Reproductive Health Bill 5043 In Full Text; Read First Before Taking Sides

This RH bill topic has been part of the daily news programs of the country for quite some time already. Debates between the Pro and Anti groups heated up as time pass by that later on almost became a church versus the state issue. I must admit, I'm pro-RH Bill but whenever I would be asked why I'm on that side, I can't say any valid reasons. I find myself not worthy to be on either side knowing that I wasn't able to read the entire Bill. I guess I need to step out of the picture first and clear everything in my mind before I take sides.

Finding the full text of the Bill wasn't that difficult as I just googled it and I found the full text posted in the blog of the Jaromay-Laurente-Pamaos Law Offices.

I hope all those people debating about this RH Bill was able to read it before they take sides and didn't merely based their reasons in the opinions of other people. It's a bit lengthy but I guess, you would be able to defend your side that well if you know what you're talking about.

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 5043

(In substitution to HB Nos. 17, 812, 2753 & 3970)

Introduced by Honorables Edcel C. Lagman, Janette L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark

Llandro Mendoza, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona

HOUSE BILL NO. 5043

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008“.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards.

The State shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy.

This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens.

The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children,among other underprivileged sectors.

SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. – This Act declares the following as basic guiding principles:

a. In the promotion of reproductive health, there should be no bias for either modern or natural methods of family planning;

b. Reproductive health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and rights;

c. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health and population development;

d. Since manpower is the principal asset of every country, effective reproductive health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible parenting;

e. The limited resources of the country cannot be suffered to, be spread so thinly to service a burgeoning multitude that makes the allocations grossly inadequate and effectively meaningless;

f. Freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State like the right itself;

g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners;

h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units(LGUs);

i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, women empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;

j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;

k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure that basic policies, plans, programs and projects address the priority needs of stakeholders;

l. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well; and

m. While nothing in this Act changes the law on abortion, as abortion remains a crime and is punishable, the government shall ensure that women seeking care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

a. Responsible Parenthood – refers to the will, ability and cornmitTrient of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children more particularly through family planning;

b. Family Planning – refers to a program which enables couple, and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to carry out their decisions, and to have informed choice and access to a full range of safe, legal and effective family planning methods, techniques and devices.

c. Reproductive Health -refers to the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its funcitions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided that these are not against the law. This further implies that women and men are afforded equal status in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction.

d. Reproductive Health Rights – refers to the rights of individuals and couples do decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to have the information and means to carry out their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.

e. Gender Equality – refers to the absence of discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex, in opportunities, allocation of resources and benefits, and access to services.

f. Gender Equity – refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men, and often requires. women-specific projects and programs to eliminate existing inequalities, inequities, policies and practices unfavorable too women.

g. Reproductive Health Care – refers to the availability of and access to a full range of methods, techniques, supplies and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems in order to achieve enhancement of life and personal relations. The elements of reproductive health care include:

1. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition;

2. Promotion of breastfeeding;

3. Family planning information end services;

4. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

5. Adolescent and youth health;

6. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable infections (STIs);

7. Elimination of violence against women;

8. Education and counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health;

9. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions;

10. Male involvement and participation in reproductive health;,

11. Prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction; and

12. Reproductive health education for the youth.

h. Reproductive Health Education – refers to the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills do be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate. and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion.

i. Male involvement and participation – refers to the involvement, participation, commitment and joint responsibility of men with women in all areas of sexual and reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to men.

j. Reproductive tract infection (RTI) – refers do sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases and other types of-infections affecting the reproductive system.

k. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care – refers to lifesaving services for maternal complication being provided by a health facility or professional which must include the following six signal functions: administration of parenteral antibiotics; administration of parrenteral oxyttocic drugs; administration of parenteral anticonvulsants for pre-eclampsia and iampsia; manual removal of placenta; and assisted vaginal delivery.

l. Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care – refers to basic emergency obstetric care plus two other signal functions: performance of caesarean section and blood transfusion.

m. Maternal Death Review – refers to a qualitative and in-depth study of the causes of maternal death with the primary purpose of preventing future deaths through changes or additions to programs, plans and policies.

n. Skilled Attendant – refers to an accredited health professional such as a licensed midwife, doctor or nurse who has adequate proficiency and the skills to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complication in women and newborns.

o. Skilled Attendance – refers to childbirth managed by a skilled attendant under the enabling conditions of a functional emergencyobstetric care and referral system.

p. Development – refers to a multi-dimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of widespread poverty.

q. Sustainable Human Development – refers to the totality of the process of expending human choices by enabling people to enjoy long, healthy and productive lives, affording them access to resources needed for a decent standard of living and assuring continuity and acceleration of development by achieving a balance between and among a manageable population, adequate resources and a healthy environment.

r. Population Development – refers to a program that aims to: (1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size; (2) improve reproductive health of individuals by addressing reproductive health problems; (3) contribute to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; (4) reduce incidence of teenage pregnancy; and (5) enable government to achieve a balanced population distribution.

SEC. 5. The Commission on Population (POPC0NI). – Pursuant to the herein declared policy, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring body for the comprehensive and integrated policy on reproductive health and population development. In the implementation of this policy, POPCOM, which shall be an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) shall have the following functions:

a. To create an enabling environment for women and couples to make an informed choice regarding the family planning method that is best suited to their needs and personal convictions;

b. To integrate on a continuing basis the interrelated reproductive health and population development agenda into a national policy, taking into account regional and local concerns;

c. To provide the mechanism to ensure active and full participation of the private sector and the citizenry through their organizations in the planning and implementation of reproductive health care and population development programs and projects;

d. To ensure people’s access to medically safe, legal, quality and affordable reproductive health goods and services;

e. To facilitate the involvement and participation of non-government organizations and the private sector in reproductive health care service delivery and in the production, distribution and delivery of quality reproductive: health and family planning supplies and commodities to make them accessible and affordable to ordinary citizens;

f. To fully implement the Reproductive Health Care Program with the following components:

(1) Reproductive health education including but not limited to counseling on the full range of legal and medically-safe family planning methods including surgical methods;

(2) Maternal, pen-natal and post-natal education, care and services;

(3) Promotion of breastfeeding;

(4) Promotion of male involvement, participation and responsibility in reproductive health as well as other reproductive health concerns of men;

(5) Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; and

(6) Provision of information and services addressing the reproductive health needs of the poor, senior citizens, women in prostitution, differently-abled persons, and women and children in war AND crisis situations.

g. To ensure that reproductive health services are delivered with a full range of supplies, facilities and equipment and that service providers are adequately trained for reproductive health care;

h. To endeavor to furnish local Family Planning Offices with appropriate information and resources to keep the latter updated on current studies and research relating to family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition;

i. To direct all public hospitals to make available to indigent mothers who deliver their children in these government hospitals, upon the mothers request, the procedure of ligation without cost to her;

j. To recommend the enactment of legislation and adoption of executive measures that will strengthen and enhance the national policy on reproductive health and population development;

k. To ensure a massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood and on all methods and techniques to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies, it shall release information bulletins on the same for nationwide circulation to all government departments, agencies and instrumentalities, non-government organizations and the private sector, schools, public and private libraries, tri-media outlets, workplaces, hospitals and concerned health institutions;

l. To strengthen the capacities of health regulatory agencies to ensure safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable reproductive health services and commodities with the concurrent strengthening and enforcement of regulatory mandates and mechanisms;

m. To take active steps to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), especially among poor and marginalized women, to include the full range of reproductive health services and supplies as health insurance benefits; and

n. To perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes of this Act.

The membership of the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM shall consist of the heads of the following AGENCIES:

1. National Economic DevelopmentAuthority (VEDA)

2. Department of Health (DOH)

3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

4. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

5. Department of Agriculture (DA)

6. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

7. Department of Education (DepEd)

8. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

9. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

10. University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI)

11. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAFI)

12. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPQ

13. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW)

14. National Youth Commission (NYC)

In addition to the aforementioned, members, there shall be three private sector representatives to the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM who shall come from NGOs. There shall be one (1) representative each from women, youth and health sectors who have a proven track record of involvement in the promotion of reproductive health. These representatives shall be nominated in a process determined by the above-mentioned sectors, and to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3)years.

SEC. 6. Midwives for Skilled Attendance. -Every city and municipality shall endeavor to employ adequate number of midwives or other skilled attendants to achieve a minimum ratio of one (1)for every one hundred fifty (150) deliveries per year, to be based on the average annual number of actual deliveries or live births for the past two years.

SEC. 7. Emergency Obstetric Care. – Each province. and city shall endeavor to ensure the establishment and operation of hospitals with adequate and qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care. For every 500,000 population, there shall be at least one (1) hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care and four (4) hospitals for basic emergency obstetric care.

SEC. 8. Maternal Death Review. – All LGUs, national and local government hospitals, and other public health units shall conduct maternal death review in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in consultation with the POPCOM.

SEC. 9. Hospital-Based Family Planning. -Tubal ligation, vasectomy, intrauterine device insertion and other family planning methods requiring hospital services shall be available in all national and local government hospitals, except: in specialty hospitals which may render such services on an optional basis. For indigent patients, such services shall be fully covered by PhilHealth insurance and/or government financial assistance.

SEC. 10. Contraceptives as Essential Medicines. – Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other allied reproductive health products and supplies shall be considered under the category of essential medicines and supplies which shall form part of the National Drug Formulary and the same shall be included in the regular purchase of essential medicines and supplies of all national and lord hospitals and other government health units.

SEC. 11. Mobile Health Care Service. -Each Congressional District shall be provided with a van to be known as the Mobile Health Care Service (MHOS) to deliver health care goods and services to its constituents, more particularly to the poor and needy, as well as disseminate knowledge and information on reproductive health: Provided, That reproductive health education shall be conducted by competent and adequately trained persons preferably reproductive health care providers: Provided, further, That the full range of family planning methods, both natural and modern, shall be promoted.

The acquisition, operation and maintenance of the MRCS shall be funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of each Congressional District.

The MHCS shall be adequately equipped with a wide range of reproductive health care materials and information dissemination devices and equipment, the latter including but not limited to, a television set for audio-visual presentation.

SEC. 12. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education. – Recognizing the importance of reproductive health rights in empowering the youth and developing them into responsible adults, Reproductive Health Education in an age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to Fourth Year High School. In order to assure the prior training of teachers on reproductive health, the implementation of Reproductive Health Education shall commence at the start of the school year one year following the effectivity of this Act. The POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall formulate the Reproductive Health Education curriculum, which shall be common to both public and private schools and shall include related population and development concepts in addition to the following subjects and standards:

a. Reproductive health and sexual rights;

b. Reproductive health care and services;

c. Attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health;

d. Proscription and hazards of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

e. Responsible parenthood.

f. Use and application of natural and modern family planning methods to promote reproductive health, achieve desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies;

g. Abstinence before marriage;

h. Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other, STIs/STDs, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other gynecological disorders;

i. Responsible sexuality; and

j. Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services.

In support of the natural, and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth, the POPCOM shall provide concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the age-appropriate topics and manner of teaching reproductive health education to their children.

In the elementary level, reproductive health education shall focus, among others, on values formation.

Non-formal education programs shall likewise include the abovementioned reproductive Health Education.

SEC. 13. Additional Duty of Family Planning 0ffice. – Each local Family Planning Office shall furnish for free instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition to all applicants for marriage license.

SEC. 14. Certificate of Compliance. – No marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued for free by the local Family Planning Office certifying that they had duly received adequate instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

SEC. 15. Capability Building of Community-Based Volunteer Workers. – Community-based volunteer workers, like but not limited to, Barangay Health Workers, shall undergo additional and updated training on the delivery of reproductive health care services and shall receive not less than 10% increase in honoraria upon successful completion of training. The increase in honoraria shall be funded from the Gender and Development (GAD) budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

SEC. 16. Ideal Family Size. – The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.

SEC. 17. Employers’ Responsibilities. – Employers shall respect the reproductive health rights of all their workers. Women shall not be discriminated against in the matter of hiring, regularization of employment status or selection for retrenchment.

All Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) shall provide for the free delivery by the employer of reasonable quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers. In establishments or enterprises where there are no CBAs or where the employees are unorganized, the employer shall have the same obligation.

SEC. 18. Support of Private and Non-government Health Care Service Providers. – Pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, private reproductive health care service providers, including but not limited to gynecologists and obstetricians, are encouraged to join their colleagues in non-government organizations in rendering such services free of charge or at reduced professional fee rates to indigent and low income patients.

SEC. 19. Multi-Media Campaign. – POPCOM shall initiate and sustain an intensified nationwide multi-media campaign to raise the level of public awareness on the urgent need to protect and promote reproductive health and rights.

SEC. 20. Reporting Requirements. – Before the end of April of each year,the DOH shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of this Act and shall make the necessary recommendations for executive and legislative action. The report shall be posted in the website of DOH and printed copies shall be made available to all stakeholders.

SEC. 21. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts are prohibited:

a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall:

1. Knowingly withhold information or impede the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods;

2. Refuse to perform voluntary ligation and vasectomy and other legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of spousal consent or authorization.

3. Refuse to provide reproductive health care services to an abused minor, whose abused condition is certified by the proper official or personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or to duly DSWD-certified abused pregnant minor on whose case no parental consent is necessary.

4. Fail to provide, either deliberately or through gross or inexcusable negligence, reproductive health care services as mandated under this Act, the Local Government Code of 1991, the Labor Code, and Presidential Decree 79, as amended; and

5. Refuse to extend reproductive health care services and information on account of the patient’s civil status, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, and nature of work; Provided, That all conscientious objections of health care service providers based on religious grounds shall be respected: Provided, further, That the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible: Provided, finally, That the patient is not in an emergency or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.

b) Any public official who prohibits or restricts personally or through a subordinate the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning;

c) Any employer who shall fail to comply with his obligation under Section 17 of this Act or an employer who requires a female applicant or employee, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to involuntarily undergo sterilization, tubal ligation or any other form of contraceptive method;

d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 14 of this Act; and

e) Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.

SEC. 22. Penalties. – The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over violations of this Act and the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to an imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service.

Violators of this Act shall be civilly liable to the offended party in such amount at the discretion of the proper court.

SEC. 23. Appropriations. – The amounts appropriated in the current annual General Appropriations Act for reproductive health and family planning under the DOH and POPCOM together with ten percent (10%) of the Gender and Development (GAD) budgets of all government departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities funded in the annual General Appropriations Act in accordance with Republic Act No. 7192 (Women in Development and Nation-building Act) and Executive Order No. 273 (Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development 1995-2025) shall be allocated and utilized for the implementation of this Act. Such additional sums as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be Included in the subsequent years’ General Appropriations Acts.

SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall promulgate, after thorough consultation with the Commission on Population (POPCOM), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), concerned non-government organizations (NGOs) and known reproductive health advocates, the requisite implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, Orders, issuances, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Feel free to report this one for public use as all of us has the right to information.

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

Sweets Overload At Cafe Demitasse

It's been a long day today but I enjoyed every moment of it. As usual, I woke up late this morning with no plans of going out. Just like any other normal day that I used to have, I started it with checking my phone for notifications and turning on my laptop to check my emails and social networking sites.

After exchanging tweets and sms, I just found myself getting ready to meet a high school friend and the rest of the gang to visit the newly opened Abreeza, Ayala Malls. In as much as we want to penetrate Starbucks Coffee and Max's, the number of people falling in line to get an order just didn't allow us. We ended up having our dinner in the food court instead.

While eating our dinner, one of my friends shared her cozy coffee experience at Cafe Demitasse. Everyone became curious and decided to go there.


The place is cozy indeed! The ambiance is very relaxing due to the well chosen colors of the furniture and other furnishings. The waiters are so sensitive with your needs that you don't have to tell them what to do. They deserve a raise for the excellent service.

Then we ordered our food using their all-text menu and just based it on how yummy it reads.

One by one our order came and upon seeing it, "WOW" has been the first word that came out from our mouths. As usual, I took pictures on the food but unfortunately I wasn't able to take note of their names because I was simply consumed by my excitement.

The frustration of not having the chance to taste something at Starbucks Coffee and Max's in Abreeza just vanished after the sweets overload that we had at Cafe Demitasse.

Cafe Demitasse
727 F. Torres Street, 8000 Davao City, Philippines
Contact No. 082-282-2828/09239273202
Email: cafe.demitasse@yahoo.com

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

My Abreeza Ayala Mall Experience

May 12, 2011, the entire community of Davao City has been talking about the soft opening of one of the biggest and now the newest mall in city, the Abreeza Ayala Malls. It is place wherein malls are built together in one place. This establishment is a 5 billion Ayala-Floirendo property which is a replication of the Ayala Mall in Makati City.

The place is built not just for shopping but for the shoppers to have a place to bond as well. When I went there this afternoon, I can observe the wide facade before you enter the main building. There is also a vast space which I believe to be developed as a park-garden like area wherein shoppers can stay and bond with their companions after they shop. What happened last Thursday was just a soft opening and not all stores are opened yet. Even some of the landscapes outside aren't done as well.

“We expect the mall operation to be very viable and confident on the cash flow even on the first year of operation. Abreeza Mall is branded as Ayala Malls like Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, TriNoma,” said Antonio Aquino, CEO and president of the Ayala Land, Inc. Davaoeños should expect BPO centers, hotel and residential condominium to open in the next three years.

I didn't join the crowd in the soft opening last Thursday because I know very well that traffic would be very heavy and it is not advisable for a dust-allergic individual like me. I'm already planning  to visit the place this weekend but I realized that the number of people going there would be more than number during the soft opening because most of them are one their off days already. Two days passed and I just can't help it anymore, I'm so curious of what it looks like and what are the new stores inside. Davao City malls aren't that complete yet when it comes to Branded stores that can only be seen in the vast number of shopping centers in Luzon and Visayas. 

After meeting someone in Gaisano Mall, I decided to go to Abreeza.  It took me a 20-minute jeepney ride to get there. 

Here is a picture of their events area taken from the 3rd floor. This is only a portion of the entire place and as you can observe, there will be an up coming program and people are starting to position themselves in the corridor. Maybe a celebrity would visit, I'm just not sure who and I didn't bother to ask.

I'm not promoting any stores in this post but I just took pictures of those stores that excited me because finally they are already here. 

First and foremost is the famous coffee shop in the world which is the Starbucks Coffee. The one inside Abreeza is the first Starbucks Coffee shop in the city and it is one of the most crowded place inside.

Then I spotted is Max's. We had Max's before in Gaisano Mall but suddenly it just disappeared due to reasons that I don't know. Their chicken meals are my favorite most especially their signature fried chicken.

And here comes PowerMac, the renowned seller of Apple products

Book lovers of the city would be happy seeing Fully Booked is finally here, but the store isn't finish yet. Sorry for the blurry picture.

The succeeding pictures are stores of signature items that I don't see in the existing major malls in the city.

Like what I said in the first part of this post, it is an establishment wherein malls are built together in one place because I spotted this shopping center inside.

I also spotted this stall in the center of the hallway right before I entered the main building. It is a local pastry shop near my place and their cakes are so delicious. Now they are inside Abreeza.

There are still a lot of unfamiliar stores inside based on my knowledge. Maybe for others they aren't new but I'm pretty sure existing malls in the city don't have them. 

Abreeza Ayala Malls is a nice place. I can foresee that it is going to be the biggest and most famous shopping place in the city. It isn't finish yet but people are already all over the place. Most of them are just curious while others are excited to buy those signature items that can only buy when they travel to other big cities in the country.

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

Pacquiao Fight Gathers Everyone

The much awaited Pacquiao-Mosley fight is finally here and as always, everyone in the community would once and for all gather together just to witness this spectacular event. Aside from the fact that all his fights falls on Sundays wherein most of us are on our off days, his fight would always be the time in their year wherein even working people are going to stop their work just to watch the game. Pacquiao vs Mosley live stream is also being searched by a lot of people at this time to be able to watch it for free in the internet. 

He has been considered to be the most celebrated Filipino athlete in the country who always bring pride and honor every after his fight. Labeled as the "People's Champ" and the pound for pound for king, Manny Pacquiao has remained on his feet and stays humble in spite of all his achievements. He is the first boxer in history to win ten world titles, the first to win in eight weight divisions, and the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He is also serving his country as a congressman in the province of Saranggani and has been the face of a lot of products endorsements.

In this fight, he will face another tough opponent who happens to be the former WBA Welterweight Super Champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley. He is older than Pacquiao but he is having an advantage in terms of height and reach. He also got a higher percentage of knockout wins compared to Pacquiao. The very reason why knockout has been expected in their fight since both of them got majority of their wins by way of knock out.

May 7, 2011, both fighters went to MGM Grand for their official weigh-in which has gathered a lot of fans. Here is a Youtube video of the event that has been uploaded by FightHype.com

This is going to be an event that could gather all individuals from all ages and from different walks in life like the street vendors up to the famous business tycoons

Together let's support our very own Manny Pacquiao by watching his fight. Let us join our countrymen in cheering him up. Later I'll be watching it through a pay per view in one of the city's food establishments with my friends. Good luck and God bless to Manny Pacquiao.

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

Smart Communications Sent Out Refunds For The Outage

Prepaid users of the country's biggest telecommunications company Smart Communication has been ranting and flooding their social networking sites with complaints few days ago. They can't send sms or make calls even if they got load credits. Some users are also complaining that their load credits just disappeared despite not using them.

The official twitter account of the company @SmartCares did send replies for those complaining the problem  but didn't disclose the reason why. They are just acknowledging the present situation. The problem continued until yesterday.

One of my friends who happens to be a Smart user sent a group message saying that she was able to receive a free load from the company. She made mention that this is somewhat like a "refund" for all those load credits taken from her due to the perceived outage. She also sent to me the apology SMS sent by the company regarding the issue which says:

We regret any temporary service disruption that you may have been experiencing. Please accept the free load we have credited to your account. We appreciate your continued patronage

The load being sent varies from one user to another. However, the load being sent is just a percentage of the wasted load credits and not the exact amount. The amount ranges from Php 6.00 to Php 300.00 based on the several people that I've known to have received the so called "refund"

As what has been posted in an article in GMA News Online, Smart's Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto sent an SMS to them that as of today (May 5, 2011), their systems have already normalized. However he didn't directly acknowledge the network's problem and to which area of their system was really affected.

"We still need to deal with the backlog. Our target is to fix everything in the next 24 hours," he added.

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

Celebrating Mother's Day

Everyone of us would definitely not exist in this world if a woman didn't choose to let you live in her womb for nine months even though it may cause harm in her health. A person that would undoubtedly choose your safety over hers if life gets tough. A person who chose to allow you become part of her entire life and a person who will spare her precious time just to make you happy. Mommy, mom, mother, nanay, inay are just few of the names that we call her and this weekend we are going to celebrate her day.

Actually, a single day celebration isn't enough to honor her. Everyday should be her day and as her child it is our duty to make her happy. You don't have to spend that much to make Mother's Day special for your mom. A simple greeting or a personalized greeting card will do as long as you are sincere.

I'm having this Mother's day post not just to honor my ever dearest mom but also to give help to a lot of people out there who just can think of ways on how to celebrate it.

Here are some tips I gathered on how to celebrate mother's day:

• Flowers for your mom - an epic way of showing appreciation.
• Mother's Day Card - stores are selling all kinds but a personalized one would be nicer.
• Special Meal Gathering - breakfast in bed or a special dinner would be great.
• Shopping Spree - this is the perfect time to buy things for you mom which she often do for you.
• Spa bonding - your mom has been spending her whole life taking of you so it is just rightful to give herself a time to relax.
• All expense-paid trip - this maybe costly but if you could just afford it, then allow your mom to visit other places that she only sees in travel shows and magazines.
• Call - some moms are working in far away places and calling her would mean a lot. 
• Hugs and Kisses - the above mentioned suggestions have monetary involvements but if it is just possible, hugs and kisses from the heart would be the cheapest.

What I listed above are just few of the things that you could do to give gratitude to your mom. Making this blog entry is one of my ways to greet my mom a happy mother's day. I may not be able to see her that often but no time in my life that I didn't care and love her. Her sacrifices for me and for our family has been priceless. This mother's day and everyday, I'm praying for her good health and sound mind.

I would like to greet as well the moms of my friends and my friends who are already moms and all the moms in the world.

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

Date A Girl Who Eats; Much More The Girl Who Prays Before She Eats

I happen to bumped into one of the Facebook Notes of my college friend which is basically about what kind of girl a man should date. I just found it interesting and I want to post it here. Obviously, I'm posting it now. I just want to give credits to Bianca Consunji who wrote this up and Novie Jay Dureza Onor for sharing it to us.

The 'Date A Girl Who Eats' Challenge
by Bianca Consunji

Date a girl who eats. Date a girl who dares to order a steak instead of slowly picking at salad leaves dressed with vinaigrette on the first date. She is the girl who knows what’s good on the menu, and knows that carbonara is often ordered by the bland brigade of people who don’t know any better.

Take her to a steak restaurant; make sure that you order your steak medium rare and not well done, because she knows that only barbarians order well done. Steak, medium rare, is the best way to identify good meat from the mediocre. She skips the Hollandaise and tucks in, stopping only for a bite of potatoes in between. The girl who eats doesn’t beat around the bush: she knows that steaks that require sauce are insecure.

Date her because that’s the same way she likes guys: substantial, and real. You won’t need to impress her with fancy restaurants, because the girl who eats has been to roadside eateries that serve food that’s just as good—or even better—than stuffy establishments. Knock down a stick of barbecue and a good, cold beer with her (as long as you don’t ice it down to a watery mess).

When you’re with the girl who eats, you won’t have to worry if there’s a fried chicken grease spot on your shirt, or if there’s ketchup on your cheek. She’ll understand—she’s been there. Maybe as a joke she’ll smear cake icing on the tip of your nose and kiss it off.

Date a girl who eats because she’ll take care of you. She’ll feed you chicken soup when you’re sick, and bake cookies on lazy weekends. A girl who eats isn’t afraid of adventure, and is constantly in search of new things to try: fried milk, chocolate bacon, tequila-flavored ice cream.

The girl who eats will go all over the world in search of the perfect meal, but knows that often, the best things are the ones closest to home. She will keep coming back to the basics: a bowl of steaming rice topped with her mom’s beef stew, flavored with onions and pepper; her grandmother’s soup, the result of hours of stirring in the kitchen. Her dad’s grilled cheese sandwiches, done in five minutes, but no less impressive.

Maybe one day, while the two of you share a slice of cake, she’ll realize that you’ve occupied a permanent place in her heart in the same way the stews and soups from home have, and she won’t have to go around the world in search of the perfect meal. Because anything you make for her at that point is the perfect meal, even if you char the steak and forget to salt the potatoes.

You may be able to find the girl who eats but make sure that she prays before she eats. A God fearing Girl is the best that you can have. Even though she eats or not as long as she fears the Lord, it's all that matters.



-niceurdaneta-

Read More

100 Facts About Me

This has been trending in twitter lately and I just want to share it. Some of the things written here can be shocking but it's just the truth.

1. BB enthusiast
2. FB addict
3. Twitter Freak
4. Trying hard techy
5. Food muncher
6. Loves bangus belly
7. Kitikitext ako
8. Home buddy
9. Longganisa lover
10. Loves the beach but not the sea water
11. Not a breakfast eater
12. I don't eat spicy foods
13. I prefer soft boiled egg
14. I have allergic rhinitis
15. I love listening to music but not singing
16. My BB is my 3rd phone and the 1st decent one
17. I prefer strolling in the mall ALONE
18. I've read all the HP books first before I watched the movies
19. If I can't sleep before midnight, I won't get sleepy til 9am (insomiac)
20. I've got more than a hundred albums in FB
21. I tried to have my hair relaxed twice... Sad to say both weren't successful
22. Majority of my male friends are gay...
23. I love sleeping in the living room's couch
24. My favorite chicken part is the "thigh"
25. I can consume 1.5L coke alone!
26. I'm considering my BB as my Boyfriend
27. I belong to the elite group of left-handed individuals
28. I don't play any sport but I read news about them
29. I don't like touch screen phones
30. I dont like the smell of baguio beans
31. i cant sleep if my face is not covered
32. I dont know how to swim :(
33. My ultimate wish is to fly an aircraft
34. I'll choose corned beef over beef loaf!
35. I can't stand staying in an airconditioned room for long... :(
36. I'm not a sweet type of person
37. Bought only 1 nursing book wayback college years... Fundamentals of Nursing
38. I started using shoulder bags the time I reached college
39. I don't wear lipstick... Only lip gloss... :)
40. I never had extension of duties for my RLE... Good girl!
41. Half of my DR cases were bought... Bwahahaha!
42. I hate "know-it-all" people... :D
43. I prefer wearing shorts than jeans...
44. I fell in love twice... Take note "fell"
45. Pancit canton is my fav meal during times of scarcity of allowance... Hihihihi
46. I am Pro RH Bill
47. resigns when the company is abusing me...
48. is a multi-tasker
49. an only daughter but not an only child
50. I'm allergic to shrimp and squid but they're my favorite!

im half way there...

51. I scored 4028 in a snake 2 game in a Nokia 3310... filled the entire screen... my highest so far!
52. Once I don't like you, you'll definitely take extra effort to prove me wrong...
53. I don't like Ube and any other Ube flavored foods
54. My soysauce dip must have onions and tomatoes but i only eat the tomatoes
55. Im afraid of dogs
56. I dont eat corn
57. My favorite chocolate is kitkat
58. i got my first cellphone when i was 3rd yr HS, a two-liner Siemens which doesnt show pbook entries in messages :(
59. I wasnt able to vote any SK election
60. Im wearing my wristwatch even when i sleep
61. I hate paying taxes
62. I would enjoy watching a live basketball
63. I am willing to learn to love my special someone's hobby
64. Im not a nagger
65. Dont you dare lie to me coz i'll do everything to find the truth... your moves and words are in close monitoring
66. I'm more courageous when it's not a face to face situation
67. I'll choose carbonara over spaghetti...
68. I'll choose chicken joy over chicken mcdo
69. My least number of rice refills in an unli-rice resto is 2
70. I don't wear jewelry
71. I can roam around davao city riding a jeepney... Wahehehehe...
72. I'm into a person who can dance or sing... Or both...
73. I collect keychains of places I've been to... Or from friends who went abroad...
74. I polished my fingernails once! (Last V-day)
75. I love big bags...
76. I'm more into style than brand...
77. I love white roses...
78. I don't eat okra...
79. I'll choose the one who loves me than the one I love...
80. I bathe with warm water... Hehehe
81. I eat durian until supply lasts!
82. I don't eat citrus fruits... :D
83. You're a man to me if you can dare to wear pink!
84. I don't snore... None of my friends told me though...
85. I'm an ER nurse and will forever be... I missed the rush moments!
86. I want to transport a patient in an air ambulance!
87. I can go malling in a tshirt-shorts-slippers outfit!
88. I tried drinking 7 liters of mixed alcoholic drinks! With me left awake! All of them down! Wahahaha!
89. never tried hospitalization since 4yrs old...
90. I'm an IV therapist and the most gentle in starting a line to babies... Weeee!
91. I can solve the rubix cube in 10 minutes... (All colors!)
92. I want to marry an Italian or french (if given a chance)
93. I can be alone as long as I have my laptop, phone and an internet connection...
95. Now that I discovered #torrent, I wouldn't waste my money watching it in cinemas, except for those 3D ones... Hahaha
96. My best movie experience was when when I watched #eclipse with @sheng251_skie, @jayrmarquez and ?????? Hahahaha!
97. I tried defending a nursing case study with no copy of the manuscript coz the CI didn't want me to carry anything...
98. My best birthday was last year... @shupaolicious, @sheng251_skie, @LadyShamai and @kristalorizza know why!
99. I take a photo of my meal before I eat it...
100. I'm saving the best for last... I'm NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) wahahaha... Trust me it's a fact!

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

To My Dearest Japan: You're Simply Strong To Have All These Things

The world just witnessed how Japan was shook by a deadly 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a raking tsunami. Japan is one of the most developed and highly industrialized country in Asia and the Japanese people are known to be hardworking. Their share to the world's richest is simply astounding and they are known to be the most prepared. However, you really can't have everything. No matter how prepared we are, the power of nature which is controlled by a strong Ultimate Being, the Lord is way much stronger

In the context of worship and religion, as per wikipedia, most Japanese people do not exclusively identify themselves as adherents of a single religion; rather, they incorporate elements of various religions. 84% to 96% of Japanese adhere to Shinto and Buddhism but grants full religious freedom, allowing minority religions such as Christianity, Islam and Sikhism to be practiced.

What's the use of mentioning these things in the first place? Well, I'm just trying to link what has happened to their mode of worship. Ever since I'm a child, I've been exposed to Bible stories which includes nations being punished because they are not worshiping the Lord.

However, now that I'm on this age, I was able to meet a lot people with different modes of worship and I do respect their beliefs as long as they're respecting mine and as long as they not worshiping satan or similar idols.

As to the case of Japan, they are not worshiping satan to get punished and the Lord is not a punishing God. He is just giving us challenges to strengthen our faith and He is not giving us challenges if He knew we can't overcome it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man, God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

My prayers these days are all for my friends who are in Japan right now as well as to all Japanese people. Stay strong and have faith.

-niceurdaneta-

Read More

Leaving First; Leaving Last

In the past few days and in the coming days, most of my ever dearest friends are leaving me. Not in really in the case of forsaking me but they leave physically like going to a foreign land, or perhaps going back to their hometown. The feeling of being left is definitely not good. I am a type of person who prefer to leave than to be left behind. I really hate goodbyes but sad to say it is one of the inevitable phenomenons of life. 

If only I would be given the chance to leave first, then it would be much better, but if not, then I don't have any choice but to accept it. Actually, I am not yet certain when will I be leaving. In this challenging life, you'll never know when because no one knows what will happen in the future. Friends leave, friends arrive as people die and babies born. 

Despite all these uncertainties that we have, one thing that would definitely remain and won't disappear no matter what we do or where we go and that is the unconditional love and guidance that our Lord is giving us. That's why prayer exists, it is the most stable means of communication that will never become obsolete. It is the fastest and the most reliable. It doesn't even need any network or signal. 

May you be leaving or be left behind, always bear in mind that prayer would always be present. Keep praying. 

-niceurdaneta-

Read More