Waka-waka…It’s time for Africa!

During my Philippine Institutions 100 class last semester, we were asked to race back our roots. Knowing our family tree would somehow give us the idea about the previous lives our ancestors lived and how we were related to some of our classmates. I was having a hard time getting as much information about my great great grandparents. Thanks to Claverian decree, I made my own theory on how my family name sounded Spanish yet I look like more of a Chinese. I thought maybe my ancestors were Chinese merchants that ventured into the country and for survival, they changed their family name conforming to the Spanish regime.

 

With this formulated theory of mine, I was contented. At least it was far better than to think that I was really an aeta, although I also acknowledge the fact that somewhere in my past life I do have a percentage of their blood.

 

However, after watching the Genographic Project conducted by the National Geographic Society and IBM another revelation surprised me. Human being regardless of colors and other physical attributes are actually related and came from one homeland, Africa.

 

So I was not just a Chinese merchant, an aeta but also most surprisingly an African. This discovery is the starting point of my family tree. A starting point that I share with all individuals which I believe could be a key to somehow lessen the degree of racial discrimination. Thus the considered to be one of the most impoverished countries gave birth to the human civilization.  A realization supported with facts that not all people are aware of. Lucky are those who have known about the project but for those who never heard of it, the grounds for racial discrimination still evidently exist.

 

 

 

We do not want CHANGE!

Everything seemed to be acting against the rule of nature. The weather and the climate are interchanging and becoming unpredictable. Who says rain could not fall during summer or only snow flakes could fall from the sky? One may think it is “cool” but what one is experiencing now is no longer amusing rather, it is deadly.

Climate change has been an issue so long forgotten. It was only brought to life again, when different catastrophes caused by nature happened. These “natural disasters” devastated the lives of the many, and awaken everybody’s call to save the earth.

The government is allocating large amount of money in order to maintain the natural cycle and the balance of the environment.  Projects regarding renewable energy source, alternative ways of preventing global warming are the top priorities of every country or states. Experiments and researches were conducted in order to cope with the changes the planet undergoes. Artificial ways of making rain, energy savers, and waste minimization were developed to protect man from the negative effects of their own work.

Despite all these efforts, one can say that the earth and its people are still in great danger. The continuous move for a greener planet is being overpowered by the uncontrollably phenomena.

Just like in the Philippines, many provinces have been declared to be in the state of calamity because of El Niňo. This only shows that climate change does not choose the country to be victimized. A third world country will be shown no mercy by this deadly curse created by man.

I f the present situation continues, the planet earth will become a big stadium where only the strong and powerful country survives. The competitions for survival will be stiff and tough. Man will continue to exhaust every means to keep up with every change but will only be disappointed with the realization, that things could have been avoided earlier.

Road to Development

Faster and safer trip to Barangay Indag-an, Cubay and Cagbang is guaranteed thanks to the road construction from Barangay Malagyan to Barangay Tan-agan.

Because of the road construction, traveling will be made easier and faster. It will minimize accidents caused by unstable gravel surface thus promoting safer trips to any barangays found within the Miagao area nearing barangay Mat-Y onwards.

Also, the road construction will help lower health related issues like allergy or asthma attack from the dust covering the streets and from the fatigue of traveling on road that is not concrete. In addition to this, it would be favorable for pregnant women since they can afford to go the nearest hospital anytime without risking the health of their child and their body condition.

In terms of economic growth, road construction could make the barangays more accessible thus promoting trade and improving their local business such as pottery in Barangay Cagbang and Hablon in Barangay Indag-an.

However, there are some loopholes in the planning and implementation of this road construction project by the government.

When it comes to organisation, there is no starting point to where the road construction should start. It seemed that almost each barangays have a part of concrete road but they are not even finished and some were unevenly distributed.

This set-up of road construction could still bring danger to the travelers especially during at night. Since streetlights are not low in number and with the unstable road, accidents are being welcomed.

If this road construction aims to serve and give the people a better and safer road, the implementation of this project should be taken into consideration whether it is effected or just another waste. Strategies on how to make the road concrete should be developed and should not left unevenly constructed. It should not left unfinished.

Despite these problems, the road construction is still a good sign of development and improvement of the barangays in the rural area of Miagao. With proper execution from the government, it will not be long for the whole far flung areas to be part of the modern Miagao.

Pictures don’t LIE , this time

 

Bodies were dumped like piles of garbage. Women and children crying to death upon the sight of what they have lost. Men try to use all the remaining parts of their broken body, mind and home.

Seeing the picture of the victims of the earthquake in Haiti made me ask myself, if I was there and one of them, would I still want to continue  living?

The pictures were vivid. They showed how the 7.0Mw earthquake killed more than 150,000 people and destroyed the lives of the rest in a matter of days.  Almost 400,000 were homeless. They all depend on the aid the United Nations and other countries offer them.

I may not be from Haiti, but I know how it feels to be part of just a “dot” on the globe. No one really seems to care on what happened, it is just they are obliged to extend their help.

If one continue to browse for more pictures about the devastating incident, one can see more troubled faces. Everyone is in despair with nothing to hold on to but themselves. The bruises on their body will  leave scars that even time cannot heal.

The younger ones  who should be enjoying their childhood definitely were put into a situation where they could not even think about their dreams and ambitions. They were trapped in  the present where everything seemed to be the end of their happiness.

 

Tears and blood were shed with one strike of nature. A natural phenomenon that one can only predict but could not stop. Who would want this to happen to our fellowmen? It is quite ironic that the ones who are not capable of saving themselves from the demand of the society and the global industry are the ones out in a situation that only made them feel smaller than before. I am not saying the scenario could have been better if it happened on the first world countries, but it is just too unfair for the people of Haiti. They are already poor in terms of economy, and now they are burdened with a bigger problem.

Go Renewable!

Just like a jar full of cookies, time will come that the container will be emptied. The cookies will be consumed no matter how little one takes in order to save some for the future.

In an era where most countries  depend on oil  as the number one source of energy, it will not be soon for that primary source to become scarce. This anticipated problem will make life with the technologies around much expensive than usual. Only countries with more oil deposits will benefit when this time comes. The rest will be left depending on them,or experimenting on their own.

Since nothing in this world can retain its natural form all for a lifetime, things can always be repackaged and renewed. Thus, renewable energy sources will save man from too much expense and will encourage them to be more environmental friendly.

Renewable energy flows as defined by Wikipedia, involve natural phenomena such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat. It is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources.

Each of these sources has unique characteristics which influence how and where they are used. They are available and accessible for everyone all over the world. The best thing about these resources are, they are renewable and free for consumption.  They only require man’s intelligence for them to be innovated and  used as substitute sources of energy.

In a country with rich natural resources like the Philippines, it is not impossible for these innovations to be utilized  by the Filipinos. Given its economic status, resorting to alternative energy sources will be beneficial and will serve as its saving grace.

Let us face the reality that the country lacks much funds  when it comes to importing oil  from other countries such as Saudi Arabia. The country may not be rich in terms of financial stability, but one cannot deny the fact that we have the resources and brains. When these two are combined, half of the amount being spent on purchasing oil will be kept and saved.

Although these innovations also need proper funding, but when supported by the government will be of great help to all. Sustainability will of no question once renewable energy sources will empowered and given attention.

So why not go for something useful and environmental instead of pursuing Coal power plants and other hazardous alternatives that would not only endanger lives but will eventually destroy the environment?