Rare Lunar Eclipse

The Total Lunar Eclipse which was happened last December 10, 2011 was truly amazing. It was my first time to see the total lunar eclipse and I was truly star-struck with its incredible red colour.

Lunar Eclipse can occur only when the Earth, sun and the full moon are aligned so that the moon crosses through Earth’s shadow.

In Total Lunar Eclipse, the moon goes deep reddish instead of going completely dark.

Partial Lunar Eclipse turns the moon into dark grey.

“As the entire moon passes through the Earth’s shadow cast by the sun in space, sunlight scattering off our planet’s dusty atmosphere and subsequently reflecting off the surface of the moon will make it appear to change colour,” Samra said.

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Lt. Col. Pacquiao ready for a new battle

By: abs-cbnNEWS.com 

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao is now officially a lieutenant colonel in the Reserve Force of the Philippine Army, after being donned the rank in a ceremony Monday morning in Fort Bonifacio.

Major General Emmanuel Bautista, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, and Brigadier General Alex Albano formally gave Pacquiao a shoulder board bearing his new rank.

In a prepared speech, Pacquiao said he plans to take his new responsibilities as a member of the reserve officer corps of the Philippine Army seriously.

"I want to take my role and responsibility to higher ground, to compensate for the discomfort I probably caused the Philippine Army family when some personalities questioned my commissionship as lieutenant colonel," Pacquiao said.

"Obviously, I am not trained for military operations, but it should be emphasized that reservists, by their true nature, are civilian provisional first and military personnel second," he added.

Pacquiao said, he never sought to be promoted to lieutenant colonel.

As a new lieutenant colonel, Pacquiao also became the executive officer of the Sarangani 1st Early Reserve Battalion.

His role in the reserve forces will be non-combat, however. Instead, Pacquiao will be in charge when there are relief operations or disaster management operations.

Pacquiao earned the lieutenant colonel rank in the Reserve Force last September 21, jumping five ranks from his previous rank of master sergeant.

His commissionship was questioned by several quarters, with defense and security expert Dr. Clarita Carlos saying that Pacquiao's honorary degree and status as a world boxing champion was not enough to earn him the rank as a commissioned officer in the Philippine Army.

Maj. Gen. Bautista defended Pacquiao's new rank, however, citing the provisions of Section 44 of Republic Act 7077, which provides that elected officials and presidential appointees may be commissioned into the Reserve Force.

Asked to comment on the criticisms, Pacquiao said, "Siguro yung mga nagku-question, hindi masyadong nakakaintindi. Intindihin na lang natin."

Pacquiao promised the Philippine Army that he will continue "to win my few more fights and bring honor to our country."

"Should you need legislative support, my congressman's office will be there to help you," he added.

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Cotto vs. Pacquiao remach

BY abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward believes Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will have a difficult time against Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto, should they ever have a rematch.

Pacquiao defeated Cotto in their 2009 fight, knocking him down in the third and fourth rounds. The referee stopped the fight in the final round, awarding Pacquiao a technical knockout (TKO) victory.

Cotto is coming off a dominant victory over nemesis Antonio Margarito, and he believes he can defeat Pacquiao in a rematch.

Steward did not say outright that Cotto can defeat Pacquiao, but said the Puerto Rican has "a good chance."

"(Cotto) is boxing better and not keeping his head down so much," Steward said in aninterview with Examiner.com. "Now that he's not having to kill himself to make weight, if they fought at the proper weight, about 150 or more, I think he has a good chance."

"I think it would be a rough fight... It would be a tough fight for Manny," he added.

Steward, who trained Hall of Fame fighter Thomas Hearns, also believes that Cotto's future in boxing "looks very good" after putting together three impressive performances.

"I think he's had three good victories of some recognizable names, and in those fights, he's almost lost no rounds," Steward said. "The future looks very good for Miguel."

Top Rank chief executive officer Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, has not made any indications that he is considering a rematch between the fighters.

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