Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Politically-Motivated Bike For Life

I just came home from participating in the politically-motivated Bike For Life. It’s a monthly event organized by the Pasig City Government to promote biking as an alternative means of transportation and to reduce carbon emission in the atmosphere.

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I’ve applied for membership for Bike For Life a few months ago but this is my first time to attend the event. I have a general idea on what to expect from a biking event like this one, but I never expected it to be politically-motivated.

I came across the schedule of today’s event on Facebook. The call time was 5:00 AM and I arrived on time. However, the event started around 6:13 AM. I have no idea on how long the route was, but we passed Barangay Dela Paz, Rosario, Marcos Highway, Ortigas Center, Kalawaan and the finish line was in front of the City Hall.

Here’s the part where I got mad at the organizers. After biking for 2 hours and 5 minutes, I was expecting for unlimited amount of water to quench my thirst. My supply ran out. A few meters away from the finish line, they were distributing bottled water and hamburger (to my surprise). The bad news is, they are requiring you to present your Bike For Life card, which I forgot at home.

So I told one of the organizers that I forgot at home and I simply wanted to have the bottle of water. He told me to wait until everyone (who brought their card) is finished. I told him I need it at that moment because I’m thirsty. He even asked the approval of the head organizer. Eventually I got the stub and presented it to the other table that gives the bottled water. I asked for another bottle since I’m really thirsty and the size of it is small.

The lady said “Bilang poi to eh”. I said okay, but I told them I’ll take their picture. After taking their picture, they probably felt that I’m going to report them to Mayor. So they gave me another bottle. It could have been a happy ending until I saw the bottle – it’s stamped with the words (in red color) “Maribel Eusebio. Donated by friends of Maribel”.

What the f*ck – are we still in the campaign period? She already won the seat. She’s already the Mayor. We all know that the event was organized by the Office of the Mayor. Why the advertisement?

The Bike For Life is a great project from the Pasig City Government but please, stop making it politically-motivated. I suggest next time that:

  • They should start the event at the exact time that they advertise it. The Philippine Standard Time Law is already in place. Let’s stop doing the Filipino Time (always late).
  • They should provide Neon-Signs (Directional Arrows) on major intersection to guide the bikers properly. Don’t rely on your traffic enforcers alone. We’re not dumb. We can follow a route provide that you put large Directional Arrows along the route.
  • They should provide jugs of water NOT bottled water. It that way, bikers can take enough water as they needed. It would also save the environment since we’re not using plastic bottles. Every biker carries his own container of water. We just need water to fill-out our own container.
  • Use trash cans in collecting plastic bottle instead of plastic bags. The City Government of Pasig already passed the law banning the use of plastic bags. Why are the organizers still using it?
  • To Mayor Maribel Eusebio, please stop stamping your name on the bottle water. Stop having electronic projectors to showcase what the City Government of Pasig is doing. It is the duty of bloggers and reporters to show the public what your leadership is doing. Don’t advertise your own achievements.

The next Bike For Life event will be on August 11, 2013 (Sunday). I’m having second-thoughts about attending this politically-motivated event. I should probably seek out membership to a bike club initiated by private organizations.

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Rizal High School was the start point for the Bike For Life, July 28, 2013 event. The call time was 5:00 AM but it started around 6:13 AM.

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There’s a projector at the Starting Point showing politically-motivated videos about the projects being done by the Pasig City Government. Please stop advertising your projects on every event that you organize. We simply want to bike. No more propagandas please.

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This is the assembly area taken at 5:00 AM. This was filled-out when the event started around 6:13 AM.

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The guy in black is the Official Photographer of the City of Pasig. He’s present in ALL the events of the Pasig City Government.

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I made a 5 minute rest near the Ortigas Area. I took the time to take pictures of the bikers in action.

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I finished the race after 2 hours and 5 minutes.

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The organizers stamping the Bike For Life ID for the stub (for bottled water and hamburger). No Bike For Life ID, no stub (unless you raise your voice and show them you have a camera).

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Bikers lined up for the bottled-water, hamburger and a banana. Wait, there-s more! There’s a raffle for an Android smartphone! Unfortunately, I forgot my Bike For Life card at home.

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I think he is Noel Rivera (curator of Pasig City Museum). [Edit: From Dom Jullian: Hindi si Noel Rivera yun. That's Joselito 'Joji" Comsti, ex-councilor ng district 2 circa 90s. He's heading a department sa City Hall]

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The girls that refused to give me a 2nd bottle because I’m really thirsty saying “Bilang po kasi eh”. Guess what, after taking their picture, they give me the 2nd bottle that I’m asking for. Next time, provide water jugs instead so that we can drink as many water as we can.

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The water bottle that was distributed during the event – stamped with the name of the current mayor, Maribel Eusebio. I wonder who the Friends of Maribel are. They’re probably rich to provide water bottles and hamburgers to the participants. This is a VERY Old School political advertisement that is very common during election period.

Mayor Maribel Eusebio, please stop reminding us that you’re the mayor.

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My Bike For Life card which I forgot at home. This is a requirement in getting a water after a 2-hour bike ride. Mayor Maribel Eusebio, please stop this senseless process of having this piece of cardboard stamped first before getting a water. This is very Old School dirty political motive.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

PiPho’s 8th Year Anniversary Celebration

Pinoy Photography (PiPho) will have it’s 8th Year Anniversary Celebration on October 5, 2013 (Saturday) at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

PiPho is popular among photographers as a source of information on anything and everything about photographer. I’m a frequent visitor of their forum.

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Monday, July 22, 2013

The Eusebio-Asilo Country (Kenneth Road, Pasig City)

Are you aware that the Eusebio and Asilo family have their own country in Pasig City? It’s located in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City on the boundary of Taytay, Rizal and Napindan, Taguig. It’s called the Eusebio-Asilo Country and mainly composed of the several home owners association along Sandoval Avenue, Kenneth Road and Molave Street.

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The Eusebio-Asilo Country signage near C-6 Road, Kenneth.

The Eusebio-Asilo Country is one of the most populous areas in Pasig City and is rumored to be a source of votes for the Eusebio and Asilo clans. It is also rumored that a certain Ka Ida, Mr. Go, Kenneth and Robert Lim owned these areas before it became a property of the Pasig City Government. Thus, one of the streets here in Nagpayong (Kenneth Road) is named after one of the former owners. The Nagpayong area used to be a dump site for Pasig City and was turned into a relocation site for Pasig City’s informal settlers.

Since then, the Eusebio-Asilo Country has been transformed from a dump site, into a thriving community. A lot of businesses have been slowly established within the Sandoval Avenue and Kenneth Road. Sandoval Avenue is the gateway for motorists going to C-6 Road and Taytay, Rizal while Kenneth Road leads to C-6 Road and Napindan, Taguig City.

Unfortunately, Nagpayong, Pinagbuhatan is still an area for informal settlers. In spite of the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) established several years ago, most of the residents of this area in Pasig City are without any land title, including our very own Square Ville HOAI. I do hope that the Urban Poor Services Office (UPSO) of Pasig City will do whatever it can in assisting us, the informal settlers of Nagpayong, in achieving a land title.

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Milet Resto Bar, along Kenneth Road, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

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Most of the Meralco meters in Nagpayong, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City are located on poles like this one.

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Iverson School of Pasig City Inc. High School Department is located along Kenneth Road.

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The Black Nazarene Church, Kenneth Road, Pasig City.

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El Rio de Pasig Academy, Kenneth Road, Pasig City.

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The Spider’s Web. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

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A fish vendor in a talipapa along Kenneth Road, Pasig City.

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Tricycles are color-coded in Pasig City. These green tricycles belong to the PPEAA TODA.

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A mango vendor amazed at the photographer.

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The MDCKATODA terminal transporting residents of Kenneth Road to Pasig Palengke.

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Melot & Karen General Merchandise, Hardware & Electrical Supply, located along Kenneth Road. It has a 2nd branch located along Sandoval Avenue.

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Arim Merchandize – one of the several small and medium scale enterprises along Kenneth Road. Notice the campaign materials of the recent election?

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The talipapa along Kenneth Road, Pasig City.

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SDTA Area – Samahan ng mga Dukha ng Taga-Arenda. It’s on the boundary of Pasig City and Taytay and can be accessed through Kenneth Road. It’s one of the several Home Owners Association in Nagpayong, Pasig City.

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Generika along Kenneth Road. Christ the King Community Church (Pinagbuhatan) occupies the 2nd floor.

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An ice plant in Block 22.

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An ice cream vendor putting ice on his cart.

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Saint Joseph Chapel, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

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The office of the Morning Valley HOA, Nagpayong 2, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City. It’s one of the more than 80 home owners association in this part of Pasig City.

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The Bahay Aruga and Bahay Kalinga – the most glamorous orphanage I’ve ever seen. It’s beside the Pasig City Jail. In case of a jail-break, they could hostage the kids in this orphanage. Clever idea for a location.

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Villa Maglente HOA, Nagpayong, Pasig City. I admire them for having a building for their HOA.

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An outpost constructed near Villa Ver Capistrano, Nagpayong, Pasig City. It’s one of the numerous outposts that are unmanned and remains to be useless.

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The elaborate design of the Bahay Aruga and Bahay Kalinga. It’s funny that I often passed this elaborate building and yet, I haven’t seen any kids playing in its yard.

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Molave Street, Nagpayong, Pasig City. This connects the Pasig City Jail, Bahay Aruga and Bahay Kalinga to Sandoval Avenue.