Hopia?

“Hapon na nay, mabakal na ako tinapay.” I said to my mother before she could request me to. Before, she usually requests me to buy bread for merienda every 3 o’clock in the afternoon, but now I am able to initiate myself to make it a routine. She gave me twenty-five pesos which is enough for the three of us including my father. Nothing is considered cheap these days. I wore my hat to protect myself from the heat of global warming and also my wrist watch for the sake of looking good. I also grabbed my IPod with me to listen to my favorite alternative rock music while walking to the bread store.

The store is located in the town plaza. From our house, I have to pass the highway and cross the street to reach the plaza and across it is my destination. I turned on my IPod and listened to the song “The Wind Blows” by an American rock band. I went out the house and started walking and kept singing “I’ll leave when the wind blows…” The afternoon is quiet and the people are usually relaxing from their every day work. It is the usual laid back atmosphere of the countryside. Fathers tell stories and something about politics to their friends. Mothers are probably talking about showbiz and maybe they are finished with the household chores. The children are playing with their bicycles and some younger ones play anything including insects. A man selling “taho” just stood by and kept shouting his irreplaceable shout: TAHOOOOO!!! with a stress on the last syllable. Everything seems to be the way they are supposed to be and it made me smile and I thought how I loved being a Filipino. As I was on my way, I passed on the highway wherein all jeepneys are zooming with speed as if they didn’t see the sign, SLOW DOWN SCHOOL AHEAD. I crossed along the highway using the pedestrian lane but I wasn’t afraid to be smashed by the bustling honking vehicle approaching since I knew I am in juridical protection of the pedestrian lane. Thank goodness the vehicle slowed down although the driver looked at me, and we looked at each other. It was not love at first sight, it was annoyance. I just continued walking until I reached the plaza. Many people were there doing anything. I saw two teen couples showing public display of affection, the plaza gardener who spent the whole afternoon gardening the plaza, the old man sitting at the bench as if he is the thinker, and a group of male kids skateboarding like a pack of wolves with an alpha male. Unfortunately, that alpha male wears no shirt and shows his ribcage to show his domination. The park is home to a lot of different kinds of people. That is why I like it outside; I see a collective identity of a Filipino. Finally, I reached the breadstore and asked for six Hopia breads. As I was waiting for my change, I saw two young children looking for scrap metals. They look very young as 8 years old and their tattered shorts are a cruel scene to me. One approached me asking for something to eat and the feeling of discomfort rushed in rapidly. “Jeez! He must think I’m rich because of this IPod I brought and all the other ornamental gadgets”, I thought. Now I am faced with a dilemma either to give him my “Hopia” bread or to bring it back home and make my parents happy. Time is ticking and I just stood there motionless and stunned for a moment. The boy is worthy of my empathy and suddenly an idea just came to my mind. I asked the store for another plastic to put on three breads and gave it to the boy, and the remaining three to bring back home. The boy then went away and met with the other kid. I wasn’t expecting an acknowledgment of course but how would I explain this to nanay. When I went home, she asked why I did only buy three breads. I told them the story and fortunately she didn’t get mad at me even though she didn’t have more coins to buy merienda for the day again. Also, my parents just kept quiet about the matter and they didn’t praise me but I knew their religiosity wouldn’t fail me. It was a great day and I gained a lot of insights as well. It really showed the core values of being a Filipino or “PakikipagKapwa.” “Pakikisalamuha” is shown in the community sharing their thoughts and doing similar hobbies just like every afternoon here in town. Although sometimes alone, we find time to be with others by civility. The “Pakikibagay” or conformity of the group of friends playing in the plaza is a way and there are also many other ways. Two lovers share mutual trust too or “Pakikipagpalagayang-loob:” Lastly despite my colonial mentality of listening to American rock bands, I found a way to become and being one with others like the boy with whom I shared with. It is more than just a pity and I know it was “Pakikipagkaisa” just like the People Power Revolution. Our collective culture separates us from the individualistic scheme and I know what we are facing right now is not only changing ourselves but by changing what we do to others.

Proactive Green Youths

I am a Green Warrior. The youth should fight adversities contributing to climate change and its effects. Not only we should support the present efforts on this issue but also by being proactive and declare a just war on climate change. Sadly, the war is within us because of man-induced causes of Global warming. I wake up every morning for school to attend my Psychology classes in Iloilo, Philippines. A country described as developing and lagging behind neighbors in Southeast Asia. Urbanized cities here are completely opposites from rural communities. My school is located in a rural municipality, a place I always prefer to live in. It is free from many noisy bustling Jeepneys(a public vehicle), smoke screen-like emissions from industries and vehicles, brown-colored and almost lifeless rivers, and plastics scattering around the streets. The urban city is more like it and a reality denied in changing our image viewed by others.

Our community felt the negative effects of climate change last year of June when a super Typhoon locally named “Bagyo Frank” hit Iloilo and the whole Western Visayas region badly that put the province in a red alert disaster situation.(International codename: Fengshen) Strong winds that blew off electricity posts and trees, landslides that destroyed roads and houses, heavy flood that killed 98 people according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council. It never happened before in the history of Iloilo that severely damaged our society. During the event while listening to the radio, I heard many families plead for rescue because they are stuck in their roofs of their house being flooded and without food. Due to the lack of resources, they were not immediately helped. Many were left homeless drooling with poverty and traumatized after a week of unimaginable disaster. A city sacked by climate change gave me a reason to fight. Recently, the city government decided to put up a coal-fired power plant to solve power shortage in the region. They also justify that it will attract businesses with a stable power supply. It’s as if they didn’t experience the current effect of global warming and would still put up a plant that emits the greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. When Global warming worsens, the health in the localities will also worsen the diseases such as dengue fever. I had dengue fever last year November when actually my siblings didn’t have any before. The country eats rice and its plantations may be unproductive thus decreasing jobs in agriculture. Moreover, if sea level rises, less land will be available more especially the Philippines which is composed of islands and is at great risk. Scarce resources like food will be in competition with abundant human population and may force them to migrate or be in conflict. Unresolved conflict due to the same problem will result in war for resources. No one knows what will exactly happen but surely it will endanger human lives. Ecosystems will change together and extinction especially the Philippines’ rich aquatic biodiversity. For example when I was 8, there were many dragonflies I played with at the garden outside our house, but 11 years later they disappeared instead I discovered mosquitoes replaced them. The youth in our community continuously fights this project in order together with the other complaints from different sectors thus somehow successful in inhibiting the plan. The government then thought in using biofuel as power which uses natural and renewable energy. I firmly believe that the leaders of our society should not only be leaders of organizations but also leaders of the environment, so that is why next we the youth have to become green entrepreneurs in managing a future green environment.

The Philippines have signed and ratified the Koyoto Protocol as a member of the United Nations. It produced policies in the country to combat global warming. Other efforts include pro-environment organizations, awareness projects or seminars in a locality, advertisements about climate change, and other simple ways of combating the impacts of climate change. There are existing climate-related measures that contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions in the country namely, the Mass Transportation, Systems Loss Reduction, Natural Gas Development, and Traffic Management Program. (Velasco, 2000) The US Agency for International Development trained teachers, students, and LGUs to increase their awareness on the impacts of climate change. Being aware teaches us energy-saving practices such as turning off appliances when not used, using green light bulbs, practicing the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, growing our own food and using mass transit. Although it made the people recognize the problem but some do not take it seriously because climate change appears unthreatening due to unfelt direct effects. They may reason out the super typhoon was just a part of the regular tropical depression. Even a person burning trash in his or her backyard can’t be caught by enforcers because it can’t be expansively monitored. Government units should create clear environmental policies and implement them properly.

Youths on the other hand, shall also contribute and do their job. In our part, we are proactive and do actions not only for awareness but also to at least minimize the impacts of climate change. Executive Order No. 52, mandating the creation of Green Brigades nationwide, is currently undergoing reviews and amendments. 3 trainings were conducted in 2003. Youth volunteers were mobilized during the International Coastal Clean-up and Earth Day celebrations. (National Youth Commission) Another youth organization is the Sangguniang Kabataan, a government youth unit and others school-based youth organizations. The presence of youth volunteers enables us to serve smaller communities and must conduct daily projects on the environment even including environmental specifications in their daily tasks as volunteers. We the youth organizations consistently raising not only awareness in their own community again shall add the following aspects in our volunteer work to meet the criteria of being proactive-Legal, Socio-cultural, Technological, and Research on the environment. First is Legal, the youth must raise their voice to get the attention of the government leaders in making or supporting policies about climate change. Such policies that will limit greenhouse gas emissions of industries and stop the building of the coal-fired power plant in our community. It is the job of the government with the persuasion of our youth expressions. We can write letters to the media or directly to the government office, and attend forums so that other can hear our opinion on the problem. Moreover, even other youths attend rallies and show physical presence of support, or add environmental practices in the school curriculum. Second is Socio-cultural, let us help others grow their own food. Due to inflation prices have been higher each year and this project can suit well the Filipino culture. Another is by recognizing the importance of family planning contributing not only to the economy but also to the environment through reducing consumption. Overpopulation is a different issue but is relative cause of climate change. In Technology, how do we use our appliances? Maybe we can take care of our things so we won’t buy new ones and waste the old. Some tips tell that we can use energy-efficient appliances. E-waste is increasing everyday and its pollution. The youths now in the modern age are involved in electronic gadgets like the latest cellular phones, laptops, and Ipods. If the number of people buying new electronic gadgets or equipment now-and-then increases it means the manufacturer should also increase their production. Let us give them a reason to produce the same quantity of e-waste generated. Lastly is in research, climate change used to be nature’s activity but the addition of human activity curved the usual cycle. Young students and professionals could do research regarding global warming. For example in behavioral sciences, in what way people will be persuaded to buy renewable energy produced products or in physical sciences, exploring more environmentally safe pesticides for agriculture and for the home. Engaging in research may give new discoveries for a better way of fighting the impacts of climate change. Eventually for individuals who are more reserved or incapable of being in youth organizations. They can do such simple things: Let us buy products produced from renewable energy such as cups, and straws made of plants. These are all compostable while recycled products such as juice tetra packs made into bags reduces can be a way too. There are many products nowadays made naturally. Tell your friends, colleagues, and family relatives to buy these kinds of environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and sustainable products. In these ways, the youth can contribute in ways they can. No great amount of money is needed, only human behavior is.

Integration of all different perspectives of each individual produces a comprehensive solution to the current problem and mitigates the impacts of global warming. It begins in our youth to become as a habit. If we teach the children environmentally sound practices, then they would consider it in the future as a value to follow. Generally, the role of the youth is simple, it is to volunteer. Not only when a crisis demand an action, but also in the way of living our lives. Our national hero Jose Rizal once said, “The youth is the hope of our future”.

Definition

Lucky
1.having or marked by good luck; fortunate: That was my lucky day.
2.happening fortunately: a lucky accident.
3.bringing or foretelling good luck, or supposed to do so: a lucky penny.

Since the start of May 2008 until the end of this year's May, I have been feeling lucky. This feeling is brought about by inexplicable fortunate events happening in my existence. So far I haven't had a pursuit of "happyness", but rather happiness ran after me. From the definitions above, only two definitions are true. These are numbers 1 and 2. The only reason is that I do not foretell things, and I do and experience things as they are. Like Abraham Lincoln said, "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock". I was fortunate enough to be called lucky. What has been happening lately:

1. May 2008 - I was accepted at an exchange program initiated by the Japanese and the Philippine government, so a 100 of Filipino youths went to Japan for 10 days all free!
Not only its free, but it also made us experience Japanese culture and daily living with 5-star accomodation in hotels.

2. June 2008 - the start of class... from simple acquaintances, we developed the relationships to friends. For the first time in my first 3 years in college in U.P., I had much friends than high school or even elementary. XD

3. September 2008 - All of my siblings are abroad. Although a little bit sad and a brain drain phenomenon, I can now ask them to give me techno gadgets.

4. December 2008- what do you expect... It's Christmas!!! Opened all the gifts and "engulf" all the food!

5. January 2009 - It was my birthday. I got more mature in all aspects. I am still looking for someone(girlfriend) but they say love will just find you(ROFL). I am still Christian.

6. February 2009 - I finally got the news that I will have the many techno gadgetSSS I wanted.

7. March 2009 - I got a part-time job which is to tutor Japanese students online English. We earn about 5,000 to 15,000 pesos a month just even spending 2 hours online everyday.

Ok, This ends my bragging. =/

Multi-Facet Ent.

"The Joker: The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules!" --- From Batman: The Dark Night

Movies have been looking so real nowadays and maybe more real in the future. Generally, I watch action, war, and adventure genre movies like the latest "Taken" and "Body of Lies". Its like adrenaline in your sense of sight rushing! Have you watched "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? It was the first movie I became addicted to even though I haven't read the book yet. I liked it more than Harry Potter in my own interest. Mystifyingly initiates my imagination is a statement I could conclude with LOTR.

Well that was an adventure movie but in War genre, I liked "Saving private Ryan" by Steven Spielberg back in 1998. It is set in the invasion of Normandy,France by Allied forces in WWII. What I liked about it is not the special effects but the story of perseverance of their mission. Classified as an action genre movie, "A Dirty Carnival" or Biyeolhan geori(Korean) is the story of Byung-du, a small-time gangster in his late 20s, for whom life is going to take a different turn. Released last 2006 it sold 1.6 million tickets. I love the action scenes.... so tough and cool! (Yes, I judge movies unidimensionally so I may be a bad judge in movie awards)

There are still many pirated movies being sold in malls or in streets. I am against piracy because nonly I support movie producers but also the mere fact to protect the art. Because of my love for movies, I even watch one movie every week as a gratitude for encouraging more great movies. Here are the list of movies I'm going to watch out for ( Or maybe yours too) :

ANGELS AND DEMONS

From Dan Brown's best-selling book

Watchmen - Superhero Film based on a comic book

P.S. I also watch Pinoy movies!!!

Craze

Take a look at the music video.

A music video(dance version) of SNSD's "GEE"

SNSD means So Nyeo Shi Dae and is a South Korean nine-member girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2007. (Wiki) Internationally known also as Girl's Generation.

I first saw them when a friend shared a music video of them to me. At first the impression went into me was a group of all pretty Korean girls doing some cute stuff like others do, but as I watched some of their videos in Youtube I realized they are beyond beauty. They are super talented! They sing very well as well as dancing that even sold about 100,000 copies of their album in South Korea.I don't know if its ok for a 19 year old male to idolize a group of girls but nonetheless they are the best Iv'e seen so far as a female group. The first female group I liked sooooo much that I even have a crush of one of the members. Her name is SeoHyun, the youngest of the 9 members who also a pianist. Her lead position in the group is a lead vocalist. I hope they won't get old so soon(I mean old in the music business).

Me and SeoHyun in fantasy. LOL.