Dear Sabine, hanggang ngayon, ang iyong laging bukang bibig ay "Sabine is going to school now".
Well, last week we went to Tagkawayan, your Lola Letty's and Mom's hometown and visited the High school where your Mommy graduated from: Our Lady of Lourdes Academy (OLLA). We went there to pay our respects to Ninong Ed Villaseñor. To your Mom and I he was "Ninong Ed" because he stood as one of the sponsors of our wedding. But to several generations of OLLA students he mentored, he was known by his knightly title of "Sir Ed".
At the most important juncture of her life, Sir Ed was one of those who inspired your Mom to continue her pursuit to earn a medical degree. This despite of the daunting odds and the personal loss she and your Lola suffered that year. They lost your Tita Adhey and Lolo Lony in a span of 40 days.
It was such an impossible dream at that time. But with God's help and with the help of inspiring mentors like Ninong Ed, she moved on to fulfill her dreams.
Sir Ed passed away unexpectedly. The whole town mourned his passing.
He was an institution. He was larger than life. In the end he was buried in the same school that saw him share the best years of his life with the youth that he mentored to adulthood. I think it was a fitting tribute to the man who lead a heroic life.
Why?
Because a school is a battleground for the hearts and minds of the young. And Sir Ed was one of its most gallant warriors. It was only right that his mortal remains be buried in the ground made hallow by his struggle to mold the minds of many generations with the Promethean fire.
There is a battleground in Greece called "Thermophyle" where a band of noble warriors were buried on the same ground where they made a stand against the forces of superstition, tyranny and ignorance. In doing so, they were able to preserve the most precious legacy of that ancient civilization: Freedom of Thought.
Their epitaph reads:
"Tell the Spartans, passerby...
That here, by Spartan Law, we lie."
Monday, April 23, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
I'm Proud of YOU, Sexy!
The email says:
"14th Congress of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association
31 August - 4 September, 2007
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, 11 April, 2007
Dear Dr. Arleen Decena-Galvez,
On behalf of the Scientific Committee I have the pleasure to inform you that your abstract N° 18 with the title 'FREQUENCY OF RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTION AND SIDE EFFECTS OF OM-89 AND NITROFURANTOIN IN CHILDREN WITH URINARY TRACT ABNORMALITIES IN A RANDOMIZED TRIAL: A PILOT STUDY' was accepted for POSTER presentation.
You will get a note about the date and place of your presentation by the end of April.
The poster exhibition is a very important part of the congress program which includes oral poster presentations as well as poster tours.
Posters with a clearly presented heading including the title of the presentation, names of authors and their affiliation must fit the size of the poster board: 90 cm wide and 120 cm high. The letters used should be large enough to be read from a distance of 1,5 m .
Please inform the Scientific Committee until the 30th April, the latest, in case you are not able to come to the Congress and present your poster: reusz@gyer1.sote.hu
Please note that the condition to have your presentation at the programme and your abstract published in the Abstract Book is the registration of the presenting author at the Congress. Therefore we invite you to register not later than 30 April, 2007 at the following website: www.ipna2007.com
For any queries as to registration please contact Blaguss Congress Bureau: ipna2007@blaguss-congress.hu
See you in Budapest !
With kind regards
George Reusz Tivadar Tulassay
Congress Secretary Congress President
31 August - 4 September, 2007
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, 11 April, 2007
Dear Dr. Arleen Decena-Galvez,
On behalf of the Scientific Committee I have the pleasure to inform you that your abstract N° 18 with the title 'FREQUENCY OF RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTION AND SIDE EFFECTS OF OM-89 AND NITROFURANTOIN IN CHILDREN WITH URINARY TRACT ABNORMALITIES IN A RANDOMIZED TRIAL: A PILOT STUDY' was accepted for POSTER presentation.
You will get a note about the date and place of your presentation by the end of April.
The poster exhibition is a very important part of the congress program which includes oral poster presentations as well as poster tours.
Posters with a clearly presented heading including the title of the presentation, names of authors and their affiliation must fit the size of the poster board: 90 cm wide and 120 cm high. The letters used should be large enough to be read from a distance of 1,5 m .
Please inform the Scientific Committee until the 30th April, the latest, in case you are not able to come to the Congress and present your poster: reusz@gyer1.sote.hu
Please note that the condition to have your presentation at the programme and your abstract published in the Abstract Book is the registration of the presenting author at the Congress. Therefore we invite you to register not later than 30 April, 2007 at the following website: www.ipna2007.com
For any queries as to registration please contact Blaguss Congress Bureau: ipna2007@blaguss-congress.hu
See you in Budapest !
With kind regards
George Reusz Tivadar Tulassay
Congress Secretary Congress President
Monday, April 09, 2007
Powell Doctrine
"...when a nation is engaging in war, every resource and tool should be used to achieve overwhelming force against the enemy, minimizing US casualties and ending the conflict quickly by forcing the weaker force to capitulate." -- The Powell Doctrine
Today we mark the anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. It’s like the battle of thermophyle in the movie "300" that we just watched over the holy week-- or atleast that’s what the local folklore and history would like us to believe.
An overwhelming force was used by the empire of Japan to over run the defenders of Bataan and the Rock fortress of Corregidor. It resulted in Japan's conquest of the Philippines.
Back in the first gulf war, Powell applied his doctrine of overwhelming force to secure victory for the United States. It resulted in the renaissance of of American Conservative Movement that was supposedly dealt a deathblow by the quagmire called "Vietnam" a generation ago.
Now, America, thanks to the Bush administration, has come full circle. It has a new VIETNAM.
A few days from now, the world will mark the 4th anniversary of the American Invasion of IRAQ. Some say that the invasion was a debacle because a self-proclaimed potentate of the pentagon named Rumsfeld decided to experiment with the United States Military Personell and Iraqi People by applying his own vision for the US military which seeks to "increase force readiness and decrease the amount of supply required to maintain forces, by reducing the number in a theater."
He probably figured that after years of bombing, the Iraqi Forces are so weak that using overwhelming force against it will be viewed by history as an unsportsmanlike conduct. It makes me wonder if the real reason why the defenders of thermophyle lasted longer than expected was because Xerxes wanted to show the world that his army was a match to any insurgent force, man-to-man, pound-for-pound. Maybe that's why he sent his men to the gates of Thermophyle in a piecemeal fashion.
Maybe he was the first one to apply the Rumfeld doctrine with disastrous results.
It is a flawed doctrine in the Art of War. The Rumsfeld doctrine forgot the military adage that the gods of war are always in favor of the army who comes into battle with the most number of men (and with the most number of digital buttons to push). Rumsfeld also forgot the first rule of hand to hand combat which is to NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENT.
Powell was the only Republican I admired before he became the fall guy of the Bush administration. Who can forget his failed attempt at being the next Adlai Stevenson of the Security council? Who can forget that he was the one who made the case for the Iraqi Invasion because of imagined "material breach" of UN Resolutions, coupled by claims of even more imaginary Iraqi possesion of Weapons of Mass Destruction? Who can forget....
I take it back... The world has forgotten.
Now it's Barak Obama who could become the first Black President of the US.
Sayang talaga.
Today we mark the anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. It’s like the battle of thermophyle in the movie "300" that we just watched over the holy week-- or atleast that’s what the local folklore and history would like us to believe.
An overwhelming force was used by the empire of Japan to over run the defenders of Bataan and the Rock fortress of Corregidor. It resulted in Japan's conquest of the Philippines.
Back in the first gulf war, Powell applied his doctrine of overwhelming force to secure victory for the United States. It resulted in the renaissance of of American Conservative Movement that was supposedly dealt a deathblow by the quagmire called "Vietnam" a generation ago.
Now, America, thanks to the Bush administration, has come full circle. It has a new VIETNAM.
A few days from now, the world will mark the 4th anniversary of the American Invasion of IRAQ. Some say that the invasion was a debacle because a self-proclaimed potentate of the pentagon named Rumsfeld decided to experiment with the United States Military Personell and Iraqi People by applying his own vision for the US military which seeks to "increase force readiness and decrease the amount of supply required to maintain forces, by reducing the number in a theater."
He probably figured that after years of bombing, the Iraqi Forces are so weak that using overwhelming force against it will be viewed by history as an unsportsmanlike conduct. It makes me wonder if the real reason why the defenders of thermophyle lasted longer than expected was because Xerxes wanted to show the world that his army was a match to any insurgent force, man-to-man, pound-for-pound. Maybe that's why he sent his men to the gates of Thermophyle in a piecemeal fashion.
Maybe he was the first one to apply the Rumfeld doctrine with disastrous results.
It is a flawed doctrine in the Art of War. The Rumsfeld doctrine forgot the military adage that the gods of war are always in favor of the army who comes into battle with the most number of men (and with the most number of digital buttons to push). Rumsfeld also forgot the first rule of hand to hand combat which is to NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENT.
Powell was the only Republican I admired before he became the fall guy of the Bush administration. Who can forget his failed attempt at being the next Adlai Stevenson of the Security council? Who can forget that he was the one who made the case for the Iraqi Invasion because of imagined "material breach" of UN Resolutions, coupled by claims of even more imaginary Iraqi possesion of Weapons of Mass Destruction? Who can forget....
I take it back... The world has forgotten.
Now it's Barak Obama who could become the first Black President of the US.
Sayang talaga.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Saint John Paul
Dear Sage, I just heard from the news that JP2 is on the fast track to sainthood.
That's why he is being hyped as a heroic figure in the media. well, Saint or not, he was human. and he died of a very human affliction.
Physicians treat patients with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) everyday. Most of the time, advising the patient to drink extra glasses of water and giving him regular doses of a very common antibiotic (Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole) does the trick.
So how could this have brought down the Pope?
Two reasons: first, UTI was not the only health problem he had; Second, the infection did not just stay in his urinary tract- it found its way into his bloodstream. When the lining of the urinary tract gets infected, usually by a bacteria, it stays there because our body has inherent defenses that stops the INVADING BACTERIA and prevents it from spreading elsewhere in the body. IT’s as if the body was designed to do what erwin rommel could not do on D-DAY—Stop the invasion right at the beaches before it spreads out of control.
Even if the infection gets confined only in the Urinary tract, it becomes INFLAMMED. That’s why its most common symptoms are Fever and Pain when urinating (Dysuria). To understand it more, imagine your forearm’s skin with sunburn (a form of acute inflammation) try to put it under running water and you’ll feel the sting of pain. Ofcourse there are times when the patient does not even have any symptoms. And yet their Urinalysis shows that they have UTI. This is the reason why some people cannot accept the news that the holy father died of something practically as trivial as UTI.
To start with, the Pope was already 84 years old. He had Parkinson’s disease and was prone to have a host of infections. He was immunocompromised. His body can not contain the “INVASION” only in the urinary tract. It “leaked” into his cardiovascular system of arteries and veins which we commonly call the “bloodstream.” (Actually we can think of it not just as a “Stream” but as the body’s HIGHWAY that leads to the kidney, liver, lungs, heart, brain and every conceivable place within) Once there, the bacteria will start new colonies until those vital organs fail to function properly.
To make matters worse, the bloodstream incursion of the bacteria (which we call “Sepsis”) affects the body’s blood pressure. How? The arteries and veins of the blood stream are not like solid pipes that do not yield to the pressure of the liquid blood that flow through it. The sturdiness of these “pipes” depend on its walls which are made up of muscles (smooth muscles to be exact, I’ll explain their difference from Schwarzenneger’s muscles next time) When bacteria leaks into the blood stream, these smooth muscles inadvertently relaxes (which causes the drop in blood pressure), some say entire lengths of veins get stretched like small cylindrical balloons as they yield to the pressure of the liquid blood that they contain. These condition is what we call “Shock”, Veins are supposed to be the “highways” that will bring the blood back to the heart so that the heart can pump it back to the lungs. If the walls of these veins lose their sturdiness and become relaxed (like what happens in a state of Shock) lesser amount of blood will go back to the heart and lungs.
Since the blood carries the oxygen we breath to different parts of the body, If there will be less blood that goes to the lungs, there will be less oxygen that will go the other parts of the body too. The most vital organs (The brain, Heart and Kidneys) will fail shortly thereafter.
The heart tries to beat faster in an attempt to save itself from impending doom—the faster it beats, more blood gets to travel the length of the diseased veins back to the heart, and it gets to pump out more blood into the brain and vital organs. Alas, it can do this only for a limited period of time before giving up. And while doing so, it sacrifices efficiency, hence this creates a vicious cycle that leads to it own failure.
His illness followed a textbook pattern: a battered immune system, infection, sepsis, shock, finally, Multiorgan failure.
He had been ill for years. He survived an assassin’s bullet, Gallantly struggled with Parkinson’s and out duelled Colon cancer. Then He had a bout of pulmonary infection that made breathing difficult. He had to undergo “tracheostomy” where Surgeons created a separate hole in his throat for him to breath. He recovered, was discharged from the hospital. But the weakness of his body’s defenses made him prone to a very ordinary infection, specifically UTI. The infection breached his bloodstream, hence sepsis set in. His blood pressure dropped and went into shock. His most vital organs started to malfunction. Then they failed to function at all. So to set the record straight, It was a Multi Organ Failure.
For somebody who stood up against the Proto, Neo and Paleo Conservatives in the remaining world superpower, who faced down the lackeys of Stalinism like Jaruzelski, who had the guts to forgive his would be assassin and actually apologized for the Church’s unjust treatment of Galileo Galilei, I just couldn’t bear the thought that history will record that he died of something as ordinary as UTI.
Make no mistake about it, the armageddon that his body had to go through before he passed away was worthy of an epic-- Even though it pales in comparison to the life and achievements of this extraordinary man.
That's why he is being hyped as a heroic figure in the media. well, Saint or not, he was human. and he died of a very human affliction.
Physicians treat patients with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) everyday. Most of the time, advising the patient to drink extra glasses of water and giving him regular doses of a very common antibiotic (Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole) does the trick.
So how could this have brought down the Pope?
Two reasons: first, UTI was not the only health problem he had; Second, the infection did not just stay in his urinary tract- it found its way into his bloodstream. When the lining of the urinary tract gets infected, usually by a bacteria, it stays there because our body has inherent defenses that stops the INVADING BACTERIA and prevents it from spreading elsewhere in the body. IT’s as if the body was designed to do what erwin rommel could not do on D-DAY—Stop the invasion right at the beaches before it spreads out of control.
Even if the infection gets confined only in the Urinary tract, it becomes INFLAMMED. That’s why its most common symptoms are Fever and Pain when urinating (Dysuria). To understand it more, imagine your forearm’s skin with sunburn (a form of acute inflammation) try to put it under running water and you’ll feel the sting of pain. Ofcourse there are times when the patient does not even have any symptoms. And yet their Urinalysis shows that they have UTI. This is the reason why some people cannot accept the news that the holy father died of something practically as trivial as UTI.
To start with, the Pope was already 84 years old. He had Parkinson’s disease and was prone to have a host of infections. He was immunocompromised. His body can not contain the “INVASION” only in the urinary tract. It “leaked” into his cardiovascular system of arteries and veins which we commonly call the “bloodstream.” (Actually we can think of it not just as a “Stream” but as the body’s HIGHWAY that leads to the kidney, liver, lungs, heart, brain and every conceivable place within) Once there, the bacteria will start new colonies until those vital organs fail to function properly.
To make matters worse, the bloodstream incursion of the bacteria (which we call “Sepsis”) affects the body’s blood pressure. How? The arteries and veins of the blood stream are not like solid pipes that do not yield to the pressure of the liquid blood that flow through it. The sturdiness of these “pipes” depend on its walls which are made up of muscles (smooth muscles to be exact, I’ll explain their difference from Schwarzenneger’s muscles next time) When bacteria leaks into the blood stream, these smooth muscles inadvertently relaxes (which causes the drop in blood pressure), some say entire lengths of veins get stretched like small cylindrical balloons as they yield to the pressure of the liquid blood that they contain. These condition is what we call “Shock”, Veins are supposed to be the “highways” that will bring the blood back to the heart so that the heart can pump it back to the lungs. If the walls of these veins lose their sturdiness and become relaxed (like what happens in a state of Shock) lesser amount of blood will go back to the heart and lungs.
Since the blood carries the oxygen we breath to different parts of the body, If there will be less blood that goes to the lungs, there will be less oxygen that will go the other parts of the body too. The most vital organs (The brain, Heart and Kidneys) will fail shortly thereafter.
The heart tries to beat faster in an attempt to save itself from impending doom—the faster it beats, more blood gets to travel the length of the diseased veins back to the heart, and it gets to pump out more blood into the brain and vital organs. Alas, it can do this only for a limited period of time before giving up. And while doing so, it sacrifices efficiency, hence this creates a vicious cycle that leads to it own failure.
His illness followed a textbook pattern: a battered immune system, infection, sepsis, shock, finally, Multiorgan failure.
He had been ill for years. He survived an assassin’s bullet, Gallantly struggled with Parkinson’s and out duelled Colon cancer. Then He had a bout of pulmonary infection that made breathing difficult. He had to undergo “tracheostomy” where Surgeons created a separate hole in his throat for him to breath. He recovered, was discharged from the hospital. But the weakness of his body’s defenses made him prone to a very ordinary infection, specifically UTI. The infection breached his bloodstream, hence sepsis set in. His blood pressure dropped and went into shock. His most vital organs started to malfunction. Then they failed to function at all. So to set the record straight, It was a Multi Organ Failure.
For somebody who stood up against the Proto, Neo and Paleo Conservatives in the remaining world superpower, who faced down the lackeys of Stalinism like Jaruzelski, who had the guts to forgive his would be assassin and actually apologized for the Church’s unjust treatment of Galileo Galilei, I just couldn’t bear the thought that history will record that he died of something as ordinary as UTI.
Make no mistake about it, the armageddon that his body had to go through before he passed away was worthy of an epic-- Even though it pales in comparison to the life and achievements of this extraordinary man.
Sage and Ayheen's Party
Dear Sage, Just before your party started, your Lola Letty suggested that you write the opening prayer. You immediately looked for a paper and grabbed the first working felt tipped pen you could get your hands on and wrote a letter to God. Then, you surprised us by leading the prayer yourself.
We’re so proud.
And then, just before the start of the magic show, you asked the magician/emcee to give you the microphone so that you could sing for your cousins, classmates and friends. The first one was “Yesterday’s Dream”. A couple of your classmates in the audience acted out the lyrics of the song while you performed on stage. The second was “Sing.” You even invited Sabine to go onstage with you to sing her favorite song, “Life is a Highway” from the movie “Cars.”
This was unrehearsed. Although we had an inkling that you were psyching yourself up to sing on your birthday.
Anyway.
Your party served as a double celebration for you and Mommy. Just a day before it she passed the Oral and Written exams for the Board of Nephrology given by the Philippine Society of Nephrologists-- despite of all the distractions from being a Wife, Mother, Homemaker, Physician.
She’s really amazing.
That’s why I tell everyone,
“Yang asawa ko talaga, hindi lang pang kama.”
;->
Dear Ayheen, This song’s for you, Sexy….
… One mile to every inch
your skin like porcelain
one pair of candy lips
and your bubble gum tongue.
And if you want love
We’ll make it.
Swimming a deep sea of blankets
Take all your big plans
And Break ‘em
This is bound to be a while.
Your Body is a Wonderland
Your Body is a Wonder
(I’ll use my hands)
Your Body is a Wonderland
Something ‘bout the
Way your hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take
when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go
And though I might leave to find it
I’ll never let your head
Hit the bed
without my hand behind it…
…Damn baby
You frustrate me
I know you’re mine
all mine, ALL MINE
But you look so good it hurts
Sometimes…
Your Body is a WONDERLAND
We’re so proud.
And then, just before the start of the magic show, you asked the magician/emcee to give you the microphone so that you could sing for your cousins, classmates and friends. The first one was “Yesterday’s Dream”. A couple of your classmates in the audience acted out the lyrics of the song while you performed on stage. The second was “Sing.” You even invited Sabine to go onstage with you to sing her favorite song, “Life is a Highway” from the movie “Cars.”
This was unrehearsed. Although we had an inkling that you were psyching yourself up to sing on your birthday.
Anyway.
Your party served as a double celebration for you and Mommy. Just a day before it she passed the Oral and Written exams for the Board of Nephrology given by the Philippine Society of Nephrologists-- despite of all the distractions from being a Wife, Mother, Homemaker, Physician.
She’s really amazing.
That’s why I tell everyone,
“Yang asawa ko talaga, hindi lang pang kama.”
;->
Dear Ayheen, This song’s for you, Sexy….
… One mile to every inch
your skin like porcelain
one pair of candy lips
and your bubble gum tongue.
And if you want love
We’ll make it.
Swimming a deep sea of blankets
Take all your big plans
And Break ‘em
This is bound to be a while.
Your Body is a Wonderland
Your Body is a Wonder
(I’ll use my hands)
Your Body is a Wonderland
Something ‘bout the
Way your hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take
when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go
And though I might leave to find it
I’ll never let your head
Hit the bed
without my hand behind it…
…Damn baby
You frustrate me
I know you’re mine
all mine, ALL MINE
But you look so good it hurts
Sometimes…
Your Body is a WONDERLAND
Monday, March 19, 2007
Happy Birthday!
Dear Sage, each pixel of your image was lovingly cropped to make it appear like you really are one of the members of The WinxClub.
Merci!
March 29, 2007
Dear Sage, yesterday was your birthday. I bought you a cake. I'm so clueless about your taste that I thought you'd like the one I bought. I was so disappointed when you barely tasted it before you ate something else instead. I left the table and you followed me upstairs and told me "Dad, it's okay. It's just a birthday cake."
Oo nga 'no...
You are wise beyond your years anaki. Buti mana ka sa Nanay mo:)
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
International Date Line
A year ago today I crossed the international dateline from east to west. Which means I was on the air when this day came and went on land last year, 2006. I'm sure glad my feet are on the ground today, surrounded by my loved ones.
Last year when I crossed it, I think only the sixth time in my 39 years, was really memorable.
Those who cross the International Dateline in the early 20th century are given a certificate signed by the Mythical Golden Dragon, ruler of the 180th meridean. It was in commemoration of THE EVENT.
With Yin and Kids, flanked by 2 Byenans
Last year when I crossed it, I think only the sixth time in my 39 years, was really memorable.
Those who cross the International Dateline in the early 20th century are given a certificate signed by the Mythical Golden Dragon, ruler of the 180th meridean. It was in commemoration of THE EVENT.
But I'm not a Golden Dragon.
I'm a Pisces.
I'm a Pisces.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Edge of Night
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Though you turn your gaze from me,Your body craves my eyes' caress,
like a soul that yearns for light,
and yet, still clings to the edge of night.
MCGMD 2/9/7
Happy Valentine's Day, Ayheen!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Vocabulary Lesson 1
Chutzpah vs. Hubris
Dear Sage, Barack Obama's decision to gun for the Democratic Party's nomination is an example of "Chutzpah." But if he starts to make the "Quaylian" mistake by comparing himself to JFK, that's "Hubris."
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Puzzles
" The Battle of Waterloo was won in the playing fields of Eaton"-- Wellington
Dear Sage and Sabine, You two love solving the Disney Princess JigZaw Puzzle together. You don't compete against each other but you guys try to solve it at the shortest time possible. and you have a lot of fun. Every time you put the final piece of the puzzle in place it's like it's always the first time you've done it. I love watching Sabine whoop it up when she sees the final piece fit.
When you guys make your valedictory speech after winning the Nobel Prize in Physics for formulating the Grand Unified Theory, The REAL HOLY GRAIL, that finally unifies the four fundamental forces of nature (Gravity, Electromagnetism, Weak Forces, Strong Forces), please be sure to mention that it all started with solving the Puzzle of the Four Disney Princesses (Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Snow White).
BTW, here's an alpha numeric puzzle I made a few days ago. What's an alphanumeric puzzle?
An example is:
24 H in a D= 24 Hours in a Day
So, wanna find out how much you know about the Philippines? Try to answer these:
1. 100 I in B
2. 108 Y of I
3. ER '86
4. P 2K
5. 13th P:E
6. 94-F FP in S
7. 13 M or TM
8. SP: C of 7 L
9. A 21 M
10. P115 e-L
11. 2nd E of E2
12. 1 J out of 24 S
13. 26 BC in D or ND
14. 8 R of the S in the PF
15. IM's >1000 P of S
Good Luck! Knock yourselves out...
Dear Sage and Sabine, You two love solving the Disney Princess JigZaw Puzzle together. You don't compete against each other but you guys try to solve it at the shortest time possible. and you have a lot of fun. Every time you put the final piece of the puzzle in place it's like it's always the first time you've done it. I love watching Sabine whoop it up when she sees the final piece fit.
When you guys make your valedictory speech after winning the Nobel Prize in Physics for formulating the Grand Unified Theory, The REAL HOLY GRAIL, that finally unifies the four fundamental forces of nature (Gravity, Electromagnetism, Weak Forces, Strong Forces), please be sure to mention that it all started with solving the Puzzle of the Four Disney Princesses (Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Snow White).
BTW, here's an alpha numeric puzzle I made a few days ago. What's an alphanumeric puzzle?
An example is:
24 H in a D= 24 Hours in a Day
So, wanna find out how much you know about the Philippines? Try to answer these:
1. 100 I in B
2. 108 Y of I
3. ER '86
4. P 2K
5. 13th P:E
6. 94-F FP in S
7. 13 M or TM
8. SP: C of 7 L
9. A 21 M
10. P115 e-L
11. 2nd E of E2
12. 1 J out of 24 S
13. 26 BC in D or ND
14. 8 R of the S in the PF
15. IM's >1000 P of S
Good Luck! Knock yourselves out...
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sadie's 1st Birthday
January 26, 2007. Dear Sadie, You celebrated your 1st Birthday looking so stunning. You looked so beautiful in your fairy princess dress. Looking at the picture I just realized that your name is an anagram of the word "IDEAS". May your ideas prosper each and everyone in the world. May you have a very healthy, happy and fulfilling life full of people who love you very much... We love you so.This is our latest family picture (well, without me since I was the one who took it). With three babies, two in-laws and Ayheen, if I were not a benevolent tyrant at home I'd always get out-voted by these 6 ladies. Atleast they don't make me do the laundry... not anymore.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Princess Bride
January 18, 1999"You're the one who never let me sleep
to my mind, down to my soul You touch my lips
You're the one whom i can't wait to see
with You here by my side i'm in ecstasy
i am all alone without You
my days are dark without a glimpse of You
now that You came into my life
i feel complete
the flowers bloom, my morning shines
and i can see
Your love is like the sun
that lights up my whole world
i feel Your warmth inside
Your love is like the river
that flows down through my veins
i feel the chill inside"-- Alamid
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! 88888888 "Come my love I'll tell you a tale
Of a boy and girl and their love story
And how he loved her oh so much
And all the charms she did possess Now this did happen once upon a time
When things were not so complex
How he worshipped the ground she walked
And when he looked in her eyes he became obsessed
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
It's as real as the feelings I feel
This love was stronger than the powers so dark
A prince could have within his keeping
His spells to weave and steal a heart
Within her breast but only sleeping
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
It's as real as the feelings I feel
Now he said, "Don't you know I love you oh so much
And lay my heart at the foot of your dress?"
She said, "Don't you know that these storybook loves
Always have a happy ending?"
Then he swooped her up just like in the books
And on his stallion they rode away
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
It's as real as the feelings I fee..." -- Princess Bride
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
I NEED A WOMAN
Send me some silk stockings Smooth talking lipstick and curls I want a woman, more than a girl Need some lip locking, cool walking Diamonds and pearls I'll wrap 'em all up And give them the world
--Bon Jovi "Woman In Love"
Dear Sage, When we were still treating Sabine at home about 3 or 4 nights ago, I had to go to the drugstore to run some errands in the middle of the night. By chance I got a glimpse of Narda. She was inside her car that presumably brokedown with the windows rolled down that's why it was parked in front of the well-lit drugstore. She had 3 male companions with her. Probably boylet wannabees. When one of the buck toothed "mirons" (bystanders) gave a comment, ruing the absence of liquour in the drugstore and saying that "kulang na lang ang redhorse baka pwedenating pasayawin yan, para na rin tayong nasa club", that's when I belatedly realized that I was not exactly in the company of gents that would have flattered Narda. So I decided to leave immediately. I couldn't wait to tell your Mom. She was laughing too when I animatedly demonstrated to her, with my two hands in front of my chest, Narda's generous bosom. I think I used the phrase "Hooter City" too. Afterlaughing with me for a while, she paused. I thought "Hah, finally, napagselos ko." (Gotcha! Now I made you jealous) Then she gave me a naughty grin and said, "too bad she saw you carrying Huggies diapers."
Darn! TOUCHE!
But heck, I'm lucky. Other husbands would have gotten a broken jaw from their wives after that wisecrack. Your Mom took the comment I made about Narda in the spirit intended; an accolade to a woman's beauty, a nod to the wonders of aesthetic medicine/surgery, and a wink to raging teenage hormones that have yet to be tamed by the gods themselves.
Guys, your Mom is really remarkable. When Sabine and Sadie were being treated at home, she acted the part of a Pediatrician, Nurse and Nursemaid (to Sadie). We all sleep on the same bed. And whenever she's in it, you guys swarm all over her. Kinukuyog nyo. While she breastfeeds Sadie, Sage wraps her arms around her while Sabine's habit is to put her hand inside your Mom's shirt sleeve.
She has a profession and a family that adores her. She's really something, isn't she. Actually now that I think about it, the lady I saw inside the car that conked out probably was only a Narda look-a-like. But it really doesn't matter. I have my own Narda.
Let the other Narda have her limited fun with her inexperienced boylets who have yet to grasp the intricate concept of foreplay.
I have my own Narda.
She is a Superwoman
She is a Cosmogirl
She is ALL MINE.
You think that you can Live without 'em But you're asking too much You see I've slept with romance And danced with lust But there ain't no woman Like a woman in love Oh, yeah
--Bon Jovi "Woman In Love"
Monday, January 01, 2007
REALLY TOUGH KIDS
"I got a horse right here, his name is Paul Revere,
And here's a guy who says if the weather's clear,
can do, can do.This guy says the horse can do.
If he says the horse can do, can do.
Can do, can do, can do. "—from "Oh, God! part 2
(The song sung by a Dad after praying for his daughter's health)
Dear Sadie, You've been having acute gastritis since 2 days ago. So yesterday, when we dropped by PCMC, your Mom asked a Pedia resident, Dr. Rochelle Beltran, to give you an IV line. She agreed but requested that we do not stay around to watch while she's doing the insertion. So while your Mom was answering the referral I had merienda in the canteen. When I came back, Rochelle told me that you did not even cry when she inserted the IV. You even played with her afterwards.
You're a brave girl. Gutsy, like your sisters.
We took you home after the line was inserted and since last night you have been well hydrated and you don't vomit anymore. We'll probably remove it after you have consumed the second 500cc.
Maybe it was the food you guys ate. Last night, Ate Sabine started having the same symptoms. She is also febrile. Your Mom also had to insert an IV line. Sabine surprized me. When I tried to put the dropper in her mouth, she grabbed it from me. I thought she was going to throw it away. Instead, she took the medicine herself.
The quote above was taken from the Movie starring the late actor, George Burns (Oh God part 2). After praying for your complete and immediate recovery I try to sing it too. Off key, ofcourse. But I'm sure the Lord understands.
I pray that you guys will be okay.
Anyway, this entry was written on the last day of 2006.It's the time of the year when con artists scam you into listening to their predictions for the supposed events that will happen in the year 2007.
Mga Anakis, if you guys want to know the future, statistical and actuarial studies will help a lot but only upto a certain extent. It will depend on a lot of mathematical variables. Now if you'd ask me if astrology, feng shui and fruitcakes like madame auring, jimmy lichauco, rene mariano could predict the future, the answer will depend SOLELY on your sense of humor.
The future can only be known with exact certainty only when it is already the past (I think I got the quote from the movie "Oh, God! part 1")
Having said that, these are my top three (3) predictions for 2006:
1. While hunting for helpless birds, Dick Cheney will prove that he belongs to the "gang that couldn't shoot straight."
2. Women will prove to be getting smarter every day (Britney will divorce K-Fed/ Fed-ex, "Nicole" will continue to fight for justice and get a conviction, Wife of TV's misogynist, Revillame, will kick him out of their domicile to prevent further wife battery. etc.)
3. On Rizal day 2006, a political leader with grave sins against the Iraqi people, who caused the suffering, death of Iraqi men, women and children; who destroyed Iraqi properties worth billions of dollars; who took away Iraqi Freedom, WILL BE EXECUTED… (Oh, and it's not George W., Okay?)
MAY WE ALL HAVE A HEALTHY, WEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!
And here's a guy who says if the weather's clear,
can do, can do.This guy says the horse can do.
If he says the horse can do, can do.
Can do, can do, can do. "—from "Oh, God! part 2
(The song sung by a Dad after praying for his daughter's health)
Dear Sadie, You've been having acute gastritis since 2 days ago. So yesterday, when we dropped by PCMC, your Mom asked a Pedia resident, Dr. Rochelle Beltran, to give you an IV line. She agreed but requested that we do not stay around to watch while she's doing the insertion. So while your Mom was answering the referral I had merienda in the canteen. When I came back, Rochelle told me that you did not even cry when she inserted the IV. You even played with her afterwards.
You're a brave girl. Gutsy, like your sisters.
We took you home after the line was inserted and since last night you have been well hydrated and you don't vomit anymore. We'll probably remove it after you have consumed the second 500cc.
Maybe it was the food you guys ate. Last night, Ate Sabine started having the same symptoms. She is also febrile. Your Mom also had to insert an IV line. Sabine surprized me. When I tried to put the dropper in her mouth, she grabbed it from me. I thought she was going to throw it away. Instead, she took the medicine herself.
The quote above was taken from the Movie starring the late actor, George Burns (Oh God part 2). After praying for your complete and immediate recovery I try to sing it too. Off key, ofcourse. But I'm sure the Lord understands.
I pray that you guys will be okay.
Anyway, this entry was written on the last day of 2006.It's the time of the year when con artists scam you into listening to their predictions for the supposed events that will happen in the year 2007.
Mga Anakis, if you guys want to know the future, statistical and actuarial studies will help a lot but only upto a certain extent. It will depend on a lot of mathematical variables. Now if you'd ask me if astrology, feng shui and fruitcakes like madame auring, jimmy lichauco, rene mariano could predict the future, the answer will depend SOLELY on your sense of humor.
The future can only be known with exact certainty only when it is already the past (I think I got the quote from the movie "Oh, God! part 1")
Having said that, these are my top three (3) predictions for 2006:
1. While hunting for helpless birds, Dick Cheney will prove that he belongs to the "gang that couldn't shoot straight."
2. Women will prove to be getting smarter every day (Britney will divorce K-Fed/ Fed-ex, "Nicole" will continue to fight for justice and get a conviction, Wife of TV's misogynist, Revillame, will kick him out of their domicile to prevent further wife battery. etc.)
3. On Rizal day 2006, a political leader with grave sins against the Iraqi people, who caused the suffering, death of Iraqi men, women and children; who destroyed Iraqi properties worth billions of dollars; who took away Iraqi Freedom, WILL BE EXECUTED… (Oh, and it's not George W., Okay?)
MAY WE ALL HAVE A HEALTHY, WEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Force
Dear Sage, It was my turn to review you last night for your Science exam. Our review went something like this:
Me: Can a non-living object without an engine move by itself?
Sage: No.
Me: is wind a force?
Sage: Yes
Me: is your book living or non-living
Sage: NON-living
Me: What outside forces can move the pages of your book?
Sage: Humans, wind, running water if I drop it in the river...
Me: Can ghosts move the pages of your book?
Sage: No, they're not real.
(Well done my young Pad-wan)
Monday, December 11, 2006
Legazpi City, December 8-9
It was not a windy day when this picture was taken. The typhoon Reming's wind was so fierce, the palms of the coco trees were somehow frozen in the general direction of where it was headed when it left the country (due west.)
Hardest hit was the poorest of the poor.
Man-made steel reluctantly bowing down in defeat.
Dear Sage, the pictures of devastation above were taken by a companion who went with me to Bicol last weekend.
The trip... well... it was like living the satire "Candide". In that novel, the protagonist found himself in Lisbon after it was devastated by a powerful earthquake and tsunami. Being surrounded by the stench of death and unspeakable horrors brought about by the forces of nature, he couldn't bring himself to agree with the prevailing belief of the age: That we are living in the best of all possible worlds.
Loosely translated, the belief implies that without the pain of loss, we cannot appreciate what we have. To put it in another way, you can never enjoy the "sweet" without knowing what "bitter" is.
Sounds logical? Try telling that philosophy to an orphaned child whose family and friends are burried underneath tons of volcanic rock and ash together with the rest of his hometown.
We do not need such horror in this world. More importantly, the question the book makes the reader ask is how can we believe in a God who let these horrors happen and still believe that he is Good and Just?
The book did not even attempt to provide an answer to this question. Just like the similar book in the Bible: The Book Of Job. It's a classic case of bad things happening to good people, the book of job ended with God gently reminding Job that the physical universe is full of wonders that we can't even explain. If our minds can barely make sense of the physics of the universe, how can we possibly understand the answer to metaphysical questions? We can't!
Whenever I encounter self righteous and pretentious preachers, who in their hubris try to provide the answer to the question that even the book of Job and Voltaire did not answer, I always quote this verse from the Bible to them
"as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My (God's) ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
I wont try to provide the answer too. I wrote this entry to caution you about asking this question, about questioning God's existence and his Love for you and me.
The difference between science and religion as far as you guys are concerned should be this: You can defy, recheck, review ALL scientific laws-- that's how science moves forward.
But do not question God or faith. Nothing comes out of it except schisms, heresies and self-righteousness.
If there will come a time in your life when you have to question the rationality of human religion (i.e. Catholic Church doctrine) please read this entry. I must confess, I too do not subscribe to all the doctrines of the catholic religion. In fact, I particularly do not like the present pope. I've been following his career for the past ten years and I almost cried when he was elected pope.
Please, whatever happens, never doubt this:
GOD LOVES YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
Please remember tha NO natural Philosopher or scientist can prove this to you. And they have no right to tell you not to believe it. Not Einstein. Not Voltaire. That's the same reason why No priest, pastor or preacher has any right to talk to you about cosmology, evolutionary biology, geology and everything scientific. The realm of science is separate from the realm of faith. Never mix the two.
We are not living in the best of all possible worlds. The face of human tragedy will always remind us of this fact-- Just like what happened in Bicol. But having faith in the reality of God's love for you will keep you safe and sane. To live a full life, this is a necessity.
Forget about what the philosophers say.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Conviction of US Marine in Subic Rape Case Was Fair
click here to read the post of RASHEED
DECEMBER 10, 2006
WOMEN'S RIGHTS IS HUMAN RIGHTS
Power to the Sisters!
DECEMBER 10, 2006
WOMEN'S RIGHTS IS HUMAN RIGHTS
Power to the Sisters!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Kiray
Dear Sage, A couple of nights ago, while watching the news, I was eagerly waiting for the local version of the hollywood minute where they show cleavages... este... movie clips of local starlets. In particular, I was waiting for them to show pictures of Katrina Halili. She does have stunning features and an attitude to match. however, she said something stupid in the interview that really turned me off. She said that to maintain her figure she practically starves herself.
Maybe it was just me but I swear I heard a very disappointed voice in my head saying "minus a thousand pogi points"
Why is it a big turn off? A woman admitting that she has an eating disorder is the equivalent of the members of the Male species admitting to being impotent and sterile.
Even though she is just a dumb starlet, her publicist should atleast be aware that what she says and does can affect a lot of women her age or even as young as those in the prepubescent years.
Anorexia, Bulimea, and other dumb eating disorders are serious illnesses and should never be glorified. Those who have these should seek treatment immediately. Katrina, sorry baby, Angel Locsin is looking a hell of a lot sexier these days than your pathetically starving body.
Actually, Sage, we saw a pseudo biopic a few nights ago about somebody who is a lot more beautiful than either Angel Locsin or Katrina.
I never really watch biopics shown on TV but this particular episode really pricked the corners of my calloused heart. It was about the child actress known in local TV as "Kiray" She is somebody you see in a sunday comedy series called "Going Bulilit"
Untalented and unimaginative directors and producers of the show always try to make her facial features as the punchline of their predictable scripts. I saw it a couple of times with you and one time I heard your Lola Letty ask out loud if it isn't wrong to tell the child that she is ugly, to be the butt of jokes, to be laughed at by the whole archipelago.
What's heart warming about that pseudo biopic is that it ended with the press conference of the very witty and talented Kiray. The last question asked was the question that Lola Letty had in mind the day I watched an episode with you. Kiray's answer to the querry was iconic:
"Pangit nga ako, may talent naman...
Pangit nga ako, may pamilya naman akong nagmamahal sakin... so...
Pangit ba 'yon?"
Whoa! she really knows how to deliver a line. After watching it, gusto kong sabihin "Hija, hindi ka pangit. You're a natural beauty. Pero yung mga katulad nila Angel at Katrina, they need to work on being beautiful, they need surgery, airbrush magic and atleast another half of a brain to reach your level."
Sage, please remember, whenever I say the words "Real beauty..." you always finish them for me with the response "...lies within." Teach that to Sabine and Sadie too. Okay?
Btw, I snatched the quotation below from Rain's blog.
The beauty of women...
Did you know that if shop mannequins were real women they'd be too thin to have babies?
There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only eight who do.
Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14.
If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions. The average woman weighs 144 lbs and wears between a 12-14.
One out of every four college aged women has an eating disorder. The models in the magazines are airbrushed - not perfect!
A psychological study in 1995 found that three minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty, and shameful. Models twenty years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today they weigh 23% less.
Today women are lovers, mothers, and career women. Who else is able to balance such a load, and do it with a smile?
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the care that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman, with passing years - only grows.
Maybe it was just me but I swear I heard a very disappointed voice in my head saying "minus a thousand pogi points"
Why is it a big turn off? A woman admitting that she has an eating disorder is the equivalent of the members of the Male species admitting to being impotent and sterile.
Even though she is just a dumb starlet, her publicist should atleast be aware that what she says and does can affect a lot of women her age or even as young as those in the prepubescent years.
Anorexia, Bulimea, and other dumb eating disorders are serious illnesses and should never be glorified. Those who have these should seek treatment immediately. Katrina, sorry baby, Angel Locsin is looking a hell of a lot sexier these days than your pathetically starving body.
Actually, Sage, we saw a pseudo biopic a few nights ago about somebody who is a lot more beautiful than either Angel Locsin or Katrina.
I never really watch biopics shown on TV but this particular episode really pricked the corners of my calloused heart. It was about the child actress known in local TV as "Kiray" She is somebody you see in a sunday comedy series called "Going Bulilit"
Untalented and unimaginative directors and producers of the show always try to make her facial features as the punchline of their predictable scripts. I saw it a couple of times with you and one time I heard your Lola Letty ask out loud if it isn't wrong to tell the child that she is ugly, to be the butt of jokes, to be laughed at by the whole archipelago.
What's heart warming about that pseudo biopic is that it ended with the press conference of the very witty and talented Kiray. The last question asked was the question that Lola Letty had in mind the day I watched an episode with you. Kiray's answer to the querry was iconic:
"Pangit nga ako, may talent naman...
Pangit nga ako, may pamilya naman akong nagmamahal sakin... so...
Pangit ba 'yon?"
Whoa! she really knows how to deliver a line. After watching it, gusto kong sabihin "Hija, hindi ka pangit. You're a natural beauty. Pero yung mga katulad nila Angel at Katrina, they need to work on being beautiful, they need surgery, airbrush magic and atleast another half of a brain to reach your level."
Sage, please remember, whenever I say the words "Real beauty..." you always finish them for me with the response "...lies within." Teach that to Sabine and Sadie too. Okay?
Btw, I snatched the quotation below from Rain's blog.
The beauty of women...
Did you know that if shop mannequins were real women they'd be too thin to have babies?
There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only eight who do.
Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14.
If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions. The average woman weighs 144 lbs and wears between a 12-14.
One out of every four college aged women has an eating disorder. The models in the magazines are airbrushed - not perfect!
A psychological study in 1995 found that three minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty, and shameful. Models twenty years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today they weigh 23% less.
Today women are lovers, mothers, and career women. Who else is able to balance such a load, and do it with a smile?
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the care that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman, with passing years - only grows.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Paper Cranes
Dear Sage, this weekend, your Mom did something unprecedented: She stayed up all night watching the first season DVD compilation of the TV series "Prison Break." She started watching around 10:30PM last saturday. When I woke up at 3:00AM and the TV was still on, I thought that she forgot to turn it off so I reached for the control button to shut it down. I was really shocked when she complained. She was still wide awake. I slept for a few hours then watched the last few episodes with her (I still have a headache for lack of sleep.)
Fortunately I was able to catch the episode that served as a "Prequel" to the events before the protagonist was jailed in a facility called "Fox River". One image struck a chord. The Protagonist explained that he used to wake up alone at night because his big brother was out working to be able to buy them a decent meal. The next morning when he wakes up he always sees an Origami of a Crane beside him. He said that later on when he read about it, he realized that it was his brother's way of saying that he was looking after him even when he was away. The paper crane symbolized familial obligation.
This reminds me of an email I received from Doc Pat recently about cranes...
There was once this guy who is very much in love with his girl. This
romantic guy folded 1,000 pieces of paper cranes as a gift to his
girl.
Although, at that time he was just a small fry in his company, his
>future didn't seem too bright, they were very happy together. Until
>one day, his girl told him she was going to Paris and will never come
>back. She also told him that she cannot visualize any future for the
>both of them, so they went their own ways there and then...
>
>Heartbroken, the guy agreed. But when he regained his confidence, he
>worked hard day and night, slogging his body and mind just to make
>something out of himself.
>
>Finally with all the hard work and the help of friends, this guy had
>set up his own company ..
>
>You never fail until you stop trying. One rainy day, while this guy
>was driving, he saw an elderly couple sharing an umbrella in the rain
>walk ing to some destination. Even with the umbrella, they were still
>drenched. It didn't take him long to realize they were his girl's
>parents.
>
>With a heart in getting back at them, he drove slowly beside the
>couple, wanting them to spot him in his luxury sedan. He wanted them
>to know that he wasn't the same any more; he had his own company, car,
>condo, etc. He made it! What he saw next confused him, the couple was
>walking towards a cemetery, and so he got out of his car and
>followed...and he saw his girl, a photograph of her smiling sweetly as
>ever at him from her tombstone and he saw his paper cranes right
>beside her...
>
>Her parents saw him. He asked them why this had happened. They
>explained, she did not leave for France at all. She was ill with
>cancer. She had believed that he will make it someday, but she did not
>want to be his obstacle... therefore she had chosen to leave him.
>Just because someone doesn't love you the way you wa nt them to,
>doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. She had wanted
>her parents to put his paper cranes beside her, because, if the day
>comes when fate brings him to her again...he can take some of those
>back with him...
>
>Once you have loved, you will always love. For what's in your mind may
>escape but what's in your heart will remain forever.
>
>The guy just wept...The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting
>right beside her knowing you can't have her, see her or be with her
>ever again
Well, this story in turn reminds me of the Music Video I saw a few months ago. Although it was in spanish and featured JLo (for the record, I'm NO fan) I was awed by it. Marc Anthony (the singer in the video) was obviously suffering from a terminal illness (my guess is it's probably AIDS or a Blood Dyscrasia) and was trying to push back JLo away from his life so that she won't have to suffer with him. We can only understand why he was doing this if we apply the moral of the emailed story and the symbol of the paper crane in "Prison Break" which is: It is our obligation to protect the ones we love from suffering the pain of loss even at the cost of keeping ourselves away from them.
But then again, IMHO, Marc Anthony should have done what Ben Afleck did: Leave JLo and "suffer" life with a gorgeous blonde named Jennifer Garner...
The moral of this blog entry? Guys, too much TV is bad for you! (It can make you write the most senseless thing in the blogosphere)
NOVEMBER 22, 1963
"Superman was killed in Dallas"-- Used To Be by Stevie Wonder
"JFK blown away, what else do I have to say?" -- We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel
Dear Sage, I think you're still too young to have childhood heroes other than the ones close to you. Eons ago I remember idolizing a man who, at the age of 46, embodied the boundless idealism of youth, courage and strength. Maybe it was because of the songs, more like elegies, about the man himself. Maybe it was because of the legend. Maybe it was because of the speeches he made in his brief life and even briefer stint as the most "Heroic" US president of the Cold War. I really don't know. And I also can't remember when I stopped worshipping the man as a hero. Maybe when I first heard about Marilyn Monroe, or Joseph Kennedy's deals to get the critical number of electoral votes, or when I first read about Ted Kennedy's actions or inactions in Chappaquiddick.
I really don't think of him as a hero these days. I have become very objective of my assessment of the man, JFK. I still love reading and re-reading his speeches though. I admire most his speech about the decision to go to the moon before the 60's were out "not because it is easy, but because it is hard."
When you grow up, Anakis, you will find out that the real hero didn't die in Dallas, or Luneta, or the Manila International Airport; the only true HERO died in calvary.
Yesterday was JFK's death anniversary. They say that he became president for only one thousand days. You can say that it was America's "one, brief, shining moment."
What's good about the Philippines, Sage? It's this:
unlike America,
Our shining moment,
Our finest hour,
is yet to come...
Monday, November 20, 2006
All Glory...
Dear Sage, Yesterday I was able to watch, quite accidentally, "the fight" . We were in a mall buying a gift for your friend, Katrina, when I heard thunderous shouts coming from one direction. I realized they were showing the boxing match in public. I became curious enough to come close to the screen with you three girls in tow, together with your Mom, and Lola. I think I was the only grown man in the crowd with a baby in my arms wearing a barbie backpack full of baby paraphernalias-- an oddity that was fortunately lost to the crowd mesmerized by the bitter glory of the sweet science of boxing.
We only saw the 3rd round. That was enough. When "he" got knocked out and it was all over, we did not stay for the de rigeur interview which probably featured not just the winner but also a lot of hangers on.
I'm sure they were all saying that the winner was great, impressive, brilliant etc.
I'm sure none of them ever told him that when a conquering hero enters Rome with all the pomp and pageantry befitting a demi-god, a slave stands behind him whispering in his ear the words "All glory is fleeting"
We only saw the 3rd round. That was enough. When "he" got knocked out and it was all over, we did not stay for the de rigeur interview which probably featured not just the winner but also a lot of hangers on.
I'm sure they were all saying that the winner was great, impressive, brilliant etc.
I'm sure none of them ever told him that when a conquering hero enters Rome with all the pomp and pageantry befitting a demi-god, a slave stands behind him whispering in his ear the words "All glory is fleeting"
Friday, November 17, 2006
Mrs. Speaker
Dear Sage, meet the first Woman Speaker of the US House of Congress. She will certainly not be the last. When you guys grow up, I hope the marble ceiling in the UN will have also been shattered. If not, then it's an opportunity for you guys to be one of its first Lady Secretary Generals.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Happy Birthday Bettina!!!
Dear Sage, Yesterday we went to Bettina's birthday party, at A Venito Pizzeria. She's your best friend. After all three of you had your arms and faces painted with water-based paint, your Mom and I decided to have one too.
we chose the same design. Cute pair of dragons.
After the party we went to the grocery.
I almost forgot about my "tatoo". People were looking oddly at me. How odd? Just look at Sadie's expression above. Lucky for your Mom, she was wearing long sleeves. But people who saw us probably thought she married a Yakuza.
we chose the same design. Cute pair of dragons.
After the party we went to the grocery.
I almost forgot about my "tatoo". People were looking oddly at me. How odd? Just look at Sadie's expression above. Lucky for your Mom, she was wearing long sleeves. But people who saw us probably thought she married a Yakuza.
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