My Greetings to All !!!

The magic of wind power

Wind power is among the renewable energy sources that will banish our oil dependence.The Philippines has Southeast Asia’s first wind farm. It is in Ilocos Norte. The wind is virtually free and very easy to harness and endlessly abundant.

The windmills do not look like the romantic ones of Don Quijote de la Mancha and the paintings of Van Gogh. They look and work like electric fans turned backward. Instead of electricity turning the fan blades to generate wind, the wind turns the fans (or rotors) that create electricity.

Wind power is clean. The windmills produce electricity without pollution and waste.
Twenty windmills stand in an arc facing north. Spaced 326 meters apart, they are aligned in nine kilometers of shoreline that spans five villages. The Ilocos wind from the sea is unobstructed.
The NorthWind Bangui Bay wind farm—in Barangay Baruyen just off the national highway, 54 kilometers north of the capital Laoag—supplies about half of the annual energy needs of Ilocos Norte. Privately financed with a $53-million grant from Denmark, the Bangui wind farm has a lifespan of over 20 years and saves about 15 million liters of diesel oil a year. Northwind is eyeing another 40 MW wind power project in Cagayan province.

More wind farms will be built.

The Department of Energy launched the First Philippine Wind Power Contracting Round early this year. Department of Energy offered 16 wind sites. Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems, Inc. was awarded three power contracts for wind projects in Marinduque; Baleno, Masbate and Tablas, Romblon with a combined 30 MW of capacity.

-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. won a contract for a potential 30-MW wind project in Sual, Pangasinan and San Carlos Wind Power Corp. in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, also won a contract for a 25-MW wind farm.

ref: themanilatimes

Amazing what you can do with coconut - 2

Folk Holy Family

At the frontage, the Holy Family bears a folkloric quality. Three giant figures are made of baskets with faces carved in Paete. Little mirrors reflect the light and add sparkle at night. They are crowned with gilt-sprayed dried, coconut leaf petioles and draped with raffia.

The Christmas trees come in varieties. The elegant gold tree in the foyer of Prince Albert, the fine dining restaurant, is a mix of geometric shapes, square mat-woven boxes piled up on a metal frame, softened by golden balls and straps.

Stiff branches of the pitogo leaves conjure the image of a tree. The tree in the lobby is a pyramid of fruit baskets, strung together by coco beads and perked up by capiz star lanterns. At the entrance of the Jeepney Bar, the tree is made of tampipi or mini mat-woven containers painted in red, and made playful with jeepneys, coconut bead necklaces and abaca buds.

For the piece de resistance, the lowly bunot finds its way in the most exclusive part of the hotel. In the business lounge, the tree is made of red dried coconut husks, adorned with coconut woven mat coasters that form a contrast to the glittery balls. Instead of garlands and wreathes, the staircase is a festive display of fruit trays skewered in bamboo sticks, dried wreathes, native lanterns, coconut husk flowers and anahaw leaves.

Rachy fashioned elegant topiaries made from dried coconut husks that were adorned with stones. The general manager was initially apprehensive that they were going to fall off. They did not. The next day, however, he noticed some stones missing. Rachy replied, “They’re being set on somebody’s ring by now.” The heart of his décor is the exuberance, humor and resourcefulness that are intrinsically Filipino.

How to make a coconut Christmas spray

MATERIALS:

Coconut shells

Twigs from the garden

Metallic ribbon

Wire

Metallic spray paint from the Hardware store

(Christmas balls and stars are optional)

PROCEDURE

1. Spray-paint the empty coconut shells.

2. Bunch them with wire, as with the bundles of twigs.

3. Hide the wires with ribbons.

4. For accent, add Christmas balls, stars or other decorative elements.For composition, cluster the elements in odd numbers.

ref: dailyinquirer

Amazing what you can do with coconut - 1

In keeping with the holidays’ austere mood and green design trend, Christmas at Hotel Intercontinental exploits the versatility of the coconut tree, hence the title, “Coco Pasko.”

The place is filled with transmutations from various parts of the tree. They’re turned into everyday materials, which are then turned into embellishments. All this is proof that the coconut is the “tree of life.”

Fronds and leaves are made into baskets, fruit trays and woven coasters, and these are used on Christmas trees and lanterns. The fronds are also made into chick cages and cribs that become bases for tablescapes.

The trunk is wood used to make buttons and beads to tie in the elements. The paper pulp extracted from the trunk is transformed into cardboard, then shaped as stars. Coconut flowers substitute for tinsel. Dried fibers of the coconuts become petals for topiary centerpieces and wreathes. The stiff leaflet midribs, accentuated by tiny beads, are fillers for arrangements.

Leaf petioles from coconut branches, made to look like boats, are centerpieces and crowns. Dried half coconut shells used in homes to buff the floors become base materials for a Christmas tree, while laminated husks are turned into little vases. Even the flower clusters from the coconut fruit are used to adorn the lanterns.

To signify prosperity Rachy used the classic red and gold. His accent pieces are strands of coco beads, red ferns, anahaw leaves, glitter, pitogo leaves, crystals, abaca flowers, dried twigs and raffia.

ref: dailyinquirer

Mano Po Lola.........

"Mano po lola...". This is the culture here in the Philippines. This is done not only this Christmas, it was done everytime we saw our elders, like our granmothers (lola), grandfathers (lolo), father (tatay), mother (nanay), uncle (tito), aunt (tita). This is a sign of respect to them. Like this child doing. He is giving respect to his grandmother.

Kid with Santa Claus

Look at that little girl beside Santa. She smiles beautifully, while Santa was waiving his hand to everybody. Lots of children do feel happy whenever they took a picture of Santa. And after some shots, Santa will give a gift for the kids to make them happy.

Lighting a candle

People praying

Simbang Gabi (Early Morning Mass)

Christmas Decor

Chistmas Tree

Orphan stars shine – 2

tragic death of one of the orphans, a young girl named Jacqueline. “The memory of Jacqueline was on the minds of all who were involved. I can’t tell you how proud I am to see the challenges that these children have overcome throughout the process. Just as any family should, these kids have come together to build their own ark and have survived the storm by standing by each other. This is an amazing achievement.”

Staging this performance was three months in the making. Twice a month, Bigfoot volunteers accompanied the children to the Bigfoot facilities in Mactan where they would teach the children singing, dancing and acting. The show, complete with costumes, make-up and set props, was staged at Bigfoot’s Performing Arts Studio and attended by Bigfoot employees as well as students of the International Academy of Film and Television. At the end of their performance, Andrews encouraged the children to continue with their creative efforts, and presented the performers with awards.

Ligaya Maquiling, a social worker at The Children’s Haven, remarked, “Our kids are typically shy but experiences like these allow the orphans to learn to trust others, and to build social skills. This activity really helped in the development of the children. ”

Early in December, The Bigfoot Asia-Pacific Foundation plans on staging a Christmas carol performance and fundraising event that will directly benefit the children at the orphanage.

Orphan stars shine – 1

Good morning everybody. When I’m reading some books, magazines, newspaper or anything, I always read first about youth, kids, children. And every time I read some bad articles happened to children, I thought that for a long time and asking myself why those instances happened to children. They are innocent. They still don’t know what is life all about and this happened to them. I want to share what I have read with reference to The Sunday Times (one of our newspaper).

Performance can be so important in the spiritual, emotional and intellectual development of children. They can carry the ideas and skills acquired from singing, dancing and acting into the classroom, and from there, onto the stage of real life. For children who call an orphanage home, these gifts are even more critical.

On October 25, the young residents of The Children’s Haven, an orphanage located in Cordova, Cebu, débuted their theatrical talents in a play titled Noah’s Ark as part of the Shining Stars program of the Bigfoot Asia-Pacific Foundation.

Founded in 2002, the Bigfoot Asia-Pacific Foundation’s mission encompasses educational, socio-economic and humanitarian outreach projects in and around the province of Cebu. “Developing the children’s interests and skills in the performing arts empowers them and allows them to believe in their own abilities,” says Kacy Andrews, CEO of Bigfoot Entertainment, the Foundation’s parent company. “We are happy to give our performing arts mentors, as well as our other company volunteers, the chance to share what they know with these wonderful kids.”

Fiona Cross, an employee of Bigfoot Entertainment, was the writer and director of the play, and also served as acting coach for the children in the show. When asked about her inspiration for the play, Ms. Cross said, “I wanted to produce a show that had themes which were relevant to their lives. I chose the biblical story of Noah’s Ark because of its messages of hope, survival and re-birth.”

Immaturity - 2

Now is not the time to discuss the deeper meaning of the political upheaval in Thailand, or the significance of the Thai court’s disenfranchisement of certain politicians or, indeed, whether the increasingly aggressive street demonstrations were only a series of experiments in unsettling but effective political immaturity. It is the right time, however, to ask what Golez and, by extension, the president he speaks for mean by the claim that Filipinos are more politically mature.

They mean they are relieved that a throng of outraged Filipinos is not rattling the iron gates of Malacañang. They mean they are happy the political challenges to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s legitimacy have been successfully coursed through the much more malleable House of Representatives. They mean they are grateful beyond words that the military remains firmly in their control and is reliably barracks-bound.

In other words, they mistake “political maturity” for public apathy. The reason President Arroyo remains in power, despite a worsening crisis of legitimacy, lies in the people’s failure to demand more public accountability from her and her allies in Congress and the local governments. No doubt about it, public anger is real and metastasizing into a deep disgust. But the lack of a distinct alternative (as against one similar in most respects to the incumbent), the President’s deft use of political and other forms of intimidation to discourage or depress public demonstrations and, above all, the Filipino’s all-too-compliant spirit have allowed the Arroyo administration to survive into it’s eighth year.

Whatever is happening (or, more precisely, not happening), political maturity may be the last thing we can use to describe it.

ref. inqurer.net

Immaturity - 1

If we need more proof that professional stupidity is an occupational hazard of the office of a political spokesman, consider Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez’s defense of his provocative remarks about political immaturity. Asked whether he thought the debilitating street protests in Bangkok would happen in Manila too, he had said no, “because our people have reached a high degree of political maturity whereby our people respect due process and the rule of law.”

In other words, Thais, according to Golez, were politically immature. He did not say it outright; he did not need to. That’s basic logic, something a medical doctor of Golez’s quality and administrative ability would have easily followed. Indeed, you don’t need to be a doctor to know that if p implies q, then not p implies not q.

Thailand’s ambassador to the Philippines, Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya, drew the correct inference when he called a news conference to assail Golez’s comment, and Sen. Richard Gordon’s too, as unduly harsh and even unnecessarily interventionist.

But in response, Golez played dumb. “For the record, I did not say the Thais lack the political maturity,” he said Thursday. “I said in my interview that the Filipinos have reached a high level of political maturity.”

This defense is, at best, a half-truth.

ref: inquirer.net

A diamond for the youth - 2

We all get to a point in our lives where our vibrant dreams suddenly turn into a dismal blur. Some would instruct us to do our part then leave it all to God. On the other hand, some would insist that your human abilities are just not enough. So which is it, really? Is it because you lack the faith and fervent prayers to back your aspirations, or are you really not capable of receiving what you long for because of your lack of skills, patience or education? I guess that certain elements will always come to play when it comes to the achievement of things that we hope for. The first is your actual qualifications.

Ask yourself, are your credentials, training and experience sufficient for whatever goal you want to achieve? You cannot be the CEO of a large, multinational firm if you didn’t even finish college. Some may argue that there are still some people who make it big even without the necessary education, as seen in the success stories of dropouts who have become tech magnates or street children who have metamorphosed into boxing superstars. But this is simply a myth; one way or another, these people have paved their way to get there. They did not simply wake up one day with the hand of God casting them from the slums to the big time. They had to work long hours, developed virtues and self-studied to know how to get to where they are now.

And now you wonder why you have all it takes and you’re even overqualified, but you still don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Here’s where life’s most important aspect comes into play—making a huge effort where it matters most. There are those who might not be as talented, but they have excelled more because of their perseverance. After all, diamonds are simply bits of coal that stuck to their jobs. I admit that I am one of the many people who are guilty of the lack of this—I allowed myself to drift from one job to another, not focusing on just one thing because I thought that I could do everything. I also confess that I’ve considered immediate gratification rather than knowing the ropes and then earning my wings to orchestrate the show. Like most of the young people, I’ve sought acceptance, popularity and easy money. We all forget top build up on the essentials and never run out of excuses for not sowing yesterday what we could be reaping today.

Forgiving our mistakes and pledging to get better is the first way to get somewhere right. There’s a fine line between keeping your mess and fixing up straight. Your decision today will determine your tomorrow.

ref: inquirer.net

A diamond for the youth - 1

There are so many things that we want to see happen in our lives. Each one of us has hopes and dreams unique to our values, personalities and sensibilities. I, especially with my inconceivably hyperactive imagination and creativity, have a rather lofty list of what I’d like to achieve in due time. And now that I’m not getting any younger, I feel the intensity of my desires to reach my dreams. I always thought that I had been treading on the right path; that I knew precisely what I was heading for, but then I’d encounter dead ends and detours that say I have misread the signs.

The youth will always have excuses for mistakes; age easily enables a turn-around. But sometimes, before you know it, you might be back in the same spot, minus your youth that makes it harder to turn around and get back to driving down that highway again.

Changing a man is harder than building a child. I thought that I could easily influence everyone, for I had always been the assertive leader in school, somewhat making me believe that I can always get things my way. But I realize that no one can move you with just words. And that those closest to me, especially my loved ones, are the hardest to move. Our familiarity with one another does not allow room for us to easily understand or accept what the other is suggesting. For instance, bad attitudes and annoying vices that your boyfriend might have may not be that easy to break. He’d think that you’re intruding into his life too much, and it only causes tension in the relationship. So, I guess that the only way to react to these kinds of problems—when those that you care for seem to be too impossible—is to just change yourself.

Yes, instead of aspiring to change the other person, why not concentrate on yourself first since your own self is the only territory that you can have dominion over? Perhaps if you do not become too consumed in making the other into your perception of “better,” then things might naturally change and they’ll begin to see your efforts for what they’re worth. Giving up on another person is also a way of not giving up on him.

ref: inquirer.net

Daddy's Birthday