Tuesday 5 April 2016

Duterte Leads Newest Laylo Research Strategies Survey


Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte leads the pack in latest The Standard Presidential Poll, with at least 30% of the respondents saying they will be voting for him if the elections were held today.

With an error margin of +/-1.8 percent, Duterte was followed by Senator Grace Poe (27%), Manuel Roxas (21%), Vice President Jejomar Binay (18%) and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (2%).

The March 26 to April 1, 2016 survey covered 79 provinces and 40 highly urbanized cities – including 17 cities in NCR. It is made up of 3,000 respondents, all are registered voters who said will surely vote in next month's polls.



In the vice-presidential race, Senator Chiz Escudero, is at the top spot with 28%, followed by Senator Bongbong Marcos (25%), Rep. Leni Robredo (21%), Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (15%), Senator Antonio Trillianes (5%) and Senator Gringo Honasan (3%).


In the senatorial race, the top 5 are Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III (51%), followed Senator Francis N. Pangilinan (45%), Sen. Ralph G. Recto (43%), Senate President Franklin Drilon (43%) and Former Senator Panfilo Lacson (39%).


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Monday 4 April 2016

Bernie Sanders Predicted Panama Papers Back in 2011


On October 12, 2011, Sen. Bernie Sanders opposed the Panama–United States Trade Promotion Agreement on the senate floor. He pointed out that Panama is a hotbed for "illegal tax havens" and a trade agreement would make that behavior worse.



So when Sanders tells his massive supporters that the system is designed to favor a small, wealthy circle, the Panama Papers appear to back him up. And while neither Clinton nor any of her friends have been linked to any mischief, yet, there is no denying that she is part of that same elite that benefits from devious offshore tax havens. And Bernie so clearly is not. His hands appear clean, and that is a huge part of his appeal to a generation that feels the odds have been deliberately stacked against them for the gain of others. The longer this scandal is kept alive, the better it is for the Sanders campaign.

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Cebu Pacific's Juan For Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016


Eligibility
The Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge, a contest that will bring five (5) teams of students to various Cebu Pacific destinations for an allexpenses- paid fun adventure, is open to applicants:
  • Aged 17-22 years old on or before the first day of the Challenge
  • Residing in the Philippines
  • Enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program in a college or university in the Philippines for the school year 2015-2016 or 2016-2017 or Graduates of school year 2015-2016
  • Interested students must form a team of three (3) members. Members of a team need not be students of the same school.
  • Previous Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge finalists are not eligible to apply to give opportunities to new applicants.

Sign Me Up!
  • Take the Travel Profile quiz here.
  • Fill out the online application form that appears at the end of the quiz.
  • Prepare a video (Answer the following questions: What will a One-Year Travel-All-You-Can Pass mean to you? It must feature all three (3) members of the team. It must be 30-60 seconds in length. Your video can be very simple (e.g. taken against a plain background) and will not be judged based on editing and special effects.
  • Upload your video on YouTube or other video sharing sites then copy and paste the link on the field provided on the application form.
  • Within 48 hours, receive a confirmation email that your application has been received. No confirmation email, no application. Email info@juanforfun.com for any concern on your application.
  • Application period is until May 15, 2016, 11:59 pm.
  • Video entries must not contain any explicit act of violence, sexual inappropriateness or any criminal act as mandated by Philippine Law. They should also not contain anything obscene, offensive, libelous or defamatory.
  • Cebu Pacific Air reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of the entries and applicants (including a participant's identity, age, civil status, and place of residence) and to disqualify any entry that is not in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
  • Additional documents including birth certificates, original IDs, original copies of medical clearance, and waiver forms will be required of the shortlisted teams. Interviews may also be conducted via phone or video calls. Failure to comply with requirements on the specified deadline may merit disqualification.
  • All applications (including any video footage submitted by the applicants) become the sole property of Cebu Pacific Air. The Organizers shall have the right to use such video footage in any and all media, nationwide in perpetuity with no obligation or compensation to the applicants.
  • Applicants agree to allow Cebu Pacific Air to collect personal information in order to conduct the promotion and may, for this purpose, disclose such information to third parties, including but not limited to agents, sponsors, service providers, and prize suppliers.
  • All applicants must be in good physical condition and mental health and must be aware that, and sign releases attesting that, the activities in the challenge may involve risks and hazards, and that participating in the challenge may expose them to these risks. Teams must accept and assume all risks, which arise in any way from their participation in this challenge, and will not hold Cebu Pacific, its Organizers, and Sponsors responsible.
  • By submitting an application, each applicant agrees to release, discharge, and hold harmless Cebu Pacific Air, its Organizers, and Sponsors from all claims and damages arising out of his/her participation in the application process or the Challenge itself, and to have his or her name, voice and likeness used at the discretion of Cebu Pacific and its Organizers as part of promotions for the Challenge, in any and all media now known or hereafter devised.
  • Relatives of employees (up to 2nd Degree of Consanguinity) of Cebu Pacific Air, the Organizers, title sponsors, and other partners are not eligible to be participants of the Challenge.

The Top 5 Chosen Teams
  • Top Five (5) teams will be chosen based on completeness of requirements and their video. Criteria for judging the audition video: Juan For Fun Personality - 60% (Are you warm, fun, and dynamic just like Cebu Pacific? Will your team be a fitting ambassador of Philippine tourism?) and Answer to the Question – 40% (Were you able to convey your answer within the given time? Does your answer reflect your team's spirit?)
  • The final Top Five (5) will be announced on June 6, 2016.
  • All announcements will be made online at Cebu Pacific Facebook Page. Teams will also be notified through phone call and email.
  • Top Five (5) teams will converge on June 21, 2016 for the Pre- Challenge Briefing, during which the teams will be thoroughly briefed about the Challenge proper, right conduct, safety, and other important matters. Complete attendance of each team is a must. Inability to attend this briefing will cause disqualification of the team.


Coaching and Send-Off Ceremonies
  • Pre-Challenge Coaching and Send-Off Ceremonies happen on June 22, 2016. During which: The teams will meet their Adventure Coaches and Team Marshals.
  • The teams will be handed their official gear (e.g. uniforms, certain gadgets; loss or damage to any of the items provided on loan only will be for the account of the teams).
  • The destinations will be revealed; the teams will be given time to research on their itinerary before the first flight.
  • The Pre-Challenge and Send-Off venue will be disclosed to the Top Five (5) upon qualification.

Each team will be assigned an Adventure Coach:
  • Whom they will meet on the day of the Pre-Challenge Coaching.
  • Who will give the team tips and advice on how to win during the course of the competition. The teams will communicate with their Adventure Coaches online.


Each team will be assigned a Team Marshal:
  • Whom they cannot go anywhere without at any point in the Challenge.
  • Who acts as chaperon, ensures that the team abides by the rules, and monitors the progress of the team during the Challenge.
  • Who is not there to help the team win in any way such as by giving travel tips or offering extra money.
  • Whose expenses during the Challenge (e.g. transportation, food, accommodations, entrance fees to tourist spots, etc.) will not be covered by the team’s pocket money.

The Challenge
  • The Challenge proper is from June 23 to June, 29, 2016. The Challenge will take the teams to various Cebu Pacific destinations.
  • The Challenge to the teams is to have the most number of fun activities within the duration of the trip with the given travel allowance. Examples of activities: visiting museums, theme parks, churches, and other tourists spots, trying the local delicacies and other fun activities the destination offers.
  • The teams are free to choose the activities so long as they are within these safety limits prescribed by Cebu Pacific and its Organizers: (None of the following: bungee jumping, swimming in open waters after 6:30 pm, unauthorized/unsupervised interaction with wildlife, trespassing in prohibited areas, mountain-climbing without a guide, cliff-diving and reckless activities that can cause danger or harm to themselves, other teams, spectators, or property.)
  • Each team must maximize and use up all of their travel allowance.
  • Each team's activities are monitored via log sheets. They are required to accomplish these and turn in to their Team Marshal receipts or proofs of purchase. Failure to submit log sheets on the specified deadlines may merit forfeiture of the activities.
  • There are also the Special Fun Challenges. These are small contests and tasks that highlight the destination. Scores from the Special Fun Challenge will be factored into the total scores to determine the final winners. (1st place: 50 Points, 2nd place: 30 points, 3rd place: 20 points, 4th place: 10 points and 5th place: 5 points)
  • Teams are not allowed to make arrangements with family and friends for travel tips, free accommodations, food, transportation, or additional travel allowance.
  • More detailed rules and regulations during Challenge proper will be discussed at the Pre-Challenge Briefing.

The Prizes
  • Three (3) One-Year Travel-All-You-Can Passes to any domestic or international destination (limited to short-haul destinations) on the Cebu Pacific network.
  • The Travel-All-You-Can Pass entitles each member of the winning team to book as many free flights to domestic and international short- haul destinations as they want within one (1) year.
  • The Travel-All-You-Can Pass is not transferable nor convertible to cash. Travel is subject to embargo periods, taxes and other fees, and other Cebu Pacific Air terms and conditions.
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Pacquiao Nearly Assaulted in LA Over Homophobic Comments


The boxing legend was reportedly attacked by an unknown assailant as he was leaving a Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. The assailant apparently targeted Manny due of his views against same sex marriage. Manny Pacquiao was criticised across the world in February, after describing gay couples as “worse than animals”. A few of his endorsements dropped him, including Nike.



Abac Cordero, a sportswriter from the Philippine STAR tweeted the following:
  • Pacquiao nearly assaulted as he came out of Kabuki restaurant this afternoon. White male was restrained by Pacquiao aides hurling FYs on MP
  • "I really thought he was going to hit Manny. He came in fast. He almost got to Manny," said David Sisson, MP personal asst
  • Assailant was held and pushed away from Pacquiao who ordered his companions not to hurt the person.
  • Pacquiao was by the door of his Ferrari when the person rushed to him. Held back, person kept shouting f... y... Pacquiao
  • Pacquiao group did not call the police. Pacquiao tells his companions, hot under the collar, "Let him go. Let him go!"
  • Expect security around @MannyPacquiaoTR to be tighter in Vegas during fight week. Anything can happen
  • No media was around during the incident which caused a commotion at the backdoor parking lot of Kabuki restaurant
  • Edward Lura, a longtime buddy of Pacquiao here in LA, was first to thwart the possible attack on Manny

Manny is currently in the last days of his training in preparation for his match against former WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley. The fight is on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He says that will be the final fight of his career.

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The Best of the Best - Monday Motivation Tweets


Honor Thy Net has compiled some of our favorite Motivation Monday tweets that will inspire you to start your week off.























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Photoshop Battles: Squirrel taking a picture of a bird


Reddit's photoshop battles pits user against user to see who can screw up a picture in the best way. The subreddit is for people to create new images with image manipulation software.










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Explain Like I'm 5: The Panama Papers


In a nutshell, Powerful names in business, politics, and sports used fake companies to evade trillions of dollars worth in tax money.

When you get a quarter you put it in the piggy bank. The piggy bank is on a shelf in your closet. Your mom knows this and she checks on it every once in a while, so she knows when you put more money in or spend it.

Now one day, you might decide "I don't want mom to look at my money." So you go over to Johnny's house with an extra piggy bank that you're going to keep in his room. You write your name on it and put it in his closet. Johnny's mom is always very busy, so she never has time to check on his piggy bank. So you can keep yours there and it will stay a secret.

Now all the kids in the neighborhood think this is a good idea, and everyone goes to Johnny's house with extra piggy banks. Now Johnny's closet is full of piggy banks from everyone in the neighborhood.

One day, Johnny's mom comes home and sees all the piggy banks. She gets very mad and calls everyone's parents to let them know.
Now not everyone did this for a bad reason. Eric's older brother always steals from his piggy bank, so he just wanted a better hiding spot. Timmy wanted to save up to buy his mom a birthday present without her knowing. Sammy just did it because he thought it was fun. But many kids did do it for a bad reason. Jacob was stealing people's lunch money and didn't want his parents to figure it out. Michael was stealing money from his mom's purse. Fat Bobby's parents put him on a diet, and didn't want them to figure out when he was buying candy.

Now in real life, many very important people were just caught hiding their piggy banks at Johnny's house in Panama. Today their moms all found out. Pretty soon, we'll know more about which of these important people were doing it for bad reasons and which were doing it for good reasons. But almost everyone is in trouble regardless, because it's against the rules to keep secrets no matter what. - DanGliesack from Reddit



What the Panama Papers reveal:
  • Twelve national leaders are among 143 politicians, their families and close associates from around the world known to have been using offshore tax havens.
  • National leaders with offshore wealth include Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif; former vice-president of Iraq, Ayad Allawi; president of the Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko and the son of Egypt’s former president, Alaa Mubarak.
  • Leaked documents also show the prime minister of Iceland, Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, and his wife bought an offshore company in 2007. He did not declare an interest in the company when entering parliament in 2009 and sold his 50% to his wife for 70p, eight months later. The offshore company was used to invest millions of dollars of inherited money, according to a document signed by Mr Gunnlaugsson's wife Anna Sigurlaug Palsdottir in 2015.
  • The files also reveal a suspected billion-dollar money laundering ring involving close associates of Russia’s President Putin. The operation was run by Bank Rossiya, which is subject to US and EU sanctions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
  • Three former Conservative MPs, six members of the House of Lords and dozens of donors to UK political parties have had offshore assets.
  • Clients of Mossack Fonseca include 23 people who have had sanctions imposed on them for supporting regimes in North Korea, Zimbabwe, Russia, Iran, and Syria.
  • A member of Fifa’s ethics committee, meant to be leading reform at world football’s scandal-hit governing body, acted as a lawyer for individuals and companies recently charged with bribery and corruption.
  • The families of at least eight current and former members of China’s supreme ruling body have been found to have hidden wealth offshore.
  • Mossack Fonseca provided structures designed to hide the identity of real owners including beneficiary services. One American millionaire was apparently offered fake ownership records to hide money from the authorities – this included using a 90-year-old British man as a ‘beneficial owner’.
  • The data also contains secret offshore companies linked to the families and associates of Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi and Syria's president Bashar al-Assad.

The scary part is that there's not really anyone to hold these people directly accountable, since some of the wealthiest, most powerful people in the world will likely be implicated in this.

Source: Telegraph
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