Sunday, February 26, 2006

Prepaid PLDT weroam account

One of the problems journalists faced while covering the mudslide tragedy in Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, was the internet connection. Saint Bernard town is a very laid back, quiet town with no telephone line and no internet connection (personal or internet cafe). As for me, I had to travel two hours to Sogod town, the nearest town that has an internet cafe.

It was during those days of covering Saint Bernard that I realized the importance of mobile internet. PLDT's weroam connection is an ideal solution to the problem. With PLDT weroam, a journalist can send news stories or photos anywhere at anytime. That's convenience and connectivity all in one setting. But the problem with PLDT's weroam is that it has a fixed payment term, which, i must admit, is a little bit painful in my pocket. Imagine paying P25,000 in one time for a year's subscription. That's a bit too much.

I just hope PLDT will consider a prepaid account for weroam. PLDT may sell weroam prepaid cards for P2,500 good for one month's mobile connection. So when there's an emergency coverage somewhere in a place where the word internet has not been introduced yet, anyone can just buy a prepaid weroam card. That would be very useful and convenient, don't you think?

I hope and pray that PLDT will soon introduce prepaid weroam accounts.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Guinsaugon Mudslide Photos

I was in Barangay Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard Town, in Southern Leyte for four days to cover the mudslide tragedy. Hundreds of bodies were already pulled out from the mud but around 900 persons are still missing. I couldn't find the exact words to tell my experience there so I will just post some pictures here. Im still uploading the photos though.

My 8-month old son is having mild fever. I can see that his gum is breaking up to give way to the first tooth. Elders said it is normal for babies to have fever and even LBM during these periods. Was a bit alarmed when I felt that my baby was very warm. Well, you can't blame a first time father. :)

Friday, February 17, 2006

1,000 persons feared buried in Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte mudslide

(updated as of 4:46 pm Feb. 17,2005)


At least 1,000 persons feared buried in Leyte mudslide
By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

SAINT BERNARD, Southern Leyte – More than a thousand people were believed buried underneath the kilometers of mud that wiped out the entire barangay of Guinsaugon, this town, following a mudslide triggered by the collapse of the town’s highest mountain before noon today.

At least 10 kilometers of land was covered by mud when Mount Kan-abag, considered the tallest mountain in the town, collapsed past 11 a.m. today following days of heavy rain, said Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias.

Lerias, as of press time, could not give the exact number of casualties and survivors in the incident but feared that more than a thousand people could have been buried underneath the mudslide because all of the 378 registered houses in the barangay were wiped out, including the Guinsaugon Elementary School that was packed with hundreds of elementary pupils.

“We don’t know the number of casualties yet because our rescuers revealed seeing several dead bodies on the surface of the mud and feared that there could be more underneath,” Lerias, who immediately went to the area to assist rescuers, said in a telephone interview.

Several survivors claimed that days before the incident, they saw an old woman, who was wearing white dress, warning residents that something was going to happen in the area. Residents who saw the old woman said it was the first time they noticed the old woman, adding that she was new to the area and was not a resident.

Rescuers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Red Cross, and even the local ROTC cadets were able to retrieve survivors from the mudslide but stated that they saw hundreds of dead bodies spread all over the place.

ROTC cadet Henry Boctot, who joined the team of rescuers in the area, said they were able to rescue at least six persons alive using only their hands and woods in the operation. He said he saw several dead bodies in the area but the rescuers were focused on taking out survivors.

Saint Bernard town Mayor Maria Lim said it was a busy day for barangay Guinsaugon because it was a school day and there was a parade that celebrated the anniversary of a women’s organization in the barangay. She said the rain shower was very mild during that time but several survivors told her they felt tremor before the mountain finally collapsed, causing the mudslide.

Lim also believe that hundreds of people could have been killed in the incident because barangay Guinsaugon had a total of 2,000 residents. As of press time, Lim said she still was not able to penetrate the area for fear of another mudslide.

Several survivors, who were house at the town’s church and auditorium, claimed they have lost loved ones and relatives during the mudslide.

Debbie Pilo said she and her husband were able to save themselves from the flowing mud when they climbed a nearby mountain after realizing that something was going to happen.

“There was a slight tremor and my husband and I noticed mud flowing slowly from the mountain and I knew something was going to happen so we rushed towards the other mountain to save our lives,” said Debbie.

Debbie, however, said her brother Romeo and sister Dolores were not able to make it as she saw her siblings’ houses being covered by the rushing flow of mud. Romeo was at home with his five children, who were also unaccounted for as of press time, while Dolores had three children studying at the Guinsaugon Elementary School.

Beauty Cabacungan, Debbie’s neighbor, said she was buying milk at the nearby barangay when she was informed of the mudslide hitting her place. Cabacungan lost her 11-month-old son, her 67-year-old mother, and a house helper who were all inside her house. Her husband is working abroad.

“I was only away for a few minutes and now my baby is gone. They are all gone,” teary-eyed Cabacungan said.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, in a mass at the Cebu Cathedral yesterday, urged the people to pray and extend assistance to the victims of the tragedy. He, however, lashed at government officials who failed to warned residents of the danger of a landslide.

Vidal stressed though that the Archdiocese of Cebu is willing to help the victims in any way it can. #

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Entire Guinsagon barangay, Saint Bernard town in Southern Leyte wiped out in mudslide

(as of 1:09 PM Feb. 17, 2006)

A noontime landslide hit barangay Guinsagon in Saint Bernard town, Southern Leyte this noon (11:30 a.m. Philippine time), wiping out the entire barangay, including hundreds of houses and a public school, officials said.

Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias said a mountain of mud and sand gave in past 11 a.m. today, covering the entire barangay in this town, resulting to the unconfirmed death of hundreds of persons.

One resident, Beauty, said she was in the town proper to buy milk for her months-old baby when she learned of the landslide. She said she left her baby to the care of her mother and a helper. She said her mother and the helper were buried in the mudslide.

Several other residents who were working on a neighboring mountain claimed they have lost loved ones and children, especially those who were attending a public school in the barangay.

Rescue workers found it hard to penetrate the area because of the mud and the lack of equipments.

Monday, February 06, 2006

441 out of 1,029 pass architect licensure exam by PRC in Philippines

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced last night that 441 out of 1,029 passed the Architect Licensure Examination given by the Board of Architecture in Manila last month.

On the Board of Architecture which gave the licensure examination are Architect Eugene G. Gan, chairman; and Architects Fernando L. Santos and Miguel R. Caluza, members.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Monday, Feb. 13, but not later than March 10.

The oathtaking ceremony of the examinees will be held before the Board on Saturday, March 18, 1 p.m., at the Grand Ballroom, Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Pursuant to Section 40 of Republic Act (RA) 9266, mandatory registration for membership with the United Architects of the Philippines Inc. (UAP) will start on Monday, Feb. 13.

The top performing schools (with 20 or more examinees and with at least 50 percent passing percentage) in the January 2006 Architect Licensure Examination are:

Saint Louis University, 30 of 41, 73 percent; Polytechnic University of the Philippines Main-Sta. Mesa, 17 of 28, 61 percent; Bicol University-Legazpi, 16 of 28, 57 percent; University of Sto. Tomas, 65 of 126, 52 percent; and University of San Carlos, 10 of 20, 50 percent.

The top ten examinees:

Johnstein Lu Castillo, University of Sto. Tomas, 86.70 percent; Jess Cyril Chatto Siton, University of Bohol, 85; Jennifer Malasaga Escultor, Adamson University, 84.30; Rene Aldueza Olap, Batangas State University (Pablo Borbon MIT), 83.70; Sherwin Pimentel Espejo, University of Sto. Tomas, and Eamonn Gamutan Orevillo, Mindanao Polytechnic State College (DMMMSPC), 83.30;

Ed Joseph Birondo Caharian, Ateneo de Davao University, and Janrey Florendo Laureano, University of the Philippines, 83.10; Francis Patrick dela Cruz Basilio, University of Sto. Tomas, 82; Delano Marfori Marzo, St. Louis University, 81.90; Charina Oña Cruz, University of Sto. Tomas, 81.60; and Mendrado IV Sedoriosa Canusa, Ateneo de Davao University, Ma. Criselda San Juan Cristobal, University of the Philippines, and John Ronald Pacheco Santos, Mapua Institute of Technology, 81.10.

COMPLETE LIST

ABABON, CHURCHVILL PANTALIANO

ABAD, AMELIE APRIL MASANGKAY

ABELITA, MELONA BANHAW

ABIERA, MERVIN ALAIN PILAPIL

ABION, FERNANDO JOVEN

ABLOG, VALIANTH BRADLEY DAVID

ABRINGE, ERIC ALVIN APIAG

ACOSTA, KATRINA CABATO

ADOLFO, PERLYNA MORENO

AGABUNTI, RANDY DUMLAO

AGCARACAR, GERWIN NACENO

AGONIA, FLORDELIZ SARNO

AGTARAP, FIORELLA ANGELA PEREZ

AGUILAR, CHERIELYN DAÑOCUP

AGUILAR, HAZEL VALENZUELA

AGULLANA, ROWLAND IDIO

AGUSTIN, ANNA RHEA LAPITAN

AGUSTIN, GENEDIE GOROSPE

ALAS, TIM RANDELLE SEGISMUNDO

ALBA, MARIA FIDELA PUZON

ALBERT, MONICA THERESE CHAN

ALMARIO, MARIA LOURDES MEDILLO

ALMERIA, ERWIN FAUNDO

ALMONARES, JOJI CHARMAINE MIJARES

AMACIO, KATHERINE DELA CRUZ

AMANONCE, RAYMOND CUNANAN

ANAYA, DENNIS RIVERA

ANDAL, JOQUEL RETUERMA

ANDAN, DANILO DEXTER GANHINHIN

ANGELES, PONCIANO JR TERRADO

ANTONE, RANDY FABUNAN

ANYAYA, ALLAN OLERO

AQUINO, CHRISTIAN CASTRO

AQUINO, EMMANUEL SEVILLA

ARCINUE, GEORGE BECHAYDA

ATILLO, MARICRIS CAMPOS

AVILA, JESSIE DASALLA

AYSON, JIMMY CALILONG

AÑONUEVO, JOSHUA QUIZON

BACUS, SHEANNA INFANTE

BAHALA, RHONA CUETO

BAHIL, JOSEPH TORIANO

BALAGTAS, LOLITO JR BOJOS

BALANA, DOMINIC DELA DINGCO

BALANAK, HECTOR MICHAEL BABIERA

BALBASTRO, RODEL CONTI

BALDERAS, LEVI BABINGAO

BALDOVINO, ERIC CAMPANILLA

BALTAZAR, KRISTINE LUMIBAO

BANO, CATHERINE APOSTOL

BARI, IBEN-ALI BOY LAURENTE

BARRIENTOS, MA CONCEPCION FLORES

BARRIOS, PAULO DAVID FAJARDO

BARROCA, ART GAQUIT

BARTOLOME, GLENN FERRER

BASA, TONI ROSE GODOY

BASILIO, FRANCIS PATRICK DELA CRUZ

BATOON, GEOVANNI BONIFACIO

BAUTISTA, FRANKLIN JR CASIÑO

BAYNO, KARL WENDELL AXINTO

BAYONITO, SUZETTE PEACHIE BALDOSA

BELEN, GEORGE BIBAL

BELLO, BENEDICK GAN

BELLO, JEROME GERON CERBO

BERAYA, CERILO JR PRESTOZA

BERMUDO, MICHAEL FRUELDA

BERNARDINO, BRYAN MANDANE

BERNARDO, JOSEF ALAN GARCIA

BIHAG, MARGIE SANCHEZ

BILTZ, ERIKSON SITAY

BOLOFER, PAUL VINCENT JAVIER

BORRAS, CYREN GERONA

BRAVO, ALLAN RODRIGUEZ

BRIONES, EDISON RAGASA

BUMALAY, ZENY LIZ OLARTE

BUNQUIN, PAUL ANTHONY ATIENZA

BUSTILLO, ALREICH BRYAN SEMPRON

CABACUNGAN, REZIN ANN DEJORAS

CABELTES, BELMUND JAMES AMPARO

CABRERA, MELANIE LAGMAO

CACAL, MAYROSE PADRE

CADUNGOG, HILARIO FABRIGAR

CAHANSA, DENNIS EBAY

CAHARIAN, ED JOSEPH BIRONDO

CAJUCOM, DANNY JOE ORLEANS

CALAMONGAY, EMMANUEL JALANDONI

CALASARA, JOSEPH ORTEGA

CAMIWET, CLINT BILLOD

CAMSOL, PORTER BACUSO

CANICOSA, PETER JAMES III DICHOSO

CANLAS, RAYMOND HANGOS

CANUSA, MENDRADO IV SEDORIOSA

CAPISTRANO, ISABEL DIANE GUTIERREZ

CAPISTRANO, MARK ANTHONY MANAHAN

CAPISTRANO, NORMAN AVENDAÑO

CARLOS, DON CHESTER FELICIANO

CARPIO, AMERICO BRIONES

CASIN, REYNALDO TOMADA

CASTILLO, JOHNSTEIN LU

CATIIS, JOANNER VALDERAMA

CEBALLO, CUSTODIO III ICAWAT

CELESTINO, ROGELIO JR IYANA

CELSO, JULIUS CHRISTIAN REYES

CEREZ, MONETTE FERMIN

CERVANTES, SIMON GONZALES

CHONG, JOHNSON LAO

CINCO, MICHAEL VINCENT ALCAREZ

CLARIN, ROGELIO JR PETEROS

CLAUD, MA RAPUNZEL BEDAÑO

CO, RONALD TAN

COLCOL, JOAN TUAZON

CON-EL, DARWIN MONCADA

CONSOLACION, KARAH ONG

CONSUEGRA, MARY ANN CLAVERO

CORPUS, MICHAEL LEGASPI

CORTEZA, JOUIE COPINO

CRESENCIO, CYNTHIA ALBURO

CRISTOBAL, MA CRISELDA SAN JUAN

CRIZALDO, ALFREDO JR TALDO

CRUZ, CHARINA OÑA

CRUZ, GLENN SANTIAGO

CUETO, ELMER RESPONDO

DACQUEL, JAY-AR TEÑOSO

DARILAG, ANTHONY MAR ARENAS

DAYTEC, FARAH EUNICE BATNAG

DE CASTRO, CARLO IÑIGO TY

DE GUZMAN, EMERSON CABATBAT

DE GUZMAN, ROCHELLE ANN DACONES

DE JESUS, RAFAEL III NADONGA

DE LA CRUZ, ABIGAIL CASULLA

DE LA PEÑA, DEANCRIS AMOR FONTANOS

DE LEON, MAC EINSTEIN RAMIREZ

DE ROBLES, GERARD PHILIP CERTEZA

DE VILLA, MARK RYAN YEE

DECATORIA, ANTONIO JR FLORITA

DELA CRUZ, MARIA KRISTINA DE LEON

DELA CRUZ, REXCEL IGUIN

DELA PAZ, GLENN RONALD ISAIAS

DELOS REYES, RYAN CRUZ

DEQUITO, HERALEX VIRTUCIO

DIAZ, WENILDA ALMEDA

DICHOSO, GLENN CORPUZ

DIEMS, ARCTURUS MORIAL

DIMALANTA, JEFFREY

DIZON, RONNIE ANUNCIACION

DIZON, WILFRIDO RAMON III TALAVERA

DIÑO, KRISTOFFER PAULO JAN

DOMINGO, WILFREDO CERVANTES

DUA, JOEMAR PACAÑA

DUCAY, MARC BARANDA

DUGAY, GYLAND BARTOLOME

EDAÑO, BRAULIO JR URSAL

EDQUILA, ARIEL ALIBANGBANG

ELENO, ANARIYA SIAPNO

ENRIQUEZ, JERAME PARAS

EPITACIO, SHERRYL PESINABLE

ERLANDA, BARRY BENEDICTO

ESCANUELA, TEODORO JR COGONON

ESCOBEDO, NADINE MACABUHAY

ESCULTOR, JENNIFER MALASAGA

ESPEJO, MINETTE BUAYA

ESPEJO, SHERWIN PIMENTEL

ESPINOSA, CHRISTINE REYES

ESPIRITU, LESLEY ARDELLE PASCUAL

ESTRELLA, BELYNDA DE LEON

EUGENIO, VENANCIO LEONARDO GUMABON

EVANGELISTA, ALFONSO JR MEDADO

EVASCO, REMUN RYAN GORGONIO

FABIAN, MICHELLE GRANADO

FAYLON, TINA JAY ABDON

FERNANDEZ, REYNALDO MENDOZA

FLORES, LOWELL OPONE

GAFFUD, ALFREDO ANTONIO JR NILO

GAGARIN, DONA LIEZEL BALLESTEROS

GALI, CHARLES PATRICK MARIANO

GALLEGOS, AILEEN MOLINA

GARCIA, ALLAN RAY FLORES

GARCIA, CLAIRE ANN QUILANG

GARCIA, MARK JONES BALANCI

GARDON, MAR ALEXANDER ABUAN

GASCON, KRISTINE-LYNN RICOHERMOSO

GASMEN, NANCY DATANAGAN

GATCHALIAN, KENT ENOPIA

GATCHALIAN, ROWELL TENORIO

GAW, JEFFREY EDROSA

GELLA, GLADYS JOEY DELA CRUZ

GELLA, ROWENA JOAQUIN

GERAPUSCO, IAN LAUSIN

GERONIMO, MERVIN LAZARO

GIANAN, ALEXANDER ADVINCULA

GO, LINDY ABIGAIL ONG

GOMEZ, FRANCES MICHELLE PADILLA

GONZAGA, JOSELITO JR DOCUSIN

GONZALES, JEDDY ABUNDO

GONZALEZ, ESPERANZA PATRIARCA

GORDO, PAUL WESLEY ESTOY

GRACILLA, MELVIN REBOSURA

GUADALUPE, MAGNOLIA CASINO

GUEVARRA, WELVIN CAMPADO

GUIMPAYAN, RODIN NABEJET

GUZMAN, RICO RIEZA

HABARADAS, DON JAY COQUILLA

HADLOCON, JERSIELD BANTOL

HALOG, ERWIN MISSION

HERMOGENES, MICHELLE MARIE MANALO

HERNANDEZ, CHRISTIAN RAYMOND LITUCO

HIBAYA, REY JAMILA

HIBIONADA, SAMUEL ESMERALDA

HO, JERICK TOLEDO

HOSENA, MA ROWENA NOVILLA

HUFANA, JOEL ALBAY

IGNACIO, MANNY GABRIEL

IGNACIO, MARICAR DYANGKO

ILAGAN, GIAN PAOLO DE TORRES

IMBAG, ROLANDO CAMANGEG

IMMACULATA, ROBERT ZAPANTA

INEZ, ARNOLD BARRETTO

INFANTE, BILLY JOEL DIAMANTE

INGUENGAN, GINETTE JOY JAYO

INTAL, RODEL REGALADO

IRANON, DIOSDADO IV BAQUIRAN

ISORENA, KAREN COMPETENTE

JAVATE, ADRIAN EMPAYNADO

JIMENEZ, STEVE CHAN

JOVERO, GENE LORESCO

JUEZAN, JOSEPH MARTONI FERMIN

KHO, MADELINE MAE CHENG

KWAN, MARVIN GAN

LABADOR, ALLAN DIVINAGRACIA

LABRADOR, ARISTON JR SEVADERA

LACUESTA, LARA CABALLES

LAITA, WILMA PE

LAJO, MICHAEL GARCERA

LANDIG, JOSEPH LALUSIN

LAO, NEIL JORGE UY

LAO-ANG, ROLANDO II MANUEL

LASPIÑAS, DOMINIQUE ORTALIZ

LAUREANO, JANREY FLORENDO

LAUZ, JOSEPH ERWIN SALVADOR

LEANZON, CHRISTIAN BORRAS

LEE, KATHERINE WONG

LEOLIGAO, JOSE NEIL EVARDO

LIM, RICHARD ORILLE

LINO, DON QUINTIN III JARAVATA

LOJO, MARK JOSEPH ISNIT

LOQUINARIO, CHESTER REQUILME

LORENZANA, CENEN ABOCADO

LU, REAGAN FULIN CHONG

LUNA, CONTESSA CRUIZ

LUNAR, JUNETTE PEREGRINO

MABUHAY, RYAN TUBICE

MACALINO, SANTIAGO III MALLARI

MACEREN, KATHLEEN CAPAROSO

MACHADO, MICHAEL ANGELO NILLASCA

MACUTAY, ARNEL TUQUIB

MADRONA, ERWIN VILLANUEVA

MAGBANUA, NONA KARINA QUEVENCO

MAGNO, JULIUS BERKING

MAGNO, SHELAH GREGORIO

MAIQUEZ, PAUL MARC UNGSON

MALABED, FRANCIS JAMES BASIL VALERIO

MALIGAT, KRISTINA BORBON

MANARANG, MARVIN MIRANDA

MANDAC, ACE NATHANIEL NEGRE

MANLAPAZ, MICHAEL ANGELO PAULINO

MANLUCTAO, MAE CHRISTINE MEJIA

MANUBA, RONALD RIEGO

MANZA, MARDIN ARCHIBALD CUSTODIO

MAPAYE, RIZZA LYN PANGINDIAN

MARALIT, KEN MARCO HERNANDEZ

MARASIGAN, ROMMEL GONZALES

MARCAIDA, DIANA CONTADA

MARIANO, CHERRY LYN HERNANDEZ

MARTOS, ELAINE JOY LIM

MARZAN, MICHAEL LARESMA

MARZO, DELANO MARFORI

MASCENON, CARLO NAVARRO

MATA, AILEEN FLOR SANDI

MATEO, JOSE CARLO SARTHOU

MATTHEWS, JACKLYN ANN MENDOZA

MCKAY, JENIFER LANE MANARANG

MERCADO, MARCO BURGOS

MIANO, MARK GREGORY CANTILLER

MORTEL, ARMI BERRY

MOSTRALES, NELSON JACILDO

MOTING, MARY FLOR ANABAN

MULLES, VANESSA BAMBI CARRILLO

MUNSOD, BRYAN PAGALANAN

NAGANHON, ROLANDO JR ALSADO

NAVARRETE, ALBERT ANDRE ESPINOSA

NAVARRO, FRANZ EDRICK ENRIQUEZ

NAVARRO, MARICEL FERNANDEZ

NERI, JAMES II BONJOC

NIEBRES, JOHN JOSIF PARADERO

NIGOS, LUZVIMINDA MONIS

NONATO, ANDY CARASCO

OLAP, RENE ALDUEZA

OLDAN, KRISTINE ROSE TANAY

OMAGTANG, PETER PAUL MIRA

ORATE, OMAR MONTALBO

ORDIZ, HYDEE CASTRO

OREVILLO, EAMONN GAMUTAN

ORTIZ, FLOYD KHEY

OUANO, MARK ERIC JUDE TIU

PABUSTAN, JEZREL TAGAPULOT

PAGAY, JAMES VINCENT QUINTANA

PALO, TONY BOGNOT

PAMOLARCO, JOHN SUSMEÑA

PANCHO, ZOEANTE NIETES

PANDEAGUA, LUIS ALBERTO ARTISTA

PANELO, SALVADOR JR GAMMED

PANGILINAN, RIZZA PEREZ

PAPELLERO, GYREL GRACE ESCOBA

PARIAN, CICERO GAMBA

PASCUAL, POLLY BUCALED

PASIA, EMMANUEL JOSEPH TAN

PATANO, MELISSA ANN CAYABYAB

PEREZ, UMBA RULA

PEÑAFLORIDA, CECILLE CIRUJANO

PIDLAOAN, CELESTINO JR SANTIAGO

PIRA, BENJIE ALBAÑEZ

PLAZA, IVY GARBO

POLINAR, RICO DALAY

POMIDA, TEODORO VOCES

PORRAS, REDEN BAGAMAN

PRIETO, EROLJIN JOSE

QUEVADA, JONJASPER SALVANERA

QUINTO, LINDA VACAL

RABACAL, JOJO DE ASIS

RABANG, JOCELYN CASTAÑEDA

RAMAS, EMMANUEL MERCADO

RAMOS, DEBRALYN TEODORO

RAMOS, RACHEL LIBO-ON

RAMOS, RHANSTED VIDAR

REGALA, AMADO III NUQUI

RELAMPAGOS, VAN MAUREL MARIQUIT

RELLAMA, MICHAEL SALVO

REQUITA, GLENN LORIEGA

RESURRECCION, SHERWIN PADASAS

REVESTIR, MARLON ENERIO

RICAFRENTE, DIOSDADO JR GUTIERREZ

RILLERA, RODEL TANGALIN

RINGPIS, MICHAEL BUMANGLAG

RIVERA, CHRISTIAN OLIVER GALVEZ

RIVERA, VENER CANLAS

RIVERO, RAMON JR BERMUDEZ

RIZAN, SEVERINO JR ALEGRIA

ROMERO, CAESAR LEE ALFRED RYAN CUETO

ROMOSOD, OMAR PASCUA

ROQUE, ARNEL IGNACIO

ROY, NATHALIE ANNE NOCELO

SABANAL, EUGENE ABSIN

SABORDO, HANZ HOWARD ROY JR FLORA

SADIM, DENNIS BUIS

SALANG, PAOLO ARIEL OYALES

SALDAGA, DINOH GIL PADURA

SALUDAR, MIGUEL JR PABALATE

SALVADOR, JOY BESABELLA

SALVO, RAY ANTHONY MANLY

SAMONTEZA, DANILO CUETO

SAN PEDRO, DANIEL SABELLO

SANCHEZ, RYAN DIONISIO

SANDOC, JOEL GARCIA

SANGIL, SHARONNE MICHELLE BUNDANG

SANTIAGO, JOHNNY DAVID

SANTIAGO, JONAS RANIEL DELOS SANTOS

SANTILLAN, ORVILLE MALANO

SANTOS, JOHN RONALD PACHECO

SANTOS, JONA ANGELIE DIZON

SANTOS, TEDDY VILLA

SANTOS, ZOILA MARINA SANCHEZ

SARIAN, MARIA JASMIN SANTOS

SARMIENTO, MARLON CANLAS

SARMIENTO, RUEL MENDONES

SARTE, LOUISE ANTONETTE GONZALES

SAYSON, CHARLOTTE CARAGAY

SENIEDO, CHARISSE MACASOCOL

SENOSA, RUFFY BOY SAN MIGUEL

SENTI, CESAR TOLINGAN

SERRAN, BERNADETTE VALIN

SERVINO, CHARLIE BARRAMEDA

SIANGCO, RICHARD AZUCENAS

SIAPNO, JOESA OLAVARIO

SIGNO, ERNESTO JR DE GUZMAN

SILVA, MANOLITO AGUB

SINDINGAN, SIRACH MARAÑON

SISON, RONA LYN ALVAREZ

SITON, JESS CYRIL CHATTO

SO, JON AARON SOON

SOLOMON, ELYZER AZNAR

SOREDA, JAYVAN LISTA

SOTO, JOSE MARI BUGAYONG

SUSA, REYNOLD DAVID

SY, DENIN SO

SY, MABEL NG

TABAS, SHEILA MAE ESCARCHA

TABUDLONG, MA ELSIE PAREDES

TADINA, HARRY NANA

TAFALENG, ERICSON NAOE

TALAMPAS, SHIELA VERA CRUZ

TAMBA, MARIE JEAN MARIANO

TAMBALQUE, MANUEL V GANAYO

TAN, JERIC VILLEGAS

TAN, KERWIN ANTHONY ONG

TANYAG, IRENIUS RABIN

TAPIRE, RUEL SANTOS

TECSON, MICHAEL WILBERT JUDE IV DIONIO

TENORIO, REGIN LAGANTE

TEOPEZ, SALVADOR JR CASALMER

TIBUC, RODOLFO JR TACAS

TOLENTINO, DOMINIC ESPINA

TOMAS, DOMINGO JR BACNIS

TORREFLORES, ELLA TEGIO

TRAVILLA, LEMUEL JR ARANIEGO

TRINIDAD, JUNNE TORDIL

TRONQUED, RENNEE BOMBON

TSAI, MICHELLE IRIS LEE

TUMBAGA, ALEXANDER MACALALAD

TUNGOL, PETER PAUL MALLARI

UY, MICHAEL DEITA

UY, PETER YAP

VALDEZ, VALERIE PICART

VALENCIA, PAOLO DELES

VALENZUELA, JULIUS YSMAEL QUERIJERO

VARON, DONN ILEDAN

VASQUEZ, CHRISTIAN ROMULO

VENTURA, LANIE LACSON

VIBAS, JOSEPHINE CHRISTI LONEZA

VILLAFLOR, HARROLD QUINALAYO

VILLAGRACIA, CHRISTOPHER CARIÑO

VILLAMORA, RICHARD FORMALEJO

VILLAR, MARVIN MENDOZA

VILORIA, ALEXANDER DICHOSO

VINLUAN, SHERIDAN RIGOR

VIRTUDES, VON HAGAD

YABUT, TIMOTEO JR OCAMPO

YAP, MARVIN JONATHAN HUANG

YAUN, IGNACIO CENIT

YUMUL, JOSEPH FRANCIS RAZON

ZAMBRANO, CHESTER JUN LAMSIS

ZANDUETA, MICHAEL BALDEMOR

NOTHING FOLLOWS……….

Friday, February 03, 2006

Wowowee stampede kills 79, hurts at least 200 persons

Wowowee stampede kills 79, hurts at least 200 persons
By Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.


Seventy-nine people were killed in a stampede at the Ultra stadium in Manila on Saturday as they scrambled to get tickets for a popular Philippine television game show, Wowowee.

Most of the dead were elderly women, crushed against a closed steel gate at the bottom of a slope or trampled underfoot. One child was killed, hospital officials said.

Some witnesses said chaos erupted when someone shouted "bomb" but most survivors blamed the crowd surging for the tickets.

"My mother came here hoping to win a prize," said one man in his 20s, holding her dead hand and sobbing.

More than 200 injured people were taken to one government hospital. Some survivors went to private hospitals and their number was not immediately known.

Police said as many as 25,000 people were lining up outside the Ultra stadium when guards started to hand out ticketsat dawn for the first anniversary celebration of the game show "Wowowee".

"The slope was so steep that when one person stumbled, they fell like dominoes," said Manila's police chief, Vidal Querol.

An army truck took the bodies to a funeral parlour after they had been lined up on the street, their faces covered with towels, sheets and newspapers. Hundreds of shoes and flip-flops were scattered across a narrow driveway.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the injured in hospital and was due to survey the scene of the stampede.

Some tickets for the "Wowowee" show were given away this week but many fans camped out for days to get tickets at the gate.

Even after the stampede, thousands of people refused to leave the area because they wanted a chance at the usual jackpot of 1 million pesos and a special prize for the anniversary of a house and plot of land.

Ambulances had trouble reaching the scene because of the large crowd.

The ABS-CBN network cancelled the event and appealed to those inside and outside the stadium to go home.

"It's insensitive to continue the show," Charo Santos-Concio, head of entertainment at the network, said on television. "We're all devastated."

ABS-CBN said it would pay for the funeral and hospital expenses of victims and survivors.

"Wowowee", on six days a week at midday, is one of the most-watched shows in the Philippines and by communities of Filipinos living abroad.

"The guards could not control the crowd. People were climbing on the roof of a pathway, scaling the fences just to get inside and rushing to a narrow gate," Susan Doblin, who travelled from the central island of Leyte, told Reuters.

"We're very poor. I waited for days outside to try our luck. This is a rare chance for us to win a million pesos." #

Thursday, February 02, 2006

717 pass Marine Engineer Officers exam

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 717 out of 1,458 passed the various grades of the written phase of the Marine Engineer Officers Licensure Examination in Manila last month.


On the Board for Marine Engineer Officers are Engr. Christopher P. Maambong, chairman; Engr. Bonifacio N. Balintec, Engr. Isagani I. Valmonte Jr., and Engr. Jose G. Abugan, members.

Registration for the issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Cards for those who are exempted in the practical assessment at the central office will start on Tuesday, Feb. 7, until Feb. 17. Listing at the regional offices will be from Feb. 8-Feb. 14.

The oathtaking of the examinees and those who opted to submit ERS Assessment Certificates will be held before the Board on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1 p.m., at the Manila Hotel.

Registration for membership with the Marine Engineer Officers Association of the Philippines (MEOAP) will start on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Examinees who are required to take the Practical Assessment Phase are advised to apply at the PRC, Marine Engineer Officers Division (MEOD), on Monday, Feb. 6. The practical assessment will be conducted on Feb. 10 and 11.
PinoyStudents.ph