Mynardo Macaraig
Guest Author
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/ 16 October 2006

Philippine natives fight for paradise lost

While tourists frolic in the crystal-clear waters lapping the tropical island of Boracay, local natives forced from their land by developers are fighting for their piece of paradise lost. With its warm blue waters, powder-fine white sand and palm-fringed beach, Boracay, in the central Philippines, is widely regarded as having one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

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/ 13 August 2006

Major ash explosion feared at Philippine volcano

Mayon volcano in the Philippines could soon unleash a huge cloud of deadly gases and ash, experts warned on Sunday, as 40 000 people prepared for a second week in crowded evacuation centres. Four powerful ash explosions rocked the spectacular 2 460m peak on Saturday, covering nearby communities to the north-west with a light layer of dust.

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/ 9 August 2006

Nearly 40 000 flee erupting volcano

Rescuers on Wednesday raced against time to get stragglers away from the rumbling Philippine volcano Mayon, with nearly 40 000 people so far fleeing the danger zone. A two-day effort by the military and local government has seen 39 278 people safely evacuated from villages surrounding the mountain.

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/ 1 February 2006

Turning coconut waste into an environment-saver

Imagine turning a worthless waste material into an innovative, biodegradable product that protects the environment, promotes plant growth and gives jobs to poor farmers. Former agriculture college dean Justino Arboleda (56) has turned the lowly husk of the coconut fruit, the most ubiquitous plant in his native Philippines, into an award-winning product.