And Life Goes On for a Filipino Mom

Off We Go!!!

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Ethan and I grabbed an opportunity that was presented to us. We were offered to go on an all-expense-paid Hong Kong trip! Yey! Ethan is so excited because he will finally see Disneyland. It's a protocol to secure a travel permit for a minor not traveling with a parent. Armed with the necessary birth certificate and letter of consent from his mommy, we trooped to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The processing was a nightmare as the case worker was insistent on having Ethan's biological father sign the consent. Where is Ethan's father? Who the heck knows?! We have not seen him for the last five years, since his marriage to my daughter was annulled. So, we had to produce affidavits left and right, and so on and so forth. Finally, after two whole days of long lines, long waits and driving back and forth, I finally have Ethan's travel permit.

My next worry now is Ethan's immunization. I can't remember if his immunizations are all current. Daughter #1 said he missed a couple of booster shots but that is fine since we've all had our flu shots lately. With the swine-flu scare world wide, I guess I am not overly reacting for our health. I do take multi-vitamins but at my age and current afflictions, I think it would be wise for me to take immune system boosters pills. I read the the supplement increases an individual's immune system, increases energy and vitality. It is safe to use and anyone who has the sense to improve his health therefore extending his life span would do well to take this health supplement. A study done by Bristol-Myers Squibb K-PAX Immune Support Formula could strengthen the immune system and the results were published as a “Rapid Communication” in The Journal of AIDS in August 2006. I better ask my doctor is I could take this supplement with my current medications. Meantime, I have to think of how to pack light.

Draining Day...

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:12:00 +0000

Yup. You read it right. Draining, not Training. I was not able to go online yesterday for various reasons. The "reasons" were all physically and emotionally draining. Suffice to say I am a 5/10 in terms of being "okay". Anyway, I opened my email a while ago and a day of missing out opening my email account presented me with hundreds of spam emails. A lot of those emails are from companies offering diet pills. Are the claims of these diet pills all true? It's a good thing there is a website that do diet pill reviews. Five things listed in the site's DONT'S regarding diet pills are: buying diet pills without a money back guarantee; falling for those "free" trials; buying proprietary blends unless there are positive reviews about it; buying diet pills without reviews from experts, buying without reading consumer reviews. Are you on the lookout for the best diet pills for you? Check out the site for reviews of various diet pills in the market today. In the meantime, I'd life to put a little spark back in me. I need to recharge. Wouldn't it be something if people could just be recharged as mobile phones?

Michael Jackson: In Memoriam

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:22:00 +0000

I just don't have the strength not inspiration to blog today. Not even my constant need of that extra cash can push me to write today. For today, July 8 here in Manila and July 7 in North America, Michael Jackson has finally been laid to rest. You won't believe how much I bawled myself out.

There has been wonderful and inspiring eulogies said for Michael. As I write this, I guess there are people like me who have puffy eyes and clogged nose due to too much crying. I guess there are also people out there still uttering something negative about the whole Michael Jackson Memorial. I guess there are fans out there claiming that there will never be another Michael Jackson. I guess there are non-fans out there asking "what's the fuss all about?".

Michael Jackson: of the Jackson 5, the King of Pop, the Greatest Entertainer of all time, the Legend, the Whacko, the Weirdo, the alleged child molester, Peter Pan at heart... But you know what? All these descriptions are of no meaning to his three kids. As Michael's daughter Paris said: He was the best "Daddy"!

The music world have lost a great artist. But for Michael's children, their lost was even more. They lost their daddy. After all the hoopla and hullabaloo regarding Michael Jackson, he was human after all. I will miss you Michael. You were my best bud during all those angst-full years of the 70s. You lightened up the load of a young mother as I watched you moonwalk your way in the 80s. My kids danced to your music in the 90s and they, like me, became your fans.

Rest now, Michael.

Wrinkle-Free Face

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:35:00 +0000

I am browsing for articles regarding Botox injections. Do I need Botox injections? Heaven forbid! Please...not yet. A cousin of mine has an affliction that no doctor could explain. For the past 10 years she has been suffering from extreme migraines and her eyelids were progressively closing. It came to a point where she has to pry her eyes open for her to see. She consulted doctors both in New York and Manila and the diagnosis was vague. However, the doctors prescribed Botox injections on her eyelids and the surrounding eye-area to arrest the drooping eyelids. The Botox injections worked! Her eyelids no longer droop but she has to have a sort of a prophylaxis Botox treatment every 3-5 months.

Botulinum toxin is the scientific name of the the product Botox. It was approved by the FDA in 2002 for the treatment of frown lines and wrinkles. The product is also used to treatment of migraines, muscle spams in the face and even excessive perspiration. How does it work? Botox block nerve signals to the muscles. The muscles are then paralyzed, albeit temporary, to create a smooth, wrinkle-free appearance. The procedure takes less than 20 minutes. The effect last from 4-6 months. It is a necessary for a would-be-Botox devotee to seek medical advice first before doing the procedure. Millions of women and men are usign Botox now to maintain wrinkle and furrow free faces. Interested? Who would not be?

Should I?

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:42:00 +0000

A niece from California arrived last night. She and her friend will be spending three weeks vacationing here in Manila. She called me a few minutes earlier and asked if I would like to take a break from my life's mundaneness, throw everything to the wind and play truant with her in Hong Kong next week. Hmm... very tempting. I told her to give me a couple of days to decide as I am in the middle of organizing and coordinating my mother-in-law's 80th birthday bash.

Anyway, she said her flight to Manila was uneventful as she slept most of the way. She was planning to go light on her luggage but that did not happen. You know how Filipinos are when it comes to sending something for the folks back home. My niece said she had to buy extra shipping boxes to accommodate all the "little something for the folks back home". Speaking of packaging and boxes and all related paraphernalia, I actually found a site that is a one stop online shop for packaging and shipping supplies. The site is www.packnbox now.com. Bubbles wrap, bubble pouches, packaging peanuts, labels, etc...I.Love.These.Stuff! They make my "packing" life easier.

Back to the question of the day. Should I go with my niece to Hong Kong?

Why Work Abroad?

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Daughter # 2 commented over dinner tonight that there are a bunch of teachers in the school where she teaches who are applying or have applied for positions abroad. One lucky IB teacher had been contacted by an international school in Boston for the position of a Chemistry teacher. Well and good. Daughter # 2 still has no immediate plans of applying for a teaching position abroad because she wants to pursue her Masterals in Early Childhood Education first.

Daughter # 1 said a lot of nurses in the hospital where she is a resident are glued to the net searching for jobs in health care - any related job, that is. Nurses' wage here in Manila are way too low that more and more nurses are looking for greater opportunities abroad. First class tertiary hospitals here in Manila charge their patients outrageously high! Why can't they pay their nurses a fair share? Ditto for schools! There's tuition hike every year yet private teachers' salaries stay the same. No wonder more Filipino teachers and nurses are going abroad to work.

I am so Mad it Hurts!

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:47:00 +0000

I am so freaking mad my jaw is clicking again - that means my muscles are all so tight from the tension. That means my jawline, neck and shoulder muscles are stretched like a fully-stretched guitar string about to snap. I am in freaking radiating pain! My muscle relaxant medication seems to be not working. What to do? I can only pray and remember Proverbs 14:29

A patient man has great
understanding, but a quick-
tempered man displays folly.

Distress Call

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:51:00 +0000

AT 5:45 A.M. today, I was awakened by the insistent ringing of my mobile phone. As I groped for my phone I was groggily thinking "who could be calling me at this ungodly hour in the morning?" I could not see the number or name of the person calling as I did not have my eyeglasses on. As my mind came into a clearer state, I bolted up thinking it could be my son calling in distress!

"Hello?!" I said, my usually soprano voice was still in its alto mode.

"Lena, this is Ninong Watts, I'd like to borrow the red pick-up truck tomorrow for I have some things to pack from the office and take home" he said.

Ninong Watts is Eduardo T. Malinis, the Insurance Commissioner of the Philippines. He is actually hubby's first cousin and one of our wedding sponsors eons ago.It seemed he was not able to find a transport for the moving job.Too bad, If he was anywhere in the U.S.A. then he could have gotten the services of an honest-to-goodness long distance moving companies whose services includes: packing, pickup, delivery and storage (if need be) at highly agreeable price quotes. East to West. West to East. No problem with the moving company. The only problem now is, what the heck will Ninong Watts load in the pick-up truck?

Frazzled!

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:23:00 +0000

It is July already and in less than three weeks, the much-awaited, much-labored-for grand birthday celebration of my mother-in-law will smack me right in the face. I am so frazzled by all the preparations for I am the dupe coordinating the event. I was not planning to lift a finger to help the in-laws. I was just too tired and not really cart-wheeling happy to help. When one is tired and unhappy, the creative juices will not flow. So, why did I eventually take the responsibility? One of my sis-in-law called and asked to "please, pretty please help us". I finally said okay and now I am just drowning with work. I am actually losing weight (and sleep) without actually taking my dietpills regularly. The "losing weight" part is one perk for all the work I am doing. I guess you are all wondering what kind of party I am coordintating for me to lose weight and sleep. Now. Now. You just have to be patient for I will definitely tell you and show you when the time is right. Meantime, if you're not happy with the extra love handle you see each day as you look at yourself in the mirror, try exercising. If you care to take dietpills to hasten up the slimming process, ask your doctor first if you are taking any medications.

Online Job Hunting

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:28:00 +0000

A favorite nephew recently migrated to Australia. He is a chemical engineer by profession, in his mid 30's and still single. He decided to try his luck abroad not for the lack of a fulfilling job here but for a more passionate reason: to spread his wings, so to speak. Before leaving for Sydney, he already had a string of potential employers in his field of work. However, he is not limiting himself to a specific job genre because he is also looking into the possible IT jobs and other fields directly or indirectly connected to his expertise. Nephew said he used www.techcareers.com to look for potential employers. The site is free to join and you can post your resume for employers to find. A registered member can set job alert when a matching job i posted. Well, it's a whole new world downunder for nephew. I wonder when I could visit - all expenses paid.

What's an AED?

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Daughter # 1 and 3, on occasions, come home after each duty with horror stories to tell. Both are in the medical and dental professions and "errors" are inevitable in some cases. I was really bothered by the case of a young man who had appendectomy and died hours after the supposedly successful operation. What happened? No one knows yet as an autopsy had to be performed. Daughter # 3 said that a colleague of hers performed dental surgery and the patient just died after the anesthesiologist gave the patient some medications to sleep. Horror stories! We should all take extra precautions concerning our health.

Daughter # 1 is now serious about getting our own Automated External Defibrillator as both my mother-in-law and husband are cardiac patients. She said that she has been telling my sister-in-law to get one for the longest time. I think she already called her uncle, his dad's brother who lives in Texas, to buy an America AED before coming home to Manila in two weeks time. She said the offered packages on sale at the site are worth the price. The site offers free medical prescriptions and medical authorization on all AEDs. I asked daughter # 1 if the AED would be easy to operate. Daughter #1 said that any idiot could be taught how to use it. Well now, I could actually learn to operate it!

Michael Jackson's Billie Jean

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:27:00 +0000

Michael Jackson's death brought on tributes from his millions of fans from around the world. Excerpts of his life, his music, his eccentricities, his childhood, and what-have-you is being shown on television non-stop. I've been glued to the television the whole day yesterday looking and searching for anything "Michael Jackson". I even received an email from Unang Hirit asking if I have any MJ memorabilia. I have a couple of tickets from the HIStory Concert he did here in 1996 but I don't think that counted. My family is a big fan of Michael Jackson, even little Ethan. When daughter #4 got home the other night, she was teary-eyed as she said "But Michael Jackson is immortal. He cannot die!" Michael Jackson will indeed be immortalized as his music will forever remind us of his genius. One of my favorites is Billie Jean. Enjoy. Moonwalk if you please.

Michael Jackson is Dead!

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:37:00 +0000

At 6:30 A.M. I was waken up by the beep of my mobile phone. Since three of my kids were not at home, I immediately grabbed my cellphone to see who sent me an SMS message. It was from daughter #1, the doctor who was on duty at a hospital. The message read: "patay na si Michael Jackson" (Michael Jackson is dead). I shook my head, rubbed my eyes, and read again the text message. This can't be right! Michael is not even sick and is even preparing for a big comeback concert this July! I got out of bed, turned on the computer and searched for the related news. Indeed, Michael Jackson, the king of pop, the icon of my time, the alleged child molester, the often ridiculed persona by some, the little of boy at heart, the inventor of the moon-walk, the total performer, the only singer that I really, really adore, is dead.

He reportedly was in a coma when rushed to a hospital and suffered a cardiac arrest en route. Born on August 29, 1958, Michael died on June 25 2009, two months short of his 51st birthday. I am truly saddened by his death. It's like losing a friend. My mp3 is filled with his songs as I've been a fan of the Jackson 5 since the early 70s. Christmas will not be the same without hearing his song "Give Love on Christmas Day". His songs "Thriller" and Billy Jean" are part of my "jogging music"....Michael Jackson is dead! I cannot believe it. We almost touched hands when I watched his concert in Manila in 1996. Wait. I need time to digest and assimilate the fact that greatest total performer of all time is dead.

Forgotten Textbooks

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:20:00 +0000

School started for my son two weeks ago. He is now officially a junior in college. How time flies! In no time at all he'd be done with his course. He told me though that he plans to either pursue medical studies or go to veterinary school. Whatever he chooses, I'll be all supportive. He has asked me for money to buy his school stuff - that is two ballpoint pens and a fillet notebook. He threw in a couple of yellow pads and a plastic expandable folder for safe measures from the rain wetting his notebook and yellow pads. He asked for more money so he could buy some new shirts and a couple of pair of pants, 6 pieces of boxer shorts, and 6 pairs of socks. I was waiting for him to ask for more money for surely I know that there is a matter of buying some books for his term load. I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, I cannot stand the long wait. After two weeks of school, I finally asked him.

"Aren't you going to buy some textbooks for your new subjects?

At that point his eyes lit up and said " Dang! I knew I was forgetting something."

Transformers: The Revenge of the Fallen

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:51:00 +0000

I have been feeling out of sorts for the past few days. There are problems and there are problems. There are one or two opps in the offing but I am just not up to it, yet. I had a good bawl yesterday after reading the comment made by my online buddy Splice about my Fathers Day post.

Classes were suspended yesterday by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) which normally meant it was a good day to go out gallivanting. The typhoon signal 2 did not manifest yesterday so PAGASA predicted that it would arrive today with all its 55mph sustained winds and rain, today... peksman!!(rough translation is "cross my heart!")

So, since yesterday was a "school" holiday and because my daughters felt I needed some cheering up, daughter #1 got us some special screening tickets for the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I liked Transformers 1 but through experience, sequels usually suck. Anyway, the tickets were all paid for so daughters 1, 2, 3 Ethan and I went to see the movie.

It. Was. Awesome! Borrowing Ethna's articulate description - the movie was "wooooo!" It totally rocks! I loved it! I even clapped my hands and was on the verge of standing up to shout Encore! at the movie's end when I remembered I was watching a movie and not some stage musical or play. For a moment, I forgot my ails and woes and was immersed on Sam Witwicky's (Shia LaBeouf) predicament. Megan Fox was indeed a "fox" what with her perpetually botoxed pout and uber sexiness.

For the most part, the movie was all crashing metals, ripping steels, transforming and mutating vehicles, and loud thumping of metals crashing into metals. There was a plot/story line somewhere but most of the dialogues during the fight sequences (which was actually almost all the time) were inaudible. Who cares! I was so enthralled and amazed by the technology used in the movie I didn't care if I didn't get all the dialogue exchanges. I was about to drool for Shia but thought he was too young so I drooled for Josh Duhamel instead. The twin transformers and John Turturro were the comedic reliefs in the movie.

I left the movie feeling quite light-hearted. I enjoyed the movie for really, I am still a "young boy" at heart.

Father's Day No More

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:58:00 +0000

Today is Fathers Day. It would have been great pleasure and joy for me to greet my papa. However, I could not for he has left this ( sometimes ) cruel world for a better place. I could have opted to greet my father-in-law but he is in a better place too. Well, the next best person to greet is the father of my children ( sorry but my mind refuses to acknowledge the phrase my husband). But how could I happily greet him "Happy Fathers Day" when he told me yesterday that he has no obligation what-so-ever to help me buy my medications? Yes. I was forced to ask for monetary help for I ran short of cash. My van needed new disc brakes, the fence needed mending - thanks to the mango tree that fell on the fence yet was not righted for he refused to cut the fallen part- , the galvanized iron roof is rusting and needed replacement, my son needed new eye glasses - a lot of expenses in a week that I paid for. With no other extra income in the offing (not much opps too since google took my PR3 and have not returned it even as I type)- I was strapped for cash.

Top cut a long story shorter, my girls said they will shoulder my medications. I hate to ask money from them since they're not earning big bucks yet. What puzzles them though is the fact that the only one asking for allowance from Mr. No Obligation is my son. That alone saves their father a whooping 24,000 PHP a month. Where's the freaking extra money?! So! No sob story here - just the same recurring theme told in a different angle and circumstance.

In times like this, I sincerely miss my father as I have no one to act as my knight in shining armor. All my uncles on mama's and papa's side are all gone too...oh! except for an eccentric uncle on papa's side who is childless anyway. I have no other sibling but a younger brother who lives with his family in NJ. So, to you my brother, and to all deserving fathers out there... Happy Fathers Day!

P.S.
You might want to earn extra cash through this link. You'd be helping me earn extra cash too.

Online University: A Wiser Choice?

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:58:00 +0000

Swine flu scare or not, school has started in this part of the world. Some schools' opening was postponed for a week due to swine flu scare. Yesterday, daughter # 2 was furious because the school where she teaches is not so vigilant about feverish students who were in school. Right! Students with fever should be sent right home to prevent the spread of diseases. I find it humorous to see people wearing face masks while gallivanting about malls and other public places. Why? Those facial masks are pretty useless in preventing viral or bacterial infections because they are too porous.

The constant threat of disease, accidents, mugging and sometimes terrorism led me to think that nowadays, it is a lot better and in the long run cheaper to earn a degree online. I have been toying in with the idea of earning a master's degree for the longest time and I think the time is ripe for me to get one. Now, what masteral degree is right for me? Browsing online I chanced upon an online university that offers Masters of Science in Information Security. Interesting really as cyberspace or the web or the internet is filled with hackers and viruses and what-have-you that threatens the government, businesses and every common individuals like you and me.The masteral course offers two majors: managerial concentration and technical concentration. Managerial Information Security is perfect for IT analysts, managers, and others who deal with IT securities' and policies' examination and audit. Technical Information Security deals with the implementation of security measures and policies.

Quite interesting. The online university is Lewis University and the school even offers financial help for deserving applicants and students. I would look further into this and who knows?! I might actually take the course.

Rain, Rain Go Away, Come Again After the Wash is Dry...

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:59:00 +0000

It has been raining on and off for the past month. The rainy season in the Philippines is progressively coming in earlier each year. If this keeps up, the rainy season might fall during the official summer months this part of the world - March to May. Wouldn't that be something?!

I don't hate the rain. It is the rain that fills up our dams for our water and electricity. It is the rain that fills up the rivers and streams that help in irrigating our crops and plants. It is the rain that clears the smog and pollution evident in our cities. It is the rain that brings freshness and coolness to our mostly hot and humid weather. However, if the rain does not let up, too much of it causes flooding. Flooding drowns our crops and plants and sometimes, people too. Too much rain causes heavy traffic which in turn brings havoc to commuters. Many gets stranded in impossible-to-comprehend-and-untangle traffic jams which in turn cause waste of gasoline, time and undue stress to parents waiting for their kids to get home. Too much rain causes my laundry woman to swear and tsk-tsk interchangeably to the yet wet clothes that she washed and hung to dry two days ago. Tomorrow is a new day. As I see it, it is the day I finally succumb to the rain and bring all our dirty clothes to the dry cleaner.

Awards Galore

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:17:00 +0000

I have not done some memes for quite a time now.So! here are some blog awards that I got from Nancy and Pink Note. Thank you ladies for your thoughtfulness.

I would like to pass these awards to some very dear blogger friends of mine. Go girls!

A Fil-Am Journey* A Blessed Life* Juliana's World * Girl for all Status* Frustrated Sosyalera* Pinay Wham * Emotera* Gorgeous Mum * Uncomplicated

Top Web Hosting Site

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Do you need a web host for your blog? According to www.b4udecide.com, the best web hosting site is webhosting pad. At $1.99 fee a month for hosting services with unlimited disk space and data transfer and free set-up to boot, I guess it is the best hosting site at this time.I must admit that a cheap web host does not mean inferior as an expensive web host does not mean superior. The company even offers a free domain name. The rest of the top ten web hosting sites can be viewed at www.b4udecide.com. The site reviews and rates popular web hosting sites for better information for the consumers.

Getting your own personal web hosting provider used to cost a lot of money, entails complicated method and uber high-tech know-how. Not anymore. These hosting providers have made life easier for their clients by making their set-ups easy to follow. There are sites like www.b4udecide.com that blogs about the 1-2-3s of web hosting. The site has different articles on tips and guides on the how tos' of web hosting. If you are in a business, there are business web hosting rated and reviewed for your choosing. Check out the site to learn more.

Painless Lipo Laser

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:29:00 +0000

Who does not want to look beautiful? Who does not want to look firm and buff after birthing a bunch of kids, toiling night and day for years of stressful motherhood with the added strain of being a wife, a tutor, a driver, a cook, a counselor, a bread-winner, an event organize, a gardener, a care-taker, etc, etc. You're one big fat liar if you say you don't care how you look once you hit the 40s! Life has changed as it no longer begins at 40. It has transformed to "life begins at whatever age you want it to begin!"

Okay. So I'm having a hard time getting back into the shape and size I was back when the price of gas was 15 PHP per liter. The stubborn extra weight won't come off! Short of getting a knife and cutting off the woobly-jiggly thingy that is my tummy, I researched on a non-surgical way to get rid of the offending err..ahh... fat. Sure, liposuction has been around for years and years now but I don't want that since the procedure is still pretty invasive for me. Zerona might be the answer to my problem. The lipo laser quickly and painlessly breaks down the fat cells of the areas being treated as it stimulates the body to rid itself of the excess fat. A typical treatment course runs for a period of a 40-minute tri weekly sessions for three weeks. How does it work?

The Zerona laser liposuction is a cold laser beam penetrates fat cells making them empty out the fatty cells into the body for normal secretion out of the lymphatic and digestive systems. Great! This is best if one is in a hurry to look ones best for that special occasion in the offing. Count me in!

Of Start of Classes and Stink and Dirt

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:03:00 +0000

Swine flu scare or not, school will finally start on June 15 for Ethan and June 16 for my son. In preparation for school, I have bought Ethan's school supplies and other kits. There were no books included in the list. I think the school will continue with its innovation of using US textbooks for based on US curriculum too. I had a laugh when I read its curriculum citing Filipino as foreign language. Whatever. I still need to buy Ethan more clothes as his school is "uniformless".

As preparation for my son's schooling, I went to his apartment to check out what he needs. Horror of horrors! The apartment was freaking dirty and stinked to high heavens! Daughter #2 and I tried to clean the apartment but only did so superficially. The whole place needs a great wash and clean-up. I almost fainted when I saw the yellowed-dusty-smelly bed sheets and pillow cases of my son. No wonder his pimples have been acting up. He has been sleeping in "dirt" for the past month. No amount of the best acne treatment would do him any good if he continues to sleep on dirty sheets on a dusty bed in a smelly bedroom in a super stinky apartment.

Philippine Independence Day: June 12 or July 4?

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:26:00 +0000

It's a long weekend here in the Philippines for June 12 is Philippine Independence Day. Independence Day used to be July 4, same as in the USA. For those in the dark, the Philippines was under American rule after Spain sold my native land to the tune of 20,000,000 Pesos to good ol' Uncle Sam. Of course, that piece of information was not taught in history classes in elementary and secondary school just like the information that Emilio Aguinaldo willingly left for Hong Kong before the turn of the century as an exile when Spain paid him 3,000,000 Pesos.

Anyway, Aguinaldo came back to the Philippines and declared June 12 ,1898 as Philippine's emancipation day from Spain. The declaration, however, was not recognized by the United States or Spain, and was not generally recognized by other nations. So! the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States. The transition was pretty much hard as the Spanish speaking Filipinos had to learn a new language which was English. For more than forty years the Philippines was under various US governor generals. Their names are all over the streets of Manila: Taft, Harrison,Forbes, Wood, Gilmore, Murphy, Roosevelt and more.

After the Tydings-McDuffie act or what is known as the Philippine Independence Act was approved in 1934, the Philippines just had to wait for a 10-year transition period for the USA to grant its independence. Tough luck! Halfway through the transition period during the Commonwealth years, WW II happened. After the war, ready or not ready, the Philippines demanded that the agreement in the Tydings-McDuffie Act be honored. So on July 4, 1946, the United States of America granted and recognized Philippine Independence. In 1965, during Diosdado Macapagal's tenure as president of the Philippines, he changed July 4 to June 12 as Philippine Independence Day. What do you think Philippine Independence Day should be?

"Magic" Eye Cream

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:26:00 +0000

I had a very tiring day yesterday. I went to Divisoria in the morning to buy the textiles for my family's Filipiniana attire to be worn on my mother-in-law's 80th birthday. I and my family intend to wear Muslim-inspired costumes. Think Singkil, Maranao, Kumintang, Sari-Manok! Oh I had a field day choosing the textiles and accessories. After buying all the materials I needed for our costumes, I asked my driver to take to C.M. Recto to order the invites. I got the invites real cheap at 35 Php a piece compared to about 100 Php per piece in mall outlets.

By 4:00 P.M. I was home. At 5:30 P.M. I did my daily 3.5 -5 K jog. By 6:30 P.M. I have taken my shower and was about to turn on my computer when daughters 3 and 4 drove by and picked me up for a game of badminton. We got home around 10:30 P.M. after sets after sets of robust playing. I was ready to hit the sack by 11:30 P.M. when daughter # 2 came in my bedroom and requested that I drive her to school at 5:30 A.M the tomorrow (that's today). She said the whole faculty and staff of the school will be having a field trip. Yey! to them. I must have dozed off around 1:00 P.M. for I specifically remembered watching two re-runs of The Nanny.

"Mom! wake up. It's time for you to drive me to school."

I groggily and grudgingly got up and dressed to drive daughter # 2 to school at 5:30 A.M. It's now 8:14 A.M. and I look like crap. I have dark circles around my puffy and eyes. I can even discern a more pronounced "crows feet" at the corners of my eyes! I need to do something real fast for I have to look my best at my mother-in-law's birthday. In times like this, I need the magic that is called anti wrinkle eye cream. I have an hour and 44 minutes to kill before I raid the mall and get me one.

The New School Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (desperateblogger) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:10:00 +0000

A cousin sent me the following prayer through email. It is a prayer written by a 15 year old kid from Arizona. Since most public schools in the United States do no allow the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer so as not to offend the non-believers. I say, boo-hoo to the school administrators, the city council, the state council and all other councils and legislators for allowing this to happen. What about the believers? Don't they have the right to profess their beliefs? Isn't USA founded by believers? Anyway, here's the prayer.

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights..
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
ullpost">So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen.