Last July 30, the entire Metro Manila participated in a simultaneous activity called the Metro Manila Shake Drill, an earthquake drill organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in coordination with various risk reduction and rescue teams. The aim of this activity was to promote awareness on the possibility of a deadly earthquake with the presence of the West Valley Fault in the eastern part of the metropolis as well to educate the people on what to do if and when this earthquake strikes. Many establishments, groups, as well as the general public, participated in this activity as they practiced the techniques on what to do when an earthquake…
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Remembering the Scouts
Recently, the nation and the Boy Scouts not only in the Philippines but also elsewhere around the world commemorated perhaps one of the most tragic stories in the annals of Boy Scout history. It was to commemorate that fateful day on July 28, 1963 when Flight 869 of United Arab Airlines, (the precursor of today’s EgyptAir) en route to Greece for the 11th World Jamboree of the international Boy Scouts, crashed into the sea off the coast of a village called Madh, near Mumbai (Bombay as it was known before) in India. The flight killed all 63 people on the plane, including the captain, crew, and the 24-member Philippine contingent…
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A Trade Fair for Science
Despite the perception among many that the Philippines suck when it comes to science and technology, the country actually has a thriving, developing environment in the field of science and technology. Not as advanced as in other countries admittedly, but thriving nonetheless. Only that it is not well-publicized partly due to the low-key efforts of the people behind it, not to mention that our media tends to overlook these stories of innovation in favor of politics, entertainment, as well as trivial stuff like trending online videos. Thankfully, there are events that give focus on this overlooked aspect of our country’s development. One of them is what the Urban Roamer checked…
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The Villars and Las Piñas
In the story of modern Las Piñas, one man (and to an extent, family) has managed to put the city on the map and help it progress to what it is today. I’m talking about Manuel Villar, the real estate developer who became member of the House of Representatives and the Senate and a one-time candidate for the Philippine presidency in 2010. He has then gone back to his property development business Vista Land (at least at this time of writing) while wife Cynthia is in the Senate and son Mark is the House of Representatives. (two other children, Paolo and Camille, remain in the business side) Villar has been known for…