Stealth007

Flying a lot with ( Emirate Airways ) make Dubai my hub station in most cases , not one of the best airports around as its very huge and the signs and direction and notifications are very poor , 15 min in the transfer bus to get to your terminal is a normal activity Very limited choice in food service and you need to walk a long way to get to them and everything is expensive as hell , and not lots to do or recreation facility like other airports has for those that have to wait a few hours or some time more before they can catch there connection flight..... The place is very impressive with a brand new terminal to open soon , maybe a plus add for the phillippino lovers , lots of fillippino beauty working there , had a cool chatt with a cuttie at one of those chicken restaurants , she work at one of those dutyfree stores , she offer me to tour around Dubai if i was there on a longer transit or visit , lol Greetz , Stealth

Normaly i fly everywhere with the ( Emirate Airline ) , some time i will switch to ( Singapore Airline ) or ( Cathay Pacific ) and i have to say that there service is quite good for my taste anyway....... Local i fly in most case with the phillippines airline , not bad..... The only problem is the constant delay`s that they can not get ride of some how....... On my last flight in Jan 2017 i got a good deal and discount at ( China Airways ) so i try it and i have to say it was not bad at all , we fly with there new A350....... What i found interesting to see was these stuwardess cleaning the CR every hour and i notice they will each time take turn to clean it , first time i see this , did not saw this on no other airline yet....... Greetz , Stealth

For all of you that are flying out of the phillippines these day`s , make sure you are a few hours earlyer at the airport...... Reading on my friends FB i get the impression that its a one hell of a delay at the security cheque points...... This way to prevent you from losing your flights...... Greetz , Stealth

Jeepneys face uncertain future MANILA: Peter Dallos shouts above the rumble of his smoke-belching engine urging passengers to clamber quickly on to his dilapidated red jeepney. Such scenes may soon disappear from Manila’s gridlocked streets as authorities move to phase out the Philippines’ iconic World War II-era minibuses, citing pollution and safety concerns. Dubbed ‘jeepneys’ and once hailed as the ‘King of the Road’ they are a cultural symbol in the Phillipines to rival New York’s yellow taxis—and for decades they provided cheap and regular transport for millions. But under a government modernization program, vehicles of this type that are aged 15 years or older will be taken off the streets by 2020 and replaced with a more environment-friendly version. Dallos, 55, slaps the steering wheel as his slipper-clad foot stomps on the gas while he hands over change that is passed down a row of squished passengers fanning themselves in the summer heat. “This is like my wife. My jeepney are I together every day. I know what ails it, what I need to do,” Dallos told Agence France-Presse. “I’m angry because I will lose my job. I will be forced to go home to my province, become a bystander and starve,” he added. The government admits the plan will be hard to implement, affecting a micro-industry of poor drivers and owners. Dallos has been working 14 hours a day for 20 years to provide for his jobless wife, seven kids and three grandchildren who live in an upland farming province where he has no land to till. He earns around 500 pesos ($10) a day. Dirty, inefficient, loved Taking inspiration from the American jeeps left behind after the war, the jeepney is a Filipino invention, where a roof has been added and inside there are two parallel benches. They can carry more than 20 people at a time, but run on cheap diesel and are heavy polluters, while the drivers are notorious for violating traffic rules. “Our inefficient dinosaur, the (jeepney), must now be relegated to the museum. It is dirty, inefficient, unhealthy,” said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez. The government vows to help owners sell old jeepneys and access loans to buy new models while requiring drivers to undergo safety training, though critics question the cost of this. Authorities say commuters deserve a better alternative. They are designing units with engines compliant with European emission standards or solar and electric vehicles with GPS and possibly a ride-hailing app. But at eight pesos (16 cents) per journey, jeepneys are the sole affordable option for many. “It’s the only and the most convenient way. I can’t ride a taxi because that’s super expensive,” medical student Maria Alcid said en route to school.For low fares, passengers pay the price of bumping their heads on the ceiling, inching their buttocks into seats, and clinging to the roof while standing on the tiny step at the back. And yet for those who grew up riding jeepneys, there is a lot of affection for the vehicles. They are famed for their psychedelic designs featuring everything from Mickey Mouse to the Virgin Mary and in provinces even carry people, animals and crops on roofs. “Look at my jeepney, its frame is about to fall off but people are still riding it,” says Dallos, caressing his rusting dashboard. He adds: “Is there any other choice?” AFP

@Strocube Just put ( php ) ph = phillippino / p = peso , behind your figures and not the dollar sign , that will prevent the confusion , easy...... 2000 php = $ 40 US Dollars Greetz , Stealth

@SiamSam The scary part of all this is the news i read a few weeks ago that there is now a strain of ( Gonorrhea and Syphilis ) that have developed a resistance to antibiotics and can not be cure !!! , and it will be just a matter of time that it will spread in to a uncontrol proportion...... For me that`s no problem because i Always use a condoom for my protection , but how abouth those that dont use nothing and dont take these warning seriously........ Greetz , Stealth

Quick look where we stands , ano 2017 , Which STDs Can & Cannot Be Cured With all of the different STDs out there, it can be difficult to remember which ones can be treated and cured, and which sexually transmitted diseases stay with you for life. STDs are caused by a variety of bacteria, parasites and viruses. There are a few exceptions, but the easiest way to remember which sexually transmitted diseases can be cured is to know which are viral and which are not. We put together a breakdown of the STDs that can pretty much always be cured, can sometimes be cured, and those that currently do not have a cure. We update this post when new STD treatment information becomes available. STDs that can be treated and cured with antibiotics or prescriptions include: Chlamydia – Chlamydia is a bacterial STD. It can often be treated with just a single round of antibiotics. Gonorrhea – Like chlamydia, gonorrhea is caused by bacteria that can usually be treated with antibiotics, however there are some cases recently of gonorrhea that have developed a resistance to antibiotics. Trichomoniasis – Trich is caused by a parasitic protozoan that can be eradicated with antibiotics. Syphilis – Syphilis attacks the body in stages. It can often be easily treated with penicillin during the primary and secondary stages. A higher dosage may be required for the latent stage, especially for late latent stage. Syphilis can wreak havoc on the body’s internal organs during the late latent stage– even if syphilis is treated and cured at this point, the damage cannot be reversed. Scabies – Scabies are mites that spread via skin-to-skin contact. They can be killed with prescription body washes or shampoos, but they can live on towels, bedding, and clothing, so all fabric materials need to be adequately cleaned. Public Lice/Crabs – Public lice can be ousted by using prescription washes, but all clothing, bedding, and fabrics need to be cleaned thoroughly, too. STDs that the body sometimes clears over time on its own include: Molluscum contagiosum – Even though this is a viral STD, the body typically clears itself of this rash-causing virus after approximately 6 to 18 months, but can take as long as four years, according to the CDC. HPV – Many (but not all) cases of the human papillomavirus are cleared by the body sporadically after one or two years. They are thought to become dormant and many do not recur. Some cases of HPV cause genital warts, which are NOT to be confused with penis pimples. Hepatitis A (HAV) – HAV typically only lasts a couple months before the body can get rid of the virus on its own. Some cases last up to six months. Hepatitis A is preventable via a series of immunizations. Acute Hepatitis B (HBV) – HBV cases last for about six months before the body clears the virus. Acute Hepatitis C (HCV) – In acute HCV cases, 1 in 5 individuals will clear the virus on their own for unknown reasons, the rest develop chronic HCV. Some cases of chronic HCV have been cleared with intense medical treatment. STDs that currently do not have a cure include: Oral herpes – Oral herpes (cold sores) are typically caused by the HSV-1 strain of the virus, but can be caused by HSV-2. Herpes goes through unpredictable active and inactive phases. Even when the virus is inactive it can still be spread. Genital herpes – Genital herpes cause lesions on or near the genitals which are typically caused by the HSV-2 strain of the virus, but can be caused by HSV-1. Herpes goes through unpredictable active and inactive phases. Even when the virus is inactive it can still be spread. HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) – HIV, which becomes AIDS if left untreated, if a chronic infection that attacks the immune system. HIV makes it very difficult to fight off other illnesses and infections, but those diagnosed can be treated with antiretroviral therapy to keep their viral load (Amount of copies of the virus) low and still live a long life. Chronic hepatitis B and C (HBV & HCV) – Chronic hepatitis occurs after the initial acute phase of hepatitis B or C. Chronic hepatitis results after approximately six months of having either the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, and lasts for the rest of an individual’s life. Symptoms can occur anytime, even decades later. Many end up with chronic infection or liver disease– 20 percent die as a result of chronic infection. HPV – Some strains of human papillomavirus, especially high risk strains, may cause constant problems. Some strains can cause genital warts and others can cause various cancers, including cervical cancer. Because this virus is thought to lie dormant when inactive, it can be difficult to gauge when an individual contracted it. Women with the virus may show no signs or symptoms for years until receiving abnormal Pap test results. No matter what type of STD you may be worried about, it is important to get tested to know what you are dealing with (if anything) and to seek the appropriate treatment. Treatments, like antibiotics, can cure some sexually transmitted diseases, while others can keep the disease from worsening. At STDcheck.com, our physicians are able to prescribe the necessary antibiotics to treat and cure the sexually transmitted infections that are caused by bacteria. https://www.stdcheck.com/blog/sexual-healing-which-stds-can-cannot-be-cured/

@SydneyJohn57 It looks very good but my curious question is why did you choose this place and location ??? , its far away from ( Greenbelt ) and ( P.Burgostreet ) and ( La Cafe ) just to name a few of the hotspots ??? Whats the cost per night ??? , you like the service ??? , good wifi connection ???? Greetz , Stealth

Marawi - The Last 48 Hours Seizing of Marawi by Islamist militants a wake-up call for SEA MARAWI CITY, Philippines - At the beginning of the battle that has raged for the past 12 days in Marawi City at the southern end of the Philippines, dozens of Islamist militants stormed its prison, overwhelming the guards. "They said 'surrender the Christians'," said Faridah P. Ali, an assistant director of the regional prison authority. "We only had one Christian staff member so we put him with the inmates so he wouldn't be noticed,” he said. Fighters from the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS), menaced the guards and shouted at prisoners: but no one gave up the Christian man. "When they freed the inmates, he got free," said Ali. It was a brief moment of cheer, but over the next few hours the militants took control of most of the city, attacked the police station and stole weapons and ammunition, and set up roadblocks and positioned snipers on buildings at key approaches. The assault has already led to the death of almost 180 people and the vast majority of Marawi's population of about 200,000 has fled. The seizing of the city by Maute and its allies on the island of Mindanao is the biggest warning yet that the Islamic State is building a base in Southeast Asia and bringing the brutal tactics seen in Iraq and Syria in recent years to the region. Defense and other government officials from within the region told Reuters evidence is mounting that this was a sophisticated plot to bring forces from different groups who support the Islamic State together to take control of Marawi. The presence of foreigners - intelligence sources say the fighters have included militants from as far away as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Chechnya and Morocco - alongside locals in Marawi, has particularly alarmed security officials. For some time, governments in Southeast Asia have been worried about what happens when battle-hardened Islamic State fighters from their countries return home as the group loses ground in the Middle East, and now they have added concerns about the region becoming a magnet for foreign jihadis. "If we do nothing, they get a foothold in this region," said Hishammuddin Hussein, the defense minister of neighboring Malaysia. Defense and military officials in the Philippines said that all four of the country’s pro-Islamic State groups sent fighters to Marawi with the intention of establishing the city as a Southeast Asian ‘wilayat’ – or governorate - for the radical group. Mindanao - roiled for decades by Islamic separatists, communist rebels, and warlords – was fertile ground for Islamic State's ideology to take root. This is the one region in this largely Catholic country to have a significant Muslim minority and Marawi itself is predominantly Muslim. It is difficult for governments to prevent militants from getting to Mindanao from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia through waters that have often been lawless and plagued by pirates. The Combating Terrorism Center, a West Point, New York-based think tank, said in a report this week that Islamic State is leveraging militant groups in Southeast Asia to solidify and expand its presence in the region. The key will be how well it manages relations with the region’s jihadi old guard, CTC said. Commander fired The Maute group's attack is the biggest challenge faced by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte since coming to power last June. He has declared martial law in Mindanao, which is his political base. His defense forces were caught off guard by the assault and have had difficulty in regaining control of the city - on Saturday they were still struggling to wipe out pockets of resistance. On Monday, Brigadier-General Nixon Fortes, the commander of the army brigade in Marawi, was sacked. An army spokesman said this was unrelated to the battle. But a military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Friday that Fortes was dismissed because not all his forces were in the city when the rebels began their rampage, even though military intelligence had indicated that Islamist militants were amassing there. The assault came just months after security forces attacked the mountain lair of Isnilon Hapilon, a long-time leader of Abu Sayyaf, or "Father of the Sword", a notorious Islamist militant group known for kidnapping. He swore allegiance to Islamic State in 2014, and quickly got other groups to join him. Most important among them was the Maute group, run by brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute from a well-known family in Marawi. In a video that surfaced last June, a Syria-based leader of the group urged followers in the region to join Hapilon if they could not travel to the Middle East. Hapilon was named IS leader in Southeast Asia last year. The Philippines military said Hapilon was likely wounded in the raids but managed to escape to Marawi, where he joined up with the Maute group. According to a statement on a social media group used by Maute fighters, the group wants to cleanse Marawi of Christians, Shi’ite Muslims, and polytheists – who believe in more than one God. It also wants to ban betting, karaoke and so-called “relationship dating.” Mountain lairs Some officials said Philippines security forces became complacent about the threat from IS after the January raids. "We did not notice they have slipped into Marawi because we are focusing on their mountain lairs," Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters. Over the past few months, Philippine and Indonesian intelligence sources said, Hapilon's forces were swelled by foreign fighters and new recruits within Marawi. Many of the outsiders came to Marawi using the cover of an Islamic prayer festival in the city last month, said Philippines military spokesman Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera. Lorenzana said that Hapilon brought 50-100 fighters to join Maute's 250-300 men, while two other groups, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines, together brought at least 40 militants with them. On May 23, four days before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, they launched their attack when Philippine forces made an abortive attempt to capture Hapilon inside Marawi. After the military retreated in the face of a phalanx of armed guards, about 400 militants quickly fanned out across the city, riding trucks mounted with 50-caliber machine guns and armed with rocket-propelled grenades and high-powered rifles. Within hours, they attacked the jail and nearby police station, seizing weapons and ammunition, according to accounts from residents. The Dansalan College, a Protestant institution, and the Catholic Cathedral of Maria Auxiliadora, were both razed, and a priest and about a dozen other parishioners captured. They remain hostages. A Shi'ite mosque was also destroyed, and a statue of Jose Rizal, the Philippines hero of the uprising against Spanish rule, was beheaded. Snipers on rooftops Herrera said the attack had the hallmarks of a professional military operation. "There was a huge, grand plan to seize the whole of Marawi," he said. After the initial battle, IS flags flew across the city and masked fighters roamed the streets proclaiming Marawi was theirs, using loud-hailers to urge residents to join them and handing out weapons to those who took up the offer, according to residents. The military brought in helicopters to fire rockets at militant positions as ground troops began to retake key bridges and buildings, though some residents this has also led to the deaths of civilians. "ISIS people were running on the street, running away from them. They were bombing them in the street (but) it hit our house and the mosque. Many other houses too," said Amerah Dagalangit, a pregnant 29-year-old in an evacuation center near Marawi. "Many people died when the bomb exploded," she said, adding that a Muslim priest and children were among the victims. Military officials said they had not received any report of the incident. Reuters could not independently verify the account. The military has said 20 civilians have been killed in the fighting and that all were at the hands of the militants. It also says 120 rebels and 38 members of the security forces have been killed, including 10 soldiers who died from friendly fire in an airstrike. ‘People will get killed’ Officials in neighboring Indonesia worry that even if the Filipinos successfully take back Marawi in coming days, the threat will still remain high. “We worry they will come over here,” said one Indonesian counter-terrorism official, noting that Mindanao wasn’t very far from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. More than 2,000 people remain trapped in the center of Marawi, with no electricity and little food and water. Some are pinned down by the crossfire between the military and the militants, while others fear they will be intercepted by the militants as they flee, according to residents. The bodies of eight laborers who had been shot in the head were found in a ravine outside Marawi last Sunday. The police said they had been stopped by the militants while escaping the city. There will most likely be more civilian casualties in retaking the city, the military said. "We are expecting that people will get starved, people will get hurt, people will get killed," said Herrera, the military spokesman. "In these types of operations, you can't get 100 per cent no collateral damage http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/613170/police-already-identified-gunman-of-resorts-world-attack/story/?utm_source=GMANews&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=news

Major salut and heads of to ( Taiwan ) lets see who next , shame on you ( Thailand ) !!! In historic decision, Taiwanese court rules in favor of same-sex marriage BEIJING — Taiwan’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of allowing same-sex marriage, paving the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions and cementing its status as a beacon for LGBT rights. The court in Taipei found that the island’s Civil Code, which states that only a man and a woman can marry, violated constitutional guarantees. It gave the legislature two years to amend the Civil Code. The decision is a victory for Taiwan’s LGBT activists, who have fought for decaded for marriage equality, inspiring similar struggles across Asia and elsewhere. Wayne Lin, chairman of the nongovernmental Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, called the ruling a “milestone” for the island. It is also a milestone for the region, gay rights activists said. “Without a doubt, Taiwan is walking in front of other Asian countries on this,” said Ying Xin, executive director of the Beijing LGBT Center. “This is significant for all of Asia.” Supporters show their cellphone lights in the colors of the rainbow during a rally on May 24, 2017, after Taiwan's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to legally marry, the first such ruling in Asia. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Taiwan has long been seen as a leader on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. While Indonesia arrests and beats gay people, Singapore criminalizes gay sex and China cracks down on LGBT organizing, Taiwan has taken steps toward equality. Gender and sexual minorities in Taiwan still face stigma and discrimination, but school textbooks extol equality, gays and lesbians serve openly in the military, and Taipei’s annual gay pride parade draws revelers from across the world. Taiwanese often attribute the relatively tolerant atmosphere to the island’s cultural mix, which includes indigenous groups, Dutch and Japanese colonizers, and folk practices carried across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China. But a bitter backlash to the groundswell of support for marriage equality has tested Taiwan’s reputation for tolerance. Over the past year, religious groups mobilized against marriage equality, claiming that same-sex marriage threatens children and families. Led by church groups, anti-gay rights campaigners have resorted to inaccurate tropes about homosexuality, trying to link marriage rights to incest, bestiality and AIDS. At one point, one group warned that a same-sex marriage law would mean that “it’s possible to marry a Ferris wheel.” An opponent of same-sex marriage holds a sign on May 24, 2017, reading: "Same-sex marriage is unwelcome in Taiwan." (Chiang Ying-Ying/AP) Part of the opponents’ strategy was to argue that protecting the rights of gender and sexual minorities is Western, that marriage equality threatens what it means to be Chinese or Taiwanese. (Taiwan is self-governing, but China considers it a part of its territory.) At the last major court hearing on marriage equality, Taiwan’s justice minister, Chiu Tai-san, claimed that same-sex relationships are a “newly invented phenomenon,” unlike “social norms and mechanisms formed by the people of our nation over the past thousand years.” He also asked the court to consider how legalizing same-sex marriage might complicate the rites of ancestor worship. “What are we going to write on the ancestral tablets if same-sex marriage is legalized?” he asked. LGBT campaigners dismiss the notion that marriage rights are un-Chinese or un-Taiwanese — and think the ruling will bolster their fight more broadly. “China and Taiwan speak a common language,” said Li Maizi, a prominent Chinese feminist and LGBT activist. “This will inspire the LGBT movements’ push for gay marriage.” Matthew Huang, founder of an LGBT group in the Chinese city of Chengdu, said simply, “It’s hope. In Taipei, activists will now turn their attention to influencing how legislators interpret the ruling and what that means for same-sex couples and families. There is some fear among campaigners that lawmakers will appease opponents of same-sex rights by creating a special category for same-sex unions. In a news release issued after the ruling, Lin urged lawmakers to move without “hesitation” to amend the Civil Code to guarantee full equality. For now, supporters of same-sex marriage are celebrating with a new, engagement-inspired slogan: “Taiwan says yes!” https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-milestone-decision-taiwan-court-rules-in-favor-of-same-sex-marriage/2017/05/24/bf7aa370-405b-11e7-9851-b95c40075207_story.html?utm_term=.3e0533d4e08d

You dont want to know how many get killed everyday , that`s why that place have been written of my to visit list long time ago , friend of mine was last year in Bali and told me for now that`s the only place where they are so far safe , in the rest of the country they are been hunted down like animals...... Greetz , Stealth

Thailand is the country with the most amount of ladyboy`s in the world and still this cat and mouse game is been played , so so sad to see that still nobody has the guts or the balls to give the lgbt community there , there rights...... Heads off and major salute for ( Taiwan ) with there , High Court Ruling this week , hope that others can see and learn what been open minded is all abouth....... Greetz , Stealth

@SydneyJohn57 Yes , they are also the once building next to Phillies Grill , but talking to ( Gerard Jr ) he told me that they will lease out also the whole building , on my ask who will be the Lucky once to run the club section he told me , hungarian and bulgarian club owners , so you can say new blood in the race , lets hope it will be a spectacular club that can compete with Hiso , hope that all will be finish and full operational when i get there next year so i can see and experience it all on my own....... Greetz , Stealth

For all of you that are planning to visit the phillippines and for some reason need to be in the ( MINDANAO AREA ) Do your home work and get to know where your going and what is the alert situation in your visit zone , have Always plan A & B in place so you know your escape route if you ever need it !!! And stay up to date with the latest news and info , where are right now the hotspots and what are the latest developments , the motto today is not , who is going to take care of my well being , but you all need to take care of your self and the safety of your love birds Greetz , Stealth

Rody’s Martial Law • ‘Shoot to kill’ for ‘open defiance’ • Warrantless arrests, searches allowed • Curfew in Lanao provinces, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, possibly Zamboanga –– ADVERTISEMENT –– Rody: I will be harsh, but no abuses MANILA, Philippines - With the likelihood of violence in Marawi City spilling over into the Visayas and Luzon, President Duterte said yesterday he might expand the coverage of his martial law declaration for Mindanao to include the entire country. Duterte raised the scenario in a press briefing yesterday shortly after his arrival from Moscow, where he signed the declaration and vowed to implement it harshly but without violating the rights of citizens. “By virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, I had to declare martial law in the Mindanao group of islands for a period not exceeding 60 days, effective as of May 23, 2017,” Duterte said. Vowing to “protect and defend the country,” he warned those “who fight us” and show “open defiance… you will die.” “Let us solve this once and for all,” he said. “If it means many people dying, so be it.” The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended in Mindanao. Duterte said this may also be done in the Visayas. Licensed gun owners may use their weapons in self-defense against terrorists. “If things go out of hand, actually there is severe fighting, I will allow the Mindanaoans – Moros and Christians alike – if you are in the possession of a gun licensed by government and in order to give you security and protect your family, you can bring it out,” he said. “Just show your ID or your license, specially your license. I said, pagka nagpatayan pati civilian (If there are killings even of civilians), I will allow the civilians to carry their guns outside of their residence,” he said. “But be sure that it is licensed in your name. And do not falsify anything because you’ll also be detained and investigated.” In an online video posted earlier yesterday by Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, Duterte said the martial law he declared for Mindanao would be no different from the one declared for the entire nation by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. Duterte cut short his four-day official visit to Russia on receiving news about the Marawi unrest. “To my countrymen, you have experienced martial law. This one, it would not be any different from what president Marcos did. I would be harsh,” Duterte said in the online video. “To our countrymen, do not be too scared. I’m going home. I’m cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen. And I will deal with the problems once I have arrived,” he added. He said the Middle East-based Islamic State (IS) may have taken a foothold in Luzon and it might even expand its reach if left unchecked. “If I think the ISIS has taken foothold also in Luzon and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people,” Duterte said. “I have a serious problem in Mindanao and the ISIS has taken its… their footprints are everywhere. And there are many, many foreigners and Caucasian-looking,” Duterte said. The President also ordered the military to conduct a naval blockade in the waters between the Visayas and Mindanao to prevent terrorists from fanning out across the country. He also directed the military and the police to kill terrorists on sight. The Chief Executive said he is ready to explain to Congress his move aimed at suppressing terrorism in Mindanao. While describing the martial law declared by Marcos in 1972 as “very good,” Duterte warned there would be severe consequences for the military and the police if they abuse their powers. “And for those military offenders, you will have a summary hearing of a court martial… they will be subjected to military laws,” he said. “And I said, I warned everybody. Everybody is everybody. The members of military, police and anyone, do not try to challenge government,” Duterte said. He stressed the courts would remain functional even under martial law. “No abuses of any kind. The courts are open. You can always go to the court. But in Mindanao, the remedy of habeas corpus is not available for you. And I will detain you,” Duterte said. Duterte said he has to continuously assess the situation, along with the military and the police, before lifting martial rule. “OK, I am not an all-knowing president, it was the police and the military who said that we have reached a dangerous level,” he said in a subsequent briefing. Duterte urged the public to “give me enough time to stabilize and solve the problem.” AFP assurance The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stressed the rights of ordinary citizens would be protected as soldiers would only be after terrorists and other armed groups. “We can assure our people that your AFP, in carrying out its additional functions based on the declaration of martial law, will not abuse its power,” AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Col. Edgard Arevalo, said. “If the AFP will have additional capabilities or capacity to do (its job) because of the declaration of martial law, we will do it in accordance with the existing law and respect for human rights,” he maintained. He said martial law would definitely boost the campaign against terror. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said his command has “yet to get a written guidance on how to implement the declaration of martial law in its area of operations.” Department of National Defense (DND) Public Affairs Service chief Arsenio Andolong said martial law is necessary given the situation in many parts of Mindanao. “The imposition of martial law in Mindanao is a necessary step in order for government security forces to stop the threat that these terrorists pose, who are mostly not originally from Marawi,” he said. “As part of our operations, additional troops will be deployed to Marawi City to augment the forces already there,” he added. Presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo said the deterioration of the rule of law in Mindanao prompted Duterte to declare martial law in the region. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, assured the international community that the government is in full control of the situation and that the declaration of martial law is necessary. “In order to suppress lawless violence and rebellion and for public safety, it is necessary to declare martial law in the entire island of Mindanao including Sulu, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi for a maximum of 60 days,” the DFA said in a statement. Curfew Duterte said violators of the curfew raised over Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Zamboanga, Jolo, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi would risk getting killed. “If you violate the law when there is a curfew, you are bound to die,” he said. “If you raise the flag of ISIS, that’s the time I said this cannot be done. This must be stopped.” Duterte added that he has ordered the military to also save as many hostages used as human shields by the terrorists. “In all decisions and actions, let me assure you that (our) primordial concern is the safety and welfare of our people,” he said. Duterte also cited powers vested upon him by the Constitution to enforce law and order. “It is our constitutional mandate to enforce the law and provide security. It is our constitutional duty to ensure that every family, every community, all Filipinos, are assured to live in peace and harmony,” he said. “We will stay true to our mandate and duty, this I can assure everyone,” the President said. He cited the emergence of new forms of terrorism and the existence of non-traditional security threats as reasons for his declaration. He cited the “need to broaden and widen our network of friends and allies in pursuing our common desire to attain peace and stability, there is a pressing need to directly confront and manage our national security.” “The series of terrorist acts committed by the Maute group resulted in the loss of lives of our citizens, including policemen and soldiers, and the destructive nature of their fight thereby destroying properties and displacement of innocent civilians,” Duterte said. In his previous speeches, Duterte said he would not place the country under martial law as he has no intention to stay in power. He even claimed that martial law did nothing to improve the lives of Filipino during the time of Marcos. Duterte, however, repeatedly dangled the prospect of martial law to threaten armed groups and members of the judiciary who are issuing restraining orders that delay the implementation of government projects. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Roel Pareño, Michael Punongbayan • Writ of habeas corpus suspended in Mindanao, possibly in Visayas • Mindanao courts to remain open • Martial law lifted when AFP, PNP say situation has ‘stabilized’ Rody: I will be harsh, but no abuses MANILA, Philippines - With the likelihood of violence in Marawi City spilling over into the Visayas and Luzon, President Duterte said yesterday he might expand the coverage of his martial law declaration for Mindanao to include the entire country. Duterte raised the scenario in a press briefing yesterday shortly after his arrival from Moscow, where he signed the declaration and vowed to implement it harshly but without violating the rights of citizens. “By virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, I had to declare martial law in the Mindanao group of islands for a period not exceeding 60 days, effective as of May 23, 2017,” Duterte said. Vowing to “protect and defend the country,” he warned those “who fight us” and show “open defiance… you will die.” “Let us solve this once and for all,” he said. “If it means many people dying, so be it.” The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended in Mindanao. Duterte said this may also be done in the Visayas. Licensed gun owners may use their weapons in self-defense against terrorists. “If things go out of hand, actually there is severe fighting, I will allow the Mindanaoans – Moros and Christians alike – if you are in the possession of a gun licensed by government and in order to give you security and protect your family, you can bring it out,” he said. “Just show your ID or your license, specially your license. I said, pagka nagpatayan pati civilian (If there are killings even of civilians), I will allow the civilians to carry their guns outside of their residence,” he said. “But be sure that it is licensed in your name. And do not falsify anything because you’ll also be detained and investigated.” In an online video posted earlier yesterday by Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, Duterte said the martial law he declared for Mindanao would be no different from the one declared for the entire nation by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. Duterte cut short his four-day official visit to Russia on receiving news about the Marawi unrest. “To my countrymen, you have experienced martial law. This one, it would not be any different from what president Marcos did. I would be harsh,” Duterte said in the online video. “To our countrymen, do not be too scared. I’m going home. I’m cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen. And I will deal with the problems once I have arrived,” he added. He said the Middle East-based Islamic State (IS) may have taken a foothold in Luzon and it might even expand its reach if left unchecked. “If I think the ISIS has taken foothold also in Luzon and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people,” Duterte said. “I have a serious problem in Mindanao and the ISIS has taken its… their footprints are everywhere. And there are many, many foreigners and Caucasian-looking,” Duterte said. The President also ordered the military to conduct a naval blockade in the waters between the Visayas and Mindanao to prevent terrorists from fanning out across the country. He also directed the military and the police to kill terrorists on sight. The Chief Executive said he is ready to explain to Congress his move aimed at suppressing terrorism in Mindanao. While describing the martial law declared by Marcos in 1972 as “very good,” Duterte warned there would be severe consequences for the military and the police if they abuse their powers. “And for those military offenders, you will have a summary hearing of a court martial… they will be subjected to military laws,” he said. “And I said, I warned everybody. Everybody is everybody. The members of military, police and anyone, do not try to challenge government,” Duterte said. He stressed the courts would remain functional even under martial law. “No abuses of any kind. The courts are open. You can always go to the court. But in Mindanao, the remedy of habeas corpus is not available for you. And I will detain you,” Duterte said. Duterte said he has to continuously assess the situation, along with the military and the police, before lifting martial rule. “OK, I am not an all-knowing president, it was the police and the military who said that we have reached a dangerous level,” he said in a subsequent briefing. Duterte urged the public to “give me enough time to stabilize and solve the problem.” AFP assurance The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stressed the rights of ordinary citizens would be protected as soldiers would only be after terrorists and other armed groups. “We can assure our people that your AFP, in carrying out its additional functions based on the declaration of martial law, will not abuse its power,” AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Col. Edgard Arevalo, said. “If the AFP will have additional capabilities or capacity to do (its job) because of the declaration of martial law, we will do it in accordance with the existing law and respect for human rights,” he maintained. He said martial law would definitely boost the campaign against terror. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said his command has “yet to get a written guidance on how to implement the declaration of martial law in its area of operations.” Department of National Defense (DND) Public Affairs Service chief Arsenio Andolong said martial law is necessary given the situation in many parts of Mindanao. “The imposition of martial law in Mindanao is a necessary step in order for government security forces to stop the threat that these terrorists pose, who are mostly not originally from Marawi,” he said. “As part of our operations, additional troops will be deployed to Marawi City to augment the forces already there,” he added. Presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo said the deterioration of the rule of law in Mindanao prompted Duterte to declare martial law in the region. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, assured the international community that the government is in full control of the situation and that the declaration of martial law is necessary. “In order to suppress lawless violence and rebellion and for public safety, it is necessary to declare martial law in the entire island of Mindanao including Sulu, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi for a maximum of 60 days,” the DFA said in a statement. Curfew Duterte said violators of the curfew raised over Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Zamboanga, Jolo, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi would risk getting killed. “If you violate the law when there is a curfew, you are bound to die,” he said. “If you raise the flag of ISIS, that’s the time I said this cannot be done. This must be stopped.” Duterte added that he has ordered the military to also save as many hostages used as human shields by the terrorists. “In all decisions and actions, let me assure you that (our) primordial concern is the safety and welfare of our people,” he said. Duterte also cited powers vested upon him by the Constitution to enforce law and order. “It is our constitutional mandate to enforce the law and provide security. It is our constitutional duty to ensure that every family, every community, all Filipinos, are assured to live in peace and harmony,” he said. “We will stay true to our mandate and duty, this I can assure everyone,” the President said. He cited the emergence of new forms of terrorism and the existence of non-traditional security threats as reasons for his declaration. He cited the “need to broaden and widen our network of friends and allies in pursuing our common desire to attain peace and stability, there is a pressing need to directly confront and manage our national security.” “The series of terrorist acts committed by the Maute group resulted in the loss of lives of our citizens, including policemen and soldiers, and the destructive nature of their fight thereby destroying properties and displacement of innocent civilians,” Duterte said. In his previous speeches, Duterte said he would not place the country under martial law as he has no intention to stay in power. He even claimed that martial law did nothing to improve the lives of Filipino during the time of Marcos. Duterte, however, repeatedly dangled the prospect of martial law to threaten armed groups and members of the judiciary who are issuing restraining orders that delay the implementation of government projects. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Roel Pareño, Michael Punongbayan http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/05/25/1703393/nationwide-martial-law-eyed

Philippines smoking ban: President Duterte’s crackdown imposes maximum penalty The use of cigarettes, both electronic and common, will only be allowed in "designated smoking areas" (DSAs) across Philippines. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who projects a tough-talking personality and is infamous for his off-the-cuff remarks, has signed an executive order banning smoking in public across the country. The order, which will take effect in mid-July, also imposes hefty fine including jail term for anyone caught advertising and promoting tobacco products. According to presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, “The ban, which carries a maximum penalty of four months in jail and a fine of 5,000 pesos ($100), covers both indoor and outdoor smoking.” Besides this, advertisements, promotions or sponsorships of tobacco products will subject to fines of up to 400,000 pesos and maximum jail terms of three years. The use of cigarettes, both electronic and common, will only be allowed in “designated smoking areas” (DSAs). Anyone under the age of 18 will be prohibited from entering such areas. Smoking was previously banned only in public spaces such as schools, universities, health clinics and government offices, and this executive order brings indoor offices, workplaces, bars, restaurants and cafes under the purview of banned spaces. http://indianexpress.com/article/world/philippines-smoking-ban-president-dutertes-crackdown-imposes-maximum-penalty-4664807/

President Rodrigo Duterte who is in Moscow, has declared martial law in Mindanao. The declaration was triggered by clashes between the military and members of the Maute terror group in Marawi City on Tuesday. The President’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said the martial law declaration is good for 60 days. LCC President Rodrigo Duterte confers with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President, Christopher Bong Go, as he declared martial law in Mindanao amidst attacks perpetrated by the Isis-backed Maute Group

@SydneyJohn57 I am planning to stay next year also at the ABC , Aqua Room , thankx for the pic and info....... Greetz , Stealth

@Lance2546 Dont want to hijack your post and go to much offline , but how is the construction there beside phillippies going , are they nearly finish ??? , i hear that phillies gril will move to the new building with much more space ???? , are there any sign or indication what will come in the new buildings ??? , do you have any idea when the construction will finish ???? Greetz , Stealth

@Lance2546 Any pic for the curious among us , lol Thankx for the post , nice to see you back online , bro...... Greetz , Stealth

7.3-magnitude quake hits Sarangani; residents warned of tsunami Three people were injured and several structures were reported damaged following the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck Davao Occidental early Saturday. Adrian Morales of the Official Civil Defense Region 12's Rehabilitation and Management Section said the three injuries were recorded in Glan town in Sarangani province. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Glan town said that cracks were discovered at the building of the Glan Medicare Community Hospital, at the town's sea port and the police station following the quake. The magnitude-7.2 quake was felt at Intensity 5 in Glan and two other towns in Sarangani province. Three houses collapsed at the Pacman Subdivision while electricity was cut off in Malungon town, also in Sarangani Province. Residents in coastal areas around the province have been allowed to return to their homes after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology canceled the tsunami warning issued after the strong quake. Malacañang on Saturday vowed to provide assistance to the victims of the quake as disaster officials continued to conduct rapid damage assessment in the affected areas. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/608914/3-hurt-structures-damaged-after-7-2-quake-in-davao-occidental/story?top_picks&order=3

@Strocube Nice to see that your next vacation will be soon in the phillippines and in Cebu , nice place to chill and hang out for sure , with a awesome collection of some gorgeous ladyboy`s...... I also see that your planning to do some diving well for that your also at the right place , and my advice to you is to do that at the ( Malapascua Islands ) will add some link for you to see and read....... http://malapascua-diving.com/ http://www.sea-explorers.com/malapascua/malapascua-dive-site/ Looking foward to read your TR , thankx for posting..... Greetz , Stealth

@Monalisa9922 When will you make a full body shot so we can see you better , no clothing , please , so everybody can get a better idea how you look like ???? Greetz , Stealth

Marawi - The Last - 48 Hours MARAWI CITY: It was meant to be a “surgical operation” to capture one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, who was hiding and wounded in a southern Philippine city. But it went spectacularly wrong. Three days later Marawi, the center of Islam in the mainly Catholic Asian nation, was swarmed by tanks, attack helicopters and thousands of troops fighting Islamic State (IS)-linked fighters holed up in homes and buildings. President Rodrigo Duterte had also declared martial law across the southern third of the country to quell the crisis, while many of the 200,000 residents had fled and security forces had lost their target: Isnilon Hapilon. Forces had initially been confident they would capture or kill the elusive Hapilon, regarded by the United States as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists. The US government offers a $5-million bounty for his capture. The military had for months been conducting offensives against Islamist militants in nearby mountains, and came close to killing Hapilon during a bombing raid in January. After receiving intelligence that he had come to Marawi for medical treatment and was hiding in a house, a small group of security forces conducted what two military spokesmen described as a “surgical operation” to get him. But, even though the region is a known hotbed of Islamist militants, the troops were taken by surprise when dozens of gunmen emerged to defend Hapilon, then go on a deadly rampage throughout the city. “We had been pummelling them in the mountains, but were caught unaware when they entered Marawi,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana conceded in a briefing to reporters on Wednesday. Compounding the problem was the support for the gunmen from locals, connected by clan ties. “The problem here is they have a lot of relatives inside Marawi City,” Lorenzana said. Five soldiers, two policemen and 13 militants have died in the ensuing clashes, according to authorities, with up to 40 gunmen still believed to be hiding in the city holding a priest and other people abducted from a Catholic cathedral as human shields. If Hapilon does escape, it would be a huge blow for the Philippine authorities in their efforts to stamp out what Duterte has said is a fast-rising threat from the IS group. IS linchpin The government and security analysts consider Hapilon as the linchpin of an effort to unite various small Muslim armed groups in the country’s lawless south and neighboring countries under the black IS flag. Hapilon, 51, initially gained notoriety as leader of the Abu Sayyaf, a US-listed terrorist organization that was founded with seed money from Al-Qaeda in the early 1990s. The Abu Sayyaf, based on remote, Muslim-populated islands in the far south of the Philippines, has earned many millions of dollars by kidnapping hundreds of Filipinos and foreigners, and demanding ransoms. In 2001 he helped lead the abduction from a western Philippine resort island of a group of local and foreign tourists. Two American hostages eventually died, one of whom was beheaded. The Abu Sayyaf is also blamed for the Philippines’ deadliest terror attacks, including the 2004 bombing of a ferry in Manila that claimed 116 lives. In mid-2014 Hapilon, an engineering graduate from the University of the Philippines, showed up in a YouTube video as one of the first Islamist militant leaders in the Philippines to pledge allegiance to IS. Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict director Sidney Jones, an expert on Asian jihadist movements, said Hapilon was endorsed by the IS as its “amir,” or top leader for Southeast Asia. Muslim rebels have been fighting since the 1970s for an independent or autonomous homeland in Mindanao, with the conflict claiming more than 120,000 lives. The main Muslim rebel groups are now involved in peace talks with the government. But the Abu Sayyaf, Maute and other hardline groups want to set up an Islamic caliphate in the south for IS, according to security analysts. Lorenzana said IS leaders in the Middle East had ordered Hapilon to move off his tiny island base of Basilan and into more populated areas of the southern Philippines near Marawi “to increase the mass base” of IS. Hapilon’s escape on Tuesday has had broader implications than IS’s prospects in the Philippines, with Duterte citing the ensuing violence as justification to declare martial law over Mindanao and threaten military rule for the rest of the country. you MUST enable javascript to be able to comment

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