NU12 #9 - #10 - Spentrep -Kevin Toledo - what pisses you off at the neighborhood?

Ateneo Innovation and Entrepreneurship "New ideas create more and better new products and services; create more wealth."

NU12 #9 - #10

NU12 #9. What pisses you off at the neighborhood? What do you suggest? – Kevin Toledo

Don’t Block the Driveway, Please!

Since we moved in Manila, we would always have trouble on dealing with parked cars in front of our gate blocking our drive way without even leaving a note on where we could find or contact them. Those instances really piss me off! To further add to insult, some of the owners of these blocking cars are not even apologetic. We tried placing a “Don’t Block the Driveway Sign” but it seems people don’t really care at all. As a solution, I’d like to try to place a proximity sensor in our gate to detect the front of our driveway that would trigger an alarm with a voice recording saying “Don’t Block the Driveway Please”. The sensors would be set in such a manner that it would only trigger the alarm if it detects that 15 seconds has already passed since it detected the car that has stopped in front of it, that way the system would differentiate a car that is just passing by from a car that is actually starting to park in front of our driveway. It could also be set that after 40 seconds that the car has been parked, a wake up alarm to one of the person in our household (depending on who will be handling it) will be triggered as well in order for him to advise the car owner who is attempting to park that parking is not allowed in front of our driveway. This system can solve problems of homeowners similar to our case, and I believe such systems is not really expensive as sensors now a days are affordable. 3.5   <there are LTO and MMDA laws that make it illegal to park blocking driveways, even if you own the drive way>     

NU12 #10. What pisses you off in your office/ What do you think must be done? - Kevin Toledo

Time Consuming Biometric Finger Print Clocking & Attendance System

This year, our office adopted biometrics system in replacement of the manual employee clocking system. This system was adopted for efficiency of getting time records and for safety purposes. I really support the idea as it should indeed provide efficiency and record better data. However, it did not really provide efficiency and it pisses me off where the finger scanning really takes time before it could identify the employee’s finger print. There are also times that these finger print scanner would actually fail to recognize finger prints. Further, whenever a group of people logs in or out at the same time, it would always create a queue and before the last person could log in his/her finger print, minutes have already passed. This could really be troublesome when someone comes in the office with just a limited time and he/she is still at the end of the queue. Even if the employee actually arrived before the required reporting time, there are big chances that he/she could be late because the finger scanning process takes time.

The problem lies with the system provider where the software or hardware being used to identify our (employees) finger prints really takes time.  This doesn’t justify the cost of availing the service and the technology. As a solution, I recommend that the system and technology provider must upgrade whatever software it uses in order to improve its finger scanning process, or better yet, change the scanning unit since it may be defective after all.   

Another solution could be putting up another finger scanning unit in parallel to the existing unit in order to avoid queues.

NU12 - Jenny Liquete

Hi Sir,

This is to add to the previous NUs I have submitted last week. Thank you!

NU 8: What pisses you off at the mall? What do you suggest?

I'll have it my way

I go to the mall every weekend to enjoy and relax but I always get frustrated when I can't go to a store at my own pace. There a lot of times when groups of people occupy all lanes. There are also those in front of me who walk as if they have all the time in the world and they could not care any less if they are bothering the people behind them. These are the people who are busy texting, with children or couples. Even without any urgency or something to do, it still annoys me that the ignorance of others has caused me great inconvenience.

  

To prevent this, I suggest that the mall should implement a barrier or a divider for 'fast' and 'leisure' lanes. These lanes will be similar to those in the expressways. It will separate those who are not in a hurry and are not bothered being at the expense of others from those who need to get to a store at the least possible time or do not tolerate this kind of ignorance. This proposal will also prevent groups from occupying all of the lanes because they will be forced to occupy the given space only. With these lanes, both types of mall-goers will now be relaxed and happy during their mall visit.

  

These lanes will not only benefit the mall-goers but also the mall and the stores. Since the mall-goers are now efficient, they have more time to shop. Also, since the stress level of mall-goers has been greatly reduced by the new scheme, they will now have more energy and be in a better mood to shop – both factors leading to more purchases. These will all bring more revenues for the mall and the stores. 3

      NU 9: What pisses you off at the neighborhood? What do you suggest?

Decibel Sound Meters

Loud songs, endless discussions and roaring laughter from drunk groups are almost inevitable during house parties at our neighborhood. It has already been a common courtesy in our neighborhood to ignore the disturbance caused by a neighbor at the middle of the night. However, it still pisses me off especially since our house has a lot of windows. The neighbors sing their hearts out with their microphones and the noise just fills our house.

  

Our neighborhood's security watch should be equipped with decibel sound meters so that there will be an official and standard way to monitor the noise disturbance. The Homeowners Association should conduct a townhall meeting to formalize the use of decibel sound meters and its new rules. The neighborhood must agree and set an acceptable decibel level for parties and other house events and the amount for the penalty.

  

New rules:

1^st warning: When the agreed limit is exceeded, security will call the house.

2^nd warning: Security will go to the house and warn them on the possible sanctions for the next warning.

3^rd warning: High sanctions/fees will be placed on the owner of the house. The fees/charges will be added to the budget of the homeowners association.

  

This will help maintain the peace in the neighborhood. If ever a neighbor still causes disturbance (goes beyond the limit), the neighborhood will be compensated by the fees. 3

NU 10: What pisses you off in your office? What do you think must be done?

Shhh please…

  

It is healthy to have fun in the office for once in a while because it promotes work-life balance and boosts the morale of the employees. DAILY loud non-work discussion inside the office during office hours is a different case. It is annoying because it already disrupts my concentration as well as those of other employees. It is also very frustrating that I am working out of my mind and there they are, being paid for idly chatting and laughing loudly. 

  

Our office layout is designed in such a way that you can have privacy but still talk to those in your 'area'. Each area contains four workstations designated for each employee (within the same department) and is separated from other areas by 5 ft. dividers. Because of this setup, it is inevitable that the employees in each area would chat with one another.

  

Our office should already take actions because it is negatively affecting other employees. The best way to do this is to install a "Shhh please…" button/tool on every laptop and desktop in the office so that when an employee is disturbed by loud non-work discussions from other workstations, he/she can click this button and a sign that shows "Shhh please..." will light up on every area. To prevent any feeling of disrespect/annoyance from the loud group, only a "Shhh please…" will be indicated instead of "SILENCE PLEASE". In addition, the indicators placed within the work areas, instead of a large single sign for the whole floor to see, will prevent the group from feeling ashamed.

  

This will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the affected employees while maintaining the positive attitude in the office. 4

NU 11: What pisses you off at the School? What must be done?

      Let the school  Help You

Currently, there is no way for students to check the pre-requisites of each course/elective unless they ask the registrar's office directly. It is very inconvenient for students to call or go to the registrar's office to check the pre-requisites of the courses they need to take. Either our time is limited, the school is far from our office/home, or the registrar's office is unavailable.

Because of these limitations and inability to know the pre-requisites immediately, I have already experienced (and several of my classmates also) being unable to register/enroll on a subject because of a pre-requisite I should have already taken. This adds more inconvenience to students because we were only able to take lesser courses than what we have planned. We either had to make up for it by enrolling in more courses in the coming term or lose the chance of graduating on time. It also prevented several students from enrolling in their desired electives because they were unable to take the pre-requisite of the elective. If they wait for the pre-requisite to be finished before they take the elective, they will risk their chance again of graduating on time.

To aid the students, AGSB should create an outline that will show the ideal/optimal flow of courses the students must take to graduate at the least time possible. This will remove the confusion of the students because they will know which course they will prioritize during enrollment. AGSB should also implement a real-time chart in the student's online AGSB page. This will be similar to the proposed outline that shows the ideal/optimal flow of courses but it will already be customized and personalized for each student. This real-time chart will color and label the courses that the student has already taken. This will give the student a clear picture on what subjects he/she still needs to take and which of these subjects he/she should prioritize to get his/her desired electives and more importantly, in order to graduate on time. 3

NU 12: New business opportunities you can think of or just think of whatever new things come into your mind.

-          Anti-spice: Never miss your favorite meal again!

How many times have you missed the opportunity to order a delicious spicy meal because someone from your group does not eat anything spicy? This is usually the case for families that have children with them because most children do not eat spicy food. I, for one, have low tolerance on spicy food and I do not want others to miss out the meals they would like to try because of me.

It is difficult for us too; food lovers like me who have low tolerance in spicy food, because there are countless enticing food in menus that look and sound scrumptious. However, due to our weakness in spice, we are too afraid to try them or enjoy them because we cannot control the level of spiciness even when requested to the restaurant.

These gave me the idea of an anti-spice product. By adding this anti-spice to the designated plate, groups can now order spicy food without worrying that one of them would not be able to eat and food lovers like me can now also order any spicy dish and adjust the spiciness through the amount of anti-spice we will put on our serving.

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      DIY bangs (haircut kit)

Bangs are very popular among girls. It is a staple hairstyle and will hardly go out of style. It may look like an easy fix, but the truth is, it is very hard to maintain. It is even harder to maintain than the normal haircut because it always has to be at the right length. If not maintained, it will give a different look. With this high-maintenance characteristic, girls need to spend time and money to go to the salon and have it maintained.

  

Because of this need and high demand, a DIY haircut kit for bangs should be sold. This kit will include a pair of scissors specially designed to cut and style bangs and another tool (similar to a ruler but with an angle) that will be used as a pattern to provide the user a clear guide on the length of hair to cut on a certain area. This tool will also have a clip on its other side to hold the bangs when held up. I noticed that when my bangs are being maintained in the salon, the hairdresser chops it off while holding it up.

This haircut kit will come in 3 variants – 1 for full bangs, 1 for left-side bangs, and 1 for right-side bangs. Its convenience and cheaper price are the main benefits to the users. The interactive process is an additional perk to the users.

  

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      Boat engine-powered heated rail for towel and lifevest

The feeling of wind brushing through your skin and the splash of cold water are two of the most enjoyable feelings during island hopping. That is, if you and your clothes are still dry. The feeling is exactly the opposite when you are already on your way back. Your cold and wet clothes are already sticking to your skin and your towel and lifevest are also dripping because of your constant use. Making matters worse, your towel and life vest already have that certain odor when something does not get dried completely. The wind and the splash of water that once had given you pleasure are now making you shiver uncomfortably and hope that the trip back would already end.

What if you can keep your towel and lifevest dry and warm? This can be made possible through a boat engine-powered heated rail for towels and lifevests. It would only cost a little for the owner of the boat because although he has to set up the rail, the heat will come from its own engine. Towels and lifevests of the island hoppers will be placed on this rail when they are not being used – during swimming or tour on an island. This extra effort and innovation would totally improve the experience of the island hoppers. They might find this value-add innovation worthy of a big tip or better yet, they will hire this boat again on their next island hopping and recommend it to their friends and contacts.

 'Invisible' undercover gadgets (location tracker and audio transmitter)

Human beings have an innate need to know everything especially those that are hidden from them. Although this need has been answered by the creation of undercover gadgets, the risk of being discovered is still a greater threat for amateurs (anyone who is not affiliated with undercover jobs). This threat prevents those interested from using these gadgets.

To solve this problem, undercover gadgets should be designed in such a way that their end products will only be thin transparent films that can be glued anywhere like clothes, tables or cars. To ensure that these gadgets will not be discovered, they should be able to auto-dissolve in a given period. There should also be variants of the product depending on their time limit before they dissolve.

  

This kind of products may be very difficult and expensive to produce and to design but with the level of desperation of people, there would still be a market that would be willing to pay just to find answers or to confirm their suspicions.

It is important to note though that the sale of these products should be regulated and monitored by the business. These products can be very dangerous if they are sold to anyone who does not actually need the product (ex. stalkers, columnists, criminals). An investigation department should approve the request first before closing the deal with the buyer. 

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From: Jennifer Liquete <jenniferliquete@yahoo.com>
To: "jorge.saguinsin.sentrep@blogger.com" <jorge.saguinsin.sentrep@blogger.com>
Cc: "cruz.athens@gmail.com" <cruz.athens@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 11:48 PM
Subject: NU 1 to 6

Hi Sir,

These are my NU submissions for topics 1 to 6. 

NU 1: New attitude / paradigm

The Green Pill

Whether it be for image, confidence, lovelife or health, there has been a great pressure amongst us to look great and feel great, in other words, to be fit and healthy.

 

Well, it's easy for someone who has great self-control and takes time to exercise. What about the majority of us who are easily tempted to eat and have no time to exercise or are lazy enough to do so? We eat a lot of unhealthy food for two sinful reasons: to cope with stress and to satisfy our cravings. After eating, we go back again to feeling bad and depressed because we were not able to suppress our appetite and it brings us further away from our goal.

 

Because of the intense pressure, the lifestyle of the people has also changed. Many have tried and are still trying multiple diet programs such as Atkins, General Motors, and South Beach. Many have also taken different kinds of diet pills and over-the-counter weight-loss pills. There are even those who are desperate enough to buy diet pills online because a friend of a friend who took the pill lost weight. The change in lifestyle can also be evident in the increase in demand for gym and yoga classes offered – from Zumba to Bikram yoga. It can also be seen in the increase in the number of participants who join marathons and other sports.

 

I completely understand these sentiments because no matter how much I try doing most of those things mentioned above, after all that, it is still how and what I eat. It takes a lot of self-control not to eat unhealthy food and most of the time, I just give in because of the two sinful reasons. Since it is more difficult to reduce stress and fight the cravings, I propose the "Green Pill".  It is the means to healthy eating because it will change the way unhealthy food tastes once in our mouths. Its unpleasantly bitter taste will be triggered once it detects a certain level of sugar, salt or oil in our mouths. This will be an effective health pill because it refrains us from eating unhealthy food and at the same time, it does not push us to drastic measures such as the diet programs and diet pills. It will also help us improve our lifestyle by reconditioning our thinking. We will no longer associate unhealthy food as the answer to our stress and there will no longer be a craving for unhealthy food because we will associate it with the unpleasantly bitter taste of the pill. Lastly, this pill will be in a form of a green translucent softgel to give an image that it is healthy and safe to take.

NU 2: New spending habits / routine

Omnisaver App

Let's face it, all of us want to track our expenses. But, with the possibility of having several credit card accounts and multiple cash withdrawals, it is difficult for us to track our expenses. With our limited time, it is hard for us to list one by one all of the credit card transactions and cash withdrawals we made. Since it is hard for us to track our expenses, most of us are not aware of how much we have already spent until we receive our credit card bills or we cannot withdraw any more money from our ATMs. Our lack of awareness can also result to illegal and incorrect charges made from our accounts.

For convenience, accuracy and security, I propose the "Omnisaver App". This app will be linked to the user's mobile or other web-enabled gadgets. We cannot go an hour without checking our phones or gadgets which makes them the most appropriate source for our tracker. Participation from accredited banks is needed because the user must enroll their bank accounts to this app.  The user's credit card spending and cash withdrawals, which will already be assumed as expense, will be tracked real-time by this app. Since it is synced to the gadget, the user is notified for all of his credit card transactions and withdrawals. He can also set a monthly limit for his expenses through this app so that it will trigger him if he is about to reach his maximum monthly expense. To enforce security, this app would also track the number of views made by the user every month. If it is below a certain frequency, the banks can have an automated system which will send an SMS to the user so that he will know that he is already at risk.

NU 3: Professionalism – new work, methods, practices

www.Mommies-Know-Best.com

www.Housewives-Know-Best.com

It is a little disappointing that there is a population of mothers and housewives who were successful in their youth but now, they do not have a work or even a business to run. Although many may have chosen not to work or have a business in the earlier years, it is still a huge loss of opportunity at their side and even greater at the nation's side. There are three major reasons why women choose to become unemployed. They need to take care of their children, do daily housework or they prefer not to work at all. However, the time will eventually come when their children will grow up or they want to experience something more.

It is even more disheartening when housewives arrive at this point and would like to start to work and find success but it is almost impossible for companies to hire them because of their lack of experience and their age. I believe that they can still find success by doing what they do best – be mothers and housewives, and provide assistance and advice to new mothers and housewives. Since their comfort zone is their own homes and it is the most convenient place for them to earn, I propose an online service business called "www.Mommies-Know-Best.com" and "www.Housewives-Know-Best.com".  Mothers and housewives will provide online assistance or on-call support for new mothers and housewives. This is best for emergencies where the new mothers or housewives do not have anyone else to ask or talk to. They can also have a one-on-one or group chat to discuss issues such as money, housekeeping, depression, problems with the family, husband, or children. Given the experiences of the mothers and the housewives, they will be able to appropriately address the issue based on their own experience and from others and give a wise advice for the caller. Customers will also find the online approach as an advantage for them because they can remain anonymous. They just need to register using any username and they will be charged monthly for their membership.

This proposal will provide the mothers and housewives an opportunity to be and feel successful and worthy again and, at the same time, provide a better future for the new mothers and housewives because they can already learn from the past.

NU 4: New processes at work and study

Installation of Efficiency Widget in PCs and Laptops

Social networking sites, websites for streaming series, and online games have become so prevalent since their existence that it has already caused great inefficiency from employees and students. Instead of working or studying, the employee or the student unconsciously spends most of his time to these distractions.

Because inefficiency can never be a good thing for companies and studies, I propose an installation of the "Efficiency Widget" in every computer and laptop being used in the office or by a student. This widget will track the time spent by the employee or the student on the sites and online games. Once the time limit has been reached, the widget will trigger the computer or the laptop to block the non-work/non-school programs. For employees, the company can set the limit to the number of minutes allotted for every employee to get a break. For students, the parents can set the limit. It will be reset again on the next working day for employees and in the morning for students. This widget will be a strong reinforcement for efficiency and it will also discipline the employees and students. It will also lessen the dependency and attachment of the employees and students to the time-consuming sites and games.

NU 5: New products / product improvements

Huh? What Gum?!

Singapore is known for its gum laws, forbidding anyone from selling or consuming gum in the country. It may already be easy for those who have lived almost all of their lives in the country but what about those who transferred for work or education? For someone whose routine includes chewing a gum, it is very difficult to comply to their law. There have already been many cases wherein people were arrested because they have gums in their pockets. Even with the gum law, there is a demand for gums in Singapore, they are just prohibited.

The gum law of Singapore creates an opportunity for a special kind of gum, a water-soluble "gum". For this to be successful, the water-soluble "gum" should have the same consistency and texture as a normal gum but should be able to dissolve slowly when being chewed, similar to a candy. It would be classified as a candy but would be marketed as a gum-substitute.

NU 6: New business ideas

Water Lily of Life

Everytime I go to AGSB, I always pass by the Pasig river. The sight of the immense number of drifting water lilies never fails to amaze me. It is such a waste that that kind of volume is being ignored. Although water lilies are being used by Filipinos for making handicrafts, wouldn't it be better if they are used for more practical and beneficial causes?

My curiosity led me to different innovative uses of water lilies.

The most practical idea is a simple but delicious and healthy soup for the homeless and less fortunate. A feeding program can be tied up with the government or NGOs since it will benefit the nation – feed the hungry and maintain our river.

 

3 Steps for a Fast and Easy Water Lily Soup:

1. Stems of the water lilies will be boiled several times to make sure that these are already edible and to remove the bitter taste.

2. For the soup base, boil rice water with tamarind or kamias, fish sauce and onions.

3. Combine the clean, sliced water lily stems to the soup base

 

On the business side, the medicinal uses of water lilies can be developed and profited from. The market is still small for medicines that use water lilies. This can be the perfect opportunity to introduce a new medicine using an unconventional plant – one that has been ignored but present at all times.

Just some trivia… Did you know that water lilies (specifically Nymphaea odorata) can be used to treat diarrhea and inflamed tissues, gums, mouth and throat?  From this trivia already, various products can already be formed. Since it can treat inflamed gums, mouth and throat, a mouthwash that has water lily as its main ingredient can be developed. Water lilies will be boiled and mixed with mint flavoring. This can be sold at a cheap price to local dentists and small clinics. In partner with a pharmaceutical company, a medicine similar to Diatabs can also be developed to stop diarrhea.

Another product that can be developed is an herbal tea made out of water lily extracts. To make the herbal tea, the water lily will be dried and crushed. There is a market for herbal tea drinkers and a water lily has a natural bitter taste which can be associated with tea. It will have the same medicinal benefits as the water lily medicine but it will have a significantly lower concentration so that it can be consumed daily.

References:

• DeVries, L. (2010). Water Lily. Retrieved February 2013, from Medicinal Herb Info: http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/WaterLily.html
• Tan, R. (2001). Water Lily. Retrieved February 2013, from Naturia: http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/water_lily.htm
• Water Lily. (2013). Retrieved February 2013, from Herbs 2000: http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_water_lily.htm
• Wild Rose College. (n.d.). Water Lily. Retrieved February 2013, from Wild Rose College of Natural Healing: https://www.wrc.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=536

NU 12 - by Piper Princess - What Pisses me Off at the School

Ateneo Innovation and Entrepreneurship "New ideas create more and better new products and services; create more wealth."

PIPER PRINCESS

MBAH 10B

WHAT I HATE MOST ABOUT THE SCHOOL

It is very hard to give a negative comment to a school which has been and still is a part of my weekly responsibility. Ateneo to the common Filipino is perceived to be an elitist school. Students normally come from the top schools of the land and usually come from the cream of the crop. However, if one has been immersed in the curriculum, being an elitist is a personal decision.

Another thing that I hate is the tuition fee is quite steep, especially if one comes from an average income family. I only hope that the tuition fee will be more affordable, most especially to all so as to give more opportunities to the average income earner.

I hate Ateneo because it is quite far from our house. At least, I am just obligated to go there once a week. Knowing that traffic is such a common sight, it would have been better if it was closer to my house. Maybe, having school at home via video conferencing/teleconference is very much open.  However, I have classmates living in farther provinces, riding the airplane just to go to Manila. This just shows how dedicated and sincere students are in this progressive school.3

TRAFFIC IN EDSA

Honk, honk…… weeee…… screech…… Boooogggg….  Beep beep….. These are sounds that we usually hear along the streets of EDSA. It is such an effort to drive along EDSA most especially during peak hours of traffic and even during rainy days. The buses and taxis moving left and right warrants that drivers be good at defensive driving. I remember in the 70s and early 80s, driving to Makati will take me only 15 minutes from Mandaluyong. Though buses abound, I only see the Love Bus signs along the streets. Traffic was tolerable and crusing at 60-80 mph was not an effort even during peak hours. I remember my father bringing me to UP at 40mph was no problem and I will be the one embarrassed since we were driving quite slowly then.

Now, things are more different. The streets are more congested even during wee hours and more so during peak hours. Driving at 60-80mph is already magical and mind boggling and thrilling..... Why so? More cars? More populated urban area? Roads not well maintained? Drivers not tolerant and sensitive to cars nearby. Is it population that is causing this or is it the attitude of drivers.  Maybe, even population control and control of acquisition of new cars can help resolve the issue of traffic congestion or car pooling. Maybe, planning of construction of roads and repair can be done I do hope that the traffic in EDSA will be resolved one of these days… Everyone will be happy.

WHAT PISSES YOU IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

Walking through my neighbourhood in P Tuason, Cubao  is a smooth walk inspite of a busy street. Sidewalk is seen in both sides but obstructed by garbages, permanent structures, barangay outposts and the likes. People walking would swerve around the obstructions. Isn't it that these sidewalks are meant to be walkways for people to walk through and not use the main road? So, what are to do?

Maybe if roads are wider then these walkways can be widened. This will give space for the houses/buildings to have ample area to do what they want. Garbages can be placed inside the house or kept in containers that would limit the stench from coming out. The sidewalks can have flat surfaces giving a chance for the disabled people on wheelchairs to access these areas. Tahanang Walang Hanggan, is near our area and I think that this will help them a lot. Planning is an important component in building structures and roads. Of course, what I can say is that these roads and pavements are unplanned, reflecting the dilly dally thinking of individuals involved in road construction and what else, our local officials. So here's is to the local elections …… hope things will be more planned than before. 3

PIPER PRINCESS

NU12: What pisses you off at the neighborhood by Icey Queen

From:  <icyqueen
Date: Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 11:08 PM
Subject: NU12: What pisses you off at the neighborhood

NU12: What pisses you off at the neighborhood By: Icey Queen

Neighbors that spend the entire evening up until almost sunrise disturbing the restful sleep of the neighborhood with their loud videoke/karaoke. The louder, the better.

I suggest that there should be a local barangay ordinance to monitor & reduce volume of the sound and the time allowed to use the karaoke machine outdoors.After 12, they should transfer inside their houses.

Or , you can also make your room sound-proof.

NU12 - Idea#1: Rhea G. Jardin

“What pisses you off at the neighborhood? What do you suggest?”

Garage Parking

 

The neighborhood that I will sight in my first NU12 is in Ayala Housing in Mandaluyong where I previously lived for 3 years. It is a small subdivision situated along Barangka Drive and I was told that it was originally developed by the Ayala’s that is why it was named after them.

What piss me off that subdivision are the cars that were parked along the small streets of the subdivision which makes it difficult for other cars to pass by. Having lived there for 3 years, I observed that most houses in that subdivision were built with garage. With that observation, I wondered why those people still parked their vehicles in front of their houses along the small street. The reason for that is because their garage, that was supposed to be used as parking area for their cars, were converted to either a sanctuary of different plants or was used as an extension of their living room.

I have nothing against what they did with their garage, after all it is their private property and they have the right to do whatever they want with their properties. But my point is that somehow, they should have allotted a space in their garage for their vehicles to park on so that they would not invade the streets that were constructed for the benefit of the public.

My suggestion for this problem would be for the subdivision’s homeowners association to strictly implement the no parking policy of vehicles along the street and create a tow away zone in order to teach those car owners who habitually parked their vehicles along the street. They could also install a sensor with a built in timer that monitors the number of minutes that the car is parked in the street which has an automatic siren that alarms if the car has been parked more than the allowable time.

On the part of the residents, the owners of these cars should have a social awareness and concern on the hassle that they bring to other residents of the subdivision. In the first place, they should not have acquired a vehicle if they could not provide a proper parking space for it. 3

NU12 Idea #1: The Cover Master by Mariko Franca

"WHAT PISSES YOU OFF AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD?  WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?"

One of the things I do not like is the noise pollution caused by a house construction.  Our neighbor's house has been undergoing renovation since summer and I hate it when I am woken up by the hammering, the electrical cutting of metals, and the like especially when it's a Saturday.

This may be a bit far-fetched but what if we have mechanism that can build a temporary dome-like sound-proof cover over a construction area?  For the purpose of this paper, let's call it The Cover Master.

The Cover Master will have the following features:

1.  Sound-proof – the noise from the construction site will be contained inside The Cover Master.  Neighbors will be spared from the irritating noise.  The sound-proof feature may also work for the construction workers since it will help lessen the noise similar to how a sound-proofer works in a sound-proofed room (i.e. music studios and cinemas).

2.  Transparent color – so the natural light from the sun will not be blocked allowing the construction workers unhampered view of their task at hand.

3.  Adjustable – The Cover Master can be adjusted (mechanically or digitally) to cover a small or big area depending on the size of the area of construction.

4.  Breathable – The Cover Master material is breathable so that the air can still flow in and out of the dome preventing possible oxygen deficiency or suffocation of the workers.

The Cover Master can also be used during parties especially those with videokes (Filipinos just love doing this at any hour of the day with or without parties).  The Cover Master can be activated so the neighbors can continue to have a good night sleep while the people at the party continue to sing their hearts out until the wee hours of the morning.

4 

NU 12 - What pisses you off at the neighborhood?

Hi Sir,

Here is my 7th NU Blog - runners have nowhere to run!

Thank you!

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Crisostomo, Kathleen Lizette C.

ENTREP

NU 12: What pisses you off at the neighborhood? What do you suggest?

I'm preparing for my third half Mary (half marathon / 21k) where I have to train 5 days a week, 3 of which includes running long distances.  My main problem each time is that I do not know where to run.

Every Sunday, I run within the perimeter of SM Southmall which is 30 minutes away from our home and often see groups of other health buffs doing their thing—running, playing badminton, doing push-ups, or dancing in groups.  This is a typical Sunday morning in Las Pinas.  I used to run in the park in a nearby subdivision until their security started asking for IDs as they prioritize the security of their residents.  My father told me I should just run along the main road.  I didn't think it was a good idea to risk being chased by dogs or being run over by vehicles.  I read an article from a local running magazine regarding a jogger's hit and run accident which almost cost his life.  He was just running within the subdivision.

There is a growing interest in sports, physical activities and health, and it is sad to realize that the community is not prepared for this.  There are few public areas where people can do their sports activities and not all of these places are safe or "healthy" enough.  Most parks such as in Ayala Triangle, CCP and Luneta are right across main roads.  Health buffs cannot enjoy the benefits of their exercises while inhaling fumes at the same time.  Safety and security is also a concern since there is no area for people to leave their belongings unless they have their own vehicles.  I lost my tumbler once in Ayala Triangle when I left it in a bench while I was running.  I now have a hydration belt which can carry my valuables but I see more people running without any of their belongings.

Yes, there are formal areas such as Rizal Memorial Coliseum or in University of Makati and there will always be gyms, arenas and studios.  However, not everyone can afford these and some will actually be intimidated to still go to these areas for their activities.  A group of teenagers playing badminton will not go through the hassle of renting a badminton court and a group of 40-year old mothers who plan to have morning dance exercises will not need to rent a studio for their activities.

I believe there should be more places in our local communities that encourage sports and physical activities.  There should be track ovals surrounding parks and more open-area courts for those who want to play badminton, tennis or volleyball.  We can imagine a bigger Legaspi Active Park (Legaspi Village, Makati) with a rubberized track oval, better Bermuda grass for more activities, hydration and wash areas, covered and open air courts and secured locker rooms.  More sports and recreational activities encourage people to do more than just being couch potatoes while playing with their iPhone.  Sports have always been one of the target activities of the government to keep bystanders out of drugs and crimes.  During summer season a.k.a. basketball league season, it is quite endearing to see tricycle drivers and guards in neighborhoods playing basketball against residents on a per division / class basis. 3.5 <more sidewalks to be built>   <not safe though;  practice at Ayala Alabang Zapote road and Daang Hari route>

From a macro point of view, the government has not given much priority to the country's involvement in sports yet it is one of the fields we are excelling in.  We have all heard of stories of professional and amateur athletes who either pay for their own expenses or are being sponsored by private institutions.  Recently, I personally joined a charity running event created by triathletes for the benefit of young triathletes who cannot sustain the cost of their training and equipment while managing their education and family expenses.  It is good to see athletes helping other athletes, but we need a bigger intervention.  If the government's budget priority is not in sports, but also not in health and education, then I need not wonder why CJ Corona is so rich.

Filipinos have the potential to do well in sports.  Aside from home where everything starts, the next support group is the community.  I hope there will be an increased awareness for our government on the sports and other physical activities in our country.  In years to come, I am looking forward to younger dancers, players, runners and triathletes.

NU 6 by JCB, What Pisses You Off at the Neighborhood

Why The Author is Pissed Off:

A Story of Neighborhood Banes

Loosely based on true events

By

JCB

R090209

The author looks at his watch; it is 12:00 midnight, the witching hour. Hoping that everything is tranquil, he then decides to step out to look at his surroundings. He immediately notices that the streets are empty. No one is walking and even stray cats have decided to pack it in. Cars are in their garages, not moving and resting for tomorrow. The streetlights are doing their duties, providing light to empty pathways. The sky, for its part, dark, brooding, and encompassing, looms and looks over the households, holding off the sun until everyone has rested. And except for sporadic gusts of wind, only a slight breeze can be consistently felt. Seemingly, peace reigns. Silence and tranquility are pervasive. The author then takes a deep breath, ready to relax until… annoyances shatter the harmony.

On his right, there are houses which pulsate with life. Their occupants play poker or mahjong, shouting and laughing, till the sun says hi. On his left, a dog urinates on his lawn. He does not own it. It belongs to a neighbor who does not have the decency to keep his canine indoors. The author then looks at the empty street in front of him and hears an arriving car. It cannot be mistaken for something else because people from Timbuktu can hear its speakers. All these irritate, infuriate, and exasperate the author. And they all happen repeatedly.

Having seen the irritants in his life again, he then says enough is enough. He'll take a stand and proceeds to imagine, thinking of ways and means to address all these distractions. The author's mind percolates, searching and considering every possibility.

He first thinks about how to deal with the yakking, yapping, and yelling poker and mahjong players. Hmmm, he says. The author imagines the possibility of filing cases against these people, i.e., Alarms and Scandals and Unjust Vexation, both punishable under the Revised Penal Code. He can also opt to file a civil suit for damages.  The author thinks these cases, especially the civil suit, can prosper because of the damage that his ears have suffered. Let them agonize, he says.

The author, however, rethinks the strategy above. He feels that the plan is adversarial and unproductive. So instead of filing cases, the author will ask these boisterous poker and mahjong enthusiasts to play professionally. And since they can engage in marathon gambling, joining tournaments that last for days won't be a problem. The author shall even bankroll them, which means additional profit for him. So, it's good riddance and good money in one fell swoop.

         

            The author then turns his sight on the dog that urinated on his lawn. Castration is an option. Hmmm, too cruel, he says. How about involving dog butchers? That may be a tad barbaric. Kill it on site? That's a thought, but in the absence of the canine being an evident threat, gunning it down is out of the picture. The author continues to ponder, still trying to determine what to do. And then it hit him — an Aha moment!

          

            Since the hound is virtually awake at night, then it can go on patrol. It can accompany the homeowners who go on voluntary guard duty. Naturally, the dog will have to undergo training with a K9 trainer. But, if the plan succeeds, then pet dogs from Chihuahuas to Dobermans can be patrol canines. The author of course will get in on the action by exploiting this new industry. He'll enter into a partnership with the K9 trainer and both of them will look for owners willing to transform their dogs into part time patrol hounds.

         

            The author then turns his attention to the worst distraction of all: the car with blaring speakers. He looks and surveys it, thinking of ways to shut it down. Blowing it to smithereens comes to mind, but the author does not have the capacity or the resources to do that. Thank God. Towing it to the junk shop is also an option, but that entails a court order. There's no time for that, the author says. He also considers using a miniature pinch device, one which can knock out the electrical system of the car. But, only Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man has that kind of tech, which unfortunately exists in the make believe world of the Marvel Universe. So, that's also out of the question.

         

            But, he won't give up. He'll think of something.

         

           The author then decides to sit down. Minutes turn into hours, and still he can't think of anything.

          

            It's already 2:00 a.m. and nothing comes to mind. It seems the author cannot overcome this final hurdle: the car with the blasted and infernal blaring speakers.

        

            The author thinks, and thinks some more. And then, it hit him. He knows what to do.

        

         He then approaches the owner of the vehicle and says: "Bro, can you kindly turn the volume of your music down? Everyone knows that you have the loudest goddamn speakers in the neighborhood. There is no need to prove it every night"

          

            The car owner is taken aback and in a perplexed manner looks at the author who then says: "I thought everyone likes the music that I am playing, because no one complains."

           

           The author, in turn, says: "Everyone wants to complain, but they can't because your thundering music drowns their voices."

         

           "I'm sorry," the car owner says.

          

           "It's ok," the author replies.

        

           And as the author was about to walk away, he then says to the car owner: "So, you like playing loud music in public?"

        

          "Yes," the car owner blurts out.

          

          "You want to make money out of it?" the author fires back.

         

          "How?" the car owner asks.

      

        "Well, I got a few old vehicles in storage and they're still operational. If you want we can become partners. You'll put your speakers on these old vans, and we can rent them out to politicians, events, and advertisers. These vehicles therefore will be mobile music systems which can be used during campaigns, parties, and marketing campaigns. So, what to do you think?" the author asks.

         

         "Sounds good," the car owner enthusiastically answers.

          

         "Ok, let's talk about it some more, but for now let me sleep. And I can only do that if you don't turn on your speakers to decibel smashing levels," the author says.

        

         And with that, the author heads back to his house. He is happy because he has finally thought of ways to deal with the different things in his neighborhood that annoy him. He can finally enjoy the peace and quiet that he wants. The sun is about to rise in a few hours. And with that, another day beckons. Things are good. 3.5