My first reaction was, Really? He said that? I knew that as of late Pacquiao has become more vocal in professing his belief. But never did he say something this extreme. Had Pacquiao bitten off more than he could chew?

On the whole I would like to think that I am quite tolerant of opinions contrary to my personal belief and a critical discussion is more than welcome: Pacquiao or any other person might disagree and it is fine. We are all entitled to our own belief. However, I do draw the line though when the opinion puts someone in harms way and abuse a person’s rights.

Anyway.

As the hours and days progressed one could feel and observe the galvanizing or polarizing almost everyone. There were modern call to arms – like petition signing to brands like Nike to cancel the ad contract with Pacquiao and name-calling like referring to Los Angeles to Sodom and the other city.

Here are two chronicles of the story on Pacquiao and now the misquote from Leviticus 20:13

Manny Pacquiao, gay marriage and sloppy journalism by Patrick winn, Global Post

The Manny Pacquiao Misquote a timeline by Simon Wilson, LA Weekly

And here are some articles written by Ampong leading to and after the interview:

Obama the catalyst for America becoming Sodom and Gomorra of Modern Times. Granville Ampong, Conservative Examiner, examine.com

Pacquiao and Obama cannot just mix. Granville Ampong, Conservative Examiner, examine.com

Interview: Pacquiao rejects Obama’s new twist on the Scriptures. Granville Ampong, Conservative Examiner, examine.com

Biased writers grossly twisted Pacquiao s view on same sex marriage. Granville Ampong, Conservative Examiner, examine.com

The issue has now become a big tangled web of issues ranging from belief, religion, ethics and politics.

As of now Pacquiao claims he was misquoted and Granville Ampong the Conservative Examiner of examine.com claims his article was twisted. Although if you look at LA Weekly timeline it was mentioned that a staff from Village Voice noted that the article Ampong wrote had changed, although as of present no screen cap of article before the pandemonium has surfaced.

So now who is telling the truth?

Giving the benefit of the doubt to Ampong that this article had not been change. It would seem that Pacquiao was indeed misquoted. Upon reading the article itself is peppered or laced with passages and references from the bible – not a surprise since Ampong is a Conservative Examiner of examiner.com and Pacquiao is conservative. The biblical references and quotation though effectively wrapped themselves around Pacquiao rather than than Ampong, . The inclusion of Leviticus is damning by location and implication:

Pacquiao’s directive for Obama calls societies to fear God and not to promote sin, inclusive of same-sex marriage and cohabitation, notwithstanding what Leviticus 20:13 has been pointing all along: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Manny Pacquiao is news is an understatement. He is big news and it is not surprising that anything he says is news worthy. So on his part a more care in talking should be taken. HIs statements and action could be used or misinterpreted. And if indeed he says something as a matter belief he should be able and ready for the critical discourse that will follow, like Paul the Apostle, Martin Luther and Martin Luther King.

As for us. Well, I guess in the end each reader, each of us should be aware of Latin phrase Caveat Lector or in English Beware Reader: Reader Beware – always.

Some Information about the article, its author and its network :

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About the writer Granville Ampong taken from the examiner.com

Granville Ampong, a freelance writer, is married with two kids in Los Angeles. A broadsheet columnist for the Philippine Media, Granville loves to explore his own heritage, culture, and politics affecting the society as a whole. He is the curator and founder of the Investigative Agency of Journalists which has been responsible in the pre-election 2010 polls survey for the hotly contested congressional seat in Sarangani, Philippines, that is between Superstar Manny Pacquiao and business tycoon Roy Chongbian. Granville won first place in the International Speech Contest in 2000. He is also an accredited deadline/lead writer for Maharlikan Times and the famous Philboxing.com. He holds Bachelors of Business Administration and English, a graduate diploma in Professional Journalism,and a Master of Business Administration. Contact Granville at granvilleampong@aol.com.

The Article – Interview: Pacquiao rejects Obama’s new twist on the Scriptures

U.S. Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat and a beneficiary of the Filipino votes which overwhelmingly gave him another term of office from the 2010 electoral campaign, got what he wanted in due time, but not his fellow Democrat U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama whose endorsement to legalize same-sex marriage has met head-on reaction from the world’s No. 4 Forbes.com’s most influential athlete, Manny Pacquiao, a Philippine legislator who was reported to have visited him in his Oval Office at the White House early last year. Obama insists on non-biblical justification, saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” a twist based on the Golden Rule which is outside of the context of God’s everlasting command affecting marital relationship.

“God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man,” says Pacquiao, addressing Obama’s pronoucement on legalizing same-sex marriage during an exclusive interview Friday night with the National Conservative Examiner in his residence at the Palazzo Complex in Los Angeles here in California.

Engaging a radical shift as manifested by his insights shared during Bible studies which lasted more than one hour, around 10:00 p.m., with a song and his substantive prayer, Pacquiao counsels people to “just believe” what the Scripture says.

Pacquiao’s directive for Obama calls societies to fear God and not to promote sin, inclusive of same-sex marriage and cohabitation, notwithstanding what Leviticus 20:13 has been pointing all along: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Pacquiao, bearing a conservative stance on the Reproductive Bill which is still pending in the Philippine Congress for approval even after contemptuous debates, believes the sweeping campaign of Obama favoring the gays and lesbians to legally marry is nothing more than a direct attack on the moral society and against the creative power and will of God.

Pacquiao continues: “God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other.”

“It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.”

America should be the model of morality for other countries to emulate and must have the responsibility to uphold the Scripture to the highest order of God’s command, he adds.

Conversely, Pacquiao respects Obama’s sweeping call to strengthen his political support from the grassroots. But, he implies Obama must read “the manual of life” for better living, which is the Holy Scripture, and follow the precepts that “God” wants us to embrace.

Pacquiao believes same-sex marriage is an abomination and its advancement should be stopped starting from the high offices of the U.S. to block possible legalization.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao has not expressed, as well, support for Obama’s presidential candidacy for this coming November elections, nor did he ever mention of possibly declining endorsement which might be sought by the Obama campaign strategists.

Stay tuned for more!

Special thanks to Guillermo “Jimmy” Zuño who made this exclusive interview with Manny Pacquiao possible.

Feel free to republish Granville Ampong’s articles. No legal restrictions imposed. Thank you,

In the Philippine Constitution the Bill of Rights recognizes the right of the people to information on matters of public concern – Article III, Section 7. And the Supreme acourt has uphold this right, in general. All that as needed now was to pass the law that would set the procedures. Sounds easy, right?

So far it seems it is has not been easy. The FOI has been certified as a priority bill last January by President Aquino and well let us see if the bill will see the light day. And it would seem that the version Malacanang came up with, although not perfect, seems acceptable to all. Seems everything is A-Ok, right?

Sadly, There seems to be the proverbial stick in the mud. There are versions of the bill that carries with a Right of Reply rider. Making it a requirement by law to provide a ROR for every news item. The objections with the ROR In a nutshell was there is no need to require something that is already practiced.

At this point and observing the exchanges in the forum during the anniversary of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) ; the forum held during Press Freedom Day hosted by the PPI and US Embassy Manila; and several posts and exchanges on-line. Three important things needs to be done in order to protect us against abuse of power and corruption:

First, Passage of the FOI Act: To allow us access to information on matters of public concern.

Second, Decriminalization of Libel and Promotion of Available Measures to address conflicts and abuses: This removes the threat of being jailed as a weapon to inflict a chilling effect and at the same time make plain that there are other means to seek resolution of injury done by a media practitioner like press councils, readers advocate and even libel.

Third, Accountability : Threats to freedom of the press and freedom of expression come from two sources. External, those who think that it in their interest to limit the freedom of the press and freedom of expression; and Internal, the enemy within – practices that value sensationalism over truly important stories; sloppy and inaccurate work in favor of breaking the news; abusive and corrupt practices; and reckless actions that put life and limb of self and worse others at risk.

All the talk about FOI, ROR, Libel and Corruption brings to mind a quote by Juvenal from
his Satires (Satire VI, lines 347-8 ) , which is often associated with Plato’s political philosophy and the problem of abuse of power; and which one finds prominently in Alan Moore’s comic book series the Watchmen – Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who will guard the guards themselves?
Who will watch the watch-guards?
Who watches the watchmen?

Ironically and not surprisingly the phrase seems an appropriate reminder on corruption and abuse in government, in media and in just about any group or society. And if we seek the answer to the question of Who watches the watchmen? We simply have to look at the mirror.

One day while he was addressing his ministers a great big explosion happened in the court room, fortunately not harming anyone but as the smoke cleared it revealed the presence of two men and a big box.

The two bowed before the Emperor and introduced themselves as tailors from another galactic realm bearing gifts from their Empress. The gift was a magnificent cloth of great beauty that it rivaled the most glorious sunset. It was so comfortable and light that it felt as one was not wearing nor holding nothing. The magnificent cloth was also magical in that only those fit to occupy public office and intelligent would be able to see it … Even if viewed on a television or computer screen it exercised its magical properties. And their Empress sent them to make the Emperor a magnificent wardrobe and what they only needed were rubies, diamonds pearls and solid gold threads to make the Emperor ? new magnificent and magical wardrobe.

The Emperor was thrilled and gave them a room in the Imperial Palace to do their work. And then the Emperor instructed his Ginance Minister to open the vaults and provide their guests with all they required including the diamonds,rubies, pearls and solid gold threads.

Then the Emperor called for his Propaganda Minister and told him about is new wardrobe to be made out of this magnificent and magical new cloth. And then he asked his Propaganda Minister if this could be made viral on the Internet. To which the Propaganda Minister bowed down and answered in the affirmative. Of course they could use Social Media to make the magnificent and marvelous new cloth viral; the Emperor’s brand more popular; and the Emperor popular.

So while the tailors were asking for more treasures to complete the Emperor’s new wardrobe, the Propaganda Minister and seven social media satraps were requesting budget -money – for the following:

Daily and Major prizes for the Twitter # Campaign
Budget for the Twitter Campaign
Payment Budget for the Paid Twitter Brigade
Budget for the Pre-Event
Budget for the Launch
Payment for the Paid Blogger Brigade
Payment for Celebrities
Budget for X-deals with Celebrities
Budget for Ghost Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media Accounts
Budget for Internet Real Estate ie websites ie blogs, forums and other websites
Budget for Advertorials and Paid Features
Budget for Ads on TV, Print, Radio and Online
Budget for Social Media Monitoring
Budget for Assorted Goods
Budget for Miscellaneous Items
Budget for Meetings
Budget for Transportation
Budget for Honorarium
Budget for Assorted Sacrifices and Offerings to the Gods

All requests were approved by the Emperor.

The tailors showed the new wardrobe to the Emperor but he saw nothing … not a thing at all. But being an astute individual and not wanting to seem to look foolish remarked on how beautiful it was. The two tailors then asked him how he liked the Punk Unicorn prancing about? And he said it was mesmerizing. And the rest of the Ministers saw it and agreed with the Emperor how mesmerizing the Pink Unicorn was. Even the Propaganda Minister who had outlived seven emperors before this one agreed and added that the Emperor’s Magnificent and Magical New Clothes was trending with #nuclothes. It was an unqualified success and the Court had a Grand Ball the night before the Emperor’s new clothes would be unveiled with a procession around the Capital, covered by all and live-streamed.

Morning came and the procession began everyone who saw the Emperor all agreed that it was beautiful and they were charmed with the Pink Unicorn. Even those viewing it on TV and via live-stream, tweeted and posted it was the most beautiful thing they saw and they loved the Pink Unicorn. Indeed it was trending.

Then it happened.

The Emperor’s procession passed by the orphanage of Maria Clara the Honest where a great assembly of children lay awaiting. As the Emperor passed a great murmuring passed, followed by suppressed laughter and overtaken by an army of giggles. The children LOL-ing and ROFL-ing and saying the Emperor is butt naked!!!

The Good Mothers of Maria Clara tried stop the children but found themselves laughing as well. And you know laughing spreads even quicker than you can say Gesundheit. Everyone was laughing and shouting:

The Emperor is butt naked!!!
The Emperor is butt naked!!!
The Emperor is butt naked!!!

The Emperor realized his mistake and nakedness panicked and ran all the way back to the Palace. Now all of this was live-streamed; covered on TV and chronicled via cellphones and digital cameras. In a matter of seconds the video of the butt naked Emperor became viral on youtube, and became the talking point on twitter, facebook, instagram and blogs.

The Inter-GalacticTailors, the Propaganda Minister and his Seven Social Media Satraps and the whole Kingdom lived Happily Ever After. And as for the Emperor his brand did became famous and his video viral.It still a big hit on Youtube. So I guess you could say his wishes, at least some of them were granted. So you could say he lived happily ever after.

In our age where the cellphone has become the most widely used camera and where a number of breaking photos and videos come from cellphones it comes as no surprise that there has been a rise in the incidence of violence – from fisticuffs to death – among wielders of the cellphones equipped with cameras. This is not surprising the camera ever since it became more compact has became a useful tool to capture and freeze moments in time.

ERICH SALOMON AND THE ERMANOX

The Ermanox was marketed under the slogan, “ What you see , you can photograph” was a small camera that had a fast lens (f/2) that could be shot without special lighting. The camera allowed its user to take indoor shots and capture intimate moments. Under the hands Erich Salomon the Ermanox. Of course Salomon often disguised himself and crashed diplomatic events. Several initimate moments in politics at that time were captured.

ALFRED EISENSTAEDT AND JOSEPH GOEBBELS

In 1933, Eisenstaedt was covering the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva and he saw Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels seated on a chair in the garden he took a shot from afar … but was not satisfied with it. He eventually went up to Goebbels who was surrounded by his aides and took a snapshot of him. At the exact moment of the shot, Goebbels looked up and saw Eisenstaedt and gave him a menacing look. This photo became famous for its representation and foreshadowing of the evil and menace of Nazism embodied in its Propaganda Minister. A few days later Goebbels’ aide went to Eisenstaedt’s apartment and told the nervous photographer that Herr Goebbels wanted free copies of the photo.

And now with the cellphone everyone can be a Salomon, Eisenstaedt. Eugene Smith and even Bresson if one had the skill and style to do it. As in all things this may come with consequences some of which would be unfavorable.

Like being frowned upon by your subject

Like being chased by your subect or subects who believe you have captured their spirit.

Like losing one’s job.

Like being beaten up by those annoyed.

Like being killed because you are in the line of fire or in the danger zone.

So many things could happen if one is not careful and respectful.

Of course it depends on the situation but in general and perhaps it would be best to be unobtrusive or blend in when taking candid photos, Henri Cartier-Bresson use to cover his camera black to hide it from his subjects. Also, like others before and after him Bresson also took time to talk and get to know his subjects to the point the were comfortable with him Thus coming up with very candid and intimate pictures of painter Henri Matisse. Salmon blended in the surroundings with his Ermanox. Of course Eisenstaedt did take that one shot of Goebbels and survived but one can imagine what would have happened if he became obnoxious like a buzzing mosquito around Goebbels.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures. Brian Selznick. Scholastic Press. New York. 2007.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick: A Novel in Words and Pictures. Brian Selznick. Scholastic Press. New York. 2011.

The first time I heard about these books was when I stumbled upon a Martin Scorsese film project. At the time Scorsese was about to release his first 3D film based on the first book – The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The film was Hugo.

The film was scheduled to be screened later that month but in the Philippines one was not sure if it was to be shown in the theatres and the pirated market … well the quality was visually unpalatable – not even worth watching.

So in search for the story my feet took me to the bookstore of the nearest mall – Gateway. And indeed the book was in the children’s section. Now you might think a children’s book? Well a book is for everyone – whatever or whoever might one be.

The bookstore had two by Brian Selznick, there was The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 2008 the first novel to be so I was told, and there was Wonderstruck. Both books could easily be misinterprested as daunting tasks since they are hefty books each almost as thick as the combined edition of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy. But it is a different set of book creatures altogether. Both books combine the use of drawings and text to tell the story. Some chapters devoted to drawings, some devoted to words and some a mixture of both. By the way, being a story told in pictures and words made it possible for The Invention of Hugo Cabret to receive the Caldecott Medal, which is annually given to the best picture book of the year.

A novel in words and pictures is how the books describe themselves. But its more than that like all books with good stories these books take you on a journey in one its about a clock maker’s son who has become an orphan and as fate would have it lives in a Paris railway station. The story also involves an automaton, books and adventure. And it happens sometime before World War II. The other tale tells the story of an orphan in search for his father in New York and a girl running away from her problem. They both find themselves in a museum Both are deaf and both live in different time periods.

The mixture of drawomgs and words are very effective in telling the story. It invokes emotions and mood. And it prompts you to ask what next?

And because of the misture the bulk of the book is not to be daunted by. You could finish it in less than a day.

In these books you will not find wizards or magic that you might be familiar with but you will find them. And along the way I guess some of you will probably find your heart and souls touched by the adventures of Selznick’s characters.

A nd suprisingly given the quality of the book: the quality of the paper and the fact that it is hardbound; It is not expensive at P524.99 each it costs just a little more than a paperback. These are books one can leave and worth leaving to someone.

Adonis was a radio-journalist in Mindanao. His life changed when he was sued for libel. He had a lawyer represent him in court. Adonis thought that was the end of that. It was at this time he was transferred to another city. He thought everything was fine. Adonis was right and wrong. It was fine until one day a letter arrived informing him that he lost the libel case and was to be sent to a penal farm, a penal colony – jail.

He was sentenced to 5 months and one day to four years, six days and one day imprisonment for his crime , the malicious, arbitrary, abusive, irresponsible act of maligning the honor, reputation and good name of the complainant.

Now the thought of going to a penal farm penal was bothersome enough. To make it worse it was a jail in the Philippines where the conditions were not ideal (unless you were lucky – rich and powerful) and to add further problems Adonis was a radio-journalist – he had taken part in sending to jail a number of its presents guest. This was what awaited the Davao Penal Colony’s new guest – Mr Alexander Adonis.

Adonis survived the fears and threats with the help of those inside the Penal Colony. He survived but perhaps at time as time passed by he would think were in the world would you go to jail for libel? Only in the Philippines? Free press? Perhaps those thoughts entered his mind.

Indeed time passed and eventually Adonis was up for parole. But this was not to be.

Another libel lawsuit had been filed and Adonis stayed in the Penal Colony. Eventually Adonis issued an apology for the second libel suit. The said libel suit was withdrawn and some time after, longer than sooner Adonis was released on parole.

Adonis spent more than two years in the penal colony.

Adonis came home to his family with a bagful of stories and tuberculosis. But at least he did not worry about them or suffer the separation from them.

But the story does not end here. The case of Adonis was filed at the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the committee declared that Adonis’s rights under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – in which the Philippine is the only Southeast Asian country that signed and ratified the ICCPR – was violated and the Philippines had to compensate – ie pay – Adonis,

But the story does not end there. The said UN body also declared that Philippines was obliged prevent similar case from happening and one of the steps was to review present Philippine libel laws – which had its origins from an old Colonial law that was used to silence Nationalists and enemies of the colonial government.

And this is the story of Adonis and Libel in the Philippines … but it does not end there.

How much will Adonis received ad more importantly will libel law be decriminalized?

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

The President was the keynote speaker of the16th National Press Forum: Media Accountability and Public Engagement. It was also the 2012 Annual Membership Meeting of the Philippine Press Institute. Forty-Eight years had passed since the PPI was founded and Twenty-Five years since it was reactivated.

Several minutes passed until it was announced that the President had arrived. One could overhear from time to time from the PSG where and what time the President would arrive. His presence was announced and he was introduced byPPI President and Chairman Amado P. Macasaet and Secretary Sonny Of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

The President’s speech was in Tagalog and he started with the anecdote of Filipino crustaceans or crabs. This segued to his and his government’s experience with media Including but not limited to news item that emerged from twitter, in particular he was dating someone in Greenhills. He also mentioned his perception of an overabundance of negative news and eventually wound up with a call for balanced news.

Here is a link to the President’sspeech, which I call the crab speech

The rest of the day was spent with speeches, panel discussions and forums about the press. Topics included Accountability and Public Engagement; Asia Media Barometer; Engaging the Public to Protect Press Freedom and Preserve Democracy; Self Regulation and Policing Our Ranks; and Safety and Welfare and Journalists.

All discussions were interesting and I suppose the speakers wee journalists one expected nothing less. There were a numbers that were brought about but those that branded itself to my mind was that:

First, accountability was something that need not be explained to those who understood the importance of it and in the similar vein explanation of propriety was wasted on those who did not believe in it.

Second, One had to learn to dish in what one dished out.

Third, There are cultural and even economic circumstances behind problems like corruption and abuse in media.

Fourth,The Philippine Libel Law is an artifact of our colonial past – Which was used initially to stifle the voices of dissent. And has now been used by others to needly harass critics and violate their human rights like sending them to jail. The call is though not to remove libel laws but to de criminalize it.

Fifth,Best practices – which include balanced reporting and fact-checking – is the first line of defense against harassment, which include libel and even to the extreme assassination.

Sixth, Self-regulation is better than an imposed regulation by government.

Seventh, Advocacy and even Public Service of news organizations can become a bed
of roses and thorns. Questions and issues may arise the whys of an advocacy or public service.

These are of course notes and impressions I got from the forum. And most of what I remember I paraphrased. What strikes me though is the similarity of the problems and issues between Print, TV, Radio and Digital Media. Then again the main difference between the four are the medium or platforms of delivering the message.

As for the President’s keynote speech. There was little or no reaction to it during the forum. Probably because all issues tackled from accountability to advocacy answered it.

Personally, I was not surprised by the President’s message. One expected it from any government in power. And to his credit he did put the emphasis on balanced news, which I believe though is still not a euphemism for propaganda in this Government. it would have been better if the President in his speech mentioned the de-criminalization of libel or even the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. But it was not to be.

I do not think you cannot step negative news from coming out and in our present time when almost anyone with an Internet-enabled device and a decent Internet connection can post anything. The problem is not negative news but how to react and treat it. There are of course valid criticisms that need to be acted upon and then there are those that well best laid undisturbed.

As for the press and media if anything can be taken from the forum it is this: FIrst, Best practices and self regulation is the best safeguard against issues of sensationalism, negativity and corrupt practices. It is also the first.safeguard against legal and extra-legal harassment. Second, Accountability and public engagement go hand in hand. Third, Although this was not mentioned, or I think this was not mentioned – if i am wrong my apologies, aside from practicing balanced reporting it is important to be transparent with the readers, listeners and viewers.

How does a blogger, social media, and netizen like myself figure in with all of these things? I believe as a blogger I should do these things:

First, Be fair to all sides: Give what is due
Second, Check the facts
Third, Be transparent about one’s motive and goals.

If this is a creed then I guess its my personal creed. Something not imposed by State, Group or individual but something i have opted to do.

Singh-Delgado Transcript 701
Subject: Project Khan

Singh: The data gathered by the black and white team from Sector 7 has come in and the results are nearly the same as with that of Sector 5.

Delgado: You mean the exploitation occured recently but had negative geometric impact on the environment?

Singh: Triangulating the scientific and archival data. This area was relatively young but was also energy gluttons. It was an area of high industrial activity and unfortunately it was also an area of high seismic activity.

Delgado: Nuclear disasters ?

Singh: Well temblors; earthquakes; floods; lahar; tsunamis and natural disasrer were just the tip of the problems. The leak itself and waste management were handled poorly that the environment and inhabitants began to suffer. Years after the disasters occured related-fatalities occured and environmental displacement of keytone species had its effects

DELGADO: Aquaculture became the main source of protein?

SINGH: And land invertebrates … Astonishingly, there were also found a number artifacts about efforts to be green. Ironically, a number of them were non-biodegradable,

DELGADO: Lip-service?

SINGH: It seems to be similar to an older culturen in Sector 3. They sacrificed almost everything – mineral, vegtable, animal and man: themselves – to guarantee a good harvest and good fortune. When the solution was more simpler.

DELGADO: So did the end did not come in as one fatal strike?

SINGH: Of course not. Do you know the story of the best way to cook wild anurans ? You have to place them in a pot of cold water and slowl heat it up. This way the anuransn would be cooked before they knew it. But of course these were not anurans but humans. Of course hubris or pride a hamartia – a fatal character flaw – was and still is as effective as cold water and a pot.

DELGADO: So when can this area be safe?

SINGH: Ironically, take away the prime source of the problem the land, the country, the district will recover. It will take probably two more centuries but it will get there your descendants will probably see it restored, not as it once was but it will recover.

DELGADO: All in good time.

SINGH: Yes, all in good time.

END OF TRANSCRIPT

As the two scientists proceeded with the next set of reports. The lights turned green. A signal that the solar sails were set and the spacestation the Rachel Carson was about to depart the blue planet and its moon.

As the years passed Smart TV made its presence felt. Coming home from the launch of Samsung’s 2012 Smart TV series – LED ES8000, the LED ES7500 and the Plasma ES 8000 – one realizes that the computer tv is a reality. Why ?

The latest Samsung TV exhibit characteristics of a computer:

First, One can surf the web and get content – data, information and knowledge.

Second, Premium features available in most computing devices can be accessed like voice, motion and face activation and commands.

Third, It -the Smart TV can be upgraded by installing modules. Something familiary and similarly done in computers when they are being upgraded.

So does this herald the TV-Computer. Something that will replace both TV and computer in the household?

Perhaps … But then again this depend on the price tag of the Computer TV or as an old Science Fiction story by Murray Leinster titled, A Logic Called Joe, called them a Logic. Will there be a Logic in each household ? Again it depends on the price. And the fact that these features and services are Premium will mean its going o cost an arm and a leg. Perhaps even more.

Or will the Smart Phone beat it? Then again a Smart Phone seems to be more similar to the Tricorder, an ubiquitous device in the Star Trek Universe.

Oh well… Maybe in the near future when the features and apps become more common and less premium can we see more people having Logics.

And by the way, In the story “A Logic Named Joe”, which was written in the 1940s, Logics became so much accepted and common that when a specific Logic began to malfunction it began to create a ruckus around the world. And all because of a Logic named Joe.

Do we showcase our natural treasure yet at thd same time exposing it to problems that will adversely effect it. When we build beach houses or resorts in a known beach where Sea Turtles lay their eggs do we not affect it? The light from a beach resort at night can be mistaken for moonlight thus duping the sea turtle from the sea. Or when we schedule a release of Sea Turtles to fit as schedule of a big wig or a media event do we not deprive the baby sea turtles the time and energy they need in order to swim to the open sea where it would be safe? It turns out that e first 12 or 24 hours of a Sea Turtle life is important since they begin their long and dangerous oddysey to the sea. Along the way from the beach to the cove and the vast open sea they are exposed to predators and harsh elements. Nature in its wisdom provided the Sea Turtles with Extra energy for a limited time increasing its chances to survive and to delay their journey would have deathly consequences. And let us not forget the presence of the resort lights on thr beach, which may also fool the sea turtles into thinking that they are going into the open and no inland.

Any human activity will have an affect on Nature. And itis not limited to the usual rogues gallery we have been used to. It is not only the Greedy and faceless corporations that do bad things but all of us.

So is ecotourism truly eco-friendly?

The Carrying Capacity and Impact on Nature

Do we take into consideration how many people can visit a place before it collapses? A carrying capacity of a place is the number of animals and plants that can live or occupy that space. Beyond the limit there would be effects and consequences. The population of local birds in Metro Manila are predominantly omnivores – they can eat anything. The population of birds with special dietary requirements have seem to have vanished. Humana activity has wiped out their natural food so wd cannot find them here. What we do has an impact. Why dont we see fireflies or dragonflies anymore? Impact. What would be the impact of the tourist attraction of hand feeding of the whale sharks in Cebu? Will it affect their behavior towards man in the long run? Would the feeding affect their health? And how will this affect the ecology of the area? This goes beyond taking pictures of a beached whale shark.

Learn About Nature and Learn to Respect Nature

Our ancestors believed and personified Nature as Gods and Goddesses who can avenge a wrong. This is not the Lorax who would leave the word UNLESS for us Once-lers. For every action there was a reaction and consequences. Culturally, I think it imbibed us with a healthy respect for Nature. And that respect tempered our use of Nature. It pays to respect nature

So is ecotourism in the Philippines eco-friendly? Eco-tourism is not just a brand or a spin to.market the Philippines. What is the use of branding or even spin when the effects of human activity has had an impact on Nature? Ecology management is equally important.

Another thing that came up in the talk was the economics and social dimension of current eco-tourism. It turns out that the biggest beneficiaries of eco-tourism at present are the cities and towns that act as gateways -tourists spend more here. The actual destinations do not benefit as much. Now two things can be taken from this: First, there is a need to have the income trickle down; And second there is a national here at stake.

In the end I think in order to appreciate and care for Nature we must learn about it and learn to respect Nature.