The Nagging Cebuano

My final stand

2009-10-24T05:17:00.001-07:00

from www.skyscrapercity.com forums

One thing that is rather obvious during the last 30 pages of this thread (www.skyscrapercity.com Cebu City and Province Forum archives, link to the beginning of discussions, link to the most recent thread at the time of this posting) is that, the SSC forum members who were PRESENT during the BRT seminar last Sept. 26 are 100% in favor of the BRT. I was reviewing the presentation materials which I have right now and I realized that the woes of some close-minded LRT proponents are being addressed in many of the slides. I realized that some proponents of the $602-Million system are just simply uninformed about the system. Even several writers from the print media, especially in the opinions section would still need to be properly informed of this "NEW" mode of transportation.

If one would have been comprehensively informed about the whole system, where in such information is acquired through diligent research, or in the case of SSC-Cebu, through seminars and not just from pictures and videos, then one would easily understand the benefits that can be brought by the Bus Rapid Transit.

Many of the points presented by those posters who are clearly experts in the field of urban planning, transportation, technology and politics are all valid. Some who are not really in the said fields are just commenting on what they "feel" or what they see right in front of them and we can not blame them because this particular issue can only be intelligently debated and discussed by people who have first hand experience in this type of undertaking.

At any rate, I guess one thing that the BRT proponents should realize that Light Rail is not all that bad. It's sophisticated, it has been advancing in terms of technology, it also presents a lot of valid long term benefits. It's just that we understand that based from the proposal of DOTC, it wouldn't really do good at all for Cebu City and for the Cebuanos. There could have been several ways to make it better, a better proposal like those presented by @Eastern Dragon, but at the end of the day, if we allow DOTC to push through with their proposed project, then in my opinion, I guess we would just have to say goodbye to beautiful Cebu.

To the LRT proponents on the other hand, try to study and research some more about BRT. I have with me a number of the presentation files from the seminar, I guess this is public property, you could get a copy of it if you want, send me a PM and we'll arrange a meeting para akong mahatag ninyo. Read through the slides and try to understand and envision the society this whole concept of BRT is trying to create or would usher in. And if you are like me or many others in the forums or even those outside the forums, who dream of equality, who dream of a genuinely democratic society, then I guess your minds would also be opened. Believe me, many of your woes like narrow roads and maintenance and costs and equipment types are all in these files so perhaps you might wanna take a chance to learn from this.

Personally, the reason why I was brought to the skyscrapercity forums a couple of years ago was because of a google search I made when I was stationed outside Cebu City. The google search I made was: Plans for Light Rail Transit for Cebu City. Google took me to this sight. I read through some articles and I read somewhere that Tomas Osmeña is proposing this Bus Transit system. I said to myself, why would Tomas always endorse projects that are low end? And what came to my mind is similar to what @viva la raza has always been ranting about, the Kaoshiong Buses. But that was only because I know nothing about BRTs back then.

Ultimately, I guess we all agree that there is a dire need for a public transport for Cebu City. (Ay, not all diay kay naa may usa nga nivote ug None of the above) I think this would be my last post about the issue on BRT and LRT and after having read all the discussions, I stand firm in my belief, that as an advocate of

TOURISM (to be able to go around the city in a very pleasant manner),

URBAN DEVELOPMENT (to live in a city where urban living is synonymous to safe communities for the most vulnerable citizens: the children, the elderly and the

PWDs, an unpolluted atmosphere, efficient mobility and a people-friendly community where children can run around and play outside),

HERITAGE PRESERVATION (nga dili gub-on ang Osmeña Blvd. ug Fuente Osmeña)

and

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (to aim for car use reduction and to effectively reduce fossil fuel consumption),

FOR CEBU, I believe that the Bus Rapid Transit System is the best Transit system for a City that was built 400-years ago. A city where the streets were originally built for people and not for cars. A city that was built long before cars even existed. A city of humble dwellers, who only want to live in dignity, simplicity and equality.

To a better Cebu, I remain.

LRT proposal fine prints

2009-10-24T05:03:00.002-07:00

The LRT proponents keep on repeating that the $602-Million would come at no cost to the government. This, i believe is one of their selling points.

The COST to BUILD is $602-Million. I can't seem to find anywhere in the print media reports showing the public the cost to maintain and operate.

Consider this analogy (if you know anything about cars): Given your economic standing is that of the ordinary Filipino to represent the economic standing of the Philippines. What if someone gives you a Ferrari, would you accept it? Most probably you would because it's pretty, it's sophisticated, it's fast. But would you have the capacity to operate that Ferrari? Gasolina pa lang daan, pildi na ka! Now, ibutang ta nga gipasubsidize nimo imong gasolina sa imong credit card para makaoperate ka. Years later, your pretty, sophisticated and fast mechanical piece would start to deteriorate. There will be dents and scratches, parts start to bad, would you then have the capacity to get that Ferrari fixed when you barely had enough to operate it to begin with. Now tell me, was it wise to recieve that Ferrari?

Kung pananglitan Honda Civic ra ang gihatag. Economiya, comfortable, rides just as smooth, may not run as fast but still serves the same purpose... Need I say more? I think obvious na siguro kaayo akong point.

Now, on the issue on fare. Basing lang sa mga testimonies sa nakagamit na sa BRT and sa press release sa DOTC, Php15.00 and Php0.50 per kilometer versus a possible fixed rate when taking the BRT. Mura diay ka'g gataxi kung mag LRT ka, flag down ug 15 unya 50 ang patak. Sa BRT, mura ra ka'g gajeep kay imong plete parehas ra, regardless kung asa ka naug.

And again, they offer THE SAME TYPE OF SERVICE

Back to the basics with BRT

2009-10-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

For over 5000 years the streets or roadways are being utilized by the people, it was only during the early 20th century that cars driven by the dirty internal combustion engine dominated the roads. Now, since we want to go back to the basics, why don't we return our streets to the people instead of building or in this case widening the roads for our cars.

Cebu City has 18th Century narrow streets which makes it a lot more ideal for the BRT. Again, what we are aiming at is to become a People Friendly city, not a car friendly city. If the streets would instead be 100% dedicated for collective transport such as the BRT coupled with ample paths for pedestrians and non motorized transport such as bicycles and leave no more room for cars, then we would then have achieved the goal of becoming people friendly. We do not need to widen our road ways, we simply need to take away the cars from the road. Kung wala nay kaagian ang auto, wala nay ganahan magauto.

Pollution would go down and our children can enjoy playing outside once again. The streets can once again become a safe place for the people to converge. The more we interact with the peole around us, the more harmonious our society can become.

BRT or LRT? Cebuanos decide

2009-10-24T04:43:00.001-07:00

It is very difficult to sell technical data which can prove the efficiency and effectivity of a system to a non-technical person especially if he is a politician. I say, leave the policy making to the lawyers, but leave the megaprojects and infrastructures to the engineers.

I believe it is time that the people take control of the politicians and no longer the other way around. For a very long time now, we are led to believe that we are a democratic society, when reality is, our society is just being controlled by the elite - the politicians, the capitalist who are friends of these politicians and the people owning the media who bares grudges on the current political leaders because their political ally is not in the seat of power.

I would just like to express my sentiments on the LRT-BRT issue ahead of my explanations/questions: If dili madayon ang BRT, we would get stuck in this uncomforatable and inconvenient status quo, and it will get worse in the coming years. If we insist on Light Rail, we will become the next Metro Manila. So, Cebuanos decide, do we want to become another Metro Manila? If your answer is YES, then by all mean, support the LRT. If your answer is NO, then I invite you to open your minds and study both BRT and LRT. If after studying both systems and you are absolutely convinced that one is better than the other, then support what you believe is the better option.

Ako technical nga tao so I would not try to argue on the financial aspects or the subsidies, etc. I am a resident of Cebu and an ordinary working class so I don't really care much about the systems in the United States or Australia or any other First World Cities for that matter. I do not wish for Cebu City to become another Hong Kong or Singapore or even another Bogota. My basis for the following observations/explanations/questions is what I experience everyday living in Cebu.

From the route mentioned sa news:

Tabunok, Bulacao, Pardo, Cabreros, C. Padilla, Cebu Institute of Technology, V. Rama Avenue, South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Circle, Capitol, Gorordo Avenue, Ayala Center, J. Luna Street, SM City, North Bus Terminal, Tipolo, Quezon and Super Metro Mandaue.

Question 1. How would you suggest these line be built? On-grade (Sa dalan mismo)? or above-grade (Parehas sa Manila nga naa sa taas tuod sa dalan pero ang foundations nikaon ra diay gihapon sa dalan)? Please take into serious consideration nga gagmay kaayo ang dalan sa Cebu and kasagaran ana duna na'y dagko nga buildng natukod. Kung makabuhat mo ug Rail nga maglutaw sa hangin, pakit-a ko.

Question 2. If, for example I am from Tabunok and would want to go to, say Basak, where would I get off? Pardo right? So from Pardo, what would I need to take so that I would reach Basak? Would I be taking a tricycle that would traverse along the South Highway? Or would I be taking a jeepney? It is a rhetorical question, obviously, I'll be taking a jeepney. Picture if you will, jeepney routes running parallel the Light Rail that has already enrouched the South Highway. What do you think the traffic situation in that area would be? So as a follow-up question, can you have a train station/stop every 400meters whilst having an express train traversing the same corridor? I believe it is obvious what I am trying to point out sa akong question. If we establish a Mass Transit System, it should render jeepneys as the inefficient system/mode of transport thus its removal from certain corridors can be justifyable.

Question 3. On issue on the environment, we may see Light rail trains or monorail to be CLEAN because we do not see smoke coming out of it. So I guess my question here is, how then would you power the trains? Puwede kaha ta na ipatayhop sa hangin aron mudagan? Can we build Wind Power plants or Huge solar power plants along side building the light rail infrastructure para mupower sa Trains para mapanindigan dyud nato nga it is a CLEANER mode of transport? Or are we going to consume power from the dirty and existing fossil fuel power plants? If it will not be powered by renewable energy, then claiming that it is a CLEANER transport system is invalid.

Question 4. Some LRT proponents raised the issue on flooding. They preferred the LRT because it was above grade and impervious to flooding. But I believe that it would be better if we build an entirely different project that is aimed on flood control? Kay sa ako lang pung point of view, I believe that if Cebu City gets flooded, the safety of those trains being spared from the floods would be the least of our concerns. I know its not exactly a "long term" point of view, pero sa tinud-anay lang bah, kung bahaon ang Cebu city, ambot ug duna ba pu'y usa nato diri nga muingon, "Sus! May gani naa sa taas ang train, at least dili bahaon." Mintras tanto, tua na ta gabugsay-bugsay sa atong inflatable bed nga gihimong na natong banka guroy nato atong anak sakay sa usa ka ice bucket. Siguro what I am trying to say is, if we want to prevent property and infrastructure damages caused by flooding, I believe it would be better if we create infrastuctures such as flood control drainage systems to address that.

Question 5. On the issue on the travellers from the other municipalities outside Metro Cebu. Kay duna may gaingon nga kitang mga taga syudad, atong kaugalingon ra atong gihunahuna. Granting mao na, akong question is this: Would it really make a significant amount of difference if the north and south bound travellers be served with BRT or LRT? Eitherway, both are still Mass Transit Systems, both systems transport people at high speeds, both are free from the usual vehicular traffic and both would have to be subsidized anyway bunga sa kagamay sa ilang pasahero compared sa Cebu City market. And, what if Cebu City would refuse to have the LRT installed, musugot kaha ang mga LRT proponents nga ang South line muputol sa Bulacao unya ang North line muputol sa Mandaue? Obviously not, because 95% of the aimed market of LRT is from Cebu City. Therefore, the type of Mass Transit System to be installed in Cebu City should be the prefered transit system of the people of Cebu City.

Final Question. What then is the preferred Transport system of the people of Cebu City? This should neither be dictated by Tomas Osmeña, nor ever should this be dictated by Cong. Gullas. This has to be dictated by the People of Cebu and so I urge the people of Cebu to make a choice. Look into the technical and financial data and look deeply into both systems. We have to understand that we are not just trying to build an ordinary transport system. We are rebuilding a City. We need to have a complete paradigm shift on how our cities should turn into. Learn from the mistakes of our past and use it to guide our future. Again, if you are convinced that one system is better than the other, then channel it to your Government. As a side note, I think that is one of the unwritten advocacies of SSC-Cebu; to make sure that the government of Cebu listens to the people of Cebu.

I only hope that in this what we call a Democratic society, we would be able to achieve genuine Democracy. Return to the people what is for the people. These are the right times to make the right choices. Elections are coming and project proposal are now revisited. Some politicians are now obviously grandstanding. For Cebu, I can only pray that the Cebuanos are still the intelligent people we bragged ourselves to be. Think, think deep, evaluate, measure, assess, dissect, make a choice and fight for what you believe in.

To a better Cebu, I remain.

Metro Cebu Mass Transit Mock-up Revision 4

2009-02-05T05:01:00.000-08:00

REVISION 1

I made quite a few revisions on the routing mock up I created. This was my first mock-up. Initially, these were intended to be subway lines.

The PURPLE line runs along the South Highway from Tabunok all the way to the North in Mandaue City.

The GREEN line runs along the South Coastal Road via the South Road Properties and makes a stop over in Mambaling to meet with the PURPLE line. This is intended to give commuters from the Cebu City South district direct access to Lapu-lapu City. From Cebu City, it is imagined to pass under the Mactan Channel to cross to Lapu-lapu City.

The RED line is the Talamban-CDB line. Basically the line that would serve the Central Business District of Cebu City. It runs from the Cebu City Hall to the Provincial Capitol, access the Cebu Business Park and end in Talamban.

The BLUE line is initially intended to be a residential line. It is initially intended to run along E. Sabellano St. to provide a more convenient access for the residents of Barangays Pardo, Basak, Quiot, Punta Princesa, Tisa and Labangon which are major residential areas. It meets with the RED or the CBD line and continues on to the commercial districts situated further uphill. It basically serves as a residential to commercial access.

Upon reviewing such route, I also realized that a number of schools are at very close proximity to the stops along this line. In Brgy. Pardo, we have University of the Visayas-Pardo Campus and Holy Cross College. In Brgy. Quiot, we have the back gate of the University of San Jose-Recoletos Basak Campus. In Punta Princesa, we have South Western University South Campus and Don Bosco Technology Center. In Brgy. Labangon we have National Science High School and Cebu Institute of Technology back gate less than a hundred meters away from the stop. Along Katipunan Road is the Bible Baptist School. The V. Rama stop is at close proximity to the University of San Carlos-South Campus. Since the line would also run along Gen. Maxilom Ave., we have Saint Theresa's College and the University of San Carlos-North Campus along that Avenue. Along Gorordo Ave., we have Colegeo de la Immaculada Concepcion and the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu Campus. And finally, we have the University of Southern Philippines at close proximity to JY Square which is the final stop of this line.

The YELLOW lines are feeder routes. It provides access to areas which are not along the major thoroughfares.

REVISION 2

Eventually I realized that E.Sabellano St. is not that heavily populated with commuters during the regular hours. I also noticed that on peak hours, most commuters would converge on a particular area; at the radial vicinity of E.Sabellano St. and F.Llamas St. intersection in Brgy. Punta Princesa. This intersection has became a hub for commuters heading for Talisay and Minglanilla. It is also the access point for all commuters residing in the Barangays in the south district of Cebu City. Because the Mass Transit System is demand driven, I made my second revision:

I took away the BLUE line from E.Sabellano St. and replaced it with a feeder route. The BLUE line is bent to run along F.Llamas St. to meet with the PURPLE line. That way, commuters from the south would have easy access should they intend to go to the Central Business District. At the same time, this line is still serving at close proximity to the schools I previously mentioned. This, I believe would create a higher demand for this line.

REVISION 3

Then, in accordance to the color codes provided by the City Planning Officer, Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, I changed the line colors of my own mock-up.

Along with such changes, I added the South Road Properties Loop and followed the three major routes given by Engr. Paul Villarete. The BLUE line however is slightly different. As I recalled the news about the "Urban Poor City" in Brgy. Toong, the BLUE line would provide access for the would-be residents of Brgy. Toong who are planned to become the builders of the South Road Properties development. More detailed feeder routes are also added to the mock-up.

Labels are given to best describe the Routes:

BROWN is the Feeder route
YELLOW is the Inter City line as is runs from Talisay City to Lapu-lapu City
BLUE is the PEZA line as it connects the major Special Economic Zones in Cebu namely the SRP and MEZ. It also links these Economic Zones to the Airport and Seaports. It also provides a link to the location of another major economic project of Cebu City which is the "Urban Poor City" project in Brgy. Toong.
GREEN is the Central Business District Line
RED is the University Belt as this line runs along close proximity of several Schools in Cebu which I earlier mentioned.
PINK is the SRP Loop
Black and White is Colon St. where in this mock up has become a pedestrianized zone.

REVISION 4

Finally, I realized that Revision 3 it not visually accurate. So, made a more accurate graphic representation that is almost closer to an accurate scale.

Added to such revision are changes I made in the University Belt. The RED line would now run through Urgello St. and Brgy. Sambag II to give access to the South Western University Main Campus and a more convenient access for the students of Univesity of San Carlos-South Campus.

The other changes are simply adjustments that had to be made for a more accurate visual representation. Most stops are labelled according to the name of the Barangay while some are known Landmarks.

These are the four revisions of my mock-up for the Metro Cebu Mass Transit System.

Metro Cebu Mass Transit Mock-up

2009-02-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

When I was stationed outside Cebu over a year ago, I keep missing my dear hometown. So I searched for articles about Cebu, particularly about plans and developments, yada yada yada. I ran across an article in a website of the Philippine Congress that Cebu would be having its own LRT. I didn't know about BRT back then, nor was I aware about the skyscrapercity forums (I wasn't into online forums back then... hehehe). Anyway, a few months before that discovery, I had the opportunity to travel to HK. It was then my first time to ride a train, the subway (I haven't really had the chance to ride the Manila MRT.) Moving on... when I was in HK I thought to myself, "Nganong puwede man ning mabuhat diri, sa ato-a dili man?" (Why is this development so easily done here when back home, it's almost like its impossible?)

When I learned about the Cebu LRT, I created a mock-up of my dream for Cebu, it wasn't for a surface rail system thought, but for a subway. I bought a Map of Cebu (katong EZ Map), a few Stabilo Boss Highlight Markers and started creating routes. I considered a few things like the law in our country that if you own a piece of land, you own it from the bottom core of the earth up to the sky (or so I could recall, grade school paman siguro ko nga nakadungog ko ani nga law). I also tried recalling my own driving routes when I go around town, and jeepney routes as well. Then identified places that were at close proximity to busy establishments--these were to become the subway stations. I established quite a number of possible routes until I came up with something I was happy with. So, in the light of the discussions of the upcoming transit system of Metro Cebu, this was what I came up with which I would like to share. I did make a few changes when I made this on the computer. I added some of the few new things I learned from the skyscrapercity forums.

The Purple line runs along the south highway all the way to Mandaue and beyond. As what was described in that LRT article I read.

The Green line would run along SRP and would meet with the Purple line at Mambaling. Since my mock-up was intended for a subway, this line would run beneth SRP and Inayawan along Tagunol Road then goes back to the SRP area. Crossing to Mactan Island, the subway would have to run underneath the Opon Channel.

The Blue line would run beneath E.Sabellano St. I figured, since this is a major residential area and with school campuses of UV, Holy Cross College, USJ-R, SWU and Don Bosco with in these areas, it could give a convinient access for the students.

The Red line I believe is similar to the BRT Pilot route. Although this passes through a different corridor, the start and end terminals are the same.

The Yellow line I imagined were Trams, originally single surface rail line with no two different line crossing one another. But, when I learned about feeder routes, I made a few changes imagining road based e-jeepney feeder routes.

Below is the initial plan of the projected corridors that would be served by the Pilot routes of the Metro Cebu-BRT; care of the Cebu City Planning and Development officer, Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete:

Click here to see the explanation from the Cebu City Planning and Development officer.

With these plans at hand, it is my hope that the people of Cebu would support this new development as it would surely benefit all constituents and at the same time, become another step for Cebu to become a more livable place for the Cebuanos.

Mobility

2009-01-20T22:41:00.000-08:00

Ever since the start of the industrialization age, cities have been designed around cars. Unfortunately, the internal combustion engine was a mistake at the offset. It's dirty, it's noisy, it consumes too much. Us here, in the Philippines have adopted so much to the American way of life of being so reliant on cars. Perhaps if we can redesign our city that would be more people friendly rather than investing to make it vehicle friendly. Focus more on the mobility than roadway availability. If we would gear towards collective rather than individual mobility, then I think expanding of our roadways would no longer be necessary. Investments should be made to place collective transport systems that would take you to all the destinations in the city/province/island without using your own vehicle. Collectively, individual vehicles serve very little purpose. Most of the time, it's just for glamor. It mobilizes only a very few people at any given time and consumes a lot of space on the road resulting to collective immobilization.

The alpha concept of walking on the other hand serves more distinct advantages. Walking gives opportunities for more social exposure and its good for your health. And because of its most fundamental concept, it's definitely environment friendly.

Perhaps in redesigning our city, planners should focus more on making distances shorter, like the concept of Fuente Triangle for instance, where you would find everything you need in one location that is so close to where you live and where you work. Or planners would make pedestrian spaces wider rather than widening road ways for cars. And most importantly, installing a transport system that would serve a metro wide scope that cars, run by the noisy and dirty internal combustion engine would take its place in history and rest peacefully in our museums.

The Philippine Society

2008-10-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

For years and years, the Filipino people have been complaining that the government is the root of the Filipino people’s misery. For as long as I can remember and from the stories of my own parents, the voice of the Filipino people has never changed: “TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! PALITAN NA!”

Perhaps Ferdinand Marcos was really on to something there with his dictatorship philosophy. Maybe Ferdinand Marcos, the genius that he was, knew that the Filipino people don’t really know how to govern themselves. For four presidents since I became old enough to see what this world really is, the cry of this country has stayed the same. “Ang gobyerno kasi… Ang gobyerno kasi… Ang gobyerno kasi…” President after President, Congressman after Congressman, Mayor after Mayor, nothing really has changed. We complain about our current leaders and insist we replace them with new ones. The moment we replace them, we complain again. It’s a never ending cycle. So I dare ask you, who then is the right person to sit on the most powerful seats in our lands? Would it really matter who sits on these seats? Would it really make any difference at all? By the philosophies of Democracy, the power of the government emanates from the people; so basically, the government is the people. If we want to replace our government, then maybe we should replace ourselves.

It is true that in a democratic system, the people have to choose a leader. But maybe our very mistake is that we ridiculously put all our woes on the shoulders of these leaders we chose. Collectively, we are simply choosing and relying too much on one person to fix all our problems for us. Problems we only created for ourselves which we refuse to face and take responsibility for. We have made this mistake time and time again of choosing leaders which are popular or with great academic backgrounds or with grand life stories. We base our choices on these candidates’ qualifications. Candidates who are only selling themselves as an iconic personality rather than selling the service their positions entail.

But could we really blame the candidates? Could we really blame the leaders we chose? Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves who placed them there in the first place? Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves why they thought they’d have a sure chance of winning by selling themselves in that manner? Doesn’t that create a statement on these candidates’ perceptions of the Filipino people? “I’m certain that I am going to win because I am a very popular movie actor.” “I’m certain that I am going to win because I was straight A student and went to a school outside the country.” “I am certain that I am going to win because I have a great life story.” But if we really think about it, how else can we really choose a leader? What qualifications should a leader even have to be able to truly lead? Or better yet, is it really a question of qualifications? Should political campaigns be really about what a candidate can or can not do? Regardless of these qualifications, has anything really changed in our nation? We have chosen intelligent leaders, we have chosen popular ones, we even have chosen inspirational ones but has anything really changed?

Perhaps it is our own collective consciousness that created our nation the way it is now. We share this common belief that the Philippines is a hopeless country. We even define migrating to a different country a sign of success. It seems that the only hope for the Filipino is to leave the Philippines to have a better life. All of us have abided by these beliefs; then perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise to us why the Philippines has become a country where Filipinos hope to get away from. We are being unified by one force that has defined our society; a society created not by our leaders, not by the government, but by ourselves. The government has become the government it is now because we chose the government to be that way. If the government is corrupt, that’s only because we wholeheartedly believe in its corruption. Our collective consciousness has shouted out to the universe asking for a corrupt government, hence the universe gave us a corrupt government.

Campaigns have always been about candidates’ qualifications; what they have achieved in their lives and what they promise they can do. But no campaign has ever been made to change the collective consciousness of our society. If only we, society as a whole, would campaign for a common, and a brighter belief, change our way of thinking; then perhaps it would ultimately change this nation regardless of the qualifications of our leaders. We would then be able to choose leaders whose beliefs are one with the people; a leader that does not attempt to shape a nation on his own, instead one who allows himself to simply become a tool for society to shape its own nation.

Walk ways

2008-10-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of the many problems we face in Cebu City is the lack of pedestrian walk ways. Cebu is not really what one would call a Pedestrian friendly zone. The widths of pedestrian side walks are not enough to accommodate the growing number of pedestrians. These walk ways are not really walks ways but are simply an array of concrete blocks used to cover sewage canals and drain tunnels.

Adding to such problems, sidewalk vendors clog up these walk ways that are driving the pedestrians off the walk ways and on to the streets. As a domino effect, streets become clogged up by pedestrians and ultimately would cause vehicle congestion.

As the number of pedestrians in the City grow, measures must be taken to increase the capacity of our Pedestrian sidewalks.

A few years ago, I came across this material in Physics that molecular energy is highly concentrated at the corner of a substance. As I recalled this tiny knowledge that I have, I began to wonder: Could it be that the universal behavior of molecular energy have any relation to how human beings move about? Is it possible that the behavioral movement of human beings be similar to the behavior of these molecules.

Now I may not have any scientific basis on this theory but what if human beings, by the law of the universe, behave no differently from the molecules in a substance? The molecules being the human beings, and the substance being the area to which human beings move about. Could it be relatively proportional, that at any given time, there is always a high concentration of human beings situated in a corner than anywhere else in a given area? If so, then ample amount of area must be provided to accommodate these high concentration of human beings.

Applying such theory to urban planning, perhaps it would be necessary to provide large open spaces in corners to accommodate a high concentration of pedestrians. Perhaps if we try to analyze such theory logically. At any given time, pedestrians along the side walks are moving towards a single direction. Hence there is a continuous flow of moving pedestrians. On corners, however, there are pedestrians moving towards a single direction but there are also pedestrians waiting to cross towards the other side of the road.

If the number of moving pedestrians is constant, then there is an equal number of pedestrians at any given time per unit area moving along the side walks. The corners, however, would need to accommodate the moving pedestrians and the pedestrians waiting to cross the other side of the road. Hence, in theory, corners do have a high concentration of pedestrians.

With the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system, pedestrian concentration would drastically increase within the radial vicinity of bus stops and interchange stations. Interchange stations would most likely be located within the vicinity of road crossings and corners. Should the City government decide to implement such system in Cebu, they must also look into a solution to improve the capacity of the pedestrian walk ways all across the metro to accommodate the imminent increase in pedestrian concentration.

Urban Cebu

2008-10-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

I think we need not wonder why infrastructure developments in Cebu are slow and mediocre. Cebu is a very challenging place to shape in terms of infrastructure and urban development.

It is the first place in the Philippines colonized by Spaniards; traces of such colonization can be found through the European clustering of the land in downtown Cebu City. When trading was transferred to Manila, Cebuano mestizos, Indios and Spanish settlers took and claimed whatever land they can, then settled themselves in contentment before development even took place and with absolutely no foresight of the future (a typical old Spanish characteristic. Between the British and the Spaniards, the British are the visionaries). Then the Japanese came and destroyed everything. When the Americans came, proper urban planning was imminent. You would notice great American influence in urban planning in Philippine cities if the land is clustered by quadrangle grids. Most of these influences in urban planning are very much visible in the younger Philippine cities, especially those untouched by the Spaniards during the Galleon trade. These are mostly cities in Mindanao and in the far western and eastern Visayas. In Cebu, you would see such planning patterns in "midtown" Cebu City. History would tell you that there was a great mix of culture and discipline particularly in Cebu and Manila, the first two cities in the Philippines. Unfortunately, a mix in discipline and culture is not really a good thing to have when building a town. In terms of urban planning and development, these towns wouldn't have a solid foundation.

When the Philippines became a Republic, development was concentrated mainly in the Capital. Even after the war, when Sergio Osmeña was president, he never promised to rebuild the nation back to its full potential as the nation was still trying to recover from the ruins of war (Being realistic actually made him wildly unpopular). During the time of Marcos, Imperial Manila never envisioned Cebu to amount to anything. It never had any share in the national government's budget. Cebu was a dark, sleepy old town. The paradigm of Tagalogs who think of Visayans as slaves actually rooted during this era. The Marcoses only favored the towns whose leaders sided with the regime and Cebu was never one of them thus Cebu had to stand on its own. But even then, Cebu continued to generate revenues for the country. Obliged to remit its revenues to the national government and gets nothing in return.

After the dictatorship, development still continues to focus in the Capital. The younger cities in Mindanao and in the Visayas, however, started to get their share of the developments. Especially during the Land reform of the Aquino regime, it was essential for these younger cities to have its share in infrastructures. In terms of urban planning and development, the younger cities posses a more organized structure. They have wider concrete roads and planned quadrangle clustering. A vast area of untapped land with streets already installed before the buildings even started to rise. These cities were built after the dark ages of the Philippines. Cebu and Manila took the damages for them.

Today, Cebu continues to be fiercely independent. Never bowing to the national government and continues to progress on its own amidst the test of time, amidst the bureaucratic red tape and even amidst its lack of natural resources.

Unfortunately, remnants of the TRAPO culture still reside in the bloods of Cebuano leaders. Evidences of such culture are found in the most recent projects such as the Ban-Tal flyover, the controversial decorative lamp posts which only brought excessive “make-up” for the metro and the current political wars. Unless the next generation of Cebuano leaders would take a stand and would shift away from the age old paradigms of their forefathers; Cebu may just end up as messy as the capital. But there is eminent hope for Cebu. Cebuanos are always known to be innovative, “maro” in our native tongue and posses a world twisted way of dissecting problems and solutions. Matud pa, “Ayaw dyud mo paki’g lalis ug Sugbuanon kay pritohon ra mo sa inyong kaugalingong mantika!”

Perhaps as a highly urbanized community, we may not pass to even become a Gamma level metropolis, perhaps not in our lifetime; but we can still mold this town to become a very pleasant, yet dynamically progressive place to live in: for us, our children and the future generations to come. The future of Cebu lies in the hands of today's Cebuanos as it has always been since time immemorial. If there is an age old custom that we must not change, that should be our characteristic of being so hard to please. We are a society that sets a high degree of standards characterized by our non-conformance to the norms. Hence, let us work to comply to these standards of ours, posses a collective consciousness that "it's never good enough" and continue to build our town the way we want our town to be.

Urban Poor City

2008-10-15T05:01:00.000-07:00

Cebu City Hall is starting talks with the Aznar family for the purchase and development of up to 100 hectares of their estate in Barangays Pardo and Toong for an “urban poor city” there.

Now I'm sure that some may be repulsed by the idea of having an "Urban Poor City" because the label may be a little degrading. I, however, would have to agree on the concept. Perhaps a little work on the label would have to be made but I believe the concept itself can be very beneficial. What the City of Cebu is aiming at is to become a society that can take care of the urban poor, control and contain the spreading of informal settlers from all over the city and to help lift the urban poor's standard of living. Some of the thoughts I came upon regarding this project are:

I. This facility will provide homes for the informal settlers from all over the City. Clearing up privately owned lots and giving way for further urban developments and at the same time having a governed relocation site for these informal settlers. To give everyone a bigger picture, there will absolutely be no more informal settlers scattered everywhere else in the city. Those categorized as urban poor will now have a decent home and will now belong to an exclusive community.

II. The challenge, however, is on how to keep this facility functional for a very long time given that informal settlers, especially immigrants and economic pilgrims seeking for opportunities in Cebu, would increase exponentially over the years.

III. As a mock proposal and opinion about the matter, I would suggest a cluster of mid-rise apartment units that would occupy 80 hectares and 20 hectares can be used for support service facilities i.e. School Campuses, Gyms and Multipurpose halls, Market Area and Banks, churches, playgrounds and Day care centers, public parks and government buildings. I would suggest on mid-rise apartment units because if bungalow units would be installed at a conservative floor area of 100 sq.m per family, 80 hectares would only be able to accommodate 8000 families whereas, if for instance installing a cluster of 10-story buildings, the facility can accommodate at most 80,000 families. I do understand that having this many families would make this barangay a very populated zone; i.e. if a single family has 8 children, then this barangay would have a population of 800,000 which is way more than the total population of Cebu City itself. My main point is to not to have the whole 100 hectare facility be occupied all at once. The building of these mid-rise apartment units would be built by the occupants themselves through Gawad Kalinga and through the Corporate Social Responsibility of various construction companies for the use of their expertise and their technologies.

IV. Since the government would have gathered the urban poor in a single location, the entire Cebuano community now holds a great opportunity to create a greater impact on these people's lives. Through a joint effort by the DSWD, DOH, Pagcor, PCSO, TESDA, the City Government of Cebu, and through the Corporate Social Responsibility of every educational institution and corporations in Cebu City and Gawad Kalinga, we can provide

Health care Benefits through PCSO;
Psychological and emotional counsel and protection through DSWD;
Education on family health and family planning programs through DOH;
Skills training through TESDA and CSR of TESDA accredited schools; Livelihood and Entrepreneurial programs through CSR of the schools in Cebu City;
Micro-financing for would-be entrepreneurs through Pagcor;
Cost of Living Subsidies through CSR of the various corporations in Cebu City;
Management and maintenance of the whole facility by the City Government of Cebu; and
as previously mentioned, the construction of more mid-rise apartment buildings would be done through a joint effort of both the old and new settlers, Gawad Kalinga and through the CSR of various construction companies.

V. Added to these programs would be financial and way-of-living guidance programs so as to teach those who are willing to lift their standard of living from poor to being well off. Encourage, nay..., Impose to these people to improve their living standards and encourage them to start on their own the moment they would be able to reach a certain income bracket and would have acquired the discipline of the average working Filipino. Once categorized as being ready and living on a decent income bracket, the family would be assisted to start a life of their own outside the exclusive urban poor community thus leaving a vacancy for the future generations of urban poor to come.

Perhaps some who would be reading this would then ask, where would we get the money? Well, first of all the mid-rise apartment unit buildings would have to be made out of low cost materials, the design however must posses great structural integrity. The cost of designing a strong building would only need good mathematics and talent. Management and maintenance would be taken from the City budget such as salaries for peace and order personnel or policemen, community managers and administrators. General community works such as cleaning and maintenance of facilities as well as certain government services would be done by community members themselves. The facilitating and managing of these various community activities can be done all year round, batch after batch by the various collage student groups all over Cebu City, the CWTS, registered fraternities and sorority groups and various NGOs all over Cebu City. The cost to implement such program would be transportation, meal allowances and appreciation certificates. The bigger buck would have to be the daily cost of living subsidies which may have to be taken from various dole outs of various corporations. Meanwhile, PCSO Regional Office and Pagcor has enough money to provide health care support and micro-financing loans for would be entrepreneurs. DSWD, DOH and TESDA already have their funds and are de facto commissioned to do their jobs. The advantage of this set-up is they no longer have to scatter themselves all over the city because everyone who is in greater need of their services is already situated in a single location. That would actually save them time, coordination efforts and money.

The analogy of the whole concept is basically people helping people. The philosophy of Democracy; where every citizen has the responsibility in governing their land and accountable to his fellowmen. In this cold, cynical world, these simple philosophies that yield simple solutions are nearly forgotten. Lies and deceits have corrupted the minds of our citizens. People no longer trust people and harmony has become a thing of the past. So I call on you, my fellow Cebuanos. Are we going to stay safely in the current status quo? Or are we going to take a stand, take action and make a difference. The answer is up to you! But remember, you have the POWER!

To a better Cebu, I remain.

Transit above Rivers

2008-10-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

Rivers out of Streets

CEBU City gets flooded easily because it has no rivers where rainwater could drain out.

So Mayor Tomas Osmeña will make rivers out of streets to solve the problem. And he is not joking.

“The problem with our drainage is that we have no rivers. Ang tubig mobalhin ra sa ubos. Low-lying areas get flooded. So we will make the road the river,” he told reporters yesterday.

Osmeña said the City will spend billions to convert streets so that the middle portion is recessed, with the road, which shall be below ground level, forming a shallow V.

Under the center portion will be a big, single-culvert drainage line. The center of the road will also have gaps through which the water could flow down to the culverts.

more on this story, click on this link

I think these two plans can be implemented together. Now, I'm no Engineer so this piece may be a bit far-fetched but my limited logic seems to tell me that this is very much plausible. Before you place the BRT lanes, you can install the single-culvert drainage system first then install the BRT lanes.

And with all the technology available today, which, sad to say isn't being used by our very own public works people, installing the two projects simultaneously can be done with ease without very much disrupting mobility and would come at a lesser cost.

Constructing these projects would have to be made by phases. Installation works of each phase can be done by modules. For example:

For roadways that needs to be widened:
Step 1. Given that all acquisitions are in order. Perform necessary road widening.
Step 2. Open newly widened roadway for public use. Close Center Lanes.
Step 3. Start digging on the Center Lanes
Step 4. Install single-culvert drainage system
Step 5. Install BRT lanes

Now, why do I say, install? Perhaps this may be a far fetched idea because it is very much unconventional but, I'm thinking of modular blocks. Blocks that are prefabricated, molded to a certain shape which when put together would take the shape of the drainage system and with the BRT lane that can be installed on top of it.

Composition of these blocks would be iron ore slag (iron ore waste when extracting pig iron), concrete and rebar of course, plus waste silicon (waste from semiconductor products) for added strength. The purpose of adding these two unconventional elements, slag and silicon, is for the prefab construction to be environmentally friendly leaving a decrease in carbon footprint since lesser concrete would be used. Slag and silicon are wastes from the iron industry and semiconductor industry which we have hence ultimately lessens the cost per block. Recycled rebars can even be used. That is of course if some of the old buildings would be demolished.

The external shape of each block would have to be tailor fitted to its exact position on the road. And since it would carry the BRT lane, internally, the upper portion of the block would have to be an arc, which would give it the structural integrity of a bridge and would prevent cave-ins.

To paint a bigger picture, the single-culvert drainage system will run beneath the BRT lanes. The modular assembly would make the project even faster to install since it is already prefabricated hence already cured and installing it would be just like putting in pieces of a three dimensional puzzle.

More about BRT in Metro Cebu

2008-10-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

BRT is a collective transport system, the routes will cover the massively populated areas at any given time with in the metro and because Cebu has its zoning sections, which separates the Commercial District and the residential districts, BRT routes will serve that very purpose of transporting the masses from the residential areas to the commercial areas and vice-versa while other routes will go around the the central business district that would take you from one business area to another i.e. from downtown to midtown to uptown on a single bus ride. That is exactly the purpose of Bus stations, they are not only provided as bus stops but also serve as interchange stations. For example, If you came from Pardo and want to go to Talamban, you can not expect a direct route from Pardo to Talamban. You may have to get off an interchange station and "jump" to another Bus that is routed for Talamban. But the beauty of the BRT system is that you only pay once for a single journey. You would only pay at bus stations where you can get your ticket on a station that allows you to choose your destination beforehand regardless if your journey would require you to transfer to three different buses or just be riding on one bus. Some systems adopt a fixed rate payment where, regardless of where you get off, you pay a fixed fare while some systems adopt a per kilometer rate.

For example, if you came from Pardo, you would choose a destination at the bus station, let's say, Talamban and the machine or teller would ask for your fare and information would be provided as to what station you may need to get off where, passing and stopping on that same station, would be the buses that is en route for Talamban.

Also, keep in mind that the BRT routes will not be like the usual jeepney routes existing today. You may not see a BRT route that would run along "Ah! haywee, carlos, ngkera, colon, toninyo!". You may, however, see a route that would take you directly from Talisay to Consolacion on a single bus ride or a route that would take you from Basak directly to JY Square or maybe from Mambaling directly to MEPZA on a single bus ride. However they may plan to route the buses, expect a change on your daily commuting journeys, a great shift from the old jeepney routes to the new BRT routes.

Subsidize BRT?

2008-10-15T02:56:00.000-07:00

If the government would not subsidize BRT, there will be more funds available for other public amenities i.e. Public Parks, Health centers, Bicycle and Pedestrian Lanes, etc. Government's role would just be the regulation of the transport system and maybe perhaps installation of necessary facilities like Systems Control Center, Bus Stations and bus ways but the entire operation itself would be privatized.

However, if government would own the system, they can have greater control and perhaps fare would be really cheap or maybe even come for free.

There will be, however, differences in the quality of services between the two set-ups, not to mention the quality of the equipments that would be used. As a side comment, most of the time government would usually spend for the cheapest equipment available (as per taught by history).

Consider this analogy if you will: Why do companies outsource? To cut down on cost, right? Because for the company concerned, they would not need to hire people and buy equipments thus cutting down on overhead expenditures. All you need is to develop a system and let a Business Process Outsourcing company operate it. A Business Process Outsourcing company would do whatever it takes to provide an excellent quality of service to its client so that they could keep that client and keep its business going. Now, consider this: What if the Government would outsource its transport operations? What type of service do you think the transport company would provide? If the riders are not satisfied, government can simply kick them out of business and look for another transport company, right? Hence, the transport company would have to provide the best service possible so as not to get kicked out of business.

The advantages, however, for a government owned transport system is that the policies would, more often than not, be pro-"massa" and as for the personnel i.e. drivers, station operators, technical crew and the like, is their job security being a Government employee.

Many government agencies actually outsource their operations. PCSO for example outsources its sweepstakes and lottery operations. The same principle can be adopted for the BRT system.

The subjective dilemma lies on which of the pros and cons would be for the greater good of the greater public.

Bus Rapit Transit in Cebu

2008-10-15T02:44:00.000-07:00

I am a frequent visitor and a participant of an online forum that talks about developments, urban planning and skyscrapers. One of its discussions are about the most recent issue on the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit system in Cebu. Now, some of the participants doubts this is possible stating that "the Government would have to move heaven and earth" for this to even become possible.

So I tried to look at it from an ordinary citizen's point of view and tried to see if its indeed possible or not. Here is what I came up with.

If you take a bird's eye view of the whole metro, this system can actually be implemented. To site a few examples for Cebu City alone:

1. For Osmena Blvd., you wouldn't really need to widen the road way, auxiliary streets only a block away actually run parallel to such major road thus can be easily converted to a dedicated bus way.

2. The Downtown-V.Rama.-Guadalupe Corridor is only congested with jeepneys and only one side of such corridor has much development, the other side can still be acquired and be converted to a dedicated busway and convert one existing lane that would run the opposite direction.

3. It is also very easy to run a south expressway as the South Highway runs at 6 lanes. One lane from both sides can easily be converted to a dedicated busway. Since there will be no more jeepneys plying the south highway, the remaining 4 lanes would only be for private vehicles, not to mention the South Coastal road which is the direct link of Cebu and Talisay Cities easing up congestion in the South district.

4. It is also very easy to convert Spolarium, Tupas and Magallanes to a dedicated Busway with stops easily accessing Tabo-an, Carbon and City Hall.

5. For access of the south residential areas, E.Sabellano and Tres de Abril Sts. can easily be widened as the occupants along the sides of the roads are merely residents and illegal settlers, such busway can continue towards V.Rama with access through A.Lopez St. (which can also be easily converted to a dedicated busway) and Fuente Osmena which can easily become the Central Hub. There is a lot owned by the Provincial Government in that area which can be used as the roundabout and transfer station.

5. There is also no question as to how to establish a dedicated busway along the port area since it is just filled with informal settlers.

6. As for the case along Jakosalem, V.Sotto, Archbishop Reyes Sts., the challenge is to purchase the front parking spaces of the establishments and convert it to pedestrian lanes and of course convert an existing lane to a busway. Parking spaces for those establishments affected can be transferred to the other side of their buildings or in the case of establishments situated near one another, a construction of a parking building would be in order.

7. As for Gov. Cuenco to Talamban, which would be the pilot experimental route for the BRT, one lane on both sides can be converted to a dedicated busway which would leave a fast lane and a slow lane for private vehicles. There will no longer be any more jeepneys plying that route thus there will be a dramatic decrease in traffic congestion in that area.

8. General Maxilom Avenue is running at 3 lanes on one side and 2 lanes towards another direction. The side with two lanes on it can still be widened to add another lane. The center lanes can then be easily converted into a busway.

These are only some examples that a common resident such as myself can conceptualize for the establishment of a Bus Rapid Transit system in Cebu. The plans of the City Planning office is way much more sophisticated than this.

A Gathering of Cebuanos

2008-10-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

On a very personal note, it is very heartwarming to see and experience first hand, that amidst all challenges our society is facing today, the spirit of the cebuano still lives on: the optimism for progress, the receptivity to change, and the passion to move forward.

Inspired by the struggles of our past and the vissions for our future, cebu, because of its people, kept their feets on the ground and soared high against all the odds.

On this note, we would like to call on everyone of us: Cebuanos by blood, by choice or by heart, to come together and share the driving spirit we all posses within ourselves and channel this passion in ways greater than ever before.

While these forums and blogs are helpful mediums for the relay of information and self expression, we call on everyone to induce, partake, contribute and aid through your committed efforts and support to:

Create a legitimate group, recognized by our local government units, institutions and corporations all over Metro Cebu, and become an entity that is committed to support and aid the development of our beloved hometown.

Development not only encompasses highrises, infrastructures and megaprojects. Development also includes the awareness of all constituents on all aspects such as but not limited to: History, Current events and future plans. A drive must be created to learn from the mistakes of our past to guide our future. "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan... -Jose Rizal." Development also means that constituents posses the information, knowledge and comprehension of technological advancement concepts, its advantages and disadvantages as tools to shape our progress. Development also instills in the spirits of its constituents a sense of "pagpakabana", to take ownership of the changes all around and to develop a sense of belongingness and the compassion to share this belongingness to his fellow constituents.

From the story of "The Old Man and the Ugly Mountain", all we can do is to "make a problem smaller and you can make life better... -Mayor Tomas Osmeña" henceforth, this proposed entity will do just that.

The group would not aim to become a governing entity. It would not even become a profitable institution. Nor does it plan to form an assembly with political interest. It is simply aimed to become a gathering of citizens, Cebuanos at that, that would extend voluntary efforts that would promote education, awareness, voluntary community services that would help Cebu and our fellow Cebuanos establish a community of love and harmony beyond the confines of the cyberspace. Let us, in our own little ways, "pick up our rocks and throw it out into the sea..."

Cebuano ko Bai!

2008-10-15T02:15:00.000-07:00

The following is a piece I found on an online forum and I thought it would be great to re-post it here:

Some Filipino Americans love to tell incidents in Hawaii when they asked some individuals if they were fellow Filipinos. More often than not, the reply is: “I am an Ilocano.” It seems that the inhabitants of Cebu Island and all their immigrants to the other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao are like the Ilocanos. They too would rather be called “Cebuanos” than Filipinos. Perhaps the Filipino archipelago can be more progressive and peaceful if it becomes a Federal Republic. Reprinted herein is an essay called, “Cebuano Ko Bai,” which was written by an author who preferred to remain anonymous.

CEBUANO KO BAI!
Author Unknown

I am not a Filipino, never considered myself one a long time ago. I am a Cebuano and my late father once said: "There's a whale of a difference between the two". And that distinction between the Cebuano and Filipino was never more pronounced than the result of the 2001 Senatorial Elections. The election results nationwide from Manila to Mindanao showed an even trend, far below the expectations of the anti-Erap advocates. Can you believe that? After we've been screwed in the ass by a pea-brained Tagawg! But the Cebuanos voted differently. We Cebuanos voted with the same clear sightedness and maturity that scared the sh_t out of Marcos and his massive cheating and terrorism in collusion with his Ilocano Generals were defeated by the Pusyon Bisaya during the Parliamentary Elections in the seventies. We Cebuanos have a better sense of truth and justice and we have always been the vanguards against tyranny and oppression since 1521 when Chief Lapu-lapu whacked Magellan.

Editor’s Note: This piece was posted in the Cebu Politics e-forum (CePol) at yahoogroups.com. The CePol is edited by Ogie Reyes (not related to this editor).

Cebu City was the first established capital of the islands until the seat of the Spanish colonial government was moved to Manila in the early 17th century. Why? Can you imagine if Malacanang Palace were in Cebu City in September 21, 1972? Marcos would have been barbecued in Pasil in less than 24 hours. That's the same reason why Legaspi changed his mind and moved the capital to Manila and not because Cebu was no longer a commercially viable port during the galleon trade with Acapulco. Legaspi was simply traumatized by Magellan's defeat in Mactan and was clearly intimidated by the Cebuanos.

In Col. Manuel Segura's book "Tabunan: The Exploits of Cebu Guerillas," the dauntless yet under-armed Cebuanos inflicted the highest number of enemy forces killed per guerilla fighter in the Philippines. The indomitable spirit and determination of the Cebuano fighters to arm themselves against the superior Japanese Forces became the progenitor of the now burgeoning gun (paltik) industry in the province. One of the most famous guerilla fighters who later became a successful arms manufacturer was Simeon Cortes who once fabricated mortars out of sewer pipes.

The imminent invasion of Australia was thwarted when Japanese General Koga who was carrying the classified blueprint of the military plan to invade Australia was captured by Cebuano guerillas off the coast of Minglanilla. Yet this brave tales remain a footnote in military history. Why, because history is written by the Tagawgs of the North. We once had a Cebuano President, Don Sergio Osmena, Sr., who never got re-elected for being too honest to tell the Filipinos that he could not promise them a better life in a country reeling from the destruction of war. He never licked the butt of the "Liberator kuno", the legendary mama's boy General Douglas MacArthur. He was a great President in the wrong country!

Do you know that the Cebuanos produced more world boxing champions than any other ethnic group in the Philippines? Let me refresh your memories. One of the all-time greats in the Junior Lightweight division was the legendary Gabriel "Flash" Elorde. The followed were Bernabe Villacampo, Frank Cedeno, Dodie Boy Penalosa, Jerry Penalosa and Joma Gamboa.

The Cebuanos also produced the best singers and musicians in this archipelago. We are all familiar with names like Pilita Corrales, Amapola Cabase, Dulce, Eva Santos, Vernie Varga, Manilyn Reynes, Vina Morales, Chad Borja, Ray-an Fuentes, Stax Hugete, Ingrid Sala endless. This is a testament to the artistry and creativity and the passion to excel that is deeply ingrained in the genetic code of every Cebuano.

We are a unique people blessed by the Santo Nino. We have lesser typhoons, criminality, traffic jams and virtually no earthquakes. Our artisans are world-class- we have the best furniture makers, the best gun makers, the best guitar makers, and the best delicacies, etc., etc.

We deserve nothing less than the best in governance and to be able to run the affairs of the state and economy by ourselves without relying or being exploited by the hopelessly corrupt Manila children don't have to suffer the torturous Tagawg lessons in school because our own language is more eloquent and superior. Is there a Tagawg word for husband? Or who can better pronounce the words Beatles, popsicle, tricycle, uncle? Cebuanos or Tagawgs? Baaah!! Yet they make a mockery out of our accent and they think all Cebuana girls are maids.

Since the choice of our national leaders will always be superseded by the choice of ignorant Filipinos, the time is ripe for the Cebuanos to rise and demand self-determination. Mga Moros ra diay maka-hibaw? No doubt we can do better than what Singapore has accomplished as an independent State. Let the rest of the country be run like hell by the Ilocanos, the Pampangos, Pangasinense and Tagawgs. Give Mindanao to the Moros, they deserve it! Kamong nang botar ni Loi, Ping, Honasan, Angara inyo na ang Pilipinas. Leave Cebu to the Cebuanos. So, who's with me in this crusade? Sugdan na nato mga igsoon! Voice out your anger! Cebuano Pride is burning! So please don't call me Filipino in the same manner that the Catalans, the Andalucians, the Malaguenas and the Basques don't want to be called Spaniards!

Bashing my hometown

2008-10-15T01:44:00.001-07:00

Certain individuals and ethnic groups have been bashing and throwing ghastly comments about my hometown, most of them are so fond of basing their claims from results of certain surveys. Yet, what obviously are just comments drawn by their own insecurities about their hometown, here I am, nevertheless responding to those comments.

The charm of Cebu can never be quantified by any survey. Surveys can not measure or gauge the quality of the people in any observed city. Cebu is a place with a certain aura. Its locals are the most sensible people in the Philippines. They are sophisticated without being pretentious. They are a bunch that ask the most difficult questions. A lot that is so hard to please. Cebuanos are not easily mystified by actors and celebrities. We appreciate their talent but we don't make them gods. Heck, we even know better to choose an intelligent yet maybe/allegedly corrupt president over another washed up movie actor (God bless his soul). Only cebuanos can think objectively and are capable of choosing the lesser evil over the popular.

And in terms of urban development, Cebuanos don't just focus on hailing the beauty of our place but we recognize its ugliness as well. We embrace criticisms as guide for improvement without compromising our own preferences. We do not need to bash on other ethnicity and other Philippine cities to prove our worth. As history would show, we know what Cebu has become and what it had to go through to become what Cebu is today.

We see a lot of changes happening in our beloved hometown. As Cebuanos, let us adopt a collective consciousness of not loosing sight of what is happening. Let us keep Cebu the way we Cebuanos would want it to be. The development of our region should not be influenced by anything else but the Cebuano way of thinking. We are a bunch that is hard to please, so let us AIM to please ourselves.

Silicon Valley on the Mactan Reclamation Project

2008-10-15T01:35:00.000-07:00

Lapu-lapu wants own Silicon Valley

1. Why would you want to have a reclamation project in Mactan when a vast area of land in the island is barren, untapped or informally settled?

2. If one does want to produce the next Bill Gates, putting in computers in classrooms is not really the way to do it.

To produce competent programmers and software engineers, one must need to start at the very basic requirement to become a good programmer: The ability to conceptualize and analyze. A good programmer does not need a computer to produce good programs. A real programmer only needs the trusty yellow legal pad and a pen.

If an institution would like to produce analytic geniuses, you do not give them computer units, you're only teaching them to be too technologically dependent.

What one needs to invest on are effective educational programs.

1: Read, Write and Arithmetic. To help the analytic minds of our little tots of the future, you need to work their minds out. One may not realize but fun 2D and 3D puzzles are very mentally stimulating. Lego's and building block toys are the first steps to analytical and creative minds. Programs that would make learning a fun experience. i.e Identifying letters through letter blocks. Reading and spelling by arranging the blocks, counting objects, space orientation and association. The rubix cube is another type of a very helpful puzzle.

2: Comprehension, Creation and Analysis. Pages and pages of problem solving exercises involving real world scenarios and mathematical equations alike. Mental Exercises such as the unbeatable arithmetic table and fast flash cards. By all means, students must be taught not to be dependent on computers and calculators. Instead, they must posses the ability of having computers in their own brains.

3: Music and Arts. Psychological studies have shown that the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart can actually stimulate the brain. Being able to tap and use this phenomenon on today's children can actually develop their abilities to exercise their minds. Activities such as music making and artistic works can enhance the child's creative mind.

4: Invest on children's health. Not only on their physical well being but on their emotional and mental well being as well. If these kids do not have anything to eat or are not eating right, even if you give them Computer units in both their homes and classrooms, for as long as they are not mentally, physically and emotionally healthy, you would just be breeding the same incompetent batch of graduates too hooked up on the latest cellphone models, the latest computer games and the unending day dreaming habit of having a better life.

People have underestimated the benefits of good ol' manual labor. We seem to have forgotten that it is manual labor that has brought us into this age of technological advancement and what we do not realize is that it is our dependence to these advancements that has led us to our very own doom.

Rule over technology, don't let technology rule over you.

For the Urban Poor

2008-10-15T01:06:00.003-07:00

The number of urban poor communities have been increasing all over the metro. Not all of these informal settlers are natives of Cebu, most of them are from Mindanao and the neighboring provinces in the Visayas hoping to find work and opportunities in Cebu. Yet, Cebuanos naturally posses a hospitable and compassionate heart to accommodate and take care of these immigrants. However, our financial capacity will never be capable of CONSTANTLY RELOCATING AND AIDING these economic pilgrims.

Some of the things I have in mind are:

1. A large zone dedicated for the relocation of the urban communities. Considering the number of urban communities here, I say that it is going to be a pretty large zone.
2. Parallel to the invitation of business enterprises and BPOs coming in, perhaps VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTERS can be put into place. Perhaps funded under a joint effort by the LGU and the private sector through their Corporate Social Responsibility Programs and an educational institution that will run the overall operations for the training center. The training center can provide skills training programs such as welding, construction, automotive and machine assembly, maintenance and repair, dressmaking and the like, and food processing and handling skills. These are some skills that don't really need college education or even high school for one to learn them.
3. Situate these Training Centers within the Urban Poor relocation zones and since these training centers would be fully subsidized by the cooperation between the LGU and Private Sector, these centers will target on the educating and the training of the members of the urban poor community.
4. Yielding from these Vocational Training Center would be Manufacturing firms. Perhaps again a joint effort by the LGU and Private Sector or maybe just a multitude of investors that will tap the trained work force generated by the Vocational Training Centers. Products of this Manufacturing firm can then be exported to

China

and the rest of Southeast Asia and as a long term goal, the world.

Cash subsidies can only help until a certain period of time. Once these funds are depleted, the poor will still remain being poor. Perhaps if we can use these funds to help the poor help themselves, then everything else would follow. The economy will rise, crime rates will fall and the community would prosper.

Dreams and concepts for my beloved hometown

2008-10-15T00:35:00.000-07:00

A concept on urban planning specifically on access roads and to address the imminent worstening traffic situation of Metro Cebu

Given that the LGU has control on what and where establishments are built;

1-Identify all major corridors that are always congested.
2-These major corridors definitely are the major roads that access densely populated areas.
3-Issue a moratorium that there will absolutely be no more large scale commercial, industrial or residential developments erected on ONE SIDE of that major road. Its purpose: to reserve THAT SIDE for road widening. "To reserve" is a condition given under the premise that "we do not have any money, yet" for road widening.
4-The other side of that identified major road however, will be open for business. Allow the other side for private medium to large scale commercial developments. Its purpose: to continue generating funds that would supplement the budget for road widening. In essence, the development of the area where that identified road is situated will still continue.

Fact: putting in more establishments in densely populated corridors would bring in more congestion.
Fact: more business means more revenues.

The business hours offset and the night market concept

Notice the shopping malls all over the

Philippines

. Business hours are from 10am to 8pm.
Notice the rush hours of a metropolis, particularly Metro Cebu.
at 6am, streets start to fill-up, mostly along the University belt.
at 7am, streets are even more filled up because everybody is heading for work ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
at 5pm up until 8pm, streets heading for the commercial areas are the most filled. The reason: everybody is heading towards the same direction, STILL, all at the same time trying to run necessary what-nots catching up with time before the stores close.

Consider this: What if some stores, and by stores that would mean malls, open later and closes late? for instance: malls open at 1pm and close at 12mn. Wouldn't that give consumers that peace of mind not to catch up with the 8pm closing time?
Consider this: What if offices offset their business hours? Some workers would start at 8am ends at 5pm, some would start at 10am and ends at 7pm.

Combine the two considered premises, and what do you get? Movement of the population is divided into two time slots, 8am and 10am. At the same time, consumer services available until 12mn.

Schemes similar to this one is applied in heavily populated cities like HK. We may not be as populated as HK and we may even be far from being as developed as HK or any other

colonized cities for that matter, but we can and are more than capable of a paradigm shift without compromising our long valued filipino culture and mentality.

Connecting the Road widening concept to the night market concept

The corridors identified are corridors that access to densely populated areas which are most likely the corridors heading towards the residential areas. i.e. Ban-Tal corridor, Gorordo-Lahug corridor, Lahug-Mabolo corridor, Panagdait access to Mandaue city, V.Rama-Guadalupe corridor, South corridor which includes, Mamabaling, Labangon and Basak along Tres de Abril and E.Sabellano sts.

Promoting one side of these corridors for medium to large scale commercial enterprises operating on offset mall hours would
1. bring people coming from the commercial and business districts directly straight to their residential areas hence would presumably decongest the business districts
2. bring the services of the malls closer to homes which adds convenience for the consumers. While the idea of bringing homes closer to the business districts is brilliant, we can not deny the fact that homes have already been built in certain areas. Perhaps if these two concepts would run parallel with one another, a certain degree of balance would be attained.
3. revenues are generated from all across the metro.

Since one side of the road is left untouched, acquisitions would not become too expensive. Given these properties be acquired, we now have a wide area available for wider access roadways.

Given that one side is available for widening, this presents an opportunity to give way to the renovation of these access roads and the implementation of previously proposed plans such as the multi-modal roadway systems that divides roads into 4 modules -car lanes, rapid transit lanes, bike lanes and wider pedestrian lanes. The single-culvert drainage system and the underground cabling system for power and telecommunications.

In a manner, we will give Metro Cebu a major Face lift.