ETCETERA; Thoughts between the lines

  Pampanga Floods: Can the Arguing Stop? Time to Work Together. A day ago, I was YouTube channel-surfing when I came across a segment titled, “PBBM, Pampanga officials debate on proposed Candaba impound system as flood solution.” Thinking it was current news, I watched it attentively. Then I realized something that surprised me. The debate was actually from 2023—three years ago! In the discussion, they considered using 200 hectares of the 2,000-hectare Candaba Swamp as a water-impounding area. Pampanga officials strongly opposed the idea and preferred dredging the rivers. President Marcos was not convinced that dredging alone would solve the problem. He argued that heavy rains bring not only enormous amounts of water from the highlands but also silt, which can eventually fill the rivers again. I am no engineer, so I cannot say who is right. But three years have passed, and Pampanga is still suffering from serious flooding. So I began wondering: What happened during those three year...

When the habagat drops enough water to submerge normally dry zones and choke major expressways for ten hours, it humbles everyone. Even regions known for advanced engineering, like Hokkaido in Japan, find themselves overwhelmed by sudden deluges. It reminds us that no place on earth is entirely immune to a changing climate. A professor friend of mine from Mapua captured this enduring reality by comparing lower Pampanga to Venice: high water is a permanent visitor, and fighting it with pure reaction every single year is exhausting. Naturally, people look to the national government for answers, and officials are quick to brandish massive, sweeping solutions. Right now, two major approaches dominate the conversation: building a massive floodway system from Nueva Ecija down to the bay, and launching massive, continuous dredging operations across the entire Pampanga River basin. For communities watching their livelihoods go under, hearing these plans sparks a flicker of hope. But a heavy do...

​ A Gateway Restored: Our Rotary Journey at Centro de Turismo Intramuros More than a week ago, our Rotary Club of Intramuros President Joey Lat made a courtesy call to Intramuros Administration (IA) Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla to kick off his term. Accompanied by Dindo and Earl, they sounded out our proposed service initiatives for the year: enhanced tourism signage, illuminating the GAP gates, cervical cancer screenings and Pap smears for women, a Christmas gift-giving drive for local orphaned children, and minor structural repairs of the Intramuros Visitors Center cum RCI Center.   Most ambitious of all was our flagship vision—a dedicated Rotary Garden near Anda Circle, featuring a bust of Rotary founder Paul Harris, landscaped walkways, benches, and the Four-Way Test.  To finalize these plans, IA scheduled a joint meeting for August 12 at Centro de Turismo Intramuros. I still remember Centro from years ago as an unfinished site that seemed to have stalled. So when...

  Usap Tayo: Oysters, Memories, and the Currency of Time My original group of friends, the Alabangers —all four of us—gathered at Talabar Seafood Restaurant in Westgate, Alabang to celebrate Chito’s July birthday. Over a table filled with fresh Aklan oysters (served raw, Rockefeller, baked with cheese, and as ceviche ), Crispy Beef Kare-Kare, and stuffed squid, the camaraderie was as rich as ever. But looking around the table, the reality of time hit home. In our younger days, we met constantly—frequent Friday nightcaps over cold beers and pulutan at Manong’s inside Filinvest, alongside monthly food crawls to try new spots. Celebrations were always special: the birthday celebrant had total freedom to pick the place and enjoyed a free blowout from the rest of us. Today, those spontaneous gatherings and monthly food crawls have dwindled mostly to birthday season: a short window stretching through July, August, and September, with maybe a bonus reunion in December if time permits. ...

  On Cruise Ships, Pencil Sketches, and a Cha-Cha-Filled Night in Intramuros There is a unique kind of magic that happens when the Rotary Club of Intramuros gathers. On paper, it’s a meeting. In reality, it’s an evening where serious civic duty smoothly glides into good wine, timeless music, and warm camaraderie. Yesterday at the Knights of Columbus Boardroom was no exception. President Joey got things rolling with a look ahead to our November Induction. He’s been scouting venues, and he dropped a tantalizing idea: hosting the affair aboard a cruise ship in Manila Bay. Whether we actually set sail or stay safely docked will depend on the budget, but the thought alone was enough to stir up some nostalgia. Personally, I’m looking forward to a grand gala. It’s high time we dust off our finest suits and dress with the elegance of the Ilustres of old. To top it off, Batas suggested a high-profile guest speaker who, if secured, will undoubtedly set a grand tone for the night. Joey also ...

  Our monthly Barkada Food Adventure brought the four of us to Jang Geum Kitchen to celebrate Robert’s birthday. The restaurant features a classic, no-frills Korean BBQ. The service was courteous and excellently paced. Instead of everything arriving at once, the freshly prepared dishes were brought out progressively. This thoughtful timing allowed us to savor each dish without feeling rushed. The Banchan (Side Dishes): A great spread including kimchi, egg-coated luncheon meat, spicy fried tofu, adobo-style kangkong, and excellent bean sprouts (which were immediately refilled). The Main Feast: We loved the savory bulgogi, a perfectly spiced seafood-soft-tofu stew, tender grilled beef, and a crispy seafood pancake. Every dish was generous and delicious. True to our barkada tradition, the celebrant doesn't pay! The bill was split among the remaining three of us, making it the ultimate birthday perk for Robert—great food with absolutely no bill to settle. After two hours of nonstop...