Dumping garbage--old habits die hard

Philippine Pres. Noynoy Aquino passed by this area on Jan. 6, 2012. This is at corner of San Miguel St. and Aramis St. in Villa Corrina, Barangay Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora district, Quezon City, Philippines. Aquino was on his way to the venue where ceremonies were to be held to celebrate the 200th birthday of Melchora Aquino, better known as "Tandang Sora," one of the Philippines's heroes. A day before and on the day itself that Pres. Aquino (no relation to Melchora, I suppose) was to pass by Visayas Ave., Tandang Sora Ave., San Miguel St., Aramis St., Himlayan Rd., etc., on his way to the venue, streetsweepers made this area and surrounding streets sparkling clean. I've never seen the streets so clean before (pity I wasn't able to take photographs of that).

Tarpaulin streamers were even hung on the lightposts leading up to the venue, with inspiring words like "Tandang Sora--Katapatan (Loyalty)," etc., all extolling virtues pertaining to the hero. Well, now, as you can see, things are back to normal at those streets mentioned. Old habits die hard for the residents, it seems. It's really more fun and easy to dump garbage at the sidewalks. And this photo was taken just a day after the garbage truck passed by on its regular schedule. Which is another matter I don't understand. The garbage truck regularly comes on schedule in our neighborhood--Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Although Wednesdays are supposed to be for picking up only recyclable trash. Yet, despite this regular schedule, residents are still impatient and can't wait to get their trash off of their houses. What are sidewalks for anyway? Old habits really die hard. Not even after supertyphoons "Ondoy" and "Sendong" with all the deadly floods that they brought to the Philippines. And not even after just celebrating the birthday of the hero after whom the place was named.

PAWS, a Philippines animal shelter, seeks help

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) seeks help from the public for pitbulls it has recently rescued from a dogfight raid in Cavite, Philippines. PAWS needs cleaning agents (towels, soap, mops, and similar items) for the dogs. Of course, PAWS will also welcome other forms of assistance for the pitbulls and other animals that it cares for. Those who want to help can contact PAWS staff Ana +63917831597o or Charlene +639177931097.

Dragon Fireworks a dud

The Philippines is now seriously considering a total fireworks ban because of the increasing number of casualties (injuries and deaths) and amount of pollution happening with each New Year's Eve celebration in the country. I'm all for the total ban, even I myself love fireworks (the beautiful colored ones that light the sky, not the noisy firecrackers). In fact, I have downgraded my purchase and use of fireworks in every passing year, although I'm not really one of those people who spend so much for pyrotechnics. I just enjoy watching in the sky how much money they've burned :)

In New Year's Eve to usher in 2012, I was down to one pack of sparklers with long handles (10 or 12 pieces in a pack) and a fountain. I bought them from a stall of Dragon Fireworks in a mall. Each one cost more than a hundred pesos. Dragon has always been my choice of fireworks. I've trusted no other fireworks manufacturer for beauty and safety. In fact, I almost bought from another fireworks manufacturer in the same mall just for the thought of trying out something different. But I still bought from Dragon in the end.

Well, it was a waste of money certainly. The fountain was alright, although I wished that its lights would have went a bit higher. But the sparklers were a dud! For the first time in years that I've been using Dragon sparklers, only about three or four pieces in the pack lighted up. My mother and sister were certainly disappointed because sparklers were the only ones that they've been lighting up in the past years.

Dragon Fireworks, made in Bulacan province in the Philippines, touts itself as one of the best, if not the best, in the industry. But it really let me down. Because of the fact that I really know I wasted precious money on Dragon's non-lighting sparklers and my guilt that I contribute to pollution however little fireworks I light up, I've decided that this will be the end of my "fireworks days."

New Year's Eve 2013, I'll be a noisy as I can be with various noisemakers, and will bring out bottles of bubble to do some serious bubble-making with the electric fan full blast.

Happy New Year!

Job opening: FAD looks for Project Coordinator, Manila

The Foundation for Adolescent Development (FAD) is looking for a Project Coordinator for its "School Symposium Project" in Metro Manila that will commence in January and end December 31,2012.

They need someone with these qualifications:

1. Graduate of any degree program preferably Psychology, Sociology, Mass Communication, Advertising.
2. Aged 20-30 years old.
3. Excellent communication skills, both in verbal and written form.
4. Organized, resourceful, diligent and passionate in meeting the requirements of the project
5. Personable, can ably represent the organization during meetings.
6. Skilled in the use of the following program applications: MS Word, Excel, Power point.

Those interested, please your CV to:

Ms. Cecilia C. Villa
Executive Director, Foundation for Adolescent Development Inc.
1066 Remedios corner San Bartolome St., Malate,Manila 1004
Telephone: 525-0428; 400-1827,
E-mail: fadinc@pldtdsl.net; besvilla@yahoo.com,
Mobile: 0917-821-5193

The gift of music--for my Dad

For Christmas, we gave our Dad a portable electronic keyboard. Things like this don't come cheap, but we had to invest on it because Dad's 86-year-old memory has deteriorated a bit more lately. He's been grunting or moaning almost continuously, and our bit of research showed that the grunting could be one of the signs of more memory loss. Especially when the thinking faculties aren't used that much anymore, or something like that, our research showed. And since my Dad really doesn't do much these days, or can't move as much as he did before (he was a tennis player and a sportsfisher in his younger days), I thought then that we were racing against time--to not lose more of his memory on the succeeding days. So I convinced some siblings of mine that we should get a portable keyboard for Dad so that he could be busy with something that he really loves. And listening to or creating music is one of the things he loves. He plays the piano by ear (as seen in the video below that I took early this year when he was 85 years old) and also plays the guitar. So as soon as my siblings and I made the decision to buy the portable keyboard, I hurriedly went to the mall one day to purchase it, braving the horrible traffic and the throng of holiday shoppers at the mall.

Now, Dad is slowly enjoying to play his new toy, as I place it on the dining table where he usually sits. At least now he can play tunes on the keys, as he is slowly remembering the tunes he used to play on the piano. Sometimes, we need to coax him or encourage him by clapping or nodding our heads to him to play the new portable keyboard, and play some more. And he does, slowly but surely. This is a good development because it's become quite hard lately for us to guide him to sit on the stool of our piano that's on one end of the living room. And making him leave the piano stool to go to the dining table for dinner is another long story--not only of his slow movements but also because sometimes he doesn't easily understand anymore what's being said to him.

But, curiously, I've observed that my Dad has so far played the new portable keyboard only with his right hand. Could it be that he doesn't quite remember anymore how to use his left hand? Because even in eating, he rarely uses his left hand. But we're happy to note that his grunts or moans have now turned to hums. There's melody already to most of his grunts. Maybe because he can now play more (although still quite slow but with tone) his favorite tunes on the keyboard and, hopefully, his memory is improving. In fact, for at least two nights now (he sleeps very late), I could hear him (I sleep quite late, too) also playing his guitar in his room already with a tone or melody. This is also good because just a few weeks ago, he seemed to have forgotten already how to play the guitar because he was just plucking it without producing a strong melody.

Having said all this, my profound conclusion is that: Music is really good--and for the enjoyment of everyone, especially of senior citizens :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8y8KIqIoM

Merry Christmas 2011--and a disappointment at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Project 6, Quezon City

Merry Christmas to all! Hope you enjoy celebrating this big day with your loved ones. And also with other people who may need cheering up on Christmas Day.

And let's always remember that on Christmas we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Christmas isn't really all about the nice trimmings and the fabulous gifts, the great food and fantastic parties. Christmas is a level playing field for the rich, the not-so-rich, and the poor. We're all meant to celebrate the big day of the Big Boss, the One who choose to be born in a simple manger despite His stature, whatever is our status in life. It's as if to say, hey, material things, especially an extravagance of material things, don't make a Christmas celebration. All we need is LOVE. :)

Sometimes, it makes me a bit sad that people seem to be so caught up on all the stressful external preparation for Christmas that we forget the internal preparation of ourselves for the celebration of His birthday. Perhaps, there may be even times that we forget for whom Christmas is really.

This afternoon, I went to Christmas Mass at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Project 6, Quezon City, Philippines. After the priest gave the final blessing to the Mass goers, the choir sang "Happy Birthday" for, of course, Jesus's birthday. I was greatly shocked when my fellow Mass goers didn't stop from leaving the pews to go home while the choir sang the birthday song. Only a handful of us remained in our pews to sing along, in honor of Jesus. Maybe just two or three of us? And it is a big church, mind you.

I'm now trying to ask myself why most of the people in the church this afternoon didn't even stop to sing along with the birthday song. They weren't even singing as they walked along the aisle to the church's door on their way out. Did they think that the choir was singing the birthday song for someone celebrating his or her birthday from among the choir or maybe from among the Mass goers this afternoon? Hence, maybe they thought they didn't have to stop to sing "Happy Birthday" for that person because they didn't know him or her anyway? Or, maybe, they had forgotten that Christmas is Christmas because it's Jesus's birthday, thus they failed to realize that the choir's birthday song was FOR Him. Or, perhaps, those people were hurrying to go to their next Christmas party, thus they had to hurriedly get out of the church. No time any birthday song, sorry. Indeed, has Christmas for those people in the church this afternoon them become a mere ritual, or perhaps an excuse to go on a partying binge and exchange gifts throughout the season?

But I would like to give the benefit of the doubt to my fellow Mass goers at this afternoon's Mass. I still hope that perhaps that my fellow Mass goers at church today only had a temporary lapse when they didn't join in singing the birthday song for Jesus. I hope that deep in their hearts, they still know what Christmas is all about.

Happy Birthday, Jesus! :)

Relief for victims of Typhoon Sendong that kills hundreds, displaces many in Mindanao, Philippines

For those who want to help the victims of the strong typhoon Sendong that hit the Mindanao region of the Philippines just a few days back this 2011, please direct them to the following organizations. These groups are making sure that your donations will be sent to the right needy victims in Mindanao (particularly Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities). More than 400 people have been reportedly killed and many more are now without food and shelter. For more details about this calamity, please see http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/113849/flood-hit-mindanao-residents-prepare-to-bury-dead
Donations can be in cash or in kind (ready-to-eat food, clothes, water, milk, hygiene products, etc.)

1. News5 Action Center (tv and radio network)
cash donations accepted at Banco de Oro (BDO) Peso Account (Philippines)
Account name: TV5 Kapatid Foundation Inc.
Account No. 005310-410164

OR

Bank of the Philippines (BPI) Peso Account
Account name: TV5 Kapatid Foundation Inc.
Account No. 1443-05333-2

2. GMA Network (tv and radio network)
Send donations in kind to GMA Kapuso Foundation
2/F Kapuso Center, GMA 7, EDSA Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines


3. ABS-CBN Network (tv and radio network)
Cash donations to: Banco de Oro (BDO) Peso Account (Philippines)
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39301-14199
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

OR

Philippine National Bank (PNB) Peso Account (Philippines)
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 419-539-5000-13
Swift Code: PNBMPHMMBPI Peso Account


4. Gawad-Kalinga (Philippines)
Cash donations to Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) (Philippines)
Philippine Peso Current Account # 3101 0977
56 BPI EDSA Greenhills at Gawad Kalinga

OR

US$ Savings Account # 3104 0162 34
BPI EDSA Greenhills Swift code: BOPIPHMM

5. Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
Cash donations:
THROUGH SMS AND G-CASH

SMS
Text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart)

G-Cash
Text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882

You can donate the following denominations:
Globe: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1,000
Smart: 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1,000

Deposits can also be made to the PRC’s Banco De Oro peso account 00-453-0018647, dollar 10-453-0039482;
Bank of the Philippine Islands peso account 4991-0036-52, dollar account 004994-0103-15;
Metrobank account 151-3-041631228, dollar account 151-2-15100218-2;
Philippine National Bank peso account 3752 8350 0034, dollar account 3752 8350 0042; Unionbank of the Philippines peso account 1015 4000 0201; dollar account 1315 4000 0090.

6. Philippine Daily Inquirer (newspaper, internet, and radio network)

Drop off donations in-kind at the Inquirer office, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. at Mascardo and Yague Streets, Makati City, Philippines.

Cash donations may be deposited in the Inquirer Help Fund account, which is the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) current account No. 4951-0067-56, under the name Philippine Daily Inquirer Inc. For inquiries, call PDI corporate affairs at 8978808, and ask for Bianca Kasilag or Connie Kalagayan.

7. LBC Foundation

IN-KIND DONATIONS

LBC will deliver goods for free to the hardest-hit cities and provinces. Donations may be dropped off at any LBC branch nationwide.

For inquiries, call the LBC hotline at (632) 8585-999.

8. One for Iligan

CASH DONATIONS
Name: Iliganons Sa Manila Inc.
Account Number: Checking Acct 5308004019 Asia-Tower Paseo Branch
Bank: Banco de Oro

9 *Iligan Bloggers Society
3553 Durango St., Palanan, Makati City 1235. For inquiries, contact Migz at 09065777812 or 09227130006 or 6-D Cypress Gardens Condo 112 VA Rufino St., Makati City, and look for Meikah Delid.

Berkeley Residences, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact Jamie Steffani Mijares at 09157744244

Madison Square Condominium, Taft Avenue, Manila, right in front of De La Salle University, beside Kenny Rogers . For inquiries, contact Roden Lim at 09228446777

10 Xavier Science Foundation with Xavier University

Account Name: Xavier Science Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 2041-0394-45
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Main Branch, Velez St., CDO

Account Name: Xavier University
Account Number: 9331-0133-63
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Divisoria Branch, CDO

For those who wish to seek an official receipt for their contribution, you may email a copy of the deposit slip at xsf@xu.edu.ph or fax to (088) 858-8062 / 858-3116 local 3100 and specify the details of your remittance (name of donor, contact information). You may also call (08822) 72-7701.

12. Dela Salle University

Account Name: La Salle Academy Iligan
Account No. 0820-016221-030.
Bank: Development Bank of the Philippines

Donations in cash may also be received at Gate 2 of La Salle Green Hills at 343 Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550. You may also call any of the following telephone numbers for further inquiries: Aluimni Office — 721-2729, 722-7750, 725-4720; GS Principal at 721-2482; HS Principal at 721-8914; Buildings and Grounds Office at 721-8904 (Telefax)
La Sallian Mission Office at 726-5851 (Telefax)

13. Akbayan
Cash or in-kind donations:
Madasalin St. Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
4336933 for more details.

PLEASE HELP!