Climate Action in Quezon City!

I'm very concerned about environmental issues, but does not have enough time or resources to participate in campaigns and events. I do believe we should do whatever we can to contribute to advocacies, so I'm helping by spreading awareness. I'm sorry, though, that I wasn't able to plug this event before it took place, as a way to invite more people to attend. I hope by writing about climate change and sharing educational links, I'd be able to incite interest in some of my readers.

This morning, Greenpeace, the Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA), and supporters of climate action gathered at the Quezon City Hall to call on world leaders for an ambitious, fair, and binding deal on the global climate change situation. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is currently taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, where "a framework for climate change mitigation beyond 2012 is to be agreed there." At the risk of sounding extreme, they're planning the environmental future for the world. In layman's terms, they're creating an action plan to address and minimize the effects of climate change, which is already taking its toll on the weather, as you can see from Ondoy and other typhoons that hit our country this year.

Since I wasn't able to attend, I would recommend that you read the proceedings straight from the Greenpeace blog. I'm sorry I missed it, because it would've been exciting to see the exhibit on solar-powered gadgets developed by the Solar Generation. Aside from the exhibit, there was also a musical barrage that featured a number of artists, followed by the film screening of the Age of Stupid in SM North EDSA. Ongoing now is the Tik Tok Rok concert sponsored by Tik Tok Pilipinas, a campaign brought to life by the DAKILA and Oxfam Philippines. I'm unable to cover it here because it's set in Marikina Riverbanks, but I do encourage you to catch up with the concert, as in right now - the gigs end at 3am.

Photo taken from Greenpeace Philippines.

You can find more resources from the Tik Tok Pilipinas website and Facebook fan page.

A New Breed of Quezon City Officials?

Weeks ago I wrote about the rumored candidates for the Quezon City mayoral post. Today, we know that three four will be running for Quezon City mayor: Herbert Bautista, Annie Rosa Susano, and (gasp!) former Chief of Staff secretary Mike Defensor and former Mayor Mel Mathay. Joy Belmonte, Janet "Babes" Malaya, and Aiko Melendez have filed as running mates for the three mayoral candidates, respectively.

I kind of feel weird about this. I've lived in Quezon City all my life, and if you ask an average taga-Q.C., s/he would probably agree with me when I say that only two names matter in QC politics: Mathay and Belmonte. These two have won re-elections consecutively and have served as mayors for the longest time. It kind of becomes hard to imagine QC life without them. Hahaha. It turns out Mathay had filed his candidacy! I'm sorry for not knowing about this sooner when I wrote this post. Mathay served as QC mayor from 1992 to 2001. According to the Inquirer, Mathay's agenda should he become mayor again will tackle unemployment, drug abuse, and education. Mathay is running independently.

I wonder if the new mayor will have enough staying power to win future re-elections, and what they will do to improve Quezon City. Will they continue Belmonte's projects? What will they do about the squatter problem? Or the trash problem? What's going to happen with our Quezon City museum? Will they let Novaliches fly on its own? Are we going to have e-jeepneys like in Makati? I can't wait to hear about their plans. So far, the only plan revealed, or rather, denied, is the retrenchment of Quezon City employees should Susano becomes victorious.

But aside from these three pairs, we are also getting a new breed of candidates: less from political dynasties and more from show business. They call Quezon City as the City of Stars because both media network giants are situated here, but now it seems to be living up to its name as stars crowd (or at least attempt to) City Hall. Ben Rosario enumerates in his article the various showbiz and media personalities that are running for a post in Quezon City. I would like to mention here Ogie Diaz, Ricky Davao, Alfred Vargas (he's running in MY district!), Ara Mina, and Arnel Ignacio.

Now I don't intend to pick on these stars, because I do believe that anyone can run for office, as long as they are sensible, responsible, and law-abiding citizens. After all, if we're going to have the same type of people running for politics, then Philippine politics is never going to change. We weren't really better off only with economists, lawyers, businessmen, and people from the "serious" occupations. Of course, I wouldn't really find credible anyone from showbiz that wasn't able to handle him/herself properly in the face of controversy (the ones that loved to talk and make a fool of themselves in national broadcast!)

The only reason I bring them up here is because I see a new trend. Should these personalities win, we will get a new breed of officials. Maybe they're not trapo. Maybe they know how it's like to be poor (in case they worked their way up in show business). Maybe they'll stand up for the youth. I can't really tell what the future will be like. I was too young when Bistek ran as vice mayor, so I'm not sure what people's sentiments were at the time he announced his candidacy. But Bistek proved to be a competent public servant, and I still stand by my word when I say I will vote for him. so let's not totally put down actors running for office. Now that Mathay has entered the race, I'm having double thoughts between him and Bistek.

By the way, I'll be changing the poll to make it more accurate. I'm changing the poll yet again to add Mathay to the list. For record purposes, I want to show that Bistek was leading in the previous poll. If you care about local politics, then I would like to encourage you to make a vote in the poll. If you've voted previously, thank you very much, but please do vote in the poll again. Thanks!

How do you feel about the QC candidates? Or about stars running for office?

Christmas Bazaars in Quezon City - December 2009

(Do you like the poster above? Then get ready for the Taga-Q.C. blog's new look! | Shopping Cart image from Design Boom)

Not yet done with your Christmas shopping? No problem. Bazaars are still going on all over Quezon City! If you have more to add, post a comment!

Baratillo sa UP '09
December 3-5
UP Institute of Small Scale Industries (ISSI), Diliman, Quezon City
Contact: (0917) 8621784/655-2816

Bazaar at Victoria Towers
December 1 - 23
Victoria Towers, Mezzanine Level, Timog Ave. cor. Panay Ave., Quezon City

Christmas Bazaar sa LGV
December 19 and 20 (9am - 8pm)
Contact: 4257003, 09178115872 or 09228548548

Diliman Preparatory School Bazaar 2009
December 12 - 13 9:00am-9:00pm
Alicia M.L. Coseteng Hall, Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City
Contact: Arlyne 0917-5782500
misterrodman@rocketmail.com
http://rodmancommunications.multiply.com/

Fab Finds Bazaar @ Eastwood City
December 11 – 13, 18 – 20
Eastwood Central Plaza, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City
Contact: MBCI c/o Myren Garcia
0917-540-8697 / 0922-882-1075 / 710-3711

Grand Christmas Bazaar '09 @ the Big Tent
December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23; 10am - 10pm
Holy Spirit Drive, Don Antonio,Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City
Contact: Tel: 384-3609 / 412-3343Cell: 0917-4404690 / 0915-3705860
http://ordeptex.multiply.com/

Holiday Madness Bazaar
December 19-20
Cubao Expo, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Contact: Sandy Allan
(0917)-522-2100; (0922) 831-6670
soulcardreader@gmail.com

Holiday Midnight Bazaar
December 3 - 23, open til midnight
Eton Centris Station, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

Santa's Christmas Bazaar @ La Vista (Year 4)
December 12 & 13 (9 am to 7 pm)
La Vista Clubhouse, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Contact: Claudine Baron
2110685 / 09178636633
claudbaron@yahoo.com
http://eventions.multiply.com/

The Holiday Rush
December 12 to 13, 19 to 20 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Christ the King Church, Greenmeadows, Quezon City
Contact: Claudine Baron
2110685 / 09178636633
claudbaron@yahoo.com
http://eventions.multiply.com/

Weekend Bazaar
December 12-13 and December 19-20
Christ the King Parish, Greenmeadows
Contact: 0917-8261810, 0920-9280750, 0922-8618288 or 0922-8278928
Proceeds will go to Sta. Teresita of Miarayon Inc.

Weihnachtsmarkt 2009: German Christmas Market
December 4
Ateneo High School (ITC-Field) Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights Quezon City