Be a turn-off this Saturday • Earth Hour, March 26

Over 1,000 of our cities and towns in the Philippines took part in Earth Hour 2010.

This year, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines which is composed of 1,512 member municipalities, is committed to make Earth Hour 2011 another successful endeavor. The League of Cities of the Philippines, a city organisation with 122 member cities, is also taking part.  Lagalog enjoins you, dear reader, to participate and be a turn-off, even for just one hour of one day in the year.

Make time for Earth Hour • Saturday • 8.30-9.30pm

Just what does one hour mean?

• one pass of U2's No Line on the Horizon CD

• an episode of Lost Season 5 or American Idol season 8

• 60 zany minutes of the usual telenovela

• 1-2 games of brisk badminton

• 60 sites for a site-for-a-minute web surfers

The list goes on. 60 minutes of switching off the lights may not mean that much but can have a dramatic impact on our planet (and the way we see about saving our planet). Let's celebrate Earth Hour this Saturday, March 28, 8.30-9.30pm. Together, we can make a difference.

M/V Doulos returns to Manila for the final time

It's been over two years since i've seen M/V Doulos docked at the South Pier. Last year, I was saddened by news that floated about the impending retirement of the vessel. Being the oldest ocean-going ship built in 1914, there was probably good reason why this was considered. But it's going to be a sorry loss for avid bookworms like me as this is also the largest floating bookstore in the world. So imagine my joy when I heard the M/V Doulos is visiting the country again and stopping by Manila for almost a month!It was sobering to find people braving the hot sunday afternoon sun to line up for a chance to buy books at more affordable prices. truth to tell, I wasn't that keen on most of the books onboard but rather, on the mugs and other items I'd like for keepsakes. aptly called "the United Nations on water", the ship has a crew made up of Christians of different nationalities, serving as volunteers and living up to the name, "doulos," which means servant in Greek, and living out its mission of bringing knowledge, help and hope.It's just sad that this would be the last time we'll be seeing this ship as it is scheduled to be decommissioned by 2010. I just hope that there will be another vessel to replace this one to carry on its very noble mission. So whether you're in search of inexpensive books or maybe just curious about this holdover from the Titanic era (imagine that!), please feel free to drop by to browse, to talk to the friendly crew, shop for books and CDs.Info: the M/V Doulos will be docked at the South Pier from March 6-30, 2009. Bookstore hours: Tue-Sat - 10.15am-7.15pm; Sunday - 1.15-7.15pm; Monday - closed. Admission is P10; kids under 16 are free of charge if they are accompanied by an adult.

Caffeine high

I'm supposed to be taking a sabbatical but I couldn't resist helping out in spreading the good word. A friend of mine gave me the contact details of Cordillera Coffee and I thought that as my recent posts are about our trip to the northern highlands, it would be a good idea to promote products that can help our brothers in the cordilleras make an extra living for the Christmas season.

Lest this post be mistaken for a paid ad, I'd like to state outright that it is not; it's just a way to help promote the products of the Cordillera people as the coffee company works directly with native farmers from pre- to post-harvest. With the holiday season just around the corner, you, my dear reader, may consider helping out by giving the highland coffee products they offer -- medium/dark roast cordillera Arabica and Civet coffee -- as gifts. I, myself, am a coffee fanatic and while I'm not one to refuse a Venti or Grande from Starbucks, I regularly patronize our local coffee outlets like Bo's and Figaro. Local coffee doesn't just give one a caffeine fix, it lends a helping hand to our local growers. 

Contact details: Cordillera Coffee Company, Unit 104 Llanar bldg., Xavierville Ave. cor. B. Gonzales St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City • Riverbanks Center 84 A. Bonifacio Ave. Barangka, Marikina UG/F SM City, Lower Session Road, Baguio • Manila contact number: 0338040 or email: [email protected] (image: lifted from the Cordillera Coffee Company handout)