Mount Hamiguitan as World Heritage Site

The Philippines got its sixth World Heritage Site with the inclusion of a Davao Oriental forest sanctuary and mountain range in the list of United Nations-protected areas Monday.

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife and Sanctuary was inscribed in the Word Heritage List along with five other sites in a meeting, the World Heritage Committee said.

The Committee, which operates under the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, identifies sites "of outstanding universal value" for inclusion in the list.

Sites should also meet at least one of the 10 selection criteria to be named a World Heritage Site. One criteria is being a significant natural habitat for endangered wildlife.

In a statement, the WHC said Hamiguitan "provides critical habitat for a range of plant and animal species,"  eight of which are found only in the mountain range.

Among the important species found in Hamiguitan are critically endangered trees, plants and the iconic Philippine Eagle and Philippine Cockatoo, WHC said.

The Mindanao sanctuary was among those chosen from 40 sites globally for inclusion in the World Heritage List. It had been nominated for the list in 2013, but was not inscribed.

Aside from Hamiguitan, other World Heritage Site in the Philippines are Tubbataha Reef; the Rice Terraces; the Palawan Underground River; Vigan; and local baroque churches.

Other sites inscribed in the World Heritage List Monday were:
-Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (Russian Federation)
-Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements  with Stone Spheres of the Diquis (Costa Rica)
-Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (Viet Nam)
-Great Himalayan National Park (India) 
-Stevns Klint (Denmark)

Extensions for the following World Heritage Sites have also been confirmed:
-South China Karst (China)
-Bialowieża Forest (Belarus/Poland)
-The Wadden Sea (Germany/Denmark)

The latest inscriptions in the World Heritage List bring the total number of sites to 1,007. The Philippines is among the 21 state parties in the World Heritage Committee.

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Go Manila Nice Apps

One of the City Government of Manila being proud is the latest is the application they launch the new apps called "Go Manila"

In just one click you can fully access to real time traffic live streaming in Manila Area, it can help you to locate the traffic and easily avoiding it. With this live application you can access hundreds of CCTV scattered all over the city.

Another featured of this GoManila is the emergency location of Police,Hospitals, Fire department and other concern for your safety and any emergency.

This project was done by the City Government under the leadership of Mayor Erap Estrada and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno improving the life of Manileno, and tourist of the city.

Taking advantage of the technology this project was a great and helpful to all, a virtual guide and a handy companion for commuters and travelers.

Kudos for this project!!!

To see more about GoManila click this link

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Manny Pacquiao: Fighter of the Decades

Congratulation to our very own Filipino figther for winning BWAA fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade. Another reason why Filipino need to proud of Filipino boxing icon.He is a true example of an 'Everyday' Filipino Warrior!
Let us all try to be like him...a hard worker, focused, honest, dedicated, honorable, and determined to be the BEST!

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, who stormed to a pair of decisive knockout victories to win world titles in a record-tying sixth weight class and a record-breaking seventh one, has been named the 2009 fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.



Pacquiao, who will be presented with his third Sugar Ray Robinson trophy in the past four years, heads the list of honorees who will be invited to receive their awards on June 11 in New York at the BWAA's 85th annual banquet.

Pacquiao, who was also named 2009 fighter of the year by ESPN.com and Ring magazine, won the award in balloting by the organization's membership over nominees Vitali Klitschko, Andre Ward, Paul Williams and Arthur Abraham.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), whose first world title came at flyweight, scored a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton on May 2 to win the world junior welterweight championship and stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round on Nov. 14 to win a welterweight world title.

In addition, Pacquiao was also voted fighter of the decade (2000-09), beating out a star-studded group of nominees that also included Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao, of the Philippines, went 24-1-2 during the decade and won six of his seven world titles while emerging as the pound-for-pound king and a box office sensation.

Freddie Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001 and been an integral part of his success, will receive the Futch award for trainer of the year for the fourth time. He also won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

"Manny and I are a great team and to win this award you need a great fighter," Roach told ESPN.com Sunday. "Hopefully, [junior welterweight titlist] Amir Khan will be my next guy. It's my favorite award because its named after my trainer [the late Eddie Futch]."

Futch trained Roach during his fighting career before taking him under his wing as an assistant trainer.

"I give Eddie all the credit for where I am today," Roach said. "He gave me great guidance during my apprenticeship with him."

Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and former titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for fight of the year. Their Feb. 28 all-action slugfest was an instant classic as Marquez went to Diaz's hometown of Houston and stopped him in the ninth round to retain the title.

Also to be honored by the BWAA:

• ESPN's Joe Tessitore, the longtime blow-by-blow voice of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," was selected as the Sam Taub award winner for excellence in broadcast journalism.

• Jerry Izenberg, one of America's foremost sports columnists for the Newark (N.J). Star-Ledger for almost 60 years, will receive the John F.X. Condon award for long and meritorious service to boxing.

• Alexis Arguello, the Hall of Famer who won world championships in three weight classes, will receive the Marvin Kohn good guy award posthumously. Arguello died in July at age 57.

• Showtime broadcaster Nick Charles, who is fighting a battle with bladder cancer, and former heavyweight contender George Chuvalo, will share the Bill Crawford award for courage in overcoming adversity. Two of Chuvalo's sons died from drug overdoses and a third son, as well as his first wife, committed suicide, and now he speaks to high school students about drug use.

The Nat Fleischer award for excellence in boxing journalism, the highest award the BWAA presents to one of its members, has not been announced yet. Balloting for the lifetime achievement award is ongoing. It is voted on only by past winners.

The membership voted against selecting a manager of the year


source: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4875455

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Simbang Gabi

SIMBANG GABI

Simbang Gabi, Dawn Mass, or Rooster Mass is one of the longest tradition among Filipino Traditions in the country. A nine-day consecutive morning mass starts as early as 4 a.m of December 16 and culminates with the "Misa de Gallo" on Christmas eve. Due to either a busy schedule or conflicting activities, the church arranges anticipated Simbang Gabi, usually at 8:00 p.m., for who wanted to complete the novena.

Simbang Gabi is a truly sacrifice and devotion of Filipino. It is a spiritual preparation for the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. When Simbang Gabi starts, expect the "Caroling" season as well. A group of children or adult goes house to house to sing Christmas songs.
ORIGIN
Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico when, in 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.
During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest.

SIMBANG GABI NOW AND THEN
The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi although it is celebrated in new ways. Still, the tradition of Simbang Gabi continues. Part of it are the colorful lights and lanterns that fill every streets. Beautiful parols are hung in every window. Songs of the season are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends and even individuals find its way going to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena. Shortly after the misa de gallo, families gather in their homes to celebrate Noche Buena and feasted on various delicacies like queso de bola, bibingka, puto bungbong, or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

SIGNIFICANCE
Simbang Gabi has become one of the most popular traditions in the country. But it is not just a tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so. It is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members but also because it is the time where our faith is intensified. This is the time where we mostly feel the presence of the Lord because it is the spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. It does not matter if one has the stamina to complete the novena or not, what really matters is what is inside the heart. The blessing does not depend on the number of mass attended, but what is important is the disposition of the person who receives the Lord’s blessing.

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