Philippines

10. Hood Class - Battle Cruiser; Great Britain

Known as the 'Mighty Hood', it was considered the greatest warship ever built, and throughout the 1920's and 30's went on world tours boasting its power and size.

But that boast would soon be shattered when World War II began. Hitler's navy had some of the most modern and sophisticated battleships. The Hood met her match in May of 1941 when she came up against the German Battleship Bismarck, and Heavy Battlecruiser Prinz Eugen.

It only took five salvos from Bismarck to pierce the Hood's deck armor. Within eight minutes the Hood sank and out of crew of 1418, only three men survived.

9. Deutschland Class - Pocket Battleship

The British dubbed Germany's Deutschland class the 'pocket battleship' because it was so small, fast and deadly.

The secret of the pocket battleships' speed and power was the innovative design of making the ship lighter.

By using diesel engines, instead of steam turbines, and an electrically welded hull, the Deutschland class was able to cruise over 12,500 miles, equal to half way around the world. It sent shivers of fear throughout the allied navies.

8. Essex Class - Aircraft Carrier

On March 17 1945, during an air strike against the Japanese Island of Honshu, one Essex class aircraft carrier - the USS Franklin came under attack.

As wave after wave of suicide pilots came in, the Franklin fought for its life. For over 12 hours the ship was a blazing furnace. 724 members of her crew were killed. But the Franklin was so well designed and built that she didn't sink.

In total, 24 Essex class were built - more than any other class of large carrier - and when peace came, the Essex carriers remained in service for another 30 years. No other class of aircraft carrier has served so long or so effectively

7. Bismarck Class - Battleship

Launched in February 1939, and known as Hitler's favorite ship, the German naval brass were itching to get the Bismarck into the fight. On May 19, 1941, they got their wish. The Bismarck went on her first war patrol in the north Atlantic.

Six days later, on May 25th, Bismarck sighted the British Navy's Battleship HMS Hood. Five salvos from the Bismarck's superior guns sent the Hood to the bottom of the ocean.

The Royal Navy wanted revenge for the Hood, and the order went out, 'Sink the Bismarck!'

For over three days the British fleet hunted and chased the Bismarck. Finally, on the morning of May 27th, with its steering smashed from torpedo bombers, the pride of the German Navy was cornered.

For over three hours the Bismarck slugged it out with the British fleet and at 10:39 a.m. she was sunk with over 2000 men lost.

6. North Carolina Class

On June 1, 1940, the first of the new North Carolina class battleships, the USS Washington, was launched. She and her sister ship, the USS North Carolina, were the first of the new generation American battleships that called for better torpedo and deck armor, longer endurance and gas protection.

Over the next three years there was hardly an action that the North Carolina class were not involved in.

5. Fletcher Class - Destroyer; United States

When one Fletcher class destroyer, the USS Johnston, was commissioned, her Captain made a speech to his crew that typified the destroyer man's creed.

"This is going to be a fighting ship. I intend to go in harms way, and anyone who doesn't want to go along had better get off right now."

By early 1943, the first five Fletcher class destroyers had arrived in the Pacific, their task was to target and smash the Japanese supply convoys.

Already the role of the Destroyer was changing. Once looked on as a defense for the capital ships, the new Fletchers were now being thrown into the furnace of battle.

4. Ticonderoga Class - Missile Cruiser; United States

Initially developed as a Cold War warrior in the 1970's as an answer to the Soviet arms race, the Ticonderoga class' first role was seen as a guided missile destroyer. But it was felt by the Navy brass that something bigger was needed, so Ticonderogas were upgraded to fast cruisers in 1980.

Known as the instigators of the completely 'computer controlled' ships, the Ticonderogas are at the center of today's digital battlefield and have seen service off the coast of Lebanon, Kuwait and Korea, acting in either a peace keeping or offensive roles.

3. Queen Elizabeth Class - Battleship; Great Britain

Launched in 1913, The Queen Elizabeth battleship was the first of a new design of fast battleships that were powered by oil rather than coal.

By early 1916, she was joined by her four sister ships - Barham, Malaya, Valiant and Warspite. Armed with eight 16-inch main guns, and sixteen 6-inch secondary, the Queen Elizabeth class were the most powerful British class warships in World War 1 .

2. Nimitz Class - Aircraft Carrier; United States

With the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, the threat of the cold war vanished and the Nimitz class carrier's role changed to one of peacekeeper throughout the world.

And its this ability to go anywhere in the world at a moments notice, and at a speed of 30 knots, that makes the Nimitz class invaluable to the US Navy. But what makes the Nimitz class unique is its two nuclear reactors that enables them to roam the world indefinitely.

1. Iowa Class - Fast Battleship; United States

Like a cat, the the Iowa class fast battleship seems to have many, many lives. Mothballed at the end of World War II, the Iowas were soon recalled for action in the Korean War .

Again mothballed, they were once more called for the Vietnam War . Almost 50 years after the first Iowa was launched, they were made ready for the cold war.

In 1991, the Iowas answered the call again - when they went into action during operation Desert Storm.

Ismael Mallari

Ismael Mallari or also known as I.V. mallari is one of the early Filipino Writers in English. More than anything else, he was a consummate essayist. In his The Filipino IN English: A Critical Study with Anthology of Representative Essays (1912-1941), Prof. Leopoldo Yabes of the University of the Philippines says: "While he (Mallari) could not be ranked among the abler critics of the older school, he was conceded by a number of informed persons to be the best writer on problems of Architecture and city planning. He wrote on Architecture with the understanding and skill of a truly artistic temperament." Another noted literature, Puro Santillan Castrence, has this to say "One of the country's most reliable essayists in English . . . Mallari's forte in his essays was in his use of simple words neatly and economically. He wrote poems, too . . ." From his hometown Malabon in Rizal province, Mallari went to the Philippine Normal School in Manila, then the University of Wisconsin (USA) for further studies in English, Education and Library Science. For his accomplishments, Mallari was included in the Pan-Pacific Who's Who and the Who's Who library Science.

Licensed dentists and members of good standing Philippine Dental Association, are exempted from payment of Mayor's Permit because the practice of Dentistry is an exercise of a profession and not a business concern.

(based on Certification issued by Clodualdo C. De Jesus, De Jesus and Associates Law Office on March 10, 2008 in Pasig City)

This is pursuant to the prevailing ruling of then Finance Secretary Edgardo D. Espiritu on December 16, 1999 Annex A, which states:

However, a person engaged in the practice of a profession requiring government examination such as a dentist, is, by express provision of the Local Government Code, exempt from this requirement. The code instead provides for a professional tax on professionals belonging to this class. Such professional who has paid the corresponding professional tax to the province where he practices his profession shall be entitled to practice his profession in any part of the Philippines without being subjected to any other national or local tax, licenses, or fee, including the Mayor's Permit or license fee, for the practice of such profession.

In a discussion in PDA forum, Dr. Joel C. Edroso, added, according to page 226 of the Local Government Code of 1991, annotated, 1st Edition:

Payment of the professional tax (PTR) herein will preclude imposition of any other tax or fee by any other local government unit for the exercise of one's profession.

SEC. 139. Professional Tax. - (b) Every person legally authorized to practice his profession shall pay the professional tax to the province where he practices his profession or where he maintains his principal office in case he practices his profession in several places: Provided, however, That such person who has paid the corresponding professional tax shall be entitled to practice his profession in any part of the Philippines without being subjected to any other national or local tax, license, or fee for the practice of such profession.

also, section 147 of RA 7160:

Section 147. Fees and Charges. - The municipality may impose and collect such reasonable fees and charges on business and occupation and, except as reserved to the province in Section 139 of this Code, on the practice of any profession or calling, commensurate with the cost of regulation, inspection and licensing before any person may engage in such business or occupation, or practice such profession or calling.

also sec 3, par (e) of RA 3019

Section 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

(e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.