Children of War

CHILD’S LAMENT. A child protester joins the rally of militant groups in Quirino Ave on Labor day.ANNA VALMERO/INQUIRER.net

What does this image say? It says one thing: we’re all stupid user. It’s pathetic and more lamenting. Why use children? What do they know about Imperialism when they don’t even know why they are there for? What do they know about Imperialism when they don’t even know how to multiply or divide numbers? What do they know about Imperialism when most of the Filipinos don’t know what Imperialism mean. What do they know about Imperialism when they should be at school doing more valuable life changing lessons than being on the streets wasting their lives? So that when they grow older, they can think better and be more useful to the nation.

It’s pathetic that, with all due respect to the photographer, Ms. Valmero captioned the photo and identified the child as child protester. How does she know that the child was indeed there to protest? How in the world would the child know what imperialism mean? I bet you ask the photographer what Imperialism mean, she wouldn’t be able to answer quickly without thinking a bit or going back to her history or googling it.

It’s not a child’s lament. It’s the photographer’s lament, her view of the situation and not the child’s. I think photographers should be responsible enough to also support campaign against child abuse. With the above image, it’s an indirect way of using children for the sake of profession or for the sake of getting something in exchange.

All children know at the end of the day, they’ll get something in return: a food on the table or “baon” for school tomorrow.

I think, to change the world, change should begin within ourselves as adults.

Reply to BEE Chairman's Letter

April 8, 2009

ENGR. RODOLFO R. PENALOSA
Chairman, Board of Electrical Engineering
Professional Regulation Commission, Republic of the Philippines

Dear Engr. Penalosa,

Greetings!

I am in receipt of your reply to my letter dated December 8, 2008 relating to Board Resolution 36 Series of 2002 and would like to extend my gratitude for affording me your time to attend to this case. However, I would like to respond as follows:

1. Your letter does not address the main issue why I wrote the letter on December 8, 2008 nor does it address point by point the issues contained in my letter. Specifically, by allowing the resolution to be implemented, the PRC became, in effect, a sub-agency of IIEE.

2. Section 25 Article III of RA7920 does not specifically hold the engineers by law to be a member of an organization before they can practice and obtain their licenses. The law is very clear: "Every professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer and registered master electrician upon registration with the Board as such, shall ipso facto, become a member of the integrated national organization". In a layman's terms, we are as such, "by the fact itself", become a member of the integrated national organization when we register to the board. Which is what I want to do, register and renew my license with the Board but not to IIEE.

3. The board resolution runs in contrast to our inherent rights imposed under Article 3 of the Constitution, to wit: “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law." By imposing the IIEE membership to be a prerequisite to gaining license renewal, the resolution does deprive the person liberty to choose which organization he wants to be a member of and not to mention his ability to perform as an electrical engineer which in turn deprives a person of his life.

4. Sighting the Supreme Court’s decision relating to the practice of profession in the Philippines versus IBP is, I believe, wrongly selected as this is not significant to what my case is all about. This decision will fall under your other program relating to “Continuing Process of Education”. This is again one contentious aspect of our profession which I will deal with separately.

5. Sighting Section 4(g), I believe you don’t understand the full context of this. This does not give you the power to make the PRC a sub-agency of IIEE or BEE by making the IIEE mandatory membership prerequisite to license renewal. The Board has actually abused its quasi-judicial power and at the same time usurped the Congress’ legislative power.

6. Sighting Section 25, I believe you don’t understand this correctly. See related answer in item 2.

7. In your 4th paragraph, I’m honestly surprised that you have this “rule” because the way I was told by the chief officer at window 18, and I quote: “kung ayaw mo maging member ng IIEE, e di wag kang magrenew ng lisensya mo” (if you don’t like to become member of IIEE, then do not renew your license) unquote. Obviously, this rule is known to only you. However, this again does not address the main issue. I came all the way to Manila to renew my license even though I am not a practicing engineer in the Philippines only to be turned down by this resolution. This paragraph again runs in contrast to what I discussed in items 3 and 5.

8. In your 5th paragraph, it is indeed unfortunate that I did not see the conferences. However just looking at the IIEE’s website, it doesn’t say anything significant at all, quite frankly. Hence, I don’t think I would be that much interested to attend any of the conferences, unless extremely necessary.

9. In your 6th paragraph, I would say I’m deeply saddened with the quality of electrical engineers in the Philippines. I had the chance of interviewing people that we could employ in our company and quite frankly, we never saw qualified people except those who had experience working abroad. This means that whatever you accomplished to improve and assist fellow professional s to date did not really help the professionals that much at all unfortunately. I would suggest that you deeply look into what accomplishment you are saying and whatever assistance the IIEE has done so far.

10. In your penultimate paragraph. I believe no one has every right to force a person to join certain organization as this is 100% unconstitutional. Your mandate is not the mandate of the law but by your resolution which I would like to be scrapped and revisited.

11. I’m enclosing herewith copy of the letter I sent to PRC Chairman Nicolas P. Lapena Jr. for your perusal and further enlightenment of the issue.

12. To be a member of IIEE does even play significant role in getting hired. It’s the experience. So why bother? And so why enforce it? And why abuse your quasi-judicial power?

In closing, I recommend the following:

1. Scrap the Resolution in its entirety.

2. Make the IIEE membership as voluntary.

3. Seek government assistance by enforcing in all government project that all participating company with electrical engineers become an IIEE member as part of pre-tender qualifications.

4. Make IIEE 100% public. Ask how many electrical engineers in the land know what IIEE does? Where are all the membership money go? Make them publicly accountable and prosecutable in case of fraud and diversion of funds.

I trust that you find the above in order and hope that I have enlightened you in one way or the other. I still demand I be allowed to renew my license without conditions. Thank you.

Jona and Mike - Our Story

We were schoolmates though she was 3years younger than I was. But we never bumped into each other, not a single once. But in 2005, on one busy day, a phone call from a friend of mine introduced my soon to be life time manager. Then from a chemicals cleaning agent to yahoo email address to a Friendster account then to our first meeting at a bookstore then to a birthday party then to spending over an hour of talking at the bay led to what I can call a once in a lifetime one in a million best ever thing to happen whirlwind romance. From there on, we’ve been together and enjoyed each other’s company eating pizzas, going to families and friends and laughing at ridiculous things. I rarely have the right instinct about things, but this time I was dead on. Now we are getting married in 2010 and looking forward to having our first baby!

http://www.mywedding.com/jonamyk

A commentary on PRC Chairman’s Reply to My Letter

This is in response to the Commission’s reply to my letter request.

My comment are as follows:

1. “xxx The professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, and registered master electrician shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to this listed membership in the duty integrated and accredited electrical engineering association only upon payment of the required membership fees and dues” — the commission and the IIEE are two separate bodies. how can the commission allow the renewal of license card be a part of the “benefits and privileges” which to me is an act of usurpation of Congress’ legislative power and a blatant abuse of quasi-legislative power of BEE?

2. Section 25 Article III of RA7920 does not specifically hold the engineers by law to be a member of an organization before they can practice and obtain their licenses. The law is very clear: “Every professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer and registered master electrician upon registration with the Board as such, shall ipso facto, become a member of the integrated national organization”. In a layman’s terms, we are as such, “by the fact itself”, become a member of the integrated national organization when we register to the board. Which is what I want to do, register and renew my license with the Board but not to IIEE.

3. The Board resolution completely reverses the whole process mentioned in item 2 above.

I’ve been tempted to respond to his letter however reading his penultimate paragraph “Until and unless the Courts shall have declared Board Res. No. 36 as unconstitutional or not valid, we will have no recourse other than to continue enforcing this policy”, it will be a futile act to do it unless I see a court’s action. Which I am unable to do because of my location.

Please take note that the Chairman used the word “policy” which by law is not mandatory and is merely guide actions toward those that are most likely to achieve a desired outcome.

I just hope that concerned government officials will take heed of this unholy practices implemented at the Commission.

ACER vs HP

Thinking of buying an ACER laptop? Think again. While their product may be one of the best if not super but their after CUSTOMER AFTER SALES SERVICE is for me is unsatisfactorily crap.

My company bought a laptop in Manila and brought it in Botswana for our use. Unfortunately, it suddenly stopped working in less than a month. With so much confidence, because we were told in Manila that the unit carries an international warranty and that in case of breakdown, it will be serviced anywhere in the world. So in Botswana we called on all possible distributors and we first got into Computer Office Supplies who were kind enough to direct us to Kalahari Associates. So we called and told them the story and off we were told to come with the unit so that they could attend to it. So we brought it in and was told that they have to consult the ITW in South Africa. Then we received a call saying that they could not honor the ITW because it was not bought in Africa and the unit should be sent to South Africa at our cost. And to return, Acer's ITW in SA to shoulder the cost of returning it back to us. 

So then we were told that in order for it to be processed, we were told to log in to the website and do a log-call. The website does not work! So then we were told to go to Incredible Connection. So we went there on Saturday and took the unit. Alas, they know nothing of the arrangement and was asked to come back on Monday. We didn't come back on Monday but called the girl and we were told that they don't do any services or attendance unless the unit is bought from their stores. Great service, eh!?

Whilst doing the African route, we tried contacting ADI-Asianic at Park Square in Makati and found their website. Sent an email but no ANSWER! Tried calling the phone, couldn't go through! Great service, eh!?

So, then we decided enough of this crappy procedure. Let's wait for someone to go back to Manila to bring the unit personally. So, came our representative and gave the unit only to be given a lousy service again. Arrogant sales lady who couldn't even give a good assurance to alleviate our pains of buying a crappy unit. Great service, eh!?

Now, here comes the good one!

My fiancee bought an HP laptop more than a year ago. When it broke down, she called on HP service center. The first incident was when the battery broke down and HP immediately sent UPS to collect the unit and repaired it and returned the unit in superb condition. No questions asked. Second incident, just recently. Her computer won't start unless you turned it off for long hours and take it to cool down.  Same way, she called HP Service center and much to her surprise she's told that her motherboard was still under warranty. And HP immediately sent UPS to collect it and in less than a week replaced the board and returned it to the user. No questions asked and no cost to the customer. That's CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! SUPERB!!!

How To Start Online Business

First, you must know:

1. It's Hard. The hardest part is the start-up stage. And sometimes it's a pain specially when you commit mistake. However, just like any other mistakes, you learn from it. And make sure you take note of your mistakes and learn from it.
2. It's not cheap. A lot of sites in the web will offer you the moon and the stars and huge amount of money in return. It's not always true, unless you will be willing to take the risk and gamble. But when you gamble, most often than not you lose, so better not take it unless you're very much sure of what you are doing. These sites will normally entice you to sign in or buy some stuff from them. They are great internet marketers, and beware. When the sites wants a piece of that thing in your wallet, think and stop. You might want to think it over and look for alternative sites that can offer free.
3. Practice. If you are a newbie in the internet web thing, you better learn carefully and study hard. And you will learn from browsing different sites especially those sites that offer income.
4. Patience. Internet eats time and not just 30min/day that most sites say, it's more than that. It's normally 3hrs more if you're really hooked into it. The trouble is, when you're hooked up with enjoyment, you would hardly notice the time and the next thing you realize, you've been on it for more than 6hours!

How to start?

First, practice, practice and practice.

1. You can create your website and get the feel of what you really wanted and how you would like your website to look like. I would suggest www.bloggers.com. CreatE your blog. Start with it. The beauty of www.bloggers.com, it gives you free hand to customize your site. And the best of all it's totally FREE.
2. You can populate your blog with endless stories and pictures of yours.
3. The best way to customize your blog is by adding gadgets. To do that you must go to your dashboard and click "layout" tab. And the most gadgets that I've used are: HTML/Java Script, Picture and AdSense.
4. To make your blog earn money on its own, use AdSense by google. It's one of the gadgets that you can install. You earn by way of Pay-Per-Click. Take note: Don't Click your own AdSense, you will be banned by AdSense. The Clickers should be legitimate probable customers and/or buyers. And that means the click should not come from your own IP Address.
5. You can also create and place HTML/Java Script and Pictures that will link up to sites that pay commissions on every leads or sales that they get from potential clients/customer/buyer.
6. You can go to http://members.affiliatebot.com/620022/ or click on the banner for Affiliatebot on the right side to find out more.
7. You can also click on Zeelog http://zeelog.com/myk0507?idAff=14 to find more exciting stuff that will make your website earn additionaly income even when you're sleeping.
8. You can further add to your webcode by going to http://www.linkbucks.com/referral/63113 to generate a link code for a pop-up. This will require a extra knowledge on HTML. But don't worry, if you go to the link there's a help that will guide you thru.
9. There's also an external way of earning online income. This I find the easiest way. Just sign in to site that pays you per Ads that you click on their web. To find out more, you can click this link: http://www.clixsense.com/?2651702.
10. Sign up and Sign Up. Don't be afraid. For as long as the site doesn't ask for money, go on and sign up.
11. Maintain a site for at least one or two. Maintaining more than two sites will probably stuff up your brain and chances you will forget about it and forget the passwords.
12. And finally, where do you put your money? There are sites that offer receiving payment online. One is Paypal. Go to this link to sign in https://www.paypal.com/bw/mrb/pal=Y2R8KBXXF9F5Y. This site will require a credit card and will initially ask you to pay $1.95 but will be refunded to you as soon as your account is verified. The good thing about this is this site is accepted by most online businesses.
13. And finally, increase your traffic by announcing your site.
14. Once you're done with this and gotten tired of free webhosted site, you may now want to try your real website. There are cheap sites that offer low monthly payment. You can click on the Ultra Web Hosting found on the right side of this blog. There is also a webhosting site that offer the cheapest at $3.95/month. Go to this link to find out more http://www.hostazar.com/billing/aff.php?aff=462.

15. You can also hit this cool link to earn extra money: http://www.cashcrate.com/1152255
16. Finally, a word of advise: Good Luck! To your wealth! Our Wealth.

PS: One favor, if you've read this last line, you've gone this far and my only favor, pass this message by asking your friends to click www.mbda-mycoffeetable.blogspot.com and click and click on the AdSense and those banners on my blog. You don't don't have to sign in or buy. Just CLICK and CLICK!

An Everlasting Love

Name the Author and the Title of this classic Poem:

I can not love you with a love
that out compares the boundless sea,
For that were false, as no such love
And no such ocean can ever be.

But I can love you with a love.
As finite as the wave that dies.
And dying holds from crest to crest,
the blue of everlasting skies.