Thursday, December 22, 2011

November 2011 Comments and Postings on Facebook Part 10

  • George Palaganas
    On 15-Nov-2011, George Palaganas posted the following comments at
    http://ph.news.yahoo.com/surprise-fee-allegations-hound-7-wonders-contest-111206180.html

    "Congratulations for the tremendous support the campaign had received for this project. Truly, maraming salamat po sa inyong pagtangkilik sa programang ito at tunay na MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT! Congratulations Palawan Underground River for being one of the SEVEN Wonders of Nature!"
    'Surprise' fee allegations hound ‘New 7 Wonders’ contest
    ph.news.yahoo.com
    The New Seven Wonders of Nature contest, which placed the Puerto Princesa Underground River on the global tourism map, is now embroiled in a controversy involving millions of dollars in allegedly “surprise" fees. Maldives and Indonesia withdrew their respective entries from the contest and accused o...
    · · · · November 15 at 4:08am

      • George Palaganas
        The Complete Re-POST of the Article 'Surprise' fee allegations hound ‘New 7 Wonders’ contest
        GMA News OnlineGMANews – 17 hours ago

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        (Updated 11:54 p.m.) The New Seven Wonders of Nature contest, which placed the Puerto Princesa Underground River on the global tourism map, is now embroiled in a controversy involving millions of dollars in allegedly “surprise" fees.

        Maldives and Indonesia withdrew their respective entries from the contest and accused organizers of forcing them to pay “surprise" fees of up to $500,000 or P21.6 million, the United Kingdom’s “The Guardian" reported.

        In e-mail to GMA News Online, New7Wonders Foundation spokesperson Eamonn Fitzgerald denounced the allegations as baseless. “The key word here is ‘allegedly,’" he pointed out.

        Fitzgerald also directed readers to an opinion piece he wrote for the Maldives news outlet “Minivan News," wherein he noted that New7Wonders “got caught up in the politics of both countries.

        Sought for comment, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who led the task force campaigning for the Palawan tourist attraction, said the allegations are “ridiculous."

        “No funds for it, nor will [we] be willing to raise it just to join [the] contest, especially if it’s ‘a few million dollars,’" Robredo said in a text message to GMA News Online.

        Last Saturday, the Zurich-based foundation announced that the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, based on the provisional voting results via text messaging and the Internet.

        'Unexpected demands for money'

        As early as last May, the allegations against the New7Wonders Foundation surfaced in Maldives after the country’s State Minister for Tourism Thoyyib Mohamed announced that Maldives was withdrawing from the contest “because of the unexpected demands for large sums of money from the New7Wonders organizers."

        “Requests have so far included ‘sponsorship fees’ (‘platinum’ at $350,000, or two ‘gold’ at $210,000 each), and funding of a ‘World Tour’ event whereby Maldives would pay for a delegation of people to visit the country, provide hot air balloon rides, press trips, flights, accommodation, and communications," Maldives news outlet “Minivan News" reported last May.

        Months later, the Indonesian government also withdrew its entry, Komodo National Park, and questioned the organizers’ credibility, “The Jakarta Post" reported.

        The Indonesian news agency said disagreements stemmed from supposedly earlier statements by the New7Wonders Foundation that it might drop Komodo National Park from its list of finalists “after the government declined to pay a $10-million licensing fee and $35-million declaration fee to host a ceremony declaring the contest’s winners."

        New status to boost tourism

        In any case, the Philippine government expects the new status of the Puerto Princesa Underground River to boost tourism, with President Aquino himself having spearheaded the campaign.

        Known for its unique and outstanding scientific, biological, and geological features, the river became was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization or UNESCO in December 1999.

        It was also named a National Geological Monument in December 2003. — VS, GMA News
        November 15 at 4:11am ·
  • George Palaganas
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2300694043293&set=a.2271420591475.2117963.1427450153&type=3&theater

    Clowngate'11 has taken it's storm at Cityville today! Will Krunsch become a Governor or will it be YOU? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2300096868364&set=a.2271420591475.2117963.1427450153&type=1&theater

    After Clowngate'11( to make it sound like Watergate, WhiteWater, and Nannygate), your city at Cityville will be needing a governor soon! How will you launch a successful campaign? Here are some tips from WIKIA... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2300096908365&set=a.2271420591475.2117963.1427450153&type=1&theater
    Business Business 4
    · · · November 12 at 3:55pm
  • George Palaganas
    Heightened Careers http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2296002206000&set=a.2271420591475.2117963.1427450153&type=1&theater
    Business Business 4
    By: George Palaganas
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    George Palaganas added a new photo.
    Internet Friends of George Palaganas
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    From Lani Guerrero Bedua:
    Lani thanks you for your order! Please order some more crops!
    Lani is so happy you ordered their crops before they spoiled! Order more crops so Lani knows what to farm!
    Like · · Visit Trading Post · 42 minutes ago via FarmVille

    Lani Guerrero Bedua's Profile is at http://www.facebook.com/LaniBedua
    Lani Guerrero Bedua
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    From Ging Cruz Canlas:
    Ging has sent you a treat in Cafe World!
    Ging picked you to give a treat! Accept his treat and give him the candy that he needs!
    Like · · Accept Treat, Give Candy · about an hour ago via Café World
    Ma.Loreto H Cruz' Profile(Ging Cruz Canlas) is at http://www.facebook.com/ging.canlas
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    Business Business 4
    · · · November 10 at 9:46pm
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