Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Nationalism in shirts
I have been noticing for sometime now the emergence of t-shirts with nationalistic designs. Shirts with the 8-rayed sun and three stars, representations of the Philippine flag, and even artistic portraits of national heroes.
When we went to attend a wedding in Jala-jala, Rizal last Saturday, we passed through Tanay town to change rides (I do not know of any direct rides from Metro Manila to Jala-jala). On our way home, we took some time to visit the local tiangge for some post-Christmas shopping. I can't help but notice the various displays of shirts with sun and star designs. Some even have "I'm proud to be Pinoy" in-scripted in the front of the shirt.
So I thought, is this a drive to raise the nationalistic spirit of the Filipino or is this a post Manny Pacquiao-Oscar dela Hoya sale? I got a chance to peek at one of the shirts with what looks like Manny Pacquiao printed on it with a "Kaya ng Pinoy" superimposed on the lower part of the image.
Whether it is for Manny or for the country in general, these shirts are coming out everywhere. I am guessing that one of these days, these shirt designs will have a new addition on them. The face of a presidential candidate now that the 2010 presidential election looms in the horizon.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
System loss charge
This is an analysis of the TV commercial made for Meralco with Judy Ann Santos (who i first knew as Ula, ang batang gubat) on the system loss charge.
This post is in no way is being used against Meralco, Ms. Santos, or the ad agency. It merely analyzes the presentation of their point regarding system loss.
Here's how I see this production and expense happens. Electricity is produced by the power plants. They spend for that production and sell it to distributors. Distributors like Meralco pay the marked up value of the power and sells it to users. Users then pay for the marked up cost of electricity.
In the commercial, Judy Ann explains that system loss is similar to ice losing its solidity. If you purchase a bag of ice from a store and carry it home, some get lost as it melts. They say that in the same manner, system loss is the weakening of the strength of purchased electricity as it is transmitted from the independent power producers to your home.
After some thought, I realized that they missed something in the commercial.
The melting ice is paid for and turns to liquid after the purchase during the transit from store to home. And the buyer pays for this loss in terms of reduced coldness. The loss is that of the buyer and not of the vendor since the merchandise has been paid for.
Now, if you relate this to electrical consumption, system loss is not the loss of the user but the distributor or power producer.
I think they should come up with a better presentation.
This post is in no way is being used against Meralco, Ms. Santos, or the ad agency. It merely analyzes the presentation of their point regarding system loss.
Here's how I see this production and expense happens. Electricity is produced by the power plants. They spend for that production and sell it to distributors. Distributors like Meralco pay the marked up value of the power and sells it to users. Users then pay for the marked up cost of electricity.
In the commercial, Judy Ann explains that system loss is similar to ice losing its solidity. If you purchase a bag of ice from a store and carry it home, some get lost as it melts. They say that in the same manner, system loss is the weakening of the strength of purchased electricity as it is transmitted from the independent power producers to your home.
After some thought, I realized that they missed something in the commercial.
The melting ice is paid for and turns to liquid after the purchase during the transit from store to home. And the buyer pays for this loss in terms of reduced coldness. The loss is that of the buyer and not of the vendor since the merchandise has been paid for.
Now, if you relate this to electrical consumption, system loss is not the loss of the user but the distributor or power producer.
I think they should come up with a better presentation.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Latin prayer
I heard mass with my wife this evening and towards the end, the priest prayed in Latin as a closing prayer. Suddenly, I realized, I did not understand a single word he said except that I need to join the crowd in saying "amen."
On our way out, I wondered, did anybody else understand that closing prayer? I think not.
My grandmother prays in Latin during prayer evening when we were young. Of course she understood what she was praying (I assumed), but our generation (at least for mine and my siblings' part) we never did.
So why do priests these days pray Latin when they should know that not all the churchgoers understand any word they say? Is it to impress us that they know Latin? Or is Latin the only language understood in heaven?
All priests learn Latin while in the seminary. I know because I once was to be a seminarian. Unfortunately, the presence of beautiful girls in the seminary ground during family Sundays is nothing compared to the presence of beautiful girls in UP High School in Iloilo everyday. So I gave up my dream to become a priest by foregoing my slot in St. Vincent's Seminary.
After all the years in the seminary, seminarians, or the priests themselves, become well versed in Latin. It is the language used in writings from Rome after all. To better comprehend books in priesthood, seminarians need to learn the language used in writing those books.
But I doubt that Latin is the official language in heaven. Jesus, after all, spoke Aramaic growing up.
On another note, why else would God make the Apostles speak in tongues when Latin is the official language in heaven?
You see, the events following the construction of the Tower of Babel made possible the differing languages of man. Man tried to build a tower that will reach to the heavens so they can be in the same level as God. Angry at man for being too ambitious, God made man speak in tongues and the 'language barrier' ensured the failure of the construction of the Tower of Babel.
So, by giving the Apostles capacity to speak in the language of other men, God made it easier to spread his word amongst peoples. This, to me, proves that we need not pray in Latin to be heard by God.
In closing, I suggest that Roman Catholic priests save the Latin prayers for high mass and speak the language understood by the least educated churchgoer during Sunday celebrations.
On our way out, I wondered, did anybody else understand that closing prayer? I think not.
My grandmother prays in Latin during prayer evening when we were young. Of course she understood what she was praying (I assumed), but our generation (at least for mine and my siblings' part) we never did.
So why do priests these days pray Latin when they should know that not all the churchgoers understand any word they say? Is it to impress us that they know Latin? Or is Latin the only language understood in heaven?
All priests learn Latin while in the seminary. I know because I once was to be a seminarian. Unfortunately, the presence of beautiful girls in the seminary ground during family Sundays is nothing compared to the presence of beautiful girls in UP High School in Iloilo everyday. So I gave up my dream to become a priest by foregoing my slot in St. Vincent's Seminary.
After all the years in the seminary, seminarians, or the priests themselves, become well versed in Latin. It is the language used in writings from Rome after all. To better comprehend books in priesthood, seminarians need to learn the language used in writing those books.
But I doubt that Latin is the official language in heaven. Jesus, after all, spoke Aramaic growing up.
On another note, why else would God make the Apostles speak in tongues when Latin is the official language in heaven?
You see, the events following the construction of the Tower of Babel made possible the differing languages of man. Man tried to build a tower that will reach to the heavens so they can be in the same level as God. Angry at man for being too ambitious, God made man speak in tongues and the 'language barrier' ensured the failure of the construction of the Tower of Babel.
So, by giving the Apostles capacity to speak in the language of other men, God made it easier to spread his word amongst peoples. This, to me, proves that we need not pray in Latin to be heard by God.
In closing, I suggest that Roman Catholic priests save the Latin prayers for high mass and speak the language understood by the least educated churchgoer during Sunday celebrations.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Benefits of hand washing
I was able to witness a hand washing event last month.
Present during the event were representatives from the UNICEF and the Departments of Health and Education.
The education agency was represented by no other than its Secretary, Honorable Datu Dr. Jesli A. Lapus.
Kids from the Fort Bonifacio Elementary School were taught how to properly wash their hands. It is said that hand washing can effectively prevent the occurrence of the five most common diseases that cause children to miss school.
A healthy child is a happy child. A healthy child is always in school. A happy child enjoys learning.
Present during the event were representatives from the UNICEF and the Departments of Health and Education.
The education agency was represented by no other than its Secretary, Honorable Datu Dr. Jesli A. Lapus.
Kids from the Fort Bonifacio Elementary School were taught how to properly wash their hands. It is said that hand washing can effectively prevent the occurrence of the five most common diseases that cause children to miss school.
A healthy child is a happy child. A healthy child is always in school. A happy child enjoys learning.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
It goes around
I came to a conclusion when I read the banner at a local church stating how a religious group of women condemns the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.
A few days ago, I have read in a local paper that the bill is gaining popular support from various groups including some religious ones. Later on, I have read that some government leaders are unwilling to support the bill.
Today, I realized that this is what will happen to the issue:
there is a pattern to this particular issue.
1. The members of Congress comes up with a plan to help solve national concerns, in this case the reproductive health bill as a way to help manage population growth.
2. Organizations begin to oppose the plan (e.g. saying that the bill is anti-life).
3. The plan (or the bill) gets shelved. As an effect of the shelving of the RH bill, people, mindless of what they do, continue to contribute to the growing number of Filipinos.
4. Since most of those who have more than enough children seem to come from middle to lower income groups, these kids and their families need to rely on government support for education, health, and employment.
5. Now enter the organizations. They implement programs to help the above-mentioned families have decent education, health care, and employment.
6. As the population continuously grow, both the government and the organizations get their hands full.
7. The organizations begin to blame the government for lack of support.
8. The government once again thinks of ways to solve the problem and comes up with a plan.
9. Continued on item number 2.
I think this cycle can be applied to almost all problems and solutions faced by governments worldwide.
I do not say we let the government just implement anything they want to do.
As a person, we should have a deeper understanding of the issues and see further than what is shoved in our faces. We may lack the capacity to do it but we can start by discussing those concerns that affect our lives. And we should discuss them with open minds, weighing each side, and coming up with informed decisions.
If we can come up with unique names for our kids, why can't we form our own opinions?
If you just go with what is the popular decision then you are like a lemming - you jump off the cliff because that is what everybody is doing.
A few days ago, I have read in a local paper that the bill is gaining popular support from various groups including some religious ones. Later on, I have read that some government leaders are unwilling to support the bill.
Today, I realized that this is what will happen to the issue:
there is a pattern to this particular issue.
1. The members of Congress comes up with a plan to help solve national concerns, in this case the reproductive health bill as a way to help manage population growth.
2. Organizations begin to oppose the plan (e.g. saying that the bill is anti-life).
3. The plan (or the bill) gets shelved. As an effect of the shelving of the RH bill, people, mindless of what they do, continue to contribute to the growing number of Filipinos.
4. Since most of those who have more than enough children seem to come from middle to lower income groups, these kids and their families need to rely on government support for education, health, and employment.
5. Now enter the organizations. They implement programs to help the above-mentioned families have decent education, health care, and employment.
6. As the population continuously grow, both the government and the organizations get their hands full.
7. The organizations begin to blame the government for lack of support.
8. The government once again thinks of ways to solve the problem and comes up with a plan.
9. Continued on item number 2.
I think this cycle can be applied to almost all problems and solutions faced by governments worldwide.
I do not say we let the government just implement anything they want to do.
As a person, we should have a deeper understanding of the issues and see further than what is shoved in our faces. We may lack the capacity to do it but we can start by discussing those concerns that affect our lives. And we should discuss them with open minds, weighing each side, and coming up with informed decisions.
If we can come up with unique names for our kids, why can't we form our own opinions?
If you just go with what is the popular decision then you are like a lemming - you jump off the cliff because that is what everybody is doing.
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