Friday, March 21, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, March 03, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Our First HelpX Experience
Our story begins when I discovered a simple website named HelpX.net.
"HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.
I never thought that I'd see the day when we'd get a visitor from another country to our humble farm-resort in a little nowhere town in the Philippines. More than that, our guest even helped us with a ton of things including our bakery. She even taught us how to make genuine New York bagels!
"HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.
HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts."
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| Awesome All Around HelpXer Maddie |
Maddie has just been aaaaamazing and if all HelpXers are like her, I'm pretty sure that the next HelpXer would just be as awesome.
At first we were very shy.
The farm-resort has seen some better days and needed a lot of work on a loooooooooooooot of things. But she's been very understanding and helpful. With her help we were able to clean up the greenhouse, give the dogs a much needed bath, bake some goodies and she even cleaned her room (She insisted - I promise! My mom's room actually - it's even cleaner now mom!)
Words cannot express how very grateful we are for her stay here in Virginia's Garden.
It's been barely a few hours since she went on her way to her next HelpX destination and we already miss her.
It's been barely a few hours since she went on her way to her next HelpX destination and we already miss her.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Why We Don't Have a TV
Just saw my 6 year old reading Entrepreneur Magazine at 6 AM in the morning...
Monday, December 02, 2013
Virginia's Garden December Special: Free Gumamela Plants (Hibiscus)
I just hope somebody gets them before they just die and I'd have to destroy them along with the other refuse.
We also have other plants like Cactus, Sansevieria and others.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Name a Bed Contest: Win $150 (via TransferMaster)
You and your bright ideas.
They help you earn money blogging for GoodBlogs, but we've got a new opportunity for you to earn a penny for your thoughts (15,000 pennies to be exact).
Ready? If you've heard of GoodBlogs-powered site Rolling Without Limits, you probably know that this fantastic blogging community for folks with mobility issues, is sponsored by a terrific company called Transfer Master. They specialize in keeping people comfortable, with top-of-the line beds and mattresses that are particularly important to you if you're someone who happens to have a physical disability or ailment.
The new mattress is really a feat of engineering. This thing's got a medical core to really help people who need it. Sleep is important. And we want to help! Transfer Master wants YOU to help them name their new mattress! Check out the details below. Come up with the winning name, and score a $150! Just in time for the holidays!
- The new mattress is a member of the supernal line by Transfer Master. (su·per·nal:
adjective: of or relating to the sky or the heavens; celestial.) The name you come up with should sound great in front of the word supernal. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "a cut above," doesn't it?
- This one-of-a-kind sleeping experience has been created after a rigorous, intensive, and intricate design process to ensure it's ability to bring real quality of life to it's user. It is designed to maximize immersion and evelopment, two key elements of pressure redistribution.
- The name should connote an absolutely luxurious
experience of pleasure, comfort, and relaxation.
- It's a legacy. This isn't your typical everyday mattress. It's going to be around for a long time. It's an investment in the comfort of not only it's current user, but that users children and grandchildren. Really, it's made that well.
Well, GoodBloggers, are you up for the challenge? Submit your idea via this quick form and we'll announce a winner soon! We're rooting for you!
Best of luck,
The GoodBlogs Crew for Transfer Master
My entries:
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Immaculate
·
pristine
·
ephemeral
·
perpetuity
·
paragon
·
paradigm
·
dignity
·
dignified
·
slumber
·
dignidad
·
immersal
·
integral
·
finality
·
Essential
·
Subliminal
·
Vital
·
vitality
·
Vigor
·
Renewal
·
Replenish
·
Rebirth
·
Celestina
·
Relive
·
“masterful renewal”
·
Jovial
·
ephemerata
·
sanctuary
·
sanctina
·
Vigorata
·
Vernal
·
“Pleasure Isle”
·
Psithurial
·
noctifloural
·
Somnum
·
Quiesco
·
Sommeil
·
flotilla
·
Volito
·
Levatio
·
“Anima Vita”
·
Vie
·
“celestial siesta”
·
leviate
·
Regenesis
·
“Felice Sonno”
·
Ringiovanire
·
Myga
·
Icarus
·
Leviathan
·
“elemental necessity”
·
Salve
·
Immortalis
·
Immortality
·
Aeternus
·
Naturalis
·
Riposo
Thursday, November 21, 2013
How (Exactly) to Rebuild a City
Perhaps it is an issue best left to politicians jostling for credit on who gave what and how much. Perhaps not.
Perhaps it is an issue of sheer will and perseverance.
Perhaps it is an issue of faith.
While many think that rebuilding a city is a matter of sending relief goods, shelter and financial donations, I am somewhat inspired by what the current Pope said previously on an unrelated matter. I am not a Catholic but his message resounds in my spirit and heart.
Where I live right now used to be a frontier a few decades back. And my observations on how this little barangay was built both the negative and the positive could be of value to those who have the power to make it so in Tacloban City and elsewhere with the aftermath of Yolanda.
People choose the place to put their shelter on not just because of its security but because it is near the source of value that it can provide to them.
The world can only sustain Tacloban and elsewhere until how long? One cannot simply want to put up a city of relief goods and donations.
A lot of work must be created. Let the city of Tacloban be built on the foundation of dignity in work.
Shelter must be built, so there will be men who must be employed as carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians and such. Perhaps, this is what the city of Tacloban is doing now. I just hope that the ruling elite there recognizes this.
Of course, they would also need building materials. So hardware stores would be put up and entrepreneurs and traders who have the ability to bring goods from one place to another would be needed.
While the strong men of labor rebuild the houses, the schools, the clinics, etc, they must be fed. So part of their salary would go to the people who supply cooked food. These are your eateries and carinderias which operate at very low capital and with high rates of turnover despite marginal profits. The operators of these establishments could then sustain their own livelihoods from the carpenter's payments.
For these carinderias to operate they must have a supply of raw foodstuffs, like vegetables, meat, rice, condiments and a clean potable supply of water.
Initially these would come from outside sources if none are operating yet. Vegetables and meat would come from other provinces before they can grow their own. But that said, a farmer's work is never finished. They should start planting right now after the clearing operations.
For the farmer to start planting he must have land and seeds. For simple vegetables this should be sufficient. But for most consumer variety of vegetables, fertilizer and other farm related materials are necessary.
It would be a burden for the farmer to use personal loans to finance his endeavor, so it would be better if they are allowed to plant temporarily on government soil subsidized by the government. Like the carpenter and the mason, they would need farm implements and tools, so again, the trader derives an income.
Plunder and looting would still be the rule if there was no police force. Employing those who do not want to be farmers and laborers as auxiliary forces would be better than having them loot and steal. Of course, there is a downside to this as their character would be suspect if they do not want to work and submit to authority in the first place.
People need clothes to wear so women should start sewing and making handicrafts. Once the market is operational, they could sell these goods and provide a supplementary source of income for the entire household.
After a few months, the new houses will be built and the children would need to continue their education. There would be a need for teachers and principals.
The farmers' goods must be transported to the market so gasoline and vehicles for hire would be needed.
From then on, as lives are restored, new livelihoods will emerge as people need to find ways on which to 'invest' on the surplus of their productivity. Salons, barbers, electronics, information, casual dining, dry goods, luxuries, would again be in demand.
The more educated populace will then begin to take the posts needed in hospitals, government, legal, and various other services.
The bottom line is, it takes time to rebuild a city, but it is a naturally occurring economic phenomenon that will happen whether politicians or leaders exist.
The ultimate question is - how exactly will they rebuild it?
They could build it on the greed and credit taking of politicians, or they could build it, in the basic premise and belief that in work there is dignity.
Perhaps it is an issue of sheer will and perseverance.
Perhaps it is an issue of faith.
While many think that rebuilding a city is a matter of sending relief goods, shelter and financial donations, I am somewhat inspired by what the current Pope said previously on an unrelated matter. I am not a Catholic but his message resounds in my spirit and heart.
Where There is Work, There is Dignity
Where I live right now used to be a frontier a few decades back. And my observations on how this little barangay was built both the negative and the positive could be of value to those who have the power to make it so in Tacloban City and elsewhere with the aftermath of Yolanda.
People choose the place to put their shelter on not just because of its security but because it is near the source of value that it can provide to them.
The world can only sustain Tacloban and elsewhere until how long? One cannot simply want to put up a city of relief goods and donations.
A lot of work must be created. Let the city of Tacloban be built on the foundation of dignity in work.
Shelter must be built, so there will be men who must be employed as carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians and such. Perhaps, this is what the city of Tacloban is doing now. I just hope that the ruling elite there recognizes this.
Of course, they would also need building materials. So hardware stores would be put up and entrepreneurs and traders who have the ability to bring goods from one place to another would be needed.
While the strong men of labor rebuild the houses, the schools, the clinics, etc, they must be fed. So part of their salary would go to the people who supply cooked food. These are your eateries and carinderias which operate at very low capital and with high rates of turnover despite marginal profits. The operators of these establishments could then sustain their own livelihoods from the carpenter's payments.
For these carinderias to operate they must have a supply of raw foodstuffs, like vegetables, meat, rice, condiments and a clean potable supply of water.
Initially these would come from outside sources if none are operating yet. Vegetables and meat would come from other provinces before they can grow their own. But that said, a farmer's work is never finished. They should start planting right now after the clearing operations.
For the farmer to start planting he must have land and seeds. For simple vegetables this should be sufficient. But for most consumer variety of vegetables, fertilizer and other farm related materials are necessary.
It would be a burden for the farmer to use personal loans to finance his endeavor, so it would be better if they are allowed to plant temporarily on government soil subsidized by the government. Like the carpenter and the mason, they would need farm implements and tools, so again, the trader derives an income.
Plunder and looting would still be the rule if there was no police force. Employing those who do not want to be farmers and laborers as auxiliary forces would be better than having them loot and steal. Of course, there is a downside to this as their character would be suspect if they do not want to work and submit to authority in the first place.
People need clothes to wear so women should start sewing and making handicrafts. Once the market is operational, they could sell these goods and provide a supplementary source of income for the entire household.
After a few months, the new houses will be built and the children would need to continue their education. There would be a need for teachers and principals.
The farmers' goods must be transported to the market so gasoline and vehicles for hire would be needed.
From then on, as lives are restored, new livelihoods will emerge as people need to find ways on which to 'invest' on the surplus of their productivity. Salons, barbers, electronics, information, casual dining, dry goods, luxuries, would again be in demand.
The more educated populace will then begin to take the posts needed in hospitals, government, legal, and various other services.
The bottom line is, it takes time to rebuild a city, but it is a naturally occurring economic phenomenon that will happen whether politicians or leaders exist.
The ultimate question is - how exactly will they rebuild it?
They could build it on the greed and credit taking of politicians, or they could build it, in the basic premise and belief that in work there is dignity.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
PSA: November 20, 2013
If you know any of the victims in the typhoon Haiyan who are in need of shelter, I can support 1 to 2 families temporarily until they can get back on their feet.
My facility is located in +Lipa City Batangas
If you are from Redcross or DSWD just bring them here, I have no transportation.
#Yolanda #Typhoon #Haiyan
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Typhoon Yolanda Put Many Holes in My Roof: Here's How Goodblogs.com Helped Me Fix It
Thankfully, Yolanda didn't hit Lipa City as much as Tacloban and Central Philippines. By the way, you should consider helping out Yolanda relief efforts if you can't give hugs and love personally.
You could find resources on how to help Yolanda victims through this link from Google:
So as I was saying, only signal number 2 was raised in the Batangas region where I live but Yolanda has exacerbated some maintenance problems I've been having for the last year or so.
In shorter terms, Yolanda made a bigger hole on my roof where there used to be just a few.
So, I'm thanking the good people of GoodBlogs.com for helping me through this rough patch by expediting my freelance writer's earnings. Through the efforts of Jason and Amanda, I will have some funds to repair the roof. Which looked like this after Yolanda:
What is Goodblogs.com?
Well, to me it's more than just a blog network consisting of
- http://www.breathinghappy.com - for smokers who want to quit
- http://www.transfermaster.com/blog - for persons with disabilities
- http://www.theflamingvegan.com - for vegans
- http://www.ofhorse.com - for horse lovers
- http://blog.enroll.com - for educators
- http://blog.renovate.com - for builders
- http://blog.lend.com - about loans and lending money
To me, it's about fulfilling a dream as a professional blogger. At times, I've relied on my goodblogs.com earnings to help me put food on the table. Yes, that's how melodramatic I can be, but it's the truth.
At times, it has provided me a supplemental source of income that helped me pursue the many, many projects that I want to accomplish in life.
During these times of tragedy for my fellow countrymen, it has helped me give, when otherwise I would have had nothing to give.
So to the wonderful people of Goodblogs.com.
Thank you.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Typhoon Haiyan Should Change the Way We Design Philippine Homes
I made a post on Reddit/r/IcanDrawThat to see if I could stir people's imaginations on how houses should be built in the future specially for typhoon prone areas. One of the many hazards posed by super typhoons is flying debris from substandard housing design. Flying corrugated metal roofs, sharp wooden splinters from 2x2x10x wooden poles and other flying maladies have ever since they were invented the average mainstay of most average income and below average income Filipino households.
This has to change if we are to believe that climate change will bring more supertyphoons to our country.
This has to change if we are to believe that climate change will bring more supertyphoons to our country.
Like in Kung Fu, houses should not be built to withstand these lateral and vertical forces but rather to let them flow. Think "aero" and aqua dynamic. Let the typhoon winds and the waters flow.
So I derived some inspiration from igloos. Think of raised concrete igloos and their ability to withstand wind speeds of more than 200 mph. Do you think it's doable?
So I derived some inspiration from igloos. Think of raised concrete igloos and their ability to withstand wind speeds of more than 200 mph. Do you think it's doable?
Let's see what the people on Reddit think.
The post is here
http://www.reddit.com/r/ICanDrawThat/comments/1qbk35/request_minimizing_future_typhoon_haiyans_draw/
First submission:
Filipino here and I'm beginning to think that these storms, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes are going to get worse in the future, not just here in the Philippines but around the globe. So in my 2:54'ish state of "wakefulness" I thought, "if houses were designed like elevated igloos, they might have considerably better chances of surviving the forces of winds reaching up to 195 mph. Seriously, I think engineers and architects should look into designs that offer less resistance to those kinds of forces and add a little elevation for storm surges. Here's some inspiration:
From: Greendiary.com
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| by Professor Baby |
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