Thank you for submitting your entries for the "4th Blog Awards Challenge: Because YOU deserve a post". We received six entry links. Unfortunately, two links were untraceable.
Here are the 4 remaining entries. Please read the voting rules at the bottom of this entry before casting your vote.
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Because You deserve a post by anordealbyinnocence
Many people are lost in the sands of time.Or in pages of a book.Or in one's memories.You know that they're there.In your memories.But you've to dig deep in order t o find them.You don't think of them everyday or see them or speak to them everyday,but the things that they've taught you have left a deep impact on you-so deep that it has affected who you are and who you choose to be.
This post is dedicated to one such person. >>>continue reading
You Make Me Smile by auxiliaryzero
Like a breath of fresh air, so invigorating.
Stricken with overhwelming emotions for such a nonchalant presence.
I am smitten with her incomparable beauty.
How does one show affection?
Of love and of hatred.
Of happiness and of grief?
Does one merely state one's current mood?
In my case, I'd rather express it through poetry. I'm not one with big words, but I know good enough how to tell it all.
I can't say for now that I am IN love. There is no such thing for me, unfortunately. I can only be inspired. Inflamed with momentary passion. >>>continue reading
LOVE in the Times of Blogging by mynosebleed
I didn’t want to fall for someone….‘TIL THERE WAS YOU.
It is really amazing what blogging can do. At first, you lurk around and read them. Then, you leave a comment and make friends with them…and then later, you’ll meet them in person and then the friendship goes beyond cyberspace. Blog, just like love, knows no bounds, indeed. And just like in real life, there are many people you’ll come across your bloglife...but then eventually, some will disappear and you lose them forever. >>>continue reading
paalam liwanag ng araw by kamo2
ang kwento na ito ay inaalay ko sa kapitbahay naming si hector sa kaibigan kong si jayron at sa lahat ng nakasama ko sa gruar phase1 cainta,rizal mabuhay ang mga callboy mabuhay ang mga working students at mabuhay ang itatago natin sa pangalang mr.yozo.
si mr yozo ay kaibigan ko sa lugar na madaming kumukutitap isa siya sa nagpalakas ng loob ko at siya ang dahilan kung bakit ako kumukuha ng kursong bachelor of science in business administration ngayon. >>>continue reading
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If you want to vote, these are the guidelines:
* To promote peer-to-peer recognition and respect only bona fide bloggers can vote for the competition. Anonymous voters without a valid blog will not be added to the tally of votes.
* Voters must be blogging for at least three (3) months with a minimum of thirty entries in his blog prior to his voting in the competition. This will eliminate phantom voters and reduce incidence of cheating.
* A voter is allowed to pick three best entries among the finalists.
* The votes are added up and the winner is declared with a Reader’s Choice Award citation.
* The total number of votes (converted into weights) are added to the other weight points as set in the Winner Selection Criteria.
Are you qualified to vote? Then LEAVE A COMMENT here (please don't use the chatbox) with your three (3) best entry picks. We will manually check your blog for qualification requirements before counting your votes.
Voting ends 11th July 2008.
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Blog Challenge 5 is now posted!
Don't miss the Blog Awards Challenge 5. Join the challenge and be recognized!
Blog Awards Challenge 3 Finalist (merit): gatsulat
Winning Entry Title: ANONIMO [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Panimula: Sino ba si Anonimo?
“Ako’y dumarami sa bawa’t kisap ng mata. Singbilis ng ulan na bumabagsak sa tigang na lupa. Mas makulit pa ako sa paulit-ulit na panaginip. Mas maingay pa ako sa sermon ng iyong mga magulang tuwing ika’y umuuwi ng madaling araw. Mas pinaniniwalaan pa ako kaysa sa Diyos at siyensya. Mas kontrobersyal pa ako kaysa kina Kris Aquino at Piolo Pascual. Mas mabilis pa akong umuunlad kaysa sa Pilipinas. Mas sinusunod pa ako kaysa sa ating mga batas. Mas matapang pa ako kaysa sa mga aktibistang palihim na pinapapatay ng unano. Mas pansin pa ang aking vandal sa pader sa may kanto kaysa sa billboard na mahahalay sa EDSA. Mas malaki pa ang aking populasyon kaysa sa Japan. Mas pinakikinggan ng masa ang aking boses sa radyo kaysa sa boses ng tagapagbalita. Ako ang utot na maaamoy mo ako kahit saaan ka pumaroon. Isa ako sa mukha ng libo-libong istranghero na makakasalubong mo sa daan araw-araw. Isa ako sa mga naabutan mo ng bayad sa Jeepney. Maaaring ako din ang iyong nakatalik sa nakatagong motel sa Makati. Napapanood mo ako palagi sa televisyon. Mas memoryado mo pa ang liriko at tono ng aking mga kanta kaysa sa Lupang Hinirang. Mas alam mo pa ang aking talambuhay kaysa sa kay Gat Jose Rizal. Mas nararamdaman mo pa ang aking presensya kaysa sa Diyos o sa pag-ibig. Nakikita mo ako kahit na nakapikit ang iyong mata. Nakakasalamuha mo ako sa maraming eksena ng buhay mo. Ako ang klasmeyt mong pinakopya mo sa exam kanina. Ako ang nag-hack ng karakter mo sa Ragnarok. Ako ang dakila na ayaw naman magpahalata. Ako ang ama mong bumugbog sa iyo dahil inubusan mo ako ng ulam kagabi. Ako ang mister mong pumatol sa isang kolehiyala sapagkat ayaw mo ng makipagtalik sa akin minsan sa gabi. Ako ang pulubing namalimos sa’yo na hindi mo pinansin dahil wala kang puso. Ako ang nagsulat ng “Beowulf”, “Bibliya”, “Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan”, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, “The Sorrows of Yamba”, “The Way of a Pilgrim”, “Xerex”, “Happy Birthday Song” at “Ang Pagbabalik ni Pokete Botete”. Ako ang pumatay kina George Lusk, Kurt Cobain at Pedro Pebo (ang aking kapitbahay na lasingero). Kilala ako ng lahat ng taong may kamalayan sa planetang earth. Ang aking kahulugan ay mas malalim pa sa ibang mga salita. Ako ang lumikha ng nakaraan, wawasak ng kasalukuyan, at gigiba ng hinaharap. Ako ay imortal at patuloy na dadami gaya ng basura, sakit at krimen. Sino ba ako? Ako si anonimo.”
-Anonimo, mula sa kapirasong papel na napulot ko sa ilalim ng aking kama, Pebrero 2004-
Salawikain ni Anonimo:
“Minsan ang boses ng ‘di mo kilala ay mas matapang at nakakasugat pa kaysa sa boses ng iyong kakilala.”
“Magsulat ka ng isang matalinong kasabihan at mabubuhay habangbuhay ang iyong pangalan.”
“Ang lumikha, ang sumira, ang nagpasimula, ang magwawakas at ang pinakadakila ay si anonimo.”
“Hindi mahalaga kung di mo ako kilala, ang mahalaga ay alam mong nandito ako nabubuhay para sa mundo.”
Anonimong blogger (anonymous blogger) . Siya ang?
* blogger na walang identity pero sikat
* malayang mamamahayag
* blogger na may mukha pero nakamaskara
* ang nakakakilala sa iyo na hindi mo kakilala
* walang pinagmulan pero nasa kung saan-saan
* nagbubulalas ng mga kontroversyal at matatapang na opinyon pero ligtas
* nagpapahayag ng katotohanan pero nililihim ang katauhan
* wawasakin ang iyong reputasyon pero mahirap kasuhan ng libelo
* nagkalat sa kalawakan ng internet pero walang iniiwang bakas
* nagnanakaw ng mga likha pero mahirap sampahan ng plagiarism
* isa mo pang katauhan
* panaginip na lumalangoy sa utak mo
Anonimong blogger (anonymous blogger) : Sumagi na ba sa isip mo na baka siya ang…
* klasmeyt mong Koreano na takot sa ipis
* stalker mong nerd na bungi bungi
* nanay ni Pekta na kinukupitan mo ng barya pag tulog
* empleyado mong pinag-iinitan mo palagi dahil napakabobo nya
* dati mong kasintahan na pinagpalit mo sa unanong emo kid
* kabit mo na mukhang katulong na may putok
* nawawala mong anak na naging prosti at nakatalik ng iyong mister
* pinagtangkaan mong ipapatay na aktibista
* ibinagsak mong estudyante dahil tila ba mas matalino pa sa’yo
* minahal mong penpal no’ng grade 6 na may AIDS na ngayon
Ang anonimong pagba-blog (anonymous blogging) ay…
* halimbawa ng ligtas at malayang pagpapahayag ng saloobin
* paglikha ng lihim na katauhan upang maiwasan ang kapahamakan na maaaring kaharapin kapag gumamit ka ng tunay mong pangalan
* minsan parang kasalanan na hihingan mo ng tawad pagkatapos gawin
* mabuti dahil hindi ka susundan-sundan ng iyong mga fans
* mabuti dahil mapagtatakpan mo ang iyong “inferiority complex,” kung mayroon man
* mabuti dahil ‘di ka basta-basta maidedemanda ng iyong mga kaaway kahit na ipagkalat mong baog siya o kaya ay supot
* mabuti basta alam mo ang “code of ethics”, lalong mabuti kung nagsasabi ka ng totoo, pinakamabuti kung para ito sa bayan
* masama kapag pansariling kagustuhan lamang ang pinaiiral, mas masama kung galit ang pinagmulan, pinakamasama kung kasinungalingan ang nilalaman
*Ang mambabasang pinakakinatatakutan ko ay ang sarili ko. Kung ano man ang dahilan ay si anonimo lang ang nakakaalam*
Sources: Anonymous, B.C. - Present.
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Blog Awards Challenge 3 Finalist (Merit): blogcebuworld
Winning Entry Title: The Masks Bloggers Wear [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Did you ever wonder why Batman, Spiderman, Zorro and other superheroes wear masks? Superman does something with his hairstyle for people not to recognize him. Ninjas and robbers wear masks too. Some rallyists do wear masks. Naked campus runners put on something to cover their faces. They do not want their real identities revealed. Will it also be the same with blogging? Do you have to wear a mask?
The most common masks we wear in the blogosphere are: The Online Alias and the Online Persona
Online Alias: What’s In A Name?
One of the things we can’t choose in life is the name reflected in our birth certificates. Who chose it? Mostly, it is the parents. There are cases when parents hold a contest in order to find a name for their child. I’ve seen it in forums. Or sometimes, an intruding relative insist on a certain name. Some were named after the patron saints of the day they were born. I heard that it is a common incident in the past that a priest would not baptize a child if his name is not found in the catholic almanac, or if the child is without the Maria or Jose.
Our name is our most basic brand. Some people have names that are so common and it is really difficult to market a somewhat generic name. So, in order to stand out, we need to have a new and unique name: Our very own brand.
Take a look at the actors and the actresses we have today. The names they are famous for are not really the ones they were born with. Despite the pseudo-names, they are stars. And if we look back at our Philippine history, some of our heroes wrote with pseudonyms when they published their anti-colonial articles against the powers at that time. Are they not truthful in their scribbling while hiding their real identities?
My real name is so unique that if it is searched in yahoo or google, it will only lead to me. But why did I choose some other online name? The very few people who knew all my other blogs would even ask that question. Why this, why that, and then you blogged wih your real name on the other. If you have read all the comments here, you might wonder who the real owner of this blog is. I’m often called by different names, which makes me laugh at some point. Even firefox had problems identifying me when I log in to my gmail account. In this blog, I am Ceblogger. My About page will tell you who I am in the offline world.
The Online Persona: Who Really Are You?
Online, we can be anyone we want even with the mask on. Flaunt some flashy style, write like a pro, post a pic with you dressed like a pro, and have a blog designed like that of a real pro. No one can really tell the difference.
Or you could be an accomplished individual, burned out by the daily corporate struggles, but found solace in blogging, writing entries like a pre-teen, a fashionista, a frustrated fictionist, a poet, or a sports fanatic.
In the blogosphere, I always keep this in mind: Do not judge the blogger by his blog. I always tell this to myself because the online and offline persona could be different. Not really the Jekyl and Hyde thing, but just different. They have reasons for doing so, and I have to respect those reasons no matter what. I enjoy reading a post without reference to the bloggers’ credentials.
A friend of mine had written about his drunken moments. Some friends who might have read that entry may be alarmed and/or turned off by this. But in reality, he is not what his post may lead us to think. He is just probably acting or testing his readers if they read between the lines. Yeah, some Edgar Allan Poe moments!
In conclusion, is it really difficult to blog openly and honestly? I don’t think so. But we have to draw a dividing line somewhere. We do not know who reads our blogs, even if it is out in the open. Someone might wrongly judge us like we are to be thrown to hell. I do not want to be misinterpreted, nor do I want to write a long justification. Honesty is not compromised with the mask bloggers wear. It is just living at peace with everyone else. A little mystery behind the blog would not do you any harm. As a friend once wrote in his blog; wear shades, just like the rockstars.
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Blog Awards Challenge 2nd runner-up (Achievement): exsanguinatrix
Winning Entry Title: United as one, divided by zero [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant and vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
-- V from V for Vendetta
I am thinking of a word that indicates the state of being anonymous. Anonymity. But I am thinking of 'anonymosity,' which is not a real word, but is more apt. Bloggers, or the denizens of the internet (or intarwebz to be precise), all revel in their/ our anonymosity in varying levels.
There is a trick here. The notion that being anonymous denotes dishonesty, that to hide one's identity is to be untruthful. The trick here is in thinking that a person's real nature is the person we can see, the person IRL. How completely asinine.
A wealthy businessman is popular with his friends and colleagues, respected even by his rivals, gives to charity, is a doting father and husband to his wife and children. He should be sainted. He then goes online where he is completely unknown and puts this on Craigslist. Is the real person the one the public can see, or the one kept in secret?
No. To be anonymous is to be real. The internet has afforded everyone (with a computer and internet connection) freedom from the codes of conduct that govern society. We do not belch or pass gas in public because we fear judgment. On the internet, there are forums entirely dedicated to animated porn of dickgirls with shitting nipples. Do not for one second think that the users who visit this board are not real people. They are. They are simply Anonymous.
Anonymous here is a state of being. And being anonymous is to be part of a being. It is bigger than you, bigger than me. I am anonymous on the internet. You are. The troll who likes to flame your blog, the narutards who argue endlessly, the gammar nazis, the lurkers, the n00bs, the 14 year old kid on myspace dat typs lyk dis. They are Anonymous.
One cannot be anonymous alone. As the saying goes, we are legion. That perhaps is why we blog, why we lurk, why we hide behind fake names. We are cowards by the number and that is our strength. We can rant on our blogs, blaspheme, commit high treason, be racist homophobes and get away with it. And because none of us are as cruel as all of us, there is sure to be someone else out there-- some other Anonymous-- who will push the envelope too far, and then farther still. To quote Fight Club again, this is humanity when the gloves come off.
So we are real when we blog anonymously. Our snark, our rapier wits used to hack away at people/ ideas/ institutions that we feel are beneath us fill our blogs. This is how we present ourselves to the world wide web, how we define ourselves. Our real selves, the things we think and feel that we can not easily show in public.
There's no use worrying about who might discover and read our blog. Hit that preview button before publishing the entry. The time it takes for the page to load is roughly the time it should take for you to realize that you are not your job, you are not how much money you have in the bank, you are not the car you drive, you are not the contents of your wallet. You are who you are when no one can recognize you. You are the twisted little imp who downloads dwarf porn and intellectualizes shit on your blog while you sit in front of your computer in your underwear. Worry about that person. Be terrified of that one.
Aha! To be astounded. An army of assholes, an association armed with an arsenal of asinine ambiguously adult anonymii. This antiquated armada no mere attack force, is an astounding assembly of articulate aristocrats. Assuming the collective affliction has not abruptly atrophied, another day of ardent internet arguments arises. Under the ambiguous aegis of internet anonymity, all annoying assertions may be announced with reckless abandon. Apology? Do not forgive. Alas, I am all aflutter. After the anticipation.... You may call me Anonymous.
--Anonymous
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Blog Awards Challenge 3 - 1st runner-up (Distinction): indolentindio
Winning Entry Title: Honesty Is Not an Internet Meme [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Like almost everybody else on the blogosphere, we have chosen to hide our true identities from the rest of the world. Despite whatever issues we may have had with our parents, they were not cruel enough to give us the names we now write and draw under (they did, however, give us long and more cruel Catholic names.) We actually chose these aliases. Why do we do it? It’s funny you should ask, Blog Awards Challenge and random readers. Funny in the sense that it is timely because we are about to answer the question and not funny as in slipping on a banana peel.
Why would a grown man choose to hide behind an obscure reference to Philippine mythology or a punny take on a stock Filipino folklore character?
1. It’s traditional
Except on official documents, Filipino naming convention has never been about what your parents gave you at your baptism. In the centuries of Spanish occupation, all our heroes had code names to protect them from retaliation and to sound cooler than they already were. It was pretty much a requirement to choose a code name back in the day since the Katipunan was an underground organization and it wouldn’t do to tell your comrades that you were actually Benedict Aquino and that you lived on 1313 Calle Iris and that you were an optometrist by trade when not plotting to overthrow the monarchic hegemony of Spain. It would have been rude. Sure, some of the aliases, like Del Pilar’s Plaridel were uninspired at best, but we were at war and they weren’t giving out medals for extreme wordplay above and beyond the call of duty, only for general badassery. Being true sons of the people, we are merely following in their footsteps.
2. Plausible deniability
Let’s face it. We can’t always stand behind what we write. Whether it’s a negative review of, say, the Sib Show, or war stories of a wild weekend involving triplet cheerleaders, there are some things that we don’t want to come back to bite us in the ass while innocently buying groceries in meatspace. Whether it’s your mom, your girlfriend or Sib himself, it’s always more comfortable to have a buffer and enough wiggle room to say, “it wasn’t me.”
Blogger and better writer than half of the blogosphere combined Paolo Manalo calls it the online persona, distinct from the real-world persona and native to the dynamic world of the Internet. My ex-girlfriend called it my crazy internet world and left me. It takes all kinds, really.
3. It lets the work stand for itself
If people knew that I was award-winning author F. Sionil Jose in real life, they would only see an award-winning writer taking a stab at a medium that he is not best known for being a master of. They would say, “Huh. What is F. Sionil Jose up to this time? Isn’t he content with what he’s already accomplished that he has to flounder about the blogosphere like a noob? LOL, etcetera etcetera”
They wouldn’t see the many levels of satire and kick-assery that I am attempting, those Philistines. Of course, there would be people who’ll go, “Oh, it all makes sense now. He’s secretly F. Sionil Jose. How clever!” But the point is that it shouldn’t matter whether or not I am secretly F. Sionil Jose, noted writer of such hits as the entire Rosales saga . I am pouring forth words that should be able to stand on their own, and not on my previous accolades, or they ought to not stand at all.
4. It is the nature of the beast
By beast, we mean the Internet. Listen, the Internet doesn’t exist except in our crazy internet world. Despite what Geocities taught us in 1997 when we had to look for Internet “lots” in themed “neighborhoods,” the Internet is nothing more than pixels and bytes and a little bit of magic mixed with some hard liquor.
To quote Mentor, yet another throwback to the bald old days of the Internet, “this is our world now… the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud… We exist without skin color, without nationality, without religious bias…” He’s probably pretty old now, so it’s not his world anymore, either. But the point is with everything just representations of things, we can pretty much be anyone we want to be. This is also true in the real world, of course, but that requires actual work. Do you want to be a dinosaur? Alright, then. Never mind that dinosaurs cannot type nor even read, the magic of the Internet says that you are a dinosaur who can.
There are so many layers to a person that it is often pointless to reveal your real name online. It often doesn’t add anything to the discussion, and might get you saddled with an embarrassing nickname, just like in real life. Using an online persona lets you play around with who you are while still being grounded in reality.
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Blog Awards Challenge 3 Winner (Excellence): Pen Palaboy
Winning Entry Title: Ang Pangalan ko ay Pen Palaboy [Original Link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Ako si Pen Palaboy. Hindi ko tunay na pangalan subalit mas kilala sa ganyang bansag. Ilang taon na din ang nakalilipas noong una kong bininyagan ang sarili sa ganyang tawag. Napagtanto ko, bakit nga ba tila nakatayo ako sa likod ng pangalang ito? Wala naman akong kinatatakutan o pinagtataguang nilalang. Totoo naman ako sa aking sarili, sa aking ipinahahayag at sa aking isinusulat. Totoo ako sa lahat ng nakakakilala sa akin. Subalit sa kabila ng lahat, bakit pinili ko pa ring maging anino ng isang pangalang binuo lamang ng aking pag-iisip? Sa totoo lamang, kung hindi dahil sa challenge na ito, hindi ko maitatanong ang sarili kung bakit kailangang magkaroon ako ng pen name.
Napagisip-isip ko na marahil para sa karamihan, ang pagkakaroon ng isang alyas ay isang paraan para magkaroon ng misteryo ang kanilang identity. Naroon nga naman ang thrill kung hindi kilala ng mga mambabasa ang tunay na pagkatao ng may akda, kung baga isang blind item pagdating sa usapang showbiz. Malaya nilang nasasabi ang nais nilang isiwalat nang hindi nalalaman kung sino ang tunay na nilalang sa likod ng pangalan. Ngunit sino nga ba naman ako upang magsalita para sa kanila? Hindi ko hawak ang kanilang saloobin at pagkatao sa usaping ito. Para sa akin, sa tuwing nag-uumpisang maging aktibo ang panulat ko, isang panibagong nilalang ang nabibigyang buhay. Isang katauhang malayo sa AKO sa pang-araw araw na pamumuhay. Sa pagkakataong iyon, naihahayag ko ang nais kong sa sabihin sa paraang alam kong gawin.
Sa realidad, ang katawang lupa ay nakatali sa maraming bagay: trabaho, bahay at pamilya. Mga bagay na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin at ng oras. Kahit anong paraan ay hindi kailanman matatakasan ang mga bagay na ito. Tila ang sarili ay nakakulong sa apat na sulok ng isang kahon. Limitado ang bawat galaw at bilang ang bawat hakbang. Alam kong obligasyon ko ito sa mga kaluluwang nakapaligid sa akin. Subalit sa isang banda, masasabi kong hindi ako malaya. Hindi malayang gawin ang mga bagay na lubusang makapagpapaligaya sa akin. Marami nang pagkakataon ang kumatok para maabot ko ang minimithing mga pangarap subalit sa hindi matawarang mga katungkulan, madalas ay kibit-balikat ko na lamang na pinapanood ang pagdaan nito sa aking harapan. Sa mga ganitong okasyon, matinding kalungkutan at pagsisisi ang bumabalot sa akin lalo pa at hindi ko nakasanayang maging bukas sa aking tunay na nararamdaman. Marahil ay dulot na rin ng pangambang baka ako ay hindi maintindihan at hindi mapankinggan. Alam ko na ang sariling hinaing ay wala sa kalingkingan ng sakit na dinarananas ng ating lipunan. Subalit kung ang bawat butil nito ay iipunin, isang tipak ng nagpupumiglas na kalooban ang mabubuo. Kaloobang puno ng katanungang wari ay wala nang katapusan.
Bago ako naging ganap na si Pen Palaboy, nagsimula ako bilang si Penslave. Pen dahil sa hilig ko sa pagsusulat at slave dahil ako ay alipin ng aking panulat. Hindi nagtagal at dumating ako sa panahong kinailangan kong humanap ng kasagutan sa mga tanong na patuloy na namumutawi sa aking pag-iisip. Mga tanong na kahit isulat pa ang buong litanya nito ay hindi matutuldukan ang walang katapusang mga pag-aagam agam. Dahilan upang tumigil ang aking kamay sa paghabi ng mga salita. Sinuyod ko ang bawat kayle at eskinita ng aking kaisipan kasabay ng paglalakbay ng aking mga paa. Paglalakbay na walang eksaktong lugar na pinanggalingan at walang eksaktong patutunguhan. Nakalutang ako. Lango sa problema. Hinayaan kong matuklasan ng mga lumilipas na oras ang bawat sagot sa kumakalampag na mga tanong sa akin. Sa hindi matawarang dahilan, nakatulong ang paglalakbay. Nahanap ko ang mga kasagutan sa mga salitang saan, papaano, kailan at bakit. Sa pagkakataong iyon, muling dumaloy ang natuyo kong tinta. Muli akong kumapit sa panulat at humabi ng salita. Dito isinilang si Pen Palaboy.
Bilang si Pen Palaboy, nasimulan kong ilahad ang lahat ng nasa isipan ko. Lahat ng mga nakabibigat sa kalooban ay unti unti kong napakawalan sa tulong nitong butihing panulat. Noong una ay wala akong pakialam basta't nagsusulat ako sa sariling kagustuhan, bilang outlet at hingahan ng problema. Hindi nagtagal, nagkaroon ako ng mga mambabasa, mga kaibigan at mga tagahanga. Dito, naramdaman ko na kabilang ako sa sirkulo ng bagong mundong ginagalawan ko. Kinagiliwan ko ang mainit nilang pagtanggap. Ang bawat salitang isulat ay katumbas ng tunog ng isang batingaw, nililingon, dinidinig at binibigyang pansin. Masaya ako. Malaya.
Sa mundong pinaghaharian ng kabi-kabilang kurapsyon, trapiko at pagbabago, ako ay tinatawag na DANG. Tahimik at hindi naririnig ang munting tinig. Sa mundo ng salita, larawan at kuro-kuro, ako ay kilala bilang PEN PALABOY. Nilalang na ang tanging sandata ay emosyon bilang sinulid sa bawat salitang hinahabi. Hindi man natamasa ng katawang lupa ang kalayaang inaasam, sa mundong ito ay malayo pa ang mararating ng bawat salita ko. Kasama mo, aangkinin natin ang mundong ito.
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Based on the judges scores and votes from bloggers, here are the winners of the of The Blog Awards Challenges. Only the winners can claim the badges of excellence.
Blog Challenge 1: I Blog Therefore I Am
Winner: "I Blog Therefore I Am" by Caustic Thoughts
1st runner-up: "Blog: a nonsense business?" by 214
2nd runner-up: "i blog" by mikelcleus
Finalist (Merit): "Blogging and Loving It" by Pinoy Lotto Winner
Finalist (Merit): "Reasons Why I Love Drowning into Blogging" by hulag
Reader’s Choice Award: "Blog: a nonsense business?" by 214
Special citation to the only finalist written in Filipino: aNg LuWasA't hULo.. by cherrymae06.
To see the challenge 1 top 10 entries, here.
Blog Challenge 2: Blogging for Global Warming
Winner: "For A Greener Earth" by Blog From Cebu To The World
1st runner-up: "The Challenge" by Avy (auxiliaryzero)
2nd runner-up: "Blogging for Global Warming" by Reeti Roy (My Blog)
Finalist (Merit): "Global Warming" by Diletante Escritor
Finalist (Merit): "Read...and push to start" by Memoirs of Klitorika
Reader’s Choice Award: "Blogging for Global Warming" by Reeti Roy (My Blog)
Blog Challenge 3: The Hazards Of Honesty
Winner: "Ang Pangalan ko ay Pen Palaboy" by Pen Palaboy
1st runner-up: "Honesty Is Not an Internet Meme" by indolentindio
2nd runner-up: "United as one, divided by zero" by exsanguinatrix
Finalist (Merit): "The Masks Bloggers Wear" by blogcebuworld
Finalist (Merit): "ANONIMO" by gatsulat
Reader’s Choice Award: "Ang Pangalan ko ay Pen Palaboy" by Pen Palaboy
Blog Challenge 4: Because YOU deserve a post
Winner: "You Make Me Smile" by auxiliaryzero
1st runner-up: "Because You Deserve a Post" by anordealbyinnocence
2nd runner-up: "Paalam Liwanag ng Araw" by kamo2
Finalist (Merit): "LOVE in the Times of Blogging" by mynosebleed
Reader’s Choice Award: "Paalam Liwanag ng Araw" by kamo2
Blog Challenge 5: Almighty For A Day
Winner: "Mama Don’t Preach" by Disproving the Genius
1st runner-up: "In the Eyes of A Child" by Zen Ventures
2nd runner-up: "The World in My Two Almighty Hands" by wanawana
Reader’s Choice Award: "Mama Don’t Preach" by Disproving the Genius
Blog Challenge 6: The Virtual Vice
Winner: "Vicious, As It May Seem" by The urban gurU
1st runner-up: "Did Cyberlife Kill Real Life Intimacy" by A Determined Frame of Mind
2nd runner-up: "Pano Palitan ng Cyberlife ang Real Life" by Manic Manuals
Reader’s Choice Award: "Vicious, As It May Seem" by The urban gurU
Blog Challenge 7: Bloggermania: Challenging The Platforms Of Old Media
Winner: "THE RELEVANCE OF OLD MEDIA AND CARLOS CONDE IS THAT THEY ARE IRRELEVANT" by The Philippine Daily Idiot
1st runner-up: "Blindspots of Blogging" by PROSETITUTE
2nd runner-up: "Traditional Journalism VS BloggerMania" by Kwentong Miko and General Nonsense
Reader’s Choice Award: "Blindspots of Blogging" by PROSETITUTE
Blog Awards Challenge 2 Finalist: Memoirs of Klitorika
Winning Entry Title: Read ... and push to start [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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I am blogging against global warming!
Yes mga kapatid, bukod sa gusto kong makasali sa BLOG AWARD CHALLENGE at manalo ng badge na maipagmamalaki ko nanaman sa mga masugid na taga subaybay ng blog na ito, may isa pang plus! Kung bakit ko gagawin ang entry na ito.
Bakit nga ba? Pwes, Kailangan pa bang itanong yan? Siguro naman kung isa ka ring blogger na katulad ko gagawin mo rin ang pagkakataong ito. Kahit na sabihin pa nilang walang award na matatangap dito, at walang sinumang nagsimula ng pakulo na ganito aba’y siguro tama lang naman na gawin naman natin ang isang maliit na bagay na may malaking maidudulot para maisalba naman natin ang nag-iisa nating mundo.
Kung ang blog entry ko na ito ay makakatulong para lumawak ang kaalaman at awareness ng mga taong minsan na mapadalaw sa blog ko para sa problemang kinakaharap ng mundo natin sa ngayon… ang GLOBAL WARMING. Masasabing kong kahit papaano ay may naitulong naman ako para masolusyunan ang problemang ito.
Sa nasabing CHALLENGE may binigay na limampung paraan para mabawasan ang paglalala ng problema ng Global Warming sa ating mundo. At sa limampung binigay na pamamaraan may napili akong sampu na sa palagay ko “THE BEST” para sa akin. Hindi lang dahil mas madali itong gawin, sapagkat kahit na sinuman ay maari itong gawin upang kahit papaano ay makatulong naman ang lahat maging sa maliit na paraan para sa solusyon ng problemang ito.
Unang una PLANT MORE TRESS TO REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE. Sa tagalog MAGTANIM… mahirap bang magtanim? Hindi naman diba? So ano pang hinihintay natin sumali na tayo sa mga tree planting activities na pakulo ng mga NGO, ng mga kumpanya at kahit ng Barangay nyo, mas maganda kung ikaw mismo ang magpasimula ng mga ganitong gawain sa lugar nyo isama mo na rin ang mga kapitbahay at mga barkada mo para mas marami kayong maitanim. Kung problema nyo ang lugar na pagtatamnan aba’y nariyan ang center island ng mga kalye o yung mga maliliit na espasyo ng lupa sa inyong lugar, kung wala sa paso pwedeng pwede! Nakatulong ka na sa kalikasan nag-enjoy pa kayo dahil bonding moment nyo na rin ito ng mga kabarkada o kabarangay mo.
Pangalawa UNPLUGGED ALL ELECTRONICS FROM THE WALL WHEN THEY’RE NOT IN USE. Kung hindi mo naintindihan, bunutin mo raw ang mga saksakan ng mga appliances nyo kung wala rin naman gumagamit. Mas makakatipid ka na sa babayaran nyo sa kuryente, makakatulong ka pa para makatipid ng ilang watts din ng kuryente na nasasayang dahil sa mga naka-plugged na mga appliances na yan. Imagine kung maubos na lahat ng power o electricity source sa buong mundo? Kakayanin mo kaya?
Pangatlo, MAKE RECYCLING MANDATORY IN ALL PUBLIC FACILITIES, Sus! naman kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan? Magrecycle! Ilang beses na ba nating naririnig yan? Kung kasing tigas ng ulo natin ang bato maniniwala akong hindi mo naiintindihan ang kampanyang ito. Magrecycle po tayo siguro naman alam natin kung paano gawin ang ganito? Mas maganda rin para hindi na dumami ang mga plastic bags sa bahay natin na pinagbalutan ng mga pinamili natin magdala nalang tayo ng isang bag na malaki na paglalagyan ng mga items na pinamili sa halip na humingi pa tayo ng mga plastic bag sa groceries. At ang sabi nga nila ipunin ang lahat ng mga bote, lata at plastic na pwede pang ibenta kumita kana instant environmentalist ka pa!
Pang-apat, PROTECT WET LANDS AND PRESERVE MORE OPEN SPACE , Wala naman akong problema sa land conversion program ng gobyerno. Pero sana lang mag-iwan naman sila ng konting espasyo para sa mga parke, forest, palayan at ilan pang open space sa halip na gawin itong subdivision o business center nanaman. Napapansin ko sa tuwing sumasakay ako ng eroplano at nakikita ko ang Metro Manila mula sa bintana nito, pakiramdam ko naninikip na kaagad ang dibdib ko. Sa nakikita ko palang na nagsisiksikang mga bahay, buildings, commercial establishment, mga sasakyan at kung anu-ano naisip ko nakakahinga pa kaya ng maluwag ang mga nakatira dito, kahit saan ka bumaling ng tingin stressful ang makikita mo, parusa talaga, at least ditto sa Cebu hindi pa gaano masikip at matraffic.
Panglima, PROTECT OUR OCEANS, protektahan natin ang ating mga karagatan laban sa walang habas na over fishing, dynamite fishing, at kung anu-ano pang gawain na magdudulot ng pagkasira ng ating karagatan. Katulad ng iba pang bahagi ng ating mundo napakahalaga ng karagatan dahil bukod sa dito nanggaling ang marami sa ating mga pangunahing panganga-ilangan malaki rin ang impluwensya nito sa mga pagbabago ng ating mundo.
Pang-anim, BLOCK BILLS THAT CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, bukod sa pagsali sa mga kampanya laban sa Global Warming mas makakatulong din ng malaki upang masolusyunan ang problemang ito, kung makikiisa tayo sa pagpigil at pagtutol sa mga batas na magdudulot ng mas malaking pinsala sa kapaligiran katulad ng walang habas na pagbibigay permiso sa mga nagmimina etc.
Pangpito, USE LESS ELECTRICITY, READ BOOKS, RUN, BIKE, SURF, PLAY, In short turn off the TV and get a life!
Pangwalo, WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE LOTS OF CLOTHES TO WASH BEFORE USING THE WASHING MACHINE. Sabi ng nila live by example, kaya naman ako bago maglaba halos umabot muna sa dalawang lingo ang labahin ko bago ko galawin at isalang sa washing machine! He,he bukod sa katamaran ayos din pala dahil nakakatulong ako sa pagtitipid ng tubig at kuryente. Imagine naman kung halos araw araw ka kung mag-laba. BIlangin mo kung ilang timba ng tubig ang nasayang mo sa pagbabanlaw ng ilang pirasong damit. Kaya para makatulong siguro mas maganda maglaba after a week diba?
Pangsiyam, THE MEDIA SHOULD TELL US ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WITH GLOBAL WARMING. Alam nating malaki ang impluwensya ng Radio, TV, Internet at anu pang uri ng media at advertisement sa buhay ng bawat isa. Sa palagay ko kulang pa ang kampanya ni AL GORE laban sa global warming, mas makakatulong ng malaki kung ang local media dito sa ating bansa ay makiisa mismo para maimulat ang bawat Filipino sa pinsalang maaring idulot sa atin ng Global Warming sakaling lumala ito. Ang ilang segundong advertisement sa mga local shows ay malaking tulong na upang lumawak ang kaalaman at awareness ng bawat isa sa problemang ito. The best na solusyon pa rin ang awareness at pagkamulat dahil ditto nagsisimula ang pagkilos upang tulong-tulong nating masolusyunan ang napakalaking problemang ito. Salamat din sa BLOG! Alam kong malaking tulong din ito upang kahit papaano ay mamulat ang iilang taong naliligaw ditto tungkol sa problema ng Global Warming.
At ang Pang-sampu, INCLUDE GLOBAL WARMING CHANGE INTO SCHOOL CURRICULA, SO WHEN THE STUDENT IS INCHARGE THEY CAN MAKE EDUCATED DECESIONS. Ang sabi nga nila ang kabataan ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Alam kong malaki ang maitutulong ng ganitong programa upang maagang maimulat ang mga estudyante sa ganitong uri ng problema upang maging handa sila sa hinaharap.
Hayss, nakakapagod pala pero at least nagawa ko rin ang part ko para makatulong naman kahit papaano sa problemang ito. Diba ang dali lang naman ng mga paraan para masolusyunan ang GLOBAL WARMING! Kung magkakaisa tayo at gagawin natin ang mga maliliit na bagay na iyan sa itaas bilang solusyon sa problemang kinakaharap natin sa ngayon alam kong kahit papaano hindi tayo magiging guilty kung sakaling mamaalam tayo sa mundo masasabi natin sa ating mga sarili na ginawa natin ang ating responsibilidad bilang mamamayan ng mundo na proteksyunan ito.
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Blog Awards Challenge 2 Finalist (Merit): Diletante Escritor
Winning Entry Title: Global Warming [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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I have heard of global warming before not knowing what it really meant. I only had to care about myself and if I do not understand something, then I do not bother about it. But one time in our Biology class, our teacher required us to pass a reaction paper of a film called: An Inconvenient Truth. Obviously, I had to focus on the film for me to have something to pass. Then and there, the truth shocked me. How could I not care about this? What was I thinking?
Global warming is the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases are actually essential for the Earth to be inhabitable. But ever since the Industrial Revolution began, there has been an increase emission of these greenhouse gases, creating now what we call as global warming.
Greenhouse gases make the Earth warm enough to be inhabited. Without these gases, the mean temperature of the earth would have been −19 °C. But it is now leading us to our own destruction. The shocking fact is that these gases, aside coming from natural sources, is also produced by our very own activities.
We should have seen this coming. Everything in this world is connected to each other. Many slight mistakes can result into a huge disaster. We should all act before everything gets out of hand.
Think of it this way, we all need to save money. That is enough motivation for you to be able to make a difference. Believe it or not, but by being thrifty can equally mean combating global warming.
As a student, use less paper. Recycle them, use the back parts. If you are running for elections, use other means (e.g., email, radio and television) to expose yourself. And if you plan to give someone a gift, use newspapers instead of gift wrappers for the gift. The person will have to rip the wrapper off anyway. Not only you can save money by using less paper, but you are actually saving more trees. Saving more trees means lesser pollution and an increase in the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere!
In your homes, replace incandescence light bulbs with fluorescence light bulbs. You are able to save money because fluorescence light bulbs convert almost all the power used into usable light, and thus release very less heat. The incandescence light bulbs do the opposite, most of the power it uses is turned into heat. If you live near the equator, this is a good thing. You do not have to turn on the electric fan or the air conditioner and thus you are able to save some money and electricity.
As much as possible, use electricity only when you need it. Unplug all electronics from the wall when they are not in use. Wait until you have a lot of clothes to wash before using the washing machine. Turn off the TV, read books, walk, run, bike, surf, and play tennis. Just spend your time on anything that does not consume energy. Not only you are saving some hard earned cash, you are also saving electricity. Electricity is mostly from nonrenewable resources which release large amounts of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the leading cause of global warming. Cutting off the production of carbon dioxide (i.e., using renewable resources for the production of electricity) is the best thing to solve global warming.
Another way to lessen carbon dioxide is by planting the very specimens that need them, trees. Trees “inhale” carbon dioxide for their food production and “exhales” oxygen for our use. If you like, plant fruit bearing trees. Not only you can enjoy the shade they bring, you can also get free fruits. Or better yet, sow flower bearing plants or trees. You won’t have to spend too much on air fresheners again!
Lastly, although this does not make you save money, but it is essential. Schools and the media should join forces in spreading the issue. We may not know it, but some people might still be not knowledgeable of the globe’s situation. For this worldwide problem, it takes a lot of effort and a lot of people, or better yet, everyone to fight back and save Mother Earth from destruction.
We need all the help and knowledge we can get to combat global warming. Global warming is not a joke. It is the real thing. Do not make your grandchildren blame you for what you should have done, but did not do. Let us all act now and save the only planet that we call home.
Sources: Wikipedia and Reference.com
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Blog Awards Challenge 2nd runner-up (Achievement): Reeti Roy (My Blog)
Winning Entry Title: Blogging for Global Warming [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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According to the NOAA Satellite and Information Service,the term "Global Warming" refers, without any implication or magnitude,to the observation that the atmosphere near the earth's surface is warming.
Thus,Global Warming in itself,is an indication of the constant,ever-changing nature of the Earth's surface.Why then,is Global Warming so important?
Global Warming is important because the hotter the earth becomes,the more the surface of the Earth changes and compels living beings to think about their current lifestyles and food habits.Therefore,as members of the human species and the most advanced of all animals,it is our duty and responsibility to understand and prepare ourselves for the consequences of Global Warming.
Even though most scientists believe that a rise in Carbon Dioxide Emissions will lead to further Global Warming,uncertainties remain about the degree of harmfulness that Global Warming can generate.What most Scientists DO agree on,however,is the fact that
Human Behavior is largely to blame for the increase in Global Warming.Also,they unanimously agree that Global arming will have lethal long-term effects on the earth.
Here is a list of things that I would do in order to reduce the chances of global warming:
Plant more trees in order to reduce Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
Trees are beautiful,green and what's more,they give off oxygen.I remember how,in high school,we would have a tree-planting ceremony every year.We would plant a sapling on our school grounds.Trees are considered sacred in many cultures and are worshipped. Be it on grounds that are religious or humanitarian,one should stop cutting down trees and begin to use recycled paper instead.With the advent of technology,there is too much pollution everywhere.Trees would let us breathe and would cut down on the excessive Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.
Restrict the Use of Chemical Fertilizer in Agriculture
Chemical Fertilizers contain harmful chemicals which kill plants,seedlings,insects and other living organisms.Natural Fertilizers like manure will not only ensure that the plants attain their nourishment,but they will also prevent human beings and animals from dying after consuming poisonous food(I'm obviously talking of extremes here-even if people or animals don't die,there's a good chance of them falling sick because of chemical fertilizers).
According to Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Biogeochemistry, Marburg, Germany, Methane is involved in a number of chemical and physical processes in the Earth's atmosphere, including global warming. Atmospheric methane originates mainly from biogenic sources, such as rice paddies and natural wetlands; the former account for at least 30% of the global annual emission of methane to the atmosphere. As an increase of rice production by 60% is the most appropriate way to sustain the estimated increase of the human population during the next three decades, intensified global fertilizer application will be necessary: but it is known that an increase of the commonly used ammonium-based fertilizers can enhance methane emission from rice agriculture. Approximately 10-30% of the methane produced by methanogens in rice paddies is consumed by methane-oxidizing bacteria associated with the roots of rice; these bacteria are generally thought to be inhibited by ammonium-based fertilizers, as was demonstrated for soils and sediments. In contrast, we show here that the activity and growth of such bacteria in the root zone of rice plants are stimulated after fertilization. Using a combination of radioactive fingerprinting and molecular biology techniques, we identify the bacteria responsible for this effect. We expect that our results will make necessary a re-evaluation of the link between fertilizer use and methane emissions, with effects on global warming studies.
The Media should really tell us what is going on about Global Warming. We don't think we have all the Information we need.
Not all of us read Academic Journals and pore over books written by Scientific Heavyweights. The average individual is reliant on the media for information.The film "An inconvenient Truth"was an eye opener.If more and more commercially viable documentaries are made,it will become easier for the masses to comprehend the enormity of a problem like Global Warming.Also,the print and electronic media should come up with well-researched and well-documented articles.They should be up-to-date with the latest information from the Scientists,translate their jargon into lay-man's language and then present it to us.
Reuse newspapers as wrapping Paper for Gifts
I remember drawing butterflies and fishes on newspapers and then using them as wrapping paper.Not just that,brown paper bags and Newspapers should be used as bags instead of the ordinary plastic packets.In many parts of the world,plastic packets are banned.I hope that more and more people wake up to the living realities and refrain from using plastic.If not refrain,they should at least try and minimise their use of plastic in any form.
Use less Electricity, read books, walk, run, surf, play tennis
This,coming from a person who would keep her computer switched on throughout the day,would sound nothing short of didactic.But it's really a pretty lousy thing to do.Apart from the fact that it gives you a headache,it can mar your concentration too.Video games and Blogging and Surfing the net is very nice,but it's all about striking a balance.Use electricity,but don't bury your discretion in a hatchet.Read more books,go for a nice swim,play tennis or volleyball(or basketball,if that's your thing).Even jogging or sprinting is a good idea.
Help save the world from excessive Global Warming!
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Blog Awards Challenge 2 - 1st runner-up (Distinction): Avy (auxiliaryzero)
Winning Entry Title: The Challenge [original link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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We are facing the greatest problem there is now.
Day by day it is slowly trying to grasp our attention to take action. But we are distracted by unimportant things such as noneducational tv shows and indecent political scandals. By and by, we also try to ignore it but I know that you know it as well. You feel it even at night.
Yes, it's the effect of Global Warming.
One may think that this is something that you can just put off for tomorrow. But what if that day won't come? Will you just stand and stare till the Earth comes to its worst destruction.
You see and hear news about all these natural disasters happening outside our country and you think to yourself that it's not going to happen to us, guess again.
This is no laughing matter. If we try to be more considerate, put aside unnecessary things, then maybe, wait let me rephrase that; I know that we can make things a little better. We can start off with small stuff:
1. Use less paper; use the back of the paper to print on or write on; use recycled paper.
-> We usually make use of a lot of paper (paper money is a totally different issue), and most of the time we just waste such a material even though there's still enough space to write on or even scribble on. People, we need to R-E-C-Y-C-L-E these papers. Think of all the trees your destroying and putting to waste.
2. Plant more trees to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
-> This is usually done during NSTP's, school curriculum, charities or organizational stuff. But how about if we try to develop a green thumb, wherein we plant and invest a better environment for fun. It's also one way of decreasing air pollution. We can start off at home, plant more greens. Or even at school and some places where it's becoming more bald every minute.
3. The media should conduct interviews of legislators to help the public become aware of their ability and willingness to help solve the problem.
-> As you've noticed, some of the news you see or even hear on tv and on the radio are mostly about killings, political scams and who's dating who in show business. All this crap doesn't really do any good to us, so I strongly suggest that the people in the media should add to their program ways on giving back to mother Earth. Politicians should also get themselves much more involved in promoting actions that will benefit our slowly weaking planet. We do not need to hear how they plan to build big buildings nor whatever pompous campaign they'll have in the future nor whoever it is they aren't in good terms with as of the moment.
4. Levy higher taxes on companies that pollute the air.
-> Since taxes are going up and higher, let's try to make our point a bit clearer. Most employees and employers are dodging paying their taxes. How much more are those from companies or manufacturers that contributes to all types of pollution there is. Whether it be bodies of water, imagine the beachwater contaminated by such waste and chemicals. Be it by air, think of the children and babies being brought in to this world only to breathe such health-deteriorating chemicals in the air. If not be fined for inducing chemical waste everywhere, they should, instead, pay higher taxes. Just think of the burden everyone is facing while people from these companies just sit back and pay the same minimal taxes. Justice.
5. Use less electricity; turn off the TV, read books, walk, run, bike, surf, play tennis.
-> If you think that you're going to fall off to sleep while watching TV, then put a timer on it. Reading books doesn't necessarily mean that you'll become a dork but it's one way of making your mind grow, not figuratively. Of course, being active into sports doesn't require that much electricity anyway, so in a way, we save electricity. Right?
6. Reuse newspapers as wrapping paper for gifts.
-> This can be just something to sort of protect the gift more, we're tearing up the paper anyway as we open gifts given to us. It's also an easier way for us to make use of our recycling abilities. :)
7. Protect our oceans - prevent plankton in the ocean from dying
-> I was able to watch a small part of the film, "An Inconvenient Truth", and even the ocean's rainforest (which are the coral reefs) are slowly dying. Physically they look like their bleached or something. Just think about those endangered water creatures and even the common fishes are deeply being affected by this. Not because the reefs look white as snow, but as this slowly develops, it produces chemicals as well to this mass of water. The cause? Factories dumping chemical wastes to our beloved water. Personally, I still want to enjoy swimming at our local beach resorts, but the thought of getting these chemicals in my body sort of puts a stop sign in my mind. Do we want these? Now, some of these elaborated ideas are of course just an action we can take on to contribute a better change to our world. With the world, changing by the second, let's try to be more aware of the damage we're giving to our Earth. You may be enjoying your air-conditioned room, thinking that you're not affected but somehow you will lose electricity and you won't be able to enjoy those luxuries. So I tell you, to be more considerate and be more aware and attentive to whatever is already happening to our world.
Let us not look away from the problem, but look and take action right now.
Change, for the better. Change, is a must. It won't hurt if we try, right?
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Blog Awards Challenge 2 Winner (Excellence): Blog From Cebu To The World
Winning Entry Title: For A Greener Earth [Original Link]
Winning entry is reprinted below.
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Most of us wish for a greener and cooler place to live in. Who would not want that? Who among us would just like to stay in a close building for a week without sunshine and without fresh air to breathe? Or who would like to go out in the streets in the crowded and polluted downtown?
Maybe some of us are in the habit of opening the windows every morning to meet the sunshine and smell the freshness of the early morning dew. For the last 20 years or so, you must have noticed the significant change in the climate. It is now warmer, and the surroundings seem to have lost the luster it once had. We wanted to buy that latest air-conditioner system because we can no longer take the heat.
The problem in global warming is not new to you and me. It is mentioned in schools, in TV, and in the papers. And now, we are informed more about it in blogs of many people. As an individual, what should be my part? For corporate and government entities, what should they do?
Educate Everyone
Education starts at the home. Parents should do their part in training their children in caring for the environment. Parents should lead by example. Since I grew up in a place with scarce water, we were told to conserve it. Imagine I could take a bath then with only a bucket of water.
The government should also lead in this educational drive by going to each barrio and promote awareness among tribes and communities. Schools should include environmental awareness in the curriculum from basic education to college. Companies and its top management should also take the lead in the campaign for greener earth. Recycling, garbage segregation, and anti-pollution efforts should be the top concerns.
Go, Bring Back The Bikes
Imagine the savings in fuel, and the reduction of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere.
A little over three decades ago, my dad used to go to work using his bicycle. He was an office worker at one of the Philippine’s largest conglomerate. Even with his work barong, no one else would care about his outfit and his mode of transport. He had done that for years. I was not embarrassed of him. In fact, I had fun hitching a ride with him when I went to school. I can still picture the parking area of his workplace with hundreds of other bicycles. In those days, most of them ride a bike.
The place I currently live in is only three kilometers away from my workplace. But with the traffic, it will take me 10-15 minutes to reach my daily destination. If I ride a bike, and the others do the same, it will just take me around 15 minutes.
Plant More Trees: See Them Grow
Trees helped in the reduction of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Some groups even initiated projects geared towards tree planting. I have been to countless tree-planting activities but it seems that these were all done for publicity. One time I returned to the actual place where we planted trees but I could no longer see those that we planted. And here we are planting trees again.
Where have all those trees gone? Isn’t it just a waste of money and effort? Maybe the fault lies in the government agency and the community who were supposed to take care of those trees. If we plant trees, let’s go back to that same place and see that tree grow. Or else, we will become one of those posers. And if we have vacant lots in the city, let’s plant some trees in there.
Incentives To Manufacturers of Eco-Friendly Vehicles
Green is the theme of the century. And vehicle manufacturers should aim their visions and efforts towards green technology. Both Toyota and Honda are leading the way for this. When should the others follow? But governments should provide incentives to these manufacturers. This could be in the form of lower taxes or tariffs in countries where they are sold, so that the prices of these vehicles lower down.
Now, who would not buy a Prius if its price is more or less similar to that of Vios?
Public Transport That Uses Eco-Friendly Vehicles
Imagine a hybrid train that runs through Roxas Blvd, Edsa or Makati. Isn’t this great? Our government can actually do something like this if they are really serious in the battle against global warming.
An Innovative Idea (somewhat a sci-fi)
When I was in elementary, I imagined creating a laser device that, when pointed at the sky, will break up the carbon and the oxygen from the carbon dioxide that polluted the air. We all know how oxygen is helpful to us. And we can gather those carbon particles and process them to make diamonds. Impossible! It is impossible for me to invent or create that device. But did Jules Verne actually invent the submarine when he mentioned it in his Sci-fi book? Quite weird of me, but I do not know why that idea would not go away from me. It is actually my first time of putting that idea in writing.
I know billions of dollars are spent in man’s search for life outside earth. But it is not really what we need now. We may or may not have neighbors, but right now, our Earth is all we have. Let us take care of it.
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