from the radio

On the way to my dermatologist today, I was listening to the radio and particularly took interest in 2 things reported.
1) In the devastation of the torrential rains pouring down on the Philippines in the last couple of days, streets have been flooded everywhere. Despite that, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando reports with confidence that currently the metropolitan suffers 85% less flooded streets, thanks to the effective MMDA Flood Control Project. You gotta hand it to them, Manila among others is not easy to protect from floods because the city itself is below sea level, and personally, I see the difference from when I was a kid.
2) For the third time since 2006, another part of the ceiling fell down in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III. At first, they open it prematurely without first making sure all equipment are installed and all airport services are operated at the very least to a minimum doable capacity, but now, another ceiling crashes down. What more will it take before the airport authority realize the need to do a make-over?

While we're on the topic: On the record, Cebu Pacific boasts of its impressive On-Time-Performance (OTP), averaging at 86.5% from Aug 8 to Sept 7, its first month of operations in its newfound home in NAIA 3. OTP is measured as the average percentage of flights leaving at most 15 minutes from its announced time of departure. European and North American airlines average percentages in the 70's.

Mt. Pinatubo

Mt. Pinatubo has one of the most outstanding statistical record in its history of the past century. Arguably, the lack of life in its surroundings is one appeal of its beauty, which will continue to disappear in the next decade or so as flora slowly as it does now reappear. Mounds of ashes from the world-renowned devastating explosion in the early 90's hardened by rain over the years form the walls of the track as small rivers, often in brown mud, green algae or yellow-orange sulfur (i'm assuming) ceaslessly flow and most occassionally change the path of trekkers. At one point, we commented that all the gray and barren land made it seem like we were in Lord of the Rings! :-)

It is a sin for the healthy able-bodied Filipino not to try this one. It is easy to reach from Metro Manila, cheap to take the trip, and very safe as the military and tourism office do their share of protecting the environment and its visitors. It one of the easiest trek I've done because it is mostly just walking under the sun with its share of crossing small rivers now and then that adds to the difficulty. The trek is 18k long with very very very few climbs so it doesn't take awefully long; it took us 3 hours with photo-taking. As you'll be crossing waters against the currents, slippers are not advised even for seasoned trekkers, just because it becomes hassle. Although because I don't like the feeling of wet socks, I used flipflops for the most part, and unexpectedly enough, they didn't break. The sharp rocks were a bit painful for thin footwear and twice rocks fell on my feet, once for each foot. The Php650 I paid was worth the view of the crater lake but the trek up and down were not worth the few minutes we stayed on top as our tour guide bugged us to make ouw way back down immediately.
For interested parties, contact Mr. Wendell Mercado at +639196084313 from whom you can rent a 4x4 good for 5 persons. From Manila, you can take a bus en route Baguio and have the driver/conductor drop you at the Capas Junction from where you can ask Wendell to pick you up for an extra charge; otherwise, you can drive your private car all the way following the precise directions he can give you. He's very easy to talk to and he's very kind (even texted me farewell after we got back to Manila) - highly recommened!
We made the trip last Sunday, 2008 September 7, just right before another typhoon came. There was perfect weather on that day! Lucky!