Wake-uppers:

From Loida Tisa Lagonoy, Miss UB and Miss Bohol International 2006: Experience Springboard Review organization's revolu mblot Street, Tagbilaran City and get a taste of quality NSG review! Enrol now! If you bring five students to enroll with us, pay only P10, 000 tuition fee! Visit us at www.springboardreview.org! Her associates have been fortified with strong sense of professionalism, a kind that would usher her members towards success. It stands by her members all throughout.

Enhorabuena to AJ Wincielou Johanna "Cielo" Araoarao Gabin who graduated honorable mention and "Best in Math" awardee during the Holy Spirit School elementary graduation held at the HSS auditorium yesterday, March 21. As one of Bohol's top scorers of the first phase of the Mathematics Trainers' Guild - Philippines Mathematical Challenge for Filipino Kids' Training Program (MCFKTP), she will join the 2009 Young Mathematicians' In-house Intensive Training Program (YMIITP) to be held on April 3-6 at Iloilo Grand Hotel together with other qualifiers and Bohol International Learning Center's Jose Caberte, teacher-adviser. This schoolyear 2008-2009, Cielo was gold medalist in the sudoku competition during the school intramurals in September 2008. In November, she won a bronze medal as third placer in the copyreading and headline writing - English category of the Tagbilaran City Schools Division Press Conference in November 2008 and represented the city in the regional level in Mandaue City. Last January, she was second placer in the Philippine Association of Junior IT Achievers' (PAJITA) First National Computer Competition contest in Ecotech Center, Lahug, Cebu City and last February, she was bronze medalist in the city-wide Math Challenge sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) and Department of Education. She is the daughter of Engr. Jerome John Jumawan Gabin, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry - Bohol and Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao Gabin, City Information Officer.

A socialite from Tagbilaran City (although she hails from a neighboring town) acts exactly the way she looks -very "anti" (as in very "antipatika"). That's how the waiters of a certain restaurant describe her. "Ill-mannered!" She doesn't know how to say "Please" or "Thank you." Cuidao!

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Flash! President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is scheduled to visit Bohol on April 1 for the launching of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Sama-sama para sa Kalikasan project, will have a signing deal with Rep. Edgar Chatto for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (Spes) bill. And, the President, will spend time to see her in-laws! Yes, the President's daughter Evangeline Lourdes "Luli" Arroyo who married her boyfriend J. Aloysuis Luigi Bernas (son of lawyer Antonio Bernas) -a former Ayala Foundation director and ex-investment banker-whose roots is from Bohol.

Presidential daughter Luli Arroyo and husband Luigi Bernas were in Bohol (at the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape sometime in 2006) for the Bibo Bohol activity of the Ayala Foundation with participant Manuel Ferdinand de Erio. President Arroyo will meet her in-laws on April 1.

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March 28 (8:30 p.m. in local time wherever you live on planet earth) was Earth Hour. The whole world joined Earth Hour, an annual international event created by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund), held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

What did you do?

Nowadays there is growing concern about the environment. New laws on the global, national, and state level aim at keeping our environment safe for us and future generations.

We live in a modern world with many necessary industries and processes, but that doesn't mean we have to accept the levels of pollution we currently have. We're affecting climate change much faster than the natural rate and that means problems will manifest themselves much faster than we can cope with them.

There is much that can be done by individuals too.

And our youth are united once more to protect and preserve our environment…. whether it's land, water or air; our environment is a precious resource that has a huge impact on our health.

There is no doubt that Jane Censoria Cajes -one of the prettiest faces - and among the few truly talented youth - can lead. Ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Unlike other young leaders, for instance, a youth leader (whose integrity is questionable) claimed many times that the President knows this leader but we found it's fake!), Jane is not pretentious. She has his father's kind eyes and her mother's dazzling smile. This young girl seems to be kind of girl every parents would dream of for their daughter. Following her father's footsteps was the most natural thing to do for this charming 19 year old lady Jane who is in second year AB European studies at the Ateneo.

Jane Censoria Cajes is leading the Philippine youth for the Sama-sama para sa Kalikasan environmental campaign.

On April 1, Jane will lead the launching of the "Sama-Sama para sa Kalikasan," a national environmental campaign.

Jane's heroic act to mobilize the youth- just like environment activists ChinChin Gutierrez and Zenaida Darunday - to take care of the environment is a selfless act. They are the "diwatas" or nymph or forest fairies of our time.

A "diwata" is a guardian of the environment (like Maria Makiling, Maria Sinukuan, Maria Cacao and Maria Gebarte). The modern "diwatas" include Prinsesa Analiza and Batong Orange of Mt. Ilijan in Tubigon, Bohol, guardians of Ilijan Hill, a declared municipal park of flora and fauna.

Protection of the environment is championed by witches and wiccans. If you are reading Wiccan books, you will discover that witches are protectors of the environment because they believe that Mother Goddess is part of Mother Nature. In our folklore, we are told of diwatas like Maria Makiling, sometimes spelled Mariang Makiling of Laguna, Maria Sinukuan of Pampanga's Mount Arayat and Maria Cacao of Cebu's Mount Lantoy (and Maria Gebarte of Bohol), they are guardians of the mountain, responsible for protecting its bounty and thus, they are also benefactors for the townspeople who depend on the mountain's resources.

Another modern day "diwata" is Prinsesa Analiza who lives at the top of Ilijan Hill in Tubigon, Bohol, a protected municipal park of flora and fauna. The princess and her daughter Batong Orange are guardians of the hill. And no one dares to "destroy" the place or else… Our health is directly linked to the health of our earth! The time is NOW to educate ourselves and our children about taking care of our environment. Meanwhile, are here tips to taking care of the environment for better health (from http://www. Thenaturalhealthdirectory.com/environment.htm):

Water conservation. Here are simple ways to conserve this precious resource:

According to Earth Save, not eating just one pound (less than half a kilogram) of beef per year will save more water than not showering for six months.
About 40% of the water we use in our homes is flushed down the toilet, installing ultra-low-flush toilets will not only save water, but reduce your water bill.
Showers account for 32% of household water consumption. Installing inexpensive, low-flow shower heads will save upto 50% of your water heating bill and save over 80,000 litres (20,000 gallons) of water over the course of a year.
Check your pipes and taps for leaks. Even a small drip can waste thousands of litres per year.
Don't put hazardous materials, pesticides, cooking oils, prescription drugs or personal care products down the drain or toilet - they end up in the ocean and/or your local waterways creating unsafe and polluted environments for marine life and local animals.
Install a water tank to collect rainwater for your garden.
Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth.
Take short showers

Recycling. Everything old is new again - recycling is for trendsetters.

Fix things rather than throwing them away.
Recycle appropriate materials (eg. glass, paper, plastic) whenever possible.
Use both sides of a sheet of paper before you throw it away. Better still, don't throw it away, recycle it! You will save trees and cut down on the amount of rubbish you create.
Use rechargeable batteries in power devices such as CD's, toys, digital cameras, etc.

Energy saving. Don't stay in the dark about energy saving. Be an energy saver!

Use shade techniques to save up to 40% on cooling costs during warmer months.

Strategically placing trees and using outdoor shades on windows is one of the most effective ways of reducing household energy consumption.
During cooler months, closing your curtains or blinds at night and opening them up during the day can help maintain heat and reduce your household heating costs.
Insulate your home and save 25% on home heating bills.
Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Turn off TV's, computers, radios and other household appliances when you have finished using them.

Modify your car usage:
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the most important things you can do to help the environment are to drive a fuel efficient car and live close to your work.
Do as many of your errands at one time so that you make fewer car trips. Cars pollute the most right after a cold start.
Save approximately 10% on your annual fuel bill by keeping your car tuned and the tyres inflated.
Walk or ride your bike to work or the shops.
Car pool with school mates or work colleagues.

Organics. Good for you and the planet loves it also. Buy organic! The US EPA considers 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all pesticides to be cancer causing. As well as causing cancer, pesticides are implicated in birth defects, nerve damage and genetic mutation.

Other ways you can be an environmental hero:
Don't buy products made from endangered plants and animals. You will help preserve nature.
When you go shopping, take a re-usable bag with you instead of accepting plastic bags. Canvas bags are ideal as they are light and very sturdy.
If you have to use paper or plastic bags, make sure you save them and re-use them as often as possible.
Try to support businesses who take their environmental responsibilities seriously, by buying their products and services over other businesses.
Participate in neighbourhood clean-ups.
Be an active citizen and write to government representatives encouraging them to work harder at protecting the environment.

That's all folks! See you this summer!

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Email me at leoudtohan@yahoo.com
Visit the BARED website at:
http://leo-bared.blogspot.com/