• Amen. A wonderful week na rin sana. RT @NightShadow05 Lord, please make this a wonderful day. #
• Why do people say 'This and That' as opposed to 'That and This'? #
• Tama! Watch out! Mag-ingat! RT @ruinsexy there is a someone to watch out for tomorrow at Discovery Suites. wanna know who? ME. – paaaak #
• I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got over it. #
• I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down. #
• Ace Trump Game… "Super Trump!" #sentisabado #
• Game & Watch. Speak and Spell. #sentisabado #
• Mork and Mindy #sentisabado #
• Grendizer, Balatack, Star Rangers, Danguard Ace, Daimos, Getta Robot #sentisabado #
• Let's celebrate! Bili tayo ng tabako. RT @ruinsexy @odessaflor oding! more than 2 weeks na akong no yosi. hahaha. #
• Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker. #
• Junk is the stuff we throw away. Stuff is the junk we save. #
• Researchers at Yale University say that chocolate may be good for pregnant women. However, it is not good for women who just look pregnant. #
• Have you ever wondered why just one letter makes all the difference between here and there? #

Powered by Twitter Tools

The Philippines, with a majority Christian population, has recognized Eid ul-Fitr as a regular holiday by virtue of Republic Act No. 9177 and signed on November 13, 2002. The law was enacted in deference to the Muslim-Filipino community and to promote peace among major religions in the Philippines.

This year, the Eid has been determined to be on September 10.

Presidential Proclamation 26 was signed on September 2, 2010, declaring the day as a regular (non-working) holiday to promote cultural understanding and integration.

Two Sundays ago, I went to a grocery store (Grocery “E”) near my residence to buy a few necessities.  Usually I buy the following items on a weekly basis, aside from the rest that I buy during my regular run to the supermarket and wet market:

• a loaf of bread
• sugar – two (2) packs, ¼ kg each
• non-dairy coffee creamer (½ kg)
• instant coffee – Nescafe, either a 100g pack or two (2) 50g packs
• soda crackers / biscuits
• Coca-Cola 2.0 liters, good for a day
• canned goods (vienna sausage, corned beef)
• frozen food (ham, bacon)

While pushing the cart around the store and picking up my needed items, I couldn’t help but notice the prices and thus tried to be very practical in choosing the best buy for me.  It didn’t matter that the item was not necessarily the cheapest but at least it was worth the money I spent.

I checked out the coffee.  By force of habit, I picked up the larger pack (100g).  The price was P68.95 or US$1.53.  I noticed however that a 50g pack of the same brand of coffee sold for P33.60 (US$0.74) .  So two of them would cost only P67.20 (US$US$1.49).  That’s a difference of P1.75 – almost US$0.04.  Now that really caught my attention.  Why would someone buy the larger pack if he could save more by buying the smaller ones?

Just yesterday (also a Sunday) I decided to pass by the other grocery store  (Grocery “P”) about a block away.  I used to drop by there more often months before but decided eventually to patronize Grocery “E” due to its proximity to getting a ride home.

Anyway, I bought the regular items on my list.  What struck me as odd though was the price of instant coffee that I was ranting about in Grocery “E” – prices were cheaper in Grocery “P.”

The Nescafe 50g pack was priced at P33.30 (US$0.737), with the  100g counterpart at P66.55 (US$1.47).  I’d save P0.05 (less than US$0.01) by buying the 100g pack.

Would PhP0.05 make a big difference for me if I went to Grocery “P” which a a block farther than Grocery “E” which was just across the jeepney terminal?

Or would you overlook at the PhP0.05 comparison at Grocery “P” and  think of the savings of PhP0.65 over the price at Grocery “E” instead?

It may not be all about coffee or a few centavos really.  But it’s something that’s been very noticeable for quite some time already.

In fact, I even got an answer from one of the Store Managers (identity and store withheld) on why their prices were so-and-so compared to the other one.  She didn’t exactly know why but accepted it as fact since the Head Office was the one providing the prices on their POS (cash register).

Don’t ask me.  I just buy them.

Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://www.council.ph/?feed=rss2&p=1049 2 http://www.council.ph/?p=1070 http://www.council.ph/?p=1070#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Patrick http://www.council.ph/?p=1070

• Any takers? RT @CebuPacificAir Major Major Low Fares! Our China Seat Sale starts NOW! Fly to Shanghai, Guangzhou or Beijing as low as P888! #
• If at first you don't succeed, shouldn't you try doing it like your wife told you to do it? #
• Ideally, you should choose something you love to do so much that you'd do it for free and find a way to make it into a career. #
• “It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"” – Pooh #
• If you want your life to have impact, focus. Don't try to do all. Do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. #
• When men have a problem and they tell you about it, they want to know how to fix it. When women have a problem (cont) http://tl.gd/3ci17t #
• Don't ever loan your friends money if you want to keep them as friends. After all, if they were good with money (cont) http://tl.gd/3ci0on #
• Q: According to etiquette experts, what is the proper distance between two people engaged in conversation? A: 1.5 ft. #
• The juiciest bananas can be found in the Philippines. Of all the varieties, the best is the one they call "saging." – a foreigner friend #
• is at Healthway Market2x for followup check up with opthalmologist. #
• RT @abeolandres Contest: Real Leaf Word Master Challenge http://bit.ly/afcrMH #
• Thirsty for more contests? Check out the YugaTech-Real Leaf Word Master Challenge. Win a Sony Bloggie HD & more! – http://bit.ly/cqYdm2 #
• Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? #
• RT @govph: Briefer on Philippine National Police Procedures during hostage-taking incidents http://bit.ly/cJDDJt #
• What do I usually do when you're away? I wait for you to come back. #
• Squidward: “Why do it today, if you have tomorrow?”
  Spongebob: “You do it today because today is yesterday’s tomorrow.” #
• Here’s to alcohol, the cause of, and the solution to, all life’s problems. #
• If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented? #fb #
• "Don't worry if your job is small, and your rewards are few. Remember that the mighty oak was once a nut like you!" #fb #

Powered by Twitter Tools

The image is taken from the Ming Pao news website today, 25 August 2010 (watermark on lower left).  It shows four (4) Philippine National Police officers having their picture taken in front of the bus that was commandeered by former Police Sr. Inspector Rolando Mendoza, who held over 20 people hostage last Monday, 23 August 2010.  The incident left many Hong Kong nationals dead or injured from the almost 12-hour standoff.  The original image on the website is here.

The hostage drama was bad enough with so many people affected, and now this – a group of policemen having their photo taken at the site where almost a dozen were killed.  How insensitive could they be?  What were they thinking of at that time?

Could it have been that they were some of those policemen who weren’t called to be on duty at that time (rest day perhaps, or assigned to traffic duty elsewhere in Manila) and just wanted to have a remembrance of the event?

Or were they part of the operations done last Monday but weren’t given the chance to “shine” and show their “moves” in front of the TV cameras?

Maybe they were the SOCO team members who wanted a shot for posterity?

Or were they part of the team of snipers who allegedly shot and killed the hostage-taker?

We’ll know soon enough.

At any rate, whatever the rationale behind the photograph, many people (myself included) feel that the incident should not have been made into another “tourist destination” which could unduly inflame sensitivities further.  There is no point really in having photographs taken for souvenirs or other social purposes.

First photo below show negotiations ongoing, while the second shows members of the PNP SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operations) investigating the incident the day after the bloody incident.  Last photo shows some of the hostages being released and lead away some time during the early hours of the  situation.  Images courtesy of Yahoo!

Source: Yahoo

Source: Yahoo

Source: Yahoo

Similar Blog & News Articles: Powered by

• Hostage deaths draw China's anger :: The Guardian World News
• Nine dead, including gunman, in Philippine bus siege :: NY Post: News
• 9 killed on hijacked Philippine tourist bus :: USATODAY.com World News
• Philippines tourist bus hijacking crisis - By Nikky Raney :: Zennie62.com: The Blog Report | by www.slh.com/irving
• Hostage Standoff Ends In Bloodshed In Philippines :: NPR Topics: News
• Hong Kong criticizes handling of Manila hostage crisis (Reuters) :: Yahoo! News: Most Viewed
• Eight Hong Kong tourists killed in Philippine bus hijacking (AFP) :: Yahoo! News: Most Viewed
• China wants answers after 9 killed on hijacked bus :: AP Top Headlines At 2:20 a.m. EDT
• Philippines mourns, HK angry after hijack deaths (AP) :: Yahoo! News: Most Popular

Similar Products: Powered by

The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations: Critical Incidents and How to Respond to Them :: Amazon Run a safe and successful crisis negotiation-from start to finish! The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations: Critical Incident

• At HDMF office, 8/f Justine Bldg, Sen Gil Puyat Ave Makati. Attending Housing Loan Counseling Seminar from 10am – 12nn. #
• Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen. #
• At DOLE QC for a short meeting. Then off to Labor Relations Workshop Seminar at Discovery in the afternoon. #

Powered by Twitter Tools

• At The Legend Villas for our team building activity. #
• Have you seen the new puppies in FarmVille? Join me on Farmville in picking one http://lx.im/5U9O (Ad) #
• Have you seen the new puppies in FarmVille? Join me on Farmville in picking one http://lx.im/5U9O (Ad) #
• Have you seen the new puppies in FarmVille? Join me on Farmville in picking one http://lx.im/5U9O (Ad) #
• Overheard a caucasian (foreigner) as he was haggling with a tindera in Quiapo, he said: “Miss, puwede tumuwad?” #
• Have you seen the new puppies in FarmVille? Join me on Farmville in picking one http://lx.im/5U9O (Ad) #

Powered by Twitter Tools

It’s confirmed.

Monday, August 23, is a regular working day, while Saturday, August 21, commemorating the death anniversary of Benigno Aquino Jr., will be a non-working holiday.

Details from GMA News can be read here.

According to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, the President is empowered under RA No. 9492 to modify holidays by law, order or proclamation.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer had a similar item online.

The office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa released an announcement Wednesday night “declaring the observance of Ninoy Aquino Day on Aug. 21 as a natiowide special (non-working) holiday.

It said Republic Act 9492 or the holiday economics law, which rationalized the celebration of national holidays, amended some provisions of the Revised Administrative Code “by declaring that certain holidays are to be moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation.

However, I don’t see any part of the said Act which provides for such modification.  Neither have I seen any announcement repealing or amending Proclamation 1841 with regard to the said holiday.

Kindly point out the modification made by law, order or proclamation on the issue of Proclamation 1841.

Has congress made changes to RA 9492?  Not at this time.

Has Malacanang issued a Proclamation, Memorandum Circular, or Executive Order modifying Proclamation 1841?  Not at this time.

Sure, the President wanted to avoid undue emphasis on his father.  But with his announcement (c/o the Presidential Spokesman), I feel that the so-called “emphasis” (ie his stand on the matter) has been magnified a few times more than necessary.

Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://www.council.ph/?feed=rss2&p=1051 0 http://www.council.ph/?p=1046 http://www.council.ph/?p=1046#comments Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Patrick http://www.council.ph/?p=1046

• I recently lost 12 followers, and I know who they are thanks to http://who.unfollowed.me #whounfollowedme #
• I have 8 whuffies, gimme more http://whf.me/council #whuffiebank #
• RT @miriamq MIRIAMQ’S MAGIC JARS http://post.ly/nLF0 #
• Join me in the Mob! Build your crime empire. Become The Boss. Don’t miss out. Play Mafia Wars! http://lx.im/5UW- (Ad) #
• Two more hours at the office, then time to go home. GY shift is interesting, but I like midshift as of now. #
• Join me in the Mob! Build your crime empire. Become The Boss. Don’t miss out. Play Mafia Wars! http://lx.im/5UW- (Ad) #
• Join me in the Mob! Build your crime empire. Become The Boss. Don’t miss out. Play Mafia Wars! http://lx.im/5UW- (Ad) #
• I know the 221 people that aren’t following me back thanks to http://who.unfollowed.me #notfollowingback #
• Join me in the Mob! Build your crime empire. Become The Boss. Don’t miss out. Play Mafia Wars! http://lx.im/5UW- (Ad) #
• Join me in the Mob! Build your crime empire. Become The Boss. Don’t miss out. Play Mafia Wars! http://lx.im/5UW- (Ad) #
• Have you seen the new puppies in FarmVille? Join me on Farmville in picking one http://lx.im/5U9O (Ad) #
• Just became an Influencer on MyLikes. Earn money or advertise on MyLikes – http://mylikes.com #mylikes #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Monday work beckons

Nose to the grindstone again

Reality bites

2215H / 080810 / Original Work / First posted on The Council.