i: the citizen
Call for Submissions
This is a chance, an opportunity, a call.
We all want a better Philippines. While the government is largely responsible for running the country, let us not forget that we, the people, are the country. We cannot just sit back or stand around and take care of our own lives, and leave the task of taking care of our country to somebody else. We cannot expect for something to happen if we are not exerting any effort. The good news is, citizens – ordinary people like you and me – can do our share, great or small, to contribute to making a better Philippines.
i: The Citizen is a magazine that aims to inform, inspire, and involve people worldwide in realizing a better Philippines.
Visit the National Museum
Here’s an invitation to visit the Philippine National Museum…
Binondo Scenes
In the streets of old Binondo was where I, along with some of my friends and cousins, decided to walk one Sunday afternoon to rediscover one part of old Manila. But rather than let words describe what I saw, this time let me take you to a visual tour of scenes through some photos I took during our walk around some parts of Binondo, Manila.
More from Thinking Aloud…
The Reality of Development Work
Some realities of development work in a developing country.
Read more from Thinking Aloud…
Sustainable Clubbing
“All you have to do is dance to save the world.”
That’s according to Andrew Charalambous, the founder of Surya, the world’s first ecological disco club in London.
Find out more from Thinking Aloud…
Making Sense of Mangoes and Jet Fuel
A few weeks back Christophe was telling me how he loved eating mangoes: that whenever he visited the Philippines he’d take every chance to have some, and then when he returned to France he’d bring several boxes of it as well, both for him and his wife. So I asked him, “Why bring so many boxes of it? Aren’t mangoes sold in France? Why don’t you just buy them there?” Of course, in my mind I thought it was probably cheaper for him to buy them here than in his country where the markup could be tenfold, so he might as well seize the opportunity to get more for less. His response was similarly within those lines, plus something more.
Finding the Balance
I came across two articles from the GMA news feed two days ago, both about the establishment of proposed renewable energy power plants and the opposition they presently face from local constituents. I quote them both at some length and say my two-cents’ worth here…
Skinny-dipping in Manila Bay, anyone?
I read an article on the pollution of Manila Bay, which costs about Php 4 billion annually as a consequence of degradation. The major causes, as the article expounded: overfishing, pollution in coastal areas—thereby limiting tourism and other recreational uses—results in this equivalent monetary loss.
More from Thinking Aloud…
Signos: GMA7’s Climate Change Documentary
Here’s a short teaser clip of GMA7’s Signos, a localized documentary on climate change and its impacts in the Philippines. It won the Best Foreign Film Award for the 1st Lone Star International Film Festival in Texas, USA, according to GMA News.
More here…
Backpacking Pinoy Style
Filipino backpackers gave their insightful and inspiring, not to mention enviable, experiences on traveling around the world last July 3 at the Recreational Outdoor Exchange (R.O.X.) shop at the Fort. Five speakers shared their own travel plans and notes, and gave useful tips to the participants, each of whom was probably pondering silently on how they would execute such similar excursions.
