Random Musings

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T21:28:00.000+08:00

boooo!!!

So sad that I can't go home to the province for the 4-day holiday weekend. I had to work! Luckily, I found several Olay facial treatment masks in my drawer and had my cousin Ima (who I wheedled into cleaning my apartment and ironing my clothes) take this scaaary picture of me.

Now I feel a bit better, being somewhat in the Halloween spirit.

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T21:26:00.000+08:00

creative genius...

I'm really sad that Steve Jobs lost his years-long battle with pancreatic cancer. I am a late-blooming Apple fan. I was a loyal Palm handheld user for many years and was perfectly content with my Palm Zires. I've had maybe five successive models of the Zire since college! So predictable. I didn't quite understand my older sister's obsession with Apple products then.

But a few years ago, I finally succumbed and bought an iPod Touch and immediately fell in love. It was such a shock to go from the bulky Palm PDA to this thin, smooth and snazzy media player, personal digital assistant, game console, e-book reader etc. Now I couldn't imagine leaving home without it.

just the beginning...

Thanks to Steve Jobs, we can enjoy tech gadgets that are functional but also works of art. Not only that, his co-founding Pixar in my opinion, was the best he ever did. I just love Pixar! I watched every movie they ever made and they were all great (Ok, Cars 2 was merely good, but whatever). RIP Steve, thanks for everything!

About James Soriano and Pointing Out the Obvious

2011-08-28T12:42:00.000+08:00

English signs in the mountains... hmm

This Manila Bulletin article by James Soriano has created a firestorm. Some say it's arrogant, offensive and not at all appropriate for August, our "Buwan ng Wika". Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with what Mr. Soriano wrote. He's just sharing about his experience and opinion about our two official languages.

We need to accept the fact that if you want to get ahead in this country, you have to at least be able to speak good English. It's the language of higher education, government, business and law. There's no getting away from it and it's counterproductive to yell at anyone who prefers English over Filipino. We can't help how we were raised and educated.

I have to admit I find it easier to read, speak and write in English--not that I'm elitist or anything--but because I grew up speaking Bicolano with English as my second language. Although I speak Tagalog very well, it's still hard for me to appreciate Tagalog books, teleseryes, movies and sermons (I had to find an English-speaking church). But it doesn't mean I'm not a proud citizen of this country.

I'm sure the Filipino language will be just fine. I have two nieces who didn't learn Tagalog until they were in school (which is strange, sorry ate B) but they learned fast from their classmates. Filipino is here to stay and so is English and we just have to live with that.

Birthday Week...

2011-08-07T08:44:00.000+08:00

wonderful...

Finally got to spend my birthday on the "happiest place on earth"... so tired, but it was worth it. I have some "birthday resolutions" I'm determined to follow through on--like writing on this blog more often. Thanks for still caring to spend time here. ;)

Sunday Scripture Verse: Psalm 103:11-12

2011-04-10T07:36:00.000+08:00

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. ~ Psalm 103:11-12

Boracay here we come...

2011-04-03T10:07:00.002+08:00

I'm off to Boracay today with my girls. Paid far more than we should by doing this at the last minute but hey, we're all determined to enjoy ourselves.

Sunday Scripture Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:12

2011-04-03T10:03:00.000+08:00

"Everything is permissible for me"-- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-- but I will not be mastered by anything. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)

Hello again

2011-04-01T13:37:00.000+08:00

back for good... ;)

Happy April Fools' day everybody! Kind of a weird date to show up after 8 months of silence, eh? I know I told you guys I'll only be gone for a "few weeks" but I guess time just got away from me. I've been really busy... with work, putting up a business, island-hopping, learning how to paint etc.

It made me feel really sad to let this blog die completely though, so here I am. Many thanks to my blogger friends who still visit--so sorry for the long absence guys. Thanks also to my new followers (I'm quite surprised to have gained followers even when I wasn't updating!).

I promise to do better this time. So that means you'll be reading about my (mis) adventures and opinions again... (cue the scary music).

Sunday Scripture Verse: 1 Peter 1:24-25a

2010-07-25T05:12:00.000+08:00

For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25a (NIV)

About this water crisis...

2010-07-22T06:29:00.000+08:00

Heck no!

First off, I've been really busy these past weeks and will be for a few weeks more... so please bear with me for not updating this blog as often as I used to. Anyway, it's just my luck that I'm currently stuck in a part of Manila under sucky water concessionaire Maynilad.

Thanks to the geniuses at the National Power Corporation or whoever, we're smack in the middle of a water shortage... so we only had sporadic water supply for more than a week now. I've been waking up at 2am to wait for water that looked like it's been salvaged from flood water. My gosh, I don't think I can bathe in that thing--but it's early yet. I'm thinking I may get to a point where I can get over my squeamishness and just do it!

I completely understand how people who haven't bathed for three days would bust a pipe in the streets just to get clean. Thank God, I have cousins in a nearby village that still has continuous water supply so I have somewhere to go if things get more desperate. For now, I just pray for more rain so the Angat Dam's water level will rise and this would be over.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and drooling...

2010-07-13T12:44:00.002+08:00

Team Edward... err... Jacob!

I finally watched The Twilight Saga: Eclipse last weekend when I got together with my cousin and her girls. I haven't paid much attention to the brouhaha about the Twilight series though I've read all of the books... I liked it well enough, I just thought Bella could have been more assertive and kick-ass, but whatever.

Pia, En and Marivic

This movie was action-packed and quite funny in places, so I was a happy camper. And I have to admit, that Jacob (Taylor Lautner) boy's abs was unreal! Talk about drool-worthy... looking at him makes you wonder what's wrong with Bella picking Edward over him. :)

move over, Bella...

I couldn't help but tease (and pinch!) En because she's absolutely on "Team Jacob" and man, he was almost always shirtless the whole movie. There were even girls who chose to sit on the theater aisles to get a better look at his undeniable hotness. Gosh, the squealing from the girls had my ears ringing... but it was really fun watching the Twihards thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Sunday Scripture Verse: Matthew 11:28-30

2010-07-11T07:28:00.000+08:00

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." ~ Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Babies are not for flushing down toilets, okay?

2010-07-10T06:34:00.004+08:00

not for babies...

This story about a 24-year-old medical student named Amandeep Mann from India who gave birth in a plane lavatory, and subsequently tried to flush the baby down the toilet, is just too weird to ignore.

What would push a new mother to do this to her baby? Did she honestly think she could get away with this? Why carry a child to term just to get rid of him in this way when he was born? Dude, this woman is definitely messed up.

She's a medical student, eh? She can't plead ignorance in this case then, because medical students are supposed to be smart and informed about these things.

What the h*ll. If you can't keep your knees together--get a condom, go on the pill--there are a lot of choices. There's absolutely no excuse to try to kill your baby, idiot!

Fortunately (or unfortunately), the baby's head got stuck in the toilet bowl and was brought to the hospital with the toilet still attached and surgeons had to use a saw cutter to release the poor newborn out of it.

He's still in critical condition, and I hope if he survives this, he won't ever have to be around his pathetic jail-bound mother. What a way to enter the world little guy, but life is crazy... Good luck!

Sunday Scripture Verse: Galatians 5:1

2010-07-04T07:49:00.000+08:00

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Goodluck, President Noynoy Aquino! (aka P-Noy)

2010-06-30T14:37:00.007+08:00

Go P-Noy

"Today the dream starts to become reality", "There can be no reconciliation without justice", "Walang wang-wang" were just some of what I liked about newly sworn in President Noynoy Aquino's inaugural speech, but what I digged the most was when he said "Kayo ang boss ko". I don't know how he'd go about doing that, but it's nice to hear just the same.

Our country is facing daunting challenges but hearing the sincerity from our new President gave me some hope that indeed, things might be different this time. I'm not expecting too much though... I'm old enough to know that no single person can change the system completely.

I'd be quite content if P-Noy would just make decent decisions, demand the best of the people he put in positions of power, not increase our taxes and not steal.. okay na yun sa kin. Perfection may be impossible, but honest governance is certainly doable--I expect nothing less from Ninoy and Cory Aquino's son.

"You are my only son. You carry my name and the name of my father. I have no material wealth to leave you; I never had time to make money while I was in the hire of our people. For this I am very sorry. ... The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now pass it on to you, as good, I pray, as when my father, your grandfather, passed it on to me. ...The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength. Son, the ball is now in your hands." ~ lifted from Ninoy's letter to Noynoy (written in prison c. 1973).

Here are videos of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's inauguration speech (via PnoyWatcher of YouTube):

Toy Story 3 was amazing!

2010-06-25T08:29:00.000+08:00

utter perfection...

If you haven't watched Toy Story 3 yet, I suggest you get off your butt right now, go to the nearest mall and watch it. It was such an amazing treat to see the last installment of the computer-animated feature that started it all.

The first Toy Story made me a Pixar fangirl--that if there's a Pixar movie opening in cinemas, I'm one of the first in line to watch. And they have not disappointed me once... they know how to tell great stories (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up). Those Pixar guys are geniuses.

Watching Toy Story 3 just made me reconnect with Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Co. in a huge way. I laughed my head off, felt horror when they were in danger, and had to try really hard not to bawl at the end. Boy, I never knew saying goodbye to characters you cared about when you were young, could be so tough.

I've never been a crybaby to begin with, but the lump in my throat got so huge, it was embarrassing. Only the presence of my cousin Rose yelling at the screen when she thought Woody and the gang were goners, made me feel better about my uncharacteristic show of emotion. I realized I'm not alone in caring about these animated pieces of plastic (I noticed the crowd were yelling and emoting right along with us too).

So there we were--adults so incredibly sucked in by Pixar's technical and story-telling wizardry--trying to be strong and brave, LOL. It was a fitting send-off, with laughter and sadness in equal measure. Couldn't have wished for a better ending. Now, go watch it to see for yourself.

My sister, the new Aussie

2010-06-24T16:19:00.000+08:00

congratulations, newly-minted Aussies!

My sister Anne has become an Australian. She had her citizenship ceremony recently and as I looked at pictures of her smiling widely, proudly showing off her citizenship certificate and waving a miniature Australian flag, I felt so happy for her but so sad at the same time.

I'm happy because she's made a good life for herself in a country so different from ours, but sad that this might well mean she won't come back to live here anymore. It's a sad truth that nurses like my sister--and her best friend Cheryl--had to leave the country to make a living elsewhere... they are paid peanuts here, so who can blame them?

there you go...

When my sister left more than a decade ago, we immediately reaped the financial benefits and the balikbayan boxes (oh, the Tim Tams!). Her nursing career took her at first, to Saudi Arabia then to Ireland and finally, Australia. She was able to travel the world, gave our elderly mother (and us too) every little thing she asked (please, nobody tell Mama I called her "elderly"!) and gave help to relatives in need.

The benefits were endless... par for the course for the girl we depended on to get up on the roof to make sure everything were nailed down so the typhoon won't blow our house away (none of her other sisters were brave enough to do it, LOL). She's always been the most daring--the first to leap off the guava tree in our front yard, the first to drive etc.

celebrating at home w/ friends

So now our country's lost another dedicated, hard-working citizen. This happy-but-sad event is duplicated in practically every family I know. It is our nation's present reality and I hope things would get better soon. But for now, the Philippines' loss is Australia's gain, for sure.

Charice is joining the cast of Glee!

2010-06-22T16:14:00.007+08:00

add Charice here

Charice is confirmed to be on Glee next season. I'm a Gleek so this is pretty exciting. I'm so happy for Charice--she's come a long, long way from her impoverished, small-town amateur singing days.

I bet her fool of a father who abandoned her when she was young--he did not even want her to use the surname "Pempengco" professionally (never mind that she has a right to it by birth, what a heartless jerk!) so she opted to use just "Charice" instead to shut him up--is kicking himself right now.

All that Hollywood money coming in and he can't do anything but drool... tsk, tsk! He's an idiot for not realizing what a treasure he had in his daughter. If only he'd been a good father to Charice and her brother. Sayang 'no? Success truly is the best revenge especially in this case.

Update: Charice's excellent rendition of "Lupang Hinirang" at the Aquino inauguration:

Update 2: Oh no. Botox at 18?

Update 3: Charice's estranged dad murdered.

Sunday Scripture Verse: Psalm 103:13

2010-06-20T08:22:00.000+08:00

Happy Father's Day!

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; ~ Psalm 103:13

Taal volcano and a clueless reporter

2010-06-18T20:16:00.002+08:00

This story about Global News Network (GNN) reporter Joshua Garcia's rescue from Taal Volcano's crater caught my eye, not because it was unusual, but because he seemed clueless.

He's not even sorry he made a spectacle of himself by foolishly ignoring warnings from the authorities that it was too dangerous to descend into the crater of the likely-to-erupt volcano.

Watching his interview on TV, I wanted to wipe the smirk off his face. Causing rescuers to put their safety on the line for a thrill, a scoop or whatever is selfish. I hope Joshua "wala akong pinagsisisihan" Garcia realizes this.

Jesse Robredo for DILG secretary?

2010-06-16T21:00:00.007+08:00

DILG or bust

Now this is great. President-elect Aquino apparently is keen on appointing Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City to his cabinet. I hope Noynoy gives the DILG post to him. I've been impressed with how Mayor Robredo turned Naga from a sleepy little city to a bustling, business-friendly one.

He was mayor when I went to school there in the mid-90's and I never heard anything bad said about him... of course I cared more about the shopping malls opening right and left around the city then, but I remember he was perceived to be an honest and no-nonsense executive. Come to think of it, he's like Binay without the corruption scandals.

Update: Mayor Robredo is ready to accept DILG post.
Update 2: P-Noy takes DILG post for now. Robredo still in the running.
Update 3: Success! He's finally appointed DILG Secretary. "Might as well be president". For empowerment of local governments.

Bicol pride! I'm dancing a jig right now for my fellow Bicolano and DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and also for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who's from my hometown Iriga... Go Bicol!!! :)

I found this Storyline feature about Mayor Robredo on YouTube uploaded by pacardz (thanks, dude!) :)

Should Binay have a place in Noynoy Aquino's cabinet?

2010-06-15T16:11:00.004+08:00

yellow worked for him...

It's good that Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay has quit insisting on having the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) post for himself, as if he has a natural right to it. I don't even think he should have a place in the Aquino cabinet at all.

Prof. Winnie Monsod is right, there's just too many graft cases filed against Binay to inspire confidence in him. I hope President Noynoy would not appoint people in his administration who are tainted by corruption.

I respect the fact that Binay had been a loyal ally to the late President Cory Aquino, but his family's uninterrupted 24-year rule in Makati City makes me really uncomfortable. Just imagine, he's been in power here since I was in grade school! I wish him luck in his VP gig and all but I just don't trust the man.

Update: Binay changes mind, declines cabinet post.

Sunday Scripture Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14

2010-06-13T06:35:00.000+08:00

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Makati day parade (aka VP-elect Binay's victory party)

2010-06-11T21:41:00.000+08:00

happy 340th birthday, Makati!

Binay dynasty

goooooo

Miss Makati 2010 etc.

tribe?

floats galore

fierce...

congratulations, again...

...and again

The parade celebrating the 340th foundation anniversary of Makati was wonderful though it often looked like a street party celebrating outgoing Mayor and Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay's victory in the polls.

Every delegation it seemed had a banner congratulating him, his son incoming mayor Junjun Binay and daughter Congresswoman Abby Binay. I wonder how the Binays made a city as progressive as Makati their fiefdom for 24 years. How did they do it? hmm...

Noynoy Aquino is President, now what?

2010-06-10T12:35:00.002+08:00

goodluck, Noynoy!

Noynoy Aquino is officially our President-Elect. I voted for him and I'm gratified he won. Many people scoffed at his perceived lack of accomplishments as a legislator because he didn't have laws galore he sponsored or named after himself but thankfully, voters cared more that he's untainted by corruption. I know the next 6 years will be full of challenges, but I believe he's up to the job.

I think we have enough laws already, if the government only have the intestinal fortitude to implement the laws passed by Congress, our country will be a much better place. What we need is a leader with integrity who'd make sure to put the right people in place to help him get things done.

I was watching the news last night and there was this guy hoping that Noynoy would put food on his family's table, sent his kids to school etc. I mean, seriously? I hope this guy is in the minority... at least someone should set him straight and tell him that it is his responsibility to make sure his family has enough to eat. It is not the President's job or anyone else's. Whatever happened to taking responsibility? Sheesh.

I've never believed politicians' outlandish campaign promises because I believe more in the capacity of the individual to make decisions for their betterment. Government has its place in our lives but it shouldn't be too intrusive--burying us in red tape, too much taxes and unnecessary regulations.

What President Noynoy owes us is transparent and accountable government, one that is on our side... he'll face enough problems caused by his predecessor's profligacy without us expecting the moon and the stars. I wish him the best and I hope for our nation's sake, he succeeds.