Kid Conductor

It was a rainy morning when I left home around 5:50 am heading for work. As I was approaching near a jeepney stop where I usually ride. A parked jeepney was already waiting for passengers, So I immediately find a place to sit.

When I sat down near the exit I noticed that the conductor was a child, he was around 8-9 years old. I noticed that he lack some rest because of his sleepy eyes. While the vehicle was running the rain poured more.

It's December 23,2013 and this kid is awake as early as he could trying to earn money. Wet and feeling cold as he chills from time to time he continue to collect jeepney fare's. I was assuming that the driver was his father.

Tomorrow would be December 24, 2013 and hours from that it would be Christmas Eve. I don't know how long this child be working for this day. I bet he wants to earn a lot so that he can buy something as a gift to himself. And also want to contribute so that they will have some foods on their table during Christmas Eve.

I can see he's getting cold since his legs started shaking. But he keep chanting for passengers when the vehicle would reach a certain jeepney stop. I was thinking on the outcome of this child on tomorrow's celebration.

• Instead of sleeping in a warm bed and woke up with a milk. He is here on the streets doing a child labor and assisting the driver. 
• Instead of getting excited to unwrap his gift while waiting for Christmas Eve. He is on the streets asking passengers about their jeepney fare.
• Instead of playing with their relatives when the night comes. He is working overtime with his driver to earn enough money.

Not all child are lucky since others are born with this kind of reality. Other's would be chanting and caroling Christmas songs. While others would be selling rags, newspapers and cigarette's early in the morning.

2013 - A Year of Disaster

It has been a wild ride in the ending months of year 2012 due to the disaster that happened. I was thinking lately about that "END OF THE WORLD" stuffs. Since everyone was just paranoid on whats going on at the moment.

EARTHQUAKE

It all started with a strong earthquake that hit Bohol last October 15, 2013. I would not forget that morning since I was still lying in bed. It was around 8:30 am when it all started. Lying flat in bed feeling lazy to get up  when things were really starting to fall. With the killer instinct on my mind I immediately ran outside the house for safety purposes.

At that moment I composed a text message and sent it to my parents.

"Kusog linog dri paps...ok ramo diha ni mama?"
Dad a strong earthquake happened now are you both ok with mom?

While some of our neighbors were outside screaming, yelling and even crying. As they feel the tremors and strong shake. I was able to send the text message and then realized I was only wearing my boxers LOL!.

And the aftershocks would be felt every now and then. Believe it or not it lasted more then 2 months which I was able to get used to it. But some aftershocks are really annoying and would occur unexpectedly. Some instances were in I was caught in the middle of the church.

While praying after lighting a candle in Sto. Niño an aftershock just happened. A moment of silence was felt and you can feel the silent sound of worried people. Luckily the aftershock stopped right away, if not the whole crowd would be on mass hysteria.

The outcome of that earthquake would be devastating. As it crushed and destroyed infrastructures like churches, roads, buildings and almost anything.

And until now when Christmas is approaching some slight tremors and afters shocks can still be felt.

SUPER TYPHOON YOLANDA

Fully charge gadgets including phone for communication purposes

On November 7, 2013 Yolanda unleashed it's wrath on Leyte and some parts of Cebu. Before the landfall a calm weather before the storm was experienced.

The weather was so hot and there was no air that can be felt by our skin. During these times I was keeping in touch with my parents.

The moment Yolanda struck Leyte the last text I received from my dad was.

"Uwan na diha? Kusog na kaayo uwan dri og hangin. Nag brownout npud"
Is it raining in their? Strong winds and rain are going on right now and a total blackout.

I got this text message around 4 am. And could not reply since the communications were down. I had no information and status update from my parents for the past 4 days.

On the other hand I was not able to take a bath for 2 1/2 days. Because their was no water supply, but didn't mind that since what's important is that I have something to eat and drink.

Yolanda washed the whole Tacloban city. Leaving it like a ghost town, similar to a wrecked cemetery. A progressive city was replaced with a weeping sight. Survivors don't know what to do after the aftermath and dead bodies where everywhere.  An estimated of 10k deaths were feared as the death counts rises.

Thanks to other countries that helped the victims of Yolanda. It was really a warm relief that huge help was approaching. Almost all countries around the world offered help both financially and other sorts of necessity. The goal was to help Tacloban rise back again after a tragic calamity.

Other instances of calamities: 

Minglanilla Cebu experience a tornado last June
Alternative Soucre: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2013/06/19/955764/tornado-hits-minglanilla-talisay-city

Park Mall experienced a tornado last November
Source: Sunstar

1,000,000 Reach Kageron Facebook Fan Page

A milestone was reached while checking the kageron fan page. When the post was published it gained a lot of viewers. In one day it reached 44k viewers and it was rapidly increasing.

As hours and days passed by it just keeps adding more reach. As it went viral more and more people are coming back and commenting on it. So the post made a staggering 1,000,448 reach which we were not expecting.

Grats to the people who love the joke and meme stuffs. Don't worry folks we would do more of those kind of stuffs to entertain without any cost.

It's more like of a part time leisure that we post and share jokes. Especially when combined with an open beer =).

Here is the joke that gained 1,000,000+ total reach

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=575268895862220&set=a.326031107452668.77775.153798154675965&type=1&theater

Note: At the moment the total reach is still adding so probably it would reach more counts

Sarcasm On!

I just don't seem to understand that some people are quite sensitive. And they just jump on certain conclusion. In fact they're reasons for a certain conclusion is obviously pathetic.

Upon justifying the reason you will end up saying "WTF??" or "SERIOUSLY???".  When it comes to work related stuffs and someone's pride is at stake. A JOKE is different from a JOKE + WITH SENSE since they are totally different.

Witnessing this kind of unjustified reason(s) is quite ironic. Since the abuse of power would be the main reason that would trigger everything. And pride comes along with this decision mixed with sarcasm attitude.

If a certain person could not handle someone's attitude it's not even a problem. Especially if a certain behavior would not affect the work. Being funny and for the sake of entertainment is not a big deal.

• Is it a concern about a certain attitude when these people are the assets of your company? When it's obvious that jokes are meant to ease tension.

• Why can't their attitude be disparaged when they are productive?

• Why it's an issue about their behavior in fact they are effective with their assigned task?

• Why be alarmed on how they act inside the office when they are just being real?

Passing judgement because you can't tame someone is merely unprofessional. Doing such act would only describe a certain person as a satire kind.

To make things clear ignore those nonsense stuffs when a false ego is bumped. I hope this kind of greedy and selfish people should be quartered and hanged.

Hug For Yolanda near Sto. Niño

Another typical Sunday afternoon after I lighted a candle and say a prayer in Sto. Niño. When I got out of the church the first thing that I want to do was to eat munchkins.

So I immediately look for that Swedish guy selling munchkins nearby. After 5-10 minutes of searching I couldn't find the person.

So I decided to go home, and when I was about to turn left near city savings bank building(P Burgos St.). I noticed a group of people having a placards.  When I read the stuffs written on the placard it said. "HUGS FOR YOLANDA VICTIMS 1 HUG ANY AMOUNT OF DONATION".

I thought they were protesting about something. Until I realize what they are doing when I read what was written on their placard. So other people and by passers who noticed it would participate. From kids and adults they would share a hug.

Collapsing Core

How do you fix something that keeps breaking?

How do you expand when things are filled empty?

How do you establish when the core is collapsing?

These are just some few questions that's bothering my mind. I could find any solutions even if I sip a mug of pure black coffee. All I see are vague scenarios which would happen.  No matter how I try hard to understand and determine the outcome I still see uncertainty.

Isn't it ironic that fixing something that keeps breaking is a waste of effort. It's like a glass that has been shattered. And then you try to pick it up, assemble it again by placing glues on it. But what's the outcome? Of course it's not the same in the first place. Since the broken lines are visible and clear even though it was assembled again.

 Another scenario would be expanding. How will you expand when the moment you attempt to do it. Another certain point gets vacant. No matter how you try to move things another spot gets empty. It's an infinite process that would result to struggles.

When you try to expand try to establish the core first. Build a strong foundation so that you will have tranquility. Rest assure that your foundation is solid to embrace challenges.

I see things unpractical when facing this scenarios. Trust,efforts are useless while promises are turned to lies. These are just the common truth about it.

 Someones people that are too over confident are the one's that are holding grief. People who are showy are the pure liars. Bastards as I call them and all I do care was to see them being possessed.

How Did Social Media Helped People During Calamities?

First and foremost let me make this clear. IT WAS A HUGE HELP, Since most of the news feeds were coming from social media. News anchor and other establishments continue their updates via social media sites.

People are updating every now and then using twitter,google+, facebook etc. Constant updates helped others to be aware of the incidents on other places. Especially facebook when people are uploading videos and images.

EARTHQUAKE IN BOHOL AND CEBU
During the strong earthquake(7.2 magnitude) that hit last month people and netizen's uploaded various images. From fallen structures to the destruction that Bohol had undergone. Even when their are aftershocks people are updating their status.

As soon as an aftershock occurs some online users would took a photo and upload it. This just shows that people would want to share something informative online.

YOLANDA SUPER TYPHOON THAT HIT LEYTE AND NORTHERN CEBU

One of the strongest typhoon's this year that left a scar was super typhoon Yolanda. Social Media was quite helpful especially when it comes to the latest news. News feed would be constantly updated online when people would share their resources of info.

And even when the super typhoon started it's wrath netizen's continued to upload videos and pictures they took. From devastating current videos caught on camera they upload it immediately. It was clear that social media had made a huge impact in providing latest updates.

Never before scenes of pictures and videos that people share online were seen. Since not all parts of Tacloban were being covered by reporters. So people who were able to capture raw videos would upload and would start to share it to their friends.

It was also a huge help during the aftermath. Consistent updates were possible especially to current status of Tacloban Leyte. Images of the city were visible online for people to be aware of what happened.

Other volunteers would take pictures of survivors writing a message. The message was all about "FAMILY NAME WE ARE SAFE or FAMILY NAME WE ARE ALIVE".

This kind of information is quite crucial especially to the relatives. Since this would rest assure them that their love ones are still alive. Since this would preven
t others from worrying too much.

But some messages would just to sad to read. Especially when they tell and write about a family member that died. It's sad but at least and with all due respect it will still be shown for confirmation purposes.

Even international news personnel where forecasting. Internet had been a huge help during those days when it comes to latest news. People and their friends could instantly connect and communicate because of social media.

At the same time some of the Philippine government lapses and sluggish respond were also updated online. CNN personal was able to cover and witnessed how slow the Philippine government's responds.

And that issues went viral online because it was exposed and shared. Information now a days could travel the world in an instant. From one click to another online users could easily get informed.

Sources of the pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151769626161977&set=pb.116724526976.-2207520000.1386263710.&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151755856076977&set=pb.116724526976.-2207520000.1386263744.&type=3&permPage=1