Colloquium on Understanding the Tropical Storm Ondoy

Everyone is invited to listen and participate in the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) Colloquium entitled:

Understanding Tropical Storm Ondoy:
A Forum on the Meteorology and Hydrology of a Massive Flood Event

On September 26, 2009, Tropical Storm Ondoy hit the country, primarily affecting Regions III, IV and the NCR. A relatively small tropical cyclone with maximum winds of only 85 kph when it made landfall in Aurora, no one expected that it will bring in an unprecedented amount of rain - 367mm in 6 hours. It caused massive flooding in the Marikina River Basin as well as in areas surrounding Laguna de Bay. To date, more than 300 people have died due to the floods. Understanding such event from a meteorological and hydrological standpoint will hopefully shed some light on why such tragedy occurred; and hopefully aid us in anticipating and preparing for similar events in the future.

image source

A Panel of Experts will come from the following organizations:

• Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Department of Science and Technology
• National Hydraulics Research Center, UP College of Engineering
• National Institute of Geological Sciences,UP College of Science
  

October 6, 2009, 3-5 PM
NIGS Audio Visual Room
College of Science, UP Diliman

*The Urban gurU received this email from an alumnus of the National Institute of Geological Sciences. As part of the academe, let me invite everyone who are interested in knowing the scientific milieu of the said natural phenomenon.

Seeing Corazon C. Aquino the First and the Last Time

I woke up on a gloomy morning on the first day of August with an SMS in my phone saying:

“Former President Cory Aquino died of cardio-respiratory arrest at 3:18 am today. She was 76.”

It was a message from a friend who has been watching the news since early that morning.

Despite saddened, my day went on just like any Saturday morning. I went to my review class in school and ended up in Trinoma having dinner with my students and watching The Half Blood Prince. What was not normal there was the fact that I’ve watched already that movie in silver screen, hence, the waiters and waitresses at TGIF sang me a birthday song despite I already had my birthday three months ago. Nice one Abbey…


And thank you for the dessert!

(That reminds me, I still have to add your Dad on Mafia Wars).

From Trinoma, to Gateway, and soon I was at UP Ayala Technohub to catch a group of plurkers who had been to a death-defying-sumptuous-meal at Kanin Club. To wrap things up, some of us ended in California Berry in Tomas Morato to partially detox ourselves employing the powers of nonfat frozen yogurt. Well of course, the night won’t be complete without synthesizing what’s happening and what happened lately in our beloved Plurklandia.

Past 1 am we decided to go to La Salle Greenhills to visit the wake of the late President Aquino.

On the way, I was anxious.

Not that am still outside my room that late at night, but because, in my 25 years of existence, I’ve never seen anyone inside a coffin. Yes, it’s a big issue for me. Almost all of my relatives are in the province, since I’m staying in the Metro, I’m always absent in that kind of family affairs. And so, I took a deep breathe and pretended that everything will be okay.

After a few minutes of driving, our carpool reached Ortigas Ave. Around 1:30 am, it was still full of parked private cars stretching to a kilometer long. We crossed the street and found ourselves in a line that started at the school’s inner gate. Flowers filled the corridors leading to the gym. Approximately 300 meters of falling in line, we’ve reached the place.


Fifteen feet. Ten feet. We were three feet away from her coffin…

To my amaze, all of my qualms were released the moment I saw her face. It seems she was telling me: don’t worry; I am very much happy where I am right now.

She was at peace, very much at peace.

I remember Karen telling me while we were still on our way to La Salle when I told her I’ve never seen anyone inside a coffin, “Don’t worry, she still looks like Corazon Aquino.”

“The point is,” I blurted out, “I’ve never seen her before. In fact, I haven’t seen any Philippine president in my entire life.”

To President Corazon C. Aquino,

Seeing you for the first and the last time was a great honor for me. Your love for the country, our country, will always be remembered as untiringly genuine and persistently authentic. As you finally unite with our Father, the Filipino people will eternally remember your greatness of restoring to us our rights —most importantly our freedom.

“He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
– Psalm 37:6

Thank you very, very much!

By the way, I’m grateful to Manolo for giving me his commemorative pin of the late president, and oh, not to mention the chocolate bar he gave us when we ambushed him inside the La Salle gym.

Pacquiao vs. Swine Flu

May 2 is getting closer. And as expected, crime rates will be lowered by this coming Sunday as Manny Pacquiao tries to snatch Ricky Hatton's Ring Belt and IBO Light Welterweight Belt during the biggest fight and the most anticipated boxing event of the year.

As the two prepare for the momentous boxing brawl, the entire world is threatened by the soon to be pandemic swine flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

How the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is spreading is the same way as how seasonal flu spreads. More or less, anyone might be susceptible to it. As of press time, several countries had released already confirmed swine flu cases and travel guidelines that will serve as precautionary measures for the public to abide by. It just so happened that I was fascinated by the link posted on facebook by jenijenjen about USA Today's swine flu cases and precautions around the world post.

Well of course the Philippines wont be left behind! On the map, text read as:

The Philippines health chief appealed to dozens of Filipino legislators to abandon plans to visit Las Vegas to cheer for boxing idol Manny Pacquiao even though Las Vegas is more than 300 miles from the Mexican border.

Now, I feel sorry for Manny. His avid supporters are restrained by the Department of Health not to watch his fight. Tsk. Tsk.

~ paradigm shift ~

But don't fret Manny, the battle is on!




We're still here to cheer for you in your biggest battle!

The Real Low Pressure Area

Despite the supposed-to-be-shinning-shimmering-splendid summer all of us enjoying right now, the country is currently exposed to its third tropical cyclone for this year. As of 10 pm today, PAG-ASA reported that Tropical Depression "Crising" has remained almost stationary. It is located 290 km West of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro giving a public storm signal number 1 warning over Palawan, Cuyo Island, Calamian Group of Islands, Occidental Mindoro, and Lubang Island.

On the other hand, a soon-to-be-tropical-depression was estimated in the vicinity of Albay. This Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated at 40 kms East of Virac, Catanduanes, and therefore will cause panic and depression, again, to my Mom who is in our house in Albay.


Image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). An image of the Philippine loop is also alavailable here. Please visit the PAG-ASA weather bulletin for updates about Tropical Depression Crising. Next bulletin will be out at 5am of May 1.

Online Petition to Increase the Salary of Public School Teachers

Three weeks ago, I posted about the online petition to increase the salary of public school teachers.

Unfortunately, it turns out that for online petitions from Filipino citizens to be valid and legally binding, they must comply with the provisions of the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (RA 8792), specifically the provisions of Chapter II of the said Act. The petition at PetitionOnline.com cannot conform to RA 8792.

A new petition was opened containing substantially the same text, with additional text regarding the concurrence bill HB 4734 which is now pending with the House of Representatives. Please do sign that petition. The online signing process seeks to conform to the requirements of RA 8792.

Click here to sign the online petition to increase the salary of Filipino public school teachers.

Thank you very much for supporting our fellow public school teachers!



*from the original email of Mr. Isles of Education in the Philippines Forum

Increase the Salary of Filipino Public School Teachers Petition

The Senate of the Republic of the Philippines has already forwarded to the House of Representatives for their concurrence Senate Bill No. 2408, or the Educators in Basic Education Compensation Act, last July 31, 2008. Until now, there has been NO action from the Lower House regarding this bill.

To recall, the bill proposes a Php 9,000 additional compensation, to be given over a three-year period in three tranches, to public school teachers, locally-funded teachers, non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education and Philippine Science High School teaching and non-teaching personnel. It likewise seeks a Php 1,000 medical check-up annual allowance for covered beneficiaries and a Magna Carta bonus to public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the DepEd.

Being the Representatives of the Filipino People, we urge the Lower House to pass a counterpart bill to Senate Bill No. 2408, and upgrade the salary of public school teachers.

Click here to sign the NEW online petition

Of suspensions and drug tests…

Watching the news today alarmed me about the Quezon City Science High School (QueSci) conundrum. 4 STUDENTS WERE SUSPENDED FOR BLOGGING ABOUT THEIR PRINCIPAL. Their offense: they gave a false image about their principal thus, including the school, if I heard it right.

I am not familiar with the REAL story on what’s happening in the four corners of QueSci. But since last year, I’ve been hearing not-so-good-accounts about the said ‘principal’ from QueSci students, parents, and alumni.

I am bothered by this incident because this badly reflects the image of the Philippine educational system. The ‘system’ I am pertaining to not only includes the curriculum (what the students are supposed to learn), the government (who is fueling the general literacy program of the nation), but most importantly the bureaucracy (the people at the backbone of the educational system). This bureaucracy includes not only the teachers, but palpably the administrators —people who have positions in running the schools. Let us include in the list those public school principals, superintendents (read: ‘shooooperintendents’), supervisors (read: ‘shoooopervisors’), regional directors, and most importantly the ‘Czar of Education,’ I mean, Secretary of Education.

Why be bothered? Simply, because they reflect how corrupted the system is. Take note, ‘corrupted,’ that’s how worse it is. Corrupted not only in the sense of taking moolah or being plain graft, but corrupted in the sense of idealism, hence, rationality (if ever they have them).

Reading this blog entry of a QueSci student dated 17th of September 2008 and this one dated 28th of June 2008, gave me an insight of what’s going on in that school. From what I’ve read, I’m sticking to the rationality corruption of the administrators of the said school. Although I may say that I’m biased already since I haven’t heard the side of the latter, even my sixth grade students can tell that something is not right in the way things are handled in that high school. And IF EVER, she did say those quoted lines, what kind of evidence would you still ask for?

Why am I awfully bothered by this issue? Because I believe that QueSci produces great students. I know several graduates from this school who are really good, may they be my classmates in college or current co-workers. I may not be an alumnus of this school but I do have high regards with people who came from this school.

Why am I dreadfully bothered by this issue? One, because I have four previous students who are studying right now at QueSci. Two, because 12 of the 31 students from the graduating class I’m handling right now passed the first screening for the said science high. They will take the second screening in the last weekend of the month and I am very optimistic of the results of the test. In four months time, they will be in high school. And by that time, I don’t want them to experience such irrationality in their high school life.

In an interview of a Department of Education Undersecretary, he mentioned that the parents can appeal to the Regional Director regarding the suspension of the four students. It seems that they already know that something wrong is happening in that school. Isn’t that a hint already that they should do their own investigation about the said incident? In the first place, it’s their own personnel who are being castigated in this issue.

And so, I URGE the DepEd people to do something about this matter before it escalates to another level of disparity.

---


In another news, random drug testing will be done among public and private high school students staring this March.

The drug tests aims to “determine the prevalence of drug users among the studentry, assess the effectivity of school- and community-based prevention programs, deter the use of illegal drugs, facilitate the rehabilitation of drug dependents, and strengthen the collaborative efforts of identified agencies against the use of illegal drugs.”

I reckon that the rationale of this program is for the benefit of the country’s almost 7 million high school students. What a great feat indeed for the ‘antidrug czar’ of the Philippines, or should I say ‘czarina,’ Madamme president?

And oh! By the way, I just found out that the title ‘czar’ is designated to non-Christian supreme rulers. If you know what I mean…

I am not against the drug testing among high school students. Hence, I was ecstatic to hear that teachers would undergo such testing also. Then, why not?!! Let’s test all teachers out there to see who are always high when they start babbling in front of the blackboards. (I highly suggest that they should start at QueSci).

And another suggestion for the ‘Antidrug Czar,’ why not start with your own government officials?! Wouldn’t it be nice to see that ALL of the government officials are non-drug users (since they always claim that they are not drug pushers).

And so, I URGE the ‘Antidrug Czar’ to conduct first a drug test to ALL public officials to prove to the Filipino society that she’s determined to wage war against drug addiction.

---


Am not supposed to be writing this crap tonight. In fact, am supposed to be cramming my kid’s grades coz it’s card day on Friday. But heck. I badly need an outlet. Now back to computing grades…

Why should the 2008 THES-QS world university rankings not be taken seriously?

For an alumnus of a national university —the University of the Philippines (UP), it is not that easy to accept the fact that the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) outranked UP in the 2008 university rankings recently released by the Times Higher Education Supplement and Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS). ADMU rose from 451 ranking to 254 while UP landed to 276 from last year’s 398.

Two other local universities made it to the rankings. Quoting blackshama on his Filipino Voices article On university ranking: views from both sides of Katipunan Road:

“De La Salle is at 415th and our only ancient university, the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas is at 470th.”

As early as July 2007, UP announced already its refusal to participate in the said survey because the THES-QS could not explain where it got the figures on which UP’s rank was based in the year 2006.

The UP Newsletter article entitled Only two RP universities made it to the world’s 500 best; but must the rankings be taken seriously? written by Alicor L. Panao continued:

“In response to UP’s objection, however, Quacquarelli Symonds research assistant Saad Shabbir simply wrote back that if it did not receive the information by the deadline then it would be 'forced to use last year’s data or some form of average.'”

Just last Friday, October 17, UP announced again in its website that it did not participate in the THES-QS university rankings and President Emerlinda R. Roman did not even receive any invitation to be a part of it.

To give you an overview of how the THES-QS came up with ranking of the top universities of the world, here are the six indicators they used:

• 40% - Academic Peer Review - Composite score drawn from peer review survey (which is divided into five subject areas). 6,354 responses in 2008.
• 10% - Employer Review - Score based on responses to employer survey. 2,339 responses in 2008.
• 20% - Faculty Student Ratio - Score based on student faculty ratio
• 20% - Citations per Faculty - Score based on research performance factored against the size of the research body
• 5% - International Faculty - Score based on proportion of international faculty
• 5% - International Students - Score based on proportion of international students

Apparently, if you don’t submit proper documentation in the abovementioned criteria, old data will do for the THES-QS researchers. Sounds rational enough, isn’t it? Okay, not really, am just being sarcastic.

To boot, Wikipedia’s THES-QS World University Rankings article offered several other criticisms about the said survey including too much emphasis on peer review, errors have also been reported on the faculty-student ratio used in the ranking, the pool of responses is heavily weighted in favor of academic ‘peers’ from nations where the Times is well-known, the results have been highly volatile for other universities, and others.

Panao’s article in the UP Newsletter also offered flaws in the THES-QS survey in other higher education institutions in many countries just like what happened in Duke University whose rank rose drastically in 2005 when it was listed to have 6,244 faculty members. It turned out that this figure was actually the number of undergraduate students enrolled at Duke in the fall of 2005.

ADMU’s official comment in the 2007 THES-QS World University Rankings questioned the criteria used in the survey as not congruent to a Catholic school’s mission and vision. Hence, the results became their benchmarks to strive more “to grow in excellence and in linkages with peer institutions internationally… and continue to be the formation of a next generation of leaders who will not only be the best in their chosen professions, but who will place this excellence at the service of others.”

True to a fact, they deserve congratulations for emerging first among Philippine schools included in the ranking.

However, I just don’t get the basic idea in a certain part of the article Rankings and caution by Ramon Miguel Samson posted in the ADMU website saying:

“Self-professed experts would have provided their own analyses of the rankings, ranging from intelligent and pragmatic examinations of the methodology, to delusional theories that are on the same level of saying “nobody called us,” which all make reference to karma or some other supernatural cause.”

Urban gurU hibernates

ATTENTION NETIZENS!

The Urban gurU will be undergoing hibernation from July 8-10, 2008. This is in relation to the 2008 ASEAN Youth Science Summit to be held at the Traders Hotel, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Quoting the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week website:

The ASEAN Youth Science Summit (AYSS) is a complementary activity of the ASEAN Science and Technology Week Celebration in Manila that will involve the science-inclined youth of other nations, specifically those coming from the ASEAN-member nations and eight dialogue partner countries.

The AYSS is a gathering of the youth from the said countries for the purpose of providing a venue for the next leaders of regional S&T development to discuss relevant scientific and global issues, with the end view of promoting peaceful agreements among Southeast Asian nations.

The Urban gurU had been invited by the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute to facilitate the teacher's sessions of the said event.

Included in the country paper presentations in science education are:

• Best Practices in Teaching Science Research to Students
• Gifted Education in Science and Mathematics

The 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week will be done simultaneously with the 2008 National Science and Technology Week .


Hence, the first ever ASEAN Youth Science Summit is an offshoot of the 2007 National Youth Science Summit (NYSS) which was co-presented by the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (PSYSC).

So, I'm off to another week of blogging hibernation...


See you at the Traders Hotel!

OVER: the week that was!

I know. And I am very sorry. I know that I do owe you all a lot.

So let me start my soliloquy by accounting all my eustress for the last week of June 2008...

23^rd of June, Mesmerized Monday

‘Frank’ spared me from lecturing in the laboratory this day. However, he didn’t spare the lives of hundreds of people aboard MV Princess of the Stars, nor the ill-fated citizens of Western Visayas.

I guess my friend is right, Sulpicio Lines should start changing their line of business into Sulpicio Funeral Homes after all of those maritime mishaps.

I do remember boarding Princess of the Stars three years ago. It was a trip to Cebu for the 2005 National Youth Science, Technology, and Environment Summer Camp. It was only tonight when I finally decided to look up for my remembrance of that trip. Here it is:

I vividly remember how huge that ship was. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the largest vessel I’ve boarded. Who would believe that it would succumb to ‘Frank’ that easily?

24^th of June, Thrilling Tuesday

While those living in Manila were enjoying their very long weekend holiday, I myself was indeed exuberant upon receiving my very first credit card. Many thanks to my orgmate’s blockmate in college who is also my co-teacher’s schoolmate in high school and grade school. Oh never mind the intertwined relationships!

In exactly 21 days, I received my HSBC credit card with a credit limit of Php*****.00. (I’ll keep it to myself coz you might be able to figure out how underpaid my profession is).

Nevertheless, just as an ‘old’ friend warned me not so long time ago, I swear from this day on that I wont use my card that much every time I pay a visit to the mall.

Using it twice in every visit is a good idea…right? What do you think?

25^th of June, Wednesday Workout

One thing that made me very excited this day is the fact that it’s the first day of classes for my Photoshop class. Yippee! I’m glad to be a student once again. Teacher Niño, the school’s Art teacher, opened his graphic arts class for the school’s grown ups. So, who are my classmates? Teacher Lilia (the Filipino teacher), Teacher Ana (the School Registrar), and ultimately, Teacher Gracel (the School Principal).

At least now, I can edit already the pictures I’m posting here in my site (without using Paint!). Hehe.

See for yourself!

26^th of June, Thursday Tautness

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

This is what the Lord impressed to me upon waking up from a dream before 3 in the morning. Thou I know that I had a hard time the whole day figuring out what am I supposed to do with my vision, the Lord assured to me my actions at the end of the day. "Mission accomplished," I would say. Thus, just as a colleague remarked the following day, this is just the beginning for me, I know that there are still a lot more things He prepared for me.

27^th of June, Friday Fiasco

Even without enough sleep the other night, I still accompanied my class to their field trip to the Quezon City Central Post Office. It was also my first time inside a big post office. Despite my fascination on how they were able to sort and deliver all of those snail mails in the biggest city in Metro Manila, I was disgruntled at the same time by the actual condition of the post offices in the country. It seems that everything was a makeshift in that post office, from the packets where they sort the mails, to the used sacks of rice they use in delivering the mails to the other central post offices. Ridiculous, I may say.

Good thing my students still enjoyed the entire trip to the dilapidated post office. (Taken for granted that it was their first time to actually mail a ‘real mail’).

28^th of June, Saturated Saturday

Work doesn’t end for me on a Saturday. By 7:15 am, I was at the school already 'coz we’re headed to Grace Christian High School for the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools – Science (ICASS). Two of my students joined the said competition. But since I have angst about this competition, I’ll be posting soon another entry about it.

After the contest, we returned to our school 'coz by 3 o’clock pm, we had the first Parent Interaction Hour (PIH). It’s an orientation for our student’s parents for the new school year (some sort of a PTA meeting).

At 8 pm, I had an organic dinner with a girl friend in a nearby vegetarian resto. But since I was not happy with my tall glass of homemade mango yogurt, I insisted to her that we should drink a bottle of –OH. Good thing she was not happy either with her cute mug of hot chocolate drink. And so we both drink a bottle of –OH.

And the rest is history...

29^th of June, Shopping Sunday

What is the best way to formally end an entire week of eustress other than shopping? Answer: more shopping.

Today is the first time I used my credit card. And the first thing I bought with it are my…

Then I also bought a…

…and I lived happily ever after…

THE END

Signs that there’s a Public Storm Signal No. 3

According to PAGASA, at 2:00 a.m. today, the eye of Typhoon "FRANK" was located by radar, satellite and surface data at 30 kms South of Tayabas, Quezon or 90 kms Southeast of Metro Manila (13.9°N 121.5°E) with maximum winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It is expected that "FRANK" will move north northwest at 15 kph.

When I woke up at 11 am, Typhoon "FRANK" has already passed east of Metro Manila and is crossing Central Luzon.

Hence, below is the latest 2D Image issued by PAGASA for 3pm today.

Since we’re already in a contemporary age, at the same time all of the emo’s out there are trying to defy the laws of nature, here are some ways to confirm that there is indeed a Public Storm Signal No. 3 in the metropolis:

1. You are back to basics. You wake up at lunchtime and compete with your housemate with the use of the kitchen as you cook your all time favorite instant noodles.

Yummy. This reminds me of college midnight snacks at Kalai (my freshman dormitory).


2. Talking about freshman years, the second sign leads you to old friends sending you unexpected SMS.

Here’s an example:

Jong: If there is something better than sharing with others the best of what you have, it is sharing with others the best of who you are… : )
UG: Kumusta naman kabagyuhan diyan? (How's the typhoon over there?)
Jong: Emo-emo lang… Haha. (Just being emo... Haha.)
UG: Wala ka ngang magawa… (You have nothing else to do.)
Jong: Kaya *** na lang! LOL. (That's why I'll just have ***! LOL.)

Jong is a good old college friend. He lived three doors across my room way back when we were freshies. At the age of 23, he had finished already is Masters Degree in Economics. He works at the Department of Agriculture and can't directly answer my question whenever I ask him, “Is there really a rice shortage in the country today?”

To boot, Jong is an epitome of a USB!

Thanks to Billycoy for introducing me USB. It’s actually a line of collectibles available here.


3. Another friend challenges your Algebraic abilities, online!

Marge, another college friend, started our YM conversation by asking how’s the downpour at the metropolis. And after complaining about herself gaining a fat ***, she asked me if I know the expanded formula of (a+b+c)^3. Being a natural-born-Algebra-lover, I immediately picked up my pencil and notepad and solved for the solution. After a few minutes, I replied:

a^3 + b^3 + c^3 + 6abc + 3ab^2 + 3a^2b

+ 3ac^2 + 3a^2c + 3bc^2 + 3b^2c

Shoot! That was loooooong.

She responded:

margie: haha
margie: eh (a+b)^3
stupefied protagonist: kailangan ba tlga? (do you really need it?)
margie: medyo (quite.)
margie: haha
margie: alam mo yung shortcut (do you know the shortcut?)
margie: type mo na (type it now)

After quite some time...

margie: kuha ko na (i got it!)
stupefied protagonist: a^3 + 3a^2b + 3ab^2 + b^3
margie: tama (correct)

(^ indicates exponents)

Marge! You’re giving me a headache!

Marge has a degree in Public Health. She’s currently in her province way up north working in a local Water Company.


4. Finally, your last hint is that you stay in front of your laptop and tries to write as many blog entries as you can instead of checking your student’s quizzes. Oh! That’s another topic I can blog about!

Just wait, there’s more!

Outside:

Light a Candle for Truth and Justice

We may not be vocal about our personal opinions regarding the NBN-ZTE controversy, yet, even in our simple ways, we can actually do something...

Light a Candle for Truth and Justice

All societies need a minimum moral sense in order to survive. The crisis that grips the nation over revelations of high-level corruption in the National Broadband Network–ZTE deal is only the surface of a deep rot at the center of our failing state. It is primarily a moral and not just a political concern when governance ceases to be an instrument for good but instead uses its awesome power to suppress the truth and obstruct justice. When truth has fallen in the public square, it is a sign that evil has grown strong in the land. (Jeremiah 9:3)

There are moments in history when the state ceases to be a servant of God as in Romans 13 but turns into a Beast as in Revelation 13. In such moments, the people of God are called to stand, to resist the seductions to conform and overcome the fear that makes us pliant before evil. It is time for all people of faith to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough. To express our moral outrage, we enjoin everyone to light a candle every evening from 8 to 9 starting Palm Sunday and through the Holy Week as a sign of solidarity with all who seek the truth and demand accountability from those in power.

Let this form of 'communal action' be a strong signal to our leaders that unlike the unresolved scandals of the past, we shall not let this one pass. So light those candles and put them on your windows. Make them visible to all who pass by. Show to the rulers of this nation that people power is alive and strong.

(SGD) Melba Padilla Maggay, Ph.D.

President

Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISACC)