Instead of going to my BA class earlier (God I can’t remember the last time I went to that class!), I attended Mulat Pinoy’s Lecture Series at the Engineering Theater.
Mulat Pinoy is a population awareness initiative for the youth, managed by the Probe Media Foundation and supported by the Philippine Center for Population and Development. It is their goal to communicate essential facts, figures and information to young people through new media activities and reportage of relevant news and events.
Recently, Mulat Pinoy started a lecture series on following Thailand's example in poverty eradication, education and philanthropy. They invited Mechai Viravaidya as the guest speaker for the lecture in UP Diliman.
Mechai Viravaidya is a former senator and activist in Thailand. He is the founder of the Population and Community Development Association that addresses the unsustainable population growth rate in Thailand. During the talk, he basically shared almost everything that he did in Thailand that helped control the population growth and eradicate poverty. He used a variety of humorous, innovative, and unorthodox methods to do so. Mechai mobilized and educated a network of rural school teachers and village community members to make contraceptives available throughout the country.
I just want to say that Mechai Viravaidya is a marketing God. DAMN. If you had seen how he sold the idea of condoms and vasectomy in Thailand, you’d be in awe as well.
See what I mean?
Just a few statistics that I think you'd find interesting:
- During the 1970's, Thailand's population growth rate was at 3%. In 2003, it was down to a more sustainable growth rate of 0.5%.
- When HIV/AIDS first appeared in Thailand in the mid-1980s, he launched a major prevention program which resulted to a 90% decline in new infections and an estimated 7.7 million lives saved according to the World Bank within 12 years.
It’s just sad that I didn’t get to finish the lecture because I had class. But I’m glad I got to approach him as he was about to leave the building. I told him I missed the latter half of the lecture and that I found the first half very interesting and would like to know more. I asked if he has a website, but he gave me a CD instead and his calling card. So yeah. I should have taken a picture with him!
I really suggest that you guys look him up on Google and read more on his projects. It would be really great for the Philippines if all his projects were to be done here. But then I think that's impossible since religion gets in the way. We all know that the church does not approve of the use of contraceptives.
Anyway, off topic. Vimi posted on Facebook that Parris Goebel will be holding dance classes here in Manila (at Groove Central!) on November 13. Good thing I saw the update right away because the class had limited slots! Only 30 people would get to take the class so I reserved a slot right away. It’s pretty expensive, 750 Pesos per class. BUT WHAT THE HECK, IT’S PARRIS OF REQUEST. SO COME ON.
But I’m quite insecure about my dancing. I’m scared that I might not be able to pick up everything at par with everyone’s pace. So I really have to get fit and get my groove back before she comes! Hope my 100 workout works!
Here's a video of ReQuest of Hip Hop International 2011 World Finals at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Enjoy watching! :)
