CDC, Gov Pineda sign P5-m 'Market, market' lease project

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Provincial Government of Pampanga have signed a lease agreement for the establishment of a market inside the Clark Freeport that would showcase and sell various agricultural and cottage-industry products made in the province.

CDC President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo and Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda signed the lease agreement at the governor’s extension office here on Friday.

According to Remollo, the CDC has allotted a 20,337-square meter area along Clark’s C.M. Recto Avenue and B. Fernando and Panday Pira Streets for the Provincial Government’s livelihood project, which has an initial investment of P5 million.

Pineda said the “Market, market” project aims to promote the various products offered by the province’s agricultural and cottage-industry sector. She said fresh and low-priced vegetables and other agricultural products will be sold in the market.

“Market, market” will also feature internationally-known products like the Christmas lanterns of the City of San Fernando or the “Parul Sampernandu,” pottery from Sto. Tomas town, sculptures and furniture from Betis, and guitars from San Antonio in Guagua.

Roach says Floyd trilogy a possibility

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao concludes the second trilogy in his career when he takes on Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 12 but his trainer Freddie Roach said recently before he hangs up his gloves, there could be another three-part series in the offing – against Floyd Mayweather Jr. no less.

Manny Pacquaio

Pacquiao’s first trilogy was with Erik Morales. It began with “El Terrible” winning a unanimous 12-round decision in 2005 then Pacquiao evened up matters with a 10th round stoppage a year later. In the rubber match in November 2006, Pacquiao dealt Morales a resounding beating and won by a third round knockout. The loss to Morales was Pacquiao’s third after Rustico Torrecampo in 1996 and Medgeon 3-K Battery in 1999 and he hasn’t been beaten since. Pacquiao now has a streak of 14 straight wins.

Then came Marquez. They fought to a split draw in 2004 although it should’ve been a win by split decision for Pacquiao as judge Burt Clements made an irreparable mistake on his scorecard in the first round where Marquez was decked thrice. If Clements scored it 10-6 instead of 10-7, Pacquiao would’ve won by a split verdict. Clements admitted the error but under boxing rules, it could not be reversed. The fighters met again in 2008 and this time, Pacquiao took a split 12-round decision on the strength of a third round knockdown. The third encounter will settle the issue of superiority once and for all.

Roach said Pacquiao is running out of opponents in the 147-pound division. WBO lightwelterweight champion Timothy Bradley, 28, was recently signed to a contract by Top Rank and is being touted as Pacquiao’s opponent after Marquez. Bradley will be showcased in a title defense against Cuban veteran Joel Casamayor in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Marquez mainer next month. But Roach is no Bradley fan. “I think he’s involved in a lawsuit with two promoters,” said Roach. “Besides, he’s got to earn the fight with Manny. Bradley’s not well known. It’s premature to even consider him fighting Manny.”

Roach said Mayweather’s recent victim Victor Ortiz could be a candidate. “I remember Victor sparring with Manny and they went at each other for two days until we stopped it because Ortiz was like 20 or 30 pounds heavier,” said Roach. “I thought he had a good fight plan against Mayweather. He wanted to rough him up and get Mayweather’s corner all riled up like in the Zab Judah fight. After he butted Mayweather, Ortiz didn’t stop apologizing. On his third apology, Mayweather whacked him. I probably would’ve done the same although the referee (Joe Cortez) gave no signal to box. You’ve got to protect yourself at all times in the ring. Maybe, Ortiz should’ve butted Mayweather some more. If Manny fought Mayweather instead of Ortiz, he wouldn’t resort to those tactics. He wouldn’t have to.”

Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

As for Amir Khan, Roach said the WBA lightwelterweight king will likely get a crack at Mayweather ahead of Pacquiao. “Will Manny ever fight Amir?” wondered Roach. “My two fighters are really friendly with each other. I don’t think they’ll ever fight but the thing is we’re running out of opponents and you can never say never in this game.”

Another option is WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko of Ukraine. The hitch is Roach also trains Senchenko who has a 32-0 record, with 21 KOs. If ever Pacquiao and Senchenko face off to unify the WBA and WBO titles, Roach said he’ll work the Filipino’s corner.

“The Ukraine people haven’t seen Manny and Senchenko’s promoters are very wealthy,” said Roach. “His promoters control the coal and metal mines in the country. Manny could fight Senchenko in Ukraine for a lot of money. In the event they meet, Manny will win easy. I remember legends like Sugar Ray Robinson when in the course of winding up their careers, they would go to fight in different countries and earn big purses. If Manny wants to do that, Ukraine would be a good destination.”

During a recent visit to Manila, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said Pacquiao confided that he plans to retire at the end of 2013, meaning he’ll sign for four more fights after Marquez. Roach said the last three fights could be against Mayweather – of all people.

“You know, obviously, everyone wants Mayweather,” said Roach. “Of course, we’re all getting a little tired of hearing his name because he doesn’t want to fight Manny. But hopefully, that fight will happen. That fight is so interesting, it could end up being a trilogy. Actually, it could be the last three fights for Manny, if the fight goes as we see it because they’re both very, very good fighters so it’s a fight we want.”

Roach said Mayweather has slowed down and is easier to beat now. “There’s nobody out there for Manny anymore,” he said. “Manny might just end up fighting Mayweather after all.”

Roach said he plans to bring a Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio to the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. He met Somodio in Baguio during Pacquiao’s recent workouts. “He was a former amateur fighter,” said Roach. “He did mitts with Alex (Ariza) and he’s a quick learner. I taught him how to wrap and he wraps just like me now. I need an assistant at Wild Card and I’m thinking of bringing Marvin over. He stretches well, too. I’ll send him a letter of invitation to the US so he can show it to the Embassy when he applies for a visa.”

Watch Pacquiao vs Marquez Part III Live via Online Streaming and Sopcast

Can Twitter Beat Facebook and Google+?

iOS 5 Twitter integration already a huge benefit for company

by Chris Crum of Web Pro News

As you might imagine, there’s been a lot of talk about social networks at the Web 2.0 Summit, and particularly the escalating three-way battle among Facebook, Google and Twitter. While Google and Facebook have had their fair share of announcements recently, Twitter just added some major firepower to its arsenal, courtesy of Apple.

One thing does seem clear. Deep Twitter integration with Apple’s iOS is huge for Twitter.

“The iOS integration is going to be absolutely huge for us, even better than we thought it was,” CEO Dick Costolo is quoted as saying at the Summit. “I didn’t realize how frictionless this would be. It’s so native.”

As far as Costolo is concerned, it is Twitter’s simplicity that is its biggest weapon against Facebook and Google+ (although I’d say that iOS integration is a pretty helpful weapon). He says part of the reason that Twitter has become so popular is because of its simplicity, and the fact that they’ve refrained from adding too many features, implying that this will continue to separate them from the pack as competitors continue to add more and more features.

That’s an interesting point, because Facebook and Google are basically in a “feature race” as Google’s Bradley Horowitz recently put it. In fact, Google CEO Larry Page touted the fact in the company’s earnings call last week, that Google+ added 100 features in 90 days.

Facebook certainly keeps changing things up.

Costolo’s comments are also interesting considering that this year, Twitter has perhaps added more features than any other time in Twitter’s history (since co-founder Jack Dorsey returned to the company). Dorsey, by the way, has recently even been called “the next Steve Jobs,” and by an early Apple employee. He does also run Square, which many see as a revolutionary product in the payments industry. It can’t hurt Twitter to have this kind of leadership at the core of its product development.

Perhaps the more important battle, however, is that for identity, rather than features, and that’s another area where that tight iOS integration might come in handy for Twitter. Apple announced that in its first 3 days of availability, it sold 4 million iPhone 4S devices (which run iOS 5). iOS 5 is also available for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch 3rd generation, and iPod Touch 4th generation. Word is that a third of eligible devices have already been updated (which means potentially 2/3 more could still be upgraded), and Costolo says daily iOS Twitter sign-ups have already tripled due to the new iOS integration.

The description of the Twitter integration from Apple says: “iOS 5 makes it even easier to tweet from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Sign in once in Settings, and suddenly you can tweet directly from Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, or Maps. Want to mention or @reply to a friend? Contacts applies your friends’ Twitter usernames and profile pictures. So you can start typing a name and iOS 5 does the rest. You can even add a location to any tweet, no matter which app you’re tweeting from.”

Once iOS 5 was finally released last week, Twitter wrote a blog post about it saying: “Simply enter your Twitter login information into your device settings, and you’ll always be connected to your Twitter account. This means you can tweet directly from Apple apps like Camera, Maps, Photos, Safari and YouTube, along with third party apps, such as Chomp, Flipboard, LivingSocial, Instagram, MadPad, PopSugar, Showyou,SoundTracking and Zynga’s Words with Friends.”

And it’s not as if you have to use iOS to use Twitter.

“We think we can reach every person on the planet, we think the way to do that is to simplify it,” Costolo is quoted as saying. “Over time, Google+ and Facebook will be more and more different than the experience we want to pass onto our users.”

On that note, the Telegraph has some interesting words from former Facebook President Sean Parker (who is still a shareholder), most notably, “The strategic threat to Facebook is that power users have gone to Twitter or to Google+.”

That doesn’t mean that all (or even the majority of) power users have abandoned Facebook entirely, but if a lot of them are using these competing services more, that means less time spent somewhere.

You know who else seems to be using Twitter more and more? The young.

Back to that topic of identity for a second. There is a lot of controversy about identity and the Internet. Facebook and Google+ both want your real identity as your identity with their respective services. I’m Chris Crum in real life, so they want me to be Chris Crum on Facebook and Google+ (Google is even stingy about what pics it lets authors use on their Google Profiles). On Twitter, however, I’m CCrum237. If I wanted, I could be anyone else I wanted to be (as long as the name wasn’t taken). There are valid points to both sides of the Internet anonymity debate, but the reality is that our online identities are being tied much more to the real world. It’s not just about status updates and picture sharing anymore. It’s about paying for goods at a store (among other things). At least that’s the direction we’re headed in. But that’s a conversation for another article.

4Chan founder Christopher Poole is quoted as saying at the summit that Facebook and Google approach to identity “degrades humanity,” and that “Facebook and Google do our identity wrong, Twitter does it better.” He’s just one man, but you better believe there are quite a few people who share similar views, and that is one clear differentiator of Twitter compared to its competitors. That’s one thing you can get with Twitter that you can’t get with Facebook or Google+. And that’s just another piece of the puzzle.

Twitter is currently worth $8 billion according Costolo, who is quoted as saying, “Let’s just call it an even $8 billion.” I have a feeling that number is going to go up substantially.

According to Costolo, Twitter users are sending out about 250 tweets per day. I’d be surprised if that number hasn’t increased significantly in another month.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say Twitter will be dethroning Facebook as the most-used social network in the near future, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen one day. Remember when Myspace was on top? Either way, it’s going to be an interesting battle to watch, especially now that Twitter is heavily integrated with the ultra popular iPhones and iPads.

What do you think? Will Twitter ever be able to surpass Facebook?

Watch Pacquiao vs Marquez Part III Live

After Manny Pacquiao’s recently concluded mega boxing match with the American boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley, world boxing fans were clamoring and questioning as to whom will the pound-for-pound king will be fighting next. Their queries will no longer be heard because the fight that many people were clamoring about lately is finally going to take place and there is no turning back anymore.

Manny 'Pac-man' Pacquiao (right) with Juan Manuel Marquez (left)

Since the supposed-to-be fight of Pacquiao with Floyd Mayweather Jr. seems to be not happening anymore, Manny Pacquiao is left with no other than Juan Manuel Marquez to fight for this year. This is going to be the trilogy of their previous fights. Their first fight was declared a draw and in the second one, Pacquiao won against Marquez via a split decision.

The Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has an outstanding boxing record of 53-3-2-1 with 38 by way of knockouts while the Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez has a boxing record of 52-5-1 with also 38 KO’s. The two famous fighters is said to have their third fight on November 12 this year to be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the same venue as to Pacquiao’s fight with Mosley. It was said that even before Pacquiao’s fight with Mosley last May 7, there was already a secret negotiation happening between Pacquiao’s team and Marquez’s.

Some people criticize this fight because they believe that two fights is already enough for the two boxers and the third or another rematch is not necessary anymore. But Marquez wanted to prove something. He wanted to prove everybody that he is the best match for Pacquiao and that if given the chance, he will be able to beat him up this time. He also claimed that he is so prepared for this upcoming match.

Manny Pacquiao on the other hand is so excited about this Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3 fight and announced that he will start the training for this match by September. The boxers will be fighting on 145 pounds catchweight and possibly its Pacquiao’s welterweight belt will be on the line.

If you will based their previous fights, you will see that the Mexican boxer will surely bring some entertaining fight for the crowd. What I like about him is that he still continues to fight and keep on the offensive right after he was knock down. He’s a real fighter that whenever he got hit, he will hit back which I think makes a very difficult fight Pacquiao back then. But that was long time ago and the Filipino champ have evolved in a much better fighter compared the yesteryears.

I personally think that it will be Manny Pacquiao who will take the victory on this Pacquiao vs. Marquez Part III fight but of course we can’t take the idea that there’s a possibility that Marquez can bring one of the greatest disappointment for him. We’ll just see if what will be the outcome on November 12, 2011 and as usual I will try my best to share the most relevant updates and news about the boxing event plus shares on different link sources or streaming for the fight via SOPCAST or any other means possible to watch the fight.

You can watch the live streaming for FREE on November 12 9pm EST, via Sopcast or myP2P.eu

Here are the links:

Sopcast:

 -  sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/22260

 -  sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/35999

myP2P:

 -  http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=8094&part=sports

Clark Gears for ICT Confab, Expo

Preparations are underway for the upcoming and most anticipated “1st International ICT Conference and Expo” this coming Oct. 13 to 15 at the Fontana Leisure Parks here.

Dubbed “Clark Conex 2011,” the conference and expo is poised to be the Clark Freeport’s largest gathering of experts, industry players, and stakeholders in the Information Communications Technology, Business Process Outsourcing, and semiconductor sector.

Clark Conex 2011 is being held to encourage IT/BPO firms to locate in the provinces to decongest Metro Manila, said Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo.

He added that the event is being held “to ensure that the activities to be held during the event will cater to the various needs of stakeholders from the industry.”

CDC Director Frankie Villanueva, who is also president the of the Metro Clark ICT Council, said Clark Conex 2011is one of the council’s flagship projects geared to make the Clark Freeport as the country’s foremost IT/BPO destination.

This was seconded by Cybercity Teleservices Senior Executive Vice President and concurrent Metro Clark ICT Chair George Sorio, who noted that the BPO industry in the country will gain a much stronger momentum since the United States has recovered from the recession and financial crisis.

“This is the right time to declare Clark as the Philippines’ top IT and BPO destination,” Sorio announced during a press conference held earlier before local and national media.

CDC Industrial Relations Unit Head Ervin Joy Rivera said Clark Conex 2011 aims to institutionalize Metro Clark’s reputation as the most viable investment and development destination in the global ICT, BPO and KPO map.

He added that the conference and exposition “will showcase Metro Clark and its constituents’ technical and competitive advantages in a global O&O downstream market.”

“It also solidifies its (Metro Clark area) niche as a credible Technology and Expo destination in Asia, capable of hosting the top players and investors in this multi-million dollar industry that has enveloped the planet,” Rivera said.

Rivera added that the event will highlight Metro Clark’s global tourist appeal because of its convenient “business-meets leisure” environment, its rich culture, wide array of entertainment and recreational getaways, and world-famous Filipino hospitality.

According to Rivera, Clark Conex 2011 will also boost the current workforce of the Clark Freeport, most particularly in the ICT, BPO, and semiconductor industries.

“At any given time the Clark Freeport has some 4,000 available jobs in its Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector,” Rivera said.

Aside from Clark’s garments and manufacturing sector, Rivera said more than 50 percent of Clark’s workforce comes from a mix of industries from the IT, BPO, and semiconductor sectors.

View Clark Conex 2011 schedule of activites here

Clark eyed as Philippine’s premier sports training center, amusement hub

CLARK FREEPORT – Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) have presented to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III the proposed Clark Star Center, which is geared to transform the Freeport into the country’s premier sports training center and amusement hub.

CDC President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo said the Clark Star Center, otherwise known as the Clark Sports Training Amusement and Recreation Center, was presented to Japanese investor during the President’s state visit in Japan on Sept. 26.

During the state visit, Remollo had asked Japanese traders to fund the Clark Star Center, which will be established in a 200-hectare area at the Northeastern portion of the Freeport.

Remollo said he had already met with businessmen in his visit to Yokohama and Tokyo cities in Japan early September and they expressed interest in investing at the Clark Star.

Remollo said the Clark Star will have various facilities for water sports such as wakeboarding, rowing, water skiing, parasailing, kayaking, dragon boating and jet skiing. It will be built near the Sacobia River to answer the need for a body of water for the water sports.

It will also have world-class facilities for basketball, baseball, swimming, tennis and soccer. Remollo said dormitories for athletes, sports academy and training ground will be provided since the Clark Star is geared to be a training center of national athletes.

Remollo said he had presented to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) his plan and its president, Jose Cojuangco Jr., “liked it very much.”

Remollo said hotels, villas, condominiums and a commercial area will also rise at the Clark Star to attract tourists to stay in between and after competitions. The residential and commercial area will be completed by a nature and theme park.

In the plan, the CDC wants to create a monorail link system allowing people to travel around the center.

Philippines officials Photoshop themselves into typhoon cleanup photo

By Elizabeth Flock of The Washington Post

Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways officials were left red-faced Thursday after it was discovered they had Photoshopped three officials into a typhoon cleanup photo.

A careful look at the images of the three officials shows they were likely dragged into the scene via Photoshop. (Image via Facebook)

Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines on Tuesday, killing 31 people, displacing 60,000 families, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The disaster’s cost is estimated at nearly $23 million.

In the cleanup photo, the three officials appeared to be assessing the damage of the typhoon, but one discerning blogger and civil engineer noticed that something didn’t seem quite right.

A careful look at the photo shows that the officials seem to be floating in mid-air, and that their images were likely dragged into the scene using Photoshop’s lasso tool.

The department has taken down the photos and issued an apology on its Facebook page:

We would like to apologize to Undersecretary Romeo Momo, Director Rey Tagudando and District Engineer Mikunug Macud for whatever inconvenience that may have caused them regarding the photo earlier posted. Rest assured that we shall exert more diligence and prudence in the execution of our mandate to inform the public of our plans, programs, projects and official activities.

Some have reacted to the photos in anger, including the blogger who discovered the fakery. Pierre San Diego wrote: “If there’s one thing I hate it’s people that fabricate their inspection reports... If the inspection report is erroneous, this might lead to a wrong and/or costly design... and worse, not prepare others from potential safety risks of the site.”

Scores of others took to chastising the officials in another way — by Photoshopping them into dozens of other photos where they didn’t belong. Below, a few of our favorite photos from what is now being called “The Great DPWH Photoshop Meme.”

How to install Facebook Timeline in Your Profile:

Follow these steps carefully to use the Facebook Timeline feature which is yet open only for the developers. Click on any image to Zoom/Enlarge it.

Step 1:

Open this URL https://developers.facebook.com/apps, Click on “allow” [if shown] and then Click on the “+Create new App”

Step 2:

Enter “App Display Name” and “App Namespace“. Any name you want to add there. Click on continue.

Step 3:

Next page with your app details will be opened. Click on “Open Graph” on the right sidebar of the page.

Step 4:

Define your app, fill it same as shown in the image below or whatever you want to write there. Click on “Get started“.

Step 5:

On the next page scroll down and click “Save changes and next“.

Then again scroll down and click on “Save and Finish“.

Step 6:

Now open your Facebook Profile and you will find a new message there like one in the image below. Click on “Get it now” and its done.

Now when you open your profile, it will take you to your timeline. Enjoy it and share it with your friends and family as well.

Facebook Timeline Look:

Your timeline will look similar to the one below [mine].

Facebook changes creeping out some customers

Mark Zuckerberg showing off Timeline at F8.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

At the F8 conference last September 22, 2011, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off some of the most drastic changes ever made to the company's service. And though Zuckerberg is excited by those changes, many folks across the Web aren't so quick to celebrate.
The fear among some users relates to what some say could become a potentially worrisome privacy situation on the social network, led by Timeline and changes to Open Graph.

Timeline provides users with a way to view "the story of your life," according to Zuckerberg, including a collection of all the "stories" uses have shared on Facebook over the years, as well as the pictures they've posted and the applications they've used.
Facebook's updated Open Graph will make the social network far more "sticky." Zuckerberg said users will have the ability--thanks to Timeline and a new addition, Ticker--to see what a friend is doing, like watching a movie on Netflix or listening to a song on Spotify, and engage in that same activity from within the social network. The Facebook CEO said he believes the improvements will help create "a completely new class of social apps" that will let users share every single facet of their lives on the social network.

"All those activities people perform with these apps--listening to a Bjork tune, reading about same-sex marriage laws, cooking Arroz con Pollo, running four miles, donating to Amnesty International--will be stored permanently and made accessible (if the user allows it) on a greatly enhanced profile page that will essentially become a remote-control autobiography," Wired's Steven Levy wrote about the update.

It's that concept of Facebook becoming an "autobiography" that's scaring some folks.

"Is there any way I can upload my browser history, bank statements, and medical records to Facebook?" Twitter user @adrianshort asked today. "Might as well do this properly."

Those sentiments were echoed earlier today by CNET commenter "OneAmazedHuman" who said that the social network's additions are making some people consider leaving the site.

"Frankly, after this last round of messing around with Facebook, there are a whole lot of us thinking seriously about dumping it," OneAmazedHuman wrote. "[I] hate everything they threw at us lately. What happened to 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it?'

"Facebook is getting too intrusive and sneaky," OneAmazedHuman continued. "If I can find another place to play Scrabble, I'm probably out of there. I can live without it nicely. When it was fun, it was fun. It isn't that anymore. Thanks, Zuckerberg. Why didn't you just create something new to mess around with and leave Facebook as is?"

Mark Zuckerberg talks about Ticker and the Open Graph at F8.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

However, there are some people who have already left Facebook because of the changes. One Twitter user, @qwghlm, tweeted earlier today that "after F8 last night, I decided to finally quit Facebook." CNET commenter "JamesOnTheWay" said that he too dropped Facebook and has moved over to Google+.

Drastic measures aside, there are some who are taking a wait-and-see approach to Facebook's changes. Twitter user @JulesHanna tweeted that the F8 presentation "reinforced my belief that Facebook's becoming the operating system of the human Web. Brilliant, yet alarming in its implications."

Though the outcry over Facebook's changes is strong, the company has survived such complaints in the past. In 2009, following a major redesign of the site, the social network was hit hard by users who complained about the changes. At the time, a Facebook app that polled users on their thoughts about the changes found that hundreds of thousands of users were upset by the move. And like now, many of those folks said that they would leave the social network.

That said, at that time, Facebook had more than 175 million users. At the F8 conference, it was revealed that Facebook now has over 800 million members worldwide. So if those departures did, in fact, occur, they certainly weren't crippling to the social network.

Prototype of the new Facebook Timeline
(click to view larger image)

Also playing into Facebook's favor this time around, there isn't near-universal outcry over the changes like there was in 2009. In fact, there are some people that are quite pleased with the company's modifications.

"Got my new Facebook timeline looking good," Twitter user @angelarenee09 tweeted today. "Love these fun changes!"

So, while that might just be one opinion, it's quite clear that in the social world, everyone has a different idea of what's good and bad. And Facebook--for better or worse--is learning that all over again today.

Facebook did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on user reaction to the changes.

Read more from CNET

Watch Mayweather vs. Ortiz Fight Live Online

I recommend to watch the Mayweather vs. Ortiz welterweight fight, despite this several controversial reactions from some boxing fans is simply because I find it very entertaining and feel that Mayweather can be beaten by Ortiz. Victor Ortiz is a southpaw (like Pacquiao). He is young and tagged as “vicious” because of his offensive and aggressive stance. His professional records and boxing performance are impressive which is comparable to Manny Pacquiao’s.

Now if you want to watch Mayweather vs. Ortiz online or offline, you should know that it is available on PPV (pay per view) so you should check it with your local provider. However, if you weren’t able to watch it via your TV, just return here later, I'll be posting the live streaming channels soon

You can also search at streaming sites like Justin TV, Freedocast, LiveStream, and UStream.

If you have Sopcast Installed, here are the reliable SopCast Channels:

• sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/24267
• sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/85856
• sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/6002

For my prediction, I think Floyd Mayweather Jr. can still keep up with Victor Ortiz’s speed and offenses. He can knock out Ortiz on the later rounds. Watch Ortiz vs. Maidana fight so that you’ll know why I believe that he will loose this fight.

The Mayweather vs. Ortiz boxing event is dubbed as “STAR POWER” and scheduled to happen on September 17, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

On Friday, September 16 at 12pm ET the LA Official Weigh-in will begin and will be open to the public. The location will be at the ESPN Zone at L.A. Live – Screening Room; 1011 S. Figueroa St. Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Meanwhile, at 2:45 p.m. the Mayweather vs. Ortiz Las Vegas Official Weigh-In will be happening at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Later, I will try to embed the video of the said events.

Pinoy Pick-up Lines

Here are some funny and cheesy Pinoy pick-up lines! These shows the Pinoy's creativity. Okay, let’s begin the cheesiness.

-- "Ayoko na sa sarili ko!
Gusto mo sa ‘yo na lang ako?"

-- "Kung magiging subject ka, gusto ko ikaw ang Pinkamahirap
Para sa ‘yo lang ako babagsak!"

"Eto ang tatandaan mo.. Hindi lahat ng buhay ay buhay.
Tulad ko, buhay pero patay na patay sayo."

-- "Bagyo ka ba?
Kasi the moment you left my area of responsibility, You leave my heart in the state of calamity"

-- "Hindi na ko mahuhulog sa ‘yo...
Kasi ‘pag kasama na kita, lumulutang na ako!"

-- "Bagay sa ‘yo maging amo…
Inalila mo kasi ang puso ko."

-- "Hindi ka naman camera...
Pero napapangiti ako tuwing nakikita kita."

-- "Hindi ka dapat inii-SMALL
Ang dapat sa'yo inii-BIG!"

-- "Sana magtaas din ang presyo ko...
Para minsan naman matawag mo din akong mahal."

-- "Wala ako sa sarili ko...
Baka na sa'yo?"

-- "Matalino ka ba?
Sige nga, sagutin mo nga ako!"

-- "Kung may tindahan ako, sigurado di ka bibili.
Kasi sa iba, mura ang paninda ko, sa'yo lang ako mag-mamahal."

-- "I like the menu
It has Me n U"

-- "Calculator ka ba?
Kasi sa ‘yo pa lang, solved na ako."

-- "May dadalawin ka ba sa November 1?
Ako na lang dalawin mo, tutal patay na patay ako sa'yo!"

-- "Dalawang beses lang naman kitang nais makasama…
Now and Forever"

-- "Google ka ba?
Kasi lahat na ng hinahanap ko, nasa iyo na eh."

-- "Miss, sorry I forgot your name..
Can I call you 'mine'?"

-- "I'm a very bad shooter..
I keep on missing you!"

-- "Pwede na ba kitang tubusin?
Ang laki na kasi ng interest ko sa ‘yo eh!"

-- "Galit ako sa Dentista ko!
Binabawal sa'kin ang Sweet, paano ka na?"

-- "Sidecar ka ba?
Single kasi ako."

Facts You May Not Know

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
(Hardly seems worth it.)

If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
(Now that's more like it!)

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.
(O.M.G.!)

A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.

(In my next life, I want to be a pig.)

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy.)
(I'm still not over the pig.)

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories a hour
(Don't try this at home, maybe at work)

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
(Honey, I'm home. What the. ..?!)

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes... Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
(I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)

Butterflies taste with their feet.
(Something I always wanted to know.)

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
(Hmmmmmm......)

Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.
(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
(Okay, so that would be a good thing)

A cat's urine glows under a black light.
(I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
( I know some people like that.)

Starfish have no brains
(I know some people like that too.)

Polar bears are left-handed.
(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer)

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(What about that pig??)

Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to, maybe even a chuckle.
 
(and God love that pig!)

Much ado about Justin Bieber

By Patricia Esteves (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Teenage pop idol Justin Bieber knows he holds sway over a certain cross-section of young women all over the world and realizes the responsibility that comes with it.

“I have to be a role model because so many people are watching so many young girls. I’d like to be the best that I can be and yes, I make a good role model. I’m a good person in general and people will see that,” Bieber told a swooning press, made up of mostly girls, at his press conference at the SM Mall of Asia yesterday afternoon.

“I know that I’m able to influence a lot of people in a positive way and I’m very happy with that,” he added.

Bieber is in Manila for a one-night outdoor concert at the SM Mall of Asia Tuesday night.

Clad in short pants, checkered shirt and sneakers, Bieber talked about the nuances that come with fame and how these don’t faze him anymore.

“It’s been a crazy rollercoaster ride since I started. It’s crazy that I’ve been the cause of traffic jams and cities closing down for me. So many TV cameras have been shoved down my face, paparazzi running after me, but when I think about the devotion, support and love of my fans all over the world, I don’t think about the negative ones anymore. I love the fans and the many people that care for me, it’s all that matters. It’s been an incredible and amazing journey,” said Bieber.

In the Philippines, Bieber received so much love from his Filipino fans who also call themselves “Beliebers.”

As early as 2 p.m., people were lining up at the MOA to be the first when gates open at 5 p.m.

At the presscon, Bieber was also asked if he is even bothered that he will be irrelevant once he gets a little older.

“I’m 17. I’m young but I know that my music will grow with me as I grow older. I make music for young people and try to make music for everybody, not just for young people,” he said.

“Over everything, what matters most in my music, I’m here because of music, people can relate to all the emotions through my music. My music will change as I grow older but over and out, it will still be my music,” Bieber said.

For the Manila concert, Justin is especially proud that he’s taking in and supporting Filipino band LEGACI and Poreotics which has three Filipino members.

“I think Filipino artists are cool, they’re rocking it. I’m very excited about it and so are my Filipino performer friends,” Bieber said.

Bieber also does not discount collaborating with international singing sensation Charice and even boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

“Well, I met Charice, she’s so sweet. With Pacquiao, maybe I can go in the ring with him,” he said, drawing laughter from the press.

If there’s one thing Bieber will tell Miley Cyrus who will perform here next month, it will be: There are a lot of beautiful girls here in the Philippines.”

He also said he wouldn’t mind dating a Filipina girl.

“Everyone can be my one less lonely girl,” Bieber said to a Pinay reporter.

Asked what his three secrets to success: Bieber said:

“If it’s working, don’t change it, just be relatable to fans, people must feel they can relate to you through your music and make sure you’re having fun while doing it,” he said.

Metro wage board approves P22 ECOLA hike

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment reported yesterday that the regional wage board of Metro Manila had approved an additional P22 daily emergency cost-of-living allowance (ECOLA).

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the wage board in the National Capital Region (NCR), after “intense” deliberation, approved the granting of additional P22 ECOLA for minimum wage earners in the region.

Baldoz said the additional P22 ECOLA would bring to P426 the daily minimum wage of workers in the region from the current P404.

Baldoz said although the board did not grant an increase in basic pay, the additional allowance would help workers mitigate the continuing increase in prices of essential commodities.

Baldoz added that the newly issued wage order would benefit not only the three million minimum wage earners in the region but also those receiving beyond the floor wage due to wage distortion.

“The board also needs to take into consideration the employers’ capacity to pay given the high fuel-related production costs, and the great majority of enterprises in the region are micro and small enterprises,” Baldoz said.

She said the granting of ECOLA would have minimum impact on inflation and at the same time guarantee that workers would be able to cope with the high prices of commodities.

Raymundo Agravante, wage board chairman, said the board opted to grant ECOLA to prevent the possible closure of commercial establishments that could hardly afford the additional cost in their operations.

“The original proposal was P20 increase in basic pay, but the board decided to grant ECOLA because it’s less costly for the employers since it is excluded in the computation of wage-related benefits such as overtime pay,” Agravante explained.

Agravante added that the board also heeded the warning of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on the possible inflationary effect of giving more than P25 increase in daily pay of workers.

“In the end the employers’ position was P2O ECOLA but we still managed to haggle P22 or a P2 allowance in anticipation of projected increase in prices of basic commodities,” Agravante explained.

Agravante said the new wage order is set to take effect on May 26, but distressed commercial establishments, those employing less than 10 workers and companies suffering from natural disasters are exempted from the order.

However, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country largest labor group, expressed dismay over the wage board’s decision to grant only ECOLA and not increase in basic pay.

“The board’s decision to give a measly P22 wage increase in the form of ECOLA is definitely not enough considering that the worst inflation is yet to come at this time,” TUCP deputy spokesman Raffy Mapalo said.

TUCP earlier filed a formal petition seeking a P75 across-the-board increase in the daily pay of all workers in the region.

Mapalo said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) just missed the important opportunity to help poor workers and raise their deteriorating standard of living.

Mapalo said TUCP would immediately file before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) a motion seeking reconsideration of the wage board’s decision.

If the board would deny their motion for reconsideration, Mapalo said, TUCP would appeal their case before the Supreme Court.

TUCP also called on Congress to rectify the board’s erroneous and bad decision and come out with a measure that would improve the existing wage-fixing system.

'Bebeng' kills 11; displaces over 110,000 residents

MANILA, Philippines –Disaster officials warned villagers in the Philippines' agricultural north to be on guard for landslides and flash floods Monday as Tropical Storm Aere carved a deadly path across the country.

Aere has left 11 people dead since it slammed into eastern Catanduanes province early Sunday

with winds of 53 miles (85 kilometers) per hour and gusts of 62 mph (100 kph). It triggered landslides and knocked out power in some areas, while also roughing up Manila Bay and rattling nerves overnight in the congested capital.

By Monday it was roaring toward provinces on northern Luzon Island, gradually losing strength.

Officials warned villagers to stay away from mountainous areas prone to landslides and low-lying communities that could be swamped by flash floods. Fishermen and ferries in the storm's path were advised to stay ashore.

"We're advising residents in high-risk areas to pre-emptively evacuate before the storm hits," said Chito Castro, spokesman for the government's disaster-response agency.

The 11 dead included three people who perished Sunday in a house that was buried by a landslide in Camarines Sur province's Balatan township. Six people have drowned in the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Leyte, Northern Samar and Camarines Sur. Elsewhere, a man was electrocuted in a flooded community and another died in a truck accident amid stormy weather.

An Albay fisherman who sailed out Sunday has been listed as missing.

Even more details on the Osama bin Laden photos

From CNN’s National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin

A Senior US Official tells CNN 10 hard drives, 5 computers and more than 100 storage devices which includes discs, DVDs and thumb drives were taken from the compound.

The senior us official also says the White House received 3 sets of photos yesterday. The photos included:

1. Photos of OBLs body at a hangar after he was brought back to Afghanistan. This is the most recognizable with a clear picture of his face. The picture is gruesome because he has a massive open head wound across both eyes. It’s very bloody and gory.

2. Photos from the burial at sea on the USS Carl Vinson. Photos of OBL before the shroud was put on and then wrapped in the shroud.

3. There are photos of the raid itself that include photos of the two dead brothers, one of OBLs dead son (adult adolescent, maybe approx 18 yrs old) and some of the inside scene of the compound.

Image released by the White House shows US President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (right), along with members of the national security team, receiving an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington last Sunday. AP

The official says the challenge is that the picture that includes the most recognizable image of OBLs face – from the hangar in Afghanistan – is so gruesome and mangled its not appropriate for say the front page of the newspaper. On the other hand, this is the one that is most identifiable as him.

Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley Live Fight on May 8, 2011, Live Channels, Videos and Results!

The World Welterweight championship fight is about to happen. The much-anticipated match between eight-division champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao against three-division holder Sugar Shane Mosley is this year’s biggest boxing event. Catch Pacquiao vs Mosley live fight on May 7, 2011 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be aired live on Sunday, May 8 (Manila Time) by GMA Channel 7.

Pacquiao vs Mosley Live Streaming Online 5-7-11

Links will be posted here before the Pacquiao-Mosley Fight 5-7-11 begins. You can also watch Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley Live Streaming Online via SOPCAST, TVU, Justin TV and Direct TV.

The Pacquiao vs Mosley Championship Fight replay videos will be published here immediately, so BOOKMARK this site NOW!