before March 5, 2012 for our VISA Application. Attached herewith is a letter addressed to the Assistant Secretary, JAIME VICTOR V. LEDDA, from the National Youth Commission and Embassy of Japan- Manila.

Your kind consideration regarding this matter and your support for the success of the program will gratefully be valued.

Respectfully yours,

JOHN EDGAR S. TIU

(My friend also gave a letter containing the same message of fast tracking the processing of the passport.)

A week after the applications were processed, we called the office and inquired for the status of the processing. When we called DFA, we were redirected to their Releasing Section. A certain “Glenn”  answered our phone call and told us that our passports’ status were “SENT.” He further explained that this means that  “DFA Main Office has sent the passports to DFA Cebu but they have not yet received those.” He gave us an instruction to call back by Friday, March 2, 2012.

On March 2,2012, we called DFA Cebu again. “Glenn” told us that our passports are already in DFA Cebu and are now waiting to be delivered via courier. “OK na. Naa na ang mga passports nila.” (Their  passports are already here.) If they sent those right away, that would only take two days to reach Bohol.

Inconsistencies: Two conflicting statements

March 7, 2012 and no passports were delivered to us. This led me to call DFA Cebu again. SURPRISINGLY, “Glenn’s” response was “your passports are still in Manila.” This is contrary to his response when we called the releasing section on March 2.

I don’t understand why this “Glenn” of the Releasing Section had given us different answers.

What  went wrong?

March 9, 2012- My friend told me that he has received his passport already. This startled me a lot since mine wasn’t delivered. I can’t make it to the deadline for the VISA Application. I called DFA Cebu to ask what happened to my application but what transpired was, I got redirected to the Releasing Section several times. The phone rang but someone picked up the phone and dropped the phone call. This happened more than ten times.

The Information Lady raised her voice and dropped my phone call

After several attempts, the phone call went through. The information lady asked me of my concern and  I explained to her everything. She told me to just visit their office. I told the lady that I can’t go there right away since I am in Bohol.

To my surprise, the lady raised her voice saying, “Hay, Ginoo!” (Oh, God!), and then she dropped the phone call.

I called again and the same lady answered. She told me she will forward my phone call to the Secretary of the Regional Consular Office. Shockingly, the “The phone rang but someone picked up the phone and dropped the phone call” happened again. This happened thrice. The fourth attempt of calling the Secretary’s office, the information lady answered me and told me that the secretary had left already.

Good service?

DFA Cebu with its opening of their new office promised good service to Filipinos. Dropping of Calls, Inconsistent information/answers and an information officer raising her voice to applicants? I don’t think those mentioned mirror what they guarantee.

As of posting time, my passport has still not yet arrived. I just hope my passport reaches my hand this week so I can work on my VISA Application.

-JOHN EDGAR S. TIU

Day one of our exposure. It started with our sea-trip from Tagbilaran to Cebu. The trip was just fine at the start but as we go far from the coast of Bohol, huge waves came in and ushered the vessel. The vessel went in a surfing scene. Crews were quick to provide discomfort bags. The roller episodes continued as we go along with our trip.

I didn’t expect those enormous waves. Never did I hear from last night’s weather newscast of possible bad weather across Visayas region in the coming hours.

Passengers, including myself, felt dizzy with the bumps and smashes of waves. My seatmate had her throw-up bag prepped just in case she’d puke. Others spewed already. That changed the atmosphere of the ferry. Yes, that’s right; the breeze of what was supposed to be of good ambience has vanished.

Thankfully, I didn’t feel I would retch during the trip. I just had some wobbly feeling that went intermittent. It’s 12:25pm on my watch and I’m feeling hungry but I’m keeping it to myself. Who would want to eat with some upchucked aroma intervening in your eating session? Definitely, not me.

I looked around me and saw different reactions from passengers every time a big wave comes in. I thought the movie shown was just disregarded. Some went to sleep and others prayed for the safety of the trip. (to be continued…)

Loboc Floating Restaurant – Loboc, Bohol, Philippines

 The Blaze – Wed, Jan 4, 2012

Poppy Burge upon receiving a voucher for breast implants for her last birthday. (Photo: Closer Magazine via Daily Mail)

For her latest birthday, Poppy Burge received a voucher for breast implants. This Christmas, she got a voucher for liposuction in her stocking.

Why vouchers? Because Poppy is only 7 years old.

According to the Daily Mail, Poppy’s mother, 51-year-old Sarah — who is referred to as “surgery obsessed” is known as the Human Barbie — says that thesurgical 

enhancement vouchers are “investing in her future.” The Daily Mail has more on Sarah’s thoughts on the controversial gifts:

“I put the voucher in her stocking – there’s nothing wrong with that,” she said.

“She asks for surgery all the time. She wants to look good and lipo is one of those procedures that will always come in handy.”

Dr. Manny Alvarez writes on the health implications of surgery obsession in this case for Fox News, stating that Sarah’s addiction for plastic surgery could be passed onto her daughter:

As with most addictions, excessive reconstructive surgery comes with serious physical risks like wound breakdown, nerve damage, abnormal scar formation and chronic pain.  I believe that plastic surgery should only be considered on patients that truly need it and have had an informed conversation with their physician, who should be fully accredited to receive these procedures.

[...]

I don’t know if Burge is looking for publicity, but she needs to understand that what she is doing could permanently damage her child.  Not only because this child could become another plastic surgery addict like her mother, but because one day, as an adult, she might go online and see exactly what her mother was doing to her at the age of seven and realize that her life and her future were not being protected.

Sarah Burge on her 50th birthday. (Photo: thesarahburge.com)

Alvarez uses this story as an example to also draw attention to body image issues at increasingly younger ages. Last week, we reported that children as young as 3 years old have been seen for eating disorders in one area of the U.K.

via @YahooPH

The Department of Tourism is set to launch the new tourism slogan of the Philippines tomorrow, Friday, January 6, 2012.

The news was confirmed by the Department’s Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez.

On twitter, Sec. Jimenez has given several hints to followers on the bases of this new campaign.

Some of his tweets are as follows:

“The new tourism line will be more competitive than just an adjective. It is going to be an expression, drawn from natural conversation.”

‘The new tourism line answers the basic question, “Why go to the Philippines?”‘

“The new tourism line is not a manufactured line; it’s drawn from the way Filipinos have touched the lives of tourists.”

“The new tourism line is a simple campaign that translates to market share.”

“The new tourism line allows the Filipinos to take the line and own it to themselves.”

In the evening of January 4, 2012, Netizens reacted to a tweet from @Karen_DaviLa that reads: “ The Philippines is #1forFUN !!!”

Netizens speculated that this hashtag containing #1forFUN could be the new slogan. But the lady broadcaster was quick to respond to tweets asking her about the stir. She followed her tweet with: #1ForFun is NOT the actual slogan suuuurprise!

The hashtag #1forFUN was meant to encourage everyone to help DOT.

————————————————————————————–

Last night, when I was about to hit my bed, this thing came in to my head. It made me awake until 2:30 in the morning. Imagine that!

If my memory serves me right, it was on August this year when President Aquino made known his 13 priority measures. One of which is the much debated Reproductive Health Bill.

As an advocate and supporter of RH Bill, I was feeling victorious after realizing that the President is behind our advocacy. It’s a plus point if a president will ask the Congress to pass a bill.

And then I thought, before this year ends, the solution to growing number of maternal death, unwanted pregnancy among others, will have its solution. But we only got a day left to 2012. That makes the thought impossible.

The bill aims to

-save babies,

-save mothers,

-help poor couple plan their family,

- prevent abortion

Click here for Ten Reasons to Pass the RH Bill NOW!

If it wasn’t for these bullying bishops who spread false information regarding the bill, its passage would have been as swift as Japan’s bullet train.

In my point of view, they are the root why these Congressmen are delaying the passage of the Bill.  Next election is on 2013 and they need the support of the Catholic Church. Don’t get it? If they support the passage of this bill, which the Catholic Church is very critical with,  the Church would refuse to support the good gentleman/lady in his/her political bid come 2013. It’s that simple.

One thing that I don’t get about what the CC is saying: they strongly bicker that the Bill props up abortion. If you think CC is right, then you should read the Bill (here) , print this out and share this to your Parish Priest. They appear as if they are pro-LIFE. One of RH Bill’s aims is to reduce the number of maternal deaths. Is there killing? None.

Our Church has tarpaulins posted at the portico beside our Patron stating the Church’s encouragement for Catholics to oppose the passage of the RH Bill. That I call pathetic! Why? Simply because, with that, they are telling people not to help mothers who die because of maternal complications. Now, call that humane. Forgive me, father (priests), but I believe I am right. If saving the lives of mothers is against the doctrine of this Church, then count me out. You have mothers too.

What you can do?

Your district’s Congressperson should represent YOUR VOICE! You tell your Congressman to support the passage of the bill.

Follow me on twitter-  @john_tiu

by Judith Balea, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Here’s some good news for avid travelers who have been wanting to visit the world-famous Angkor Wat, but are turned off by the thought of connecting flights and long travel hours by land.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) recently approved direct flights from the Philippines to Cambodia, known for one of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia.

CAB granted Cebu Pacific five frequencies for the Manila-Cambodia route, while ZestAir got two frequencies.

Airphil Express, the budget carrier of Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia Philippines Inc. each received seven frequencies for the Clark-Cambodia route. One frequency is equivalent to a once-a-week flight.

Previously, Filipino travelers had to go to major Southeast Asian cities — Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore — to get flights to Siem Reap in Cambodia, the gateway to Angkor.

A UNESCO world heritage site, Angkor is a region in Cambodia where over a thousand temples in ruins can be found. One of these temples is the magnificent Angkor Wat, said to be the world’s largest single religious monument.

A bit of a trivia: Angkor Wat was used as the backdrop for some of the scenes of action movie Tomb Raider in 2001. Tomb Raider starred Angelina Jolie as video game heroine Lara Croft.

  By David Chance and Jack Kim | Reuter

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea’s military staged a huge funeral procession in the snowy streets of the capital, Pyongyang, on Wednesday for its deceased “dear leader,” Kim Jong-il, readying a transition to his son, Kim Jong-un.

Pictures from state television showed a funeral cortege led by a limousine carrying a huge picture of the 69-year old, who died on December 17, passing serried ranks of olive green-clad soldiers whose bare heads were bowed in homage in the main square of the capital.

A hearse carrying the coffin was led by a weeping Kim Jong-un, accompanied by Jang Song-thaek, his uncle and a key power-broker in the transition, and Ri Yong-ho, the army chief of staff.

“Seeing this white snow fall has made me think of the general’s (Kim’s) efforts and this brings tears to my eyes,” Seo Ju-rim, a red-cheeked, weeping female soldier, told North Korean television.

One of the myths surrounding Kim Jong-il was that he could control the weather and state media has reported unusually cold and wild weather accompanying his death.

The video of weeping civilians, who swayed with grief and shouted “father, father”, appeared to be out of synch with the audio on the broadcast. It was not clear whether it was live or recorded as black Lincoln and Mercedes limousines as well as army trucks streamed past the crowds.

Kim Jong-un will become the third member of the family to run the isolated and unpredictable North Asian country as it enters 2012, the year that was supposed to mark its self-proclaimed transformation into a “strong and prosperous” nation.

“The footage highlights the rising status of Jang Song-thaek ever since the first news of Kim Jong-il’s death,” said Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korea expert at Korea University in the south.

“Kim Jong-un is clearly the head of the new leadership but, in terms of hierarchy and influence, Jang appears to have secured considerable position,” he said.

It would seem, however, that little is set to change for the 25 million citizens of a country that has staged what many analysts have dubbed a “Great March Backwards” over the past 20 years.

STRONG YES, PROSPEROUS NO

Strong it may be — North Korea is backed by neighbouring China, has conducted two nuclear tests and has ambitions to become a nuclear power and boasts a 1.2 million-strong armed forces — but prosperous it is not.

On average, North Koreans have a life expectancy three-and-a-half years lower than they did when “Eternal President” Kim Il-sung died, according to U.N. data.

The United Nations, in a country programme for 2011-15, says North Korea’s main challenge is to “restore the economy to the level attained before 1990″ and to alleviate food shortages for a third of its 25 million population.

Indications from the transition since Kim Jong-il’s death suggest his “military first” policy will continue, leading to further hardship in a country that endured mass starvation in the 1990s.

Leverage from outside, with the exception of China, is limited. All the United States, South Korea and Japan can do is hope that the regime does not collapse, nor flex its military muscle as it did in 2010, when it shelled a South Korean island.

North Korea was established in 1948 and under its founding father, Kim Il-sung, went to war to try to conquer the South. It failed and in 1953 a dividing line that would become the world’s most militarised frontier was drawn across the peninsula.

While Kim Il-sung was revered by his people for fighting Japanese colonial rule, the halo surrounding his successors has steadily dimmed to such an extent that his grandson, the new ruler, will have to rely on people such as his uncle, Jang Song-thaek, to hold on to power, at least in the short term.

“The outlook for stability is not good, because Kim Jong-un’s succession is very different from Kim Jong-il’s,” said Jia Qingguo, a professor of international relations at Peking University.

Official media in the North have built Kim Jong-un, a jowly and rotund man in his late 20s, into a leader worthy of inheriting the crown, naming him “respected general”, “great successor”, “outstanding leader” and “supreme commander”.

This year, dissident groups based in South Korea, citing North Korean refugees and businessmen working in China, linked the youngest Kim to a crackdown on business activities and a tougher policy on people seeking to flee from North Korea.

Those reports could not be verified independently, but would again suggest that further repression is more likely than an economic opening under the new man.

It also gives little hope for the 200,000 North Koreans who human rights group Amnesty international says are enslaved in labour camps, subjected to torture and hunger or execution.

“There is likely to be a politically motivated purge and imprisonment, and it could go on for a considerable period of time,” said Pak Sang-hak, who heads a group in Seoul working to support defectors, and is himself a defector.

“That is especially because of the relative instability of Kim Jong-un’s leadership. There might also be persecution as a way of intimidation and discipline.”

(Additional reporting by Christine Kim and Iktae Park in SEOUL; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner and Paul Tait)

Everyone will agree with me if I say, “2011 was a tough year,not just for the Philippines but for the whole world.”

This year started as fine as it should but not until it reached March. We have seen how the great quake, that shookJapan, unleashed a massive tsunami that inundated several cities and cost many lives.

That was upsetting. International eye was onJapanfor weeks. Footages have shown desolated families, children who lost their parents, farmers whose farmlands were ravage d by the tsunami and scenes showing hopelessness, despair and anger.

Little did I know that in the near-end of this year, something similar would actually happen to our country. Tropical Storm Washi swamped port cities of CDO and Iligan in the Northern part of Mindanao (Story here).

Things like this made me realize 2 things:

1. We don’t know God’s plans. Let’s get back to Him. It’s just right to give Him his praises. PRAY!
2. We should never be complacent. So we better be prepared all the time.