Pala-isip

The Facebook page of ANC 24/7 is asking for its reader's suggestion on how to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem. This got me thinking, "what is the best way to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem?" It's easy to make suggestions, what's hard is the implementation and the cost of implementation. So what is the the best way to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem and the most cost effective solution? Punitive Fines Add caption First of all, any implementation will definitely cost money, a lot of money. The cause of the traffic mess is the people themselves so it's only right that those causing the traffic problem should be fined and the fine should hurt. That way, the fines will pay for the cost of enforcing the law. The fines should start at P500 and goes up every week if you don't pay it within 15 days. To enforce this and prevent people from ignoring the fine. It will be tied to their driver's license or car registr...

Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada initiated a clean-up drive of Manila Bay where he and other officials are seen riding on a boat with fishing nets to clean up the garbage in the water. What happened however was that the particular part of the water where they were was sort of clean. So for publicity, he had his people throw garbage from another boat into the water so there's garbage for him and his officials to clean-up during their photo op. There's even people in the water to spread the garbage to make it look "nicer" on the photo. Watch the bopols (stupid in Filipino) move of a Filipino politician. It's amazing what politicians do for publicity. Do you have any photos or videos of bopol moves your politicians?

Resorts World Manila, a massive leisure and casino complex near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is in lockdown after reports of explosion and gunfire. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack and at least 25 people have been reported injured from the attack. Police however said there was no indication the attack was terror-related but rather a brutal casino chips robbery. Here is report from RT. Here is the report from CNN.

A couple of street kids in Chinatown puts together some cloth and wood and made up their own lion to do their lion dance. Listen to the kid playing the drum on a can. Sounds really really good.

You ever read about the news about how our politicians are trying to stop crimes being by criminals riding on motorcycles? You know, the ones where they say that riding in tandem is going to be banned. And how they also want to ban motorcyclist from wearing helmets so they can't hide their identity. Well...what the hell do you want to call this? This photo was taken along Abad Santos where a man was spotted riding a motorcycle, in tandem, carrying an armalite. I guess they want to make a law banning riding in a motorcycle with an armalite next.

Clearing operation in Divisoria.

Wedding proposals are getting more and more elaborate. This sets the bar higher for the yet to be married guys out there.

In a nutshell.

Workers pumping water out of Lagusnilad after Typhoon Maring.

Heavy-torrential rains - Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Zambales, Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, Occidental Mindoro Moderate-heavy rains - Batangas, Laguna, Quezon SEVERE FLOODING expected. Floods along Sucat Rd now chest-deep Osmeña Highway/Dela Rosa St. floods Photos courtesy of ANC 24/7

Part of Metro Manila is under water again due to tropical storm Maring. Here are some photos of the flood. Photo courtesy of Isko Moreno The following photos are courtesy of ANC 24/7 Manila City Hall Flood at Taft Avenue corner Finance Road half tire deep, not passable to light vehicles Roads outside Manila City Hall still flooded, not passable to light vehicles. Motorists stranded at South Super Highway Flashflood hits SLEX-Southwood Flooded South Super Highway - Buendia before Skyway Instant 'boat terminal' along flooded Dela Rosa St., Makati Dela Rosa St., Makati Flood around Cityland, Dela Rosa St., Makati Nagkalat ang basura sa kahabaan ng Morayta sa paghupa ng baha Here are some aerial photos of the flood from The Telegraph .

No classes in Manila for all levels today. Some reports states that UST is waist deep in water as of last night. Manila is currently under orange classification.

From Manila Bulletin Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno posted photos of Divisoria and Recto completely free of vendors on his Facebook account on Wednesday, making good on his promise to clean up the perennially clogged areas. Even as he cleaned up the streets, Manila's traffic czar was apologetic to affected street vendors, but he maintained that street vendors cannot occupy the streets while plying their wares. In all my years living in Manila, I have never seen the street that clear before! Good job! Hope it will last.

AGREEMENT REACHED Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno announce that an agreement has been reached with the bus operators and drivers over the implementation of the bus ban scheme. The meeting took place at City Hall Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. Estrada and Moreno were ready to face the bus drivers and operators who initially tried to resist the bus ban scheme that seeks to decongest traffic in Manila. Video by INQUIRER.net's Ryan Leagogo While this may be good, unfortunately, once Erap is gone from office, the new Mayor will bring back the buses. Philippine rules and regulation changes with the change in government. Nothing sticks that's why there's always confusion and nobody follows the rules.

So...bus lang pala?

'THE KING' IN MANILA LeBron "The King" James dazzles Filipino fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City where he showed the crowd why he's one of the best if not the best basketball player in the world today. During his brief visit to Manila Tuesday, July 23, 2013, James joined a basketball clinic where players from the junior and senior divisions got the chance to play with NBA's four-time MVP. Videos by INQUIRER.net's Noy Morcoso III and Celest R. Flores

My apologies to everyone. For some reason, the second set of photos of Manila I posted got screwed up. I have fixed the photos so they should be working now. Here is the second set of photos for Manila - the most beautiful city in Asia

Vin Diesel is in Manila shooting for his next movie, The Fast and the Furious 7. Here are some photos I saw from Bogart the Explorer's page .

From Sa Ngalan Ng Gobyerno Facebook Page . Air pollution is a threat to the environment and human health. According to the World Health Organization, 3 million people die from the effects of air pollution each year. This is three times the number of deaths associated with automobile accidents. Manila, Philippines, is one of the top five polluted cities in world, when it comes to air pollution. Air pollution claims 4,000 deaths in a year. In an effort to combat air pollution, the city is taking an innovative solution, Paint. The city launched the worlds first air cleaning public art project, on May 07, 2012. With the use of a special paint from Boysen, Called Boysen KNOxOUT, that is able to filter out nitrogen oxides (NOx), one of the principal air pollutants. The paint not only reduces air pollution, the city is applying it with a beautifying approach. Instead of just slathering the paint, they have commissioned curators and artists to do the paint job. Murals are painted along ...

James Deakin shared a photo that shows the cause of the traffic problem in EDSA. When will the MMDA make mandatory road trainig as part of the requirement for being a bus driver? Photo shared in Creative Manila's Facebook Page.