New law punishes hacking, online libel, Internet child porn

New law punishes hacking, online libel, Internet child porn | SciTech | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere:

Philippine authorities just got more teeth against computer-related offenses such as hacking, child pornography, and even online libel, after President Aquino signed the Cybercrime Prevention law.

Defense lawyers have used the absence of a law to argue against punishing hackers and bloggers who attack the reputations of others. Turning frequent acts on the Internet into crimes is expected to make potential violators think before they click.

But at least one lawmaker has already warned that the law is a potential threat to Internet freedom and can be used to silence criticism on the web.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino said he opposed the inclusion of online libel as one of the punishable acts, decrying the law as "a step backward in our long-term aim of decriminalizing libel.”

Palatino cited Senator Tito Sotto’s recent statement that the new law may be used to penalize those who have attacked him online. Sotto has been castigated on social media and blogs for a series of speeches that copied from the blogs and speeches of others.

“Under this law, politicians can easily file charges against ‘hostile and combative’ critics and witnesses by claiming that virtual protesters have threatened their life and property. Censorship will lead to repression once an activist or reform advocate has been labeled a cybercriminal,” Palatino said.

He added that complaints of online libel will distract law enforcers from stopping the more serious crimes of cyber porn, hacking, and credit card fraud.

“Woe to the National Bureau of Investigation agent and the Department of Justice prosecutor who will be swamped with cybercrime cases filed by showbiz actors, politicians, business tycoons, and other untouchables who want to punish their online critics. Instead of dealing with cyberwarfare, our agents will be investigating online libel,” Palatino said.

"The inclusion of cyberthreat and cyberdefamation in the list of dangerous cybercrimes would fundamentally affect and alter the implementation of the law,” he added.

Spamming also banned
The new law signed by Aquino on September 12 as Republic Act 10175 also punishes cybersquatting and identity theft, according to the text of the law posted on the Official Gazette website on Saturday.
Spamming or unsolicited commercial communication is also among the offenses covered by the new law.
  • Illegal access to a computer system
  • Illegal interception of data
  • Data interference, including intentional alteration or damaging of data
  • System interference, including damaging or altering computer data or programs as well as the use of viruses
  • Misuse of devices
  • Use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution or making available without right of malware, passwords or codes
  • Cybersquatting
  • Computer-related forgery
  • Computer-related draud
  • Computer-related identity theft
  • Cybersex
  • Child pornography
  • Unsolicited commercial communication
Those convicted of violating the law face a punishment of prision mayor or a fine of at least P200,000, or both.
Those convicted of misusing devices may face prision mayor and/or a fine of P500,000.
But if the offense is committed against a critical infrastructure, the penalty is reclusion temporal and/or a fine of at least P500,000.
On the other hand, those found guilty of child pornography will be meted a punishment one degree higher than those in the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.
Also, the law mandates the creation of an Office of Cybercrime within the Department of Justice, the central authority in all matters related to international matters including extradition.
Also to be created is an inter-agency Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President.
It will have the executive director of the ICT Office under the Department of Science and Technology as chairman; the director of the National Bureau of Investigation as vice-chairman; and the Chief of the Philippine National Police and heads of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime and one representative from the private sector and academe as members.
The CICC will have a secretariat manned by selected existing personnel and representatives from participating agencies.
A budget of P50 million will be appropriated annually for the implementation of the law.
Online libel
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte acknowledged that online libel will be a subject of debate among lawyers.
“We will leave it to the other lawyers to determine ang aktong napapasailalim sa libel na sinasabi nila (We will leave it to the other lawyers to determine what constitutes online libel),” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
On the other hand, Valte said the bodies to be created by the new law may still be different from a Department of Information and Communications Technology being proposed by Sen. Edgardo Angara.
“Ang DICT mas malawak ang mandate, everything related to ICT (The DICT may have a wider mandate, it may cover everything related to ICT),” she said. — with Gian C. Geronimo, TJD/HS, GMA News


Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery, Haifa, Israel

My First day of Discovering Israel

It's a wonderful tour I had with my boss. What makes me curious the most is, when he's very eager to take me to Stella Maris Church, w/c he said he's never been there also. He even didn't know where it is, coz obviously its a Catholic Church and my boss is a Jewish Religious. He said I'm curious what is Stella Maris, it's been always a talk of the town in Haifa,so let's discover it. It takes some half hours before we find it, oh we almost in the car when He said, look wait, let's go inside, I didn't expect that coz my boss doesn't want to be there inside, as a respect he removed his KIPPA before coming inside of Stella Maris. Wowww!!! I'm speechless when I saw how beautiful, amazing art inside. It's awesome, the ceiling, the walls, the floors and everything!!!

History


In the 12th century, during the Crusader occupation of the region, groups of religious hermits began to inhabit the caves of this area in imitation of Elijah the Prophet.
Within a century, these monastic hermits were organized into the Carmelite order and the Carmelite order spread throughout Europe.
While the Carmelite order's flourished in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, its founders on Mount Carmel were exiled at the time of the Mamluk conquest in 1291 and did not return until the 18th century. Construction of the present monastery and basilica was begun in 1836.
An earlier monastery complex on this site served as a hospital for Napoleon's soldiers during his unsuccessful siege of Acre (Akko) in 1799. Many abandoned French soldiers who were slaughtered by the Turks after Napoleon had retreated.
Dome of the Stella Maris 
Photo by: Ran Levi
Views of the exterior. Photos © Bettina & Dominique Zygmont.
Exterior walls. Photo Creative Commons License Noa Schek
Monument to fallen French soldiers. Photo Creative Commons License vad levin.
The Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery in Haifa, Israel, is a 19th-century monastery located on the slopes of Mount Carmel. The site can be reached by cable car or on foot.

What to See


Situated across the street from the Old Lighthouse, with a magnificent view of the sea, the entire ensemble of buildings, including the Lighthouse, is known as "Stella Maris."
The Stella Maris church is a beautiful structure, with Italian marble so brightly and vividly patterned that visitors sometimes think the walls have been painted.
Colorful paintings on the dome, done by Brother Luigi Poggi (1924-28), depict episodes from the Old Testament, the most dramatic being the scene of Elijah swept up in a chariot of fire. The statue of the Virgin Mary, carved from cedar of Lebanon, is also notable.
The cave situated below the altar, which you can walk down into, is "Elijah's Cave," where the Old Testament prophet is believed to have lived. Many little votive candles burn on the altar above the cave, each representing a Carmelite community in another country (the United States has its candle up on the left).
In the rooms to the right of the entryway, there is a charming nativity scene, a museum with artifacts from the Byzantine church that once stood on this site, and a small souvenir shop.
One of the monks will gladly give you a free pamphlet with information about the history of the site and the Carmelite order dating back to the arrival of the crusaders on this mountain in the late 12th century. They will answer any questions you may have, and guide you to the various interesting details of the church.
The pyramid in front of the church is a memorial to the French soldiers who died here after Napoleon's retreat. It bears the inscription "How are the mighty fallen in battle," from King David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan.
Stella Maris, Haifa, Israel

Me at Stella Maris Church


Quick Facts
Address:Stella Maris Rd., Haifa, Israel
Location:Slopes of Mount Carmel
Phone:04/833-7758
Bus:25, 26, or 31
Hours:English masses Mon-Sat 6:30am; Sun 7 and 9am. Modest dress required. Church open daily 6:30am-1:30pm and 3-6pm
Cost:Free
Article Sources
  1. Frommer's Online-Only Guides: Haifa
  2. Eyewitness Travel Guide to Jerusalem & the Holy Land
  3. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/haifa-stella-maris-carmelite-monastery.htm
  4. Flicker.com

The Christmas Shoes



The Christmas Shoes lyrics

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Repeat Chorus

I swear


I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
You can be sure I know my part
Cause I stand beside you through the years
You'll only cry those happy tears
And though I make mistakes
I'll never break your heart

Chorus
And I swear by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side I'll be there
For better or worse
Till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear

I'll give you every thing I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the wall
And when (and when) just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
Cause as the time turns the page
My love won't age at all

And I swear (I swear) by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)

For better or worse
Till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear

And I swear (I swear) by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)

For better or worse (better or worse)
Till death do us part I'll love you
With every single beat of my heart
I swear I swear I swear