warrior in scrubs

PINK UMBRELLA ESKRIMA

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:36:00 +0000

This is another very short footage of myself doing some beginner's Arnis/Kali/Eskrima moves--this time using my Nanay's old pink umbrella.

I videoed this while waiting for the rest of the family to leave the house to eat somewhere else.

And, no, there's no such thing as "Pink Umbrella Eskrima."

MY FIRST-EVER VIDEOED PRACTICE

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:03:00 +0000

After more than a year of never been able to practice (due to lectures, hospital duties, review classes, thesis work, and other "ordeals" of a graduating nursing student), I casually picked up one of my already-dusty Arnis/Kali/Eskrima sticks just this afternoon and made a few beginner's swings, and decided to video it.

I realized--just now--that videos can reveal many gaps (e.g., bad habits) that need to be worked on--especially if one only trains alone most of the time. Like myself.

This first-ever footage of myself doing a spur-of-the-moment "practice" is no exception. It indeed reveals a lot of bad habits.

This is a very short video (and bad-quality, too) for a viewer to make some sound assessment, but please feel free to leave a comment.

HAS RED MOBILE GONE CRAZY?

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:37:00 +0000

I thought Red Mobile has gone crazy when it launched its super-cheap unlimited promo rates this December. They're so cheap they cost like two to four cigarette sticks!

When I first read about the new promos from its Facebook fan page, I just dismissed them as some joke. Well, they're not.

With the latest unlimited promo UNLI QUATRO, you can now enjoy unlimited text for one day to fellow Red Mobile subscribers for only P4.00, while with UNLI OCHO, you may need to plug your phone to the mains because you can now call and text literally "one to sawa" to your Red Mobile friends for one whole day for only P8.00!

Crazy low rates indeed!

Registration with these promos is easy and doesn't require a maintaining balance. To register with UNLI QUATRO, just type TU4 and send it to 9949. For UNLI OCHO, on the other hand, type CTU8 and send it to the same number.

I have to admit that I rarely avail of Red Mobile's unlimited promos because I'm already happy with their regular rates (P2.00 per minute for Red-to-Smart/Talk N' Text calls, P0.50 per text to Smart/Talk N' Text/Red, and P0.50 per minute for Red-to-Red calls), but I think I'm going try these new promos out.

And if I were a Sun Cellular subscriber, I think I'd now have a BETTER reason to switch to "the BETTER unlimited" because not only these rates are insanely super-cheap but Red Mobile's signal coverage is way BETTER even in places outside the big cities as it's powered by Smart.

For more details, visit their website and join their Facebook fan page.

Red Mobile is NOT a sponsor of this blog, and this review is just based on a personal experience.

GOOD NEWS COME IN A RED PACKAGING: RED MOBILE'S NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:21:00 +0000

It has almost been two months now that I've been using Red Mobile as my primary contact number (while Globe serves as my backup), and I can say I've been a satisfied subscriber so far.

I'm happy to report that my monthly prepaid expenses have gone down from P550.00 to just over P350.00 (yes, with Red Mobile and Globe combined) after I switched from Smart--for which I used to spend at least P400.00 every month--to Red Mobile and discarded my virtually useless Sun Cellular prepaid SIM card.

I also love the fact that--even without registering with any of Red Mobile's unlimited promos--my calls to Smart and/or Talk N' Text just cost me P2.00 per minute, while per text message sent only cost me P0.50. Yes, sireee, that cheap.

Another thing that never made me regret switching to Red Mobile is that--when I'm registered with, say, UNLI30 (which costs P30.00)--I get to enjoy truly unlimited calls and texts to my Smart, Talk N' Text, and Red Mobile contacts any time of the day, unlike other similarly priced "unlimited" promos from other networks where unlimited calls are only from 10:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

I also think it's more convenient that I no longer have to remember any number prefix before making calls. I'd just dial the Smart, Talk 'N Text, or Red Mobile number straight, and just wait for the other person to pick up the call. No more confusing number prefixes!

So I'd say it wasn't a bad decision to switch after all.

In fact, I think I now have more reasons to stay.

Around four weeks ago, when I was having my much-needed family-bonding time in Metro Manila, I received a few text messages from Mark Anthony Mercado and also read some posts on Red Mobile's Facebook fan page informing me about Red Mobile's newest products and service enhancements.

Here are some of them, which should prove interesting to Smart, Talk N' Text, and fellow Red Mobile subscribers altogether...

GOOD NEWS 1: Red Mobile now has its own unlimited combo products, which are COMBO10 and COMBO20.

With COMBO10, you can enjoy the following for one day:

Unlimited Red-to-Red calls and texts.
10 minutes of Red-to-Smart/Talk N' Text calls.
20 texts to all networks.

(To register, just text COMBO10 and send to 9949.)

With COMBO20, you can enjoy the following for two days:

Unlimited Red-to-Red calls and texts.
20 minutes of Red-to-Smart/Talk N' Text calls.
30 texts to all networks for one day.

(To register, just text COMBO20 and send to 9949.)

What's nice about these two new unlimited combo products is that you can repeatedly register with them on the same day and/or before your first registration expires, thereby allowing you to accumulate your promo load/credits. And, hey, unlike some promos from other networks, they don't have a maintaining balance.

GOOD NEWS 2: It's literally text to sawa now between Red Mobile, Smart, and Talk N' Text subscribers. With the improved interconnection between Red Mobile and her two "bigger sisters," Smart and Talk N' Text subscribers who are registered with unlimited text promos no longer have to worry (and complain) that their maintaining balance will be used up when sending text messages to Red Mobile subscribers. And while this smoother interconnection could've started since the time Red Mobile became a subsidiary of Smart, I still congratulate Red Mobile for listening and giving in to the demands of its subscribers despite such a rather long delay.

GOOD NEWS 3: Starting 8 November 2010, it's also--charaaan!--unlimited to call Red Mobile if you're a Smart or Talk N' Text subscriber who's registered with unlimited call promos. No more unwanted charges! No more vanishing maintaining balance! But, being a former Smart and, yes, even Talk N' Text subscriber myself, I don't think even these two "bigger sisters" have an equivalent to Red Mobile's UNLI30 product (among others), which allows subscribers to make unlimited calls (and texts, of course) to Smart, Talk N' Text, and Red Mobile for one whole day. Their similarly priced promos only have specific times of the day and/or particular number of hours to make calls--which are neither truly unlimited. And which was why I switched.

Maybe it's about time you should, too.

For more details, visit their website and join their Facebook fan page.

Red Mobile is NOT a sponsor of this blog, and this review is just based on a personal experience.

FAMILY BONDING WITH RED MOBILE UNLIMITED (OVER 3G)

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:05:00 +0000

I got my "mahiwagang SIM" card in the mail just this afternoon via Air21.

Well, actually, I received three SIM cards, but I'm going to give one of these "mahiwagang SIMs" to Sherry when I visit Metro Manila this late October for the sem break. The third one, on the other hand, is still on its SIM bed--unused, yes--but I highly doubt it's still active since the packaging says its expiry date was December 2009 (I didn't bother to test it though).

Rare ones: Two among the few lucky Red Mobile SIM
cards that still have 3G access today. Maybe next year,
they won't be rare and lucky anymore IF Red Mobile
decides to bring back its 3G service--hopefully.

Again, these are old Red Mobile SIM cards (two are secondhand) that I bought from an honest seller (thanks again to you, Sir) at TipidCP.com, which, by the way, is a nice site if you're looking for both brandnew and pre-owned phones.

I didn't waste any time and tested the two pre-loved SIMs if they indeed still have 3G access.

For the test, I used my ever-trusty "dinosaur phone," the Sony Ericsson P990i, and my newly-risen-from-the-dead Verzio Duplii (which had a broken, hard-to-find LCD screen some months ago), and did the entire testing outside our house--specifically at my suking tindahan--where I bought each SIM a P10.00 regular load first and where 3G signal was much stronger.

I then set both phones to 3G or UMTS and did a manual network search, and--lo and behold, baby--the 3G icon appeared on both handsets!

Smiling like a maniac, I tremblingly initiated a video call using my Sony Ericsson P990i first and--yes!--it got through. The test call lasted for less than a minute and, after checking the balance, the system told me the video call only cost P0.50. I initiated another video call using my Verzio Duplii this time, and got the same successful results.

Now, it's Smart's turn.

I removed the Red Mobile SIM card from the Verzio Duplii, inserted a Smart SIM card on it, and again did a manual network search--after which the 3G icon appeared. I initiated a video call using Red Mobile SIM on the Sony Ericsson P990i, and it got through on the first attempt. I stopped the test call before it reached one full minute, checked the balance, and was told by the system that the call was charged P2.00.

This post would have been nicer if it included some impressive videoed demo, like what Mark Anthony Mercado did, but I was too lazy to do it. Haha!

Okay, what now if these old Red Mobile SIM cards can do video calls over 3G? What's the big deal?

For Sherry, our baby boy CJ, and I, it means a lot because we'd be able to "see" each other more often--even if it's just through video calls most of the time (they're in Metro Manila; I'm in Iloilo City, studying).

And it'll be more often because these video (and voice) calls with Red Mobile are very cheap! With P0.50 per minute video/voice calls (Red-to-Red), our P10.00 regular load could go a looong way. That's already 20 minutes of FAMILY BONDING over 3G! And that's without registering with Red Mobile's unlimited promos yet.

With Red Mobile's UNLIMITED calls, malamang battery lang namin ang susuko--especially on not-so-busy weekends. Sherry and I will have no choice THIS TIME but to keep both our phones connected to the mains.

In comparison, 20 minutes of video/voice call with Globe or Smart--SANS PROMOS--would be very expensive. In fact, we haven't tried doing that because--well, from a non-rich prepaid user's standpoint--it's just not practical. I mean, P130.00 for 20 minutes of call? Come on!

Our small, long-distance family:
We just turned red, LITERALLY.

Today, our Baby CJ is celebrating his 20th month since 21 February 2009. And since I can't be there to spend this day with both him and Sherry, I guess I'm just going to make up for it by test driving my "mahiwagang Red Mobile SIM card" through a video call to Sherry's Smart number tonight. For P2.00 per minute of video call, who's complaining?

But...

I just hope that Red Mobile would soon open and bring back its cheap (and maybe unlimited) video calls to ALL its subscribers--not just to some, ahem, "lucky few" who own these old, pre-unlimited-days "mahiwagang SIMs."

Not only would such great move benefit all budget-conscious users but--more meaningfully--also long-distance families like OURS.

So, again, Red Mobile bosses, please don't remove the 3G access from our "mahiwagang SIMs." Instead, spread the love by giving 3G coverage again to all Red Mobile users.

Red Mobile is NOT a sponsor of this blog, and this review is just based on a personal experience.

ANG MAHIWAGANG SIM: P2.00 PER MINUTE VIDEO CALL TO SMART OVER 3G

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 01:05:00 +0000

I can't wait to have my hands on that old, secondhand Red Mobile SIM card I bought from someone over a local buy-and-sell website for only P100.00.

Red Mobile bosses, are you reading this? Don't remove
the 3G service from your old SIMs, PUH-LEEEEEASE?

What's so special about this old Red Mobile SIM card?

Well, nothing much.

EXCEPT that it's 3G-enabled and allows you to make video calls (over 3G, of course) for only P2.00 per minute to any Smart (and Red Mobile) number! That's way cheaper, too, compared to both Smart's and Globe's regular video call rates which are at P6.50 per minute!

"New-generation" Red Mobile SIM cards--those that came out starting March 2010--no longer have 3G connectivity, GPRS coverage, and MMS service. In short, these new Red Mobile SIM cards are just good for making voice calls and sending text messages.

But NOT for the old ones, baby! They've still got 3G!

You want proof?

Mark Anthony Mercado, owner of an "old-generation" Red Mobile SIM card, has recorded and posted this video on Red Mobile's Facebook fan page, to prove that he can still make Red Mobile-to-Smart video calls using his "mahiwagang SIM" over 3G.

Lucky guy, eh?

So how would you know if your Red Mobile SIM card belonged to the "old generation" or the "new generation?"

Simple. First is through its packaging.

OLD Red Mobile SIM cards come with a vertically designed packaging. At the front, there's "3G phone required" graphic placed on the upper right corner of the design (click photo for a closer look).

Old vs New: "New" doesn't always mean "better."

NEW Red Mobile SIM cards come with a horizontally designed packaging. At both the front and the back, the word "UNLIMITED" is placed under the Red Mobile logo. There's no "3G phone required" graphic on it (click photo for a closer look).

Apart from the packaging, you would also know if your Red Mobile SIM card belonged to the earlier batches when your 3G-capable phone flashes the 3G icon while your Red Mobile SIM card is in it. Of course, you should make sure that you've set your network to 3G or UMTS first.

One caveat though: 3G coverage for old Red Mobile SIM cards is only available for those accounts that (1) had activated their 3G service and (2) had outstanding load/credits prior to March 2010. Hence, not all "old-generation" SIM cards that are still active today have 3G.

Now, if you still have your old Red Mobile SIM card with you, you may want to check whether or not it's still active by doing any of the following:

Type 999 and send to 9939.

Dial *999 (Customer Service).

If you received a text reply from the system that says something like this: "There is a problem with your account. Please contact Priority Call Center by another telephone. Thank you," it means it's already expired or deactivated even if it still has signal and still can receive voice calls and texts.

On the other hand, if the system sent you a text message that tells you your balance summary, it means it's still active. Also, if you were able to connect and talk to a Red Mobile customer service representative, then--yes--it's still active.

So, do you own a "mahiwagang SIM" from Red Mobile, too?

Leave a comment and be recognized because you (and, soon, I) belong to the LUCKY FEW!

WHY I SWITCHED TO RED MOBILE

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 09:34:00 +0000

For a full-time "second courser" nursing student like myself who is currently curtailed from having a regular 8-to-5 job, maintaining three different prepaid subscriptions with the country's "big three"--Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular--can indeed be expensive.

On a monthly average, I'm spending P400.00 for Smart (because almost 90% to 95% of my contacts are Smart and/or Talk 'N Text users, especially here in Iloilo and the rest of Panay island), P100.00 for Globe (which Sherry--who's in Metro Manila now--and I mainly use to communicate), and P50.00 for Sun (just in case there's a need to text or call a fellow Sun user).

All in all, that's P550.00 per month. On the average.

So, to cut back on my prepaid phone expenses, I have been seriously considering of chucking either my Smart or my Sun prepaid SIM card and just stick to Globe.

Smart’s unlimited call and text promos--specifically Smart Talk and Smart Talk Plus--aren’t really unlimited. They’re more like “conditional unlimited” or “unlimited with a catch.” Also, any attempt to avail of unlimited calls under these two promos from Smart has always been a test of patience for me. It's easy to register with them, but--after that--I can hardly connect by the time I call! There’s always that system-related “glitch” which prevents me from getting my money’s worth from these promos.

As for Sun, well, let's just say that I can live without it. I was one of the first postpaid subscribers of Sun back in 2003 under Plan 1000, and I must say I regretted it. The signal was just sooo bad. These days, Sun users say that the network has a much better signal, but I disagree. Outside the big cities in the country, the signal is still very weak or even nonexistent. Every time I talk to someone using Sun, I always have to do relaxation breathing to avoid losing my temper in the middle of a phone call. Believe me, it works--sometimes.

My dilemma, however, is that if I only used Globe, most of my Smart and Talk 'N Text contacts might NOT text me anymore as they don’t want to spend their “maintenance load,” which--almost always in the case of students--is just P1.00.

So, what now, then?

Around two weeks ago, I found a cheaper alternative to be always connected with my Smart and Talk 'N Text contacts WHILE maintaining my Globe prepaid subscription.

This cheaper alternative is RED MOBILE.

With Red Mobile--which, by the way, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Smart--it only costs me P2.00 per minute every time I call and P0.50 every time I text to any Smart and/or Talk 'N Text number.

That's without registering with any of their promos YET. If I did register, all my calls and texts to Smart and Talk 'N Text would become unlimited--as in no catch, no conditions, no specific hours of the day (unlike Smart Talk Plus and Talk ‘N Text Gaan UnliTxt Plus, whose unlimited calls are only from 10:00 PM to 5:00 PM).

Also, what I especially like about Red Mobile is that--when I'm registered with their unlimited promo for Smart and Talk 'N Text--I don't need to memorize and key in number prefixes (like *6400 for Smart Talk or *6401 for Smart Talk Plus) before making calls. I'd simply dial the Smart or Talk 'N Text number of the person I intend to call, and that's it. And, unlike with Sun, I always get a very strong signal anywhere (and, yes, even outside Iloilo City) because, well, it's powered by Smart.

In fact, since two weeks ago, I hardly text my Smart and Talk 'N Text contacts anymore. And I no longer worry that they won't text me back because, ahem, I JUST CALL THEM.

Why wouldn't I?

For only P4.00 to P6.00 (and that's for 2 to 3 minutes of call), I can already send everything across without delay. I also don't see the need to register with Red Mobile promos because their regular call and text rates are very cheap.

So this tandem (Red Mobile and Globe) is just perfect for me.

Basing on my usage pattern, I think a regular P300.00 Red Mobile call-and-text card or electronic load could last me a full month (vis-a-vis P400.00 per month with Smart).

Together with my Globe prepaid subscription--which, as I've said, would usually cost me P100.00 per month--and MINUS my P50.00-per-month maintenance for my Sun prepaid account, I'm now expecting a P150.00 monthly savings, starting this October.

And that's why I've switched to the "stronger unlimited!"

For more information about Red Mobile, just visit their website.

By the way, Red Mobile is NOT a sponsor of this blog, and this review is just based on a personal experience (your experience--and your opinions that go with it--will always be different from mine), but...I'm open to offers. Haha!

FAT GUY CONFESSIONS: WHY MY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM FAILED (PART I)

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:23:00 +0000

Thank God I'm not this big--yet.

Yes, this is the story of my failure.

On 24 March 2010, I embarked on a personal weight loss program which I called Project 70.

At the onset of my self-imposed program, I weighed 90 kgs (198 lbs)--which literally freaked me out, considering that I'm a 32-year-old guy standing just 5'6"--and what I wanted to do was to reach 70 kgs (154 lbs) by the end of July 2010. That's 20 kgs (44 lbs) to lose in 18 weeks!

Up to now, I myself still find it unbelievable why I weighed as much as 90 kgs. I mean, while I may not be some athlete like the great Manny Pacquiao, I'm relatively physically active myself. Okay, I never go to the gym to lift weights, but I used to play basketball, do Western Boxing, and hit old car tires at home for my Arnis/Kali/Eskrima practice.

One of my little weekend experiments at home:
Lechon paksiw with potatoes cooked in Ilonggo sinamak.

However, without being biased for myself, I think I have to admit that these were the factors that caused my packing on LOTS of pounds prior to Project 70:

Eating a lot, mindlessly. I was never the type who would count the calories that I took in every day, but I think I may have eaten more than what I could burn off despite the fact that I was exercising. Plus, I was never the type who was too conscious about what I ate. If it looked good, smelled good, tasted good, I ate it.

Drinking softdrinks. I'll be very honest here: I almost can't smoke if I don't have anything sweet inside my mouth--until today. I don't know but that's just me. So, for every two cigarette sticks after each meal, I'd drink a bottle of Coke or Mountain Dew while smoking. If I puffed six sticks in one day, that'd mean three bottles of soda, too. Yes, in a day.

Red Horse: Ang kabayong
pinakamasarap sakyan--sabi nila.

Binging on beer. There was a time when I would chill with friends two or three times every week and drink five to six bottles of Red Horse Beer on every occasion. So if for every 500 ml there's 200 kcals, that's 1,000 to 1,200 kcals altogether for every drinking session. And we're not even counting calories yet from the typically oily pulutan (Filipino "finger food" that goes with alcoholic drinks).

Sleeping less. I've read somewhere that people who have less sleep tend to gain lots of weight compared to those who have a full seven-to-eight-hour sleep. It's because people who sleep fewer hours seem to gorge on foods high in carbohydrates, too. And I believe that's what I was exactly doing.

Experimenting in the kitchen. Besides eating, I'm also fond of venturing on do-it-yourself, sometimes no-name recipes on weekends, and there are times when I'd end up eating every thing when the folks at home don't like the results of my "little experiments." As they say, you can't get it right all the time.

I'd also like to throw (and blame) genes, family history, and age into the list, but I really can't do anything about them anyway. What I just listed are modifiable factors that I personally think caused my alarming weight gain. These modifiable factors are the things that both you and I can "tweak" according to our personal comfort and preference in order to achieve a healthier version of ourselves.

On the next two parts, I'll share with you the following:

How I was able to shed off 14 kgs (31 lbs) from my scary old weight, which was 90 kgs (198 lbs), successfully--after 15 weeks of hard work under my self-imposed weight loss program; and

How I eventually backslid on my weight goals--which, hopefully, you and I will avoid happening again in the future.

JUSTICE FOR DOMINIQUE ANNE ESTAMPADOR

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 08:45:00 +0000

Friends and witnesses said she was on her way home from a late-night group-study session when the whole thing happened.

She was a nursing student and was supposed to graduate six months from now--and be one of the country's future nurses.

That's NOT going to happen anymore.

Dominique Anne Estampador--a senior Bachelor of Science in Nursing student of Iloilo Doctors' College--was seen dead in early morning of 1 October 2010 inside some dirty sewer near her residence in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Her body was riddled with 12 stab wounds (yes, that many) from a scumbag who tried to make a pass at her that night when her parents were waiting for her to go home.

The cops were able to nab the suspect a day after his alleged murder of Estampador--that's today. His name is Rex De La Peña.

According to the suspect, he was really drunk when everything happened. But from what he could remember, he said he got furious when the victim refused his offer to walk her home.

Cheap crime weapon: This would have
been inside Sherry's body, too, if she
didn't get lucky.

Witnesses said De La Peña was last seen forcibly dragging some girl into the darkness. That girl was Estampador.

The cops said that the suspect may have also committed rape besides murder, but De La Peña denied he violated her. He just "touched" her, he said.

Investigations are underway and we're all waiting for the findings. We just hope that justice will eventually be served--quickly and severely, that is.

On a personal side, I exactly know the feeling when a loved one is in a situation where he or she is manhandled or mugged and is about to get killed in the process.

Early this year, Sherry also fell prey to one of these low-lifes when she was on her way home from work. The scumbag robbed her at knifepoint and almost stabbed her, too.

She was very lucky to survive the incident unscathed though--thanks to the help of some people who were still awake that time. The thing happened at 2:00 AM.

After that incident, Sherry finally agreed--alas, after more than two years of egging on her--to study Arnis/Kali/Eskrima under Grand Master Antonio "Tony" Diego and Master Arnold Narzo of Kalis Ilustrisimo-Repeticion Orihinal at Luneta.

This was what became of Sherry's tormentor
after the lynching party got exhausted.

Before that incident, she can't see the point of studying self-defense--especially Arnis/Kali/Eskrima. It was a waste of time and so baduy. She thought that the cops will always be there for her.

She was wrong.

Sherry's experience and this recent mindless killing of a faultless passerby show that the cops--and even our friends and better halves--are NOT always there beside us to "serve and protect."

Self-sufficiency isn't only just about having a fat bank account and living our lives the way we want it, but it's also about being NOT dependent on other people for our personal safety. And, yes, "other people" includes our cops (some of whom are scumbags, too).

Shit can always happen, and we never know when it is.

The solution? TRAIN to prepare for it.

If you're in Iloilo and want to learn a few street-effective "tricks" for FREE, just contact me after reading this.

Good luck and be safe. Nobody wants to read another obituary on Facebook.

WEEKEND SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOPS FOR WOMEN

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:56:00 +0000

Any mundane object that can be turned into an instant weapon during assaults is a great equalizer (and a life saver)--especially against a male assailant.

With the right mindset and training, almost anything (almost!) that can be found inside a woman's purse is a potential weapon:

Keys.
Lipstick tube/case.
Pen light.
Ballpoint pen.
Felt-tip pen/marker.
Cellphone.
Toothbrush.
Perfume/cologne bottle.
Hairbrush.
Paper-and-binder personal organizer.
Folding umbrella.
Beverage tumbler.

The question is, do you or would you know how to use any of these to your advantage when the need arises?

These weekend workshops will NOT transform you and your friends into Charlie's Angels, but--at the end of the session--each one should be able to:

LEARN simple, non-flowery but incapacitating strikes to strategic body parts (either with or without makeshift weapons).

DEVELOP acceptable speed in delivering such strikes (which you can further enhance by practicing them regularly, even on your own).

TRANSFORM a long umbrella, tennis/badminton racket, rolled newspaper, culinary spatula, and similar objects into an effective self-defense tool using Arnis/Kali/Eskrima techniques.

PERFORM helpful drills that you and/or your friends can practice to improve reflex and develop muscle memory.

BUILD awareness of and common sense against impending attacks.

DISCOVER instant "life-saving interventions" (which more organized schools will teach you only after many months or even years).

Preferred participants are health professionals, media correspondents, call center employees, students, and the like who are based in the province and the city of Iloilo.

Appointments are open to at least a group of four participants.

For inquiries, please text or call +63919-961-6181 or +63917-408-872.

=======================================================

Warrior In Scrubs is the former media and communications officer of the Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women) Project, a capacity-development initiative funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and implemented locally by Malacañang's National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the national machinery for the advancement of women in the Philippines.

Now into nursing as his second career, Warrior In Scrubs uses his working knowledge in human anatomy and physiology in evolving women-friendly techniques that require minimum exertion but produce maximum results, particularly in self-defense situations. Warrior In Scrubs has more than 10 years of formal and informal martial arts training. His background includes blunt and bladed weaponry based in Arnis/Kali/Eskrima as well as eclectic empty-hand combatives influenced by Street MMA, Western Boxing, Kickboxing, and Aikido.

THE MEDLEYS OF SAM TSUI AND KURT SCHNEIDER

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:08:00 +0000

I'm not particularly fond of pop songs--especially from singers like, uhm, Lady Gaga.

But I admittedly found myself humming and singing to this medley after just a few seconds of watching it.

The guys behind this well-arranged medley are Sam Tsui (on vocals) and Kurt Schneider (on guitar).

While writing this, I'm transferring the video below to my Sony Ericsson P990i, so I could watch and listen to it again and also share it with my classmates later while we're on our way to Brgy Olo Barroc in Tigbauan, Iloilo for our community health nursing.

Check it out.

Tsui and Schneider previously did an impressive medley of Michael Jackson classics.

The latter--who usually provides accompaniment and arranges most of the duo's songs--performed a nice medley of Miley Cyrus' popular singles for the piano.

A BIG BUT LATE ANNOUNCEMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +0000

It has been a very long absence for me here, and so many things have happened.

One of those events--which is actually an important milestone for me (and to any adult, I guess)--is parenthood.

Yes, I have become a proud parent since 21 February 2009--albeit a long-distance one (I'm now in Iloilo City, my son is in Metro Manila).

And this coming 20 December 2009, Carlyle Justyn Sherwyn T. Panila--whom we all fondly call "CJ"--will (finally) be christened. (It's long-overdue, I know.)

I will be staying in Metro Manila from 18th of December till 1st of January, and this will be my first-ever Christmas and New Year as a dad!

To prep up for CJ's christening, I tried making my own designs for our invites and fridge magnet souvenirs--despite my worse-than-an-amateur Photoshop "skills." Our baptismal invite can be seen below.

After this post, I may not be able to blog again for ages (I have been--and will still be--very busy with school and hospital/community duty), but I just feel that parenthood is one of those big events in a blogger's (or any person's) life that he/she needs to write about.

To everyone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance!

DO YOU EAT FLOWERS? I DO.

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:54:00 +0000

Apart from the online jobs that I have these days as a result of my self-serving job ad, I also have recently embarked on a microretail enterprise that involves promoting Dulce De Dingle or dried green papaya "flower candies" of Dingle, a fourth-class municipality in the province of Iloilo in Western Visayas, Philippines.

Dried green papaya flower candies--or simply papaya candies--are traditional Ilonggo confections that originated in the municipality of Dingle in the province of in Western Visayas and are considered as the trademark of the town.

This rare, local delicacy is made of unripe or green papaya pulp coated with sugar and formed into a flower or a rose. At the center of the "flower" or "rose," there is a delicious-looking yellow stuff called yema (a sweet concoction made of milk and eggs) that reaches down to the upper part of the “stem,” which is also made of dried green papaya.

Unlike pinasugbo, piaya, bande, bukayo, butterscotch, biscocho, and other common delicacies identified with the province and the city of Iloilo, green papaya flower candies are quite unknown and are always hard to find because production is based on pre-orders only. In fact, it is so rare that almost no local confectionery store sells it in Iloilo City.

Despite their lack of publicity, these candies are probably one of the oldest Ilonggo delicacies there is--dating back as far as the 1920s. This was according to my father, who is a good son of Dingle, where I also spent a part of my childhood.

Another factor behind their scarcity is, it takes nearly a week to prepare the freshly harvested papaya pulp because it has to be soaked first in water with lime powder for a few days, before placing it under the sun for at least a day to dry.

Also, there are times when supply of unripe or green papayas becomes a bit limited or more pricey than usual.

The "assembly" of the dried papaya pulp into a "flower" or "rose" is also very meticulous. It requires dexterity of fingers, patience, and creativity to finish even just one "flower."

Fashioned by the loving and hardworking hands of low-income housewives from the town of Dingle, green papaya flower candies feed nearly 20 families in this fourth-class municipality and help them send their children to school.

So, if in case you want to order this rare delicacy, please don't forget to appreciate first all the hard work that these people have put in before you make your first bite.

Shelf life of these candies is usually one to two weeks only--but I'm sure a pack won't last for three days once you've tried them. They are addictively delicious!

Packs of Dulce De Dingle come in three sizes--packs of 25, 50, and 100--all in basket-shaped, golden yellow cellophane. The smallest pack (i.e., 25 pieces) costs P200.

However, if you’re outside or far away from Iloilo City, you’ll have to add something for courier/shipment and minimum order is two packs of 25. Otherwise, delivery is free.

Yes, I understand, P200 for just a pack of 25 candies is a bit steep especially these days, but, by buying the product, you will also be helping:

Low-income families of the municipality of Dingle.

Out-of-school youth, who spend their time making these candies instead of doing drugs or, uhm, making babies.

Working students, who try to earn in-between classes just to send themselves to school.

Me. (Hehe.)

Also, Dulce De Dingle's green papaya flower candies are best for:

Pasalubong, which is a plus because they are so unique you can’t find them just anywhere.

Watching TV and/or DVD with the family. (Believe me, you'll be surprised at how fast these candies will disappear. Hopefully, you won't end up killing each other. Hehe. Kidding.)

After-meal treat.

Happy meal during bad days, LQs (lovers' quarrels), dysmenorrhea, job retrenchment (hopefully not), and the like--because they can be a good (and healthier) substitute for your favorite chocolates.

Bribing your boss. (Try it to prove it. Hehe.)

Saying "I Love You" to a girl (or boy)--because these candies are a good and creative substitute for the predictably boring bouquet of real flowers.

Crazy “circus performances”--others who will see you eat these candies would actually think you’re eating real flowers. (Hehe.)

Your health--they’re 100% natural, no harmful preservatives, nutritious--green papaya being a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium, papain (good for digestion), arginine (good for male fertility), and carpain (good for the heart), among others.

Interested? Please just text or call the following numbers:

+63919-961-6181 (Smart).

+63917-408-8872 (Globe).

A BROKEN RIB OR A BRAIN INJURY FOR MANNY PACQUIAO--IF HE GETS CARELESS

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Anything can happen.

If Manny Pacquiao gets careless against Ricky Hatton, he could end up getting a broken rib or, worse, a brain injury.

That may be way too extreme, but then again who says boxing is a gentle sport?

Fine, Pacquiao (48 wins, 3 defeats, 36 knockouts, 2 draws) has a much superior skill set compared to Hatton (45 wins, 1 defeat, 32 knockouts) to score the decisive victory that most people (including myself) look forward to, but an upset isn't too remote to happen.

Unlike the ones that Pacquiao has fought in the recent years, Hatton is no faded fighter, is at the prime of his career, is as old (or young) as the Filipino boxing champ, and--as a swarming brawler--is probably more aggressive.

Hatton certainly doesn't belong to the class of warriors that Pacquiao has fought and defeated--Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Oscar De La Hoya--but he does belong to the type of boxers that the latter rarely fights in the ring: half-wrestler, dirty, relentless, granite-chinned, and has Neanderthal-like punch strength.

This could possibly be Pacquiao's hardest fight yet.

On the other hand, my countryman has almost everything that any opponent should worry about.

Stamina-wise, Pacquiao is both a machine and a fitness specimen: he can be relentless up to the final round without signs of fatigue. Hatton--despite his notorious love for beer, oily food, and late-night parties--seems to have no problem with stamina either, but that remains to be seen.

In terms of footwork, the current pound-for-pound king is the hands-down winner. In fact, Pacquiao's best defensive weapon is, in my opinion, his baffling lateral movement. Every time his opponent punches, he's no longer there. This makes parrying and blocking no longer necessary and a waste of movement. Most of his opponents--with the exception of Marquez--could hardly lock on him as target. Hatton is also fast, but--against Pacquiao--he will appear like on slow motion on the television screen, just like David Diaz did.

In the same manner, Pacquiao is a god in the hand speed department. He connects even before his opponents can blink. Hatton may have watched all Pacquiao's fight videos and would've probably said his opponent doesn't move that quick, but I wouldn't be surprised if he'll have a change of opinion once when he's already on the receiving end of the Filipino's furious flurries come fight night.

Okay, Hatton may be the stronger puncher, but Pacquiao is definitely no patsy in the punching power department either. The Filipino champ's knockout record is a testament to this, and Hatton only has just more than a month to find out that the Philippines produces not only the world's best nurses and caregivers but also "warrior-babysitters" like Pacquiao--who sends boxers to sleep.

However, Pacquiao should avoid getting tagged by one of Hatton's power punches as he might not survive a difficult round. If he wobbles from one of the Briton's monster hooks in the middle of a round, it could be the end of Pacquiao's reign and winning streak.

Pacquiao should also avoid Hatton's infamous body shots by not getting trapped on the ropes and/or by getting in and out very quickly before the British boxer could hug him like Hulk Hogan. He should also watch out for some of Hatton's sneaky elbows while in a clinch.

Pacquiao usually has problems against good counterpunchers; and while Hatton is no counterpuncher, he is still and can always be dangerous.

With the identically aggressive styles of these hard-punching fighters, I think that whoever gets cut first will lose the fight. If Pacquiao gets a nasty cut first, half of the battle is won for the hungrier Hatton, who will naturally capitalize on the situation by mercilessly pounding his bloodied opponent all the more.

The intensity that these two boxing superstars bring into the scheduled match makes this impending War of the Worlds or Battle of East and West a potential fight of the year. And let's just hope that nobody really gets a broken rib or a brain injury after all.

The outcome of this fight is and will be very difficult to predict, but--just for discussion's sake--who do you think will win, and why?

HIRE ME!

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:11:00 +0000

As a "second courser" nursing student, my remaining last four semesters in school will be very light and easy. Starting June this year, I will only have two subjects every semester.

I now want to work again (and earn) during my free time, which is and will be a lot.

But since I am now in Iloilo City, where it is relatively hard to find non-8-to-5 jobs, I thought I should post this self-serving ad here.

So, if you need--or know someone who needs--the following, please just refer to my CV below:

An advocacy/communications plan consultant/manager;

A project/business concept developer;

An IEC/promotional materials concept developer/designer;

An advertorial, position paper, and advocacy writer;

A press release writer (both for print and broadcast);

A speech writer;

A cartoonist and/or a book illustrator (for textbooks, children's books, IEC materials, and the like);

A company/organization logo designer;

A company/organizational/school publications adviser/consultant (e.g., annual reports, newsletters, briefs for special projects/major programs, media kits, et cetera);

A proofreader (for dissertations, theses, research papers, manuscripts, IEC materials, important presentations, and others);

A block-time radio program host/anchor (in Iloilo City); and/or

A part-time college instructor for mass communications and/or English subjects (in Iloilo City, of course).

CJ Panila CV

I prefer more output-based, short-term engagements--for obvious reasons.

You can contact me in these numbers:

+63919-961-6181 (Smart).

+63917-408-8872 (Globe).

FEBRUARY IS PHILIPPINE LEPROSY AWARENESS MONTH

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:43:00 +0000

Yes, February is Leprosy Awareness Month in the Philippines.

A search on Google though would reveal that the Department of Health or its regional offices--except the one in Davao City--seem to have not made any effort to inform the public about it. (All the Department of Health has is an old article on its website that tells some facts about leprosy. This old article can be seen here.)

My classmates and I decided to feature leprosy in a short video documentary for our Microbiology and Parasitology (Biological Science 3) class.

The video documentary is a major course requirement, whose original deadline was second week of March.

However, our professor--in anticipation of the "upheavals" in connection with the impending change of management in the University of Iloilo--gave us a new, much earlier deadline (12 February 2009), which fell on the same week of our midterm exams.

It drove us students nuts.

The change in deadline prevented us from bringing the original concept into reality. It already had a title--A Date With The Outcasts--where my groupmates and I would supposedly celebrate Valentine's Day as well as my 31st birthday with the leprosy patients of Western Visayas Sanitarium/Leprosarium in the town of Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

It would have been a selfless, less-than-usual celebration of Valentine's Day for all of us in the group because--instead of spending the day with our girlfriends, or boyfriends, or loved ones--we would have spent it with leprosy patients, many of whom are ostracized and neglected by their own families and relatives.

We had to think of something else. (My deepest apologies to Dr Annabelle P De Guzman, chief of Western Visayas Sanitarium/Leprosarium, who believed in our original concept and approved our project proposal.)

Below is our finished product, a 12-minute video documentary that attempts to address the common misconceptions especially among Filipinos about leprosy. It also shows the inspiring, successful recovery of leprosy patients--proving time and again that the disease is very much curable and that patients still have a chance to live a healthy, normal life.

The script was written for only three to four hours, while the entire video was edited for only two days. With such haste, we admittedly have overlooked some flaws (which you'll notice if you look and listen carefully). Despite this, the video documentary received a 98% rating. (Many thanks to Prof Rhoda Mae P Cerbo.)

Special thanks goes to Dr Alfredo G Salcedo Jr of Guimaras Provincial Hospital, for sharing his time and expertise as this documentary project's resource person on leprosy.

So, ladies and gentlemen, here's our 2009 Leprosy Awareness Month feature presentation, LeproStigma.

Enjoy.

ERRATA

At 02:33-02:34,
they keyword that appears should have been "mycobacteria," not "myobacteria."

At 05:29-05:31,
the voice-over should have said "and has often been thought," not "and has often thought."

At 08:02-08:09,
the year that appears in the subtitle should have been "1970," not "1978"--in accordance with what the subject actually said in the interview.

THE FIRST FILIPINO AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN BLACK BELT IN JUDO AND BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Sixth-degree black belt John Baylon has long been a legend in Judo and the Philippines' pride in sports.

Baylon may not be as familiar among most Filipinos as Manny Pacquiao is today, but everyone in the martial arts community knows and respects him.

You really have no choice.

Undeafeated in the Southeast Asian Games since 1991, he is an eight-time SEA Games gold medalist in Judo--the first and only person to have the highest medal tally in an individual sport.

He is also a two-time Olympic Games competitor (1988 in Seoul, South Korea and 1992 in Barcelona, Spain), a four-time Asian Judo champion in four different weight divisions, a bronze medalist in the 2003 World Masters Judo Championship in Japan, and a consistent placer in the Asian Games.

But apart from being the country's most decorated Judo black belt, Baylon has made another milestone when he was recently awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from his Japanese teacher, Wado Toshiyuki, in Tokyo--making him the first Filipino and only Southeast Asian to hold such high ranks in both Judo and BJJ.

This Filipino prodigy has been a regular visitor to Toshiyuki's BJJ academy since 2002 when he was visiting Japan as part of the Philippine national team.

Baylon is currently the co-head instructor of Team Fabrico BJJ/Judo Academy along with New Zealander Judo and BJJ black belt, Stephen Ka mphuis.

In November 2008, he ended a match in just two minutes against the much younger and more agile Mike Fowler--a Copa Atlantica BJJ champion, Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships medalist, World Abu Dhabi Combat Club finalist, and head instructor of a BJJ school in Guam--via an armbar in the 2008 Hajime! Judo Competition at the Ateneo De Manila University.

Born on 6 November 1964 in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental but grew up in Zamboanga City, this decorated Judo player started honing his skills in Japan while working and taking Nippongo lessons back in the late eighties. He became a member of the Philippine national team in 1988.

Despite the long list of injuries he sustained in more than two decades of fighting and against the advice of well-meaning friends, Baylon continues to spend countless hours in the gym, perfecting his skills.

The following clips show some of John Baylon's recent victories...

JOHN BAYLON VS MIKE FOWLER

PHILIPPINES VS VIETNAM This page requires a higher version browser

Info Source: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Philippines Website
Video Sources: Gerard Teruel's YouTube Channel and GMANews.TV
Photo Sources: Men's Health Philippines Website, Jamd Website, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Philippines Website

ARNIS / KALI / ESKRIMA TRAINING GROUPS IN ILOILO CITY

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Iloilo City, just like its neighbors in the Panay Island and the Visayas region in general, has a rich and proud martial history and tradition.

During the Spanish era, Ilonggo conscripts--together with Cebuanos and other Visayans--were a mainstay of the Spanish armed forces in maintaining "peace" and "order" in both the northern (i.e., Luzon) and southern (i.e., Mindanao) parts of the country.

They pillaged local kingdoms, burned down tow ns, massacred insurgents, sowed fear to potential dissenters, and generally did most of the dirty work upon orders of the Spaniards.

Used as frontliners in battle, Ilonggo and other Visayan warriors were instrumental in forcing the different tribal leaders of Luzon and Mindanao to kneel before the Spaniards and lick their boots.

It's no wonder then why--even up to these days--Iloilo City remains one of the best places in the Visayas region to learn the art of indigenous and traditional sword, stick, and empty-hand fighting.

Here is the partial list of groups that teach Arnis/Kali/Eskrima in Iloilo City:

UNO-BLANCO ESKRIMA SYSTEM. They're at La Paz Plaza on Sunday mornings, almost beside the tennis court. They don't wear uniforms, but when you see guys doing some Tai Chi moves (yes, they also do train and practice authentic Tai Chi), that's them. From the looks of what they're doing, theirs is a very efficient blade-based style. They're open to everyone but they don't accept just anyone. For details, you may contact Talibung Antikenyo of the Filipino Martial Arts Forum.

NORTEGA ESKRIMA TRAINING GROUP. Grand Master Antonio Nortega, who was his family's duelista or representative fighter back in the old days, teaches this family system. From the looks of it, Nortega Eskrima seems more stick-based than blade-based. There's very minimal footwork, but the strikes are so powerful and "deceptive" they could surprise even a seasoned Arnis/Kali/Eskrima practitioner. Check out this YouTube video posted by a close friend to see a sample of their moves. For an appointment with Grand Master Nortega, you can either contact me (so I can hook you up with his senior students) or the person who posted the YouTube video.

COMBATIVE AND SPORTIVE ARNIS SYSTEM ASSOCIATION. This group is led and founded by Master Guru Melecio Balberde from the municipality of Cabatuan. The style is a clever mix of traditional systems that are indigenous to Iloilo, Balintawak Eskrima, and Modern Arnis, Master Guru Balberde being a practitioner of Modern Arnis and also a former official of International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines in Iloilo (though their website doesn't state this). They excel at sport Arnis/Kali/Eskrima competitions, and they have several smaller training groups around the city--at La Paz Plaza, in public and private schools, at Iloilo Sports Complex, and many others. For details, you may visit their website.

PHILIPPINE DYNAMIC ARNIS. Grand Master Rogelio Galvarole is the founder and chief instructor of this group. Just like the Uno-Blanco Eskrima guys, they train at La Paz Plaza on Sundays, but you can also spot them on other days--usually mornings--and it's easy to do so because they're the largest group that does Arnis/Kali/Eskrima at the park. Another way to spot them is to look for a grey-haired guy who wears hakama in the middle of La Paz Plaza. From the looks of what they're doing, this system is also a mix of various styles, is more stick-based, and incorporates Karate and Tapondo/Combat Aikido moves in their repertoire.

MODERN ARNIS-ILOILO CHAPTER. They may be too mainstream for some, but they also do very well even in full-contact tournaments (i.e., with minimal protective gear). For one, I have personally witnessed how Modern Arnis-Iloilo Chapter guys defeated Pekiti Tirsia Kali players in a full-contact tournament at Iloilo Sports Complex sometime in 1997 or 1998. Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr of PTK was there. If my memory serves me right, only two PTK players won out of the seven or eight bouts. Five or six victories out of seven or eight bouts is no fluke, in my opinion. I learned just in April 2008 that it was Master Rosauro "Roy" De Leon of IMAFP-Iloilo who trained the Modern Arnis guys that competed back then. He also used to serve as the Arnis/Kali/Eskrima instructor of the criminology students and the police interns of the University of Iloilo. You can reach Master De Leon at +63 (33) 500-2749.

FILMOCAN-SAN MIGUEL ESKRIMA CLUB-ILOILO CHAPTER. While this style is originally from the soils of our brave Cebuano brethren, the club already has a branch in Iloilo City and is being run by an Ilonggo instructor, Master Edward Ace Peler. FilMoCan-San Miguel Eskrima is old-style, blade-based Doce Pares. Master Peler, who now teaches a small group of select students, is a direct senior student (third-degree black belt) of the late Grand Master Filemon "Momoy" Canete's grandson, Grand Master Franchot "Panto" Flores. For contact details, you may inquire with Grand Master Flores through his Facebook account.

BREAKING NEWS: UNIVERSITY OF ILOILO IS NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:26:00 +0000

It all started from a mere rumor.

And it turns out that the rumor is true: The Lopezes no longer own the University of Iloilo.

No, it's not Lucio Tan this time.

Instead, it's the Philippine Investme nt Management (PHINMA), Inc--a Makati-based company whose core businesses include construction, financial management, real estate, and oil exploration and processing--that now owns UI.

PHINMA--which also owns Araullo University in Nueva Ecija and C agayan De Oro College in Misamis Oriental--is being headed by Makati Business Club's incumbent chairman and former finance secretary during the time of president Fidel V Ramos, Ramon R Del Rosario Jr.

Besides being the top honcho of PHINMA, he also serves on the boards of directors of Ayala Land, Inc; Holcim Philippines, Inc; Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation; Asian Institute of Management; De La Salle Philippines; and a host of other big companies and institutions with rich-sounding names.

With Mr Del Rosario's impressive track record, the students of UI hope that they'll be in better hands with PHINMA, which has reportedly made unprecedented improvements in the two said schools it now owns.

Hopefully, this change in management should also mean better facilities, better instruction, better policies, better graduates, even better board exams ratings, and a better stature altogether for UI.

After all, PHINMA's corporate tag line (according to its website) is "Life Can Be Better."

Sources say negotiations regarding UI's buyout may have begun as early as 2005. The agreed amount of sale is unknown...yet. Rumors have it though that UI's old owners raked in nearly a billion.

In 2003, PHINMA set to build a network of three to five universities and colleges all over the country with a combined student population of 50,000 to 75,000.

Among its investment options were Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, the University of Pangasinan, Computronics College in Dagupan City, the University of Iloilo, and West Negros College in Bacolod City.

In April 2004, PHINMA acquired Araullo University, and Cagayan De Oro College in June 2005.

UI will be officially taken over by its new owners between March and June 2009.

Meanwhile, as of this writing, all UI employees--from members of the board of trustees down to the janitors--are preparing their service records, personal files and things, updated curriculum vitae for most, and retirement applications for some.

Photo Source: Philippine Business Magazine Website

THANKS AND GOODBYE, GRANDMASTER HELIO GRACIE

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:49:00 +0000

The martial arts community is a separate universe on its own, and Helio Gracie--the creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu--could be one of its biggest and oldest stars.

But even real, literal stars will one day run out of fuel and die. And in the case of the man who gave us one of the world's greatest fighting styles, this martial arts star is now gone.

Gracie passed away at the age of 95, on 29 January 2009 at his ranch in Itaipava, a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was buried in the afternoon of the same day.

Sources say he died of pneumonia.

A sixth-degree black belt in Judo and a tenth-degree red belt in BJJ, Helio Gracie revolutionized martial arts along with his older brother Carlos (who died in 1994 at the age of 92) by introducing ground-fighting techniques based from Judo and Japanese Jujitsu, which he learned from Japanese Judo expert Mitsuyo Maeda. These "new" techniques emphasized leverage and position as a way to compensate for size differences among opponents.

During his lifetime, Gracie was involved in two legendary fights. The first was against legendary Japanese Judo champion Masahiko Kimura--who outweighed him by some 40 pounds--in 1951 when Carlos threw in the towel after Kimura broke Gracie’s arm with a reverse ude-garami technique, a shoulder lock in Judo which is known today among BJJ practitioners as the "Kimura lock," as a tribute to the Japanese fighter's victory over the BJJ founder. His second major fight, which happened four years later, was against his former student Valdemar Santana, who was also a practitioner of Capoeira, Judo, and Boxing. After nearly four hours of combat, Gracie succumbed to exhaustion against his much younger opponent.

Gracie had seven sons (Rickson, Royler, Rolker, Royce, Relson, Robin, and Rorion) and two daughters (Rerika and Ricci).

Rorion was one of the founders of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, while Royce was proclaimed hall of famer in the UFC by winning three times between 1993 and 1994.

The fighting style that Gracie created came to international prominence in the martial arts community in the 1990s, through son Royce's impressive and decisive victories over larger and stronger opponents from other martial arts styles, such as Karate, Judo, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, and Boxing, among others.

BJJ has since become a staple art for many MMA fighters today and is largely credited for bringing widespread attention to the importance of ground fighting.

With this legacy and string of accomplishments that will surely outlive him, it can be said that Helio--whose name, I surmise, was chosen by his parents in reference to the sun, the star of our solar system--indeed shone during his lifetime. And brightly he did.

Thanks and goodbye, Grand Master.

It was a fruitful, well-spent life.

FIFTY-CENTAVO CUT ON TEXT MESSAGES: WE'VE BEEN CONNED AGAIN

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:38:00 +0000

Let me just digress again by saying that Mrs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a lying shithead.

In her State of the Nation Address two days ago, she said: "Texting is a way of life. I asked the telecoms to cut the cost of messages between networks. They responded. It is now down to 50 centavos."

The people believed her and rejoiced--I did, too--only to realize after that what our president told us wasn't true.

We all thought that the price cut was for good and for real (she made it sound that way), and wasn't just some three-month promo of the telecommunications companies.

We all thought that despite the "undernourishing effects" of 12% E-VAT on our favorite instant pancit canton, pandesal, and Jollibee products, we somehow had a reason to be thankful to our economist-president and to her administration.

Unfortunately for us, a text message still costs P1.00, unless we'd register with our respective network providers to avail of the promo--a very important information that Mrs Arroyo deliberately omitted from her report.

As with her many previous boo-boos, she again just made an ass of herself and her administration with that bogus declaration, which (I think) could have stemmed from the fact that she had a very short list of more realistic, more honest accomplishments to brag about, which was why she pathetically included the supposed price cut on text messages that never happened.

Mrs Arroyo has once again proven to us that "lying is a way of (her) life" and she indeed is one shameless liar, who couldn't quit issuing false promises and declarations just to make her administration appear pro-poor and graft-free and results-oriented.

Well, Mrs Arroyo, I hope you'd get to read this while you're eating polvoron: I won't mind if your next SONA would just be a five-minuter as long as every thing in it is true. I don't want another 57 minutes (the length of your recent SONA) of embellished "facts," more than half of which the people don't and can't see or feel in their everyday lives.

You might as well just shove that thick report up your tiny ass.

PERFORMANCE OF ILOILO CITY NURSING SCHOOLS IN THE JUNE 2008 NURSING LICENSURE EXAM

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:30:00 +0000

You might want to know the overall performance of Iloilo City nursing schools in the recently concluded June 2008 Nursing Licensure Exam. I've arranged them according to their respective passing rates, from highest to lowest.

Relative to this, I wonder why some of these schools still haven't displayed screaming congratulatory streamers at their gates these days.

Go figure why after seeing the results yourself.

Name of School / Total Number of Examinees / Total Number of Passers / Passing Percentage

1. Saint Paul’s University of Iloilo: 86 / 86 / 100.00%

2. West Visayas State University: 169 / 166 / 98.00%

3. Central Philippine University: 25 / 14 / 56%

4. University of San Agustin: 46 / 14 / 30%

5. Iloilo Doctors' College: 462 / 88 / 19%

6. University of Iloilo: 223 / 34 / 15%

Info Source: Professional Regulation Commission Website

NEWS AND MEMORIES ABOUT MIDSAYAP, NORTH COTABATO

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:26:00 +0000

A friend from Midsayap, North Cotabato in Mindanao sent me a message through Friendster today, jokingly saying that it's like early New Year's celebration in his town these days because of staccato bursts and sporadic yet earth-shaking explosions.

Nobody uses firecrackers in North Cotabato. (I think.)

What actually happened was, hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels launched sneak attacks on local electrical installations in the area as well as on detachments of the Philippine Army and of the local militia. Many have died already from said attacks, which, according to recent reports, still seem to be happening up to this day.

This is sad news because Midsayap, together with the towns of Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Libungan, and Alamada--after many years of winnerless bloodshed against the rebels--have started to develop through concerted hard work of the local officials, the national government, and the various international development organizations.

I was able to visit these five municipalities in November of 2007 while doing documentation and advocacy work for a foreign-funded capacity-building project being implemented by a government agency under Malacañang.

Hiligaynon is widely spoken in these areas--particularly in Midsayap and Aleosan--and the disparity in accent and vocabulary from "Iloilo-style" Hiligaynon is very, very minimal. The people are very nice, friendly, and generous (and seem to exude an aura of peaceful fortitude--maybe as a result of their "regular" exposure to atrocities committed by the rebels, in my opinion).

I also remember the first (and hopefully not the last) time I experienced Midsayap's local delicacy called pastil, a ready-to-eat, banana leaf-wrapped treat of tasty, adobo-ish chicken flakes topped on rice that's popular among Christians in the area.

The interesting thing about it is--as I was told--this modern-day delicacy used to be a food ration during battles in the 1970s between Christian settlers and North Cotabato natives, who wanted to reclaim their ancestral homelands.

Pastil was said to have an important role during those prolonged armed encounters.

To support their fighters on the field, Christian women and children in the community would work together and cook pastil to be delivered in the trenches. The Christian militiamen thus didn't go hungry, while their Moro counterparts--who came down all the way from the mountains, where they left their families--fought with empty stomachs.

According to stories, Christians would almost always find copra (dried coconut meat) inside the pockets of dead Moro fighters. All they had was copra for sustenance, while the Christians munched on hot, freshly-cooked pastil.

I know that the reasons for this decades-old conflict are deep, but I just wish that the day will come when all the fighting would stop, and both Christians and Moros in North Cotabato would, among other things, just share and serve delicious pastil.

LIVING PROOF, LIVING INSPIRATION: MARTIAL ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:31:00 +0000

I know a lot of "more normal" people (myself included sometimes) who are genuinely interested in martial arts/combat sports, but are shying away from actual training because of too many excuses--like they're fat or too thin or not very flexible or old or clumsy or with low pain tolerance or not athletic or sickly or just plain lazy.

Well, I've stumbled on a very inspiring blog that could probably change everybody else's perspective, as it did mine.

This blog features differently-abled individuals who have been actively involved in martial arts/combat sports despite their imperfections caused by accidents or illnesses or congenital malformations.

One very good example is Canadian kickboxer Baxter Humby--known as "The One Armed Bandit"--because he has no right hand. It was amputated at birth, just below his elbow, after becoming entangled with the umbilical cord.

Also dubbed as the only man in the world to win world titles with only one hand, Humby is the current International Muay Thai Council world super welterweight champion, and has a fight record of 53-10-1.

He holds a number of other titles, including IMTC World middleweight champion, International Karate and Kickboxing Council United States champion, and International Kickboxing Association champion.

On a sidenote, he also took part in the filming of Spider-Man 3, where he served as Tobey Maguire's double in doing a fight scene between Spider-Man and Sandman. Humby was the one who punched and made a hole through Sandman's chest.

Self-actualized albeit differently-abled individuals like Humby symbolize the virtue of an indomitable spirit. If he and the others like him could succeed in the field of martial arts/combat sports despite their obvious disadvantages and limitations, it's not unlikely that they'd succeed in other areas and aspects of life as well.

This very admirable mindset should what some of us "more normal" people learn to have and learn to apply in both our monumental and even petty endeavors.

Now visit this blog and start telling yourself "No more excuses!"

Photo & Info Source: Martial Artists With Disabilities Blog

ILOILO CITY NURSING SCHOOLS KEEP TOP SPOT IN NLE PASSING RATE

noreply@blogger.com (Warrior In Scrubs) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:17:00 +0000

The Saint Paul's University of Iloilo and the West Visayas State University--Iloilo City's and Western Visayas' centers of excellence in the field of nursing education--both did it again as they remained steady at top spot in the recently concluded June 2008 Nursing Licensure Exam.

SPUI, with its 86 candidates who took the exam, garnered a 100% passing rate, tying with the University of the Philippines-Manila and the University of San Jose-Recoletos in the number-one spot nationwide, under the category of schools with 30-99 examinees.

On the other hand, WVSU, with its 169 candidates, registered a 98% passing percentage with only three "casualties" and placed second nationwide, together with the University of Santo Tomas and four other schools.

The following is the detailed list of top-performing nursing schools in the June 2008 NLE, from the Professional Regulation Commission:

A. With 100 or More Examinees
Rank of School / Total Number of Examinees / Total Number of Passers / Passing Percentage

1st
Trinity University of Asia-Quezon City: 339 / 338 / 99.00%
University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center: 271 / 269 / 99.00%

2nd
University of Santo Tomas: 466 / 458 / 98.00%
Saint Louis University: 418 / 409 / 98.00%
Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College): 203 / 199 / 98.00%
Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing and Liberal Arts: 176 / 173 / 98.00%
West Visayas State University: 169 / 166 / 98.00%
Saint Paul’s University-Dumaguete: 129 / 126 / 98.00%

3rd
De La Salle University–Dasmariñas Health Science Campus: 309 / 296 / 96.00%

B. With 30-99 Examinees
Rank of School / Total Number of Examinees / Total Number of Passers / Passing Percentage

1st
Saint Paul’s University-Iloilo: 86 / 86 / 100.00%
University of the Philippines-Manila: 73 / 73 / 100.00%
University of San Jose-Recoletos: 46 / 46 / 100.00%
Philippine Christian University–Mary Johnston College of Nursing: 36 / 36 / 100.00%

2nd
Mindanao State University–Marawi City: 90 / 87 / 97.00%

3rd
Saint Paul’s University-Manila: 80 / 76 / 95.00%