Written By Patricio Mangubat on Monday, January 31, 2011 | 5:00 PM
Piolo Pascual, the actor once accused of being a gay by a celebrity manager, admitted over national television that he already got KC Concepcion as girlfriend.
Pascual made the admission last Sunday. He said he is making the announcement so that others who are still hoping to get KC, would, instead, stop from making overtures to her.
Pascual said their relationship has been, what, two to three months old?
I don't know why several people whom I asked, did not quite believe what Pascual said. Maybe they are still affected by the "gay tag"? That they can't seem to erase that tag with Piolo Pascual?
Besides, when Pascual made the announcement, he was like, acting? IT was not as natural as what a madly in love guy would appear like.
I am not saying that Piolo is lying and that this whole thing is just a publicity stunt to promote their latest pairing. All I'm writing is several people remain incredulous, as in, how in hell did he...
Who is using who? I think nobody. If Piolo really is dead serious on KC, then, so be it. The thing is, why is the girl totally silent about it? She even cried when Piolo announced it on the tele. Maybe, just maybe, it was a signal from "somebody" for her to stop entertaining suitors and just settle for someone "safe". We really don't know.
Written By Patricio Mangubat on Saturday, January 1, 2011 | 9:16 PM
Several years ago, I wrote a book entitled, " The Holy Way Towards the City of the Lord." It was culled from several months of study about the Scriptures and what those immortal words really meant when they say that a person is already "saved."
This is what I found out.
When the universe was created, it was created by a God. This God is described as the holiest of the holies, the Most God Who lived above Everything. God is the holiest of all the Spirits, and in the beginning, there is no other except God.
God created Wisdom upon Whom everything came about. Since God, being Spirit cannot live among the flesh or material, God created Wisdom, an alter-Ego. Wisdom is described as the mirror-image of God, but, not God Himself.
This mirror-image of God created every single one in the heavens. Fact is, God thru Wisdom created the heavens. Wisdom created the Kingdom of God which resides among the firmaments of the heavens. It sits on top of Mount Zion, in the Northernmost point of the Kingdom.
There, a Throne sits in the middle of a dome-shaped structure. From Where the True God lives, life-giving energies flow from above down to the Throne. These energies then flow down to a Spring and onwards to a river that snakes through down the mountain to the plains below.
The plains house mansions of majestic beauty where residents of Heaven live. The heavenly creatures which serve God live in these mansions, and houses.
When iniquity was created through the haughtiness of Lucifer, one of God's perfect creatures, God thru Wisdom has to create another dimension. This dimension, the material universe, was intended to be the place where Goodness and Evil will be seen.
Wisdom then created a point in heaven, where all energies were sucked and their burst outward creating the known universe. From this, God banished Lucifer, until the proper time comes for his eventual destruction.
Inside the known universe, God thru Wisdom created earth, the place where God intended His holy servants would live. God thru Wisdom created Eden, a garden where the first Humans resided.
Adam and Eve were thus created. They mirrored image Holiness, but not the physical features of God. God do not have anthropological features.
Lucifer, who posed himself as Satan, lured these first creatures to sin. God banished Adam and Eve from Eden, to live in the outer fringes of earth.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they were removed from the mercies of God. They have to work and toil the soil to eat, an analogy that they are now outside the protection of God. When they were with God, they don't have anything to worry. They don't eat. They don't need food because their sustenance came from loving God. God is enough for man to exist...forever.
That is why when God finally puts an end to sin in the last day, God will transform the bodies of His Servants, from their fleshly bodies to heavenly bodies. Why? This signals a transformation of their beings, from material to spiritual. For one to live forever, a being must become spiritual.
For a being to become spiritual, it must not be impure. One cannot live in the presence of a Holy God if one is impure.
Purity therefore, is the secret towards attaining salvation. How then can one attain spiritual purity or holiness.
Seek first the kingdom of God and all things shall be added unto you, says Jesus Christ, one of the messengers of God who Himself, struggled for purity. Jesus Christ is the living testament of the possibility of a human attaining spiritual purity and therefore, enjoying the distinction of being the first High Priest of God among His created human beings.
The life of Jesus and of course, other messengers who preached about the Oneness of God, are thus given as case studies or examples of how one is to live in order to attain spiritual purity.
Who is pure in the sight of God but those who live according to His laws. When one lives according to the Laws of God, that man lives towards purity or holiness.
Worship the Lord Your God with all your heart, with your might and with all your soul. When you worship God, you worship the things which God loves, one of them, seeking His Face, meaning His Truth and doing things to your fellow men.
Working diligently and honestly is worshipping God. Giving thanks to him every single day is worshipping God. Loving your fellow men and helping those in need is worshipping God. Taking care of the lands entrusted to you is worshipping God.
Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not commit blasphemy. Honor your Father and Your Mother. Honor the Sabbath.
Do not eat blood. Do not eat unholy sacrifices. Do not swear before heaven. Do not lie. Do not cheat. Do not get involved in usury.
When you commit no sin against God and your fellow men, and follow the precepts that God thru Wisdom have given men as a roadmap towards God's kingdom, it is as if a man is preparing himself as a priest of God. Those who want to be saved should become priests.
Jesus Christ or Yeshu, was a Nazarite, someone who was prepared to become a priest. Only a priest is allowed entry into the Holiest of Holies. Only a priest can bear the sign of the Face of the MOst Holy God.
Therefore, to be saved, one must become a priest, someone who follows the Laws of God to the letter and someone who abstains from material pursuits and follows not the dictates of the flesh, but the dictates of the Most Holy Spirit.
That man, follows the true and holy path towards citizenship in God's kingdom. Amen.
Written By Patricio Mangubat on Friday, September 10, 2010 | 8:19 AM
Why did Mayor Lim order the arrest of the hostage taker's brother at the height of the Manila hostage crisis?
President Noynoy Aquino: " Ang tamang daan ay tungo sa kapayapaan. Payapa sa Tondo. Kaya siguro dun gusto ni Mayor Lim na ilagay muna yung brother. Para tahimik na lahat."
Vice President Jejomar Binay: " Pasensya na ho. No comment na lang kasi dating kagalit ko din yang si Mayor.Condulence na lang sa namatayan."
Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile: " Baka Mayor Lim wants the brother to be happy. Tondo is a happy place. Basta happy ka!"
Senator Chiz Escudero: " Maybe Mayor Lim wants the brother to drink Circulan"
Speaker Sonny Belmonte: " Bakit hindi na lang sa Payatas?"
Executive secretary Jojo Ochoa: " Probably, I think, hik, kulang lang sa inom si Mayor."
Vice Mayor Isko Moreno: " Nagawa ni Mayor Lim yun dahil taga Tondo siya. Taga Tondo rin ako. Walang kakilala sa Tondo yung brother ng hostage taker. Hindi makapanghohostage yun dun."
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma: " I doubt it kung hindi nakuha ni Mayor Lim ang cue. Hindi naman inaccessible yung hostage taker ah."
Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang: " I confirmed na inutos nga ni Mayor Lim yun kasi nagmamadali siyang pumunta sa Emerald Restaurant for a nice round of drinks with Pnoy."
DILG secretary Jesse Robredo: " Wala akong alam dyan. Local governments lang ako."
DILG undersecretary Rico Puno : " Wala rin akong alam dyan. Pulis lang ako."
Shortly after the Harapan panel interview which was broadcasted live to the detriment of Philippine president Benigno Noynoy Aquino, this conversation was caught by one of our "insiders". Just listen in...
Staffer: " You were great, Mr. President.."
Pnoy: " Thank you, thank you. Sino ka nga pala?"
Staffer: " Sir, I am (tweet). "
Pnoy: " Ah....Samar or Balai? Dami nyo kasi, di ko na ma-remember.."
Staffer: " Balai po...pero, don't mention it out loud po, Mr. President. Baka ma pickup ng media..."
Pnoy: " Ah, oo nga pala, right, right. Wala pa lang paksyon, right. Sorry."
Staffer: " It's alright, Mr. President. Thank you rin po at napagbigyan kami sa request namin na humarap kayo sa media. Di kasi namin ma-convince sila eh."
Pnoy: " Eh, pano ninyong macoconvince, wala naman sa inyo yung dissemination of information. Di ba, Samar ang bahala dun? "
Staffer: " Yun nga po eh. At least, sa broadcast, me laban kami. Sila naman, sa print lang yata."
Pnoy: "Really? Ah, okey, okey."
(another staffer approaches Pnoy)
Staffer 2: " Sir, punta na tayo sa next appointment." (staffer eyes the other from head to toe.)
Pnoy: " Right, right, teka, alisin ko muna itong amerikana ko."
Staffer 2: " Getting hot under the collar ba ho?"
Pnoy: " Come again?"
Staffer 2: "Nothing Mr. President. I really don't agree with this po, Mr. President. Nagmukha kayong..."
Pnoy: : " Okey lang, okey lang. I enjoyed it though. Kahit na madaming questions, okey lang. Did I answered the questions well? Okey naman ba?"
Staffer 2: " As usual Mr. President. I just hope maniwala ang taumbayan..."
Pnoy: " Come again? Staffer ka ba talaga dito? Anong grupo ka ba?"
Staffer 2: " Sir, I was the recommendation of Senator Chiz po."
Pnoy: " Ah, I see....Samar ba?
Staffer 2: " Nope po. Binay group."
Pnoy: " Ah, kaya pala."
Staffer 2: " Come again po, Mr. President?"
Pnoy: "Nothing, nothing. O sige na. let's go to our appointment.."
Staffer 1 intervenes...
Staffer 1: " Excuse me, Mr. President..."
Pnoy: " Yes po..."
Staffer 1: " Let me remind you Mr. President that your next appointment is with sir RC po and sir MQ po later.."
Pnoy: " I thought its a drinking spree with Paquito sa Samar..."
Staffer 2: " Yes, that's in the schedule.."
Pnoy: " I thought so too."
Staffer 1: " Sorry po but it was changed this morning Mr. President. You need to go with us sa Balai to eat merienda."
Pnoy: "Ganun ba? "
Staffer 1: "Yes, Mr. President."
Pnoy: " Who changed the schedule?"
Staffer goes near the President's ear.
Pnoy: "Ganun ba? Okey, okey.Sige...Col. Dizon!"
Col. Dizon: "Yes Mr. President"
Pnoy: " Prepare my toys. I am going to Balai."
Staffer 1 smiles. Staffer 2 frowns.
Staffer 2: But Mr. President...
Pnoy: " Don't say anything. I am just following schedule. Tell Paquito to just drink and wait for me.Wag kamong maglasing nang wala pa ako, okey?"
Staffer 2: (lamely) Ok po Mr. President."
Written By Patricio Mangubat on Thursday, July 29, 2010 | 1:22 AM
More than 15 million jobs await Filipinos who want to work in top-rate hotels and restaurants in the United States, Europe and other countries in Asia, with about 158,000 hospitality and leisure jobs needed in the United States alone.
Labor requirements rose after hotel occupancy levels grew by 3.4% this year, a positive sign that the industry has now recovered from the global recession.
In a report released by the Asian School of Hospitality Arts (ASHA), the premier hotel school in the Philippines, the hospitality industry is expected to grow 11% this year, a strong indication that the industry has now recovered from the global recession.
With this growth, more five-star hotels and restaurants would need additional hotel, food and beverage managers, baristas and hospitality staff. These are supervisorial and skilled positions which Filipinos are qualified to fill in.
ASHA Directress Angie Blanco says Filipinos are most-sought after when it comes to these positions. Top five-star hotels hire more from the Philippines because Filipinos are highly qualified, trust-worthy and hard-working. Filipinos are more qualified because most are HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) graduates.
“ We have thousands of Filipinos in the hospitality and leisure industries which can benefit from the recovery of the industry after a slump in 2009. Entry levels in these positions are high. We are in the best position to exploit the hospitality job markets because of our high competency especially as hotel and restaurant managers, baristas and hotel staff, “ says Blanco.
Hospitality-related jobs command competitive pay rates. For hotel managers, the average daily wage is US$ 50 per hour or about 2,300 php (P46=1US$) per hour. In the United States, baristas earn US$ 10 per hour or about US$100 a day. This translates to almost 100,000 pesos per month. Filipino chefs, meanwhile, are being paid more than 150,000 pesos a month.
Blanco reports that hotel occupancy in the United States alone grew by about 1.7% this year after occupancy rates rose in the first quarter of 2010. The growth increased revenues by 57.1%. This is a positive development, says Blanco, since more hotels will require additional hotel and hospitality staff to attend to the needs of guests.
Based on the ASHA report, hotel occupancy rates in the Asia-Pacific rose from 15.3% to 63.1%, the average daily rate increased by 8.6% to US$125.52, and revenue per available room jumped 25.2% to US$79.24. This, says Blanco, is based on the STR Global report.
Shanghai China experienced the largest occupancy increase, rising from 55% to 71.7%, followed by Beijing (65.3%), Hongkong (78.3%) and Osaka Japan (77.3%). Malaysia posted a positive 40.4% to US$ 71.65.
In the Philippines, improvements in the tourism industry generated close to 3 million additional jobs, according to the data released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). As of May 2010, a total of 48,048 jobs were generated in Central Philippines, Metro Manila and Tagaytay alone. The hospitality outlook in the Philippines remains bright, says Blanco, as private investors continue to have a bullish attitude in the country.
Blanco says that domestic tourism alone hiked 2009 air traffic by about 25%. OAG, a reputable body monitoring the global air industry, shows that seat capacity increased by 9% or an additional 1.2 million to a total of 15.3 million seats in Asia-Pacific alone. Worldwide, seat capacity increased by 6% and added 20.5 million seats to a total 335.5 million.
Amongst the hotel chains, luxury properties and upscale hotels remain at a very positive growth. Performance of luxury hotels are strongest, while mid-scale properties with food and beverage should lag all property types with only 3.3% growth.
Lodging demands in the first quarter of 2010 increased by 5.3% over the first quarter of 2009. Blanco says if this trend continues, expect the hospitality and leisure-related job market to further improve in the next few years. In fact, Blanco adds, 2011 will see a 7.8% growth in the industry.
“The employment of hotel management staff is expected to grow just as fast as the average managerial position for all sectors through 2014. More opportunities are predicted to be available because many experienced managers will be leaving the industry to pursue other interests or through retirement. The better and higher education that is obtained, the more plentiful the opportunities will be” adds Blanco.
ASHA is a strong partner of The Coffee Beanery (TCB) along West Avenue, Quezon City. ASHA is a strong advocate of spreading Asian Values, World Class-Education.
It is also affiliated with Seven Suites Hotel Observatory, Classic Cuisine (C2), The Orange Place (TOP) and C3 Events Place.
ASHA opens its Certificate of Barista at TCP West Avenue, Quezon City. Classes start August 10, 2010. For inquiries, please call +6325066474, 5067007 or 09175907425. Check their website at http://www.asha.edu.ph.
Written By Patricio Mangubat on Sunday, July 18, 2010 | 6:15 PM
Columnist and avowed Pinoy supporter Conrado de Quiros wrote in his column today entitled " Mandate", this observation:
"That is the kind of corruption the public sees more than anything else. That is the kind of corruption the public wants something done about more than anything else. The voters made Noynoy Aquino president and Binay vice president because of it: Because Noynoy was the opposite of GMA and because Binay was anti-GMA, and both could be trusted to stop any rule that would extend that kind of corruption. And the public has acclaimed Noynoy by 88 percent and Binay by 77 percent because of it: Because P-noy is the opposite of GMA and because Binay is anti-GMA, and both can be trusted to prosecute GMA and all those who helped her mount that kind of corruption."
For the Inquirer columnist, the mandate is clear: be different from the Arroyo regime and prosecute GMA for her crimes.
Yet, it seems that this mandate is slowly being "corrupted" with the entry of interest groups inside Malacanang. Consider these:
1. People hate the Arroyo administration for appointing close family associates in sensitive posts in the bureaucracy.
Noynoy Aquino appointed at least three families in sensitive posts, one being the Abads. Butch Abad, who served as the campaign manager of the Liberal Party and one of the leading figures in the Hyatt 10 walkout, is now Budget secretary. His daughter, Julia, serves as the president's chief in the Management staff while her brother, Luis, is now the Chief of Staff of Finance secretary Cesar Purisima.
Margie Juico, wife of Philip Juico, an Aquino loyalist, serves as PCSO head while several other close Aquino family associates occupy very sensitive positions in the new administration. One family friend, Odette Ong, formerly Cory Aquino's associate, is also inside Malacanang, doing a very strange "audit".
The Romulos are also occupying sensitive posts. Bert Romulo serves as Foreign affairs while his daughter, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is now undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture.
2. No brokering nor lobbying. A former Cory Aquino official, Odette Ong is said to be "brokering" for big-time smuggler Lucio Lao Co. Co reportedly offered 200 million pesos before the Aquino administration to "go easy on him".
3. No one with a case of dishonesty occupying sensitive posts in government. Angelito Alvarez, who is now banned for cheating his way in a golf game, is now Customs chief. Rogelio Singson's appointment has a conflict of interest attached to it yet he occupies a post which regulates the business of his former company. Likewise, Kim Henares, a veteran in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), is also tapped as head of the government's revenue collecting agency. Henares is quite close to Guillermo Parayno who has a company with businesses with government.
These appointments are very controversial.
4. No interference in the workings of the legislative and the judiciary. President Noynoy Aquino recently told a group of journalists what he believes is the case of Senator Antonio Trillianes IV. Aquino says, Trillianes' case was a case of injustice. The new president said Trillianes should not have been indicted since there was no crime of coup d'etat.
Aquino is actually correct. Yet, it is wrong to order the Department of Justice (DoJ) to review the case and possibly have Trillianes cleared of all wrongdoing. This, according to Senator Angara, is a clear case of Executive intervention.
Conrado is correct. The Filipinos are very optimistic that a new administration, a new style of governance will eventually replace the old one.
Written By Patricio Mangubat on Friday, July 16, 2010 | 5:20 PM
New DPWH secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson had a sudden attack of "delicadeza" when he purportedly gave up as "chair" of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems or MWSS citing "conflict of interest".
Singson only had this "epiphany" shortly after an interview over DZMM and when he already assumed the post.
Singson, before assuming the DPWH post, is the top executive of Maynilad, a public utilities corporation.
Singson only gave up the chairmanship after media reminded him of a conflict of interest. I don't believe that he did not know that there's a problem prior to assuming the post.
Fact is, his very appointment smacks of the absence of delicadeza.
He's the representative of Big Business in government and we all know that Big Business right now is eye-ing other government businesses and services which the State plans to privatize.
Had we not pointed this out to him, Singson would not have relented and would have taken over the MWSS with impunity. Such is the lack of delicadeza of a few of the President's men.
What is there at the MWSS that is so juicy and so salivating that Singson wants nothing more than its chairmanship?
Water rates. MWSS is now acting as the regulatory body that protects the public's interest in water services of two concessionaires--Maynilad and Manila Water. MWSS is the one who approves water rates. Probably, Singson is so desirous to control it because his backers are salivating on increasing water rates.
Woe is the Filipino consumer! We already have a cartel over oil prices. We have a mammoth and inefficient electricity cartel, likewise in rice cartel. Now, even water is slowly being cartelized and commodified.
Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile today disclosed that Pfizer Philippines, a pharmaceutical company, reportedly gave 5 million discount cards worth ...
Welcome Guys
“Don't push your luck. You have crossed the line too often enough. With impunity, you have exploited our people's cynicism and apathy for your own narrow and selfish ends. As with all things, this too will come to an end. Of this, we are certain.”
“With God's help, the Filipino people will put an end to this despicable Arroyo regime."
----Part of the Statement of the Hyatt 10, accusing Mrs. Arroyo of implementing nefarious schemes to perpetuate herself to power indefinitely, July 8, 2009
