There has been a lot of clamoring for justice recently when social networks spread this article by Robin Hemley, where he posted that local customs tax importation of books, when apparently there shouldn’t be as this is a violation of the Florence Agreement the country signed. As a regular person, I didn’t actually know that books shouldn’t be taxed, growing in a country where almost everything is.

Here’s a link to a video to explain the issue in less than five minutes.

Many books of most genres are greatly affected by this. And quoting my friend Alex who summed up it well,

Administrators should let this sink in - these books are making our students read again. Deprive them of that motivation and surely, we’ll find ourselves more illiterate as a society.

For the time being, we are making a lot of noise in twitter, using the #bookblockade hash tag, and spreading the word via other means. So far, there are already a couple of officials who heard our plea. But we still need more.

Please help spread the word.

For further reading please see: The Great Book Blockade of 2009: Timeline and Readings and We, the People: As Readers.

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The Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) Advanced Class of 2008 mounts its graduation exhibit dubbed “E.A.R.T.H (Environmental Applications, Research, and Trends in Habitat) Designs, PSID goes Green” for the month of October, at the Athena Building, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.

Serene Pleasures by Margaux Estrella, Melissa Sue Floro, Mazie Lynn Po

Mounted in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Eastwood City, ”E.A.R.T.H. Designs” celebrates PSID’s 41st anniversary with an exhibit addressing environmental concerns in 21 masterfully-designed and executed interior spaces that strike a chord in today’s global scene.

Couch Potato by Vanessa Caisip, Alexi Chua, Ma. Elizabeth Constantino, Maylyn Cruz, Renz Jillian Tan

“Climate change is a global concern, translating its major influence on contemporary design and current trends,” explains PSID professor Jie Pambid. “The month-long exhibit focuses on creative approaches to sustainable interior design, showcased in four different habitat settings: High Rise Haven, The Blissful Burbs, Sea Sanctuaries, and Peaceful Peaks.”

Pop Earth by Aermaen Anne Balosa, Melissa Enriquez, Ji-Hye Lee, Katherine Kaye Reyes, Odessa Angela Sepacio

PSID has always been known for its innovative, groundbreaking, pioneering, and original exhibits. This year’s graduating batch rises to the challenge with “E.A.R.T.H. Designs,” another highly anticipated show of talent and creativity – standards that make the PSID graduates a viable force in the academe and the industry, and their exhibits a must – see!

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Preparing for your holiday parties can be effortless with our lifestyle workshops for the month of October.

HOLIDAY TREATS
Entertain with international flair… tapas, antipasto and contemporary maki.

STYLISH HOLIDAY DINING
A picture perfect holiday spread. Enjoy cooking for loved ones this holiday season with ease and style.

HOLIDAY HOR’S D OEUVRE
Holiday entertaining made stress-free with a global repertoire.

Workshop starts at 3PM.

To register please contact:
Makati 817-8007 or 813-3739 local 269
Shangri-la Plaza 633-4636 local 401 or 417

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Blogs are reporting that MMA fighter Chuck Liddell will be here today, September 21, 2008 for a quick visit. According to news reports, there are no concrete details yet on what he’ll be doing in MOA but fans will surely be coming in hoards so come early and reserve your place.

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Mark your calendars! From the 12th to 16th of September, 300 exhibitors from all over the Philippines and all over the world will converge at the SMX Convention Center for the 29th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF).

With the theme “Words without Borders,” the MIBF celebrates the power of literature to cross the boundaries of time, place, and culture. MIBF showcases the largest and most varied collection of literature, textbooks, educational supplements, general references, religious and inspirational titles, self-help books, management books, Filipiniana, coffee table books, popular novels, children’s books, art books, graphic novels, rare and hard-to-find titles, magazines, audio and e-books, multimedia, teaching supplies and services, publishers’ technology, and travel materials.

The 29th Manila International Book Fair is organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. in partnership with Asian Communicators, Inc., Book Development Association of the Philippines, Philippine Booksellers Association, Inc., and Publishers Representatives Organization of the Philippines. For details, call 890-0661 or 896-0682, log on to www.manilabookfair.com, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.

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If Metblogs is a city, hub.metblogs is the playground. We kept hearing from people that one of their favorite parts of Metblogs was meeting and interacting with readers and writers from other parts of the world, as well as getting requests for more ways that readers could be involved besides just posting comments. We thought about this for a while and decided that with a network like this, a giant community area where folks from all over the world could hang out, post photos and videos, talk with each other, form groups, play games, send messages, and do about a million other things was probably a pretty fun idea. The Hub is that.

If you have any tech ideas or suggestions join this group and speak up. See you on hub.metblogs!

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NAIA 3 finally had its first departure yesterday with a Cebu Pacific flight to Caticlan. Almost 5 years has passed since construction was finished on the new terminal. Currently, only domestic flights from Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines Express and Air Philippines will be utilizing the facility. Other PAL flights will still be at Terminal 2, other international Cebu Pacific flights will still be at Terminal 1 while other domestic Cebu Pacific flights will still be at the old domestic terminal. International flights from both airline companies are expected to utilize NAIA 3 later this year.

More Information:
Inquirer - Jets start flying out of NAIA 3 for 1st time

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According to a recent Business World article, Manila has the 3rd cheapest parking rates across Asia Pacific at under $4 a day (about P182). New Delhi has the cheapest at $1.87 and Jakarta goes for about $1.89 with Sydney having the most expensive rates reaching $54 a day.

Mall operators also cited that they do not earn from parking structures (yeah right) and that they charge parking so that people who don’t patronize their malls do not park at their parking structures (someone needs to go back to philo 1).

ABS-CBN News - Manila still has one of lowest parking rates

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PAGASA missed its forecast of typhoon Frank which passed Metro Manila an hour ago, despite earlier predictions that it will not hit Luzon. This in turn delayed the suspension of all sea travel hence the sinking of a Sulpicio Lines ship with 700 people on board.

While we understand that this oversight was caused by the agency’s possible lack of budget to buy better machines for predicting the weather or perhaps the outdated models that they use to predict typhoon direction, we fail to comprehend why the change in direction of the typhoon, which PAGASA can monitor, did not prompt anyone from the agency to contact the coastguard and thereby alert any ships on open water?

Blame game asides, we hope that they everyone on the ship will soon be rescued.

For the rest of us in relatively dry land, classes have been suspended tomorrow for Elementary and High School all over the Metro. College students will have to wait until 11pm tonight for the announcement. Those still experience power outages may call MERALCO’s hotline at 16211. Stay safe to all.

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Good news for everyone this June 12. Metro Rail Transit (MRT) will be offering free rides from 7AM to 9AM and 5PM to 7PM.

Get the scoop on:
Inquirer - MRT giving free rides on Independence Day

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It’s time once again for French Spring in Manila and this feast for the senses brings you the best movies, concerts, exhibits, fairs and more from France. We will be following the event all through May and June so watch out for postings.

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Chris Daughtry of American Idol fame will be playing live in Manila! Tickets for the July 29 concert are now available at Eastwood Information Center and all Ticketnet outlets. Ticket prices range from P650 to P5775.

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The annual Earth Day Jam will start at 7PM tonight at Tomas Morato in Quezon City. The street will be closed to traffic and two stages will be set up - Fire-Air and Earth-Water - so that audience can enjoy music from over 20 bands performing for free. Tents will also be set up around the area to promote environmental awareness and issues. Check out the round up of artists playing at the event from GMA News

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Manila’s Ocean Park will now be open at night. The program, called “Sleeping With the Fish” will be held every Friday from April 25 until the end of May and will start from 6:30 PM until 7 AM the next day. Tickets will be at P1,000 for adults and P750 for children and will include unlimited entrance for that period, dinner, a midnight snack and breakfast.

Inquirer - Ocean Park opens facility to overnight visitors

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