Philippine Current Events: DSWD Clarifies Hoarding Rumors and Welcomes Volunteers

Last Friday (Oct. 23, 2009 ), the Philippine internet network went abuzz with alleged reports that the DSWD was hoarding international relief good donations. Apparently, a blogger named Ella (ellaganda.com) who volunteered to repack goods for the DSWD gave reports that the DSWD had a warehouse full of relief supplies that were not being distributed with the utmost urgency, and that there were not enough volunteers to go repack the goods.

This news circulated in the internet, particularly in Facebook, and many Filipino netizens and Facebook users reposted Ella’s report. Of course, many of these Facebook users vented their frustrations at the DSWD, and the media went to verify these reports.

Eventually, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral defended the accusations lashed against her department. According to Esperanza Cabral, the relief goods found at the warehouse had yet to undergo an inventory check, and yes – the DSWD was short on volunteers to handle the huge inventory.

Since the situation escalated to this level, DSWD Esperanza Cabral took the initiative to get in touch with Gang Badoy of Rock Ed Philippines (www.rockedphilippines.org), and also one of those who reposted Ella’s recount on her blog. Esperanza Cabral invited Gang Badoy to come up with volunteers that she would accommodate to help repack these relief goods.

Gang Badoy, Founder of Rock Ed Philippines

According to Gang Badoy, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral agreed for Rock Ed Philippines to come up with a group of 50 volunteers per day to work at the 3pm-11pm shift from Monday to Friday. Altough the DSWD is working 24 hours a day to consolidate relief packing efforts, they have agreed to block a shift to accommodate private citizen volunteers (such as the Rock Ed Philippines NGO).

On a personal note – I suppose this is their manner to quell down the infuriated mob of Facebook users, and also to allow other volunteers to bare witness to the operations of the DSWD, so that they may be made aware before they past judgement as they had when they made a barrage re-posting that Friday of the alleged DSWD hoarding rumors.

Anyway, for those who want to volunteer for the DSWD and get a chance to see their warehouse full of relief goods, then just fill up the volunteer sign-up sheet by clicking on this link.

Lastly, I would like to thank Sandy Cabral (daughter of Esperanza Cabral) for getting in touch with me to make sure that the rumors regarding the alleged DSWD hoarding where first looked into before the unconfirmed news was sent out to Facebook. I won’t apologize for re-posting on the Philippines Fun Wall about Ella’s account. In fact, if this hadn’t happened, then I believe there wouldn’t be any focus on the DSWD and their efforts, adn the help that they so desperately need.

Philippine Current Events: DSWD Hoarding Relief Goods and Supplies For Typhoon Victims

A blogger by the name of Ella (ellaganda.com) volunteered to do re-packing of relief goods for the DSWD. Apparently, to her dismay, Ella and her 8 group of friends were the only ones who were volunteering to repack a 1000 sq. m. warehouse full of relief goods.

According to DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, the reason why the DSWD warehouse is still full of unpacked relief goods is because they lack volunteers. However, according to Ella, those who did wish to volunteer were turned away, citing that there were already too many volunteers.

Anyway, there is more to the story about the DSWD hoarding situation, and you can find out more about it from the post in the Multiply site of Gang Badoy, who reposted the story of Ella since her blog was blocked and shut down. COuld it be because she exposed the faults of the DSWD? Maybe.

The same excerpt can also be found on the blog of Jenni Epperson, complete with all the pictures of the stocks they have piled and unused in the DSWD warehouse.

Just Some of The Many Relief Goods Not Being Given Away Just Yet By The DSWD

Just click on the links above, and see for yourself what the fucking problem is with the DSWD. And hopefully, someone raise awareness so that someone may act on this. FAST!

“Danghang Salamat, Ondoy” by Ramil Digal Gulle

[The Following Excerpt Was Written by Ramil Digal Gulle, And I Am Just Re-posting His Inspiring Message Here]

All I wanted to do on Saturday morning was to go to my doctor. After getting off the MRT station in Kamuning (about 10 am) I waded through ankle-deep floodwaters to accompany my wife to the TV station where she works. The rest of the day was already clear in my head: Go to the doctor, finish my business there by around lunchtime (there are usually quite a number of patients, and I wasn’t expecting to finish earlier than that), pick up my wife and we go home for some needed time with the kids.

I thought nothing of it when the doctor’s nurse texted me to say that the doctor’s clinic was already flooded. The clinic is in the low-lying Kamias area. Fine, I told myself, I’ll just go to Hi-Top and buy a bottle of wine and ingredients for dinner. My daughter had requested that I cook for dinner.

After Hi-Top, I proceeded to the TV station where my wife works. I was walking the whole time because of the rain. I felt no danger despite the rain. The rain wasn’t that strong by the time I left Hi-Top. Then I reached the corner of Panay Avenue and Sergeant Esguerra. Holy shit. The floodwaters were neck-deep in Esguerra!

I turned left on Panay, planning to take the train at the Quezon Avenue MRT then disembark at Kamuning station, so I could just walk towards the TV station. I reached Hen Lin (a Chinese fastfood) which is right under the MRT station. I was surprised to see that Edsa was flooded. The area in front of the McDonald’s outlet was waist-deep in flood.

There was a guy—he was soaked from head-to-foot—who was warning people getting off the Quezon Avenue MRT station. He was telling everyone who could hear him: “O, wag na kayo dyan sa Esguerra. Hanggang leeg doon. Dito sa may Edsa hanggang baywang. Mamili na lang kayo kung saan niyo gustong magpakamatay.”

[Don’t go to Esguerra. The water there is neck-deep. Over there at Edsa it’s waist-deep. You guys choose which side you prefer. You choose where you want to kill yourself.]

The guy was trying to be funny. I went up the MRT station, boarded the train and got off at Kamuning. When I reached the TV station, my wife texted me that she won’t be going home. All TV news staff were required to stay because of widespread flooding.

I called the kids at home. Thank God there wasn’t too much rain in Cavite. Finally, I saw what was happening in Marikina and Rizal on the TV set at the visitor’s area. Shit. I won’t be able to go home. Then I also learned that the way to Cavite was impassable.

After talking to my 9-year-old daughter some more and assessing that Cavite would likely not be affected by the typhoon, I made up my mind to wait for my wife. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to let her go home alone, with floodwaters rising in Quezon City.

People were coming to the TV station. Every single one was asking for help. They had loved ones trapped inside their house by floodwaters. There were loved ones already on rooftops. The floods were rising too fast in some areas. And so began my long day: filled with the weeping of women, worries about friends trapped in rooftops, worries about my kids (what if the typhoon turns and hits Cavite?), and a feeling of utter helplessness.

My wife worked till about midnight. We tried to get to Cavite but even before we reached the tollgate of the expressway leading to Bacoor, huge trucks were already turning back. We were in a cab. I decided not to risk whatever was ahead. There could have been floods, an accident, etc.

My daughter kept calling my mobile phone. She was crying. When were we going to get home? After getting assured that there was no flooding in Cavite, that our kids were not in danger of any flood, I told my wife we should just wait for morning. We turned back and stayed in a hotel—the hotel lobby to be exact. All the rooms were booked. It was already 2am. We couldn’t sleep. We simply waited till the sun was up.

When I finally got home today, the first thing I did was gather wife and kids for prayers. We prayed out of gratitude. We were all safe. Then we prayed for all those who were still trapped, who were still struggling to stay alive amid floodwaters. I was crying.

I find myself unable to sleep after being awake since 6 am yesterday morning. I’m still keyed up. My wife’s asleep, finally, after getting a massage. I want to sleep but each time I manage to doze off, I jerk awake at the slightest noise. So I’ll just write.

I can’t get the sound of weeping mothers out of my head. That’s how I spent the night while stranded in Quezon City. All these mothers kept talking about their kids. One mother, Lina, could not help but cry for her kids, who were trapped in the third storey of a neighbor’s house for out eight hours already by the time she spoke to me. Her husband was also trapped by floodwaters—he could not leave his office in Quezon City.

Here are some things I learned from the experience. I can write them down in the comfort of home with my wife and kids safely with me. I actually feel guilty that I’m in this situation. I feel guilty that I’m not out there on a rubber boat saving people. So I’ll write some more and go to bed. After I get some sleep, I might have a saner perspective.

Our families are not prepared for climate change. Typhoon Ondoy was true to its name, which means “little boy”—it wasn’t a supertyphoon. And yet, we all failed in so many fronts.

In our own home, we don’t have an emergency kit. The flashlight is no longer where I always put it. Furthermore, I’m not aware of any evacuation plan in our community. Who do we call? Where do we evacuate when waters start rising? I have no idea. It’s the sort of ignorance that kills.

One friend of mine lost her possessions in the floods. Her husband and kids are safe. She had the quick and sensible thinking to have her family evacuate shortly after the water began seeping into their house and after the power was cut off. They left everything and booked themselves in a hotel. “I lost everything,” she told me over her mobile phone. I told her that the most important things in her life were saved.

Our government—both the national government and the LGUs–is not prepared for climate change. If people are safe now—relatively, for some, because it’s again starting to rain and many are still trapped on rooftops, awaiting rescue—it’s because of prayer. So many people were—are still—praying. It seems the prayers were heard because we all got a respite from the rain.

Filipinos have a saying, “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa” (God dispenses mercy but man has to do the work). God has already dispensed his mercy. Will we do our part?

There’s no excuse for the lack of rubber boats, for example. We have floods every year. But every year, we are unprepared. The two rubber boats that began rescuing people in Marikina were a relief to know about, but why only two?

Philippine National Red Cross Chairman Dick Gordon tried to transport several more rubber boats but these had to come all the way from Olongapo. And with the traffic jams at the expressways, they could not get to Metro Manila in time.

The headquarters of the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are both in Quezon City. And yet, for nearly 12 hours, Quezon City residents trapped in floods could not be rescued. The AFP, if I remember correctly, usually has the biggest slice of the national budget every year. But where were the choppers? Where were the rubber boats? Clearly something is very wrong.

Then we recall how General Carlos Garcia, former AFP comptroller, was caught (by US authorities, not by Philippine authorities) trying to bring in millions of pesos in cash to the US. It does not inspire faith in the military leadership.

We also recall a lot of things that are disquieting: government resources being used to secure a questionable telecoms deal with a Chinese firm; millions of pesos spent on Presidential dinners abroad; millions of pesos in campaign contributions unaccounted for; millions of pesos spent on a California mansion; billions of pesos spent on foreign trips; and a cancelled plan to buy a new Presidential jet.

How do you explain all that to kids trapped on their rooftop for nearly 24 hours—soaking wet, hungry, crying for their mothers and going insane with fear?

How do you explain the fact that the government can spend millions upon millions on so many other projects, but could only produce two rubber boats to rescue scores of residents trapped in a flooded Marikina village? How do you explain the President’s lobster and steak dinners to Rizal residents neck-deep in muddy floodwaters?

Every year, we get floods and typhoons. Every year, we give money to the AFP and the NDCC. And all that the Marikina residents get are two rubber boats?

And wasn’t Marikina always being trumpeted as some sort of “First World City in a Third World Country”? Clean and green Marikina. Disciplined Marikina, a jewel of law and order in the chaos of the Mega Manila.

The Marikina River floods every year. Every year. But when it really mattered, the City Government of Marikina did not have enough emergency equipment, did not have enough rubber boats. Or if it did, it did not have the capacity to deploy these resources in time. It seemed to have no plan for the evacuation of residents at Provident Village before floodwaters could reach it.

And former Marikina mayor Bayani Fernando wants to run the rest of the country the way he did Marikina—or at least, that’s the impression we get. We could be wrong.

To be fair, none of us expected something like Typhoon Ondoy. But the lack of rubber boats, the seeming lack of coordinated response, the empty promises made over the media—these are simply not acceptable. These do not inspire our confidence in government once the next super typhoon hits. I mentioned Marikina only as an example.

I’m not blaming Fernando or his wife (the present Marikina mayor). I’m just stating how things appear. The real story about the slow rescue, etc. might unfold in the next few days.

[Kris Aquino was talking on TV about Marikina rescue efforts. She said that according to one Marikina resident, there were rubber boats deployed by the Marikina government--but the river's currents were so strong that the rubber boats got overturned. It was also pointed out that Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando did everything she could but "nature's wrath" was just too powerful. In the interest of fairness I should point this out.]

What happened to Marikina can happen anywhere. The local governments of Bulacan, Pasig and Rizal fared no better. Are our local governments prepared for climate change? Are they prepared for typhoons like Ondoy, or much stronger ones? Your guess is as good as mine.

What would have happened if Ondoy didn’t leave the country in the hours following the massive flooding? What if it was a super typhoon that decided to stay for a few days?

The answer is so obvious that we’re scared to state it: Death and Chaos. So many people, so many children will die. Our loved ones will die. We will die.

The next few days, weeks and months will tell us whether the government cares to prevent this, or whether it wants to use climate change as a kind of population control.

The government’s priorities have been clear in the way it spends its money and allocates its resources. For example, the AFP budget keeps growing. But what about the budget for the national weather agency PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration)? There were reports a few years back that the budget was actually slashed.

During a report on GMA-7 news last night, PAGASA OIC Nathaniel Cruz said that there was a piece of equipment that could help the agency estimate a typhoon’s potential amount of rainfall (very useful in the case of Ondoy, which poured a month’s worth of rainfall in about five hours)—a Doppler radar. Does PAGASA have this equipment?

No. The national weather agency, the only one that could warn us if we should evacuate because a typhoon will bring a deluge, does not have a Doppler radar. But it’s on its way, clarifies Cruz.

PAGASA, in Filipino, also means “Hope”. Based on how the government seems to prioritize PAGASA, the weather agency, do we have reason to hope?

It was drummed into my head a long time ago that when we use the term “government” in a democracy, we should really refer to ourselves. After all, in a democracy, governance must be by, of and for the people.

So it’s either we’re not really a democracy (because we always stand back and just let a bunch of evil yoyos run things for us) or we’re all just not getting this governance thing right. We’re not governing things the way we should.

It’s raining again. I hope we get our acts together soon.

Philippines Current Events: Coordinating Disaster Is A Disaster For National Disaster Coordinating Councild

I don’t like the National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Philippines. Simply because they lack COORDINATION! It’s a given that Ondoy has brought so much damage to property, to homes, and not to mention the thousands of people who had to be evacuated.

Coordinating rescue operations is no joke, but it’s rather such a disappointment that they couldn’t get something going quickly enough. After all, it’s a matter of coordination. If the NDCC receives a call for help, then they coordinate the efforts with the nearest rescue operation unit  in that area – whether it be hospital, police or barangay. From there, the local rescue unit will give an assessment of the situation, (i.e. “we cannot get to those victims due to severe floods.”)

From that point the NDCC will coordinate this information to those who can do something about the situation, such as the Philippine Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, or maybe they might have their own special equipment or task force that can respond to the call since the local unit cannot, and then THAT is dispatched with the utmost emergency. And then coordinate a place with which they can use for evacuation. After all, you don’t just rescue the cat from a tree just to leave him in a pit of dogs.

The NDCC Cannot Coordinate This Disaster

What happened to yesterday’s disaster because of Ondoy had the phone lines of the NDCC on fire, and yet without anyone to really provide the proper coordination in order to get things done. The slow process of bureaucracy before Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro could mobilize anything is just not acceptable when lives and property are at stake, especially those who stand to lose EVERYTHING.

Sorry – Gilbert Teodoro - but you just lost my vote.

Then, there’s that NDCC Deputy Director Anthony Golez Jr., who I believe may have a good heart, but just looks like a total dweeb. Anthony Golez Jr., in an interview with ABS-CBN, asked for an apology for the delayed effort in the rescue operations, citing that the flood made things difficult. Sorry – Anthony  Golez Jr. – I was taught to produce results and not excuses, and I can’t believe you even had the time to conduct an interview to apologize instead of getting on that damn phone and finding more trucks and more rubber boats and more choppers, or coordinating more evacuation centers.

Then, when he was asked if school and work would be suspended, Anthony Golez Jr. quipped something like it would depend on the bureaucracy. Apparently, there is a criteria that must be followed for the suspension of classes or work, or the declaration of any calamity, and it has such a frigging red-tape process. (you may check it out here). It’s no wonder kids take the dangerous trek to school at 5Am and get to school on time at 7am, only to find out that government will suspend classes at 11am (government work starts at 8am or 9am.) By that time – the situation of the weather is near disastrous, and students are stranded.

So, anyway, Anthony Golez Jr. can’t say if there are no classes or work on Monday because some government offices are closed on Sunday, and no one is around to write the memo. If you look at the red tape process of suspending classes and work by the NDCC, you will understand the importance of the memo.

Apart from the rescue operations, the NDCC should have better coordination in the gathering of information as to those that may need relief. They should also coordinate all the efforts of volunteer groups and point them to designated areas. They should also coordinate the charity and relief assistance from various groups to send out to evacuation centers or disaster areas. COORDINATION – it’s in their job description.

Instead, what’s going on now, is that several groups and foundations have risen up to volunteer their services, and yet they are like headless chickens running around. Sure, ABSCBN is doing a tele-thon and getting donations  with even the supposed head of Coca-Cola – pledging 2 million bottles of Wilkins drinking water. Fine – it sounds good on television, but I want those 2 million bottles now! I want 10,000 of those put on a truck and sent to Marikina. I want 10,000 more sent to Rizal. I want 20,000 more floated down the Pasig river to reach homes that cannot be reached. I want immediate action through coordination. I want to see the pledged 2 million water bottles making its way somewhere it is needed. Instead, it might take 2 weeks for me to ever see those bottles, and some might just find its way to a studio set and not to a relief center.

The Red Cross have their hotlines. ABSCBN Foundation have their own fund-raiser. Politicians and presidential aspirants are setting up their own relief  centers. – those are all good. But then, eventually, there has to be someone at the top of all that to say, “ABSCBN release that 1 million peso donation so we can rent out 5 choppers to do rescue operations. NOW!”

We need someone to say,  “Red Cross! Shell out Php100,000 so we can run gensets at the evacuation centers, and put cots and blankets, and give medication…”

The good will of the people and their good intentions to help their fellow Filipinos is fine, but it’s the coordination of important action that is needed during a state of calamity that is truly lacking. We may have saved a child from drowning in the flood, but if we put that child  in a place that has no food or medicine or warmth from the storm, then we just gave that child a new place to die. We didn’t save that child at all.

If there is no one in charge with that kind of capacity, power or responsibility, to command that kind of action from local government units, NGO’s, or from private groups, then there is no point in putting up a National Disaster Coordinating Council if they cannot coordinate such things at a time of disaster.

In other countries, like the US – when a policeman needs to accost your vehicle to chase a suspect, then he gets it by flashing a badge and without questions asked. And if he wrecks it, then it will be cared for by the government. That kind of authority empowering a simple police officer allows things to get done in terms of results. We have to put that in a bigger scale in order to mobilize things at a time of disaster, at a state of calamity.

Anyway, the National Disaster Coordinating Council can begin the change by upgrading the NDCC website to make it look like a site of action, and not just a mere web-brochure on press releases about agreements made for fudning. I’m beginnning to get the feeling that the NDCC is a lobbyist group in search of relief, instead of an action group. If it were action, then the first page of their site should be a form for an incident report, or a hotline number in big bold letters. And don’t forget to check the NDCC contacts directory (the number of Golez isn’t even there!). If the primary contact number of the NDCC is the “Webnaster”, then we are truly screwed. And if the alignment of the NDCC contacts directory page is anything to consider on how to coordinate things – then God save us all because the NDCC surely doesn’t look capable at all.

Don’t even get me started with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD.)

Anyway, I was just informed that there is an online  Rescue InfoHub Central. I’m just uncertain how this works, or who’s responsible or on top of this, but it’s disconcerting that there are only 200 incident reports with everything that is going on.

I just really wish that the coordination of this disaster be swift. It is frustrating to think that with all the cooks in the kitchen, the efforts for rescue, relief and rehabilitation will be delayed in bureaucracy. Before you know it – the funds raised will be used for an election campaign, or some other misappropriate use.

By the way – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo‘s office has been rather quiet.

Philippine Sports: Freddie Roach Says Pacquiao vs De La Hoya Might Not Happen

No Fight If Oscar De La Hoya Is Overweight

Philippine boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya have already signed a contract to fight on December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, there is still a possibility that the fight might not happen.

It is stipulated in their contract that Oscar De La Hoya will pay Manny Pacquiao $3 Million per pound that goes over the 147 welterweight limit. And if Oscar De La Hoya doesn’t make the weight and reaches 150 lbs. during the weigh-in, then Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach will just have to pull the plug on the fight, and that’s that.

Freddie Roach stated that if Oscar De La Hoya weighs in at 150 lbs., it will just be an unfair fight for Manny Pacquiao. According to Freddie Roach, it doesn’t matter if Oscar De La Hoya will pay $9 Million for the overweight, but fighting at 150 lbs. is a totally different story altogether. Oscar De La Hoya already has the height and reach advantage over Manny Pacquiao, and the weight will be the true equalizer for both boxers. If Oscar De La Hoya comes in heavier, then it just really stacks up the odds against Manny Pacquiao, and Freddie Roach is just being a wise trainer in protecting his boxer.

Freddie Roach thinks that if Oscar De La Hoya really wants this fight to happen, then De La Hoya should really do his best to meet the weight requirement. After all, it was Oscar De La Hoya who called out Manny Pacquiao to fight at 147 lbs., albeit after hearing that Freddie Roach said that De La Hoya couldn’t pull the trigger against Pacquiao. Hmmm… boxing trash talk.

Anyway – Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya stand to make huge amounts of money from this fight should the fight push through. In fact, after all the bills have been collected from ticket sales of the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the pay-per-view broadcasts, the sponsors and what-have-you – it is estimated that Manny Pacquiao can earn as much as $23 Million. Oscar De La Hoya stands to make more. It might come out to be the biggest purse in boxing history for a single fight.

Well, we have to wait first if Oscar De La Hoya makes the weight to see if there will be any fight at all. Yo, Golden Boy, stay away from those cream puffs!

Pacquiao-De La Hoya Tickets and Ringside Seat Tickets Are Available Here.

Philippine Olympic Team Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Bows Out Of Medal Contention in 2008 Beijing Olympics

Philippine Olympic Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz

17 year-old Hidilyn Diaz started her weightlifting career by sheer necessity. Growing up at Zamboanga at a young age, Hidilyn Diaz used to fetch water for her family’s use since they had no direct access to their community’s water supply. Yup, Taga-igib ng tubig!

At around age 11, she started her weightlifting training and was introduced by some of her relatives who used to compete at the national level. Once upon a time in the gym, Hidilyn Diaz bested some of the guys lifting weights, and she became an instant phenom. Standing only 4’11″, Hidilyn Diaz is the first Filipino weightlifter to be baned to the Philippine Olympic Team since 1988.

At the age of 13, Hidilyn Diaz was admitted into the national pool and given formal training to be among the best powerlifters of the Philippines. She placed 10th in the 53-kilogram class of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and won the team gold medal in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand in the 58-kilogram class. She was given a wildcard berth to the Olympics by the International Weightlifting Federation because of her 2007 SEA Games performance.

Well, she didn’t get much time to prepare for the 2008 Olympics, but she was very excited to represent the Philippines and be a part of the Philippine Olympic Team. Indeed, Hidilyn Diaz went all-out to do her best.

“I can’t wear sexy gowns or high heels. I can’t have a boyfriend and I walk like a boy. Sometimes I get jealous as my female friends go to school while I have to lift weights,” explained HIdilyn Diaz.

Such is the life of this Olympian, and it would’ve been a great Cinderella story if she could’ve pulled off winning a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, as it stands, Hidilyn Diaz crashed out of the weightlifting event in the 58-kilogram category, ending up at 11th place out of the 12 contenders for the Olympic Gold Medal.

I’m still optimistic for Hidilyn Diaz, whom I expect to be back again for another shot at an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2012 London Olympics. After all, she is still young, and perhaps a few more years of proper training could definitely improve her. If ever, she will only be around 21 years old for the 2012 London Olympics. Unlike, say, Philippine Olympic trap shooter Eric Ang who is already 37 years-old, and might have a failing eyesight when he shoots in 2012.

Hidilyn, forget about the high heels and sexy gowns, and the boyfriend! Just lift those weights and get an Olympic Gold Medal. No Filipino has ever had that! And once you got it, I’m sure someone there won’t mind sponsoring some cosmetic surgery ala Vicky Belo for you to have your time in the spotlight with the sexy gown and the high heels. Get those 4″ stilettos so you can stand out at 5’3″. The boyfriend? You can always have more than one!

Karaoke World Championships 2008 at Lahti, Finland

2007 Karaoke World Championship Winners Julie Walter-Sgro and Lu Hee Wah

Laugh at the title, but it really is true!

The Karaoke World Championships began in 2003 with 7 countries participating, and as of 2007, it features nearly 30 countries worldwide. There are national trials conducted by each participating country every year, and the winners (one male and one female) are sent to the international finals for the Karaoke World Championships.

The Karaoke World Championships finals were held in Finland from 2003 until 2005, and in 2006, the finals were held aboard the M/S Galaxy while cruising the Baltic sea from Helsinki to Estonia. In 2007, the finals were held in Thailand. In 2008, it returns to Finland.

Last year’s champions were Julie Walter-Sgro (female, Australia) and Lu Hee Wah (male, Malaysia)

The participating countries include USA, UK, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Finland (of course!), Kuwait, Kenya, South Africa and so much more. BUT! (And a very BIG BUT HERE!) there is no Philippines!!!

Yup, our Southeast Asian neighbors – Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong – are all represented, but there is still no Philippines. Hmmm. Well, not for long.

Enterprising businessman Nino Villongco has taken the initiative of including the Philippines in the 2008 Karaoke World Championships which will be held form October 23rd to October 25th, 2008 in Lahti, Finland. Nino Villongco owns the franchise for the Philippine Karaoke Championships, which will be the official body that will send one male and one female representative to the Karaoke World Championships every year starting 2008.

At present, Nino Villongco is getting things together with sponsors, business partners and media partners in order to hold a series of events between August to September in order to be able to award the Karaoke Philippine champions the privilege to represent the country in the Karaoke World Championships. Think American Idol with an international stage.

Anyway, the Philippines Fun Wall will be announcing the event dates soon, but time is of the essence. Nino Villongco hopes that the elimination events will start soon, so we can get headed to the Karaoke Philippine Grand Finals and come up with the two winners, and also to give these two winners some time to practice before heading to the Karaoke World Championships in Finland.

Nino Villongco envisions this event to be growing annually in participation volume, and also in terms of event revenue. Of course, not to mention the fact that the Philippines can seriously bring home a Gold Medal in Karaoke World Championships.

So who can join? Well, as long as you’re not signed in as a recording artist with any professional recording label, then I guess you’re qualified. I believe you can read more about the requirements in the official site of the Karaoke World Championships.

Meanwhile, keep visiting the Philippines Fun Wall to find out more on the upcoming events. Also, take a peek into a glimpse of the Karaoke World Championship by checking out the video summarizing the events of the 2007 Karaoke World Championships, held in Thailand.

Rogue Magazine’s August ’08 Issue Now Available

I received this in my e-mail from Katrina Tuason-Cruz, the Marketing Director and Operations Manager of Rogue Magazine, and of course would like to share it with the Philippines Fun Wall.

What’s in this issue :

Amanda Griffin-Jacob on the August cover of Rogue

THE APPETITE ISSUE:

NEAL OSHIMA SHOOTS THE COUNTRY’S MOST DYNAMIC CULINARY PROFESSIONALS:
MARK AUBREY, TONYBOY ESCALANTE, MARGARITA FORES, J. GAMBOA, NORBERT GANDLER, ROLANDO LAUDICO, COLIN MACKAY, ARIEL MANUEL, ED QUIMSON, SAU DEL ROSARIO, JESSIE SINCIOCO and TONY TANG

AMANDA GRIFFIN DEVOURED, Story by Apa Ongpin, Photographed by Mark Nicdao

THE ODYSSEY OF A TUNA: FROM GENSAN TO SEATTLE By Gutsy Tuason

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL: BEHIND THE SCENES OF A NEW YORK RESTAURANT By Marco Rodriguez

PLUS!

SQUID VICIOUS RETURNS
THE GREAT BURGER ROAD TEST
and a BUTCHER’S GUIDE TO BEEF

ROGUE’S GALLERY

Tals Diaz goes incognito as she attempts to the find the Holy Grail of hamburgers. Gino de la Paz puts on his beer goggles before heading out to Murphy’s Pub for some Rogue brews. Paolo Reyes unscrews the cork of a Sundance-selected wine cooler labeled Bottle Shock. James Gabrillo meets the mad scientist behind Vitamin Beer as he nibbles on some edible artworks. Erwin Romulo ignites the flames of Pinoy heroism after reading Profiles Encourage. JC Bernardo smells something fishy in a velvet-roped sushi bar called Kobikicho. Anjanette Pe picks up some butcher’s jargon from a steak-loving meat expert. Chino Reyes tests a daredevil chef’s limits and gets Glutton for Punishment. Food blogger Wysgal dishes out some appetizing sites worthy of public consumption. Resident Rogue Trader Bruce Curran serves a five-course menu of financial choices.

STYLE GUIDE

Sail the seven seas, or at least imagine that maritime life with model boats from Authentic Models. It’s food for thought when it comes to kitchen-inspired grooming goodies.Get the clean, wholesome look of Jamie Oliver and the Carribbean laid-back lifestyle of Bond creator Ian Flemming. Leather footballs aren’t only beautiful collector items but also practical treasures.Get shorty with a brief history on your favorite weekend bottoms in Retrospect. Omega is going all Olympic on us with new limited editions of their Seamaster Aqua Terra Chronograph and Gentleman’s Constellation. The goodlife high-defined with tech-riffic offerings including Samsung’s YP-KS and HTC Touch Diamond.

ALSO!
IT’S NOT ME
Fiction by Luis Katigbak

For local and international subscriptions of Rogue, visit http://www.m-express.com.ph

DUKE 420 2 CENTS POSTSCRIPT

I was actually present at the Rogue office during the day that they were picking which of Amanda Griffin-Jacob’s pictures they were going to use for the cover. “They” being Jay Pou, Miguel Mari and Josemari Ugarte. I can’t really quote verbatim, or even remember who said what, but then the decision-making process was something like:

“This one looks safe for the advertisers, but I don’t think it’ll really capture the readers.”
“This one looks awkward. Her pose doesn’t look natural.”
“This one looks very disgusting. It looks like someone puked on her, but it’s really very sexy and it’ll make you want to look inside the magazine.”
“But then, will we get advertisers for that?”
“Well, they didn’t mind the Joey Mead cover with the flag”
“It doesn’t look appetizing for an appetite issue.”
“Actually, it does.”
“This one is just off. Her head’s too big, and her smile is pilit, but I like the cleavage.”
“This one, she has a great smile, but then you don’t even see her cleavage.”
“Does she have one that has the smile and the cleavage?”
“There’s something, but it’s a bit see-through?”
“Bad see-through, or good see-through?”

Hmmm. Hard decisions indeed. Well, I guess they eventually did pick the one that looked like someone puked on her. But that isn’t puke – it’s honey!

Sweet, huh?

Philippine All-Stars Bag Gold Medal In 2008 World Hip Hop Championships

Philippine All Stars 2008 World Hip Hop Champions

I picked up my sister Chloe from her school the other day from her cheer-dance practice, and she was ecstatic to share the news that the Philippine All-Stars won the Gold medal in the 2008 World Hiphop Championships held at Las Vegas, Nevada. Not being a real fan of hip-hop or dance, I was like “whuh?” Then, she continued to explain with much enthusiasm about this dance group called the Philippine All-Stars that came in third place in the 2006 World Hiphop Championships and then this time won the gold in 2008, beating other hiphop dance teams from New Zealand, US, Mexico, Canada and more. Of course the story caught my attention as does anything that has the theme of Philippine pride, and so I researched to write about them.

Apparently, the Philippine All-Stars hold their home at a dance studio somewhere near Katipunan, Quezon City. Their motto goes something like: One Love. One God. One Hip Hop. Sarap Lang. Catchy. Interesting. Based on my research at the Philippine All-Stars site and Philippine All-Stars Multiply site the 2008 group that went on to compete in Las Vegas and win the gold is composed of: Kenjohns, Kykz, Laurence, Lema, Madelle, Maya, Michelle, Niko, Big Pat, Prince, Reagan, Sheena and trainees Lil Pat and Joshua. 33 countries were represented by several groups with a total of 1,000 hiphop dancers taking to the stage. 12 finalists were chosen all-in-all to perform for the 2008 World Hiphop Championships, and joining the Philippine All-Stars were the likes of Kaba Modern (USA), Prestige (New Zealand), Xtreme Soul Style (Canada), Legacy (New Zealand) Eclectik (Trinidad & Tobago), Peridot (United Kingdom), Black Soul (Mexico), FLos Angeles (USA), Release (South Africa), Rockwell Family (Canada) and Phunk Phenomenon (USA).

Of course, the Philippine All-Stars turned out to be number one. Multi-Grammy award winner and competition judge MC “You Can’t Touch This” Hammer was quoted by ABS-CBN news correspondents as saying: “The Filipino artists… they continue to evolve in a global basis. They take art and dance seriously. I am very proud of the level that the Philippines overall has developed into.”

Judge Shane Sparks was also quoted saying: “Great kids, great dancers and choreographer… I think they’re some of the hottest dancers that touch the stage of America’s best dance crews and I know there’s more to come.”

The guys and gals of Philippine All-Stars even documented and chronicled their entire journey leading to the 2008 World Hip Hop Championships in a short movie called His-Story. To make it to their trip, they even had a fund-raising concert at the Ateneo de Manila gym in which they gave a peek performance as to what they would be showcasing in Las Vegas. Talk about taking charge of life and making their dreams come true, sacrificing and working hard to achieve their goals, and eventually giving all to His glory. Wow! Inspirational stuff here.

Anyway, I certainly tip off my hat to their global achievement, and for being able to be an inspiration to many others to strive big for their dreams by working hard for it. One Love. One God. One Hip Hop. Sarap Lang. Galing!

Well, visit their sites and check out their photos, profiles and videos. You can even check out the video of the Philippine All-Stars hiphop dance number which won them the gold medal in the 2008 World Hip Hop Championships. I won’t ruin the surprise for you.

Give A Big Hand To Elfren Meneses Jr.

Wearing The Real Thing Won't Land You In Jail

Once upon a time, Elfren Meneses Jr. was the Regional Director of the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (circa 2006). Back then, he was responsible for doing raids on illegal businesses, such as doing a raid on an online casino operation that was fronting as an Internet cafe. He was also once responsible for tracking down Philippine-based spammers in the Internet. Elfren Meneses Jr. also hounded down a criminal syndicate that was involved in a multi-million land scam that victimized a number of businessmen. Apparently, this syndicate sold property in the provinces to a lot of businessmen, but failed to turn over the property, and it was Elfren Meneses Jr. who spearheded the investigation when the accused suspects were still at large.

Today, Elfren Meneses Jr. is the chief of the NBI-IPRD, which is better known as the National Bureau of Investigation – Intellectual Property Rights Division. His name has been in the papers the past few days, but not in the big headlines. Elfren Meneses Jr. has been coming up in little short paragraphs in the Metro section for conducting several raids on shops that have been selling fake branded material.

Recently, Elfren Meneses Jr. raided St. Francis Square and seized around 5 Million Pesos worth of fake Lacoste products, acting on a complaint by the local Lacoste brand carrying the original apparel. Now, whether or not the estimated 5 Million Pesos worth of illegal Lacoste products is based on the actual selling price of the tiangge in St. Francis Square, or the actual worth of the original product, I haven’t had the chance to investigae. May tawad na ba iyan?

Apart from that, another recent bust includes the raid on fake BMW Shirts in the Greenhills Shopping Center and the seizure of fake Bulgari jewelry in a jewelry mall place in Ongpin Street in Santa Cruz, Manila. The total worth of goods seized is estimated at 2 Million Pesos, more or less. Siyempre, baka may tawad pa.

Apparently, the fake Bulgari jewelry was made of real gold, however, the fake branding of Bulgari is a clear violation of the intellectual property rights, and thus led to the raid, the confiscation of products and the filing of criminal charges.

Prior to this, Elfren Meneses Jr. also raided a stall in Divisoria Mall that was selling fake Jiao Li and Device products – fake whitening creams and beauty products.

I don’t really want to go into the whole deal about why some people have to go into the business of selling fake branded products. Well, some people want to give the impression of their awesome sense of branded-ness despite fully knowing that they’re just buying a knock-off. Whatever. If there wasn’t a demand, then I guess there wouldn’t be that much out there. And since there’s a lot out there, then I guess Elfren Meneses Jr. will have his hands full going up against these intellectual property rights violators, and continue catching these criminals.

Anyway, what concerns me more about Elfren Meneses Jr. is that someone should get started writing an action movie about this crime-buster, who has made several raids on all sorts of illegal businesses. Add some gunfire, a few car chase scenes, a mafia boss played by a real cool super villain, a sexy woman as mistress or wife, plus a loosely “based on a true story” caption, and we’ve got the formula for a blockbuster.

Hmmm. If it reaches the DVD stalls in Metrowalk and Greenhills, Elfren Meneses Jr. could even raid them and confiscate them.

Philippine Environmental Solutions: The E-Jeepney

The E-Jeepney in Makati City

The Electronic Jeepney, or the E-Jeepney, is a minibus that runs on electricity. The E-jeepney carries 17 passengers and can run 120km on an 8-hour charge from an electric outle using power from biodegradable waste.

In response to calls for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the rise of oil prices, Robert Puckett, the President of Solar Electric Company in the Philippines, made the E-Jeepney his brainchild. With the support of Greenpeace and through the office of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, four E-Jeepneys were deployed to ply routes around Makati City. Two of the E-Jeepneys were prototypes from Guangzhou, China and the other two were made by the Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturars Association of the Philippines (MVPMAP). The E-Jeepney runs a maximum 40km per hour.

The E-Jeepney is still on its test phase, and will undergo technical and commercial test for 6 months in Makati City. If all goes well in the test phase, then the electric fleet of E-Jeepneys will increase to 50 units. Also, as stated in the project’s MOA, Makati City will also provide a facility that will generate power from the biodegradable wastes from the city’s food establishments and wet markets where the E-Jeepneys can be plugged.

Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Baguio CIty in Benguet and Puerto Princessa City in Palawan have already also launched a similar campaign to make use of E-Jeepneys in their respective cities.

The E-Jeepneys are the first public transport system of its kind in Southeast Asia. Well, if you exclude the golf cart. Oh yeah, the golf cart isn’t public transportation, it’s privilege transportation.

Anyway, The E-Jeepny is a step in the right direction towards providing an environmental solution to the problems of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the cities of the Philippines and Southeast Asia. In fact, it’s so damn good that Greenpeace and GRIPP (Green Renewable Independent Power Producer) extended their support during the inauguration.

In today’s edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, there were reports that Boracay mayor Wilbec Gelito will also be making use of the E-Jeepneys in the island of Boracay to lessen the air and noise pollution caused by the 2-stroke engine tricycles that are abundant on the island. According to the article, the tricycles in Boracay have increased by as much as three times over the last 5 years, with a total of about 1,800 tricycles in the area. These tricycles give out a lot of smog and are also responsible for the noise pollution which goes to up to around 70 decibels. Hearing damage due to long-term exposure is pegged at some 80-90 decibels and a jack hammer is at around 100 db. In other words, the tricycles are loud. However, they have been made the main choice of transportation because of its affordability, durability and easy maintenance.

But then, so far, the studies on the E-Jeepney have shown that eventually it will save money for the drivers because it will do away with the expenses for oil and gasoline. How much it will save is currently being studied with the Makati project.

My Two Cents on The E-Jeepney

I’m all for the E-Jeepney and I really do hope that more of these vehicles will be deployed in the country. Makati City will be deploying 50 units if the test phase works. That sounds good, but I’m sure they can do better. I see the potential of the small step being undertaken by Makati City, Bacolod City, Puerto Princessa City, Baguio City, GRIPP, Greenpeace, the Solar Electric Company, and “to whom else is concerned” but the 50 units that will ply Makati City is still no match to the thousands of carbon-dioxide emitting vehicles, which includes the buses and the other jeeps. Apart from putting the E-Jeepney into the picture, there should also be efforts to get rid of the smoke-belching vehicles from the streets. If you don’t take them out, the pollution will still be significant, and 50 E-Jeepneys might not be able to compete with the thousands of smoke-belchers in bringing down greenhouse gas emissions. This is not Sparta! And worse still, the 50 E-Jeepneys might just add to the traffic problem. Of course, I mean that in humor and not in skepticism.

Eventually, the E-Jeepney should also be considered to become an E-Bus, so that they can replace the smoke-belching buses that ply the EDSA route. I’m sure everyone will appreciate an E-Bus on EDSA that runs 40km per hour.

Apparently one of these E-Jeepneys will costs around Php370,000. Well, at least the prototypes from China. Definitely, it’s not that cheap for the regular jeepney driver to afford, but then with the proper financing from other groups, corporations and organizations, then these can be made more affordable. Maybe even the oil firms of our country can step up to include an electric charging unit in their gas stations that runs on biodegradable waste. Bright idea there.

Personally, I would love to see the E-Jeepney dominate the entire public transportation system in the cities. Leave the buses for provincial routes, but let the E-Jeepney dominate the city scene. EVERY CITY!