Good Food on Purple Styro

I must admit that Paotsin is one of the good things I got to discover with someone from the past. Would I let the great-tasting sharksfin dumpling go with the close of that chapter? Definitely not. Good thing Sam loves Paotsin, too. If you haven't tried it, it's about time you do. We ate there last week and got our stomach full for only P90. It was the first time their food was served to me on a purple styro with a purple sfork (is that how you call the half-spoon, half-fork thing?). I find it cute so I took a photo. I wonder if somewhere in the mind of its owner is a plan of using pink styro. I would probably ask Sam to eat there often. Hehe...

Net Neutrality

Disclaimer: The communication is not intended to be a legal opinion of the author. The article is written for the sole purpose of complying with an academic requirement.


There could be some things that I don't understand as a mere internet user, but given the experiences and whatever understanding I have as a non-tech savvy and an ordinary "netizen", my stand in the issue of net neutrality depends on whether it pertains to "broadband provider - consumer" or "broadband provider - website owner".


When we select an internet service provider, we consider many things such as other's opinions, our own experiences and those of other people, the area where we will use the service, etc. Aside from the possibility of clogging the lines due to many users, the kinds of technology these providers could be using, and perhaps the proximity of the spot from the nearest satellite, how much you pay for your internet also says a lot about the quality of service that you will get. It's understandable that the channels through which internet data are being transmitted cannot handle everything and still work at its fastest and most efficient state. Hence, I don't see any harm or injustice in seeking to get fast internet connection if you need it and you are willing to pay for it. The needs of internet users vary, and we respond to it depending on our ability to address such needs. A big corporation that depends on data transmission obviously needs a faster internet connection than an individual who only uses the internet for personal purposes, so that big corporation could be willing to pay more. If an individual, however, desires to get fast internet connection, he may get it by paying more. The different internet connection packages offered by service providers are there to give us the freedom to choose the level of service we wish to get, and for me that is OK.


However, once you get your choice of an internet provider, you must have the right to expect equal access to all the contents of the web. Making those big websites, whose owners can pay the service providers, easier and faster to access and load data works to the disadvantage of small and less popular websites. If the internet is not neutral, providers can manipulate the lines to increase the speed of websites of entities who pay. And how do they get the extra speed? It could be by decreasing the speed of other websites whose owners pay less or cannot pay at all. Worse, websites of competitors could be blocked at all. This restricts freedom of information. I cannot apply here the reasoning I laid down in the "provider-consumer" aspect because it is my thinking that all websites have the same reason for being put on the web, and they have the same need to be viewed by people. They should be treated equally and generate traffic based on their merits, not on accessibility. Absence of net neutrality in this aspect is anti-competitive, unfair and oppressive.

Statement of support for DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo

We, the leaders of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership greatly appreciate the statement of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to clear the name of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo from accountability regarding the failure of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to respond effectively to the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis last August 23,2010. In Aquino’s statement which was published in several major newspapers, he clearly said that he had made a previous arrangement for Secretary Robredo to focus on local government matters and designated Undersecretary Rico Puno to be more directly in charge of the PNP, thus it was Puno and not Robredo whom Aquino said was partly to blame for the botched response of the PNP. We also strongly support the move of Aquino to immediately convene an investigation led by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima and Robredo regarding this very unfortunate incident.

As such, we believe that persistent calls made by some of our government leaders for Robredo to resign from his position and/or to inhibit himself from the on-going investigation are unjustifiable and baseless. We urge our government leaders to set aside politics for the meantime as we try to move forward with the investigation to find out what really transpired during the hostage crisis.

We believe that a swift, fair and impartial investigation on this matter will help restore the credibility of our nation’s government in the eyes of the international community. Finally, we urge the President to act decisively towards giving the appropriate punishment to government leaders who are found to have neglected in their duties and responsibilities during the hostage crisis. By doing so, our government can send a clear and strong message to our countrymen and the international community that justice will be served to those who failed to perform their duties regardless of influence or position.

SIGNED:

HON. EDDIE PANLILIO, former Governor, Pampanga
HON. GRACE PADACA, former Governor, Isabela
HON. TEOFISTO GUINGONA III, Senator
HON. TEDDY BAGUILAT, JR., Representative, Ifugao
HON. BOLET BANAL, Representative, Quezon City
HON. NERIC ACOSTA, former Representative, Bukidnon
HON. SONIA LORENZO, former Mayor, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
HON. GLORIA CONGCO, Mayor, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija
HON. MABEL SUNGA ACOSTA, former Councilor, Davao City
HON. ROQUE VERZOSA, JR., Mayor, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur
HON. FLORANTE GERDAN, former Mayor, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
HON. MARIVIC BELENA, Mayor, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
HON. VALENTE YAP, Mayor, Bindoy, Negros Oriental
HON. MARY JANE ORTEGA, former Mayor, San Fernando City, La Union
HON. FERMIN MABULO, former Mayor, San Fernando, Camarines Sur

Serendipity

I don't know how to make French Toasts.

But I love it when Ate cooks it for breakfast. I never asked her how she does it. I'm just not interested to know. All I know is that it has butter. I also think there must be some eggs in it. I'm not sure.

I am so bored with the book I'm reading, so I called a breaktime. I saw some loaves of bread, eggs and butter. I suddenly craved for French Toasts. Without knowing if I could really come up with what I was imagining, I had an egg beaten and I soaked the bread into it. Then I placed some butter into the pan and cooked the bread. Viola!

It's not like the one Ate makes. It doesn't taste the same, too. It should be a little sweet. Maybe I should have added milk or sugar. Oh boy... But hey! It tastes, really good. Believe me. Haha! I'll make some more for Sam later.

Now, I wanna know how to make French Toasts.

Or maybe I no longer do. =D