JEWISH NEW YEAR 2009

Leshana Tova Tikoseiv Veseichoseim Le'Alter LeChaim Tovim U'Leshalom
("May you immediately be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year and for a Good and Peaceful Life")

Rosh Hashanah (which means head of the year) is a Jewish Holiday commonly referred as the the Jewish New Year. Jews will celebrate the the first day of year 5770 starting at the sunset of September 18, 2009 (today).

Rosh Hashanah is described as "the day of judgment" (Yom ha-Din) and "the day of remembrance" (Yom ha-Zikkaron). Some midrashic descriptions depict God as sitting upon a throne, while books containing the deeds of all humanity are opened for review, and each person passing in front of Him for evaluation of his or her deeds.

It falls in the month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. The reason for this is because the Hebrew calendar begins with the month of Nissan (when it's believed the Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt) but the month of Tishrei is believed to be the month in which God created the world. Hence, another way to think about Rosh HaShanah is as the birthday of the world.

Rosh HaShanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei. Jewish tradition teaches that during the High Holy Days God decides who will live and who will die during the coming year. As a result, during Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur (and in the days leading up to them) Jews embark upon the serious task of examining their lives and repenting for any wrongs they have committed during the previous year. This process of repentance is called teshuvah. Jews are encouraged to make amends with anyone they have wronged and to make plans for improving during the coming year. In this way, Rosh HaShanah is all about making peace in the community and striving to be a better person.

(http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/roshhashanah.htm)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! PEACE & BLESSINGS UPON ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE!

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE PHILIPPINES?

Vote Tubbataha to be one of the 7 wonders of the world

Hello everyone,

It will take just a minute of your time.
Help us in winning one of our pride.
Vote Tubbataha to be one of the 7 wonders of the world. Just follow the link below.

Tubbataha Reef has been nominated to be a candidate on the
selection of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the same organization that chose the 7 wonders of the world. Selection will be on based sms, online and phone voting.

Tubbataha is a reef ecosystem made up of two atolls located in the middle of the Sulu Sea. It is a sanctuary for marine life. The reefs lie on the Cagayan Ridge, a line of extinct underwater volcanoes which starts from the north at the Sultana Shoal and it ends in the south at the San Miguel Islands. It is located 92 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and 80 nautical miles southwest of Cagayancillo, the municipality that exercises political jurisdiction over it. It was proclaimed as a National Marine Park on August 11, 1988 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1993, in recognition of its outstanding universal value in terms of marine life species diversity and richness.

There were 10 sites nominated from our country but Tubbataha was the only entry accepted. Please visit http://www.new7wonders.com, you will see the voting page. Currently, Tubbataha is rank 32 out of
thousands of entries! We have to be included among the top 21 to be nominated for the final 7. Please vote for Tubbataha.

Thank you.

Have a nice day

MANILA OCEAN PARK

For all those marine enthusiasts, for all those people who want to explore the vast world of the ocean but cannot afford to buy diving suits and equipment, and for all those people who want to see a glimpse of everyday lives of the relatives of Nemo under the sea , yet, are afraid of dipping their toes in the water, finally, your long wait is over!!!! Mark your calendar folks! Manila Ocean Park, the Philippines first state of the art Oceanarium is going to be open to the public this February 24, 2008 ( View their official website: Manila Ocean Park ).

According to Marine Park President, Manila Ocean park would be among the advanced ocean parks in Asia and its area is bigger compare to Singapore’s Sentosa Oceanarium. There are also two open marine habitats on MOP were marine enthusiast could go snorkeling and diving with the fishes. The main oceanarium is consist of the followingaquaticfeatures:

Agos(flow)waterfalls,

cascading into 8 different water tanks displaying various flora and fauna;
the Bahura (Reef), a series of 48 tanks that feature the very colorful Philippine underwater rainforest;

the Laot (Fishig Ground) where four big distinct aquariums will display an assortment of fish in all sizes and colors;

Buhay na Karagatan ( Living Ocean) , Oceanariums main feature, a breathtaking 25-meter walk along an underwater tunnel where you can experience how marine animals interact with each other in their natural habitat;

the Kalaliman ( The Deep), the residence of the barracudas;

Overhang Tank, unique Overhang Tank where you could watch a variety of rays fly over and walk beneath these magnificent creatures

and the Pating (Shark) aquarium.

The Oceanarium also features The KUMEDOR (Dining Room), where you can experience dining while being surrounded by tanks of glow-in-the-dark jellyfishes (awesome!), marine theme hotel, restaurants at the edge Manila Bay and of course who among you can live without malls. Haha

I’m very excited and I can’t wait to see those sharks, barracudas, and sting rays; not on National Geographic nor Discovery Channel, just the glass panels and of course the water will separate me from their world. .

The entrance fee….. Php 400.00 for adults and Php 350.00 for kids, not bad for a World class Ocean park. Ipon na!