Pinoys executed in China

Three Filipinos, Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain executed in China , Wednesday, March 30, 2011, for possession of illegal drugs and suspected drug trafficking.  One of them plead guilty while the others seemed to be innocent victims of drug syndicates.  The laws of China are stirct and there was no way to save them from their fate inspite of the Philippine goverments pleas and requests.  The glimmer of making big money with least effort is simply too attractive to ignore, especially for those who are in a financial fit.

Looking at the Philippine situation when it comes to possession of illegal drugs, manufacture of it and drug trafficking, offenders are no longer worried of death  penalty when caught.  Anti-narcotics agents frequently arrest Chinese nationals for those offenses but I can't recall any instance that China interceded in their behalf and there is a reason on why.

The Filipinos go abroad to work abroad or try to find a decent one.  The Chinese nationals that are arrested because of illegal drug offenses in the Philippines are actually in the country for that purpose!  A good majority of them are not documented!

Some Filipinos abroad are forced into something illegal when in tight situations.  There is a saying in the country, "Ang taong gipit ay kuma-kapit kahit sa patalim" (A person in a tight situation will even hold on to a knifes blade).

Note:  They were all arrested separately in December 2008.  If the Philippines investigated they might have found out the syndicate and not wait for the last minute to appeal! 

Update:  Mapet Cortez a.k.a. Tita Cacayan recruiter of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva reportedly submitted herself to the NBI for investigation as she allegedly could not take in her conscience on what happened.  Why come out only now when the poor victim is already dead?

The first online anicom series soon to be launched some time in April 2011.  Entitled "S.A.G.I.P." is a coprighted script October 19, 2004 in the Philippines.  This fiction was inspired by a case where an OFW was taken hostage in the Middle East and really took a long time before he was freed.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni0dzqjk2Qs

Earthquake prediction by Oarfish

A YouTube interview of Jim Berkland Earthquake Prediction 2011 mentioned the Oarfish a few seconds before ending.  The Oarfish is considered to be the longest fish that can grow up to 56 feet long while regular length is  around  30 feet!  An interesting trait of this fish is that they hold themselves straight up and down in the water, that is vertical and not horizontal.  They are rare because they can only be seen in the deepest regions of the oceans.  The fish does not have commercial value and the meat is inedible.

The Oarfish might be able to 'predict' earthquakes that will happen near the seas or undersea but not for inland earthquakes.  Seismic waves hardly travel well through water as not all types of seismic waves can travel through it.  So, it seems practical that only the Oarfish can probably 'sense' an impending tremor because of its upright position and length!  Furthermore it is solid and chances with its upright stance, the 'tail' could be touching the ocean floor frequently.  It therefore can feel the seismic wave go through the length of its body!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110318/sc_ac/8084134_can_a_rare_deep_sea_fish_predict_earthquakes

 

Common Philippine Crabs

Curiosity made me search online and research crustacean cook books about crabs.  Unfortunately there was so little about edible crabs and if common Philippine crabs would have those that thrive in freshwater.  Wikipedia only described and distinguished four of them:  Alimango (Mud or Mangrove Crab); Alimasag (Blue or Spider Crab); Talangka (Shore or River Crab) and the Katang (Fresh water Crab).  Both Talangka and Katang are much smaller related to the Alimango.

CLICK photo for site where posted

The Alimango is the largest among the four kinds of crabs.  Having large pincers is the easiest way to distinguish them from the Alimasag.  Their shell is thicker and tougher to crack.   They can really grow large and I have seen at the Palawan Iwahig Penal Colony inmates selling them almost the size of dinner plates!  The crabs are caught or trapped in rice paddies of the colony.  With this I can conclude that those are freshwater crabs because rice would not grow in saltwater paddies.

CLICK photo for site where posted

The Alimasag is relatively smaller than the alimango with slender pincers and thinner shell.  It has more meat and 'less compartments' containing them compared to the alimango.  The 'compartments' are very thin shell-like within a crab when you open them.  The pincers are easy to crack by even just biting through them. 

CLICK photo for site where posted

The Talangka and Katang are small look-alikes of the Alimasag.  Many Filipinos simply love the fat extract of these crabs preserved and sold in wide-mouthed bottles.  Another recipe liked by some is the Burong (Pickled) Talangka.

The regular way in cooking the crabs is simple.  While fresh put them inside a covered cookware, salt them generously to bring out their flavor then heat over medium fire.  They would be ready to eat once their top shell has turned orange in color.

Baguio City No Smoking Ordinance

Fortunately I saw two friends this morning along Session Road that has been closed to traffic for the last week of Panagbenga.  Incidentally the three of us are smokers and it is only the other one who told us that the Baguio City No Smoking Ordinance covers all public spaces including streets and parks.

The latest articles that showed on my search about the ordinance was dated December 7, 2010 and December 10, 2010.  The articles were about the ordinance and not the ordinance itself and only referred to "Republic Act 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003)or the Clean Air Act and the Comprehensive Anti-smoking ordinance of Baguio".  Another one, "Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act to achieve 100% smoke free environment".

What was clearly stated in the articles, the ordinance bans smoking in all public places, including pedestrian overpasses and public utility vehicles.  The articles also mentioned that "No Smoking Signs" will be displayed to make people aware of it.  For the past weeks, I have walked up and down Session Road several times and on other sidestreets but not a single sign and most of the time I was smoking.  Also there were many others who were smoking, maybe also unaware as I am.

I respect the non-smokers.  However, how will one abide by the ordinance or law if it does not clearly state or define the public places?  Many times it is not reliable to listen to people who just hang around listening and making gossips and hearsays.  What seems to be right for them is often exaggerated if not wrong.