Tonight's rant may be inspired by three things, or not. First, my walking along my child's school pathway and seeing a row of about four dead honeybees. On the other side of this path is a flower bed of different colored blooms. The school is located on hilly land, blessed with a moderate climate and vegetation is abundant. I wondered if their deaths were part of the normal cycle of honeybee life...to suck their last blossom's nectar and then just pass out on the side. Or, if the recent almost-daily burning of grass (again by the big property developers...see March 2011 post) had anything to do with their demise. I did read somewhere that honeybees' navigation has been affected by the world...
Second...my child's current piano piece, "Honeybee" and her second visit to a farm animal and botanical ''zoo" with a honeybee section have made her wildly passionate about them. Third, and this is related to the first and second...I just swatted one inside my house today. The child found it flying against a closed window. As we were in a hurry to leave and I worried about not seeing it and it buzzing around later when we were asleep...I immediately did the deed. I apologized, actually apologized to the bee and explained my action to the child. She only echoed what I usually tell her ..."it won't harm you if you don't harm it". She was then worried it might harm me in retribution. I was worried about how it found its way inside.
Well, my child hasn't grasped the effect of "death", but her worries about retribution are not unfounded. Honeybees are probably too sweet (sorry) to do that...but the reality is, they go, humans go. It's not retribution, it's self-inflicted.
And this is the latest out there:
http://tvnz.co.nz/sunday-news/honey-bees-under-attack-5847035
24 February, 2014
13 February, 2014
01 January, 2014
21 December, 2013
15 November, 2013
Body in Sta. Rosa; Spirit--mind, heart in the Visayas
Been pausing, avoiding blogging or thinking of this town for awhile...just as many of us are, to do our own little thing for those who are suffering from the super typhoon...
...also just grabbed "emergency blankets" from True Value, at 30% off...no survival kit in order for my household...just a whistle always in my purse, and now, without a thought, the blanket...they're those mylar (space-balloon) materials, which pack very lightly and tiny, yet protect the body by keeping heat in, water off...dad said go ahead, get your own, none for him. He could not imagine what I would need it for. I know I used one over a decade ago in a tent on a mountain. But yes, it's one of those things I hope I will never need. When dad asked me what for, I thought, well, what for indeed? It's hot here.
I do not know what contingency plans are in this city for such a catastrophe.
In the time between the Bohol earthquake and before Typhoon Yolanda was even whispered about...an expatriate neighbor asked me: "Do you know what you're going to do or where you would go if a big earthquake happened here?"
Her question drew a blank.
Her family is visiting Bohol again from Europe this Christmas. "It could happen anywhere!", she said in reply to another expat who questioned if they were not fearful. She reminded us of the flooding that had just occured in her first world country.
She is right. We are away from the Laguna Bay, but we are all within the "Pacific Ring of Fire". We have the Taal volcano and Mt. Makiling. There are fault lines around us...and as Bohol taught us, there are fault lines yet to be discovered. It can happen anywhere, natural disasters.
What worries me is the response.
...also just grabbed "emergency blankets" from True Value, at 30% off...no survival kit in order for my household...just a whistle always in my purse, and now, without a thought, the blanket...they're those mylar (space-balloon) materials, which pack very lightly and tiny, yet protect the body by keeping heat in, water off...dad said go ahead, get your own, none for him. He could not imagine what I would need it for. I know I used one over a decade ago in a tent on a mountain. But yes, it's one of those things I hope I will never need. When dad asked me what for, I thought, well, what for indeed? It's hot here.
I do not know what contingency plans are in this city for such a catastrophe.
In the time between the Bohol earthquake and before Typhoon Yolanda was even whispered about...an expatriate neighbor asked me: "Do you know what you're going to do or where you would go if a big earthquake happened here?"
Her question drew a blank.
Her family is visiting Bohol again from Europe this Christmas. "It could happen anywhere!", she said in reply to another expat who questioned if they were not fearful. She reminded us of the flooding that had just occured in her first world country.
She is right. We are away from the Laguna Bay, but we are all within the "Pacific Ring of Fire". We have the Taal volcano and Mt. Makiling. There are fault lines around us...and as Bohol taught us, there are fault lines yet to be discovered. It can happen anywhere, natural disasters.
What worries me is the response.
08 November, 2013
Philippine Wild Ducks
...are not found in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. But part of Nuvali is...and where I'm heading is this---it is disturbing to see a young architect's photos of herself in action and proudly displaying endemic wild ducks she and her father shot...the connection is this...she as an architect has posted/tweeted about admiring Nuvali and going into so-called sustainable, green, architecture. Do you see the disturbing connection?
I am almost sure she is not the only one whose proclamations about environmental stewardship contradict their actions. I myself cannot claim living completely green. But the concern is...how sincere and how real are other "developers" really. How can one of them truly admire and believe in Nuvali's thrust (including a bird sanctuary); yet act against it? In a most cruel, deliberate manner--shooting birds. Wild, protected, species.
Not even going into how the father is an old politician. Interesting how his actions should be a surprise. I expect nothing honorable from him, what with his personal lifestyle, his relationships, his offspring. Sadly, reading about their wild duck hunt on GMA news only feels desperate---that he will still "get away with it", you know? And although there is outrage, we are not seeing the outrage of the sort that has people charging at him on the streets. His image belongs to that old "guns, goons and gold" generation; few people of her generation realize this anymore. Thank goodness for the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and also Howie Severino of GMA network.
Well, maybe justice will be served in the next life. or now...who knows. I mean, she also is an aviatrix, for one thing (I actually admire her achievements in both fields, especially in her ability to fly; so sayang in the light of the hunting and bragging about it, though). Ever heard of a bird strike? Then there might be bird flu. Mother Earth's vengeance, you know?
I am almost sure she is not the only one whose proclamations about environmental stewardship contradict their actions. I myself cannot claim living completely green. But the concern is...how sincere and how real are other "developers" really. How can one of them truly admire and believe in Nuvali's thrust (including a bird sanctuary); yet act against it? In a most cruel, deliberate manner--shooting birds. Wild, protected, species.
Not even going into how the father is an old politician. Interesting how his actions should be a surprise. I expect nothing honorable from him, what with his personal lifestyle, his relationships, his offspring. Sadly, reading about their wild duck hunt on GMA news only feels desperate---that he will still "get away with it", you know? And although there is outrage, we are not seeing the outrage of the sort that has people charging at him on the streets. His image belongs to that old "guns, goons and gold" generation; few people of her generation realize this anymore. Thank goodness for the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and also Howie Severino of GMA network.
Well, maybe justice will be served in the next life. or now...who knows. I mean, she also is an aviatrix, for one thing (I actually admire her achievements in both fields, especially in her ability to fly; so sayang in the light of the hunting and bragging about it, though). Ever heard of a bird strike? Then there might be bird flu. Mother Earth's vengeance, you know?
07 November, 2013
Exiting Fort Sto. Domingo
Kid's (bouncy) eye view of almost seeing the exit of Ms. Napoles from Fort Sto. Domingo for her Senate date this morning. Traffic along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay highway was probably not disrupted. Network cameras scramble on the left side of the road perpendicular to the entrance road.
The only new changes in the area ever since her presence are the new, styled and uniform "white corn for sale" signs on the road...seemingly sponsored; and Crown Asia Valenza's Christmas tree and animated display.
How undisturbed this barangay is; it's nice this way.
I don't mean to sound shallow or make light of current events. I'm just as outraged, upset and frustrated as most Filipinos. She has angered me, the senators involved have disappointed and angered from way back. I feel sorry for the Education Secretary, Bro. Armin, whose efforts at managing the DepEd budget were lauded recently. I weep for him and all our children. He has had to make do and build classrooms with the help of private companies. The situation is still dire. How do students make sense of this deprivation? With today's circus, we are deluded into thinking we are getting educated on legal processes. What exactly, what are we really teaching the children?
The only new changes in the area ever since her presence are the new, styled and uniform "white corn for sale" signs on the road...seemingly sponsored; and Crown Asia Valenza's Christmas tree and animated display.
How undisturbed this barangay is; it's nice this way.
I don't mean to sound shallow or make light of current events. I'm just as outraged, upset and frustrated as most Filipinos. She has angered me, the senators involved have disappointed and angered from way back. I feel sorry for the Education Secretary, Bro. Armin, whose efforts at managing the DepEd budget were lauded recently. I weep for him and all our children. He has had to make do and build classrooms with the help of private companies. The situation is still dire. How do students make sense of this deprivation? With today's circus, we are deluded into thinking we are getting educated on legal processes. What exactly, what are we really teaching the children?
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