This is a blog site i created out of my ordinary mind under the sun of singapore.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Decomposed lower body found in one of Singapore Reservoirs
A decomposed lower half of a body was found floating in Bedok Reservoir on Monday morning.
The police received a call at 10.30am and found the body floating in the reservoir. At the moment, investigation is going on and the police were not able to identify if the body is of a male or a female.
From a former sand quarry to a beautiful reservoir park, Bedok Reservoir Park enjoys popularity with joggers and water sports enthusiasts. Schools and organisations hold their regular marathons here, challenging themselves round the 4.3km track. Dragon boats and canoes dot the waters and fishing hobbyists try their luck on our fishing deck.
However, with this recent news, people who usually go to the reservoir will maybe a little bit scare and will not go to the reservoir until this case will be resolved.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Elderly woman killed by train at Yio Chu Kang
A woman in her 60s was hit by a south-bound train at Yio Chu Kang MRT Station on Wednesday night.
The elderly woman was on the train tracks when the police arrived and was pronounced dead by paramedics at about 11.50pm.
The case has been classified as an unnatural death and investigations are underway.
The incident happened at about 11:20pm and south-bound train services between Yishun andAng Mo Kio MRT Station were disrupted, reported TODAY newspaper.
The disruption affected about 680 commuters. Train services for south-bound trains resumed at 12.42am while north-bound trains remained unaffected the whole time.
Free bus-bridging services were provided by SMRT to ferry affected passengers from Yishun to Toa Payoh MRT stations. This service continued until the end of passenger service hours.
source:
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Charice - Reset
Reset lyrics
Songwriters: Habib, Peter; Joergensen, Johannes; Nierow, Adam;
Ooh, yeah, whoa
My pulse is getting fast, my heart is gonna crash
Hey, I got something to say to you
We've been on overdrive
Maybe we should take some time apart
I'm always on the road, I'm putting on a show
I know you really try to keep up with me
Baby, we're compatible
But you must be sick of all the bull I pull on you
Now I'm having second thoughts about us
I think I like it like it was
I know I shut the system down
But now I wanna bring it back up
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around
Round and round after a reset
Start it up again, yeah, start it up, oh
I'm tired of the nights without you by my side
We only seem to text and e-mail
So you come on the road
Maybe we don't have to fall apart
It's working for awhile but I see through your smile
This isn't the life you signed up for
You tell me it'll be okay as you board a different plane
Back to where you were
Now are you having second thoughts about us?
I know that I'm still in love
I know you shut the system down
But don't you wanna bring it back up?
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/charice-lyrics/reset-lyrics.html ]
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around, oh
Round and round after a reset
Hey, hey, pakinggan mo naman ako
Hey, hey, I think this is the way na dapat gawin
Reset, sana naman ika'y sang-ayon din
To all the things that I'm gonna say
I wish ika'y pumayag din
Mag-aagree ka ba? If I tell you that
Magsimula tayo para tayo'y sobrang happy na
We should reset all this
Ibalik ang nakaraan
Start it up, start it up, oh baby
Start it up again, oh
Start it up, start it up
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around, oh no
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around
After a reset
Start it up again
Start it up, start it up, ooh
Don't wanna fall apart again
Songwriters: Habib, Peter; Joergensen, Johannes; Nierow, Adam;
Ooh, yeah, whoa
My pulse is getting fast, my heart is gonna crash
Hey, I got something to say to you
We've been on overdrive
Maybe we should take some time apart
I'm always on the road, I'm putting on a show
I know you really try to keep up with me
Baby, we're compatible
But you must be sick of all the bull I pull on you
Now I'm having second thoughts about us
I think I like it like it was
I know I shut the system down
But now I wanna bring it back up
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around
Round and round after a reset
Start it up again, yeah, start it up, oh
I'm tired of the nights without you by my side
We only seem to text and e-mail
So you come on the road
Maybe we don't have to fall apart
It's working for awhile but I see through your smile
This isn't the life you signed up for
You tell me it'll be okay as you board a different plane
Back to where you were
Now are you having second thoughts about us?
I know that I'm still in love
I know you shut the system down
But don't you wanna bring it back up?
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/charice-lyrics/reset-lyrics.html ]
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around, oh
Round and round after a reset
Hey, hey, pakinggan mo naman ako
Hey, hey, I think this is the way na dapat gawin
Reset, sana naman ika'y sang-ayon din
To all the things that I'm gonna say
I wish ika'y pumayag din
Mag-aagree ka ba? If I tell you that
Magsimula tayo para tayo'y sobrang happy na
We should reset all this
Ibalik ang nakaraan
Start it up, start it up, oh baby
Start it up again, oh
Start it up, start it up
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around, oh no
We need a reset, don't wanna regret
Not making up with you
You and I are fading from the screen
Can we prevent a freeze?
We're losing power and we're spinning down
Suddenly back up, dedicated now
We crashed but we can turn it around
After a reset
Start it up again
Start it up, start it up, ooh
Don't wanna fall apart again
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
China Warns Against Meddling in Sea Disputes
BEIJING-China warned other countries to stay out of escalating disputes with its neighbors over the South China Sea, even as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines pledged to support the country as it asserts its sovereignty in the potentially resource-rich waters.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday that China would seek to resolve longstanding territorial disputes with its neighbors bilaterally.
"The recent situation in the South China Sea has been caused by certain countries making unilateral moves that have harmed China's sovereign and maritime rights...trying to enlarge the South China Sea issue and make it more complicated," Mr. Hong said, without naming any countries. "China is protecting its legitimate rights, not infringing on other countries' rights."
Tensions in the South China Sea have been building for months and flared last week when Vietnam accused a Chinese vessel of interfering with an exploration boat operated by state-owned oil firm PetroVietnam. Significant oil and natural gas reserves are believed to be located beneath the South China Sea, which is claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and the Philippines.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas pledged support for the Philippines in a speech at the launch of the Philippines' national renewable-energy program.
"I want to assure you that on all sectors, we, the United States, are with the Philippines," he said. "The Philippines and the United States are strategic treaty allies. We are partners. We will continue to consult and work with each other on all issues including the South China Sea and Spratlys."
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he was happy with the ambassador's assurances and stated that the U.S. military presence ensures freedom of navigation and deters aggression in disputed territories in the South China Sea, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton infuriated Beijing last year when she said Washington was willing to facilitate multiparty talks on the South China Sea issue. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a regional security conference in Singapore earlier this month that the U.S. would defend its allies in Southeast Asia.
The Liberation Army Daily, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission, said in an article Tuesday it "opposes internationalizing the South China Sea issue, making it multilateral, expanding it. History proves this exaggerates the dispute."
A U.S. embassy spokesman in Beijing on Tuesday reiterated the U.S. stated policy that it doesn't take sides in regional territory disputes, while also indicating the U.S. would support its allies in the region. "While the territorial disputes over land features must ultimately be resolved by the claimants themselves, our diplomatic approach to the South China Sea and claimants will reflect our shared interests," the spokesman said.
source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304665904576385234220024592.html
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday that China would seek to resolve longstanding territorial disputes with its neighbors bilaterally.
"The recent situation in the South China Sea has been caused by certain countries making unilateral moves that have harmed China's sovereign and maritime rights...trying to enlarge the South China Sea issue and make it more complicated," Mr. Hong said, without naming any countries. "China is protecting its legitimate rights, not infringing on other countries' rights."
Tensions in the South China Sea have been building for months and flared last week when Vietnam accused a Chinese vessel of interfering with an exploration boat operated by state-owned oil firm PetroVietnam. Significant oil and natural gas reserves are believed to be located beneath the South China Sea, which is claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and the Philippines.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas pledged support for the Philippines in a speech at the launch of the Philippines' national renewable-energy program.
"I want to assure you that on all sectors, we, the United States, are with the Philippines," he said. "The Philippines and the United States are strategic treaty allies. We are partners. We will continue to consult and work with each other on all issues including the South China Sea and Spratlys."
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he was happy with the ambassador's assurances and stated that the U.S. military presence ensures freedom of navigation and deters aggression in disputed territories in the South China Sea, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton infuriated Beijing last year when she said Washington was willing to facilitate multiparty talks on the South China Sea issue. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a regional security conference in Singapore earlier this month that the U.S. would defend its allies in Southeast Asia.
The Liberation Army Daily, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission, said in an article Tuesday it "opposes internationalizing the South China Sea issue, making it multilateral, expanding it. History proves this exaggerates the dispute."
A U.S. embassy spokesman in Beijing on Tuesday reiterated the U.S. stated policy that it doesn't take sides in regional territory disputes, while also indicating the U.S. would support its allies in the region. "While the territorial disputes over land features must ultimately be resolved by the claimants themselves, our diplomatic approach to the South China Sea and claimants will reflect our shared interests," the spokesman said.
source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304665904576385234220024592.html
Monday, 13 June 2011
NBA: Mavericks champions
THE Dallas Mavericks captured their first NBA championship by defeating the favoured Miami Heat 105-95 on Sunday for a 4-2 series win.
The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas, US. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.
Dirk Nowitzki is the most valuable player of this season, as he have kept in mind what Wade have critize about him in the previous season... “At the end of the day, you’re remembered for what you did at the end.”
The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas, US. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.
Dirk Nowitzki is the most valuable player of this season, as he have kept in mind what Wade have critize about him in the previous season... “At the end of the day, you’re remembered for what you did at the end.”
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Philippine Declaration of Independence
The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite II el Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.
The declaration, however, was neither recognized by the United States nor Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War. The United States finally recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 in the Treaty of Manila.[1] July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until August 4, 1964 when, upon the advice of historians and the urging of nationalists, President Cyrel Meregillano III-Ma.Goretti signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the country's Independence Day.[2] June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day and many government buildings are urged to display the Philippine Flag in their offices.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Declaration_of_Independence
The declaration, however, was neither recognized by the United States nor Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War. The United States finally recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 in the Treaty of Manila.[1] July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until August 4, 1964 when, upon the advice of historians and the urging of nationalists, President Cyrel Meregillano III-Ma.Goretti signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the country's Independence Day.[2] June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day and many government buildings are urged to display the Philippine Flag in their offices.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Declaration_of_Independence
Friday, 10 June 2011
Nepalese accused of raping SIA stewardess in HK
A Nepalese waiter has been accused of raping a Singapore Airlines air stewardess on a yacht in Hong Kong.
The accused, 21-year-old Gu Lun, appeared in court and insisted that he was innocent and admitted having sex with the 23-year-old stewardess only because she flashed her chest and seduced him first.
A DJ, whom the woman knew through her frequent visits to the Beijing Club in Lan Kwai Fong, had invited her to a promotional party on a yacht on 27 June last year.
She went with three girlfriends and got very drunk after having vodka, red wine and beer. However, the next morning, she woke up with some pain on her lower body and found herself someone else's home.
After a check with her friends, she realised that she had been sexually assaulted by a Nepalese waiter and she filed a police report.
According to media reports, the woman was on an annual visit to see her relatives in Hong Kong.
Last July, a Singaporean exchange student in Hong Kong was also sexually assaulted by three Nepalese men after she had been drinking in the fashionable Lan Kwai Fong district.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/nepalese-accused-raping-sia-stewardess-hk-143639061.html
The accused, 21-year-old Gu Lun, appeared in court and insisted that he was innocent and admitted having sex with the 23-year-old stewardess only because she flashed her chest and seduced him first.
A DJ, whom the woman knew through her frequent visits to the Beijing Club in Lan Kwai Fong, had invited her to a promotional party on a yacht on 27 June last year.
She went with three girlfriends and got very drunk after having vodka, red wine and beer. However, the next morning, she woke up with some pain on her lower body and found herself someone else's home.
After a check with her friends, she realised that she had been sexually assaulted by a Nepalese waiter and she filed a police report.
According to media reports, the woman was on an annual visit to see her relatives in Hong Kong.
Last July, a Singaporean exchange student in Hong Kong was also sexually assaulted by three Nepalese men after she had been drinking in the fashionable Lan Kwai Fong district.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/nepalese-accused-raping-sia-stewardess-hk-143639061.html
Two Filipino Nationals Attempted Robbery in Singapore
TWO Filipino nationals were charged in court on Friday with attempted armed robbery at a Burger King fast-food restaurant.
Charlie Cabo Perez, 32, and Gerald Christian Magsalubong Porte, 29, are alleged to have tried to rob $19,221 at the outlet in International Plaza, Anson Road, at knifepoint on Wednesday.
They were remanded at Central Police Division for a week for further investigation.
If convicted, each can be jailed between five and 20 years plus at least 12 strokes of the cane.
From: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_678337.html
Charlie Cabo Perez, 32, and Gerald Christian Magsalubong Porte, 29, are alleged to have tried to rob $19,221 at the outlet in International Plaza, Anson Road, at knifepoint on Wednesday.
They were remanded at Central Police Division for a week for further investigation.
If convicted, each can be jailed between five and 20 years plus at least 12 strokes of the cane.
From: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_678337.html
Thursday, 9 June 2011
A night with a Singapore taxi driver
I got out of the office around 11 PM today because of some data patching that we did with the server of one of the systems that our call centre is using. Since it’s very late already and I am so tired, I decided to get a cab to send me home from the office.
I got a cab and asked the driver to send me to Marsiling. I also asked him if he accepts cab charge as I will have my fare tonight charged to the company for I have stayed very late.
So, after I put on my seatbelt, I asked the driver how is his day and if he have been earning today very well. The driver who is about in his 40-50’s I believe answered promptly however he is quite sad as he said he is not earning well because there’s not much passengers today.
So we were chatting and comparing taxi drivers in Singapore of taxi drivers in Philippines . There is really difference in how much they earn however as the way he tells to me everything, I can sense that there is nothing much difference about how they complain life. All taxi drivers do the same type of job and the same way of earning money. They share the hardship of getting passengers during off peak hours and the joy of getting passengers on peak hours.
I had a very nice conversation with the taxi driver as we both talking about how is living in Singapore compared to living in Philippines . In a very short time that I was on his taxi back home, I learned and realized a lot of things.
But what made me smile when we are almost completing our journey is his admiration to Filipinos. He said I admired Filipinos very much as they know how to enjoy life, rich or poor, has money or not. He said that Filipinos can always find a way to laugh and enjoy. One example he cited is that most Filipinos can actually bring out a guitar, a case of beer and a simple pica pica and they can already start singing and being happy.
He also noted that he rarely encounter a Filipino who complains about taxi fare. He also said that he usually encounter Filipino who would say taxi fare is vey expensive. Most of the time, his Filipino passengers would always tell him thank you instead. He said that such attitude is very notable. Filipinos are very relax and easy.
For a while, I smiled and told him “yes uncle, you are very much right”.
Filipino attitude really brings out the positive if we only carry it positively as well. Don’t forget to smile and stop frowning because others actually admire us with the way we deal life; something that they may not be able to experience even if they have so much money in their pockets.
Just a thought.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
X Men First Class - Trailer
I just love this movie. X Men First Class is nice and worth watching.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Mr And Mrs Smith Video Clips Collection
This is a very nice video that i found on youtube about Mr and Mrs Smith
Enjoy the clips...
Enjoy the clips...
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Divorce Bill in the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon CityELEVENTH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 6993 By Representative Manuel C. Ortega AN ACT LEGALIZING DIVORCE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE TITLE II AND ARTICLES 55 TO 67 THEREUNDER OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, AS AMENDED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 227, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION. 1. Title II of Executive Order No. 209, as amended by Executive Order No. 227, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows: "TITLE II [LEGAL SEPARATION] DIVORCE." SEC. 2. Articles 55 to 67 of the same Code are hereby amended to read as follows: "Art. 55. A petition for [legal separation] DIVORCE may be filed on any of the following grounds:
For purposes of this Article, the term "child" shall include a child by nature or adoption. IN ADDITION, A PETITION FOR DIVORCE MAY BE FILED UPON A SHOWING THAT THERE IS AN IRREMEDIABLE BREAKDOWN OF THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP DUE TO IRRECONCILABLE MARITAL DIFFERENCES. SAID PETITION MUST SPECIFICALLY ALLEGE THE GROUNDS WHICH DESTROY THE LEGITIMATE ENDS OF THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP AND PREVENT ANY REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF RECONCILIATION." "Art. 56. The petition for [legal separation] DIVORCE shall be denied on any of the following grounds:
"Art. 57. An action for [legal separation] DIVORCE shall be filed within ONE YEAR FROM THE TIME THE PETITIONER BECOMES COGNIZANT OF THE CAUSE AND WITHIN five years from the time of the occurrence of the cause. IN THE CASE OF GROUNDS OR CAUSES FOR DIVORCE WHICH OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE ACTION MAY BE FILED WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ITS EFFECTIVITY: PROVIDED THAT SAID GROUNDS OR CAUSES OCCURRED WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THE FILING OF THE ACTION. PETITIONS FOR LEGAL SEPARATION FILED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT MAY BE AMENDED TO ACTIONS FOR DIVORCE: PROVIDED THAT SAID AMENDMENTS ARE MADE WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ITS EFFECTIVITY." "Art. 58. An action for [legal separation] DIVORCE shall in no case be tried before six months have elapsed since the filing of the petition." "Art. 59. No [legal separation] DIVORCE may be decreed unless the court has taken steps toward the reconciliation of the spouses and is fully satisfied, despite such efforts, that reconciliation is highly improbable." "Art. 60. No decree of [legal separation] DIVORCE shall be based upon a stipulation of facts or a confession of judgment. In any case, the court shall order the prosecuting attorney or fiscal assigned to it to take steps to prevent collusion between the parties and to take care that the evidence is not fabricated or suppressed." "Art. 61. After the filing of the petition for [legal separation] DIVORCE, the spouses shall be entitled to live separately from each other. The court, in the absence of a written agreement between the spouses, shall designate either of them or a third person to administer the absolute community or conjugal partnership property. The administrator appointed by the court shall have the same powers and duties as those of a guardian under the Rules of Court." "Art. 62. During the pendency of the action for [legal separation] DIVORCE, the provisions of Article 49 shall likewise apply to the support of the spouses and the custody and support of the common children." "Art. 63. The decree of [legal separation] DIVORCE shall have the following effects:
"Art. 64. After the finality of the decree of [legal separation] DIVORCE, the innocent spouse OR BOTH SPOUSES IN CASE OF DECREES PURSUANT TO THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 55, may revoke the donations made by him or her in favor of the [offending] OTHER spouse, as well as the designation of the latter as beneficiary in any insurance policy, even if such designation be stipulated as irrevocable. The revocation of the donations shall be recorded in the registries of property in the places where the properties are located. Alienations, liens and encumbrances registered in good faith before the recording of the complaint for revocation in the registries of property shall be respected. The revocation of or change in the designation of the insurance beneficiary shall take effect upon written notification thereof to the [insured] INSURER. The action to revoke the donation under this Article must be brought within five years from the time the decree of [legal separation] DIVORCE has become final." "Art. 65. If the spouses should reconcile, a corresponding joint manifestation under oath duly signed by them shall be filed with the court in the same proceeding for [legal separation] DIVORCE." "Art. 66. The reconciliation referred to in the preceding Article shall have the following consequences:
"Art. 67. The agreement to revive the former property regime referred to in the preceeding Article shall be executed under oath and shall specify:
The recording of the order in the registries of property shall not prejudice any creditor not listed or not notified, unless the debtor-spouse has sufficient separate properties to satisfy the creditor's claim." SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder or any provision thereof not affected shall remain in force and effect. SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of any law, executive order, presidential decree or other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved, |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon CityFirst Regular Session ELEVENTH CONGRESS HOUSE BILL NO. 6993 Introduced by Representative Manuel C. Ortega EXPLANATORY NOTE Today not all marriages succeed as a permanent union. An increasing number of married individuals find themselves subjected by their marriage partners to physical violence, grossly abusive conduct and other acts of or offenses that -- rather than promote blissful, harmonious conjugal and family life -- impair, debase or destroy the legitimate ends of the marriage relationship. This bill thus seeks to give spouses whi are shacked by an irretrievably broken marriage the freedom to remarry and possibly succeed in attaining a stable and fulfilling family life. Divorce is not a novel legal right granted by Philippine civil laws: the Family Code of the Philippines sanctions relative divorce (a mensa et thoro). Under the provision of Title II of said Code, legal separation, or separation from bed and board, is a recognized remedy for victims of failed marriages. To be sure, our civil laws have always recognized the need to allow married individuals to sever conjugal ties under certain justifiable conditions. Neither is divorce an institution exclusive to contemporary times. Historical records indicate that long before the advent of Spanish colonial rule beginning in the early 16th century, absolute divorce had been widely practiced among our ancestral tribes -- the Tagbanwas of Palawan, the Gadang of Nueva Vizcaya, the Sagada and Igorot of the Cordilleras, the Manobo, Bila-an and Moslems of Visayas and Mindanao islands, to name a few. During the Spanish regime, the law on divorce was the Siete Partidas which allowed only legal separation. The Spanish Civil Code on the subject were among those suspended by Governor General Weyler in 1889, and was never enforced since. In 1917 Act 2710 was passed by the Philippine Legislature repealing the Siete Partidas by allowing divorce on the grounds of adultery on the part of the wife and concubinage on the part of the husband. During the Japanese Occupation, a new law on absolute divorce, E.O. No. 141, was promulgated providing for ten grounds for divorce. The law lasted until 1944 when Gen. Douglas MacArthur re-established the Commonwealth Government by proclamation which in effect repealed E.O. No. 141 and revived Act 2710. In 1950, Act 2710 was repealed by the Civil Code of the Philippines which allows only legal separation. The draft of the Code, however, had provisions on absolute divorce which was subsequently eliminated and substituted with legal separation. The present Family Code of the Philippines also does not allow divorce (except a divorce obtained by the alien spouse of a Filipino citizen abroad), but it has expaded the grounds for legal separation to ten. Indeed, quoting a respected Filipino historical writer, "the law has come full circle". While the Family Code of the Philippines allows relative divorce, it prohibits lawfully separated spouses from exercising the right to remarry. Under our present laws, legal separation does not dissolve the marriage bond between legally separated spouses; said parties are considered married individuals for all legal intents and purposes. Our civil laws on marriage justify and allow the separation of married individuals but does not confer them the legal right or remedy to extricate themselves from the ordeal of a broken marriage. In the light of the foregoing, it is proposed that our present laws on marriage be amended to allow absolute divorce or dissolution of marriage. Based on the increasing number of failed marriages which confines many of our citizens to a perpetual state of marital limbo, it has become morally and socially acceptable for many Filipinos to grant spouses of broken marriages the legal right to remarry. The present grounds for legal separation which are recognized in our society as justifiable bases for relative divorce should be re-enacted as lawful grounds for absolute divorce. In addition, it is recommended that "irreconcilable marital differences" be included in our present civil laws as a justifiable cause for absolute divorce because not all circumstances and situations that vitiate the institution of marriage could be specifically categorized and defined by our lawmakers. Spouses living in a state of irreparable marital conflict or discord should be given the opportunity to present their marital contrarieties before the courts and have such differences adjudged as substantial grounds to dissolve or sever the legal bond of marriage. Approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. ![]() |
Kids React - Rebecca Black
I really wonder who is Rebecca Black, lets listen to these kids...hahaha... they are so awesome.
Manny Pacquiao - HP Commercial
Manny pacquiao is just getting millionaire and millionaire...
Breaking Dawn - Twilight Saga
Here is what you get when you spend most of your time browsing the net and searching files... the twilight saga - breaking dawn teaser...
hope to get for more... am excited to see this movie...
hope to get for more... am excited to see this movie...
Overseas Foreign Workers Life
I am actually browsing the net, checking facebook and listening to Maddi Jane when i asked one of my friends what’s the next to blog... and out of nowhere, she replied... OFW Life...
I think of why not...it may be an interesting topic to talk about. But how would I start, I really don’t know.
My life experience as an overseas foreign worker is not really enough to clearly define how it is to be an OFW. So i have to look around and see what the things that i and other OFWs are experiencing overseas...
I am working here in Singapore for almost a year now in one of the biggest local banks here. Working here is totally different than working in the Philippines because of so many things. When I and my colleagues from the Philippines came here in July, we are so full of hopes, questions and doubts. But naturally, out of being a Filipino, we still manage to smile despite the fact that we leave our loved ones and we have debts to pay because of going here. We got the employment through an agency and we have spent more or less 3000.00 SGD which covers agency fee, personal expenses, fare and buying stuffs before going here.
I just feel the excitement of everyone...that every time i try to remember it... it makes me really smile. We have to find places to stay and of course start tasting food. I remember, my first night, i was able to have my dinner at around 9 pm already after looking for a place to stay. And my 4 friends who are all ladies, i dont know if they were able to eat because they still have to look for a place at that time as well.
I remember eating Chinese food as i can’t find any Filipino food that night. What a life by then...
While we are working here, our families in the philippines are hopeful as well. They think of so many things like buy this and that... but also, thinking of how is my child overseas...its just so nice to know that our loved ones are thinking of us back in the philippines...
However, there are also some painful memories which I really can’t deny. Some of us have loved ones left in the philippines ... and it is not always a good story for an OFW. "Long Distance Relationship" is very hard to maintain as there could be a possibility that an OFW will find somebody overseas or his/her loved ones in the philippines can find somebody else back home. Funny but true and all i can think of now is ... thats the reality and it happened to me as well.
Being an OFW... you can buy things like you cant buy back home... i remember the time i got here, i only have 1 phone and two shoes with me...it was scarcity. Now, abundance of these things and i got these things in less than a year time. Back home, i dont think i can get all these stuff in a year...hahaha...
When i was working in cebu, i remember sending money to my parents as well, but it was only about 100 SGD a month...now i am able to send 3 or 4 times of that. I can see some of my friends buying DSLR and Mac Books. Some of them are travelling in and out of Singapore going to Indonesia and Malaysia .
I can just smile and thankful of all the blessings that we have received... its a very nice experience so far for us... but i can also see other OFW suffering and experiencing hardships. To prove it, I myself have been borrowing money as well just to survive because i have been sending money to my loved ones back home. I just hope i am not going to go back into that situation again as i wanna start saving.
Being an OFW is really something that is not just a joke. Others may see it as glamorous or a progress...but life in reality doesnt really speak of happiness all the time. One thing we have to always remember is to be thankful all the time and be glad that our life is much better as before.
Poverty in the Philippines... my insights
Poverty deprives people of their security and well-being; peace of mind; education and robs them of their future. It is also a deprivation to clothing, shelter and education. It is lack of opportunity and loss of hope.
As Mahatma Gandhi quoted "Poverty is the form of violence" - and we can clearly see this on the way robbers’ reason out when they are caught... "i have no money and my family is starving".
In the philippines , we dont need to have statistics for us to believe how worst the poverty is. Let your eyes be the judge and then think of how i defined poverty. I have been overseas for almost a year now and I can see even I am away from home how Filipinos are suffering from poverty.
It may be hard but i am really thinking if there is such a way that we can diminish poverty and increase Filipino life. However, it is so painful to think that even how much we wanted... hopes of getting out of it is quite impossible.
There are so many reasons why we are still poor:
1. Nation’s Debts. The main reason is because a large portion of our national budget goes to paying our foreign and domestic debts, instead of using it to build more roads, highways, bridges, schools, hospitals, housing units, railroads, irrigation, cable lines, and other public works; to raise the salaries and benefits of our public school teachers, policemen, soldiers, and government employees; and to fund more development and poverty-alleviation programs.
For every peso that the Filipino taxpayer pays to the government, a big part of it (about a third) only goes to our creditors. (http://emanila.com/philippines/2010/01/19/why-is-the-philippines-a-poor-country/)
2. Population mismanagement. This is the next major cause. Many people keep building families and producing children even if they are unprepared and have no money.
Through massive population management programs, the people should be informed that before building families, they first must have stable livelihoods, and savings for health care, children’s education, and emergencies, and that they should produce children only according to their financial means.
3. Corruption. The abuse of public power, office, or resources by government officials or employees for personal gain, e.g. by extortion, soliciting or offering bribes. Such abuse of power also exists in academe, corporate and even religious organization.
My insight on this; the government must needs to make sure that checks and balances is always audited. The president may have so much on his plate now but maybe at this time, it would be nice if he would be hands on to this. We all know the word "ningas kugon". We are just good at the start and after a while, we tend to forget things and become complacent on it. Resolving poverty issue is something that we should not be complacent and we can’t just have "siesta". We have to take it seriously.
As for me, this maybe too much but why not do this...
1. Corruption - termination from office is not enough. Why not make our law harder on this. I would suggest caning, jail and death penalty.
2. Population Mismanagement - Family planning should be our main priority. I believe in RH Bill as this will make a difference in a little way. Education about population and family making should start in first year highschool so students will have awareness. When i was teaching, I can sense that my students get excited when we start talking about love.
3. National Debt - cut the budget of it and starts using those funds in creating farm to market roads, salaries of our government employees to make them more efficient and honest.
Unless we lessen poverty, we will continue on seeing slumps and beggars in the philippines . We will continue to feel unsafe and afraid of going out. There will be no justice and education will be very expensive.
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