Showing posts with label finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finance. Show all posts

Friday, December 23, 2011

Violino Piccolo


The young busker in Rundle Mall.  22 December 2011.

Amidst the energy and excitement of holiday shopping at Rundle Mall yesterday, I came across this young boy busking in the middle of this unique street.  Exhausted from the shopping rush, I walked towards him to listen to what he was playing and perhaps, to sit on the wooden bench nearby to relax.  As I got closer to him, I heard the melody of the carol entitled Mary's Boy Child...


James playing a Christmas carol.  Rundle St., Adelaide City, South Australia

Despite the jubilant theme of the song, I could see the sadness in his eyes.

Shoppers went past him; while most of them didn't, some of them tossed coins into his violin case lying open down the brick-covered lane.  There was a note saying, "Hope you like my playing. -James."

Whether it's for passion or just purely for financial gain, nobody knows it except James.

After taking this photograph, I grabbed a note from my wallet and handed it to him, he stopped fiddling and took it.

He said, "Thank you..." and he smiled.

"Merry Christmas, James!"  Then I left. 




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Friday, March 6, 2009

INNOCENT (Epidemics II)

After serving almost 26 years in prison, the twelve convicts of the Benigno Aquino, Jr.-Rolando Galman assassination have been freed—two of them were released last February 6, 2009 and the remaining ten walked out of their detention cells last March 4, 2009. I don’t know if the multiple serious illnesses (hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure, etc.) they have had made them very lucky because their current health status was one of the palace’s bases for granting them the executive clemency.

Exactly a week after the 23rd EDSA 1 commemoration (which was very notable due to the absence of the current Philippine president) was another remarkable day in history as the Malacanang Palace boasted her gesture of ‘political-wound healing’ by sending those convicts out of jail. It’s indeed a celebration for the family and friends of those who received the pardon, while it’s an absolute day of lamentation in the household and supporters of the former Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Jr.


August 26, 1983 - Friday; RJ's 4th Birthday Party

Photo taken 5 days after Ninoy's assasination.


WHO AM I TO SPEAK or to write about the issue here? I feel that I’m not in the right position to comment on this very sensitive matter because I am just an ordinary chook-minder who, 25 years earlier, was completely INNOCENT celebrating my 4th birthday in North Cotabato five days after Ninoy shed his blood on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport.

I WAS ONLY SIX and a half years old during the 1986 People Power Revolution, a grade 1 pupil of Bialong Elementary School who indeliberately heard, “Tama na, sobra na, palitan na!” over the local radio station; a young boy who had unintentionally seen the waves of the meaningful hand gestures and imagined the two political parties being separately wrapped in red and yellow cloths on the screen of my grandmother’s black and white TV. In the succeeding years I had turned into a ‘promdi’ adolescent who met the Aquinoes and their family's immortal, political rival only in the history books; and finally transformed into a young professional who has been seeing the re-enactments and dramatization of the Martial Regime on the award-winning movies.

RJ with Lola Abe.

March 1986, Bialong Elementary School Recognition Day

Approximately a month after the People Power Revolution.


Last January 15, 2007 at exactly 5:10pm, I left my beloved country—Philippines, thru the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. That’s the only thing I had in close contact with ‘Ninoy’ since birth, and oh, before I forget... when I flew to Australia that day, I still have a 500 peso bill in my wallet.

These days, it seems that Ninoy Aquino is simply just the father of the controversial actress and a witty host Ms. Kris Aquino; he was also the man who has literally given his full name to Sen. Noynoy Aquino III; and the late husband of ex-President Cory Aquino who is currently fighting her battle against colon cancer, whose favourite colour is unmistakably yellow. [And a man whose family name is the same as the middle name of my late father, huh! Kamag-anak?!]

I don’t know if Malacanang’s decision to release the convicted killers of the proclaimed Philippine hero Ninoy Aquino, Jr. was the best ‘suture material’ that will excellently help in the ‘primary intention healing’ of the political wounds incised using the sharp scalpels of EDSA I and II (and if I may include, as well as the unhonoured EDSA III). I’m not really sure if the actual wound healing has already started because there seem to be an erroneous wound debridement on the ‘heart’ of the Aquino family as Senator Noynoy was quoted calling this clemency as a solid proof of injustice.

After more than 25 years, these convicts (who were active members of the Philippine Army when Ninoy was murdered) are still claiming their INNOCENCE on this crime. How about the inside story? Can we safely say that the truth behind this case has already been moulded with the ‘wax’—where the facts haven’t been buried but displayed behind the lying wax statue inside the museum, instead? I definitely don’t know!

Ninoy’s heroism was once ironically equated into a funny jig performed after the successful voting against the opening of the controversial second envelope during ex-Pres. Estrada’s impeachment trial.

How about tomorrow? How would my grandchildren identify ex-Sen. Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr.? I am scared that in the future ‘Ninoy’ would only mean a dilapidated aircraft passenger terminal; or Ninoy would soon become an unnoticeable carved stone in the middle of Makati’s empty skyscrapers; and possibly, Ninoy’s value could only be as worthless as our rapidly depreciating five hundred peso bill!

photo from http://myepinoy.wordpress.com/



"The Filipino is worth dying for!"
-Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, Jr.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Monetary Pharmacology (a metaphor)


Prologue

I’ve been receiving plenty of emails for the past two days regarding my previous post—Occupational Medicine (I wonder why the readers don’t just leave their comment in my blog page). Lots of friends out there are quite curious about the dosage of Au$ in the treatment of the Chook-minder’s Malady. So I decided to update my previous blog entry. While doing it however, I had noticed that the ‘Treatment section’ of my article was becoming more and more complicated because of the complexities involved with Au$ as a drug of choice for the said condition. With this, I have come up with another medically-inspired literature. I hope you can still bear with me.

Instead of using the ’chemical symbol’ Au$, I decided to use the common name of our ‘drug’ which is MONEY.


Overview

The name of this ‘drug’- money originated from either of the Latin word ‘monere’ which means remind, warn or instruct; or from the Greek word ‘moneres’ which means unique or alone. The use of this drug has started since 650-600 BC by the Lydians. Today, it has been widely-used, and the most potent drug in the treatment of the wide range and most complicated conditions worldwide.


General Properties

Money is generally accepted as a drug to achieve euphoria and all its forms has been proven as a very practical and effective substance to alleviate pain and relieve anxiety. It is 1,000,000,000 times more potent than Morphine, 1,000,000 times more powerful than Paracetamol, and 1,000 times stronger than Citalopram.

No wonder, Money is the most accepted drug in Gastroenterology. It is the most preferred and often abused drug in the fields of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Urology, Cardiology, Dermatology and Occupational Medicine. Money is also the most common drug used in the areas of Surgery, Neurology, Psychiatry, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics and Geriatrics. Just like in humans, Money is a very popular drug in Veterinary Medicine, as well.

This very mysterious drug, however, has a wide range of adverse reactions and side effects, so aside from following the recommended or standard dosage of the industry, the use of Money should be closely-guarded, regularly-monitored and properly-regulated.

Just like the injectable solution of Diazepam, Money should not be left unattended in a plastic container because of its rapid ‘inactivation’ over minutes! In its currency form, Money should be tightly kept in a secured bolt.


Classes/Forms

1. Currency

2. Credit Cards

3. Debit Cards

4. Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc.


Dosage and Administration

In case of the Chook-minder’s Malady, a fortnightly dose of ONLY Au$21/hour of hard work (regardless of the person’s body weight) is the most effective and legally acceptable dosage.

The posology of Money, however, hasn’t been established despite its existence for several eras. Its dosage always depends on the lifestyle of an identified recipient. In-vivo tests would often suggest, though, that the higher the dosage of Money, the better the action and effect is. Social standards of morality, however, vary; and there are existing studies saying that whether the dose (of Money) is increased or decreased, the action and effects are the same—it’s getting worse. Several researches are still ongoing regarding this.

The delivery of Money into the system of the recipient can be done in various ways depending on its form. Donors or sources of this drug are needed to affix their signatures or enter their personal identification numbers in order to make it legally successful. Most (if not all) of the time, just like other drugs, receiving Money has an equivalent cost. Mostly it is hard work, but there are increasing cases when ‘ill persons’ can easily acquire Money.

Ocular route is the most widely used, especially during the initial doses, though Money, like some other drugs, has a form of an ‘ear drop’ that is simply applied to the external auditory canal! Intravenous and intramuscular are considered possible, but are not recommended because there’s a danger of irreversible adverse effects when Money is directly delivered into the blood stream. Topical, oral, intra-mammary, intra-vaginal, and intra-uterine administrations are discretely performed, but they are all strongly discouraged because so many harmful effects can possibly occur. Immunodeficiency and death are just two of the most dreaded consequences.


Therapeutic Indications and Contraindications

Money (after physical transformation, please see Pharmacokinetics below) is highly indicated in the treatment of hypoglycaemia and throbbing gastrointestinal pain secondary to starvation; hypothermia secondary to homelessness or lack of appropriate clothing; dehydration and electrolyte imbalance secondary to fluid deprivation; hypo- or hyperventilation because of poor air quality, immobility and other locomotor problems.

It is only an adjunct therapy for anxiety, other types of pain, lethargy, dermatitis, dysthymia, cardiac dysrythmia, and all ‘veterinary’ concerns. Unfortunately, it has been proven that the effect of Money in Cosmetology and Surgery is purely dermatological and not systemic - which means behavioural changes in an individual are unlikely expected.

In higher doses, Money has been proven to be very effective in the emergency treatment of combined Geriatric and Paediatric cardiopathy. The drug being excreted (please see Pharmacokinetics below) by a foreign geriatric patient is still very useful in the local paediatric concerns. Its sustainable therapeutic effect, however, is less likely expected in all cases.

Money is contraindicated to all individuals suffering from an African Trypanosomiasis-like disease because it will only aggravate all the symptoms (fatigue, daytime slumber, and night-time insomnia which are all directly) associated with laziness.


Pharmacokinetics (What the body does to the drug?)

The absorption, distribution, and the localization of Money in an individual, are at this point still unclear, but extra care should be taken during administration so it won’t reach the systemic circulation.

Its ‘biotransformation’ hasn’t been explained so far, but several pharmacologic evidences strongly suggest that it remains unchanged in the system. Toxicity is therefore possible, thus ‘excretion’ of Money should be done regularly. Being excreted unchanged; Money is surely beneficial to another needy organism in the chain. Money will then undergo a process of ‘physical transformation,’ and will become goods and services.

The half-life of Money is very short! It can possibly be degraded or eliminated by the body system in just a split of a second.


Pharmacodynamics (Drug Action and Effects)

The mechanism of action of Money occurs immediately as soon as it is delivered ocularly, aurally, and topically. Upon seeing, hearing, or touching this drug, there is an immediate stimulation of the mu-opioid receptors which are widely distributed in all parts of the brain and the spinal cord. Activation of the said receptors will then result to analgesia, sedation, slightly reduced blood pressure, itching, nausea, euphoria, decreased respiration, miosis (constricted pupils) and decreased bowel motility often leading to constipation.


Special Clinical Concerns (Adverse and Side Effects)

There is a danger of addiction with Money and over-dosage will result to a wide range of clinical concerns. These adverse effects are mostly irreversible, therefore, precautionary measures should be undertaken before, during, and after its use.

The Love of Money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much that they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain! (I Timothy 6:10)


Epilogue:

I, actually, don’t know if Doc El would agree with my Monetary Pharmacology paper. Unfortunately, there’s no chance for him to comment about this anymore. I hope I can get a nod from my Pharmacology professors in CVM-USM, Dr. Rolando J. Garduque and Dr. Vingelle Bautista-Jimenez regarding this topic.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Mga Kayamanan

Sa Pilipinas anim na taon akong nag-aalaga ng mga hayop para sa masang Pilipino, pero ngayon ako'y nagpapakahirap mag-alaga ng mga manok para sa mga Australyano.

Dito sa Australia, ang isang dayuhang manggagawang tulad ko ay naghahanap ng kayamanan sa loob ng chicken sheds. Ngunit sa labas ng mga maalikabok na manukang ito, may mga kayamanang umaapaw. Sobra-sobrang mga kayaman ngunit hindi naman magiging akin!


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"GUMASTOS NGAYONG PASKO!" Ito ang panawagan ni Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sa lahat ng mga biniyayaan niya ng bonus noong December 8, 2008. Ito ay bahagi ng Economic Security Strategy ng pamahalaang Australia.

Au$1.8 bilyon ang ipinamigay ng Federal Government ng Australia noong Lunes sa mga:

1. Pensioners/Seniors/Veterans - Au$1,400 kung nag-iisa na sa buhay

- Au$2,100 para sa mag-asawa

2. Carer Allowance - Au$1,000 para sa mga taong nag-aalaga ng kanilang mga kamag-anak na matatanda at nagkakasakit na. Kaya kapag pinili nilang alagaan ang kanilang asawa, tatay, o nanay na maysakit, tiyak na makakatanggap sila ng isanlibong dolyar na bonus ngayong Pasko.

3. First-time Home Buyers - Mula sa dating Au$7,000 ginawa nang Au$21,000 ang subsidiya ng pamahalaan sa mga taong ngayon pa lang bibili ng bahay.

4. Family Tax Benefit - Au$1,000 bawat anak na may edad 21-pababa. Ibinibigay ito sa mag-anak na kumikita lamang ng Au$12,287 o mas mababa bawat taon. Kaya mas maraming anak, mas malaki ang makukuhang bonus, mas mayaman ngayong Pasko!

Source: The Australian


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"KUMAIN NG KARNE NG CAMEL!" Ito naman ang sinabi ng mga siyentipiko ng Australia, at kanila itong itataguyod sa lahat ng mga lider ng bansa sa Canberra ngayong araw.

Dumudoble raw kasi ang populasyon ng mga camel sa Australia tuwing ika-9 na taon kaya sa kasalukuyan humigit-kumulang 1 milyong mga camel na ang malayang gumagala sa mga gitnang bahagi ng kalupaan (3.3 milyon sq. km.) ng Australia. Dahil dito, sinabing ang Australia na ang may pinakamaraming mga mailap na mga camel sa buong mundo.

Napag-alaman ng mga mananaliksik sa Nothern Territory na maraming mga inprastraktura ang nagigiba, at masyadong nasisira ang kapaligiran dahil sa mabilis na pagdami nitong mga camel dito sa Australia.

Unang dinala ng mga Afghan ang mga camel dito sa Australia noong taong 1838 upang makatulong sa paggawa ng mga telegraph lines, riles ng tren, pagmimina atbp. doon sa mga madisyertong bahagi ng bansa. Sino ang mag-aakalang pagkatapos ng 170 taon ay magiging problema itong mga hayop na kanilang pinakawalan sa disyerto noon.

Kung 15% lang ng mga Australiano ang kumakain ng karne ng kangaroo, di ko lang alam kung ilan sa kanila ang gustong kumain ng karne ng camel, habang umaapaw naman ang tone-toneladang mga karne ng baka, baboy at tupa rito sa bansang ito.

Titikim naman ako kapag may mabibili nang karne ng camel sa mga supermarkets.

Sources: ABC News

Flinders Ranges Research


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Nabanggit na lang din ang kangaroo, naisulat ko na dati na ang buntot ng mga kangaroo ang siyang pinakamahalagang bahagi sa pagbabalanse ng kanilang katawan. Kapag ang kanilang buntot ay masaktan o masugatan hindi na sila makakalundag!

Sa aking pamamasyal sa Narana Aboriginal Cultural Center sa Victoria noong nakaraang Biyernes, nakita ko ang nulla-nulla. Ito ay isang kagamitan ng mga katutubong Australianong ginagamit na pamalo sa mga buntot ng kangaroo kapag gusto nila itong hulihin para gawing karne at kainin. Ito ay yari sa mga matitigas na halamang makikita sa malawak na kagubatan ng Australia.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Multiple Choice

Sa buhay, araw-araw akong may mga pagsusulit! Napakaraming mga sitwasyon at mga katanungan, at napakarami ring pagpipiliang mga kasagutan! Pero iisa lang ang tama at pinakamainam gawin.
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PANUTO: Piliin ang tamang sagot. Eyes on your own paper, no cheating; however, you can consult your close friends during the exam.

1. 4:30am pa lang gising na ako. Pilit kong ipinipikit ang aking mga mata pero hindi na talaga ako makatulog. Ano ang gagawin ko?
a. Bumangon na at sumilip sa internet.
b. Huwag bumangon, higa nalang muna, at mag-isip.
c. Pilitin uling makaidlip at managinip.
d. All of the above
SAGOT KO: A

2. Bumangon nalang ako at nagbukas ng internet. Anong blog kaya ang una kong sisilipin?
a. Manikang Papel para matawa habang maaga
b. Mundong Parisukat para makapag-Kopi Breyk
c. Mayaman Pa Sa Daga para sumigla ang katawan at kaluluwa
d. unahing basahin ang pinaka-updated at manood ng Bandila (ABS-CBN) sa SBS-Australia
SAGOT KO: D

3. Anong ihahanda ko para sa breakfast?
a. Garlic fried rice at smoked ham with egg.
b. Croissant, pan bread with butter at strawberry conserve, plus orange juice.
c. Breakfast cereals at avocado-strawberry in cream.
d. Toast at hot chocolate drink.
SAGOT KO: B

4. Alas dose ng tanghali pa ang pasok ko, yun ang oras ng pagdating ng 250,000 chicks ngayong araw. Ipinlano kong kumain ng pananghalian ng alas onse bilang paghahanda sa matinding bakbakan. Ngunit 10:30am pa lang, dumating na ang libu-libong mga sisiw na dala ng chick van! Di pa ako nakakain, haharapin na ang katakut-takot na gawain. Ano kaya ang mabuti kong gawin?
a. Tawagan at pagalitan ang taga-hatchery dahil mali ang ibinigay nilang schedule.
b. Huwag nalang pumasok dahil na-bad trip at gutom. Magbasa nalang ng mga blogs.
c. Papasok ngunit pagbuntunan ng galit ang mga sisiw at mga kasamahan sa trabaho.
d. Magtrabaho kahit gutom, magpakabait, ngingiti nalang sa lahat, at paglaruan at halik-halikan ang mga sisiw na kunyari masaya akong dumating na sila.
SAGOT KO: D

5. Tumunog ang roaming mobile phone ko. Nang binuksan ko ang mensahe, galing ito sa isang taong minsang nagpasama ng loob ko. Humihingi ng tawad, at nanghihiram ng pera.
a. Matuwa pero huwag nang mag-reply.
b. Matuwa, magpatawad at mag-reply ng, “OK sige, pahihiramin kita. o",)”
c. Magalit at burahin ang mensahe at contact sa phonebook.
d. Magkunwaring walang mensaheng natanggap.
SAGOT KO: B

6. Nag-drive ako papuntang bayan gamit ang farm vehicle upang mag-check ng Post Office Box. May nadaanan akong ibinebentang Toyota Camry 2000 model, Au$4,500 ang halaga. Maganda pa ang makina at nang sinubukan ko itong i-drive, maayos pa itong tumakbo sa kalsada. Kailangan ko ng sariling sasakyan, ano ang gagawin ko?
a. Bibilhin na kaagad kahit na maubos ang aking savings.
b. Huwag na munang bumili ng sasakyan dahil baka may mga agaran at mahalagang pagkakagastusang darating.
c. Kalimutan na muna ang Toyota, at unahin na ang digital SLR camera.
d. Ilaan ang pera sa pamamasyal sa Melbourne at Brisbane ngayong Disyembre.
SAGOT KO: B

7. Napakainit ng panahon (37’C), patay na ang lahat ng mga damo. Maraming dayami dahil tag-ani, at tinatangay ng malakas na hangin ang mga mapipinong hibla ng mga nalantang dahon at natuyong bulo ng bulaklak ng mga halaman. Napakakati! Maalikabok! Hatsing ako nang hatsing!

Nais kong dalawin si Jollibee sapagkat miss na miss ko na ang kanyang palabok. Gusto ko ring mag-All You Can Eat sa Cabalen.

Sarap makita, mayakap at mahalikan ang taong minamahal ko at nagmamahal sa akin.

Bad trip sa trabaho dahil ang chick delivery, mali-mali ang scheduling.

Ano ang mabuti kong gawin?

a. Huwag na huwag mag-resign! Manatili na muna rito sa Australia.
SAGOT KO: No Other Choice, A

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Kahinaan at Kalakasan

Nanghihina ang aking buong katawan! Halos hindi ko kayang maglakad sa loob ng manukan kaninang umaga upang alamin ang kalagayan ng aking mga alaga.

Alas-sais ng gabi kahapon ng bigla kong naramdamang ako’y nagsimulang manghina. Naibalita kasi sa telebisyong US$ 0.66 nalang ang halaga ng isang Australian dollar, binanggit pang US$ 0.96 ito noong nakalipas na Hulyo. Agad kong inalam ang palitan ng piso sa Au$. P31: Au$1 nalang, samantalang noong Hulyo ay umabot ito ng P42.

Bakit ganito? Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa dahil lumalakas na ang piso, o kung may karapatan ba akong malungkot dahil humihina na ang halaga ng salaping aking kinikita?

Kahit medyo mahina ako sa Math, napakahilig ko talagang mag-convert. Halimbawa, kapag bumili ako ng isang sakong bigas (5 kilo) sa Asian Store, Au$15 ang halaga nito. Ibig sabihin, P630 ito noong July, P465 nalang ito ngayon! Dapat ba akong matuwa?

Hindi ako ekonomista kaya hindi ko lubusang maipaliwanag sa aking sarili ang mga kasalukuyang pangyayari sa pandaigdigang merkado. Basta ang alam ko, trabaho lang dapat ako ng trabaho. Araw-araw kailangan kong panatilihing malusog at busog ang aking mga alagang manok. Hindi naman pwedeng bawasan ko ang oras ng aking trabaho dito sa manukang ito dahil P31 nalang ang palitan. Parang ayaw ko pa rin namang bumalik sa Pilipinas ngayon dahil lumalakas na ang halaga ng piso kontra Au$.

Kahit naghihina ang aking buong katawan, kailangan kong ipakitang ako’y may kalakasan! Bibili nalang ako ng masustansiyang mga pagkain at saganang suplay ng multivitamins. Mura lang naman ito ngayon, kapag i-convert.