work… work… work… NOT

my boss is out on mission… but much as I would like to go on vacation, work still needs to be done and results must be presented when he returns. I hope I’d have results by time he’s back. Some delays are caused by other important deliverables like the fact that I have to sit in for our DG’s assistant because she’s sick. Even when I try to do some of my work, DG’s phone just keeps on ringing! oh well… tomorrow is another day.

weather extremes

I can definitely feel climate changing… one time it’s scorching hot then it’s raining cats and dogs. One really needs to be armed with a good dose of vitamin C and sufficient sleep to fight the illnesses associated with extreme temperature variations. I would know, it just happened to me. Tigas kasi ng ulo ko, I just HAD to go out after lunch yesterday. And what do I get for it? After less than 20 minutes under the sun to walk to and from Megamall I could already feel slight aches and pains and probably even a fever. Imagine temperature range theses days is between 26 to 39°C compared to before when a 32°C temperature was a record high!

However, that did not stop me from playing uwhockey hehehe… I probably sound like a bwoken record but you’d only understand if you try playing the game. Aside from the roughness of the game the extreme temperature range did take its toll in my game… throughout the 2 hour session, I could feel the onset of fever. Good thing we had dinner in a place that had soup… nothing beats steaming pork sinigang and steamed rice to drive away the chills, feels like a warm fuzzy blanket enveloping you to wellness.

Why the concern? Because there are many diseases caused by weather conditions which could aggravate the plight of the poor (that means us living in developing countries). Some of these health outcomes include heat mortality, air pollution, waterborne diseases and even population migration/dislocation. Besides, do you seriously prefer jogging on a treadmill inside a gym than jogging out in the open field admiring the trees (in UP or Ateneo)?

So we gotta do something about this climate change. Stop wasteful consumerism. Simplify your life. Read more and find out how you can help save our only home:

http://unfccc.int/2860.php – the official UN site on climate change

http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/index.html – very nice and interactive, good for those with short attention span

http://www.climatechangesolutions.com/ – most discusses Canada but has some very simple solutions on how YOU can contribute

http://www.climateark.org/ – a portal that promotes policies that address climate change

long weekend… of independence

On 12 June 1898, Filipinos were gathered in Kawit, Cavite for the proclamation of the Philippine’s independence from foreign rule. It was the first time that the Philippine flag was raised and also the first time that Philippine National Anthem was played.

Today, we commemorate it with the declaration of 12 June as a non-working holiday. For many, this is a welcome respite from the daily grind… a chance to spend some quiet time with the family or a chance to do some last minute back to school shopping.

But do we Filipinos ever wonder whether we have reason to celebrate independence today? One cannot forget July 2003 when young military officers took over Oakwood Premier, a high-end apartment in the heart of Makati’s shopping district. These disgruntled young officers say they wanted to put a stop to the rampant corruption that pervades the Philippine military system. It was a foiled attempt and intelligent young soldiers, incidentally the best and brightest of the Philippine Military Academy’s class of 1995, were branded as being afflicted with the virus of military adventurism and interventionism.

My military adventurism prompted me to drive by Makati with my bosom buddy to witness this “siege.” I saw these police men patrolling the area…

…these rallyists supposedly defining the ideology that these mutineers are proposing…

…and the enemies of the branded military adventurers

After almost 2 years, one reads about GSIS chief Winston Garcia causing and promoting corruption in the GSIS, gunmen firing at striking workers of the Hacienda Luisita, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia and former AFP chiefs “pabaon” system, and the latest controversy where President Arroyo supposedly cheated in the 2004 elections… now tell me, do we really have reason to celebrate?

… and getting sick again…

and i thought i already recovered… but i got sick again and this time it was really bad! 8 days of clogged nose, dry cough, fever and weakness!

it was the week before our uwhockey tournament (30May) and all teams have scheduled practice sessions to improve skills and establish team play. on wednesday, despite the body aches, pains and headache, i went to our practice session. however, we didn’t get to practice and ended up just having dinner and strategizing our play.

that night i slept with a fever though i managed to go to the office the next day. i was already feeling so bad so i went to our clinic again for diagnosis so i can file this as a certified sick leave.

aside from my sickness… i didn’t know the afternoon doktora was a horror! i complained of clogged nose, dry cough and fever and she only gave me antibiotics. me being sick and uncomfortable didn’t notice that i didn’t have any medication for my colds and coughs. so i had to call friday for a more decent doktora for my cough and cold medicine.

it was a horrible weekend, i was so tired and drowsy i couldn’t keep awake. what was worst… i wasn’t well enough to be part of my uwh tourney!