Feeling all alone, but not too long from now

Posted on July 25, 2008
Filed Under LIFE, Parenting and Family, Travel | Viewed 32 times | Leave a Comment

It has been 1 year and 9 months ago that I have taken early retirement, and almost 2 years ago that I had my last foreign trip. So used was I to traveling alone the past 15 years such that traveling to Singapore, Bangkok and Hongkong, the places where I stopped by for in-transit were like what my friends in Beijing called, a “trip to Cubao”. Something like traveling was just routine.

This morning, I left for Dagupan City, then Baguio City (details to be given later) for the first time—alone. This morning was the first trip outside Manila that I took without any family member with me. And it dawned on me that suddenly, I WAS ALONE. Suddenly, I felt the same emptiness in my heart, the very same feeling that I had 18 years ago, on my first official trip to Pakistan. I was a naïve traveler at that time, when it would cost a fortune to make a 3-minute call to family. I was not ever sure if the Internet had already existed then.

TIPS for UPCAT Takers (ACET, too)

Posted on July 24, 2008
Filed Under School, ACET, UPCAT, etc | Viewed 133 times | 7 Comments

Hear ye, hear ye—all you 70,000 high school seniors who are taking the UPCAT come 2 and 3 August.

Here are some TIPS for UPCAT takers that I have gathered from my 3 sons who took the UPCAT (ACET, too), and passed: Angelo (in 1997), BA in 2005, and Vince (in 2007). I will just write them randomly, as was told to me by them boys who are now very busy with their own activities, Angelo with his successful online business and BA and Vince with their classes at UP (BA—BS Applied Physics and Vince—BS Business Admin).

Abducted 3-year old boy, Matthew David Samudio FOUND!

Posted on July 24, 2008
Filed Under Blogging and the Internet, Campaign for Peace amd Governance, Faith, Good Deeds | Viewed 140 times | 7 Comments

UPDATE: 25 JULY 2008

From ABS CBN News Hotline

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Matthew David Samudio, the three-year-old boy who was reportedly abducted inside a video arcade at a mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, was reunited with his family Thursday.

A security guard found the boy walking around the Sta. Rosa Commercial Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The Bright Side in “The Dark Knight”, a Batman Movie

Posted on July 22, 2008
Filed Under Campaign for Peace amd Governance, Fun, Good Deeds, LIFE, Reviews | Viewed 110 times | 7 Comments

It is not just a Batman movie, not just an action movie or a thriller—there are many truths in life that could be found in this movie.

Knights in shining armour, give hope to the majority, though sometimes these knights are far from perfect (in the case of Harvey Dent the District Attorney, even if he became a villain in the end).

On the other hand there are unsung heroes that remain in the dark because they do not befit the image of what a hero should be (in the case of Batman).
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Spoiler Alert: Contrary to what The Joker believed, there is still a lot of goodness in this world. The Joker planted explosives in two ferries, ...

Another magical day with the babies at CRIBS

Posted on July 20, 2008
Filed Under CRIBS, Good Deeds, LIFE | Viewed 151 times | 11 Comments

Babies are a link between angels and man.—Author Unknown

A baby is born with a need to be loved—and never outgrows it.Frank A. Clark

Another Sunday, another day we always look forward to. For us, Sunday morning is CRIBS Day. We see to it that we are there by 9 am to feed the babies their snacks of lugaw or porridge. Then, time for play.

Pinoy Moms Network is Back

Posted on July 20, 2008
Filed Under Parenting and Family | Viewed 67 times | 4 Comments

Yes, we are back! Pinoy Moms Network is back, and so with the other sub-domains of PMN, after a few months of hibernation, something to do with server, I heard. Let us not talk about technicalities. Let us talk about the joy of being mothers. Let’s talk about the many good things that affect our lives as mothers. Let’s share with each other our parenting styles, how we cope with the so many concerns that come our way, be they the concerns of first-time mothers, the wonderful experiences of toddlers, the continuing challenges of teenagers, and now, how we cope with the economic crunch.

A beautiful story of a father’s love

Posted on July 17, 2008
Filed Under Faith, Friends, LIFE, Parenting and Family | Viewed 648 times | 28 Comments

On 5 July, Sunday, Paulynn Chang walked down the aisle to wed her beloved Paul Afable. All throughout the emotional affair, Paulynn’s father, Paul Chang (whom I fondly called Mang Paul) was sorely missed. He passed away on 19 October 2006, more than 1-1/2 years ago.

The highlight of the dinner reception was the reading of Mang Paul’s letter for Paulynn, by her mother, Jessieline. It was a letter written 10 days before he passed away, to be opened and read on Paulynn’s wedding day. Jessieline has given me permission to post Mang Paul’s letter in full, to share with you, dear Readers a letter so full of love, a love beyond death.

Dedma

Posted on July 15, 2008
Filed Under Faith, LIFE, Thoughts | Viewed 238 times | 16 Comments

Hubby came early from work, and we had the chance to go to church together at the Pentecost Church in Loyola Heights. I always like going to church there, as the priests are very dynamic. This time, there was a priest who I did not know, who from the start of the Mass asked, “What kind of relationship are you in?” He promised to repeat the same question during the sermon.

“Who of you have experienced how it is to be in love?” He asked those who have a yes answer to raise his or her right hand. I raised mine, and looked if hubby raised his. He did.

UAAP Season 71: Ateneo Beats UE, 64-58

Posted on July 13, 2008
Filed Under Sports, UAAP, etc | Viewed 202 times | Leave a Comment

Three hours before the Ateneo-UE games at the Philsports Arena, I had a photo shot with who would turn out to be today’s Best Player of the Game—Rabah al-Hussaini. Today he scored 18 points, and grabbed 17 rebounds.

It was one of the best games so far this season. On half time, UE grabbed the lead from the Ateneo, leading by 2 points. At the end of the third quarter, it was a tie, and up to the early part of the fourth quarter, it was still no one’s game, with UE tying scores with Ateneo and at some point in time leading by a few points. Al-Hussaini was clearly Ateneo’s star player shooting straight 8 points at one time. Rookie Ryan Buenafe also did a surprise by scoring 4 points with al-Hussaini’s 4 points during the critical moments when Ateneo and UE were tied at 51 points, building a 9 point cushion, at 63-52 less than 3 minutes from the end of the game. Again, there was no question about Chris Tiu’s performance, with 11 points.

Bill Gates to donate $0.5 million to the Victims of Typhoon Frank, Manny Pacquiao to donate P3 million

Posted on July 11, 2008
Filed Under Good Deeds | Viewed 249 times | 9 Comments

Just last Wednesday night, right after dinner, my family and I were having our usual bonding moments. We talked about, what else but the rising cost of fuel, goods and services, the most talked about topic nowadays. BA even asked our permission to ride a bike to UP so that he could save on gas or on jeepney fare. He mentioned UP’s project of renting out bicycles at P500 a month so that students can use them while within the campus and the nearby Katipunan area, UP Village and Teachers’ Village where we incidentally live. Bicycles will have to be left in the campus at the end of the day. I was adamant not to let him, thinking about his safety.

The conversation went to the topic of the victims of Typhoon Frank and the MV Princess of the Stars, their sad and helpless plights and what have been done by the authorities and the private sector to help them. Manny Pacquiao pledged to donate P3 million to the victims of Typhoon Frank, immediately upon his return from the US. He also intends to hold a telethon and a concert to raise funds—a hero indeed.

UAAP Season 71: Ateneo Blue Eagles Beat Adamson Soaring Falcons, 72-45

Posted on July 10, 2008
Filed Under Sports, UAAP, etc | Viewed 259 times | Leave a Comment

by Vince

It was a battle for the skies as the Adamson Soaring Falcons faced the Ateneo Blue Eagles on the court at 4pm this afternoon. The Blue Eagles have been dominating the skies since 1997, leaving no space for the other blue bird. Year 1997 was the last time the Soaring Falcons beat the Ateneo Blue Eagles, when the price of gasoline was only P12/liter.