Clark as the Future and Inevitable Choice

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 28th, 2011

Several of you who read this blog know my father, Jose Ma. “Digoy” Fernandez. He’s a columnist for various newspapers, was formerly in banking and also with government for a time. After retiring more than 10 yers ago he was asked to take a seat in the board of CIAC (Clark) to help in the acceleration of the new International and domestic terminal. Since NAIA I has been getting a lot of flak nowadays, this article brings to light the 5 year plan for (1) developing the new terminals in Clark for 50,000,000 passengers, (2) new commuter infrastructure and (3) decongesting of Manila and moving a lot of businesses up north.

Highlights:
Completion of new domestic terminal by end 2012
New International terminal (ala Singapore) within 5 years
Greenlighted budget flights to the USA
Clark as a regional FBMR station (Fixed Base and Maintenance and Repair)
NLEX-SLEX connection
High Speed Railway to Manila
Expansion of businesses up north to the Clark-Subic area to decongest Manila
Conversion of Clark into a tourist destination “Airport City”
50,000,000 tourist capacity

BusinessMirror.com.ph Home Banking Clark as the inevitable choice
Clark as the inevitable choice
THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2011 19:36 DR. JOSE MA. J. FERNANDEZ / FREE ENTERPRISE

THE former US Armed Forces base in Clark has been in the news of late, partly because of the rather unflattering publicity generated by the country’s premier airport in the capital metropolis. The problems associated with the single runway and the long-delayed rehabilitation of Terminal 1 have finally come to bear, and planners have started to take a longer and harder look at building up the necessary infrastructure to make the use of Clark a more viable option.

Please read. Please share. This one is happening.

Rizal vs Juan Luna Animated Short by The KARSUNSILYO Show

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 22nd, 2011

Fun animated short film depicting Juan Luna and Jose Rizal in VS mode. Props to people that recognize the context of the character abilities (i.e. Rizal’s Sisa Rage and Juan Luna’s Painting Shoryuken).

This video needs more views! Please spread the word. Here’s their Facebook Page. If you check the credits Imee Marcos was involved in the production of the video.

This video deserves to be viral: Child cries over Mara Clara

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at March 5th, 2011

Super cute. This little girl loves Mara Clara so much, she thinks it’s real.

A blow by blow account of the most exciting 3 minutes of my life

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at July 6th, 2010

Welcome to Pescador Island. Having dove the area the previous day we already were very much acquainted with the mysterious sardine run that appeared around the island. Locals discovered the sudden influx of millions of sardines. Two months prior, word got out to the dive community. Along with the sardines came predatory thresher sharks that would appear ’round the clock for feeding time. Today though, we were not prepared for what we were about to experience!

0:01 The plan was to descend to 60ft and wait in one of the coves. The cove would disperse the bubbles that we were making underwater so as not to scare the sharks away. Less bubbles, the better. Within one minute of waiting, our dive master pointed downwards, suddenly excited. Expecting threshers, we were in for a very special treat. A whale shark’s mouth suddenly became visible from 70ft and the fish was making its way up.

0:06 That’s me screaming “OH MY GOD!” in tandem with everyone else.

0:16 Still screaming, I decided to swim into the blue towards the fish. The whole body became visible at this point and the whale shark was around 20 ft.

0:25 Despite how “slow” the fish looks due to its nonchalant and graceful movements underwater, it is pretty damn fast.

0:32 Wowie had the same idea and swam after the shark as well. As you can see, he’s finning pretty damn hard to catch up as well.

0:39 That’s me laughing and catching my breath. “It’s too fast!”

0:51 Jan appears on my right. A stroke of luck — the whale shark decides to make for the surface and breach, which meant that we would be able to catch up. I swim faster to get a better view.

0:59 You can hear my dive computer beeping. It’s not just mine. Everyone was beeping. We were too excited and were rising fast. We stabilized at 40ft. Again, from the video it seems that the shark moves very slow but don’t be fooled by its graceful movements — it’s fast!

1:19 A small school of sardines swim by adding a bit of foreground to the already amazing sighting.

1:39 In full view (what an amazing sight!), the shark starts to dive again.

1:42 Holy #$%^ it’s getting closer. We’re at 80ft.

1:48 We make eye contact as it turns toward me. I have never experienced anything like this before. Adrenaline and fear were playing a game of tug of war with my wits.

1:53 I must point out that although I had video on the whole time I was barely looking at the camera. I’d glance once in a while to see if I still had the creature within my frame. The shark passes me. I was two meters away. I wanted to swim closer but doing so might have agitated the fish.

2:08 The shark makes its way to my dive buddies. You can see strobes going off. We had a “no strobes” policy for shooting the threshers and sardines because the former have very sensitive eyes. Nobody said anything about strobes off with a whale shark. HEH.

2:59 One of the girls screaming “Oh my god!” as it makes its way back towards us. WOW. Heck, everyone was screaming.

3:08 One last pass, but not as close as the previous one.

I had snorkeled with whale sharks before in Donsol but it has no comparison to actually diving with one. Moalboal was a big dive spot in the 90′s but because of dynamite fishing, the area degraded. Due to storms, Pescador Island’s white sand has now eroded into the rough cliffs. The mysterious arrival of the sardines has created a boom in local tourism. Who knows how long the fish will stay?

If you’re planning on going to Pescador Island to experience the sardine run, you have to go NOW.

CyberPress Official Statement: Being Unfair to Journalism

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at March 12th, 2010

I am not a member of CyberPress. However, I have friends and colleagues within this organization. But more importantly, I think it is ethically wrong to fire an editor because he was doing his job. I want you to read between the lines and realize that as a corollary, this is also why blogging is tough. With publications, there is a “Church and State” demarkation between editorial and sales. For blogs, it is one and the same person, unless you have an ad network sell for you.

Anyway, read on.

The IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (CyberPress) denounces in the strongest terms, what the group sees as an unfair and arbitrary treatment of two CyberPress members who were penalized for doing their work — reporting IT industry news.

Last March 1, 2010, CyberPress members had reported the resignation of a country manager of a multinational IT company – a development actually confirmed by the company. The report also stated that the executive had thrice been bypassed for promotion to the top post, an issue denied by the company.

The company objected vehemently that the report was “wrong,” though it announced the official’s resignation later on. We believe that the report, in its totality, is true and correct.

We believe that the proper course of action that the IT company and/or the PR agency could have taken, was to raise the concern/issue directly with the publications’ section editor responsible for the page and/or the reporter who wrote the story. They failed to do so on both accounts. The veteran IT journalists involved have always kept an open line of communication to both IT company and PR agency but were never approached.

However, what the IT company chose to do and allegedly upon the persistent counsel of its PR agency, is highly anomalous if not downright dubious. In other words, a breakdown in basic business ethics and public relations practice.

In the eyes of CyberPress, the manner of how this ‘issue’ was handled is categorically unacceptable.

We believe that our members, if they did violate any protocol in the pursuit of their story, due process should have been followed. They deserve to be treated like any professional with respect and fairness.

Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines (CyberPress)

Pray for his soul

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 16th, 2009

Earlier, I met up with Karlo for a business meeting in Bonifacio High Street. I wasn’t there when the explosion echoed, but from what my cousin tells me, it was blaring. They saw the body of the poor soul being moved out of the car. I had my camera yet I thought twice if I should take the shot. I took it.

Very sad. Very unfortunate and so close to Christmas. Let’s pray for his soul and for his family.

Splashpress Media’s efforts and more ways to help

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 1st, 2009

There was an incessant exchange of emails between my publisher, myself and Angelo the other day, pondering on how Splashpress Media can help out in the Ondoy typhoon aftermath.

We joined in with Mike Villar’s Philippine Aid efforts. Great job, Mike!

Click on the “copy” tab to get the code to embed on your blogs.

We are also conducting a network-wide fund drive and to supplement this, have also developed a couple of badges (thanks to Angelo) which you can attach onto your own blogs that directly link to donation pages. We’re running this across our network and it would be great too if our friends in the blogosphpere can help out.

Volunteers! HELP: Plotting out Ondoy emergency areas

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 28th, 2009

For those of you who are stuck at home and have Internet connection, it would be much appreciated if you could help update this spreadsheet. The Typhoon Ondoy Mapping Team is a group of volunteers who are marking affected areas via Google Maps. The form is very easy to use. It provides very good context on the location and situation of affected areas and victims.

Please pass the links along and help update. Be sure to check for double entries before posting.

Link to the actual map: http://bit.ly/ondoymap

Link to the team and how to use: http://sites.google.com/site/ondoymanila/about-the-team

Here’s Google’s Official Response:

Responding to Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines

We are very saddened by the loss of life and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Metro Manila and nearby areas caused by Typhoon Ondoy. To increase awareness of how Filipinos at home and overseas can stay up to date and aid in relief efforts, dozens of Google volunteers around the world have been working throughout the weekend and today to compile information about the disaster on this site: www.google.com.ph/landing/typhoon-ondoy.html.

The site contains a volunteer-maintained map of flood updates and persons needing rescue, the latest news from local media sources, a list of verified donation sites and emergency hotlines. It is also linked from Google.com.ph to give easy access to the 25 million Internet users in the Philippines and many more around the world.

Our effort is but one of many being organized by countless individuals and organizations across the country in the spirit of bayanihan, to help those affected by this disaster as quickly and as comprehensively as possible.

Thanks

This information is being used in conjunction with the big networks GMA and ABS-CBN to help locate missing people and send food and other supplies.

Google Spreadsheet for ‘Ondoy’ Drop Off Zones

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 27th, 2009

This is the link to the Disaster Relief Google Spreadsheet that is being compiled by volunteers, bloggers, NGO’s and citizens who are keeping a vigilant watch over the airwaves. The list compiles relief drop off points, private efforts, hotline numbers and establishments that have opened their doors to accommodate relief goods. Please scan through the document first before adding to prevent duplication.

This spreadsheet is open to the public. It is very comprehensive. Please share the link to everyone.

Red Cross Load Donations: The easiest way to help

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 26th, 2009

UPDATE: Here is a complete spreadsheet of all the drop off / donation centers if you wish to help. Thanks to Nina Terol for spreading this.

Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Send RED to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (SMART).

Here are other pertinent numbers which you can spread around.

Rescue Operations
1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061)
2. Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
3. MMDA (136)
4. Coast Guard (+632-5276136
5. Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS)
6. Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)

Rubber Boat Requests
1. NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)

Relief Operations
1. Clare Amador (+63928-5205508) or Jana Vicente at +63928-5205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.

[source]

Limited Edition Manny Pacquiao “PacMan Knows” Apparel from Nike

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 19th, 2009

Here we go again. Nike is releasing another exclusive set of Manny Pacquiao gear: the first is a tee with speckled finished on a Manny Pacquiao crest and a ‘stellar’ glow in the dark 259 Pacman Knows Trainer. The shirt will retail for P1,095.00 while the glow in the dark shoes will go for P5,995.00.

The tongue is labeled with “Pac Man Knows” and his MP graphic. All of the contrast stitching, embroidery around the swoosh, laces, midsole star pattern and laser etching on heel glow in the dark as well. The limited edition tee has a speckled finish on the MP Crest and the date, time, word “Knows,” swoosh and neck tape glow in the dark. The Tee will retail at P1,095 while the 259 Pacman Knows Trainer 1 Mid is P5,995.

A first-come, first-served scheme will be applied when doors open at 9:25pm on September 25, and a one-shoe and maximum of three tees per customer policy shall be implemented. No reservations will be accepted at the store. Pacquiao fans get the chance to claim their own triumph with the release of exclusive products. Only 259 pairs of the 259 Pacman Knows Trainer 1 Mid shoe along with 1,000 pieces of the Pacman Knows Tees will be sold at Nike Park The Fort at exactly 9:25pm.

Go buy now! Buy it! Buy it! Buy everything!

Just do it!