nemo dat quid non habet

"We can not give what we do not have"

I have always believed that the really generous people are those who give of themselves.

In my book those who do social work, the NGOs and politicians who get compensation for "helping" or serving others are not being generous but simply doing their job. So too are those do-gooders who do charity work by soliciting from others, they too are in it for themselves and not for their target beneficiaries.

Pasaway

Ang mga Pinoy kunwari ay ligo ng ligo para ipakita na malinis sila sa sarili, pero bakit parang itinuturing nila na sa basurahan sila nakatira?

A permanent firecracker zone

Despite the great harm and nuisance caused by firecrackers and fireworks in welcoming the new year, fireworks merchants in Bocaue object to banning these items pleading that they stand to lose their livelihood.

As a compromise to them, I suggest that they just propose to make their town a permanent firecracker zone where firecrackers can be bought and lighted all year round.

As for the rest of the country, I still support the call for a permanent and strict ban on firecrackers and fireworks.

Splitting Christmas

From being a joyful and peaceful season, Christmas has become a time of stress and harassment where people are forced to endure nightmarish traffic and go through a ritual of frenzied shopping to keep up with its spirit.

But if it has become so, this can only be the fault of the people who have given up the spirit of Christmas for materialism and crass commercialism.

With a view to making the Christmas season more relaxed and less stressful maybe it would be a good idea to have two kinds of Christmas celebrated on two different dates or period.

The first Christmas will be the "commercial" Christmas celebrated on the first of December with parties, gift giving and all out materialism for those inclined to do so. People celebrating this Christmas can hold parties starting November but should not go beyond December 1.

The other Christmas is the original or the "spiritual" Christmas celebrated with family and intimate friends.

Some people may find this idea odd but those who believe in Christmas should try to get its true spirit back.

Cheap + China = Divisoria

For bargain hunters in the country, all roads lead to Divisoria.

My impression of the place however is that it is not anymore a part of the Philippines but a territory conquered by China.

We may be saving a few bucks when we buy cheap china made goods in Divisoria but I wonder what we lose in exchange.

Bonifacio: Bayani ng Bayan

wip

Christmas trash

I am all for recycling and up-cycling but I don't think the current fad to turn trash into Christmas decors fall into that category.

Frankly I find them ugly and they do not do much to bring in Christmas cheer. What they remind me though is the rule: Garbage in, garbage out.

When will we understand that cleanliness is the beginning of beauty?

Suiseki: Nature's art in stone



These stone displays which I saw at a suiseki exhibit  at the Quezon Memorial Circle made me realize that art is not only what people make but what people may also perceive in nature. And I agree: Mother Nature can also be a good artist.

 

Ang Alamat ng Hoya/ Legend of the Hoya

Hoya cagayanensis (picture taken from internet)

Para sa akin, hindi lang basta maganda ang Hoya. Ang maraming anyo nito ay maitutulad sa iba't ibang makukulay na ibon at dahil dito, pumasok sa isip ko na gumawa ng isang kwentong pambata na lilikha ng interes sa mga hoya at bukod rito ay imumungkahi pa na ipalit ang pag-aalaga ng hoya sa halip na mag-alaga ng ibon sa kulungan.

Mula sa ideyang ito, may nabalangkas na kwento ang isang kaibigan na aking nakausap. Sa kanyang pahintulot, ibabahagi ko ang kanyang kwento:

May isang bata na binigyan ng kanyang lolo ng isang malaking hawla ng ibon. Pag-uwi niya sa bahay, nagpahuli siya sa kanyang ama ng ibon na mailalagay sa hawla.
Naglagay ng bitag ang kanyang ama sa kanilang hardin at di nagtagal ay may nasilo nga itong isang makulay na ibon. Agad inilagay ito ng bata sa hawla.

Ngunit sa paglipas ng araw, napansin ng bata na napakalungkot ng ibon na halos di na kumain. Sa awa ng bata, kinausap niya ang ibon at sinabing palalayain niya ito kung ipapangako ng ibon na babalik siya sa hardin araw araw.

Pinalaya ng bata ang ibon at tinupad naman ng ibon ang kanyang pangakong babalik at nagdadala pa siya ng kasama.

Ngunit dumating ang araw na kailangan ng lumisan ang mga ibon para sa ibang lugar. Bago umalis, binigyan ng ibon ang bata ng isang sanga at binilinan siya na itanim ito. Malungkot man ang bata sa pagalis ng mga ibon na nakaibigan na niya, sinunod ng bata ang sabi ng ibon.

Makalipas ang ilang araw, ang sanga ay nagsibol ng mga bagong dahon at gumapang palibot ng hawla. Patuloy na inalagaan ito ng bata at isang araw, lumabas dito ang magagandang bulaklak na nagpa-alala sa bata ng kanyang mga kaibigang ibon. At dahil dito, hindi na nalungkot ang bata.

The end.
-------

Sadyang ginawa kong Filipino ang pagkakasulat nito dahil gusto ko na maging kwentong bayan muna ito na mabuhay sa kamalayan ng mga Pilipino.

Hindi ako makata o manunulat pero sana ay mayroong pumulot ng kwentong ito at gayakan ng tamang salita upang maging kwento na tunay na kaaya aya para sa mga bata at maging sa matatatanda na sa puso ay nananatiling bata pa rin.

Hoya mindorensis (picture taken from internet)

Salted Egg experiment

 

 

I did not expect my experiment in making salted eggs with a different color to turn up well. But am very happy with the result. Am planning to call these eggs "ginintuan".

 

I have always been worried by the red dye used in the traditional red colored eggs. Dyes are not really the safest of chemicals but sometimes when you cut open the red eggs, one can not avoid staining the inside of the egg which eventually gets eaten.

 

At least with the Ginintuan eggs, the colorant I used is from a plant and so is very safe.

 

Taste wise, the result of this experiment is equally very good. One taster even likened the taste of the white of the egg to the local carabao cheese. Not too bland nor too salty.

 

Looks like I will just be making instead of buying the salted eggs for our table.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Toilet paper lock

Although I commend McDonald's for its high standard of hygiene and cleanliness, I find this lock on the toilet dispenser a sad commentary about us as a people.

This is not the fault of the restaurant but the customers or the cheap whoever who would rather swipe than buy their own toilet paper.

Relevant history vs merely remembering

When we look at the past for its own sake and without relating its relevance to the present except for comparison, that is merely remembering. The past becomes historically relevant only when we can see its effect and influence on the present.

The Rosemary challenge

I admit I am a trying hard urban farmer. But for some reason I can not say I am there yet. So far most of my attempts at raising plants have produced only so-so results. Still the little success that I get are enough for me to go on.

A recent challenge that I took on for myself is being able to grow the aromatic herb rosemary. I had tried to grow them before but my earlier attempts only ended up as failures. I know there is something that I am not doing right with this plant.

Hopefully this time, I will be able to get it right.

Kanin-baw

Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, lahat na lang ay ginagawa ng ating mga kababayan para lang makakain ng husto. Pero kung minsan, ang kanilang imbento ay sumisikat at kinakain na rin kahit ng mga may kaya.

Kailan lang ay may narinig akong pangalan ng pagkain na bago sa akin - "kanin-baw". Akala ko kung ano ito pero ang ibig lang palang sabihin ay "kanin na may sabaw".

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang lasa ng kanin-baw na narinig ko, pero naisip ko, hindi nga masamang ideya kung may gumawa ng sosyal na version nito na masarap ang sabaw at maraming laman.

Baka nga ito ang sunod na maging patok na usong pagkain.

My favorite Mcdo moment

If I have to eat out for breakfast, my restaurant of choice is McDonalds. The place is clean and the service crew are all smiles and genuinely welcoming.

But like all fast food restaurants, the drawback for quick, convenient meals is the noise and the traffic of people coming and going.

Sometimes however, when it is early enough, I get a chance to eat in peace and quiet with the bonus of being given a complimentary newspaper that I get to read at leisure.

But this rarely happens and it is just like the calm before a storm. One by one, people trickle in and what was just earlier was silent like a library suddenly becomes noisy as a marketplace.

Still I am thankful for these rare precious moments.

The road to North Korea

picture taken from internet

When I was a student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, I joined protest actions in defense of academic freedom. For me academic freedom is important not only  because it allows students to explore and pursue all ideas without fear or restraint but more important, it teaches us discernment and  how to make reason a powerful instrument and weapon in resolving issues and conflicts.

Most of the time, our protest actions were just within campus where we held forums, mini rallies or even concerts and street theatre. But sometimes we would foray out of the campus to shout our sentiment and outrage only to be violently dispersed by the military in slavish servitude to the dictator Marcos.

During those repressive times, protesting was not the safest thing to do. It required courage and  not just anger. But we stood up for what we believed was important not just for us but for everyone including those who will come after us.

It is thus with anger and disgust when I read about a group of student activists who ganged up on Budget Secretary Butz Abad who came to the UP School of Economics to explain his side on the Disbursement Acceleration Program that he created but parts of which were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

For me this is a serious breach of academic freedom and it was committed by the very students who
can march and rally to their hearts' content now instead of studying because of that very freedom.

When we invite somebody to our place, it is only expected that aside from giving him the basic courtesies paid to  a visitor, we take responsibility for his well being and safety. To do the opposite is dastardly and is actually called treachery. If we deem a person to be an enemy in the first place, then why invite that person at all?

True to form, the militant students who initially gloated about their ignominious accomplishment changed their tune and later claimed to have been the ones manhandled by the security escort of Sec. Abad as they defiantly refuse to apologize. Yet at the same time, they can claim that the period of sober debate is over for the Secretary.

Wrong. When people resort to lying to argue their cause the period of sober debate is not over. It is futile. University officials and even the student body have no choice but to throw the books at them and apply the necessary sanctions indicated .

Ironic that at the time that we mark the period of over four decades when we lost our freedom through martial law, the virus of authoritarianism manifests itself again in a most ugly manner, this time not from the powers that be but from aspiring tyrants of tomorrow who behave like they have acquired the monopoly on truth.

These youth, fortunately not that many, would like to make our country in the image of North Korea where they and only they will have the undisputed claim to what is right and true. They deserve to be properly educated.

No apology, no graduation.

Soda bottle bonsai

It is not the creative way these soda bottles had been turned into a sort of plastic bonsai that  made me interested in them.

What I would like to know is if with this craft, soda bottles can be turned into mini aquariums that can hold a small mosquito larvae eating fish.

In this way, these soda bottle bonsai crafts will not just be decorative but can also be used to help in the fight against mosquito borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.

If this idea works, it may even be more effective than the vaunted ovicidal trap developed and promoted by the Department of Science and Technology.

Philippine Hoyas

Among the gems of Philippine flora are our native and endemic hoyas. Hoyas have beautiful flowers and some of them are even scented and can perfume a garden.

When I first saw a hoya plant, I was not really interested since what I saw was a very viny specimen. But when I realized that the creeping nature of this plant can spawn a possible industry in making plant containers and trainers, I began to be interested and tried to learn more about it.

Now I have become an enthusiast and am thinking of collecting the many hoya varieties.. I wonder  how long will my enthusiasm last though.

I also have this idea of promoting the hoya as a signature plant of a Filipino garden or even as an indoor decorative plant. One nice thing about the hoyas is that they are supposed to be very hardy plants.

Letter to TRC

 

 

 

Dear Sir:

 

I was a recent participant in the four day TRC Breadmaking and Bakery Management Course and I would like to give you a feedback of my experience.

Although there is no question about the competence and skill of our training instructors, the extremely abbreviated mode of instruction makes the course  superficial and not much helpful for trainees who pay a steep enrollment price in the belief and hope of finding a livelihood opportunity. Even our trainor wondered out loud how he can realistically impart knowledge and skill gained over a long period of time in just four days.Yet without sufficient knowledge and skill, how can  we succeed in our chosen enterprise?

For me, given the time limitation, a remedial solution would have been through a well written and comprehensive material. But even in this area, the handout and resource material provided and offered for sale by the TRC are woefully insubstantial. I believe the TRC had been conducting the bread making seminar for a long time already yet the hand out material given us are just loose leaf xeroxed material quickly assembled for distribution.

The person selling TRC booklets told me that they make their booklets simple because many readers have a low reading capacity. I believe this mentality is wrong and unacceptable. An institution of learning should not condescend to the people but do its best to lift them to the necessary level of competence. Mediocrity should never be encouraged.

I am sad to think that the TRC have degenerated into a mere money making institution and it is not surprising that it was easily used as a conduit for corruption. I believe as the TRC have been attached to the DOST, its purpose and manner of pursuing its mandate to open livelihood opportunities for the people should be reexamined and new approaches considered. There is a culture and thinking at the TRC that must be changed.

I am hoping that you read this letter in a favorable light and usher in changes that can make the TRC more relevant and attuned to the public need.

Thank you and kind regards,


Super Moon

The super moon phenomenon occurs when the moon orbits very close to earth thereby appearing very large and brighter than usual.

It certainly is an astronomic event but some people believe that the closeness of the moon can have some dire effects on our planet such as causing very high tides that can trigger underwater landslides and earthquakes.

Hopefully the super moon that I saw yesterday will have no such unwelcome result. We have already so many calamities both natural and man made to deal with.

At the 10th DA Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Exhibit

I wish I can say that the exhibit was a huge success with many new things to see and discover. But sadly that is not the case. I felt let down by this exhibit that showed nothing but more of the same of what they had been showing from last year and the previous years before that. And to think that this forum was even participated in by the various state colleges and universities.

In the exhibit I saw several stalls that carried wines made from various local fruits and vegetables. I wish the makers of these wines success but frankly I do not see how these products can become marketable.

One reason why traditional grape wine is widely consumed is because it can be taken as an accompaniment to meals to enhance the eating pleasure. If that can be said for the locally made fruit wines then maybe, local wine makers should advertise that possibility to open a new market for their produce.

A novelty I found at the exhibit was the chicharon made from sea cucumber. They look like some kind of crispy giant worms but taste very much like the usual chicharon. Maybe because it was a novelty, it immediately sold out. Hopefully, in the next exhibit, there will be more novelties like this chicharon from Quezon Province which is called "kibit"

Dates to remember

Yesterday, August 6, 2014 was the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima with the first ever atomic bomb used in war. Two days later, another atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki.

Commemoration activities mark these dates in Japan but it is not only the Japanese who should remember these dates. We members of the human race must also remember.

The atomic bomb ended not just the war but it also eroded national borders. Henceforth, all of us are joined together in the common objective of preventing a third explosion to ever occur or it will be the end of all of us.

.

Why I am not too keen on the Freedom of Information Bill

- Arnold Clavio
- Mike Enriquez
- Karen Davila
- Noli de Castro
- Anthony Taberna and partner
- gossip columnists
- lazy and corrupt journalists and reporters
- simplistic view of the FOI bill as the answer to media mediocrity
- News for profit culture

2014 Science Expo

In celebration of the 2014 National Science and Technology Week, the Department of Science and Technology held an expo at the SMX-MOA Convention Center (July 24-28, 2914)

Having high hopes and expectations about our level of science achievements, I found nothing remarkable. At the very least, I was expecting that an expo of this kind would be more informative and educational but what I saw there were just mostly displays of materials and things already seen in other places. There was also a lack of publications that can supplement the displays and substantially inform those who might be interested.

Still this expo is much better than last year's where the expo venue was mostly empty. That was truly a big disappointment.

Clean as you go

Although fast food restaurant chains and convenience stores with eating areas have people to clean up tables after being used by their customers, I believe it would be a good idea if they adapt a Clean As You Go policy to promote the habit of cleanliness and culture of courtesy among Filipinos.

It is dispiriting to see many people, young and old, rich or poor mindlessly throwing their trash just about anywhere as if they treat the whole country as a big garbage dump. They do this thinking that there are people who will clean up their mess.

But this is wrong thinking and maybe in the interest of cleaner and healthier nation, the fast food restaurants and convenience store can help change this.

Culture of excellence vs. profit orientation

This I learned from watching NHK, the Japanese channel.

The culture of excellence of the Japanese pushes them to make the pursuit of excellence as the driving force in whatever they do. They do not take a problem or a difficulty as a reason to stop whatever they have set out to do but instead, they work hard to find a way to solve the problem until they succeed. And their reward is the satisfaction of seeing a beautiful and excellent product made by their own hands. This is true whether what they are making are traditional crafts or modern gadgets and items.

In contrast, in the Philippines, excellence seems to be subordinated to the pursuit of profit and immediate gain. One example I can think of are the preponderance of one day seminars to make this or that for business. Even the handouts given in these seminars are shoddy and frustratingly inadequate in terms of the information it gives out and if you want more, you have to pay more.

As a result, our training centers, both government and private, from the Department of Science and Technology, to state universities, to training centers, instead of being noted as excellent resource centers become dispensers only of mediocrity.

I hope our government realizes this and do something about it.

Change Juana

The character Juana Change as an angry citizen demanding change from government has brought a measure of fame for its creator Mae Paner and allowed her to be noticed by the media and the public.

During the blighted past administration prior to the "matuwid na daan" that we have now, people looked at Juana Change favorably and with bemusement. But when Juana Change insisted on being an angry citizen for the sake of being angry and her creator even casting her lot with the discredited left and dubious groups calling for the impeachment of President Aquino on the basis of fallacious logic and imagined crimes related to the Disbursement Acceleration Program, Ms. Paner showed that Juan Change is not really about change, but simply about Juana.

Time to change Juana.

A delicious, deadly delicacy

Century eggs are a common and popular Chinese delicacy. I myself like to eat them. I find it interesting how the common egg can be made to be like hard gelatin and turn into a dark cola color.

However when I found out how this egg is made in the traditional way, I was deeply bothered and concerned. An ingredient used in its making is lead oxide which is toxic to the body.

Fortunately, there is another way to make century eggs without using this chemical and I just hope that this is what egg processors have now adopted .

Flaming attraction

 

A feature of summer in the Philippines is the explosion of flowers like the fire tree and the golden shower. Although they may not be indigenous to the country, they certainly have proven to thrive well here and offer at least a visual relief from the oppressive summer heat.

The trees are truly beautiful and pleasing, I hope that someday, a community can create a park or a festival dedicated to them.

This will be a long gestating project but I am sure it will be well worth the effort in the time invested to make this a reality.

Religion is the opiate of the magnanakaw

There is nothing wrong for people in trouble to resort to religion for spiritual comfort and strength to face their problem.

But when people hijack religion as a cover to hide their sins and their crimes, religion is debased and loses its value.  Religion then merely becomes an opiate of the magnanakaw.

Torii

The torii which means bird's nest in Japanese has become an iconic symbol of Japan. It signifies an entrance and is mostly found in gardens specially of shrines and other holy places.

In the University of the Philippines at Los Banos, there is a torii to be found which is a friendship gift of the Japanese government and some local organizations.

May this torii symbolize the free flow and positive exchange of influences between the Philippines and Japan.

Tiananmen Plaza

(pic to follow)

When a government massacres its own citizens to suppress its demand for democracy and freedom, as the Chinese Communist Party did in __ 1984 at the Tiananmen Plaza, it shows that it is an occupation government albeit of its own citizens.

It is said that hundreds and even thousands died on this sad day and people who value freedom and democracy have an obligation not to forget. All those who died for freedom and democracy are heroes of the world.

I hope that we can do the right thing and dedicate even a small public place - maybe someplace in Chinatown in honor of their memory.
 

Sitsirya

Napansin ko lang habang nasa isang convenience store ako maraming iba't ibang klase ng sitsirya na nakadisplay, palatandaan na mga ganitong kakanin ang pinakamabili sa ganitong tindahan.

Pero mahilig ba ang mga tao sa sitsirya o kumakain lang sila nito para pampalipas oras lamang?

Ang sitsirya ay hindi maituturing na seryosong pagkain dahil karaniwan ay panay carbohydrates lang ito na galing sa halamang ugat gaya ng patatas o cereal gaya ng mais at arina.

Pero larong isip lang, ano kaya ang susunod na magiging sikat na sitsirya?

Trains for Rapid Transport

Our country, especially Metro Manila seems to be stuck in a permanent transportation crisis where heavy traffic and gridlock have become the norm.

I believe the solution to this problem is a rapid rail based mass transport system which can move large numbers of people quickly and efficiently.

Our country was supposed to be among the first country in our  region to have trains but I wonder how it happened that we have neglected to develop this mode of transport.

It is a mark of a sovereign people to be able to achieve that which is needed for their prosperity and development. Hopefully, we too can eventually acquire a modern and efficient train based transport system.

This is a people's enterprise and we must all be involved in its pursuit.

The drum kiln charcoal maker

 At the Forestry Products Research and Development Office of the Department of Science and Technology, there is a prototype of a drum kiln charcoal maker. I am interested in this item because I feel that we have a lot of biomass which can be used as fuel even just for home use. In particular, I think if we can utilize the discarded shell of  young fresh coconuts after their meat and juice have been extracted, then we can greatly reduce our energy bill spent for cooking.

(a demo on how to turn biomass into charcoal)

The problem with charcoal making is that it produces a lot of smoke and so one requirement to make it is that it should be in a far away area where there are not too many people. Another thing I learned from my interview with the DOST scientist responsible for developing the charcoal maker is that biomass charcoal should still be processed into compact briquest in order to maximize their heating value.

Fidelisms - the constant task,,,,

The constant task of individuals is personal productivity. The constant task of society is wealth creation. And the goal should be equitable and fair sharing.

Bottled light

The bottled light is touted as an energy saving device that lights up homes of people for free because it uses deflected sunlight.

Many believe that this is a great and important idea. For me though, I don't find it significant or impressive at all. It is just slightly above the level of a solar powered flashlight that can be used only when the sun is out. But what for?

The poor are supposed to be the main beneficiary of this cheap -literally and figuratively- invention. However the solar bottles are not really entirely free as there are material costs in order to make them.

There are inventions that help people fight poverty. This one only makes people adjust to their poverty. That is one reason I don't like them.

An environmental crime

wip

Certificate on demand

It is customary that in most training seminars or workshops, a certificate is given to participants at the end of the course. Some people may find certificates important but others like myself do not really have much use for them.

Given the need to conserve resources nowadays, I believe that certificates should not be automatically given to everyone at the end of every training. What can be done is to issue certificates on demand for those who might want to ask for them. For me, it is enough that I go home well satisfied and truly edified by the training.

If it is not possible to do away with certificates, at least those who give them should take care to use correct grammar because not doing so reflects badly on the institution that gives them out.

Science and Religion

Believing in science or in a  religion are both acts of faith.

Science however is faith in process while religion is faith in miracles and magic.

Good Friday what ifs....

The Catholic religion was a colonial imposition and legacy of the Spaniards. Today the great majority of Filipinos profess to be Catholics and are proud and happy to be so.

What I wonder however is if we were not forced by the Spaniards to embrace Catholicism as a religion, would our ancestors have willingly accepted it or would they have gone for something else? If we have not been waylaid in our journey into nationhood by the Spaniards, what would be the majority religion in our country now?

Religious holidays are occasions for people to demonstrate their faith. But how deeply do the people know their religion beyond participating in its rituals? With our freedom to worship now,  in matters of faith where do we draw the line between religiosity and superstition or spirituality and stupidity?

Edible landscape

For practical reasons, I have a preference for income or at least savings generating hobbies. I take pride in being able to consume or earn from a plant that I grow myself. Although I would like to raise fish or birds such as catfish or quail, it would be to either eat or sell them eventually.


I am glad I am not alone with this kind of thinking. When I was in UP Los Banos one time, I learned about the Edible Landscape Project being piloted there. Unfortunately when I visited the place, it was closed and I was only able to take a picture from outside the fence.

I hope the idea of edible landscaping spread beyond this pilot stage. This is the kind of hobby I go for and would like to share with others as well.

Kusina Chem: The Science behind Filipino Foods

In my search for a livelihood opportunity related to food, I attended a vegetable processing seminar at the UP Los Banos where we were taught the basics of the various ways of handling and processing vegetables such as drying, pickling, freezing and bottling.

Hands on training to make bottled ampalaya.

Learning the right way to pasteurize vegetables from Mr. Emong

my fellow participants

The course was informative and the hands on was very interesting but what I realized was that although most people are familiar with the many techniques that were taught us, they do not have an idea of the "why"  or the science behind a certain procedure taken in food preparation or why is it necessary. I thought that maybe this would be an interesting topic for a book.

So apart from going home with knowledge on how to process vegetables, I also came home with a potential book idea.

our finished products

Hope I can get the cooperation of local food scientists to make this idea a reality.

Frankly though I was hoping that we could have been taught more interesting stuff. But since the course was really for beginners I can not complain. What I am really grateful about however is that on the side, our hands on instructor taught me how to make home made yoghurt when he found out my liking for it. It was liking getting two courses for the price of one.

April fool's plant

The real ashitaba with many health claims

The Ashitaba is supposed to be  the wonderplant du jour. This plant which is of Japanese origin is claimed to have many medicinal powers such lowering blood sugar and cholesterol with many people vouching for the plant based on their personal experience.

For this reason, the ashitaba is a much in demand plant.

The problem is that what many people take for ashitaba may not be the real thing. Unscrupulous plant sellers have (mis)labeled a different plant as ashitaba and this is what has mostly gone around. The most that can be said of this plant is that its leaves are edible. Still some people attest to its healing effects.

For this reason, this plant can make a good April Fool's Day plant.

The fake ashitaba. No known medicinal value but edible nonetheless

Wanted: MRT/LRT Nazi

It has become a rare sight to see a MRT or LRT  train that is not too crowded these days. Evidently, there is a need to upgrade these mass transport vehicles to expand capacity in order to carry the ever increasing number of passengers. Why our government can not seem to act fast enough to address this problem is indeed very frustrating.

But while crowding is already a problem in these two train services, the problem is made worse by the lack of discipline of many passengers who have the habit of planting themselves near the doors of the trains. As a result space in the interior of the train remains unused and the carrying capacity of the trains is not maximized. During rush hours when the trains are really crowded, it has also become an ordeal to get in and out of the trains.

There are supposed to be new wagons arriving and that will certainly help ease the problem. But that will not happen till many many months away. In the meantime, what can be done is to improve passenger discipline and make them aware of what they can do to help not exacerbate the problem. For instance, they should be made aware not to block the ingress and egress of other passengers and only those who are alighting at the next station should be allowed to stand near the door in order to be able to get out immediately when the trains stop.

For this to happen, maybe what is needed is to have a MRT/LRT nazi who will enforce this kind of discipline.

pinoy science

wip

Sake vs Tapuy

The Japanese have sake while Filipinos, thru the Igorots, have tapuy.

Both sake and tapuy are alcoholic drinks made from rice.

All along I thought that sake and tapuy were one and the same thing. However, a Philrice resource person I talked to told me that the two are different because of the mold used to break down the rice starch that becomes alcohol. I was also told that in making sake, water is added in the middle of the production process whereas with tapuy, the rice is simply left in a corner once innoculated with the mold.

For sake, the mold used is Aspergillum oryzae, while for tapuy, the mold used is Rhizopus oryzae. While they can be harmless and useful to make wine, both can also create problems and cause illness with improper handling. The Japanese mold is commonly called "koji" while the Philippine mold is called "bobod" by the Igorots.

In Japan, sake has become an almost revered national drink while in the Philippines, tapuy consumption has become confined mostly in the Cordillera region where it is mostly made.

12 important little things that show you who you are

1. Saying thank you even for the littlest things
2. Sincerely and cheerfully greeting  other people
3. Answering letters as a matter of courtesy
4. Showing sincerity in a handshake by looking at the other person straight in the eye
5. Not messing with things that do not belong to you
6. Being punctual
7. Keeping promises
8. Willingness to help even those who can not do anything for you
9. Readiness to share responsibilities and take part in group chores
10. Being truthful at all times
11. Being fair in all things
12. Does not condone a wrong that he sees

Meeting of A-Chevers

Today I attended a meeting of Chevening alumni to form an organization. To define us, I thought of a name for our members: A-Chevers, short for Alumnus of Chevening. Too bad though that the idea came to me only as an afterthought when the meeting had ended and I was on my way home.

I thought A-Chevers would make a nice name because it sounds like "achiever" although it gives the impression that members of this organization have a spelling problem. Still this name will constantly remind us to do our best. But I don't know how other people will find it or if it will be okay to shorten the Chevening name as per any UK Foreign Commonwealth Office rule.

Per the website description of the Chevening Program, it is "the UK government's global scholarship program, funded by the FCO and other sponsors. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding established or emerging leaders....".

Naks! It is flattering to read what is required in order to be awarded a scholarship or fellowship in this program but looking at myself, I can't take this description seriously. I believe there is also leadership in being a good follower. What I take seriously though is the obligation to pay back for having been given a great learning opportunity and experience by the UK government. While paying back is not explicitly required of us, I believe this is the decent thing to do.

The Chevening Program is a foreign policy instrument and diplomatic tool of the UK government. For me as a Filipino however, the way to pay back is not to be a rah rah boy of UK interests in the Philippines but to seek out ways by which we can further strengthen our countries' relations through the common values we share and to promote our mutual interests and we have many.

The three months that I spent at the University of  Birmingham studying Democracy, Security and the Rule of Law as a Chevening fellow were among the most memorable and best time in my life. As a fellow, I saw, witnessed and learned many things and I am truly grateful to the UK government for this.

But what value is knowing or learning something without being able to put it to good use and in the service of others? Thus I see the formation of an alumni association as an opportunity to pay back and I am curious to know how this organization will turn out to be.

Balat sibuyas, pusong bato

BIR newspaper ad - picture taken from internet

Sa nagaganap na bangayan ngayon sa pagitan ng BIR at ng Philippine Medical Association (PMA), hindi ko maunawaan kung ano ang pinagpuputok ng butse ng ilang doktor sa advertisement na ipinapakita sa publiko na ang doktor na hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis ay pabigat sa lipunan at pinapasan ng iba na tama kung magbayad ng buwis gaya ng mga guro.

Unang una, hindi naman sinabi ng BIR na LAHAT ng mga doktor ay tax evaders at pabigat sa lipunan. Yon lamang ilan na ayaw magbayad ng tamang buwis.

Pero para sa PMA, ang advertisement daw na ito ay paninira sa kanilang marangal na propesyon at hurt daw sila. Balat sibuyas pala sila. Pero bakit kapag sila kung maningil, para silang may pusong bato?

Ang hirap sakyan ng logic nila. Parang logic ito ng magnanakaw na senador na matapos mabuking sa kanilang malawakang pangungulimbat ay sinasabi na ang pag-akusa sa kanila ay paninirang puri na sa buong senado.

Wala akong pagmamahal sa BIR. Pero ako mismo ay nabiktima na rin ng mga doktor (at dentista) na sa halip yata na MD ang diplomang nakuha (Doctor of Medicine) ay MP ang nakuhang diploma short for mukhang pera. Meron talagang ganoon eh at ewan kung ano ang ginagawa ng PMA para linisin ang kanilang hanay.

Kahit may ganito akong paniniwala sa ilang mga doktor, hindi ko naman sila nilalahat. Minsan ko rin pinangarap na maging doktor at may kapatid at mga kaibigan pa nga akong mga doktor. Kaya lang, gaano man sila kabait at may mabuting kalooban, sa gawaing baliko ng iba, pati sila nadadamay tuloy. Kaya ang dapat nila kaawayin ay ang mga tiwali nilang mga kapropesyon at hindi ang BIR.

Sa maingay na pagpalag ng PMA sa advertisement ng BIR, isang posibleng dahilan lang ang nakikita ko. Guilty much?

Cold brewed coffee

filtering cold brewed coffee to make coffee concentrate

Thanks to a cousin in law based abroad who forwarded to me a link on cold brewed coffee and how to make it.

It is so simple, cheap and easy to make but after I tried it, I was 100% converted. Hard to go back to the old way of preparing coffee.

For those interested, here is the procedure:

In a large jar put one third cup of ground roast coffee then add one cup of water. Cover and set aside for 8 to 24 hours. Strain to obtain coffee concentrate and place in a covered bottle or jar. Refrigerate

 To drink, mix one part coffee concentrate to one part very hot water. If you like, heat coffee to near boiling to have a hotter coffee.

To make iced coffee, just mix one part coffee concentrate to crushed ice of equal part. Add sugar or aromatics to taste.

Voila. very very good coffee that can put a smile to your face. Magandang umaga!

RAK of Aegis: 2 and a half hours of pure joy

Going by the smile on our faces, there is no need to say that we all had a good time watching the musical play RAK of Aegis..

In photo, (from left to right) my friends Ms. Caloocan, Ms Mandaluyong and Ms. Quezon City (circa panahon ng Hapon- joke lang po!)

Amazing how the songs of the singing group Aegis were woven into an engaging story of love, grit and victorious resilience in the face of man made and natural problem.

This season ender musical of PETA is truly a great show and specimen of Philippine theatre. How I wish more people can see it.

Congrats to the writer whom I had known during my college days.