Yahoo! News - How Big Bird and Kermit Saved the World

This is very interesting especially to people of my generation. Sesame Street shaped a lot of my values and skills, mostly communication. Since I help people develop their communication skills, this is a topic that has been cropping up lately.

My officemates were commenting that they got high scores on their listening assessment thanks to the children's shows that they were exposed to when they were children. They were chiding the ones who got low as not having enough of the Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, etc. "Sesame Street" was the ultimate, one of them said. Somebody mentioned "Electric Company" and another who had kids already put "Barney" on the list as well as the most basic of them all.

Yahoo! News - How Big Bird and Kermit Saved the World

Juice Box

Type ko siya...

Juice Box

update lang dun sa crush ko...

Ka-birthday ko pala siya.

Click to Donate - Free donations for rainforest, primates, pets, and more!

This will only take a few minutes of your time (depending on your internet connection). It's not asking for any money and supporting the sponsors is totally up to you.

Click to Donate - Free donations for rainforest, primates, pets, and more!

pakiramdam na ewan

Ang tagal ko nang hindi nagkaka-crush. Ewan ko ba kung crush talaga ito o feeling ko lang na kailangan ng excitement yung buhay ko dito sa kinalalagyan ko sa mundo.

Nung una naangasan ako sa kanya. Bagong salta ako sa grupong ito. Nag-attend ako ng training tapos bigla na lang siya nag-take over ng pag-discuss. Napataas ang kilay ko dahil bigla na lang siyang pumasok nun sa kwarto tapos nandun na siya sa harap bigla. Wala naman akong mapagtanungan kung sino siya dahil mag-isa lang ako nung pumunta sa session na iyon.

Fast forward, halos isang taon matapos yung insidenteng iyon. Naka-trabaho ko siya dahil sa isang proyekto na kunektado dun sa training na in-attendan ko nun. Isa pala siya sa mga head nun kaya bigla na lang siyang pumagitnang magsalita nun.

Di ko naman siya talaga naging kabatian sa inilagi ko sa grupo. Madalas yung kasama ko ang kinakausap niya kapag nagkakasalubong kami. Nung unang sabak ko sa project na ito, medyo inis pa rin ako sa kanya lalo na nung kinailagan ko siyang kausapin. Masyadong pa-cute yung dating niya sa akin. Pero ngayong nakakasama ko siyang madalas sa mga pulong, ganun pala talaga ang ugali niya. Palabiro at kala mo hindi seryoso. Yun pala ang paraan niya para maging kapalagayan ka niya ng loob. Maganda ang pakikitungo niya sa lahat at puro okey ang naririnig ko tungkol sa kanya.

E ngayon, makaka-trabaho ko pa siya lalo ng malapitan. Medyo na-conscious ako kasi napag-alaman ko na lang na wala yung isa pa naming kasama. Siya at ako lang pala ang mag-uusap. Hala sige, mag-feeling ba ang lola!

P.S. Be, wag ka magagalit. (^_^)

Yahoo! News - Leno to Retire from 'Tonight Show' in 2009

This is a few years hence but I wonder how Conan will transition to the 11:30 slot. NBC must have alot of confidence in my favorite show host to guarantee this for him.

Yahoo! News - Leno to Retire from 'Tonight Show' in 2009

End Breast Cancer from Care2.com and TBCF

Just asking for a few seconds of your time... All it takes is a little click on the button. Thanks.

End Breast Cancer from Care2.com and TBCF%21

Yahoo! Sport - Button makes Williams return.

I must say that this came as a shock. Although if you think about it, it made sense that Jenson will go to the team that first trusted him with an F1 drive. Everybody was wary then of a 20-year-old untested driver. Look at him now.

Yahoo! Sport - Button makes Williams return.

RealAge Tip of the Day

I really like this site a lot. It's something that I look forward to everyday since the tips are mostly practical and easy to do.

RealAge Tip of the Day

Howstuffworks "How Krispy Kremes Work"

I wish my mom remembers to bring some home.

Jay Leno has been going to town about the news that the folks from Krispy Kreme are coming out with a drinkable version of the original glazed donut. It sounds disgusting but I don't think they mean to puree the donuts as a drink. Could be a milkshake which tastes like the donut.

Howstuffworks "How Krispy Kremes Work"

Eckberg: 'Early Riser' shift next trend?

I don't know if this is going to start happening in the Philippines as well. I like this shift better than the routine 8-5 or 9-6 since I don't run into traffic and I feel like I can get a lot more things done. I just went to this 6-3 shift and it has been refreshing despite the fact that I need to sacrifice by going to sleep early.

The best things about a Monday 6 am shift:
1. No traffic on the road or on the elevators.
2. No one else is in the office yet so I can set up things the way I like them.
3. I can have a leisurely cup of hot cocoa (not much of a coffee-drinker) at my desk while I'm setting up.
4. The restrooms are clean. (^_^)

Eckberg: 'Early Riser' shift next trend?

Lycos News | George Eads to Come Back to 'CSI'

Whoopee-do!

Lycos News | George Eads to Come Back to 'CSI'

US asks: Can RP be trusted again to keep its word? - Jul. 24, 2004

I don't agree with the early pull out of the Philippine contingent from Iraq. It sent the wrong message to the international community by letting insurgents (if you can call them just that) dictate government policy. However, this is just inane and petty.  Big, leader of the free world is acting like a a big baby.

"You said you were my friend. You left me hanging there. I don't like you anymore. Pffft! "

US asks: Can RP be trusted again to keep its word? - Jul. 24, 2004

The New York Times > International > Middle East > Hostage Is Freed After Philippine Troops Are Withdrawn From Iraq

Now that Angelo's safe, what about the other OFWs?
The New York Times > International > Middle East > Hostage Is Freed After Philippine Troops Are Withdrawn From Iraq

MSNBC - Separating food facts from falsehoods

I love food. This is apparent by how I eat and how I look. I don't belive in eliminating anything in a person's diet. This article is one of the more sensible ones I have read in quite some time.

One thing of note, people have not been following proper portion control. Instead of eliminating something all together, why not take it in proper amounts?

MSNBC - Separating food facts from falsehoods

Yahoo! News - CBS Stands Tough on "CSI"

This is such a bummer. What happens to Gil now that Sara is gone? Oh the agony!
Yahoo! News - CBS Stands Tough on "CSI"

The New York Times > Opinion > A Filipino Retreat

I have the same sentiments but I probably be gentler considering that we have more OFWs in hazardous areas.
The New York Times > Opinion > A Filipino Retreat

Slavery: Justification for Blacks Beating their Children to Death?

I am too shocked to even comment on this.

Slavery: Justification for Blacks Beating their Children to Death?

E! Online News - "CSI" Axes Two Stars

E! Online News - "CSI" Axes Two Stars

What?!? No more Nick and Sara? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Microsoft on open source

Microsoft's Ballmer hits out at "cloned" open source

This is strange coming from them.

Angelo dela Cruz

GMA still in a blue funk over ‘false’ news of Angelo’s release

While I feel utmost sympathy towards the family of Angelo dela Cruz, I share the sentiment Max Soliven has written in this column. I have no prblem regarding the news blackout since it's a matter of National Security. It is not easy to decide to pull out our troops be it a measly contingent of 51. This shows a vulnerability that if they want to force the Philippine government to do something, all they have to do is hold a citizen hostage and threaten to kill him or her. I appreciate all the efforts the government is doing but I would appreciate it more if they can address the need for jobs in our country.

e kasi naman e...

Eto ang mahirap kapag nagta-trabaho ka sa isang opisinang puro bata pero malaki ang sweldo. Kapag may lumabas na bagong gadget o di kaya magbagsak presyo ang isang kumpanya, nagiging usap-usapan ang pagbili.

Pagdating kanina ng katabi ko sa upuan, sabi niya na may promo ang Smart na ang mga makabagong cellphone ay ibinibigay sa mga plan ng libre. Kasama dun sa mga pagpipilian ang paborito kong P900 at Treo 600. Nandun din sa listahan ang hinihintay kong Voyager SPV pati na rin ang O2 XDA. Naisipan nung kaopisina kong sabihin sa akin yun dahil malamang daw na interesado ako. Di man niya sinabi ng tahasan, pakiramdam ko lang ay minata ang aking Nokia 6150. Aba, ano naman ngayon kung ang telepono kong ginagamit ay sinauna pa (circa 1999)?

Ang dahilan ko sa aking 6150 ay dahil mayroon akong PDA na may kamera na rin naman. Aanhin ko ang makabagong features ng telepono e samantalang mayroon naman dun sa PDA ko? Oo nga at maganda ang magkasamang PDA at cellphone, tulad nga ng nabanggit ko, pinapangarap ko ang mga Smartphone at PDA/phone. Pero bakit naman ako bibili kung gumagana pa ang mga gamit ko ngayon at tama naman siya sa kinakailangan ko? Dahil ba sa hindi na uso ang teleponong gamit ko ngayon?

Ngayon lang, yung ibang kaopisina ko ay nag-uusap na pupunta sila sa Smart Wireless Center pagkatapos mananghalian. Hanggang ika-labing anim ng Hulyo na lang ang itatagal ng promo na ito kaya dapat magdesisyon na sila kung gusto nilang kumuha ng linya. Karamihan sa kanila ay kukuha ng linyang may halagang 1200 pesos kada buwan para lang makuha ang telepono. Matatali sila sa kontratang ito sa loob ng 36 na buwan! ayos lang sa kanila ang ganitong bayaran samatalang meron na rin silang ganung plano na Globe! Para lang sa teleponong kasama nung plano, magdadagdag sila ng isa pang bayarin na di naman nila siguradong magagamit! Mukhang malaki nga ang diperensya ng mga sweldo namin kung gugustuhin nilang madagdagan ang mga bayarin nila ng ganun.

Hindi ko namang sinsabi na magaling ako pagdating sa pera. Sa katunayan, malaking bahagi sa sweldo ko ay diretso pambayad ng credit card. Kadalasang pera ko sa bangko ay sapat lang sa pang-araw-araw kong gastos. Pero nararamdaman ko ang halaga ng bawat gastusin.

Ang bisyo ko lang naman ay pagkain at libro. Mahilig ako sa makabagong gamit pero kadalasang pinananatili kong panaginip o pangarap ang mga yun. Hindi yun dahil sa wala akong pera kundi ayokong magipit ng isang bagay na di ko naman kailangan.

Sabi ko sa kaopisina ko kanina, pag-iisipan ko kung kukuha ako nung telepono. Napag-isipan ko na di ako mamamatay kung di ko siya mabili ngayon.

Hiroette.com ||| Japanese Facemarks(Smileys) |||

I find these much more expressive that their American counterparts.
Hiroette.com ||| Japanese Facemarks(Smileys) |||

Open for Discussion

I finished reading Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code last night. I have always been drawn to these types of stories because it explored the mysteries in history. I won't go into details as it will be a spoiler for those who are planning to read the book.

I felt that the ending was a little bit flat. I agree with the reviews that it is an engaging story from beginning to end. However, there are instances in the narrative where I could only go "huh?" The revelation of the antagonist for one did not sit well with me. That person's motivation seems so superficial compared to the deliberate motivations of the other characters.

The controversial topic(s) discussed in the book are not that farfetched but probably too exaggerrated in the exposition. This is possibly to make a more sinister antagonist and to help the story along. I enjoyed the puzzles and I tried to work on them as well with the limited background of the whole history. Actually, I was able to figure out the last setting while Langdon was still thinking about it. :P

Lest you dash your foot against a stone

All of a sudden I felt like I was useless. I can still see the value of the job that I am doing but the off hand manner people deal with me make me feel so unappreciated.

I am not expecting any long term glory for the things that I do, it's part of my job. When I got into training, I learned that while it is a noble undertaking, the glory is not commensurate. In my previous company, the training team is known to be the go to guy, very reliable and does everything with utmost flair.

Now I'm finding myself in an organization that while they value training, they don't really value it the way it should be taken. People on the inside are telling me "to spread my wings and fly." How can I do that if there is actually no space to spread my wings? The only way that I can spread my wings and fly is if I get out of this stifling atmosphere. I know of a lot of places where I have a vast area in which I could fly and soar to the highest echelons.

Why am I still here then? My pride is holding me back. I don't want to be labelled as a job hopper. I don't want to leave all my programs hanging. I want to leave with my name intact with a string of successes tucked under my belt.

All the while that I am waiting for the realization of these ambitions, the work keeps piling on and the downdraft keeps pulling me down.

Bill Gates to sponsor F1 Toyota team? - silicon.com

Bill Gates to sponsor F1 Toyota team? - silicon.com

The blurb made me laugh out loud.

deep sh*t

FPJ is leading the canvass as of today. He's going around rallying people to fight any attempts of the administration to cling to Malacanang.

Get ready for war.

Reorg

I heard some whispers from my officemates regarding a change in management asignments. One of the items they were talking about was about having a new division completely focused on training. When my boss and I talked later today, she told me that there were changes that I needed to know but that the timing was not right. When I told her that I already heard the whispers she spilled the whole story.

I will have a new direct report manager since it is but logical that I go with the other division. They have not told others yet since the director has not yet made the big announcement. There are several more major changes and what I know only refers to the one that directly affects me.

I'm okay with my new manager since I have been working with him on a particular project and I know how to deal with him. He is pretty generous and we are more like minded compared to my current boss. It's just that I have a certain attachment with my current boss since she was my first boss. She offered me this job and took me in with utmost confidence in my abilities. After she broke the news to me this afternoon, she told me that she will still be there for me as a coach should I need her.

Here's hoping that things will be all right when the reorganization gets finalized. Maybe my apprehensions about having to sell my expertise will dissipate as this mandate is now much clearer.

Friendster-less

The IT people are now on to us. Yesterday, one of my officemates approached me and asked me to check out Friendster . I tried it out from my PC and the browser brought me to our enterprise homepage! They probably realized that a lot of people are eating up the bandwidth by frequently checking the site and uploading pictures. Not to mention, some things get set aside just so someone can go check on Friendster. On the upside though, we can still access MySpace according to my officemate. ^_^ The loss of friendster in the office is not really a big thing for me. The novelty of the social networking thing has been lost to me. I still check it and do my mass mailing there but I can live without it.

Tired

It's the beginning of my week but I feel so tired. I have been working since Saturday because of the training sessions that have been happening concurrently. Yesterday, I had to make up to my cousin and brother so we went out and loitered in a mall for a good part of the day.

Now, my lower back is aching. My neck too. Hope this is not the signal of a bad week ahead.

Taking on the World

I went through the process of preparing my development plan for work. I pretty much committed myself to influencing the customer satisfaction rating of the teams. *sigh* Yeah right, as if one person can influence what our customers around the world think.

Things are being hurled at me one after the other. It has floored me several times this past week but I think things have picked up from how I was feeling last week. I managed to get one project that has been pending since March off the ground today.

Didn't matter if I had to go in to work today, at least the training session was pretty well received. I didn't conduct it but I fought hard to have this particular vendor conduct it for us since they are way much better than the one that we used to have. The training manager and I split up the logistics between the two of us. I got aprops from the consultants so I take it that I haven't botched up the job.

Next week, I have to go oversee sessions on Saturday AND Sunday. Actually, Saturday might also mean that I will be delivering a training session for another team. And it's possible that I would not get paid for those days. It's not a loss for me altogether since I will learn and pick up stuff that I can use some time in the future in the sessions that I will be handling.

I have a clearer mandate now but it means more work for me. I've always said that it's not the money that drives me but the learning and the fun. It still is true today and I hope it will carry me through.

rant
Results of my performance review...

What do you do when you learn that you have been working under the wrong assumption for the past seven months? Me, I'm not so sure that it has sank in yet.

I took this job primarily as a change of pace. I have been inside a classroom teaching and training for a year and a half previous to this post. It's not that I don't like teaching - I LOVE it! However, when it became too tedious and routine, I found myslef trying to break away from it. This is the reason why I decided to take on the quality assurance position in this company.

All along, my boss had different plans for me - plans that she did not communicate clearly. I thought that handling the soft skills training for the department is just an interim job while we are setting up the QA team. It was fine with me and I enjoyed pitching in to train whenever needed. Knowing that my position is under QA, my mindset is really on developing these ideas that are primarily QA functions.

I just had my performance review this morning without any real worries. I knew that I was working well enough with the people and that the job was of no major burden to me or anything. My review turned out to be consistently meets which was fine. When I asked her to clear up my focus and responsibilities, she dropped the bomb that I was hired primarily to be THE soft skills trainer. She recounted how she had to defend the creation of the position, etc. I am uncomfortable about this on several points.

First of all, I did not prepare my mindset to stay with soft skills. I am not too comfortable with soft skills training. My forte is more on the technical side of things. However, in this company, technical training is really technical requiring certification from Microsoft and other companies.

Second, soft skills is not a priority in this organization. I would need to sell my expertise and the idea of having a full time position of such skill in the organization. My boss had to go to the top just to defenc the need for this position. Now, I have to maintain that and reinforce my tenure by showing improvement in the numbers.

Third, with the prevailing attitude toward soft skills, I would need to be thick-skinned to face the barbs that are liable to be thrown my way. I do not like having to play office politics. However, if I want to keep my job with my reputation intact, I would have to be actively looking for alliances with those in the management team so that I can sell my expertise to all levels of the organization. There is enough politics on the higher levels of the organization and I do not want to get involved in it.

Fourth, No one here is going to watch my back with the risks that I would like to take in the position of the soft skills trainer. I have no resources to speak of and most of my resources can only be gotten through the people around me. That means that it is another round of politics. My boss backs me up all the way but she can only do as much.

I need to settle the thought first. I have a clear mandate from the boss to make sure that the program I am handling is smooth sailing and worth the time and money that they spent on it. This with virtually no resources to speak of!!! I even had to shell out MY OWN money (which I need for a hospital procedure) just so I can get it started. Given the chance, I would have been screaming my head off at this very moment! Gaaak!

Know Your Presidentiables

Again another email received...

PRESIDENT ARROYO
Banking on "experience and integrity"

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president in January 2001
following the successful People Power 2 Revolution that deposed her
predecessor, Joseph Estrada. Arroyo will run for president under the
Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan or K-4.

She was elected vice president in 1998 with the largest electoral
margin in Philippine history, with a vote of more than seven million.

As vice president, she was given the portfolio of Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development, a post which she held until October 2000.

She was first elected as senator in 1992 and reelected in 1995. She
also topped the elections with a record number of votes (16 million).
Her legislative efforts as senator were focused on building the
economy.

During her two terms, she filed 472 bills and resolution, 54 of which
were enacted into law. Among these laws are Tax Exemption for the
13th Month Pay, Export Development Act, Loans for Women Micro
Enterprises, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Bank Entry Liberalization
Law, Thrift Banks Act, Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, Crop Insurance
Law, Indigenous People's Rights Law, Poverty Alleviation Law, New
Rent Control Law and the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers,
Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in Government.

During the Aquino administration, Arroyo was Assistant Trade
Secretary. She was also appointed Executive Director of the Garment
and Textile Board. She was later named Trade Undersecretary and
Governor of the Board of Investments.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Economics degree, magna cum
laude, from the Assumption College (1968). She was a consistent
Dean's Lister during her studies in International Trade at the
Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She later earned a Masters
degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a
Doctorate in Economics from the University of the Philippines (1985).

Macapagal-Arroyo is a recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation
Scholarship (1978-1983), the Japan Foundation Grant (1976-1977) and
the UPSE Fellowship (1970-1971).

She was also chairman and president of the UP Health Maintenance
Organization (1989-1998); executive director of the Philippine Center
for Economic Development (1994-1998); and chairman of the UP Economic
Foundation (1994-1998).

From 1994-1998, she was member of the Presidential Task Force on Tax
and Tariff Reforms. She was also a member of the Technical Working
Group of the Philippine National Development Plan for the 21st
Century (Committee on National Framework for Regional Development and
Macroeconomics Framework for Development Financing.)

In the academe, Macapagal-Arroyo was chair of the Assumption College
Economics Department (1984-1987), assistant professor at the Ateneo
de Manila University and professor at the UP School of Economics
(1977-1987). She was also a professor at the Maryknoll College and
St. Scholastica's College.

She received the following citations: "Most Outstanding Senator" from
the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, "One of Asia's Most
Powerful Women" of the Asiaweek Magazine and "Woman of the Year" of
the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines.

She is the daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr.
Evangeline Macaraeg. She is married to Jose Miguel T. Arroyo. They
have three children, Juan Miguel, Evangelina Lourdes and Diosdado
Ignacio.



FERNANDO POE JR.
From reel to real

FERNANDO Poe Jr., the presidential candidate of the "Angara-faction">
of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, was born Ronald
Allan Kelly Poe in Manila on Aug.20, 1939 to Elizabeth Kelley and
actor producer Fernando Poe Sr. His brother Andy is also an actor. He
is married to actress Susan Roces (Jesusa Sonora). They have a
daughter, Mary Grace. He quit high school to work as a messenger in a
film exchange office.

Poe began his career in the movies as a stuntman for Everlasting
Pictures. He was actor Lilia Dizon's double in Sonaron (Unfamed) in
1955. In his first acting role in Anak ni Palaris (Son of Palaris) in
1950, Poe shared top billing with Rosita Noble and Mario Escudero.
Director Mario Barri gave him his screen name, after his father who
had earlier played the title role in Palaris in 1946. But Poe's
biggest break was in Lo Waist Gang in 1956. It marked the local
cinema's shift from the fantasy world of costume productions to the
trendy realism of action movies. His first solo movie was Tough Guy
(1956). He was then signed up by Premiere Productions as a contract
actor. Poe proved his boxe office appeal in Kamay ni Cain (Hand of
Cain, 1957) where he received a Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and
Science (Famas) nomination. When Hollywood Far East Productions
opened, Poe was offered to do Markado (Branded), 1959, and upon his
demand, he was paid a much higher talent fee than he used to get. He
invested his savings in his own company, the FPJ Productions and
D'tanor productions.

Other movies where Poe played lead roles were Apollo Robles, 1961;
Sandata at Pangako (Weapon and Promises), 1961; Ako ang Katarungan (I
am Justice) 1962; Santo-Domingo (Saint Domingo), 1972; Ang Alamat
(The Legend), 1972; Perlas ng Silangan (Pearl of the Orient) 1973;
Sanctuario (Sanctuary), 1974; Patayin si Mediavitto (Kill
Mediavitto), 1978; and Lihim ng Guadalupe (Secret of Guadalupe) 1979.

Under the name Ronwaldo Reyes, Poe has directed many of the FPJ films
that he himself has acted in like Alupihang Dagat (Sea Centipede),
1975 ; Kin,g 1978; Tatak ng Tondo (Mark of Tondo), 1978; Ang Padrino
(The Godfather). 1984; and Panday (Blacksmith) I, II, III and IV.
Awarded by the Famas were Panday II (1984) for best special visual
effects; Poe received nominations for best director from the Film
Academy of the Philippines for Panday III and Padreno. In most of
those movies, he played a hero who is peace loving; until he is
pushed against the wall by all sorts of kontrabida, and magnificently
rises in defense of the poor and the oppressed.


RAUL ROCO
Counting on the youth

Raul S. Roco was born Oct. 26, 1941 in Naga City, Camarines Sur to
farmer Sulpicio Azuela Roco and public schoolteacher Rosario Orlanda
Sagarbarria. He will run for president under Aksyon Demokratiko.

He finished elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Naga. He
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, magna cum laude, at San
Beda College in Manila. Roco received his Bachelor of Laws as Abbott
Awardee for Over-All Excellence at San Beda College. e took his
Master of Comparative Law as a University Fellow at the University of
Pennsylvania, USA.

Roco formed the Aksyon Demokratiko political party for his
presidential bid. He is married to Sonia Cubillo Malasarte, who was
named most outstanding student of the Philippines in 1964. They have
six children - Rabble Pierre, Raul Jr., Sophia, Sareena, Rex and
Synara-and four grandchildren.

Roco was the president of the National Union of Students of the
Philippines in 1961 and was one of the Ten Outstanding Students of
the Philippines in 1964. He was a delegate to the Constitutional
Convention of 1971 and was president of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines from 1983 to 1985. As a member of the legal staff of the
late Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, he drafted the Study Now, Pay Later>
Law.

Taking time off from his legal work, he was executive producer of the
late great film director Lino Brocka's movie Tinimbang Ka Ngunit
Kulang, which won six Famas Awards including best film in 1974.

The Ford Foundation and the University of the Philippines Institute
of Strategic and Development Studies adjudged him first in overall
performance among legislators of the Eighth Congress from 1987 to
1992. He was also consistently cited top senator during his term in
the Senate from 1992 to 2000.

As a senator, Roco authored the law that reformed the central banking
system. The achievement earned him the title "Father of the Bangko
Sentral." Roco helped fund the teachers' cooperatives as well as
initiated the increment mandated by the Magna Carta for Public School
Teachers for retiring public school teachers. As a senator, Roco also
authored the Women in Nation Building Law, the Nursing Act, the Anti-
Sexual Harassment Law, the Anti-Rape Law and the Child and Family
Courts Act. He led efforts that resulted in the abolition of double
taxation for overseas workers.

Roco's vision for education is "Bawat graduate bayani at marangal"
or "Each graduate is a hero and a person of dignity." As Secretary of
Education, Roco implemented, for the first time in Philippine
educational history, free public primary and high school education.
He also implemented an education curriculum reform, which focused on
reading, writing, arithmetic, science and Makabayan subjects.

When Roco took over as education secretary in January 2001, the Asia
Foundation-Social Weather Stations Survey of Enterprises on Public
Sector Corruption ranked his department the fourth most corrupt
government agency. Roco quickly imposed a department-wide
transparency policy, including the purchase of textbooks, one of the
biggest sources of corruption in the DepEd. As a result, in only
eight months, the same survey group ranked the Department of
Education the most trusted agency of the government. It was given a
73 percent approval rating by the public.


SEN. PANFILO LACSON
Law and order count

SEN. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson hopes to put his crime-fighting crusade
to greater heights by aspiring for the presidency. Born on June 1,
1948 in Imus, Cavite, Lacson joined the Philippine Military Academy
in 1967 and graduated in 1971. His decision to run for president was
contested by the "Angara faction" of the opposition Laban ng
Demokratikong Pilipino, which chose actor Fernando Poe Jr. as its
official candidate.

Lacson had his primary education at the Bayang Loma Elementary
School. He finished high school at the Imus Institute. He earned a
Masters degree in Government Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod
ng Maynila.

Before he became a senator, Lacson was the country's police chief
under the administration of deposed president Joseph Estrada. He was
also the chief of the defunct Presidential Anti-organized Crime Task
Force June until January 2001. Lacson was a member of the Metrocom
Intelligence and Security Group from 1971 to 1986. As the country's
top police officer, Lacson said he was responsible for renewing the
high level of trust and confidence for the man in uniform.

He listed the following as some of his achievements as police chief:

·Ordered the "15-85" distribution of PNP resources, meaning 15
percent left for headquarters and 85 percent down the line to the men
in the field;

·Imposed the "No Take" policy among police officers and waged a
determined war against "kotong" or mulcting policemen.

·Initiated closer coordination with other law enforcement agencies,
in the Philippines and abroad, in the fight against criminality
thereby winning the confidence of businessmen and foreign investors;

·Innovated the two-pronged approach in the fight against narcotics>
trafficking through supply constriction and demand reduction;

·Ordered the return of recovered stolen vehicles to their rightful
owners;

·Reduced the incidence of petty crimes through the establishment of
more police centers and the deployment of patrols from the Philippine
Marines.

Lacson lives in BF Homes, Parañaque City with wife Alice de Perio
Lacson and children, Ronald Jay P. Lacson, Panlilio P. Lacson Jr. and
Jeric F. Lacson.


Bro. EDDIE VILLANUEVA
Moral rebirth the country's hope

Brother Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva, founder of Jesus is Lord
Movement, was born in Bocaue, Bulacan, on Oct. 6, 1946. He intends to
run for president as an independent candidate.

In 1969, he graduated with a degree in Commerce, majoring in
Economics, from the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), which has
since been renamed as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
He took up law at the University of the Philippines but "was
sidelined by activism and never had time to take the bar
(examination)."

He worked as a full-time faculty member in the Economics and Finance
Department of PCC until 1972. He then worked as the export manager of
the Maran Export Industries in 1973 and from 1976 to 1977, he was the
general manager of the Agape Trading Co. He returned to PUP in 1978
as a part-time professor.

In 1978, he founded the Jesus is Lord fellowship, which started with
just eight members. Bro. Eddie claims that JIL now has some seven
million members.

Bro. Eddie received the Gintong Ama (Golden Father) award for Socio-
Civic/ Religious Sector from the Golden Mother and Father Foundation
in June 1996. He was also voted as the Pastor of the Year in a 1998
worldwide search conducted by Dr. George Otis' High Adventure
Ministries. Ministries broadcasts the Voice of Hope Program in 72
countries.

Villanueva has also been ordained Minister of the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ in 1979 by the California-based Victory in Christ Church
and International Ministries. He has also been conferred the Office
of Episcopacy by the Sectarian Body of Christ in the Philippines in
April 1996.

In February 2001, Bro.Eddie received the EDSA People Power Freedom
Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II
movement. He founded, owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates
Channel 11. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, Diyos at Bayan, PJM
(Philippine for Jesus Movement) Forum and Jesus The Healer.