I am glad that schools are closed today. I was able to get to work in record time. This made me remember the last time I was held back by heavy traffic by inconsiderate drivers.
Saint Paul Drive is a road in Pasig City that is commonly used by drivers going from C-5 to Meralco Avenue. Traffic in this road gets heavy during school days. It is specially heavy early in the morning when students are dropped off by their parents, at noon when primary school pupils are picked up, and in the afternoon when the rest are picked up.
This is usually managed by making the traffic flow in one direction only. And it works.
Unfortunately, the four-lane road gets obstructed just before the entrance gate up to the exit gate. It is in that area where private vehicles collect before entering the gate and where they spread out when they exit.
I thought that to better manage the flow of traffic and allow those just passing by to go through the area without hindrance, the four lanes must be divided.
The two lanes right beside the school perimeter can be used for the qeueu of parents of Paulinians. And the far lanes be kept open for non-Paulinians who just want to get through to Meralco and on to Megamall.
However, some of the more rich and spoiled parents want to do things their way and it jams the flow.
It is early in the morning and heads get hot due to the jam. Well, leave it to the rich to get the roads filled. :)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Travel time - Vacation venues
While riding the FX to work, I heard two guys talk about this:
1. Time to report to the office
2. Where to stay during vacation
FX is a model of the Toyota Tamaraw Asian utility vehicle (AUV) primarily used as a public utility vehicle (PUV) due to its large capacity. It comes between the regular jeepney and the taxi cab.
Reporting time
It is common that people who know each other are interested in the times they get to work. This discussion usually start discussions covering other topics.
This topic is also a form of assurance for some that they are not the only ones who are late for work.
Vacation
As vacation looms, where a person spends that time forms another topic. People compare notes on their planned vacations. They talk about where to stay, what to do, and sometimes how much it costs.
Today, the other passenger will be spending his vacation in the house of one of his buddies. His buddy will be alone this Holy Week and he welcomes the company. He will spend it there with his other buddies and they will probably drink themselves to exhaustion during the four days they will be together.
1. Time to report to the office
2. Where to stay during vacation
FX is a model of the Toyota Tamaraw Asian utility vehicle (AUV) primarily used as a public utility vehicle (PUV) due to its large capacity. It comes between the regular jeepney and the taxi cab.
Reporting time
It is common that people who know each other are interested in the times they get to work. This discussion usually start discussions covering other topics.
This topic is also a form of assurance for some that they are not the only ones who are late for work.
Vacation
As vacation looms, where a person spends that time forms another topic. People compare notes on their planned vacations. They talk about where to stay, what to do, and sometimes how much it costs.
Today, the other passenger will be spending his vacation in the house of one of his buddies. His buddy will be alone this Holy Week and he welcomes the company. He will spend it there with his other buddies and they will probably drink themselves to exhaustion during the four days they will be together.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Religion - Palm Sunday
This Palm Sunday at mass, we heard part of the life of Jesus Christ. From the time he was sentenced by the people to be crucified. I was expecting the homily to be about that but I heard otherwise.
The priest instead read the letter from Cardinal Rosales of Manila. I was expecting it to contain anti-government statements or pro-government ones. But I heard none of those.
The homily centered on the need for our willingness to go through "the desert of change." It asks each and every Catholic to recognize our wrong-doings, commit oursleves to correct them, and vow never to do the same again.
Rather than calling for change in leadership or express support for it, the letter instead appealed for change. Change in our hearts. Change in our lives.
The letter pointed out the corruption and abuses that plaqued our country. A plaque that once was and is still considered as a cancer of society. Corruption is seen not just as an ill in the government but that of the society as well.
In the movie Evan Almighty God, played by Morgan Freeman, asked Evan to build an ark for a great flood is soon to come. As Evan struggled with himself, his work as a Congressman, and as a family man, tools and lumber were delivered to him.
The flood did came but it was not the same flood that wiped the world clean during biblical times. It was a sudden rush of water when a dam, whose construction was substandard due to corruption, ruptured.
In the end, what was emphasized in the film is not doing great things but a simple act of random kindness at a time.
Cardinal Rosales and the bishops of Manila call on all Filipinos to make some changes in themselves. One simple change done altogether a day at a time is one great step toward a better future.
The priest instead read the letter from Cardinal Rosales of Manila. I was expecting it to contain anti-government statements or pro-government ones. But I heard none of those.
The homily centered on the need for our willingness to go through "the desert of change." It asks each and every Catholic to recognize our wrong-doings, commit oursleves to correct them, and vow never to do the same again.
Rather than calling for change in leadership or express support for it, the letter instead appealed for change. Change in our hearts. Change in our lives.
The letter pointed out the corruption and abuses that plaqued our country. A plaque that once was and is still considered as a cancer of society. Corruption is seen not just as an ill in the government but that of the society as well.
In the movie Evan Almighty God, played by Morgan Freeman, asked Evan to build an ark for a great flood is soon to come. As Evan struggled with himself, his work as a Congressman, and as a family man, tools and lumber were delivered to him.
The flood did came but it was not the same flood that wiped the world clean during biblical times. It was a sudden rush of water when a dam, whose construction was substandard due to corruption, ruptured.
In the end, what was emphasized in the film is not doing great things but a simple act of random kindness at a time.
Cardinal Rosales and the bishops of Manila call on all Filipinos to make some changes in themselves. One simple change done altogether a day at a time is one great step toward a better future.
Alien engineering part 2
A second installment of the ten part video on Alien Engineering as we look at it and compare it with out own technology.
Credit goes to RunzWithScissorz
Science and science fiction. Can there be a union between the two?
Credit goes to RunzWithScissorz
Science and science fiction. Can there be a union between the two?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Travel time - what do jeepney drivers know
Just this evening on my way home, I got to sit right behind the driver and his shotgun rider. This is the evening after the morning transport strike. Early that day, majority of public utility vehicles did not go out to ferry passengers.
While I was whiling away my time for the more or less 30-minute ride, I heard the driver and his buddy talk. The topics were as follows:
1. Transport strike
2. Economy in Mainland China and its effect of the Chinese
3. "Buddy's" trip in the morning.
1. Transport strike
They discussed that the transport strike was effective. The strike was organized to voice out their frustration at the multiple ticketing scheme being used, particularly in the metropolis (Manila).
Both agreed that the strike was successful and that with a small sacrifice, they can have their resentments heard. On another note, they talked about the village patrol car that volunteered to ferry passengers still stranded that evening.
2. Economy in Mainland China and its effect of the Chinese
During the course of their discussions, they changed their topic to the effect of the economy in Mainland China on the Chinese.
"Buddy" told the driver that Chinese economic policies have severe effect on the Chinese. Because of this, those Chinese who can afford opt to leave the country and settle somewhere else. They also noted that most Filipino-Chinese own a successful business here in the Philippines.
Driver narrated that the Chinoys owe their success to the support of other Chinoys. He said that they help out each other in times of need. An example, he said, is when a Chinoy businessman goes bankrupt, other Chinoys help out so he can start over. But there is a limit to this help, he adds. He even said, "See-ke, ee-kao ak-yen too-long. Pe-lo pak ee-kaw loo-ke pa oo-let, aa-koo wa-la na ma-ka-wa."
3. "Buddy's" trip in the morning.
"Buddy" told the driver how happy he was with his trip that morning. He said that the traffic was so light and the passengers are overflowing. He added that he can do just two trips and his income will be fine for the day.
Well, until next trip.
While I was whiling away my time for the more or less 30-minute ride, I heard the driver and his buddy talk. The topics were as follows:
1. Transport strike
2. Economy in Mainland China and its effect of the Chinese
3. "Buddy's" trip in the morning.
1. Transport strike
They discussed that the transport strike was effective. The strike was organized to voice out their frustration at the multiple ticketing scheme being used, particularly in the metropolis (Manila).
Both agreed that the strike was successful and that with a small sacrifice, they can have their resentments heard. On another note, they talked about the village patrol car that volunteered to ferry passengers still stranded that evening.
2. Economy in Mainland China and its effect of the Chinese
During the course of their discussions, they changed their topic to the effect of the economy in Mainland China on the Chinese.
"Buddy" told the driver that Chinese economic policies have severe effect on the Chinese. Because of this, those Chinese who can afford opt to leave the country and settle somewhere else. They also noted that most Filipino-Chinese own a successful business here in the Philippines.
Driver narrated that the Chinoys owe their success to the support of other Chinoys. He said that they help out each other in times of need. An example, he said, is when a Chinoy businessman goes bankrupt, other Chinoys help out so he can start over. But there is a limit to this help, he adds. He even said, "See-ke, ee-kao ak-yen too-long. Pe-lo pak ee-kaw loo-ke pa oo-let, aa-koo wa-la na ma-ka-wa."
3. "Buddy's" trip in the morning.
"Buddy" told the driver how happy he was with his trip that morning. He said that the traffic was so light and the passengers are overflowing. He added that he can do just two trips and his income will be fine for the day.
Well, until next trip.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
When it comes to fame, education goes out the window
This week's hottest issue is the Philippines Department of Education's (DepEd) alleged banning of the National Broadband Network star witness Mr. Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada.
For the most part of the week teachers organizations, religious groups, and private organizations complained about DepEd banning Mr. Lozada from visiting schools. This weekend, it's the turn of the students to air their side.
Let us make a few things clear:
1. In an order published by DepEd, no word that means ban (forbid, outlaw, prohibit, veto, bar, proscribe, disallow, interdict - courtesy of Microsoft Word Thesaurus) is written.
2. There is absolutely no Rodolfo, Jun, or Lozada in that order.
3. The order was published even before Lozada organized his school tours.
4. DepEd is mandated to provide basic (elementary and high school) education.
5. The order covers graduation ceremonies of elementary and secondary schools only.
You wait for six or four years to finish school and look forward to a good advice on how to survice high school or what course to take in college. Then come graduation day, all you hear is the political scene of the country.
The bone of contention, I believe, is paragraph 3 of the order that reads "The graduation rites should be conducted in an appropriate solemn ceremony befitting the graduating students and their parents and shall not in any way be used as a venue for political forum." But still, there is no mention of Mr. Lozada there.
Yet they keep on saying that DepEd is banning Mr. Lozada. Now, they even say that DepEd backtracked it's "ban" when no ban was ever made.
For the most part of the week teachers organizations, religious groups, and private organizations complained about DepEd banning Mr. Lozada from visiting schools. This weekend, it's the turn of the students to air their side.
Let us make a few things clear:
1. In an order published by DepEd, no word that means ban (forbid, outlaw, prohibit, veto, bar, proscribe, disallow, interdict - courtesy of Microsoft Word Thesaurus) is written.
2. There is absolutely no Rodolfo, Jun, or Lozada in that order.
3. The order was published even before Lozada organized his school tours.
4. DepEd is mandated to provide basic (elementary and high school) education.
5. The order covers graduation ceremonies of elementary and secondary schools only.
You wait for six or four years to finish school and look forward to a good advice on how to survice high school or what course to take in college. Then come graduation day, all you hear is the political scene of the country.
The bone of contention, I believe, is paragraph 3 of the order that reads "The graduation rites should be conducted in an appropriate solemn ceremony befitting the graduating students and their parents and shall not in any way be used as a venue for political forum." But still, there is no mention of Mr. Lozada there.
Yet they keep on saying that DepEd is banning Mr. Lozada. Now, they even say that DepEd backtracked it's "ban" when no ban was ever made.
These people are educated.
These people are in or has finished college.
And yet they forgot that they used to do research first before they went to class and delivered their report.
And this bothers me.
Is it because they just want their faces shown on television? Or their voices heard on the radio? Or their names printed on paper or posted on the web?
Why don't we celebrate the fulfillment of our years of work first, and talk politics later?
What do you think?
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