Android Kakanin

Ang Android…bow!

Luho lang yan! Noong nakaraang dekada, iyan marahil ang sambit ng mga magulang sa kanilang mga supling na nais magkaroon ng cellphone. Sabagay, may punto rin naman sila sapagkat napakamahal nga naman ng mga ito noon. Ngunit ngayon, ang pagkakaroon ng cellphone ay isa nang pangangailangan.  At sa halagang apat na libo o mas mababa pa, makakabili ka na ng higit pa sa sa cellphone, isang disenteng smartphone. Pasok sa bulsa di ba?

Ang matinding pagbagsak ng presyo ng mga smartphone ay bunga na rin ng matinding kompetisyon sa pagitan ng mga tagagawa nito. Sa ngayon, malaking bahagi ng merkado ay hawak ng mga smartphone na tumatakbo gamit ang Android Operating System (OS). Bukod kasi sa dami ng pagpipilian, hamak pang mas mura ang halaga ng mga ito kumpara sa iPhone, Blackberry at Windows phone. Dahil dito, panalo ang mga mamimili.

Ang Android ay pinakilala noong taong 2007 at pinondohan ng Google na may layuning gumawa ng open source na OS para sa mga smartphone at ibang aparato. Makalipas ang isang taon, naibenta ang unang Android smartphone sa mundo. Sa kasalukuyan, tinatayang aabot na sa higit isang bilyong aparato ang tumatakbo sa Android OS.

Alpabetong Pilipino

Nitong aking nakalipas na kaarawan, bumista ang isa sa mga matalik kong kaibigan. Naisip nya, “Ano kaya kung pagkaing Pilipino ang ginamit ng Google na pangalan sa bersyon ng Andorid OS?”. Ang taba ng utak nya no at nahinuha nya yon? Doon na namin napagkatuwaang pangalanan ang mga bersyon ng Android OS gamit ang iba’t-ibang kakanin na matatagpuan sa Pilipinas.  Bilang pasasalamat sa Android at dahil na rin sa papalapit na pagdiriwang ng “Buwan ng Wika”, naisipan kong lumikha ng oda sa anyong alpabeto.

Letra	Kakanin
A	Ampaw
B	Binatog
K	Kutsinta
D	Durian Candy
E	Espasol
G	Gulaman
H	Halo-halo
I	Inutak
L	Leche Flan
M	Macapuno
N	Nilupak
O	Otap
P	Pichi-pichi
R	Rice Cake (Puto)
S	Sapin-sapin
T	Turon
U	Ube Halaya
W	White Coconut Milk Cake (Maja Blanca)
Y	Yema

Ikaw, anong bersyon na ang OS mo?

NBA's Big Socrates

I don’t know the dude who baptized Tim Duncan as the “Big Fundamental” but I think we can consider this as one of the most candid nickname in the NBA. Although, I still prefer “GOAT PUFF” (thanks to the guys from Pounding The Rock).

Timmy has never been a showboat and his stoic demeanor has inspired a parody Twitter account and dedicated satirical articles at The Onion. Yeah, right! People joke around about his efficiency as being bland, but basketball purists would argue that he’s one of the greatest NBA power forward of all time. 

But beyond all these fascinating facts, I think the man deserves to be called the “NBA’s Big Socrates”. Here, let me lay down several similarities between him and the great Athenian philosopher. 

A Humble Man

“That there are universal standards I know; what they are in detail, I don't know; I seek.”

He can be considered as a late bloomer (in terms of his basketball skills) since he started out as a swimmer. He left his promising swimming career and switched to basketball only in ninth grade after a hurricane destroyed the only Olympic-sized pool on his home of U.S. Virgin Islands. He soon became a standout in college playing for the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. He finished his degree in Philosophy before entering the 1997 NBA Draft as the top pick. He amassed numerous awards during his collegiate and professional career.

· 4 NBA Championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007)· 3 NBA Finals MVP (1999, 2003, 2005)
· 2 NBA Most Valuable Player (2002–2003)
· 14 NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2011, 2013)
· NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000)
· NBA Rookie of the Year (1998)
· 10 All-NBA First Team (1998–2005, 2007, 2013)
· 3 All-NBA Second Team (2006, 2008–2009)
· All-NBA Third Team (2010)
· 8 All-Defensive First Team (1999–2003, 2005, 2007–2008)
· 6 All-Defensive Second Team (1998, 2004, 2006, 2009–2010, 2013)
· NBA All-Rookie First Team (1998)
· NBA Shooting Stars champion (2008)
· USBWA College Player of the Year (1997)
· Naismith College Player of the Year (1997)
· John Wooden Award (1997)
· Adolph Rupp Trophy (1997)
· Sporting News Player of the Year (1997)
· NABC Player of the Year (1997)
· 2 ACC Player of the Year (1996–1997)
· 3 NABC Defensive Player of the Year (1995–1997)
· 2 NCAA All-American First Team (1996–1997)

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”

Against the Norm

Let’s hop on the DeLorean and go back to 400 B.C. and see how Socrates (Timmy) and the sophists (other NBA superstars) differ.

• Sophists ask people money for their efforts and claimed that their principles would make people wiser. Socrates, on the contrary, made no money for his efforts, and he did not claim he was making anyone wiser. All NBA players, specifically the superstars, are entitled with ginormous salaries. However, Timmy has sacrificed and took a huge pay cut to help his team stay competitive.

• Sophists were not loyal to any single city. Socrates, on the other hand, always remained loyal to Athens. Drafted by the Spurs in 1997 as the no. 1 pick, Timmy will live and die as a Spur.

• Sophists emphasized the person who is speaking, rather than what can be said about a topic. So, while Socrates would wonder what can be said about justice, holiness, or wisdom, the sophists would take their own authority (or the authority of a great poet) over the words of a common man like Socrates. The sophists genuinely believed they were among the wisest and that they were able to teach others to be wise as well. Tim Duncan is the epitome of NBA anti-superstar. The Lebrons, Wades, Kobes and Carmelos of the NBA realm are dependent on flash and excitement while shunning away of the quiet, humble and fundamental play of basketball.

As of this writing, the Spurs have clinched the Western Conference and will be facing the Miami Heat at the 2013 NBA Finals. Win or lose, dreary and all, I’d still wager on NBA’s Big Socrates. And with that, I’ll leave you with some wise words from Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest).

"I remember one time Kevin Garnett was mushing him, and shoving him in the face; and Tim Duncan didn't do anything, he didn't react. He just kicked Kevin Garnett's a--, and won the damn championship. You know what I'm sayin'? That's gangsta. Everybody can show emotion, dunk on somebody, scream and be real cocky; but Tim Duncan is a ... he's a pimp."

The world is full of polymers…literally and figuratively.

Kahit saan ka yata lumingon may plastik. Hindi ko tinutukoy yung kapitbahay mong laging nakangiti kapag ika’y kaharap. Ang binabanggit kong bagay ay karaniwang gawa sa petrolyo sa pamamagitan ng reaksyon ng mga kemikal. Naging bahagi na ito ng ating pang-araw-araw na buhay dahil karaniwan itong ginagamit na materyal na pambalot o supot. Lalo itong sumikat dahil ito ay mas magaan, mas mura at mas madaling gawin.

Lumang Kultura ng Pamimili

Bago pa nauso ang mga plastik na bag, ang mga tao noon ay namimili at nagdadala ng mga bag na gawa sa tela. Ito ay tinatawag na burlap o hessian at karaniwang yari sa natural na hibla ng halaman gaya ng saluyot, abaka, saging, rattan, kawayan at iba pa.

Sa mga nagdaang dekada, unti-unting napalitan ng plastik ang papel at tela bilang pambalot at bag dahil ito ay mas mura at mas maginhawang gamitin. Ginagamit din ito sa pangagalaga ng mga pagkain at sa pagpapalaki ng mga prutas at mga gulay sa kabila ng

pagdudulot nito ng polusyon sa ating kapaligiran.

Mga Bantang Panganib ng Plastik sa Kalikasan

Marahil alam na rin natin ang mga posibleng masamang epekto sa kalikasan ng plastik. Bukod sa ito’y madumi sa paningin, ang ga-bundok na basura ay maaaring magdulot ng masamang epekto sa kalusugan ng tao, hayop at mga halaman sa pamamagitan ng pagkalat ng mga iba’t-ibang sakit. Ang pagtatapon naman nito sa kanal ay posibleng maging sanhi ng pagbara ng daluyan ng tubig na maaaring magbunga ng mga pagbaha gaya na lamang noong nanalasa ang bagyong Ondoy. Pinapababa rin nito ang antas ng pag-ulan sa lungsod. At ang huli, binabawasan nito ang pagkamayabong ng lupa.

Minsan, nakakain ng ibang hayop ang mga plastik na nagiging sanhi ng kanilang pagkamatay. Gaya na lamang ng mga isda napagkakamalang pagkain ang mga kalat sa dagat o ilog.

Lahat Bawal?

Kailangan bang tuluyang ipagbawal ang plastik? Iyan ang tanong ng karamihan. Sa ngayon, kumu-konsumo ang buong mundo ng humigit-kumulang na 100 milyong tonelada nito. At ang bilang na ito ay patuloy na tumataas dahil na rin sa paglobo ng ating populasyon. Sa Pilipinas, maraming batas ang naipasa ukol sa wastong pangangasiwa ng mga basura ngunit kulang sa ngipin ang pagpapatupad nito.

Mga Batas Laban sa Paggamit ng Plastik

Naipasa ang isang kaukulang batas na kumukontrol sa paggamit ng mga plastik bag sa mga pamilihan. Sa ngayon, hindi bababa sa 20 lungsod ang nagpasa  ng iba’t-ibang uri ng restriksyon sa paggamit ng plastik. Sa buong Metro Manila, kabilang ang mga lungsod ng Quezon, Maynila, Pasig, Marikina, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Pasig at Mandaluyong. Mayroon na ring mapa na magpapakita kung saan sa Pilipinas ang nagpapatupad ng pagbabawal ng plastik.

Sa pribadong sector, isa ang grupong EcoWaste Coalition na nanghihikayat sa buong komunidad na isulong ang mga pangmatagalang solusyon sa basura at pagbabago ng klima na kinahaharap ng Pilipinas at ng buong mundo.

Mga Suliranin

Mayroong mga grupo sa industriya ang nagbuklod upang tuligsain ang pagbabawal sa paggamit ng plastik ng mga lokal na pamahalaan. Sinubukan nilang i-anunsyo sa mga pahayagan ang kanilang pagtutol. Kinuwestiyon nila dito ang kredibilidad ng mga bag na gawa sa papel at sinabing “mas maraming ginagamit na tubig sa paggawa ng papel kaysa plastik”. Wika nila, ang isang galong tubig ay nakakagawa lamang ng isang papel na bag habang 116 plastik bag naman ang nabubuo nila. Dumodoble ang emisyon ng karbon dahil kailangang pumutol ng 17 puno para lamang makagawa ng isang toneladang papel. Mas mabigat diumano ng 600% ang basurang dulot ng papel kaysa plastik.

Iginiit pa nila na hindi patas ang pagsisi sa mga plastik bilang sanhi ng kalat at problema sa basura. Dagdag pa ng grupo na nais nilang palawakin ang kamalayan ng taumbayan sa pagbabawal ng plastik. Subalit, bunsod na rin sa pagiging popular ng mga restriksyon sa paggamit ng plastik, minabuti na lamang ng ibang miyembro na suportahan ang batas na nagpapataw ng multa sa mga bag bilang alternatibo.

Nangangamba naman ang mga grupo ng obrero, na bahagi ng industriya ng paggawa ng plastik, na maaaring marami sa kanila ang mawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pagbabawal na ito. Sa kabilang banda, sinang-ayunan naman ng mga grupo ng negosyante at mga may-ari ng mga mall ang naturang mga ordinansa ng iba’t-ibang lokal na pamahalaan.

Ang Kalutasan

Paano nga ba mareresolba ang problemang ito? Para sa akin, ang solusyon ay namamalagi sa:

1.    Mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas ng mga kinauukulan at pagkakaroon ng disiplina ng lahat ng mamamayan;

2.    Pagkakaroon ng sapat na edukasyon at kasanayan sa wastong pamamahala ng basura at pagtapon;

3.    Pagtangkilik sa mga alternatibong materyal sa plastik;

4.    Pagkakaroon ng pondo sa pananaliksik at pagtuklas ng mga alternatibong materyal na mas mura at hindi nakakapinsala sa kalikasan;

5.    At ang pagkontrol ng populasyon ng ating bansa.

Bawal na ang plastik! Kaya pala usong-uso na ngayon ang mga epal o mapapel.

March: Fire Prevention Month

April Fools!

Holy smokes! This article is old news. The month of March has already passed and I’m still writing this piece (Disclaimer: This is not another case of those ”April Fool’s jokes”). After all, seeing all your hard-earned properties turned into ashes is not a laughing matter. At this time, Filipinos are busy pondering on how they will enjoy this hot summer (which is understandable for those work horses out there). But what if you returned from a vacation and all left from your properties are just debris? 

A fire needs no advertisement. It’s the people that need to be educated about fire prevention and things to do in case of emergencies.

P.A.N.I.C. (Pressured And Not In Control) 

According to Presidential Proclamation No. 115–A, the month of March was declared to be the official month of Fire Prevention. It is also promoted to provide education and awareness to lessen the prevalence of fire in the Philippines. 

During summer, such cases occur in densely populated communities mostly living in shanties. Also, even solid concrete structures are not spared. One of the deadliest fires occurred in concrete buildings with faulty electrical wiring and no fire exits. Therefore, fire prevention and effective response are very important especially during summer. 

Today is the best time to ensure compliance with fire safety standards. Accidents can happen anytime, and fires can be sparked by bizarre conditions. But preventive measures can minimize accident risks. 

Reloaded 

Firefighters are one of the people in the government that I admire. They literally put their lives in danger whenever they extinguish fires and do rescue operations. When they joined the department, they face the fact their life is always in danger. When a man becomes a fireman, his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they are just doing their duties which are putting the fire out and saving lives. 

Also, we rarely see or hear any negative news towards them unlike their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP). The customary news linked to Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is their lack of fire trucks and firefighting equipment. I can sincerely vouch for this since I live a block away from the fire station.

To fulfill this need, BFP obtained 38 brand new fire trucks month ago and an additional 38 are expected soon. This is a timely improvement to the BFP’s firefighting capability, which is so lacking in fire trucks.

And Knowing is Half the Battle

Instead of defacing BFP’s website, why not put your effort in spreading awareness? 

BFP provided tips to the public to prevent fire incidents. If these tips will be observed, fire incidents would be reduced and lives and properties will be saved. 

Among the tips are the following: 

• Unplug appliances after every use. 
• Switch off the electric stove or gas range before going to bed. 
• Don’t overload electrical circuits with too many appliances and inspect electrical wires, which could cause overheating and overloading. 
• Do not keep flammable materials like gasoline inside the house. 
• Regularly clean the house and remove items (e. g. dried leaves) that can act as “fire fuel”. These “fire fuel” together with oxygen might ignite during the summer heat. 
• Restrain children from playing with combustible items such as matches inside the house. 
• Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. 
• If you have a budget, buy at least one smoke alarm, fire safety sprinklers and fire extinguisher. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. 

In case of fire, the public should call the hotline 117 or BFP-NCR emergency hotlines 723-1642 or 729-5166. In other emergencies, you should know who you gonna call. 

March is Fire Prevention Month but it doesn’t mean that we should only be vigilant during this season. Instead, we should always be alert of any unforeseen disaster every time. Being prepared is always better than any reactive measures.

Hello Philippines! Hello World!

Now that I have all the time in the world to create a blog, I already run out of any excuse not to. After all, I just recently published my first post from another site. This new venture will be different from the other blog in a way that it will tackle more serious bits and pieces.

Anyway, the reason why I'm doing this is to show how much I care about my motherland.  I, for one, would like to promote a positive change to my country and its people. So from time to time, expect me to write entries either in English or Filipino. 

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