Unconditional love

It was weekend and I can hear my two dogs barking and running around the backyard. They are normally this loud when the local birds started gnawing the fruit of my next door neighbour’s palm tree, and when some of these birds steal their dog food. I tried to ignore them and got up, washed up and walked straight to the kitchen where my breakfast is waiting for me… thanks to my lovely wife who woke up early to make me some breakfast.

As I was drinking my coffee, I couldn’t help but watch my two dogs as they chase the local birds. I sort of get a different kind of joy just watching them getting busy and playing with the birds and each other. I then thought, what could be going through their minds? What could they be thinking of? If they can talk, what would they tell me?

Both of my dogs are well-loved dog. Elmo is our first. He was just little when we got him, no bigger than my palm. When he was young, he always sleeps on one of my feet, and licks my feet as I went pass him. Look at him now; he covers almost their entire bed. My wife says I’m Elmo’s favourite. Well, he’s my favourite too. He was the first one that stole my heart – he’s just adorable.

King was my Christmas gift to my wife. He’s a purebred Maltese. We got him when he was 4 week’s old. I still remember when we picked him up – my wife was holding him on her lap, he was sleeping on her palm and I was holding his hand. He would occasionally lick my hand and would go back to sleep. He was so fragile then. Now he barks like a big dog. Funny how time flies.

I went out to join them. As soon as they saw me they both ran towards me and greeted me with exaggeration. I sat on the steps of the stairs and allowed King to kiss me on my ears while Elmo sat next to me and kissing my other ear. Elmo put his head under my hands asking for a scratch while king laid on the floor waiting for some tickle. I then grabbed the tennis ball at the door of their kennel and started playing ‘fetch’ – they love ‘fetch’! Elmo always gets to the ball first but King has ways of stealing it from him. It was really nice playing with them. After the game I gave them both some chicken necks and we all sat on the swing. King jumped on my left and rested on my left leg while Elmo jumped on the right and rested on my right leg. I was giving them both a good scratch.

As I was doing this I couldn’t help contemplate on how wonderful dogs are – of how they can give us their 100% and not get upset if we just return 5% of it or less. How patient they are - they waited for me to get home and welcomed me just like they’ve never seen me for a very long time. They always sit next to me or on my lap even after I’ve scolded them. They never get jealous even if I went out with my friends knowing they only have me. Their love never falters even though I’ve changed. They don’t criticise my looks, colour and gender. They never walked out on me when I looked horrible and wasted. They just love me without condition.

After that, I thought of giving them a good walk to the park. So up we went and grabbed their leashes… we’re off to the park!

Photo: Nik, Mahal, King and Elmo, Feb. 2010

The rain and me....

I love the rain. Where I grew up we periodically get rain. During this time I would shower in the rain, walk in the rain, or sometimes just tuck-in bed listening to the raindrops tapping on the roof. I love the sound the rain makes when it hits something solid and the cold air that it brings.

My aunt would not let me walk in the rain, she always thinks that we can catch all sort of diseases from the rain. Coincidently, some kids that did walk in the rain get fever the next day, but that’s the only thing they caught as far as I can remember - a fever. And every time my aunt talks me out of it I always think – well, it’s supposed to be clean because it’s from the sky, right? So how come some mother’s don’t let their kids play in the rain? Why some of us believe on something we have not witnessed? How come often people can’t agree on something so easily understood?

During the time when the questions are important to me, I would close my eyes and allow the rhythm of the raindrops take my mind to places where I can explore the questions further. I would tilt my head upward to catch some of the water that goes with the cold air, somehow the sensation fuels me to dig deeper. I would often get lost in this journey.

As the elements around me absorb my being, my questions were splits into words and then by syllables, making them hard to recognise. And when I open my eyes they are hit by the electromagnetic waves which everyone agreed to call ‘light’ and the different colours that go with it. The ‘acoustics’ in the air, which we call ‘sound’, relentlessly goes through my ears which my essence tries to decipher their meanings. What I call blue and loud maybe perceived by others as different colour and sound. We may agree on a name, shape or sound but really the perception of it is personal.

How are you?

Most of the plants around my house are low-maintenance, I hardly water them and yet they continue to grow and flower. There are two mad-flowering plants in front of the house that are taking advantage of the winter season, they just wouldn’t stop flowering. As I was walking to get the mail I noticed my jacaranda stopped growing. I checked its leaves, some are turning brown. I then I looked around, this is the only plant that’s suffering, although everyone is lacking attention. What is my jacaranda trying to tell me?

Everyday, before i get in the car, I quickly scan the plants around the house. The two mad flowering plants always caught my attention; seeing them flowering and healthy I then thought everyone is doing just the same - that everyone is doing well. It was a shock actually to see that my jacaranda is slowly dying when most of the plants are taking advantage of the cold and wet weather.

And then I thought, this must be the real me in all aspects of my life. Everyday I take a quick recollection about the people around me, and learning that one of them is doing well, I stopped and get on with what I’m doing. I forgot to call each one and personally ask them how they are doing. Some have started a family, graduated college, moved job or moved house and I don’t even know it. I just know that they are doing well.

I hope I’m not too late to save my jacaranda tree, this, amongst my plants is my wife’s favourite. I hope I get to remember to water it everyday before I retire for the day, and check all of them every weekend. And while I’m at it, I’d probably start making calls to the people that I really care… and ask them “how are you doing?”

How are you doing?

Anniversary

We went to this popular French restaurant in the city. The moment we walked in a girl in coat greeted us and took our coats. Then asked for our names and walked us up to our seats. I was really impressed on the warmth of their welcoming; it is something I don’t usually experience.

Then the same lady prepared our table. As she prepares our table she talks about the restaurant – like their chefs, their specialty, where the restaurant originated from and many more. Funny though I can’t remember a thing she said, probably because I was busy checking out the place… the place was just average though the Swarovski crystals and the lightings did set a somewhat special mood.

I must say the service is top class. And then I thought, maybe they’re popular because of their service. But then it all changed when I had my first canapé - it was delicious! The waitress gave us a brief introduction of the canapé but I wasn’t interested, I was ogling around understanding the arrangement of the place. It was indeed a first class restaurant.

Anyway, the starter – canapé, was very nice. My wife and I tried to understand what’s in it but we can’t seem to work it out. All we know is it’s a pretty good canapé.

Then the same lady walked towards us and talked about their menu and how it was set. She did mention a couple of specials. I don’t know what’s in the heads of the chefs of these first class restaurants, their menu is always hard to pronounce! Anyway, I ordered their wagyu special while the Mrs ordered some tuna. By the way I’m using layman’s language to describe what we ordered as I can’t work out their proper names.

For entrée I ordered baby rabbit, I was told that it was their signature dish, and the Mrs had some cuttlefish. We didn’t order dessert yet as we wanted to take time enjoying our meals.

After taking our orders a waitress walked to us and gave us some freshly baked breads. Just like the canapés, they're pretty good breads. Maybe because they were freshly baked or maybe the rosemary or whatever you call the green stuffs toppings makes it yummy – I couldn’t careless, they were good!

Then we were offered wine. As much as I wanted to have some but I’m driving so I have to say no. Besides my wife just got back from a surgery and she’s not allowed to have any alcohol.

I don’t think my words gave justice to the foods that we had, I’d just show you the photos and let you be the judge.












The Canape:













Entrees:














Mains:

Desserts:

Should i stay home?

hahahhaha.....

geeezzz.... this says it all, we're fucked! screwed! dead!

Train ride

The train was full this morning. I was squeezed in between a man with his backpack on my face and a lady with her handbag on my bum. I looked around and it seemed everyone is sandwiched in different ways, so I shut my mouth and endured that position for few mins. The moment the train stopped, I changed spot; I stood on the upper stair that gave me more room to move.

It’s the first time in 2 weeks I experienced a train full of commuters. Normally, in the morning I can find a seat or two; today it’s bursting at the seams. Well, hopefully tomorrow it’ll resume to normal.

What’s so good about commuting? Well, aside from I can sleep on my way to and from work, I also get some occasional entertainment listening to people’s stories. It’s not that I’m eavesdropping or something, their voices just kept kris-crossing in my ears and I can’t help laugh at the funny ones. I will be sharing some of the stuff I overheard; I won’t be dropping names (.. like I know them). Besides sharing their conversations alone is rude enough.. so yeah.. just their conversations.

-------
Friend to a Mom: Hey, you look like you didn’t give birth.
Mom: Oh yeah? Well, I gave birth two months ago, remember?
Friend: That’s what I meant, you still look pregnant.
-------
Lady with a pram talking to another lady: And so yeah, I put my baby in the pram and then… Wait! Where’s my baby!?
Guy: I have her honey.
Lady: Oh thank God. Now where was I?
-------
School girl to a friend: The only way I know the difference between left and right is that my mole is on my left side. I’ve trained myself to feel my mole.
-------
Girl on train: It’s so hot in here… I think it’s because of me.
Another Girl: Us! hehehehe
-------
Guy to Girl: Let’s go window shopping at the vending machines.
Girl: Hello? Why would I want that? They don’t have shoes.
-------
Drunk Guy to a random old man: Your hair is cool man. Has it always been that long and curly or just when you got old? I’m not saying you’re old but your hair is really cool, it rocks.
-------
Guy 1: Hey man, are those for girls? Why are you wearing girl’s shoes?
Guy 2: I can’t find my shoes so I took my sister’s
-------
Filipina mom to her toddler that’s wearing a hooded jacket: Baby, put your head back in or else you will not have any more boobs.
Translation: Ibalik mo yung hood sa ulo mo kung hindi, hindi kita pasususuhin.
Funny though the kid did put the hood back on.

Photo: Sydney Central Station, June 2010

My Pixar version..

I just had a revelation! I just found my very own cartoon character!
I'm pretty sure I was in Pixar's mind when they sketched out this character... anyway, i'll let you be the judge.


....so? What d'you think?

ooopppsss... i broke my phone!

Few days ago I accidentally dropped my iphone in the sink-full of water. I tried to dry it using our hand-drier but I think I just made it worse because I lost the screen color - the screen turned white. I turned it off and kept it under my drawer. After few minutes I tried turning it on again but it won’t power up. I tried to charge it and still won’t turn on. I almost threw it out the window when I realised I still have 5 months left on this phone – so yeah, it’s got to be working!

Out of frustration I surfed the internet on anything to fix my broken iphone. I found one website that talks about confining the phone in a box with rice. They’re claiming rice has some special property that eats the moisture in the air, and by enclosing my broken iphone with it, it will dry my iphone completely. And so when I got home I did just that, put the iphone in a ricebox and crossed my fingers hoping it’ll work.

I left the phone in the box for few hours. Before I went to bed, I took the phone out and charged it. This time my phone shows a bit of life, the battery icon pops up however it’s blurry. I’m ok with that little light and so I left my phone charging overnight.

The next morning I checked my phone, it’s fully lit but just like last night the images are blurry. The water must have damaged the screen electronics…oh well; at least I can still use it.
And so I brought it to work and tried to play with it, hoping it’ll restore its original color. But it’s almost end of the day and nothing seemed to have changed. I’m already loosing hope and started finding excuses to live with brightly lit iphone screen. I thought to myself, well, at least I can read and send text messages. Although I can’t play games anymore and won’t be able to take good photos, I can still call and receive calls which is what a phone’s for. So yeah, I think I can live with these.

And so I stashed the phone in my bag and started shuffling out the door, I don’t want to miss my train home. While I was on the train, I got a call from the mrs. We were on the phone for less than a minute when the line is suddenly cut. I thought it must be the tunnel, I normally loose signal inside the tunnel. And so I waited until the train got out of the tunnel before calling my wife. We’re on the phone again for almost the same time as few minutes ago when there again – the line was cut. I called her again and the line just keeps getting cut. Man! Please not my phone! Well, I’m hoping it’s not my phone that’s cutting the line off, I’m hoping it’s just the dead spot around Sydney that’s causing the drop although I have a very good feeling my phone is completely f&%k3d broken!

When I got home I put it again in the same ricebox and forget about it. I didn’t touch it for a week. For this entire time I was using my Motorola phone, everything is fine but rosy.
After a week I checked my iphone and charged it again. To my surprise it’s back to its old self! The color is back to its normal hue - clear and crispy. I swapped the sim card as I planned to use it again. It was lunch time when I checked it again and this time it went back to its crap-self, brightly lit screen with blurry icons. I put it back and checked it again after awhile and it was in its old good self. It must be taking awhile to really get back on its feet. And so I kept using it even though most of the times it’s crappy.

Just this morning I noticed my phone has been in its good shape for a good 2 days. Maybe it’s completely fixed now. My calls are not dropped anymore, I can play games and the pictures taken from the camera is good too. Yey! I can now play the games that I used to play while waiting for anything, be it train, counter, etc. I just hope it stays this way.

So there you go guys, when this thing happened to you try using the rice technique. It works for me!

... pics

picture without flash

picture with flash

Photos: Gold Coast, Queensland Australia 2009

.... knowing is half the battle....

I thought I saw a peacock at the foot of our bed. I scanned around but I can’t find it again. I went back to bed and when I was about half asleep, there, I saw it again - the peacock at the corner of my eye. I slowly opened my eyes and it disappeared again. I half-close my eyes, viola! – the peacock appeared. And then I realised it was the shadow made by the flowers that I gave my wife this morning and the cup that’s sitting in front of the lampshade.

I remember when I was a kid, one of my friends claims there’s a ‘kapre’ (tree-demon) living in a huge mahogany tree in front of their house. Every night when he goes home, he would ask me to walk him across the tree. I thought, then, the ‘kapre’ can’t touch me because of the rosary my granny gave me. I thought the rosary has special powers because it lights up in the dark, and the light scares all demons. And so every night I would walk my friend passed their huge mahogany tree with my glow-in-the-dark rosary.

Few years had passed and I was already in college and my friend has moved house when my eyes met the same mahogany tree. It was full moon and my glow-in the dark rosary is nowhere to be found. I was staring seriously at the tree as though I’m looking for something. For the first time in my entire life I saw how beautiful and healthy that tree is. Its shape is like a man holding a barrel of wine. And then I thought, this must be the ‘kapre’ that my friend is talking about. I walked towards the tree, looked around it, kicked it, tried climbing up, snatched one of the leaves and smelt it… and then I laughed. Now I know that the ‘kapre’ my friend had been fearing all his life is nothing but a beautiful and wonderful tree…. that it was all in his mind.

And now as I think about it I can’t help compare how many of us, walking in this planet, are like my friend. We created monsters that we fear. Sometimes we create an entire religion out of it, causing us to loose our quality of life, loose our drives and loose our focus. How many times have we failed ourselves and the people that we loved because we thought the wonderful opportunity outside our doorstep is a monster waiting for a kill? How often we overlooked at something because of fear?

I hope that every time we see obstacle along our way, we take time to look at it, scrutinize it, and learn to know it as it is, instead of painting it a picture that we will fear. I hope we look at it in the eye, know what it’s made of, where it’s from, what can it do… and use all information to better ourselves/plans. Instead of holding us back, may our fear encourage us to go forward. As what I always hear from one of my friends… ‘knowing is half the battle’.

Photo: Young, Sydney 2010

... pretty tough huh!

I was looking at the door from the bed where my wife is sleeping as if I can see through it. I can’t hear the TV; my focus was on the things happening behind the door. I can hear steps, trolleys, voices and beeps from unknown machines. From the sounds I can almost make out what’s happening outside…. busy people seeking help and giving help.

My wife just had a surgery last night and now she’s recovering. The operation went alright but I think it’s too early to say it was a success. She’s been suffering from extreme pain around her abdomen for the past two months, only last night we’re lucky to finally rectify the problem.

We’ve been to our family doctor several times before this operation. He just kept saying it could be stress, and that she needs rest. The last time we were there he told us that it could be ‘irritable bowel syndrome’, and if that’s the case my wife will have to learn to live with it. I was shocked at how he sees things from his perspective and jump into conclusion without doing further testings. Could we be annoying him of our frequent visits that’s why he said that to us to discourage us from coming back?

She had two major attacks in the last two months that ended her in emergency room. Again, I’m frustrated at how they attended to us. They made us wait without relieving my wife’s pain. Only after I begged them to fix her pain they gave her some morphine. Even then the pain didn’t go away, she just fell asleep.

She’s done gastroscopy few weeks ago and the doctor didn’t find anything except her abdomen is a little swollen. Our doctor didn’t give us any medication to alleviate the swelling, he just sent us home. The hospital that did the test called us and asked what medication my wife is taking, they seemed a bit surprised how come she’s not into any medication… and I felt suspicious.

Only after she had an ultrasound we found the problem, my wife has gallstones. And the only thing they could do is to remove the gallbladder. They said the stones are too big to be dissolved - and now my wife is recovering from last night’s operation.

We are no different from the people behind the door, we’re seeking help too. Good thing in this place where we’re staying the help is within reach. There are cases when some people appear to be ready to help but only point you to wrong directions and made you live with the pain, there are some who are really willing to help but constrained by time and money. The reason why it took us few weeks to have this surgery is not because we don’t have the right connection and money, because of the hospital policy.

I just wish this doesn’t happen anymore to anyone.

We’re moving to another family doctor. He’s a bit far from us but I think he’s better and he does care.

You should also check if you’re doctor does care, he might just be there for the money. Or he might have so many reasons that stopping him from better caring of you. If this thing happen to you, don’t just rely on him, do your own research just like we did. Ask for different test that proves your findings and then present this to your doctor. Mind you, our doctor, he didn’t think it was gallstone, we asked for ultrasound and only then he believed that it was indeed gallstones.

.... things i learned from dogs....

Photo: King & Elmo, Sydney 2010

You’ll be surprised of how much we can learn from our best-friends. They’re not only just good companions; they are good teachers as well. One of the best things my dogs taught me is patience…. which I’m still working on.. hehehe. Anyway, these are the things I’ve learned from my dogs.


* It’s not a real kiss when it’s not wet and sloppy.

* Always have time for a nap.

* When in a park, roll over like crazy and forget about the people around you, enjoy the joy of being free and in wide open spaces.

* If you don’t get it your way, beg.

* Never bite, you can however pee on their shoes.

* The cats are here not to fight; they’re here to give you a good exercise.

* Barking doesn’t resolve any misunderstanding, silence does. Oh yeah, and of course a good scratch on the tummy

* You don’t dig holes for your enemies, they’re for your anger, disappointment and worries. So that you’re always in your good mental shape whenever you fetch a stick.

* You don’t eat rats, let the cats do the work.

* Always let other people know what makes you happy, so that when you lie down you know they’ll bend over to scratch your tummy.

Love Quote of the Day!

.... love is not like a train ride from somewhere to your place, because if it is, then everyone is heading back home and not crying alone in the rain... somewhere......

Photo: 2009, Coogee Beach, Sydney

Useless Fact!

According to the National Safety Council, coffee is not successful at sobering up a drunk person, and in many cases it may actually increase the adverse effects of alcohol.




Photo: 2009, The Rocks, Sydney

Happy Mother's Day

... it's about time we give thanks to our beloved mothers, for all of their support... for their love.. for their care... for putting up with all of our differences.... for accepting us, whoever we've become.

This is also the time to show our appreciations to our wives - for all the hard works they've put into the family that we truly enjoy. The time to show how we value the partnership, however different we are. How thankful we are for putting up with us even though most of the times we don't get them (some sort of misunderstanding), for cleaning after us, for taking good care of us. How grateful we are for walking alongside with us instead of ahead or behind us..... for just being the perfect best friend!

This is also the time of those ladies who are taking good care of young children... for guiding them, sharing the love those children missed, for giving them hope and faith. These ladies who are happy to put on the mother's-hat for children that got lost in the journey of life, for nurturing them and wholeheartedly welcoming them in their homes - a perfect councilor and nurturer.

Basically, this day is not just for those who have children of their own, this day is for all women who wholeheartedly share themselves to less fortunate children. For all women who, in a heartbeat, willing to open their hearts to kids that are needing love, willing to open their homes to kids needing shelter, willing to teach and share their knowledge to kids hungering for wisdom, willing to feed hungry, thirsty and lost kids....

So whatever they call you, mama, aunt, big-sister, little-sister, mrs, ma'am, today is your day... your time to shine! And I, we, thank you, for all the things you've done for us.

Happy mother's day!

Word of the Day!

1 jejemon

1) Usually seen around social networking sites such as Friendster and Multiply, jejemons are individuals with low IQs who spread around their idiocy on the web by tYpFing LyK diZS jejejeje, making all people viewing their profile raise their eyebrows out of annoyance. Normal people like you and me must take a Bachelor of Arts in Jejetyping in order to understand said individuals, as deciphering their text would cause a lot of frustration and hair pulling.

CAUTION: THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BREEDING! THEY CAN BE SEEN WRECKING GRAMMATICAL HAVOC ON FACEBOOK TOO!

2) Jejemons are not just confined to trying-hard Filipino gangsters and emos. A Jejemon can also include a variety of Latino-Hispanic fags who enjoy typing "jejejejeje" in a wider context, much to the disdain of their opponents in an internet MMORPG game such as Ragnarok and DOTA.


3) Basically anyone with a low tolerance in correct punctuation, syntax and grammar. Jejemons are usually hated or hunted down by Jejebusters or the grammar nazi to eradicate their grammatical ways.

Example on YM or AIM:

miSzMaldiTahh111: EoW pFuOh!

You: Huh?

miszMaldiTahh111: i LLyK tO knOw moR3 bOut u, PwfoH. crE 2 t3ll mE yur N@me? jejejejeje!

miszMaldiTahh111: T_T



2 jejemon
- a person WhO tyPeZ lYKeS tH1s pfOuh..
whether you are RICH, MIDDLE CLASS or POOR ifpK eU tYpE L1K3 tHiS pfOuh..eU are CONSIDERED AS JEJEMON.

- (noun or adj.)---a person who is very expert in typing..
- a person that never gets tired of typing consonants in all of his/her comments...
- a person that destroys the morale of language in any typing media like internet,cellphones...etc...
- an emo/gangster who owns all the possible negative qualities of a person.
- is the derrogative term used for a certain categorized kind of people.They type JEJEJE or JEJEJE when they want to express laughing in written words, which happen more than often. This is why we call them jejes.

JEJE-Similar to hehehe but more like a naughty chuckle coming from the back of your throat. For instance, used while plotting an evil plan.

ex. 1. I'm going to make that guy look like such a zaris..JEJEJE
ex. 2. "omg! my sister farted" jejeje
ex. 3. 3Ohw phOwh eVeR1yBhOodY! jejeje!
ex. 4. pFroUwd 2 b @ jEJ3mOn!

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF JEJEMON PEOPLE?
Sign that it is a jeje you are dealing with is that he (they are most commonly masculine) seems to have low intelligence. This is because 1. they can not express themselves in the English language as good as an average person 2. it seems that their kind is simply dumber. 3. Their names are also often begun with "El" then followed with a random spanish or portuguese word. 4. they put too much letters and symbols in everyword they say even in their god damn NAMES or ALYASES.

Courtesy of Urban Dictionary

Birds on the fence

I was mowing my lawn when I saw a couple of birds on my fence. They were the same birds that I remembered my wife was telling me about. They usually sit there in the morning, not minding my dog’s bark, until afternoon. And since I normally sleep-in during weekends, by the time I got up these birds had long been gone.

They were two birds; my wife thought they’re partners. They’d snuggle each other under each other’s wings. And after a while the male flies away, leaving the female behind. Surprisingly, she never leaves the spot where he left her. After few minutes, the male would come back and they would do some ‘tweet tweet’ together, do a couple of slow walk here and there, and then snuggle again. Occasionally the male bird flies to my dog’s little hut. My dog, Elmo, will just give it an exhausting look as it snatches some of his food. I couldn’t blame my dog for not moving a single muscle; he must be tired barking all day at these birds.

As I watch them I couldn’t help but think of the human relationship. Are we like these birds that snuggle under each other’s arm, sing “tweet tweet” together, and wait for our partner when they go somewhere? Are we willing to risk our lives and snatch food from a loud and hyperactive dog that any moment we could be caught and might end up just one of his toys? What if we die while we’re searching for food, will our partners wait and not look for us? Will our partners die waiting?

I read in the newspaper 6 out 10 marriages ended in divorce and/or separation. If the divorce rate is high, why do we get married then? What is the secret of a long lasting relationship? Should we consider this statistic as basis of our relationship? If so, are we ready to be alone for the rest of our lives? What can ascertain our marriage to last forever, if not forever, well at least until we withered?

As I was driving to pick up my wife today, these nagging questions keep playing in my head. I can’t seem to find all the answers. I even questioned why I got married. When my wife got on and started talking how her day went, I felt like the light bulb in my head suddenly turned on. And then I looked at my wife, kissed her and told her ‘I love you!’ She asked me how come I suddenly became very sweet. I just smiled back and asked her to continue telling me how her day went. Not that I’m not listening to my wife, I just suddenly found the answer to my nagging questions - love, no matter what shapes or forms, does magical things to people… it has special powers that move people into action…. it has the softest voice that people listens to and follows without coercion, and it has the most delicate touch that everyone longs to feel. LOVE allows everyone to be like those birds on my fence…. because love is not a feeling, but energy that fuels us to do and not to do certain things.



Picture: Thailand, 2005

tawa muna

Genie: Bibigyan kita ng isang kahilingan.
Aling Dionisia: Talaga?... gusto ko gumanda!
Genie: Buksan mo ang bote.
Aling Dionisia: At gaganda na ako?
Genie: Hindi. Babalik na lang ako sa loob.
--------- --------- ---------
Pacman: Sabi ng titser ko, bakit daw ang eggplant walang egg?
Aling Dionisia: Sabihon mo sa titser mo, na pag me egg yun, turta na yan, TURTA!
--------- --------- ---------
Reporter: Ngayong nanalo ka Manny, anong pasalubong mo kay Jinkee?
Manny: Ibon syempre. Mahilig sya dun e.
Reporter: Ibon? Anong klaseng ibon?
Manny: Yung mga lipstek,pangmik up ba? Basta mga Ibon products! Yo know…
--------- --------- ---------
Dionisia: Doc gusto ko magpalagay ng breast.
Doctor: (gulat) magpapaseksi ka na?
Dionisia: Breast sa ngepen ba. Para umayos yun ngepen ko! Deba uso yon?
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Pacquiao: Wala, talo ka na kahit anung gawin mo.
Hatton: Pagandahan na lang tayo ng nanay!
Pacquiao: Ah! Wala namang ganyanan. I mean, yo know…
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Aling Dionisia: Inday, akina nga yung seeds ko.
Inday: Bakit po magtatanim po ba kayo?
Aling Dionisia: Anung magtatanim sinasabi mo? Nasiselaw mga mata kokaya kailangan ko yung seeds.
--------- ---------
Jinky: Manny, kung magkakaanak ulet tayu anu ang magandang name?
Manny: Hmm. Eh di combine na lang name natin… “MANKY”......
------------- ------------- ----------
Aling Dionisia: Gusto ko naman pag nagka-anak kayo uli ni Jinky,di lang pangalan nyo pagsasamahin. Dapat kasali din pangalan ko.
Manny: Oo naman nay, kasu midyu mahirap yun.
Aling Dionisia: Hindi ah, may naesep na nga ako eh.
Manny: Talaga 'nay? Anu?
Aling Dionisia: DIOMANJI (dionisia-manny- jinky)
--------- --------------- --------- ---------
Pacquiao: Honey, buksan mo na yung sweets.
Jinky : Lambing mo talaga. mwah!! Nasaan ang sweets honey?
Pacquiao: Yung sweets ng ilaw. di ako makakita… ang dilim!!
--------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -----------
Si Manny Pacquiao tumakbo sa pagka-Congressman sa GenSan...
Reporter: Manny, anong masasabi mo sa peace and order sa inyong lugar sa .GenSan?
Manny: Ah, yun ba? uhmm...eh... ang masasabi kulang diyan ay....
Reporter: Ano..?
Manny: Ahh, kwan,...maraming Fish sa Gen San pero wala masyado umo-Order .
-------- -------- -------- ---------
Noodle!! Noodle!! Noodle!! Manny Pacquiao po - sa Deal or No Deal
-------- -------- --------- --------
Sa Las Vegas
Waiter: May i take your order,
Madam?Aling Dionisia: Soup
Waiter: Chicken, asparagus, noodle, fish or soup of the day?
Aling Dionisia: Soup drenks!
--------- ---------- --------- --------- ------- --------
Sa isang Birthday Party
Aling Dionisia: Blue!!! Blue the Kick!!!!
--------- ---------- ------- --------- -------- --------
You is! You is! You is! sigaw ni Aling Dionisia pagdating sa Amerika..Andito na ako sa You is!
-------- ---------- -------- --------- -------
BUNGGA TALAGA!!!!!!!!

....parenting.....

I was having dinner with my very good friends when we brushed into parenting. It’s been awhile since the last time we got together and it was a perfect time to catch up. They live in the city and we live about 30mins from them (via freeway), but we don’t see each other more often than we should. I guess this is what happens when you live in a very busy country….

Anyway, back to parenting, we (my wife and I) asked my friend if he’s ready to be a father, to have a little angel in their lives. My friend, being a funny man that he is, just answered ‘yes’ and then laughed at everything… I know he’s just being funny… but I also feel that he’s ready. How did I know he’s ready? Well… I don’t know… I just feel that he is. Did it happen to you when you know something’s going to happen and you don’t know how, when and why? Well, that’s what I felt in that moment… I just know he’s ready.

To help my good friend prepare for fatherhood I shared with him my experiences. As a father to a 12-year old girl, it’s not easy. And as I shared myself to him, I can’t help to be personal…. I talked about my father and how I hate to be like him. Of course he has his takes on this thing too, but that doesn’t matter, we all have takes on everything. I was telling him the value of spending time with your kid, and how crucial it is during the first 7 years of the kid. To be honest, I think this is what I’m missing with my daughter. I wasn’t there for her during her development years. That’s probably the reason why I’m working double time to mend those missed years, I did miss a lot!

And then I thought to myself, why I am advising my friend on how to be a good parent when I, myself, am a work in progress. I haven’t raised a perfect child… I’m still working on it. And with the rate I’m going, I don’t think I have much time… she’s 12 now. Soon she’ll be a teen and she’ll be totally different by then. That would require a different approach…. perhaps.

There are at least two stacks of books in the library about parenting, at least there’s one that explains how to be one, or is there really? I didn’t get any advice from my father on how to be a good parent, I just based it from my experience with him. Some of my friends told me to be such and such, some made sense and some didn’t, but are they right? I mean, their kids are still growing up…. And like me, they all are ‘work in progress.’

And then I thought, what about those animals in the wilds, for instance the tigers. Nobody told them to raise their cubs. They didn’t have any books or manuals on how to be a parent, and yet they’re raising their cubs perfectly. I mean, these cubs act like a tiger, move like a tiger, think like a tiger, hunt like a tiger and live like a tiger…. they are raised accordingly.

And then I thought, maybe being a parent is personal. The things that work for others may not work for me and likewise. Why? Well, basically we have different experiences, we have different values, we have different understanding, and most importantly we have different personalities. Nothing can correctly map our attributes with the hundreds of parents in this world and create a parenting equation that will suit everyone…. in a perfect world that’s probably possible… but we’re not in a perfect world.

And so I thought, to be a good parent, we have to be, at least, a good person, a good friend, a good son/daughter and a good partner. It is our everyday conduct that teaches our kids to be just like us - good individuals. It’s the word that we use that educate them how to show love… and hate, to respect…. and disrespect, to be faithful… and corrupt. It is our everyday's sharing of ourselves that defines the kind of individuals we are raising our kids…making us good or bad parent… what do you think?

Picture: Thailand 2005

Love Quote of the Day!

..... most of us try to be RIGHT for the one we love, only few try to be themselves for the RIGHT love they have......

Beware of this family (or they could be a gang)

a family of theives were caught in what they do best... STEALING! I'm posting this to warn our kababayan to be aware of their modus operandi, and to keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Always keep your bags in places where you can see them, better yet hold them at all times.


Family of thieves.


so guys, just be wary of the people around you and always have someone looking after your belongings.

Love Quote of the Day!

.... some people throw in the towel without giving a fight... that is sad and painful. But what's more painful is fighting and not giving up only to find the battle has been won by another person..... that is tragic!

Photo: Phiphi Island, Thailand 2005

Get rid of him, fast!!!

You were in a pub, enjoying your time with your friends. Suddenly a guy walked up to you. He tried starting a conversation, but you can't make out what he's saying because of the loud music, besides you're not that interested. He offered you a drink but before you said 'No' he walked out and grabbed you one. He then continued making conversation, but you're really not into him. Then he asked for your number. What will you do?

You're in party of a very dear friend. She introduced someone to you, she's really keen on matching you up with this guy. But you don't like this guy, as a matter of fact, his moves made you uncomfortable. He gave you his number. How do you get rid of him?

You're in a life and death situation when this guy came to your rescue. He wanted to continue the friendship but you're not sure of it. He gave you his number and asked you to call him. You don't want to disappoint him. What will you do?

Have you ever been in the above predicaments? If so, you don't have to worry! There's a solution how to get rid of the annoying person trying to hook you up. This is safe and confidential, and gives a 100% no-return-call guarantee. Give this number to that person and he will never call you ever again!

So try it now. Give this number and have a peaceful and relaxing day.

The number is 0419 317446.

Again, the number is: 0419 317446

..... give it and start living your most relaxing day!!!!

Note: Exclusive to australian customers.

I am not resposible for any physical harm caused by giving away this number, nor any ruined friendship.

Please use with care.






When you see the guy in the above picture, run as fast and as far as you could. He's the very reason why the above number was set-up.

… argh! Sooooo frustrating!!!!!

I don’t know what’s in the head of those people who replaced their customer reps with machines, it’s just soooo stupid, I say!

I’ll tell you what; I called my credit institution to inquire about a particular payment method. You see, I have two huge purchases and I want to pay-off the one that expires first. Right, so I called them and a machine answered me. It asked me what I wanted to do, I kept saying ‘payment option’ and it kept taking me to credit card payment; and when I said ‘option’ it kept taking me to payment schedule option. And once I’m in there, there’s no more choices, you either pay or listen to your payment schedule. There’s no option to go back to the previous menu, you will have to hang up, call them again, enter your account number again and go through the same process… bloody hell!

I called them several times and I still can’t find ways to go to the option that I wanted. Argh! And so out of frustration I said ‘I just want General Info!’ and viola! It took me to the general info option, but still there’s no payment method option, but hey! there’s an option to speak to the customer representative. At long last a human customer representative!

And so yeah I was talking to the customer representative, finally! I can't help but vent out my frustration on their voice recognition machine; that it took me almost an hour just to get through him. It probably took me a good 20mins venting out my frustration… hayyyyy. Anyway, after that I went to talk about what I really wanted. So what do I really want?

What I want is a facility to allocate my payment to a particular purchase. I’ve got two huge purchases, one is interest free and the other is not. One of them will expire soon. I told the rep that I wanted to pay Purchase A with X amount as it’ll expire soon. And then the sales rep explained to me how the payment allocation works and blah blah blah. Of course I said I want to override their automatic allocation, again the rep just repeated what he said and kept telling me that I can’t do it as the machine does it AUTOMATICALLY, but he’s happy to do it for me. That means every time I make a payment I will have to ring them, spend a good 20 mins to their machine before I speak to the rep, and then explain to the rep what I wanted, only then can re-allocate the payment for me…. geezzz… what a whole lot of trouble! And mind you, i have to do this every time i pay!!!! Argh!

Ok, enough of the credit institution’s lack of adequate business procedures, let’s talk about the machine that kills my time! Before this voice recognition machine they had the same auto answering machine, but it gives you a list of options to choose from. At least the previous one is intuitive. With the current voice recognition support, you can easily get lost, and the constant confirmation is really annoying! How can you call this customer service when it’s not actually doing the service that I want, let alone point me to the right direction? Argh!

I don’t know what these companies are thinking. If they’re going to have such a system, at least give us (customers) the option to talk to real people, and not some machines that don't understand our frustrations. I think if they don’t do something about this, they’ll definitely loose customers. I, alone, am thinking as soon I’m finished paying off the two purchases I would close my account and find a much better institution with human support, and not some machine that eats up my time… and patience!

Love Quote of the Day!

"Distance never separates the hearts that really love. Each one may not get to hold each other in their arms all through the night, but deep inside they truly know that they can't let go of each other. So be brave, be strong and have faith, for a minute of sadness is 60 seconds of happiness that you can't take back."



p.s.
as promised, may this quote keep you stronger and focused.

Love Quote of the Day!

".....it doesn't matter how many hands we had held hands with.... our hands will keep going back to the one with perfect fit. It doesn't matter however big or small the other hands are.... nor how rough and hard they feel. What matter is the homely feeling that sparks when we held hands with our perfect fit."



Photo: Dugong (Sydney Aquarium 2010)

Secret Kainan

it was one of those days when there's nothing interesting on tv (tele), i was jumping from one channel to another and still i couldn't find anything to watch. I'm not really looking for something in particular, just something that interests me.... like cartoons, sci-fi action movie, kung-fu, action-thriller... but sadly, none of these was on. It's all arts, drama, news and sports (no basketball nor tennis)!

And so i grabbed my notebook and surfed the internet and found something worth sharing - secret kaninan in the city of manila. I'll definitely try them the next time i'm in manila.... but you guys can go ahead before me... and you might wanna share with me how'd you find them.

So guys, here you go.... Mga Secret Kainan!

1. PAT-PAT’S KANSI HOUSE
8809 Sampaloc Street, San Antonio, Makati City

2. ATE FE’S KITCHEN
#87 Maginhawa St., UP Village, Quezon City

3. MATY’S
0395 Quirino Avenue, Dongalo, Paranaque

4. ALING SOSING’S
5819 Zobel Roxas, Makati City

5. REYMON EATERY
950 United Nations Avenue, Manila, right across the Western Police District

6. CARUZ EATERY
220 Hillcrest Drive, Oranbo, Pasig City

7. TAPSILOGAN NI MAMA LENG
Unit 7, University of the East Building, S. H. Loyola St., Barangay 404, Zone 0141, Sampaloc, Manila

8. ASILO COLEGIO DE SAN VICENTE DE PAUL FOOD TRAINING CENTER
1148 United Nations Ave., Paco, Manila

9. DANNYLICIOUS
176-C Kalantiaw St., Project 4, Quezon City

10. ANGELI’S CUISINE
#12 Tiendas del Parian, Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila (right across Chapel of the Franciscan Venerable Third Order)


and here's a plus, i also found a map for you guys....

Map

Useless Fact!

Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark (hence, the light bulb).

Love Quote of the Day!

"True love doesn't care about the past..... it is concern about its place in the future."


Photo: Blue Mt. Australia (sydney, 2010)

Love Quote of the Day!

"it's not just LOVE that makes you do magical things.... hate, jealousy, madness... just about anything that directly affects our emotion.... But it's only LOVE that does miracle.. that's why we call our partner - ANGEL"

How do you like your fish?

We've just been to the Easter show, this is one of the stuffs on show - a fish made of apples... ey yum! Should i make an apple juice out of this fish, or deep fry it?

Weird Find!

Guess what i found? well... i just found one of the earliest washing machines. You wouldn't believe how it looks like... so i'm giving you a proof.

Love Quote of the Day

"... the difference between our enemies and our partners is, with our enemies, we see eye to eye. with our partners, we see heart to heart..... sometimes lips to lips (lolz)"

Anyone would like to win a trip to the World Cup?

.. as i'm not entitled to join this competition, i'm offering this to anyone who wants to have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the upcoming WorldCup in South Africa. Details below:

We're offering the football fantasy of a lifetime: the chance to become the Football Insiders in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM.
Our winners will be our eyes and ears on the ground through the host nation, giving viewers back home a unique, behind-the-scenes-look at the 2010 FIFA World Cup from the fans' perspective.
The adventure starts with the Qantas Socceroos farewell game vs New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then you're off to South Africa!
Embedded with other Socceroos fans deep inside the Green and Gold Army, - one of the most colourful and entertaining supporter groups in South Africa at the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. The winner will be fully kitted out with great Sony technology and will be filing video and text reports from the biggest sporting event on the planet, as well as photos and plenty more for The World Game's World Cup 2010 edition website
This money can't buy prize is valued at more than $34,325.00, including flights, accommodation and an equipment package from Sony including a laptop computer, video camera and mobile phone, plus an Optus pre-paid mobile plan and expense account.

For further information please click this link: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/promotion/optusworldcup/971055/Football-Insider-Competition

ha ha!

When to Stop Trying……

i wrote this a year ago.... and still want to share to yo'll.....


When to Stop Trying……

My wife scheduled me for an eye surgery at 6.00am in North Sydney. Being miles away from that suburb took us to wake up very early on that day, which we don’t normally do. I don’t know about other people, but when I don’t get enough sleep I’m grumpy the whole day. Anyway, it goes without saying, it wasn’t a good morning.

Then we have to walk few minutes to the bus station on a cold, eerie morning, I thought - any moment vampires could be jumping on us – thank God we got to the bus station without missing a piece.

From the bus station it’ll take about a good 5mins to the train station, and not being in my good self you’d know how long that 5mins felt… it was boring long!

Luckily when we got to the train station there’s a train waiting for us. We quickly jumped on the train, looked for a nice and comfy spots and settled there. My wife really knows how to start a conversation; she filled our trip with lots of stories that made it less boring.

Oh and by the way, the other reasons I wasn’t in my good self because I’m pretty scared of the surgery. Who wouldn’t? It’s my eyes that we’re talking about here and it’s my 2nd major surgery (The first was my 'tuli').

Anyway, we eventually got to the hospital. And just like any other hospitals, even though you have a scheduled time, you still have to wait…. and so we waited.

While I was waiting, I overheard a couple talking about having a baby. Well, they both wanted to have a baby but I feel the woman is more worried because of their commitments. And I heard the woman said, ‘Maybe it’s not our time yet, let’s just wait and stop thinking about it. If we’re meant to have a child, it’ll come in its own perfect time.’

And then I thought, if we wanted something, do we really wait for our perfect time? When is the prefect time? When we’re old and not able to enjoy it? When we’re young and snowed with commitments? Who gets to say… ‘ok, now, it’s your turn’? Do we just let fate decide for something we really want? Do we stop trying?

I have a very good friend and classmate that’s two-month pregnant. They have been waiting for that baby. They were not successful at first, and that was the most painful experience her family had…. I could almost cry reading her story. Even so, they didn’t wait, they kept trying because they think there, here and now is the right time to have an angel in their family. And look at her now, she’s pregnant and expecting. If she would have waited and stopped trying, would she be this happy?

I remembered some of my friends in manila. I didn’t hear them wanting for some kids, but it’s like they’re giving birth every year. Does that mean it’s always their time to have kids? But they couldn’t even support themselves let alone a child. What are the real parameters in having a baby? Our financial and emotional conditions, are they ones of the ‘X’s in the equation?

If women in their 60s pray day and night for a baby, will they eventually have one although their biological clock is ticking like crazy? Is science correct when it say’s women stop producing baby at such and such age? Were they destined not to have baby early in their lives? Does this mean they waited too long? If so, when do we stop waiting?

These thoughts kept running around my head when the nurse called my name. Oh yeah, it’s my turn now and soon I’ll have a good vision that I always wanted. Did I let this happen by itself? Well, my wife booked me for this surgery, we both made an effort to get up early in the morning and we’re not morning people, plus the walk to the bus station is as scary as the first part of Michael Jackson’s thriller video.
I thought I stopped trying for a better vision… but I didn’t. My wife said that I just took a rest and then started trying again…. She always sees me constantly looking, searching, wanting for a better vision….. and now I have it.

Flash! Pluto can now be seen with the naked eyes

.. guys, pluto can now be seen with the naked eyes.... see proof below:

... pain that won't go away ...

.... i was in deep sleep when i felt a cold hand on my arms and a silent weeping. i opened my eyes and saw my wife, there, next to me, crying in pain. She's wincing as she slowly said.... 'mahal.. sobrang sakit!'. At first i couldn't make out what she's trying to say, when i saw tears flowing from her cheeks i understood... she's in great pain.

i held her and asked her what was wrong. she said something about her tummy. i tried to comfort her, gave her anything to eat, but then nothing seemed to work, the pain won't go away.

I asked her if she'd like me to take her to the hospital. She said that they (hospitals) will just make us wait and try to pacify our minds as they sent us back home with loads of prescriptions and unrelieved pain. I had terrible experience with some hospitals in the philippines and i understand where my wife is coming from, and so i decided to stay awake and be with her as I pray for the pain to go away. I even asked the ever powerful Lord to take the pain away from my wife and give it to me. But time passed and she's still crying in pain.

When i couldn't anymore contain my worries and fear, i begged that i take her to the closest hospital. The pain must be too much that all she could do is follow. And so i changed my clothes, wrapped her in her robe and grabbed the keys. At 5am we're on the freeway to the nearest hospital.

We went directly to the emergency entrance. Although it says 'emergency', no one seemed to take us seriously. I know they can see my in-pain wife, she can barely walk for pete's sake! I almost lost my tempter. But then i thought to myself, if i got out of control there, that'll delay us and will prolong the suffering of my wife, and so i calmed down and gave in to the nurses.

We waited 30minutes before someone attended to us, talk about emergency! They asked my wife and myself of so many things about my wife's condition. I could see my wife's difficulty in speaking because of the pain, and so i suggested if they can give us anything to fix the pain. She was given something, but that only numbs her tongue, the pain is still there. They asked us to wait for another minute for an ecg, after the ecg they sent us out and asked us to wait for the blood test. After the blood test they made her rest in a gurney and stitched her to a dextrose, we are then asked for a urine test.

It was 10am when finally the doctor came and talked to us. He asked a more detailed questions and asked us to have my wife's abdomen xray-ed. Again we waited, as we wait the pain is becoming intense. And so i asked the doctor if they could help my wife, if they can't fix the pain, at least give us something to lessen it to a point bearable. And she was given a morphine. And she fell asleep.

While she's asleep, a nurse walked up to us and asked us to move to the chairs as the gurney's for examination not for resting. I was hesitant to move my wife as it's her first nap since 10pm last night. But the nurse had lowered the bed and woke up my wife, there's nothing i could but assist my wife to the closest chair and allowed her to continue her rest.

After few minutes the doctor came back only to tell us that nothing is wrong with my wife, and that she needs to have an ultrasound. But since it was sunday, and they don't do ultrasound on sunday, we'll have to wait for the next day, that is if we can find a pathology that would take us, normally for exams like this the waiting time is 4 weeks, minimum.

The doctor says there's nothing he can do without that test. And so he sent us home, prescribed us with some medications to ease the pain, and like what my wife said, the unrelieved pain. Well, at least it's not as intense as before and she's a bit drowsy.... she can get some uninterrupted rest at home.

Now she's next to me, resting, but in a frown because of that same pain that kept her up all night. I don't know what to do but wait for the pain to finally subsides... neither she can't do anything... the doctor has washed his hand and sent us home. And as i write this i can't help thinking, are our hospitals equipped with the right people? Well, the nurse took awhile to find the right vein to get some blood from my wife, they did a whole lot of exams, the doctor too asked us for some exams.... and yet the pain that we brought there for them to fix is still with my wife to bear...... or am i just soaking into the drama because i haven't had enough rest?

How many people out there had the same experience?

How many lives were saved? How many were lost?

If lost, how?

Before i took her to the hospital she said that they will just make us wait and send us home with prescriptions and pain that won't go away. She was right. But had i obeyed her, she would still be crying in pain now..... instead of resting.

Cool!

... just sharing one of my cool videos find...

Dead fantasy

First

I normally just read blogs of other people. But then one time i thought, what would it be like to share my thoughts to other people... or the world... I know I would get different reactions... some might even loathe me. And so i asked myself, will that ever affect who i am and my family? will that somehow have an impact on my personal judgments? will i ever consider the idea of other people towards me in my personal planning and decision making?

there's nothing wrong in sharing a piece of ourselves to the world.....what would be wrong though is to use other people to achieve our personal goals....

so here you go.... my first contribution to the blog world...... come and join me as i get to know the other side of me.

rapido!