Manny Pacquiao Concedes Defeat to Bongbong Marcos

 "I will definitely continue my mission to help our people ..." --Manny Pacquiao, PI Senator/Pro Boxer

Senator Pacquiao leaves office on June 30, 2022

"I know how to accept defeat," Pacquiao said. "But I hope that even though I lost this race, my countrymen, especially the poor, still win in this scenario."

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. (Psalm 37)

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, Sr

LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO CONCEDES PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

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Travel: Food That Was Served on Turkish Airlines During Covid-19

 Whether Brown-Bagged or Boxed:  We flew to Istanbul, Turkey on Turkish Airlines.  We flew a total of 6 times on Turkish Airlines (or its affiliates) during our recent European trip. Our meals were Chicken, Chicken, and more Chicken. They were consistent, indeed -- no choices  were given. Take it, or leave it.  No tea nor coffee neither. Just bottled water. Welcome to the new normal. 

Turkish Airlines.com

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Rhinoceros Day 2020 & Paisley

In honor of Rhinoceros Day, here is my beautiful Rhino paisley candle that I "inherited" from my parents. Luv it!

The article below will add to the fascination you may have had about this endangered species.   This is definitely a case where ALL Rhino lives matter -- whether it be a black or white Rhinoceros. 

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In honor of Save the Rhino Day, here are some surprising things you may not know about these majestic and powerful creatures. - by Ashley Papa / Reader's Digest

They’re an economic boon

“They bring in large amounts of income from tourism and are vital to the ecosystem,” says Jennifer Fermon, director of impact for GreaterGood.org, a group that, among other causes, works to end poaching, protect rhino habitats, and raise awareness of the rhino’s plight. Rhinos also help keep the local flora and fauna healthy thanks to their dung, which supports fly, beetle, and fungus species.

THE LIGHT WRITER 33/SHUTTERSTOCK

Rhinos are surrounded by strife

“Instability and war in regions where the black rhino resides make conservation efforts for that species difficult,” says Fermon. But more and more organizations like Fermon’s are stepping in to protect the habitat.

DAI KUROKAWAEPA/EF/SHUTTERSTOCK

Their skin regimen is impressive

A rhino’s skin is actually quite sensitive. They protect it from the sun by covering themselves in mud and letting it dry, according to Discover Wildlife. Rhinos will also rub their bodies against tree trunks and rocks to remove bugs, such as ticks

STUART G PORTER/SHUTTERSTOCK

They’re really fast

They make look heavy and slow, but rhinos can run an incredible 30 to 40 mph, according to The Australian Rhino Project. Black rhinos reach speeds up to 50 mph—or nearly twice as fast as Usain Bolt!

They’re critically endangered

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 500,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia, Save the Rhino estimates. Today, the organization says there are 29,000 rhinos in the wild. This is because of poaching and loss of habitat, which has put all rhino species in danger of extinction. Here are 10 more animals you may not have realized are endangered.

JONATHAN PLEDGER/SHUTTERSTOCK

The largest species is the white rhino

They grow 12 to 13 feet in length and up to 6 feet high, measured from the ground to shoulder, according to the San Diego Zoo. White rhinos weigh around 5,000 lbs.

White rhinos are not extinct

The Northern white rhino is almost completely gone—only two females remain. However, Northern white rhinos have been extinct in the wild since 2008. White rhinos—or Southern white rhinos—are at the “Near Threatened” status; more than 20,000 still exist in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). But don’t get discouraged: Here are photos of 10 endangered baby animals that are making a comeback.

The smallest rhino species

The San Diego Zoo also reports that the smallest of the five rhino species is the Sumatran rhino, which grows eight to ten feet long, nearly five feet high, and weighs around 1,765 lbs.

Rhinos are vegetarians

It may be hard to believe given their size, but rhinos are not predators and they don’t eat meat. As herbivores, they survive on eating plants—lots and lots of plants.

pc: wikipedia

They have very stringent schedules

Rhinos spend their days and nights grazing and only sleep during the hottest parts of the day, reports National Geographic. When they aren’t eating, they like a cooling mud soak.

ROBERTO RICCIUTI/SHUTTERSTOCK

Birds are their best friends

Rhinos tend to be solitary, but they make an exception for oxpeckers, a type of bird. According to Livescience.com, the oxpecker will sit on a rhino’s back and eat the bugs that crawl on the rhino’s skin. The bird will also call out when danger approaches.

Y.F.WONG/SHUTTERSTOCK

Black rhinos have two horns

It might look like one, but the black rhino has two horns. The International Rhino Foundation reports that the front horn is larger and can range from 20 to 55 inches long. The rear horn is smaller and measures up to 22 inches long.

A rhino pregnancy lasts 15 to 16 months

That may be a long pregnancy, but the Rhino Orphanage reports that a newborn rhino will be up and walking within one hour of its birth. Also, a newborn rhino usually starts nursing from its mom within the first five hours after being born and will start grazing at around two months of age. 

pc: Chicago Tribune

A pack of rhinos is called a crash

Most people know that a bunch of birds is a flock, and a group of fish is a school, but few know that a herd of rhinos is called a crash. Which makes sense, if you’ve ever had a crash coming after you.

JMX IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK

Rhinos mark territory with dung

The International Rhino Foundation also reports that an adult rhino can produce as much as 50 pounds of dung per day, a result of their extremely high-fiber diet and the fact that they have to eat so much. Rhinos can tell a lot about each other from their dung, such as age, gender, and diet. 

Around 500,000 rhinos once roamed free

According to the World Wildlife Fund, about 500,000 rhinos lived across Asia and Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. However, by 1970, just 70 years later, the rhino population dramatically dropped to as few as 70,000 worldwide. There were, and still are, five different species of rhinos, including the Javan rhino, the Sumatran rhino, the greater one-horned rhino, the black rhino, and the white rhino. Here are 15 things you never knew about rhinos. - Reader's Digest

15 Things You Never Knew About Rhinos

wikipedia: Rhinoceros

Baby Rhino at Lincoln Park Zoo

White Rhinoceros

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Philippines: Living in a Simple Hut in Bohol

pc: wikipedia

Covid-19 season has had me watching home tours from the high end of the wealth spectrum to this cutie. Yeah, we all probably want to impress the neighbors; but to CHOOSE to live simply and be content in a little house during these modern times, Wow.  I am quite impressed with this young couple's choices. If I were to be honest, I do worry what the next major typhoon will do to this structure. Note the hubby's mode of transportation.

Casa Redonda, wikipedia

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Tim 6)

Philippine: Nipa Hut

1 Timothy 6, KJV

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Real Estate: Gorgeous $500,000 Home for Sale in Philippines

Whoa. Fireplace, patchwork tiles, grid windows, wood beams,  shiplap, brass fittings, putting greens, attic living, a picket fence -- oh my! Country-style-home, here we come.  This house is  located in a country close to the equator, mind you. Humidity is oppressive and the A/C unit is your lifeline. The ultimate goal is protection from the sun and heat and typhoons, haha.

Yet, overall and without a doubt, one of my very favorite homes thus far.  Just look at that lovely exterior for a start. The windows and balconies, wow! It would be the envy of the neighborhood if it were located on Main Street, USA.
Again, don't mind the Realtor's accent and struggle for correct descriptive words.

Location: Filinvest East Homes, Cainta Rizal Lot Area: 275 sqm Floor Area: 585 sqm No. of Bedrooms: 5 No. of Toilet & Bath: 4 Powder Room 1 Maid's Room w/ Toilet & Bath 1 Driver's Room/Pantry 1 Car Park 5 Total Contract Price 29,900,000 Pesos

Country-style House

Acts 4

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Thankful Tuesday: No More Mosquito Netting

As a legal immigrant to the United States of America, I am thankful, in no particular order, for the following: 

- CHOCOLATE
- abundant JOBS
- hot SHOWERS 
- indoor toilets, and 
- no need for MOSQUITO NETS in the home

While living in my small Asian provincial town, house windows remained open for air circulation in the hot, humid temps. A/C that would keep us cool and our windows closed and kept bugs at bay was unheard of back in the day. We had no window screens neither and definitely no repellant sprays . 

Yet, by God's grace, we remained healthy.  How?  One way was with the consistent use of mosquito netting while we slept at night. No matter how plain,ugly or fancy, the mosquito net did its job. Mosquito-borne diseases be gone (the most common in my area were malaria and dengue).

via Yahoo

via FAQ.ph

via theamblerfamily.com

pc: Amazon

You Will Usually Find These in Filipino Houses

Mosquito-borne Diseases

Palawan, PI 1983

10 Biggest Shopping Malls in PI

Mosquito Diseases

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LIST: Best Airlines for Travel

Our overseas trip departure date looms ever closer. We are flying out on Lufthansa, then on United Airlines when we return.  Too bad neither airline made it on the list.
Don’t Book Another Vacation Until You See Which Airlines Are Winning All The Awards by A W M
What’s the best airline for your upcoming vacation? According to the Passenger Choice Awards, the most comfortable carriers to fly are Virgin America, which is now part of Alaska, and Aeroflot. If you’re looking for the best service on a flight, however, Southwest is the top pick for North and South America and Virgin Atlantic tops the list for Europe.

Virgin America also gets top marks in entertainment for North and South America, while Icelandair is the top choice for entertainment among European carriers.

For those who value Wi-Fi service, JetBlue is the tops for onboard Wi-Fi in the states, with Norwegian Air nabbing high honors in this area for European carriers.

If you’re into tasty meals onboard your flight, Alaska is your carrier of choice, with Virgin Atlantic being the pick across the pond.

For a lot of travelers, cost is a big factor, and the Global Passenger Choice Awards named Texas-headquartered Southwest and Brazilian-based Azul in the Americas, and Norwegian Air in Europe.

These winners were selected by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) based on passenger feedback and data from the app TripIt. Nearly one million flights were rated by passengers across 428 airlines from around the world between October 24, 2016 and July 31, 2017, using a five point scale.

Passengers rated overall flight experience, as well as specific categories, such as cabin service, seat comfort, food and beverage, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

APEX CEO Joe Leader said of the results: “Regional airlines around the world constantly strive to set new standards of in-flight excellence for their passengers; from regional content selections, to  elevated meals, faster Wi-Fi, or service with a personal touch.”

He added, “Airlines hold the feedback of their passengers in high regard, which is why they value receiving an honor like the APEX Passenger Choice Award, which represents the collective verified voice of their travelers.”

Here’s a look at how various airlines ranked in the categories for both North and South America and Europe.

GLOBAL PASSENGER CHOICE AWARDS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA
Seat comfort: Virgin America
Cabin service: Southwest
Food and beverage: Alaska
Entertainment: Virgin America
Wi-Fi: JetBlue
Global for North America: Delta
Major regional for North America: Alaska
Low-cost carrier for North America: Southwest
Global for South America: LATAM
Major regional for South America: Avianca
Low-cost carrier for South America: Azul

GLOBAL PASSENGER CHOICE AWARDS FOR EUROPE

Seat comfort: Aeroflot Russian Airlines

Low-cost carrier for Europe: Norwegian Air

Cabin service: Virgin Atlantic

Food and beverage: Virgin Atlantic

Entertainment: Icelandair

Wi-Fi: Norwegian Air

Global for Europe: Aeroflot Russian Airlines

Major regional for Europe: Olympic Air

Low-cost carrier for Europe: Norwegian Air

Plenty of people weighed in with comments on the Daily Mail’s coverage of the awards, many sharing their own experiences with some of these carriers. Norwegian got a fair share of positive remarks, with one person explaining: “Norwegian is excellent. I did my first long haul with them earlier this year and the Dreamliner was great, especially the air quality. The first time I’ve ever felt fresh and ready to go at the end of a long flight. The staff were great and the price was amazing.”

--  American Web Media

Airlines That Win Awards

Norwegian Air Shuttle: cheap flights to Singapore

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Why Getting Out of the TPP is a Good Decision

 TPP  Problems Explained

Burma or Myanmar

A few of the many  items given or brought back from Myanmar for my friend, Mrs Helen. 
 I  believe the citizens are either in favor of the government, or (highly) suspect and need to be watched.  However, there is a Bible School, which we support; and thank God it's running with no hindrances from the state police or military.  I'm having a hard time locating the pre-mixed tea here.  Any help would be appreciated.

" Love of God"

Blanket

Bags

from Gem dust

Yummy, pre-mixed tea!