Category Archives: social consciousness

Population Explosion in the Philippines

Posted on August 3, 2008 by greenbucks| 32 Comments

The Philippines is the world’s 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as of 2008. This is according to this article.

This is not surprising, given the stance of the Catholic Church on birth control method. Click here for the official Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines statement on Contraceptive Mentality.

The way the government seem to agree with the church regarding the issue is also a factor which contributed to the fact that the population boom is escalating and there are really clear actions how to stop the numbers from escalating.

The USAID has been supporting The Philippine Family Program for years and the objectives that they have outlined are agreeable with me. Click here to read the Factsheet.

weeklyquestions.jpg

The WQ#11 was inspired by the answer of Lovelyn to WQ#10 regarding the Little Girl and I want to know your opinion on this very important and controversial topic of Family Planning Issues and the ballooning population of the country:

Should people heed the call of the Catholic Church to not use artificial means of contraception/reproductive health products and services OR should they go ahead, talk to their doctors and plan for how they want to practice family planning?

My answer:

I believe in the stance of the church that people should not contradict the “fruitfulness of human reproductive capacities given by the Creator and hence are morally wrong”. But on second thought, the church should not pass judgment on people regarding their stance on the use of artificial contraception as morally wrong.

Read more »

Posted in blogging101, family, Interesting Topics, Philippines, social consciousness, Weekly Questions

Tagged , , , ,

Dalampasigan

Posted on July 31, 2008 by greenbucks| 21 Comments

litratongpinoy5.gif

The theme for this week’s Litratong Pinoy is seashore. We all know that the Philippines is surrounded by water. We also know that this is the primary selling point of the tourism industry in luring tourists to visit the country. How do we take care of our seas and seashore?

Do we have to have legislation just to guide us how to take care of our seas? Or do we voluntarily do these taking care ourselves.

Ang tema para sa Litratong Pinoy ay dalampasigan. Alam nating lahat na napapaligiran ng tubig ang Pilipinas. Alam din nating lahat na ito ang pambenta ng ating pamahalaan para pumunta dito ang maraming turista. Pero paano ba pangalagaan ang dalampasigan?

Kelangan ba na may batas para pangalagaan ito o dapat tayo na mismo ang gumawa ng paraan para ito ay mabigyan ng proteksiyon?

img_0933b.jpg

Diaper at the beach. Diaper nasa dalampasigan.

img_0938b.jpg

Machineries that pollute the waters. Mga makinang nagdudulot ng pulosyon sa tubig.

My only wish is to see clear, clean blue waters which can give us joy as well as nourishment. Ang tanging hiling ko ay makakita ng malinaw, malinis at bughaw na tubig na siya ding nakapagbibigay sa atin kasiyahan pati na din ng mga pagkaing-dagat.

img_2975c.jpg

Posted in blogging101, Environment, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness

Tagged , , , , , , ,

China’s Pollution

Posted on July 8, 2008 by greenbucks| 3 Comments

China’s pollution is our pollution too.

With their thick fogs, it is no wonder their policemen’s life expectancy rate is at 40 years old.

It is in China where one can find 16 most polluted cities in the world. Out of 20.

Click here to read about the effects of these pollution.

Click here to read a lot of articles documenting about how its growth is probably choking the country.

Cars are even asked to get off the road to ease pollution or clear the skies for the forthcoming Olympics. There was even a suggestion that the cars go out on odd-even days, reminiscent of the traffic days we used to have, and still have here in Mega Manila. No, I am not kidding, click here and here.

I don’t want to think about what the dirty air would do to the athletes’ healthy lungs. Just thinking about it makes me feel that my nose is itching and my throat tightening.

China is also one of the countries where electronic wastes or e-waste is being dumped. People there, including children, melt the components as they try to look for something metallic to use or sell, inhaling poisonous fumes. Those that can’t be used are thrown into the rivers. Click here to read.

There is also this yucky green algae that has invaded the shorelines of Qingdao. Thousands of recruits from the People’s Liberation Army remove these algae by hand while standing knee-deep in it. Click here to read about its effect in the coming Olympics.

I have never been to China. I don’t have anything against the Chinese and their business and environmental practices. Maybe I do but I would rather keep these private.

My fervent wish if for them to curb these practices, not only for their sake but for the sake of other countries near them, for the sake of Mother Earth herself.

Posted in Current Events, Environment, social consciousness, World Watch

Tagged ,

Tatak Pilipino

Posted on July 3, 2008 by greenbucks| 41 Comments

litratongpinoy.gif

Ano nga ba ang Tatak Pinoy o Tatak Pilipino? Tila wala naman yata tayong sariling tatak o pagkaka-kilanlan bilang isang bansa dahil sa mga napakaraming impluwensiya natin.

What is the essence of a Filipino? It seems that we don’t have our own character as a people, as a distinct nation because we are the product of so many influences of different cultures and belief systems.

Pero sa kabila nito, dapat nating ipagmalaki ang ating mga naging ninuno, na sa kabila ng payak nilang pamumuhay, naging masigasig at malikhain sila.

Despite this, we should be proud of our Filipino ancestors, who despite their basic and simple way of living, they showed perseverance and creativity.

img_1272b.jpg

Ilang tatak Pinoy ang nakikita mo dito?

How many Filipino symbols can you find in this photo?

Kung minsan naiisip ko, parang gusto kong bumalik sa payak na pamumuhay tulad nito:

Sometimes I think about going back to the basics, like the one below:

Read more »

Posted in blogging101, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles

Tagged ,

Learning is Not Just Studying

Posted on June 26, 2008 by greenbucks| 18 Comments

litratongpinoy3.gif

To those who do not really know me, beyond being a writer in this blog, I am a teacher. Yes, a teacher of children with special needs. My students call me Teacher Julie and that is what I call my other blog too. In other words, I am a special education teacher.

I just want to say the learning is my middle name. I believe that learning does not just take place within the four walls of the classroom. Learning takes place in our daily interaction with people, with problem-solving skills, decision-making processes and having the correct ideals to be able to help others and most specifically the environment.

How would I answer questions about special education issues?

About the books that I have used with my students, click here -> books

Do you know a child who can’t sit still and loves to move around? Click here -> ADHD

Do you know someone with autism? Click here -> Autism

Do you know someone who is very, very smart? Click here -> Giftedness

Do you know someone who has a hard time understanding words and has difficulty interacting with others? Click here -> Language Development

Do you know someone who can’t function because everything is so hard to do? Click here-> Mental Retardation

How should these children be taught? Click here -> Teaching Techniques

I don’t even want to think about students who go to school too early or too late, 6am – 12pm or 16pm – 6pm..

I don’t even want to think about children who have to walk several kilometers daily just so they could go to school.

I don’t even want to think of the students who study under the trees because facilities are a big problem.

I don’t even want to think about the students, 50 – 70 of them, sitting in a small, hot and cramped classroom.

So I present my children…

My daughter Trixie is a grade 7 student in a university where children with special needs are mainstreamed in their classes.

Here are two photos of my children whom I homeschool through the curriculum from Bo Sanchez company.

This is Julian,with his group mates in the center where I work. He is wearing a blue polo shirt. He will be 7 in July and he is now a second grader.

img_1500b.jpg

He is with children who have developmental delays. They are with Teacher Joy and Teacher Xeres who are both occupational therapists.

And this is our youngest child, Tania:

img_2000b.jpg

She is learning with RV in a dyad setting in the center where I teach as per developmental pediatrician’s recommendation. Both Tania and RV are 5 years old.

I hope you learned something in my post.

Posted in blogging101, Current Events, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles