Old Navy Debuts Gay Pride T-shirts

Old Navy announced on its Facebook page that the company will be selling rainbow-colored Gay Pride t-shirts in select stores through June (Gay Pride Month) or until supplies run out.

Ten percent of the proceeds will go toward the It Gets Better Project, an initiative to reach LGBTQ youth, who are often the targets of bullying and harassment.

The shirts, which are available in men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes, feature rainbow colors and/or the slogan "Love Proudly" and, in smaller letters, "Pride 2011."

While American Apparel launched a line of “Legalize Gay” shirts, Old Navy (which is owned by Gap) is the first major retailer to debut a line of gay pride clothing. The shirts will retail for $7.50-$14.50.

Although the simple design of the shirts is pretty innocuous, I'm sure this line will cause a stir. Readers, what do you think of Old Navy’s “Love Proudly” shirts?

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

Hear ye, Rizal and the RH Bill

Larawan ni Rizal.

Ang debate hinggil sa Reproductive Health Bill ay mainit pa rin. Subalit halos naririnig ko si Dr. Jose Rizal na naglalahad ng mga punto sa usapang ito sa pamamagitan ng kanyang liham para sa mga kadalagahan ng Malolos noong kaniyang panahon: (Debate on the Reproductive Health Bill is still raging. I could almost hear Dr. Jose Rizal raising some points on this issue through his letter to the young women of Malolos during his time).

Bahagi ng Orihinal na Liham ni Rizal sa Tagalog:


"...Maghunos dilí ngá tayo at imulat natin ang mata, lalong laló na kayong mga babai, sa pagka't kayo ang nagbubukas ng loob ng tao. Isipin na ang mabuting ina ay iba, sa inang linalang ng fraile; dapat palakhin ang anak na malapit baga sa larawan ng tunay na Dios, Dios na dí nasusuhulan, Dios na dí masakim sa salapí, Dios na ama ng lahat, na walang kinikilingan, Dios na dí tumatabá sa dugó ng mahirap, na dí nagsasaya sa daing ng naruruhagi, at nangbubulag ng matalinong isip.

"Gisingin at ihandá ang loob ng anak sa balang mabuti at mahusay na akalá: pagmamahal sa puri, matapat at timtimang loob, maliwanag na pagiisip, malinis na asal, maginoong kilos, pagibig sa kapuá, at pagpipitagan sa Maykapal, ito ang ituró sa anak. At dahil ang buhay ay punó ng pighatí at sakuná, patibayin ang loob sa ano mang hirap, patapañgin ang pusó sa ano mang pañganib. Huag mag antay ang bayan ng puri at ginhawa, samantalang likó ang pagpapalaki sa batá, samantalang lugamí at mangmang ang babaing magpapalaki ñg anak.

"Walang maiinom sa labó at mapait na bukal; walang matamis na buñga sa punlang maasim. Malaki ngang hindí bahagyá ang katungkulang gaganapin ng babai sa pagkabihis ng hirap ng bayan, nguni at ang lahat na ito'y dí hihigit sa lakas at loob ng babaing Tagalog. Talastas ng lahat ang kapanyarihan at galing ng babayi sa Filipinas, kayá ñgá kanilang binulag, iginapus, at iniyukó ang loob, panatag sila't habang ang iba'y alipin, ay ma-aalipin din naman ang lahat ng mga anak. Ito ang dahilan ng pagkalugamí ng Asia; ang babayi sa Asia'y mangmang at alipin.

"Makapangyarihan ang Europa at Amerika dahil duo'y ang mga babai'y malaya't marunong, dilat ang isip at malakas ang loob.

"Alam na kapus kayong totoo ñg mga librong sukat pagaralan; talastas na walang isinisilid araw araw sa inyong pagiisip kundí ang sadyang pang bulag sa inyong bukal na liwanag; tantó ang lahat na ito, kayá pinagsisikapan naming makaabot sa inyo ang ilaw na sumisilang sa kapuá ninyo babayi; dito sa Europa kung hindí kayamutan itong ilang sabi, at pagdamutang basahin, marahil ay makapal man ang ulap na nakakubkob sa ating bayan, ay pipilitin ding mataos ñg masantin na sikat ñg araw, at sisikat kahit banaag lamang.

"Dí kami manglulumo kapag kayo'y katulong namin; tutulong ang Dios sa pagpawí ñg ulap, palibhasa'y siya ang Dios ñg katotohanan; at isasaulí sa dati ang dilag ñg babaying Tagalog, na walang kakulañgan kundí isang malayang sariling isip, sapagka't sa kabaita'y labis..."

English:

"... Let us be reasonable and open our eyes, especially you women, because you are the ones who open the minds of men. Consider that a good mother is different from the one created by the friars. Raise your children close to the image of the true God – the God who cannot be bribed, the God who is not avaricious, the God who is the father of all, who is not partial, the God who does not fatten on the blood of the poor, who does not rejoice at the plaint of the afflicted, and does not obfuscate the intelligent mind.

"Awaken and prepare the mind of the child for every good and desirable idea – love for honor, sincere and firm character, clear mind, clean conduct, noble action, love for one’s fellow men, respect for God – teach this to your children. And because life is full of sorrows and perils, fortify their character against any difficulty, strengthen their hearts against any danger. The country should not expect honor and prosperity so long as the education of the children is defective, so long as the women who raise the children are enslaved and ignorant.

"Nothing can be drunk in a turbid and bitter spring. No sweet fruit can be picked from a sour seed. Important indeed are the duties that women must fulfill in order to relieve the country of her sufferings, but they are not beyond the strength and character of the Filipino woman to perform. Everybody knows the power and the prudence of the women of the Philippines. Hence they blind them, chain them, weaken their spirit, so sure are they that so long as the mother is a slave, all her children can be enslaved also. This is the reason of the enslavement of Asia: the women of in Asia are ignorant and oppressed.

Europe and America are powerful because there the women are free and educated, their mind is lucid and their character is strong.

We know that you lack instructive books; we realize that nothing is injected into your mind daily except what will serve to dim your inherent light. We are aware of all this so that we are endeavoring to make the light that is shining over your fellow women in Europe reach you. If you will not be bored with these few words that we are going to say and you will read them, perhaps no matter how thick the fog that envelops our country, the brilliant light of the sun will penetrate it and it will shine however faintly.

We shall not falter if you help us. God will help us to dispel the mist for He is the God of Truth; and the former brilliance of the Filipino woman will be restored undiminished. She lacks nothing but a free mind, for she had an excess of goodness.

PBS Hacked; Site Proclaimed Tupac Alive in NZ

A group of hackers named LulzSec broke into the servers for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) last night, posting a fake news article that has the internet abuzz.

The hackers reported that rapper Tupac Shakur is alive and well in New Zealand, along with rapper Biggie Smalls.

LulzSec reportedly hacked PBS’s NewsHour blog and posted passwords for PBS affiliates because the group was angry about PBS’s “WikiSecrets” show, which they viewed as being critical of former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Private First Class Bradley Manning.

PBS has since regained control of its network and is doing damage control.

RIP, Tupac!

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

[Salon]

Gaydar is For Real

Ever wonder how people are able to determine someone’s sexual orientation from only a brief encounter? US News reports that people can accurately determine male sexual orientation just by listening to how men pronounce their vowels.

Researchers at Ohio State University conducted a study that was meant to figure out whether strangers could figure out if men were gay or straight just by listening to their pronunciations of monosyllabic words. Fascinatingly, the participants guessed correctly 75% of the time when they heard a vowel.

So the next time someone asks you how your gaydar is so spot-on, you can give them this scientifically-supported conclusion: "Gay E I O U!"

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

[US News]

Would You Wear a Chanel Jerky Purse?

Here’s something I’ve never seen before — a designer handbag that could double as a snack. While the purse pictured above may look exactly like the iconic quilted Chanel 2.55 handbag that fashionistas know and love, it’s actually made out of beef jerky. Seriously.

The meaty Chanel knockoff was made by Nancy Wu, a student at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. To make the bag, she sewed together sheets of beef jerky. I bet this purse smells lovely...and I’m sure Lady Gaga is clamoring to get her hands on one of these.

Here's a close-up shot of Wu's work:


Readers, would you wear a jerky purse?

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the images above.

[Foodiggity]

San Isidro Cave Now Drawing Visitors

Some 500 visitors, according to local barangay officials and guides, have come and gone to the San Isidro Cave and Subterranean River since the hidden cave was opened to the outside world two years ago. To ensure excellent caving experiences the local barangay provides visitors with head and sight equipment (helmet with mounted light), gloves and experienced guides to assist.

Visitors, who are first given a thorough briefing on basic do’s and don’ts when they are inside the cave, are charged a minimal fee of PHP100 (less than USD2), for the adventure. Proceeds go to the barangay. Visitors are advised to wear clothes they don’t mind getting soiled and to bring extra clothes. Manila-based tourism students, national caving groups, provincial residents and the plain curious comprise the bigger number of visitors to San Isidro Cave. Facilities with lockers and open showers for visitors are now being drawn up by the local barangay and the municipal government.



This is a video (now with over 12,000 hits), created by this blogger two years ago to create awareness on this perfectly preserved cave that lied hidden for ages.

Kim Kardashian Has a Ginormous Engagement Ring

After having dated for six months, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are engaged — and you won’t believe the size of her rock!

The staggering ring, which reportedly costs over $2 million, was designed by Lorraine Schwartz and features a total of 20.5 carats.

"It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," Kardashian told People magazine. "It's perfect."

To put things in perspective, TMZ points out that the huge diamond ring is worth almost half as much as her Beverly Hills mansion!!

Humphries, the 26-year-old NBA star, proposed to Kardashian by spelling out “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” with rose petals.
A date for the wedding has not yet been set.

Readers, what do you think of Kim’s huge ring? Totally awesome, or a bit too extravagant? Share with us in the comments!

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

Yamashita treasure found its way to Marinduque?

Gen.Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya.

It’s only natural to be skeptical of treasure hunts and finds, as I am, unless one has convincing proof of their existence in identified locations. But the story I blogged about during the last few days may not be just a wild and fanciful tale as I initially thought. Now people are talking about “at least three golden tables equivalent to a six-seater in size that really shone brightly when illuminated by lightning”.

However, you’d at once wonder how anyone could make such a description when you hear another account that tells you that nothing's been recovered so far. So, you go back to your skepticism. The diggings have been temporarily suspended, but the police has constructed a bunkhouse to secure the area day and night say informed sources. So you consider that again.

I have established that the Japanese did set foot on that property during invasion of this island in 1942. I did not appreciate that information’s full significance until I spoke today with someone in authority who had his own experiences and researches on treasure hunts. These were places elsewhere - outside Marinduque. He was curious to find out, he said, if that area was used as a Japanese garrison. Whatever signs that may have been found now usually associated with hidden treasures would confirm the presence of such treasures if the area had been used for Japanese activities, he said. In fact, it was, I said, and showed him my yesterday's blog.

Maniwaya Island, one more of Marinduque's small islands with a similar hidden treasure story


So the next question is, could those ‘treasures’ be part of the famous Yamashita treasure?

Yamashita treasure is the collective name given to all the gold, jewelry and precious items stolen by the Japanese forces of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya, from East and Southeast Asia during World War II.

The treasures were said to have been first shipped to the port of Singapore from the various Asian countries, then to the Philippines for final shipment to Japan. That final shipment did not come to pass as Japan lost that war, but Yamashita, it is said, had time to order the concealment of those treasures, divided into many treasure hordes, in caves and other locations not only in Luzon but across the country.

Map of the Island of Marinduque

After World War II, intrigued by stories or myths of Japanese plunder, many local and foreign fortune seekers have travelled to many parts of the archipelago to find those treasures that many people merely treat as urban legend. But there have been many documented accounts, usually treated with utmost secrecy, of real treasure finds that required an elaborate method of recovery, as poisons, bombs and booby traps are said to be protecting them.

After a number of recoveries it became necessary for the government to cover all treasure-hunting activities under close scrutiny and regulation purportedly to protect the nation’s natural and cultural heritage. Appropriate permit should normally be obtained, a surety bond posted, irrespective of whether the hunt takes place on public or private land. Government will then take ownership of finds determined to have historical value and a committee will determine the finder’s share.

From Internet sources, the latest books that dealt with this subject are two by Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave: The Yamato Dynasty: The Secret History of Japan’s Imperial Family (2000) and Gold Warriors: America’s Secret Recovery of Yamashita’s Gold (2003).

So, the Bahi-Cawit hidden treasure may not be just a wild tale after all, you see.

Let's see!

Mystifying 'Buried Treasures'

Is there anything in the distant past that’s worth telling about that ‘treasure’ site in the Cawit-Bahi area that could lead to some understanding why things are now being unearthed beneath the surface?

The area in question, extensively planted to coconuts and fruit trees, lies between the main provincial highway and the seashore. Curiously it’s the only private property on the island marked by an unusual elliptical arch gate made of stone and corals that has deteriorated with age. Surely, important people must have passed through that gate once upon a time.

It was my mother who told me the story many years ago, that the said wide complex was once the site of a firm engaged in buying coconuts from all over this island-province to produce copra and coconut by-products. These by-products included coconut husks turned into mats and mattresses, coconut shells made into charcoal for use in the manufacture of other products such as batteries. It employed many farmers, both men and women, who were only too happy with the promise offered by the new coco-industry to improve lives.

Sample of coins they used then during the Commonwealth period

There were, as the story went, several buildings (something that must have been fogotten over the years!), within the compound that housed the different divisions of the company, popularly known as Nacoco. It stood for National Coconut Corporation. It was during the late 30’s when this was established to promote the growth and development of the industry. All of the Philippine Islands was under the commonwealth of the United States Government then. The time for dreaming a bright future was considered at its peak.

Bombing of Japanese ships by American squadrons at Balanacan Harbor, 1944. Photo from: ulongbeach.com


But the glory days of Nacoco was halted only after several years of operation. WWII broke out. The Japanese lnvaded the island in 1942, (landing in the shores of the adjacent barangay of Bunganay), and took over all major government and school-buildings including the Nacoco compound and company-owned establishments all over Marinduque. There were many violent clashes between the Japanese and the local guerilla units that lasted until the end of 1944 when peace reigned on the island.

The site is not too far away from Cawit Port

So it appears that our mystery site did have some kind of interesting historical episode, too. These days, however, when people gather almost every day to celebrate fiestas, they often end up talking about the latest ‘buried treasures’ – how workers excavate the site at night till the wee hours under very tight security; how gold and other artifacts have been found and continue to be found. Who could blame them? The supposed involvement of key personalities only added more credence to this modern-day story.

But really, such stories or tales are not uncommon in this magical, mystifying island. People will often believe what they want to believe, and in the quiet of the night wish that the next colored or golden dream will reveal more buried treasures for them to find this time.

Bagtingon Monkey-faced Owls

I was so amazed to find these birds in Bagtingon last weekend. It was my first time to see these species of owls found in the diminishing forest cover south of this island.

Owls are supposed to be nocturnal but these domesticated trio were active at the time I saw them, which was around 3:00 pm, now and then flapping their wings then gliding between the trees and showing off their seemingly-knowing stares at anyone.

These owls have a heart-shaped facial disc, brown eyes, pinkish beak, dark brown and grey feathers and off-white front with tiny speckles in their body. They would gobble up whole fishes, spit out the fins still intact after digesting the meat and organs, and would only accept a different type of fish for food the next day, so said their owner.

Surely, these birds must have felt the combined pressure from development, fires and logging and appear happy to consider the bird-loving owner’s small property their exclusive territory.

Would you pay $300 for a Snakeskin Manicure?

It was only a matter of time before someone came up with the idea. Fashionistas love them some snakeskin bags and shoes — and now, they can even get a snakeskin manicure.

Terri Silacci, a manicurist from Monterey, California, applies discarded snakeskin (naturally shed by snakes) with gel in a two-and-a-half hour process, which requires her to cut the snakeskin to fit each individual nail. The cost of this lengthy, scaly treatment? Between $150-$300.

Silacci, who recently appeared on the Today show to promote her snake nails, says that the manicures last up to three weeks, and pedicures up to 12 weeks.

Readers, would you get a snakeskin mani/pedi?

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

Marinduque Treasure Troves

15th century Ming Dynasty junk, Fengshou

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt is an animated cartoon about treasure hunts around the world by a fictional bear, Yogi Bear and other interesting cartoon characters. One episode highlights the evil Greed Monster who steals all of the toys in the world and it is up to Yogi Bear and friends to hunt him down and return the toys to their rightful owners.

A Chinese junk, 1644-1648)

But speaking of treasure hunts, a venture between the National Museum and Marine Archaeology Unlimited, Inc. (MAUI), a private outfit, resulted in the excavation of a shipwreck site in 1982 on the southeast coast of Marinduque located 39.65 meters below the surface.

A local fisherman from the coastal barangay of Pinggan was the acknowledged finder of the site where, using no diving equipment, he managed to retrieve many ceramic pieces and sold them dirt cheap to anyone interested, not knowing the true value of those pieces.

He eventually succumbed apparently due to hypoxia and never knew that the importance of his find would reverberate in the corners of museums, antique shops and private rooms.

Right where the hobie sails lies the shipwreck 40 meters under

The sunken vessel was believed to be a Chinese junk carrying “stoneware jars and covers, porcelain plates, dishes, saucers and bowls” dating back to the Ming dynasty. The stoneware jars recovered were brown-glazed with relief dragon designs similar to those archaeological finds in some of the island’s caves.

Early 17th Century junk of Zheng He

Years later, the site was re-excavated purportedly to verify if more archaeological data could be generated from this site, right in the middle of Gaspar Island and the coast of Pinggan, that should have resulted in the publication of a report. Said report should also have included information on terrestrial archaeology in the island of Marinduque.

This was also to determine the role of Marinduque in the early maritime trade network in the Philippine archipelago. (Maritime Archaeology, Babits and Tiburg).

Kangxi Emperor, 1654-1722, on the deck of a junk ship.

As regards the artifacts being dug up in Bahi (Gasan), today, questions are being asked as to who now owns the treasure trove found there. Who would take on the role of Yogi Bear and Greed Monster, if any? It appears that there are existing Treasure Hunting Laws in the Philippines already covered by the Civil Code that states:

“Art. 438. Hidden treasure belongs to the owner of the land, building, or other property on which it is found.

“Nevertheless, when the discovery is made on the property of another, or of the State or any of its subdivisions, and by chance, one-half thereof shall be allowed to the finder. If the finder is a trespasser, he shall not be entitled to any share of the treasure.

“If the things found be of interest to science of the arts, the State may acquire them at their just price, which shall be divided in conformity with the rule stated.

“Art. 439. By treasure is understood, for legal purposes, any hidden and unknown deposit of money, jewelry, or other precious objects, the lawful ownership of which does not appear.”

A Ming dynasty plate.

Marinduque Gold and Buried Treasures (Again)!

Since time immemorial, stories have abounded on this little island of gold inside jars being dug up in the middle of coconut farms, treasures unearthed from ancient burial sites near beaches, or gold bars accidentally dug up from underneath old houses and churchyards. Most of these stories are often laced with tales of spirits stealing those treasures from the mortals when found because the finders failed to at once spill drops of their own blood onto those treasures. That act would have driven away the invisible keepers.

But there are also countless accounts of how poor farmers, men or women, suddenly got rich after finding gold in their own backyard or from somewhere in the boondocks following leads revealed in dreams.

It could be said that such stories are not entirely without basis. Looking back into this little island’s pre-colonial and Spanish or American colonial history, one comes across written accounts and well-documented finds of gold and treasures from caves or from near shores around the island discovered through underwater excavations. Some of those finds are kept in the National Museum now, often antique plates and jars but without the gold, and museums abroad that may still be keeping the pre-colonial gold collection (see photos here that are part of the Marche finds).






How many ‘reliable’ accounts have I heard of gold and bullion coins unearthed during reconstruction of local churches that one must be like a doubting Thomas or be overwhelmed with sheer amazement. For certain, in the case of real finds details are covered with utmost secrecy if that meant the involvement of the military to guard the sites and to keep the people stymied to even talk about it in whispers.







Now the Marinduque air is abuzz once again with talk of an allegedly enormous gold find that occurred during the last two days. The site is supposed to be somewhere between the villages of Bahi and Cawit. Local politicians, according to the buzz, are getting quick into the picture and raising jurisdictional issues, while local police are said to be tightly guarding the area as diggings continue this very moment.

Justin Bieber Launches Own Perfume

Want to smell like Justin Bieber? Now you too just like the Canadian pop star wants you to smell, thanks to the launch of his first perfume (not cologne, perfume). It’s apparently a “fruity gourmand” scent, and it’s being marketed toward 14-18 year old girls, naturally.

"Let's be real, the way a girl smells is very important to a guy!" said the singer. “I have such a deep connection with my fans, so creating a fragrance that I personally love is another way I can bring them closer to my world.”

The fragrance, which will hit department and specialty stores in June, will retail at $35 and all proceeds will go to charity.
Readers, would you wear “Someday” by Justin Bieber?

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

Mountain Biking in Marinduque

Mountain biking as a relatively new sport has attracted many local followers in Marinduque. The sight of groups of men riding bicycles over the the island’s interior terrains has become a familiar sight any time of the year.

Cross-country cycling is one category in mountain biking that has drawn many participants who engage in this sport as a form of recreation but take it more seriously whenever there are competitions. Team Marinduque, composed of biking enthusiasts is at the forefront of promoting this sport, especially to local bikers.

Team Marinduque certainly looks forward to the day when local talents will have the opportunity to compete in national cycling competitions also. Competing in cross-country cycling does require a high level of fitness and a range of skills such as pursuing steep technical drops and aerial maneuvers over jumps or humps constructed for the purpose. A popular place where a rough terrain and rocky bends exist is an abandoned minesite in Brgy. Cayapang, Mogpog, Marinduque.


Few local inhabitants have seen this secluded place where lies an artificial lake dug out up to some 45 meters below. Throughout this island-province, Team Marinduque has charted at least fifteen trails suitable for recreational mountain biking. Some of these trails wind through river banks, forests and uphill climbs that are certain to test a biker’s strength, endurance, skills and self-reliance on survival skills, specially when met with episodes of flat tires or broken bikes.

Just some of these trails provided by Team Marinduque are shown below:



Trail from Boac to Canat and back going through dirt roads, paved roads, sloped dirt roads and rivers.















Marlanga-Matuyatuya Trail.

















Boac Poblacion through Tumagabok.









Landy to Puting Buhangin


















Mogpog-Mampaitan-Boac















Boac-Puting Buhangin-Mogpog


















Buenavista Poblacion - Tigwi - Tungib-Lipata - back to Poblacion.

Hailee Steinfeld Named New Face of Miu Miu

Hailee Steinfeld, best known as the fourteen-year-old star of “True Grit,” is the new face of Miu Miu, The Daily Beast reports.

Steinfeld, who wore Miu Miu looks to the Baftas and Berlin Film Festival, sat front row at the brand's autumn/winter 2011 show in Paris.

The Oscar nominee will appear in the brand’s fall/winter 2011/2012 campaign, following in the footsteps of former Miu Miu faces Katie Holmes, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, and Lindsay Lohan.

Readers, do you think Hailee is a good rep for Miu Miu?

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

"Moryon" and Marcopper

Moryon photo by Joseph Israel Laban

“Moryon” is a documentary on some individual stories of those who practice the Lenten tradition in Marinduque known as “Moriones”. It was produced and directed by Joseph Israel Laban of Boac, Marinduque and was shown in Front Row, GMA-7’s Saturday night television program. Front Row’s approach is to treat subjects as case studies allowing these subjects to act and speak freely about their thoughts or grievances with little or no intervention, to the extent that the usual narrative leads are nowhere.

The sounds and images captured on film do the work of conveying the central point of the story to the very end. In "Moryon", there were shots of lead characters walking, or engaged in daily routines in places where environmental degradation brought about by a mine-spill accident more than 15 years ago that made their lives more miserable, still lie undisturbed.

It was only here where at the end of the docu sequence that included an interview with a mine spill victim, when a commentary was shown on screen. This was to the effect that fifteen years have come and gone, yet no serious rehabilitation efforts have been undertaken by the mining company on the affected areas.

It does seem that after 15 years only “Moryon” did its work of reminding the nation in general, and the Marinduquenos in particular, of some things they might have already forgotten, and I am grateful...

Mondo Guerra Previews Jewelry Line

Project Runway’s season eight contestant (and runner-up) Mondo Guerra (who will hopefully be appearing on the upcoming Project Runway all-stars season) is set to launch his own jewelry line, reports New York Magazine.

The jewelry collection, which was inspired by Paco Rabanne and Piet Mondrian, is entirely made of Plexiglass and features lots of primary colors and geometric shapes. It will be sold on Mondo’s website, LoveMondoTrasho.com, for about $35-$45 a piece.

Readers, what do you think of Mondo’s jewelry line? Would you wear the pieces shown above?

MSMPR24seven does not own the rights to the image above.

[NY Mag]

Marinduque dragged into the Fertilizer Scam

This post together with the cartoon is a reprint from marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com entitled Latest News on Fertilizer Scam Scandal:

"I found the following news from the Manila Standard issue of May 17, 2011. Looking forward to the conclusion of this case, which may not be concluded for a quite a long time, I believe, knowing the justice system in the Philippines for the rich and powerful is not the same for the poor and the non-politicians."

"Fertilizer fund mess: three accused post bail

"Three former public officials who have been implicated in the P728-million fertilizer scam posted bail at the Sandiganbayan on Monday.

Former Catanduanes governor Leonardo Verceles Jr. who is facing graft case paid P30,000 for his temporary liberty.

Former congressmen Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City and Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque posted bail in the amount of P60,000 each on charges of technical malversation apart from violation of the anti-graft law.The three were the first batch of respondents to appear before the anti-graft court and posted bail for their provisional liberty after their cases were raffled off to several Sandiganbayan Divisions on Friday.

Verceles, Reyes and Daza were named as beneficiaries of proceeds from the sale of fertilizer intended for farmers.

Verceles’ graft case went to the First Division while Reyes and Daza’s cases would be handled by the first and third divisions, respectively.

The Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges against them last month after years of conducting an investigation into the alleged fertilizer fund anomaly involving public funds.

It also ordered the filing of plunder charges against former Agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor, the prosecutorial arm of the Office of the Ombudsman, has decided not to file the cases yet against Lorenzo and Bolante after they filed their respective motions for reconsideration to block their indictment before the court". By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Donald Trump Officially Ends Presidential Run

Donald Trump has announced that he will not be running for president in 2012. Following the birther debacle and his roast at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, it looks like the real estate mogul and “Celebrity Apprentice” star is finally “fired” from the race.

"This decision does not come easily or without regret, especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country,” he said in a statement. "I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election."

Right, Donald. Keep telling yourself that.

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[TPM]

Simple Blood Test Estimates How Long You’ll Live

Want to know when you’re going to die? A blood test that is able to show how quickly you’re aging (and thus how long you’re likely to live) will soon be available for the general public in the U.K.

The controversial $700 Life Length blood test, which will be offered over the counter later this year, is able to provide an accurate estimate of how much time you have left on earth. How? Well, it works by measuring the length of telomeres, which are structures located on the tips of chromosomes; the Independent reports that studies have shown that people who have shorter telomeres often have shorter lifespans.

The test measures whether your biological age as determined by your telomeres is “older” or “younger” than your chronological age, and it’s not able to measure the exact amount of time you have left to live. But if you have shorter telomeres than normal, the Life Length blood test might be useful — you could change your lifestyle habits and work on stress reduction (which can grant a longer life).

Many experts predict that telomere testing (which is one of the best methods of measuring aging) will be common within the next ten years, but many have ethical concerns about the applications of such testing (including life insurance companies and anti-aging products).

Readers, would you take a Life Length blood test? Why or why not? Share with us in the comments!

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[The Times of India]

Paranormal Orbs at San Isidro Cave?

Oh, so, so many orbs at San Isidro Cave! Orbs are those small, circular images that are not normally visible to the naked eye but appear in still photographs. People who are into the paranormal link them to the spirit world – that is, they are supposed to be manifestations of spirits or angels, even. From time to time, we come across ghost stories in both local and foreign TV programs that feature orbs moving and hovering strangely around places believed to be haunted.

A singular orb here and an amazing haze swirling

The proliferation of orbs in many photographs became evident, however, with the mass production of digital cameras. More orbs appear, apparently, when the flash is closer to the lens of the camera. Many paranormal investigators still cling to their assertions, however.

Whatever, it is certain that maybe millions of orbs inhabit this secret place in Sta. Cruz, a cave only discovered for the outside world during the last couple of years. The cave has a length of 1,200 meters and has massive chambers soaring up to about 150 feet.

After descending through a small entrance by about fifty feet one discovers himself standing in the middle of a huge chamber and at once noticing the cave’s pristine condition. One then wades through a pool of cool water that leads to shafts, climbs and drops of varying depths and finds even bigger chambers inside that are spectacularly designed by nature. You'd think that cathedrals and treasures found in them such as art and religious reliquaries must have found inspiration from these caves.

Halfway through the cave one hears the sound of water gushing from the rocks coming from different directions, the most significant of which is a 9-foot gusher that invites visitors to bathe in it. I hear whispers about possible ‘purifying powers’…

Past this waterfall and through a walking tunnel (and that’s after an hour of exploring), one finds himself in an even bigger and wider chamber. By then you wonder what more there is to find deeper into the cave. But, you’d find the guides talking you out of it instead.

Marinduque visitors who are familiar only with the legendary Bathala Cave will certainly find San Isidro Cave to be in a different league. Once outside, you might find yourself really asking, where on earth have I just been? And find yourself fixed, carefully examining the orbs...
















Mapping and training for local cave guides have been undertaken by DENR in cooperation with local government units, done with emphasis on the preservation of the cave. Visitors should coordinate with the Office of the Mayor, Sta. Cruz or the Barangay Captain of San Isidro, Capt. Perfirio Manuba, #0921-4129641.