Fan Din Ako ni Gloria

I can’t resist writing about Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today. News about her is all over the place! As one anchor said, it’s a pity Gloria is going through all these, without any loyalist group backing her up. All I can say is, she's now reaping the consequences of her deeds. And it’s inevitable. Karma is digital. Justice will be served, and I wonder if GMA knew this is what's going to happen. She was once the most powerful woman in the country, using all of it to multiply her family's wealth, and I hope that this administration can bring all of it with her down. I can't remember how many mobs we have organized back in college, calling for her impeachment, how many times we have shouted 'Oust Arroyo', 'Patalsikin si Gloria', etc. which back then seemed endless as Arroyo managed to be in power despite all the issues of corruption, negative ratings, and financial crisis. Kudos to all who are making this all happen, and for the rest who shamelessly speak for her 'right', there is blood in the money she's giving/ gave you. Better find a way to get out of her loop or you'll go down with her as well. Harhar.. Naisip ko tuloy yung pusa ko, pinapagod muna niya yung daga bago niya tuluyang tigukin, hahaha!

The biggest box-office draw this week is ‘Breaking Dawn,’ the latest installment of ‘The Twilight Saga.’ The Twilight series tells about the story of vampires and werewolves – or as we collectively call them here in the Philippines, ‘Congress.’ - from the Professional Heckler

Mandela: Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela once said, "In my country, we go to prison first and then become President." In the Philippines, it's the opposite. - from the Professional Heckler

Random Musings 21 11 11

I was on leave last Friday as I need to go to JRU to get my brother's Transcript of Records and Honorable Dismissal. Then went straight to SSS San Juan to check for my ID. They said after more than 1 year, it was finally mailed to my old address last August (2011). Since I moved to Novaliches, I have to check it. I also visited the SSS Main @ East Ave, and again, the red tape procedures for all of our inquiries. Nothing happened here after going through 4 queues. Its my decision anyways not to go ahead for the final step. I have a feeling I wont get anything anyways. After that, went to UP to get my diploma (after 5 years!), then shopping center, I cant believe while waiting for Roxy, I bought a UP jacket, with a screaming UP at the back, I wonder if I can really wear it in public. Foodtrip with Roxy, hmmmm sarap ng cheese corn, shawarma, and 3-in-1 coffee sa tabi tabi. Met Jane as well and had some chat. Before we split off, we agreed that we do it regularly, those kinds of meeting. Roxy and I went to the Tiangge Area din pala, then both bought Herman Hesse novel, I recommended to her Siddhartha, while I took Narcissus and Goldmund. She also suggested some authors to me, which I should buy some other time. Saturday and Sunday were spent cleaning the house. Will is now headed to Croatia and will be there for the next 7 days. As for me, office stuff, might meet Roxy again and check out a Buddhist temple in Malate, and on the weekend, need to go to Nueva Ecija for my bestfriend's son birthday (my godchild).

Celine Dion's music was playing from the boss' office. Made me miss Celine's French songs which I used to sing (to myself) when I was in high school (kahit hindi ko naiintindihan). I like Jane Birkin's songs just recently after watching the film 'In Mom's Head', the song 'Quoi' in particular and 'Di Do Da'.

Adrienne Brody - first saw him in The Experiment film, and just recently, the movie The Pianist where he won Best Actor (Oscars 2002). - thanks to Roxy for all the wonderful films she gave me. And Splice film, andun din pala siya. Crush ko na siya.

Maginaw na naman, this week is the start of the brrrrrr moments, have been struggling with the aircon, headache, breeze, fog, and all related to it.

Mame and Dade just had a fight recently. When we were kids, my brother and I's opinion doesnt matter in these situations, and now, Mame just came to my bed (when I was in Aliaga visiting my grandmother who just came from the hospital), almost crying and telling me the story of their fight and all the other things that lead to it. Of course, I'll tell my mom to fight for her right. But I blamed her as well. Marriage is a partnership, there is no one who dominates the other. I once told Mame, I really can live without marriage. Even my brother who is in the province have a say on whats going on. And we both are in Mame's side. Later on, Dade went to Aliaga and seemed to court Mame again (hehe). No big deal. They have to work things out eventually because they love each other. Or is it mid-life crisis? Mame on her menopause stage and Dade on his grumpy period. They still have a lot of time together, but I hope that they will make the rest of their days the best of their lives together. Me and my brother are grown ups now, ideally, they are not supposed to think about us anymore. Its the time that they should think about themselves more.

DMC Pix - NlRC, Naga, Rizal

Series of Disaster Management Courses conducted last August 2011: 1) Partners for Resilience Project funded by Netherlands Red Cross, 2) DMC in Bicol - Convenio Project funded by Spanish Red Cross, 3) one pic with Ate K from Marikina Sub Chapter (under Rizal) for their Norwegian Red Cross DRR Project. Had the opportunity to facilitate the trainings. Its not perfect and much needs to be improved, the learnings come along the way.

Pasyal sa Diguisit Beach

22 Oct 2011: Pasyal sa Diguist Beach sa Baler, Aurora during my birthday. With Rj, Ruffa, Ate Nora, Ponyang, Recar and Panchang! Wala nang masyadong shells, unlike before. The last time we went there, I was able to pick lots of sea shells, ngayon yung maliliit na lang. Only the kids went swimming. :-)

Easing the Storm

How can you ease a storm that has been perennially bugging you once in a while, when you can taste the blandness despite the continuous fight to ignore it? When do you know when to stop, knowing there is some sort of stagnation going on and its hopeless, despite your small invaluable effort to make things change, but deep inside you know that you just cant. When is a good break not a good one anymore? Complicating things isnt just gonna help. We are all dust in the wind anyways. And maybe we can just let it all pass.. And later realize how we were able to get through it when we thought before its something that we cant stand..

The Lines Are Just Perfect..

Perfect version of a statement about marriage that a friend told me once, from the film 'Frida' that I watched last night, the first time I saw the film was back in college.

"Tina Modotti: I don't believe in marriage. [crowd laughs] No, I really don't. Let me be clear about that. I think at worst it's a hostile political act, a way for small-minded men to keep women in the house and out of the way, wrapped up in the guise of tradition and conservative religious nonsense. At best, it's a happy delusion - these two people who truly love each other and have no idea how truly miserable they're about to make each other. But, but, when two people know that, and they decide with eyes wide open to face each other and get married anyway, then I don't think it's conservative or delusional. I think it's radical and courageous and very romantic. To Diego and Frida."

Loooong Weekend!

I will be on vacation starting tomorrow till the 7th! I just got back from Aurora during my 26th birthday because mom and dad 'forced' me to go home (fearing that I will be alone in Novaliches during my birthday - which for me is ok, no worries, Will not at home, and I, supposedly enjoying the tranquility of my solitude, but it didnt happen). Best part of my birthday? I was able to sleep with my Sascha (cat) for two nights! Joke. Well, just being with family is enough. I am getting older, hu hu.. But its nice to know that with aging comes learnings about life and love. And I really have a feeling that there is something about this year, hmmmm.. Now, an 8-day vacation (excluding the travel days) is awaiting us. I hope to visit Casapsapan Bay in Casiguran, which they say is comparable to Boracay, and meet some elementary and high school friends. Ciao!

Žižek at Wall Street Protest

By Jérôme E. Roos On October 11, 2011

“We’re not dreamers. We’re awaking from a dream turning into a nightmare. We’re not destroying anything. We’re watching the system destroy itself.”

Via Occupy Wall Street and Impose Magazine

We are all losers, but the true losers are down there on Wall Street. They were bailed out by billions of our money. We are called socialists, but here there is always socialism for the rich. They say we don’t respect private property, but in the 2008 financial crash-down more hard-earned private property was destroyed than if all of us here were to be destroying it night and day for weeks. They tell you we are dreamers. The true dreamers are those who think things can go on indefinitely the way they are. We are not dreamers. We are the awakening from a dream that is turning into a nightmare. We are not destroying anything. We are only witnessing how the system is destroying itself. We all know the classic scene from cartoons. The cat reaches a precipice but it goes on walking, ignoring the fact that there is nothing beneath this ground. Only when it looks down and notices it, it falls down. This is what we are doing here. We are telling the guys there on Wall Street, “Hey, look down!”

In mid-April 2011, the Chinese government prohibited on TV, films, and novels all stories that contain alternate reality or time travel. This is a good sign for China. These people still dream about alternatives, so you have to prohibit this dreaming. Here, we don’t need a prohibition because the ruling system has even oppressed our capacity to dream. Look at the movies that we see all the time. It’s easy to imagine the end of the world. An asteroid destroying all life and so on. But you cannot imagine the end of capitalism. So what are we doing here? Let me tell you a wonderful, old joke from Communist times. A guy was sent from East Germany to work in Siberia. He knew his mail would be read by censors, so he told his friends: “Let’s establish a code. If a letter you get from me is written in blue ink, it is true what I say. If it is written in red ink, it is false.” After a month, his friends get the first letter. Everything is in blue. It says, this letter: “Everything is wonderful here. Stores are full of good food. Movie theatres show good films from the west. Apartments are large and luxurious. The only thing you cannot buy is red ink.” This is how we live. We have all the freedoms we want. But what we are missing is red ink: the language to articulate our non-freedom. The way we are taught to speak about freedom— war on terror and so on—falsifies freedom. And this is what you are doing here. You are giving all of us red ink. There is a danger. Don’t fall in love with yourselves. We have a nice time here. But remember, carnivals come cheap. What matters is the day after, when we will have to return to normal lives. Will there be any changes then? I don’t want you to remember these days, you know, like “Oh. we were young and it was beautiful.” Remember that our basic message is “We are allowed to think about alternatives.” If the broom [?] is broken, we do not live in the best possible world. But there is a long road ahead. There are truly difficult questions that confront us. We know what we do not want. But what do we want? What social organization can replace capitalism? What type of new leaders do we want? Remember. The problem is not corruption or greed. The problem is the system. It forces you to be corrupt. Beware not only of the enemies, but also of false friends who are already working to dilute this process. In the same way you get coffee without caffeine, beer without alcohol, ice cream without fat, they will try to make this into a harmless, moral protest. A decaffienated process. But the reason we are here is that we have had enough of a world where, to recycle Coke cans, to give a couple of dollars for charity, or to buy a Starbucks cappuccino where 1% goes to third world starving children is enough to make us feel good. After outsourcing work and torture, after marriage agencies are now outsourcing our love life, we can see that for a long time, we allow our political engagement also to be outsourced. We want it back.

We are not Communists if Communism means a system which collapsed in 1990. Remember that today those Communists are the most efficient, ruthless Capitalists. In China today, we have Capitalism which is even more dynamic than your American Capitalism, but doesn’t need democracy. Which means when you criticize Capitalism, don’t allow yourself to be blackmailed that you are against democracy. The marriage between democracy and Capitalism is over. The change is possible. What do we perceive today as possible? Just follow the media. On the one hand, in technology and sexuality, everything seems to be possible. You can travel to the moon, you can become immortal by biogenetics, you can have sex with animals or whatever, but look at the field of society and economy. There, almost everything is considered impossible. You want to raise taxes by little bit for the rich. They tell you it’s impossible. We lose competitivity. You want more money for health care, they tell you, “Impossible, this means totalitarian state.” There’s something wrong in the world, where you are promised to be immortal but cannot spend a little bit more for healthcare. Maybe we need to set our priorities straight here. We don’t want higher standard of living. We want a better standard of living. The only sense in which we are Communists is that we care for the commons. The commons of nature. The commons of privatized by intellectual property. The commons of biogenetics. For this, and only for this, we should fight.

Communism failed absolutely, but the problems of the commons are here. They are telling you we are not American here. But the conservatives fundamentalists who claim they really are American have to be reminded of something: What is Christianity? It’s the holy spirit. What is the holy spirit? It’s an egalitarian community of believers who are linked by love for each other, and who only have their own freedom and responsibility to do it. In this sense, the holy spirit is here now. And down there on Wall Street, there are pagans who are worshipping blasphemous idols. So all we need is patience. The only thing I’m afraid of is that we will someday just go home and then we will meet once a year, drinking beer, and nostaligically remembering “What a nice time we had here.” Promise yourselves that this will not be the case. We know that people often desire something but do not really want it. Don’t be afraid to really want what you desire. Thank you very much.

> http://roarmag.org/2011/10/zizek-at-wall-street-protest-dont-fall-in-love-with-yourself/

Thoughts of a Dreamer

Do you believe in a god and, if so, which one?

Answer: I think belief is a cover up for insecurity. You only have to resort to belief if you are not sure. Therefore I would say the question does not apply. I have complete conviction that God exists as an infinite intelligence that orchestrates the infinite workings of the universe. I also think that we have that intelligence and we have the ability to get in touch with the larger intelligence. Just like the drop in the ocean is the ocean. You are not only the drop in the ocean, you are also the ocean in the drop. I think by shifting our awareness to our inner being we have access to this intelligence and the mystery we call God. And we don’t need to be part of a religion to experience this mystery.

Interview by Carl Lindgren

Deep Deepak

Deepak Chopra and I have the same birthday - October 22.

And today is one month before our birthday. I first became interested when I knew that he wrote a version of Siddharta - that I already saw in PowerBooks but didn't buy back then, now I felt an urge to buy one of his books. I have always believed in seasonal biology, and astrology in a way, and reading some of the entries in his official website, I felt like I'm a little bit of his female version. Only a bit at this time but now I'm thinking, I would like to pursue a path like his, not necessarily being a doctor of internal medicine, but on the path of spirituality.

Thanks to all the persons who have influenced my spirituality since I was a child, from my grandmothers, my parents, friends and colleagues. Now I hope to understand it deeper. And yes, I am optimistic, with the help of Deepak Chopra.

We cannot blame people why some turn to alternative medicine, which is being espoused by Deepak. I just had a recent encounter with 2 OB Gynecologists at the Medical City SM Fairview. That was the time when I had a consultation and the doctor immediately said I need a papsmear and did it right there and then without asking if I had intercourse in the past days, if I used vaginal creams, or if I took a bath at the tub (which will affect the result of the test). When I got the result, they said there is something (very minimally) wrong and immediately prescribed something. And then asked me to go back after a week of medication to have another papsmear (again without telling me what to do before the conduct of the papsmear). I felt odd at the instructions, are doctors like that nowadays? Or is it just at this particular medical clinic? They sound like saleswomen, instead of medical practitioners, and even if I did not pay for the tests (credited via the health card), it seems unfair that they prescribe procedures on and on without doing the proper job. Gosh, the health system in this country is deteriorating, and those who are poor in knowledge, they are the ones who have been victims of these kinds of misconduct.

I still believe a lot of medical practitioners do it as a vocation, driven by the motivation to help others.

Notes from Science Daily

Less salt, less strokes, says new research (August 11, 2011) -- A reduction of 3 grams of salt intake per day would prevent up to 8,000 stroke deaths and up to 12,000 coronary heart disease deaths per year in the UK, says new research. A similar reduction in the USA would result in up to 120,000 fewer cases of coronary heart disease, up to 66,000 strokes and up to 99,000 heart attacks annually

How estrogen could help protect women from cardiovascular disease (August 11, 2011) -- The sex hormone estrogen could help protect women from cardiovascular disease by keeping the body's immune system in check, new research has revealed. The study has shown that the female sex hormone works on white blood cells to stop them from sticking to the insides of blood vessels, a process which can lead to dangerous blockages.

Eating protein throughout the day preserves muscle and physical function in dieting postmenopausal women, study suggests (August 11, 2011) -- Dieting postmenopausal women who want to avoid losing muscle as they lose fat should pay attention to a new study. Adding protein throughout the day not only holds hunger pangs at bay so that dieters lose more weight, it keeps body composition -- the amount of fat relative to muscle -- in better proportion.

Narcissism may benefit the young, researchers report; but older adults? Not so much (August 11, 2011) -- A new study suggests that some forms of narcissism are -- at least in the short term -- beneficial, helping children navigate the difficult transition to adulthood.

Paper money worldwide contains bisphenol A (August 11, 2011) -- The cash register receipts that people place near paper money in billfolds and pockets has led to a worldwide contamination of paper money with bisphenol A (BPA) -- a potentially toxic substance. The amounts of BPA on currencies are higher than in dust, but human intake from currency is at least 10 times less than that from house dust, according to a new study.

Can blaming others make people sick? (August 11, 2011) -- Constant bitterness can make a person ill, according to researchers who have examined the relationship between failure, bitterness and quality of life.

Deep oceans can mask global warming for decade-long periods (September 19, 2011) -- The planet's deep oceans at times may absorb enough heat to flatten the rate of global warming for periods of as long as a decade even in the midst of longer-term warming, according to a new analysis.

Put down that game controller: Researcher suggests video games may not boost cognition (September 19, 2011) -- Wouldn't it be nice if all those hours kids spent glued to their PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo DS video games actually resulted in something tangible? Better grades, perhaps? Improved concentration? Superior driving skills? Over the past decade, many studies and news media reports have suggested that action video games such as Medal of Honor or Unreal Tournament improve a variety of perceptual and cognitive abilities. But in a new paper, psychologists critically reevaluate those claims.

How excess alcohol depresses immune function (August 15, 2011) -- Alcoholism suppresses the immune system, resulting in a high risk of serious, and even life-threatening infections. A new study shows that this effect stems largely from alcohol's toxicity to immune system cells called dendritic cells. These cells play a critical role in immune function, responding to danger signals by searching for unfamiliar antigens within the body that would be coming from invading microbes, and presenting such antigens to T cells, thus activating them to seek and destroy cells containing these antigens.

Psychologists interrupt the miserable cycle of social insecurity (August 15, 2011) -- Tom likes Susan but he fears she does not like him. Expecting to be rejected, he's cold toward Susan. And guess what? She snubs him back. His prophesy is self-fulfilled, his social insecurity reinforced. The miserable cycle continues.

Conflict levels don't change much over course of marriage (August 15, 2011) -- Think about how much you fight and argue with your spouse today. A new study suggests that your current level of conflict probably won't change much for the remainder of your marriage. That may be good news for the 16 percent of couples who report little conflict or even the 60 percent who have only moderate levels of conflict. But it's not such happy news for the 22 percent of couples who say they fight and argue with each other a lot.

Schoolchildren can also learn complex subject matters on their own, researchers find (August 14, 2011) -- Self-directed learning has long been heralded as the key to successful education. Yet until now, there has been little research into this theory. Educational researchers in Germany have now shown that schoolchildren can independently develop strategies for solving complex mathematical tasks, with weaker students proving just as capable as their stronger classmates.

Biodiversity key to Earth's life-support functions in a changing world (August 14, 2011) -- The biological diversity of organisms on Earth is not just something we enjoy when taking a walk through a blossoming meadow in spring; it is also the basis for countless products and services provided by nature, including food, building materials, and medicines as well as the self-purifying qualities of water and protection against erosion. New findings indicate that much more biodiversity is necessary to keep ecosystems functioning in a world that is changing ever faster. The protection of diversity is thus a crucial factor in maintaining Earth's life-support functions.

Scientists highlight link between stress and appetite (August 13, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which stress increases food drive in rats. This new discovery could provide important insight into why stress is thought to be one of the underlying contributors to obesity.

Social acceptance and rejection: The sweet and the bitter (August 13, 2011) -- For proof that rejection, exclusion, and acceptance are central to our lives, look no farther than the living room, says a psychologist. "If you turn on the television set, and watch any reality TV program, most of them are about rejection and acceptance," he says.

Research reveals genetic link to human intelligence (August 12, 2011) -- New research provides the first direct biological evidence for a genetic contribution to people's intelligence. Previous studies on twins and adopted people suggested that there is a substantial genetic contribution to thinking skills, but this new study is the first to find a genetic contribution by testing people's DNA for genetic variations.

Polar climate change may lead to ecological change (August 12, 2011) -- Ice and frozen ground at the North and South Poles are affected by climate change induced warming, but the consequences of thawing at each pole differ due to the geography and geology, according to a hydrologist.

Sense and Sensibility

Enjoyed this film too much during the weekend, what I love most is the relationship between Elinor (Sense) and Marianne (Sensibility), as sisters, and their struggles with Love and their own Natures. I have identified myself with Marianne (played by Kate Winslet - one of my favorites), who showed stubborness in her own way, melancholic and full of feelings, while Elinor kept a lot of her feelings to herself, and being responsible for her family above all. Loved the pieces played by Kate Winslet on the piano as well, and how she sang them well!

Everyone should watch this film, based on Jane Austen's novel. Thanks to my friend Roxy for sharing the film to me. :-)

Eat, Pray, Love

Liz said, "I do not need to love you to prove to you that I love myself." Bitter.. Haha.. I love this film, but Liz is too risky to do it all, only to find herself, too costly, but I guess some people really need that, to just go away from everything once in a while. I just hope the marriage didn't end too easy.

A Celebration with Butterflies & Flowers!

Spent our 5th Year Anniversary at Grand Villa Resort at Laguna. Thanks to Ms Rhea for giving us complimentary. It was a weekend of relaxation, being close to nature once again, with the butterflies, flowers, and some wild animals (hehe), and of course, with each other. Hmmmm, I am still in love with this guy each day, and every day, love deepens. There is a certain kind of feeling when you know someone so much. We have struggled through a lot already, and I know that we can get through anything together. Celebrating our 5 years together felt like entering a new phase, renewing an unwritten contract of love. :-)

One Month @ the New House

Its been more than a month - living at the new house, and I feel sleepy a lot of times. We need to wake up at 5 in the morning during work days, leave the house quarter to 6, without breakfast (which is fine with me, but sometimes Willy manages to cook his food while I still sleep in bed). With the RC service, I usually arrive at the office before 8am, then in the evening, leaving the office around 5:30 then arriving home around 8pm. Sleeping around 6-7 hours per night, this is so short for me! Haha. Well I guess, I can adapt to this soon. For weekends, I can sleep as long as I can.

BTW, announcement, my sister in law is pregnant, same with my Sophie (dog) and Sascha (cat)! All three soon-to-be mothers, in our parent's house in Aurora, and we hope to visit them soon, maybe end of August (long weekend)!

Despite the long distance traveled from house to office, 4 hours per day, it feels good that now, after 9 years of renting a place, I finally have settled into a place of 'our' own. Willy and I have plans to improve the renovated house, and I cant wait to see it finished. Our decision was right. And I do really hope that this decision will lead to some other things we have been wanting to have.

Tomorrow is our 5th Year Anniversary together. I bought a gift for him - a guitar for him to practice his skill, and teach me how to play it as well :-) ! Ah I hope we can go to Laguna tomorrow to celebrate it. For now, I am really sleepy. TGIF.

Partners for Resilience W-S

July 26-30 2011: Another learning experience for all of us! And its good to see Omer again. Pleased to meet the CARE partners, IIRR facilitators, and delegates from Netherlands. I hope I can really help Ms. Elle in whatever she needs for this project, I cannot do so much though.. But will try my best. :-)

Health Check Weekend

Woke up late last Saturday morning, had brunch with Will, then off we go to SM Fairview Medical Clinic. The doctor advised me to get a papsmear and she did it right away. Advised me to get ultrasound as well but I dont think t'was necessary.

Then in the evening, Will and I went to the place where we first spent our first dates - OFF The GRILL at Timog. Promised myself that for this night, Im gonna have my last bottle of beer and my last cigarette stick. The band played slow rnb music, with Duncan Ramos as their guest singer.. Despite the sleepiness and the slight colds and cough, which the doctor suspected is allergic rhinitis, I still managed to enjoy the night, talking with Will and reminiscing what were the first conversations that we had. :-)

Then on sunday, had a shot of Varicella Vaccine administered by a lovely Doctor in Healthway SM The Block. Dra. Lorenzo, if Im not mistaken, she even told the story of her first pregnancy where she had chickenpox while 7 months pregnant, fortunately, it didnt affect her baby.

Then off we went home to savour the last hours of the weekend, I cooked some vegetables for our dinner and watched a not-so-old film 'Point of No Return' starring Bridget Fonda. I have watched this film years ago and I always liked Bridget for her gentle rugged-feminine role as an assasin. As my colds worsened, I decided to sleep on the sofa, without the aircon that Will cannot sleep without. My god, sometimes, I feel like I wanted to smash the aircon and the fans so I wont have a problem. Haha..

Selected Quotes from Harold and Maude Movie

***Thanks to Joerg for telling me to watch this film. Weird couple though, but Maude is a revolutionary! And I do love her philosophy, minus the extreme ones though, but who cares, great ideas come from crazy thoughts.. The ones I liked most are in red.

---
Harold: What were you fighting for?
Maude: Oh, big issues. Liberty. Rights. Justice. Kings died, kingdoms fell. I don't regret the kingdoms - what sense in borders and nations and patriotism? But I miss the kings.
---
Maude: A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. *Reach* out. Take a *chance*. Get *hurt* even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room.
---
Harold: Maude.
Maude: Hmm?
Harold: Do you pray?
Maude: Pray? No. I communicate.
Harold: With God?
Maude: With *life*.
---
Maude: Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much *life.* Aim above morality. If you apply that to life, then you're bound to live life fully.
---
Maude: Harold, *everyone* has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much.
---
Harold: You hop in any car you want and just drive off?
Maude: Well, not any car - I like to keep a variety. I'm always looking for the new experience.
Harold: [smiling] Maybe. [more seriously] Nevertheless, I think you're upsetting people. I don't know if that's right.
Maude: Well, if some people get upset because they feel they have a hold on some things, I'm merely acting as a gentle reminder: here today, gone tomorrow, so don't get attached to things *now.* With *that* in mind, I'm not against collecting stuff.
---
Maude: [to a motorcycle officer] *Don't* get officious. You're not yourself when you're officious - That is the curse of a government job.
---
Maude: Consistency is not *really* a human trait.
---
Harold: So... you don't use the umbrella anymore?
[Maude does not hear him]
Harold: No more revolts?
Maude: [Maude is crying, and finally looks at Harold] Oh, yes! Every day. But I don't need a *defense* anymore. I embrace! Still fighting for the Big Issues, but now in my small, individual way.
---
Maude: I've collected quite a lot of stuff in my time. Yeah, this is all memorabilia — but it’s incidental, not integral, if you know what I mean.
---
Maude: Here we are. Oat straw tea and ginger pie. Excuse the mismatched saucers.
Harold: This is definitely a new experience for me.
Maude: Oh, wonderful. Try something new each day. After all, we're given life to find it out. It doesn't last forever.
---
Maude: Oh, that was fun. Let's play something together.
Harold: I don't play anything.
Maude: Nothing? Oh... Dear me. Everybody should be able to make some music. That's the cosmic dance.
---
Maude: What a fuss this is -- so unnecessary.
Harold: Don't die, Maude, for Christ’s sake.
Maude: Oh, Harold -- oh, don't upset yourself so.
Harold: I love you. I love you!
Maude: Oh, Harold... That's wonderful. Go and love some more.

Sex -- As We Know It -- Works!

Sex -- As We Know It -- Works! Thanks to Ever-Evolving Host-Parasite Relationships, Biologists Find

ScienceDaily (July 9, 2011) — It seems we may have parasites to thank for the existence of sex as we know it. Indiana University biologists have found that, although sexual reproduction between two individuals is costly from an evolutionary perspective, it is favored over self-fertilization in the presence of coevolving parasites. Sex allows parents to produce offspring that are more resistant to the parasites, while self-fertilization dooms populations to extinction at the hands of their biological enemies.

Come Back to Me

***This is what happens when Im alone at home on a weekend, and its raining outside (plus the PMS).. Sabi nga ni Will, at least nakapagmuni-muni ako haha.

Come Back to Me

Who can feel what I breathe inside,
When I miss you?

Who can say how you miss me
When you are far from me?

Who dares to read my mind
When I smell your clothes
Just to remember your scent
When you don’t sleep beside me?

And who knows the distance
That bothers me when you’re somewhere
Like a dust
Out of billions of specks?

Can love fly
And travel space
Back to where it belong or
Just bounces back throughout the world over?

When you come back
Does your love weigh greater
Or lesser, when you know
That we can live without each other?

Or your coming just sweeps away
All the doubts I feel
When I feel the beat of your heart
Right beside my heart?

"Surface all Desaparecidos, Stop Impunity!"

OPEN LETTER TO ALL STUDENTS

07 July 2011

 

Tomorrow is the scheduled preliminary investigation on the criminal cases against Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. et al, for the enforced disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.

 

Prosecutors will decide if there is probable cause against Palparan and the other accused. “Probable cause” is a legal concept which refers to facts or evidence that would make a reasonable person believe that a crime or wrong doing has been committed, and by the particular persons suspected. This is significant because a warrant of arrest may be issued after determination of probable cause.

 

Over the years, we have compiled key testimonies which state that our fellow UP students Karen and Sherlyn were last seen in the custody of the military, enslaved and tortured. The Supreme Court itself affirmed the credibility of witness and military abductee Raymond Manalo. The decision last May patently ordered Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac, 2Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, M/Sgt. Donald Caigas, and Arnel Enriquez to immediately release Karen and Sherlyn.

 

The accused are required to be present at the preliminary investigation. We know it will be a raw and unnerving time for Nanay Connie Empeno, Nanay Linda Cadapan, and the witnesses who will come face to face with the men accused of cruel human rights violations and heinous crimes. If you have time, please join the gathering outside the Department of Justice along Padre Faura, Manila at 10:00 am tomorrow, 8 July 2011 to give moral encouragement to the families and friends of Karen and Sherlyn.

 

Enforced disappearances have two main objectives: first, they silence opponents, critics, and other social agents of change; second, they also create uncertainty and fear in the wider community. By supporting the legal and political campaign against enforced disappearances, and for the prosecution of human rights violators, we create a safer, better world for all of us.

 

Surface all desaparecidos, stop impunity!

Krissy Conti, UP Student Regent

 

He Said It: I Want a Baby

One night, I arrived late, which I always do, around 9pm from work, and then I realized he just arrived as well, which I am not expecting. Usually, before, when we were still living in our old apartment, he comes home earlier than I do.

And I felt, there's something wrong, I asked him if there's something he wanted to tell me. He tried to brush away the question but I didnt yield. I figured out there's alcohol in his blood. And still he's not answering, stubbornly.

I gave up after some time. Then, going to sleep, he said, 'I'm sad, I want a baby'.

There it is, one of my greatest fears verbalized by the one I love, demanding from me something that I have been anxious ever since..

I just moved to Novaliches this week! All my things are in a mess.. It takes some time before things normalize, tapos sabay pa ng disaster and reorganization sa work, hay life!

Boracay Island Xperience

This is a blast! 2 days nga lang. And on the first day it was raining but we enjoyed the beach nevertheless. We arrived in Kalibo 18th June 2011 (Saturday), 7pm, then went directly to Caticlan via Van, trip took 1 and 1/2 hours with other passengers going to Boracay as well. Then, when we arrived at Tabon Port, it looks like a lot of passengers are stranded so we decided to check in to a lodge in Caticlan. Thats where we spent the night.

5am on Sunday 19th June, we went directly to Tabon Port to board the earliest boat going to Bora. It was a very short trip, and we arrived in Bora around 6am. A woman approached us offering help to get accommodation and we headed to Station2. After checking 5 hotels, we finally decided to check in at Sheena's Hotel - not so expensive, newly renovated room.

The whole of this first day, we took pictures, played on the white beach of Bora, checked the commercial stalls, ate sumptuous meals, swam on the ocean, experienced helmet diving, went to the other side of the island, and just be restless. On the evening, we took a short nap on the hotel, the went off to go partying at Summer Place and Epic. I liked Epic more than Summer Place. Sir Benjo joined us partying, even introduced us to the volunteers of RC of the local chapter, Board, and even the Mayor - who was at that time, celebrating his birthday at Summer Place. Thanks for the pulutan courtesy of Mayor, btw! The gay entertainers are just hilarious, the song Chikitita keeps on repeating in my head 2 days after. Hahaha! Then we enjoyed dancing and just being intoxicated at EPIC where a lot of tourists are also enjoying the great disco music. We went back to the hotel at 3am. :-)

We woke up Monday, around 9am, and headed again to the beach, this time, taking more time just sipping fruit shake while enjoying the sun and the waters, and the sand. And observing people around - Willy and I looked at every person who passed us (walking on the beach) and we would tell each other if 'Pwede' or 'Hindi Pwede'. This is naughty but we enjoyed it and honestly, there are a lot of really good looking people in this island.

We took a short walk along the stalls trying to look for souvenirs but I cant seem to find one. Finally I realized, the only thing that I want to take away from this island are sands - which is the reason why people come to Bora anyways. So I got some samples and I plan to make it into some decoration at home - that everytime I look at it, I will remember how we enjoyed our stay here.

We also visited the local chapter's office, thanks to Sir Benjo for that, I can see a very promising chapter developing in this beautiful island! Then at around 5pm, we board the boat going to Caticlan and then we took a bus going to Kalibo. we arrived around 7:30 at Kalibo and checked in at La Esperanza. Had a quick dinner at the local Food Festival happening in Kalibo, and slept soundly that night. Our flight back to Manila was 8:15am the next day.

I might not have seen Boracay at its best but I surely was never disappointed about the island's beauty.

I am tired, I need a looooong sleep until my back aches. I guess I'm starting to internalize what an NFR really means. I am motivated but Im still lazy. I need to pause and just be alone. This week, Im finally leaving Mandaluyong. :-(

If I'll be doing everyday what I just did today, Im gonna puke. I have to do things slowly but surely.

Im crazy about Mildred Pierce, because I like Kate Winslet a lot! I have followed her from Titanic, to The Life of David Gale, The Revolutionary Road, and to the Reader, and now Mildred Pierce, amazing performance!

Its Been a While

Im finally moving to Novaliches on the 24/25th of this month, I cant believe it, things have been running fast. Too many changes have happened, new arrangements in the office, new tasks I think I can live up to, RJ finally married and maybe soon will have a child despite my telling them to let me have my baby first before they have theirs! And we're both eyeing at the name 'Franco', whoever gets the first baby boy will get the name Franco - but it was me who thought about this name, as a tribute to my father and Will's mother. Its a nice name, simple but classic. I also want Simon (girl/boy) from El Filibusterismo. Or maybe Mandela for a girl.

Last Saturday, I was with Janus and her former student Mari, we were in Malate and had some fun. Im on the process of meeting up with friends again, I have been too focused on work, lovelife, family for the last five years and I just realized, I have forgotten to connect with some friends in high school, and college. I wish I can make it up to them. It has been going smooth so far. This week, I hope to meet Roxy and Loulay in Shangri-La for some French film.

Its been a while I havent written here, things that are personal to me, things that I have been contemplating by myself, sometimes sharing them to Will, some to friends. I just wanted to write. Anything, and I dont want to worry about what I say. :-)

CaLP Training 24-27 May 2011

A four-day event looking at the experiences and other possibilities of implementing Cash Transfer Programming in humanitarian work. Event participated by colleagues from ACF, Oxfam, ADRA, CRS, CFSI, IFRC, PRC and Save the Children.

My Only Brother's Big Day

May 18, 2011: It was indeed a happy occassion. Cant believe my one and only brother just got married. I hope for a future filled with lasting love for both of them and for their kids that are soon to come. :-)

'Life Satisfaction and State Intervention Go Hand in Hand' and othersfrom ScienceDaily

Life Satisfaction and State Intervention Go Hand in Hand

 

ScienceDaily (May 6, 2011) — People living in countries with governments that have a greater number of social services report being more satisfied with life, according to a study by a Baylor University researcher.

 

Dr. Patrick Flavin, assistant professor of political science at Baylor, said the effect of state intervention into the economy equaled or exceeded marriage when it came to satisfaction. The study is published in the spring issue of the journal Politics & Policy.

 

Free market capitalism has been championed by leaders such as the late President Ronald Reagan and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, while left-leaning political parties and labor movements argue for more government intervention into the market. But scholars have paid little empirical attention to the debate in terms of which leads to more satisfaction among citizens, Flavin said.

 

Flavin and two other researchers used data from the World Values Survey's 2005 study. Their research included 10,405 people from 15 advanced industrialized countries who were asked, "All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?" On a scale of 1 to 10 -- with 10 the highest level of satisfaction -- the average rating for all respondents was 7.39, with respondents from the United States reporting an average of 7.26.

 

The study measured government intervention into the economy in four ways: government tax revenue as a percentage of its gross domestic product (GDP), government consumption of GDP, generosity of unemployment benefits and a country's welfare expenditures as a percentage of GDP.

 

"In many cases, less government intervention can allow for a more efficient economy, but greater economic efficiency doesn't necessarily translate into greater contentment with one's life," Flavin said. "If you get sick and can't work or lose your job and there are few social protections in place, you're more likely to be anxious and less satisfied."

 

The findings were consistent regardless of whether respondents were rich or poor and regardless of their political views, Flavin said. The findings rule out alternative explanations including individual characteristics -- such as personal health, level of education and marital status -- and such national factors as gross domestic product and unemployment rate.

 

The findings of the study contrast with the views of economists who are critical of government intervention and the welfare state in particular, arguing it can lead to inefficiency and wastefulness that will hurt employment, wages and economic growth.

 

Flavin said the research is focused only on the link between government intervention and life satisfaction and not whether intervention achieves economic growth or such goals as reducing poverty or violent crime. But "to the extent that it is a primary task of democratic governments to secure the well-being of their citizens, studying what government activities make citizens happier helps inform the 'politics vs. markets' debate,'" he said.

 

The United States had one of the lowest levels of state intervention among the countries in the study, but "we still certainly have a more expansive safety net than most developing countries," Flavin said.

 

The 15 countries included in the study are Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

 

The study was co-authored with Dr. Alexander C. Pacek, associate professor of political science at Texas A&M University, and Dr. Benjamin Radcliff, professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame.

 

Who Knows You Best? Not You, Say Psychologists

 

ScienceDaily (May 5, 2011) — Know thyself. That was Socrates' advice, and it squares with conventional wisdom. "It's a natural tendency to think we know ourselves better than others do," says Washington University in St. Louis assistant professor Simine Vazire.

 

But a new article by Vazire and her colleague Erika N. Carlson reviews the research and suggests an addendum to the philosopher's edict: Ask a friend. "There are aspects of personality that others know about us that we don't know ourselves, and vice-versa," says Vazire. "To get a complete picture of a personality, you need both perspectives." The paper is published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

 

It's not that we know nothing about ourselves. But our understanding is obstructed by blind spots, created by our wishes, fears, and unconscious motives -- the greatest of which is the need to maintain a high (or if we're neurotic, low) self-image, research shows. Even watching ourselves on videotape does not substantially alter our perceptions -- whereas others observing the same tape easily point out traits we're unaware of.

 

Not surprisingly, our intimates and those who spend the most time with us know us best. But even strangers have myriad cues to who we are: clothes, musical preferences, or Facebook postings. At the same time, our nearest and dearest have reasons to distort their views. After all, a boorish spouse or bullying child says something to the other spouse or parent. "We used to collect ratings from parents -- and we've mostly stopped, because they're useless," notes Vazire. What such data would show: Everyone's own child is brilliant, beautiful, and charming.

 

Interestingly, people don't see the same things about themselves as others see. Anxiety-related traits, such as stage fright, are obvious to us, but not always to others. On the other hand, creativity, intelligence, or rudeness is often best perceived by others. That's not just because they manifest themselves publicly, but also because they carry a value judgment -- something that tends to affect self-judgment. But the world is not always the harsher critic. Others tend to give us higher marks for our strengths than we credit ourselves with.

 

Why doesn't all this information add up to better personal and mutual understanding? People are complex, social cues are many, perceptions of others are clouded by our own needs and biases, studies show. Plus, the information isn't easy to access. "It's amazing how hard it is to get direct feedback," Vazire notes, adding that she isn't advocating brutal frankness at any cost. There are good reasons for reticence.

 

The challenge, then, is to use such knowledge for the good. "How can we give people feedback, and how can that be used to improve self-knowledge?" Vazire asks. "And how do we use self-knowledge to help people be happier and have better relationships?"

 

The first answer to these questions may be the most obvious, but not the easiest to practice: Listen to others. They may know more than you do -- even about yourself.

 

More Than 20 Percent of Atheist Scientists Are 'Spiritual', Study Finds

 

ScienceDaily (May 5, 2011) — More than 20 percent of atheist scientists are spiritual, according to new research from Rice University. Though the general public marries spirituality and religion, the study found that spirituality is a separate idea -- one that more closely aligns with scientific discovery -- for "spiritual atheist" scientists.

 

The research will be published in the June issue of Sociology of Religion.

 

Through in-depth interviews with 275 natural and social scientists at elite universities, the Rice researchers found that 72 of the scientists said they have a spirituality that is consistent with science, although they are not formally religious.

 

"Our results show that scientists hold religion and spirituality as being qualitatively different kinds of constructs," said Elaine Howard Ecklund, assistant professor of sociology at Rice and lead author of the study. "These spiritual atheist scientists are seeking a core sense of truth through spirituality -- one that is generated by and consistent with the work they do as scientists."

 

For example, these scientists see both science and spirituality as "meaning-making without faith" and as an individual quest for meaning that can never be final. According to the research, they find spirituality congruent with science and separate from religion, because of that quest; where spirituality is open to a scientific journey, religion requires buying into an absolute "absence of empirical evidence."

 

"There's spirituality among even the most secular scientists," Ecklund said. "Spirituality pervades both the religious and atheist thought. It's not an either/or. This challenges the idea that scientists, and other groups we typically deem as secular, are devoid of those big 'Why am I here?' questions. They too have these basic human questions and a desire to find meaning."

 

Ecklund co-authored the study with Elizabeth Long, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology at Rice. In their analysis of the 275 interviews, they discovered that the terms scientists most used to describe religion included "organized, communal, unified and collective." The set of terms used to describe spirituality include "individual, personal and personally constructed." All of the respondents who used collective or individual terms attributed the collective terms to religion and the individual terms to spirituality.

 

"While the data indicate that spirituality is mainly an individual pursuit for academic scientists, it is not individualistic in the classic sense of making them more focused on themselves," said Ecklund, director of the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice. "In their sense of things, being spiritual motivates them to provide help for others, and it redirects the ways in which they think about and do their work as scientists."

 

Ecklund and Long noted that the spiritual scientists saw boundaries between themselves and their nonspiritual colleagues because their spirituality facilitated engagement with the world around them. Such engagement, according to the spiritual scientists, generated a different approach to research and teaching: While nonspiritual colleagues might focus on their own research at the expense of student interaction, spiritual scientists' sense of spirituality provides nonnegotiable reasons for making sure that they help struggling students succeed.

 

Who Needs Motivation? The Rewards of Doing 'Something'

ScienceDaily (May 2, 2011) — People don't really care what they're doing -- just as long as they are doing something. That's one of the findings summarized in a new review article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

 

When psychologists think about why people do what they do, they tend to look for specific goals, attitudes, and motivations. But they may be missing something more general -- people like to be doing something. These broader goals, to be active or inactive, may have a big impact on how they spend their time.

 

When psychologists think about why people do what they do, they tend to look for specific goals, attitudes, and motivations. But they may be missing something more general -- people like to be doing something. These broader goals, to be active or inactive, may have a big impact on how they spend their time.

 

Author Dolores Albarracin of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign says she started paying attention to people's different levels of activity in various countries and saw how much busier people are in the US relative to other areas. "People have this inclination to do more, even if what they do is trivial," she says. In recent years, she has been doing research on how people feel about activity, including how easily she could change the level of activity that people aimed for. In one set of experiments, for example, she found that getting people to think about physical activity made them more interested in political activity.

 

Experiments have shown that the desire for activity is quite strong; people will go to a lot of trouble to maintain their desired level of activity, which can include unhealthy behaviors. Many psychologists have "the idea that people have these highly specific goals," Albarracin says. "But quite often some significant proportion of our time is engaged in this global level -- we want to do something, but what we do ends up not mattering much. You could end up with productive behavior, like work, or impulsive behavior, like drug use."

 

Albarracin co-wrote the review article with Justin Hepler and Melanie Tannenbaum, also of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Lenten Vacation (20-26 Apr 2011)

Ours was a simple celebration of just being together again as a family, united as one, no major problems as of the moment, some new decisions made based on unexpected changes, all in all, another set of days added in the journey.

Have met some high school friends, my dear Janus, Howard, ate Donabel (elementary) and Ate Shane. It feels like we're so young again!

And the food, grabe talaga, wala diet pag-uwi sa probinsiya, mommy cooks the best! And we had lechon, kase parang naglilihi ako, heheh, I only appreciated lechon since December 2010, and I crave for it so I requested, and dade approved. So is the saluyot and okra ni Inay, one of my favorite vegie dishes!

Looks Do Matter, Particularly When It Comes to Neighborhoods

ScienceDaily (Apr. 27, 2011) — It's an unfamiliar neighborhood and you find yourself in the middle of a bunch of streets and buildings you've never seen before. Giving the environment a quick once-over, you make a snap decision about whether you're safe or not. And chances are, that first 'gut' call is the right one, say Binghamton University researchers Dan O'Brien and David Sloan Wilson in an article published in the current issue of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

 

In a recent series of studies conducted in Binghamton, New York, evolutionary biologists, O'Brien and Wilson, set out to test whether we do indeed have the capacity to judge urban neighborhood safety just by looking at physical structures. It turns out that we do.

 

More here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426111417.htm.

5 Years After_Meeting Zyra

I missed this girl, it felt like we were high school students again, lots of updates, my throat ached when we finally separated. Hope to see you again, mother..

Einstein's God

"I belive in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings."

Communicating Uncertain Climate Risks

ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2011) - Despite much research that demonstrates potential dangers from climate change, public concern has not been increasing. One theory is that this is because the public is not intimately familiar with the nature of the climate uncertainties being discussed.

 

"All of our climate-related options have uncertainties, regarding health, economics, ecosystems, and international stability, among other things," says Fischhoff. "It's important to know what gambles we're taking if, for example, we ignore climate issues altogether or create strong incentives for making our lives less energy intensive."

 

Read more on http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110329163128.htm

Against the Tide

Currents Keep Dolphins Apart; Study Finds Invisible Oceanographic Factors That Keep Populations Separate

 

ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2011) — Conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and other conservation and research groups have discovered that groups of dolphins in the western Indian Ocean do not mix freely with one another. In fact, dolphin populations are kept separate by currents and other unseen factors.

Assessment Training in Davao City

Date: March 14 - 18, 2011 at Davao City Waterfront Hotel

Lessons of 1990 Earthquake lost on vulnerable Baguio

Volcanologists point to the possibility of another big earthquake hitting Baguio, where communities are built atop sinkholes and on steep slopes. Its population nearly doubling during the summer, Baguio has only one fire station and four functioning fire trucks. Typhoon Pepeng and a recent horrific bus crash exposed the city's woeful lack of disaster preparedness.

 

Full Story:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/215909/special-reports/lessons-of-1990-earthquake-lost-on-vulnerable-baguio

How many times do I need to screw up just to learn?

Even wars have limits. - ICRC

MOA Fireworks Show 13 Mar

Science Notes Today March4

Mapping Human Vulnerability to Climate Change
Researchers already study how various species of plants and animals migrate in response to climate change. Now, Jason Samson, a PhD candidate in McGill University's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, has taken the innovative step of using the same analytic tools to measure the impact of climate change on human populations. Samson and fellow researchers combined climate change data with censuses covering close to 97 per-cent of the world's population in order to forecast potential changes in local populations for 2050. Samson's team found that if populations continue to increase at the expected rates, those who are likely to be the most vulnerable to climate change are the people living in low-latitude, hot regions of the world, places like central South America, the Arabian Peninsula and much of Africa. In these areas, a relatively small increase in temperature will have serious consequences on a region's ability to sustain a growing population."

The More Secure You Feel, the Less You Value Your Stuff
People who feel more secure in receiving love and acceptance from others place less monetary value on their possessions, according to new research from the University of New Hampshire.The research was conducted by Edward Lemay, assistant professor of psychology at UNH, and colleagues at Yale University. The research is published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Lemay and his colleagues found that people who had heightened feelings of interpersonal security -- a sense of being loved and accepted by others -- placed a lower monetary value on their possession than people who did not.

Light-to-Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Help Stave Off Dementia, Research Suggests
Experts agree that long-term alcohol abuse is detrimental to memory function and can cause neuro-degenerative disease. However, according to a study published in Age and Ageing by Oxford University Press, there is evidence that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

Satellite Eye on Earth

Beautiful images captured by European Space Agency and NASA satellites last month:

Image 1: Ebon Atoll, a coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean that is part of the Marshall Islands - located about 1000 km to the north-east of the Solomon Islands.

Image 2: Brasilia (Brazil) is located on a plateau (Planalto Central) in the west-central part of d country & is widely considered to be 1 of the best examples of 20th Century urban planning.

Image 3: Ostrov Shikotan (or Shikotan-to) is a volcanic island at the southern end of the Kuril chain. Shikotan lies along the extreme southern edge of winter sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Jeepneys and Ferry Boats

I miss the ferry boat. I miss the river. It’s been more than a month since the ferry service was suspended, the reason for which I didn’t bother to ask the management. And it’s been more than a month that I go to office and back home via jeepney, passing Quiapo. And there’s been a lot that I have seen and known.

I have smelled the polluted air of the metro minimum two hours a day during weekdays. I have noticed the difference of going out in the street early in the morning, than waking up late and rushing to work. I have passed almost every day the man @ the market, selling fruits @ P10 – which occasionally have become my breakfast, I have loved sitting beside the driver instead of @ the back of the jeepney – so I can see the road the vehicle is heading, I have observed the different errands people are up to – making their lives worthwhile for them. I have listened to the songs of the radio on the jeepney, on the street, or of the blind man playing his guitar beside the sidewalk. They all come to pass, as I pass each of them.

I have seen the lined up devotees of the Quiapo church, sidewalk vendors selling rosaries, candles, handkerchiefs with printed pictures of saints and prayers, herbal medicines saying ‘pamparegla’, stones and amulets, pirated cds and dvds. The stench of early morning drunkards gives me headaches, and in the evening, young boys sniffing rugby or acetone, while begging money on the streets. The first time I experienced it, everything seemed to freeze, and I believe I felt the truth. There was a mother carrying a small child, both of them almost asleep, and we were at the most rear side of the jeepney, while the vehicle swifts off the road. I feared they might fall, but was relieved later when they finally got off.

I just want the ferry back. The sadness of these sights just tell me how bad some things are, how helpless, how poor. But the light shines within each individual; I have seen that as well. A young boy helping out his father-driver collect money from passengers or calling out for possible commuter, I wonder if he even attends school. And a mother/father sending her/his child to school in the morning brings me back the times when my mother/ grandfather send me to my class in kindergarten. They were full of love for these kids who are too curious.

Maybe I really want the ferry back, but I guess, if ever the ferries are back, I’ll always try the jeepneys once in a while.

Tempura Craze & the Moon

Feb 12 2011; back of MOA, while watching the Pyromusical Competition with Willy, pre-valentines date. Its Korea vs Spain, I like Spain's presentation more, shorter but more magical - fireworks and music match magically! I have videos of the show but its too big to upload here. :-)

CCA Workshop – Laguna, 16-18 Feb 2011

Thanks to the IFRC for organizing this event, to the Climate Centre and Laguna Chapter for hosting the event. This event once again tells us that there is something we can do to adapt to climate change, if not to mitigate it that much. As a humanitarian organization, reaching out to the most vulnerable, it’s good to know that no matter how we think invaluable our own efforts are, we actually make a difference – in helping people, in bringing out that smile to our beneficiaries, and easing the hearts of those who feel helpless.

Hope to see all of you again soon out in the field!

Dad's Bday @ Dad's

Feb 3 2011 - A pleasant lunch at Dad's Megamall - yummy yummy food, parang umabot sa leeg pagkabusog ko. The day after, went to MOA Seaside and ate at one of the Paluto Restos. Sarap ulit!

The Good and the Evil

I was once called Joyce Evil and I believe people still call him Jeff Good. ;-) But we get along too well anyways

Restless by Cecilia Borromeo

It is that perennial immateriality dwelling between living and dying

crouched in the corners and grappling by the hinges

only to remain unseen;

We weave our web of what we believe we understand

of the relationship of our acts and events

only to remain misunderstood;

From that odd wisp of steam of heated discussions

to the urgent hiss of a new page calling;

I teeter on that thin ice --

That single space of uncertainty --

And I ask

“What am I doing here?”.

We are Family!

I think I really found a way to keep my brother and Willy from watching TV while I’m doing the housework, and that is playing music that they like! I didn’t realize that would be the result of it until this weekend. We woke up at 9am on Saturday and I played the songs on the new CD I bought. I was playing it from the laptop on my room and my brother came out from his room and turned the TV on. And I told him, ‘Can’t you see, I’m listening to music, turn that off!’. And he did, not out of fear but of goodwill seeing that I’m preparing breakfast for him. Hehe..

 

Suddenly, as I was cooking, I felt they both were uneasy just sitting on the sofa and listening to the beautiful love songs. Then they both set off to do something, Arjay went back to his room to fix his things, and Willy prepared his baggage for Singapore, also doing some house work themselves, while humming or singing with the music. I was a bit surprised about my discovery and smiled secretly. I don’t need to push their asses to throw out the garbage or put things in order. And now Saturday morning will always be ‘Music Morning’! Leisure time comes later after all the housework.

 

One of the songs in the CD is “My Love Will See You Through” by Marco Sison. I remember my father singing that to me when I was still in college. Below are the lyrics.

 

My Love Will See You Through lyrics

by Marco Sison

 

When friends turn their backs on you, And you're so helpless, You dont know what to do, I'll be on your side to comfort you, My love will see you through, When the tears are in your eyes, And you feel like you wanna cry, Just reach out and i'll be around to understand, When you stumble and fall, And you need a shoulder to lean on, All you have to do is call, And i'll be there with a helping hand, When the road seem so long and endless, And all you see is nothing but darkness, Dont give up just walk on, Have faith in your heart, For my love will see you through

 

My love will see you through, When you reach for your star, When you cross the deepest sea, When you climb the highest hill, my love will always be with you, In everything you do, In every step you'll make, In every road you take, Don't be afraid to follow your dreams, For my love will see you through

 

Next week, 3 Feb 2011, he’s turning 48, and he said they will visit us. Hope they’ll go as planned as my leave applications have already been approved!

Remembrances

He walked past beside me. His hair is long and grey and straight, almost below the level of his lungs. I think his name is Jesse, I can't remember, he was one of the guys playing their guitars during cultural events in the university, singing freedom songs, they never tire of these, they've always loved it anyways, and when I saw him again yesterday while walking, I felt he still have the same passion, and I envy him.

When I realized it was really him that I know a long time ago, not as a friend, but maybe, a brother in principle, I tried to speed up my pace to catch up with him, but he's too fast. And after months of not going to the same place to walk or jog, I felt I'm running out of breath. He started to get smaller and smaller from my vision, and its getting dark. I noticed his head is tilted to his right, as if there is some weight on the right side of his body making him do so. After a while, I saw him take out from his pocket a piece of paper? What is it? It might be a poem, a list of names, an agenda for a meeting. He might go to Vinzons Hall or maybe somewhere else. I cant catch up with him anymore. Its getting dark.

After a few minutes of walking, I saw him again, hugged a woman, a friend maybe, accompanied by a man, and they all walked/ jogged together. And I felt relieved. I didnt know why. Its getting dark at that hour. After circling the academic oval for three times, its time to go home. Next weekend, I hope to go back again. I might not see him again but there is always that same nostalgia that will never go away.

Aurora Vacation 12.24.10 - 01.01.11

Had a great holiday in my hometown, was able to visit Ampere Beach with April as well as Dinadiawan both in Dipaculao Municipalities- very secluded beach facing the Pacific Ocean. Hehe, it's nice to be there to relax, but not the ideal beach where you can swim - it's not the regular sandy beach, it's a rocky beach. ;-)

Sana next year ganto ulit, will be able to spend Xmas and New Year with family and close friends.

Im still on vacation mode.. Anyways, its just the first week of the year. Next week hopefully is going to be a full take off for work stuffs. Oh yes, I have a deadline! I wont have any excuses anymore.. Bad..

Sascha, Dagul & Sophie

My dear Sascha is so beautiful! (",) I love her. Hehe..