Mountain Biking

Have you been in an uphill climb with a bicycle? Eking it out by engulfing more air to reach the top? Trying to expend all your energy, sweating it out to pull yourself up a few more meters and seems you will not last long to conquer the great height? But in just three paces … you’re there! Draining all the fluids in you and … at last all the excitements and sense of fulfillment realizing that you are in the top of the world! The great joy one must enjoy anyone can afford!

I have been in mountain biking this summer and in the last five weeks I can feel the great improvement on my health. Before, I’m easily get tired, with aching joints, unsound sleep, heavy weight, and great mark exhaustion as the result of aging process. Now, I’m full of energy like a rampaging bull ready to dominate in the arena of less capable competing players –ready to charge against all odds!

Mountain biking is my medicine. I realized this when I was having a short jog on a well-paved uphill road near my barangay residence. I observed that when I get tired, I just simply stop and squat beside the road. Then in a few more walks I go back home with something still lacking in my exertion. In cycling, you can’t just stop. You will fall. While on the road moreover, I noticed several cyclists pedaling uphill passed by me and it brought to my mind, why can’t I join them; see more views and breath fresh air while exercising?

When I got home, I fixed an aging bike of my son –a BMX Carraro by brand or by patch- instead of buying a new one. Seeing the bicycle frame is still good, I decided to install a Shimano gear transmission system, replaced the 26 x2.10 worn-out tire to 26 x 1.95 sizes to lessen the appearance of bulky and heavy type inasmuch as I’ll be using it in a smooth and well-paved road. I replaced the screeching bearing and applied the necessary lubrication and then found myself pedaling on the level road. On the first few days, I biked only up to the foot of the mountain road. The next week, to a quarter climb, then to the half climb level. On this stage, I’ve been meeting new friends with remarkable health recovery experiences and encouraged me to stretch more and go to the higher level. I said: “This is enough for me, I’m only a newbie, a neophyte; and I’m satisfied with the great improvement on my health.” However, I tried to keep on although I’m having an aching muscle legs and signs of weariness. But later, I increased my stamina and resistance to fatigue and then preparing for the challenge.

I do the biking daily, 2-3 hours a day and maintain a high gear on an uphill grind to strengthen my leg muscles. One day, I met an old man biking up and down the hill while we are taking a rest with Rene –my cycling buddy and an old hand cycling aficionado. Likewise, he encouraged me to go up the mountain, the same way the old man did. Rene told me that this man we met, was already 63 years of age, have a heart trouble and undergone a by-pass operation. But now, this man is already very strong and he can go back and forth to the mountain six rounds before taking a rest. We had the chance to talk to him and he said he now seldom see his doctor after spending thousand of dollars in his heart operation. His blood pressure which he regularly monitors is normal. He also no longer takes medicine but keep a daily sustenance of vitamins and mineral supplements.

With the endurance of this man which served me an inspiration, I steadily improved myself and now am ready to challenge the great height.

I am planning and eager to reach the famed “Daanghari” via the treacherous Victoria Hills road. Daanghari is a cyclists’ haven. Cyclists from Alabang, Muntinlupa City; Metro-Manila; Cavite; and Laguna converge everyday in an early morning work-out. Oh! Such a prominent road track! (I will describe further the natural amenities of the place on my next blog issue.)

Meanwhile, I met again the heart-bypassed-old-man in my daily work-out. He has a hearing aide on his right ear and although he did not clearly understood my greetings, he just yelled: “I’m now in my third lap and getting stronger.” Read more on this article...

Yes, you didn’t think I would stop blogging did you? Most often the lulls of doing regular activities are protracted to a longer period of hibernation. My dormant state will not last long and trying hard to regain my composure. Soon I’ll be going out to socialize and gather more information to be shared by Pinoy Barking Hall. Read more on this article...

Veterans’ Honour and Benefits: Won At Last!

Great news for the Filipino veterans of World War II! The United States of America has finally recognized the “Heroes of Bataan” –the people whose only obsession is to be free and the official recognition of their long march to death. Such recognitions and benefits are included in the $787 billion sitimulus bill scheduled to be signed into law by US President Barack Obama.

 

It was six decades ago since 1941 –when then U.S. President Roosevelt ordered Filipino soldiers to fight against the enemy- the veterans of devastating war kept on hoping that their cause will not just be laid to a shelf but be acknowledged with financial aid. All other nationals who just unmindfully participated and claimed to be a part of American War were recognized to the dismay of the true Filipino heroes. It has been a long and wearisome way for US recognition –the same way as has been the way for the long march to death- before the US congress finally gave way from their refusal to admit responsibilities and promised restitution.

 

Today the veteran heroes will be remunerated not only for honor and gallantry at war but for the display of courage in defence of democracy. The monetary assistance, although it is just a pecuniary benefit in exchange of the lives and blood they shed, is a welcomed development they longed for.

 

It is hoped that the people in-charge, particularly, the Philippines Veteran Affairs Office personnel will not take advantage of less-oriented veterans in claiming such benefits. It should be off-limit to by-standers and fixers who will entice veterans of smooth and speedy outcome of their claims in exchange of hefty amount for petty and menial job. An information and free assistance desk should be installed in aiding the aging veterans and beneficiaries.

 

I think this little advice will be of help in any way. “Mabuhay and beteranong Pinoy.”

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My Waning Respect With Secretary Gonzalez

DOJ and PDEA are in cahoot before. Now they are in mess of stinking garbage. With the exchange of verbal accusations of bias and misjudgment on the so-called "Alabang Boys", the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)are now in hot oven. It appearing from media reports that DOJ should be blamed and that PDEA is the one doing its job. DOJ is bent on dismissing the charges and of releasing the drug culprits.

DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez has been supporting the actions of the prosecutors in spite of the reported 50 million pesos bribe offer of the suspects' parents. He downplayed the used of his department's letterhead by the lawyer of the accused in preparing the dismissal order which is highly irregular. There are reports that his undersecretary called his "mistah" (a classmate at PMA) at PDEA relative to the dropping of the charges which the PDEA agent admitted that he is being offered three million pesos during the hearing of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs. Gonzales also castigated the PDEA agent in the manner of apprehending the drug suspect and his military exploit in Mindanao tending to deride the agent's capabilities. With his actuations, I am inclined to believe that he is for the dismissal of the charges filed against the "Alabang Boys" and suggesting pressure for the review of the qualifications of agents assigned in PDEA.

In my opinion, PDEA is doing its jobs. They are the one complaining why the cases of drug suspects are easily dismissed repeatedly. DOJ prosecutors have been freeing the drug culprits while PDEA agents are trying hard apprehending the drug syndicates.

I support the move to suspend Secretary Gonzales -whom I have been admiring for years but this admiration have just been diminished. There are now basis on the accusations of former President Estrada that there are many "Hoodlums in Robes" in the Department of Justice and they are more daring in the administration of Gloria Arroyo -and these are attributing more in her low popularity ratings. DOJ should be reorganized and to replace its personnel with new and incorruptible officers.

Note: State Prosecutor John Resado -the one being alluded to as who prepared the resolution dismissing the charges of the "Alabang Boys" is threatening to file libel charges against PDEA officials and some members of the media who implicated him in the alleged bribery attempt in the drug mess, based on GMA News, Jan. 13, 2009. Is he obstructing the transparency rule and the rights to public information?

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The Climate Needless Expenses

Global warming hoax has engulfed the Philippines archipelago with all its alarming fury. Clothed with the usual fear factor and the threat of deluge from rising sea level caused by hypothetical assumptive melting of the earth’s polar ice cover, the Philippine government is preparing measures to avert the imaginary catastrophe. The House of Congress is preparing climate bills for the creation of “Climate Change Commission.” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed herself as climate change czar providing the sense of urgency of the catalytic situation created by the politicians of global warming.

It maybe deduced that the concerted actions are brought about by the frantic reaction to UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN-IPCC) pestering requirements and compounded by the press release of the new study by the University of Washington which claimed that Antarctica, the region in the Southern Hemisphere, has been warming for the last 50 years. The release of the study was timed to counter the record chilling effect being experienced world wide and perceived as the start of the long period of new “Little Ice Age.” The study supported by the picture of melting glacier and the cracks on compacted ice cover on western portion of the Antarctic which are lined-up of active volcanoes which began erupting 2000 years ago and the newest eruption was on January 2008 as discovered by the members of the British Antarctic Survey, one of the world's leading environmental research centres and is responsible for the UK's national scientific activities in Antarctica. The picture, which was probably taken in the summer of 2008 wherein the polar icecaps are naturally thawing or disintegrating, are prominently displayed in the said press release for convincing effect. President Arroyo is reorganizing the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change with the same fear factor such as: “Climate change will have catastrophic effects it immediate and sufficient action to curb industrial emissions and forest loss is not taken ...”

I do not have hard feelings about the conservation, protection and restoration and other solid waste management programs of the government to maintain our ecological balance, but to kowtow the insinuations of anthropomorphic global warming sponsors are to satisfy and uphold their selfish desire to monopolize renewable energy source which will contribute further to the hardship being experienced by the third world countries. Environmental awareness is a duty where each and every one is obliged to be a part of. But to threat humanity of imaginary natural upheaval for the purpose of self gains is treachery and unacceptable. Although it is incumbent upon us to maintain our surroundings as environment friendly, we have to align our climate programs that are most beneficial to our locality. We do not have too much industrial emissions compared to the developed economies which need limitations and to go the way with their restrictions is to restrict the modest growth our country is painstakingly building up. There are developed economies, particularly India, China, and the United States, which do not adhere to the UN-IPCC sponsored Carbon dioxide emission control and they are not sold to the idea that man-made emission will contribute to global warming. Global warming and global cooling are natural earth’s climate cycle and humans are tiny things so as to cause any perturbation. Global warming or climate change alarmists have their own agenda for their own benefits.

Consider the following group of alarmists who conducted the study which was press released by the University of Washington (UW) insinuating that Antarctica is warming: a) Eric Steig is UW geochemist who is a member of UN-IPCC and the leading example in “censoring dissenting voices” against anthropogenic global warming (AGW) and a supporter of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”; b) David Schnieder is of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and a student-buddy of Steig; c) Michael Mann of Pennysylvania State Univesity is the author of the discredited “Hockey Stick” temperature graph to come up with the direction of James Hansen with NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. As Dr. Tim Ball, a retired University of Manitoba climatologist said of Mr. Mann’s blunder after it was confirmed in a report to the Congress by the U.S. Academies of Science: "I personally think [Mann] should be in jail."; and d) Josefino Comiso –a Filipino Hansen’s disciple who now serves as adviser of the Philippine Weather Bureau- and Drew Shindell are both of NASA-GISS and also under the group of Hansen –the partner of Al Gore. They are the cohorts of AGW with planned interest and avidly campaigning with fear factor and doomsday scenario not for humanity sake but for the welfare of their pocket.

Let us not be misled by the global warming prophets of doom. They campaigned first against the nuclear plant proliferations for the benefits of fossil fuel, now they are advocates of nuclear fuel and other renewable sources of energy to the detriment of coal and oil fuel. We are a developing economy crawling for progress to the stage where the advanced countries have already reaped the blessings of being the first and to swallow the self-serving advice of these wealthy sponsors and our subservience to their caprice is to defeat the advocacy of fruitful sacrifices of our forebears to overcome poverty.

The creation of Climate Change Commission is an exercise in pointlessness. It is the futile reaction to non-existing climate admonition –a natural cycle human have learned to live with and developed immunity with its accompanying harsh environment. The said commission will result to unnecessary expenses, a good source of graft and corruption as what have been the suspicions with the Department of Environment, and a duplication of functions. The Chief Executive should be advised accordingly and should rather act to strengthen the existing environment protection, conservation and restoration programs already in- placed.

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Too Cold To Be Warm

San Pedro, Laguna, is now 25 deg. C colder than any month of December in my two decades stay in this suburban town closest to Metro Manila. And this is the only December –considered as dry season- in my memory when the rain fell on Christmas Day. Recorded lower temperature is regularly registered during the month of February in this tropical and maritime region of the Philippines. Cloudy fog descended in this town on January 1, the new year’s day of 2009, an unusual morning occurrence seldom observed in this time of the year.

The proof of global cooling is now being felt in this part of the globe. And it is not only in the Philippines; the MSNBC report about record levels of snowfall that just hit the Pacific Northwest; the recent December record of 45.8 inches snowfall in Green Bay as reported in the Green Bay Press Gazette; the recent December record of 45 inches snowfall in Wisconsin, Madison, breaking the all month record of 37 inches in February 1994 as reported in the Wisconsin State Journal; the Alaska freezing –Alaskan Glaciers grow for first time in 250 years; the Glacier Bay National Park, Prince William Sound, the Juneau Icefield, Bering Glacier; and areas of the Arctic sea ice. These “might mark the beginning of another Little Ice Age” as one glaciologist, Bruce Molnia, who works for the US Geological Survey have said. (Read more at Icecap and The dailytech.com)

With this global cooling, it glaringly contradicts the anthropogenic global warming being manipulated by the partners of Algore and Hansen in their “Inconvenient Truth” movie which we don’t know whether it was shot during summer where the ice are naturally melting. And this was supported by all global warming alarmists as they justify the cooling as proof of warming –either which way they are in. See more at Warming Sun

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The Failed Rally Predators are Waiting in the Shade

It seems the interfaith rally at Makati City –an investment haven where Jejomar Binay wanted to paralyze and be downgraded- Friday, did not generate the thousands participation the oppositions were expecting. Jose Velarde, in disgrace, immediately went home -sensing that his 50 thousand audience expectations would not materialized- and attended to his ailing mother as an alibi. The bishops, the priests, the nuns, the deranged civil societies, the communists, the degenerated politicians, the misinformed and paid audience; they are the Somali Pirates camouflage in the sea of crowds. However, their prayers were not heard above and instead sent forth continuous rains in the morning to defeat the rally assemblies.

 

God must have been always on the side of Gloria. As has been said, Manny Pacquiao’s boxing accomplishment outscored Gloria’s economic worries and other misgivings. She has been always saved not by the bell but by nature’s understanding ways. Those who cannot wait until 2010 election wanted to replace her unconstitutionally and therefore chaos and disarray will be immediate results. They are the bishops and their cohorts who want to dictate and be the administrator of the state. They are the doom-makers who are too eager to see the Philippines reeling in disgrace and demeaned in poverty. They are the new breed of politicians who want to lead through the ruins of his constituencies and be president at all cost and impose their draconianisms. And they are all not for the country’s well being but solely for their selves’ aggrandisement.

 

The failed demonstration was not planned for the purpose of opposition to charter change but as a cover to dethrone the president and destroy the duly constituted government. They only failed to muster enough followers to constitute people power as the bishops have been harping on during the past few days. If for true reason they do not want amendments to the constitution, we have many options to reject it in the plebiscite. We are not in Marshall Law as was imposed by the previous dejected regime and we have all the freedom with responsibilities to abide by the legal well of the people.

 

We are the modern civilized people of the Philippines and we welcome beneficial changes in a civilized and legal ways. Hidden and self-serving motives can be injected to unenlightened populace but not to educated citizenship. Enough of power grabs and power greed. Leaders are borne and not made. I love my Philippines and would not let it to be fed to the vultures larking in the shade.

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