A giant crocodile suspected in attacking several people has been captured alive in the Philippines after 21 days of hunt.

It took about 100 men to pull the huge saltwater crocodile, which is 21 feet long, from a river in Barangay Era in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur Sunday morning. Weighing 2,370 pounds (1,075 kilograms), the crocodile was the biggest to be caught alive in the Philippines in recent years.

The effort to capture the giant crocodile has been intensified after several residents have reportedly gone missing for months now. Residents had also reported witnessing the crocodile preying on their carabaos (water buffaloes).

Shortly after midnight Sunday, villagers and veteran hunters set up trap made of wood and steel cables which trapped the crocodile as he went for the bait. It took them at least 4 hours to successfully pull the giant croc out the river.

Korean builder Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. has signed a contract with Filipino Christian group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to establish the world's largest domed arena in the Philippines, Korea Herald reported Thursday.

To be called the Philippine Arena, the 50,000-seater indoor performance hall will soon rise at a 74,000-square-meter area near the Philippine Capital, Manila. The ground breaking ceremony was already held this week and was attended by the Hanwha and INC officials.


The soon-to-be largest domed arena in the world is expected to be finished in 30 months or by 2014 and will reportedly cost INC a whooping $175 million!


Philippine Arena is said to be Iglesia ni Cristo's "centennial project" since the Christian organization is going to celebrate its 100th founding anniversary in 2014.

Wow! Will the next Olympic games be held in the Philippines after its completion? Hmmmmm... :D

Photos courtesy of PEX and to their respective owners.

This is just in! St. Lukes Medical Center has just released a medical bulletin with regards to the emergency operation of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo tomorrow. A titanium implant previously fitted in Arroyo's spine was said to have been "dislodged," causing pain at her right arm.



On TV Patrol, Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, Arroyo's attending physician, said the "revision of surgery" is scheduled on Wednesday morning and will last for at least 5 hours.



Arroyo underwent a cervical spine surgery because of “a damaged cervical spine with multilevel cervical spondylosis” last week. After discharged from the hospital 2 days ago, she has been staying at her residence in La Vista, Quezon City, to rest per doctor's advise. She sought medical check-up Tuesday after experiencing pain.

M/V Trans Asia Malaysia, a passenger-cargo ship from Cebu and bound for Ilo-ilo, sank off coasts of Cadiz, Negros Occidental and Ajuy, Iloilo, Sunday morning.

The 107 passengers and 35 crew members of the said vessel were safe and transferred to other ships and boats after the ship captain issued an abandon-ship order at 6 a.m. before the vessel sank (at around 8:50 a.m).

The Philippine Coast Guard is still investigating the reason behind the sinking.

Operated by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc., M/V Trans Asia Malaysia left Cebu at 6 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to dock in Iloilo at 8 a.m.

Here's a video of the ship just before it sank (courtesy of "airgrouppcg"):

The whirlwind that hit Cagayan de Oro on Friday afternoon has left six (6) houses to be destroyed and (3) people hurt, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

According to NRRMC, the whirlwind occurred at Zone 9 and 10, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro at around 3:10 p.m. on July 29, 2011.

"There was sudden occurrence of funnel-shaped strong winds from the sky down to the ground in powerful twisting motion that rapidly devastated houses along its path," NDRRMC described the incident.

Twenty-two (22) families were reportedly affected by the Cagayan de Oro whirlwind incident. Those hurt were immediately brought to the Cagayan de Oro City Hospital for treatment.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced suspension of classes in kindergarten, elementary and high school levels in Quezon City on July 25, 2011 through its official Twitter account Friday.

"No classes in Quezon City on Monday, July 25, for kinder, elementary & secondary, both private and public schools." the announcement reads.

According to an ABS-CBN report, the advisory came from Quezon City OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Corazon C. Rubio.

"In view of the forthcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III on July 25, 2011, Monday, please be informed that classes in all levels (Kinder-Elementary-Secondary) both public and private schools are hereby suspended," the advisory stated.

However, to compensate for the class hours that will be missed, "Saturday classes will be held."

Negros Occidental has been struck by an earthquake anew on July 14. According to the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), a magnitude 3.9 temblor was recorded off 42km Southeast of Sipalay City at 7:19 in the morning.

The quake, which was tectonic in origin and was 1km deep, was felt at Intensity 1 at Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

There have been no reports of damage from this quake.

Since July 11, more than 20 quakes had struck Negros with the strongest recorded at 4:47 a.m. on July 12 which measured 6.2 magnitude on the Richter Scale.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire where earthquakes frequently occur.

Angelina Jolie, the long-time partner of Brad Pitt has broken her silence about the latest update of the tattoo on her upper arm.

Angelina, 35, has a tattoo on her arm which shows coordinates of the place of birth of each kid she has with Brad and those that they adopted. The latest addition to her tattoo sparked speculations that a new adoption is coming its way.

In an Extra interview, Angelina said the update does not stand for the birthplace of a new addition to her family but the coordinates of the birth of place of an old member, Brad’s – Shawnee, Oklahoma.

The Hollywood power couple has 6 children, 3 of which are their biological kids namely: Shiloh (4 years old), Vivienne and Knox (twins, 2 years old). They adopted Maddox (9 years old), Pax (7 years old), and Zahara (6 years old).

Angelina and Brad were reported to have inquired about adopting a Filipino child, not so long ago.

By the way, there were some reports that Brad and Angelina might visit the Philippines some? Find out the details here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/bradd-pitt-and-angelina-jolie-to-visit.html

"West Philippine Sea" is now being used by the Philippine Government to refer to the disputed Spratly island group area which is widely known as the South China Sea.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, “All the other nations call the South China Sea based on how they perceive it. Vietnam calls it East Sea so it is but natural for us to call it West Philippine Sea.”

Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said the government must assert authority over the country's territories.

"By renaming the South China Sea to Western Philippine Sea, we are taking a proactive move that strengthens our claim to these controversial waters and the natural resources found within," Bello told GMANews.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which first publicly used the name on May 31, has explained earlier that using “West Philippine Sea” in referrence to the waters within the maritime territories of the Philippines is "in keeping with our tradition and history, as well as reflective of its proper geographic location."

The same waters, Assistant Foreign Secretary Ed Malaya said, "have long been called Dagat Luzon, or Luzon Sea by our fisherfolk and the rest of our people, and referred to as such in published maps since time immemorial after the major Philippine island of Luzon."

The tallest Jose Rizal monument was inaugurated during the celebration of Jose Rizal's 150th birth anniversary in the City of Calamba in Laguna, earlier today. The event was attended by His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (PNoy) who unveiled the gigantic statue, himself.

Bagyong Egay latest update: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/tropical-depression-egay-june-20-pagasa.html

Bagyong Egay or Tropical Depression "Egay" has "maintained its strength as it continues to move Northwestward and threatens Eastern Visayas and Catanduanes", according to the latest June 17, 2011 5 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The PAGASA also reported that as of 4 p.m. on June 17, 2011, Typhoon Egay is estimated at 250 km East of Guiuan City, Eastern Samar - moving at 13kph with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center.

The weather bureau also forecast Bagyong Egay to be at 250 km Southeast of Virac, Catanduanes by Saturday afternoon and at 200 km North Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes by Sunday morning. By morning of Monday, it will be at 180 km Northeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 has also been issued by the PAGASA in the following areas:

Catanduanes
Northern Samar, and
Southern Samar

Tropical Depression “Egay” is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature finalists have been determined and the Palawan Underground River or the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in the Philippines made it to the list.

Philippine government officials including President Nonoy Aquino (PNoy) have appealed to Filipinos to vote for the country's entry in the online contest. They are optimistic that the majestic underground river will get plenty of votes since there are eight million Filipino mobile phone users nationwide.

Filipinos abroad were also called to help in the country's endeavor by the different embassies, consular offices, and labour offices of the Philippine government overseas.

To vote, just text PPUR and send it to 2861 or log on to www.new7wonders.com to cast your votes online.

New7Wonders of Nature was started in 2007. It is a global campaign which aims to create a list of seven natural wonders in the world through an online poll. It was initiated by New7Wonders Foundation, a Swiss government-controlled foundation.

After over 100 million votes cast in 2007, the 440 entries is now shortlisted to 28 official finalists. The final voting has started and will end on November 11, 2011.

Meanwhile, here are excerpts of PNoy's speech at the official launch of the Puerto Princesa Underground River Campaign on June 6, 2011, as posted on the Official Gazette:

The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines is composed of a long mountain landscape and a beautiful, breathtaking subterranean river that winds through a cave that has been carved into shape by the giant hand of nature. So it comes as no surprise that the Puerto Princesa Underground River has made it as one of the 28 finalists in the global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The competition is tough, but if there is a site that should be in the top seven, then it should definitely be the Puerto Princesa Underground River. That is, of course, my unbiased opinion.

Aside from its staggering length and shape, within it lie unique discoveries, which were, until recently, unknown even to those who had frequented the site. For the last several months, an Italian group called La Venta has been conducting studies there, and they have made some stunning discoveries—such as the fossils of sea cows or Sirenia dating back to the Miocene period—roughly 20 million years ago. Aside from being rare fossils previously found only in Java, Indonesia, these findings also emphasize further the sheer historic value of our Underground River and of the country we live in.

I urge everyone to take part in this democracy-in-action on behalf of our own environment. By voting online at www.new7wonders.com, or—simpler—by texting PPUR to 2861, we can help the Puerto Princesa Underground River, as well as the Philippines, garner a distinct spot on the international tourist map. I leave the mode of choice to you, but please remember to vote, and vote to the maximum.

While winning a place in the top seven bolsters our sense of national pride, recognition is not the only thing we can gain. We must also remember that the tourists we can potentially attract will redound to thousands of employment opportunities; our success here will ultimately breed success for Filipinos everywhere.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced suspension of classes in public and private pre-school, elementary and high school levels in the National Capital Region and as well as in the following areas due to continuous rain caused by Tropical Depression Dodong on June 9, 2011:

REGION 3

• Limay, Bataan
• Balanga, Bataan
• Pariahan Elementary School and Don Isidoro Teodoro HS in Bulacan, Bulacan
• Obando, Bulacan
• Malolos City (afternoon classes of pre-school and elementary)
• Angeles City
• Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan

REGION 4-A
• Batangas City
• Calaca, Batangas
• Taal, Batangas
• Bauan, Batangas
• Lemery, Batangas
• Kawit, Cavite
• Rosario, Cavite
• 6 schools only in Bacoor, Cavite
• Sangley Elementary School in Cavite City
• Lucena City
• Antipolo City
• San Pablo City
• Alaminos, Laguna
• Caparitan Elementary School, Bay, Laguna
• San Mateo, Rizal

REGION 4-B
• Lubang Occ Mindoro

School officials in some areas also suspended classes in their locale but were not included in the list, DepEd said.

Meanwhile, check the latest PAGASA update on Tropical Depression Dodong here:

http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/bagyong-dodong-update-philippine.html

Tropical Depression Dodong is now causing heavy rains in Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the Low Pressure Area West of Metro Manila has developed into a Tropical Depression (TD) and was named "DODONG."

As of 4 p.m. on June 9, 2011, TD Dodong was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 150 km West of Dagupan City (16.0°N 118.7°E) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. It is forecast to move North Northwest at 19 kph.

PAGASA forecasts that by Friday afternoon Bagyong Dodong will be at 460 km West of Basco, Batanes.

Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 was also issued by the weather bureau in the following areas:

Bataan,
Pampanga,
Tarlac
Zambales, and
Pangasinan,

PAGASA advises the residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal # 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. It added that TD Dodong is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon.

Dragon fruit or "pitaya" is relatively unknown to many Filipinos. But this pink fruit has made a 66 year-old lady from Ilocos Norte 100,000 pesos richer after the Malacanang awarded her the sum for being the "Most Outstanding High-Value Commercial Crop Farmer" of 2011.

Edita Aguinaldo-Dacuycuy started planting dragon fruit, a vine-like cactus, in her backyard after seeing positive results in the bowel movement problems of her daughter who eats the fruit to be relieved from constipation. She and her family then thought of going large-scale after consulting government research agencies which resulted to the first organic dragon fruit plantation in Northern Philippines.

In 2009, the family farm, which is now about 10 hectares and expanding, yielded a total net income of P21 million from dragon fruit production.

Check out below some info about dragon fruit below:

Pitaya Fruit, Pitahaya Fruit or commonly known as the Dragon fruit is among the most nutritious and wonderful exotic fruits. It is a favorite to many, particularly people of Asian origin. It features a mouth watering light sweet taste, an intense shape and color, not forgetting its outstanding flowers. In addition to being tasty and refreshing, this beautiful fruit boasts of a lot of water and other vital minerals with varied nutritional ingredients.

Due to its vital nutrients, the Pitaya fruit is suitable for all diets as it supplements fiber which is best for laxative and the liver. Similarly, people who have high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have attested to the fruit’s goodness. Recent findings show that if an obese person eats a Pitahaya fruit on a regular basis, it naturally reduces the weight considerably, creating a well balanced body without compromising on the individual’s health.

Pitahaya fruits are highly concentrated with Vitamin C, minerals and boasts of high fiber content.

Equally available in affluent in a dragonfruit is phytoalbumins. Basically, these nutrients are vital and known world over for the antioxidants they possess which usually help in the prevention of the formation of free radicals that cause cancer.- dragon-fruit.biz

The fourth installment of Matt Damon's "Bourne" movie series will be set in Manila after its screenwriter and new director Tony Gilroy selected the Philippine capital, Asia News Network reported.

However, the newest "Bourne" movie titled "The Bourne Legacy'' will no longer star Matt Damon since he said he would not do another Bourne film without Paul Greengrass, who announced in November 2010 that he had decided not to return as director.

"The Bourne Legacy" will be topbilled by English actress Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Jeremy Renner (The Town).

Forty (40) percent of the upcoming movie reportedly will be shot in the Philippines.

GMA News' website gmanews.tv, as well as its Facebook and Twitter accounts were hacked by someone who identified himself as "#d4rkbit" early morning on Sunday, May 29, 2011.

At around 1 a.m., the news agency's Twitter account (@GMANewsOnline) was flooded with the following nasty tweets:


The hacker however made it clear that he was not the one who posted the dirty tweets saying that they were from other people since he leaked the log-in details of the GMA News' Twitter account.

Below can be read on the comment boxes of other websites which reported the hacking:

"This is not true! I D4rkB1t did not twit those malicious stuff!

Please be advised and revise this. For as you see I leaked the username and password of the Twitter account of GMANews.

Please get things straight, I did not do this to become a pervert!

#D4rkB1t - d4rkb1t@live.com"

The hacker's point was more evident with the statement below which was posted on GMA News' Facebook account:

This is not about stupidity, but a message to webdevs.. Learn to secure your site, user accounts and password with personal information are being stored there... We have to be ready for such cyber terrorism..

No "database" data was altered or removed..

~d4rkb1t

GMA News website was also not accessible during that time. A pop-up saying "Hacked by d4rkb1t" can be found upon visiting the webpage.


As of this writing, GMA News has regained its control over the website and its social media accounts.

Bagyong Chedeng (Typhoon Songda) "continues to weaken", the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's (PAGASA) latest bulletin reads.

Heading north northeastward at a rate of 22 kph, Tropical Storm Songda was last seen at 200 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes at 4 a.m. on May 28, 2011.

The weather disturbance now has a "maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph."

By Sunday morning, "Chedeng" is forecast to be at 680 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes or
110 km South of Okinawa, Japan.

Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) Number 3 has also been lifted over Batanes Group of Islands which is now the only one listed on areas with PSWS Number 2. PSWS Number 1 was hoisted over Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands. All PSWS elsewhere are now lowered.

Bagyong Chedeng "has maintained its strength as it continues to threaten Batanes area", the latest PAGASA bulletin reads.

Check out the said Typhoon Chedeng update below:

Typhoon "CHEDENG" has maintained its strength as it continues to threaten Batanes area.
Location of Center: (as of 4:00 p.m.)	160 km Southeast of Basco, Batanes
Coordinates:	19.5°N,123.3°E
Strength:	Maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph
Movement:	North Northwest at 19 kph
Forecast Positions/Outlook:	Saturday afternoon: 400 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes Sunday afternoon: 820 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes or 110 km East Southeast of Okinawa, Japan

Areas having Public Storm Warning Signal

Signal Number 3

Batanes Group of Islands

Signal Number 2

Babuyan Group of Island

Signal Number 1

Apayao
Cagayan
Isabela


Public Storm Warning Signals elsewhere are now lowered.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signals #3, #2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

Typhoon “Chedeng” is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including Metro Manila.

The Philippine flag has been displayed the wrong way, again. This time, the government itself committed the mistake.

On the President's official government website (www.president.gov.ph), an inverted flag of the Philippines with the red part on top of blue has been posted above an article about the "National Flag Day" on May 28.

If you're a Noypi you know that if the Philippine flag is shown this way it indicates that the country is at war.

According to Republic Act 8491 Section 10: 'The flag, if flown from a flagpole, shall have its blue field on top in time of peace and the red field on top in time of war; if in a hanging position, the blue field shall be to the right (left of the observer) in time of peace, and the red field to the right (left of the observer) in time of war.'

Are we at war?

We're not. The Malacanang said that they did not mean to post an inverted flag of the Philippines on the President's website. They have taken down the flag already.

In September last year, the US government apologized for displaying the Philippine flag upside down during President Aquino's state visit in the White House. It was an honest mistake, a US official said.