Youth Camp by Ayala Foundation

The Ayala Foundation, Inc.. endeavors to form young Mindanaoans into leaders committed to building peace, uplifting their families and communities and to serving our country. Through the support of theUnited States Embassy, we invite students and youth leaders to
participate in a 5-day youth camp for peace and understanding to be held from May 25 to 29, 2009 at The Farm, Brgy. Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato and June 1 to 5, 2009 at the Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar Formation Center, Mercedes, Zamboanga City.

The camp hopes to form lasting bonds of trust and respect among its participants who represent various faiths and backgrounds—Christia n, Muslim, and Indigenous tribes/people. The camp also aims to develop values, attitudes, and skills that will enable and empower them to demonstrate peace in their communities. By the end of the camp, we
expect participants to become better agents of unity and understanding and to influence others to do the same.

Participants will experience a variety of fun and meaningful activities that will challenge them and highlight important values such as trust, respect, and teamwork to help them become more effective leaders and advocates of peace. This opportunity will
provide them with a clearer and more concrete perception of their visions, goals, and aspirations for their selves and their communities. In the end, we hope that our participants will be inspired to play an active role in building peace.

We will be screening and selecting only 100 young leaders who will participate in the camp. No fees are needed to apply or participate in this activity. Participants must meet the following qualifications:


16 to 19 years old (out-of-school youth may be a little over than the cut-off age) resident from one of these areas:
Koronadal Camp:
Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Marawi City
North Cotabato, Saranggani, Shariff Kabunsuan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat

Zamboanga Camp:
Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay

In-school or out-of-school Endorsed by the local/barangay youth group, school or school organization, religious community, or Ayala Foundation’s partner NGOs

Displays leadership in their respective communities, whether formal or informal positions Model of integrity and discipline and possesses excellent moral character
Ability to communicate well in Filipino and/or English

Applicants are required to accomplish one set of the attached application form. Kindly enclose all the completed application forms in a sealed short brown envelop and forward them to the camp secretariat at:

c/o AYALA FOUNDATION INC.

10th floor, BPI Main Bldg.,

Ayala Avenue cor. Paseo de Roxas Ave., Makati City 1226

Selected participants will be notified a week after deadline regarding their participation in the camp. Transportation expenses and board and lodging cost of all participants during the camp will be shouldered by
the camp organizers. No other expenses will be reimbursed. Should you have any questions about the camp, contact our project coordinators Joseph Navarro at 0928-4145787 or Cash Maghirang at 0916-7807273.

Open the window after you enter your car

According to research done by University of California, the car dashboard, seats, air freshener will emit Benzene, a cancer-causing toxin(carcinogen) . In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells.

Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer. It may also cause miscarriage. Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2,000-4,000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level. The people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excessive amount of toxins.

Itis recommended that you open the windows and doors to give time for the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is difficult for your body to expel.

(taken from Philippine Entrepreneur Group)

My take on Ted Failon's Story

I am not here to judge Ted Failon (born Mario Teodoro Failon Etong). As the news says, Ted Failon's wife had passed away. What made in more controversial is that she passed away after the police arrested her family & relatives in the hospital. Filipinos are known to like soap opera and drama that this incident made a big fuss about the time interval when it happened.

I also find it very intriguing when these days several text messages have been going around asking for support for Ted Failon. The text messages are actually saying he is NOT guilty. I was kinda hoping that the text messages are supposed to be asking for prayers for the soul of his wife... The text message will even go as far as " if police can treat well-known personality like Ted how much more if the involved person is poor"... I think this is a very good plot, a sure way of eliciting nods from the general public who are known to have a penchant for giving their hearts to the underdogs.

Let me just ask this: What did the media do if the involved person is not one of their colleagues? In situation like this? Do they respect privacy? Do they come to the rescue? Think... and think very well.

Again, let's give Ted Failon the fair chance to prove himself. Let the media report without being biased, let Police do their job, let Ted's family mourn peacefully. We, the public doesn't know what truly happened, we are not PRIVY to the REAL story. Let us simply PRAY for the soul of Trina Etong. Let us NOT make this as a new plot for a telenovela... As I've said i am not here to crucify Ted Failon but merely analyzing how some people act on cases like this.

Well, just my honest opinion.