Friday, August 10, 2012

Mind Museum


The Mind Museum is thew newest science-oriented museum in the Philippines. Located in Fort Bonifacio district, the museum has five interactive galleries: Story of the Universe (astronomy and cosmology), Story of Earth (geology and paleontology), Story of Life (biology and life sciences), Story of the Atom (physics and chemistry) and Story of Technology.


With more than 250 interactive displays, the museum aims to make learning fun and interesting for the kids.

The highlights: 

A small planetarium can be found in the astronomy section, which shows documentaries about the Solar System, asteroids and comets.

A nearby 3D theater also shows movies that depicts how the islands of the Philippines formed millions of years ago. 

There are also dioramas that show early hominids that later evolved into humans.


The museum is big on robots. In the entrance visitors are greeted by a robot that introduces the galleries and attractions of the museum. 


Inside the physics and chemistry section, another set of robots is found, this time the robotic arms (left) holding a sample of radioactive cesium, which  the visitor can manipulate to bring it near a Geiger counter.

Other mainstays include hair-raising (literally) experience with a van de Graaf generator, a working model of the Gutenberg press, several scale models of spacecraft, and a giant model of the brain

The main attraction, of course, is a full scale cast of a dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus Rex, climbing the stairs (below). In its wake are huge mounds of coprolite, which are fossilized dinosaur poop. 



Useful Info: 
Website: http://www.themindmuseum.org

How to get there: The museum is at J.Y.Campos Park in 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City. There is no public transportation going to the area so you may have to take a cab to get here.

Tickets: can be purchased online or at the gate (limited number). You may opt for an all-day pass (adults PhP 750) or 3-hr slots (9am-12n, 12n-3pm, 3pm-6pm, and 6pm-9pm on Saturdays and Sundays, adults for P600).  

Monday, August 6, 2012

PSA: Important Info During Disasters




Metro Manila is experiencing unusually heavy rains this week. Red Warning Signal was declared 1:25 PM August 7, 2012 over the metropolis. Update: As of August 8, 8:50PM, PAGASA retains Yellow Warning over MM. Expect moderate to heavy rainfall w/ occasional intense rain in the next 2 hours. Second Update: Alert warning terminated at 12:20 noon, Aug 9, 2012.  




Google People Finder




Here are some important info to remember and take note in case of emergencies:

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council:

Website: ndrrmc.gov.ph
Twitter: @NDRRMC_Open
NDRRMC hotlines: (02) 911-1406, (02) 912-2665, (02) 912-5668; +63917-8916322

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

Twitter: @MMDA
Website: mmda.gov.ph
MMDA metrobase hotline: 136
Flooding control: 882-4177, 882-0925

PAGASA (Weather bureau)
Twitter: @dost_pagasa
PAGASA hotline: (02) 433-8526

Red Cross:
If you need to be rescued, call 143 and 527-0000. Put a white blanket outside your house so that rescuers can easily locate where you are (Philippine Red Cross)

Coast Guard:

Hotline: 0917-PCGDOTC (0917-7243682)

Department of Social Welfare and Development (Relief Efforts)

Website: dswd.gov.ph
Twitter: @DSWDserve
Trunkline: Tel. (632)931-81-01 to 07

Google Crisis Response
http://www.google.org/intl/en/crisisresponse/2012-08-philippines-flood.html

Philippine Government Portal
http://www.gov.ph/government-information-during-natural-disasters/ 


Ninoy Aquino International Airport

PUBLIC AFF DEPT.- 8535998, 8230669, 8230998; or TEXNAIA- 09178396242

Meralco: 16211


Project NOAH web portal is located at noah.dost.gov.ph.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

First Car in the Philippines



The first car to ever travel through the Philippine roads was this 9-horsepower, 2-cylinder 1904 Richard Brasier roadster. It was brought into the country by the trading firm Estrella del Norte in 1904.


The car is on display at the Mind Museum in Taguig, on loan from Pilipinas Shell.