New PNR Train & Station Graces Rails Of Metro Manila

A year back when I was still at college at a university in Manila, I used to see the old PNR train everyday at 7:30am. It was shabby, rusted, and scary. Everytime it passes by, insects fly out of its windows, no kidding. Trollies (its a makeshift vehicle made out of wood that runs on the rails of the PNR and serves like a mini-public transport) are raised aside everytime the train comes. The ground trembles as the train zooms out. Scary. Anyway, here's what it was like:

Recently, the Philippine National Railways released its new trains, fully furnished and air-conditioned. It's amazing. I call this progress. People used to be scared of the PNR, but would they still be after they see the new "it"? Here it is:

The insides are terrific (although it still lags behind the standards of today's trains, in terms of speed). Cushioned seats, good lighting, fashioned just like the LRT. What's good is, I heard the fare's just around PHP 10.00. That's a fair fare. Get it? Fair fare? Plus, the PNR made new train stations and redeveloped old ones. It's now very fitting for a joyride. No worries that it would break into pieces or something. People will ride it with the assurance that they'll be safe and comfortable. Plus, they'll have fun.


See more photos here, yes? http://blog.rihspi.org/

The only thing that ruins it, and no offense meant to anyone, are the informal settlers living beside the train's rails. These people threw dangerous and inconvenient objects at the old train's windows for fun e.g. rocks, water balloons, human feces. They find fun and joy in other people's pains. How would you feel if you're heading for the office then suddenly some guy from the ground splashes you with a dipperfull of water? Very inconvenient, yes? Lots of Gov't. Administrations have passed by and have done nothing to dispense of these informal settlers. I guess they'll be there 'till Kingdom come.


Anyway, you might be wondering what RIHSPI is. I researched about them and they turn out to be a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and documenting the railway history of the Philippines. They're very cool and patient people, considering the fact that it's a very hard task to document and restore things people take for granted and can't care less about. These people need everyone's support. And they need your help:

RIHS Needs Your Help

We need volunteers who share the same vision of restoring and preserving railways and industrial heritage of the Philippines and has the motivation, knowledge, skills, and time to help the society achieve its purpose. Email us at volunteers@rihspi.org

If you are based outside the Philippines, a student or a corporate sponsor and willing to provide assistance to the society, please email us at associates@rihspi.org

The Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Phils., Inc. will spearhead the research and complete documentation of the Paco Railroad Station and surrounding communities and will play a major role in securing the declaration of the Paco Railroad Station as a National Historical Landmark. The restoration of Paco Railroad Station to its old glory will also be part of the efforts of the society.

If you have documents or information about the Paco Railroad Station or can help us in securing the declaration of Paco Railroad Station as a National Historical Landmark, please email us at projects@rihspi.org

Membership Form

And for the closing of this post, I would like to thank the PNR itself for the progress they've made; the RIHSPI for their hard work and contributions, making us more aware than ever of things we didn't know; the Government for appropriating money for this project therefore extending the life of the PNR for another few decades; and to all those people who should be credited for this project. You've made a lot of people happy with this feat.

'Till my next installment.

*Disclaimer: I am not a member of RIHSPI; Videos courtesy of YouTube; Picture(s) courtesy of RIHSPI. Thanks to all.

Opinions: New Mar Roxas/Manny Villar Political TV Ad

And then they run their mouths again.

If you've been watching TV recently, you might have noticed Sens. Mar and Manny's new TV campaign ads. These are obviously aired to condition people's minds for the coming 2010 Philippine Elections. I just have to say some things about it. I'll be impartial about my opinions I'll take on Manny Villar's ad first.

As far as I'm concerned, Sen. Villar's ad is quite subtle when it comes to campaigning. I mean for me, it's quite viewer friendly. It has it's own catchy rhythm and good flashy animation. This is the type of ad that you could run even after the 2010 elections are over. It doesn't have that "in-your-face" value that irritates people. It's so unlike what I'm about to discuss next.

As far as I'm concerned (again), this ad of Sen. Roxas' just hits me below the belt. I want to cry foul but because we're a free country I can't.

Everytime Sen. Roxas' launches an ad, it portrays the Filipino people as miserable, poor, and pathetic. His ad(s) are full of negative energy. I know the Filipino public loves drama and all. I'll even admit that a lot of people can relate to his ad. Peeps here love drama. And that's what Sen. Roxas is aiming at right now. But as I've said, this ad is just sickeningly sick. You just need to watch it to understand it. Look at the people's horribly made scripts and actions. They're making it seem that peeps back here are so pitiful and miserable and nothing's being done by the government to help them. That's (and this I emphasize strongly) wrong! Mr. Roxas is portraying himself as the hero, a Robin Hood if you will, while implying that the government is useless and have done totally nothing for the past 6 years. This is BS. I mean, how low can you get? He's doing this because he knows that majority of the voters are impoverished and needs help. If ever he gets elected as President in 2010, let's see him keep his promises.

And another thing: Mr. Roxas just loves the media. He just plays monkey with it because he was born in a wealthy family. His clan is one of the higher societies here in the Philippines, them Alta Sociedad people. How can he relate shit to people if his whole life he never experienced nothing like his ads are showing? Another stirrup to get the people giddy. I'm not against Mar Roxas. I'm just against what he does. He's manipulating people and is conditioning the masses minds for the coming 2010.

To the Filipino People: You don't need some political savior to give you salvation from poverty. You yourselves should help yourselves. Don't depend wholly on someone who fences with words for a living. Politicians aren't a "tried-and-tested" formula. No single president of ours saved us from anything. If they did something good, it was but to help us from sinking all the way down, not save this country.

Anyway, I'm just a speck of a dust. Let's just wait for 2010.

'Till my next installment.

Ever Felt Life Is Boring Already?

Warning: Extremely long post. Read at your own risk. Comment if you can. Thanks.

Have you ever felt that your life is already boring and that everything you do is routine? Well, that's what I'm feeling right now. Suicide aside (faaaaar aside), I need a solution to this crisis of mine.


Everyday I wake up, I go to the computer. After some time on it, I eat, I iron my clothes, and I go to the review center I'm enrolled in. I spend a couple of hours in the review center shivering (they have some high-powered ACs), ride a jeepney, sleep during the sojourn, get home, a few minutes on the computer again, then sleep. Weekends are laundry days and general cleaning days. Then repeat. For Pete's sake I'm like an effin` robot with effin` nothin` better to do aside from my routine. Boring isn't it?

I was in a jeep this night just about to go home when the driver picked a fight with a traffic cop (we call them MMDA back here). The effin` driver effed up the copper by saying effin` words to him. The copper in turn shouted effin` words back. There were four passengers. Me, a gay dude, and two gorgeous nursing students. The two girls were sitting 6 or 7 persons away from me, a couple of feet perhaps. The gay dude, nevermind him. I was at the far end of the vehicle. When the driver and the cop started effin` each other, the two girls were like from the front of the jeep slash zoooooooooom slash to the far end where I was sitting. They sandwiched me. *drools* Girls will be girls. They got rattled easily by the mere shouting. I mean, the driver and the cop were serious looking dudes. They look like they're about to really kill each other. No kidding. But me, I was like, "What the hell. Let them do what they want. I'mma just gonna text my girlfriend here a 'take care' message." As soon as the ruckus was over, one of the nursing students looked at me while she was still beside me. I smiled back. She moved away. Maybe I'm scary too. Am I indifferent to what's happening? Was it meant to be this way, or did my environment shape me like this? Even after that, I felt nothing different. Again, routine.

Is this the world we're living in right now? Is everything like a production line wherein machines assemble parts of other machines? Man, I surely would hate to live this life routinely. Sometimes, I can't feel that I'm alive. It's like no one would care even if God says He's coming down tomorrow to judge us.

It's not like I don't do nothing to alleviate my woes. Chicks and girls? Sure they're great. It's the most satisfying hobby in the world for men. Women. But someday or another you'll get bored of them. Like me. I'd rather stick to the one I have right now (and this I emphasize: My love for her is deeper than the Marianas Abyss) than to look for others I ain't even sure would love me back. In this world full of shit, lollygagging is not as acceptable as it was a few centuries back. Of course, that count doesn't include rockstars, skaters, thrashers, et al. Maybe it still is acceptable. Anyway, girls are fine. Make friends. Make sure you don't fall in love with them. Make sure they don't fall for you. Shit happens.

Moreover, I tried other remedies like exploring my newfound area Manila. But it also gets boring. All you see are people, cars, black smoke, dilapidated buildings, gorgeous women, slippers, knickknacks, and other things that would just make you say "WTF?"

Another thing I did was to play and play and play computer games and watch movies. PCs, PSPs, DVDs, ABCs, whatever. Even so, it still feels all routine. It's like your life was planned to be boring from the start. I ain't blaming God though. We have free will. We make the calls. It's just that life for the average person only have a few choices. What can we do if we're broke?

Now I understand the position of thrillseekers, death-defyers, and daredevils. These are the people that take life and death as their cocaine. They make it their own personal high. And that's one thing I think I need right now - my own personal high. Don't get me wrong, I dont wan't no drugs. I'm clean. But I really feel that something is missing. And something is really missing - thrill, excitement, whatever the name is.

I semi-promised (semi-promised? Is there such a term? Let's make one up just for the sake of this post) to myself that after I become successful in my career, I'd do sky jumps in Las Vegas with all them Flying Elvis people. I semi-promised myself to bungee-jump off a bridge, race a NASCAR vehicle, drive like nuts around the street and let the police give chase, be an astronaut, apply to the military, fly a plane, travel around the world with my family and girlfriend, anything just to take the boredom and routine off my life. I just need that heartshocker that would tell my effin` brain "Bejeesus! You're still alive dude! Go live another day!" I don't feel that no more. I can't even recall if I felt a heartshocker already. I need to give myself a jolt - a jolt so strong that I will feel my life. A jolt so strong that it will wake up all my senses again and live my life to the fullest with enthusiasm and zeal.


What can we do besides all that I mentioned here? I dunno. Humans are enduring, persevering, intelligent creatures. I'm sure I'll find a way. I just needed to blurt all this out of my system. I'll find my personal high sooner or later. Perhaps even my girlfriend would help me find it. All this TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)post because of my boredom of life.

I think I'll run my Red Toyota at topspeed in the road sometime this week and let them coppers give chase. Maybe I'll even tote a gun at the car window for that matter. That would sure wake the hell out of me. It's my nearest possible remedy. Hopefully I won't crash it to another car or on a streetlamp.

Man, I'm losing it.

'Till my next installment.

GraveyardMu Full Season 4 | Exp: 5000/ Drops: 70% | Up: 99% | Longterm Server*

GraveyardMu Full Season 4

"Return of the Fallen"


Website
GraveyardMu Official Website

Forum
Graveyard Networks Official Forum

Server Information


Game Rates

Experience: 5000X
Drops: 70%
Monster HP: 100%
Shop: Balanced and Still under Improvements
Drop: Boxes Fully Modified and Balanced
Bless Bug (BB): OFF
Reset Type: Keep Stats
Reset Level: 400 Lvl
Reset Requirement: 100K Zen
JOS Success Rate: |+Luck=98% | Without Luck=75%)
JOL Success Rate: 100%
CM Success Rate:
+10 = 100% | +11 = 100% | +12 = 90% | +13 = 75%


GameEvents

CryWolf Event
Castle Siege Event
Chaos Castle Event
White Wizard Event
Blood Castle Event
Devil Square Event
Kalima Event
Golden Invasion Event
Sky Event
Raklion Event

For almost year our server had been down due to some financial instability to support dedicated machine for the server. Now we are coming back for good with strong foundation, our server are willing to offer the best we can get and offer, most may tell why we always wipe out for the last years, this is due to problems we encounter as stated above. This time is different story, we are strong and we can provide almost everything for the server to offer good games to others. We may not be the best or even near the best server but we will do everything we could to give the best we can offer.

*This is an advertisement from a server that I partly run. Please support it. Thanks.

'Till my next installment.

Opinions: Red Cross Eugenio Vagni Set Free

I've been keeping an eye on this story since its inception many months ago.

Recap: 3 Red Cross volunteers, one Filipino, two Italians, got kidnapped by what was identified as the MILF (Moro Islamic Libreation Front) "Lost Command." These people were supposed to liberate the island of Mindanao from the Philippines. Now they're just plain terrorists. No nothing whatsoever. They nabbed these volunteers for money. Fortunately no sum was paid. They were set free for free.


Now, Mr. Vagni was the last to be set free. I even thought he died already. There was no news update about him, no nothing. Not even a single clip. The evil media only shows what's hot. Them TV folks only air what they know would make money. Mr. Vagni's story was not hot enough and would not make enough money for them to show it. And what did Dick Gordon do? After the others were released, he did nothing already. Well, I take that he's busy in the Senate doing laws.

We're not giving enough credits to the real heroes here. They are those low-ranking foot soldiers who're always risking their lives scouring the thick jungles of Mindanao in search of Mr. Vagni. They are those men and women who seek to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf threat.

Anyway, Eugenio Vagni is already recuperating here in Manila and is set to go back home to Italy some time soon. It's good to hear that he's alright.

'Till my next installment.

Automated Elections Push Through 2010

They said it was another plot of the Administration. They said there would be mass rigging again at 2010. They were wrong.

It seems that Total Information Management and foreign company Smartmatic have settled their differences and will proceed to the planned 2010 automation.

Them Smartmatic - TIM folks

The problem with the Filipino people is they're too quick to come up with conclusions, specifically negative ones. When I heard the news that there was a shadow looming over the 2010 elections, I was like "Yeah they'll fix that sooner or later." Those opposition folks on the other hand was already crying "!*$&#*!@*@($!%$&^@#*#%(*^! the 2010 elections! They'll rig it again! Those #&%*$#(@#@! Administration people!" People here are too damn judgmental. And it goes out of proportion yet again thanks to the evil media.

I cannot blame them though. For decades the Philippines have been suffering from a disease known only to man as "corruption." We've been purported to be the most corrupt country in the world by some agency. Who knows? Then again this doesn't mean that every other Administration is as corrupt as the other. Look at ex-Pres. Joseph Estrada. He had villas, he had cars, he gambled, he had huge paychecks hiding inside banks. He lived lavishly with his concubines. Can someone from the opposition tell me straight in the face that he was not corrupt? And here he (Estrada) is running his mouth again saying that this present Administration is evil and he is good. Damn politics.

The COMELEC did an impressive job in my opinion. With it's new head Jose Melo, man it's a guarantee of a very bright future for this organization. I have nothing against the former head Benhur Abalos but his reputation is tainted to the bones. Nevermind him. He's forgotten.

Our new election machines

With this "new" technology at hand (other countries have automated their elections far earlier than us. That's what the double quotemarks are for), poll rigging hopefully will be held at bay. Machines are almost foolproof unless they're hacked or programmed to do otherwise. But there are still many stones left unturned. Riggers will do anything and everything to let their rooster win. That's what the COMELEC should now look into - Election security.

'Till my next installment.

Death's Really Like A Thief

This past few days we've witnessed a lot of deaths lately. The Air France crash, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, the Hollywood lady who died the same day as MJ, and another plane crash.

Just this 30th of June, my aunt died of cancer. Died at 3am. Surprising how people come and go. I just saw her walking by wearing a smile this February. Now she's gone.

Also nearing her end time is our former President Cory Aquino. News said that she doesn't have no appetite no more and has to be force-fed nutrients through IV tubes. That's what exactly happened to my aunt. Loss of appetite, then death. But still, we're hoping for her well being.

Death is a part of life. It's just so sad to see that people around you, people you've grew up with, are wilting slowly one after the other. God has plans. People's deaths won't go in vain.

'Till my next installment.