Recycle or be Damned

One night, I saw the TV show of the comedians Maverick and Ariel in TV 5. The show is "Ang Totoo TV" and they went to the town of Morong in the province of Rizal to visit a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) there. MRF is a facility where garbage are processed before they even reach the sanitary landfills. In this facility, garbage are sorted into biodegradable, recyclables, and other.

In the garbage of Morong, the recyclable materials; like plastic, tin cans, metals, and bottles; are collected by the MRF personnel and sold to junk shops. Biodegradable garbage like, spoiled food and plants materials, are crushed and then turned to fertilizers which will be given for free to the farmers.

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Too much garbage...

The policy of the town of Morong to recycle their garbage should be used as a model of the cities in Metro Manila. Everyday, tons of garbage are generated by Metro Manila and these garbage are being dumped to nearby towns of Rizal. The sad thing is that the citizens of Metro Manila don't care about the garbage that they generate.

Another sad thing is the used electronic gadgets that are thrown away as garbage. These type of garbage have chemicals that may poison the environment. It is no easy task recycling electronic components. Good thing that there are companies that can handle such task.

The problem on waste management is a serious matter and the country has haphazard system in managing its garbage. I hope that the MRF in Morong be copied by other towns and cities to protect our environment.

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Michael Jackson Is Dead

I got a big surprise when I opened my Internet this morning. Yahoo’s main page announced that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop and one of the most controversial singer of the last century, is dead. According to an article in Yahoo, the King of Pop died in UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Authorities did not yet state yet the cause of his death. He is just 50 years old when he died.

Throughout his life, Michael Jackson had been the center of attention, from his rise to pop stardom up until to his meteoric fall due to many scandals, specific of which are the accusations of pedophilia in his Neverland Ranch.

I will always remember this guy for some of weird videos of his concert wherein hundreds of his fans act like freaks. When I watched those videos, I couldn’t help myself but think why would these people act like that for a guy that look already like a skeleton. Sans the said video, I enjoyed many of Michael Jackson’s songs like Thriller, Smooth Criminal, and Heal the World. Heck, I even enjoyed his movie “Thriller.”

One thing is sure that will come due to the death of Michael Jackson, that is the sudden upshot of interest in items that he owned and other memorabilia that will be released to the public. At least our local showbiz “authorities” will have another “news” to tell this weekend.

Ako Mismo Ayoko Mismo ng Ako Mismo Dog Tag

Usong-uso ngayon, lalo na sa mga kabataan, ang Ako Mismo Dog Tag. Madalas na akong nakakakita ng mga taong naka-suot nito. Meron pa ngang nakabuyangyang sa madla ang kanyang Ako Mismo Dog Tag upang ipakita sa lahat na siya ay mayroon nga (at isa sa mga pinalad) ng Ako Mismo Dog Tag. Ngunit naiintindihan ba nila ang nais iparating ng programa ng Ako Mismo?

Ang programang “Ako Mismo” ay inilunsad sa madla ng isang grupo na kinabibilangan ng iba’t ibang tao na nagmula sa iba’t ibang sektor. Layon ng programa na ito na buksan ang isipan ng mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng paghahayag ng kanilang mumunting pangako sa sarili o sa bayan.

“Star-studded” ang programang ito dahil ilan sa mga “endorser” nito ay mga sikat na artista na sina Angel Locsin, ang mang-aawit na si Ely Buendia, at ang manlalaro ng Ateneo de Manila University sa larangan ng basketbol na si Chris Tiu. Meron din silang website kung saan nilalagay ng gustong makilahok sa “Ako Mismo” ang kanilang mga mumunting pangako. Marami rin silang mga programa sa iba’t ibang malls upang palawigin pa ang pakikilahok ng mga tao.

Maganda nga sana ang layunin ng “Ako Mismo” ngunit sa palagay ko ay ito ay isa lamang pauso sa tingin ng maraming tao, lalo na sa mga kabataan. Oo nga’t marami sa kanila ang nakasuot ng Dog Tag, karamihan naman sa kanila ay hindi alam ang pakahulugan ng Dog Tag na ipinapakita nila sa madla. Ang “Ako Mismo” dog tag ay matutulad lang sa ilang mga simbolo na nauuso ngayon. Matutulad lang ito sa “Three Stars and a Sun” ni Francis M na sumikat noong siya ay pumanaw, o kaya ng iba pang simbolo tulad ng Nazi Swastika, larawan ni Che Guevara, “Hammer and Sickle” ng mga Kumunista, Magdalo Flag, at kung anu-ano pa. Nawala ang pakuhulugan at minsan ay pinaghahalo-halo pa ng mga nakiki-uso.

Ang “Ako Mismo” dog tag, tulad ng mga nabanggit na mga simbolo, ay sinusuot lang ng karamihan bilang pang-porma. Upang ipakita nila sa mga tao na pasok din sila sa uso. Napaka-superficial ika nga sa wikang Ingles.

Kaya ngayon, ang masasabi ko talaga ay “ako mismo ay ayoko mismo ng Ako Mismo dog tag.”

One of These Days I’ll Punch Bayani in the Face

You are a simple employee doing a hard day’s work. After your shift, you pack your things and leave your workplace to go home. You are tired and stressed, all you need is a bus and then it is home at last. But no --- you still had to contend with Bayani Fernando’s wonderful system of herding passengers to their bus: The pink fences. So what if you are tired, you had to follow Bayani’s iron rule. Or you could imagine punching the MMDA lord in the face while trying to figure out how to pass through a throng of people and get to the bus you want

I am, of course, lamenting about MMDA’s pink fences in Cubao. According to the powers that may, those fences were placed so as to organize the people loading and unloading on the public utility buses. I don’t know if that’s the truth or they just want to make things hard for the people. I, for one, find it hard to follow their so-called system since I had to climb their metal barriers so as to reach the bus I need. The place is miserable, and Bayani’s pink fences are an added ugliness.

There are many of these fences all throughout the Metro and there are some which seems to be useless and a total waste of money. The pink fences along Commonwealth Avenue are examples of this. No one uses those fences. It seems that Bayani earned millions of pesos from those fences.

Those fences needed to be tore down or else, I may not stop but punch dear Bayani out of the face of the Earth.

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Diyus-Diyosan ang Sarili

There are those kinds of people. Those people who became so vain and so addicted with themselves that they thought they are gods whom their every whims and wishes should be followed by other people. This kind people just tasted a little wealth, a sprinkle of fame, and a thread of connection (as paraphrased from my other blog) and became an overwhelming self-centered brats.

Boyet Fajardo is guilty of this. His “creative outburst”; his demands to a fellow Filipino, who did nothing but do his work; the way he wanted to satisfy himself by making a fellow human being to kneel in front of him are evidence of this. Like all the bloggers all over the 7,100 islands of the Philippines and all over the world, I call on all Filipino to stop buying his RTWs. Do not let your skin touch any of his clothing line. He must seek forgiveness by doing a genuine apology. His apology infront of the media is not acceptable because he is not truly remorseful, which means that he still have some belief that what he did what right.

So, my fellow Filipino (and yes, Filipina too) let’s boycott Boyet Fajardo’s RTW. Never ever buy the products like Substance in SM Malls, Boyet Fajardo and Initials in Landmark and Robinson’s department stores.

His “creative outburst” against the Duty Free cashier is his “creative rantings” against all Filipino workers. Mabuhay ang mangagawang Pinoy at Pinay!

Spying on Leftists

The company where I work for has an aerial photography project. Thus, we submitted application for permit in conducting the project to the Air Transportation Office (ATO) and the Intelligence Office of the AFP. As part of our application, certain people, which said that they work in ATO, called and ask basic information to all personnel involved in the project. Their questioning on me went well until the person from the “ATO” asks something about my political affiliation.

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ATO-man: (after asking all basic information like educational background, address, etc.) …Eto last question na ito. Sana sagutin mo honestly ha.

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Ishmael: Sige po. Ano po ‘yun?

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ATO-man: Left-leaning ka ba?

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Ishmael: Ha? Ano po uli ‘yun?

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ATO-man: Left-leaning ka ba? Sumama ka na ba sa mga Rally? OK lang kung oo.

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Ishmael: Ah! Hindi po. Puro acads lang kasi ‘yung focus ko noong undergrad kaya hindi na ako sumama sa mga ganyan.

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ATO-man: Ganon? Kasi ‘di ba may mga makakaliwang grupo sa UP...tulad ng LFS [League of Filipno Students].

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Ishmael: Opo...alam ko po. Sikat nga po ‘yung UP sa mga ganyan.

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ATO-man: Pero may kilala ka na kasali sa mga grupong ‘yan?

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Ishmael: Ah, wala po. Wala akong kilala sa kanila.

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ATO-man: Wala...walang lumapit sa iyo na kasali? Wala kang na-engkwentro? OK lang sabihin mo ‘yung mga pangalan. Kakausapin ko lang sila.

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Ishmael: Meron po syempre...’yung minsan ‘pag may rali at nag-aabot ng leaflets. ‘yun lang po. Pero hindi ako sumasama kasi nga puro acads ako.

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ATO-man: Ganon...o sige tatawag na lang ako uli kung may iba pa akong questions ha.

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Actually, I lied in that conversation many times for the sake of the speedy processing of the permit and the protection of my friends that are involved in his so-called “leftist groups.” I joined a protest rally once and I encountered the so-called leftists beyond from being the receiver of their leaflets. I knew some people belonging to LFS and Anak Bayan. But what the heck. Why did he ask about my political affiliations and activities? Is it relevant in the company’s application for a permit?

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One thing is certain, that person from the “ATO” is trying to squeeze information from me about the critics of the present administration. And that, is scary.

Justice for Cris Mendez

Sikat na naman kami dito sa U.P. dahil sa mga frat. at few months before the centennial celebration pa. Astig din naman ang timing nila.

I wrote this post to show my indignation to what happened to Cris Mendez, a graduating public administration student, who was killed brutally by his supposedly future brads in the Sigma Rho Fraternity. Another young & bright student killed by the culture of violence that is almost as old as the university itself. What a waste, yes that is how I look at Cris' death. Waste of another life, waste of the taxpayer's money.

Joining a fraternity had been a dilemma for me. In the, past I was also invited of joining one but I refused (and mind you I had a very hard time refusing them). I do not say that all fraternities subscribe to violence, there are still fraternities out there that fosters brotherhood not in a violent way.

What perplex me is that applicants are subjected to hazing. What is the logic for that? Does that promote brotherhood within the fraternity, or is it just a form of retaliation because the members were subjected to the same tortures when they are still applicants? These people call themselves as iskolar ng bayan, matatalino. Shame! Its a shame to the masses. They sacrificed their life, their blood for us to get an education. Its a shame!

Fraternities like the Sigma Rho is nothing but gangsterism camouflaging as a legitimate brotherhood and the university had been blind on this.

I call for justice, justice for Cris, justice to other people killed by the senseless hazing, justice for the innocent people killed by fraternities because they were mistaken as member of the rival fraternity.

I call for the alumni and elders of these fraternities, please rein in your brads. One thing I want for the perpetrators of the murder, I want them expelled from the university, I want them imprisoned.

Boycott Manila Standard Today

Manila Standard Today did not fired Malu Fernandez...they did not heed the call of bloggers, OFWs and similar minded people that call for the resignation or firing of Malu. For this, I join tens of bloggers which call for the boycott of Manila Standard. Please do not buy their newspaper. Let us show the owners of this paper that we will not put up with their indifference. Join us. Please put this badge on your site. Let us spread the word, let us defend our OFW fellowmen. Thank you.

Anak ng Papi!

Senate...keep your hands off from the hello Papi scandal. Damn, the Senate has many work to do and the senators should not waste time by having an inquiry in aid of legislation about the cheating issue in the show Wowowee.

Nak ng Papi naman oh! After the Ultra Stampede, our boob tube is again bombarded by another issue about Wowowee (which is a crappy show, btw). There seems to be cheating in one of their contests wherein Willie pulled out two numbers. one of the number is zero and the other is number two which signifies 2 million pesos. The incident created an issue that there is a cheating on the show. ABS-CBN said that it is just a technical glitch. After watching the video of the incident, I am convinced that there is really cheating, that what happened is not a technical glitch.

Currently the issue revolves around the fight of words between Joey de Leon and Willie. the top honchos of ABS-CBN are excellent tacticians. They engineered their media to focus the issue not on the real incident but on the word war between the two noontime show hosts. Now, Wowowee scrambles two keep their TFC viewers from leaving them.

There are news that the senate will investigate the matter. Wot the hell! Why don't they let the Department of Trade and Industry to tackle the issue.

In the end, I say that Wowowee should be removed from the air and ABS-CBN be punished in its crime in the Ultra Tragedy and now in cheating the contestants and breaching the trusts of their viewers in general. Willie should be imprisoned by inciting the poor people to swarm in Ultra by giving false statements and untruths.

In the end, we viewers must show our strength by saying to these media establishments that we want intelligent programs. The bastards, all they care for is their profits.