Aiming for Organic Growth Media for your Plants

Wazzup Pilipinas!

If you're one of those plantitas or plantitos or plant mom's and dads, you probably already know that successful gardening also mean having the best growth media for your plants, whether ornamental or veggies.

I recently bought the soilless package of carbonized & non-carbonized rice hull and the coco peat at 20-25 kilos each per sack all for 1k only from Earth's Harvest. I was lucky that they had a spare set while they were doing their deliveries within our area so they were able to bring me one set on the same day I sent an SMS. I initially sent a message on their Facebook page but there was no reply, so I texted them instead on their mobile number posted online.

But I still need to have garden soil and vermicasts to complete the mix. I could also add some of my compost, then mix with some Fermented Plant Juice, Fermented Fruit Juice, Fish Amino Acid and Calphos. Are the coffee grounds, grinded egg shells, sliced banana peels, "hugas-bigas", MSG, etc., they add as fertilizer or growth stimulants, effective or not? I have used all except MSG....and my plants are doing great.

A licensed agriculturist recommends that for growth media, 1 part ordinary garden soil, 1 part vermicompost or manure and 1 part coco coir dust or carbonized rice hull. Soil, manure or vermicompost should be sifted. Add LABS or IMO po for beneficial microorganisms if you are aiming for organic growth media.

Labs is Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum. IMO is Indigenous Micro Organism. Now you have to research separately on how to either buy or create DIY these microbial inoculants. You could also opt for EMAS or Effective Microorganism Activated Solution, and JMS or Jadam Microorganism Solution. These are useful for bokashi, whether it's anaerobic or aerobic.

Bokashi is a Technique/Technology from Japan means "Fermented Organic Materials"

Anaerobic is made with using Sealed container and longer process of Fermentation (at Least 1 Month) - long life span

Aerobic is made with open area without using container for Fermentation (at Least 7 days) - short life span

Other options to use are Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) , Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ)
Fish Amino Acid (FAA). These are basically adding molasses or sugar to plants, fruits, and fishes, respectively, and fermenting them.

There are several videos on YouTube to learn how to create them but you just need to know the amount per ingredient to mix the said concoctions....and some gardening supplies shops sell them too if you have money to spend.

DOTr gears up for implementation of reduced physical distancing in all public transport; adjustments set to accommodate more passengers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In order to help in the opening and recovery of the economy, physical distancing between commuters inside public transportation will be reduced from 1-meter to .75 meter starting Monday, 14 September, provided that the “No Face Mask, No Face Shield, No Entry” policy, as well as the “No Talking and No Answering Calls” will strictly be implemented.

In a virtual press conference held 12 September 2020, sectoral heads and key attached agency officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) discussed the new measures that will be implemented following the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) of the proposal to increase ridership in public transportation by optimizing physical distance between passengers.

“Sa mga nakaraang araw ay nakita at narinig po namin ang mga hinaing ng ating mamamayan sa kakulangan ng public transportation, kasabay ang panawagan ng economic team na magtulong-tulong ang mga sektor upang mabuksan at makabangon na ang ekonomiya ng bansa. Kaya naman po inatasan ni Secretary Arthur Tugade ang ating mga sektor ng transportasyon na pag-aralan kung paano mapaparami ang kapasidad ng ating mga public transport na hindi sinasakripisyo ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mamayanan,” DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Service Artemio Tuazon, Jr. said.

To carry out the optimization of physical distance in public transportation, the DOTr Railways, Road Transport and Infrastructure, Maritime, and Aviation and Airports Sectors will start to roll out gradual implementation on the adjustments of physical distancing inside various transport hubs and public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The gradual reduction of physical distancing will be implemented in phases or after every two (2) weeks: from the present 1-meter distance which was enforced last 19 August 2020, it will be reduced to 0.75 meters (starting 14 September 2020), 0.5 meters (starting 28 September 2020), and 0.3 meters (starting 12 October 2020).

Initially, the IATF approved to reduce physical distancing by 0.5 meters. However, the Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade deemed it prudent and safe to instead gradually reduce it, starting at 0.75. The said protocol is likewise subject to changes should there be any concern after the implementation.

In the Railways Sector, the adjusted capacity of railway lines based on reduced physical distancing inside trains was presented in the said press briefing:

For the LRT-1: one (1) meter: 155 passengers; 0.75-meter: 204 passengers; 0.5-meter: 255 passengers; and 0.3-meter: 300 passengers.

For the LRT-2: one (1) meter: 160 passengers; 0.75-meter: 212 passengers; 0.5-meter: 274 passengers; and 0.3-meter: 502 passengers.

For the MRT-3: one (1)-meter: 153 passengers or a maximum capacity of 13%; 0.75-meter: 204 passengers or a maximum capacity of 17%; 0.5-meter: 255 passengers or a maximum capacity of 22%; and 0.3-meter: 327 passengers or a maximum capacity of 28%.

For the Philippine National Railways: one (1)-meter: 166 passengers; 0.75-meter: 184 passengers; 0.5-meter: 256 passengers; 0.3-meter: 320 passengers.

DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said that apart from consultations with medical experts and simulation activities regarding transmission and exposure, the enforcement of reduced physical distancing on railways was based on the results of a survey of international practice on how railway operators and regulators are handling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Isa po sa mga nakita natin ayon po sa current na estado natin ng COVID-19 ay tayo na lang po ang natitira [na bansa] na nag-eenforce nitong 1-meter social distancing, especially po sa loob ng mga tren. Sa labas ng tren, sa mga istasyon ay nago-observe pa rin ng social distancing, pero pagdating sa loob, ayon sa pag-aaral, tayo na lang ang nag-eenforce nito,” Usec. Batan noted.

In the Road Sector, PUVs are also expected to accommodate more passengers with the enforcement of the new protocol.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra said that with the reduction of physical distancing to 0.75 meters starting Monday, Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) will have an increased capacity from one to two passengers or 10-12%. For buses, an additional 1-3 passengers will be accommodated in a 2x2 type of bus, and from the 24-25 current passenger capacity of a 3x2 type of bus, it can now serve up to 36 passengers. Additionally, for UV Express, there will be an additional 1-2 passengers that can be served with the reduced physical distancing protocol.

In the Maritime Sector, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said that with the reduction of physical distancing in passenger vessels to 0.75 meters, passenger load capacity will also be increased to 75%. Meanwhile, passenger load capacity will be increased to 85% for the distance of 0.5 meters, and 85%-100% passenger capacity for the distance of 0.3 meters.

For ports and passenger terminals, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said that strict health and safety protocols are continuously being implemented, such as the “no face mask, no face shield, no entry policy,” and physical distancing. The PPA is also set to launch its automated ticketing system and new contact tracing application for a hassle-free and technologically-driven initiative for monitoring of individuals.

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it will continue to provide assistance by enhancing personnel visibility and deployment of sea marshals to ensure that the new policy will be strictly observed.

Lastly, in the Aviation Sector, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) have assured that while air passengers are not being affected by the new social distancing protocol, health and sanitary measures are in place for passenger safety.

Meanwhile, to add more available PUVs, the LTFRB has also allowed the opening of 28 more traditional PUJ routes, with 1,159 authorized units to ply in Metro Manila starting Monday.

Coleen Garcia - Crawford gives birth to baby boy Amari via water birth at home

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Via home birth, Coleen Garcia has given birth to her first child, named baby Amari, with husband Billy Crawford.

Congratulations to Coleen and Billy Crawford!

Though there was a bit of a concern regarding their home water birth without painkillers and how they almost showed the entire process on social media. Leaving no subtleties behind?

"A water birth means at least part of your labor, delivery, or both happen while you're in a birth pool filled with warm water. It can take place in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home. A doctor, nurse-midwife, or midwife helps you through it."

Water births themselves are not significantly more dangerous than birth out of water, but when they take place at home—and most of them do—there is an increased risk. That's because there's no immediate medical help with home water births.

True or false: Giving birth in water hurts less than giving birth on land. Answer: neither! There is no definitive answer because each labor is unique and every woman tolerates pain differently. Compared to a land birth, water birth seems to be more relaxing for the mother and baby but not necessarily less painful.

"Please sana walang gumaya kina Coleen Garcia at Billy Crawford. EINC whomstve?"

We can clearly see the umbilical cord and other rarely seen on births. Usually they just show the babies when they're all tucked up with their moms. The Crawfords may have gone a bit overboard on showing even the delicate parts of the birth.

Saan ba check-up si Coleen? Hindi ba sila naadvise? With all the privilege they have, shouldn't they know better?

Sana healthy naman si baby pero sana wala rin gumaya dahil lang may mga privileged na di naman iniisip consequences ng actions nila.

Di rin ako fan na nanghihingi ng standard newborn care at evidence based med sa hindi naman health field

Pero ang frustrating talaga na mga artista gumagawa, broadcast pa, as if may pampagamot yung mga gagaya. Hindi naman kasi mayaman victims ng maternal/infant mortalities.

1. Expect based on context

2. Di sila med people, wag mag-expect na alam nila EINC, etc.

"Essential lntrapartum and Newborn care (EINC) is the standard of care in all births by skilled attendants in all government/private settings. The EINC practices for newborn care constitute a series of time- bound, chronologically-ordered, standard procedures that a baby receives at birth."

3. Artista sila, may pera sila pampacheck-up, valid na mainis kang hindi facility-based yung delivery at di standard of care naganap

4. Ugh sana naturukan na ng Vit K at bakuna si baby

Billy's dog: Hooman, am I not your baby anymore?

A big yuck to all men who sexualize women even while mothering their babies ... and does it seem a girl is defending him? Kadiri minset!

Congratulations again to Mr and Mrs. Billy Crawford for a Bouncing Baby Boy.

"There’s so much I wanna say, but for now, I just want to praise God for being so so good. Thank you, Lord, for our beautiful Amari" - Coleen