Starting early

I took this photo while I was walking along Timog Avenue where some road constructions were being done. The little boy was trying to salvage the plastic pipes from the pile of debris so he can sell it later and buy today's meal.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is one of my pet peeves. Missed chances in childhood are rarely regained later in their lives - childhood is that sole window of opportunity and development. Childhood poverty, even for a brief period of time, can greatly affect how they will live their lives. Studies indicate that poor health and life-long learning difficulties are strongly correlated with malnutrition in early childhood.

It will not come as a surprise if we see some of today's poor children as tomorrow's poor parents. Poverty can be passed on from generation to generation. Addressing childhood poverty is therefore essential for ending poverty and injustice around the world.

Almost but not quite

The boy scout monument that I have blogged here before is almost finished. It is interesting to note that they have added a life sized figure of the city's first mayor, Tomas Morato. Its like he's watching over the diners and on the restaurant district of the city. Very nice touch. I just wish that the entire monument gets done real soon. It will really ease the traffic in the area.

The Boy Scout Monument

All along you're wondering "Who the heck are these boy scouts and why do we have streets with their names?" Well, first I think you should mind your manners; second (and as an answer to your question) they were our delegates to the 11th World Jamboree in Marathon, Greece. There were 24 of them - Filipino boy scouts and scout officials. They, unfortunately, died in a plane crash in Bombay, India en route to the jamboree on July 23, 1963. In their memory, the City Council of Quezon City renamed the streets in the Kamuning and Roxas Districts after them on April 24, 1964 . Twenty five years after the tragedy, former President (then Chief Scout) Corazon C. Aquino declared July 28 of every year as Scout Memorial Day honoring not only the ill-fated Jamboree heroes but all the other Scouts and Scouters who died on the line of duty.

With just a week left, the monument workers have serious work to finish. I am posting this photo both as a tribute to the scouts but also as a little reminder that the construction people need to hurry up.
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The boy scouts who died in the plane crash: from the Manila BS Council: Ramon V. Albano, Henry Chuatoco, Jose Antonio Delgado, Pedro Gandia, Wilfredo Santiago and Ascario Tuason, Jr. From the Quezon City BS Council: Roberto Castro, Romeo R. Rallos and Rogelio Ybardolaza. Felix Fuentebella, Jr., represented both the Manila and Goa, Camarines Sur BS Councils. The rest of the scouts: Victor de Guia, Jr. (Baguio City), Antonio Limbaga (Zamboanga City), Roberto Lozano (Dagupan City), Paulo Madriñan (Pasay City), Jose Fermin Magbanua (Negros Oriental), Filamor Reyes and Antonio Torillo (Cavite) and Benecio Tobias (Tarlac). Visit their website for more information.

Clash

The clouds seem to disagree today. Maybe a little uncertain as who's on duty now. Visual entertainment with my glass door as my TV screen.

Meet Zorro

I often see him when I do my daily runs at the academic oval. As far as I know, he's a resident of Krus na Ligas and for the unitiated, that is a looooong way from Timog Avenue where I took photo. He usually hangs out with outdoor buffs and are often found engrossly reading a newspaper. Nobody really knows his real name or how old he is. But one thing's for sure, he certainly makes one heck of a fashion statement.

Who wants free texting?

Apart from, maybe, visiting the shopping malls more frequently than we should be, sending SMS messages (or texting, as we Pinoys casually calls it) has become an integral part of our life. We text everywhere and anywhere sometimes forgetting that we're supposed to be hearing mass or listening to our boring professors or crossing the street (ack!)

But as to why someone would have four SIM cards is beyond me. Never mind the fact that he has only one phone unit and that it takes so much time switching from one SIM to another. Ignore, too, the ire of his friends when they fail to get in touch with him on his phone number 1 as he was using phone number 2 that time. All these do not deter the fun-loving Pinoy. And why would he be? Texting here is cheap - at least according to ParisianinPinas.

Though I'm not avid texter, I have to admit that my attention was grabbed by this proposal for free text messages. Hm. Its not exactly a bad idea.

At any rate, I'll let the bigwigs decide that non-issue. In the meantime, here are some messages that I was able to save in my 5 year old phone- all forwarded by either my friends and/or my sister. Enjoy!

• It's better late than pregnant.
• If others can do it, why help?
• An apple a day is NOT an apple at night.