The Mindanao Power Crisis

It has been predicted a decade ago that our country will undergo energy crisis unless the government can’t find a solution to the inceasing demand of electricity. Mindanao was predicted to be the most hit by the power crisis. 

Indeed, Mindanao is greatly affected by lack of available electrciity supply as of the moment. Mindanao is suffering blackout of up to 8 hours a day being rotated accross the island. Mindanao is being supplied by hydro power plants. Fifty percent of its power consumption comes from these plants. And as the country continue to suffer from El Niño, which came way too early for the summer months, water levels in various dams that supply water to these electric plants were hitting below the normal level. Thus, plants are forced to decrease their operation down to 80 percent or shut down thoroughly.

We were glad that the Iligan Diesel Power Plant which can generate 35 megawatts has been commissioned back by NAPOCOR. If not, Northern Mindanao will suffer more than 8 hours rotating brownouts.

The scenario is actually similar to the 90’s were rotating blackout was also in placed. The only difference now is more people especially the younger generation can’t live without their cellular phones and access to internet. It was as if they are not in touch with the civilization. But this is never a big deal to me. What worries me is if this phenomenon will lead to interruption of water suppply. That would be hell!

The moral of this is we need to harnesh renewable energy. Mindanao is a strategic place for investment in this kind of energy-generation endeavor. We can harness the solar, wave, wind, etc energy sources. But we always had a problem in convincing people to invest in our island due to the bad image that are being paraded in the tri-media. This election time is a good venue for us to change the paradigm and perception of people regarding our beloved Mindanao. 

Mindanaons strongly believe that we are big force in the country and we can easily shape or shift how the country runs. To borrow the anecdote of one of the leaders in Region 10, he illustrates how powerful Mindanao is in breaking and unbreaking the course of our country. He said that there were only three big things that happened in our country last year. First, the naming of CNN Hero of the Year; second, the crowing of Manny Pacquiao; and lastly, the Maguindanao Massacre. Of the three big things, two came from Mindanao. Pacman brought the Philippines to greater heights in the eyes of the world. On the other hand, the Maguindanao Massacre, pull us back to the labyrinth of hostilities. And the third thing that happened to the Philippines is what keeping away investors from investing in Mindanao.

We our in great hope that the next president will focus on strenghtening peace in Mindanao and give priority on resolving the energy crisis. With power security, like a grease in the car’s wheel/gears, progress will smoothly follow.

The tsunami scare

I am an early bird, waking up regularly at 5:00 o’clock every morning. I was shocked when the first message I received was from my mother’s. My mother usually text me in the afternoon or evening. Then you’ll sense something’s wrong.

Her SMS registered at 4:06:37 AM in my phone. And she was telling me that they already had evacuated to higher ground since there was a tsunami alert or warning. I didn’t hear news about the Chilean quake. So the first thing that came to my mind that it was a hoax.

In the 90’s, there was a gossip about a volcano erupting in the Pacific Ocean and engulfing Mindanao in its series of huge explosions. Many of my neighbors actually had left for fear of such event.

I asked my mother if it’s the local government unit who issued the tsunami advisory. She confirmed it. I then asked my neighbors regarding the news, we were on our way to climb the mountain near our village, and they all had heard, from TV News, of the tsunami warning that was issued in the eastern part of the country in response to the Chilean quake.

In our small town in the part of Surigao del Sur, the alert was issued at 10:00 o’clock on the Saturday’s night, as relayed by my mother. They had started evacuation one hour before midnight.

It was the mammoth quake, 8.8 in magnitude, in Chile that prompted Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to alert 19 provinces on the country’s eastern shores against the danger of a tsunami hitting between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Feb 28, 2010).

The tsunami alert was issued for the provinces of Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, northernmost areas of Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Sur and Norte, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern and Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte and del Sur, Davao Oriental and del Sur.

However, Phivolcs lifted the alert at past 3 p.m.

This tsunami warning was also being carried out in different countries in the Pacific. It was even observed in Hawaii that sea water had receded and exposed seabed. The coasts of Japan and Russia had been battered by it. Waves of up to of 2.0 meters in height were seen. Fortunately these waves were lesser to what was predicted by tsunami experts.

Thanks God that the prediction did not materialize. It would have cost number of lives and devastated the livelihood of the many people particularly in the poor provinces in eastern part across our country. My home province would have been severely affected by such catastrophic event.

The alert would have inconvenienced many people but it was also a good sign that people now are conscious of the government warnings. My family had to carry my grandmother who has an amputated leg. People immediately left after hearing the warning. It’s also a good start to improve the warning systems of the tsunami watch around the globe.

Remarkably, our government was not asleep!

My BAD experiences with Cebu Pacific Air

Kailangan ko lang talaga ipaalam sa sanlibutan ang aking mga karanasan sa Cebu Pacific Airlines. Mas maganda siguro ibagi yong mga di kanais-nais na karanasan kasi madaling balikan at matandaan.

Kanina ng madaling araw sa Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Mactan, Cebu ay pumila ako sa Check-in Counter ng Cebu Pacific Air papuntang Cagayan de Oro. Hindi po ito ang unang beses ko na sumakay ng eroplano o Cebu Pacific. Hindi rin po ito kauna-kaunang paglalakbay ko galing Cebu papuntang Cagayan de Oro sakay ng eroplano nila. Yong tiket ko (Go Lite) ay kinuha ko pa noong nakaraang taon. “Go Lite” ang kinuha ko dahil kadalasan wala naman akong bagahe na daladala sa aking paglalakbay. Dahil “Go Lite” nga yong tiket ko ay nakapag-discount ako ng isang-daan piso bawat trip (dalawang-daan piso bale yong nabawas sa pasahe ko). Yong dati ay P200.00 ang nababawas sa “Go Fare” bawat byahe.

Bakit alam ko ang ganito? Dahil kadalasan kumukuha o nagbo-book ako sa website nila. Dati-rati kasi doon ako kumukuha sa mga ticketing outlet na nagpapabayad naman ng service fee na isang-daan hanggang isang-daan at limampung piso.

Sa pagkakataong ito ay may daladala akong isang maliit na trolley bag. Isang trolley bag na pwede naman i-hand carry lang. At dahil meron na akong backpack ay minabuti ko na lang i-check in. Sa kaka-book ko kasi sa website nila, alam ko na ibabalik ko lang yong nabawas na P100 (P200 noong dati) sa ticket ko. At doon na lumabas ang tunay na kulay ni Gokengwei. Eh, pera pera lang pala ang usapan dito. Sabi sa akin ng kutong na tauhan ni Gokengwei, kailangan mo magbayad ng apat na raan (P400.00) as reinstatement fee. Tinanong ko siya, bakit ganon kalaki na dapat P100.00 lang ang ibabayad ko? Asyuswal ang sagot ay “yon po kasi ang company’s policy.”

Kaya binuweltahan ko, “Ituro mo sa akin kung saan nakasaad sa tiket na iyan yong sinasabi mo na kailangan ko magbayad ng P400.00 kung magdecide ako na ibalik sa ‘Go Fare’ yong ‘Go Lite’ na tiket ko.”

Binasa naman ng gago yong tiket. Sa madaling salita wala siyang maituturo kasi wala naman nakalagay doon at maliwagan pa sa sikat ng araw na dapat ibalik ko lang yong binawas sa pamasahe ko. Yon ang sinasabi bawat book ko sa website nila.

Kahit wala siyang makita doon sa tiket ko ay parang sirang plaka lang siya na nagsasabi na kailangan ko talaga magbayad dahil “policy po kasi sir.” At kahit sino pa man sa kanila ang tanungin mo ay pareho din ang isasagot sa iyo.

Hindi ako nag-aalburuto dahil pinagbayad ako ng apat na raan. Lahat naman ng pasahero ay handang magbayad kahit magkano sa mga bagahe nila. Ang ikinagagalit ko ay yong false information na pinakakalat nila. Dapat walang hidden fees. Dapat meron full disclosure sa mga pasahero.

Kahit Grade 1 student ay makakapagpasya na lugi siya kung pipili siya ng “Go Lite.” Babawasan ka ng P100 tapos pagbabayarin ka ng P400.00 if di kasya sa maliit overhead compartment ng eroplano nila ‘yong dala mong bagahe. Maliit kasi ang eroplano na ginagamit nila galing Cebu papuntang Cagayan de Oro. Sa madaling salita, bakit mo pa panghihinayangan ang P100 at magkandarapa sa pagbuhat ng labin-limang kilo mo na bagahe na libre naman yan sa “Go Fare”?

Kumuha ako ng customer complaint form nila at binigay ko sa boarding personnel. Hindi ko alam kung ipapasa ba talaga nila yon sa kinauukulan. At hindi rin ako umaasa na pakikingnan nila iyon. Simpleng arithmetic lang kasi iyan. Isa lang ako sa libu-libong pasahero na sumasakay sa kanila. Malaki na yong sampung-libong piso na makukuha nila sa akin sa loob ng isang taon. Dihins naman ako kawalan sa kanila. Marami naman pampalit sa akin.

Ang pangyayaring ito ang masyadong nagpakulo ng dugo ko madaling araw pa lang. Marami na rin pagkakataon na uminit ang ulo ko sa Cebu Pacific Air.

Nang nagdaang taon dalawang beses ako naantala. Byaheng NAIA 3 papuntang Cebu ang mga iyon. Yong skedyul departure namin ay alas-siete ng gabi kaya dapat nasa paliparan ka na bago mag-alas singko ng hapon. Nang mag-check in na ako ay bigla na lang sasabihin na maaantala ang paglipad at ang bagong departure time ay alas-dyes na ng gabi. Sa dalawang pagkakataon na iyon ay hindi man lang kami pinakain ng hapunan o binigyan ng kahit kape at pandesal man lang. Akala kasi nila na nakakabusog na ‘yong “SORRY for being Delayed” nila. Hinihintay ko na pakainin kami kasi noong 2006 at nagkaroon ng delay yong flight nila from Cebu to Manila ay minabuti nila na pakainin kami ng tanghalian.

Meron pa silang bagong patakaran o sistema. Dito naman ito sa paliparan ng Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro. Sabihin natin na nakasaad sa tiket mo na aalis kayo ng alas-syete ng umaga. Ang boarding time ay 15 minuto at ang last check-in time ay 45 minuto bago lumipad. Yong check-in counter nagsasara 45 minuto bago lumipad para ma-accommodate yong mga chance passengers. Ang nangyayari ay ganito: hindi na nila sinusunod yong nakasaad na oras ng paglipad. At dahil hindi nasusunod at naging maaga na so maiiba din yong boarding time at check-in time. Ginagawa nila ito ng wala man lang pasabi sa mga pasahero. Kadalasan ay late na ang dating mo. At kahit yong ibang pasahero ay nasa proseso pa ng boarding at hidni naman puno yong eroplano ay hindi ka na nila papapasukin. Kahit wala ka pang bagahe na dapat i-check in. Kumulo ang dugo ko dito minsan.

Kung gusto tayo magreklamo sa proseso na ginagawa ng mga tauhan nila ay doon din natin naipapasa ang reklamo sa kanilang kumpaya. Makakakuha ka kaya ng magandang tugon sa reklamo mo? Sa tingin ko Malabo sa kulay ng baha sa MUST. Hindi kasi ito katulad ng presyo ng mga tinda sa supermarket na pwede nating ireklamo sa customer service nila. At kung walang aksyon na ginawa ay pwede nating ireklamo sa DTI at DA.

Pakikinggan lang siguro ang reklamo natin kung mismo abogado natin ang magdadala ng reklamo sa kanila. Natatandaan siguro ninyo na dinemanda sila ng isang ginang dahil pinababa nila yong differntly-abled child niya.

Sa kabilang banda, madalas po ako sumasakay ng Cebu Pacific. Hindi dahil maganda yong serbisyo nila kundi dahil akma yong mga skedyul nila sa oras ko.

Meron dalawang moral sa karanasang ito. Ang huwag na tayong kumuha ng “Go Lite” fare nila kasi di natin maiiwasan na makapagdala ng pasalubong. Pangalawa ay dapat tayo mag-demand na pakainin tayo kung matapat sa tanghalian at hapunan ang delay ng paglipad natin. Hindi mababayaran ng “sorry” nila ang panahon na nasayang natin.

Kalabasa Awardees in Governance

Inquirer.net reports on February 2, 2010 that “the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) survey in 2005 listed the 10 “worst-governed” provinces as Maguindanao, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Camarines Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Albay and Romblon.”

“In 10 provinces that the NSCB identified as “worst-governed” in 2005, eight of their governors were still reelected in 2007, Dr. Romulo Virola, secretary general of the NSCB said.”

Gusto ko lang i-share ang ganitong masamang balita kahit ako ay isang taga-Surigao del Sur. Sabi kasi sa report na ito na Filipino voters don’t vote for competence and performance. Kahit kasi di maganda yong performance ng mga governors na ito ay still we tend to reelect them or their relatives.

Kung di ako nagkakamali, hindi ako bumoto ng last 2007 eleksyon dahil para sa akin parang wala naman eleksyon na mangyayari. Nagkaroon kasi ng isang case na yong gobernador namin sa aming probinsya ay walang kumalaban noong halalan na iyon. Kahit nga yong mayor namin ay wala ring karibal sa posisyon. In short, and technically, they were not elected by people because “to elect or vote is to choose”. Meron ba kaming pagpipilian? Wala! Surigaonons only voted for their congressmen and provincial board members. And in my town’s case, the municipal councilors.

Sa darating na halalan, kapatid naman ng gobernador namin na siyang provincial administrator namin ang tatakbong gobernor sa aming probinsya. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ng marami na mas magaling at matalino ang taong ito. At sa pagkakataong ito ay meron naman siyang katunggali.

Meron akong nakikitang mga bagong mukha sa politika pero ako rin ay nababahala sapagkat parang sumusunod din sila sa  yapak ng mga tradisyunal na politiko.

Sana ang halalan na ito ay magdadala ng bagong pag-asa sa aming probinsya lalo na ngayon na sementado na yong daan galing Agusan del Sur papunta sa amin. Ilang taon din namin hinintay ang ganitong pagkakataon. Sana din ay matugunan ng bagong mamumunuan ang proyektong patubig sa mga sakahan lalong-lalo na agrikultura ang pangunahing pinagkakakitaan ng mga tagarito. Kung magagawa ng Bicol Region ang mag-rasyon ng tubig sa mga sakahan, bakit hindi magagawang paganahin ang mga patubig na proyekto dito o mag-rasyon din tubig. Malaking tulong po sa mga kababayan kong magsasaka ang makapag-ani ng dalawang beses sa isang taon.

Isa ko ring pangarap ay yong magkaroon ng mga kandidato na meron talagang kakayahan na manungkulan sa bayan. Kadalasan kasi pera-pera lang yong labanan. Kapag wala kang pera ‘wag ka na lang tumakbo; maglakad ka na lang. Kung may pera ka naman ay dapat meron kang security. Sa ibang salita, dapat meron kang goons o private army. At kung meron ka na ng dalawa (gold and goons), dapat din ay matapang ka tulad ng mga Ampatuans. Kung wala kang tapang, tumambay ka na lang sa kanto.

Sana magising na rin yong mga tao na hindi pera yong labanan sa halalan kundi yong kinabukasan ng bayan at ng kanyang nasasakupan. Naranasan ko na ang tumanggap ng pera sa panahon ng halalan. Naranasan ko na rin ang mamigay ng pera sa mga tao sa panahon ng halalan. Di po ako naging kandidato. Naging volunteer kasi ako ng isang political party noon. Pero sa totoo lang ay hindi, as in never, ako bomoto dahil sa pera. Kahit yong kandidato ng political party na iyon ay di ko binoto. Ginatasan ko lang sila. May allowances kasi yong mga ganong klaseng trabaho.

Conscience voting dapat tayo.

Pinay Scandal (Fresh Free Sex Videos Collection-Download)

Nakita ko lang sa ibang blogs while I was blog-hopping one night. Maganda kasi yong layunin ng campaign na ito. Sabi nila na by posting it in their blogs, it will create more traffic para sa blog nila and at same time giving more revenue kasi nga naka-monetize  yong mga blog nila. Second reason, which has more wiegh than the first, is it will lead people (pinoy o aliens/foreigners) who are malilibog at laging kumukulo yong libido to blog sites which offer intellectual contents and discussions. In short, natutulungan natin mabura yong masamang imahe na nakadikit na parang karapata sa ating kababayang Filipina.

Madalas kasi mangyari na kapag sex scandals, sex videos, pinay or filipina yong inilalagay natin sa mga search engines ng web dinadala tayo sa mga malalaswa na mga web sites o mga blogs. Isang way na rin ito na maitatagumpay natin ang laban na iangat ang dangal ng ating mga kapatid na Filipina.

You just have to copy the list below and add your blog link.

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