...

here's my itinerary for my flight back home. im departing at 7am and will get to manila the following day, at around 11pm. im excited to go home to see my family and friends especially since it's christmas, but also sad to leave this place and the many opportunities within grasp for travel, meeting people and experiencing new things.

ang bilis ng mga araw...i can't believe it's been two months already. corny but it's true that time passes by so quickly when you're having fun. i know i've had my moments of homesickness and more than once wished i were waking up to my own bed and having breakfast with my mom or watching dvds with my father... sobrang daming times that i wished i were back home...especially when walking to and from the office and my fingers are starting to feel like popsicles :p pero pasko e. christmas is a time to be with family and loved ones. di ba. if it weren't for christmas, i still would want to stay longer -- as if it were all up to me! mga one or two months more, hehe. i still have in mind some places na gusto ko ma-visit and things i wish i could do... nothing important really, pero it would've been nice if ever :)

i wish i'd get to return here in the US one day, whether on another work assignment or as a tourist. or green-card holder. naks. hopefully during summer or spring naman, so i wouldn't have to worry about getting colds and i can go around and take pictures without hand gloves...and i can wear pants without the oh-so-itchy leg warmers. i really wouldn't miss those. hehe.

anyway, to my friends in manila...see you soon. it's been a really good two months. i feel very blessed. thank you for the prayers and the well wishes.

to the friends i'm not seeing for a while, take good care of yourselves. we will still see each other one day, di ba. i know that for sure.

autograph ito

Favorites...
Favorite Color: lumot green, black and white (lately)
Favorite Food: breakfast meals, desserts, Pinoy dishes esp. sinigang
Favorite Band: eraserheads, jars of clay, true faith, hale
Favorite Movie: madami. i love watching movies. the hours, sense and sensibility, ever after, fellowship of the ring, two towers, great expectations. sobrang dami.
Favorite Sport: wala, pero I've played badminton and volleyball.
Favorite Season: Christmas season. Hehe.
Favorite Day Of the Week: Friday to Sunday.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: coffee tapos may nuts. chocolate tapos may nuts.
Favorite Time of Day: 11AM siguro, i feel most alert around this time. and whenever light is good sa labas, so i can take nice pictures.

9 Currents...
Current Mood: hungry and a bit anxious.
Current Taste: same taste i've had for a while now. i don't think i've changed much, really.
Current Clothes: leggings, jacket, socks, t-shirt.
Current Desktop Picture: default HP laptop wallpaper. corny no.
Current nail Color: no nail polish.
Current Time: 12:29 pm
Current Surroundings: blue couch, magulong living room, chicago apartment
Current Annoyance(s): couldn't bring my room temperature to a comfortable level. ang lamig tuloy.
Current Thought: what do i do next after brunch? kasya kaya lahat ng gamit sa mga luggages ko?

8 Firsts...
First Best Friend: mayee t. mora (back in grade 1). i wonder if she's in friendster.
First Kiss: 14 years ago.
First Screen Name: pong
First Pet: dog
First Piercing: ears (and the only)
First Crush: keno and gary v
First Music: i'm a little teapot short and stout...

7 Lasts.....
Last Drink: wala pa today, oh no! tap water, last night.
Last Car Ride: on my way to the la guardia airport
Last Kiss: hmmm. kahit siguro wag na natin sagutin.
Last Movie Seen: sa cinema, Harry Potter 4. sa TV, Santa Who?
Last Phone call: friend
Last CD Played: Gary V

6 Have You Evers....
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: yes
Have You Ever Broken the Law: always. jaywalking.
Have You Ever Been Arrested: hindi pa naman.
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: hindi pa rin. ginawin ako e. hehe...
Have You Ever Been on TV: yes. sa lunch date when i was in grade school. we sang a christmas carol, i think.

5 Things....
Things You're Wearing: my clothes lang - socks, leggings, shirt, 2 jackets.
Things You Did Last Night? rode the train, bought jeans, ate chicken tenders, started packing, bummed around with my turtle
Things You Can Hear Right Now: just myself typing and the noise from the heater
Things You Can't Live Without: madami, pero i can live without cellphone pala. that's nice to know. lately, i can not live without a lip balm, jackets, hand gloves, body oil or lotion, leg warmers.
Things You Do When You're bored: friendster, take photos of my turtle or take videos, play around photoshop, wash my clothes (lately), blog, watch TV esp. when becker's on or the king of queens.

4 Countries You've Been To: Philippines, US, Colombia, and Japan (pero stop-over lang)

4 People You Can Tell Anything To... (without getting offended): Joy, Katrin, Sharon... madami, i have really good friends and don't easily get offended.

2 Choices...
1. Black or White: black
2. Hot or Cold: hot

1 Wish...
I'm home.

Pasko na Naman

Paskong pasko talaga ang feeling kapag malamig, may christmas tree, at may friends kang kasama. Ang saya, kuha ito sa lobby ng 180 North La Salle where I have been holding office for the past few weeks. We were on our way to another friend's suite to have our "Babalik ka rin sa Pilipinas" party.

Si Che 'yung kasama ko. Isa sa mga una kong naging kaibigan dito. Actually, sa Philippines pa lang, nakilala ko na sya. Sabay kaming nagpa-interview sa US Embassy at sabay rin halos dumating dito sa Chicago. Sabay bumili ng groceries at na-excite nang makuha ang aming SAP number. Sarap kasama 'yan at kalaro sa charades. Hehe.

Pasko na. Ang saya.

I heart NY

Folks, I have been to New York from last Friday until Tuesday and I compleeeetely loved it there! 'Di ko alam paano ko ikuwento sa inyo lahat. It's a really big city and i tried to do so many things in my short visit there. I honestly don't know where to start. Hehe. Sige, I guess I'll begin by posting some of my favorite pictures from the trip. Here they are:


Statue of Liberty


Times Square


Sunset in New Jersey


View of Manhattan from the Empire State Building


Drawings for loved ones who perished in the 9/11 tragedy.


At the Ground Zero

Ground Zero is that place where the two towers of the World Trade Center once stood. There's construction work going on there now and a subway station right next to it. Around the construction fence, you would see posters commemorating the 9/11 tragedy and pictures to remember heroes who selflessly helped in the rescue. The place is at the corner of a busy street, not one where you could be easily silent and solemn which is what i had thought it would be. It was a difficult place to visit, and I didn't want to take pictures so much because I thought it would be unethical to do so... I took lots of pictures anyway :(


At the Central Park, Manhattan


A pond in Central Park, Manhattan

Central Park is where Finn and Estella met and sort of kissed while drinking in a fountain years after being separated from each other in that movie, "Great Expectations". I loved that movie and just had to visit the park :)

--ooo--

I also went to other places like the Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral along 5th Avenue. Take a look at the album here to see photos from these places and other pictures from New York.

Grand Central is that train station where the animals in the "Madagascar" movie tried to go to in order to escape zoo life. It's really grand and it's central, like the zebra in the movie said :)

Rockefeller Center was featured in that "Home Alone" movie where Macaulay Culkin got lost in NY. It's the one where there's a big Christmas tree right in front of a tall building.

5th Avenue is that place where a lot of people go to and shop. It's probably the equivalent of Magnificent Mile here in downtown Chicago. The NBA store and the Trump Tower can be found there.

--ooo--

Feel na feel ko talaga 'tong NY. Ayoko pang umalis because the city is so interesting and the people so diverse. You won't feel like a fish out of water because everyone seems to be from somewhere else anyway. It's truly a global city.

Kahit 2AM na, marami pa ring pwedeng gawin especially around Times Square and 5th Avenue because the shops are usually open 24 hours or until late at night! Sarap mamasyal. Sarap kumain especially in Chinatown. Sarap mag-shop dahil mas mura duon compared to Chicago. You can buy shirts for $2.50 and art works for $5. This is really cheap because in Chicago, the cheapest shirts would cost around 9$. And you hardly find art works or anything sold in the streets. Akalain mo, madaming bangketa sa New York!

It's such a big city and there are so many sights to see and things to do. I really didn't want to go home yet... grabe, I heart NY.

--ooo--

Salamat to my friend Mac who took care of everything for me. Sobra, thanks Mac! Sana makabawi rin ako when you go home to Manila. Ikaw naman ilibre ko! Thanks, again!

ligo kami. sarap.

new routine

i have a new routine and i quite like it :) everyday starting this week until my last day here in chicago, i have decided to go out on the streets during lunch break and take photos of people and places here at the downtown. i'll pick one photo per day and share that with you all. here's one i took yesterday. it was taken along north michigan avenue on my way to the millenium park. even dogs have to "bundle up" somehow to keep themselves warm :)

p.s. it's not an easy routine to make because it's usually -13C to -15C outside even during daytime. pero i really enjoy taking photos that's why i do it. usually, pumapasok ako sa mga shops or buildings para lang magpainit. then lalabas uli. then pasok na naman sa susunod. hehe :)

A Different Mona Lisa

Botero's Mona Lisa

I came across this painting while visiting a good friend in Bogota. My friend was the one who first became fascinated with the artist's unique style upon seeing a painting from the Lonely Planet. We were lucky enough to come across a museum exhibiting the artist's most famous and beloved works while on a journey through Bogota's La Candelaria district. It was the Botero Museum. Entrance was free and taking photos were allowed. Aliw.

As you can observe from the painting above, Fernando Botero's subjects were painted or sculpted out of the normal proportion. The people or animals in his paintings or sculptures would be fat, bloated, inflated but beautiful, nonetheless. I really can't explain his work that well, so i had to search for websites that can say more than i can. Here's the best description i can find about Botero's art:

His work is characterized by inflated, rounded forms, painted with smooth, almost invisible brushstrokes, puffing up to an exaggerated size human figures, natural features, and objects of all kinds, celebrating the life within them while mocking their role in the world. Click here to read more.

I definitely agree with what the above statement says about the subjects celebrating life within them. You feel this in the colors of the paintings and the fluidity of the strokes or the form, if it were a sculpture. You would also see this in the faces of the people in the painting or their occupation -- they are either dancing, playing musical instruments, bathing, or sitting in a party, or under a tree as a family. You would get the idea that the people in the paintings actually live and not just exist.

Anyway, I hope you can look at his other works when you can. To me, Botero doesn't only paint a subject or a theme but he creates an entirely different world for everyone to experience and see. A wonderful world at that. His art tells me to embrace myself as I currently am, with all my shortcomings or bulges in all the wrong places. Actually, not just embrace but celebrate!

Footprints in the Snow

It was my first time today to walk on snow this thick. The snow was about half an inch to one inch thick maybe, although its most likely thicker during the night when it was really snowing. its definitely thicker in other places not readily accessible to passers by.

I didn't have an idea how it would be like to walk on snow...and I probably can not describe it close enough either. The snow we're having would be similar to finely crushed halo-halo ice but it is many times lighter when you weigh it yet many times colder when you touch it. Your skin will feel like burning just seconds after releasing a snowball from your hand. I can't describe talaga how walking in it would feel like... I guess it would be like walking on pure white sand along the wet portion of the shoreline but it's more pleasant because the sand doesn't stick and get heavy on your shoe. It just melts away :)

The footprints above were, from left, that of Arnold's, mine, and Ann's. These were made along North La Salle on our way to their apartment so we can give ourselves a break from the cold and allow our blood to thaw. We came out today to attend a church service and go window shopping. We didn't get anything except cold hands, face and feet. Plus lots of pictures of the snow, of course -- like the one below :)



Snowfall would be much, much thicker come January. I wouldn't be able to see that na kasi I'd be back in Manila by then. So, probably no snowmans for me while I'm here. Hehe.

my adobo

luto ko yan, its adobong baboy and im proud to say na masarap yan :)
not american adobo, nor pinoy adobo. just my adobo.

i don't cook back home (except pritong tokwa or corned beef) pero dito sa chicago, i love to cook :) well, i have to cook, dahil otherwise i would be spending too much on food that i don't superbly enjoy.

the food that you can buy in fast food places here usually cost $5 to 6$ -- that would either be a large bowl of spaghetti w/ drinks, a large slice of pizza w/ drinks, or a combo meal from mcdonald's, a chinese place or a new orleans kitchen. these would be pretty okay, but you really can't eat them everyday, twice or thrice a day. at some point, you would really start craving for home-cooked meals. i know i did after only being here for a couple of days.

that's when i decided i have to cook :)

here are the ingredients to my adobo. nothing different nor special, hehe, but i want to share it just the same. you have sugar, pepper, garlic and onions (not shown in photo), soy sauce and vinegar. i put a little bit of oil lang panggisa. kulang lang ng laurel leaves which is difficult to find from where i am. pero that's it. i marinated the pork beforehand, so its more malasa.



maybe i can cook my adobo for you one day? malay natin :)

i love this (particular) game

i can't believe i haven't told you yet. i watched the nba last november 12. not on ESPN, but live here in Chicago at the United Center :)

the game i saw was the one against utah jazz -- sabi nila, it was kirk hinrich's game daw kasi he reaaally played so well in that game. i couldn't agree more, because after the game ay nagka-crush ako kay kirk. hehehe. so eventually, the chicago bulls won, 101 to 98, AND because of that, may libreng bigmac ang mga tao :) there's this mcdo coupon kasi that each spectator receives at the entrance gate. and the coupon says we would each get a bigmac, if the chicago bulls won and scored 100 points! o di ba, ayos :)

i didn't plan on going that day but my friends here had an extra ticket and offered me to take it. i couldn't say no, kasi they all seemed excited and told me that i have to at least see one NBA game while im here. kaya, although im not really a basketball enthusiast, sumama na rin ako. it was a good decision. i had so much fun --- the video, which you can watch by clicking on the picture above, should give proof of this :)

You can see other videos I took by clicking here.
Watch from a small window for better resolution and make sure you have Quicktime. Oki?

we got the cheapest seats, pero it cost me almost 50$, at utang pa yun, hehe. but...really, it was worth it. look at the videos and witness the energy and excitement everywhere. basta, if ever you're here in the US, anywhere here... make sure you watch a game, whether it's football or baseball. it's truly exhilirating :)

Enjoy!

Wish Ko Lang

December na :) Ang dami kong wishes for the coming year, not so much for Christmas dahil I think I have everything I need naman materially. Eto ang ilan sa aking mga munting wishes:

1. Sana matuto na ako ng seryosong photography gamit ang 35mm SLR camera na nabili ko from my kuya ng hulugan :) Hindi ko na mahintay na matuto. Sobra.
   


2. I also want to take swimming lessons para naman sa summer e, makalangoy with style and gusto. Kahit hindi masyado sexy sa swimsuit. Di ba. Para naman hindi na lang puro tampisaw on the shore with kids. Pwede na mag-snorkel sa malalim :)
   


3. Eto pa. Gusto ko rin matuto ng Spanish. Matagal ko na gusto matuto ng third language pero ngayon ko lang napag-desisyunan na Spanish ang aaralin ko. Meron na rin akong mga ilang words and phrases na alam. Tulad ng, "harry potter y caliz de fuego" na ang ibig sabihin ay "harry potter and the goblet of fire" at ng "salsa de tomate" which means, "ketchup" :)
   


4. Ano pa ba. Ahh. Gusto kong makarating sa Bohol, Banawe at sa Singapore. Preferrably kapag na-fulfill ko na ang items #1 and #2 above. Hehe. Kahit dalawa lang sa tatlong ito ang mapuntahan ko e happy na ako. Or sige, kahit Singapore lang.
   


5. I also want to learn how to play the guitar. Kahit 2 songs lang or 3. I have a few songs in mind that I'd like to learn. I'll choose depending on which is the easiest to learn. Hehe.
   

I think meron pa. Pero these are the priorities. Ang tagal ko na sila gusto gawain pero I have been putting them off...I don't know why. Maybe just too lazy or hindi nam-motivate kasi walang kasama...Alam mo yun. Or maybe just too lazy :(

-ooo-

I have other wishes for the coming year and things I'm praying for. Not just for myself but also for my friends, family, church... Ganon naman talaga ako every year. Daming hopes and wishes. Important yan for me...to hope and to dream, despite the disappointments and the struggles in the past. Pero, important rin to realize that we don't always get everything we want no matter how hard we work on it or no matter how faithfully we pray for it. Ganon talaga. We can not always get what we want in this life, but we can be assured that God never stops caring for us and knows what's best for us :) We may not know the reasons why we weren't given something we have been praying for but it's really like that. We just have to trust in His infinite wisdom and unfailing love :)

-ooo-

Ay teka...may naisip na pala akong wish for Christmas. Perfume. 'Yung Ladies' Perfume ng Puma or 'yung Incanto ng Salvatore Ferragamo. Hehe. Natuklasan ko lang 'yung perfume ng Puma kanina sa Walgreens while buying groceries. Ang bango nya :) Paging, friends? :) Kung walang mag-regalo nito, okay lang din dahil may Rustan's GC rin naman from the company worth 2500 pesos ata. I think enough na yun.

Ayan, excited na ako :)

ang lamig today. temperature was around 4 degrees celsius pero it feels like -2 degrees celsius kapag humangin. thats below freezing point kaya para kang nasa loob ng freezer kapag nasa labas ka and after 10 minutes of walking, numb na ang mga pisngi at ilong mo dahil sa lamig. that is if walang takip ang face mo. gaya ko.

may snow drizzles pati kanina. flurry ata ang tawag duon... nakakapuwing :) aliw. pers taym, e.

-ooo-

someone sent me this poem today... its one of the saddest poems i have read. and i have read a lot of such kind. i really pray this would be the last time this person has to come across a poem as sad as this one and had to send it to someone... sana this heartache would be his last...


Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write for example, 'The night is shattered
and the blue stars shiver in the distance.'

The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

Through nights like this one I held her in my arms.
I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.

She loved me, sometimes I loved her too.
How could one not have loved her great still eyes.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.

To hear immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to a pasture.

What does it matter that my love could not keep her.
The night is shattered and she is not with me.

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

My sight searches for her as though to go to her.
My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.

The same night whitening the same trees.
We, of that time, are no longer the same.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her.
My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.

Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before.
Her voice. Her bright body. Her infinite eyes.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her.
Love is short, forgetting is so long.

Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms
my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer
and these the last verses that I write for her.

hand-painted sky

pasensya na muna. wala akong kwento. just photos to share. all of the photos below were taken last sunday afternoon. i went to the navy pier hoping i could take one of the 1-hr boat tours to lake michigan. pero there were no boat rides available pala... so we ended up taking pictures na lang and looking for things to buy as pasalubong. wala rin kami nabili. hehe.



i think mas picturesque pa rin ang sky sa manila :)

music for money, money for food

click here and witness an engaging performance by the bucket boys of chicago, who were performing in front of the famous water tower along magnificent mile. they're a bunch of young black men na nagtatambol using empty buckets of...i don't know what :) they were really quite entertaining and the crowd was really impressed. including me. i just had to stop and take some photos and videos and drop a coin in their bucket! they truly are talented and well coordinated!

anyway, do watch the video. sorry, very limited lang, the video is just 30 seconds long. hope you still enjoy it though :)

note that you need quicktime to be able to play the video. if you don't have quicktime yet, kindly visit www.quicktime.com to download and install the free installer.

have a good day!

Love Song for a Saviour

Please don't let this one pass by. It's very beautiful.

I came across this song this early Sunday morning...its a song of praise that I'd like to share with you all. I was really blessed by it. The title of the song is "With Every Breath" and it was sung/performed by Sixpence None the Richer w/ Jars of Clay. Here is the complete lyrics of the song:

Hallelujah from the heavens
Hallelujah in the heights above the earth
Hallelujah all His angels
Hallelujah for the last will be first
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

Hallelujah in the morning
Hallelujah for the beauty of His scars
Hallelujah in the twilight
Hallelujah sun and moon and shining stars
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside

For all your times of laughter
In every hopeful prayer
When the world weighs on your shoulders
Through sorrow and your despair
With everything, with every breath, praise the Lord
Let everything, let every breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything, let every breath praise the Lord

When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside

To download the MP3, go here. Just click the "Download" link beside the song title and choose to save the file in your computer.

-ooo-

The song is beautiful because God Himself is beautiful...His love endures and is constant throughout our coming and going, our sleep as well as our waking, our laughter, most especially in our tears... He truly deserves praise, much more than what we could give, because He deserves praise with each and every breath.

Postcard from the Windy City

To see more photos of Chicago, click on the image above. Hope you enjoy them. Have a good day!

icame, isaw, (ibought) ipod

sobrang tagal na that i have been imagining how this moment would feel like. months na. ngayon, its here, its real, its mine, its ipod. shuffle, at least :)


ako at ang aking ipod

i took a few minutes off from work today and walked along the Magnificent Mile to visit the Apple store. the store wasn't that huge pero it was spacious and techie-looking enough to be a bit intimidating...there were displays of their latest and greatest on top of large white tables and counters. it felt like a laboratory somehow or an operating room to me. pero on top of the operating tables would be these handsome looking gadgets bearing an apple icon on them. there would be laptops everywhere, imacs, nanos, minis, ipods with speakers, ipods with headphones, ipods connected to laptops (displaying various apple software, the only thing i could recognize would be itunes), ipod accessories like socks, arm bands....everything ipod. pero i ignored them all. i knew what i was looking for and my heart was set on buying the simplest, the humblest, and the cheapest, hehe -- ipod shuffle, 512 MB for a dollar less than 100. i just know, this is for me.

sige na nga, i did look at the nano...but i didn't see any reason why i would trade the shuffle for the nano's lcd, photo library, calendar and the oh-so slim casing. i didn't need those. i just wanted to listen to my favorite music. its that simple :) whenever. wherever.

so, i did what i came to do in that store and walked back to my place kaagad. as soon as i got back, i connected the ipod to my laptop and installed itunes. after that, pumili na ako ng mga songs to fill my ipod with. im glad lee placed his mp3 files in our support laptop! for sentimental purposes, im sharing my first ipod playlist to you all. here's a list of the 83 songs i have in my shuffle, which would play for around 5.6 hours:



*unwell by matchbox twenty was the first song the shuffle played. it was a song i had listened to a lot a few months back :)

nice no? if you'd like to listen to a song from this list, just email me and ill send the files to you. id really be glad to do that for you :)

-ooo-

kwento ko lang. in the Apple store, different kinds of people were coming in. from the balding suit-wearing executives, the moms wearing mom pants buying colorful ipod socks, the geeky ones checking out the imacs or the latest ipod-compatible speakers, the shiny happy young ones who already have ipods in their hands or pockets checking out the latest itunes...it was pretty cool. the only place where i would usually observe a similarly diverse crowd would be in food courts. galing. i really think music could be the universal language :)

Face Analyzer

Dati kahawig ko raw si Plinky Recto. Tapos, naging Natalie Portman. Hehe. Ngayon, si Jessica Alba naman. O di ba, dark angel.

Hindi naman ako ang nagsabi nito...this is according to some friends and a website called Face Analyzer which asks you to submit a photo of your face that it uses to analyze your personality and, if you signup, it also tells you which Hollywood personality or famous celebrity ang kahawig mo :) Ayan, sabi, si Jessica nga raw. Aliw no. Try nyo.

HUNGER: DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?

It is estimated that one billion people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. That's roughly 100 times as many as those who actually die from these causes each year.

About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five.

Famine and wars cause about 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often. The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families facing extreme poverty are simply unable to get enough food to eat.

In 1999, a year marked by good economic news, 31 million Americans were food insecure, meaning they were either hungry or unsure of where their next meal would come from. Of these Americans, 12 million were children. The Hunger Site began on June 1, 1999.

VISIT THE HUNGER SITE: http://www.thehungersite.com

Please remember to click every day to give help and hope to those with nowhere to turn. Every click counts in the life of a hungry person.

"PCF Horizon Website"

Mga folks, bisitahin nyo rin paminsan itong isa pang website na ginugugulan ko rin ng panahon:

http://pcf-horizon.blogspot.com

Website ito ng aming church, ang PCF Horizon Ministries. If you're looking for a meaningful Sunday service, or seeking for God's presence in your life, if you're searching for truth which you can believe, or simply a place where you can belong...dalaw kayo sa amin. Everyone's welcome here. Sabi nga di ba:

"For everyone who asks receives; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." - Matthew 7:8

Mahal ko 'tong church na 'to and the God whom we are serving kaya sana dalaw kayo hindi lang sa website kundi pati na rin sa church :) Our church is in Recto, Manila. Nasa website ang exact address. I pray that one day, I'll see you there.

"Rhea's Wedding"



A happy day for a beautiful and dear friend who deserves all the love and blessings this world can offer. My best wishes and prayers are with you.

Click here to view more photos from their wedding.

"Symphony of the Heart"






Yeeeeebaaaaa! Nakanood din sa wakas! Ang galing ng kuya Gary V nating lahat! I felt really happy and blessed to have been there...kahit nasa tuktok ako ng Araneta Coliseum, feel na feel ko ang music niya! Very OPM, very soulful, very glorious, very Gary V!

Congratulations to all the people who made the concert possible (para namang mababasa nila 'to, no...hehe). It was really a night to remember. Manood kayo kapag may repeat and get nearer seats! Trust me, it would be worth it.

"Gary V"



Symphony of the Heart
September 2, 2005 / 8:00 PM
Araneta Coliseum
Musical Director: Ryan Cayabyab

Matagal ko nang gustong manood ng concert ni Gary V, kaya kahit may financial crisis ako, e hindi ko na palalampasin 'to :)

So...it's final. I've officially expressed my desire to leave Accenture by end of May next year to both my Manager and Senior Lead. I'm not sure where I'm going next. I hope to find a job in Singapore, just like my other friends who are leaving the company today and off to Singapore over the weekend.

Hay.

Iboto Natin si Mig!




Napanood ko lang sya mag-perform kaninang umaga. He played the piano and sang "Baby, I Love Your Way" and I should say, he's really talented and has an admirable attitude. Not really sure if bagay sya maging lead vocalist ng INXS band, mas okay pa ata kung solo. Hehe. Manalo or matalo man si Mig, suportahan taka!

From Paulo Coelho's, Eleven Minutes, a novel I'm reading now:



It's true that we only know each other when we come up against our own limits, but it's wrong too, because it isn't necessary to know everything about ourselves; human beings weren't made solely to go in search of wisdom, but also to plough the land, wait for rain, plant the wheat, make the bread.

I am two women: one wants to have all the joy, passion and adventure that life can give me. The other wants to be a slave to routine, to family life, to the things that can be planned and achieved. I'm a housewife and a prostitute, both of us living in the same body and doing battle with each other.

Galing no. Nakaka-relate ako.

"On Happiness"

The world is a beautiful place
To be born into,

If you don't mind happiness not always being
So very much fun,

If you don't mind a touch of hell now and then
Just when everything is fine

Because even in heaven
They don't sing all the time

- Taken from a high school textbook on World Literature entitled, "Gems"

"Malate Sights"

"Anita"



This is Anita, my cute avatar :) Create your own avatar online for free, just click here. Enjoy!

"Limang Bagay na Pinaka-ayaw Ko Kapag Umuulan"

• 5. Maputik. Hassle lalo na kapag naka-sandals ka. Di ka mapapakali hanggat di mo napupunasan ang talampakan mo. Sayang din ang pedicure mo dahil sisiksik ang mga lupa sa kuko ng paa mo. Na-imagine nyo?
  


• 4. Baha. Bad trip 'to dahil siguradong ma-trapik. Wala akong masakyan. Hirap. Lalo na pauwi at nag-iinarte ang mga tricycle driver sa amin. Kung nakasakay ka naman sa tricycle na walang tapalogo (?) (basta, eto 'yung plastic na nagsisilbing 'raincoat' ng tricycle), bad trip din dahil pwede kang matalsikan ng putik kapag may nag-overtake sa sinasakyan mo. Na-sprinkle-an ka pa ngayon ng tubig galing sa kalye. Kung may kotse na sana ako...


• 3. Kung may pasok, malas, dahil masarap magbabad sa kama kapag umuulan :) Nakakainggit lalo kung ang mga kasama mo sa bahay ay walang pasok dahil suspended ang klase sa mga eskuwela at ang trabaho sa mga government offices. Oh well. Bad trip naman talaga tuwing may pasok. Ewan ko lang senyo.


• 2. Eto. Mga pusang nagre-reunite sa bubong ninyo o bakuran ng kapitbahay nyo kapag tumila na ang ulan sa gabi at nag-iingay nang walang pakundangan. Ang sarap katayin, mga pasaway!


• 1. At ang pinaka-ayaw ko kapag umuulan -- mga patak ng ulan galing sa mga bubungan ng kung ano-ano na tatama sa bumbunan mo kapag saglit mong naibaba ang payong mo! Malay mo ba kung anong pinagdaanan ng patak na 'yun -- bakit kinakailangan sakto ang pagtama nito malapit sa puyo mo?!

Wala namang layuning makabuluhan ang listahang ito. Gusto ko lang ibahagi sa inyo :) Para sa akin kasi, malaking pagsubok talaga sa pasensya ko ang pag-biyahe papasok sa trabaho at pag-uwi sa Novaliches kapag tag-ulan. Tulad kanina, hassle talaga.

Nasaan si Hannah?



Eto ang mga nag-gagandahan at nag-gagwapuhang kabataang miyembro ng aming simbahan. Kita nyo si Ate Hannah? :)

Para sa iba pang mga larawan kuha ng mga nagdaang linggo, punta kayo dito:
http://littlealtars.multiply.com/photos/album/31

"Amidst the Gloriagate Scandal"

I just wanted to share with you what our church (PCF Horizon Ministries) stands for and believes to be the right course of action amidst the Gloriagate scandal: We believe that Pres. GMA's "confession" was orchestrated by God. Let us not put matters into our own hands by insisting on People Power or any unconstitutional means to change the administration. Let us ask the Lord to finish what He has started while we stay sensitive to His leading and guidance.

Let us continue to pray for our country.

Live 8

Every single day, 30,000 children die, needlessly, of extreme poverty.

In order to help fight poverty and world hunger you only need to sign up.
Please take a few moments and visit this website: www.live8live.com
There's a link there that reads "Online now". Click that link and provide needed information such as last name, first name and email address.

"The 90 /10 Principle"
by Stephen Covey

Discover the 90/10 Principle.

It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations). What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light., but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example:

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt.

You have no control over what just what happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15- minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it. You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. There never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time. Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life.

"Sa FX at Tryke"


Kuha ang mga ito kagabi habang sakay ako ng FX at tricycle pauwi sa amin. Mga alas-diyes na ng gabi. Karamihan sa mga kuha, madilim, kaya kelangan pang i-adjust sa MS Office Picture Manager (walang Adobe Photoshop dito sa amin). Malikot rin ang mga kuha, dahil baku-baku ang daan at nung minsan, nataon pa sa humps. Hehe. Masayang kumuha habang nagbibiyahe at gabi, dahil hindi mo masasabi kung anong kalalabasan. Minsan ayos, kadalasan hindi...pero ganun pa man, enjoy ka :) Ingat lang, dahil baka mahulog ang kamera.

"Never be afraid to entrust an unknown future to an all-knowing God. When you have nothing left but Him, you will find that God is always more than enough."

"I am very fond of photography."



Kung si Howard Hughes ay mahilig sa aviation, ako naman sa photography. I take pictures of people, things, places -- anything that I find interesting or beautiful.
Hindi naman mahirap to find beauty in the everyday or the ordinary. I guess you just have to look closer and let the object or the view connect with you in anyway possible. I believe that the world around us can change us, if only we would take the time to look closer and to be silent, to listen. Whenever i feel changed, that's when i take out my camera and take photos. Siguro, gusto kong laging maalala ang sandaling iyon.

I take snapshots of the little things that make up my everyday, not just the milestones in our lives -- the towels i use to dry my hair, the cup of coffee i drink in the morning, the curtain as it sways, my mother as she sleeps beside me, the food i eat or the friend sitting next to me...anything and anyone that in someway i find beautiful.

If you are interested to view my favorite photos, you may visit my online "Favorites" album here. I will try to upload a photo once a week and share them with you. Sana you'd also be able to appreciate them as I do.

"Hands-On Manila"



Not many years ago, I heard about this organization which offers anyone that is willing, regardless of profession, various opportunities to help those who are in need. I immediately became interested and looked for ways in which I could join the group. Despite this fervent desire, it took a while for me to find my way to signing up as one of the volunteers -- I didn't know anyone kasi who was a volunteer himself and work became toxic as well so there was no spare time at all... Anyway, I finally discovered how easy it was to be a volunteer through their website, www.handsonmla.org, which I learned about through the electronic Papemelroti newsletter. Yes, I have signed up for the Papemelroti newsletter and yes, that's the store where you buy your recycled stationeries...

Eto na nga, to formally introduce this organization, here's a text which I copied from the Hands-On Manila Yahoo! Groups Home Page:
Hands On Manila Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-sectarian, private organization founded in 2001. We offer flexible volunteer opportunities to anyone who has a few hours to spare. We recruit, coordinate, and educate volunteers in the different service projects involving children's welfare, environment, housing, education, disabled, etc.

To join, one must attend an orientation that is held monthly. There's an orientation coming up this June 28, 6-7PM at Powerbooks Megamall. For details, you can call 843-7044 or 843-5231. After that, you would have to choose a project of your choice -- there's building a house, caring for the street children or the elders, caring for Zoo animals, volunteering for various museums and libraries, teaching computers to kids that are around 7 to 15 years old....madami, there's one that should fit your personality :) Tapos nyan, you have to call the organizer and sign your name up then lastly, you have to SHOW UP!

This weekend, I am planning to volunteer for the Museo Brigade. In this project, volunteers are to chip in and help out in the Museo Pambata operations as tour guides, ushers, ticket counter sellers, marshals and of course sort out books in the Resource Library. Sounds boring? Not for me :)

"Rebonded!"


So... after giving much thought into it, i finally decided to have my hair rebonded. The work was done last weekend in a salon near Fiesta Carnival in Cubao and it cost me Php 1600, five hours of sitting and having to watch local TV shows, head and scalp aches from all the pulling and the hair ironing! Sakit pala gawain nito! Sana naman worth it lahat... ano sa palagay nyo? *wink

"Me as Carrie"


From L-R: Snow White (Ech), Miranda (Zen), Charlotte (Car), Samantha (Marlin), and Carrie (Me).

This photo was taken from our Trumpets class showcase entitled "A Super Fairy Tale…Snow White and Beyond" held in Megamall Cinema 11 last May 27, 2005 in which I was casted as Carrie of Sex and the City. In the story, I was summoned by Snow White's sisters to do a make-over of their Ate Snow White who has become an old maid after refusing to marry his Prince Charming. The play was directed by our class head teacher, Ms. Sweet Plantado-Tiongson.

I just want to thank everyone who supported me while I was attending the two-month long workshop -- Anthony (for being very encouraging, understanding and caring althroughout), Marlin (for the merienda, the 'pautangs', and the cheering up!), all my classmates (you were all fabulous!), my mother (for waking up just to open the door and for encouraging me), my Ate Elaine (who watched the showcase and invited her friends pa and even took videos!), my senior team lead (Kit, who allowed me to leave earlier than usual so I can attend the rehearsals), and my RTS teammates (for all the well wishes...kahit hindi kayo nanuod, I know that your support was there). Thanks all -- this was truly a dream come true!

"Lovella-Paolo Nuptial"



Please feel free to view some photos taken from this intimate occassion which the couple shared amongst closest friends and family members. I wasn't able to attend the church ceremony so, the photos here are all taken from the wedding reception held at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.

To the newlyweds: Congratulations and best wishes to you both! Praying for an extra-ordinary and laughter-filled life ahead of you :)

"Lamoninc"



Introducing, LAMONINC! Leeyan. Vic. Raffy. Eden. Order. Chika. Pose. Janet. Rhea. Gezelle. Kamera. Tawa! Leeyan's BF. Ronan. Dennis. Ronan's GF. Food. Pelpel. Guido. Guido's GF. Northpark. Camera. Food. Food. Food. Kwento. Kodak! LAMON!

"Trumpets Playshop"

I uploaded some photos taken by Marlin during our playshop and yearbook pictorial.
If you're interested to see what we usually do or look like during playshop, click here. Enjoy!

"That Grad Feeling"



Not many people know about this story. It happened on my senior year in college at theUniversity of the Philippines, April 2000. The graduation season.

I have submitted and completed all my academic subjects for the BACHELOR of Computer Science course. Everything. But sometime last year, the CS dept heads and jedis decided to have a change in the curriculum. So there was an option for the students to either graduate with a BACHELOR of SCIENCE in Computer Science degree (BS CS) or the plain old BACHELOR of Computer Science degree (B CS). I could settle for either but i thought, if I can graduate with the BS CS degree, then I would no longer have people ask me where's the missing 'S'. After all, the only addition would be a 3-unit ELECTIVE, an innocent 3-unit elective, and for me that would be CS 180, AI (Artificial Intelligence) taught by Sir Pros. For some reasons, I was not able to complete that subject when I took it one semester ago, cuz i believe "it's what goes into your head, and not the grades". Plus, ang hirap ng machine problem!

But i wanted to graduate with a BS CompSci degree cuz i really don't like it when people say, "bachelor lang" although it really is just the same thing. So i decided to complete my elective and did the last requirement, a Machine Problem using neural network, and on FRIDAY (8 days before graduation) i submitted the source code together with my completion form. I thought it was over. I thought with a grin that finally, victory is mine.

My MP was there and the completion form was there. But where is the professor? What i didnt know was that the professor was "out of town" and of course couldn't sign my completion form. I was a bit nervous but i am pretty sure that he'd be back from wherever he is right now. Yes, I was sure.

I waited in the CS dept for some news. I was also trying to email my MP to my professor. The internet connection was sooooooo sloooow but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for at around 8pm the CS dept phone rang. I was the only one in the room, so i answered the phone, and am i glad to hear it was him! He wasn't "out of town"....he was out of the country....and wouldnt let me know when he will be back. I suddenly felt week in
the knees. I didnt know what i might have looked like when i learned this.

I had to think positive. At least now my professor is aware that one of his students needs rescuing. And i thought, if i couldnt get this subject completed, i am no doubt still a candidate for graduation under the BACHELOR of Computer Sscience degree...right.... right?

WRONG. The names and the degree endorsements have been forwarded months ago to the UP President. and my name was endorsed under the BS CS degree. Hindi na daw pwedeng baguhin.

MONDAY (6 days before the graduation rites and last day of submission of names to the President). Around 10 am. I talked to the dean of the engineering college without just to hear him say there is nothing he could do. That was the procedure. That was the law.

Now i realize, my graduation, my future, my dreams, lies in the hands of one man. I am just exaggerating, of course. But at that time, i couldnt laugh at even the funniest joke.

I was really nervous so much that i was asking other people to pray for me instead dahil i couldnt bring myself to pray really really hard...pero i know that god knows my heart even if i couldnt bring myself to my knees...he knows my heart and have I faith that everything will work out for good. I was trembling. Although i was with my best friend the whole time, he didnt seem to exist, there was nothing he could say that would calm me down or make me feel better. I was really close to bursting and crying out loud in those halls of the melchor hall filled with students smilingly anticipating the day of their graduation, talking about gimmicks or what to do for the summer or their new jobs awaiting them, while there i was...sitting on the floor, thinking what if my MP was incorrect and my grade a failing one? i couldnt imagine what could've happened...

Of course my MP was correct.
At around 4pm, MONDAY (i repeat, 6 days before the graduation rites and last day of submission of names to the President) Sir Pros, signed my completion form...with a 2.5 grade in AI...saying, "paano kung di ka nakapasa? paano kung di ako nakabalik...(or something like that)?". We both know the answer to that. But there was no need to say a word. I tried to fake a smile, but i dont know if it showed. Now, this time, it's finally over. But I was not in a rejoicing mood, i was simply thankful.

I think i was the last one who got cleared from the entire College of Engineering. Honest. I am just so grateful because the unimaginable thing didnt happen. I am sure that God allowed those things to happen to teach me something.
And to me, that is to trust in His unfailing love, that everything works for the good of those who call upon His name.

But in retrospect, even if the unimaginable thing happened, even if i didnt graduate, i would still have faith that everything will turn out fine, because God is always in the middle of things, He knows what He is doing and His plans are always more wonderful than mine.

"Bo Bice"



Here's my vote for the American Idol. Galing nya when he sang "Stand By Me" last week...Kayo sino?

Lumipas na pala 'yung Mother's Day... sana na-greet ninyo ang inyong mga butihing ina. Ako, I greeted her and bought her a cake. We didn't do anything extra special during that day, walang card or flowers (nagtitipid kasi ako)...Umalis din kasi si Mama at ako naman, natulog lang maghapon...Anyway, everyday naman I try to be a better daughter than the day before...and I make it sure that I make my mother feel appreciated and loved. Oks ba :)

"Home Run"

Ang ganda ng movie na ito. Napanood ko a few months ago sa ABC 5 at sana mapanood nyo rin. Nakakatuwa kasi yung dalawang magkapatid at ang mga kaibigan nila na very supportive sa kanilang dalawa sa kanilang quest na magkaroon ng sapatos na pamasok at panlaro ng soccer.

Nakakabilib rin ang kanilang capacity for compassion sa kanilang magulang at sa kapwa nila dukha...comedy-drama ito at kung mababaw ang luha ninyo tulad ko, e baka maluha kayo :) Eto 'yung synopsis nya:



One day, Ah Kun visits a grocery store to pick up grocery for the family meal, only to lose his sister's shoes-a disaster since his parents are eking out a meagre existence and can't afford to replace them. The siblings realize that revealing the loss would upset their financially strapped parents, so they decided to keep the loss a secret and leaving Ah Kun the burden of solving the problem.

Ah Kun now has two tricky problems on hand:
1) getting a pair of shoes for himself (for use during soccer practice)
2) finding back his sister's shoes.

Visit the movie website at www.homerunthemovie.com.

"Pasahero sa Jeepney"


Eto ang Maynila mula sa pananaw ng isang pasahero ng dyipni. Kuha nitong Marso 2005.

"Robert Marley"


To the uninitiated -- folks, this is Bob Marley. I just love his songs and his soul so thought I'd dedicate this space to the man who is reggae himself.

Lines from the song "Could You Be Loved":
Don't let them change you
Or even rearrange you, oh! No
We've got a life to live
They say only, only
Only the fittest of the fittest shall survive
Stay alive


Could You Be Loved was written by Bob Marley as a result of him witnessing the terrible Jamaican school system, people living in poverty, and a multitude of circumstances which caused the oppression of both the Jamaican and African people. In the line,"Don't let them fool you or even try to school you"Marley is writing about how the Jamaican school systems have a policy that says shoes must be worn in school. Many families in Jamaica cannot afford shoes, which prohibits the children from attending school and receiving an education. In the next line the song says don't let them fool you. This section maybe speaking about the lessons taught in school. Outdated history books teach Jamaican children a biased history that neglects to teach about slavery and fails to show where Jamaicans are from. Teaching practices such as these take away the peoples identity and their pride.

Marley's view of education by the public schools was very negative. He says, "Don't let them School You "because he believes this type of education shouldn't continue. Marley's education was unofficial so he learned about his people's history from music and by seeing life all around him. Marley always thought of himself as an ordinary person, but as the popularity of his music grew he had to acknowledge that he was a leader.

"The Reasons"

An executive from CIO visiting the MDC asked me today why I would want to resign from Accenture. Here are the answers I gave him:
1. I want to gain experience on other platforms, any non-web-based application
2. I want to earn enough money to send me back to school
3. I want to gain experience working abroad or attending school abroad

I should have also added the following: Because I don't want to be left behind by others who are also leaving :(

Thank God it's Friday -- and that Monday is a non-working holiday! Looking forward to the long weekend :)

"Colorgenics"

I thought I'd share some results from a recent personality test I took called Colorgenics. Maigsi lang and exam na ito, you will simply be asked to select a color in order of how you prefer them. I chose yellow first though that isn't my favorite color...not sure why but eto yung results: Sabi rito, kelangan ko na raw ng bakasyon -- which is true, at this point in time I can really relate to some lines uttered by Bilbo from the Fellowship of the Ring, "I feel like butter spread over too much bread...I need a long holiday."

Anyway, if you have 5 minutes do take the time and visit this URL: Amazing World of Colorgenics.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It would appear that at this particular time of your life you are going through a tough time. You are feeling (or have recently felt) miserable and depressed and perhaps you are still feeling that way. Maybe all the trials and tribulations just aren't worth it. Your present anxieties could have been associated with either your 'private' or 'business' life - whatever ... what you really need at this time is to get away from it all, maybe a vacation - alone, or better still, perhaps with someone that you know really cares for you, someone who appreciates you - not for what you have but for who you are. A short vacation may be all you need to afford you the time to recover and to get back to your normal vital self.

You are a leader and possibly at this time in a position of authority, but you are experiencing problems. You are not quite sure how to handle the present situation.

Loneliness is soul destroying and at this time you feel lost and lonely, perhaps it is because you feel so frustrated that you are prepared to go out of your way to become emotionally involved with someone who could accept you for what you are. You are egocentric, antagonistic and quick to take offense, although it must be said, you can control your pent-up up emotion and thus avoid open conflict.

You are feeling really bogged down and extremely stressed. This is perhaps due to the desire for personal independence which has been evading you for some time now. An existing situation or relationship is causing you to be extremely restless and you feel that you are unable to change the situation without co-operation. You are unwilling to expose your vulnerability and therefore you consider it inadvisable to display affection or be over demonstrative. You regard this relationship as a depressing tie, but although you want to be independent and unhampered, you do not want to risk losing anything. All this leads you to react touchily and with impatience, while the urge to get away results in considerable restlessness: your ability to concentrate may suffer.

You would like to break with the present and move on, searching for new conditions and relationships. Your anxiety and stress are results of unfulfilled emotional and perhaps physical needs. You feel that you are not really understood by your nearest and dearest and it is this that prompts you to move on, searching for that so illusive peace of mind.

Movie Marathon

Watched several movies over the weekend, and thought I'd share some lines which I particularly liked:
1. "Stop crying. People hate sissies.' - from 'Love Actually'
2. "Spirituality is not religion. Religion divides people." - from 'Flight of the Phoenix'
3. "Do this for me. When I need help, I ask for it." - from 'Chocolat'

Special thanks to Anthony and the Pirates of Quiapo for the DVDs :)

"Random Realizations"

1. The only thing worse than having to wake up early, is having to wake up early and yet not being able to get to office on time. Meaning, iwasan magpatumpik-tumpik sa bahay :)

2. When faced with a difficult problem or situation, imagine a much worse situation than that to force yourself to feel better. For example, when you can't get a cab ride and you've been standing in the middle of the road for more than 30 minutes -- well, do not fret but instead imagine that you've been standing there for an hour already and is soooo late for a much-awaited dinner with close friends and it is raining so hard that your umbrella doesn't seem to be of any help and your socks are soaking wet and you've left your cellphone at the office... mga ganyan...Trust me, you will gain a better perspective of the situation and will make the agony much bearable.

Kapag hindi umubra, magdasal ka na:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change;
the courage to change the things that I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Cool 'yan. Try nyo.

"Aksidente sa Novaliches"

Isang katangahan ang nangyari kagabi sa tahanan ng mga Rivera. Isang babae na nagngangalang Gezelle ang aksidenteng napaupo at natusok ng karayom sa kanang pwet. Ayon sa mga nakasaksi, walang kamalay-malay na naupuan ng biktima ang karayom na umanoy gamit ng inang si Ella sa pananahi ng punda. Walang nasabi ang biktima nung una kundi, "Ooow, fff**ck!". Mahina lang naman ang kanyang pagkasabi at hindi naman narinig ng kanyang ina na pigil na pigil sa kanyang pagtawa nang matuklasan ang nangyari (Grrrr!)...

Mababaw lamang naman ang pagkatusok at hindi naman daw gaanong masakit ayon sa biktima. "Parang kagat lang ng langgam.... Pero sa totoo lang, nabigla ako. Hindi ko natantya ang tamang circumference ng pwet ko. Tsk, tsk," paliwanag pa nito.

"Blank"
+ Song in my head: None.
+ Craving For: None.
+ Questions: None.
+ Unread Mails: 50+
+ Test Scripts for Review: 2 (1 in Progress, 1 Not Started)
+ Hours to go before going to bed: 3

"Unforgettable Things"
When, in the sunset, before the light disperses,
You wish to give words to unforgettable things.


Photo taken from Batangas, Philippines (Feb '05).

"Angels and Demons"

I have been reading Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons" and became inspired with one of the main characters in the book. Basically, I saw myself in Vittoria, a brilliant scientist, in that we share the same belief about Science and God. We both think humans can discover God through Science; that natural laws and laws of physics lead to explaning the existence of a Higher Being rather than to disproving His existence. I believe Science, like religion, is another way in which humans can get a better glimpse of God.

Asked whether she believes in God, Vittoria replied: "Science tells me God must exist. My mind tells me I will never understand God. And my heart tells me, I am not meant to."

Like I say, it takes faith to find reality.