Category: Life

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I’m a Sucker for Underdogs!

Yes, I am a sucker for underdogs. It’s just me.

Of course, the underdog has to be one of decent stock and integrity. Someone credible. Someone vulnerable. Someone unable to fight on his/her own. And recently, another such person has caught everyone in the throes of controversy that has gotten incredible media mileage.

Brian Gorrell has captured the hearts and minds of bloggers and web surfers globally, including Pinoys (one of whom he accuses of having allegedly scammed him of his life savings of 70,000 dollars). Brian could not get it back and resorted to blogging in an attempt to force this Pinoy to hand his money back — money he desperately needs for his medicines. Brian has HIV.

I won’t go into detailed comments about what Brian claims he knows or what he blogged about. You can go to Brian’s blog and read all about it there.

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But what is really core to all these is his exposure of what we already have a glimpse of — the huge abyss between the rich and the poor of our country and what perks it gives to the high and mighty, to the detriment of those who merely survive from day to day and learn to go without.

If, through Brian’s blog, we Filipinos can see the real view of our country (its good side as well as its sickening ills), maybe we can now be stirred to move towards changing society, help in whatever way we can to make life better for millions of our own, bring back honesty, integrity, good governance at every level of society, and give back the dignity of the Pinoy that has been stripped bare by countless scandals not just in government but also, apparently, in our high society circles.

Kitty Go’s amazingly candid interview was so refreshing. While being herself a socialite now based in HK, she shows the better side of what real high society should be made of — finesse, social concern, clean living, honest profession, etc. There are still many of those in this country. Those who use their money to engage in housing projects, set up foundations for education, for better provincial infrastructure, and so forth. It is the few who live like there was no tomorrow, indulging in wild lifestyles, liquor and drugs, living in their intoxicated world, engaging in corruption to continue building up their empire, who bring a bad image to high society (and government, as well).

Some creative person came up with an image which Brian posted on his blog. It does not look like it is copyrighted as it has “Team Brian” on it. So I am putting it up here as well.

Good luck to you, Brian. Many people are praying you stay healthy. Many are hoping you get back your money. Thank you for exposing what many in this country have known for some time now but never dared talk (or write) about.

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5 Reasons Why God Uses Problems

A friend sent this to me by email today.

How do you react when problems come your way? If you ask me, I would rather NOT have problems. My first instinct is to avoid anything that would cause problems. And yet, like everyone else, I have my own dose of these — and MORE sometimes. But as I read this, I felt my heart lighten. Having problems suddenly took on a new perspective, like a fresh breath of air. Suddenly, even the toxic day at my office today did not seem too bad.

And so I share it also with you — that we may all be blessed by it and see our problems in a different light.

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5 Reasons Why God Uses Problems :

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you – depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.”
Proverbs 20:30

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags…if you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem What do problems reveal about you? “When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.”
Jam es 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It’s likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something…health, money, a relationship. .. by losing it. “It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws.”
Psalm 119:71-72

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem – but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management’s actions were eventually discovered. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…
Genesis 50:20

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you’re going to take with you into eternity. “We can rejoice when we run into problems… they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.”
Romans 5:3-4


Here’s the point:
God is at work in your life – even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it’s much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him. “Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way.”

LIFE IS AN ECHO. What you send out, you get back. What you give, you receive.
WHEN YOU BRING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS, YOU BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOURSELF.

MAY GOD BLESS US ALWAYS….

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Earth Hour 2008

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING?

Join Earth Hour 2008 this coming March 29, 2008, 8 PM.

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Last year, March 31, 2007 to be exact, Sydney turned off its lights for 1 hour.

– 2.2 million people

– 2,100 businesses

Sydney landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House turned their lights off; weddings were done by candlelight. That collective effort resulted in reducing the city’s energy consumption by 10.2 percent for that hour, equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road for an hour.

Inspired by Sydney, other major cities are joining Earth Hour 2008, Manila included (with WWF-Philippines leading the pack). In their website, WWF-Philippines reports that “Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad agreed to turn off all lights along Manila’s historical Roxas Boulevard seaside strip for 60 minutes on 29 March to show support.”

 

What can YOU do? The Earth Hour 2008 website gives these suggestions:

  1. Sign up for Earth Hour 2008
  2. Get involved and create a bigger, better Earth Hour
  3. Reduce your impact on climate change
  4. Create your own Earth Hour event
  5. Calculate your carbon footprint

In its list of participating cities, Earth Hour 2008 reports Manila’s vision as follows:

The people of Manila care deeply about climate change and we are united in our resolve to meet this challenge in the best way that we can. This is why the City of Manila has teamed with WWF to make Earth Hour 2008 a success around the world by being the lead city in Philippines participating in the simple but momentous act of turning off the lights for one hour.

Here in Manila we understand that climate change is the most significant threat to life on Earth. One way to slow the current rate of global warming is for each individual and business to make small adjustments to the way they live. To meet the threat of climate change we need to demonstrate how simple and easy it is to make the small adjustments to our lives that begin to make the difference.

An event like Earth Hour that achieves full community involvement in a simple action like turning the lights off can make a huge difference. And even more importantly, it will mark the beginning of a campaign to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of Manila significantly by the time Earth Hour 2009 comes around.

WWF and Manila invite all households and businesses to take part in Earth Hour by turning off their lights for one hour at 8pm on March 29 2008. Information on how you, your business or local community can get involved in Earth Hour 2008 can be found on the Earth Hour website.

Let’s do our share. Pass on this information to your family and friends.

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A Taxing Season

This weekend finds me turning my attention to taxes.

There are real estate taxes to pay. I just finished paying off the taxes for the land where our home stands on. There went a huge chunk of my home budget.

Now I need to send out checks to various Treasurer’s Offices. Not that we have a lot of properties. My Dad passed away years ago with tiny properties here and there but the effort to pay the taxes (writing checks, preparing covering letters, mailing them out via registered mail) is the same as having large tracts of land.

I also just recently renewed my cedula, will renew my professional tax license, and by April, pay my income tax. Add another month and tuition fees will be upon us.

Such a TAXING SEASON indeed!

For legit, working citizens like myself, paying taxes lops off a huge chunk of take home pay but it is a duty that everyone has to one’s country.

I cannot help but think though that those who are in power and who are deeply into corruption are taking home so many millions more than ordinary citizens like myself and get away without paying the corresponding taxes on them.

If there was such a thing as a Corruption Tax that charges a certain percentage for every kickback made, I think that tax would build more roads, feed more poor, erect more public schools, provide potable water, bring electricity to many parts of this impoverished country of ours.

The Government is supposed to be the good steward of monies received from its citizens. When that money is squandered and goes to the pockets of people in power, the citizens are left thinking what the heck they are paying their taxes religiously for.

I am not advocating that we stop paying our taxes. I just wish our leaders would realize just how much it takes from each and everyone of us to pay them and finally, finally put it where it is needed most.

*sigh*

 

 

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Fire! Fire! Fire??????

Something today almost freaked me out.

I left my office on one of the top floors of the Enterprise Center with plans just to buy lunch and eat it on my desk while continuing to work. 15 minutes tops was all I needed.

I went to the Food Park, bought a burger and dessert, then entered the elevator. It was one of those few times when I had the elevator to myself. Great, I thought to myself. It was an express ride to my floor!

As the elevator reached my floor, I suddenly heard the building’s alarm go off. And worse, the elevator’s arrow suddenly began to point down. I was being brought down against my will by the elevator! And I did not have the faintest idea what was going on outside as I heard the alarms all the way down. During what seemed like eternity, I remember thinking of the movie I had just watched on HBO the other night. It was about the policemen who were trapped when the World Trade Center collapsed. And they were caught where else? The elevator shaft!!!!! Chills ran down my spine!!!

At the mezzanine level, a security man all dressed in neon orange overalls met me and gestured to quickly get out of the building. I followed the growing crowd of employees outside. As we stepped out into the bright noon sunlight, I saw some smoke billowing out of what looked like the Food Park. Did someone’s kitchen catch fire after I left there? Then I saw what seemed like water bursting out of a hose alongside the smoke. Geeeezzzz!

I walked to an outdoor parking lot and looked towards the direction of the smoke and water.

A huge tarpaulin was hung outside the mezzanine level of the building. I missed it on my way to work as it was not facing the area where I was usually dropped off.

What did the tarpaulin say?

My 15-minute lunch became almost an hour-long one. But on the flip side of it all, I got to witness our building’s security people coordinate with the Makati firemen and emergency crew. We were treated to a demo of rescue drills that included rappeling down the building’s side and practicing putting out a raging fire with extinguishers. As I went back to my office, I felt that in a real emergency situation, I was probably safer in this building as everyone seemed well coordinated and safety was a paramount concern.

And, as my desk neighbor kidded later, “You were meant to blog about it!” 🙂

Here are some photos I took with my trusty camera phone:

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We Celebrate International Women’s Day Today!

Every March is International Women’s Month and specifically, March 8 is celebrated globally as International Women’s Day.

On the International Women’s Day (IWD) website, the day is described as follows: “Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.”

Many corporations have began to actively support IWD. Even Google reportedly changes its logo every March 8 on its search engine pages.

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I found several activities (many from FilipinaImages.com) in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces that aim to celebrate women and inspire each one to achieve her full potential — to celebrate womanhood in all its forms.

March 9, NBC Tent, Rockwell (7am – 5pm) – all women’s expo and all women’s run of different distances. Sen. Pia Cayetano will be one of those joining the run.

March 9, Quezon Park, Dumaguete City (5am – 10pm) – A 5-kilometer Fun Run/Walk for all women and girls will take place with support from men distributing information flyers on womens rights.

WikiPilipinas is hosting the Portal Encyclopedia of Filipina Women.

Filipiniana.net has a link to Philippine Women Studies which features links to laws relating to women, academic and statistical works on Filipino women, and literary masterpieces written by and for Filipinas.

FilipinaImages.com founders Noemi Dado, Dine Racoma and Lorna Dietz, in collaboration with wikiPilipinas, launched a writing contest, “Filipina Stories” for bloggers.

HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY TO ALL —

Filipina kababayans (fellow citizens), most of all to those who have distinguished themselves in their own fields and given the Filipina a positive image

my Pinay mommy blogger-friends (you know who you are!)

my women blog readers

women all over the world — with special mention to those whose basic rights as women are not respected, upheld or appreciated

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!