January 20th, 2008
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01.20.08Civil Engineering Exam Results (January 2008)
Congratulations to our kailiyans who passed the civil engineering exam held November 2007/January 2008. If you know someone who took the exam and are wondering whether s/he made it, check out the names here.
Meanwhile, as is our practice, we’re going to publish the passing rate of Cordillera schools to embarrass those, ehem, diploma mills. That is, if they have the capacity to be embarrassed.
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Baguio Central University: 13% (3 out of 24)
Mt. Province State Polytechnic College: 22% (5 out of 23)
St. Louis University: 63% (45 out of 72)
University of Baguio: 19% (4 out of 21)
University of the Cordilleras: 37% (25 out of 67)***
The national passing rate is 41%. Kakahiya itong BCU at UB, after their students paid them humongous tuition fees talo pa sila ng MPSPC where the tuition fee is free.INFO SOURCE: prc.gov.ph
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01.20.08Vanishing Arts
Here’s a short video on the art of tattooing in Kalinga. Towards the end of the video you’ll see some footages on the Tingguian’s “abel” or handwoven cloth. -
01.20.08Dying Rivers
A study by the University of the Cordilleras reveals that at least seven rivers in Tublay, Benguet are contaminated with mercury and cyanide.
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From the Manila Times/Harley Palangchao: At least seven river tributaries in Barangay Ambassador, Tublay, Benguet, were initially discovered to be not safe for human consumption based on the scientific findings conducted by the University of the Cordilleras (UC).A statement from the university obtained by the media showed that findings on water safety in various areas subjected to tests indicated some traces of mercury and cyanide, which is not safe for human consumption.
The release further quoted Dr. Teresita Doctor of the UC College of Arts and Sciences Biology Department, who said that the contamination might have been caused by improper waste disposal, use of pesticides and commercial fertilizers, and wastes from the already closed Sto. Niño Mines. Read the full story here.
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So how do cyanide and mercury affect you if they get into your system? We’ll try to do some research on that. But some of you may know already and might want to share it in the comments section :-)UPDATE: Thanks to Karla for the tip on the potential health effects of cyanide and mercury when ingested by a person. According to the U.S. EPA, cyanide can cause nerve damage or thyroid problems while mercury can damage your kidney. Thanks again, Karla.
PHOTO CREDIT: Drinkwiththelivingdead
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01.20.08Zennia Aguilan Updates
She’s home. From ABS-CBN: The remains of a Filipina spa supervisor who was killed in a suicide attack at a luxury hotel in Afghanistan arrived in Manila Saturday evening. The body of Zennia Aguilan arrived 10:35 p.m. via Emirates flight EK 334. Her remains were met by her two siblings. They however declined to give any statement. Read the full article here.
Sagada folk condemn Afghanistan bombing. From Bulatlat.com: While residents of Sagada, Mountain Province (275 km north of Manila) mourn for the death of a community member in a suicide bombing incident in Afghanistan on Jan. 14, they condemn the bombing incident as inhuman and at the same time criticized the labor export policy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a “push factor” for health professionals. Read the rest here.
Insensitive as ever, OWWA Administrator says “I told you so”. Remember Marianito Roque? He is the OWWA Administrator who, after stating that Jocelyn Dulnuan was remiss for not paying her dues (scroll down), used Dulnuan’s death to ask OFWs to pay their OWWA dues. This time, Marianito is using Zennia’s death to prove that he is right in banning the deployment of OFWs to Afghanistan. Read the report at GMA News.
Maybe I’m being overly critical, and Marianito may very well be right, but I think there are better times to say those kinds of things. If he is going to undertake a PSA (public service announcement) campaign about paying OWWA dues and not going to dangerous places, can’t he at least wait for families who lost their love ones to grieve before he opens his mouth?
Show some respect, man.
