It is utterly illogical to wholly attribute Metro Manila’s flooding as the result of a failure on the government’s part. We could have had the most honest, proactive, altruistic government in the world and it would not have kept, say, Aling Loring’s 14-inch TV in Marikina from being swallowed by neck-deep water. There exists such a term in legal books as “Act of God”, wherein nobody can be held liable if it happens to cause damage to one’s person. Even the Pope, were he in Pasig at the time typhoon Ondoy was licking the Philippines with its wet, wet toungue, would have been just as powerless to stop the rain from coming down (and coming down, and coming down and coming...). So where exactly would the government have failed? Sure, one could argue that the government was not doing enough to ensure proper drainage and clear waterways in and around Metro Manila. But then again, is it right for the blame to fall solely on the governments shouldert? The infrastructure is there, only we chose to hide it amidst garbage, ramshackle housing, and all manner of human detritus. And even after we could not see the river under the plastic and styrofoam anymore, we still piled it on, decades worth of it. The water drainage problem has been around for a long, long time. Long enough that the deluge that was could have been kept to a manageable magnitude. The problem has been underfoot, figuratively and literally, for several incarnations of our government. Like frogs in water slowly heated to boiling, we never truly appreciated the gravity of the situation until our skin started peeling off, or in this case, our furniture started to float away.
The job of the government now is to alleviate and mitigate the effects of such and unpreventable occurence. And on that job I think the government is doing a stand-up job. It is the first time in a long time I have seen the government do something out of genuine concern and altruism for the plight of the downtrodden and the less fortunate, the devestated, already impoverished masses, the demographic so blatantly put on a pedestal by many a politician’s platform come election time. It is refreshing. And it is heartening to see the Filipino people actually exercising the “Bayanihan spirit”, a word often misused and taken advantage of. It gives me hope for the Philippines yet. It is a shame that it takes an Ondoy to show us this side of the government, and ultimately, this side of our selves.
Still, there will be those who blame the government. It is part of a government official’s job description, getting paid to be blamed. And, after all, to point an accusing finger is, like Ondoy, an act of nature. Human nature, that is.
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Thursday, April 22, 2010
Native Dialect
I agree wholeheartedly with the author’s view that, while we should cherish and treasure our native dialect, be it any of the myriad spoken in our country (in our case, Ilocano), it would by no means be the blanket solution to the current pitiable plight of the Filipino. It is wrong to attribute the correct and widespread utilization of one’s native tongue as an answer to society’s problems, particularly those brought about by maladjusted politics that seems to be the norm here in the Philippines. The Department of Education should confine its campaign for Mother Language Education to matters of the academic sector, and refrain from dipping its finger into the socio-political pie with talks of “totalitarians” and “democracy” and “social justice”. All the Dep Ed would get is a smelly finger, because that pie is quite frankly, nasty and inedible, what with the people in power performing all known waste-disposal bodily functions all over it.
The author goes on to say that it is not language that is broken, but the person. I would beg to disagree, though I don’t like begging too much. There’s nothing wrong with an individual person. A person is smart, capable of rational decision, and as the author said, by nature democratic and socially just. That’s all well and good. Take as an example one reasonably sensible person in a theater that’s on fire. He/ she wouldn’t have any problems getting out whatsoever, right? Right. Now, say you have thirty people in the flaming theater. Now you got people panicking, stampeding, pushing each other, stepping on each other’s noses, toes, private parts, you name it. People are stupid, irrational, panicky, and as any politician will tell you, gullible. And it doesn’t matter if they’re screaming or praying in Ilocano, Tagalog, English, Aramaic, etc.; they will still race each other for that Fire Exit, and say to hell with your nose, toes, or private parts. We as a people need to learn to change as a society, and not as individuals.
And to the author, it would have been nice if he at least quoted something in Ilocano. You, sir, took pains in writing in Ilocano, and then you go on and quote Nietzsche at the end. It just seems inappropriate.
The author goes on to say that it is not language that is broken, but the person. I would beg to disagree, though I don’t like begging too much. There’s nothing wrong with an individual person. A person is smart, capable of rational decision, and as the author said, by nature democratic and socially just. That’s all well and good. Take as an example one reasonably sensible person in a theater that’s on fire. He/ she wouldn’t have any problems getting out whatsoever, right? Right. Now, say you have thirty people in the flaming theater. Now you got people panicking, stampeding, pushing each other, stepping on each other’s noses, toes, private parts, you name it. People are stupid, irrational, panicky, and as any politician will tell you, gullible. And it doesn’t matter if they’re screaming or praying in Ilocano, Tagalog, English, Aramaic, etc.; they will still race each other for that Fire Exit, and say to hell with your nose, toes, or private parts. We as a people need to learn to change as a society, and not as individuals.
And to the author, it would have been nice if he at least quoted something in Ilocano. You, sir, took pains in writing in Ilocano, and then you go on and quote Nietzsche at the end. It just seems inappropriate.
Tasting the History in your sake
Japan’s traditional rice wine developed together with the economic and cultural situation of the country. The beginnings of Sake is traced in China in approximately 4, 000 B.C. Sake was introduced in Japan in 300 BC at the time when wet rice cultivation was also introduced.
This wine is made through community efforts. The preparation for the mixture of the wine includes milling the rice kernels and which will later on be mashed. The community or village usually helps in polishing for the wine. Each village member is requested to mash the rice and nuts by chewing. After ensuring that each particle is thoroughly chewed, the village member will then spit the substance in a pit. The liquid produced from the pit becomes the sake. This was discontinued after discoveries that a mold enzyme and yeast can similarly produce the same traditional rice wine.
Sake was first made for the consumption of village families. When the rice wine was later on mass produced, it was the richer and upper class families in Japan who continuously patronize the rice wine. The mass production of sake developed during the 1300’s through sake breweries. The Industrial Revolution in Japan also made significant improvements on how the sake was being produced. Machinery resulted to more sake being made available for the consuming public.
The World War II however, affected the production of sake. Rice shortages caused modifications in the recipe for making the traditional rice wine i.e. use of glucose and pure alcohol with
the mashed rice. The traditional rice wine became more than just a part of Japanese cuisine. Sake plays a significant role in the cultural developments of Japan. It is deeply integrated in the day to day living of the Japanese people. Sake is often served in reverence, during occasions involving family and friends. Tradition dictates that sake must be poured by another person for an individual and the same tradition should also be extended to the one pouring the drink.
Today, Sake can be produced at home without the complexities of the mass produced versions. To make sake, the work area must first be clean. Containers to be used must be sterilized. The rice must be washed then soaked later on from 30 minutes to 8 hours in cold water. Afterwards, the rice must be cooked and then cooled. The rice must be distributed evenly in every container. Each container must have a cup of rice, ½ cup of Koji, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of yeast, and one and one half cups of water. After mixing the ingredients, close the lid tightly and shake the container.
The containers with the mixture must be stored at room temperature and in a dark area. Each day, the container must be shaken, tightening the lids then loosening them again to ensure gas exchange. In 16 days, the rice wine will be ready for drinking. During this last process of fermentation, the sake must be filtered with cheesecloth for easier consumption.
This wine is made through community efforts. The preparation for the mixture of the wine includes milling the rice kernels and which will later on be mashed. The community or village usually helps in polishing for the wine. Each village member is requested to mash the rice and nuts by chewing. After ensuring that each particle is thoroughly chewed, the village member will then spit the substance in a pit. The liquid produced from the pit becomes the sake. This was discontinued after discoveries that a mold enzyme and yeast can similarly produce the same traditional rice wine.
Sake was first made for the consumption of village families. When the rice wine was later on mass produced, it was the richer and upper class families in Japan who continuously patronize the rice wine. The mass production of sake developed during the 1300’s through sake breweries. The Industrial Revolution in Japan also made significant improvements on how the sake was being produced. Machinery resulted to more sake being made available for the consuming public.
The World War II however, affected the production of sake. Rice shortages caused modifications in the recipe for making the traditional rice wine i.e. use of glucose and pure alcohol with
the mashed rice. The traditional rice wine became more than just a part of Japanese cuisine. Sake plays a significant role in the cultural developments of Japan. It is deeply integrated in the day to day living of the Japanese people. Sake is often served in reverence, during occasions involving family and friends. Tradition dictates that sake must be poured by another person for an individual and the same tradition should also be extended to the one pouring the drink.
Today, Sake can be produced at home without the complexities of the mass produced versions. To make sake, the work area must first be clean. Containers to be used must be sterilized. The rice must be washed then soaked later on from 30 minutes to 8 hours in cold water. Afterwards, the rice must be cooked and then cooled. The rice must be distributed evenly in every container. Each container must have a cup of rice, ½ cup of Koji, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of yeast, and one and one half cups of water. After mixing the ingredients, close the lid tightly and shake the container.
The containers with the mixture must be stored at room temperature and in a dark area. Each day, the container must be shaken, tightening the lids then loosening them again to ensure gas exchange. In 16 days, the rice wine will be ready for drinking. During this last process of fermentation, the sake must be filtered with cheesecloth for easier consumption.
Office Drama: The Real Life Telenovela
The average Filipino worker took 6 years of primary education, 4 years of secondary education and another 4 years of tertiary education. However, most probably around 14 years of education will not prepare you for what is in store for you when you enter the corporate world. Once you sign that dotted line above your printed name in your first company contract, you are not only welcomed to the world of the overworked and the underpaid, the glory of taxes but most frighteningly you are welcomed to the wonderful world of office drama. Chismis or office gossip is one of the scariest aspects of saying goodbye to your pencils, your books and your terror professors. If you thought that you have probably seen it all when your high school best friend snubbed you during your college years or when friend A suddenly went out with your boyfriend, well think again! In the office you will experience backstabbing up to the highest degree and you will meet a lot of phonies that will make your work life miserable and unbearable. In the corporate world, almost everyday is like a fresh new episode of Gossip Girl.
Hard to deal with co-workers come in a variety of forms. Some talk constantly and never listen. Others must always have the last word. Some coworkers fail to keep commitments. Others criticize anything that they did not create. Difficult coworkers compete with you for power, privilege and the spotlight; some go way too far in courting the boss’s positive opinion – to your diminishment. Some coworkers attempt to undermine you and you constantly feel as if you need to watch your back. Your boss plays favorites and the favored party lords it over you; people form cliques and leave you out. Difficult people and situations exist in every work place; but don’t be scared. Experts have agreed that there are ways of making your office life, if not filled with love, at the very least livable.
Dealing with difficult co-workers is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person; however, dealing with difficult people is much tougher when they are attacking you or undermining your professional contribution. Based from articles addressing the issue of office drama, experts agree that the best thing to do once you see yourself in a difficult situation at work is to address the problem, confront the person and deal with the situation.
Initially, people go into shock when they are treated unprofessionally, so if you take some time to understand exactly what is happening to you, you are not alone. But always remember though that it is always best to address the difficult person while you can maintain some objectivity and emotional control rather than being irrational and emotional. This type of behavior will only make you appear immature and unprofessional. Also avoid complaining or expressing your anger out loud. Constant complaining about the coworker or situation can quickly earn you the title of whiner or complainer. Managers wonder why you are unable to solve your own problems – even if the manager’s tolerance or encouragement of the situation is part of the problem. Most importantly, if you are in a constant conflict at work, you may not only get blamed for being immature but you may be labeled as a “difficult” person, as well. This label is hard to escape and can have devastating consequences for your career. Extreme situations might even make you lose your job. If you have confronted the employee and were able to say your peace and the situation still hasn’t improved, just limit your interactions with the difficult person so as to avoid conflict.
Bad behavior from co-workers and sometimes even bosses are unavoidable in any organization; however, reversing the situation to your favor is always possible in any given scenario. Just be firm and be true to your convictions. A little office politics also never hurt anyone, just be careful not to go overboard.
Hard to deal with co-workers come in a variety of forms. Some talk constantly and never listen. Others must always have the last word. Some coworkers fail to keep commitments. Others criticize anything that they did not create. Difficult coworkers compete with you for power, privilege and the spotlight; some go way too far in courting the boss’s positive opinion – to your diminishment. Some coworkers attempt to undermine you and you constantly feel as if you need to watch your back. Your boss plays favorites and the favored party lords it over you; people form cliques and leave you out. Difficult people and situations exist in every work place; but don’t be scared. Experts have agreed that there are ways of making your office life, if not filled with love, at the very least livable.
Dealing with difficult co-workers is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person; however, dealing with difficult people is much tougher when they are attacking you or undermining your professional contribution. Based from articles addressing the issue of office drama, experts agree that the best thing to do once you see yourself in a difficult situation at work is to address the problem, confront the person and deal with the situation.
Initially, people go into shock when they are treated unprofessionally, so if you take some time to understand exactly what is happening to you, you are not alone. But always remember though that it is always best to address the difficult person while you can maintain some objectivity and emotional control rather than being irrational and emotional. This type of behavior will only make you appear immature and unprofessional. Also avoid complaining or expressing your anger out loud. Constant complaining about the coworker or situation can quickly earn you the title of whiner or complainer. Managers wonder why you are unable to solve your own problems – even if the manager’s tolerance or encouragement of the situation is part of the problem. Most importantly, if you are in a constant conflict at work, you may not only get blamed for being immature but you may be labeled as a “difficult” person, as well. This label is hard to escape and can have devastating consequences for your career. Extreme situations might even make you lose your job. If you have confronted the employee and were able to say your peace and the situation still hasn’t improved, just limit your interactions with the difficult person so as to avoid conflict.
Bad behavior from co-workers and sometimes even bosses are unavoidable in any organization; however, reversing the situation to your favor is always possible in any given scenario. Just be firm and be true to your convictions. A little office politics also never hurt anyone, just be careful not to go overboard.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Control the green-eyed monster: the art of trust
There are many marriages that end in divorce, annulment, or separation. There are many factors which could contribute to these ends, yet the most common is caused by adultery and concupiscence. For the couple who parted ways, there is nothing that was lost between the two of them, since they will both have memories that they have shared. Yet the downfall of these separations is not on the couple, or the parents: it will fall on the shoulders of their children.
Children need both their parents in order to survive. This statement does not mean that a single mother will do a bad job at parenting than a couple who reared their children together. It is a fact: broken families are able to produce adults at two ends of the spectrum. They could either come out as a strong person, or someone who is dependent on others.
It is very important that couples hang on together rather than go on their separate ways and render their children helpless. How can such problems be avoided? Jealousy plays an important part on these arguments. Oftentimes there would be a person who is less secure in the relationship, and doubt would begin to cloud that person’s judgment. Similar to what happened to Coelho’s (2008) character in Winner Stands Alone, once the doubt begins to enter the relationship, there are only a handful of things that the couple could do to mend the gap.
A relationship is similar to a fragile glass. Once the glass is dropped, it would be hard to put the pieces together. Oftentimes the person trying to fix the glass could only end up wounded and hurt, but no matter how much glue the person uses, there is no use: the glass will be rendered useless, because once you put water in it, the water will flow through the cracks.
At all costs, try keeping an open mind. Imaging worst case scenarios at every second a partner is out of the other’s glance is a sure way to break the trust. A relationship should require commitment, trust, and honesty. It will not work without these three.
For those who are struggling to control their green-eyed monsters, they should feel free to express these frustrations and jealous urges with their partners. Once the partner reassures the other party that there is nothing to be worried about, it will strengthen their bond and bind them closer. Communication goes a long into a relationship as well.
At the end of the day, remember that a relationship is a two-way street. There cannot be only one person who is doing the giving or taking. It is a give and take process which would require a fragile dance between two people who are committed and involved in each other in a romantic sense.
Yes, marriages and relationships can work out. It is always the falling in love part that is easy: the real challenge is staying in love. With this thought, try to resolve any problem before it blows up to unbelievable proportions. Keep working on the relationship, and once the foundation of trust and commitment is laid, there is nothing stopping the couple from achieving that happily ever after.
Children need both their parents in order to survive. This statement does not mean that a single mother will do a bad job at parenting than a couple who reared their children together. It is a fact: broken families are able to produce adults at two ends of the spectrum. They could either come out as a strong person, or someone who is dependent on others.
It is very important that couples hang on together rather than go on their separate ways and render their children helpless. How can such problems be avoided? Jealousy plays an important part on these arguments. Oftentimes there would be a person who is less secure in the relationship, and doubt would begin to cloud that person’s judgment. Similar to what happened to Coelho’s (2008) character in Winner Stands Alone, once the doubt begins to enter the relationship, there are only a handful of things that the couple could do to mend the gap.
A relationship is similar to a fragile glass. Once the glass is dropped, it would be hard to put the pieces together. Oftentimes the person trying to fix the glass could only end up wounded and hurt, but no matter how much glue the person uses, there is no use: the glass will be rendered useless, because once you put water in it, the water will flow through the cracks.
At all costs, try keeping an open mind. Imaging worst case scenarios at every second a partner is out of the other’s glance is a sure way to break the trust. A relationship should require commitment, trust, and honesty. It will not work without these three.
For those who are struggling to control their green-eyed monsters, they should feel free to express these frustrations and jealous urges with their partners. Once the partner reassures the other party that there is nothing to be worried about, it will strengthen their bond and bind them closer. Communication goes a long into a relationship as well.
At the end of the day, remember that a relationship is a two-way street. There cannot be only one person who is doing the giving or taking. It is a give and take process which would require a fragile dance between two people who are committed and involved in each other in a romantic sense.
Yes, marriages and relationships can work out. It is always the falling in love part that is easy: the real challenge is staying in love. With this thought, try to resolve any problem before it blows up to unbelievable proportions. Keep working on the relationship, and once the foundation of trust and commitment is laid, there is nothing stopping the couple from achieving that happily ever after.
The Chemical Basis of Life
It is a scientific fact that all living things, from the largest mammal, the blue whale, to the microscopic Paramecium, are made up of cells. These cells are, in turn, made up of different chemical compounds that fulfill a myriad of purposes in a living organism. Scientists have grouped these organic compounds into four different kinds: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. They are called organic compounds because they were first taken from living organisms, and they are readily identifiable by the general presence of carbon molecules within their structure. Each kind of compound is once again sub divisible into different types, to further increase the specificity of their functions.
The first type, carbohydrates, is composed of compounds that are either sugars or starches, and are made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Sugars are made up of simpler single rings of Carbon. These single rings are called monomers, and the addition of another monomer elevates the physical status of the sugar to a dimer, followed by a polymer. The number of rings that are observable in a sugar also determines the type of sugar it is; sugars can be typed as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, and these divisions are based on the number of sugar monomers that are present in a carbohydrate compound. Polysaccharides, such as glycogen and starch, are used as excess sugar-storing compounds in animals and plants respectively. These methods of storing sugars are very important to living systems because carbohydrates are used as readily available energy sources by animals and plants in times of necessity. Carbohydrates are also very important for their structural properties, such as in the cellulose of plants, and the chitinous coverings of arthropods.
The organic compound group known as lipids are made up of those substances such as fats, waxes and oils, as well as steroids. The elements, which they are made of, also include carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and some examples of lipids contain phosphorous. Unlike carbohydrates, lipids are usually insoluble in water. Lipid fats are used as insulation and energy storage by living organisms. Steroids are multi-ringed lipids, and examples of these perform very specialized functions, such as hormones and their ability to perform as chemical messengers throughout an organism. Phospholipids and waxes are both important structural lipids; the former is integral in the formation of cellular membranes, while the latter is a type of organic waterproofing employed by animals and plants.
Proteins, like carbohydrates and lipids, are also made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. However, there are other elements, such as nitrogen and sulfur, which are integrated into proteins. Nitrogen is found in all amino acids, the basic unit of a protein, while sulfur is only found in some of them such as methionine and cysteine, and there are around twenty amino acids in the alphabet that makes up whole proteins. Amino acids are linked together by peptide bonds, and a long series of such bonded amino acids are called polypeptide chains. The sequence of amino acids is a polypeptide chain, as well as the way a finished protein is folded, is crucial to the ability of this compound to fulfill its functions in a living organism. These functions are manifold and occur in every level of an organisms’ structure: from the facilitation of transport across cellular membranes to the interaction of actin and myosin proteins in muscles that allows for movement.
The third type, nucleic acids, is the organic compound responsible for the passing on of hereditary information. They are composed of a five-carbon sugar known as ribose, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group. There are two types of nucleic acid: deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, and ribonucleic acid, or RNA. There are two main differences between them, the first being the sugar ring can either be ribose or deoxyribose, and the second the composition of their nitrogenous bases; DNA has the paired bases guanine and cytosine, and thymine and adenine, while in RNA, uracil is the nitrogenous base paired with adenine.
The first type, carbohydrates, is composed of compounds that are either sugars or starches, and are made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Sugars are made up of simpler single rings of Carbon. These single rings are called monomers, and the addition of another monomer elevates the physical status of the sugar to a dimer, followed by a polymer. The number of rings that are observable in a sugar also determines the type of sugar it is; sugars can be typed as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, and these divisions are based on the number of sugar monomers that are present in a carbohydrate compound. Polysaccharides, such as glycogen and starch, are used as excess sugar-storing compounds in animals and plants respectively. These methods of storing sugars are very important to living systems because carbohydrates are used as readily available energy sources by animals and plants in times of necessity. Carbohydrates are also very important for their structural properties, such as in the cellulose of plants, and the chitinous coverings of arthropods.
The organic compound group known as lipids are made up of those substances such as fats, waxes and oils, as well as steroids. The elements, which they are made of, also include carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and some examples of lipids contain phosphorous. Unlike carbohydrates, lipids are usually insoluble in water. Lipid fats are used as insulation and energy storage by living organisms. Steroids are multi-ringed lipids, and examples of these perform very specialized functions, such as hormones and their ability to perform as chemical messengers throughout an organism. Phospholipids and waxes are both important structural lipids; the former is integral in the formation of cellular membranes, while the latter is a type of organic waterproofing employed by animals and plants.
Proteins, like carbohydrates and lipids, are also made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. However, there are other elements, such as nitrogen and sulfur, which are integrated into proteins. Nitrogen is found in all amino acids, the basic unit of a protein, while sulfur is only found in some of them such as methionine and cysteine, and there are around twenty amino acids in the alphabet that makes up whole proteins. Amino acids are linked together by peptide bonds, and a long series of such bonded amino acids are called polypeptide chains. The sequence of amino acids is a polypeptide chain, as well as the way a finished protein is folded, is crucial to the ability of this compound to fulfill its functions in a living organism. These functions are manifold and occur in every level of an organisms’ structure: from the facilitation of transport across cellular membranes to the interaction of actin and myosin proteins in muscles that allows for movement.
The third type, nucleic acids, is the organic compound responsible for the passing on of hereditary information. They are composed of a five-carbon sugar known as ribose, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group. There are two types of nucleic acid: deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, and ribonucleic acid, or RNA. There are two main differences between them, the first being the sugar ring can either be ribose or deoxyribose, and the second the composition of their nitrogenous bases; DNA has the paired bases guanine and cytosine, and thymine and adenine, while in RNA, uracil is the nitrogenous base paired with adenine.
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