Homeless, but not Worthless

I noticed that this TV campaign by Purina and PAWS or Philippine Animal Welfare Society no longer aired these days. I'm not promoting Purina products here but I'm really after the meaning of the video it's trying to convey. But I would like also to mention that Purina is one of the supporters of PAWS, a non progit organization that take care of the welfare of animals being abused or abandon. Purina provides free dog and cats food for the PAWS.

Sadly, this is a typical scene here in the Philippines that some people are so used to it they don't even care.

Dog version



Cat version

A Hero Dog, (and a best friend)

Please take a moment to watch this amazing and moving video. It just 52 seconds. A stray dog risk his own life to help saved another stray dog after being hit by car on a highway in Chile. Just look how the dog drags the body of his injured friend into safety. It's simply amazing. Dogs are far more loving and caring than we would have all thought!

"All dogs go to heaven because dogs are naturally good and loyal and kind." -Whippet Angel

Sudoku

I myself, rarely grab newspapers or magazines without sudoku puzzle games on it. And it's always great to see that Filipinos too are slowly gaining ground in this ultimate logic game. Journal.com.ph has this reports that two Pinoy students, John Robert Valcos, 17, of St. Mary’s College in Baliwag, Bulacan and Sarah Jane Cua, 14, a second-year high school student of Pangasinan Universal Institute in Dagupan City, wins major international sudoku competetion in Thailand, besting over 100 participants from six different countries. If you are not aware, a grandmaster title is also being conferred to a master sudoku player such as GM Sarah Jane Cua who is just 14. Hope to see more Filipino sudoku champion and grandmasters in the future.

I was at the Battle of Waterloo

I played a great historical simulation game last night and I was up till midnight. I was browsing for any historical site about Napoleonic era (since I'm a bona fide history buff) when I suddenly come across with this site, the BBC History that feature a mini simulation games about this historic battle.

I'm addicted to historical simulation games and I find The Battle of Waterloo a truly great and fun game indeed specially for anyone who has great interest in history but not really into gaming. If you like history and want to try your strategic and tactical skills in the battle field, I suggest you should try this one. It's a mini game on epic proportion. Good luck!

Bad societies creates good poets

I have always this false notion for most of my life that poets, writers and artists are the ones responsible for shaping and influencing the societies. But this notion has since long been gone and I'm now totally convinced that it's just the other way round. Now this article solidify that beliefs. Below are excerpts from BBC NEWS

"Young poets in Kabul, such as Muhammad Numan Dost, tell of mourning children lying on the graves of their dead parents after a suicide bomber "in exchange for heaven, cut to pieces a few lives now lying on the street"

"...It is powerful language, and reflects a strong poetic tradition in a culture that is evolving with the times.

"Poets are inspired by what is happening in the outside world. Their imagination absorbs it," says veteran Pashto poet in Peshawar, Rahmat Shah Sael.

"That is why Pashto poets are writing about violence in one way or another."

Poetry has always been a powerful vehicle for expressing and preserving the national identity and cultural values of Pashtuns."

Filipino couple left Japan, 13 year old daughter

Noriko, the 13 year old Japanese girl born to Filipino parents

Undocumented Filipino man and his wife, Arlan and Sarah Calderon left Japan yesterday under a deportation order, leaving their 13-year-old daughter behind Noriko, who was born in Japan and currently attends a junior high school in Warabi. Noriko was allowed to remain but his parents must go. But what moved me most about this incident was on how Arlan's coworkers have rallied around him and more than 19,000 signatures have been collected on a petition calling on the Ministry of Justice to give him special permission to stay in Japan. But to no avail.

The following are excerpts from the Japan Times online

NARITA, Chiba Pref...Earlier Monday, relatives and colleagues of Arlan Calderon, 36, and his 38-year-old wife, Sarah, gathered at the family's home in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, to bid the couple farewell. "We will be waiting for you (to come back)," said construction worker Yasuhisa Nagashima, one of Calderon's colleagues, adding that this is not "goodbye." While expressing sadness, Calderon said: "I want to thank everyone. Not just the people of Warabi, but those across the nation for supporting me and my family's cause. "Noriko (their daughter) is here, so I hope we can return to her side as soon as possible."

The family had long been seeking special permission for residence for the entire family. But while the Justice Ministry granted their daughter special permission to stay, it refused to extend the permission to the parents.

Here's the irony. There are ten of thousands of Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and even Koreans live illegally in the Philippines for years. Yet the Philippines remains one of the lowest record of deportation cases against illegal aliens (not to mention the "lagay") in Asia. Truth is I grew up in an area in my hometown where a small Indian community (we called them Bombay and 5-6), resides and most of them stays illegally. Ask any Filipinos on why they think we are allowing these "illegal" immigrants to stay in the country, they would just shrugged off their shoulders and replied that they too have sons, daughters, parents and other relatives living either legally or illegally in other countries so why bother to kick this people out of the Philippines who are also seeking better lives like we do? It's all about the sense of "utang na loob" which other nationality may find it hard to understand.

Random Facts

As one may noticed by now, I no longer update this blog in a regular basis since most of my time for blogging were all focused on my other blog, the ChessHeroes blog where yours truly is much better received. Nonetheless it doesn't mean that I won't spend my time to get myself back on earth and be "regular" citizen again. Okay, I know it sounds a bit like an attention hungry teenager but it was such a hit on the web that yours truly couldn't help but try my hands on this one.

- I don't have great passion for cars and motor bikes though we both own one.
- I can't swim.
- usually very awkward in manners but developing some kind of superiority complex.
- A frustrated vegetarian.
- I'm working for nearly a decade now but still haven't save anything for my future.
- Wear eye glasses since 12.
- Rarely watch TV these days. Discovery, History, National Geographic channels et al are exceptions, though.
- I was really not a big follower of Eraserheads though their style of music really impressed me in comparison with other Filipino rock band in history.
- Addicted to chilis
- and so everything that is hot and spicy.
- If I found myself jobless in the next few years, I'll be thinking of running for a councilor in my hometown. If my dad, grandpa and my three uncles made it, so why can't I?
- I do not like politics in general. Hope to keep my job for life or start my own B.
- I hit a girl in the face when I was 5 or 6 which made her nose bled.
- Have an abnormal love for dogs
- Experiencing an all time high when it comes to self fashion consciousness.
- suffering from some sort of chronic back pains and sleep disorder.
- still using an old model cellphone.
- I don't want to get old.

The Neatest Little Thing on Earth

I have always thought that Bach's prelude in c major from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 as the neatest little thing on earth. It's just such a perfect little piece of music. I like it's heavenly pace, whether the interpretation were either fast or slow. It doesn't matter. Enjoy!

Attention all jobless Filipino chess players

Yesterday I was browsing the Manila Bulletin Classified Ads at our office (yes, eight out of ten employees are looking for new jobs somewhere else during working hours!). Are good chess players (I'm one of them ;) automatically qualified for this job? Better prepare your resume now folks:D


(glass chess pieces at the foreground)

Good positions do not win games, good moves do!

Acquire Asia Pacific Philippines, Inc. provides a winning combination! Business strategies are anchored and moved by strong and passionate minds. That is why hiring the right people is always our challenge.

Be a player and not just a piece. You definitely have a place on the board. Make that move today and be the grandmaster tomorrow!

APPLY NOW!

Now how cool was that? ;)

Alas! But these are the future leaders of my country

Here's a preview of some of the future leaders of my country I love and served. I've already seen this on TV but you can still catch up the full stories at ABS-CBNNEWS.com

"The group of naked men, reportedly numbering 24 and reportedly all belonging to APO fraternity, ran through the University Belt area carrying placards. They were reportedly protesting a host of issues, among them the rising cost of tuitions in universities...

"Authorities reportedly let the naked runners continue with their protest while curious male and female onlookers reportedly had fun watching and taking pictures with their cameras and mobile phones."

This is unreal. This can't be happening in my country. Now I shouted out, what on earth do these young, "educated" men think they are doing in the streets of University Belt in Manila? Why they have to parade in the streets with their #$%^* all bare for everyone to see? Can somebody explained to me a more logical and reasonable explanation to this? I'm confused. If they have any problems with their school superiors, they should do that horrendous acts inside their own campus and not in the streets of 10 million plus populace of the city! Could you believe it, thousands of shocked children and women (some of them screaming in wild frenzy, their boyfriends I presume, oh boy) witness first hand on what could be the worst manifestation of the so called "Freedom of Expression" in recent years. For the authorities why are you allowing this to happen? I still strongly believed in God so making crude remarks prevents me from saying anymore against this barbaric acts.

Sorry for my sudden outburst, you see this blog is pretty tame but such acts should not be tolerated and disciplinary actions they rightfully deserved must be impose!

The Atheist Goldfish

There were once two goldfish living in a glass bowl for many years now. One day the other fish asked his companion “do you really believe that there is such thing as human? If you ask me, I don’t believe they exist” “Why do you doubt?” said his companion then suddenly flakes of fish food dropped from above and they begun to munch from it.

What vegetarian beleivers didn't even know :)

I’m now beginning to believe that human were typically not a meat eater from the very start. If you will closely examine the structure and formation of our teeth, it is designed specifically for chewing soft stuffs like fruits and vegetables and not really designed for gnawing meat. In the book of Genesis, as everyone might still remember; God said to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden that they can eat as much fruits as they want. It was never mention that He allows the couple to hunt animal for food. Only when they were expelled from the Garden of Eden, where life is hard of course, that they finally develop a taste for flesh.

Quite worthy of another look for vegetarian believers :)

Quote of the year

"And to tell the honest truth, I was never able to see through him. I was never able to discover what he was really after.... The only thing I know is that he avoided lavish social gatherings; after his work, he just go straight home and writes something on his computer till midnight...he always wanted to be alone." --My mother told a close family friend of ours, the Mariano's when I again, politely decline another invitation to join the Flores de Mayo.

The Agony of Defeat

I felt like dying today when I lost my game at MCC (Metropolitan Chess Club) in the final Round of the MCC Chess Open Tournament. The pain was simply unbearable. I should have won that game until I blunder! I don't know. That 5th round loss will surely deprive me of sanity for a number of days. Okay, I just stretched out my hand to my opponent in the traditional gesture of accepting defeat even whispering something under my breath like "that will do it, great job" while wearing a faint smile in my face but behind those kind gesture is a grieving man. Oh, the man's ego.

Three months anniversary at the office: a short report

This is my first taste of government office work. Huh! The carelessness, the lazy happy-go-lucky ways of the people here are beyond belief; you have trouble getting the most trifling things! I see nothing here of the corporate gaiety that my colleague over there in Ortigas talks about so much, but on the contrary, all kinds of insipid airs and graces, a sordid carelessness. But the place is beautiful in spite of it.

Remembrance of a young lady who depart

Since then I have lost sight of her I cannot say I was particularly interested. No she was not an attractive lady, with those small, narrowed, peering eves of her and, in fact, she was always a bit unsociable.

And then I remember well that she always preferred to wear a black leather shoes, a bit of respectability she had brought back from Cebu where she was born before moving to Manila; but such a shoes - you were afraid you might tear its brim off if you took hold of it. I have often puzzled over her exact age, but I cannot find out, for instance, whether she was old enough to become a voters.

But she was certainly obliging, and physically fit, though she did not look it. That's all I know of her.

Memories of FEU IARFA's "Azutea"

Before beginning to write about various other things, I want to tell you that the part of your email describing FEU by late afternoon in our usual hang out eight years ago touched me very much. Because it brought back to me the memory of when I too saw “the fading of one's youth over art” and was struck by that very peculiar effect with the trees and characteristic golden rays of sun which gave the full value to the delicacy of that lovely spot in the campus. That little dot rays on the floor and that toneful greens are the key to the harmony of the spot. If Paul McCartney has a "very strange" in his Penny Lane and John Lennon's "Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about" in his Strawberry Fields,surely IARFA has it's own and we called it Azutea"

Oh how I miss the place! I wonder how it looks like now?

Photos from last months outing with my officemate at Binalute Islet Real Quezon.

Just missing my job

I'm going to miss this one...



How's everyone? I haven't updated my blog for quite sometime now but the truth is, there's not much epic adventures thats happening to me. As everyone may know by now, I was no longer working from the company I'm working with and I'm busy looking for a new company to work with. Of course, I could find "other" jobs but I will stick of being a CAD Operator since it's the only kind of job that I believe I can perform well. In fact I like AutoCad softwares! Hope I can find a new job sooner than later.

till then...:)

Animal Artist

The most amazing animal video I've ever seen. Watch the full video HERE. Elephants are far more intelligent than I would have thought! This is quite amazing and moving! I'm lost for words!

In response to the Sky Angel Cowboy

A friend of mine shared me this video link over youtube a couple of days ago. Just check out the video HERE first before we go any further. I have to admit that at first I thought it was but a hoax or scripted. We all know that America is already on the climax of the presidential election and we knew how the political advertisers used the same kind of strategy in their campaign to get the attention of the voters. But upon careful review of the video, I was finally convince that the boy I think (I hope?) is sincere with his words. If there is some doubt about the sincerity of the video, no one can't blame these people. Unlike politicians and businessman, their doing it not for themselves but for God and ourselves. In defense of the video, I say, It could be one of those "acceptable lies" if the video was proven to be scripted.

Anyway, I posted here a beautiful poem by Laura Gilpin. The theme of the poem was amazingly comparable with those Logan's account of his beloved calf. Enjoy and be inspired:


THE TWO HEADED-CALF


Tommorow when the farm boys find this
freak of nature, they will wrap his body
in newspaper and carry him to the museum.

But tonight he is alive and in the north
field with his mother. It is a perfect
summer evening: the moon rising over
the orchard, the wind in the grass. And
as he stares into the sky, there are
twice as many stars as usual.


thanks a lot again to Ulan for sharing this wonderful and very inspiring video from the Sky Angle Cowboy. (Sniff) :D

God bless.

On Charice and Arnel (part 1)

Before I saw her jaw dropping, hair raising performance on Youtube, I never heard anything about this fourteen year old girl Filipina teen sensation named Charice Pempengco that's creating a huge buzz. Being a complete idiot in the local entertainment scene, I didn't know then that she has already made a name for herself by winning singing contest, TV appearances and performances and a finalist from just concluded Little Big Star. I was not that really interested with local music unless the artist(s) had already contributed a great deal internationally like Lea Salonga, Freddie Aguilar, et al. Also R & B was not really my favorite of genre, but anyway, since Charice was just a fourteen year old girl, much being a Filipina and the huge following she received from youtube viewers that earned her the nicknamed "youtube sensation" I think it would be just proper from a humble blogger like me to pay my respect and admiration from a young music wizard that captured the imagination of the world (as of January 20, since the first video appeared on youtube, two and a half million viewers had already watch her performance. A modern day phenomenal.)Here's the two videos of Charice. The first was in Korea, on Star King, a very popular Korean TV show. This performance showed Charice at her best, with her remarkable voice, electric stage presence and winsome personality; the second one, this time from the Ellen DeGeneres, also one of Americas most popular TV show. Pempengco's performance on Star King on its November 28, 2007 episode, in which Ellen showed web videos of different people she would like to have as guests on the show. After showing the video, DeGeneres did a standing ovation and imitated Pempengco's gestures. She later personally invited the young singer to perform on the show.

Now enjoy this "Fantasy like performance" and let's all have a cheers!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Ms. Charice Pempengco...



from The Ellen deGeneres show

A City Above the Clouds

No, it's "fog in the glens of Makati"

But it's beautiful isn't it?

Untitled

What I wanted to say to you again is this: I have no great plans for the future; if momentarily I feel rising within me the desire for a life without care, for prosperity, each time I go fondly back to the trouble and the cares, to a life full of hardship, and think, It is better this way; I learn more from it, it does not degrade me, this is not the road on which one perishes. I am absorbed in my work and I have confidence enough

Simply unstoppable

Asia's best performing currency in 2007 is now 40.50 against $1

PESO

Philippine Peso finally breech the 40 peso barrier at 40.87 yesterday against the dollar but closes at 41.02.

Got to be optimistic...

Hitler Singing Sex Bomb!!!

I was browsing YouTube for Hitler's speeches when I suddenly stumbled upon this crazy videos. Please excuse this post. I always tried to be serious in my blog but I just simply couldn't help posting it here so everyone can have a laugh with me. It's sheer genius! Enjoy!

My Ten Holiday Wish List (Updates)

(Last year I've posted the same item though there's hardly a change from the original post, there are few that I believe should be in the list of top ten things I would love everyone to think and pay attention about.)

I could list down over a hundred wishes but I will only mention ten which can quite easily done.

1.to members of the opposition, media personnel, militant groups and political activist: if you don’t have any good to say about your country and fellow men or inspire people to be a law abiding citizens, please keep quite.

2.To all dog owners and breeders: if you will keep dogs only to let them suffer in lease or lock them up in cage or use them for breeding just for profit, please leave the dogs alone.

3.To whom it may concern: please visit Aranque market at Quiapo one time and see for yourself the appalling conditions of animals being abused for profit.

4.To MTRCB board of directors. Please keep a tight watch on everything that is being shown at MTV, channel V, Mix channel, especially foreign shows if you care about the future of the young people.

5.To ALL pop, rock, metal, hip hop, boy band, celebrity, movie, sport superstars here and overseas : Please use your popularity to encourage other people especially the young ones the value of humility and please don’t fight and curse one another on and off the camera. Please stop brainwashing them that sex and orgies are the most important thing to be happy.

6.To our politicians: corruption cannot be eradicate but please give something (in return) a small portion of your wealth to the poor.

7.To religious leaders: Please stop teaching your members to praise the Lord too much but teach them how to make the Lord praise them.

8.To Willie Revillame: Please stop making a fool of the Filipino people in front of the world by making them cry, sing and dance so they can get a few dollars. Please take pity on them.

9.To our present and future presidents: may God blessed you and help you in your desire to make our country a first world nation and eliminate poverty within sixteen years.

10.And finally, to ourselves. Let us not blame too much other people for the bad things that is happening to us (though there are one or two exceptions). And most of all, never ever loose your sense of humor :D

there you guys. I know "I'm not the only one. . . I hope someday you'll join us"

Have a blessed and meaningful New Year to all!

After the SONA

To our president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, may God bless you in your desire to help our country alleviate poverty and make my country a first world nation within 15 years...

Ode To My Books

"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience, this is the ideal life."--Mark Twain

I have a considerable collections of books in my room. From classical to modern, I have some copies of them. Homer, Livy, Dickens, Twain, Tolstoy, Gogol, Kafka, etc, they are my mentor and teachers. They opened a new world for me and taught me that the greatest thing that can happen to any men is not be obsessed with personal ambition and glory but to lead an honest, quiet, and God fearing life. Though now I haven't the energy and lately, time to read them all, nonetheless their very presence in my room feels me with proud and contentment. But now, there are times that I do not want to be surrounded with them any more not because I totally giving up reading altogether but just want to get away from this uncomfortable feeling about the things that constantly reminds me of my isolated past during the time with my companionship with books but also this strong feeling inside me to give and share whatever excesses I have with anyone, especially children that have passions for reading and learning but cannot afford to buy one. Now the second wave of my books for donation will be transferred at my old elementary school here in our town of Tanay PJMES formerly known as Tanay Elementary School. Now I will say again my deepest gratitude for my best friends before we part. I will never ever forget all the things you taught me.

I remember during my days in college, I would even pass some hungry nights just to save 20 pesos a day so by the end of the week I'll have a copy or two of new books to cuddle with when I return home. I do not care about clothes or comfortable living. all I want is good books and I'm in heaven. As most of my fellow young men of my age were busy flirting with girls or playing arcade games after school (before the advent of internet cafe) I was there on our boarding house, deep in conversation with Mark Twain, trying to invest whatever wisdom they can share with me. I have to admit that despite the technological revolutions that captured the imagination of the Filipinos like cellphones and friendster, I still find some satisfaction browsing the works of the great masters.

Though more than half of my book collection will be gone in my room in few days time, nonetheless I will still keep with me some of the books that still of value with me for references purposes, History ones for instance, and most importantly books that brings fond memories like books I received as gifts from my friends who share the same passion as me for reading and learning. I will keep and treasure them for the rest of my life...

The Pancake Syrup

yesterday afternoon when I returned home and preparing myself a cup of coffee, I was horrified to find that I ran out of sugar. Even worst, there was a heavy downpour that made it impossible for me to dash to the nearest sari-sari sore that is two blocks way to grab some sugar. Panicking I won't have my late afternoon coffee, I almost thrown everything that is in store inside our refrigerators to find for any substitute to sweetened my coffee like condensed milk etc. Then suddenly my eye caught this golden syrup that is remain untouched for what? half a year? Yup its a half emptied plastic bottle of pancake syrup! Suddenly the world begin to brightens around me despite the heavy downpour outside. I took the pancake syrup out of its dull resting place, open its cap and gave it a through smell like a true connoisseur. Grinning with satisfaction, I poured two table spoon of the syrup unto my coffee cup. Finally, the moment of truth has arrived, I tasted it. And guess what it did taste great!

So the Mr Bean in me is still pretty much alive.