Bisaya Bloggers

I just learned that the Sec. Ace Durano of Department of Tourism (DOT) has tapped HappySlip (or search “HappySlip” in youtube), a.k.a. Christine Gambito, as ambassadress for the North American market. The decision to use blogs and the internet could be attributed to the fact that Sec. Durano is relatively younger and, therefore, is presumably [...]

The University of the Philippines (U.P.) College of Law has released the results of the Law Aptitude Examination (LAE) for academic year 2008-2009. Please see the list of passers and updates here. Just a caveat, though. Share This

I had another episode of insomnia last night. I started sleeping at around 1 AM but was still awake until the morning that I decided to just take a bath and go to the office. *sigh*

 My insomnia was compounded by the leaking roof of my room. The first drips came at around 2 AM, it was a distraction but not enough to distract me if I can play some music set to a soft level. But at 4:30, it began to drip furiously. That was the time I gave up hope of being able to sleep and just listened to my beatles collection.

 At around 6 AM, at the slightest hint of our landlady being awake, I immediately reported the problem. At this point, my room is already drenched that I can't even find a decent spot to put a foam in and sleep. So, I donned my malong, folded it to make a makeshift skirt, and went outside. You might think that a man wearing a skirt is hilarious, but me donning my makeshift malong skirt is so asteeg, that I look like evil Illadan. Its in the way you fold it. ;)

 So there I was, out in the sunshine, at around 6 AM, looking at the sunrise,.. naked, except for that malong skirt,.. listening to the songs of the birds that I haven't heard for so long,.. looking at a beautiful sunrise that I never knew was visible from the vantage point of my place,.. feeling the cold feel of metal on my bareskin, while leaning on the gate. And the soundtrack of this momentous occasion : Beatles!

The funny thing about this is that I never would have enjoyed that beautiful moment without that %^&* insomnia and that %^&* leaking roof.

Clearly, some good things can come out of our misfortunes.

 

Got tagged by Lazarus today, a nick of time sort of tag as I had been thinking of a few material goals for 2008 but have been getting distracted by other stuff (as usual). Thanks, Lazarus, for getting me back on track.

My Wish List for 2008:

1. My own online store. This has been my dream for the past three years, but I have promised myself I will get it off the ground before Q2 this year.

2. At least 5 new clients for Kusangpalo.

3. A pedometer that won’t run out of battery power. Got one from Juniper Networks a couple of months ago, but I had hardly logged the mandatory 10,000 steps a day on it when Maia got it in her hands and left the radio switch on. Now it’s drained, after two battery changes.

4. A lucrative sideline. One that can pay for Kuya Maui’s tuition. Yeah, that would be good to have.

5. Peace on earth and goodwill towards men. Now THAT is a wish.

Libre bitaw …

I have always found the American election system far too complicated for my comprehension. But a neat new website called http://promoteyourvote.com may be the best place for me to teach myself the ins and outs of the upcoming United States elections.

The Presidential Elections as humorously presented by Promoteyourvote.com not only features witty updates on the battle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and how John McCain as leading Republican candidate may be going up against the Democrats’ final answer.

What I like best about Promoteyourvote.com is the merchandise they have on sale, featuring not only articles of clothing and other accessories that the avid supporter can use to promote his candidate of choice—but shirts adorned by what are now known as Bushisms.

“I think war is a dangerous place.”

Bushisms are the American eqiuvalent of the Erap Joke in the Philippines. The thing is while Erap had the excuse of not having graduated from college (and of course not having had English as his mother tongue—not even his mother’s tongue), I find it ridiculous that the President of the United States of America can be capable of such gaffes in grammar and thought. Even Americans themselves consider Mr. Bush’s lapses as novelty t-shirt fare.

Promoteyourvote.com features not only t-shirts but also pens, address labels and sticky notes. The site is also a convenient jump-off point to the respective candidates websites, and it also links to numerous media websites with related content.

The last time we were here was in 2002, and we were a bit wary today before walking through its gates. The Manila Zoo is a landmark from Sam’s and my childhood, in much the same way as the Nayong Pilipino.

It was a very pleasant surprise to find the Manila Zoo in such a revitalized state. To anyone whose last visit to the zoo was more than five years ago, I urge you to go there again.

Here are some photos from our trip today. Click on any of the pictures on this post and you will be transported to my flickr account where you can see more photos of the Manila Zoo.

More photos of the Manila Zoo — Click here.

since she would not take no for an answer, i went to that place i have barred myself from going. my hands were cold, but i know i had to do it sooner or later. it is not exactly a familiar place; i can only count with one hand the times i have been there, but it is somewhere that blisters with a bittersweet past...

so we talked about the things that drive our lives. things that shape the contour of our everyday existence, from the necessities of work, to the indispensability of friends. i made history that night, eating oysters for the first time.

there was cold beer to dispel the aftertaste. but my hands, for the exact reason why i have considered this place off-limits, were colder than the glass of beer i was nursing.

because all the while i could not help but turn my head towards the direction of that landmark that rose over everyone's heads. the exact same landmark that helped me remember that inconspicuous little alley that lead to a place with a nice view of the mountains...

so we ate our oysters; me, her and a new friend i met that night. some street food looked yummy after a few bottles of beer so i had my first few bites at it too. my gut seemed to be impervious to the worst of alcohol that night so i decided to escort her home. necessities of work.

she's a good friend i have not seen for three years. and when chance finally permitted me to see her again, it's something i could simply not say no to. when we reached that corner where i had to leave her, i thanked her for the cold beer, the surprisingly delicious oysters, and the company. she said that wounds heal in time, and that i had to face those demons and learn to smile more often.

so i walked, passing by that little alley, with songs playing full blast in my ear, saying goodbye, not just to the landmark whose lights has longed ago been turned off for the night.

Photography by: Sandra Low Edited by: Me (with permission) Location: 5th RIFA Football Festival, Manila *Thanks

Last time I wrote about a Friday night out was in June 2006, when the opportunity of photographing Gary Valenciano was the highlight of the evening. Somehow that makes it sound like I hardly ever get out. Actually I really don’t.

But when I do it’s usually to make up for all the uneventful nights.

Sam and me at TGI Fridays at the Glorietta in Makati

Sam and I had a post-Valentine’s dinner at Fridays at the Glorietta. Looks like a lifetime of post-valentines dinners for us, since Valentine’s day has been and will always be reserved for the Valentine’s Day birthday girl.

We had the Ceasar’s Salad, French Onion Soup, Tossed Tomato-Basil Chicken, and the enormous Fish in Tortilla Shell. They had a special on smoothies, order a flouted pitcher and you get a free bear. Bear. Not beer.

The bear came in red and white stripes and black visor with the Fridays logo, and was as entertaining as our waiter Rey, who made sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal.

We almost didn’t make it to dinner actually, because Sam was in Ayala for the mass protest and I was stuck on foot in Buendia just past Paseo de Roxas, because the LRT Ayala bus I took from the office chickened out and turned into Buendia from EDSA. Without telling its passengers that it was going to do so.

When I did walk into the Glorietta to meet Sam by the children’s playground I was determined not to settle for a fast food joint. While we were walking around trying to find a good place, Pen Medina walked past us, raising his head to acknowledge Sam (they know each other by sight, I suppose, from all the rallies they’ve been to), and there I was elbowing my husband reminding him that Pen Medina was my all-time-favorite-pinoy-actor-and-crush and Sam goes “Oh sorry, Darling, I forgot” but it was too late, he was a kilometer away from us by then.

Which reminded me of another time I had let a photo op pass me by, this time it was at the lower ground level food court at the Powerplant. My co-worker Abi and I were looking for a good (read:affordable) place to eat when I saw Efren Bata Reyes and Francisco Django Bustamante sitting beside each other at Pho24, waiting for their order I suppose, and I although my jologness really wanted me to go over there and politely ask if I could have my picture taken with them on Abi’s 3.5 megapixel celphone camera, my katorpehan got the better of me.

Tama na yan inuman na …

About a month ago the entire office went (in batches of 2 and 3 employees) for our annual medical checkup, a requirement for our medical benefits. Having been out of a doctor’s reach since April last year, I had full confidence that I would ace all the tests.

My results came back saying that although no traces of banned or restricted substances were found in my system, I was however overweight for my height and age. Not overweight, actually, but obese level 1, at 145lbs at 5 feet flat.

I admit the denims are a bit tight around the waistline and I haven’t been wearing my body huggers much these days. Being advised to change my lifestyle to improve my body mass index really isn’t something I should be told at this point in my life, but I have been, so.

The quiz below seemed encouraging.

65%Living to 100 Years Old

Take this fun quiz at Settlement Quotes

A

When life is all about taking a chance, factoring comfort and privacy into the game may greatly increase your fortune.

A number of advantages may be found in gambling at an online casino within the comfort of your own home, behind the reasonable security of a firewall and the convenience of a high-speed internet connection. And when you have sites that tell you where the good places are to take your best chances, and offer good advice to both the beginner and the experienced gambler, you’ve almost got it made. All you need now is for Lady Luck to smile on you, and your lucky angel to stay your hand when greed attempts to take the better of you.

As with any endeavor, it doesn’t hurt to gather all the information available on the general aspect of online gambling. The links are abundant, and the advice is solid. Avoid clicking on the flashy banners that take you where you may not be ready to go. Read up before mounting up. Make sure you understand that this is real money you are betting with, and that you understand fully what charges will actually be made on your credit card. When you feel confident enough, find a game that suits you. And, of course, you will be advised to be level headed, to know when to stop and walk away.

After all, that’s what life is all about. You give, you take. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to be able to stay for quite a while. But in the end we all have to walk away.

Bonne chance.

The Curse of the Cold February Wind

I shiver,
I quake.
My skin,
Cold.
The leaves,
They rustle,
Your wind,
Cold.

Embrace me,
Feel me.
I cannot see.
I feel you,
Cold,
Yet you touch
Me.

Somewhere.
Deeply.
I am fire.
Extinguish the flame?
And the
Desire?

Touch me,
Cold wind,
In my skin,
Flow.
Raise a fire.
Tonight,
Or go.

 

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Fuente Circle. Cold winds. February. Near Robinsons. The leaves!

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Upper left: Maia at a month and a half; Upper right: Maia @ 1;
Lower left: Maia @ 2; Lower right: Maia @ 3

Born on Valentine’s Day 2004, Himaya Amarantha. We call her Maia (or Maya-Maya, Maiakot, Kotikot, Kotiw, Miss Papot, Big Girl, Little Girl, Baby, Sweetie, Hoy Maldita, Antang, Amarantang, Miss Gaerlan, Oi Himaya! Chi-ken! That last one’s what her Kuya Maui calls her sometimes.)

She’s 4 years old today, still the baby of the family, still the apple of her Ama’s eyes, still her Mommy’s little girl.

She wakes up in the morning, comes out of her room, plods downstairs in her bare feet and reaches up to flick off the light switches. Then she goes “Hmmmph!” and walks back to her room to put her slippers on.

With one hand on her hip she fiddles with the unplugged printer and when the machine does not produce a printout, she declares “It’s broken!”

In her cat-hating period, she saw one asleep at a corner outside the window and she said “Alis cat! (Go away, cat!)” trying several variations “Cat, alis!” “Alis, cat, alis!” And when the cat wouldn’t budge, she said “Alis, cat, please?”

She is looking forward to starting school in June. She is our princess.

Happy birthday, Maia!

This proud mom would like to take a break from serious blogging for some serious horn-blowing.

In the recently concluded Private Schools Association of Parañaque scholastic competitions, the winners are:

Olivarez College - Secondary Education Department
Extemporaneous Speech - Xavier Lourenco Kapauan Cortes - 1st Place
Spelling - Xavier Lourenco K. Cortes and Wilfred Dave Gonzales (Team) - 1st Place
General Information - Xavier Lourenco K. Cortes and Wilfred Dave Gonzales (Team) - 1st Place

Have I mentioned he was also Boy Scout of the Year for SY 2006-2007? I’m sure his teachers are very proud of him, because I sure am.

Congratulations, Kuya Maui!

This is your Nanay (a.k.a. Gloating Mom) signing off.

This proud mom would like to take a break from serious blogging for some serious horn-blowing.

In the recently concluded Private School Association of Parañaque scholastic competitions, the winners are:

Olivarez College - Secondary Education Department
Extemporaneous Speech - Xavier Lourenco Kapauan Cortes - 1st Place
Spelling - Xavier Lourenco K. Cortes and Wilfred Dave Gonzales (Team) - 1st Place
General Information - Xavier Lourenco K. Cortes and Wilfred Dave Gonzales (Team) - 1st Place

Have I mentioned he was also Boy Scout of the Year for SY 2006-2007? I’m sure his teachers are very proud of him, because I sure am.

Congratulations, Kuya Maui!

This is your Nanay (a.k.a. Gloating Mom) signing off.

A

Dwarfed in between two humongous Christmas balls scattered around the Northgate and Filinvest area in Alabang. -oOo-

There’s a number of discussions on the Ponzi and pyramiding scams at the Pinoy Entrepreneurs blog (see “Scams and Schemes“). There’s a discussion of an actual case, the Panata Foundation case. The 2000 case of People vs. Menil, Jr. involves a strikingly similar scheme. It’s really amazing how this scam still works despite almost [...]

I was in fourth grade when I first visited the Nayong Pilipino. I lived with my aunt in Quezon City and went to school at the Mater Carmeli School on D. Tuazon, so the Nayong Pilipino seemed to be a far-away place, several hours trip on the big school bus. Our itinerary was the Planetarium at the Rizal Park, The Rizal house in Calamba, Laguna, and the Nayong Pilipino. There are photos of that trip somewhere my classmate Letty de Guia-Elgincolin’s baul, which I hope she will unearth soon.

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You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon’s Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

breakfast morning. cut my hand with one mischievous knife which ended clattering happily on the floor. bit wound to somehow diffuse the pain. only to be even more surprised because now my blood tasted bitter.

i should have known this would happen. what began as a dull pain in the chest a few days ago now became the caustic poison coursing through my veins.

and then it came; the rash of urges bend on annihilation. the whirlwind that blows fast, too fast, bending each piece of reality that it touches. blowing fast, too fast, cutting a swath of wreckage around an axis. a wake of destruction that nevertheless goes unnoticed by the single entity at the very center of this storm...

storms subside given time. but the wounds it leaves behind on the landscape will take a longer time to heal. and even then the landscape will forever be altered, no longer smooth and fresh, but fraught with rough and twisted edges. and there will always be that underlying cruelty beneath the serene surface.

no body really heals completely from this kind of wound. and sometimes knives cut deeper that you think they did, leaving a strange toxin that alters how you see reality.

starring at the contented face of the happy knife lying down on the floor, i thought of the immense possibilities of the things that i could do out of anger and spite.

but then again, knives were made to cut and slice after all.

Click thumbnails to enlarge. This morning was the Kinder Carnival parade here in Hinsbeck. Kindergarten kids and elementary pupils went marching together on the street. Kindergartenkinder und Grundschüler waren gemeinsam auf dem marsch. By the way, the clown (on the bottom left) is my son Gillian. His first carnival parade ever! ...

Have you got the travel bug? I do! And this time, I'm going to travel to Sydney and some places around like Melbourne and Adelaide. I've never been there yet and I am sure this travel destination is amazing. I heard that Sydney has everything. Lovely beaches, great weather and ...

I was browsing and found this nice and inspiring article. I hope this helps 'us' (singles) who they think should be mourning in this love season... I love valentines day! it my 26 years of existence I had only 1 year (2006) that I had it celebrated with a significant other and yet I still love it! so guys don't fret and never line-up to be fired wearing your red shirt! hahaha just ponder on this.

Ugh, It's Another Valentine's Day and I'm Still Single
9 empowering things you can do to tone down that "ugh" feeling
By Caroline Presno/Feb 8, 2008

So, you are not in a relationship at the moment and Valentine's Day seems to be putting a big red spotlight on your singleness. Here are some practical and empowering things you can do to tone down that "ugh" feeling.

1. Wallow, But Just a Little

“It's important to acknowledge your real feelings, so give yourself permission to wallow a little bit”
It's important to acknowledge your real feelings, so give yourself permission to wallow a little bit if you're feeling extra sad or lonely. The key words here are "a little bit." Don't allow yourself to dwell or obsess. Confine your wallowing to a certain time period -- say, 15 minutes of self-pity and that's it.

Absolutely right! let's just give ourselves this short period of time and whoalla we'll be in good aura again!

2. Watch "Love Actually"

The movie "Love Actually" (rated R) is great cinematherapy for V-Day because it shows that romantic love is important, but other kinds of love are just as important, such as the love of family and friends. Don't let Valentine's Day be co-opted by couples. Send valentines to all the people you love in your life!

I have seen this film already and I will watch it again!

3. Go on a Trip

“A new trend for singles is to elude Valentine's Day by taking a short getaway”
A new trend for singles is to elude Valentine's Day by taking a short getaway with friends to a place where they are not constantly bombarded with images of hearts and cupids. There is nothing wrong with this trend as long as you are using it as a fun escapade, rather than an escape.

Me and my friends are supposed to be on a trip weekend after Vday and still I haven't contacted the venue... I will be out-of-town on Vday though. :)

4. Re-energize Your Relationship Search

If you are feeling down at this time of year, channel your negative energy into something positive. Have you been browsing online profiles but never send an email? Have you been using work as an excuse that you are too busy to meet people? Have you been dating the wrong types of men or women for you? Use Valentine's Day as a new start to self-reflect and be proactive.

Hmmmppp, work? I get tangled up with work nowadays since it's my new work...but I will soon find extra time to really get along and meet new friends on the way... hehehe

5. Ask Someone Out

If you really want a date for Valentine's Day, don't wait to be asked -- go ahead and do the asking. Even if it's someone you think of as "just a friend," you'll still have fun going out and celebrating.

No guts really hehehehe and I'm out of town during this time..A week after maybe...

6. Cuddle Up to Something Warm and Fuzzy

Warm fuzzies just make you feel good. Those V-day stuffed animals are great. So are warm cozy blankets and floppy slippers. Many would agree that the best warm fuzzies are pets. If you have a pet, get him or her a Valentine's Day treat. If you don't, maybe it's time to consider a dog or cat... now that's unconditional love!

A dog! I want a dog! But I dont think I'm good with taking care of pets...but i will try to have one!

7. Eat Some Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is good for our hearts in more ways than one. Besides containing potent antioxidants, it has the power to boost endorphins, the "happy juice" in our brains. The higher the percentage of cacao, the better. On Valentine's Day get your friends together for a chocolate tasting -- including chocolate fondue. Enjoy in moderation!

I dont like chocolate but maybe I'll try this one moment hehehehe

8. Don't See the World as One Big Happy Couple

"I see happy couples!" And that's all many single people see around V-Day. But it's a trick your mind is playing on you because that's what you are focused on. Not everyone is in a relationship and, certainly, not everyone is in a happy relationship. Keep your focus on the millions of single people out there just like you!

Of course! it's not only me who's feeling like this! It's all in the mind!

9. Remember This Is Just ONE Valentine's Day

Maybe you've been single for one V-day. Maybe you've been single for ten. Don't get completely discouraged and project into the future that you are going to be single for every Valentine's Day to come. No one has a crystal ball and life has a way of surprising us. Help make a good surprise more likely by keeping a positive attitude and being persistent about finding the healthy, happy relationship you want.

Good luck!

Now that you've finished reading it, go and share the info! You'll never know, next year you'll share you heart day with your significant other already! Happy Heart's Day!

i was handling a knife one morning when it suddenly had this cruel thought of playing with my finger. startled, with the knife clattering on the floor, i bit my finger to somehow diffuse the pain. only to be more startled because my blood tasted bitter.