The regional election for Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao or ARMM will be completely automated on August 11, 2008. Two technologies will be used, namely Direct Recording Election (DRE) technology which will be provided by Smartmatic-Sahi Technology Inc. and Optical Mark Reader (OMR) technology provided by Avante International Technology, Inc. 
The voters in the province of Maguindanao will be using Automated Voting Machines (AVMs) at the precint level while voters in the other five provinces (Shariff Kabunsulan, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will vote by canvassed in pre-determined consolidation and canvassing centers throughout the region.
It is expected that COMELEC will be able to proclaim the winning candidates in less than 36 hours.
ARMM election: Automated
Marian Rivera Scandal
Marian Rivera is one of the most popular and successful young actress in Philippine Showbiz. But what is this "Marian Rivera Scandal"???
Marian was born in Spain but she grew up in Cavite. She had a 3-month practicum at the National Mental Hospital, after which she graduated with a degree of A.B. Psychology at De La Salle University - Damarinas. Her breakout role was when she starred Philippine remake of Marimar.
In a shooting of Dyesebel, a controversy surrounded on a YouTube video named "Marian Rivera Scandal". It is all about the shouting of vulgar words and slapping of her poor fan. An unidentified man caught her using a recording camera but Rivera got angry and shouted him to stop and unexpectedly said bad words. According to Marian, she has no PA (personal assistant) in the set because the said PA is pregnant. A said video about a feud of Rivera and an unidentified man was a verbal issue and not a slapping issue. She threw her words about a video "Kahit payat at maliit ako, hindi ako papayag apihin. Caviteña ako, lalaban ako! Walang nang-aapi sa akin!" ("Even I'm slim and petite, I will not be oppressed. I'm a Caviteña, I will fight! No one can oppress me!"). She denied that she was snobbish to him and no evidence on the said unedited video that she said any vulgar words.
MV Princess of the Stars Update
Suspension on passengers vessels lifted wants Sulpicio Lines Inc, owner of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, on Tuesday formally moved for the "urgent" lifting of the suspension on its passenger vessels.
A GMA’s Flash Report said on MV Princess of the Stars Update, officials from the shipping firm submitted an “extremely urgent motion" before the investigating body of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
According to Sulpicio, it has already incurred huge losses in revenues due to the government’s order grounding the company’s passenger vessels.
Sulpicio's operations were suspended late June after the MV Princess of the Stars capsized on June 21 off Romblon at the height of typhoon "Frank."
The television report said Marina officials asked the prosecution team to first submit a formal comment on Sulpicio’s motion before they could arrive at a decision.
Marina said it could decide on Sulpicio’s urgent motion in two week’s time at the latest, around the same time the maritime agency said it could also complete its investigation into the June 21 sea tragedy.
Marina administrator Vicente Suazo Jr had earlier noted how Sulpicio Lines, in the past marathon hearings, has become “desperate" in asking the investigating body to dissolve the suspension order.
"There has been a clamor for the lifting of the grounding… At the moment, the Sulpicio is desperate," Suazo had said.
The Marina team conducting the probe is one of two government bodies tasked to conduct hearings on the capsizing of the MV Princess of the Stars.
The other investigating body is the Philippine Coast Guard’s Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), which Sulpicio claimed does not have the authority for such maritime probe.
The BMI has completed its investigation and submitted its findings and recommendations to the Philippine Cost Guard.
The PCG however has since twice returned BMI’s report, saying it needed to include more supporting documents and strengthen its recommendations regarding the toxic endosulfan loaded in the ship.
Last week, a meeting between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Sulpicio officials led to the lifting of the suspension on its cargo vessels.
However Sulpicio first has to pass an audit by the Marina before its first batch of eight cargo ships will be allowed to sail anew.
Concerns were raised regarding the economic effects of continuing to ground the cargo vessels of Sulpicio since they account for some 45 percent of cargo operations in the country.
The capsizing of the 23,800-ton MV Princess of the Stars - the latest Sulpicio vessel to emerge in a maritime tragedy – led to the death of hundreds of people and triggered a public outrage against the embattled shipping firm.
Through the Public attorney’s Office, at least five multimillion-peso damage suits have already been lodged against Sulpicio Lines.
Thomas Beatie - The Pregnant Man
Three months after the revelation of a pregmant man, Thomas Beatie also known as the “Pregnant Man” - a female-to-male transsexual gave birth to a baby girl on July 3, 2008. Baby Susan Juliette was born at the St Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon on June 29 weighing 9 lbs 5oz.
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PRC Board Exam Result for June and July
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces the board exam result held on June and July. Congratulations to all the successful examinees!!!
To view the names of successful examinees, just click in the following links or just visit the PRC Board Exam Result homepage for more info...
Nursing Board Exam Result for June 2008 (A-C)
Nursing Board Exam Result for June 2008 (D-K)
Nursing Board Exam Result for June 2008 (L-Q)
Nursing Board Exam Result for June 2008 (R-Z)
Pharmacist Licensure Examination Result for June 2008
Forester Licensure Examination Result for July 2008
Agriculturist Licensure Examination Result for July 2008
Special Certification Examination in Ocular Pharmacology for Optometrist
Licensure Examination Result for July 2008
Architect Licensure Examination Result for June 2008
Marine Deck Officer Exam Result for July 2008
AJ "Bazooka" Banal vs. Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion fight
AJ "Bazooka" Banal vs. Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion fight is coming! The country's next potential boxing superstar AJ "Bazooka" Banal will be fighting for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight crown against Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion of Panama.
The explosive fight will be telecast "live" on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. over Studio 23 with a reply at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday (June 27) over ABS-CBN Channel 2.
Concepcion who turned 26 last June 24 has a record of 10-2-1 with 6 knockouts.
Totoy Bato | Robin Padilla | GMA-7
Since he started as an action star, people have always seen Robin Padilla in good shape—not too fat and not too thin. But what if he adds 50 more pounds in his weight?
This will be the goal of Robin Padilla for his next project for GMA-7, which is Totoy Bato. In fact, after doing his upcoming movie Sundo, the Philippine's prime action star will start gaining weight and having lean muscles for the TV adaptation of the 1979 movie Durugin si Totoy Bato, which topbilled the late King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe, Jr.
"Mahirap po 'yon," said the 160-pound action star. "Sabi nga po nung trainer ko, medyo masama daw ho 'yon, masama daw 'yong bigla. Kasi ang nangyari sa akin, kasi nagpa-slim ako sa Joaquin Bordado; 'tapos ngayon naman magpapalaki [para sa Totoy Bato], medyo ang katawan naguguluhan."
Despite this warning, Robin is confident to do it because he is sure that professional trainers would closely watch him.
He said, "Ako naman ay nakikitrabaho sa mga propesyonal. Ang humahawak ng katawan ko ay mga propesyonal naman so talagang pinag-aaralan. Hindi ito 'yong hulaan lang. Katulad ng pagkatapos ng Sundo, 'yong gagawin kong pelikula, dadaan muna ako sa general check-up, malalaman muna namin kung paano 'yong paraan ng pagpapalaki. Hindi kasi pwede 'yong bigla, magko-collapse tayo."
In the last quarter of the year, Robin might go to Australia not only to visit his wife Liezel Sycangco but also to train—through football or rugby.
"'Yon po ang sinabi sa akin ni Direk Val Iglesias," explained Robin. "Ang gusto niyang style ng fighting ni Totoy Bato, e, football, so pinagra-rugby niya ako. Baka sumama siya sa akin sa Australia kasi doon 'yong proper training ng rugby, e."
He even added, "Hangga't hindi ko nakukuha 'yong 200 lbs, hindi ako babalik dito. Kailangan makuha ko ho 'yon."
The 40-year-old actor is also aware that there are people who gained weight and are now having hard time getting back in their old shape.
"'Yon ang unang-una kong sinigurado sa trainer ko," said Robin. "[Tinanong ko], ‘Kaya mo ba akong paliitin ulit? Baka naman paglaki ko niyan, ganun na lang din ako.' Sabi niya, ‘Depende 'yon kung ano ang ilo-load nating pagkain.'"
Robin would be following a high-protein diet, which his trainer advised to him, to get lean muscles. He said, "Kailangan lumaki ka pero hindi dapat fat, dapat protein lang para mas mabilis."
Can't they use a trick instead of really adding up some weight?
He answered, "Ayaw ni Direk Val. Gusto ni Direk Val Iglesias iba talaga. Kasi 'yong una kasing Totoy Bato, boxing 'yon, e. Ngayon, mixed martial arts na. Parang mapapanood natin na ang makakalaban natin dito iba-iba nang nasyon, e."
HONORED TO ACT AS TOTOY BATO. Robin said the he felt honored when he found out that he was chosen to be the lead star in the TV remake of Totoy Bato. One of the reasons is because this was played by the late FPJ.
"Isang malaking karangalan muli," said Robin. "Katulad na Joaquin Bordado kay Ramon Revilla po ito, ngayon naman kay Fernando Poe, Jr. Isang malaking karangalan. Siyempre, pasalamat muna tayo kay alamat, Carlo J. Caparas."
He also admitted that this privilege comes with pressure for him and for the whole production team.
"Mataas ang pressure kaya kami nahihilo. Ang katunayan niyan, may mga nagsasabi na dapat pelikula nga ang Totoy Bato. Ako naman ang nagsasabing kapag ginawa nating pelikula 'yan, mas mahihirapan tayong malagpasan ang pelikula.
"Mas magandang kahit na matapatan lang natin ang pelikula na TV tayo. Kasi mas mataas ang pressure ng pelikula. Mas gusto ko na TV siya kasi kahit paano walang kaming balak na malagpasan siya. Iyong mapantayan namin siya, masayang-masaya na kami."
Right now, the storyline of Totoy Bato is not yet finished. However, Robin is sure that he will be working with daughter Queenie, Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao, and veteran actor Eddie Garcia in this teleserye, which is set to premiere in the first quarter of 2009.
Connection problem with my Smart Bro
I always have a connection problem with my Smart Bro. I’ve been using Smart Bro for almost one and a half year. At that long period of time as a subscriber, I have experienced different kinds of connection problem… to slow, on and off connection and totally no connection. Everytime I have a connection problem, I always call at their hotline which is *1888 to report it. They told me all the troubleshooting procedure, it works but after an hour or couple of days, connection problem happens again…
Last week, my internet connection status is limited or no connectivity. This is the worst! I’ve done all the troubleshooting but still no connection. And then finally, they discover that the problem is my antenna and they replaced it after 3 days of no internet connection.
My friends told me that connection problem with my Smart Bro is normal, but I don’t like it anymore. I want to subscribe to other network company but I don’t know which the best is. Is it PLDT myDSL or Globe broadband?
Eraserheads Reunion Concert
Good news to all the fans of the legendary rock band Eraserheads! They will be having a Reunion Concert stated for August 30 at the CCP Open Grounds.
The original members Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan will sing their hit songs including Ang Huling El Bimbo, Toyang, Alapaap, etc.
The news came from a source of Philippine Star. Eraserheads Reunion Concert should make their fans very happy!
UFC Fight Night Silva vs Irvin Video
Watch UFC Fight Night Silva vs Irvin video free online
After victorious fight of Griffin against Jackson, prepare yourself for a non-title light heavyweight bout. The UFC Fight Night 14 main event is between Anderson “The Spider” Silva vs James “The Sandman” Irvin.
The Silva vs. Irvin fight event will be on Saturday July 19 2008 6pm PT / 9pm ET at The Pearl - Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
To watch the UFC Fight Night follow this link >> Silva vs Irvin Video
