Crimson moon, a unique lifetime experience

When I was younger, one of my favorite songs by Frank Sinatra, was “Blue Moon.” I still remember the lyrics all these years later and I even often sing them to myself while driving – “Blue moon, you saw me standing alone. Without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own.” I’m sure many oldies will remember those lyrics and that song. It was quite a popular hit back in the day.

Those lyrics became exceptionally poignant again recently because of the exciting lunar phenomenon that occurred last week – the super blue moon blood moon that was visible in our skies last Wednesday. It’s actually something that we were constantly reminded about prior to the event because it’s such a rare and exciting thing happening only every 36 years or so. The last one was in the 1980s and the next won’t be until past my time.

In either case, I was very excited to see the moon and was happy that we were going to be getting such a clear view in the Philippines. I rushed out into the garden and was able to see the moon in all of its amazing glory. Luckily there was no cloud in sight and no rain so it was just a clear view of nature’s beauty.

The Jan. 31 full moon was special for three reasons – it was the third in a series of “super moons” when the moon is closer to Earth in its orbit and much brighter than usual. It’s also the second full moon of the month – commonly known as “blue moon.” Then add on a total lunar eclipse and while the moon is in the Earth’s shadow it became a reddish color making it a “blood moon” – hence super blue moon blood moon.

It was a rare event, which many of us will most likely not see again if we are in the twilight of our lives as the next one won’t be for another 36 years. It’s nice that so many people were able to enjoy it this time though. According to the news, thousands trooped to the Pag-Asa Astronomical Observatory in the UP Diliman campus where telescopes were made available for free for the public to use.

Similar events were held by other astronomical society groups, which set up telescopes in places like Mall of Asia and Alabang Town Center so more people could get the chance to see the beautiful phenomenon through a telescope.

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It looks like the second increase on the pension for retirees will not be happening by next year as originally promised by the administration. President Duterte may have had best intentions in mind when making promises but he has been hard pressed to keep them lately. I suppose it’s important to take his speeches and rhetoric with a grain of salt because promises and intentions are one thing but implementation is quite another.

Even when they first mentioned the first SSS hike for retirees the problem was always about the strain it would put on the existing fund. Many said that the hike would spell the end of SSS unless changes were made in premiums and collections and soon. To ease the burden somewhat, the president put in only half the hike with the rest to follow. However, at this point it has become equally important to find out where the additional funds will be coming from.

Now, top officials of the SSS fund are asking the president to approve their proposed hike in contributions by this year. This was already planned to help sustain the fund, but was put on hold last year because of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill. Now that it is done, SSS is hoping to adjust their contributions next.

Naturally it’s the working Filipinos who are going to be affected by this. They are already affected by the increase in the costs of basic goods and fuel and it’s understandable that they are going to be quite upset. So much is changing in so little time. Will these changes make things better for the future? Only time will tell I suppose, but in the meantime everyone is seeing an increase in their regular spending.

For retirees an SSS hike is sorely needed to help sustain them after their working years. The rising cost of goods and healthcare is badly felt and any increase in their pensions will help, but at the same time those who are working now are finding it difficult to pay more now when they had gotten used to the amount they had already been paying. I hope that the government and the financial minds in charge of this find a win/win situation that benefits everyone.

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Have you ever heard the expression “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it?” That’s something motorists from the South were thinking last week when the Skyway unceremoniously implemented their new procedure and opened their mid-way tollbooth without any prior warning. This new system has motorists paying at the mid-way instead of upon entry as they have been for years. It’s a harebrained plan that was not particularly well thought out that was meant to ease the flow of traffic but instead worsened it exponentially.

Last week people took to social media to share their fury at having another two hours or so added to their normal travel time on the Skyway stating that they didn’t understand why it had to be changed at all since the system has been working fine.

The clamor and outrage has been so bad that the Skyway Corporation has temporarily reverted back to their old method for private vehicles asking only buses and trucks to use the new mid-way tollbooth while they figure out how to make it work. I’m glad they listened to the people’s complaints but this is only a temporary fix. They spent to build these tollbooths and need to figure out their next steps. Personally I think they should keep things they way they are and just demolish the mid-way scheme. I guess time will tell what they will choose to do.