Leorenz Jamias - A Transient Life

Earth Hour 2011 - Energy Renewed Far Beyond the Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:30:00 +0000

I experienced Earth Hour this year through Greenpeace Philippines along with the Great Work Movement and Care for the Earth Ministry of Malate Catholic Church. We celebrated at the fronting grounds of the Remedios Jubilee Mission Center, Our Lady of Remedies Parish Malate Church. At 8:30PM this Saturday 26th March 2011, we switched off the lights with the rest of the world for Earth Hour while committing to actions that go beyond the hour.

Why do I get involved? Earth Hour has done and continues to do a lot to raise awareness of sustainability issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It is a celebration about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet

I'd like to share with you some memorable scenes from the event through a quick recap and a gallery of the photos I took. I'm not a professional photographer, mind you. I'm not even a good casual photographer, so please bear with me on the lack of nice quality on some of the photos.

Being that we were at church, it was only fitting to kick off the event with a prayer. And this, perhaps, was one of the moments that fascinated me the most. To find a shared experience with various religious faiths on Catholic parish grounds was truly heart warming. We solemnly encountered Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh through each faith's prayer. There was also a prayer using a conch horn that made me feel like even Mother Nature was being called upon to bless the gathering.

While we were being enchanted by our mantras and as 8:30PM drew near, the ringing of the Church Bell commenced. Lights were starting to be switched off in and around the area. A few minutes later and Greenpeace gave am update on the global Climate situation, then leading to the lighting of various Solar powered LEDs with the main banner board lighted by Ms Angel Aquino.

Of course, this part of the celebration coincides with the Energy [R}evolution Roadmap by Greenpeace. It is further signified by the various Sky Lanterns that have been prepared strewn across with short messages calling on the use of renewable energy sources. This as opposed to using dirty and dangerous Coal and Nuclear power plants. I must say, it was quite creative and pleasing especially since the kids and the teens got involved.

As the night grew deep, presentations from the OLRP Parish Youth Council and Sanghabi added an even more festive and participative mood around the gathering. In fact, we were all having so much fun that we didn't even notice we had gone beyond the hour. We were caught up playing with our musical instruments and actively gyrating Cordillera inspired dances provided and taught by Sanghabi. Everyone were so in it even the priests!

To cap the event, Ms Angel Aquino headed the Earth Hour 2011 oath taking as the participants gathered around her. If you haven't known yet, she has been affiliated with Greenpeace and has been a stern advocate of Environmental and Climate Actions for quite a time now. I am certain it can be said that her captivating beauty both inside and out enthralled the people. It surely left an impression that celebrities such as her are just as mindful about our contributions toward climate change and the consequences of our actions toward the environment. Please take the time to read through the Earth Hour 2011 Oath below and may you find a renewed commitment on caring for Mother Nature.

On photo: I was able to take a picture of Ms Angel Aquino being interviewed by the media while the children look at her in awe.

Panata para sa Earth Hour 2011

Ako ay buhay na saksi / sa mga hamon ng pagbabago ng klima / sa ating mga pamayanan,//

Nakaukit sa aking isip / ang mga larawan ng pinsala / ng mga nagdaang trahedyang pangkalikasan / bunsod ng global warming,//

Tulad ninyo / ako ay lubos na nababahala / sa nakaambang panganib ng "climate change"/ sa ating kabuhayan at kapaligiran.//

Kasama ninyo / aking isasapuso / ang pangako ng ating henerasyon sa susunod na salinlahi.//

Gagawin ko ang lahat / sa abot ng aking makakaya / aalagaan ang kalikasan (ulitin 2x) // at maninindigan (ulitin (2x) // laban sa pamiminsala ng kapaligiran.//

Harapan akong nanunumpa sa inyo, mga kapatid / na ako'y magiging mas maingat / sa paggamit ng kuryente / dahil alam ko, / na sa kasalukuyan, / ang bawa't kilowatt ng kuryente / ay dagdag na asoge o "carbon dioxide" / sa kalawakan.//

Kung kaya't / aking isasara / at bubunutin / ang mga gamit na de-kuryente / kung hindi kailangan.//

Ako ay kikilos / laban sa mapanganib / at nakalalasong teknolohiya / sa paglikha ng kuryente./

Ako ay makikiisa / sa kilusan para sa ligtas / malinis / at makakalikasang paraan / ng paglikha ng kuryente /

Inuulit ko ang panatang ito / ngayong Earth Hour 2011 / at isasabuhay sa araw-araw.// Amen.

I left the event with a renewed spirit and a renewed hope. I have faith that our future will be brighter for even the next generation were encouraged and motivated. I believe this is what is needed to be done. We need to involve everyone and teach them the importance of caring for our environment. Through such activities as Earth Hour, we will find the children to help us across the environmental issues we now face. Then, definitely, there will be something better to look forward to far beyond the hour.

Give Health - P&G Reaches 100,000 days through Blogger-powered Clean Water Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:05:00 +0000

We Did It! 100,000 Days of Clean Drinking Water

Thanks to so many of you, A Transient Life has helped generate 100,000 days of clean drinking water through P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water Program (P&G CSDW). We crossed the finish line with hundreds of other bloggers who embedded the P&G Clean Water Blogivation widget on their sites. Every time a reader clicked, P&G committed to make one day (2 liters) of clean drinking water available to someone in need in a developing country.

To help you, our readers, understand the impact you made by pitching in with the Blogivation, check out this video about P&G CSDW's work in Tanzania. It's just one of the many stories about people who P&G CSDW – with the help of partners like World Vision, CARE, Save the Children and others – has been able to provide access to clean drinking water.

The PUR packet – developed by P&G in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – is an innovation that quickly turns contaminated water into clean, drinkable water. Every day more than 4,000 children in developing countries die, simply because they don't have clean drinking water, and more than 1 billion people around the world do not have access to clean drinking water.

For that reason, A Transient Life is so excited to have been able to make a positive impact through the P&G Clean Water Blogivation on Changents.com. We hope you will stay involved on the P&G myGIVE Facebook page – for each new "like" and "share" through January 31, P&G will donate an extra day of clean water – and continue supporting extraordinary Change Agents around the world through Changents.com, our partner in helping P&G rally our readers to GIVE a day of water.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post on Twitter and Facebook!

About GIVE HEALTH

P&G is committed to improving the lives of people around the globe. Through P&G's GIVE HEALTH program, the Company provides clean water, vaccines and education to children in need. GIVE HEALTH brandSAVER coupon redemptions since 2008 have provided over 650,000 children with clean drinking water through donations to P&G's Children's Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW). Partnering with CSDW, GIVE HEALTH and bloggers are using the power of online communities to touch lives and give water.

*P&G is providing a day of clean drinking water (2L) to a person in a developing country through P&G's Children's Safe Drinking Water Program (www.csdw.org) for every click on the "Click to Donate Water" button and click on the "share" buttons in the GIVE HEALTH widget.

Postcard - Two2Hearts Memento

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0000

While the guests were dining and work was light, we went for a quick break from our wedding coordination to gather us a bit of fun and memento at the photo booth.

Except for that 10 second delay between shots, we didn't need to take our cue from a photographer.

Alright everyone...Wacky! Haha! =P

Saturday, 11 December 2010
Ceremony and Reception Location: Sto Domingo Church & Kowloon West Ave QC
† Two2Hearts Wedding & Events Coordination
† Photos courtesy of Bluesphoto Photobootique

The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale 2010 is Here in Town!

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:00:00 +0000

You already feel it in the air. Christmas is really just a hop and a skip away cooing you to celebration. And there's no better way to experience all the holiday fuss than with shopping! Malibu Enterprise in cooperation with sponsors BPI Express Credit Edge and SUN Cellular is bringing you the biggest and coolest sale of the year! Mark your calendars for The Big Holiday Outlet Sale 2010 happening on December 17-20 (Friday-Monday) from 10am-9pm at the SMX Convention Hall 4, Mall of Asia Complex.

To give you an idea of how BIG this will be, just look at some of the many brands giving their best deals for the holidays! Up to 80% discount are on select merchandise from select brands! This is the BEST time to round up your Christmas gift shopping for family, friends, loved ones, and colleagues. Heck! With discounts like these and if you have enough left over, you can even give some love to your frenemies too!

ALL BPI Cardholders (BPI Express Credit, BPI Express Payment System, BPI Express Cash etc.) and children 12 years old and below can enter for FREE! BPI Edge/Mini-Edge Mastercard Cardholders can get additional discounts and a chance to win in the hourly raffle draws.

Non-BPI cardholders can sign up for a BPI Express Credit Edge Mastercard at the entrance or just pay a PhP50.00 fee.

Don't want to pay for that PhP50.00 entrance fee, either? A real cheapskate, huh? Fret not because I'm in a giving mood. A Transient Life wants you and your family to shop 'til you drop and enter for FREE! I'm giving away 6 tickets!

So how do you get tickets to the biggest and coolest holiday shopping event for FREE?
Follow these easy and simple steps:

For Facebook users:

Make sure you are logged in to your Facebook account then "Like" A Transient Life. (It's also on the sidebar of this page.)
Share this post on your Facebook Wall with the header " I want Tickets to The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale 2010 via @Leorenz Jamias - A Transient Life | http://goo.gl/hB2c0 "
Remember to tag A Transient Life in your wall post by manually typing the "@" symbol, then from the drop down menu choose "Leorenz Jamias - A Transient Life"
Also, remember to change the privacy restrictions of your wall post to "Everyone" before you click the "Share" button.

For Twitter users:

You already should have a Facebook account too, right?! So "Like" my page. =P
Make sure you are logged in to your Twitter accounts, then Follow me on Twitter.
Tweet " I want Tickets to The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale 2010 via @Crafter_ - A Transient Life | http://goo.gl/hB2c0 "

The first 6 people to share/tweet this gets them tickets. It's that simple.
Deadline will be on December 15, 12 noon or until the 6 slots have been taken.
Remember to give some love. Leave a comment below.
Share the news with your family and friends.

World AIDS Day 2010 - Keep the Light on HIV and Human Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:01:00 +0000

This year the world comes together on World Aids Day to commemorate the theme of 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. People are taking action to tackle HIV prejudice and to protect ourselves and others from HIV transmission. This day is a chance to raise public awareness, and hopefully breakdown some of the unwarranted stigma that surrounds HIV.

In my discussion with friends about AIDS/HIV on one occasion or another, I've noticed that many are still quite at a loss. Some are very much mum about the issue. I could tell that a lot are afraid and would rather not face the issues surrounding it.

I want to share some key points with you, together with our family, friends, and colleagues. I've looked into trusted organizations and online sources. Hopefully, the information here helps us to start of in the right direction on the facts and issues surrounding AIDS and HIV.

HIV Basics, Facts and Stats

World AIDS Day started on the 1st of December 1988. It has become one of the most recognized international health days, which facilitates increasing awareness, fighting prejudice, and improving education. On this day we commemorate those who have passed on and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services. Through the years up until now, using the color red and wearing a red ribbon signifies World AIDS Day. It is an important day for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

What Is HIV?
...Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the "flu" or the common cold. But there is an important difference – over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why... - Aids.gov HIV/AIDS 101

Are HIV and AIDS the same?
No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope. - WorldAidsDay.org Facts and Stats

Millions of people across the world are vulnerable to HIV infection through lack of effective prevention and millions of people living with HIV do not have access to treatment and care. Watch this video by Avert explaining why universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care is the key to ending the global AIDS epidemic. It includes the single by Sdia, Going all the way.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2009 some 2.6 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 1.8 million people died from AIDS.

WorldAIDScampaign.org will stage The Light For Rights campaign, which strives to underscore this year’s focus on HIV and human rights by encouraging people in cities around the world to dim the lights on key landmarks to remember the devastating effect AIDS has had on us all, and to turn back on the lights to illuminate the fundamental rights we all share.

For our part, stay vigilant and learn more about the facts and basics of HIV/AIDS. Know what is at stake. By acting on that knowledge, we can take better steps in protecting our own health and well being, and that of our family and friends. In so doing, we also can ensure we treat everyone living with HIV fairly and with understanding. Share the right information so that we all can stay healthy and safe.

Let us keep the light on HIV and Human Rights.

e-Commerce Summit 2010 - Gear up for Success in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Like most people, you already may have started wondering about your career and activity plans for the coming new year as early as now. Some of you may have even considered looking for opportunities through the vast world wide web.

I, myself, have been navigating the world of freelancing, telecommuting, e-commerce, and even social advocacy through the internet for a few good years now. It has been and continues to be an exhilarating experience. There are a variety of hurdles one gets to encounter; yet, there are many wonderfully positive lessons one gets to learn.

Being an independent contractor, I had to research and take action on client hunting and loyalty, rates and payment methods, and self improvement and promotion among other things. I was able to get great ideas and advice from contacts and internet articles. However, there are still a lot more to know. I learned about the tricks of the trade mostly on my own at first. You don't have to. We can start on the right footing.

If you feel like you want to tap into e-commerce and that it's time for you to gear up for success as much as I do, then the 2nd annual DigitalFilipino E-Commerce Summit 2010 can greatly help us towards our goals. It promises to be an intensive 2-day educational seminar on e-commerce strategies. It is a meeting of minds, if you will, on topics ranging from Internet and mobile commerce, e-commerce marketing campaigns and selling, blogging, developing an E-Commerce Site, and Search Engine Optimization just to name a few. The summit is scheduled to take place on November 23 - 24, 2010 at the Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City.

Not sure if you're a fit for the seminars? Or are you thinking of what kinds of people can benefit from the summit? Let me give you an idea of the people who are going and the people who can benefit from the conference. One of them might be like you:

Online Entrepreneurs
Web Designers/Developers
Online Shop Owners
Freelance VAs/Providers
Bloggers
Digital Marketers

Here are some of the options to take in joining this year's conference:

FREE for Members of the Digital Filipino Club
PhP9500 (if paid anytime from November 1 to 16) or PhP10,500 (if paid after the event).

Ready? Register here to confirm your seats!

Oh, Guess what?! I have an early Christmas present for all of you. I was able to get something through contacts. You can get a Php500 discount coupon that you can avail for the summit.

That's right! But, you have to hurry for this coupon is only valid until November 16th. You only need to ask and I can give you the coupon code. Please forward this to anyone you know who also plans to have a successful 2011. I'm sure you have at least one person who could be very interested in what the internet and e-commerce can do for them. They, too, may want to boost their income flow next year while they're at it.

Let's gear up now! Spread the word with your own contacts and forward the coupon.
Update 11/15/2010: Coupon is valid until the 22nd! So Hurry!

PI Job Experiment - American Jeepney Drivers

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:04:00 +0000

The quintessential Philippine experience can arguably be the jeepney ride; but, driving it around and taking people along the way is a different experience altogether. I was surprised they didn't encounter any barkers hustling up passengers nor did they encounter any police poking around. And what was that car driver's problem tailing and honking at them for a long time? Overall, great job once again, guys!

Tory and Jason spent sometime in the Philippines this past summer operating their Jeepney. They operated a cutting route starting in Kalumpang going to the LRT. This is the 3rd Filipino job that they have attempted.

† Follow @PIJobexperiment via Twitter
† Official PI Job Experiment Facebook Fan site

Kumi Naidoo - Greenpeace International Executive Director Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 05:49:00 +0000

From my previous post regarding the challenge on Facebook to unfriend coal and to start using renewable energy sources for their data centres, we find an ally to help us voice out our concerns.

Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International, is taking up the charge. Greenpeace had previously started their Cool IT Challenge, which focuses on Climate leadership and that encourages IT companies to apply their technological know-how and innovative spirit to solving the climate crisis. The campaign urges IT companies to put forth solutions, mitigate their own carbon footprint, and advocate for significant policy changes in the mutual interest of business and the climate.

In Kumi's open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, he asks him to take responsibility for the company's growing energy footprint and show some climate leadership.

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg:

Climate scientists around the world tell us that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2015 in order to stay within a critical temperature threshold to have a chance of avoiding runaway global warming. To do this, we must break our addiction to oil, coal, and other dirty fossil fuels and transition away from them as rapidly as possible. Given the tremendous growth of IT cloud computing companies like Facebook expected in this same period, your company has an increasingly essential role to play in helping to drive the deployment of renewable energy sources needed to avert the most devastating possible effects of our changing climate.

Facebook, which now connects over 500 million people, has a responsibility to exhibit good corporate citizenship toward the growing public it serves. No global business leader, particularly not one who reaches so many people daily, could deny that in this time it is both a threat to a company’s reputation and financial health risk to ignore their company’s environmental impacts.

Facebook appears to be on a path that will make breaking our addiction to dirty coal-fired electricity even more difficult. As you are aware, following Facebook’s announcement to build a new data center in Prineville, OR, Greenpeace and over half a million Facebook users have expressed significant concerns with your decision to power this data center with dirty coal-fired electricity from PacificCorp, which runs an electricity mix that is disproportionately powered by coal, the largest source of global warming pollution.

Despite this controversy, Facebook’s recent announcement that it will more than double the size of the Prineville facility, and thus double the demand for dirty coal energy in Oregon, is a disturbing sign that Facebook remains on the wrong path.

Other cloud-based companies face similar choices and challenges as you do in building data centers, yet many are making smarter and cleaner investments. Google, for instance, entered into a long-term agreement with a large wind power producer earlier this month. It has demonstrated that it is not only possible to prioritize the purchase of clean energy, but prudent as well.

Greenpeace regularly uses Facebook to engage its supporters and their friends to hold other corporations accountable for their environmental impact. Facebook’s innovative and easy-to-use platform has enabled it to become an incredibly important tool for connecting people to engage in driving social change. Facebook is uniquely positioned to be a truly visible and influential leader to drive the deployment of clean energy.

Greenpeace has spent the last six years focusing a significant portion of our corporate engagement within the IT industry. We have worked with a number of companies including Hewlett Packard, Toshiba, and Google on corporate and government policy issues. We have seen big progress ranging from curbing electronic waste to eliminating toxic chemicals from IT equipment. More recently we have been tackling energy and climate change issues. We see the potential for the sector to use the hallmark values of innovation and competitiveness that are pervasive in the IT world to become leaders in the fight against many of our greatest environmental challenges, including global warming.

Given that your corporate and public policies on the environment have not been articulated, we would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and your team to hear what work Facebook has planned and to discuss the steps we feel would put Facebook in a leadership position on climate change within the IT sector. Key areas of leadership for Facebook should include:

Commit to a plan to phase out the use of dirty coal-fired electricity to power your data centers;

Use your purchasing power to choose locations that allow you to rely on only clean, renewable sources of electricity;

Advocate for strong climate and energy policy changes at the local, national and international level to ensure that as the IT industry's energy demand increases, so does the supply of renewable energy;

Disclosure your greenhouse gas emissions inventory (through mechanisms such as the carbon disclosure project);

Share this plan for environmental stewardship publicly on your website so your hundred of millions of users know that your company is a climate leader.

It is with the interest of your company, your millions of users, and our planet in mind that I urge you to exercise bold and immediate leadership in addressing climate change. I invite you to engage with me in dialogue regarding these points, as I am sure that with further discussion regarding your company’s environmental goals and growth plans, we will be able to reach common ground. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Kumi Naidoo

Executive Director
Greenpeace International

Anthony Burril - Oil & Water Do Not Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Anthony Burrill, in conjunction with Purple Monkey Design in New Orleans, Louisiana created a limited edition of 200 posters, screen printed with oil from the Gulf of Mexico disaster. The oil was picked up on the beaches of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The posters were then printed at Purple Monkey Design in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Inspiration can definitely sprout through taking from disaster and turning it into a piece of art. The message here is indicative of the issues on corporate and environmental responsibility. And, given the disaster's impact to the surrounding area and to the people living there, the combined art and message themselves are truly invaluable. It is simply ingenious. I'm also reminded of how some Filipino artists made use of the volcanic ash fall from Mt. Pinatubo as a medium for their artistic creations. Though we would rather favor these events to never have happened; however, we still can derive a measure of positive and uplifting assertion by means of art.

OIL & WATER DO NOT MIX from Happiness Brussels on Vimeo.

All benefits will go to CRCL (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana), A non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the Gulf of Mexico’s coastal wetlands.

† A project by Happiness Brussels
† Designed by Anthony Burrill

Blog Action Day 2010: Water

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0000

I must confess. After receiving the email about the topic for this year, I was at a bit of a loss on what I would be able to contribute. I searched the internet and I had some ideas thrown at me from various sources. I know there are a lot of issues surrounding water. I was able to gather some of interest. Still, I just could not wrap my head around it. I started to write even though I had no idea how my blog post would turn out. A few minutes later and it was then that it dawned on me. I had taken water for granted.

Everyday we encounter this element quite easily than most that it is very easy to overlook our relationship with water. Whenever we take a shower, drink from our bottled water, or wash our hands, it is readily available and using it seems without much consequence. We only need to take a few steps in our own homes or go to the nearest convenience store and it's there. Today, though, let's take some few more steps to find out what we may be missing. Hopefully, it starts a new and better awareness about water for us all.

Issues and Concerns: What you may not know about water

A Human Right: In July, to address the water crisis, the United Nations declared access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. But we are far from implementing solutions to secure basic access to safe drinking water.

Read More at the UN News Centre

Fashion Footprint: That cotton t-shirt you're wearing right now took 1,514 liters of water to produce, and your jeans required an extra 6,813 liters.
Read More at Treehugger

Bottled Water Footprint: The US, Mexico and China lead the world in bottled water consumption, with people in the US drinking an average of 200 bottles of water per person each year. Over 17 million barrels of oil are needed to manufacture those water bottles, 86 percent of which will never be recycled.

Read an insight from Annie Leonard at change.org

Closer to Home: Once known to be one of the most beautiful rivers in the Phillipines, the 27 kilometer long Pasig River is now biologically dead. This sorry state can be attributed to the unabated dumping of garbage, untreated industrial effluents and domestic liquid waste into the river and its tributaries.

Read about the efforts to rehabilitate the Pasig River in the Philippines.
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission
Sagip Pasig Movement

Solutions: How we can help

Keeping Rivers Clean: We can all take small steps to help keep pollution out of our rivers and streams, like correctly disposing of household wastes.
Read more on How to Clean Up Our Water...

Conservation Starts at Home: The average person uses 465 liters of water per day. Find out how much you use and challenge others to do the same.

Calculate your water footprint at H20 Conserve

Drop the Bottle: Communities around the world are taking steps to reduce water bottle waste by eliminating bottled water.

Read an insight at change.org

Today is Blog Action Day 2010.
And this is my one glass worth on water.
What's yours?

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Anita Sancha - Eco Animator

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:39:00 +0000

Wading through the various online climate action, the Eco Animations of Anita Sancha is another that stands out for me. It is rather refreshing to see such an artistic and positive perspective. From her home in a small studio, Anita uses toys, clay (plasticine) models and drawings. She then uses the computer extensively to compile these films using chromokey and effects software. The animations cover such environmental topics like global warming and its effects on climate change, peak oil, and with other issues like food, energy and transport. I especially favor her way of ending the animated films in a positive tone.

Anita Sancha believes in a future with a green sustainable world community. Often shown in schools and environmental talks and workshops, these short films are making a difference. She tries and creates them with no language, and mostly with a positive happy end. This way they can cross language barriers with a positive green message. They are for kids and adults alike. Check out her website for more of her eco animations, then sit back, watch, and enjoy!

† Official Anita Sancha Website

A Challenge to Facebook - Use Renewable Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Last February, Facebook announced it was building its first data center, in Prineville, Oregon, in the northwest of the US. It will be a massive data centre, which is packed full of the latest energy efficient computers to serve the hundreds of millions of friends connecting on their near-addictive social networking website. Unfortunately, it was soon found out that they plan to operate the place with energy from Pacific Power, a utility fueled primarily by coal.

Coal contributes the largest share of CO2 emissions globally, while also contributing to increased asthma, acid rain, and mortality from other pollutants. The decision by Facebook to choose a utility company primarily powered by coal over other cleaner sources of energy is a missed opportunity. The company can be another mover and shaker to strike a blow against this dirty fuel and drive a clean energy economy.

The IT industry is obviously a great platform in the advancement of technologies leading to sustainability. This industry holds many of the keys to reaching climate goals by innovating internet based solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. Technologies that enable smart grids, zero emissions buildings, and more efficient transport systems are central to efforts to combat climate change. And if you think about it, even the IT industry's global environmental footprint is growing. How the internet is and will be powered is also an important issue for the global community.

Efficiency is only part of the equation in dealing with company footprint. Yahoo! chose a cooler climate in Buffalo, NY for a data center in order to reduce the need for energy intensive cooling systems, but it chose its location based on access to lower carbon hydropower. Google has gone to great lengths to buy wind energy by setting up a subsidiary and investing in a wind farm. Google Energy was recently granted its application to become a wholesale electricity buyer and seller. Google will hopefully use this standing to drive more renewable energy powered data centers.

As Facebook grows further, its energy appetite grows as well. Facebook is already on the right track by investing in energy efficient computers. Some of the new data centers they are building in Oregon may already be using hydro power from dams. But, they can do more.

Greenpeace is calling on Facebook, as well as with other IT companies, to:

* Commit to growing without using dirty coal power;
* Use its purchasing power to choose clean sources of electricity;
* Advocate for strong climate and energy policy changes at the local, national and international level to ensure that as its industry's appetite for energy increases, so does the supply of renewable energy;
* Share this information publicly on its website so its 500 million+ users know the company is a climate leader.

Let us tell Facebook that we love using their social networking website, but we also want them to dump coal. We can use our networks and creativity to spread the word about the campaign. The internet is one of the greatest inventions' ever for creating social change. Let's use it.

Join the campaign here and help get Facebook in a relationship with renewable energy!

Trailing Thoughts - e.e. cummings' Dive For Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0000

I just got home from a night out at the movies. A line from Charlie St. Cloud caught my attention, aside from Zac Efron himself, and which comes from one of my favorite poets. I already have come to terms with my father's passing and have gained closure with a past love affair. Being reminded of e.e. cummings and of the poem where the line was taken comes to me at a time I feel I am most in need of a new beginning. And with this encounter, I am given more drive to dive for dreams that I have long made to slumber.

"Trust your heart if the seas catch fire (and live by love though the stars walk backward)"
- e.e. cummings

dive for dreams
e.e. cummings

dive for dreams
or a slogan may topple you
(trees are their roots
and wind is wind)
trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward)
honour the past
but welcome the future
(and dance your death
away at the wedding)
never mind a world
with its villains or heroes
(for good likes girls
and tomorrow and the earth)
in spite of everything
which breathes and moves, since Doom
(with white longest hands
neating each crease)
will smooth entirely our minds
-before leaving my room
i turn, and (stooping
through the morning) kiss
this pillow, dear
where our heads lived and were.

silently if, out of not knowable

silently if, out of not knowable
night's utmost nothing,wanders a little guess
(only which is this world)more my life does
not leap than with the mystery your smile
sings or if(spiralling as luminous
they climb oblivion)voices who are dreams,
less into heaven certainly earth swims
than each my deeper death becomes your kiss
losing through you what seemed myself,i find
selves unimaginably mine;beyond
sorrow's own joys and hoping's very fears
yours is the light by which my spirit's born:
yours is the darkness of my soul's return
-you are my sun,my moon,and all my stars

PI Job Experiment - Americans Selling Taho

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:15:00 +0000

They're at it again! The fun and gutsy duo of Tory and Jason have invaded Marikina slinging metal buckets of Taho at their sides. They're really fluent in Filipino counting the local jargon. And not only did they keep their cool while peddling, they taught people a thing or two about how difficult hard labor really is.

These guys sought out to honor us Pinoys and they've done a darn great job at it. We salute you Tory and Jason. You've made us feel appreciated and helped make us even more proud of our own culture. I'm still waiting for their stint as Balut and Penoy vendors, though.

Tory and Jason purchased their Taho rig in Marikina City to start a new life as 'Taho' merchants. They figured this is the right career to get into since the start-up cost are minimal. This is their first day working their new business around the city of Marikina.

† Follow @PIJobexperiment via Twitter
† Official PI Job Experiment Facebook Fan site

Peter Drew - This one runs on fat and saves you money

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:28:00 +0000

As the image appeared on my screen from clicking on a site link, I had to laugh from the sheer candidness and truism of this. Now, if only we actually could take heed and follow through with the fascinating guerrilla stenciling by artist Peter Drew, we'd all be a bit healthier and the environment would be much cleaner.

Peter Drew's street art focuses on the politics of climate change and touches base on individual responsibilities and lifestyle adjustments. This particular piece comes from his love of bikes. He believes the world would work better if more people used theirs. I concur.

Share the message across about your love for the environment, your concern for climate change, or your yearning for better health and fitness. You can print out the image as a poster or plaster it on a t-shirt. Peter Drew gave the image a Creative Commons license so feel free to download it in a hi-res version through Carlton Reid. Of course, using your bike more would even be better.

Peter Drew is a visual artist based in Adelaide, Australia. He works mainly in acrylics on canvas and also creates street art. He also writes for the Adelaide Review.

† Peter Drew Arts on Blogger
† Official Peter Drew Facebook Fan Site

Everett Bogue - The Minimalist Workday: 50 Strategies for Working Less

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

So your sitting at your desk and your daydreaming about ways to opt-out of your job for a better life. You want to stop the endless hours of work for low pay. You know you already have one of the worst boss around, and you already feel hostage by the corporate system. Try as you might, you can't seem to wring your head enough to come up with ways to escape your hell hole. What do you do?

A Free E-book written by Everett Bogue may have the answers you are looking for. There are insights here worth reading and for the right price. If it doesn't suit you, well...it's still free.

I have read the book myself and, I must say, he has made a lot of good points. I even agree with him in saying that much of our time is wasted, sitting at a desk, doing stupid work that doesn’t matter. In fact, he takes things so boldly as to quit his day job, to live with less than 100 things, and to reduce his work load to 2 hours a day for his own profitable business.

I know, it is kinda extreme for some of us. If you're fond of self-help books and inspirational materials, like I am, then you'll know he's simply pointing out certain things that other authors already have. Some of the same themes he discusses are about reducing the clutter in your life and simplifying, focusing on what matters most, and managing your time effectively. You can, however, admire him for doing what other people haven't done so. And that is to actually practice those principles for real then living a stress-free life.

"When you’re working for 2 hours, you have to really bang it out. Make the stuff that matters, sweat on your work until you can’t see clearly anymore. Burn yourself with your ideas. Just work so freakin’ hard that you can’t find your hands anymore. Then stop after 2 hours an go get a beer. That is how you work 2 hours a day."
- Everett Bogue

Everett Bogue is the author of The Art of Being Minimalist and Minimalist Business. He lives with less and work from anywhere in the world. He used to work at New York Magazine, but quit to pursue a minimalist location-independent life.

† Far Beyond the Stars - The Everett Bogue blog site
† Get the free E-book by Everett Bogue here

Gamer vs Gamer

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The FIRST and BIGGEST gaming convention is coming to the Philippines! Gamers of every kind are invited to gear up and join. Whether you're into online gaming, tabletop and card games, Xbox and Wii, or even old-school arcade, there's something in GAMER VS GAMER for you. Tournaments and free play will be all over the place. So get your game on, battle it out for virtual supremacy, and emerge the victor.

There will be an open bar 8pm onwards courtesy of The Bar with live performances coming from Stonefree and Blue Boy Bites Back.

August 14, 2010 Saturday 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM

A-Venue Hall Makati Ave, Makati City

*The event is open only to gamers 15 years old and above.

Presented by SKYBROADBAND and SKYCABLE
Brought to you by The Bar, Nivea for Men, Brothers Burger, Revicon Max, and Snickers.

Made possible with Gaming partners:

IP e-Games [ONLINE GAMING]

Join in as there will be freeplay for RAN Online, CABAL Online, Dragonica and Runes of Magic (ROM)! On top of that, IP e-Games will hold In-Game Tournaments, Live Contests and Raffles! Exclusive in-game items await the winners! They're also giving away free CD installers and your favorite RAN, CABAL, Dragonica and ROM posters! You can also purchase your favorite IP e-Games merchandise and EP cards are on sale, as well!

Neutral Grounds [TABLETOP AND CARD GAMES]
World of Warcraft TCG Core Lazy Peon Format Free Tournament
Participants receive WoW Postcards while supplies last.
Prizes are boosters plus Ripped through the Portal EA's.
World Qualifier Prizes will also be released to those who will be there.
WoW TCG Drafts also available.
Magic: the Gathering, Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Fantasy and Boardgame demos, Paint and Take.

Data Blitz [CONSOLE]
You can try out their hottest games on PC, PS3, and Wii Sports.

Timezone [ARCADE]
During the event, they will provide FREE Arcade game play for all!

Additional information from Cosplay.ph.

Free Entrance for Cosplayers with free food from sponsors.

Prizes will be as follows:

Best Male (Open Category) - Prizes TBA
Best Female (Open Category) - Prizes TBA
Best Male (E-Games Category) - Prizes TBA
Best Female (E-Games Category) - Prizes TBA

Rules and Guidelines to be posted soon so check their site often.

Online registration available here: Gamer vs. Gamer Online Registration.

Updated 13 August 2010 11:05 AM

Richard St. John - 8 Secrets of Success on TED.com

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Much like my favorite "gurus" Stephen Covey and Robert Kiyosaki, we are given the common qualities found in successful people. In a 3 minute talk, motivational speaker and talk-show star Richard St. John summarizes his take on the secrets of success as described in his book The 8 Traits Successful People Have in Common. He presents a condensed version for TEDsters with a chock-full of wit and a frolicking sense of humour, especially the part where he jokes about why mothers are invented and persisting through crap.

A self-described average guy who found success doing what he loved, Richard St. John spent more than a decade researching the lessons of success -- and distilling them into 8 words, 3 minutes and one successful book.

† Official Richard St. John Website

† Richard St. John's 8 secrets of success | Video on TED.com

Postcard - Paulo Coelho Inspired

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Paulo Coelho is truly an inspiration. His words of wisdom are thought provoking and marvelous to live by. I read and cling onto his every word, because he moves me to be a better person. And, he is not afraid to share. From his blog and tweets, he doles out a wealth of great emotional, spiritual, and mental stimulation. You can even choose among a wide selection of his e-cards and posts filled with his powerful quotes to share among your friends.

"People see the world, not as it is, but as they are."
- Paulo Coelho

† Follow @PauloCoelho via Twitter

† Join the Paulo Coelho Fan Page on Facebook
† Paulo Coelho Official Website

One of the Delights of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0000

It has been said that we are what we eat. It can also be said we are who we eat with, for we are most true while we savor the meal we chew. It is no mystery, that life is best enjoyed with the finest of company. When someone offers you to sit down and eat with them, don't hesitate. Take the time to enjoy the moment given you. It may never come back. Because in the end, what characterizes a real family or a great friendship are the fabulous meals they've come to share together.

I will miss those days for all the great memories we've come to share. But, I know that one day we will meet again and share a delightful meal together as family.

"One of the delights of life is eating with friends, second to that is talking about eating. And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends."
- Laurie Colwin 'Home Cooking'

"We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink..."
- Epicurus

PI Job Experiment - American Taxi Drivers

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:47:00 +0000

You know the recession is going from bad to worse when it's the Americans who are going here in the Philippines to get a job rather than the Filipinos going to America. Seriously though, I got to hand it to them. They have guts and a great sense of humour to be able to try and pull this off. I can't wait to see how they would do as Balut and Penoy vendors, though.

Jason and Tory have been doing odd jobs in the Philippines for over the past 7 years and have decided to start a video series to honor the Filipinos!

† Follow @PIJobexperiment via Twitter
† Official PI Job Experiment Facebook Fan site

A for Adobo - A Visual Feast of Delectable Proportions

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:28:00 +0000

For all of us food fanatics out there, we are now graced by a book with a visual feast of delectable proportions. A for Adobo, an alphabet book of Filipino food, features full colour fine art photographs by Nelson Agustin. It is his first photography book for children following his other works, most notably Bare Essentials (2007) and Edible Landscapes (2007) under his publishing house, Helios Media.

Nelson graduated with honours from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts. He has worked extensively in the fields of advertising, graphic design, publishing, and web development for more than ten years. Nelson already has mounted three photography exhibits in Manila in 2003.

Congratulations Nelz for your delightful book! I'll be waiting for my autographed copy. *smile*

For more information about A for Adobo, you can check the Tahanan Books website. A for Adobo will have its book launching in Manila on 19 July Monday 5 to 7pm at the Mary Grace Cafe, Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Global City.

Getting HOT, on the SPOT

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:06:00 +0000

It's really great to know that you can surf the net while strolling around a mall. The SM Supermalls make this possible with their free WiFi service. Yeah, it may not come as a surprise for most, but it still is cool to be able to blog, tweet, or check your email while cruisin' around. As a testament, I am posting this while looking for the nearest ATM here at SM City Sucat. They could improve on the connectivity signal, though. I keep getting disconnected at different parts of the mall.

PS: Thank you to Lornelin C. Runas from Customer Service for helping me out and assuring me I did not just lose my money at the ATM. You are a Godsend!

Be an Agent of Change - I Am a Changemaker 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:01:00 +0000

Do you have any groundbreaking ideas you've long wanted to make work? Do you have the makings of a social entrepreneur able to mobilize people and resources to create wide-ranging social change? If you have the strong inclination to dream up and innovate solutions to help solve problems in your community, then this may be one of your biggest chance.

The British Council Philippines, the UK's international organization for educational opportunities and cultural relations, is partnering with Starbucks in collaboration with the Social Enterprise Development Partnerships Inc. (SEDPI) and the Ateneo de Manila University to launch the I am a Changemaker competition.

According to Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, Social Entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major social issues and offering new ideas for wide-scale change.

Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and persuading entire societies to take new leaps.

Social entrepreneurs often seem to be possessed by their ideas, committing their lives to changing the direction of their field. They are both visionaries and ultimate realists, concerned with the practical implementation of their vision above all else.

So are you a social entrepreneur? Do you have the vision and commitment to realize change in your communities?

If so, you are invited to participate now. A brilliant idea and a great heart is all that is needed to start and make the world a better place.

You can check out the details here.

Trailing Thoughts - On World Aids Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Leorenz Jamias) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Support World AIDS Day '09. Awareness is one way to prevent the disease. HIV has not gone away. There are many things still to be done. #RED

2:52 PM Dec 1st from web via Twitter

"No one can lead our lives for us. We are responsible for our actions. So people - especially the younger generation - need to be very careful especially where safe sex is concerned." - Salman Ahmad, Pakistani Musician and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS
5:51 PM Dec 1st from web via FriendFeed and Twitter

“The fight against HIV/AIDS requires leadership from all parts of government - and it needs to go right to the top. AIDS is far more than a health crisis. It is a threat to development itself." - Kofi Annan
5:53 PM Dec 1st from web via FriendFeed and Twitter

"We need to band together as a unit every day, especially to conquer the strength of the AIDS virus." - Dustin Hoffman #RED #WorldAIDSDay
6:02 PM Dec 1st from Tweetdeck for Twitter

The world shoots its WAD - World Aids Day! Simply by including #RED you can turn your tweets bright red and show your support.
7:06 PM Dec 1st from Tweetdeck for Twitter