Learning from the Ground Up

Let's not wait for US aid: We can arm ourselves

2011-06-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

by Bobit S. Avila of the Phillipine Star (June 17, 2011) With the Chinese suddenly becoming so aggressive in the Spratlys not just against the Philippines but also Vietnam, the United States through US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. stated that they would honor their commitments with the Philippines. But in my book these are mere rhetoric. America today under the Presidency of Barack Obama has

Thoughts on Reading and Writing

2011-06-15T01:49:00.000-07:00

While spending more time in journal writing each day, I feel that I have become a hermit in certain respect. I have been too much absorbed in reading and writing that it no longer concerns me whether I sleep late at night or that I fail to attend to some of the important notices regarding my work and studies. If only I could live with these hobbies, then I will abandon everything to channel my

Divorce Bill as an Answer?

2011-06-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Dear lovely people, the door hasn’t yet closed about RH- Bill, and here we go again with another heated feud between the congress and the church. Last week the “Divorce-Bill” is being pursued by partylist representatives in order to empower women, and give them a way out from unsuccessful, torn marriages. Women, doesn’t that sound lovely? Doesn’t that sound great to empower you through this

Invest for your Health

2011-06-08T01:35:00.000-07:00

The adage “We are what we eat” always proves true. 20 years back, yes! Now, not anymore! Today, if we eat junk, well end up being junkies without realizing our dreams of growing old together, of spending our dream honeymoon in the Moon when the first space tourism gateway is opened. On the other limb, if we eat healthy foods, we are still not guaranteed of a perfect health and we may

Blogging with a Pad of RH-Pills

2011-06-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

It’s distressing to quit blogging knowing that this had been one of my favorite pastimes for so many years. I have given up my word on this: “should stop this nonsense and concentrate on my God-forsaken-life through my diary (Rosa) and think like Anais Nin, bereft of sensuality.” Hahaha. But then I realize there is nothing wrong in taking back my word to resume my passion for it. I just have

Gibo is Back!

2011-04-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

By Buddy Cunanan of the Manila Times.net A LITTLE birdie whispered into my ear the most delightful news. I have it on relia-ble information that former Defense Secretary and presi-dentiable Gilbert Teodoro is returning to the political scene before June, in preparation for a possible Senate run in 2013. Although Teodoro was one of the first to concede defeat after last year’s elections,

Miracle

2011-04-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

The moon and the stars bid goodbye before the daybreak and the sun raised its fiery brows among the clouds. It was a beautiful sight to have the sky painted with carnation which served as grandiose backdrop for the egrets flying in peculiar formation. There she watched the breaking of dawn with adoration. Her hair, cascading at her shoulders, danced along to every blow of a morning breeze.

Let's all be Nurses, if that's the Case

2011-03-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

Hey, 2nd Lt. Juan de la Cruz! Are you not a nurse? Hey, P/Inspector Ramon Escudero, are you not a nurse? Oh c’mon. There is something I really don’t understand with how the AFP and PNP is prioritizing nurses to hold big ranks after they are enlisted in the service. From the moment they pledge under the Philippine flag, their ranks also fly as high as the sky. So what’s so special about nurses

Music Heard with You

2011-03-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Roaming around bookstores and staring at delectable books always gives me a temporary recess from taking life seriously. And during the time when I was so depressed over the ordeal of my father, I tread the nearest bookstore and prowled for books that would suffice my longing for delightful pieces. It was just timely that I stumbled upon the Adam Zagajewski’s “Without End,” a

TAYM

2011-03-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

My schedule was very hectic the past few days that I could no longer check my email, all for the heck of making money. I forced myself to write despite some obstructions, hoping that I could pass my articles before the deadline. Fortunately, with God’s grace and un-abating adrenalin, I finished and submitted them to my employer. And God knows how tiring it was that in the eyes of

Tom Baxter - Better

2011-03-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

<p>Tom</p> I don't know but this song really touches me. It makes me wanna run to you and feel you, Love. Soon.

Quick Post: Congrats to our Bros and Sisses who made it

2011-03-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

After the long waited, largely wrought with litanies and devotions, the bar exam result was released last Thursday. My classmate, who works in the media, leaked it right away for our batch to know. Four of our classmates made it in their first take, hence calling for a grandiose celebration. “Bro, you’re in-charge of the booze,” John said who called from his station while scuttling

Kneel and Pray, Ye Christian

2011-03-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

At the first glint of the sun, proclaimed in chorus by morning birds, and you are aware that you still breathe the same air so sweet, so fresh, that pumps your heart for you to know you are alive - -what do you think is the first and mighty thing you should do? When you feel your limbs moving and that you are still in good condition to stretch your body on your soft bed with a light feeling

Azkals, 1-2; What went wrong?

2011-03-15T01:14:00.000-07:00

The match ended with a frustrating outcome for the Team Azkals after the Mongolian Blue Wolves nailed them to 2-1 game in Ulan Bator. Sure, the Azkals have plenty of reasons why they lost the game. Probably it was because their balls were frozen like dead meat, and their vest may have looked like French outfits, thus hampering their natural locomotion. But are these valid reasons? Hmmm...Yes

Date a Girl Who Reads

2011-03-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

I came across a site that posted Rosemarie Urquico’s article about dating “a girl who reads.” (Yeah, yeah, I don't mind being late to famous buzz in the net.) It reminds me of a lady who prefers books over fancy clothes; and coffee over, er malling and other escapades that typical young adults do. And better than everyone else, she doesn’t just read but also write intelligently. Tread

Philippine Wet Summer: A Piece to Ponder

2011-03-03T23:15:00.000-08:00

These past few days Iloilo had been experiencing a rather rainy weather that filled up most of the river systems. Tributaries such as streams and creeks had also been filled by gushing water from the mountains down the plains, hence, inundating communities in the low areas. I asked myself, is this a brand new summer? The Weather Bureau (I choose to call it that way than PAGASA) answered and

The Weight of Reading

2011-03-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

What if your spine cringes back because you are reading for 8 straight hours? That would be a terrible burden to carry. In fact, the pain will be horrendous for it will definitely affect all your activities. And when you summon a doctor to check on your spine, the result would look exactly like this: Illustration by Jesse Lenz Who would like to have that kind of spine, pips?

Then, it's just another Silly - Chilly Morning

2011-02-28T23:02:00.000-08:00

It's 4:30 in the morning. I force my self to get up for once again I have to travel the route which have already been part of my daily journey. Whew! Sometimes, it’s just too much to travel an hour and a half, covering 40 kms, before I get to log-in in our office. But I have no choice: I have to work to live like a man. And it’s better this way coz I couldn’t imagine myself doing nothing,

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

2011-02-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

You look at the music sheet, wondering if the notes on it have minds of their own and could easily escape the page. But you know that is impossible. The time signature, the key signature, the dynamics, the proper placement of notes and rests in lines and spaces are there – all waiting to be transposed in a keyboard. You stare at the sheet again, skim through it, and force your fingers

EDSA 1: Adressing the Self

2011-02-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

We celebrate EDSA revolution today which reminds us of our victorious past of toppling down a dictatorial government out of our system. It was a bloodless revolution that awakened the world to look at Philippines as a model for bravery, of showing the true essence of democracy. But after 25 years of celebrating the event, the essence of it becomes nothing but a memory after the envisioned

Connecting Flights

2011-02-24T01:20:00.000-08:00

I like to travel. But due to the too costly budgetary requirements, I couldn’t pursue the kind of trip I always wanted. Maybe I’ll die in my native ground without witnessing a single match in the World Cup or taking a glimpse of the dazzling city of Venice before it is wallowed by aqua alta. Hence, I take comfort in books and content myself in savoring authors' description of places they

Street Thought

2011-02-22T01:19:00.000-08:00

Beside me on front row of the bus yesterday was a little girl, about 10 years old, in shabby clothes. She had her little brother seated on her lap. They smelled like fish vendors who have walked miles just to sell their goods. They both held pails with three candies in it. The girl looked so old at her age and she was a little bit shy. But she seemed so sweet. The way she held her brother,

Quick Notes for the Weekend

2011-02-18T01:39:00.000-08:00

To Ms. Finch: I finished 3 books this week and hopefully to make another this weekend. Thanks for the wonderful collection you lend me, I hope I could pay back the favor someday. For the meantime, Ms. Finch, enjoy Umberto Eco. He is one of a kind and hope you’ll like his works the way I do. But don’t be pressured to finish the book within this month. You still have a year to do that and I’m

Bad Day

2011-02-16T01:18:00.001-08:00

He suddenly stepped out of the veranda when he saw a fierce bright light from the sky cut though the horizon and struck the tallest coconut down yonder the village’s bank. So fierce was the lightning that people, as had been psychologically conditioned, covered their ears for the presaged deafening thunder to follow. Everybody did, except him who stood up and inquired where exactly the

Love is in the Air, Obviously!

2011-02-13T23:32:00.000-08:00

Love –What so special about it? When lovers had their taste of intimacy while their hearts throb inside them and the gloomy sky assemble with rouge before their eyes, who can tell it’s already love? When Rollo May squints before the crowd and Freud hollers at the back reprimanding Buscaglia on his love account, who do you think among them possesses the truth? Is it not what the Holy Writ has