Algorithmic Bias and the News on Iran War

The current war in the Middle East spurred me to watch news and latest updates in Youtube  as I no longer rely on free TV or newspaper. The news outlet that I clicked first is Fox News and from that moment on Youtube just give me video clips from Fox. I have to scroll a lot to find other news outlets like BBC. The CNN? Nada, they don't appear in my Youtube feed.

The algorithm machine of Youtube thought that I prefer Fox over CNN --- which is correct. But just showing me Fox is just too much. I actually wanted to see other News Outlet for a balanced perspective.

This incident showed me the danger of algorithmic bias of social apps. In a bid to make me watch longer, Youtube, FB, etc. will just show me the things that I like. Longer views translates to higher revenue.

Relying on algorithm limits our understanding of the complex issue that affects us all. Thus, it is imperative for us to actively search for the facts rather than be blinded by platforms nd their algrithmic bias. 

Let Us Not Forget the Yolanda and Earthquake Victims

Christmas  is a happy season. People think of shopping spree, plenty of parties and unlimited food. Who wouldn't want to be happy? It is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday anyway. It is natural to be so merry.

There is the tendency for the people to focus on the happy things this Season. All the negative vibes are placed to the sidelines because we are supposed to be merry. Sadly, one thing that was placed to the sidelines are the double tragedies that occurred in the Visayas region. It seems like that the people suddenly forget the plight of our kababayans affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda and Bohol earthquake starting December 1.

For instance, right now in the media it is the word war between Tacloban City Mayor and Romualdez and Mar “Palengkero” Roxas that is hogging the limelight. Last week, it is the bickering of two old politicians and earlier than that it is the fight between Pacquiao and the BIR that buried the Yolanda tragedy.

The political teledrama is on.

I hope that I'm wrong. I hope that people are still helping, albeit silently, our kababayans in Visayas. I hope against hope that the Government is doing its responsibility to the people of Yolanda-hit and earthquake affected areas.

But the reality is bleak. Hoarding of relief goods is happening. Corrupt people sell relief goods that are intended for Yolanda victims. It is sad that some people used the tragedy as money generating scheme.

A friend of mine, who has siblings and relatives in Ormoc, informed me of the hardships that the citizens of that city are experiencing. People who are ill line up in a public hospital despite the fact that all the equipments and medicines were wiped out by the typhoon. As if to confirm Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez' report, my friend said that politicians only help those who voted for them. Tacloban is still stinking because of yet-to-be-recorded corpses.

Good thing that private individuals are working together to help Yolanda survivors. One example is the Oplan Trabaho that will be conducted to provide job for the survivors. What they're doing is good but not enough because the magnitude of destruction wrought by the two calamities. More people should answer the call and bring more aid.

(Source: Inquirer Global Nation)

Yolanda victims are still firm on their Faith in the Lord. They are calling to Him amidst the destruction. And His answer to them will be their fellow-Filipinos who have the resources to help. God is asking us, calling us, to help.

Let us then answer this call. Let us not forget them especially this Christmas Season. As our Lord has said, “as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.”

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The source of the first image is InterAksyon.com

Random Notes #1

Finally, I am back from the heyday of travels and many activities that eclipsed the time that I should be spending with this blog. May I say that “I am sorry” to you, one of the few constant readers, for leaving an old post (and a bunch of paid posts) before I left abroad for a very short travel.

Now that I am back, I hope that everything will normalize so that I could give you the regular dose of my thoughts on this blog. I went to many places and did one marvelous thing that I believe will place my life to the right direction. In the coming weeks I will blog about the things that I saw, the experiences, and the places I went to.

As for this moment, let me leave you some random notes that I noticed while I am in absentia:

1. Terrible Airport – I got the opportunity to travel to travel to the “Land Down Under.” My connecting flight is in Kuala Lumpur and I saw how marvelous the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is. The International Terminal of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) looks shoddy when compared with KLIA. Foreign tourists ranked NAIA as one of the worst airports in the world and, sadly, I agree with them.

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(Source: Wikipedia)

2. Australians Love Kangaroos – I love kangaroos too. And like the Australians, I love them on my plate. I just discovered that kangaroo meat is delicious and one of the healthiest meat in the world.

3.  Clan War – When I left Manila, the Islamic Rebels and the government soldiers are killing each other in Mindanao. When I returned to Manila, it is the members of the Revilla clan (a local political clan in the Philippines) who are killing one another.

4. Manny Pacquiao is Popular – The greatest Filipino boxer is the only Filipino celebrity that I heard about during my whole stay in Australia.

5. M Lhuillier Pawnshop is Taking their Money in the Visayas – Particulary in Camotes Islands. I discovered that the pawnshop already bought half of the lands in a barangay in town of San Francisco. They are building a big resort in the islands that have its own wharf.

6. Manila Sunset is Better – I discovered that the Manila Bay is Sunset is way better than the sunset of West Australia. My only wish is that the coasts of Manila Bay be cleaned so that people can enjoy the beautiful sunset view.

So, that is my random notes for this day. I hope that everything get settled down so I can blog regularly in the coming weeks.

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Mayor Bistek is Scarier than the MMDA Sign

If you are living in Metro Manila or if you have visited Metro Manila, then it is possible that you have seen this sign:

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The sign reads: "BAWAL TUMAWID MAY NAMATAY NA DITO"

Translated in English it reads: "Crossing is prohibited. Somebody already died here."

The above photo was taken last May along Commonwealth Avenue. The said signage is just the second version of the anti-jaywalking signs posted during the time of MMDA Admin Bayani Fernando. The original signage read: "Walang tawiran. Nakamamatay" ("No crossing. Deadly).

Last month I was surprised that the MMDA anti-jaywalking sign was replaced with this:

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The signage reads, "Bawal Tumawid" (Crossing is prohibited) with the smiling photo of Quezon City Mayor Bistek. For those who are not familiar with the Philippine showbiz, "Bistek" is the nickname given to the former actor Herbert Bautista.

Why was the MMDA signage replaced by this signage of the smiling Mayor Bistek? The possible reason why the MMDA was replaced because it is not that scary to jaywalkers anymore. Quezon City officials thought that they could scare jaywalkers from crossing Commonwealth Avenue by showing a "killer" smile of Mayor Bistek.

Well, the second photo shows that their thinking was wrong. The jaywalker in the photo was not "persuaded" by the smiling Bistek not to jaywalk.

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Meet the New Philippine Peso Bill

Finally, I got the chance to get my first copy the new Philippine Peso Bill.

Yup, you read that right, “new Philippine Peso bill.” It is new because the new president wants all things new that is why he also tinkered with our money. I also think that the president want to have a new set of Philippine Peso bills because he want to remove this:

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That is the back part of 200 pesos and it depicts the inauguration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, right after the second EDSA “People Power” deposed Erap from Malacanang. Noynoy really hates PGMA that he don’t want to see her on the Philippine Peso bill whenever he pay for his yosi (cigarettes) or for his the Diesel of his Porsche. I am also not a fan of the 200-peso note and also of EDSA II, so this is good riddance.

I got the new 20-peso bill and there are many changes on the front and back part. Here is the new 20-peso bill:

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Here is the old 20-peso bill:

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Notice that President Manuel Quezon in the new 20-peso bill. Also, the Malacanang Palace is transferred at the front. At the back are Banaue Rice Terraces and an animal, which is called as palm civet.

Are the new Philippine Peso Bills good things? I don’t know. What I know is that some people mistook it for play money just like the old lady inside that argued with the jeepney driver to give her real money:

Lola: Manong, manong! Ayaw ko nitong sukli mo. Play money binigay mo sa akin eh.

Driver: Nay, totoong pera po iyan. Bagong labas lang po.

Lola: Hindi! Niloloko mo ako eh. Play money ito.

At walang nagawa si manong driver kundi kunin ang “play money” at isukli ang lumang bente.

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Images of Philippine Peso bills came from GenSanBlog, Philippine Coins and Banknotes and Money of the World. 

Uy, May Royal Wedding Daw

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Nagkakagulo ang taga-media. Hindi magkandaugaga kung ano ang dapat i-cover. Astig nga naman ang event na mangyayari sa Britanya eh. Nakatutok na daw ang atensyon ng buong mundo sa London, hindi dahil sa “London bridge is falling down” pero dahil daw sa Royal Wedding ng taon.

Yup, ikakasal na daw si Prince William at ang “commoner” na si Catherine Middleton. Napakahalaga dawn g pangyayari na ito kaya ang TV 5 nakipag-team up pa sa official channel ng Royal Wedding. Ang GMA at ABS-CBN naman nagpadala ng correspondents. Paulit-ulit ang advertisement ng kasal sa TV.

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Teka lang, sino ba itong mga ikakasal na ito? Gaano ba kahalaga sa bansa at sa masang Pilipino ang kasal nila para pagbuhusan ng atensyon ng Philippine media. Bakit kailangan kong Makita ang mga patalastas ng kasal at maki-congrats at best wishes kay William at Catherine?

Sa tingin ko lang dapat hindi na nag-focus ang media sa Royal Wedding na ito. Marami pang mas mahalagang bagay ang dapat nating bigyan nang pansin tulad ng:

1. Love Life ni President Noynoy. Aba, dapat alam natin kung sinong chikabebs ang pinopormahan ng bachelor na president natin. Malay natin, nairgalo nap ala niya ang Mindanao sa nililigawan niya.

2. Pagtaas ng bilihin, gasolina, pamasahe at hindi pagtaas ng sweldo.

3. Ang hinayupak na RH Bill at yung patuloy na pangloloko ng mga nagsusulong nito sa Kongreso. Oh wait, may pumiyok pala. Si Esperanza Cabral, sabi niya nakaka-breast cancer daw ang contraceptive pills.

4. Mga pasabog ni Ping Lacson. Aba, importante ito. Actually yan lang naman Gawain niyan ni Ping sa Senado eh. Magpasabog.

5. Beatification ni Pope John Paul II. Mas importante pa ito kesa sa kasal na iyan. O sino kokontra?

6. Kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari sa Imortal. Aba, naglalaban na ang mga lobo at bampira. Ako matagal nang naghihintay na may lumabas na tiktik at manananggal. Oh wait, nasa labas nap ala sila ng TV, nagsusulong ng RH Bill.

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Where is the Spirit of EDSA?

This month, Filipinos or, to be exact, those who care are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first EDSA People Power Revolution. As usual, local television are bombarding televiewers with photos, video clips, sound bites, testimonies and commentaries that showcase the peaceful revolution that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Though TV, newspaper and radio keep on reminding us the importance of the first EDSA people power, one thing is clear --- the Spirit of EDSA is dead or, at the very least, already forgotten by the Filipino people.

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I never experienced the first EDSA People Power. I was inside my mother's womb when the Filipino people braved the tanks and guns to join the crowd demanding for change at EDSA. I believe that majority of the Filipinos in my generation are in the same situation as me. We didn't experience the first People Power but we are exhorted to be proud of it. The question is how can we be proud of the first People Power when the same corruption that supposedly toppled 25 years ago still exists? The very ills that our fathers and mothers fought against at EDSA are still thriving. How can we feel the importance of EDSA People Power when what our generation had is the mob ruled EDSA II that creates division instead of unity?
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"Buhayin and diwa ng EDSA" (relive the spirit of EDSA), this is the theme of the mainstream media. "Buhayin..." it is as if the media confirmed that the Spirit of EDSA is really dead. Yes, that Spirit is really gone and it is lost to the Filipino youth.
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The Obvious Bias of Philippine Mainstream Media

My trust in the Philippine mainstream media dropped further when media entities obviously showed their bias when they totally ignored the pro-life and anti-Reproductive Health (RH) Bill rally staged by various organizations at the PICC in Manila last Sunday. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, GMA Network, ABS-CBN and TV 5 intentionally ignored the anti-RH rally of 20,000 people or so.

What is more irritating is that these media entities gave column space and air time to a pro-RH rally staged in front of the Philippine Congress. This rally was held by a certain party list and just attended by 50 people or so.

The bias is very obvious. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, GMA Network, ABS-CBN and TV 5 can't give time and space for a rally held by thousands of people coming from various organizations, yet chose to entertain the rally of few people coming from one organization.

With this, I have only one conclusion. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, GMA Network, ABS-CBN and TV 5 are untrustworthy media entities. They are biased and submit themselves to propaganda. They don't fairly air both sides of the issue, especially the issue about the RH Bill or the consolidated RH Bill.

They are disgusting, especially whenever their news anchors says their gasgas na mantra: "walang kinikilingan," "walang pinoprotektahan," "tahanan ng katotohanan" whatever. Now, I will always subject to doubt all "news" the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, GMA Network, ABS-CBN and TV 5 air. Sensationalized and biased, that's what these media entities are.

To better understand what I am saying about, I suggest that you visit the post about the Filipinos Unite for Life Rally in Filipinos for Life website. Also, read about the article from People for Media that exposed the obvious bias of Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, GMA Network, ABS-CBN and TV 5.

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My 2010 Senatorial Candidates

Few days are remaining before we finally cast our votes for the candidates that we believe to have the capability and the character to lead the country.

However, many Filipinos are still undecided whom to vote for, especially when it comes to filling the 12 vacant positions for the Senate. This indecision was caused of the lack of focus that the Philippine media is giving to the Senatorial candidates as compared with presidential and vice – presidential candidates.

The Senate, together with the Lower House (Congress), forms the Legislative Branch of the Philippine Government. The Legislative Branch is the co-equal branch of the Judiciary and the Executive Branch of the government. The power of the Senate stems from the fact that its members are duly elected by the people. It is the Filipino people who gave the Senators the power to craft laws and be the force to serve as check and balances to the possible abuses of the other two governmental branches.

Because of this, choosing the Senators in the 2010 Elections is as important our bets for the posts of president and vice-president.

As for me, I have already chosen some candidates that I will vote in May 10. I am endorsing them to you dear readers and I hope that you vote for them too. Here are the candidates that I will surely vote in May 10:

Francisco “Kit” Tatad (No. 57)

Kit Tatad was one of the senators who sat in Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial. Unlike his fellow senators who subscribed to dramatics to gain the attention of the media, Tatad chose to stick to the rules prescribed by the constitution and the internal rules of the Senate. This is what I admired for this man that is why I will vote for him.

Gwendolyn Pimentel (No. 44)

Despite being the daughter of Senator Nene Pimentel, Gwen is out to create a name for her. I’ll be voting for her because we share the same stand regarding the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. We both believe that the current version of the RH Bill have provisions that is unconstitutional and somewhat tramples on the basic rights of the Filipino people. Because of her belief, she got a vote for me.

Jo Aurea Imbong (No. 21)

She is one of the senatorial bet of the Ang Kapatiran Party and a newbie when it comes t national politics. However, she is not new when it comes to public service. She has a consistent track record in supporting activities that protects the Filipino family. For that, she gets my vote.

Tatad, Pimentel, and Imbong are the senatorial candidates that I will vote for in the elections in May 10. I do hope that you vote for them too because they will serve as our vanguard in the august halls of Senate.

I still have 9 Senatorial candidates to choose for so as to complete the 12 Senatorial slates. So far, I am considering Neric Acosta (No. 1), Alex Lacson (No. 23), and Bong Bong Marcos (No. 32).

How about you dear reader, who is your Senatorial bets? What can you say about the senatorial candidates that I am still considering? Are they worthy of my vote? Please share your thoughts and leave a comment.

Please vote Kit Tatad (No. 57), Gwen Pimentel (No. 44), and Jo Imbong (No. 21) for Senator in May 10.


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This is Prohibited

The Filipino people is feeling the election heat! And aside from that, we are experiencing the usual eyesore.

Banners are scattered everywhere. Posted on walls, nailed on poor trees, and pasted virtually on any surface that is visible to the public.

This photo was taken on Quirino Highway in Quezon City and MMDA just told us this: "Bawal Ito" (This is Prohibited).
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So if this is "bawal" then what should we do with political posters like these?

As for me I will peel them off the walls whenever I got the chance.

How about you, what will you do on eyesores like this?

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No Mistress Allowed

I just found this weird announcement on one of MGP Transit’s Cubao – Fairview bus:

 

Sorry if the photo is not of good quality and the words are hard to read. :-(

What the announcement trying to say is:

“Bawal sumakay ang kabit ng empleyado ng MGP Trans”

Translated in English, that announcement would read: “Mistresses of employees are not allowed on board the MGP Transit bus.”

Weird!

Why is this announcement placed inside the buses of MGP Transit? Is there an incident in the past that involved the employee, the mistress, and the employee’s wife? Or, is it because the owner of the bus company experienced terrible fate with her husband?

What do you think it is? Give me your thoughts.

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Another Use for the Pink Fence

Bayani Fernando implemented great and innovative ideas as the chairman of the MMDA. The famous of his many ideas is the MMDA pink fence.

In his stay as Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman, presidential aspirant Bayani Fernando built many pink fences throughout Metro Manila. There are pink fences on the sidewalks, on the streets, on the islands and in any place within the Metro imaginable. Aside from the usual use of fences, that is to serve as boundary between two areas, Bayani Fernando thought of many ways to use it. In Cubao and other areas, his pink fences serves as a tool to herd commuters and public buses like cattle. It also serves as a blockade to the pesky jaywalkers all throughout the Metro. The fences also serve as blockades during rallies. It was even used by MMDA as public bulletin boards where MMDA can notify the public of the latest concerts of their chairman.
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MMDA Pink Fences along EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City

I also have a novel idea for Bayani’s pink fences. My idea is to use the pink fences as a prison. The form of the pink fence prison can be likened to the pink fence below:

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My proposed pink fence jail.

This will discipline the Filipino drivers. Instead of just issuing tickets, all the MMDA officers and traffic enforcers have to do is to lock – up each traffic violator for thirty minutes for each violation. Motorists, commuters, and pedestrians can be imprisoned inside the pink fence. If a jeepney driver unloads/loads passengers at “no loading/unloading” area then he can be imprisoned for thirty minutes inside the fence. Jaywalkers will also be imprisoned for thirty minutes inside the fence.

Imagine the inconvenience of the time lost for traffic violators and also the shame of being imprisoned publicly. This scheme will deter traffic violators and make traffic more bearable.

I know that this is still impossible to implement in the current settings. However, if Bayani became the president, I believe that this is possible since he will rule with an iron hand.

Hope that the MMDA peeps will read this post. :-)

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InPhoto: Prevent Those Little Accidents

One of MyPhone handlebar ads at the LRT 1 trains says:

“Helps prevent those little accidents.”

The words with smaller font add:

“MyPhone S72 Duo Slider keeps track of your menstrual cycle so you don’t have to.”

My question now is, “What do they mean by ‘little accidents’?”



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Killing Macho-s**t Will be Cool

I wish that I have an M-16 with me all the time, or maybe a simple “paltik” will do. And I also wish that I had the license to kill anybody, just like Agent 007. Why? Because some macho-s**t (a term for men who thinks that having many girls make them manly) out there never had a decency to shut his mouth up!

The rain this afternoon forced me to go to the LRT-3 Recto Station so that I could go home without the hassle of the flood and heavy traffic. There were these two men who keep on babbling about their officemate. They are talking about their office mate's escapade. Of many young college girls their officemate had “de-virginized.” Of how these girls allow themselves to have an affair with that guy. How they use those girls as sex objects. They even compared the current college girls with those during their college years. Apparently, the person they are talking about is a professor or someone who is working in a school. They even joked that one day, their officemate will be the one on the tabloid with a headline “Coed Tinuhog ng Prof” or something like.

How could they even joke? How dare they babble about such things in public? How dare they tolerate such acts? How could they let the Filipina be treated as sex objects?

The answer for all these question is that the two are a bunch of macho-s**t who kept on dreaming on “scoring” on college girls. Their tone hints that they want to emulate their office mate. They want to continue this violence against girls that are much younger than they. They want the student to be their sex objects.

I just want to shoot them right there and then and force them to tell where their office mate live so that I could erase him in this world.

Women activist woefully says that men and women are not equal in this country. I agree with them. Those two macho-s**ts just proved that many Filipinos are still not gender sensitive. That many Filipinos think that Filipinas are mere sex objects.

It is saddening. Really.

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