Monday, July 4, 2016

Arts & Leisure

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

A glimpse of the Gilded Age

Posted on June 29, 2016

THERE’S an ongoing exhibit at the Leon Gallery in Makati for millennials. There’s nothing exactly millennial about it, but the display called Filipinos in the Gilded Age is a look back -- even forward -- to what is “us.”

PHOTO

PAINTINGS by Juan Luna are set up gallery spaces made to look like the 19^th century rooms they would originally have been seen in.

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“It’s the idea of nationhood,” one of the curators, Liliane “Tats” Manahan, told BusinessWorld during a private visit days before the exhibit opening. She shared curating duries with Ramon Villegas and Lizza Guerrero Nakpil.

“A lot of the young kids have forgotten who we are. There has been a lot of information overload for everyone. We want to showcase the distinguishing thing of 19^th century; the whole idea of nationhood.”

On view until July 30, the exhibit shows paintings -- many previously unseen in the Philippines -- by the late 19^th century Illustrados including Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Damian Domingo, Rafael Martinez, Miguel Zaragoza, Felix Martinez, and Manuel Espiritu.

“The Illustrados (enlightened ones) brought back all these things for us to chew on. All the guys who did the most significant acts were in their ‘millennial days.’ Jose Rizal must have been in his 20s when he wrote Noli Me Tangere. The millennials today have to be informed about this. The information is not only what you find on Google,” said Ms. Manahan.

A separate room highlights furniture and ivory sculptures “of our great Filipino master crafters during the Galleon Trade, all made and exported for the Spanish market,” said gallery owner, Jaime Ponce de Leon.

“It’s showcasing who we were in 19^th century, all these were produced by the enlightened ones who traveled for education and [were] at par with the best. Here they are, it shows magnificence,” said Mr. Ponce de Leon.

WHO IS THE FILIPINO?
The gallery was purposely made to look the 19^th century rooms where the painting were first seen, painted with “all shades of goose shit” like green, light green, and cream, which were the colors of the era, said Ms. Manahan, who painted the details in the wall. She said foie gras was becoming popular then, hence the color.

On one side is a simulation of Juan Luna’s studio in Paris.

“It is exposure. It is experimental. The room is total immersion. This is what Pinoys looked like before,” Ms. Manahan said, smiling.

There has always been an endless debate on who are the Filipinos, she said.

“The thing is, a lot of Pinoys still think that our ancestors are itas (Aetas). Maybe if you are from that region, yes. But if you’re not, I know my ancestors are not Aetas. Somewhere along the line, there’s Chinese... I mean we are all of the above, and that’s what makes us, Filipinos, unique.”

A controversial work encapsulated best the debate Ms. Manahan was trying to explain.

Placed at the gallery entrance is a painting called the Habitantes Indigenos ante de la Reina Regente en la Exposicion General de las Yslas Filipinas de Madrid, 1887 by an unknown painter. It shows indigenous Filipinos presented to the Queen Regent, Maria Cristina, at the Exposition of the Philippine Islands held in Madrid’s Zoological Gardens.

“Probably [it is made by] a court painter who happened to be allowed inside when the Filipinos were presented as natives to the Queen of Spain. The queen is Maria Cristina, a widow at the time [hence she was in black.] If you noticed the natives, they were asked to wear pants, except the two who even did not want to bow,” she said.

The painting shows a group of Ifugao men bowing to the Queen. Some wear salakot (a native hat), and all are wearing G-strings over a piece of cloth that covered their privates. But two Ifugao men, with G-strings only, remain standing at the back.

The exposition was controversial. A part of the exhibition was dedicated to Philippine fine arts, where the paintings by Illustrados like Luna and Hidalgo were highly regarded by the Europeans. But on the other hand, some say the fair was meant to humiliate. According to the book The Embarrassment of Slavery: Controversies over Bondage and Nationalism in the American Colonial Philippines by Michael Salman, Jose Rizal and Antonio Luna condemned the exposition.

It said: “The Madrid Exposition, however, put live Igorots on display. Illustrados objected that this was an assault on human dignity and a misrepresentation of the Philippines.”

Asked how he obtained got the controversial painting, Mr. Ponce de Leon said: “[I’m always interested in] anything about the Philippines or Filipino artists. Someone alerted me about this. I was brought to a home in Barrio Salamanca in Madrid. I saw it there, and, wow, just wow.”

Always on the lookout for Filipino arts whenever he travels, he acquired the items on exhibit over the past seven years.

“Everything or anything Filipino, I really try to get even if they are not attractive. But it’s a bonus if it’s a recognized subject, like Telesforo Chuidian. But, yeah, it’s just repatriating what belongs to us. They should be [brought] back.

“With hope, there are other treasures that may be found,” he added, saying that all the items were from travels, private markets, and auctions, that, “to me, are all authentic.”

“The burden of truth is on their side to prove that they are fake,” Mr. Ponce de Leon said.

AND OTHER THINGS
Among the items on exhibit are Luna’s paintings on gypsies and his travels in Paris. Some paintings were commissioned by European royalty and the upper-crust. But as far as Mr. Ponce de Leon is concerned, one of the most interesting pieces is a portrait of Telesforo Chuidian painted by Felix Martinez. Chuidian, a Chinese businessman, was one of the biggest financiers of the Philippine Revolution.

“I got to find out from Tats [Manahan] and Liza [Nakpil, her co-curator] that he fathered a lot of children. He’s the ancestors of a lot of people we know, some are our friends. He’s the model of Kapitan Tiago in Noli Me Tangere. Isn’t it interesting? Even their descendants are happy to know about this and they’re sharing it on Facebook,” said Mr. Ponce de Leon.

Besides the paintings themselves, the frames surrounding them are also noteworthy.

“Some of the frames are original; we did not purposely match it to show that it’s restored. Some are 24-karat gold,” said Ms. Manahan.

The decorative motifs of the 19^th century were “Turkish tulips, peacocks, and peahens,” she added. While the majority of the frames were gilded, Hidalgo opted for framing his paintings in simple brown wood.

Also on view are a number of ivory objet d’art which were sourced from Spanish and French collectors. The items, made from ivory sourced in Thailand, then carved here in the Philippines, showcase the makers’ careful and intricate artisanship.

“The ivories were from Thailand and were carved here. They were for import, in Spain. Jaime [Ponce de Leon] is repatriating them. Don’t they make you proud to be Pinoy?,” said Ms. Manahan.

Red Turnip tackles deafness, virtual reality in new season

Posted on June 29, 2016

By NICKKY FAUSTINE P. DE GUZMAN

KICKING OFF Red Turnip Theater’s fourth season is the offbeat comedy-drama,Tribes, about a deaf man trying to find his place in the world while dealing with his loquacious anti-sign language family. The season will end with a sci-fi thriller, The Nether, that tackles identity in a world of virtual reality.

THE CAST of Tribes

Revealed in blood

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

Although stressed is “desserts” spelled backward, according to health experts, even too much sweets is stressing. Apparently, stress also has correlation with glutathione.

Glutathione is commercially associated as skin whitening. It comes as an oral pill or an injectable liquid. But this substance, often called the body’s “master antioxidant,” is more than just a whitening agent. Too little glutathione reserves in our system cause stress, fatigue, ageing, and diseases.

“Glutathione is naturally found in the body. Our liver makes 90% of the glutathione,” said Dr. Stanley A. Chua of BioBalance Wellness Institute, a wellness hub in Mandaluyong that offers an Oxidative Stress 2.0 test.

According to Genova Diagnostics, a US-based laboratory that does the test for BioBalance, the Oxidative Stress 2.0 test is a nutritional examination that “utilizes a blood sample in order to evaluate the body’s oxidative stress status and antioxidant reserve.” The aim of the test is to assess how much we are stressed or are prone to being stressed.

While glutathione is also found in fruits and vegetable, what is important in all this is the liver. The healthier the liver, the more glutathione in the body. As someone who avoids alcohol, only consuming water, iced tea, and, sometimes, fruit juice, I was confident that I would ace my Oxidative Stress 2.0 test. But I was wrong.

I was asked to fast for eight to 12 hours before they took a blood sample, which was then sent to the lad. After two weeks, the test results were in.

“Do you smoke and drink alcohol?” Dr. Chua asked before he let me see my test results. He also asked if I sleep for eight hours, exercise, eat right, and get enough sun.

I said I don’t smoke, I hate the sun, and the only exercise I do is when I make a mad dash to make it on time to work events or school. Does that count?

“Ah!” was all he said.

The Oxidative Stress test result is shown as a bar graph with results in red (bad), yellow (borderline), and green (good). My test results were a mixture of both good and bad.

Dr. Chua said that while he expects Millennials to hit results at green (good) levels precisely because we are still young and active. But, ironically, an unhealthy lifestyle can get in the way: excessive clubbing and drinking, and sometimes, drug abuse. Millennial’s ideas that “sleep is for the weak” and YOLO “you only live once” also do not help.

My results showed I am stressed and not healthy — and perhaps I represent the majority of Millennials in their 20s and early 30s.

Although my body makes enough substances like cysteine, cystine, and sulphate at green (good) levels to protect me from stress, my glutathione, which is the body’s major antioxidant, was worrisome.

Dr. Chua said that while my glutathione level is still at green, it was very near the borderline, I don’t have enough reserves of glutathione in my body to push it at the safer green level, because “it compensates for the lack of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in your body.”

According to the results, my SOD is at the red (bad) level.

SOD is an enzyme found in every cell in the body which catalyzes the destruction of free radicals that damage cells, causing causes age-related diseases and cancer. Dr. Chua said iron and copper deficiencies, among others, can impair SOD production.

He said the following could trigger my low level of SODs: not enough sleep/iron deficiency; consumption of too much processed food; too many sweets (I told Dr. Chua that I can skip the main course but not the dessert); and not enough rest.

The manifestations of a person stressed at the cellular level are: dry skin, faster ageing, low energy, falling hair, and being prone to the flu, coughs, and colds.

“Remember that the body has to fight stress in[side] and out. It should lay a better foundation, and not a band-aid solution alone,” said Dr. Chua.

ON COSMETIC GLUTATHIONE
So, does it mean that people who inject or drink glutathione for the purpose of skin whitening are generally healthier? Dr. Chua said no.

“Glutathione takers are not necessarily healthier,” he said.

He emphasized that what was important is the “liver.”

“It depends if the liver is functioning well.”

He clarified that oral glutathione “does not work as much as people hope.” He said it is not well absorbed by the body, with only 20% of the pill absorbed by the body.

While glutathione consumption can result in whiter skin, he added that “The side effect of glutathione is it attacks the blood vessels. Maputi ka nga, may ugat ka namang maitim. (You may be whiter but you have may have a blackened blood vessels.)”

HEALTHY RECOMMENDATIONS
Dr. Chua gave me multivitamins to take in the morning and evening to help me de-stress at the cellular level and to boost my glutathione production, and chromium in the morning to regulate my sugar cravings. They are available at BioBalance.

“Supplements are neither meal substitutes nor a standalone recommendation. They just augment what’s missing,” he emphasized.

There is another option to supplements. He recommends consuming two servings each of fruits and vegetables that fall under the rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). This way, I can have an ample supply of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in my body. “The darker the vegetable, the better,” he said.

Apparently, my occasional brisk walks and short sprints to work or school do not help, he said, because my glutathione result is almost at yellow and my OSD is at red.

He recommends running as fast as you can for three minutes a day.

He also advocates that people get their daily dose of vitamin D to regulate calcium absorption and for maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and protect against type one diabetes, cancer, and sclerosis.

His original recommendation was that I sunbathe at noon, but acknowledging that skin cancer is a risk in the long run, he said people can get their vitamin D supply at two hours after sunrise, which is around nine in the morning. For white skinned people, he said 15 minutes of exposure is enough, while for people with darker skin, 30 minutes of sunbathing is recommended.

The Oxidative Stress 2.0 test costs P26,000. A three-month supplement package costs P11,721 while a six month supplement package costs P19,535.

FOCUS

‘We are not contagious’

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

In a country that worships white flawless skin, the Philippines is a big runway for peacocking: show off your porcelain skin in skimpy garments and get admiration. Those with less than perfect skin are left hiding in the shadows.

‘We are not contagious’ — *Photos courtesy of Pamela Velasco*

“Unpredictable and irritating, psoriasis is one of the most baffling and persistent of skin disorders,” says the disease description onWebMD.com. “It’s characterized by skin cells that multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. As underlying cells reach the skin’s surface and die, their sheer volume causes raised, red plaques covered with white scales. Psoriasis typically occurs on the knees, elbows, and scalp, and it can also affect the torso, palms, and soles of the feet.”

The damage caused by the incurable auto-immune disease is beyond cosmetic. In the face of society’s judgment, a victim can suffer crippling blows to his self- esteem.

“We are vilified,” said Josef de Guzman, his voice almost trembling.

Psoriasis cut short his booming career as a sales and marketing professional in 1996. While he could initially cover his psoriasis with long sleeves, the condition also affected his hands and nails. He said that whenever he’d do presentations or offer a handshake, people would stare at his hands. So he quit because he was ashamed. He lived a reclusive life for a long time.

Eventually he decided to focus on working as an advocate for sufferers of the disease, and went on to conduct other campaigns on cervical cancer, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and hemophilia, among others.

In 2005, he started Psoriasis Philippines (PsorPhil), an online support group which has attracted 5,000 members, with the goal of giving encouragement to its members while educating the wider public on what psoriasis is.

“Imagine if you have a small pimple on your face. Ayaw mo na lumabas kasi nakakahiya (You do not want to go outside because it’s embarrassing.) Multiply that one blemish into 1,000 more pimples — that is how we feel.”

He, and the rest of the PsorPhil members, cannot overemphasize that like any ordinary pimple, psoriasis is not contagious.

“We’ve put too much premium on people with flawless skin. We put them on a pedestal. But what are we trying to tell people with psoriasis?”

If a person with flawless skin is beautiful, the corollary is that a person with psoriasis is ugly.

Pamela Velasco, 24, fit the profile of society’s standard of pretty: white and flawless skin, tall, long hair. She’d join beauty contents and wanted to be a model. Then everything went wrong.

“I was only 13 years old, a first year high school student, when one day I woke up with a body covered with flakes and white and pink spots.Parang gumuho mundo ko. (My world seemed to collapse.) I used to join school pageants. That time I knew what I wanted, I wanted to be a model, a beauty queen. I loved to act and dance. I wanted to be a newscaster just because I wanted to see myself on TV,” she toldBusinessWorld in an e-mail interview.

Mr. De Guzman and Ms. Velasco suffered emotional breakdowns.

“After learning I have this lifelong condition, my self-confidence went down to zero. I became lazy and tired of life. I tend to hide as long as I could. I was physically, emotionally, and mentally damaged. I used to cry at night or super yuko na lang ako ‘pag dadaan sa iba. (I hunch down when I passed by other people). Ang tagal kong na-depressed at na-stressed, umiiyak at nagtatago lang. (For a long time I was depressed, stressed, and crying. I hid.) Sometimes I even refused to attend school.Hindi siya mabilis tanggapin. (Accepting it was not easy),” said Ms. Velasco.

According to an Italian study by dermatologists Esposito, Saraceno, Maccarone, and Chimenti, psoriasis has psychosocial co-morbidities like anxiety, poor self-esteem, depression, sexual dysfunction, and suicidal ideation.

“It hurts physically, emotionally, and mentally,” said Ms. Velasco, who is a PsorPhil member.

Mr. De Guzman said that sometimes he wanted to “vanish.”

Both said they can tolerate the physical pain of the condition, but not its psychological torment.

They appeal to people’s humanity: “Please tell the world we are not contagious.”

CONTROLLABLE CONDITION
“The treatment depends on each patient,” said Maria Deanna Santos-Ramiscal, photodermatology head at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Bonifacio Global City, in a press conference on May 31.

PsorPhil, the Philippine Dermatological Society, Novartis Healthcare Philippines, and the Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA) signed a memorandum of agreement during the event with the aim of increasing public awareness of the disease.

Dr. Ramiscal said 20% to 30% of the world population experiences psoriasis, usually on the scalp, elbow, knees, and areas prone to trauma. She said that approximately two million Filipinos are suffering from psoriasis, but 60% of them won’t receive treatment.

Treatments are expensive. Topical creams, which last for about a week, costs P2,000 or more. Another option in the market: secukinumab biologics. The drug inhibits IL-17A, a protein that causes the excess scaling of the skin. Dr. Ramiscal said patients have shown improvements of up to 90% after several weeks of injections with the drug, which is US Food and Drug Administration-approved. It’s a more effective psoriasis management option. But the doctors demurred from giving an idea on how much it cost, saying it depends on the doctors and hospitals.

Arthritis, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and depression, are often suffered simultaneously with psoriasis.

There are several types of psoriasis, the most common being plaque psoriasis which is characterized by thick and extensive skin lesion which are itchy and painful. According to WebMD, psoriasis can also be associated with psoriatic arthritis, which leads to pain and swelling in the joints.

“Up to 10% of Asians with psoriasis are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, a specific form of arthritis that is particularly painful and debilitating and can lead to joint damage,” said Dr. Heizel Reyes, PRA president.

Mr. De Guzman mentioned he has a friend with psoriatic arthritis who broke his fingers after crumpling a piece of paper.

Patients undergo cycles of remissions and flare-ups over a lifetime. An episode can be caused by a variety of factors that include emotional stress and infections. “Most doctors believe such external stressors serve as triggers for an inherited defect in immune function,” says WebMD.

The doctors at the press conference emphasized case-to-case treatment. “There’s no one-size-fits-all in managing psoriasis,” they said.

A MATTER OF ACCEPTANCE
Since the world has not yet found the cure for it, people with psoriasis are left to simply deal with it.

“Matagal din talaga bago ko siya natanggap. (It took me a while before I accepted it),” said Ms. Velasco.

“Acceptance is the key. ‘Pag natanggap mo na si psoriasis, tanggap mo ng habang buhay mo siya kasama, mas gagaan ang buhay living with it.” (Once you’ve accepted that psoriasis will be part of your life, it will make living with it easier.)

She said she started living a healthier lifestyle. She exercises and sticks to a gluten-free diet. It also helps to have support: a family member, a friend, or people suffering from the same disease.

“I have learned the art of dedma (ignoring). Nowadays whenever I go out, wherever I am, I always keep my head up. I stand tall and proud. Sometimes I smile at people looking curiously at my skin. I am now confidently beautiful with my psoriasis. I did not stop performing, I was able to achieve my dream of joining beauty pageants and modeling gigs.”

She said she does not conceal her psoriasis with foundation or concealer. She likes her skin bare.

“I believe I can now handle discrimination. I am now a fighter.”

But more than them accepting that their battle with psoriasis will be life-long, it’s society’s acceptance that would make it a little more bearable. The world has not yet found a cure, but perhaps, our understanding brings them a step closer to healing.

HEALTH

Health tips for a happier, healthier you

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

WHILE aware that health is wealth, in pursuit of worldly wealth we sacrifice our wellness, thinking that perhaps money can buy anything including fitness. But it can’t. Not really.

Health tips for a happier, healthier you — *www.nurturewellnessvillage.com*

With the goal of helping one become a better, healthier, and happier you, the Global Wellness Day organization celebrates Wellness Day annually on June 11.

The movement started in Turkey in 2012, and the campaign has now reached 73 countries including the Philippines. It has a seven-step manifesto: walk for an hour, drink more water, do not use plastic bottles, eat organic food, have a family dinner, do a good deed, and sleep at 10 p.m.

Rest and recreation, like visiting a wellness center, also help, especially these days where everything is fast-paced and we are connected all day long.

“Massage is not just about beauty. It is a traditional therapeutic treatment used for centuries as a method of preventing sickness and promoting health in the world’s oldest medical systems, the traditional Chinese medicine and India’s Ayurvedic system,” health advocate Cathy Turvill told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

She said massage lowers the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, “which is very deadly for the body when left unchecked.” Massage also increases the release of endorphins — the so-called happy hormones — “which promotes a positive outlook in life.”

Ms. Turvill walks her talks. She eats healthy, exercises, and follows Global Wellness Day’s seven rules. When asked for health tips, she only had one word: CHOICES.

“It’s an acronym I developed, which stand for the pillars of health,” she said.

C: CHOOSE TO BE POSITIVE
She urges everyone to squeeze a 10-minute breathing exercise into their busy schedules which will help you “feel better and ready to take on the day’s challenges.” Think happy thoughts, she said. While doing this, take 10 deep and slow breaths.

H: HYDRATE AND HEALTHY EATING
She reiterates the global manifesto and adds a few more points: refrain from sugary and caffeinated drinks. “Consciously choose nutrient-rich foods like dark colored green vegetables and fresh fruits. Choose to eat fresh, boiled, steamed or baked foods. Avoid deep-fried, high salt, and sugary foods.”

O: OXYGENATE
While she encourages a weekly visit to the gym for yoga, pilates, and cardio exercises, simple movements like taking the stairs and walking are enough to oxygenate the body. Good blood and oxygen circulation in the body promote the metabolism and boost brain function, among many others.

I: IMMUNE BOOST
Health advocates cannot overemphasize the importance of prevention over cure. Take your vitamins and minerals, she says, but it’s better to use natural health supplements like wheatgrass, which, according to studies, contains vitamins A, B, C, E, I, and K, minerals, and protein.

C: CLEANSE
If toxic environments — a smoke-filled room or polluted surroundings — are unavoidable, do deep breathing exercises, and do steam and sauna treatments to detoxify the body. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables to cleanse the body of toxins.

E: EMBRACE NATURAL HEALING
“Massage, acupuncture, charcoal wraps, juicing, and nutritional healing,” Ms. Turvill said, “are examples of therapies that do not use chemicals, but are proven effective.”

S: SLEEP AND SOCIALIZE
Contrary to the popular adage, sleep isn’t for the weak. Getting at least seven hours of sleep each night repairs, rejuvenates, and recharges the body. It also helps to “maintain a healthy circle of friends and family. And always pray to a higher being,” said Ms. Turvill.

Ms. Turvill is the owner of Nurture Wellness Village in Cavite, which was one of the local establishments which celebrated Global Wellness Day. Voted in 2010 as one of the 28 Most Relaxing Spas in Asia by CNN Go, the wellness destination offers weekends of peace, quiet, and health whole year round.

The wellness village promotes “ecotherapy,” or healing by and through nature with activities like “glamping”, outdoor tai qi gong (energy healing) exercise, and organic farm tours with opportunities for picking your own fresh herbs, among others.

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Challenge: Solar panels on your roof

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

Solar energy is expensive, unreliable, impractical, and uneconomic. These are some of the myths on solar power that Greenpeace wants to bust with its Solar Rooftop Challenge campaign, launched on June 15, which aims to educate and encourage society to ditch coal and switch to harnessing the power of the sun.

The campaign strategy includes a series of online videos starring TV personality Yam Concepcion as “Juana Solar” who debunks common misconceptions on solar power. Other celebrity advocates include Dingdong Dantes, Saab Magalona, Jasmine Curtis, Illac Diaz, and Jun Sabayton.

The video campaign also features successful stories of households, offices, and establishments that have installed rooftop solar panels, including a solar powered church in Atimonan, Quezon. All the videos are on view on Greenpeace social media accounts.

“The stories will show energy independence through solar energy. We will break the myths surrounding renewable energy and create a powerful testament on its practicality, cost effectiveness, and reliability to propel the Philippines to a future powered by clean and sustainable energy,” said Reuben Andrew A. Muni, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Philippines climate and energy campaigner.

Some say that solar energy is expensive. It used to. But like cellphones and other gadgets, the sky-high prices at the market fall eventually.

“[the] price drops year after year, more so in the coming years,” said Obet Verzola, the executive director of the Center for Renewable Electricity Strategies, an institution on renewable energy based in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Mr. Verzola, an engineer, said a household can buy solar panels and have them installed at starting price of P115,000. This is enough to power lights, a television, and other appliance, except an airconditioner, which needs more power. They will get a return on investment in three to five years. The Pag-ibig Fund offers loans for solar panels, which have a life span of 20 to 25 years.

And when there is an increase in demand, the price will go down, said Mr. Verzola.

It started to rain hard during the event at Bonifacio High Street, and this served as a chance to clear up one of the misconceptions about solar power — that solar energy does not work at all when it rains. It does, albeit with an 80% drop in output. This means households and offices can still use their lights or TV, but not air conditioners.

Greanpeace is aiming for 100% renewable energy use in the Philippines by 2050.

Is solar energy practical? Here’s another story you may read: Here comes the sun