Bong's Corner

TULLY’S COFFEE is now in town!

2011-11-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

Tully’s Coffee recently hosted a sneak preview
to their first handcrafted coffee shop in the Philippines at McKinley Park
Residences on 31st Avenue, Bonifacio Global City. Leading the ceremonial opening of a gigantic
coffee sack were Tully’s Coffee
President and CEO, Scott Pearson and AgriNurture
Inc. (Master Licensee of Tully’s
Coffee in the Philippines) President
and CEO, Antonio L. Tiu who were joined by esteemed guests, friends and
family to a coffee toast revealing Tully’s first shop.
Established in 1992 in Seattle, Washington by
Tom “Tully” O’Keefe, Tully’s Coffee is known for handcrafted and small-batch
roasted coffee from the Pacific Northwest.
Greatly valued for providing a comfortable coffee shop experience,
Tully’s has created a selection of authentic handcrafted coffee-based
specialties as Intense Dark Mocha, made
with premium Ghirardelli dark chocolate, the Espresso Bellaccino, a cold
blended beverage made with freshly drawn shots of Tully’s espresso, the Mocha
Gourmet Shake, combining the indulgence
of Ghirardelli chocolate and Tully’s signature ice cream, and Affogato, a fresh shot of espresso poured over Tully’s signature ice cream.
With several coffee players in the United
States, Tully’s stands out through a unique
roasting technique, producing a smoother and deep-roasted coffee flavour
profile. Their warm & engaging baristas are truly passionate about delivering
the best handcrafted coffee shop experience for customers within Tully’s inviting community store environment. These, along with a strong commitment to the health and well-being of children in
communities where their shops operate, has seen the company grow to over 180
stores in the United States by 2010, with established presence in Asia through over
300 stores in Japan, and several outlets in Korea, Singapore and now the
Philippines.
Tully’s
Coffee at McKinley Park Residences is the first of several shops to be opened
under The Big Chill, Inc. (BCI), AgriNurture’s retail food & beverage subsidiary. BCI also operates The Big Chill and Fresh Bar chain of premium fruit shakes &
healthy snacks, C’ Verde, a
vegetarian quick-service restaurant concept, Superfresh, a line of fresh fruit shakes and desserts, and Canecoctions, fresh fruit shakes made with
all natural, pressed sugarcane juice.

please sign this petition against Libya's Qaddafi

2011-02-22T23:35:00.000-08:00

please click this link http://www.avaaz.org/en/libya_stop_the_crackdown/97.php?cl_tta_sign=5e167b1fb6230b96e6282330f71dfdd7

MAY 10 POLLS: NOT JUST SYSTEM GLITCH, BUT POLICY FAILURE

2010-10-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

The right to public information suffered with Comelec’s lack of
transparency. The poll body failed – and continues to fail – to meet the
transparency requirements of the election system by its intransigent and
unexplained refusal to deny citizens’ groups access to vital election
documents. Its lack of transparency left majority of the electorate
misinformed and uninformed, duped by the illusion about automated election
modernizing democracy and weeding out fraud.

By the Policy Study, Publication, and Advocacy
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
October 9, 2010

The advocacy for credible elections in the Philippines has been daunting –
but also rewarding. One of the biggest hurdles in this advocacy is
engaging the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the country’s prime
election manager, so as to make sure that its claim of making the recent
automated election transparent, credible, and accurate works. It is the
least that can be done to ensure that the people’s sovereign will is
expressed in a country that is still struggling to make real democracy
work.

Because a modern albeit untested technology was being adopted for the May
10, 2010 election, an inevitable clash between those who aimed to enforce
it by all means based on the doctrine that the Philippines should catch up
with “modernization” and those who believe that modernizing demands
caution, rigorous testing, simulations, well-grounded certification, and a
highly-developed political culture. The new election law, RA 9369, looks
fair - and also stringent. With its technical provisions having been
proposed by IT scientists, practitioners, and tested poll watchers the law
is strong on the need for pilot tests; high standards of accuracy,
reliability, security, and transparency; and, more important, extensive
voter education and training by all election managers, inspectors, and
technicians.

As a policy research institution, CenPEG monitored the 2010 automated
election system’s implementation from the time it was “pilot tested” in
the August 2008 Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) automated
polls to its final launch last May 2010 where 17,000 elective positions,
including the presidency, were contested by about 85,000 candidates in
synchronized national and local elections. CenPEG’s election-day
monitoring reports bared widespread incidence of technical glitches,
voting machine breakdowns, transmission failures, back-up batteries
overheating, non-performing satellite transceivers, millions of voters
queuing from 3-9 hours to vote, and other irregularities. To validate the
incidence reports, researchers farmed out to the provinces to conduct case
studies and interview key informants from the local Comelec, poll
inspectors, hired IT technicians, poll watchers, voters, candidates, and
officials from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Accounts
of election glitches were reconstructed; official papers, documents, and
evidences were collected for analysis.

Information withheld

Research has a strategic value for national development and public
affairs. It seeks out facts; facts are sourced through various means. When
information is being withheld by official sources, questions are left
unanswered and truth is compromised. In the course of doing research,
CenPEG came face-to-face with top Comelec officials and advisers where
simple technical questions elicited no response or mere quizzical stares,
and critical inquiries are dismissed as untimely or premature. Research
curiosity turned into inquisitiveness, and criticalness into persistence
in unearthing more facts. But Comelec behavior turned from stonewalling to
labeling and agitated anger. Intolerant of contrary views and unable to
produce information – such as the vital election source code which the law
says should be reviewed by independent groups – Comelec officials also
became more evasive and stalling. Illusions replaced transparency as
voters and media were told to “trust the machine” or, failing so, to leave
fate to God once an “unforeseen election disaster” strikes. The automated
election was touted as a “dream poll” and a medium for “modernizing
democracy” – all-too familiar marketing tools.

One could detect a myopic belief that importing a voting machine is
already modernization when modernization itself is a process of scientific
development and a high socio-political culture that is able to produce
indigenous modern technology. Worse, the automated system was equated with
clean elections when, in fact, regardless of automation traditional fraud
in a country like the Philippines has the power to hijack the voter’s
sovereign will – and the country’s future. Who controls the machines,
controls the vote. Indeed it was disturbing to hear a top Comelec official
who, in trying to allay fears of a source code manipulation, went on to
prescribe an “anti-virus” antidote.

Fortunately, in many instances, CenPEG received information from
unofficial sources, high and low – slipped from under the door, from
anonymous informants, emails, and courier.

Precisely due to ill-preparedness, the failure to meet deadlines such as
machine manufacturing, ballot printing, and voter education redounded to
cutting corners and foregoing other critical requirements. Critical
security, transparency, and verifiability features that would have
guaranteed some credibility and accuracy to election results were either
ignored or removed. Results of failed or inadequate mock elections and
field tests with a clear warning that Smartmatic, the technology provider,
had a lot of catching up were all but ignored. By the time the disastrous
final testing and sealing (FTS) of the machines happened on May 3, time
was slipping away as the countdown to election day was drawing to a close.

In the end, the major structural flaws were disturbing, among them: The
required change in management was wanting as shown in the failure to make
implementation compliant with the law; in the lack of systematic data on
the availability of infrastructures that will support poll automation
(power supply, road and water networks, telecommunication connectivity of
the voting centers); poor training extended to members of the Board of
Election (BEI) inspectors; no effective system in crowd control under the
precinct clustering; and lack of competent IT technicians (even non-ITs
were hired indiscriminately).

CenPEG report

In the synopsis of its final report which it presented in a post-election
summit (PES) last Oct. 5 (dubbed October PES) organized by AES Watch,
CenPEG revealed: There was a high incidence of technical hitches,
blunders, voting procedural errors, and other operational failures
throughout the country. These can be attributed to the defective automated
system adopted by Comelec - the lack of safeguards, security measures, as
well as timely and effective continuity/contingency measures (software,
hardware, technologies, and other system components) that proved damaging
to the accuracy, security, and reliability of election returns. Comelec’s
seeming fixation for “speed” ran the risks of removing vital mechanisms,
short-cutting procedures, glossing over voter’s rights and the principle
of “secret voting, public counting” and, inevitably, bypassing strict
constitutional and legal requirements. Stripped of its vital organs, the
automated election system (AES) that was harnessed for the May 10 polls
was not only vulnerable to various glitches and management failures but
also favorable for electronic cheating including possible pre-loading of
election results. (Read “The CenPEG Report on the Many 10, 2010 Automated
Elections: A Synopsis,” www.eu-cenpeg.com and www.cenpeg.org)

Indeed, several of the 100 election protests filed with Comelec so far
involved alleged electronic cheating such as switching of CF cards,
unexplained sudden stoppage of transmissions, ballot pre-shading, and
other reasons. The report also dared Comelec to explain why it was showing
“fast” election results at its national canvassing monitors when delays,
interruptions, and glitches were happening in many clustered precincts
nationwide.

The challenge of establishing solid proofs and empirical data to verify
automated cheating – including a possible pre-loading - has been impeded
by the national poll body’s unexplained refusal to disclose vital election
documents – all 21 of them – that were long requested by CenPEG and other
citizens’ groups. The disclosure of these documents should help validate
Comelec’s claims of election “success” and dispel increasing allegations
of electronic rigging. However, the more intransigent Comelec is in
refusing to make this public information available the stronger public
concerns there will be that the poll body is hiding something.

Accountability and policy of exclusion

Under the circumstances, Comelec should be made accountable for making
decisions that are inconsistent with the RA 9369 requirements involving
“the use of an automated election system that will ensure the secrecy and
sanctity of the ballot and all election, consolidation and transmission
documents in order that the process shall be transparent and credible and
that the results shall be fast, accurate and reflective of the genuine
will of the people.” The poll body also failed to adopt “the most suitable
technology of demonstrated capability taking into account the situation
prevailing in the area and the funds available for the purpose."

The procurement law and RA 9369 should be upheld to test Comelec’s
accountability with regard to the still-questionable contract with the
foreign consortium Smartmatic; on the real ownership of the vital source
code, programs, and systems; the absence of public bidding and other
requirements in other transactions (logistics, voter education, secrecy
folders, UV scanners, etc.). Comelec should explain why it chose to
outsource the election automation when the Constitution and RA 9369
explicitly provide for the use of Filipino science and technology and the
adoption of a technology appropriate for the country’s “actual
conditions.” Was the country’s sovereignty compromised when Comelec
virtually abdicated its responsibility as election manager in favor of a
foreign company? Were the voters’ sovereign will expressed freely in the
absence of features that guarantee secret voting and public counting,
verifiability, and auditability – not to mention the fact that election
results may have been tainted by the absence of accuracy and security
safeguards?

Moreover, the right to public information suffered with Comelec’s lack of
transparency. The poll body failed – and continues to fail – to meet the
transparency requirements of the election system by its intransigent and
unexplained refusal to deny citizens’ groups access to vital election
documents. Its lack of transparency left majority of the electorate
misinformed and uninformed, duped by the illusion about automated election
modernizing democracy and weeding out fraud.

To quote the president of TI-Philippines, Judge Dolores Espanol, until
CenPEG and AES Watch publicized their appraisal of what happened on
election day the truth about the automated election system dysfunction was
hidden by Comelec from the public. “The Comelec has been the most
un-transparent in the whole election exercise by not disclosing vital
election documents,” she said. Some observers have described this lack of
transparency as a “criminal act.”

Aggravating this lack of transparency is a policy of exclusion maintained
against critics from all walks of life including ITs, academics, poll
watchdogs, and people’s organizations. Such policy of exclusion only
exposed Comelec’s closed-door policy against public engagement that is
contrary to the very Constitution the poll body promised to uphold – that
governance is a partnership between the state and “civil society”, of all
stakeholders.

Nevertheless, the battle for the election source code scored a victory
when, on Sept. 21, the Supreme Court (SC) in its ruling on CenPEG’s
petition for mandamus directed the Comelec to release the source code for
independent review by the petitioner and other independent parties. David
A. Wagner, the principal investigator of the source code review for
California and computer science professor at the University of
California-Berkeley, congratulated CenPEG for the victory but asserted, as
the SC decision says, that its release should be “unrestricted.”

The SC’s favorable ruling on the source code review is a breakthrough -
the first for a country in the whole world. On this case, the high court’s
action on CenPEG's request for mandamus is a distinct service to the
Filipino people's quest for a democratic and credible election.

And if there is anything positive about the whole exercise it is that it
forced millions of people, including teachers, voters, citizens groups,
and poll watchers to intervene and push through with the election.

Reference:

The Board of Editors
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
3F CSWCD Bldg., University of the Philippines Diliman 1101 Quezon City,
Philippines
TelFax +63-2 9299526
E-mail: cenpeg@cenpeg.org; info@cenpeg.org
http://www.cenpeg.org

SONA: TRUTH OR SPECTACLE?

2010-07-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

The true state of the nation is in the people who live under the harshest
of conditions in the margins of society yet see in collective strength the
power to make their lives better. Aquino III says, “We can dream again.”
Well, he has no sense of history: The people are not just dreaming but
struggling, putting their own dreams into action.

By the Policy Study, Publication, and Advocacy
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
July 27, 2010

The state of the nation address (SONA) is a discourse that mirrors the
truth about the country’s situation and lays down an agenda for change to
be implemented by the President. The nation has heard numerous SONAs but
generally these came across as self-serving, rendered in a denial mode
with a list of promises remaining unfulfilled. Thus SONAs turned out to be
the opposite; instead of inspiring the people they provoke disbelief if
not public outrage. Rather than unifying, they promote divisiveness.

That is precisely what has happened since the SONA of Ferdinand E. Marcos
that triggered the First Quarter Storm (FQS) of 1970. That year the true
state of the nation dramatized oil price hikes, tuition increases,
corruption, a bogus land reform, police brutality – but Marcos looked the
other way around, feeding fallacies far removed from the social and
economic realities. Converging at the old Congress, thousands of
cause-oriented activists countered with their true state of the nation in
radical language and cultural performances topped by calls for sweeping
social reform. That was how the alternative SONA was born, shaking the
nation and triggering massive indignation rallies nationwide.

Considered the first SONA is revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio’s
“State of the Katipunan Address” (SOKA) at the Tejeros Convention of March
22, 1897 or one year after Asia’s first ever revolution against
colonialism and feudal oppression was launched. Soon, Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo who staged a coup to unseat the Katipunan leadership from
Bonifacio, would deliver the “State of the Revolutionary Nation” (SORNA)
on August 29, 1898.

After a period of similar traditional addresses by American
governors-general in the U.S. colonial years, Manuel L. Quezon as first
Commonwealth president delivered the “State of Commonwealth Government’s
Affairs” (SOCGA) before the first National Assembly in 1936 as provided
for in the 1935 Constitution. The constitution called for the president to
inform Congress on the state of the nation and recommend bills deemed
“necessary and expedient.” The first post-war annual SONA was delivered by
President Manuel Roxas before the first Congress in January 1947.

Critical junctures

Presidential SONAs have been delivered at the country’s critical junctures
that include the government’s forging of special defense and trade ties
with the former colonial master, United States, locking the Philippines to
the latter’s various wars of aggression and the U.S.-backed long-drawn
counter-insurgency campaigns presently framed as Oplan Bantay Laya. The
periods also consistently included the unresolved land tenancy problem,
economic downturns, martial rule, strikes and armed conflicts, coup
attempts, as well as specific issues like unemployment, corruption and
human rights. All the presidents were at the center of these critical
junctures where the vast powers that they control appear to have failed in
addressing the country’s basic problems and every turnover of the
presidency seemed to have been marked by economic and political crisis.

Especially since the Marcos years, reforms and bright prospects underlined
in various SONAs failed to hide the social realities that are etched in
the minds of the people who are increasingly wrenched and victimized by
poverty, unemployment, social injustice, human rights abuses, and other
maladies. Both the president and Congress called for token reforms and
palliatives in the form of laws and policies – even new taxes - hinting
that however endemic the problems have become these can easily be offset
by acts of state.

The two institutions thus loathe sweeping social and economic reforms,
ranging from the increase of minimum wages to the junking of destructive
globalization policies and pushing for genuine agrarian reform even if
these echo popular demands from the masses. Instead of addressing the
issues, the presidential calls for new laws and policies only aggravate
the oppressive social and economic conditions. Thus, unemployment has
worsened over the past 50 years, income inequalities have widened with a
corresponding increase in poverty levels, and corruption has likewise
worsened despite the number of laws already enacted and the agencies
created to curb it.

In effect, SONAs have merely become messengers of myths, baseless hopes,
and unsustainable programs when the extreme conditions already cry for
drastic change. They market the institutions of power as the architects of
reform when these effectively serve the narrow interests of the rich and
powers that be. A traditional SONA that is neither grounded on nor
assimilate the aggregate pains and minds of the people cannot inspire much
less mobilize popular support needed for undertaking change. The typical
SONA has failed to transcend the minute lens of the presidency – an
appendage of oligarchic politics that promotes class interests – so that
any agenda becomes irreconcilable with the broad aspirations of the
people.

Aquino III’s SONA

President Benigno S. Aquino III’s recent SONA basically does not depart
from his predecessors’ mistakes. His address was long on corruption cases
committed during the past administration. Yet it was short on concrete
solutions and was silent on the prosecution of the former president, land
reform, human rights, and other raging issues. There goes a President
claimed to be elected popularly but does not echo the people’s sentiments.

A traditional SONA that is articulated by the state that has been weakened
by financial crisis, bankruptcy, corruption as a result of which it has
been increasingly isolated from the people has been reduced to an annual
spectacle of sorts - all sound and no fury. Once delivered, it is easily
forgotten.

This makes the alternative SONA an event that has increasingly gained a
broad appeal and deserves greater attention by the mass media. The
alternative SONA is replicated in key cities and towns all over the
country – as well as by overseas Filipinos - and is made dynamic and
interactive by the hundreds of thousands of activists and people from all
walks of life joining it. The true state of the nation as expressed by the
people themselves is articulated in streamers, speeches, cultural
performances, and marches. The true state of the nation is in the people
who live under the harshest of conditions in the margins of society yet
see in collective strength the power to make their lives better. Aquino
III says, “We can dream again.” Well, he has no sense of history: The
people are not just dreaming but struggling, putting their own dreams into
action.

Several alternative SONAs have been marred by overzealous police and
military forces out to block the rallyers from marching toward the Batasan
complex which hosts the House of Representatives building. Reminiscent of
Marcos fascist brutality, countless activists have been mauled and beaten
up by security forces armed with truncheons as fire trucks throw water
cannons on what otherwise would have been peaceful protests. Many
protesters ended up being hospitalized.

More important is that the alternative SONA is not just an annual rally of
social advocates but mirrors a national mass struggle that evokes shared
dreams. It aims to empower the people toward pushing for comprehensive
social, economic, and political transformation. In the alternative SONA,
truth becomes liberating and collective action makes change more imminent.

Reference:

Bobby Tuazon
Director, Policy Study, Publication and Advocacy (PSPA)
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
TelFax +63-2 9299526; mobile phone: 0929-8007965
For your comments/suggestions please send your email to info@cenpeg.org;
cenpeg@cenpeg.org

How a workers' strike became the Luisita Massacre - Special Reports - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

2010-01-28T22:24:00.000-08:00

How a workers' strike became the Luisita Massacre - Special Reports - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

Noynoy Aquino, out of the shadows « Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

2009-11-25T01:09:00.001-08:00

Noynoy Aquino, out of the shadows « Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

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MANNY VILLAR MAKES SENSE

2009-09-18T00:04:00.000-07:00

I had a distinct opportunity to an evening party with Sen. Manny Villar and many Filipino-Chinese business leaders last night, at the house of mining mogul Gerry Angping. Villar makes sense when he said what we need now is a proven and tested business CEO like him. Unfortunately, something is still lacking in him - the capacity to fire up or inspire his audience. True enough, he is replete with credentials and qualifications, probably the best in the current presidential aspirants, but he needs to work hard on his image, albeit trapo and bland. Well his ads "AKALA MO" are working for him. But he needs to complement that with stage presence. But the best thing I had last night was he gave me a reason to really think about 2010. Fortunately I was seated right in front of him when he spoke, so I was closed enough to really "scrutinize" him, hehehe.

For example, he was very business-like when asked if he could guarantee to enrich the Philippines just like what he did to himself, literally rising from rags to riches. His answer was that “the probability is very high” compared to the other candidates. Given his track record as a no-nonsense CEO, he has the expertise he can bank on. Plus the fact that he has been “elected by peers” as their leader, citing his being House Speaker and Senate President, stressing the importance of peer respect for a president.

His platform of good governance is also practical and seemingly doable compared to the motherhood statements of many other aspirants. But Villar is still dogged by mistrust, owing to his being an astute businessman. He needs to work on that, too.

The Noynoy Aquino phenomena

2009-09-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

I am not the type of a political supporter who would carelessly announce my choice of a candidate. But in my Facebook account, I readily said “Let's just go for Noynoy... it's the imperative of the times....a new breed of leadership - inspirational, free from corruption and hunger for power.”

Of course, I meant it, and would stand by it unless I proved myself wrong!
Immediately, there are reactions from friends, mostly favorable. Elsewhere, I see a lot of various reactions on Noynoy’s candidacy. One bishop even warned against “joining the bandwagon.”

Another senator slammed Noynoy’s camp for using the term “good versus evil” in the coming elections. Of course, it was not Noynoy who said that, but Mar Roxas, the sometimes tactless scion of political ritzy families of Araneta and Roxas (remember his public expletives, which I supported as understandable in my other blogs).

Some sociologists try to explain the euphoria over Noynoy as some sort of political romanticism, which according to them does not have a long shelf life, meaning it could fizzle out over a period of time.

Be that as it may, I still believe that the reason for this “euphoria” is very simple. It is not a battle between Gloria and Noynoy, neither is it a battle between good or evil, I must agree. But it is a battle to win the trust of our people back. To win our people’s confidence in governance, so badly tarnished by Marcos, Erap and Gloria.

Talk to any ordinary Filipino and most likely, you will hear sadness and hopelessness. That we have become too wary of politicians, for even the incumbent, who has a PhD in Economics has only given us the most disappointing leadership of all time.

So when Noynoy, a personification of Ninoy and Cory, has announced that he is willing to take the lead, we have become euphoric. So he must live up to our expectations. Otherwise, we are a lost people.

Sadly, no politician in this generation can match Noynoy’s credibility (at least for the moment). He may not possess an impressive track record, but the thing is, we trust him. Why? Because we trust that he would not betray us, that he would not betray his parents’ legacy.

Election fever

2009-05-11T00:50:00.000-07:00

Election fever is up again, and here we go again.

A lot of new movements and organizations are on the rise. Dinky Soliman’s Change Politics Movement has been formally launched. So are DDB Group’s Ako Mismo, a youth group of Fr. Robert Reyes and ABS-CBN’s Ako Ang Simula. Personally, I look at these organizations as a healthy democratic practice. I even signed up with Ako Mismo, because I believe in their advocacy.

The only concern is, while these and perhaps more groups will be launching one after the other, can’t we get our acts together? I am concerned for more impact and results of the efforts we are doing. And since we do not unite under one umbrella, chances are the 2010 elections will just be as divisive as the ones before, resulting to an elected government by plurality which will in the end be “more of the same.”

Even in politics, the trend is the same. There are so many political parties, each having their own candidates. It is a predictable future – déjà vu 1998 and 2004 – elected leaders that do not possess what we have been ideally telling our people to choose because the mass electorate is just as confused as we are.

It is even sad that everyone is capitalizing on the young, especially the first time voters. I hope that in the process we do not frustrate their idealism, just as how much frustrated we, their elders have become – of the system, the politicos and society in general.

Really sad that we cannot find a good rallying point among the crops of leaders that we now have. There must be a miracle - a miracle that will open our minds and really see what and who do we need in these trying times when the economy is in bad shape, when peace is so elusive, poverty is so pervasive, injustice abounds especially victimizing the most vulnerable of our women and children, and the environment is in such a state that threatens our very existence.

But hope springs eternal. It is still barely a year before the 2010 elections, so let us keep praying for that miracle.

Climate Change

2009-05-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

From the materials I recently gathered (thanks to Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources), I wish to share with you the following:

What is climate change?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) refers to climate change as "any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity."

What are the impacts of climate change?

Climate change is indeed a global environmental problem. As industries, the transport sector and other human activities continue to pump more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the planet is now becoming more vulnerable to potential impacts. Ranging from severe droughts and heavy downpours to ocean acidification and spread of vector-borne diseases, climate change rapidly becomes a major threat in various parts of the globe.

The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report cited that coastal areas, especially heavily-populated megadelta regions in South, East and Southeast Asia, will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding from the sea and, in some megadeltas, flooding from the rivers.

The whole world will be affected by rising sea levels. Changes in weather and climate could severely affect fisherfolks and coastal communities because of floods. When there is too little or too much rainfall during growing seasons, agricultural productivity will suffer, thus affecting food security.

So now the clarion call is sounded: Let us do our share in helping conserve our environment before it becomes too late.

Climate Change

2009-04-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

The past two or three days of rains is really mind-boggling. Yesterday, April 22nd, Metro Manila was flooded causing a nightmarish traffic all around the city and outskirts. So I checked some documents on what exactly is climate change, as claimed by weathermen to be happening abnormally, during this otherwise scorching summer. And I wish to share the following helpful information:

Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). As through much of its history, the Earth's climate is changing. Right now it is getting warmer. Most of the warming in recent decades is very likely the result of human activities (IPCC, 2007). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) State of the Climate Report and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Surface Temperature Analysis indicate the average temperature of the Earth’s surface has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF since 1900. Other aspects of the climate are also changing such as precipitation patterns and storminess.

The Sun drives the Earth's weather and climate. The Earth absorbs energy from the Sun, and also radiates energy back into space. However, much of this energy going back to space is absorbed by “greenhouse” gases in the atmosphere (see Figure 1 of Greenhouse Effect). Because the atmosphere then radiates most of this energy back to the Earth’s surface, our planet is warmer than it would be if the atmosphere did not contain these gases. Without this natural "greenhouse effect," temperatures would be about 60ºF lower than they are now, and life as we know it today would not be possible.

During the past century humans have substantially added to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline to power our cars, factories, utilities and appliances. The added gases — primarily carbon dioxide and methane — are enhancing the natural greenhouse effect, and likely contributing to an increase in global average temperature and related climate changes.

Summer Rains

2009-04-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

In the last three days, I have experienced showers that are literally unexpected during a hot summer such as this. For as long as I can remember, this is really phenomenal because I have not had the same experience. The weathermen say it is a result of an Inter-tropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ, but poor me, I have a bad feeling that something is really changing. I do not even know if I should consider myself lucky to have witnessed this.

My interest therefore in global warming and climate change has been incensed. In the next blogs, I promise to share whatever I will learn - in the most layman's terms I can. I hope I get some help.

By the way, a youth group in the Philippines is hosting an international conference dubbed as World Creative Youth Forum on Sustainable Development. The young from all over the world will gather to see what is their role on the matter and how they can help. Please visit http://www.worldcreativeyouthforum.net/ for more details.

Gabby's 6th Birthday

2009-02-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

John Gabriel, my third son, celebrates his 6th birthday today (Feb. 10).

Gabby as we fondly call him is a “guapo (goodlooking) toddler. Endowed with great talents in his studies as a pre-schooler, he is also skilled in fixing things around the house. He would normally fix his broken toys without help from his siblings or parents.

What makes Gabby so special to me is that he was just a newborn baby when his Ate Jo-Anne, then three and a half years of age, died. My fond memories of her include seeing her attend to baby Gabby despite the fact that she was not feeling well. When she died, I almost lost my resolve in life that I kind of take for granted the other kids for a while. Since Gabby was the baby at that time, I remember being left by her mom to take care of him whenever she would have to do some things outside the house. Since Gabby was such a “good” boy, I did not have a hard time taking care of him as I would just put a toy or two and his feeding bottle inside his crib and I would not be bothered by him for hours unless he is already wet and requiring to have a diaper change.

Gabby has since become a symbolic “pet” of her Ate Jo-Anne, even showing a lot of her resemblance in looks. As he grew older, Gabby is a typical toddler who would sometimes be so naughty, sweet and playful. Since he is so “suplado” or discriminating, we would tease him to be a “bakla” or sissy or girl-like. Although I have no doubt that he is not to grow up as gay, we just took fun teasing him for his not-so-ordinary tendencies, like refusing to drink in a glass used by a sibling, refusing food given by a neighbor, or simply being too talkative.

I am a little bit sad that on this day, he is quite sick of fever. But I am also happy at the thought that my son is now six years old, and soon will also grow up to be an adolescent. My prayer is that may God be with him all the days of his life, grow in HIS grace and wisdom, and lead a very successful life.

KP, my eldest is 14

2009-01-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Want to really know for sure how much you are ageing? Well in my case, I simply look at my eldest child, and realize how time flies.

Today, he has turned fourteen (14), his second teener year, endowed with good looks that should work well for him as he engages two or three female teens of his age, maybe more, into what I would describe as “puppy kind of love” boyfriend-girlfriend relationships. I hope nothing turns out serious yet as he still has a lot to learn in life before getting into real life’s troubles.

But modesty aside, while my eldest son, Kyron Paul, is a typical teener who commits a lot of heart-breaking mis-adventures for his parents, I am still proud of him. He was a long time favorite, the firstborn, who is undoubtedly closer to his “papa” than to his “mama.” He was the apple of my eye for long.

He is growing up, and my prayers are that he becomes a good, caring and responsible person. That he be able to establish a better life, a good family and career or business in his own time.

It is difficult to explain to kids these days why they are being admonished to refrain from doing certain things, that we as parents know and believe are harmful to them or their future. But I still trust that this generation, like mine, is smart enough to learn on their own, the very basics of life skills- that will allow them to blend well into society without putting themselves at risk and the ability to discern what is right and beneficial. More importantly, never to repeat the mistakes of their parents and elders.

For now, my heart is joyous, happy birthday my son!

I BELIEVE

2008-12-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

I believe that everything happens for a reason and purpose, and it serves me.

I believe that there is no such thing as a failure. There are only results and learning experiences.

I believe no matter what happens, I should take responsibility.

I believe it is not necessary to understand everything to be able to use everything.

I believe that people are my greatest resource.

I believe that work is play.

I believe that there is no abiding success without commitment.

I believe that there are no limits to my learning and earning capacities.

I believe that I will reap exactly what I sow.

I believe that adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.

I believe what I think of myself is much more important that what others think of me.

I believe that there exists limitless opportunities in every industry, where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.

I believe that the superior man makes demands upon himself, the inferior man makes demands on others.

I believe times will change for the better, when I change.

I believe if happiness is not already found within, it will never be found outside.

I believe that every resource I need is already with me and within me.

I believe that if I have to live in peace of mind, I have to live each day in accordance to, and in harmony with, my values.

I believe that the past does not equal to future.

I believe giving is at the core of human relationship. Give time, commitment, energy, support, prayer and love.

I believe that I should seek my joy in what I give and not in what I get.

I believe that we are all energy, and that we have a need to express this energy.

I believe that unexpressed energy causes dysfunction and disease within our body, mind and spirit.

I believe that our purpose for being here is to experience, express and expand our understanding of, and capacity to love.

I believe that the way we think, what we say, and how we act creates our reality.

I believe we can all attain peace, happiness, abundance and contentment.

I believe that no one needs to suffer.

I believe that suffering, stress, guilt, worry, jealousy, etc. are man-made devices that stem from fear.

I believe we come into this life with a script, designed by the areas within us that need healing and the circumstances of our life are the perfect circumstances to help us heal.

I believe that everything in our lives stem from two thought forms - love or fear.

I believe that we respond to our experiences through actions of love or actions of fear.

I believe that the only thing we ultimately have control over in our lives is whether we are happy or sad.

I believe that addiction is a fear-based search for an answer - something to make us "okay".

I believe that what we are truly addicted to are negative core messages, and these messages create beliefs that take on many different physical forms in everyone's lives.

I believe that we can all achieve authentic and enduring healing.

I believe that God loves us all infinitely.

Papa's Girl

2008-10-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

My only surviving girl (the elder died in 2003 at age 3 1/2), Ma. Angelica or Angel celebrated her 7th birthday last Oct. 1 with a simple salu-salo attended by some neighbors and relatives (from her mother's side).

Angel is envied for supposedly "papa's girl" who gets anything I can afford and gets away with minor infraction of house rules. Truth is, she is not. It is just that being a girl, I understand her being a girl-child. Why not, when I have been an advocate of women's and children's rights for long?

I would usually explain to her mom that I am not trying to spoil her. Actually her being close and sweet to me allows us a rather more open line of communication, so that I can easily understand her, and would know how to handle her emotions and angst.

Although admittedly, children who feel that they are so special would have a tendency to overreact by displaying some attitude. Occasionally that happens too with my Angel. But what is important is that even at her tender age, she enjoys the advantage, and understands the disadvantage of being a girl.

ALL HYPE AND MATERIALISM

2008-09-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

( I just wish to share my blog on an online article of Phil. Daily Inquirer regarding an online petition to recall Pampanga Governor Among Ed Panlilio).

I am honored to have met Gov. Among Ed Panlilio last June 2008, also meeting his controversial lieutenant, Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu. I even teased the latter that she has become rather prominent because of the controversies at the Pampanga capitol. And because I used to work for a good governor too, who was almost similar to Panlilio in terms of religiosity, except that he is not a priest but a celibate Opus Dei, I only had encouraging words for Dabu - that you really cannot satisfy many in politics, especially if you are doing what is right.

Well Atty. Dabu may not be such a good public administrator, but that job really calls for utmost trust and confidence from her boss, the governor. Her job is among those considered by law as co-terminus with the appointing authority and thus, requires only trust and confidence from the latter. So making her the center of all issues for a recall of the incumbent is really mind-boggling. Besides, Panlilio hardly has been in office for a year and a half, and to judge him so unfairly in his performance, is really something I cannot understand from those Kapampangans calling for his recall or resignation.

My wife happens to be a Kapampangan and we lived in Mabalacat for more than 5 years. Hence, my keen interest in the issue. I also know for a fact how disappointed some favor seekers when they went to the capitol after Panlilio assumed office, and went back home empty handed. Why? They were used to the old system that when they visit the capitol, they would have at least something to bring home, either cash or some goodies.

I would assume that since Panlilio won on a platform of reform and good governance, he would not follow the footsteps of his predecessors in practicing patronage politics, hence the change is really felt, especially by many who have materialistic intentions.

For the fault-finders at the capitol, Panlilio is an easy target, but people should really think hard and analyze the intentions of those people trying to bring down a neophyte executive who must have done more good to Pampanga than harm. He has brought Pampanga to the national psyche because of his crusade against corruption and illegal gambling, and in showing us that good still triumphs over evil, if only a few good men will take lead.

If any harm has been done, it must really be in threatening the business of illegal gambling and its lords, and putting in peril the future of its beneficiary-politicians.

But like Panlilio and the many who believe in his crusade, I have faith that good will triumph over evil, but not without a price - which is the vigilance of the people of Pampanga against those who seek to take advantage of the materialism of many people. I hope that you will not live up to the joke that you people out there are “mukang pera” and show us that the great province of Pampanga can lead this country in a moral crusade for good governance.

Bunso’s birthday!

2008-09-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Joshua Rafael Andrei or simply Andrei, my youngest, turned four (4) years old Tuesday, September 2, 2008. We had a simple family celebration last Saturday, August 30 when I came home from a week-long work in the capital. While it was a very modest celebration, I could sense the joy in my son, getting his favorite “ube-flavored” cake and palabok from Red Ribbon, and of course, his dream “dump truck” toy.

Life has been difficult lately, almost since the year started, and having a small celebration is really quite a feat for the kids. Well it pains me a lot that they have to sacrifice so much at such a young age, but the realities of a failing economy is really taking its toll even on supposedly gainfully employed citizens like me.

As a parent, I would like my kids to have some treasured memories of their birthdays that whenever one is approaching, I am almost always apprehensive. I have always prayed to God for provisions, and indeed, He never fails me.

As a “bunso” or youngest child, Andrei is sweet, and I am proud of the fact that he is never a brat. Matter of fact, he is one of a kind, in comparison to other kids of the same age, at least those whom I have observed. While he is “bulol” like his dad when I was the same age, and most of what he says is incomprehensible to me, what I understand is that he talks a lot, understands a lot and is very expressive of what he thinks. This is a very positive sign that he would also grow up just like his siblings, full of ideas, questions and opinions – a sign that he is a bright kid, as would the elders would often say.

Well, all my kids are actually sweet, especially the younger ones. My only surviving girl, Angel shown in photo here with another sweet son, Gabriel is so fond of his “papa” too, and she is a great source of inspiration. Why not, when I have lost her elder sister in 2003 and thought I could never recover? Thank God, that while any child is irreplaceable, I still got another little girl to cheer me up. But it was not a fast or an easy process to go through.

But I have learned that truly one cannot live alone. One has to have some source of strength to draw from – a family. There are no perfect relationships, neither a perfect partner, but there is such a thing called patience, borne out of love.

I am just too glad and apprehensive again, that my only girl is turning seven (7) in October, and I am bound to provide for a good memorable celebration for her reaching a milestone. Right now, everything that’s running in my head is a set of options. Whatever it amounts to, that should be the subject of my next personal blog.

introspection

2008-09-01T02:11:00.000-07:00

“So what makes the Filipino special? We are brown, spiritual, timeless, spaceless, linguists, groupists, weavers, adventurers. Seldom do all these profound qualities find personification in a people. Filipinos should allow - and should be allowed to contribute their special traits to the world-wide community of men- but first,we should know and like ourselves”. – Pastor Ed Lapiz

Sometimes after having spent so much of your youth being a fighter and an idealist, and eventually losing your way in the maze, you hardly find courage to bounce and leap. But then again, what is one’s life worth if not lived the way it should? Even the most incorrigible is given another chance, then why not me?

“In this age of darkness, there are two ways of spreading light: You may either be a candle, or the mirror that reflects its light.” – Ninoy Aquino

As one grows older, the more you realize how important legacy is. Since not everyone is cut out to be a hero, we can still make a difference in our own little ways. Nothing is too late for something good.

Be the change you want the world to be – Gandhi

(Because) we can change the future by changing it today - J. Maxwell

"Desired Things"

2008-08-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Not "Found in Old St. Paul's Church"! -- see below

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

http://www.fleurdelis.com/desiderata.htm

Gloria's blunder in Muslim Mindanao, poor Bataraza, Palawan

2008-08-12T00:04:00.000-07:00

For her greed for power, shameless desire to stay beyond 2010, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippine illegitimate president has sought ways to extend her term, this time by trying to use the issue of peace in Muslim Mindanao. She discreetly entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to extend the already in-place Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), promising the MILF more autonomy in governance and expanding the ARMM territory, to cover places which originally rejected being included in ARMM through the ballot.

Going over the MOA, I was particularly jolted seeing the inclusion of a beautiful, peaceful and quiet town of Bataraza as part of the newly "ceded" territory to the MILF. Bataraza, which I have visited last summer has a link to the original Muslim settlers by having a good leader and mayor in the person of the late Datu Sapiodin Narrazid, who was also mayor of nearby Brooke's Point (mother town of Bataraza), where I lived for a while.

It seems that Gloria's understanding of claim to ancestral domain is without historical basis at all. She thought that because early settlers in the southern Palawan region were Muslims, they automatically have a right to claim for ancestral domain or rights. She has completely forgotten that the original residents of Palawan were actually the Palaw'ans and other indigenous peoples. Even the so-called Panimusan (of both Muslim and Palaw'an ancestry) hardly harp on ancestral domain, until recently when everyone (other tribal and non-tribal settlers) there wishes to be considered indigenous because of money prospects from mining operations.

We were just surprised one day that such a MOA with MILF exists and it took the Supreme Court to halt its official signing in Malaysia. The violence that ensued as a result opened our eyes that the peace process is so volatile. Not even the central command of MILF could stop its "renegades" from sowing terror to dramatize their frustration over the Supreme Court's temporary stopping of the signing of the MOA. But what is now glaring is that once again Gloria and her government have deceived us, by denying us the right to know.

She probably thought with this issue of war, displacing thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis will convince all of us to take a second look at her "federalism" proposal, which means providing for an opportunity to amend the Constitution. Of course she only knows too well that it can lead to anything, even extending her term. Because once we open the discussions on amending the charter, it can lead to anything, and she is prepared for that, prepared to get things her way.

With the suffering we are already in as a result of spiralling prices of basic commodities and oil products, tell me, who can stop hating Gloria!!!

Promoting Filipino Excellence as Contributing Factor to Nation Building

2008-08-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

We have often heard how great other races are such as the Greeks, Romans, Germans, English and Americans. We have seen how proud their citizens are as they would fete their fellow citizens for every success they hurdle in various fields, be it in the art of war, Olympics, science and technology, inventions and others. We have also witnessed how national pride can bring a country to great heights.

Then we begin to ponder how as a people, we Filipinos, have lagged behind even in comparison to our neighbors? What really is lacking in us? We were first to be Christianized and a sizeable number of our countrymen embrace at least one world religion; first to experience self-government; first in agricultural development; first to demonstrate love for democracy and non-violent struggle, among the long list of firsts that we can truly be proud of.

The Filipino exemplifies the best and the worst, as it is a fact that wherever s/he goes outside of his own country, s/he excels and does wonderful jobs that even foreign employers recognize. And so it is such mind-boggling why in his/her own country, the Filipino could not be the best s/he can be?

It would probably require social scientists, even great psychologists to explain this phenomenon. But some thoughts would point to culture as the biggest culprit. For many, a strong culture is probably the most influential factor in the success or failure of an organization or people. Because our culture does not tend to celebrate greatness, we instead commemorate historical failures and downturns – Fall of Bataan, Death March, death of heroes, etc., there has become a subliminal effect of feeling of failures.

In effect, we fail to celebrate the greatness of the Filipino. We lose sight of the fact that we are not an ordinary race whose struggle for democracy, development and national identity is as colorful as his /her country’s history.

The state of mind defines the character of a person, so does a people’s character. The national psyche should be refocused in celebrating our excellence as a people and as individuals. In this way, we begin to re-examine ourselves and see how our successes can be replicated over and over again so that the values that we wish to impart to the next generation will bring about a culture of excellence, a quest for what is positive and productive, a march towards national identity; building a country that has lagged behind for many years.

The challenge will always be how to celebrate in the midst of crises? About thirty percent of our people wallow in poverty. At least four million children cannot attend basic education, and about half of them are engaged in work which otherwise should have been the role of their parents or elders. Our public educational system is in disarray, and even our graduates can hardly meet the demands of the workplace resulting to a mismatch between education and industry which explains why we have so many graduates who are either jobless, under-employed or in the call centers despite the fact that their educational preparations are not related to their current jobs.

Every day, a number of Filipinos leave their country for jobs abroad with high hopes of finding greener pastures to sustain the needs of the families they left behind. The social costs of separations among families is so high that despite interventions from both government and non-government organizations, the number of wayward youths increase every day, ranging from teenage pregnancy, to drug and alcohol dependency and juvenile delinquency.

Corruption in high places is so rampant, no one seems to be proud of the way government is run in this country. And we keep asking ourselves, where are the values our forefathers taught us?

Our distinct failure however is seeing the best in us through all these unpleasant realities that we get stuck in them. We balk at the idea of reexamining and redeeming ourselves from those maladies because we hesitate to be positive and hope for what will be best if we commit to take a bolder step towards achieving change.

Arguably, the innate character of the Filipino is goodness, hospitality and love for democracy. Every day, we see ordinary folks going about their usual work to sustain their lives and that of their families. Farmers wake up early in the morning to plow the fields and provide us food. Drivers would rise early to ply their routes to bring commuters to their worksites. Students struggle to beat the traffic to attend classes, and vendors would be at their posts just in time for people who will buy their food and other needs. Teachers would not mind the measly pay for as long as they can help shape young minds so this country’s future will be secured.

These are the small things we overlook, that excellence committed on a smaller scale or level is left unsung and unappreciated. We are so focused on the bigness or greatness of an achievement that it really becomes too difficult for ordinary people to identify with the so-called “great heroes” for even in school we were taught that they were almost perfect and god-like, when in fact they were not. They were just as ordinary as any Filipino can be, the only difference is that they excelled in their own commitment that brought about great impact on their people’s life and history.

Celebrating excellence therefore entails recognizing and promoting every achievement worth emulating because achievements no matter how small, when pooled together, builds and strengthens a nation.

Life begins at 40

2008-08-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

When I turned forty last month, I was sort of in a dilemma. I was not happy with the consultancy job I got because of some personal issues with my boss (who does not understand that consultancy work is not equivalent to a full time job), and so I was praying real hard to find a full time job, albeit a career. I am not getting any younger and I should admit that.

Almost a month after my birthday, I was quite frustrated because all the previous applications I made since late summer were getting me nowhere for whatever reason I could not imagine. At least five of those applications were already at their end stages or for final or just had a final interview.

I was beginning to question God's plan for me. S0 that whenever I would read my Bible and reflect especially on certain passages that would say God allows us to go through difficult stages in life but He will never abandon nor forsake us. Then I got a chain email about a man who prayed for a beautiful flower and butterfly. Instead what he got was a cactus plant and a caterpillar. He was so disappointed, until he almost forgot about what he got. Then one day he was amazed at the sight of blooming beautiful flowers from his cactus and a butterfly flying around them.

This hit me. Yes, in due time, God gives us what we need, not necessarily what we are asking for.

True indeed, for since about a week ago, I am already confused as to which job offer I will take. All of them are really good interesting jobs where I think I can excel. And now my prayer is "God please guide and help me choose."