In the News from Where I am

There were around 2000 families displaced from a fire in Paco Manila. It was where I shot the photo above. I kinda am sad today because of that. =(

Mayon Volcano alert is now down to 2. A lot of the people from evacuation centers returned to their homes. I just hope they have something to return to.

The RFID sold by LTO is now being sought for recall and refunds. Graft and corruption charges were filed today. I wonder where the money for that went.

The older and younger Ampatuan were pointed to as masterminds in the killing of 57-200 journalists. Now who will write that story if they are all dead. I hope bloggers are not next! LOL

Sugar prices increased to 50 pesos per kilogram. I still remember selling drinks when I was a kid and I only bought a kilo for around 20 bucks or less. Just don't ask me how long ago that was because you will get an idea about my age.

4 Peace keepers from the Philippines are still under the rubble as indicated in the latest news. I am now confused who to believe because yesterday they said no one was hurt. No communication still from Haiti people.

List of official candidates will be brought out today. I wonder how those who will not be in the list would feel. Specially those who were asked to be stricken from it a couple of weeks ago.

Partial solar eclipse will be seen in the Philippines tomorrow. How soon can we hope for a sunshine after all these rain of problems we have! Have faith! Have faith!

Start Over Dating Again

One of the most horrific day of the year is coming (pardon the sarcasm) and I have not got a clue where and how I am going to spend it. Actually, I do not even know who to spend it with in the first place. Filipinos has this thing about celebrating cheesiness when February 14 strikes the calendar and by hook or by crook they need to celebrate Valentine's Day. Oh how I wish it never happens this year. I know I am single; but one of the greatest parts of being in this status is getting to date people whenever and wherever I want to. Maybe in the last few years of spending it alone, I might as well join the bandwagon and get a date for what humane purpose it is for. Before I got into photography, I was involved in a very bad breakup that almost got me lost and off track. My career began to suffer, I was not finishing anything. To make matters worse I was not really that happy. Though this time I think I need to be optimistic and start dating again because I am really not getting any younger. I think I need a kid too. This coming February seems apt enough to start and do this so I think I have to get gifts first. I have this girl I like from the fashion shoots we have done previously and I know how hard it is to date a model. Not that I am breaking the boundaries of the etiquette set by photographers; but since I am gunning for improvement of the race, why not involve a pretty one for pro creation right?!

Now how did I do this the last time I went out with someone you ask?!... Ahem... let me count the ways. I am a little generous when it comes to gifting people so the one I got for this pretty lady I once had was a bottle of her favorite fragrance. I went out of my way and asked a couple of her friends what to give her because I really wanted it to be special. I also wanted it to be memorable because I wanted that one to last. Even if we did not end up together, I guess I kind of still made a mark because of that. I hope I do not sound bitter; but I might just do the same for this new prospect I have. Maybe I will give her that and a bouquet of roses too. I hope my photographer friends do not get to read this new entry otherwise they will probably launch an investigation on which model I am going to date ha-ha!

Save Water

A widespread information campaign has been sought by Malacanang because we need to save water in the event EL NINO phenomenon hits the country this year.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that President Arroyo has directed Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to finish the projects in preparation for Summer. I am quite afraid to have to make rounds again just to have ample amount of water for taking a bath. I need a lot of water most of the time that is why I take almost an hour inside the shower.

We need to make sure there is ample amount of supply of water for drinking in Metro Manila and urban cities. The water level in Angat Dam which supplies most of Manila’s water is 19 feet below the expected level and it will be hard to expect rain in the beginning of 2010.

Malacañang also hurried the water projects in the provinces so that there would be no problems with farming since we are importing most of our rice supplies from Thailand still.
There also should be some way they can repair dams that have leaks. A lot of them just go to waste and will not end up on our homes. I hope it does not happen!

PNP contingent in Earthquake stricken Haiti are all OK!

Photo by ABC news

All 15 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Forces are okay in Haiti after they have experienced a 7 magnitude earthquake at around 5PM EST. This has been confirmed by PNP Spokesman Leonardo Espina in a press conference held in Camp Crame.

Espina said that Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Fuentes headed the PNP Contingent and among them are 5 officials and 10 Police Non-Commissioned Officers. There was a huge difficulty in getting information even on satellite phones on that day.
They have re established contact through e-mail around 3:30PM that confirmed all 15 policemen are fine in the midst of that strong earthquake which is the strongest they have felt in around 200 years.

Espina also added that with his talk with Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office that out of the 155 soldiers that were there, nobody was hurt.

Earlier this day, there were reports that they were trapped under the rubble of the United Nations office in the said country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the other hand is finding it difficult to have information on Filipino conditions in Haiti. DFA Spokesman Attorney Ed Malaya said that the primary lines of communication on the said island have totally been disabled by this catastrophe.
Even the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York, USA, could not contact the Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent in Haiti.

Aside from the Philippine troops, there are around 447 Pinoys that have not been still contacted.
Malaya said that the DFA and their people from the Philippine Embassy in Cuba have been sent to check on the conditions of the Filipinos there. I wish they and the people in the island are safe.