MAKATI DESIGNER SCAM: Designer Offered 2 Gives to Fashion Scam Victims

Naging laman ng ilang online websites, blogs, and networking sites ang tinaguriang "fashion scam."

Nagsimulang kumalat ang mga larawan kaugnay sa sinasabing isyu nang i-post ng TV celebrity na si Kat de Castro ang isa sa mga ito sa kanyang Twitter noong Martes, Pebrero 15. Sa caption, ito ang mababasa: "The designer asked 30k for this suit. Pero bakit may Dansen tag? Sa SM ito di ba? Napeke kaya yung friend ko?"

Base sa artikulong inilabas ng fashion website na Stylebible.ph ngayong araw, Pebrero 17 nag-order raw ng custom-made suit si Jhon Maala para sa kanyang kasal. Ilang beses daw sinubukan ng groom na makipagkita kay Puey para sa fitting pero madalas hindi ito nangyari. Hanggang isang araw ay naipadala na ang suit na nagkakahalagang P30,000.

Subalit napansin ng groom na dalawa ang label ng suit na kanyang natanggap: isang "Bobon" by Puey Quiñones na nakatahi sa mismong suit at "Dansen" naman sa loob ng inner pocket nito.

Ang Dansen ay isang brand na hawak ng SM Department Store. At sa isang litrato na na-post ni Michael Lim sa Facebook, makikita rito ang unaltered Dansen suit, na nagkakahalaga umano ng P3,300.

Si Puey Quiñones ay kilala bilang isang bridal designer sa fashion industry. Isa sa kanyang mga naging kliyente ang TV personality na si Cheska Garcia.

BOBON REACTS. Unang nang naglabas ng statement sa Facebook ang may-ari ng Bobon. Nakasaad dito na, "BOBON is not in any way involved in the design, production or sale of the suit in the photo, or the affixing of the 'BOBON by Puey Quinones' label to the suit."

Nilinaw din sa note na, "BOBON is not affiliated with any one designer. Although the label "Bobon by Puey Quinones" was initially used in 2008, this label was discontinued more than a year ago. Since 2010, all BOBON pieces simply bear the label 'BOBON.'

"We have no knowledge of how the label 'Bobon by Puey Quinones' ended up in the suit in the Facebook post as we have used every effort to reclaim and destroy these old labels. We are certain that this suit was not purchased by the owner from or through BOBON."

Sa kabilang banda, nilinaw naman ng bride na si Shea Gamboa na walang kinalaman ang may-ari ng Bobon sa naging problema nila kay Puey. Sabi pa niya sa isang comment sa Facebook thread, "The transaction was between the couple and the designer. So don't worry. You're [owner of Bobon] out of this."

"I REGRET THAT ALL THIS HAPPENED." Samantala, sa artikulo pa rin ng Stylebible.ph, nailathala ang opisyal na statement naman ng fashion designer.

Ito ang kabuuang pahayag ni Puey: "Regarding the recent "fashion scam", I regret that all this happened. First and foremost, I would like to apologize to the couple for all the trouble that it has caused them.

"I was simply pressured to create a suit and found a perfect blank canvas to develop. I know the entire situation could have been handled better but now it has just been blown out of proportion and affected so many others.

"I assure all concerned that I am doing the best that I can to fix this situation. I have been in contact with the party involved and intend to settle this peacefully.

"To the couple who brought attention to this matter and to everyone else that have raised concerns over the quality of my service as a designer... I am sorry.

"I am doing all that I can to make sure that this does not happen again.

"Thank you for your understanding and for your concern."

NO TO NEW SUIT. 

Sa Twitter post ni Kat (de Castro) noong Pebrero 15, sinabi nito na hiniling ni Puey na ibalik na lamang ang Dansen suit at gagawa na lamang siya ng bagong suit. Ngunit ang kasalan ay mangyayari umano in less than two weeks.

At kaninang umaga, nag-tweet muli ang Trip na Trip host. Sinabi niya na nangako si Puey ng refund, "Pero 2 gives. Needless to say, my friend went to another designer for help."

Sinabi rin niya, "I never thought many people would react to it. All I wanted was to help a friend out. Sana hindina mangyari ulit." (SOURCE: http://www.fashionpulis.com )

Facebook adds ‘civil union’ status to profiles

Gay and lesbian Facebook users can now state whether they are in a civil union or domestic partnership on their profile pages.

Groups had been set up to call for the change and the new options are being rolled out in the US, UK and several other countries today.

“This has been a highly requested feature from users,” Facebook communications manager Andrew Noyes said.

“We want to provide options for people to genuinely and authentically reflect their relationships on Facebook.”

LGBT rights groups said the move would help inclusion of gay couples.

Michael Cole-Schwartz, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, said: “As LGBT people face a patchwork of relationship recognition laws, this gives people more tools to adequately describe their relationship.

“Facebook has been a company that has tried to be inclusive of the LGBT community and this just one sign of it.”

GLAAD said: “Today, Facebook sent a clear message in support of gay and lesbian couples to users across the globe.

“By acknowledging the relationships of countless loving and committed same-sex couples in the US and abroad, Facebook has set a new standard of inclusion for social media.”

The changes were developed with the help of gay groups such as GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign and are available to users in the US, UK, Canada, France and Australia.

One in five unaware that HIV can be passed though unprotected gay sex

by Jessica Geen (http://www.pinknews.co.uk)

A survey suggests that one in five people do not know that HIV can be passed on through unprotected gay sex.

The poll of 1,944 people, by the National AIDS Trust, also found that the same number did not realise that unsafe heterosexual sex could lead to transmission of the virus.

African and Caribbean people were least likely to know that unprotected gay sex was a route of transmission – 49 per cent compared with 20 per cent overall.

This is the fourth year that the charity has published the annual survey ’HIV: Public Knowledge and Attitudes’.

Researchers said it was particularly concerning that more people now wrongly believe that HIV can be caught through kissing (nine per cent) and spitting (ten per cent). These figures have doubled from 2007′s survey from four per cent and five per cent respectively.

Less than half of the public (45 per cent ) believe HIV can be passed from person to person by sharing needles or syringes. Only 30 per cent were able to correctly identify all the ways HIV can and cannot be passed on.

Sixty-seven per cent of people said they had sympathy for those with HIV and 74 per cent believed they should have the same level of support and respect as people with cancer.

Eleven per cent had no sympathy, rising to 30 per cent towards those infected with HIV through unprotected sex.

Almost half of people (47 per cent) thought that there are no effective ways of preventing a pregnant mother with HIV from passing HIV on to her baby.

Evidence shows that the right treatment gives an HIV-positive mother a 99 per cent chance of having a healthy baby.

Deborah Jack, the chief executive of National AIDS Trust, said: “It is certainly positive to see the majority of the public have supportive attitudes towards people with HIV, but there are still huge gaps in awareness of what it means to live with HIV in the UK today.

“It is extremely important that inroads are made in terms of educating the general public so we can eradicate the prejudice which still exists around HIV. In addition to improving knowledge of HIV, intensive work also needs to go into tackling the often deep-seated judgments and beliefs held about HIV and the people affected.

“The government made a concerted and effective effort to tackle this stigma in mental health, and now it is time for HIV to be addressed in the same way.”

2011 NURSING LICENSURE EXAM RESULTS

MANILA, Philippines - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Saturday that 29,711 out of 84,287 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by theBoard of Nursing.

The examination was given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Nueva Ecija, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last December 2010.

COMPLETE LIST CLICK HERE

TOP PERFORMING SCHOOLS LIST CLICK HERE

Peace of Mind (Author Unknown)

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked.

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in

others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves 

that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and

those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and

steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies

the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God. 

God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings

can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the

way they do because God within them prompts them that way. There is

God to look after everything. Why are you bothered? Mind your own 

business and you will keep your peace.

2. Forgive And Forget.

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill

feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. 

We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep,

development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult

or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever

by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Believe in the 

justice of God and the doctrine of destiny. Let Him judge the act of

the one who insulted you. Life is too short to waste in such trifles.

Forgive, Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and

forgiving. 

3. Do Not Be Jealous.

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind.

You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but

sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business 

several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor

whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like

these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember

everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become 

his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world

can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either.

Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune.

Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace 

of mind.

4. Change Yourself According To The Environment.

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are

you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As 

you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you,

will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

5. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew.

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take 

more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is

done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Why take on

additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace

of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material 

engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation.

This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you rest less.

Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

6. Meditate Regularly.

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This

is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it

yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your 

mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three

and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was

before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily

meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily 

work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you

will be able to produce better results in less time.

6. Never Leave The Mind Vacant.

An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the 

vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something

worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your

interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of

mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always 

earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and

achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.