Tooth_and_ENT_doctor

Singapore, Gloria etc.

2011-11-20T07:25:00.003+08:00

I recently went back to Singapore for a 3-day work-related matter. Most of my free time there was spent walking around the business district of the city and doing so brought back the longing of permanently staying there for some time. I just so like the city, maybe because it seem so peaceful and orderly, and the people look decent and disciplined. These are the traits that are obviously lacking in our country that is probably why I am attracted to this land of Merlion.

The ongoing political spectacle involving former president GMA makes me want to leave the country even more. I find it ridiculous and disappointing. It just highlights how our political and justice system have become so tainted and unbelievable.

I don’t like the former president. Based on the issues she faced during her term, she doesn’t seem to be a trustworthy and honest politician and leader. Her credibility is far out. But I still recognize the fact that she was the country’s president for almost a decade. And, whether she cheated her way in to assume the post, no reasonable human being can claim that she did not do anything good for the country. And for that, she deserves at least a bit of respect and simple decency.

Adel Tamano said in his column that “the quality of a society — simply, how decent we are — is measured by how we treat the people we hate. Constitutional protections like due process, free speech, right to travel, etc. are easily afforded to those who are powerful and popular but the real test is if we can provide these to those out of power and unpopular.” If we have any pretensions of being a democratic country, we should be fair to all concerned. Tamano said, “Put in another way, it doesn’t matter if you pity GMA or if you rejoice in her troubles; under our democratic system, you still have to give her due.”

But I don’t think the people in PNoy’s government will recognize this. They are hell bent on persecuting GMA, for all the gratis it will bring to their egos, and so this ‘moro-moro’ will surely continue.

Now you ask me. Why do you want to live in the Lion City? My answer. Why not?

My 40th

2011-09-03T21:06:00.003+08:00

"Family and friends - it is with mixed feelings that I face being forty.

Some have come to dread the "F" word - but I say - bring it on - bring them all on!

Fantastic describes how wonderful it is to share my fortieth birthday with all of you,

Footprints, you have left in my heart as we have journeyed forward together,

Firm our friendships and family ties have always stood -

Friction - yes at times - but inevitably they were soon forgotten and forgiven.

And as I look back on the thirty nine years already gone,

I appreciate the happy times and the lessons I've learned...

Frontiers to conquer and fulfil - there have been many -

Foundations were firm and ever-present to guide and lead me,

Fiasco's and failure - well, those somehow I found a-plenty along the way,

Flawed choices I've made - some I'll always regret and some I'll forgive.

Finally, at forty, it seems that some insight is gradually dawning...

And as I look to the future and forward, perhaps I need to say:

Foresight, I now have to live a life far less frenetic,

Finesse when dealing with people's feelings will do no harm - I'll strive to remember that!

Forthright and honest - it is a good path to tread while

Fostering love and fellowship - it's an ideal to aspire to.

Now, as I make my way through the next ten years,

Allow me to fantasize- a fabulous future - for sure!

Fifty, faithful and foolhardy, without a doubt I'm going to be -

Surrounded by family and friends who loves me."

http://www.find-the-words.com/40th-birthday-speech.html

Being a Parent

2011-08-17T13:31:00.004+08:00

My becoming a parent is my biggest achievement so far. It's the best experience ever but it isn't as simple as it seems. Raising children can be very stressful and difficult, but for every hypertension episode or every cent spent, at the end of the day, a kiss and a hug from the little ones will make it all worth it.

My daughters are 6 and 5 years old respectively. They are smart and beautiful beings who never fail to make me realize how blessed my life is. My wife who will forever be my bestfriend shares this happiness of having a wonderful family.

Before becoming a father, my life centered on my needs and wants. When my daughters were born, I learned quickly that my needs have become secondary. Now, there remains to be only one choice when push comes to shove, my family. Marriage and being a parent made me choose to dedicate my life to God and to the lives that are now connected with mine.

With the joys of parenthood come difficult situations too. Challenges are unending. My experiences as a father have presented me with several opportunities to reflect on my day to day actions. These moments have given me the chance to grow more as a person and learn more about myself. I am proud of the father that I am, but I am more proud of the man I am becoming as a result of being a father.

A Father's Rule of Finding Fulfillment

2011-07-31T06:43:00.003+08:00

A letter of Paul Flanagan to his 2 children before he died from complications of skin cancer. I would like to tell these to my daughters too.

Be courteous, be punctual, always say please and thank you, and be sure to hold your knife and fork properly. Others take their cue on how to treat you from your manners.

Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if you have problems of your own. Others will admire your selflessness and will help you in due course.

Show moral courage. Do what is right, even if that makes you unpopular. I always thought it important to be able to look at myself in the shaving mirror every morning and not feel guilt or remorse. I depart this world with a pretty clear conscience.

Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.

Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

Have fun. If this involves taking risks, so be it. If you get caught, hold your hands up.

Give to charity and help those who are less fortunate than yourself: it’s easy and so rewarding.

Always look on the upside! The glass is half full, never half empty. Every adversity has a silver lining if you seek it out.

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Be canny: you will get more of what you want if you can give someone more of what they desire. Compromise can be king.

Always accept a party invitation. You may not want to go, but they want you there. Show them courtesy and respect.

Never ever let a friend down. I would bury bodies for my friends, if they asked me to . . . which is why I have chosen them carefully.

Always tip for good service. It shows respect. But never reward poor service. Poor service is insulting.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Be prepared to put the interests of your sibling first.

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches.

Be ambitious, but not nakedly so. Be prepared to back your assertions with craftsmanship and hard work.

Live every day to its full: do something that makes you smile or laugh, and avoid procrastination.

Give of your best at school. Some teachers forget that pupils need incentives. So if your teacher doesn’t give you one, devise your own.

Always pay the most you can afford. Never skimp on hotels, clothing, shoes, make-up or jewellery. But always look for a deal. You get what you pay for.

Never give up! My two little soldiers have no dad, but you are brave, big-hearted, fit and strong. You are also loved by an immensely kind and supportive team of family and friends. You make your own good fortune, my children, so battle on.

Never feel sorry for yourself, or at least don’t do it for long. Crying doesn’t make things better.

Look after your body and it will look after you.

Learn a language, or at least try. Never engage a person abroad in conversation without first greeting them in their own language; by all means ask if they speak English!

And finally, cherish your mother, and take very good care of her.

I love you both with all my heart.

Daddy

Opportunites: Thinking Outside the Box

2011-07-22T09:01:00.001+08:00

There's an ongoing debate regarding the low salaries being given to physicians in the country. Some believe that it's an insult to the profession and it should not be tolerated. Others think that we really can't do much about it and it alll depends on anyone's circumstance whether to accept it or not.

As I've always believed from the beginning, medicine is a calling and if anyone thinks he'll get wealthy by becoming a doctor, it is possible but often, it is not the case. More and more physicians realize this and the trend now is to find other ways to realize the dream of being financially satisfied. Some put up their own business like hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, etc., while others dive into the corporate world and take advantage of the hefty pay that companies give to executives, just like the other professions. Only a few however would be blessed to get in or even put up with the stresses of business, but those who do end up achieving their financial goals faster and easier.

We should always find opportunities and not just sulk about our circumstance. The article below speaks well of this.

There is a saying by Edwin Louis Cole: “Don’t pray for opportunities; pray you’ll be ready when opportunities come.

Opportunities always come, and it surrounds us all the time. Whether we are able to spot them and act on them is entirely dependent on the person whom the opportunities are presented to.

Most people out there don’t seem to realize the existence of opportunities because they are so trapped by their perceived circumstances and their routine lives. What we need to understand is that if there is anything we wish to do or accomplish, the Universe will open doors for all of us if we seek for the opportunities.

We have the ability to choose every moment from the time we wake up till the time we go to bed. When we wake up in the morning, we jump out of bed, take a bath, clean our teeth and dash out of the house to work not simply because of the need to but because we choose to. It is fair to say that we don’t always feel this way, but the fact is that nobody forces you to do what you have been doing! Though at times we may feel that we are being forced to, but ponder for a moment – it is us who put ourselves in the situation of being “forced”

It is true that we need to go do things we don’t necessarily love doing for the sake of money and survival. However, if you are not satisfied with the way you live your life, you may make a choice to and assume the power to make things better.

Opportunities does exist, and in fact at this very moment you are reading this, someone you know – your friend, ex-schoolmate, neighbor, teacher, or gardener for that matter, may be working on a new opportunity he or she has just chanced upon.

In order to see the opportunities that come to you, you have to be willing to change the way you see yourself and the world that is around you.

You have to relax and understand that each day you are presented new ways and opportunities to live life happily and to do the things you love doing. You will never be stuck in a particular situation indefinitely. It is only the lousy thoughts and feelings about yourself and your situation that makes you feel trapped and blinded to opportunities.

Rather than feeling sorry for yourself and the situation you are in, identify the things that you love doing and start getting prepared for it. Les Brown, who is a world-class motivational speaker and author of many self improvement books including “Live Your Dreams”, dreams to be a radio DJ. His background did not make it easy for him to be one. He was plagued by low self-esteem, poverty and was mistakenly declared “educably mentally retarded”. However, there was one teacher who believed in him and taught him to prepare, and work hard preparing for what he dreams of doing. Les worked hard practicing being a radio DJ, way before he actually became one. He is now a highly renowned public speaker, who is being recognized by Toastmasters International as one of the World’s Top Five Speakers.

What you may begin doing is to start preparing yourself before the opportunity arises. You want to be ready when the opportunity comes, and not feel sorry for yourself with only excuses and lack.

Start today, and ask yourself what can you do to prepare for the next opportunity that comes by. You will be thankful you did your preparations and seized new opportunities while others could only sit one corner and envy at your success.

http://www.selfenrich.com/make-more-money/how-to-create-more-opportunities-for-yourself/

Seizing Opportunities

2011-07-13T13:39:00.004+08:00

It's been three months since I joined the company I am presently connected with. The workload started slow at first but it has since peaked up and I am now spending lesser time counting how many people pass by my work station daily.

There have been wonderful opportunities also that came which I gladly and gratefully grabbed. I have met few good men and some 'not so good' ones. So far, I can say that the whole experience has been worth the risk of transferring from my previous employment.

Talking about opportunities, my idol Francis Kong gave this wonderful illustration of seizing every opportunity that comes one's way. It is a good reminder of motivational living.

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and said, "Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life.It stood pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available. So always grab the first opportunity.

Get out of your comfort zone.
Learn new things. Explore the world. Stretch yourself.
Meet new friends. Learn from people.
And why not go into the diligent study of God’s Word.
Accept His Call and go out and change the world.
Love God with all of your heart, soul strength and mind and be ready for that brand new life adventure you’ve always been looking for.
Don’t go for the thin and scrawny bull with no tail; choose the biggest one and the fiercest one. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
In other words, attempt great things for God and be sure to give Him the Glory.

Reference: http://franciskong.com/motivation/choosing-the-right-bull/#more-1338

Mind: Source of Illness

2011-05-31T15:23:00.003+08:00

The consequences of the unfortunate incident involving our house extended beyond the manageable hassle. We feel that my father in law felt so sad and depressed that he lost his appetite. This in turn led to electrolyte imbalance that triggered a kidney failure. We probably almost lost him, had it not for the prompt emergency management of the TMC nephrologists. He is out of the intensive care unit now although he might continue to undergo more hemodialysis.

What happened to him may be a proof of the powerful effect of the brain centers on other organs of the body. It is a testimony that psychological disorders can trigger organ malfunctions as well. Dr Willem Kop, a nephrologist, said this about depression and kidney failure: "People with depressive symptoms have a higher risk of subsequent adverse kidney disease outcomes. The association with depression is stronger in patients who are otherwise healthy compared to those who had co-existing medical disorders such as diabetes or heart disease.” (Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology)

This psychosomatic hypothesis, which was popular in the mid-20th century, held that repressed emotional conflict was at the core of many physical diseases: Hypertension was the product of the inability to deal with hostile impulses. Ulcers were caused by unresolved fear and resentment. And women with breast cancer were characterized as being sexually inhibited, masochistic and unable to deal with anger. The reason is that the source of all illnesses is not inside the body, and is not in some external agent. All of these supposed causes are really just the symptoms of the real issue. The source of illness is in the mind. The Law of Attraction teaches us that your thoughts create your reality, including all illnesses.

Life Challenges

2011-05-15T06:01:00.006+08:00

It has been almost 2 weeks since that life halting incident involving our house happened. I am glad that everything is settling down a bit now. We are slowly getting back on our life's journeys individually, and as a family.

There are so much to learn about what happened but if there's one thing that is 20/20 clear, it is the old known fact not to store your wealth on this earth because it can be gone in a wink of an eye! It is better to invest on what matters after life because you can be sure that it will be there forever.

The car accident I figured out in a month ago taught me that my life is not mine. The literal crumbling of our house 15 days after taught me that my possessions are not mine as well. Both are God's! Lessons well learned.

Life challenges may be really so stressful and frustrating but they are God's way of teaching us the essence of living. We are thankful too that through it all, we have relatives and friends who were there to support and pray for us.

Reflections on a Holy Week

2011-04-23T06:06:00.006+08:00

It is holy week! A good time to reflect on a lot of things, especially the recent events in my life.

It has been a month since the last day with my previous company and I am still adjusting. I realized though that I made the right decision of leaving because I don't seem to miss a bit of the work there. I have grown so tired of the work-related stresses that it was no longer something that I enjoyed doing, rather, just a routine task and source of income. I miss the people I work with though and if there is one thing that pinches my heart a bit, it is the pain of leaving a bunch of great and wonderful people.

It has been two weeks since the first day with my new job and I am still adjusting too. I was so eager to become part of a seemingly exciting industry and so far, I have yet to sink my teeth into something really new and delicious. I am still hopeful.

It has been a week since the first time I experienced a car accident as a driver. Though unharmed, the incident made me realize again that God is in control of my life and He can take it anytime, anywhere, when it's time for me to be with Him.

It has been a day since I finished a homework that made me reflect on my life's journey so far. Indeed, God has been so good to me for the past 39 years and I cannot ask for anything more. I just pray that He continues to guide me as I live a life, purposely driven for His glory!

Journey of Life

2011-03-10T10:10:00.005+08:00

I finally received the last 'stamp' to my 'inevitable move" yesterday. It was a big relief and was truly liberating. It's like a rainbow to my eyes, an icing to my cake.

Now that it's all set, the difficult process of transition begins. Letting go will be painful and adjusting to the change will be as challenging. Tears will definitely fall, a lot of questions will surely be tossed, and apprehensions will rise. But I am positive that all these will pass and sooner or later, the rough waters will be calm again.

I have always said and I say it again, everything in life has a purpose. We who believe in God are on a wonderful journey with Him and we'll just have to expect the unexpected. Stop-overs may be short and sweet but that's just how it is planned out to be. We'll just have to enjoy and make the most of our stay!

No doubt that I will miss the people and the place of my last sojourn, but I have peace that they too have life journeys to take and somewhere along the way, we'll see each other again.

Of Friends and Acquaintances

2011-03-02T13:12:00.004+08:00

I catched an episode of the TV series “Friends” last night and while watching, memories of people I call ‘friends’ came rushing in. Then an interesting thought came. Are some of them really my friends? Or are they just people I had a ‘relationship’ with, be it working or social. Weren’t they just acquaintances?

I realized that just because I interacted with several people closely before does not necessarily make them my friends, or me to them. It must have been just a ‘social relationship’ that we had, brought about by the circumstance. As we saw each other often, it might have appeared as ‘friendship’. But later on, when we parted, there’s really no extraordinary bond that will make us long for each other’s company or support, even across miles. They are my acquaintances.

There are people that I know and have not seen for years. In spite of the time and distance, I have no doubt that we have that special ‘connection’ that will forever be there. They are my true friends.

There are also the people I call buddies. These are the guys I share many ideals and interests with. I don’t see them often also but I will support and help them without hesitation if they ask me to. They are my best friends.

I have met thousands of people in my thirty nine years of existence. I can no longer remember ninety-eight percent of them. I would say they are my acquaintances. Of the remaining two percent whom I remember, only few are my real friends, and fewer are my best friends.

"Ganacity"

2011-02-22T15:24:00.003+08:00

If there's one word that I will never forget from my AGSB experience, it's "ganacity"! A word frequently mentioned by our FinMan professor.

What does it mean? It's a combination of the tagalog word "gana" (appetite, zest) and the english suffix "city" which converts an adjective word into a noun. 'Ganacity' therefore refers to one's state of desire or interest in something.

I am sharing this because I feel that my 'ganacity' for what I am doing now is spiralling down, and it is so difficult to reverse it back up or just to keep it at a maintained level. It is becoming a struggle on a day to day basis.

I am hoping that night and day will alternate fast so that this battle will end soon.

What is Ethical?

2011-02-06T07:16:00.005+08:00

My mind was preoccupied with the word 'ethics' these past few days. There are lot of things going on in the workplace and I was also asked of my opinion regarding an ongoing industrial controversy.

It would seem that we can tell outright that an action is wrong or right. But really? If you're quick to judge, it may be easy, but if you're mind is one that immediately expands to look at the scenario in a bigger perspective, you might end up second guessing.

The meaning of ethics has come a long way since the time of Adam and Eve. Blame it on philosophy and the science of logic, but there are now several sides to every point. Unlike the old testament days when an act was assessed in contrast only to the word of God, now, it seems like, other 'beings' have they say too and they are as important as what God said. And, everyone has their own interpretation of what God said.

I do not want to judge and I am not willing to debate on this. I just think that some of us have gone so far from the basics. Let's retrace our steps and go back. Let us start by remembering that grey is not one of the primary colors.

How I Handle Stress

2011-01-24T11:13:00.003+08:00

With my Type A personality, finding a low-stress job may be impossible, or if ever I will find one, it will surely bore me to death.

I have always been vocal that my present job is very stressful. Having to deal with a lot of people, from the ordinary to the most professional, a day will not pass by without a stressful situation. I don’t want to be perceived as a complainer, or someone who seem to be always battered by problems, but I just need to get these things off my chest as often as I can because it is my way of coping up with these stresses.

I usually would like to start my day on a positive note, and by that, I don’t usually open my e-mail messages unless I have already said my morning prayer, taken my daily cup of coffee, made some small talks with my staff regarding anything but work, and reading some interesting articles in the web, mostly in yahoo.

I am also a natural with regard to being organized and systematic in all that I do throughout the day. I plan mentally what tasks to do first and what to defer pending some facts. I usually finish the important ones two or three hours before the end of the working hours.

Moreover, I intentionally avoid meddling with interpersonal conflicts in the office. I let the managers handle them. I don’t even ask later how it was resolved or if it was ever resolved. I just don’t like emotionally charged situations. It affects me so much that it kills my early positive outlook in an instant.

At the end of the day, as I drive home, I listen to music. Even if it’s the same line-up of songs day in and day out , they soothe my mind well enough to calm my nerves and bring down my adrenaline levels.

All these I do to keep me sane for the time being. But sometimes, the stresses are just too much and no matter what I do, they haunt me even in my dreams.

What's with the Look?

2011-01-14T08:16:00.003+08:00

The new year comes with a new look for the blog. It has been 3 years since I last changed the aura of this personal site and I think it's about time to do some cosmesis.

I am choosing gray as a background because it is timeless, practical, and solid. A longstanding favorite suit color, gray can mix well with any color. I added black because it represents authority and power. It exudes strong emotions which sometimes I try to convey in some of my posts. It also adds some degree of sophistication.

A New Year!

2011-01-10T07:46:00.006+08:00

It's the 10th of January and this is my first post for 2011. Time did not permit me much last year to update the blog regularly. I hope this year of the rabbit will be more kind.

I expect new things this year and I am working on it. I will be turning 40 and it may be a cliche' but I would like my life to start anew. Now that I have seen and realized my true passions, I will devote my time pursuing them. It will entail painful separations and difficult adjustments but with faith and perseverance, I am positive that it will be a breeze.

Family remains to be the number one priority. I hope and pray that a junior will come along this year. We will work on that. The girls are growing fast and I need to catch up with them. My wife is not getting any younger either so I need to maximize my time spent with her. Another grandchild is also about to be born reminding me that I have really come of age. There's no stopping it.

By third quarter of the year, I will be finished with my MBA subjects and will just have to do the StraMa paper for completion of the academic requirements. Then I am done. I will be a master in business, theoretically and literally, but hopefully, practically.

I am now at a career crossroad again. I will have to choose if I will go forward with my executive job, or go back to the path of clinical practice, or take other corporate roads that will also allow me to be a tooth and ENT doctor. I hope and pray that the decisive move will happen as I race with the metal rabbit.

The wheel of change moves on and I have no choice than to follow. Continuing what I am doing may give me roots, but changing it will give me branches. The more the branches, the wider and the higher scope I will be able to reach.

Teach the Children the True Meaning of Christmas

2010-12-07T20:51:00.001+08:00

Teach the Children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that a now-a-day Christmas has forgotten!

Teach the Children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven.

Teach the Children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.

Teach the Children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.

Teach the Children the holy plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.

Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the Children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men.

Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook. The crook on the shepherd’s staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper.

Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'

Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put Santa Claus in the center, for he is but a humble servant of the One who is our Lord, our God.

Author Unknown

ADVICE ON LIFE

2010-09-29T19:55:00.003+08:00

by Rachel Stephens

In three words I can sum up everything that I learned about life, "It goes on." When the going gets tough, make yourself realize that no matter what your problem is, someone is and always will be fighting a harder battle.

Tears don't help problems and whining won't make things better. Have faith but understand that faith makes things possible, not easier. Have hope but understand without doing anything nothing gets done.

Be there when people need you, because in order to have friends you must first be one. Make the impossible, possible. Never give up! You only fail when you fail to try. Keep an open mind; you never know what you may learn.

Never compromise your standards for anyone, do it for you. Remember that laughter makes the world go round.

Beware of the person who has nothing to lose, see through the problem to find the solution. Don't make promises that you can't keep. Keep in mind, those who gossip to you will gossip about you. Say only what you mean, and don't believe everything that you hear because some day the story will be about you.

Everyday is a gift, even if it sucks. Count your blessings, not your troubles. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone that you love them, because you never know what tomorrow has in store for you. Give people a second chance, because no one is perfect. Love all that you can, give all that you have, smile away your days, and dream away your nights.

Life, what a wonderful thing!

Driver's State of Mind

2010-08-23T08:35:00.003+08:00

Last week, as I was driving home along España, a speeding bus almost side swept my right side mirror. I didn't actually see what happened, just heard the squeaking sound from the mirror, and when I checked it at home, there was a linear scratch on it.

Driving in Metro Manila is really dangerous, especially with the so many reckless bus and truck drivers who think they are the "kings of the road". Some jeepney drivers feel the same way too and a handful of private vehicle drivers as well. With these people on the road, you can't help but practice defensive driving.

Recently, a series of vehicular accidents happened all over the country, killing a significant number of people, including a beauty queen. These are proofs that there are already multitudes of "kings" on the road and their royal presence is alarming and should be stopped. I agree to stricter requirements in getting driver's licenses.

While at it, let me share this article on driver's state of mind I found in the web.

“Driving is the most dangerous activity most of us do on a daily basis, and requires complete concentration. Driving while distracted by worries or frustrations can lead to fatal errors or even dangerous, aggressive driving”. – Jools Townsend of Brake

Aggressive drivers climb into the anonymity of a motor vehicle and take out their frustrations on anybody at any time. For them, frustration levels are high, and level of concern for fellow motorists is low. They run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the left, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk, and flash their lights. They drive at speeds far in excess of the norm which causes them to follow too closely, change lanes frequently and abruptly without using their indicators, pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of the roadway, and leer at and/or threaten - verbally or through gestures- motorists who are thoughtless enough to be in front of them.

How can you avoid being the victim of an aggressive driver? While there are no sure techniques, three basic guiding principles are offered by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

DON'T OFFEND - When surveys ask drivers what angers them most, the results are remarkably consistent. A few specific behaviors seem unusually likely to enrage other drivers:

CUTTING OFF: When you merge, make sure you have plenty of room. Use your turn signal to show your intentions before making a move. If you make a mistake and accidentally cut someone off, try to apologize to the other driver with an appropriate gesture. If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them enough room to merge into your lane.

DRIVING SLOWLY IN THE RIGHT LANE - If you are in the right lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by. You may be "in the right" because you are traveling at the speed limit - but you may also be putting yourself in danger by making drivers behind you angry. In many states the law requires you to travel in the left lane and use the far right lane only for passing. Besides, it's simple courtesy to move over and let other drivers pass.

TAILGATING - Drivers get angry when they are followed too closely. Allow at least a three second space between your car and the car ahead. If you think another car is driving too slowly, and you are unable to pass, pull back and allow more space, not less. That way if the car does something unexpected, you will have time to get out of the way.

Calm down before you drive. Don’t respond to aggressive drivers. If you’re stressed or angry, pull over and wait until you’re calm again.

http://www.drive-safely.org/PDF/10pts/point%204.pdf

The Right Reaction

2010-08-03T08:11:00.004+08:00

I always react to circumstances rationally. I am quick to override my initial insinct of extreme emotion because I have learned that the heart has the natural tendency to over react even over simple things. Many people unfortunately died already because of this.

We go through a lot of stresses and if we are not in control of our emotions, we'll give up early. We have to learn how to smoothly accept the circumstance without raising the blood pressure and the heart rate. We should be able to stay calm even in panic. Let's master the art of deep breathing.

It is always wise to remember that "everything works together for the good of those who are called according to (God's) purpose" and that He will not give you anything you can't handle.

Yuck: Few people correctly cover coughs, sneezes

2010-07-13T21:53:00.001+08:00

Associated Press. Mon, Jul 12, 2010

Alas, here's more proof that most people have habits that aren't very sanitary — and sometimes can be plain disgusting.

The good news is that about three of every four people cover their cough or sneeze, in at least a token attempt to prevent germs from flying through the air.

The bad news is that most people — about two of three — used their hands to do it.

"When you cough into your hands, you cover your hand in virus," said study author Nick Wilson, an associate professor of public health at the Otago University campus in Wellington.

"Then you touch doorknobs, furniture and other things. And other people touch those and get viruses that way," he explained.

Health officials recommend that people sneeze into their elbow, in a move sometimes called 'the Dracula' for its resemblance to a vampire suddenly drawing up his cape. But only about 1 in 77 did that.

Using a tissue or handkerchief is another preferred option, but only about 1 in 30 did that.

More bad news: People spit on the floor, including at the hospital.

"They were a bit grossed out," Wilson said, describing the reaction of his team, which logged 384 sneezes and coughs.

Wilson called the findings surprising, especially given that it occurred only four months after the H1N1 was first identified, when it was still considered unusually dangerous.

Coughing into hands might be fine if everyone promptly and thoroughly disinfected their hands afterward, but no one believes that's happening.

A 2007 study by Harris Interactive done in public restrooms suggested that about one in four people don't even wash their hands after going to the bathroom. It found that men were the worst, with one out of three failing to wash up.

___

Online:

Conference: http://www.iceid.org/

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/us_med_germy_habits

Noynoy Aquino: The President

2010-06-30T18:57:00.003+08:00

Today, the 15th President of our Republic, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, was sworn to office. He is one person that never came to my mind before the elections as a possible leader of the country. But much has been said about what happened in the May 2010 elections and the guy won fair and square. Now, I set aside my doubts and will start supporting him, a responsibility that all of us should do as citizens of the country.

Sincerely he said,

“The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-isip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong – kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko?
Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo…
Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.”

Too Much X-ray or CT Scan can Kill You!

2010-06-15T21:32:00.004+08:00

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione,
Ap Medical Writer – Mon Jun 14, 10:59 am ET

We fret about airport scanners, power lines, cell phones and even microwaves. It's true that we get too much radiation. But it's not from those sources — it's from too many medical tests.
Too much radiation raises the risk of cancer. That risk is growing because people in everyday situations are getting imaging tests far too often.

Of the many ways people are overtested and overtreated, imaging is one of the most common and insidious. CT scans — "super X-rays" that give fast, extremely detailed images — have soared in use over the last decade, often replacing tests that don't require radiation, such as ultrasound and MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging.

Radiation is a hidden danger — you don't feel it when you get it, and any damage usually doesn't show up for years. Taken individually, tests that use radiation pose little risk. Over time, though, the dose accumulates.

Doctors don't keep track of radiation given their patients — they order a test, not a dose. Children and young women, who are most vulnerable to radiation harm, sometimes get too much at busy imaging centers that don't adjust doses for each patient's size.

How much radiation is risky?

It's hard to say. The best guess is based on the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and studies of Japanese atomic bomb survivors who had excess cancer risk after exposures of 50 to 150 millisieverts (a measure of dose) of radiation.

A chest or abdominal CT scan involves 10 to 20 millisieverts, versus 0.01 to 0.1 for an ordinary chest X-ray, less than 1 for a mammogram, and as little as 0.005 for a dental X-ray. Natural radiation from the sun and soil accounts for about 2 millisieverts a year.

A study by Columbia University researchers, published in 2007, estimated that in a few decades, as many as 2 percent of all cancers in the U.S. might be due to radiation from CT scans given now. Since previous studies suggest that a third of all tests are unnecessary, 20 million adults and more than 1 million children are needlessly being put at risk, they concluded.
Just because a scan didn't find anything wrong doesn't mean a test wasn't needed. Scans are useful for many diagnoses. But many studies suggest people are getting too much imaging now.

Reasons for overuse:

_Accuracy and ease of use. Scans have become a crutch for doctors afraid of using exams and judgment to make a diagnosis. Some think a picture tells more than it does.
"Physical therapy for an orthopedic injury is always the first choice," yet doctors rush to order tests, he said. "The question you should be asking when you do sophisticated imaging is, 'Is there something I can fix with an operation?'"

_Malpractice fear. A missed heart attack or a burst appendix could be devastating for a patient — and mean a lawsuit.

_Patient pressure. People urge doctors to "do something" to figure out what's wrong, and "often, doctors feel that the way to demonstrate that they're doing something is to order tests.

_Health care chaos. One doctor may not know that another has ordered the same test. If a patient is referred to a specialist, "it's often easier for him to order another study than to figure out how to get the one that was done somewhere else.

_Insurance issues. X-rays often are required by insurers to prove health, or for students to study abroad.

_Availability. Rural hospitals may not have an ultrasound technologist on duty in the wee hours, but imaging machines are always there.

_Treatment choice. A quick fix for chest pain — artery-opening angioplasty — requires far more imaging and radiation than bypass surgery does. The same is true of "virtual colonoscopy" instead of the standard version.

Which tests are overused?

A scientific group, the International Commission on Radiological Protection, cites routine chest X-rays when people are admitted to a hospital or before surgery; imaging tests on car crash victims who don't show signs of head or abdominal injuries; and low-back X-rays in older people with degenerative, but stable, spine conditions.

Even when tests are justified, they often include more views than needed and too much radiation. Top offender: chest CT scans looking for clogged arteries and heart problems. Cardiologists are increasingly aware of this risk and are seeking solutions.

What should patients do?

"You should question everything — what's the dose, why am I getting it? You should be an informed consumer.

Questions to ask about radiation scans:
_Is it truly needed? How will it change my care?
_Have you or another doctor done this test on me before?
_Are there alternatives like ultrasound or MRI?
_How many scans will be done? Could one or two be enough?
_Will the dose be adjusted for my gender, age and size? Will lead shields be used to keep radiation away from places it can do harm?
_Do you have a financial stake in the machines that will be used?
_Can I have a copy of the image and information on the dose?

Consumer information: http://www.radiologyinfo.org

Beautiful Days in Hongkong

2010-06-13T17:12:00.007+08:00

Beautiful Day

Songwriters: Hewson, Paul; Evans, Dave; Clayton, Adam; Mullen, Larry Jr

It's a beautiful day

Don't let it get away

It's a beautiful day

Touch me,

Take me to that other place

Teach me,

I know I'm not a hopeless case.

See the world in green and blue

See China right in front of you

See the canyons broken by cloud

See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out

See the bedouin fires at night

See the oil fields at first light,

and See the bird with the leaf in her mouth

After the flood,

all the colors came out.

It was a beautiful day

Don't let it get away

Beautiful day

Touch me,

take me to that other place

Reach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now

What you don't know you can feel it somehow

What you don't have you don't need it now

Don't need it now

It was a beautiful day!

Lessons from Hongkong

2010-06-01T08:13:00.010+08:00

It has been a while since I last travelled abroad and my recent vacation in Hongkong was a breath of fresh air to my seemingly busy schedule.

There were lot of 'firsts' in this family travel of ours. It was the first time that we travelled together as a family; first time that the kids boarded an airplane and went overseas; first time for all of us to see Hongkong (and Macau) and its amusement centers; and first time for us to see my two sisters' humble abode and workplace.The trip was generally tiring but exciting and fun.

Talking as a first timer, I would say that Hongkong is generally orderly and clean . I was amazed at their transport systems especially their MTR, a much better version of our LRT/MRT's combined. Their double-decker buses have well defined routes and stops and would not mind if there are passengers on board or none at all. Their parks and amusement centers are well maintained and refreshing in sight and in smell. Men and women in their business districts look neat and are properly dressed.

I have to admit that up to now, a week after the vacation, thinking of the sights of the place makes me feel envious and wanting to go back there. If only I could speak their language, I would really consider applying for a job and stay there.

Indeed, it is only when you see other places that you realize how good or bad our country is.

The Making Of A Mother

2010-05-09T07:42:00.003+08:00

By the time the Lord made mothers, He was into the sixth day working overtime. An Angel appeared and said "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

The Lord answered and said, "Have you read the spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not elastic; have 200 movable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up; have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart; and have six pairs of hands."

The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six pairs of hands! No way!" said the Angel.

The Lord replied, "Oh, it's not the hands that are the problem. It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have!" "And that's on the standard model?" the Angel asked.

The Lord nodded in agreement, "Yep, one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head is to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can. And the third pair is here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands and loves him or her without even saying a single word."

The Angel tried to stop the Lord. ”This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish." "But I can't!" The Lord protested, "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can feed a family of six on a pound of hamburger and can get a nine year old to stand in the shower."

The Angel moved closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft, Lord." "She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?" asked the Angel. The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason, and negotiate." The Angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak with this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak." the Lord objected. "That's a tear!" "What's the tear for?" the Angel asked. The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride."

The Angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything for this one. You even created the tear!"

The Lord looked at the Angel and smiled and said, "I'm afraid you are wrong again. I created the woman, but she created the tear!"

http://www.indianchild.com/making_of_a_mother.htm

A Tribute to Uncle Bonjo

2010-05-02T07:40:00.007+08:00

A tribute to a wonderful uncle, a generous godfather, and an honorable leader...

It was a the day when the skies turned grey
The day we were told that you've gone your way
The weather was still warm but a wind was passing through
We realized that we will sorely miss you.

We knew we'd feel blue
That one day we'd lose a man as dear as you
Who would have thought you'd leave so soon?
Leaving behind the friends and relatives you bound in reunion.

We're sure you've gone to a better place
Bringing with you love, peace and other things
You're probably looking down with a smile on your face
Seeing us reminisce the memories and our exciting beginnings.

These are moments we'll cherish and hold so dear
Moments spent and everlasting memories
Even though it's hard not to see you again physically

We'll continue living our lives inspired by the uncle we all knew...as Bonjo.

No Role for Antibiotics After I & D

2010-04-20T08:21:00.006+08:00

I chanced upon this article and I find it interesting and worth looking into. We're used of prescribing antibiotics for all bacterial infections, skin abscesses included. Resistance to some antibacterials is already high in the country so any idea to lessen its use will be significant in its reduction.

April 9, 2010 — Antibiotics don't improve outcomes after incision and drainage of uncomplicated skin abscesses, new research indicates. They might prevent new abscesses at one month, however.

"We're seeing so many abscesses now," lead researcher Dr. Gillian R. Schmitz told Reuters Health. Before methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) became so widespread, most abscess patients had diabetes or were immunocompromised, she said, "but now they're popping up all over the place in people with no traditional risk factors."

"But no one has studied best practice for treating abscesses," Dr. Schmitz added.

In the November 2007 issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Rajendran and colleagues reported that after incision and drainage for abscess, improvement at 7 days occurred in 84% of patients receiving antibiotics and 91% of patients receiving placebo. In children with skin abscesses, rates of treatment failure were similar for those treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole vs placebo, as found by Duong and colleagues in the May 5, 2009, online issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluates whether treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for uncomplicated skin abscesses reduces treatment failure in the first 7 days and the rate of new lesion formation in the first 30 days after incision and drainage in adults.

The clinical implications of this study are: (a) In adults with uncomplicated skin abscesses, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole does not decrease treatment failure at 7 days after incision and drainage, and (b) In adults with uncomplicated skin abscesses, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole might decrease the formation of new lesions at 30 days after incision and drainage.

"Antibiotics are not required for pediatric skin abscess resolution," Dr. Duong's group concludes, adding that further research is needed to see if antibiotics help prevent new lesions in the short term.

Both studies were limited by attrition of patients and by inclusion of subjects who were otherwise healthy, so the results can't be generalized to patients with comorbidities. In Dr. Duong's trial, medication compliance was only 66%.

In an editorial, Dr. David A. Talan of Olive View--UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, California, states, "Antibiotics for drained simple abscesses are not required to meet the standard of care."
He told Reuters Health, "The rate of resolution of patient groups described in these studies is very high, so doctors can feel that the odds are on their side" if they forego antibiotic treatment, "and they can reassure patients there's a good chance that things will work out fine."

But, he continued, physicians should be aware of the tendency for abscesses to return, and they should advise patients to seek attention if new symptoms appear after first infection resolves.

Ann Emerg Med. Published online March 29, 2010.
Reuters Health Information 2010. © 2010 Reuters Ltd.

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary: Iron and Candy

2010-04-12T10:20:00.004+08:00

6 years ago today, in a golden yellow motiff, Rot and I professed our vows at San Miguel, Manila and celebrated with our family and friends at Intramuros. It was a memorable event for both of us as it was a culmination of our friendship.

All these years, I was the Iron and she was the Candy. It was obvious from the start that I was the stronger and serious partner being a type A personality. Rot on the other hand was the more thoughtful and 'sweeter'. We have had our 'ups and downs' but, with God in the center, the iron and the candy have been a good mix so far.

No "Black" Saturday

2010-04-03T07:37:00.018+08:00

This is a repost from Holy Week of 2007.

Here's an example of one person who, I believe, had the right way of reflecting on his holy week. Let's continue to be reminded of dying on our own crosses!

ERIK WEIHENMAYER: "BLIND" FAITH TO TOUCH THE TOP OF THE WORLD

"People have the inner resources to become anything they want to be. Challenge (in a person's life) just becomes the vehicle for tapping into those inner resources," begins Eric Weihenmayer. "Life isn't meant to be easy. It is meant to be exciting and challenging. But you've got to understand that it's never going to be easy."

Thirty year old Weihenmayer lives in Colorado and thrives on challenge. He is a marathon runner, a long-distance biker, a sky diver, and a well known, highly experienced rock and mountain climber. He has climbed the highest peak on three of the world's seven continents and scaled the Nose of El Capitan. He plans to attempt an ascent of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in 2001.

Eric Weihenmayer broke new ground when he began leading climbs. Here he leads up a sheer rock face in Moab, Utah. Erik Weihenmayer is also totally blind.

Erik grew up one of three boys in an active, athletic family. One brother was captain of the high school baseball and basketball team, another was a weight lifter. His father had flown fighter planes in Viet Nam and his mother owned her own business."Some people look to celebrities like Michael Jordan. I couldn't care less about people like that. For me, it's my family," he says. "My dad encouraged me do go out and do things. He knew that part of life was trying things and falling on your face...that was just part of the equation."Erik shares a story of being 12 years old and in the process of going blind. He would ride his dirt bike down the family driveway and, making like a junior Evel Knievel, launch himself off a homemade ramp, fly through the air, and attempt to land on another ramp some distance away. Erik's dad watched him struggle, seeing him sometimes miss a ramp, and day after day bringing his bloody knees and elbows back to the house. "Instead of stopping me from doing that," Erik recounts, "he spray painted the ramps bright orange so that I could see them for another 6 months.I had expected this story to be about what a daredevil he was as a child. Instead, the point of the story that Erik makes spoke volumes about the character his father and what he understood about his son. Weihenmayer concludes saying, "May dad was always trying to help me find a way to make things happen, rather than being another barrier in my life. Rather than limit me, my parents worked hard to create opportunity."

Weihenmayer was born with a genetic eye disease called retinoschisis. Born with 20/200 vision, he could read with thick glasses and catch a basketball that was bounced to him. But at the age of 12 his vision began to further deteriorate until, at the age of 14, he was totally blind. It isn't easy being a young adolescent in any case, let alone an active boy who has lost his sight. "Looking back on it, I know there was a lot of anger (inside me). I fought using a cane, fought learning Braille, fought anything that would label me as a blind person. I didn't want to be known as The Blind Kid. I wanted to be known for doing or being something 'cool'," he remembers. As a result, he floundered emotionally and academically. "I flunked math my freshman year of high school because I hadn't learned Braille."But also during his freshman year he discovered high school wrestling and found that he could compete with sighted people on an equal level. "I had some success," Erik said, "and that did something for my self confidence. I began to think that maybe I could go out and learn some of these things...maybe blindness isn't such a big deal. So I started using my cane and learning Braille. I began to find legitimate things that I could do as a blind person and it sort of turned my life around." In Weihenmayer's senior year he placed 2nd in the state championship finals.

He adds, "Accepting myself as I am with all my strengths and weaknesses was really a starting point". Weihenmayer discovered rock climbing at the age of 16 at the Carrol Center for the Blind. He had immediate love for the combination of athletic ability, intellectual challenge, and sensory input he experienced. "Experiencing nature so directly through your senses, feeling all of the different textures on the rock with your hands, the feeling of the wind coming off the rock face, and listening to all the sounds. For a blind person," he explains, "it was like sensory overload." Climbing became his passion. Blind people had been rock climbing for years, following other climbers who lead the way and placed clips and bolts into the rock. Secured by ropes attached on one end to the clips and bolts, and on the other end to the blind climber, climbing was an exhilarating but safe sport similar in many respects to the "Ropes Course" that many team-building activities use. It is a great way to help people realize that they can do more than they thought they could. But blind climbers had never "taken it to the next level", as Weinhenmayer puts it, and become lead climbers. Until Erik Weihenmayer."I am not the best climber in the world but I do climb with some of the best," says Erik. "I just want to be an asset to the climbing team and be a real part of the reason that a climb is successful."

Erik became the lead climber on a descent in which neither climber could see, but one of them had some extraordinary experience on his side, and both had confidence in his abilities. Weihenmayer was able to guide his sighted partner down the rock face in the dark by actually placing his partner's feet in the holes. Once they reached the narrow trail, a sheer drop-off awaited any misstep. Erik continued to take the lead, relying on the firmness of the path under his feet to keep him safe, just as had always done. Now he was doing it for two.

"It's a tremendous experience to be the leader when you are the person best prepared for the job. And in this case, I was able to use my abilities to make our climb, especially the descent, successful. I was able to make my 'weakness', if you want to call it that, my greatest strength." The challenges that rock and mountain climbing present are a very accurate metaphor for the challenges of life and Erik has discovered that he is a climber. Eric says, "Some people look at what they've got and then make decisions about what they want to do. I think about what I would like to do with my life and then figure out how I can get myself to rise to that level". In 1968, a year before Weihenmayer was born, Robert Kennedy concluded many presidential campaign speeches with these so similar and now familiar words, later echoed at his funeral by his brother, Ted. "Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why?'. I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not?' When the time comes for people to remember Erik Weihenmayer, he wants to be remembered as a great climber, a good friend, and a loving husband. He wants to be remembered as an encourager: someone who, through their actions, gave others courage. And he wants to be remembered as a person who shattered people's beliefs in the limitations they place on themselves. So far, I think he's three-for-three.

Written by Mark Reiman, editor-in-chief of Incredible People Magazine.

Living A Holy Life

2010-03-20T20:45:00.003+08:00

As we prepare for the coming week, let us be reminded again of this powerful message.

In the message "Believe and Be Restored" we considered our need to believe that what God said is true. He said the death and resurrection of Jesus was the final sacrifice for our sin, and that those who believe would receive the gift of eternal life.

Clearly, our Salvation is a gift from God; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). We did nothing to earn our Salvation and there is nothing we must now do to keep it, we simply must believe; "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Though our sins are forgiven and Jesus is 100% sufficient for Salvation - though we walk in grace and are absolutely free of condemnation - sin in our life still causes temporary separation and tension in our relationship with God. Therefore, over and over in scripture, we are called to a life of holiness: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:14-15). Holiness is to receive top priority in our life; "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy" (Hebrews 12:14).

So why such an emphasis on holy living? After all, if we are saved by grace, our effort toward holiness plays no part in our Salvation. The answer is found in examining our purpose for life beyond Salvation: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1).

2 Peter 1:5-7"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

After we are saved, we live to worship and glorify God; but this can only be done by growing in our faith and presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. For any sacrifice to be pleasing to God, the sacrifice itself must be pure, and the one who presents the sacrifice must be holy. So when we "make every effort" toward a life of holiness, we don't do so in order to earn or maintain our Salvation; we strive for holiness because we desire to truly worship our Heavenly Father with every heartbeat of our life.

We must never lose sight of God's wonderful gift given purely by His grace. But now our Father's plan is for us to be conformed to the likeness of His Son and live in a continual state of worship. His design for our life is that we mature in our faith and worship Him by living a holy life.

Semestral Break

2010-03-06T09:07:00.004+08:00

Today is the start of our 3-week semestral break and it's a good time for me to sit back and relax for a while. Although, I have yet to finish my take home examination, I really need a break from stresses at work and school.

One thing I've been wanting to do is to catch up on the movies I missed. I can't even remember what the last one I saw and I know there've been a lot of good movies that were shown. A trip to Quiapo is one itinerary of the day...

Then there's cleaning of the house, the car...

Sometimes we get too busy with work that we can't do the stuff you used to do and love doing. After work, all you want to do is just lie down and sleep. The mind gets too tired that it doesn't allow your body to do more.

Oh well. Life. It's complicated...

My Valentine!

2010-02-14T10:30:00.005+08:00

How much do I love thee
How much is my love worth
It's worth more than all the wealth in this world
because you're worth more than everything...

When do I love thee
when do I think of you
Every second, Every minute
any given place, any given time...

Where do I love thee
Where do I keep my love for you
I keep it deep in my heart
Where no one can ever touch.

Why do I love thee
Why do I love all about you
I love you because you are my one and only...
My Love, My Valentine...Forever.

Improving Sales

2010-02-01T11:09:00.004+08:00

It's the first day of the 2nd month of the year and I wonder how our Sales Team are doing so far, considering the 'high target' management has set for them. I am not a good sales person and I can only do so much to assist them in meeting their quota. So, I am sharing this article from my 'idol' Francis Kong who always explains it best.

What Makes an Excellent Salesperson

by Francis Kong

An optometrist was instructing a new employee on how to charge a customer. "As you are fitting his glasses, if he asks how much they cost, you say P4,500.00."

If his eyes don't flutter, say, 'For the frames. The lenses will be P3,500.00.'

If his eyes still don't flutter, you add 'Each.'

Boy... oh... boy. This is not customer service... this is a rip off.

This is no way to make a sale.

“Hi... how are you doing?”

“Do you need any help? Well if you do just call me... I'll be around.”

These are the same words I hear from sales people every time I enter a shop or a boutique in America .

A lot of emphasis is given on customer service.

Businesses know that the only element that maintains business and carries the possibility to make it grow is not the brilliance of their finance people, not the charisma of their CEO and it's not even the products and services they churn out everyday. The only element for business survival and growth is to create satisfied and loyal customers.

What does it take to be an excellent sales person?

This is the question.

Here is a list of things that make an excellent sales person. As customers we long to see this in our service providers no matter what the industry is. Now you will be amazed that all the sales people we admire exhibit most of the qualities I will be talking about. And you can use this list as a way to hire excellent salespeople--or as a way to improve your own skills:

1. An Excellent Salesperson Is A Sight For Sore Eyes.

Excellent sales people make good first impressions. They are genuine, pleasant, and easy to talk with and they take care of how they look. The best salespeople have a neat and well-groomed look about them. Their clothes and accessories may not have to be expensive but they must be appropriate for the occasion. Here's a tip: their shoes are always a good indicator: 'Not too new (with the price tag still on…) but freshly “shined” is what you want to look for.

An excellent salesperson knows that he never gets a second chance to create a first impression.

2. An Excellent Salesperson Loves To Be With People.

One indication you see is that excellent salespeople need to be liked.

They want to please their customers and prospects. They go the extra mile, learn customers' preferences, and work to educate their customers and keep them informed. And so in relation to this…..

3. An Excellent Salesperson Is A Good Listener.

One thing I noticed with excellent sales people is that they gently probe with questions carefully listening to what their prospects are saying and then the brilliance is that they do not sell but they lead the customers to buy. They are patient with prospects--not pushy. They understand the most important key to successful selling: The sale today is not as important as the relationship tomorrow.

4. An Excellent Salesperson Behaves Professionally

I always admire sales people who do not bad mouth their competitors. They will always point to their product pluses and advantages they offer but they will not verbally tear down others.

Another thing is that excellent salespeople leave their problems at home. Everybody has problems – health, family, financial, personal but excellent sales people never bring these problems to work with them and let them affect their attitudes.

5. An Excellent Salesperson Is An Expert With His Products Or Services.

Great salespeople know their products inside and out. They are fanatical with details. They embrace non-stop learning. They can answer even the most complicated questions from customers without having to refer them to someone else at the company. This is why you will never see a great salesperson who is sloppy and careless.

6. An Excellent Salesperson Is Driven To Succeed.

There are 2 important qualities excellent sales people exhibit; their creativity and assertiveness. They are energetic and they have a very strong work ethic and you see them putting in more hours than their co-workers because they are extremely competitive. They do not compete against others but they compete against themselves. Learning more, doing more and producing more.

7. An Excellent Salesperson Has A Service Mentality.

One thing that distinguishes great sales people is that they are able to step outside of themselves and see things from the customer's point of view. They do not focus on their benefits or commissions but they focus on meeting all the customer's needs.

There is a great difference between sales people who are average and those who are excellent. Excellent salespeople never stop improving on themselves. They always strive to be better. They read books, they listen to tapes, they attend non-company sponsored seminars and they read columns just like this one. (Serious!)

But above all, they are good servants because they exhibit what Scriptures say…you know…the part that says something about “doing to others what you want others to do unto you...”

So happy selling.

Reference: http://franciskong.com/sales/what-makes-an-excellent-salesperson/#more-30

Colon Cancer Again!

2010-01-20T17:16:00.006+08:00

I have a similar post sometime ago when an aunt of mine died of it. Then Cory Aquino died of it, and now, another relative and the mother of one of my staff are suffering from it.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. And it occurs most often in people older than 50. This type of cancer happens when cells that are not normal grow in your colon or rectum. These cells grow together and form tumors.

When it is found early, it is easily treated and often cured. But because it usually is not found early, it is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Screening tests can prevent this cancer, but only a few of us undergo screening. According to the American Cancer Society, if everyone were tested, tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year.

What causes colorectal cancer?
Most cases begin as polyps , which are small growths inside the colon or rectum. Colon polyps are very common, and most of them do not turn into cancer. But doctors cannot tell ahead of time which polyps will turn into cancer. This is why people older than 50 need regular tests to find out if they have any polyps and then have them removed. And some people who are younger than 50 need regular tests if their medical history puts them at increased risk for colorectal cancer or have signs and symptoms that can be suggestive of it.

What are the signs and symptoms?
Colorectal cancer usually does not cause symptoms until after it has begun to spread. See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
§ Pain in your belly
§ Blood in your stool or very dark stools
§ A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent stools or a feeling that your bowels are not emptying completely
§
How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?
If your doctor thinks that you may have this cancer, you will need a test, called a colonoscopy , that lets the doctor see the inside of your entire colon and rectum. During this test, your doctor will remove polyps or take tissue samples from any areas that don't look normal. The tissue will be looked at under a microscope to see if it contains cancer.

Sometimes other tests, such as a barium enema or a sigmoidoscopy, are used to diagnose colorectal cancer.

How is it treated?
Surgery is almost always used to treat colon and rectal cancer. The cancer is easily removed and often cured when it is found early.

If the cancer has spread into the wall of the colon or farther, you may also need radiation or chemotherapy. These treatments have side effects, but most people can manage the side effects with medicines or home care.
Learning that you have cancer can be upsetting. It may help to talk with your doctor or with other people who have had cancer. Your local American Cancer Society chapter can help you find a support group.

How can you screen for colorectal cancer?
Screening tests can prevent many cases of colon and rectal cancer. They look for a certain disease or condition before any symptoms appear. Regular screening is advised for most people age 50 and older. If you have a family history of this cancer, you may need to begin screening earlier than that.

These are the most common screening tests:
§ Stool tests that check for signs of cancer:
§ Fecal occult blood test (FOBT).
§ Barium enema. A liquid with barium is put into your rectum and colon. The white liquid outlines the inside of the colon so that it can be more clearly seen on an X-ray.
§ Sigmoidoscopy. A doctor puts a flexible viewing tube into your rectum and into the first part of your colon. This lets the doctor see the lower portion of the intestine, which is where most colon cancers grow. Doctors can remove polyps during this test also.
§ Colonoscopy. A doctor puts a long, flexible viewing tube into your rectum and colon. The tube is usually linked to a video monitor similar to a TV screen. With this test, the doctor can see the entire large intestine.
§ Computed tomographic colonography (CTC). This test is also called a virtual colonoscopy. A computer and X-rays make a detailed picture of the colon to help the doctor look for polyps.

Reference: http://health.yahoo.com/coloncancer-overview/colorectal-cancer-topic-overview/healthwise--zp2642.html

Reality Check : The Difference

2010-01-04T11:21:00.009+08:00

Let me start the year by sharing to you an article that points out a reality. It was supposedly written by Dr Arsenio Martin.

2010 is election year again for us and contrary to many, I would say that the change of leadership in our government will not make our country better. Our country is doomed to be poor, unless we see the point this prose is hammering into our heads.

I just hope that these thoughts will not just fly by as a 'nice to know'.

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country.
This can be shown by countries like India & Egypt , that are more than 2000 years old, but are poor.On the other hand, Canada , Australia & New Zealand , that 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries, and are rich.

The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources.
Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture & cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products. Another example is Switzerland , which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality! It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order & labor, which made it the world's strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference. Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education & the culture & flawed tradition.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:

1. Ethics, as a basic principle.

2. Integrity.

3. Responsibility.

4. Respect to the laws & rules.

5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.

6. Work loving.

7. Strive for savings & investment.

8. Will of super action.

9. Punctuality.

10. and of course...Discipline

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources. We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich & developed societies.

If you do not read this message nothing will happen to you. Your pet will not die, you will not be fired, you will not have bad luck for seven years, and also, you will not get sick or go hungry.
But those may happen because of your lack of discipline & laziness, your love for intrigue and politics, your indifference to saving for the future, your stubborn attitude.

If you love our country, CHANGE, ACT!

My Prayer for 2010

2009-12-31T09:02:00.005+08:00

Lord I pray

That 2010 will be as great as the 2009 years before,

In our spiritual and physical lives

And in this world You have created for all of us.

Grant us wisdom and strength

As we go through another set of 365 days...

Equip us with unfailing memory

To be reminded of your sovereignty always.

Cloth us with your mercy

And hide us behind your cross

So that others will always see

You who is in us.

Keep us focused on what truly matters

Increase our appetite for learning

Keep us glued to Your words

And restrict us to towing Your line.

May Your name be glorified in our lives this 2010 and the years to come.

Simplify Christmas

2009-12-25T07:58:00.006+08:00

by Francis Kong (Inspiring Excellence)

For the last decades the world has gone into a credit card binge. Just swipe it, and make sure you get that thing that would make you at par with the joneses. And the whole world has bought into the great marketing ploy that delivers the message that if we do not have their products or use them we would remain second-class.

Suddenly, the things we have are just not enough. What used to be God’s blessings upon us has dissolved into a culture of coveting driven by greediness and materialism. Our desires became bigger than our wallets. We no longer live within our means. This is not a very good thing. Here is something for all of us to think about. Ask yourself, "How simple is my life compared to 5 or 10 years ago?" Yes, while we have developed the skills of Multi-tasking, what we should not develop is to have multi-billings and killer interest that place chains on us as real as iron shackles. If there is one thing that the killer floods have taught is it is to reassess our lives and go back to the basics.

We need to simplify. Want a bigger house? You need more helpers to clean it. Want an expensive European car? You need more money to maintain it. Want everything money can buy? Where are you going to keep it? Clutter everywhere does not refresh us and meanwhile, when the new car smell disappears and the Hermes and Channel bags hit the closet, we realize that those things no longer make us happy. Most people learn to tighten their belts and go into cost-cutting mode only when they hit trouble. Why not do it now while the funds and money are still coming in on a regular basis?

In other words, simplify…simplify…simplify. It is time for all of us to go back to basics and ask what is essential and what is non-essential regarding the quality of life and not simply the quantity of the "things"—yes the "stuff"—listed on our credit card statements.

We got to get out of the rat race and find the true Source for joy and happiness. Learn to live happily in simplicity.

And if the flood has hit you remember you need to be strong and recover. You need to get your bail out plan from God. He wants you to live a life of fullness. This is why Jesus promised that those who are weary and heavily laden find rest in Him. Do not just move on, you need to move up. Yesterday ended last night. The worst hour is only sixty minutes. Many of those who have suffered during the Asian financial crisis some twelve years ago have recovered.

Put your trust in God, move on and move up. I remember saying this during the Asian crisis situation in 1997. I realize this is now the appropriate time for me to say it again. Do not focus on the word crisis. Focus instead on the words: Christ Is!

http://franciskong.com/inspiration/simplify-all-you-can/

Thanking God For 2009

2009-12-21T09:05:00.005+08:00

A grateful heart is all that you need

to let God know that you are pleased.

Be thankful for things you have been blessed this year,

remember to thank God before anyone else.

Things may not have turned out the way you wanted them to,

but clasp your hands in gratitude to God for He has better plans for you.

For those who had peace and were contented,

thank God in silence,for no one else in the world could have given you that solace.

For those who prayed for bonuses and didn’t get what they expected,

thank Him just the same with all due respect because in receiving, you are still blessed.

For the times this year when you were bestowed the things you have not sought,

thank God cheerfully for possibilities you have not thought.

For the times you received some things you most need,

thank God for not waiting your call and for taking heed.

For the times you asked God for things you need to live,

understand the long wait 'cause He knows when to give.

Thank God promptly for daily desires granted,

even if these did not come in the amounts wanted.

God knows what you need or what you want,

so thank Him with relief for deciding what to grant.

If you escaped a mishap, thank God in a snap,

Praise Him for His goodness, shout His Name and cheer up.

For the times you were hard up and didn’t know what to do,

thank God for trusting that you can get through.

For those days of tribulations that you almost gave up,

thank God for He made your troubles ease up.

Thanking God in a few words is worth a thousand praises shouted.

It's enough to lighten your load and be merry this Christmas.

When you want to pray and don't know what to say,

a "Thank you, Lord" is enough to sum up the day.

Give thanks for 2009 and give your best thanks always,

God is Good and everything works together for your good always.

An Opportunity of Time

2009-12-15T08:07:00.003+08:00

The kids and I often call my wife before we go to sleep when she's on hospital duty. Monty and Sam would say their usual 'baby talk' and ask silly questions like 'what are you doing mommy?", etc. It's always fun to hear their naive statements and queries.

Last night, Monty was telling my wife that how she wishes her mom would just stay home and leave the 'working for the money' with daddy. She said, " working is for the fathers". It was an innocent but a strong statement.

It may seem that kids don't understand how adults do things but their childish views are significant too. Monty just wanted to spend more time with her mom and dad. Period.

The holidays are fast approaching and it's a wonderful opportunity for us to spend more time with the kids.

2009: A Good Year

2009-12-09T08:23:00.005+08:00

God is good. He was, He is and will always be. My wife and I were talking a couple of days ago about how blessed we are. Our two daughters are growing up to be smart and beautiful persons. Our careers have reached a stable and comfortable level. Our finances...a blessing indeed.

Our principle and theology is very simple. Out of God come all things. God loves all of its creation.Give Him what is due Him and all things will be "added unto thee". As the bible says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10 NIV).

We follow the spiritual law of tithing given by God to ssist us in finding abundance, fulfillment, and gratitude in our everyday lives. As we fulfill our part of the covenant by giving 10 percent to Him, He fulfills His part by continually blessing us.

This is not something new. Many people would attest that this really works. God is faithful, even if sometimes we are not!

As we remember Jesus' coming this season, let us look back and realize that after all that has happened this year, God has been, is, and will always be GOOD!

http://www.tithing.org/tithing_what.php

"Don't Judge Me: I'm not a Book!"

2009-12-04T09:30:00.004+08:00

Borrowing the famous Melanie Marquez quote, Susan Boyle's story is an example of misjudging people because of their looks.

I am writing this post as I listen to the wonderful and angelic voice of this 48-year old Scottish woman who shocked the likes of critical Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan of Britain's Got Talent.

"The moment the reality show's audience and judging panel saw the small, shy, middle-aged woman, they started to smirk. When she said she wanted a professional singing career to equal that of Elaine Paige, the camera showed audience members rolling their eyes in disbelief. They scoffed when she told Simon Cowell, one of the judges, how she'd reached her forties without managing to develop a singing career because she hadn't had the opportunity. Another judge, Piers Morgan, later wrote on his blog that, just before she launched into 'I Dreamed a Dream', the 3000-strong audience in Glasgow was laughing and the three judges were suppressing chuckles. But Susan Boyle has talent to burn. Such is the beauty of her voice that she had barely sung the opening bars when the applause started. She rounded off to a standing ovation and - in her naivety - began walking off the stage and had to be recalled.

It is a painful reality in this world that only the pretty are expected to achieve. Not only do you have to be physically appealing to deserve fame but you have to be good-looking to merit everyday common respect.

Susan is a reminder that it's time we all looked a little deeper. She has lived an obscure but important life. She has been a companionable and caring daughter. It's people like her who are the unseen glue in society; the ones who day in and day out put themselves last. They make this country civilised and they deserve acknowledgement and respect. Susan has been forgiven her looks and been given respect because of her talent. She should always have received it because of the calibre of her character."

References:
http://http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.2501746.0.%0Dthe_beauty_that_matters_is_always_on_the_inside.php

http://coyoteprime-runningcauseicantfly.blogspot.com/2009/04/story-of-susan-boyle.html

The Joy of Arriving at Home

2009-11-24T08:16:00.007+08:00

Working 5 days a week and spending Saturdays in school is eating much of my time with my two beautiful daughters. It's a sacrifice I hope they will understand someday, but it's a challenge for me not to make it obvious and felt.

Arriving at home after a busy day is always something I look forward to. This is because my cute kids always seem to be excited to see me. A shout of "si Daddy, si daddy" from the balcony by my youngest as I park my car, and a simple "daddy, daddy!" by my eldest when I walk into the house, with a matching kiss, really feels great. These are the moments that you hope to last even as they grow older.

My honk is heard, a quick head turn
And Sam races to the balcony...
Monty stops for a while
but will continue what she's doing.

Lying down at the balcony
Sam makes a peep by lifting the leather curtain
She shouts "si daddy, si daddy"
And wait for my wave of acknowledgment.

Lips ready to kiss, Monty waits for me
As I walk into the house, She gives me the sweetest kiss...
Indeed, the love we share is easy to see
I know someday I'll tell them this story.

These moments make me think that I can be a great man...
I will try to live a full life, so that I can be
Even just half the best daddy, they both think I am!

Deaths of 2009

2009-10-31T19:31:00.006+08:00

It's the end of October and the tradition of remembering those who have gone before us is here again. Come to think of it, there are many of them this 2009.

My uncle finished his race of life this year. So did Cory Aquino, Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett and Kim Dae Jung to name a few. And, who would forget the flock who moved on through several forces of nature that manifested this year? Indeed, I think 2009 will be one of the "deadest" time in history.

But it's not something that we should be sad about. Let us be reminded that each of us has a purpose in this life, each race to run, each life to live. Once it's done, it's the end of the line. We move on. It may be hard to grasp the rationale behind it but let us not waste time comprehending something we will never understand. Only God knows!

As we remember then those who died this year and in the past, let us look also into our lives and see how far we've ran our race and how effective are we in fulfilling our purpose. Who knows, our time is almost up as well!

Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD).

2009-10-22T07:34:00.003+08:00

MANILA - Facebook users beware. Psychologists are now probing a new kind of addiction called Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD).

Psychologist Dr. Michael Fenichel, who has published numerous writings on FAD online, describes it as a situation in which Facebook usage "overtakes" daily activities like waking up, getting dressed, using the telephone, or checking e-mail.

"The amazing thing is that, like cellphones, nobody seems to notice the vast amount of time and energy - at work, at home, and now while on the move - people are devoting to Facebook. It has become a given," Fenichel writes in an online post titled "Facebook Addiction Disorder- A New Challenge?"

FAD could be classified under the more broad "internet addiction disorder" or internet overuse.
Academic papers have already posed theories on internet addiction and social networking addiction, and even less, cellphone addiction.

"Like most activities, moderation and integration are key. Those that may seriously label and treat FAD as a behavioral addiction will clearly need to use context in determining if a behavior has become demonstrably harmful to overall social, work, or face-to-face interpersonal efficacy," Fenichel added.

You are a Facebook addict if...

According to Joanna Lipari, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles who was interviewed for a CNN report, here are some signs that you are addicted to Facebook:

1. You lose sleep over Facebook. When using Facebook becomes a compulsion and you spend entire nights logged on to the site, causing you to become tired the next day.

2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook. Lipari said it is difficult to define how much is too much when it comes to Facebook usage, but that an average person need only spend half an hour on the site.

3. You become obsessed with old loves or exes you reconnect with on Facebook.

4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook. This means you do not do your job in order to sneak time on Facebook.

5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in cold sweat. If you try going a day without Facebook and it causes you stress and anxiety, this means you need help.

According to the same report by Elizabeth Cohen, Senior CNN Medical Correspondent, Facebook addiction is not yet an actual medical diagnosis.

However, the report notes that several therapists in the United States have noticed a rise in the number of clients who get hooked on social networking, to the point of social dysfunction.

Facebook, launched by the world's youngest billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has over 300 million users worldwide, half of whom log on to the site every day.

Further, about 2 billion photos and 14 million videos are uploaded on various Facebook pages a month and about 6 billion minutes are spent on Facebook a day, worldwide.

According to Willis Wee, founder of the social media and marketing blog Penn-Olson.com, this is twice as much time that people spend on Google.

The global social networking website allows users to post and share content (like photos, links, videos, and notes), play casual games and applications, and interact with friends and family through messaging and chat. abs-cbnNEWS.com. With reports from CNN.com.

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20091020/img/pph-1256017158-75266-0-abs-2bff061d08550.html

My Wife's Birthday

2009-10-12T15:45:00.005+08:00

Yesterday was my wife's birthday-
A happy day indeed;
With all the blessings,
God really supplies our every need!

God made this beautiful being,
To be my perfect wife;
I believe it is the greatest thing,
That happened in my life!

Five wonderful years
two beautiful kids,
What more is there to ask for
than just give praises to our Lord.

Ondoy, Baha, Pepeng etc

2009-10-02T15:06:00.003+08:00

This is my first post for the month and I can't help but write about the 3 most popular words in Manila these days;Ondoy, Baha and Pepeng.

I was stranded in Cubao last Saturday night after the onslaught of Ondoy. Our humble abode was expectedly flooded and I was home on Sunday in time for the clean-up. Ondoy was really devastating and everyone was caught unprepared of his wrath. Whether it was caused by global warming or just plain carelessness of the urban folks, what happened made us realize how helpless we can be when nature gets back at us for all our lackadaisical ways.

"Baha, baha"everywhere! I am not new to being in a flood prone area. I spent almost 20 years in a compound in Quezon City where moderate rainfall results in flooding. Now that we're living near Espana, the more it became a common sight to me.

And now, Pepeng... Why do I feel that this typhoon will not be that bad as expected. I am biased by the fact that when PAGASA says there's a storm signal, nothing happens. But if they don't say anything, the rains come and the flooding happens. Let's see if this hypothesis is still true tomorrow.

I am positive that all these will come to pass and the events will just become part of stories to be repeated over and over again. That's life...and as long as we have faith, everything will work for the good of those who are called according to His purpose.

Inspiring Story of a Girl...Pantene

2009-09-24T07:53:00.004+08:00

An inspiring video of a girl...Pantene.

courtesy of P & G Thailand

Desire and Hope

2009-09-17T10:05:00.003+08:00

Today is a 'big day' for me. What happens today will spell much of my tomorrow. As always, I leave it all up to the Lord's will.

Dear God,

I am full of wishes, full of desires, full of expectations..

Some of them may be realized, many may not..

But in the midst of all my satisfactions and disappointments,

I hope in you.

I know that you will never leave me alone and will fulfill your divine promises..

Even when it seems that things are not going my way,

I know that they are going your way and that in the end

Your way is the best way for me!

- Henri Nouwen

Time

2009-09-08T08:29:00.003+08:00

This is a beautiful song that is very apt to my 'moving on' to the next chapter of this life. It affirms my principle that it does not matter how time flies, rather, it is what I have done with every moment of those times.

Time

by Billy Porter

What is time?

Is it the autumn leaves that change?

Or the snow that floats from the sky

What is Time?

Is it the air we breathe?

Or the wings that teach the new born bird to fly?

Who can tell?

I don’t know

Will we change?

Will we grow?

What is time?

Is it eternity in heaven?

Or just a hope for peace on earth?

Where’s the time?

Gone in a blink of an eye

But with every blink

a birth...

We live

We learn

We love

In time

We give

We urn

We grow

In time

Time for change

Its time to care

It’s not too late

Don’t despair

Reach inside your heart

To find the joy and love

To share with all mankind

For all we know

All we have

Is time...

38

2009-09-03T07:46:00.005+08:00

It’s birthday time again!
Another year of my life has gone by.
I am older but wiser than I used to be!
Getting older is so much fun,
Aside from the endless greetings
Respect accorded is one notch higher.
Despite the receding hairline
A more mature look makes me more dashing.
38 years of a blessed life and counting...
Hooray for getting older!

Respect

2009-08-28T21:41:00.005+08:00

Respect is a lesson that everyone should learn
Respect must be given before an expected return
Respect is something that’s given for free
Respect is about us and never about me
Respect is the basis on which relationships are founded
Respect is the anchor that keeps a person well grounded
Respect builds the character and defines who we are
Respect sets the standard and raises the bar
Respect is magnanimous and helps to fulfil
Respect is the partner that sits with good will
Respect is like honey so sweet it’s perceived
Respect a taste to savour for when it’s received.

by Don Wilson

I am a person slow to anger. I can only remember few times when I really got so mad. One of those instances was when I was disrespected by someone I worked with. I can still remember that moment when it felt like all my blood were up in my head and smoke were coming out of my ears, literally.

This morning, a smoke of anger came out of my ears again when I read one disrespectful message intended for a colleague. Call it over reacting, but I felt so bad that I had to sarcastically imply repeatedly to the sender how humbly we acknowledge the message. I hope the point was clearly taken.

I am a respectful person. Even with my humble accomplishments, I still acknowledge the fact that every individual deserves courtesy and respect. I believe in the principle that respect is not commanded, rather, earned. Further, parallel to the golden rule of doing unto others what you want others do unto you, respect others if you want them to respect you.

Cancer 101

2009-08-11T08:33:00.007+08:00

Former President Cory Aquino and an aunt of mine died of colon cancer. It is one of the few types of cancer that has a low 5 year survival rate. Speaking of cancer, here are few facts that we should know, based on the studies by Johns Hopkins University.

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer, it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies.These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells, also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size.. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

Ninoy's Love: A Tribute to Cory Aquino

2009-08-03T19:08:00.003+08:00

“I Have Fallen In Love With The Same Woman Three Times”

by Ninoy Aquino

I have fallen in love
with the same woman three times;
In a day spanning 19 years
of tearful joys and joyful tears.
I loved her first when she was young,
enchanting and vibrant, eternally new.
She was brilliant, fragrant,
and cool as the morning dew.
I fell in love with her the second time;
when first she bore her child and mine
always by my side, the source of my strength,
helping to turn the tide.
But there were candles to burn
the world was my concern;
while our home was her domain.
and the people were mine
while the children were hers to maintain;
So it was in those eighteen years and a day.
’till I was detained; forced in prison to stay.
Suddenly she’s our sole support;
source of comfort,
our wellspring of Hope.
On her shoulders felt the burden of Life.
I fell in love again,
with the same woman the third time.
Looming from the battle,
her courage will never fade
Amidst the hardships she has remained,
undaunted and unafraid.
she is calm and composed,
she is God’s lovely maid.

Eclipse: In the Eye of God

2009-07-23T08:39:00.009+08:00

This is the best point of view that I read regarding solar eclipses. Read on and you'll see why.

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, March 14th, 1858 by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens.

"I form the light, and create darkness.'—Isaiah 45:7.

Yesterday, we have witnessed one of the greatest sights in the universe—the annular eclipse of the sun. It is possible that many of us shall have gone the way of all flesh before such a sight shall again be seen in this country and we therefore looked forward for it with some degree of expectation. It is probable that hundreds and thousands of the human race were attracted by it, to study for a few hours at least, the science of astronomy.

I shall note this morning, in addressing you, that since the Lord creates darkness as well as light; first of all, eclipses of every kind are part of God's way of governing the world; in the second place, we shall notice that since God creates the darkness as well as the light, we may conclude beyond a doubt that he has a design in the eclipse—in the darkness as well as the light; and then, thirdly, we shall notice that as all things that God has created, whether they be light or whether they be dark, have a sermon for us, no doubt there are some sermons to be found in this.

… In the olden times the ignorant people in England were frightened at an eclipse, they could not understand what it meant. They were quite sure that there was about to be a war, or a famine, or a terrible fire. They were absolutely certain that something fearful would happen; for they regarded it as being a prophecy of coming ills. …Hundreds of other most stupid and absurd theories are still prominently believed and held in different parts of the world, and I believe that here amongst a very great number of us, an eclipse is looked upon as something contrary to the general law of nature. Now, beloved, all that understand anything of God's works, know very well that eclipses are as much a part of nature's laws as the regular sunshine, that an eclipse is no deviation from God's plan, but that it is a necessary consequence of the natural motion of the moon and the earth around the sun and each other, that there should at some stated periods be eclipses, and when we see an eclipse, we shall not look upon it as a miracle or anything out of the ordinary course of God's providence, but we shall say it was a necessity involved in the very plan whereby God governs the earth.

I suppose that it is impossible that the earth should revolve around the sun, and that the moon should spin continually round the earth, in the same plane of their orbit, without there being eclipses. Since God has made the ellipse, or the circle, the great rule of nature, it is impossible but that eclipses should occur. Now, did you ever notice that in providence the circle is God's rule still. The earth is here today; it will be in the same place this day next year; it will go round the circle; it gets no further. It is just so in providence….Where God has begun, there will he end; and as God has taken the rule of the circle in providence, as well as in nature, eclipses must be sure to occur. Moving in the pre destined orbit of divine wisdom, the eclipse is absolutely and imperatively necessary in God's plan of government. Troubles must come; afflictions must befall; it must, needs be that for a season ye should be in heaviness, through manifold temptations.
But I have said, that eclipses must also occur in grace, and it is so. God's rule in grace is still the circle. …there must be an eclipse in grace, because even there the circle seems to be the rule of God's gracious government.

…Everything that god does has a design. When God creates light he has a reason for it, and when he creates darkness he has a reason for it too. God does not always tell us his reason; he always has one, We call him a sovereign God, because sometimes he acts from reasons which are beyond our knowledge; but he is never an unreasoning God. It is according to the counsel of his will that he works; not according to his will, but according to the counsel of his will, to show you that there is a reason, a wisdom and counsel in everything that he does. Now I cannot tell you what is God's design in eclipsing the sun; we can see many gracious purposes answered by it in our minds, but I do not know of what use it is to the world. It may be that if there never were an eclipse some great change might happen in the atmosphere, something far beyond the reach of all philosophical knowledge at present, but which may yet be discovered. It may be that the eclipse, like the tornado and the hurricane, has its virtue in operating upon this lower world in some mysterious way, but that we know not.

However, we are not left in any darkness about other kind of eclipses; we are quite certain that providential eclipses, and gracious eclipses, have both of them their reasons. …God hath some design in all these things, and permit me to tell you what I believe to be God's design, when he sends troubles into the world, and when he sends troubles upon us. It is this, it is to draw our attention to himself. Well, said an old divine," Nobody ever looks at the sun except when he is in an eclipse." You never thought about the sun before yesterday; but you did yesterday..." Doubtless, we should entirely forget God, if it were not for some of those eclipses which now and then happen. God would not have his name remembered on earth at all by the race of man if he did not make them recollect his name, when he scourged it into them with his rod. …Doubtless, this is God's great design in his afflictive providences, to make us think of him. …

…Christians, if you will just remember what I am about to say you will learn a useful lesson. What was that which hid the sun from us yesterday? It is the ungrateful moon. She has borrowed all her light from the sun month after month; she would be a black blot, if the sun did not shine upon her, and now see all the return she makes is, she goes impudently before his face and prevents his light from shining upon us. Do you know anything at all like that in your own history? Have you not a great many comforts which you enjoy upon earth that are just like the moon? They borrow all their light from the sun. They would be no comforts to you unless God shone in them and they reflected back the light from his countenance. What is your husband, your wife; what are your children, your friends, your house, your home? What are all these but moons that borrow their light from the sun? Oh how ungrateful it is when we let our comforts get before our God; no wonder that we get an eclipse when we put these things that God gave to be our comforts into God's own throne and make them our idols. Oh! if our children take half of our hearts, if our friends take away our souls from Jesus, if like it was with Solomon, the wife leads the heart astray, if our goods, our house, our lands become the object of our life, if we set our affections upon them instead of setting them upon the things above, no wonder that there is an eclipse. Oh ungrateful heart that allows these moons of comfort to hide the sun. …

Take care Christians, lest thy comforts like the moon eclipse thy sun. That is a sermon for thee, remember it, and be wise from it.

High School Reunion

2009-07-14T08:03:00.004+08:00

Last Saturday, by sheer will power and desire to reconnect, around 30 of us, classmates in high school, turned back the calendar to the years 1983 to 1987.It was a difficult thing. Though we wanted to re-create the atmosphere of Arlegui in Quiapo Circa 80's, our resources and powers were just limited and so we opted to travel back in time at a beautiful resort in Calamba, Laguna.

For most of us, it was our first voyage to that era after 22 years. I must admit that I was hesitant at first because I was afraid I won't be able to recognize any of them and it will be embarrassing. It was uneasy at first but gradually , a trickle of memories became a river, immersing all of us in a flood of recollections-- all wonderful and pleasant. Time has probably erased whatever was unpleasant.

We were not complete as we would have wanted to. Some of our classmates had been lost along life's journey. We who were there have shown maturity, both in looks and in thoughts. Some tried to act young but it was obvious that they were trying really hard. You could see a lot of receded hairlines, some grey amidst black hairs, wrinkles of age, substitute teeth, and disproportionate bellies.

Time has spelled a lot of difference in all of us. We've come a long way from that time in Quiapo when all we cared about were boyfriends and girlfriends, hair gels and breakdances. It was fun to re-live the time until Sunday came, and we travelled back to reality once again.

Be Proactive!

2009-07-10T08:20:00.006+08:00

I frown when I meet people who do nothing to improve their lot in life. They wait for others to do it for them or just remain passive and resign to the idea that 'it's their fate!" This is the lamest excuse. We can always make our lives better. There's always a way to prevent life's challenges; a way to make burdens lighter; or a way to live life more comfortably. We just have to do something. We just have to be proactive.

Being proactive is a learned skill. Being proactive is being courageous in taking risks. Being proactive is learning from one's own mistakes and learning from the mistakes of others. Being proactive is creating desired results. Being proactive is moving your self forward.

Being proactive is a learned skill. When I was young, because my father died and my mother had to leave us to work abroad so that she can support me and my 6 siblings, I looked for ways to augment my very minimal allowance. I sold ice candies inside the theater owned by a relative. I sold newspapers and magazines on weekends, even joined singing competitions hoping to at least get a consolation prize. I studied hard and made sure that I was an academic scholar. At that age, I learned the empowerment of being proactive in my life. I knew that no one can help but me. I can't just sit around and wait for "the guava to fall into my mouth".

The opposite of proactive is reactive. Do you remember the science experiment of taking a cup of vinegar and adding baking soda? The combination of elements creates a reaction. There is no controlling the gas that is created. Now, let's consider a health issue. We are all given a specific number of teeth. When those teeth are damaged, you cannot restore them to the original condition. Some teeth are genetically healthier than other teeth. However, brushing our teeth is a proactive behavior. We become reactive when we have a tooth ache due to decay and then are required to act in one manner or another to remove the pain. So, with today's science and technology, one can be more proactive by visiting a dentist for checkups. These checkups may not always be pleasant yet the act of caring for our teeth in this way more likely prevents us from the uncontrollable reaction we experience from the pain of a tooth ache.

So, you may be asking, what is my point? While many events in our lives we seem not able to control, events do exist which we can control by our own pro-action behavior. Select an area in your life you desire to change. Consider this idea. What can I do proactively now so that this area in my life will change? You may not be able to see what you can do proactively. When this occurs, call upon someone who can help you see "outside the box." Be open to suggestions and listen without judging. Consider that many choices are available. Being proactive is moving your self forward. You do not need to feel "stuck" and always reacting to the things around you.

Another small tidbit of information - being reactive uses more energy than being proactive. Being proactive reduces the amount of stress in one's life. Less stress means you have more positive energy than negative energy. With more positive energy, you can enjoy this life you have been given. With a more peaceful life, you are empowered to be proactive. Take a risk and move forward.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Eveleth

Cell Phone Etiquette

2009-07-01T21:30:00.006+08:00

July is cell phone courtesy month! This is an article on cell phone etiquette.

To most of us, cell phones are a life saver, but rude cell phone users are the thorns in our sides. They're pretty much anywhere that there's a cell phone signal. The thing is, we could all probably use a little primer on cell phone etiquette. After all, most people who are being annoying don't realize they're being annoying. Here are Smart Reminders:

Keep a 10-foot (3 meter) distance between you and anyone else whenever you talk on your phone. No exceptions.
Don't talk too loud. Generally you don't have to shout in the microphone to be heard on the other end.
Don't make calls while driving, shopping, banking, waiting in line, or doing pretty much anything that involves interacting with other human beings.
Don't talk on the phone in any enclosed spaces, even if you're more than 10 feet away from anyone. They can still hear you (because it's an enclosed space) and usually, they're forced to just sit there and listen.
- Elevators
- Waiting rooms
- Auditoriums
- Buses
- Trains
Don't even let your phone ring in any of the following settings:
- Meetings
- Libraries
- Museums
- Places of worship
- Lectures, classes
- During live performances
- Funerals
- Weddings
- Movie theaters
Don't use your phone when having a meal with someone. Ideally, you should turn it off entirely. If you're anticipating an important call, let the person you're with know beforehand that you're expecting a call that you'll need to take. No matter what, don't hold a conversation at the table; step away, follow Step 1, and don't stay away any longer than you would for a bathroom break. Never, ever text at the table, even if the conversation died down.
Turn off your phone at the movie theater . Even if your phone is on vibrate, people can hear it during quiet parts of the movie. And even if they can't, the light from your phone's screen is very distracting. Don't check the time, don't check your text messages; just turn it off until the movie is over.
When you're in an enclosed space, or you can't put yourself 10 feet out of everyone's way, it's inappropriate to talk but it's acceptable to receive and send text messages. In such cases, keep the following rules of texting etiquette in mind:
- Use the vibrate feature instead of an audible text alert.
- Only text when you're standing still or sitting and out of anyone's way. Don't text while you walk or drive.
- Don't text while doing anything that requires you to be attentive. A good example would be while waiting at an intersection for the pedestrian signal.
- Again, don't text during a meal. If you must, step away as if taking a call.

http://www.wikihow.com/Practice-Cell-Phone-Etiquette

A Father's Poem on Father's day

2009-06-21T07:39:00.012+08:00

I am a person

striving to be loving and kind,

Often I know

what my daughters have on their minds.

I know how to listen to them,

I guide, and I support them.

I am their best friend...

I am proud of their triumphs,

and when things go wrong,

I remain patient

and helpful and strong...

In all that they do,

My love will always be a part.

I know that whatever happens

there's always a place for me

deep in their heart.

And each year that passes,

I'm even more glad,

More grateful and proud

for them to call me... dad!

Thank you, Monty and Sam!!!

Happy Father's Day to Me!

Going Back To School

2009-06-17T07:31:00.009+08:00

Dear Dr. Rio Abrenica,

Congratulations!

On behalf of the Health Unit-Ateneo Graduate School of Business, I am very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Master in Business Administration in Health Program - Batch 8 (2009).

We look forward to your enrolling in the MBA in Health...

There goes my acceptance letter from AGSB. It's final, I'm going back to school AGAIN.

Of my 37 years of God-given life, 23 years were spent in school. Of the 14 years remaining, 4 were spent in specialty training, 1 in post-graduate internship and a cumulative 1 year in preparing for 3 Board Examinations. So basically, I'm still on my 8th year of living a textbook free life. But I'm not complaining. Every second in that 29 years were all worth it.

There's so much to learn and I think I will never loose the appetite to take in new and exciting knowledge. I'm going back to school because I need to be the best in my position right now. And I can't do that without knowing the basics and learning from the experts. It might take few more hairs out of my scalp but I know it will be worth it again. I'm an incoming freshmen again!

Are you a Rich Pinoy?

2009-06-10T09:34:00.004+08:00

Do you know that you need to be earning at least 768pesos/day or 23,000pesos per month to be classified as middle class filipino citizen? This is what the following article says.

I'm sure with these figures, many will fall below. I think it's time to really ponder on becoming 'spiritual wealthy' rather than being materially rich. At least the former has only one criteria, that is FAITH!

NSCB SAYS GLOBAL CRISIS TRIMMED MEDIAN-INCOME GROUP

By Darwin G. Amojelar, Senior Reporter

A FILIPINO household has to earn close to half a million pesos this year to remain in the middleclass, according to the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB).Romulo Virola, NSCB secretary-general, said the country's middle class is likely to have shrunk in light of the global financial crisis. "In 2006, the middle income class may be defined as those families with annual income ranging from P246,109 to P2,000,072. However, in 2008, a family needed an income that ranged from P276,626 to P2,251,551 to be considered middle class. And in 2009, you would need to earn close to half a million pesos to be in the middle class," the NSCB official said, citing the results of the agency's update of an earlier study on the matter. The NSCB said the middle-income class included families that own refrigerators, radios, and a house and lot, and with houses that have strong roof materials. "The Pinoy middle class remains vulnerable and has continued to shrink. And that is prior to the global crisis," Virola said. He said the middle class shrank from 19.9 percent of the population in 2003 to 19.1 percent in 2006. However, this pace of collapse was not as sharp as that between 2000 and 2003, when the middle class fell from 23 percent to 22.7 percent. The NSCB official said the middle class must expand, as it is generally believed to be the driver of "development" and "economic growth." In the first quarter of the year, the economy as measured by the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by only 0.4 percent, a sharp fall from 3.9 percent in the same period last year. Virola said savings and investments of the middle class posted percentage increases between 2003 and 2006. Between 2000 and 2006, the use of telephones and cell phones among the middle class almost doubled from 51 percent to 95.3 percent, while computer ownership jumped from 10.6 percent to 28.5 percent. The NSCB said the top four expenditure items among the middle class and the general population were the same in 2003 and 2006: food; house rental; transportation and communication; and fuel, light and water. Among the least priority expenditures of the middle class and the general population are non-durable furnishings, which include utensils and household linen; alcoholic beverage; house repair and maintenance; and recreation. "Tobacco and taxes complete the bottom five expenditure items for the middle class and the general population. As we have said in the past, tobacco is no longer the good business it used to be and we have not been paying taxes to our government," Virola said. In December, the NSCB released a report that showed the country's middle class was collapsing. For its update to this report, the agency said it used inflation data to come up with new estimates of the income boundaries of the middle class.

Volunteering From The Heart

2009-06-02T07:44:00.004+08:00

Here's an article published in the Migrants' Forum publication in Hongkong written by my eldest sister Roselma.

The mission of every association defines its purposes, program activities, values and the measure of its success. All its programs and decisions stem from the beliefs and vision that are its reason for existing in the first place.

For our group, it is the concept of volunteering from the heart that keeps us together, and makes our involvement in community events a worthwhile exercise.

have we ever wondered how we can better foster a spirit of volunteerism within our group? How would it feel like to take part in a fund raising event to benefit homeless kids back in our country, or to help and give back to the local community in Hongkong?

For many of us belonging to different Filipino organizations here, our time is precious, but it becomes more invaluable when we use it to give to others, especially in these difficult times. It doesn't cost a cent to give from the heart but often, we forget the significance of this kind of giving.

I believe that social responsibility is an ethical identity in every organization and this concept leads me to think that personal actions can make a significant difference in the lives of others, be it in my hometown or in Hongkong.

It has been my group's (CFCB) mission to make a difference in the community by simply donating our time and effort through volunteering and getting involved in charity works here and in our country. To us, providing assistance is the foundation for creating a more amicable world.

As Martin Luther King once said, "Life's most urgent question is; what are we doing for others?" However, many of our members still hesitate to volunteer because they don't think they are qualified or don't have time and for many other reasons. Many say they are not worthy; while others are afraid of making a commitment they will not be able to keep. Of course, as anyone who volunteers will tell you, we all had similar reservations before we gathered enough courage to take the first step in dedicating our time to the service of those in need.

The only difference in being a volunteer, whether in our own country or in Hong Kong, is that instead of being the recipient of a service, we are the ones giving the service.

Once we get into the routine of donating our time for a worthy cause, we become used to doing the said task that when we try to stop, we miss it. As in everything we do, practice makes perfect and things become a habit and before long the people we are helping start to miss us, and we start to miss them as well.

This is what the volunteers of CFCB are experiencing at the home for the elderly where we have been volunteering for the past four years. While we make them feel very special; they in turn make us feel good. Before long, we realize that we like helping other people because it gives us double the pleasure of giving.

Touching the lives of others or altering it with such significance that is irrevocably changed for the better is beneficial to all. The value of volunteering from the heart is so much more than a sacrifice of time. Helping others is to connect with them and for a time, share their life.

And so, the next time you hear a call to volunteer in the community and begin thinking of all the reasons you can't help out, remember that every volunteer has felt the same way. But what sets them apart is that they took the first step in saying, "I want to reach out and give back to my community and make a difference!"

By building these bridges of love, it is inevitable that friendships will bloom, and this in turn, will open the door to an exchange of ideas. That is learning.

Contributor is Roselma B. Abrenica, a veteran OFW in Hongkong and a known community leader who has made giving and working for the less fortunate one of her primary goals. She is the president of the Consolidated Filipino Community Brigade (CFCB) and secretary of the Group of Active Leaders (GOAL), an alliance of four Filipino organizatios, namely CFCB, CABAGIS, CMC and AFWB. These groups strive to promote the spirit of bayanihan and mutual help among their members and other members of the community. In line with this, they have carried out charity work at Bethune shelter for distressed migrants, and for the victims of typhoon Frank in the Philippines.

Rosel is also a member of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood and belongs to the Senate chapter in the Philippines. She has helped organize last year the first bloodletting project of PGBI-HK for the HK Red Cross.

Rosel is originally from the province of Kalinga in the northern part of the Philippines, but her family now resides in Quezon City. She is currently employed by the Israeli Consulate as household service staff but has spent most of the 20 years she has been in Hongkong working with the Singapore Consulate.

Rosel believes in the saying that one must not waste time trying to bring others down. "If we want to achieve something, we must continually work hard for it!" she says.

Mountain Story

2009-05-28T04:44:00.003+08:00

"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!"
-- Unknown Author

The "Human-Swine-Bird" Has Landed!

2009-05-22T08:12:00.005+08:00

Amidst the buzz of the 'exploits' of a perverted man better to be called as "Hidden Ko", the unwanted 'human-swine-bird' has landed silently in the country. I think this is far more interesting and serious to talk about than the former. I would not want to trigger panic but utmost vigilance is called for, and the best way is to be informed. Here is the news.

DoH confirms first A(H1N1) case in RP
By Anna Valmero INQUIRER.net First Posted 22:26:00 05/21/2009

MANILA, Philippines—( UPDATE) The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed the first case of A(H1N1) influenza in the country Thursday night. "The DoH confirms today the first case of A(H1N1) in the Philippines. She is a female traveler who arrived in the country on May 18 from the United States, whose throat specimen tested positive based on results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine," Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a press conference at the World Health Organization Regional office in Manila. According to Dr. Eric Tayag, director for the National Epidemiology Center, the first case is a 10-year-old female, who also visited Canada when she was in the United States. Tayag declined to identify the research facility where the girl is being quarantined and treated. "I talked with the president and from the tone of her voice she is very concerned. In fact, she gave me the go signal to conduct this press conference," Duque added. The patient is currently being monitored while her immediate household was advised to follow quarantine and social distancing procedures from the DoH, said Duque. Despite the index case, Duque said: "There is no community outbreak in the country, measures are being done to prevent transmission including quarantine of immediate household of the first case. The first case is something we have been preparing for and a result of public and private sectors' effective surveillance system." Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the test results came Thursday afternoon from RITM in Muntinlupa City and the patient was immediately given antiviral Oseltamivir. The first case no longer has fever and cough but still has sore throat, said Villaverde. Tayag said specimens from the index case will be sent to a WHO collaborating center in Melbourne as routine procedure for all specimens that will test positive for the novel A(H1N1). "The child developed the symptoms a day after arrival, so this is also a call for vigilance on the part of the public that people in the country and incoming travelers from abroad, especially from infected areas, to submit themselves to quarantine screening and continuous monitoring of health, especially body temperature for 10 days, and to report to the DoH any flu-like symptoms," said Villaverde. Villaverde reiterated that the public should observe proper hygiene, strengthen resistance and do social distancing—avoid going to crowded areas if the need is not urgent. At this point of one single confirmed case, Vilaverde said, there is no need to postpone the opening of schools in June.

IF by Rudyard Kipling

2009-05-20T07:56:00.006+08:00

IF by Rudyard Kipling.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be Wo(men), my daughters!

The Flu Vaccine

2009-05-14T08:03:00.003+08:00

With the pandemic outbreak of the H1N1 virus, more and more companies are requesting for flu vaccination as part of their wellness programs. I never had a flu shot so I don't have any idea of its effectivity. I know for a fact though that the vaccine only protects for a certain number of influenza virus strain. Here's an article I encountered which gives some light about flu vaccines.

What is the flu vaccine? The flu vaccine is prepared from the fluids of chick embryos inoculated with a specific type(s) of influenza virus. The strains of flu virus in the vaccine are inactivated with formaldehyde and preserved with thimerosal, which is a mercury derivative.

Does the flu vaccine protect against all throat, respiratory, gastrointestinal and ear infections? The flu vaccine only protects against the three specific viral strains which are included in any given year's flu vaccine. Throat, respiratory, gastrointestinal and ear infections caused by bacteria or other kinds of viruses are not prevented by getting an annual flu shot.

Why do doctors say I have to get a flu vaccine every year? Like all vaccines, the flu vaccine only gives a temporary immunity to the virus strains or closely related virus strains contained in the vaccine. The only way to get natural and permanent immunity to a strain of flu is to recover naturally from the flu. Natural immunity to a particular strain of flu can be protective if that strain or closely related strains come around again in the future. However, because the vaccine only provides a 70 to 80 percent chance of temporary immunity to selected strains and those strains may or may not be prevalent each year, doctors say you have to get a flu shot every year.

Are there reactions to the flu vaccine? The most common reactions, which begin with 12 hours of vaccination and can last several days are: fever, fatigue, painful joints and headache. The most serious reaction that has been associated with flu vaccine is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) which occurs most often within two to four weeks of vaccination. GBS is an immune mediated nerve disorder characterized by muscle weakness, unsteady gait, numbness, tingling, pain and sometimes paralysis of one or more limbs or the face. Recovery lasts several months and can include residual disability. Less than 5 percent of GBS cases end in death.

What are contraindications to the flu vaccine? Among high risk factors listed by the CDC and the vaccine manufacturers are anyone who: (1) is sick with a fever; (2) has an impaired immune system; (2) has an egg allergy; (3) has a mercury allergy; (4) has a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome. In years past, pregnancy was also a contraindication to flu vaccine but, today, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends flu vaccine for women more than 14 weeks pregnant.

The package inserts published by the flu vaccine manufacturers state that "Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with influenza virus vaccine. It is also not known whether influenza virus vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman... Although animal reproductive studies have not been conducted, the prescribing health care provider should be aware of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices .The ACIP states that if used during pregnancy, administration of influenza virus vaccine after 14 weeks of gestation may be preferable to avoid coincidental association of the vaccine with early pregnancy loss."

Is Flu Vaccine Recommended for Children? The flu vaccine has never been recommended for healthy children. However, in the past few years there have been indications that health officials are soon going to recommend flu vaccine for all children. A nasal flu vaccine is scheduled to be on the market in late 2000 and publicity promoting this vaccine has centered on its potential use in children.

The current injectable flu vaccine contains mercury as a preservative. In the summer of 1999, the FDA, CDC and EPA directed the vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury as a preservative in childhood vaccines. Mercury is a known neuro-toxin and American babies under six months of age are currently exposed to mercury in childhood vaccines that exceed EPA safety standards.

One consideration with the mass use of flu vaccine in healthy children is the removal of natural antibodies to flu which are obtained from natural infection. The question of whether it is better for healthy children, who rarely suffer complications from flu, to get the flu and develop permanent immunity to that flu strain or it is better for children to get vaccinated every year to try to suppress all flu infection in early childhood is a question that has yet to be adequately answered by medical science.

Resource: National Vaccine Information Center

Inspire

2009-05-08T07:41:00.005+08:00

It's a 'bed weather' day and just like the physical body, the spirit is a bit down as well. It's mother's day on Sunday so we need to boost up and what a better way to charge up the soul than to be inspired by people who know how. This is supposedly a farewell letter from a retiring writer from Colombia.

If God, for a second, forgot what I have become and granted me a little bit more of life, I would use it to the best of my ability. I wouldn't, possibly, say everything that is in my mind, but I would be more thoughtful of all I say. I would give merit to things not for what they are worth, but for what they mean to express. I would sleep little, I would dream more, because I know that for every minute that we close our eyes, we waste 60 seconds of light. I would walk while others stop; I would awake while others sleep. If God would give me a little bit more of life, I would dress in a simple manner, I would place myself in front of the sun, leaving not only my body, but my soul naked at its mercy. To all men, I would say how mistaken they are when they think that they stop falling in love when they grow old, without knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love. I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them to learn how to fly by themselves. To old people I would say that death doesn't arrive when they grow old, but with forgetfulness. I have learned so much with you all, I have learned that everybody wants to live on top of the mountain, without knowing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken & the form used to reach the top of the hill. I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with its little hand, his father's finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life. I have learned that a man has the right and obligation to look down at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from the ground. Say always what you feel, not what you think. If I knew that today is the last time that that I am going to see you asleep, I would hug you with all my strength and I would pray to the Lord to let me be the guardian angel of your soul. If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say 'I love you'. There is always tomorrow, and life gives us another opportunity to do things right, but in case I am wrong, and today is all that is left to me, I would love to tell you how much I love you & that I will never forget you. Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old. Today could be the last time to see your loved ones, which is why you mustn't wait; do it today, in case tomorrow never arrives. I am sure you will be sorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile, a hug, a kiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish. Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to their faces how much you need them and love them. Love them and treat them well; take your time to tell them 'I am sorry';' forgive me',' please' 'thank you', and all those loving words you know. Nobody will know you for your secret thought. Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength to express them. Show your friends and loved ones how important they are to you. Inspire those you love. If you don't do it today...tomorrow will be like yesterday, and if you never do it, it doesn't matter either, the moment to do it is now.

For you, With much love, Your Friend,

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Paquiao, H1N1 and Going Back to Work

2009-05-04T10:31:00.005+08:00

I'm back to work today, after 11 days of recuperating from appendectomy. It is a good feeling to get back to 'thinking' again. I felt my mind stopped functioning for some time these past days. The operative site hasn't healed fully yet but I can no longer endure lying around for some more days so I just had to go back to Tektite.

Pacquiao knocked down Hatton yesterday. Good for him. He had the aura of victory even before the fight so I had no doubt of his victory even then. I just wish he stops thinking of going back to politics again. Somebody should tell him that he can help his fellowmen even if he is not a politician. There are lot of ways.

This is an article about the H1N1 virus from the Associated Press.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the new swine flu spreads, people have lots of questions about how it affects their day-to-day life. Here are some answers.

Q: How easy is it to catch this virus?

A: It's spreading as easily as the regular flu, which infects millions each year. Early estimates are that 25 percent to 30 percent of family members are getting sick once a relative brings it home.

Q: How dangerous is it?

A: Nobody knows yet. Genetically, it doesn't share the same traits that made the infamous 1918 pandemic so deadly, nor does it seem as virulent as the bird flu that scientists have tracked for several years. While Mexico reported many deaths, the virus is causing less severe illness in the U.S. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most cases so far haven't needed medical attention.

Q: Could I have some immunity?

A: Since it's a never-before-seen mix of mostly pig but also human and bird viruses, the CDC has cautioned that's unlikely. But it is a member of the H1N1 family of flu viruses, which circulate widely. Flu specialist John Treanor at the University of Rochester says people born before 1957 spent their childhood repeatedly exposed to H1 viruses. So experts are withholding final judgment on that question.

Q: Is it treatable?

A: Yes, with the standard anti-flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. They lessen symptoms if taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms. (Tamiflu is taken twicw a day for 5 days. 1 tablet costs Php 150.00)

Q: Is there a vaccine?

A: No. The government is working to develop one and the earliest shots could roll out would be in the fall, if authorities decide the virus remains enough of a threat to offer those shots. Manufacturers are preparing regular flu shots which can be used when routine influenza strains will start circulating regardless of swine flu.

Q: Why does CDC stress hand-washing?

A: Flu viruses do spread through the air, so cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. But flu also can spread by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands. The viruses can live on surfaces such as doorknobs or handrails for a few hours, or be passed by a handshake.

Q: Do hand gels work better?

A: No, they're just an alternative, says Dr. Richard Besser, the CDC's acting chief. He keeps a bottle in his pocket. The bigger issue is to wash hands well enough to get rid of germs. Sing "Happy Birthday" or "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to know you've scrubbed long enough, he advises.

Q: How long do I have to worry if I just got back from Mexico?

A: The incubation period is two days to seven days, regardless of where you were exposed.

Q: How long should I stay home if I get the flu?

A: Certainly call your doctor about bad symptoms or if you're at all worried, especially if you have any chronic condition, such as asthma, that makes you more susceptible to any kind of flu. But other than going out for medical care, stay home for seven days or for one day after symptoms end. The CDC also says family members should consider staying home or decreasing their contact with others in case they're incubating the infections.

Q: Why are so many schools closing?

A: It's not clear just how much good school closings do in slowing flu's spread. It doesn't help much if kids then gather at the mall or a friend's house or day care. But because children spread all kinds of viruses easily — they don't wash as well, have close contact in crowded classes, and sometimes are contagious for a few days longer than adults — the CDC has advised schools with cases to consider closing for at least 14 days.

Q: Can pets get sick?

A: Besser says there's no evidence that this flu affects anyone other than humans.

Q: Can flu spread on imported fruits and vegetables from Mexico?

A: No. It doesn't spread through any food, including pork.

Q: Is it safe to fly? How about the trains?

A: Yes, the CDC says. Just don't travel if you're sick — stay home.

Q: Do I need a mask in crowded areas?

A: The CDC hasn't yet recommended that anyone other than health workers use masks.

Q: I have a summer trip planned to an area with lots of cases. Should I cancel?

A: Not yet, just stay tuned, Besser advises. Doctors should know much more about this flu by then.

Q: Why did the government quit using the name "swine flu" this past week?

A: Because of concern that people thought they might catch the virus from pigs or pork — which is wrong. It is spread person to person.

Q: How can I get more information?

A: On the Web, check http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu.

Goodbye Appendix!

2009-04-26T15:38:00.006+08:00

After successfully proving itself innocent of causing my abdominal pains for four times for the past two years and eventually being spared from the knife, my appendix was finally detached from my system last Wednesday, April 22, 2009.

I was in severe abdominal pain again last Tuesday night, associated with several bouts of vomiting, and when the two ampules of Nubain and Buscopan did not provide even a bit of relief whatsoever, we had to go to the emergency room. I made one last ditch effort by talking the resident on duty into giving me Demerol but that too proved futile. When my attending doctor evaluated and said he thinks it's the appendix, I made no effort anymore to defend my intestinal appendage and so the surgery was set and consequentlly consummated.

Except on the incision site, there was no more pain on the first day post-op but i was burning hot..literally, as my temperature was ranging from 38 to 39.8 degrees celsius. I also had difficulty in 'leaking' though it was claimed by the resident doctor who assisted the surgery that no catheter, indwelling or straight, was passed through my urethra at anytime before, during, or after the operation. I was also suffering on and off vascular headaches. I contented myself with post-op dehydration. Antibiotics changed, paracetamol made round the clock..but the fever kept on coming back even on the second, then on the third day post-op.

I am not fond of staying in one room for more than three days so I made effort to talk my doctor into discharging me yesterday even if I still had episodes of fever and headache Before he let me go, he requested for a typhi dot which turned out positive.

Whatever happened to me, the fact remains that I'm now appendix free. I have let go of the appendage attached to the colon, often blamed as the cause of many cases of abdominal pains. The worm like appendage tagged as the 'bread and butter' of surgeons.

Trip Through the ZigZag Road

2009-04-15T07:27:00.005+08:00

Here are the picture memories of our vacation in Baguio City last holy week.

Easter?

2009-04-12T08:21:00.004+08:00

We just had our vacation in the land which is technically closer to the sun than most part of the Philippines but colder in temperature than most. Now we're back to the farther but warmer place.

It's Easter Sunday! Have you ever wondered why it's called such? Why not 'Wester', 'Souther', or 'Norther'? No, it was not named because of a particular direction, although a logical mind would say that probably it was named Easter because the sun rises from the east, and the feast is all about 'rising' or 'resurrecting'.

Do you know that the feast was actually named after "Estre", the pagan goddess of 'rising sun of day' whose feast was celebrated in early years on April? What an irony! A supposedly christian' feast appellated from a 'pagan' god.

Because of this, Resurrection Sunday I think would be a better name to call this day, in keeping with our remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection. That is far more worth celebrating!

A Rainbow in Baguio

2009-04-07T06:59:00.007+08:00

This picture was taken from our room here in Manor after the rain on the afternoon when we arrived. I can't remember the last time I saw a rainbow before this so it was really a sight to behold.

Rainbows remind me of a lot of things and since this week is supposedly "holy", let us remind ourselves of the biblical significance of the first rainbow that appeared over earth. God's promise to Noah.

“Never again will I destroy the world with a flood.

I make this covenant with you and with all creatures.

From this day on,
there will always come a time for planting,
and a time for gathering up what was planted.

Day will always follow night,
the warm days of summer
will always follow
the cold and snow of winter,
as long as the earth shall be."

God knew that there is something inside each of us that tries to keep us from doing what is right. That is what causes all the trouble in the world.

God also knew that one day he would send his Son to save us from that. God saved Noah and his family to show us that he has the power to save us all, and one day bring us to a new life with him in heaven.

So God blessed Noah and his family. He told them to have many children and fill the earth with people again. He gave them the plants and the animals for food. And he made people the boss of everything on earth.

And then God said to Noah, "Look up in the sky."

Noah looked up. The storm clouds were drifting away, the bright sun was shining against Noah's back. And against the dark grey sky, God made a brilliant rainbow appear. God said to Noah,

“You see, I have set my rainbow in the sky. This will be the sign of the covenant I have made with you and all creatures, never again to destroy the earth by a flood. It will always remind us of the promise between you and me.”

So, the next time you see a rainbow, think of Noah and the flood. Remember that God loves you, and that no matter how bad the storm, there will always come a bright new day.

That is God's promise, and God always keeps his promises.

Proud Parents!

2009-04-06T08:44:00.003+08:00

Our eldest, Monty, finished on top of her class the past school year. No, it is not because of the milk ("Enfa" series), it must be the genes!

As seen in the picture above, we felt extremely proud. Considering that the standards of the school is not that easy, it was indeed a feat to finish first in class. Reminiscent of my younger years.

As a treat, we are now here in Baguio, billeted at the posh Manor hotel, for a vacation. This is the first for both Monty and Sam. So far, they're enjoying it!