[o]
Everybody is again playing the blame game with the much maligned Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). No less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines repremanded our poor weather forecasters for "not doing what they are supposed to do", as he claimed. He also admonished them "That information it is sorely lacking and we have had this problem for quite a long time."
I can not help but feel for the employees of PAG-ASA. Each time something like this happens, they are sure to be blamed. In fact, even when there is no weather disaster , everyone is pointing their fingers already at them. PAGASA is guilty not by reasonable doubt but by mere default.
No one is looking for the exact reason for the failure of the system. The President can wash his fingers straight from Poncius Pilate's bowl of water by hurriedly issuing statements like the ones he stated. The media can mock hopelessness at the institution and show their arrogance as if they are well aware of everything. And everybody else can grumble and taunt the forecasting team. But what everyone lacks is the common sense to just sit back, think and think again.
PAGASA, contrary to the accusations of the President and everybody else, is doing its job. It has been doing its job for a very long time. It did its job when Milenyo came, during Ondoy and when Basyang arrived. These forecasters are scientists and mathematicians. Their jobs specification is to do the Math. They calculate the incoming weather and estimate its approach. It is an exact science. All information are provided by their current system and all they needed to do is do the necessary calculations using the prescribed formula. It is not as if PAGASA is blurting out weather alerts by simply going online and looking at the satellite shots shown on the monitor like what most of us internet addicts are doing. It is not as if they derive conclusions based on what is safe and covenient to say in public. No that is not how they work.
They conclude based on the data not because the President and the public would have liked to hear something else from them.
If we are to blame anyone, blame it to the inutileness of the politicians. (Oooops! Duck Noynoy as this might hit you!) PAGASA from time immemorial has been complaining about the lack of support it is getting from the government to make sure that they are going to be able to provide accurate forecasts especially during the typhoon season. This is older than before Ernie Baron started forecasting for TV Patrol. It has been there already even when Noynoys mom was still the President. I remember hearing about this issue already back in the days when lahar was just starting to devastate Central Luzon.
It is only during the time of the previous administration of Gloria that PAGASA was handed out two new doppler systems to better track down weather systems. But given the vast area and the topology of the country considering its mountain ranges, two doppler radar systems will not be enough. Five more doppler radars are to be installed this year as part of that upgrade commissioned by Arroyo.
If only this was done at a much earlier time, maybe we could have made better preparations for Milenyo, Ondoy and Basyang.
The President is correct though in saying that "we have had this problem for quite a long time". The question is what did he do about it? What did his mother do about it? What did all his politician friends, relatives and co-horts do about it? They have been in power for so long, why didn't he do anything about it?
My guess, he can not do anything about it! Heck, he can't even pass any law as a Congressman which is his job before. Wait? Who again is not doing what he was supposed to do?
The Philippine forecasters are doing their job Mr President! In fact they are very good at what they are doing. This is the reason why most of them are are now giving their services outside of the country as succesful weather forecasters in the Middle East, Australia and other countries who have better equipments. If you notice, Ka Tani is not the one being interviewed on TV any more. At present, the ones that you would see are unfamiliar faces, some of whom seem to be new graduates.
The best forecasters are already gone, Mr President. Who can blame them? They are not being properly treated at home...
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
MuzikPoint in Ibaan
[o]
As a kid in Batangas, me and my cousins were encouraged by our elders to learn instruments and be more active musically. Unfortunately, music never liked me as much as I craved to be a musician. I used to study piano through my aunt in Ibaan but basically bailed out one night due to boredom. So when a grade 6 student asked me if I can help her with her music project, I was left wondering why I did not pursue music the same way that my cousins in Ibaan did. Now, I am contemplating on going back to the basics even if I am a little bit older to begin lessons. I know exactly whom to approach.
Good thing MusikPoint is established. MuzikPoint is a band rehearsal studio complete with all band instruments needed by enthusiasts to use. The place is managed by one of the foremost musical phenom in Ibaan, Batangas. His name... John Paul Pateña. This musical genius is the man to look for when it comes to learning, experiencing, (and if you are old) reliving music into your heart. He is practically trained in all kinds of musical instruments like Guitars, Piano, Drums, and a lot more. He is also very much adept at using indigeneous musical instruments. John Paul is so gifted as a musician, I am starting to envy him. Good thing I look better than him or else, I would have killed myself already. :P
Mr Pateña offers tutorial services. He does piano / keyboard, guitar, and drum lessons. Voice lessons are also being offered by members of his family. So if ever you are interested in making it big as a musician and you are in the vicinity of Ibaan Batangas, there is only one man to look for and one place to go to, MuzikPoint!
MuzikPoint is located at I. Guerra Street, Poblacion in Ibaan, Batangas. You can reach the Maestro himself at 09216268048.
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As a kid in Batangas, me and my cousins were encouraged by our elders to learn instruments and be more active musically. Unfortunately, music never liked me as much as I craved to be a musician. I used to study piano through my aunt in Ibaan but basically bailed out one night due to boredom. So when a grade 6 student asked me if I can help her with her music project, I was left wondering why I did not pursue music the same way that my cousins in Ibaan did. Now, I am contemplating on going back to the basics even if I am a little bit older to begin lessons. I know exactly whom to approach.
Good thing MusikPoint is established. MuzikPoint is a band rehearsal studio complete with all band instruments needed by enthusiasts to use. The place is managed by one of the foremost musical phenom in Ibaan, Batangas. His name... John Paul Pateña. This musical genius is the man to look for when it comes to learning, experiencing, (and if you are old) reliving music into your heart. He is practically trained in all kinds of musical instruments like Guitars, Piano, Drums, and a lot more. He is also very much adept at using indigeneous musical instruments. John Paul is so gifted as a musician, I am starting to envy him. Good thing I look better than him or else, I would have killed myself already. :P
Mr Pateña offers tutorial services. He does piano / keyboard, guitar, and drum lessons. Voice lessons are also being offered by members of his family. So if ever you are interested in making it big as a musician and you are in the vicinity of Ibaan Batangas, there is only one man to look for and one place to go to, MuzikPoint!
MuzikPoint is located at I. Guerra Street, Poblacion in Ibaan, Batangas. You can reach the Maestro himself at 09216268048.
For More of MagtiBlogz Click Here
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Nikon 55-200mm VR Lens
[o]
Had the chance to test a Nikon 55-200mm Lens with my Nikon D60. An officemate of wifey was nice enough to lend it to us overnight. He is actually trying to sell it.
I have heard so much about this lens in the forums. They say that it is good enough paparazzi lens for poor photography hobbyists like me. I find it good though not as powerful as I thought it was. I could not understand also why there seems to be some specs of noise no matter how bright the surrounding light is. Tried it also early this morning to get a taste of how it is going to be with natural light around but I was still not able to find it really acceptable for me. Maybe I had overestimated what it can do given the praises I have read about it in the forums. Or maybe I am just really not a good photographer, which is perfectly acceptable also hehe. But it is with a just yet. I promise, I will get better at this GRRRRRR!
For one, I find it very limiting since most of the time I want to be able to take wide angle shots. I normally take portrait shots and then add wide shots of the subject. With the 55-200mm it will not allow you to take as much wide area shots as possible. The only way to do so is to try to step back and recompose through the viewfinder. And I found it difficult to always switch glasses from the 55-200mm to my kit lens eveerytime I need to shoot wide angle. Maybe I wanted the 18-200mm instead.
It could have been a good buy since the lense was being sold at 8500 pesos only with hood. And my wife was told that it could be payed in delayed terms. However, I am not an instinct buyer. I buy when I think it is time to buy and when it is ok to buy (trans: I do not have the money heheheh). Also, I noticed some scratches on the glass itself also. I think I also heard some subtle whirring sound that is far different from the sound it usually makes when the lens is trying to focus. That added some additional sirens to my gut feel. The owner said it was just about 2 -3 months old but I think I'll go for broke instead and buy it a much higher price from one of the Hidalgo shops if ever.
Thank you however for letting us try it boss.
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Had the chance to test a Nikon 55-200mm Lens with my Nikon D60. An officemate of wifey was nice enough to lend it to us overnight. He is actually trying to sell it.
I have heard so much about this lens in the forums. They say that it is good enough paparazzi lens for poor photography hobbyists like me. I find it good though not as powerful as I thought it was. I could not understand also why there seems to be some specs of noise no matter how bright the surrounding light is. Tried it also early this morning to get a taste of how it is going to be with natural light around but I was still not able to find it really acceptable for me. Maybe I had overestimated what it can do given the praises I have read about it in the forums. Or maybe I am just really not a good photographer, which is perfectly acceptable also hehe. But it is with a just yet. I promise, I will get better at this GRRRRRR!
For one, I find it very limiting since most of the time I want to be able to take wide angle shots. I normally take portrait shots and then add wide shots of the subject. With the 55-200mm it will not allow you to take as much wide area shots as possible. The only way to do so is to try to step back and recompose through the viewfinder. And I found it difficult to always switch glasses from the 55-200mm to my kit lens eveerytime I need to shoot wide angle. Maybe I wanted the 18-200mm instead.
It could have been a good buy since the lense was being sold at 8500 pesos only with hood. And my wife was told that it could be payed in delayed terms. However, I am not an instinct buyer. I buy when I think it is time to buy and when it is ok to buy (trans: I do not have the money heheheh). Also, I noticed some scratches on the glass itself also. I think I also heard some subtle whirring sound that is far different from the sound it usually makes when the lens is trying to focus. That added some additional sirens to my gut feel. The owner said it was just about 2 -3 months old but I think I'll go for broke instead and buy it a much higher price from one of the Hidalgo shops if ever.
Thank you however for letting us try it boss.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A Taste of the Batangueño Dialect
[o]
Most non-Batangueños think that the Batangueño slang is a separate dialect in itself. I do not agree to that notion. Although I am not a linguistic scholar, I tend to normally explain that the words we tend to use is still Tagalog, albeit much (for lack of better word that I can think of) "deeper" hehe (trans: malalim, tunge!) as most of them are words from the olden days that the people in Manila is not using anymore. Almost all of the other words we Ala-eh citizens use are still Tagalog and should be understood easily by other Filipinos. If not for the way we Ala-ehs speak and the way our intonation is blurted out, every one should not find it hard to communicate with us. Aside from that, there is no difference at all.
A fine example is my wife's experience. When I first brought her to batanggas she was quite inconvenienced by the fact that she can not seem to understand what were talking about. Everything was new to her and she can not comprehend even the simplest of terms. This is because we in Batanggas tend to talk at a much faster phase and weith that distinct diction and intonation. However, when she got used to it, she realized that there was really not much of a difference like I said earlier.
Here is a piece that I wrote. Most of the words you wouldn't understand are either pronounced by Batangueños differently or merely from the olden days of the Katagalugan.
"Ala! Ay ngali-ngali ko nang hinagad ang akala mo'y lungkuying kawatan kung hindi ko laang naisip na sanaw ang parteng pulta ng kalihon at mababasa ang aking bagong ribok. Di ang aking ginawa na laang e pumalahaw para ang manghagad e yung mga ahit sa kadais na tanghuran. Matagal tagal ding nagpagatan, ay di kaya pat na-korner din. ALa ay nung masumbi at matangkab ng ninakawan e nagwasang na parang pagirpir ang luko. Palakat na eh! Piro nakuha pang kumana! Kainaman na! Nung magdikit e nagpasirok sirok sa hagdan pariho. Dagasa na sa may banling. Magaling na laang at naawat ng mamay na galing pa sa balinghuyan paano'y tatamaan ang kanilang banggerahan. Mababasag ang mga tapayan. Kung hindi ay baka lalung naliyo iyon. Ay sa kaulaga naman noong pulis na dumating din. Sa halip na pusasan eh, ang ginaway nakipaghuntahan pa. Ay di ayun, napagdali pa uli ung suspek. Magaling nga at hindi nataga ng gulok. Nung matapos e hapong hapo ang partido ng ninakawan eh. Pandagisdis ga naman sa sulok nung mapitserahan sabay na-kumpu pa ni Piyet. Nayapaw pa nga iyong bilot ni Ka Maring. May nawal-an pa ng gura. Kagagaling din, pagkayayama naman e nung makaraos. Ika eh, ipapalamon raw sana nila sa guyam, wala laang nakitang hantikan. A-ah ay kauntik na!"
What do you think. Can you translate this?
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Most non-Batangueños think that the Batangueño slang is a separate dialect in itself. I do not agree to that notion. Although I am not a linguistic scholar, I tend to normally explain that the words we tend to use is still Tagalog, albeit much (for lack of better word that I can think of) "deeper" hehe (trans: malalim, tunge!) as most of them are words from the olden days that the people in Manila is not using anymore. Almost all of the other words we Ala-eh citizens use are still Tagalog and should be understood easily by other Filipinos. If not for the way we Ala-ehs speak and the way our intonation is blurted out, every one should not find it hard to communicate with us. Aside from that, there is no difference at all.
A fine example is my wife's experience. When I first brought her to batanggas she was quite inconvenienced by the fact that she can not seem to understand what were talking about. Everything was new to her and she can not comprehend even the simplest of terms. This is because we in Batanggas tend to talk at a much faster phase and weith that distinct diction and intonation. However, when she got used to it, she realized that there was really not much of a difference like I said earlier.
Here is a piece that I wrote. Most of the words you wouldn't understand are either pronounced by Batangueños differently or merely from the olden days of the Katagalugan.
"Ala! Ay ngali-ngali ko nang hinagad ang akala mo'y lungkuying kawatan kung hindi ko laang naisip na sanaw ang parteng pulta ng kalihon at mababasa ang aking bagong ribok. Di ang aking ginawa na laang e pumalahaw para ang manghagad e yung mga ahit sa kadais na tanghuran. Matagal tagal ding nagpagatan, ay di kaya pat na-korner din. ALa ay nung masumbi at matangkab ng ninakawan e nagwasang na parang pagirpir ang luko. Palakat na eh! Piro nakuha pang kumana! Kainaman na! Nung magdikit e nagpasirok sirok sa hagdan pariho. Dagasa na sa may banling. Magaling na laang at naawat ng mamay na galing pa sa balinghuyan paano'y tatamaan ang kanilang banggerahan. Mababasag ang mga tapayan. Kung hindi ay baka lalung naliyo iyon. Ay sa kaulaga naman noong pulis na dumating din. Sa halip na pusasan eh, ang ginaway nakipaghuntahan pa. Ay di ayun, napagdali pa uli ung suspek. Magaling nga at hindi nataga ng gulok. Nung matapos e hapong hapo ang partido ng ninakawan eh. Pandagisdis ga naman sa sulok nung mapitserahan sabay na-kumpu pa ni Piyet. Nayapaw pa nga iyong bilot ni Ka Maring. May nawal-an pa ng gura. Kagagaling din, pagkayayama naman e nung makaraos. Ika eh, ipapalamon raw sana nila sa guyam, wala laang nakitang hantikan. A-ah ay kauntik na!"
What do you think. Can you translate this?
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