Goodbye Nash (dogs in Kidapawan)

I have a hunch that this would be our last time seeing each other so I take a picture. It is hard leaving home when everyday this creature “Nash” as we call him greets me everyday and wiggles his tail when I am back home.

I remember my first post, it was about him. No, he is not my dog he is just a neighbor’s dog. But what’s different from him is that he is always close to me. He would pass by and go first to our neighbor’s house, 2 houses from us to check the house where he was born then stay with me for a while. At the days end, he would go back to his home.

Quite uncanny and intelligent creature, he is not just friendly to us but all the dogs love him too.

I have left for a while, (about 3 months) and when I return, instantly look for Nash first but he is nowhere to be found. I now felt that he was caught by the City Pound and I am hoping that he is just fine.

My father told me that he is ok and at my neighbor and so I did not bother to find him anymore but he is not there. Weeks have pass and another dog was caught in our neighborhood. Luckily the owners knew about it and together we go to the city pound to check and pay the fine. Although its not astray they still catch them, even if someone from the house saw the dogs they would still get them. These are some of the violations I think they are doing while catching these dogs.

At the city pound, I saw the cage with the caught dogs. Gazing at their lonely eyes, I felt weigh down because I cannot help them. I know for sure they would meet certain dead as if I had visited a jail wherein the prisoners are sentenced to death. Adding to my loneliness is that once Nash had surely been their before and hoping, thinking that somehow, somewhere I would arrive.

No, he is not a stray dog, he is just going to his daily routine, and he is just an adventurer.

Working as Research Assistant

Working as a research assistant is quite a challenge for me; although I am out of school for quite a while I found the work suited for my adventurous spirit. It’s been three months before I left my OJT onboard and adjusting to a challenging job is a bit fun and exciting. But nevertheless, working in a government institution has its downturn. For instance, a project proposal can be approved readily but because of government bureaucracy, materials and equipments requested would not come in time. Just imagine waiting fro 3 months for the materials to come!!! And an office without a working computer albeit air-condition and lot of junk papers. What can I do with it? I just simply shred it to pieces and form into balls, hahaahaha just to make some paper brickets. That’s an output!! Not to mention recycling at it’s best!

Anyway, I have some accomplishments like training mothers how to make soap ( we use our own money just to produce one) tsk tsk tsk. And many more approved proposals but waiting for the materials to come. I hope to come up some ideas just simple ones, know-how like paper bricket, some food technologies and many more. Do you have any idea to share?? I have tons of papers to start a cheap project. Anybody could help or any simple technologies and cheap ones for the third world?? I would glad to hear from you dear readers, lot of thanks.

Farewell Madame President

Once a Steward, MS San Paolo Memories

At last I am back at my own turf, well, it’s a little bit hard to adjust in the dry land and I miss my blog so much, I just live you guys with my experience aboard MS San Paolo. Enjoy!!

First Step Seaman

At last I finished my basic safety training in Cavite, just one step ahead to get my seaman’s book. It is an enjoying and exciting training since I only have a basic swimming knowledge and never been in a fire drill before except once in my Boy Scout days. The fun and excitement was cut short by eye infection, maybe cause of to much exposure to dirty air Huhhh, sighhh..anyway the food and accommodation together with the climate makes me feel homesick. Nonetheless my mosquito net reminds me of my sweet bed where I used to sleep and awaken by the purr of my cats. Hehehhehee.

I cannot imagine myself today going to another vocation and job, meeting new people and trying new things again makes me wonder if I would love to have this job. But for now I love the work, the fire drill, the group life saving drills and the life saving courses makes me appreciate and value the work and courage of those who work at sea.

It would still take at least a month to get my seaman’s book and complete my requirements to board the ship. Maybe I would have to get a temporary job just to get by my daily needs. Thank you for all those who pray for me and for those who believe in my dreams. Life is always beautiful.

Hold on by 33miles-And my Parting Prayer

This song means so much for me when I felt cheated and left behind, deprive of happiness and left in the dark I know that Jesus is always there holding me. I know I made a lot of wrong moves, tons of mistakes and unwise decisions that left me sad and that add up to my loneliness and desperation.

My prayer :I have serve you LORD for many times and I am happy to have a chance to serve you but I hope that you are always by my side and teach me the path that I would be going to take. May you bless my plans and choose only what is good and completely reject what is wrong. Help me in my indecisions and control my temper in times that I would burst in anger to the extent that I might physically hurt other people.

Thank you for my parents for guiding me in my path and decisions to take, their prayers always helps me in time of need and feel your gentle whisper that draw me closer to you. I am ashamed to admit that I have not proven myself as a worthy Christian to all my friends and humbly ask for your forgiveness.

As I am going to take another career in my life, bless the people O Lord that means so much to me- my parents. It is with a heavy heart that I would leave my hometown church and would sorely miss the Sunday services we attended daily ever since I was a child. May you use other people with their talents to help build my community church and inspire other youths to have a life fearful to you.

I know you would never leave me nor forsake me, I humbly asked to bless all my plans and acknowledged you so that it would be done according to your will. Through Jesus Christ my Only LORD and Savior all glory and honor. Amen.

On ZIMBABWE

 If you think of Zimbabwe you could imagine people lining up in queue for hours, department stores with empty shelves and starving millions who are hurrying to cross the border to South Africa. A declining economy with inflation rates unmatched anywhere else in the modern world and of its famous leader Robert Mugabe.

Other than that few Filipinos knew that Zimbabwe was once called Rhodesia and considered the richest economy of Africa. Its capital Salisbury is teemed with new and sleek modern buildings with the highest life span and good education for its people. It’s leader then was Ian Smith, a white Zimbabwean, despite pressures and suctions from the western world, his country manage to stop rebels aided by communist China from attacking its country. The I saw pictures of its soldiers, the famous Green Beret and the “Saints” with their Canberra bombers and Alouette  Helicopter and of course I love to hear their famous songs; Rhodesia Never Die and If a World Has Another Hitler.

From what I have heard and read, Rhodesia now called Zimbabwe is a great and beautiful country with a lot of things to see. There is one song that says; You could never bee the same again if you saw the sunrise in Zimbabwe…

It’s really hard to think that a great country, a modern developing country can turn into a poor third world level. With Robert Mugabe’s rule the health and well-being of his people have dropped dramatically, which is as much an abuse of human rights as arbitrary arrest and torture. According to the World Health Organization, Zimbabwe has the world’s shortest life expectancy—37 years for men and 34 for women. It also has the greatest percentage of orphans (about 25%, says UNICEF) and the worst annual inflation rate (1,281% as of last month). He last allowed an election in 2002 but “won” only after having his leading opponent arrested for treason.

It was a beautiful country and it still is, but for how much longer? I hope and pray that someday the people of Zimbabwe can have a brighter future soon whether its a white leader or a black one.

click here for pictures of Harare

Click to Pay.TakeTheGlobe.com(click here)

O JO KULUGURAN DAKA on youtube (Sometimes when we touch)

Just a picture clip of myself with the kapampangan version of sometimes when we touch by Ara Muna & Jumari. O Jo Kuluguran Daka, ahehehe.nice

Newly Elect US President Barack Obama Visits Philippines (comedy)

 A very funny dinner with Philippine President Gloria with new US President Barack, hehehe

Christmas Presentation 2008

We have performed every simbang umaga and at Christmas Day we have few choices to have and a little time to practice. So as the appointed director, because we knew that we cannot sing the Trans-siberian version of carol of Bells, well we act it out. I hope You would love and like it. We just practice for an hour to do this Christmas presentation.

Kidapawan Plaza

Another additional structure is found in Kidapawan plaza. This is the history corner besides the tennis court; a giant statue of Rizal enshrines the area and guesses what else? A life size cemented cannon complete with camouflage, ahhehehe, I guess fro visual effect since it is not historically accurate. Anyway this structure really adds color to the area, at least for now. But I hope they would give much accuracy to the real thing and in addition putting a museum dedicated to the history of Kidapawan or Mindanao in particular are very much welcome.

AFP-Day Parade 2008

    Well, it’s been a wile since I do not post any new pictures here in AFP armaments category. This new pictures are quite good since the AFP now wears new camouflage, digital camouflage I suppose, perfect for the digital age, har har har. A parade of LVTH-6, newly refurbished by our ever ingenuous army engineers, army gun trucks- a truck covered with bullet proof and has a mounted turret. A line of Simbas, V-150 and V-300 is the usual scene to watch. Not to be outdone, the air force also had a fly-over of their assets, namely OV-10, MG-520 attack helicopters and the Layang attack aircraft, a modified version of the trainer jet, SF-26.     Sad to note that we do not have any jets that participated in this parade except for a lone S-211, jet categorized as trainer jet but use as an interceptor, our only first line of defense. Maybe in years to come, we are expecting a more vibrant, stronger and powerful AFP.

Pictures courtesy of timawa forum click here for the link

Online Casino

Every one knows how to play poker right? But since the introduction of internet a lot of online games are have been introduced and the excitement given are better but wait, how about playing casino poker on an online casino game with cash prizes comparable to the big casinos we usually see? Casino poker is the most famous game played in casinos and can now be played online with rules and etiquettes just like the real mortar and pestle casino. Online casino game or virtual casinos are now available technology.

Online casinos can be divided into three groups based on their interface: web-based casinos, download-based casinos, and more recently live casinos. Some casinos offer multiple interfaces. Online casino has all the Blackjack, Roulette, Online Slots, Table Games, Casino Tournaments, and Multiplayer Games just like the real casino plus the comfort of your own home.

A very slick and classy feel when playing online can be experience with very nice graphics with unique bonus deals is available to the first time players and returning ones. Customer service and advices are available online with an updated newsletter to bring you new and latest in online casino games.

Kidapawan- Mindanao’s richest town

Surprise! Surprise! Kidapawan City in North Cotabato emerged as Mindanao’s richest municipality, with only 12.46 percent poverty incidence.Other areas that made it to the list of “Mindanao’s 10 richest municipalities” are General Santos City, with 13.98 percent poverty incidence; Polomolok, South Cotabato, 14.29; Davao City, 14.94 percent; Tagum City, 15.42 percent; Cagayan de Oro City, 15.50 percent; Koronadal City, 16.18 percent; Digos City, Davao del Sur, 18.22 percent; and the towns of Padada and Hagonoy, also in Davao del Sur, with 21.99 percent and 22.60 percent poverty incidence, respectively. -

Link here

Philippines F-8 Crusader

Besides France, the only other nation to use the Crusader was the Philippines. In late 1977, the Philippines government purchased 35 ex-US Navy F-8Hs that had been sitting in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona. 25 of them were to be refurbished by Vought and the remaining ten were to be replacement aircraft.

As part of the contract, Vought was also to train Philippine Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel. The two-seat TF-8A was to be used in support of the training effort, but it crashed on July 28, 1978.

The Filipino F-8Hs went to the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 5th fighter Wing stationed at Basa Air Base, Pampanga, in northern Luzon. This outfit had previously operated F-86F Sabrejets, which were by this time thoroughly obsolete. As part of their job in defending Philippine airspace, the F-8s of the 7th TFS intercepted many Soviet bombers which overflew the northwestern area of the island nation.

The corruption and mismanagement that characterized the later years of the Marcos regime was so bad that most of the Philippine Crusaders rapidly deteriorated and fell into disrepair, with very few actually being able to fly at any one time. During the confusion surrounding the departure of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the flyable Crusaders were flown to Clark AFB to protect them from sabotage.

The surviving Philippine Crusaders were finally phased out on January 23, 1988. In nine years, the PAF F-8s had suffered five major accidents, losing two pilots.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/f8_17.html

Tora-Tora

The T-28 Trojan was a piston-engine military trainer aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. NavyPhilippines as Tora-Tora seen in the skies above Makati during a coup de etat used by the rebel soldiers to ouster the then President Aquino. It is also used as not just as a training aircraft by he Philippine Air Force but is used as a dive bombers to attack the rebel positions in Mindanao. If I am not mistaken I remember one in Sta. Felomina in the town of Makilala, circa 1988. We heard and counted 12 successive bomb explosions and afterwards a trickle of indigent people walks coming down from these places. They are not rebels of course but people who are caught in the crossfire. Fast-forward today, there are now so few communist rebels that the air force focus its war on Muslim insurgents, this time in north Cotabato, 2 hours away from Kidapawan using OV-10 planes, I hope to touch one next time.(inset: that’s my brother wih his flight controller trainee friends)

ASEAN Air Forces

These are the present status of air forces in the ASEAN region. Singapore has its assets F-15SG Strike Eagle (24?) not sure how many and 14 Lockheed Martin F-16C and 40 F-16D.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Malaysia has 18 multi-role Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker and 14 Mikoyan MiG-29 for its air defense interceptor roles. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Vietnam has its assets 6 Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker and 11 Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. Not to mention 150 Mig 21, remember Vietnam War                                                   

Thailand has its new 6 Saab JAS 39 Gripen and additional 6 more are in order and has its arsenal 59 F-16 Fighting Falcon.

 The poor Philippines only have 6 flyable S-211. These are trainer jets converted to become our primary air defense interceptor force arm with rockets. We are the only air force in the world to use these as our primary jets. How can these babies intercept an intruding aircraft when its speed is just 660 km/h when all the air forces mention previously has twice that speed? We really are in a very bad situation right now.Our assets are aircraft design just for COIN or counter-insurgency (pang NPA at MI lang po). Already since the late 1994 there are rumors about the possibility of the Philippines purchasing 18 IAI Kfir C.2s from Israel, they are now in use by the Sri Lankan Air Force. Although the price is very low, no deal was signed. We at one time considered the purchase of the then   28 F-16A/B Block 15 originally built for Pakistan but embargoed and held back since 1990 and even at one point the Chinese offered their J-7 to us. I do not believe the Philippines do not have enough money to buy these jets, we only have to invest them to their primary function, the sovereignty of our mother land or else our freedom would cease to exist.

Snake in my Room

It was just past 2 in the afternoon, as usual I am busy looking in my computer then when a sudden a snake’s head came peaking behind my computer closer than a meter away from me. At first it did not bother me since snakes are common in our place but then I realized   that the snake is a meter in length makes my spine to quickly shiver. I quietly open my door to help the snake get out of my room. But since it starts to rain and the fear that the snake can not be caught immediately makes me think to get rid of it immediately. My first option was to trick the snake and put him in a box and freed him outside or to scare him with some Baygon sprayer. I opted for the later option, I found him under my bed curling and dose him with Baygon, I try to light the snake with fire but to no avail, the insecticide is water based.

Big drops of sweat trickles my face and to sum it all, I am alone without anybody to ask for help. I get a bolo and a large wood then I empty my room one by one, removing all the beddings and my clothes to another room. Luckily the snake hides at the corner of my room and I immediately locked his escape buy my foam beddings. Then I pinned his head against the wood and stuck his body with my sharp bolo. The wounded creature starts to fight back with at was left of his strength. To make sure he is dead I finished off his head with a sharp bolo but still his body is moving and wringing as if to be resurrected gain.

I feel embarrassed and feeling a bit guilty that I killed the poor creature, in the first place I never wanted to end his life but my fear of what he would do to me and my limited option gives way to this. I remember watching National Geographic and how they managed to rescue even the snakes makes my action a barbaric and uncivilized one. I hope it would not happen again regardless of what animal I came to face with again.

Murderer gets Clemency, Philippine Style

The shooting of Roland John Chapman, Maureen Hultman, and another friend, Jussi Leino, by the murderer Claudio Teehankee, Jr., were cold, callous and indescribably cruel. Getting the life of these teenagers just like that is not the acts borne out of immaturity it is evil, grossly wicked. One count of Reclusión perpetua does not allow pardon or release until after the first 30 years of the sentence have been served; after 40 years without pardon, the sentence ends. Life imprisonment does not have any definite extent or duration of imprisonment, and prisoners serving life imprisonment can have parole at any time.

So why the hell Claudio Tehankee, Jr. was released and pardoned just like that? Maybe, because of good behavior? Hmmp, how can you shoot any one inside the jail? It is not unusual for rich and influential criminals to be released in the Philippines. That’s how twisted, crooked the system is.

I remember some time a child was imprisoned for eight long months robbing a pair of sandals for just a mere P20 or just half a dollar. But what can you do? It is the prerogative and the power of the president to give a clemency, no questions ask, so sad.