Blogging my way to Oblivion

13thwitch site was hi-jacked

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:11:00 +0000

My 13thwitch site was hi-jacked and I cannot log in. Worse, google tagged it as a malware site :( this made me decide to go back and revive this blog. sigh. all those posts i've lost...anyways, i'm glad to be back :)

4 reasons why i like Guada's Villa

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:56:00 +0000

Tired from a 3-hour ride from Davao to General Santos City, I was determined to crawl into whatever surface that will allow me a few hours of sleep before the Blogfest 2.0 the following day. Avel, Blogfest 2. organizer and Socksargen Bloggers leader, ushered us to this fab place that eventually charmed me that I wish it was my home sweet home. Below are the reasons why:

1. The Space
Guada’s Villa is small enough for privacy and big enough to accommodate a big family.

The space is not crampy to accommodate families. Three families could share the Villa. The rooms are spacious enough for people to be comfortable even if there are more than eight people present. It is spacious but not big enough to lose family members, especially rowdy children.

(photo from Aloha Black Sand)

(photo by Renz Bulseco)

2. Details
I’ve always believed that a place will always be defined by its details if not by its space. Christmas is already present in the Villa with its red table trimmings and tall Christmas tree. But what I love the most are the little trinkets that are there to stay beyond the christmas season.

I love the plush rug in the living room

and the candles around the place makes it homely.

This chair is posh and warm. This is Noah’s favorite chair!

3. Personal Service (thanks ate Jo!)

The people are always an extension of a business that’s why many thousands of dollars are being invested to cultivate customer satisfaction. You would think good character would naturally come to people working in service-related jobs…but then again, people are animals, and animals are savages. Being amicable must be against nature.

4. Amenities

As a blogger, net connectivity is one of the things that attracts me. What would my FB friends would say in my lack of updates?! we don’t want to disappoint, now do we? For the rest of the humanoids, there is cable tv, centralized a/c, and computer to name a few ^.^

Zabadini Escapade

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:28:00 +0000

Apparently, everyone has heard of Zabadin i except for me. It was my first time in the persian restaurant and I instantly fell in love with the ambiance. I love that we can sit on the carpet, play with the pillows and even eat on a low table as if we are cozily hanging out at home. The restaurant manager told us that Zabadini means “Core of Goodness”…oh goody goody good.

Zabadini has its own in-house persian cat. he is 7 weeks old and flirty as hell. hehe

Kuya Faust invited us for a treat! Thank you Kuya!

we had lassi, bruschetta, pita bread cheese stick and green salad.

Lj's Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:25:00 +0000

My brother demanded that I be present in his kid’s graduation. Normally, I’d be flattered, but he wants me there not as a guest but as his photographer. ugh! When he first sent me a message, I did not answer. To get his point across, he camped in my house and informed me we are to leave 9am the next day. That’s the thing with little brothers — they are pretty insistent.

LJ is my little nephew who graduation in kindergarten last saturday. He was one of the students who graduated with merits.

In the gym, I saw a red cloth and was excited to use it. We had an instant “studio”. Red cloth hanging from one of the screens in the gym, sunlight, and me, as their photographer. Not very soon, many parents gathered to have their photos taken by the red cloth during the ceremony…

Angel, Boggs, and Angie –> nope it’s not only my brother who camped in my house friday night. Brought Angie home after our meeting in Cafe Demitasse. I was supposed to drop her off at her friend’s store but it was close and it was late…so I told her to spend the night at home.

Angel, my little brother and I
Shot taken by Angie who just woke up to join us in the fun!

Angel and I look alike, except that I’m dark skinned and she is fair. My brother in the middles looks likes someone else’s sibling and a bonus — the goof was awarded in his son’s graduation!

Kuya Igor’s son and wife was at the graduation too!

Street Bubbles

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:23:00 +0000

I recently attended Discover Davao Photography Workshop by Jojie Alcantara and Rhonson Ng last March 19-20. During the workshop Rhonson Ng showcased his photography works and one shot that captivated me was this photo of a person, on a sunset , blowing bubbles. I said to myself that I would get one and opportunity came when my little brother invited me– well not really invited, but rather mandated me to take photos of his son graduating in – ehem – kindergarten.

At the graduation, this old man was selling balloons and bubbles! To entice the children to buy, he would blow bubbles that attract kids to his corner without him having to move to sell his goodies. Upon seeing the bubbles, kids literally would flock and play….and eventually drag their parents to his side of the gym to buy a bubble set. Ingenious marketing.

Because the gym had a lot of people, I opted to crouch on the ground to take a shot of him with the ceiling as the background. My first shots were of him blowing bubbles with all the people in the background looked so clustered that you can hardly concentrate on the bubbles. Needless to say, I was not happy with it…so I moved back, got on my knees and angled my camera upward towards him.

Manong was situated in an area where the sun’s light is abundantly reaching him but because of the roof, it kinda softened the harsh lines the light might have caused. I positioned my back towards the sun while manong was kinda facing it.

Pictures are unedited.

Shutter Speed: 1/40
Aperture: f/4.4
Lens: EF28-90mm

National Bloggers Association (?)

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:51:00 +0000

A movement without structure cannot last. Fragmented movements self-destruct. Eventually, bloggers will need to come together around particular issues. So, the formation of a National Bloggers Association (NBA) was no surprise. However, many bloggers across the Philippines find blogging personal not business.

The NBA was suggested in the aftermath of the "Big Bad Blogger Issue". The issue concerned a marketing group earning hundreds of thousands of pesos by exploiting a blogger while paying him a only a few thousand pesos to gather fellow bloggers for events and encouraging them to write reviews. From this perspective, the unethical behaviour of the marketing group needs regulating. They effectively sold the results achieved by the blogger without disclosing this and without fair compensation. So, was "Big Bad Blogger" really the culprit? If anything, he is ignorant or naive--this blogger performed work without understanding the terms and the context undervalueing his worth as an "organizer" when the PR firm hired him not solely as a blogger but rather as a someone to deliver the results for their clients.

• Personal Blogging is self-regulating. I have learned new things in my few months as a president. When I proposed a code of ethics, a colleague told I that it was "over-thinking." I heard nothing from my fellow officers. No one complained but no one endorsed it either. I silently took it as their polite way of saying no. I ran through it and decided to scrap it. It could be a useful instrument to persuade some bloggers to consider their actions more carefully--but in context, it was unnecessary. That is how I view the manifesto now. A majority of bloggers blog for their own pleasure. One's pleasure is private--you cannot regulate what's private.

• The internet promotes opinion - not just facts. You cannot regulate a person's opinion. If one writes opinion or fiction, if no one reads it, who cares. If somebody is, and the reader's opinion proves to be more informed than the writer's, or is based on facts, the writer could be either embarrassed or face a lawsuit.

• National Bloggers Association is a name that misleads. The NBA manifesto serves only bloggers who earn significant incomes from blogging--but would disadvantage the majority of bloggers in the Philippines. An e-mail from an NBA organizer notes that income would be a factor considered for membership in the organization. Most bloggers do not earn from blogging. Most bloggers blog to create an outlet for their creativity and care little about influencing the mainstream.

• An association for the select few - the content and context of a blogger matters. Political commentary should be held to a different standard than restaurant reviews. Likewise, accountability varies according to your subject matter and the number of readers. If a group of people create an association to improve political or tech or any bloggers whose posts require rigorous fact checking, that would be great. These associations will be embraced as they support bloggers who wish to create a more professional niche blog. But these associations do not represent the bloggers as a whole.

• One country, one blogging community - it is not. The beauty and the curse of blogging is each blogger is his/her own community. There are many opinions and this is powerful. You do not want to minimize this voice.

The proposed National Bloggers Association has raised concern among a variety of bloggers and readers for different reasons:

1. Organizers were mainly from Luzon. A "national organization" connotes representation from different parts of the Philippines, from existing blogging communities with delegates or representatives of their their local organization. No representations from Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Davao Bloggers, Socksargen Bloggers, Zamboanga, Ilo-Ilo, Buikidnon, and Iligan were asked to participate or even concurr with the proposed organization.

2. Blogging communities from Visayas and Mindanao were offended by this action--forming NBA without genuine consultation. It reminds us of the days of Imperial Manila. Blogging communities from these areas are well-established and highly organized (whilst we have never heard of "Manila Bloggers")-- Socksargen Bloggers spearheaded the well celebrated Blogfest 2011 where more than 150 bloggers converged and has just finished the Socksargen Experience Tour (SEX Tour) where bloggers from different areas flew in to Gen San to take part in this activity. Davao Bloggers, under Ms. Ria Jose's presidency last year, organized WordCamp2010 in Manila with 300+ attendees, the highest number of people attending wordcamp worldwide. For 2011, DavaoBloggers has participated in Demystifying Postmodernism, a forum tackling women's issues, embarked on a Tagum Photo Safari, celebrated the 3rd International Rondalla with the city government of Tagum, and through Avatar Media, will cover the Davao Food Appreciation Tour with other bloggers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

3. Blogging communities suspect they were not consulted because one of the founding members is the head of Mindanao Bloggers. Most conclude a misunderstanding has happened and maybe an assumption existing that blogging communities in Mindanao may be under Mindanao Bloggers Group and that it is rightfully representing these communities. Mindanao Bloggers Group does not represent Davao Bloggers, Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Socksargen Bloggers, Zamboanga Bloggers, Ilo-Ilo Bloggers, and Iligan bloggers, or any blogging community in Mindanao.

4. The issuance of draft was only sent to select bloggers.

5. It was labeled: Not for circulation.

Filipino Accent Tutorial by Mikey Bustos

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:27:00 +0000

I find this video interesting. It's amazing how simple, and funny, things like this sheds light to some trivial little misconceptions. Yes, it was done in jest and what he talks about may not be accurate but it paints a certain picture as to why pinoys' accent, sometimes, is such.

1. Spanish colonialism - 300 years of spanish colonialism added influence to the pinoy's persepective and language. The spanish language is heavily mandated by accent. Words ending in a vowel; n or s are stressed on the first syllable -- e.g. libro, mesa, lunes. Words ending in consonant (not N and S), the stress is on the last syllable -- e.g. papel, verdad

2. The Filipino Alphabet - Alibata, our very own alphabet do not have an F or a TH

Conquering Mt. Apo

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:13:00 +0000

Mount Apo is the largest active (but sleeping) volcano in Mindanao and the highest mountain in the Philippines. The mountain has three peaks , a flat top and it is capped by a 500-meter-wide volcanic crater (that contains a small crater lake). It is also a source of geothermal energy and has around 270 species of birds.

Mt. Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines and is a popular climbing destination in Mindanao. The earliest recorded climb was in the 1880's led by Don Joaquin Rajal.

Down South, during our climb was led by Social Climbers, a climbing group that caters to crazy outdoor fanatics wishing to make their lives exciting and difficult by engaging in near-impossible outdoor activities.

Social Climbers arranged our climbing trip and had, because of our inexperience, chosen the easiest route they could map out for the group. The easiest route via Kidapawan is by no means easy in my vocabulary. The - ehem- easy route was a, more or less, eight hour climb, half of which you do by almost crawling your way to the top.

Mauro all geared up

I would have to advise newbies who wish to experience climbing for the first time, that it is important to never look back while climbing, especially when you are already on on your last four hours. The girl in red stilettos made the mistake of checking her progress by looking back and almost instantly saw her life flashback in seconds. Yes, it was steep and of course, it was dangerous...it was motivational as well. I am sure, after that, Liam (the girl in red stilettos) climbed with a new determination of staying alive.

Mauro and Sherwin

on our way down

I find death in the mountain appalling...
because it displays your stupidity, hanging on for dear life...

Reminds me of Catch 22 --only humans are stupid enough to climb crazy peaks to prove they can and by doing so, proving they are not stupid but if they cannot and slip off the cliff breaking their neck in the process, it validates the stupidity that fueled the stupid idea into action, making them doubly stupid -- hmmm that gives new definition to the word force majure - we are inevitably stupid and cannot avoid if stupidity befalls. But, because our team was able to climb the peak, you are free to negate our stupidity --no matter how stupid it seems to be.

Social climbers in the first camp site.

But no worries, we are all alive. Social Climbers made us sign a waiver though...sheesh! But no...we were in no grave danger at all...the waiver was just proof that if, by any chance, something bad happened to us at all, it's nobody's fault but ours.

I did not worry, being blamed comes secondary after death. Studies show that 90% of all accidents that result in death happen inside the house...and climbing is sooo outdoor, which means there is only but a 10% chance of someone dying to ruin the fun. Yes, homebuddy, you are more likely in danger compared to us swinging from vine to vine, prancing from rock to rock, singing our hearts out because suddenly there are no neighbors ready to complain and fines to pay because we disturbed the subdivision's golden silence.

Sherwin and Mauro looking at the offering some mountaineers
leave for the spirit of the mountains.

The team's theme song while climbing is "I've finally found someone" by Barbra Streisand because of the "this is it' line in the chorus and the conviction of tone when singing it. "This is it!" we'd exclaim as all in the team were scared and the phrase connotes the fact that "this is it", we are in fact climbing now, no use to look for excuses to avoid this circumstance. As for the other lines that follow-- they were rendered irrelevant hehehe! Mauro Carmona of Motorcycle Diaries, finds Sheryl Cruz's Mr. DreamBoy comforting though...that is--- after he informed everyone that "Ice Ice Baby" had been running in his head for a while now. Yes the mountains can make you weird as well.

There are five of us --- Mauro is that red patch behind sherwin.

The weirdest one in our group is Mark Limbaga with his crazy hair and one liner phrases. We find him to be really fun and this high fashion member of the team was the only one, aside from the social climbers, who was able to climb Apo before this trip. Mauro, Liam, Sherwin, and I were first timers...ok make it ignorant first timers.

May I also inform everyone that Liam conquered Apo in black tights with neon colored splatters and she was also my clothing consultant who said that I wouldn't need a jacket at the top. Thank goodness Sherwin has a spare. Being the girls, we were able to mooch jackets from Sherwin who was left to die in the cold. Good thing he survived...he got back by keeping the people awake in the middle of the night putting us in forced watch as he slept.

good morning apo. sunrise was around 5.27am

But lack of sleep could not ruin the beautiful sunrise and the scenery that greeted us in the morning. Nor did it dampen our enthusiasm and excitement to be on Mt. Apo. Our near death experiences and the imagined epiphanies suddenly seemed so distant as we all fell in love with Mt. Apo. The grass, the smell in the air, the sunlight, the beautiful rock formations, even the wild berries and the mud...they are all so majestic that you become humbled in their presence. No net, no cars, no malls...it's just you --there, in the middle of nowhere, intimate with nature.

While climbing, when asked if we are ok, Mauro would say, physically yes, but mentally -- not sure... We got our psyche scrambled as we found our way up...it's like being torn apart while climbing. You can never be composed while hanging on for dear life...and to survive you just have to sorta break down (except maybe for Sir Assler who managed to stay immaculately clean and posh while climbing up and back).We crawled in the mud, hugged rocks, slumped on the earth, rested on barks, and found comfort in the wet grass. Dirty, cold, and privately dreaming of helicopters to take us to the peak, we managed to go up in shatters and come down with a whole new perspective of ourselves. It's suffering we wouldn't normally look for but its experience we know we would never trade for any other ^.^

Liam's partner advised her before we took off that she has to take in the climbing experience as a spiritual journey because it is something bigger than her...And I guess he is right... Suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, we become no one.

Told Liam that KT is very sweet to have sent the message...It's a far more romantic farewell message compared to my BWL and his glaring message of "are you having fun yet?"... but my guy knows me too well... apparently he's learned that any romantic message makes me cringe...had he left one, I would have remembered it and cringed while climbing making me fall to my demise. And in that sense, he has saved my life (silly goose, now you are in my post when you are not supposed to be included in here!).

This climb was organized by Down South Magazine,

a magazine that showcases everything Mindanao from scenic spots, culture,

people, and business, and by Social Climbers, an outdoor organization

of professionals who render quality outdoor tours for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous people.

View Full Album

our campsite at the peak

Mark Limbaga as he tried to capture the sunrise

porters

cam.trekking shoes.gliders.
mountain backpacks...and five-toe-socks?

Lake Venado is the old crater lake in Apo
and one of the highest lakes in the Philippines.

Tagum Photo Safari

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:15:00 +0000

Tagum City is more than a city known for its paved roads. With 14 Festivals a year, it is surely becoming famous for its events and festivities. Davao Bloggers was fortunate enough to be invited in the 1st Official Tagum Photo Safari last January 16-17. I was excited to be with other Tagum photographers as the City's PIO Edwin L. toured us around the precious nooks and spots of Tagum City.

1st Official Tagum Photo Caravan Team with Mayor Uy

Upon entering Tagum, you will notice palm trees

magnificently planted on the side of the road.

Tagum has been crowned Palm City of the Philippines.

Not far, you will see a wooden dock where boats are

available to take you on a 30km cruise to see the

river stretch and the wildlife it carries. On this stretch,

soft-shell crab hatcheries and restaurants are available

to provide meals and rest huts.

Soft Shell Crab Hatcheries harvest every 14-18 days

the river is clean and full of life.

But Tagum has more to offer than a river ride

Their City hall boasts of grandeur in size and design

magnificently erected to

encourage and promote a happy

working place

Tagum also has an energy park- a 3000sqm camping site with

an area for agriculture bearing facilities such as plant

nursery, hydrophonics, and soil &leaf laboratory.

Three offices are operating inside Energy Park, these are

BFAD Satellite Lab for Mindanao, DepED Tagum City Division

and TESDA Provincial Training Center

Soon Satellite Offices of Pag-big, GSIS, SSS, and PhilHealth

will operate in the area.

The beaches are not to be frowned at in Tagum

Environment Friendly with their

Artificial Reef Installation

Tagum also has the only Beach Volleyball Court in Mindanao.

Say hello to the DavaoBloggers

Volleyball Team =P

by Olan Emboscado of Olanology.com

Tagum City streets are clean and traffic is never a hassle.

Even the public cementery is clean and orderly

Tagum Public Market is as clean and even has

a mini park on the side

Night life in Tagum

Sing your heart out in karaoke bars

Night Market for the shoppers to glory at

Friendly people serving good food

bbq for as cheap as Php 4.00 a stick!

Food at night market is sooo cheap! we can't help but indulge!

Tagum City is definitely a traveler's paradise. Aside from being the Palm city of the Phil, Tagum is also known as the Music Capital in Mindanao and will be also hosting Musikahan Festival on Feb 11-20 with about 5,000 contigents competing in various musical contests and 13 International Dignitaries attending from different countries.

Tagum City is a about an hour travel from Davao City, approximately 2 hours drive from Mati, Davao Oriental and about 4 to 5 hours travel from Butan City. You may call Tagum City Tourism Office at (084) 370-1424 or 218-4727 for more information and related assistance. (getting there info by Olan Emboscado)

Mt. Haven Trek

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:34:00 +0000

The girl in red stilettos woke me up around three am. I grunted and she relentlessly shook me out of my sleep...time to go, she said...and I groaned knowing death march is part of the itinerary for this day. I feigned sleep, but the impending thought of having to walk for miles is keeping me awake...and yammy is not giving up...she comes back shakes me again and I woke up frowning ready to complain -- but changed my mind. I took a glimpse at her and decided she is more scared of it than I am, and to complain might push her to the edge of worry and insanity.

But the worry of having to walk for miles slowly dissipated after we slowly dragged our feet up towards our destination. Its not the climb, we both learned, that is scary, it's the things that happens to you while climbing. Liam had an epiphany of umbrellas and octopus and I was dizzy on the first part =( Chocolate and good conversation got us going. Liam and I with nothing but time on hands as we did our trek, found things to talk about...important matters and not so very important ones. We wondered about stuff like plants and somehow found ways to connect it to the wallpaper issues of our lives. The scary thought of tumbling down was drowned by laughter as we try to focus our steps because we are more scared to having to do it all over again.

This is a practice climb, the social climbers said. I call it a death march...ok a happy death march. Mt. Apo is an 8-hour climb ordeal...I don't wanna name it.

In case you are wondering what this climbing and torture is all about. Liam is heading DownSouth mag. A mag to showcase the treasures and spots of Mindanao. And for this year's first issue, she confidently chose Apo. And because Mt. Apo is not coming down to the office for a meeting, we are climbing to have a word with it.

Social Climbers said if you cannot talk anymore while walking, it means, you are out of breath. Out of breath is not something you would not want to experience while climbing. They advised to take baby steps...long strides are more tiresome and you unknowingly uses energy that you should be saving. We also have to get a walking stick...a third leg to carry 25% of our weight. Chocolates and jelly will be our comfort food. There will be porters, they shared..and they walk through the mountains barefoot. I am sure my eyes gleamed in disbelief...but I remembered the indigenous community I encountered before in my immersions...I don't remember those guys wearing shoes either...

We reached our destination in more or less three hours. After swearing off a lot of things, I found myself staring at a sight that is breathtakingly beautiful. The water and the mountain is wonderful...and I can't imagine how beautiful it will be on Apo...especially during sunrise and sunset.

Yes, I'm tired. Yes, I was complaining. But yes, I'd do it all over again =)


they're happy that they dont have to drag a dead body.

food!

liam and i are still alive

social climbers

down south

Day 15: Goodnight Teddy

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Nice to sleep on your own bed ^.^

with teddy watching over you hehe.

Day 14: Coffee Stop @ YuYu

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:46:00 +0000

On our way home, Mayor Uy called Edwin and asked

if we want to drop by YuYu Cafe.

Yey! We so love the coffee and cakes ^.^

Day 13: Tagum City

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:29:00 +0000

Left Davao for a photo safari

with Olan, Marvin, and Angie in Tagum City.

The photo safari was requested as part of the prep

the city is making for the Musikahan Festival to be

held on Feb 16. An international Music Festival with

15 countries participating.

Thanks Edwin and Olan for the invite!

Day 12: Pinaypay

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:48:00 +0000

a childhood favorite.

Ate neng gave me this for merienda today ^.^

13th Zodiac Sign revealed

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:38:00 +0000

The heavens shifted and the astrologists who favor the tidiness of the 12 zodiac sign must acknowledge the 13th constellation to maintain accuracy, says Betty Mattison Rhodes.

Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 17 – March 11
Pisces: March 12- April 18
Aries: April 19- May 13
Taurus: May 14- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 21- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 11- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 17- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 31- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 30- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 18- Jan. 20

As of today, I am officially an Ophiuchus, the Serpent Holder. According to Rhodes, this sign is included in the 48 constellations described by Ptolemy but Astrologers did not include this sign because the sun only travels on the 13th sign for nineteen (19) days. But the heaven have shifted, as it often does after hundreds of years and to maintain accuracy, astronomers must now recognize the 13th sign of the Mazzaroth.

Ophiuchus is believe to have represented Greek mythology characters that include Asclepius the healer,Trojan priest Laocoon, who was killed by sea serpents, and Phorbas, who rescued theRhodeans from the plague of serpents. (Michelle Esguerra, Batangas Today)

Ophiucus is the only sign linked to a real Man, some believed it to represent greek mythology characters but according to Rhodes, this sign represented Imhotep, 27th Century BCE. Imhotep is known to the Greeks as Aesclepius.

Imhotep is credited with many accomplishments including the knowledge and use of medicine. It is said of Imhotep that he brought the art of healing to mankind. The symbol of a serpent [or snake], which is still widely used today to represent the medical profession, was used to represent Imhotep. Imhotep was also known as 'Aesclepius' to the ancient Greeks, but by any name the attributes are still all the same.

Ophiuchus is described as a mand holding a serpent, dividing the snake in two parts. This image was patterned after Enki, a Sumerian god and the original serpent holder. One famous symbol that uses this sign is the medical staff. It was believed that Imhotep was credited with many accomplishments including the introduction of the art of healing to mankind.

The Greeks identified him as Asclepius, the god of medicine. Asclepius was the son of Apollo and Coronis (although some say that his mother was Arsinoë). The story goes that Coronis two-timed Apollo by sleeping with a mortal, Ischys, while she was pregnant by Apollo. A crow brought Apollo the unwelcome news, but instead of the expected reward the crow, which until then had been snow-white, was cursed by Apollo and turned black.

In a rage of jealousy, Apollo shot Coronis with an arrow. Rather than see his child perish with her, Apollo snatched the unborn baby from its mother’s womb as the flames of the funeral pyre engulfed her, and took the infant to Chiron, the wise centaur (represented in the sky by the constellation Centaurus).

Chiron raised Asclepius as his own son, teaching him the arts of healing and hunting. Asclepius became so skilled in medicine that not only could he save lives, he could also raise the dead. (Ian Ridpaths, Star Tales)

When Hades realized that dead souls might stop entering hell if this practice is known to many, he complained to Zeus and Zeus striked Asclepius with a thunderbolt. Apollo, enraged by this harsh treatment of his son, killed the three cyclops that forged Zeus' thunderbolts. To soothe Apollo's anger, Zeus made Ophiuchus immortal by setting him up in the stars.

LIST OF KEY WORDS DESCRIBING THE SIGN OF OPHIUCHUS

interpreter of dreams, vivid premonitions,

attracts good luck and fruitful blessings,

serpent holder, lofty ideals,

a seeker of peace and harmony,

doctor of medicine or science, natural-pathic,

adds, increases, joins, or gathers together

poetical, inventive nature, expanding qualities,

seeks higher education and wisdom,

overseer, supervisor of work,

fame - either grand, or completely misunderstood,

longevity, aspirations of healing the ills of man,

architect, builder, reaches for the stars, figuratively and literally,

tax assessor, or levys taxes,

astrological talents, intuitive,

large family indicated, but apt to be separated from them when young,

the number twelve holds great significance,

foresight and good fortune to benefit from hard times,

has secret enemies in family or close associations,

many jealous of this subject,

notable father, apple of father's eye when young,

high position in life expected [depending on aspects] highest fame and legend comes after death

feelings of granular, wise, genius mentality,

likes to wear clothing of vibrant colors, and plaids in particular,

receives the favor of those in authority.

Day 11: Pansit Guisado

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:34:00 +0000

Order night last night.

Pansit Guisado from Garridos Foodhouse

No to broadband capping

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:57:00 +0000

Official position of Davao Bloggers and Mindanao Media on Proposed broadband capping
by Ria Jose in collaboration with Cocoy of ProPinoy.net, Pierre of Jester in Exile, and Karen of Bury me in this Dress. This shall be submitted to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

POSITION PAPER Re: NTC’s Broadband Capping

In a revised draft Memorandum Order (MO), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will allow internet broadband service providers (ISPs) to cap the daily volume of data allowed for each broadband user.^[1] The MO on the Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections is NTC’s answer to the concerns raised by the Department of Trade and Industry regarding customer complaints on the poor service of ISPs.

Among others, the MO on the Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections directs broadband ISPs should specify their minimum broadband connections speeds, service reliability, and their service rates. The MO also allows ISPs to set a maximum volume of data allotted per subscriber per day.

There is an assumption that broadband capping will improve the services of broadband ISPs. I beg to differ. Rather than improve the services of broadband ISPs and address that concerns of consumers regarding the poor service of ISPs, broadband capping is anti-consumer, regressive, and counterproductive.

Broadband capping will limit the consumers access to the internet. The policy will not do any good to consumers and businesses. Furthermore, it will not encourage broadband ISPs to improve their services and will likely increase the current service rates of ISPs.

According to the Yahoo-Nielsen Index 2010, 69% of Filipinos use Internet cafes to connect to the internet.^[2] Out of 133 countries, the Philippines ranks 85 on the Global Technology Report 2009 – 2010 and lists the country’s internet bandwidth per 10,000 population at 1.1 Mb/s.^[3]

In a published paper entitled “Broadband and the Economy” by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the expected economic impact of broadband is explained:

“Broadband, when combined with Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), has many channels through which its effects can operate. Direct effects result from investments in the technology and rolling out the infrastructure itself. Indirect effects come from all aspects of economic activity affected by broadband and which drive economic growth and prosperity e.g. firm efficiency and increased productivity, reduced costs, innovation, globalization, and new employment opportunities from the gains achieved.

Broadband also enables the emergence of new business models, new processes, new inventions, new and improved goods and services, and it increases competitiveness and flexibility in the economy….”^[4]

The same paper asserts that broadband is an enabling technology with a huge impact on productivity and that the largest productive gain of broadband come from its use, rather than the production of ICTs.^[5]

Furthermore, the paper posits that broadband creates a positive impact on consumer surplus by lowering search and information costs and giving consumers access to information, the ability to compare prices easily, increasing competition, and creating a downward pressure on prices.^[6]

Broadband also changes the roles of individuals in the productive process by facilitating user-created content and user-driven innovation.^[7] Examples of these are blog posts, photographs, and audio-video recordings posted online. The paper posits that as the new creative outlet, the Internet has “altered the economics of information production, and led to the increasing democratization of media production and changes in the nature of communication and social relationships.”^[8]

According to NTC Commissioner Gamliel Cordoba the MO was drafted to address the concerns of the DTI regarding customer complaints on the “poor services” of ISPs.^[9] In the first nine months of 2010, there were 622 complaints against telecommunications companies with more than half of the complaints referring poor Internet connections.

NTC’s answer is the MO which orders broadband ISPs to specify their minimum broadband connection speed, service reliability, and service rates in their advertisements, services literatures, and in their service and legal agreements.

However, this disclosure ISPs are allowed by the NTC to set broadband caps or a maximum volume of data allotted to each subscriber per day, thereby limiting broadband usage of subscribers.

Allegedly, the broadband cap is to protect consumers from abusive users. According to NTC Common Carriers Authorization Department Director Edgardo Cabarios, “There were apprehensions raised (by telecommunications companies) over abusive users. This is meant to discourage unfair use, to give everyone a chance. The idea is to protect the majority of consumers.”^[10] Allegedly, the abusive users being referred to include software and movie pirates and compromise just one to two percent of Filipino broadband subscribers.

According to a clause in the the MO,

"WHEREAS, it has been observed that few subscribers/users connect to the internet for unreasonably long period [sic] of time depriving other users from connecting to the internet; NOW, THEREFORE... Service providers may set the maximum volume of data allowed per subscriber/user per day.”^[11]

NTC Public Relations Officer Paolo Arceo explains that this clause in the MO was suggested by telecommunications companies

“to prevent network prevent network abuse by unscrupulous subscribers who violate intellectual property laws, particularly on copyright, by downloading movies and software, similar to abusive subscribers of unlimited call/text promotions which were primarily designed for person-to-person use but used for voluminous commercial undertakings. These types of network abuse limit accessibility to a few instead of providing adequate access for all of the subscribers. Commercial or high volume users may avail of other internet connection packages which have committed higher speeds and allow heavy data exchanges.”^[12]

Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators President Atty. Rodolfo A. Salalima, in a letter to Cordoba, reiterates that the clause regarding broadband capping is necessary for fair use in the interest of consumers:

“This guarantees that abusive consumers of broadband/internet service do not monopolize available capacity to the detriment of other paying customers. The definition of the volume cap can be left to the individual telecommunications providers to define based on the different service plan offers they provide, all in the spirit of competition.”^[13]

While the clamor for fair use is laudable, the means of doing it by capping broadband is unfair and goes against consumers’ rights. The complaints against broadband ISPs and telecommunications companies for “poor service” cannot be attributed to the one to two percent of abusive users. Managing the abusive users via broadband capping subverts the real issues being raised against the ISPs and telecommunications companies. The problems of “poor service” does not lie on the abusive users who compromise a mere one to two percent of the consumers.

The clause in the MO is counterproductive for individuals and business that rely on broadband services for their productivity and for the delivery of their goods and services. Broadband capping will hamper the economic impacts of broadband as stated by the OECD. It will also greatly hinder the changes in the individual and the society that is supposed to be brought about by broadband and internet connectivity.

Moreover, international rights lawyer Romel Bagares iterates that broadband capping goes against the basic right to information.^[14]

Instead of addressing the real reasons for the reported poor services of broadband ISPs and telecommunications companies, the NTC MO on the “Minimum Speeds of Broadband Connections” is regressive and counterproductive.

Broadband capping is not the solution to curtailing abusive users. It is the role of the broadbands ISPs and telecommunications companies to make sure that their services are not abused and surely there are other means that the NTC and the ISPs can curtail these abuses, other than oppressing the rest of the consumers.

Broadband capping hampers the access of users to the services they are paying for and curtails their basic right to information. Furthermore, it does not assure consumers that the broadband ISPs and telecommunications companies will upgrade their infrastructure and improve their services.

Broadband capping is counterproductive, regressive, and subverts the issues raised regarding the poor services delivered by broadband ISPs and telecommunications companies.

[1] “NTC Caps Broadband Data Volume,” Manila Times, 27 December 2010,http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/36310-ntc-caps-broadband-data-volume-.

[2] Yahoo Nielsen, “Digital Philippines 2010: Yahoo-Nielsen Net Index Highlights,”Scribd Slideshow,http://www.scribd.com/doc/32801291/Net-Index-2010-Highlights-PD-2010-06-05 (accessed on 10 January 2010).

[3] Cited by Cocoy, “State of the Internet in the Philippines 2010,” Philippine Online Chronicles, entry posted on 29 June 2010, http://www.thepoc.net/thepoc-features/lintech/lintech-features/8176-yahoo-nielsen-digital-philippines-2010-the-state-of-internet-in-the-philippines.html (accesse 10 January 2010).

[4] Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) “Broadband and the Economy,” Scribd Document, http://www.scribd.com/doc/33640345/Broadband-and-the-Economy (accessed on 10 January 2010).

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] “NTC Caps Broadband Data Volume,” Manila Times, 27 December 2010,http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/36310-ntc-caps-broadband-data-volume-.

[10] Quoted by TJ Dimacali, “NTC’s Proposed Data Caps Violate Consumer Rights, Lawyer Says,” GMANews.TV, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/209385/ntcs-proposed-data-caps-violate-consumer-rights-lawyer-says, 29 December 2010.

[11] “National Telecommunications Memorandum Order with Subject: Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections,” Google Document embedded by TJ Dimacali, “NTC’s Proposed Data Caps Violate Consumer Rights, Lawyer Says,”GMANews.TV, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/209385/ntcs-proposed-data-caps-violate-consumer-rights-lawyer-says, 29 December 2010.

[12] Quoted by TJ Dimacali, “NTC’s Proposed Data Caps Violate Consumer Rights, Lawyer Says,” GMANews.TV, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/209385/ntcs-proposed-data-caps-violate-consumer-rights-lawyer-says, 29 December 2010.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

Day 10: Sardines

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:28:00 +0000

Sardines for lunch for today ^.^

Pens of Hope Distribution is Tugbok

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 02:52:00 +0000

Pens of Hope made its 5th Distibution @ Tugbok

with 300 children beneficiaries.

Thank you to our supporters and volunteers.

Day 9: Milo Mug

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:34:00 +0000

had cold Milo for dinner using Alex's mug
"I was a cat" heheheh love the caption.

Day 8: Time Traveler's wife

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:44:00 +0000

BWL sent me a copy of this and someone
borrowed it and never gave it back.
I found a copy at the National Bookstore yesterday and decided
to buy one.

Note to self - no more sharing of books, especially to people
who doesn't know how to return it.

PULP YOUR BLOG Contest by Minute Maid

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:02:00 +0000

I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe... I'd try it and maybe even check smoothie receipes and make an orange smoothie out of it.

I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added. So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED! That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse...carcinogens! Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I... am slowly getting addicted to it.

So okay, it’s got no preservatives added. That’s really good, right? Not just because it doesn’t have those icky, harmful ingredients, but it also means... it's the perfect drink if you are planning on having a healthy diet.

So far anyone who still has a hard time believing that Minute Maid has got no preservatives added - meaning it's THAT natural, it's almost like it's plucked straight from the tree, it's just as Mother Nature wanted your orange juice to be, it's got nothing but the good stuff yes, none of those potentially toxic stuff that can harm your brain, kidneys, heart; cause tumors aargh- the list of preservatives' bad effects just go on!!! Anyway, just to prove a point on just how good Minute Maid Pulpy is 'cause it's got NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED, I'm gonna stock more for me and my kids.

Feels good to know about the real pulpy deal, right? C’mon show me a smile on the comment box, and you might win yourself a Really Pulpy Deal! (That’s a chance to win a Minute Maid gift pack simply by commenting. Sweet! C'mon you just might be picked as the lucky 'commentor'!)

Love,

Leah

Run for a Cause

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:23:00 +0000

A 3k, 5k, 10k Fun Run for the benefit of the Psoriasis Club members of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Department of Dermatology.

Date: January 16, 2011
Time: 5:00am
Assembly Area: SPMC Parking Lot
Registration Fees:
P200: without singlet
P250: with singlet

Prizes:
10k Run: 1st place (P5,000), 2nd place (P3,000), 3rd place (P2,000)
5k Run: 1st place (P3,000)
3k Run (for 12 years old and below): 1st place (P1,500)

Registration Forms are available at:
- Southern Philippines Medical Center: Department of Dermatology
2nd floor JICA Building, Out Patient Department
- Skin Doctors Clinic
Gaisano Mall, Robinsons Cybergate
- C5 Dormitel
Roxas Avenue, Davao City
- Holiday Spa
- Run Club

For inquiries, please contact: 2272731 local 4705 and email at dermadmc@yahoo.com

Day 7: Leanne and Liam's Christening Cake

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:36:00 +0000

Chevelle is already a mom!

She gave birth to a little Liam months ago. The baby girl
is so tiny when i saw her at the church
and this is her christening cake...a yummy chocolate moist cake ^.^

Day 6: Boystown

noreply@blogger.com (13thWiTCH) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:49:00 +0000

Mayor Duterte donated lugaw for hte fifty kids in boystown

was sooo tired last night wasn't able to post my photo for the day...
but here it is ^.^
We had our 6th distribution of pencils
@ Boystown yesterday.

The outreach program was arranged

by Angie Maestrado with Knights of Columbus and Vita C.

view outreach photos