GreenBucks

Ilang maikiling kwento mula sa mga mananakay sa MRT:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Text messages ng isang isang lalaki sa kanyang asawa:

10:30pm Pauwi na ako nasa MRT Buendia train na. Busina na lang ako pagdating.

11:34pm Nasa MRT Quezon Ave pa lang kami. Nakasakay sa MRT Buendia mga 10:30pm mag-1 hour na kami sa loob ng train, puro hinto tapos ang tagal kung huminto.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JEM, 18, taga QC, estudyante. “I was listening to the songs in my phone when the music suddenly stopped. I thought my phone’s battery juice ran out. It turned out someone stole my phone from my bag! Bad experience!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CL, 45, taga QC, business woman. “Naku, pag may meeting ako sa Makati dapat lunch time, nag-MRT na lang ako kasi traffic sa EDSA. Mas mabilis pa at di ako pagod magdrive. Pagbaba naman ng mga station may mga taxi na.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RP, 29, taga bandang South, office admin sa Ortigas. “Isang di ko makalimutang experience  sa MRT nung madukutan ako ng wallet. Nandun ang money ko siyempre, buti na lang may extra ako sa bag kaya may pamasahe ako pauwi. Ang masaklap pa, yung credit card at ATM madaming kailangang gawin pag-file sa bank. Wala naman ako magawa kundi sumakay dito kasi ito lang pinakamabilis na way papunta sa masasakyan ko pauwi sa amin.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JF, 45, teacher taga Quezon City. “Every Friday may sched ako sa Makati, 1-3pm. Wala naman ako naexperience na hindi OK pagsakay ng MRT kasi patay na oras yun, pwede ka pa nga pumili kung saan mo gusto umupo. Pag-uwi bandang 3:30pm, di pa rin puno although kung minsan nakatayo na ako at usually sa Cubao station, nakakaupo na ako.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hindi magiging hassle-free ang pagbyahe sa MRT dahil sa kabi-kabilang problema kaya dapat laging handa kung magkaroon ng aberya.

Anu-ano nga ba ang dapat mong dala-dala para maing kaiga-igaya ang pagsakay mo sa MRT kahit may aberya?

1. Music player at ear phones upang makapakinig ng music na pang-alis ng inip at stress. Huwag gamitin ang mobile phone na music player dahil baka madukot ito siksikan ng mga tao. At least, ang music player, maliit at handy.
2. Wet tissue o alcohol panlinis ng kamay pagbaba ng MRT. Dahil hindi pwedeng hindi humawak sa metal poles at handles (kapag sobrang siksikan kahit hindi ka humawak hindi ka matutumba) habang umaandar ang train, kailangan mag-sanitize upang makaiwas sa sakit.
3. Pamaypay. Aircon nga ang mga tren ngunit kapag sobrang puno, mainit na. Kapag siksikan, itago na lang ang pamaypay dahil walang ispasyo para magamit ito.
4. Panyo pantakip sa ilong at bibig kapag siksikan na at hininga na ng katabi ang nalalanghap.
5. Bag na may zipper ang gamitin upang hindi madukutan.
6. Gums or candies gaya ng menthol candies o breath mints upang manatiling mabango ang hininga dahil matagal-tagal na hindi bumubuka ang bibig lalo na kung walang kausap.
7. Pasensiya. Patience is a must kapag sumasakay sa MRT. Magbaon ng marami niyan dahil sigurado, iyan ay kailangan-kailangan.

Narito ang buong artikulo sa Philippine Online Chronicles.

No Comments »

I remember vividly what happened during the big quake back in the 90s. At the dorm where I was staying, we had to stay on the ground floor so each of us brought down our mattress and bedding. We prayed like never prayed before and didn’t sleep until we were extremely exhausted.We were ready to get out of the building, just in case.

I was so worried about my family who I just saw a few days before the big quake. We had to wait till the phone lines were restored before we were able to call our parents because mobile phones were still non-existent during this time and so do Social Media and the internet.

Re Japan earthquake yesterday, a lot of agencies have started mobilizing their resources on how to help Japan. A few minutes after the quake struck, people all over the world bore witness to the devastation. And a few minutes after the tragedy, people started to find ways on how they could help through online connections.

Wow, technology sure does work wonders in times like this. I just hope some scrupulous people won’t take advantage of this situation and create scams where they will benefit.

It happens, sad though it may be.

No Comments »

Homeless NY Father Finds Daughter Through Twitter says the headline I read in one of the first sites that announced this good news this morning. father is Mr. Danny Morales who found his daughter through Twitter in a project called Underheard in New York.

Underheard in New York is a project where homeless people are given a prepaid mobile phone to keep a record of their lives.

Mr. Morales posted a photo of his daughter Sarah Rivera in Twitter.

Certainly good news for loved ones who have not been in touched with each other for years.

I’m sure people who read their story were moved to tears. Who would have thought technology, specifically social media, would be the way for long lost loved ones to see each other again. Continue Reading »

No Comments »

Futbol fans will be glued to their web tv and/or televised games of the World Cup Final on July 11, 2010.

Scientists and solar eclipse enthusiasts however are looking forward to seeing a total solar eclipse on July 11 at Cook Islands. The solar eclipse which will probably last for 5 minutes and 20 seconds will start at sunrise.

Still plenty of time to watch the World Cup Final. I might even try to watch both, in a while.

Read more here.

No Comments »

In the USA: The House passed on Sunday the Senate’s health care reform bill and a package of measures meant to reconcile differences between the Senate bill and the one it passed last year. Click here to read more.

Why am I interested in this topic when I am half a world away?

A few weeks from today, this country will be having its 2010 Philippine national election. Everyone’s talking about “change“, “reform“, being intelligent voters, computerization of manual voting and counting system as well as voting for the right person who represents the values you hold dear.

We have to admit though, election/campaign time is one of the times we hear what we want to hear, we are promised what we think we deserve and yes, we live in a dreamland, thinking of promised land beyond the campaign period.

Improved health care is one of the more obvious choice of promises being made to be delivered after being  elected.

One of my criteria in choosing the candidate I will vote for would be the one who will prioritize population control.

I hope these priorities will become a reality and not just promises sworn on thin air.

No Comments »

No Comments »