Starbucks is without a doubt taking a look back at its roots and giving homage to the basic thing that made it into what it is right now —  high-quality coffee beans.

Some people say it’s too simple but they are mistaken. The 2010 Planner is the epitome of class and functionality that is why very one of us coffee lovers should absolutely have it. Of course it’s arguably one of the most expensive planner in the market given that you are likely to spend more or less PHP2,000 before you get all 16 stickers, but if you are a coffee addict it wouldn’t be such a burden.

I reckon you now know that this blog wouldn’t be complete without me giving you a little history lesson. Let’s take a look at where all this Starbucks craze started:

Founding

The Starbucks Center, Seattle. The company HQ, in the old Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog distribution center building

The original Starbucks was opened in Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, in 1971 by three partners: English teacher Jerry Baldwin, history teacher Zev Siegel, and writer Gordon Bowker. The three were inspired by entrepreneur Alfred Peet (whom they knew personally) to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment. From 1971–1976, that first Starbucks was at 2000 Western Avenue; it then was relocated to 1912 Pike Place, where it remains to this day. During their first year of operation, they purchased green coffee beans from Peet’s, then began buying directly from growers.

Entrepreneur Howard Schultz joined the company in 1982 as Director of Retail Operations and Marketing, and after a trip to Milan, Italy advised that the company should sell coffee and espresso drinks as well as beans. The owners rejected this idea, believing that getting into the beverage business would distract the company from its primary focus. To them, coffee was something to be prepared in the home. Certain that there was money to be made selling pre-made drinks, Schultz started the Il Giornale coffee bar chain in 1985.

In 1984, the original owners of Starbucks, led by Baldwin, took the opportunity to purchase Peet’s (Baldwin still works there).

Name

The company is named in part after Starbuck, Captain Ahab’s first mate in the novel Moby-Dick, as well as a turn-of-the-century mining camp (Starbo or Storbo) on Mount Rainier. According to Howard Schultz’s book Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time, the name of the company was derived from Moby-Dick, although not in as direct a fashion as many assume. Gordon Bowker liked the name “Pequod” (the ship in the novel), but his then creative partner Terry Heckler responded, “No one’s going to drink a cup of Pee-quod!” Heckler suggested “Starbo”. Brainstorming with these two ideas resulted in the company being named for the Pequod’s first mate, Starbuck.

Logo

Original brown logoIn 2006, Valerie O’Neil, a Starbucks spokeswoman, said that the logo is an image of a “twin-tailed siren”. The logo has been significantly streamlined over the years. In the first version, which was based on a 16th-century Norse woodcut, the Starbucks siren was topless and had a fully visible double fish tail. The image also had a rough visual texture and has been likened to a melusine. In the second version, which was used from 1987–92, her breasts were covered by her flowing hair, but her navel was still visible, and the fish tail was cropped slightly. In the current version, used since 1992, her navel and breasts are not visible at all, and only vestiges remain of the fish tails. The original “woodcut” logo has been moved to the Starbuck’s Headquarters in Seattle.

At the beginning of September 2006 and then again in early 2008, Starbucks temporarily reintroduced its original brown logo on paper hot-drink cups. Starbucks has stated that this was done to show the company’s heritage from the Pacific Northwest and to celebrate 35 years of business. The vintage logo sparked some controversy due in part to the siren’s bare breasts, but the temporary switch garnered little attention from the media. Starbucks had drawn similar criticism when they reintroduced the vintage logo in 2006. The logo was altered when Starbucks entered the Saudi Arabian market in 2000 to remove the mermaid, leaving only her crown, as reported in a Pulitzer Prize-winning column by Colbert I. King in The Washington Post in 2002. The company announced three months later that it would be using the international logo in Saudi Arabia.

There you go, now you have an idea of how your favorite coffee franchise came about. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, indulge yourself and buy another frappuccino or latte! Remember, by drinking Starbucks you are helping the coffee bean industry.

The Specs:

I’ve had the phone for a week and so far I am very happy with it.  I think I’ve found the right match for me.

At a Glance

Manuel “Mar” Araneta Roxas II (born May 13, 1957) is a Senator of the Philippines. He is the son of former Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of former President Manuel Roxas.

A graduate of the Wharton School of Economics, Roxas worked as an investment banker, mobilizing venture capital funds for small and medium enterprises. He served as the Representative of 1st District of Capiz from 1993 to 2000. His stint as Congressman was cut short after he was appointed by President Joseph Estrada as Secretary of Trade and Industry. He resigned from the position at the height of the EDSA revolution 2001 and was later re-appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her new Cabinet. He resigned again to run for a Senate seat in the 2004 Philippine election. He was elected as Senator with 19 million votes, the highest ever garnered by a national candidate in any Philippine election.

Initially one of the leading contenders in the Philippine presidential election 2010, he has slid down to becoming a vice-presidential candidate to make way for Noynoy Aquino. Though Roxas’s supporters assert that this demonstrated his selflessness, his critics claim that he had done so as a way to secure a graceful exit as he was not performing well in the surveys leading up to the decision.

Early life and career

Roxas was born on May 13, 1957 in Manila, Philippines to Judy Araneta (born July 31, 1931 in Negros Occidental) and Gerardo Roxas. Roxas’ father was a former Senator (1924-1982), and the only son of Manuel Roxas, the first President of the Third Philippine Republic, and Trinidad de Leon. The couple married on 1955. He has two siblings namely Maria Lourdes or Ria, married to Augusto Ojeda and mother of three and the late Congressman Gerardo Roxas, Jr. (1960-1993).

Roxas attended Ateneo de Manila University for grade school and high school, then attended the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a degree in economics in 1979.

After graduation, he worked for seven years as an investment banker in New York, and became an assistant vice president of the New York-based Allen & Company. Following the 1985 announcement by President Ferdinand Marcos of a snap election, he took a leave of absence to join the presidential campaign of Corazon Aquino.

In September 1986, President Corazon Aquino went to the United States. He was one of those who organized a series of investment round-table discussions with the American business community. From 1986 onwards, he visited the Philippines more frequently.

He then proposed to his company to have set up shop in Asia specifically in the Philippines, and later, his superiors agreed. In 1991, he was stationed in the country under North Star Capitals, Inc. which took Jollibee public. In the United States, he participated in the first financing of Discovery Channel and Tri-Star Pictures.

Congressman, 1993-2000

Roxas’ brother, Dinggoy, a Congressman representing the 1st District of Capiz died of cancer. At the age of 35, he decided to run in the special election to replace his brother and won.

Roxas joined the government in 1993 as a Congressman representing the 1st District of Capiz. He later became Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

As congressman, he espoused consumer protection, underscoring the right of every Filipino to affordable medicines, as his personal advocacy. His landmark laws include, among others:

Republic Act No. 8759 – establishing in all municipalities a Public Employment Service Office which serves as employment facilitation and information center, and links all job opportunities within the region;
Republic Act No. 8748 - amending the Special Economic Zone Act by directly allocating to the municipality or city 2% (out of the 5%) gross tax to be collected from the establishments operating in the ecozone and providing for disturbance compensation for persons to be displaced or evicted by publicly-owned ecozones;
Republic Act No. 8756 – incentivizing the establishment of regional headquarters to encourage investment and operation of multinational companies in the country and to generate more jobs.

His tenure in the House was most noted for his principal authorship of Republic Act No. 7880 (Roxas Law), which ensures fair distribution of the education capital budget among all the provinces. This started his advocacy for fair and equitable access to education, free from regional bias and political patronage considerations.[8]

Roxas resigned from the House of Representatives following his appointment as Trade and Industry Secretary under the Estrada administration in 2000.

DTI Secretary, 2000-2003

Roxas was appointed Secretary of Trade and Industry by President Joseph Estrada in January 2000, replacing Jose Pardo who as appointed Secretary of Finance. He resigned the position in November, as Estrada was under fire due to allegations of corruption. In January 2001, days after Estrada was overthrown, Roxas was re-appointed to the same office by newly installed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was also temporarily designated by Arroyo to head the Department of Energy.

During his four-year stint as DTI Secretary, he pushed for the development of the “palengke” (market) as the basic unit of the economy and the root of progress, advocating not only consumer welfare and protection but also sound trade and investment policies, particularly SME development.

He intensified his commitment to quality education through the Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) Program, which distributed over 30,000 computers to 2,000 public high schools all over the Philippines. PCPS computers provided 500,000 high school students with the necessary ICT tools and skills.

His work regarding trade policy was highlighted during the 2003 WTO Meeting in Cancún, Mexico, where he fought for increased market access for Philippine exports, particularly agricultural products and a rationalized Philippine trade regime so that domestic industries would not be harmed.

Roxas launched ‘Make IT Philippines’ and organized the first IT-enabled services (ITES) to the US which led to the biggest global industry names to invest in the Philippines. He pioneered the establishment of high-technology industry centers and the promotion of the business process outsourcing (BPO) market in the Philippines, particularly call center operations. From a mere 2000 jobs at the onset, the BPO industry now provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, thereby putting the Philippines on the map as a major IT/BPO destination.

He worked for the reopening of the National Steel Corporation which provided thousands of jobs, income and livelihood to Iligan City, Northern Mindanao and adjacent regions. He later launched the Garment Export Industry Transformation Plan and Assistance Package to enhance the competitiveness of the industry and ensure its viability and vibrancy beyond 2004. He also initiated the Motor/Vehicle Development Program to promote exports, create a viable market base for our car manufacturers and secure jobs for our workers.

He pushed for MSME development through the SULONG (SMEs Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth) Program, which granted almost P26.7 billion on low-interest loans to 281,229 SMEs on its first year.

He promoted the Tamang Timbang, Tamang Presyo (Right Scale, Right Price) program for consumers; the Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya (Right Price, Family Medicine) to make affordable and quality medicines accessible to Filipinos, and Pinoy Pandesal, Palengke ng Bayan, among others. These programs promoted supply chain efficiencies leading to growth and productivity, and a wide range of opportunities and long-term gains.

As a proponent of the philosophy of ‘palengkenomics’, which considers the “palengke” (market) as a microcosm of the economy, Roxas conducts weekly monitoring of the prices of prime commodities and maintains strong linkages with suppliers, traders, and vendors in the different wet markets.

On December 10, 2003, Roxas resigned from his post to prepare for his senatorial bid under the banner of the Liberal Party in the 2004 elections. Roxas said that he needs to separate his work in DTI from his work as a candidate, and added that his resignation did not surprise the President. He was succeeded by Cesar A. V. Purisima, former chairman of the accounting firm Sycip, Gorres & Velayo (SGV).

Senator, 2004-2010

Roxas was proclaimed by the Comelec as Senator-elect on May 24, 2004 and officially assumed the office at noon of June 30, 2004. He was elected under the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) of President Arroyo.

Roxas currently holds assignments on the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce and Senate Oversight Committee on Optical Media Board serving alongside with Ramon Revilla, Jr.

13th Congress

Roxas authored 43 bills and 46 resolutions brought before the 13th Congress in July 2004 and 2007. He has filed bills on fighting smuggling, supporting labor, education, economy, and alternative energy.

On February 26, 2006, the Philippines was under a state emergency after the government claimed that it foiled an alleged coup d’état attempt against the administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier that same day. Two days later, Roxas called on the government to immediately revoke Proclamation No. 1017, saying it betrays its own vision of a strong republic and directly attack Philippine democracy.

He voted in favor of the Revised Value-Added Tax Law when it was deliberated in the Senate. The law was co-authored by other Liberal Party members, Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan.

He also voted in favor of the abolition of the death penalty in the Philippines.

He voted against the Human Security Act together with Senator Jamby Madrigal saying that “the fight against terror requires urgent operational reforms over measures that could impair civil liberties”. He even warned that the said law poses a danger to the security and rights of every Filipino if there will be no set of implementing rules and regulations laid down.

14th Congress

Roxas’ legislative agenda for the 14th Congress are as follows:

Affordable Medicines: He has filed Senate Bill No. 101 (Law on Patents, Tradenames and Trademarks) to amend Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, to lower the prices of medicines through increased competition among drug companies and by providing the government with better policy tools to significantly influence the supply and demand of medicines.

EVAT Funds for Education and Healthcare: He has filed Senate Bill No. 102 (People’s Fund Act) to ease the effect of the 12% E-VAT. The People’s Fund would consist of thirty percent (30%) of all proceeds from the VAT collected under Title IV of the National Internal Revenue Code. This portion estimates the share of incremental revenues from Republic Act No. 9337, the Expanded Value-Added Tax law, which increased to 12% the VAT and removed the exemption.

Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners: He has filed Senate Bill No. 103 (Individual Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners Bill) to exempt minimum wage earners in the private sector and government workers in Salary Grades 1 to 3, amending certain provisions of Republic Act No. 8424, otherwise known as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

As per estimates by the National Wages and Productivity Board, there are 7 million workers earning the minimum wage and even below. For him, it is unfair and unjust that the government, under the law, is taking away a portion of their already subsistence-level income.

Amendments to the Roxas Law
He has filed Senate Bill No. 104 to amend Republic Act No. 7880, also known as the Fair and Equitable Access to Education Act, to eliminate the problem of classroom shortages in the Philippines, as well as enhancing the process of construction, rehabilitation, replacement, completion, and repair of needed school buildings and classrooms.

Regulating the Pre-Need Industry: He has filed Senate Bill No. 105 (Pre-Need Industry Act of 2007) to address the absence of a statute that regulates the pre-need industry by establishing the Pre-Need Industry Act of 2007 to govern the operations of firms which issue or sell pre-need plans or similar contracts and investments.

Anti-Smuggling Bill: He has filed Senate Bill No. 106 (Anti-Smuggling Act of 2007) to amend certain provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended. Under the proposed bill, an Audit and Transparency Group under the Bureau of Customs, headed by a Deputy Commissioner, would regularly inspect and report on the bureau’s operational processes, collection and financial reporting, fiscal and personnel performance, system efficiency, internal control, information and communication flow, fraudulent and illegal practices and other related areas. On the basis of these inspections and reports, the Audit and Transparency Deputy Commissioner can initiate investigations of fraud and other graft and corrupt practices in the bureau, and shall recommend to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of any cases against personnel and officers involved.

Lemon Law: He has filed Senate Bill No. 107 (Lemon Law of 2007) to have a one (1) year period in which buyers of brand-new vehicles can avail of the provisions of this Lemon Law, which allows up to four repairs on the same defect before a replacement or refund of the vehicle can be claimed. For him, it would ensure that the investment on a vehicle is money well-spent.
SME Magna Carta: He has filed Senate Bill No. 108 (Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) to strengthen Republic Act No. 6977, the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises. The focus of the amendments of this bill focuses on three points: guidelines, institutional support and organizational support. Guidelines refer to the specific asset size definition, appropriating a definite and regular amount for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council and increase in the mandatory allocation to lending activities. Institutional support comprises additional government agencies to coordinate SME efforts and formalization of the SME Development Plan. Lastly, organizational support to intensify the powers and increase capitalization of the Small Business and Guarantee Finance Corporation to complement the growing demands for financing. Other features of the bill include formalizing the celebration of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Week and recognition of outstanding MSMEs.

Free Information Act: He has filed Senate Bill No. 109 (Free Information Act) to implement the Constitutional guarantee to free access by the people to official information, except when the disclosure of such information would jeopardize other prerogatives of the government, namely, the protection of the privacy of individuals, trade secrets, national security, public order and safety, and foreign diplomatic relations.

The bill also proposes the adoption by all government bodies a mechanism wherein all written requests for information shall be responded to within two days, unless proper justification is given by the government body, subject only to the payment of reasonable fees for the viewing or reproduction of such information. To compel disclosure of information, in case a government body refuses access to such information on whatever grounds, the Office of the Ombudsman would be tapped to hear any citizens’ complaints of not being properly assisted by the pertinent government body. Penalties will be levied to officials or employees who knowingly and unjustly refuse to provide access to information, or who consciously release false or misleading information.

Decriminalizing Libel:  He has filed Senate Bill No. 110 (Penalty of Imprisonment in Libel Cases Abolition Bill) to decriminalize libel and limit the venue of filing libel suits. He believes that the approval of the said measure would be a small way by which Congress may help in alleviating the plight of journalists.

Personal Life:

On October 27, 2009, Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez were married during a simple wedding ceremony held at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. Roxas’ running mate on the 2010 election,Senator Noynoy Aquino became one of the couple’s godfather. Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philippine Madrigal Singers provided the music during the wedding. Other notable performers included Basil Valdez, Robert Sena, and Jamie Rivera.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Roxas

Also Visit:

http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/roxas_bio.asp

http://marroxas.multiply.com

www.marroxas.com

Yesterday it was reported that a fire damaged one of the transformers in the Dolores, Rizal substation.

According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the operator of the country’s so-called electricity superhighway, the damage caused by the fire would continue to affect the eastern part of the metropolis, including San Juan, Pasig, Cainta and Marikina.

In particular, these areas will experience rotating brownouts which the power distributor, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), started implementing Thursday. The power outages, which will last at least three hours or more, will be implemented at least twice a day.

Meralco explained that without manual load dropping (rotating brownouts), the effect of the power outage could have been more massive, even leading to a system-wide blackout.

It added, however, that it did not know up to when the rotating brownouts would be implemented, saying this would depend on how soon NGCP would be able to resolve the problem.

Certain areas of Metro Manila and Rizal province were left without electricity just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday after one of the four 300-megavolt ampere (MVA) transformers in the Dolores substation caught fire.

As a result, the other transformers and Meralco’s five 115-kilovolt lines that draw power from the Dolores substation tripped.

The damage in the Dolores substation affected 13 Meralco substations, particularly those in St. Anthony, Manggahan, Parang, Masinag, Marikina, Santolan, Cainta, Shangri-la, Mandaluyong, Hillcrest, Dolores, Cubao bank no. 2 and New Teresa.

This resulted in electricity being cut off to parts of Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, Taguig and Quezon City. Also affected were Cainta, Angono, Taytay, Binangonan, Antipolo, San Mateo and Rodriguez, all in Rizal province.

According to NGCP, it was still repairing the damaged equipment and would directly coordinate with Meralco to immediately restore electricity in affected areas.

Source: Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Applying for a call center job is not rocket science but it is difficult if you don’t know what to expect. That is why I have put together some tips on how you can land that coveted call center job.

One of the important areas to look at is confidence that you can do the role you have applied for and your ability to express this to the interviewer. Experience is a real selling point. Your current data entry role is a job that provides customer service and it is important that you emphasize the accuracy of the work.

• Practice talking about your current role.
• Why do you want to be in customer service?
• Examples of where you have experienced poor customer service and what you would have done differently.
• Find out about the company you have applied to work for.
• Prepare a list of questions that you would like to ask; most interviewers will give you that opportunity.
• Find someone you can do a role play with.
• How you would like an advisor to sound if you rang a call centre?
• What is good customer service?

On the day:

• Give yourself plenty of time to be punctual; this will give you chance to relax.
• When asked a question, it is okay to tell the interviewer you would like a little time to think about it, without too long a silence.

Remember, the majority of people are nervous when they go for an interview and a good interviewer takes this in to account. The more confident you are in understanding the role you are applying for, the less nervous you will appear.

It also  pays to know the purpose of the questions being asked. Remember that the person conducting the interview is analyzing your answers.

Question: “Give me an example of when you have encountered a problem at work. How have you worked to resolve that problem?”

Purpose: We’d be looking for evidence that the candidate has listened, taken on board what has been said, and followed a process to resolve the issue. We’d obviously also be interested in the outcome.

Question: “The role you applied for involves working to targets. What do you see as the main benefits of target-setting in a customer service environment?”

Purpose: We’d want to hear that the candidate enjoys working to targets and would be motivated to hit those targets. Ideally, we’d also be looking for evidence that the candidate could improve performance if, for example, they failed to reach targets or were set new, higher targets.

Question: “If an irate customer called in and was abusive towards you and the company, how would you handle it?”

Purpose: The candidate must show that they would listen to the customer, take time to understand the issues they raise, stay calm, show empathy, build a rapport and communicate to the customer how they can add value to resolve their particular problem.

Question: “Describe a time when you were requested to do something in a work environment over and above your normal requirement?”

Purpose: In this instance, we’d be looking for the candidate to demonstrate that they are prepared to give a higher level of commitment to the company if needs dictate.

Overall, we’d be looking for candidates to demonstrate that they can work as part of a team, are capable of self-development, and have good organizational skills. If candidates give responses like those indicated above, it would give us a strong indication that they are not only keen, but also very able to take up customer service advisor or customer sales advisor roles within our company.

WHY DO THEY CHEAT?

I suppose there are a variety of reasons.  Some people feel that sex is just sex and that for them to sleep with someone other than their partner it is not cheating.  Some just believe that this is acceptable and unfortunately if you are someone who doesn’t feel the same then it is never going to work.

For others there is the claim of a supposed ’sex-addiction’!  They just can’t help themselves when it comes to saying ‘no’ to sex.  Many believe this is not a real addiction and is used as a ‘get out clause’ when people are repeatedly caught cheating.

On the other hand there is the case of cheating when someone is not happy in a relationship.  This is no excuse for cheating – if you are not happy in your relationship then you need to talk and if you feel the need to cheat then it perhaps time to do the honorable thing and leave the relationship before someone is hurt more than is necessary.

People have different opinions as to what is classed as cheating and this is something that you should talk about with your partner.  Some people see a kiss as harmless whereas many see this as just as big a betrayal as having sex with someone.

Sometimes when people are cheating it is actually NOT about the sex but about the chase and the thrill.  Maybe it is possible that they are still in love with their partner but they find the relationship stale and lacking any excitement.

The majority of couples do think that being faithful is part and parcel of a relationship and are contented to stay monogamous and most believe that if one person is not prepared to stay faithful then they are not happy with that person and I tend to agree with this.

People need to talk and if one partner can knowingly enter into a sexual relationship with someone other than their partner then it shows a lack of respect for not just the person they are with but for their relationship.

And this also begs the question – will they do it again?

Perhaps, if they don’t get caught.

SIGNS OF A CHEATING PARTNER

Now, before you read the items below remember that this is based on a study made on a few people. Every individual’s brain is hot-wired differently and your man may be doing these things but he may not be having an affair. What I’m trying to say is this: If you observed these signs on him, be alert, be on the lookout but don’t go berserk right away.

Some of these signs of a cheating spouse are “tongue in cheek” while others are tell tale signs that commonly appear with a cheating husband or cheating wife. There is no copyright. Feel free to forward to those who might be interested. But please don’t change anything.

Signs of a Cheating Spouse:

1) You find birth-control pills in her medicine cabinet, and you’ve had a vasectomy.

2) Mutual friends start acting strangely toward you. (They either know about the cheating or have been told stories about what a horrible wife or girlfriend you are.)

3) Your cheating husband or wife stops confiding in you and seeking advice from you.

4) Sets up a new e-mail account and doesn’t tell you about it.

5) He leaves the house in the morning smelling like Irish Spring and returns in the evening smelling like Safeguard.

6) She joins the gym and begins a rigorous workout program.

7) She buys a cell phone and doesn’t let you know.

8) He sets up a separate cell phone account that is billed to his office.

9) The cheating husband carries condoms, and you are on the pill.

10) Begins to delete all incoming phone calls from the caller ID.

11) Deletes all incoming e-mails when they used to accumulate.

12) He becomes “accusatory,” asking if you are being true to him, usually out of guilt.

13) Raises hypothetical questions such as, “Do you think it’s possible to love more than one person at a time?”

14) He buys himself new underwear.

15) He insists the child seat, toys, etc., are kept out of his car.

16) The cheating wife stops wearing her wedding ring.

17) Has a sudden desire to be helpful with the laundry.

18) Has unexplained scratches or bruises on his or her neck or back.

19) Suddenly wants to try new love techniques.

20) He/she fairly suddenly stops having sex with you.

21) He/she suddenly wants more sex, more often.

22) Supposedly works a lot of overtime, but it never shows up on the pay stub.

23) Picks fights in order to stomp out of the house.

24) You find out by accident he or she took vacation day or personal time off from work – but supposedly worked on those days.

25) Shows a sudden interest in a different type of music.

26) Spouse’s co-workers are uncomfortable in your presence.

27) Has a sudden preoccupation with his or her appearance.

28) Spends an excessive amount of time on the computer, especially after you have gone to bed.

29) He throws up a lot because he just ate at his mistress’s house and had to eat the dinner you prepared when he got home.

30) Your spouse is away from home, either nights or on trips, more than previously.

31) His/her clothes smell of an unfamiliar perfume or after-shave. You see lipstick on your husband’s shirt.

32) The amount of money being deposited into your checking account drops off.

33) You find items of intimate apparel or other small gift-type items that you did not give your spouse.

34) Your spouse seems less comfortable around you and is “touchy” and easily moved to anger.

35) You get calls where the caller hangs up when he or she hears your voice.

36) He/she loses attention in the activities in the home.

37) Your intuition (gut feeling) tells you that something is not right.

38) He/she has a definite change in attitude towards everyone in the home.

39) She uses a low voice or whisper on the phone or hangs up quickly.

40) She has a “glow” about her.

41) Atypical erratic behavior.

42) He sneaks out of the house.

43) She sleeps with her purse by the bed.

44) She goes to the store for groceries and comes home 5 hours later.

45) He tells you that you can get hold of him at a different telephone number.

46) The telltale sign of a cheating spouse? Having to ask that question in the first place.

SURVIVING THE AFFAIR

Some marriages are stronger after marital infidelity. It depends on how both parties handle the situation.

Once you decide to stay together after an extramarital affair, it’s important to keep these “five steps to surviving an extramarital affair” fresh in your mind.

Five steps to surviving an extramarital affair:

1. Recognize your role. If your spouse had an emotional affair or was physically unfaithful, try to understand how and why your marriage was suffering. Two people contribute to an unhappy marriage. Consider marital counseling to help you and your spouse see how, why, and when your relationship faltered.

2. Be open to change. Neither you nor your spouse is perfect, but you both need to be open to recognizing your flaws and making changes that will improve your communication, interaction, and commitment.

3. Limit your questions. According to Gary Neuman (author of Emotional Infidelity: How to Avoid It), “this issues is controversial among marital therapists.” You may feel that you can deal with the extramarital affair better if you know the details, yet knowing everything can prolong the pain. Dr Neuman recommends discussing the questions that will help you survive marital infidelity.

“There are some questions you are entitled to know the answers to,” says Gary Neuman. These include: who was it, how did you meet, how long did the relationship last, do you have a relationship now, does anyone else know, and why did you have the affair?

4. Don’t keep bringing the extramarital affair up. After you’ve received a genuine apology and a reassurance that it’ll never happen again, put it behind you. Don’t bring it up during arguments or discussions.

5. Resolve to move on. Let go of the past after you’ve created a plan for surviving infidelity. See the extramarital affair as a terrible mistake when your marriage was suffering – and as a vehicle for creating a more vibrant, honest, and trusting marriage

FORGIVING

This is a crucial part, learning to forgive will save your relationship. It’s the hardest thing to do but if you try hard enough it will happen.

Alas, morning came and with it the news that the storm has not re-routed and that Manila is safe, I am so relieved but at the safe time scared for the people in the provinces that will be affected.

Let’s look at the aftermath of Super Storm Pepeng…

From INQUIRER.NET:

 Northern Luzon spared the worst But new storm may suck back Pepeng

By Nikko Dizon, Jocelyn Uy
First Posted 01:22:00 10/05/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Residents of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province on Sunday offered thanksgiving prayers that Typhoon “Pepeng” (international name: Parma) cut across northern Luzon with little damage, even as the howler hovered nearby, possibly preparing to give the region a second punch.

At a 5 p.m. briefing, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Pepeng (international name: Parma), packing center winds of 120 kilometers per hour, was “almost stationary” in the South China Sea just off Luzon.

A powerful new typhoon with peak winds of 195 kph, internationally designated as “Melor,” in the Pacific, 2,000 kilometers east of the country, could suck Pepeng back to the Luzon mainland and give it another whammy, said Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz.

“It’s more dangerous that it became stationary,” Cruz said. “It is still a strong typhoon.”

He said that Pepeng was expected to remain in northern Luzon for two to three more days.

Earlier Sunday in Tuguegarao, residents trudged past the typhoon-littered streets to hear Mass at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Cagayanos, who are known for their religiosity, offered gratitude that Pepeng was all howl and no bite—at least in their province.

“All Cagayanos have faith in Our Lady of Piat,” a churchgoer said. “She has promised us we will never fall into disaster.”

14 dead

At least 14 people died from floods, landslides and other typhoon-related incidents in the northern region, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). The relatively low toll of lives was attributed to preemptive evacuation of residents.

Twelve of the fatalities were caused by landslides in Benguet province that were triggered by heavy rains.

Pepeng slammed into Tuguegarao on Saturday afternoon, tearing billboards and rooftops and toppling electric posts and trees. It struck a week after Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana) dumped a record rainfall in Metro Manila, leaving nearly 300 people dead.

Around 400,000 people were still in evacuation centers in the Philippine capital.

Eight domestic flights to and from Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Taiwan were canceled Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to bad weather.

The Manila International Airport Authority said two China Airlines morning flights coming from and heading for the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung were also scrapped.

Preventive measures

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said that preventive measures implemented by the government a few days before Pepeng’s expected landfall seemed to be “quite successful” in easing the impact of the typhoon.

“I expect that more lives were saved because of the preemptive evacuation,” said Teodoro, who flew to Tuguegarao, among the worst hit areas in Cagayan Valley.

Teodoro dropped off a team from the United Nations and the US Armed Forces in the two provinces to conduct a region-wide rapid assessment on the needed relief and rehabilitation operations.

As of Sunday, 30,195 people continued to stay in various evacuation centers in Cagayan.

On Thursday, before Pepeng struck, the government had strictly ordered a massive preemptive evacuation of residents vulnerable to the typhoon.

169,941 evacuees

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said that from Thursday to Saturday, 169,941 people were moved to 117 evacuation centers in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer before he flew to Cagayan Valley, Teodoro said some stubborn families had to be rescued in other areas while Pepeng battered the northern part of the country.

“We have warned these people extensively as we could but they were skeptical of us when we asked them to evacuate while the weather was still good,” Teodoro said. “And I think these people will now realize the wisdom and the value of preemptive evacuation.”

Pagasa had earlier forecast that Pepeng would be a “super typhoon” capable of causing much greater destruction, and authorities said they were relieved it weakened before hitting the Philippines.

Spared from wrath

“On the whole I think we were spared from the wrath of a super typhoon,” said Glenn Rabonza, executive officer of the NDCC.

In Benguet, 12 people, four of them children, were killed after separate landslides buried their houses in Itogon and La Trinidad towns on Sunday morning.

The Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council in Benguet said Ernesto Gabayne; Alex Rufino; Junie Cadasa Jr., 8; Jerick Cadasa, 10; Lanoy Cadasa, 12; and two others still unidentified were killed when a landslide swept down a house under construction in Barangay Ampucao, Itogon.

Another landslide hit Sitio Bosi in Barangay Beckel in La Trinidad, burying a family of five. Rescuers have recovered the bodies of Laruan Tabora, Catalina Tabora, spouses Rustom Galbey and Zenia Galbey, and their year-old child, Daphe Galbey.

Two typhoon-related deaths were reported in Isabela province.

Chief Insp. Roberto Bucad, Isabela police spokesperson, said Ilagan resident Benjie Ido, 25, died as he could not bear the extreme cold Saturday.

Bucad said Ludivilla Abarra, 54, of San Mariano town, died because she could not be taken to a hospital for treatment of her lung illness.

Reports from the OCD in the Cordillera Administrative Region said Jericho Rimando, 17, remained missing. Rimando fell into a swollen creek in Barangay Camdas in Baguio on Saturday.

They said 2,179 families, most of them in the provinces of Apayao and Kalinga, were evacuated as major rivers and waterways in the region started to swell.

Agriculture damage

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said the typhoon damaged farms but he ruled out a shortage of vegetable supply. Benguet supplies most of the vegetables in the Cordillera, Ilocos and Metro Manila.

“We have yet to assess the damage. But there is no reason to panic,” Fongwan said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who visited Cabanatuan City and Gabaldon town in Nueva Ecija Sunday, asked Gov. Aurelio Umali to ensure that no areas would be flooded as a result of the release of water from the Pantabangan Dam.

Serafin Santos, provincial agriculturist, said palay damage in the province from Ondoy and Pepeng could reach between P150 million and P200 million.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara of Aurora said swathes of rice fields were under water, which could cause supply problems in the next few months. With reports from Jerome Aning in Manila; Vincent Cabreza, Elmer Kristian Dauigoy, Estanislao Caldez, Delmar Cariño, Frank Cimatu, Villamor Visaya Jr., Yolanda Sotelo and Peter La. Julian, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Anselmo Roque, Carmela Reyes and Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon; Agence France-Presse, Reuters

By TJ Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 14:05:00 10/02/2009

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday expanded her declaration of a state of calamity over Metro Manila and several provinces last week to cover the entire country to keep the prices of goods at their current levels. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Trade Secretary Peter Favila announced this on Friday over a government-run TV station after emerging from an executive session following a National Disaster Coordinating Council meeting in Cainta. “For the reasons that we can’t estimate the effects of Typhoon Pepeng but which is expected to bring rains to many areas, and for the reasons that nobody would take advantage of prices, I’ve been authorized by the President to announce that the declaration of the state of calamity is being extended to the whole country,” Teodoro said over RPN 9. Favila confirmed also over the same TV network that they recommended the expansion of the state of calamity proclamation to the rest of the country to keep a ceiling on the prices of commodities.

Source: INQUIRER.NET

See also: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091002/wl_asia_afp/philippinesfloodtyphoon

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