24K Film

Source:

http://www.24kfilm.com/

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Watch the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Fk1n-ILoYAc

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24K is a Finalist in the full length feature category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition 2009. The Cinemalaya Festival opens on July 17, 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Watch 24K! Screenings for 24K are scheduled on:

July 19, Sunday at 6:15pm - MKP Hall

July 21, Tuesday at 12:45pm - Tanghalang Huseng Batute

July 22, Wednesday at 9:00pm - T. Nicanor Abelardo (Main theater)

July 23, Thursday at 6:15pm - T. Huseng Batute

July 24, Friday at 9:00pm - MKP Hall

July 25, Saturday at 12:45pm - T. Nicanor Abelardo (Main theater)

July 26, Sunday at 3:30pm - Little theater

Find out what being a “certified treasure hunter” is all about. Julio Diaz plays a middle-class treasure hunter who has been digging for Japanese treasure for years. He and his companions are in the final stage of their current site in the mountains of Suyo, Ilocos Sur, an area reputed as a Japanese stronghold during World War II. All the signs at their site indicate that they are certain to find treasure.

Procedures for recovered items

I received this offer from a buyer.

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Friday, June 26, 2009 2:23 PM

We are in _____. Our assayer must assay the product first to determine purity. Our assayer is well known and we will provide his credentials when you are ready. This is easily done just about anywhere of your choosing. We pay cash or deposit directly into your bank account if you are already set up at a bank. We have connections at (names of 3 banks mentioned) in _____ City and ______.

If safety is a concern, the best way to do a test buy is for you and your security team to bring one bar to the bank in a brief case and use the banks vault room for our meeting with our assayer. Immediately after the assay, you will be paid cash and provided a carring bag that can be protected by your security team.

We reccomend you take some cash and deposit the rest in multiple accounts in the bank using multiple members of your team. What we like to do is put all of the cash in a safe deposit box at the bank so when you arrive you can view the cash and count it if you like.

After viewing the cash, you can have the bar brought in so we can view and assay on the spot. This only takes 30 minutes, and you will be on your way. This test buy is simple and safe and we could then purchase as much as you would like to sell. We have the ability to purchase very large amounts weekly.

If you do not like comming to the bank and would rather do the assay in a hotel room, this can also be arranged, but we will have to bring our security team which would consist of atleast 3 people.

We are members of (______, a TH Org.) We can provide credentials when the time is appropriate.

I look forward to hearing from you,


(Buyer)

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This is my reply,

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:51 PM

Hi (Buyer), Still weighing other options. will let you know when the due time has come. Hibernation!! Ciao!

Gem 2/ Exp 4000

Here's another chat I have with the agent of GEM 2 and eXp 4000 complete with delivery cost to the Philippines.

Exp 4000 will cost more than a million pesos but not the GEM 2. This chat was done sometime in 2008 too.


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Agent: I SEND TO YOU THE PRICE

me: thanks. do you have GEM 2?

Agent: YOU NEED ONLY THE PRICES FOR GEMS

OK WAIT

Me: yes and pls include the cost offreight in case I want you to deliver that to the Philippines

Agent: 12000 $ USD WITH SHIPPING

Me: is this for GEM 2? how about pick up from ___?

Agent: BY DHL

Me: how about eXp 4000 both pick up from ___ and delivery to the Philippines?

Agent:: 3 DAYS YES 3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVED FROM YOU WIRE TRANSFER

Me: ok thanks. I will consult my partner. I will return to you witihn a couple of days.

Agent:: OK ANY TIME

Me: how about eXp 4000? pick up from _____ and delivery to the Philippines

Agent: eXp 4000 Basic model = 25300 $ USD

Agent: eXp 4000 Pro model = 42800 $ USD

Agent: with shipping to your country

Me: ok. so it's quite high for our operation may be we will consider the GEM 2only. thanks my friend. I will come back to you soon.

Me: thanks for the information.

Agent: ok bye

TM 808

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Here's the transcript of my chat with Kellyco Metal Detectors agent sometime in 2008. I was then planning to buy TM808.
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Me:
Hi. I am based in _____. I want to buy White's TM808. How much is the price including shipping?

______________________________________
Welcome to Kellyco Metal Detectors! Your request has been directed to the International Sales department. Please wait for one of our International Sales representatives to answer your call.

Your call has been accepted by operator Leilani. Currently in room: Leilani.
______________________________________

Leilani:
Hello

Leilani:
Thank you for contacting Kellyco.

Leilani:
One moment while I calculate shipping cost to _____...thanks'

Me:
ok

Leilani:
Shipping cost is $90.00 USD with USPS Express Mail. Delivery time is 5 to 7 business days.

Me:
is it delivered to my address or do i need to pick the item up

Me:
and how much is the total price including delivery

Leilani:
it is sent to the address you provide me...

Leilani:
the total amount to pay is as follows

Leilani:
TM 808- $699.95 + $90.00 USD = $789.95 usd

Leilani:
paypal would be with PAY PAL, Western Union or Bank transfer

Me:
ok i think the info is good enough. thank you very much i will try to think it over within a few days or so. i am not so sure of the customs requirements in ______. do i need any special papers in claiming the item?

Leilani:
ok..my email address is leilani@kellycodetectors.com

Leilani:
I would be glad to assist you with any questions or concerns

Me:
ok thank you in case of any further inquiry i will just send you an email. Bye

Leilani:
thank you

Leilani:
good bye

It's not easy

The determination

Rock Signs

How about this? Giant Turtle

The Yellow Rays

Down Below at 50 Feet

Finally we have reached the "target" at approx. 50 ft. below surface. We have glimpsed on the portion of the "white concrete" rock.

This narrative will be paused for a while for obvious reason. We shall resume after we have some significant recovery/retrieval worth sharing with other fellow THunters.

We can be reached at: thu_ong@yahoo.com.






















As the dewatering was on progress.























Finally as the white concrete was beginning to be exposed out of the decreasing level of water.

Deep Expectation

Our digging team is continuous in our search for a samll portion of the fabled YTH in our place. We are following the path taken by the previous THunters that have reached the "white marble" cement slab but were not able to break open the concrete vault.























We have reached the bottom of the bamboo fences and gone much more deeper but there are a lot of positive indications that we shall reach concrete vault bsed on our rate of excavation within the next few days.























The water well shown on the above picture was done by the previous THunters as shown by the fresh marks of cutting on the soil. From this depth, it's approximately another 6 to 8 feet to reach the marble slab.

























The blue PVC pipe is another confirmation of the account of one of the members of the THunters that have operated on the site previously. On our debriefing, he told us that once we have reached the "water well", we should encounter the blue 1-1/2" PVC pipe which they have previously used for their dewatering works. And according to him, the bottom of the pit, slightly lower than the depth of the concrete slab was on the end of the pipe.

Upon reaching this point, one member of our present team had pulled out the pipe and measured the length of the PVC pipe. Again another confirmation to the statement of the previous diggers, it's smack to 6 ft.

THe members of our team were so excited on the latest development that we are now working last Sunday.

There are only two things that could stop the operation every now and then:
RAIN - which can hamper the actual excavation works. We ususally stop all digging and excavation works during rainy days
POWER OUTAGE - which automatically shuts off our power supply for the submersible pump and lighting lapms in the dig area.

With lots of prayers and aspirations, we are still hoping for the best results within this year's TH Season.

Downward Quest

The team have finally resumed the search down.

We are working on a dome like area. At the bottom we are using plywood box caisson with wooden framing to constraint the excavation area. This way, we can go down faster too.

With this only one man is required to work inside. His buddy would pile up and fill the bag with sand and to be stock piled by the other two men. The team works on a buddy system although there is only one man on the top of the dig who handles the winch and acts as the look out and surface support.

The excavated sand is being filled up in the bags and being stock piled on top of the box for a while. The pile bags filled with sand act as weight that will help sink the wooden box as the bottom is being excavated.

Then the accumulated sand bags are being transferred at the higher stocking area at the back of the retaining bamboo fences. This way, and unlike the previous operation last year, there is no need to bring the excavated sand to the top of the dig. Rather it is being piled up within the working area in the bottom of the dig to augment the retention of sand inside and in return to prevent the chances of further bar down. The most important consolation is lesser work for the members of the digging team.

Another interesting observation, is that once water dries inside the wooden box, there was a sudden surge of water like bubbling that penetrates from the surrounding ground/sand. The previous theory that there is a natural underground water source that is passing through our area of excavation may not be the real situation.

For all we know the Japs always included in their sites man-made water traps which they usually sourced from near-by bodies of water. A small stream in our case.

The team will try to locate the source of the water trap from a upstream side of the stream which was theorized to be within the vicinity of the waterfall.

Indeed, searching for the eluded YTh is never an-easy task.

We, nevertheless, have still our high hopes that this year, will be the year!

Reinforcing the retaining fences

We have further reinforced the bottom of the dig with sand bags. We have lined up the bags at the back of the bamboo retianing fences directly facing the exposed mouth/entry of the tunnel using bamboo and empty polythelense sacks filled with volcanic sand from inside the bamboo fences.

Last Year's Dig

Last year just before we stopped the operation before the rainy days recess, we have sorted out that due to the increased volume of water, what we have reached may be covered with sand silt and erosion once more.

So to minimize the erosion and bar down, we have decided to install bamboo retaining fences to minimize the volume of sand back into our dig.
















Our dig was then approx. 44 ft MOL from the surface and the target concrete slab was then approch. within reach - meaning within 8- 10 ft. But then, the dewatering operation lasted for more than five hours per days which had been a burden to the operational cost and budget. So we have decided to call it off for theseason and be back on the next TH Season.


Directly on the bottom of the dig were to logs arranged west to east. meaning with the bigger diamter running from the west end to the east direction.
























We have to by-passed the said log and proceed downward as instructed by the people who have previously reached the concrete slab but were not give the oppurtunity to break it.

They described to us that the concrete slab was like a white marble with an engraved buddha figure on the upper right corner meaning with its top on the northeast corner of the slab. The "marble slab" according to them was so hard to break that the sledge hammer that they were using just bounced off to the surface of the slab. They were not able to break the slab.

I hope that this is our chance to prove that we are deserving to break and open up the concrete slab.

Tunnel Branch Revealed

The tail of the monsoon signals the start of the TH season in the Philippines. A lot of enthusiasts are waiting for the beginning of summer season which means lesser water to pump out from the digs and TH sites.

Just like anybody else with a site to explore, we have waited for the end of the rainy season which,usually runs from the mnoth of May until the end of January the following year. It varies from region to region.

For TH operations, rainy seasons mean more headache for the water trap since there will be more water to handle, and more dangerous due to a higher chance of bar down and collapse of the tunnels, digs, caves, etc. This affects everyone including the highly-financed operation.

On our site, we were expecting a good battle with the dewatering of our dig since we had experienced the same scenario last year when we started operating our site.

But to our surprise and amazement, the usual five hours daily dewatering had been reduced to two hours only. And bigger is our surprise since when water was cleared on the bottom of our dig, two obvious holes have emerged.





















There was a tunnel revealed on the eastern side of the dig and an air vent on the western side of the wall.




















Both holes are approximately located opposite each other at 36 ft below the surface. At the bottom of the tunnel, is sign of waterpaths. Although the bottom of the tunnel lied below the surface of the water inside the dig during rainy days but surely it lies now above the water level before our dewatering as shown on the water marks on our retaining bamboo fence at the bottom of the dig.

The Water is Gone

During the onset of the rainy days last year, we had to stop the excavation in our dig. This is the usual practice for all TH operations in the Philippines.

Our case was even more imperative to stop since we were using gasoline-driven generator to run our 2-HP submersible pump. The cost of the gas alone of P1000 a day in addition to other operational expenses was a considerable factor in stopping the seasonal TH operation.

Before we resumed this year's operation, we have arranged for a thicker cable. Now, the 5KW AVR to stabilize voltage and current supply for our pump was working well.

Since our site is approx. 400m away from the nearest electrical post, the laying of electrical cable had cost us another P10,000. But then, this is a bargain compared to the cost of gasoline fuel for the generator. Added to the fact that the Honda wgenerator was only loaned to me by a Chinese friend free of charge. And last year, I had to return to him the generator since he was using it as stand-by unit in his house during power outages from the local electric power company.

So after the prepartory works, we have started the pumping of water from our dig. and to our great relief, the level of the water in the pit had substantially decreased. The usual pumping out operation that used to run for five (5) hours took us only two (2) hours this time.



















This is a very considerable plus to our operation since last year when we have to run the pump at 5:00 AM and be able to start the work inside the pit at 10:00 AM only. with the lowered water level, we could set the dewatering at 5:00AM and start the work at 7:00AM.

There were still other surprising revelation under our pit which I shall describe on my next blog entry.

Ciao!

Resumption of Operation

After an almost a year of suspension of operation, we are ready to resume the work on our site.

We have organized for a team of five. The task given them were:
1. to repair the perimeter bamboo fences,
2. repair the working platform,
3. repair the retaining fences on the bottom of the dig,
4. prepare the plywood boxes and
5. to push through for the excavation to reach the concrete flooring at approx 56 ft. below surface.

Actually, we have prepared to work with the same volume of water we have encountered last year. That is pumping out daily a huge volume of water using 2-HP submersible pump working continuously for five hours.

Pumping out of water usually started at 05:00 AM and the actual work could commence only at 10:00 in the morning. This set up had caused disturbance since running the pump on generator caused an alarming noise in the surrounding areas of the farm. The semi-discreet nature of the operation was exposed. Farm folks started to ask question on the on-going activities. This operation cost PhP1000 per day on gasoline expenses on generator fuel.

This considerable cost was finally solved by changing the electrical cable serving the farm into suitable size so as not to create a voltage drop. The pump would now be running on electricity thus eliminating two obstructions: the noise and the cost.

With lots of prayers and hope we have started the operation.

Business partner brains behind attack – Korean (2007

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=75008


Cebu Daily News
First Posted 06:37pm (Mla time) 07/05/2007

Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice

CEBU, Philippines--A Korean national is suspected to be the mastermind behind the shooting attack of another Korean national and his Filipina friend last June 25.

Insp. Mario Monilar, Homicide Section chief, said the victim, Taechol Park of South Korean, told investigators that his Korean business partner was behind the assault.

Park together with Bona Binetez and three other friends were walking at the corner of F. Cabahug and Tres Borces Streets when two men on a motorcycle shot them.

Park and Binetez, who were wounded, survived the attack.

Both Koreans were into the treasure hunting business in Cagayan.

Park said his business partner got angry at him when he demanded that his partner pay him the money his partner cheated from him.

Police would not name the suspects until charges would be filed against them later this week.

They however released a cartographic sketch of the gunman.

Correspondent Chito O. Aragon

They were looking for gold in cemetery' - (2003)

source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2003/November/25/topstory5.htm

BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Negros Occidental police director Vicente Ponteras yesterday said there is no indication yet that a complaint will be filed against a priest and his companions allegedly for digging for "gold bars" at the Catholic cemetery of Ilog, Negros Occidental.

If the complainants execute sworn affidavits, we will immediately act on it, Ponteras said.

Inspector Romeo Leyte, Ilog police chief, said Fr. Arman Onion, parish priest of La Carlota City, and his three companions said to be treasure hunters, initiated the digging at the Ilog cemetery on Tuesday without securing a permit, either from the municipal government of Ilog or the Diocese of Kabankalan.

The digging was observed by the Ilog police to has started at the tomb of Coscolluela, which is also the burial ground of Teodora Buro, and believed dated either 1825 or 1925.

The tomb was made of "tisa" or bricks.

Onion, in an interview with ABS-CBN, admitted that they had not sought permission from the owners of the tomb. But he denied allegations that they have retrieved gold bars from the tomb.

'GOLD BARS' SOUGHT

Fr. Atillano Antenero, parish priest of Ilog, while insisting that he has nothing to do with the treasure hunting activities, admitted, however, that Onion came to him three weeks ago and told him that there are "gold bars" in the tomb.

Antenero said he told Onion that the digging will not be allowed, without authority from the bishop of Kabankalan.

Leyte had said earlier that Onion had told him that their digging for treasure at the cemetery, had been approved by Antenero.

Witnesses claimed that Antenero had been seen in the digging area.

DIOCESE ORDERS STOP

Antenero had sought the assistance of Ilog policemen to stop the group of Onion from further continuing the digging because of an order from the Kabankalan Diocese.

Onion said he only facilitated the request for the digging by seeking verbal permission from Antenero. The parish priest of La Carlota, however, also insisted that he was not involved in the treasure hunting activities.

He added that they did not think of asking permission since the tomb was "masyado na ka daan (very old)".

Ilog Councilor Alvaro Valdesis said he could not confirm if any treasure had, indeed, taken from the tomb, although he received reports from town residents that sacks, containing unknown items, had been brought out from the area.

The digging reportedly started Nov. 12 and ended the next day on order of the Kabankalan Diocese.

REQUESTS TURNED DOWN

Valdesis said the treasure hunters had approached several times the predecessors of Antenero, Fathers Cadungon and Nacional, seeking permission to dig in the area but had repeatedly been turned down by the two priests.

Nacional was even offered a share of whatever treasure is recovered from the place, Valdesis said.

If they have nothing to hide, why bar people from entering the digging area? he asked.

Valdesis also said that the group of Onion was equipped with detector and a map of the location of the alleged treasure.*GPB