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By Joe Espiritu   In the past weeks an earthquake of great magnitude hit Haiti a Caribbean country. Then later, another tremor just as devastating hit Chile, a South American country facing the Pacific. Recently some shocks had been felt in Taiwan and the Philippines. Somehow, those quakes are not related to one another as some religious adherents want to depict. They are just a part of geological activities that is continuously occurring since the formation of the earth.  The earth began as a mass of stellar matter blown away from the sun. For several billion years it cooled and solidified into a planet 8,000 miles in diameter. Today, the very center of the earth a core of iron and nickel 4,400 miles in diameter has a temperature of 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly cooler than the sun. It is surrounded by a mantle of molten rock nearly 1,800 miles thick.  The crust, which floats around the mantle, is proportionately thinner than an eggshell. Under the ocean, it is some five miles ...

Eye Opener Column A group of mayors have decided to throw out in the open their real colors. They expressed disenchantment for the Lakas-Kampi Party leadership both local and national. Well, at least, they have displayed their real colors. The candidate for governor Ed Chatto was probably prepared for this eventuality and has already selected their opponents in the coming elections.  Still on the political news, Noynoy Aquino has regained his lead again against his closest rival Manny Villar. You see, this only indicates that in the presidential campaign, issues will decide the elections. Since Manny has all the money in the world to buy everything actors, actresses, politicians and media, despite all of these things, Aquino is still leading. It is also sickening for vice-presidential candidate to promise food and education for the hungry and poor if elected. If his promises are followed, we will have a socialistic state in our country. Food and education can only be solved by provi...

It is been a year since Earth Hour 2009, a historical event where over a billion people switched off lights in homes, offices, schools and monuments across 88 countries worldwide.  Last year, the Philippines placed first in terms of town and city participation, with over 10 million switching off in 647 towns and cities nationwide.  For 2010, Earth Hour returns in full force.  Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world.  It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness.  Earth Hour Philippines National Director Yeb Saño calls on private corporations, local groups, schools and the entire nation to participate in this momentous event by switching off lights from 8:30–9:30 p.m. on 27 March 2010. ...

Bill and Melinda Gates and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) have won this year's UN Population Award, the UN Population Fund announced here on Tuesday.  "Through direct financing and by providing 'seed money' to elicit the participation of other donors," Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders and co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "have galvanized private involvement in philanthropic enterprises, " the Fund said in a press release.  "Mr. and Mrs. Gates have long focused on problems of maternal health and family planning in developing countries, and on identifying the root causes of these problems in order to find innovative solutions. In its advocacy role, their foundation has championed the Millennium Development Goals," it said.  The AFPPD, created in 1981, comprises 25 national parliamentarian committees and has offices in 13 countries.  "Some successful examples that illustrat...

Philippine troops killed six Islamic militants in an assault on a rebel camp in the south, the military says. It says marines raided the camp of the Abu Sayyaf group on Jolo island. Officials are trying to verify reports that a senior Abu Sayyaf commander was among those killed, Gen Benjamin Dolorfino told AP news agency. Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for bombings, beheadings and kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners. It has been accused of links with al-Qaeda. Gen Dolorfino said Sunday's raid was carried out after intelligence reports that two Abu Sayyaf leaders were there, AP reported. One marine was killed and three were wounded during the assault. Abu Sayyaf is the smallest and most radical of the Islamic separatist groups in the southern Philippines. Its stated goal is an independent Islamic state in Mindanao and the Sulu islands. The government refuses to hold any form of talks with the rebels. Philippine officials said in December 2009 that they had arrested an...

Inspired by moving stories from the critically-acclaimed book "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, HALF THE SKY Live will be an evening of uplifting songs, celebrity discussion and the world premiere of "Woinshet," a powerful short film directed by Academy Award®-winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone that chronicles the struggles of an Ethiopian woman who triumphs over violence and discrimination. Much more than a night at the movies, the evening also will feature appearances by India.Arie; Maria Bello; Diane Birch; Michael Franti; Angelique Kidjo; Nicholas Kristof; Sally Lee; Marisa Tomei; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York; Sheryl WuDunn and a surprise guest. The one-night-only event will be held in nearly 500 theatres in the United States and Canada on Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in all time zones. It's sure to be one of the most visible International W...

By Romy Teruel  I had two impressions of Colombia in South America – cocaine and beautiful women of the Miss Universe caliber. Last week these impressions have changed. Cocaine and beautiful women are still there but a few more have been added. As the say in Colombia, "the only risk in visiting Colombia is wanting to stay".  Last week I had the rare opportunity to see Colombia upon the invitation of the Colombian government to participate in the 2nd Technical Cooperation Tour of Peace Building in Colombia: DDR Development and Experience (DDR here means Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) that was held in Bogota, (Colombia's capital), with trips to the demobilized rebel communities in Armenia, Department of Quindio; Santuario, Department of Risaralda; and Cali City, Department of Valle del Cauca. It was an opportunity that I could not let pass. First it was an opportunity to learn how they have successfully implemented DDR in Colombia and seco...