Photoshop Activity #2: Skin Retouching

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Photoshop Activity #1:Photo Montage (Collage)

"Earth Day Celebration"

Reducing the consumption on energy is basically the ultimate way to save the sole living planet in our solar system, environmental experts frequently advised.

Saving energy thus saves Earth’s resources, said Greenpeace, an international environmental group.

From domestic electricity use, to transportation, and big industrial processing plants—for food and non-foods-- these all required and cannot function without the use of energy.

With the overly and successive use of energy due to the ever increasing human demand, we are just literally bleeding the Earth’s resources.

Oil, feedstock, and the new concept of “biofuel”—are these days’ major source of energy. With rapid consumptions of these sources of energy coupled with the increasing exhaustion of carbon dioxide, an environmental imbalance is occurring, thus, result to global warming. Summing up, the result is called: “climate change.”

Melting of ice glaciers in the northern and southern hemispheres, the rising sea level, not to mentioned the “acid rain,” and who can’t forget El Niño and La Niña?—these are all the negative result of climate change.

But these, doesn’t stop, with the human population continues to rise, experts projected that the total number of individual could shoots up to more than seven-billion in the following years, indeed, the need for human energy is also on toll.

Food resources in recent years are also depleting. Rice shortage, coupled with today’s skyrocketing prices of basic commodities is just the adverse result of environmental imbalances, so to speak.

Again, too much consumption of energy results to the imbalance of environment and thus results to climate change.

We, living in the third world country, are very vulnerable when it comes on the direct result of climate change, experts again noted.

“The poor is the most vulnerable if the damaging effects of climate change are left unchecked,” the World Health Organization (WHO) recently said.

WHO representative in the Philippines Soe Nyunt-U said: “climate change will wipe out anti-poverty gains, and continue to widen the rich-poor gap.”

In news article, Health secretary Francisco T. Duque, III, emphasized a study from the National Epidemiology Center, which said of "undeniable relationship" between climate change and human health.

For instance, “dengue cases peaked in 1998 alongside prolonged drought. Higher temperatures shorten the incubation period of dengue larva, consequently increasing the potential for the disease's transmission.”

There have been 6,848 dengue cases reported from January to March 15 alone, compared to 5,859 cases in the same period last year, he said.

In Zamboanga City alone, Mayor Celso L. Lobregat, for the second time, declared on March an outbreak of dengue as at least two persons have already died while more than 500 cases have been registered in the City Health Office in less than three months since the start of the year.

Truly, the effect of environmental degradation is now directly being felt, anywhere and everyone. There is no assurance on who will be safe. Nature is now taking its own actions.

With the recent celebration of our own planet, it is just imperative for us to bring back what the nature gave to us. Since the lesser use of energy is one of the very best tool to save our planet, its time for us to rethink and be sensitive enough on our action. Ooops, don't forget to turn off the lights please….hehehe….

An Evaluation of the Organization Identity of Peace Advocate Zamboanga (PAZ)

Peace Advocates Zamboanga’s (PAZ) official logo(s)

Design experts have clearly stated that “a good logo must at least fulfill three essential requirements: it must be appropriate, aesthetically pleasing, and it must reflect the institutions' credibility it serves.”

Truly, for PAZ’s logo, all these criteria were met, thus, one can clearly comprehend the basic meaning of its design.

“It tries to depict the meaning of unity, hope, and love, which are all essential to peace.” This was how Fr. Angel Calvo described its non-government organization he founded.

In a glance, one can obviously understand the message of PAZ’s logo, according to Rey-luis Banagudos, the organization’s information officer said.

The two hands binds with olive leaf signify unity “where cultural diversity is respected and given greater latitude.” While the olive leaf expressed the vision of hope, he said.

Shades of dark sea-water and sky-blue colors reflect the serenity and calmness, while the touch of white portrays immaculate, thus said Darwin Wally Wee, its senior reporter.

Aside from its own logo, PAZ with the help of reknown Tausug-Chavacano artist Rameer Tawasil conceptualized the peace dove that suites the situation Mindanao.

In a brief description, Mr. Tawasil said the dove of peace bears Muslim, Christian, Lumad (indigenous tribes), which emblems the expression of harmony.

“This is a symbol of the mutual sharing of aspirations and efforts in building a just and peaceful society,” he explained, adding that “this symbol thrives on the mutual sharing of aspirations and efforts in building a just and peaceful society.”

The colorful stripe lines and grace symbolize the tri-people in Mindanao. The colors red, blue and light blue symbolize the lumads, while the green and black, it describes Muslim and Christian, respectively.

Also, crucifix and crescent, which obviously symbolize the Christian and Muslim faiths were visible in the peace dove design. Its tail also represents vinta (banca), the icon of Zamboanga City, Mr. Tawasil noted.

The peace dove is position is to "fly." An act, which Mr. Tawasil said is poised to deliver the message of oneness, love, freedom, understanding, and justice.

“1997 was the time when physical violence engulfed the southern Philippines. Kidnappings, extortions, bombings, were on the headlines of every national daily, when PAZ decided to rally in a week-long event of prayers, discussion, and finding solutions in a hope to break the cycle of violence plaguing Mindanao. Thus, it was also the time when the bright-yellow banner with the peace-dove logo was hanged in every post in the city,” an article written by Mr. Wee said.

Mr. Wee said the logo has become widely popular and is currently included in the international collection of peace doves.