August 16, 2010

For a long time, Philippines has always depended on merely fossil fuels as one of its major sources of energy, as what other countries do. These are fuels such as coal and petroleum that are obtained from decayed ancient plants and animals. However, there is only limited supply of these fuels and their prices became unpredictably high. In addition, they contribute a big portion in the amount of greenhouse gases that absorb and trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, making the world a whole lot warmer.

Thus, environment-friendly and low-priced alternative energy sources are now widely considered. Biofuels are one of them. These fuels are derived from living things such as plant oils and therefore, renewable. These are substitutes for petroleum fuel such as vehicle gasoline.

University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Prof. Rex Demafelis presented his latest study entitled “Waste Management in the Emerging Philippine Biofuel Industry” on June 15, 2010 at SEARCA Drilon Hall, Laguna. According to Demafelis, a chemical engineering professor, the two main kinds of biofuels in the Philippines, namely biodiesel and bioethanol, aim not just to secure energy supply but also, to lessen fuel importation, and to increase the country’s economic activities and generate jobs especially for the farmers who work for the raw materials.

This year, the Biofuels Act of 2006 (Republic Act 9367) requires two percent (2%) blending of biodiesel and five percent (5%) blending of bioethanol. Based from Prof. Demafelis’ study, these made the mandated production capacity of biodiesel in UPLB become thrice than in UP Diliman, and the need for bioethanol increase into 223 million liters though the country’s total production capacity is only 69 million liters.

The production of biodiesel demands processing of various plant oils including grape seed, sunflower, jatropha, and palm oil. This encourages the development of other related industries especially the coconut industry in the Philippines where most of the country’s biodiesel come from. And, because it is substituted or combined with petroleum diesel fuel, it contributes on the global effort to lessen toxic greenhouse gases.

On the other hand, bioethanol is made by fermenting either starch or sugar from sugarcane, molasses, corn and other plants. Just like biodiesel, it also helps in decreasing harmful gases in the environment. According to the Biofuels Philippines, an online information site produced by the government about biofuels, major vehicle producers signed the World Wide Fuel Charter which states that it is safe to blend a maximum of ten percent (10%) bioethanol in gasoline to be used by regular cars without modifying their engines.

Biofuels, in general, promise many benefits for mankind and the environment. However, they also face a difficulty in handling their high-strength organic wastes. Good thing, according to Prof. Demafelis, technologists have already found the solution and now, they turn the wastewaters into either liquid or solid fertilizers, and dry the wastes for fuel.

At present, UPLB focuses on small biodiesel production systems or village-scale production systems that would cater to the capacity of farmers or cooperatives, and help them be more competitive against the big commercial ones.

Meanwhile, for the bioethanol production, UPLB will collaborate with the two ethanol distilleries in the country and the upcoming two other big ones to research on the use of sweet sorghum to complement with sugarcane since Philippines is facing sugar shortage nowadays.

The biofuel community is still doing its best to have technologies or innovations that would reduce production costs for biodiesel and bioethanol to achieve one of its main objectives – to produce low-priced and environment-friendly fuel for the benefit of many.

Selling Japanese cakes outside a university, 32-year-old voter Mang Ramiel Marquez recalls no party-list group that had ever helped him. He, who supposed to be one of the beneficiaries of party-list groups, does not also know the essential information about the system. And he is not alone.

This year, the Pulse Asia survey showed that nearly seven (7) out of ten (10) Filipino voters (69%) are unaware of the party-list system. It even grew higher from the five (5) out of ten (54%) unaware voters on the May 2004 elections survey.

With this scenario, how can Filipinos vote with informed decisions?

Significance

Party-list groups, based on the Party-List System Act (Republic Act No. 7941), must represent labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals, or in a collective sense, the marginal sectors of the society.

Each group has a different set of goals and objectives based on the sector they stand for. One of the groups is the Kabataan Party-list. According to its Regional Staff Rogene Gonzales, “Kabataan represents, inside the Congress, the interests and ideals of the youth which includes free and quality education for everyone, and equal job opportunities with humane salaries after graduation.” Its University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Coordinator, Eduard Alub, added that the party-list encourages the youth to work collectively with other sectors to uphold, promote and defend the interest of the youth, and be able to harness its fullest potential as a sector.

Constitutional Basis

The Congress of the Philippines is composed of officials who can make, change or repeal laws, and were elected by the people. It is divided into two houses, called bicameral legislature, namely the House of Senate and the House of Representatives.

Unlike the House of Senate which is composed of only 24 senators, the House of Representatives is composed of not more than 250 members. Twenty percent of which is established by the party-list representatives, and the rest, by the district representatives (congressmen and congresswomen), as stated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 6, Section 5.

To join the party-list system, a group should register on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with a list of not less than five (5) names, already ranked, from which the representatives of that certain party-list shall be chosen. Maybe you were asking why do you vote for only one party-list, yet many of which were in Congress. The reason is that whenever a party-list group had two percent (2%) of the entire votes, it will be given one (1) seat in the house. But, the maximum number of seats that can be gained is only three (3). So when a party earned six percent (6%) of the total votes, the first three names appeared on its list of representatives shall be seated.

A registered voter is therefore permitted to vote two (2) members of the House of Representatives. First is for a congressman that will represent its district and second is for a party-list group that will seat its representative for the marginalized sectors of the country.

Merits

According to UPLB Political Science Prof. Arleen H. Saniano, the party-list system prevents the concentration of power in the Congress to the hands of popular and major parties only. “The system levels the playing field for non-mainstream parties and marginal groups so that power will be distributed more widely among the various sectors of society,” she said.

She also cited advantages seen by party-list system advocates. They say that it paves way for “the flourishing of genuine program-based political parties” because more importance is given to a party’s platform. In connection, it also provides new political culture because people have now the chance to base their votes on party platform and not on personalities.

Demerits

Some voters do not like the party-list system because they could not choose the representatives of a certain party-list group. Critics also say that party-list representatives are redundant because congressmen can already represent the interests and ideas of the marginalized groups within his or her district. Moreover, according to Dr. Saniano, party-list representatives are generally regarded as second class citizens in the Congress. “Besides being a minority on the house, often they are divided and worse, contradictory to each other. So, they struggle to make a difference,” she added.

Filipino Voters

The Institute of Politics and Governance studied the 1998 party-list elections and found out that Filipino voters were used to voting congressmen, so others became uninterested and later on became uninformed with the party-list system. They also pointed out that the COMELEC did not move fast to educate the voters about the new system even though the funds were already released in 1995, after the Party-List System Act was passed.

Fr. Joaquin Bernas, a Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, once suggested that the party-list system nowadays should be reviewed. It seems that a definite standard to consider a certain group as “underrepresented” or “marginalized” to be able to run do not exist. Based on this year’s January 30 COMELEC resolution, 187 party-list groups were already accredited. Some of which may even be major political parties, and others are government-sponsored and religion-associated.

Some of the problems on May 2004 elections still exist today. Several party-list members are still harassed and assassinated. Various party-list groups are also accused as terrorists. One of which is the Gabriela Women’s Party. According to its UPLB Officer-in-Charge Rona Manalo, “Even though we are following legal processes, one of the greatest struggles we still face today is the red tagging, wherein we are labeled as terrorists.”

But nowadays, intellects maximize all available means to disseminate information essential to the public. Some write mind-opening columns on newspapers that reveal and study various sides of the country’s political issues. Party-list groups also extend their reach through conducting educational campaigns and attending the needs of the people they represent.

And these are what Mang Ramiel holds to still continue voting for a party-list group this incoming elections. He believes that though he was not, others were still directly benefited by these groups.

Despite everything, Filipinos are still the voters – the change-makers; be it for better or for worse. And to create change, one has to exert an effort to make himself always informed, not just to simply blame anybody for not being educated.

-END-

First published in UPIU.com

(http://www.upiu.com/politics/2010/03/25/Gettin-ready-for-the-party/UPIU-5081269516925/)

Ebs (bestfriend kong babae): Bakit? Mababago ba ang buhay mo sa pagtigil ng paginom?

Hindi ako umiinom. Hindi ko rin alam anong pakiramdam ng mga taong nagiinom kaya sila nagiinom. Pero sa tingin ko, tama naman ‘yung bestfriend ko. Nasa tao naman ‘yun. Halos lahat ng kaibigan ko manginginom pero ayos naman sila. May mga tumigil pero hindi naman nagbago ang buhay nila. Nagbago siguro, kasi hindi na nga sila umiinom. E ‘di ba dating parte ‘yun ng buhay nila?

Pero meron din akong mga napapanood sa TV na nung tumigil daw sila sa paginom ay tumino na rin daw sila at naayos na nila ang dating magulong buhay. Sa tingin ko, ‘yun naman e ‘yung mga tipo ng tao na ‘yung paginom mismo ang naging bisyo at sumira ng kanilang buhay. Pero kung ibang bagay na, minsan pa nga nakakatulong pa raw sa pagbawas ng bigat na nararamdaman ang paginom.

Ewan ko ba. E bakit ako naman, hindi pa nga nagiinom magulo na ang buhay? (O.o)?

Ate Rizza: Bye Lyka! (nasa dyip kami nito pauwi; with matching high pitch)

Hahaha! Promise lumaki mga mata naming mago-orgmates. Matagal na ito e. After pa nung Seven Lakers’ Night namin. Akala kasi ni Ate Rizza ako na ‘yung babaeng bumaba kasi ako ‘yung pinakaunang bababa sa amin. E ayun, wala lang, nagulat kami kasi hindi naman ako ‘yun. Malayo pa ako sa bababaan ko at katapat pa niya ko.

Gayunpaman, usaping pamamaalam tayo.

…

Masyado palang malawak. Maraming posibleng dahilan. Maraming posibleng epekto. Hindi ko alam kung saan at paano sisimulan at tatapusin.

…

Ayoko lang pala talaga pagusapan.

Jeelay (9 years old):

To love with measure is not the true measure of love; for the true measure of love is to love without measure.

Lyka (17 years old; nagulat at naka-kunot ang noo): Huy? Anong sinasabi mo dyan?

Jeelay (chillax lang): Nagta-tongue twister lang, te.

Haha. OK.

Sa totoo lang, matagal ko nang nai-gm ang kalokohan naming ito sa pamamagitan ng cellphones. Nakakahiya man, akala ko talaga seryoso ‘yung kapatid ko habang sinasabi ‘yun. Akala ko naman in-love na talaga ‘tong kapatid ko.

‘Di ko alam kung bakit naisip ko ‘yun. Siguro kasi alam ko na kadalasan, ang mga tao, lalo na kung bata, hindi maipakita o maibahagi sa iba ‘yung nararamdaman nila, lalo na kung tungkol sa pagibig. Paano ba naman kasi, nasaksak na sa utak nila na sa mura nilang edad, bawal pa ang ma-in-love.

Dalawang bagay.

Una, sinabi lang naman nila na bawal ang ma-in-love ‘di ba? Paano ka ba nakakasiguro na in-love ka na nga? Paano kung crush lang pala ‘yang nararamdaman mo? ‘Pag ganun ba ‘di mo na pwede ipaalam sa iba? ‘Di ba pwedeng maging totoo sa sarili at sa ibang tao?

Ikalawa, pwede ba namang ‘bawal ma-in-love’? E ‘di ba hindi naman nakokontrol ang emosyon? ‘Di ba kusa ‘yung dumarating? Kung hindi man naiin-love ang mga bata, e ‘di wala dapat ‘yung batas na ‘yun.

Ano ba ‘yan, usaping ‘lab-lab’. Ilang beses kong nabanggit ang salitang ‘in-love’ at ‘ma-in-love’? Ilang beses na rin akong nagtanong?

Nakakasawa noh? Nakakasawa. Nakakasawang sumailalim sa batas na alam mong hindi tama. Nakakasawang magpanggap at magtago. Nakakasawang magmahal.

Ganun ba ‘yun? Kaya ba may mga taong basta na lang nangiiwan?

Kainis. Nami-miss ko na ‘yung litrato ng lamok na aking nakuha habang pinagaaralan ko ‘yung kabibili ko lang na DSLR.

Naaalala ko pa. Patay na ata siya noon e. Naipit ata siya sa may screened door namin. Doon ko na siya natagpuan at hindi ko naman masuri kung patay na nga siya noon.

Maganda ‘yung naging angulo e. Tapos bumagay pa ‘yung mga kulay. Madumi na kasi ‘yung pintong ‘yun. Medyo matagal-tagal nang hindi natatanggal para mahugasan. Kaya ayun, bumagay ang itim na kulay nung lamok sa pagka-itim nung screen. Tapos hinaluan ng blurred na kulay ng paligid. Ayun. Natuwa ako.

Kaya lang, napasama na siya sa dami ng mga kuha na ginawa ko habang pinagaaralan nga ‘yung kamera. Kaya nung panahong kailangan ko na talagang gamitin ‘yun para sa kumpil ng kapatid ko, naharap ako sa isang pagdedesisyon na naman sa aking buhay – kung buburahin ko na ba lahat nung mga kuha ko kasama ‘yung litrato nung lamok o pagaaralan ko kung paano ko mabubura lahat maliban nga run sa litrato niya. Kaya lang, tinamad ako, dagdagan pa ng maraming problemang iniisip, at minamadali pa ni mama dahil huli na raw kami sa misa.

Ayun, binura ko na lahat, kasama siya.

Ngayon, nakakita ako ng lamok. Naalala ko tuloy ‘yung litrato. Naalala ko rin ‘yung ibang bagay na naging mahalaga sa akin, ngunit hinayaan kong mawala kasama ng ibang ‘di ganun ka-importante (kasi syempre naging parte rin sila ng ating buhay ). Marami talagang kapahamakan ang naidudulot ng katamaran. Ngayon, nalulungkot ako.

Pero ayos lang ‘yun. Natuto na ko. Susubukan ko nang labanan ang katamaran. Sisimulan ko ‘yun sa pagiisip na ng mga bagay na lagi kong isinasantabi noon dahil sa katamaran.

Uunahin ko na sa pagisip…kung lamok nga ba o baka langaw ‘yung kinuhanan ko ng litrato.

It’s time to update!

1. Makagawa ng account sa aycn.net. (Ayos! Kahit isa pa lang ang naa-upload kong gawa.)
2. Makagawa ng account sa wordpress.com. (Panalo! Nagustuhan ko talaga ang resulta.)
3. Maglaro ng badminton.
4. Kumain ng maraming tsokolate.
5. Basahin na ang mga librong binili ko na hanggang ngayon ay hindi man lang naaalis sa kanilang mga supot.
6. Mamili ng ilang damit para hindi na paulit-ulit ang mga suot ko. (Sabi nga nung isa kong kaklase memoryado na niya mga damit ko. Simple lang kasi. Ganoon talaga ko e. Pero salamat sa kanya at natauhan din ako.)
7. Subukang magbasa ng dyaryo. (Isa akong development journalist na hindi nagbabasa ng dyaryo.)
8. Magsimba pa rin bawat linggo.
9. Magaral ng adobe. (Marunong naman ako, pero ‘di magaling.)
10. Mamasyal sa maraming malls.
11. Makipag-date kay mama.
12. Makipag-date kay Joan.
13. Makipag-date kay Jeelay.
14. Magsulat. Magsulat. Magsulat.
15. Mag-move on. (Emo? May karapatan ako!)

I think I had so much sleep.

In his simple, blue shirt, weary jeans and slippers, Mang Ruperto Latadre grills the barbecue for his patient customers. After he had served them, he looks at the nearby Sampaloc Lake, listening to the teenagers as they giggle while appreciating the calmness and refreshing air, one of the San Pablo’s famous Seven Lakes can give. Then, he suddenly left the barbecue stall to his wife and picked the pieces of trash from their vicinity up to the side of the lake and put those on the garbage can. It is as if he cares for the lake just like how much he does for his family. And yes, it was also his family. For they have been together for 60 years.

“Dito na ako naging tao at nasaksihan ko ang lawa na muntik nang mawala ngunit nailigtas,” Mang Ruperto opened up as he will now tell the story of his family together with the Sampaloc Lake.

Though Mang Ruperto was born in 1949, his grandfather was already residing near the lake on 1918. Mang Ruperto narrates that from the stories of his grandfather, nothing had changed up to his time. The lake’s water is so clear that if you drop even a single centavo coin within 3 meters deep, you can still see it. Also, many people jog around the perimeter of the lake, which surface area accounts for 104 hectares. On early mornings, fishermen harvest dalag, hito, tilapia, hipon, kanduli, bangus and other aquatic animals on the lake’s maximum depth of 28 meters.

But after 20 years, he started to have his own family, just like the rest of his childhood neighbors. And nobody had expected that it will be the start of Sampaloc Lake’s dilemma – the population growth; worsened by the migration of illegal settlers.

As the number of people increases, many houses were built that crowded the lake. Business establishments, specifically restaurants, were then opened to serve the growing population, though the target market is the tourists. According to Mang Ruperto, for them to have an income, they sell their harvested tilapia as the important ingredient for the specialties of these about four to seven restaurants. From then on, competition for aquatic animals as a living was born that forced settlers to put fish pens.

San Pablo City (SPC) Tourism Affairs Director Donalyn Eseo estimated that about 300 fish pens were built in 1989 to 1995 wherein fishes die due to overfeeding and lack of oxygen. The fishkill was worsened by the cold weather of months November to January. Mang Ruperto added that the lake really smelled bad due to dead fishes and worsen by the garbage coming from the settlers and the restaurants. Tourists and business people were then beginning to abandon the lake.

Good thing, the settlers themselves took the lead in saving the lake. They coordinated with other San Pableños and in 1990, Yakap sa Lawa was help as a symbol of Sampaloc Lake’s reborn. Mang Ruperto shared that about ten thousand locals, whether students, religious groups, parents, and others held hands around the circumference of the lake as if they literally hugged it.

Though many problems had branched out, the government prioritized the root which is the illegal settlers. Governor Joey Lina gave a 30-day ultimatum for the illegal settlers to voluntarily move to the prepared relocation site in San Lucas 2, a barangay not too far from the lake. In line with this, the Couples for Christ, a religious organization, and its partner, the Gawad Kalinga, helped Fr. Jerry Bitoon, city priest, in its call for help in relocation.

Mang Ruperto assured that his former neighbors were given jobs like him as Sampaloc Lake vendors, which were managed to have uniform stalls by the SPC Tourism Council, United Architects Association of the Philippines (SPC Chapter) and Lingap sa Pitong Lawa. SPC Tourism Council President Mrs. Lerma Prudente stated that each stalls were paid at P20 only everyday for the convenience of the vendors.

San Pableños abroad also established their organization, the Seven Lakes International. They initially donated P10, 000 to its local chapter, Samahan ng Pitong Lawa, to help groups that are willing to construct mini-parks. These are Silangan Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Knights of Columbus, Emeralds Lions Club, and Kiwanis Clubs of Lake City & Seven Lakes & Siete Lagos. The mini-parks will prevent illegal settlers from coming back and at the same time, beautify the surroundings.

For the problem of garbage, Lakewatch, also known as Bantay Lawa, was built to initiate and maintain the cleanliness of the lake. According to Mang Ruperto, as of this year 2009, if not every day, at least thrice a week, a garbage truck collects sacks of trash around the perimeter of the lake. The local government also imposed a rule that no one is allowed to throw garbage within the vicinity of the lake. For the first offense, P300 will be paid and for the next, it will be P1000. If the violators are children, the parents or the guardians will be called and put under seminar.

Mang Ruperto is now a member of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC), mandated by Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), that protects the Famous Seven Lakes of San Pablo from various capitalists that might again exploit the lakes’ resources.

As of September 2009, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is planting ornamental plants aound the perimeter of the Sampaloc Lake. Mang Ruperto reviewed that one of the plans for the lake is the P10-million boardwalk project from the government.

“Let’s all take good care of the lake. Share its story to inspire people in maintaining its vitality and freedom from capitalists, not to inspire them in taking advantage of its resources.” Those are the last words Mang Ruperto can give to the teenagers eating in his stall.

And for sure, one of those youth members will likely to write the man’s story into history. Good thing I was one of them.

-end-

(This is one of my college articles. )

Writing newsletters is a true tedious work. It requires time, effort, money (in buying coffees and breads), and of course, writing and layouting skills.

Content. Articles are bloodlines. They should be true, objective, and for me, ueful to readers. But to be able to have them, research is a must. So much decision-making chances are faced. You might actually encounter contrasting stories and statements from various interviewees and sources. If that’s the case, congratulations! You have to do extra research and dig deeper unto your subject. Knowing your readers, or to whom your article is being made, is a great help.

Pictures. The tiny details on one’s appearance. I love to critique images. I love each and every detail it has. The details make me think more than twice what message the photographer wanted to convey. And of course, angles add emotions.

Layout. The physical appearance. Here is where artistic skills come in. At first, you might think that working on layout is easy. But polishing and perfecting every edge requires patience.

And well, that’s it for now. I simply wanted to have a short break in helping my alma matter finish its newsletter. Time to go back and work.

Pre-school.

Elementarya.

Hayskul.

At ngayon, tatlong semestre sa kolehiyo.

Idagdag mo pa diyan ang break-up sa kasintahan at sangkatutak na problema ng daigdig.

Sa wakas, magbo-blog na ako.

Matagal-tagal na rin akong hindi nakakapagsulat. Oo nga at hindi naman ito literal na pagsulat ngunit, kahit papano nakakapagbigay ako ng kahit kaunting panahon para mailahad ‘yung mga naiisip ko. Sa pagaaral ko kasi ng teknikal na pagsulat at ilan pang mga asignatura, nawawalan na ako ng oras para sa dati kong pagsulat.

Hindi ko sinasabing ayoko ng pagaaral ha. Hinahanap-hanap ko lang talaga ‘yung malayang pagsulat ng gusto kong sabihin. ‘Yun bang pamamahagi ng mga kwento at aral ng buhay na napupulot mo lang basta kung saan-saan. Para sa akin kasi, ang mga ito pa rin ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat.

Kaya naman, pagkatapos ng walang tulugang paggawa ng mga newsletter, popularization materials, at kung anu-ano pang kalokohan naming magkaka-batch, ito na, nakagawa na ako ng site pang-blog. At bago ko ipakita ang listahan ng mga balak kong gawin ngayong sembreak, ito muna ang ilan sa mga larawang kinuha ng ka-grupo ko sa aming lamay.

(Tinanggal ko na. )

Ahaha. O ang astig, ‘di ba? Hindi na kinaya ng aming mga kapangyarihan ang kalaban kaya napagdesisyunan naming matulog na lang talaga muna.

O ito na ‘yung mga plano ko para sa sembreak: (Sana matupad.)

1. Makagawa ng account sa aycn.net. (Ayos! Kahit isa pa lang ang naa-upload kong gawa.)
2. Makagawa ng account sa wordpress.com. (Panalo! Nagustuhan ko talaga ang resulta.)
3. Maglaro ng badminton.
4. Kumain ng maraming tsokolate.
5. Basahin na ang mga librong binili ko na hanggang ngayon ay hindi man lang naaalis sa kanilang mga supot.
6. Mamili ng ilang damit para hindi na paulit-ulit ang mga suot ko. (Sabi nga nung isa kong kaklase memoryado na niya mga damit ko. Simple lang kasi. Ganoon talaga ko e. Pero salamat sa kanya at natauhan din ako.)
7. Subukang magbasa ng dyaryo. (Isa akong development journalist na hindi nagbabasa ng dyaryo.)
8. Magsimba pa rin bawat linggo.
9. Magaral ng adobe. (Marunong naman ako, pero ‘di magaling.)
10. Mamasyal sa maraming malls.
11. Makipag-date kay mama.
12. Makipag-date kay Joan.
13. Makipag-date kay Jeelay.
14. Magsulat. Magsulat. Magsulat.
15. Mag-move on. (Emo? May karapatan ako!)

Ayan, nakalista na. Sigurado naman ako maraming sisingit diyan.

Ganito naman talaga ang buhay e. Magplano ka man, ‘di mo pa rin alam ang mga mangyayari.

‘Yung akala mo ayos na, biglang masisira.

‘Yung akala mong sa iyo, hindi pala.

Kahit nga ‘yung pinapalamig kong tsokolate sa refrigerator para sa ‘kin, kinain na pala ng kapatid ko.

Pero tuloy ang buhay. Tingnan natin kung ano mangyayari.