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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Balik Tanaw habang walang araw..

It's currently raining right now.. They said that this typhoon is a super typhoon.. After a disastrous one (Typhoon Ondoy) comes another one.. (Typhoon Pepeng)... But this is not the concern of this post...

When I were in my elementary level, I was not used to being responsible. Somehow, I made it to the top 10 just for some sheer luck or something of that sort. I was not the type who would tell my father to buy books for me to read or tell my mother to read me stories at night. My father and mother were busy individuals so to say. My father is a soldier who is most of the time at work. My mother is running a small sari sari store business. My elementary years had been completed with little fuzz. It was only during my last grade level that I felt the pressure. I had to be a little serious for my future depends on my education.

When I were on the last grade level , I had to choose on which school to go to. As I said, I was the easy-go-lucky type. I have no passion for studying. I open notes and books only during the night before examinations. On the edge of my decision making for secondary education, I had one very memorable thought. On my way of making up my mind, my father remarked that, "If you won't be part of the CNSHS, then, you'd better not study.." I was shocked. I never knew that being not serious with studies could make me loose even my future. I don't know whether the remark given by my father is serious or not. But it served as my guide. From then on, I did my best to improve my skills. Mathematical, scientific and linguistic. All at a time. Whew... I knew that I have a long mile to work out. On my way to discovering things, I have found that I knew nothing. It seems that I have not learned a thing. Gee.. On my way towards improvement, I made goals that never crossed my mind before. One of them is to become part of the top five. My faint memory told me that during one of the quarters in my last grade level, there had been a time when 3 people had this tie on the 4th, 5th and 6th level. I was really happy for I was one of them. We all were ranked 5th.

And that was all that was said. During our time, only the first five pupils will receive a medal.

I remembered when I were in Nursery. I could still remember that I was one of the bright ones. I am the third in my section. The second is my crush and the first is a close friend. I received a medal for some luck because only the top 3 students were awarded. Sadly, I never gave credits to my medal when I have learned that the donor of my medal is my father... hahaha. Somehow, I felt that the award is fake. Something made up. I felt that I did not deserve the award. And did you know what I did, I used it as "pamato sa supo". Hahaha. I am such a naughty boy back then. Now I realized so much. That the act is not to degrade the award. It simply is an act that shows how my parents value my education.

As I was saying, Only the first five will receive a medal. Luckily, when the announcement was made, I am not part of the five stars. It somehow did hurt. I was not expecting so much but I knew that I did my part. But all I got was I think not enough to make it to the top. Perhaps my classmates are better. During the graduation, I still managed to get a medal.. Mind you, the award is "best in religion".. perhaps there's a message behind it. Sure enough.

The experience made me pray hard for whatever I want. For me to decipher what HE wants for me and not what I want. There were six of us who took the entrance exam at CNSHS. All male pupils. And it was given to me.. Only three of us qualified - the first, second and me.. Some of the members of the top ten are girls. They expressed no desire to study there.. And we on the other hand felt the pressure.


I have not explored the idea of what would become of me had I not qualified. Will I still be me had I not gone through my experiences. Haays.. It was only during this rainy day that I did explore my past. Fortunate are we who are safe. Blessed are those who are tested. And Loved are we all by HIM.





The Spotted Deer

A report from the Philippine Star... Just want to share this...

Philippine Spotted Deer
(Cervus alfredi)

One of the world's rarest mammals lives in the dwindling forest of Panay Island. It is the Philippine spotted deer (Cervus alfredi), considered by many as the most endangered deer in the planet.

Also called Prince Alfred's Rusa, the Philippine spotted deer which is only about 80 cm in height (shoulder) has soft and moderately long hair covering its spotted dark brown body. Its most distinct physical characteristic is its oval yellowish white spots on its back and sides.

This species has long been classified as endangered, which means they have been reduced in number to a critical level, or whose habitats have been damaged, altered or reduced.

Thousands of Philippine spotted deer roamed around an area covering about 1200 miles of grasslands in the Negros provinces many years ago. But they preferred to stay within the vicinity of extensive tracts of original forests where they could seek cover. They fed on young shoots of cogon grass and on the young leaves and buds of low forest growth.

The population of the Philippine spotted dear declined after they fell prey to hunters in the area. Also, the kaingin system, an agricultural method in the highlands led to the further decrease in numbers. From 1960 to 1970, most of the country's forests, including those in Panay Island, lost their trees to both legal and illegal logging operations.

Some 60 years ago, more than half of the country's 30 million hectares was blanketed with forests, and the forest-to-man ratio was then 1.13 hectares per Filipino. In 1990, the DENR recorded only 6.7 million hectares of forestland in the entire archipelago, and the forest-to-man ratio has alarmingly dropped to 0.1 hectare per Filipino.

By 1985, a survey reported that only a small population of the Philippine spotted deer was found in the remote regions of Panay. The deer was believed to have been wiped out in at least 95 percent of its former range in Panay Island. In 1990, the Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation (NFEF) found only 13 deer living in the area. Fortunately, subsequent conservation programs saw the increase in population to 73 by December 1997 and to about 200 today.

Efforts are now being made to replenish the stock in captivity. With the help of German, French and Australian organizations, NFEF has established a project to ensure the survival and continuous existence of the deer. This project, called the International Philippine Spotted Deer Conservation Program, established local breeding centers in Panay.

But the survival of the Philippine Spotted Deer in the wildlife requires more than a breeding program. One recommendation is to establish a national park where the Philippine spotted deer can roam freely again, away from poachers, loggers, and kaingineros. The people involved in the conservation program have only one place in mind - the Northwest Panay Peninsula on the boundary of Aklan and Antique, where the last low-elevation dipterocarp forest in the Negros-Panay region exists.


Source: http://www.txtmania.com/articles/deer.php

We're lucky we were given by God the gift to think... Had he not, we could have been another candidate for extinction.. Live life to the fullest..

Another Typhoon Has Come...

Dear Fellow Filipinos,

Please Keep Posted as there is another typhoon to come... Let's Keep on praying...

Four days after storm 'Ondoy' left the country with the death toll likely hitting 300, another tropical storm is expected to enter the Philippine territory Wednesday afternoon, which will likely hit the Batanes group of islands and extreme northern Luzon, state weather forecasters said Wednesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the storm with international codename "Parma" will dump rains in the Visayas and Mindanao as it enters the country.

"Yung worst scenario, tatama dito sa may Batanes-Taiwan area, sa extreme Northern Luzon (Our models show the worst scenario is that it will hit the Batanes-Taiwan area, in extreme Northern Luzon)," Pagasa forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio.

As of Wednesday morning, Pagasa said the storm intensified further as it continued to move closer to the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

But Quitlong said there is also a chance the storm, to be code-named "Pepeng" upon entry in the PAR Wednesday afternoon, will veer away without making landfall.

"May posibilidad, kasi ‘di parehas ang model, may chance na gigilid lang at lalayo ito, di na tatama ng kalupaan (Our models also show there is a chance it will just veer away and not make landfall at all)," he said.

For now, he said the storm is still too far to affect any part of the country directly.

On the other hand, he said the cyclone will enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains to parts of the country.

"Pagpasok nito mapapalakas uli ang hanging habagat (Once it enters Philippine territory, the storm will enhance the southwest monsoon)," he said.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa said Parma (Pepeng) was estimated at 1,110 km east of Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Pagasa said "Parma" is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph.

"Extreme Northern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said.

[See story on storm Ondoy's death toll as of late Tuesday] - GMANews.TV

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20090929/tph-pagasa-storm-pepeng-threatens-rps-ex-d6cd5cf.html



Jacque Bermejo - please be wise, judging her is not right.

At the verge of the typhoon "Ondoy's" hover over a lot of areas in the Philippines, a controversial issue as well caused an almost equivalent disaster to a Filipina working in Dubai. Allegedly, the Filipina gave statements that are considerably foul for Filipinos especially those who were heavily affected by the Typhoon. A lot of messages came out in response to the message which was allegedly given by the Filipina. A lot of the messages condemn not only her statement but her as a person to the point that the comments expressed desires to cause her harm.

As for me, it is not right for comments as harsh as those given. The alleged statements made in the Facebook account may had been given by another person. It's funny how the blogger, had it been her, to put her image in it. The messages also seem to flaunt of her being proud that she is in a better state. Its just unfair to judge her for statements that are yet to be proven to come from her. Let us be vigilant and critical before we express our feelings.


http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/v227/1485/80/q100000136023166_6370.jpg

Please don't judge her for alleged statements of an alleged hacked account.
Image Source: http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/v227/1485/80/q100000136023166_6370.jpg






New Moon Movie!!!

New moon is the second of the four novel series by Stephenie Meyer. It is a story of a young lady who got hooked to a young lad who is a vampire. I have read the three books and is still finding time to read the last one. (1. Twilight, 2. New Moon, 3. Eclipse and 4. Breaking Dawn).

A movie had been filmed for the first book. This year, the film for the second book - New Moon, will be released in the US on November 20, 2009. The movie will be shown days after in the Philippines.. The movie is directed by Chris Weitz. Some of the characters are played by the following stars:

Kristen Stewart ... Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson ... Edward Cullen
Taylor Lautner ... Jacob Black

Ashley Greene ... Alice Cullen
Peter Facinelli ... Dr. Carlisle Cullen
Elizabeth Reaser ... Esme Cullen

Kellan Lutz ... Emmett Cullen

Jackson Rathbone ... Jasper Hale

Alex Meraz ... Paul
Kiowa Gordon ... Embry Call

Billy Burke ... Charlie Swan
Chaske Spencer ... Sam Uley
Edi Gathegi ... Laurent

Let us keep posted for the release of the movie in our country...



Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYBF3HKzrmE&feature=player_embedded

(UPDATE) 'Ondoy' death toll rises to 246 - NDCC

MANILA, Philippines – The death toll from typhoon “Ondoy” has reached 246, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported today (Sept. 29).

As of 3 p.m., NDCC chairman and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said 105 casualties were recorded in the Calabarzon region, 101 in National Capital Region, 37 in Region 3 and three in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

NDCC also recorded 38 missing people as of this posting.

Damage to property was placed at P4.6 billion, while the cost of assistance was estimated at P9 million, Teodoro said.

The NDCC also reported that more than 500,000 people were affected by massive flooding, with some 300,000 currently staying in evacuation centers. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Updates on Tulong Ka-PNU

Updates regarding "Tulong Ka-PNU" movement... A certain amount had been collected already and kinds as well. A parent of CTL donated 2 sacks of rice and a number of CTL students also donated kinds.

Please do the same... CTL students, please help in making this project work. It is through your efforts that initiatives such as this one could make a big difference. Life is short, Live it well... Let us help.. please keep on posting this.. Thanks... Sir Von

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

DOST SCHOLARSHIP

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) is now accepting applications to its Science and Technology undergraduate scholarship programs for school year 2010-2011.

RA 7687 Scholarship (Program A) and the Merit Scholarship (Program B) are both open to graduating high school students who wish to pursue post-secondary courses or baccalaureate degree programs and technology courses under ladderized schemes in priority fields of study in the Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering.

Program A is designated for the poor, talented and deserving students whose annual family gross income does not exceed to the regional poverty threshold set by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Those with higher annual family income can apply under Program B.

Kindly Proceed to DOST RO VII main site for full details.


Source: DOST RO VII

Extending Help is more of a Blessing..

An Appeal to the Members of the PNU Community

To all CTL Students, please spread this news!!!

Let's consider this message as very important... Please respond to it.. The PNU community had its initiative into helping the victims of typhoon Ondoy. The following are some of the details of the said initiative...

The University is accepting donations from all members of the community...

1) the CTL gate and the principal's office will be opened until friday. (CTL students, please ask for the help of your parents as to responding positively into this, please ask in a nice manner.. This is a very good time for you to show concern to your fellowmen).

2) An "official announcement #3" had been released by the University stating that: The PNU Relief Operations "Tulong Ka-PNU" is now accepting donations for our faculty, staff, and students who are as well affected by the calamity.

a) monetary donations will be accepted at the Cashier's Office
b) kind will be received at the Alumni's Hall at the Main Building.

All of my students are expected to copy and post this either in Facebook, Friendster, Yahoomail, MySpace, Tagged, Twitter and the like... I will be closely monitoring your response guys. (First Years: VII-Patience and VII-Generostiy, Second Years: VIII-Nationalism and VIII-Courage, Third Years: IX-Loyalty and IX-Goodwill, Fourth Years: X-Responsibility and X-Resourcefulness)

Sincerely yours,

Sir VON

Insights Over Hallucinations

Why do we have to get a hammer that would knock us down. Why do we have to get tasks enormous to bear. Why do we have to be so busy when we could be lying comfortably in silence.Why am I desperate on keeping burdens and not be able to accomplish a lot with excellence. These whys of being insane about work are only some of
the wonders in my mind.

I was used to cramming. All the days of my life, all the days of my examinations, all the time I have spent in completing my education have all been spent with that cramming attitude. For some reasons, my creative juices and intellectual functions are at its best during times that I am agitated and pressured. Perhaps it would be best for me to consult a Psychologist of some sort. It actually is hard to come up with a practice similar to what I am doing right now, I hope I could be someone better. Someone who knows how to prioritize things and how to make productive time out of the ample time given to him or her. I hope I could be a better me.

I have already considered a lot of reasons for my being so. I have even related my attitude to my early life experiences. For the times that I have spent thinking about the reasons for my being me, I have no clearer reason to blame for my state aside from the vague reason that it's just the way it is. Perhaps I won't be me if I had changed a little for better or worst. Perhaps it's the cramming that keeps me going. The idea of being fast and furious with work and at the end, finding out that a lot of errors had been committed. It's funny how I had been reminded of the good old days when I could have been a better me. I hope to turn back times so as to improve fast actions. But the present is so clear and vivid. The future is coming and is becoming recognizable. The past, on the other hand is doomed to be lost in memory.

A number of years had passed. I have already seen 2 years of graduates passing in my hands. Products of the teachings and learnings we all shared in the classroom. The good old times and the bad old times. All combined to make a colorful experience. Weird as it may sound, I am happy to reminisce the times I have nearly cried out of disappointment. I have nearly lost control of my emotions because of anger. And so nearly lost my voice because of the attempt to improve my teachings. But all these acts are going easy at hand these times that I already had the taste of a little of a lot. And still, I have more to learn.


The rising of hopes comes with the mighty provider of energy. The source of light on earth, a symbol of immense greatness of the Creator.

Typhoon Ondoy bringing forth an analysis of our country's situation

"Ever wondered what will happen today? Ever had an unusual day? Had you not before September 26, 2009 and had you been in Metro Manila, you might have considered not wondering how an unusual day could turn out to be so bad."

The Philippines belongs to a third world country, not a big question to the many Filipinos why we are. Every now and then, calamities meet the way of the Philippines. How about that? Got no choice but face them. But, unlike the lucky countries such as the states, there is a very great difference as to the recovery rate of our country. We could consider a lot of factors as to why and how we are faring. One could be the technology in our country. Got some comparisons below...

For sure, a lot of Filipinos would be able to recognize the picture of a technologically advanced train at the left. An advancement that is seemingly departed by its essence. The picture shows the LRT (Light Rail Transit) train. How it could still manage to secure passengers as it gets through its poor railings - only the engineers know.


It might sound not fair, but life really is not fair, if Filipinos would be asked to identify the image below, I bet a few would be able to do so. I myself is not very much familiar to this. But the image at the right is the symbol of technological advancement. The trains are line up of JR east Shinkansen in Japan taken in the year 2007.


But to speak poorly of of the transportation technology of the Philippines would show how it had been an agent as well in trapping a number of passengers in it. The vehicle (jeepney) is not to be blamed though for it is the Typhoon (Typhoon Ondoy) that caused it all.
The great typhoon was said to bring about the greatest downpour in the last four decades. Many Filipinos had been caught off-guarded. The calamity showed the members of the Filipino community that neither rich nor poor will escape the dangers of the calamity. It's very sad how things could turn out so bad. Mother nature says it all for us. Perhaps a day or a week without so much vehicles traveling the area of quezon boulevard could cause a big break for nature to breath. Perhaps its her way of saying, "stop" and "Allow me to take my break." This might be a plea. Yet, a lot had to be awakened the harder way.


Perhaps a lot had been traumatized by the experience of the great flood n their areas that made their things catch a mixture of mud and dihydrogen monoxide . But sure it was, help is being extended and the Good News is providing a message to the followers. During this times of need that the essence of "bayanihan" and "brotherhood" are exemplified. How one could extend help and how one could provide aid towards achieving the goal of a group. Here are some images worthy of notice.


Ever seen a group of individuals not so acquainted with each other but are closer than ever in a picture as that of the one at the left.










The essence of "bayanihan" and brotherhood are very visible in the image at the right.




With how we are tested, with what we are told to respond and with where do we still
have to stand? The know-how, what and where would lead us to asking
"Why not depend on Him that knows all this."
Let's put all our trusts in Him.