The Dolomite Maneuver

They actually built it, that white-sand beach along Dewey Boulevard, right beside the US Embassy.  So that's what crushed dolomite looks like... I just hope that it doesn't wash out into the open sea... 

Do The Least

I am spellbound by the message.  Completely heartwarming!

The Electoral College

As I write, the 2016 presidential elections of the USA are still being tallied, with Trump having a 238-215 electoral vote lead over Clinton (270 needed to win).  It's a funny system, the Electoral College of the Americans, where you vote for someone to vote for you.  Sometimes the popular vote doesn't get the vote, like when Al Gore lost to George W. Bush in 2000.  Oh well, that's life!

Train Wreck

My trucking partner and I happened to pass by the scene of the MRT train wreck last Wednesday.  It wasn't a pretty sight.  I had the impression that several fail safe mechanisms are in place to prevent accidents like this, but I guess the system isn't perfect.  I hope the MRT operators can fix this fast, and make the trains safe again.

Casey Neistat

Short film director Casey Neistat, the "renegade" YouTube investigator of Ipod fame, recently spent US$25,000 from the promotional budget of Twentieth Century Fox on food, medicine and tools for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Tacloban City.  The studio had asked him to do a promo video for the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," which was about chasing a dream.  Neistat was hooked on an idea--doing something that would make a difference.  Instead of the usual promo efforts, the studio and the star of the movie, Ben Stiller, liked the idea and and gave their blessing.  Neistat was in the country for around a week and, with some friends, made a difference for so many people.  Good work my friend, we thank you!

Bea Rose Santiago

* photo by Toru Yamanaka from yahoo.com

The lovely Ms. Bea Rose Santiago won the 2013 Miss International crown at the pageant held in Tokyo the other day.  This 5'9" stunner is truly one hot babe!  The Philippines is truly blessed with the loveliest lasses.  Kanpai!

Nelson Mandela

* photo from Wikipedia

NELSON R. MANDELA

(1918 - 2013)

Ariella Arida

* photo from missuniverse.com

She is a 5'7" stunner from Alaminos, Laguna, and a UP chemistry major at that.  The lovely 24 year old lass placed 3rd runner up in the recent Miss Universe beauty pageant in Moscow.  She believes that the Filipino resiliency and the ability to be positive amidst all sorts of trials is the best trait of her people.  Now that makes 4 years in a row that the Philippines has placed in the top 5 (Venus, Shamcey, Janine before her).  Two thumbs up! You make us all proud.

Megan Young

* photo from ph.omg.yahoo.com

Gwammy, being the perennial beauty contest fan, was overjoyed last night when she told me about the late-breaking headline news.  After many years of title drought, it was pay-off time!  I didn't know much about Megan Young before she won the 2013 Ms. World beauty contest held in Indonesia the other day.  I just knew that she was a local actress and a video-jock.  Now that she is the first Filipina to bag the coveted crown, I took some time to read about her and yes, ogle at her gorgeous pictures!  You can see why she was an early crowd favorite, and if you read about how well she answered the pageant interviews, you will also understand that she's a real beauty-and-brains combination.  Very well done, young lady, a proud moment for Filipinos everywhere!

Janine Tugonon

* courtesy of missuniverse.com

Three-peat!  We may not have placed on top, but for three years in a row, Miss Philippines has placed in the top 5 of the Miss Universe contest.  In 2010 Venus Raj made it to the list, while in 2011, Shamcey Supsup came in with a good finish.  Just before Monique left for her China winter tour, we watched the live telecast of the contest and applauded the first runner-up trophy for Janine Tugonon, our 2012 bet to Las Vegas.  A thunderous round of applause--what a great gal!

RH Bill

I am happy that Senator Pia S. Cayetano has become the default poster girl of the RH Bill.  It's a long overdue bill that has just got to get passed, and the lady has done much to shepherd the bill to fruition.  While this is no magic overnight solution, the bill, when signed into law, will enable the country to properly address not only the rights of women and the unborn, but will also pave the way for some measure of economic progress.  To my mind, and make no mistake--the two most important influence points of the bill are: 1)  the much debated "safe and satisfying sex" passage, under which the state recognizes the rights of women, and 2) the reinforcement of institutionalized efforts of the state to curb poverty and increase economic welfare.

The first part is pretty obvious, and anyone who objects to the inclusion of the words "safe and satisfying sex" probably has not experienced "safe and satisfying sex."  Why?  Because it is a truism that once you have experienced "safe and satisfying sex" you will not settle for anything less than "safe and satisfying sex."  And, as is obvious to those who have experienced "safe and satisfying sex," you will believe that "safe and satisfying sex" is a basic human right.  Enough said.

On the second point, I read a recent article penned by former Budget Secretary and my UP professor Ben Diokno which supported the economic arguments for the RH Bill--that high birth rates force the government to spend less on infrastructure, which is a key ingredient of economic take-off.  To my mind, this is simply the bare truth--the country simply cannot break the cycle of poverty if 2 million Filipinos are born every year.  The RH Bill, in conjunction with other government efforts, will provide stimulus to stabilize population growth, which already has ballooned to record levels in recent years.

We are now in the last two minutes of the game.  I pray that the Senate and the House versions of the RH Bill get synchronized soon, and that this bill gets signed into law by early 2013.