♥lala-flower.

I am now a dot-commer! :)

2009-02-21T14:11:00.002+08:00

I am now officially moving my blog to http://olapaula.com

I will be retaining my Multiply blog though for personal posts. :D

Goodbye BLOGGER!

(Although I'll still keep this for my entrecard and to redirect people to my new site. :D

Hot Air Balloon Fest Photoblog

2009-02-15T12:08:00.001+08:00

Quote of the event:
Hope springs eternal
-Missy. :)

With so much effort on finding a way to go to the Hot Air Ballon Fest, we were finally able to go. :) We just confirmed it the night before, at around 10 PM.

Coming from a play the previous night (we got home at around 12), we met up at around 1:30 AM and left for Pampanga at around 2. With only an hour of sleep, I was constantly yawning during the whole drive to Clark (I chose not to sleep to keep Jeprocks company, he was driving). We arrived at around 4++, the sun hasn't even risen yet. It was windy and cold (a great contrast to the latter part of the day).

At around 5:30AM, they started to haul in the balloons to set them up. To keep the people entertained, paragliders were moving about and some men were demonstrating the flying-using-hot-air principle by making use of a lantern.

The program started off with the Philippine National Anthem, with the Philippine flag carried by a sky diver. This was an amazing start to the great day ahead. :)

By the time the sky was lightening up, they were already filling the balloons with air.

And finally, the balloons were off! :D

Here are some of my favorite balloon pictures:

Kellogg's

It was Valentine's day after all. :)

Because this one is so colorful. :)

See the guy waving? This was the only balloon that the people cheered on.

This one's chinese. :D

Finally, the sky was clearing up (It was really cloudy, not so nice background for the balloons, it was kind of dull and monotonous).

and yes, I love to play with fire. (lol)

The balloons didn't go up all at once so in the lull in between the flights, paragliders were flying all around the place.

After most of the balloons have fled (a few were still there due to some difficulties), we went around the place to look at some of the exhibits.

Military trucks were on display. :)

So this is how it looks like on the inside. :D

Spidey in one of the trucks

Interestingly, there was a Yellow Cab there. ;P

There were a lot of people there too. :D

Some planes or jets or whatever they are called had an exhibition too.

Where else can you find flying dolphins?

When the people got bored, they just bought kites and flew them. (By the late afternoon, the sky was full of all shapes and sizes).

We didn't succumb to the pressure of the society (meaning, we didn't buy kites) being the budgetarians that we were (meaning = we didn't have cash).

At around ten, we chose to eat, realizing that we haven't had breakfast yet (just a sandwich courtesy of Jep's mum), and considering we were all up since 1AM. We scouted around the food court and picked Binalot among all the food stalls there.

It was really disorienting for us, waking up at 1AM with only one hour of sleep. We all felt like it was already past lunch when it was only 10AM. As iRonnie put it, it was like there was time-space warp thingy we were all caught in. The exhaustion, coupled with the heat and dust, made us all feel, well, exhausted to say the least. My eyes were drooping ever so often and the grime was just piling. Finally, when we couldn't take the heat anymore, we decided to go to SM Clark to freshen up (the field only had portalets and well, it was not even considered as an option, haha). We rode the jeepney like locals and made our way there.

When we arrived, we walked around, bought some cleaning stuff (facial wash, tissue, towel and a shirt for me - i forgot to bring an extra piece) and trotted to the Chanda Romeros as Missy put it. When we were done, we made our way to Puregold Clark. After that, we finally made our way home. But we stopped by razon's first to eat palabok and halo-halo (remember, no breakfast! heehee).

BTW, we met a fellow blogger (and plurker) there. Zerovoltage, whom neither one of us has ever seen before. But he has been friends with the others for quite some time. :D

That's it for now, till our next adventure!

LP 02.12.2009 - Puso (o Hugis Puso)

2009-02-11T17:02:00.003+08:00

Naku, araw ng mga puso nanaman. At talagang akmang-akma naman ang tema ng LP para sa linggong ito. :D

Hep hep hep, parang di pangkaraniwan puso ang lahok ko, dahil ako'y "loveless" ngayon at puro pag-aaral ang pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin. (haha, talaga lang. ;P)

Kuha mula sa tabi ng parking lot sa aming unebersidad.

Ito ay litrato ng clover o Trifolium sp. (di ko lang sigurado kung anong species ito). Bilang isang mag-aaral ng kursong haynayan (ito raw ang tagalog ng biology ayon sa aking mga matatalinong kamag-aral), minsan ko na ring napag-aralan itong clover. Ito'y una kong nakilala ng masinsinan sa aming taxonomy of higher plants at botany classes.

Sa ibang dako naman, maraming nagsasabing ika'y sswertehin kapag nakahanap ka ng clover na may apat na dahon. Mula sa scientific name nito na Trifolium (tri=tatlo; folium=dahon) ang karaniwang bilang ng mga dahon nito ay tatlo. Kaya naman sswertehin ka kapag nakahanap ka ng pambihirang clover na may apat na dahon.

Makahanap kaya ako ng clover na may apat na dahon para naman swertehin ako sa sabado? Hahaha.

Gusto ko lang ipamahagi sa inyo ang aking kinahihiligang love quote ngayon: 3 words, 8 letters, say it and I'm yours -Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl. O diba? Parang ganyan ang sinasabi ng tatlong pusong dahon ng clover. Ang labo no? :D

Para sa ibang mga lahok, pumunta sa

LP 02.05.2009 - Tsokolate

2009-02-04T16:43:00.001+08:00

Isa sa mga pinakamagandang lugar sa ating bansa ang TSOKOLATE hills sa Bohol. Talaga namang nabighani ako nang makita ko ang mga maliliit na burol na ito noong 2005. Mayroon kasi kaming convention sa aming organisasyon noon at nagkaroon kami ng isang araw na day trip patungong Bohol. Inakyat namin ang pinakamataas na burol upang mas makita ang ganda ng Chocolate Hills. Hindi ko na maalala kung kulay tsokolate nga ang mga burol nung mga panhon na iyon pero medyo luntian sila sa litrato. (Summer ako nagpunta, di ba't dapat brown sila?)

Pumunta rin kami sa Loboc River para sa tanyag nitong river lunch cruise, sa isang lumang-lumang simabahan na di ko na maalala kung ano ang pangalan, sa isang monumentong nagpapakita ng Sanduguan. Pinakapaborito ko sa mga pinuntahan namin ay ang dalampasigan ng Panglao dahil sa tahimik nitong kapaligiran at sa napakaputing buhangin. Para bang ako'y nasa Boracay lang din menos lang ang maiingay na mga club. :D

Napakaganda talaga ng ating bansa. Kaya naman kung ako'y may panahon (at anda!) talaga namang gusto kong libutin ang 7,107 isla nito. :D

****

Noong nakaraang linggo, habang nag-iisip ako ng lahok para sa LP, naisip kong kunan ng litrato ang chocolate fountain ng aking kaibigan ngunit hindi na ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon (ang tanging booking lang nya noong nakaraang linggo ay sa tagaytay)

Kaya eto, kinuha ko na lang ito mula sa kanyang Multiply Account. Kung meron kayong mga events, kumuha na kayo ng chocolate fountain sa kanya (Aba, at nagplug pa. LOL)

eto ang kanyang multiply
eto ang kanyang website

Para sa ibang mga lahok, pumunta sa

LP 01.29.2009 - Lila

2009-01-28T19:01:00.001+08:00

Sa katunayan, nahirapan ako sa paghahanap ng lahok para sa linggong ito. Di ko naman kasi gaanong hilig ang kulay na ito kaya't di ko masyadong napapansin. Nakaisip na ako ng lahok (100 pisong bill na may logo ng UP Centennial dahil ako ay isang proud na iskolar ng bayan) at nakakuha na rin ako nito, di ko pa lang nakunan ng litrato. Ngayon, di ko na mahanap ang isang daang piso ko. Haha.

Eto na po ang aking lahok:

Asan ang lila ba kamo? Ayun, sa gitna ng hinaing Kulawo. Ang bulaklak na ito ay ginamit ito bilang garnish. Alam mo ba kung anong bulaklak ito? *wink wink* hahahaha.

Ang Kulawo kinilaw na puso ng saging o di kaya'y talong (sa pagkakataong ito, parehong ginamit ang talong at puso ng saging) na sinamahan ng gata (ang niyog ay tinusta muna bago nilagyan ng suka at piniga). At kung kayo'y naiintriga, ang salad na nakikita niyo sa likuran ay gawa naman sa pako (o fern).

Kuha ko po ito nang kami'y bumisita sa bahay ni Ugu Bigyan sa Tiaong, Quezon. Isa ito sa mga lugar na aming binisita nang kami'y mag-Viaje Del Sol. Eto ang bahay ni Ugu:

Pwede rin pala itong lahok para sa Kahel. hehe.

PS
Alam niyo bang purple ang color of the year? hehe.

Para sa ibang mga lahok, pumunta sa

LP 01.22.2009 - Kahel

2009-01-22T00:01:00.003+08:00

Ang isnaberang pusa. Bow.

Hirap na hirap akong kunan ng litrato ang pusang ito sapagkat lumalayo siya tuwing ihaharap ko ang aking kamera sa kanya. 'Di naman siya lumalayo pag nilalapitan ko siya at hinahawakan, sa katunayan, malambing pa nga siyang dumidikit sa aking binti wag lang niyang makita ang kamera ko. Mga ilang minuto rin kaming naghahabulan para lang makunan ko siya ng litrato. At sa lahat ng aking nakuha, ito ang aking napili dahil tila ba nang-iisnab siya dito at sinasabing: No photos please. (Di siya tulog niyan, napapikit lang. haha)

Para sa ibang mga lahok, pumunta sa

LP 01.15.2009: Asul

2009-01-15T00:01:00.001+08:00

Isa sa mga pinakapaborito kong kunan ng litrato ay ang mga ulap (na kulay puti naman at hindi asul, haha). Gandang-ganda talaga ako sa mga ulap na tila mga bulak na palipad-lipad sa kalangitan. Kadalasan, pagmakikita kong maganda at maaliwalas ang langit, kukunin ko kaagad ang aking kamera at kukunan ko ito ng litrato. Ang kuhang ito ay mula sa loob ng eroplano nang kami'y papauwi mula Taiwan.

Para sa ibang mga lahok, pumunta sa

Stranger#001: Edwin, the photographer

2009-01-09T22:11:00.001+08:00

My friend,Jeff and I were dining in a resto just outside Robinson's Place Manila this afternoon when I found my perfect stranger number one. He entered the restaurant with a warm greeting to the staff and proceeded to the counter to make his order. His dreads were the first thing I noticed. (I've been thinking of going to Boracay this summer to get dreads. or maybe those tiny braids.:D) I immediately pointed him out to Jeff and told him that that person would be my perfect stranger number one.

I remained in my seat and fidgeted for 20 long minutes (what happened to the three-second rule, I have no idea), asking Jeff for advice on how to approach him and ask him to pose for me. I was such a nervous-wreck I forgot I had a drink to finish. My hands were getting clammy. This was my first time to approach a complete stranger to ask for his picture. I think he kind of noticed that I was peeking ever-so-often. (I was starting to get embarrassed :P). I was both excited and afraid, two very messed up feelings. Jeff kept on giving me reminders and confidence boosts, not to mention the nearest escape routes if my attempt backfired. I was so nervous my hands were cold.

My assessment: He looked nice and friendly, it didn't seem to me that he would decline. When he pulled his Macbook out of his bag, I knew he was techy enough to know about blogs and Flickr. He can easily look up 100strangers in the web and know that it is a bonafide group in Flickr (And I'm not some weird stalker-ish person :D).

When I finally mustered the courage to approach him, I introduced myself, explained my project (100 Strangers) and asked him if I could take his photo. He readily agreed, saying that he was also a photographer. Talk about coincidence. :)

Edwin is a freelance photographer, who used to work as an artist in an insurance company. He currently has a ongoing photo exhibit at the Philamlife Building, UN Ave, Ermita, Manila.The proceeds will be donated to Palcare (and to several other groups, according to his website). We chatted for a few moments, exchanged URLs, and talked a little bit more. I took a total of three shots with my shaking hands, shy to ask for more. He was really nice and friendly (true to my assessment.:D).

I hurried back to my seat, still giddy from being able to accomplish such a daunting task. Finally, I have my stranger number one! The adrenaline rush was exhilarating I had a hard time composing myself. We left the resto before he did, and as we passed by his table, I waved a quick goodbye and told him that he can visit my site tomorrow (Jan 10) to check the post.

In retrospect: Approaching a stranger is no easy task. It can also be dangerous if you approach the wrong person. (What I have learned: It's better to have someone with you before approaching a stranger, that way, he/she can look out for you. :) ) But when you do meet a nice person like Edwin, it becomes a wonderful learning experience. As for the photo I took, well, it's the first out of a hundred, and I still have a long way to go. There's a lot of room for improvement. Maybe Edwin could help me out, being a professional photographer and all. :D

Till my next stranger!

***

This is the picture number 1 of my 100Strangers project. To see pictures taken by other members and to know more about the group, visit 100Strangers.com now. Join us here.

LP 01.08.2009: Pula

2009-01-08T00:31:00.000+08:00

Maligayang bati mga kaLP! Heto ang aking ikalawang lahok para ako'y maging ganap na kasapi ng Litratong Pinoy! :D

Kahit tapos na ang pasko, tila mararamdaman mo pa rin ang diwa nito sa lamig ng simoy ng hangin dulot ng pabugso-bugsong ambon dito sa Maynila. Mas naramdaman ko ito nuong Lunes ng umaga nang ako'y gumisng para sorpresahin ang aking kaibigan sa kanyang kaarawan. Talaga namang nangangatog ako habang naliligo dahil sa lamig. Kami'y pumunta ng Eastwood City sa Libis upang kumain sa Somethin' Fishy. Pagkatapos ng aming almusal, kami'y naglakadlakad at nagliwaliw, sapagkat pangalawang beses ko palang makarating sa lugar na iyon. Tamang-tama naman at may nakita kaming punong may naiwang dekorasyon ng nakaraang pasko.

Nakikita niyo ba ako sa Pulang Christmas Ball? :D Nandyan din ang isa pang bagong sali sa LP na si Arlene. At dahil natuwa ako sa editing function ng aking kamera, mula sa orihinal na litrato, heto ang mga kinalabasan:

Fisheye effect daw ito. Erm, san banda? Parang naka-zoom lang e.

Surround in monochrome naman.

Blur the Periphery.

Radial blur. Napaka-futuristic ng dating!

At Nostalgic effect. Para naman makaluma ito.

At dyan po nagtatapos ang aking lahok para sa linggong ito. Maligayang Huwebes sa inyong lahat!

Para sa mga ibang lahok, pumunta sa

On Little Blessings

2009-01-07T20:44:00.000+08:00

When I woke up this morning and heard the rain tapping on our roof, I groaned. Don't get me wrong, I like the rain because it cools down our otherwise scorching hot city, but I don't like it on the days I have to commute.

Anyway, I got up, ate breakfast, surfed some and prepared myself for the day ahead. When I was about to leave the house, the rain had already stopped. Hallelujah. On my way to the place where Jeepneys passed (they don't have stands/stops here, they just stop in the middle of everywhere) I prayed the rosary. The walk from my house to that place took around 15 minutes and I was amazed that I was able to finish the whole five decades.

Eventually, I spotted the right jeepney and quickly flagged it. I rode the jeepney paid the fare and sat quietly on my spot. (I didn't want to attract much attention to myself lest I be a target for hold-up or something, I'm paranoid like that. Hahaha) Anyway, a few minutes into the ride, it started to drizzle again. I groaned (again). I didn't want to use my umbrella, even if I brought it, because keeping it after usage would be messy (read: wet folded umbrella inside my cloth bag). Finally, the jeepney reached my destination, I shouted a quick para to the driver and got off the vehicle. Lo and behold, the rain had stopped, again.

I just wanted to share this because we sometimes tend to ignore God's little blessings for us. I didn't even remember to blog about this until a few moments ago. I think I need to focus more on the little things, small reminders from God that He remembers me. We often focus on the big things that we want to get. We forget to see the little things God grants us to make our life a little less difficult. Heck, I didn't even pray for the rain to stop, I just thought life would be less messy if it did. (Don't get me wrong again, praying is IMPORTANT.) Still, God answered my unsaid prayer. And just like a doting Dad (who knows what His daughter really wants) towards His beloved daughter, He lets me have my way too. Sometimes. :)

On blog advertisements and earning extra

2009-01-07T17:36:00.010+08:00

As an online entrepreneur, I find advertising on blogs an excellent way to keep a business thriving. For one, it caters to your intended market: the online community. Letting your market know what your products or services are becomes easier because (1) the blog post is related to it, and (2) links within the blog post increase the chances of the reader clicking on them and be directed to the advertiser's site. Moreover, more and more people are leaning towards online shopping beacuse of its convenience and thus, the market of online buyers is continuously expanding.

I have recently discovered PayingPost, a site which facilitates blog advertising. It caters to two sets of people: first, the advertisers who want to explore the online blog community as a means of marketing their products and services and second, the bloggers who want to make extra money via paid posts.

Joining PayingPost as a blogger is easy. You just have to go to their website and sign-up. Then, you can submit your website(s) or blog(s) for review. Once your blog is approved, you can now scout for available opportunities from companies who want to advertise. This is made extra easy by the new layout that PayingPost has come up with. With the tabs on top, navigating within their site is no problem at all.PayingPost has an additional feature which allows you to post paid advertisements without having to wait for your blog's approval. PayingPost Direct is a means of getting advertisers without the intervention of PayingPost itself. Just by placing the PayingPost Direct badge on your site, advertisers can easily contact you if they want you to write a post about them. This gives you (the blogger) additional freedom because it allows you to negotiate the terms you will be working with. So even if PayingPost has not yet approved your blog, once an advertiser has contacted you, you can start earning money by blogging.

I have just joined PayingPost and I like it. It allows me to earn extra money at my own leisure. It's not as time consuming as other money-generating schemes where you have to really focus and spend much of your time with. Hopefully, I can find more opportunities to get paid just by blogging. :)

The search is ON!

2009-01-06T14:16:00.001+08:00

While I was blog-hopping the other day, I came across a post from Iris' blog with the title Stranger #3 blah blah blah. Being the curious cat that I was, I read the whole post. Turns out it's an entry for a group in Flickr, 100 strangers.

It's actually a group for people who want to hone their skills in taking portraits of people, and in the course of doing so, improve their social skills. The task is to take portraits of strangers (yes, strangers only, you can't take photos of people you know) and post them in the groups with a brief story to accompany it. (For the full mechanics, visit the group in Flickr.)

My interest was immediately captured by this idea/project because it was not your usual photomeme (or whatever these things were called, I'm still new to this community) because it involved interacting with other people, and strangers at that. :)

Anyway, I was afraid to try this on my own so I introduced the concept to Missy. She readily agreed to try it too. :) Now we're project buddies. Hehe. We hope we can keep this up. *Let's go Missy!*

There you go. Now all I have to do is make up a spiel (well, Missy is starting on it) for the strangers I'll approach. I hope I don't get kidnapped or holdapped in the process. Hehe. The search is on for my first stranger! :D

Pimping Multiply

2009-01-03T15:05:00.001+08:00

....is difficult.

Buti sana kung simpleng HTML lang eh. Jusko, CSS kasi. Whatever Cascading Style Sheets.

Buuuuuut, I have successfully added links on my right siderail (in my Multiply)! YES! Well, I didn't actually twiddle with the CSS, I found a nice tutorial on how to add the icons/pictures on the right side rail using HTML, it's just a little tedious. As for making these icons links, well, I used my own coconut for that. Hehe. Icons and Links now, whole theme revamp later! (MUCH MUCH LATER!)

So, new year, new theme, new siderail links! Bwahahaha.

What's next? Oh yeah, studying. Tsss.

PS
It's difficult adjusting my writing style now that I am cross posting. sheesh.

New Year, New Theme

2009-01-03T13:15:00.002+08:00

Just goes to show how much I dislike studying. I've played with my blogs for the whole vacation. :))

For the new Multiply theme, click here.

PS,
I got the theme from the Multiply Customized Themes Group.

LP 01.01.2009: Freestyle

2008-12-31T09:27:00.010+08:00

Maligayang bagong taon sa inyong lahat! Dahil sa Freestyle ang tema ng Litratong Pinoy ngayong linggo, naisipan kong ito ang ilahok. hehe.

Unang araw ng isang panibagong taon, sana nama'y mas madali ito kaysa sa nakaraang taon.

Unang lahok ko ito sa Litratong Pinoy, sana naman mapanindigan ko. Ahahaha. Muli, Happy New Year!

Para sa mga ibang lahok, pumunta sa

On parking.

2008-12-26T09:44:00.002+08:00

Last Monday, some friends and I went to MOA to buy a basket of goodies. Well, the original plan was to go to S&R only, but we ended up going to Greenbelt (to have lunch), to S&R (to see if they have the basket, but they didn't so we just ate ice cream, tsk, choir pa man din kami) and finally to MOA to buy a goody basket in the Hypermarket.

Well, as the title suggests, this post has something to do with parking - parking in MOA anyway. I've recently discovered the newest feature of the covered parking lots in MOA.

Looking for free slots is made a lot easier by the lights above the spaces. if the slot is free, the light si green but if it's occupied, the light turns red. Amazing, diba? Before, I used to spend a lot of time driving in circles in parking lots just to find a free spot. Now, one look and you'll easily know where you can park. Amaaaaaayzing. I hope other parking lots follow suit. hehe.

On tests.

2008-12-22T04:29:00.002+08:00

On our way home from Tagaytay, my girl best friend and I were discussing the things that happened to us this year. So many obstacles have popped up into our lives (separately) that we have always wanted 2008 to end. Anyway, while we were discussing it, I pointed out that the problems that we were experiencing were just a test from God. She, on the other hand, contradicted me and said:

I don't want to think of God as a God who gives tests. What happens when you don't pass the test? Rather, I'd like to think of Him as a loving God. He gives us these problems no to test us, but rather to teach us a lesson.

I like the way she put it that God doesn't test people. Oo nga naman, what will happen to us if we don't pass the test? Do we get red marks and fail?I like it better that He only gives us these challenges to make us learn valuable lessons in life. As she said, the bigger the problem gets, the bigger the lesson that God wants to teach us. And yes, our God is a loving God who has always wanted us His children to return to His flock.

Merry Christmas!

On the L word. (LOVE, that is.)

2008-12-15T08:51:00.004+08:00

Repost from Multiply (03.09.08)

Anyway, while I was at the Manila Polo Club last Saturday waiting for my breakfast to arrive, I was reading the newspaper, particularly the Philippine Star. I was intrigued by the column of Fr. Reuter, because of its title i think (but i can't remember the title now.) haha. He was relating this story in his column:

There was a girl who wanted to enter the convent. However, she was not accepted by the Mother Superior because of an unknown reason.

There was a boy who wanted to enter the seminary. He was declined by the rector because of his health. He was too frail to be able to accomplish his task well when he became a priest.

The two people were so unhappy with the outcome of their, um endeavors. (Forgive me, I am just re-telling, rather, re-writing the story from memory.) Anyway, to cut it short, they saw each other one day and fell in love. It was love at first sight but the girl did not view it that way. Rather, she wrote in her diary that she was"divinely illuminated" that this was the man she was supposed to marry (even without meeting him first!). So they met, got married and after their wedding, they, uh.. made vows of celibacy. You read right. They vowed to be virgins.

Anyway nine months later, (no she did not give birth - yet) they realized that they would "glorify God more" if they had children. And so they went to a priest, had their vows removed and had err, 9 children. Five of them were girls while the other four were men. All five became nuns (out of their own will might I add, not coerced by their parents) and the four men, well, I don't know what happened to them. One of their five daughters is St. Therese of Lisieux (whose relics are incidentally here, it will remain at the Manila Cathedral until tomorrow, as Ate Rose had said. This was why Fr. Reuter wrote about her parents' love story).

What inspires me the most about this story is that the love of this two people are centered in God. Loving with Love as the center (God = Love) diba? It is so inspiring to read about this love story. Wala lang, ako nainspire, sana ikaw din.

I'd like to add something else. My brother always relates this story to me. It's about Therese's (of Lisieux) father. He had said (in his lifetime): If I had one more daughter to give, I'd gladly give her to the Lord. What a very very devout man. I hope he becomes a Saint (with the capital S) if he is not yet one (along with his wife and his whole family). He is truly an inspiration of whole-hearted giving for the glory of God.

One more love story. In our Humanities class, we were asked y our teacher to read the book Man's Search for Meaning. Of the entire collection of Victor Frankl's (the author) experiences in the concentration camp during Hitler's Regime, there was one account that struck me the most. And I quote: (this is a bit lengthy but I think it will help illustrate my point further.)

We stumbled on in the darkness, over big stones and through large puddles, along the one road running through the camp. The accompanying guards kept shouting at us and driving us with the butts of their rifles. Anyone with very sore feet supported himself on his neighbor's arm. Hardly a word was spoken; the icy wind did not encourage talk. Hiding his hand behind his upturned collar, the man marching next to me whispered suddenly: "If our wives could see us now! I do hope they are better off in their camps and don't know what is happening to us."

That brought thoughts of my own wife to mind. And as we stumbled on for miles, slipping on icy spots, supporting each other time and again, dragging one another on and upward, nothing was said, but we both knew: each of us was thinking of his wife. Occasionally I looked at the sky, where the stars were fading and the pink light of the morning was beginning to spread behind a dark bank of clouds. But my mind clung to my wife's image, imagining it with an uncanny acuteness. I heard her answering me, saw her smile, her frank and encouraging look. Real or not, her look then was more luminous than the sun which was beginning to rise.

A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth--that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love. I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world may still know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the contemplation of his beloved. In a position of utter desolation, when a man cannot express himself in positive action, when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way--an honorable way--in such a position man can, through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved, achieve fulfillment. For the first time in my life, I was able to understand the words, "The angels are lost in perpetual contemplation of an infinite glory."

It is sad to know that he never saw his wife again. I think that about a year after they were hauled into separate concentration camps, his wife died.

I think i have mentioned this in a previous blog (if not, well, read on): we have been created because of love, in love, to love. In Mark 12:30, Jesus, when asked about the commandments, rephrased it saying "love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. In the next verse He says: Love your neighbors as yourself. There is no greater than these.

You see, in the end, it's all about love, not just romantic love, but love love. It really is hard to explain what love is all about. Most of the time, our notion of love is just the romantic type of love, but as Fr. Manny had said in his interview, there are many kinds of love...and love is not just an overnight affair, it is built throughout the years. (for the whole article, access it here.)

PS, bravo to the new look of stpeteronline.com!

On a very delayed Tagged post

2008-12-15T07:51:00.003+08:00

I was browsing through my old blogs in my Multiply and I stumbled upon this draft post. Uh-oh. I think I forgot to publish it. Anyway, I haven't even answered it yet. Now, I will. :D

I was tagged by Char and Jeff last July 8, 2007. :))

what makes your blog unique?
Which blog? the paulalaflower or the one in Multiply? I'm still undecided on how to go about both blogs. :D

when did you start blogging?
well, according to the archives of my old blog, January 2005 was the start of my obsession with this online writing thing.

what do you hope to accomplish in your blog?
For paulalaflower, I just want to share my thoughts, experiences and other what-have-yous. Maybe turn it into a photoblog or something (I think the or something will be much more feasible. I am sometimes too lazy to go take pictures.) My Multiply Blog is generally more personal. :D

what's your favorite childhood memory?
I'm not so good with remembering these kinds of things. hehe.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to have with you?
My cellphone, a first aid kit (aha, the doctor-ish side of me is showing itself. hehe) and hmmm. can a person be considered a thing? hehe. someone to be stranded with (so I won't bore the hell out of myself.)

Does your moral values affect the way you blog? if yes, why?
Yes. Erm, because moral values are always there to dictate every action? :D

what is the weirdest thing that ever happened to you?
How do you define weird?

what is your worst quality?
I am so lazy.

==========================================================
A - Age: I am 19 going on 20 (next year!)

B - Band:Band Aid. Haha. I am so corny.

C - Career: I'm a student, what career?

D - Drink or Smoke: drink at parties. :)

E - Easiest Friends To Talk To: Erika, Jeff.

G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Bears

H - Have a Girlfriend: Err, if I did, that would be weird. :)

I - In love: with LIFE! :)

J - Junk Food You Like: I can't think of any as of the moment.

K - Kids: If I get married, definitely.

L - Longest Ride Ever: Train ride from xiamen to some mountain in China. We even slept on these bunk beds on the train. :D

N - Names For Your Future Kids: I haven't thought about them yet. or should I say, yet again.

O - One Wish You Have Now: To have more wishes (I can't think of anything right now.)

P - Phobias: err, none that I know of.

Q - Favorite Quotes: ...

R - Reasons To Smile: It's Christmas!

S - Sleeping Hours: my sleeping time is not regular.

T - Time You Woke Up: before 8

U - Unknown Fact About You: ...

V - Vegetable You Hate: Celery, Okra, Ampalaya

W - Worst Habit: Being lazy. And putting off things just so I can twiddle with my blog.

X - X-rays You've Had: chest for physical examination

Y - Yummy Foods: I think I haven't eaten anything yummy in a few days. Hmm. Pad Thai is yummy.

Z - Zodiac Sign: Gemini

On time

2008-12-11T23:18:00.008+08:00

reposted from Multiply

Time is a Nuisance man invented for himself.

(new)
Traffic in Manila last Wednesday was hell. I think we could attribute it to Pacquiao's homecoming. Or the Maynilad excavations that are still plaguing our streets. Or the lowered gas prices that convinced motorists it was cheap to drive again. Everywhere I went, every street I passed was full of cars. Sheesh. My class was at one, I left the house at around quarter to 12. See the time? I was still in the Taf-DLSU area by that time. Buti na lang maaga ako umalis, kundi, late nanaman ako. (3 out of 4 meetings na akong late. hehe)

Just a few more days.

2008-12-11T22:11:00.002+08:00

School's almost ending (well, for the Christmas break at least, then hell will again rule my world), this new blog will live off re-posts. I am sorry, my supply of creative juice has been sucked dry by the written reports which now have big red marks on them. Sheesh. If, and only IF, I find the time to repost previous blogs, I will. :)

On liking blogger.

2008-12-11T21:21:00.001+08:00

I officially like Blogger now. :)