Earth Day Blues

I thought we're saving the planet by turning off the lights? Eh,  that stage consumes more electricity compare to all the lights in my house. Geez!

It is us humans who need to be save, not this planet.

[Photo by Jesse Ernest De Guzman at Ayala Triangle, Makati.]

Hope For Hands

Photo from my_sarisari_store.typepad.com

Let's make something different.

Philip Reyes and I am planning to give some goods like clothes, toys, books to those homeless near Avenida, Manila this coming Easter Sunday . If you guys want to donate something, you can bring them to Luneta Park on April 5 at 10 to 11AM so you can join us on giving them to the homeless. 

You can also send me an e-mail @ paraisojosejuan@gmail.com for more details.

If you can donate the following:
clean shirts (for men and women)
pants/ long pants
underwear
socks
children clothes
baby clothes
baby toys
toys
blankets
mosquito nets
books
instant noodles
canned goods
bread
soap
detergents

If only...

I hope that instead of "prayers" and "like" people will start to do something real. A small piece of land and some nice building materials to build homes. A simple cooperation with each other can give their children food and education. A few peso can give them rice and fish as food - and when everybody will just help one another, we can give them simple job so they can earn a simple living.

[ Pictures from Abigail Abanilla.com, manilaschoolproject.weebly.com, privatephotoreview.com,  democraticunderground.com and  unicef.org/philippines ]

But alas... I'm just a dreamer.

Manila Principles

All communication over the Internet is facilitated by intermediaries such as Internet access providers, social networks, and search engines. The policies governing the legal liability of intermediaries for the content of these communications have an impact on users’ rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to privacy.

With the aim of protecting freedom of expression and creating an enabling environment for innovation, which balances the needs of governments and other stakeholders, civil society groups from around the world have come together to propose this framework of baseline safeguards and best practices. These are based on international human rights instruments and other international legal frameworks.

Sign the petition and endorse the principle. 

Another Death Blow to Manila's Heritage

The oldest Chinese temple in Manila was demolished on March 15, 2015 — another sad incident in the life of the city's heritage buildings.

Chong Hock Tong Temple, built in 1878, was one of the very few remaining pre-war structures in Manila. Closely associated with the Tsinoy community, it was never declared a historic landmark by the government.

Located inside the Manila Chinese Cemetery, it's architecture has been described as "reminiscent of those in Fujian province as well as those in Singapore and Malaysia with their colorful friezes and uniquely upturned eaves."

The images that used to be inside the temple have been stored inside a tin shed next to the cemetery's administration building. Also in storage is the statue of Gobernadorcillio Carlos Palanca Tan Quien Sien, who has been credited for building the temple.

Before and After [Photos from Coconut Manila.]

[See: Exclusive! Demolished: Manila's oldest Chinese temple, it was 137 years old ]

*Good thing that I was able to see the temple on November 2014 before it was demolished. How sad. 

The Beauty of Traditional Mail

We call it snail mail because normal postal mails, eh… that means an  actual mail or package is delivered  by the post office,  tend to be slower compare to our new technology like email and texting. 

Yes, we tend to get  irritated with letters as we compare it to our new forms of electronic communication, yet there are reasons why we just can’t stop loving snail mails.

Now don’t tell me that you don’t get excited every time  you hear a postman is looking for  you? And how about opening those parcels or letters?  Did someone send me a card, or are these just bills to pay?  But still, we always anticipate receiving a letter from a friend, a relative or a loved one.  Well, you can also receive a text or an email, but a tangible letter with your love one’s own permanship is very different. That’s because hand written letters are likely to be more intimate compare to something that were electronically typed.  Come on!  Now, simply take a love letter that was typed on a computer keyboard and compare it to another that was written in a pink stationary using a pen with an ink whose aroma is similar to strawberries. 

Letters are convenient.  Now, it is so ridiculous to imagine bringing a bulky laptop to a park just to read your boy friend’s email . You can use an iPad or a cell phone, but how can you be intimate when while reading your “love email” all of the sudden your email /text beeps! YOU GOT A NEW MESSAGE… BEEP! BEEP! Or  your “love letter” was buried by tons of Facebook “likes” and messages.  However,  a letter folded safely inside your pockets has this more “private” feeling that you can always read to brighten up your day.

Letters are more secure. If you keep it nicely in your own bedroom, inside your own  side table or drawer… nicely placed inside a box where you keep your stuff animals collection. Security is an Internet problem. IP addresses getting hacked. There are nasty viruses and malware that may enter your computer or tablet. The worst is when your computer gets busted or your Google or Yahoo account got compromised and all the memories were deleted! There goes Scott’s love proposal. 

Stamps and stationery are cool. The best thing about stamps is that it can be collected and you can sell them to collectors. Hey! I’m not joking on this one. Do you know that you can be a millionaire just by  selling stamps? Some stamps can cost a thousand dollars each! (KA-CHING!!) No kidding. So maybe you can start digging that old truck your Grandmother used to own and cross your finger that you will letters with rare stamps on it. Old letters can also be sold to collectors and museums. You’ll never know that the old letter you have right now is something historically significant, like Gen. McArthur’s personal letter to your Grandfather or  maybe a letter send by the Katipuneros to your great-great Grandmother. 

Speaking of “digging,” if you’re into that “walking down the memory lane” kind of stuff,  you can always check your old letters inside that pink box of yours. The best thing about snail mails is that you can always keep it and place them in small boxes and every time you feel lonesome just read a couple of your old mail… especially your ex-lovers’ while listening to those sad love songs on the radio. You get more sentimental reading a personal letter. It’s like you hear  the person’s own voice every time you read the letter. 

So what are you waiting for?  Get a pen and paper ready and start sending some snail-mail to your love one right now.  If it gave you  such a good feeling, I bet it will also give your loved one the same. 

Binondo Food Trip

What’s another thing you do in Chinatown other than buying Chinese medicines? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Food!!! Binondo is known for its authentic Chinese restaurants that serves authentic Chinese meals. Today, I will give you four of the well-known restaurants and some food tidbits along the streets of Ongpin, not only because of its food, but also because of its history.

Untouchable

[Sorry for the blurred photo. I was in a moving jeepney when I took the photo]

Yesterday, while I was riding a jeepney going to Rizal Park, an elderly woman entered the vehicle. She looks so haggard and dirty and I think she's a scavenger in the street who collects plastic bottles for a living.

When she entered the jeepney, everyone moved a seat just to avoid her, like she has a contagious disease.

That's very sad.