tWiStEd

Quake Hits Our Office

2010-03-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Thirty seconds. That's how long the 6.2 magnitude quake swayed our office in Eastwood.

We were busy discussing office matters when one of my office mates said: "I'm sorry. I'm just scared." Actually, I did not notice it until she said something. She was really scared I saw it. She wanted to run but I dissuaded her. There could be stampede if everybody starts running.

Our client from Stockholm, Sweden was worried because her fiancee was at the 26th floor. She was panicky. Minutes after, she relayed that while the quake was terrifying her, she could see by the window that construction workers are still working. Our client said: "Some people are just braver than the rest."

The Haiti thing makes quakes unbearable these days. Not another strong quake please.

Earthquakes All Over the Planet

2010-03-07T03:07:00.000-08:00

Why in the world are we having so many earthquakes? After earth shook in Chile with magnitude 8 quake, another one hit Taiwan. Quakes are really making me worry.

When You Love Someone

2010-02-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

Be a fool for love, just for a few minutes... Write it. Say it. No matter how goofy it may sound, sing it. Love is not just in the air. It is whispering in your ear. -- Love is more powerful than we know.

Happy puso everyone!

Ara Mina On National Issues

2010-02-13T02:26:00.000-08:00

Here comes another hot controversy involving actors running for public office. Ara Mina takes the hot seat...

I have read the feedback on this I.M.O. video. Critics are feasting. And nasty comments are spreading like wildfire. How politically incorrect are her answers? I think it was obvious. And there is no need to make the obvious more obvious.

Sure, national issues awareness is a crucial determinant in choosing our leaders . First things first, how can they put solution to a problem know nothing about. They will just be searching in their head something which is not there. However, said awareness is not a guarantee that candidates will eventually become good servant leaders or politicians for that matter. There are a lot of intelligent politicians (more morons though). They sure know what is happening all over the Philippines. Unfortunately, they became part of national issues they vowed to resolve back when they were campaigning.

Your vote could be a catalyst in shaping our nation. It may sound annoying already but it pays to vote for the right candidate. Please do.

Formaldehyde in Calamares

2010-02-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

Just a word of caution to calamares lovers... Our favorite deep fried squid is reported to contain formaldehyde popularly known as formalin. The latter which is used to preserve or embalm cadavers is a carcinogenic or a cancer causing substance and is thus very dangerous if ingested.

I first heard about the news in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho last Saturday when a victim complained about it. Two days past, the report was reiterated in the afternoon news.

According to the report, the affected squids are imported from China and should be spoiled upon reaching Philippines had it not for the presence of formalin. They could have been costly if they are still fresh but they are not so they are sold for $40 per sack or P70.00 per kilo. That is the reason why they are affordable.

However, not all squids in the market are with formalin. Based on the tests conducted, some imported squids are affected. Local squids are formalin-free. Still, it is better to take precaution. Caveat.

Roxxxy: Wild or Frigid?

2010-02-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

Inventors (well, not all) are getting crazier and crazier each day. I heard in the news that Douglas Hines, a True Companion engineer, invented a sex robot named Roxxxy (obviously spelled with 3 xs). The 5'7 bot weighing 120 pounds and donning a skimpy negligee is engineered to provide intimacy and sexual pleasure. You can choose her personality to shift from 'Frigid Farrah' to 'Wild Wendy'. She can even respond to simple conversation. I wonder how conversation would be like with her.

Roxxxy costs $7,000 to $9,000 and comes with an attached laptop. That's about P32,200 to P41,400 here. The inventor believes that the bot is the start of the first legion of sex robots. I think they will be upping the ante in every invention.

Queries: Have sex robots become a necessity to make inventors prioritize them more than other important inventions like the antidote to global warming? Have libidimal thoughts fatally overwhelmed morality?

I hope not.

Quake Survivors In Desperate Need

2010-01-19T23:05:00.001-08:00

photo courtesy of gulf-daily-news.com

We see it on TV, quake survivors in Haiti are desperately in need of aid. Haitians are calling out for help. They need food, water, and homes to replace what they lost.

After buildings collapsed, hope seems to collapse too. Looting began immediately after the strong quake. Survivors are seen stealing food and water from the destroyed stores and houses. After several days, we also see them steal from their fellow survivors. True, they have escaped death but there comes the threat of famine.

While rescuers continue digging for dead bodies, authorities say it is too early to give a number. While doctors and nurses treat victims, more injured remain untreated. While survivors are scavenging, more of such sort will continue until I don't know when. One thing is clear, they need help at the earliest possible time.

The UN launched its United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. The International Committee of the Red Cross set up a website to help Haitians find missing loved ones. It is also distributing food, clothes and other necessities to the victims. Celebrities like George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Madonna, and a lot more also initiated a campaign titled Hope for Haiti Now. UNICEF is also conducting relief operations. US President Barrack Obama is also preparing a team to give medical attendance, food and supplies. People are helping even in little ways. More and more help is coming and I hope we see the improvement in Haiti soon.

Killer Quake Shakes Haiti

2010-01-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy of mnn.com

When nature takes its toll everyone will be left shocked and dismayed. Its fury knows no limitation but dominance. That's exactly what happened yesterday in Haiti.

The quake, which is said to be the strongest to hit the nation in more than 200 years, has shattered numerous homes, collapsed a hospital, injured many, and killed thousands of people. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the killer quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, 5 miles beneath the ocean surface.

Another sad thing is that there are Filipinos trapped inside the destroyed buildings in the impoverished nation. Some Filipino peacemakers and overseas workers are reported killed while others are still missing.

Brand New Year

2010-01-01T22:01:00.001-08:00

When the clock strikes 12 yesterday, we celebrate and wish each other a blissful New Year. Definitely, it is more than a change of a calendar. It means the beginning of a better tomorrow. A time to be grateful for another year. A time to look back at all the memories but never to dwell in them. If life is full of peaks and valleys, for me it has been valleys lately. But I know there is wisdom to all of this. How about you? How's your 2009? Things will make sense soon. So everybody cheer up. Life has to go on.

Happy New Year To All!

End It Here

2009-12-31T23:08:00.000-08:00

Year 2009 wasn't that good for me. I wish 2010 is a much better year. Let me move forward with lesser bumps ahead.

supPRESSed Freedom

2009-12-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

It was in the news that the greatest number of journalists killed in a single event in the Philippines was in the Ampatuan massacre. Allegedly 34 journalists were found dead in the scene. And this attack is a serious attempt to suppress press freedom. To gag the press is to hide the truth from the public. To shackle the media is to live in lies. To kill mediamen is to slay fair play.

One of the protected rights in our Bill of Rights is the freedom of the press. But it seems that whenever powerful names and organizations are involved in heinous crimes, perpetrators resort to journalist slaying. What a brutal way to take the lives of journalists with no guns and ammunition to protect themselves while doing their duty and seeking the truth. What a devastating act to kill innocent people.

I am one with the print and broadcast media in condemning this terrifying mass slaying. I am one with the friends and relatives of all the victims in shouting for JUSTICE.

The President Runs for Congress

2009-12-02T03:06:00.000-08:00

What an awkward situation we have here. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) is running to seek seat in Congress. Yeah, I find it very unusual. Is she running away from something? Is she overwhelmed by power and cannot have enough of it? What would make a President -the Chief Executive, the Commander-in-Chief, the highest ranking government official- decide to run for a lower office?

Public service knows no position. You can serve with or without goverment post. After GMA served as Vice President, Acting President and followed by being elected as President, are those positions not enough to satisfy her hunger for power? Can she not be content with those to still cling onto a lower post?

Sure, she cannot run for the Presidency post because it is not allowed by the Constitution. Instead of taking a rest away from the crazy world of politics, GMA opted to take her chance to grab a Congressional seat. Why can't she give chance to deserving candidates? Being a Congresswoman won't save her from corruption raps but it will give her immunity from libel or slander suits in a speech uttered while the Congress is in session. But I think it is not the only reason why she is still running...

Hayden Without His License

2009-11-26T23:23:00.000-08:00

It's official. Hayden Kho's license to practice medicine was already revoked by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Kho was a licensed cosmetic surgeon. But with the world wide web sneaking into his sex video scandals, he was found guilty of committing immorality, dishonorable and unethical conduct because said videos were taken without the consent of the featured women. The videos were also dispersed like wildfire. In an interview, Katrina Halili, one of his 'victims,' said she is happy with the resolution of the commission to revoke Kho's license.

As what I have said in my previous post, Kho is guilty but give him the appropriate punishment. And the revocation of his license is just but reasonable. At any rate, it is not only Kho who needs to learn from those scandals but also the women who were with him in said private moments. The experience must also serve a lesson to those who are engaged in said scandals. Think of the consequences after the heat is gone.

CNN Hero of the Year is a Pinoy

2009-11-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

After Manny Pacquiao's 7 world title win comes another worth celebrating pinoy victory. Another first for pinoys...

Efren Peñaflorida, which I featured in this blog early this month, bested 9 other contenders from various countries. The pinoy who is famed for his 'Kariton Klassroom' was awarded the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. This is the first time that a pinoy was chosen to be the ultimate hero of the year by the respected network. The award was presented to him by Hollywood star Eva Mendes at the Kodak Theatre last Saturday night. He was selected after getting the highest number of online votes. According to CNN, more than 2.75 million votes were cast for 7 weeks.

Bloody Maguindanao Massacre

2009-11-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

"We want justice." That was the clamor of the kin of Maguindanao massacre victims.

Blood poured down in the carnage in Maguindanao, one of the election hot spots in Mindanao. The Ampatuan massacre was allegedly plotted by the Mangudadatu clan. The victims who are relatives of Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town, are about to file a certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor when the ill-fated crime happened. Those killed in the savage included Mangudadatu's wife, his 2 sisters, lawyers, and supporters. Motorists who were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy were also killed. Also included in the list of victims are 34 journalists.

Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., in the 2010 gubernatorial election. That was one of the serious angles being looked into by the authorities.

The political unrest and potential violence are making the residents tremble. And we cannot deny the fact that the whole nation is affected. It was barbaric and brutal. And the clamor for justice reverberates. May the scales of justice be tilted in favor of the victims. May we see that justice is done.

New Moon

2009-11-21T01:12:00.000-08:00

I love the Twilight movie. And I really look forward to watching the rest of the twilight series. The saga continues, now its New Moon's turn. The movie deserves to be seen on the big screen. So that's exactly what I did this afternoon.

Fantasy, that is. Certainly, there are no vampires. No werewolves chasing vampires. Nothing. But one thing about New Moon is that it will make you willing to drift into a world of illusion and believe for a moment that they do exist. I believe that the best story a storyteller can tell involves a conflict of man versus himself. And New Moon is full of this. It may be having conflicts against man and nature. But the most captivating are the conflicts within the characters. Those reasons make New Moon adorable.

I couldn't think of any negative thing to write about the movie. The Bella and Edward love story is made more interesting with the revelation of Jacob's true self. The werewolf who loves the girl who loves his enemy - a vampire.

From the story, cinematography, production value, to the actors - hats off. Magnifico.

Paquiao Makes History

2009-11-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

An eventful Sunday. T'was yesterday. Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao made us proud once again by bagging his 7th division championship against Puerto Rico's pride Miguel Cotto in the Firepower fight. His undisputed strength and speed paved the way for his legendary 7 world titles. In the middle of the 12th round, TKO was declared. It pushed him to a boxing pedestal no one has ever reigned before. With his jabs, fake jabs, hooks and combinations, Pacquiao is no doubt a born winner.

Pinoy CNN Hero

2009-11-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

CNN Heroes. They are ordinary people with extraordinary impact. And one of them is a pinoy named Efren Peñaflorida. Through pushcart classes, he gave an alternative to gang membership.

His story reads:

Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company's 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.

And he needs our vote to make it to the top. You can vote as many as you can. Click here to vote.

After the Storm Comes the Lull

2009-10-22T02:14:00.000-07:00

As we know, after the storm comes the lull. Now here it is. Boring me. But this is not just silence. It's the deafening type. I felt that I lost my track and is nowhere to go. I certainly have goals for myself but the track is blurry. I should make my own trails. That is the difficult part. I need guidance still.

Fire and Ice

2009-10-13T23:33:00.000-07:00

Aside from The Road Not Taken, another good poem from Robert Frost is Fire and Ice.

Fire and Ice
by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

It mentions two causes of destruction - fire and ice. It means the world may perish in war, with all the bombings and conflicts. And it may also end in coldness when there is no longer love in the heart of humanity. When the heart becomes frigid, it will be death for the whole world.

With storms plaguing the Philippines, still, they won't destroy us. But it is only true if there are still people who will lend a helping hand. With hearts full of benevolence, life will continue.

It's Over

2009-10-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

image from eyefetch.com

It's OVER. Finally. Whew!

After all the hardships, it is over. I'm a bit disappointed but somewhat relieved. Disappointed because I did not finish LEPE and I don't know if my answers are tenable.

With the 2 Examiner Rule first imposed this year, I felt that I took 2 Bar exams all at the same time. I really hope that the examiners will be more lenient considering the time allotted vis-a-vis the difficulty of the questions and the length of the exams. The aim of the rule is to expedite checking. However, how could it serve the purpose when Part I is equivalent to 1 bar exam and Part II for another? I knew it's going to be hard. Not that hard though.

Nonetheless, I also felt relieved. After 4 crazy Sundays plus the terrible flooding of Ondoy which caused the postponement of the exam on Sept. 27, Bar is finally over. The momentum to study hard is lost after the storm. But then again I'm relieved because I need not read notes. I can already enjoy a good night sleep, watch movies that I missed, and enjoy a calm psyche. Now I'm back to my old world away from complicated laws and cases. But not for long. Still, thank God Bar's over!

Hanging By AThread

2009-10-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

>>>Hangin' by a thread<<<

That's how I felt after yesterday's Bar. I thought it would be relieving because it will be the end of our agony as barristers. The end is last in execution but first in intention. But it was not as good as expected...

Remedial

Remedial Law, bearing the greatest percentage in the Bar (20%), was another arduous exam for all of us. The length of the exam was shocking as ever. One subquestion with 2% needs 3 answers. How could that be? The questions are reasonable. But the length of the exam isn't.

LEPE

I expected the morning subject would knock me out of contention. But there comes the much lengthy Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises (LEPE) in the afternoon. With 4 legal forms, lawyer's oath, and numerous case problems, my writing hand is cramped.

Writing marathon at its best. I was really disappointed because I wasn't able to finish LEPE . Time's up. Please rise. Those were the words of the headwatcher and she said it while I'm just about to draft the last legal form - an information. I couldn't help it.

"Di ko natapos," I told myself. But I think it was uttered loud enough for my seatmate to hear. With a disgruntled face, he said: "Ano di mo natapos. Bakit? Maikli lang ang information ba't di mo tinapos?" He was also my seatmate on the first exam so we're a bit closer when last Sunday came. Of course, I wanted to finish the exam but I mismanaged my time. It was really too long and I know he knows it. But what he said made me worry much.

Ondoy's Wrath Flooded The City

2009-09-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

The city was flooded, blame it on Ondoy. I personally experienced the wrath of the typhoon when early Saturday morning I decided to take a walk to unwind. No storm forecast then. The notes I 'm reading are confusing me so I said to myself I need a break. So I went. I never expected leisure would make me walk on flooded streets. No mode of transportation is available other than a pedicab. So I rode twice on a pedicab to go back to España. But when I arrived there, the scenario's worse. I have to walk. It was flooded. It was hard to walk but I have to. I see light vehicles float. I see trash scattered all over. But I have to walk through to return to the dorm. Wet and chilling, I regret going out on a stormy day. I don't even know if I have to rejoice because the Bar is postponed. I'm not supposed to be happy when another strong storm is expected.

Lost in the Bar

2009-09-21T01:45:00.000-07:00

Just one word to describe the third Sunday. I was...

>>>Lost<<<

I was lost in mercantile law. The subject may be as broad as civil law. But it is in mercantile that I was led astray. I forgot my jacket in my room and I have no time to go back to the 29th floor to get it. By the time I got hold of it, the gates of La Salle would be closed. So that made me lost and chilling all throughout the exam in room 401.

Mercantile

Denicola Test. Never heard it before. Howey Test. Another alien term. Those were the problems that made me decide to transfer to part II with the hope that questions there would be a bit easier. Unfortunately, my eyes were glued to the the last page of the questionnaire which asks for a discussion of margin trading rule. Just how sadistic examiners could be. I could bear it no more.

Our professors in the review class told us that if we do good in the 3 fundamental subjects of mercantile - corporation law, insurance, and negotiable instruments law, we will surely pass the subject. The reason is that most questions are taken from those laws. That fact was based on previous bar exams. Too bad many questions were taken from Securities Regulation Code (SRC) and other special laws. Truth be told, I did not study much in SRC. In fact, I only zeroed in on transfer jurisdiction of SEC to regular courts. The good justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura could be making a new trend and I'm afraid it will be at our expense.

Crim

Compared to mercantile, criminal law (crim) is fair but just as long as the rest of the subjects. The chain of custody and the criminal liability of each party to the case are few of the questions that require lengthy answers. But I liked crim better.

A Taxing Bar

2009-09-14T00:40:00.000-07:00

Second Sunday's over. But I am still here feeling down.

What went wrong?

>>>Sleepless<<<

I reviewed until midnight the night before the exam. But when my roommate woke up at 2 am, I did not know that lights would wake me as well. So I was basically sleepless on the day of the exam. With just 2 hours of sleep, I felt I was floating. And my head was terribly aching. But I have to take the exam no matter what I am feeling that day. So I proceeded to room 403.

Civil

Based on my self-assessment, I'm ready for the Civil Law exam. Of all the subjects in the Bar, I think Civil is where I am strongest. But when I read the problems, conflicting answers flashed in my mind. At that moment, I no longer know how to harmonize them. I was confused with the prevailing doctrines and all I could do is just make a stand. Whether it was a yes or a no, I have to make a stand and support it. Regret will come later. It was at this point when I felt all hope is gone. But I finished the exam at 11:45 am to reserve energy for my weakest subject - taxation.

Tax

In the afternoon, I felt the effect of my lack of sleep. In fact, I took a nap in the classroom before the exam. I also took a nap at the beginning of the exam. Good thing I did not wake up at 5 pm or else I will be offering a clean and empty booklet. It was maybe because of this that I got a 'well behave and good luck to you' remark on my permit. The watchers may be unaware of my slumber and they construed it as part of my contemplation. I did not know how I answered tax. All I know is the heavy feeling in my eyelids; they are drooping.

While in the hotel with my fellow barristers, I realized that tax was more tolerable than civil. Tax is hard for me. Matter of fact, it is first on the list of subjects that could give me a disqualification grade (DQ). But how come I fared horrible in civil more than tax? It was the opposite of what I expected.

Fifty percent of the battle is fought and I am losing positivism. My hope is turning to despair. My chance is going to the negative. I gave myself 50% in civil and 50% in tax - my worst performance. But I am still hoping I won't get a DQ. Last night after the exam, I called my parents to tell them how I fared. I told them I might not pass this Bar. So sad.

The Taste of the Bar

2009-09-08T22:58:00.000-07:00

Mixed emotions.That's what I felt yesterday while taking the first 2 subjects of the Bar.

AQ barrister's headquarter was near La Salle. We were billeted at EGI Tower for convenience. I woke up at 5 am before the wake up call. I ate heavy breakfast, took warm shower, and fix myself to face one great challenge of my life...

At 6:30 am, the line along Taft Ave. was too long, a bit infuriating. However, we have to fall in line for some SOP to enter La Salle. When I arrived at room 404, Yuchengco Bldg., most of my roomates were already there busy scanning their notes. Once inside, I read my notes as well. At 7:45 am, all things were brought in front of the room. Only pens and light snacks were allowed to stay with the barristers.

>>>Anxious<<<

From 7:45 to 8 am, it felt eternity. All you hear is nothing but silence. The absence of sound got me anxious. And that's the only part where I felt that. I remembered my professor saying "Never entertain premature fears." So I closed my eyes to relax. Close and open my hand to prepare for a writing marathon. Then uttered a short prayer. Then the first bell...

Envelopes bearing our name, school, thumb mark, and signature were already sealed. Then the second bell...

Pages turning, brains spinning... Sure, the battle has started...

Poli

The first part of the Political Law (Poli) exam was tenable. It was pretty reasonable. Until I got to part II. Public International Law is supposed to get the least number of questions in Poli. But that was not the case in our Bar. I want to cuss. I want to stop writing. But I just can't. Sigh.

I studied hard for Poli. I know I did. But I did not concentrate much on the answers for part II of the exam. I thought the questions having them as subject won't be extensive. Unfortunately, they were. So many twists. So many traps. So confusing. So many questions. So cruel.

It was also in Poli when I have to erase a page in my booklet by making a vertical line at the center. I have answered the last number but I noticed that subquestions b and c of the penultimate number were left unanswered.

Poli exam was way too loooooooong. In fact, after finishing it I felt I took 2 bar exams for Poli. I do mock bar to prepare but I did not encounter a single exam as long as that. There were cases where I answered one or two sentences just to make a good pace. I did not follow the 3-paragraph rule nor the 'Koko Pimentel formula.' There was certainly no time for that. The bell rang. And I'm freakin' hungry. I have to eat chocolates on my way to the hotel to ease the burning sensation in my tummy. I was so down but I don't want to lose hope.

Labor

After taking my lunch. I get some rest then returned to my exam room. I scanned my reviewer. The dogeared page was about wage distortion. I started reading it. I opened my bag to return the reviewer and found my codal for Consti. It was not supposed to be there. The exam for Consti is through. But for the heck of it, I opened it to Sec. 3, Art. XIII about labor. To my surprise, wage distortion as well as the rights of employer and employee were asked in the labor exam. I call it Divine intervention.

One problem that I encountered in Labor involves mnemonics. In sexual harassment, my memory aid was i-h-o (intimidating, hostile and offensive). I forgot the i. When I scanned my booklet, only i was written there. I cannot recall the word so I thought of a negative word starting in i (I know it was not the word intimidating that I wrote). It was funny but I need my last resort. I hope the examiner won't see the disparity though.

Labor law was as long as Poli, more or less. But the latter was only answerable in 3 hrs. If Poli with 4 hrs. was too long. How would you react to the labor exam?

First Sunday's done, nonetheless. I'm pretty worried with my performance in Poli.

This Is It

2009-09-04T02:06:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday. But it's just another ordinary day with the extraordinary pressure of the upcoming Bar. Who would be taking this year's bar exam? So easy to tell. Look at the papers. The names are all over the spreadsheet.

Early this morning after I attended the mass here at the dorm to give thanks for another year of life, I was not as anxious as I was after I read today's papers. Sure, if it's already my birthday, it means it would just be 2 days before the big day. So I think this is it. No turning back. Just breathe in. Breath out. Whew!

Before the filing of our petition, the Bar Confidant said approximately 7,000 barristers are expected to take the exam. And one problem that may arise is the venue. La Salle cannot accommodate 7,000 barristers. And the remedy would be to hold the exam at the Mall of Asia (MOA). Holy smoke! MOA???!!! No way!

Good thing there's a decline of barristers. Some say the reason for the decline is our Chairman Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura. They said he is very strict and meticulous. In our review class, every time we ask if the justice is nice, they would just say - He might have changed. He is old. He also belongs to the academe. This fact sends us creeps as regards the chosen examiners. They could also be from the academe. They could also be the cream of the crop. And that means disaster.

We are 6,080. A bit lesser than last year's number. And only 1/3 of it or perhaps lesser is expected to pass. I will just keep my fingers crossed.

Thoughtless Extravagance of a President

2009-08-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Just how extravagant is our President?

The President and her entourage spent $20,000 for their dinner at Le Cirque, a French restaurant in New York. That's approximately P1 million! And it was spent in a not-that-important dinner.

At Bobby Van’s Steakhouse in Washington, D.C., they paid $15,000. That's about P700,000!

So for a not-so important but lavish dinner she spent $20,000 and for another meal $15,000, while most Filipinos are hungry and have no food on their table.

After days of criticism, a legislator declare to be true that he is the one who financed the extravagant dinner. But I think nobody believed him.

But that is not the end of the line...

The President also spent P2.1 billion for the past 5 years in her trips abroad. Yes, billions are taken from the nation's coffers to sustain thoughtless extravagance of government officials. The amount could have been spent on creating jobs, education, health care, and other salient issues of our country.

Cory's Legacy

2009-08-05T00:59:00.000-07:00

Early this morning I received this SMS from a friend. And I want to share it with you.

The only person in world history who became a President by fate and not by ambition...
The only speaker who has the longest standing ovation in US Congress...
The only woman who led her people to win a revolution with nothing but faith in God...

President Corazon 'Cory' Cojuangco Aquino

The mother of democracy.
The light of our nation.
And her legacy lives on forever.

To the powerful icon who shaped Philippine democracy,
To the pious woman who will be buried today,
May your soul rest in eternal peace.

Propofol: Jacko's Milk or Death Potion?

2009-07-29T01:33:00.000-07:00

The demise of the legendary pop icon Michael Jackson made me stiff for minutes. He was loved by many. Matter of fact, he was a personal favorite. He was unique. He was very talented. He was full of surprises. He was an eccentric artist who values his privacy. He has contributed much to the entertainment industry but he still has surprises to make. The industry must've been so sad to lose someone like him.

I learned from the news that his death might be caused by the powerful anesthetic called propofol. He was addicted to it that he called it his 'milk'. He might not have the slightest idea that his 'milk' would someday become his 'death potion'. Doctors say propofol is certainly dangerous enough to cause death if improperly used.

The one who administered the sedative was his doctor - Conrad Murray. A case was earlier filed against him. If it is shown by evidence that Murray is guilty, justice should be served. Physicians' malpractice and negligence are highly reprehensible. One who is entrusted with life is expected to exercise the highest degree of care.

AH1N1 Now A Pandemic

2009-06-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, AH1N1 is contagious and is spreading from one person to another. Matter of fact, it has become a pandemic here in RP. When we go to school for our review class, we have our temperature checked at the entrance. When they find out that we have a fever, they won't let us in. So inside the school, it is safe. It becomes scary when we go out and become more exposed to the virus. So what are the symptoms of swine flu?

Symptoms:

fever
cough and runny nose
nausea
body aches
vomiting
diarrhea

It is advised that a person suffering from any of the symptoms should contact his health care provider. Early detection of the virus is easier to cure. At this point in time, there is no vaccine available. Therefore, it is important to know the precautionary measures to avoid it.

Precautionary Measures:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue after using it.
Wash your hands often. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick, stay at home.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

It is pretty difficult to be sick while you are busy reviewing. Time is of the essence. Certainly, there is no time to get sick. With the AH1N1 outbreak, I become an instant Ascorbic Acid fanatic. No choice. I have to strengthen my immune system. Vit. C has become a constant companion for my Ponstan or Dolfenal.

Just When I Thought

2009-06-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I knew the person all along - I was wrong.
Just when I thought I knew what was forthcoming - I thought wrong.

Some things aren't lasting. Some things aren't true. Just because I thought it wasn't gonna happen doesn't mean it really won't. Surprises have their way of making me startle for the longest time. And it's no easy surprise because it involves you.

Vanessa is the New Nicole?

2009-05-30T00:48:00.000-07:00

The new buzz these days is all about Vanessa made more popular by Nicole's rape case. What is she saying?

PDI reports:

On April 18, Vanessa said she was at a bar when she received a text message from Jones. He joined her there with three other women. Jones invited her to a Makati hotel and told her that the friends they were with a few nights before would be joining them. They chatted for a while.

When Vanessa made a move to leave, saying his girlfriend might not like it if she sees her there, Jones got mad and slapped her on the face. She said he threw her on the bed and raped her. He held her neck while he repeatedly slapped her, she said.

Vanessa said she was only able to leave after she threatened to “break the television with the remote control.”

I am compassionate to the rape victims. But not to liars. What frightens me now is the fact that just anybody can accuse you of anything especially a heinous crime and make a statement to the media but without the intention of filing a case. How come she's not interested in obtaining justice? If all she wants is personal healing, does she consider it healing to wash her dirty linen in public? Just how believable is her recount?

Vanessa said she was only able to leave after she threatened to “break the television with the remote control.” I personally don't believe the threat is viable to a beast with the intention to ravish you. He certainly won't care even when a dozen televisions are broken.

Neither do I believe that Lance Corporal Daniel Smith's acquittal discourages victims from filing rape raps. What it discourages is the filing of malicious rape cases to tarnish a person's credibility.

I want to commend Associate Justice Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa of the CA’s special 11th division for drafting one sensible ponencia acquitting Smith:

“What we see was the unfolding of a spontaneous, unplanned romantic episode with both parties carried away by their passions and stirred up by the urgency of the moment caused probably by alcoholic drinks they took...”

Hayden: Culprit And Victim

2009-05-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

(photo courtesy of celebrityhotshotph.com)

As I see it, Hayden Kho is a culprit and a victim all at the same time.

Yes it's true that he has committed a repulsive act by taking videos of his sexual encounter with Katrina Halili without the latter's consent. A private act should be kept private. But that's not what happened in their controversy. The video was disseminated by a third party. And to their dismay, it was all over the net. There's no way of suppressing the effect. Verily shameful.

Yes, He recorded it. And he must be punished for that. Cancel his license? It is but fair to do iust that. Send him to jail? Go ahead, he violated Katrina's rights. That's what justice demands.

But give him the appropriate punishment. As I observed, too many people are giving him prejudicial treatment. The shame campaign is not called for. In fact, it's worse than destierro. Humiliate him to the bones is too much a penalty.

Do we do that to rapists? Do we do that to felons who have committed heinous crimes? Do we do that to corrupt political cohorts? Certainly not.

Justice must be served. But there is no justice when it is beyond the penalty called for. It becomes unjustified to the other party. Politicians should stop meddling in the issue to get favorable publicity and not really to aid legislation. Some politicians want to come clean. It is as if they do no wrong. Come to think of it, they've done worse before. Think in pari delicto.People should also react to the issue with a rational mind. Trial by publicity is really a devastating thing.

I Love Her

2009-05-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

Mother's love is truly immeasurable. Since today is your day, mama, I would like to express my warmest gratitude to everything that you've done me. I have kept my mum these past few years but I know how much you are cared and loved by us, your kids. Thank you so much for teaching us how to love and to live. Thank you for your endless guidance. Thank you for everything, mama.

The words you used to say, I say them now. The faith you have, I imbibe it now. I am part of you. You are part of me. And I want you to know that my life will never be the same again if I don't have you around.

I love you with a love no amount of words can quantify. I hope I am showing how much each day of my life. I thank God for giving me one of the most wonderful mothers on earth. God bless you, mama. We love you.

The Hitman Was Hit Pretty Hard

2009-05-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Left hook to the jaw. That was Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao's million-dollar KO punch.

And that was the last thing Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton remembered before he fell sound asleep inside the ring. I expect this bout to be much interesting than other fights. And it was exciting indeed. But too short to be so exciting. I thought it was a better fight. But I was wrong.

Nonetheless, that fight inked Manny's solid career as world's legendary boxer. Undeniably, he deserves the title and Filipinos have some reason to be jubilant about it.

Somebody's Me

2009-04-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

Somebody's Me by Enrique Iglesias

If only I could tell you something through a song, this will be it...Listen closely.

Face Of Fear

2009-04-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

(photo courtesy of worth1000.com)

There are things in life we don’t like having yet we have them in our being. One of these is FEAR. Fear to try new things, fear to fail, fear of losing someone, fear to speak in front of a crowd, and a lot more fears.

Fear, undesirable as it is, is very real. And I wonder, if it has a face how would it look like? I guess it is a dreadful monster with a face grim and ruthless; otherwise, it will not make a man’s knees tremble and heartbeat wild to blow him out of proportion – suppressing his courage and losing his hope.

One night, I happened to read a quote that says: “The greatest regrets of man are caused by failure to try.” It struck me and sent me to deep contemplation. Evaluating and scrutinizing my life, I asked…

How many times did I waste opportunities?
How many times did I hinder myself to grow?
How many times did I become a coward?
How many times did I create my own ghosts?

And I found out – MANY TIMES.

It reminded me of what Shakespeare said in his Measure for Measure, “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." Then I recalled what Hon. Juan Miguel Zubiri said during his visit here: “In order to succeed, we must have the 3 G’s. Grades, grassroots, and guts.” Guts? – Yes, a vital quality to succeed. If we are enslaved by our doubts and fears, our abilities and potentials will just turn out to be futile.

There are zones within us. According to Sean Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, we have comfort and courage zones. Comfort zones involve the things that are familiar to us. The things that are safe and risk-free. On the other hand, when we tend to do things that are dangerous, risky, unusual, and hard for us to do, we are entering the confines of the courage zone. We cannot avoid pressure, uncertainty, reform, and the possibility of failure within this boundary but it is only here that we can grow and achieve our full potentials unlike in the comfort zone.

So next time you want to:
1. do something different;
2. gain new friends;
3. audition for a play;
4. join a prestigious contest;
5. break a habit;
6. speak before a large audience;
7. pursue your dreamgirl/boy;

forget about your doubts and fears. Don’t mind the whispers “You will never make it” or “You’ll fail” that reverberate within you.

Don’t let fears make decisions, make them. Face your fears!

[I wrote this back in college for our publication. In times when I need considerable courage, I remember this. Today, I take one step toward my courage zone.]

Siete Palabras

2009-04-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Lent. One of the ecclesiastical seasons when I feel that my soul is full not hungry. With the words of my Redeemer, my soul escapes famine. With His death on the pulpit of the cross, I live. Saying forever grateful for your unconditional love, we commemorate your triumph and never fading words...

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

It was uttered as the Cross shook in its socket and as the heads of scoffers shook in derision and disbelief. These words are plaintively spoken as blasphemies, ridicule and worse were shouted at the Savior. These words were murmured as the sea of humanity beneath the cross roared its defiance, its hatred for the Lamb of God. He Who is all good had been accused of all things bad. They tortured Him with their mockery, their ridicule, their scoffing. In spite of this storm of calumny, he said those compassionate words.

Christ taught us to pray:…Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

To love when we are loved is easy; to love when we meet no opposition is acceptable. But to love when we are hated and to love those who hate us, ah, that is Christian!

This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.

Christ heard those terrible oaths from the sodden mouths of inveterate criminals who had been guilty of heinous crime and who were being crucified.

Beside him were thieves. Both of them were begging for life. One wanted to hold onto his life on earth. A life that is sinful and temporary. The other begged for eternal life. Endless and blissful.

Christ listened. He was silent. It was the silence that concealed the violent rumbling of His grace. And from His Sacred Heart flowed a stream of grace that touched one of the thieves at His side. From his lips came those words, begging, pleading: “Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom.

Christ gave His reply instantly. The words were so sure, so consoling. “This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. It was a promise made to a thief. It was a pledge to a robber on the brink of eternal damnation. And his sins matter no more. He was safe with God.

Woman, behold thy son.

This was the hour of His all-giving; to us He would give even His most precious possession – His Blessed Mother. Addressing her, and indicating the apostle St. John, He said, “Woman, behold thy son.” Then to John He said, “Behold thy Mother.”

In John we are all represented; it is to each of us that Jesus says, “Behold thy mother.” From the cross He announces that she is to be the Mother of all men. He entrusted to Mary this new motherhood which she is prepared by suffering and love: “Be it done unto me according to Thy word.”

Calling Mary woman is not a degradation but to give dignity to women. In a milieu where women and children are treated second-class citizens, therefore not counted in assemblies, Christ addresses His mother and entrusted to her a new motherhood.

My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

There must be a shameful cross on which the spotless Son of God should hang as a criminal, and worse than a criminal. His hands and feet should be pierced with large nails, His sole support as He was hanging from the Cross. His head would be pierced by a crushing crown of thorns; every sense would suffer, His ears from blasphemy, His tongue from thirst. It was a terrible picture which our imaginations are feeble to depict.

The physical torture was excessive. The depths of the pain cannot be appreciated. His human nature cried “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

I thirst.

He thirsts. He suffers physical thirst and more deeply, the thirst of soul. He shall save His people from their sins. That is the reason of the bloody scene on the Hill of Skulls. Since the sin of the first man, the whole human race has been caught and held in the slavery of sin. And no mere man could pay the price. The solution rested only with God.

He was wounded for our iniquities. He was bruised for our sins; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His bruises we are healed, by His death we lived. We are thirsty and only He can quench our thirst. He quenched it.

But He is also thirsty. He thirst our repentance. He thirst our love.

It is finished.

It is all a deep mystery of love that Christ should suffer so acutely, so bitterly, so excruciatingly. Christ’s mission had been successful, that the plan had been accomplished, that Christ’s advent to this world had reached its last chapter. His work was finished. He was ready to die. The task of redemption was completed.

Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.

Those were the last words to escape from the parched and bleeding lips of the Savior. His first thought was of His heavenly Father, His last gasp would be a prayer to His Father above. He had appeared on earth as man which He was; but so many had missed the more important fact that He was also God. It is this factor that explains all, that gives the solution to all.

He said He is God. He proved it. He is God for all eternity. That is the wonderful mystery of redemption.

[Inspired by today’s Siete Palabras]

You Call It Satire, I Call It Rubbish

2009-03-31T01:41:00.000-07:00

One 'satire' (as they call it) has of late become a hot subject in the blogosphere especially here in RP. The uproar is with regard to Chip Tsao's 'rubbish' (as I call it) article. Chip Tsao is a former reporter for the BBC, his articles have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next Magazine, and CUP Magazine, among others.

Referring to the Philippines and its inhabitants, he wrote:

As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

Given is the fact that satire is the use of ridicule or scorn, often in a humorous or witty way, to expose vices and follies.

But...

Do you find his article funny? -I don't. As a Filipino, I felt demeaned and berated instead.
Do you find it witty? -Rather crazy.
Is being a househelper/domestic helper a vice or a folly? -Definitely not.
So how come they have the nerve to call it satire?

As far as I know, journalists aren't supposed to write stupidly or rashly. They are persons who are expected to exercise fair play as opposed to foul play. But this HK writer is going beyond the limits set forth by journalism code of conduct.

Yes, there is a multitude of domestic helpers in HK but they are working hard to earn the penny that's all in the day's work. But that doesn't make RP a nation of servants. For all we know, RP is a nation of hardworking and well-rounded individuals who are capable of making a living in various dignified work. Verily, we blend like chameleons.

If I am to ask: Is Chip Tsao fulfilled as a 'responsible' journalist by debasing a nation? Or by degrading a househelper who takes care of his daily needs?

Lights Off On Earth Hour

2009-03-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Six days past Earth Day but we still got 1 big event to participate in...At 8:30 tonight, be one with the world in saving Mother Earth. How? Just by shutting the lights for an hour. Save energy. Save the planet.

How do you spend 60 minutes of darkness and silence? It's up to you. The key is to be creative. Anyway, this one's for a cause. And the cause is really good for the entire planet.

Let's fight global warming.

Another Inspiration

2009-03-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

What would you feel if you were born with no arms?

Maybe you'll be devastated. Maybe you'll feel pathetic. Maybe your inferiority complex will soar like a rocket.

But not with this girl...

Meet Jessica Cox.

She's a ballerina, a double black belt, and a licensed PILOT!

The Fil-Am pilot is really an inspiration not only for people born with disability but for everyone who lacks self-esteem and confidence. People should focus on what they have rather than sulk in bitterness for something they don't have.

HALT Tuberculosis

2009-03-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

WHO headline reads:

World Tuberculosis Day, held annually on 24 March, commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch presented his discovery of the TB bacillus to a group of doctors in Berlin. This year, World TB Day will focus on the efforts of frontline TB care providers and their crucial role in stopping TB.

Wegambians provides some in-depth info...

When TB multiplies enough and flares up in a patient, 75% of the cases are of a pulmonary (lung related) nature. Symptoms vary from constant chest pain to a persistent cough for over 3 weeks sometimes including blood, also swollen eyes, fevers, night sweats, chills, weight loss, and the ability to get fatigued easily.

Gone are the days when tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacilli) multiply by 1 infection per second. But it is undeniable that million lives are still at stake without a better cure.

According to statistics, 1.5 million people die of TB each year. Today, World TB Day, volunteers and other medical organizations strive to lessen, if not eliminate the disease by making the public knowledgeable about the epidemic as well as its prevention.

My Latest Tests

2009-03-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

Another set of personality tests to assuage the so-so afternoon...

My recipe...

My sandwich cookie...

My love element...

My kiss...

Note: Visit blogthings.com

Rappin' Up To His Master

2009-03-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

Francis "Master Rapper" Magalona was more than just an influential artist and entrepreneur. He was a moving inspiration to the youth and the Filipinos in general. His contribution was more than just Mga Kababayan Ko (a Heber Bartolome original), Cold Summer Nights, and Kaleidoscope World. His legacy is how he lived his life.

His Eat Bulaga family used to call him wordsmith. With his sensible lyrics and lively rap music, Kiko delivered the timely message of patriotism and love. One love. One blood. One nation.

What I will never forget about him are his profound words. He used his words as a tool to enlighten people. He once said: "Imbes na manira, gumawa. Imbes na magsawa, magsimula." A man with the wisdom and character as his will truly be admired.

Kiko, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Paalam.

Pig Depopulation In Bulacan

2009-03-04T02:06:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought everything was under control, I was wrong. Just a number of days from the day I learned that Philippines is ebola-reston-free, another news about the worsening outbreak shocked me. The media reported that 2 individuals were positive for the ebola-reston antibodies. To make the long story short, here comes the culling of 16,000 hogs which necessitates P16-17 million budget. Holy smoke!

Another downside is the closure of the affected piggeries in Pandi, Bulacan. So a good number of piggeries will add up the burgeoning individuals deemed laid off. And we are just consoled by the fact that the virus is now under control (in the truest sense of the word).

I really hope the crisis will end soon.

Ashes To Ashes, Dust To Dust

2009-02-25T01:46:00.000-08:00

"From dust you came, to dust you will return."

That's the essence of Ash Wednesday. It's reminding people that life here on earth is not permanent. Soon this will come to an end. We are made from dust and we will return to that form in God's perfect time. At the end of it all, what is really important is not what we are but who we are.

Ash Wednesday also reminds us that Jesus changed the symbol of the cross from disgrace to grace. Before, the cross is revered as the symbol of punishment and shame. With Jesus' death, it became a symbol of salvation.

Making Memories Of Us

2009-02-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

The first time I get the chance to listen to this song, I remember you. I want you to know that your memories are well taken care of. Happy Hearts Day!

Toying With Food

2009-02-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

(photo from colefaxchocolates.com.au)

Toying with food is a big no-no. But exploring the culinary world has given that bad habit a positive new light. Not that they wanted people to waste food. Rather, they wanted them to enjoy food better than they used to.

According to some contemporary psychologists, playing with food can help cure food phobias and help fussy eaters. As such, food designers are bringing a third dimension to the table...

It's putting creativity to work luring the eyes not just the taste buds. Real-size white chocolate stiletto with a marzipan heel, chocolate suppositories, solid silver lipstick case containing Lolita-red strawberry chocolate, green eggs filled with mango mush and coconut milk, chocolate-filled syringes, and a lot more. All tempting and edible.

Hmm. Looks good. Tastes even better.

Meet The Mother of All Snakes

2009-02-06T22:58:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of LA Times)

At 2,500 pounds and as long as a school bus, Titanoboa could swallow crocodiles. It lived after dinosaurs died out, and changes scientists' ideas about 'how big a snake can be.'

Have you seen a snake? Maybe yes, maybe no. But I'm sure you haven't seen a 43-foot and 2,500-pound behemoth. A fossil of the gigantic snake was recently found in Columbia. Imagine the super-snake's appetite. Imagine how it went wild and wilder. Gross!

Moral Insanity

2009-01-25T22:31:00.000-08:00

Round and round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows…

Yeah, world keeps turning, people keep evolving. Bad thing about evolution is that it corrupts morals inch by inch. Moral insanity that is. High-end gadgets – mobile phones, movie players, computers, and other techie things – make it easy for just about anybody to mar a well-cherished reputation or put a stain to life. When I get to contemplate things, I really appreciate those times when morality was likened to a precious gem. Nowadays, it can be likened to nothing but a tin in a bin.

One obscene or vicious movie can give you a juvie rapist or murderer. Emails can poison the soul. Idiot box can persuade people to think it is okay to swap spouses. SMS can lead to betrayal. True, technology gives us more opportunity to sin, way easier for that matter. I wish I can say ‘nothing further’. Wondering far and wide, I wish every kid good foundation so they can take pleasure in technology without having their morals corrupted. Parents, be a good example to your kids. It pays off. You know for sure that it takes a lifetime to build reputation and seconds to ruin it.

Worm Wriggles Into Cyberspace

2009-01-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

Conficker a.k.a. Downadup wriggles into cyberspace to infect millions of computers worldwide. The malware (malicious software) is exponentially multiplying at the rate of 1 million a day, making it the biggest virus by far.

What's troubling about the virus is that it triggers password cracking. Yes, it hacks passwords!

To circumvent this, experts advise mixing numbers, punctuation marks, and uppercase letters in creating passwords. So what do we do?

Get a piece of paper. Do some scribbling. Conficker can't hack the passwords on your paper. Neither can it hack the tough password combi in your computer.

Obama Takes His Oath

2009-01-21T23:01:00.000-08:00

Amidst the ballooning economic crisis, bedlam, job shed, cessation of businesses, what can the 44th US President say?

In his Inaugural address, Barack Obama, the first African-American US President said:

"xxx America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

With high hopes, I'd like to wish the young president peace and prosperity. May he be an instrument to his nation's ideals.

Salmonella In Peanut Butter Items

2009-01-18T23:28:00.000-08:00

Peanuts are driving food companies nuts...

Right now, esteemed companies and grocers are busy recalling peanut butter items to cut short damage and maladies that have affected some Americans.

Report reads:

General Mills Inc. and grocers Kroger Co., Safeway Inc. and Meijer Inc. have joined the growing list of food companies and retailers pulling items with peanut butter amid a salmonella outbreak that has killed at least six people and sickened more than 470 others in 43 states.

The Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America, which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste for distribution to institutions and food companies.

Peanut butter is supposed to be sweet and sumptuous but never lethal, right?

The 3 S

2009-01-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

Brand new year, brand new endeavor. I've been thinking of this thing lately. It keeps me up almost every night. It's exciting. It's frightening. Certainly, this is not for the faint of heart.

Thinking. Always am. But I admit I lack the diligence it takes to be a victor. In order to be successful, the 3 S is essential. We need to:

SHARE
SHARPEN THE SOUL
SACRIFICE

And I need to stick to them all throughout. But I have to zero in on the last S.

CONfused

2008-12-30T01:03:00.000-08:00

Confusion

I know not where my life is heading,
My mind is baffled by nostalgia and dreading.
I breathe death, I know I'm dying,
Not really living, barely surviving.

I see people dying to live,
Unlike them, I'm living to die.
Is there light at the break of dawn?
Or deep bleakness will spawn.
Is there any hope for me?
Who sees any?
I am attacked, besieged, defeated.
Am I cursed?
Danger around me is black,
The grave sets trap quite right.
I see nothing but dusk,
Dark as death, dim as night.

Clock ticks and days pass by,
I cannot look at my own shady eye.
I feel weak, where's my spirit?
I'm lost in this place, there's no exit.

Is there any hope for me?
Who sees any?
I am attacked, besieged, defeated.
...Yes, I am doomed.

~\\-cOn-//~

Shooed Bush

2008-12-15T01:15:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of BBC)

Shooed Bush, literally. That means to shoo with a shoe.

An enraged Iraqi journalist, Al-Zaidi, who had previously been kidnapped, failed to keep his cool and threw his size 10 shoe at Bush during a prescon in his domicile. Hmm - the wrath for the damage Bush administration has caused him and his brethren.

No Ebola In RP Pig Farms

2008-12-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Pork lovers, you read it right. Say goodbye to pork abstinence my dear. Rejoice instead because there's no Ebola-Reston virus (earlier found in monkeys) in RP pig farms.

The strain was accidentally discovered when RP sent samples of pig blood to America to find a vaccine for another disease killing local pigs. Six of 24 samples tested positive for the strain.

Earlier today, health officials of the country announced that no cases of the controversial virus was found. The examination was narrowed to 2 pig farms in Bulacan and Pangasinan. Result: Negative for Ebola. Officials said none of the animals tested thus far had the virus.

Craving for luscious pork barbeque? Or mouth-watering pork chops? Give in to temptation. No worries.

Twilight

2008-12-12T01:53:00.000-08:00

When you can live forever what do you live for?

That's the slogan of a blockbuster movie this year. Vampires stories could either be so-so or insipid. But I think Twilight is different. Quite intrigued about its fame, I decided to watch it myself.

Twilight. The first novel in the twilight series written by Stephenie Meyer. A story of unconditional love between a human being and a vampire. The story of trying not to fall but resistance came too weak. Then life for them became very complicated.

The movie is great. It's stimulating. That's the reason why thousands of moviegoers lined up in cinemas in Europe, America, and even here in the Philippines. Movie buffs, especially teens, will certainly be entertained by Twilight. Aside from Twilight, other sequels included in the series are New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. Much to see. And I will watch them all. That is certain.

Melamine Scare Wanes

2008-12-08T23:44:00.000-08:00

With the melamine issue, China created a bang that rocked the whole world. Melamine, a nitrogen-rich chemical used in making plastics and plates, was recently found to have contaminated milk products worldwide and has been implicated in the sickening of about 300,000 babies in China and killing at least 6 infants there. The chemical was also found in a cleaning solution used on some food processing equipment.

But the scare is waning...

Last Friday, the World Health Organization said that tiny traces of the chemical are not dangerous in most foods. However, it joined America and Europe in setting a strict limit that should be implimented.

A meeting held by WHO in Ottawa, Canada, decided that while there is no good reason to have any melamine in food products at all, a maximum of 0.2 milligrams of melamine per kilogram of body weight can be tolerated per day. Now, the standard is being implemented.

The Underdog Does The Beating

2008-12-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Golden Boy versus Pacman.

Majority's bet was on the Mexican-American boxing icon Oscar de la Hoya. The ravishing 35-year-old 10-time world champ was at his lightest since 2001. He has to lose weight to fight the legendary 29-year-old Philippine pride Manny Pacquiao.

Why did they choose de la Hoya over Pacquiao?

Face value? lolz. The disparity in size, most obvious in Golden Boy's four-inch height advantage. Plus the notable boxing record.

Despite the overwhelming bet in favor of de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, the underdog, wins. He just handed De la Hoya one of the worst defeats of his career. Pacman peppered Golden Boy with punches from round 1 until the technical knockout at round 9.

Pacquiao prolonged the beating for 8 rounds. His speed and precision were too much for De la Hoya. The latter's left eye was swollen. He can barely produce hard punches. Starting round 7, he was just covering his face and torso for another swift attack. Pacquiao's beating made him accept defeat by just stopping the fight. He surely knows KO is far humiliating than TKO.

In an interview right after the fight, Pacquiao said:

"That's what we were working on every day in the gym - speed. Speed was going to be the key to this fight. I'm not surprised by the result, because I prepared well to control the fight from the beginning. I'm happy that I could give this victory to my country."

De la Hoya was full of praise for his opponent:

"Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter. He deserves all the credit. He fought a great fight. He was the better man. My heart still wants to fight that's for sure. But when your physical doesn't respond, what can you do?"

I love it when the underdog wins. I really do.

Lesson: Never underestimate people.

Step Up The Fight Against HIV

2008-12-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

(photos from AP, nextnature and kris.mkrevo)

Dec. 1 is World's AIDS day. A time to wear that Red Ribbon, the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. You see, more and more people are infected with HIV each day and we just can't sit on our couch, stare blankly at the wall, and wait for our dear ones to be infected too. We have to do something. We have to make people realize the value of healthy and responsible sexuality.

FAST FACTS

Definition: AIDS and HIV are not the same thing. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body's immune system. Someone is said to have AIDS if their immune systems are badly damaged by the HIV virus, or if they develop serious infections connected with HIV. Generally, people don't die from AIDS itself, but from the other diseases that AIDS leaves them susceptible to.

People living with HIV:
33 million people living with HIV worldwide

30.8 million adults

15.5 million women

2.0 million children under 15

New HIV cases in 2007:
2.7 million total new cases
2.3 million adults
370,000 children under 15

HIV-related deaths in 2007:
2.0 million total deaths

(All figures from UNAIDS and World AIDS Day Org.)

Sexual behaviors that can transmit HIV:
Oral sex

Vaginal sex
Anal sex

Other ways that HIV can be transmitted:
Blood transfusions
Sharing needles when shooting drugs
Home tattooing and body piercing
Accidental needle sticks
Childbirth
Breastfeeding

Read. Learn. Interact. Help. We can step up the fight against HIV.

Your Ad Here

It's Now Or...

2008-11-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

It's now or...

NOW!

Did I give myself enough choices? No, because I don't want to.

This is my plan. And there's no room for reroute this time (remember, I took a detour in the second quarter). Although some best laid plans don't turn out as such, I want this simple plan to take its course. I have to put a halt to working. I have to end my 8th job (freelance excluded). Yes, this is my 8th job and I'm looking forward to being a free-spiritted bum once again. (wink)

Mind you, this is an easy decision to make. This is my first formal resignation and I feel that I won't regret this even a bit. No biggie.

Mumbai Mayhem

2008-11-27T16:58:00.001-08:00

(photo courtesy of Economist)

MSNBC reports:
MUMBAI, India - They showed up, as they do every night: businessmen for meetings in the elegant restaurant that overlooks the harbor, politicians for cocktails in a bar with velvet seats and wood and marble floors, friends for a steak dinner by the pool.

But then the shooting started.

Explosions followed in and around the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower — a Mumbai landmark with sweeping staircases, onyx columns and high alabaster ceilings, known as the playground of the city's elite since it opened in 1903.

At least 119 people were killed when the teams of gunmen stormed the Taj and another hotel, a popular restaurant, hospitals, a Jewish center, a crowded train station and at least five other sites. A group of suspected Muslim militants claimed responsibility.

At the Taj, anyone who could ran for cover.

While reading the news, I recalled the September 11 attack. They have common denominator - pointing to terrorists as perpetrators.

At first, I thought the Twin Tower bombing was just a scene in an action flick. It was fabulous. It appeared very real. But the moment I started to recognize the anchor's voice, I realized it was really real. Part of the globe was experiencing bloodshed. Innocent lives were at stake.

A greater fraction of the world was astonished. Who could envision a fierce attack on the most powerful nation?

Here comes Mumbai mayhem - multitude was killed. And terrorists are once again under close scrutiny. The coordinated attacks in Mumbai have so far left 119 people dead. And it's all because of their principle. Reasonable or not, fair or foul, you decide.

The Holy Scripture says "Thou shalt not kill." But why are they killing to achieve their so-called biblical end? Go figure.

SHELDONism

2008-11-26T21:29:00.000-08:00

Sheldonism.

What's with the coinage?

Sheldonism is a strong belief that Sidney Sheldon novels are riveting, captivating and a must-read. (*wink)

Sheldon was an Academy Award-winning Broadway playwright, Hollywood TV and movie screenwriter, and a best-selling novelist. At age 89, he died from complications arising from pneumonia.

He's really good. And I'm happy to know that Sheldonism is everywhere. My best buddy, some of my classmates back in high school and college, as well as my colleagues share the same fetish too.

I've kept some Sheldonism mementos but I don't have them now. Blame it to a friend suffering from selective amnesia. You know, always forgetting what it is to be returned.

Good thing a Sheldonist is nice enough to send me pdf files. Thanks Raymond.

What makes a ~~good~~ prolific novelist?

Sheldon confessed:

"I try to write my books so the reader can't put them down. I try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she has to read just one more chapter. It's the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the chapter."

His best-selling novels include:

Of the 18 bestsellers, Ive read the 16. Oh yeah, I'm not a Sheldon fanatic. Not much.

Right now, I'm dying to read The Naked Face, his first novel which make him grab an Edgar Allan Poe Award. That's his only novel with a man as the lead character (I've been looking for a copy but I can't find one).

Hail the master storyteller. A toast to Sheldon. A toast to women empowering writing. He's one helluva writer - really!

Right now, I'm completing my novel collection authored by Sandra Brown, Danielle Steel and John Grisham. But I love Sheldon's work best. I'm also thankful to Lala bear for giving me a copy of Agatha Christie's "Hercule Poirot's Christmas." I love the twist.

I Am Pro Life

2008-11-23T18:42:00.001-08:00

Silent Cry.

T'was the title of a documentary about abortion. It was shown to us when we were in high school. The purpose: To instill in our mind that abortion is no less than killing. Worse, killing an innocent life.

Life begins at fecundation (the meeting of sperm and egg cell). Once there's fertilization, there's life. More often than not, even before the mother knew she's pregnant, there's already life inside her womb.

The documentary showed the abortion process - uncut. It was horrible. It was gross. Using ultrasonography, I saw how the fetus slowly struggled to stay away from the huge forcep which bit by bit mutilated him. The movements were apparent. The fetus was actually avoiding the fatal intrusion... But to no avail. He was weak and still dependent on her mother. His legs were pulled. Then his hands. The forcep twisted his head. Then the midbody. Finally, the fragments were collected using a hose (which appears more like a vacuum or a device that uses suction). It was brutal.

I pity the babies. Their silent cry were left unheeded even by the very person expected to care for them the most.

T'was in 1997. Today's abortion procedure is far easier. But still butchery.

What pushed me to write this entry

A conversation with a friend.

She's 19. She's pregnant. But she told me she doesn't want to have a baby just yet so she's planning to have an abortion. She asked me about the medicine, the process. But I just can't spill the beans. To do so is to impliedly allow her to kill the baby.

I told her not to abort the baby because he/she has no bearing whatsoever on her personal problems. The baby has no fault. Just the result of her sexual activities. Activities she consented ~~and enjoyed~~. Thus, she must be responsible enough to face the consequences of her actions. And never undermine respect for life.

What had happened

That conversation wasn't my first about abortion. There were several cases before that. But the most striking was with a new found friend...

Friendship came effortlessly. We shared each other's stories. We shared each other's lives. And we eventually became associated with each other.

In one of our serious talks, she divulged her abortion. She said it was very frightening, excruciating. She bled right out. And her boyfriend was trying to staunch the bleeding all night. There were just the two of them performing the procedure. She was copiously perspiring. Cold sweat dropped. She was shaking. And hemorrhaging continued. She thought she was dying.

Though she survived the abortion process, she is constantly bothered by the plight. She said that was her greatest mistake, greatest crime. Up to now, she feels the pangs of guilt wounding her conscience. She felt she has not forgiven herself for doing such disgraceful act to cover her shame. She felt God has not fogiven her yet. She's still restless...

Hottest Vixen

2008-11-21T23:37:00.000-08:00

Clear the runway and make way for the world's sexiest woman...

Just when you thought it was Scarlett Johansson, you're wrong. It's Karolina Kurkova. The sultry lingerie model has been voted the world's sexiest woman by E! entertainment television. She's hhhoottt. Why don't you wipe any iota of doubt, she's worth the title anyway.

But she's not the only vixen flaunting shapely figure capable of tempting every Adam. Think Malena. Think Monica Belluci. In her prime, Monica's absolutely voluptuous! I heard stories about her. On- and off-screen. But the best story was Malena. And I won't tell you it was Jerjer who narrated it to me. No I won't.

And oh, before I forget, have you seen the Transformers? No, not Bumble Bee. She's flamboyant. But not sexy. I'm sure your eyes were rather glued to Megan Fox. Judge her. She's one palatable chick!

Slurp.

Pygmy Tarsier Spotted In Sulawesi Island

2008-11-20T19:37:00.000-08:00

At a distance, you'll probably think it's a rare monkey. But take a much closer look...Having a tail like a rodent and reddish brown eyes like those of an overdosed owl, there's no mistaking it, the furry creature is a tarsier. Not the ones we see in Bohol. Make them smaller and you'll get a pygmy tarsier. So tiny it can freely slither into your clasped hands. Yes, it's a pygmy tarsier - a species which is said to be extinct. But you see, it was recently spotted in Sulawesi Island, Indonesia!

I'm not so into having grotesque primates beside me but I am pleased to know they're still around for the world to see. And it would be much pleasing if my grandchildren's children would get to see them too, in the flesh, not in the old pages of history books.

[source: sciam.com]

Inside the Mind of a Psychopath

2008-11-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

Inside My Mind

Alone in that nook is me.
See the tear fallin' down my eye,
It's a lie.
Tryin' to deceive you,
Tryin' to suck you in.
I'm numb. I can't feel.
I don't feel pain. I don't feel you.
Stare at me.
I'm destroying my life, suffocating my soul,
And making your life miserable.
Or perhaps ending it.
Do you love what you see?

~\\-cOn-//~

The free verse could be the thoughts inside the mind of a psychopath.

Or maybe different.

What molds the father's tendency or aberrant sexual behavior to rape his own child? What drives psychopaths to do bestial or deleterious acts?

Slashing throats, mutilating bodies, cutting testicles, burning cadavers, multiple rape, multiple murder...What made them cold-blooded psychopaths? Quite intrigued by how they think and feel, I want to sneak a glimpse into their mind.

"Actus reus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea." A Latin maxim which means that an act does not make a person guilty of his crime unless his mind be also guilty.

When asked what made them do such repulsive acts, they would often say "I hear inner voices telling me to." So it all starts in the mind. And their mind could either be their saving grace or their worst waterloo. Whether it's the cause or the effect, thing is, what's inside their mind matters.

What's inside your mind?

The Big Deal About Philandering

2008-11-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Philandering may seem ordinary to some. But mind you, philandering is a serious issue. Call me an unbending traditionalist. I don't care. But philandering is big deal for me.

Today, I've penned a termination notice for a philandering instructor. The notice reads:

A teacher serves as a role model for his students. He must not bring the teaching profession into public disrespect by having sexual relations with his student. Knowing for a fact that he is already married and is a teacher to the offended party, he should have not pursued his student to result in sexual congress. For his failure to live up to the exacting moral standards demanded by his profession, we have decided to give this second notice to formally end his employment today.

As the notice was read to him, I don't know what to feel . Is it triumph for serving justice? Is it rage for the disgrace he has given his students? Or is it pity for making him lose his only source of income? Not only did he lose his job, he might also lose his family's trust. What I know is I have to give a deep sigh to release the heavy feeling inside my chest. Justice must prevail, nonetheless. The verdict has to be served.

These past few months I'm going out with my friend who happen to have philandering bosses (in their early 40's). They're nice. They're generous. They're married. And philandering...(whew!)

"What's wrong with loving?," they asked in one of our jamming nights where we eat, go places, play billiards, and experiment on drinks.

"There's none," I replied.

So they continued: "Therefore, there's nothing wrong with loving and having relationship with lots of women," they quipped.

"Know what, there's nothing wrong with loving. It becomes wrong when we do overt acts that are wrong," I retorted. "Love is a feeling. And we can't control it. But we can control the acts that go with it. We have a strong sense of what's right and what's not so why would we go for the wrong acts? Sometimes we mistake love for infatuation or even lust."

"But we are just loving," one insisted.

"Do you think that's love?," I asked back. "You are putting the other person to shame and open to cruel whipping of the law. She might be charged with adultery. For all you know, you are making her life miserable. And you are calling it love?"

"Do you want your kids to experience that love you're talking about?," I continued. "Sure you don't because you love them. Now, that's real love. You think first of their good before you think of selfish greed. Because love is never selfish. The love that you know is selfish. It's not even love. They are oxymoron."

I added: "You think if your wife philander you would be happy to say hey, my wife is philandering. So cool, dude!"

They were silent for some time. And the moment they regained their sense of expression they said, "We wish that you'd fall for a married man."

Well, that's something to look forward to. (laughs)

In the future, if I found out that my husband is philandering, I don't know what I'm capable of doing. I think it will scare the hell out of me. It will unravel the wrath he never had a chance to know. (laughs)

It is worth reiterating that there is no dichotomy of morality.

Get it mr. chauvinist pig? lolz.

Lying Fool

2008-11-11T19:10:00.000-08:00

Lying Fool

Nothing you say is true,
You made it all up yourself.
You treasure falsehood more than truth,
You destroy people with your words.

Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor,
You etch deep wounds at my back.
Your words are glazed with poison,
You spread dreaded, deadly lies.

Your cowardly slander will soon end,
False accusations will come to a bend.
Enough of your persecution,
I will listen no more.

Your lies will hunt you down,
Your words will fail.
I try to believe you,
But not this time.

~\\-cOn-//~

LOVE: The Truth Behind The Lies

2008-11-09T16:15:00.001-08:00

vs.

People lie, a lot. White lies or not, little or big - still fibbing, right? I lie. And you lie too. But what matters is the gravity of every lie. What's the truth behind the lies?

Studies say...

True lie #1: The most serious lies are told by (and to) the people we care about most

True lie #2:When it comes to little lies, though, our romantic partners see more of our true selves

True lie #3: The more attractive you are, the more people will lie to you

True lie #4: Romantic partners are worse than strangers at detecting each other’s fibs

True lie #5: When asked to ’fess up to their most serious lie, affairs are by far the most common

True lie #6: If you admit to a lie, it might not save a relationship
Ever heard someone say “If only he/she had told me the truth, I could have forgiven him/her”? Not so.

True lie #7: Think liars don’t care about other people? Often, just the opposite is the case

True lie #8: “I did it for you” —that’s what people claim when they tell lies to their romantic partners

True lie #9: Even after lying to their romantic partners, liars claim that they are not bad people

I do lie. But not that grave. Faced with a situation of uttering a lie or not, I just change the topic or hush. Either way, it do me a lot of good.

As much as possible I try to avoid lying. I value relationships the same way I value honesty. Lying is lying. Fibs are fibs. And as we know, telling lies spoils trust big time.

[excerpt from MSN]

Let's Make Love

2008-11-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong. No, not that thing in your mind. And I dare stress my point - I'm not horny.

Okay, okay, just a bit.

Just kidding.

This is about a captivating song with same title as this post. Melody's fantastic, lyrics superb. Add in a riveting video. What could be lacking? NONE.

Let's Make Love by Faith Hill & Tim McGraw

Monochromatic theme flaunting a romantic setting, adorable couple with stares full of love, with hands full of smooth caress, and a perfect song to make it just the way I want it. So sweet. So loveful.

Amazing.

Given the fact that I've listened to the song several times already, it still sounds great. This song never fails to take me. Its never waning charm never fails to lure me.

Just listen. And fall...

My Heart Says...

2008-11-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

The heart. Sheesh. Among other body parts, the heart is the most difficult to understand. So here I am trying to figure out what it says. Thanks to Tickle and my "so into personality test" mood.

Heart or head.What dominates? My personality test says I'm a Heart-Strong Idealist.

And the right man for me is the Renaissance Man. Who is he?

What turns me on? His Romantic Gesture.

And my strongest suit is Expression.

*click image to make it larger

I took those quizzes two years ago and they still hold water up to now. Pretty consistent huh.

PhotoFunia

2008-11-03T23:28:00.000-08:00

When you pretend there's nothing else to be done...

LOAF.

lolz.

Spell narcism. Spell vanity. No, this is hedonism. (laughs)

*courtesy of PhotoFunia

What Personality Do I Own?

2008-11-03T00:32:00.000-08:00

Ms. Karin sat next to me today and she asked me some sites that offer personality tests (she's a psychology teacher by the way). The first website that came to my mind was Tickle. When I opened the site, I saw the tests I've taken two years ago. A couple of years back, I was so engrossed in knowing my self a little deeper...

Here are some of the results:

My color is Black. What does it mean?

My identity is Extraversion Medium. Balanced lifestyle - that's my forte you know. (Chos!)

I am also a Word Warrior. All words. Just words. (giggles)

Right or Left? I'm a right-brained gal. What does that supposed to mean?

My buried secret? My Career. I did not see it coming. But yes, my test result said it's my career.

* click image to make it larger

Do I need a personality makeover? How about reinventing myself?

Did I hear you say TOTAL OVERHAUL? Duh! lolz.

[via: Tickle.com]

Ibalong Festival '08

2008-10-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

Feisty. Festive. Fun.

Those are the prevailing moods for this day. It isn't just me who felt mixed moods but all those who have witnessed this year's Ibalong festival. Not even the wrath of the raging raindrops could stop the gaiety.

Don't Wanna Be A Manpleaser

2008-10-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

Who do you please?

When the world bespeaks of vileness and depravity, are you going to rejoice where evil lurks? When the law of the land is just as wrong to the ignorant as to the enlightened, will you uphold the divine law? Most of the time, what the world wants is the exact opposite of what God wants. But we are given the freedom to choose. Every minute of every day, we have a choice.

With your choices, who do you often please?

Godpleaser
by Petra

So many voices telling me which way to go
So many choices come from those who think they know
There's a way that seems right to a man, but it only brings him death
I wanna go the way that leads to life till I draw my dying breath

Don't wanna be a manpleaser
I wanna be a Godpleaser
I just wanna have the wisdom to discern the two apart

Don't wanna be a manpleaser
I wanna be a Godpleaser
I just wanna do the things that please the Father's heart

Some make a sacrifice and never let it show
Some make a point of letting everybody know
Some will live their lives as unto men, and they have their reward
I just wanna do everything I do with all my heart unto the Lord
I just want my life to glorify His Son

To make my Father proud that I'm His child before I'm done
No need to pat me on the back or stop to shake my hand
I just want to hear my Father say, "well done", "well done"
I just want to hear my Father say, "well done"

Love Truths

2008-10-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

What makes a relationship tick and tank? What makes a bond float or sink? When should you bottle up feelings? When should you put an indelible dead end? Here's an article worth pondering...

1. Spending time apart strengthens your bond.

2. Your inkling that something is wrong in the relationship is probably right. By nature of being a woman, you have a keen intuition, so you'll feel any kind of distancing on a visceral level pretty quickly.

"When a guy wants to break up, he'll often start to create space," says Oikle. In other words, he'll stop calling quite as much, it will take him a bit longer to return your texts or emails, and he'll sometimes be "too busy" to hang out. "For the record, if a guy is into you, he'll never be too busy," says Paul Coleman, PsyD, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Intimacy."

3. If a man has a history of cheating on his girlfriends, he'll probably cheat on you too. Sometimes a guy cheats on his partner because there is an emotional or physical void in the relationship. But more often than not, philandering is indicative of something wrong with him. According to Jay Carter, PsyD, author of "Nasty Men,"

4. He wants to think he's taking care of you. Despite the fact that many women are outpacing men on the college level and in the workplace, "lots of guys still derive their feelings of masculinity and self-worth by being of value to the person they love," says Allen Berger, PhD, author of "Love Secrets Revealed." "And they feel most valuable when they're doing things for that person."

5. If a guy tells you that he's not ready for a relationship, take his word for it. Believe it or not, men really hate to disappoint women. So if he's "gotten up the guts to actually cross the threshold and tell you that he's not ready for a relationship, he means business," says Oikle.

6. Passion can grow as a relationship progresses. People used to think settling down meant saying goodbye to romance and passion. But research has found that young married couples are more satisfied in the romance department than their single counterparts are. Familiarity definitely has its perks.

7. You won't regret breaking up with a guy you're feeling unsure about. Nowadays, women may be impulsive about dating guys but not dumping them. "In fact, a lot of single women will try really hard to fit a square peg into a round hole because they want the relationship to work so bad," explains Magids. "It's only after a tremendous amount of thought and effort that they finally give up on it." So if you sense you're with the wrong person, don't fret so much about walking away to find a better mate.

8. You will always be the one to initiate a relationship talk. Unlike women, who are conditioned to take the pulse of a relationship from time to time, men don't contemplate the state of your union until something's wrong. And even then, they want to work it out in their mind, whereas women want to talk it out.

When Reality Bites, Bite Back

2008-10-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

No-no-no. This isn't about vengeance. I'm not implying a gusto in the old "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" rule.

So what's the point?

This one is about a nonsensical (though sweet) ad I scribbled in a copywriting activity. So without further ado, I give you my crappy ad... =)

DULCE VITA
When reality bites, bite back

Chocoholics behold! Sweet news is dark chocolate has gone guilt-free. Dropping carbohydrates and peaking phytochemicals and anti-oxidants, Dulce Vita won’t make you fat nor pathetic.
Now, reality won’t stop you from a bite a day. So dream yourself some appetite…minus the guilt.

Why chocolate?

First, because I love it (not much now because of these annoying braces). Second, I love sharing bars with my brothers, friends and neighborhood kids. Most importantly, I'm addicted to caffeine. I love aromatic coffee (it's one of the few things I can't get enough of). I love sparkling soda (and I don't care if my belly gets more and more protruding each day).

Goodness, I love caffeine! I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it.

Now you know exactly how much I love it. (wink)

Another Win For Alonso

2008-10-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

Another reason to smile. Another reason to celebrate. Oh yeah, after winning Singapore GP, Alonso has yet another victory to celebrate. Pour the bubbly champagne. A toast is just perfect. Cheers!

The headline of F1 official website reads:

Major chinks appeared in the armour of the leading title contenders at Fuji. As Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa lost their cool, it was left to a former two-time champion to show the young pretenders how it should be done. Avoiding the first-corner melee, Fernando Alonso made the most of his second-row grid slot, excellent strategy and a superbly balanced car to give Renault an unlikely second successive win, making the team firm favourites for fourth in the constructors’ championship…

I just love his courage. I just love his 'no-giving-up' attitude. I just love how he drives....~~aficionados crazy~~. I know he won't be a champ this season. But next season is pretty much promising.

With a growl, grab your title back. Grrr! =)

Flummery Of The Flesh

2008-10-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

Flummery of the flesh. Strong sexual desire. Craving for sex. Lust for lust.

Whatever you call it, no matter how you couch it in different words, it's still SEX - no less. So when does sex goes right? When does it goes wrong?

Sex creates heavenly heights. It awakens earthly and animalistic desires. Yes, people are rational animals so craving for sex is just but natural. But don't forget the word rational to describe the animal in all of us. We don't have sex just because we want it. We use our psyche instead to know if it's right to do it right there and then.

We may have contrasting point of views as regards sex but let us not forget the drawbacks. Sex with the wrong person or with the wrong reason is the culprit that broke countless families. It is the villain that put to jail not-so-evil persons because of lewdness. Truth is, when flummery of the flesh strikes, it can unmake you. Sexual infidelities can turn sweet love into bitter hatred, solid trust into impenetrable distrust.

While you are searching for the 'G-spot,' ask this:

After the flame dies down, after the steam clears, what happens next?

How Do You Know She's The One?

2008-10-10T02:15:00.000-07:00

I have read this article about how a man decides that his girl is the right person to spend his whole life with. What made them say "I do" ?

For me the best answer was...

Stand by your man
"Three years ago, to my surprise and dismay, I was abruptly fired from my job. It couldn't have come at a worse time: I had just bought a home and was worried about paying the mortgage. When I told my girlfriend, she told me not to worry and that 'we' would get through this together. It was at that moment that I knew I would never find anyone better. She could have left, knowing it would be hard for me to get another job, but she stayed, and I knew we had what it takes to make a marriage work." -- Chris Watts, 28, Windsor, CT.

I do believe in the sanctity of marriage. But the saddening fact is - most people don't.

My friends ask me why at 26, I don't think of settling down. Well, marrying is easy. But staying in the marriage is another story. I've seen strong people fell into temptation. I've heard confessions about infidelity. I've seen lovers fall apart. I've seen remorse in their eyes. I sensed regrets. Sigh. It's so scary to know you married the wrong person.

Marriage is a sacred vow. It's a bond of two souls. You take your spouse to have and to hold from that day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part. How many couples you know stand by this vow? Only few. I suppose.

At the back of my head, questions are fleeting. Come bumpy rides, trials and pandemonium. Will he stay by my side to fight hand in hand? What if I was struck by a dreadful disease, will he take care of me? Can we remain faithful to each other? Can we make it through thick and thin?

If those questions are thrown back to me, I'd answer in the affirmative. I'll stay with him no matter what happens. Love is the reason why I'll marry. It is also the very reason why I'll stay. But what if he forgets about the vow? That spells trouble.

Honestly, I'm happy to see couples growing old together and keeping the love as they age. I hope I can do the same. But I can't do it alone. I need this one person. One true person to share everything with - the ups, the downs, and the usual.

Top 7 Signs of Self-Sabotaging Behaviors

2008-10-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

Reality check: Are you destroying yourself?

To help you ascertain, here's an article written by Dr. Robert Anthony...

Having trouble reaching all your goals? Are you going for what you want, but feeling like something is road-blocking the way? Are you finding yourself "not" doing some of the things you know you should be doing?

You may be a victim of sabotage---self-sabotage. How do you know, and what can you do about it? Read on and see.
1. Focusing on what is not working, not right or missing from your life.

Problem: Notice how often you speak about and think about what is not working, not right, or missing from your life. This only attracts more of the things you don’t want.

Action: Ask yourself a new question: "What's going right?" or "What IS working?" Begin to notice all the things, no matter how small, that are working well. Keep an evidence journal and each day write down everything, I do mean everything, that is working and you will attract more of what is working!
2. Being stuck in fear:

Problem: Do you worry a lot about the future and what is going to happen or might happen? Are you thinking about your fears so much that you are paralyzed and take no action because of fear of what might occur?

Action: It is time to put your focus on the present. We can't control or predict the future or other people's behaviors. All we can control is our own, right here, right now.

Ask yourself the question "What is the worst thing that could happen?" Then, let go and know that rarely do the scenarios we create in our heads occur. Take a moment to put things into perspective by writing down the things you can not change, the things you want change, and accept that the Universe, God, Spirit, whatever you call it will take of the rest. It always does!

3. Feeling you have no value.

Problem: Do you forget all your accomplishments and lack pride in who you are and what you have accomplished? If you obsess about the past or your lack of success or lack of achievement, then you'll be stuck in noticing how much you lack as a person. If you often criticize yourself or can't accept compliments, it’s a definite sign that you have fallen into this trap.

Action: You can choose to notice what you do that is good and the things you can be proud of, no matter how small they may seem. Each day keep a log of what you are grateful for about YOU. When you hear your mind chattering about what you haven't done right or well, turn down the volume and turn up the volume to hear the voice that knows the TRUTH about who you are and how you add value to the world.

Acknowledge yourself for at least 5 things each and every day that you did well. Each day, compliment yourself on something you did that you feel good about. Notice your small successes and accept the compliments others give you.

4. Comparing yourself to others.

Problem: Do you constantly compare yourself to others and then feel badly when compared to them? Comparison doesn't motivate us to do more or be better, instead it makes us feel we'll never be good enough and we aren't right now.

Action: Write out the 5 qualities you like best about yourself. Then write out what you value most in your life. When you go to a place of comparison, notice how similar you are with the other person vs. what is different. Begin to create a list of adjectives that describe you - at least 25 positive words about your greatness. Whenever you notice yourself in a comparison mode, think of some of the adjectives that describe YOU.

5. Self-Sabotage – getting what you want and then losing it.

Problem: Do you not believe that you deserve to have what you want? When you get what you want, why do you often lose it or mess it up? What is the true story underneath - maybe that you think aren't good enough to have it?

Action: List all the things you have accomplished that faded away. Simply notice these things, but don’t place any judgment on the fact they disappeared. How did they bring you satisfaction? How did they make you feel? What is the limiting belief that you have that tells you inside why you can't have what you want? Be quiet, be still and listen to it.

Write down how you felt when you had what you wanted. Write down how you feel now, without it. Then write a "bridge belief": A very, very small belief that feels a little bit better than what you now feel. Each week, create a new bridge belief, not matter how small, that you can really believe. By using these bridges as stepping-stones, you'll shift your limiting beliefs slowly and be on the other side of the bridge and able to maintain it because you will have a new belief inside of you.
6. You chase away relationships.

Problem: Do you always feel something is missing in your relationships or find fault with the other person? Perhaps you are afraid of intimacy. Underneath this is usually a fear of abandonment or exposure that causes you to distance yourself from others.

Action: Create a list of the qualities you value in a relationship and the qualities you want to attract in your partners. Express what you want and don't want to the other person and allow them to express the same to you. Create time to acknowledge the other person on a regular basis. Notice when you feel afraid. Don't try to push the feelings away. Know that the feelings are there and that is fine. Then, in that moment, focus on what feels good about the relationship.

7. Having no purpose.

Problem: Do you feel you have no purpose in life? We all have some purpose for being on the planet and it is time to notice yours.

Action: Write down all the things that are important to you – the thing you want to create in your life. Then write out what you want to contribute to the world. From your writing, create a statement of purpose for yourself that you can read each and every day.

Then stop worrying about not knowing your purpose and start creating what you desire now. It doesn’t matter what you want in the future. So start creating something you want in your life NOW. This action will ultimately put you in alignment and bring you closer to your overall purpose.

Has My Monday Gone Bonkers?

2008-10-05T20:21:00.001-07:00

O-m-i-g-o-sh!

Has my Monday gone bonkers? Or is it just me?

Give me the wisdom to discern. Give me the courage to be strong. With all these things that I am going to execute, how am I supposed to handle them all? How am I supposed not to care? Can I just don a calloused heart and mind?

This thing is totally crazy. I admit, this is the saddest and hardest part of my task. My other side of the brain is telling me not to and be still. (Sighs)

Alonso Back On Form

2008-09-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

What painted a smile on my face? It's the sports headline.

1. Fernando ALONSO (Renault), 1h57m16.304s

2. Nico ROSBERG (Williams), 1h57m19.261s

3. Lewis HAMILTON (McLaren Mercedes), 1h57m22.221s

Here's an excerpt of an interview after the much-celebrated win:

Q: Fernando, bad luck with mechanical trouble on Saturday but you made up for it today with a fantastic drive.

Fernando ALONSO: Yeah, fantastic. A first podium of the season and first victory as well and I am extremely happy. I cannot believe it right now, I think I need a couple of days to realise we won a race this year.

Yes, Fernando Alonso is back on form. I am so happy for him. After years of troubled career, the double world champ is wowing F1 aficionados again. Go Pando!

Life Is Short

2008-09-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

September 27, 2008, Saturday. A date to remember.

My body clock woke me up before 7 in the morning. It’s a gloomy day. But it’s not just the day. It’s also gloomy inside of me. Why? Today is his funeral…

I knew him for years now. Before we met, I already know so much about him. Those things made me interested in meeting him in person. So we met…

The first time I saw him, I knew he’s adorable and nice (he’s Mr. Happychondria – happy all the time). There was an instant spark. Chemistry is evident. And we can’t deny it. Feeling comfortable in each other’s company, we meet again. And again. And over and over again. Until the time came when we’re separated by distance and circumstance.

Now it’s not just miles and controllable matters that separate us. It’s death. And it’s beyond my control.

“Life is short.” I read it a hundred times. I heard it more than that. But it is only now that I feel it down my core. He died at 25. He planned to do many things in the future. Those plans will remain dormant because he is no longer around to execute them.

God gave us life thus, only He can take it. Our Creator called him. He went ahead. Sad thing I was left. Now that he’s gone, I can’t help but miss the words he say, the things we do, the games we play, the places we go to, and the dreams we build. It’s over. Is it really over?

Adieu

by cOn

Who will wipe my clouds when they’re gray?
Who will lead me home when I’m astray?
Who will hold me tight when I need cuddling?
Who will stop my tears from falling?
Who will make me laugh when I’m in despair?
Who will show me how to care?

I had no idea you’ll be gone.
I had no idea you’ll die young.
I could’ve tried making you stay.
I could’ve kept your warmth as you lay.

With whom shall I share my love?
With whom shall I share my life?

I’m holding back my tears.
I’m fighting all the fears.

Now that I can't hold you,
Now that it's futile to fight for you,
There’s one thing left to say...

A-d-i-e-u.

To Let Go...

2008-09-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to break the chains of loving.

It’s impossible to erase the traces of longing.

But if it’s your happiness that’s at stake then letting go is the best thing I’ll be doing...

Death Doesn't Bargain

2008-09-18T00:06:00.000-07:00

Your ex is dead.

Just as simple as that. And I thought it was just one of my friend's ill-mannered sms jokes.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Another sms arrived. It contained the details of his death. Acute Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, a digestive gland in the abdominal cavity. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and jaundice) - the cruel culprit. I'm sure my mind, upon reading the message, can't accept the glaring fact that just happened. I was in a state of denial. I chose to dwell in that state for quite some time.

The fact won't sink in. I know it was true. But I can't accept it...just yet. Truth be told, I'm not good at losses. I mean, I can lose material things (which rarely happens) and dismiss the thought with a shrug. But losing people is a different thing especially if it means you will no longer see them for the rest of your life. I can afford to lose material things because I can replace them. But I can't replace people. I can't replace lives.

We separated in a good way - not so good though. But we've patched things up. Few months back, we were good. We hang out with his friends and homeboys. We played together. We enjoyed each other's company. I don't have the slightest idea it will be the last.

It was a total shock. It was a solid blow. Up to this very moment, I refuse to believe he's gone - physically.

I can still feel him. I am still thinking of him. And his memories will forever linger in my mind and in my heart. But I just want to tell him that I appreciate everything that he's done me. I love how he loved me and I will miss him dearly.

Thank you for sharing your life with me. Thank you for the gift of you. May God bless you in your journey.

One day we will meet and the Author of Life will lead us where we belong. Somewhere eternal. Somewhere where there is no end.

True. There is LIFE in DEATH.

Bigger Is Better

2008-09-06T03:09:00.000-07:00

Awrayt. NAIA Terminal 3 is now open to all. Domestic and international flights are pretty much welcome at the bigger and better terminal. Here are my candid shots of the T3...

T3 is posh and comfy. Foods are sumptuous. Books are good. But don't forget your atm/credit cards or crisp cash to sustain your needs inside the terminal. Posh and comfy equate to being pricey. Uhuh.

And oh, before I forget, delay is ~~still~~ inevitable. But when you need delay, it's nowhere to be found. Brand new terminal, same old delay. How ironic.

The Dreaded BAR

2008-09-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

BAR. Just the mere thought of it makes me shiver and coat. What made me feel that way? Take this picture:

A total of 1,289 have passed the 2007 bar examinations, the Supreme Court announced on Saturday afternoon, making for a 22.91 percent passing rate as 5,626 law graduates from 109 law schools took the bar examinations September last year, reported PDI.

To note, the passing percentage was already adjusted to increase the number of passers. The report continued...

The 22.91-percent passing rate for the 2007 bar would have been much lower, perhaps an all-time low of 5 percent, had the passing rate not been adjusted from the traditional 75 percent to 70 percent. "Due to unusually strict corrections, it was decided to lower the passing grade to 70 percent," Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna said in a press conference.

That's how dreaded the exam is. That is also why BAR is pretty much feared. Imagine the fanfare. It is the only exam that catches mass media's attention from the first day of the examination up to the announcement of passers. Imagine the pressure and the rigors just to be called compañero or compañera or be admitted to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). Attorney - just a title added to your name subsequent to passing the BAR. But getting it may mean going extra mile and be a victor. To some, losing courage and despair. To a few, losing their very sanity.

September is one of my favorite months. I was born in September, that's why. Unfortunately, it might transform into one of my "almost" hated since the entire month is for the Bar.

Tomorrow I will be going to Manila to feel the chill of Bar's first Sunday. Last year, I joined the BAROPS (Bar operations) Committee for the last Sunday of the exam. As they say and based on what I have witnessed, 4th Sunday of the Bar is no less than delirious. And that's not an overstatement.

This time around, I will be witnessing how barristers manage butterflies in their stomach, constipation/lbm, death-defying pressure (whatever that means), and so much more. Thanks to the Bar's morbidity. Thinking that I will be taking the Bar next year sends me creeps. Oh my.

Good luck to my friends, batchmates, and other barristers who will be taking the Bar this year. Give it your best shot! Aja!

Nightmarish Birthday

2008-09-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Today's my birthday. But unlike my previous birthdays, today's the most nightmarish I've ever had.

It's like everything is lost...almost. I lost my job (though I am now working). I don't get to see my close friends/co-employees that often. School's over so I'm missing my classmates as well. Strange thing is, I feel that this is just the start. More terrifying things are yet to arrive. What's the feeling?

Before this day is a strong storm. After today is a deluge.

Have you ever felt that way? I know, it's not good to trust your instincts most of the time. And I'm not doing that for the longest time. That's not what law school has taught me. I do exercise judgment without taking sides, without surmises and conjectures. Never whimsical.

But just for today lemme entertain my instinct. It's just so sad. Given the fact that my loved ones called me up, I still want them near. I'm used to being alone and independent. But today, yes today, it feels so wrong.

I AM MISSIN' PEOPLE.

Top 3 Romantic Movie Quotes

2008-08-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

So you know Jerry Maguire's "You complete me" thingy. What other romatic movie lines scattered like wildfire?

For me, the top 3 romantic quotes include:

"So it's not gonna be easy, it's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I'm willing to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, everyday." - Duke of The Notebook (2004)

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I'd hoped to give you forever." - excerpt from Noah's letter to Allie

"You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain, lies, hate... It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing, and... What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you. Is this love, Tristan? I never imagined I'd know it for myself. My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me anymore. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine." - Yvaine of Stardust (2007)

"This is the story of the first and last time I fell in love of a beautiful, complicated, and fascinating woman who inhabit my soul. I am pretty sure you gonna leave me tomorrow, so I better say this when I have a chance. Whether we are together or apart, you will always be the woman of my life, the only man I will always envy is the man who wins your heart. Now I will always believe that it is my destiny to be that man. If we never see each other again, you are out walking one day and you feel certain presence beside you… that will be me, loving you wherever I am." - excerpt from Charlie's letter to Jordan, My Sassy Girl (2008)

I Asked..

2008-08-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

Confused why your prayers are left unanswered? Don't blame God. There are just 3 answers: YES, NO and WAIT. If it's a big NO, read this inspiring poem...

I Asked...

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things…

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.

I was given poverty, that I might be wise…

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God…

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things…

I got nothing I asked for –But everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken words were answered.

I am, among all, most richly blessed!

God is all-knowing (omniscient). We have no right to judge his plans. We are just His creatures and His plans are much much better than ours.

Kick-Off-Mania

2008-08-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

Last day of my CRC review. They are ready to take the BAR. If I am to ask myself: Am I ready for the kill? My answer will be in the negative. The thought of it sends me goose bumps.

08/08/08 - So?

2008-08-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

What's so significant about this day? 08/08/08. Triple 08. Nice number and nice repetition.

Sometimes it's astounding to know the relation of numbers to some events in our society. Numerologists would surely agree.

But sometimes numbers are senseless. Yeah. Oftentimes, we expect that something big will happen just because it is a good day according to numerologists. To your dismay, not everything will fall into the right place.

I won't say stop wishing. Just make things happen. It's all in the mind. And it doesn't stop there. Trust me.

Unrealized Christianity

2008-08-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

"I like Christ but I hate Christians who are not Christ-like" - Mahatma Gandhi

In one of his sermons, I heard a priest say: Gandhi once said "Christians claim their lives have been saved by Christ but their lives won't show it."

Yes it's true. Christians (myself included) say that they believe and love Christ. But their actions show the contrary.

Christianity we know today took centuries to congeal and be codified into regulated practice. For a long time, there were a variety of groups, calling themselves Christians, who believed a number of different things about Christ. We might never have known the full extent of this variety were it not for the discovery of some ancient texts.

"Seeing is believing." But God calls us to a life of faith that says, "believing is seeing."

Because of our non-biblical worldview, we are ignorant of the spiritual realm. If you look around you will see blind obedience amongst Christians. Believing is understanding. But can we say we believe when we don't understand ecclesiastical concepts? Much fear usually comes from ignorance. If we don't know how very BIG our God is and just how tiny our enemy is, then we can never really understand. Satan intimidates us a little and many back off or retreat. What do we do now?

All we have to etch in our mind is how to live the four spiritual laws:

1. God loves us and offers a wonderful plan for our life.

2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.

3. Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.

4. We must individually receive Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.

Faith no less than works must characterize the perfect Christian. Faith can move mountains. But without action, it is nothing.

The Interview With God

2008-07-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn on my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2

Click on the remote control, sure you'll get BAD NEWS. Everyday life is injecting us heavy doses of bad news.

But there's one good news that lingers. GOD. He's the GOOD NEWS. And He will remain that way forever. Because He is the beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega.

Here's a nice clip to remind us each day that God is good and he will never abandon us no matter what. This video is moving so I'm sharing it in my friendster accounts for years now. I'm getting positive feedback. I hope it can touch more and more lives.

Click here for "The Interview With God" video.

A friend once criticized this clip. He said it is blasphemous because the writer is telling a story which never happened in the first place. Simply put, the writer is telling a lie using God as the subject.

My stand is on the contrary. Blasphemy is profanation. It's the act of desecration. But as I see it, nothing is desecrated in the clip. God is never put to bad light. In fact, it was something enlightening. The words are exquisitely chosen to convey a strong message and to nurture faith.

God gave us everything including our talents. And the writer is just using his God-given talent to draw people closer to Him. It's an act of gratitude, an act of worship.

D.I.S.capade

2008-07-26T22:54:00.000-07:00

Our D.I.S.capade last night.

Go to ImageShack® to Create your own Slideshow

Songs That Touches Your Soft Spot

2008-07-18T00:49:00.000-07:00

Songs come and go. Some songs are crappy. But some songs are worth keeping. Below is a repertoire of truly meaningful songs.

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My Wish by Rascal Flatts

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you wanna go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anything...

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, more than anything...

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish. Yeah, yeah.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish (my wish, for you).

This is my wish (my wish, for you)
I hope you know somebody loves you (my wish, for you).
May all your dreams stay big (my wish, for you).

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Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade

Best thing about tonight's that we’re not fighting
Could it be that we have been this way before
I know you don’t think that I am trying......
I know you’re wearing thin down to the core..

But hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night that i will fall for you
Over again
Don’t make me change my mind
Or I won’t live to see another day
I swear its true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find

This is not what I intended
I always swore to you I'd never fall apart
You always thought that I was stronger
I may have failed
But I have loved you from the start
Oohhh...

But hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
It's impossible

So breathe in so deep
Breathe me in
I'm yours to keep
And hold onto your words
'Cause talk is cheap
And remember me tonight
When you're asleep

Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find

Tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find

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Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

La da da da la da da da
La da da da da da da da da

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Keep holding on
Keep holding on

There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

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Your Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can’t replace
And now that I’m strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I’ll find deep inside me I can be the one
I will never let you fallI’ll stand up with you forever
I’ll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashingAnd stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I’ll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)
I’ll stand up with you forever
I’ll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
'Cause you’re my, you’re my, my, my true love, my whole heart

Please don’t throw that away
'Cause I’m here for you
Please don’t walk away and
Please tell me you’ll stay woah, stay woah
Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I’ll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray

I will never let you fall
I’ll stand up with you forever
I’ll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven[to fade]