Features
We would like to highlight the literary talents
of our members and their families. Don't forget to check
out the Kids' Corner.
In
the beginning, was Mapúa by
Ray Alvarado
No Pain,
No Gain by Ray Alvarado
Kalabit
Ni Roger Encarnacion
The
Way I See It By
Roger Encarnacion
Bakit
Kaya Ni
Roger Encarnacion
U.S,
Engineering Licensure: A Canadian Perspective
By Ray Alvarado
We
Came, We skidded, We Had Good Fun a
recollection by Ray Alvarado
The
Business of Writing
By Roger Encarnacion
Writing
about Nothing By Roger Encarnacion
The
Mapúa Alumni Organization of Calgary - A New Beginning
Looking for Inspiration
from the Ants By Roger Encarnacion
Afterthought
By Roger Encarnacion
IN
THE BEGINNING, WAS MAPÚA.....
WORLDWIDE
ELECTRICAL GENERATION FROM GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIRS
by: Ray B. Alvarado
The CEO of a leading petroleum multinational underscored the
criticality of energy as “one of the defining issues of
this century…….when growing demand meets tighter
supplies, the result is more competition for the same resources”.
Geothermal technology as it stands today can well meet the
ever-growing demand for electricity worldwide. Global resource
base from geothermal reservoirs was predetermined to be much
greater than the resource bases of oil, gas, coal, and uranium
combined. In 2003, geothermal power plants produced more than
8400 MW(1 megawatt = 1000000 watts) of electricity in both the
developing world and industrialized nations, with direct benefits
to more than 60 million people.
The word geothermal means natural heat from the Earth. Bathers
at Reykjavik’s blue lagoon. 45-minute wait for the Old
Faithful geyser at Yellowstone National Park. Hot spring spas
near Mount Fuji. These are but a few images of geothermal energy
we can all relate to. The fumaroles near Naples were so impressive
it was said to be the brainchild for Dante’s Inferno.
This dissertation is exclusive with the thermodynamic conversion
of geothermal fluids to electricity. Though mentioned throughout,
geothermal direct-use as in district heating, air-conditioning,
or aquaculture, is not the prime intent of this paper.
Basic Geothermics
The Earth is a colossal thermal generator, remnants of its fiery
creation and the incessant decay of radioactive materials. The
inner core is an infernal 9000 F, mostly liquefied metals and
gases. Heat flows from the core towards the surface initiating
convective motion in the semi-fluid mantle rock. Magma is melted
mantle rock that ascended near the Earth’s crust. Lava
is magma that broke the surface, as in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Earth’s crust, in some areas up to 35 miles thick,
has a maximum temperature gradient of 87 F per mile of depth.
This thermal movement is also the realm of plate tectonics,
slow drift of the fragmented crust, as much as 5 centimeters
per year. Most productive geothermal areas are located around
oceanic and continental plate margins, where highly fractured
areas of crust are found. Plates collide as in the western subduction
zones of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where one plate is forced
under. The plate that folds downward is literally “digested”
by the mantle, creating chains of volcanic islands or deep oceanic
trenches. On the other hand, plates also move apart, so-called
spreading centers, with magma filling the gap and forming new
crust. The great African Rift Valley is well-known, although
the submarine Mid-Atlantic Ridge across the Azores and Iceland
is also tectonically-active.
Many of these magma intrusions though remain underground, heating
adjacent rock. Rainwater and snowmelt seeping through nearby
cracks and faults are heated close to 700 F, as much as three
times the boiling point of water. These hydrothermal fluids
break the surface as hot springs, geysers or fumaroles. The
rest remains underground, trapped as pressurized water. These
regions of subterranean hot rock and water could cover an entire
mountain range. An impermeable cap rock blocks further upward
migration, thus the term blind accumulation. Cooling is very
slow, from 5000 to 1 million years.
Contemporary Technology
Electrical generation is the most significant utilization of
geothermal energy. High-enthalpy fields are generally harnessed
for electricity. There are three types of geothermal plants
in operation worldwide, matching steam characteristics from
the immediate reservoir:
1) Dry-Steam Cycle plants are the first geothermal plants ever
built, as in Larderello of Italy and The Geysers of northern
California. Relatively dry and at times slightly superheated
steam passes through a rock-catcher, then sent directly to the
turbine-generator unit.
2) Flash-Steam Cycle plants have the highest installed capacity
worldwide. Pressurized geothermal water from the well is passed
through one or two separators. Soon as pressure is released,
part of the water “flashes” or explosively boils
into steam. The force of the flashed steam spins the turbine-generator
unit.
3) Binary Cycle plants have two independent working loops,
separated by a surface-type exchanger. Pressurized geothermal
water make up the primary loop. Heat is transferred to the secondary
loop using a binary fluid. Binary fluids vaporize instantaneously,
having lower boiling points than water. Common ones are freon,
isobutane, isopentane, and aqua-ammonia. These plants operate
with low-enthalpy primary fluids at 225 F. Mineral-laden and
corrosive geothermal fluids have no direct contact with the
turbine blades. Virtually nothing is discharged to the atmosphere
since spent geothermal water is injected back to the formation.
Reservoirs and fluids are classified quite broadly. Water-dominated
reservoirs are the most prevalent in the world, where water
is kept liquid due to pressure. Vapor-dominated reservoirs with
dry superheated steam are quite rare. High-enthalpy(250 F -
700 F) geothermal fluids are required on power plants of the
dry-steam and flash types. Medium-to-low-enthalpy(300 F - 700
F) fluids, which are more prolific, can be processed in a binary-cycle
plant.
As in petroleum exploration, initial studies and surveys identify
geothermal potential. Among others, geological, hydrogeological,
and geochemical techniques are employed. Many technical parameters
are laid out like fluid heat content, location of surface manifestations,
type of geothermal system, siting of wells, source of recharge
water, and potential environmental issues.
Geothermal drilling is more complex than conventional oil-and-gas
drilling. High temperature wells can reach target depths of
up to 3 kilometers. Completion and well stimulation techniques
are quite unique i.e. with perforated liners. First wells to
be drilled are shallow temperature-gradient wells, to confirm
existence of a viable reservoir. More exploratory wells called
slim-holes are drilled to delineate the field, its size and
sustainability. Next are the bigger and deeper production wells
to support full-scale electrical production.
Injection wells return unflashed water and condensed water
back to the reservoir periphery. The thermodynamic cycle is
then repeated. We call this artificial recharge. Natural recharge,
on the other hand, is replenishing rain and snowmelt. Re-injection
could also rectify land subsidence from years of production.
In a complex geothermal gathering network, flowlines from producing
wells are tied-in to larger trunklines, then to main steam lines.
All gathering pipelines are aboveground, provided flexibility,
partially restrained, and thermally insulated. Intermediate
separation stations can be found, before the main steam line
enters the power plant.
Inside the plant, the main steam line attaches to a steam turbine
specifically designed for geothermal service. Geothermal turbines
are either condensing or non-condensing type, with the former
more common. Direct coupling to an electric generator is the
final but simplified step to electrical conversion.
Environmental Factors
Geothermal power is one of the least polluting forms of energy,
many times “greener” than coal, oil, natural gas,
nuclear, hydroelectric, or biomass. Geothermal power facilities
have co-existed quite successfully with other land uses. Because
of its smaller footprint, geothermal plants have been built
amidst agricultural farms, rain forests, deserts, and national
parks.
The U.S. Department of Energy classified geothermal energy
as renewable. Here’s a classic example: to resuscitate
the lack of fluids at The Geysers, a program was initiated to
inject treated municipal wastewater onto the reservoirs. This
raised steam production, and found an environmentally-acceptable
way of brine disposal.
As in petroleum wildcats, geothermal drilling requires the
construction of temporary or permanent access roads, drill pads,
effluent ponds, etc. Aboveground pipelines that convey geothermal
fluids modify the scenic aspects of the landscape. These features
though can blend in with the area and become a tourist attraction,
as in the the Larderello fields in Italy, and the blue lagoons
in Reykjavik.
White plumes you see from geothermal plants are mostly steam
or water vapor from cooling towers, with trace amounts of gases
like CO2 and H2S. Air-cooling, as pioneered by ORMAT Power since
1985, not only saves volumes of cooling water, but has zero
atmospheric discharge. No rising steam plume. The next-generation
geothermal plants, mostly on combined or binary cycle, will
be built this way.
Due to large equipment operation, geothermal plants have unavoidable
cooling tower or air cooler noise, and low-frequency turbine
hum. Plants are mostly sited far from large population centers,
which is a plus. Engineered sound isolation measures can bring
noise down to acceptable decibels.
Power Economics
Geothermal power development involves some financial risk. Many
fields identified as highly promising by initial surveys and
shallow drilling, were later determined by deeper drilling to
be unfit for further development. Surface thermal manifestations
by itself are never indicative of reservoir capacity. Another
risk is longevity, how a geothermal field will exhaust and/or
replenish itself after years of continuous operation.
Geothermal projects are distinguished by big capital outlays
- for exploration, drilling, and plant installation. Geothermal
drilling is more expensive than petroleum, and can be as high
as 50% of the total project cost. In the short term, return
of investment is not as fast as fossil-fired power plants. Operating
costs per megawatt though is way low because of an almost nil
price on fuel. Plant thermal efficiency is dramatically raised
by designing the system as combined power-process, i.e. selling
turbine exhaust steam or water to nearby industrial users. The
long-term economic benefits is what sets geothermal power apart
from the competition.
Worldwide electrical generation from geothermal reservoirs avoids
the combustion of billions of gallons of oil, or millions of
tons of coal. Before geothermal electricity can be considered
a mainstay with other alternative energy resources, it has to
be cost-competitive with other forms of energy. The U.S. Department
of Energy is trying to achieve a rate of $0.03 to $0.05 per
kilowatt-hour.
Ten Titans
Several emerging economies and industrialized countries have
more aggressive geothermal programmes, with installed electrical
capacities of 100 MW and higher. Worthy of mention;
The United States has the largest generating capacity with
2850 MW total, mainly from the four western states of California,
Nevada, Utah, and Hawaii. Geothermal-sourced electricity in
the U.S. is more than twice that of solar and wind combined,
but less than 1% of the country’s total power mix.
The Geysers north of San Francisco is the largest dry-steam
geothermal field in the world, also considered the most successful
alternative-energy project ever. Other California generating
areas are in Casa Diablo, Imperial Valley, Honey Lake Valley,
and Coso. Although there are 10 generating sites in Nevada,
plants in Soda Lake, Steamboat, and Brady Hot Springs are more
developed. Utah is producing from 2 sites: Cove Fort and Roosevelt.
Installed binary-flash steam plants are contributing 25% electricity
to the Big Island grid in Hawaii. Other western states showing
better-than-average potential for electrical development are
Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and
Alaska. Direct-use has skyrocketed with heat pumps, and hundreds
of geothermally-heated commercial buildings.
The Philippines is now second to the U.S. with a generating
capacity of 2200 MW total from six active sites. More than a
quarter of its 3 national power grids is geothermal-sourced.
In a few years, the 3 power grids will interlink via subsea
high-voltage transmission cables. Straddling the western rim
of the Pacific Ring of Fire, this country has remarkably large
geothermal resources. Power plant complexes have nameplates
in the 700-MW or more range. With a geothermal program on fast-track
and the rate fields are placed on-stream, it can well be the
#1 geothermal power producer by the end of this century.
In 1904, a field in Italy produced the first geothermal electricity.
More than a 100 years later today, the Larderello field in Tuscany
is still producing enough electricity to supply a city the size
of San Francisco, contributing to the country’s generating
capacity of 785 MW total. It is one of a rare superheated dry-steam
reservoirs. The other geothermal regions are Mt. Amiata, Latera,
and Travale-Radicondoli. Other geothermal areas have found direct
uses in Italy, much like the Roman public baths and Pompeiian
heated floors of old.
Mexico has a generating capacity of 855 MW total. The lion’s
share comes from Cerro Prieto with a rated capacity of 720 MW.
Los Azufres and Los Humeros are the two other geothermal sites
with smaller power output. Although capacity expansions are
planned, geothermal power contributes a meager 4% to the country’s
energy enchilada. Mexico has over 1500 hot springs and direct-use
is commonplace.
According to the World Bank, Indonesia with a generating capacity
of 770 MW total, has many times achieved an above-80% success
rate in exploratory drilling. Two other successful programmes
are those in the Philippines and New Zealand. Total production
comes from 7 dry-steam and liquid-dominated fields. Development
of the country’s extensive geothermal resources was briefly
halted by political upheaval and economic crisis back in the
‘90s.
Japan has a generating capacity of 547 MW total, less than
1% of the nation’s energy, spread out from 17 power plants
and modular units, ranging in size from 100 kW to 80 MW. Numerous
restrictions on drilling and development limit the size and
capacity of geothermal plants. Spas and hot springs take precedence,
being the largest direct-user of geothermal heat in the world.
The ritual of social bathing is an age-old Buddhist tradition.
Flash technology was pioneered in New Zealand, at their first-ever
and largest Wairakei geothermal field. Now this liquid-dominated
field in the North Island produces a total of 345 MW. New Zealand
is situated along the southeast subducting margin of the Pacific
Ring of Fire. No oil and little hydropower forced this island-nation
to go geothermal. Six other producing sites with smaller capacities
raise the generating capacity to 437 MW total, a mere 5% of
the energy pie. Combined-cycle units are common, with spent
steam or hot water piped to nearby industrial users.
Piped cold water is more expensive than hot water in Iceland.
Other than combined-cycle plants for industrial uses, 85% of
households are geothermally-heated. Reykjavik, the capital,
is considered one of the cleanest cities in the world. A big
factor is 95% of the city’s buildings are heated with
geothermal water. Geothermal generating capacity is 172 MW total
from 6 sites, a quarter of the country’s electricty needs.
Iceland is endowed with both high-enthalpy and low-temperature
fields. Like the Azores, this island-nation straddles the underwater
Mid-Atlantic rift zone. Generating stations now under construction
will more than double the present geothermal capacity of Iceland.
The plants at Miravalles generate 143 MW total, the only geothermal
power site in Costa Rica. The country lies along the Central
American Volcanic Belt. Two other areas, Tenorio and Rincon
de la Vieja, showed favorable results after initial surveys
and exploratory drilling. Field development was temporarily
delayed with the creation of a nearby national park.
El Salvador has a total generating capacity of 161 MW total,
from the Acuachapan and Berlin geothermal fields. Like its neighbors,
it also straddles the Central American Volcanic Belt. This is
20% of the nation’s electrical demand. Early developments
with no re-injection resulted in steam production decline, which
had now been rectified. Five other promising areas are slated
for further studies and exploratory drilling. Planned power
grid interconnections among Central American nations and shared
natural gas pipelines will have direct impact on future geothermal
developments.
Canadian Potential
The volcanically active subduction zone along the U.S. Cascades
in Washington is widely believed to extend into British Columbia.
This is an onshore extension of the Pacific Ring of Fire. A
100-MW geothermal plant is planned at Mount Meager in the Garibaldi
Range, after further testing and geophysical confirmation.
Geothermal power development is seen as relatively viable,
especially in Western Canada, though overshadowed by other forms
of energy. This resource-rich region will always have crude
oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium as direct competitors to
geothermal development.
Some direct-use facilities are in operation: space heating,
air-conditioning, commercial refrigeration, sidewalk deicing,
and pipe-freeze protection. Resorts and recreational spas in
the Rockies are supplied with clean geothermal water from hot
springs.
21st Century and Beyond
In years to come, accessible geothermal resources wont be limited
to “shallow” fields near the crustal plate margins.
Much of the world up to 6 miles down has a thick layer of hot
dry rock. No water, but lots of heat. Scientists from 5 countries
had experimented with injecting high-pressure water this deep,
causing adjacent rock to fracture. A second deep well becomes
the steam producer. In brief, this is called Hot Dry Rock(HDR)
technology. As ultra-deep drilling and metallurgy improves,
HDR development can be done anywhere.
The discovery of more prevalent, moderate-enthalpy(below 400
F) geothermal fields makes binary-cycle power plants a clear
choice. Hybrid plants, which combine the flash-steam and binary
cycle processes, are now successfully operated at various locations,
like in Hawaii.
Modularization and portability are gaining mainstream acceptance.
For local grid applications, geothermal plants have been built
as modular units, as in the Azores. More units can be added
in series as new wells come on-stream, or power demand increases.
Isolated communities far from the main grid, can benefit from
small-scale geothermal development. It raises local living standards.
Stand-alone mini-geothermal plants are planned for isolated
Indonesian villages with small 35 to 1000-kW ratings.
Geothermal technology is improving by leaps and bounds. Technical
problems in drilling and plant operations have been overcome.
Engineered treatments to geothermal water have solved the early
problems of corrosion and pipe scaling. Better methods for removing
silica have been discovered. Zinc can now be extracted as by-product
for commercial sale. Research on new methods is a never-ending
endeavor, like the now widespread use of isotope geochemistry
in aquifer evaluation.
Final Thoughts
Evolving rapidly, current geothermal technology is able to extract
a miniscule fraction of the Earth’s internal heat. We
barely scratched the surface. Most producing geothermal wells
in operation today are considered “shallow”. Will
the world be energy self-sufficient if we can raise the geothermal
extraction rate to at least 5%? Proponents of geothermal power
say “yes”.
With a combined installed capacity of more than 200 MW, countries
other than the top 10 above, have plants ranging from a 3-kW
experimental pilot to a 70-MW binary commercial facility. The
lengthy list includes China, Tibet, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia
@Kamchatka, Australia, Iran, Turkey, Austria, Portugal @Azores,
France @Guadeloupe, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina, Chile,
Kenya, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Private-funded, government-initiated,
or internationally-financed geothermal power developments are
also planned in other locations.
Geothermal steam is not affected by supply-side disruptions,
economic fluctuations, or political unrest. Operated in base-load
mode because of its simple reliability, large 100-MW geothermal
plants are hooked up to national power grids, delivering at
full capacity in a 24/7 availability. This is commonplace in
the Philippines and Indonesia.
With all these positive attributes, why is geothermal power
excluded from alternative-energy discussions? Current production
places geothermal at 3rd place after hydroelectricity and biomass,
and way ahead of wind and solar power. In spite of this, the
current level of development is a drop in the bucket compared
to its immense potential. Key to wider geothermal use and development
is public awareness, and greater technological support.
NO
PAIN, NO GAIN
By Ray
Alvarado
Our trek was so successful and fun-filled, but most of all,
injury-free. We couldn’t have chosen a better day! Destination
was the Ink Pots, algae-filled pools with clear mineral springs.
As bubbles rise, it forms these almost-perfect circles at the
bottom. We chose to open our brown-bag lunches in this expansive
sub-alpine meadow. Distance one-way from the Johnston Canyon
Resort trailhead to the Ink Pots is 7.0 kms, for a total of
14.0 kms roundtrip.
Eleven members, better-half(s), friends and family showed up.
With 3 pool cars, we left the Calgary NW meetingplace around
8:30AM and reached the Johnston Canyon parking at about 10:30AM.
After a bit of gear prep, we started at the Resort trailhead.
Espie purposedly waited for Danny & Dhee Eustaquio, saying
they will show up in a few minutes.
The trail follows a narrow edge of Johnston Creek, through
a montane forest of lodgepole and fir. Steel catwalks with railings
are attached on the cliff side, on precarious sections. You’re
history if you slip off to churning waters and rocks below!
We all met at the Lower Falls, our first logical stop, and took
some group photos for our website. The trail then gets narrower
and steeper, leading up to the Upper Falls. The ochre-colored
canyon walls are a distinct feature. This was our next pit stop.
Both falls have viewing platforms at the base and top. For
geological correctness, flowing water erodes the softer limestone
rock and leaves the harder dolomite layers, for a spectacular
cascade. After the Upper Falls, the trail is a combination steep
uphill and downhill. The sound of water is now muffled as we
walked away from the canyon walls and deeper into the forest.
Espie’s yells to hurry up become more audible this time.
Here’s a sampler of her motivational ad libs: “only
five minutes more”, “its all downhill after that
bend”, and “picture that big lunch ahead”.
We reach a clearing and the Ink Pots is right in there. Lunch
is served!
We had all sorts of breaks and timeouts. Espie as fearless
leader said to yell if a timeout is called for, by Nature or
otherwise. More infamous ones were: a) food breaks(a power-bar
snack or eating half of one’s own sandwich), b) air breaks(catching
one’s breath), c) muscle breaks(resting those hurting
joints on a fallen log), and d) water breaks(see explanation
on next paragraph). We even had this wait-for-your-own-partner
breaks, and halfway-up-there breaks!
A water break is not just a drink off your canteen. It also
means, “I really have to go” and had to disappear
in the bushes. First, the ladies had to be excused. When done,
you’ll hear this Tarzan-growl of relief. Then the guys
followed suit and mark their territorial boundaries. As the
rest of us waited at trailside, we had to act like catching
our breath to incoming hikers.
Other than Espie and Hermie, the rest of us have to eat humble
pie – and accept the fact that we’re non-vertically-inclined.
One would think uphill was hard, and downhill was easy. Not
always true. For a final post-hike motivation, Espie had to
treat us for ice cream at the Resort. Thanks very much, Espie!
Ice cream was good chemistry with those PG13-rated anecdotes
- makes those aching body parts way lot bearable. To cap the
evening, Danny & Dhee Eustaquio’s dinner offer of
kaldereta and rice was a Godsend.
We always hear this: “No pain, no gain”. Our “candid-camera”
shots of the tired and weary says it all. Did we really mind?
Ask Robert Gutierrez. He will tell you the cardiac benefits
of a leisurely hike after triple-bypass. Before we trade in
our trekking sticks for ski poles, Espie is proposing one more
hike i.e. “commune” with the fall colors at Larch
Valley. This will be our end-of-season clincher.
KALABIT
ni Roger Encarnacion
Sa maraming pagtitipong dinadaluhan ng mga Puti at Pinoy, halimbawa’y
piging na handog ng kumpanya sa kanyang mga kawani, ay tila
langis sa tubig na kusang bumubukod ang mga Pinoy sa karamihan.
Kapuna-puna ang pagkakalikmo nila sa iisang hapag o sulok ng
bulwagan. “Kung saan liligaya, doon kami,” ang tila
patakarang namamayani sa isipan ng ating mga kalahing Pinoy.
“Mahirap yata ang magsalita ng Ingles,” dagdag pa
nila.
Tila mga ibong nangakadapo sa isang sanga ng puno, sila ay
payapa sa kanilang pagkakaumpok, maalwan ang pakiramdam at maligaya
sa pagkakatalos na malaya nilang naipapahayag ang kanilang damdamin.
Makatawag-pansin ang ganitong pagbubukud-bukod ng mga Pilipino.
Lalo na’t kung napapalakas nang bahagya ang kanilang kuwentuhan
at tawanan. Sa ibang mga Puti, ang gayong tanawin ay nakakaupasala.
Minsan ay narinig ko: “Hindi baga kung bakit tayo dumadalo
sa isang pagtitipon ay upang makihalubilo sa lahat?”
“Kung gayon,” anya, “ang pagkukumpul-kumpol
ng mga Pilipino ay taliwas sa diwa at layuning ibinabandila
ng pagtitipon at sumasagisag sa pagkakahati-hati ng pagsasamahan.
Ang ganitong gawi ay pagpapatotoo rin sa kasabihang ang silangan
ay silangan at ang kanluran ay kanluran at hindi sila magpapanakpo
magpakailanman.”
******
Sa pagsulpot sa daigdig ng pagiging bagong-tao ng ating mga
anak ay unti-unti ring mararanasan natin ang pag-uusbong ng
maraming suliraning kaakibat ng pakikipag-ugnayan at pakikipag-unawaan
natin sa kanila. Marahil ay ikakasindak natin at tuloy ikakasama
ng loob kung sa ilang mga pagkakataon ay magbitiw sila ng mga
pangungusap na hindi natin inaasahan, mga pangungusap na nakakasaling
ng kalooban sapagkat wari’y humahamon sa ating pagkamagulang.
Sa ating pandinig at pagpapalagay, ang kanilang pangangatwiran
o pagmamatuwid ay tila bumabagtas sa guhit na naghahati sa nakagisnan
nating pamantayan ng isang mabuting anak at ng isang anak na
walang turing. Masasaktan tayo at maghihimutok sa pagkaunawang
ang gayong ‘pagsagot’ ay kalapastanganang hindi
natin kailanman ginawa o magagawa sa ating mga magulang. Ngunit
kung ating aalagatain lamang na sila at tayo’y lumaki’t
nagkaisip sa dalawang magkaibang daigdig – tayo, sa daigdig
na walang pasubaling kumikilala at tumitingala sa kapangyarihan
at mala-Diyos na kalagayan ng ating mga magulang, at sila, sa
daigdig ng makabagong kabihasnan na nagpapalagay na ang malaya
ngunit may pakundangang pagsasabi ng nilalaman ng kanilang dibdib
sa kanilang magulang ay malusog na kaganapan ng kanilang pagkatao
– marahil ay matatanggap nating unawain sila bilang mga
bagong-tao na mandi’y naguguluhan lamang sa pagtatangkang
matagpuan ang kanilang sarili: dugong Pilipino, kaanyuang Pilipino,
lahing Pilipino, ngunit diwa’t kaisipang Canadiano.
******
Narito ang isang madulang tagpong karaniwang nagaganap sa loob
ng tahanang Pilipino sa Canada at Amerika.
Anak na babae: “Hindi ka makatarungan, Ama. Kung si Kuya
ay malaya mong pinahihintulutang abutan ng hatinggabi sa daan
at pinapayagan ding ‘makipagmabutihan’ sa kanyang
kaibigang babae, bakit ako ay hindi?”
Ama: “Anak, siya’y lalaki at walang mawawala sa
kanya. Ikaw ay babae. At huwag mong kalilimutan sana na ikaw
ay Pilipina pa rin.”
Kung pakakalimiin ay masarap sanang pakinggan ang ganitong
pag-aalaala ng mga magulang sapagkat ito’y umaalintana
sa kapakanan at kabutihan ng kanilang anak na babae. Subalit
ang ganitong pag-aalaala kung pag-aalaala nga itong matatawag
ay pagdidiin lamang sa hindi pantay na pagpapasunod ng mga magulang
at makiling na pagkakaloob nila ng kalayaan sa kanilang mga
anak na lalaki.
Mapanganib ang ganitong panuntunan. Hindi lamang nag-aalis
ito ng pagtitiwala sa mga anak na babae na maaaring magbuyo
sa kanila upang magsinungaling at maglihim, nagpupunla rin ito
ng kapaitan sa kanilang puso upang gumawa sila ng mga maling
hakbang na maaaring ipagsisi nila at ng kanilang mga magulang
balang araw.
Sa kabilang dako naman, ang pagkakaloob ng lubos na kalayaan
sa mga anak na lalaki sa paniwalang ang pagiging ‘barako’
nila ay likas lamang at hindi sukat ikabahala ay pag-amin sa
hindi makatwirang pagpapalagay ng mga magulang, lalo na ng ama
ng tahanan, na tama lamang ang makalamang at hindi tama ang
malamangan.
******
Mapapansin sa mga unang sandali pa lamang ng pagsilang sa mundo
ng isang sanggol ay gumigitaw agad ang pagkamakiling ng magulang,
lalo’t ng ama, sa lalaking anak. Ang bagay na ito’y
pinatututuhanan ng mga pangungusap na maririnig mula sa mga
kakilalang bumabati sa kanila. “Nakalalaki ka rin, pare!”
Mababanaag ang kakaibang kislap ng katuwaan at pagmamalaki sa
mga mata ng binati. Ngunit ang katuwaang ito’y hindi bunga
ng pagkakaroon ng malusog at magandang sanggol, kungdi katuwaang
dulot ng pagkakaroon ng anak na lalaki.
Sa kabilang dako, kung sa halip na lalaki ay babae ang naging
anak, mapapansing hindi kasingsukdol ang kagalakang nadarama
ng karaniwang magulang sa kanilang puso bagamat masasabing maligaya
rin sila. Nakakasaling ng damdamin ang mga pagbating maririnig
mula sa mga kakilala. “Huwag kang mawawalan ng pag-asa,
pare. Baka sa susunod ay makalalaki ka rin!” Bagamat may
bulo ng katotohanan ang gayong pagbati, hindi maikukubli ang
himig pagkapalalo niyon sapagkat nagpapahiwatig ng pagtitimbang-timbang
ng kahalagahan ng anak na lalaki sa babae.
Hindi lamang mga Pilipino ang may ganitong masidhing paghahangad
sa anak na lalaki. Ang mga Intsik, Bumbay, Hapones, Koreano
at iba pang mga Asyano at maaaring ang lahat na ng lahi ay nagkakaisa
sa pangangarap ng anak na lalaki.
Sa mga pook-pasyalan, nakapagtatakang ang pangkaraniwang akay-akay
ng mga magulang na Intsik ay batang lalaki. Ano ang ginagawa
nila sa mga anak na babae? Ang mga inang Bumbay ay napapabalitang
nagpapatiwakal kung hindi nila mabigyan ng anak na lalaki ang
kanilang kabiyak. At ang mga Hapones at Koreano ay nagdiriwang
ng gayon na lamang bilang pasasalamat sa pagkakaluwal ng kanilang
maybahay ng anak na lalaki.
THE
WAY I SEE IT
by Roger Encarnacion
Freedom is a precious commodity and an expensive
one at that. That is why it grieves me to see people taking
it for granted.
Freedom of religion is one freedom that gives us the opportunity
to choose the religion of our liking. However, many people try
to interpret it differently by saying that golfing on Sunday
is an exercise of freedom of religion. And why not? Instead
of falling asleep from a minister’s sermon, one will never
have a dull moment on the green. It has been suggested that
at the golf course one can always sing a praise of thanks to
God, especially if he has just sunk a birdie or an eagle.
Think of the alternative situation. Inside the church, one’s
mind sometimes wanders in some unwarranted places. Screaming
children are always a challenge and a constant source of distraction.
People wishing peace and shaking hands with those around them
- especially those who have just sneezed on their hands - appear
compelled and sound insincere. And oftentimes, people just go
by the motion: sit, kneel, stand, and open their mouth to sing
or lip synch a song depending on their state of mind. Singing,
as I see it, is looked upon by the majority of non-vocalizing
churchgoers as an act of sinning.
Compare the above with the serene atmosphere of a golf course
where one can hear the soft flutter of the poplar leaves, feel
the warm touch of the sun on his skin, witness the magnificent
flight of the white ball in the air, and sense the surge of
adrenalin in his body as the ball slowly rolls into the eighteenth
hole. I wonder if there is any place more blissful to the mind
and spirit.
Needless to say, this freedom of religion gives many part time
churchgoers every reason to be thankful to our democratic system
of government. Doing what they want to do on Sunday at a place
where they feel closer to God enables them to be at peace with
themselves and the whole universe.
******
Another freedom which is equally important is
the freedom of choice. With this freedom, we are allowed to
choose our spouse, our friends, the place we shop, the place
we live, the thing we read, to name only a few. But these are
all basic freedoms which are fundamental rights of every citizen
living in a free society. However, there are other choices we
make which have far reaching ramifications.
Let us talk about abortion. Many Canadians would go to great
lengths and expense to have their right to an abortion preserved.
It is their life they claim, and absolutely no one has the right
to tell them what to do with their body. Right on. The only
trouble is they are killing small babies who, like every creature
on earth, have the right to be given a chance to live.
In our criminal justice system, a very important choice is also
involved. It is a choice between what is right and what is wrong.
Our justice system, which badly needs a major overhaul, believes
one hundred percent in restitution. A 16-year old boy could
massacre a family of ten and may get only a maximum of 3-year
sentence for all his trouble. And mind you, he will not even
be sent to jail. He will serve his time in a restitution house
where he gets the things most of us consider luxuries in life:
color TV, computer games, warm bed, exercise centre, and yes,
including sporting privileges. “He is young,” our
justice system will say. “He needs treatment, not long
jail term, and absolutely not the death penalty. Let not one
mistake clouds his future.” Sure, but what about the future
of his victims and their loved ones?
It is ironic that whenever a murder is committed in our society,
the bleeding hearts in our justice system are more likely to
display deeper concerns for the rights of the criminal rather
than of the victims. “Read his rights,” we hear,
but nobody reads the rights of the dead man and his orphaned
family.
When a human being senselessly kills another human being, unprovoked
and without reason, he must pay the ultimate price. Eye for
an eye. If he was a pitbull in the alley who had mauled and
killed a child, you sure know what we will do to him.
Criminal elements always have a choice. The victims never have.
******
The other freedom which we give a special value
is the freedom of assembly. This freedom allows us to get together
according to our belief, principle, commonality, partisanship,
and other reasons. The Filipinos exercise this freedom by forming
organizations at will. They organize various groups according
to what region they came from, what age group they belong, what
company they had worked for, what school they graduated from,
what sports they play, and so on ad infinitum. It is likely
that without this freedom, the Filipinos will be in trouble.
As a Caviteno, I am probably as proud as an Ilocano, or a Cebuano,
or a Batangueno, in reference to the province of my birth. But
this pride insinuates a different meaning when I hear somebody
aggrandizingly says that he came from a certain prestigious
institution in the Philippines, which forgive me if I am wrong,
presupposes class, status symbol, and exclusivity.
Now, where’s the relevance of freedom of assembly in what
I have just stated, you ask. Well, if what’s happening
in the Filipino community is to be judged, freedom of assembly
simply doesn’t exist among Filipinos. For example, you
can not join the Cavite Association if you are not a Caviteno.
You can not join the Ex-Meralco Employees Association if you
did not work for Meralco. You can not be a member of the Mapua
Alumni Association if you did not graduate from the Mapua Institute
of Technology. Simply stated, you can not join most of the Filipino
associations if your qualification is just being a Filipino.
******
The next freedom which seems to play the most important role
in our life is the freedom of expression. With this freedom,
we are able to communicate to other people our feelings, our
knowledge, our preferences, our philosophies in life; in short,
the complete make-up of our selves.
But freedom of expression carries with it a heavy responsibility.
One does not say something just for the sake of saying it. One
must always temper his statement with facts, reasons, sound
judgment, and good taste. One must always do his best to say
the truth.
In our day-to-day existence, we oftentimes hear half-truths,
ambiguities, and statements with double meanings. Notorious
for clever manipulation of words are politicians who always
say one thing but mean the opposite.
To communicate with one another, we use words most of the time
but we also use actions, gestures, illustrations, and body language
to make our point. At other times, we use silence to show that
we are more sophisticated or more intelligent than the people
around us. (Remember the saying ‘Silent river runs deep?’)
But the converse of this is also true; some people are always
silent because they don’t have anything to say or they
are too timid to open their mouth.
******
The other freedom which all civilized nations give lots of importance
is the freedom to vote. It is the freedom to choose the people
who we believe can best serve the interests of the country.
But it doesn’t always happen that way. Oftentimes, the
“masa ng bayan” elect candidates based on their
popularity. Worse, they favour the candidates who they think
will less enrich themselves in office.
“What are we in power for?” That seems to be the
slogan amongst politicians of all stripes and colors. To be
elected into office means to be given the key to the vault where
one can fill his loot bags to the hilt.
Public office begets power and power begets greed. This is the
sad commentary of our time.
BAKIT
KAYA?
Ni
Roger Encarnacion
“Magandang umaga”, bungad mo sa iyong kasama sa
upisina. “Kamusta ka?” Kaysarap ng inyong kuwentuhan.
Tila kayo sabik sa isa’t isa. Ngunit naisip mo bang nang
umagang iyong bumangon ka sa higaan ay hindi mo man lang nagawang
batiin ng magandang umaga ang iyong maybahay o ang iyong dalawang
anak? Wala ang matamis na “Kamusta ka.” Wala rin
ang tila sabik na pakikipag-usap.
Bakit nga ba? Bakit lagi na lamang nating ipinagwawalang-bahala
ang kahalagahan ng mga taong kasa-kasama natin sa buhay?
***
Gabi. Ang anak mo’y nakita mong payapang nanunuod ng kanyang
paboritong palabas sa TV. Gusto mo rin sanang manuod ng paborito
mong palabas. Ngunit alam mong hindi ka pagbibigyan ng iyong
anak kahit pansumandali. “Mom”, sasabihin niya sa
iyo, “nanunuod po ako. Mamaya na lamang kayo.” Ngunit
kung isang kaibigan ang magsasabi sa kanya, karaka-rakang pagbibigyan
niya ito.
Bakit nga ba? Bakit kaya nahihiya siya sa kanyang kaibigan
ngunit sa iyo ay hindi? Bakit higit na mataas ang pagsasaalang-alang
niya sa kanyang kaibigan kaysa iyo? Ah, oo, sasabihin mo, “bata
pa siya at walang muwang.”
***
Hindi sinasadya ay natabig ng malikot mong bunso ang basong
may lamang pulang alak at ito’y bumagsak sa puting carpet
sa inyong silid-tanggapan. Biglang tataas ang iyong tinig at
madarama sa iyong pananalita at kilos ang iyong matinding galit.
May damdaming masusugatan, ngunit ito’y hindi mo alintana.
Ngunit kung isang anak ng kaibigan mo na iyong panauhin ang
magkakaroon ng ganitong sakuna, may ngiti sa labing sasabihin
mo: “Sige lang ‘Mare, hindi naman sinasadya ng bata.
Huwag mong intindihin.”
Isang eksena, ngunit dalawang magkasalungat na reaksyon. Dalawang
hindi matarok ng isip na reaksyon.
***
Handaan. Dumating kayo sa bahay ng inyong kakilala. Ah, ang
bawat isa’y nagyakap-yakap, naghalik-halik. Cheek to cheek,
ala-tradisyong Pranses. Matanda sa matanda. Bata sa matanda.
Tila sabik sa isa’t isa. Matagal na panahon kasing hindi
kayo nagpapangita. Matagal na panahon nga ba?
Ngunit bakit hindi mo nararanasan iyon kapag dumarating ang
iyong mga anak na napawalay sa iyo ng maigsing panahon? Bakit
sa iba ay nagagawa nilang mag-anyong mapagmahal? Bukal ba sa
kalooban nila ito o pakitang tao lamang?
***
Nakakatuwa nga ang ugali natin. Ating ipinagwawalang-bahala
ang mga taong malalapit sa ating puso samantalang pinagpipitaganan
natin at binibigyan ng malaking kahalagahan ang ibang tao. Pinagkakaitan
natin ng karapatdapat na pagtuturing ang ating mga kasambahay,
samantalang sila at wala ng iba pa ang tanging dadamay sa atin
sa lahat ng ating pangangailangan at kagipitan pagdating ng
panahon.
(Kung mayroon kayong kumentaryo, masusulatan ninyo ako sa roger.encarnacion@jacobs.com.)
U.S.
Engineering licensure: A Canadian Perspective
By Ray Alvarado
Our affinity with the American engineering system is well ingrained.
In fact, the Philippines and USA are two countries in the world
ever to license professional engineers by written technical
examinations. As Mapuans, we clutch this tradition with a great
sense of pride.
A more grassroots title could be A Filipino-Engineer-in-Alberta’s
Roadmap to U.S. Professional Registration. Nonetheless, any
foreign-educated engineer wishing to find opportunities due
South can benefit from this rudimentary deliberation. For a
quick overview of the process, check out these sites:
www.ncees.org
www.abet.org
www.ecei.org
The Application Process
This is the first big hurdle – getting approved for the
exams. One key function of any U.S. state/territory Board is
the regulation of professional practice within its jurisdiction.
Engineering is one of them.
The NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and
Surveying) is a national non-profit organization with all licensing
Boards as its members. NCEES is mandated to provide, among others,
a standardized examination system on all 55 states and territories
of the Union. For foreign graduates, most Boards would require
an academic equivalency evaluation by ECEI (Engineering Credentials
Evaluation International), a division of ABET (Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology). All U.S. schools that
offer engineering/computer/applied science courses had to be
accredited by ABET for legitimacy and greater reciprocity.
In simplistic terms, U.S. licensure is a two-step process.
One has to pass two written technical exams in succession, the
FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) and PE (Principles & Practice
of Engineering). On exceptional situations, mostly with the
FE exams, test waivers may be granted. The exams are well structured
with few ambiguities, and quite a level playing field. All graduates
of American engineering schools, Canadian practicing PEngs,
and immigrants from the rest of the world have to go this path.
An applicant should meet licensing Board pre-requisites to
gain admission to both exams. Applications should be sent directly
to the Board, not to NCEES. There is a common thread but some
Boards have their own unique requirements. Some are more stringent
than others, so let your better judgment guide you.
The FE is a closed-book exam. Only one reference is allowed,
the NCEES FE Handbook, given before start of the exam. This
is your bible so know it inside out. The latest edition of this
booklet can be printed off the Internet with at least 145 pages.
The exam is total of 8 hours, broken down to a 4-hour AM Session
and 4-hour PM Session with a 1-hour lunch/noon break.
The PE is an open-book exam. There are certain rules for which
textbooks and handbooks are allowed. Some states will do the
‘shake test’, so notes and photocopied pages have
to be in a 3-ring binder. Scribbles and pencil marks on books
are not acceptable on most states. This time, one has to choose
a mainstream discipline (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical)
or be highly specialist like Marine, Nuclear, Petroleum, Environmental,
etc. The new Breadth-and-Depth format now applies.
The FE exam is far ahead into the metric (SI) conversion effort.
PE exams are still mostly in Imperial (English) units. Industry
and the other applied disciplines are slow to embrace units
metrication, and so are the PE exams.
Deadline/s for submitting applications to the state Board should
be in sync with their regular and annual meetings. Check the
Board’s website for actual dates. Review and approval
of applications is part of their meeting agenda.
Review Central
“Problem-solving, problem-solving, and more problem-solving”
is a mantra I always keep to memory. As working adults, keeping
a sensible balance with family, work and now that much-needed
review time is a juggling act of sorts.
Review materials available from the States are quite nebulous
- video & audiotapes, online exams, chat/group sessions,
etc. Select those that really suit your individual study habits.
Three review providers worthy of mention, each with their own
unique strengths and weaknesses are:
www.ppi2pass.com
www.mgi.org
www.engineeringpress.com
NCEES does not openly re-print problems from past examinations.
Why? One reason is 20% of the problems are repeated on future
exams, with a twist – called the equating subtest. NCEES
constantly amends the coverage and guidelines for the exams.
One key attribute of an exceptional review provider is the speed
it adds in these changes as reflected on the materials and services
it sells.
Plan on some mock exams, vis-à-vis dry runs. These are
very effective exercises only when simulated like the real thing
– accurately timed, small table & chair, limited scratch
papers, actual references/books, calculators to use, etc. During
the review, take “time outs” when you feel mentally
saturated. It is simply “recharging batteries” for
a day, say watching a funny movie or canoeing on a lake.
Pre-Exam Preparations
This covers the last two weeks before exam day. You finished
all review subject matter and covered the bulk of the NCEES
syllabus. If there is more ‘virgin territory’, leave
them. This is no time to cram. Start the final preparations
now.
Some western states like Montana, Alaska, etc. have on-going
arrangements with APEGGA to administer the exams here in Calgary.
You don’t have to be an APEGGA member to take the exams,
as long as you pay the extra admin/office-use fee. Some APEGGA
staff have recently trained and obtained certification to proctor
NCEES exams here in Canada. That could save you a trip and travel
expenses to the U.S. If a trip to the States is inevitable,
pre-planning has to be done i.e. passport and/or visa, air flights,
accommodation, car rental, etc.
NCEES in collaboration with each state Board has very specific
rules and restrictions regarding calculators (brand, model,
functions), pencils (provided at exam day), books & references,
notes to bring, use of washrooms, scribbling & scratch papers,
etc. You will find numerous checklists outlining what things
to bring and what to leave home. There is no golden rule to
this, so rely on your instincts. Make sure everything works,
and always bring spares.
Visit the venue of the exam 3 days before, ask permission to
sneak-a-peek at the rooms, and know where the washrooms are.
Why pick on washrooms? If you have to go more than once, you
will loose valuable time. Generally to prevent cheating, examinees
take turns on washroom visits, usually with a bit of lineup.
Likewise, I cannot over-emphasize the value of physical and
mental conditioning as the exam date gets closer.
Exam Day
This is the next big hurdle – passing the exams. The FE
Exams are given bi-annually, usually on a Saturday in October
and April. The PE Exams are also administered twice a year,
with some only in October. Check actual dates from the state
Board website.
Both Exams are multiple-choice problems with four answers to
choose from. The total number of problems varies in each exam,
so will the minutes you allocate per problem. Your analysis
and calculation speed directly relates to the complexity of
the problem. Time is one of your toughest adversaries.
Sounds like a walk in the park? Don’t get too complacent
with the apparently simple format. Statistically, your chances
of passing are way better by actually solving the problem vs.
guessing your way through most of it. Next time, we will discuss
the fine art of guessing the ‘engineered’ way.
On exam day, try to come in early. Your bag should have your
light lunch, favorite drink and snacks. Bring review references
- only those you would absolutely need. For the PE, you will
have at least two bags full of books and manuals. Find a quiet
corner near the room assigned and relax for a while.
The FE AM Session covers material during the first two years
of a 4-year ABET-certified engineering curriculum in the States.
For example, Math is wide-ranging – from Algebra to Difference
Equations. That was totally Greek to me – I took Differential
Equations before, but not Difference Equations. Examinees have
to complete all the 140-odd stand-alone problems. Proper pacing
and accuracy are key.
The FE PM Session is equivalent to the last two years of the
ABET school curriculum. It is also a total of 140 questions
with a bit of twist. This time, you have a choice of one Section
to solve. There is a General Section and the more discipline-specific
Sections like Industrial, Civil, Chemical, etc. You will also
come across problem sets, where one problem covers as many as
7 questions. Staying mentally alert for another 4 hours is an
artform.
The PE AM Session is also called the Breadth Module. This encompasses
a wide swath of subject matter within your specific discipline,
as outlined in the NCEES guidelines. All problems should be
solved and there are no selections here.
The PE PM Session has a choice of Depth Modules. For example,
in the Electrical PE Exams, you are asked to work on only one
of these specialist Modules: Power, Computer Engineering, or
Electronics & Communications. Your choice of Depth Module
has to be decided early on during your review, not at the day
of the Exams.
There is a 1-hour lunch break for both exams. Other than relaxing
after a grueling AM Session and a quiet lunch, make use of the
time to prepare for the PM Session.
At the end of the day, don’t throw your books in that
box yet. Make notes of the problems you encountered, your weak
spots, and things you think are important. Do this while everything
is memory-fresh. Then forget about the Exam, and escape to the
mountains. Unwind and take a week off alone or with the family.
You deserve it. Don’t plan on going back to work the next
day. The rigors you went through require some gradual form of
“mental decompression”. After that, the long wait
for the test results begins…an average of 18 weeks.
Final Thoughts
Here is an attempt at generalities, the basic framework less
the bells and whistles. My other wish is to generate further
discussions. We will delve with the finer points of each sub-section
by next issue. More tips/tricks and lessons learned are on its
way from a combination of self-discovery, deductive reasoning
and plain-old common sense.
There are two types of scoring in these exams, raw score and
converted score. Raw scores are the actual correct answers you
obtain from the exam. Converted scores are derived from your
raw scores after an NCEES statistical conversion. Later we will
be talk statistics lingo like equating subtest, minimum competent
examinee, cut-scores, etc.
You will pick up a truckload of real-world advice along the
way. Take it with a grain of salt. Glean only those that would
work best for you. Your resolve and focus would carry you through
trying times and the unexpected. A true-to-form practicing Canadian
engineer who took both exams in a span of 2 years had this to
say; “The exam coverage was wide-ranging. I feel a much
better engineer now since I left university”. The Mapua
spirit, ever restless, will always rise to the occasion. Did
I whet that feeding frenzy?
Ray
is a BSME ’78 and former Editor of “The New Builder”,
Mapua’s official publication. He can be reached at (403)212-8472,
or fire away a terse e-mail: alvarado.ray@colteng.com.
Top of Page
We
came, we skidded, we had good fun.
A recollection
by Ray Alvarado
In a Reader’s Digest version, this was our 2004 Christmas Party
at Ogden-Millican Community Hall.
The night of December 4th - outside was bleak and
dreary. Inside, we warmed ourselves to good laughter,
good food, good wine, and most of all, good company.
Forecast
for the day was not so encouraging, with low temperatures and
snow. The whole enchilada came down in the evening,
freezing rain and all. This slowed us a wee bit, but we
are freight trains – unstoppable!
Getting
there was half the fun – or challenge. The hill up 18th
Street at Ogden proved very tricky even for some 5th
generation 4x4s. Many a car burned rubber, spun the curb,
or turned around in frustration. Some members able to
go through unloaded their cargo, returned to the crest and offered
assistance. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT #1.
Volunteers
with the Decoration Committee came an hour earlier before the
6:30 PM official start. Without being prompted, many an
early bird member and guest rolled up their sleeves and
lent a hand with setting up the hall. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
#2.
Turnout
was way more than we expected. The pay-as-you-go system
for tickets was simplistic yet very efficient. Prizes
for raffles, cash for kid’s games and other giveaways were received
and sorted upon entry. Eugene and
Ritz presided over the program. We discovered
a natural in Marybeth, joining the two veteran emcees
for the first time. Our next talk-show
host?
Food
was scrumptious. Very much on time, Gonkee
was our main caterer. That’s not all. Mang
Pepe brought cakes and desserts,
compliments of Aling Mely’s
Bakery. A whole lechon
was delivered as promised by Ben and Lou. Without missing
anyone, here are some notable kitchen connoisseurs who brought
in their award-winners: blueberry cheesecake by
Ningning, cassava cake by Lou, salad by Dee, and fruit
trays by Espie. CHRISTMAS
SPIRIT #3.
The
cash bar, as envisioned by husband-and-wife team Ed and Cora
for our Scholarship Fund, was a micro-success all its own –
not to mention such exceptional service for everyone’s beverage
and liquor cravings. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT #4.
Kids
had a blast! Children’s games were well-planned and orchestrated
courtesy of Marybeth and Ritz. As promised, Santa came
in dramatic fashion. Many thanks
to
Tyler for enduring the heat
in that costume.
Kids and kids-at-heart joined the Santa crowd for some photos.
Kudos to Gwen Alvarado for sharing her singing
talent, after some prodding. Exclusively for the
kids, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT #5.
A
twist from the usual exchange gift was proposed by Jeff, aptly
called the Nakawan.
Three ‘steals’ in succession, I had to settle for a cocktail
set – after losing a coffee maker, a whisky glass set, and a
lamp shade. Next time, I will be smarter and hide ‘em
gifts under the table. Then there was ‘ping-pong ball’,
and a whole lot more. From the sidelines, watching them
twitch, grimace, or laugh was pure joy. Thanks everyone,
for being a good sport. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT #6.
Plaques
were given to five members for exceptional contributions in
2004, as well as personal gifts by Ben to several members for
sweating “that extra mile”. Lou and Ben also handed out
flowers for the ladies. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT #7.
If
you can keep kids up and running till 11:00PM, it had to be
good. Sober speeches, Holiday prayers and terse greetings
were interpolated with interactive games, lively dances and
hilarious entertainment. Attention span and the fun factor
were kept really up there.
Let’s
party! DJ Doming conducted the music with a good mix –
from Latin, to rock, to hip-hop, to soft instrumentals.
No inhibitions at all, young and old danced the night away.
Felt bad when we turned off the strobes and music at midnight.
A few hardy souls stayed to help tidy up the place. The
spouses made it very clear that it was like watching ‘Men with
Brooms’. Call it a day, or night! CHRISTMAS
SPIRIT #8.
Outside,
there’s that all-too-familiar sound of scraping on windshield
and revving car engines. We had frozen car seats and man,
it was cold! Are we ever bothered? Not
at all. Too miniscule of a
worry for one great night. Two days later, we still
talk about it –our yardstick of a better-than-average party.
Our
collective effort are attributes
we can be truly proud. The ‘barn-raising’ spirit, western
equivalent to our bayanihan,
lives on. Another success story?
Pat ourselves three times for another job well done!
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THE
BUSINESS OF WRITING
by Roger Encarnacion
One
interested observer came to us and opened a timely but touchy
issue. "What is the most difficult part in setting up a
magazine?" he asked. "Getting everyone in the organization
to contribute an article," was our quick reply. It is common
knowledge that most people hate to write just as they hate the
dentist's drill, even though very likely it will make them feel
good later on.
The
popular excuses we often hear are: "We are too busy to
write;" "We just don't have the talent;" "We
don't know what to write;" "Besides, we are technical
people, we're not supposed to be good at writing;" "Writing
is such a punishment, we'd rather watch TV."
We
beg to disagree on all these excuses for the simple reason that
they are reflections of negative thinking. Our feeling is that
writing is far from being a punishment and, contrary to popular
belief, it does not require a special talent for one to express
himself.
The
fact is, we have been writing since our early days in school.
We write letters to our loved ones and friends. We write memos
in the office and send emails everyday. When we converse with
others and articulate our ideas, we are expressing ourselves
through another medium which parallels writing. With very few
exceptions, most literate people in this world have written
notes and letters at one time or another in their lives in their
own, personal individual ways.
"What
shall I write about?" There is a multitude of things to
write about. Even the most boring subject matter such as yawning
and scratching one's back can be developed into an interesting
piece of composition if one will only put his heart out to write
about it. Of course, nobody can write about subjects he does
not know. Attempting to expound on something that one hasn't
a clue about is a waste of time.
"We
are too busy to write." We refuse to believe in this. Anybody
who wishes to write can always find time to write. It's purely
a matter of disciplining one's self. If one is really determined
to write, he can make it happen no matter how busy he is. All
he has to do is sit down and put his pen to paper. Obviously,
no one can possibly write while he is playing golf, lying in
bed or watching TV. The magic words here are discipline and
determination, never mind motivation.
"Besides,
we are technical people, we're not supposed to be good at writing."
We simply disagree. On the contrary, we think technical people
should be good, effective writers. To be able to explain the
laws of physics, the theorems in math, or the working principle
of a machine, a technical person must have a modicum command
of words to accurately and clearly put his ideas across. Any
technical person who doesn't know how to express himself is
like a book that nobody can read.
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WRITING
ABOUT NOTHING
by Roger Encarnacion
It
was funny, or should I say frustrating, how I felt a few days
ago. You see, I wanted to write anything that would be of interest
to you. But I couldn’t. My mind was completely blank. The usual
flow of words wasn’t there. And so as the hours painfully ticked
away, I thought of the Seinfeldian approach to life, i.e. do
nothing - and in my case, write about nothing.
I
turned my computer on at 10:00 A.M. After adjusting my keyboard,
I aimlessly stared at the blank screen and listened to the monotonous
humming sound of the mainframe.
For
two hours, I looked at that white screen, with my two hands
clasped together under my chin. I yawned, ran my fingers over
my thinning hair, and glanced at the outside world past my window.
But no ideas came out of my brain. I threw a supplicating gaze
at the ceiling like it was an altar and I was asking for a personal
favor from the Almighty. But nothing happened. “I think I am
getting old.”
Downstairs,
I could hear my son slowly switching the TV channels, so much
so that I could guess what program was on in every channel at
that moment. CNN Live, a gardening show, a talk show, a lady
begging for help on behalf of the poor kids in some third world
country, Scooby-Do, the baseball game, etc.
I
looked at my monitor. It was still as blank as the summer sky
on a late afternoon. I fidgeted, yawned, and stretched my arms,
as I continued to search for ideas that were hard to come by.
Meanwhile, the cursor at the top left corner of the monitor
was madly blinking, as if to cajole me: “Come on, do something.
Start writing…” But my brain was empty.
I closed my eyes. From outside my window I could hear the birds
merrily chirping, unmindful of what was going on around them.
The loud wailing of a lawnmower from my neighbor two houses
away was starting to bother me. The monotonous, pulsating sound
of the water sprinkler from my backyard was getting to my nerves.
And to top it off, my stomach was starting to grumble.
The
phone suddenly rang. It was so loud that I almost had a heart
attack. “Enough”, I said as I sprang from my chair to check
the kitchen for something to eat, forgetting to turn my computer
off.
Now,
I am beginning to doubt myself. What is happening? It was not
very long ago that I could write as many articles as I wanted
in a day. And modesty aside, sometimes I did it while playing
chess and waiting for my opponent to make his move. It was so
easy to write about anything. And the words were coming naturally
and rapidly that sometimes I could not write fast enough to
put all the words that were popping simultaneously into my brain.
It
must be that when we stop doing the things we habitually do,
we lose our touch for doing it. How true then is the maxim:
Use it or lose it. We can not expect a pianist who hasn’t played
for a long time to just come up and play a musical masterpiece.
We can not expect a pair of dancers who haven’t danced for many
years to still captivate the audience with their sharp moves
and fascinating routine. The same is probably true for writers
- more so if they are amateurs - who pursue writing once a year
as a hobby. It should be difficult, if not impossible, for them
to turn on the computer and start to write about anything in
reckless abandon just like that.
So rejoice,
aspiring part-time writers. Stare at the computer screen. Close
your eyes. Look up the ceiling. Munch chocolate candies and
pistachio nuts. Sooner or later, it will come to you. And after
many hours of painstaking search for ideas and catchy introductions
to an article, you will be surprised that you have just written
one.
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THE
MAPUA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF CALGARY - A NEW BEGINNING
by
Roger Encarnacion
Another
Association was born! Let’s welcome and wish the Mapua Alumni
Association of Calgary all the best!
The
Mapua Alumni Association did not just sprout like an unwanted
dandelion in your backyard. It is legit. It has twelve fathers
– founding fathers, that is. It has no mother, though. Which
goes to show that it is possible to conceive something without
a mother!
But
the association’s conception was not an accident, mind you.
The founding fathers carefully weighed the pros and cons and
checked their sanity before they signed their stamp of fatherhood
on it. But how would they support this child, errr.. association,
like parents to a newborn baby? Do they have what it takes to
be responsible fathers? Do they have the time, energy, dedication,
patience and enough love and character to see this ‘child’ grow?
Do they have the kind of heart and soul that can sustain, nourish,
and guide this ‘infant’ till she reaches her maturity? Or would
they be like many typical fathers who only know how to make
babies and never have a clue about how to be ‘real’ fathers?
The
Mapua Alumni Association, which was brought into this world
with plenty of hope and grandiose dreams, needs assurance that
it will flourish and multiply. It needs the support not only
of its founding fathers but of all the people who have come
to know it and have become part of the ‘family’, have witnessed
its colorful beginning, believed in it, and recognized its importance
and relevance in our present day society.
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LOOKING
FOR INSPIRATION FROM THE ANTS
by Roger Encarnacion
My
friend invited me to his farmhouse during my brief sojourn in
the Philippines last year. While we were seated under the shade
of the makopa tree exchanging stories and sipping beer, I happened
to see an army of tiny ants carrying a huge chunk of coconut
meat thousands of times their size. It was an amazing display
of extraordinary endeavor. With the heavy cargo on their backs,
the ants climbed up a hill effortlessly and flowingly, or so
it seemed.
Did the ants move by the drumbeats of their leader so that
their steps were in unison while hauling the gigantic burden,
I wondered. Or if there was no leader, were they cognizant of
the fact that their collective strengths must add up and not
cancel each other out, or the cargo would go nowhere? How dare
they attempt to move a mountain of a load that was simply impossible
to budge in terms of their individual ability!
Back
in Calgary, the picture of those persevering ants at the farm
remains fresh in my memory. Nature must have given every living
thing on earth a purpose and a mind to conquer its own world.
Those ants are living proof.
It
was not desperation, nor compulsion, that enabled those ants
to carry out the seemingly impossible task of moving the enormous
cargo to, perhaps, their hiding places. Rather, it was the realization
that there is strength in numbers, that any common endeavor
- regardless of its magnitude and complexity - can be accomplished
if there is cooperation and a strong, unwavering resolve to
succeed from among those who pursue it.
This article was published in the Phil Cultural Centre Foundation's
Journal in 2002.
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AFTERTHOUGHT
by R. Encarnacion
Finally, it
can be told: the Mapua Alumni Association, Alberta Chapter (or
MAAAC for short) is a reality. The fertile seed of friendship
and goodwill has been sown. Now, it is up to us, members, to
fertilize and take good care of it till it bears the fruits
of our toil.
******
If
I could make one wish for the Mapua Alumni Association, I would
wish that the Association finds its strength not so much on
the common Alma Mater framework but more on friendship and cooperation.
In friendship, the motivation to do what is expected from all
concerned parties is more compelling and stronger. There are
no conditions to meet and excuses are hard to find. And if we
add to this the element of cooperation from among those who
regard the Association seriously, we have it truly made.
******
I
believe that what a young organization such as the MAAAC needs
is learning the concept of sharing. Yes, sharing something that
all of us can easily afford if we want to, such as our spare
time, our expertise, our knowledge, our dreams.
I
once belonged to a big Filipino organization that was formed
in the mid-seventies. We were newcomers in this great city and
everyone had a dream. Everyone worked hard. We were a closely-knit
family, so to speak. Our kids were still very young, with ages
ranging from a few months to early teens. Surprisingly, despite
the tight work schedule and demanding family activities, we
were able to find plenty of spare time for the association and
for one another.
After twenty-five years or so have passed, with our financial
status and professional career entrenched in solid footing,
and all our kids grown up (some have families of their own and
some have moved out), it is perplexing to know that we find
ourselves more hard-pressed for time than ever. The time and
energy that we normally allowed for the Association have virtually
vanished. After languishing for a few years due to neglect,
the Association has died a quiet death.
Why
did it happen? I would venture to say that we started to become
consumed with our more important priorities in life. Age and
financial status - big factors in our lifestyle - have changed
the equation of our priorities. The ‘Association’ thing has
become out of date. We have stopped to share our time with our
colleagues, selfish as it may sound, because we find new leisure,
new value, new interests, and new horizon to forge ahead.
******
Speaking of new interests, one of the things that we try to
embrace during this time and age is playing the game of Tiger
Woods. Without question, golf promotes friendship and camaraderie
while giving us a sense of belonging to the elite in-crowd.
Golf, because of its irresistible influence, unwittingly alters
our priorities in life. Who would want to work overtime in a
boring office or engage in extracurricular activities such as
club meetings when the excitement at the golf course beckons?
The point I am trying to make here is if we can only generate
a fraction of this excitement from among the Mapua alumni in
Calgary, who up to now prefer to stay below the radar screen,
we will be a much potent organization.
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