History shows that nations weaken when citizens tie their identity to a single leader instead of shared principles, laws, and institutions. Leaders are human. They make mistakes. They change. They leave. But a country is bigger than any one personality.

When public debate turns into blind defense of a person, accountability disappears. Policies stop being evaluated on merit and start being defended based on who proposed them. People should take note that these aren’t the works of only one man, but rather an organization of the system.

Fanaticism creates division that lingers long after the leader is gone. It turns neighbors into enemies and political disagreement into personal hostility. Over time, this erodes trust in institutions, weakens democratic norms, and makes compromise feel like betrayal.

A strong country depends on strong systems, not strongmen. Supporting leaders is normal. Worshipping them at the expense of the nation’s long-term stability is not.

Ultimately, genuine patriotism is about upholding the country’s values, not preserving a politician’s image. Leaders should be respected, questioned, and held accountable. The country should be defended, strengthened, and preserved.

When loyalty stays rooted in the nation rather than a single figure, stability and unity have a much better chance of lasting.

The misconception of “black and white” thinking lies in the belief that most issues in life can be reduced to only two opposing sides—right or wrong, good or bad, success or failure. While this kind of thinking feels clean and decisive, it rarely reflects the complexity of reality.

Human experiences, social issues, and even personal relationships operate in gradients, not absolutes. When we force everything into rigid categories, we overlook nuance, context, and the many factors that shape outcomes. What appears straightforward at first glance often reveals layers of gray when examined more carefully.

In personal life, black-and-white thinking can distort self-perception and relationships. A single mistake may lead someone to conclude they are a complete failure, or one disagreement might define a person as entirely “toxic” or “wrong.”

This cognitive distortion ignores growth, intention, and circumstance. People are capable of contradiction—they can be kind yet flawed, confident yet insecure. Recognizing this complexity allows for empathy and maturity. It encourages us to respond with understanding rather than judgment.

In public discourse, the misconception becomes even more harmful. Social and political issues are often framed as binary choices, pushing individuals into camps that seem mutually exclusive.

This polarization discourages dialogue and reduces opportunities for compromise or collaborative problem-solving. Most societal challenges—whether economic inequality, urban development, or environmental sustainability—are multifaceted. Treating them as black-or-white debates oversimplifies the realities stakeholders face and limits innovative solutions.

Ultimately, moving beyond black-and-white thinking requires intellectual humility. It means accepting uncertainty and resisting the comfort of absolute answers. Embracing nuance does not weaken conviction; rather, it strengthens critical thinking and emotional intelligence. When we allow space for gray areas, we become more reflective, more compassionate, and more open to growth. Life is rarely defined by extremes—it is shaped in the spectrum between them.

Thanks for reading.

In the concept of Green Building practices, the website Complete Communities discussed the potential benefits if these strategies are implemented by local governments in their planning and policy frameworks. Here below is a part of the post from the article.

The current building environment has a major impact on the environment, economy, and public health of citizens. According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), buildings account for 39 percent of total energy use, 12 percent of total water consumption, 68 percent of total electricity consumption, and 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. By adopting green building strategies, local governments can expand and improve upon local economic development opportunities and market demand for sustainable development.

The University of Delaware’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy emphasizes that green building practices will continue to increase to meet the demands of the market. Potential benefits have been divided into three categories: economic, social, and environmental.

Economic

• Reduced costs for site preparation, building materials, and operational costs through sustainable siting
• Added market value of buildings
• Enhanced water efficiency practices lead to reduced annual water costs and municipal wastewater treatment costs
• Increased local economic development opportunities
• Enhanced energy efficiency practices lead to reduced peak power demand, reduced demand for new energy infrastructure, lower energy costs to consumers, and up to 70 percent lower annual fuel and electricity costs
• Longer lifetimes for buildings and equipment through smart commissioning practices

Social 

• Equitable access to infrastructure services, such as transportation
• Fewer wastewater treatment plants and increased preservation efforts for water resources
• Fewer new power plants and transmission lines in the community
• Expanded market for environmentally preferable products
• Improved occupancy satisfaction, comfort, and individual productivity

Environmental 

• Assist in the conservation of environmental resources, while also reducing pollution levels, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. The report cites a 2007 United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) study which estimates that sustainable design and green buildings could result in as much as 1.8 billion tonnes/year of averted carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.
• Increased land preservation, lower resource and energy use, and the protection of ecological resources.
• Preservation of water resources for wildlife and agriculture.
• Lower electricity and fossil fuel use and decreased impacts of fossil fuel production.
• Improved indoor air quality and, in turn, reductions in air pollution levels.

Improving active transport infrastructure can play a significant role in reducing car traffic by providing viable alternatives for people to choose walking, cycling, or other non-motorized modes of transportation. It should be the priority advocacy of most cities that face the problem of congested roads due to too much private cars.

Here are several ways in which enhancing active transport infrastructure can help achieve this goal:

By combining these strategies and creating an integrated and well-designed active transport infrastructure, communities can encourage a shift away from car-centric transportation, reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and promote healthier lifestyles.

Green building, also known as sustainable or eco-friendly building, focuses on designing and constructing structures that minimize their impact on the environment and promote energy efficiency, resource conservation, and occupant well-being.

Here are some common green building terms and concepts:

1. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): LEED is a widely recognized green building certification program that assesses a building’s sustainability performance. Buildings can earn different levels of certification, such as LEED Platinum, Gold, or Silver, based on their green features.
2. Energy Efficiency: This concept involves designing and constructing buildings to use less energy, often through the use of efficient HVAC systems, insulation, and energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
3. Passive Solar Design: Passive solar design utilizes the sun’s energy to heat and cool a building naturally, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling systems.
4. Renewable Energy: The use of clean, renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems to power a building.
5. Green Roof: A green roof is covered with vegetation, which helps reduce heat absorption and provides insulation, reducing energy consumption and managing stormwater runoff.
6. Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting and storing rainwater for later use, which can reduce the demand for municipal water supplies and mitigate stormwater runoff.
7. Low-VOC Materials: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are harmful chemicals found in many building materials. Low-VOC materials release fewer harmful chemicals into the air, promoting better indoor air quality.
8. Recycled Materials: Using materials made from recycled content to reduce the demand for new raw materials and minimize waste.
9. Sustainable Site Planning: Careful planning to minimize the environmental impact of a building’s location, including preserving green spaces, minimizing disturbance to ecosystems, and promoting walkability.
10. Water Efficiency: Implementing water-saving fixtures, appliances, and landscaping techniques to reduce water consumption.
11. Daylighting: Designing buildings to maximize natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
12. Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV): A system that captures and recycles heat from outgoing air to preheat incoming fresh air, improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
13. Triple Glazing: Using three layers of glass in windows for improved insulation and energy efficiency.
14. Net Zero Energy: A building that produces as much energy as it consumes over a year, typically through a combination of energy-efficient design and renewable energy generation.
15. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): An analysis that assesses the environmental impact of a building over its entire life cycle, including construction, operation, and demolition.
16. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Strategies and materials that promote healthy indoor air, including proper ventilation, filtration, and the use of low-VOC products.
17. Green Certification Programs: Besides LEED, there are other green building certification programs, such as BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and Green Globes, each with its own set of criteria for assessing sustainability.

These terms and concepts are crucial in the field of green building to create environmentally friendly and sustainable structures that benefit both the environment and the occupants.

Bikes are awesome, so more people ought to ride them. The era of the automobile is coming to an audible close, and the quaint aesthetics of the lowly bicycle are prepared to reclaim the center stage. “Four wheels terrible, two wheels excellent”, as the famously misquoted saying goes.

A bikeable city is one that is designed and developed to prioritize the needs of cyclists, making it safe, convenient and comfortable to ride a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

Here are some key factors that make a city bikeable:

Protected bike lanes and separated cycling infrastructure: Bike lanes that are separated from vehicular traffic by physical barriers, such as curbs, bollards, or planters, make it safer for cyclists to ride on the road. Protected bike lanes also help to increase the visibility of cyclists to drivers, reducing the risk of accidents.

Bicycle-friendly streets and traffic calming measures: Bikeable cities typically have streets that are designed with lower speed limits and traffic calming measures such as speed humps, roundabouts, and chicanes. These measures help to reduce the speed and volume of motor vehicle traffic, making it safer and more comfortable for cyclists to share the road.

Bicycle parking and storage: Bikeable cities have ample and secure bicycle parking and storage facilities, including bike racks, lockers, and bike-share stations. These facilities help to encourage cycling as a mode of transportation, making it easier for people to commute and run errands by bike.

Access to public transportation: Bikeable cities are often designed with easy access to public transportation, such as buses, trains, and subways. This makes it easier for cyclists to combine biking with other modes of transportation, such as commuting to work or school by bike and then taking public transportation for longer distances.

Education and promotion: Bikeable cities often have educational programs and promotional campaigns that encourage safe cycling and raise awareness about the benefits of biking as a mode of transportation. These programs help to build a culture of cycling and encourage more people to use bikes for transportation.

Overall, a bikeable city prioritizes the needs of cyclists, making it safe, convenient, and comfortable to ride a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

*header image from Laist.com

A part of my childhood was reading local Pinoy comic books and one of them was the Funny Komiks which influenced me to draw some of the characters in the stories during my elementary days. One character that became a symbol and an inspiration was Combatron, a cyborg superhero.

Up to now, I still get in touch of the story and the author himself, Berlin Manalaysay, in a Combatron FB group. He finally released the ending of the comic series in a two-part comic book special.

The recent news that I am sharing today is the plan of developing a Combatron video game.

Here below is the sneak peak announcement by the Caotic Pixel Studios. I can’t wait to check this out.

The current Enhanced Community Quarantine is expected to last until April 30th which I doubt as the containment of the COVID19 virus is still not maximized as the recent measures. Any who, I know most of the peeps are already tired of staying at home and already lacks activities to do. One thing I’d suggest is to watch anime on Netflix or any other streaming websites and today I am sharing with you a few anime titles that I have been binge watching lately. Let us begin shall we.

The Promised Neverland – An orphanage which turned out to be a farm facility wherein the children sent to “foster homes” for adoption are being fed to a demon overlord. The plot revolves around the main characters’ struggle to escape.

Assassination Classroom – Earth is left in jeopardy after an immensely powerful organism suddenly appears and destroys 70% of the Moon, leaving it permanently in the shape of a crescent. The organism claims that within a year he will destroy the planet next, but he offers mankind a chance to avert this fate. In class 3-E, the End Class of Kunugigaoka Junior High School, he starts working as a homeroom teacher where he teaches his students regular subjects, as well as the ways of assassination. (Wiki) I like how each student’s character is being highlighted and developed as the story progresses. Their assassination target is turning out to be their ideal and loved homeroom teacher.

The Rising of the Shield Hero – Naofumi Iwatani, an easygoing Japanese youth, was summoned into a parallel world along with three other young men from parallel universes to become the world’s Cardinal Heroes and fight inter-dimensional hordes of monsters called Waves. Each of the heroes were respectively equipped with their legendary equipment when summoned (Wiki). Naofumi happened to receive the only defensive Legendary Shield equipment which started his misfortunes in the story. If you are a fan of role-playing games, I am pretty sure you’d like how he develop his character and his companions as well as his interactions with other personas in towns and cities. Also, that Princess is a bitch.

Cells at Work – The story takes place inside the human body, where trillions of anthropomorphic cells each do their job to keep the body healthy. The series largely focuses on two such cells; a rookie red blood cell, AE3803, who often gets lost during deliveries, and a relentless white blood cell, U-1146, who fights against any germs that invade the body (Wiki). It is fun to see each cell being personified in its specific role in the body system and each disease being represented as sort of an alien invaders. Each episode features a specific body disorder or sickness.

I am sharing this post on Facebook regarding the wrong reasoning and impression in terms of the current crisis situation that we are facing. The emphasis on their lack of empathy on the sectors of the society which is greatly affected is what I am really concerned about.

This is sort of a reaction and clarification post and the credits to Jude Karlo Garcia Bolivar.

Here is the initial post that has gone viral.

THIS IS A LONG POST.

I was literally offended when a “family” member reposted this and agreed to this 100%. And some others replied showing their affirmation.

Hindi kami mayaman, alam nila yon. Sasabihin ng iba na maswerte kami kasi di namin nararanasan yung ganto, o yung ganyan. Totoo naman, pero that doesn’t excuse myself from feeling for my fellow Filipino. Nag-aral ako nang maayos at alam kong tinuruan ako ng unibersidad na magkaroon ng tinatawag na malasakit. Hindi puro kagalingan at karangalan, kailangan mo ring maging isa sa mga kapwa mo. Dahil hindi lahat maitatawid ng galing lang. Hindi lahat mabubuhay ng dangal lang. Marami kang maiaahon kung may malasakit ka sa kapwa mo. Hindi mo kailangang maging bayani para sa kanila, ang kailangan mo, isipin na totoo, di lahat kasing swerte mo.Pero di ibig sabihin noon papayagan mo na silang nasa ibaba habang buhay.

“Bakit parang kasalanan namin na pagkain sa bahay namin?”

Walang nagsabi na kasalanan ninyo iyon. Ang pinupunto ng mga tao, kung di ninyo kayang ilagay ang sarili ninyo sa sitwasyon ng mga karinawang pamilyang Pilipino, wag na kayong magsalita ng laban sa kanila.

Noong 2018, 21% ng mga Pilipino ang nasa ibaba ng poverty line (https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-press-releases/nid/138411) at hindi nila “choice” iyon.

Ayon din sa PSA, “ang pamilyang binubuo ng limang miyembro ay nangangailangan ng halagang hindi bababa sa PhP 7,337 para tustusan ang pangangailangan sa pagkain pa lang (food threshold). Tinatayang Php 10,481 naman ang kailangan para matustusan lahat ng pangangailangang hindi lamang sa pagkain (poverty threshold).”

“Noong panahon na wala pang covid, nagtrabaho kami nang maayos at nagsakripisyo na mawalay sa mga pamilya naming, habang yung iba tambay lang.”

Totoo na yung “iba” tambay lang. Pero di mo masasabi na lahat ng naghihirap at nagugutom ay tambay lang. maraming tao ang araw araw kumakayod para lamang may ipangkain sila. Kung halimbawang sumasahod ka ng minimum P282.00 – 340.00 (Region 1-minimum) at P500.00 – 537.00 (NCR-maximum) para sa non-agricultural sector (https://nwpc.dole.gov.ph/stats/summary-of-current-regional-daily-minimum-wage-rates-by-region-non-agriculture-and-agriculture/) and you do the math, hindi lahat kayang umabot sa poverty threshold. Sasabihin mo pa rin bang tamad sila kaya sila mahirap? Paano pa yung mga vendor, tricycle driver, mga kalsada ang hanpbuhay, tamad ba ang mga yon?

“Noong pinag aaral kami, tinapos namin yung pag aaral namin samantalang yung iba, piniling maglaro o bumarkada”

Lahat ba piniling hindi mag aral? Hindi ba dahil hindi libre ang edukasyon noon kaya karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay hindi nag aral, sa halip ay nagtrabaho na lang? Mag aaral ka pa ba kung hindi mo nga matustusan ang araw-araw mo na pagkain? Noong 2017, mayroon 3.6 milyong Pilipinong nasa edad 6-24 ang hindi nag aaral (Out of school youth), sa mga ito, 2.4 milyon ang may rason na tungkol sa responsibilidad sa pamilya, kakulangan sa pera, malayo o walang paaralan sa lugar nila, at kinakailangang magtrabaho (https://psa.gov.ph/content/nine-percent-filipinos-aged-6-24-years-are-out-school-results-2017-annual-poverty-indicators). Napakaraming dahilan ng hindi pag aaral ng mga Pilipino, maging sensitive ka naman.

“Kaya hindi kami nakikialam sa gobyerno, kasi hindi naming inaasa ang buhay naming sa mga pulitiko”

Hindi mo kailangan iasa ang buhay mo sa pulitiko, ang kailangan lang ay gawin silang accountable sa lahat ng maling desisyon nila sa bansa, kasi ikaw rin naman ang maapektuhan sa huli. Kung una pa lang pinagbawalan na ang mga Chinese na magpunta sa Pilipinas, baka naging mas kontrolado natin ang sitwasyon ngayon. Baka iilan lang ang may sakit at hindi natin isinangkalan ang buhay ng kapwa natin Pilipino para bumuhay at protektahan ang iba pa. Kung sa simula pinrotektahan na tayo ng gobyerno, naiwasan sana ang may mga mamatay na frontliners, mawalan ng kabuhayan, magutom, wala sanang dadaing. Wala ka sanang mamatahin na mahihirap.

“At hindi nyo ba naisip, ang ikababagsak ng isang pulitiko ay ikaaangat ng isa na namang pulitiko… ang tanong may magbabago ba sa buhay nyo?”

Kung walang napabagsak na gobyerno ang pagrereklamo, baka hindi ka nakakapagsalita ng ganyan sa kapwa mo, maging ako. Mula pa man noon na sinakop tayo, ang mga “nagrereklamo” ang bumago ng buhay natin. Alam mo na yan kasi nag aral ka. Ikaw ba, masasanay ka na lang sa ganito? Sa bulok na sistemang harap-harapan tayong niloloko? Kasi kami hindi. Ikaw ang naglagay sa mga taong yan, kaya nasa iyo rin ang kapangyarihang alisin sila. Kagaya ng mga amo sa empleyado nila. Maaari mong sisantehin ang sinumang di gumagawa ng trabaho niya. Kung hindi mo kayang ipaglaban ang sarili mong karapatan, wag mong pigilan ang iba na ipaglaban ang kanila, ang sa iyo, at sa maraming Pilipinong walang kakayahang magsalita.

After a few weeks of grinding to reach Job Level 70, I was finally ready to the expected Episode 4.0 of the Ragnarok Online Mobile game. It was announced that in this episode that the third job class will be available for the players and in order to convert to that job class, you would need to be at Job level 70.

The daily grind can be detailed in not only using Lightning Chains and maximizing my stamina but also completing the mission boards, time rifts, daily quests on Gingerbread City, and of course guildhall quests. Not to mention that I also use the Job exp potions that I got from Pet Labor to hasten the level up.

The recent map that I usually leave my character is on Toy Factory 1F wherein a lot of aggressive mob spawn. I try to avoid Mystcases as they tend to stun efficiently with their Spiral Pierce skill. The Cruisers were the easiest to kill as I added a Steam Goblin Card to my bow for a huge damage boost.

Anyhow, in the process of the job change to Ranger will ask you to go back to the Adventure HQ to start the quest. From there, you will meet several NPCs that will give you tasks and require you the materials. Good thing I found a guide of the materials needed so I gathered and prepared them beforehand. That shortens the time to finish the quest and so I went back to Adventure HQ to commence the ceremony on the job change.

The next task here is to find the correct skill build as I have already switched to Warg or the Wolf beast along with a few of its attack skills. I would also need to check if there are changes in the equipment or I would stick with the planned build before. That would mean viewing new video content from several ROM Pinoy streamers in the next few days. We shall see.

I have to finally pursue this decision to go back to the healthy foods and activities like jogging and going to the gym. After a few busy months of travel and working on my projects on DURP, I think I can somewhat focus on the proper things to start on and work from there. That would need to be planned carefully such as details on the day-to-day diet plan and the workout routine. Since it is a few months left before we graduate on DURP which is on December, it is best to start this month of October.

I have already started buying anti-oxidant drinks to start cleaning my stomach and intestines and also having to limit my diet with less fat and intake of rice. The problem is that on the current boarding house I am renting, they mostly cook pork-related dishes and also my favorite Bas-o. That self-control of eating too much rice with that delicious food is very much a challenge. I have to really adopt a strict self-discipline. I have also done an initial jogging last night at Esplanade and will make this as a regular activity as long as my feet and knees can handle. I will also do some lower stomach kicking routines I got from an exercise channel on YouTube as another option in case I could not jog.

I would also opt to walk more instead of commuting and hopefully soon from office to the boarding house. That is, will be based on certain conditions like rain and flood. If given the budget, my long-term plan is to buy a foldable bike for daily use. That is another topic though.

Anyhow, what I would need is a definite plan which would serve as a firsthand basis. I hope to come up of it as soon as possible.

Starting Wednesday with inspiration, I am sharing this story of a scene while I am riding a jeepney to work. Age is just a number as long as we are enjoying every moment of our lives. This is one lesson I learned from the old lady. The event happened last November 2017. Read the details below.

“You don’t stop having fun because you get old, you get old because you stop having fun.”

This must be the motivation of the two elderly women I met during the jeepney ride this afternoon. The first one got on near the Ledesma St. intersection and was asking to be dropped at Los Filipinos Bakery that is near the Iloilo Central Market.

The second one rode at Super and was carrying a makeshift trolley with a small basket full of bananas. The first lady asked her where she will be bringing those and she said she’ll be selling these in a spot near Ong Bun pension house at the back side of the old Marymart mall building. She even insisted to pay double (P10.00) for the load even though she already had a senior discount. She bade me thanks after I gave her fare to the driver.

Arriving at her destination, the second lady bade us farewell and drop off the jeep with her cargo. After she left, the first lady raised a question on why she is still doing those even though she is already a senior and the income won’t be that much. I instantly replied that maybe she is enjoying what she does. The lady then chuckled and said that maybe she is doing the same. Her eldest was asking her to just stay at home and rest but she’d rather go around and tour the city rather than just staying at their house and taking her meds for high blood. I agreed with a smile.

The driver then told the lady that we are now near her drop-off place. The lady then gave us thanks and waved goodbye as she prepared to get off the jeepney.

It was a nice commute with a learned lesson and meeting persons despite the traffic & the heat of the afternoon sun.