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.