Falling Satellite May Hit the Philippines

Falling satellite, about the size of a bus, is headed toward earth and it could hit the Philippines.

(Falling satellite photo courtesy of Space.com)

A defunct NASA satellite is falling to Earth and officials gave the official list of areas where the debris could come crashing down. Unfortunately, Philippines is included.

The research satellite is now likely to tumble to Earth between 11 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday (Eastern Daylight Time.) showering pieces over an as-yet unknown part of the planet, NASA said.

The U.S. Space agency also mentioned that the satellite is expected to pass over Canada, Africa, Australia, and large stretches of the Pacific (Philippines included), Atlantic and Indian oceans during that time.

The scientists, however, are unable to pinpoint the specific place and time where the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, will return to Earth due to the satellite’s unpredictable tumbles.

“The satellite’s orientation apparently has changed, and that is now slowing its descent,” NASA said.

The UARS is among the largest spacecraft to plummet uncontrollably to earth by virtue of it’s 35 feet length, 15 feet diameter and weight of 5,897 kg.

Compared to NASA’s 75-ton Skylab station, which crashed to Earth in 1979, the UARS is slimmer.

The 13,000-pound (5,897 kg) satellite was dispatched into orbit by a space shuttle crew in 1991 to study ozone and other chemicals in Earth’s atmosphere. It completed its mission in 2005 and has been slowly losing altitude ever since, pulled by the planet’s gravity.

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Giant Crocodile Found in the Philippines is Biggest Captive Crocodile in the World

A giant crocodile captured in Agusan del Sur in the Philippines last Saturday, September 2, is believed to be the biggest captive crocodile to date.

The said Philippine adult male crocodile, measuring 21 ft or 6.4 meters long, was captured alive along a creek by crocodile farm staff and residents in Bunawan in Agusan del Sur. It we are to check the records, the Philippine crocodile is the biggest so far.

Giant Crocodile captured in Agusan del Sur, Philippines
Photo Credit: Associated Press

Two larger certifiable records of the biggest crocodiles in the world are both of 6.2 metres (20 ft) adult crocodiles. The first crocodile was shot in the Mary River in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1974 by poachers and measured by wildlife rangers.

The second crocodile was killed in 1983 in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea. In the case of the second crocodile it was actually the skin that was measured by zoologist Jerome Montague, and as skins are known to underestimate the size of the actual animal, it is possible this crocodile was at least another 10 cm longer.

The largest crocodile ever held in captivity, on the other hand, is an Estuarine–Siamese hybrid named Yai (meaning “big” in Thai) which was born on June 10,1972, at the famous Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Thailand. This animal measures 6 m (19.69 ft) (19 ft 8 in) in length and weighs 1114.27 kg.

The largest captive crocodile alive in the US is located in South Carolina. In June 2002, Alligator Adventure introduced Utan, born in 1964 in Thailand. At 20 feet (6.1 m) long and weighing in at more than a ton, “Utan”, the largest crocodile to ever be exhibited in the United States resides in Myrtle Beach.

The records are set to be changed as the giant crocodile which was captured in Agusan del Sur over the weekend has a measurement of 6.4 meters, by far the biggest if it becomes official.

Captured alive, the giant crocodile weighs around 2,370 pounds or 1,075 kilograms.

According to the town Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde it took almost 100 people to place the reptile in a fenced cage. The mayor also said that they are planning to build an eco-tourism park for species found in a vast marshland in Agusan (an impoverished region about 515 miles southeast of Manila) featuring the giant crocodile which is about to become the biggest captive crocodile in the world.

The giant crocodile was first seen by local farm villagers killing a water buffalo (carabao) last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July, according to reports.

After they spotted the giant reptile, villagers and members of the crocodile farm staff set four traps, which the giant crocodile destroyed. They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the giant crocodile late Saturday.

Video courtesy of popis191 from YouTube

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Giant Crocodile Captured in the Philippines (Photo and Video)

A giant crocodile that measures around 21 feet or 6.4 meters long was captured along a creek by crocodile farm staff and residents in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur province in the Philippines on Saturday, September 2.

Giant Crocodile captured in Agusan del Sur, Philippines
Photo Credit: Associated Press

Captured alive, the giant crocodile weighs around 2,370 pounds or 1,075 kilograms.

According to the town Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde it took almost 100 people to place the reptile in a fenced cage. The mayor also said that they are planning to build an eco-tourism park for species found in a vast marshland in Agusan (an impoverished region about 515 miles southeast of Manila) featuring the giant crocodile.

The giant crocodile was first seen by local farm villagers killing a water buffalo (carabao) last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July, according to reports.

After they spotted the giant reptile, villagers and members of the crocodile farm staff set four traps, which the giant crocodile destroyed. They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the giant crocodile late Saturday.

Video courtesy of popis191 from YouTube

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Giant crocodile captured in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Villagers and veteran hunters have captured a one-ton saltwater crocodile which they plan to make the star of a planned ecotourism park in a southern Philippine town, an official said Monday.

Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said dozens of villagers and experts ensnared the 21-foot male crocodile along a creek in Bunawan township in Agusan del Sur province after a three-week hunt. It could be one of the largest crocodiles to be captured alive in recent years, he said, quoting local crocodile experts.

Elorde said the crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July.

Reptile destroyed four traps
He said he sought the help of experts at a crocodile farm in western Palawan province.

"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers," Elorde told The Associated Press by telephone. "When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."

After initial sightings at a creek, the hunters set four traps, which the crocodile destroyed. They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the enormous reptile late Saturday, he said.

About 100 people had to pull the crocodile, which weighs about 2,370 pounds, from the creek to a clearing where a crane lifted it into a truck, he said.

Locals hope crocodile will be 'biggest star'
The crocodile was placed in a fenced cage in an area where the town plans to build an ecotourism park for species found in a vast marshland in Agusan, an impoverished region about 515 miles southeast of Manila, Elorde said.

"It will be the biggest star of the park," Elorde said, adding that villagers were happy that they would be able to turn the dangerous crocodile "from a threat into an asset."

Despite the catch, villagers remain wary because several crocodiles still roam the outskirts of the farming town of about 37,000 people.

They have been told to avoid venturing into marshy areas alone at night, Elorde said.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Lovi Poe Covers FHM Philippines’ September Issue

Kapuso actress/model Lovi Poe is on the cover of FHM Philippines this month.

Lovi is highly visible these days after starring with Marian Rivera and company in the film “Temptation Island,” she now stars in the upcoming sexy drama “My Neighbor’s Wife.” She also stars opposite Rocco Nacino in the television drama “Mistaken Identity.”

As far as magazine covers are concerned, Lovi has been on the cover of a number of fashion magazines already, the latest of which, is the FHM cover as seen above.

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Choose Philippines Music Video to be Launched August 28

On August 28, 2011 a “celebration” is going to happen!

As a prelude to National Heroes Day, Choose Philippines, the world’s first ever social network where you can share and post your discoveries around the Philippines, will launch its music video “Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas” on “ASAP Rocks”, the top-rated variety show of ABS-CBN.

The Choose Philippines music video will features its theme song, “Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas” as sung by artists Angeline Quinto and Vince Bueno. The song was written by Robert Labayen, of “Bro Star ng Pasko” fame.

Choose Philippines (www.choosephils.com) aims to feature the undiscovered Philippines by showcasing travel destinations, regional cuisine, local culture and the colorful fiestas and festivals. There is also an active community page on Facebook that has gathered more than 220,500 “likes” in less than a year and still growing rapidly every day.

“Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas” is a reminder of the many reasons to be proud of the Philippines. The music video not only captures the vibrant colors of the islands but is also a call to action for every Filipino to proudly share the beauty of the Philippines to the world.

The website only went live last April 15 but it has already generated hundreds of photos and articles from Filipinos in various regions and from all over the world.

After their success in ABS-CBN’s 2011 Summer Station ID Jingle, Angeline Quinto and Vincent Bueno are once again reunited for the Choose Philippines theme song.

Only 21, Angeline Quinto exemplifies the Filipino penchant for hard work and overcoming adversity. The perseverance of “Star Power: The Search for the Next Pop Superstar” grand winner is definitely paying off. Angeline just returned from her US Tour with Sharon Cuneta and had her solo concert at the SM Sky Dome.

Vince Bueno is the face of a new generation of Pinoys who are born and raised overseas yet have decided to rediscover their roots in their homeland. Born in Vienna, Vince made a name for himself in Austria by being the grand champion of “Musical! Die Show!” yet chose to continue his career here in the Philippines.

The lyrics for “Piliin Mo…” were written by Robert Labayen, the vice president of ABS-CBN’s Creative Communications Management (CCM). He is the man behind many Station IDs, the most recent being the “BidaBest sa Tag-Araw” 2011 Summer ID as well many memorable advertising campaigns.

Choose Philippines is all about going out there, discover new things and have fun while doing it!

Choose Philippines is encouraging Filipino residents and our foreign visitors to register on the website (it’s easy and it’s FREE!) and share their experiences.

We would love to hear about their travels, adventures and misadventures in their very own words: Where did they go? What can we expect (scary insects, tidal waves, the best places to eat, etc)? What do we need to bring (sandals instead of shoes, anti-mosquito lotion, etc)? How to get there and how much? Also a bit of trivia and local flavor about the place would be fantastic!

We also invite Choose Philippines users to email us their beautiful photos (high-resolution would be best!) and a short “caption-like” article about these images.

Story and photo contributions can be emailed to choosephils@gmail.com.

And please “like” our fan page “Choose Philippines” on Facebook. Invite as many of your friends to do the same! Just by doing this you are already making a difference for our country! Choose us! Choose Philippines!

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Animal Crush Videos to be Banned in the Philippines

The production of the gruesome “animal crush videos” is about to become a criminal offense in the Philippines with penalty of up to 7 years in prison.

Yesterday, we published PETA’s press release about the producers of animal crush videos in the country namely Dorma “Chita” Ridon and her husband, Vic Ridon, who are allegedly forcing underage girls to participate in the torture and killing of animals in gruesome ‘fetish’ videos that’s being sold on the internet (CLICK HERE for related article).

The couple were charged with violations of child abuse, animal welfare, human trafficking, and wildlife protection laws and the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering a P100,000-reward for information leading to their arrest.

Awareness about the gruesome production of these “crush” videos are necessary to stop animal cruelty in exchange for money that’s why Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng is proposing a bill that would criminalize the sale of animal crush videos and other filmed acts of animal cruelty in the Philippines.

House Bill 4595, prohibits Filipinos from “knowingly selling, marketing, advertising, exchanging or distributing” the videos, which Rep. Tieng publicly denounces as “an extreme form of animal cruelty.”

“It is hard to believe that this sort of thing even exists, and that a law is needed to prevent it. Animal torture is outrageously disturbing. Common decency and morality dictates that those engaged in it should not be profiting from it; they should be imprisoned,” he added.

If passed, violators will be penalized with imprisonment of 3 to 7 years and/or a fine of up to P300,000.

Rep. Tieng continued, “While this torture of defenseless animals is in itself despicable, numerous studies also show cruelty to animals is often the first step leading to violence against people. This law is one step toward ending this cycle of violence.”

Some sick individuals from different countries are paying as much as $1,000 to watch videos of underage girls torturing and killing animals like dogs, cats, rabbits and even monkeys.

Here are some screengrabs from the said videos as provided by PETA to Starmometer:

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Dorma and Vic Ridon and other sick people producing or selling “crush videos” is encouraged to call or text PETA at 0999-888-PETA [7382]. All callers will be given anonymity if requested.

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Toshiba Philippines to open local office this August

Just talked to a couple of folks who have close relationship with Toshiba that the company will be opening a local office in the Philippines by August this year.

Currently, Tricom is the one that’s representing Toshiba in the Philippines (they’re the ones that handle local product launches and send out review units). We always have to refer to Toshiba Singapore when it involves corporate communications.

Now that they are opening a local office, we should be seeing more presence of Toshiba products as well as better support from the company.

For one, expect the Toshiba Thrive tablet to land in the Philippines real soon (we’re expecting to get our hands on one very soon).

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Nokia beats Apple, Google as top brand in Philippines

A recent survey by Nielsen and Campaign revealed that Nokia is the top brand in the Philippines, across all markets (not just tech), beating Apple and Google.

The report, published last month (full story requires paid subscription here) puts Nokia as the #1 favorite brand in the country.

The top 10 brands that made it to the list are the ff.

Top 10 Favorite Brands
Nokia – 84%
Nescafe – 80%
Lucky Me – 75%
Energizer – 73%
Jollibee – 65%
Selecta – 57%
C2 – 51%
Gatorade – 51%
Cobra – 49%
SM Malls – 49%

Interestingly, Nokia is also the only tech brand that’s on the list. Not even Apple or Google, which usually get very good ratings in the US, made it to the top 10.

The survey was conducted from a random sample of 1,000 respondents in urban areas in the Philippines.

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