Only in the Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines - Health officials blamed yesterday online social networking for the rise in the cases of HIV/AIDS in the country last year.

Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum, Ferchito Avelino, Philippine National AIDS Council secretariat director, said the “mushrooming” of social networking sites in the past three years could be linked to the rising AIDS cases in the Philippines.

“There has been no study but it has been pinpointed as one of the major factors in the rise of HIV/AIDS cases,” he said.

Read more On "Online social networking blamed for rise of AIDS cases in RP !"!

The construction of Pagcor City aka Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City which will house an integrated resort with a world class theme park, casinos, shopping malls, sports arena and other leisure activities are underway.


Watch the video below The Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City Ad as seen on CNN,
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR05uFKVhgg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

PHILIPPINES INVESTORS DEPOSIT US$300 MLN FOR PAGCOR COMPLEX

MANILA, Jun 12, 2009 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- AZECF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The three main investors in a Philippines casino development have deposited US$300 million - US$100 million each - with Pagcor as assurance of their commitment to the project.
SM Group, Genting Group of Malaysia and Aruze Corp. of Japan are the major investors in the 100-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment Complex along Manila Bay in Pasay City, and intend to pursue plans to develop the property into the country's premier entertainment complex.

"We want to be assured they are committed to do the project and push through with their plans," said Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Ephraim Genuino.

Initial investments for the project are expected to reach US$6 billion.

About 100 hectares of the 120-hectare track of the Pagcor property are already allotted to these three developers.

Genuino said SM would kick off construction in 60 days with the fencing of the property that it was going to develop.

The first phase of the three-phased development is expected to be completed in two to three years. It will include hotels, sports arena, museum, world class theme park, and an oceanarium.

Genuino is trying to allay the fears and opposition from some sectors that Pagcor is turning the massive development into a version of Macau-Las Vegas gambling fame.

"Only three per cent of the entire development along the Manila Bay is related to gaming and casinos," he said. The Genting Group would be the developer for the casino and gaming portion.

The larger chunk of the complex would be composed of tourism, entertainment and leisure, and sports facilities.

Included in the new entertainment complex is the already-developed section spanning about 300 hectares that contains the sprawling Mall of Asia complex.

The government has been constantly pushing for the development of the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City, which Genuino said would create about 200,000 jobs.

The original Nayong Pilipino located near the airport had been closed. It used to showcase the country's pride including famous tourist spots with a touch of history and culture.

Genuino said there were some new foreign operators that had expressed an interest to put additional investment into the complex.

He said these three foreign groups - American, European and Korean - all had existing gaming operations elsewhere and were currently being investigated and assessed by Pagcor to determine if they could also take part in the development of Pagcor City. He did not give further details.

Among the requirements to be part of the Pagcor City development were a minimum investment of US$1 billion towards the investor's intended projects which should be completed in five years and the submission of a concept plan and design.

It would take between three to six months before Pagcor could then determine if these potential new investors could participate, Genuino said.

source: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/

Read more On ""Bagong Nayong Pilipino" to rise in Manila Soon!"!

Patricia Muñoz, a fully credentialed special education teacher in California, will conduct the following SPED seminars:

• Implementing an Effective Inclusion Program on March 8
  
• How to Cope When Your Child or Student is Special, March 15, with Virgilio Antonio
  
• Utilizing Effective Strategies to Serve the Needs of Special Children, March 22
• Preparing an Effective IEP, a Vital Tool in the SPED Program, March 29.

All seminars will be held at Protégé SPED Center, Unit 1A Rexxon’s Arcade, 36 Xavierville Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City (with tel. nos. 0918-3588855, 436-2620 or 434-6064).

Seminar hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

Protégé conducts weekday classes on SPED teaching strategies and IEP Process and Writing.

Muñoz also offers consultancy on setting up special education schools and programs.

For details, e-mail patmunoz2001@yahoo.com. Read more On "SPED Seminar Series in March!"!

American pop punk band Fall Out Boy returns to the Philippines for another concert on February 13, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum.

FOB has just released their fourth album titled Folie A Deux released under MCA Music, featuring the singles I Don’t Care and America’s Suitehearts.

Tickets to the Fall Out Boy concert are now available at Ticketnet (02) 911-5555.

Ticket Prices:

P4,725 for Patron
P3,675 for Lower Box
P2,625 for Upper Box A
P1,050 for Upper Box B
P525 for General Patronage Read more On "Fall Out Boy-Live in Manila 2009!"!