Bo’s last message for the year 2008. Be very blessed!

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MANILA, Philippines— (UPDATE) A tug boat in Manila’s South Harbor late Monday afternoon bumped into the carcass of a Minke whale.

Coast Guard authorities, informed of the find, said it was the first time ever they saw a dead whale in Manila Bay, a major shipping channel.

The crew of the Super Ferry’s MV Our Lady of Good Voyage found the whale, described to be “the size of two sports utility vehicles” in both length and diameter, floating near the Manila Bay breakwater at Pier 13.

The whale was later measured at 10-meters long (33 feet).  Read more... (185 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)

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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday warned of a record high unemployment rate in the coming year due to the prevailing global economic crisis.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the country’s unemployment level could hit as high as 10 percent in January if the economic crisis worsens.

“The unemployment rate may increase from the current 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent, to even as high as 10 percent, if the pump-priming of western countries fails,” Roque said.

Roque stressed that a double-digit unemployment rate is a “worst- case scenario” projected by the government.  Read more... (197 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – - Malaysian authorities have condemned rumoured plans for a New Year’s Eve sex party at a remote beach, while police warned the “no-underwear” event could be a con job.

Newspaper reports said the party for the under-40s, to be held in southern Johor state bordering Singapore, was being advertised through a website that asked for 250 ringgit (72 dollars) as an entrance fee.

“A sex party is against our culture and religion and if it went on, it would damage the country’s reputation worldwide,” Tourism Minister Azalina Othman said according to the New Straits Times newspaper on Tuesday.  Read more... (156 words, estimated 37 secs reading time)

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The unlimited text messaging and voice call promotions of both Smart and Globe will be temporarily suspended this holiday season, the Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said.

The move was undertaken apparently to prevent network abuse during Christmas and New Year, the time when text messages and voice calls are expected to double, the NTC added.

Globe and Touch Mobile’s (TM) unlimited night calls will not be in effect starting 11 in the evening of December 30 up to six in the morning of January 1, 2009 while Smart’s All Text Combo with Unlimited Night Calling Promo will not be available on December 30, 31 and January 1, 2009.  Read more... (112 words, estimated 27 secs reading time)

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Holy Land Pilgrimage Episode #32: A second helping of Bo’s message about having room for Jesus in your heart. Be one with the pilgrims as Bo leads them in a very special prayer.

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Nine out of 10 or 92 percent of Filipinos look forward to the New Year with hope rather than fear, a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The Fourth Quarter Social Weather Survey found that hopes for the New Year are high in all areas – 94 percent in the Visayas, 92 percent in both Luzon and Mindanao, and 89 percent in Metro Manila.

The non-commissioned survey, conducted from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults in Metro Manila, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.  Read more... (188 words, estimated 45 secs reading time)

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MANILA, Philippines –(UPDATE) As a “father and a government official,” Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman apologized for the brawl involving his family and that of a businessman at an exclusive golf club in Antipolo City last Friday.

“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa nangyari [I am apologizing for the incident]. As a government official, hindi ko rin gusto ang nangyari [I also did not want what happened]. Nasaktan ang pamilya ko, nasaktan din ang pamilya de la Paz [My family got hurt and so did the family of De la Paz] … Hindi ko tinatalikuran ang responsibility ko [I am not turning back on my responsibility] as a government official and a father,” Pangandaman said in an interview on radio dzBB.  Read more... (157 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

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Holy Land Pilgrimage Episode #31: Does your heart have room for Jesus? Listen to Bo’s special message in Bethlehem — at the very spot where Christ was born.

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BANGKOK–Thousands of Thai anti-government protesters Monday closed off roads in front of parliament in Bangkok, where new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was expected to deliver his maiden policy speech.

Police said 9,000 red-shirted demonstrators loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup, moved to parliament overnight after gathering on Sunday night at a city center parade ground.

Protesters surrounded the entrances to parliament early Monday and vowed to stay there until the resignation of Abhisit, who won a parliamentary vote two weeks ago after a court dissolved the previous, pro-Thaksin government.  Read more... (162 words, estimated 39 secs reading time)

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