Whew

Good Morning!!!!! 

Yesterday was Sunday. And I was up bright and early in the morning to pop the croissants in the oven (I had slaved the whole night making the dough). Before getting ready for mass, begotten son and I enjoyed some quality time together while dear husband took this shot. 

And even though the croissants came out heavier and tasted like french bread (because I used bread flour, instead of pastry flour), I am not deterred from trying this again. And although I cannot find any pastry on this side of france, I shall try a suggestion from Julia Child to mix 2 parts cake flour to 1 part bread flour. Or was it equal parts? Will check later. 

A lovely Sunday.

Today was a Monday. Probably still is a Monday. And I have been in and out of sessions with the august body of Sangguniang Barangay the whole day. Well, the afternoon was actually with the Sannguniang Bayan on a joint hearing with the Committee on Landed Estate as we are in a boundary battle with another barangay. The only thing agreed on was the wait for the date of the ocular inspection that will have all parties present and initiated by the Committee. I will for sure post photos of that. 

I also found out that I have to attend a 3-days seminar in another city conducted by the Commission on Audit. This will be about Barangay Accounting Systems, and attended by all Barangay Captains, Treasurers, Record Keepers and Committee on Appropriations Chairmen (that would be me). And that it starts the day after tomorrow.

So tomorrow night, hubby, begotten son and I will pack our bags for the trip to civilization. We never leave home without the baby, and we also look forward to seeing some city lights. And the malls are not that bad. But really, hubby loves going to the city so we can catch a movie at the movie theaters. For really, there is none in this whole province. We are 3-4 hours away from every movie house. 

Small pleasures are pleasures just the same.

Peace. Love. Dream. Goodnight.

Hhhhahahaha

And I thought I was nuts.

Check this out. You have got to read this girl's "The Semi-Communist Republic of Me". It is intelligently humorous (with a point). My favorite is her SCRRT (Semi-Communist Republic Railway Transit) Line. There is hope after all.

Good morning, this is news from your world

photo from Philippine Inquirer website

Another typhoon is wrecking havouc again in the Philippines. I pray for all those areas that are greatly affected at this time. Weather is beyond human power :-( but I pray.

The weather is really getting scarier and scarier now. If you have not watched Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth", maybe it'd be a good idea if you check it out. I insist. I know it is already in the Philippines because Greenpeace had a screening of it last November 22 in SM Megamall.

The purpose of this movie is really to get laws passed that focus on environmental protection, as there seems to be a problem with that here in the US. On December 11, 1997 Al Gore signed the Kyoto protocol, but this is the position of the US for now. The United States (the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases) and Australia have signed but have not ratified up to this day. Russia finally ratified last 2004.

I applaud France's prime minister for proposing to tax imports from non-signers of the Kyoto plan.

As for us in the Philippines, in fairness to our legislators, have been trying to do what we can to ease global warming. We signed the protocol on April 15, 1998 and ratified on November 20, 2003. The Biofuels Act , as of last Wednesday, has been ratified by the HOUSE and by evening was ratified by the Senate. Please read it. If the implementation will go as planned, it will change so much of our everday lives. And in even more "in fairness", the main author of this bill is Bukidnon 3rd District Rep. Miguel Zubiri.

I am also very proud that the Environmental champion in the House is Bukidnon 1st District Rep. Neric Acosta. He authored the The Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999 and tirelessly addresses environmental issues. He is also against the dividing of Bukidnon into two provinces, butting heads with Gov. Jose Zubiri, who ironically is the father of Miguel. Miguel was the one who passed the bill for the division in Congress. The wonderful ironies of Philippine politics. Let's just say I am happy that Bukidnon Representatives have authored important environmental policies and leave it at that. For 'nao.

And that is it for early morning news. Go now and check out "An Inconvenient Truth" and may you have a new lease on life.

Vote Selling

It's elections in the Philippines again next year. I think this time we should make a change.

VOTE BUYING is so outdated.

this time:

VOTE SELLING.

Yeah. Isn't it about time Filipinos realize that their vote is so important that politicians want to buy it? Raise your price people! Have some pride! Sure, sell it! They are so willing to buy it.

Yeah. Ask for a scholarship for your children! Ask for free lunch in public schools for the whole year! Ask for a trip to see the sea. Ask for a trip to Jollibee for your whole clan. Raise your price! Advertise what your selling your vote for! Place signs outside your house! Write it on your shirt when you go meet a politician. Yeah! Be honest! Let's all be honest! So even if there is whatever anomaly, no one will complain it was a dishonest election!

And be smart. You know how politicians won't give you the money for your vote unless their local mole in your purok has proven (thru carbon voting, or whatever crazy means) that you did vote for them? Well, don't even go to the polls until you see a contract of some sort for what was promised. Carbon copied, filed a hundred times and signed ten times.

Yeah. If you must buy. Then allow the people to sell.

It's a free market in May. Come one. Come all.

Crony capitalism

So I finally learned the word to use in describing our economy.

I asked my teacher a question today that he actually wanted to give me an answer to, but couldn't (although I sense he will try to find out since it greatly disturbed him that he didn't know of specific cases in history. He started mumbling words to himself, looking up at the ceiling...mentioning a REVOLUTION, no...that didn't necessarily work he said...hmmm he'll have to think some more...but no, he had no answer):

"Is there a cure for extreme corruption?"

No, I was not trying to be a smart ass by asking that question.

I asked that because I WANTED TO KNOW. And I was sad. None of my classmates know I am from the Philippines. They probably think, "Oh my God, she's so like, like into this class and shit." Hahhahahahha. And I am back exactly at square 1.

I'm afraid I shall loose my mind trying to find cures for ailments that is not in my control. The world will turn. Everything happens for a reason. But Oh! the joys of finding an ANSWER. Any answer! I shall never stop.
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Crony capitalism: Used to describe a capitalist economy in which government or corporate officials and insiders provide lucrative opportunities for their friends and relatives.