Lesser Known Measures

CEBU, Philippines - It's a known fact that there are some things in life that are difficult to measure.

Take the worth and value of a human being, for example. How do you measure that?

By how much one earns? By what one's position in a company is by the time he or she retires? By the number of children one gets to sire? Or how about by the number of one's Facebook friends or followers on Twitter?

It's a tricky thing, really, to figure out just what the value of a human being is.

Thankfully, measuring time, depths and distances is not as challenging, though these have their own range of "grey areas" too - their own spectrum of informal measurement units like the "Moment," the "Kant Fathom" and the "Neil Armstrong."

The Moment

While the word "moment" generally refers to a "very brief portion of time" today, the term was actually used as a formal unit of time measurement in the past.

Before mechanical clocks and the base 60 system, "moments" were used in measuring the durations that were accounted for by sundials - with 40 moments being equal to one solar hour.

Basically, a sundial's solar hour is equal to one twelfth of the time between sunrise and sunset - saying something about how variable a moment is in contrast to today's fixed 60 second-long minute.

It's generally calculated that a moment - in relation to its use as a medieval unit of measuring time - runs for a minute and a half, or the equivalent of 90 seconds.

The Kant Fathom

As a unit of length predominantly used in the nautical field, a fathom is equal to 1.829 meters or 6 feet. Historians note that the term stems from the Old English "fæthm", which points to "outstretched arms."

As a verb, fathom is often used in reference to "coming to understand" - as in, "I can never fathom why Jennifer loves Hewitt."

Based on its use as a unit of measurement and as a verb, the word's association with measuring one's capacity to understand something is very much well known, leading to the "Kant Fathom" - which is colloquially dubbed as the unit used to measure impenetrable philosophical depth.

Owing its coining from the last name of a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant, a "Kant Fathom" is often described to bear allusions to how much one can or "can't fathom" - given how "Kant" is a homophone of "can't."

The Neil Armstrong

In Ancient Rome, a pace or "passus" was the unit used to measure the distance one covers with every other step on a full stride.

Since not everyone - then and now - covers the same distance when walking, the unit was standardized to be the equivalent of two grad?s - which converts to 58.1 inches or 1.48 meters.

Today, "pace" is often used as the unit used to informally measure the distance covered by a single step - which is generally calculated to cover a span of 30 inches.

But while most would count their steps in terms of paces, there are those who refer to a pace as a "Neil Armstrong" - as the unit used to measure the distance that is covered by a single step.

A Dynamic Lifestyle for the Modern Urbanite

Living in a highly urbanized area may give people easy access to all their necessities, but they may also have to bear with congestion going to and from the workplace every single day. Suburban living, on the other hand, may offer the serenity that everyone longs for, but it also means spending long hours on the road to and from work, leaving less time for one to be with the family.

What's ideal is a home in a place that perfectly mixes accessibility, serenity, and security, and just within the city, and not crowded as well. One doesn't have to waste precious time in getting to everywhere. Preferably the home is modern and stylish and yet infused with flourishing greens and gardens - some place like an oasis.

Cebu City is now getting just this kind of place - a kind of refuge from the hustle and bustle of the urban world. It is a mid-rise condo community designed to give city living the kind of peace and calm urban residents long for as a fair reward for their hectic big-city endeavors. The place is aptly called "One Oasis Cebu," the latest addition to Filinvest's series of mid-rise condo communities in key cities of the country.

"One Oasis Cebu" consists of 10 stylish five- to ten-storey buildings set against a backdrop of verdant greenery and refreshing open spaces. It occupies a 3.7-hectare prime property along Pres. Magsaysay Extension in Kasambagan, Cebu City. The location is just minutes away from the city's premier malls and lifestyle destinations.

Three buildings have already been turned over to residents and one more to be turned over any day now. The site continues to grow into a refreshing urban haven. Amenities include a sprawling clubhouse, a four-lane lap pool, adult and kiddie pools, and a basketball court. Also, there are al fresco dining areas, courtyards, children's playground, an activity area, and gazebos.

Homeowners of the studio-type, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units are provided round-the-clock security. In addition, lofty walls and a well-guarded, gated entrance all the more ensure safety of residents.

"One Oasis Cebu" currently offers a special Ready-for-Occupancy promo and Extended Down-Payment promo. Inquiries are entertained at phone number (032) 232-1394 or (0917) 545-7788. Filinvest website is: www.filinvest.com.ph.