Splendid Isolation

 

From the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English in splendid isolation used to emphasize that something is not with other things The house sits in splendid isolation on top of a steep hill.

"Splendid Isolation" refers to a British foreign policy of the late 19th century, particularly during the Conservative governments of Lord Salisbury, where Britain aimed to remain aloof from the traditional European balance of power system, focusing instead on its global empire. This policy involved avoiding permanent alliances and entangling commitments in European affairs, while still maintaining a strong naval presence and protecting its imperial interests. The policy was ultimately abandoned due to the rise of Germany and the need for allies to safeguard Britain's position. 

Social anxiety is the single most common psychological problem according to innumerable survey results worldwide. The magnificent, gorgeous and excellent isolation, resulting from being nervous when meeting people is really the opposite. The state of being isolated reminds me of being in a hospital with an infectious disease.

Does the project of giving a speech or going to a social gathering give you the willies?

Relax, there are always ways and solutions to help you by teaching you "never to be nervous again".

During the last weeks, I experienced several situations meeting new people, asking questions, replying to questions and delivering speeches.

I have always been the most silent pupil in elementary and high school. I was ashamed even to talk to or with my teachers. Several terrible school records have been the result. But, I wanted to become a journalist. I am still one. And, I am teaching in Davao at the University of Southeastern Philippines, as some of you might know already.

During college times and while writing my first articles, I learned from my first boss, a daily news publisher, to avoid being nervous while meeting people. I was always prepared. Preparation for any communicating situation is a must. I have been invited to many parties and gatherings. I always asked for the guest list. I scanned all the newspapers and browsed the net.

"In your opinion, who..." or "What do you think of....?" kept the momentum going. That was sometime during the 1960's. Since that time I was just very lucky to always meet the right people at the right time and place, which kept on teaching me how to avoid splendid isolation. Whether you're delivering a speech, approaching your boss, or joining an important social occasion, do your homework first.

The most polished, smoothly delivered and spontaneous sounding talks are the result of many hours of work and years long experiences. The memorable one-liners and moving phrases that went down in history didn't come from the last minute bursts of inspiration.

I also learned from Harvard University historian Richard Marius, "that good writing is a kind of wrestling with thought". Or, as New York Times columnist William Safire expressed before: "To communicate, put your thoughts in order, give them a purpose, use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce!"

Let's not forget that everyone has something to be proud of, and that everyone enjoys talking about it. But, you have to make it happen!

Uncommon Sense

 

"Uncommon sense" refers to ideas, insights, or perspectives that deviate from what is widely accepted or considered "common sense." It often involves challenging conventional wisdom and thinking outside the box. This can be applied to various fields, from marketing to teaching, and even to the way we perceive the natural world.

As I ponder the back and forth and up and down in my surroundings and the whole world, a book from my library falls into my hand: Peter Cochrane's Uncommon Sense with the subtitle Out of the box thinking for an in the box world.

"Peter Cochrane is one of our most far-sighted visionaries, and brings brilliant clarity and focus to our understanding of ourselves and our technologies, and of how profoundly each is transforming the other." describes Douglas Adams, author of  The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

In Uncommon Sense, Peter Cochrane's follow up to the radical 108 Tips for Time Traveller.  Peter explains how very simple analysis allows the prediction of such debacles as the 3G auction and the subsequent collapse of an industry, whilst simple-minded thinking is dangerous in the context of a world that is predominantly chaotic and out of control.

People balked when Peter suggested a wholesale move to eWorking, the rise of email and text messaging, and the dotcom regime mirroring the boom and bust cycle of the industrial revolution. His predictions of the use and growth of mobile devices and communication, or use of chip implants for humans to replace ID cards, passports, and medical records, or iris scanners and fingerprint readers - were all seen as unlikely. Today they are a reality.

Ours is an age when optimism about politics is hard to come by. Ian Shapiro explains why this is so and, without minimizing the daunting challenges, spells out an appropriate response. Written in the indomitable spirit exemplified by Tom Paine, Uncommon Sense is a rich source of insight and inspiration in dark political times.

 

The Enlightenment commitments to reason and science are under assault from the Postmodern Left and the Authoritarian Right. Shapiro explains why the attacks are misguided and politically destructive. He agrees with the critics that there are no universal principles of justice that transcend political battles and no fair, impartial rules to govern the distribution of income, wealth, rights, or opportunities. But abandoning the search for them as futile does not mean junking the Enlightenment’s core political goal: to deploy the tools of reason and science to fight domination.

 

Democracy is essential to vindicating that goal, yet citizens in many democracies are profoundly alienated and many democracies are in danger of failing. Shapiro explains what has gone wrong, debunks ill-considered remedies, and spells out better ones—deepening and extending his previous writing on political theory and democratic politics.

I don't know how you feel nowadays, my dear readers. As christian the bible -and here especially Proverbs help me a lot. As I mentioned in one of my previous write ups, Proverbs is probably the most down-to-earth book in the bible. Its education prepares you for the street and the market place - somehow out of the box thinking for an in the box world, too.

Proverbs offers the warm advice you get by growing up in a good family and for successfully making your way in the world. It covers small questions as well as large ones: talking too much, visiting friends and neighbors too often or being unbearably cheerful too early  in the morning. Proverbs simply tell how life works most of the time.

People, and count me in, love to quote Proverbs, which often express the truth about life in an elegant, witty kernel. You'll find more humor in Proverbs than anywhere else in the bible. And humor often seems to have passed in this day and age.

Road Safety Action Plan: It should be a promise, not just a document

Published Jun 28, 2025 12:05 am

The launch of the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) 2024–2028 marks a turning point in how our cities respond to the worsening road crash crisis. Introduced during the Metro Manila Road Safety Summit 2025 held Thursday, the MMRSAP is a comprehensive, locally driven, and data-informed roadmap for reducing road traffic injuries and deaths.

The timing of this action plan could not be more urgent. In recent weeks alone, disturbing road crashes have made headlines and gone viral. Just two days ago, a dump truck reportedly lost its brakes, resulting in a 10-vehicle collision that injured nine people along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo. Earlier this month, a senior high school graduate —reportedly intoxicated—crashed into another vehicle in Tagaytay, killing three people, including a pregnant woman.

These are not isolated events. From 2013 to 2023, the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) recorded over one million road crashes in the region. On average, 445 people have been killed by road accidents every year, with thousands more injured. According to MMDA data, Metro Manila logs nearly 93,000 crashes per year—numbers that represent real people, real losses, and real tragedies that ripple across families and communities.

Recognizing the need for urgent, coordinated action, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in partnership with all 17 Metro Manila local government units, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department of Transportation, developed the MMRSAP. Its goal is ambitious yet necessary — a 35 percent reduction in road fatalities by 2028.

The MMRSAP revolves around five key pillars: One, road safety management to improve governance, leadership, and coordination across sectors. Two, safer roads that will be created by road design, signage, lighting, and infrastructure upgrades to prevent accidents. Three, safer vehicles through stricter inspections and regulations to ensure that vehicles meet safety standards. Four, safer road users through education, law enforcement, and behavior change. And five, post-crash response enhanced by emergency care, data systems, and support for victims and families.

The action plan is not a stand-alone effort. It aligns with the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028 and supports President Marcos’ broader socio-economic agenda, which emphasizes the safety and well-being of all Filipinos.

MMDA Chairman Don Artes acknowledged the depth of the challenge, citing reckless driving, distracted motorists, and “kamote” behavior as daily dangers on the road. But he also stressed a collective duty: “Each loss is not just a number. They represent real people whose lives we vow to protect. We owe it to our people to act now.”

Beyond the plan itself, Metro Manila has rolled out support programs, including the Motorcycle Riding Academy, Children’s Road Safety Park, traffic infrastructure improvements, solar-powered streetlights, and specialized training for traffic enforcers. These must be strengthened further.

However, even the best-designed plan will fail without strong implementation. Road safety depends on the synergy of the “three E’s” — Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. All stakeholders—drivers, commuters, policymakers, private sector partners—must commit to sustained effort and accountability.

The MMRSAP is not just a document; it should be a promise. It must not gather dust. It must be revisited, refined, and realized with urgency and seriousness.

Let the names of those lost in past crashes be our reason to stay vigilant. Let every accident avoided be proof that we are doing better. Road safety is not a luxury. It is a right—and it is time we treat it as such.

FASHION PULIS: Mr. Romantico

By Mike Lim

Published Jun 28, 2025 11:54 am

Mr. Romantico (MR) falls in love deeply but his response to a breakup is even deeper.

When Mr. Romantico (MR) revealed he was falling in love with his Love Interest (LI), friends and fans were delighted. They very well know that when MR falls for someone, it is often quite serious. MR was always proud of his target and it is no different this time, with him subjecting LI to accolades.

Their social media posts showed how much MR and LI were in love as manifested in their feed.

LI reciprocated the gestures of MR, making followers happy, expectant they’d be each other’s forever.

Several months after the confirmation of their relationship, the grapevine claimed MR and LI have allegedly broken up. Neither party said anything.

During their time together, LI had become a subject of a malicious rumor. However, no one dared to claim such with ample unimpeachable proof.

MR and LI didn’t bother to react to the same. The rumor died down and their followers assumed all was fine. Besides, MR had steady projects and there was no indication that he was bothered about it.

Then someone noticed MR was no longer wearing a valuable item that LI gave him as a gift. It was then that his fans and friends started to worry.

Their concern had basis as they knew MR could be all-too transparent with his emotions following heartbreak. MR falls in love deeply but his response to a breakup is deeper.

‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.’ —Winston Churchill

Healthier option

Intrigues will not stop hounding Non-showbiz Personality (NP).

A celebrity in his own right, NP has tons of captive fans. He excelled in his field after all, and many admire him for it.

However, even as he tried to live a private life, social media denizens are relentless in finding and exposing his dirty linen – among them a failed relationship that became a focal point at a certain time in his career.

Nonetheless, NP was able to move on from the debacle eventually finding love in the arms of Female Celebrity (FC), a hard worker who takes pride in finding success through sheer determination.

FC wanted to give her family a good life without relying on anyone else, subsequently making her dreams a reality.

FC had several heartbreaks prior but when NP came along, her heart slowly healed. It was as if the two were destined to be together for good.

Now, a nasty claim against NP has surfaced. Allegedly, he chooses a partner based on the material comforts he stands to acquire from the union.

Though he has his own career to speak of, being with FC is seen by most as part of NP’s effort to have a dependable financial wall to fall back on.

Well, NP could simply be practical in life as in love.

‘Your mindset matters. It affects everything - from the business and investment decisions you make, to the way you raise your children, to your stress levels and overall well-being.’ — Peter Diamandis

Thank you very much for loving www.fashionpulis.com. Till next Sunday...

14 UNSPOKEN RULES

 

Be kind With your Mind (psychology)

 ·

Posted by 

Ali Nawaz

 

Jun 15

14 UNSPOKEN RULES

1. Don't ask someone their salary, age, or weight.

2. Let people exit before you

3. Return what you borrow in enter. the same condition.

4. Don't interrupt when someone is speaking.

5. Don't use speakerphone in public.

6. Respect personal space-physical and emotional.

7. If someone is wearing headphones, they don't want to talk.

8. Don't show up empty-handed to someone's home.

9. Don't ask couples when they're having kids.

10. Say "thank you" even for small gestures.

11. Keep your phone away during meals.

12. Don't make fun of someone's appearance.

13. Don't stare-it's rude.

14. Respect the "Do Not Disturb" sign-literally and figuratively.

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