Sharing a personal year end practise

coin purses from different regions of the country and made from various local materials

Among the year end practices I keep and observe is the handing out of cash gifts to those who can appreciate a meager augmentation of money in their pockets. I do this more as a gesture of personal gratefulness for my situation than as charity to others.

However, instead of putting money in 'ampao' envelopes, I put mine in locally made coin purses which I buy as souvenirs whenever I am able to travel in the country or visit trade exhibits. In this way, I can also help local craft makers and at the same time spread a little cheer.

Waters of Itogon

spring water from the mountains feeding resort pools in Itogon

Itogon is one of the mining towns comprising the gold rich province of Benguet. Yet for all the gold that has been mined there, one can be forgiven for wondering where all the wealth it has generated  went.

Fortunately, apart from gold, this town possesses another natural treasure that has a huge potential to benefit the community and its people- its waters. And so far, this treasure has remained under appreciated and its many potential untapped.

As Itogon is situated at the foot of the Cordillera mountains. the town abounds with clean, mineral rich spring water coming from the bosom of the mountains.

At present, these waters are utilized to feed the resort spas that are sprouting in the area. But certainly, there are many other possibilities that can be explored.

Whatever they are, I hope the community and people can more fully benefit as well.

Sa barangay nagsisimula ang pagbabangon ng bansa

Natutuwa ako na malaman na ang balanghay ay ginawang simbolo ng DTI para sa OneTown, One Product program nito.

Ang balanghay ay ang bangkang kahoy na ginamit ng ating mga ninuno upang maglayag at tumawid dagat sa paghanap ng bagong lilipatan o sa pakikipagkalakal. Ito ay kayang magdala ng ilang pamilya na pinangangasiwaan ng isang pinuno at dahil dito , ang balanghay ay maituturing na pinakamaliit na yunit panglipunan bago dumating ang mga kastila. Sa kalaunan, ito ay pormal na ring ginawang pinakamababang yunit political at nakilala sa pangalang barangay.

Para sa akin, mahalaga ang pag-unawang ito dahil sa pagbabangon ng bansa, sa barangay tayo dapat magsimula at hindi sa ating mga politico.

Kapag sinasabi ko sa aking mga kausap na sa barangay nagsisimula ang pagbabangon ng bansa, lahat sila ay sumasang-ayon. Pero kapag tinanong ko sila kung ano ang ginagawa nila kung naniniwala sila dito, wala naman silang maisagot.

Wala naman sigurong isang tamang sagot sa tanong na ito. Ngunit sa pagkilala ng DTI ng balanghay bilang simbolo ng OTOP,  nagbigay na rin sila ng isang ideya - ang pagbuo ng mga tagabarangay ng isang kabuhayan na pagtutulungan nilang itaguyod at paunlarin ay isang pagtupad sa tanong na ito.

Idea for Senior Care Center

- monitor vital health indicators
- continuous social interaction and support
- continuous learning
- diet monitoring
- appropriate exercise and body conditioning
- meditation and mind healing
- entertainment and leisure
- charity/benevolent work

an unhealthy Pinoy obsession

I know I am in the minority on this, but I find the Filipino obsession with winning beauty contests and setting title records for Guiness annoying, even embarrassing.

There are so many other things that Filipinos can truly be happy and grateful for but they seem to be overlooked in favor of these low hanging achievements. While they may give people a chance to bask in reflected glory of personal triumphs they do not really drive us to pursue collective excellence. Ultimately, instead of speaking well for us, this unhealthy obsession just shows a person's insecurity or ignorant appreciation of what makes him a respectable citizen of our country.

Religiosity vs Spirituality

There is a difference between religiosity and spirituality.

Religiosity is the overt exercise of one's faith while spirituality is the submission to a higher power that resides in truth and which guides our actions.

I am not impressed at all by religious people, especially those who offer prayers and blessings at every instance. But I have an appreciation for people who live a life of unspoken spirituality who act with honesty, kindness and love for others.

We do not need religion. What we need is a spiritual renaissance.

In vino, TMI

I am always amused by the effects of alcohol on the human brain.

Some people can take alcohol very well and seem unaffected by it.

Some people become taciturn and clam up.

Some people become rowdy and quarrelsome when they take alcohol. They should avoid drinking as much as possible.

But there are people who become voluble and spill personal secrets that should really have remained hidden unto themselves. But when their secrets are out, it is very hard to unknow them again. And I wonder if they regret ever having spilled it.

I am just a social drinker and do not really drink as much. Oftentimes  however, I get a feeling that during drinking sessions, I get to hear too much information.

What I learned from walking

There is a famous saying that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step".

While this is uncontestable I realized from doing a lot of walking that the best way to reach our destination is not to focus so much on where we are going or how far we are yet from there, but to be aware of where we are at the moment and the progress we make at every step. Before we know it, we will realize that we have arrived at our destination.

I believe this insight is helpful as we can also apply this in reaching our life goals.

From kite cards to parol cards

A friend gave me a set of mini-kite cards from Japan. They are nice but  I don't know if they can really be made to fly. They make nice souvenirs though.

While thinking of how I can adapt this card to create a Filipino version of a kind of gift card, I thought of making mini parol cards which the receiver can assemble themselves or simply collect.

The possibilities are endless. But the important thing is to take the first step to turn the idea into reality.

Jeepney modernization, no! Transport modernization, yes!

This is the second day in a row that classes in all levels and work in government offices had been suspended because of a jeepney strike. Protesters are opposing the planned phase out of jeepneys under a transportation modernization plan being pursued by the government.

Although I personally believe that the jeepney is an outmoded form of transportation and which has to go one day or another, I think the best way to do this is by natural attrition and not by officially phasing it out.

Government should simply build modern mass rapid transportation options such as rail based transport and even cable cars- for the people. When people stop patronizing the jeepneys in favor of better options, the jeepney will eventually disappear- or as I have suggested in a previous post, evolve with other uses.

And while we are on the subject of transportation, I would like to remind government planners not to overlook walking as the first mode of transportation. But this is for another post.

Some essential ideas to have

1. Love of  Truth
2. Narrative of basic  history
3. Origin of man
4. the human body
5. basic philosophy
6. the concept of science
7. basic science - biology, chemistry, physics
8. basic mathematics
9. geography
10. basic humanities and the arts

In the end however, pure knowledge, without action, without deeds, is nothing.

No to misericordia selling

I have no problem with social enterprises that create and provide livelihood opportunities for people. However, I am turned off when it is the poverty or misery of the people that is made as a selling point instead of the quality of the products that they make.

Acceptance of this practice is counter to striving for excellence which is what we should all demand in order for an enterprise to become really viable and not merely a form of charity in disguise.

fidelism - Our task

Our task is not to predict the future but to shape it that we create a better world.

Makibaka laban sa Fake Drug War

 

 

Ang droga ay tunay na salot sa ating lipunan at marapat lamang na labanan at sugpuin.

 

Ngunit kung ang War on Drugs ay -

 

nakatuon lamang sa criminal na pagpatay ng maliliit na drug users at addicts habang hindi nagagalaw ang mga kilalang malalaking drug lords at smugglers kahit kilala na sila;

 

walang malinaw na programa kung paano iligtas ang mga nalulong dito maliban sa pagpatay sa kanila;

 

at ginagamit upang usigin ang ilang mga personalidad kahit walang tunay na batayan,

 

ang War on Drugs na ito ay PEKE at dapat lamang na tutulan.

 

 

 

 

Entrepreneurship is problem solving

Usually when people think of going into business, they think of a product or service which they can sell to other people. This approach has worked for some but unfortunately not for everyone. For every success story, there are also countless stories of those who failed and who never managed to recover.

However, another approach to going into business is to view entrepreneurship as problem solving. Instead of starting with a product, be it an  item or service, one can first try to find a problem then try to find a way of how to solve it. If the problem is genuine and the offered solution is effective such that people encountering the said problem will be will to pay money for it, then a business is born.

Language learning tip

I've tried to learn several other languages - Spanish, Japanese and French - apart from English and Filipino which I speak with a high degree of fluency. However, for those languages I studied, I can not really claim having reached a respectable level of proficiency.

But the desire to become good with those languages and maybe with one or two more is always with me.

As I think of how to achieve my goal, I came to realize that the best way to master a new language is to hear, speak, read and write. And practice, practice, practice. To do this of course, discipline is key.

To honor our heroes...

When a government can just jail anyone by making up false charges and go to the extent of using tainted witnesses, it is not just imprisoning a single person but an entire people. This is what happened in the case of Senator Leila Delima who was jailed on evidently made up drug related charges and the testimonies of convicted criminals.

When this happens, we can not just wait for heroes to save us. We should all be heroes and do the right thing.

Today we celebrate our National Heroes Day. If we truly want to honor them, we should not let their sacrifices go in vain. We should continue fighting for the freedom they in their time fought for and not allow it to be lost by our cowardly and stupid generation.

We are Delima and only ourselves can make us free again.

Exodus 2017

1. seeing red
2. chirping chicks
3. haunting scent
4. weeping and wailing
5. march for truth and justice
6. parade of the complicit
7. sound of resistance
8. rain of hope
9. day of prayer and unity
10. hand of the just angel

third eye race

 

 

Failed attempt at creating a text based hidden image using a free 3d generator in the internet

 

 

While playing around with 3d hidden images in the internet, I thought maybe it would be a nice idea to create a game where clues can be found in pictures with hidden images. Or maybe, a book with a story that makes use of hidden images.

 



Crime and the Law

If crime represents disorder, then its opposite is the Law which stands for order.

Crime cannot be solved by committing another crime, even though it is packaged in a lie. It is just replacing one problem with another.

Those who approve of unlawful and extreme means in dealing with criminals do so only to their own eventual disadvantage. Those who cheer the extrajudicial killing of suspected criminals forget the fact that another criminal has gotten away and they may just be the next victims.  They may feel relief and more safe initially, but this is only temporary. And the sense of peace they claim is at best illusory.

Truth is the basis of honor and honor is the basis of proper duty.

Without proper duty, we are all just like mercenaries.  We can be good or bad as we please. This holds true for all of us but most especially for our men in uniform – the police and military- whom we have allowed to bear arms. Our protectors can just as easily become our oppressors.

Without proper duty of those who should be protecting us, no one is safe and nothing is sacred - not our lives, not our properties.

Without proper duty, we cannot have personal and national honor that will allow us to stand proud and equal among the community of nations.

It cannot be that in order to uphold the law, we break it and disregard all notion of Truth, Honor and Proper Duty in our country.

Those who do so, do not build this country but ruin it.

Being stupid in the time of climate change

I don't think it is the Mayor who is stupid but the people who put him in office. /picture taken from internet

It is difficult to have sympathy for people who behave irresponsibly and stupidly then expect others to help them get over the dire consequences of their action and then still blame others for not doing enough for them.

An example would be people  who willfully and gleefully sell their votes during elections and then expect good performance from the officials whom they sold their votes to. There are people too who tend to  deify personalities out of fear or ignorance in order to have a convenient someone to save them but who of course can only fail their expectations.

In this time of global warming and climate change when disasters occur at increasing frequency and fearful intensity, people should be reminded of Darwin's Law: the fit survive, the weak die.

Be stupid at your own risk.

Brainstorming and creativity as a way to relieve depression

It was while watching the entrepreneurship class/workshop of Stanford University Professor Tina Seelig through the NHK channel in Youtube that I heard this insight.

And yes I agree.

In my case, I know that when I am trying to think of something and creating something, I tend to forget the feeling of sadness, of hopelessness, of depression.

Neurologists may have the explanation why and how brainstorming can relieve depression but in my layman's mind, I liken the brain to a kingdom with many chambers where each chamber represent an aspect of all that we are- from our senses, emotion, consciousness etc.

We as the sovereign occupant of our mind can naturally be only in one place at any time. Thus, if we are in the chamber of creative thinking or doing, we tend to forget the negative feelings we have which reside in other chambers.

So to work!

.

Mind map - an aid to memory

I learned about mind mapping while watching an NHK (Japan News Channel) feature on a brainstorming workshop for entrepreneurial thinking conducted by Professor Tina Seelig of Stanford University.

In this workshop, mind mapping was used as an instrument to bring out as many ideas related to a certain defined problem in order to eventually come up with a proposed solution.

I had a chance however to use mind mapping for a different purpose - as a memory aid.

The word I was trying to recall was at the tip of my tongue but I just could not come up with it. What I did was to draw an image of what I wanted to remember and jot down all associations I could think about it. I was doing this just as an exercise and wondering if it will be of help to me.

Suddenly however, the word just popped out of my mind and voila! I got the word I wanted.

Certified good

Looking for a decent Filipino product to give as gift or share with friends and loved ones?

I can certify that this mango leather covered in caramel/chocolate candy will not disappoint. It is not just delicious, it is nicely packaged too. It may not be cheap but it is ok to discourage over eating.

I discovered this treat in Kultura, the Filipiniana section of SM mall but I hope it can be available in more outlets.

And may we have more good quality food products that we can all partake in and be proud of.

Kakistocracy and resistance

Almost overnight, and with the consent of the majority of our people, we abandoned our democracy and embraced kakistocracy.

The successful idea

...is the one you acted on.

Secular Spiritualism: It's not a religion, it's a revolution

wip

Using aikido principle to win an argument

This is just a musing. If it is possible to defeat an enemy in a hand to hand combat by using the force of the opponent to defeat himself, maybe it is also possible to win an argument not by arguing but by using the weight of the false logic of one's adversary to defeat himself.

This may be useful now with the proliferation of trolls and fake news broadcasters who manage to victimize many gullible people who then spread fake news and hatred to others.

Germ theory of Paglalaba - tamad style

Gumagawa ako ng sabon panglaba na ako rin ang gumagamit.

Sa aking pag unawa sa mga ganitong sabon, pinalalambot o pinadudulas nito lalo ang tubig upang makasuot ito sa pagitan ng pagkakakapit ng mga dumi at mantsa sa damit at nang sa gayon ay matangay na ito ng tubig kapag binanlawan.

Kaya naman, sa paggamit ng mga sabon ngayon, pwede na ang babad at kaunting kuskos lang ng mga damit. Hindi na talaga kailangan ng washing machine na umuubos lang ng kuryente at madaming tubig.

Pero may gusto sana akong malaman.

Maaari kaya na higit na maging malinis ang damit kung hahayaan ang mga mikrobyo na kainin ang mga makakapit na mantsa at dumi sa mga damit?

Maraming tao ang natatakot sa mikrobyo. Pero sa totoo lang, bahagi ng ating buhay ang mga mikrobyo. Meron nga lang mabuti at masamang mikrobyo at ang dapat nating malaman ay kung papaano magagamit ang mga mikrobyong ito, para maging katulong natin.

Halimbawa, maaari kayang ipakain muna sa mikrobyo ang mga dumi at mantsa ng damit para mas maging malinis ito ng hindi na gaanong kailangan ng masugid na pagkuskos?

Magagawa ito sa pagbababad muna ng mga damit sa tubig ng mahigit kalahating araw. Sapat na oras para ang mga mikrobyo ay makapagparami at kainin ang anumang organic matter sa mga damit.

Mosquito Shield

wip

Ommmmmmmmm. It works!

I saw a youtube video of a father who put his crying baby to sleep within seconds of intoning the mantra 'ommmmm'.

I tried it on myself when I could not fall asleep and next thing I knew, I woke up in the morning.

So it works!

What I did while lying on my bed was to repeat 'om' about 7 to 10 aloud while exhaling until I ran out of air. That was all.

Flores de Mayo

This hoya (H. cummingiana) has been with me for a long time and I thought it will never flower.

But yesterday, first of May as I was tinkering around the house I was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.

I had this idea of creating special hoyaleras for the various Hoyas I have but never really got to do it.

It's not about the hoya but my self discipline.

Technology and globalization

globalization that does not address inequality is bound to fail

credo

If I will have to give advice to others, solicited or not, I will say-

that the most important thing in life is to be contented and to be happy.

to always be positive and be open to possibilities

to be creative and productive.

Engage with others

be helpful, ease pain, spread joy

nourish hope

Seek truth and defend it at all times

for it is the truth that gives meaning to our lives -

the kind of life worth living

Find and pursue your passion

For it is passion that gives taste to our life.

And have discipline, for it is discipline that is the bridge

to reaching our dreams.

Truth and Religion

wip

Food Trip Club

This idea came to me while eating at a newly opened restaurant known for its roast pork specialty, Cebuano style. The food was really good and the ambiance of the place was elegantly austere but efficient. No wonder it was packed with people and I just thought that many more people should know about the place.

And something sparked in my mind that may or may not become a business:

If there are enough people in our community who appreciate good food and would be willing to spend a certain amount to have a good meal, maybe it is possible to create an informal group that can go on food trips from time to time.

To make this exercise more "educational" a visit to a food manufacturing/processing company can be thrown in so that participants can also have an idea how some  foods they are eating are made.

Food tripping can be a way to keep our local food traditions and culture alive.

Vornado dust trap

wip

Benham Rise Day

The United Nations officially recognized Benham Rise as part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines on April 12, 2012 .

We should not take this occasion for granted. By this recognition, we effectively increased our marine territory with an additional  area approximately one and half times the size of Luzon.

I propose we celebrate this event by making April 12 as Benham Rise Day and the entire April as Benham Rise month.

There are many ways to celebrate this day: Schools holding exhibits and special lectures, local government can hold parades in appreciation of our marine treasures, businesses can do marketing promotion built around the Benham Rise and artists can honor this day with their craft etc.

Let the world know that Benham Rise is ours.

Justice for the Poor, Justice for De Lima

wip

Benguet Gold soap

While making soap one time, I tried to create a green soap by mixing blue and yellow dyes. However, instead of turning green, the mixture resulted in a yellow brown color.

It was not the effect that I wanted but in thinking of how I can put that unexpected result to good use, I thought of making a souvenir soap for Baguio and Benguet tourists by adding sulfur rich mineral water sourced from those two areas.

And so is born Benguet Gold soap.

Ang Gutom ay Gamot

Maraming tao ay takot magutom. Para sa kanila ito ay kondisyon na dapat iwasan dahil ito ang dahilan ng pagkakasakit. Kaya naman, sa isip nila, mas mabuti ang kumain ng marami at maging laging busog.

Pero salungat ang ganitong paniniwala sa lumalabas na pag-aaral kaugnay ng tamang pagkain at nutrisyon.

Kung tutuusin mas maraming sakit ang nakukuha sa pagkain na labis labis kaysa sa pagkain ng tama lamang at sa paglilimita sa calories na kinakain natin.

Proud of our Mayor

Amen.

Again...Pocket Parks/gardens

A park is defined as "a wide open green area used for recreation".

With this definition, it is not surprising why there are very few parks in a highly congested and urban place like Metro Manila. Most people would rather use the precious land there is for residential or commercial purposes.

However, the more a place is congested, the more people need a green open space.

Parks are not just green spaces but also serve as base democratic spaces for  the people which help raise their quality of life be they rich or poor.

There may not be open land available in Metro Manila Cities and town anymore to create big parks but people can still come together to create pocket parks and gardens in their communities no matter how small these areas are.

A side benefit of engaging in this activity will be the forging of greater community spirit and pride among the local people.

Nice place

I was struggling to write something and thought I had to go to a conducive place. Happy that I found it. It was quiet and cozy enough that I was at least able to finish a draft of what I had to write.

Thanks to this place. I think it will be my favorite haunt... at least for a while.

No such thing as alternative truth

Is there really such a thing as alternative truth as some people like to call fake news that manage to fool and be believed by many gullible people?

As far as I am concerned, the dividing line has always been light and darkness, right and wrong, and truth and falsehood.

For me there are no alternative truths. There are just successful lies.

Car Park

When we talk about car parks, most people think of an edifice that serve as an area where cars can park.

But to give car park a different meaning, why not be literal about the park part of the word and turn the top floor of a car park into an actual park?

This idea can be adopted by malls and local government units planning to build car parks in their areas. It is a way to hit two birds with one stone. It will give people a place to park their cars but at the same time it will also give them a green open space in the middle of the concrete jungle.

Gentes Inocentes

Procession of Sto Nino images in Pasig, also know as the Bambino Festival

In Catholic Philippines, January is the month dedicated to the Infant Jesus or the Santo Nino. During this period, various activities, especially processions are held in honor of the Santo Nino.

I prefer not to comment on how people express their devotion to this Catholic figure but what I am curious to know though is how some people can reconcile their devotion to the Santo Nino with their  rabid support for a leader who thinks that innocent children dying in the war on drugs are merely collateral damage.

The Gruen Effect

 

 

I have many times gone to a mall intending to buy one thing but ending up buying something else with or without the original item I wanted to buy.

 

Only recently however did I learn that there is a name for this happening and it is called the Gruen Effect.

 

Named for the architect Viktor Gruen who was credited to have designed malls in such a way that the experience of shopping becomes more important than the purpose of shopping itself as a person enters a mall, the Gruen effect or transfer can be a curse to a consumer on a tight budget but a blessing to mall owners and mall based retailers.

 

Many people take mall designs for granted and think that it is only logical for malls to serve as almost like one stop shops but as for me however, this just made me more determined to be more focused on what I want to buy in a mall and to resist the lure of buying things I never knew I needed in the first place.