Shifting Perspectives

From EDSA to Santolan

Published on November 12, 2010 in Driving in the City. 0 Comments

To get back from EDSA to Santolan, I only have two routes. It has never been an option to take the Boni Serrano – Santolan road unless I have to visit my home-bound friend Andy in 12th Street.

The first task (route) is to get out of the university to take EDSA through the Julio Vargas St. to the flyover.

from school to edsa

It may be a bit tricky to get from SM to the left lane of EDSA to take the flyover. And it can be frustrating if you see plenty of cars in the flyover and they are not moving. There are many traffic red lights in this route. Sometimes you can get lucky if you find all green lights in the corners of Connecticut, Wilson, Club Filipino, Roosevelt, and Madison along Ortigas Avenue. It can help if you try to get the leftmost lane after you cross Wilson, and then take the rightmost lane when you are nearing Roosevelt, then lastly take the 2nd to the leftmost lane when you are nearing Santolan (because some cars make a U-turn in Ortigas-Santolan), but this frequent changing of lanes can be annoying to some co-passengers (who precisely could be very thankful they would be avoiding some dizziness riding a taxi when I offer them a ride).

I take Shaw more often than not, and turn right in Lee and then right in Mabini. It’s a pleasant driving until you meet some heavy traffic building up as you near Wilson. Then in Wilson, I learned to take Abad Santos, instead of P. Guevarra. Again I just follow the road and it will take me to top of a hill, which is already Santolan Street. Turning right there will take you to Ortigas street.

Lee to Santolan

Getting to EDSA from Santolan

Published on November 12, 2010 in Driving in the City and Taxi drivers. 0 Comments

Here I am again, like a taxi driver, trying to dominate the streets of Metro Manila. I know of three ways to reach Edsa from San Juan. The first is the straight route (in red pen), for someone who wants straight solutions, not much turning here or there. Just take Ortigas Street and follow the road.

from santolan to across edsa

But traffic here can be very bad. From Santolan (Pinaglabanan side) to turn right to Ortigas can take ages depending on the day and the time. When I take this route, I must be at the corner by 6:15am or I avoid it, considering that there are three schools in the vicinity: Xavier, ICA and La Salle.

The alternative is to take Santolan Road (in black pen) towards Pinaglabanan and turn left in P. Guevarra. Traffic is less predictable but it can only be slow until Wilson when cars turn left to Recto (first street after Wilson) to take Mabini and go out to Wilson (which is a one-way street from Mabini to P Guevarra). More often than not, it is smooth driving until Shaw corner Laurel. How do I get to Laurel? It’s a bit tricky: you have to know the little streets. You see, after you get past Recto, you have to inch to the left because you have to turn left in Ortega (first traffic light after Recto). Then, from Ortega, take Pilar and you can actually go straight out to Shaw. But Shaw is generally heavy traffic with all the jeepneys so as much as possible I want to minimize driving in Shaw. So what I do is from Pilar, I watch out for Calderon, turn left in that street, go past Mabini and take Lee to your right. Then you go past Ideal, and you will see a big sign in one corner that says turn either turn left or right. Turn right (that street is already Laurel) and soon you will see Shaw and the famous Cherry foodarama. Remember to turn left in Shaw towards EDSA.

My last route is a longer way (in green pen), when I sense that there is a lot of traffic along Santolan. I take N. Domingo, go inside Horseshoe Drive. I just follow the road (and most cars) to go out to Santolan. Don’t turn either left (towards P Tuazon) nor right (towards Ortigas). Just drive ahead (I cannot say straight ahead, because the road looks straight only in the map). and you will reach EDSA.

from santolan through horseshoe drive

Letter to the Editor

Published on October 6, 2010 in Learning and Making Connections. 1 Comment

Dear Editor,

I took notice of your editorial entitled “Definitions” dated October 5, 2010. And I agree with you that definitions are important to have an effective debate. But your definition of contraceptive begs another question of when pregnancy and a new human life begin. I am not a medical doctor, but I do have a lot of research materials on the continuing medical debates about the beginning of pregnancy. For example, if pregnancy is defined as beginning from implantation (the moment the fertilized egg attaches properly inside the womb, 7-8 days after conception) and not at fertilization (the moment the sperm fertilizes an ovum to form a viable zygote), then abortifacient drugs are actually just contraceptive drugs.

All these definitions and logical conclusions notwithstanding, if we are talking of a bill that could be a law and will be part of my life as a citizen, I cannot remain at the level of definitions and ideas.

In reality, in many countries, the increased prevalence of contraception is associated with increased incidence of abortion. A WHO-funded study (Marston and Cleland, International Family Planning Perspectives, 2003) reveals that:

In Cuba, both prevalence of contraceptives and incidence of abortion increased between 1970 and 1985.
The same pattern was seen in Denmark (1970 – 1990), the Netherlands (1970 to 1995) and the United States (1965 – 1995). Unlike in Cuba, however, the initial simultaneous rise in levels of contraception and abortion was followed by a decline in abortion accompanied by a continued rise in levels of contraceptive use, and the stabilization of fertility at lower levels than before.
In Singapore, abortion and contraceptive use also increased simultaneously under conditions of fertility decline (1970-85)
In South Korea, abortion incidence peaked and subsequently fell in the late 1970s while contraceptive prevalence continued to rise.

I will be willing to do research for you the next time you want to write a similar editorial in a topic where many countries are already advanced in legalization, implementation and consequences.

Respectfully yours,

Avic Caparas

Re Being the 12th Most Populous Country

Published on October 4, 2010 in My beloved Philippines. 0 Comments

Uncontrolled population growth has often been tagged as the culprit for the existence of poverty. Nevertheless, to date, no single relationship has been found between population growth and economic development [1].

Notwithstanding that fact, in the city there is an obvious media play on the link between poverty and population. (Let me clarify my terms: “in the city” I have not seen the headlines in the provincial newspapers and I wish to avoid the tendency to adscribe the issues of Metro Manila to the entire country; and by “media” I refer to the city newspapers I read in hard copies and in their internet sites). To wit, when the RH bill became headline news, faces of poor people and places were front page photos (even if you see them everywhere in the city).

To decry the observation that we are overpopulated, many articles have repeated what others noted that the Philippines is the 12th most populous country in the world. True? I tried to check the UN Statistical Division this morning, and I have not found yet the exact page of the ranking. But I googled and found that indeed we are the 12th, according to www.infoplease.org.

But I don’t yet understand why the media is bewailing our ranking, when the Philippines actually share the limelight in terms of large populations with global economic leaders and emerging market giants. The Philippines is even ranked with countries tagged by Newsweek as the Best Countries with large populations [2]. Japan, the 10th most populous country according to infoplease.org is the best country overall in the Newsweek study [3]. BRIC – Brazil, Russia, India and China – representing the shift in global economic power also have large populations. Turkey and Mexico have healthy birth rates and youthful labor pools, according to Newsweek.

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So what exactly is the relationship between population and poverty? More mouths to feed? When the parents have no jobs? and the kids are left to sell sampaguistas instead of going to school? When families don’t have roofs on their heads? When it is the poor who are multiplying and the rich have 1-2 kids only? I have been into this topic in many friendly conversations, and I can glimpse the many unspoken assumptions like lack of jobs, lack of education, lack of housing, inequalities of wealth…

We are poor because we are many? I beg your pardon?

[1] Aguirre and Hadley (2005), Hindered Growth: The Ideology and implications of population assistance, International Journal of Social Economics, 32(9), pp. 783-813.
[2] Forrohar (2010), The Best Countries in the World, Newsweek, 8/23/2010, Vol. 156, Issue 8/9.

[3] I placed Newsweek ranking at the right. The complete list of the top 10 Best Countries overall is Japan, United States, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Turkey.

The Church and the believer

Published on October 4, 2010 in Faith. 0 Comments

There is a huge media campaign right now in the city against the Catholic bishops and their firm stand against contraceptives. I would like to write more about the topic specifically the RH bill, but this is the only and last post where I will mention the Church. The Church is “pro-choice” also, in that She chooses to obey God’s will. It’s useless to harass their bishops to back off or keep quiet.

In a way, I think that those who are harassing the Church in the Philippines through newspaper headlines, columns or radio commentaries, etc. believe in the immense power of its leadership to convert its huge number of followers to agree to the RH bill. My nephew would say “asa ka pa?” (loosely translated: you wish!)

Let’s talk about the issues among us believers, non-believers or former believers, shouldn’t we? It’s the individual persons that can change beliefs.

How to go about in Montreal

Published on August 16, 2010 in Travels. 0 Comments

I just came from Montreal. I didn’t get to research much about the city before I left Manila, and I learned these things as I went about the city. I hope it would be useful to anyone who would be traveling to Montreal for the first time.

First of all, you have to know that there is the bus that can take you from airport to downtown. It’s express bus 747 that started last March only. You pay it with a one-day pass of CAN$7 which can still be used for innumerable travels during the day. The bus driver won’t accept cash, so buy it in the currency exchange stall in the airport. Just exchange the minimum number of US dollars that you have to buy the ticket. I found the canadian dollars quite expensive in the airport compared to the ones I bought in downtown some days later.

You need to find out the nearest Metro station and bus station to your place of residence there. From there it would be relatively easy to move around. Well, I didn’t know that the final stop of bus 747 is Berri Uqam is just a few metro stops away. I took a taxi instead which cost a sum. So on the day of departure, i took the metro, went to Berri Uqam, which is convenient to those who will travel with luggages since the station has an elevator.

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Metro stops are very distinguishable, although you will miss it if you are not paying attention where you are going (which happened to me once). I only realized it when many people where getting down in that stop.

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Bus stops are a little more discreet. And the bus times don’t need French expertise. The columns shown are the days, the rows are the hours, and the data show the minutes the bus will pass in every hour. They are quite punctual, only one bus arrived half an hour later than schedule in all my 15+ trips.

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Unlike in Manila, you can enter the bus only in the front door, and place your pass in this direction. You can insert the exact amount of cash if you don’t have the pass. You have to get the ticket though as it will still be useful for the Metro for the next 2 hours even if you pay only for one “passatge” for CAN$2.75.

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Unlike in New York and London, there is no prohibition to get down in the door nearest the driver. The incoming passengers are quite patient though, waiting first for the last outgoing passenger. Practise your French by greeting the driver Bonjour (hello or good day) or telling him Merci (thank you)

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And before you leave Montreal, try St Hub. My host Denyse ordered a very delicious chicken meal. The order “midi go” comes with free choice of a dessert

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A brochure one weekend

Published on June 5, 2010 in Milestones and Students. 1 Comment

CIV brochure - front & back
CIV brochure-inside

This is my first time to put up a big conference for which the experience of organizing four work-life balance forums had somehow given my some ideas. But creating the brochure seems to be entirely new. Before, I would leave all to the artist. Now since Mimi left for a seminar with half of the conference speakers still to be confirmed, she had half of the brochure done. After a month, when all conference details were more or less ironed out, I asked some other help to finalize the brochure but everyone seems to be loaded with work. Good thing I remembered a student in the mini-MBA class last April. Unlike her sister Rheena (my student in UA&P Management years ago) who shifted to culinary arts, Tara followed her passion in graphic designs. We only had a weekend to work on the brochure, so she relied on the initial ideas of Mimi, and delivered in two days. Wonderful! The other new experience besides recruiting an artist midway is to learn photoshop myself for minor and quick editing. But that is another story.

Do check out Tara’s website :-)

A Quick Trip to Cebu

Published on March 31, 2010 in Travels. 0 Comments

The last time I was in Cebu was in 2007 when I spoke about new trends on work-life balance in the annual PMAP conference at the Waterfront. There was about 200 HR people back then occupying a small function room. This time, it was a cozy group of 25 women, mostly managers from the local banks. The topic continues to be very relevant.

My student Alexis Tioseco

Published on March 10, 2010 in Students. 0 Comments

alexis It was hard to write a post about Alexis back in September when his death was headline news. It is still hard now but already manageable. I recently read a story by his friend who is finding it difficult to move on. And I thought I should someday write about him and my positive memories of him.

Alexis was one of my most memorable students, not because he got high grades. A transferee from another school in UA&P, Alexis passed my MPO (Managing People in Organizations) without much difficulty. He submitted requirements on time. A no-problem student, basically. He did some writing for me, when I was editor of the school magazine (SMN) not for the pay, nor for the interest, but I guess he saw I was desperate for writers and stories and he wanted to help me out. And this is what makes me remember him always. He was always kind, courteous and respectful. He truly stood out among my many students (who could be up in the clouds, stressed, not noticing me). Alexis would see me from afar, smile at me, approach me and have a brief chat with me. It’s not about me, it’s about a remarkable boy who I believe has received a good education from home, who has a natural respect and love for the people and the world around him. In the end, it’s really more about his parents and the family that brought him up to a be a good fellow.

Whenever I drive past his house in Times Street on my way home, I always say a prayer for the eternal repose of his soul. And I can imagine him with his sheepish smile saying “thank you, miss”.

Driving through Binondo

Published on March 7, 2010 in Driving in the City. 0 Comments

I had a meeting in Binondo today and came all the way from Laguna. I took the SLEX to Osmeña Highway (with a side trip to Sacred Heart Parish in Dao, Makati to attend the 6:45 AM Holy Mass). From Osmeña, I turned left to Quirino, then right to Taft. The Manila City Hall to my left was my signal to get to the leftmost lane in Padre Burgos as that would take me to Chinatown. After passing the bridge, I already saw the right wall of the Binondo Church. I turned right in Ongpin and looked for Salazar (from the Chinese street signs). I turned left in Salazar and found a paid parking lot at my right. I walked to Masangkay Street and confirmed it is a one-way street to the direction of the Binondo Church.

How do I get out of Binondo back to Laguna? Good question which the female parking lot attendant answered for me. She said take CM Recto to Nagtahan Bridge. Well, that already sounds familiar. Thank you!

I took Benavidez Street which brought me to CM Recto. I remembered I traveled this road in jeepneys a thousand times during my college days. “So I don’t have any right to be lost here!”

From CM Recto, I took Legarda street. When I reached the bottom of the flyover to Sta. Mesa, I saw a sign to Nagtahan to my right. I took that side street (and was extra careful as there were children playing in the street). From there I could already see the road that would take me to Nagtahan but I am only allowed to turn right (to AH Lacson? I am not sure about the name). So I made a U-turn and turned right away (this street could be the extension of Legarda under the Nagtahan flyover).

Once in Nagtahan, I already knew that following the road would take me to Quirino, then left to Osmeña, then back to SLEX. I have lived in this vicinity for 4 years!