Earth Hour - Why Only For One Hour Once A Year?

For one hour this Saturday night, 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. the country will be plunged in darkness.

No it will not be another nationwide blackout - I hope - but rather a planned simultaneous turning off of all non-essential lights and electric appliances from the tip of northern Luzon all the way down to Tawi Tawi.

This is part of the Earth Hour, an international movement to save Mother Earth. By the simple act of turning off the lights it supposedly sends a powerful message to everyone that we are all united to saving our planet.

And we are proud of our record. We were tops last year with over 10 million of us Filipinos participating.

Tonight it will be 15 million - at least that's the pledged number of participants.

Ah the hypocrisy of it all.

I have no problem with Earth Hour. I support it 100% and I will also be turning off non-essentials tonight for one hour.

That being said why turn off non-essential electric use for only one hour once a year? Why not make a pledge to turn it off everyday when it is not needed or in use?

Isn't that a better statement other than this promise to not use electricity for one hour but once it's over we go back to have everything running even when no one is using it.

Saving on electricity is all well and good but that's not all.

Why not go for less vehicles on the road?

Why not plant more trees and make sure the punishment for illegal logging is tough - I would like the death penalty but that's just me.

Earth Hour is needed but it doesn't mean much if we make up for the one hour of not using electricity by doubling our consumption the following hour.

We really need to conserve energy because as we all have experienced our power supply isn't exactly up to par.

Do we need to have the 12 hour blackouts like we did during the nineties to wake up and do something? After all isn't it human nature to do something when we feel the loss but it's already too late to do anything.

Let's not wait for that to happen. Do Earth Hour everyday. We only have one planet. Let's do everything we can to save it. Politics be damned.

Finally Full Blown Electioneering Now Ongoing - It's Time For The Big Push

So it's official. All candidates national and local are now officially able to annoy the heck out of everyone.

Before we were just fed the national candidates' crap. Now it's time for the local candidates to get into the act with their own campaigns.

And it will be one interesting ride.

Of course the biggest issue is still that of the party-list system. What with Mikey Arroyo being the major player in that controversy.

In fact he has been challenged to be a "sikyu" or security guard for one 24-hour tour of duty. This was made by his detractors who of course question, and rightly so, his experience concerning security guards, other than being guarded by them.

Yes, Mr. Arroyo, much as it is a novel defense, being guarded by security guards unfortunately does not constitute experience in that sector.

Of course he did not say that - to do so would be downright stupid on his part - but I'm just pre-empting him just in case he thinks of it.

I wonder which group of security guards agreed to have Mikey Arroyo as their representatives? I wonder how much they got paid for it. Shhhhhh . . . I'm sorry I guess we're not allowed to say bribery in these matters.

If there's anything as absurd as Mikey Arroyo as a representative for security guards, it's cosmetic surgeon Manny Calayan as a representative for media and showbiz workers.

As one fellow blogger (and I appologize I don't know the name since I picked it out in the news) said: “[Calayan] must be imagining: if we can use pork to beautify our streets, why not use it to beautify the face of millions of starving Filipinos? We might be poor but we won’t look poor.”

To put it mildly: only in the Philippines.

Who Qualifies For Representation And As The Representative?

The Commission on Elections has just issued the rules on the qualifications of candidates for party-list representatives. According to the Comelec the nominees must prove that they "belong" to the marginalized sector they seek to represent.

The party-list representatives must be "one who belongs to the marginalized and underrepresented sector/s, the sectoral party, organization, political party or coalition he seeks to represent." They must also present proof in the form of "declarations, speeches, written articles” to show their active advocacy of the sector they want to represent.

That being the case many have questioned Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo’s nomination as representative of the party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy. Ang Galing Pinoy supposedly represents the marginalized security guards.

I do agree that security guards are grossly underpaid and overworked and they don't really get the pay commensurate with the risk that they take - especially those assigned to guarding banks.

They are indeed marginalized and need to have their own representative in congress but "Mikey" Arroyo as their representative? I don't think so. Let's face it I doubt he has ever wondered about the plight of security guards until this election.

I think that he, as with most politicians, seemingly take for granted the presence of these people who risk their lives to protect the assets of these same politicians.

LP senatorial candidate, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros said hardworking security guards had “the right to be represented by someone credible, trustworthy and a member of their ranks."

That is how it should be.

I mean let's face it, Mikey Arroyo hasn't experienced being a security guard although he has experienced being guarded by one so I guess for him that counts as being part of that marginalized group.

He hires them to protect his assets so I guess he is part of that sector. Wow what a dillusional premise indeed. Ah wait he is a politician so that's normal.

Power hungry? Of course. And the best example is maybe-soon-to-be former president Gloria M. Arroyo. I say maybe because I don't believe she will go away that quietly. Power hungry? Yes she is the prime example of one - discounting former president Ferdinand Marcos.

It doesn't help that there is no law defining what a "marginalized" sector is. This makes it hard for the Comelec to figure out who can and can't be representatives. That said it's no surprise they have no problems agreeing that Mikey Arroyo can be a nominee.

Retired associate justice of the Supreme Court, Comelec Chair Jose Melo said that limiting party-list nominees to members of marginalized groups is not wise. He used the example of tricycle drivers who would make one of their own a representative. He argues that if it's someone who can't read or right then it would be hopeless. "They should have somebody who is educated to speak for them,” Melo said.

But is that always the best way Mr. Melo? I seem to remember that we have a lot of seemingly "educated" people in congress but I haven't seen any laws they passed that really help our country. They seem to find protecting their respective "educated" asses a much better thing to do instead of helping the country and its people.

And supposedly have an "educated" president but look where that brought us. Let's be honest about it: an "educated" politician is a "dumb" politician. The only "educated" thing they ever do is to steal money from the country without getting put away. In that regard they are "educated."

As for the Comelec guidelines it seems that it will only allow citizens to oppose the candidacy of nominees who they believe are not qualified to represent a marginalized group. Basically, it seems that if no one complains the nothing will be done.

So that's why some party-list are still there. So if there is really no law defining what a "marginalized" sector is, then why was the Disabled Pinoy Party (DPP), a party-list to represent the disabled people in the country, barred from being part of the polls?

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that they were not convinced that the DPP could do a nationwide campaign because it did not have the organizational structure to do so.

Ironic since it was also Larrazabal who underscored the need for the participation of disabled people in the national elections.

Backtracking are we Commissioner Larrazabal? So disabled people are only good for votes but not as the people's representatives? Who are you to decide whether they should or should not be represented.

Let the electorate decide that for them. If they can't mount a national campaign then it's on them. Why keep them from running just because you think they can't. Aren't you hypocritical here. Not to mention discriminating.

It seems Comelec can't get anything right. Oh well I wouldn't be surprised about a failed election should there be one. After all, we have the "educated" commissioners of the Comelec running the show.

MMDA Changes Colors With The Seasons?

Perhaps the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA is into the 4 seasons.

Green for spring? Perhaps.

Supporting presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro? More than likely.

But of course not! Why would you even think that? If you believe new MMDA chair Oscar Inocentes.

According to him, green is the color of progress, of environmental growth. In connection with that tarpaulins printed with slogans like “Green is Cool,” “Green Is Go,” Green Is Hope,” and “Green is Clean” would be mounted along major thoroughfares, especially along EDSA, to formally launch the MMDA's “Go Green Metro” program.

Erm . . . weren't tarpaulins banned because they were dangerous to motorists? Or did I get that wrong? Did I Mr. Inocentes? Ooops . . . that was Fernando who thought that.

Inocentes added that “We would like the world to know that through the MMDA, Metro Manila is doing its share to conserve and protect our Earth, our environment.”

Good thought sir. If only that would work. At least your planting trees again - 4,000 of them. Ironically they will be planted to replace the trees ordered removed by former chair and current vice-presidential candidate Bayani "BF" Fernando, who saw trees as a hazard.

I for one did not agree with that and am glad that the trees will be brought back. Metro Manila needs all the green lungs it can have else it falls further in the toxic pit of environmental disasters.

It's just the timing couldn't be better, or worst depending on how you look at it. After all Inocentes did serve as presidential assistant for political and judicial affairs with the rank of undersecretary under the Office of the President in the Arroyo regime.

And Gibo is the administration bet. And Fernando is with the opposition now. Hmmm . . . how very very interesting.

According to Inocentes “Green is easier on the eyes, while pink is a color associated with gays.”

So it's not political. It's just homophobia.

The Price Of Doing Business - To Censor Or Not To Censor

400 million internet users - that's more than the combined population of the United States.

Where else but China.

Technology firms are falling head over heels in getting their business set up there.

And why not?

No where else in the world today will you see such explosive growth in technology use - not in the Uniteds States, not in Europe, nor in any other country.

Where else but China.

That being said, doing business in China means having to contend with a country that sees everything as a potential threat to its communist status quo.

This Google found when it entered the internet market 4 years ago. The price of doing business in the country was for it to censure its offerings so anything that is deemed by Beijing to be offensive (to their power status) and pornographic is blacked out.

Surprising? Not really. It is still a police state after all depsite the mellowed down rhetoric and seemingly capitalistic flair.

Not surprising also was the criticism that google was all for monetary gains at the expense of freedom of the internet and the company's own "Don't Be Evil" motto.

So with the exit of Google from China they are back to how it was before, with access to Google.com open to everyone but with the censorship done by the Chinese government instead of by Google itself.

A laudable move. Something that many human rights groups see as a something that can highlight China's human rights record.

That being said as a business that does business in another country it is only right that they follow the rules and regulations set forth by that country.

It's normal business sense. The thing is it is harder now for business to simply pack up and leave just because they don't like a country's policies. Let me rephrase that - it is easy for them to do that when it is a poor country that does not have much of a clout.

It is very different when it is a country the size of China with its huge number of customers. Nowadays when a company leaves there are a couple more waiting to get in to replace you.

What is yet to be seen would be the long term effects of this action from the business standpoint and the political standpoint.

Financially of course Google risk losing on the millions the internet in China can potentially bring.

Politically it has become part of the battle of wills between Beijing and Washington D.C.

And China has already started the heavy-handed approach to counter Google's move.

Chinese state media has launched articles attacking the "politicization" of Google and of it acting as a foreign policy arm of the U.S. government.

Ron Diebert, co-founder of the OpenNet Initiative, has said that China's next move may not be to just block access to Google but to go a step further by blocking all outside search engines from accessing Web information in China.

"If such a radical measure happens, that would have major implications for cyberspace as a whole," he said. "It would point to a more regionalized Internet" and perhaps embolden countries like Iran to follow suit."

If that were the case, the battle for freedom of the internet would bump up against the will of the governments.

In this kind of war there will be victims and definitely no winners. What the outcome will be is anybody's guess.

As of now China is winning; Google has backed away. But it doesn't mean it will end here with just this.

A clash is in the horizon. As other's would say "It's inevitable."

Why Do They Keep Talking About Failed Elections?

And we haven't even had elections yet. Do they know something we don't - especially the current administration.

Of course they do. They're the ones in power after all. So there is a provision in the constitution that allows for the military to take over should there be a power vacuum and no new president is elected.

Hmmmm between a military junta and a president that everyone hates it's too close to call really. So that's why soon to be former President Arroyo (and I say that with a grain of salt) is running around the country garnering support. Oddly enough it doesn't seem to be for her party's presidential candidate former secretary of defense Gilbert Teodoro, unless of course I miss it which is possible.

"The tours she has been making around the country are her last-minute rounds to check that all her finished projects are being maintained and will be maintained, [and that] all ongoing projects are being continued and the unfinished ones to be assumed and continued by whoever will win in the coming polls,” says Charito Planas, Arroyo's deputy spokesperson.

Good reason. Make it look like she cares for the country's well being.

Even presidential candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III questions the government rumor machine asking, “What is the purpose of raising this scenario? Are they conditioning our minds that this will be the inevitable outcome of a failure of elections?”

Exactly sir. That's exactly what they are doing. Even if another deputy spokesperson, Gary Olivar, blames the opposition of creating it's “own specter” to scare the “people about the so-called election failure in spite of the fact that this has never happened," the fact of the matter is regardless of the finger pointing they all seem to look forward to a failed election.

On an entirely different note I would just like to say that the president (again I say that with a grain of salt) sure has a lot of deputy spokespersons. Which makes me want to ask: what happened to her main spokesperson? Or does that person not want to talk? So much for being a spokesperson, but I digress.

Back to the matter at hand. Well they are calling for a smooth transition and calling on the Church and business community to use their “prestige and moral influence” in averting a possible power vacuum after the elections.

Wow, anytime you combine religion and politics it does not bode well for the people. I always thought that we have what is called the separation of church and state but the fact that the church has more say than the people makes me wonder why don't we just say we have a church state.

And nothing good comes out of it. Them religious people with their holier than thou position as if they're better than us. And it's not like they can suggest anything that can do the country good. They declare things should not be done but they don't offer any effective alternative.

But to get back to the matter at hand. Malacanang assures us that the president will definitely step down on June 30. This from the same president who promised back in 2002 that she would not run for president in 2004.

We all know what happened. Citing a higher cause she ran, supposedly to nourish our future . . . down the drain. 6 years of hell for that.

So her saying that she will step down at the end of her term - well let's just say I'm not holding my breath.

Well until Villar is sworn in that is.

The Power Of Electricity - Or Rather The Lack Thereof

Last night the temperature was around 31-degrees Celsius. Would have been ok then there was a power outage - for 4 freaking hours until 5 in the morning. Needless to say sleep wasn't going to be part of the menu and it wasn't.

Which is kind of ironic since the DOE expects stable power supply in Visayas. Ah wait the operative word there is "expects," which means they hope there would be enough power but they're not exactly praying for it.

Electricity, or rather the lack thereof has always been the problem in the country since back in the 90's. I still remember those marathon 8 to 12 hour rolling black-outs which hit Metro Manila back then. It wasn't exactly rolling since we always got hit everyday.

The problem then, as it still is now is the demand was greater than the supply. well duh. Of course it didn't help one bit that surprise surprise the big power generators all went down for either maintenance or because something was broken.

And the fact you paid high power rates sure did not make it any better. The problem isn't just because of power generation - it's also about power distribution. When you walk anywhere, but more so in Manila, power lines just seem to pile on top of one another and seem to go on and on - a massive twisted jungle of wires that seem to be haphazardly put together, which it was.

Then also the fact that Filipinos being Filipinos we tend to steal our power and we're so darned proud of it. What we don't realize is that this results in higher costs of electricity - what they call system loss.

But let's not limit the blame to just that. Napocor and the other power companies are not totally safe from blame. There is no long term planning in terms of efficient power generation and distribution.

Yes, we use state of the art computers and technologies but it's all mish-mashed together with antiquated machineries and distribution systems.

No wonder we pay one of the highest power rates in the world. Yay we one of the tops again in the world - if only it were for something we can be proud of.

And of course as consumers we are even paying for power we don't use - the so called PPA or Purchased Power Adjustment.

Well why not, we pay for government ghost employees so why not pay for ghost power.