Just felt the 5.9 Magnitude Earthquake here in Luzon July 26,2011 1:15 a.m.

At around, 1 a.m. I felt the ground shaking.  I though I was just dizzy from studying too long.   But then our Maynah bird was shouting and flattering its wings and our chimes made their tingling sound.  The earthquake lasted for about 5 seconds.  

I checked the internet and found out it was only a 5.9 magnitude.  It was only around 3 magnitude here in Manila.  Thank you Lord.  Everyone is sleeping here and no one could have prepared for a higher magnitude during early hours.  Hope everyone is safe and sound.   How about you?  Did you feel it too?

My expectations from President Noynoy's SONA before and now.

Last year, president Noynoy made the following promises:

• Stop corruption beginning with the establishment of the Truth Commission


• Public-Private Partnerships to promote and improve education, infrastructure, health, military and police needs and more to improve the economy and tourism.


• Build-Operate-Transfer to fasten the process of registration with the DTI to create more jobs.


• Build more classrooms


• Cover more masses who are in need of Philhealth 


• Anti-Trust Law to stop monopolies and promote the growth of Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises


• Pass the Whistleblower’s Bill and strengthen the Witness Protection Program to the culture of being threatened


• Negotiate with the MILF

This year he his SONA mentions:

• his dedication in stopping "wang-wang" which is a sign of abuse of power


• improvement in our stock market as a sign of good business and economy


• that taxes are guaranteed to benefit the public


• improvement in the agriculture sector having produced 15.6% more rice locally


• lot allocation to policemen


• our "Hamilton Class Cutter" vessel and the possibilities of acquiring more helicopters, patrol crafts and weaponry in the future


• large drop in motorcycle and car thefts


• Drop from 8% (April 2010) to 7.2% (April 2011) in unemployment rate with 1,004,000 jobs created last year


• More Phil-health-deserving beneficiaries


• Stopping corruption in ARMM


• Studying the possibilities of Tree planting stewardship to solve the problems with flooding


• DOST and UP have even teamed up to develop a prototype monorail system


• aim:


• to give due compensation to the victims of Martial Law


• to grant our house help the salaries and benefits that they deserve


• to improve the system that awards pensions to our retired soldiers. 


• to support the expansion of the scope of scholarships granted by DOST to outstanding yet underprivileged students


• the advancement of universal quality healthcare


• responsible management of the environment


• formation of facilities that will ensure the safety of our citizens during times of great need and calamity


• development of BuCor, NBI, NEA, and PTV 4

I was expecting that he would update us on the improvement in classrooms.  I believe that education is essential to the progress of our country.  Has any one been watching the news?  You'd notice that quite often, poor students are being featured.  Sometimes the news would show students having their classes in worn down tents which leaked during rainy days.  They would show teachers who have to travel and hike before reaching schools.  They would show overcrowded classrooms where kids were forced to stand the heat and be cramp like a can of sardines.  Moreover,  I'd like to see more infrastructures built that would benefit the public instead of purchasing a new vessel.  He still has a lot of time during his term so I'm still hoping that there will be more tangible proofs in the future.  How about you?  Did you get what you expected?

Based on the ratings everything has improved.  But how do they perform these surveys?  Do we know?  Like when they consider a person poor on the basis of earning 45 pesos a day.  Is that really enough to cover a persons daily expenses?  I've learned in our statistics class that ratings could easily be modified to mislead people.  Is that the case here?  You tell me.

NBA FIT Philippines 2nd Edition July 25 to August 7, 2011

Good news to all basketball fans out there!  In case you missed out NBA Fit last year like we did, its back again for another year.  

I guess we're all familiar with NBA, but what is NBA FIT? 

NBA FIT is the league's global comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through programs and events.  

This years NBA FIT Philippines will be two-week program fully endorsed by the Philippines Department of Health (DOH).  Their aim is to educate individuals and families on the physical, mental and emotional benefits of healthy living, as well as motivating and inspiring kids and adults to live healthier lives through a variety of events and activities.

It will include:

• NBA FIT Clinics - FREE sessions for students and the general public to be held at various schools and malls
• NBA FIT Development Camp - Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and Assistant Coach Dave Fizdale will lead a special NBA-style basketball camp for elite athletes of the Energen Philippine Under-16 National Team 
• Celebrity NBA FIT Challenge - 16 celebrities will take the challenge
• NBA FIT Fun Run presented by Air21 - co-organized by the NBA and RunRio to be held at August 7, 2011 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City

Event Schedule:          July 25 – 29     School Tours (6-10 schools)

July 30-31       Mall Event, SM Megamall

August 1          Press Con and Media Day with Coach Erik Spoelstra 

August 1-3       School Visits

August 4          NBA Cares with Department of Health

August 5          NBA Development Camp presented by Gatorade and Celebrity NBA FIT Challenge both at the Araneta Coliseum

August 6          NBA FIT @ SM Mall of Asia

August 7          NBA FIT Fun Run presented by Air21 at Fort Bonifacio Global City

I'm so glad that NBA organized this event for everyone.  It's good to spread Fitness awareness to all.  Of course, also a big thanks to the sponsors: Air21, Energen, Gatorade, Alaska Yogurt Drink, Head & Shoulders, Sanofi-Aventis and Philippine Airlines.

For more information about NBA FIT Philippines 2011, please log on to www.nba.com/philippines or 

follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/NBA_Philippines.  See you guys there!