John and Benz are two close friends since our College days. They have gone to Ilocos several times and they have been my travel companions lately. Yours truly have always been welcomed in their home that saves me charges on internet and board. Huge Thx!
Above is an image I have taken of them in Intramuros this November which both of them like. A ’struggling’ photographer as I am, I was flattered, the couple being exposed to top photographers in the wedding industry.
Nope, the photo above is not my gift to the good couple. In their travel to Ilocos in December of 2004, John saw something in one of the shops in Crisologo Street in Vigan which he failed to bring to Manila, for whatever reasons he had. After that travel, I remember John was telling me to get it for him just in case I drop by Vigan again. It was only after two years, this December, that I had the opportunity to visit Vigan again and I made sure that I have it when I get back to Manila. John wanted two, unfortunately, there was only one available and I got it just the same. Read the rest of this entry »
On the latest development on her case, Nicole expressed in an interview on how she feels about Daniel Smith to remain in the custody of a local jail: “Tears of joy. Dalawang beses na dininig ng Diyos and prayers ko!” (Tears of Joy, the Lord heard my prayers twice already!)
Judge Benjamin Pozon of RTC Branch 139 of Makati City, acting on a Motion of Daniel Smith to be transferred to the custody of the US Embassy, DENIED the motion. In summary and substance, the grounds for denial are the following:
1. Art. 5 Par. 6 of VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) stating that any accused US Servicemen shall remain in US Custody ‘during trial’ is no longer applicable because Daniel Smith have been (finally) convicted and the trial is done already. In case of appeal, he does not need to appear personally anymore, thus, he need not be in US custody any longer;
2. On the previous ‘Agreement’ between the US Embassy and the Department of Justice transferring Daniel Smith to the custody of the former, Judge Pozon said that this is not the kind of agreement stated in the VFA. If at all, it’s the President or the Department of Foreign Affairs who should have signed it; AND
3. Even if the previous agreement have merits, taking Daniel Smith into the custody of the US Embassy is not also allowed because undert he VFA, Daniel Smith must still be in Philippine facility.
Last night, the first Philippine Idol was proclaimed in the person of Mau Marcelo, a 26-year old lass who hails from Lucena City. A veteran of amateur singing contests, having more than 200 thropies ( which she gives out to his gay friends as awards in gay-beauty pageants because according to her, their humble abode gets’ smaller’ everytime!) to her credit before she joined the Philippine Idol, her story is truly inspiring. Admitedly, she has nothing except her talent and determination to win. In her interviews, she openly declares that she joined the contest because she wanted the money to help her family. Filipino voters may have sympathized with her in her cause, and that made her win! However, she only won by a very narrow margin of 1.42% over her runner-up.
She has been referred to as the Soul Diva, the Queen Latifah of the Philippines, but her victory song is one by Whitney Houston, ‘On My Own.’ Below is an an image of Mau singing after she was proclaimed the winner!
In world reality TV, the winners of the Amazing Race 10 are Tyler and James, both from Los Angeles, California. Tyler, 29, and James, 27, are best-friends and Models who underwent rehabilitation for addiction problems before they got to the Amazing Race. They have the most number-one finishes on every Pit Stop while they race around the world for a million dollar! In the end, as they declared in a post-interview, they first won the game of life and now, they won the Amazing Race!
Here is an image when they reached the final Pit Stop, the St. Basil Academy in Garrison, NY, and proclaimed the winners after coming from Paris:
Rob and Kimberly provided a real challenge to Tayler and James. They were close to each other on their way to the final Pit Stop but the taxi of Tayler and James made the huge difference and it really spelled their victory! Read the rest of this entry »
My previous post on the verdict on the subject case was posted as “Awan Laeng” which is actually an off-topic of what my blog is supposed to be known – Ilocos and Travel. I never anticipated (more) comments (and quite lengthy at that!) for the convicted Daniel Smith. The same thing happened in the Youtube Video.
I never opened my blog after such post because I was presuming there were no comments to answer as what usually happens when I post on such category. After reading all the comments, however, I decided to bleep some words at my discretion. I believe that some were not necessary and they are so blunt and vulgar so I moderated the comments, in the meantime. To avoid further publication of words which in usual publication practice (even if I did not have formal education is mass media) may not even be allowed, I have to subject the comments for approval. Read the rest of this entry »
At exactly 12:00 o’clock noon today, the Regional Trial Court of Makati City acting through Judge Benjamin Pozon, handed down the verdict on the four U.S. Servicemen of USS Essex for alledgedly raping ‘Nicole’ in Subic last November of 2005. After a little more than one year of trial and countless controversies and issues regarding the case, the RTC of Makati acquitted three (3) of the accused and found LCP Daniel Smith, the prime suspect, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime charged and meted a penalty of reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) and ordered to pay the victim Php 100,000.00 in Moral and Compensatory Damages.
This case has the making of becoming a landmark case of U.S. Servicemen accused of Rape and tried in a local court. Justice may have been (half) served for Nicole and not served at all for Smith. It is still a long battle between the two parties and it will be the Supreme Court that will ultimately decide on the matter. It is a fight almost done for Nicole and a new one for Smith.
For Nicole, my utmost admiration for your courage and unwavering faith in the justice system and Philippine law. In the end, may justice be truly served!
The Precious Moments Chapel by the Sea at Sampaguita Gardens is one of the latest additions to the amenities of the Resort. It is the second Precious Moments Chapel in the world after that in Carthage, Missouri built in 1989 by Mr. Sam Butcher, the same genius behind the Precious Moments Chapel (by the Sea) at Sampaguita Gardens.
I am sharing with you here a video of the Chapel:
The Chapel is fully air-conditioned and what amazes me is that Mr. Butcher handpainted all the murals inside (‘ala’ Leonardo da Vinci!) and outside the Chapel, inspired by bible verses and passages and consistent with the theme of Precious Moments.
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Posted by biagkensiak 
Posted by biagkensiak 
Posted by biagkensiak 
