The Whiterock in Subic

I first got to visit Whiterock some ten years ago. All I could remember was that the sea there was calm, in fact so calm that you'd think it was a lake. Last week, I got to visit the hotel and resort again and found that my recollection was correct. I guess that is what makes bathing at Whiterock different, a very calming experience.

Whiterock Hotel and Resort is located at Barangay Matain, Subic, Zambales. It is about 2 to 3 hours drive from Manila, and a mere eight minutes ride away from the SBMA. It offers a whole range of recreational facilities including the "calm" beach, swimming pools, outdoor sports facilities like badminton, volleyball and an obstacle course, a mini-golf drive and putting range, a kiddie park, hammocks, and indoor facilities like billiards, table tennis and videoke facilities.

It was so hot last week and our schedule (it was a team-building seminar for us) was hectic. Still, I found the place very enjoyable. I look forward to returning. Hopefully within the next 10 years. :)

Disturbing our seas

Update: Despite mounting protests, the seismic survey has started and the damage to people's livelihood has begun, as shown by the frontpage of Cebu Daily News.

Three days from now, on June 18, 2007, marine vessel (M/V) Pacific Sword of the NorAsian Energy Ltd. (NAEL) will sail from Palawan to the Cebu-Bohol Strait to conduct a seismic survey for the offshore oil exploration of the South Block, Service Contract 51.

The strait lies between the southern tail of the island of Cebu and Bohol which host various protected areas declared by the national and local government units, including the Cabilao Island, Sandingan Island, and the Panggangan Island Protected Seascape and Landscape.

The strait, particularly the vicinity of Cabilao Island, is considered a marine passage way and hammerhead sharks and marine mammals abound in the area. It is therefore not surprising that dive sites are a plenty in the area. It is also obviously the main source of livelihood of a multituted of fisherfolks in Bohol.

The official notice issued is nothing but ominous. It states, "(F)or safety reasons, all fishing vessels, passenger ferries and commercial vessels are requested to stay 8.5 kilometers away from M/V Pacific Sword to avoid damage to their vessels and fishing equipment. Likewise, the M/V Pacific Sword will be using an energy source submerged in water that will emit sound energy with an intensity of 200 decibels that can harm swimmers and divers within 10 kilometers of the vessel."

Unfortunately, no such notice can be relayed to the marine life at the Cebu-Bohol Strait. This is the main reason why the Bohol Alliance of Non-Government Organizations (BANGON) and some sensible local government officials, are up in arms. Please help them stop this nonsense.

Save the life of Marilou Ranario

Inquirer.net bannered today a picture (my apologies for the screenshot) of the relatives of Marilou Ranario, a Filipino migrant worker who had been sentenced by a Kuwaiti court to death by hanging for the killing of her employer, carrying placards saying "Save the life of Marilou Ranario".

The picture got my attention as the surname "Ranario" has a Boholano ring to it, at least for me. This is probably because I had seminary-mates before who had that surname. I have found out of course that Marilou is a 33-year old teacher from Tubod, Surigao del Sur who went to Kuwait to work as a domestic helper. According to her sister, she complained of abuse and maltreatment by her employer before the tragic incident.

Marilou is among the at least 35 overseas Filipino workers presently on death row in foreign countries as reported by the Inquirer. What makes her situation worse is that, it seems her deceased employer's family is not willing to take blood money in exchange for her life. I guess we can only echo the words of her relatives, may the good Lord save the life of Marilou Ranario.

1A.D. for the youth of Payatas

If you set aside one peso a day (1AD), you will have P365 by the end of the year. Not much but enough for some refreshments in a gathering of around ten to twenty youth in an urban poor community like Payatas. The gathering can be a spiritual encounter, a life-coaching session, a livelihood training, or a just a social get-together. No doubt such activities will help the youth reach their full potential.

With this in mind, a group known us Maundy Thursday Servants is soliciting a peso a day, or P365 for a year, to support their mission of reaching out to the youth of Payatas, The group which is registered as a non-stock, non-profit organization af the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is composed of religious and lay persons, and youth servants, led by Bro. Roland Jaluag, SJ, as president. Their advisers include Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ, Fr. Jack Caroll, SJ, and Fr. Nilo Tanalega, SJ.

Join thursday_servants@yahoogroups.com to know more about the group. Donations may be deposited at the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) under the account name Maundy Thursday Servants, Inc., account no. 3081-1119-78 (Loyola-Katipunan Branch), or through checks in the name of the organization sent to Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan, Quezon City, with telephone nos. 4266101 local 3580. Receipts will be issued upon verification of the deposit or receipt of the check.

I feel this is a good opportunity to "feed" our inner selves. Miss out on some unnecessary things and share without fanfare, even with just a few pesos. I am pretty sure you will be doubly compensated in the future.