It’s not the end of the world, and they know it.

Bombarded by anxious calls about whether the world will end Dec. 21, NASA administrators have set up a website to bring America back to its senses.

Whereas the space agency typically receives around 90 calls per day on a variety of topics, NASA has been fielding 200 to 300 inquiries of late dealing with this rumor.

In part, the uptick of concern comes from the belief that Friday is the last day on the Mayan calendar, a rumor that has left many people looking for answers.

"Who's the first agency you would call?" NASA spokesman Dwayne Brown told the Los Angeles Times. "You're going to call NASA."

With call volumes tapping resources, NASA has dedicated a portion of its website to “frequently asked questions” regarding the end of the world, and the first one gets right to the point.

“Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.”

“The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012,” NASA states.

Though they were noted astronomers of their day, however, NASA says that far too much has been made of what appears to be the end of the Mayan calendar.

“Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012,” the webpage, which has drawn 4.6 million views, states. “This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then -- just as your calendar begins again on January 1 -- another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.”

The site goes on to bust a number of other myths about the end of the world, such as the fear of a total blackout caused by the alignment of the universe, anxiety over the possibility of a sudden reversal of the north and south poles, and the belief of an imminent collision between Earth and a wayward planet called Nibiru.

Not to worry, says NASA, none of those scenarios has any scientific merit.

"We're doing all that we can do to let the world know that as far as NASA and science goes, Dec. 21 will be another day," Brown told the Times.

As yet, however, there’s nothing on the agency’s website about Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. (nydailynews.com)

AFTER 12 years, the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 revived the road project that will connect V. Rama Ave. in Barangay Guadalupe and Gorordo Ave. in Barangay Lahug to reduce traffic in uptown Cebu City.

In a full council meeting at the City Sports Club yesterday morning, the RDC presided by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama voted unanimously in favor of the proposal to open a road parallel to N. Escario St.

It will start from the Guadalupe Barangay Hall and cut through Gervacio Quejada St. in Guadalupe, Mahogany St. in Barangay Capitol Site and will end near the University of the Philippines Cebu campus in Lahug.

“These roads were supposed to have been interlinked before but were cut by construction of houses. When the project was first approved, the estimated cost was P400 million. I don’t know how much will it cost at present,” said private sector representative Valeriano Avila, who proposed to revive the project.

During the meeting, RDC 7 asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prioritize the project in its investment program.

They also asked DPWH to prepare and conduct a feasibility study on the proposed project to determine its cost, among others.

RDC’s infrastructure development committee (IDC) head Manny Rabacal said the road project was introduced in October 2001.

That time, RDC passed Resolution No. 71, which requested DPWH to prepare a study on the construction of the road and to source funds for its implementation.

However, Rabacal said DPWH did not act favorably on the RDC’s requests, maybe because it didn’t have funds to finance the project that time.

He said that in the last 12 years, traffic on Escario St. has worsened.

“Because of this, the IDC believes that it is time the DPWH constructed an alternate road connecting V. Rama and Gorordo

avenues. The new road link will not only decongest heavy traffic along Escario but will also improve the road network of the city in particular and Metro Cebu in general,” he said.

Avila, an RDC private sector representative, expressed his support for the implementation of the road project, citing the heavy traffic on Escario St.

“This project should have been done yesterday. We should have done this yesterday,” he said.

Asked when the project will be implemented, Rama said it will take time because of the studies that need to be done.

“But it does not matter when. What’s important is that the project has been resuscitated,” he said.

Businessman Robert Go, RDC economic development committee (EDC) chairperson, welcomed the RDC’s approval of the road project.

“If this will be realized, the traffic at the Cebu Provincial Capitol will be decongested, the people will have shorter travel time and the value of lands will increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, the RDC noted that traffic congestion in major roads in Metro Cebu is worsening, partly due to the road repair and installation works carried out by government agencies and public utility companies.

A brief from the RDC secretariat said traffic congestion has negative effects, such as waste of the motorists’ and passengers’ time, waste of fuel, lost business opportunities, delay in the passage of emergency vehicles like ambulance and police cars, and unproductive time.

The RDC said that while the work undertaken by concerned government agencies and utility companies are important and necessary, it should be done at night when traffic is light.

Also in yesterday’s meeting, Rama again asked DPWH to explain to him why it had planned to implement road improvement projects on V. Rama Ave. and on M. Velez, Tupas, Katipunan, Lakandula, and Tres de Abril Streets without consulting him.

He asked them to explain why Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) was allowed to realign funds intended for the overpass project in Lahug to fund road concreting works on the six national roads.

Rama also asked DPWH to explain why it allowed Osmeña to transfer the P400-million fund intended for the City to the road widening project from Carcar City to Sibonga town. (Sun Star)

THE 62 members of the House of Representatives who either did not show up or did not participate during the second reading approval of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill Thursday can still change the fate of the controversial measure.

“The important is the third reading vote…You will only look for those who voted yes on second reading to show up on third reading, and those who did not cast their vote.

There are around 60 who did not participate,” House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said in an interview after the second reading approval of the RH bill.

With a vote of 113-104 and three abstentions, the controversial measure was approved on second reading early morning Thursday. There were 62 members of the House of Representatives who did not participate in the voting that ended Thursday dawn.

Among the Cebu’s congressmen, those who were absent or did not vote on the bill are Reps. Ramon Durano VI (5th district), Gabriel Quisumbing (6th), Arturo Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City) and Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday hit Osmeña for not casting his vote on the bill.

“I’m appalled. It (RH bill) is a very important (piece of legislation) and it needs their presence. They should be there,” he said.

Rama, who is against the measure, won’t comment yet though on the passage of House Bill 4424 or “The Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, Population Development, and for Other Purposes” before the Congress.

Osmeña was in Cebu City when members of Congress voted on the controversial bill.

Although he favors the passage of the measure, the congressman did not vote for it to accommodate the request of his ally, former north district congressman Raul del Mar, who is against the proposal.

He said earlier that he would not participate in the voting because he didn’t want to “destroy” his relationship and friendship with del Mar just because of the measure.

He said his alliance with del Mar is more important than the RH Bill.

Quisumbing, who confirmed that he did not cast his vote, said he is against the passage of the bill but after hearing the President’s sentiment on the issue during a gathering in Malacañang, he decided to abstain.

“I’m against the RH bill but last week in Malacañang, the President said the RH Bill was an integral part of his reform agenda… I support the President and we have seen that the reform agenda has already yielded positive results in many economic indicators so I decided to abstain,” he said.

Following the bill’s approval on second reading, a church official asked the faithful to remain vigilant “in the face of a threat to morality.”

“Should the bill be passed into law, God will have another design for us, with the Church being more awake this time,” Binghay said.

He said the failure of anti-RH bill legislators to stop the bill’s passage will serve as a challenge to every Catholic in the country.

Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st), though, remains positive that the odds will still be in favor of anti-RH bill congressmen.

Gullas said one factor that contributed to the passage of the bill on its second reading was the absence of some congressmen.

Although three Cebu congressmen were not present during the voting, Gullas assured that representatives from Cebu will remain critics of the bill.

Deputy Minority Leader Mitos Magsaysay also hopes that the second reading vote in favor of the pro-RH legislators can still change in the final reading vote.

“The vote was very close, only nine votes. That is equivalent to only five representatives changing their vote to no. This means there is no clear verdict. There are still so many doubts on the soundness of this bill,” said Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, an anti-RH bill lawmaker.

The House leadership will put the RH bill to a third reading vote on Monday, December 17.

“As long as we have a quorum, we will vote on third reading on Monday,” Gonzales told reporters.

The Senate is expected to vote on its version of the bill on second reading also on Monday.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, who was present when the House voted on the RH bill, said the Senate could vote on its version on third and final reading by Thursday.

Gonzales expressed doubt that the Senate can vote on it by Thursday unless President Aquino certifies the bill as urgent.

Congress will go on a Christmas break starting December 22.

Meanwhile, President Aquino denied using pork barrel to pressure lawmakers to vote for the RH Bill.

In an interview after his keynote address at the 79th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment in Pasay City, the President dismissed the accusation of RH critics.

He said the priority development assistance funds (PDAF) of lawmakers have long been released before the House put the bill to vote.

“I will invite them to look at all of the websites and see when all of the releases had been done, and my understanding is everybody’s PDAF had been released long before the vote. And please observe also those who voted against it if they have not been given their PDAF,” Aquino said.

Several Catholic Church bishops allegedly accused the President of dangling pork barrel to gather enough votes to pass the RH bill.

President Aquino asked anti-RH bill supporters to check their facts first before making accusations against the administration. (Sun Star)

Cash and relief goods for victims of typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha), the worst storm to hit the Philippines this year, poured in from foreign donors Friday.

Canada announced that it was giving P10 million (Cad$ 250,000) to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to address the emergency needs of some 50,000 people affected by the storm.

”Canada is deeply concerned about the devastation caused by Typhoon Bopha and its impact on the people of the Philippines,” Canadian Minister for International Cooperation Julian Fantino said in a statement forwarded by the Canadian embassy in Manila.

The statement noted that the grant, to be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), would help meet immediate and long-term needs by providing drinking water, food, and other much-needed relief items to affected families.

It also noted that a United Nations disaster and assessment team, which includes a Canadian delegate whose deployment is funded through an ongoing CIDA project, has been deployed to provide direct support with the rapid needs assessment. It said the Canadian government would continue to monitor the situation and provide further assistance if required.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr also announced that his government has offered P210 million (A$5 million) in assistance to the Philippines for the conduct of relief operations.

A statement from the Australian embassy in Manila noted that of the P210 million (A$5million), P38.5 million (A$900,000) would be given to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for emergency family kits which include sleeping mats, mosquito nets and water containers, and another P43 million (A$1 million) would be given to the World Food Programme (WFP) for 1,000 tonnes of rice.

“Australia will also make available P4 million (A$100,000) through the United Nations Population Fund for hygiene and health kits for people in evacuation centers,” it said. It added that the remaining P126 million (A$3 million) will be made available for additional recovery and relief needs.

The United Kingdom (UK), meanwhile, also sent its condolences to the Philippines Friday, saying that one of its ministers was preparing to visit the country next week.

“The damage and loss of life caused by Typhoon Bopha is devastating. Our thoughts are with all those affected and with the Philippines’ emergency services as they lead the recovery work,” Hugo Swire, Minister of State at the Foreign Office in London, was quoted in a statement by the UK embassy in Manila.

“As I prepare to visit the Philippines next week, I extend on behalf of the UK Government my sincere condolences,” Swire added.

The United States had offered $100,000 for disaster relief efforts to be coursed through the non-profit organization Catholic Relief Services. Japan and the European Union (EU) had also sent the Philippines their messages of support and pledges of aid.

Typhoon Pablo, which slammed Visayas and Mindanao early this week, claimed the lives of more than 400 people, and left hundreds missing and injured.

The Philippine government also noted that damages from the typhoon could amount to P4 billion, and that it had affected at least 5 million people. (Inquirer)

LAS VEGAS—They stared at each other during the face-off without smiling and without blinking. They did not shake hands.

The animosity, if not genuine hatred, between the two combatants was obvious during the final press conference on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) for the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV at Hollywood Theater of MGM Grand.

Pacquiao, as always, was jovial  while Marquez was stoic and dead serious about their brewing war.

Venerable promoter Bob Arum said the pay-per-view (PPV) showdown on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila) promised to be in the mold of the Marvelous “Marvin” Hagler and Thomas Hearns battle, which he dubbed the  “best fight I’ve ever seen.”

Though Pacquiao and Marquez have fought each other three times, Arum vowed a completely different version, noting that the protagonists had prepared extremely hard to decisively settle their long rivalry.

To accentuate the ring feud between the Philippines and Mexico, Arum brought in the two countries’ Miss Universe candidates—Filipino Janine Tugonon and Mexican Karina Gonzalez—and made them pose with Pacquiao and Marquez.

The beauty pageant will also be held here on Dec. 19.

Lawyer Jeng Gacal, Pacquiao’s legal counsel, fanned the flames when he boldly announced that the Pacquiao-Marquez rivalry wouldn’t extend to 48 rounds, insinuating that the four-division Mexican world champion would finally be knocked out or stopped by the Filipino Fighter of the Decade.

Although no title is at stake in the fight, the World Boxing Organization (WBO), through its president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, has dangled the finely crafted WBO Champion of the Decade belt  for the winner.

Mark Taffet of HBO PPV predicted that Pacquiao-Marquez IV would be a sellout (at the gates) and could surpass  the 1.3 million PPV hits the third fight had generated.

Copromoter Fernando Beltran said the fight was a guaranteed sellout and would break their gate receipts’ record.

30 TV stations

Reminiscing, the 81-year-old Arum said that before HBO’s 24/7 series, Pacquiao-Marquez II only generated 400,000 PPV buys.

Now, with live streaming, episodes of the Pacquiao-Marquez IV can be seen in a seven-story electronic screen, encompassing a little over 1,000 square meters of space in New York’s Times Square.

Also present during the press conference covered by over 30 television stations worldwide were—for Team Marquez—Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain,  strength and conditioning expert Angel Hernandez and Beltran.

As usual, Team Pacquiao was a bigger group, with chief trainer Freddie Roach, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, adviser Michael Koncz, strength and conditioning trainer Alex Ariza, Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson and Gacal joining Pacquiao at the stage.

The winners of the national rodeo championships being held here also came.

A note to the fight: Pacquiao has mobilized his staff to help victims of Typhoon “Pablo” that ravaged parts of Mindanao. Pacquiao said he would raise money but if he failed to do so, he would dig from his own pocket.

Roach sees knockout

If the three previous Pacquiao-Marquez fights were any indication, the result of this weekend’s clash would be close. If styles make fights, their styles make for fights that can confound the ringside judges just as much as they do the people who pay to watch.

So what’s the intrigue of Fight No. 4? What reason do fight fans have other than the possibility of Marquez finally winning to spend money for a fight that could be as predictable as the other three?

Maybe just because there’s a good chance you’ll never see the two ring generals battle each other again.

“I think this is the last fight with him,” Pacquiao said.

“Last time,” agreed trainer Roach. “We’re going to knock him out. End of story.”

That might prove difficult because it didn’t happen in the first three fights and the general perception is that Pacquiao is beginning to slip, if just a bit. While no one is suggesting Pacquiao is still not a very good fighter, his last two fights were a disputed win over Marquez and an even more disputed loss against Timothy Bradley.

‘Manny’s hungrier now’

The line in the Pacquiao camp is that the fighter wasn’t focused against Marquez last time because of domestic problems and that he was robbed against Bradley. The camp claims Pacquiao has something to prove, especially if he is ever to get Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring, and has been ferocious in training camp.

“The fourth fight could be the same as the last three, but Manny’s hungrier now,” Roach said. “I don’t think Marquez has seen the best Manny yet.”

The rivalry goes back eight years, when the two fighters first met for the featherweight title and Pacquiao came out and floored Marquez in the first round. Marquez went down two more times in the round, yet somehow managed to end the round on his feet.

Marquez would not only survive but come back to dominate the later part of the fight. He salvaged a draw on the judge’s scorecards, the first of three decisions he felt unjustly favored Pacquiao.

They met again at 130 pounds in 2008 and the fight was almost as close. Pacquiao won one scorecard, Marquez the other, while the third judge favored Pacquiao by one point, giving him a split-decision win.

Then they fought last year at 144 pounds and Pacquiao won a majority decision that angered both Marquez and the crowd at the MGM Grand arena, which booed heavily when it was announced.

Dangerous fighter

“I want to be more aggressive this time, but with intelligence, because Manny is a very dangerous fighter,” Marquez said.

Marquez brings with him the Hispanic audience,  and he also brings a well-earned reputation as the one fighter who can solve Pacquaio’s somewhat unorthodox style. He might be an aging fighter at 39, but Pacquiao also has been showing the signs of his 17-year career in professional boxing.

And while Pacquiao is widely acclaimed as one of the great offensive fighters of his era, Marquez might be one of the best counterpunchers. All three of their fights have had tremendous action, and there’s no reason to believe the fourth fight will be any different.

That’s especially true if Pacquiao—who renounced his drinking and partying ways after having marital problems last year—trained as hard for this fight as he and Roach say.

The fight will be at

147 pounds, a full 22 pounds heavier than the boxers were in 2004. Marquez appears to have bulked up, leading Roach to question how natural his weight gain really was.

Marquez wore a bulky coat while meeting with reporters as if he were trying to conceal his physique.

Last fight

Marquez’s sole motivation for the nontitle welterweight clash  is the prospect of finally being able to celebrate victory over the Filipino in the ring. “I want them (Pacquiao’s corner) to raise my hand [in triumph],” Marquez said.

Pacquiao appears to be growing increasingly frustrated by the Mexican’s insistence that he was the deserved winner of their previous three contests, particularly because of the counterpunching style favored by Marquez.

“He always claims he won the fights,” said Pacquiao (54-4, 38 KOs) who has won world titles in eight weight divisions. “So he needs to prove something.”

Pacquiao added: “When you say ‘Muhammad Ali,’ you think  ‘Joe Frazier.’ I think when you say ‘Manny Pacquiao,’ you think  ‘Juan Manuel Marquez.’ And when you say ‘Marquez,’ you think ‘Manny Pacquiao.’”

Neither man is expecting a fifth fight, whatever happens in the ring on Saturday. The fourth bout, they insist, will be the last. (Inquirer)

HERE’s some Christmas cheer for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and government employees in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Yes, they will receive cash gifts this month.

Mandaue City ‘s regular employees will receive an extra one month salary as a Christmas bonus. Job order workers will receive P10,000 bonus while clean and green workers bet P5,000 each.

Mandaue’s senior citizens will receive a P1,000 cash gift this monthy. The first half of their annual allowance or P1,000 was given last June. Distribution will be done in their barangays.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Paz Radaza announced that registered senior citizens will receive a P1,500 cash gift to be distributed in their barangays next week.

The city's seniors already enjoy discounts in products and services sold in Lapu-Lapu City by presenting “green cards” issued to them by the city government.

Each senior gets a birthday cake delivered to their home by the city’s cooperative. Aside from burial assistance, senior citizens aged 79 upwards also receive P500 per month.

Radaza said elderly residents are encouraged to register and ask local officials how to qualify for theese benefits. There are 15,000 registered senior citizens in Lapu-Lapu. The city government set aside P22 million for them.

At least 997 PWDs will also receive P1,000 each as a Christmas cash gift next week (Cebu Daily News)

OVER 1,000 families were affected and 37 houses were destroyed in the Province of Cebu because of typhoon Pablo.

Based on the records of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) as of 5 p.m. yesterday, 3,443 individuals were affected and 541 were evacuated.

A total of 70 houses were either damaged or destroyed.

The town of San Fernando has the highest number of person affected, where there were 1,800 persons, 209 of whom were evacuated.

According to PDRRMO records, other affected towns in the South were Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Badian and Alegria.

In the northern part of Cebu, PDRRMO listed Sogod, Liloan, Catmon and Borbon as the towns affected by the typhoon.

Passable

Provincial Engineer Adolfo Quiroga said provincial roads are passable from Metro Cebu to Santander.

However, the seawall and boardwalk of Boljoon were damaged, while a waiting shed in Alcoy collapsed because of strong winds.

In Oslob, the seawall in barangay Mainit was damaged due to big waves.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said there was no great damage in Cebu compared to other provinces.

She instructed the Provincial Engineering Office and the contractors for a clearing operation in the different towns.

Relief goods were distributed to the different local government units by the Capitol, with the help of the Ramon Abotiz Foundation Inc. and another private group.

The governor directed the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office to provide immediate assistance to the family of the fatalities.

Direct report

Governor Garcia coordinated with the mayors in the different municipalities so Capitol can get a direct report.

“I was talking to all of the mayors southwest and southeast to get a direct report from them, but we were not answered by Samboan. Even the municipal social welfare office did not answer,” the governor told reporters.

Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren said there were crops and farms that were damaged, but he cannot yet determine the cost of damage.

Guaren said three houses in coastal barangays were destroyed.

Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Cesante said families who evacuated at the community college building and schools returned to their houses yesterday.

About 10 families were left in the evacuation center, as their houses were destroyed.

There were 166 families evacuated, although most of them voluntarily left their houses in the coastal barangays.

Eighty percent of the Dalaguete’s electricity is now restored, after the town experienced a blackout.

Boljoon and Malabuyoc experienced a blackout since Tuesday. (Sun Star)