Climate change: 2011 bodes more weather anomalies - INQUIRER.net

This analysis and summary by Heherson T. Alvarez serves as a wake-up call and reminder to all of us.

Climate change: 2011 bodes more weather anomalies - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Philippines maps disaster hotspots

Finally, a news article worth mentioning in this blog. :=)

Philippines maps disaster hotspots - INQUIRER.net

Boracay by June 1st week

To Boracay Island, off the coast of Panay in the Visayas here we come. This is just my second time to this "tourist" island. My last visit was in 2004 and D'Mall was just being constructed. Upon embarking, one can see the sea of humanity as tourists flock and swarm everywhere with a barrio-fiesta-like atmosphere. Since it was on early June also, the monsoon winds began to unleash its fury. By nightfall of nonstop rain and strong winds, the beachfront and night spots are mostly deserted. For party animals, it was a no-show. But for islandgoers who's longing for peace for a piece of this island, it was a night to cherish.

Boracay and any other beach resorts this side of the Pacific Ocean surely benefit from the El Niño phenomenon as the looong summer drives people to beat the heat. Compared to all the smaller islands in the Philippines, Boracay as a tourist destination is satisfactory. Amenities and conveniences are in place for an island that size. This I have to ground-truth come June.

What to expect? Personally, I don't actually know. As one friend-traveler of mine say, if you want to beach-party, by all means go to Boracay, but if you want to swim in the beach with clear, pacific, blue waters just go to any beach or island, except Boracay.

Planning ahead of disasters with GIS - INQUIRER.net

Sorry folks, it has been in draft for so long. :)

Planning ahead of disasters with GIS - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

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What to do as an individual after typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

As an individual in our own capacity, we must "now" always bear in mind these. They're only three:
1. Don't litter. If no garbage bin around, keep candy wrappers and other tiny garbage in your pocket/bag.
2. Segregate garbage. Remember the three Rs: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.
3. Plant anything. The roots will delay floodwaters.

MMDA fences and overpasses

Pink fences barricading sidewalks, hot pink and blue overpasses. This has been the thing in Metro Manila for years since Bayani Fernando became chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). To the horrors of subsistence informal vendors and commuters alike, the right of way has become the right of the private car owners. Forget the wishes of convenience of the general riding public and the hungry and dirt-poor vendors.

Most of the implemented policies of the MMDA has been controversial. An example would be the inconvenience of walking long distances because of the barricades. Generally it's good because it creates order and discipline and promotes smooth traffic in the main thoroughfares of the metropolis. However, there should be a prescribed length from the corners or intersections so that hurrying and tired commuters won't gasp for air walking in the infamous not so clean air of the metro under the hot rays of the tropical sun. Case in point, for commuters from Commonwealth or Fairview in Quezon City going to ride the MRT train station at Quezon Ave - the jeepneys and FX taxis going to Quiapo stop at some 100 meters from the overpasses at the EDSA-Quezon Ave intersection. Commuters must walk that distance going through the overpass to reach the train station.

One can say therefore that MMDA gives rights only to the whims and the convenience of private car owners, to the detriment of the general riding public. The riding public by the way constitutes more than 98 percent in all the population of Metro Manila. This is only one example of the controversial controls the MMDA implemented. And this is one blaring example of the tyranny of the elite against the masses where it is perpetuated and even blessed by the government.

long time

Just a brief update.
It has been quite a while that I haven't posted anything here. Lots of "geographic" things concerning the Philippines are worthy of mentioning:
-the 2007 national census
-the food shortage
-Senator Pimentel's drive for a change of government form into a federal republic
-the MILF-Philippine government deal
-the American economic geographer who garnered the Nobel Prize for economics
-and, Boracay as public domain.