JJ IS MY FRIEND

JJ, tulad nung sabi ko sa mga daughters ko...

Never mistake foolishness for valor.
Always be careful.
Especially when you defy the gods.

Godspeed, man.

Pizza Hut

Dear Kids, last night, after attending a book launch at Fully Booked, we took Kit and Boing home. While in the car you were singing "Gotta Go My Own Way" together. You guys were good.

Dy (Grand Dad) bought Pizzas for you before going home. All four of you shared the same table and talked the whole time we were there.

The other grown ups in the pizza joint did not reach for their ketchups while they listened to the four of you talk.

We all had nose bleeds (Dugo ilong naming lahat sa inyo).



Lolo Nonong (Grand Dy) is proud of you.

Happy GrandFather's Day, Dad!

Star Currency

Sabine and Sadie at the Hypermarket

Sabine dancing the Fandango sa Ilaw

Sabine's Collection of Stars (Academic Merits)

Dear Sabine, I think it was a week ago when we noticed that you came home with a lot of Cinderella stickers and soap bubble maker toy. When your Mom asked you who gave it to you, you said nobody. And that you BOUGHT it. We were puzzled because we don't give you money for baon. Not yet. Then you told us you bought it with your "Stars".

When we attended your dance presentation in your school, you showed us your star collection. It seems that you earn those merits by getting high scores or by behaving properly. Then you can use it as legal tender to buy stuff from your teacher.

It's a really cool idea.

When we saw the price equivalent of the stickers and other toy you bought, we calculated you spent 1,200 worth of your stars. But despite of this, you still have a lot of it left in your "OFFICE" (that's what you call your cubicle in school).

Palin and Paris

Dear Sadie, Last night we watched Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, downloaded from Youtube, while lying on the bed. You listened intently at first but later on you probably found it trite so you left my side to play with Ate Sabine. I'm sure when your time comes you will make speeches that are a lot better than his.

When I switched on the TV, that old twisted busterd from foxnews was talking his head off again. O'reilly was trying in vain to justify McCain's selection of Palin as VP.

If you read this blog you will notice that I tried to suggest that Obama throw a curve ball by choosing somebody like Powell as VP to distract McCain into botching his own VP choice.

Well, to borrow the royal language of wimbledon, McCain made an UNFORCED error.

In our vernacular: Powchah! Nagmukhang bangag si McCain.

Palin was chosen solely to lure the women's vote away from the democratic ticket. Simply because she is a woman like Hillary. How stupid can you be, Mac?

When the time comes, the only play the Democrats should make is to let the public see Palin as the quintessential, gun loving, oil screwing... errr... drilling Barbie doll and not a Hillary Clinton Protege. There is already a precedent for this. During the Quayle vs. Bentsen debates, the young Dan Quayle wanted to style himself as a Young achiever like Kennedy who became President in his early 40's. And he was stupid enough to compare himself to JFK during the debate.

Lloyd Bentsen simply shook his head and said, "Senator (Quayle), I know Jack Kennedy. Jack was my friend. Senator, YOU ARE NO JACK KENNEDY." Poor Dan Quayle suddenly looked like the bumbling Archie Andrews rather than a folk hero like JFK.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Palin is NO Hillary.

Palin is actually just 2 letters away from PARIS.


(Note: I just realized, the only problem in my analogy is that Dan Quayle did win as VP over Bentsen... Oh CRAP!)

Church Of Rock

"Upon This ROCK I will build my CHURCH..."
--Mathew 16:18

Dear Son, Bunso, it's sunday today. I remember the first time I stepped inside the hallowed ground of a church after I first saw you on the Ultrasound Screen. This song was ringing in my ear...

"Well I just heard the news today It seems my life is going to change I closed my eyes, begin to pray. Then tears of joy stream down my face. With arms wide open Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I'll show you everything. With arms wide open With arms wide open Well I don't know if I'm ready To be the man I have to be I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side We stand in awe, we've created life. With arms wide open, Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I'll show you everything With arms wide open Now everything has changed I'll show you love I'll show you everything With arms wide open With arms wide open I'll show you everything ...oh yeahWith arms wide open..wide open..."
--With Arms Wide Open by Creed

It's sunday. Pray for me.

Sage's Digital Painting

Dear Sage, when I booted up the laptop, this painting greeted me. I asked Sabine who made this. She told me you did and said you even let her watch you do it this morning.

SUN

click here

http://dearsage.blogspot.com/2008/06/sun.html

Dear Son,

I accompanied your Mom to her OBGYN, Dra. Martinez, last Saturday. We were the first in the sonology room since it was 7am.

We're already quite familiar with the Hamburger sign, it's the ultrasound description of the female fetal genitalia. The counterpart of that is the "Turtle sign" (think of a turtle with a circular body and a short, protruding head) which sonologists use to describe the male fetal genitalia. The very first image that registered on the screen had the unmistakeable protruding head, and a neck with generous length and caliber protruding out of a circular body. Your Mom and I both knew you're a BOY but we still held our breath and didn't say a word. Both of us were looking for any congenital problems. The OBGYN guided the probe to look for any problems in your spinal column, deformities in the skull, face, we counted the chambers of your heart (4) the blood in the right atrium still flows to the left via a temporary defect that will close once you are breathing outside your Mom's tummy, we counted your fingers and toes. When Dra. Martinez concluded that you are grossly normal, we were so happy.

Thank GOD you are healthy. A Healthy Boy!

I have a giant tummy!!! love,
daddy

TK2= Tagkawayan, 2nd batch of pictures

Dear Kids, when we went home to TK last week, I was set up. Your Mom and Lola made made a plan to have the car blessed without consulting me. They asked Lolo Teody (Lola's brother, the one in the bike) to make arrangements with the local priest to spray the car with Holy Water.

You guys actually enjoyed the short ceremony. Lolo Teody also gave you a bike ride just before the blessing.

Joe Biden?

Obama chose the guy who thinks he is Neil Kinnock?

Dang!

As I've said before in this Blog, he has to choose somebody with Foreign policy experience. he should have chosen Powell... Here's my previous post last May 21. Just after Hillary conceded:

Dear Barak, Forget Hillary, Pre. If you really want a ticket that will make a difference (not to mention HISTORY) Go for Colin Powell. He is A Republican who made Clinton look good. A moderate who had the guts to face the Security Council with hardline views of the American Talibans in the Bush Administration. A Decorated Soldier who knows how to take a punch in the chin or gut when he was given the boot by his last, stupid boss to serve as the fall guy. A man outside the Beltway who served under 3 Administrations.

When Republican attack dogs predictably go after Obama's inexperience in Foreign Policy, DNC spinmeisters only have to mention two words to chill them out: "Powell Doctrine."

Don't worry about the women. Do you think they'd vote for McCain now that he is being endorsed by the American Talibans?

McCain's has indeed earned his hero status as a POW. Ofcourse it all started when he intercepted a Surface to Air Missle with his Fighter Jet. But It was Powell who redeemed the American psyche, wounded by Vietnam, by being one of the engineers who launched Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The successful liberation of Kuwait erased the shame of Vietnam forever (Until W. Bush came in and gave US its second Vietnam: IRAQ)

And last but not the least, Pre,

...voters actually forget that he is Black.

Now, if McCain chooses Joe Lieberman, you're screwed.

Dang!

I'm not gonna name my son after you, Barak.

Ghosts of Atimonan... To be continued

Dear Kids, last halloween eve (Night of October 31 to Dawn of November 1, 2007) we went to TK to visit the resting place of your Mom's Dad and Sister. I was sooo sleepy while driving. I started to hallucinate. When we were in Atimonan I started seeing shadows of people in the middle of the empty street. They looked like they were dancing and partying. I could even make out the outlines of the beer bottles they were holding.

I stopped the car because I knew I had to wake myself up because I was beginning to doze off to sleep. There are some things more frightening than stupid ghosts. Not the least of them is crashing one's car because of lack of sleep.

That's why last week when we went back to TK, I armed myself with a Thermos of Coffee and loads of Rock Music.

I owe a lot to Chris Daughtry. His music kept me awake during last week's trip.

The CNN video above shows him doing a cover of the song "Feels like the First Time"

It's for America's first time voters.

The music ain't bad. really. But the lyrics sound familiar.

"I would climb any mountain
Sail across a stormy sea
If thats what it takes me baby
To show you how much you mean to me"

Now compare it to a line from one of my favorite songs.

"I could climb the highest mountain,
Cross the violent seas."

Here's another line from Daughtry's song

"And I know that it must be the woman in you
That brings out the man in me."

Compare it again to my fave song.

"YOU BROKE THE BOY IN ME...

BUT YOU WON'T BREAK THE MAN."

TK: TAGKAWAYAN

Pictures were taken this morning, August 18, 6:30- 7:00 AM. Ayheen's Birthday. TK, a town in the Quezon province, is her birthplace.

CamSur: Camarines Sur

"Even the best fall down sometimes..." --Collide (by Howie Day)


Dear Kids, Yep, that's me. I think that's my umpteenth unsuccessful attempt at gliding over the waters on a wakeboard. Colliding with water at 31Km/Hr is almost like hitting a brick wall. Trust me. I am now an expert on the subject.


Before I tried wakeboarding, I had to ride the kneeboard first (that's a kneeboard right there, the blue, surf-shaped thingy at my foot.)


IT was a successful ride. It was also boring. I just had to get me one of those Wakeboards.


After trying to ride the board for half a day, I only had three successful launches (that's why the picture above, where I'm actually standing on a wakeboard, is very rare)


Most pictures in your Ninang's camera, I look like this... A Swamped creature, sorely crawling back to the shore. But I really didn't mind because...


You guys were waiting for me there.



Ofcourse there are other chicks on shore... some are wearing string bikinis while others only need spaghetti straps (like the one between your Lola Letty and Lola Cholie)


Kaya ngalang... You always remind anyone who would care to listen the message you wrote on the sand just beneath my feet...

By Sage

Beijing 2008 = Berlin 1936

To the Athletes of the World,
It's time to avenge the Goddess of Democracy...



To the Comrades in the Central Committee of the Communist Party,
Sieg Heil! you Mortar Forkers...

With Honors

This was taken last July 18, 2008. During the Honor's Assembly at Miriam College. Sage is one of the very few who got an average score of 95+ during her Second Grade.

My Father and Ayheen accompanied Sage on stage. Because last year's Honor's Assembly, I went up with her onstage together with Ayheen's Mom.

Late Post. Ngayon lang na upload mula sa hiniram na Digicam.






With Honors din si Sabine. Remember this Post: Click Here

Cross in the Sand

Dear Kids, I almost forgot that the Americans have yet to elect a President. In the chaos that is the American Electoral College, some states are more important than the others. One "battleground" state in the news lately is Virginia. John McCain, a Vietnam Vet, is eyeing a virginian with Paleolithic Conservative voting record as a vice president. He is obviously courting the Religious Right.

Funny.

Because the last time I read about "McCain" and "Virginia" on the same page of a news item was back in 2000 when he delivered a speech at Virginia Beach to outline his difference with George W. Bush. To put it bluntly, it was a salvo against Pat Robertson-- The same conservative leader he is courting with his move to dangle the Vice Presidential Carrot in front of the nose of a Virginian.

He railed against the overwhelming political power of the religious right by implying that he advocates simple faith, untarnished by self-righteousness. The part of his speech below gave me goosebumps first time I read it.

"Many years ago, a scared American prisoner of war in Vietnam was tied in torture robes by his tormenters and left alone in an empty room to suffer through the night. Later in the evening, a guard he had never spoken to entered the room and silently loosened the ropes to relieve his suffering. Just before morning, that same guard came back and re-tightened the ropes before his less humanitarian comrades returned.

He never said a word to the grateful prisoner, but some months later on a Christmas morning as the prisoner stood alone in the prison courtyard, the same Good Samaritan walked up to him and stood next to him for a few moments. Then with his sandal, the guard drew a cross in the dirt. Both prisoner and guard stood wordlessly there for a minute or two venerating the cross until the guard rubbed it out and walked away.

This is my faith, the faith that unites and never divides, the faith that bridges unbridgeable gaps in humanity. That is my religious faith ... It is the faith that we are all equal and endowed by our creator with unalienable rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is the faith I would die to defend..."

THAT is the John McCain I admireD. I wonder where he is now

July 29, 1997

Hi Mom!

Eleven years. You've been gone that long. A lot has happened since eleven years ago.

I'm sure your smile crosses your beautiful face when you look down from heaven whenever you see Sage, Sabine and Sadie. I bet you already know if the fourth child is a Boy, huh?

We've had difficult years after you were gone. But things are looking better. These days, I smile a lot more than I used to. When life starts sparring with me, I'm beginning to learn to laugh even while taking it in the chin or gut.

I feel stronger, both physically and mentally. I can do things that I couldn't do before while you were here: I've learned to communicate to a large audience using the media you helped Dad build. I write better and comprehend what I read faster than before. I've begun serving private patients, but unlike Ayheen (Who is a much gifted MD) I've also entered public service (but not as a politico, thank God). I can even do push-ups with Sabine and Sadie at my back (I can only do 20 with Sage).

I still want to be a better person. My anger and rage, I still try to keep them in check.

I still wrestle with my inner demons. But these days, thanks to Ayheen, I feel the sweetest joys. I also bleed from the deepest pains.

Most days, the joys outweigh the pain...

But not Today. Not this morning.

July 29, 2008.

Date with Sadie

Dear Sadie, last night you were your usual makulit self again at bedtime. since your Ate's have exams today, I decided to take you out of the bedroom and brought you to the car. We listened to the only CD in the car. We played the Music of the Night.

The music is all about Christine Daae or "Kristina".

If you see a car with this mask hanging, floating over the dashboard like magic, chances are, that's KRISTINA.

And the first Lady I went out on a date with inside that car, is Sadie.

(Note: the mask was a gift from your Ninang Jenn. Thanks Jenn!)

Kristina

In the original Gaston Leroux novel, her name was Christine Daae. But Leroux based her character on a real singer, Kristina Jonasdotter.

She was Swedish. Her parents were of humble origins. She was discovered by a civil servant who became her benefactor. He gave her voice lessons. On her debut on stage she was christened "Christine Nilsson"

She was never his though he loved her so. She left after a few summers to marry royalty.

I guess I'll name the car after her.

(O ayan, Atticus, hindi nakakatakot ang origin ng pangalan nya this time.)

Christine

I named her after the She-devil car in a Stephen King Novel. Why? Because the part of us that wants to ride the wind is also the part that wants to tame demons; the part that wants to climb mountains called "Devil's Tower", the part that attracts us to Femme Fatales despite of the throbbing pain that will never go away after the fall.

She really is dangerously beautiful...

I saw her for the last time tonight.



"We were as one babe
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine

Now you want to be free
So I'm letting you fly
Cause I know in my heart babe
Our love will never die
No!

You'll always be a part of me
I'm a part of you indefinitely
Girl don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

I ain't gonna cry no
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave girl
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably you'll be back again
Cause ya know in your heart babe
Our love will never end no

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Girl don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

I know that you'll be back girl
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder oooohhh
I know that, you'll be right back, babe
Ooooh! baby believe me it's only a matter of time

You'll always be apart of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Girl don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my my baby....

You'll always be apart of me (you will always be)
I'm part of you indefinitely
Girl don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on (we will linger on....)
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

Always be my baby" -- As sung by David Cook

ULAN

Dear Kids, last night there was a thunderstorm. It rained and thundered so hard for a few hours. Sabine and Sadie learned to cover their ears whenever lightning lights up the sky outside our window in anticipation
of the inevitable Thunder clap. You guys both learned that from Ate Sage.

PSEUDOscience

Pitong katotohanan sa mundo:

UNA: Lahat ng nakikita mo ay hindi iyo.

PANGALAWA: Hindi mo kayang bilangin ang buhok mo.

PANGATLO: Hindi lahat ng ngipin ay abot ng dila mo.

PANG-APAT: Susubukan ng mga tanga ang pangatlo.

PANG-LIMA: Ang pangatlo ay mali ...

PANG-ANIM: Mapapangiti ka kasi nagmukha kang tanga.

PAMPITO: Ipapasa mo sa iba para makaganti ka! hahahaha!!..

Dear Kids, It's easy to fight the dark forces of ignorance that vainly try to convince us that ghosts and goblins exist. Because superstitious beliefs wilt away once exposed to the cleansing light of TRUTH/SCIENCE.

Ignorance trying to package itself as scientific truth is harder to fight: UFO, Iridology,Jaime Lichauco

Those three are just some pathetic examples.

Let me say this clearly. PSEUDOscience is not SCIENCE. There is no such thing as half-truths as far as TRUTH/SCIENCE is concerned.

PSEUDOscience rides on the legitimacy of established Truths to lure people into believing the lies it peddles. Read my example above (Pitong Katotohanan sa Mundo). The first two are established truths. They are also the bait.

In my three examples above; there are really UFO's. Most of them are man-made (mostly by spielberg). and think of this: the stars are atleast thousands of light years apart. If aliens could travel at the speed of light, why spend thousands of years in hibernation aboard UFO's to visit the Earth? Who the hell wants to wake up after thousands of years? to witness the traffic in EDSA and hideous billboards featuring Loren Legarda's face?

Iridology: examination of the irises is part of the Medical Physical exam. But to examine only the Iris and neglect the rest of the body is just stupid. Hindi mo makikita sa iris na baog ang pasyente o impotente.

Jimmy Lichauco: He is so fond of masking his superstitions with the language of science. This guy didn't make it as a guru in the halcyon days of the 60's when his peers were high on drugs. Why should the sober public of the 21st century take him seriously. But some still do.

So if you don't want to become punchlines, never stop questioning, never stop having a healthy dose of doubt when trying to discover the laws of nature.

PS. Tingnan mo si jimmy lichauco, lahat ng me kwento ng multo at dwende pinapaniwalaan. Wala namang ebidensya. To believe in something without evidence is not Science-- IT IS FAITH. So it is only right that he is the favorite target of catholic priests. sila ang magaway because his loony beliefs are in the realm of faith-- NOT SCIENCE.

Living and Non-living

8 July 2008,

6:51 PM


Dear Sabine, As I write this you and Mom are studying while lying in bed. She is teaching you the difference between living and non-living things.

I remember a few years back, I was the one teaching that subject to Ate Sage...

Click on the picture below to read how I did it.


http://dearsage.blogspot.com/2006/12/force.html

Hancock

Dear Kids, the biggest signature on the american declaration of independence belonged to John Hancock. Since yesterday was 4th of July, I thought it was only fitting that when your Mom and I went to the mall, Hancock was the movie we chose to watch.

For those people who visit this blog (one or two, by last count) who may want to watch that movie, I'm not going to post any spoilers here.

(Note: Yesterday was also historic for VRN. When we finally become the leading Radio AND TV Network, we will look back to 4th of July 2008 with humility and with a thankful heart. It's the day the Lord answered our prayer, as a Family and as a Company.)