ANG DOLOMITE BEACH, MANILA BAY

Sa isang isyu, mayroong pabor at kontra.  Paano malalaman kung sino ang tama at mali?  Kung mas malalim, may saysay at may pagpapatunay sa iyong argumento, malamang kaysa hindi ay ikaw ang tama.  Huwag ng idagdag kung ang puntos mo ay mas marami.  Ganito ang nangyari sa paglalagay ng dolomite sand, o pekeng puting buhangin sa Manila Bay.

Bago ang lahat, gusto kong gumanda ang Manila bay, sino ba ang may ayaw?  Pero duon tayo lagi sa tama.  Maraming mali sa ginawa. Ang argumento ng kabila“Nung madumi, ang reklamo ay bakit hindi linisin, ngayong pinapaganda ay bakit nagrereklamo pa rin?”  Una, sablay ang argumento nila.  Ang inirereklamo ay madumi, hindi pangit.  Kaya dapat linisin hindi i-peke na pagandahin. Kasi kung malinis naman ang look ay gaganda na iyon.

Pangalawa, tama bang gawin ito ngayon?  Mali na gawin ito sa panahon ngayon dahil mas kailangang unang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng pandemniya.  Kawalan ng damdamin (insensitive) ito sa panahon na marami ang namamatay, nawawalan ng trabaho, nagugutom, at nahihirapang mga frontliners dahil sa pandemya na hindi matugunan nang maayos dahil wala na daw pera. 

Pangatlo, mali na lagyan ng pekeng puting buhangin ang baybayin ng Manila bay dahil sa kasaysayan ng Manila bay ay maraming beses ng umaapaw ang tubig nito at inaanod kung saan-saan ang anomang nasa tubig.  Magsasayang lang tayo ng pera, panahon at lakas.  Aanurin lang ng baha ang perang ginastos para dito.  Kung sana ay nire-allign na lang ang P28M sa distance learning ng mga bata, dahil wala daw pondo para dito.

Pang-apat, mali na naman dahil ayon sa DOH ay delikado sa kalusugan ang dolomite sand. May mga negatibong epekto sa kalusugan ang paglanghap sa dinurog na dolomite, na kapag na-inhale ng mga tao ay may mga adverse reactions.  Ang dolomite dust, pag napunta sa mata, nagkakaroon ng kaunting irritation. Pag na-ingest, magkakaroon ng kaunting pananakit ng tiyan at pagtatae,".  Nauna nang sinabi ng grupong Infrawatch Philippines na nagdudulot ang dolomite dust ng iritasyon sa mata, mga sakit sa baga at maging cancer.

Pang-lima, mali na naman ito kasi sabi ng Oceana Philippines, madaming nilabag na batas ang proyekto dahil sa kawalan ng environmental impact assessment, at hindi rin kinonsulta ang publiko tungkol dito.

Pang-anim, kung tungkol sa sinasabi nilang matagal na itong approved bago pa magkaroon ng COVID, eh hindi ba binigyan ng executive emergency power si du30 na ire-allign ang budget ng kanyang mga ahensiya at ang mga non-essentials ay maaari niyang gamitin sa pag-control sa covid?  Kahit pa matagal na itong approved ay hindi nila ito pwedeng ituloy dahil nga hindi into essentials sa panahon ng pandemniya.

Pang-pito, mali pa rin ito dahil ang kailangan para mapaganda ang Manila bay ay ang paglilinis ng mga nakapaligid dito.  Nuon pa natin alam ito.  Siguro 1986 pa o baka mas nauna pa.  Mas lalo ngayon na ang daming squatters na naka-squat malapit sa Manila bay na siyang punot-dulo ng mga basurang inaanod sa baybay ng Manila bay.

Ang tama lang sa argumento ng kabila ay ang intensiyong pagandahin ang Manila Bay, pero ang nag-iisang punto na ito ay dinaig ng mga nabanggit sa itaas.

WORSHIPING GOD-2

Speaking as Christian, I have nothing against beatification, I am not against sainthood.  First, we Christians acknowledge the extraordinary kindness of the life of these Saints while on earth and we want to let their stories remind us to follow their good deeds.  And they inspire the flock to live the same way how these Saints have lived their life, which is why it is allowed to be with us. Also, I am not against in images of Saints and even the Lord Jesus because they are just merely symbolism. When we see the image of man with a dog, we know it is St. Rocco and we must be good in dogs.  When we see an image of a man with buffalo, we know it is St. Isidore and we must be good farmer.  Besides, being Patron doesn’t mean being God that needs to be worshiped, it just means an identification of a good people that need to be recognized where they were known for.  When you put pictures of your spouse in your wallet doesn’t mean you are worshiping your wife or husband. We can talk to these pictures but it doesn't mean we are worshiping them. When you bring flowers and candles to the grave of your deceased loved ones doesn’t mean you are worshiping them. These are just the same with these images, we are just remembering them but not worshiping.  We are just reminding of their symbolism to follow their message like when you see the sign of no entry, you will not enter.  That is symbolism all about.  This is not blasphemy because you are not worshiping them, thus you are not disrespecting God.

If people were to argue we worship these images, then the answer is actually not. If you are a Christian insisting having images is worshiping, then it only means either your faith as Christian is weak or it is because you worshiped these images before, and your understanding is wrong. As true Christian, we only acknowledge these images and Saints, no more-no less. Having these images is not worshiping God even sainthood is not worshiping neither.  You should not exalt them and adore them because these things should give only to our God.  Remember, worship and prayer are different. Prayer is communicating while worshiping is act of praising and devotion.  Worshiping is where you are giving your life to God only.  Worshiping is where you are offering your highest respect, utmost devotion, purest love and the best of you to God only. You are servicing God, doing what makes Him happy by following His words.  That is worshiping which a true Christian doesn’t do to Saints.  We only worship the God.  We communicate with God, and we can communicate with Saints also but worship should go to God only.  Note that we “can” communicate with these images and it is not we “should” communicate, “can” and “should” are different.  There is freewill, there is no obligatory.  Saying litany is not worshiping but it is communicating to refresh, reminisce, and relive the blessedness of the Saints.  Reciting the rosary is not worshiping but emphasizing the kindness of Mama Mary.  We can communicate with Saints like we communicate with God but never worship them.

God is everywhere.  He is in our heart, beside us, in the mountain, in the prayer rooms, and in the spirit of the images.  The moment we say our prayers to these images, it doesn’t mean these images are the God, but this is where God is.  And again, praying or communicating is different from worshiping.  I have nothing against with these Christian practices but personally, when I pray I do not kneel in front of any object and image. I close my eyes and say my prayers. In this way I can be sure that my heart is praying directly to God only.  I admire the life of these Saints but I do not elate or idolize them as I highly elate God.

BAG RAID (What's Inside My Bag)

(Click below for the video)

This is my bag.  It is black Courier bag.  Sometimes they call it Messenger bag.  I want to show what's inside my bag, what's it about.

It is quite old, about 5 years old.  It is very simple.  It is not branded. I am not after the brand name.  As long as I like it, I’ll go for it.  It is medium sized, the material is made of cordura fabric.  It has flap on the front with hook and loop fasteners.  It has long nylon fiber strap and it works cross the body.

First part is for my access.  I put here my passes like mobile phones, my company ID, office keys, and my house keys.  So next, let’s go to the other side.  I have box for my essentials.  I put here the things that I need to bring on the daily basis like facemasks, passport, vanity kit.  I have scissor for my loose hair, cutters, dental floss, and lip balm.  I have alcohol, eye glasses (shade and reading glass), pen and notepad.

That’s all.

PESTO PASTA

This is a special version of my Pesto pasta to make a friend pleased.  Aside with the simple ingredients of it, I wanted to set apart from the plain pesto pasta.  We know the distinct and tang taste of pesto paste because of the crushed basil leaves.  Well, the feta cheese actually blended well with the pesto taste and with aragula leaves.  And the cherry tomatoes really go well to balance that tang taste of pesto.

I added bite size chicken breast and topped with diced onions and parmesan cheese.

The preparation is so easy.  Sauté the garlic and onion, then add the chicken breast with few water to cook.  Add the pesto paste and set aside. Cook the pasta based on the packaging instruction.  In a bowl, toss the cooked pasta and the pesto paste.  Add the aragula leaves and halves cherry tomatoes, mix well and add the feta cheese.  Sprinkle with diced onion and parmesan cheese on top.

And lastly, just eat right.

  

Ingredients:

Spaghetti pasta

Pesto paste

Cherry tomatoes

Aragula leaves

Feta cheese

Parmesan cheese

Chicken breast

Onion

Garlic

If you want to do it yourself Pesto paste, get fresh basil leaves, put olive oil and some salt and pepper then crush them (manual or using blender).