Brief Review: Intramuros Field Trip

The DLSC English One class Intramuros field trip was interesting.
...
The tour guide, Celdran, can explain a location's past in a way that can make a person rethink--and re-balance--their previous knowledge of that place.
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A person has to temporarily put away biased thought to properly appreciate this tour.

Notecards + Outline

I. Note Cards

(A) According to Marlene Rodriguez, employee of Convergys Informtaion Center, Ayalaland Development Corporation enforced strict rules during the building of their main office building. (Direct Interview, 7/20/10)

(B) Capodiferra, Alessandro, Wonders of the World: Preservation of Our Precious World.: Scholastic, 2004.

(C) "Factories Decline to Fund Environmental Cleanup."

Philippine Star 18 Apr. 2006: FP18.

(D) Creage, Angelo "Flourishing in the Urban Jungle." by American Scientist Jan.-Feb. 2002: 66-69.

(E) Eduardo Castro. "How Will the Mayor Make Ends Meet?" Letter.

Village Voice 11 Jan. 2001: 33.

II. Matches to Outline

Title: Nuvali’s Eco-Friendly Technology

Thesis Statement: Nuvali applies environmentally friendly technology to preserve its wildlife and rich vegetation.

I. Introduction

A. What is Nuvali and Eco-friendly Technology?

1. Nuvali's brief origins and development plans (B), (D), (E)

2. Eco-friendly Technology's brief origins and benefits (B)

B. Problematique: Nuvali applies environmentally friendly technology to preserve its wildlife and rich vegetation.

C. Research Coverage

1. Nuvali's public areas

2. Nuvali's private areas

II. Definition of Terms

A. Nuvali

1. Solenad

2. Montecito

3. Treveia

4. Avida

B. Eco-friendy technology (B), (D)

1. Energy conservation

2. Green architecture

3. Natural lighting

4. Natural ventilation

5. Solar panels

6. Heat resistant materials

II. Nuvali's use of Eco-friendly Technology

A. Why does Nuvali use Eco-friendly Technology?

1. Benefits (B), (C), (D), (E)

a.physical

b. fiscal

2. Cost (B), (C), (D), (E)

a. physical

b. fiscal

B. How does Nuvali use Eco-friendly Technology to our environment's benefit?

1. Current examples of use and benefits (A), (D), (E)

a. Energy conservation

b. Green architecture

c. Natural lighting

d. Natural ventilation

e. Heat resistant materials

f. Solar panels

2. Planned examples of use and benefits (D), (E)

a. Wind power

b. Hybrid public transportation

III. Longterm Effects (A), (B), (C), (D)

1. Effects on Nuvali

a. Physical

b. Fiscal

c. Societal

2. Effects outside of Nuvali (A), (B), (C), (E)

a. Physical

b. Fiscal

c. Societal

IV. Conclusion

A. Nuvali, the prime model for merging development with a clean environment (A), (B), (D)

B. Eco-friendly Technology as the slow, yet steady stepping stone to a greener tomorrow

V. Appendices

A. Bibliography

B. Photos, Videos, Audio, etc.

Bibliography (Alpha Draft)

1. According to Marlene Rodriguez, employee of Convergys Informtaion Center, Ayalaland Development Corporation enforced strict rules during the building of their main office building. (Direct Interview, 7/20/10)

2. Capodiferra, Alessandro, Wonders of the World: Preservation of Our Precious World.: Scholstic, 2004.

3. "Factories Decline to Fund Environmental Cleanup."

Philippine Star 18 Apr. 2006: FP18.

4. Creage, Angelo "Flourishing in the Urban Jungle." by American Scientist Jan.-Feb. 2002: 66-69.

5. Eduardo Castro. "How Will the Mayor Make Ends Meet?" Letter.

Village Voice 11 Jan. 2001: 33.

English One: Research Outline (Alpha Draft)

Title: Nuvali’s Eco-Friendly Technology

Thesis Statement: Nuvali applies environmentally friendly technology to preserve its wildlife and rich vegetation.

I. Introduction

A. What is Nuvali and Eco-friendly Technology?

1. Nuvali's brief origins and development plans

2. Eco-friendly Technology's brief origins and benefits

B. Problematique: Nuvali applies environmentally friendly technology to preserve its wildlife and rich vegetation.

C. Research Coverage

1. Nuvali's public areas

2. Nuvali's private areas

II. Definition of Terms

A. Nuvali

1. Solenad

2. Montecito

3. Treveia

4. Avida

B. Eco-friendy technology

1. Energy conservation

2. Green architecture

3. Natural lighting

4. Natural ventilation

5. Solar panels

6. Heat resistant materials

II. Nuvali's use of Eco-friendly Technology

A. Why does Nuvali use Eco-friendly Technology?

1. Benefits

a.physical

b. fiscal

2. Cost

a. physical

b. fiscal

B. How does Nuvali use Eco-friendly Technology to our environment's benefit?

1. Current examples of use and benefits

a. Energy conservation

b. Green architecture

c. Natural lighting

d. Natural ventilation

e. Heat resistant materials

f. Solar panels

2. Planned examples of use and benefits

a. Wind power

b. Hybrid public transportation

III. Longterm Effects

1. Effects on Nuvali

a. Physical

b. Fiscal

c. Societal

2. Effects outside of Nuvali

a. Physical

b. Fiscal

c. Societal

IV. Conclusion

A. Nuvali, the prime model for merging development with a clean environment

B. Eco-friendly Technology as the slow, yet steady stepping stone to a greener tomorrow

V. Appendices

A. Bibliography

B. Photos, Videos, Audio, etc.

Free-Range Poultry vs. Intensive (Factory) Poultry

The quality of chicken meat can vary depending on how the chicken is farmed. Free-Range Poultry Farming and Intensive Poultry Farming are the two main ways chickens are farmed today.

Free-Range Chickens are allowed to roam free on open ground. They are fed natural, unprocessed food. Normally, they grow big and strong before they are slaughtered 12-14 months later.

Intensively (Factory) Farmed Chickens are crowded in small enclosed spaces. Even so, they tend to get fat on all the processed, chemical laced feed they get. After 6-12 months, they are slaughtered.

Free-Range Chicken meat is easy to prepare since there isn't much fat to pull out, this also makes it healthier. Studies also claim Free-Range Chicken meat contains less chemicals due to the chicken's natural diet.

Intensively (Factory) Farmed Chicken meat usually has more fat to be cleaned out. Growth inducing hormones which could have the same effect of steroids on humans have been detected on countless Intensively (Factory) Farmed Chicken meat.

Economically, Intensively (Factory) Farmed Chickens are easier and cheaper to produce, plus they have a bigger yield, than Free-Range Chickens.

Hometown

I spent most of my childhood in the expansive gated community of Ayala Alabang Village.

The aesthetics of my hometown made me feel free and safe. The roads were clean, most of the houses were well maintained, there were great parks. I'd see security guards on bikes or motorcycles doing their rounds. There would also be the occasional dog catcher on a motorcycle with a sidecar who, together with his giant-net-wielding partner, would chase down stray dogs, all throughout the village.

Our bungalow-type house was conveniently located a bike's ride away from a park and a few blocks away from several of my relatives' homes. We had a big garden which I enjoyed spending a lot of time in; I would either wander around, observing the plants and insects, or I'd be swimming in my little inflatable pool--surrounded by pool toys and shielded from the sun with a beach umbrella--. I had a favorite spot outside of our house, a small rock in our other little garden just outside the main entrance, I'd sit there, in my dinosaur printed undershirt and shorts, daydreaming as I watch the clouds go by.

Morning or mid-afternoon were my "wander around the outskirts of my house" time. As a child, everything seemed so big to me. My imagination would run wild amongst the fields and greenery of the parks and gardens. I would light up with enthusiasm or cower in fear at some made-up scenario or creature that, in my mind's eye, would materialize right in front of me. I disliked nighttime there. The bugs and bats flying around the dim orange-hued street lamps unnerved me. I'd skedaddle into my house once it got dark and those lamps lit up.

Well, I'm older now and I don't live there anymore. Looking back, I'd say my hometown was a good place to grow up. There are, of course, better places to grow up in, but Ayala Alabang Village was were I grew up and is a major factor on what I am now.

Process Writing - Comical

How to make a typical school group presentation

Step 1 - Form your group!

1. Your group must consist of at least* one of each of the following individuals:

*Only one allowed for The Leader

*One person may fall under several member types (except The Leader)

A. The Leader - Usually the one who comes up with the ideas, does the research, makes the presentation, etc.

B. The "I helped." guy - The one who does small things to assist but considers them big inputs.

C. The Absentee - The one who never attends group meetings but shows up for the final output

D. The Clueless - The one who presents/reads what The Leader instructs him/her to present/read but he/she clearly has no idea of what he/she is presenting/reading.

Step 2 - Planning

1. The Leader must spend at least a hour listening to the false promises and impractical ideas of the other members. Usually during this step, The Leader is busy taking mental notes such as, "What did I do to end up with these guys!?" or "So-and-so has better group mates (again), ugh."

2. The Leader must then assign simple, minimally important tasks to the other members to get their full support.

3. At the end of a successful planning stage The Leader will have a clinging feeling at the back of his/her mind caused by worrying if the other members will pull their own weight and how many times they will have to be reminded of the deadline of their simple tasks.

Step 3 - Research

1. All contact with other members is utterly and mysteriously lost.

2. The Leader must research on the presentation's topic.

Step 4 - Creating the Presentation

1. The Leader must create the presentation.

Step 5 - Presenting

1. All members suddenly reappear and act like they did something to benefit the group.

2. The Leader and The Clueless must present the finished presentation to the teacher.

3. By the end of the presentation all members usually get the same grade and none of them show gratitude to The Leader's hard work. However, the grades may sometimes vary depending on the type of teacher.

4. (Optional) The Leader may congratulate himself/herself for being such a responsible person and take comfort in the fact that he/she has a higher chance of being more successful in the future than the other members.

Process Writing - Serious

How to cook my omelet

Ingredients:

4 garlic cloves (minced - also known as "finely divided" or "cut into little pieces")

1/2 onion bulb (minced)

1/2 tsp. fresh basil (minced)

1/3 tsp. fresh parsley (minced)

1 large raw chicken egg w/ yolk

1/2 cup full cream milk

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

Pinch of Montreal steak rub

1 tbsp. cheddar cheese ( diced - "cut into little squares")

1/4 cup olive oil

Preparation:

1. Mix all four minced ingredients (4 garlic cloves, 1/2 onion bulb, 1/2 tsp. fresh basil, 1/2 tsp. fresh parsley) in a container--preferably a bowl--until ingredients are evenly distributed.

2. Beat egg in a different container--preferably another bowl--until thick and lemon-colored. Add 1/2 cup full cream milk plus Pinches of salt, pepper, and Montreal steak rub and beat again until ingredients look blended.

3. Combine both mixtures in a container with a firm lid--preferably a circular airtight Tupperware. Add 1 tbsp. of diced cheddar cheese into final mixture. Firmly seal then shake container profusely until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

4. Apply even coating of 1/4 cup olive oil on medium-sized pan surface. Preheat pan on stove for 45 sec.

5. Pour final omelet mixture into pan. Wait until omelet is "puffed" then flip it when it is firm enough (omelet is firm enough if it does not break apart when lifted with cooking utensil). Continue flipping it until both sides are delicately browned.

6. Transfer finished omelet unto plate and serve.

*Unsweetened tomato ketchup is a recommended topping

Type of Listener

I'm probably the type of listener who'd quietly listen to you while giving off signals that I am paying attention to you, like nodding my head and saying, "Okay..".

-But, I could also be formulating my reply in my head.
-Or thinking of something else, causing distortion to what you are saying.

It all depends on who I am listening to and what the topic of their conversation is.

Definition: Fortissimo

for·tis·si·mo (fôr-tĭs'ə-mō')
adv. & adj. Abbr. ff
In a very loud manner. Used chiefly as a direction.
n. pl. for·tis·si·mos
A note, chord, or passage played fortissimo.

A musical direction meaning “to be performed very loudly”; the opposite of pianissimo.

[Italian, superlative of forte , strong ; see forte .]

1724, from It. fortissimo , superl. of forte , from L. fortis "strong."

-The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The influx of new dishes didn't seem to end; I didn't want them to stop coming anyway.

"It'll be impossible to go hungry at this Chinese wedding.", I thought as I chowed down on some shrimp dumplings, jellyfish, and century egg. This wedding's gluttonous guest treat was a Chinese "lauriat", where you are treated to eight different scrumptious dishes. This "lauriat" was the highlight of my evening and the main cause of me going to the wedding in the first place. Hehe, free food, free good food. I seldomly turn opportunities like those down.

Oh right, the wedding was pretty grand. It was being held at a large hotel ballroom, 'bout half the size of a typical football field. High celing too, with chandeliers. Round white tableclothed dining tables occupied most of the floor space. A typical long n' high wedding table for the celebrants and VIP's was positioned at the middle, backed up against a wall. Opposite of that was a stage for the band, speeches, and presentations. At the center of the room was a medium sized dance area.

During each of the celebrant's lengthy speeches, the only thing that bugged me was that they both spent about fifteen minutes, coupled with a video and picture presentation on how materially providing they are for each other. Talk about showing off. I really mean showing off. I mean the groom even recounted how he had easily decided what eight cars to get for the parents of the bride. Eight! Can you believe it!? The cars were all European too. A bunch of boats and residences were also mentioned--some non-local.

I think they had genuine love for each other. They would always "cutely" kiss when people would clink their glasses. They danced pretty harmoniously. The whole "I have lots of great stuff" speech was probably just cultural and aimed to impress each other's folks and benefactors. The folks and benefactors' actually looked like the Chinese Triad, with the neatly trimmed thin moustache and goatee for the guys and "dragon lady" look for the girls.

You could see that this happy couple probably "have it made". From their champagne waterfall to their security detail. I was thinking, while gorging on the soup, dumplings, cold cuts, fried rice, and blah blah blahs, of how my future "big day" would be. Would it be like this? I didn't think so. Mostly because I prefer European girls, Spanish food, and outdoor parties.

Description: Waking Up This Morning

My eardrums are rattled by a high pitched ringing noise emanating from my cellphone. Lazily, I lift my right arm to grab my phone and deactivate the alarm. I look at my bedside window and get blinded by the thin rays of sunlight infiltrating the window blinds. I raise my eyebrows in arrest and accept the start of another routine day. I recoil my legs and kick them up to catapult myself into a sitting position. My throat is dry so I grab my bedside water jug and chug down the whole two point five liters, water is good for the body anyway. I stand up and head for the kitchen, juggling breakfast options in my head. What would go with my buttered toast this fine morning, the sweet, melt-in-your-mouth, sensation of golden brown, maple syrup glazed bacon or the tangy, creamy taste of a cheese, parsley, and basil omelet?

Description: 5 Emotions

*Also posted at edu20.org

Expectant - Still rejuvenated from my morning bath, I eagerly march up the cream-white stairs, anticipating a new phase of social interaction. I try to exert extra force to my step, the heavy foot falls it creates drowns out my heightened heartbeat. My increased breathing interval distracts me; it takes me a moment to collect myself and slow it down. Reaching the top of the stairs and striding through the towering doorway, I remind myself that every newcomer here probably feels nervous too and nervousness distracts me. I straighten my posture and try to maintain an air of confidence and approachability as I near the newcomer’s meeting area.

Smug - I gleefully rub my hands together as I contemplate on the fact that having gone through this activity before enables me to apply advantageous prior knowledge. Smirking, I silently declare that I will emerge the victor. The fine line between confidence and arrogance is blurred as thoughts of superiority cloud my mind.

Stale - I grow weary as the day slowly progresses. Time always seems to inconsiderately slow itself down whenever I find myself in an uninteresting situation. I adjust my sitting position again; the chair I am on, which had been pretty comfortable at first, now feels like a rough stone slab. With a blank expression, I constantly look at my silver watch, silently wishing my persistent glances would magically speed up time and end this dull state of inactivity.

Disgust - I speedily retreat from the cramped, crowded room in which I had regrettably spent the better part of my day. I lift my finger to press the elevator button; I apply enough pressure before immediately retracting my finger due to the sticky feeling the oily surface of the button gives me. As I wait for the elevator to reach my floor, thoughts of all the seedy denizens who could have used this elevator dance in my head. From the “fat guy with a bad case of body odor” to the “fatal farter”, I was imagining each of them leaving traces of their dastardly smells and/or marks (especially in the case of “the booger dude”) in the elevator. I had just finished thinking about “the long-haired-dandruff-covered-didn’t-bathe guy” and was now dwelling on “the dirty couple” when I hear a clatter of old metal parts as the elevator doors open. A foreboding stench of musty, processed air seeps out. I forcefully exhale in a vain attempt to clear my lungs of the unpleasing air. I peek into the newly opened hole in the wall before me. I raise my eyebrows in disbelief as I note the dirty floor, walls and ceiling; plus the creepy dim lights. Listening carefully, I could hear the cables creaking; the cables from which this grimy metal box was suspended from and from which my life would be hanging from. Calling what was in front of me a “poorly maintained elevator” would be an understatement; “dirty deathtrap” is more like it.

Relief - I burst through the main doors and smile as a refreshing gust of wind greets me. The peaceful expanse before me comforts my tired psyche. I am thankful that even for a little while, I can leave the dreary, plain halls of routine instruction. Slowly, I tread down the cream-white steps and note that they aren’t as cream-white as when I first laid my eyes on them, they look more dirty-white to me now. At the last step I close my eyes, take a deep breath and exhale slowly, grin, and stroll towards my car.

Repost: BP oil spill summary

*Already posted this at edu20.org. I'm reposting it here just in case.

Juan Suarez ABCA 2

ENGLONE - Summarization

The BP oil spill is America's greatest environmental disaster to date. Its true impact will take months to emerge. Experts say the depth of the spill coupled with the chemicals used to break it down before it surfaced, pose an unknown threat. Louisiana is affected the most, as it is closest to the oil spill. Sheets of oil have reached wetlands and wildlife nurseries. Oil debris has also reached Mississippi and Alabama. Livelihoods are affected as the U.S. waters in the Gulf of Mexico are closed to fishing. Traveling oil plumes are a major threat since they can be hundreds of meters deep and several miles wide. The disaster has already taken--and is continuously endangering--human and animal lives. Heavy marine life casualties are yet to be reported. The oil spill, if left unchecked, may radically alter the food-chain.

Opinion: jejemon

My prejudices propose that I do not appreciate the existence of the social epidemic, "jejemon".

I have researched on what "jejemon" means using these sites-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jejemon
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jejemon
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Jejemon
- and I'd like to post a few excerpts which support (and maybe fuel) my opinion:

"...using Jejemon are(is) said to cause deterioration of young Filipino students’ language skills." - Wikipedia

"...anyone with a low tolerance in correct punctuation, syntax and grammar (is a jejemon)...they can not express themselves...as good as an average person" - Urban Dictionary

"Through social networking sites and text messaging, they usually brag about their useless lives, claiming that they "hang around at Starbucks", or that they are cutting classes to drink and gamble."
- Uncyclopedia

(Some may claim that these sites are unreliable and unofficial, but since I was unable to find any official scientific data on the subject, these sites ARE the most reliable sources for information regarding "jejemon" as of now.)

I (arrogantly) proclaim to myself and to all that "jejemon" is another one of those petty activities certain deprived individuals indulge in as vain attempts to quench their infinite thirst for that feeling most of crave yet so few of us truly achieve; the feeling of being special...gifted...extraordinary.

The practitioners of "jejemon" may consider themselves skilled up to some obscure, purely fictional degree of usefulness, but I doubt they have the mental capacity (probably due to their upbringing and environment) to realize how unproductive--and counterproductive--their practice is.

"Jejemon's" place is within the lowly ranks of sexting and low-class fraternities; things I bitterly associate with weakness.