Public Affairs

The Paradox of the Freedom Islands

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, The World, Travel |

A month ago, if a foreign traveler asked me where the nearest mangrove forest lies, I’d probably tell him to take the bus to Quezon or fly to Palawan. If one asked me to take him to a place where he could go bird-watching aside from UP Diliman, I’d probably drive him out of the city to Pampanga. If he asked me to take him to a place where he could see dolphins, I’d tell him to head over to Batangas. I just didn’t know any place within Metro Manila where anyone could bond with nature.

Recently, however, I learned about two islands stretching in Manila Bay. Freedom Island and Long Island, collectively called Freedom Islands, lie off the coast of Paranaque and Las Pinas. And these are no ordinary islands. Also called the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, the Freedom Islands have a huge ecological role in the area. The Freedom Island is the last remaining mangrove forest and salt marsh frontier in Metro Manila. These two islands also serve as a sanctuary for many marine lifeforms and a refuge for more than 80 species of birds, both local and migratory.

But the Freedom Islands are under threat.

The garbage the city produces seems to have found its way to the Freedom Islands. The tides are bringing trash, most of which are plastic, to the shores of the islands. Not to mention that the waters of the Manila Bay had been severely polluted for the longest time. Pollution is a big threat to the wildlife in the islands.

In September this year, several NGOs led a cleanup program to start rehabilitate the Islands. They cleared the beach and removed the trash that had been damaging the area. But it’s a cycle. It’s back to its littered state again that it calls for another Coastal Clean Up!

On this note, I am inviting you all to join this program. October 23 is Freedom Islands Clean Up Day! Let’s all work together to tidy up this sanctuary and protect the wildlife that depends on it. The mangrove forest is shrinking and if it continues, then the birds would go away, too.

Details on the photo below or on this Facebook Event page:

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And We Wonder Why We Don’t Move Forward

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Yoshke in Blurts, Public Affairs, Rants |

Sometimes, we are THE problem.

Photo by Vky Mendoza

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5 Interesting Holidays to Celebrate in February

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Yoshke in Lists, Public Affairs, Trivia |

February is the shortest month with only 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years but it’s surely not short of holidays. Each day of the month is a holiday celebrated in a part of the world. Some of these are familiar events that most countries observe while others are area-specific.

Also known as the “love month,” February has a day for everyone. It is also considered:

Black History Month
Snack Food Month
Children’s Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owner’s Month
American History Month

But the most celebrated event in February has got to be Valentine’s Day. In many parts of the world especially in the Americas and Europe, February 14 is a very special day on which lovers show their love for each other by offering confectionery, presenting flowers, sending greeting cards and spending the day together.

I was surprised when I entered the office and saw these pink and red decorations all over the place. Reminded me of Grade School. Hahaha

If you start seeing red heart-shaped decorations, figures of winged Cupid and women holding teddy bears everywhere, it must be Valentine’s Day. Expect long lines at the supermarket, sold out concerts and fully-booked restaurants on this day. Even hotels (and motels) are expected to be fully loaded with lovers.

If you’re still not convinced how crazy people are over Valentine’s Day, take a look at statistics. The US Greeting Card Association estimated that around ONE BILLION valentine cards are being sent on this day each year worldwide. This makes this holiday the second largest card-spending day of the year, after Christmas.

But if you’re just too tired of the Valentine season or if the mere thought of it depresses you, here are five more of the most interesting holidays in February.

5. Clean Up Your Computer Day (second Monday of February)

Most of us install programs and store files to our computers with heedless abandon. Who can blame us? Computers have incredibly huge storage capacity that we seldom, sometimes never, use. As we add more and more files through the years, we forget about them and let them consume some precious megabytes.

However, they can cause confusion during retrieval of other files. They may even slow down your system. Thus, Clean Up Your Computer Day was created. Probably started by a computer geek, this techie day is observed every second Monday of February. This day, people are expected to logically review their files and delete those that are unused or unnecessary.

4. Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day (February 11th)

Yes, spilled milk. This may sound absurd to you but this holiday reminds us of a very important lesson in life — each of us spills a little milk every now and then. This day recognizes that fact and tells us that we should not cry over what has been done. It’s a day to think positive, be positive and look on the bright side.

If you feel like you have been cursed lately and that you have been followed around by bad luck, thus the bad decisions you have made and freak accidents you have encountered, this day is for you. Get over your worries and find the silver lining in every dark cloud you meet.

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How the 13th Zodiac Sign Rattled the World

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Yoshke in Friends, Humor, Public Affairs, Science, Web |

Yesterday morning, I logged in to my Facebook account only to find almost everyone in panic. Apparently, their zodiac signs have changed and they refuse their new sign. What’s worse, there’s a 13th sign — Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer, the culprit, the cause of the global disorder. Haha.

image courtesy of astrology.com

Here are some zodiac-related status messages that I gathered yesterday (including mine):

Winston: hindi ko alam pano mabuhay bilang Cancer.

Andre: MY LIFE IS A LIE! MY LIFE IS A LIE! MY LIFE IS A LIE!

Yoshke: Kebs na ako sa bagong zodiac. Basta ako, PISCES ako. Malansa ako eh.

Yoshke: Dear Zenaida Seva, I dare you! Say “Ophiuchus” 5 times non-stop.

Dohna: So I’m a Gemini now. I guess that explains the bipolar tendencies. Zenaida Seva may Ophiuchus na. Award.

Gail: Ophiu-something ka rin, Yoshke? pakshet ako naging Virgo. Soooooooooo nooooooooootttttt bagay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jerwin: I hate it. I’m no longer LEO? Ayaw ko ng Cancer! Argh. Damn Earth Rotation changes!

Leo: if we are to include the 13th Zodiac into the equation, i’m now officially Leo…

Jayvee: i’m not sexy anymore. =(

So what really happened?

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Judging By the Cover

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Yoshke in Fashion, Public Affairs, Rants |

Our office is just a stone’s throw from where I live. In fact, all I have to do is cross EDSA and voila, hello office. But even within such a short distance, I get plenty of opportunities to step back, take a look at myself and think about the world I live in.

What am I talking about, eh? Actually, I feel like every single day I feel judged based on how I look and the clothes I wear.

image courtesy of www.drewsmarketingminute.com

You see, the best thing about the company I work for is that they allow employees to come to work in any get-up that the employee finds comfortable. With only a few restrictions — no sandos, no sandals, no slippers. Many times, my co-workers and I choose to just report to work in a T-shirt, a pair of jeans and Chucks. That’s all right with the company. After all, I always have a semi-formal jacket handy in case an emergency meeting presents itself.

But there are occasions when I feel that it is imperative to level up the wardrobe. When I know that there will be important meetings with clients ahead that day, I will wear my long sleeves, coat, black slacks, and leather shoes. That normally happens twice a week.

And on the days that I look formal or semi-formal, I notice some little things that allow me to see just how differently we treat people based on how they look.

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Skydive For Life

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Yoshke in Causes, Health, Public Affairs, The World |

I hate cancer. I’m almost sure that it will claim my life in the future. It just runs in the family. Most of my relatives perished the “cancer” way. I have narrated on this blog the story of my father and how he succumbed to liver cancer and how breast cancer threatened my mother’s existence.

So yeah, I hate cancer. That’s why when my friend Charo posted a link on my Facebook wall, asking me to spread the word about their endeavor Skydive For Life, I promised to help them.

Skydive For Life. What is it, eh?

Let’s just say that my former co-worker Elvin Uy has always wanted to try skydiving but would not have enough courage to skydive just for the sake of. So let’s put some cause into his dream adventure. We’ll give him enough ego boost but on the way down, we’ll be able to help him help a cancer patient via Cancer Warriors Foundation.

Elvin will be jumping from 9,000 ft up in the sky in Queenstown, New Zealand on December 9. The goal is to raise P10 for every foot of altitude. So that’s P90,000 in total — enough to cover monthly medical supplies during chemotherapy, laboratory procedures, blood transfusions, bone marrow aspirations and tests, and antibiotics for a young cancer patient for 18 months. That’s something.

Note that all funds raised — P90,000 in its entirety — will go to Cancer Warriors Foundation. Elvin will be paying for his travel to New Zealand and the skydiving fee. It will not be slashed off the collected funds.

So there. Let’s help. Read on to find out how.

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Asian Countries According to Their Tourism Logos

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, The World, Travel |

And of course, the controversial proposed slogan and logo for Philippine Tourism:

I had nothing to say. But after reading blogger Spanky Enriquez‘s blog post about it, I have something to repost.

This is the logo of the Polish Tourism campaign. They pretty much say what I have to say. But I wonder what Poland has to say about it.

I actually liked ‘Wow Philippines!” I just wish instead of spending so much money and time on the rebranding, why not actually promote it.

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It Gets Better. So FCKH8!

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Yoshke in Gay, Music, News, Public Affairs, The World, Videos, Web |

Something beautiful happened over the weekend.

Last Sunday afternoon, October 24, 2010, members of Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), along with their friends and supporters, came together at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles to work on a project. They were to touch lives with the best way they knew — singing. That afternoon, they produced this incredible video.

I must say, I haven’t cried this much in front of my computer monitor. And I’m in the office for crying out loud. I am moved by this. You can say whatever you want about the song but it expresses perfectly what they wish to send across. It gave me goosebumps. It made me reflect on my own life and realize how lucky I am to get through the worst stages of my life and all the hardships in it. It is true; it gets better.

Sometimes, music does things to us. And kudos to the members of GMCLA and everyone who took part in this inspiring endeavor for spreading the word in a way most people would respond to — music. I’m pretty sure this video is going to change and save lives.

The video is going viral as I write. But another amazing video went viral over the weekend. This one, feistier, catchier, funnier but gets the message through nevertheless.

I’m just not sure about the idea of kids saying “Fuck,” but I like the video. It’s very radical and sometimes that’s all you need to get attention and get everyone to listen. Last week it only had some tens of thousands of views on Youtube but when I checked just 5 minutes ago it’s now way above the million views mark! Good job, FCKH8!

This is an interesting and challenging yet important time for gay people and I believe this is the time to address gay issues. I mean, really address them. Not just gay marriage but also the alarming suicide statistics among gay youths.

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Support the Campaign for the ‘Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines’

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Yoshke in Causes, Public Affairs |

Last month, I had the pleasure and honor of being invited into the home of Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders President Cynthia Magdaraog for a very important social media project. Although I have been a social media specialist for two years already, this project has got to be the most ambitious yet the most “worth-it.” The goal is to gather 500,000 signatures to rally lawmakers in passing Senate Bill 3087 or the Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines. All these signatures should be in by February 26, 2011, in time for the World Rare Diseases Day.

It’s a noble cause and I believe everyone should be a part of it. That’s why, together with the PhilippineBeaches.org fan page, we are pushing for this campaign the hardest we can. Please take some time to give us your signature. You have no idea how much of a difference your signature can make.

Every baby is truly a bundle of innocent bliss and joy. He is a picture of hope and promising future. However, he could be one in every 20,000 babies—although appearing normal at birth—will, at some time, develop a disorder counted among the group of dreaded diseases called rare or orphan disorders. These are long standing, life threatening, progressive, and disabling conditions that require multi-disciplinary care and which afflicts babies from all social and economic classes.

But since some of these disorders are yet to be fully grasped and understood by medical science, babies afflicted with these medical conditions, often times, are not given immediate attention due to delayed and incorrect diagnosis—subjecting them even more to serious health risks and consequences. Still, babies fortunate enough to have been diagnosed properly and promptly faced yet another serious challenge: the high cost of treatment and medication well beyond the reach of most Filipino families. But for the few who may have the capacity, optimal care is still elusive due to the scarcity of specialists and facilities that can handle their special needs.

Since these disorders affect only a small percentage of the population, very little attention is spared by the government, the private sector and the public at large. Very few doctors specialize in this discipline. Pharmaceutical companies tend to overlook the manufacture of products for these conditions because of the small or even zero profit potential. And the genetic nature of these disorders makes research painstakingly long and difficult.

Consequently, patients with rare disorders have been isolated from the health sector and the society. As such, they have been considered as social and medical orphans.

You can help by filling out the form below. Accomplishing the form is considered a signature.

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You can also show your support by forwarding this link to your network of family and friends.

http://bit.ly/500Ksignatures

For more info, visit www.psod.org.ph or email info@psod.org.ph.

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The Road to Death

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Yoshke in Family, Public Affairs, Rants, The World |

This is our home in Batangas. And this road in front of it is part of the national highway connecting the Batangan towns of Lemery and Balayan — also known as the Road to Death. This part of the road in the picture is just before the crossing that connects this highway to another highway leading to Tagaytay City in Cavite, and if you go farther, Manila.

Given these facts, you can just imagine how busy it is. When I’m home, I always have to close the windows tight so the noise could not distract me from doing my usual activities comprised mainly of watching TV and err… watching TV. Open the window a little bit and your viewing experience is ruined. This explains why almost every room in our house is air-conditioned.

But the noise is not what makes this part of the road earn its name “The Road to Death.”

The noise is tolerable. It’s been there before us so we have no right to complain. What’s relatively new is the long island in the middle of the road. It was added to this wide street perhaps four years ago, making both of its sides narrower. What they failed to install in addition was a light post. You see, at night, this little road island is invisible. And because it is part of the national highway and may even be the only part of the highway in 5km radius with a concrete island or anything protruding from the ground, motorists are always caught off-guard. Ergo, ACCIDENTS.

As a matter of fact, every time I spend the weekend in our Batangas house (which is every three weeks), I always witness road accidents in this area. The culprit — you bet it’s that damn island. Most of the time, motorcycle drivers fall victim. Sometimes, bigger vehicles. I have seen a truck carrying hundreds of chickens tumble over here. There was even an incident where a truck containing inflammable content having the same fate — my neighbors were all in panic.

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About Yoshke

On May 31, 1985, tragedy struck when 41 tornadoes hit Canada and the US, leaving 76 people dead. At the same time, a doomed couple in the Philippines were having the best orgasms of their lives. Nine months (280 days) later, a healthy baby boy was brought into this world by normal delivery. That was exactly a week before Microsoft had its initial public offering.

Today, Yoshke Dimen resides independently in Mandaluyong City. He got a degree in Film from a university in Diliman but is now pursuing a career in Social Media.

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