The Gecko trade

Wazzaaaaap?!

Okay, I wasn't planning on putting an entry on my blog today. But the opportunity always presents itself. 


Lacking the motivation to study, and also because my body clock seems to be in an irregular state of functioning, I decided to check on my e-mails and possibly go trolling in social networking sites (Refer to my previous post. Trolling brightens up my mood).  Suddenly, a friend of mine messaged me and started asking questions about a rather interesting reptile. That I happen to frequently see around my place and the woods nearby.


Tuko. (Tokay Gecko)


Then comes into my mind images of Pokemon-like geckos taking revenge on the human population, particulary in the Philippines. At this point, I would like to note how Pokemon communicate when the only thing they can mutter is their respective names. How the hell do they know that's what they are called? Maybe Geckos are the real-life pokemon of our time since their call or sound they make is what we call them. *Tuk-O! Tuk-O! Tuk-tuk-tuk-O!!! 


Just imagine how they would evolve. Now that last bit was a bit irrelevant, don't you think?


I was like, "Come on, man. That shit's illegal!" But comes a very long discussion (I felt like I was in front of a pyramiding scheme seminar. The one that these "speakers" talk to you using conveniently placed mental and subliminal messaging that suggests positive things when they try to trick you out of your money? Like... Legacy, for example), and the fact that it is very lucrative. Very. I won't go into the details of what we talked about, though. It's some sort of information that... well, if it falls into the wrong hands, then maybe we'll see less and less of those cute, scaly lizards that protect us from mosquitoes and dengue. 


I just can't help but feel sorry for the little critters. Don't get me wrong, fellas. I am not with PETA (they creep me out). And I am not vegan either. I mean, our ecosystem is already fucked up as it is, and exploiting another wildlife specie just makes it... well, I guess it just makes it so ridiculous. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, okay here's a link: 


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/10994/illegal-wildlife-traders-target-endemic-geckos
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/10994/illegal-wildlife-traders-target-endemic-geckos


and another link from the DENR website:


http://www.gov.ph/2011/07/12/denr-warns-public-on-illegal-trade-of-gecko/
http://www.gov.ph/2011/07/12/denr-warns-public-on-illegal-trade-of-gecko/

A really good specimen will be worth around, P100,000.00 or more. But seemingly, if the terms of the buying is per weight, it can give one instant millions of pesos. Also to note, that this seems to be too good to be true, and along with this thought, the government and other authorities warn people not to engage in the trade because, like we all know, it is illegal, and most of the time these are just scams. The appeal here is the thought of quick bucks. Or buckets of them, if you happen to be the lucky one who chances upon a 2-foot long bright-colored gecko... which might happen to be also a specie of Pokemon. So before you "gotta catch 'em all", I'd rather you get the facts right first before finding good old Professor Oak and stealing his balls. 


Some interesting facts about the gecko: As taken from the DENR website (and wikipedia -- THIS IS NOT RESEARCH!):


This bit is taken from the DENR website:


Geckos (family Gekkonidae) are carnivorous, usually nocturnal, reptiles that can be found in tropical countries, and are known for their sticky footpads that allow them to climb vertical surfaces, including glass. They are also known to be the only reptiles to use their voice for social interaction 


The Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko, ranging from northeast India andBangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, Philippines to Indonesia and western New Guinea. Its native habitat is rainforest trees and cliffs, and it also frequently adapts to rural human habitations, roaming walls and ceilings at night in search of insect prey. Increasing urbanization is reducing its range. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was introduced into Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Belize, and several Caribbean islands, where it can be considered an invasive species.


And that last bit from Wikipedia. And finally, some legal stuff: 

Paragraph E and F, Chapter IV of RA 9147 spelled out that trading of wildlife and collection, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives are considered illegal acts.

For illegal acts under paragraph E (trading), penalties/fines can be imprisonment of 10 days to one month, or a fine of not less than P200 or not more than P20,000, if inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species.

For illegal acts under paragraph F (collection, hunting or possession), imprisonment of one month and one day to six months and a fine of not less than P5,000 to P50,000 will be imposed if inflicted or undertaken against species as other threatened species.

All wildlife, its derivatives or by-products and all paraphernalia, tools and conveyances used in connection with violations of RA 9147 shall be ipso facto forfeited in favor of the government. 

That one above is from Sunstar website. 

Some reasons behind the latest fad on geckos include it being a source of medicine that can cure ailments and diseases ranging from Asthma to AIDS. These, however, are not scientifically/medically proven. Maybe they got the notion how cats eat house lizards because their grandparents also told them that it can cure cat-asthma. 

I then suddenly remember the one movie starring Richard and Raymond Gutierrez. 

Another Law School Rant

It's August and I haven't posted anything here since...

A hiatus is just an indication that either:
a. I'm a lazy-ass writer (and an amateur to boot)
b. There's nothing to write
c. I am just too friggin' busy
d. All of the above

Take your pick. I think we all know the answer. But the answers can be harmonized. There's nothing to write because I am too busy, but since I am a lazy-ass bastard, because I am too busy that there's nothing to write about.

Nonsense lang, ano?

Like I said in one of my entries, you have to be mad to enter law school. I mean, where else will you experience the "fun" stuff of studying? Only in law school, of course! Tons of fun. Yeah, really fun stuff. You get to study for what? Six to eight hours and when you get to class... It's an instant photo shoot! Wacky pa...

"Mr. X." Professor calls student. Student stands up. Professor says, "Same question." Student stands and looks prof straight in the eyes and smiles. Prof nods. *Cha-click! Student sits.  So you get to study long hours and when you do get called, it only takes 3 seconds. Other courses? Well, they get to stand in front of class and present a powerpoint presentation of tables; charts; photos of animals, people, and unsuspecting fruit; videos of interviews, dumb things people do, smart things people do; etc. Tiring. In law school, you only get to stand and run your mouth about something you barely understand. Easy!

Well, it goes both ways, too. Sometimes you get to stand for the whole period. And it's a 5-unit subject. And standing for one to three hours uses up calories. More calories used, more weight is lost. Hello, good looking.

Anyways, the title of this entry says it all: I AM JUST RANTING. Midterms is right around the bend and so far, I feel so uninspired to get to "exam mode". It just gets to all of us - one day or another - and that's a crisis in the making. My insomnia is slowly killing me, and my backlog of readings is gradually making its way up to my neck in a steady pace. Of course, there is the occasional "really good day", but more of the "bad ones" just keep popping up recently. I am just hoping the next two weeks will turn out okay, at least.

Few people know this, but I never even wanted to be lawyer in the first place. It also goes that I never could see myself as one in the future. I always thought I'd be something else, but not an attorney. Life has a way of joking and maybe I was just at the receiving end of it. Oh well, gotta man up to it now, since there is no turning back. But I did get to know some pretty neat stuff along the way, so I guess it's not a total waste. This week, when the opportunity presents itself, I am going to recharge my batteries, reset my internal clock, and delete temporary stored information (Oh, not this one, though. Might come in handy someday). Maybe I'll go trolling... yeah, that brightens my mood anytime.

On a lighter note, the Fraternity I joined celebrated it's 40th Founding Anniversary. The organizers planned the thing so well, and they invited notable and distinguished alumni in their respective fields to give inspirational speeches. I was elated, of course, but somehow the talks fail to inspire me that much (not like the time after watching Rockys I-IV). The venue was superb, the food okay, and our friends from Playboy Philippines gave us a treat, too. I had a great view.

Another thing is I got to have my picture taken with certain idols of mine. FM radio DJs Slick Rick and Sam Y.G. of Magic 89.9 and 2/3 of the Boys Night Out radio show of the Magic. I am not ashamed to say I was star-strucked, but seeing these two in person was one item checked off  in my bucket list. I just couldn't resist telling them I was a big fan and shaking their hands and requesting to have a picture taken with them. So cool. It was also interesting that Slick told me that it was great to hear that guys like us (they think maybe we're lawyers already, I don't know) listen to their show. They said it was nonsense. Well, to a certain extent it is. Maybe because most people have this notion about law students. The one that brands us as serious-all-the-time-since-we-study-law type; or maybe the we-are-no-nonsense-folk-because-we-are-law-students... I can't put a finger on it, but I might be wrong, too. Slick told me their show is nonsense. Because I was still awed by them, I couldn't make my mouth work and strike a conversation about it and just tell him that sometimes nonsense is what we need.

You see, in the way we study law, we need to make sense of what we are reading. It becomes an obligation or duty to do so. There's even a subject totally devoted on how to study law. And we make sense of things all the time that it just gets tiring. So we try our best to enjoy the little things, just to keep our minds off the stress and relax our nerves. And most of the time, the most nonsensical things is the best pill to knock us out of our socks, and even for a few moments, takes away all the worry, stress, and even (in my case) the pressure off our heads. It keeps us grounded. I don't know about the others, but coming home from school, right after a really bad day in class, I'd turn on my radio and tune in on their show. I'd slowly smile at the jokes, and that turns into a giggle or guffaw, and then kalampag na ako at gumugulong na sa kakatawa. Aside from trolling, this would usually brighten up my mood.

So, midterms is just around the corner.