China and Philippines Ended Standoff

China and the Philippines have4 reportedly ended their week-long standoff in area in the South China Sea to which both countries lay claim.

The standoff last Sunday, when Filipino authorities reportedly intercepted eight Chinese poacher boats and demanded they hand over their catch.

Chinese officials saw the encounter as harassment to its nationals and responded by dispatching three larger surveillance vessels to Scarborough Shoal - located 230 kilometres from the Filipino Zambales Province, which the Philippines claims as its territory.

Manila, in turn deployed its largest navy ship.

There is concern over clashes in the region prompted by what may consider to China's growing assertiveness in its claims to territories. The last major standoff happened between China and Vietnam and claimed the lives of 70 Vietnamese sailors in 1988.

Climate Change in Mindanao

It's summer again in the Philippines. It's hot - also here in Mindanao. It rains. Sometimes it pours cats and dogs. Yes, we can feel the climate change also here. Especially Region XII is highly at risk in a changing climate condition with increased rainfall and rising sea levels.

Herlita G. Caraan, National Statistical coordinator Board Region XII chief, said that more rainfall, an increase in temperature and rising sea levels would hit the area in the medium term 2020 - 2050.

In a fact sheet, NSCB Region XII warned of worse flooding, landslide and storm surges affecting hundreds of villages in the region as a result of climate change. Based on a mid-range scenario simulations by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), rainfall in Region XII was predicted to increase in 2020 by as much as 14.8 percent and 15.6 percent by 2050.

The increased rainfall was projected to happen during the north-east monsoon season (December to February) and during transition of seasons from September to November. These period will be wetter and with potential for increased flooding.

Temperatures are also expected to increase across the whole year. This is what people experience right now - and not only in Mindanao. Warmer temperatures would also result to increase risks to infectious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis. 

The NCSB XII report says, that areas mostly likely to be affected are coastal areas  in Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City and especially Cotabato City as 70 percent of the city's total land area is below sea level. 

Philippine Press Institute Goes Live Streaming

For the first time since 1997 when the first press forum was organized, the Philippine Press Institute will cover live its 16th National Press forum on Media Accountability and Public engagement via video streaming on April 23 and 24 at Traders Hotel manila.

This is made possible by the Information Technology Ventures (ICTV) which offered its services and technical resources for free. Considered as one of the most anticipated annual gathering of publishers and editors from the 71-member newspaper of the institute, the Press forum will be accessed via Internet TV, to specifically cater to audiences who will not be able to attend the conference.

This year's exclusive broadcast partner TV 5, will also cover the vent from start to finish. Speeches from the main forum and industry forum will be made available in the PPI website www.philpressinstitute.com .

President Benigno Aquino is keynote speaker in the opening ceremonies. He is the first head of state to grace the annual event. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is guest of honour in the Civic Journalism Community Press Awards which will honour outstanding community newspapers for excellence in various categories.

The PPI is celebrating its 48th founding year and 25th year since reactivation in 1987. Dubbed as "PPI: Legacy of a Free Press', the celebration recognizes the restoration of democracy in the country through the historic People power that eventually reinstated social institutions, the media included.

Hans Pfitzner and Siegfried Ochs - Classical Music Masters... .

(Hans Pfitzner)

(Siegfried Ochs)

Check out more about these two fantastic classical composers here:

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

And don't miss listening my radio show "Classics with Klaus Doring", Sundays from 2 to 4 pm on 104.3 FM "The Edge Radio Davao" (Philippine Standard Time) or via live stream:

http://www.livestream.com/theedgeradiodavao

DOST to Strengthen Teachers on Disaster Management

As we are experiencing climate change, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) deemed it necessary to increase awareness and strengthen the capability of Science and Mathematics teachers on disaster risk reduction and management. Although one seldom experience strong earthquakes in Southern Mindanao, the disaster risk reduction and management awareness will guide teachers as well as students on how to effectively respond when such phenomenon occurs.

Fifty Science and Mathematics teachers from elementary and secondary schools as well as State Universities and Colleges in the region will gather on April 24-27, 2012 for the seminar workshop on "Strengthen the Capacity of Science and Mathematics Teachers on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management". The Science Education Insitute (SEI) of DOST recognizes that it is one of the fundamental functions of teachers to take part in educating students spend more hours in school, it is crucial for the teachers to understand the concepts on disasters and climate change to effectively and accurately transfer information to students. Students can then transfer the information to their family members causing a multiplier effect.

Experts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geogrpahical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS), Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB), and the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) will be invited as resource speakers during the said seminar workshop.

Participants, aside from being trained and capacitated to teach disaster risk reduction and management to students, are expected to come up with a disaster risk reduction and management plan for their respective schools.

 

Why The Sun Shines More Brightly Than The Moon...

A Philippine Fairytale...

Long, long ago there lived a fairy with two beautiful daughters. Araw, the elder daughter, was very amiable and had a kindly disposition; but Buwan, unlike her sister, was disobedient, cruel and harsh. She was always finding fault with Araw. One night, when the fairy came home from her nocturnal rambles and saw Buwan badly mistreating her elder sister, she asked God for help against her unruly daughter.

Before this time, God had prepared very valuable gifts for the two sisters. These gifts were two enormous diamonds that could light the whole universe. When God heard the prayer of the fairy, he descended to earth disguised as a beggar. On learning for himself how bad-tempered Buwan was, and how sweet and kind-hearted Araw, God gave the older sister her diamond as an reward. Buwan was greatly angered by this favoritism of the Almighty, so she went to the heavenly kingdom  and stole one of God's diamonds. Then she returned to the earth with the precious stone, but there she found that her jewel was not so brilliant as Araw's.

When God went back to Heaven and learned what Buwan had done, he sent two angels to punish her. But the angels abused their commission: they seized both sisters and hurled them into the sea. Then they threw the two stones upward into the sky, and there they stuck. But Araw's diamond was bigger and brighter than the one Buwan stole. Thereafter the bigger jewel was called Araw ('day' or 'sun'), and the smaller one Buwan ('moon').