We can do much better…

I surmise those heaps of trash come from the different tributaries to the bay. From the coasts of Cavite province, Las Pinas and Paranaque on the south, to Manila, Malabon, and Bulacan province on the north.

Are you a free-range kid?

 I won’t trade memories of my childhood for anything else. I was a free range kid…along with my two older siblings, our cousins, and neighbors.

I remember a time in my history when we would go for long walks in the morning after breakfast during the summer (or weekends during the school year). My siblings, neighbors, and I would explore beyond the familiarity of our street in Better Living, Paranaque.

It was once a paradise. Our house sat along a quiet, secluded street surrounded by lush weeds (which we would burn from time to time…and unknowingly violate RA 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999). But that was just a small patch that required weeding anyway. Behind our house was a vast rice paddy–with its water buffaloes, and a farm house amidst a band of trees in the middle of the field. Along its perimeter was a creek that ran parallel to our street. (more…)

Muntinlupa supports 100 women scholars

By Rhodina Villanueva - Philstar.com

Some 100 women residents of Muntinlupa City, who were chosen as scholars of the city government, are now undergoing a livelihood training program that will help them earn additional income for their families.

 Engr. Benjamin Damian, program director of OK (Organisasyon ng Kababaihan) Muntinlupa, said the women scholars are now attending trainings. Half of these 100 OK Muntinlupa women-members are enrolled in dressmaking while the rest are being thought the basic techniques of reflexology.

“This undertaking is in line with the organization’s anti-poverty drive dubbed ‘Kaalaman, Kabuhayan Kontra Kahirapan.’ We want to help families somehow cope with the hardships brought about by the increasing prices of commodities by making available short courses to interested residents,” Damian explained.

The end of the (paved) road

Let me just deviate a bit from the general theme of Greater Good Philippines and share with you this video. 

Ever wonder where Marcos highway ends?  Coming from Metro Manila going to Rizal province,  one would traverse along this highway (one of three options–the others are Ortigas and C6) whilst jostling with varied road elements (concrete barriers, metal fences, pot holes, jeepneys, buses, cars, motorcycles, and the occassional bicycles and push carts).

This video shows the end of the highway….and the start of a winding rough route to Quezon province…taken at 7am amidst a slight downpour.

The highway, also known as Marilaque (Manila- Rizal-Laguna-Quezon), is marked by enduring twisties and intermittent straights ideal for leisurely cruising with a view of Sierra Madre and the lowlands of Rizal.

Photos can be viewed at this Multiply site.

Online petition vs movement to recall Gov. Panlilio launches

By Harvey Keh - Inquirer.net Blogs Contributor

LAST August 21, a group calling itself Kambilan formally launched a movement to recall Gov. Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga. The group aims to gather at least 100,000 signatures from registered voters in Pampanga and submit it to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as part of its petition to call for a recall election sometime next year.

When Gov. Panlilio was asked about this move to recall him, he said that this move is politically motivated and was initiated by people closely linked with Lilia Pineda, a former board member who ran and lost to Gov. Panlilio during the last election. Lilia Pineda is also the wife of alleged jueteng kingpin, Bong Pineda. Moreover, Gov. Panlilio said that this movement to recall him is a consequence of his recent filing of plunder charges against Bong Pineda for his alleged involvement in illegal gambling operations in Pampanga.

Read the rest of the article on Inquirer.net Blogs.

The online petition can be found here.