Sorry, I’m under my rock here, but distraction from what?

On first thought, it didn’t seem that bad of an idea. Manufacturing and industry-based businesses in the western Rizal area (Montalban, San Mateo, Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay, Tanay, etc) needs access to the port of Manila. That then leads me to thinking there must have already been a plan for such a highway (like NLEX, SLEX, and C6).

However, the devil is in the details. Why would it need to be near the Pasig river? Couldn’t they have adopted an existing alignment? Aurora Avenue comes to mind, but it’s too narrow west of EDSA. An alignment based on Shaw Boulevard could have been nice, but it doesn’t even reach Rizal, it’d have to cut through already-built-up area west of Manggahan floodway if it has hopes of reaching Manila East Road. So, Metro Manila is already too crowded for a major east-west corridor for transporting goods.

How about using the river itself! No, not a highway over the river, but using cargo barges to carry goods from Rizal perhaps via facilities in Tanay, Cainta/Taytay, Pasig, Makati, Manila and then a separate facility next to the port. And then if it works, it can be extended via a different route coming from Laguna. It’s already there, and perhaps there wouldn’t be any induced demand.

Of course, it would be hard to connect with the C6, NLEX, and SLEX projects, which might be the point all along. Also, there might be issues with how navigable Pasig river and Laguna de Bay would be to barges of a certain capacity.

I don’t know, that’s why things like this should have been planned by the government decades in advance, and with expert help from the likes of JICA and others, in light of future projections and policy.

I don’t use a shower, rather, I have a bucket (or two) of water and a dipper. I can ruminate and think about things while giving myself a thorough scrubbing, and not consume any water.

I can take as much time as I need (much to the irritation of people I live with) without consuming any more water.

I’d be worried about not really being able to make my own decisions and not having someone there to help me out.

I don’t know about you, but I sure hope I’d be able to check out before that time comes for me. Before my mind and body becomes too feeble, I’d like to be able to just nope out.

Even if it were possible, I still would not prefer to have any kids.

First off, I haven’t even been a “proper adult”, and probably would never be. How can I be expected to raise a child with the care and love they deserve when I don’t even have my life sorted out? Even if you argue that I’d have to change once having a child, I’ve also seen people fail to change even after having children they swore they loved even more than their own life.

Secondly, we’ve already got enough people that are unwanted and abandoned. Why not take better care of people we already have now?

Lastly, parenting is a huge commitment. It’s not just about you and your “legacy”, but another life that will suffer for your mistakes. For those who are up to the task and willingly take on the responsibility, thank you and best of luck!

Because why not? I’m alive by default, and I’m too lazy to change that.

This isn’t about content, but upcycling is a thing. You can have somewhat fashionable and stylish products made from what would otherwise be waste.

Ah, my bad. I didn’t mean to imply that it being done in a religious context invalidates it, just that the religious context would inform us more about the man’s intent and whether or not they’d continue on doing so regardless of the result.

I used the term “pledge” earlier, but maybe it’s better to use the word “vow” to refer this. The term in Filipino is “panata” (which wiktionary translates to “vow”). It usually isn’t as dramatic as this, however. And as far as I’ve observed, a lot would do these vows after they deem their prayers to have been heard (usually recovery from illness or accidents, or recovery from financial ruin), and thereafter, no matter what, they’d try to fulfill their vows, whether that’d be a crucifixion reenactment, or attending processions, or even just as simple as foregoing alcohol or vices or letting their hair grow.

edit:

I must clarify my position here, I‌ guess. I am neither in favor nor against the practice. But having grown up in the country where these practices occur, I just felt I have to clarify some things. Personally? I don’t mind. They’re doing these things with good intentions, and they’re hurting no one. As far as I know, they don’t force anyone to join them, but rather, make sure that those who are following their footsteps are sure they want to.

I agree with your sentiment, but I felt compelled to comment on one crucial element here: what he has been doing isn’t a protest, but some form of a religious pledge. It just so happened that this year, he’s praying for world peace. This is akin to some traditions in India and other parts where self-flagellation is part of religious ritual, but only for those who pledge themselves to it. It’s touched upon in the article, but he’s been doing it since the 1980’s as thanksgiving for his survival in an accident. Some people just do it once, but some devote their lives to it, and it seems to me that he’s one of the latter.

Whether or not his actions will lead to results doesn’t matter, as far as I see it. He’s already devoted to the bit, and only old age (and poor health) will likely stop him.