Background : This entry contains a blog repost and links from Filipina Images readers who voluntarily wrote a feedback on the Conned by a Filipina entry. I had since closed the comments section of that entry. Tim Cumper (sometimes known as Timothy Ellis Cumper, Ellumbra), the alleged scam victim had the audacity to accuse Francis Jalbuena, the alleged scam artist as hiding behind my name. (He’s also blogged about it here, here and here) There are many alleged Scam artists involved aside from Francis Jalbuena. There is Paranaque Medical Center, Tierra Maria Estates, Chin chin Guitierrez…but I will talk about myself.

Let me make it clear:

1. I, Noemi Lardizabal-Dado will not allow people to comment using my name in my own blog. I have control over readers commenting in my blog. It is IMPOSSIBLE that Francis Jalbuena (one of the alleged scam artist) used my name in the comment section. I wrote those comments.

2. I have never met Francis Jalbuena or knew him at the time the blog entry was written by tim aka Ellumbra. Of course , now I know him because I’ve read Tim’s story.

3. Tim does not understand the nature of Philippine’ ISP and IP numbers. I came across a blogger with an exact IP address as mine in one of the comments. IP number is NOT proof enough that Francis Jalbuena used my name. Besides you all know I have FOUR Internet Service Providers. Perhaps, it is coincidence that Francis has the same IP number as mine.

If Tim wants to examine our IP numbers in our computers, he will have to file a case here in the Philippines and ask for a court order to acquire our IP numbers.

4. I am showing the countless posts and links scattered around the internet surrounding the Tierra Maria Estates Scam and Philippine Hospital Scam..

5. I never enjoined Filipina Images Reader to write about this alleged scam but they did, out of their desire to vindicate the Filipina in question, spread the truth and justice of the innocent victims of the alleged scam victims or to take the side of Tim.

6. Judge the links contained in this entry. Read Tim’s story. You decide.

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To all Filipinos Everywhere:
by Bernadette Torres bjaytorres@yahoo. com

I used to think that corruption and criminality in the Philippines were caused by poverty. But recent events tell me this isn’t true. It is one thing to see people turn into drug addicts, prostitutes, thieves and murderers because of hunger and poverty, but what excuse do these rich, educated people have that could possibly explain their bizarre behavior? And to think I was always so relieved when petty snatchers got caught and locked away in jail because I never fully realized that the big time thieves were out there, making the laws and running our country. Can it get any worse than this?

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In line with the principle of honoring the diverse, beautiful, and powerful image of a Filipina, WikiPilipinas will launch a special portal, Encyclopedia of Philippine Women, inside the site which will compile and detail the achievements and triumphs of Filipinas everywhere. Its sister site, Filipiniana.net, will also have a Philippine Women Microsite containing documents discussing Filipino women, as well as selected texts from the oeuvres of Filipina writers. Through a combined effort for advocacy, WikiPilipinas partnered with Filipina Images to help promote a more empowering image of the Filipina. By having an online platform to showcase Filipina intelligence and talent, the goal of developing more empowered Filipinas becomes achievable.

Many participants, through this project, will discover that they can help bridge the digital divide and promote gender mainstreaming and gender equality.

To promulgate the advocacy, WikiPilipinas and Filipina Images websites will launch “Filipina Stories,” a writing contest with the mission of uplifting the image of the Filipina.

Check the prizes and mechanics of this contest.

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Filipina celebrity Kristina Cassandra ‘KC’ Concepcion is the newest national ambassador of United Nations World Food Program (WFP). She is only the second ambassador against hunger from Southeast Asia after Indonesian television and film actor Luna Maya.

KC Concepcion is considered showbiz royalty in the Philippines, her parents being superstar Sharon Cuneta and 1980s matinee idol Gabby Concepcion, who have since separated and have their own families already.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

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There are two Filipinas in current US television shows — actually two of the biggest talent searches.

As Inquirer Entertainment reported a week before the official announcement on Feb. 14, Filipino-American Ramiele Malubay has made it to the Top 24 of the world-famous reality singing competition “American Idol,” airing on Fox in the United States.

On rival ABC, 19-year-old Mariel Jacoda is a finalist in “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” a new tilt hosted by “Dancing with the Stars” judges and choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

Inquirer learned of Malubay’s inclusion as AI finalist via blog/“spoiler” reports on the Internet.
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Silverlens gallery, together with H.E. Cristina Ortega, Ambassador of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and to the European Communities, is launching FILIPINAS: Photographs by Isa Lorenzo, on 6 March 2008 in the Philippine Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. This is in celebration of International Women’s Day.

FILIPINAS features intimate portraits of thirty women – photographed by Isa Lorenzo — who represent the arts, education, social work, civil society and politics. No elaborate costumes, frivolous props, nor backdrops were used, only film and a simple background in the style of studio photography from the 1940’s and ‘50’s. Curated by Deanna Ongpin-Recto, the show’s cast of Filipinas, chosen for their personality, their achievements, and the influence they exerted on their times. The thirty women are:
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If you’re looking for Pinay Scandal, you won’t find it in this entry but wait, let me explain.

Awhile back, around 60 bloggers wrote about Pinay scandal. The sort of mini-seo contest was not really meant to uplift the image of the Filipina as the main goal, but to take advantage of the traffic that “Pinay Scandal” keyword gives. A few bloggers did write about their objections to the Pinay Scandal. They got the traffic alright but is traffic all we are after in our blogs? I guess traffic is important especially if one is into blog monetization. But we can hit two birds in one stone. Get traffic and blog for a cause. ( I do know that some of these bloggers also wrote for the Filipina Writing Project which is a one time project. Kudos to them.)

Now if only these bloggers continue to show the same energy and support the timeless campaign of the Filipina, they will contribute a lot in uplifting the image of the Filipina. We are not a country of “Pinay Scandals” alone. The filipina is……

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I allowed the previous blog entry Conned by a Filipina to be posted in this blog in order to show the diversity of the Filipina, whether good or bad. Stereotypes hound on our Filipina who use a dating website to find a lifetime partner. But is it really hard to believe that there are Filipinas who do go online searching purely for love? Filipinas marrying penpals though considered fortunate by those from hard-up families, are generally regarded with disdain by Filipinos from the middle and upper middle class. It really wouldn’t matter if you try to expound or differentiate the details of how you met whether by chatting, online dating, by clubs - to the Filipino man on the street you are still essentially a Mail Order Bride. This entry by Geri narrates the love she found through the internet. Let’s hear her story:

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