WITH the recent oil price shock, where we saw the price of oil going up to around $140 a barrel, the question is whether that is enough political impetus for us to go into renewable energy in a big way.

By a big way, we mean that we make the investments now in “renewables.” The problem is that renewable energy, technology-wise, is still being perfected, so that means it is not yet cheap. But if nobody invests, it will never become cheap because industry holds back on R&D, because there is no demand. So it becomes a chicken and egg situation. Given that the so-called carbon credits from developed countries can pay for up to 10 percent of the cost of the project upfront, it is still not attractive for some.

Enter the Philippine Renewable Energy bill. When passed, it will actually give a lot of incentives to investors to go into renewable energy (RE). Aside from the fact that RE is a good way to contribute to the climate change effort, if the RE bill is passed, it may actually make good financial sense to go into RE. Because right now, the climate change advocates root for the use of renewables but when you talk to the financial folks, they’ll tell you now is not yet the time.

But what is the right time? After the oil crunch of the 70s, we should have gone big time with renewables. But naysayers said at that time, “Now is not the time.” So now the world is slowly realizing that, now is the time. Because if not now, when? When the oil runs out? That will be too late.
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By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Mass hysteria caused the unusual behavior of a number of students at the Pedro V. Panaligan Memorial National High School (PMNHS) in Calapan City, report from a medical team deployed by the Department of Education obtained by INQUIRER.net said.

The team — composed of psychiatrist Dr. Ma. Arlene Briones, psychologist Jennilyn Ebio from the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), and Dr. Minda Meimban, medical officer IV of DepEd Health and Nutrition Center — conducted psychosocial intervention sessions or PSIs of faculty members and the supposedly possessed students on August 27, 2008.

Based on the PSI sessions, the team reported that before the students experienced the so-called “initial attacks,” most of them had family-related problems, such as parents separating and deaths in the family.
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By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

WHAT is hot pandesal without the yummy melted cheese for breakfast? Cheese has been the partner of pandesal that satisfies one’s hungry stomach.

According to cheese.com, there are at least 670 different cheeses around the world (at least based on its database) and it can be differentiated by the type of milk and type of animal used. One of them is the white cheese from the Murrah buffalo’s milk.

According to Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) science research specialist Mina Abello, the white cheese from the buffalo’s milk is richer in nutritional value than the yellowish white cheese from cow’s milk. There is more fat, protein, and calcium in buffalo’s milk than in cow’s milk.

When I first tasted white cheese wrapped in banana leaves, I promised myself not to taste it again for it was sour. But when I visited the PCC in Munoz, Nueva Ecija and tasted their white cheese, I was surprised by its milky taste with a bit of saltiness.

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