EARTH HOUR

THIS SATURDAY, 28 MARCH AT 8:30PM YOU CAN VOTE EARTH BY SWITCHING OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR -- EARTH HOUR.

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

Turn off your lights for Earth Hour, record your vote and share it with the world! Here's how.

PHOTO
Take a photo on the night, upload it to flickr and add it to Earth Hour's flickr group and tag it with your city and country.

VIDEO
Make a video of your event, upload it to YouTube and add it to our YouTube group.

BLOG
Write a live blog post during the event and tag it with earthhour or voteearth, and your location.

TWITTER
Update your Twitter on the night and write #earthhour or #voteearth and your #location in your update to tag it.

8:30pm local time, wherever you live on Planet Earth. This Saturday, 28 March 2009.

Your vote counts! Vote Earth!

RESORTS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE BACOLOD CITY

INLAND RESORTS:
• Natures Village Resort
• The Quiet Place Farm Resort
• Buenos Aires Mountain Resort
• Mambukal Resort
• Balicaocao Highland Resort
• Kipot Summer Resort

ISLAND RESORTS:
• Jomabo Island Paradise Beach Resort
• Lakawon Island Beach Resort
• Costa Aguada Island Resort

SEASIDE RESORTS:
• Palmas Del Mar
• Manapla Seaside Resort
• Sunburst Bay Resort

BEACH RESORTS:
• Takatuka Lodge & Dive Resort
• Jara Beach Resort
• Happy Valley Beach Resort
• Bonista Beach Resort
• Punta Bulata Beach Resort
• Soleo Beach Resort
• Laura Beach Resort
• Paradiso Beach Resort
• Canonoy Beach Resort

SPECIAL GROCERY LIST

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store.

She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.

She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"

Louise replied, "Yes sir." "O.K" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."

The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.

The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.

It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said:

"Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

Louise thanked him and left the store. The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said; "It was worth every penny of it. Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs."

THE POWER OF PRAYER: When you receive this, say a prayer.. That's all you have to do.

Just stop right now, and say a prayer of thanks for your own good fortune.
Then please share to all your friends and relatives.

I believe if you will send this testimony out with prayer in faith, you will receive what you need God to do in your and your families' lives .

So dear heart, trust God to heal the sick, provide food for the hungry, clothes and shelter for those that don't have as we do. Amen & Amen

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

There is no cost but a lot of rewards. May you always walk with the Angels. God Bless!

RP, Indonesia free from Asian contraction amid global financial crisis

By: Reuters poll


MANILA (PNA) -- The Philippines and Indonesia are the only economies in Southeast Asia that will record growth this year, results of a Reuters poll survey show.

But the growth, Reuters said, "will be sharply slower than in previous years, particularly for Indonesia which will be hit by falling prices of commodities, the bulk of Jakarta's exports."

Reuters forecast growth of just 2.3 per cent for the Philippines this year, but it is lower than a similar poll last December that showed a 3.3 per cent estimate. It is also below government expectations for at least 3.7 per cent, due partly to lower remittances from overseas Filipinos.

Singapore will be the hardest hit, shrinking nearly five this year, the results showed, while Thailand faces its worst recession in 11 years. According to Reuters, the trend reflects a collapse in exports across Asia.

"The Philippines and Indonesia will be the only economies in the region to record growth this year but that growth will be sharply slower than in previous years, with Indonesia hit by falling prices of commodities, the bulk of its exports."

According to Reuters, Indonesia is not as dependent on export trade as its neighbors and is thus expected to expand by four per cent this year and 5.1 per cent in 2010 despite the glut in the export sector. Its exports contribute only about a third of Gross Domestic Product.

Reuters continued on Indonesia: "Still, the growth forecast is well down from a 4.8 per cent estimate in a poll three months ago. Weak exports and falling commodities prices weigh on growth, and analysts said the government needs to take further steps to support the economy on top of last month's US$ 6.1-billion fiscal stimulus package."

In Malaysia and Thailand, demand is hurt by crumbling exports. Thailand's economy is set to shrink 1.5 per cent this year while Malaysia will see a 1.2 per cent contraction. Malaysia launched a US$ 16-billion stimulus package after January exports fell 28 per cent, the biggest drop in nearly 30 years.

The poll forecast Malaysia would pick up slightly next year, with GDP growing 2.8 per cent while Thailand is set for a 2.9 per cent expansion in 2010, according to Reuters.

Thailand is Southeast Asia's second largest economy.

Tony Bourdain Goes Tropical

Tony Bourdain is going to the Philippines on a brand-new episode of "No Reservations. "

Try all the local favorites Monday, 16 Feb, at 10pm ET.

http://www.travelch annel.com/ TV_Shows/ Anthony_Bourdain ?cmpid=_BJlJv0B7 f5sh8j_16_ trv11

HOPE YOU'LL ENJOY!

DOT endorses P20 million in investments

by Sheila Crisostomo
http://www.philstar .com/Article. aspx?articleId= 451183&publicationSubCate\ goryId=63


The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday endorsed more than P20 million worth of tourism-related investments for 2009 that are expected to generate some 3,000 jobs for Filipinos.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said these investments will also create more than 2,000 rooms, boosting efforts to promote tourism.

"With this initial list of investments, the country is assured of a vibrant tourism industry, with bigger revenues and more jobs. And consequently, these will lead to developments in transportation and road infrastructure, " he said.

The tourism projects include nine resorts, six hotels, two theme parts and one condotel or condominium- hotel.

Durano added that for the first quarter, the establishments that opened were Park Bed & Breakfast Hotel and Restaurant (48 rooms) in Pasay; Sugihara Villa Resort, Vauban Villa Resort, Salamanca Villa Resort, Almonavides Villa Resort, La Galice Villa Resort, Kapangyarihan Villa Resort, and La Pucelle Villa Resort-Amanpulo group in Pamalican Island, Palawan (28 cluster villas); Oakwood Serviced Residences (232 rooms) in Pasig; Imperial Palace Water Park Resort and Spa (616 rooms) in Cebu; and Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa (217 rooms).

To open in the coming months are Discovery Bay Misibis, Manila Ocean Park (additional facilities), Picasso Serviced Residences, Newport Marriot Hotel, Maxim's Hotel, Microtel Inns and Suite Puerto Princesa, and Silang Wakeboard Park.

At present, the DOT is processing the investment of Bella Roca Island Resort and Spa in Marinduque.

According to DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr., the jobs that will be generated from the projects is seen to augment the rise in unemployment in these challenging times.

As a policy, tourism-related businesses can apply for income tax holiday for four to six years and duty-free importation of selected capital equipment needed for the operation upon registration with the Bureau of Investments.