Enjoy the Sinulog But be on the lookout!

I was quite surprised to hear the radio reports that there was a rumble at the Fuente Osmeña and that thieves from other places victimized the visitors for the Sinulog weekend. With so much booze flowing, this thing was bound to happen. I only hope that these are isolated cases. We know for a fact that the Philippine National Police (PNP) usually rounds up their "old friends" - snatchers, vagrants and petty thieves known to them just to ensure that we will have a peaceful holding of the Sinulog procession and parade tomorrow and on Sunday.

At this point, we can only appeal to everyone to be on guard because we can never be too sure that the person beside or behind you has evil motives to snatch your bag, wallet or cellphone. So the better part of valor is to be a Boy Scout and be prepared if you will attend the procession or dance on the streets for the Grand Sinulog Parade. While I'm sure that the police under P/Supt. Melvin Gayotin are doing their level best to field a good number of policemen for the Sinulog, the first line of defense is really you. If you're careless (mag danghag) then, you only have yourself to blame. So let's have all the fun for the Sinulog but always keep a keen eye on things.

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If you've been watching CNN and BBC about the present row between the United Nations arm dubbed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran's announcement that it has restarted its nuclear program, you'd believe that if cooler heads do not prevail, this could be another flash point that could potentially trigger another UN war with Iran.

If you recall, the United Nations (UN) led by the United States Pres. George Bush Sr. went to war with Iraq when it invaded Kuwait in the early 90s. After the 9/11 disaster, the US with fewer allies invaded Iraq once more, this time led by the younger US Pres. George W. Bush to finish what the elder Pres. Bush failed to do. The main reason for the 2nd war on Iraq was Pres. Bush's objective to find Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), which unfortunately the US forces didn't find in Iraq because either they got rid of it or they had no WMD in the first place.

Now it seems that if Iran will not back down, we shall hear more threats of another potential war. The western powers have all reasons to fear if Iran is able to equip itself with a nuclear arsenal, because they could very well use it to nuke Israel. Perhaps Iran is taking the rare opportunity that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is still incapacitated; hence, Israel cannot make a response to this nuclear threat. Back in the 80s when Iraq was building its nuclear reactor, Israel bombed that facility. Like what we said, this growing threat could become this year's flash point or worse, it could very well lead to the much-heralded Armageddon!

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For our Internet readers, here's a bit of good news for you because now you can watch the Sinulog Festivities through the Internet Live! Here's the report from SkyCable: SkyCable-Cebu in partnership with Mozcom is extending its Sinulog coverage-Sinulog Ta 'Bai Live Sa Sky - on January 15, 2006 from live broadcast to video streaming on the Internet. SkyCable's live broadcast of the Sinulog will be tunneled to Mozcom's video streaming server.

From Mozcom's server, a live coverage of the Sinulog will be made available to people all over the world with broadband Internet access. According to Ronnie Pacio, Regional Director for Visayas Operations, "this live webcast is a remarkable way of bringing the vibrant feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu throughout the globe while maximizing the inherent advantage of the Internet."

Michael Fernan, Mozcom VP for VisMin also adds "We are glad to be a partner of SkyCable in providing the infrastructure to make Sinulog 2006 available to anyone on the Internet. We look forward to undertaking similar endeavors to bring world class events to a global community bound by the Internet." SkyCable subscribers, viewers and people with broadband Internet connections can view the round-the-clock, blow-by-blow action of the Sinulog Festival 2006 over www.skysinulog.mozcom.com simulcast over Channel 15 from sun-up to sun-down, starting 8:00 AM on Jan. 15, 2006.

This live coverage of SkyCable-Cebu is co-presented by PeopleSupport, Mandaue Foam Industries, Inc., Rudy Project, Cebu Grand Hotel and Paramedical and Technical School, with Media partners: UR 105 Ultimate Radio, Cebu Daily News and MOZCOM. Major sponsors: Taft Property, Style Assembly and Everburn Shirts & Designs. Minor sponsor: RC Goldline and Hi-Precision Diagnostics Laboratories Inc. and SM City.

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