New Airport Security Measures for the USA

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terror plotMy eldest sister from San Francisco just sent me an email about travelling to the USA or within the USA due to the recent terror plot.

Getting ready to travel by plane for the USA or within USA? I just had a talk with my husband (who works for an airline in the Onboard Services department) who told me that if I don’t want any delays during check-in, (1) plan on being there three hours before; (2) that I shouldn’t bring my cellphone on the plane; (3) and that I should buy one of those huge ZIPLOC bags to put in my ID, keys, wallet, passport for my handcarried items — and to check in everything else. His advice to me might sound quite extreme so I recommend that you contact your airline and check www.tsa.gov for the latest travel advisories before taking off… When I was in London a few weeks ago, I did wonder why there were triple security areas we had to navigate before we could board the plane for the US. AND I think I’ll ask about bringing my cellphone — since I can’t live without it while travelling. Did my husband mean any cellphone that had all that fancy internet access technology?

I presume laptops, PDA’s and the like are not allowed too. The no-carry-on policy is going to make flights long and boring. I checked the Transport Security Administration to see the latest changes :

NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.

Exception: Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines

The Philippines had a similar incident in January 1995. Our security briefly banned aerosol sprays, bottled gels and liquid containers of more than about an ounce from departing planes because of a suspected terror plot during a visit by Pope John Paul II. As in the current situation an exception was made for baby formula, even though in powdered form it could easily disguise explosives. Some commercial products are even designed to be transported as two relatively inert substances and then mixed together on site to produce an explosive. That would be a catastrophe!

All these security measures are needed but it must be stressful to travel during these times. It’s a good thing my younger sister arrived safely from London just before this terror plot unfolded.

Nicole, not just a rape victim

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Updated– Read the latest development at Nicole, Subic Rape Victim Doubts the Rape

rape.jpgI am disappointed at some of the public opinions regarding ‘Nicole’, the rape victim (read Subic Rape case). Reading this ‘Nicole Tells her Story news article on Nicole shows how judgemental some bloggers can be. Yes some bloggers but I have yet to surf a blog that blames Nicole. Or maybe I am not in that circle of bloggers.

But if blogs, Internet chat rooms, or family conversations are to be the gauge, Nicole is not doing all that well in the court of public opinion, according to Evalyn Ursua, one of her lawyers.

“This means we have a long way to go in terms of educating the public about rape,” the private prosecutor said.

Ursua said that per the “monitoring” done by volunteers, among them law students of the University of the Philippines who are assisting her in the case, Nicole is even being “blamed” for the alleged rape.

“Opinion is divided, and there’s a significant number of blogs we have monitored that are against her or think she doesn’t deserve support because she was drunk [on the night of the incident] and ‘therefore’ had it coming,” Ursua told the Inquirer.

Why should she have it coming? I know a lot of girls in their twenties who drink and want to have fun. I don’t condone alcohol drinking and I warn my girls of the dangers of alcohol intake. It’s just that they should look at themselves or their friends first judging “Nicole”. The UP Law center shows in a survey that 70% of young adults like Nicole drink. How do they even know she has loose morals? And even if she did, it doesn’t mean she sought out sex with these men. Does she deserve this kind of public opinion? There are so many myths and misconceptions about rape victims. A rape victim is credible if she was a virgin at the time of the rape. Perhaps even date rape is not acceptable in the Philippines.

Rape is defined as forced, manipulated or coerced sexual intercourse (or other sexual act) against the will of the victim. If the act occurs while the victim is unconscious, asleep or otherwise unable to communicate unwillingness, it is still considered rape.

source:
http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/Policies/Judicial/sect16.html

I know the courts will establish if it was indeed rape or not. But in the meantime, those who judged ‘Nicole” should educate themselves on what rape really is.

As Nicole said:

“I am only fighting for my dignity and that of my family,” she said. “I just hope people would support me in this struggle. Please don’t judge me too harshly. I’m only seeking justice.”

Edit- December 5, 2006– Court Decision is out. Lance Corporal Daniel Smith is guilty. Read Nicole Moving on After Subic Rape Case Decision

Fire in MC Home Depot , Makati

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IMG_0550.jpgMy daughter and I had a wonderful mother-daughter time at Fitness First in The Fort. I love sweating it out in the gym after all the parties I went to this weekend. Gym time enables me to have small talk with my daughter whom I will not see next weekend. On our way home at 5:00 PM, the dark clouds looked like there was a fire near our house. I hope it’s not in our village. I didn’t think it was because Butch didn’t give me a call. The fire was at that MC Home Depot (sells construction materials) at Chino Roces Avenue beside San Lorenzo Village . The smoke was so thick I thought it would swallow our car in darkness. Hopefully the brave firemen of Makati can bring it under control. (read more?)

*EDIT (July 3) – The cause of the fire was due to an overheated computer. Read Blaze caused by ‘overheated’ compute

fire_in_makati.jpg

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Ban on billboards

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Edit- October 2, 2006– Read Total Ban of Billboards in congested areas in the Philippines.

It says in the news that “FOLLOWING complaints from motorists, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has finally drafted a circular which would ban billboards from being displayed alongside major roads nationwide.” Larger-than-life billboards like Bayantel Ad and scantily-clad models in Bench ads are a distraction to motorists. Not only that, these billboards destroy the landscape of Metro Manila. Once approved, it would prohibit the putting up of advertising billboards or signs within a 100-meter radius of the center of national roads as well as transmission lines. It also calls for the removal within six months of existing display boards within the 100-meter radius. Now, I wonder when this will be implemented.

Speaking of Bayantel, I’ve been getting so many hits from them and probably comments from their staff or their PR guys. (check the latest comments in this entry: Bayantel Ad:Sex in Advertising )

The Mystery of the Poisoned Water Jug

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““[tag]Poisoning[/tag] shocks best, brightest in science high school”. Upon reading the news, I could only shake my head at the cruelty of this sick joke. Kids create pranks now and then but this is just too much. My friend Cathy Babao-Guballa aka Nancy Drew , blogged about The Mystery of the Poisoned Water Jug , an inside story.

Now it can be told…”“J” was not the first victim, mind you, she was the fourth, but the worst hit, in a string of poisoning cases that had been plaguing this high school for brilliant minds over the last few months. It was only when ““J” finally hovered between life and death, did the pieces of the puzzle finally fit.

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Lessons Learned From the ULTRA stampede tragedy

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Wowowee will be aired again but there were lessons learned from the ULTRA tragedy. For one:

Now there will be separate entrances for senior citizens and children, who should be accompanied by adults. A blood pressure check is also mandatory for studio contestants, according to Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN vice president for entertainment. ““Blood pressure rises with the excitement,” she explained. ““We want to make sure they can take this kind of excitement.”

Though I believe that the show promotes “mendicancy and dependency”, I am glad to know that they are having separate entrances for the children and the elderly.

coffin.jpgThere was one child victim from this tragedy and I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with the bereaved family. This is my story that I wrote for The Compassionate Friends. (written on the day of her burial)….

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20th EDSA I People Power Anniversary

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Today marks the 20th anniversary of People Power but there is no celebration. Thanks to the state of national emergency. Twenty years ago, I was 8 months pregnant with my eldest daughter, Lauren. There was no way for me to join my husband and brother in EDSA. My huge belly would be squashed with the millions of people. I felt so left out. During my student years, I was quite active in lightning rallies against the Marcos rule.
So on that fateful day of February 25, 1986, I was left at home, listening to Radio Veritas.

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