Hot button issues

I have just been handed by my bank a new ATM card, now EMV enabled, and asked to surrender my old one. I must confess that, though I was marginally aware of the efforts from the bank itself to bring in my “old” ATM, I was in no particular hurry to do so. All of that changed when this latest BPI-BDO-Security Bank glitch-fest or deactivation of automated services happened just days apart.

The Senate, through its committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, invited the top officers of these banks to a hearing to provide the public with more information on these apocalyptic events. Juan de la Cruz wanted to know if his life savings remained safe; was this all part of a concerted plot; were other banks equally vulnerable. Chair Senator Chiz stressed the role of the hearing in seeking to placate fears.

Rediscovering its voice. As they await the final report on the matter from Banko Sentral, we can only be thankful for the way the Senate continues to serve as a forum to keep the public informed. This investigative function continues to be one of my favorite roles of the Senate as an institution. It’s understandable if the public would have less than high hopes that the Banko Sentral come up with an impartial report.  But for as long as Senate plays its role, we are not really worried.

BTW (by the way), I know now what EMV means: Europay, Mastercard, Visa - the international standard deemed more secure than magnetic strip cards.

Heat all you can. Global warming continues to rear its ugly head with record-breaking temperatures wreaking havoc across the globe. Deadly heat waves in the southwestern United States and the United Kingdom. Worst-ever droughts in India and Africa. Forest fires in Portugal. Melting pavements in Pakistan. Heat strokes killing people everywhere. The world used to be our oyster. Now it is our oven.

Here in the tropics, we certainly feel the sweltering heat everyday, despite the recent rains. The high humidity makes it feel even hotter, up to 9 degrees Celsius hotter in some areas, effectively pushing the heat index above our normal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. This makes it harder for our bodies to expel heat through sweating, thereby putting us at risk of heat exhaustion and worse, heat stroke.

Keep cool. So how can we beat the heat? PAGASA advises us to stay indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned room, as much as possible. If there’s no air-conditioning available, just stay on the lowest floor, away from the direct heat of the sun. Aside from this, make sure to drink plenty of water and wear light-colored clothing.

Now this all makes sense for those of us who have the luxury of living and working in air-conditioned spaces.

But what about our countrymen who have to grind out their daily lives out in the open, such as street vendors, jeepney drivers, traffic enforcers, parking booth attendants, gardeners, construction workers, etc? Unfortunately, all they can do is keep themselves hydrated and try to survive the heat-all-you-can summer.

Deadly sunshine. This year’s heat comes on the heels of 2016 as the hottest year in recorded history. The bad news is that recent studies predict more frequent heat waves in the years to come, even with the Paris Treaty and all. At the rate at which greenhouse gases continue to upload into the atmosphere, by 2100 up to three fourths of the world’s population will be subjected to “lethal heat events” every year. These are also known as killer heatwaves. The Philippines, Sri Lanka and other tropical countries in South America like Brazil and Venezuela, and, certainly, most of Africa are looking at a reality of more than 300 such days annually.

The good news is that we are a resilient people. We will adapt and survive. Ultimately, we must step up efforts to educate the younger generations on how to adapt and survive and, hopefully, save the world we leave them behind.

Araw ng Maynila. Today marks the 446th anniversary of the founding of the City of Manila. Yes, it was on June 24, 1571 when the first Junta Municipal (City Council) was established in Manila, thus organizing the City and formally commencing its corporate existence.

Manila has been the capital of the Philippines since then, 413 years and running, punctuated only by the five-year period (1565-1571) when Cebu City was made the first capital and the brief 28 years (1948 to 1976) during which Quezon City served in the same capacity. In 2012, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network listed Manila as a global city.

Character. With its old world charm one would only find in isolated pockets of Metro Manila’s newer cities, you would be forgiven for thinking that Manila's best days are behind it. But, don’t look now, in 2015 Manila was named No. 1 most competitive city in the Nation, besting perennial topnotcher Makati.

Through out the City you will see shining examples of development – in its Central business district Binondo and Escolta, construction is going on at a frenetic pace; Manila bay is also contributing to the boom by serving up its foreshore expanse for much need multi use reclamation space. This construction and development explosion has all been jumpstarted by a Mayor whose political will was all that was needed to awaken the sleeping City from its slumber.

Resilience. Manila was once the place where you found your fortune and made your name. The place where Bonifacio lived and where Rizal died. It has now become synonymous with second chances and rebirth.

Rediscover our capital. Here, the possibilities are endless.