funkylady

I thought I'm going to enjoy weekend in bed, but I thought wrong, very wrong. In fact, I still feel sore from the two-day non-stop walk around Binondo, first, to do business and second, to do some holiday shopping. Whatever the reasons may be, Chinatown always spells fun, fun, fun!
Here goes another adventure of the great couple who would brave the scorching sun, the toxic pollution and muggers just to score authentic dimsum and fabulous finds.
***
Saturday, we had a business meeting with a Chinese guy selling cameras at the President's Tea House. We had our usual fare of dimsum(ha kao and sharksfin sio mai) and two servings of chicken feet which I ate with gusto after a three-day long diet. The Chinese guy recommended some place where we can go if we decided to go shopping. He also suggested that there are a lot of Chinese restos around that we should try serving equally delicious fare and stop eating at Presidents. We concluded after some thinking that maybe the Chinese guy is co-owner of one of the restos he mentioned..hmmm..the Nido soup thickens..
He was kind enough to sketch the place called 168 mall (kinda weird for a mall's name) and after several twists and turns we found the hidden destination of Uncle Scrooge's kins. We got really huge discounts minus the harassment that is Divisoria. I'm soo happy coz everyone's going to have a gift no matter how small it is. We got toys, bags, Christmas lights for our giant tree, shirts, jerseys, and a lot of knick knacks.
Within a few hours, we didn't notice that we've spent all our hard-earned money save for our fare. Okay, that's it, we're going home. So we started walking to some unknown street and finally reached an intersection. Gad, may rally! Wait, no, those are throngs of tired and eager-to- get-home pedestrian awaiting for the brave, lone MMDA lady's signal to cross the street! I've never seen such a huge number of people in one place except for the habitual rallies Filipinos stage at EDSA whenever they get discontented with a president. A line from Mike Hanopol's song came to mind...divisoria masaya, divisoria mag-ingat ka...
As the light turned red, I suddenly felt nauseated, getting a ride would be another hell of an mis/adventure.
to be continued...

Sayonara

Paalam, Ka Bart Marasigan, the former governor of Oriental Mindoro. He succumbed to lung cancer last December 1. Thank you for the brief but memorable time you have shared with us.
*********
Goodbye, tagabukid, who have walked far enough to touch the lives of many. Thank you for sharing with us your thoughts about life and living through your well-loved blog, postprandial walk. Those were deep and meaningful vignettes which we'll always treasure. See you at the tagboard, bro.
One last glimpse of our mile-long walk:




*********
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak....
~Ecclesiastes 3:1~7

EMERGENCY

These are trying times…

A Philippine airforce rescue worker evacuates a flash flood survivor on Luzon. At least 403 people were killed and 156 remain missing following landslides and heavy flooding in the northeastern Philippines, according to government figures.(AFP/File)

Filipino children wait for relief goods at a makeshift evacuation centre along a highway in Tanauan village, Quezon province December 2, 2004. Residents of flood-hit Philippine towns scrambled to higher ground on Thursday as the most powerful typhoon this year threatened to cause more destruction after floods n landslides killed up to 600 people. REUTERS/Erik de Castro



A Filipino family sit under a temporary shelter after their house, built under a bridge, was submerged by a swollen river in Pulilan town, Bulacan province, north of Manila December 2, 2004. Residents of flood hit Philippines town scrambled to higher ground on Thursday as the most powerful typhoon this year threatened to cause more destruction after floods and landslides killed up to 600 people. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

A flood victim sits atop the ruins of his home a day after the tropical depression Winnie hit the village of San Jose in the province of Rizal November 30, 2004. About 200 people died after flash floods and landslides devastated several coastal towns and left swathes of the northern Philippines under water, officials said on Tuesday.REUTERS/ Cheryl Ravelo








A Filipino soldier carries a child after landslides at a road leading to Real town November 30, 2004 in Quezon province east of Manila. About 200 people died after flash floods and landslides devastated several coastal towns and left swathes of the northern Philippines under water, officials said on Tuesday.











....you may have something to share.



NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATING CENTER
Tel: 912-6674 / 911-5061 to 5065/ 912-6675

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS

2nd Flr. PNRC BuildingPNRC National HQ Bonifacio DrivePort Area Manila
Tel : (63-2) 5245787 / 5278384 to 89
Fax: (63-2) 5270858


GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION

EDSA cor. 11th Jamboree, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: (02) 928-7021 loc. 310/ (02) 928-4299
Fax: (02) 928-9351
Email: gmaf@gmanetwork.com

MR. GILBERT R. GASPAR
Project Officer, Operations Department
Tel: (02) 928-5087
Mobile: 0917-845-8800
Email: bisigbayan@gmanetwork.com


ABS-CBN FOUNDATION, INC.

Mother Ignacia Street, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: (02) 411-0851
Fax: (02) 416-0387; 415-2272 loc.3779
Email: foundation@abs.pinoycentral.com



Donations from the US can be sent though the following:

National Disaster Coordinating Council
NDCC Land Bank of the Philippines Account Number: 0581115296

Ayala Foundation USA
255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 128, Redwood City, CA 94065, USA.
Tel:+650 508 8988
E-mail: afusa@ayalafoundation.org.


Images from alertnet.org and yahoo.com

Two days after realizing that spending the long weekend in Victoria Park, Hongkong or even in Pagudpud, Ilocos Sur is an impossibility given the limited financial resources (which we are always in) and the insufficient amount of time devoted to planning (we’re future envi planners) such escapades, my hny and I decided to think of activities to while away the precious three-day vacation.
***
Saturday, November 27

Watched the Noel Cabangon concert at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo. The concert was a hit! The man is really gifted with a magnificent voice. The set was cool (the designer tried to recreate the topmost floor of a building with billboards and lights) and the production laudable. There were graceful ballerinas, accompanying selected songs with their silhouette-like movement, and surprisingly it gave some spunk on the production, it blended well (they were not wearing tutus), far from being “trying hards”. Aiza Seguerra was his first guest and they sang “Kanlungan” together. Cooky Chua also graced the event with her dreamy, jazzy voice reminiscent of her Color it Red’s days. She sang “Huwag Mangamba”, one of the several Christian songs in Noel’s album. On the second set Noel sang Christmas songs included in the Medjas Album and gave the most soulful rendition of the song The First Noel.


Noel's new album, Medjas.


On the way home, we bought some bibingka with red egg and boy, it was delicious! A fitting feast to cap a wonderful night.

***
Sunday, November 28

Watched the Nicolas Cage’ starrer “National Treasure”, did some shopping and dined at Chef d’ Angelo. As usual, hny ended up without any purchases at all while I admire two bangles I bought from the tiangge and a pink shirt for Jag. Came dinnertime, we spent the next hour devouring the extraordinary-sized chicken at Chef. I made a mistake ordering a sampler, which consisted of a fried chicken, a slice of medium-sized pepperoni pizza and a serving of spaghetti with white sauce, which I believe the cook had forgotten to sprinkle with some ham or bacon. My hny ordered their Chef Supreme pizza, which tasted quite good, pero siempre, nothing beats Pizza Hut, but for a mere P168, that was a steal. Next time, we’ll come back to order the spinach spaghetti with filleted chicken (?), and the Great White pizza.

***

Side notes: We visited Gateway mall last Saturday to see if it’s already up and running, and it is. Several shops are already open, like Lacoste Chaussures, G.H. Bass, and Pabder Uomo. It is interesting to note that Filipino-owned retail shops Bench, Plains & Prints, Bayo & F&H try to balance the otherwise TNCs-controlled mall such as Marks and Spencer, Fornarina, Elle and Cumbia. What I am eagerly waiting for is the opening of their cinema, which promises to provide supreme comfort while watching with their Lazyboy-styled couches. I also expect a change in gourmet, with dining places like Itallianni’s and Havana restaurant. At long last, there will be another Chinese restaurant to split the diners of Gloria Maris with the opening of Superbowl in China. Sadly, there’s only one Japanese resto, Sachi, which already stopped its operations months ago. For coffee lovers, you have the power to choose among several coffee shops, viz: Seattle’s Best, Figaro, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, in addition to Starbucks. Happy Malling :D

Channel 2 at number 2.

Whoa! After almost a decade of hogging the number one spot in the network war, ABS-CBN conceded to GMA-7. Although I still haven't gotten over with the channel's decision over the Probe team, I must say that they really deserve it. I prefer Mulawin (though I have only watched a few episodes) over Channel 2's Marina, and I like Extra Challenge better than...I don't know the program at the other station. Of course, Eat Bulaga is still unbeatable, they really are an institution, though sometimes you'll long for something different naman. Thank goodness there's cable.

An interesting financial analysis of the network war was provided by Businessworld. Unfortunately, you have to be a subscriber before you can view their previous news.
****
Still undecided which camera to buy. Sigh. And it's not because we're still deciding which one is the best, rather it's more on how much we could afford. Sigh again.
****
Plan of going to Baguio--scrapped because of Menongococcemia.
Plan of Ilocos tour-- scrapped because I'm having second thoughts if we could really pull that one off. After spending hours surfing the net looking for places to see and where to stay, the plan went kaput. Hayy.

****
Nothing to read? Nothing to watch? Nowhere to go? Play boggle. That's our current addiction these past few days. As in. Kawawa ang natatalo, nagtitimpla ng juice at bumibili ng chips, in short, aliping sagigilid ^-^. Attention Mabuhay Educational Corp. (?), yun pong sand timer ninyo hindi pino kaya yung dapat 3 or 5-minute game nagiging 10 minutes dahil bumabara at kailangan mong itaktak forcefully. Naman. Yan kasi mahilig sa cheapo. Yun kasing Boggle na original costs P700+ e, kaya yun we settled for a P234 one. Tapos yung cube ng Q, walang kasamang U. Di ba dapat Qu lagi yun? (TT)
Starting tomorrow maglalagay na ako ng Boggle word for the day hehe

Are you planning to spend the weekend at Baguio? Or are you having second thoughts (just like me) because of the recent scare caused by a tongue-twister illness, Meningococcemia?

To avoid paranoia, I tried to search for the disease in the net, and here's what I found: Please share this info with your friends.
Background:
Meningococcal disease is a communicable infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. It is transmitted from person to person via respiratory secretions. N meningitidis infection can be clinically polymorphic. The most common disease presentation is meningitis. Rarely, N meningitidis infection may manifest as chronic meningococcemia that resembles the arthritis-dermatitis syndrome of gonococcemia; however, acute meningococcal septicemia (also called meningococcemia) is the most devastating form of the disease.

Meningococcemia can kill more rapidly than any other infectious disease. Early recognition is critical to implement prompt antibiotic therapy and supportive care. Treatment must be instituted rapidly because irreversible shock and death may occur within hours of the onset of symptoms. Cutaneous manifestations in meningococcemia may be important clues to the diagnosis. Skin involvement can be the most dramatic aspect of the disease and is often the first sign that leads to the clinical consideration of meningococcemia.

Filipinos, young and old, have a lot of good things to say about the former president. I cannot blame them, the old perhaps have experienced the "worst" during the Marcoses' "conjugal dictatorship", and the presidency of Aquino have somehow served as a breather, no curfews, no illegal detentions, no outlandish display of wealth, just a plain housewife with a penchant for yellow; the young, I'd like to blame our flawed history textbooks for teaching and disseminating misinformation of our nation's history/herstory, which glorified Cory for delivering this nation from the evils who were Ferdinand and Imelda.

For me, President Cory would forever be that housewife who could have changed this nation, but opted not to. I expect raised eyebrows here. She's just a plain housewife, what would you expect of her? Yes, that's the very reason why she should not have been elected president, and she should not have allowed herself to occupy that vital position. She could have said no, and she could have been heroic and selfless for that. But she let herself be directed by people who have their own vested interests and by people who, I would like to believe, are unthinking sentimentals.

President Cory would forever be etched in the Filipinos' hearts as the president who have instituted CARP as the pillar of her administration. It was her administration's battlecry. More than a decade after its implementation, studies have reached the same, morale-dampening conclusion: CARP is a failure.

For the hundred different reasons, these analysts, foreign and local alike, have cited as causes of CARP's failure, one stands out. It is Aquino's failure to set an example by including her family's hacienda under the agrarian reform law.

The Filipinos had time and again proven that despite repeated sufferings and innumerable deaths caused by a person/or persons, we easily forgive and more unfortunately, forget. Now, we are reaping the consequences of our mistakes, to some people, the consequence is more painful, it's death.

Death to the fourteen peasants at Hacienda Luisita who have allegedly tried to defy the law imposed to the tenants of that 6,000 hectares of hell. Whatever the reports say, I am not interested to know, all I am waiting for is Cory's appearance on tv, see some faked emotions and hear what she has to say. I am waiting for her apology a long time ago, ever since I started to ask a serious, unchildlike why. Now, I am waiting for her apology for shamelessly ruining the future of those farmer's children. All they want is a hospitalization benefit, maybe they have asked too much, too much that it needs their blood to repay for irking the smiling gods.

Let me end this by saying that we all grow old and die, and the thousands of hectares of land we have greedily acquired will be of no use when that time comes, because we'll only need six feet of soil to cover our caskets.

Noel Cabangon Concert

Isang bukas na paanyaya (open-invitation) para sa lahat ng kaibigan, kakilala, at ka-jamming ni Noel Cabangon. Isang konsiyerto ang kanyang itatanghal sa 27 Nobyembre, 2004. Gaganapin sa AFP Theatre, ika-7 ng gabi. Maaaring bumili ng tikets sa halagang P300 at P500. Maaari po ninyong kontakin si Bb. J. Castro sa numerong 631-3724.

Si Noel ay nagtatanghal sa sumusunod na kapehan: Conspiracy Cafe, tuwing Sabado ng gabi; at 70s Bistro tuwing Miyerkules.

Kitakits!

For months now, we have been contemplating the merits of buying a digital camera and exhaustively discussing which one would be able to meet our requirements. Mine are simple, I just want to have a digicam that takes clear and sharp images (3.2-4 megapixels would do), a little bit of zoom for taking distant objects, user-friendly, a digicam which enables one to be creative and artistic in his/her shots, and not too small, comfortable to my grip. Hny's requirements are just the same except that he wants a really powerful zoom, around 10X.

Kudos to google for making the solution to our dilemma available within 0.33 seconds with 6.7 million answers to choose from.

We have categorized our choices into two: high and low-end digicam, the former meaning dream-on-you-can't-buy-me, the latter, affordable if we pool our money together, yes that's how poor we are. So here are the digital cameras we've been drooling on for months.



1) Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel)
Cost: $899.00
Sensor: 6.3 mp
This camera is probably the most fundamentally important step for digital SLR's since the introduction of the Nikon D1. It will place digital SLR's into the hands of consumers (with a moderate budget) and will probably also have a very strong negative effect on the $1,000 prosumer digital camera market. Especially considering that the Kit price which includes the new EF-S 18 - 55 mm (3x) lens costs just $100 / €100 more.

The EOS 300D's has a plastic body which lessens the production cost of the camera. In uses pentamirror in the viewfinder instead of a pentaprism which is more expensive.

In addition to this the EOS 300D is the first Canon digital SLR to support a new lens called the EF-S (S = short back focus), this has the same mount and electrical contacts as an EF lens but has a rear element which fits further into the camera allowing it to be closer to the image sensor. The lens elements can also be reduced in size as the imaging circle does not need to be as large, thus EF-S lenses should be smaller and lighter than their 35 mm equivalents. Note that EF-S lenses can only be used on the EOS 300D (so far) as no other EOS camera supports the EF-S mount.(www.dpreview.com)

From epinion, one of the authors gave this digicam the following ratings:

Pros: Affordable (compared to its predecessors and given its excellent features), 6.3 megapixels, excellent image quality, ease of use, great battery life, includes focus aid for dim/low light
Cons: For the pros--> tha cam doe not have an ISO 50 sensitivity setting, the f3.5 maximum aperture on EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6,

My comments: Two things I dont like about this camera: first, it's a tad too expensive here in the Philippines, and second, it doesn't have a movie mode.


2)Canon Powershot S1 IS
Cost: $400.00/P 34,000++
Sensor: 3.2 mp
Basic features:
Announced in February 2004, the PowerShot S1 IS is the long overdue successor to Canon's last 10x Zoom Image Stabilized compact, (the PowerShot Pro90 IS). It is not only much smaller and lighter, but a lot less expensive - (hardly surprising given the three year gap). Despite the aggressive pricing (the S1 IS is available online for as little as $315) this is a highly specified camera with a feature set that doesn't fall that far short of 'prosumer' models such as the G5 or even the Pro 1. The SLR-like styling and plethora of controls both on-body and in the extensive menu system lets you know this is more than a point and shooter with a big lens. Here's just a few of the key selling points to whet your appetite:
  • 10x optical zoom (approximately 32x combined)
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Ultrasonic Motor
  • Extra-long Movie Mode with enhanced VGA resolution and sound (up to 1 gigabyte!)
  • Canon DIGIC processor with iSAPS
  • PictBridge and Canon Direct Print compatible – no PC required
  • Vari-angle
  • 370 g

(www.dpreview.com)

From epinion, here's the average rating of users:

Pros: Excellent image quality; it has IS or image stabilization to lessen blurs caused by unstable hands while taking pics; has electronic viewfinder, which has a diopter adjustment, great for people who wears glasses; convenient hand grip; excellent design and features; 10x zoom!;

Cons: No RAW/TIFF mode, no super-wide angle (28mm), lens cap might easily get lost

My comments: For a non-pro like myself, the camera not having a super-wide angle is forgivable. It costs P 34,000++ without added paraphernalia (Nimh batteries, charger)

The third camera is the most realistic in terms of affordability, we've been communicating with a seller for days now and hopefully, we would be able to acquire this toy by next week, if negotiations turn out positively :D

3) Canon Powershot A95
Cost: P23,500++
Sensor: 5.0 mp
Basic Features:
Announced in August 2004, the PowerShot A95 replaces the hugely popular A80 at the top of Canon's entry-level range. Although it shares many features with the A80, the new model sports several significant improvements (including some also found on the A85), and in fact offers a feature set that compares well with considerably more expensive models, such as last year's PowerShot G5. The main changes are the sensor resolution (5MP) and a larger (1.8 inch) and considerably higher resolution (118,000 pixel) swing out LCD screen. Other improvements include an enhanced movie mode and a wider assortment of subject-based shooting modes. Let's have a quick look at the main selling points:

  • 5.0 million effective pixels
  • 3x (38-114mm equiv.) F2.8-4.9 zoom lens
  • 1.8 inch 'vari angle' (swing and tilt) LCD
  • DIGIC processor
  • 9 point AiAF plus flexizone focus
  • 14 exposure modes
  • Print/Share button & direct print
  • Autofocus illuminator
  • Part metal body

(http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona95/)

360 degrees view of Canon Powershot A95-->steves-digicams.

Average rating of users, from epinion:

Pros: Excellent resolution; Clean, sharp images; Excellent color reproduction; Reliable focus and exposure systems; Comprehensive range of features; Much improved screen; Easy to use; Good burst (continuous) shooting mode; Easy handling; Excellent flash exposures, though not very powerful; Good build quality and metal casing AF illuminator works in very low light; Excellent battery life (NiMH); Great value for money


Cons: Some purple fringing problems;Inability to deal with wide dynamic range on very bright days; Focus can hunt and is not particularly fast; No TIFF or RAW mode; Flimsy CompactFlash compartment door; Quite noisy at ISO 200 and 400; Zoom is not very smooth - only 7 steps from wide to tele.

My comments: We have seen that purple fringing problem A95 users have commented, it's barely noticeable to the untrained eye. The other problems they have mentioned are things to be considered but given the really low price offered to us, notwithstanding the excellent features the A95 offers, we might get this digicam.

Happy Christmas hehe

Reviews from: www.epinion.com, www.dpreview.com, www.steves-digicam.com.

Farewell, Arafat

"I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand." Arafat, UN General Assembly, 1974 (PDI, 2004)
Palestinians are mourning the death of their leader, Yasser Arafat, but fear is starting to creep in, as its people prepare for an impending chaos in the streets due to the instability of their government.
****
Incredible Parents
I liked the movie but I was bothered, not to mention irked, by the children crying and whining to their parents. I like children, but please they should not be brought to the cinemas when they are still too young to understand or even appreciate the colors or sounds of the film. Besides it's past sleeping time. Attention mommies!
****
Oh no it's Friday!
We have a class tonight, that's why.
****
Cactii Madness
I'm starting my collection of cactii (so far I have five and I don't know a single name of its variety), I like them coz they look beautiful with their thorns, varied colors and shapes. Silent but deadly hehe How I'd love to see a little dead mouse impaled on their thorns

Sunday:

Watched the tribute to Iron Chef Japanese Rokusaburo Michiba, "one of the best iron chefs in history". The whole hour of IC was dedicated to the genuis that is Michiba. I plan to visit Ginza, Tokyo and sample the mouth-watering dishes available at his restaurant, Ginza Rokusan-tei.


Rearranged hny's room, which tired me tremendously because of the unceasing yakkity-yak I heard while arranging his over a hundred collection of tapes, vcds, and games.

Monday:

Planned to stay at the office and ignore my officemates rushing to the HRDO for reduced fees and the myriad of things to be done every semester to take advantage of the benefits of being a UP employee.

I've walked under the scorching heat of the sun from one building to another for the many signatures needed not to mention the endless waiting for my paper's assessment and approval. Well, I'd rather sacrifice the comforts of my swivel chair inside the airconditioned office than pay P2, 517 for my tuition fee. Yes dahlin', I am that cheap, er practical.

Slept for a few precious minutes (or was it an hour?) in preparation for our badminton tournament which had gone bad because of the kakamotehan of the staff at the Kalayaan Badminton Court. Flashback last Saturday: we've scheduled a game on Monday, 8-10 pm, forward: Monday night, all in our badminton gear, eager for a smashing game, we were told that we missed our court because we were scheduled 8-10 am!!

Instead of losing some pounds we ended up gaining more as we feasted on Trellis' sisig, sizzling squid (which you should not order by the way), and kangkong (water spinach) in oyster sauce. At least I had buko juice, served with the husk, instead of bottomless iced tea.

Tuesday:
I've decided to wear my super long denim skirt and supposedly a tank top, though I ended up wearing a red fitted shirt because hny told me that: "hindi mo naman ako kasama" to which a feminist should have answered "Ano naman ngayon? As if I'm dressing up for you and not because I wanted to", I'm not a feminist (or whatever "liberating" term you want to call it) and I had second thoughts so sige na nga I'll stick with this red shirt.

I should have paid our tuition fees today, but I hate walking under the sun if I'm not wearing sneakers or rubber shoes, so I ended up here in my swivel chair enjoying the dullness of a Tuesday afternoon without an official supervisor and without anything to do.

Suddenly, I'm craving for a pizza or a serving of pasta with lots of parmesan on top.

Must-See Movies:
Posters from www.impas.com hosted by www.tinypic.com.

Who am I?

Out of boredom, I decided to while away my time answering diferent personality tests hoping this would help me find the answer to that elusive question: Who am I?.... charing! bored lang talga ako :D

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (58%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain.
Left Brain (62%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain




Quiz Me
krishnna was
a Sweet Rocket Scientist
in a past life.

http://quizme.stvlive.com/pastlife/quiz.php






discover what candy you are @ quiz me

I would like to share this inspiring poem (for me it's more like a mantra) which have guided me almost all my life.


Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.


*from the Latin word desiderare which means to desire.

As of this moment BBC reported on its site the election's projected result: Bush 254, Kerry 252, racing for the coveted 270 votes, but the White House already claimed Bush's victory.

"Whoever wins, we lose." That's a teaser from the film Alien Versus Predator (AVP) and I am reiterating it here. A more detailed analysis as to who should win if we are to prevent future wars is provided by US historian Gabriel Kolko (from Luis Teodoro's very informative blog)

"Although Bush’s reelection seems to be the worse-case scenario, the worse may actually be better for the world, says US historian Gabriel Kolko".

"The Bush administration, through ineptness and a vague ideology of American power that acknowledges no limits to its global ambitions, and a preference for unilateralist initiatives and adventurism which discounts consultations with its friends much less the United Nations, has seriously eroded the alliance system upon which US foreign policy from 1947 onwards was based."

"If Kerry is elected, predicts Kolko, his administration will try to reconstruct the alliance system, and abandon the chauvinist rhetoric favored by Bush and company. If it succeeds, it will mean an end, though only in the short term, to the problems that the US now faces in terms of manpower and resources and which prevent it from attacking other countries. The result would be continuing US expansion and wars, this time in the name of “progressive internationalism” and under the flag of alliances and even the UN."

"On the other hand, a Bush victory will continue the process in which the alienation of the US’ allies by the ineptness and arrogance of the Bush style has forced a halt to the US attempt to remake the world and dominate it completely. A Kerry win would arrest the process."


Now, someone named TOMMY SMITH, posted his comment: "...white supremacists,sympathetic to the suffering of others, especially people of color. Where do you get this from.can you tell me? white supremacists ,ive lived in south all my life and only met a few like that and no one pays them any attention. never paint anyone like that to you know them. to paint such a wide group of people is wrong. it make me wonder he may be worse than them. but i cant judge you on that."

Despite my having difficulty deciphering his post due to faulty grammar and spelling as well as his doubtful identity (Tommy Smith my a$$), i posted this comment and it really made my day saying this:

"Mr. Smith, that “racism and chauvinism” which defines “most Americans’ views of themselves and the world",is an observation shared by millions of people who are sick and tired of US’ imposition on supposed “sovereign” states like meddling with economic and even national security policies in exchange of aid and loans from US-controlled institutions like IMF and World Bank. How I wish someday that lightning strikes from above and strike America at that to make its government realize how much suffering and death it had caused to millions of people around the world."

And so Mr. Smith, perhaps upon realization of his country's baaadness, joined the campaign to write off the debts of third world countries to his great nation. Seriously, I didn't hear from Mr. Smith again.


time posted: 1:18 am nov. 4, 2004

Perhaps most of you have already offered a short prayer for Angelito Nayan, another Filipino caught in the midst of armed conflict in Afghanistan. I'm going to spare you the details, for sure you have read it somewhere, I just want to share my thoughts for a former isko, who have braved the chaos and disorder in that war-ridden country.

Angelito had strayed far from the academy, yet I want to believe that his choice of vocation, that of being a UN worker in a land where death is a common sight, has been a result of his being an isko, nurtured by the university known for inculcating servitude to the people. I want to believe that he has gone there prepared for whatever fate there may be that awaits those who are selfless enough to leave the comforts each "peace-loving" nation offer.I want to believe those things, but reality bites, and sucks big time, because no matter how brave one is, no matter how prepared these people are, nobody can escape that dreadful feeling of hopelessness as your life depends on people who have stopped being humans.

But miracles do happen and prayers can move mountains...

New Look

Yey! I spruced up my blog a bit and here it is, hope my friends would like it, coz i do. :)

Any plans for tonight?

Badminton
Queer Eye marathon

Uwi kami 2mrw for my cousin's 1st birthday :D

Happy Halloween!!

As much as I want to blog about our (me & my beloved opism8s) very serious and thought-provoking discussion over lunch regarding the problems which beset our nation, I can't. I'm having menstrual cramps right now and I'm doing the hot water bottle therapy. It really works for me. So, I'm sharing here a quick and easy pain-reliever to all my womyn-friends :D

Here's how to do it:

1) Get an empty bottle. (I use a gatorade bottle.)
2) Put some hot water. (I fill mine directly from the thermos, so it's super hottt!)
3) Be careful not to scald yourself, seal the bottle tightly.
4) You need a small towel or a hanky to hold the bottle, if it's too hot for your hands.
5) Roll it over your lower abdomen while it's hot, and roll it until the pain subsides. No need to put it under your shirt or blouse , the heat will get through your clothes.

Since I'm into cramps and all today, I'm gonna blog a little about period pains or what the scientific community calls "dysmenorrhea". Women suffer from such pain because of the higher production of prostaglandins during menstruation. Prostaglandins are the hormone secreted by the lining of the uterus (uterine lining). It is advised to avoid a diet high in saturated fats , those with high sugar content and processed foods, during this period so as not to exacerbate the condition. The health site that I've browsed through suggests some vitamins to take but if your not into pill-popping, try the following recommendations:

1) Drink herb teas such as ginger, mint, chamomile.
2)Eat foods high in vitamins B6 (banana, tuna, broccoli, lentils) and C (citrus fruits green peppers), and magnesium (whole grains, soybeans, spinach, fish).
3) Reduce amounts of animal fats, dairy products, meat, margarine, coconut oil, palm kernel oil.
Of course, you can engage in light exercises (yoga, stretching or a bit cardio) if you like or regularly take multivitamins high in magnesium, Vitamins B6 and C.

A much detailed post will come later, for now I just want to share this image of the film we have watched yesterday. This blog's title is the translation of "Shi mian mai fu" or House of Flying Daggers. Directed by Zhang Yimou with Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. Outstanding cinematography. 7 out of 10 stars.



Here's a list of some outstanding Asian Films which conquered Hollywood that we have watched:
(Chinese)
1) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2) Hero

(Korean)
1)Taegukgi (We were very lucky to be the first ones to watch this movie and have our picture taken with the director, courtesy of Dr. Kim Sang Woo at the EACOS Youth Forum in Suwon, South Korea.)

or A Glimpse of Land Distribution in the Country

Just now, I'm thinking what will happen to Alimall when the much hyped Gateway mall, developed by the country's elites, the Aranetas and the Ayalas, opens to the public come November or December. I tried to relate it to urban planning and thought that the unjust distribution of land in the country is made more inequitable by the country's flawed economic policies and our insufficient knowledge on sound land use management in the face of globalization.

As a student of urban and regional planning, we were taught that given the scarcity of land in urban and urbanizing areas, it must be planned and designed in such a way that the land would be able to achieve its maximum utility while providing for the needs of the majority of its stakeholders. In the case of Cubao, particularly the Araneta Center, redevelopment is essential to spruce it up and entice more businesses, and because the land is privately-owned, the immediate stakeholders would be the Araneta & Ayala corporations. Now, what about the "other" stakeholders, meaning the small, hole-in-the-wall establishments and the residential areas around it?

The usual problem which besets redevelopment is gentrification. It is a term which connotes social classification, coined by the sociologist Ruth Glass in the early 60s. Gentrification is best described by the following experience of London:

"One by one, many of the working-class quarters of London have been invaded by the middle-classes - upper and lower. Shabby, modest mews and cottages - two rooms up and two down - have been taken over, when their leases have expired, and have become elegant, expensive residences....Once this process of 'gentrification' starts in a district it goes on rapidly until all or most of the original working-class occupiers are displaced and the whole social character of the district is changed." (Slater, 2002)

Years before, Cubao caters to a mass-based clientele, thus, the rise of Farmer's market, Plaza Fair and Fairmart. It was a place where mothers can haggle while their kids enjoy the rides at the Fiesta carnival. Today, its history of affordable commodities is slowly being replaced by expensive products made by global corporations, guilty of child labor practices in its sweatshops. The fresh produce cultivated by Filipino farmers in the uplands are taken over by imported ones: vegetables and fruits from China, rice from Thailand, chicken from Australia, beef from New Zealand.


I have witnessed how the old C.O.D. was replaced by Puregold. COD as a small family owned business, while Puregold is an "international trading corporation." Now my kids won't be able to enjoy the annual Christmas show hosted by COD for the enjoyment of the public who cannot afford the theatres or even tickets for the Little Mermaid on Ice show at the Araneta Coliseum. I had the opportunity to witness one of their presentations two Christmases ago and I would not exchange that experience for a free shopping at Puregold.

A&W, famous for their heavenly Rootbeer floats, closed to give way to KFC* with their genetically engineered chickens (although, these are owned by one foreign corp.). The SIDCOR weekend market is another goner replaced by another superstore, Makro.

What I'm driving at is that land should not be only for those who can build on it huge malls and tall skyscrapers; more importantly, land should be also for those who are willing to till and cultivate it; land should be for those whose lives depend on it.

I believe that there should be places for people who cannot afford the Guccis and the Manolo Blahniks and such places should be preserved, otherwise, the country would eventually turn into one big, classy restaurant where only the rich could dine while the penniless poor are watching behind the glass-paned windows, slowly starving to death. And nobody's raising hell about it.


Ang daming new movies! I love Thursdays! (di ba huwebes ngayon baka may bago nang palabaaas….ely buendia..remember eraserheads..duh) Every time we watch and see new trailers, my hny ticks off which of those many soon to be shown films are we going to watch. Being the good (and beautiful) girlfriend that I am, I just say okay to avoid disagreements. Yes, that’s the secret of our four-long years of blissful togetherness. One should give in, otherwise the discussion could go on forever. But most of the time and I mean 98%, he gives in!! Yey! Woman power!! I really like this one: Men control the world, but women control the men. ‘nuff said. Hihi ^-^

Speaking of movies, hny got excited over Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. And I said, “Cut off that crap, I’m not watching it.” He also got excited over Ladder 49 and I said the same thing. I even suggested that he ask R (or any of his friends) to accompany him. See, that’s the kind of person I am, I don’t mince my words, I am 90% salbahe. The remaining 10% would account for the occasional kindness and compassion that I have for my fellow human (but lesser) beings. haha kidding! But come to think of it, why are there people like that? Those who think that they are superior over other races like the Germans during the time of Hitler and the Bushes during the time of Saddam?

I hate war movies. They evoke feelings that I would rather not feel because I easily get affected. I cry no, I bawl and no amount of Kleenex pocket tissue would dry my tears. Serious. I have a mole under my left eye kasi :D (connect?) The only war movie that I had the guts to watch is Schindler’s List. And of course Lord of the Rings. Such movies tire me tremendously. So, I have missed a lot of good movies because I want to save myself from such immeasurable sadness. Don’t argue with me. This is my blog. I’ll slap you.

**After reading Ebert's review of that much reviewed and raved film, I've decided we're gonna watch it. But not tonight coz we're watching Shark Tale at Galleria.



Notes from an avid moviegoer

Don’t ever watch at SM cinemas, even Cinema 1 at Megamall stinks. The floor sticky, the crowd icky, the seats have surot. Enough of this!! I mean Robinson’s cinemas and SM cinemas charge the same ticket price, but, Galleria is waaay better because they make sure that their movie houses are worth the money their patrons are parting with.

Another note: Why can’t people act normal whenever they’re inside the movie houses? They talk to their friends on their cellular phones, they tell their life stories to their companions, they even translate and explain the sequences of the movie, which is totally okay if their buddy is blind or deaf.

I am going to complain to the management of Alimall for their crappy cinemas. They are now charging 85 per, and that's a bit pricey considering you have a cinema which smells of mold. And the sound system was really, really baaad. Grabe, the things you have to endure for being a good girlfriend hehe

Super tamad akong mag-blog these past few days, there are a lot of things to do for the upcoming ASPAP conference on Monday here at the College. However, I can't ignore my hny's plea for me to write a new blog, so I'm just gonna write down anything that comes into my mind.

^-^ Happy ako today coz its Friday and I get to rest tomorrow. (Oh no! sale sa Robinson's!)

We're playing badminton tonight with Bel. For two hours, I'm going to sweat out all the calories I've taken for the whole week. Good luck!

We're planning to go home tomorrow coz I havent seen my family for almost a month now and I'm not in Switzerland for goodness' sake..


Today is the last day of our director here at the office, we'll have a new one come November. Super cry-olah na naman aketch. I really should consider showbusiness as a career fallback when I get tired of serving my countrymen.

I feel so sorry for the kids who are neglected by their parents. Just last night while we were at Mcdonald's Philcoa and I am enjoying the bland Mcdonald's Barbecue (pseudo) Burger, a kid knocked at the glass window and gestured "pahingi". I told him to wait and I made my way to the counter to buy a burger and a sundae dip. As I gave him his own mcdo meal, i saw a glimmer of happiness in his eyes. I know it's not that much and it is discouraged to give alms, but what the heck, the boy is starving and your principles can't make the hunger go away. Besides, it's not money, but food. As I sat on my chair, the boy walk past the glass window and gave us a big smile and a thumbs up sign. That surely melted my heart away, and I tried so hard to fight back a tear. Hell, I'm such a crybaby.

Fast forward today: October 16 9.32 am. My joints are aching becasue of the really intense badminton games last night. Bel's sister is a good player and we tried so hard not to embarass ourselves. She's really good in powerdrives. And I'm beginning to get the hang of it. I can now hear a thwacking sound when I hit the shutlecock. But of course, I am only a beginner and it would take months and even years for me to play a smashing game. For now, keeping the shuttlecock at play for several exchanges is acceptable.

Did I mention I play volleyball, hours before our badminton tourney? Friday was such a very physical day. NCPAG has an on-going sportsfest and I am with the Yellow team along with other introverts in the college. First game, we lost to the Blue team, with the kind of performance only dodgeball players would appreciate. Later that night, we asked for a rematch due to some unfair set of rules which were applied only to our game, they used rallypoints so it should be up to 25 points per set, but they used only 15 for our game.The ending: we lost again but this time instead of feeling ashamed for a lousy play, we were really proud of what our team did. We fiercely played against the mostly pro blue team and we gave them a fight that they would remember. Ha! Yellow team fight!



Today we're going to pay homage to the earliest trading partners of our ancestors, the Chinese. We're going to Chinatown....

*French 101: mal bouffe is French for junk foodz

The following artik recounts a slew of interesting eats while watching a movie in a semi-dark theatre, most of which we actually ate; some, eaten by the person seated behind us:

1) Chicharon. Hands down. You crunch and munch while mutilated bodies are flying all over the big screen. (Is that Jessica Simpson's brain?)

Hny's experience: Crispy pata with rice. Beat that. (whoever you are, I'm not worthy..)

2) Jollibee Palabok, the aroma of the food is enough to make the person in front of you turn his/her head because of envy (yes, i am) or annoyance. Another smelly food: shavarma. yum.

3) Carl’s Jr. Super Big Burger (I forgot the name believe me it widthwas humongous!), grabe we did this years ago with my roommates then, after the movie and the lights were turned on, I had a huge stain in my pants and some in my shirt from the sauce drippings.

4) Pizza, I haven’t tried this though, I’ll do it one day, with an 18-inch Yellow Cab New York’s Finest.

5) Chicken Taco Salad from Tortilla Fusion. Healthy option for supermodel wannabes..

and, as the cliché goes, the last but definitely not the least... (drum roll)

6) A four-bagger barbecue flavored popcorn from Taters. I have to share this with you guys coz good service is a rarity nowadays. The staff of Tater’s Galleria are really, really friendly and the service, efficient. They had given me a VIP card so that I’ll have discounts whenever I buy from their nook. This one I got for being such a sweet and friendly gurl.

En joi! :D

Rants:

Hay grabe na talaga! I’m still here at the office waiting for the participants to finish their papers. Our Center is currently conducting training on research methods kasi. Feeling ko I’ve lost 10 pounds this morning running errands from the third to the second floor where our office is located.
...and Raves:

I just finished my Jollibee Yumburger, is that really what they call It? I’m not really a Jollibee fan; I only like their Chickenjoy before they decided to cook it like Mcdonald’s. Nothing beats KFC, though Teriyaki Boy’s Chicken Teriyaki would make you swear your not gonna eat in those unhealthy (yet saviours for starved souls) places again. But we’re talking about fried chicken here, so it’s still KFC.
Happy Eating! :D

Raves:

*Delish breakfast inspired by the Iron chef battles...the egg battle! Hai!

*P2P TV marathon enabled us to watch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Samurai 7, and That 70s Show while reviewing for our final exam this pm.

*Ihaw One's Sizzling Chicken Sisig, Ensaladang Mangga with red egg, hny's Sizzling Pot Roast, and a giant iced tea fishbowl (Lipton for me!) sated our hunger after an exhausting bout against artificial IQ measures

Rants:

*That P2P marathon had taken its toll on our exam output

*My index finger is swollen because of that exam (T-T)

*The Iron Chef Squid Battle which I have waited forever to download is not working. Crap!

*****

Quote for the day: "Is this wire hanger??! No more wire hangers everrrr!! (throws away the poor hanger)-Carson, QE4SG

Seriously though: "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." George Santayana (1863-1952)



Rants:

Thank heavens for other people's creativity! Through blogrollin' I've come across Flickr Beta, it's like webshots only more creative and I think more user-friendly. You see the pictures on the right side, their animated! galing no hehe. I should be snoring right now (except that i don't snore, how do i know? I'm that good hehe) but no, here I am tinkering with my blog. Can't wait for tomorrow, it'll be another hyperactive day at the office and the super boring reporting class (where you learn to hate other people for saying bad comments 'bout your report, heck im not really open minded with criticisms) come 6 pm.
Tomorrow is another day....gotta sleep na.

One thing I've discovered today: my cousin has a boyfriend na, according to another wonderful creation of the 21st century, Friendster. Before that, I've discovered that the younger sister of my ex-bf is already "in a relationship", and before that my sister (which was rubbed in by no less than the greatest chismoso of all time, Boy Abunda beware!, my hny.)
me: Bakit parang lahat ng mga bata ngayon me mga boyfriend na? (feeling ko matanda na ako sa edad na 23)
hny: bun, ikaw nga 13 years old lang....whapak! *end of story*

thom

Thom: Design Doctor


Which Member from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is your type?


brought to you by Quizilla



Yay! I'm a new convert! Where the hell have I been all these times? Matagal na ring pina-plug sakin ng ofismate ko ang show na 'to, but i really don't have time for it, besides maraming kaagaw sa tv. But today is my lucky day i guess, through channel surfing I've found this super cool and funny show which features the fashion adventure of five guys, uh, gals who are soo metrosexual, darn I'd look like a rag beside them!


Sobra ang fascination ko sa mga bakla. Yan daw ang politically correct term sa kanila. Correct me if I'm wrong. Everytime na may makakasabay ako sa jeepney or kahit saan, hindi ko mapigilan na mag-stare (bad!) at mag-eavesdrop sa usapan nila. Feeling ko kasi sila yung pinakamalaya sa society na to, pwede silang mag-cross over hehe most of the time hindi sila saklaw ng norms ng society kaya nga deviant ang label ng iba sa kanila. Naisip ko lang kasi parang lagi silang masaya, maingay, totoo sa sarili, queber sa ibang tao. Parang minsan tuloy gusto kong subukang maging bading. One time lang hny ;)

Lalo pa ngayon, napanood ko nga yung Queer Eye for the Straight Guy na show sa ETC. Haay parang nung nagsabog ang Diyos ng creativity sa mundo nasalo nila lahat! Ang mga hitad malandi pa sakin haha Yun ngang isa na medyo asian looking, tingin ko cutie, tumatalsik din ang kamay! Let's see sa Filipino society kung sino ang mga kilalang bading: Fanny Serrano (make-up artist), Inno Sotto (designer), Piolo Pascual (actor), John Osmeña (senator) ayyy!!! Wag na nga baka makasuhan pa ako ng libel :D ( kacheapan ba? una kong naisip si tita fanny!)

**********

Finally, we've watched Steven Spielberg's latest offering The Terminal and I wasn't disappointed, in fact, we really had fun despite the freezing cold atmosphere. Twas a heart-warming light-hearted comedy. No heavy stuff there, Tom Hanks was really effective in his role as Viktor Navorski, a man who cannot go back to his home in Eastern Europe because of a sudden war, stranded in the airport, he tries do live a "normal" life with the characters he eventually befriended and fell in love with...basta, i won't spoil the fun here. Watch it! watch it! watch it!!

**********

Im blogging instead of doing a paper due on monday.. hay the mañana queen!

************

Another reason for excitement, I've discovered how to do streaming pics haah! :D




Food. Whatelse?


I've been craving for comfort food for the last week or so despite our pigging out at Mr. Kebab last Tuesday where we've ordered two shawarma sandwiches and a sizzling lamb chop and a refreshing glass of watermelon shake (Goodness! I am such a shawarma and lamb fan, and the garlic sauce!!). I am so depressed because of my inability to will myself to concentrate on the tasks at hand, I have so many pending things to accomplish this weekend, and I really don't know where to start. I've discovered that during such depressed states, I crave for sweets and salty, MSG-laden junk food. I had tortillos for breakfast and a bunny-shaped white chocolate for dinner. Last night I also downed a biggie sized Cloud Nine. With this kind of lifestyle, I think I have to add several inches to my height or lose 5-8 pounds of excess body weight for me to be called healthy and fit.

This is indeed a very evil feeling at this time. My salary will not be in until Tuesday, I really don't have any money left (darn! the sufferings of a government employee! Curse GOCCs execs!!! Burn! Burn!Burn!). At my current state, I thought of kitchen and the chefs who manage those heavenly spaces. And I thought of the Iron Chef.

Iron chef is a show at the home and lifestyle channel which showcases the enviable talent of Masahiko Kobe (Iron Chef Italian), Chen Kenichi (Iron Chef Chinese), Masaharu Morimoto (iron Chef Japanese) and Hiroyuki Sakai (Iron Chef French). Chef Sakai is the most celebrated one. I have only watched him once during the duck battle and I must say he is definitely an Iron Chef! HAI!

For fun's sake, I have decided to take a test and determine which Iron Chef am I.
  • My #1 result for the SelectSmart.com selector, Which Iron Chef Are You?, is Chairman Kaga .
  • The hell?! I am Chairman Kaga?! He's not even an iron chef! I don't even know him. He looks like a granny with those frills and the make up! Hu Hu
    I feel soo cheated. I really make good Pillsburry pancakes, you know.
    I think I'll have some of that Yellowcab 18-inch pizza, please. *sob*

    My hny is really one talented guy. He can draw very good caricatures of.....ourselves! Hey, there's no law which prohibits patronizing your luv ryt? Yey! See how vain and narcissistic we both are. One thing i've learned (from dô, hu els) is that there is no other person who would love you more than yourself. So please guys, love yourself ^-^ (This kind of smiley we got from our Asian friends). Gamsa hamnida!


    Iskolar ng Bayan Sell-out Wear
    *On Dô: Lee PipesCorduroy pants/Lee Collared shirt/ Vans Shoes
    *On Tin: Herbench denim pants/ Guess? top/ Landi & Nutti boots


    Evolution of the art or better yet, wanna see how deadpan spent his lunch break at a government office?...click here: Deadpan

    Time for mushiness before I sleep. One of our favorite songs by Don Mclean, Im posting the lyrics here.

    And I love you so.
    The people ask me how,
    How I’ve lived till now.
    I tell them I don’t know.
    I guess they understand
    How lonely life has been.
    But life began again
    The day you took my hand.
    And, yes, I know how lonely life can be.
    The shadows follow me, and the night won’t set me free.
    But I don’t let the evening get me downNow that you’re around me.
    And you love me, too.
    Your thoughts are just for me;
    You set my spirit free.I’m happy that you do.
    The book of life is brief
    And once a page is read,
    All but love is dead.That is my belief.
    And, yes, I know how loveless life can be.
    The shadows follow me, and the night won’t set me free.
    But I don’t let the evening bring me down
    Now that you’re around me.
    And I love you so.
    The people ask me how,
    How I’ve lived till now.
    I tell them.....I don’t know.


    For my best friend who have loved me with all the love he can give..
    For the person who have understood my idiosyncracies ..
    For the man who have cried with me, laughed with me, shared his time unselfishly ..
    For the mentor who have always stood behind me, cheered me up in my darkest hours ..
    Thank you so much hny for everything.


    I would like to share this interesting article on flirting, considered as a basic instinct of an individual to the opposite sex. According to the article, it even prevents extinction of the human species.
    In our culture, the mere mention of the word would elicit raised eyebrows from the conservative manangs. The Filipino term for a flirt is malandi or kiri and if you are labelled such, you are dead meat. I'm not totally liberated either (to the point of whoring :D), i'm just trying to maintain an open mind with such things. After all, it's human nature, like sex. You just have to be mature and responsible enough not to mess around.
    SIRC Guide to Flirting

    What Social Science can tell you about flirting and how to do it

    Why do we flirt?

    Flirting is much more than just a bit of fun: it is a universal and essential aspect of human interaction. Anthropological research shows that flirting is to be found, in some form, in all cultures and societies around the world.

    Flirting is a basic instinct, part of human nature. This is not surprising: if we did not initiate contact and express interest in members of the opposite sex, we would not progress to reproduction, and the human species would become extinct.

    According to some evolutionary psychologists, flirting may even be the foundation of civilisation as we know it. They argue that the large human brain - our superior intelligence, complex language, everything that distinguishes us from animals - is the equivalent of the peacock's tail: a courtship device evolved to attract and retain sexual partners. Our achievements in everything from art to rocket science may be merely a side-effect of the essential ability to charm.

    If flirting is instinctive, why do we need this Guide?

    Like every other human activity, flirting is governed by a complex set of unwritten laws of etiquette. These rules dictate where, when, with whom and in what manner we flirt. We generally obey these unofficial laws instinctively, without being conscious of doing so.

    We only become aware of the rules when someone commits a breach of this etiquette - by flirting with the wrong person, perhaps, or at an inappropriate time or place. Chatting up a widow at her husband's funeral, for example, would at the very least incur disapproval, if not serious distress or anger.

    This is a very obvious example, but the more complex and subtle aspects of flirting etiquette can be confusing - and most of us have made a few embarrassing mistakes. Research shows that men find it particularly difficult to interpret the more subtle cues in women's body-language, and tend to mistake friendliness for sexual interest.

    Another problem is that in some rather Puritanical cultures, such as Britain and North America, flirting has acquired a bad name. Some of us have become so worried about causing offence or sending the wrong signals that we are in danger of losing our natural talent for playful, harmless flirtation.

    So, to save the human race from extinction, and preserve the foundations of civilisation, Martini commissioned Kate Fox at the Social Issues Research Centre to review and analyse all the scientific research material on interaction between the sexes, and produce a definitive guide to the art and etiquette of enjoyable flirting.
    Psychologists and social scientists have spent many years studying every detail of social intercourse between men and women. Until now, their fascinating findings have been buried in obscure academic journals and heavy tomes full of jargon and footnotes. This Guide is the first to reveal this important information to a popular audience, providing expert advice on where to flirt, who to flirt with and how to do it.

    Where to flirt

    Parties

    Flirting is most socially acceptable at parties, celebrations and social occasions/functions. At some such events (e.g. Christmas/New Year parties) a degree of flirtatious behaviour is not only socially sanctioned, but almost expected.


    Drinking-places

    Flirting is also socially acceptable in some public settings, usually where alcohol is served - such as bars, pubs, night-clubs, discos, wine bars, restaurants, etc. One survey showed that 27% of British couples first met their current partner in a pub, and alcohol was voted the most effective aid to flirting by respondents in the Martini Flirting Survey.

    Flirting in drinking-places is, however, subject to more conditions and restrictions than at parties. In pubs, for example, the area around the bar counter is universally understood to be the 'public zone', where initiating conversation with a stranger is acceptable, whereas sitting at a table usually indicates a greater desire for privacy. Tables furthest from the bar counter are the most 'private' zones.

    As a rule-of-thumb, the more food-oriented establishments or 'zones' tend to discourage flirting between strangers, while those dedicated to drinking or dancing offer more socially sanctioned flirting opportunities. Restaurants and food-oriented or 'private' zones within drinking-places are more conducive to flirting between established partners.

    Learning-places

    Schools, colleges, universities and other educational establishments are hot-beds of flirting. This is largely because they are full of young single people making their first attempts at mate selection.

    Learning-places are also particularly conducive to flirting because the shared lifestyle and concerns of students, and the informal atmosphere, make it easy for them to initiate conversation with each other. Simply by being students, flirting partners automatically have a great deal in common, and do not need to struggle to find topics of mutual interest.

    Workplace

    At work, flirting is usually acceptable only in certain areas, with certain people and at specific times or occasions. There are no universal laws: each workplace or working environment has its own unwritten etiquette governing flirtatious behaviour.

    In some companies, the coffee machine or cafeteria may be the unofficial 'designated flirting zones', other companies may frown on any flirting during office hours, or between managers and staff, while some may have a long-standing tradition of jokingly flirtatious morning greetings.

    Careful observation of colleagues is the best way to discover the unspoken flirting etiquette of your own workplace - but make sure that you are guided by the behaviour of the most highly regarded individuals in the company, not the office 'clown', 'groper' or 'bimbo'.

    Participant sports/hobbies

    Almost any participant sport or hobby can involve flirting. The level of flirtatious behaviour, however, often tends to be inversely related to the standards achieved by participants and their enthusiasm for the activity.

    Spectator events

    Most sporting events and other spectator pastimes such as theatre or cinema are not particularly conducive to flirting, as social interaction is not the primary purpose of the occasion, and social contact may limited to a short interval or require 'missing the action'.

    Whatthehell. I think I've lost a post. darn. i've allotted 30 minutes of my precious time raving about how great chapstick is compared to nivea lip care, i'm so sure i've saved it, dunno what happened. hay.

    *****
    I really enjoy the new song of Britney entitled Toxic. The reason why I'm making it the background music of my blog. So much for Red Hot Chilli Peppers (though I love their music, dont get me wrong). I know that liking this song is just a fad, real music lasts for decades I believe, but whenever I hear Britney's whining i'm thinking of whips and ripping off clothes....rrrrrr (nyaha!), it makes one feel glam and sexy :D
    *****
    So much to do, so little time. I have tons of paperwork waiting to be finished. I have to do my written report for my two classes; another one is a project of the Center which requires us to write an academic paper on poverty-alleviation programs of the government; then, a major project in one of our SURP subjects; hopefully, I could also contribute some insights on the EACOS newsletter but the deadline is on the 5th so, i really dunno if i'll be able to finish it by that time, heck, i haven't even started! I also wish I could go to Norway next year, that again entails a bit of writing. Waaaaah!!!!!!!!!! Am i really good in anything?
    I think I should unwind a bit, just thinking about all these things makes my head ache. arggh.

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