TIGblogs - Country - Philippines

Music For Holidays 2008

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:11:00 EST

Irsquo;ve been a regular visitor of record bars recently because I am wondering if the special limited edition of Jason Mrazrsquo;s ldquo;We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Thingsrdquo; will be released here in the Philippines. The special edition includes a CD of a compilation of We Sing EP, We Dance EP, and We Steal Things EP, and a DVD of Jason Mrazrsquo;s concert. OMG, I am mrazmerized again. I want to get a copy of the limited edition.

As I said, Irsquo;ve been regularly in record bars lately and I noticed that the number of newly released and soon to be released albums this holiday season is overwhelming. (Correct my grammar if I am wrong!)

Letrsquo;s start with Christmas albumshellip; Sitti has released her Christmas album entitled ldquo;Ngayong Paskordquo;. In my opinion, she has released this album a little late because it seems like Bossa Nova wasnrsquo;t a big hit this 2008, unlike 2006 and 2007.

A Christmas version of Cool Sexy Jazz has been released too - itrsquo;s Cool Sexy Christmas. And if we are familiar with this Jazz series, we will know at first that this album contains ldquo;jazzrdquo; Christmas songs. They also have a special edition of Cool Sexy Jazz 1 amp; 2 with a planner for 2009. Quite interesting but I will not buy it.

If there are two Christmas albums this year that I might suggest, these are Lani Misalucharsquo;s ldquo;The Gift of Christmasrdquo;, and Jay-Rrsquo;s ldquo;Holiday Of Loverdquo;. I like Lanirsquo;s renditions of ldquo;Merry Christmas Darlingrdquo;, and ldquo;When A Child Was Bornrdquo;. I can say that Jay-R made the right choice when he did ldquo;Soul In Loverdquo;. Yeah, he is the RnB prince of the Philippines, but he is good in singing soulhellip; with a twist of RnB. Well, at least he found his edge again. Holiday of Love contains Christmas songs with soul and RnB beat.

Regine Velasquez finally returned with a brand new album called ldquo;Low Keyrdquo;. As the name suggests these are songs that ldquo;do not require Regine to put much effort.rdquo; Haha. Well, itrsquo;s quite interesting to hear these kinds of songs from Regine. Some of us might not like her when shersquo;s hosting or acting, but many of us will agree that you wonrsquo;t miss to watch her sing. Regine is Regine. I am not her fan but I do listen to her songs. Obviously, with the packaging of her album, she is still there on the top. I hope she will have good albums too, like Lani Misalucha, after she made an album under Universal Records. My favorite from the album is the song ldquo;Never Be The Samerdquo;.

Kyla has a new album again called, ldquo;Heart To Heartrdquo;.

If there is one OPM album I am really waiting for right now, it is The CompanYrsquo;s ldquo;Group Hugrdquo;, set to be released this December. It is a revival album, and I am sure that The CompanY will put a different style with the songs in the album which are good to the ears. I am really excited for this one.

Sony Music has a big line up of new albums this season. Some of them are new albums from Beyonce and Britney Spears. Christina Aguilera has released a greatest hits album. And I would agree that Christina really made hits in the last decade. American Idol Season 7rsquo;s final 2 contestants David Archuleta and David Cook both released their debut albums recently.

Woah, it is really an interesting sound tripping season! Go ahead and pick your choices and have a happy holidays with these music!

Posted in Bossa Nova Series, Idol, Jason Mraz, MoBlog, Soundtrip, The CompanY, Tripnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tagged: Christina Aguilera, Cool Sexy Jazz, David Archuleta, David Cook, Group Hug, Jay-R, Kyla, Lani Misalucha, Regine Velasquez, Sitti, We Sing We Dance We Steal Thingsnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

DEMOSTRATION OF POWER OPF HEALING

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:54:00 EST

We are an organization dedicated to fight PAIN. It used to be man’s never-ending battle, until now. G’CORE has drawn the line and the buck has stopped right here! We have produced an incredibly unique and powerful formulation that will remove pain and give INSTANT POWER, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE and TOTAL STABILITY against illness, afflictions and diseases within seconds!

We speak of EMC (acronym for Energized Mineral Concentrate). Is it a wonder drug? No. It is not a drug. And it is more than a wonder. It is a crystal-clear, water-thin liquid food supplement approved by FDA that may be taken like a refreshing drink or applied topically. Unlike conjured concoctions, EMC is a product of pure advanced science and ultra-modern technology using a process known and practiced only in laboratories of advanced countries. But an outstanding member of the Filipino Inventors Society has crossed the barriers and has applied the new technology to indigenous science for the benefit of all Filipinos who want to be freed of pain and gain physical and mental power in a snap of a finger—all of us who want to benefit from the wonders of super technologies that we are now making readily available!

In this regard, we would like to request that we be given the opportunity to demonstrate (free of charge) the incredible efficacy and instantaneous marvels of EMC so that you and your colleagues will see and believe. We repeat: the effect is within seconds per person whether taken internally (like a glass of water) or externally (applied on the skin). We will not be dispensing pain reliever medicine. We will be giving permanent pain removing and power generating water!

Much more, after our product demonstration and medical mission, we can provide products at a discounted price.

We would be very much appreciative if we could make arrangements as to your most convenient time to indulge us for this demonstration.

Thank you very much for your most kind attention.

Respectfully yours,

JAY SALMORIN
extremeglobe@yahoo.com

Palawan provincial board resolution on mining

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

This was e-mailed by Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, where I spent my Summer 2007 Legal Internship. Since we spent our entire 1st semester '08-'09 on exploring the nuances of creating a mining moratorium ordinance, the developments in Palawan seems like welcome news to those who're hoping for more changes in environmental regulation. A minor victory, but a triumph nevertheless. Yay!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear colleagues and friends,

I just want to share some news ----
Last November 18, 2008, our Provincial Board passed a RESOLUTION
"Declaring a 25-year Moratorium in the Issuance of Indorsements for New
Applications for Small Scale Mining Activities in the Province of Palawan
and Declaring further its Firm Resolve to Oppose at any time any New Large
Scale Mining Application or to Press for the Nullification of existing
mineral agreements and the cessation of their mining operati...

Spreading the Kingdom of God

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:11:00 EST

I believe that all people are created by God with equal dignity and value. All people are created in the image of God and are worthy of the right to the essential resources needed to survive and flourish as free and productive human beings.

I believe Jesus Christ, God incarnate, came to bring shalom to all people. Shalom is the positive presence of harmony, wholeness, health, prosperity and balance. The biblical shalom is God's original design for harmony in his creation and as followers of Jesus we are committed to living with the objective of bringing creation back to shalom. This shalom is what Jesus came back to instill: Reconciliation with God, Reconciliation between people, Harmony with ourselves and sustainable just stewardship of Gods creation. I believe this is God's intention for the re-creation of all creation and is and act with his guidance. Shalom is the central value of the Kingdom of God. Justice, peace (Shalom), forgiveness and truth all come together and define love. Biblical Love cannot exist without these four elements and biblical love is the command that directs the members of the Kingdom of God. The passport of God's the Kingdom, is indiscriminate love.

Jesus' life is the example we follow as he broke social norms and spiritual barriers to lift the oppressed out of their social-spiritual prison and back to the place of God-given dignity. Examples of this: Jesus speaking with the woman at the well, Jesus telling his believers not to return evil for evil but choose the "creative third option" (Matt 5:26-42), Jesus living among tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners, freeing the demon possessed, calling the sinless man to cast the first stone. Jesus calls me to aid the oppressed out of their oppression and towards holistic harmony in their lives, or shalom. To become active members of the Kingdom of God.

Coffee for the Brave and Strong

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:11:00 EST

People who love coffee find nothing wrong with as much as having six
cups a day, but those who think otherwise will always come up with 101
reasons not to drink coffee. Even if studies show that coffee drinkers
have the lowered risk of acquiring type-2 or “adult-onset” diabetes and
Parkinson’s disease, and that basically, coffee is a good source of
antioxidants, even more than the magnified health benefits of green tea.

Coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world after oil,
with Brazil as its largest exporter. The two main varieties or species
of coffee are Coffea arabica or simply, Arabica from the Arabian Peninsula, and Coffea canephora,
the popular Robusta with lesser flavor but has more caffeine and
antioxidants. The latter is used in most espressos blends because it is
cheaper and produces more foamy heads than Arabica.

Still there are two lesser grown varieties, namely Liberica and Exelsa. As many Batangueños would not even know – “Barako” is Liberica and is considered native to the Philippines.

Many writers of Barako suspect the name to have come from the “male
boar” but if linguistics is to be consulted, not only do Batangueños
call pigs barako,
but other animals as well and people themselves, whether men or women,
as long as they manifest either masculinity or strength – or bravery.
That's how we use the word - not a being but a character.

The Spaniards brought coffee to the Philippines 250 years ago. A
history of this coffee points to the Macasaet Family of Brgy.
Pinagtung-ulan, Batangas to have planted the first Barako tree from a
Brazilian cutting in the 1800s.

We became the world’s 4th largest coffee producer in the 19th century.
The best plantations then were in Batangas. Queen Isabela had made Lipa
into a city in 1887 and called it Villa de Lipa owing to its prosperity during the coffee boom.

An infestation called “Coffee Rust,” though did not totally wipe out
the plantations, had signaled the decline of the Philippine coffee
industry. World demand for coffee began to favor countries from South
America.

Barako, then and now, is considered “rare and exotic” grown only in
three out of about 70 coffee producing countries. The Philippines share
the distinction of being the home of Barako with Ethiopia and Malaysia.

Ironically, Barako remains the country’s top coffee export with
$150,000 for every 1,200 bags sold every year, despite threats of
extinction due to massive conversion of plantations to favor other
crops and the onslaught of imported coffee following the lifting of
tariff barriers in 2005.

(Note: I sell Barako coffee from my place here in Batangas for only P500 per kilo, inclusive of shipping fees. Email me or use the comment box for inquiries. Thanks!)

Sources: 1,nbsp; 2,nbsp; 3
nbsp;

Kwentuhang Pasko

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:11:00 EST

Hello sa lahat! Muli kong binubuksan ang Christmas season sa aking blog! Ngayong taon ay gusto ko medyo gawing kakaiba mula sa mga ginagawa ko noong mga nakaraang taon. Gusto ko na mas mangibabaw ang paggamit ko ng Tagalog ngayon.

Bukod pa doon, ay since ako ay isa namang blogger, naisipan ko na gumawa ng something para sa mga kapwa kong Pinoy bloggers. Siyempre kung ang ABS-CBN at GMA ay may kanya-kanyang mga Christmas station ID, dapat ang mga Pinoy bloggers din. Hehe. Di nga lang ganon ka-garbo. Siguro pag napagsama sama na ang mga creative PInoy bloggers, makakagawa din tayo. Hehe.

Salamat pala kay Sir Moy dahil may blessings niya ang paggamit ko ng kanta nilang ldquo;Isang Taong Lumipasrdquo; mula sa kanilang ldquo;The Christmas Albumrdquo;. Bili kayo kung wala pa kayo. Maganda ang album!

Tamang-tama kasi ang kanta para sa mga bloggers lalo na ngayong magpa-Pasko at magbabagong taon, tiyak na maraming kwentuhan lalo na sa mga nangyari ngayong taong 2008.

Well, for me, I canrsquo;t say naman na totally happy ang Christmas ko this year. Kasi namatay ang lola ko. Siyempre, mamimiss ko yung usual Christmas na kasama namin siyahellip;

Naisip ko ring title ang ldquo;Kwentuhang Paskordquo; dahil alam ko na marami talaga tayong maikukwento ngayong Christmas season.

Muli, nais kong batiin ang buong Pinoy blogging community ng Maligayang Pasko!

Posted in Plugs, Rowjielogy Project, The CompanY, Videosnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tagged: Christmas, Isang Taong Lumipas, Pasko, Pinoy Bloggersnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

Feelings..

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:11:00 EST

11.19.08~#9829;

Nervous
-
Agitated
-
Confused
-
Anticipated
-
Scared

This is how i feel right now

.
.
.
nbsp;
Soon enough, I won't even bother to think about this
Everything will be just a hazy memory
I will laugh about it next time around
-

I want everything to fall into place
It will, I know it by heart

You can do it!

nbsp;

Untitled

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:10:00 EST

Dear Friends

With regards to the upcoming World AIDS Day Campaign 2008 with the them Leadership, the Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay (KGPP), Inc. will initiate a fund-raising campaign for our most-at-risk children and youth (boys 7-17 years old) dubbed as “mga nawong sa likod sang masskara” a unite for children unite against AIDS local campaign for children.

Tickets are sold at 300.00 PhP each inclusive of meal and a handcrafted art souvenir item, a certificate and invitation programme or package B of 500.00 PhP + a reproduced art counseling piece representing a life of a prostituted boy. The dinner venue is at Romeo’s grill 2nd Floor Metrodome, Sincang, Bacolod City on December 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm.

Arts and crafts are produced by street children during the Artwork Festival of Street Children during the Masskara Festival celebration held at the publi47c plaza last October 19, 2008 and these will be sold at 200.00 – 500.00 pesos each. Street children will also join us during the World AIDS Day Campaign and the dinner for their meaningful participation.

Income generated from this activity is dedicated to create a trust fund for the sustainability of the art therapy, counseling and workshops and to transition these children to formal, non-formal or vocational education system and training to alleviate impact of the hazards of street life they confront daily as part of our commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

KGPP, Inc.
Bacolod City

Avarice

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:11:00 EST

Editorialnbsp;

Astute hunters in 19th century Europe matched their cunning against wolves using an ingenious toolndash;sharpened knives dipped in layer upon layer of blood and frozen in snow. The unwary wolf, ears pricked and hungry, licks the edge of the blood-covered knife until it melts. As the wolf licks more urgently, it cuts its voracious tongue and spills its own blood. The wolf continues to lick, not knowing that it is feasting on its own blood. Eventually, the wolf dies from blood loss as it feeds its insatiable appetite, its entrails dried out by its own greed.

Such is the case of how the Philippines is slowly killing itself through ingenious traps that prey upon a propensity to be greedy. Greed, a rapacious desire for wealth and possessions while denying the legitimate needs of others, is a necessary foundation of the laissez faire capitalist system. How greed presently manifests is a reflection of why, as a deadly sin, it kills not just the impoverished so...

The Birth of ldquo;Backpacking Pilipinasrdquo;

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:11:00 EST

TRAVEL can teach you, positively change you and widen your horizons. It is sad, how, only a few can do it#8230; only a few can be moved by it.
For the past few years, TRAVEL has been regarded as a luxury, often associated with leisure, spending, and airconditioned cars and high-end hotels. At least, for most of [...]

My Favorite Teens ~

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:11:00 EST

11.16.08~#9829; Sunday~~

nbsp;

Two kids
who i send all my love
Two kids
who i spent 5 days in Korea with
Two kids
who thought me the Tell Me dance
Two kids
who myself became their nurse
Two kids
who became my little sisters

To all those little steps you gave me
I will remember our memories~
I love you

Your Onnie,

Tiffany

What is your color?

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:11:00 EST

Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

WOLFGANG#039;s Dec. 10 Black Christmas Project

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:11:00 EST

This December... let's join THE BLACK CHRISTMAS PROJECT!
[reposted from the Philmusic forums; I know, I'm such a fangirl. But I've been such a diehard Wolfgang loyalist since 5th grade so I really can't help but plug this. Hehe. All my best gig memories have involved Wolfgang at one point or another so, to all fellow aficionados: see you there! :-P ]

featuring WOLFGANG
(with line-up Basti Artadi, Mon Legaspi, Manuel Legarda and drummer Francis Aquino)
special guest, RAZORBACK!
introducing POWERSPOONZ!
It is also the album launch of Wolfgang's 6th album, VILLAINS.
Gig Dates:

MANILA- Dec. 10 2008 @ Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City
nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;
Copies of Wolfgang's VI LLAINS, the VI th album ...released VI years after Black Mantra amp; Wolfgang merchandise will be ON SALE at the venue.

Tickets ARE NOW ON SALEnbsp; via TicketNet (Dial 911-5555)
Ticket prices are at P1000 (50 tickets only)/ P800 / P500 (plus 5% tax.)

Stay tuned... keep your ears and eyes here at Philmusic for more hot news ...

Changing Logo on Media Wiki

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:11:00 EST

I'm on research some admin task on media wiki for FOSS Toolkit for SMEs, im also trying to find how the modify the logo on the default installation and i've found this tutorial.

The $wgLogo variable specifies which graphical logo is displayed in the top left corner of all mediawiki pages.

Add the following two lines to LocalSettings.php (below the "require" statements):
$wgStylePath   = "/wiki/skins/"; 
$wgLogo        = "{$wgStylePath}/common/images/wiki.png";
This replaces the default logo in the /wiki/skins/common/images/ directory.

Another option is to direct the $wgStylePath variable to the Upload Directory to be able to exchange the logo by updating uploaded files.

$wgStylePath is usually YOUR_WIKI_FOLDER/wiki/skins.

Note that in the example given, the $wgLogo points to /wiki/skins/common/images/wiki.png with the first part being defined by $wgStylePath. Make sure you have both correct, or $wgLogo will not point to where you think it's pointing.

Hope this will work.

300

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:11:00 EST

I finally reached my 300th post in my WordPress blog. Yehey! And I think many bloggers out there would agree with me, that reaching a number like this is a milestone for their blog. This might be an end of a chapter, but might be a start of a new one too.

This is exactly how I feel right now as I open a new chapter in my bloghellip; Time to leave some things behindhellip; Time to start a new one full of hopehellip;

I began to wonder if this is really ldquo;faterdquo; or just coincidental. Honestly, I am experiencing a terrible depression right now. I have no choice but to move on with my lifehellip; See? Just a perfect timing with the ending of a chapter here in my blog. On a positive side, this might help me to recover from my depression.

Anyway, I am happy that I have reached my 300th post. I can already say that this blog is the blog that I have maintained for the longest time already. And I ainrsquo;t tired yet of blogging. I love blogging. It gives me an outlet to express my emotions. I also gained friends through blogs.

Thank you very much to those who gave their time reading this blog in the past 20 months of my stay in WordPress. I hope yoursquo;ll still come back soon as I continue my journey in Rowjielogy.

Posted in Anthology, Rowjielogy, Wordpressnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

What Would Jesus Buy Documentary/Comedy?

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:11:00 EST

Watch the trailer. If you like it I'm sure the movie will share an interesting perspective.

Consumerism. Like drugs, porn, alcohol, polishing a prized vehicle, watching tv and many other things can become an addiction - SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS A PERSON.

What would Jesus Buy contrasts the church and the mall as areas of worship, worshiping self indulgence, or worshiping Jesus Christ.

The people in the film are social/religious activists and call North America to take an honest look at what we need to buy and what is ridiculous excess?

As yourself, as a follower of Jesus what does my life revolve around? Look at your week, what activities do you spend most time doing?

Are these activities building relationships and spreading love or are they hopelessly self indulgent, like many of our lives turn out to be?

Take time to sit and evaluate: Are you running your life? Or is your life running you? Where are you going? If God is in control where is he taking you? If this is hard maybe you need to take some time to be honest with yourself and write down your thoughts. This could be a beginning to searching for where God wants to guide you.

This is the trailer:

This is the full version of the movie:

Sorry about all of the poor versions of this video. Here is the smooth PBCI Promo.

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:11:00 EST

Once again Sorry for all of the crappy links. I've has some real issues with youtube.
Enjoy

What I Always Needed

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:48:00 EST

There are many time in someone's life where they start thinking about the natural process that occurs. The part where they start to wonder about the vast difference of being able to exist in this miserable world and being able to exist in the world of misery. The question in here is; is there really any difference? People oftentimes confuse themselves with what is and what is not, of what should be and what shouldn't be; they tend to disregard the consequences of the situations which they choose to live their lives with. It's quite a mystery though, why others tend to choose living their life just for the sake of breathing.

I am quite puzzled, quite oblivious of the facts that I never wanted to accept. I started wondering about my life, where I am, where I'm going and most importantly; where I've been. Way back in my yonder years, I thought that I was the luckiest child in the planet. I've had everything, the love and care I wanted. I wasn't selfish though, I never was, what I have is what others must have too; I told myself, most especially if that other is my brother. But that's not the case here...

I thought that I was the luckiest mainly because someone, someone who loved me as hers decided to make a difference in my life forever. She was treated by my innocent life as a mother, complete with all that of an innocent soul could ever offer. I love her, she loved me. I know, because I felt it, I know because she was there, she never left me, and I know she never will; but everything changed when I grew up, everything changed when I started to realize the things that only grown-ups understand... How I wish I'm a child forever, how I wish I never grew more remorse than this, how I wish I'd never have to wonder about this strange feeling I have right now; if I was born lucky or just lucky enough to be born...

It hurts to accept some obvious facts. It hurts to understand. It hurts to know, and it hurts to be forgotten. Life couldn't be as cruel as this I suppose, but it is... I know my faults, where I went wrong and where I am going to be wrong, but all those got me on top. I was happy, I never felt free my entire life, I never felt this feeling; this feeling of wanting to know myself more, exploring the world around me alone. I just wanted to find out if the world was really miserable, or am I being miserable to my world. I tested the waters, but unfortunately when I came back to my senses, the one person that I've always counted on to understand me failed. No one knew what I felt, I never wanted anyone to know; all that I can ever thought of was that the one true person who can really understand me got tired and never cared to be at my side at all; in the most crucial part of me being a whole person... I am incomplete, there's a missing piece to the puzzle in my life, the one piece which only my better understanding holds, the piece I've always been longing for...

For the past years I've lived my life alone. I proved to myself that I can be able to achieve all my goals with only my weapon in hand, even without my armor. For the past years I've proven my convictions to be true, I've accepted the fact that I can never have everything that I want, but what I cannot accept is that I too can never ever have what I always needed; the child in me that once felt to be the luckiest to have lived.

I for once detest the natural occurrence in my life. This shouldn't have been happening if I realized in the first place that making a difference would also mean sacrificing something very different in your life, something that has always been different, something which you have that others don't. Well, I guess for me it was that child who was loved a lot, but decided to go on wandering the world alone. I made a wrong choice that made me complete, the choice which factually makes me happy, the choice that justifies my action to be righteous in all senses. I've had accepted some facts already though, facts which has battered my life, but luckily made me tougher, wiser, and stronger. This is who I am now, it's for the people around me to accept...

The world's a miserable place, I am miserable to my world; which, therefore enables me to make the best out of life. I never was lucky to be born, I was born lucky! I always be, luck is defined by how you choose to exist, it never defines your existence, and it never will decide your fate. I've lived and enjoyed my life for the past years, though I didn't have what I always needed, but somehow I managed to make it through. I've been on the verge of breaking down for so many times already and I always decide to win the game.

Point here is, no one can ever stop you except yourself and if you do not have what you always need, then don't force yourself to have it. People needs many things, but what I need is only a simple understanding that I can always make a difference; just like what my mom chose to do when she first saw me... I do not regret anything in life and I do not blame mom for this misery. I am responsible for whatever things that comes my life now, there's no one to blame... As for my mom, I'm glad she made me feel incomplete in the long wrong, because now I finally completed myself, though alone yet more complete than ever.

"Thanks mom and never forget that I'll always love you, for whatever it is that may have come between us, I never did let it make me forget the light and warmth of your presence. You're just as good, never been better. And what I need in fact is just YOU; you're more than enough and you too deserve to be happy!"

Scribbles at the back of my Notebook♥♥

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:11:00 EST

11.13.08~#9829;

nbsp;nbsp;
nbsp;
Can you see the Obvious in the Non-Obvious?
It is something that really bothers me.
Who would think of that question?
My professor did.

Barack Obama is the New President for the USA!
He actually snubbed the Philippines' President twice now
and the Filipino People cant help but wonder, when Obama said he wanted change
did he mean change with the Philippines relations too??
That. I'll never know.

What else? (hmmm...)

I wasn't able to join the TOWNS Leadership Training
Because of some gaffe or babo mistake of my College.
I sent my application 2 days before the deadline, I even confirmed it after sending it.
So what happened was, the secretary forgot to send my application.
Which was cruel,
trust me it was,
because my expectation was really high.

But i have to look at the Positive Side now.
Better things will come my way now
It will, because i believe it will.

HAPPY 3rd YEAR ANNIVERSARY SUPER JUNIOR!

I have to keep myself sane now.

Why did Humpy Dumpy have to sit on the wall?

Strangulation by Hospitality

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:11:00 EST

When I was ten, the best word that describes the Filipino, according to my social studies teacher, is HOSPITABLE. We give so much of ourselves – even our beds and our comforts just to make sure visitors are happy. My mother was (is) the epitome of the perfect Filipino host. She would go to lengths [...]

Siegfried Bartel - Remembrance Day 2004 at Columbia Bible College

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:11:00 EST

We're proud that our lives are the fruit of your boldness Opa.
We love you,
Darnell and Christina

My Medical Mission with Reach International Healthcare and Training

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:11:00 EST

From Nov. 3rd to Nov 7th I attended a two day First Aid/Healthcare worker seminar put on by Reach International Healthcare and Training. Tina, I and 21 students from a High School in Midsayap we are partnered with learned about First Aid as well as how to check vital signs, bandage a serious wound (ie. gunshot, knife wound) and perform stitches.

We saw how much we know about healthcare that we take for granted. Taping ankles or cleaning and bandaging a wound securely, for example is something basic to Tina and I that many Filipinos wouldn't even know how to start.

Aside from the practical First Aid training, Reach International provides much needed healthcare education for the general population.

The Mindanao population has many "medical myths" that have been floating around for so long that people believe they're true. For example: The majority of Filipinos in Mindanao believe that all dogs are born with rabies and if a person is bitten by a dog the cure is to rub garlic on the wound. If you’re reading this in Canada, and laughing, this is true! We were sitting in class with 21 student's dressed in Levi's jeans, Roxy T-shirts and American Eagle hats and half of these kids still believe that garlic would help heal a dog bite.

This is an example of the rural Philippines need for healthcare knowledge and trained healthcare workers who can multiply themselves.

An example of exploitation due to medical ignorance

Rabies: Contrary to popular thoughts about dogs in the Philippines, all dogs don't have rabies. In fact 1 in 1000 might have it.
Next fact: If a dog has Rabies, it will die within 7 days. Dogs with rabies are all afraid of water, if they drink water it causes them excruciating pain. Therefore, all dogs with rabies die of dehydration within 7 days.
And finally: On average if a person is bit by a dog, said person will become rabid after......2 days?........1 week?........3 weeks? No, on average 6 weeks. So..... walk with me in this. If a dog bites me, I should watch that dog, if it dies within 7 days, I know I may get rabies and should do something about it. But, if I've had a rabies shot I'd have no problems, rabid dog or not.

The ignorance of the general population allows medical professionals to add in the Philippines title as The Most Corrupt Nation in South East Asia. (This was confirmed by a number of sources, including the Philippines Daily Inquirer and the World Bank. If you've read many independent opinions on the World Bank this is pretty ironic.)

Doctors here make money on shots. Tetanus and Rabies shots are big money makers and public ignorance is the money making doctor's best friend. When anyone comes to a doctor with a dog bite the doctor often convinces the person they need a shot; same with tetanus. If a person has had their shot every 10 years they're safe from Tetanus, but doctors tell their patient they need the shot in order to be safe, contrary to standard medical knowledge.

The point of my story? Praise the Lord that organizations like Reach International Healthcare and Training, which are committed to sharing evidence based medical theories with Filipinos in practical terms. Dr. Sam Evans has logged 16,000 hours in North American ER Rooms as a surgeon and 15 years as a medical technologist (the guy who wears the lab coat and mixes different concoctions in petrie dishes trying to find things us uneducated folks can't understand). And he has committed his next 15 years to serving the Philippines as a doctor and surgeon and reproducing himself through the locals. Dr. Sam and his wife have lived here for 6 years and are committed to loving the Philippines through medical mission.

Their funding is dropping off because people in the States are giving less during recession. So, the pressure is on. I had never thought about how a recession affects missionaries like Dr. Sam who rely on the extra funds of North Americans who donate. And when the extra money disappears, so do the donations.

I pray that Dr. Sam stays faithful to his conviction that he is acting in God's will and that God does provide funding for the few that step out in extreme ways such as he has.

I hope that after this recession Dr. Sam will stand up and tell a story about funding for his mission parallel to Peter walking on the water because he knows Jesus is with him in his work.

Training of Trainers: FOSS Toolkit for SMEs

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:11:00 EST

I had the oppurtunity joining the Training of Trainers (ToT): Free/Open Source Software Toolkit for Small-Medium-Enterprises in Mango Farm, Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines last November 4-7, 2008. Wherein 34 Trainee-participants from all over ASEAN+3 attended the event. below are the official list of Trainee.

CAMBODIA
Damarin Phlong
Ly Sopheap

INDONESIA
Ruth Marya
Devi Munandar
Handoko Suwono

LAOS
Anouphone Bouthavong

PHILIPPINES
RJ Ian Sevilla
JM Bitanga
Reuben Campos
Elvin Catantan
Evamay dela Rosa
Rodulfo Dorado, Jr.
Arturo Esmeralda
Edwin Glindro (Rogelio Falculan)
Rinbert Emmanual Laus
Evangeline Lopez
Hector Lopez, Jr.
Troy Frederick Lim
Rogelio Masangkay
Yolynne Medina
Gener Luis Morada
Al Rodriguez
Robert Sagun
Ismhael Veran
Cornelia Victolero
Evelyn Villaflor

VIETNAM
Truong Anh Tuan
Pham Manh Linh
Nguyen Nhu Son
Nguyen Ngoc Khiem
Nguyen Ngoc Thanh
Nguyen Phouc Nam
Vu Thi Bich Ha
Tran Thi Tuyet

I was supposed to do session blog on the event but due to the problem of Internet connection of the venue including the hotel theres is no WiFi connectivity. But anyway during this event i finally meet some members of CP-Union who is also a participant on the event.

I miss a lot of things during this event:

Carlo for the Session
JM for the TUX (wherein everyone wants it to bring home).
Elvin forget Root (during the training session Drupal).
Gener going to the cloud9 (hehehe hard to climb a mountain).
Troy and AL for the camera (Pictorial Session).
Ruth for the Banana split (eating at Robinson).
Devi learning Chavacano.
Thanh for teaching us to connect computer to computer connectivity.
Robert migration IE to Firefox (Soon vista to Ubuntu hehehe)

I was also been assign to administer the site of this batch which will be upload by next week if i can finish the template. Hope to see you all soon. :)

I "Own" the Philippines' No. 1 Site

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:11:00 EST

Yes, I do!nbsp; After all, it's my surname.nbsp;

Buy and Sell Philippines, popularly known as Sulit.com.ph, is the country's no. 1 e-commerce site owing to its popularity marked by high rankings in the Search Engines and millions of visitors. You cannot miss the site by a simple search for online classifieds, products and services.nbsp; Members not only enjoy free ad spaces, they are also able to build profile sites, also for free, and join the others in chat and discussion.nbsp; No wonder it has become hugely popular in only two years since its inception. And for a Filipino e-commerce site to do that is truly amazing.nbsp; I would really like to think I own the site!

But the developer of this remarkable site is RJ David, a twenty something Mechanical Engineer-turned-web developer. He entered the
IT industry in 2003 as a Software Test Engineer, in 2005 as a
PHP Architect / Senior Developer, and on to become a full time freelancer. In a post at Pinoy Tech Blog.com, RJ's "decision to leave the security of employment was brought about by the
influence of the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” (by Robert Kiyosaki) on him."nbsp; I might as well grab a copy of that book.

Personally, I agree about three things from that post: the clean and simple interface, the greatly enhanced product gallery and the large amount of posts in each category.nbsp; Usually when you opt for a free service anywhere, you have a poor chance of getting noticed, as compared with a paid or premium service.nbsp; But with Sulit.com.ph, not discounting the fact that you get better chances with its premium services, you can't feel that you are being left behind.nbsp; Which only means that the developer has a heart for everybody.

Fortunately for me, the great guy is not a Sulit!nbsp; I can still have a chance to buy the whole thing some other day.nbsp; Meanwhile, I may just take pride brandishing the site's banners better than anybody else.nbsp; Thanks, RJ, for choosing such a great domain name!nbsp;

You may want to visit MY site here.

Top 3 Most Annoying Verbal Tics

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:11:00 EST

Don't you just hate it when some people can't seem to control the little subconscious fillers in between their sentences? Anyway, here are some of those verbal tics (I mean this not in the sense of people with Tourette's Syndrome, whom I sympathize with, nor the Japanese anime pa-cute catch phrases, but the "normal" expressions we often take for granted):

3. "Po" - Using "Po" and "Opo" is understood as a Tagalog trait, since Filipinos from other regions aren't really trained to use "Po" and "Opo" in their native dialects. It's an important sign of respect to the elderly or to persons in authority. However, when people my age or older than me start using "po" and "opo" as a pa-cute or a sarcastic gesture, it really makes me want to hurl. It comes out sounding more disrespectful and totally inappropriate.

For example: "Hu u po?" "Kasi po, miss ko na po kayo, eh." "Opo, señorita, parating na po."

2. "Ano" - How many times have you encountered people who punctuate their sentences with "Ano"? ...