Project 2 - Fix Videocam

Actually, I already proceeded to have the video cam fixed on September 8, 2010. The bill to pay is 2,200. I tried looking around BF Homes Paranaque for a camera service and found one inside Tropical Hut.

It was a guy named Trix who is also selling cheap second hand handy cams too.

Anyway, we were supposed to get the camera today actually. But when we called him, he said it might take up to Friday. So there you go.

If it does get fixed, I will post videos ASAP.

Project 2 is pending Til I get the camera.

The Real Farm Ville = resort-ville.com

THE REAL FARMVILLE

The Story Behind the Game

You are the son of a successful lawyer who spent his success to build a non operating, but real farm ville.

Unfortunately, he died at the age of 49, 3 years ago, leaving you with lots of land but no cash.

You don't have a clue how to manage a real farm ville, but find that you don't have a choice.

At the age of 28, you assign yourself as the resort manager and embark on a journey which goes wherever you bring it.

You don't have money, all you have are a few cottages, a pool and the determination to turn the "estate" into something better. And oh, 15,000 square meters of land. Not much compared to the big business barons, but that'll do.

In the game, you'll be faced with bayawaks, harsh tropical storms, ginormous falling trees, itchy insects, people stealing coconuts, neighboring gambling lords, small time political wannabes, and people who enter your real farmville at night - and practically do anything that they like.

You have your family with you, one helper, two dogs and a jungle bolo with the ultimate plan of developing the farm into a resort and opening it up to the public.

The challenge is to not borrow money from the bank and make do with whatever resources that you have.

You have mango trees, banana trees, mahogany trees, rambutan, durian, guava, papaya and lots of flowering plants. Too bad that you didn't listen to your high school biology teacher, now you have to get to know these flora and fauna simply by asking.

in the REAL FARM VILLE

In the game, you get to vote on what the resort manager would do next.
To make things more exciting, the resort manager is thinking of including video.

The Rationale for Creating the Real Farm Ville = Resort-Ville.com

This project, stemmed from my fun desperation. There's no point in moping and complaining when I could just turn this situation around by turning it into a game.

Yes, it's the real deal and not just an ordinary game which I happily named resort-ville.

There could be two endings to this ongoing story.

1. The game ends when the resort is sold.
2. The game continues on - and the resort does not get sold. You get to provide jobs to people and run a successful resort business. One day, you decide to go to the real place, and the Resort Manager will greet you personally and give you the best experience you'll ever have.

Why?


I use facebook on a regular basis and don't really get to avoid getting invited to become someone's neighbor in farmville.

I played it and I think it's a good game - for wasting your time. The fact that some people even actually spend real money on a virtual farm astounds me. Why pay for something that's not real - when you can have the real thing?

So that's where the idea of resort-ville came from. The Real Farm Ville.


The mechanics of the game is simple, you don't even have to spend. All you have to do, is vote on what I - "The Resort Manager" will do and I'll do it and even post a video while I am doing it.

:)

Project 1 Complete

You've voted and I responded. Actually I voted and one person voted too. Project Varnish Main House Ledge is completed.
September 6, 2010
BEFORE

The dog did it

 

AFTER

Not Perfect, But Nice

Ah, orange

Project Estimated Cost

$33.00 USD (PHP 1,000)

Total Project Cost

6 Bottles of Varnish = $0.76 x 6 Bottles = $4.56  (34 PHP x 6 Bottles = PHP 204) 

Labor = FREE (I did it)

Savings

$28.44

A lot of expenses saved by doing it myself. 

Project: Storage Area

Objective:

Move my family to servants quarters/office and vacate main house.

Details:

We've been living in the main house for a whole year now and have used the office/servant's quarters for a temporary storage. The main house is the only facility capable of being used as a reception/coffee shop/hotel. It has two rooms and two bathrooms.

If we can transfer the equipment from the servants quarters to the storage facility.
We can then move to the servants quarters after it has been treated and cleaned.


Project Details
Materials

• 500 pieces of hollow blocks = PHP 6 x 500 = PHP 3,000
• 8 pcs 10 foot long corrugated sheets (yero, or roofing) = Price unknown
• 20 pcs 10 mm metal rods = Price unknown
• 20 bags of cement = Price Unknown
• 1 Kilo metal wire (alambre) = Price Unknown
• 2 Kilos 2 Inch nails = Price Unknown
• 2 Kilos 4 Inch nails = Price Unknown
• 2 pcs. 14x26 GI Sheet (Palupo) = Price Unknown
• 1 Elf Truck of Sand to Mix with the Cement = Price Unknown
• 8 pcs 2x4x10 Coco Lumber = Price Unknown
• 1 pc. 2x6x9 Coco Lumber = Price Unknown
• 10 pcs. 2x2x14 Coco Lumber = Price Unknown

Labor

• 1 Carpenter at PHP 400 a Day / $10 a Day
• 1 Carpenter Helper at PHP 250 a Day / $5.51 a Day

Estimated Project Duration and Labor Cost

• 2 to 3 Weeks = 15 days x PHP 650 = PHP 9,750

Assessment

Carpenters that I have spoken to are Kanoto and Ka Martin has referred a certain Lito. Project Management is difficult because 1. I am not an engineer 2. Trickery that is involved.

Guides

1. Normally, the rule of thumb is = multiply estimated expenses by 3 to ensure that the funds are appropriate. 

2. Project could be approached on a piecemeal basis. 

3. Buy 1/3 of materials and do labor 1/3 of the time.

4. Get the current prices for each individual item.

Execution: Sept 14, 2010. Pending Vote 

Ta Da!

FAQ - Nothing is Absolute!

1. Ok, what's this blog all about?

It's the first step to a project that I hope, will stop being a blog and become a full blown online crowd sourced game based on reality if it gains traction.

2. What kind of game?

Ok, here's how it goes. Our family has an unoperational resort. Meaning we're not open to the public. We're not generating income and it's slowly getting ugly. In short I am broke but have land.

MECHANICS OF THE GAME

a. I will post videos and pictures of the location.
b. I will post what's happening
c. I will post what needs to be done
d. I will post a budget of the things that can be done within MY budget
e. YOU GET TO VOTE ON WHAT I WILL DO NEXT
f. I will post pictures and videos of the thing that you voted on
g. The goal is to either sell it or to open it to the public - tentative goal is within March to May 2011.

3. Sounds like a real farm ville...Really?

Yes. Yes and Yes! But only for a resort.

4. Sounds great - are you going to ask money from us?

Nope. But I'm thinking of letting people donate - Working on this idea.

5. What's in it for me?


FUN! LIKE PLAYING A REAL LIFE GAME.

6. Ooh! Ooh! Can I go?

Sure, you can visit us :)

7. Who are you?

I am who I am because of who we all are
------
TODO

1. Help me find a good keyword domain for the home of this site, I can use the Adsense or affiliate income from the online traffic.

• Preferably with the word ville. Realityville.com, Realville.com and resortville.com has been taken, so I'm using Google Keyword Tool External to find the next appropriate one.

2. List down more things to do here in the resort
3. List down the funds available
4. Pictures
5. Fix digicam - Pictures only for now
6. Put Paypal donate button

Hostage in the Philippines

Hostage in the Philippines

by: Daniel Andrei R. Garcia

I am a hostage in the Philippines,

captured by its beauty, warmth and people

Land of the peaceful and God fearing, 

Emblazoned on the wings of an eagle

Marvelous in resplendent glory, 

Amiable, respectful and hospitable

Truly, God has blessed us, 

with a nation this wonderful

Tragedy befell when we have ceased to believe,

but now the phoenix has awakened in its brilliant slumber

To thee I ask, which other nation is worth living for?

Where art though, but here at home, 

Watching the mayas and the pigeons crow

Alas, my heart has been held hostage, 

No longer will I desire for greener pastures other than yours

They scoff, laugh and jeer at thee, 

Yet this I say with wanton glee

To you my heart will be, 

my Philippines, my Nation.

Copyright 2010. Daniel Andrei R. Garcia

Pictures owned by their respective owners. 

6 Tips on How Bloggers Can Help Tourism in the Philippines

You might not know it, but the Philippines is the SEO Capital of the World. We have the best and the most highly skilled SEO experts around. As a freelance writer, I can strongly attest to this because we have ProBloggers earning double and even quadruple digits from their adsense earnings on a daily basis. That's only the visible parts.

It is with this premise that I would like to propose that bloggers and SEO practitioners do their part in helping our fellowmen who are in the hospitality and tourism industry by injecting some positivity in the matter.

The truth is good - but most of the time, negative truth gets the limelight. I'm not suggesting that we cover up the truth - most of us have already done an extremely good job at magnifying it. What I am suggesting is that we focus on the rebuilding efforts through these tips:

1. Focus on the positive things that our government is doing in order to remedy, improve and make the situation better.

2. Blog about the positive concrete steps that our nation is taking to make the situation better.

3. Focus on infrastructure. Every day, there is a new project that is launched, a new livelihood program started,  a new hobby that is created, a new helpful and positive thing that's not covered by the media. Blog on it like your life depended on it

4. Keywords. Remember that the prevailing keywords right now are: Philippine Hostage Crisis, Philippine Hostage Video, Philippine Hostages, Tourism Philippines, Blacklist Philippines, Quirino Massacre - use your imagination and focus on these keywords when you blog or write - and then write something good.

5. Accept and write about the truth but provide positive sounding solutions. Let's not focus on negativity and blame. Don't use the word "should". Find sentences with the word "will", "is going to", "is doing", "will be" - think concrete, finished, future, possibilities, doable and positive.

6. Images count a lot. So make sure that when you write your blog posts - put some imagery of our best. No more pictures of the bus please.

Our country and its people are beautiful, kind hearted and peaceful. Let's make sure that we build this sentiment up while still accepting our own failures. The good thing about this really is that this event, though tragic and disheartening, may still be a teachable moment to the rest of us who are still here.

With this note, let us shine forth and show the world the best that we can be.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.  


P.S. If you have tips of your own please do share in the comments section. Every little bit counts.

Why Tourism Will Still Be Strong in the Philippines

The recent and isolated incident in Manila concerning Hong Kong tourists and the subsequent travel advisories that followed have at least pointed to one incontrovertible fact, that we should not let our fears guide us.

Sunrise in Manila Bay

I am in the hospitality and tourism business regardless of the fact that our resort is not operational, mainly because my mindset is focused towards that goal.

If we were open to the public right now, I would still not be taken aback by the news "reported" by all the doomsayers pretending to be "journalists".

Why? Because 500 does not make up the tourism industry.

I believe that Hong Kong will eventually have to rescind its blacklisting of the Philippines:

1. Upon the guarantee that our nation can provide security and safety to our guests.

• By retraining the police force (We could ask the Hong Kong police force to retrain our SWAT personnel if they would like)
• By accepting our own (whole departments included) mistakes in the dilemma
• By drafting implementing guidelines concerning the protection and movement of tourists. (No hitchhiking cops on tourist buses please.)

2. After the natural passage of time, be it months or years - it will happen, just as the American economy will rebound, just as Japan recovered from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear attacks and became an economic powerhouse, just as everything terrible in this world eventually changes. Like they said, "it's only a matter of time" - hopefully, it would be sooner.

3. By sheer necessity.

Who are your average tourists? In my own personal observation, these are usually Caucasian men from America, Europe and Australia that have Filipina wives who have family here. This segment is important because no amount of travel advisories will deter this particular demographic from going to the Philippines.

MORE SOLUTIONS

1. The best solution that one can think of, would simply point to ourselves. DOMESTIC TOURISM accounts for 16 Million Arrivals per year. 

QUOTE

The understate secretary also declared to a reporter from The Pinoy News portal, that domestic tourism generates 16 million tourist arrivals per year. Combining both would then give a total of 19 million tourist arrivals per year.

QUOTE

“In fact, domestic tourism offers the biggest hope for the country to keep not just the industry but the economy alive,” said Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas)."

SOURCE: The Philippine Star

2. OFWs and Balikbayans 

QUOTE

Filipino overseas workers could constitute a significant part of the booming domestic tourism that has been given a big boost by improved infrastructures in the Philippine countryside.

SOURCE: Philippine Daily Inquirer

At the end of the day, yes we will be happy and thankful  if those travel advisories will be adjusted as soon as possible. I am sure that the current administration is doing all that it can to ensure this.

Yet at the same time, I firmly believe that the Tourism Industry in the Philippines will remain strong because Kaya Natin to.

Sunrise in Boracay

As much as some people would like to point out that We are the problem, by all means 


We are also the Solution to our problems. 

The Word "Should"

Oftentimes, political writers, commentators and pundits use the word "should" in a way that confounds, irritates and quite possibly gets ignored by the people who "could". 


Would you listen if people who would've known little or none at all tell you the things that you should do?

[Blank] should do [Blank] because [Yada, Yada, Yada]. 

Sadly, this is how political commentary all over the world is often made. It doesn't matter whether it's about ducks drenched in grime and grease, or people wallowing in grime and grease, the word should is over-esteemed. 


Even children don't listen to it


You should pick up your clothes and put them in the laundry basket. 


"But...... Mom!"


Imagine if you are relaying your "Should Manifesto"  to a bunch of pointy nosed, thick skulled and egotistic individuals. The results could very well be similar. 


In an age where everybody seems to be jumping on the "Everybody is my boss" nonsense, the word should  is given an identity that goes beyond it's capability. 




A Solution


The solution is in the acceptance that things "ARE". Though we often aspire for SHOULD BE, coming to terms with THEY ARE, gives us the freedom to go beyond the limitations that are all too often self imposed. 


Things ARE, and deep in your mind lies a hankering for SHOULD BE, but THROUGH THIS, they WILL BE. 


Execution is key. 


The process is tedious, but with great and well thought out effort come great results. 


By then, precious time is saved by not clamoring for something that ISN'T. 


It's very easy to be bound by the enslavement wrought about by the word "SHOULD".


For now, let us reserve it to those who COULD and do it as we WOULD given our limitations.  

Like I Said...What are you Planting?

Update: Sorry about that. I was reacting in response to this. 


I feel flabbergasted by the amount of support that Craig Newmark is getting. A decade ago, there would have been no argument with regards to "legal culpability and liability in facilitating the advertisement of illicit activities". 


As far as I can tell, no broadsheet newspaper of credible reputation would ever advertise sex services on their classifieds. 


I feel disappointed that personalities that I respect and admire, would defend the position held by Craigslist. That it's not their fault that people use their site for nefarious activities such as human trafficking, 1. because there's no proof that it transpires. 2. because other people should be the ones to report it to the police.


They're adopting that "Wha? That happened on our site? Can you prove it to us? Why don't you report it to the police then?"


I've seen the arguments on facebook and didn't bother chiming in. The values of this world are changing and I can say with full conviction - that it's not changing for the best.


Facts:


1. Craigslist makes it easier for criminal elements to abuse their system - 1 proof - picture above.
2. Craigslist claims that they are manually screening the ads
3. I am not familiar with American law, but, I can see that in having categories that promote casual sex in the first place, Craigslist makes it appealing and easy for people to do as such


My opinions:


1. Removing said categories and forms of advertisement will not solve human trafficking. But it will drive these elements underground. 

• Would you have these activities in the underground or in the mainstream?
• At the current stage and with Craigslist offering a venue, these illicit activities are in the mainstream
• So, let them go underground
• If you let these happen in the mainstream, it will only be a matter of time when such behavior will be accepted as the norm. 
• If these forms of behavior are accepted as the norm, American institutions like the family will change. 



• Now, I am treading on dangerous ground here. So I will stop. I'm not an American so why should I care? 
• My countrymen are emulating America in everything. Take a look at me. I'm the product of the American education system that was transplanted and adapted here in the Philippines. 
• I have a family and I want my conception of the family to be as it is and unchanged.
• I am against human trafficking. 

Hence, the question: What has been planted?

What are You Planting Right Now?

Galatians 6:7-10

⁷Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Ah, all that back breaking work has paid off.