GENSANarium

A Lazy Sunday Afternoon at Lemlunay Resort

2012-09-09T08:05:00.001-07:00

Right now, I long for my bed for I am very exhausted, feeling dead as a log. My family and I spent the whole afternoon frolicking in one of Saranggani’s most popular tourist destinations – Lemlunay Resort. We were just lucky that there were a few guests so the whole place seems to be ours. LOL. It was not my first time at Lemlunay but I really love the place. The cool wind, the calm sea, and the elegant simplicity give me relaxation and relief from stress.

With me were my mothers, sisters, in-laws and the kids. Meet the ever-increasing family….

Of course, the moment would be wasted if we do not dip in the clean waters of their eternity pool….

Plus the beauty of the nature and man’s designs all over the place….

The place became even more picturesque and romantic towards the afternoon….

14th Tuna Festival Opens with a Grand Float Parade

2012-09-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

Today, the 14^th Tuna Festival officially opened. It is a local holiday so my family took the time to stroll the busy grounds of General Santos City. As expected, all the major streets in the city faced heavy traffic and the roads where the float parade would pass were blocked. Despite the searing heat and unforgiving humidity, preparations for the parade started by around two in the afternoon. By four, the parade started at SM mall.

Here are some of the images taken from the float parade.

The parade ended at the city’s oval plaza. The entire area was totally crowded and only then I felt exhausted. We just grabbed some durian and refreshing coconut juice and then left.

We did not anymore wait for the opening program and the fireworks display. Depletion has totally taken its toll on me. In a nearby restaurant, we had dinner and called the day.

Related Article: 14th Tuna Festival

14th Tuna Festival

2012-09-04T05:21:00.001-07:00

The “ber” months have already started and as expected, several celebrations are on its way. But before we get excited for the Christmas season, let us begin the festivity with one of the City’s major festival every year…. And it is the Tuna Festival!

Yes, General Santos City is celebrating the 14^th Tuna Festival, in time for the commemoration of its 44^th Charter Anniversary. This year’s celebration synchs with the Department of Tourism’s ad campaign of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” with its theme “Tuna Fun, Tuna Fest in Magandang Gensan.” Kickoff party had been done last July and pre-festival celebration had started last August 15.

Here is the list of activities for this year’s Tuna Fest:

Wednesday, Sept 5, 2012

6:00 AM - Fiscarade (Parade of Fishcars)
8:00 AM - City Hall - Flag Raising Ceremony
9:00 AM - City Hall - Tuna Fest Alay sa Kapwa
10:00 AM - SM City GenSan - Tuna Fest Photo Exhibit
4:00-6:00 PM - Oval Grand Stand - Tuna Float Parade
7:00 PM - Oval Grand Stand - Grand Opening; Oval Plaza - All about Tuna Pavilion

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012

7:00 am-12:00 NN - GSC Fish Port Complex - Fishtahan sa Fishport
Kiddie Game Fishing
Karga Tuna
Tuna Relay
Linis, Bilis Tuna
Swimming Competition
Jetski Competition

7:00 PM - Fish Port Market 2 - Street Party sa Fishport
Biggest Tuna
Atras Bugsay
Huli Lipat Hito

9:00 AM-5:00 PM - Fish Port Market 4 - Tuna Congress (Opening)
7:00 PM - Tuna Congress (Welcome Dinner)
- GSC Tennis Court - Lawn Tennis Natl. Open Tournament
- Lakbay Tuna
7:00 PM - Oval Plaza Gym - Brigada Teen-Guwang
7:00 PM - Oval Grand Stand - Concert (SMART)

Friday, Sept. 7, 2012

9:00 AM-5:00 PM - Oval Gym - Hilig Extreme BMX Street
- Hilig Extreme Push Race Long Board
- Hilig Extreme Skate Boarding
- Oval Plaza - Mountain Bike
7:00 PM - Badminton Tournament
- Oval Grand Stand Concert (GLOBE)

Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012

Queen Tuna Park - Kite Flying
3:00 PM - Sarangani Bay Cruise
7:00 AM-12NN - GSC Fish Port - Fishtahan Game Fishing
7:00 PM - Oval Grand Stand - Talent Show Case of Generals:
GenSan Pop Idol
Dance Competition

Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012

6:00 AM - Queen Tuna Park - Bombo Radyo Bankarera
1:00 PM - Oval Grand stand - Street Dancing Competition
7:00 PM - Karagatan Awards
6:00 AM - Oval Grand Stand - Closing Ceremonies

FEIE (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion) Legally Saving Expats More Than $90K Annually

2012-08-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

The practice of the United States taxing its citizens no matter where in the world they decide to live and work is not a popular one among most US expats. The fact remains, however, that the IRS offers a number of exclusions and deductions to expatriates which minimize the burden of taxes imposed upon them. Sadly, not all US expats are aware of such exclusions and wind up paying the IRS a considerably higher amount every year than they are actually required to pay.

The goal of this article is to inform US citizens who live and work in foreign countries of the many tax benefits offered by the IRS which can significantly reduce – and in many cases completely eliminate – your total tax liability to the United States IRS.

The first and most beneficial exclusion offered to US expats by the IRS is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE). With the FEIE, international taxpayers are able to exclude a significant portion of their income from their total taxable income. The income amounts that qualifying US expats are able to exclude from their US taxable income for 2011 are as follows:

Single - $92,900 ($95,100 in 2012)
Married Filing Jointly - $185,800 ($190,200 in 2012)

You may have noticed the keyword ‘qualifying’ in the previous paragraph. This is an important word, because only qualifying expatriates are entitled to claim the FEIE; and to qualify you must meet certain conditions which have been established by the IRS. So what conditions must a US expat meet for claiming the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion? There is 1 of 2 conditions which must be met by a US citizen living abroad, and they are referred to by the IRS as tests. They are:

Physical Presence Test – The Physical Presence Test requires you to have been physically present in a country abroad for a minimum of 330 full days. The important keyword here is ‘full.’ Assume you were transferred to Paris and your flight landed around 2AM on August 1st. Your first full day would not technically be until the end of August 2nd, as that is the first day you were in your host country from midnight on.
Bona Fide Residence Test – The Bona Fide Residence Test requires a US citizen to not only have been a resident of foreign country for at least 1 year but also to have the intention of remaining in that foreign country for some time in the foreseeable future. While intentions are sometimes difficult to prove, there are quite often documents which can support the intentions of a taxpayer. Some of these documents include long-term contracts, business or partnership plans, extended lease agreements, and more. Stating your intentions to remain in a foreign country for an indefinite period of time is not to say that you will not travel outside of that country, but it is to say that you have no intention of returning to the United States at any time in recent years to come.

To claim the FEIE, complete Form 2555 and attach it to your Form 1040. If you need help figuring out whether or not you qualify for either test, feel free to contact us for expert tax guidance.

In addition to the FEIE, there are a couple other tax benefits offered to US expats to minimize or eliminate the total amount of tax liability due to the IRS. These available tax breaks are outlined below.

Foreign Tax Credit

The Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) is a measure taken by the IRS to prevent double taxation on income. With the FTC, taxpayers are able to deduct every dollar from their US taxes that they were required to pay to their host country. It’s important to understand that the FTC is not automatically issued to you by the IRS. Like all exclusions, deductions, and credits, the FTC must be claimed and attached to Form 1040. You may claim the Foreign Tax Credit by completing Form 1116.

Foreign Housing Allowance

Relocating overseas inevitably incurs cost to the taxpayer - whether or not his/her employer is helping with some or all of the expenses. Aside from the cost of relocating is the consideration of the adjusted cost of living in certain parts of the world. In order to help US expats recover from some of the extra expenditure they’re sure to face the IRS offers certain allowances on US expat income taxes. The Foreign Housing Allowance can be calculated 1 of 2 ways:

30% of the corresponding year’s FEIE amount
Referred to a predetermined rate established by the IRS for major cities in countries around the world in which the cost of living is considerably higher than other areas.

The Foreign Housing Allowance is claimed on Form 2225 with the FEIE.

If you are unsure about whether you qualify for any of these tax benefits or you have questions about how to file, don’t guess! We have a team of qualified professionals available to help you get the most out of your US expat tax return.

Guest Blog Post by By I.J. Zemelman, EA, Taxes for Expats

MSU-GSC Students Rank FIRST and FIFTH in the Recent Agricultural Engineering Board Exam

2012-08-29T06:16:00.003-07:00

Amazingly, our graduates did so well in the recent Licensure Examination for Agricultural Engineers. The result really blew me away. I had so much hope for these people, but they had given me more than what I anticipated.

Yesterday must have been a beautiful omen. Earlier in the morning, as I was traveling to the university from the city, I was following behind a car with plate number PRC 351. That PRC characters excited me, since PRC is the initials for Professional Regulation Commission. So what do 351 mean? Well, later in the day, a student texted me saying that 86% of the first time takers passed the exam. So that’s it, 351 (3+5=8, and 5+1=6)!

Not only was the passing percentage was great, we have two topnotchers! Ely Jun Pates ranked FIRST! Another one, Rowen Lacanaria, bagged the FIFTH place! Isn’t that exemplary? Ely was a “home-grown” Agricultural Engineering student, while Rowen was a shifter from another course (Electrical Engineering). It was redemption for Rowen and his colleagues, implying that anyone can really succeed despite past painful struggles. And for Ely, he simply upheld our course and profession, giving much honor to the university and to our department.

Anyway, here is the complete list of our passers:

Abdusalam, Eliaser J.
Aboy, Marvin C.
Boticario, Philip Michael
Cabca, Wilbert M.
de Jesus, Roselyn T.
Dela Cruz, Rendell
Gestupa, Richard Jay N.
Kusin, Kublai L.
Lacanaria, Rowen F.	Top 5
Manabe, Jonna Riza G.
Mapandi, Alfahd Naif L.
Mercado, Franz
Navarro, Jerryl E.
Palmes, Darwin D.
Parami, Youngy P.
Pates, Ely Jun D.	Top 1
Pelarco, Hairen Mae V.
Quisto, Albert E.
Rosaceña, Norman P.
Santiago, Anthony J.
Santos, Vincent Paul P.
Usop, Syria P.
Apad, Alkhomine L.
Buisan, Melanie D.
Emit, Rizaldy E.
Esparcia, Angela Pearl M.
Limbo, Al Nor Sajid N.
Ngadao, Charisse T.
Villarino, Yvanni Jan L.
Dagon, Anna Grace M.

For our review center, here are the passers from other colleges and universities. Two of them also made it to the topnotchers' list.

MSU-Maguindanao
Buisan, Mokles P.
Lawan, Baidido A.
Maulana, Jon-jon S.
MSU-Marawi
Bato, Saidamen D.
Buslon, Jane Y.
Butokan, Yasser A.
Gogo, Norlaila M.
Hadji Casan, Jasminah G.
Jumawid, Ramon R.
Macakiling, Mohammad Faiz M.
Macasag, Amiroden M.
Maquiling, Bryan T.
Molia, Michael L.
Sanchez, Kenneth Jaysone C.
Saripada, Jonaem S.
Togotan, Noah Herajie L.
Umbal, Charis M.
SPAMAST
Dela Cruz, Christinflor C.
Panugan, Cherie L.
Sarona, Jomar Ray C.
Tuling, Ryan Art M.	Top 2
USEP-Tagum
Basbaño, Clint John G.
Bedico,Rosie Lyn M.
Carpentero, Hazel Joy C.	Top 3
DelaCruz, Peter John O.
Gallardo, Johnny C.
Lorono, Marx Israel L.
Manabit, Ever S.
Marquez, Erwin Anthony C.
Palmera, Jumark
Radores, Arriel E.
Ramos, Melvin M.
Rodriguez, Roy J.
Torreon, Jygmabelle A.
Yap, Llover C.
USM
Dimacutac, Emmanuel P.
Garciano, Shella Joy A.
Gerongay, Emerson G.
Hubac, Harvey F.
Iglesias, Gilbert V.
Montecalvo, Jordan A.
Torres, Raymond Jay B.
Vegafria, Kenneth Mark J.
Velete, Rey Joy M.

Here is the list of the top seven examinees:

You may visit the Facebook page of PRC for the complete list of passers.

Well, I could claim that these people are our “babies.” I am so proud of them. Two years now, our students performed so well in the board exam. Last year, one of our graduates ranked SECOND. I am really thankful to our students and colleagues in the faculty for the two great years. Above all, all the glory and honor we bring back to the Lord above who made everything possible. Right now, I could only look forward to more amazing years ahead.

Stan and the Fossils

2012-08-01T04:46:00.001-07:00

Last Monday, Dr. Stanley E. Prussia (a professor emeritus from the University of Georgia) had his lecture presentation on my class in Rural Electrification and Non-conventional Energy Systems. His topic was on Alternative Energy. Impressively, he tackled different plant designs and the types and applications of alternative energy.

Dr. Prussia (or Stan as what we fondly call him) has delivered a fun lecture. But what really took most of my interest were the fossils he brought along. Yup, he showed to the class several fossils which are totally wonderful. Most of which come from the USA, while the other are he found here in the Philippines, particularly in Cebu. Here are some of his fossils.

Among all the fossils, I am most excited with the Trilobite. Since grade school, I often heard about trilobites and seen them on textbooks. But I have never seen a real fossil of these pre-historic creatures. I consulted my friend Wikipedia and here are the things he has to say about the Trilobites:

Trilobites were highly diverse and geographically dispersed. Oh, this simply means that they roamed all over the world centuries ago.
They belong to phylum arthropods – the same group with the crabs, spiders, centipedes, shrimps, insects, or those animals with exoskeleton or external skeleton.
Trilobites range in length from 1 millimetre (0.04 in) to 72 centimeters (28 in), with a typical size range of 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in). The world's largest trilobite, Isotelus rex, was found in 1998 by Canadian scientists in Ordovician rocks on the shores of Hudson Bay.
Many trilobites had complex eyes; they also had a pair of antennae. Some trilobites were blind, probably living too deep in the sea for light to reach them. Other trilobites (e.g. Phacops rana and Erbenochile erbeni) had large eyes that were for use in more well lit, predator-filled waters.

Exactly why the trilobites became extinct is not clear; with repeated extinction events (often followed by apparent recovery) throughout the trilobite fossil record, a combination of causes is likely.
Trilobites are the state fossils of Ohio (Isotelus), Wisconsin (Calymene celebra) and Pennsylvania (Phacops rana).
Until the early 1900s, the Ute Native Americans of Utah wore trilobites, which they called pachavee ("little water bug"), as amulets. A hole was bored in the head and the fossil was worn on a string.
The closest extant relatives of trilobites may be the horseshoe crabs.

Anyway, here are some images of the tiny trilobite that Stan brought to the class.

Fifteen Words about South Cotabato

2012-07-28T16:31:00.001-07:00

TUNA. That’s General Santos! DURIAN. That’s Davao! WHITE SAND. That’s Gumasa in Sarangani Province! How about South Cotabato? What are the terms which can be associated with this beautiful province in the south? Here are fifteen words to describe South Cotabato:

1. PINEAPPLE. South Cotabato is rolling will hills of pineapples. Whether you are travelling along its highways or visiting its remotest towns, you will never miss out the pineapples. In a way, thanks to Dole Philippines, who does not only provide such sweet-tasting fruits but also offer employment opportunities to the people.

2. GRAINS. South Cotabato, along with General Santos City, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, is the top producer of both corn and rice in the country according to a report by NSCB. Surallah, Norala, Banga, and other municipalities have large expanse of corn and rice field irrigated by the waters of the great Allah River and its tributaries.

3. FRUITS. South Cotabato has become one of the country’s fruit baskets. Pass by Polomolok and Tupi and have a taste of their rich harvest of fruits such as durian, papaya, banana, and much more.

4. FALLS. Who does not known the famous Seven Falls of Lake Sebu? If you have only heard of it, then it is now time to visit the wondrous falls. Seven is quite a lot, but seeing only just a half of them will already mesmerize you, urging you to keep wanting for more. The famous tourist attraction is at Barangay Seven Falls where you must also experience the highest zipline in Asia (that’s roughly 200 meters above the ground!). Besides Lake Sebu, there are also many awe-inspiring falls in Koronadal.

5. T’NALAK. A fabric unique to the T’boli tribe of South Cotabato, the T’nalak is made of abaca fibers meticulously woven to create a strong and colorful piece of clothing. With its tough assembly and vibrant appearance, the T’nalak is truly a symbol of the region’s rich culture that stands the test of time and development.

6. TILAPIA. South Cotabato is unindated with healthy lakes and clean waters. Living abundantly in these waters are the beautiful but humble tilapias. Whether they are grilled, fried, stewed, or dried, tilapias are simply mouth-watering. And where can you find the cleanest, fattest (just imagine the thick line of fish fat along their belly) and most delicious tilapias? Only in this part of the world!

7. POTS. Visit the silent municipality of Tantangan and be impressed with its display of clay pots and ceramics. With their exceptional details, these pots are truly works of arts by the local artisans and craftsmen.

8. FLOWERS. South Cotabato is also the home of many exotic and beautiful flowers such as the Waling-waling which is the “Queen of Philippine Flowers”. Try visiting Durian Garden in Polomolok and be dazzled with the myriad showers of sweet blossoms. And isn’t cutflower a major production in Tupi?

9. UP. Recently, the University of the Philippines Manila launched a satellite campus in Koronadal named as the UP Manila – School of Health Sciences Koronadal Campus. It would not be surprising that in the coming days, Koronadal will prove to be a center of excellence in the country, not only because of the establishment of UP campus but also due to its already well-performing schools and universities.

10. MARDI GRAS. Festivals in South Cotabato are bursting with life, colors, and joviality. Whether they are about foundation anniversary, patronal feast, or simply thanksgiving celebration, these festivals are highlighted with street parties and colorful mass parade, featuring the wonderful culture and richness of harvest in the region.

Image Source

11. MATUTUM. Standing proud on the region’s ground, the majestic Mount Matutum is a distinguishing landmark in South Cotabato. Rising to almost 2.3 km above sea levels, the volcano plays host to a variety of plants and wildlife. The cute tarsiers are even found on Mount Matutum.

Image Source

12. CAVES. Nature has gifted South Cotabato with amazing cave formations. Discover the Cadidang Cave, Salkak Cave, and various other caves in the region.

13. JOYRIDE. South Cotabato is a great place to hit the road. Try the undulating roads going to Banga, Surallah and Lake Sebu. How about the busy round ball of Koronadal? Or the wide highways of Polomolok, picturesque with the bright street lamps at night? Whether you see agricultural fields stretching to eternity or funny architectures and landscapes, you will surely enjoy the sights and sounds along the roads of South Cotabato.

14. HERITAGE. South Cotabato has a diverse heritage. It is a melting pot of different tribes, mainly Ilonggo, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Cebuano, Muslim and the indigenous tribes of T’boli and B’laan, whose lives converge in perfect harmony, brotherhood, and peace.

15. SUN. Above all, South Cotabato is blessed with a wonderful climate. The sun shines brightly all throughout the year, with occasional rainshower and mist. Such ideal mixture of heat and moisture has nourished the region’s land, making it fit for agriculture and tourism. In analogy, the perfect blend of culture, religion and history has enriched the people’s already flourishing political, social and economic lives.

As the sun brings bounty to the land, SUN Cellular also offers much opportunities and fun to the region. With the improved signal and services, exploring and enjoying every corner of South Cotabato can be done to the max. With SUN, “better network, better value”.

“This is my submission for the T'nalak Festival 2012 Blog Writing Contest, which is made possible with the support of sponsors such as Hon. Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr and the province of South Cotabato, Sun Cellular - get two days of unlimited text to all networks for only ₱15 with SUN TEXTALL15, Dole Philippines, Representative Teddy Casiño & Bayan Muna Party-List, KCC Malls, SouthCotabato.Org and South Cotabato News.”

Weekly Engagements with Prof. Stanley E. Prussia

2012-07-19T05:43:00.002-07:00

Over the past few days, our College and our Department has weekly engagement with Stanley E. Prussia, a Professor Emeritus from the University of Georgia, USA. He was previously a professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the Griffin campus of the University, but now working as missionary to the Philippines by the Baptist International Missions, Inc. Still, Dr. Prussia is connected with his University as a Professor Emeritus.

He and his wife had live in Cebu for four years and just this April, they moved here in General Santos City. Other than his works for his Church, he also wants to establish connections with surrounding universities in order to establish partnerships and to exchange ideas about education, research, extension and administration.

He has already done a lecture on postharvest technologies on one of the classes in our Department. We already have discussed matters relating to our degree curriculum and education system. Before the end of the month, we will also deliver a lecture on power plants and nuclear technology in my class.

Well, today. Dr. Prussia has a short lecture/seminar on “Systems Thinking for Improving Food Supply Chains.” And who else are his audience but us – the faculty members in our College (Agriculture). Witty and funny that we are, the seminar had gone on very smoothly, with occasional laughter and hard thinking.

Almost all of us were present. The funnier thing is that I got to see our senior colleagues being a student again. And we were one hell of crazy audience for the seminar.

The three-hour lecture had been a great learning experience for us. I look forward for more such activities with our new friend Stan.

Textbooks Rental Online: Best Way to Save Money

2012-07-18T04:52:00.000-07:00

How many textbooks do you read each month? How many do you need per semester? How about for an entire academic year? And for each book, how much do you spend to order it?

When it comes to textbooks, prices are usually at least three figures (not counting the cents or the figures beyond the decimal point). If you need ten books, that translates to at least four figures. For ordinary students, that cost is certainly a great drain to their pockets.

However, you can do something about it. One solution is to reduce the number of books to buy and just visit the school library more often than should be. But hey, that seems impractical as you might need these books always. Another solution is to look for secondhand books. But still, used books are not that affordable.

A much better, if not the best, option is to rent for books online. Yes, rent your books online, not just on your small local bookstores where they might not be available. There are several book rental service providers you can find on the worldwide web. They certainly offer very reasonable rental fees, cutting your budget tremendously, some to at least 50%.

For example, Textbooks.com offers such service of book rental. Let us say you wish to rent a copy of the fifth edition of the book “Principles of Refrigeration” by Roy J. Dossat and Thomas J. Horan. New copies are currently not available at the site, but used or secondhand copies are sold at $114.99 (with free shipping). Yet, a rent can only cost you $54.49. That is around 53% savings! At Amazon.com, list price of a new copy of the book is worth $176.00. But at Textbooks.com, it is $121.51 or 69% cheaper.

Another popular book rental site is Campus Book Rentals. With them, rental of the same book by Dossat only costs $57.75-$66.38, depending on the length of time you need the book. That is around 62-67% savings against a new copy.

These sites are only two of the dozens where you can find the textbooks you needed. Other good advantage is that these sites have an extensive collection of books, offering you with good materials about any subject matter. What you need is just via few clicks and few seconds. Renting also saves you from storing the bulk of your books in your storage space – books which you will also have to dispose of and give away in the future.

Manny Pacquiao Soars High in Forbes' List of the World’s Most Powerful Celebrities

2012-07-11T05:13:00.001-07:00

The world-boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao has again made the headlines these last few days. He has beaten many of the popular names in the world, not inside the boxing game, but in the list of Forbes Magazine. Yes, he has made it to the higher half of Forbes’ List of the World’s Most Powerful Celebrities.

Many Pacquiao ranked 33rd in the Forbes’ List, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Transformers’ director Michael Bay, writer J.K. Rowling , actors Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, singer Kanye West, and even co-boxer Floyd Mayweather. Forbes’ description of Manny Pacquiao goes this way:

“Pacquiao has become a pay-per-view stud with five fights each generating at least one million PPV buys during the past four years. Pacman has expanded his endorsement reach by signing deals with Monster Energy and Hennessy. Other partners include Nike and Hewlett-Packard. Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the Philippines in 2010 in a landslide victory.”

The final rank for each celebrity is the grand mean for several categories. In the case of Pacquiao, he excelled well in the area of earnings for the last 12 months ($67.0M) as he has a Money Rank of 16. He also performed well in TV/Radio Rank at the 47th spot. He did fairly well in Social Rank and Press Rank at 51 and 53, respectively. His Web Rank is kind of low at the73rd place. For the complete list, visit this page.

It must also be noted that last May, Forbes also recognized Pacquiao as the 4th Most Influential Athletes for 2012. Forbes wrote: “Likeable boxing champ is a king among the Philippine population. The contrast with boxing “bad guy” Floyd Mayweather doesn’t hurt.” He has 20% Influential and 59% Like/Like A Lot ratings. The top three spots went to Jimmie Johnson (Nascar), Tim Tebow (NFL) and Peyton Manning (NFL), respectively. For the complete list, visit this page.

Image and literature courtesy of Forbes.

T'nalak Festival 2012

2012-07-09T06:02:00.002-07:00

South Cotabato will be celebrating the 13^th T’nalak Festival this coming July 13-18,in time for the commemoration of the 46^th Foundation Anniversary of South Cotabato. This year’s celebration has the theme “South Cotabato: Making a Difference, Amo Na ‘Ya!”

The festival is named after the renowned T’nalak, a cloth meticulously handwoven by the T’bolis. Creating the fabric requires patient labor and craftsmanship as it undergoes a series of steady processes like dyeing, heating, and beating. The vibrant and striking colors in intricate patterns of the fabric are symbolic of the province’s dynamic dreams through its people, culture and tradition.

Here are the schedule of activities for the festival:

Click here to zoom image.

The province is one of the key players in the SocSarGen triangle, one of the country’s fastest growing development and economic zone. With the incoming T’nalak Festival and other grand festivities in the region, may they bring tremendous boost and boom in SocSarGen. It’s more fun in SocSarGen!

PAGASA Weather Update for Today

2012-07-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

Cold mornings. Nights a lot colder. Gloomy skies. Clouds a lot gloomier and angry. Raging winds in the afternoon. Trees bent and even fallen from the gust. These things are common these last few days. In fact, a large old tree had fallen near the parking space in our area at the university. Well, I guess the rainy season had already begun and for the next months, we can expect heavy rains to come by the country.

Just this morning, PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) issued this official advisory:

“At 2:00 a.m. today, the Active Low Pressure Area (ALPA) was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 870 km east of Mindanao (8.0°N, 135.0°E).
Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves. The next update will be issued at 5 p.m. today.”

At five this afternoon, PAGASA released another official statement:

“At 2:00 p.m. today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 450 km East Northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar (12.0°N, 130.0°E).

Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to North will prevail over Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Northwest to Southwest with slight to moderate seas.”

The good news is that PAGASA reported no tropical cyclone existing within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The surge of southwest monsoon has also weakened.

Such update made me breathe a sigh of relief. Rains are good, but storms are another thing. May our lands be regularly drenched with moisture, but not with flood water.

The Old Beggar at Overland Terminal, Kidapawan City

2012-06-29T05:40:00.001-07:00

Since last year, I have been regularly travelling to Kabacan, North Cotabato for my master’s degree. My usual route is Gensan to Digos, then Digos to Kabacan via Bansalan, Makilala, Kidapawan and Matalam. In these bus terminals, one common sight is the presence of beggars. There were kids, blind, old people, and crippled. Though not beggars, there are other countless people claiming from certain church or philanthropic group who ask for some donations or financial support. From among these people, who I am most “touched” with is the old woman from Kidapawan City’s Overland Terminal.

“Hinabang Ma’am… Sir…” (“Ma’am, Sir, please give me alms…”) With her weary and shaky voice, the old woman would call out to busy commuters. With her guide, she would climb up every bus parked at the terminal. She would continue her chant and walked through the isle inside the bus. She would give her “Salamat Sir, Ma’am’ (Thank you Sir, Ma’am) for every coin placed on her plastic cup (or open palms sometimes).

The old woman was blind. By her saggy and wrinkled skin, her hair gray as the twilight sky, and her trudging walk, I could sense she had gone through a lot of hardships in her life. I really do not know her name or anything about her. I just saw her always roaming around the terminal with a guide. Before, her guide was a teenager girl but she had become pregnant late last year. I never saw her again. Instead, one of the vendors had become the old woman’s guide.

It breaks my heart to see her in that situation, not only her, but all the other old people who had to work hard for a living. Who knows, she might not only be supporting herself but her family as well. At times, I could not help but wonder how much she collects from all her begging for the day. Not everybody is giving her (including me, especially when all I got in my wallet is only enough for the trip). Will it suffice her needs? Just enough, barely enough, or a little more than enough?

I do not know the answer to that. I do not what is her life like, or what is life like to her. But seeing her reminds me of being thankful for what I have, to appreciate the opportunities that come my way, and to give back the blessings that I am enjoying.

Road Projects in Mindanao

2012-06-25T05:22:00.003-07:00

When you travel from General Santos City to Digos, what would you experience? TRAFFIC. How about from Kidapawan City to Cotabato City? TRAFFIC. And what about within Davao City? Still, TRAFFIC! So what the heck is all the traffic about? ROAD CONSTRUCTIONS. Yes, not only in the southern part, but the entire Mindanao is undertaking several road projects. From here to there, it is not surprising to see major road constructions, especially along national highways, and yes, be caught in the immense traffic.

So why are there several road constructions in Mindanao area? Which places can we expect these projects?

In a report from Manila Bulletin dated December 16, 2011, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had allocated P3 billion for construction of national road system (NRS) in Mindanao. This World Bank-assisted National Roads Improvement and Management Program is geared to provide multi-modal, safe, integrated, sustainable, environmentally sound and competitively priced transport system in Mindanao, reducing transport cost by at least 10%.

Among the roads involved in the project are:

Route	Span	Cost	Construction Activity
Malita – Don Marcelinno section of the Malalag-Malita-J.A. Santos road	31.476 km	P549.57M	Road Improvement
Digos-Kidapawan	53.10 km	P623.610M	Road Improvement
Kidapawan-Pagalungan	50 km	P379.10M	Road Improvement
Pagalungan-Junction Cotabato	58.22 km	P 977.493M	Road Improvement
Digos-Gen. Santos City		P512.246M	Landslide Risk Mitigation (34 sites)
Davao-Calinan-Buda		P512.246M	Landslide Risk Mitigation (4 sites)

Prior to this, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and concerned provincial governments had already bidded out P131.66M road projects in the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Bukidnon (Region 10), as well as in Agusan del Sur (Region 13), covering roughly 84.48 kilometers of roads (Philippine Information Agency).

January this year, the DPWH completed the P2.75 billion 105-kilometer Awang-Upi-Lebak-Kalamansig road or Central Mindanao Road Project which was loaned from Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA (Philippine Government Official Gazette).

In April, a P54M road rehabilitation project was undertaken in Misamis Occidental under the Provincial Roads Management Facility (PRMF) Year 2 (Mindanao Daily Balita).

This May, 2012 (Manila Bulletin), another road project began in Maguindanao. A United States-Philippines partnership program initiated a P98M road project which will connect four Maguindanao towns to neighboring urban centers. These towns are Buluan, Pandag, Paglat and S.K. Pendatun. Residents in the four remote municipalities in Maguindanao can now travel and transport their products safely and efficiently to the main highway running from Makilala in North Cotabato to Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat through the road.

There are still several on-going road constructions in many provinces, municipalities and cities. These road projects in Mindanao are simply indication of the inevitable progress, development and economic growth in the area.

The Proper Way To Cook Polymer Clay Beads

2012-06-12T05:09:00.004-07:00

After completing your polymer clay bead designs, the next thing to do is set them. Setting them involves cooking the beads in the oven. Polymer clay is a special type of material that requires individuals that are creating things with it to cook it for a specific amount of time. Once the polymer clay has been cooked, it cannot be altered.

You must make any changes that you want to be made to your polymer beads prior to cooking them. This involves creating the correct size bead holes, so you can utilize the beads, after they have been cooked as part of your jewelry designs.

1. Most polymer clay molds will instruct you to preheat your over to 275 degrees F. If your particular brand of clay that you are using asks you to set your oven to a different setting, then follow the instructions that are given to you.

2. Utilize a glass baking dishes or some type of metal baking pan with inlaid aluminum foil so the clay will not stick as it bakes. The pans you use should have sides, so the baked mold does not fall off when it is being put in or taken out of the oven.

3. Place the beads on the baking dish, so no beads touch each other. You also do not want the beads to touch the side of the pan that you are using either. It can be difficult to space the beads out correctly, so take some time when engaging in this step. Make sure that the flat ends of the beads are pressed downward to the bottom of the pan you are using.

4. Bake the polymer clay beads for at least ten to fifteen minutes. The size of beads that you are making will determine the length of time the beads will need to be cooked for.

Article and image courtesy of BeadsBarn.

Timothy Bradley Wins a Controversial Fight Against Manny Pacquiao

2012-06-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

Much to everyone’s surprise, Timothy Bradley wins over Manny Pacquiao by split decision. This was really a stunning surprise, sending shock waves from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas out to the rest of the world.

From this match, Bradley has improved his records to 29-0 and snatched the WBO welterweight title from Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2). Two judges gave a score of 115-113 for Bradley, and the other was 115-113 for Pacquiao.

After an impressive 15 successive wins (from March 2005), Pacquiao has finally faced defeat. But Bradley’s win was criticized, more so that he had to leave the arena in a wheel chair and that Pacquiao exited with grace riding the limousine. Boxing experts, enthusiasts, and even plain audience were disappointed with the results. For them, it was clear the Pacquiao had won. For their score cards, Pacquiao had bested eight or nine rounds while only three or four for Bradley, mostly on the last remaining rounds of the fight. Here are some of the feedbacks I found around the web:

“Two judges scored the fight 115-113 for Bradley, who appeared to be trailing all night. The third judge gave Pacquiao a 115-113 edge. The results were loudly jeered by a near-capacity crowd in the arena, many of whom stood stunned at their seats.” – Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times

“It's a shocking result and one that makes very little sense given Manny's status as the "money fighter" in the bout. Normally the robberies go to the guy whose win brings in more money for the promoters, but that wasn't what happened tonight. Manny Pacquiao is a worldwide star, while Bradley is a lighter hitting, mostly unknown fighter who isn't really even a welterweight.” – Brent Brookhouse, SB Nation

“But Pacquiao's relentless left hand was finding its mark far too often. And when he unleashed with flurries, Bradley's discomfort was palpable, his pain visible. He spun his head every which way to avoid Pacquiao's onslaught but the Filipino fighting machine was a sniper at close range, every shot seemingly hitting its target point with power like Bradley had never felt before.” – Geno Mrosko, MMA Mania

“The sad thing is that the Pacquiao vs. Bradley results are not even the most controversial of the year thus far. There are at least two other fights - Brandon Rios vs. Richard Abril and Tavoris Cloud vs. Gabriel Campillo - which produced even worse verdicts than this. But that just goes to show you how bad things have gotten in boxing these days.” – Jake Emen, YahooSports

“Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks guard, called the decision “disappointing.” The singer Miley Cyrus echoed her father’s advice with this tweet: “When you knock em out, you don’t need no judge!” Khloé Kardashian Odom said of the outcome, “This is crazy!”” – Mark McDonald, The Herald Tribune

For you, was Pacquiao cheated on this fight? Does Bradley deserve the belt?

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Kapamilya Run Gensan 2012

2012-06-08T06:22:00.001-07:00

We can run. We can have fun. And we can do things for the good of man. Simply said, we can participate in a fun run for a very worthy cause….

ABS-CBN is currently accepting registration for their Kapamilya Run Gensan this July 8, 2012. This activity shall benefit Bantay Bata 163 Socsargen. The fun run will start and finish at Oval Plaza, General Santos City.

Registration fee depends on the category you wish to participate in. P300.00 is for the 1.6-km (for kids 9 to 12 years old), 3-km, and 5-km runs. The fee is inclusive of Kapamilya Run Singlet, Race bib, Snack, and Race certificate. P500.00 shall be collected for those participating in the 10-km run which also includes Kapamilya Run Singlet, Race bib, Snack, Race certificate, and Finisher’s medal.

Packages are also available for those who will participate as a group. Here are the fees:

Family Package
P800.00	Family of 3 in 1.6K/3K/5K
P1,000.00	Family of 4 in 1.6K/3K/5K
P1,400.00	Family of 3 in 10K
P1,800.00	Family of 4 in 10K
Group Package
P3,000	10 + 1 free @ P300.00 each (1.6K/3K/5K)
P5,000	10 + 1 free @ P500.00 each (10K)

Packages are limited only to the first 50 registrants per category.

To register online and participate in the discussions, visit the Kapamilya Run Gensan Facebook page.

The Amazing Neem Tree

2012-06-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

General Santos City is a booming city in the South. But amidst all the rising development, the City remains teeming with trees, flowers, animals and wildlife. A very common sight in almost all corners of the city is the neem tree.

The neem tree, also spelled as nim tree, belongs to the mahogany family. It is native to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh but has since grown in many tropical and semi-tropical regions. This tree normally reaches a height of 15-20 meters. Though evergreen, it may shed most or nearly all its leaves during severe droughts. It has inflorescences which can bear 150 to 250 flowers. Its smooth fruits resemble olives.

Amazingly, all parts of the tree are said to have medicinal properties. Here are these practical uses and benefits of neem tree:

Its chemical component nimbidin and nimbin have some spermicidal activity.
Neem oil is used to prepare cosmetics.
Neem oil can be contraceptive agent and acts as an abortifacient.
Neem oil can be used to kill head lice.
Neem seed oil and leaf extracts can potentially be cure for psoriasis.
Sleeping on neem leaves can heal chicken pox.

Though there are not enough clinical studies to support this, extract of neem leaves is believed to prevent malaria.
Neem extracts have insecticidal, fungicidal, antibacterial and antiviral benefits.
Neem cake is a considerable fertilizer.
Neem twigs and branches have dental effects.
Neem blossoms have culinary uses.
Neem tree can be a source for analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Considering all these numerous benefits, neem trees can truly be a potential cash crop for the city.

Related Article: The Amazing Imelda Grass

CitiHardware Gensan

2012-05-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

When it comes to hardware items and construction materials, I usually run to CitiHardware. The store has almost all the hardware products needed by anyone. They have adhesives, building maintenance and materials, doors, electrical supplies, floor coverings, home decors, kitchen needs, outdoor living supplies, paints, plumbing items, windows, wood works, bathroom needs, and even a variety of appliances.

CitiHardware is located at J. Catolico Ave., General Santos City. Store hours are 8:00AM – 7:00PM (Mon-Sat) and 8:00AM – 6:00PM (Sunday).

View larger map

The only drawback I experience with the store is their staffs. They do not have enough men to accommodate shoppers. You really have to wait for a long time before a customer service can come to your needs. When you finally have to pay for your items, salesmen just rush and do their thing to the cashier. It seems they do not know how to line up and follow proper procedure. In the end, iIt takes hours to achieve a transaction at CitiHardware.

Despite that, CitiHardware is still one of the best places to shop for hardware and building materials because of the huge selection waiting for you.

For orders and inquiries, you may reach them through their telephone: (83) 554-7451 to 52, or via fax: (83) 554-7450. You may also send them an email at gensan@citihardware.com.

CJ Renato Corona and Jessica Sanchez: Who Will Win the Votes?

2012-05-23T06:18:00.002-07:00

Today, two names are the words of mouth of everyone, not only of the Generals but also of the whole Filipino nation. And these two names are…. CJ Renato Corona and Jessica Sanchez. Both must face life-changing directions. One road might lead to downfall, the other to stardom….

For several months now, Chief Justice Renato Corona has been undergoing an impeachment trial. Many allegations were hurled upon him but the most controversial is his failure to put all his assets in his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Network), a summary account required of every government employee to report. He was accused of possessing several bank accounts containing millions of pesos and real estate properties. CJ Corona’s negligence to report everything is tantamount to dishonesty – a trait that government officials must possess.

Yesterday, the Chief Justice finally made his counterattacks against all accusations and the people behind them. It was kind of a privilege speech for him. But during the proceedings, CJ suddenly had a hypoglycemic episode of which he experienced shortness of breath, cold sweats and light-headedness. The condition was brought about by his diabetes. He was then brought to the hospital Tuesday evening.

Earlier today, CJ Corona was rushed to the hospital’s intensive care unit and was advised to skip the trial and stay in the ICU for 48 hours for further medical observation due to possible heart attack. As decided by Senate President Enrile, CJ Corona should return on Friday, May 25 and that oral arguments will be on Monday, May 28.

The event solicited so many different reactions, specifically Corona’s walking out session yesterday and his medical alibi today. Can his ailment be true? Or, it is really true but he simply needed sympathy and excuse to delay the trial?

Well, on the very, very bright side, another Filipino-blood talent has brought tremendous pride to her kababayans (countrymen). After a long journey and a save from being ousted from American Idol, Jessica Sanchez made it to the final two, head-to-head against American heartthrob Philip Philips.

Today was the final’s night and the two must perform three songs. On the first two rounds, Jessica sang Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and Celine Dion’s “The Prayer”. She absolutely butchered both songs and listening to her lifted me off my feet. Both songs were really perfection and the American Idol judges were impressed with her.

The third song, which would become her first single if she wins, is quite not good. It is a pop ballad called “Change Nothing,” and it felt flat listening to the song. It did not showcase the awesomeness of her voice. Hope it would not affect the voting for her and she be crowned this season’s American Idol winner.

Whatever awaits CJ Renato Corona and Jessica Sanchez will either dismay us or make us shout “YES”!

Enrollment Season '12

2012-05-21T05:23:00.001-07:00

Most schools and universities in the country are set to open classes by the 4^th of June, about two weeks from now. In my university, we had been very busy accommodating enrollees for freshmen since last week. It is really very exhausting attending to the incessant paper works and the countless inquiries of students and parents. What is sadder is the fact that we cannot accept everyone to the department no matter how interested they are. The presence of supportive parents and hoping faces are what breaking my heart. But there are guidelines set and regulations that have to be followed.

On the brighter side, to see eager faces and promising skills is very heart-warming. There were several kids who qualified for different scholarship and this alone makes me look forward to future meetings with them.

As to fees and charges, there is not much change in my university. For the whole country and in Region 12 or SoCCSKSarGen, a number are imposing matriculation fee hike. According to a report by a CHED (Commission of Higher Education) official, thirteen private colleges and universities in Region 12 will raise their tuition and other related fees by 4-10% starting June for the academic year 2012-2013. On a national level, around 222 institutions have been granted to raise their tuition fees. The increase is the institutions’ way to cover for the salary increase of teachers and the improvement of their facilities and equipment.

In this city, the colleges and universities that were raising their tuition fees were the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Mindanao Polytechnic College, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College and the General Santos Doctors Medical School Foundation.

Along with them are the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City; Notre Dame of Salaman College in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; Southern Christian College in Midsayap, North Cotabato; Central Mindanao College and Notre Dame of Kidapawan in Kidapawan City; and, St. Alexius College, King’s College of Marbel, Green Valley College Foundation Inc. and Regency Polytechnic College in Koronadal City.

On average, the increase is for the institutions mentioned is pegged at 8% or P28.81 per unit. The new tuition fee increase practically raises the average tuition fee in the region to P400.78 from the previous P371.97.

Though education is a basic right, it has become a privilege and challenge in real sense.

To the Freshmen batch of 2012 and to the returning students, the best of good luck in the coming academic year!

Literature courtesy of MindaNews and PhilStar.

Sarangani Bay Festival '12: The Shores of Gumasa

2012-05-19T08:41:00.002-07:00

Today, I and my friends got to visit Gumasa, Glan and celebrate the Sarangani Bay Festival ’12. The festival already started yesterday, but time is a luxury and so we settled to hit the resorts today. We left the city kind of late (but already ahead of our schedule) and arrived at Gumasa by half past nine.

By the way, these are my friends back in high school and through all this time, we remained to be really good friends. We were actually seven in the group, but two are already out of the country while the other one is not available due to prior commitment. So only the four of us got to enjoy the day.

White Haven Resort was the venue of most of the activities of SarBay Festival and what awaited visitors and tourists are the large signboards and flags of sponsors along the entrance and the countless food booths and memorabilia stalls dotting the shores of Gumasa.

It was really hot (since it was near noon) so we took our time taking pictures, despite the temperature, humidity, noise and crowd.

Bankarera (boat race) has just finished and there was not much activity on the shore. Still, it was fun watching the people and the beautiful beach….

Plus some weird but cool images of anything we just took….

And of course, the people…

By around two, we went back to General Santos City, watched Dark Shadow, and ate a hearty dinner at Big Ben.

Dionisia Pacquiao Celebrates 63rd Birthday in Filipino-flag Inspired Gown

2012-05-16T05:11:00.002-07:00

Dionisia Pacquiao, the famed mother of world-boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, had recently made the headlines as she celebrated her 63^rd birthday last night, May 15, 2012. Mommy D, as everyone called her, had a lavish celebration as family and close friends came to party with her at Pacman Stadium, General Santos City.

Dance sport is Mommy D’s favorite hobby and as expected, she hit the dance floor last night. Likewise, she showed off her singing prowess as she performed her favorite Imelda Papin hit, “Kung Liligaya Ka Sa Piling ng Iba.”

The sad thing is the family was not complete for the special occasion. Manny Pacquiao is in Los Angeles already training for his big fight with Timothy Bradley next month. Jinkee and the kids, meanwhile, are in Manila already preparing to join Manny abroad. However, Mommy D was greeted on the phone by her missing loved ones. She also received her birthday gift in advance. Yes, she already received her gift and that was a luxury van.

But what really stole the show and everyone’s attention was Mommy D’s Filipino flag-inspired gown. It had red, gold and red accent on top while the bottom was flowing white. There were praises for the gown, but most were negative comments. For them, it was the “worst dress” ever, like “it was made by a kinder pupil,” or Mommy D looked like “one scary Rainbow Brite character.”

How about you? What do you have to say?

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AlSci Students Triumph in an International Research Olympiad

2012-05-15T05:49:00.001-07:00

Once again, Mindanaoans will have another reason to celebrate as some of their bright minds bagged a prestigious award at I-SWEEP 2012.

Alabel National Science High School students Jewelle Mae P. Solijon, Sergia Virginia A. Gepitulan and Angelica Francesca O. Tumbocon brought home the silver medal from the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environment Project (I-SWEEP) Olympiad. There were five research studies from the Philippines presented at the competition but their paper entitled “Wild Yam (Dioscorea hispida Dennst.) Starch: An Effective Additive in the Production of Biodegradable Plastic” captured the attention of the judges. Overall, 500 students from 68 countries and 44 states participated in the said event.

Aside from the silver medal and certificate, the students also received monetary awards.

The AlSci Research Team is coached by Research Teacher Shiela P. Butil.

The awarding ceremony was held at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas last May 6, 2012.

Post-Mother's Day Notes

2012-05-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is kind of late but I feel I just have to share this one. Well, while my friends and I strolled in a local mall this afternoon, we saw a fascinating site in the atrium. There was a wall, presumably put up yesterday, where anyone can post short messages for their beloved mothers. One side of the wall has a Facebook format while the other side appears to be like a brick pattern.

At a distance, the wall was attractive and eye-catching as hundreds of colored papers scribbled with messages were attached to it. The short notes were sweet and funny, at most times hilarious and crazy.

We got to smile at the nicknames of many mothers – very Filipino and sounds like age-old things. Plus the out-of-this-world spellings and grammar! I am not sure if they were intentional (just for laughs) or really products of sheer innocence. Whichever, the joy they bring, not only to us but to everyone who reads them, is very much appreciated.

Here are some snapshots of these posts and short notes:

This may be late but Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers out there.