Friday, November 30, 2007

My skin is burned

Three days ago, I called my friend Lito, of Digos City mango producers and ask him if he could visit me here in Davao to check my procedures on spraying a mango tree, he accepted my invitation. So as early as 6 o'clock in the morning, he's already knocking on my door, then we had a nice conversation regarding the mango production over a cup of coffee. We went first to Bankerohan public market to buy the necessary chemicals needed for today's' activity. I bought three liters of cypermethrin 5EC and 1 liter of selecron by syngenta company and a box of fungicide (antracol) . After this, we went straight to my area in Tacunan, Mintal armed with power spray machine and plastic drum containers and spray nozzles. I am so excited to visit my farm today for I know that there are many flowers pollinated and turned into mango fruits.
At exactly 1'o'clock , I have already set my gadgets for spraying and mix all the chemicals needed. I started to pull the crank to start the engine and my friend is the one in charge in spraying the trees. I really had fun until one incident happened, after we finished eating our merienda, we decided to continue spraying so, I pull the crank again to start the engine but unfortunately the engine did not start immediately so I keep on pulling hoping that the engine will start. I didn't noticed that my left leg is so near to its exhaust and suddenly it really touches my skin as a result, I have a third degree burn in my left leg, it feels so hot to get burned but I still continue the spraying operation in spite of the incident that happened.

This is my power spray machine that brought for today's activity



The exhaust thing.




The spot

Monday, November 26, 2007

‘Entertainer of the Year’ Harry Potter author-Dubbed


NEW YORK -- J.K. Rowling's magical, Midas touch has landed her on the cover of Entertainment Weekly as the magazine's entertainer of the year.
The magazine said the "Harry Potter" author, who has sold nearly 400 million copies of her boy-wizard series that's been adapted into a mega-successful movie franchise, deserved props for getting "people to tote around her big, old-fashioned printed-on-paper books as if they were the hottest new entertainment devices on the planet."
Rowling was in a class by herself on the magazine's list of the year's top entertainers, which was separated by editors into five other categories that evoke school cliques: prodigies, class clowns, most popular, most buzzed-about and valedictorians.
The magazine named George Clooney -- actor, director, activist -- a valedictorian because he has "deftly balanced box-office viability with personal responsibility." Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and the cast of "The Sopranos" also made the grade, among others.
Matt Damon made the list of most popular, as did Carrie Underwood, Katherine Heigl, Johnny Depp, and Kanye West.
The prodigies: Zac Efron, Shia LaBeouf, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus.
Tina Fey, creator and co-star of "30 Rock," was recognized as a class clown for her hilariously cringe-inducing portrayal of comedy-show producer Liz Lemon on the NBC sitcom.
"I love going to those uncomfortable places," she tells the magazine. "I'll go down any weird avenue."
Other clowns: Vanessa Williams, "The Simpsons" and director Judd Apatow and his gang of actor buddies including Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. Apatow cast his pals in the acclaimed comedies "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and this year's "Knocked Up," which cracked people up with a winning combination of heart and R-rated raunch.
Amy Winehouse, Gerard Butler, Tyler Perry and the A&E series "Mad Men" were named the most buzz-worthy.

Olympus mju 790 SW: The latest underwater camera

" My specs"

Take it anywhere, anytime as shockproof up to 1.5m*Exciting shots in and by the water as waterproof to 3m**Face Detection for perfectly focused and exposed faces plus correct exposure of other image areas 6.4cm/2.5" HyperCrystal LCD with a bright display even in brilliant sunlight High ISO setting for less blur7.1 Megapixels to make poster-size prints3x optical zoom (38-114mm) for stunning portraits Better low light shooting thanks to BrightCapture Technology23 scene modes for (the right setting) best results in different situationsLiven up your memories with movie recording with sound TruePic III image processor for faster image handling and higher image qualityUnderwater shooting up to water pressure equivalent of 40m possible in combination with optional underwater case PT-041


ONLY a few things would make a splash buff blush, and among them is getting a camera that can be taken underwater, be frozen down to below five degrees Celsius, and be dropped from a height of 1.5 meters (shoulder length).


This sounds familiar because Olympus already did this with the mju 725 about three years ago. Then it followed up with the mju 750 in 2006 and now, the company has recently introduced the mju 790 SW. So far, the mju 790 is the most high-tech all-terrain consumer camera from Olympus and it certainly lives up to the hype of the best underwater camera in the market.


But I’ll have to describe the device first. The mju 790 SW comes from the same family as the mju 725 and is among the very few waterproof and shockproof digital cameras available in the market (other models are the Pentax Optio W30 and the Sanyo VPC-E1 Xacti camcorder). Its predecessor was the mju 770 SW and in a lot of ways, both models are basically just the same, except for a few aesthetic and technical differences. The mju 790 SW was redesigned to look more sporty than the boxy mju 770 SW and comes in four colors (black, blue, orange and silver). It’s also smaller and lighter at 136 grams versus the mju 770’s 156 grams. Nevertheless, the mju 790 still has a solid construction with no metal seams that would give away its underwater or shockproof capability. It still looks and feel like an ordinary digital camera.
The features of the mju 790 are still standard as with the mju 770: it uses a 7.1 megapixel image sensor on a ½.3 CCD sensor. The lens can go up to 3 times optical zoom and 5 times digital zoom. The lens seems completely hidden under a metallic hood. It’s a surprise that unlike most digital cameras with optical zoom, this one doesn’t have any external moving parts since all the lenses (a total of 10) are effectively squeezed beneath the hood.
For the more serious photographer, the mju 790 packs a lot of macro-shooting capabilities. It has automatic and manual ISO film speeds from 100-400 (automatic) to 80-1600 (manual). It also has six white balance modes for different environments and at least five shooting modes for its internal flash.
Olympus has added a “Guide” feature on the unit, ostensibly to help point-and-click users to decide what pre-set scene modes will be useful under certain conditions. It has a total of 23 scene modes, including basic portrait, night shot, sunset, document photography, beach and snow, and underwater shots. It’s almost difficult to actually get confused on how to use the device tanks to the “Guide’ button.
Still recording will give a user an option from as low as 640×480 pixels to as high as 3072×2304 (a photo taken in this mode will show up on a 40″ screen without being stretched or pixellated). Likewise, videos can be recorded in the high-speed 30-frame 640×480, mid-speed 320×240, or low-speed 15-frame 160×120. However, the downside to recording videos is that there are time limits for each of the speed quality recordings. For example, the high-speed mode will only give a user 10 seconds for each recording, 30 minutes for mid-speed and about 1 hour for low-speed. The file format is AVI, which has high memory requirements. A 10-second high-definition video will already need at least 20 MB of space on the XD card; this points to the need for a higher-capacity XD card and it is recommended that you get the 2-gigabyte XD card instead.
Another problem is that the digital camera could only record sound directly in front of it. Any small movement and the mic sensitivity will shift to almost quiet to compensate for the loss of the sound coming from a source. It should be handled steadily in one direction if the purpose is recording sound as well.
And so the actual torture test comes in. Despite any initial hesitation to use the camera under water (in seawater for that matter), I decided to take the mju 790 to the beach where most digital camera users fear to tread due to the corroding effects of saltwater on electronic devices, as well as the fine sand that could clog moving parts. According to Olympus, the mju 790 can be dunked in up to 10 feet of water. The initial test involved dipping the camera in about two feet of water; so far the camera worked perfectly, even with loose sand getting into the lens. One method of removing sand from the lens hood is to put it under running water and switching the power on and off to make the lens hood open and close. While this looks straining to the camera it is how it really works. After its two-feet dip, the camera was sunk in about seven feet of water. The LCD screen can still be viewed even without the aid of goggles or a snorkeling mask, as long as the water is clear up to 10 feet. The camera worked smoothly under different water conditions, including overcast (light penetrating below water surface is reduced) and murky water. It could still take photos and videos and could even record sound at short distances (about five feet).
The downside, however, is the camera’s weight: unless it is attached to a person via the rubber strap, the camera will sink to the bottom so a lot of consideration should be taken before bringing the unit out to sea. It’s also difficult to snorkel while holding a digital camera in one hand and it would have been a treat if it were attached to an armband or a waistband.
And yes, the unit was dropped, albeit accidentally, from about three feet on a concrete floor. It’s still working but did show some scratches on its metal casing.
Overall, the Olympus mju 790 SW is the best waterproof digital camera in the market and is also one that costs nearly the same as regular digital cameras (at a suggested retail price of P24,000). Above water, the camera packs a lot of features that other digital cameras in the same price range have, but its underwater functions can sink the competition — literally.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thousands of people in philippines homeless due to typhoon Mina


MANILA, Philippines --- (UPDATE 6) Close to 100,000 people in the northeastern part of the country are set for evacuation, upon orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on Saturday, the eve of the landfall of typhoon "Mina" (international codename: Mitag).

The brewing super typhoon changed direction at dawn Saturday, and was forecast to make landfall in the provinces of Aurora and Isabela on Sunday evening, instead of in the Bicol region as earlier predicted.

Isabela Governor Grace Padaca said at least 54,000 people in the coastal towns of Dinapigue and Palanan were being evacuated.

Quoting Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Glen Rabonza said 40,000 people would be evacuated there.

Arroyo talked to Padaca, Angara-Castillo, and other governors in Northern Luzon via speakerphone, when she presided over a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo.

"The evacuation is taking place as of the moment…We are looking at around tens of thousands," NDCC spokesman Anthony Golez told a news conference.

"The President has instructed the NDCC to take precautionary and preventive measures. Provincial governors have been alerted and all contingency plans are in place," Golez said.

"We have very good preparations. The preparedness of the NDCC is not only several days before the typhoon, it is a year-long program," Rabonza said.

While the storm will not make landfall in Bicol, the estimated 250,000 evacuees there would not be allowed to return to their homes until the weather conditions improve, Golez said.

He said the region would still be battered by heavy rains that could trigger landslides and flashfloods.

"The worst is not yet over yet. Let's wait for the typhoon to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility," Golez said.

The new round of evacuations, Golez said, would start in coastal areas, which are at risk from storm surge; the riverbanks, which are threatened by floods; and mountain slopes, which could be covered by landslides.

"Mina," which packs maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center, and gusts of up to 210 kilometers per hour, was spotted 190 kilometers northeast of Virac in Catanduanes province at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo told the same news conference that the storm was likely to strengthen further before it makes landfall in the area of Aurora and Isabela on Sunday evening.

After making landfall, Nilo said "Mina" would track the provinces of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, and Ilocos Sur. He said the storm would exit Ilocos Sur by noon on Monday.
The storm was moving northwest at a "very slow" 11 kilometers per hour, Nilo said. An earlier PAGASA weather bulletin said the storm was "almost stationary."
The change in "Mina's" track was caused by the weakening of a high pressure area north of the storm near Hong Kong, and the strengthening of another high pressure area south of the storm, over the Pacific Ocean, and tropical storm "Lando" (international codename: Hagibis), which exited the central Philippines earlier this week, Nilo said.
The high pressure area off Hong Kong, before it weakened, was preventing "Mina" from moving northwest, Nilo said, adding the high pressure area over the Pacific Ocean was pushing the storm upwards.
"It modified the environmental systems surrounding the typhoon, changing its movement," Nilo said.
The Magat Dam in Isabela province has started releasing water, while the Angat Dam in Bulacan province continued to release water, to prevent an overflow when the rains come, Nilo said.
Meanwhile, the Binga dam and Ambuklao dams in Benguet province have released water to the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan province to prevent an overflow, he said.

My birth month



I am tagged by Rosemarie about my birth month. I will then highlight the traits that tells the truth about me. I am tagging Anna, Choco, Chronic-chick, Darlene, Emma, Irel, jenny, John Deru, LIza, Lolli, Lutchi, Roselle, that's a lot to tag lol. enjoy guys...

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3. Pick your month of birth.
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you've done it!


MY BIRTH MONTH

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.


JANUARY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.
FEBRUARY:
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
MARCH:
Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
APRIL:
Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.
JUNE:
Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.
JULY:
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
AUGUST:
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.
SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
OCTOBER:
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.
DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Illusions for you

Am I Hanging? or just plain kissing?
Liisa Kaupmees submitted this simple and romantic optical illusion. All I can tell you, is that even if the sailor lifted his arms from his women of desire, she wouldn't fall. In fact, she probably wouldn't move an inch. Tell me, how can this be? Did you spot the illusion? It took me a minute to understand it. Hope you can beat me. This is Liisa's message: "Hello, Illusion of a couple is in the attachment, couldn't find original source.





Blind Spot and the "Filling-in" phenomenon.

Did you know that your eyes have blind spots (and not just at the back of your head)? Each of your eyes contains an area that has no photoreceptors because it is occupied by the optic nerve. You may not have noticed these areas because they are on opposite sides of your visual field. However, this exercise is designed to isolate your blind spot and you will be amazed at the results.
Instructions: Close your left eye and fixate your right eye on the cross in the first diagram. If your eye is about 12 inches (30 cm) away from the monitor, you should notice that the X disappears. This distance may vary according to the screen resolution you have set.

You may be surprised to see that the X is replaced, not by a black region, but rather blank white space. The brain simply "fills in" the most probable stimulus (in this case, a uniform white area) where there is none.



Twinkle, twinkle - The Blinking Effect

Challenge yourself to try and count the dots in the diagram below. Despite a static image, your eyes will make it dynamic attempting to "fill-in" the white circle intersections with the black of the background. Quite an amazing effect!
Instructions: Simply stare at the white circles and notice the intermittent blinking effect.






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Opponent After-images

The nature of our visual system allows us to sometimes see "after-images" which appear once the original stimuli are removed. In the following demonstration, you will see that the colors in after-images are usually the opposite (complementary) colors of the original.
Instructions: Stare at the black spot in the center of the four colored squares for about 30 seconds. Then scroll down and move your gaze to the black spot in the uniform white area. Note the colors of the afterimages relative to the colors of the original stimuli. Did they appear different?
So, my dear fellow bloggers how do you find my post? How about your eyes, Are they bleeding already? lol..........

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Davao City A haven place to live

Tourist spots in Davao


Mt. Apo, tallest peak in the country at 10,311 feet above sea level the mightiest upward surge of along mountain range extending from North Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Davao City to Agusan del Sur and Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao.
Mt. Apo straddles a long mountain range delineating the boundaries of the provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato and Davao City. The volcanic peak Apo meaning grandfather of all Philippine mountains dominates a vast area of 72,769 hectares where natural wonders lure outdoor enthusiasts to trek through this tribal god's domain and conquer this towering peak and sea an exotic display of nature at its best in its virgin state a steaming blue lake in a picturesque setting, geysers and sulphur pillars, rainwater lakes, the swift flowing Marbel, Sibulan and Baruring Rivers, waterfalls cascading with a thunderous roar from a deep gorge for a total drop of almost 300 feet. Several miniature falls in lake like spray give touches of silvery beauty to the verdant surroundings.
Climbing Mount Apo takes four days. There are many trails so climbers often ascend and descend through different routes to see more of the place. Before climbing, contact the Department of Tourism Office in Davao (Magsaysay Park Complex, Tel. (82) 221-0070/221-6955) or the Mt. Apo Climbers Association of Davao City where tents, camping, gear, provisions and guides are available. The Davao Tourism Office also organizes Holy Week climbs called "Conquer Mt. Apo" and semestral break ascents in October called "Octotrek" where large numbers of climbers join in.


Once known as the monkey-eating eagle; it is endemic(found only) to the eastern portion of the Philippine comprising the Sierra Madre mountains in Eastern Luzon and the heavily forested area of Mindanao.
The largest eagle, standing to about three and a half feet (3 1/2) may be recognized by its powerful bill, strong legs and claws. The general body color is grayish brown in the back and wings, whitish front neck and belly with shafts of gray brown streaked feathers on the head, which when erect forms a crest.
The prey mostly on monkeys, but lately they have been observed feeding on flying lemurs (caguang), wild cats (musang), and flying squirrels (tapilac) in Mindanao. Usually the male does the hunting, sharing his catch with the female and the young, especially during the breeding time.
The life of the eagle has been closely watched resulting in the following findings: pairs occupy a wide territory in lowland and medium elevation forest. Hunting flights extend to the cleared areas as well. At breeding time, they usually indulge in high searing flights and are said to mate in mid-air. The nest is a crude platform of branches and twigs, set in the tallest tree. Only one white egg is laid which hatches in about two months.
The very size of the monkey eating eagle with its majestic stance makes it a very desirable target as a trophy. Also because of its uniqueness, there is a demand for its in major zoos of the world.
HOW TO GET TO THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE CAMP IN MALAGOS CALINAN
take jeepney from Davao City to Calinan
jeepney for Calinan are available anywhere at C.M. Recto Ave., A. Pichon St. and Bankerohan Public Market
tricycle for Malagos (Eagle Breeding Center are available at Calinan Public Market)
PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT
Like the jewel for which it is named, the Pearl Farm Beach Resort is a precious get-away where guests can revel in tropical pleasures, relish life's flavors and feast on nature's bounties
The Pearl Farm Beach Resort lies in a secluded cove on Samal Island off the coast of Davao City. This 11-hectare spread was once a pearl farm, where thousands of white-lipped oysters, transported from the Sulu Sea, were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls. Today, the resort beckons with the promise of a relaxing, private retreat, under the care of our friendly, charming staff.
The resort's Samal Houses are patterned after the stilt houses of seafaring Samal tribes of the Sulu archipelago. By day, schools of tiny fish frolic between the sturdy poles that support the houses. At night, the sound of the waves are a soothing aid to slumber.
A jar of water and a coconut shell dipper are placed near the entrance to each house so that guests may wash away the sand after a day of barefooting on the beach. In local custom, this gesture is also symbolic of a cleansing of the spirit.
EDEN MOUNTAIN RESORT
Voice: +63 82 299-1020
Voice: +63 82 296-0791
Fax: +63 82 299-0313Cell #: +639189307590
http://www.edennaturepark.com.ph
This mountain resort reservation offers a cool climate, lush forest, and natural surroundings, overlooking the city and the gulf. Suitable for camping, nature hiking, bird watching, and horseback riding.


Calinan, Davao Citysales@malagos.com
Tel : +63 82 221 1545
This garden resort is filled with tall trees and a multitude of rare orchids. It has a restaurant, butterfly sanctuary, horseback riding facilities, fishponds, golf driving range, swimming pool, adventure playground, seminar halls, campsite, and cottages.
Davao City is known as a friendly city, a lot of foreigners want to live here and raised their own family and do business because this place is popular of its peace and order situation. Once you re in Davao you feel secured in everything you do as long as your a law abiding citizen. There are also many tourist destination that Davao can offer some are not yet discovered and some are always visited by the local tourist like mountaineering groups and clubs from different chapters. Mountaineering usually visits caves in Ipol, they do cave exploration, and take pictures of beautiful spots.
VISIT DAVAO NOW AND EXPLORE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO AND MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE .

My Illusions

Face on earth

Take a look at this picture of some ancient ruins...Notice anything unusual about the mountains?


When you tilt the picture, you suddenly see a huge faceDoesn't this remind you a little of the Face on Mars?



How many horses do you see?




Can you find the dog?






Stare at the gray dot in the center...

Now move your head forward and backward.As your head moves closer to your monitorand then back away from your monitor, the circleswill appear to be spinning.






Do you recognized three D effect here?







Spinning Wheels

Focus on one wheel, and you see it's not moving.But move your eyes around from one wheel to thenext, and all of them appear to be spinning.







Moving Circles

Stare at the cross and quickly move your headforward and backward, towards and away from thescreen. The circles will appear to be mov


Keep staring at the black dot...

After a while the gray haze around it will appear to shrink.





SHORT CIRCUIT YOUR BRAIN
Look at the chart above and say the COLOR of the word,not the word itself. Why is it so difficult? Because the right half of your brainis trying to say the color, while the left side of your brainis trying to say the word.


The Queen

Stare at the negative image of the Queen for about 1 minutewithout moving your eyes. Then look at a blank sheet of paperand you'll see the queen.






Is it moving and shimmering?

Look at this illusion for a while and it willappear to be shimmering and moving.Also: Follow the outermost groove and watch itchange from a groove to a hump as you go around the wheel.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

My Favorite Black Forest Cake


This is one of my favorite recipes of cake. You can try this at home ,it's so simple to do, just follow the instructions below and your done.

Black Forest Cake

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup Hershey's baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions:1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.2. Add remaining ingredients except boiling water, beat for about two minutes.3. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin, this is OK.)4. Pour batter into two greased & floured 9-inch cake pans (or three 8-inch cake-pans.)5. Bake at 350F for 30 to 35 minutes; test for whether the cakes are done or not by inserting the blade of a knife into the cake center - if gooey, wet batter sticks to the knife, the cake isn't done yet.6. Remove from cake pans and let cool for a few minutes, then loosen from cake pans and remove cakes to plates or wire racks to cool.7. Add Icing to cake and cherry pie filling if desired; cherry pie filling should be used between layers as well as spread on top of cake.

Icing for Black Forest Cake


Ingredients:
1 (20 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 1/2 pints heavy whipping cream
4 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:1. Beat cream, sugar & vanilla extract until stiff. This may take upwards of ten minutes; the mixture will be very thin at first, this is OK. Keep refrigerated if made ahead of time. and your done.

Cakes can be made very attractive to sweet lovers depending on how you decorate them. You can top it with berries, chocolate bars and sometimes I sprinkle it with candy snows. There are also cakes that are mixed with other flavors such as Ube, Macapuno, Berries and many more.

Here are some pictures of cakes that will give you ideas on how to decorate your own cake.

Scroll down to view.




Double layered cake




Black forest cake





Choko cherry cake





Mocha ref cake






Peach Mango cake






Butter caramel cake






Choco nutty cake





choco bar cake





Rolled type of cakes






Choco curls cake






Mocha jelly cake






Ube macapuno cake

Sponge bob Square Pants is my Character

I am Sponge Bob Square Pants
I got this tag from a pretty friend of mine GARF. Thank you friend for this interesting tag. Now I'm passing this tag toBryan, Anna, Chikai, Darlene Grace, Liza, Lolli and Rosemarie.

Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character. Have you ever asked yourself what cartoon character do you most resemble?
A group of investigators got together and analyzed the personalities of well known and modern cartoon characters. The information that was gathered was made into this test.

Answer all the questions (only 10) with what describes you best, add up all your Points (which are next to the answer that you choose) at the end and look for your results.
Do not cheat by looking at the end of the e-mail before you are done.
Then ask your Friends to answer it. (Make sure to Highlight your answers)

1. Which one of the following describes the perfect date?
.a) Candlelight dinner (4 pts.)
.b) Fun/Theme Park (2 pts.)
.c) Painting in the park (5 pts)
.d) Rock concert (1 pt.)
.e) Going to the movies (3 pts.)

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll (2 pts.).
b) Alternative (1 pt.).
c) Soft Rock (4 pts.).
d) Country (5 pts.).
e) Pop (3 pts.)

3. What type of movies= do you prefer?
.a) Comedy (2 pts.)
.b) Horror (1 pt.)
.c) Musical (3 pts.)
.d) Romance (4 pts.)
.e) Documentary (5 pts.)

4.. Which one of these occupations would you choose if you only could choose one of these?
.a) Waiter (4 pts.)
.b) Professional Sports Player (5 pts.)
.c) Teacher (3 pts.)
.d) Police (2 pts.)
.e) Cashier (1 pt)

5 . What do you do with your spare time?
.a) Exercise (5 pts.)
.b) Read (4 pts.)
.c) Watch television (2 pts.)
.d) Listen to music (1 pt.)
.e) Sleep (3 pts.)

6. Which one of the following colors do you like best?
.a) Yellow (1 pt.)
.b) White (5 pts.)
.c) Sky Blue (3 pts.)
.d) Dark Blue (2 pts.)
.e) Red (4 pts.)

7. What do you prefer to eat?
.a) Snow (3 pts.)
.b) Pizza (2 pts.)
.c) Sushi (1 pt.)
.d) Pasta (4 pts.)
.e) Salad (5 pts.)

8 What is your favorite holiday?
.a) Halloween (1 pt.)
.b) Christmas (3 pts.)
.c) New Year (2 pts.)
.d) Valentine's Day (4 pts.)
.e) Thanksgiving (5 pts.)

9. If you could go to one of these places which one would it be?
.a) Paris (4 pts)
.b) Spain (5 pts)
.c) Las Vegas (1 pt)
.d) Hawaii (4 pts)
.e) Hollywood (3 pts)

10. With which of the following would you prefer to spend time with?
.a) Someone Smart (5 pts.)
.b) Someone attractive (2 pts.)
.c) Someone who likes to Party (1 pt.)
.d) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)
.e) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)

Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waiting for!Put your character in the subject line and forward to your friends and back to the person that sent this to you.
Very interesting to see 'who' your friends are!

(10-16 points) You are Garfield :You are very comfortable, easy going, and you definitely know how tohave fun but sometimes you take it to an extreme. You always know whatyou are doing and you are always in control of your life. Others maynot see things as you do, but that doesn't mean that you always have to do what is right. Try to remember, your happy spirit may hurt you or others.

(17-23 points) You are Snoopy:You are fun, you are very cool and popular. You always know what's i nand you are never are out of style You are good at knowing how tosatisfy everyone else. You have probably disappeared for a few daysmore than once but you always come home with the family values that you learned Being married and having children are important to you, butonly after you have had your share of fun times

(24-28 points) You are Elmo:
You have lots of friends and you are also popular, always willing togive advice and help out a person in need. You are very optimistic andyou always see the bright side of things. Some good advice: try not tobe too much of a dreamer. Dreaming too big could cause many conflicts inyour life.

(29-35 points) You are Sponge Bob Square Pants:
You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friendthat anyone could ever have and never wants to lose. You never causeharm to anyone and they would never not understand your feelings. Lifeis a journey, it's funny and calm for the most part. Stay away fromtraitors and jealous people, and you will be stress free.

(36-43 points) You are Charlie Brown: - this is me
You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a fewBirthdays. Don't let your passion confuse you with reality.

(44-50 points) You are Dexter:You are smart and definitely a thinker... Every situation is frontedwith a plan. You have a brilliant mind. You demonstrate very strong family principles. You maintain a stable routine but never ignore a badsituation when it comes.

Try to do less over thinking every once in a while to spice things up a bit with spontaneity!
Now don't spoil it! Have some Fun!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Six-legged frog is star attraction


A Chinese restaurant has found a six-legged frog - and is keeping it to attract diners.

The frog is on display in a glass tank at the restaurant in Quanzhou city, reports People's Daily.

"I bought more than 5 kilos of frogs from the market the other day, and upon coming back found that one of them has six legs," says chef Xiao Song.

The frog has two extra legs on the front left side which, according to waiters, means that it has a lopsided hop.

Experts at the local forestry department say the extra legs were most likely caused by genetic mutation.

Angelina Jolie



PROFILE

Full Name: Angelina Jolie Voight
Nicknames: Angie, Jellybean, and Bunny
Occupation: Actress
Date of Birth: June 4, 1975
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, Calif.
Sign: Sun in Gemini, Moon in Aries
Height: 5''7"
Family: Father: Jon Voight (actor); mother: Marcheline Bertrand (former actress); brother: James Haven Voight (director);
son: Maddox Chivan Thornton Jolie; daughter: Zahara Marley Jolie
Relationships:
exchanged vows in a Buddhist ceremony with actor Brad Pitt;
ex-husband: Billy Bob Thornton (actor, director, writer) married on May 5, 2000 and divorced on May 27, 2003;
ex-husband: Jonny Lee Miller (actor) married on March 28, 1996 and divorced on February 3, 1999


Education: Attended Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and New York University (majored in film)
Film Debut: "Lookin' to Get Out" at the age of seven
Awards:
1997: Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie, George Wallace
1998: National Board of Review: Breakthrough Performance Award, Playing by Heart; cited with Billy Crudup (Without Limits)
1998: Golden Satellite: Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV, Gia
1998: Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV, Gia
1998: Screen Actors Guild: Female Actor (Television Movie or Miniseries), Gia
1999: Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Girl, Interrupted
1999: Screen Actors Guild: Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Theatrical Motion Picture), Girl, Interrupted
2000: Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, Girl, Interrupted
2000: ShoWest: Supporting Actress of the Year
2005: People's Choice Awards, USA: Favorite Female Action Movie Star

Scars/Tattoos: She has a scar on her hand, and a faint one below her jaw line. She has several tattoos: a box design on her hip, a Chinese dragon on her left arm, a rune-shaped design on her left wrist, two tribal designs on her backside, the Japanese symbol for "death" on her shoulder, and the Latin words "Quod me nutrit me destruit" on her stomach meaning "What nourishes me also destroys me."
Fan Mail:
Angelina Jolie
C/O Industry Entertainment
955 Carrillo Drive
3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90048
USA

Angelina Jolie
1901 Ave. of the Stars # 680
Los Angeles, CA 90067-6008
USA

Angelina Jolie
c/o William Morris Agency
151 El Camino Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
USA



BIOGRAPHY

"Acting is not pretending or lying. It's finding a side of yourself that's the character, and ignoring your other sides. And there's a side of me that wonders what's wrong with being completely honest."

-Angelina Jolie

This is how Angelina confronts acting. She is no stranger to the art as both her parents were actors. Her mother is actress Mircheline Bertrand and her father, Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight. Her father, although not entirely unbiased, had said in an interview: "Just look at the beautiful face and all the intelligence that it has and all the passion. It's quite extraordinary".

However Angelina is indeed quite extraordinary; she had made her first screen debut at the age of five, alongside her father in the Hal Ashby-directed comedy "Looking to Get Out" a very obscure film mirroring the very young and still obscure Angelina.

At the age of 11 she begun studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. During her time there she staged numerous productions although she was also flirting with the idea of becoming a funeral director. She says: "There's something about death that is comforting. The thought you could die tomorrow frees you to appreciate your life now".

Age 16 she struck out on her own by finding work as a professional model in London, New York and Los Angeles and appearing in music videos for the likes of Meatloaf, the Lemonheads, Lenny Kravitz and the Rolling Stones.

However her love for acting and theatre brought her back to New York where she followed film studies before moving to Los Angeles to study acting in a more formalized setting at the Met Theatre Group amongst esteemed actors such as Ed Harris and Holly Hunter.

Her inner search continued.. "I didn't know exactly what I wanted, but I knew I could know". Angelina insists it was her mother, who had influenced her: "She loved taking us to the theatre". She also explained her rekindled interest in theatrics: "I loved some kind of expression. I want[ed] so much to try to explain things to somebody.. I'm very good at trying to explore different emotions and listen to people and feel things. That is an actor I think".

Her first film was, to be put mildly, unremarkable; a supporting role as a human- machine hybrid in the 1993 "Cyborg II: Glass Shadows".

However her second film and first lead role in 1995 could be described as a milestone for her, not only because she got recognition in the film industry, but also because the venture put her in the company of free-spirited British actor, Lonny Lee Miller. After a brief courtship, the co-stars got married. Angelina ignored the customary white wedding dress and made a statement by wearing black rubber pants and a shirt that had inscribed across it, in blood, the groom's name.

More films followed, such as the 1996 "Legs" a very dynamic and powerful adaptation of the Joyce Card Oates novel "Foxfire". Also in 1996 "Love in all there is" and in 1997 she starred in "Playing God" alongside David Duchovny.

Her animated portrayal of Cornelia Wallace in the 1997 TV movie "George Wallace" garnered her a Best supporting Actress Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination.

But her stardom was truly set ablaze by another electrifying portrayal, this time as the drug-addicted AIDS-afflicted model Gia Cavangi in the 1998 HBO production "Gia". "Gia" netted her a second Golden Globe statuette and another Emmy nomination.

As an acclaimed actress the offers for more challenging roles came flooding in. In 1999 she co-starred with Billy Bob Thornton (her second husband) in the comedy "Pushing Tin" and in the same year she tackled a headline role in "The Bone Collector" alongside Denzel Washington.

Angelina pushed emotional, physical and mental boundaries to the limits in her strong turn as a seductive sociopath in "Girl, Interrupted" - a starring vehicle for Winona Ryder - that was based on author Susanna Kaysen's best selling account of her own two-year confinement in a psychiatric hospital. Perhaps not surprisingly Jolie's full-tilt performance in the coveted supporting role was rewarded with a Golden Globe, not to mention a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

By 2000, Angelina Jolie had three Golden Globes and an academy Award on the mantelpiece. On May 5th, that same year, Jolie married actor Billy Bod Thornton; a marriage that ended however in divorce in 2003. During that time Angelina Jolie Voight made big headlines again with news about her transformation to the highly conspicuous Lara Croft in "Tomb Raider, the Movie".

Films like "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow", "Alexander" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" make big headlines in 2004-2005 and remind us why we love Angelina. During filming of the latter she met actor Brad Pitt and the two started dating. It was rumored that they finally tied the knot in November 2005 with a secret Buddhist ceremony; Angelina is a devout Buddhist. However this rumor was later denied by Brad. Then in January 2006 it was revealed that Angelina is carrying Brad's child. Time will show what the future holds for the couple.

Jolie has also been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees since 2001. She is very committed in helping others and frequently travels to Third World countries in order to bring media attention to the problems of the Third World.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Filipinos are really WITTY.


Wit of the Filipino

TO ALL BLOGGER I'M SURE YOU WILL HAVE SO MUCH FUN IN READING THIS!!!

I promise you’ll enjoy it.

THERE'S A SIGN ON Congressional Avenue in Manila that says: "Parking for Costumers Only." This may be a misspelling of "customer." But the Philippine capital is so full of theatrical, brightly dressed individuals that I prefer to think it may actually mean what it says.
The Philippines is full of wordplay. The local accent, in which F and P are fairly interchangeable, is often used very cleverly, such as at the flower shop in Diliman called Petal Attraction.

Much of the wordplay in the Philippines is deliberate, with retailers favouring witty names, often based on Western celebrities and movies. I, myself found when Im walking along Manila area a bread shop called Anita Bakery, a 24-hour restaurant called Doris Day and Night, a garment shop called Elizabeth Tailoring and a hairdresser called Felix The Cut.

Smart travellers can decipher initially baffling signs by simply trying out a Taglish (Tagalog-English) accent, such as that used on a sign at a restaurant in Cebu: "We Hab Sop-Drink In Can An In Batol." A sewing accessories shop called Beads And Pieces also makes use of the local accent.

Of course, there are also many signs with oddly chosen words, but they are usually so entertaining that it would be a tragedy to "correct" them.

In a restaurant in Baguio: "Wanted: Boy Waitress;" on a highway in Pampanga: "We Make Modern Antique Furniture;" on the window of a photography shop in Cabanatuan: "We Shoot You While You Wait;" on the glass wall of an eatery in Panay Avenue in Manila: "Wanted: Waiter, Cashier, Washier."

Some of the notices one sees are thought-provoking. A shoe store in Pangasinan has a sign saying: "We Sell Imported Robber Shoes." Could these be the sneakiest sort of sneakers? On a house in Jaro, Iloilo, one finds a sign saying: "House For Rent, Fully Furnaced." "outch!!! , it must be hot in there."

Occasionally, the signs are quite poignant. My classmate Ramil saw one at a ferry pier outside Davao, southern Philippines, which said: "Adults: 1USD; Child: 50 cents; Cadavers: subject to negotiation. "

But most are purely witty, and display a love of Americana. Reader Lyhra spotted a bakery named "Bread Pitt," a Makati fast-food place selling maruya (banana fritters) called "Maruya Carey," a water-engineering firm called "Christopher Plumbing," a boutique called "The Way We Wear," a video rental shop called "Leon King Video Rental," a restaurant in the Cainta district of Rizal called "Caintacky Fried Chicken," a local burger restaurant called "Mang Donald's," a doughnut shop called "MacDonuts," a shop selling lumpia (meat parcels) in Makati called "Wrap and Roll," and two butchers called "Meating Place and Meatropolis. "

Tourists from Europe may be intrigued to discover shops called "Holland Hopia" and "Poland Hopia." Both sell a type of Chinese pastry called hopia. What's the story? The names are explained thus: Holland Hopia is the domain of a man named Ho and Poland Hopia is run by a man named Po.

People in the Philippines also redesign English to be more efficient. "The creative confusion between language and culture leads to more than just simple unintentional errors in syntax, but in the adoption of new words," says reader Rob Goodfellow. He came across a sign that said "House Fersallarend. " Why use five words (house for sale or rent) when two will do?

why there was so much wit in the Philippines? because, we come from a country where we require a sense of humour to survive. "There is a 24-hour comedy show called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors."

I forgot to add the two turo-turo resto that I have seen in along Shaw Boulevard, one is named “Cooking ng Ina Mo!”, and a resto across the road is aptly named “Cooking ng Ina Mo Rin!”. Ha ha ha.


back to home

Friday, November 16, 2007

Farming is fun but It's really hot under the sun.

My Mango Farm

Every other day, I use to go to my mango farm that is located in Tacunan Mintal, Davao City. This Farm size is just 3.4 hectares and its fully planted with fruit bearing trees such as Mango,Durian, Sampalok from Thailand, Rambutan and Banana. I started to grow Mango trees in 1996, and right now, they are in their flowering stage. I personally manages its spraying schedules, from selecting the right chemicals for inducement and some insecticides and fungicides to prevent insects and fungus to enter, to chemical dilutions and spraying. There were many chemicals that I used but the basic chemicals are insecticides, fungicides and flower inducer.


Insecticides that I used:

Selecron
Cypermethrin
Cartap hydrochloride
Diazol
Pyrethrin

Fungicides that I used:

Benomyl
Pilarich
Benlate
Antracol
Dithane M-45
Alliete
Score from Syngenta products

These chemicals are used alternately to prevent chemical immunization.

If you have any questions regarding mango production, feel free to ask me co'z I'm very much willing to share my experiences in farming.
Mango trees in their flowering stage.

Mango flower stalks (19days)to be exact.

Private road leading to my matured mango trees.

Healthy flower stalks as a result of proper maintenance.

Back to home

Thursday, November 15, 2007

DINNER TIME-- INBOX


There are so many restaurants in Davao offering nice food to eat and a relaxing ambience for people to stay. Today, I'm looking for a perfect place to have dinner with my family namely Narcisa my mom, Keisha my daughter, Lyhra my wife, Cykie dodge my nephew and Amy my sister-in-law with little Phoenix Izen. We settled for dinner at Inbox located at J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada fronting SSS Building. Inbox offers the finest Pork barbeque ribs and beef ribs with java rice. They also have the hot Molo Soup, the creamy Balbacua and the bottomless drinks. Services offered is good, from time to time the waiter check their customers. Prices are very affordable compared to other restaurants.




COUNTER



PORK BARBEQUE RIBS WITH JAVA RICE



ALL TIME RAVES---BEEF RIBS