Philippines News

A WASTE-TO-ENERGY (WTE) plant worth P32 billion will soon rise in Danao City in northern Cebu.

The plant will be constructed on a 6.3-hectare property in Barangay Dunggoan, according to Mayor Thomas Mark Durano on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Once completed, it can process and treat 600 to 1,200 tons of mixed waste generated by the city’s residents and residents of neighboring towns and cities every day. These will include paper, plastics and products made from wood, among other solid garbage or trash.

On average, Danao City produces 20 tons of waste per day, he said.

The plant is also expected to generate a minimum of 12 megawatts (MW) and a maximum of 30 MW of electricity daily.

Mayor Durano said their aim is to have the facility ready and operational by 2024.

Ceremony

Durano, together with Michael Jimenez, president and chief executive officer of Integrated Green Technology (IGT), led the groundbreaking of the Ultramodern Solid Waste Management and Disposal Plant on Saturday.

The plant is one of Danao City’s big-ticket projects this year.

Durano and Jimenez were accompanied by the city councilors and city departments heads, Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, IGT chief operating officer and co-founder Leilani Cruz, Camarines Norte Gov. Ricarte Padilla, former tourism secretary Joseph Felix Mari “Ace” Durano, and Danao City Investment and Promotions Center officer-in-charge Red Durano VI during the ceremony.

Public-private partnership

The Danao City Government entered into a public-private partnership (PPP) with IGT Visayas Inc. for the construction of the WTE plant.

The partnership sealed a 50-year contract between the two parties to address the waste disposal problems of Danao and neighboring local government units at no cost to the City Government.

Jimenez said Danao City would no longer have to invest in material recovery facilities or a sanitary landfill.

He said the WTE plant would also resolve the problems of odor and pollution which are associated with waste disposal.

With its power generation capacity, the plant will supply power to local utility distributors and, in return, reduce the residents’ monthly electrical bills.

He said the plant will employ an estimated 300 workers. Some 80 percent of the jobs will be reserved for residents of Danao City.

Jimenez also applauded the support of the City Government, saying the project was approved in a span of four months since his first meeting with Mayor Durano.

He pointed to the business-friendly policy and aggressiveness of the City Government to bring in investors with the introduction of the PPP Ordinance that eases the legal framework of big-ticket projects.

Latest technology

Jimenez said the facility in Danao City is IGT’s first WTE plant in the Philippines.

He said they also plan to build one in Camarines Norte, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Davao del Norte and Quezon Province.

He said IGT, in partnership with foreign firms, uses proven technologies from Germany and France to ensure clean, safe and environmentally friendly emissions when converting waste into electricity.

He said these technologies comply with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and follow the strict guidelines of the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resource’s WTE policy.

He said before burning the collected waste, it will undergo a process called “Mechanical Biological Treatment” to transform it into pellets that will then be used for power generation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Durano said the sanitary landfill in Barangay Taboc, Camaligbato is operating at normal capacity.

However, he said they have an ordinance that prohibits the City Government from opening up more cells in the landfill.

He said the WTE plant will be instrumental in the rehabilitation of the landfill by feeding existing and new waste into the plant.

Jimenez said that in the coming years, the WTE plant will reduce the amount of waste that will be dumped in the landfill. Ultimately, the landfill can be used for other purposes, he added.

THE Cebu City Government expects the transition housing for informal settlers at the South Road Properties to be finished in October this year.

“The technical report is done. The engineering plan is complete. Everything is prepared,” according to Jerone Castillo, head of the City Legal Office, during a press conference on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

However, the City has yet to identify the project’s implementer.

“We will do the bidding for transitional housing any time soon,” Castillo said.

The project will first accommodate the 146 individuals living in the three-meter easement zone along Tagunol Creek, which runs through the barangays of Basak San Nicolas and Basak-Pardo, he said.

He said the 146 individuals were prioritized because they live in structures that were identified as flood contributors.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor has already identified 6,241 individuals who live in structures that are up for demolition as part of the City Government’s “Task Force Gubat sa Baha” program.

Aside from the 146 living along Tagunol Creek, they include the 926 individuals along Mahiga Creek, 1,117 along Lahug River, 412 along Butuanon River, 1,086 along Guadalupe River, 1,982 along Kinalumsan River, 406 along Bulacao River and 166 along Estero de Parian.

According to Castillo, Harold Alcontin, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), had informed him that the structures in the two barangays have shortened the Tagunol Creek, resulting in the water not flowing properly.

“We have to clean that up, restore the river. And hopefully, once they are removed from the area, the flooding will ease,” Castillo said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

According to Gubat sa Baha’s data, 144 houses and two business establishments will be affected by the demolition along Tagunol Creek.

Castillo assured that they will not demolish the houses until their occupants are given proper relocation, which is the transitional house project.

However, demolition will start once the transitional house project, which can accommodate around 1,200 families, is completed in October, he said.

He said their next priority will be the 166 individuals living along the Estero de Parian.

He reiterated that clearing these structures will also allow the water in the estero to drain into the ocean.

“The measures we are undertaking are really long term in character,” he said.

Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo of the committee on infrastructure told SunStar Cebu on Saturday that the City will provide alternative housing for informal settlers who cannot be accommodated in the transitional housing at the SRP.

Guardo said the City intends to build medium-rise buildings in Barangays Quiot and Lahug for this purpose.

He said some of the affected individuals can avail themselves of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, Alcontin said the CCDRRMO and the Department of Engineering and Public Works are working together to oversee the City’s three-meter easement zone project.

He said the team is keeping a close eye on Tagunol Creek, Estero de Parian and Lahug River, which are the sources of flooding in the northern part of the city.

HUNDREDS of people from different barangays in Lapu-Lapu City availed themselves of free medical checkup and legal aid, among other government services, as the Bayan Babangon Muli (BBM) caravan of government services kicked off in the city on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (Opav) Secretary Terence Calatrava said they intend to add more services as they bring the caravan to other parts of the Visayas.

Opav Assistant Secretary Antonio Veloso Jr. said they plan to include “libreng tuli” (circumcision) during the next caravan, in addition to the free haircut, dental services, medical check-up and legal aid they offered in Lapu-Lapu City in partnership with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Philippine Army Task Group Cebu and some private companies.

The attendees also took advantage of the free feeding program for children and the distribution of backpacks to 200 elementary school students in partnership with the Tingog Partylist. They also got a five-kilo sack of rice.

The activity held at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex was graced by Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan and the Opav officials.

In an interview, Veloso said they target to bring the services to Bacolod for the Caravan’s next stop.

Rosales Espina, 32, of Sitio Paradise in Barangay Pajo, said she was glad the officials chose Lapu-Lapu residents as some of the program’s beneficiaries. It is a big help for families like them who struggle just to meet their daily needs.

“Dako na kaayo ni ug tabang namo ang bugas, labi na sa kalisud karon. Dili mi makakaon ug katulo sa usa ka adlaw,” she said after receiving a sack of rice. (This is a big help for people like us in these difficult times. We can barely eat three times a day.)

One of the children of Rutchel Nedamo, 29, of Sitio Kamansi, Barangay Pajo, has been down with fever for the past three days, but she could not take her child to the doctor as she did not have money. She was happy to learn there were doctors who offered free medical consultation during the caravan.

Her children also received free bags, which they can use for the next school year.

The BBM Caravan was first launched on May 21 in Barangay Canamucan, Compostela town in northern Cebu.

Calatrava said then that the caravan will go to different parts of the Visayas to bring government services closer to people.

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and the hoteliers aim to overhaul the country’s hotel and accommodation industry in the next 10 years, including adopting new standards.

Benito Bengzon, executive director of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (Phoa) made the announcement during the second day of the first-ever VisMin Tourism Congress 2023 on Friday July 14, 2023 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Bengzon said Phoa, formerly known as the Philippine Hotel Federation, has an ongoing partnership with the DOT for the formulation of the Philippine Hotel Industry Strategic Action Plan (Phisap) that revamps the industry and seeks to address the challenges faced by the country’s hotel industry.

Phisap’s strategic direction also includes the expansion of the economic opportunities in the hotel industry and driving forward the enhancement of the industry’s global competitiveness.

“It is basically a roadmap that will tell us what kind of room inventory we will see in the next 10 years,” Benzon said in his speech entitled “How hotels are adjusting to travel trends and shifting consumer preferences.”

The action plan allows the hoteliers and tourism industry players to identify which areas or regions in the country have high demand for additional hotel and accommodation establishments.

Also included in the roadmap, Benzon stressed, is reconfiguring the National Accommodation Standards (NAS) to match the high-quality hospitality services from other leading Southeast Asian countries.

Low room inventory

In comparison to other countries in Southeast Asia, Benzon said the Philippines is currently facing low room inventory for hotel and resort accommodation.

In a Go Tourism Summit forum last May 6, Benzon also made the same remark as to the status of the hotel industry in the country when he emphasized bumping up room inventory in major and emerging tourism destinations in the country to catch up with the other popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.

“That is the thing that we are trying to address, to bump up the inventory (and) to increase the capacity, so that development will be in sync with the upgrade and development of the strategic infrastructure,” Benzon said.

Increasing the number of hotel rooms will also be beneficial for Cebu, Benzon said, stressing the various improvements and developments of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport since its privatization that has attracted more tourist arrivals.

Accommodation standard

Benzon stressed that there is a need to upgrade the NAS for Hotels, Resorts and Apartment Hotels dated in 2012.

It uses the Star Rating System that employs a points-based rating system focused on inventory, availability, condition and quality of a specific facility or service.

“To put it in a simpler form, once you finalize the checklist, you want to make sure that five-star properties in Manila will have the same amenities, facilities and the same experience for the tourist when they go to a five-star hotel in Bangkok, Singapore or elsewhere,” Bengzon said.

Reconfiguring the NAS will cover seven key dimensions starting from Arrival & Departure, Public Areas, Bedroom, Bathrooms, Food & Beverage, Amenities & Services, and Business Practices, he added.

This is to make the industry standards in the country globally competitive.

“As far as timetable is concerned, we and the Department are looking to roll this out by the third quarter of this year,” Benzon said. / EHP

Plaza Rizal in Caloocan City, long considered “lost,” has been restored and is now open to the public.

The Maharlika Investment Fund is a “major milestone” for the Marcos administration as it places the Philippines in the economic map of the ASEAN Region, House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda said.

Amid a looming water crisis due to the threat of El Niño, local government units in Metro Manila have yet to “finalize” their measures to conserve water.

As the nation commemorated the 7th anniversary of its legal victory in an international court against Beijing over the latter’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, a think tank has denounced what it called “blatant disregard of the ruling and persistent violation of international law” by “antagonistic states.”

Dodong intensified into a tropical storm as it made its way out of the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday afternoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

To ensure a harmonized implementation of efforts to prepare for and address the possible impacts of the El Niño weather phenomenon, the Office of Civil Defense will convene a national team on July 19 in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Water elevation at Angat Dam was just less than half a meter from the minimum operating level of 180 meters as of July 14.

The largest organizations of private schools in the country have again appealed to lawmakers to reconsider a proposed bill that would prohibit the “no permit, no exam” policy.

Cybercrimes perpetrated with the use of SIM cards have spiked by at least 190 percent this year.

Bad weather caused by Tropical Storm Dodong forced President Marcos to cancel his visit to Apayao on July 15.

 

ABU DHABI, 15th July, 2023 (WAM) -- Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, stated that UAE and India have adopted a package of initiatives and joint action plans to expand the sectors of the new economy in their markets and stimulate the growth of Emirati and Indian startups so as to

TO AVOID delays in the implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) projects in Cebu City, the City Government said it will take over the monitoring of the projects, especially those related to flood control.

Some city officials are unhappy with the failure of DPWH’s contractors to coordinate with City Hall for the implementation of their projects in the city.

The city attorney announced during a press conference on Saturday, July 15, 2023, that the City is going to look into and monitor the DPWH’s flood management projects after it has been found that they were not properly implemented and have been contributing to the flooding problem instead of addressing them.

Jerone Castillo, chief of the Cebu City Legal Office, said the City will form its own project management and monitoring team that will make sure that all DPWH projects in the city are completed on time.

Castillo also said they will conduct an inventory and identify the projects that are causing problems and have not been properly implemented based on their set timeline.

This was the directive of Mayor Michael Rama, who was furious when he learned that a DPWH project contributed to the flooding during the heavy rains last week. He gave instructions to some department heads to take over these projects.

“We will technically take over the project,” Castillo said.

When asked how the City will take over these projects, he said the City will take over the project monitoring activities.

“The City will closely monitor and ensure the projects will be finished based on the timeline set. No further projects will be implemented without prior coordination with the City, and no construction equipment will be lying idle within city streets while supposedly implementing DPWH projects,” Castillo said in a text message to SunStar Cebu.

During the press conference, Castillo cited a project in Barangay Tejero that has been delayed and a project in Barangay T. Padilla that was abandoned by the contractor. In another project site, a backhoe was reportedly left unattended.

“So if we can look at these projects lang without looking at the whole (picture), it is a failing grade,” said Castillo when asked about the performance of DPWH on the flood mitigation projects.

Harold Alcontin, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the DPWH projects they have identified to have issues are those in Barangay Tejero, Tagunol Road and the Lahug River.

Castillo asked why the DPWH has not reported or updated City Hall on the status of the projects. He lamented that ultimately, it will not be DPWH that will be blamed for the delays but the City Government since the projects are under their territorial jurisdiction, even if the rivers are under the jurisdiction of the DPWH.

Castillo clarified that the takeover would not mean that the City will shell out its own funds to complete the projects since these are already funded by the National Government. But since the projects are within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City, they can monitor the projects and push the contractors to properly implement the projects.

Cebu City Administrator Collin Rosell said regional offices of the National Government are mandated to give efficient and effective services and should coordinate with the local government units (LGUs), but they failed to do so.

“What is really needed is a total control as to how the project will be done in the city,” said Rosell.

Rosell said it was clear that the rivers in the city, which are the DPWH’s responsibility, needed desilting and dredging.

Castillo said they will call for a meeting with DPWH 7 and its contractors to discuss the ongoing projects and make sure there is coordination between the offices involved.

He added that the DPWH cannot implement projects without aligning them with the City’s programs.

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, officially launched its eServices, making immigration procedures such as applications for visa extension more efficient and convenient for foreign tourists in a boost to Philippine tourism.

“They can now swiftly and securely complete their necessary immigration applications end-to-end online,” Commissioner Norman Tansingco said during a ceremony held at the BI’s main office in Intramuros, Manila on July 12.

In a statement, the BI said those who may submit their applications online are applicants for waiver of exclusion grounds for arriving unaccompanied minors, emigration clearance certificate, and dual citizenship under Republic Act 9225, or the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.”

“Apart from these transactions, we are also excited to launch the online visa waiver and the tourist visa extension,” said Tansingco.

The commissioner said the online visa extension service would boost Philippine tourism as eServices allows visitors to “comply with their immigration requirements from the comfort of their own homes, hotels, or even by the beach.”

Contribution down

In 2022, tourism contributed P1.38 trillion, or 6.2 percent, to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The Philippines has yet to return to its pre-pandemic performance when tourism contributed P2.48 trillion to the GDP in 2019, equivalent to 12.7 percent of the GDP.

The low number of flights, as well as travel hesitation amid the high global inflation environment that has pushed up fares and living costs, are among the factors that have prevented the country from bringing back tourism numbers to their previous levels.

The Philippines targets 4.8 million international visitor arrivals this year, an 80 percent jump from the 2.65 million international visitor arrivals it saw in 2022.

But this is still a far cry from the 8.26 million international visitors that the country received in 2019.

Last May 5, more than three years after coronavirus disease triggered global lockdowns and upended economies, the World Health Organization said Covid-19 no longer qualified as a global emergency, but cautioned that the pandemic had not finished, with thousands of people still dying from the virus weekly.

First, a lesson in geography, especially for those who are unfamiliar with this area of Mindanao.

South Cotabato is a province in the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region of Mindanao. This acronym was derived from putting together South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos and was formerly known as Central Mindanao or more familiarly, Region 12.

From General Santos City, it is a hundred kilometer, two-hour drive to the municipality of Lake Sebu. Wide, traffic-free roads make the drive a breeze; views to the left and right are of a lush countryside that spell “vacation” for a city dweller like me. Our hosts had offered to take us there and all we expected was to have lunch by a lake that was literally named Lake Sebu. What a misconception that was!

Literally speaking, “Sebu” is a T’boli word for Lake so Lake Sebu means Lake Lake. It is a first class municipality in the province of South Cotabato (there are 10 municipalities in total) and has a population of around 85,000 people composed mostly of indigenous T’bolis, Tirurays, Ubos and Manobos. They inhabit the rainforests that surround the actual lake whose waters encompass an area of 354 hectares at an elevation of 1,000 meters. This lake is located in the upper part of Allah Valley whose landscape has been declared by Unesco as a Cultural Landscape in Mindanao.

As we entered the developed tourist area, we began our drive uphill on paved roads that our host shares were recently done. We passed restaurants, resorts, vacation houses—nothing too grandiose that would seem to disturb the peaceful countryside setting.

Our first stop was in an area called Seven Falls where the original plan was to ride the zipline (suspended 180 meters above ground) to view all the seven interconnected falls in one sweep. But we were told that the lines for the zipline were too long and we had just over an hour left before our lunch appointment, so we drove down to the area where we could view Waterfalls No. 2 up close. Not content with our view from the touristy deck, we decided to trek down to as near as we could get to the waterfalls.

I am one of those people who find so much joy in being caught in mist that results from the spray of the waterfall; I do not mind getting soaked in it. In fact, that feeling of being so close to nature kind of hypnotizes me—if you just let me be, I could probably just stay there for hours on end. But we had a lunch appointment to get to, so we had to leave, but not before stopping at a T’boli Tourist Shop to get myself my very own T’boli jacket that took quite a while to choose as everything sold there were all so beautifully hand crafted.

Now I have a deeper understanding of why this place is also fondly called the Land of the Dream Weavers. I am now tempted to believe the legend that these designs and patterns are sewed from images in their dreams as handed by FU PALU (the spirit of the abaca).

We had lunch at the famous Floating Restaurant in Punta Isla Lake Resort. From the moment we alighted from the car, to the lobby, the terrace and then down to the restaurant below, I loved everything about the place. Gardens so lush, the interesting interior designs an ode to the culture of the T’boli tribe, to the details in the stairways and the paintings on the walls, even the tiny boats on the lake shore were all picture perfect in their authenticity.

Our group got on the boat, waited for our pre-ordered food to be loaded, and off we went to have a leisurely lunch while cruising around the lake. While waiting for our assigned boat to dock, we went to a booth by the lake where we could rent authentic T’boli costumes for a photo-op.

The “dresser and photographer” there gleefully informed us that he dressed Catriona Gray daily during her week-long stay in Lake Sebu to film her video entry for the Miss Universe pageant. He was a wiz at what he did so that whole thing was a steal for P100 per head.

The economy of Lake Sebu is primarily dependent on aquaculture of tilapia growing in the fish cages floating in the lake. So our lunch menu had the option of having tilapia cooked in many forms: chicharon style, kinilaw, fried, pinaputok, sinanglay (ginata-an style), sinigang and grilled. My favorite was the small-sized grilled tilapia because I found that it has a tinge of sweetness in it, maybe because it was so fresh or there was so much flavor packed in.

In the middle of the lake tour, a local guide took his seat in front of the crowd and talked about the history of the lake and its importance in their lives. He pointed out the largest of the 11 islands within the lake and tells us it’s called Crocodile Island because of its shape. Then he proceeded to regale us with songs accompanied by a native Tiboli guitar called the Hegelung (a wooden two stringed lute) that so fascinated my husband that we ended up buying one to bring home as a souvenir.

Heavy rain had started to fall as our day was ending, so we took our time to relax on the restaurant terrace to appreciate the view from above this time. Nature, as always, never disappoints and here in Lake Sebu, our Creator has given them more than their fair share.

Soon, we were on our way back to our base in General Santos City but with a quick yet delicious stop to taste Koronadal’s famous Apareja Buko Halo-Halo, which was such a delight. A perfect day trip in perfect company and the start of our love affair with South Cotabato indeed. Thank you, Angel and Kaye.

@MAGNETO: My recent promotion as a manager is an answered prayer. All the hard work finally paid off. It took years to get me here. My dilemma is I was secretly dating one of my peers back then. He’s now my subordinate. It’s a same-sex relationship. We’re still both in the closet and are successful in keeping what we have private. It’s been eight months. Not even our respective families know something is going on beyond friendship. We’re both okay with the setup. We don’t want to turn this into a workplace sitcom. This is our first relationship of this nature. There’s too much going on particularly on how we are accepting ourselves as gay. However, this setup is a clear violation of our code of conduct. It can jeopardize our career if people will find out. How can we solve this situation?

DJ: This isn’t your typical office romance. It’s an undercover operation. Seriously, there are a lot of moving parts in this story that I honestly find it difficult to give sound advice. But it’s a pressing matter so I’ll give it my best shot. Are you comfortable talking to close friends or relatives about what you are going through? Looks like you’re dealing with a lot. Coming to terms with your own gender identity, managing a relationship in the shadows, juggling a new managerial role plus the stress of keeping things away from prying eyes in the minefield of office politics. Dude, you’re like spinning plates at a circus with higher stakes and fewer sequins. It helps if you’re connected to the right people.

Getting help with major issues is one of the most important things you can do. If you’re walking on a tightrope, they are your safety net. Why are you keeping it from your family? Why not start with someone you’re closest to or that person who is accepting or supportive? Use whatever method works for you—a call, a message but better if face-to-face. This way, you can tap more trusted people to be in your corner. Take your time. Do it only when you are ready. Consider talking to a therapist too. It helps, more so if he or she has previous work with LGBTQIA+ spectrum. It’s more advantageous when you go through this journey with someone who cares about you other than your partner.

How open is your company about diversity, equality and inclusion? If your company is an ally, consider seeking guidance from a trusted HR leader or your superior. They’ll understand why you kept the relationship secret and it was not your intention to violate the code of conduct. They can also help you explore possible options to remedy the situation. Now if you suspect your company has a homophobic culture, this adds a layer of complexity. Consider factors like culture, past incidents or indicators of discrimination or intolerance. These are data points to help you decide whether it’s a good move to disclose your identity and your relationship or not.

You and your partner will have to talk about your career options. Breaking the code of conduct is a no-no. Align your perspectives and decide how you both want to handle the situation together. Evaluate role changes or transfers. Since you’re just recently promoted, is it possible that he transfers to a different department or position? Even to another organization. The goal is to eliminate the hierarchical relationship. You’re able to keep your relationship private while adhering to the company’s policy.

Navigating a same-sex relationship given your professional setup can be complex. You got your well-deserved promotion. Then love and the code of ethics walked into the party. Prioritize your well-being. And hopefully, you can soon seek guidance from someone you trust who can walk the path with you and your partner. A lot of companies these days are safe spaces for those in the spectrum. Every situation is unique. The best course of action will depend on your specific circumstances. Opening up even on this venue is already a good move. I pray this is not the end but just a beginning.

My son, who has a knack for finding quotes, has recently stumbled upon a quote that put him down in the dumps. The quote goes, “I was ashamed of myself when I realized life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face.” It really got him thinking how people will live their lives trying to be someone else. In my professional opinion, there is nothing worse than living the life that doesn’t align with your soul as it contributes to one’s own downfall.

From the moment one is born, paths, jobs and directions in life that one will have a high affinity to will be etched into our souls. To be something completely different than what the Heavens has instored for us will not only be wrong to follow, but will eventually lead to struggles and tribulations. Our Heaven Luck, a factor of Human Success that deals with our inborn potential, is important to follow the path the Heavens has laid so one may follow the path to success with the least resistance.

When one is not following the path with the least resistance, the choices one has to make in that path tend to be difficult and confusing. That’s to be expected, as being on the wrong path may muddy how well one can utilize one’s Man Luck as well. Man Luck is another factor of Human success that deals with the hard work someone does. Doing something one does not naturally resonate with can lessen the rewards that one can reap with one’s hard work and make decision making much more pressuring.

When one has to be someone who they do not want to be to survive somewhere, what does that say about the environment one has? Oftentimes, the energy in our environment can lead one to be drained and tired, and this is reflected in the Earth Luck of a person. Earth Luck is the Feng Shui of a home, establishment or building. When it is good, all those in the building will be supported well, and if not, it can be debilitating to everyone and can encourage bad decisions.

From the moment one is born, beauty and grace are instilled into us that can be brought out by the right choices and support. When one restricts what one can and wants to be, wouldn’t you agree that it is a sin not just to that person someone restricts, but to the majestic plan the Heavens has laid for us? While many may feel that their real faces may not be appealing enough to show to the party, when one proudly displays their beautiful flaws in front of those with costumes, one can easily be the life of the party that shines for others as well.