Noli Me Tangere Will be Available on iPad on July 1

                             Image via Wikipedia

Vibal Publishing Foundation will be publishing an iPad version of Dr. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere starting July 1. With this new ebook version, Vibal Publishing will try to revive the public interest regarding the powerful novel that sparked the Spanish revolution in the Philippines more than a century ago.

Noli Me Tangere  is a novel about the tragic love story of Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara, a childhood sweetheart whose love was broken by circumstances created by the corruption in the clergy and government during the Spanish Rule in the Philippines.

The book was originally written in Spanish and has been translated to both Filipino and English. Interestingly, the iPad version of the ebook can be read on both languages.

Pricing and Availability
The ebook will be available on iTunes Bookstore starting July 1. There is no disclosure yet as to the pricing.

Will the interest regarding this old masterpiece be renewed when it is made available on modern gadgets? Hopefully yes! And if the "Noli" for iPad will be a success, surely its more intense sequel, the El Filibusterismo or just "El Fili" will be released. Are you excited about this? Well, honestly, I am.

List of Cancelled Flights From Cebu Pacific As of June 24

Updated: 24June2011 6:00PM
Here's the latest updated list of CANCELLED flights of Cebu Pacific Air. The reason for cancellation is the bad weather brought by typhoon Falcon.

COMPILED ADVISORY on Typhoon Falcon - List of cancelled flights as of June 24, 2011, 11:00AM

Hi everyone! Please note that the following flights have been cancelled today due to Tropical Storm Falcon:

5J525/525-24 MNL-Naga-MNL

5J 521 / 522 – Manila-Naga-Manila

5J 513 / 514 – Manila-San Jose-Manila

5J 136 / 135 – Cebu-Caticlan-Cebu

5J 911 / 912 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 893 / 894 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 897 / 896 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 899 / 900 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 903 / 904 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 891 / 892 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 895 / 898 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 901 / 902 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 905 / 906 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 917 / 918 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J 913 / 914 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila

We will mount 8 extra ATR and Airbus A320 flights to accommodate all affected Caticlan guests:

5J 331 / 332 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 333 / 334 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 335 / 336 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 337 / 338 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 343 / 344 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 351 / 352 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 353 / 354 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J 416 / 417 Cebu-Kalibo-Cebu

Other affected guests may call us through our hotline at (02) 70-20-888 / (032) 230-88-88 for details on their re-accommodation. Those affected by cancellations due to bad weather may rebook their flights for travel up to 30 days, or place the full value of their booking in a travel fund.

We always place top priority in your safety; thank you for your understanding as it is beyond the airline's control.

Source: Cebu Pacific

DFA to Support The Two Filipinas Suspected As Drug Mules in Bali, Indonesia

            Image via Wikipedia

In a press release, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirms their support for the alleged mistreatment of two Filipino women in the hands of immigration officials in Indonesia who suspected them to be drug mules. The DFA is working with the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia to conduct an investigation to verify if there's a basis to file a protest.

The issue came to the attention of the government after one of the two Filipinas, who was incidentally a blogger, posted in her blog her "traumatic" experience when they visited Bali, a popular tourist destination in Indonesia last May. According to her, although there are many other nationalities in their flight, they were singled out by the immigration officers for an extensive interrogation and luggage and bodily inspection for no apparent justification.

They were held in the immigration for more than an hour but were allowed to leave after they failed to find anything against them. The experience has become so traumatic to both of them spoiling their supposed-to-be-happy vacation.

The blog post quickly received emphatic rage from commenters who complained against what appears to be a "racial profiling" of Filipinos in the country. 

Indonesia is considered to be Philippine's closest neighbor and ally in the region so any act of "racial profiling" and unjust treatment against Filipinos should be taken seriously.

Reminders for Filipino Travelers

The government is urging every Filipino travelers to be prepared for cases similar to this. Although this is not a common incident, everyone should take the necessary precaution when traveling to foreign lands. It is very important to know beforehand the contact numbers and other ways to contact the embassy of the Philippines in case you need their help.