I'm proud to be a Filipino, God has blessed our country with all the natural riches that is beyond magnificent. I'm asking every blogger out there to help us vote for Tubbataha Reef for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Voting for nominees will continue through 31.12.08. A New7Wonders Panel of Experts will then select the 21 finalists, from which voters worldwide will elect the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

According to the Lonely Planet guide, Tubbataha offers ‘some of the best diving you are ever likely to some across anywhere in the world’. The dive season is dependant on the weather and usually runs from March until June. This time of year usually gives outstanding diving conditions – clear skies, flat seas and excellent visibility (around 30 to 45 meters).



The name Tubbataha comes from the dialect of the Samal, seafaring people of the Sulu region, and means 'long reef exposed at low tide'. Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park lies in the center of the Sulu Sea. Declared a World Heritage site by the World Conservation Union in 1993, the park is composed of 2 coral atolls seperated by an 8 km (5 mile) wide channel. These picturesque tropical atolls, known as North and South Tubbataha, host an amazing variety of reef tropicals, turtles and large pelagics. Manta and Eagle rays, white and black tip reef sharks,nurse, shovelnose, leopard and hammerhead sharks are common.

Biodiversity
The Philippines lies within the 'coral triangle' - the area with the highest marine biodiversity on earth. Tubbataha is regarded as one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. The diversity of marine life found in Tubbataha is equal to or greater than any such reef of its size in the world.

Researchers have recorded 396 species of corals - 85 per cent of all hard coral species in the entire Philippines. There are 479 species of fish from 46 families. Manta rays are frequent visitors to the reef as are barracudas and large schools of jacks. Tubbataha is also home to six species of sharks - usually found cruising around the outskirts of the reef. There are two types of sea turtles and nine species of marine mammals found in these reefs.

Tubbataha is a big ecosystem containing a network of smaller ecosystems. From the largest fish (the whale shark) down to the tiniest organisms (marine plankton) the underwater flora and fauna depend on one another for survival. The islets are also part of this complex, life-giving network. Sea turtles are often seen around the shallow reef flats. During breeding, they lay their eggs on both the North and South Islets. The islets also serve as an important refuge for seabirds in Southeast Asia. Tubbataha's islets is believed to be one of the last breeding grounds for a host of endangered bird species.

Coral reefs are one of the earth's most ancient ecosystems. They date back to the Mesozoic period around 225 million years ago. Although they cover only 0.2 per cent of the ocean floor, they may produce up to 25 per cent of the fish catch of developing countries and 10 per cent of the total amount caught globally for human consumption. Tubbataha is one of the Philippines' oldest ecosystems. Scientists have suggested that the reefs' formation began around 15 million years ago with the eruption of the chain of volcanoes along the Cagayan Ridge.

Currently, Tubbataha Reef is ranked No. 21 on the list of 77 nominees along with Chocolate Hills, holding No. 18 spot which is also an entry the Philippines is very proud of. Help us increase the awareness and support for the reefs’ conservation by voting for Tubbataha Reef.
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I posted a month ago about General Marketing Blog's contest where you can win a Video iPod or a WP Revolution Theme. Well, I didn't won an iPod or a Revolution Theme but I get to win 20 Wiki Pages, 125×125 Banner Ad on Webhitsrus.com and 250 Entrecard credits. Not bad, considering it's the first actual contest I've joined since I started blogging. :) Here are the complete results

Now, I'm looking for a contest that would sponsor a free domain name registration and a year's worth of web hosting for my new blog that is still in the works. If you know a contest with those prizes, please inform me about it.

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David Hobson of General Marketing Blog is sponsoring a huge contest and you can win one of the several prizes including a Video iPod or a WP Revolution Theme. The total value of all prizes is estimated over $11,000.00. This is going to be one of the biggest contests in the Blogosphere and I'm donating 1 - 125 X 125 free banner ad for 1 month and 500 Entrecard Credits as a giveaway.

To join in this contest, check out the different ways you can enter below and what points value they will earn you.

1) Blog about this contest (50 entries)
2) Include a link to all sponsors in the blog post (25 entries) (copy & paste the list below)
3) Purchase any banner advertisement on our blog (25 entries)
4) Subscribe to RSS via email or reader (20 entries)
5) Leave a comment on this blog post (1 entry)





General Marketing Blog
1 x Video Ipod
Revolution Theme
1500 Entrecard Credits
3 x 125×125 banner ads
3 x 468×60 banner ads

The www Blog
1 x Featured submission @ nobledirectory.com
1 x Regular submission @ nobledirectory.com

Mr Javo Dot Com
1 x Text Link for 1 month

GoStats
2 Yrs subscription to Gostats Pro

Internet Marketing Blog
1 x 125×125 banner ad for 1 month

Pro Blogging
1 x 125×125 banner ad for 1 month

Contestu.com
1 x 250×250 banner ad for 1 month

Work At Home
100 Entrecard credits

Make Money Online
2000 hits from webhitsrus.com
1 x 125×125 banner ad on sunegrl72.blogspot.com

Making Money From Gaming
500 Entrecard credits

Oxidize Your Blog
3 x Featured submissions @ blogoxide.com
5 x Regular submissions @ blogoxide.com

The Profit Hustler
1 x 125×125 banner ad for 1 month

One Buck Wiki
500 Wiki pages valued at $20 each

impNERD
500 Entrecard credits

Blog Money Wiki
DVD of chromatic harmonica videos

Money Making Student
750 Entrecard credits

EzMoneyOn.net
1 x 125×125 banner ad for 1 month

Toast & Egg & Me
1000 Entrecard Credits

One Stop Shopping
500 Entrecard credits

DiggItLive dot COM
500 Entrecard credits

EYE EARN Marketing
200 Entrecard credits

Rumbling Lankan
Pr3 Blog Review

Million Dollar Portfolio
$25 Visa gift card

Wayne Liew Dot Com
700 Entrecard credits

My Blog Contest
1000 Entrecard credits

Bid2big.com
1 x 468×60 banner ad for 1 month
1 x 125×125 banner ad for 1 month

1 Million in 365 Days
500 Entrecard credtis

My PPC Advertising
200 Entrecard credits
5 x Txt links for 1 month

Making Myself Extra Money
500 Entrecard credits

Ez Money Online
500 Entrecard Credits

Dotcommogul
500 Entrecard credits

Detector
1 x Txt link for 1 month

Scribble & Words
1 x 125×125 banner ad for 1 month
500 Entrecard credits

Charismaborn's Blah, Blog, Bucks
1 - 125X125 banner ad for 1 month
500 Entrecard credits

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All prizes will be shared out amongst the 50 winners with the most prizes going to the winner and so on.

Good luck to all that enter.

If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe to my feed.

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I know I had to type this article from Bo Sanchez, publisher and editor-in-chief of a catholic inspirational magazine called Kerygma distributed here in the Philippines, so I could share this inspiring article to you.

You Need The Power of Hustle

THERE ARE OVER 7.5 millionaires in America today. Around 20% of those millionaires are high school graduates only. There are 222 billionaires in America, and a full 10% are college dropouts. Why am I mentioning these facts?

Because I hear a lot of people say, "I'll never make it in life. I don't have a college degree." Go tell that to Bill Gates, the richest man in the world. Because he never finished college, too. Time and time again, I've heard Filipinos say, "I didn't graduate from Ateneo, La Salle and UP. I don't stand a chance." Really? Let me guys give you a few other facts.

Henry Sy, owner of SM and the 14th richest man in Southeast Asia, finished at Far Eastern University. Lucio Tan, the richest industrialist in the Philippines with a net worth of $1.5 billion, also studied at FEU but couldn't even finish because he had to get a job in a tobacco factory. Billionaire John Gokongwei, head of JG Summit, the largest conglomerate in the Philippines, had to quit the University of San Carlos in Cebu because, in his words, he had to be a "bodegero, warehouseman, cashier and collector" in their small family business.

Where are the guys who graduated from Ateneo, La Salle and UP? I'll tell you where: They've got good jobs, working for these guys. I'm not saying education isn't important. It's very important. But if you want to succeed in life (or in any area of it) – education isn't enough. You need something else.

I call it the Power of Hustle. Hustle can mean something bad. In today's jargon, when you say, "He's a Hustler," that means he's a cheat. I'm not using that definition here. I'm using that word the way they use it in basketball. When the coach shouts, "Hustle boys!" he's telling them to run, think on their feet, be aggressive. To hustle means to believe that there's a solution to almost any problem – and taking it upon yourself to find it.

I've seen the Power of Hustle in the most successful human beings in the world. They know what they want. They take responsibility. They keep on moving. And they never take "no" for an answer. Mother Teresa had it. Sam Walton of Wal-Mart had it. Remember Douglas MacArthur? He applied at West Point, was rejected, applied again, was rejected a second time, and applied for the third time! That's what you call hustle. In time, he became on of the greatest generals of WWII.

Have you ever read Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Hanson? After writing the book, no one wanted to publish it. The author approached 33 publishers in New York and 90 publishers in California – and every single publisher rejected them. Again, they hustled and never gave up. Finally, a small publisher accepted their book. It went on to sell 53 million copies. Friend, hustle!

Now, I'm no college dropout, I finished college with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science but I ended up being a Graphic Designer/Layout Artist where my weapon of choice is my Apple iMac, Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and FreeHand. Designing is my first love, the sight of my client's faces lighting up when I present to them my work is a fulfilling reward for me more than the money they pay for my service. Although, I wasn't able to use my chosen college major, I don't have any regrets because I was able to finish a college degree like my parents wanted. I know education is necessary but it's not enough to get you the things you want in life. Ask Steve Jobs and Kanye West about it. Lol. Read the rest of the entry

5000 dollars a month? "Get the F*** outta here! That's bullshit!", was my first impression when I unintentionally saw an ad months ago about internet marketing through blogging. I thought this was just another scheme of making you sign up with offers where you enter your credit card digits and these bogus companies with highly skilled hackers hack your credit card account to selfishly purchase stuff from E-Bay for their personal use while they laugh infront of their PC's imagining how much of a dumbass you are. LOL. That was before, until I did a research about online money making where I discovered a huge potential on making real money online.



Now fast forward– this work-at-home business started to intrigue me. The thought of working at the comforts of my own home without the struggles in the corporate world started to appeal to me. Imagine not having to beat the traffic everyday, no abusive boss bugging you and most importantly you can work in your boxers and your favorite torn shirt and wake up late. Sweet ain't it? But being an internet marketer is not for everybody. People with little patience are not encouraged to venture in this field. You need to know that online money making is not a "get rich quick scheme." So the saying that goes "Anything in life worth having wouldn't be easy", applies here. You can't earn $5000 overnight here man. Let's be realistic. You need a great amount of patience especially if you're a newbie by monetizing your blog, researching and writing interesting posts that would attract readers and traffic to your blog. The more traffic you get means higher chances of getting unique hits from readers that would take interest in the advertisers that you feature in your blog. The best thing about this internet marketing is that it's still for FREE, all you need is a computer, an internet connection and a few hours of your spare time. No beating the traffic in the morning and having to meet deadlines.

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They say there are more germs on your keyboard than toilet seats. Your desk or work station is capable of supporting 10 million microbes according to research. Work stations contain nearly 400 times as many microbes than lavatories. By contrast, the average toilet seat contains 49 microbes per square inch. According to the quiz I took at www.justsayhi.com there are 2,067,240 germs living in my keyboard. I doubt it because I'm using an iMac, my keyboard is covered with plastic casing (I know it's corny :p the attached photo is my iMac). I'd rather have it covered with plastic than using a PC whose keyboards are susceptible to more germs because there are little openings between the keys where dust, coffee spill, biscuit crumbs and what-have-you's can penetrate thru the openings and develop bacteria. My best advice is to wash your hands regularly with anti-bacterial soap and wiping the surface of your desk with a clean tissue damped with a little alcohol so as to minimize the risk of colds and flu.

2,067,240How Many Germs Live On Your Keyboard?

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What is an Entrecard? Entrecard is your business card 2.0. It's a 125x125 image which represents you and your blog. Its part advertisement, part business card. It comes with a widget you place on your blog, so that others can leave their Entrecard for you. You can also use Entrecard to promote your blog and launch free advertising campaigns. Some people say its the new business card. Some people call it an advertising network. One thing is clear, Entrecard is a blossoming social network of bloggers centered around the concept of community, sharing, and helping each other out. We believe that Entrecard is one of the best ways to promote your blog.



Based on my research Entrecard was developed 3 months ago by Graham Langdon. The idea of fish-bowls in restaurants where you drop off your business card to win a free lunch was his inspiration but instead of printed business cards you drop off digital business card on blogs with an Entrecared Widget to earn some reward. The reward, if your an active card dropper is "EC" or Entrecard Credits which you can use to advertise on other blogs with Entrecard Widgets in them. The most valuable reward you get from this whole process is free advertising for your blog. The best things in life still comes for free. :) Ever since I joined Entrecard almost 90% of my hits came from Entrecard users. I tried joining Traffic Digger and Traffic Zap and I doubt they were bringing in traffic to my blog the way Entrecard does. So props to Graham for bringing Entrecard to the blogosphere. Oh, and one more thing, Entrecard gets highly addictive once you get the hang of it. :)
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