Vanity Street Markers

   I'm a regular commuter. Every morning, I play tag with buses and FX taxies. I seldom drive to work. As I traverse the stretch of Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City, I never fail to notice the throngs of other commuters, billboards, etc. But the ones that make me want to vomit are the vanity street markers. These "Welcome" signs are practically littered with the names of politicians. With all their names in every side, you have to sort out the name of the street or barangay that the marker is intended to identify. Reminds me of my favorite word-search game.

   In one "Welcome" sign near Nissan Commonwealth, there's the huge name of this "Honorable". Makes me think if the place is really welcoming visitors or this honorable. The size of the text bearing his name is bigger than that of the Barangay. What a way to flaunt his vanity.

   On the other hand, whenever I travel somewhere way down south, I pass by this public school. As I look at the name of the school, this vanity signage obstructs my view and attention. It states "Honorable-type of Building." The size of this text is bigger than the name of the school! This politician is not an architect nor has ever contributed in the development of Philippine architecture. The only time I see the names of architects in a building is during its construction. One thing is for sure, this vanity signage will always be the star no matter what the season may be.

   If vanity car plates can be regulated, I wish there will also be an ordinance banning or at least regulating the construction of vanity street markers. Names of policians should not appear in these markers. Their names cheapen the marker and destroy the sanctity of the place. It's just a my wishful thinking. No politician will surely propose that ordinance unless he/she is an idealist neophyte. Reminds me of the saying (something like), "theft is not a crime among thieves."

Why fix when it isn't broken?

   It's easy to demoralize people. Abuse your authority; lie with expediency; do the opposite of what you say; and when caught, point to your nearest downline; and the list can go on.

   Managing people is not the same as putting a painting in a wall. I mean install it upside down, criticize it to your heart's content, or just put it in storage. You won't hear any complain. But when it involves a person's space and convenience, it's completely another story especially when logic is defied.

   Why juggle personal spaces when there's so many idle spaces to be improved. Why destroy those that are already built when many broken things are in need of immediate repair. Why demoralize people when they just need hope and inspiration.

  Ahhh... But why fix when it isn't broken? There's another demoralizing factor and it's very simple... CAPRICE!

Returning to Mobile Computing

   It was more than a decade ago when I had my first laptop computer, a Compaq with a Pentium 150mhz CPU. Fast forward to the present. Whenever I go to cyberzones or techno hubs of malls (my techno therapy), I can't fail to notice the dizzying array of laptops, notebooks, and netbooks. Since I am satisfied with my desktop PCs at home and at the office, I never imagine that I would be going back to mobile computing. While wifi is free in SM malls, I only manage to go online via my wife's Nokia E72. However, I can't fully access all the web features as the cell phone is only optimize for "mobile" browsing.

   My return to mobile computing was made possible when my uncle, an aircraft mechanic in Shanghai, China, said via Yahoo Messenger that he would be buying one mobile computer for me. I know it's expensive and I suggested that any Chinese/Taiwanese brand netbook would do. But knowing my uncle's preference for brand and quality, he decided to buy a Sony Vaio M (VPC125JC). As I was elated by his magnanimous gesture, I quickly researched on the Internet more information about this product.

   I've learned that Sony Vaio M is a follow up of the W series (netbook). It sports the new processor Intel N470 (1.83ghz) based on the Pine Trail platform, 1GB of RAM, 10.1" widescreen, Intel GMA 3150, wifi-N, 250GB hard drive, and Windows 7 OS. My uncle had the OS upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate from Windows 7 Home Basic. It doesn't have a built-in optical drive.

    The first thing I did when I got my hands on the Vaio M is install the free MS Security Essentials antivirus. As expected, installation was a breeze because of the legitimate OS. I connected it to the internet through my Belkin N1 Vision. I gave it a break in by checking my yahoo mail, viewing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (my favorite) in YouTube, and downloading a free utility program.

   Armed with a basic knowledge on netbooks, I am afraid that the 1GB RAM would be a bottleneck especially since the OS is Win 7 Ultimate. I initially thought that RAM could be upgraded but a brief phone call with a Sony Center-Ermita technician revealed the impossibility. RAM is soldered directly to the motherboard and worse, there is even no additional so-dimm slot for upgrade. I quickly looked at the bottom of the unit and I saw that only the battery could be removed. The manuals are practically useless for me because they are written in Chinese. I still have to verify with Sony Service Center if they will honor the international warranty. On the software side, I disable gadgets and aero to save valuable RAM. I also keep startup programs down to minimum.

   Nevertheless, I have no problems so far with my Vaio M. After all why would I use it for processor-heavy stuff like video editing, database management, etc. Netbooks are for "lite" computing. Simple as it may be, I am able to browse multiple websites, view youtube videos, and even stream media (.mp3 and .avi) files from my desktop PC via TVersity software. I even wrote this blog with it.

   I know there's still more to discover about my Vaio M and those are reserved for another blog.

Treasures of Archaeology @ the National Museum

   National Museum Director Jeremy Barns signed on June 14, 2010 the official documents declaring 28 archaeological artifacts as National Cultural Treasures. The ceremonial signing is part of the opening of the Pamana: Heritage of a Nation exhibits at the N.M. Building in Padre Burgos St., Ermita, Manila. The artifacts comprise the exhibit Treasures of Archaeology. P.D. 374 and R.A. 10066 mandates the National Museum to recognize artifacts of outstanding scientific, cultural, artistic, and historical value either as National Cultural Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.

   Curator Angel Bautista of the NM-Cultural Properties Division provided me background and provenance of the artifacts. They are:

1. Manunggul Jar (ca. 890-710 BC)


   The jar was recovered in Chamber A, Manunggul Cave, Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan during the archaeological exploration by Dr. Robert Fox in the 1960s. It is a unique neolithic secondary-burial (used for skeletal remains). On top of the cover is a boat with two human figures that represent souls on a journey to the afterlife. The only burial jar of its kind in the Philippines.

2. Calatagan Ritual Pot (ca. 15th-16th century)


   The pot was recovered near an archaeological site in Calatagan, Batangas by one of the laborers hired by former NM Asst. Director Alfredo Evangelista. It is a unique and atypical earthenwear with ancient syllabic inscription on the shoulder. The inscription is yet to be deciphered.

3. Maitum Anthropomorphic Burial Jar #13 (ca. 5 BC -370 AD)


   The burial jar was recovered in Ayub (now Pinol) Cave, Pinol, Maitum, Sarangani Province. Inside the jar are tiny bone fragments and deciduous human teeth indicating that the jar was used for burial of a young individual. This is a unique and only intact anthropomorphic burial jar with two arms, nipples, navel, and a figure of a male sex organ on the body found in an archaeological context.

4. Maitum Quadrangular Burial Jar (ca. 5 BC – 370 AD)


   The burial jar was recovered in Ayub (now Pinol) Cave, Pinol, Maitum, Sarangani Province. Inside the jar are bone fragments and human teeth. It has a curvilinear scroll design featuring a free-hand painting of Tree of Life and cloud motifs. This is the earliest record of cloud design on pottery.

5. Leta-Leta Jarlet with Yawning Mouth (ca. 1000 – 1500 BC)


   The jarlet is one of the several intact pieces of pottery recovered by Dr. Robert Fox during his exploratory work in Leta-Leta Cave, Langen Island, El Nido, Palawan in 1965. It is an anthropomorphic vessel depicting a yawning mouth.

6. Leta-Leta Stem Cup (ca. 1000 – 1500 BC)


   The cup is one of the several intact pieces of pottery recovered by Dr. Robert Fox during his exploratory work in Leta-Leta Cave, Langen Island, El Nido, Palawan in 1965. The unique cup is the only known earthenwear drinking vessel in the Philippines.

7. Leta-Leta Footed Jarlet (ca. 1000 – 1500 BC)


   The cup is one of the several intact pieces of pottery recovered by Dr. Robert Fox during his exploratory work in Leta-Leta Cave, Langen Island, El Nido, Palawan in 1965. This unique cup is only one of its kind in the Philippines.


8. Leta-Leta Presentation Dish (ca. 1000 – 1500 BC)


   The cup is one of the several intact pieces of pottery recovered by Dr. Robert Fox during his exploratory work in Leta-Leta Cave, Langen Island, El Nido, Palawan in 1965. This is the earliest type of presentation dish with lattice work (lace design).

9. Pandanan 14th Century Blue-and-White Porcelain Bowl (Early Ming Dynasty)


   The bowl was recovered systematically in an underwater shipwrecked site off the Pandanan Island, Balabac, Palawan. Its design shows the qilin and a phoenix cavorting between lotus scrolls. The qilin is a horse or unicorn-like creature in Chinese mythology.

10. Lena Shoal Blue-and-White Dish with Flying Elephant (ca. 1500 AD, Middle Ming Dynasty)


   Recovered in Lena Shoal wreck site, Palawan, the Elephant Dish is one of two pieces so far recovered in the world. Made of porcelain, on the central medallion is the flying elephant design painted in dark blue against a background of stormy and foaming waves. This is a rare representation of an elephant in early historic art.

11. Puerto Galera Blue-and-White Jar (ca. 14th to 17th Centuries, Ming Dynasty)


   Recovered in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, this blue-and-white jar features ears, cloud collars at shoulder, human figures and floral designs around the body, and lotus lappet on the upper foot rim. It is a unique specimen associated with Swatow Wares.

12. Marinduque Celadon Jar (ca. 1280 – 1368 AD, Yuan Dynasty)


   Collected in Marinduque, the Yuan celadon jar has a body embossed with Chinese dragon design which is one of the three only known of its kind in the world.

13. Palawan Zoomorphic Ear Pendant (ca. 500 BC – 500 AD)


   Several ear pendants were found in Uyaw, Rito-Fabian, and Duyong Caves in Palawan by Dr. Robert Fox in the 1960s. This type of lingling-o is the double-headed pendant found in Duyong Cave, in the southwest coast of Palawan. This is the most distinctive jade ornament with zoomorphic design; and a superb and beautifully proportioned example of an ancient carving in jade.

14. Tabon Paleolithic Stone Tools (ca. 50,000 years ago)


   The stone tools were recovered in the Old Stone Stage layer in the Tabon Cave, Palawan by Dr. Robert Fox in 1962. Made from chert, these tools were associated with the earliest human remains so far recovered in the Philippines. Most of the flake tools recovered in Tabon Cave were made from highly-selected stone materials like chert, a hard cryptocrystalline quartz.

15. Cabalwan Earliest Flake Tools (ca. 750,000 years ago)


   Collected in Awidon Mesa Formation, Espinosa Locality 4, Solana, Cagayan, one flaked tool has a reworked edge while the other is a primary flake. These were recovered in the same lithology where fossils of prehistoric elephant and stegodont were also found.

16. Batangas Likha Figurines (ca. 15th – 16th century)


   In Punta Buaya, Calatagan, Batangas, a burial site was found associated with grave furniture that could be traced back as early as the 14th century. The most significant artifacts recovered in this site were Likha stone figurines. “Likha” (meaning “Creature”) figurines are rare carved figures that may have been regarded as cult objects during pre-Colonial times.

17. Mataas Shell Scoop (ca. 1000 BC)


   Shell scoops made from the body whorl of a turban snail (Turbo marmoratus) first appeared in the Late Neolithic Period. At the ealry phase of Philippine Prehistory, early inhabitants did not only use mollusks as source of food. Recovered in Cagraray Island, Albay, the Mataas shell spoon is a concave utensil with a sharp point at one end and a figure at the other end.

18. Duyong Shell Adze (ca. 4,630 + 250 BP or 2,680 years ago)


   Manufactured from the hinge line of a giant clam (Tridacna gigas), the shell adze was found associated with a Neolithic burial assemblage in Duyong Cave, Quezon, Palawan. This shell tool is similar to the shell adzes recovered in Micronesia and Ryuku Islands in Okinawa, Japan. It could be the prototype of shell adzes found in the Pacific.

19. Tabon Skull Cap (ca. 16,000 years ago)


   The skull cap was systematically retrieved by Dr. Robert Fox during the archaeological excavation at Tabon Cave, Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan in 1960. It is the earliest skull cap of modern man (Homo sapiens sapiens) recovered in the Philippines.

20. Tabon Mandible (ca. 30,000 years ago)


   The skull cap was systematically retrieved by Dr. Robert Fox during the archaeological excavation at Tabon Cave, Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan in 1960. It is the earliest evidence of human remains showing archaic characteristics of the mandible and teeth dating to about 30,000 years ago.

21. Tabon Tibia Fragment (ca. 47,000 years ago)


   The tibia (shin bone) was recovered in Tabon Cave during re-excavation in 2000. The bone was sent to the National Museum of Natural History (Paris, France) for a more detailed study. Accelerated carbon dating technique revealed a dating of 47,000 =-/ 11-10,000 years ago. To date, it is the earliest human remain belonging to modern man (Homo sapiens sapiens).

22. Bolinao Skull with Teeth Ornamentation (14th-15 century AD)


   One of the significant information gathered in the archaeological excavation of Balingasay Site, Bolinao, Pangasinan is the beautiful and ornate method of decorating the teeth with gold. In this site, teeth with gold ornaments were found in 67 skulls that were associated with tradeware ceramics attributed to Early Ming Dynasty (ca. 15th century AD). One of the skulls is the renowned Bolinao Skull where gold scales were observed on the buccal surfaces of the upper and lower incisors and canines. The dental ornamentation consists of pegging with gold plates in fish scale design or pattern with gold wire rivets.

23. Seal of Captain-General Antonio Morga (ca. 1600 AD)


   Collected by underwater archaeologists at the San Diego Wreck Site off the Fortune Island, Nasugbu, Batangas, this gold seal is composed of an oval on which a heraldic devise has been engraved in the negative. It is the only one in the world.

24. Oton Death Mask (ca. 14th to Early 15th century AD)


   Collected in Oton, Iloilo, it is the first gold death mask recovered systematically by archaeologists, a rare piece.

25. Butuan Paleograph (ca. 1000 AD)


   Found among burial coffins in Butuan, it is the only one of its kind, rare and still undeciphered. It presents 22 units of writing on a silver strip similar to a Javanese script that had been used from the 12th to the 15th centuries AD. The characters display a Hindu-Buddhist influence, probably the earliest in the Philippines.

26. Laguna Copper Plate (ca. 900 AD)


   Discovered in the delta of Pagsanjan River, Laguna in 1986, the Laguna Copper Plate has ten lines of small script characters that are impressed on one side. This rare artifact was studied by Dr. Anton Postma and Dr. Johannes de Casparis. According to them, the main language of the copper plate is an old Malay but the text is sprinkled with Sanskrit, old Javanese, and old Tagalog terms.

27. San Diego Astrolabe (ca. 1600 AD)


   Collected in the San Diego Wreck Site off the Fortune Island, Nasugbu, Batangas, the Astrolabe consists of a bronze disc, a ring at the top by which they are suspended, and a counter weight of the bottom to stabilize them. It is one of the two known existing astrolabes in the world.

28. Banton Burial Cloth (ca. 13th – 14th century AD)


   Two pieces of Banton Cloth were found assoicated with coffin burial by former NM Asst. Director Alfredo Evangelista during his exploratory work in Banton Island, Romblon. It is considered as the oldest textile in the Philippines and associated with Yuan ceramic tradeware.

29. Balangay I or Butuan Boat I (ca. 320 AD)


   Balangay I is one of several balangays recovered in the vicinities of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and dates back to 320 AD. These boats are related to the evidences of the remains of a prehistoric village where gold industry has been discovered. The boat-building technology indicates the use of native fiber cabo negro and wooden dowels to pull together the wooden planks. The boat was declared National Cultural Treasure in 1987 by Pres. Corazon Aquino.

Just installed a FREE antivirus

   My Zone Alarm Antivirus is about to expire in a month's time. Since the last three weeks I've been visiting SM Cyberzones in Manila and North Edsa, searching for a new AV software. I have three softwares in mind - Norton, McAfee, and Zone Alarm. Norton and McAfee are available in two packages. Single PC installation with 1 year subscription and 3 PC installation with 1 year subscription. Zone Alarm is available for a single PC installation but with a 2 year suscription.

   I was about to make a choice when I've learned of my uncle's new Toshiba notebook running Windows 7 Ultimate. I've asked him about the antivirus software he's using. He mentioned Microsoft Security Essentials. I thought it comes with a cost but my uncle said that it's entirely free for download. Skeptically, I browsed MS website and found out that the software is actually free provided a legitimate version of Windows is installed. Since my Windows Vista Home Premium is genuine, I tried downloading it. Installation is quite easy because the interface is just point and click. I checked with the MS Security Center and found that the MS Security Essential is running together with ZoneAlarm. However, my PC froze probably because two AV softwares were running. I rebooted in Safe Mode and decided to uninstall ZoneAlarm without minding that I still have more than a month's subscription. I restarted my computer and got no problem eversince.

   By installing MS Security Essential, I've saved more than P1,000 annually for the purchase of AV software. After all, why pay more when I can get it for FREE. It's great to go legit!

PAMANA at the National Museum

   The National Museum of the Philippines will open on Monday (June 14) three exhibits to commemorate the 112th anniversary of Philippine Independence. With the theme "PAMANA: Heritage of a Nation," these exhibits include the Sketches of Amorsolo, FEBTC Bequest of Luna Paintings, and the National Cultural Treasures of Philippine Archaeology at the National Museum Building (Padre Burgos St, Ermita, Manila). Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is invited by the newly appointed Director Jeremy Barns as the Guest-of-Honor.

   Sketches of Amorsolo features more than 150 pencil drawings (framed) by the late National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. It was said that Amorsolo was very prolific that he produced three sets of drawings within hours. Breaking the monotony of the ensemble are paintings from the NM collection and the artist's memorabilia including his easel, palette, and walking stick.

   The FEBTC Bequest, meanwhile, represents the biggest donation by a private firm to the National Museum. In 1987, the Far East Bank and Trust Company (acquired by the Bank of the Philippine Islands in 2000) purchased and donated more than 140 paintings to the Museum. The collection is composed of oil paintings and bocetos (studies) by the 19th century Filipino master Juan Luna including those attributed to him and his son Andres Luna. The paintings were originally owned by Grace Luna, the American widow of Andres Luna.

   On the other hand, the National Cultural Treasures (NCTs) of Philippine Archaeology showcases what could perhaps be the greatest archaeological treasures of the Museum. Composed of more than 30 artifacts, only the Balanghay 1 boat is declared as National Cultural Treasure. However, Dir. Barns will formally sign the declaration of the other pieces as NCTs in a ceremony to be witnessed by PGMA. P.D. 374 and the newly signed RA10066 mandates the National Museum to recognize outstanding artifacts, artworks, and other cultural pieces either as National Cultural Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.

   Entrance to the National Museum Building is currently free to the public because of the ongoing repairs and renovation.