In a time like Christmas

I often hear this phrase during Christmas, "Pabayaan mo na lang, Christmas naman! (Let it be, it's Christmas!), usually to remind somebody not to be bothered anymore by some people's crooked ways or harsh words. And then what? After Christmas, you must be bothered by these people and give them what they truly deserve?

It's funny. People use Christmas as an excuse - offenders and offended alike. Like I had always mentioned before, I am not the type of person who keeps silent when something is wrong. I always believe that I show people that I care or love if I let them know that what they're doing or saying or thinking is wrong. Some people believe otherwise, they believe that they show love when they let things pass, or let go of such incidences, or be silent while they are hurting. In my case, when I keep silent and when I do not look at somebody anymore or talk to them anymore, that is the point that I do not give a damn anymore. We all become saturated at one point.

In a time like Christmas, I believe that honesty is still the best policy. I am not 100% honest, but most of the time, I try to be truthful especially to myself.

And because time is still not enough (Translation: 24 hours a day is not enough), I would like to take this opportune time to greet everybody a

Merry Christmas and

a Happy New Year!!!

Why Would You Settle for One?

When you can have ten of it in the price of one.

I remember my father-in-law’s principle in buying things. He would prefer buying ten cheap slippers than buying only one with the price of ten slippers. Even if you insist that the expensive slipper is sturdier than the cheaper ones, he would still prefer the cheap slippers. He will always say that when the expensive ones wear out, the cheaper ones still are not deformed because there is variety.

This trait was inherited by Papsie. Sunglasses are one of his favorites and he would prefer replica pieces than buying high-priced Oakleys. If he is a businessman, the idea of Wholesale Sunglasses would be attractive.

Replica sunglasses are attractive buys in the Philippines. Who would bother to ask if it is an Oakley or a Ray Ban? It is not that big a deal to most Filipinos. Why, they can still look good with these replica sunglasses. :-D Pair it with another set of replica accessories then presto, the get up is complete.

Partee!

Hmmm... I would prefer that money for the company party will be included in the bonus. Yea. I am not so much of a party person though I love to be with friends to go places, and eat, drink and be merry. But with the whole bunch of people in the company? I don't know. I don't think I will enjoy the party that much.

And one problem, too, is if one of the bosses (who stinks) will ask you to dance. Gosh, I wouldn't know how to deal with such a predicament. And another problem is if there would be no one who would want to dance with you. :-D

"Sir, I am sorry, I have dysmenorrhea." (Complete with acting that your belly hurts. ) :-)

The Buzz is True

I am very new in this business – to advertise on blogs and get paid. I have yet to discover what’s in it for me. But the buzz is true. Smorty is the fastest so far in giving out payments. I should know. :-D

Just the other day, I received an email from Paypal. The subject read: Your money has been sent by Smorty to your nominated Paypal account. This was seven days after it was approved.

‘Tis true. And that is pretty amazing to see that the buzz is true. It made me wish that I should have started earlier and ignored the qualms in being a problogger. I could have earned a lot by now. Think about the thought of being a ‘dollar earner’. That sounds like I am a big shot. LOL. :-D

Seriously, earning thru blogging is rewarding I can say. It is never that ‘big’ really especially if you are just starting but it gives you some sense of confidence. It also helps augment immediate financial needs. It makes me feel I am a useful blogger. And that I am IN.

:-)

Shape Me

It makes you wonder, while oogling at a magazine with a shapely girl as the cover, if it could be possible to have a body like that – shapely, sculpted, and almost perfect (this is actually subjective).

Plastic surgery procedures like abdominoplasty, liposuction, facelift, eyelid surgery, browlift, nose reshaping, breast lift and breast augmentation are some of those highly sought by the vain and beautiful. With these procedures is the liposculpture which is a surgery that could give a woman the body she desires. If there is one surgical clinic here in the Philippines that gives one Beverly Hills liposuction then she must look like a goddess. These surgeries would surely make a 'new you'.

And if these procedures are not against my beliefs I might be one of those women and girls lining up these clinics. Who knows I could be bumping with one of the celebs.

A Get-away on Christmas

If truly there is a fairy godmother, (What fun it is to see one!) who would grant me a wish, one of my wishes for this Christmas season is a getaway to Hawaii, particularly in Kauai. Out of the ordinary? True. I just feel like being alone and while the world frolic, I wanted to experience the season alone, visit one of those vacation rentals offered by Kauai vacation rentals, fill myself with the cool breeze of the beaches, while I ponder about life. Surely it would be a very quiet and peaceful Christmas. I won’t be bothered by thoughts if people will like my gifts. :-D Also, I would momentarily be absorbed by the great beauty of the islands and forget about woes.

But there ain’t no fairy godmother. Nor enough funds for a getaway! Poor me. I’ll just stare at the pictures of the beautiful Kauai as I visit the site. And if you have enough money and wanted to experience being alone, as in truly alone in this season of merry-making, pack in and soar away to the beautiful islands. But check first Kauai Travel Blog to plan the getaway very well and see the What to Do in Kauai list before you soar away.

What is it about Christmas...

Why do we give gifts on Christmas eve? For them, of course, to know that we love, care and think of them. For them to know they're special. Should we expect a gift in return? I honestly think we shouldn't. But don't we all like to receive gifts also? It gives us this feeling that we, too, are special to some people. It gives us an idea that we are remembered. Actually, a Christmas e-card brightened my day even if I barely knew the person who sent me the e-card last time. What more if someone thought of giving me a laptop? :-D A hand-me-down unit will do, friend. But I hope it is still usable and not that outdated. (Do I sound like a beggar? LOL I hope not.)

... that we bear the shopping rush?

And if giving me a gift will send you to a shopping rush. Don't ya worry, it will be your privilege to be remembered all the days of my life. :-D

But seriously, I buy my gifts every October of each year. That is how I hate shopping rush especially during Christmas. I hate the crowd. I am claustrophobic.

... that we even fall for on-line shopping?

I haven't tried this yet. Reason? I am anxious that somehow the products will go astray and not reach the destination, which is my home address, of course. I am worried that I will be disappointed to receive the products not exactly as I picture them to be. In short, I do not want to loose money because I don't have tons of it. :-)

When was the last time?

I cannot remember when's the last time I(we) saw a movie. (But wait, I think it was when we watched Spider Man 3 - this year?). With the influx of cheap (pirated) DVD copies, going to the movies is the last option nowadays.

And if I cannot remember the last time I saw a movie, I cannot forget the first time I went to the moviehouse with Papsie. We were already in college. I was really nervous because it was my first time alone with Papsie. Usually it's a date with my friends. But that time, it was me and him ALONE.

Uneasy it may had been, I tried to concentrate on the movie. Papsie was trying to relax, or so I think. Suddenly, there were sounds like those of rats. I jumped off my chair and told Papsie that there were rats. He just smiled and told me there were no rats. I kept insisting there were and the sounds are getting louder. I caught his eye wander somewhere. I followed his gaze and saw below us two lovers smooching. I tried to hold back laughter by putting my hand on my mouth. Papsie whispered, "See, there are no rats." I giggled silently.

Now, don't ask me if we sounded like rats, too. We did not. :-D

Loans - Status Symbol?

Loans can be a status symbol. Why? They project one’s paying capability, earnings and character. Responsible borrowers are given opportunities, discounts and freebies. Necessities, therefore, become luxuries. Only if you lend with a plan to pay. :-D

Delight in the benefits of a $1500 Cash Advance Loan. In this kind of opportunity, you can choose what types of payday loans cater to your needs.

It's Not Always About Money

Yipee! A BLOGGY award for me.


You can visit the site and read their reviews about my site. It is indeed a delightful feeling to read what others think positively about my blog. Well, not everybody thinks optimistic but to read just one is enough to make me feel good.

Let me share you some items in the review that rendered me speechless.

"I have to admit, the blog’s name caught my interest. It evoked images of a blazing fire contained by a stone fireplace. Images of cozy nights with people you treasure. A personal blog that has a lot to offer, that’s what Warmstone seems to be like."

Overall Experience - 8
"I’d say going through Warmstone is indeed heartwarming at times. There might be posts which may not be that easy to relate to - just skip them and read those that catch your interest. A visit every now and then is worth your while."

Wow, I cannot even remember I have submitted my site for evaluation but thank you very much to everybody at Bloggy Award especially to Noemi. Even without a gold and a silver Bloggy Award, it is such an honor.

The Number One Way to Get Fired

Is not to do your job right all the time. When you wanted to be out of job right away, just don’t yield an output everyday – fastest way of doing it. :-)

There are other ways of course and that will include

• Being lazy all the time. Stare into space, sleep.


• Complaining always. Complain about anything.


• Stealing company's time, technology, supplies. Do not bother yourself buying stuffs you can get from the office.


• Abusing your co-employees or co-workers. Make them do your job.


• Going on half-days, leaves, undertimes, and OBs when you are mostly needed.


• Deliberately not following instructions (or commands).


• Telling everybody (including the janitor) all the bad things about the boss.

This is an interpretation, what's yours?

Where Else Is It Safe?

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Am I Getting Old?

On Saturday, a friend is getting married. And I am one of the principal sponsors. She's six years more than half my age.

When she distributed the invitation last month, some people in the office seemed to have made a big deal out of it. I was really puzzled why some of them reacted in a way that I cannot understand - eyes wide, expressions of bewilderment, chuckles. Some seemed to be joking around but others show facial expressions I could not fully understand. Contemplating on it, I listed in my mind the stereotype qualities of principal sponsors, or ninangs and ninongs (as they are fondly called):

• One should be influential and rich. I am not even rich. But I can be influential in my own humble way. :-)


• One should be popular. I am not a politician, or an actress, or a big shot.


• One should be a boss. If being a head in a small unit in the company is considered a boss then probably I am a 'little boss'.


• One should be old enough. Now, what does old enough mean? I am not double her age but I am older. :-D

My friend, I believe, did not choose me for any of those reasons. I know the reasons are more than the stereotype sense or meaning of being a principal sponsor. She could have chosen those with the qualities above but she chose people close to her heart. I am really grateful and very honored.

I wish that their lives will be filled with love and happiness as I am having mine despite the hardships and challenges. I wish that their lives together will be filled with good health, lots of kisses (yum :-D ), laughter and joy. I wish they will conquer the seven year itch. I wish they will still say "I love you" to each other when they reach the age of forty and beyond. I wish they will carry the smiles they had when they get married.

 

A Different View

"Are there things true to all humans?" my son asked me before we went to the cemetery. "What do you mean by that?" I asked. He continued by telling me that he wonders if there is a common factor that we all humans share. He told me that not everybody is wealthy or poor, not everybody is educated or uneducated, not everybody is happy or sad, etc. "Every human being is born, and everybody dies," I answered him with a coy smile.

 

"Oo nga, 'no (Oh, yes, isn't it true)?" he said realizing the truth to the fact that I had just said. It occurred to my mind that still many think that humans are at an advantage when he dies rich, even to the point of being filthy rich. Still a lot think that they are at edge because they are surrounded with the many good things in life. Still a lot think that they will die in peace when they are bloated with the many material things this world has to offer. This is why everyone of us is preoccupied, or had been preoccupied even once, with the desire to be rich. An in-law once told me that the death of a wealthy man and a poor man differs. My unspoken thought wanted to tell her, "No one can bring his material gains when he dies, everyone dies the same physical death." The only difference that matters is how each person perceives death - Is it the beginning? Or is it the end? Is there life after death? Or is life simply terminated and nothing follows after the physical death?

If death is the beginning of something new, or the dawn of a phase of another (everlasting) life that was promised, how then would we prepare ourselves to be worthy of the privilege? Or if life, on the other hand, will be ended just like that, would it be acceptable that human beings live life the way they wanted to - unmindful of the consequences, defiant to laws and regulations, and to polices and disciplines, or wildly experimenting taboos? Because if the life of a human being just simply stops after physical death, why bother doing what is good? We die anyway and nothing or no one will scrutinize what we have done good.

The thing is most of us is in a state of denial that we are not doing enough to earn a place in Heaven. (That is, if one believes in Heaven.) We still cling to the old-time inherited beliefs that our kins who will be left behind will pray for our souls no matter how we had waned from our good ways and from our faith. There are still those who even pray for the aborted unborn baby who was innocent still and had not even had the chance to see this world. We still do those preposterous ways of earning points in Heaven. Believing so, we get absorbed to this material world, and forgetting to truly enrich the spirit.

I may have a different view from many but this is what I honestly believe in about death: Death is just the beginning. There is life after death. And I should do my assignment.

Monetizing Thru Surveys and Blogsvertise

It took my interest to join the craze of monetizing my blog. (The thought has been lagging for sometime now.) I know some bloggers do not go for this kind of activity but it's my blog anyway. It is kinda exciting to earn thru blogging when all you have to do is to participate and link away.

Feminism

I can only advocate some of the concerns of feminists. Some of them are:

• a woman's right of contract or property


• a woman's right to bodily integrity and autonomy (except abortion)


• protection from domestic violence ('a woman should be loved and not be treated like a punching bag')


• protection against sexual harassment and rape (one of the biggest crimes that traumatize women and girls alike)


• protection for workplace rights and equal pay (inequalities and discriminations still abound in some workplaces)

You can see my (and others) answers when you click the banner above. By clicking, you can also decide to join and participate in the survey. It's as easy as that. :-)

Blogsvertise

A post from techie girl's moneymakers page about Blogsvertise is a very clear narrative about how the process works. It explains how to obtain a great opportunity and earn extra cash. And since some of the several options are still experimental, one can try the blog entries option where you write about the topic assigned to you in two (2) to three (3) paragraphs with three (3) text links to the advertiser's page in your post.

My membership in Blogsvertise is yet to be approved. Of course I would want that my blog be approved. It would be another interesting dimension in blogging to earn extra cash, and to assist in the promotion of ads in one way or another. But it would be more interesting still to blog about topics of interest and I hope Blogsvertise would assign tasks that I could blog about with enthusiasm and curiosity. What could be more engaging than to blog about things that one loves to blog about. :-D So, here's a toast to my new endeavor. Cheers!

Pierce me!

I am just curious. Are you ok with body piercing? I find it sometimes cute to see others with body piercings but I will not subject myself to such a fad. I don’t even think it is fashionable.

One time while I was eating lunch at our favorite canteen, I saw a tongue piercing while R* was talking. I wondered if it made eating difficult for him. So far, I had observed it didn’t affect his speech.

I have to say it adds something to a person’s persona. It made me infer that this guy probably has a rebellious nature, or has a different taste in fashion. Perhaps it is also a statement.

Living Life to Its Fullest

Something came to mind after the news about the death of Papsie’s cousin reached me. He was only almost 41. Very young age for me to die. And I thought I have not yet lived life to the fullest. But did he?

Papsie’s cousin A* seemed to have lived his life to the fullest according to his perception. He had not been a responsible parent and left the responsibility to his wife rearing their only child. He cannot do what a parent should do – love, provide and support. Self-satisfaction is a priority to him. He cannot live without the indulgence of vices – women, gambling and liquor.

He had a number of women, all seemed to have borne his character. It was always a puzzle how they have learned to love and bear with him. He frequented casinos, and indulged himself to mah jong and drinking liquor until the wee hours of the morning. He would then pester his friends and cousins about his fare when nothing’s left. He did not care about what the people around him would say. He would insist on getting what he wanted.

A* seemed very nice when sober. The façade can fool people who do not know him. Perhaps this is the reason why there are people who befriended him and went with him, and even considered him a friend. After some time, when they serve no purpose, they will instantly be shut down from him; and he would then pop up again when nothing’s left of his resources. It seemed to me that life is just as simple as that to him. All the show of self-pity and melancholy was just his way of winning people and getting what he wanted.

Maybe it was his idea of living life to the fullest. It was the thought that to live life to its fullest is to satisfy one’s self to the fullest. It’s just a maybe. I maybe mistaken. But the thought of living only for thine self is an aversion. It is pure selfishness.

Living life to the fullest is always equated with the material things one acquires but it is more than the acquisition that really matters. It is the satisfaction that one gets from being able to acquire with one’s own effort and abilities that really matters. It is the fulfillment that one was able to surpass the hits and bumps before getting to the goal. It is earning the reward after an effort. It is winning the hearts of many with their sincere smiles and warm hugs until death comes.

Discoveries - Part Two

CAPTURING A DESKTOP

When I visited Major Tom's site, I was surprised to see that he tagged me with this tag of capturing my desktop. (Thank you, Major Tom!) We had this one when I read the tag. Actually, the whole process is an interesting discovery for me.

a free view of my desktop

Here is the procedure:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.

You can do a screen capture by:

1. Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key).


2. Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).


3. If you wish, you can edit the image, before saving it.

For MAC users: Press [ Apple] [ Ctrl ] [ Shift ] and [ 3 ]

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

????????????????????

The picture was taken during one of our jogging sessions at UP every Sunday. Sadly, we were not able to continue that bonding activity because of the many constraints. I still hope though that we can be able to continue. The artist in Kay took a snapshot of the taho containers. It was a very nice picture that always reminds us of the fun we had, and eating taho after each jogging session or after playing badminton.

We did not put many icons on the desk top. We choose to have minimal amount of items so that it will look neat and clean. Unlike before where there are a lot of icons on the desk top, we find it more appealing now that the desktop is not overcrowded.

I'd like to find out how their desktops look like: Go Abaniko, Wil, Malaya, Karmi and Khonz!

GREGORY HOUSE

Hugh Laurie is one of those actors with that appeal. He cannot be one of the many very good-looking guys in an American series but he has this appeal that is so enigmatic and magnetic at the same time (must be the eyes :-D ). And about the series House, Wikipedia has this to say:

Dr. Gregory House, M.D., is a fictional character and protagonist of the Foxmedical drama House. He is a maverick medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. House's character has been described as a "misanthrope" and a "curmudgeon", the latter of which was named one of the top television words of the year in honour of the character.^[4][5] On the series, the character's unorthodox diagnostic approaches, radical therapeutic motives, and stalwart rationality has resulted in much conflict between himself and his colleagues.^[6] House is also often portrayed as lacking empathy and sympathy for his patients, a practice that allots him the time to solve pathological enigmas.

The character is partly inspired by Sherlock Holmes.^[7][8] For his portrayal of Gregory House, Hugh Laurie has won Best Actor in a Television Drama SeriesGolden Globe in 2006 and 2007, and Best Actor from Drama SeriesScreen Actors Guild Awards.[9]

We (daughter Kay, son Daryl and I) are addicted with the series. Kay bought a DVD copy of the series, and it's definitely a must-have. :-)

Pause...

Snatched from my Inbox - a text message from cousin Bernie:

Practice the pause...

When in doubt, practice the pause.

When angry, practice the pause.

When tired, practice the pause.

When stressed, practice the pause.

Breathe...

Clear the mind...

View from a different perspective...

Smile...

Laugh...

Sleep...

Dream...

Even your heart needs rest.

I have been into frequent pauses in updating my blog. There comes a time in our lives that things become so taxing; and even the cakes and ales can become so boring. That is why I did not promise myself to write one blog post each day. I know I will not be true to my promise. Monotony can consume the entirety of it all. So pause I did.

I don't want to stop. Blogging, is what I mean. Somehow it has become a therapy. But during times that work and house chores become toxic, I pause with no further ado. The negative emotions from being dead-tired, stressed, depressed, et al, will surely manifest.

So, if this blog has no updates for quite sometime again in the future, I am only taking a pause. "Will be back shortly" - wish I can create a blinking badge with that phrase.

Multiple Choice

If you sent a text message to a friend and answered, "May I know who you are?", what would you do?

a. Introduce yourself and remind her/him that you are friends. :-D

b. Call her/him and ask your friend 'what's the problem?". :-(

c. Tell her/him that you got the wrong number. :-)

d. Do not reply; be mad because your name is not on your friend's phone book. :-(

e. None of the above. ;-)

Honestly, I will be giving the person a chance at first. There are many reasons why my number is not on the list anymore. And one of them is probably she/he bought a new cel phone unit and my name was not saved in the SIM. Or my name was deliberately erased. (hmmm... ponder)

But when you replied telling her/him your name and asked at the same time if she is BEA(for example) or if he is NEIL (for example), and the answer is no, what would you be expected to do? Of course, terminate the exchange of text messages, isn't it? You are probably talking to a stranger. And a stranger it is who would ask if you are who you are (adding insult to injury).

I do not coerce anyone to be my friend. Friendship is a mutual relationship of give-and-take and when I am a friend, I am a friend till the end if a friend remains a friend.

Clairvoyance

Yesterday, buddy Rey and I were talking about his wife's previous experience performing tawas on people afflicted with paranormal illnesses. I am not a believer of this alternative treatment although my kids when they were young were subjected to these rituals because my husband's kins were believers.

Rey narrated how her wife uses the egg to determine if a person is nabati, nausog, nabalis, may sapi, etc. (Pardon me because I do not how to translate these words in English.) When a person approaches his wife or she simply sees a person seemingly ill, she will ask that person to buy an egg and after whispering litanies of a sort and the egg standing up on its own (the egg is raw), she will tell the person that she had stepped on something (or someone?) na hindi nakikita (not seen by anyone) located at a particular part of the house or garden, etc. She will then give an instruction to the afflicted or to the relatives of the afflicted on what to do, or perform rituals. One instruction was to go to the location and ask forgiveness from someone he/she doesn't see. She can also perform a ritual of exhaling air to the person from the head down. Rey contends that those people were healed after a short time.

When asked how she knows the description of the house or the area, she said that they simply appear like she's watching tv. These scenes suddenly flash letting her know where the location is and what (or who?) did it. Rey's wife has the ability to see objects and events beyond normal sight like a clairvoyant.

What I am worried about is if there is a 'spirit' who is with my buddy's wife. And if this is a form of sorcery, the more that I am anxious. The Lord God has a warning that says, "I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them..." (Leviticus 20:6). Thank God she had long discontinued the practice. Rey said that each time she does the act, she gets sick or feels ill. Pretty scary.

Then my mind wandered to the possibility of not seeing objects or events but hearing or knowing what other people think, particularly about me. I don't know if this is possible and can be classified as clairvoyance, too, then again it would be interesting to know. What if God gave us this choice to be able to listen or learn what other people think? Would it hurt that much if I learn that there are people who think ill about me than those who appreciate me? Would it weaken my self-esteem or contribute to the desire to better myself?

Papsie does not like the idea. He could gain enemies when that happens he told me. He would probably react in a negative way when people will think harshly after all the good things he had done for them. Oh, well, even without these supernatural ability, there exist people who repays good things with bad deeds. Their traits speak how they think. This is probably good reason enough not to ask for a supernatural ability.

Morning Has Broken

Thoughts for the Day

Will You Still Give Thanks?

It is but easy to give thanks when you feel good, comfortable, healthy, or prosperous. Will you still give thanks when you wake up with a pain on your wrist or any part of your body, or with a thought where you will get money for the next meal? Will you be as alive as somebody who is about to be sentenced because of an anticipated cancer?

To celebrate?

Just the other night, I was talking to a nephew, and we were talking about fraternities. I learned that those who participate in the UP's nude run are APO members. This nephew's father was an APO member and he had experienced running nude inside the UP campus. I was told that last time there were also female counterparts who posed nude as protest. The discussion went to the level where I shared my sentiment that I cannot get the idea of posing nude as protest. I have this tendency to associate nudity to celebration and find it disagreeable that people will pose nude to protest. Until this morning when I surfed about nudity, I am retracting my thoughts on the issue because of this. (Warning: the site has lewd photos.) Suddenly, protesting nude made sense to me (only for the sake of comparison) than just lifting your shirt to show your boobies or your butt to everybody in a party.

What is the difference?

My daughter was in a party the other night because of a friend's birthday. At about past 10 pm, she called up and asked if she can stay overnight. I was in my room resting from a day's work when Papsie told me that she was on the phone. I told her plainly that I don't like the idea and gave her instructions to talk again to Papsie where he will fetch her and what time. I left Papsie to talk to her. He was hurt when her daughter asked him "What's the difference if she asked permission to go overnight that time or before the party?" He told her that it would be better because we can talk about it. I told him that even if she asked permission before the party, I cannot allow it. It is one of the rules in the house - they cannot stay overnight in a party. They have to abide by the rules until they can fend for themselves.

The Deal

Took some interesting notes from the papers (The Philippine Star) about the latest hullabaloo - The ZTE Broadband Deal:

The ZTE Deal (Broadband Setup)

Cost of the Project - 330 million dollars (16 billion pesos) which the Filipinos have to pay for 20 years.

The project is deemed useless by experts.

Did it go through the right procedures?

The deal at least breaks 8 laws:

1.  Build-Operate-Transfer Law

• Amsterdam Holdings, Inc. filed a proposal last December 2006 to build a broadband system on it own but DOTC did not initiate a study and sat on its papers beyond the 60-day deadline.


• Arescom Incorporated of California had filed an earlier offer a year before.
  

 2.  1995 Telecoms Development Act - ordered the government to move out of the telecom industry  and privatize its networks.

• ZTE will return the government to the telecom business in unfair competition with private firms.

3.  Procurement Reform Act - requires all public contracts go through open bidding for the best price and quality.

• Department of Justice declared the ZTE deal as a government-to-government deal that requires no bidding.

4.  Omnibus Election Code - bans government from awarding any supply or service contract during the election period in case a political party or candidate be unduly favored.

• ZTE was signed April 21, 2007 during the congressional campaign.

5.  The Anti Graft and Corrupt Practice Act - forbids government officials from receiving gifts of value (more so, if the gift is from a person or a company trying to bag a government contract).

• Comelec Chief Benjamin Abalos admitted traveling to Shenzhen four times last year.

6.  The constitutional rule of transparency in all public transactions.

• DOTC officials have refused to  give out a copy of the contract, at first saying nothing, and then claiming supposed theft of 'only two copies', and finally alleging confidentiality of proprietary information.

7.  The Anti-Red Tape Act - requires government agencies to produce within 10 days documents needed by taxpayers.

• For months, DOTC officials have not bothered to even reply to requests for copies of reconstituted contracts.

8.  The constitutional rule of prior Monetary Board consent to borrow for any government project.

• Only now (by Mendoza's own admission) are they working for Board approval of a loan they signed in August covering the contract signed in April.

Bondoc, Jarius.  She came and went like 'a thief in the night',  

The Philippine Star,  September 17, 2007, p.15 

Need I say more?

Discoveries

How interesting...

1. Give a dose of their own poison. Funny how these people react to their own ill doings clinged off at them. They are so desperate and furious to make one feel miserable but to make them feel that their actions are futile is one charming game plan. :-D


2. Silence is mostly a 'no'. It is largely a 'no'. Many times, it is refusal, denial, or rejection.


3. There is hope for Daryl. Actually, I have not lost hope for Daryl that one day he would find veggies palatable, too. Now, there is an alternative for his fiber intake - fruit cocktail and cream, which he voraciously eats.


4. Katherine Heigl is not Charlize Theron. Common physical attributes can confuse. But I am more a Charlize fanatic. Who is more beautiful depends on the eyes of the beholder of course.
   


5. How fascinating to play with words. Seneca has this to say - "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult." It is in learning that we learn.


6. I can do so much with my temper. I can measure the limit. I can do something while being annoyed or angry. I CAN control it and produce better results when it dissipates.

When I See a Semi-Kal*

(a short story)

(Sigh - talking to her cat.) "I'm okay now. At least, I saw him though he did not even take a glance."

When I see a semi-kal*, it reminds me of you. I could not resist taking a second look to see if it was you. And it was not you. The muscular arm was not there. The lean body was not there. The dark brows was not even there. How I wished it was you. But it was not you.

Silly me. How many times do I learn that I was tricked? I was made to be a past time by someone I barely know. That I was the flavor of the moment, which he had blatantly told me, and yet I went on believing it was all for real. Does attraction really morph someone into someone who is as dumb as me? Or it isn't an attraction but a feeling more than lust and heat?

How does someone fall to somebody who does not even give a hoot? Crazy. Yes, that is what best describes my entity. Perhaps it was all physical. Or maybe not. Maybe it is more than physical. I guess it is more like the sponge-like feeling of absorbing false emotions. Was I under the influence of alcohol that time? But the kiss was sweet. I could almost feel it until now.

Akismet must be joking. There you are, still the semi-kal* I had seen the first time, lean and muscular. Not very handsome, but handsome and confident. Just seeing you made me want to hug you and kiss you. But you did not even take a glance.

You went without a word. Not even a sign that there was a past between you and me. You stared for a moment telling me it was because he wanted a flavor for that moment, and I was there.

When I see a semi-kal*, the world take my being and crush it until I can feel no more.

*Semi-kal - a man who has a haircut that appears to be bald but retained a certain even length of 1 mm or 2mm, depending on how he wanted to have it done.

Note: Once in a while, I write stories when the creative juices are ample, inspired by the many people and experiences of everyday life. Please tell me your opinion about my writing. However adverse it may sound, it will help improve the craft (if there is one  :-D ).

Random Thoughts

Live Show

As the tricycle passed by the open area in front of a manufacturing company, seen were two burly young men sparring. It was actually my first time to see two people in a match, and they were barefooted, and probably workers from that company. It was like everybody and everything around that area froze. All the drivers and their vehicles stopped to see the melee. I got excited, too, then thought that this must probably be the feeling of those near the boxing arenas where Manny Pacquiao and the other Filipino boxers do their fights.

Erap's Conviction is Not a Deterrent

While I am not an Erap fan, I firmly believe his conviction cannot be a deterrent to those influential and powerful individuals in this country who love to do their acts of crime. As one of the guest in Palaban implied, those supporters of President Gloria who are obviously guilty must be convicted also or this historical event will become useless and will later on be forgotten. The government, I believe, has to show that they are serious in their efforts to send anyone (and I mean, anyone, even their closest relatives and friends) erring to jail.

Black, White and Grey

Asked by Malay the other day, "What motiff, Kay?" (referring to her debut). She answered, "Black, white and grey." It is simply because of the reason that they are 'safe' and unique. Thinking about the conservative people and relatives, I bet they would probably think this is not a good idea. But it is high time to break the overused belief that these colors mean death. I have these wild pictures of me explaining why.

What is Pasma in English?

It's been days that I have been dealing with this ache from my right wrist to my right shoulder. It's almost a week already. Right now, as I am typing these words, my wrist is sending signals that the ache will be back in a few minutes. It is gone only for a little time and most of the time I have it. Suspects are karpal tunnel syndrome, fatigue, or pasma. (What is pasma in English? Can somebody tell me?) I suspect it is pasma because last Sunday, I was cooking food for lunch but forgot that I was doing it so I dipped my hands into the washing machine to load again the next pail of laundry. There, after that, in the evening, I was almost crying in pain. Pati yata utak ko pasmado na. ha ha ha :-D

Eye Candies for Eyesores

Currently, the situation and condition of a great percentage of urban communities are eyesores. What with the unsanitary conditions of side streets and side roads, wandering homeless children, shanties that sprout like mushrooms along creeks and waterways, reprobates almost in their birthdays suits, rowdy teens blooming in number day by day, and many more.

It is at times depressing to live like this. As someone who had spent all her life in an urban setting, the occasional visits to rural areas are great sources of a breather. Or are the rural areas beginning to be molded also into something as depressing as the urban scenario? Call it progress, they say.

That is why we need eye candies. Well, these are some kind of shallow breathers (for some) against those serious circumstances enumerated above. But what the heck, we need to frolic once in a while.

Just look at this picture I found in the internet of an innocent looking baby, and how it melts one's heart just looking at her.



Also this picture of Miss World Aishwarya Rai. I got her picture here. The more you look at her, the more you wanted to stare.



I may not like violet colored food but with this beautiful flower, how can one not be relieved from stress? It is called purple gloxinia. Visit this site.



Or the ever young-looking Aga Mulach.



For most men, legs and miniskirt are sights for sore eyes.



Okay, enough of these. I am so sleepy, I have to take a nap. Now, you probably have an idea what a sleepy bored mind can create. :-D

At 15

Yesterday was Daryl's bee-day!  Papsie and I prepared pancit, baked liempo, turbo chicken dipped in honey garlic, and vegetable salad.  We also had ice cream and cake! Yummy!  (All the food is his favorite except the vegetable salad.)

At 15:

• he started using his cel phone


• he seems to be enjoying high school life


• he had improved his socialization skills


• he has a size 9 1/2 feet


• he is 'a little over than' medium build


• he has a 36 inches waistline


• he loves to watch Jumong and has a pirated CD of it


• he had finally learned to trim his fingernails without hurting himself


• he hates students who copy


• he had finally learned to appreciate buko pie


• he still eats a little of the veggies


• he is still a young boy with a mind of a man


• he is still that kind and courteous boy

Pics! Pics! Pics! 

  

 

 

As Per Request

I know this is long overdue, but here goes the responses to the tags.

Weird Me - a tag from Ruff

As I had told you, Ruff dear, I did the meme last July 28 of 2006 but I copied and pasted it here again for you. :-D And I thank you.

1. I talk alone in the CR when stressed out.


2. One can’t force me to utter a single word if I dont feel like talking or specially when I am mad.


3. I cant sleep at night without the TV on.


4. I find myself sometimes staring at people (yea, I know it’s rude).


5. I cant look in the eye anyone (in person) I admire.


6. I dont eat ube, even if it’s only a flavor.

Thoughtful Me - a tag from Ipanema

Better late than nevah. Would you accept that, Ipanema? Here's hoping I'd be receiving more ha ha :-D . I thank you, too, for considering me as one thoughtful blogger.

 

The Thoughtful Blogger Award

 

For those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.

And here's the list, in alphabetical order:

1. Alternati


2. Bugsy


3. BW


4. Chriscroix


5. Duke


6. Evi


7. Jayred


8. Monmon


9. Nico


10. Niceheart


11. Rey


12. Rolly


13. Ruff


14. TK


15. Verns

Blast from the Past - a tag from Evi

This is a tough one, Evi, but I enjoyed doing it. Thank you, it brought me back to those early blogging days. :-D  By the way,  these are posts from 2005 and 2006.  I did not bother to expound but if anyone's interested, they're just a click away.  Just point the cursor to the titles and you will be redirected.

Celebrations

1. 16 years


2. So What if I am Forty?


3. The Able Disabled Who Deserves a Father's Day Treat


4. Let it Be Known


5. Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen
   

Tribulations

1. A Lonely Death


2. Painful Loss


3. Starting the Day Not Right


4. Christmas
   

My Children

1. Si Kay ay Isang Libro ni Oscar Wilde


2. Si Daryl ay Isang Lord of the Rings na Libro


3. His Turn


4. What She Has to Say

Travelogues

1. We Went Unplanned


2. Crazy Bone

Interactive Blogging

1. Question and Answer Portion


2. Tagged by a Nymph


3. Clueless


4. I'm IT


5. Bull's Eyes

Letting the Guard Down

Image from this site.

I seldom get angry, and I don’t want to be angry. And besides, angry, for me, like hate, is such a strong word. Nobody likes an angry person, especially when it is me who is angry.

Last night, I was angry. I regret that I let my guard down by being angry, and worst, in front of my children. It was not a good feeling to realize that they saw me when I was very angry at Papsie. Usually, I would just shrug off an issue, and not give in to anger, or that public display of extreme annoyance. But last night it was different. I totally forgot they were there.

As I pondered, I remembered Papsie saying that the words he said to me (which Papsie said was mere mention, o napag-uusapan lang) was not intended to get me angry. I asked what the intention was and he told me there was not any. That to me is unbelievable. This chunk of wits that I have cannot understand that a person will utter words without thinking about the consequences and with no objective at all. Those words he hurled at me were not even true and yet he tossed them at me and even sought the approval of my kids. It was like telling me I was really at fault the other day.

It was not nice that my daughter butted in on the conversation and hurled at me the same words in total agreement to what her father said. At first, I was simply defending myself but my husband and my daughter did not stop the mockery. Later on, my son joined the exchange. (Poor kid and he thought this was just plain teasing!) I felt helpless, annoyed, and mobbed (with only the three of them?). I was at the top of my voice when I said repeatedly, “Tumigil ka na. Huwag mo na akong kausapin. Huwag ka nang magsalita. (Stop. Don’t talk to me anymore. Don’t talk anymore.)” Everybody was silent when tears ran down my face. I guess, at that time, I felt it is better to cry than say anything that would jeopardize more the already injured situation.

I am writing this down with thoughts of why I really got angry. Surely it was not because my daughter sided with Papsie (that is childish), or because I seemed to be overthrown or defeated in the argument (that, too, is childish). It maybe that there was a precedence before this situation came up. Or it was probably because I wanted to reprimand Papsie for the accusation but I couldn’t because I was not sure I could deliver the right words when I am angry. I was afraid that would give a different impression to my kids and misinterpret my words. (God, I was so helpless!) This is the reason I was insistent that matters between me and Papsie should be resolved with only the two of us around. Nevertheless even without the many words I wanted to say I know I cannot take back the hurt that my display of anger had portrayed.

Hello, Earth?? You Still There??

That's me trying to make contact with the world (of blogging). :-D

I am not trying to be funny. Oh, brother, I am just happy I have my PC back! It had a system crash. It had to see its doctor. And I was left hanging, sad and missing the usual routine of checking my email, and my blog and my blog friends' blogs, of feeling the keyboard keys against my jagged fingers, and of feeling exhilarated (and unsympathetic at times he he) over blog items.

It was a week of agony. It is not a nice feeling - to be without a computer. :-D I know, it sounds crazy. But the aftereffect left a weird feeling of being lost and weighty. This is addiction, I bet. :-(

I am actually typing fast, very eager to post this because Wordpress has an announcement that it would have its maintenance. I only have a few minutes left. So, people, friends, beloved blogmates, I am back. (Who cares???)

Hello, Earth. You still there??

Morbid Thoughts

Image from here.

I have a friend who told me once that she thinks about morbid thoughts almost all the time when she rides a bus or a jeepney. When she is in a bus, for example, the thought of the bus slamming into another vehicle suddenly emerges. Grisly vision of her and her daughter will play - their limbs contorted or severed.

Morbid thoughts persist especially in times when accidents and crimes are rampant. I bet not a single soul is exempt. Of course, being a paranoid is another story. But the entire populace of the world surely had experienced bouts of uneasiness because of these morbid thoughts.

One time, I woke up in the middle of the night crying because of a bad dream. The instantaneous feeling of anxiety, fear, uncertainty and gloom overwhelmed me. After a few minutes of getting back into the real world, I got up to drink water. I was at the kitchen when suddenly I heard something from outside the living room door.

I thought of the possibility of someone trying to break in the house. The fear almost paralyzed me but common sense dictated that there was still no reason to be alarmed. I braced myself and courageously open the jalousies of the last window panel farthest from the door. No one was there but a cat that meowed upon seeing me.

That was silly of me, I know. It was probably the bad dream. But it did not stop me from thinking further what if there really was someone lurking outside the house. What if the incidence when a thief had successfully forced the lock of our mini sari-sari store before (that son of a gun took away some money and eved glugged a bottle of softdrinks @#*) happened again and that time into the house? What would I do? Honestly, I don't know. It so easy to say what to do best but when overcome with fear, the mind, at times, does not perform very well especially during panic.

The mind is a battle field indeed. Either you give in to these morbid thoughts or stand your ground to stay cool and relax.  Or either you end up spent or renewed.  God help me.

Ingratitude

Why are some people ungrateful boors?

Here is a story.

There is an old widow who has five kids. She lives with a son who is an invalid for a long time. The son and his family do not have a choice but to live with the old widow and her usual fret and frenzy. Because of his condition, he and his family have to live up with the situation and try to recompense (in whatever way possible) the goodness and the goodwill (according to the old widow's sense of these words) that is being accorded to them, and bear all the insults deliberately hurled at them.

None of the other siblings really cared. It seems with how things are going that they are just trying to conceal the envy or the bitterness they feel towards their brother. In some events though, their hidden resentments show by displaying their childish rage over petty things and by treating him unjustly most of the time. The younger brother deals with all these silently. In some instances, one of the brothers would demand deviously but purposely his share of the food, and some food items, that are available in the old widow's house. The other two sisters demand the same, with the older sister being more demanding.

But it is the older sister that is being favored most among the siblings. With no apparent reason (because the boorish sister is not even pretty nor sensible), the old widow takes always the older sister's side and most of the time has a reason for the ill manners of this older sister. Many times, the older sister would go to the house of the old widow and ransack the fridge (no holds barred) without thinking if the others who dwell in the house had eaten already.

Many times, the boorish sister and her brood of equally insecure brats would visit the house to eat then leave their morsels, and the table unkempt. The son and his wife would often laugh at the matter as a case of eat-and-run.

Such is life for the son; and for the old widow who takes joy in the occasional visit of her precious child because of the tidbits she gathers from her. Then one day, the old widow was shocked to hear that her favorite demands that her share of her inheritance be given to her. The old widow refuses and told her that they would not get it until she dies and that was the agreement for everybody. The effort becomes futile as the ungrateful daughter insists that she has a right.

This made the old widow very depressed to the point of getting sick. She thought of the possibilities that they are already waiting for her to die, or that they would throw her out of the house if her favorite daughter was the one who lives with her. The son who lives with the old widow got very mad upon learning the account. He could only vent his anger while relating the story to his wife.

*******

Back to the question, Why are some people ungrateful boors?

To which Papsie answered:

- Because they think differently.

- Because they think there is nothing to be grateful for, and they owe nobody nothing.

- Because they do not know how to be a human being.

And I answered 'because their skin is so thick you can actually feel it while talking to them at a distance.' :-D

Signs of the Times?

It's a common thing to see beggars in the streets. They are anywhere - street corners, abandoned buildings, thoroughfares - begging for money most of the time, or for food (if that is what they need at the time they approached you). But a beggar inside McDonald's, SM Food Court, or Greenwich? The first time I learned about these beggars was when Kay went home (she was still in high school then) one time telling us that young boys, very dirty and smelly, entered McDonald's and without asking permission grabbed her classmate's half-eaten food. Of course, they were all shocked and told a service crew what happened. The boys were driven away and the food was replaced. Daryl was not also spared of this experience.

Another instance was when we were waiting for the pizza to come. We were inside Greenwich that time. An elderly woman dressed simply but tidy enough not to mistake her as a mendicant approached us and asked if we can give money because she had not yet eaten her lunch (it was already 4 PM). Papsie got really annoyed and told her to get lost. There was a little argument between us. I told him he could have just given her a few coins. He got more infuriated and replied that those people should not be in those places in the first place, that they should not be allowed to enter establishments and do the begging there. For him, these people are taking advantage of other peoples' benevolence.

Yesterday, while eating at the food lane beside the grocery store, a little boy approached us and begged for money because (as usual) he has not eaten yet. This time, Papsie, lightheartedly told the boy if he wants to go with us and he will feed him with lots of food in our house. The boy shook his head and left to beg from another customer. The same issue of why these little boys are allowed to do their thing in these extablishments again surfaced. "Dumarami na sila," Papsie remarked.

I wonder if the Mendicancy Law of 1978 or PD No. 1563 is still in effect. The provisions of this law must be reviewed and implemented effectively.

It's A Small World After All

There is just one moon
- And one golden sun
And a smile means
- Friendship to every one
Though the mountains divide
- And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all

-It's A Small World After All

By sheer coincidence, I met TK of Dear Sage, Dear Sabine, Dear Sadie blog. (Two more addition to the family will require him a two-liner blog title. But who knows if he wants a three-liner blog title even more?) He's a doting father who dedicates most of the blog's content to his three (3) lovely daughters. It was last Sunday when Papsie, Kay, Daryl and me tried Trinoma.

Amidst the crowd near the elevator, somebody called me. There was this young looking stranger (carrying a little child) who was uttering something I cannot understand. Until at last from the mumbling, "Marvin, TK, this is Sadie", I was able to grab what he wants me to understand. The mention of Sadie and when he repeated TK, I finally understood it was TK, the blogger. I was so excited. It was such a marvelous feeling to meet a fellow blogger. After that, we said our prompt introductions. He recognized my kids and my husband probably from the pics that are posted here in my blog and he said he saw Papsie once in Manila.

My eyes were looking for Sage and Sabine, and of course Ayheen. TK sort of cut my obvious searching and said that it was his mother's death anniversary so the cousins were brought to Trinoma, and it was his first time. "It's my first time, too," I replied. Then we parted there. It was a brief meeting but it sure is a extremely good feeling.

I could have written about this when we got home but I was so dead tired I just wanted to lie down. Monday's always a busy day and the kids were cramming using the PC. Then came Tuesday when I started feeling very ill. (Marvin! What spell did you cast on me?!? he he) Until this time, I am sick but not very sick anymore. But still on unwanted and untimely sick leave.

*****

Near Meetings

The first supposed meeting with a blogger was with Abaniko. While we were chatting, he asked me if we could meet together with another blogger (I am sorry I cannot remember her pseudonym/name). Of course, I was shocked. I hate spur-of-the-moment situations. I was not able to come. And of course, I felt it was not a serious invitation.

The second supposed meeting with a blogger was with Punzi who saw me climbing the overpass stairs and wasn't able to decide to call me. (Was it my hair, Punzi? 'Cause I got the feeling that you don't like it cut that way when you asked while we were chatting why I had my long hair cut. ha ha) We were never able to chat again. While I do wanted to chat with friends, I cannot. I am still having problems with my computer. But, that will come. One day, who knows, I'll be chatting with you guys again.

And the third supposed meeting with a blogger was with Banzai Cat. We were about to meet but was not able to. Damn the skeds he he. Seriously, the serious young man has a serious job that requires serious attention and time. :-D But do you know, JFN (not JFK) aka Banzai Cat, that I had a serious suspicion that you want your anonymity intact? You have a nice (and young) sounding voice, too. Sounds harmless ha ha. They say, if a voice sounds good to the ear, the bearer looks good, or is it vice versa? I don't know. Things get pretty mixed up these days. :-( Ahh.

Use Bayfresh

He inches his way to the operator's room, which is adjacent to the VP's room. He's a tortoise bearing all the body aches a septuagenarian puts up with. To top it all, he carries with him an obnoxious smell that goes with him wherever he goes. He loves to talk and he converses easily and fluently about many issues - from intelligent subjects to nonsensical sex talks - but it would be a challenge to talk to him at length. He must be a matinee-look-alike when he was younger - tall and mestizo but today, he is simply an old man trying to fit into the world of the 'new' generation.

His colleague (the VP) would instantly give instructions to the secretary after he leaves - "Bayfresh! Bayfresh!" - (indicating to spray profusely) to ward off the strong smell the pitiful old man had left. This colleague is of the same age. The only difference is he 'dips himself into pools' of lavish perfumes that lingers even after he had left the room.

Everybody holds his breath while talking to him, gasping once in a while to take in air only to find that the foul smell had invaded the surroundings. But nobody dares telling him the problem though it has become a well-known fact that he does not smell good so beware. Perhaps it must be the feeling of sympathy that nobody shows him or acts out that he smells really, really bad.

Such is the case of this young man who went on a half-day leave because of a complaint by a co-employe.

Then some questions popped up:

Would you cover your nose in front of somebody who has bad breath? Would you still cover your nose when he has body odor? Or when a fellow has psoriasis, would you stare mercilessly? Would you be mad and talk about it, angry that the sight and the smell really upsets you?

The Filipino in Me

The small room provided space for only twenty (20) people and yet it was not fully occupied when the activity started. There were only 16 of us who took interest in the ads about migration to other countries with ‘pay later plan’ and ‘50% off’ beaming in capital letters.

I was a little jubilant receiving a text message that I am invited to attend the ‘free’ orientation. The whole idea inside my head was that I could possibly work in other countries, or migrate, with a pay later plan. I was at the time hopeful of the possibility of exploring a different stroke of life. I could always return to my homeland was my thought. But the confident desire vanished after a series of questions and answers that tell us it was only the agency fees which will be subject to those terms of payment. Silly me. Overall, the expenses would amount to more than a million pesos. Shades! Where would I get that big amount of money? What will happen to dear Kay and Daryl if I pursue the plan?

Mulling over these things, I am not really considering migrating to other countries. My homeland is my homeland and I believe that it is still much comfortable and sweeter to spend life in my land of birth. Don’t get me wrong with these, dear friends who had migrated to other countries. Like my children, the Filipino in us makes us want to believe that there is always hope for the country. But admittedly, there are times, I wonder if there is still hope.

Funny how I succumb to a friend’s coaxing that it would be better living outside the Philippines and give that opportunity a try. Maybe yes, maybe no. The benefits that one would reap are really tempting, that is if one would really work hard. On the other hand, I don’t believe life would be perfect in other soil, that is, without flaws. There will always be challenges, no matter what, there will always be people and situation to deal with, there will be matters to consider, etc, etc. Except for the big amount of money (when you convert it to Philippine peso) one will earn, life would be the same – living and breathing as a human being, only that you have to do it in another land.

I would want to give it a try working abroad, but that is all what my heart desires. It is the Filipino in me that makes me want to stay and live until my last breath.

The Real Mutilation

(WARNING: This is a post with a sensitive issue.)

Watching the news one night on BBC made me and my daughter squirm in horror. The boob tube showed a little six-year-old girl being tied and restrained by several adult women. She was horrifyingly crying while the adult females were casually grinning in front of the camera. The girl was about to undergo the ritual of female circumcision and the news tells that more than 100 million in the world underwent or is undergoing such brutal practices.

Photo from here.

It made me remember an article from a 1999 Reader's Digest issue (Desert Flower) which is about a supermodel whose name is Waris Dirie and her ordeal with female genitalia mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision when she was but a child.

Waris, from Somalia, was one of those little girls during her time who had to be mutilated because of a horrible belief that there is something bad in between a girl or a woman's legs. At five, she was made to sit on a rock, excited about the time because of the lie her parents told her, made to bite only a root, with her mother straddling her body, and her arms around her mother's thighs. She was sliced by a gypsy woman with a razor blade (still with dried blood on its jagged edge when she first saw it; and was made clean by the gypsy woman by spitting on it and wiping it on her dress). The little girl, needless to say, lost consciousness only to find when she came back to her senses that she is being sewed up with the aid of acacia thorns which were used to poke holes in her flesh. A miniscule hole was left for urination and menstruation. She fainted again of the indescribable pain from the whole process.

What a way to protect the little children. People say that male circumcision is mutilation but female circumcision is more excessively inhumane and a very true picture of mutilation. Of course, we have to respect each other's culture but the brutal practice for me, that involves little innocent girls, is clear violation of human rights.

Are those people from Africa (those who practice this act) really think that the following is not brutal?

Distinct Surgeries Made during Female Circumcision *

• Clitoridectomy - removes all or part of the clitoris and the hood, or prepuce, which covers it. Sometimes called sunna circumcision.


• Excision - includes clitoridectomy but also removes some or all of the labia minora; all or part of the labia majora might also be cut.
  


• Infibulation - After removing the labia, the sides of the vulva are joined so that scar tissue forms over the vaginal opening, leaving a small gap for urination and menstruation.
  


• Mild Sunna - this involves a symbolic pricking or slight nicking of the clitoris or prepuce.

Waris was able to do something for herself and rallied against the practice. She is happily married now after undergoing an operation for the restoration of her genitalia. I am happy for her but it is a sad fact that millions at present are victims still of this brutality.

*Female Circumcision in Africa, Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2004

Often What Seems Is Not What Is*

I mistook him as a snob when he is not. I don’t exactly know why. Maybe because of the writing style that conjured me into thinking that he is an elitist of a sort, or that he belongs to a group of intellects or 'rich' boys, or that he probably is standoffish (first impression).

But he is not. At least that’s what he sounds like to me. He sounded like a warm, young fellow who is as busy as a bee.

I got interested with his books for sale posted in one of his posts. Fortunately, nobody requested for the books I chose. After that we talked about how I will have the books. At first we planned to meet at SM North. The plan failed because of our busy schedules (or more like his busy schedules :-D ). He voluntarily offered to bring it to me. And he did ( to make the story short :-D).

He delivered the books priced at a VERY GENEROUS amount. We are currently enjoying them. Wonder when we will finish these ten fantastic books. The one above I am currently devouring.

I am talking about Banzai Cat. Of The Grin Without a Cat.

Don't you worry, dear blogger friend, your books found a home. They will be treated not with animosity or they will be going back to their master begging to be adopted again.  :-D

*Yolen, Jane.  Sister Light, Sister Dark, p. 60.

Some Things I Hate

Thank you, Mitch, for the tag!

1. Food I hate. Ube, and anything ube-flavored.


2. Fruits I hate. Chesa (Is this the spelling? Is it a fruit?)


3. Veggy that I hate. None. I love 'em all.


4. Celebrities/People that I hate. Gretchen Barreto, Ruffa Gutierrez, and the likes. People who are lazy and incompetent. People who are tupperwares and conceited.


5. Event/Situation/Incident that I hate. I hate it when I suddenly feel the urge to pee in the middle of work, or travel.


6. TV Show/Movie that I hate. El Shaddai, and other professing Christian shows. B Movies.


7. Music that I hate. Not good to the ear. Those with 'f**k' word and other cuss words in the lyrics.


8. Household chore that I hate. Ironing the clothes. General cleaning of the house because nobody does this chore but me, and I have no choice!


9. Things that you hate about the world. Chaos, inequality, injustice, biases.


10. Thing/s that you hate about yourself. When I am angry, I tend to be unreasonable, and I don't care if somebody will get hurt with the words I hurl.

Are there things that you hate, Jayred, MyEPinoy, Irene, Major Tom, and Rey?

Are You Serious, BF?

Photo courtesy of Sunguide Dessiminator. It also has info on responsible cellular phone use and traffic safety.

Papsie told me about the news that tells about the penalty on using the cel phone while driving. Lawbreakers will be penalized P200,000. Is BF really serious? What's your take on this?

I agree with their intention to prevent road accidents and other incidents relating to such carelessness and thoughtlessness. But I am doubtful where the money will go. What will they do after amassing the P200,000 from the expected number of violators? Where will this huge amount of money go? I am quite doubtful that this will create projects that the motorists will benefit.

Yes, BF was notable how he had ran his turf. But every politician here in the Philippine has his own streak of evil. Cynical me but hey, i am not alone with this thought. What with the many incidents of malversation of funds and the saying that says 'If you cannot be trusted with a 5 centavo how much more with a peso?'. Wow, I maybe suffering from paranoia. :-D It happens when you had been a citizen since birth in a country such as The Philippines. Kidding aside, lest I become so hypercritical, I suggest that BF (or the MMDA, as he speaks for the organization ) should plainly state the objective of the proposal (I am not aware of the progress or if the law is in effect already) or what the masses will gain from the pretense undertaking.

The Boy Who Seldom Smiles

This is Randel. Notice how he forces himself to smile. But I like this fair-skinned little boy though he seldom smiles. He is the four-year-old boy who does not go out of the house dirty or untidy. He is the little boy called 'kagawad' because his daddy is a kagawad ng barangay. You can see him clinging always to his daddy. And when his daddy (while playing mah jong) tells him to go home, he would reply, "Umuwi ka muna, uuwi rin ako."

He was once afflicted with the Kawasaki syndrome, also a deadly disease of young children not older than 5. I remember it is also an expensive disease because a child cannot be treated without spending lots of money for the treatment. I cannot erase the thought from my mind if the disease caused him this difficulty to smile willingly.

The Tension of Opposites

Picture courtesy of Randomhouse.

An exchange between Mitch and Morrie:

“Have I told you about the tension of opposites?” he says.

The tension of opposites?

“Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.

“A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle.”

Sounds like a wrestling match, I say.

“A wrestling match.” He laughs. “Yes, you could describe life that way.”

So, which side wins? I ask.

“Which side wins?”

He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.

“Love wins. Love always wins.”

That was Morrie Schwartz, Mitch Albom’s professor, an old man afflicted with the brutal and unforgiving ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is ‘a disease of the neurological system that is like a lit candle: it melts your nerves and leaves your body a pile of wax’.

Going back to the tension of opposites – Morrie had me thinking when I was reading Tuesdays with Morrie about the truth on his train of thoughts. I realized that truly we have to deal with life’s positivity and negativity. Sometimes we are caught in between. Simply, it is like choosing to or not to eat your chocolate sundae when you’re hungry. It is like talking to one person you hate when the resolution of a problem depends on him because he is the boss. It is like helping someone who had wronged you but he is your brother.

And he said love always wins. I agree. When you love yourself, you would not choose eating chocolate sundae especially when you are diabetic. You would not defy your boss when you love your work. And when you love God and you wanted to praise him of the good and the righteous things you do, you would forgive your brother who had wronged you. Makes sense to me.

On Recognitions

Thinking Blogger

I feel elated to receive an award from Ipanema.

All I can say is - Thank you, thank you very much! It always feels good to know how others regard you as a blogger. And I have to list five! This is really a tough job. But of course there will always be individuals who deserve the top 5.

This award goes to:

• BW of The Warped Zone


• Emer of Parallel Universes


• Punzi of Punzi's Corner Blog


• Jayred of X-Pat files


• Little Light of Little Light

You guys have to list your awardees for this award. If you had received the award, please ignore the meme but inform me (please?). :-D

What Were You Thinking?

And since I am in the mood for memes, I would like to ask

• Ferdz


• Sonnie


• Kyels


• Mitchteryosa


• Verns

What Were You Thinkin'?When you first met your current main squeeze (husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, sex partner, WHATEVER!)

Here is what I was thinking when I first met my husband - "Hmm... Bakit kaya nakatitig ito sa akin? (Hmm...Why is he staring at me?)"

Now, it's your turn... :-D