Globe Telecoms and Smart Communications, Inc. has both launched the much anticipated Apple iPhone 4S today. Globe Telecom hold the launched party at Ayala Museum, while Smart Communications rented out the Rockwell Power Plant Mall. Smart’s first iPhone 4S user is Sherwin Soriaga, who bought a 64GB White iPhone 4S,  while Globe’s first  iPhone 4S subscriber is non other that The Philippine President Noynoy Aquino III himself.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 506 out of 984 passed
the Physical and Occupational Therapists Licensure Examinations given by the Board of
Physical and Occupational Therapy in the cities of Manila and Cebu this July 2011.

HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF PASSERS.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the said examinations as well
as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held before the
Board on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Manila Hotel, One
Rizal Park, Roxas Blvd., Manila.

Malacañang announced that August 29 (Monday) and August 30 (Tuesday) are non-working holidays (walang pasok).
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The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that there will be no classes in the pre-school, elementary and high school levels both private and public schools in Quezon City on July 25, 2011.
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The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 804 out of 1,255 passed the Social Worker Licensure Examination given by the Board for Social Workers in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi and Zamboanga this June 2011.
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Classes are suspended on several high school and colleges across Metro Manila today, June 25, 2011 due to Typhoon Falcon and the heavy rains and floods.

The schools announced the suspension of classes last night in anticipation of Saturday activities and classes.
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DJP Trio and Buildex Pagales are two more hopefuls who advanced to the grand finals of the 2nd season of ABS-CBN’s nationwide talent show “Pilipinas Got Talent.”
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The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) started the resume of voter’s registration last May 3, 2011. This is to allow more Filipinos to participate in the 2013 elections. It also includes the validation of registration records for all those qualified to vote.
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The Philippine Service Commission is administering the annual Civil Service Examination. Below are important announcements regarding the exam:

DATE OF EXAMINATION

May 22, 2011 Date of filing: February 21, 2011 to April 7, 2011

October 16, 2011 Date of filing: May 23, 2011 to September 1, 2011

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Applicants must accomplish properly the prescribed examination application form (CS Form No. 100, Revised 2008).
2. Four (4) copies of identical I.D. pictures with specifications, as follows:
a. (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm – 1.78″ x 1.38″) Passport size
b. Colored with white background
c. Printed on quality photo paper
d.
Must show the subject applicant in standard close-up shot (from shoulder level up). Applicants should not wear eye glasses or any accessory that may cover their facial features when they are having their pictures taken.
e. Taken within the last three months prior to filing of application
f. With full name tag
- The name tag must show the applicant’s First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Extension Name (if any)
- The name tag should not be computer-generated, meaning, the applicant should have his/her picture taken while holding his/her name tag.

3. Any valid ID such as Driver’s License, SSS ID, GSIS ID, current Office ID, Postal ID, BIR ID, Barangay ID, Voter’s ID, Valid Passport or Police Clearance which contain the applicant’s picture, signature, birthdate, and the signature of the authorized head of the issuing agency. Photocopy of the same shall be attached to the application form to serve as reference for Room Examiners on the day of the examination.
4. Examination fee of Php 500.00.

Civil Service Exam aims to establish a register of eligibles from which certification and appointment to the second and first level positions in the civil service shall be made, provided said eligibles meet the qualifications and other requirements of the positions.

The results of the Nursing Borad Exam taken last December 19 and 20, 2010 which was announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last Friday marked a 35% passing rate.
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The University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) results named 13,000 senior high school students as passers of the entrance examination out of the 67,000 students who took the test for the school year 2011-2012.

Here is the complete list of the UPCAT passers:

Top 50 qualifiers were given the Oblation scholarship which entails free tuition fee, miscellaneous, and book and transportation allowance.

UPCAT is a five-hour examination in English and Filipino which includes subtests on language proficiency, reading comprehension, mathematics, and science.

Successful applicants are ranked based on two factors: their combined weighted scores in the UPCAT and the general weighted average (GWA) of their high school grades.

Socioeconomic and geographic factors are also taken into consideration when ranking students to ensure UP’s “policy of democratization”.

The exam can only be taken once.

The number of examiners yearly shows that UP remains the top choice of Filipino students, given its relatively cheaper tuition despite a 300-percent tuition increase imposed in 2007.

For those who did not qualify or has requirement deficiencies, they can visit the UPCAT Online results.

The Official Pasaload Application of SMART (Smart Communications, Inc.) can now be accessed on Facebook.

Through this web application, smart users can pass a load without clicking the keypads of their phones. Instead, you can send load to your family, friends and loved ones online while you are surfing the net.

The newest and convenient offer from SMART can be accessed through your Facebook account. Just log in with your FB and click this link:

Excited to know how this stuff works? Simply follow the instructions.

REGISTER YOUR MOBILE NUMBER
1. Go to the Smart PasaLoad Application on Facebook(http://apps.facebook.com/pasaload/)
2. Setup/Add your mobile number by clicking on Add My Number
- Add your cellphone number
- Wait for the confirmation key (SMS)
- Enter the confirmation key on the text box of the verification window
(Note: You will receive another SMS confirming the succesful registration of your mobile number)

From There, you can

ADD A CONTACT

1. Click on Add a Contact
- Enter First Name, Last Name and Mobile number
- You can also tag a Facebook friend when adding their contact number
(Note: An SMS confirmation will be sent to your mobile number each time you add a contact. Don’t worry, the message is free )

TO SEND

1. Drag a mobile number/entry from your numbers
2. Drag a mobile number/entry from your contacts and select the number to send
3. Select a Denomination to Send
4.Click Send to confirm

(Note: You can choose to Publish your app activity on your Facebook profile page)

That fast and easy, you can now use the Smart Pasaload Application on Facebook.

The Aquino administration through the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippine issued advisory regarding the
holidays before the year ends.

The days before December 25 (Chrristmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day) which falls on the Fridays will become also
a holiday.so, aside from the 25th and the 1st, these days are non-working holiday, tagged as “special” additional breaks.

Rizal Day on the other hand was moved to the nearest Monday as stated to a proclamation falling on the 27th of
December which is also a non-working day for laborers.

Here is the complete list of the December 2010 holiday calendar:

Friday, December 24 – Additional Special (Non-Working) Day*

Saturday, December 25 – Christmas day; Regular Holiday; NWD*

Sunday, December 26 – NWD

Monday, December 27 – Monday nearest Rizal Day, December 30; Regular Holiday ; NWD*

Tuesday, December 28 – WD

Wednesday, December 29 – WD

Thursday, December 30 – WD

Friday, December 31 – Last Day of the Year; Special NWD*

Saturday, January 1 – NWD

Sunday, January 2 – NWD

Monday, January 3 – WD

The dates with asterisk are under the Proclamation No. 1841 s. 2009, which has been retained as relevant for December
this year after deliberation by the Office of the President.

The top taxpayers in towns are celebrities and businessmen according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) list of the biggest taxpayers for 2009. As a matter of fact, celebrity-host Willie Revillame placed in second rank as biggest taxpayers. One rank higher is a businesswoman in the name of Elaine B. Gardiola, treasurer of the A.E. Gardiola Construction, Inc. Ms. Gardiola, who was at fourth place in the 2008 listing.

A total of top 500 individual and top 500 corporate taxpayers complete the list provided to the public by BIR. According to BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares, this is to recognize the role models in tax paying.

Media personalities who were included in the list were Maria Ressa and Julius Babao, reaching about 6 million tax payment.

The top 12 individual taxpayers in 2009 were

#1 – Elaine B. Gardiola, P59.54 million
#2 – Rosabelle C. Bandong, P57.87 million
#3 – Wilfredo B. Revillame, P57.25-million (#2 in 2008)
#4 – Francis Carlo D. Taparan, P38.75 million
#5 – Ronaldo R. Soliman, P36.7 million
#6 – Ramon S. Ang, president of San Miguel, P26.44 million
#7 – Oscar M. Lopez, former chairman of First Philippine Holdings, Co., P25.70 million
#8 – Henry Sy, Sr., president of SM Investments Corp., P25.18 million
#9 – Carlos D.C. Ejercito, P25.02 million
#10 – Bonifacio D. Gumboc, Jr., P24.74 million
#11 – Maria Teresa Caridad P. Gallego, P24.45 million
#12 – GMA Network Chief Executive Officer Felipe L. Gozon, P22.19 million

Other businessmen on the list were
#14 – Bank of the Philippine Islands President/CEO Aurelio R. Montinola III, P20.14 million
#17 – GMA President Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., P19.77 million
#19 – Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Chairman Manuel M. Lopez, P19.32 million
#20 – Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, P19.28 million
#27 – UnionBank Chairman/CEO Justo A. Ortiz, P15.43 million
#33 – TV5 Pres. Ray C. Espinosa, P13.99 million
#37 – former Philippine American Life and General Insurance Co. Pres./CEO Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., P12.93 million
#55 – Metrobank Pres. Arthur V. Ty, P11.18 million
#76 – tobacco magnate Lucio C. Tan, P9.23 million
#242 – ABS-CBN Chairman/CEO Eugenio L. Lopez III, P5.15 million

Showbiz personalities were also on the list, among them
#18 – Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan, P19.55 million
#39 – Kristina Bernadette “Kris” Aquino Yap, P12.79 million
#50 – Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual, P11.51 million
#62 – Marian Rivera Gracia, P10.12 million

Media personalities also among the top taxpayers in 2009 were
#173 – Maria A. Ressa, P5.91 million
#175 – Julius Caesar C. Babao, P5.88 million

Among companies, the top corporate taxpayers were
#1 – Smart Communications, P10.2 billion, (#1 for the second straight year)
#2 – Globe Telecom, P5.49 billion
$3 – Chevron Malampaya LLC, P4.19 billion
#4 – San Miguel Brewery, Inc., P3.58 billion
#5 – Nestle Philippines, Inc., P3.55 billion
#6 – PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures, Inc., P3.53 billion
#7 – Shell Philippines Exploration, B.V., P3.24 billion
#8 – Meralco, P2.79 billion
#9 – Fortune Tobacco Corp., P1.88 billion
#10 – SM Prime Holdings, Inc., P1.82 billion

Others in the top 50 included
#21 – GMA Network, Inc., P1 billion
#25 – Wyeth Philippines, Inc., P878.06 million
#26 – Unilever Philippines, Inc., P836.5 million
#27 – San Miguel Foods, Inc., P807.42 million

And the winning number combination for the very much awaited lotto winning lotto draw is 11-16-42-47-31-37. It was Monday night when a lone lucky bettor from Luzon managed to take home the biggest jackpot in the country’s lottery history, winning some P741.176 million.

The winning bettor who gambled through the Lucky Pick came from Olongapo City in the province of Zambales. These are the only information given by Chairman Juico.

The winner should sign his or her name on the back of the ticket before going to the PCSO office at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

If the winner is afraid of going there personally, he or she can have a lawyer with a special power of attorney represent him or her.

She said the winner can also opt to deposit the check immediately at a Land Bank of the Philippines branch inside the PCSO.

May Sales only picked up in November when the jackpot reached P300 million the Grand Lotto started last May.