3G offerings from Smart

SMART Communications Inc. will soon offer new 3G (third-generation) services that involve more complex applications following the grant of additional frequencies to the cellular firm. Smart, to date, has cornered a total of 25 Megahertz (MHz) of frequency spectrum.

Officials told the BusinessMirror in an interview last week that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has granted Smart’s request for an additional 10 MHz of frequency band, specifically the 825-835/870-880 MHz band.

These are the very same frequencies which subsidiary Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel) has been holding on to for many years now.

Piltel is no longer operating its AMPS (advance mobile-phone system technology) network and is just using the GSM (global system for mobile communications) infrastructure of Smart for its Talk ‘N Text brand. Piltel had been paying Smart the corresponding spectrum users’ fee (SUF) for this purpose.

“The NTC favorably considers the request and assigns frequency band 825-835/870-880 MHz to Smart,” a portion of NTC’s letter to Smart stated.

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Storm Damage

CAMP OLIVAS, PAMPANGA - Opening of classes in almost all areas in typhoon-ravaged Zambales will be delayed as hundreds of classrooms were damaged and destroyed by the wrath of tropical storm Cosme, education officials announced.

However, enrollment for students in all levels will go on as scheduled, said Odon Santiago, head of the regional physical facilities stationed at the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd)

"Enrollment will go on as schedule but classes might be delayed to pave the way for the repair and rehabilitations of some 334 classrooms destroyed by the wrath of tropical storm "Cosme", said Santiago.

Santiago, who joined a special meeting of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council 3, said five school districts including Sta.Cruz North, Sta.Cruz South, Candelaria, Masinloc and Iba have schools with classrooms that were found to be hazardous to occupants. These areas were hardest hit by the recent typhoon.

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Plane crashes

A Cessna 206 aircraft crashed in Talibon town in Bohol province Tuesday, ABS-CBN Regional Network Group reported.

The report said the airplane's two passengers were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

No other details were available as of this posting.

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

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Eight killed, one hurt in Cabuyao bank raid

Eight bank employees were killed and another one was in critical condition in a bank robbery in Cabuyao, Laguna Friday.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, Calabarzon police director, said the initial theory of the investigators was that the robbers were already inside the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation branch at the Science Park, when the employees reported for work Friday morning.

Padilla said the robbers shot the employees to the head, which gave police investigators suspicions that the victims knew the assailants.

“Kilala nila ang mga magnanakaw that’s why there were all killed. They were shot in the head,” Padilla told ANC television.

Police have yet to identify the victims.

The bodies of the seven victims, including the bank manager, were discovered inside the building while the body of a security guard was found outside, Padilla said.

Another employee, who was also shot to the head, was in critical condition.

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$500

NEW YORK - Goldman Sachs economists expect a total of $500 billion in residential mortgage credit losses, a renewed slowdown in economic activity after the near-term boost from fiscal stimulus, and no monetary policy tightening in 2008 or 2009, according to a research note from the firm.

Despite a setback in recent days, many financial market indicators have recovered substantially since the Bear Stearns/JPMorgan Chase & Co deal in mid-March, Goldman Sachs chief U.S. economist Jan Hatzius said.

Still, "we think that overall mortgage credit losses will end up being larger than generally believed," Hatzius said.

"Excess supply in the housing market is still growing; home prices are already falling at rates that are very rapid by the standards of previous housing downturns around the world; and U.S. loan-to-value ratios are much higher than in those previous downturns," he said.

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Santa Clarang pinong-pino, Ang pangako ko ay ganito, Pagdating ko sa Obando, Sasayaw ako ng pandanggo.

This lively song holds significant meanings to the childless mothers who, in their desire to share the fulfillment and happiness of motherhood, make the pilgrimage to Obando.

Source: www.google.com

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Offering an oasis of charm within the exciting and blossoming city of Davao, this property is an ideal place for exploring the picturesque seaside city on the beautiful island of Mindanao.

Location

Situated in the heart of Davao's bustling business and commercial district, the Marco Polo Hotel is just a 20-minute drive from the international airport. Overlooking the Bay of Davao, the hotel has an easy access to numerous Davao attractions.

Rooms

Overlooking Mount Apo and the Gulf of Davao, the 245 exquisitely designed rooms and suites symbolised Marco Polo's commitment to comfort and elegance. All the rooms beautifully decorated, luxurious and comes with all the contemporary amenities.

Restaurant

The onsite restaurants offer the finest Cantonese dining experiences coupled with an array of international buffet such as Filipino, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine for you to feast on. The lobby is also a perfect place to unwind and enjoy your favourite drink, while listening to the soothing sound of the pianio.

General

The hotel offers a selection of versatile function rooms that can hold up to 400 people for organising your business meetings, banquets, weddings as well as fashion shows. At leisure, guests who want to maintain a fitness regime can make use of the Fitness Centre that comes with a state-of-the-art gymnasium, massage rooms and saunas.

Source: www.google.com

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Automatic Enrolment

General Santos City - Department of Education (DepEd) officials in the city said it would religiously implement the automatic enrolment for public school students this coming school year.

Schools Division Superintendent Estrella Lariosa said that pupils for grade 2 to 6 in elementary public schools and 2nd year to graduating high school students would no longer line up for enrolment this school year.

"Those pupils and students who passed all their subjects in the previous school year (2007-2008) will be automatically listed in the next grade or level," explained Lariosa. She said that only transferees and incoming Grade 1 pupils or first year high school students would be made to undergo the enrolment process.

Lariosa however made it clear that there will be no fees to be collected from those who will be enrolling in public schools.

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Asian Development Bank

MADRID - The Asian Development Bank on Saturday promised financial help for nations fighting the global food price crisis and attacked plans for a rice cartel.

Loans will help countries subsidize the price of food staples for the poor, ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda said on the first day of the banks four-day annual general meeting in Madrid.

"The amount depends on the requests from the affected countries," he told a news conference. "Possible total lending could be sizeable but not enormous."

The multinational lender will also provide two billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) in loans in 2008 and 2009 to finance agriculture infrastructure projects such as rural roads and irrigation systems to help boost farm output.

"Asia has a huge population with limited land for farming and a limited water supply so agriculture yields must be increased over time," Kuroda said.

Prices for the benchmark Thai variety of rice, a food stable across much of Asia, are at about 1,000 dollars a ton, up threefold from the last ADB annual meeting in Japan one year ago.

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One more gift

Refrain:

If there’s one more gift
I’d ask of you,
Lord it would be peace here on earth
as gentle as your children’s laughter
All around, all around

Verse 1:

Your people have grown weary
Of living in confusion
When will we realize
That neither heaven is at peace
When we will live not in peace
(Refrain)

Verse 2:

Grant me serenity within
For the confusions around
Are mere reflections..
Of what’s within..
What’s within in me?

(Refrain)

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