Under The Sun

2010-03-26T16:24:00.000+08:00

Let's just say, I've been sort of under the weather lately, the reason why I haven't posted anything here. Anyways, still on boxing ...

With his string of successes on the ring, Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt one of richest men in the Philippines. Yet he still wants to run in public office. I just don't get it; I mean, if I had that much money, I certainly wouldn't need to get a high post in government to help my people. Look at Bill Gates, for instance. Gates has billions and billions worth of assets, but he shares his wealth through philantrophic acts. Thousands of people have benefited from his generosity, and Manny can very well do the same thing for the Filipino people even as a private person, can't he?

Boxing In The World Of Sports

2010-03-17T11:47:00.000+08:00

I could never understand how boxing got into the world of sports. The way I see it, sports is supposed to promote camaraderie. It's supposed to be fun. But in boxing, you have to hurt each other in order to win. You certainly cannot be having fun when you are bleeding to death (or your opponent is).

In sports, you are not supposed to hurt each other at all; you'll get a technical call if you do. But boxing actually requires that you hurt your opponent, and the crowd cheers every time you do. I must be missing something here, but aren't we sort of glorifying evil here? I mean, think about this - at Manny Pacquiao's last fight when he failed to end it in a knock out, people were even kind of disappointed. They wanted to see Clottey on his knees, eyes sore, nose bleeding, pleading for mercy.

How could we be so mean?

It's Been Done Again - The Philippine National Anthem, Raped Another Time

2010-03-14T23:16:00.000+08:00

Well, as it is Manny Pacquiao won the battle again, this time against Clottey. No surprises, there. No surprises, too, when it came to the singing of the Lupang Hinirang - raped and stripped of all dignity ... again.

It happens every time. I wonder when our singers will ever learn the proper way to sing the Philippine National Anthem. Don't get me wrong, I admire Arnel Pineda. He's got a great voice which explains his meteoric rise to fame. But his rendition of the National Anthem just wasn't how it was supposed to be.

It must be clearly emphasized that the Philippine National Anthem is more than just a song. Line by line, it tells of our rich history. Singing the national anthem is not the time to showcase one's vocal talents. There is a correct and proper way on how to do it, and it's been all over the papers and the internet, and still ...

It does say somewhere that the anthem should be sung with fervor, as if you're praying. But you can be fervent and expressive without changing the tempo or the notes, can you not? Perhaps, it does take a lot of discipline not to get carried away with the idea that one is singing for the whole world to hear. Still, it's not enough reason to go against the law.

Yes, there is a law on how the Philippine National Anthem is supposed to be sung. Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines clearly states that all renditions of the Lupang Hinirang “shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.

So far, only Leah Salonga, world class singer that she is, did justice to Felipe's composition. Listen to this ...

Leah Salonga Sings The Philippine National Anthem

I'm Not Perfect

2010-03-13T20:59:00.000+08:00

I am not perfect
And I don't claim to be perfect

But when I'm asked to do something
I always give it my best shot.

In defense of Jed

2010-03-12T21:04:00.000+08:00

A friend forwarded me a link to a YouTube video featuring Jed Mabilog, a mayorable in the city of Iloilo. The video was actually a clip from MariMar, but the subtitles were an attack on Jed’s person. I don’t know who posted the video to YouTube, but it was clearly done in to bring Jed’s popularity down. I should say that it was done in poor taste, definitely something with half a brain wouldn’t do. Plus, it discriminated gays.

Honestly, I don’t believe Jed is gay, but assuming that he were, so what? Gays are human beings, too, aren’t they? So why the discrimination? Does that make Jed less than a person if he’s gay? Would that make him a bad leader?
The point is, you don’t elect someone to public office because of gender preferences. You vote for someone because of integrity, performance, honesty, and sincerity to serve the people. It shouldn’t matter if that person happens to be a man, a woman or gay.

And aren’t we supposed to be gender sensitive now? We have GAD programs already being implemented, and the way I see it, the video is anti-GAD.

I would have posted the link to the video here, but on second thought, it’s not worth it.

Rain At Last

2010-03-11T08:16:00.000+08:00

Finally, it rained, and we couldn't be any happier.
The earth's been so dry lately
that every drop of rain is deemed very precious.

God is so good!

A Smile For Me

2010-03-09T14:35:00.000+08:00

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

Honestly, I don't feel like smiling today...

A Prayer For Rain

2010-03-07T22:35:00.000+08:00

We are experiencing one of the worst cases of drought in the country. This has resulted to the loss of the ultimate source of livelihood of our farmers. The quality of life is also compromised.

And summer has not even begun yet.

But, I believe that there is power in prayer. Let us, therefore, storm heaven again with our prayers.

A Prayer For Rain

God, our loving Father,
creator of our earth and of the universe,
and all the wondrous elements of nature that sustain your living creatures,
we humbly ask you to send us the rain that our country needs so badly at this time,
to irrigate our fields, to stave off a power shortage,
to provide water for our bodily health, and
to refresh our parched lands.
At your command, the wind and the seas obey, raise your hand Almighty God to send us
rain so that the crisis may be averted.

Merciful and generous God, open our eyes to the richness and beauty of your creation, and instill in us a deep love for this earth and all that is in and around it. Teach us to be wise stewards of your creation so that we may always use them responsibly and protect them from abuse and exploitation. At this time of crises, dear Lord, move us to share more and to love more.

Loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you entrusted the Filipino people to the special care of Mary our Mother, listen to the prayers that we bring up to her, our Blessed Mother, to intercede for us, for the protection of our land and our people, whom she loves.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Candles, pray for us,
Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

Cosmo Bloops - Cosmogirl Goes To The Movies

2010-03-06T21:51:00.000+08:00

I've never been to a movie house before - not that I didn't want to or couldn't afford to. I just had better things to do than pin myself for an hour and a half, staring at the big screen, cornered by strangers.

But while at the mall one day, something caught my senses - the sweet aroma of popcorn and it's coming from somewhere near the movie theatre. I've been able to resist many things before (and with huge success, mind you!), but for some reason, my palate longed for popcorn. So to put it simply, I got myself a small bag of kettlecorn pops and as soon as a morsel melted in my mouth, I was in heaven. Okay, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.

Anyways, since I was already there, I decided to buy a ticket, since it's my first time, I had a momentary shock when I went inside. But my eyes soon adjusted to the darkness and before long, I relaxed and found myself thoroughly enjoying the movie.

It's kind of stress-relieving, indeed, to watch a movie. Hmm...maybe I should do it another time.

Beat The Heat

2010-03-04T22:44:00.000+08:00

Whew! It’s so excruciatingly hot these days and it’s not even summertime yet – well, not officially anyway. You’d think that I’m no stranger to hot conditions, having spent my entire life in a tropical country, but it’s just soooo hot!

Nonetheless, I wouldn’t let the heat of the sun get the better of me, so I did a research of the top cool ways to beat the summer heat, and here are a few tips I came across with:

1. Hydrate. Drink lots of water to keep yourself from getting dehydrated. This is very basic, but lots of people tend to overlook this.

2. Stay away from alcohol and coffee as these are known to have diuretic effects, further depleting fluids and essential electrolytes from your body.

3. Wear light, cotton clothing. Cotton is cooler than most synthetic fabrics. Go for light colors, too. Black tends to absorb more heat, so definitely this is not the time to flaunt your little black dress.

4. Take cool baths whenever you can (if water is not a problem, that is!)

5. Occasionally spritz your face and arms with hydrating spray. Hydra Mist from All Organics is a great find. It cools, hydrates and soothes the skin – a perfect companion when you are out in the sun. What’s more, it’s organic. It contains lemongrass distillate, witchazel, cucumber, aloe vera, peppermint, and absolutely no chemicals!

6. Improvise your own airconditioning system. Have a bowl of ice in front of the electric fan and let the fan to blow on you.

7. Eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in water content and stay away from fatty foods as much as you can.

8. Keep out of the sun as much as possible. If you can’t avoid it, make sure to protect yourself with sunblock (look for chemical-free sunscreen with spf 15 or 30) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

So, there…

Smart Shopping With Credit Cards

2010-03-03T23:29:00.000+08:00

Owning a credit card is not at all a bad thing as some are led to think. Sure it can be tempting to shop till you drop as a credit card allows you more freedom to shop even if you don't have enough cash at the moment.

But you know, if you use your credit card wisely, you'll be able to reap lots of rewards - financially and otherwise. For one thing, you can paint the town red without having to bring wads of cash with you. Plus, you may not be aware of it, but credit card companies offer reward points to its credit card holders. These points can be redeemed for exciting products and services. That's not all, there are promos in between, too.

Metrobank, for one, ran a promo covering the period October-December 2009, that every 10,000 accumulated purchase using Metrobank credit card entitles the credit card holder to a free junior-sized cake from Red Ribbon.

Needless to say, you must monitor your expenses so you don't go over your budget and end up with piles of credit card bills you can no longer afford to pay. Always see to it to pay the billed amount in full. Don't just settle for the minimum payment because that is going to accrue interest and can eat up your savigs.

AJ Turns 2!

2010-03-02T23:09:00.001+08:00

March 1 – AJ quietly turns two today. There’s no big party whatsoever. After hearing mass, we proceed to distribute gifts to a selected day care center in her dad’s hometown. It’s a joy to watch her hand out the gifts but what’s more heartwarming is the kids appreciating what little she has to offer.

My Not-So-Spa Experience

2010-02-27T23:27:00.000+08:00

Hubby and I were given two gift certificates to a luxurious spa experience, and we decided to take the opportunity to indulge ourselves. After all, going to a spa is not an everyday thing for us. In fact, this would be the first for me.

The receptionist greeted us warmly, then proceeded with the question, “shower or sauna?” I panicked, realizing with a start that I wasn’t prepared for either one, but of course, I couldn’t let the receptionist know that. I said, “shower”, flashing her my most confident smile, but really, my insides were quivering so much. And they said going to the spa is supposed to keep you relaxed???

Anyways, the girl then gave me a key and escorted me to the shower room, and my head felt like it was about to explode. I took a deep breath and that sort of revived some of my brain cells. I figured the key was for one of the lockers. When I opened my locker, there were a pair of havaiianas, a bar soap, a couple of towels, a bathrobe, a comb, cotton buds, and what appeared like a pair of undies. So what’s next? I was all alone inside the bathroom, and frankly I didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. There was nobody to ask about the most mundane things, like where I should hang my street clothes, what I was supposed to do next, and what’s with the u-wear thingy? Am I really supposed to wear that? On the other hand it was kind of a relief that there was no one to see me making a fool of myself.

As I dilly-dallied, half-wishing that a long-lost fairy godmother with enough social grace would come to my rescue, a realization hit me – I was having my period which meant that I wouldn’t be qualified to avail myself of a full body massage. Twas a little weird that this never crossed my mind, but I was thankful nonetheless that my brain opened up at the last minute. I must have a fairy godmother after all.

I settled instead for a foot massage which took about an hour. I must have scanned 4 magazines and read a couple of articles thoroughly before I finally relaxed to the gentle pressure on my feet and the soothing music surrounding the darkened room.

As it turned out, I didn’t exactly get what I was looking forward to, but I wasn’t the least bit resentful even though Hubby ranted and raved about how great the experience was all evening. The fact that I didn’t make a fool of myself in public was all that mattered to me.

Starting Early

2010-02-25T22:08:00.001+08:00

I can say for certain that it's never too early to expose your child to learning tools. Not many may agree with me, but ...

AJ was barely four months old when I bought her flash cards of the English Alphabet. Around that time I bought her her first book - a dinosaur book that's made of fabric. I bought her more books after that and encouraged her to look at the pictures.

When she was 9 months old, she could already say apple (although it sound more like apoh, still...) At one year and 2 months, she has over a hundred words in her vocabulary. At one year and 7 months, she can identify the letters of the alphabet and the colors red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, brown, white, even black. And she can tell yellow from gold and the other way around.

She can count numbers from 1 to 14, and pick up the lyrics to a song quite easily - even songs in Latin, no kidding! AJ can sing the first few lines of Despedida a la Virgen and she sings this often. I can say that this may be her favorite song - she wants me to sing it to her to lull her to sleep.

My point is, I'm not a genius and neither is her Dad, so if AJ turns out to be smart, it couldn't be because of genetics, could it?

I think it does help a lot to introduce your kid to learning tools, like books, early on.

And it helps, too, to always talk to your child. Always.

Undomestic Mom

2010-02-23T22:42:00.001+08:00

Reading Sophie Kinsella's Undomestic Goddess left me ticklish. It was so hilarious it completely de-stressed me. I was practically laughing out loud, line by line, page by page. You should get a copy of it and watch the blues just melt away.

I can somehow relate to the book, perhaps because I'm kind of "undomestic" myself. No, I wasn't born with a silver spoon and definitely wasn't raised like a brat, but we had help around the house most of the time, so I never got around to doing household chores. Besides, I always reasoned, I couldn't get my hands wet after playing the piano (notwithstanding the fact that early on, I would hit just a couple of notes. Certainly, washing the dishes would not cause my fingers to swell or give me carpal tunnel syndrome. Still...)

The thing is, it's not that I couldn't do anything. I know how to use the microwave and the toaster and I know how to turn on the gas range, too. So,really, you can't say that I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, and it's not like I'm a bad mom, either. Not the best one, for sure, but not bad. At least, I don't think so, because I have a lot of love for my daughter and I show it to her in all the ways I could.

Of GPS Gadgets

2010-02-20T11:43:00.000+08:00

I'm presently working on a writing project - reviews on GPS gadgets, and I couldn't help but be amazed at how advanced technology has become. Practically gone are the days of traditional paper maps. Now with a GPS device, you can literally travel the world with ease and in style.

GPS gadgets are preloaded with maps and thousands of points of interest, vibrant and lifelike on the color touchscreen. These gadgets also use advanced voice technology, offering you voice-prompted turn by turn directions to your destination. Some even help you choose the quickest routes, avoid traffic jams, and so on, thus helping you save both on time and money.

Many GPS devices come with emergency locators, so in case you find yourself in unfamiliar ground, getting right back on track is no trouble at all.

Wow, these gadgets really take the fear out of traveling, don't you think?

Me and My Asus Netbook

2010-02-18T22:31:00.002+08:00

I finally got my own netbook - an Asus EEEPC 1201T in black. I was actually hellbent on getting an HP mini, but after going over some PC reviews, I decided on an Asus instead. And it looks like I just made a smart decision.

Asus EEEPC 1201T comes with a 12.1" screen, an almost full-sized QWERTY keyboard (which is good for me because I do use the keyboard very often), a 1.60 GHz AMD processor, 2GB RAM, 320 GB HDD2, a built-in webcam, speakers, along with other great futures. The netbook is Wi-Fi ready which means that i can surf the web anytime so long as I stay close to a Wi-Fi hotspot (and there are lots of them now). It also comes with a 6 cell battery, which accordingly allows me to use it for 6-7 hours without electrical power.

And the best thing? it's only P 22,000 (without the OS, a Windows 7 starter kit which i have to buy separately)and i can pay it up in 12 months time at zero percent interest through VISA.

Ash Wednesday

2010-02-17T19:22:00.000+08:00

It's Ash Wednesday, and for Catholics it means a day of fasting, abstinence, and remembering. Remembering what? That "man comes from dust and to dust he shall return."

Ash Wednesday also means the beginning of the lenten season, the season which characterizes the sufferings and sacrifices of Jesus. This season calls for sacrifice, and though it's not really a requirement to offer a sacrifice during this 40-day period, I nonetheless would like to temporarily give up something that I love --- meat ... including chicken meat!

We normally abstain from eating meat on Fridays of lent, but this year, I want to do it for the entire season. Sounds drastic? I suppose because that means I won't be having KFCs until Easter Sunday.

Oh, well...

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

A Little Fall Of Rain

2010-02-16T21:45:00.000+08:00

We had a bit of rain the night before Valentine's Day and it's something that we are so thankful for. The El Nino phenomenon had taken its toll and the continuing dry spell didn't mean any good to the farmers, to the economy, and to everybody, at all. Though it was only more than a drizzle, it nonetheless gave the parched land a refreshing drink.

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Happy Valentine!

2010-02-14T22:12:00.001+08:00

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

As of this writing, I don't know yet how I'll be celebrating Valentine's Day. My husband's so busy with work and it doesn't make sense to go out by myself. It's not that we're used to go out often during Valentine's day. In fact, we normally don't do that because all the restaurants are crowded. Besides, we can always spend time together even if it's not Valentine's day if we really want to, and if we have some extra money to spare.

But then, there are a few essentials I need to buy, anyway, so I guess, I'll be going out, after all.

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Lost and Found

2010-02-13T22:11:00.001+08:00

It's Saturday and it feels exactly like it! Had another fun and memorable day with my daughter, my copy cat. She wants to do thing everything I do, I can't help but be touched. Like, when I drink coffee, she too wants to take a sip, but of course, I couldn't let her do that (at least not when anyone else is watching - joke =). This afternoon, she sees me exercising on the abswing thingy I bought years ago but remembered to re-use again just now, and she wants to try it, too.

AJ never fails to amaze me, and guess what? she even found my long lost e-card and SM advantage card. Actually, I already had my SM advantage card replaced a few months ago, and good thing, I never did get around to go to the bank to have my e-card replaced, too. Anyways, AJ found these in the same wallet where I usually keep my credit cards!

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

2010-02-12T10:18:00.002+08:00

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics
Well, as it is, I still haven’t gotten around to creating a new blog. I had to write 15 articles yesterday, and play with my very energetic daughter in between.

AJ is so much fun to be with. Spending time with her is always stress-relieving. She’s like a big bag of wind and it’s kind of entertaining to watch her and listen to her gab about anything and everything under the sun.

There are times when she seeks her own freedom. Like, yesterday, she was trying to pull herself up to a high chair and didn’t want me to help her at all. She told me, “shoo mama”, like I was some kind of a fly or something. Lol!

Glitter Text @ Glitterfy.com

2010-02-10T09:41:00.005+08:00

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

The week is, indeed,almost over. Tomorrow is Evilio Javier Day, a holiday in Panay, so that practically leaves just one day more before it's weekend again.

I haven't gotten around to creating another blog, one that will feature happy thoughts everyday. Hopefully, I'll have time to do that come Thursday.

Rantings

2010-01-26T16:09:00.000+08:00

It’s been freakingly busy since my last post.

Christmas came and went rather uneventfully. As usual, we had a bit of a salo-salo at my Tita’s house after the midnight mass, then it was time for the kids to open their gifts. I got a megasketcher for AJ and she enjoys playing with it.

December 31, 2009. We had our outreach program involving 100 kids. In all the years we have been doing this, this year was the most fun we’ve had. Donations in cash from close friends and parishioners reached more than P 20,000.00 and these we used to buy rice, apples, oranges, tumblers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cotton buds, face towels, candies, and toys for the kids. Jumie Botante contributed more than 100 pairs of rubber slippers; the Gengos family donated dolls and toy cars. Miggy, Gaby, and AJ shared their old toys. All 100 children went home, tired but happy. ‘twas a rewarding experience, indeed!

The New Year
As in the past years, we didn’t have firecrackers to celebrate the coming year. We just honked the car to bid goodbye to the year that was and welcome 2010.

I decided not to make new year’s resolutions this year. I was never really good at keep them, anyway. I did my bestest, of course, still it wasn’t enough.

January 13
Today, my piano teacher of 20 years, Leticia Z. Castro, passed on. The day she died is the day she celebrated her 87th year on earth. I’ve had many fond memories of Mrs. Castro. She taught me not just to play the piano, but to love music as well. She taught me how to play the organ, too. She inspired me, and though I might not have been her best student, I’m pretty sure that I am one of those who stuck it out the longest. I was already in 7th grade in piano when she said she could no longer handle me as her eyes were failing already. To have reached that high a grade in piano is already a huge accomplishment. It makes me so proud to have been able to get that far in music.

January 22
The roads to the city proper are closed and I have to walk from the Mall to the Plaza. Per my own calculations, that’s around 4,000 steps! I’m used to walking, anyway. I love to walk. If truth be told, I prefer it to taking the public transport. The thing is, I’m wearing heels, and the streets aren’t very clean. I have to watch my steps very carefully, else I may step onto something eekie.

That reminds me, why don’t we have laws that promote cleanliness? Like, there ought to be an ordinance prohibiting spitting in public places (it’s a health risk, mind you!) or another one abhorring throwing garbage on the streets. I don’t know, maybe those laws do exist only that they are not implemented. Or who knows, maybe they are being implemented but then again, I haven’t come across any one who got arrested or penalized for spitting in a public place.

Now, that gets me thinking. If you have the power to enact laws, what would they be about? If I were to answer it myself, here are the laws I would author:
• law prohibiting spitting and throwing garbage in public areas
• law penalizing those who cause traffic, such as those who overtake other cars even if that means using the opposite lane, resulting to traffic jams?

Makeover

2009-12-19T08:14:00.000+08:00

So I had a make over yesterday. I had my locks curled and I have to admit, I pretty much like the way I look. Although, of course, I'm not the type anyone would give a second glance unless I parade around town without any clothes on. Still that isn't going to get me appreciative glances. Nonetheless, the makeover did my confidence a little boost.

Makeover Friday

2009-12-14T20:00:00.001+08:00

It's Friday, it's salary time, and I'm totally depressed. There's only one thing to do - get a makeover!

Now that I think about it, it's really about time that I do something with my hair. It's shoulder-length, but it looks totally boring. Having a hair rebond is not an option. For one, it's way too expensive, and really, I can't sit on my butt for six hours or so! I don't want to get a haircut, either. Hmm...why not have it curled, then? It doesn't require much maintenance, and I don't have to spend so much time fixing my hair.

Marvelous! That's exactly what I'll do.

My Computer Crashed

2009-12-11T22:14:00.000+08:00

My computer crashed and for someone who relies so much on the internet for just about everything - information, updates and money making opportunities to name a few, it's absolutely depressing!

I already had it sent to the computer shop for repair, but I haven't heard a word from any of the technicians yet --- and that's 18 hours ago!

Well, actually, I have had problems with my computer for some time already. Apparently, a virus or a malicious application attacked my system, but since the damage wasn't so severe as to keep from dong my daily online tasks, i kept foregoing having it fixed.

Until it crashed, leaving me with no other choice.

Oh, the agony of waiting!

Paid 2 YouTube

2009-12-05T10:42:00.001+08:00

You don't have to be an interest expert to know what YouTube is. YouTube is probably the most popular video sharing site on the web these days. Even though it may not be the best in terms of quality, YouTube undeniably attracts visitors from every part of the globe. Celebrities and heroes are made because of YouTube, and you can find almost anything in YouTube --- breakdancing babies, talking animals, step-by-step guides on how to do virtually anything, and so on.

Here's something more ... YouTube isn't just pure entertainment. You can also make money by simply watching YouTube videos. Pretty amazing, huh? There's this site called Pay2YouTube that pays you to do something you already enjoy --- watching YouTube videos.

Click Here to find out more about this great opportunity.

Holiday Shopping Spree

2009-12-02T21:22:00.000+08:00

Going shopping is a rare event for me. Oh, I do my groceries every week or every two weeks at most, but the kind of shopping wherein you actually buy stuff you don't really need but want, well that's something I don't do often.

Last November 30 (it happened to be a holiday), though, I went on a shopping spree. I intended to buy just a few essentials, but ended up with bags of stuff obviously bought on impulse.

Nonetheless, I felt good with my purchases, especially the magic paint book I got for my daughter. Colors magically appear on the pages of the book when you run a water-dipped brush over them. I was amazed. My daughter loved it, and that sort of justified my unnecessary spending.

Today Is Yellow Day

2009-08-05T13:52:00.000+08:00

today
i wear yellow
and i ask
my husband
and my daughter
to do the same.

because today
i want to honor
a great lady
who is finally
laid to rest.

madam president cory aquino,
thank you so much
for touching our lives.

may you rest in peace.

Slumdog Millionaire - How You Can Make Money with GDI

2009-05-16T09:34:00.000+08:00

If you are in search for the ultimate business opportunity online, you must have stumbled on quite a lot of advertisements about GDI. Short for Global Domains International, GDI is the official distributor of (dot ws ) websites.

It’s a fact that a lot of businesses have gone online. This virtual environment they call the World Wide Web is just where everybody seems to be these days. If you therefore want to reach out to more customers, you may just have to do what everybody else does, and that’s to put your business on the internet, accessible to millions of people all over the world.

Now, how can you do this? Obviously you need to have a website where you can advertise your product, and for this you must have a domain name. A domain name serves as your identity --- it’s a way for people to find you on the internet.

GDI can provide you your own domain name for just $10 a month! It’s definitely worth your bucks because with your $10 you get not just a domain name but you also get to take advantage of the following products and services, too:

* 10 custom email address
* professionally designed web templates
* web hosting
* URL forwarding, and last but not least,
* the potential to earn loads of cash from GDI’s affiliate program.

GDI’s affiliate program is definitely a money-maker. Imagine getting paid $1.00 for every successful referral that you bring to GDI, and that’s not all, you also get paid $1.00 for every referral your referral gets up to five levels deep in your network. And this, of course, is not just a one-time commission. So long as your referrals continue to pay the monthly fee of $10, you’ll get paid.

A lot of people are already earning millions with GDI, either as affiliates or by setting up their businesses online. Be one of them and get to live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

Learn more about GDI by clicking this link, Income For Life

Resolutions (Part II)

2009-01-29T10:15:00.000+08:00

I’ve decided to be a bit more ambitious this year. I realized that there are so many things in my life that I want to change. I want to be healthier, for one thing, and in order to realize this, I have to give up things I have always loved --- coffee, junk foods, chocolates. My sister tells me I’m going to die because I practically thrived on these, but then, I know that if I put my mind to it, I can overcome my cravings.

I know, coffee isn’t exactly bad at all. In fact, I’ve read so many articles about coffee being healthy and all that. But caffeine can irritate the urinary bladder, and this is what I’m trying to avoid. If I cannot totally give up coffee, I’ll just have to limit my intake of it, then.

Chocolates are fattening --- and they tend to worsen my case of seborrheic dermatitis. I love chocolates, I’m addicted to chocolates, in fact, so I know not eating chocolates ever can be a really huge sacrifice on my part.

I’m not really a junkie, but I do have cravings for Cheeto’s cheese fritters. Yum-yum. But this, I will have to give up, too, because I do not want too much salt and msg taking over my system.

So, there, my new year’s resolutions for the year 2009!

Resolutions (Part I)

2009-01-13T21:45:00.000+08:00

I remember having made just a couple of resolutions last year -- to be more organized and to learn ways to make money online. The first proved to be rather difficult, I must say, considering that I practically had no organized bone in my body.

But the second resolution was, surprisingly, quite easier to achieve. I was able to discover the many wonders of the internet, after all, and I've had several opportunities to make money online. Although I'm not earning that much to consider a career change, I think I'm doing pretty good considering that I do it on a part time basis only.

So, I guess if I rate myself as far as my two resolutions are concerned, I wouldn't honestly give myself five stars, but having nonetheless accomplished something, I think I deserve at least a couple of stars. Oh, well, what the heck? One star, two stars, I can have a hundred stars or none at all. The thing is, I'm enjoying my life as it is. Besides, I have another year to do better...

Christmas in the Philippines

2008-12-31T11:34:00.001+08:00

There's nothing like celebrating Christmas in the Philippines, where it is always a unique experience. It's more than lighting up your house and putting up a Christmas tree. Sure, there's joy inthat, too, but there are several other things that make Christmas in the Philippines special. The Aguinaldo masses, for one, are always looked forward to with eager anticipation. I love going to these celebration even if it meant waking up way before dawn. It was a huge sacrifice, really, and it takes a lot of determination to get out of bed.

Then, of course, there's always the craving for hot pandesal, hot bibingka and hot choco.

The celebration of Christmas in the Philippines is never complete without the traditional noche buena on the eve of December 24. This is the time when family members gather round the table, feasting on home-cooked foods prepared with love.

So really, there is nothing like celebrating Christmas in the Philippines.

What Christmas Would Be Like This Year

2008-12-03T18:16:00.000+08:00

Christmas is indeed the most colorful season in the Philippines. With less than a month before Christmas, the streets are all glowing with lights of different colors and styles. The plazas come to life at night, indicating hope.

Our town was badly hit by Frank a few months ago, and I wondered then what Christmas would be like this year. It's so nice to see people moving on. Even more heartwarming are the efforts done by companies, business establishments and private individuals to make Christmas felt by those who have lost so much.

So I guess, it will still be business as usual this year. People will still look forward to the "9 mornings", and kids will still await with eager longing the "lights-on" @ Angelicum, Central Philippine University, and Pototan Plaza. The malls will still be filled with people buying Christmas gifts for one another, and most importantly, we will rediscover once more the magic and the miracle of the first Christmas.

The Liquid Powder Magic

2008-11-30T22:00:00.000+08:00

Our daughter's pediatrician advised us against using talc powder whenever possible as it could be a cause for the development of ashtma or allergy. But since it gets pretty hot and AJ tends to perspire quite a lot, we have to find a way to keep her smelling fresh all day.

We came across the VCO skin protecting liquid powder. Gentle and dust-free, the powder was especially designed and formulated for little tots' sensitive skin. The powder comes in several scents, but our personal favorite is The Precious Angel scent --- it does make my baby smell heavenly!

Life After Frank

2008-11-26T19:30:00.000+08:00

Frank did a lot of damage to our house. There are still many things that need repair, stuffs that have yet to be organized. Outside, the grasses have started to grow, and the mud that covered the length of the road towards our house has dried up, but the road, though, is not yet smooth enough to walk on. The canals are still clogged, so every little fall of rain gets water into the house and makes the road unpassable.

We tremble in fear when there is a storm brewing. We fear because the rivers have become very narrow and need to be dredged. But who is supposed to do it? Local officials tell us to seek higher ground when the river threatens to overflow. But I think, the people want to see them actually do something --- dredge the river, repair the dikes damaged by the typhoon, clean up the drainage, or something like that. Until they do these things, residents of the area will continue to live in fear ...

SWATCH CRAZE

2008-11-24T19:23:00.000+08:00

I have sworn off wrist watches years before. I think the last time I wore one was over ten years ago. But, while doing a review about wrist watches, I could not help remembering my SWATCH collection. My Aunt who was in the States then sent me and my sister SWATCH watches which appealed to the teenagers and pre-teens during that time.

I visited SWATCH just out of curiousity, and I found myself hooked. The designs were still typical of SWATCH --- eclectic, trendy, classic. One great thing about SWATCHES is that they look expensive without actually being so. There are many wonderful and unique styles that cost only $100!

My Samsung L100

2008-11-23T21:11:00.000+08:00

I'm so elated! I got myself a Samsung L100 and I love everything about it. It was not the most expensive kind in the lot, but it was the best as far as my budget can afford. This 8.2 mega-pixel digicam had face detection and digital image stabilization features. It also came with a two gigabyte (upgradable to 8 giga) memory card, a charger, lithium battery, and a camera case.

The Samsung L100 is slim, lightweight and compact and there are a variety of colors to choose from. Unfortunately the only available at the store I went to was black. I would have chosen something in metallic pink or blue, but what the heck?! Black is beautiful, too!

Discover more about this product at Samsung.

Frank and Me

2008-07-09T22:51:00.000+08:00

When Typhoon Frank hit the Philippines, specifically the Province of Iloilo, on June 21, 2008, almost everyone, including us, was caught unaware. The landslides and the flashfloods that followed leave indelible markings to the memory of anyone who suffered from these almost deadly aftermaths.

Dark, murky waters invaded our house at 1:00 in the afternoon. They came rushing in at such great speed there was no more time to do anything else. I roused my 3 month old baby from a deep slumber and brought her, and my sister's two kids, upstairs, where we would eventually spend the night. We watched in horror as the waters continued to rise and rise. We prayed incessantly. God must have heard our screams. The water stopped rising at 3:oo pm, but it did not completely subside until the following day. We spent the night feasting on my nephew's biscuits. There was no food, no electricity. The night was very still, except for the occasional downpours which send chills down our backs.

There was a lot of damage to our house. Our doors, our cabinets, my piano, are destroyed. My music collection, all the books collected through the years are all gone. Our cars submerged in water.

There are so many lessons to be learned from this horrible and traumatic experience. Personally, I feel that I am being reminded not to hold on too much to material things. I have lots of things I cannot let go of --- clothes, bling-blings, and many other things. Now, I have no more reason to keep the things I do not really need anymore.

So many material things were lost. But the great thing is, we (my family) still have each other --- and that's everything.

Back on Track

2008-07-09T22:32:00.000+08:00

I know it has been a while, a year in fact since i last posted an article here. A lot has happened during the past year, but in a nutshell here are the things I did --- I got married, got pregnant, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. That explains my absence.

Thanks to all who dropped by my blog, sent emails and inspiring messages. I really missed posting here.

5 REASONS WHY I BLOG

2007-05-15T12:49:00.000+08:00

I have been tagged by CWilson (thanks, buddy!), and as such, I need to write a post stating my 5 reasons for blogging.

Here they are:

1) I love to write. I find passion in writing. I am more of a writer than a conversationalist. I more easily get my messages across by writing rather than saying them out loud. Having my own blog allows me to have my very own online journal in which I could share practically anything Under The Sun.
2) Earn online. Having a blog with blogger, in particular, enables me to display relevant ads and google's search engine, and this earns me a bit of money.
3) Get Referrals. My blog is an excellent avenue for me to display my referral urls.
4) Make friends. Yes, i've made quite a lot of friends since the time I was able to create my very own blog. I have involved myself in several blog communities.
5) Blogging Destresses Me. It does, really. Getting my emotions out is such a relief!

I will be tagging the following blogs:
http://stcajo-readshortstories.blogspot.com
http://everydaywear.blogspot.com
http://datbuz.blogspot.com
http://earnfun.blogspot.com
http://femailhealthnews.blogspot.com

THE FIRE TREE

2007-05-08T18:37:00.000+08:00

One of the things I look forward to when summer comes is the eventual blossoming of the fire tree just over the fence of my grandma’s backyard. I don’t know how long it’s been there, but I remember having already gaped at it in my younger years. It has always stood tall and regal, with its flowers a most vibrant orange with hints of lemon yellow. From afar, it looks like a big ball of fire, blazing against the blue skyscape.

I’ve seen so many fire trees around where I live, but even if we line them all up, this fire tree over the fence of my grandma’s backyard would undoubtedly stand out among them all.

What's The Thing You Can't Afford To Lose?

2007-05-06T10:22:00.000+08:00

I see too many of them now, young and old alike, men and women, staring into space, laughing by themselves even when there’s nothing to laugh about. They have a different world and they speak a different language. They are people who have lose their minds. I shudder at the thought of me losing my own sanity.

I started a discussion of the thing you can’t afford to lose in myLot. There were varied responses, all interesting and enlightening.

If you’re a member of mylot and wish to join in the discussion, or if you simply wish to view the responses, click here…

http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1047897

Not yet a myLotter? Click here to register and get paid for your thoughts! http://www.mylot.com/?ref=toonatoons

OF SEATBELTS AND SMOKE-BELCHING

2007-05-04T08:51:00.000+08:00

While driving to work one day, I was stopped by an LTO official because I didn’t have my seatbelt on. Great! I was already running in late and this was hardly the way I wished to begin my day!

I obediently pulled over, and smiled brightly at the officer, silently wishing he would be bowled over by my charms and let me go. He wasn’t … and he didn’t. Instead, he glared at me and lectured me about the importance of seatbelts, blah, blah, blah. I tried to get a word in edgewise, but the officer ranted on with his litany, emphasizing the essential points, as if he’s talking to a not-so-very bright kid.

Of course, I knew the importance of seatbelts --- duh! But, hello! This was city driving, and with the traffic and all that, the fastes I could go would be 30 km an hour! Why the focus on seatbelts? Jeepney operators continuously violate anti-smoke-belching laws --- why didn’t they get apprehended? Hey, I was almost brought to the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning!

Okay, so maybe there’s a bit of an exaggeration there. My point is these traffic law enforcers should concern themselves more with those violations that would have an impact on the general public. And smoke-belching is truly a health hazard that could affect everybody, especially those with heart and lung diseases, the aged and the very young children.

A Little Fall of Rain

2007-05-02T23:02:00.000+08:00

Today, we’re blessed with drops of rainfall, an immense relief to the dry, parched earth.

It’s mid-summer in the Philippines, yet even long before summer officially began, rain had already been hard to come by. So, for me, it was really a blessing that the plants were being watered by the heavens, and for free!

Thank God for the rain!

OF POLITICS AND HUMILITY

2007-05-02T12:29:00.000+08:00

Just over a couple of weeks more and it’ll be election time again in the Philippines. As the summer progresses, the weather condition is not the only thing that worsens. It is rather, common, in fact, to hear reports of political killings and character assassinations … of candidates lashing words at one another, finger-pointing, throwing insults, destroying another’s character (or what is left of it to destroy), as if by doing so they’d look much better in the eyes of the people. “Pogi (handsome) points”, they say. Honestly! Is there anything beautiful about the deed at all? Would you consider them respectable or even remotely admirable if they keep on pointing out the faults of others, as if they could do better? You’d think they are perfect, without a blemish in sight!

One thing I learned throughout the years is this --- if you want to be great, humble yourself. Don’t flaunt your medals --- people will see you much better without them.

Remember the story of Christmas. The greatest of us all was born in a stable all forlorn.

GREEN NAILS

2007-04-30T11:38:00.000+08:00

I’ve never had the chance to go to a nail salon in months, so when our house assistant offered to do my nails, I was ecstatic. My nails had long needed a make-over, after enduring months of getting chewed on.

Excited, I bought a bottle of apple green nail polish. Our house assistant worked tirelessly and patiently for 3 hours (I had very short, uneven, and extremely delicate nails, after all). Finally, my nails were restored to something that looked the least bit presentable.

I vowed to keep them that way --- if only I could!

My bestfriend Lily

2007-04-28T21:47:00.000+08:00

The overseas call from my bestfriend, Lily, came as a pleasant surprise, soothing as lozenges are to a sore throat.

I haven’t, after all, heard from her in quite a long time, and I’ve so much to tell her it was such a stress to keep them all bottled in!

I met Lily 10 years ago. The companies we worked for were sister companies (both now dissolved for reason I’d much rather not say). We immediately hit it off, as if we’ve known each other forever.

Well, all credit has to go to Lily. She could make you feel warm and welcome so easily … so effortlessly. She also has a tremendous sense of humour there’s practically never a dull moment when she’s around.

Lily fits the dictionary description of what a true friend is. She’s a great listener, generous of her time and resources, and you can always count on her in good times and bad.

I don’t intend this to be a euology for Lily. Though miles away (she’s in Africa, by the way), she’s far from being dead. But I want her to know as early as now how much I appreciate and treasure our friendship. I know there aren’t many like Lily in the world it is such a blessing to have met one in my life.

Thanks for the call, Lily! I had a great time laughing.

A PLEASURABLE WALKING EXPERIENCE

2007-04-27T20:52:00.000+08:00

One sunny Wednesday, I got this sudden desire to take a walk in the minipark near my office. There wasn’t particularly special about that day. It was even excruciatingly hot, and the air was very dry --- hardly a perfect day for a walk.

But hormones raging, I changed my corporate heels into my pair of comfortable flats, and began my walk.

Aah… this is the life, I thought with a smile when I reached my destination. I felt as if I were in a different place, another continent, I must say, with tall trees lining the park, bending low with every breath of the wind. Overhead, birds were singing … or were they merely chirping? Or talking to each other? I couldn’t tell, really, only that they were making the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. It was like being in a concert, the music orchestrated to perfection.

I walked around, allowing my thoughts to be drowned by the sounds of nature all about me. How beautiful it was, indeed, to be so close to nature!

I went back to the office just in time for the afternoon bell, perspiring but with a look of contentment on my face, and when my co-workers asked where I’ve been, I simply smiled and said, I just had the most pleasurable walking experience!

Declutter!

2007-04-26T11:58:00.000+08:00

My sister has two extremely adorable kids, but adorable as they are, they could easily turn into green-eyed monsters when it comes to their toys. In fact, they now have a roomful of toys accumulated throughout the years. Headless dinosaurs, legless spiderman dolls, amputated barbies, and the like, are lying on practically every nook and corner of the house.

I was getting sick of the clutter, so I made a deal with them. I told them that for every new toy that they get, they would have to give me 5 of their old toys to give to the poor children. You know what? They liked the idea!

So now, every time they get a new toy (which is pretty often, thanks or no thanks to fast-food restos offering toys for every kiddie meal), they are only too excited to give me five of their old toys!

Isn’t that a nice way of decluttering their toy box while teaching them to be generous as well?

2007-04-25T18:46:00.000+08:00

Technorati Profile

BRIGHTEN SOMEONE'S LIFE --- SEND AN E-CARD TODAY!

2007-04-25T18:13:00.000+08:00

It’s been proven so many times: words go a long way in making a difference in someone’s life.

When we are depressed, for instance, or anxious, elated or whatever emotions we are feeling, sometimes, all it takes is one text message to make us feel better, or to plant our feet back on the ground, as the case may be. A greeting card hand-delivered by the postman never fails to elicit a smile from the receiver. The same reaction may be felt by one, who, upon opening his/her email, finds an e-card from a long lost friend. Aah…such wonderful feeling it is to be thought of!

So why not do the same? Be the cause for someone else’s happiness by sending him/her an e-card! (I’d definitely wish to receive one, haha)

At the left side of this page, you will find a link that will direct you to e-cardia.com, a site that enables you to send beautiful and meaningful e-cards to your special someone, friends, relatives, or to anyone you wish to say hi to.

Let us make this world a better place by sharing happy and inspiring thoughts with one another!

MY FATHER, THE HERO

2007-04-24T11:23:00.001+08:00

Some eight years ago, my dad suffered a severe stroke. There was massive bleeding right in the pontine area of his brain. He was in a coma, and the prognosis was grim. Nobody ever thought he would live for another day, or at most, three days.

A day and a half after that fateful day, he opened his eyes. But he couldn’t blink them at will. His movements were uncoordinated, and he couldn’t speak. He was bedridden and completely dependent on us for all his needs.

Many believed he was useless, a “vegetable”, even some would say. I begged to disagree, and turned a cold shoulder to anyone who said that within hearing distance from me. Because I knew, deep in my heart, that he was far from any of that. He could read with his eyes and followed instructions as best as he could. I kept a whiteboard handy and wrote down words for him to read. “Smile”, I’d write, and he’d break into a grin. “Blink 10 times”, and his eyes would flutter 10 times. He could count with precision! He would nod his head to indicate agreement, and shake it off to mean “no”. One time, I got so ambitious as to tell him to say name out loud. He tried his best, and came out with a loud whisper of what really sounded like my name. It was sheer music to my ears. Better than Beethoven’s symphonies or Chopin’s romantic melodies. It was simply the best sound I’ve ever heard in my life.

In his physical weakness, my dad was proof that miracles happen … that prayers are answered … that God exists … that the power of love is beyond anything we could ever hope for or even imagine.

He was a hero for making us see all these.

Stop The Tears

2007-04-23T23:22:00.000+08:00

So you love onions. In fact, you couldn’t imagine anything fried and sautéed without them. You love them even more because they’re sodium-free, cholesterol-free, and fat-free. Plus, they contain fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and quercetin, an antioxidant that protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

But you hate slicing them because they always bring tears to your eyes. Onions make you cry when the enzymes react to the air as you slice or chop them.

For tearless chopping, try these tips:

1) chill the onions

2) use a sharp knife

3) use swimming goggles to protect your eyes

4) burning a candle or have a bowl of water near the cutting board

Now that you can slice onions without crying, your next concern is how to get rid of the odor from your hands. Try sprinkling some salt on your palms and rubbing them together under running water. Or you may wash your hands and, while still wet, rub them on stainless steel, such as a cooking pot or steel sink.

Visit this site for more kitchen tips: http://www.wholefoods.com/recipes/kitchentips/onion.html

Writing Memos

2007-04-22T12:22:00.000+08:00

Many years ago, when office employees would receive memos they’d usually tremble in fear. Because for a lot of people back then, memos meant a warning. Or a reprimand. Or something else that carries a negative connotation.

But memos aren’t always like that at all. In fact, if we are to really define them, memos are just written documents that are internal to the company. They could be anything --- an advice, a reminder, general info.

I’ve been writing memos for a long time, and I’d like to share with you some of the things I learned through the years to make them more effective:

1) Be personal. Don’t use the words, “the undersigned” when referring to yourself. This isn’t the dark ages, you know. It is always best to use the words, I, you, or we.

2) Avoid being too formal with words. Write as if you’re simply conversing, as if you’re talking face-to-face.

3) Use English words when you’re writing in English. Avoid writing, “as per your request…”. Instead, say, “As you have requested…”

4) Keep your paragraphs short. Long sentences will bore your readers and will make them lose track of the message you intend to impart

5) Don’t leave your reader out in the cold. Close your memo with a statement of what you want the reader to do.

Hello???

2007-04-20T11:57:00.000+08:00

My job as a service officer requires me to be on the phone most of the time, whether it’s making business calls or answering them. So, I know quite a bit about telephone courtesy.

When answering a business phone, I find it appropriate to begin by stating the name of my agency, and following it up with a greeting, like good morning, for instance. Answering a business phone with the household standard, “hello”, is, to me, just so unprofessional. Introducing the name of your company is a form of marketing, isn’t it? And it only takes a few nanoseconds to do it.

Also, never answer the phone with a mere “yes?” I’ve encountered several people who do this, and, honestly, I think that is rather rude. It gives me the impression that the person at the other end of the line is in a hurry and would prefer doing other things to answering the phone.

It would be nice, too, to make the caller then feel comfortable by saying, “is there anything I can help you with?” or “how may I help you?” or anything to that effect.

And remember to tone down your voice. Modulate. High-pitches are always very irritating and could easily turn-off potential customers.

If you have other tips to share, you can post them here, too. Just send them through my email, toonatoons@yahoo.com.ph , first, then I’ll edit my post to include your suggestions.

Beat The Heat

2007-04-18T12:52:00.000+08:00

It’s summertime! And the heat seems to be getting more excruciating each year. Punishing. A glimpse of hell.

Two things could happen with extreme heat --- heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy sweating, weakness, headache, weak pulse, dizziness, exhaustion, fainting, nausea or vomiting, and cold, clammy skin. Body temperature will seem normal. If left untreated, it could progress to heat stroke characterized by hot, red skin; rapid, weak pulse; rapid, shallow breathing; loss of ability to sweat; throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness. Body temperature can be so high (103 degrees F or higher, though a person may feel chilled) that brain damage or death may result in fewer than 10 minutes if medical attention is not immediate.

Read more here: http://www.wnbc.com/News/1541414/detail.html

Beat the heat with these precautions:

1) Hydrate. Drink plenty of water
2) Take frequent baths
3) Apply wet tissues on your forehead
3) Dress lightly and in pastels
4) AVOID MIDDAY HEAT (getting out of the house between the hours 10:00 am to 4:00 pm should be an absolute no-no, especially for the elderly)
5) stay away from hot, heavy meals. Instead, eat light, eat fruits that have high
content of water

More tips are found here:
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/news/heat.6.25.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/080599/gear05.html

Writer's Block

2007-04-17T15:27:00.000+08:00

You’re raring to write. But you have plenty of things going in your head. There are far too many voices all around you, and you couldn’t concentrate. Suddenly, your brain cells just freeze. And you can no longer think.

It’s Writer’s Block! And it happens even to the best of us.

It often happens to me, too, and when it does, these are the things I usually do:

1) Take a break.
2) Get up from my chair
3) Take a walk outside where’s there’s plenty of air
4) Read short articles and stories to get myself into the groove
5) Get myself inspired with soft music

If these don’t work for you, try the tips found here:
http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/18/hack-your-way-out-of-writers-block/

Truly A Success Story!

2007-04-16T13:28:00.000+08:00

Many financially poor people would regard their poverty as a reason to remain exactly that --- poor.

So, it is rather a bit surprising, and inspiring, indeed, to hear stories of poor people turning the wheels of fortune in their favor. Like Aling Nora, for instance, who concocted Charmica Soap with just P1,000 and turned into a million-peso enterprise that sells to markets in Japan, the United States and United Kingdom.
The road to Aling Nora’s success was not easy an easy one nor was it a one-strike deal. From making ropes, she had to work hard as a housemaid, as seamstress, and even as a vendor selling repacked peanuts, butong pakwan, ginisang dilis, pansit, ginatan, and all kinds of snacks.
In 1996 she enrolled in soap making at the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), and after three false starts with different partners and a lot of frustrations, Aling Nora was finally able to put up a stable soap making business of her own.
With just P1,000.00, Aling Nora bought a big can of vegetable oil, caustic soda, perfume and other ingredients. The production of soap took place right in their own kitchen with a lot of help from her husband and daughters. Nora wanted to make the product well known as a good-quality soap.
And it is. Her soap, is, in fact, being exported to the US, United Kingdom and Japan.
Her recipe for success? Hard work, perseverance, prayers, love of family.
Read the whole inspiring story at http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view_article.php?article_id=60535

THE RAINBOW CONNECTION

2007-04-16T09:54:00.000+08:00

I was greeted yesterday morning by a spectacular sight --- a rainbow with all the seven colors vibrant and dazzling against the blue sky. For a few seconds, time stood still as I could only gaze in complete wonderment at the beauty above me.
Why there appeared a rainbow at that particular moment was because there was a slight drizzle (a blessing, indeed, after days of excruciating heat and dryness). Rainbows occur when sunlight and water meet in the sky.
Read more here: http://www.deltatech.com/rv/rainbows.html

I MAY HAVE FATTY LIVER

2007-04-14T18:51:00.000+08:00

Oh, no, this is really scary! I think, I may have fatty liver, just like my sister. I have all the signs --- well, most of it anyway. Maybe, I’m a little paranoid, but I’m slightly overweight, particularly in the middle, and I find it so hard to lose weight, no matter what I do. Hunger strikes, cellulite creams, exercises --- none could get rid of the “bulges”. I thought it’s just bad genetics, but reading this article at http://www.liverdoctor.com/Section4/fattyliver.asp, makes me think twice. My immune system, too, has been down lately. I exhibit allergic and flu-like symptoms whenever my period is coming up.
I haven’t undergone any blood chemistry yet, so I wouldn’t know if I have elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And, I don’t think I have type 2 diabetes (although I have a tendency to develop it because my mom is a diabetic). Still, I have 3 of about 7 tell-tale signs (the others being tiredness, syndrome x, and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels).
What happens with a fatty liver, I learned, is that the liver is storing fats, instead of burning them. So, if I don’t do anything about it, my liver could turn into a bag of fats! Horrible, just horrible!
Fatty liver may be linked to heavy alcohol-drinking, diabetes, and obesity. But poor diet and certain illnesses, like tuberculosis, and use of corticosteroids, could also cause fatty liver.
Treatment depends on the actual cause of the disease. If it’s just simple fatty liver, no treatment is required, maybe just some changes in dietary lifestyles and losing weight. Still, it should not be taken for granted as this could tend to progress into more serious liver conditions.

---------
An insight from a friend, Femaildoc,

Definitely get your triglycerides checked; elevated blood fats usually precede a fatty liver, and they also are markers for a high risk of progressing to diabetes. Triglycerides, or blood fats, also require insulin to exit the blood for storage in fat cells. An elevation is the first sign of insulin resistance, and high circulating triglycerides are toxic to the pancreas, thus hastening the inability to make enough insulin that results in diabetes.

Femaildoc authors the following health blogs:
http://femailhealthnews.blogspot.com
http://vintagefemail.blogspot.com

these sites are definitely worth checking, especially if you're a health buff.

Friday the 13th

2007-04-13T21:33:00.000+08:00

Even in this modern age and time, many of us may still experience what is called paraskavedekatriaphobia or fear of Friday the 13th.

Various situations/events may be cited that could, perhaps, help us understand why Friday the 13th has been considered “unlucky”.
The Last Supper, with stories that Judas was the thirteenth guest, and that the Crucifixion of Jesus occurred Friday.
That the biblical Eve offered the fruit to Adam on a Friday, and that the slaying of Abel happened on a Friday (though the Bible does not identify the days of the week when these events occurred). [3]
That it started on Friday, October 13, 1307, the date that many Knights Templar were simultaneously arrested in France, by agents of King Philip IV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th
Personally, I never took much attention to Friday the 13th. I wasn’t superstitious, and to me, Friday the 13th was just any other day. Except this particular Friday the 13th on the month of February, 1998. That was the day my dad suffered a massive stroke.
Still, I believe it was just pure coincidence, although, admittedly, that happening still haunts me up to this very day.
How about you? Do you have paraskavedekatriaphobia? Any Friday the 13th stories to tell?

T.G.I.P.D

2007-04-13T12:34:00.000+08:00

Thank God, It’s Payday!

I’ve been looking forward to this from the first day of the month. My last salary almost instantly disappeared with so many bills to pay and all that. They say there are two kinds of salary --- magic salary and the onion salary. Magic salary refers to salary that is gone in a blink of an eye --- like magic. You have the money in your hands for a fraction of a second, and then poof, it’s gone before you even begin to feel it. Onion salary, on the other hand, refers to net pay that is so low it practically brings tears to one’s eyes.

Nevertheless, whatever salary I’m receiving today, I’m thankful for it!

Click Na Click --- A Site For Philippine Residents

2007-04-13T09:06:00.000+08:00

I can’t believe I stumbled upon this money-making site designed for Filipinos --- and it even pays in pesos!

The first of its kind in the Philippines, ClicknaClick.com is a marketing website for internet advertisers and publishers. Membership for publishers is totally free! All you have to do is register, get the codes (found in the website), paste them on to your websites or blog, and voila! --- you earn commissions every time somebody clicks on the ads!

Start Clicking Now!

2007-03-30T22:40:00.000+08:00

Done by Anthony G. Geduspan, a local artist who hails from Guimbal, Iloilo, this Madonna and Child is an absolute must-have.

Anthony’s interest in the arts started when he was only five years old. Like many of us at that age, he would draw stick figures in varying positions. But unlike many of us, he didn’t stop there. Using his imagination and God-given talent, he developed several techniques in art-making that made his work stand out from the rest. Proofs of this are the many awards he has won, such as the Forest Lake Memorial Park Mural Contest, the Red Cross Mural Painting Contest, the Iloilo City National High School Fence Painting Contest, Iloilo Provincial Development Cooperative Official logo Contest, and from 1999-2001, he was a finalist in the Shell national Students Art Competition.

It is amazing, really, to know that Anthony never had any formal schooling in painting. What he has is a dream … a vision … a desire to simply express himself.

This Madonna and Child is characteristic of Anthony’s signature style --- figurative-cubism.

A TYPICAL PAYDAY SCENARIO

2007-03-30T14:54:00.000+08:00

Long queues before ATMs or disbursing officers (as the case may be), loan sharks in the office lobby, employees in tears, some hiding under their desks --- this is what a typical payday scenario in my small town looks like.

Soon, it is time to go home. The loan sharks will have to come back some other day. After two weeks, maybe, or 3 days, if they want to catch their “victims” off-guard.

There is another long line at the local grocery store. Food items quickly disappear from the shelves. Panic-buying, some people would call it. But, really, it isn’t so.

It is just a typical payday scenario.

DANDRUFF AND THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

2007-03-29T14:16:00.000+08:00

You have exquisite long black tresses that fall in soft waves down the length of your back. Easily, you become the envy of every girl in town --- including your worst enemy!

You get invited to a party and you just have the thing to wear in your mind --- your stunning little black dress.

It’s 5 pm and you decide to get dressed for the party. The little black dress snug to your body as if it has always belonged there. You smile appreciatively.

Then you sit before your vanity table and take out your comb, going through each strand of your hair.

And you notice something that wasn’t there before. There are glitters of white on your dress. Your heart begins to race, and you bend your head a bit so you could see your scalp in the mirror.

And there they are --- the little culprits have invaded your head.

These white stuff --- culprits, if you so wish to call them as such, are actually dead skin cells that result from the normal growing process of the scalp’s skin cells.

Don’t panic. There are shampoos that effectively treat dandruff. Or you may opt for alternative treatments, like garlic and oil of oregano, vinegar and kalamansi.

Read more at http://www.coolnurse.com/dandruff.htm

In the meantime, don’t wear that little black dress.

ANITA SHREVE

2007-03-29T09:27:00.000+08:00

I started reading Anita Shreve a couple of years ago after a friend recommended her book, The Pilot’s Wife. I never expected to throw myself (literally) in the story as the title didn’t appeal to me much at all.

But as soon as I got through the first page, I couldn’t put the book down. The novel was simply awesome … gritty … riveting.

I was hooked.

Since then, I began scouring the local bookstores for other books by Shreve. After many months of bookstore-hopping, I found two, finally, and they were on sale --- The Weight of Water and Fortune’s Rocks.

I like Shreve’s style of writing. I like the way she describes her characters, the scenes, the events. She has that unique and creative way of capturing her audience’s attention. Reading Shreve is like being a part of the storyline yourself, if not the main character.

Other books by Shreve are:
* A Wedding in December
* All He Ever Wanted
* Body Surfing
* Light On Snow
* Resistance
* Sea Glass
* The Last Time They Met
* Strange Fits of Passion
* Where or When
* Eden Close

2007-03-28T16:08:00.000+08:00

It’s Friday night, and you have that TGIF look on your face. The hours tick by ever so slowly. Impatiently, you rap your fingers on your desk.

Finally, it’s 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, depending on where you work, and you’re ready to drink the night away.

It started with a bottle … and then a couple more. “Alcohol is healthy”, you tell yourself, as if that would justify the dozen of Red Horse bottles now lying empty on your table. (Yeah, right! Alcohol is healthy --- when taken in moderation).

It’s way past midnight when you decide you’ve had enough. That’s the time, too, when you can barely keep your eyes open or form a coherent sentence or walk without stumbling.

You go home, get some sleep, and you wake up with a hangover.

So, what do you do?

I posted a discussion of this in mylot. Click this link and find out how mylotters get over a hang-over.
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/769366.aspx

Operating A School Canteen

2007-03-28T12:25:00.000+08:00

I don’t know how to cook, and I’ve never even gone to a market place all by myself, so when my boyfriend and I were awarded the operation of a school canteen, everyone, including myself, was shocked … stunned… astonished. Sure, it was something we hoped for, but never really expected, considering that we submitted our bid at the last minute. Pressed for time, we couldn’t anymore afford such formalities as computer print-outs and the like.

But heaven must be on our side and we couldn’t be more thankful.

The first year was a period of adjustment --- testing the waters and riding the waves. We hired a great cook and three other personnel to keep the business running while we are attending to our day jobs.

It was no easy job, really, as we had to learn a lot about recording sales, conducting inventories, dealing with irate customers and kids with differing personalities, and all that. But, altogether, it was an enjoyable experience, so much so that we renewed our contract the following year.

The second year ran more smoothly. But times were a lot harder, and the profit we made was only enough to pay the rent, electricity bills, and salaries of our personnel. Sometimes, I would wonder if it’s all worth it, counting coins, instead of bills. Then I’d think about the people who work for us, and I know we’d just have to bid again.

EXTRA MONEY

2007-03-28T08:35:00.000+08:00

We all want to make a little extra money, don’t we? Thus, in desperate attempts to make easy money, we almost always fall prey to get-rich-quick schemes. I mean, who wouldn’t want to get rich overnight? While sleeping? While practically doing nothing?

Well, my experiences tell me --- there’s no quick formula to make money, be it online or offline. Hard work and determination are still the main ingredients to success, again, be it online or offline.

But here are some pretty good sites where you could earn extra money. They're not going to make you millionaires overnight, but, they're all free to join, so there's nothing to lose, right?

http://www.mylot.com/?ref=toonatoons
GET PAID SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS

http://accounts.zotspot.com/?source=6235&m=l
GET PAID SURFING THE NET

http://www.dormcheck.com/register.php?refer=toonatoons
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WORTH SOMETHING!

http://www.taketheinternetback.com/index.php?refId=15713
EARN AND OWN THE INTERNET

http://www.slashmysearch.com/earn/id/422
SEARCH AND EARN (has been experiencing technical problems for a while, but it's back now)

http://www.shareapic.net/ref.php?owner=toonatoons

MY NOKIA 2600

2007-03-28T08:31:00.000+08:00

I’ve never considered myself a techno freak. I’m not someone who scouts the malls for the latest gadgets or anything that’s “in”. I always try to live by my motto, “if it still serves the purpose, why change it?

In fact, I’ve had my Nokia 3210 running pretty well for 5 long years before it started acting out crazy about a year and a half ago, forcing me to look for a new one.

It didn’t take me long to find what I want. I had a budget to stick to, within which there weren’t many options at all. I got myself a Nokia 2600. It wasn’t a camera phone and certainly not a pickpocket’s dream. So, it never really occurred to me that anybody would want to steal it at all.

But then a cellphone is a cellphone. And times are hard, so to someone who is so desperately in want of money, my phone, even without all those trinkets and embellishments, still must have glittered like gold.

And so it happened.

My cellphone got stolen from my bag while I was savoring Kublai Khan’s hamburger with barbeque sauce and choco latte.

OH-ZERO!

2007-03-28T08:21:00.000+08:00

As a service officer, I get to receive a lot of phone-in inquiries, and pretty often, I am asked to relay the telephone numbers of our field offices.

So, I’d say, “please dial this number --- five-zero-nine … “

“Hold on, what’s that again? Five-oh-nine …?”

“No, ma’am, that’s five-ZERO-nine …”

“Okay, I got it, five-OH-nine …”

Ahh…why do people insist on saying OH (O) instead of ZERO (0)? Since when did the letter “O” become a number?

2007-03-22T09:30:00.000+08:00

Looking for something?

You may find it here.

Take a look at my online shop.
http://www.shopgalore.zlio.com

AND
shop like you've never shopped before!

HAVE YOUR OWN ONLINE STORE

2007-03-22T09:26:00.000+08:00

Have your very own online store
and earn money from it!

sell a variety of products
books
dvds
toys
gift items
beauty products
shoes
accessories
coffee and tea
computers and printers
and
practically anything!
http://www.zlio.com/?r=49756