No excuse, no substitute for discipline

A reminder to myself: No excuse, no substitute for discipline. Just start. Just do it.

'Sili' matter

It is sad to learn from the news that farmers in Compostela Valley who tried planting hot chili peppers are having problems marketing their product. The farmers planted these chili peppers as a substitute crop for coconuts which were destroyed by typhoon 'Pablo'.

The plight and predicament of the farmers show that it is not enough for government to simply support the production aspect of an enterprise but more important, government must also support all the other aspects of sustaining an enterprise as well. 

Unfortunately the notion of livelihood assistance is usually confined to providing know how or production assistance with the assumption that beneficiaries can capably take care of the other aspects of the livelihood project. 

But this is usually not the case and what we get are - like in the case of the Compostela farmers- sad stories of failure and wasted efforts.

In facing up to this problem I believe the government should explore the idea of a build-operate- train and transfer of an enterprise wherein beneficiaries are completely trained first in all aspects of the business that they will ultimately own. 

This idea is in line with the Public-private partnership program of the government but instead of big business, the government will partner with the grassroots people. 

Quantity vs Quality accomplishment

There are people who find joy and take pride in achieving a "record" for the longest this or the biggest that. But I wonder what value there is in that title.

I would rather that we pursue quality instead of quantity. Excellence should be the only goal and we should not substitute it with mere numbers.

Solar Power to make bio char

It is said that bio char is a good way of sequestering carbon and therefore is helpful in preventing climate change.

The thing is, in order to make bio char, we have to burn bio mass that releases carbon into the air.

What I have in mind is to use solar heat to make bio char. If we can make a solar cooker big enough to attain the temperature needed to turn bio mass into bio char, then we can avoid the part of burning fuel to make it.

Chocolate pioneers

At the recently held Sikat Pinoy food fair at the Megamall, 25-28 March 2015, one  item that I bought was a chocolate bar made from local cacao beans. It the may not be the best tasting chocolate bar yet but I believe that someday our country can come up with high quality chocolate products.

Thanks to the chocolate pioneers.

Trumpo, tag-araw

Para sa mga bata ang trumpo ay isa lamang laruan. Pero sa mga guro na nais magturo ng
science sa mga bata, ang trumpo ay isang magandang kagamitan upang ipa-unawa ang ilang konsepto ng physics.

Ang mahalaga ay mapukaw ng mga guro ang curiosity ng mga bata at ang hangad nila na unawain ang batas ng mga bagay bagay para magamit ito sa iba pang pagkakataon at pangangailangan.

Good morning Vigan!

I was not really expecting much from my first time visit to Vigan but to my surprise I had a pleasant experience and enjoyed my stay there. The city with her old houses does give one a feel of the old times. There were even areas in the city that reminded me of my childhood hometown now gone forever due to wanton urbanization.

For me however, the best time to go around the city is early in the morning when the city is just waking up and the tourists are still asleep - no crowd, less noise and more time to imagine how it was like living in the past.

 

The people I met in Vigan were also truly nice, friendly and welcoming. They are an asset of the city and are a factor of Vigan's tourism success.

 

Viva Vigan! more power and success to her people.

Aquarium art

 

People who create beautiful underwater worlds in an aquarium may consider themselves just as hobbyists. But for me they can be considered as artists.

 

I used to be interested in having an aquarium to grow colorful fishes, but as I grew older, this interest gave way to practicality and decided that this hobby is not for me. I would rather raise animals or plants for food.

 

Still, this has not stopped me from appreciating underwater worlds created by other people.

 



 

 

(pictures taken at a pet and  aquascape exhibit in Makati)

Nature art

Sometimes in order to see the beauty of nature, all we have to do is to take a closer look.

Very very close.

I realized this while walking along a busy street. The picture above may seem like an abstract work that evokes images of clouds or fluffy feathers.

But actually, it is a bloom of white algae growing in canal water running beside a busy street.

Quack science

I wonder if the DOST and DTI are aware that they are being used to give credibility to the power of the healing mat.