I had a good laugh after realizing what these three pictures have in common:

Same Face

Sir Nerpy is very like Kaiser and vice versa. They are alike in many ways that students can’t help but notice. Looking and dressing alike is one amusing fact. Kaiser’s impersonation of Sir Nerpy is icing on the cake. Seeing them together in almost the same shirt color and wearing a mailman’s bag in a similar fashion is worth taking a pic.

Same Name

Teacher Eljay is a cam-whore. My folders are filled with her outrageous and emotion-packed poses. But this one is a rare shot, where she is joined by our students, whose name happens to be the same as hers.

Same Size

We didn’t see anything funny when Sir Jasper volunteered to drive for Precious to take care of some important need for a competition she participated in — not until they mounted that poor thing.

We are lucky today that technology has enabled us to take, keep, and share snapshots of events (whether spectacular or mundane), people (whether special to you or simply passers by), and place (whether the usual hangouts or some paradise). We can now make a chronology of our own (or other people’s) life story in photos, which is a treasure chest of memories, we would always wish to revisit.

I have one sad realization, though — memories can only be looked back at; some things can never be the same again.

A bold move, the ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the first local government initiative in the country to ban open pit mining, a method of mineral extraction that the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, a national law, allows.

Image from bworld.com

The Environment Code directly affects the operation of the Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), which is set to extract copper and gold in the municipality of Tampakan, South Cotabato.

The Tampakan Project is a 2.4 billion metric ton deposit, containing 13.5 million metric tons of copper and 15.8 million ounces of gold at a 0.3% cut-off grade. It is operated by Philippine-based affiliate Sagittarius Mines, Incorporated (SMI), whose 40% controlling equity is a joint venture among Xstrata Copper (62.5%) and Indophil Resources NL (37.5%). The 60% non-controlling equity shareholders of SMI are the Tampakan Mining Corporation and Southcot Mining Corporation (known as the Tampakan Group of Companies). from Tampakan Project Sustainability Report (pdf)

Fuentes appeared on TV Patrol SOCSKSARGEN and said that she made the decision for the good of the locals whose lives depend on the mining site, which is a watershed.

According to the Daily Star, the nature of an open pit mine–being a massive hole dug into the ground–contributes to a disruption of the nature and appearance of the natural environment around it. Deterioration of the quality of ground water is a possible danger. Also, open pit mines strip the topsoil of the land nearby, and unexpected water runoff from these mines–especially those that excavate coal–can be hazardous to life in nearby rivers and streams. from ehow.com

Open-pit mining, also known as open-cast mining and open-cut mining, refers to a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow. from Wikipedia

Open pit mining could turn Tampakan’s mountains from this:

Image from Tampakan Project Sustainability Report 2009 (SMI)

to this:

Image from Wikipedia

Peter Forrestal, president of SMI, expressed his concern on the impact of the Environment Code on the operation of the mining company. He also insists that based on SMI’s pre-feasibility studies, open pit mining in the best method to use in extracting the ore reserves in Tampakan.

These studies identified open pit mining as the safest and only economic extraction method given the configuration of the deposit and the geology of the region. from SMI News Release

The Tampakan Project is one of the largest mining projects in Asia. SMI is reportedly investing over US$5 billion dollars for this project and will employ 9, 000 people for the construction and 2,000 during the actual operation.

For the many years that SMI has existed in Tampakan, it has done several community projects for the indigenous people including scholarships, among others, and continues to stand on its promise of sustainable development.

If this project does not materialize, it would be an opportunity that the province and the surrounding provinces and cities would miss, as the project entails a lot of other developments.

On the other hand, the local government of South Cotabato only wanted to protect the interest of the people it serves and that includes protecting the natural resources of the province from potential exploitation.

Fuentes’ signing of the Environment Code does not put an end to this issue. For as long as the gold and copper reserves remain buried in the mountains of Tampakan, foreign investors with the technical and financial capacity to extract it would always be keeping an eye on this province.

As our country’s new leaders take their oath of office, the challenge of development versus environmental conservation is major issue that they should pay attention to. Let us hope that in their decision-making, they would always think of the people’s welfare and not the personal gains they could get.

His first contest is the This-Is-Not-Just-For-Bloggers Contest, which, as the name suggests, is not a blog writing contest. It is open for those who have accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, and other social networking site.

GandaEverSoMuch.com is probably one of the most influential blogs this year. The blog contains a collection of funny and sometimes emo posts about the author’s colorful life. You won’t get disappointed each time you visit the blog because you would always read something new as the author updates his blog everyday, whether he’s happy or sad, his posts won’t fail to make you smile.

One thing more, he’s giving away shirts that I designed. See it here.

THE CHALLENGE with writing this post is how to narrate in a few words a series of fantastic adventures that took place in a weekend everybody wished to have never ended, and great moments spent with people I hoped to have had more time to share with each other. The First Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour and SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari, which gathered bloggers from Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Kidapawan City in General Santos City to meet the bloggers in the SoCCSKSarGen area and visit places of interest here, have been filled with exciting adventures and memories that will forever be cherished.

The Grand Eyeball at Piyesta KTV and Restobar

I WAS the earliest to arrive at the venue. With that, I don’t need to tell you how excited I was to meet the bloggers–some of whom I’ve met some time ago; others, online friends; while some others, complete strangers. But bloggers who join meet-ups are generally cordial, so it didn’t matter much if they were total strangers.

Fortunately, I had some other friends at Piyesta at that time so I stayed with them while waiting for the bloggers to arrive. I waved at Donna, the dashing owner of Piyesta, who herself is a blogger.

After a little while, SoCCSKSarGen bloggers came one by one. The guest bloggers then arrived later from a dinner sponsored by Le Jardin Arnevel.

Courtesy of Lyle Santos

Piyesta served their signature food items: the spicy kura stick (green chili stuffed with ground beef), tuna buntot (grilled meaty tail part of tuna), and deep-fried tuna maki.  They also served interesting rhum-based drinks. One of which is the Jell-O Shots, served in syringes as containers, which  you could take home with you after drinking. They also served Gayuma in test tubes and graduated cylinders and rhum iced tea in pitchers.

The cozy atmosphere at Piyesta was perfect for bloggers to connect with each other in jovial conversations that are occasionally sprinkled with hearty laughter. It fostered a certain level of closeness that ensured that the adventure the following day will not be stifled by intimidation.

Breakfast and Sightseeing at Dolores Farm

Courtesy of Charles Ortiz

I’VE GOT colds but because I didn’t want to miss the fun and excitement with the bloggers I managed to find a way to join the trip. I took the “Innova Airlines” with Donna the Pilot, Emman, Sheng, Kyawster, and Armand. Off we zoomed to Dolores Farm in Polomolok for our breakfast.

Courtesy of Meiyah Laborte

Aside from the sumptuous meal of tasty bangus and crispy tilapia, Dolores Farm also welcomed us to their zoo. Dolores farm is a perfect getaway if you are planning to unwind but can’t go very far and couldn’t spend much money. It is just a 15-minute drive from GenSan but you can already enjoy great food, cool swimming pool, a walk to their mini zoo, bedrooms with complete amenities, and on Sundays, a magic show. They also have function halls for your events. You may contact them through (083) 500-9362.

Trekking and Zip Lining in Lake Sebu

FOR THE adventure-seeking tourists, zip lining has recently become a must-try. Zip lines are the newest additions to the attractions in Lake Sebu, making your trip to this quaint municipality in South Cotabato a supercharged one.

Lake Sebu boasts of a 1, 040 m-long zip line at a height of over 400 meters from the ground. But the biggest catch is the majestic view of Lake Sebu’s green landscape and a bird’s eye view of the seven falls, while you zoom above them at about 100-120 kph. What could be more exciting than that?

Sadly, I wasn’t able to experience that. There were too many tourist at the Seven Falls when we arrived. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the luxury of time to wait for our turn because on our itinerary several places were yet to be visited. But that fact didn’t make us walk away with drooped shoulders. There was so much to see in Lake Sebu that you can’t experience all of them in just a day.

We walked around under the canopy of rain forest trees, in stead, and took pictures with the first waterfall in the background. I also suggested to my fellow bloggers that we take the 744 steps down to the foot of the second waterfall. The trek was tiring but a breath of fresh air is more than refreshing. And gazing at the grandeur of the second waterfall at the end of the trek is truly a relief.

We then proceeded to Punta Isla Lake Resort for our lunch. The resort gave us a treat of their Tilapia delicacies. The crispy chicharong tilapia is something you would make you want to go back to Lake Sebu.

Be reminded, however, that if you park your car outside, Punta Isla Lake Resort, the locals are going to charge you a parking fee of twenty pesos.

Courtesy of Lyle Santos

My First Zip Line Experience at Merl Garden Resort

IF NOT for Merl Garden Resort, I would not have experienced the thrill of flying. Merl Garden also has its zip line, shorter and lower than the one at Seven Falls. Giving it a try, I learned that you should never underestimate it. If you haven’t tried the zip line at Seven Falls, I suggest that you take the zip line at Merl Garden first.

The zip line at Merl Garden is 200-meter long. You could do it in either superman or sitting position. If you want thrill, try the superman position. I admit, I was very nervous as I was getting ready for the launch. Since it was my first time and my excitement was stronger than my fear, I successfully hurdled the first leg of the zip and I craved for more thrill.

We climbed the monkey ladder to another launching pad  constructed on a very tall tree, 150 feet from the ground. It was a very exhilarating climb. It was a very hard to climb on a bamboo scaffolding.  You can’t look down or you’ll be engulfed by your fear of heights. You can’t look up because you might be afraid you won’t reach the top. You better focus on your grip because if you fall, you will surely be dead. It was really very dangerous.

There is another option, though. If you can’t climb up the bamboo scaffolding, you may try their lift. They will attach your harness to a cable and you will be lifted slowly up the 150-foot loft. But Romarie swears it was torture.

Still catching my breath, I felt a bit dizzy when I reached the top. Fear reigned in me as watched Romarie made the first zip.  But Alexis and I agreed that it was a point of no return. There is no way I’m gonna descend through the monkey ladder again. The only way is to zip the 200-meter distance from a height of 150 feet. That was exactly what we went there for, and I had to face it.

When it was my turn, I kept praying there would be technical failure. The assistant helped me position myself correctly but when it was time for me to launch, I refused to let go. I still held on to one of the bamboo supports. They were cajoling me to let go but I knew I wasn’t ready. I counted one to three and then everything blurred past me.

Courtesy of Rabsky Villanueva

As I approached the end point, it felt like all my burden disappeared. I felt very light. I felt very happy–in fact, proud of myself. It made me want more eager to try zip across the seven falls.

Coffee at Sa Balai Bistro and Dinner at The Red Tent

IF DURING the ride to Lake Sebu, I was very excited, on the trip back, I was equally animated, thanks to my first zip line experience and the 744-step trek. I’m afraid I talked too much as we drove down to the City of Koronadal for some drinks at the homey Sa Balai Bistro.

Having coffee at Sa Balai Bistro made me feel like I have arrived home. Sa Balai Bistro exudes an ambiance that is relaxing and comfortable, which soothed my tired body after a day of adventure in Lake Sebu. A refurbished ancestral home, it is adorned with artistic pieces from different ethic cultures in a mix of European architecture and Asian art.

Courtesy of Lyle Santos

We then traveled back to GenSan, where a scrumptious dinner was set for us by The Red Tent Steakhouse. They served us crabs, beef steak, pork, garlic tuna, among others. The food there is really great, but more than that, the couple that owned the place were there the whole time to give us personalized service.

Then it was time to give parting words. Surely, everyone went home happy and satisfied.

Parting Words

THE BEST things is life are free, and life is quite biased to bloggers as we seem to experience it more often. You better be one of us.

Allow me to thank all our those who helped make the First Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour and the First SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari one huge success:

• Mr. Rey Billena of The Ice Castle Experience
• Piyesta KTV and Restobar
  
• Pacman Sports Bar
• Le Jardin Arnevel
• Dolores Farm Resort
• Francis Sablon of Zion Travel
• Seven Falls Zipline
• Punta Isla Lake Resort
• Merl Garden Resort
• Sa Balai Bistro
• The Red Tent Steakhouse
• Rolee’s Bakeshop
• Coffee Club 101
  
• Kuya Chito’s Takuyaki
• Sir Avel and Sir Orman Manansala

And, of course, thank you to all the bloggers who took part in the event. I really had a great time with you. And oh, thanks Donna for the ride aboard “Innova Airlines”.

I had my first 3D Cinema experience yesterday at Robinson’s Place Gensan’s Movieworld, where we watched Shrek Forever After and it proved to be one great movie to watch in 3D. I have seen all the Shrek movies but this one is the most memorable for me, thanks to an upgraded visual experience.

First times are always exciting. I felt like a 10-year old yesterday when the Movieworld staff ushered us to the seats reserved for us. The 3D glasses I was given,of course, didn’t escape inspection. I expected them to be made from cardboard and had blue-and-red tinted plastic eyepieces like those you use to view images on 3D books. But the ones they use at Movieworld was far from my expectations. They looked like real eyeglasses and were made by Dolby. Just like everyone else, I wanted to take it home.

From the start of the movie until its end, oohs, aahhs, and wows filled the air. Everyone was clearly amazed by the visuals. I even moved away by reflex when objects appeared to come out of the screen.

Now, the formula for my first 3D movie experience: excellent visuals and sound, comfortable seats, and great movies like Shrek. They have all these at Robinson’s Movieworld.

Overall, my first 3D Cinema experience was a blast. For sure, I would be watching more 3D movies in the future. Can’t wait for Toy Story 3.

*Photos are from Robinson’s Place Gensan Media Lauch Kit and Sir Orman.

Google maps is one of these amazing technologies.

Picture this: You wake up one morning with a desire to renovate your house. You look for the best home depot on an online directory. After finding the address, you consult Google Maps for directions on how to get there. You view the home depot’s facade with Google Map’s Street View. You save the photos in your mobile phone and off you go to the store without any chance of getting lost.

Here’s a video of what I am talking about:

This feature of Google Maps, however, is not available for the Philippines. It is probably because looking up a place on Google Maps is  yet a significant part of the Filipino habit. I believe though that Google Maps will one day become a commodity.

Day after day, people find new applications  for this technology. A month before the the first automated elections in the country, a nationwide precinct mapping was spearheaded by bloggers all over the Philippines. Several groups of bloggers in different cities came together to locate polling precincts.

In General Santos City, bloggers met at Grab-A-Crab Restaurant at Robinson’s Place and mapped precincts in South Cotabato, Sarangani Province, and General Santos City.

Recently, Google has added a new feature to it called the Earth view, which enables  users to view the map in 3D as in Google Earth. Instead of looking at a flat map, users can have look at the geographic features of a place in a three-dimensional rendering of the place. In Here’s a video demonstrating how it works:

Although, it has roused complaints from several governments across the globe for fear of being used by terrorists to plan their attacks (from Wikipedia), this service is that it can be accessed by the public for free. Some sensitive installations, however, are blurred for security purposes.

Next Up: A view of the Earth in Real-Time Satellite Imagery.

I SAW this tarpaulin signage erected along the highway. I could not help but notice it, not because of its size (it’s only about 4ft tall and 6ft wide) but because of what it says. Something is wrong with it.

I have a friend who lives in Dapitan and he gives me updates about the political situation of the city. He told me that the people there have been so used to receiving money from a powerful political clan for their votes. I had to ask, “Do they have to buy votes? Aren’t they powerful enough to gain position without resorting to vote-buying?” He told me that it is already part of the system and that nothing could be done about it.

On the way home yesterday, two men were talking about their presidential bets. One of them mocked Eddie Vilanueva’s slogan, Anim na Taong Walang Kurapsyon. Impossible, they both agreed. One man said, “Testingi daw sugo ang bata kung motuman ba wala’y suhol?” (Do you think a kid would run errands for you without you giving him anything?)

And there is that sign in the photo above. Rough translation: “Accept the cash, but choose the good ones. Secure the future.”

Is there really no hope for this practice to end?

My friend would tell me, “In these difficult times, we have to be practical. They wouldn’t know if I’d vote for them or not. I will vote wisely but I’ll accept the money. It would be enough to pay for our electricity bill for a month.”

Many of us would find that a sound principle. But I see it narrow and shortsighted.

Whether you like it or not, by accepting a bribe from politicians, you make the process continue; you give it life.

You may call me a hypocrite, but what would you call yourself if you accept the bribe?

And to the Konsensya ng Sarangan, with that advocacy, are you really thinking of the future by encouraging the people to participate in the practice of vote-buying? Think again.

BLOGGING is a manifestation of democracy. Aside from being a medium for self-expression, it is a tool for shaping public opinion and, ultimately, for making a difference within the blogger’s vast sphere of influence.

There is power in the written word and blogging makes it even more powerful. A blogger just sits in front of his computer at home–or in schools, cafés, restaurants, or on the streets–and in a few clicks, his ideas would travel across the distance, influence another individual or a community in another part of the planet, and who knows what could happen next? The possibilities are without limits.

That is why bloggers are gathered today at Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu. The Cebu Bloggers Society initiated the first World Bloggers’ Day to celebrate the many ways a blogger can change the world. Congratulations to these guys for coming up with the said event. Special mention to Mark Monta and his oozing energy. I don’t need to be physically present there to give everyone a pat on the shoulder for the job well done. I’m sure it would turn out to be one memorable event.

Happy World Bloggers’ Day!

This list of candidates in Sarangani must be helpful:

Printed: 01/30/10

(Grabbed this from Sir Avel’s blog)

Let’s ponder upon this list and  start getting to know them deeper.

This year is going to be a exciting election for two reasons: first, we have Manny Pacquiao going against Roy Chiongbian for Representative; and secondly, this is the first automated elections. I’m expecting (not hoping, never) too many invalid votes.

I wish we could do voter education here and help those who might have difficulty in casting their votes via the new process. They should be given a feel of how the elections will be carried out. I hope we could print sample ballots and ask them to try filling them out.

Go0d bless Sarangani, God bless our country!

Despite all these, women are still viewed as the lesser sex by many of us.

In the Bible, Eve was created because God said “it is not good for man to be alone,” which somehow tells us that Eve was created for Adam. Some interpret  it as “for the pleasure” of Adam, others say, “as Adam’s partner and co-equal.”

One quote from the Bible, too many interpretations. One form of creation–the woman–too many arguments.

That, I think, is the reason why Teatro Ambahanon came up with a contemporary ballet production on February 23 and 24 at the KCC Convention Center. The group wanted to discuss the issue through dance in order for the youth, which made up the bulk of its audience, understand it better.

Tecla portrayed stories of women who were caught in situations they are struggling to get out of, all wanting to be understood, respected, and loved.

I would like to share my thoughts on the show.

The overall impact of the show somewhat focused on women as being regarded as sexual objects–that they are for the sexual pleasure of men. The production was loaded with sensual choreography, which, I think, were a little too graphic for college freshmen.

Let me point out some scenes.

In the story of the couple connected by a length of rope, there was a scene where the female dancer touched (accidentally or intended) the male dancer’s private part. The male dancer was wearing a t-back under loose short pants that slipped off a number of times, showing the dancer’s butt.

In the story of Portia, the male dancer wore only his briefs and there had been many scenes suggesting the couple are having sex.

In the later part of the show, the women lay on their backs, both feet wide open and raised. In that position they made a 360-degree rotation. Male students stood up to get a better view of the female dancers’ crotches.

Those were the scenes that elicited excited response from the audience, especially the males. It made me think that the female dancers were, in the process, viewed as sexual objects by the male students. The male dancers, too, were probably in the same situation. It was like trying to deliver a message of abuse by the abusing the messengers themselves.

Well, there should be consent on the part of the dancers. In fact,  they are proud of their performance. But that couldn’t be a basis for saying that they are not abused. The show itself conveys a message that not because you wanted it, you wouldn’t be called a victim.

The women portrayed in the show all chase after their man. They endure being physically, sexually, and emotionally abused all for the love of their man. One participant in the forum that followed the performance commented, “women give sex to get love, while men show love to get sex.” In other words, the women consented the men to abuse them.

On the artistic point of view, Tecla is an excellent work of art. The dancers, the choreographers, the director, and everyone behind the show did a great job. I hope Teatro Ambahanon could come up with more thought-provoking productions in the future.

As a bonus, here’s a video of Teatro’s perfromance in Japan in 2008: