tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32028022012-01-17T17:36:04.457-08:00Urban Commuter DetritusThis is a spot where I place the detritus, the unclassifiable snippets of information regarding urban life (mostly in the Philippines), commuting, and whatnot.<br>
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Detritus from a life lived in the perennial commute, compiled by Philippine-based editor, artist, musician Lionel Valdellon.
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Go to the website at <a href="http://urbancommuter.tripod.com">UrbanCommuter.tripod.com</a>Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1143252588248494032006-03-24T18:04:00.000-08:002006-03-24T18:12:01.213-08:00FX HOLDUP RUMORS distributed by SMS messages from 117:Beware of white FX with name: LYN ANN and name plate AVD617.Holduppers ang driver pati pasahero.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1143023130875169272006-03-22T02:16:00.000-08:002006-03-22T02:26:25.643-08:00March 13, 2006Bus Runs Over AccountantA 56-YEAR-OLD accountant died when he was hit by a bus while crossing Ayala Avenue at the corner of Rizal Drive in Makati yesterday morning. Anacleto Lontoc, a resident of Binan, Laguna, was brought to the Funeraria Filipinas on JP Rizal Avenue for autopsy. The bus driver of the Fermina Express bus (NYR 525), Novelson Flores, 36, was taken into police custodyLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1056070103381386392003-06-19T17:48:00.000-07:002003-06-19T17:51:32.860-07:00THE KATIPUNAN TREES GET A STATEMENT
circulated via e-mail to alumni of all three schools.
STATEMENT FROM ATENEO, MIRIAM AND UP
We Need Real and Long-term Solutions
We strongly oppose the removal of trees and destruction of islands along Katipunan Avenue. These measures will not solve the traffic problem. We need real and long-term solutions.
The MMDA is trying to do its job by widening Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1055994104265892082003-06-18T20:41:00.000-07:002003-06-18T20:41:44.270-07:00Pink urinals installed along on Edsa
Many Filipino men have a nasty habit of urinating on walls, posts and corners like dogs. Certainly, this habit, like spitting anywhere, should be discouraged. And to help uphold not only a visually appealing metropolis but also one that’s tamed in scent, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has set up pink urinals along the stretch of Edsa.
Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1055993788363359412003-06-18T20:36:00.000-07:002003-06-18T20:36:28.390-07:00Less trees for wider roads, faster travel
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be pushing through with their plan to uproot the trees that line some roads of the metro to facilitate their road widening project despite the strong opposition of environmentalists and some politicians.
...Likewise, he contested that the presence of trees on the roads would not help as much in Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1055993543191774442003-06-18T20:32:00.000-07:002003-06-18T20:32:23.230-07:00MMDA to propose ordinance against “burloloys” and noise pollution
The MMDA will be submitting an ordinance against buses and other vehicles with loud horns plying the metro streets in the next conference set with the Metro Manila Council.
The idea of submitting this ordinance came after the MMDA was flooded with complaints from residents of private villages in the areas near Edsa. The residentsLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-1055991693541273802003-06-18T20:01:00.000-07:002003-06-18T20:08:55.573-07:00CONDOMS UNPOPULAR AMONG PINOYS - SURVEY
The Philippine National Statistics Office (PNSO), in its 2002 Family Planning Survey, said that condom usage "did not vary significantly" from 1995 up to last year. The survey revealed that of the 29,760 respondents interviewed for the survey nationwide, only 1.6 percent admitted using condoms for birth spacing.
No wonder overpopulation is our constant Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-944588212003-05-16T10:04:00.000-07:002003-05-16T10:07:11.000-07:00RUNAWAY CIRCUS ELEPHANT SNARLS EDSA TRAFFIC
Quezon City, May 9, 2003 -- A behemoth from Thailand named Jumbo, one of the 10 stars in the "Elephant World" show at the Araneta Center in Cubao, escaped from his trainers yesterday afternoon and brought both chaos and cheers on the streets of Quezon City.
"The elephant crossed over a fence and just ran away during practice. This is unusual since JumboLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-943618912003-05-14T18:36:00.000-07:002003-05-14T18:37:36.000-07:00Singer April Boy Regino loses van to thieves
The 37-year-old actor singer who popularized the aptly titled song "Kung Mawawala Ka" said his vehicle was stolen between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. while parked in front of his house at 132 M. H. Del Pilar St., Barangay Calumpang, Marikina City.
Unfortunately, losing a van won't make him shut up. But I must commend the thieves. If youre going to steal Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-943616682003-05-14T18:30:00.000-07:002003-05-14T18:30:53.960-07:00Knapsack left inside church had dead baby
The body was wrapped in a white cloth and stuffed inside a blue nylon knapsack placed near the candle stand, apparently to ensure its immediate discovery, he said.
Candelaria said the police station received a telephone call at about 8:30 a.m. from churchgoers of the San Antonio de Padua Parish Church in Barangay Calumpang who noticed the presence of anLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-943614572003-05-14T18:26:00.000-07:002003-05-14T18:26:24.420-07:00Ban sought on sexy street billboards In a proposed ordinance before the city council, councilor Victor Ferrer is seeking a prohibition on the display of "obscene or distracting" motion or still pictures on major thoroughfares.
Ferrer said having obscene pictures on major roads is not only a nuisance to the public, but also raises issues on road safety.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-943612582003-05-14T18:22:00.000-07:002003-05-14T18:22:15.086-07:00Robbers hit armored van in QC, take P1M At least 12 heavily armed men Wednesday afternoon hit an armored van and fled with around one million pesos in Quezon City.
Rigor Alvarez, roving teller of Asiatrust Bank and a passenger of the armored van with body number 1280, told the Inquirer that they pulled up in front of the Dunkin Donuts branch at the corner of Aurora Boulevard and Balete Drive Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-942915502003-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:002003-05-13T15:25:18.070-07:00Major roads clear of ‘colorum’ buses
The major roads and arteries of the Metro like Edsa are reported to be clear of ‘colorum’ or out of line buses.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), after launching the bus route rationalization program, announced last week that they have successfully cleared the main roads and highways of colorum or illegally plying buses.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-942911042003-05-13T15:15:00.000-07:002003-05-13T15:15:39.436-07:00PNR modernization begins
The much needed facelift for the Philippine National Railway (PNR) has begun as the demolition team that was tasked to pave the way for the widening construction initiated their work early this week.
The PNR modernization project of the Arroyo Administration entails the laying down of three additional tracks parallel to the existing aged track. This would also require Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-942910162003-05-13T15:13:00.000-07:002003-05-13T15:20:47.000-07:00LRT aims at doubling its passenger load for 2003
The 17-year old Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1) is aiming to double its passenger load this year to have room for some 40, 000 commuters more every hour.
The mass transit built with Belgian technology has been deteriorating with natural wear and tear. And as stated in reports, the LRTA admits that they are having difficulty nowadays in refurbishing Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-942907772003-05-13T15:08:00.000-07:002003-05-13T15:08:58.800-07:00No more weaving on roads, even on late nights
May 7, 2003: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be implementing the “yellow lane” rule round the clock from now on. Prior to this, the said road rule was carried out only from 6 in the morning till 9 in the evening.
Now, the MMDA has cleared the designation of lanes for each vehicle type on major roads like EDSA and C-5. The Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-942906482003-05-13T15:06:00.000-07:002003-05-13T15:06:21.276-07:00GET CIGARETTE VENDORS OFF THE STREETS - FERNANDO
Manila, May 10, 2003 -- After its long-drawn campaign against sidewalk vendors, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now embarking on a drive to save teenagers who are forced to sell cigarettes and other items in the middle of the streets.
To start with, the MMDA's Metro Manila Council has approved Resolution No. 03-13 Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-938095232003-05-05T10:03:00.000-07:002003-05-05T10:03:23.170-07:00Catholics told to cut body contact during Mass
Legazpi City–Catholic parishioners and clergy in the Archdiocese of Legazpi are no longer allowed to kiss, hug and shake hands during concelebrated Masses to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-937556562003-05-04T11:44:00.000-07:002003-05-04T11:48:06.000-07:00On-line gambling proliferating in QC cafes; closure order poised
A QUEZON City government official has expressed alarm over the proliferation of on-line gambling, which he said is available to anyone with access to the Internet.
“Many Internet cafes and even bars with computer units are hooked to Sage, which operates on-line gambling such as slot machines, blackjack and poker. Sage sells Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-932459162003-04-25T09:04:00.000-07:002003-04-25T09:04:33.050-07:00How do car thieves operate? Apr. 25, 2003 Inquirer News Service: How do car thieves operate? ORGANIZED gangs of car thieves are always on the lookout for cars to steal, according to police general Danilo Mangila of the Traffic Management Group.
"Parang nagsa-shopping sila"Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-932452742003-04-25T08:52:00.000-07:002003-05-04T11:49:05.000-07:00Philippines 'SARS-free' no more THE PHILIPPINES is no longer "SARS-free" after an autopsy on SARS-victim Adela Catalon's father showed the elder Catalon had died from pneumonia, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said Friday. "Today, after the autopsy on the lungs of the deceased father of Adela, we shall be reporting him as a SARS case and the first local transmission," Dayrit said.
We are doomed. Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-930550552003-04-22T09:43:00.000-07:002003-04-22T09:43:52.536-07:00SARS-suspected village sealed off
San Fernando City, La Union—An entire village in Alcala, Pangasinan, was placed in isolation yesterday because of fears that a probable SARS victim who lived there might have infected residents.
Has it really come to our country now? Looks like we'll have to wait and see.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-929023732003-04-19T13:41:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:41:10.576-07:00Ayala tunnel along EDSA in Makati City claims another life - Apr. 15, 2003
Joseph L. Delos Reyes, 28, a resident of Bormann Street in Quezon City and a graduate student at the University of the Philippines, was killed when he rammed the Toyota Revo van he was driving into the left side of the tunnel at 4:30 a.m. Monday.
De Los Reyes was apparently speeding or he could have fallen asleep on the Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-929022922003-04-19T13:38:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:38:08.123-07:00Apr. 15, 2003: LOS BAÑOS, Laguna -- To beat the summer heat, seven young boys took a swim and drowned in Laguna de Bay last Sunday.
Witnesses said the group decided later to go swimming in the lake due to heat. But at about 3 p.m. on Sunday, fishermen found five bodies floating in the bay. The bodies were caught in the fishnets in the bay. Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-929021292003-04-19T13:33:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:33:23.310-07:00Bomb in anti-terror drill explodes; 2 women hurt -- Apr. 11, 2003 THE "BOMB" was part of an anti-terrorism drill. The explosion and the injuries were not.
Two employees of the Malabon City Hall were seriously injured when an explosive that members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the local police were using in the anti-terrorism drill accidentally blew up yesterday morning.
AngLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-929019632003-04-19T13:28:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:28:00.950-07:00Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to grace Manila Cathedral-- Apr. 20, 2003
A life-sized laser copy of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, reproduced from the likeness of the Virgin Mary that inexplicably appeared on a poor man's tilma, or Mexican cloak, will be enthroned at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral on Tuesday.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-929018252003-04-19T13:24:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:24:49.233-07:00New pedestrian walkways to Rise ... - Apr. 16, 2003 IN THE next few months, pedestrians could expect to use a new kind of overpass: see-through, roofless, narrow, metal walkways.
Construction of around five overpass walkways will begin in the next few weeks, after the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) bids out the contracts, MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said.
The walkways Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-929017072003-04-19T13:21:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:21:24.780-07:00Illegal structures on major roads to be removed - Apr. 20, 2003 In the following weeks, the Metro Manila Development Authority will begin the removal of illegal obstructions on the sidewalks of EDSA and other major roadways like Aurora Boulevard and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-912416132003-03-23T14:07:00.000-08:002003-03-23T14:17:00.000-08:00Traffic is not the root but the manifestation of intertwined problems
“People tend to perceive congestion as the main cause of urban transportation problems,” says Dr. Hussein S. Lidasan, transport economist from the National Center for Transportation Studies based in the University of the Philippines in Diliman. “However, traffic congestion is not the root but rather the manifestation of the Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-912415262003-03-23T14:06:00.000-08:002003-03-23T14:17:38.000-08:00Bus operators, drivers taught to detect bombs
Saturday, October 26, 2002
THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday conducted a seminar for bus operators, drivers and conductors on the detection and proper handling of explosive devices as part of the police's effort to thwart terrorist attacks in the metropolis.
If they detect bombs with the same prowess as they drive, then weLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-912391712003-03-23T13:11:00.000-08:002003-03-23T13:17:43.000-08:00Man jumps on rail, dies; MRT operations delayed
Posted : 3/20/2003
Northbound operations of the Metro Rail Transit’s (MRT) was ordered to a half hour halt to give way to police investigations, as one man jumps to greet the oncoming train and dies on the rail yesterday.
___At around 10:30 a.m. of one gloomy Wednesday, March 19, a man was reported to have leaped to his death to greet the Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-908713522003-03-17T11:39:00.000-08:002003-03-17T11:45:10.000-08:00This LINK provides an interesting overview on Commuting in the Philippines from which I take this sample:
Buses
There a few nice smelling buses that operate around the country and all of them are in the provinces. A good tip would be to avoid wearing white when you'll be traveling on a city bus. In any case, the local bus service is very dependable despite its shortcomings, you'll just have to Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-908710942003-03-17T11:34:00.000-08:002003-03-17T11:45:51.000-08:00THE SMOKING BUS
by LZV
Two weeks ago, on the way back from the EDSA shrine in Ortigas,EDSA, I took an aircon bus home. It said "Fairview- Cubao Ilalim" and I rode in full confidence that i would get home safely.
Paid my fare-- which these days, amounts to PhP 9.00 or USD$ 0.16 -- and settled in for the 15-minute ride.
Thing was, by the time the bus reached Cubao, there was a murmuring Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-908168762003-03-16T12:53:00.000-08:002003-03-16T13:29:01.000-08:00march 17, 2003 1:57 am
the crossed line
am back in Manila. have been for the past 5 long excruciating months.
strange thing happened the other day. someone texted me about a possible acoustic gig, and he left a phone number. a trunk line plus an extension number. being hesitant to add another gig to my existing sked, i decided to ignore the text message for a while.
rolled over and Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-793192572002-07-23T14:55:00.000-07:002003-03-16T13:31:45.000-08:00TO LIVE AND FRY IN L.A.
I'm in Torrance CA. Been here for a month now in a friend's house, and can see no end in sight.
The heat is crazy. You can fry an egg on my face. There's enough oil there for fried rice too, if you feel like it. Last night, I sat up in the dark room facing the road and listened to the cars whizz by with their booming bass speakers. Until there were no cars left. I Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-767825272002-05-20T19:50:00.000-07:002003-03-16T13:40:44.000-08:00TV WOES
And then there is television.
I'm writing from San Francisco. And for a first world country, the programs on regular TV are woeful excuses for entertainment. Soap operas with amnesiac millionaires. Talk shows with women saying their lover is an alien. The never-ending infomercials. Old sitcom reruns. And then, once in a while, the odd old movie. Home entertainment without cable TV Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-766885732002-05-18T00:30:00.000-07:002002-05-18T00:36:29.000-07:00AINT NO COMMUTING HERE IN CALIFORNIA
So anyway, I'm stuck here for some time, getting bored in suburbia, and have nothing but pity for the people in this state who have no automobiles. (Do people still call 'em that?)
California is too big and too spread out to have a commuter-friendly mass transport sytem in place. Sure there are buses (that never follow their schedules), and rail transits, Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-766669392002-05-17T11:32:00.000-07:002002-05-17T11:35:51.000-07:00THE SILENCE & PHLEGM OF SUBURBIA
I'm not used to this silence. I'm writing from Fremont, California, in a quiet subdivision of a quiet town. ANd the silence is definitely killing me. Having gotten used to the rowdy neighbors in my apartment complex in Makati, plus the noise of all the vehicles coming in and out of said complex... this quiet is literally deafening. Nothing beside this house but Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-765508492002-05-14T14:49:00.000-07:002002-05-14T14:49:16.480-07:00STALE AIR IN RENO
So anyway, the UrbanCommuter has finally found himself on different shores. Right now, I am writing from Reno, Nevada in the United States. The static electricity is killing me. I enter a casino, zap! I exit the casino, zap! I grab the hand rail in the rest room, zap! It's like they don't want me here.
On the way up here we stopped by Donner Summit and I had my first taste of Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-761034152002-05-02T19:18:00.000-07:002002-05-02T19:18:53.503-07:00REPORT THAT VEHICLE!
Ok. Someone sent me a text message some time ago saying that if I had a complaint with a taxicab (i.e. not accepting me as a passenger, or overcharging, etc) or any other vehicle on the road, I should memorize the vehicle's plate number and report it to the Land Transportation Office via telephone number: 7890.
Being naturally cynical of any info I get from mass emailing,Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-78605332001-12-12T00:10:00.000-08:002001-12-12T00:10:08.496-08:00SWARM LOGIC HELPS US NAVIGATE THE STREETS
"Ant colonies are remarkably similar to cities. No one choreographs the action, not even the queen ant, but ant behavior is controlled by swarm logic -- put 10,000 dumb ants together, and they become smart. They will calculate the shortest routes to food supplies sniffing out pheromone signals from other ants and Johnson says people do the same thing in Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-77151122001-12-06T19:04:00.000-08:002001-12-06T19:04:06.510-08:00SOUTH EXPRESSWAY ENFORCES THE RULES WITH HIGH TECH (FINALLY)
Subject: New Traffic Rules on South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2001 08:43:57 +0800
From: theresa@manila.sema.slb.com
To the Southern Connection (and those who frequent the south)...
1. Speed Limits - min. 60 kph, max. 100 kph, be careful to observe this speed limit. May mga speed radar enforced strech sila sa SLEX. Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-76848022001-12-05T19:38:00.000-08:002001-12-05T19:38:06.060-08:001st PERSON ACCOUNT: HIGHWAY ROBBERY ALONG LIBIS
PART 3 of 3
I was brought to the Taytay police station and while I was being interviewed, an APB from the Cainta police was posted identifying my car as the vehicle used to hold up the passengers of the Hond Civic. Of course, the Taytay police had to clarify the matter with the Cainta police.
With everything that happened that night, we are Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-76847392001-12-05T19:35:00.000-08:002001-12-05T19:36:57.000-08:001st PERSON ACCOUNT: HIGHWAY ROBBERY ALONG LIBIS
PART 2 of 3
While they were going through my bag, one man said, "Huwag kang matakot, pera at alahas lang ang kailangan namin. Mai-uuwi mo ang kotse mo kung sumunod ka lang sa mga sasabihin namin." Then the driver said, "Kapag tinanong ka ng isang kasama namin kung magkano and pera sa bag mo, sabihin mo P3,000 lang."
After around 20 minutes of Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-76845182001-12-05T19:28:00.000-08:002001-12-05T19:37:22.000-08:001st PERSON ACCOUNT: HIGHWAY ROBBERY ALONG LIBIS
PART 1 of 3
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 12:46 PM
Dear friends,
I am writing this e-mail in the hopes that none of you will have to go through what I went through last April 4, 2001.
After calling it a day at around 7 pm last April 4, I loaded my car with gas at the Shell station along Libis. I was on my way to Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-76840852001-12-05T19:14:00.000-08:002001-12-05T19:14:13.840-08:00How To Immobilize Your Cellphone If You Lose It.
circulated via email in Metro Manila:
Here's a little 'get your own back' if you have your mobile stolen.
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone:
*#06#
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep itLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-76253482001-12-03T21:27:00.000-08:002001-12-03T21:40:17.000-08:00DEAN KAMEN'S SEGWAY: A COMMUTER'S DREAM?
"Here "it" is: the inside story of the secret invention that so many are buzzing about. Could this thing really change the world?"
A rechargeable electric 2-wheel scooter that senses the body's shifts in balance to control the way it runs and stops. No brakes, no engine. Interesting indeed!
Read about it in Time.com Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-76230552001-12-03T19:54:00.000-08:002001-12-03T19:54:29.426-08:00THE SLEEPING GAS TAXI
The Deadly Scourge of Metro Manila Almost Claims Another Victim
from an email dated: June 26, 2001
From: Noreen Gisela J. Quiblat
am i really glad to be greeting you good morning today… kagabi kasi, i almost got victimized by one of those sleeping gas taxis that we [used to] just read about…
i was on my way home from overtime and dinner with my team mates plus ella and Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-75967542001-12-02T23:37:00.000-08:002001-12-02T23:37:48.156-08:00PLDT PHONE HACKERS
Another urban myth or real landline hacking? You decide.
From: Jimenez, Hector [mailto:hector.jimenez@iomni.com.ph]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 3:34 PM
Subject: PLDT
I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as a PLDT Service technician who was conducting a test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-74857822001-11-28T17:34:00.000-08:002001-11-28T17:34:51.000-08:00LICENSE TO SHOW
Technically, you don't need a driver's license to drive.
Been talking to a foreign-born policy maker at the Asian Development Bank who's been in the Philippines and driving around here for the past 18 years. And he gave me an interesting tidbit about Philippine law the other day.
Apparently, according to the exact letter of the law here in the country, you don't TECHNICALLY needLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73390412001-11-22T23:45:00.000-08:002001-11-22T23:53:50.000-08:00MORE SURPRISES IN RESTAURANTS ABROAD
from a chat with close friend AnneFiona:
Annefiona: "That happened here to Arnold, Tootsie's hubby. He went to a Subway restaurant. he got his soda cup then went to the ice dispenser. Then he noticed there was a black ice cube. When he looked closely, it wasn't a black ice cube but a cockroach. Had been in the ice dispenser, probably had been there for hours.Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73379182001-11-22T22:14:00.000-08:002001-11-22T22:19:32.000-08:00EXPATS SHOULD BEWARE OF BUSES IN PHILIPPINES?
taken from here :
..."The majority of bus companies are owned by individuals or families. Manila does not have a citywide, publicly-owned bus system. Often they are not air-conditioned and can be very crowded. Unfortunately many of them are also terrible sources for the air pollution in Manila, "smoke belchers"! Though buses are economical and Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73378522001-11-22T22:08:00.000-08:002001-11-22T22:08:50.230-08:00
HEY PINSAN, CAN I BUY YOUR KIDNEY?
taken from here:
FAQ:"Can I sell my kidney?"
A: In the Philippines, there is currently no law that either allows or prohibits the practice of selling organs but most medical professionals especially the transplant surgeons and urologists find this practice unethical and distasteful. Although it may happen in this country, it does so without the knowledge of Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73376022001-11-22T21:52:00.000-08:002001-11-22T21:52:44.713-08:00PHILIPPINES RELEASES SECRET UFO FILES
from September 28, 2000
Apparently our very own PAG-ASA admitted to participating in an investigation of UFOs in the Philippines. And they even admitted that some sightings had them "stumped".
Sigh.
Maybe they can predict the weather better if they aren't looking for strange metallic objects streaking out of the sky all the time.
Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73371922001-11-22T21:26:00.000-08:002001-11-25T22:59:46.000-08:00THE KENNY ROGERS PITA SURPRISE
Taken from an e-mail circulating in Manila
A girl and her officemates order, among others, a Chicken Caesar Pita Sandwich from Kenny Rogers Roasters (Jupiter Street, Makati). She opens up the pita after noticing a foul smell coming from it . And finds a cockroach.
Please do take all the necessary precautions when eating out. Incidents like these do happen even toLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73163332001-11-22T01:17:00.000-08:002001-11-22T01:17:28.743-08:00BIG MAC at BALAYAN CHURCH
PART 3 of 3
MacDonald's, an American corporation, has decided to go ahead and build on property that has a National Historical Institute marker placed since December 8, 1986. The Balayan Church was also deemed as a National Cultural Treasure along with 26 other churches in 2000 by the National Museum. In addition, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts has Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73162392001-11-22T01:09:00.000-08:002001-11-22T01:16:07.000-08:00BIG MAC at BALAYAN CHURCH
PART 2 of 3
Parishioners who have benefited from the religious counsel and guidance of priests have a responsibility in caring for them in their twilight years. Parishioners have many options in raising funds but desecrating church grounds with a commercial establishment shouldn't be one of them. Suspicions are raised because the parishioners are not being informed asLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73160892001-11-22T00:56:00.000-08:002001-11-22T21:26:09.000-08:00BIG MAC at BALAYAN CHURCH
PART 1 of 3
by John L. Silva
distributed by email
We all grew up knowing the biblical story of Jesus throwing the moneychangers out of the temple. Jesus was transformed from a usually meek man to one enraged, clutching a whip to drive away the business louts. The message was clear: Businesses and places of worship do not
mix.
Fr. Ernesto Mandanas, parish priest Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-73159232001-11-22T00:40:00.000-08:002001-11-22T00:47:59.000-08:00 BEWARE OF THE ROCKWELL CARPARK
Another scary but true urban horror story
To: xx@xxxx.com
Subject: (no subject)
Hi all!
Last night me and a couple of friends went to Starbucks Rockwell for some coffee before calling it a day.
A Lady was dropped off within the area and was believed to have been drugged and raped. She can't really recall anything aside from that she rode a taxi cab headed forLionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3202802.post-69822382001-11-08T20:14:00.000-08:002001-11-21T22:27:13.000-08:00Welcome to the Urban Commuter blogger.
This is a spot where I place the detritus, the unclassifiable snippets of information regarding urban life in the Philippines, commuting, and whatnot. This is where I store the various emails, stories from other people and various curiosities I collect in my life as commuter, writer and eyewitness-- material which may or may not wind up in my web column Lionel Valdellonnoreply@blogger.com