Friday, June 29, 2012

OFW offloaded from flight, loses three days salary




An insider from Change.org informed the Diary that a Filipina on her way back to her workplace in China was offloaded from a flight that an airline overbooked. Pam (last name not revealed) and two other OFWs were shocked to learn from the ground crew that they could only fly to their destination if they convinced other passengers onboard to give up their seats.

Pam’s friend, Alex Mandigma, started a petition for economic justice for air passengers, says Change.org representatives. The petition is addressed to DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas to limit overbooking in airlines operating in the country. The current overbooking limit is 10%, says Mandigma.

In response to this issue, the DOTC started holding a public hearing this week. The legislation change will force airlines to offer passengers a refund if they are not given seats for flights booked.

Pam lost three days salary for not making it to China on time. The two others begged other passengers to give up their seats but it was in vain since these passengers had business to take care of as well. Like Pam, the other two OFWs lost a lot of time and money.  

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Senator Drilon reveals possibility of Senate moving to UP Diliman



It seems that protesters won’t have to travel that far anymore if the Senate moves to the University of the Philippines' Diliman campus in Quezon City. 

The Senate is planning to move to UP Diliman, sources say. Although the decision is not yet final, Senator Drilon said that the Senate President has authorized him along with Senators Cayetano and Marcos to examine the possibility of the Senate moving to a new site. UP Diliman is just one of the choices though. Drilon however, said in an interview with GMA 7, "One of the considerations is kailangan malapit sa House... kasi mahirap ang trabaho, mahirap ang coordination."  

Photo via Dino Acuna's blog

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Frog seller in UP Diliman dies, online search for long-lost daughter ensues




Oscar Reyes known to many students in UP Diliman as Mang Oca passed away on June 22, 2012. Mang Oca used to sell frogs and cockroaches to Biology students inside the campus and have been a part, albeit a small part,  of many of these students' lives. 

Students who aren’t from the Biology department will remember an amusing sign with the word Frogs near Pav 4 as Mang Oca’s ad for his frog-selling business. Little did his buyers know, Mang Oca has quite a sad story to tell and the sadder part is, this story only came to light after his death.

According to a post on social networking site Facebook shared by Lioneil Dela Cruz, when  Mang Oca was younger he married a woman named Rowena. He and Rowena had a child together but since their parents did not approve of the marriage, the two separated. Little is known about Rowena and her daughter’s whereabouts but according to Mang Oca’s close friends, they could be living in or around Zamboanga.

Mang Oca’s daughter should be about 30 years old by now, according to Dela Cruz’s FB post.


A number of UP students and UP grads shared Dela Cruz's post on their Facebook walls in hopes of finding Oca's daughter. 

Mang Oca's remains are currently at 165 Fatima Street, Pook Dagohoy, UP Diliman. 

For more information, you can call Lioneil Dela Cruz at 09178093863 or (02) 433 8365.

Ombudsman wins bribery case against Sarangani prosecutor


The Office of the Ombudsman won its bribery case filed against Sarangani prosecutor Alfredo Barcelona, Jr. and his personal assistant Violeto Novio.

In the 23-page decision, the two were to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of two years, 11 months and 10 days. Barcelona also got a temporary disqualification, according to a representative of the Office of the Ombudsman.

The court found that Novio and Barcelona connived to extract Php 5, 000 from the Chief of Police of Glan, Sarangani province Ludivico Ripdos to exclude Ripdos from a criminal case filed at Barcelona’s office.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Doctor Love: Top 6 Famous Love Letters in History





Thinking of professing your love to that special someone? Don’t send a text message or an email. Please.

Here are the top 6 love letters from history that will surely melt the heart of the ladies and provide the men a bit of inspiration and a little bravado to follow in the footsteps of some of history's greatest men.


Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn


Artist Arthur Hopkins

Sure he said, “Off with her head!” in 1536 but when the infamous playboy Henry VIII was still so in love with Anne Boleyn, he wrote her this letter:

I beg to know expressly your intention touching the love between us. Necessity compels me to obtain this answer, having been more than a year wounded by the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail or find a place in your affection.”

Anne and Henry had one child they named Elizabeth.  Elizabeth later on became one of the most famous English Queens in history.



Napoleon to his wife Josephine Bonaparte

Napoleon’s real waterloo is his wife Josephine and his letters to her shows that the French leader had a soft side. He divorced her when she couldn’t bear him children but continued to write her anyway.  


He wrote this letter on July 17th, 1796 when they were still married and Napoleon had to leave to command the French Army in Italy's borders.


“Since I left you, I have been constantly depressed. My Happiness is to be near you. Incessantly I live over in my memory your caresses, your tears, your affectionate solicitude. The charms of the incomparable Josephine kindle continually a burning and a glowing flame in my heart. When, free from all solicitude, all harassing care, shall I be able to pass all my time with you, having only to love you, and to think only of the happiness of so saying, and of proving it to you?”


Beethoven to his Immortal Beloved


Beethoven in his younger years.
It is believed that famous musician and composer’s immortal beloved is Antonie Brentano, a daughter of a diplomat.  Brentano, a married woman, being Beethoven's Immortal Beloved has been disputed by scholars Goldschmidt, Beahrs, Gail S. Altman, and Marie-Elisabeth Tellenbach because Beethoven had a strict moral code. These scholars are firm in their opinion that Beethoven would never have an affair with a friend's wife. The wealthy merchant Franz Brentano is believed to be a dear friend of the composer. 

Aside from the heartfelt letters Beethoven sent to his Immortal Beloved whoever she may be, he also dedicated his Diabelli Variations Op. 120 to her. Here’s one of his letters:


“Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, Be calm-love me-today-yesterday-what tearful longings for you-you-you-my life-my all-farewell. Oh continue to love me-never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”

Winston Churchill to his wife Clementine

The two were married for 57 years and constantly wrote to each other whenever one was far away from the other. In an interview released by the Smithsonian, Churchill quipped, "My most brilliant achievement was my ability to persuade my wife to marry me."


The man who carried Britain through its darkest hour has a soft spot for one woman and one woman alone -his wife Clementine. This photo of the couple was taken on the Thames in 1940


This letter was written by the former British Prime Minister on January 23, 1935:


“My darling Clemmie, in your letter from Madras you wrote some words very dear to me, about having enriched your life. I cannot tell you what pleasure this gave me, because I always feel so overwhelmingly in your debt, if there can be accounts in love…What it has been to me to live all these years in your heart and companionship no phrases can convey.”

Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera

When Frida Kahlo passed away in 1954, Diego was by her side.

The famous artist wrote to her husband frequently. She once said that there have been two grave accidents in her life –one when she was hit by a streetcar and the other –Diego. Below is the letter sent by Kahlo to Rivera in the year 1940:

“Diego my love- Remember that once  you finish the fresco we will be together forever once and for all, without arguments or anything, only to love one another. Behave yourself and do everything that Emmy Lou tells you. I adore you more than ever. Your girl, Frida (Write me).”

Ronald Reagan to his wife Nancy

Wallace asked the President why the office didn't weigh on him like it had on others and the camera cut to a rosy cheeked, vibrant and twinkle-eyed Reagan and his response was "well, maybe they didn't have a Nancy." (Mike Wallace's interview with Ronald Reagan) 

President Ronald Reagan wrote a number of letters to the First Lady from the time they met. He gave her this love note on Valentine’s Day in the year 1977:

“Dear St. Valentine,

I am writing to you about a beautiful young lady who has been in this household for 25 years now –come March 4.

I have a request to make of you but before doing so feel you should know more about her. For one thing she has 2 hearts – her own and mine. I’m not complaining. I gave her mine willingly, and like it right where it is. Her name is Nancy but for some time now I’ve called her Mommie and don’t believe I could change.

My request of you is –could you on this day whisper in her ear that someone loves her very much and more and more each day? Also tell her this “Someone” would run down like a dollar clock without her so she must always stay where she is.”

Photos via flickr.com, chestofbooks.com, theroyalforums.com, santamonicaflowers.com, fortheloveofausten.com, smithsonianmag.com, istanbul74.com, jerseynut.blogspot.com, barewalls.com, time.com

Article and Research: Sigrid Salucop





Saturday, June 23, 2012

5 Interesting Facts about the Philippines and Filipinos



1. During the late 1400s, the Dynasty of Tondo was attacked by the Sultanate of Brunei because the former was monopolizing trade with China.


2. Some Filipinos are descendants of the Aztecs and Mayans of Mexico. It was in 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi brought Aztec and Mayan warriors to the country through the Galleon Trade. These warriors eventually settled down in the north where most chose to live in a town in Pampanga they later called Mexico. Although not many people would believe this, Aztec and Mayan influence can still be seen today thanks to the chico plantations in the area. There are also many chico trees in the northern provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. The chico is a fruit native only to Mexico. (Photo via antiguadaily.com)


3. A street in San Francisco, CA was named after the Philippine hero Lapu-Lapu but detractors say that it must have been named after the fish which is of course highly unlikely since it is right next to Andres Bonifacio Street. (Photo via ningroge.com)

4. The Philippines was a British colony for a certain period in the 18th century but the Britons sailed away from Manila and left Indian soldiers behind. These Indian soldiers settled in Cainta, Rizal. This explains why most of the people from the area have distinctive Indian features.



5. The first ever bank in the country is the Bank of the Philippine Islands hence the graffiti that’s seemingly old world in some BPI branches.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

UP.edu.ph gets major makeover




UP’s website recently got that much needed makeover. After the hacking of the website by Chinese cyber activists and before that, getting a lot of negative feedback on how “retro” the website looks, UP finally took action and got a major website makeover.

Complete with slideshows that showcase the latest news from the university, it now looks hip and inviting but the major benefit of the makeover is that it is now easier for students and faculty members to navigate the website. This is a definite YAY for many students and younger professors who used to find the website rather boring. 


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Top 14 Things To Experience While You’re In UP Diliman

Photos vis tokikots.wordpress.com, kintoy.blogspot.com, manilalente.wordpress.com, skamid.com, tribo.org, wikipilipinas.org, mtextremist.blogspot.com, pinoyhalo.com, engineerclaire.blogspot.com, lawrencetc.multiply.com

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Treehouse in Diliman now has Wi-Fi



Students looking for a Wi-Fi spot in Diliman can go to Treehouse in Diliman located in the now bustling Matalino Street near Quezon City Hall.

The good thing about Treehouse is that there aren’t many people during the day and you can actually sit in one of the nipa cottages that are usually occupied during happy hour. The only downside is, by nighttime, you would have to concentrate working amidst the noise of the beer-drinking and cocktail-drinking crowd. The noise shouldn’t matter though especially if you really need internet connection to get some school work done.

Unlike its neighboring establishment Starbucks, the internet connection at Treehouse Matalino is free and some of the dishes they serve are quite delectable too. 

Ombudsman finds insufficient evidence in bribery, corruption charges in 2004 elections vs. GMA, et al.


For insufficiency of evidence, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales
dismissed the criminal charges against former President and incumbent
Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) and six other respondents
who allegedly, in conspiracy, committed bribery under Articles 210 and 211
of the Revised Penal Code and violated Section 3 (a) and (e) of Republic Act
No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act during the May 2004
elections in Lanao Del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Sultan Kudarat, and
Cotabato City.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Ombudsman awaits Investigation Result on ‘Grenade Incident’


The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed yesterday that a hand grenade was found in front of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales’ Muntinlupa home Wednesday. Authorities say that the canister containing the M-26 grenade had Morales’ initials CCM along with an illegible message. The grenade is already in the hands of the police.

The Muntinlupa City Police is working with the PNP Southern Police District in the investigation, according to a representative of the Ombudsman. There are still no conclusive findings to date but DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said yesterday that he will be monitoring the development of the said investigation.

Photo via sunstar.com.ph


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