Thought is cheap

Dear Customer Who Stuck Up For His Little Brother

2012-01-09T23:52:00.003+08:00

Read this: This is cute and a story of a big brother who truly cares for his little brother. Article from the Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/kristen-wolfe/dear-customer-who-stuck-u_b_1190690.html

You thought I didn't really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.

Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don't know how many of y'all play games, but that isn't exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called "Mirror's Edge." The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, "Do you have any girl color controllers?" I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.

The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game "Dead Island" and the little boy just stood there repeating, "Dad, this is what I want, OK?" Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn't choose different items.

That's when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, "It's my money, it's my gift to him. If it's what he wants, I'm getting it for him, and if you're going to hit anyone for it, it's going to be me." Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, "I'm a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There's nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it's different than what people think you should." I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, "Don't worry, dude."

They checked out and left, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.

This piece was originally published on Kristen's blog, www.sweetupndown.tumblr.com.

Is Internet sex cheating? Many folks say yes

2011-06-08T13:28:00.000+08:00

Is Internet sex cheating? Many folks say yes

Zachary's antics - at the toilet

2011-04-28T18:27:00.006+08:00

I am teaching Zachary how to pee at the potty, his small version of the urinal by setting an example. This morning, he followed me to the bathroom. I stood near the flush lever of the toilet bowl because he touched the lever and the toilet bowl last time and I have to wash his hands after that. So he walked to my right side, I go 'sssssss' to show him that 'sssssssss' can help him pee. After I peed, he peered into the toilet bowl and went 'sssssssh' as if talking to the john.

Wrong strategy. Should change tactics next time. This kid is smart, not easy to train, but very amusing and lovable.

Zachary and ginger juice

2011-04-26T00:03:00.005+08:00

I came home tonight to a sleeping mother and child. I had to work an extra night on Mondays because I am doing some consultancy work for an animation studio. Tina, my wife woke up and told me this incident that happened this morning.

Tina's breasts were all sore and cut from breastfeeding Zachary. Actually, he was not feeding, but latching on it as they were his comfort. If he is uncomfortable, he looks for "doo-dooh", which means, he wants his human pacifier. If he doesn't get what he wants, he cries for "doo-dooh". So this morning, Tina decided to do something about it. She squeezed ginger juice on her breasts, and when Zachary asked for "doo-dooh", she fed him with the one with ginger juice. He pulled away, with a strange look on his face. He looked at yaya, said "Yaya, punas" asking Yaya to wipe clean his mother's breast. When yaya refused, he continued to latch in spite of the bad taste.

Funny, but he's really smart to have thought of that.

Zachary's antics

2011-04-25T23:47:00.005+08:00

Dr. Aimee Yang, the pediatric dentist advised us parents of Zachary to make sure his teeth is brushed everyday because he is starting to have white stains on his teeth that eventually can lead to cavities. Yaya (vernacular for nanny) was there also. Dr. Aimee taught her the proper way of brushing Zachary's teeth while counting from one to ten, inside and out, 3 times a day.

At first he resisted, but gradually allowed yaya to brush his teeth. One night, while he was doing this routine, he lay on the floor while allowing yaya to brush his teeth. He said "papa higa" (higa meaning lie down), and so I did. Zachary took the brush from Yaya and tried to brush my teeth with his toothbrush.

Amusing for a boy 1.7 years old.

What's in a name?

2010-01-01T00:41:00.004+08:00

Tina egged me to write something about names, aptly titled "What's in a name?". This was shortly after Zachary was born some four months ago. You might have read my previous blogs about writing about my grandma and naming children. This is a blog that's all about naming your children.

For some years, the trend has been naming children after the first letter of the father and mother's name. Previously, it was second names, third names until the names became too long to write or too difficult or too unique to pronounce. Some parents name their children after something they are loyal to, i.e. a TV show, a TV station, or a character in a movie or a soap. I've always wondered what's the reason behind this as it would affect the children's self -confidence when they grow up.

In the Bible, names are given to a place or a person to represent something. It carries a meaning of a certain incident or a significant milestone in the life of the parents to name their children after it. Jacob named the place where he dreamt of the ladder with angels ascending and descending "Bethel" because there he saw the gate of heaven (Gen 28:12-19). Naomi called herself Mara "because the Almighty has made her life very bitter." (Ruth 1:20). God personally named Abram to Abraham (Gen 17:5). God also chose the name for 'John' - Jesus' cousin (Gen 1:11-13) and He also chose 'Jesus' to name the child Mary was carrying because 'he will save his people from their sins." (Matt 1:21).

When Tina and I learned that we are expecting a baby, we prayed for a name that would be meaningful and glorifying to the Lord, firstly because our prayers and that of many others was answered. Just like Covey, when we named him Liam Covey - Liam, Irish for "His People" and Covey is short for "Covenant". Zachary Simon meant "The Lord has not forgotten", and has shown mercy to us. We wanted a name that is a testimony in itself, and that our son will personally know this and share it to people he wil come across.

There is nothing wrong is naming your child "Attorney" (my classmate in the university's first name) or "Harry Potter" or "Cruella". Just keep in mind that is the legal name your child will carry the rest of his/her life and what he/she represents. So, for us parents, choose our children's name wisely.

good riddance to you, 2009!

2009-12-31T22:33:00.003+08:00

It is now half past nine in the evening, two and half hours more before we usher in the new decade. For me, a sense of relief that the dark ominous cloud that hung over the world is finally leaving, bringing with it all the bad things and penning its course permanently as history and stored as news archives.

2010 has a nice ring to it. When I was small, I associated 2010 with something very futuristic and imagined the kind of life I'll be experiencing. I used to watch a TV series called Space 1999, and boy, that show floored me. It would be so cool to travel to space and carry laser stun guns and fight with aliens. As I sit here typing this blog, I can't help but be amused that how a kid's child'-like imagination works. There was no space travel, no laser stun guns, just stuff out of a set in a TV studio. Life, inspite of advances in technology, just goes on.

If there is one thing I can be thankful for in 2009, that is when Zachary was born. He was the gift from heaven that we waited 5 years for. God is like a grandfather who dotes on his grandchildren and cannot withold good things to them for long before giving in. For that, Tina and I will always be grateful.

With the going of 2009 and the arrival of 2010, it felt like we are emerging from the endless dark tunnel we trugded and finally into the light at the end of it. When the world was in the pits with the economic downturn and people perishing from senseless wars and killings, there is no other way to go but up. It has to end somewhere, some place, and the turn of the decade seems like a nice place to start.

So, to 2009, thanks but no thanks. Good riddance to you and to the things you brought. I welcome 2010 with a positive sense of hope and a bright future for the world.

Two significant events since my last blog

2009-09-18T14:39:00.004+08:00

Two major things happened between my last blog which is a month ago. Wifey delivered a healthy baby boy we named Zachary Simon Co. Exactly ten days after his birth, my grandma died.

I have been grateful for these two incidents, mainly because God had heard my prayers on both, pertaining to Zachary and grandma. I had prayed and clung on His Word for another child, and had the privilege to see baby Zachary delivered right in front of my eyes. I also prayed for physical sustenance to grandma's health so she'll be around when Zachary is born.

Yes, the Lord granted both my wish. He is gracious and He is merciful. As I always say, God is good, all the time.

I want to blog on three things following this blog, namely my reflection on Zachary's birth, What's in a name and Grandma's passing. Maybe I'll write something about life and death also.

Follow-up to the dinner brouhaha

2009-08-18T15:59:00.003+08:00

Here is a link that chronicles PGMA's outlandish dinner. (http://www.quezon.ph/2009/08/12/le-circus-freak/). I marvel at MLQ3's ability for providing such a comprehensive report on GMA's US trip.

What irks me about GMA is her ability to appear oblivious to what is going around in her country and her silence on the issues hounding her. Come to think of it, all the issues are answerable by a yes or no. Its either she's got terrible advisers or she is a poor S, J and P type. Its as simple as calling a press conference to answer the questions about her. Yes, I will step down on 2010 when my term expires. Yes, the diner at Le Cirque costs $20,000. I realize its an expensive meal that I and my entourage dined and its an unwise expenditure and am deeply regretful about. And there is this plan of buying a presidential plane carrying a price tag of a billion pesos that was recently scrapped .....

Just this morning, the Inquirer.net reporeted she alloted P5 billion cash aid to the poor (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090818-220810/Arroyo-allots-P5B-more-for-cash-aid-to-poor).

If you ask me, this very clearly is damage control to protect GMA's already tarnished image. She has compromised her integrity beginning with running for president and the hello Garci incident and strings of incidents big and small that caused her rating to plummet. Haay... God save the queen!

Le Cirque dinner for First Family costs $20,000?

2009-08-10T10:21:00.006+08:00

Headlines today from different dailies reported the first family spent $20,000 on their anniversary dinner at Le Cirque in New York City and elicited lots of reactions on that one.

The New York Post reported a large entourage and very expensive wines that pushed the tab to $20,000. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/08072009/gossip/pagesix/eat_and_drink_183333.htm)

Press secretary Cerge Remonde angrily responded no taxpayer's money was spent. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090809-219439/Palace-No-taxpayers-money-spent)

Malacañang palace defended the expenditure saying Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez took the tab for the entourage of 2 tables. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090810-219507/Palace-Just-simple-dinner)

Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez said $20,000 is not expensive in New York (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090809-219447/Solon-says-P1M-is-just-right-for-NY-dinner)

If it were my wedding anniversary, I have no qualms taking my wife to Le Cirque or other fancy restaurants to celebrate. I will have no qualms ordering the most expensive wine on the house for *just the two of us* (emphasis words between the asterisks).

On the first couple's wedding anniversary, it looked like they spent it with their entire entourage, which should not have been on the US trip in the first place. So, I choose to believe the $20,000 tab is true. If these people who form the entourage has no real purpose to travel with the first couple, wasting money yet has the hide to dine in Le Cirque and drink fine wine. They should at least have the courtesy to offer to pay for their own meals. Just for kicks, here is the lunch and dinner menu of Le Cirque (http://www.lecirque.com/pdf/special2.pdfhttp://www.lecirque.com/pdf/special2.pdf). I don't however think this is the menu fit for a king.

What ticked me was the comment of Rep. Danilo Suarez. Ask any American if a $20,000 dinner is exorbitant. Does Rep Suarez mean $20,00 is not too expensive? Try explaining that to people who miss a meal a day. Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez picked up the tab. That is generous of him. Does not his money come from the taxpayers? Maybe he took it from his pork barrel. Does it not come from the taxpayers too?

They justified it was late when they had dinner, as if implying that Le Cirque was the only restaurant open. Remember New York City was known as the City That Never Sleeps, so there must be other restaurants that are open. The Arroyo entourage had a simple dinner. Simple dinner at Le Cirque also costs a lot, not to mention the sales tax and the gratuity on top of the tab.

Wikipedia defines stewardship as "personal responsibility for taking care of another person's property or financial affairs or in religious orders taking care of finances." (see a broader definition here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewardship)

I never thought $20,000 was not a part of good governance/stewardship. Whether on whose pocket the $20,000 came from, it was an unnecessary expense, culturally insensitive to the plight of the Filipinos who are suffering back home.

In conclusion, I was reminded of King David when he expressed longing to drink water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem when three of his heroes broke through the lines of the Philistines and brought him the water which he longed. However he would not drink of the water. Instead, he poured it out before the Lord. .... "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?", and David would not drink it. - 2 Sam 23:15-17.

What do these cars have in common & what does them have to do with me?

2009-07-22T16:29:00.016+08:00

The Batmobile.

I grew up reading DC comics, and watching Batman over our family Zenith black and white TV during the 70's. During that time, the characters and the plot are simple. Cinematography is not as good as what we have nowadays, but I still enjoyed it, partly because we feel safe knowing there is a hero with a kick*ss armoured car out there beating the bad guys and fighting crime . For every punch thrown, ther is a "POW!" on the screen. No one ever dies in those shows back then.

KITT

Michael Knight talks to his watch and the KITT responds. How hilarious is that? The 80's is the generation of Sci-fi and a string of make believe shows, but I loved it even if I think its silly now. Knight and KITT tandem as a formidable crime fighting machine and the technologically advanced car has intelligence that bails Michael out of hairy situations.... Well, they both (the show and the characters and the car) die in the end and received a makeover after several years in an effort to revive the show.

Cadillac One

Now this car thinks its a tank. Take a click and read the features. By george I think there could be a min-oval office inside the car, or it maybe it transforms into an Autobot when no one is looking. All these for the protection of the president of the United States. I wonder if it has a self-destruct button.....

These cars above are equipped to the brim with every conceivable technology known to man during their generation. They are mean hotrods that are designed to protect the driver or passenger, whoever is the more important person.

But for me, I need my ride for transportation, to get me from home to work to church or places I need to be, period. Somehow, during my time in the car, I do feel a sense of safety knowing that when accidents happen, I'm not as open and as prone as those riding the motorcycle.

My safety blanket is not my car however, but rather my Lord almighty who keeps me safe in His palms in my coming in and going out. I experience his presence when I am alone or with other people. With a car that's 9 years old and around 86,000 kms travelled, it is not exactly the safest of all cars, however, I feel fully protected knowing that I have an excellent hand in my Lord who steers the car to wherever I need to be.

God bless us all.

No thanks to you, doc!

2009-07-20T16:31:00.005+08:00

On a visit to my wife's OB/GYN at St. Luke's, she ordered an ultrasound to check the levels of amniotic fluid and the baby's overall condition since she was nearing her appointment with the stork.

Being a very detailed person, wifey called Chinese General Hospital (CGH) to find out how much a 3D ultrasound cost. She was told P1,120. So she said since the difference between the regular and the 3D sound was only P200, might as well use the 3D.

We went to CGH last Saturday, July 20. When we got to the delivery room where the machine was located, we were told that the 3D ultrasound costs P3,000+. Ok, so maybe the girl at the other end of the line mistook or misheard my wife and quoted her the wrong price. Next up, we found out that the doctor who performed the ultrasound for my wife before was at Metropolitan Hospital in Manila deliverying a baby, and won't be in for at least another hour, and she asks if its ok for her reliever to do the ultrasound. We said ok after we learned the reliever is also an OB/GYN in the person of Jeanette Marie T. Yuyucheng, M.D.

A few minutes later, she walked in went straight to the machine. I felt something was odd, but dismissed it, since we were the only patient there and maybe she was in a hurry. So, wifey climbed on the bed and exposed her belly. Dr. Jeanette started to do her routine, scanning and clicking on the machine. When we asked questions, she would curtly reply "I'll do a report and your doctor can interpret them for you." I was upset but hid it, hoping her disposition would change so I wouldn't be judging her so quickly. The ultrasound ended in 3 minutes. She left and went to the computer and typed her report. After her report, she stayed to chat with the interns while my wife was totally ignored (I was downstairs paying for the service).

I totally understand etiquette dictate the doctors to be discreet when it comes to patients who are not under their care. But not answering questions is not part of it, since it has to do with our unborn child. We had used the services of other doctors before who patiently answered our questions and showed us the monitor while the ultrasound was going on, even if my wife wasn't under their care. If she were a sonologist/technician, I would totally understand, because they cannot give unsolocited interpretation. However, she is an M.D., and M.D.s should not behave like that. It turns off people and leaves a bad taste of them and the hospital where they work.

If you follow the program at ABS-CBN called "Salamat Doc", you see an example of public service where they help the masses with their medical issues and they have a consultant they interview during the program. I entitled this blog "No thanks to you, doc!"

My expectation of patient-care is for the doctors to help the patient understand/answer some questions they have about their health and recommend treatment plans. Whether the patient is educated or not, they deserve the same treatment from the consultant/attending. So, physicians like Jeanette Yuyucheng, M.D. does not deserve to be practicing even if our routine did not constitute a malpractice. She is a bad example of a doctor and I hope next time, she will not treat patients with that kind of attitude.

On the road series #2

2009-07-17T13:48:00.008+08:00

It is a rainy day today. My way to the office from Quezon City to Makati consists of some low lying areas I can't avoid but had to just brave the flood and guide the car to the shallower areas while praying I won't drive into a manhole or some gaping pothole. Since the brakes are slippery after going through a flood, I had to pump the brakes to get the water off the pads and try to keep the car from hitting the vehicle in front of me. I marvel at how jeepney drivers can keep this up day-in day-out, rain or shine, dealing with thin brake pads and balding tires and collecting payments and counting changes in between.

When I reached Nagtahan bridge, the sky was blanketed with dark clouds pronouncing more rains for the rest of the day. The drive from Nagtahan to Quirino Ave. was uneventful until I turned to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

Normally, when I'm on SLEX, I stop at Vito Cruz extension to make a left turn, and it made going to the office much much faster and its almost always free of traffic because the area there are part residential and part office, and only tricycles ply that route.

But when I reached the stoplight today, there area 3 traffic enforcers. I can recognize 2 MMDA traffic and one other person by the stoplight and they are waving for the drivers to go straight. I stopped and asked the traffic enforcer to kindly let me through because the road ahead is jammed and flooded, I reasoned. "Baka sumunod ang ibang sasakyan" (other drivers might follow) was the reply . I gave him an angry look and drove off, because obviously they are not going to let any car make a left this morning.

True enough, when I reached the Cash and Carry area below the bridge, traffic was so bad because of the floods ahead. After countless reds and greens, I finally made the left turn and saw the flood, as I had expected. I said to myself, there is no way my car can make it through the flood that high, so I had to drive back to SLEX on the opposite direction and make the right turn back to my usual route.

I am always cool and composed when driving. What made me seethe with anger over them was the reason I was given. Are the traffic people even thinking? Their job is to ensure people are safe on the road and they are driving people to flooded areas and traffic is a virtual standstill. I don't think they even bothered to check the roads within the vicinity before deciding to close the left turn that day. No wonder people say, its true wherever there are traffic enforcers, the area becomes more congested.

To the traffic enforcers: Hoy! Gising! (Hey! Wake Up!) Do your job efficiently, not mindlessly! You are such a shining example of waste of taxpayer money.

The power of media

2009-06-25T15:15:00.008+08:00

I picked up this video from the blog of Agnes Tan. I hadn't thought of putting it into a blog until just now when I remembered how powerful media, especially web 2.0 can be. Just think of what's going on in Iran, when the government tried to censor the news to keep it from reaching the world, the photos, videos and blogs are being transmitted to the news agencies and websites worldwide. Even CNN has its own iReport where in just a few years ago, no one had even thought of doing it.

On our own backyard, the Hayden Kho and the multiple women's video scandal was a shameless media that is meant to stay on the hard drive but went crazy out of control and spread like wildfire worldwide for Filipinos and others to ogle at their trysts.

In Singapore, people make fun of other people by using their camphones to capture unwitting actions, i.e. sleeping at the MRT with mouth wide open, or other actions that you'd be embarrased about, sort of like Candid Camera of the olden days, except the images land on the internet.

Media is powerful if used correctly. It can bring down an institution as powerful as a government or it can promote things for the good of a nation. Let's use it wisely.

Why worry when you can pay

2009-06-10T18:15:00.009+08:00

I was taking a look at my unpaid bills today from 3 credit card companies. A total of over P75,000. I don't know how I managed to rack up such a huge amount that my paycheck cannot cover. What I cannot understand is I didn't spend for anything expensive nor catered to my whims, but there they were, with the due dates glaring at me demanding I pay up or else....

With a baby coming in 2 months and another insurance payment of P75,000 looming near, I am really worried. I don't have much savings in the bank, barely even enough to pay for one of the credit card bill.

It began when the business I am running hasn't had a sale since the past few months and the capital is slowly being depleted by the bills and the overhead. Not long ago, I had to transfer some funds from another account to supplement the account I use to pay my overhead. Just to help the company save money, I decided not to get my salary for the meantime while I worry where to get funds for the next payroll. I am working on some promising deals that would hopefully bring me some temporary relief.

Just as I got into the shower to get ready to work while worrying about the unpaid bills, I resolved I would not let my family down. I would not let this failure to pay conquer me. Failure for me at this point is not an option. I had this strong sense of responsibility for provision that not being able to is a source of shame to me, and to my ego.

God gave me a wife who is godly. She asked me if I did my devotion this morning. I said I hadn't yet, so I went to my Bible to read. I didn't know where to start because i haven't been following a reading plan, and I have been a bad boy for not having a quiet time with my Father for quite sometime.

As i flipped open the bible, a sticker with a telephone clipart that read, "GOD ANSWERS PRAYER" "Dial Jeremiah 33:3". I quickly flipped to Jeremiah 33:3, and it read "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." That itself is a great relief, but most assuring is the verse before it that read: "This is what the Lord says, Hewho made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name."

It was such an assurance I had such a big God that I can count on, a Father who is the Great I am behind me. All the worries I have did not seem to be as big as what perceived it to be. Issues that have sprung are not insurmountable anymore. The hardest lesson for me to learn is to hand the reins of the company and my finances to Him who is the Great Provider. But I know He will be gentle and patient with me as I take little steps to grow in faith in Him.

Turning the big four-oh

2009-06-03T20:19:00.006+08:00

Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions for me. It was the day when I bade goodbye to my 39th year as the clock ticks to 12am when I can no longer tell people I'm in my 30's.

So today is officially the first day of my 40th year of existence on this planet. The big four-oh. Where life really begins. I already lived half of my biological life, and in a few more years, I'll be all crippled and hunched and sporting a senior citizen's card like the people I see at the drugstore. It is also a day of retrospection, on what had I accomplished the past 39 years, and what to look forward to in the future.

Some people gauge their success in terms of wealth when they are in their 40's. Others have attained higher education or are executives in big corporations. Unfortunately, our society's yardstick for success is acknowledged accomplishment that is quantitative, meaning measurable.

I don't have bragging rights to any of them. I am middle-working class, I make enough to pay the bills and a little savings for simple leisure. I don't own a big house nor do I drive a fancy car. However, I can say with confidence that I have what others covet but cannot have - happiness.

I woke up to a gloomy day that promises rain and more rain. Rain on the first day of my 40th year. Today, I lost count of the birthday greetings on my phone. I can't remember how many thank yous I replied on Facebook, so I guess the rain is a good thing because it brings blessings.

My life has been very blessed rich. I have a loving and supportive wife whom I am married to for 7-1/2 years. Each day that pass make me love her even more. We are happy. We are expecting our second child, Simon Zachary in August. I have a solid group of long time friends, and a church in UECP as my spiritual family. Of course my family on my two sides, my own and my in-laws, we are happy and care deeply for each other. I could not ask for anything more. Sure, I may be a willing slave to gadgets and technology, but these are fleeting and provide only temporary gratification and in no way can they make me feel secure and happy and grounded as I am today.

Of course, all the things I am proud of I owe it to the Lord my God who is not tired of showering me with blessing after blessing. I thank Him for His patience faithful and loving despite my weaknesses and fallenness.

As I start my mid-life, I look forward to new experiences, new challenges knowing that my walk in this journey called life won't be lonely because He is with me. Happy birthday to me!

Singapore-KL photos

2009-05-22T17:23:00.020+08:00

Here are some of the photos taken during my cheapskate official trip to Malaysia. Enjoy!

Changi Airport while waiting for my connecting flight.

Selamat Datang, Welcome to Malaysia!

KL Ekspres, the train to take me from airport to the city. That's my backpack, right there on the luggage rail.

Someone's got itchy hands. Notice the upper right corner of the sticker was clawed.

My abode at the Sunway Pyramid Hotel where I'll be spending 3 days.

(Above) The coffee shop where I had asian fusion breakfast.

(Below) The facade of the hotel, facing inwards. Would you believe there is a theme park, a surf pool and a mall inside? BTW, their mall have free Wi-Fi.

This rink was near the annex to the hotel. When I left to get dinner and do some groceries, these were the recerational ice skaters. After groceries, they were no longer there but were replaced by two teams of very aggressive hockey players.

(Above) This is the top view of the dome of the mall. The area where I'm in is called the blue atrium, hence the blue dome. The mall is divided into atriums, and each atrium is of a different color (red, blue & green) to easily identify which area of the mall you are in.

(Below) The front lobby of the hotel, guarded by 2 elephants with the mushroom-esque shelter from the rain - is a big attraction for tourists like me who made it a must to shoot a picture of it for souvenir.

(Above) My express train to and from the airport.

(Below) My Cebu Pacific flight back to Manila Its not a full flight, I was trying to stretch my legs over 3 seats, but couldn't sleep because the metal harness of the belt is jutting out of the seat keeps pushing against my back while I try to find a nice sleeping position. I ended having to sleep sitting while the flight attendants push their meals for sale past me and played get me.

This was the last decent picture before the blur of green, the concrete barrier and the final bump when the plane's tires screeches on the asphalt runway.

My photography wishlist

2009-05-22T14:51:00.015+08:00

Being the sucker for technology that I am, I'm wistfully dreaming winning the P150M lotto and all the camera equipments I can potentially buy. I'm a Canon person by persuasion (its a long story), so here's my wishlist. I have other wishlists, but it won't be on this post.

Note: Photos below copyrighted by their respective owners.

1. A decent flash like the Canon 580EX II TTL flash.

2. A macro/portrait lens in the Canon EF f/2.8 100mm USM lens.

3. If I had I macro lens, I should need a:

MR-14 EX Ringflash to capture critters.

4. For my newborn son to be, to take lots of pictures of my cutie bundle of joy, I will definitely need a:

Canon EF f/1.2 50mm prime lens

5. I had been wanting a ultra-wide lens to complete my selection, so here it is:

6. Finally, someone to carry all my equipments :)

7. Oh, and after reading Chico Garcia's blog (http://chicogarcia.wordpress.com/), I also realized I need a Canon G10 and an underwater housing to go with it.

On the road series #1

2009-05-21T13:07:00.004+08:00

Many a times when I drive to work where I stop at a red light. One uniformed policeman on a motorcycle will pull up alongside me and after pausing for a few seconds, will cross the red light, or make an illegal U-turn by just a push or two of their sirens.

Even worse are the people inside the heavily escorted SUVs. Their motorcade weave through traffic like their life is in danger. Who do they think they are? Who do the escorts think they are? They are the people who I rank one of the most arrogant in the country.

Now, how can the citizenry respect you as people with authority when you cannot even set a proper example? No wonder the Philippines is at the bottom. Something as simple as model by example cannot even be accomplished by the people in office, so how can you expect the common people to respect you? I lament that the people's tax money are conveniently forgotten once these people are in power or sworn to protect and serve.

The Philippines is always playing 'palo sebo' (a local game where a person would attempt to climb a greased pole to reach the top) When would this game end? It would, if our dear politicians and dear police officers would stop thinking they are above the people and the law and start abiding by the law, even if it is something simple like traffic lights.

Pauper 's Voyage

2009-05-05T15:45:00.008+08:00

Whew! I finally got my flight schedules settled. For a regular traveller, a trip to KL would mean a round trip ticket to KL via Malaysian Airlines or Singapore Airlines, but no! A cheapskate like me would scour the airlines for their ultra budget fares and book them, ending up with 3 airlines. Leaving via Jetstar Asia, connecting to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore and back through SilkAir, and back home via Cebu Pacific. Why all these trouble? Simple. I'm spending my own money :) and another plus is I get my passport stamped 8 times instead of 4.

Work-related stress

2009-05-04T10:55:00.006+08:00

Today promises to be a stressful day. I was informed that I need to take a training in preparation for another training (doesn't that sound redundant?). Aside from that my preparations for a product and company launch can't seem to reach the T stage (as in T minus 30 to liftoff...) Probably is because I'm stressed to procrastination or procrastinate until its time to cram? Which one is right? I would guess the latter. I derive my energy from last minutes and the exhilirations I get from that is unexplainable. Sigh. I sometimes wish I am like my wife who is so disciplined and task oriented that the to-do-list gets ticked off one after the other. But that's her.

I'm going to stop rambling now. Off to work now, idiot!

Long time

2009-05-04T08:59:00.005+08:00

It has been 10 days shy of a year and 2 months since I was last in blogosphere. Actually, I do miss blogging and decided to return to an old flame that has always been that that's waiting to be reignited. At the same time, I promised myself that I'd blog, not just to share my funny and personal experience, but to shoo off some personal demons (don't even start!) that's been hounding me.

Hello world again!

Identical switch

2008-02-14T14:58:00.003+08:00

Remember me ranting about my mac in last year's September 3, 2007 post? If you read the last line, it said: "Practically everything is new now. Maybe it needs a new owner, perhaps?". It came true. The time I bought the Macbook, I bought another one exactly the same with Applecare for the Admin Manager at the office. I only found out our Macbook was the wrong unit when the admin manager called to inform me that the unit we had belonged to them because the Applecare extended warranty was associated with the serial no. of our Macbook. Talk about a switch! My Macbook literally went to a new owner and so far, with our switched notebook, it's been working fine.

How I spent Valentine's day

2008-02-14T14:43:00.004+08:00

I am the least excited today. Woke up early. Went to Manila Funeraria Paz to be with my close friend whose mom passed away after she lost the battle to cancer, Hepatitis-B and pneumonia. She was buried today, Valentine's day.

When I got back to the office from the cemetery, my wife greeted me with a phone call about her ex-colleague at the seminary and her husband who died a crushing death courtesy of a speeding bus this morning after they dropped their kids at school.

Originally, we (my wife and I) had planned to spend a long Valentine's evening with good friends over a home-cooked dinner. Looks like it will be a hurried dinner with short conversations and off we go to yet another funeral.

what happened in-between then and now?

2008-02-14T14:09:00.007+08:00

Hmmm... let's see. From October till now,

My wife did not get pregnant. She has blighted ovum. Meaning, she has all pregnancy symptoms, but no fetus inside. Sigh. Maybe God has in it for us at a later time. Still praying and hoping.
Christmas came early for me. My brother gifted me with a Digital SLR, which is nice. Thing is, I had to get a suitable telephoto lens for it. Not exactly free, if you ask me. Its like someone gave you a bag of the finest ground coffee in the world except you don't have a coffee maker. So what to do? You go out and find a decent coffee maker that brings out the quality of your ground coffee for a nice brew of joe to enjoy. Now, that's what I call unforseen expenditure.
I got promoted to a job that my boss vacated. Not the most ideal for me as my skills and my new job description is totally incompatible. Time will tell if I can catch up with the demands of my new post.
Remember what I wrote in the About me section (the right pane of the blog) that I aim to do my first fun run last December? well, the organizers moved the event to March 2, which is about 2 weeks to train for my very first run. I was able to get the running shoe I've been lusting last year - the Asics Gel Kayano XII. So I'll train with that pair and even if I don't make it within the minimum time/distance for that mileage, at least I look cool in my running shoes :)
Spent the new year vacation with my wife in the freezing temperatures of Northern Virginia. Had fun with the nephews and nieces. On earlier trips, I was eager to hit Barnes and Noble and spend my afternoon lounging in one of their comfortable chairs with a nice book, but nosiree, not this trip. The basement is where I hole up, watching TV and doing the treadmill in between waking up and eating and following the earlier US campaign caucus.
Finally, from October till now, I've been thinking of blogging but never got around to blog.

Well, now I'm back!

Extreme MacOver

2007-09-03T16:10:00.000+08:00

Have you seen ABC's reality show Extreme Makeover? I haven't, but got close to knowing what it is all about when I got a call from the Powermac service center informing me that my wife's mac has been fixed and can be claimed. So early Saturday morning, I drove to the service center and received the macbook. There on the service report:

Screen flickering. Replaced LCD screen.
Hard disk unaccessible. Folder icon apears on powerup. Replace hard disk.
Power button discoloration. Replace top case

That is on top of the previous replacement of the logic board.

Practically everything is new now. Maybe it needs a new owner, perhaps?

2 strips

2007-09-03T14:55:00.000+08:00

Strip is not a very good word. In other words, strip means deprive or remove something of, or connotes something less respectable.

Well, on the mid-morning of August 30, strip took on a new meaning for me. I was at work. Got a call from my wife. 2 strips. On the pregnancy kit. I couldn't believe it. But it really is there. 2 strips. We are going to have a baby again! It was the best news I've gotten in years. We had been trying after our firstborn passed away 2 years ago, and the grief of it plus the frustration of shooting blanks added to my list of personal disappointments, so imagine my disbelief and restrained joy when I heard the news. Right now, I still have to shake myself to reality that my wife is really pregnant.

This is a miracle from God. We have been praying for a child and many others praying along with us. We've gone through an unsuccessful IVF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invitro_fertilization) and I have ankylosing spondylitis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosing_spondylitis). I have been staving off the meds for AS because one of the side effect means my little swimmers will decline significantly. But my AS began progressing fast, I can't put off taking the drug lest it travels to my spine, so I began taking the medication for it. I had also started looking for prospective shcools for my graduate education, but I guess God has other plans for us. It is indeed wonderful, wonderful. I get to become a parent once again. 2 strips. Is good news for me.

A rotten apple

2007-08-31T17:08:00.000+08:00

Since I got the macbook for my wife more than a year ago, It underwent 1 logic board transplant and another botched logic board transplant. The saying third time's a charm happened when the hard disk crashed and everything in there - well, joined the rest of the macdeparted in macheaven. Now my wife is ranting my choice of a macbook is bad. Well, the mac was ordered online. How was I supposed to know it came from a bad batch? So it goes, I got myself a lemon. No, a rotten apple. That's what it is.

Hello World!

2007-08-31T15:31:00.000+08:00

First blog out to cyberspace. Inspired by gypsyshaven. bow. exit.