THE Philippine Export Development Program (PEDP) for 2005-2007 states the targets for the export industry of the country. Under the PEDP, the key goals are to expand the market for Philippine products overseas, diversify local products and services for the export market, and improve the productivity and the business environment for export industry players. On the occasion of National Exporters Week, the Export Development Council (EDC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have taken as the thrust of the week-long celebration the expansion of the Philippines’ presence and share of the global markets for key products and services.

TODAY, occult practices are deeply entrenched not only in our religious lives but in our social, business, economic, cultural, and political lives as well. What is frightening is the fact that occult practices that are now spreading like a virus have not been limited to the traditional and common practices and beliefs like astrology, fortune-telling, witchcraft, numerology, magic, use of crystal ball, hypnotism, spiritism or necromancy, reincarnation, and ESP (extra sensory perception). The current occult practices appear as harmless and fun on the surface. Let me just share some of these "harmless’’ practices.

THE Monty Python movie, "Life of Brian," ended with the crucified anti-hero singing, "Look at the Bright Side of Life," or something like that. It was, of course, a comedy tinged with satire.

THE Philippines is fast becoming an important source of labor to the global offshoring market. How many people do you know are now working for a call center or preparing medical transcriptions for hospitals abroad?

A "Council of State" (COS) has existed, in various forms or another, in the history of the Philippine presidency. The latest version of this advisory and consultative body is embodied in Executive Order No. 168, dated 16 January 2003, issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, entitled "Reconstituting and Revitalizing the Council of State." The defined need for a highlevel consultative body is to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas, foster national cooperation, propose meaningful reforms in government, and advise the President on matters of public policy.

THERE’S a principle called 90/10. What does this "90/10 Principle" mean? It means that 10 percent of life is made up of what happens to you; 90 percent of life is decided by how you react.

"With an average income of $187,000 in 1994, Doctors were still among the highest paid workers in America."

IF I remember right, it was Gov. Bill Clinton, Democratic Party candidate for president, who used the above phrase in order to defeat then incumbent President Bush (pater). Only a few of our citizens noticed the more than $11.6-billion remittances of our overseas Filipino workers (OFW), because of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). In the 2004 list compiled from the World Bank (WB) report, India was number one in remittances with $21.7B, followed by China $21.3B, Mexico $18.1B, France $12.7B, and in fifth place the Philippines with $11.6B.

WASHINGTON — The United States knew well in advance of and explicitly approved Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor in 1975, which led to a brutal 24-year occupation of the former Portuguese colony, according to newly declassified documents.

THE aspiration for peace started from primitive society and continues to the present. Yet the history of mankind is a chronicle of war among nations, religious strifes, conflicting ideologies and racial and gender discriminations. More recently the rise in terrorist attacks has exacerbated the global problem of human rights violations. At no other time has peace as a goal become more imperative for the survival of mankind.

THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I Am sending My messenger ahead of you; He will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.’" John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."