Storms of Submergence

      Typhoon season is once again upon us bringing gale force winds and dumping of tons of rainwater on our cities.

      Just yesterday, rains spawed by typhoon Chedeng (International code name: Songda) submerged some of Metro Manila’s streets and transformed non-submerged streets into instant parking lots with thousands of vehicles stranded and unable to move due to the floods.

      This Interactive flood map from gmanews.tv shows the areas within Metro Manila that are susceptible to floods or landslides. It even shows the expected flood height in case of Ondoy-like rainfall event.

      Another informative website is nababaha.com, a non-profit project by members of the Volcano-Tectonics Laboratory of the National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines.

      With improved information such as this, people can plan ahead to protect themselves and their families better.

      People who are planning to invest in real estate can also use this as a guide to know which areas are deemed safe and which areas are risky.

~florent flora

Keeping Children Safe Online

Sharing this for all the parents our there…

 Cyber Security Tip ST05-002

Keeping Children Safe Online

      Children present unique security risks when they use a computer. Not only do you have to keep them safe, you have to protect the data on your computer. By taking some simple steps, you can dramatically reduce the threats.

What unique risks are associated with children?

      When  a  child  is using your computer, normal safeguards and security practices may not be sufficient. Children present additional challenges because of their natural characteristics: innocence, curiosity, desire for independence, and  fear  of  punishment.  You need to consider these characteristics when determining how to protect your data and the child.

      You may think that because the child is only playing a game, or researching a term paper, or typing a homework assignment, he or she can't cause any harm. But what if, when saving her paper, the child deletes a necessary program file? Or what if she unintentionally visits a malicious web page that  infects  your computer with a virus? These are just two possible scenarios. Mistakes happen, but the child may not realize what she's done or may not tell you what happened because she's afraid of getting punished.

      Online predators present another significant threat, particularly to children. Because the nature of the internet is so anonymous, it is easy for people to misrepresent themselves and manipulate or trick other users (see Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for some examples). Adults often fall victim to these ploys, and children, who are usually much more open and trusting, are even easier targets. Another growing problem is cyberbullying. These threats are even greater if a child has access to email or  instant  messaging programs, visits chat rooms, and/or uses social networking sites.

 What can you do?

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  Be involved - Consider activities you can work on together, whether it be playing a game, researching a topic you had been talking about (e.g., family vacation spots, a particular hobby, a historical figure), or putting together a family newsletter. This will allow you to supervise your child's online activities while teaching her good computer habits.
  
  


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  Keep  your  computer  in  an  open area - If your computer is in a high-traffic area, you will be able to easily monitor the computer activity. Not only does this accessibility deter a child from doing something she knows she's not allowed to do, it also gives you the opportunity  to intervene if you notice a behavior that could have negative consequences.
  
  


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  Set rules and warn about dangers - Make sure your child knows the boundaries  of  what  she  is allowed to do on the computer. These boundaries should be appropriate for the child's age, knowledge, and maturity, but they may include rules about how long she is allowed to be on the computer, what sites she is allowed to visit, what software programs she can use, and what tasks or activities she is allowed to do. You should also talk to children about the dangers of the internet so that they recognize suspicious behavior or activity. Discuss the risks of sharing certain types of information (e.g., that they're home alone) and the benefits to only communicating and sharing information with people they know (see Using Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms Safely, Staying Safe on Social Network Sites, and the document Socializing Securely: Using Social Networking Services for more information). The goal isn't to scare them, it's to make them more aware. Make sure to include the topic of cyberbullying in these discussions (see Dealing with Cyberbullies for more information).
  
  


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  Monitor computer activity - Be aware of what your child is doing on the computer, including which websites she is visiting. If she is using email, instant messaging, or chat rooms, try to get a sense of who she is corresponding with and whether she actually knows them.
  
  


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  Keep lines of communication open - Let your child know that she can approach you with any questions or concerns about behaviors or problems she may have encountered on the computer.
  
  


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  Consider  partitioning your computer into separate accounts – Most operating systems give you the option of creating a different user account  for  each  user.  If  you're  worried that your child may accidentally access, modify, and/or delete your files, you can give her a separate account and decrease the amount of access and number of privileges she has. If you don't have separate accounts, you need to be especially careful about your security settings. In addition to limiting functionality within your browser (see Evaluating Your Web Browser's Security Settings for more information), avoid letting your browser remember passwords and other personal information (see Browsing Safely: Understanding Active Content and Cookies). Also, it is always important to keep your virus definitions up to date (see Understanding Anti-Virus Software).
  
  


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  Consider implementing parental controls - You may be able to set some parental controls within your browser. For example, Internet Explorer allows you to restrict or allow certain websites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password. To find those options, click Tools on your menu bar, select Internet Options, choose the Content tab, and click the Enable... button under Content Advisor.
  
  

      There are other resources you can use to control and/or monitor your child's online activity. Some ISPs offer services designed to protect children online. Contact your ISP to see if any of these services are available. There are also special software programs you can install on your computer. Different programs offer different features and capabilities, so you can find one that best suits your needs.

Additional information

       The following websites offer additional information about protecting children online:

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  GetNetWise
  
  


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  StaySafeOnline
  
  

_________________________________________________________________

 Authors: Mindi McDowell, Allen Householder

_________________________________________________________________

 Produced 2005 by US-CERT, a government organization.

 Note: This tip was previously published and is being re-distributed to increase awareness.

 Terms of use 

 This document can also be found at http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-002.html

It pays to know your customer!

A disappointed salesman of a famous Cola brand returned from his assignment to Saudi Arabia.    

A friend asked,   "Why weren't you successful with the Saudis?"

The salesman explained, "When I got posted, I was very confident that I would make a good sales pitch.   But I had a problem. I didn't know how to speak Arabic. So I planned to convey the message visually through three posters."

First poster: A man lying in the hot desert sand totally exhausted and fainting.

Second poster: The man is drinking Cola.  

Third poster: Our man is now totally refreshed.  

And then these posters were pasted all over the place. 

 

"Terrific! That should have worked!" said the friend.

"The hell it should have!" said the salesman.

"No one told me they read from right to left!"

A Souvenir-a-holic's Paradise

      For the souvenir-a-holics out there, a visit to the Baguio Public Market is replete with so many stuff, both big and small, to bring home with you and to remind you of one of your most memorable vacations in this mountain city.

      The various items on sale at the market never fail to amaze me. One is sure to buy at least one of these items to bring home as a keepsake or to give as a gift to a famiy member or to a friend.

1. Sweets and Delicacies

2. Fresh Strawberries

3. The ever-reliable "walis"

4. Woodcarvings

5. Figurines

6. Wall Carpets

7. Various dry goods

8. "Tapis" (some would use this as a table runner)

9. Wall displays and decors

10. Keychains

11. Refrigerator Magnets

12. Ear ornaments

13. Beads and Necklaces

14. Native-inspired bags

15. Petrified Frogs

16. Fresh Veggies! Yum!

17. Sleveless!!!

     Just go downtown to Magsaysay Avenue and you surely won't miss the market :-)

~Florent Flora

The Royal Reading

      While many were enthralled by the pomp and pageant of the event in London that is the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the “Royal Reading”, delivered by the bride’s brother, James Middleton, proved to be a powerful and moving exhortation not just for the bride and the groom, but for everyone to live lives characterized by love.

      James Middleton read from Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18 after his big sister had exchanged vows with Prince William:

      “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect.

      “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

      “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12: 1, 2, 9-18)

      Italics are provided by me.  It’s a very well-chosen piece for such an important event, and I’m very glad it comes from the bestselling book of all time, the Bible.

~Florent Flora

My Baguio Quadrathlon

      Some people train for and run the MARATHON, some go the extra step and do the TRIATHLON. There's even the famed PENTATHLON and the DECATHLON for olympians.

      As for me, I did the QUADRATHLON last weekend and I didn't need to train hard for it. The only requisite to do the Quadrathlon is to have lots of time, lots of heart, lots of patience, and to make it a family activity.

      Here's my "Quadrathlon" in pictures:

1. SWIM!

      Getting some sun at the Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

2. BIKE!

      At Baguio City's Burnham Park biking area

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

3. ROW!

      At the Burnham Park lagoon

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

4. RIDE!

      At the Wright Park with "Spider" and "Strawberry"

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

     I've grown up in Baguio City and have visited almost all the places there is to visit there. I'm certainly the first to say that it's a ho-hum activity just to go around Baguio and see its tourist spots.  This time, however, doing it with the family has introduced a fresh and exciting experience for me and this is definitely one activity that I would do over and over again!

      To my wife, Charry, thank you for putting up with and coping with the challenges of travel, preparing for the trip, handling the cranky kids and all, just to make this trip possible. Kudos and hugs and kisses to you -- mwah mwah mwah! :-)

The Greatest Equation

Lenten Season: Time to reflect on the essence and foundation of our Christian faith...

Image background from freefoto.com

"He is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Self Talk...

I adhere to my schedule

I exceed all my targets

I am committed

I own my job and my performance

I am accountable for all that i do

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The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things. (Proverbs 16:21)

The Making of a National Bloggers Association of the Philippines

      The Philippine blogosphere is awash with spirited online discussions, posts and tweets from bloggers and tweeples alike regarding the proposed formation of a “National Bloggers Association of the Philippines”. 

      Things started heating up after Janette Toral’s interview with Tonyo Cruz was posted (“The Need for a Philippine Bloggers Association”), and @tonyocruz posted a question on Twitter asking “Would you join a PH-wide organization of bloggers?”. This instantly drew ayes and neighs and a lot of other comments, both good and ugly, from many tweeps. Bloggers blogged about it; even an anonymous "Janitor Al" blogged about his (or her?) vehement rejection of the proposal to form a national bloggers association.

      From what I have understood, this national bloggers association will be open to Filipino bloggers both here and abroad and seeks to encompass all types of blogs.  Users of blogs such as the following would qualify for membership:

• Traditional blogs such as Blogger and Wordpress


• Micro blogs such as Twitter and Tumblr


• Photo and video blogs such as Flickr and YouTube


• Social networking sites such as Facebook, Yahoo Pulse and Google Buzz


• Self-made/self-maintained blogs and all other types of new internet media that can be categorized as a "web log" (as per Wikipedia's definition of a "blog")

     If Facebook population statistics is to be taken as an indication of the Philippine blogger population, that would mean the Philippine blogging population is a whopping 22 million strong (as of today)!

      Organizing this large a population, or even just a small percentage of it, into one group will be a very painful experience -- this pain is now manifesting itself online in many forms.

      Come to think of it, the association is not even a baby, it’s not even born. Heck, it has not even been “procreated” in a way. It is just an idea.  Sadly, people are already opposing this idea's existence. 

     This reminds me of the controversial Ayala Alabang bill entitled “An Ordinance Providing for the Safety and Protection of the Unborn Child within the Territorial Jurisdiction of Barangay Ayala Alabang…”  This bill seeks to control the union of the sperm and the egg by  mandating a doctor’s prescription whenever someone buys condoms.  As in hellooo? Where is the unborn child here when there's not even a zygote to talk about?  

     People opposed to the idea of a national bloggers association seem to have the same mindset as these baranggay Ayala Alabang leaders. 

 

"BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME"

      My take on this… Start small and take it from there.  Build it and they will come.

     2000 years ago, Jesus started with a core group of only 12 disciples and Christianity took off from there to where it is today, in spite of the persecutions encountered by the disciples and the early Christians.

     Each of the core team members of this proposed national bloggers association should have specific responsibilities and should not be mere spectators or participants  who are just “going with the flow”. The entire team will need to work together to propel this project forward. A single person cannot do it on his own. Conversely, a "weak link” could bring the entire team down.

     If possible, the different blogger associations should provide representation and get involved in the formation process with the goal of uniting all the different local and regional blogging associations under a common cause (but not necessarily getting them organized under one umbrella).

     The draft manifesto, after all,  states "One country, one blogging community".

     It is unfortunate that the formation process started off on the wrong foot and elicited a bombardment of attacks and negative comments. But that's done. What's left to do for the proponents is to keep going forward despite challenges and obstacles.

     The "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" and the "17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork" by John C. Maxwell will be very helpful guides to the core team who will be starting up this organization. These laws should be put to heart when the core team goes about its business of building up the association and propelling it forward.

FOR THE PROPONENTS: “THE LAW OF BUY-IN”

     The "FAQ" addresses people's common concerns and questions regarding this proposed bloggers association while the "manifesto" lays down the founding principles and the vision for this proposed bloggers association.

     For the proponents, always remember the Law of Buy-in: “People buy into the leader, not the vision.”

     This law of buy-in has always been the mark of great leaders who successfully rallied people for a cause.

     There are some prominent bloggers who are very vocal in their opposition to forming this association and it is obvious that they are not buying in. Let them be. Put focus on those who are buying in and to those who are sold -- these are the people who will support the proponents and the leaders' vision of what the association is supposed to be. These people will be instrumental in starting up this organization and in making it grow.

     I only know @tonyocruz (Tonyo Cruz), @digitalfilipino (Janette Toral), and @blogie (Blogie Robillo) through their blogs and tweets. I do not know them personally nor have I met them, save for a few minutes with Janette Toral many years ago in a PICS function. From what I know about them through their blogs, they are three of the most qualified people to spearhead the formation of this National Bloggers Association of the Philippines. There may be others out there who are as qualified as they are or maybe even more qualified; it is my hope that these people will band together for a common cause.

     Earlier, I have put a note to self to review the manifesto and provide my comments and inputs to it. While needing some improvements, I feel it is unnecessary at this point in time to discuss about its revision or enhancement. The manifesto is good as it is.  I'm sure a proper forum will be setup for its review in the near future once this national bloggers association has organized itself. What matters now is that the association should come into formation first so that things can eventually move forward. 

 

AN ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINOS

     As an national association of Filipino bloggers, the group should also encourage "patriotic duty", being Filipinos, to promote the Philippines as a nation and showcase the Filipino culture in all its uniqueness and intricacies. The existence of this national bloggers association should not just be about protection of the blogger's rights and about lobbying congress and the senate on bills and measures that could affect the Philippine blogger community.

     My fellow bloggers, it is not about what the Philippines (and what the government) can do for you, but what you can do for the Philippines that matters.

     To signify your interest to be a founding member of this "National Bloggers Association" (or whatever name it may be called once it is organized), click here.

How do you love? Who do you love?

      People express love in their own unique way and perhaps in more than one creative way.  The "Five Love Languages" also describe ways people communicate their love to another person.

     To love is easy if we are loved back in return. To love is easier if we know that we are loved first by the person we want to love.

     But how do you love someone who doesn't love you? Or how do you love someone who hates you… or someone you hate, an enemy perhaps, or someone you are not on good terms with?  Isn't it easier to hate them and to simply ignore them? And do you really need to love them in the first place?

     In this time and age when conflict between people is a common occurrence, it is best to look to the greatest book of knowledge, the best-selling book of all time, for guidance.

     In the Bible, Jesus answered this question appropriately: "LOVE your enemies, DO GOOD to them that hate you, BLESS them that curse you, PRAY for them that despisefully use you."(Luke 6:27-28)

     There's actually no reason to hold that grudge against another or to put off reconciliation with another person just because of some conflict or differences in opinion. These reasons that people hold in their hearts become hindrances to people's relationships with other people and more especially to their relationship with their Creator.  People are unable to experience the joy of a real fellowship God had intended for them with Him when all these ballasts and baggage weigh down their hearts.

     These are the four things one must do. It is more of a command than a suggestion:

1. "LOVE your enemies" - the competitor who wants you out of business, the person who always says bad words about you, etc.


2. "DO GOOD to them that hate you" - the stranger who scratched your car, that person who envies your success, the employee who wants you of his way so he can get recognized, etc.


3. "BLESS them that curse you" - the driver of the adjacent car you accidentally cut-off, the boss who uses foul words at his subordinates, etc.


4. "PRAY for them that despisefully use you" - that co-worker who always puts you down, an abusive boss, the policeman who extorts money from you, etc.

     We are called to be loving towards God and to the people around us.

     Experiencing God's affection and demonstrating it to others are two of our greatest joys. Let this not be hindered by our inability to obey His commandments.

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More about "Love" in this link: Pursue Love (CCF)