Carbon Credits

An interesting topic came up in the show, The Bottomline with Boy Abunda.

Boy Abunda was interviewing L-Ray Villafuerte, Camsur's maverick governor. Both were discussing the province's ongoing project, a plan to plant 12 million trees by 2012. Asked about the motive behind this, Villafuerte mentions carbon credits and how it can provide the necessary economic impetus for green projects, such as his province's tree planting movement.

Simply put, carbon credit refer to (as per Wikipedia) "any tradeable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide".

In step with the Kyoto protocol, nations have pledged to lower their overall greenhouse gas emissions after a given time period. In other words, countries have set themselves their own limits as to how much pollution they can spew out without severely compromising their economic development. However, industrialized nations who cannot or will not do so can opt to purchase "carbon credits" from nations who have lowered theirs. This way, they can technically stick to their limits by owning another country's right to foul the air.

That's where Villafuerte steps in. By planting a dozen million trees, he hopes to sell industrialized nations carbon credits, an ingenious way of preserving both the local environment and making preservation efforts sustainable.

I don't know how he will make such a project feasible though (as far as I know, measuring how much carbon dioxide a hectare planted with several certain tree species can absorb isn't an exact science yet). But he has definitely paved the way for how other green initiatives can prosper.

Going Mecha

When I was young, I was a Gundam fan, like any other boy my age. My first taste of mecha anime was with the Gundam Wing series, which, despite its dark themes, was still pretty cool to watch. 

Like the rest, I also tried to draw and copy these robots, which I did quite well. I remember having several trading Gundam cards, cards which were usually sold outside school, and spending hours sketching figures, trying to make the legs and faces of my Gundams look right. 

Early on, I already imagined myself creating a comics series of my own, centered on mecha. I was in college then and I wanted to emulate what the Gundam series did: portray mature themes in a medium that was accessible and entertaining to people of my age group. One particular idea I had was weaving a story based on an alternate reality reflecting the more popular political trends of the period. What came out, after weeks of daydreaming, was a rough synopsis for a mecha graphic novel, titled 'The Adarna Chronicles'.

Looking back, the story I concocted then was pretty naive (What do I expect from a first year college student?). 

It centers on the intertwined lives of five elite pilots of the MAIAS (Mechanized and Armed Infantry Assault Suits. Wow. I can even remember my coined acronyms until now), over-sized robots which have garnered legendary reputations in a Philippines now torn apart by civil war. Various factions, each represented by a MAIA pilot, have conspired to break the country into several states. My main character is a rebel representing the Muslim secessionist movement. Another character, and his love interest, is a UN peacekeeper whose allegiance to peace is tested by her Lumad community's desire for autonomy and her own struggle for identity. The next character is a hotshot lieutenant from the Visayas, who is an icon for the separatist coalition (because of his numerous military exploits) but is secretly harboring doubts about his purpose and mission. The fourth character is the lieutenant's second-in-command, an aspiring soldier from the Cordilleras who grapples with the loss of her innocence as she faces the horrors of the war. Finally, the fifth character is a brilliant ex-general, with a tragic past, who is called upon by Imperial Manila to counter the insurgency threat.

As to whether I'll pursue this idea at all and bring it to reality by making an actual graphic novel, I honestly don't know. Maybe, I'm just too old to meddle with this stuff. Or maybe I'm simply too busy with more pressing matters.

Stereogram

Do you know what a stereogram is?

How about an anagram?

An ambigram perhaps?

Let me tell you what they are: they are loads of fun.

I miss my childhood (nostalgic mood once again).

Text Messages 31

GF: Luv, nagkaon kog calamay karon tas nakadom-dom dayun ko nimo.
BF: (kilig) Why man? Tungod kay sweet ko?
GF: Di oi! Mura man gud kag nawong ug bagol.
Edwin Gutierrez, March 21, 2011

Always stretch your heart and expand your love. So that it touches not only those whom you give it to, but also those who need it so much.
Mary Ann Andicoy, March 27, 2011

A nun rides a taxi.
Taxi Driver: Sister, it's always my dream to kiss a nun. Can you grant my wish?
Nun: Okay. But, first, you should be Catholic and, second, you have to be single.
Taxi Driver: I'm Catholic and I'm single.
So the nun fulfills the driver's wish and kisses him.
Taxi Driver: Thank you sister but I must confess. I lied to you. I'm married and I'm a Muslim.
Nun: That's okay. I'm on my way to a costume party and my real name is Dodong. Good kisser ka ha!
Edwin Gutierrez, March 30, 2011

Here's a fact: Did you konw taht hmuan brian can raed wrods wtih lteters rmubeld? As lnog as teh frist & lsat lteters of teh wrods aer at tehir porepr palecs...bceuase teh barin olny itnreperts teh wrdos and not teh seplilng of a ceratin wrod. fnatsatic ins't it?
Mary Ann Andicoy, April 5, 2011

Every king was once a crying baby and every great building was once a drawing. It's not about where you are today but it's where you will be tomorrow. Be inspired!
Ate Cathy, April 7, 2011

Sa Match class
Teacher: Kung naa koy usa ka piraso nga karne ug tungaon nako, pila na ka piraso?
Buknoy: Duwa Ma'am!
Teacher: Ug tungaon pa nako pareho?
Buknoy: Upat na Ma'am!
Teacher: Tungaon pa jud nako?
Buknoy: Walo na Ma'am!
Teacher: Tungaon pa jud nako?
Buknoy: Sixteen na Ma'am!
Teacher: Tungaon pa jud nako!
Buknoy: Thirty two na Ma'am!
Teacher: Kung tungaon pa jud?
Buknoy: Sixty four! (suko na)
Teacher: Ug tungaon pa jud nako ug kaduha?
Buknoy: Ipagaling na lang na Ma'am ke malangan nata!
Edwin Gutierrez, April 17, 2011

Boy: Miss, pwede mag-ask? Unsa nay time?
Girl: Mag-ask ka unsa nay time? Tas mag-ask dayun ka sa akong name? Tas mangayo dayun kag number? Tas manguyab dayun ka? Tas pakipot sugton ra dayun taka? Tas manghagad kag date? Tas dad-on dayun ko nimo sa bisan asa? Tas naay mahitabo nato? Tas mabuntis dayun ko? Tas biyaan ra ko nimo? Di ko mo-ingon ui!
Boy: Whoooaahh! Grabe ka-advance ba anang reloha...
Edwin Gutierrez, May 1, 2011

Graduation Speech:
A fleasance evening to all, to me, to you, they and everyone. Tonight, I am graduation, and I'm froud of me. I invitation you all to eat our house because I know, someday, I will eat your house too. I will die ten chickens, 7 girls, and 3 boys, to eat you all and I will ask my father to cook my mother. I'm suring you will come because I'm graduation. Thanks you.
Edwin Gutierrez, May 5, 2011

True happiness is not about a big laugh or tears of joy. It's about a simple smile whenever you remember people who made your life simple but completely happy.
Ate Cathy, May 5, 2011

What if love is for sale? Can we afford to buy it? How much do you think is the price of love? How about those who cannot afford it? Maybe, that's why God made it for free so everybody can spend or give it freely.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 10, 2011

Metrosexuality

Metrosexual: A straight man who embraces the homosexual lifestyle, i.e. refined tastes in clothing, excessive use of designer hygiene products, etc.   -Urban Dictionary   Okay. I get pedicures because my toenails are ugly. I get manicures because my job requires me to involuntarily expose my fingernails to other people. I sometimes shave my legs when I go out in shorts because hairy legs are unsightly. I shave my underarms when I go to the beach. I use an array of skin and facial products. I wash my hands after going to the comfort room. I maybe fastidiously hygienic but being clean never hurt anyone.   For some people, this behavior would brand me as a homosexual and a narcissist. But I beg to differ. I'm not attracted to guys so that makes me straight. Plus, the last time I checked, taking care of my appearance isn't a mark of an egotistic mind.   I insist that I am instead a metrosexual but I don't fit the term just yet. If I were to base my criteria on the definition above, I'm only a 'semi-metrosexual': I don't have any fashion sense and I can vaguely understand gay lingo.   So why am I saying this? Well, this is just my feeble attempt at clarifying my behavior to other people, who would insinuate that these characteristics have something to do with my sexuality or lack thereof.