PDEA: All Talk, No Teeth In Fight VS Drug Lords

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or PDEA has once again released the names of the alleged 5 drug lords in Maguindanao. Almost the same names have been released by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in 2006 but no one has been arrested up to now.

PDEA Central Mindanao chief Amado Tana identified the five drug lords as: Sultan Kudarat (Marcos Fatima Baliwan and Black Moro), North Cotabato (Maghanoy), Maguindanao (Montawal) and Cotabato City (Kagui Lao). Of the five, Tana said, only Black Moro has been neutralized.

Cotabato Anti-Drug Task Force chairman Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol castigated the PDEA for its failure to arrest and have the drug lords convicted in court despite the fact that they have already been identified. The drug enforcers do not even have photos of the suspected drug lords.

Does Email Marketing Irritate You?

You are sleeping. Or perhaps, a sudden idea has just enlightened you and you are about to write that Palanca-winning story. Suddenly, your Mobile plays that "Humanap Ka Ng Pangit" ringtone which you use for your text messages.You hurry up to see the important message and you forget all the task at hand. When you looked at your inbox, it says: Subscribe to Smart's (or Globe's whichever service you prefer) new ringtones and get bla-bla-bla..."How would you feel?

Mobile service providers should not take advantage of the control they have over your messages. In the first place, SMS is not a free service so they do not have a right to send any marekting message at all unless the user has subscribed or has indicated his willingness to receive such messages.

Why PTA's are significant

I have never realized the importance of Parents-Teachers Associations or PTAs until now. Public schools and big private schools have PTA's to serve as a sounding board of opinions and regulate the activities or fees imposed by the school. Ateneo de Davao had so many problems but they were all voices out (most were settled) through the PTA.

Here comes one private school in Matina (which the main school near the downtown area) charging P100 for the class photos of the kids (including one 2x2 in B&W and one 4R). That's easy enough to shell out but if you know how much the prevailing rate is then you would really question the rate. Of course, the rate is pretty cheap if the studio tasked to get the class photos is Lito Sy. Otherwise, its pretty overpriced.

A group of concerned parents wrote a letter of request to the school requesting a lowering of the rates. The school in-charge talked to them saying it's too late to back out ow as they have already signed a contract with the photo studio. The parents said they can recommend other photographers (with lighting and other equipment also but cheaper) but the one in charge said it's too late. The parents were also blamed for not volunteering such information when they had a copy of the school's activity. Funny. How can the parents suggest when they were only told the price two days before the actual shoot.

One parent asked for an official receipt form the studio. The teacher said they will not issue individual receipts because they already gave a package receipt to the school. Some of those who paid ahead got a receipt all right, but not official at all. Calling BIR!

The parents were one in saying that the school should inform the parents in advance of the rates by sending them letter necessitating replies. The answer was so far negative saying some parents do not really send back replies. But that's the lookout of the parents. If they don't reply then they forfeit their right to complain.

The letter elicited a lot of reaction, most of them negative, from the school with the teachers calling the signatories one by one, now and then, to comment on the matter. Why not call a general meeting to get the consensus of the whole body?

Now, I understand why PTA's are significant.

Merco Bolton Extends Buy 1 Take 1 Ice Cream Promo

Dabawenyos are trekking to Merco Bolton not only for their usual fill of specialty ice cream but for the Buy 1 Take 1 Fruit and Ice Cream Festival. The Festival was supposed to be from January 1 to 15 only but the promo was extended. The staff of Merco Bolton could not however say the exact dates of the extension but the last time we were there (that's Saturday January 19), the promo was still on.

Take your pick at the following "Buy 1 Take 1" ice cream specialties:
Watermelon Basket P110
Buco Salad Sundae P 82
Lover's Delight P 94
Fruit Salad Sundae P 60
Banana Split P 82
Chocolate Parfait P 78

You can also avail of the Buy 2 Take 1 promo for Special Halo Halo or Maiz Con Hielo.



Merco has been in Davao City for a long time now. I still remember our family eating sessions at Merco when I was still a child. The in demand drink then was ChocoVim (now i'm revealing my age). It's like the Magnolia Chocolate Milk the kids love now, not in Tetra Pak but in a big bottle.

People's Park Exclusive To Davao's Senior Citizens On February 16

Acting Mayor Sara Duterte has reserved the controversial People's Park for the exlusive use of Davao City's senior citizens on February 16 for their Valentine Day celebration.

Duterte said she has already committed the park to the senior citizens so they will also be able to enjoy the park facilities on this special day.

How Open Are You About Inheritance And Investment Possibilities?

Is Investing Only For The Rich? No matter how I want to say "NO" to this question, there is something inside me that says "of course yes!" Ideally, everyone should invest to allow their assets to grow. But what will you invest if you barely have money for even the basic necessities like good, clothing and shelter?

Of course investing is an opportunity that is open to everybody and we should take advantage of it whenever possible. But if we are to be practical and honest about it, it is true that only the rich are able to invest because they have extra money just sitting around.

Senator Revilla Takes Councilor Zozobrado's Local Ordinance To The Senate

The late councilor Jesus Zozobrado may be smiling in his grave today knowing that someone in the Senate is making sure that an ordinance he laid down in the local level will be followed nationwide.

Zozobrado authored an ordinance requiring motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. Aside from banning children below 7 years old from riding motorcycles, the ordinance also mandated that only two people be allowed to ride motorcycles to avoid accidents.

Barely two years after the implementation of the local ordinance, here comes Senator Bong Revilla with Senate Bill 1863 requiring the wearing of standard helmets for all motorcycle drivers and the back rider for all types of trips.

While this policy is already incorporated in the Land Transportation Office rules, it has gained much popularity when Zozobrado took the challenge of penalizing the local habal-habals and other motorcycles that did not follow the ordinance. Some of his peers believed it was political suicide but knowing the late councilor who never backed away from a challenge, it was a small price to pay for the safety of the Dabawenyos.

At least 45% of the total vehicles registered in the country comprise of motorcycles. Latest figures show there are 3.5 million registered motorcycles throughout the country but the number is expected to go up. It is alarming to note that 24% of the 11,425 accidents in 2005 and 35% of the total traffic accidents during the first two months of 2006 involved motorcycles.