A Special Easter Sunday 'Salubong' in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga - Bong Lacson

The Holy Week tourist trail in Pampanga has always invariably ended at the crucifixion rites of flagellants in Barangay Cutud in the City of San Fernando. In the religious celebration however, Christ’s death at Calvary is not the end of the Semana Santa: the passion of the cross being the prelude to the glory of resurrection. In once somnolent Sto. Tomas town, just seven kilometers south of the capital city, Easter Sunday has always been the centerpoint of the observance of the Holy Week. As a matter of course, Easter Sunday is celebrated as the fiesta in Poblacion, taking precedence over the official July 3 feast day of the patron St. Thomas the Apostle. Or yet again, the resurrection an occasion of celebration for the apostle too with his affirmation of the divinity of the Risen Christ thus: “Dominus meus et Deus meus” (My Lord and my God). Over the years, Thomasians have gladly acknowledged and observed Easter Sunday as the feast of all feasts. Those who already reside abroad or other nearby provinces always find time to go home and be with their cabalens (townmates) in commemorating the Maleldo (Holy Days).    more »

Green card through an employer - Permanent residency in the USA

A person can obtain permanent residency in the United States if he or she has been petitioned by a family member who is either a US citizen or legal permanent resident. US citizens can file an immigrant petition for their spouses, children (whether single or married), parents, brothers and sisters. While US legal permanent residents can only file for their spouses and unmarried children. How fast a beneficiary can come into the United States will depend on the immigration status of the petitioner and the preference category the beneficiary will fall under. Aside from a family based petition, a person can obtain permanent residency in the United States if a US employer sponsors the individual. For most employment based petitions, the process is initiated with the filing of an application for labor certification with the US Department of Labor by the employer. The US Department of Labor is the government agency tasked to determine whether US workers will be displaced if the position is offered to the beneficiary. The US employer must conduct good faith recruitment and show that there is no qualified US worker for the offered position before a labor certification application can be filed with the US Department of Labor.    more »

25 rules to follow to become a successful tourist destination. Try it!

Tourism is one of the top three major industries in the country today. It attracts more than 3M visitors a year from all over the world. It provides jobs to thousands of Filipinos. But are you getting your fair share of the windfall from this leisure industry? How do you get foreign or local tourists to visit your destination? If you aren't yet reaping the benefits of tourism, then what are you doing about it? Here are some 25 golden rules that govern the way you grab people's attention to consider taking a good look at your place and begin to spend money on accommodation, meals and shopping. It pays to follow these rules. Other countries had done it and i paid off in huge amount of dollars for the local economy. TRY IT!    more »

Banaue Rice Terraces tops UK magazine travel feature - Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The top-rated UK-based travel magazine TNT came out with a four-page, full-color article, hailing the 2,000-year-old Banaue rice terraces as one of the best and most unforgettable destinations in the world. A stunning view of the Banaue rice terraces, with an expanse of green mountains in the background, was the feature’s main photo. Seasoned British writer and photographer Mike Stratton rued the fact that the Banaue rice terraces was not qualified for the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” poll because organizers did not recognize the terraces as “natural” because the Ifugao people constructed them. He added that many people in the Philippines and even abroad have long regarded the rice terraces as the Eighth Wonder of the World, online polls notwithstanding.     more »

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