Welcome To My World!

The Holy Alphabet

A-lthough things are not perfect
B-ecause of trial or pain
C-ontinue in thanksgiving
D-o not begin to blame
E-ven when the times are hard
F-ierce winds are bound to blow
G-od is forever able
H-old on to what you know
I-magine life without His love
J-oy would cease to be
K-eep thanking Him for all the things
L-ove imparts to thee
M-ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N-o weapon that is known
O-n earth can yield the power
P-raise can do alone
Q-uit looking at the future
R-edeem the time at hand
S-tart every day with worship
T-o "thank" is a command
U-ntil we see Him coming
V-ictorious in the sky
W-e'll run the race with gratitude
X-alting God most high
Y-es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z-ion waits in glory....where none are ever sad!

A Friend...

(A)ccepts you as you are
(elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

The US carrier Kitty Hawk makes her way out of the port of Otaru in northern Japan on Wednesday following news of the launch of the North Korean missiles.
(AP Photos)

Malacañang says missiles threaten world peace
(July 06, 2006)

The Philippines on Wednesday expressed concern over North Korea’s test firing of seven missiles, a senior aide to President Arroyo calling it a “threat to world peace.”

“Anything that will threaten world peace should be a concern of everyone, especially members of the UN, all peace-loving nations,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters.

“Therefore, we take this seriously and hope that this program will not be pursued anymore,” he said.

Manila is “hopeful that the powerful countries and the UN will be in a position to stop the test firing because it is a threat to world peace,” he added.

Pyongyang test-fired seven missiles including a long-range Taepodong-2, which crashed shortly after launch, triggering furious condemnation led by the United States and alarmed Asian neighbors.

US and regional officials said that the missiles, five short- and medium-range models as well as the Taepodong-2 which is capable of reaching US soil, splashed down in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

The test launches by the Stalinist state triggered a flurry of diplomatic initiatives, headlined by a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to be convened later Wednesday.

- AFP

Compostella Valley - Nature's Work Of Art

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Compostela Valley is blessed with nature’s magnificent work of art. It brims with natural attractions like beaches, waterfalls, forests, mountain ranges, caves, lakes, rivers, hot and cold springs.

The province is proud of its people and cultural heritage - a varied mixture of ethnicity and dominance. To be in Compostela Valley is to experience a blend of sight and sound that defines a place and a people pulsing with life yet reserved in spirit.

The provincial government believes in marketing tourism responsibly. ComValeños want to explore and revel on nature’s finest without destroying the environment.

Choices within the province are almost limitless. ComValeños believe that they have something that caters to everyone’s enthusiasm, all waiting for the adventurous spirit in you. They see their province as an eco-adventure tourism destination, and once experienced, so will you.

GEOGRAPHY
Compostela Valley is situated in Southeastern Mindanao. It has a total land area of 4,666.93 sq. km. and is bounded by Agusan del Sur on the north, Davao del Norte on the west, Davao Oriental on the east and southeast, and Davao Gulf on the west and southwest.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
Classified as a first class province, Compostela Valley is comprised of 11 municipalities grouped into two districts. District 1 consists of Monkayo, Montevista, Maragusan, New Bataan, and Compostela; and District 2, Laak, Mawab, Nabunturan, Maco, Mabini, and Pantukan. The municipality of Nabunturan was named capital town of the province.

POPULATION
The province’s population is estimated at 600,000 per 2000 National Census and Statistics Office survey.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT
Cebuano/Visayan, Tagalog/Pilipino, Mandaya, Mansaka, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Maranao, and Suriganonon are the dialects spoken in the province.

CLIMATE
The province is generally tropical and with no marked rainy or dry season. Its mountain ranges and forest protect the area from visiting typhoons.

INDUSTRIES
Mining, banana, agro- industrial, fishing, farming, tourism.

Davao Oriental - The Islands' Ethnic Charmer

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Davao Oriental is a separate and independent province along with Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte. Its major industries includes agriculture, fishing, small and medium cottage industries, and tourism.

This province is famous for waterfalls, white-sand beaches, historical attractions, and the Mandaya Tribe, whose unadulterated culture and traditions are still very evident in their day-to-day lives.

GEOGRAPHY
Davao Oriental is situated in the southeastern section of Mindanao. It belongs to the Southern Mindanao Region or Region XI. Its boundaries are defined on the north by Agusan del Sur, on the south by Davao Gulf, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, and on the west by Davao province.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
Davao Oriental is one of the provinces created under Republic Act No. 4867 on May 8, 1967. It is composed of two congressional districts covering 11 municipalities, with Mati as the provincial capital. These municipalities are further subdivided into 183 barangays.

POPULATION
The province has a total of 450,000 inhabitants per May 2000 survey conducted by the National Census and Statistics Office.

LANGUAGE/DIALECTS
Cebuano/Visayan, Tagalog/Pilipino, Mandaya.

CLIMATE
The province lies outside the typhoon belt. The province does not have a pronounced dry season although rainfall is at its maximum from November to January.

INDUSTRIES
Agriculture, fishing, small and medium cottage industries, tourism.

Davao Del Sur - Land Of Heights And Flight

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Sprawled along the shores of Southeastern Mindanao, Davao del Sur is a place of natural wonders and rarities. It boasts of the country’s highest peak, Mt. Apo, the most prized Philippine orchid species like the Vanda Sanderiana, some of the most exotic fruits, and the endangered Philippine Eagle.

Davao del Sur is home to a host of ethnic groups whose culture and way of life have been preserved. These are the Bagobos, the Mandayas, the Mansakas, the Atas, the Kalagans, the Tagakaolos, and the Mangguangans. Their arts and crafts are on display in museums and shops.

There is a wide choice of white sand beaches and resorts. In the city, there are numerous hotels and inns. Dining is good and varied. Nightlife is fun.

Some of the popular sports activities are golf, watersports, and mountain climbing.

GEOGRAPHY
The province is located in the southern part of the country. It is bounded in the north by Davao City; in the west by Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Kidapawan City; in the south by the Celebes Sea, Sarangani Province, and General Santos City; in the east by the Davao Gulf.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
The province is divided into two political districts.

POPULATION
The total population of Davao del Sur as of May 2000 is 775,000 and is growing at the rate of 2.3 percent annually.

LANGUAGE/DIALECTS
Cebuano/Visayan, Tagalog, B’laan, Bagobo, Manobo, Tagakaolo, Muslim.

CLIMATE
The province is blessed with a favorable climate characterized by wet and dry seasons. The coldest time is during the months of December and January and the hottest is during the months of April and May. The province is outside the typhoon belt.

INDUSTRIES
Agriculture, tourism, fishing, farming.

Davao Del Norte - Beach Paradise Of The North

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Davao del Norte is one of the most progressive provinces in Region XI. It has seven municipalities, namely, Asuncion, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, Sto. Tomas, and Talaingod, and three cities of Tagum, which is the capital as well as center of commerce and governance, Panabo, and the Island Garden City of Samal, known for its white pristine beaches, great diving sites, and well preserved flora and fauna. This is where the world-renowned Barcelo Pearl Farm Beach Resort is located along with other tourist destinations dotting this island of adventure.

Although the province is generally an agriculture area, with bananas as its main produce for both local and international markets, a wide array of other agricultural products like coconuts, rice, corn, citrus, mangoes, durian, and other tropical fruits abound. Davao del Norte also boasts of its growing aquaculture in B.E. Dujali, a municipality touted to be the future “tilapia country” of the north. Tilapia is also known as St. Peter’s Fish to food connoisseurs. With most of the municipalities situated along the coastline, Davao del Norte has an extensive mangrove area where marine resources are found.

GEOGRAPHY
The province is bounded by Agusan del Sur on the north, Bukidnon on the northeast, Davao City on the West, Davao Gulf on the south, and the province of Compostela Valley on the east.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
The province has two political districts; two cities, eight municipalities, and 223 barangays.

POPULATION
The province has a population of 500,000 per May 2000 National Census and Statistics Office survey.

LANGUAGE/DIALECTS
Cebuano/Visayan, Filipino/Tagalog, Davaoeño, Mandaya, Mansaka, Ata-Talaingod.

CLIMATE
The climate that pervades all over the province is generally temperate with no marked rainy or dry season except in the months of November to January when heavy rains come.

INDUSTRIES
Agriculture, farming, tourism.

Iligan City - Land Of Majestic Waterfalls

Brief Description
The “City of Majestic Waterfalls,” as Iligan is being described, does not plummet to the depths of the earth but empowers the industries it houses to keep the nation moving. It is not only known for its rich natural resources, the likes of Maria Cristina Falls that has become a major source of power, but it is also the home of nationally acclaimed artists, poets, cultural workers, and writers, and geographically, is a cross road of the cultural mix of the Maranaos of Lanao del Sur, Higaonons of Bukidnon, and the dominantly Christian settlers and migrants from the Visayas and other places of Mindanao.

Geography
Iligan City is bounded on the south by the municipalities of Balo-I and Linamon of Lanao del Norte; on the north by the municipality of Lugait, Misamis Oriental; on the east by the territories of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon; and on the west by Iligan Bay.

Political Subdivision
Iligan City has 44 barangays with a total land area of 81,337 hectares.

Climate
Iligan City belongs to the C type climate (short, low, sun dry season one to three months with less than 74 mm. of rainfall from strong weather disturbances). Average annual temperature is 21.68° Celsius.

Population
There are about 325,000 (as of year 2000) Iliganos, with an annual growth rate of 3.8%. 42% live in the city. Iliganons are a mixture of the Muslim and Cebuano stock s with Tagalogs and some other cultural minority groups and immigrants from other places.

Language / Dialect
Cebuano, the major dialect in the city, is reported as the mother tongue of 94% of the population. The remaining 6% speak Tagalog, Maranao, Ilonggo, Ilocano, and Waray-Waray.

Major Industries
NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION (Ditucalan, Maria Cristina; 10 kilometers from the city proper). Identified with power generation, site of the Mindanao Region Center, housing compound of the executive and rank and file, and Agus IV, VI and VII Hydroelectric plants.

AGUS IV HYDROELECTRIC PLANT (Langka – Balo – I; 18 kilometers from the city proper). The first underground hydroelectric plant in Mindanao and the third in the Philippines, located 120 meters below ground surface. The plant is said to be sufficient to light a city more than 12 times the size of Iligan or to run 20 cement factories.

AGUS VI HYDROELECTRIC PLANT (Barangay Maria Cristina; 9.3 kilometers from the city proper). The Maria Cristina Falls, plunging 320 feet downward, is the main source of the city’s power. It was harnessed by the National Power Corporation (NPC) by establishing the Maria Christina Hydroelectric Plant or Agus VI in 1950. It has a 200 MW potential capacity which is the veritable source of industrial lines in the city.

AGUS VII HYDROELECTRIC PLANT (Barangay Maria Christina; 8 kilometers from the city). The last among the seven sites located along the Agus river harnessed by NPC for power generation. It has a 54 MW potential capacity.

NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION (Barangay Suarez; 6.5 kilometers from the city proper). One of the largest steel manufacturers in the ASEAN, located in a 140-hectare area and extends almost about one kilometer vertically. Established in 1962. At present, it has four main operating mills, Hot Mill, Billet Plant and the Thinning Line. Products: billet, round and square steel, flat steel like hot and cold rolled coils and hot rolled plates. Manpower: more than 3,800.

MABUHAY VINYL CORPORATION (Assumption Heights; 9.5 kilometers from the city proper). Founded in 1935 by the late Judge Guillermo B. Guevarra, originally as the family enterprise Mabuhay Rubber Shoe Factory (in Manila). MVC in its present location was constructed in 1964 and was set on stream in 1965. Products: liquid chlorine, polyvinyl chlorine (PVC), caustic soda, and hydrochloric acid used in the manufacture of various industrial products like soap, textile, insecticides, lubricants, explosives, polyesters, shoes, and many others. Located on a hill top, MVC has a small park rimming a man-made lagoon.

GRANEXPORT MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (Barangay Kiwalan; 9.0 kilometers from the city proper). Founded in 1954 bearing the name GRANEX Phils, later changed to Grand Export in 1966. Then manned only by three personnel and involved in the study of copra business feasibility and the coconut industry. Granex produces crude coconut oil and pellet. When the copra supply was abundant, the company decided to expand with the crushing of Iligan Coconut Oil Mill from 500 to 1,000 MT in 1979, which made Granex Manufacturing the Biggest Coconut Mill in the world.

PILMICO FOOD CORPORATION (Barangay Kiwalan; 9.0 kilometers from the city proper). Primarily engaged in the manufacture of wheat, flour and its related products like wheat germ (active). Aboitiz and company which originally thought of venturing into the flour milling business were the original incorporators, later joined by the Soriano group of Companies, and finally the Pillsbury of Minnesota.

The dainty structure that stands six stories high attractively poses on a wide lawn guided by ball-shaped agoho sentinels surrounding the complex.

REFRACTORIES CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (Bo. Mapalad, Dalipuga; 12.5 kilometers from the city proper). The only and largest and oldest refractory, established in 1977. Products: burned bricks, monolithic refractory, basic refractory bricks; and now, with a recent expansion, ceramic raw materials. Sprawling on a hill which is a stone’s throw away from the beckoning beach of Mapalad, it is the first industrial plant seen upon entering the boundary of Iligan City from Misamis Oriental.

MARIA CRISTINA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY (Assumption Heights; 9.5 kilometers from the city proper). The first and only carbide producer in the Philippines, organized in 1952 as a bold venture into the area of electro-metallurgy. Produces two basic types of electro-metallurgical products: calcium and ferroalloys such as ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, silicomanganess, and silico chrome. It also produces acetylene for the battery industry. Part of the complex is a pier capable of handling raw materials and finished goods.

ILIGAN CEMENT CORPORATION (Barangay Kiwalan; 9.0 kilometers from the city proper). One of the top ten cement corporations in the country, established in 1977 by Mr. Conrado Alcantara. The 16th processing plant in the Philippines and the only local cement firm that has an automated loading system for bulk cement clinker exports. Manufactures two types of cement: Premium and Rockland Pozzolan. Its products are sold to both foreign and domestic markets.

SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION – ILIGAN COCONUT OIL (Barangay Filomena; 7.8 kilometers away from the city proper). One of the two copra solvent extraction plants in the city. It was established in 1975.

MINDANAO PORLTAND CEMENT CORPORATION (Barangay Kiwalan; 9.0 kilometers from the city proper). One of the cement factories in Iligan City.

JULY 6
ST. MARIA GORETTI

Maria was born in 1890. Her father died when she and the other five children in her family were small. At twelve, Maria was already very pretty. She helped her mother on the farm, in the house and with the care of the other children. She never complained because they were so poor. In fact, she cheered up her poor mother and was a great comfort to her. She went to Mass regularly even though it meant a two-hour walk. Maria also received the sacrament of Reconciliation as often as she could.

A young neighbor, Alexander, tried a few times to make Maria sin. She absolutely refused. She did her best to avoid him. July 5, 1902, was a hot summer day. Maria was alone in the cottage mending clothes. Alexander came again to try to make her sin. He dragged her into a room. When she tried to scream, he stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth. Yet Maria managed to keep saying, "No, no! It is a mortal sin. God doesn't want it. If you commit it, you will go to hell." And she struggled as much as she could. Alexander panicked. He stabbed her furiously with a dagger. Then he ran away.

Maria was taken to a hospital, where she died about twenty-four hours later. During her last hours, she forgave her murderer. Her only worry was for her mother. With great joy, the girl received Jesus in Holy Communion. Then she went to heaven. Alexander was sent to prison. For a long time, he did not repent of his horrible crime. Then one night he had a dream or vision of Maria offering him flowers. From that moment on, he was a changed man. When he was freed from prison after twenty-seven years, his first visit was to the Goretti home. He asked Maria's mother for forgiveness. Then Alexander spent the rest of his life as the gardener in a nearby monastery.

Maria was declared "blessed" by Pope Pius XII on April 27, 1947. He appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's with Maria's eighty-two-year-old mother, Assunta. Three years later, on July 25, 1950, the same pope declared Maria a saint. He called her "a martyr of holy purity."

Daily Reading & Meditation

Thursday (7/6): "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk'? 6 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Meditation: What cripples the mind and heart and stiffles the healing power of love? Sin and unforgiveness for certain! Sin cripples us more than any physical ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing power of Jesus' forgiveness. Jesus’ treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers of the day. When a cripple was brought to Jesus because of the faith of his friends, Jesus did the unthinkable. He first forgave the man his sins. The scribes regarded this as blasphemy because they understood that only God had authority to forgive sins and to unbind a man or woman from their burden of guilt. Jesus claimed an authority which only God could rightfully give. Jesus not only proved that his authority came from God, he showed the great power of God's redeeming love and mercy by healing the cripple of his physical ailment. This man had been crippled not only physically, but spiritually as well. Jesus freed him from his burden of guilt and restored his body as well. The Lord is ever ready to bring us healing of mind, body, and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions. Do you allow anything to keep you from Jesus' healing power?

"Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life -- my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offenses and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and righteousness."