A Minecraft Adventure

A week ago I began playing a sandbox game called "Minecraft". A game where your nomadic character is free to do what he wants - you can freely build houses, explore dungeons, caves and other terrain. You control the character and you can use his abilities to build structures. The key element in the game is the use of blocks. These blocks are the main ingredient used by the player to build anything ranging from simple houses to towers built with defensive brick walls. 

Anyway, my adventure reached a climax yesterday. (I used the term "a climax" because it's still just one of my adventurous endeavors.) One morning, I left my tower base (it has 5 stories) and ventured off to the east. I went through the eastward tunnel I dug, and after reaching it's mouth (a small shed in the overworld), I went out and closed the door. Behold, a large and unexplored plains! I kept walking to the east, bypassing wandering sheep, trees, ravines, and grass. Then I reached the sea and crossed it. 

Upon crossing the sea, I entered a different biome full of tall trees and grass (and sheep, again). I kept walking forward, leaving behind some traces such as sand pillars and torches seldomly. When nightfall came, I switched to "peaceful mode" in order to continue travelling without having to fend off hordes of monsters. 

(In the real world, I saved my game and took a break. This would later on cause something.)

When morning came, I continued walking and behold - a new sea complete with lily pads. I tried swimming to the other side but I realized how far I've already wandered off. So I swam back to the shore and walked back. However, when nightfall came, I realized that I've went to the wrong direction as the torches I planted the night before were missing. I tried looking around but behold, no traces of light anywhere. (I was still in "peaceful mode".) I walked and walked, and when morning came, climbed a mountain in an attempt to look for my house. (Beside's having a very tall pillar above my house, I also made a very tall pillar of light in an adjacent mountain.) 

Nothing. No sign of my house. So I kept walking and walking until I reached a snow biome. Then it rained. I realized how hopeless my attempts to explore and look for my house. I decided to make a compass (a compass would lead me to my original spawn point). Since I have no materials for such device, I tried to dig downward to mine some redstone. While I was digging, I fell into a deep, underground abandoned mine. I explored this mine and found valuable things like ores of gold and iron, lapiz lazuli, emerald, diamond and, at last,  redstone. Along the way, I also took some fences and built a small crafting table near a ledge. There I built a compass, and used "pillar jumping" method to get out of this very deep abandoned mine. After plating 64 blocks of cobblestone (therefore the mine is 64 blocks deep, more or less), I reached a ledge and, from there, dug my way up. After finding a layer of dirt with water dripping, I dug towards a different direction. After digging the last block of dirt, finally! Sunlight! I finally got out of that mine.

Lava I found in the abandoned mine.

I hurriedly walked towards the direction where my compass was pointing. I bypassed mountains, desert biomes and seas. Then, when nightfall came, I finally reached my original spawn point marked with a chest and three torches. I didn't know that the game gave me a chest when I first spawned. (When I first began playing, I didn't see that chest and immediately wandered off.) 

From my spawn point, I'm no longer a lost nomadic soul. I know where my first (now abandoned) house was. I walked towards it and seeing the tall sand pillar with a torch on top renewed my hope. I finally reached my first house. When morning came, I walked towards my current house in the plains just on the outskirts of the desert biome.

Finally, upon reaching home, I rested.

Aftermath:

The next day, I decided to build a huge arrow in the sand that points to my current house. (Since the compass would only lead me to my original spawn point)

Too Much of a Good Thing is Bad

Proverbs 30:8 says, "give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." (NIV)

[In the Latin Vulgate, is says "vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi tribue tantum victui meo necessaria"]

Source: Ecological Footprints Tim De Chant, Per Square Mile

(This map shows how many "earths" does each specified country
consume  for their personal needs.)

We know how important food is, and how important our necessities are. However, today's era is filled with the business trying to persuade people to use too much resources. To make things short, the economic rulers of the world are promoters of over-consumption of our limited resources. From extravagant houses to enormous unhealthy amount of food, these people use man's utmost weakness "desire" - whose control centre is located in the brain. The victims of these trends are poor familes and mother nature itself. 

Ponder on the following examples:

1. The citizens of the United States of America throw out 200,000 tons of edible food daily - what a waste!

2. Many citizens from developed countries are more likely to use their own cars rather than ride on public transportation.

3. The simplicity of natural surroundings is essentially ignored by many developed and aspiring "developing" countries. Skyscrapers are not determinants to economic success!

4. Everything is disposable - even wives and husbands! (Gladly, there is still no divorce laws in my home country.) 

5. Most products are packaged in a disposable, fancy, shiny, aesthetic-minded plastic packaging. The packaging is non-biodegradable! What a waste1

6. Despite having laws limiting the use of plastic bags, most Philippine products (even books) are wrapped in plastic. How ironic!


Contentment, my brothers and sisters, is the solution to the problem - even if it is against sound business principle.

An Essay on Public Service (Speech Form)

First of all, it is a great pleasure to be able to speak in front of many influential people. We must always thank Divine Providence for giving us this opportunity to discuss various issues related to our daily lives. Short as it may be, I am here to appeal to you, oh all you powerful leaders of the nations of this world, that public service is a devotion, a religious devotion perhaps, on what we believe is good for the world. Titles and honors are only used to appease one’s burden – that is, the burden of serving the public even if we don’t get good rewards in return. In the Gospel of Mark chapter ten verse forty-five, it says “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." If the Son of Man himself, despite being a God, humbled himself to the level of a servant, what more is expected of us, fallible man? We are expected to serve, as simple as that. Life is full of fulfilling our full duties – no escapes. Remember what is written in the Environmental Epistle: The very act of helping others and the environment is what counts. All of those who serve for the benefit of the public – from your industrious waste collector to your honorable presidents and prime ministers – are worthy of being called “heroes” if they are doing what is right. With mercy, justice and righteousness in mind, leaders can be great examples for their people. If they did good deeds in their lifetimes, it is most likely that people will remember their good works and be inspired by them. What issues, perhaps, do public leaders face today?

There are many challenges leaders face. Issues – especially personal ones, can greatly affect the morale of the leader and the people he leads. What if a popular leader who declares that smoking is immoral is himself a smoker? What if a popular leader who declares that pre-marital sex is immoral is, himself, a sexual fornicator? What if your president, an alcoholic, declares that alcoholism is a societal problem and should be forbidden? Will people listen to them? Maybe not. What if your religious leaders emphasize compassion and charity but they themselves do not lift a finger to help the needy? What will happen? Nothing. The people look upon their leaders as noble examples. Hypocrisy on one’s part will effectively ruin one’s actions. I quote 2^nd Epistle of Dario: Were you not taught by your leaders to love others as yourselves? (Hindi ba kayo tinuruan ng ating mga lider na mahalin ang iba gaya ng iyóng sarili?) (II Dario 2:12) For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13-14 (NASB))

One challenge that the human race is currently facing is the issue of Climate Change. Who will be the catalyst of change? The change from a (overly) resource consuming consumer to an ecologically-aware moderate consumer is a hard task – especially since we were indoctrinated by Western culture to use too much resources. Quoting my own Essay on Resourcefulness: I have witnessed their gross overconsumption of resources. Leftovers discarded, useful machines discarded after being superseded by a more “newer model”, cars are often used too much, among other wasteful activities.  Such acts are common in “First World Countries”, where (apparently) they have this sense of material security. Changing the very basic mindset of the average person (e.g. from a tissue-paper user to a reusable rag user) needs a ton of volunteerism. The people should learn to serve others as well, and not to overly rely on their “public servants”. Who will teach them and set the example? Simple, the public servants – the leaders of the peoples of the world. They will lead.

Alas, public service is a big burden and not everybody reaps good results in their lifetimes. Haters will malign you. Critics will criticize you. Envious people (crabs) will try to pull you down and even malign you alongside your haters. Despite pouring your best efforts, haters will still hate you. The popular meme says, haters gonna hate. We may not be able to please everybody, but let this not be a reason to be disheartened. Use your powers to help mankind and you shall achieve holiness in the eyes of heaven. Good luck to all of us. Once again, thank you.

The Kind of Liberation aspired by José Rizal

The Kind of Liberation aspired by José Rizal
(Shorter Version)

The life and works of Dr. José Rizal is extensively studied all over the world, friends, and yet sometimes we forget what he really wants to impart on our generation. Besides the overwhelming zeal for knowledge, Rizal wants us to be free – from the chains of ignorance surrounding our passive generation. His prophetic writings, though could not be divinely inspired, did occur and we should take advantage of our present situation to fully grasp the goal of our national hero. An extensive collection of his writings is at our disposal and we must use it effectively.

Remember, Rizal did everything he could to educate the masses on science, humanities and even morality. Many people think of Rizal as simply a hero who fought against Spanish rule - nothing else. In many of his writings, Rizal evidently expressed his desire to educate people. He knows that ignorance hinders progress. We are a nation of over 100 Million people - most are young and uneducated. Good education is what we must give them, friends! Only those with the lust and thirst for knowledge will attain true education. Take note that a forced deed does not reap good results. Similarly, one who is forced to study may not even retain what he studied. Remember that Rizal said that “ignorance is slavery”, for he knows that the abusive can virtually control the ignorant people in darkness. “Through education the country receives the light” said Rizal. The blinded populace, with their blind guides, scour through darkness (ignorance). Even in reality Rizal had acted as a schoolteacher in various occasions. For he said, “so education beyond measure gives the country tranquilly…” Each person has the right to learn the truth, for “God gave each person a conscience… to know the just and the unjust.” We have been accustomed to blame the Spanish government for hindering the Filipinos from gaining illustrious education. This is not always the case. Governor-General Weyler would have approved the plan of the young women of Malolos, but the friar curate opposed the plan. This is simply one example. Rizal may be gone but another will rise with the same sharp and truthful tongue.

Rizal praised the unquenchable thirst for education shown by most Filipinos, shown in the valiant struggle of the women of Malolos. On the downside, Rizal indirectly exposed the passiveness of many Filipinos, who would refuse to volunteer for a good deed because of the feeling of diminutiveness. Situations are presented in his first novel and this trait reverberates throughout the writings of Rizal. The Historian Zaide notes that Rizal was slightly disheartened to see his fellow Filipinos in Europe gambling and flirting rather than fighting for the cause of the Filipinos at the mainland. This shows that many people are ignorant of his true responsibilities. We must utilize our talents, for Rizal said “one must not digest using his neighbour’s stomach” We are created to love one another, and up to the end of time, we must do our eternal mission – to serve the Creator. “The individual should give way to the welfare of society”. Hopeless? Do you know what will happen once ignorance (and indolence, its offspring) is annihilated? “Whence all mankind shall become enlightened, when all people become free, when there shall be neither tyrants nor slaves, when justice shall rule and men shall become citizen of the world, the cult of science alone shall remain.” And who says religion distorts science? Energy cannot be created nor destroyed? Yes. Ergo, the spirit of man shall not vanish, but shall move into a different place after death. Nature and its laws show the work of a Supreme Being, and ignorance of such is also foolishness. Rizal himself is aware that many have undertaken to study the laws of nature, but they did not realize the true author of such laws. Information, now easily accessible, is at our disposal. Let not hubris envelop our enlightened souls, but let us use our current position to reach to those people walking in darkness. This is a noble mission, for Rizal said “It is a useless life [if not] consecrated to a great deal.” He also said, “Genius has no country. It blossoms everywhere!” This shows that knowledge is not inherent to a particular race.

Thus, Rizal deserves to be honoured as one of the first great Filipino intellectuals. His writings, reflecting his enlightened intelligent mind, are until now useful for our society. He broke the chains of ignorance, and showed that others, with the proper intention, can do likewise. Education, supported by unadulterated religion and science, is the best weapon we can use against ignorance. Enlightened people are now free to express the truth. All we need to do is break the passiveness and apathy of our fellowmen, and lo, progress and order will come. Let us continue the work of Rizal! Learn from his writings, and ultimately, hear the words of his Master!

Ergo, veritas vos liberabit a vinculis ignorantia!  

Chemical Engineers as Catalysts of Change

Chemical Engineering is a branch of Engineering that covers a vast scope of topics under three major fields namely, Physics, Mathematics - the “anchor” of Engineering, and Chemistry. It usually deals with creating, improving and maintaining processes concerning Chemical and Biological reactions. Its practicality is one of the main reasons why it can contribute to a major societal change. What makes Chemical Engineers catalysts of change?

First of all, everybody can commence a societal change. A notable example is Thomas Edison, whose inventions are still being used in our era. He only had three months of formal schooling. In what way could Chemical Engineers be a catalyst of change? The key advantage, compared to other engineering fields, is that Chemical Engineering itself is like a bridge between Science and its applications, Mathematics and Engineering. Remember that Engineering is more focused on the application of science, such us Physics, where its principles are useful in erecting buildings, building machines and manufacturing gadgets. Chemical Engineers do not just study the application of such fields of science but they also study the very principles of Science, particularly in Chemistry. That is why Chemical Engineers should have more contributions for the improvement of the society. They have an edge compared to other fields of Engineering. Let us make an analogy with the Bible, for it says “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48) Chemical Engineers are expected to have more contributions to societal change because they learn much more compared to other Engineering subfields.

What are the changes contributed by Chemical Engineers? In the field of engineering alone, Chemical Engineers have many contributions. For example, in the transportation sector, Mechanical Engineers and other Engineers are the ones behind the construction of the vehicle and the roads. The important part is making the vehicle run, and that is where Chemical Engineers come in. They power the vehicle by proving good-quality fuel, which is the primary concern of transportation. Almost all the things we currently benefit from, from medicines to cars to computers, are nothing without the contribution of Chemical Engineers. Drugs, fertilizers, fuels, plastics, preservatives are some contributions of Chemical Engineers for the betterment of society. It does not stop there though, for as long as there are problems in the society, people want changes. Chemical Engineers are catalysts for these changes; they continue to improve our lives. An example is the never-ending quest for cleaner, renewable energy which Chemical Engineers are involved. Until now, they are involved in starting major improvements in energy, mining, agriculture and medicines.

In summary, Chemical Engineers have innumerable contributions to the betterment of the society. They continue to contribute and develop ways to improve our current society. Those who succeed in become a true Chemical Engineer should not be idle, but instead they must use their learned skills to help improve the society by being a catalyst of change, or in a more positive term, improvement.